The Morung Express by The Morung Express

C M Y K

The Morung Express

A Daily Publication of Morung for Indigenous Affairs & JustPeace

Dimapur VOL. III ISSUE 295

“

www.morungexpress.com

The less power a man has, the more he likes to use it

”

Friday, October 24, 2008 12 pages Rs. 3 -Chinese Proverb

Prez calls to hasten NPF-Cong Spar Over Speaker women education Speaker rejects CLP’s resign-demand NPCC amplify call for resignation Newmai News Network Shillong | October 23

PRESIDENT OF INDIA Pratibha Patil has strongly called for hastening progress to educate and empower women in the country. Patil, who was in Meghalaya on a two-day visit, underscored the importance of women’s education, during her speech at the Laban Bengalee Girls Higher Secondary School in Shillong today. “A nation cannot progress without educating women” the President said. Patil, while terming women as the other another wheel of the chariot said, “Handicap of one wheel of the chariot can slow the movement”, even as she reminded that women make half of the country’s population. “A nation cannot progress without educating and empowering its women, therefore it is important for our primary and secondary schools especially girls’ schools to provide encouragement to their students so that they can excel and become self confident”, she said. She underlined the importance of improving the economic conditions of women, particularly in the villages and rural areas, through self-income generating activities that is important for the general cause. The President said “An educated woman can take better care of her family and her children. If women are edu-

Displaced Riang refugee girls carry drinking water from cherra (rivulet) at Naisingapara Refugee camp in Tripura. (UB Photos)

cated, they can help in removing many of the evil practices and dealing with addiction to liquor and drugs”. “If you educate a boy, you are educating an individual and if you educate a girl the whole family benefits”, she said. Talking about education as a tool to face challenges and make the people tolerant,

disciplined and hardworking, Patil urged the students and the youths to channel their skills in developing balanced personalities with positive attitudes. “This depends upon the standard of education and its capacity to mold minds, shape thinking and inculcate values” she said.

DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 23 (MExN): In response to CLP leader Chingwang Konyak’s demand that the NLA Speaker withdraw the notification that refused to recognize the count of 9 NPF MLAs and 3 independent MLA’s ballot in the December 13 No-Trust vote against the DAN government, the speaker has conveyed ‘regret’ on his inability to comply. Rebuffing the demand, the speaker said the CLP leader’s demand was beyond constitutional provisions. Quoted in a notification issued through the secretary of Nagaland Legislative Assembly, AE Lotha was the direction given on the basis of Rule 19 of the Assembly’s “Disqualification of ground of Defection” Rules 2003. The direction stated that ‘without prejudice to the rights and liberties of members of the 10th NLA belonging to political parties, to claim protection under paragraph 4 of the tenth schedule to the Constitution of India or to their rights and liberties to seek prior permission to vote contrary to or seek condonation of violation of any direction issued to them under paragraph 2 (1) (b) of the tenth schedule of the Constitution, all members of the 10th NLA belonging to political parties shall vote in accordance to the direction issued by the respective political parties or persons or authorities authorized by them on this behalf’. The direction says that any vote recorded contrary to the direction, subject to their entitlement to the said rights and liberties under paragraph 4 read with paragraph 2 (1) (b) of the tenth schedule to the Indian Constitution, would not be counted in the result of the voting on any question decided by the House. This direction was made valid for the entire tenure of the 10th Nagaland Leg-

islative Assembly. The NLA statement, therefore pointed as evident, that the said direction in the 10th House was applicable to all political parties equally irrespective of ruling or opposition. The NLA speaker pointed out, at that point of time no member had raised any objection or obstruction on this direction and the Speaker had issued it in exercise of the powers conferred upon him with a view to maintain decorum and dignity of the House, which he is supposed to do. The statement added that the Speaker being the custodian of the House is the authority issue direction to the members under Rule 313 of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in NLA as and when the need arises. On the CLP leader’s demand to the Speaker to withdraw the aforementioned direction and to tender a written assurance that the same would not be repeated, the Speaker said that leaders of various political parties cannot direct the Speaker to give assurance on any issue. Rather it is the Speaker to issue direction to the members of different political parties in the House. “Perhaps your demand on the subject is beyond the constitutional provisions” stated the message from the speaker conveyed by the NLA secretary. The Speaker summed up the issue by conveying that as leader of the opposition, Chingwang would be well aware of the Rules of procedure of Nagaland Legislative Assembly that the “Speaker of the 10th House is not empowered to take any decision on any matter decided by the Speaker of the 10th House”. So the regret on the inability to comply with the CLP leader’s request is conveyed.

DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 23 (MExN): Admitting to having “my foot-in-the-mouth syndrome”, Home Minister Imkong Imchen today apologized to “my Media friends” and “also to the Fourth Estate” for his recent remarks that the local Media engages in what he called “yellow journalism”. The Home minister made the “yellow journalism” remark October 21 during a press briefing with Dimapur’s administration and police on the city’s law and order situation. Imchen in a message of apology today himself admitted to his “foot-in-the-mouth” utterances which has “already created so many enemies in my life unnecessarily”. The Home minister said his remarks “hurt” the “Media friends” and “I hereby tender my unqualified apology to my Media friends and also to the Fourth Estate”. According to the minister: “I am aware of my ‘foot-in-the-mouth’ syndrome which has already created so many enemies in my life unnecessarily. The same thing happened on this occasion which has hurt the dignity of the Press so badly. I wish that I will not repeat such things in future even though I have this habit of foot-in-the-mouth syndrome’”. He added: “I hope that the press fraternity will kindly bear with me for having hurt their image and dignity by my careless utterances”.

President’s Rule, Vadoe clarified that it ‘emanated from the illegal and unconstitutional action of the Speaker’ and ‘therefore the NPF president’s argument is a complete reversal of the truth’. The NPCC also took a dig at Shürhozelie’s statement on the court ruling where the NPF chief had said, “Therefore we react to the opinions expressed by the court on this issue” and also, “we still feel that the imposition of President’s Rule in Nagaland was ill-motivated and against the spirit of the Constitution”. In response the NPCC stated that “these are directly challenging the authority of the high court’s judgement”. The NPCC also alleged that “whenever the NPF runs out of its wits, they had the usual habit of dishing out the infamous term ‘people’s court’ to save themselves”. The Congress cautioned the NPF that its ‘so-called people’s mandate is only 26 (MLAs)’ and that ‘factually, the literal meaning of securing people’s mandate is farcical, illogical and holds no truth.’ The Congress likened the ‘people’s mandate’ as asserted by the NPF to be ‘merely depending on the life-saving device and once the artificial oxygen infusion is removed they will die instantly’.In the light of the censure by the Guwahati High Court on the NLA Speaker, the Congress has reiterated its demand that the Speaker ‘gracefully quit his chair or face the fury of the people further’.

DAN told to act

Home Minister Imchen apologizes to media C M Y K

DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 23 (MExN): Responding to NPF president Shürhozelie, the NPCC has denounced the NPF chief, saying that his statement is “awfully childish and devoid of any substance”. Amused at the statement and calling it ‘a bunch of contradictions’ the NPCC in a note by its vice president Zachilhü Vadeo, disparaged the NPF chief with a piece of advice: “Instead of NPF president issuing such cheap statement, it should have been issued by some NPF members.” The NPCC reiterated that the Guwahati High Court had clearly ruled the Speaker’s actions to be “illegal, unconstitutional and biased”. So, the NPCC said, the explanations given by the NPF chief ‘in the guise of a lawyer’ is to ‘hypnotize and mesmerize the public with his irrelevant arguments’ which are in complete contradiction to the court ruling and do not hold ground. Vadeo further explained that ‘as far as the rejection of the petition in the Supreme Court is concerned, it had observed that the writ petition was with the Guwahati High Court and it would become “infructuous” (sic) to take up the issue at the SC level simultaneously. This was the reason that prompted the Supreme Court to turn down the petition and not as claimed by the NPF president, the opposition said. Disputing NPF’s accusation that the Congress was responsible for the imposition of

Family members of an Imphal blast victim breaks down on Thursady, October 23 at Khurai Bazar, Imphal. At least 17 people were killed and many were left injured when a bomb explosion took place near the Manipur police commando complex at Minuthong in Imphal on October 21. (UB Photos)

DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 23 (MExN): The Congress demands from the DAN government, action to book the persons responsible for the substantial management and financial discrepancies detected in the Medical and Education departments in Suruhuto. A ‘public hearing’ on the two departments under the RTI was held in Suruhuto, Zunheboto recently. “The recent detection of corruptions in the two departments should not be kept in a cold storage, but the government of the day must immediately bring all those responsible persons to book and award them befitting actions as per the government’s service rules” stated NPCC chief KV Pusa in a statement. The discrepancies and anomalies in the Medical and School Education departments in Suruhuto during the hearing on RTI is only the tip of iceberg and corruption has taken deep root under the present DAN government, the Congress said. “The promise

of DAN for transparency and accountability has become absolutely a contradictory as corruption has reached its zenith and that people have been left to their own mercy” the NPCC lamented. According to the opposition, the UPA government at the center has been “so generous and openhanded to sanction considerable amount of money for the welfare of the people”. Unfortunately, NPCC said, “all these have gone to the pockets of some few individuals and cronies of the DAN government”. Assuring to see that corruption is rooted out from the state, the NPCC appealed to the people to rise to the occasion and fight for justice, “which have been denied to them by the present DAN government”. “Together we can do it; this is the assurance of the Congress party. The Congress party will not remain a mute spectator as long as government don’t start acting and deliver goods to the people” the Congress added.

Customary court goes www Wanted: A mate for India’s only gorilla

MOKOKCHUNG, OCTOBER 23 (MExN): A computerized facility for the Mokokchung district dobashi customary law court was formally inaugurated today in a simple gathering by Bendangkokba, Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung. Addressing the gathering, the DC lauded the role played by the dobashis in assisting the district administration for effective governance. He has also appreciated the active role of officers and staff of the National Informatics Centre (NIC), Mokokchung for initiating this whole exercise in extending computerization to the court. With the inauguration of this facility specifically in a traditional court, Mokokchung dobashi customary law court becomes the front runner amongst the dobashi courts in the state. Mention may be made that the court became fully functional in the year 1914 during the then British rule. Since then, all the cases and related documents in delivering justice

are still archived in this institution. The then Chief Justice of Guwahati High Court D. Pathak visited the institution in the year 1982 and recorded: “The DBs court at Mokokchung was established on 1st June 1914. My visit to this court in the 30th June 1982 after a lapse of 68 years is quite an experience. I am very much impressed by the performance and the trouble taken by the DBs court for disposal of the disputes according to the customary law prevailing among the people having jurisdiction of this court, I expect that the disposal of cases quicker and cheaper in this court. I am satisfied after going through some of the records that the performance is quite satisfactory”. He attested to use the word “law” to this institution as the “district dobashi customary law court” instead of district dobashi customary court. Ponen Longchar, pastor of Mokokchung town Baptist church said the invocation while a short speech was delivered by Chub-

alepzk, DPRO of Mokokchung where he rekindled the past of the dobashis’ role in the early 19th century and that of the present day’s responsibilities. Toshi, former political assistant to the DC of Mokokchung expressed gratitude to the district NIC for fulfilling the long-cherished desire for computerization, the same for which was initiated during his tenure. He said with this facility, the dobashis’ court in Mokokchung will go a long way in fulfilling and delivering justice to the needy in a befitting way. Continued on page 5

MUMBAI, OCTOBER 23 (AP): India’s only gorilla is lonely. Even though Polo is 6 feet tall, dark-haired, bilingual and good-natured, the 36-year-old silverback gorilla is still single after a fruitless eight-year search. “We have written to all major zoos in the world. We have tried everything,” said Vijay Ranjan Singh, the director of the zoo in Mysore, a city in southern India about 525 miles southeast of Mumbai. Polo, who was sent to Mysore from Ireland’s Dublin Zoo in 1995, has been alone since 2000 when his mate, 46year-old Sumathi, died. Singh said that because gorillas are considered highly endangered, other zoos are reluctant to part with theirs. The Mysore zoo doesn’t want to send Polo abroad to find a friend because he is India’s only gorilla. Also, animal transfers are usually done within the framework of breeding programs that are often regional. Worried that failure to find a companion for Polo could cause him psychological harm, his keepers decided to make one final plea. “He needs psychological and emotional enrichment that we can’t provide,” Singh said by telephone from Mysore on Thursday. Polo is a western lowland gorilla, native to the forests of central Africa. Silverback gorillas — marked with a distinctive patch — are dominant males who usually live in family groups in the wild.

India’s only gorilla Polo takes a drink at the Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens in Mysore, a city in southern India some 525 miles southeast of Mumbai, India, in this undated 2006 photo. Even though Polo is 6-feet tall, dark-haired, bilingual and good-natured, the 36-year-old silver back gorilla is lonely and still single after a fruitless eight year search, director of the zoo said in October 2008 . Polo, who was sent to Mysore from Ireland’s Dublin Zoo in 1995, has been alone since 2000 when his mate 46-year-old Sumathi died. (AP Photo)

“He is not very happy. The few joys he enjoys are bathing and searching for food that his keeper hides in blocks of ice or in bamboo to keep him energized,” Singh said. For the prospective mate,

Singh says Polo is good-natured and responds to commands in both the local Kannada language and English. “He is in fine health, but lonely,” Singh said. “After eight years, anyone would be.”

Vaiko arrested for pro-LTTE speech CHENNAI, OCTOBER 23 (PTI): For the second time since he floated the MDMK in 1993, Vaiko, a vocal supporter of the LTTE, was today arrested for making a speech in support of the banned group. He was charged under sections of the IPC and Unlawful Prevention Act and remanded in 14 days of judicial custody. Vaiko was later taken to the central prison here. Vaiko was arrested in 2002 under POTA by the then Jayalalithaa government for his speech at a MDMK meeting supporting the LTTE. He was in the high security Vellore prison for 17 months. At a public meeting here on Tuesday, Vaiko said he would not hesitate to lead an armed struggle for the cause of Sri Lankan Tamils and a separate homeland was the only solution to the ethnic strife in the island republic. Taking to reporters soon after his arrest, he said the UPA government had “betrayed” the Sri Lankan Tamils.

By buying this Newspaper, you are contributing to the process of positive Social Change and supporting the non-proﬁt activities of the Morung Foundation

C M Y K

Dimapur

LOCAL

Friday 24 October 2008

The Morung Express

ENSF determined to ﬁght for their demand 2ND PHASE OF AGITATION BEGINS AT KIPHIRE

Lipichem Kiphire | October 23

THE SECOND phase of agitation in the form of picketing of the DIS/DEO, called by the ENSF in regard to the new teachers’ recruitment policy and initiated by the USSC, began today at Kiphire with hundreds of volunteers braving the weather and ready to face any consequences. Student officials and volunteers appeared relaxed with a bunch of keys in their custody as the concerned officers (DIS) have been out of station for a long period of time. Staffers looked helpless, moving with files in their hands in the office corridor, since the whole office was locked by the students. When asked about their head of department, they simply replied, “We don’t know.” The Deputy Commissioner, who came to assist the situation enquired about the absence of the DIS and was heard murmuring, “Many things are kept pending even in DPDB because of his absence and I am yet to find out his whereabouts.” While having a chat with the DIS staffers, the Deputy Commissioner said the absence of the head of department compelled the students to go for

checking of offices, which is in fact illegal. When asked about the picketing of office by the students’ organisation in this regard, the DC commented, “I have sent enough reports to the government but so far there has been no feedback, so I’ll have to be a silent spectator. If the higher authorities direct me to use force I am ready to use it.” The Joint Secretary of ENSF who was also present, commented that the public were suffering due to the picketing, which was likely to be intensified till their demands were fulfilled, and felt that the public should cooperate “since it is a common goal.” He also commented that the course of action might intensify if the government failed to address their demand and warned that the situation may go out of hand. Some of the placards on the walls read ‘Don’t discriminate, humiliate, insult, Eastern Nagaland by adopting irrelevant policy’, ‘Give chance to train ourselves to be qualify for teachers post’, and ‘We will fight till our demand is fulfilled for eastern Nagaland’. There was no untoward incident till the second phase of agitation and the situation was quite peaceful till the filing of this report.

ENSF sit in dharna in Tuensang begins Z. Rikhum Yim Tuensang | October 23

WITH THE state government’s failure to fulfill the demand made by the Eastern Nagaland Students’ Federation, the ENSF began its agitation on Wednesday at the office of the District Inspector of Schools (DIS), Tuensang. According to the official report, the sit-in dharna will continue ‘until and unless’ the state government response is positive to their demand for 10 years relaxation of teachers under the four districts including Tuensang, Mon, Kiphire and Longleng. The ENSF agitators also said that they would take their own course of action if the government failed to respond to their demands.

Farmers carry bundles of rice straw on their head from a paddy ﬁeld in the outskirts of Dimapur on Wednesday. India, the second biggest rice producer in the world after China, is expecting a bumper harvest this year due to the timely arrival of monsoon and the higher rice output will help the government restrain imports. According to an agriculture expert, the world’s second-biggest rice grower is expected to produce 3 additional million tonnes of rice. Rice harvesting started in mid-October and will continue till November. (Photo/Caisii Mao)

‘No compromise on our educational quest’ Questionnaire to address shortcomings of govt schools

MELURI, OCTOBER 23 (DIPR): The 9th general conference-cum-seminar of the Pochury Gazetted Officers Forum began at the Village Council Hall, Meluri, today under the theme ‘Awakening’ with Yitachu, Parliamentary Secretary for Transport, Art & Culture and Law & Justice, as the chief guest. Giving a clarion call to all the PGOF members, Yitachu said that each member should give their best in performing and discharging responsibilities and duties. Any member in a society should never be discounted; we are all like different parts of a body, which

makes the body whole, he said. It is the bounden duty of each one of us to uplift the name and prestige of the Pochury community in the community of bigger Naga society, he added. Lauding the Pochury community, he said that though it is a small and minor tribe, it has been able to keep pace in its own small level vis-à-vis other communities. In the field of educational advancement “we have been so far keeping a good average,” he said adding, “we have to keep in mind that we are racing against time and therefore we cannot afford to rest on our laurels and little achievements

Only ﬁt Taxis to ply Kohima roads

C M Y K

KOHIMA, OCTOBER 23 (DIPR): All operators of Kohima Local Taxis have been notified to produce their vehicle (taxis) to the Old MLA Hostel for special inspection on any working day between November 17 to 20. The time for inspection shall be from 7 am to 9 am in the morning and from 3 pm to 4 pm in the evening. Informing this, the Regional Transport Officer, Kohima, Mezayi Tetseo has asked the taxi operators to produce only those vehicles that are very well maintained and in very good condition. Relevant documents pertaining to Registration, Road Permit and Insurance Certificate are to be produced in original at the time of inspection. Vigorous mechanical inspection, checking of vehicle physical cleanliness and its upholsteries will be strictly observed as per the prescribed norms for inspection, and only those vehicles (Taxis) that are found fit will be issued a special sticker. Vehicles that do not bear the special sticker issued by the competent authority shall not be allowed to ply as local taxi with effect from November 21, 2008, the notification added. The general public have been informed to avail the services of the Black/Yellow coloured taxis only for trips within the town.

but we have to keep moving continuously with the present competitive times.” On the communitisation of education, Yitachu called on the village leaders for necessary action and steps on errant, proxy and irregular teachers, saying that when teachers neglect their duties it amounts to crime against the society as well as being against Christian principles. “There can be no compromise on our educational quest, but we have to only go for the best,” he stated. Yitachu called on the PGOF to work for unity of the Pochury people, including those living in Myanmar,

and called for a concerted effort so that in the year 2009 the Yemshe festival would be celebrated together at Meluri, making the occasion more historic and befitting. Pochury Public Forum President, Chülekhu called on the PGOF members to work for educational, economic and social uplift of the community. One should lead by example and practice and at the same time, work for unity for the sake of posterity, he stressed. The inaugural session of the two-day programme was chaired by BDO Meluri, Zhitho Nyuthe, and welcome address delivered by Presi-

Congress workers question appointment of NPCC Secy DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 23 (MExN): The Congress party workers of 6 Tening ACCC, Peren, have refused to acknowledge the appointment of Mariliabo (Asolie) as NPCC Secretary, stating that his appointment was “done in a hasty manner without consulting the frontal leaders and party workers.” In a letter addressed to the President of AICC, New Delhi, and signed by 6 Tening ACCC President, Akubo Zeliang, and several other office bearers, the Congress stated that the appointment was not recognised because he (Mariliabo) was an aspiring candidate and had failed to “cast his own vote” from his own village in favour of Congress candidate Tarie Zeliang in the last state as-

sembly elections. Accordingly, the letter questioned as to how such a person, who betrayed his own party, should be given such a post. Rather, “he should be expelled,” the letter suggested, adding that “the Congress party in Tening does not consider him a Congressman.” In this connection, the office of the 6 Tening ACCC has openly declared its resentment over the appointment and has said that “it is not acceptable and as such not recognized.” The office has also questioned the “wisdom of the NPCC President” as to why he should not be held responsible for protecting only the selfish interest of a selfish individual thereby neglecting the party.

Acknowledgement This is to acknowledge our heartfelt gratitude to all who helped and stood by us in prayer and material gifts during the prolong sickness and demise of Keduowhetuo Angami on the 22nd Oct. 2008 and visits thereafter. Though there are many, we would like to make special mention of the following: 1. Shri. Neiphiu Rio, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Nagaland 2. Shri. Kiyaneilie Peseyie, Hon’ble Speaker, Nagaland 3. Dr. Neikiesalie kire, Hon’ble MLA, 9th A/C Kohima 4. Shri Zachilhu Vadeo and his NPCC team 5. Shri. Prasielie Pienyü and the KDCC colleagues 6. NPF Youth Wing, Nagaland 7. Chairman and members, KMC 8. Doctor and Nurses of Bethel Medical Centre, Kohima 9. Pastor Kevimese Suoho and members of Naga Bazar Baptist Church, Kohima 10. Midland Panchayat, Kohima 11. His in-laws of Tichüma village Though we are not able to thank all of you personally, we pray that the Almighty will richly bless you. Wife, Children and Relatives.

dent PGOF, Akho Leyri. Rev. Chithosie, Pastor of MVBC, led the invocation prayer while the benediction was pronounced by Pastor, Meluri Town Baptist Church, Rev. Tivisie. The vote of thanks was delivered by Language Ofifcer Zerüsie Nyusou. A special number and a folksong were also presented on the occasion. Besides the PGOF members, Village Council Chairmen, Head GBs, VDB Secretaries and representatives of Pochury Public Forum, Pochury Students Union, Pochury Mothers Association, Pochury Youth Association and PSA attended the function.

