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The Morung Express

A Daily Publication of Morung for Indigenous Affairs & JustPeace

Dimapur VOL. III ISSUE 302

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Tragedy Strikes Assam 61 killed, 470 injured in 13 serial explosions

Friday, October 31, 2008 12 pages Rs. 3 -Chinese Proverb

‘No place for violence’ NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 30 (PTI): President, Vice President and the Prime Minister on Thursday strongly condemned the serial blasts that ripped through Assam claiming several lives and said people should stand united to defeat the designs of terrorists. "There is no place for violence in our society. At this moment all of us should stand united against divisive forces in the country," President Pratibha Patil said in a message. Observing that such terrorist acts coinciding with the festive season were intended to disturb social harmony, Vice President Hamid Ansari urged all citizens to unite in combating this scourge. In his message, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said such barbaric acts targeting innocent men, women and children only highlight the desperation and cowardice of those responsible. Offering his condolences to the families of those killed and sympathies to those injured in the blasts, he hoped that people would rise unitedly against these attempts to disturb peace and harmony and to destroy the social fabric. "We will take all possible steps to maintain peace and bring the perpetrators of such acts to justice," the Prime Minister said. Meanwhile, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee expressed sorrow at the loss of lives in the serial blasts and offered his sympathies for the families of the bereaved. "I hope that such acts do not result in disturbing peace in the region, which is in the interest of the people of the country as a whole," Chatterjee said. He also wished speedy and complete recovery of those injured. Congress President Sonia Gandhi today condemned the serial blasts in Assam and dubbed it as a mindless and heinous crime perpetuated by those who are inimical to the country. "I condemn this mindless and heinous crime perpetuated by those who are inimical to our country," Gandhi said in a statement. "I am extremely distressed and saddened to know about the bomb blasts that rocked Guwahati today killing and injuring a number of innocent people. "Terror shows its ugly face once again in our country and we should unitedly combat this menace in a sustained and comprehensive manner," she added. The Congress President called upon the authorities to immediately provide relief to the unfortunate victims. "I also send my heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved families in this hour of great sorrow," she said.

ULFA denies involvement

People carry off a seriously injured man from a blast site in Guwahati, Thursday, October 30. Police said at least 61 people have been killed and over 470 have been injured as serial bombs exploded across Assam. (AP Photo)

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NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 30 (PTI): At least 61 people were killed and over 470 injured Thursday as a series of carefully coordinated bombings shattered the midday bustle of markets in Guwahati and other areas of India’s Assam state, the latest victim of targeted terror that has taken over 400 lives in the country since 2006. In one of the worst terror attacks in the restive northeast, that has seen a lot of separatist violence in the last couple of decades, 12 bombs went off in less than an hour in Guwahati as well as in the western districts of Barpeta, Kokrajhar and Bongaigaon. More than 300 people were injured, many of whom are in a critical condition. A police spokesperson said the blasts began at 11.20 a.m. and went off one after another in rapid succession -- five in Guwahati, three each in Barpeta and Kokrajhar and one in Bongaigaon. “Preliminary investigations show that the bombs were strapped on bicycles and the explosives were packed with highly inflammable substances that led to big fires soon after the blasts,” said Assam government spokesperson Himanta Biswa Sarma. Thick

black smoke billowed into the sky and the mangled remains of cars littered Guwahati’s streets as fire brigade personnel and rescue workers rushed in to control the flames. According to Assam police intelligence chief Khagen Sharma: “Prima facie, it appears to be a combined attack carried out at the behest of some jihadi forces with the help of local outfits.” Some officials of the Assam government, which imposed curfew in Guwahati, also pointed the needle of suspicion towards the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), Assam’s deadly rebel group and the usual suspects in such violence, but the outlawed group denied the charge. “We are in no way involved in the blasts,” an ULFA statement said. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi admitted in a press conference in the evening: “I do admit I did not anticipate this kind of a terror strike.” Police in Assam estimate that more than 31 people were killed in the five blasts in Guwahati -- in the bustling Ganeshguri area, Panbazar, Fancy Bazar, Paltan Bazar and outside the district magistrate’s court. Besides, 19 people were killed in three blasts in crowded marketplaces in Kokra-