Application forms for Zunheboto CMCF 2008-09 DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 23 (MExN): Eligible unemployed candidates for selfemployment are informed regarding the collection of application forms for Chief Ministers Corpus Fund (CMCF) 2008-09 under Zunheboto District. The prescribed application forms may be collected from the Office of the District Planning Officer, Zunheboto. Interested candidates must produce indigenous inhabitant certificate, certificate of date of birth (candidate must be within the prescribed age group of 25 years to 40 years) along with educational certificate for class 9 passed and above, a certificate of unemployment registration from the employment office, including ‘no due’ certificate/bank ability certificate from the area service bank manager. The last date for submission of the duly filled up application form with project report and other required particulars is November 20, 2008. Application forms will be issued from October 24 onwards. Zunheboto DC, C M Tsanglao, in a release has informed that any candidate who has already availed assistance for self-employment programme from any government agencies need not apply.

Govt drivers to upgrade their driving skills KOHIMA, OCTOBER 23 (DIPR): The Nagaland government is actively considering conducting training for government drivers to upgrade their driving skills and driving etiquette. Disclosing this in a meeting of Administrative Heads of Departments in the Secretariat Conference Hall in Kohima yesterday, Chief Secretary Lalhuma said that there was need to send drivers for training to upgrade their driving skills and to improve their driving etiquette. He said that they would be sent in phased manner. Commissioner and Secretary, Industries & Commerce, Imkonglemba, while taking part in the discussion said that Driving School, Dimapur, the first of its kind in the North East, has facilities for training 50 drivers at a time.

KOHIMA, OCTOBER 23 (DIPR): Why do most parents in Nagaland state send their children to expensive private schools? Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Nagaland, School Education & SCERT Department, Banuo Z. Jamir, has come up with an idea to answer this question and to address the shortcomings and bring reform to the government run schools. A questionnaire has been designed to get feedback from different sections of people on the reasons why parents do not send their children to government schools despite the fact that the teachers in government schools are today better qualified and better trained than their counterparts in private-managed schools. It is also a fact that together with benefits such as free textbooks, mid-day meal and scholarships, free education is provided at the government schools. In spite of it, most parents – including teacher parents – prefer to pay high monthly tuition fees, buy books, and prepare tiffin for their children by sending them to private schools. The questionnaire containing 16 (sixteen) ques-

Kohima DPDB announces cash award for govt school students KOHIMA, OCTOBER 23 (DIPR): The Kohima District Planning & Development Board (DPDB) has, for the first time, decided to award Government High School students of Kohima who comes up to Top 20 in the HSLC Examination 2009, with a cash award of Rs. 10,000/- each, along with a citation. However, if no candidate reaches up to Top 20, the candidate with the highest aggregate in 1st Division will be awarded Rs.5000/along with a citation. The award is solely confined to the Government High Schools within Kohima District. This decision was taken by the Kohima DPDB to encourage and facilitate Government High School students of Kohima to strive hard and achieve better results. Students preparing for HSLC 2009 have, in this regard, been requested by the Board to put more effort in their studies with competitive spirit and avail this meritorious award in the presence of all the Board members. tions was prepared and it is designed to elicit comments/observations of the shortcoming of government schools and also for suggestions for remedial measures that can be adopted to make government schools as attractive as any of the premier private managed schools in the state. The questionnaire was circulated to all Administrative Heads of Departments and Heads of Department at its meeting

Sazo pays visit to Tizit DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 23 (MExN): Parliamentary Secretary for Social Welfare, Chotisuh Sazo, and I Nochet Aier, Director of Social Welfare, along with other department officials paid a visit to the EMRS School, Tizit, on October 20. A press note issued by the District Welfare Officer, Mon, stated that a function was organised during the visit of the signatories at the school, which saw attendance by public leaders, students and parents who expressed their gratitude to the state government for providing students all essential school facilities free of cost. The Parliamentary Secretary extended his gratitude to

the Ngangting Village Council and the people of Tizit area for allotting a beautiful land free of cost for the establishment of the school, while also encouraging the public to take good care of the school and its infrastructure as their own property. Sazo also paid a visit to the various department offices in the area and an ‘Old Age Home’ in Mon Town and interacted with the residents. He expressed appreciation to the caretakers for their initiative in caring for the aged. Further, the department staffers have expressed their gratitude to the Parliamentary Secretary and other officers who visited the area.

in Kohima yesterday. Banuo Jamir appealed to all concerned to fill up the questionnaires after giving due thought and offer views/comments with sincere application of ‘mind and heart’. She said the information furnished would be used exclusively for bringing reform into the government schools system. She also sought suggestions in areas not covered by the questionnaire.

DC Mon informs MON, OCTOBER 23 (DIPR): Deputy Commissioner Mon, Dinesh Kumar, IAS, has informed that a training programme for updating of district disaster management plan and review of disaster management programme will be held at the DC’s conference hall, Mon, on October 27 at 10:30 am. All district disaster management committee members are to attend the training without fail.

Mkg DC orders protection of Mululem bird MOKOKCHUNG, OCTOBER 23 (DIPR): The Deputy Commissioner Mokokchung has directed all Village Councils for protection of the migratory bird, Mululem, under Changtongya division, and added that anyone found violating this order would be penalised under Section 9 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, punishable under Section 5.

Nomination call for Nodal Ofﬁcers KOHIMA, OCTOBER 23 (DIPR): The State Finance Department has directed those departments that are yet to nominate Nodal Officers for GPF to the office of the Accountant General, to nominate the same immediately. Officer-on-Special Duty (Revenue), V Kezo, in an office memorandum has stated that in case of departments having large number of staff, a gazetted officer should be nominated as Nodal Officer. The office memorandum was issued following the difficulties expressed by the Office of the Accountant General in disposing of GPF matters due to the absence of Nodal Officers.

LOCAL

The Morung Express

Friday

24 October 2008

Dimapur

Council Dimapur Departmental tour connects Sazo to rural ‘grassroot’ Naga condemns Prasanjit murder

DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 23 (MExN): With a view to get first hand information from the grass root level, Parliamentary Secretary for Social Welfare & Women Development, Chotisuh Sazo recently undertook a departmental tour to Mon, Tuensang, Kiphire and Phek districts from October 20 -22 last. He was accompanied by the Director and a team of senior officers of the dept. of Social Welfare and public leaders, stated an official release. Sazo visited the Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) at Tizit and Tuensang which has been set up with support of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Govt. of India to provide free education with residential facilities to needy tribal students. While interacting with the students, staffs and parents at the school Sazo appreciated the efforts made by the principals and teachers of the two EMRS in running the schools and exhorted the students to work hard and aspire to become good citizens and future leaders of society.

DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 23 (MExN): The Naga Council Dimapur has strongly condemned the recent abduction and subsequent murder of a businessman in Dimapur, Prasanjit Dhar (Paul). Such abduction and murder has created a fear psychosis not only among the business community but also the general public, which directly hampers the business and economy in the commercial hub of the state, W Lemba Chang, General Secretary of the Naga Council Dimapur, stated in a condemnation note. The Naga Council urged the Special Investigation Team set up by the government to expedite its efforts to book the culprits and award stringent punishment according to “law of the land.” The Council sought this in order that “repetition of such inhuman/unlawful acts” was stopped in future, and the only commercial hub of the state be saved from such serious crimes, “thus making Dimapur a livable place for all sections of people with peaceful minds opening doors to investors towards making Dimapur a peaceful and prosperous city.”

DC Kohima directs on advocacy workshop

In these images released to the media (Left) Chotisuh Sazo, Parl. Secy SW & WD (3rd from rt.) with the children and staff of Anganwadi Centre, Kiphire Town and (Right) Neochi Chang, the oldest centenarian from Tuensang District. He is believed to be 115 years old.

He also assured of all possible support from the department, the note stated. In Mon the parliamentary secretary also visited the Old Age Home which is run by the Walo Organisation and sponsored by the Department of Social Welfare. Sazo also called on Neochi

Footpath vendors nabbed KOHIMA, OCTOBER 23 (MExN): The Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) assisted by police today nabbed 7 footpath vendors in two different locations- Razhu Point and BOC, Kohima. According to available source, the seven vendors include; Saholouli Rio, Nyelu, Runi Poumai, Zalhoutuoü, Sunita Bordia, Subita and Teisovi-u. It is learnt that the KMC had also seized a large quantity of vegetables from those vendors.

Seminar at Discipleship Bible College DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 23 (MExN): A seminar under the theme, “The role of Theological students in the uplift of economic through farming,” organised by the Bright Hope, Nagaland will be held on October 24 at 1:30 pm at DBC chapel hall, with Jacob Yanthan, SDO (Store) Agriculture, Dimapur and Dr. Sunep Imchen, Veterinarian, Dimapur as the resource persons. This was stated in a press note issued by Rev. Dr. Nuklu Longkumer, principal of Discipleship Bible College (DBC).

Chang of Yimpang village, ‘the oldest centenarian’ of Tuensang District, believed to be 115 years old. On account of International day for older persons Neochi was given a token grant in cash by the Dept. of Social Welfare. Sazo further inspected the ICDS Projects at Tizit, Mon,

Aboi, Tobu, Sangsangnyu, Shamator, Kiphire and Meluri. Interacting with the District and Project level officers, staff and the ICDS functionaries he urged the officials to ensure that the benefits of the ICDS Programme reaches to the most deserving beneficiaries. He further instructed the

WOKHA, OCTOBER 23 (DIPR): In view of the Lotha Tokhu Emong festival, there will be a mass social work on October 25 at Wokha town. The cleanliness drive will start from 7 am and continue till 10 am. In a circular issued by DC Wokha, A Wopen Lotha, all business establishments are to remain closed during the mass social work. All government employees and students have been requested to participate. Students will be given institution-wise assignments and the chairman and GB of the respective councils will be responsible for the cleanliness of their respective wards. All heads of offices and town councillors and churches have been requested to join in the social work.

DIWALI BONANZA ‘Celebrate this Dhanteras/Diwali with pure 24 Carat, 99.99% Swiss Gold, attractive rates, available in tamper proof packets in varieties of 2.5g, 5g, 8g,209 and 50g at your nearest ICICI Bank Branch. Avail discounts on bulk purchase. For more information walk in at the branch or please contact 03862-237231

Craft BAZAR FROM 22Nd Oct. to 31st Oct.2008 At Wokha Public Ground

Organised by : Heto MPCS Ltd. Natsumi Sponsored by : O/o the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) Ministry of Textiles,

DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 23 (MExN): Voting cards for the second voting round of NSACS Naga Idol 3.08 are now available. The voting period will begin on October 22 and end on October 29.

stand), Mixed Den (Sungko- (High School Junction). men Ward), Imprint (Sangtem- LONGLENG Skyling Cable Network la Ward), SS Enterprise (Tongdentsuyong) and Eastern MON Mon Cable Network. Pharmacy (hospital Road).

Open from 9:00 A.M onwards

Entry Free

COMPUTERS FOR SALE BRAND NEW CONDITION

P3 : (Branded: HP) – 933 Mhz, 192 Mb (Rs. 11, 500) P4 : 1.6 Ghz-2.6 Ghz, 512 Mb (Rs. 13, 500 - Rs. 15, 500) Laptop P4 (Toshiba): 2.66 Ghz, 256 Mb (Rs. 16, 000) Laptop Centrino Duo: 2x1.6 Ghz, 2 Gb (Rs. 23, 000) Prices ﬁxed and affordable Contact: 9862232398

TUENSANG

DIMAPUR

Samson Cable Network. Crescendo (Notun BosVOTING CARDS ARE ti), Audio Garage (Super PEREN AVAILABLE AT: The Bridge Club. Market), Music Ground, MOKOKCHUNG (Church Road) and Encore, PHEK TOWN Loshika Service (Arkong (Church Road). Cable Network. ward), Yanger General Shop KOHIMA WOKHA (Arkong Ward), Daily Needs Sen’s Mixed Fillings and Dream Café (Sers Ba(New Market), Casual Com- zaar), Big Bite, (Jail Colony), Cellular Infusion. forts (Supong Shopping Mall), Zao’s, (P.R.Hill), Elegant ZUNHEBOTO Walling Provisions (FAC Bus (PWD Junction) and Portrait Vilo Cable Network.

One run over

DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 23 (MExN): The Naga Council has once again reminded all to remove the hoardings (billboards) put up by the various advertising agents on or before October 31. W Lemba Chang, General Secretary of Naga Council Dimapur, has in a notification requested the following to remove the same: Sonata (Tata), Electrical Deptt., Spirit of Faith, M/S Screw Driver, Everyday (Nestle), G.M. (General Motor), KVIC, Tourism Deptt. Nagaland, Mindmine C3P, Rang-Tuli (Guwahati), Horn Bill, Urban Station (NSC Petrol Pump) and Call Center (Central Plaza).

DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 23, (MExN): A Maruti Van (NL01C0150) knocked down one pedestrian near 7th Mile junction. Traffic police disclosed that the incident occurred at around 7 pm on October 22. The victim sustained head injury and was taken to Zion Hospital for treatment. The vehicle is now under police custody and further investigations are on, police added.

WALK-IN-INTERVIEW

URGENTLY REQUIRED FOR DPS DIMAPUR

1. Heavy Vehicle Driver (For School Bus): Candidates must have an experience of 6 yrs in driving heavy vehicle. 2. Handyman Interviews will be held at DPS Dimapur on 30th October 2008 at 11:00 am. Candidates need to come with their original driving license along with a passport size phorograph. Contact Address: DPS Dimapur, 2 ½ Mile, Darogapathar Village, Dimapur- 797115 Contact: 03862- 235930 PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND

DIRECTORATE OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE NAGALAND: KOHIMA

No. DHS-16/IDD/PUB & AD/1133-36

NAGALAND: KOHIMA

NO.TOUR/F&F-25/2007-08 (Misc)/255

Dated Kohima, the 3rd Oct’08

ADVERTISEMENT HORNBILL 2008 (Dec 1-7)

Those entrepreneurs interested for putting up stalls for Hornbill Festival 2008 are requested to do so for necessary formalities during Office hours from 27th Oct’08. Limited forms will be issued on first come first basis. T. Alem Pongener Director of Tourism GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND

HOME DEPARTMENT: RAJYA SAINIK BOARD

No.RSB/RSB/RECT/ARMY/1/9(Vol-VI) Dated Kohima, the 22nd Oct.2008 SCHEDULES OF ENROLMENT INTO THE ARMY UPTO JAN 2009 The followings are the recruitment rally schedules to be conducted by Army Recruitment Ofﬁce, Rangapahar (Dimapur), HQ Recruiting Zone, Shillong and 58 Gorkha Training Centre, Shillong in the near future: Place of Recruitment (a) Kohima

Date of Min. Edn Qualiﬁcation Post(s) Age Recruitment From 22 Nov VIII Std & above SoI (GD) 17 ½ to 23 to 30 Nov 08 yrs

IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT IODINE DEFICIENCY DISORDER

* * * * * *

Iodine deficiency are prevalent throughout the world. It is the single most significant cause brain damage and mental retardation. Its deficiency in body causes; abortion, birth of dead babies, speech and hearing defects, physical and mental growth retardation, lowering of IQ level, lack of energy, goiter and its complications etc. The cheapest and the best methods for its control and prevention is to consume only iodised salt. Store iodised salt in closed container. Do not keep salt near or above the fireplace. Insist only an iodised salt from shopkeeper. Shopkeepers must store iodised salt away from sunlight and moisture. Shopkeepers must label salt meant for animal or farm use as “NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION”. “Use only iodised salt for your children’s mental health” (Dr. N. Meren) Deputy Director (P.O. NIDDCP) Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Nagaland: Kohima

WELCOME TO

Special Handloom Expo At

Imkongmeren Sports Complex, Youth Resource Sports Hall Mokokchung.

From 22nd October 2008 Time: 11:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M

Come celebrate!!! & Be a part of it !!!

(b) HQ 28 Dec 08 B.Sc (B.Ed)/B.A (B.Ed)/ * Havildar 19 yrs to Recruiting M.A or M.Sc Education 24 yrs Zone, Shillong (Meghalaya) (* Application can be had from RSB, Nagaland. The last date of receipt of application by HR Recruiting Zone, Shillong is 31Oct 08) (c) 58 Gorkha From 05 Jan to VIII Std & # SoI (GD) & 17 ½ to Training Centre, 25 Jan 09 above SoI (Tdn) 23 yrs Happy Valley, Shillong (# For Indian Domicile Gorkha/Nepali (Gurung, Magar & other caste) only. 3. For further details & application form, interested/eligible candidates may contact Secretary, Rajya Sainik Board, Nagaland (Kohima) on Phone No.0370-2270029. Wg Cdr Rajeev Dong (Retd) Deputy Director, Rajya Sainik Board, Nagaland

Dated Kohima, the 23rd Oct’08

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND

DIRECTORATE OF TOURSIM

KOHIMA, OCTOBER 23 (DIPR): Deputy Commissioner Kohima, Sachopra Vero, has requested all Panchayat Chairmen, Colony GBs, and members of the Kohima Municipal Council to positively attend the one-day advocacy workshop on ‘Role of Panchayats and Community Response’ towards HIV/AIDS to be held on October 24 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at Zonal Council Hall, Kohima. Speaker, NLA, Kiyaneilie Peseyie, Minister for Higher Education & Urban Development, Dr Shurhozelie, and Chairman, Khadi & Village Industry, MLA Dr. Nicky Kire, will also be attending the programme. The workshop is an initiative of the Legislators’ Forum for AIDS/UNAIDS and the Kuknalim Foundation.

in the state. Meanwhile the parliamentary secretary thanked the field Officers and staff of the department as well as the local administration, the police and public leaders for the warm reception and assistance during his tour, the note added.

Govt. of India New Delhi-6

SALES CUM DISPLAY

officials to work for the weaker sections of society with dedication and compassion while implementing various departmental programmes. Sazo also appealed to the public to extend ‘maximum’ community support for effective implementation of the various welfare programmes

NSACS Naga Idol 3.08 voting cards available

Naga Council on Mass social work at Wokha on Oct 25 removal of hoardings

All are Welcome

Organised by

Sponsored by

Nagaland Handloom & Handicraft Development Corporation Limited, Half Nagarjan, Dimapur: Nagaland. Development Commissioner for Handloom, Govt. of India, Ministry of Textiles, New Delhi Smt. N. Hushili Sema Managing Director

C M Y K

Friday

BUSINESS Fuel price reduction in SBI asks customers to submit a week: Deora tells LS detail or face A/c suspension Dimapur

The Morung Express

24 October 2008

Murli Deora (File Photo)

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 23 (AGENCIES): An announcement on the reduction of fuel prices will be made within a week in the wake of decline in global crude prices, Petroleum Minister Murli Deora told the Lok Sabha on Thursday. “The matter is being examined and an announcement would be made within a week,” Deora said during Question Hour in reply to a spate of supplementaries on the issue as Opposition members

insisted that the fuel prices be brought down forthwith. BJD member Braj Kishore Tripathy asked “what is the policy of the government when global crude prices have declined.” Rupchand Pal of the CPI(M) wanted to know whether the government, which has given a “bailout package” to the aviation companies, would “bail out” the common man, hit hard by the rising prices. Similar was the query from Ram Kirpal Yadav of the RJD, an ally of the ruling Congress. Deora said the government was waiting for further reduction in global crude prices and would consider the matter later. But as members got agitated and wanted an immediate response he said a decision would be taken within a week. Deora denied that his Ministry had given any bailout package to the airlines and said it had only allowed them to make deferred payments to oil companies. “You ask the Civil Aviation department,” he shot back to some questions on the “bailout package” to private airliners.

MUMBAI, OCTOBER 23 (AGENCIES): Country’s largest lender State Bank of India on Thursday asked its customers to immediately comply with the Know-YourCustomer guidelines, failing which their accounts would be freezed. “All account holders of the bank who have not yet complied with the KYC guidelines are hereby requested to make their accounts KYC compliant by contacting their home branches and completing the required documentation latest by October 31,” SBI said in a notice. As per provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002 and the direction given by RBI, all customers are required to comply with KYC guidelines. Banks were advised to folloaw certain customer identification procedures for opening of accounts and monitoring of transactions of suspicious nature by the RBI in context of the recommendations made

SBI Life assigned with iAAA rating

GUWAHATI, OCTOBER 23 (AGENCIES): ICRA, one of India’s leading rating agencies, has assigned iAAA rating indicating highest claims paying ability to SBI Life Insurance Company Limited. This rating reflects SBI Life’s fundamentally financial strong position and the prospect of meeting its policyholder’s obligations as highest. Recently CRISIL reaffirmed its highest financial strength rating “AAA/Stable” to SBI Life. U S Roy, MD & CEO of SBI Life Insurance said, “To by the Financial Action Task Force on Anti-Money Laundering standards and on Combating Financing of Terrorism. Failing to comply with the guidelines would result in freezing of account operations, it said. “Several account holders have still not

our customers, iAAA rating of ICRA further reinforces the stamp of SBI assurance. When insuring your life or your family, today’s financial sector upheavals reinforce how important it is to choose the right company that is financially secure and has the ability to keep its promises and meet its future obligations.” The ‘iAAA’ rating takes into account SBI Life’s strong parentage, growth exhibited over the last five years, distribution model, extensive reach, strong operational and risk man-

agement expertise, low expense structure, efficient capital usage and high channel productivity. SBI Life holds the unique distinction of being the first private life insurer to break even. As per the latest IRDA report, the company has grown upto August’08 by 103% to Rs 1,764.04 crores in terms of New Business premium and ranks 2nd among private players. The company has a market share of 14.59%amongst private players and a total market share of 6.67%.

submitted local address and identity proofs, thereby violating the KYC guidelines issued by the apex bank on account opening,” a senior SBI official said. Despite repeated reminders sent by the bank through registered and regular posts to such customers,

there has not been any response yet and it seems they are not interested in operating the accounts, he said. It is a final notice after which the accounts would be freezed, the official added. The largest bank having a branch network of about 10,400 has over 13 crore customers.

** FI LE** In this April 28, 2008 file photo, models unveil Samsung Electronics’s new Blu-ray optical disc players and cameras in Seoul, South Korea. Samsung Electronics is equipping Blu-ray DVD players so they can retrieve movies and TV shows from Netflix Inc.’s Internet streaming service, accelerating Netflix’s push to develop more delivery channels beyond the mail. (AP Photo)

Nano land won’t be returned to farmers: WB govt

KOLKATA, OCTOBER 23 (AGENCIES): The Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee government has clarified that the 997-odd acres at Singur, originally meant for the Nano project, will not be handed to farmers who lost their land. It will be used for industrial purpose only. In a statement on Wednesday evening, the government said that regardless of the circumstances, “the land would be used for setting up of industries only. The state

government is mulling all options and planning to take definite steps in order to set up industries.” It reiterated that it had acquired land in Singur in step with the norms of the Land Acquisition Act. “The land was given to Tata Motors and several vendor companies, for setting up of the Nano factory and various auto component units. All the necessary infrastructural work was done in the mean time. The land was also con-

verted to suit the industrial purpose. However, the project could not be completed due to disruption caused by a section of people.” Following this, ET specifically asked Tata Motors whether it would cancel its Singur land lease agreement with the West Bengal government or retain it for more time. In response, the Tata Motors spokesperson said: “We will discuss the lease issue with the West Bengal government.” The state gov-

ernment had offered Singur land to Tata Motors on a 90year lease. Reacting to the development, Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee reiterated her old demand of returning land to unwilling Singur farmers. “The state government can go ahead with its plans of setting up of new industries in Singur land. But the 400 acres which a section of displaced farmers were “unwilling” to part with, should be returned

at any cost.” She said that members of the Save Farmland Committee will resume their agitation in Singur after Diwali. When contacted, commerce & industries secretary Sabyasachi Sen said: “The government wishes to send the message across that even if the Tatas decide to stay away from Singur, some sort of industry will definitely come up in the 997 acres. The state government already has some alternate plans — some

light engineering or manufacturing units can set up their plants. If a number of small units are interested, there could also be some industrial park set up in the area. With land being so scarce in the state, any industrial group would lap up the proposal.” “We are no longer hopeful that the Tatas will return to Singur to set up any other project. Therefore, we would ideally want the land to be vacated at the earliest,” added a senior WBIDC official.

Chinese workers are seen at the assembly line during a visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel to the Daimler auto factory in Beijing, shortly after her arrival on October 23 starting her ofﬁcial visit to China. She will also attend the seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) to be held on October 24-25. (AP Photo)

‘I’m conﬁdent inﬂation will come down’

C M Y K

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 23 (AGENCIES): Although the rate of annual inflation dropped marginally to 11.07% from the earlier recorded 11.44% Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Thursday expressed concerns that it was still high. However, he exuded confidence by saying that the rate of annual inflation will come down in the days to come. “I am confident that inflation will come down,” he said while replying to reporters. In an attempt to dispel fears among investors, Chidambaram said, “I am confident that capital inflows will increase eventually.” The minister although skipped several crucial questions but assured that there was enough liquidity in the system. He also cautioned the investors not to sell stocks in panic that would only aggravate the financial crisis. Reacting to the continued bloodbath in the stock market, he stated that Maureen Wadia (Centre) at the launch of Wendell Whites, the debut bed and bath linen collection by India’s SEBI was addressing issue of stock Guru of Minimalism, Wendell Rodricks with India’s leading ome textile brand, Bombay Dyeing. lending by FIIs to overseas entities.

DAILY CROSS WORD

LEISURE W

D S

S N M O L A V I R R A C

E C R V L A U N C H E A

C H R E T A L G B G L E

O A H R V D L S D P D V

N N Z A T O N E H A Z V

D N T G P S G T E A W S

A E R E I P E L O E P P

R L A T D N Y N E U V E

Y W T H S F V K R E R C

G E I G N O E O N A V I

L L U I H N M U L E E A

U F G N D K E P R V L L

E M I N U T E Y N E E D

ARRIVAL CHANNEL EARNEST EDGE FLEW GLUE GOVERN GUITAR HALE HAPPY HEAR INVOLVE LATER LAUNCH LEADER LEER MINUTE MOST MULE

“SEBI will tighten short selling norms,’ he added. With pressure on liquidity easing the Finance Minister expressed hope that lending activity will become liberal as banks have been advised not to park surplus funds with RBI. “As you perhaps know, I called the chairmen of the seven largest PSU banks on Monday and advised them that we should lend now. All have said that lending will begin aggressively because now liquidity position is comfortable. I hope that message will go down,” he told reporters. He hoped that the temporary freeze on credit that was noticed in the first half of this month would go and brisk lending would take place. “If you go by reverse repo, I think there is adequate liquidity. The point is banks should not park their excess funds with RBI and should lend.” Reacting to the report that rupee has hit a new record low of 49.85 against the US dollar, he said that ups and down in rupee in being driven by market forces.

NEEDY NIGHT OVERAGE PLAY RACY RAVE REHEARSALS SECONDARY SHAPE SODA SPECIAL SPUR TENS TONE TOUR VENUE VERY WEEKEND

SUDOKU

CROSSWORD # 1138

The Morung Express number game

Sudoku # 1123

Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt. Ltd. Joint Managing Director Katsumi Takata poses next to newly launched Suzuki GS150R motorcycle at an event in New Delhi, India, Thursday, October 23. The GS150R has a 6 gear 149.5 cc air-cooled 4-stroke engine and is priced at about Indian Rupees 59,000 (US $1,229). (AP Photo)

DIMAPUR

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

STD CODE: 03862

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

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

STD CODE: 0370 2244279 2244923 2242897 2222952 2222916 2243339 2224202

CHEVROLET CAR PRICE LIST

CAR MODEL

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 #1122

ACROSS 1. Utters words 3. Bouncy toy 6. Rhythm instrument 9. Sideways walker 11. Belonging to us 12. Litter’s smallest 13. To kick out 14. Who, what, where, when, why, and ___ 15. Sums 17. Not any 20. Belonging to Ted 21. A teenager

DOWN 1. Unhappy 2. Not me 4. What we breathe 5. Laboratory 7. Circle shape 8. Similar to butterflies 9. Royal headgear 10. Intentional fire 15. CTRL-___-DEL to reset computer 16. Father 18. Single 19. Indefinitely long time

Answers to CROSSWORD #1137

Across: 1.pair, 4.news, 7.LA, 8.orb, 10.eh, 11.couch, 13.AAA, 15.eat, 17.cramped, 18.pea, 19.leg, 21.togas, 24.ad, 26.den, 27.ha, 28.nerd, 29.them Down:1.plea, 2.AA, 3.roo, 4.NBC, 5.we, 6.shut, 9.rummage, 11.carat, 12.heels, 14.ace, 16.ade, 18.plan, 20.gram, 22.odd, 23.ant, 25.de, 27.he

SPARK 1.0 BASE SPARK 1.0 PS SPARK 1.0 LS SPARK 1.0 LT U-VA 1.2 BASE U-VA 1.2 LS U-VA 1.2 LT SRV 1.6 OPT. PACK AVEO 1.4 BASE AVEO 1.4 LTD EDI AVEO 1.4 LT OPT.PACK TAVERA 2.5 LT 9S BS3 TAVERA 2.5 SSD1 7S (C) BS3 OPTRA ROYAL 1.6 LT (PETROL) OPTRA MAGNUM 2.0 LT ACC (DIESEL) CAPTIVA 2.0 LT VCDI

PRICE

268,648 289,992 304,641 334,123 401,639 444,184 483,975 790,100 606,461 661,631 754,930 877,748 993,249 967,686 1,074,547 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) 48.16 79.25 5.36 468.43 12.40 30.27 136.70 12.34 62.30

SELL(Rs) 50.61 83.49 7.34 517.54 15.36 35.37 148.20 14.41 65.48

REGIONAL

The Morung Express

Friday 24 October 2008

Prez for developing self-sufﬁcient villages

TURA, OCTOBER 23 (UNI): Asserting that for Meghalaya’s future economic growth, agriculture, agroindustries, employment opportunities, environment protection, building infrastructure networks and industrial progress must be pursued in a sustainable manner, President Pratibha Devisingh Patil today said villages should be developed as self-sufficient units with communities adopting an integrated approach to growth. Speaking at a civic reception and mothers union self help group meet held together, Patil said with 80 per cent Meghalaya population living in rural areas and dependant on agriculture, post harvest management and processing should be pursued to make agriculture a higher income generating activity. Stating that Meghalaya’s climate was conducive for growing different kinds of flowers and fruits, including the exotic variety and the state being home to some of the rare kinds of banana and citrus plants, 300 varieties of orchids and 700 odd varieties of medicinal plants, the President said scientific development of medicinal herbs would be an important source of

revenue along with plantation of crops like cashew, fruits like orange, strawberry, pineapple and flowers such as orchids and liliums. “Meghalaya has completed 36 years as a full-fledged state. In order to have sustainable growth, it would be important to build infrastructure in a manner that overcomes the obstacle of low-connectivity and difficult hilly terrain.” She laid emphasis on building a strong health infrastructure in the state along with the dedicated doctors, trained nurses and technical manpowers. Equally important was the need to have functional health centres from the level of primary health centres in rural areas to specialty hospitals. It was also necessary to evolve some mechanism, which would give rural men and women training in first aid and how to treat ailments locally, she said. Patil expressed serious concern over the growing problem of drug consumption among the youth, urging the young people to be cautious and avoid drug addiction. They should be made aware of the negative fall-outs of drug consumption

through awareness campaign. The President emphasised empowerment of women and improving their status in society. “The existence of the matrilineal system in Meghalaya has given to the fairer sex a place of primacy. I would emphasise the need for women to be educated and to look at income generation activities which is important for the overall economic growth of the state.” Expressing happiness over several self-help groups in the state, she said growth can be sustained only with the participation of everybody. She also expressed concern over the state suffering from water scarcity and said rain harvesting and aquifer re-charge as well as water storage capacity, including check dams and ponds in villages, was essentials to ensure stability in water supply. The state should also look at exploiting its water resources for the generation of hydro electric power for which it has a huge potential for about 3,000 MW. For this, investment in power sector should be explored, she asserted. Patil called for developing the state as tourist destination so that a

Dimapur

range of handicraft products made in Meghalaya can be displayed and marketed for which related infrastructure and other facilities should be developed. The President further emphasised that the education should be provided to every girl and boy at the primary level and to every man and woman seeking higher education. “We need to impart vocational training to the youth so that they can set up businesses or be self employed. The progress of Meghalaya is the progress of India.” On the occasion, Taura MP Agatha K Sangma submitted a memorandum to Patil on behalf of the Garo Hills people. The President was accompanied by Meghalaya Governor Ranjeet Shekhar Mooshahary. He expressed serious concern over the problem of corruption and said people and NGOs should work with governments to fight the menace. Shekhar said the Garo Hills have seen rapid problems of development in plantation of tea, rubber and cashew nut and should give Kerala competition. The native Garos presented the traditional Wan- An activist from DOYA (an NGO) shows a rare breed of Hawk/Falcon that was rescued in Sivasagala dance on the occasion. gar in Assam on October 23. (UB photo)

MNF, Cong and UDA to lock horns in Mizo poll FIR ﬁled against Meghalaya minister

Newmai News Network Aizawl | October 23

THE 2008 MIZORAM assembly election will witness the Congress party, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Mizo National Front (MNF) locking horn in most of the constituencies. The important political parties that do not make their presence felt in Mizoram so far are the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and both the factions of the Communist Party of India (CPI). With the open public feasting being banned by the Mizoram Peoples’ Forum (MPF), the election campaign in Mizoram has not been as noisy as the past elections. However, it will be wrong to say that there is no hectic campaigning in the Women-folk of Ragailon demonstrating at a sit-in-dharna protesting against the recent Ragai- state. Mizoram goes to poll on November 29 and in the long bomb blast on Thursady at Menuthong,Imphal. (UB PHOTO)

run up to the event major political parties have started selecting their respective candidates who have the prospects of winning. Although there are political parties who have started making waves in the state while politicking, the Congress party, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Mizo National Front (MNF) are considered the most prominent parties who will be locking horns in most of the constituencies. The exciting tussle will be at the Aizawl West-1 assembly constituency where former Mizoram chief minister Brig T Sailo, Rualchhina and PC Zoramsangliana are likely to bid for the seat. “The Aizawl West-1 will witness the clash of the titans”, said a newspaper in Aizawl a few days back. The United Democratic

Alliance (UDA) has already declared that Brig T Sailo who was once the most influential chief minister of Mizoram, will the Alliance chief ministerial candidate. In Aizawl South-1 constituency, once a safe seat of Mizo National Front (MNF) may face a stiff contest from the Congress party. However, a prominent ex-MLA from Mizo National Front A Lalvunga has decided to contest himself as an independent, a shocking move for the ruling MNF party. A rift has cropped up between A Lalvunga and the MNF, according to reports. Curently, the Aizawl South-1 constituency is being occupied by MNF MLA R Tlanghmingthanga. The Congress party may field either R Vanlalvena or Lalrinliana Sailo in the Aizawl South-1 constituency.

SHILLONG, OCTOBER 23 (PTI): An FIR was filed against Meghalaya Mining and Geology minister Donkupar Massar by a village headman for allegedly assaulting him, police said. The FIR comes less than a fortnight after labourers had filed a similar FIR against Massar for allegedly assaulting them. The headman of Pongtung village council, Wallambok Lyngdoh, filed an FIR alleging that the minister had assaulted him and threatened him with dire consequences after he prevented putting up of flags bearing Massar’s election symbol during the March assembly polls, police said today quoting the FIR. Copies of the FIR were also sent to the Chief Minister Donkupar Roy and Meghalaya Home minister H

S Lyngdoh. The headman of the village, which fall under Massar’s constituency of Nongskhen, has also sought police protection. Meanwhile, police is expected to interrogate the minister for his alleged assault on four road labourers at Borsora in West Khasi Hills recently. The labourers had filed an FIR, and the victims were questioned at the ADM’s court on Tuesday last, sources said. Police said Massar would be questioned when he returns from the US, where he has gone on an official visit. Several NGOs have demanded the Chief Minister to drop Massar from the cabinet and initiate legal proceedings against him. The Chief Minister said action against the minister would be taken after studying the final police report.

Six militants killed in Manipur ‘Arunachal is an integral part of India’

Newmai News Network Imphal | October 23

ALTOGETHER 6 MILITANTS were gunned down in Imphal on Thursday by security force personnels in two separate incidents and recovered a large number of weapons from the deceased. At around 6:30 pm today, a combined team of Assam Rifles and Imphal East district police commandos shot dead 5 cadres of suspected Kangleipak Communist Party-Military Council (KCP-MC) at a place called Heingang Heibi Makhong in Imphal East district. Sources said that cadres of PULF (Kazi-Umar faction) were also suspected to be among the killed militants.

Sources further revealed that 2 M-16 rifles, one carbine, one 9mm pistol, a single barrel gun, a detonator, a hand grenade, one lethode bomb, one SLR magazine along with two live rounds, 2 kg of PEK explosive, 6 ‘batteries’, 4 antenae set, 2 letter heads signed by L.Khuman amounting to about rupees 1.5 crore and some indiscriminating documents are said to have been recovered from the slain militants at Heingang Heibi Makhong. In a separate incident earlier in the afternoon, Imphal West police commandos shot dead a cadre of KCP-MC suspect under Lamlai area. A hand grenade was said to have been recovered from the slain cadre.

Locals opposing Manipur airport expansion plan

IMPHAL, OCTOBER 23 (PTI): The plan to expand the Tulihal-Imphal airport in Manipur has hit a road block with local residents ranged against attempts to forcibly acquire private land. The owners of the land proposed to be acquired have formed a committee, Committee on Airport Expansion, and demanded that the government’s plan to acquire land for the airport’s expansion be first made public before any further action on the project. The committee arranged an ‘open dialogue’ on the issue on October 17 in which prominent personalities of Manipur said that instead of going in for expansion, the existing facilities could be improved and more facilities added. Some other people of the area have formed another committee - Joint Action Committee - which is against any expansion of the airport at all. A spokesman of the committee said that during previous expansions in 1950, 1960, 1970 and 1991 the government had acquired cultivable lands, ponds and fishing farms displacing many people.

Customary court goes www From page 1

In his keynote address, Temsu Wathi, District Informatics Officer of NIC Mokokchung appraised the need to have a facility for computerization in order to catch up with the rest of the world. He emphasized that it is only a stepping stone towards eGovernance’s vision and mission and gradually this institution will be able to digitize all its available important documents. He also expects that the other district customary courts shall also replicate the idea and in which all the customary courts in Nagaland can be connected through digital networking for information exchange quicker and more effectively in administering justice.

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 23 (AGENCIES): External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday raised New Delhi’s concerns regarding “transgression” by Chinese troops into Indian territory. Snubbing China’s attempt to call parts of Arunachal Pradesh as its own, Pranab reaffirmed that “it was an integral part of India”. The issue was raised a day ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s crucial meeting with Chinese Premiere Wen Jiabao during the ASEM Summit in Beijing tomorrow. Contending that there were “different perceptions” on “transgressions” by Chinese troops into Indian

territory, the minister said the two countries had agreed to exchange maps delineating the frontier but the progress is “not very bright”. Replying to questions in Rajya Sabha on Chinese incursions across the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Pranab said, “They think that entire Arunachal is their territory which we are not agreeing upon. Nobody agrees.” He added that “there are different perceptions why these transgressions are taking place”. Mukherjee said the two countries had decided in 2003 to appoint special representatives to resolve the border issue. “This is going

on, this is taking time,” he said. “...There are different perceptions about the entire area (border), the Middle Sector, Eastern Sector, Western Sector. We consider that these are our areas and they consider that these are their areas,” the Minister informed the House. Mukherjee recalled that in 2000, his predecessor Jaswant Singh had suggested exchange of maps “delineating our perceptions in the map itself.” He added that the “progress is not very bright”, but there has been some improvement in the Middle Sector – maps have been ex- Seen here are a woman and child who bore the brunt of the eviction drive carried out by the changed and the areas of dis- Railway authority against illegal settlement from Kamakhya Gate area of Guwahati city on pute have been identified. October 23. (UB Photo)

Protests hits tea and tourism in Darjeeling Unscientiﬁc mining affecting Meghalaya

KOLKATA, OCTOBER 23 (REUTERS): Fresh protests for a separate state in India’s famous Darjeeling hills are threatening its tea and tourism industries, traders said, as the Gorkha community continues to press its demand for autonomy. Gorkhas, who are ethnic Nepalis, are demanding a separate state of “Gorkhaland” be carved out of West Bengal state’s Darjeeling region to protect their Himalayan culture and heritage, and protests have picked up again this month. The ruling communist government in West Bengal opposes the idea, as do Bengali groups in the foothills to the south of Darjeeling. There have been sporadic outbreaks of unrest between

ethnic Nepalis and Bengalis as a result. Caught in this battle are tea traders, who say exports of premium Darjeeling tea may fall 20-25 percent this year due to political unrest in the hills. The region’s vast tea gardens ship highly prized and fragrant brews around the world, churning out about 10 million kg a year. “This third protest in the past few months has left the garden managers and workers jittery and we estimate 20 percent loss in production in tea gardens,” Rajiv Lochan, secretary of the Siliguri Tea Traders’ Association, told Reuters. “This is the end of season and pruning is supposed to begin in a while.” Exports of Darjeeling tea had been expected to rise 20-

Assam Cong faces BPF displeasure

GUWAHATI, OCTOBER 23 (UNI): The Congress-led Assam government is sailing through rough tides in the wake of souring relations among the allies following the violence in Darrang and Udalguri districts. The Bodoland People Front (BPF) legislators today met Governor Shiv Charan Mathur, along with Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, and expressed their anger on the recent violence affecting Bodo people. The BPF leaders, including Hagrama Mohillary and Chandan Brahma, also met the Chief Minister and governor but their veteran leader Karendra Basumatary revolted against the party line, rocking the government. Government spokesman Himanta Biswa Sarma, addressing a press conference, however, discounted that the ruling combing was in trouble.

‘’The government is stable. The BPF is rightly behind us. They have some genuine grievances, which are being addressed by the state government. They are mostly related to the relief and rehabilitation of the affected Bodo people’’ he said. However, the Congress insiders admitted that the party was not relaxed. They reaffirmed their relationship with the independents, whose support was the key to survival. Out of 126 seats in Assam Assembly, the Congress has 54. Adding the seats of the lone NCP and five associate members, the Congress bloc has 60 seats, which is still short of four to majority. The break-up of seats for the opposition is AGP - 25 (including Prafulla Mahanata), BJP - 10, AUDF - 10, Left - 3 and ASDC - 1. Altogether the opposition has 49 seats which is way short of the halfway mark.

25 percent over last year’s 6 million kg, but now the industry is staring at substantial losses. Most of it goes to the Middle East, Pakistan, Russia, and Germany. The Gorkhas have rejected offers by state and central governments to talk about increased autonomy, saying only statehood would solve their problems. At least 1,200 people died in the first Gorkhaland campaign in the 1980s, but protests ended a few years later after Gorkha leaders accepted limited autonomy. “We will not settle for anything less than a separate Gorkha state this time,” said Roshan Giri, a protest leader of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (Gorkha People’s Liberation Front),

which is spearheading the protest. Hundreds of protesters took to the streets this week and forced car owners to replace the government licence plates with ones saying “Gorkhaland.” Tourists have also been avoiding the Darjeeling hills, with thousands of cancellations reported by tour operators since April this year. “The tourist inflow is 20 percent less and we are estimating an annual loss of 200 million rupees ($4 million),” said Anil Punjabi, who heads the eastern India unit of the Travel Agents Federation of India. Darjeeling, known for the picturesque Himalayan mountains, tea gardens and hospitality, is a premier tourist destination.

Suspected botched vaccination claims four infants in Assam GUWAHATI, OCTOBER 23 (AGENCIES): Four infants have died and at least eight have taken ill in western Assam in what appears to be a case of botched vaccination, parents and locals said though the state government Wednesday denied the charge and ordered a probe. The four infants, aged between nine-and-a-half to 11 months, died in Baksa district almost immediately after they were administered measles vaccines in four health centres in the area. “It is true that four deaths have occurred but we can say it is not due to the administration of the measles vaccine. The same batches of vaccines are being used elsewhere in Assam as part of the allIndia Measles vaccination drive,” Assam

Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. He said the matter was being investigated to ascertain the cause of the deaths. “The babies frothed at the mouth, shivered and then collapsed, almost immediately after they were administered the vaccine,” an activist said, requesting anonymity. Pediatricians said the vaccine was unlikely to be the cause of death. “An investigation is needed if the administration of the vaccine was done correctly and things like that,” said Gyanan Sharma of the Gauhati Medical College. A central health ministry team headed by Sunil Khaparde, deputy commissioner of immunization, will arrive here Thursday to investigate the matter.

SHILLONG, OCTOBER 23 (AGENCIES): Random mining carried out in an unscientific manner in Meghalaya has led to severe degradation of the environment there, according to a new study. “Considerable portions of the state’s Jaintia Hills, which have over 46 percent forest cover, have been turned into degraded land due to extensive mining,” said the report of the study carried out by the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The report, released by Meghalaya Governor R.S. Mooshahary in Shillong this week, said: “Besides the forests, the region’s water bodies are bearing the brunt of the unscientific and highly unsafe method of mining.” According to the report, the northeast accounts for about five percent of the minerals produced in India. The region also holds a sizeable share of the total area under mining leases - in Meghalaya, about 4,177 hectares (0.67% of India’s total) is under mining leases while Assam has 1,294 hectares (0.21%). “A variety of reasons makes mineral exploration in the region a complex process, with very high environmental and social impacts, besides forest resources,” said Sunita Narain, director, CSE. Quoting the report she said,: “In all the places, the water was found to be highly acidic, with a pH below 4. Acidic water is directly injurious to aquatic flora and fauna. The CSE team found that most of the water bodies in the region had no aquatic life. “The coal mining in Meghalaya is not only unscientific, there is no post-mining treatment and poor management of the mined areas and the mines are not registered while mine deaths - which go almost totally unreported - are common.” Meghalaya has lately been in the limelight for its proposed uranium mining project. The Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) had proposed a Rs.10.46 billion open-cast uranium mining and processing plant at Domiasiat in the West Khasi Hills district of the state having an estimated deposit of 9.22 million tonnes of uranium ore. However, the UCIL had failed to make any progress to convince the state government, political parties and anti-mining groups. After releasing the report Mooshahary expressed surprise at the government’s silence over the rat hole, unhealthy environment and land degrading coal mining practices carried out in the coal belt areas.