jhar district, about 250 km west of Guwahati, and 11 in Barpeta. No militant group has claimed responsibility for the explosions that left residents stunned. “The area was teeming with people, officer goers, shoppers and vendors when a very big explosion took place,” said Arindam Das, describing the scene in Ganeshguri. “I saw at least six bodies. More than 30 people were lying on the ground and bleeding. A shocked Sourabh Chowdhary said from nearby Dispur: “Autorickshaws were blown away. The fire brigade took one hour to come. The nearby hospital is full of casualties.” “Some of the bodies were charred beyond recognition,” Deputy Inspector General of Assam Police G.P. Singh said. “We don’t know about the nature of explosives or who could be behind the attacks as we are now busy carrying out rescue operations,” he added. As police grappled with the situation, the condemnation was swift and unanimous. In New Delhi, Home Minister Shivraj Patil went into a huddle with National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan to discuss measures to control the situation in the region. Minister

Terrorists should be hunted down: Rio

DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 30 (MExN): Strongly censuring the perpetrators of the bomb blasts today that took the lives of many innocents in Assam, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today said the terrorists should be hunted down and brought to justice. This will instill confidence in the people, Rio said today in a message condemning the latest terror upheaval in neighboring Assam. Following the serial blasts, the chief minister said, an emergency meeting of Cabinet ministers, senior state officials and police was held to review the situation. The government reiterated that the North East region has been witnessing an increasing trend of terror attacks that have claimed lives and created ‘chaos and anarchy’. “This should be a cause of serious concern, not just for the states of the NE region but also for the government of India; effective mechanisms must be urgently put in place in order to combat terrorism and those who are holding the people to ransom using unacceptable weapons of fear and panic” Rio said. The country cannot afford to allow

these anti-national elements to function at will, the chief minister said. The need of the hour is for all sections (of the society) to work in close coordination and in a united manner to combat all menace of terrorism” he said. While condemning the ‘cowardly act of mindless terrorism’, the Nagaland government expresses deepest condolences to the bereaved families of the demised innocents and prays for speedy recovery of the injured. The Nagaland BJP unit also expressed condemnations “beyond any words available in any dictionary of the world”. The BJP, in a message from its state executives said “the terrorists must understand that “the curse inflicted upon them by the fellow human being and relatives of victims will never have any place of forgiveness in the living world or beyond”. However, the BJP also condemned the government of Assam for ‘complete failure of law and order’ in spite of having repeated and regular terror attacks throughout the state and its capital. The central government is appealed to by the BJP

to “view” terror activities and “immediately impose President’s Rule” under Article 356 “to curb down the violence and terrorism in Assam”. The BJP also referred to DONER minister Manishankar Aiyaar and Union Minister for State Prakash Jaiswal’s remarks that “such terror attacks are regular affair in Assam since past few days”. The party has questioned “these ministers” that “if you are aware of this raw terrorism in Assam then why your government has totally failed in curbing down the same” and “why don’t they step down from the government owing moral responsibility”. “Even the recent spate of violence and killing of North Indians and terrorizing business community in the state of Maharashtra has sent confirmed signals of a bigger conspiracy against the unity and integrity of the country and therefore the BJP Nagaland unit appeals to the central government to immediately step down and save the country from all round chaos while imposing president’s Rule in both the states of Assam and Maharashtra” the BJP added in one good length.

of State for Home Shakeel Ahmad was forthright in condemning the politics of hate that had led to the high intensity blasts. Recalling that there had been communal clashes in Assam in early October in which 57 people were killed, he said: “Such acts of terror are the result of politics of hate that is being spread in different parts of the country.” Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani put the blame on the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) for failing to curb terror and said: “It seems Bangladeshi militants are behind the blasts.” The panic spread to other parts of the country, where 600 people have died in terror attacks in the last six years, and 400 in the last two years alone. In New Delhi, for instance, harried people from Assam spent anxious moments working the jammed telephone lines. “I have been trying to get through to my family and relatives for a long time. As the blasts took place, everybody is out. One of the blast sites (in Guwahati) is the main market and my father has to cross it on his way to office,” said Delhi University student Rashik, whose home is behind Guwahati’s Fancy Bazar.