IN-FOCUS

The Power of Truth

The Morung Express FRIDAY 24 OCTOBER 2008 VOL. III ISSUE 295

Radio Ga Ga

s Nepal cements its transition from a monarchy to a republic in yet another critical process of defining the course of its future political destiny, it is evident that the Radio has come to assume an indispensable role in defining the opinion of the people; and hence the fate of its future. A unique and central feature of Nepal’s sovereign dispensation has been its willingness to facilitate the development of the Radio as a means to encourage the making of an informed society. Indeed, the Radio has been a central pathway of connecting and empowering the diverse people of Nepal as a unified political entity. While India by large is an entertainment centered society, manifested and reiterated through its mainstream media, Nepal by comparison thrives on the hunger for want of information and knowledge through public discourses on issues that are important to their existence. This is so evidently clear in the positions that the media have taken and the priority it gives to information over entertainment. It therefore is not surprising that independent media was a leading figure in the peoples’ movement for democracy. In the face of threat and grave danger, the media in Nepal took a conscious and deliberate decision to collectively withstand all forms of state pressure and to resolutely stand firm upon a moral and ethical position; to strive for democracy. Its passionate resolve to truly represent peoples aspiration makes up for its lack of suave and sophistication. In essence its simplicity and sincerity has made it possible to communicate with the people, thereby creating trust and reliability. Fundamentally, its political stand to be ‘in the boat’ rather than ‘outside the boat’ has made independent media in Nepal a decisive factor. Considering that print media has limited reach and accessibility in Nepal, the Radio in effect is the one and only true medium of mass communication. With cheap and easy accessibility, the Radio has succeeded in developing a personal relationship with the listener. From remote villages to the heart of Katmandu valley, from scanty shacks to sophisticated studios, Radio stations stand proudly in the skyline, serving as a reminder its testament as a vanguard of people’s aspiration. Nepal’s pioneering community Radios have had positive affect on the people; and because it is community-centered with ownership in the hands of the people, it has become an affective and trustworthy medium for addressing concerns, disseminating information, empowering people to make informed decisions. In essence, these have been the factors that enabled its resistance in the height of state repression and have enhanced decentralization of power. Consequently, it moved from resistance to actively assuming the critical yeast in forging unity in purpose among civil society and harmonizing internal and external conditions, which finally led to the restoration of democracy in Nepal. Let’s hope that the Radio will continue to assume greater responsibilities in the building of a democratic and informed Nepal. There is no doubt that the Radio has proven to be an effective medium in sharing viewpoints, cultivating public opinion and evolving consensus towards fundamental questions of justpeace and human security. With an open Air and a critical Voice of reason, this RadioNation exemplary demonstrates that revolutions come by way of honest and open dialogues, made possible through, Radio.

LEFT WING |

Peter Ki Maram

The Hunt for a Job: When does the real Journey begin?

ormally, the journey ends and the wait begins once you have done very well in the interview. This is how it should be when it comes to the hunt for a job. But in our part of the world a good interview is the beginning of a new journey, perhaps, more tortuous than the one that has gone before. That is not to belittle the effort that goes into preparing for the written examination and the interview. It takes pain and effort, and the burning of the midnight oil to get through the written examination. The smarter ones will look for trends in the line of questioning. A review of past question papers help. Better still is talking to those who have crossed the bridge before. Others will, with great determination, scour the daily newspapers, competitive magazines, yearbooks and text books. In the end, luck does play a role. No matter how much you prepare, there is always a chance that questions will come from unexpected quarters. However, it is true that the more prepared you are the luckier you will be. You can reduce the margins of unexpected questions. Next is the interview. Here, subjectivity counts. After all, two or three dignified interviewers will grill you. Some will try to make you feel even tenser than you already are. Others will be more pleasant. They can even make some effort to put you at ease. But, beware of meeting someone with whom you have already had an unpleasant encounter! The hatchet could be dragged into the present interview as well. Otherwise, things should be fine, as long as you have adequately prepared yourself. So, you think you have done very well in your interview? Bolstered by the impressive score in the written examination and good interview, can you afford to relax? Do you think you should confidently wait for the call letter, intimating your appointment to that coveted post? Sorry. More often than not, the opposite is true. If you have done well, or even if you have not done so well, the real journey actually begins now. The journey that is not aided by knowledge but by something much more real and contingent. Money. You are now at a stage in which you realise that “the job” is so near yet so far. You are “so near” because you have done well in the written as well as the interview. Yet, you are “so far” because money plays a deciding role in the appointment to the post. Can you pay or can you not? That is the question. The answer, however, depends on where you come from. If you come from a family of wealth, you need not worry too much. But if you live from hand-tomouth, you really need to console yourself. In the end the criteria for the hunt for the most suitable candidate is not knowledge but money. And if you happen to be from the other end of the wealth-poverty spectrum, the time to despair is right around the corner. How do we explain this malaise? We take recourse to sweeping general statements like “systemic” and “topdown” corruption. There is too much of it everywhere; a numbing sort of an effect sets in. Someone actually proposed legalising corruption. Yet such negative humour misses the point. We need to move from the general to the specific. The general picture is bad. What about the specific? What about the individual(s) holding the reins of power? What about the conscience of those few with the ability to appoint and dismiss? We could look at the “individual” as the agency for change. Perhaps, if each individual decided to be honest it would do a lot of good. Good actions are contagious. Are you ready to be a drop of good action that makes up the mighty ocean of goodness?

S O U N D BITE “Developing countries like India are also affected by the crisis and have to be part of the solution. We cannot afford to risk the gains we have made in the last few years. Nor do we wish to remain vulnerable to infirmities in international surveillance, supervision and regulatory mechanisms in the future.” Manmohan Singh

“This is the new India. We have found aggression and know how to win matches against the toughest opponents. We saw that in the second Test. It was a fantastic performance by the team in Mohali.” Chairman of selectors, Krishnamachari Srikkanth

THE EDIT PAGE

C O M M E N T A R Y

Sanen Imchen

Developing an Educated Mind: A perspective on Schooling What then is the purpose of education? Rather than devise complex theoretical interpretations, it is better to start by looking to the child who sits on your lap and ask yourself: What can I do to assure that this child will be able to lead the happiest life possible?” - Tsunebaro Makiguchi (a reformist educator, author and philosopher who founded the Soka Gakkai in Japan)

ducation is not a one time shot, but a lifetime process. It is not just about imparting knowledge, but training young minds with skills to this knowledge purposefully, and effectively, towards the betterment of self and society. How a child tunes his/ her fundamental channels for learning becomes his or her learning style later in life. The demands of the global economy, now more than ever, have upped the ante of how young people need to equip themselves to lead quality lives that is both meaningful and accomplished. Thus, the basic aim of education should be to provide the right inputs to help children grow up into conscientious individuals, equipped to make the right choices in life and be responsible citizens. This can be achieved only when there is a well-designed schooling programme that balances formal and informal education – a holistic approach. Traditional Education primarily focuses on the methods of teaching. It has largely been influenced by Behavioral Science, which is based on the assumption that effective learning is a matter of ‘conditioned response’. Consequently, the teacher’s function is defined in terms of the ability to meet certain learning requirements - deciding what and how students should learn. The focus is on tailoring a ‘one-size fits all’ delivery method. Students are taught how to meet the teacher’s expectations. Their motivation is extrinsic to the process of learning, which is defined only in terms of ‘success’ and ‘failure’. Here learning is passive and is based on memorization of set patterns. The evaluation is standardized in the form of grades to measure the so called ‘knowledge’. Traditional School Education evolved in the context of the era of Industrialism. Schools were designed as an effective way to pre-adapt children to industrial society and its rigid demands for discipline and authoritarianism. Children were merely molded to fill pre-designated slots and independent thinking was not encouraged. This Traditional-Behavioral paradigm with its emphasis on ‘methods of teaching’ is being seriously questioned

today. Schools are faced with the problem on how to increase student motivation while satisfying standard educational requirement. Current perspectives on education make a strong case for shifting to a more ‘Holistic’ approach to education. Holistic education lays emphasis on the processes of learning or ‘cognition’, thereby focusing on the optimal functioning of the brain as a whole. It is more concerned with drawing forth the latent capacities and sensitivities of the mind rather than stuffing it with pre-digested information. Recent findings in brain research have proven that learning is most effective when it involves the brain’s natural function of creating meaning from experience. It sees the learning process as a natural function of the brain as a meaning maker. Here, learning is natural, active and meaningful as it takes place in the context of the experience that one goes through. This active learning involves the unconscious motivation for intrinsic rewards of knowledge and understanding. The teachers function as ‘facilitators’ of learning by providing an environment where students search for meaning, appreciate uncertainty and inquire responsibly. This in turn, help students to take responsibility for their own learning, to be autonomous thinkers, to develop integrated understanding of concepts, and to pose and seek questions rather than being rote learners. This involves learning by understanding rather than mere memorization. In recent times, parents in increasing numbers are seeking alternatives to mainstream education. Few would criticize the commitment to academic excellence that most schools and teachers have worked hard to actualize. But more and more parents realize that just learning academics is not enough, and they see young people in their communities suffering from a lack of needed learning, and society suffering as well. For instance, increasing suicide rates of students who are unable to cope with the pressure of failure may be a case in point. In 2006, a major survey of India’s top private schools spread across five metros was jointly conducted by a research organization called Educational Initiatives, Ahmedabad and Wipro Applying Thought, Bangalore. The study tested over 32,000 students of Classes IV, VI, and VIII on learning and understanding of key concepts in English, Math and Science. It was basically conducted to assess the quality of education imparted in these elite schools. The results were quite disquieting. Some trends highlighted were: • Students appear to be learning mechanically rather than truly understanding the concepts. • Learning is rote-based and does not focus on real knowledge. • The ability to apply learning to real life situations-essential for competence building-was extremely poor. • Indian students fare poorly in com-

parison to International counterparts. (Source: India Today) The survey strikes at the core of what is increasingly going wrong with the approach to education-the focus on high value scores in board exams rather than concentrating on imparting real learning. Parents also look at our current society in which social problems seem to be getting worse; in which those considered successful are too often greedy, corrupt, and brutal; in which families and communities seem increasingly dysfunctional; and they ask, “Why are we not as humans learning what we need to know in order to live good and meaningful lives?” Learning more mathematics, literature, or history does not seem to be equipping us better to face life. Parents see the need for their children to learn other skills along with academics, and thence the quest for schools that give time, attention, energy, and resources, to such learning. Parents generally do not approach holistic education out of mere philosophical musings, but rather from the perceived need that the present system of education has failed to mould their children into wholesome well rounded personalities. Many schools have also now realized this startling gap in learning-knowledgeapplication. Attempts have been made by them to bridge this distance by innovating their curriculum transaction or just going in for a whole school transformation process. New schools, on the other hand, are coming up with new philosophies and vision. Increasingly, concepts like, experiential learning, learning by fun, child-centric education, multiple intelligences, children as individual learners, are becoming the new mantras. Even an organization like the NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training), that sets the tone for India’s education process, have recognized the learning disparities between school knowledge and everyday experience. In fact, the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2005 of the NCERT is considered by many as a watershed in the country’s education process not only because it recognizes the deep disquiet in several aspects of our educational practice but also for the far reaching corrective measures that it has suggested. In one of its report titled, Learning without Burden, it states that: “Our perception of the child as a receiver of knowledge rather than recognizing their creative instinct and capacity to construct knowledge out of experience is a major reason why learning at school cannot become a joyful experience.” However, there are some concerns in implementing this form of conceptbased learning in schools. One being, the disconnect between the curriculum adopted and the final board exams, which still test children on ‘superficial’ knowledge. It is, however, heartening to know that boards like the CBSE has started to attune itself to the current needs and

situation. This year it introduced what it called the HOTS (High Order Thinking Skills) system in a small portion of its examination papers. Reports suggest that this would increase to about 40 percent in the coming year. This is a welcome step as it not only tests the child on memory-based questions but also his or her critical thinking skills, understanding and ability to take initiative. This would fairly address the gap between a child’s learning and the assessment. If one were to look at a place like Nagaland, it is of outmost importance that we generate parental awareness to look at school education beyond just marks scored. Many parents are still obsessed with their child’s score in exams that instead of questioning the school to fill the gap in learning, they take the easiest possible route through private tuitions. This is a piece-meal solution and the child would find it difficult to enhance their thinking skills if everything is fed to them on a platter. On one hand, it absolves the school from any form of accountability while on the other, private tutors cash in on this demand. Private tuitions have today come close to being a ‘civilized’ form of extortion. In a pilot survey by our organization- Benchmark Education Initiative- among some parents of school going children in Dimapur, the major concern almost in a chorus was the mushrooming of private tuition culture. Most felt that this could have been countered effectively by enhancing the quality of classroom learning and delivery methods but there was a dearth of quality teachers in many schools. Quality classroom transaction is possible only when teachers question the traditional approaches to instruction and learning, and invest significant time and energy to design new methods for reaching their students. It is imperative for parents to remember here that education does not end with the 12th standard board exams. Many students, armed with brilliant marks in boards, falter when they get into specialized fields because they find it increasingly difficult to grasp concepts. In his best selling book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey writes: “...we have inadvertently become so obsessed with our building that we have forgotten the foundation that holds it up; or in reaping for so long where we have not sown, perhaps we have forgotten the need to sow.” It is not necessary to be academically brilliant to be a success and to do well in life. It is more important to be able to know how to learn and to adjust to changing circumstances by building on our adaptive qualities, to recognize one’s strengths and to learn to apply them. It is not just about being academically intelligent but also being emotionally intelligent. The writer is a former civil servant with the Govt.of India, now heads a social enterprise – Benchmark Education Initiative. He can be contacted at sanenimchen@hotmail.com

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Fourth Pillar discarded by HM? BSNL lauds Pfutsero •Sir-What deliberate lies could the media Police Force persons have ever reported in the newspapers or news channels that made the Home Minister, Imkong L. Imchen utter “Media, we cannot believe in whole totality, that we all know”, and that the reports in the state’s media cannot be trusted? Home Minister may have felt bold enough to have criticized the Fourth Estate, maybe in his excitement for whatever reasons then. But what a shame, a person with so much of responsibility towards the society could hold such grudge against “the eyes, the ears, the mouth (even nose)” in the society. He should not have forgotten in his excitement (?) that he owes his leadership opportunity a lot to the Fourth Estate. In fact, he is being fed regularly through the Medias without which, he himself would not be able to function and perform his duties as a public servant of the highest honour. How could he say that the news reports are not trustworthy and heap such uncalled for language, that too, in the presence of the media persons, who were there to cover his programme? Just a reminder to the honourable Home Minister (and all whosoever may be concerned) that ‘truth hurts’, because Reporters ‘will not’ and ‘cannot’ just file stories, or the Editors just accept any stories. But of course, there are times and occasions where the Reporters may have blundered, but for which, an apology is tendered, because, no reporter(s) will deliberately file stories ‘out of the blue’. There always is something happening, for which, there is something to read in the newspaper or listen to the news casters or newsreaders. Whether one likes it or not, without the ‘trust’ on the Fourth Estate, can any society progress?

•Sir- The General Manager, BSNL, Nagaland Telecom appreciated the local Police Force at Pfutsero and Pfutsero Hill Area for their laudable efforts made to apprehend the culprits in the theft cases lodged by BSNL and protecting the BSNL properties. In the light of the events ensued during these few days, BSNL, Nagaland Telecom thanks one and all from Pfutsero Police Staff who have given moral support to BSNL. Public Relations Ofﬁcer O/o GMTD, BSNL. NLD SSA, Dimapu

On Nagamese

•Sir-Nagamese is an unavoidable disgusted language for the Nagas. A fortnight ago, Dr.Rev.N. Paphino said in NCRCYF Silver Jubilee that he would be speaking in Nagamese but his Nagamese would be Naga-Angamese. Once Rev.K. Lorin said that when the Babel Tower was built, Naga forefathers might be pioneers in building it. Whether we like it or not, it cannot be avoided. Even antagonists cannot escape from speaking Nagamese in communicating with men and women of different communities who do not know English. I too though I can speak Angami English, I cannot express my opinion through which the Nagas can communicate with one another. We cannot help to be angry when Nagas are outside of Nagaland cannot have a secret conversation in the presence of others, so Nagamese is used in secret conversation. If English is to be used as the common language like in Hongkong, Singapore and Phillipine, for the Nagas it will take even 30 years more. The Nagas should have a viKopelo Krome, Kohima sion that after 30 years the Naga masses can

have the capability of using English as the common language. It will be most beneficial for the Nagas because English is the most important International language. Another common language can emerge and be developed but it will take us backward because it will take century to reach its maturity. Till such time Nagamese is inevitable to be used as the common medium of communication. It is of immense help to the Nagas as Nagamese services in Churches such as Koinonia Baptist Church, Nagamese Baptist Church and several others facilitate people of different communities to have services together above the respective dialectic barriers and they are being tremendously benefited. Nagamese has no grammatical consistency and order so it would be an arduous task to bring up a Bible in Nagamese. But praise God for a servant of God one Sam Kumar Uppadhaya has printed N.T. Nagamese Bible which was released several years ago and the whole Holy Bible is going to be completed and will be released next year. It is a great contribution to our people in time of our dire need. N.T. Bible is available in Koinonia Baptist Church. Rev.L. Suohie Mhasi

Trans-Asian Railways •Sir-India has signed the inter-Governmental Agreement on Trans-Asian Railways along with Bangladesh to strengthen rail linkages in the region, especially with South Asian countries and boost trade between Asia and Europe. The agreement was signed on Friday by JP Batra, Chairman of the Railway Board. Indian Railways, on behalf of India on 29th June, 2007. With India and Bangladesh signing the agreement, 20 countries became signatories of the pact. The 18 other countries had signed the pact at Busan,

South Korea on 6th November, 2006. The 80,900-km railway network covers 28 countries including 22,600 km in South Asia, Iran and Turkey. The southern corridor of the network, as decided in an expert group meeting held at Dhaka in 1999, commences from Kunming in China and Bangkok in Thailand and ends in Kapikule in Bulgaria. The total length of the route between Bangkok and Kapikule is 11,460 kms and it provides trans-continental rail connectivity to China, Thailand , Myanmar , Bangladesh , Pakistan , India , Iran and Turkey. The network will provide an opportunity for improving rail linkages to India’s northeastern states and harmonize the rail network in the region. The route will enter India at Tamu in Manipur, bordering Myanmar, before going to Bangladesh and re-enter India at Gede in North 24 Parganas, West Bengal. On the western side, the route is proposed to enter Pakistan at Attari. This route has a missing link of 315 kms between India and Myanmar of Which, 180 kms is in India between Jiribam and Tamu in Manipur. The railway network will improve transport linkages between Asia and Europe and facilitate movement of goods and containers among the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, resulting the enhancement of trade. The said Trans Asian Railway is planned in the interest of 28 countries, and not in the interest of an individual state or country. It is therefore every responsible citizen and organization of any status may view it in the interest of the Euro-Asian people development linkages and support its implementation without undue interference. G. Gaingam Former V/President Naga Hoho

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.

FRIDAY

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

24 OCTOBER 2008

PERSPECTIVE NEWS ANALYSIS, FEATURE AND DISCOURSE

Burma's failed non-violent opposition

Norman Robespierre

he one-year anniversary of Myanmar's military crackdown on non-violent protests in Yangon and several other cities calling for political change came and went without incident. While the Buddhist monk-led demonstrations briefly raised global awareness of the Burmese people's plight, it also highlighted the failure of the opposition's long-held non-violence strategy as the best means to bring change to the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) regime that views the failure to use violence as a sign of weakness. While outwardly a spontaneous gesture in reaction to economic woes, the demonstrations were the culmination of years of planning by opposition forces inside and abroad for non-violent action to confront the regime. Opposition to the ruling regime is figuratively headed by Aung San Suu Kyi, the daughter of General Aung San, the founding father of Burmese independence. Her commitment to non-violent struggle for political change has earned her the Nobel Peace Prize and global admiration, but two decades since soldiers opened fire on unarmed pro-democracy demonstrators, there is little else to show for her two decades of non-violent struggle. The resounding victory of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party in the 1990 elections was the political high-water mark for the opposition. While the regime refused to honor the poll's results, the election provided political legitimacy to the NLD and a handful of opposition activists. Many of those elected still cling to demands that the election's results be honored, but with each passing year those claims to legitimacy become less germane. Close to 40% of the elected members of parliament have been dismissed or resigned and a full 20% have died. The opposition defined broadly is comprised of a plethora of political organizations. Among the best known are the National Coalition Government for the Union of Burma, headed by Dr Sein Win, Suu Kyi's cousin, the All-Burma Student's Democratic Front (ABSDF), Democratic Alliance for Burma, National League for Democracy-(Liberated Areas). Additionally, there are several umbrella organizations such as the democratic Alliance for Burma (DAB) and the National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB), which count membership from various political groups and ethnic insurgent armies. These organizations receive substantial backing from Western organizations, such as the Open Society Institute and National Endowment for Democracy. The vast majority of the opposition follows Suu Kyi's guidance that political change can and should be achieved through non-violence. That doctrine was further promulgated by the Albert Einstein Institute of Geneva and New York. In 1994, it sponsored a consultation on political defiance for Burmese democracy leaders. Included in the audience were representatives of ABSDF, NLD-LA, DAB, and the NCGUB, represented by Dr Sein Win. A key speaker at the pivotal event was the institute's founder, Gene Sharp. Sharp's involvement with the Burmese opposition was specifically mentioned in a June 1997 press conference condemning foreign support to terrorists by then Secretary-1of the SPDC, Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt. In hindsight, rather than condemnation, Khin Nyunt should have heaped laurels on Sharp for promoting non-violence. The opposition's adherence to non-violence has given the regime a monopoly on fear that allowed it to solidify its position, condemning generations of Burmese to life (and in some cases, death) under the military regime. Additionally, limiting the prospect of violent consequences removed one aspect which may have motivated the regime to negotiate change. Further, the promotion of nonviolence undermined the united opposition against the regime. Under the tutelage of Khin Nyunt, the regime succeeded in enticing numerous armed ethnic opposition groups to surrender their arms and "enter the light" - or at least accept a ceasefire. Khin Nyunt used a variety of incentives to the groups and particularly their leaders to gain their cooperation. The elevated principle of non-violence made it easier for group leaders to accept the bribery. The success of the regime's effort to pursue ceasefire deals continues to haunt the opposition with fragmentation and conflicting interests. Ethnic armies whose cooperation could have tilted the "Saffron" revolution to effect real change, sat and watched, perhaps out of concern that armed rebellion would jeopardize their lucrative mining or other concessions. As a result, the regime was able to focus its military might on the unarmed protesters and monks. Incentives and self-interest affect not only limited ceasefires and peace groups, but also some ethnic armies that continue to put forces in the field

against the Myanmar military, or Tatmadaw. According to a senior Thai military officer, the SPDC is able to continue to benefit from the vulnerable Yadana-Yetagun gas pipelines because the Mon insurgents in the area are receiving payoffs from both the regime and the Thai authorities. Construction of a third foreign exchange earning pipeline in the same area is reportedly slated for this dry season.

A valuable experience The Einstein Institute's website comments that while the non-violent struggles in Myanmar, China and Tibet "have not brought an end to the ruling dictatorships or occupations, they have exposed the brutal nature of those repressive regimes to the world community and have provided the populations with valuable experience with this form of struggle". How 20 years of mostly ineffectual resistance can be summed up as a "valuable experience" is a mystery. One wonders to what valuable experience those sitting comfortably in their ideological ivory towers refer: languishing in a Myanmar prison, being knocked senseless by a police truncheon, having family members disappear, torture, death? How much longer before the Burmese people realize the opposition's strategy of non-violence is ineffective against those who have the means and determination to kill to maintain control and decide to pursue a different, more assertive course? Opposition optimists say that the regime was weakened by last year's crackdown, arguing that the violence police and soldiers perpetrated against Buddhist monks irked the populace and many military officers, the majority of them Buddhist. Further, they cite perennial rumors of infighting among the generals and lower ranks that could lead to fractures in the leadership and eventually a democracy-promoting mutiny. However, earlier leadership struggles in which top generals fell from grace - including Tun Kyi, Saw Maung, Ne Win and Khin Nyunt - only brought changes in military personalities, not a transformation of the military-dominated system. Indeed, the system is highly resilient and endures with a new crop of military officers entering the top ranks of the Tatmadaw each year. Although many of the officers are not enthusiastic that monks were beaten, most believe that the majority of the protesters were recent novices who had donned monk's robes expressly to carry out illegal political demonstrations. The optimists also claim that the regime's inadequate response to Cyclone Nargis, which killed over 80,000 people and adversely affected the livelihoods of over 2 million, also weakened the SPDC. As evidence, they mention that many military personnel and government workers had relatives in the worst-hit Ayeyawady Division and were upset at the delayed response. The actual intensity of disenchantment caused by the slow reaction to the killer storm, of course, is hard to quantify without public opinion polls. However, the fact that Burmese people are used to being self-sufficient and not in the habit of relying on the government for anything likely means the fallout from such a callous official response was less severe than it would have been in other countries. Whatever disenchantment the government's limp response to Nargis and the September 2007 crackdown may have sown, to date it has not been exploited to cause the Tatmadaw to split or the military government to fall. From another perspective, it could just as easily be argued that Cyclone Nargis made the regime stronger by opening up a new tap of foreign aid. Millions of dollars of humanitarian aid poured into the economy as foreign nations rallied to assist the

storm's survivors. The regime's multitiered foreign exchange system allowed them to extract an estimated 20% to 25% from all foreign exchange certificates converted into the local kyat currency. The diversion of United Nations (UN) funds alone resulted in at least US$1.5 million (some estimates are as high as $10 million) of humanitarian aid being delivered straight into the regime's coffers. The tilted exchange

system also affected non-UN aid agencies for an undetermined amount of donations. Hard currency intended to relieve the suffering of cyclone survivors instead directly benefited the regime. Nargis also brought a recent call from the International Crisis Group (ICG) to repeal sanctions and provide more aid than beyond what is necessary to recover from Nargis to develop the impoverished country. While few share the ICG's sentiment, which in the past was criticized by the Open Society Institute for its unscholarly approach with respect to Myanmar, its call would allow the regime to reap even more foreign money to consolidate its position. Nargis brought not only financial benefit, but also is believed to have increased the regime's confidence. Certainly, the regime's confidence soared when French and US warships withdrew from waters off Myanmar's coast in the aftermath of the killer storm. While the vessels were sent to deliver humanitarian aid, antagonistic rhetoric about the humanitarian "right to protect" Myanmar's citizens by Western diplomats preceded the vessels' arrivals, raising the regime's suspicions about their mission. Rather than appear to submit to Western threats, and fearful of a possible uprising by opposition activists should foreign forces land on Myanmar soil, the regime barred the aid from being delivered by other than their own naval personnel. Eventually the vessels withdrew without a shot being fired and much of the aid went undelivered. The regime's ability to diplomatically ward off the perceived threat posed by French and American warships is believed to have boosted the regime's confidence in its ability to stand up to neo-colonialist adversaries. Confidence in the regime's decision-making, often portrayed as daft or worse in the international media, has recently reportedly grown among the rank and file. In particular, the decision to move the political capital to Naypyitaw from Yangon is - after the cyclone which hit the old capital - viewed in a favorable new light. Prior to Nargis, the abrupt move in late 2005 was widely criticized for its exorbitant expense and ridiculed for its reliance on astrology. It is now looked at by many Burmese as cosmic confirmation of the wisdom and even prescience of the senior leadership - or at least that of their astrologers. More important is the regime's growing confidence in the reliability of government forces to deploy as instruments of control. The ability to successfully extinguish the pro-democracy protests in September 2007, without notable dissension within the ranks of the police and military, left the Tatmadaw stronger and the regime more self-assured. According to several foreign diplomats based in Yangon, the regime is now reportedly more confident in the loyalty of its forces and its ability to control unrest. On the other hand, the position of the political opposition is decidedly weaker. More opposition members are in prison than before, while countless others have fled the country due to very real concerns for their personal security. An untold number have perished. Despite the overwhelming support of the populace, the opposition was unable to capitalize on social discontent in 2007, when the junta re-

moved fuel price subsidies and fuel costs shot up 500% overnight. Nor have they been able to leverage the chaos and suffering brought on by the junta's inept handling of the cyclone disaster this year into a renewed call for political change. Instead of maintaining offensive pressure and preparing adequate defensive measures to protect their supporters, they have blindly clung to the gospel of non-violence in the hope

that international pressure would eventually lead to democratic change. As many Saffron Revolution demonstrators can attest, hope is a weak defensive shield against a police baton, a charging truck, or the ammunition of soldiers trained to kill. Asymmetric violence While pursuing a moral high ground of non-violence, the opposition has ceded the battlefield to its military enemy. Unlike themselves, the ruling SPDC junta is more than willing to use violence to achieve its goals. One means at the regime's disposal are Swan-ar-Shin thugs, whose actions undoubtedly are directed by elements of the military regime, most likely the Sa Ya Pha , or military intelligence. Swan-ar-Shin often intimidate and cower the populace with the threat of violence and physical assault and many were captured on film beating unarmed demonstrators after they had been arrested. The regime's asymmetric use of violence breeds fear in the populace, forcefully enabling the regime to squash even the faintest hint of opposition to its rule. Viewed through that lens, the Swan-ar-Shin has been an unqualified success for the regime and instrumental in its staying power. Their ability to use violence with impunity and intimidate those holding dissenting political views has muzzled open expression of support for political change. As the Einstein Institute's Sharp points out in his writings, it is the fear of violent sanctions, rather than the violence itself, that creates the climate of fear which causes the populace to yield. In the absence of a functioning legal system, the opposition would be wise to pursue extra-legal action against the regime's violent henchmen. For instance, makeshift justice squads of the people could be formed to mete out street punishment to the Swan-ar-Shin members known to be guilty of the most heinous abuses. These Swan-ar-Shin agents are well known to their neighbors and a few instances of vigilante justice would no doubt cause others to consider the consequences of their unjust actions and embolden those who oppose them. While opposition-led vigilante squads may not totally remove the climate of fear, at least fear would be more equally distributed to both sides of the political aisle. In February, the Democratic Voice of Burma reported on a rare example of focused direct action against the junta's henchmen. According to the report, a regime-linked United Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) member from Hlaing Tharyar township with a local reputation for abuse was found beheaded. The circumstances of his death caused other USDA members to fear a similar fate and their harassment of people noticeably reduced, according to the report. Were this fear of retribution more widespread, the regime would have fewer resources to strangle dissent and added incentive to negotiate with the opposition. Instead, the exiled opposition blindly adheres to non-violence and is now mounting a major effort to petition the UN to revoke Myanmar's diplomatic credentials. There is nothing original in petitioning the UN: a similar initiative met with no success in 1996 and there is no reason to think

the current initiative has any better chance of succeeding. Numerous other countries in the UN General Assembly are also far from being democracies and they would be reluctant to support such punitive measures out of fear that some day a similar procedure might be launched against them. China and Russia certainly are no proponents of democracy and without their support inside the UN Security Council the latest effort will also

fail. Even were the effort successfully staged and Myanmar lost its seat at the UN, the domestic impact on the regime would be marginal. While the UN initiative helps maintain global awareness, the opposition's international efforts might be better deployed in targeting the regime's primary enabler, Singapore, which is particularly vulnerable because of its global commercial interests, including the recent stakes it took in big Western banks. Singapore has successfully deflected criticism for its role by pointing the finger at China or other neighboring countries as principal supporters of the regime. But it is Singaporean support that is the regime's lifeblood. Many of the regime's leaders and their family members are known to have Singaporean bank accounts. The regime's tyrants frequently travel to Singapore for state-of the-art medical treatment and receive cordial official welcomes. Burmese democracy activists in Singapore, on the other hand, risk arrest or revocation of their visas should they protest their regular arrivals. Singapore also allows numerous Myanmar businesses with direct links to the regime to incorporate in Singapore. Singapore's willingness to sacrifice ethics for money gives the Myanmar regime a cloak of international legitimacy to do business and enables it in many cases to circumvent financial sanctions imposed by Western countries. One example of Myanmar's Singaporean commercial fronts is Silver Wave Energy, reported in the media as a Singaporean company that brokered oil and gas deals between the regime and Indian and Russian companies. However, research into the firm indicates its phone numbers and offices are in Yangon at the Trader's Hotel. Meanwhile, the expatriate opposition leadership continues to be led by the same inept strategists that espouse non-violence as the sole implement to effect political change in Myanmar. Nearly two decades have passed without a democratic election and the opposition's leadership has grown stale, devoid of new ideas and lacking a coherent strategy. Indeed, they continue down the path of failed tactics that has degraded the opposition into its present sad, ineffectual state. Perhaps the opposition finds itself in this position because it relies so heavily on Western financial aid, which is explicitly tied to non-violent action. Accepting such financial aid should not preclude coordinating a unified offense that complements non-violent action, nor should it divert resources from potentially successful operations targeting the regime and its enablers with violent and non-violent methods to those historically proven to be without merit. Expatriate opposition leaders are known to travel in business class on democracy grants and other donations recycling old ideas that simply don't work in Myanmar's military-run context. They are neither up for re-election, nor beholden to an electorate apart from their Western government patrons. Many, it seems through conversations, expect to retain their exile status and cushy positions for life. They suffer no adverse consequences for their failed policies, although those actually inside Myanmar often bear a heavy burden for their bravado. Opposition leaders inside the country, including Suu Kyi, have like-

wise failed on numerous fronts. They failed to capitalize on the regime's temporary weaknesses in 2004 when it disbanded its military intelligence network amid an intra-junta power struggle. They failed to coordinate offensive actions of the various ethnic armies to support the broader movement for political change. Meanwhile, the opposition as a whole continues to fail to adequately target Singapore, China and other key international enablers of the regime. In sum, they have failed to seize the initiative. And they still fail to realize that they will fail again if they use the same tactics under the same conditions. Brothers in arms Perhaps the opposition's biggest failure has been its lack of a concerted effort to split the armed forces. This should be their most critical strategic objective if they are ever to liberate their country from the SPDC's oppressive rule. Although the Tatmadaw itself generally follows collective responsibility and duty, outsiders placing collective guilt upon all members of the army serves to unite the armed forces rather than divide them. As an example, an opposition supporter authored a list entitled "Enemies of the Revolution" that anonymously circulated on the Internet. The list, while notable for its implicit threat of violence, was unfocused and included the director of medical services for the military. Presumably, he was placed on the list for the crime of wearing a uniform. However, the simplistic, carte blanche approach of painting the entire Myanmar military as evil is self-defeating and undermines the strategy needed to weaken the strongest pillar of the regime. Unfortunately, this has been the general approach used by the opposition as well as many Western diplomats. The opposition needs at least some military officers to support them in order to fracture the regime's main power base. Despite this, rarely will an opposition leader talk of any positive accomplishments of the armed forces. Rather the military is universally equated with the regime rather than being seen for what it is: an implement of national power, as necessary for the opposition should it assume control as it is for the current regime. Opposition leaders would be well advised to cultivate junior military officers by openly recognizing the national importance of the military and outlining how military service and the abysmal conditions soldiers currently endure would be better under a more democratic government. Last year's crackdown clearly demonstrates the opposition has failed to undermine government forces' reliability to impose violent sanctions on behalf of the regime. The opposition has had two decades to infiltrate the military with those who would willingly carry the banner of democracy to leapfrog their own promotions. It has had 20 years to tempt military officers to abandon the carrot of self-interest that supporting the military government holds for them. The opposition should have sought to reassure the army and police that they would have a key role in any new government and that a system of compensation and benefits will be maintained and in places improved. It has made little headway in that direction and there is scant evidence to suggest they even really endeavored to do so. Had they swayed even a faction of military or police officials that political change offered a better future for them and their families, last September's "Saffron" revolution could have had a decidedly different finale. The failures of the past two decades may in large part be attributed to the movement binding itself too tightly to Suu Kyi's personality cult and the philosophy of non-violence. Her reported intolerance of any type of violent dissent and willingness to dismiss members who seek alternate solutions to problems may be why the NLD and other opposition groups have failed to groom a new generation of leadership. In any case, the "Saffron" revolution may have succeeded where Suu Kyi has failed. A number of her supporters now recognize that non-violent dissent alone will not change the status quo and her increasing marginalization from years of house arrest may yet serve as impetus for more confrontational tactics. Violence alone, of course, is not a solution. But tougher tactics coupled with constructive engagement or inducements for the regime to change its behavior would mark a welcome departure from the current dogmatic adherence to non-violence. The opposition now suffers from 20 years of pushing for change without a logical and realistic strategy. To be sure, its leadership has suffered immensely from arrests and crackdowns. But unless the opposition soon infuses a dose of realism into its strategic mix and uses all available tactics at its disposal, including efforts to undermine support within the military for the SPDC leadership, its efforts are unlikely to result in democratic political change. Meanwhile, the next generation of emboldened soldiers will come of age and take up positions of power in defense of the oppressive status quo.

Readers may please note that, the contents of the articles published on this page do not reďŹ&#x201A;ect the outlook of this paper nor of the Editor in any form.

C M Y K

Dimapur

24 October 2008

NEWS FILE Cong tries to raise issue of SC order on Godhra

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 23 (AGENCIES): Congress members today tried to raise in Rajya Sabha the issue of Supreme Court ruling that charges under POTA could not be brought against Godhra train carnage accused, but were not allowed to do so. As soon as the House met for the day, Praveen Rashtrapal (Cong) raised the ruling of the Apex Court earlier this week. He was, however, countered by BJP members particularly those from Gujarat. As both sides traded charges and counter-charges, Chairman Hamid Ansari pleaded for the Question Hour to be taken up. Order was soon restored in the House and the listed agenda was taken up. The Apex Court had held that the findings of the state POTA Review Committee to drop charges against the train carnage accused under the repealed anti-terror law would be binding on the government and the designated court.

German Rape Case: Another Goa minister in line of ﬁre PANAJI, OCTOBER 23 (AGENCIES): The German minor rape case saw a new twist on Thursday when her mother told Goa Police that a second person, nephew of Goa PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao, allegedly sexually abused her daughter. The revelation was made a day after Goa’s PWD Minister Churchill Alemao accused the state police of unnecessarily harassing Rohit while addressing a press conference. On Wednesday, the German mother gave her written consent for the medical examination of her minor daughter, who was allegedly raped by Goa Education Minister Atanasio Monserratte’s son, Rohit. This was confirmed by the German lady’s lawyer Rodrigues who said, “The mother has written to the Superintendent of Police giving her consent for the medical examination of the girl.” Police had decided to review the case as girl’s statement was not forthcoming and she was also reluctant to get herself medically examined despite persistent efforts by NGO and psychiatrists. “The letter written to SP clearly states that the mother has no objection for the medical examination. She has also said that since the offences are grave, the police investigation should be expedited in the case,” Rodrigues said. The state police have booked Rohit, 21, of raping, outraging modesty, abetting the crime and sending lewd messages to 14-year-old German girl. The complaint was registered on October 2 and two days later mother’s statement was recorded. The police would have had to drop some sections against Rohit, as they could not be proved sans medical examination.

Landmine by Maoists blows up medical team

C M Y K

NATIONAL

Friday

MIDNAPORE, OCT 23 (CNN-IBN): Three people were killed in multiple landmines triggered by suspected Maoists in West Midnapore district of West Bengal. Maoists are suspected to be involved according to Inspector General of Police (Law and Order), Raj Kanojia. The blast occurred at 2:30 pm on Wednesday afternoon at Belpahari when a medical van was targeted. The doctor in-charge of the Belpahari primary health centre, Dhaniram Mandi and a nurse, Bharati Majhi were driving to a primary health centre at Chawkisole village under the Belpahari police station, near the Jharkhand border when the landmines exploded, Home Secretary Asok Mohan Chakraborty told reporters. The van was making its way back from a pulse polio workshop. All three were killed in the blast and the vehicle was detroyed. PTI reports that according to a report from the district, villagers said they had informed the police in the morning that the wires were lying on the road and that landmines could have been planted, but no action was taken. District police are investigating the case. Senior police officials were at the spot. Police also add that they suspect more attacks by naxals.

No plan to ban small cars to ease trafﬁc woes in big cities NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 23 (PTI): Government on Thursday ruled out banning small cars to ease traffic problem in big cities and said it was instead focusing on augmenting the public transport system. “I don’t think I can do that,” Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy responded to Manohar Joshi’s (Shiv Sena) query during Question Hour if the Government will consider banning small cars to ease traffic congestions in cities like Mumbai. “We are (instead) trying to lay emphasis on public transport system,” Reddy said adding Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) had already been sanctioned in 10 cities besides Metro Rail projects. To encourage greater use of public transport and non-motorised mode of transport, BRTS projects in Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Surat, Indore, Bhopal, Pune/Pimpri-Chinchwad, Vijayawada, Vishakhapatnam and Jaipur have been approved. Central Government was providing assistance for Delhi Metro Rail project and same model assistance was being provided or proposed to be provided for Kolkata, Bangalore and Chennai Metro. Assistance for Hyderabad and Mumbai Metro is being provided or proposed to be provided as Viability Gap Funding, he said. Urban transport, he said, was primarily a state subject but the Central Government was extending assistance to states under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. Nine pilgrim towns with less than one million population have been included in the list of mission cities where the Centre was funding projects to ease urban traffic congestion, he said.

The Morung Express

Manmohan to meet Pak PM in Beijing today

BEIJING, OCTOBER 23 (ANI): Manmohan Singh is scheduled to meet his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani here on Friday on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit. The two leaders will meet to review the progress being made to promote bilateral understanding and co-operation to resolve disputes including Kashmir, the Daily Times quoted a senior Pakistani official as telling a foreign news agency. The two leaders will likely meet at the Great Hall of the People in the afternoon, after the summit’s opening session. During his two-day stay in China, Pakistani premier will also meet the prime ministers of Malaysia and Italy and the German chancellor. Besides, he is also likely to have a brief meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao and premier Wen Jiabao. Gilani will lay the foundation stone of the Pak-China Friendship and Cultural Complex that will serve as an important milestone to consolidate the two countries’ ties in the cultural sector. Meanwhile, Indian and Pakistani officials will hold counterterrorism talks in New Delhi later this week to build trust and allay security concerns between the two rivals, the Indian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday. “As decided by the prime minister of India and the president of Pakistan ... the Special Session of the Joint Anti-Terror Mechanism with Pakistan, will be held on October 24 in New Delhi,” the Indian ministry statement said. Relations between the two countries were strained in July after New Delhi accused Islamabad’s military intelligence agency of involvement in a deadly suicide bombing of its embassy in Kabul. The joint anti-terrorism group was set up in 2006 after train bombings in India’s financial capital Mumbai in July of that year. India claimed Pakistan had a hand in the bombings, which killed 186 people.

Japan opposition pushes Indian PM on nukes

TOKYO, OCTOBER 23 (AFP): Japan's main opposition party on Thursday pressed Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to work to eliminate nuclear weapons as New Delhi seeks cooperation on civilian atomic energy. Singh was wrapping up a three-day visit to Tokyo where he signed a major loan agreement and pledged to expand military links in a sign of growing cooperation between the two Asian nations. However, Japan has been hesitant about cooperating with India on nuclear energy. As the only nation to have suffered nuclear attack Japan only reluctantly backed India's landmark nuclear technology deal with the United States earlier this month. "We hope that India maintains transparency of its nuclear sector and contributes to efforts towards an elimination of nuclear weapons," Yukio Hatoyama, secretary general of the main opposition Democratic Party, told Singh. India refuses to sign the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, arIndian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh disembarks from a plane upon arguing it is unfairly excluded. Singh replied that India rival at Beijing Capital Airport in Beijing, China Thursday, October 23, starting his ofﬁcial visit to China. He will also attend the seventh Asia-Europe hoped to develop nuclear power to cut the greenhouse gas Meeting (ASEM) to be held on October 24-25. (AP Photo)

emissions blamed for global warming, according to an opposition official who attended the talks. Japan also champions nuclear power. Singh, speaking Wednesday at a joint news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, said it was India's "sincere desire to strengthen and develop our cooperation with Japan in civilian nuclear energy." "But I do recognise the sensitivity of this issue in Japan and therefore ... we will move at a pace at which the Japanese government and people are comfortable with," Singh said. Aso has advocated building relations with the fellow democracy to offset frequent tensions with China. Both Aso and Singh were heading later Thursday to Beijing for an Asia-Europe summit. Hatoyama met Singh after a cancellation by Japan's chief opposition leader Ichiro Ozawa, who for the second time this month said he was too ill for public events. Ozawa's health has increasingly become a concern for the opposition, as it makes gains in its goal of ousting Aso's conservative Liberal Democratic Party, which has been in power for all but 10 months since 1955.