GUWAHATI, OCTOBER 30 (PTI): The banned ULFA today denied its involvement in the serial blasts that rocked Assam. “The ULFA is in no way involved in the blasts in Guwahati, Bongaigaon, Barpeta and Kokrajhar and we condemn the incidents,” an e-mail statement signed by Aanjan Borthakur of the group’s central publicity unit said. The group also offered its deep condolences to the family members of those killed in the blasts and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured. The ULFA urged the authorities to ensure proper treatment of the injured. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and government spokesman Subhas Das had earlier claimed the hand of “anti-national extremist elements” in the blasts while Kamrup (Metro) Deputy Commissioner Prateek Hajela claimed the HuJI was involved in the serial blasts.

Curfew in Nagaland borders MOKOKCHUNG, OCTOBER 30 (DIPR): Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung, Bendangkokba has informed the public of Mokokchung district that the Additional District Magistrate of Sivasagar in Assam, M. Gogoi has promulgated prohibitory orders under section 144 Cr.PC reinforcing night curfew from 6 pm to 6 am in the Assam side bordering Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. Movement of any person or group of persons, vehicular traffic in the 5 KM belt in Assam side bordering Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh falling in Sivasagar district is prohibited. This is to check and prevent anti-social elements, extremists as well as unlawful activities coming across Assam, Nagaland and Arunachal. This order will come into force with immediate effect and shall remain in force for a period of 60 days.

Civilian falls to bullets Irom’s voice, symbol

of Right and Resolve

Sano Vamuzo addresses MSWC Newmai News Network Imphal | October 30

Seen here is the spot at Purana Bazar in Dimapur where an autorickshaw driver was shot dead by unidentiﬁed gunmen, around afternoon, Thursday. Morung Express News Dimapur | October 30

RAISING THE terrible specter of suspicion-killings again, another civilian was today brutally gunned down by unidentified assailants in broad daylight near the Labour Office at Purana Bazaar, here at around 1:57 pm. Police said the latest civilian tragedy was a case of ‘mistaken identity’, that the victim happened to be the twin brother of an underground cadre, who the assailants are understood to have originally targeted. Police identified the deceased as Kahoi Sumi of Saghami village of Zunheboto district and presently residing at Model colony

at Purana Bazaar. Police said that the killing took place at around 1:57 pm, when the assailants suspected to be underground activists, stopped Kahoi Sumi’s autorickshaw and shot him six times with an AK 47 rifle. The victim sustained bullet injuries on the neck, jaw, abdomen, limbs, right and left hands. Police also recovered 6 shells of an AK 47 rifle from the scene of killing. Police, quoting relatives, said the deceased was engaged as an autorickshaw driver. However, his twin brother is a member of the outfit NSCN (IM), police said. Police termed the incident as a case of ‘mistaken identity.’ The deceased is survived by his wife and children.

SHARMILA’S VOICE in her prolonged hunger strike protest against the draconian Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) has been a symbol of strength and encouragement for the women of Manipur and also for others who have borne the brunt of this act in some measure, said Sano Vamuzo, chairperson of Nagaland State Commission for Women. Vamuzo was releasing the journal “Voice of Women” in Imphal today. Organized by Manipur State Commission for Women, the occasion was held at its head office in Lamphel, Imphal West on Thursday. The chairperson pointed out that the northeastern states with the exception of Meghalaya, practices the patriarchal system of hierarchy. However, each state has its own issues, concerns and shared common prob-

lems such as exploitation, unemployment, domestic violence, increasing rates of HIV\AIDS, drugs and alcohol addiction, women and child trafficking, rape cases and other forms of assault on women, Sano said. Sano Vamuzo also expressed sadness at the situation of the northeastern states saying that apart from all related problems, the presence of armed militants has had a regrettable impact on the society and women in particular. She said that the northeastern states have come to be known as an insurgency-affected region with the sad reality that bloodshed has become a daily affair. The NSCW chairperson also pointed out that ignorance – about existing laws meant to protect rights – has kept women in darkness for so long. Because of this, Vamuzo said, the states of Nagaland and Manipur are in the nascent stage. Continued on page 5