28 killed in Rajasthan cracker factory blast Bihar violence: CM calls all party meet

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 23 (AGENCIES): An accidental explosion ripped through an illegal fireworks factory in Rajasthan, killing at least 28 people, including 10 children, just days before Diwali. Police also said that at least 20 others were hurt after the explosion on Wednesday in Deeg, 30 kilometres from Bharatpur. "We now have a death toll of 20 people, but it could rise as many are seriously injured," Police Inspector General (Rajasthan) R Narsimha Rao said. The injured have been admitted to Deeg hospital, he said, adding rescue operations are on. The blast comes days before Diwali. Months before the fes-

tival, illegal fireworks factories spring up across the country and almost all of these employ children, a child rights' group said. Poor children clandestinely work at these makeshift factories, which are often in people's homes, and almost every year there are fatal accidents. Police said an accidental fire caused the Wednesday blast inside the illegal factory. "The impact of the blast was huge and it brought down at least five houses in the area," Rao said. Rescue officials were trying to remove debris from the area to check if there were more survivors. "There could be more people trapped inside," Rao said, adding that a probe was underway

to see how the illegal factory had sprung up in the area. Swapan Mukherjee of Free the Children India said the factories often hired children as "children come cheap (as labours).” “We have come across cases where they are just given a meal a day for 18-20 hours of work, others are paid one fifth of a dollar,” he added. There are at least 1,500 such illegal factories around each of India's major cities, Mukherjee said. Last year, four children died and dozens were hurt in a similar blast in West Bengal. At least 10 people have been arrested. A Divisional Commissioner will be conducting an inquiry into the incident.

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 23 (AGENCIES): Bihar’s Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday called an all party meet after protests against MNS chief Raj Thackeray entered third day in the state. The protesters today led off their campaign in Bihar Sharif which prompted police to canecharge the mob, leaving more than 12 people injured. Later, the violence spread to Motihari railway station where angry students pelted stones at railway property and put reservation counter on fire. Students also brought all local trains to halt. With festive season of Diwali and Chhat round the corner, the passengers were stranded on platforms as most of the trains were either cancelled or were not on time. Due to the escalation in violence, all trains from Patna and Danapur have been cancelled. Only Patna-Gaya route is operational. "As a precautionary mea-

sure, all the trains originating from Patna junction, under Danapur division of East Central Railway (ECR), were cancelled this morning but with the situation showing signs of improvement, the timings of cancelled trains have been rescheduled," said R K Singh, Public Relation Officer of Danapur Division. Janata Dal (U)’s women wing also held protest against Raj Thackeray in Patna. Meanwhile, student organisations in the state have called for one-day bandh in the state. Yesterday, angry protesters vandalised railway property in Bihar and set ablaze six bogies of different trains at Barh, Athmalgola and Sasaram. The protesters also disrupted railway traffic on the Howrah-Delhi main line via Patna and the Grandcord line via Gaya. Nearly 20 trains under Danapur railway division were stranded at different stations.

Demand for ban on Bajrang Dal sparks uproar in RS

Conducting polls in Chhatisgarh a big challenge: CRPF

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 23 (AGENCIES): A strong demand for ban on Bajrang Dal and Hindu Jagran Manch was on Thursday made in the wake of reports that some Hindu groups were allegedly involved in the Malegaon and Modasa blasts, triggering noisy scenes in the Rajya Sabha. As Brinda Karat (CPI-M) made a forceful demand for the ban, she was immediately countered by BJP members who demanded strong action against SIMI. Raising the matter during Zero Hour, Karat pointed to newspaper reports claiming that Hindu extremist outfits had a hand in the Malegaon incident in Maharashtra and in Modasa in neighbouring Gujarat. She said according to the Anti Terror Squad (ATS) of Maharashtra, Bajrang Dal was involved in the incidents. The CPI(M) members said though the country was united in the fight against terrorists, there should not be two yardsticks for dealing with the menace. Whenever there was a terror attack, only a particular community was branded as terrorists, she said while demanding ban on Bajrang Dal and Hindu Jagran Manch. This provoked BJP and amid shouts and counter-shouts, the House was adjourned for ten minutes. Earlier, as the Zero Hour began, some Congress members, including Rashid Alvi and Jayanthi Natarajan, wanted to raise the issue. However, Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan did not allow them saying they should give a proper notice.

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 23 (AGENCIES): In the wake of recent naxal attacks, the CRPF on Thursday said conducting Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh would be a “big challenge” for the force which has suffered numerous casualties in the recent times. “Conducting elections in the state would be a big challenge for the force. We will do whatever is needed,” CRPF Director General V K Joshi told reporters after inaugurating a blood donation camp here. Out of the 90 Assembly constituencies in the state, the elections on 39 seats would be held on November 14. The rest 51 constituencies will go to polls on November 20. The CRPF, which has its several battalions posted in the state, has recently come under a spate of attacks from the left-wing extremists. On October 20, suspected naxalites ambushed a CRPF contingent killing at least 12 jawans in Bijapur district of the state while a Deputy Commandant of the force's 41 battalion alongwith three other troops were killed in a landmine blast on September 29 in Bastar. “We are concerned about the incidents of naxal violence in the state. All combat steps would be taken,” Joshi said. Talking about the significance of blood donation, Joshi said that such an activity is very important as “everyday the force sees incidents where donation of blood is necessary for our injured jawans.” More than 2.5 lakh CRPF personnel donated blood at the force's detachment hospital here.

A protestor, third left, gestures to a woman passing by, as others throw stones towards policemen in Srinagar, Thursday, October 23. Kashmiris clashed with government forces during protests against the arrest of two separatist leaders, including Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front chief Mohammed Yasin Malik, for holding an anti-election rally. (AP Photo)

From Z to Y, Raj’s security scaled down NEW DELHI, OCT 23 (CNN-IBN): The Maharashtra government has decided to scale down the security cover provided to MNS chief Raj Thackeray. This after the security scrutiny committee headed by Chief Secretary recommended his security be reduced to Y status. Under Z-level security the MNS chief was entitled to four carbine-wielding policemen and a personal officer moving around with him. However under Y category, he can have only a few policemen, besides his party workers for protection. But even before the government could implement

this, Raj lashed out at the Deshmukh administration, and was quoted as saying, "I can protect myself. I don't need government security”. Meanwhile, Shri Jagad Guru Shankarcharya Puri of Orissa now has described the actions of Raj Thackeray as dangerous for Hindutava. “It seems Thackeray is keen to move fast in politics and is therefore playing with the sentiments of innocent people, which is not good for humanity. It is harmful for the larger interest of Hindutava and Hindu religion. Thackeray should be sincere with the masses and the people who love him".

Congress seeks change of guard in Orissa BHUBANESHWAR, OCTOBER 23 (AGENCIES): With months to go for the next Assembly Elections polls, the battle has begun in the Orissa unit of the Congress party. The party stands divided in three factions and the Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Jaidev Jena, a lesser known leader from the stock of the beleaguered Congress, is in a perceptible desperation to shave his chair. According to the reports from New Delhi, a group of Congress MLAs, drawn from all the fighting factions held a meeting with party high command Sonia Gandhi. During the meeting, the leadChild laborers sit at a police station after they were taken away from a factory during a ers urged Sonia to realise the raid by policemen and activists of Bachpan Bachao Andolan, or save childhood move- pressing need for a change in ment, in New Delhi, Thursday, October 23. 34 child laborers were rescued from a local the OPCC leadership, or else the party would suffer serious embroidery factory. (AP Photo)

debacle under Jena's stewardship in the upcoming elections. Reportedly, the high command has assured them to do the needful at the earliest. Does it mean a change in OPCC top post? If yes, then who will be the next in charge? The question will be difficult to be dealt with for the party high command as well. However, such an indication from Sonia has already taken a lot of steam out of Jena who was in search of a protective embrace from Ajay Makan (in charge of Orissa Congress), while rallying for peace in Kandahamal With the disappointment of failing to match the alliance tally of wins in the recent local body polls, Jena seems disqualified. However, one can not stop him and his cronies from patting each others’

back on the issue of Kandhamal for which Orissa’s Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has had enough of the lashings from all over the country and abroad. However, this consolation might be very shortlived. Be it Kandhamal or floods, Naveen rebuffed all calculations in the local body elections to claim an emphatic win over the opponents. Jena appears on the edge clearly but his small coterie had, meanwhile, trotted out statistics to prove that the results of the 2008 local body polls were far better than the ones of 2007, which, in fact, is debatable. But the million dollar question is who will replace Jena? The obvious name that rings in the mind is J B Patnaik, the former Chief Minister and presently the leader of the opposition.

J B Patnaik is perhaps the only leader in Orissa to have slammed the longest innings as the CM. But his 14year rule (1980-94) had been stained with more failures and personal ridicules than accolades. An accomplished writer and a man of letters, J B Patnaik, had all the time been seen in the pursuit of a political goal where his literary qualities were made subordinate. Therefore, blunders in his long rule earned him a scoreboard that somehow appears too blotted till date. He rejected offers for gubernatorial posts and wanted to stay put in state politics despite the fact that even if he is now a tired octogenarian who would fit more into the formats offered to him by the Centre than in Orissa politics, where he can risk a tight-rope

walk given his sullied political image. Even Rahul Gandhi's criticism for him during the last Assembly and subsequent by-polls was so evident. Almost at 85, Patnaik, in fact, has become a feature of the political pantheon of Indira Gandhi era and may not be in comfort with the present dispensations. That leaves the Congress high command to choose someone else but surely one who owes allegiance to JB camp. However, any other man than JB, when compared with Naveen Patnaik, would appear pigmy. Ironically, it is a piquant situation for the Congress. Despite the factor of unacceptability that JB suffers in electoral terms, he is still a rallying point and would not give up easily as the high command expected him in last few years.

INTERNATIONAL

The Morung Express

Friday 24 October 2008

Dimapur

White House rivals bicker over experience

LEESBURG, OCTOBER 23 (AFP): White House rivals squared off over experience as Barack Obama played up his foreign policy chops and struggling John McCain highlighted national security in a bid to pick up lost ground. Obama, flanked by top veteran military officials in Virginia on Wednesday, portrayed McCain as "out of touch and running out of time," after rejecting new Republican jibes on his plans for taxes and national security. But just 13 days before the presidential election, McCain warned the Democratic Illinois senator not to take victory for granted, despite his mammoth financial edge and solid lead in a slew of opinion polls. McCain also returned to his attack on recent comments by Democratic vice presidential pick Joe Biden that, just like former president John F. Kennedy, Obama would be "tested" by a crisis on the international stage within six months of taking office. The military veteran noted he had some "personal experience" with crises, citing his role in the United States' 1962 showdown with the Soviet Union over its missiles in Cuba -- known as the Cuban Missile Crisis. At that time, the Republican nominee was as a fighter pilot assigned Cuban targets. "I know how close we came to a nuclear war and I will not be a president who needs to be tested. I have been tested," he told an enthusiastic rally on a high school football field in Green, Ohio. McCain's running mate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, also took another run at Obama, ramming home the

Obama urges vigilance during presidential change

(L/R): Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. waves as he arrives at a rally at the Green Memorial Field of Green High School in Green, Ohio, Wednesday, October 22. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., waves at a rally in Leesburg, Va., Wednesday, October 22. (AP Photo)

Republican claim that the Democrat would hike tax rates across the board in a "socialized" wealth sharing scheme. "He's hiding his real agenda of redistributing your hard-earned money," she told the rally. "It doesn't sound like many of you are going to be supporting Barack the Wealth Spreader in this election." But Obama said such attacks were distortions, and symptomatic of a McCain-Palin effort that acknowledged they were running down the clock to the election. Obama lampooned McCain's idealized picture of "Joe the Plumber" -- an Ohio tradesmen who had challenged him on his tax plans. "John McCain likes to talk about Joe the Plumber, but he's in cahoots with Joe the

CEO," Obama said in Richmond, the first of two stops in the southern state of Virginia, which normally votes Republican but where he is leading in the polls. The new clashes over tax came on another sickening day for the US economy, with stocks diving on grim company data, sparking fears of a global recession as the broad-market Standard & Poor's 500 index hit a five-year low. Obama also rebuffed McCain's latest attacks on his readiness to be commander in chief, after Republicans renewed attempts to turn the key campaign issue from the economy, where voters find McCain weaker, back to national security, where McCain's credentials are more respected. "Whoever

is the next president is going to have to deal with a whole host of challenges internationally," Obama said, after gathering a phalanx of veteran national security advisors in key swing-state Virginia. "A period of transition in a new administration is always one in which we have to be vigilant." McCain sought to portray Obama as taking the electorate for granted, given a clutch of favorable polls and the massive 150-million-dollar warchest he amassed in September. "My opponent's looking pretty confident these days," McCain said in New Hampshire, a state which revived his moribund presidential campaign earlier this year. "He'll be addressing the nation soon. He's got another

one of those big-stadium spectacles in the works, acting like the election is over." In an interview with NBC, McCain said: "I've always done best when we're running some -- a little bit behind and got to catch up. And that somehow I've been very blessed. We seem to catch fire." But in a chilly evening rally before an estimated crowd of 35,000 in Virginia, Obama rebuked supporters for falling prey to the triumphal mood. "I am superstitious, I don't like counting those chickens before they hatch." A Fox news survey and a Gallup Daily survey each put Obama up nine points, while the Rasmussen daily tracking poll had Obama ahead by 51 percent to 45 percent.

RICHMOND, OCTOBER 23 (REUTERS): Democrat Barack Obama said on Wednesday the United States must be vigilant against attack during the transition to a new president, no matter whether he or Republican rival John McCain wins the November 4 White House race. With less than two weeks until the election, McCain focussed on the economy, the No. 1 issue for most voters, and criticized Obama for having "skewed" economic priorities. Both candidates welcomed a White House announcement that the United States will host an international summit to talk about global economic turmoil beginning on November 15. Although the economy has been driving the campaign, Obama took time out to rebut McCain's criticism of Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden for predicting an Obama administration would face a major international challenge as a test within six months of taking office. At a news conference in which he admitted "Joe sometimes engages in rhetorical flourishes," Obama cautioned that whoever replaces President George W. Bush will face threats and tests, in part because of Bush's "bad set of policies" that resulted in two unresolved wars and an "economy in free fall." "A period of transition to a new administration is always one in which we have to be vigilant," Obama said. "We have to be careful, we have to be mindful that as we pass the baton in this democracy, that others don't take advantage of it. That is true whether it's myself or Senator McCain." But McCain's campaign, which repeatedly has blasted the 47-year-old Obama as being unready to be president, rejected the explanation. "Joe Biden guaranteed a generated international crisis if Barack Obama is elected, and a smilefor-the-cameras press conference isn't going to mitigate the risk of an Obama presidency," said McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds. The foray into foreign policy was a change from Obama's emphasis on the economy, an issue that has helped him move ahead in the polls. In a Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released on Wednesday Obama expanded his lead over

McCain to 10 points. At a campaign event in New Hampshire, McCain hammered Obama's tax plan as simply a way to redistribute wealth. "Before government can redistribute wealth, it has to confiscate wealth from those who earned it," he said. "Whatever the right word is for that way of thinking, the redistribution of wealth is the last thing America needs right now." "What are really skewed in all of this are my opponent's priorities. He talks about our economy in a detached and academic way, forgetting that the goal is not to redistribute wealth but to create it," he said to applause. Obama defended his plan for a middle class tax cut. "The difference is, he wants to give a $700,000 (431,729 pound) tax cut to the average Fortune 500 CEO. I want to put a middle class tax cut in the pockets of 95% of workers and their families," Obama said at a rally in Richmond. "My opponent doesn't want you to know this, but under my plan, tax rates will actually be less than they were under Ronald Reagan," Obama added. Where the candidates were campaigning said a lot about the state of the race late into the campaign. With less than two weeks to go, Obama was in Virginia with a chance to win that state for a Democrat for the first time since 1964 and McCain was in a New Hampshire, a small state but one the Republicans need as the number of winnable alternatives dwindles. The Republican later joined his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, for a joint rally in Ohio, a hotly contested state. Palin referred to Obama as "Barack-the-wealth-spreader" and said he was not being candid about his tax plans. "We want to keep more American money in America," she told a crowd of thousands in Green, Ohio, repeating McCain's promises to cut the capital gains tax and business tax rates. Though McCain needled Obama for being overconfident, Obama warned supporters who packed a hockey arena to see him against premature celebration. "I need you to make it happen," he told the chanting crowd of more than 12,000. "I ask you to knock on some doors, make some calls, talk to your neighbours, and give me your vote."

Chinese dissident wins top EU rights prize

BRUSSELS, OCTOBER 23 (REUTERS): The European Parliament has decided to award its top human rights prize to Chinese activist Hu Jia, who was jailed after testifying to the EU assembly, its biggest political party said on Thursday. Robert Fitzhenry, spokesman for the European People's Party, said Hu had been selected for the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought by party leaders of the EU assembly. The announcement of the award later on Thursday will come a day before EU leaders are due to meet Chinese counterparts at the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit in Beijing and is likely to anger China. The Chinese government described Hu as an undeserving criminal when he was seen as a candidate for this year's Nobel Peace Prize. It said awarding him the Nobel, which eventually went to former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari, would be seen as meddling in China's domestic affairs, judicial independence and sovereignty. Hu, a campaigner for civil rights, environmental protection and AIDS advocacy, was sentenced to threeand-a-half years in prison in China in Wearing traditional costume a berkutchi, a falconer who hunts with a Golden Eagle, releases his bird, during a festival April. Hu, in his mid-30s, had already of hunting traditions some 320 km (198 miles) from the capital Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Saturday, October 18. (AP Photo) spent many months under house arrest

In this March 31, 2006 ﬁle photo, Chinese AIDS activist Hu Jia speaks during an interview at a cafe in Beijing. Hu Jia won the European Union's top human rights prize Thursday October 23, despite a warning from Beijing that his selection would seriously harm relations with the 27-nation bloc. (AP Photo)

with his wife and child. He was arrested and charged with "inciting subversion of state power" following his testimony on human rights in China via conference call to the Eu-

ropean Parliament's Human Rights Subcommittee on Nov. 26 last year. Hu's jailing drew condemnation from Washington, across Europe and from human rights advocates.

Leukaemia drug “New Deal” approach needed for climate change can halt, reverse MS

LONDON, OCTOBER 23 (AFP): Researchers at the University of Cambridge said Thursday they have found that a drug originally developed to treat leukaemia can halt and even reverse the debilitating effects of multiple sclerosis (MS). In trials, alemtuzumab reduced the number of attacks in sufferers and also helped them recover lost functions, apparently allowing damaged brain tissue to repair so that individuals were less disabled than at the start of the study. "The ability of an MS drug to promote brain repair is unprecedented," said Dr Alasdair Coles, a lecturer at Cambridge university's department of clinical neurosciences, who coordinated many aspects of the study. "We are witnessing a drug which, if given early enough, might effectively stop the advancement of the disease and also restore lost function by promoting repair of the damaged brain tissue." The MS Society, Britain's largest support charity for those affected by the condition, said it was "delighted" at the trial's results, which must be followed up with more research before the drug can be licensed. "This is the first drug that has shown the potential to halt and even reverse the debilitating effects of MS and this news will rightly bring hope to people living with the condition day in, day out," said head of research Lee Dunster. MS is an auto-immune disease that affects millions of people worldwide, including almost 100,000 in Britain and 400,000 in the United

States. It is caused by the body's immune system attacking nerve fibres in the central nervous system, and can lead to loss of sight and mobility, depression, fatigue and cognitive problems. There is no cure, and few effective treatments. In the trial, 334 patients diagnosed with early-stage relapsingremitting MS who had not previously been treated were given alemtuzumab or interferon beta-1a, one of the most effective licensed therapies for similar MS cases. After three years, alemtuzumab was found to reduce the number of attacks the patients suffered by 74 percent over the other treatment, and reduce the risk of sustained accumulation of disability by 71 percent over interferon beta-1a. Many individuals who took alemtuzumab also recovered some of their lost functions, becoming less disabled by the end, while the disabilities of the other patients worsened, the study in the New England Journal of Medicine said. Alastair Compston, professor of neurology and head of the clinical neurosciences department at Cambridge, said alemtuzumab was the "most promising" experimental drug for the treatment of MS. He expressed hope that further trials "will confirm that it can both stabilise and allow some recovery of what had previously been assumed to be irreversible disabilities". Alemtuzumab was developed in Cambridge and has been licensed for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

LONDON, OCTOBER 23 (REUTERS): The world should take a leaf from U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt's playbook for tackling the Great Depression and fund a "Green New Deal" to fight climate change, a U.N. agency proposed. A two-year United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) initiative launched on Wednesday would promote research into marketing tools, such as Europe's carbon emissions trading scheme initiated in 2005, to aid the

environment. This is because political efforts to curb pollution, protect forests and avert climate change have proven "totally inadequate," UNEP executive director Achim Steiner said. He noted that a huge banking bailout had been mobilized in just four weeks, while the response to climate change was slow. From 1981 to 2005 the global economy more than doubled, but 60 percent of the world's ecosystems -- for example fisheries and forests -- were ei-

ther degraded or over-used. "That's the balance sheet of our planet right now," he said. A successor to the Kyoto Protocol, the pioneering global pact to fight climate change, set to be agreed in Copenhagen by the end of next year appears more remote than a year ago, Steiner said. "We're further from a deal in Copenhagen than we were at the end of the Bali conference," he said, referring to the launch of talks on the successor pact last December in Indonesia. "But does

that mean we will not have one? No. "The difficulty is that there is no deal based on national interest alone. Quite frankly the levels of financing being discussed right now are totally inadequate to allow such a deal to emerge." British Environment Minister Hilary Benn, hosting the launch, said the UNEP proposal was right in tune with the thinking of Roosevelt, from whom he quoted approvingly: "'The nation that destroys its soil destroys itself.'"

Malaysia bars Nobel laureate Ebadi

Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi

KUALA LUMPUR, OCTOBER 23 (REUTERS): Malaysia has revoked an invitation to Iranian Nobel laureate and rights advocate Shirin Ebadi to give a speech following protests by the Iranian government, officials said on Thursday. Human rights groups slammed the move, saying it was inexcusable and showed Malaysia's disregard for fundamental rights. Ebadi, a vocal critic of Iran's human rights record, had been slated to speak on Islam and cultural diversity at Kuala Lumpur's University of Malaya on Nov. 3. But the state university withdrew the invitation following an objection from its sizeable Iranian student community, said a government official who declined to be identified. But Ebadi told Reuters in Tehran that Iranian students were not behind the cancellation, blaming pressure from the Iranian government. "There was an explicit reference to this fact in a letter sent

to me by the Malaysian Foreign Ministry that it was the Iranian government that called for the cancellation of the speech," she said. "However, I have been told that many human rights groups, both in Malaysia and southeast Asia, have voiced protest to this decision by the university," she added. Iranian diplomats in Malaysia were not immediately available for comment. The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran and the Asian NGOs Network on National Human Rights Institutions condemned the move. "The Iranian government uses all its might to muzzle Dr. Ebadi and her human rights advocacy inside Iran. It is extremely disturbing that now the Malaysian government is doing the same on behalf of the Iranian government," they said in a joint statement. Ebadi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 for her efforts promoting the rights of women and children in Iran.

Dimapur

SPORTS

Friday 24 October 2008

Beckham and Milan take almighty risk

The Morung Express

Pakistan court lifts life ban on Salim Malik

Beckham’s Italian transfer gets backing

Los Angeles Galaxy midﬁelder David Beckham kicks the ball during a training session at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. on Wednesday, October 22. AC Milan is close to signing Beckham in a loan deal that would allow the Galaxy midﬁelder and former England captain to play in Italy's Serie A for a few months starting in January. (AP Photo)

MILAN, OCTOBER 23 (REUTERS): David Beckham and AC Milan are taking a huge risk which could easily backfire for both parties. The 33-year-old midfielder is poised to join the Italian club on a short-term loan from Los Angeles Galaxy in a bid to keep up his fitness and impress England coach Fabio Capello during the U.S. Major League Soccer close season. If the deal is agreed, Beckham could anger the American soccer family who had hoped he was in the United States for good and would continue to promote the minority game there. He trained with Arsenal during the last close season but there was never a chance he would turn out for the London club. By deciding this time that he needs to play somewhere else, at least for a few months, he may give the impression that Los Angeles and the standard of soccer in the U.S. are not good enough to sustain his ambition of playing at the

2010 World Cup. But a backlash in America may be the least of his problems. He has no experience of Italian soccer and it is not easy to see how he would fit into Milan’s plans with famous Brazilians Kaka and Ronaldinho already with the Rossoneri. Coach Carlo Ancelotti does not play with a winger -- Beckham’s traditional role with Manchester United, Real Madrid and England - while his midfield is packed with talent that a 33-year-old without much pace would struggle to compete with. After a sticky start this season, Milan are increasingly looking like Serie A title contenders and a big new presence like Beckham could easily upset the balance. When rumours starting circling about Beckham at least coming to train with Milan, Ancelotti made no mention of him playing. “If Beckham wanted to train with us, it wouldn’t be a problem for me,” he told a news conference on Saturday, adding only that the club had been close to

signing him in the past. Milan also have bad memories of signing big-name players in their twilight years. Ronaldo was overweight and out-of-form when he arrived at the San Siro from Real Madrid in Jan. 2007. The Brazilian scored a few goals but never looked like the player he once was. When he ruptured knee ligaments in February, which ruled him out for nine months, Milan privately made it clear he would never play for them again even if he made a full recovery. Ex-Italy forward Roberto Baggio was among other top players who failed to hit their earlier heights after signing for Milan. Free kick specialist Beckham may well be used mainly as an impact substitute, a lot like his current role with England. Whether this is likely to enthuse former Milan supremo Capello, only the no-nonsense Italian knows. Financially though, any agreement could work out handsomely for both club and player.

Media reports say any deal Milan strike with Galaxy will be a ‘free’ loan, suggesting the Rossoneri would not give any money to the U.S. club and would just pay part or none of his wages. Milan have admitted cash is at a premium following the recruitment of Ronaldinho from Barcelona, so they will be glad if they can snatch Beckham on the cheap. His marketing value alone would help Milan make a profit on the venture with replica shirt sales just one of the many revenue generating opportunities connected to one of the world’s most famous sportsmen. The day after Ronaldinho joined in July, Milan fans snapped up over a quarter of all the season tickets sold up to that point and hits on the website were 10 times the average. Fashion-conscious Beckham is already well-known in Italy and models underwear for famous Italian designer Giorgio Armani. Billboards of his half-naked body already span the country.

LONDON, OCTOBER 23 (AFP): Blackburn Rovers manager Paul Ince is one of several leading English football figures who believe David Beckham will be a success in the Italian game if he joins AC Milan on loan. The Italian giants said Wednesday they were confident of signing the England midfielder for a short spell in between seasons of Major League Soccer, where Beckham plays for LA Galaxy. And Ince, who had a spell with Inter Milan after playing alongside Beckham at United, has no doubts about his former Old Trafford and England colleague’s ability to adapt to the Italian game. “His quality with the ball is the best I have ever witnessed. He is an inspirational player, he has been great for English football, he’s an ambassador and a really good friend. “It will be interesting to see how he gets on with the language but he can call me for a few tips. “Mind you I would rather he signed for Inter than AC! I wish him all the best though.” Ince said bringing Beckham to Blackburn was beyond the confines of his budget: “I would love to sign him but I just can’t.” Beckham needs to continue playing first-team football if he is to continue to get picked by England manager Fabio Capello and break 1966 World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore’s record of 108 caps for an outfield player. Reports in England claim Capello, a former Milan manager, helped smooth the way for Beckham’s surprise move by calling Adriano Galliani, the Milan managing director, to vouch for the former Manchester United star. England goalkeeper David James said: “I haven’t spoken to David about it and don’t know whether he’s going to Milan but as a player I know he’s still hungry and wants to play. “Any player with international aspirations knows he has to be playing regularly and I’m sure that’s the case with David.” Harry Redknapp, James’s manager at Portsmouth, added he hadn’t given up hope of bringing Beckham to Fratton Park: “If he doesn’t go to Milan maybe I’ll try to sign him myself. He would be a great loan for anybody. “I haven’t made an enquiry but it has crossed my mind. Maybe I’ll try tomorrow if it doesn’t happen with Milan. David is still a great player, and you can’t tell me he wouldn’t be a great benefit to our Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe with his crossing. “I’m sure he is going to break Bobby Moore’s record for the number of outfield England caps now (108). I don’t think he’ll beat Peter Shilton’s record (125) - but David James might do that.” AC Milan arrive at Fratton Park on November 27 for a UEFA Cup tie and Redknapp added: “Would he come to Portsmouth? Why not? His missus (Beckham’s wife, the former pop star Victoria Adams) might prefer shopping in Portsmouth to shopping in Milan. I don’t know. “The fact is he is still a top player and wants to play. And I’m sure we wouldn’t be the only ones interested if he didn’t go to Milan. They would be queuing up.”

Khan, Miandad defend Lawson Ballack’s position as captain under threat

KARACHI, OCTOBER 23 (REUTERS): Former Pakistan cricketers Imran Khan and Javed Miandad defended under-fire national coach Geoff Lawson on Wednesday, saying the Australian was not the only one responsible for the team’s poor performances. New Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ejaz Butt described Lawson as “useless” on Monday and said his contract would not be renewed when it runs out in July-August. “How can you blame the coach for Pakistan cricket’s ills when your domestic structure is stagnant,” Khan said. Lawson, a former Australian test pacer, was appointed coach in July 2007 after the death of Bob Woolmer during the World Cup. He has not commented on Butt’s remarks. Miandad said Lawson was not the only one who should be blamed for the inconsistent performances of team. “It is not just an issue of coaching. Lawson should not be blamed solely. The play-

ers should also take responsibility and I think they should be held accountable as well,” said Miandad, who had three spells as national coach. Khan said Pakistan needed to improve its domestic cricket structure. “Don’t expect miracles from the coach. If a coach could produce results without a proper domestic system then Bangladesh had the best coach (Dav Whatmore) and they should have been world champions,” Khan said. Khan and Miandad are regarded as Pakistan’s greatest cricketers and spearheaded the team that won the 1992 World Cup. Miandad pointed to a lack of test cricket as one cause of Pakistan’s unsatisfactory performances. Foreign teams have been anxious about travelling to the country because of security concerns. “I think the former board management is also responsible for this as they were least interested and did not care at all for this,” he said.

BERLIN, OCTOBER 23 (REUTERS): Germany coach Joachim Loew summoned Michael Ballack to a meeting on Wednesday and hinted strongly that his future as captain was under threat after the midfielder criticised him in a newspaper interview. Loew said in a strongly worded statement that he would wait to speak to Ballack in person before taking any action, after the Chelsea player made what Loew called “unacceptable” comments calling for senior players to be shown more respect. “I will tell Michael that I’m extremely disappointed about the route he has chosen to take, and that his comments are unacceptable,” Loew said in a statement released by the

German Football Association on Wednesday. “I will insist on the meeting ... My decision on everything else will depend on how that conversation goes.” Ballack, speaking in an interview with FAZ newspaper, was critical of the coach’s handling of selection issues in the squad after his midfield colleague Torsten Frings was dropped for the last two World Cup qualifiers. “If you don’t want someone any more you should say so openly,” Ballack said when asked about his midfield colleague. “Respect and loyalty are the least you can expect as an experienced national team player,” added Ballack, who said he hoped Frings would decide to prolong his international career.

Adriano hands drab Inter win over Cypriots MILAN, OCTOBER 23 (REUTERS): Brazilian Adriano headed in just before halftime to give a pedestrian Inter Milan a 1-0 win over Anorthosis Famagusta on Wednesday and send the Italians clear at the top of Champions League Group B. Maicon's right wing cross arrived slightly behind him and Adriano did well to arch his back and nod in from close range. The Serie A champions, who hammered AS Roma 4-0 away at the weekend, were much more lethargic against the Cypriots and generally lacked creativity against a blanket defence. Inter lead the group with seven points from three games with Anorthosis on four. "It's not been possible to play a fantastic game and have a performance like Roma but the players have played with great professionalism," Inter coach Jose Mourinho told a news conference, adding that midfielder Esteban Cambiasso picked up an injury. In the run-up to the match, Mourinho

had appealed for fans to pack the stands against their lowprofile opponents but swathes of the San Siro remained empty. The supporters that did turn up were treated to a dull first period with Inter's patient build-up play only leading to a succession of hopeful shots from distance before Adriano struck. The visitors, who went close early on through a freekick from former Roma midfielder Traianos Dellas, almost equalised at the start of the second half when captain Nicos Katsavakis headed just over. Inter, also disappointing in the 1-1 home draw with Werder Bremen last time out, had more urgency as the game wore on but chances were still at a premium with Zlatan Ibrahimovic shooting wide from a good position. "It's hard to compliment my players when we have lost but I give them credit for the match they've played," Anorthosis boss Temuri Ketsbaia said.

Inter Milan forward Adriano of Brazil, second from left, scores the opening goal after outjumping Anorthosis defender Nicos Katsavakis, of Greece, right, during a group B Champions League soccer match between Inter of Milan and Anorthosis at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, October 22. (AP Photo)

Salim Malik, Pakistan's former Test cricketer thumbs up as he left the session court in Lahore, Pakistan on Thursday, October 23. Former Pakistan test captain Malik is free to resume his involvement in cricket after a Pakistan court lifted a life ban Thursday. (AP Photo)

LAHORE, OCTOBER 23 (AFP): A Pakistan court Thursday overturned a life ban against former cricket captain Salim Malik for alleged involvement in match fixing. Malik was banned following a lengthy inquiry in 2001 after three top Australian players accused him of offering bribes for them to underperform. Malik appealed against the ruling to Pakistan's top court which earlier this year ordered Lahore's Civil Court to hear the case. Judge Malik Mohammad Altaf ruled in favor of the 45year-old Malik on Thursday and ordered the ban be lifted. Malik hailed the verdict as a complete vindication, and said he could now return to his beloved cricket, this time as a coach. "I am relieved after the court verdict," Malik told AFP. "I have served cricket for 19 years and today I feel vindicated. Now I can live a peaceful life and can do coaching which I badly wanted." Malik's lawyer said the court found that the Pakistan Cricket Board wrongly imposed the ban based on recommendations from the

original inquiry. "The PCB did not have the jurisdiction to ban Salim Malik so the court lifted the ban on our appeal," lawyer Shahid Salim said. The ban, imposed after the lengthy inquiry headed by a High Court judge, had also prevented Malik from holding any office or involvement in any cricket-related activity. Malik was banned after Australian players Shane Warne, Mark Waugh and Tim May claimed he offered them bribes to underperform during Australia's tour of Pakistan in 1994. Warne and May alleged Malik telephoned them in their rooms and offered them big money to underbowl during the first Test in Karachi which Pakistan eventually won by just one wicket. A one-man commission cleared Malik in 1995 of the allegations citing a lack of evidence after the Australian players refused to return to Pakistan to testify. But High Court Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum's team later recorded their statements in Australia.

Church Sports Conference scheduled from Oct 31 to Nov 2

DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 23 (MExN): The Church Sports Conference is being jointly organized the NBCC Youth Department (NBCCYD)and Nagaland Sports Coalition (NSC) from October 31 to November 2, 2008 at North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC), Dimapur under the theme “Sports for Holistic Growth”. Paul Moses, President, International Sports Coalition, Rev. Zhabu Terhuja, General Secretary, NBCC and Rev. Dr. Samuel Devraj, Advisor, Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The whole conference will facilitate by Pastor Monzeung Mpom, Dr. Thamsing and other officials of NBCC Youth and NSC. The highlights of the Conference include Devotional times, Praise and worship, Sessions of Sports Ministry, practical experiential games and team building and evening informal gatherings. This Conference is organized to let the church leaders learn on the importance and effectiveness of the Sports ministry, and to create platform for interaction for further development of the concept and practical aspect of the Ministry in our context. Registration fee of Rs. 100 will be charged from every participant for necessary Conference kits. Food and lodging will be provided free by the organizers. Participants are to come with their light bed roll and with casual and sport wears. The Associations’ Youth Secretaries under NBCC are reminded to confirm the number of participants at the earliest. Invitation is extended to any interested person for the Lord’s ministry from church regardless of denominational affiliation, athletes, and coach for your participation in the Conference. Confirmation of participation in the Conference may be done through phone, email or in written on or before October 27 October. Contact Rev. Ikuto Jimo-9436261625, A. wati Jamir- 9436263372, Rev. Iringtie Kauring- 9436606056. Email- nbccy@yahoo.com

District Sports Ofﬁcer, Mkg informs

MOKOKCHUNG, OCTOBER 23 (MEXN): The Department of Youth Resources & Sports is organizing Half Marathon Race (20 km) for Mokokchung district for men i.e. 18-35 years on 8th November 2008 at 6:30 AM at Imkongmeren Sports Complex with a cash prize of First Rs.25, 000/-, Second Rs.15,000/- and Third Rs.10,000/-.Therefore interested candidates are requested to submit their names on or before 5th November during the office hour at the undersigned. Megolhu Dolie, District Sports Officer, Mokokchung also informed that there will be a medical verification on November 7, 2008 from 2:00 PM at Sports Hall Mokokchung.

2nd Hezukhu Memorial trophy

DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 23 (MEXN): The Zunheboto District Football Association (ZDFA) organised the Inter HS School and College Football League, from October 3 to 4, with Ghokiho H, DIS as the chief guest and Kivigho Sumi, DSO, as the guest of honour in the opening and closing ceremony respectively. GHSS, Zunheboto beat Olympic HS School to lift the champion trophy. Aketo of GHSS was adjudged the highest scorer and the most valuable players of the tourney was awarded to Swuto of Love Dale HS School. Meanwhile, the association informed that that 2nd Hezukhu Memorial trophy will be held in the 2nd week of November at the public ground of Zunheboto. Therefore, interested teams and clubs have been informed to register to the ZDFA. Any team who fail to register for the tournament before October 28 next will not be able to participate on the tourney. The winner, 1st runners-up and 2nd runners-up will pocket a sum of Rs. 30, 000, Rs. 20, 000 and Rs. 10, 000 respectively. Interested teams and clubs may contact 9863587174, 9863512103 and 9436408052. This was stated in a press note issued by Kanato Sumi, press secretary of ZDFA.

C M Y K

Ent/Tabloid

The Morung Express

Double trouble for Charlie Sheen

ollywood star Charlie Sheen is set to become a father again two times over after finding out his new wife is expecting twin boys. Real estate agent Brooke Mueller, 31, is three months pregnant with twins, the Two And Half Men star confirmed. Sheen told America's OK! magazine: 'I'm truly blessed. I'm already the proud father of three beautiful daughters, and I'm delighted that they'll now have two little brothers. 'Life doesn't get any better than this.' The babies will be Brooke's first time as a mother, but will be the fourth and fifth children for Charlie. In a statement in August when the couple first announced her pregnancy, the Two And A Half Men actor said: 'Brooke and I are thrilled. 'She's the best stepmom Sam, Lola and Cassandra could ever hope for. Seeing her love and affection with those three, I know

she'll be an amazing mom. Unless I bat 100 per cent, perhaps a boy awaits us.' Sheen has two daughters Lola, four; and Sam, two; with ex-wife Denise Richards and a 23-year-old daughter Cassandra from a previous relationship with Paula Profit. The pregnancy news was expected by friends after the couple started talking about having a family immediately after their nuptials. Mueller said: 'Could you imagine if I really had triplets?. He'd be like, 'Whoa.' The couple married on May 30th in front of 60 friends and family, including the actor's father Martin Sheen and mother Janet, Grey's Anatomy star Eric Dane and his actress wife Rebecca Gayheart (who introduced the bride and groom). Sheen has two failed marriages behind him, to model Donna Peele in the 1990s and a bitter split from second wife Richards after four years of marriage in 2006.

11 PRIME TIME Friday

24 October 2008

‘Poverty campaign inspires new U2 song’ W

hen 116 million people recently stood up against worldwide poverty, their coordinated cry failed to make big headlines -- but they did inspire Irish rocker and activist Bono to write a new song for his group U2. In an interview with Reuters on Wednesday, Bono said the Stand Up and Take Action campaign in 131 countries had moved him to start creating a song called "Stand Up". "It's not finished yet but it's inspired by this concept of stand up. It's a little diamond, though," Bono said, speaking by telephone from Los Angeles. "It's not a 'let's hold hands and the world is a better place sort of song.' It's more kick down the door of your own hypocrisy," he said. Organizers said the 116 million people who called on global leaders not to forget their promise to reduce world poverty and hunger by 2015, represented nearly two percent of the world's population and was a Guinness World Record "for the biggest mass mobilization on a single issue". World leaders set a series of agreed targets on poverty, education, health, equality and malnutrition known as Millennium Development Goals or MDGs, eight years ago. But developing countries fear rich nations will use the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression as an excuse to scale down their promises. African leaders have already accused rich donor nations of not keeping to their aid commitments, which has become critical to combat the effects of higher world food prices. "Although they were not a legal contract, and we wish they were, there is a moral contract that was made," Bono said. "To break a promise to yourself, to your partner, to your family, a politician to his constituents, are all bad things to

06:00 - Fashion House; 07:00 Friday Night Lights; 08:00 Seinfeld; 08:30 - Friends; 09:00 - Less Than Perfect; 09:30 Scrubs; 10:00 - Grey’s Anatomy; 11:00 - Are U Smarter Than 5th Grader; 12:00 - Ghost Whisperer; 13:00 - Jimmy Kimmel; 14:00 - The Ellen Degeneres Show; 15:00 - Fashion House; 16:00 - General Hospital; 17:00 - Grey’s Anatomy; 18:00 - Friday Night Lights; 19:00 - Friends; 19:30 - Seinfeld; 20:00 - How I Met Your Mother; 20:30 - Samantha Who ?; 21:00 - Are U Smarter Than 5th Grader; 22:00 - Blood Ties; 23:00 - The Unit; 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 General Hospital; 05:00 - The Unit

do -- but it's a heinous crime to make a promise to the poorest most vulnerable people on earth and break it. That's just not acceptable," he said. He said while the MDGs may be "the worst acronym in the history of activism," the Stand Up and Take Action events around the world on Oct 17 to 19 showed that people knew what they stand for. "The numbers show that people are aware that those promises were made and why politicians can't think 'oh we can get away with it because no one really knows about it'" Bono said. For years, Bono has used his celebrity to raise money and draw attention to global poverty and highlight how aid, when used properly, can help prevent and treat diseases like malaria and HIV/AIDS. "It is dreadful to think that we could take the foot off the pedal at our end and they run out of road on theirs," he said of concerns that less aid will slow Africa's progress. Still, Bono said the region had demonstrated significant economic potential after several years of strong economic growth, led by a new generation of leaders. "I have faith in Africans who are becoming very adept at this balancing act between necessary aid flows and realizing that business, commerce and investment can take you out of catastrophe," said Bono.

rish songstress Andrea Corr has signed up to appear in a provocative play about a journalist accused of espionage in the war on terror. The stunning 34-year-old lead vocalist with sibling popsters The Corrs will spearhead a new season at the Old Vic. Brian Friel's Dancing At Lughnasa is a controversial choice for the singer, who was born in Dundalk and has been awarded the MBE and

05:30 - Zinda; 07:40 - Star Box Office. Com; 07:45 - Aaa Gems; 08:00 - Subah Ho Gayi Mamu; 10:00 - Vikram Aur Betaal; 12:55 - Star Box Office.Com; 13:00 - Har Har Gange; 16:00 - Soldier; 19:30 - Suhaag; 23:40 - Chameli Ki Shaadi Chameli Ki Shaadi’; 03:00 - Ustadon Ke Ustad 06:00 - Telebrands; 07:00 - Wildest Africa; 08:00 - Wildlife Specials; 09:00 - Raging Planet; 10:00 - Life In Cold Blood; 11:00 - I Survived!; 12:00 - Rhodes Across India; 13:00 - Snow Leopards - Beyond The Myth; 14:00 - Life In Cold Blood; 15:00 - I Shouldn’t Be Alive; 16:00 - King Cobra And I; 17:00 - I Survived!; 18:00 - Futureweapons; 19:00 - Hunters; 20:00 - Dirty Jobs; 21:00 Nextworld; 22:00 - A Haunting; 23:00 - Building The Future; 00:00 Wild Africa; 01:00 - Telebrands; 02:00 - Building The FutUre; 03:00 Futureweapons; 04:00 - A Haunting; 05:00 - Building The Future

05:55 - Silver Hawk; 07:45 - Vip Access; 08:15 - The Lost Room; 10:05 - Tremors; 12:05 - War Of The Worlds; 14:25 - Meteor Man; 16:30 - Blown Away; 18:55 - Eragon; 21:00 - Casino Royale; 23:45 - Until Death; 00:00 - Until Death; 01:55 - A Walk On The Moon; 03:45 - Crazy In Alabama; 05:45 - Blown Away

Dancing At Lughnasa and I know that Anna Mackmin has wonderful ideas about the play. And we finally get to welcome Sam Mendes to the Old Vic, which will be a great moment for audiences and actors alike." From May, Mendes directs two plays The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov and Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, which are both the culmination of the Bridge Project, a collaboration between London and New York. The three-year partnership unites the Old Vic with Brooklyn Academy of Music and Neal Street Productions. Mendes, who won an Oscar for directing the 1999 film American Beauty which starred

1:30 - Sportsnight; 2:00 - Fifa: Futbol Mundial; 2:30 - Us Pga Tournament - Fry Com Open - Day 1; 4:30 - European Tour Weekly; 5:00 - Inside The Pga Tour 2008; 5:30 - Great Centuries :Rahul Dravid; 6:00 - Uefa Champions League 08/09 H/L’s; 7:00 - Wwe: Raw; 9:00 - Icl Hl’s - Mumbai V Lahore; 10:00 - Uefa Champions League Chelsea V Roma; 12:00 - Uefa Champions League 08/09 H/L’s; 13:00 - Inside The Pga Tour 2008; 13:30 - European Tour Weekly; 14:00 - Great Centuries :Rahul Dravid; 14:30 - Icl Hl’s - Mumbai V Lahore; 15:30 - Wwe: Ecw; 16:30 - Wwe: Smackdown; 18:30 - Icl 20-20 - Preview: Delhi V Chandigarh; 19:30 - Icl 20-20 :Delhi V Chandigarh; 22:30 - Icl 20-20 - Review: Delhi V Chandigarh; 23:00 - Sportsnight; 23:30 - Wwe: Ecw

Spacey, will direct a formidable group of actors in The Cherry Orchard and Winter's Tale. The cast will include Simon Russell Beale, Sinead Cusack, Richard Easton, Rebecca Hall, Josh Hamilton, Paul Jesson and Hawke, best known for his roles in the films Before Sunset and Training Day, for which he was nominated for an Oscar. The Old Vic also announced today that the 24 Hour Plays Celebrity Gala will be held on 30 November. The fundraising event involves 40 actors, directors and writers working to create six short plays in 24 hours.

Nagaland vote for Remo Gosh

ans of Remo Gosh get another chance to vote for him as the idol elimination round of four male singers gets deferred. Remo is the first participant from Nagaland in the mega musical show Indian Idol. Remo Ghosh, Nagaland: Code - 13 SMS: “remo” to 5052525 Mobile Call: 5052525 13 BSNL/MTNL: 1862888252513 Final 12 will compete with each other in Spectacular round which will run over the course of 12 weeks from November 2008 to February 2009. At the end of every week one contestant will get eliminate by public votes until only 2 Contestants – the Finalists – remain in the Competition. The Final of Indian Idol 4: The final will take place at around February 2009. The winner will be closed by public voting. So stay tuned and vote for REMO... as India Idol 4 sets in the groove and gears up to entertain you every Friday & Saturday at 9.00 pm only on Sony Entertainment Television.

06:00 - Wild South America; 07:00 Teleshopping; 08:00 - All New Planet’s Funniest Animals; 08:30 - Young And Wild; 09:00 - Life Of Mammals; 10:00 - Planet’s Funniest Animals; 10:30 - Lords Of The Animals; 11:00 - Planet Wild; 11:30 - Up Close And Dangerous; 12:00 Great Savannah Race; 13:00 - Life Of Mammals; 14:00 - Wild South America; 15:00 O’shea’s Big Adventure; 16:00 - Big Cat Diary I; 17:00 - Saving A Species: Gorillas On The Brink; 18:00 - All New Planet’s Funniest Animals; 18:30 - Young And WiLd; 19:00 - Planet Wild; 19:30 - Up Close And Dangerous; 20:00 - Great Savannah Race; 21:00 - O’shea’s Big Adventure; 22:00 - Ocean’s Deadliest; 23:00 - Big Cat Diary 4; 00:00 - All New Planet’s Funniest Animals; 00:30 - Young And Wild; 01:00 Teleshopping; 02:00 - Petsburgh Usa; 03:00 - Monkey Business; 04:00 - Petsburgh Usa; 05:00 - Monkey Business

06:00 - Seva Ganga; 06:30 - Vignan Shashwat Sukh Ka; 07:00 - Sangam; 07:30 - Raja Ki Ayegi; 08:00 - Kyunki Saas Bhi; 08:30 - Baa Bahoo Aur Baby; 09:00 - Kumkum; 09:30 - Ab Tak Ka Safar; 10:00 - Grihasti; 10:30 - Hamari Devrani; 11:00 - Baa Bahoo Aur Baby; 12:30 - Jahan Pe Basera Ho; 13:00 - Kumkum; 13:30 - Hamari Devrani; 14:00 - Karam; 14:30 - Grihasti; 15:00 - Jahan Pe Basera Ho; 17:30 - Saibaba Tere Hazaaron Haath; 18:30 - Hamari Devrani; 19:00 - Shararat; 19:30 Ab Tak Ka Safar; 20:00 - Aaja Mahi Ve; 21:00 - Prithviraj Chauhan; 21:30 - Baa Bahoo Aur Baby; 22:00 - Star Voice Of India; 23:00 Karam; 23:30 - Jahan Pe Basera Ho; 00:00 - Kasturi; 00:30 - Ab Tak Ka Safar; 01:00 - Bidaai; 01:30 - Kis Desh Mein; 02:00 - Grihasti; 02:30 - Kayamath; 03:00 - Ab Tak Ka Safar; 03:30 - Kahaani Ghar; 04:00 - Kyunki Saas Bhi; 04:30 - Raja Ki Ayegi; 05:00 - Disney Time

Andrea Corr has signed up to appear in a provocative play

the highlight of a line-up that also includes the longawaited return of Sam Mendes to the London stage and an appearance by Hollywood star Ethan Hawke. Kevin Spacey will direct Complicit by award-winning American playwright Joe Sutton at the Southwark theatre. It will be performed in the round following the recent success of comedy trilogy The Norman Conquests, which runs until December. Spacey, the artistic director at the Old Vic, said: "We've had such a great experience with The Norman Conquests that I am thrilled to get a chance to direct Complicit in the round." Complicit will run from 7 January to 21 February. Described as "very topical", it tells how a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist is hauled in front of a grand jury accused of revealing CIA secrets. In late February, Brian Friel's Olivier award-winning play, Dancing At Lughnasa, will open at the Old Vic in its first production since its premiere in 1990. Set in rural Ireland in the Thirties, the bittersweet drama tells the story of five sisters. Anna Mackmin will direct a cast including Niamh Cusack, Michelle Fairley, Susan Lynch and Corr. Spacey added: "I Fashion Make up artist Sentimongla Aier, giving ﬁnal touches to a model during the Delhi couldn't be happier that we've attracted such a terrific cast to Fashion Week. (Photo: Eastwind pics)

Dimapur

`Chota Don` Remo Ghosh tries his best with Yeh hawaein

06:00 - The Weatherman; 08:00 - October Sky; 10:15 - The Fever; 12:00 - The Animal; 13:45 - Click; 16:00 - The Making Of The Da Vinci Code; 16:30 - Walking Tall - The Payback; 18:30 - Hollywood Spotlight; 19:00 - The Mask; 21:00 - Transformers; 23:45 - The Making Of Transformers; 00:15 - Superman 2; 02:45 - Munich 06:00 - Shakti Yug; 06:30 - The Faith Show; 07:00 - Enjoying Everyday Life; 07:25 Exposure Ek Nazar; 07:30 - Amritwani; 07:55 - Exposure Jhalak; 08:00 - Teleshopping; 08:25 - Exposure Ek Nazar; 09:00 - Maayka; 12:00 - Dulhann; 12:30 - Kahani Ab Tak; 13:00 - Saath Saath; 13:30 - Rakhi; 14:00 - Teen Bahuraaniyaan; 14:30 - Jhoome Jiiya Re; 15:00 - Dulhann; 15:30 - Maayka; 16:00 - Ranbir Rano; 18:00 - Ek Se Badhkar Ek - Chota Packet Bada Dhamaka; 19:00 - Vivaah; 19:30 - Parrivaar; 20:00 - Dulhann; 20:30 - MaAyka; 21:00 Naaginn; 21:30 - Aladdin; 22:00 - Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2009; 23:30 - Kahani Ab Tak; 23:55 - Exposure Ek Nazar; 00:00 Asian Sky Shop; 00:55 - Exposure; 01:00 - Asian Sky Shop; 02:00 - Shabhash India - Childrens Special; 02:30 - Parrivaar; 04:30 Urja; 05:00 - Ramayan; 05:30 - Narseva Narayan Seva 06:00 - Adventures Of The Ladies Tailor; 06:30 - Feast India; 07:00 - Great Cruises; 08:00 - 1000 Places To See Before You Die ; 09:00 - Dream Hotels; 09:30 Indian Rendezvous; 10:00 - A Makeover Story ; 10:30 - Big Boutique ; 11:00 - Superhomes 2; 11:30 - Amazing Vacation Homes ; 12:00 - Kustomizer - The Series ; 13:00 - Nigella Express; 13:30 - Cooking It; 14:00 - Indian Rendezvous; 14:30 - Finest Hotels In The World; 15:00 - Top Ten Mexico; 16:00 - World’s Most Luxurious Hotel; 17:00 - Dream Hotels; 17:30 - Feast Bazaar Year 2006; 18:00 - The Newest Games In Las Vegas; 19:00 - 1000 Places To See Before You Die ; 20:00 - Dream Hotels; 20:30 - I Do, Let’s Eat!; 21:00 - Europe’s Richest People; 22:00 - Nigella Express; 22:30 - Samantha Brown: Passport To Great Weekends; 23:00 - A Model Life With Petra Nemcova; 00:00 - Vip Weekends With Ian Wright; 00:30 - Getaway 2006; 01:00 - Europe’s Richest People; 02:00 - 1000 Places To See Before You Die ; 03:00 Travel Channel Swimsuit Slimdown - It’s Results Time; 04:00 - A Makeover Story ; 04:30 - Big Boutique ; 05:00 - Monster House 06:00 - Mile Jab Hum Tum; 06:30 Exotica; 07:00 - Body And Soul; 07:30 - Tvc Sky Shop; 08:30 - Instant Khichdi; 09:00 - Shaka Laka Boom Boom; 09:30 - Son Pari; 10:00 - Mum Tum Aur Hum; 10:30 - Shararat; 11:00 - Ssshhhh Phir Koi Hai; 13:00 - Dill Mill Gayye; 14:00 - Mile Jab Hum Tum; 15:00 - Zara Nachke Dikha; 18:30 - Mile Jab Hum Tum; 19:00 - Dill Mill Gayye; 20:00 - Mile Jab Hum Tum; 21:00 - The Great Indian Laughter Challenge Iv; 22:00 - Ssshhhh Phir Koi Hai; 23:00 - Mile Jab Hum Tum; 23:30 - Mile Jab HUm Tum; 00:00 - Siddhanth; 01:00 - Paani Puri; 02:00 - Mile Jab Hum Tum; 03:00 - Paani Puri; 04:00 - Ssshhhh Phir Koi Hai; 05:00 - Mile Jab Hum Tum 06:00 - Hum Ladkiyan; 06:30 - Meet Mila De Rabba; 07:00 - Telebrands; 07:30 - Teleshopping; 08:50 - Box Office Muzic Hitz; 09:00 - Comedy Circus; 10:00 - Meet Mila De Rabba; 12:00 Hum Ladkiyan; 14:00 - Baazi; 18:00 - Hum Ladkiyan; 18:30 - Arslaan; 19:30 - Damdaar Hits; 20:00 - Boogie Woogie; 21:00 - Indian Idol 4; 22:00 - Cid; 23:00 - Comedy Circus; 00:00 Telebrands; 00:30 - Teleshopping; 01:00 - Boogie Woogie; 02:00 Cid; 03:00 - Arslaan; 04:00 - Aahat - 3; 05:00 - Comedy Circus 6:00 - Numb3rs; 7:00 - So You Think You Can Dance; 8:00 - Alias; 9:00 - Numb3rs; 11:00 - Early Edition; 12:00 - Afterworld; 12:03 - First Class All The Way; 1:00 - Video Zonkers; 2:00 - The Azing Race Asia; 3:00 - Ultimate Guinness World Records; 5:00 - So You Think You Can Dance; 6:00 - Numb3rs; 7:00 - Afterworld; 7:03 - Alias; 8:00 First Class All The Way; 9:00 - Ultimate Guinness World Records; 9:30 Ebuzz; 10:00 - Xxx; 12:30 - Afterworld; 12:33 - Ultimate Guinness World Records; 1:00 - The Contender Asia; 2:00 - So You Think You Can Dance; 3:00 - Early Edition; 4:00 - Alias; 5:00 - The Contender Asia

Young Remo, was seen wooing Priyanka Chopra in the piano round

05:30 - Arahan; 07:00 - Infomercial; 08:00 - Pinocchio; 10:30 - Tuck Everlasting; 12:30 - Outrageous Fortune; 14:45 - Turner And Hooch; 17:00 Hollywoods 10 Best; 17:30 - Mona Lisa Smile; 20:00 - Epk; 20:15 - Flight Plan; 22:30 - Troy; 02:00 - Outrageous Fortune; 03:30 - Attack On The Iron Coast; 05:00 - Beach Head

C M Y K

dle

C M Y K

The

Morung

SPORTS

P 12

Chelsea Terry ends Roma resistance Tribal Spirit enters ﬁnal

9TH NSF MARTYRS MEMORIAL TROPHY 2008

Our Correspondent

LONDON, OCTOBER 23 (REUTERS): John Terry came to Chelsea's rescue on Wednesday when he powered in a 77th-minute header to secure a 1-0 Champions League win over dogged AS Roma and put the Londoners firmly on course for the knockout phase. The captain rose to glance in a Frank Lampard corner and put the Londoners in command in Group A on seven points from three games. Cluj have four with Roma and Bordeaux both on three. Until the goal Roma, who had been thrashed 4-0 by Inter Milan in Serie A at the weekend, held out with few problems against a team who had been scoring for fun in the Premier League. The nearest either side came to a goal in a ragged first half was when Lampard clipped the angle of the bar and post with a 20metre effort after 23 minutes, though a great tackle by Terry denied Matteo Brighi a shot on goal after he had been cleverly slipped through by Francesco Totti. Roma were busy, worked hard to close down the midfield and looked to occasionally break but their final ball was too often loose and they failed to threaten Petr Cech in the entire 90 minutes. Chelsea also struggled to reproduce their enterprising football of recent weeks and it looked ever-more likely that they would need a set-piece to break through. It duly worked out that way as Terry, who has been struggling with a back injury in recent weeks, produced another determined run to secure a win that should make the return game

Chelsea's John Terry, right, heads the opening goal during the Champions League Group A soccer match against Roma at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Wednesday October 22. (AP Photo)

in Roma a much less pressurised trip for last season's runners-up. Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said he was more than happy with the result despite the goalrush drying up. "I told the players beforehand that this would be a tactical game. If we pressured this team and made one or two mistakes then maybe we would lose," he told a news conference. "I told them to stay calm. Sometimes 1-0 is more important than 5-0 -- you have to respect the quality of the opposition. "They didn't come just to defend, they tried to play," he said. "They don't have one striker in the box, they have five or six players arriving and it's difficult to control." Scolari said he had been an admirer of Terry's aerial ability for a long time. "When I was Portugal coach and we played England I was always afraid when Terry came into my area and warned my players that he was decisive and if he got a touch, it was dangerous," he said. "Now I'm here I say to him I want the same." Despite the defeat, coach Luciano Spalletti felt Roma's performance could kick-start his team's season, which has started so poorly. "We showed a great attitude and good spirit and this is something we need to carry forward so we can get back to the way Roma play," he said. "Sometimes tonight we tried to press forward too much but it certainly sets the tone for what we need to do. "The only way Chelsea were going to score was a set piece, or if they created something from nothing.

Barcelona rout Basel to keep winning start

Basel's Behrang Safari, left, challenges for the ball with Barcelona's Lionel Messi, right, during the Champions League group C ﬁrst leg soccer match between FC Basel and FC Barcelona, at the St. Jakob Park Stadium in Basel, Switzerland, Wednesday, October 22. (AP Photo)

Injuries concern Liverpool ahead of Chelsea clash

BELGRADE, OCTOBER 23 (REUTERS): Barca put one foot in the Champions League last 16 with a 5-0 away drubbing of Basel, which left them as the only team with a 100 percent record halfway through the group stage. Chelsea also closed in on the knockout stage after a John Terry header gave them a 1-0 home win over Roma and fivetime winners Liverpool are in a good position too following a 1-1 draw at Atletico Madrid. That result left the two teams joint top in Group D on seven points after Simao Sabrosa steered in a late equaliser to cancel out Robbie Keane's 14th-minute opener for Liverpool. PSV Eindhoven chalked up their first points in the group with a 2-0 home win over Olympique Marseille, courtesy of a Danny Koevermans brace that left the 1993 European Cup winners rooted to the bottom with three

defeats. An Adriano header on the stroke of half-time handed Inter Milan a 1-0 home success against Anorthosis Famagusta, leaving them firmly in the driving seat in Group B with seven points ahead of the Cypriots, who have four. Inter coach Jose Mourinho praised his team's professional performance that fell short of the sparkling form they showed in Sunday's 4-0 Italian league rout of Roma. Werder Bremen registered their third straight draw in that group after a 2-2 stalemate at Panathinaikos thanks to Hugo Almeida's 83rd-minute equaliser. The draw gave the Greek side their first point. Crisp one-touch football from Barcelona tore Basel apart as Lionel Messi, Sergi Busquets and Bojan Krkic gave the 2006 winners a 3-0 lead in the opening 22 minutes. Bojan added the fourth and Xavi Fernandez

completed the rout within three minutes after the interval to give Barcelona an excellent chance of securing their progress to the last 16 in the reverse fixture against the Swiss side next month. Barca coach Pep Guardiola hailed his team's impressive performance as important for the rest of the campaign and said the win was not as easy as it might have looked.

Kohima | October 23

TRIBAL SPIRIT today defeated Kingdom Stewards in the 2nd semi finals to enter the finals of the 9th NSF Martyrs Memorial Trophy 2008 here in the Kohima Local Ground. Umakanta netted a goal for Tribal Spirit in the 18th minute and the team emerged victory by a solitary goal. With this, Tribal Spirit will now clash with Nagaland Police in the finals scheduled for October 25. Yellow card was shown to Heilamdi (Kingdom Stewards), Ronald and Shetal (both from Tribal Spirit). Later, red card was shown to Ronald (Tribal Spirit) in the 85th minute. Huliangbo of Tribal Spirit was declared as the player of the match. Vipopal Kintso, chairperson, Kohima Municipal Council who acted as the match patron, has donated Rs. 10,000.

Earlier, an exhibition match between ASU range officials and ASU officials ended 3-3 draw. Sedevikho (Publicity & Information Secretary ASU), Kelhouneizo (President ASU) and Zakie Khate (Assistant General Secretary ASU) fetched the goals for ASU officials while ASU range official scorers include; Ketholetuo (President NASU), Nurhengulie (Sports Secretary CASU) and Pulie (Convenor, Action Committee- SASU). Meanwhile, Sentiyanger, IAS, commissioner and secretary, Horticulture and Information & Public Relations will grace the grand finale on October 25. The champion will fetch Rs. 70,000 while the runnersup will be awarded with Rs. 35,000. Individual prizes will also be awarded to best goal keeper, best player and highest scorer of the tournament.

MDFA 2008 results Thursday’s results Artang YA 2 - Aongza YA 0 Majakong SC 6 - Prodigy SC 1

Friday’s Fixture (1:00 PM) Brotherhood SC vs Fiorentina SC Arkong SC ‘B’ vs Alter Ego FA

Rio greets Sachin Tendulkar DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 23 (MExN): On behalf of the Nagaland cricket Association, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has extended congratulations to Sachin Tendulkar on the occasion of his becoming the highest run getter in test cricket and also on becoming the first ever person to cross the twelve thousand runs mark. “This achieve-

ment is a proud moment for the entire country especially the sports fraternity and will inspire youngsters to aim for higher goals. Your career and achievements have become a source of encouragement for sportspersons all over the world and we wish you more success in the year to come,” the CM added in his greeting message.

15th NDN Memorial Football Trophy

DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 23 (MExN): The 15th NDN Memorial Football Trophy will be held from November 1 to 6 at State Stadium under the theme “Sports for self discipline.” Maongwati, Deputy Commissioner Dimapur will grace the inaugural function as Chief Guest and Shri Renben Jami, Dep-

uty Director Land Resource, Kohima Nagaland would grace the Closing Ceremony. The Union inform all the interested Team/Club to collect the forms at Vishal Studio, Opposite S.M.College. DKSU President in a release informed that the last date of submission of form will be on October 13, 2008.

Team coach, manager of Subroto Cup (U-14 years) appreciates

MADRID, OCTOBER 23 international Fernando Tor(AFP): Liverpool manager res will be desperate to get fit Rafael Benitez was concerned for that game after missing the about knocks to Steven Ger- return to his former club with rard, Robbie Keane and Xavi a hamstring injury. Benitez adAlonso at Atletico Madrid in mitted Torres was missed and DIMAPUR, OCTOmidweek ahead of Sunday’s had another dig at the internaBER 23, (MExN): In a Premiership clash at Chelsea. tional fixture list with Torres release to Morung ExIrish international Robbie and Ryan Babel injured on inpress, the team coach Keane, who still hasn’t scored ternational duty. of Subroto Cup (U-14 for the Reds in the league, “Obviously we missed Toryears) has thanked the put Liverpool ahead after 14 resasheisaspecialplayer,”said following individuminutes in this Champions Benitez. “However he wasn’t als: DRC (Nagaland League Group D match but available so there is no point House – Delhi), DMC Portuguese winger Simao talking about it. There are too (Chairman & his memequalised late on to salvage a many international games and bers), Principal (Greenpoint for Atletico. you already know my opinion “If you said to me before on this topic.” Liverpool lost wood HSS), Governor the game that we would have control of the match against of Nagaland, Nagaland seven points that would be Atletico and that is something Veteran Football Asgood,” said Benitez. “We have Benitez wants to improve on sociation, Angami Studroppedtwopointsandwealso ahead of the Chelsea fixture. dents’ Union, NSF, have some injury concerns.” “We had control of the Department of Youth “Gerrard, Xavi and Robbie game for the first half and at Resources and Sports, all went off in the second half the start of the second and I Nagaland, Chief Minisand they have some problems. am disappointed we lost it,” ter, Nagaland, and team Keane is having muscular said Benitez. “Kun Aguero coach (Rapfu Meyase) problems but it is not that seri- came on and that helped them of U-17 yrs greateful to ous. Alonso has a knock on his a lot. We also didn’t defend as the headmaster of Modknee and Gerrard has a niggle well which was a decisive facern English School (Kotoo. “They are a bit tired and tor. “We had chances to kill hima) for ambling the we are trying to keep them the game and we didn’t. If you team to participate and fresh and 100 percent fit.” don’t take your chances that is Both Atletico and Liver- sometimes what happens.” A represent their school. pool have seven points in the trip to Stamford Bridge awaits And all well wishers group and face off again in the Liverpool next as the two unfor supporting them, C next Eurpean match at An- beaten Premiership teams go added the release. M field on November 4. Spanish head to head. Y 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. K 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 For advertisements and circulation, please contact: (03862) 236871, Fax-235194 or email : morungad@yahoo.com

PO Reg No. NE/RN-722