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The Morung Express 2 LOCAL Strive for the best, Dr. Nicky Kire tells students ‘Politicians have differences; Dimapur

Friday

31 October 2008

politicians don’t bring unity’ PGOF observes 9th General Conference-cum-Seminar

Dr. Nicky Kire and others at the annual prize distribution-cum-parting social of Kohima College on Thursday. (Morung Photo) Our Correspondent Kohima | October 30

MLA DR. NICKY Kire, Chairman, Nagaland Khadi & Village Industries Board, today encouraged students to learn one new word everyday from the dictionary. Such practice, he said, would enable the students to access 365 new words in a year making it one of the important tools in enhancing their academic career. Speaking at the 42nd annual prize distribution-cum-parting social of Kohima College, Kohima, here this morning, Dr. Kire also challenged the students to strive for the best to face the competitive world. “Do your best, work hard,” he said and at the same time called upon the

students to give utmost attention to their lessons. Touching on the talent of students, he stressed on the need to nurture the students in proper manner. He advocated the offering of career guidance, which, he felt, would fetch high impact. Dr. Kire also stressed on the need to open an adequate platform to the students by organising seminars, extempore speech and various competitions, which, he said, will develop their skills and facilitate them to face the audience. It will also play as an important factor in building self-confidence, he added. Kire further emphasised on the need to bring the alumni together to share their experiences, which will in return encourage the students in many

ways. Earlier, C Khalong Ao, Principal of Kohima College gave the keynote address. Speeches on behalf of outgoing and remaining students were delivered by Kevisan, CR BA-III, and Kezhasezo Sechu, vice president KCSU, respectively. Annual report was given by Kedilhou Yhome, general secretary KCSU, while Vikeduo Usou, pastor Bethesda Church, Bayavu Kohima, led the prayer for outgoing students. The function was chaired by Aien, lecturer, while Kelezhazo Pienyu, President EU, KCK, pronounced the invocation prayer. Dance, special number, and prize distribution also marked the function. The programme concluded with vote of thanks tendered by Vilhousielie, games & sports secretary, KCSU.

DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 30 (MExN): The 9th General Conference-cum-Seminar of the Pochury Gazetted Officers Forum (PGOF) was held at Meluri on October 23 and 24. The inaugural session had Yitachu, Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Art & Culture, Law & Justice, Nagaland, as the chief guest. Speaking on the occasion, Yitachu called upon the officers to know their responsibilities towards their society and themselves. He called upon the people to maintain peaceful atmosphere and to live in harmony as all from the Pochury community can live in unity. Stating that politicians have differences, and that differences compel people to make their choice for better candidate, the Parliamentary Secretary said, “Politicians don't bring unity; unity comes through culture and festivals.” Further, to make it a reality, the next year’s Pochury Yemshe festival will be celebrated at Meluri in a big way, inviting other neighbouring villages Myanmar Nagas and tourists from other places, Yita-

chu said, and asked officers belonging to the Pochury community to actively participate in it to make it a grand success. “Such a celebration shall bring to the notice of the authorities the need of development like road connectivity in our land,” he opined. Speaking on the recurrent water problem faced by Meluri town, Yitachu appealed to the villages, particularly Molen, Lephori and Meluri, to “develop a sense of giving and sacrifice and to forego the claim and counterclaim of rights,” and to ensure sufficient drinking water supply to the SubDivisional headquarters of Meluri town for the benefit of the people in general. Pointing out that almost all the Pochury villages faced boundary disputes, the Parliamentary Secretary encouraged the officers and village leaders alike to apprise and project the problems for a solution towards a peaceful settlement. He expressed his dismay at the poor attendance of the PGOF members at such an important Conference and cautioned that they should not complain only when they

are in trouble, but cooperate with friends and colleagues in such a time as this. Chülekhu Nyusou, President of the Pochury Public Forum, also addressed the gathering. He encouraged the organising of such seminars with the students in future and advised the officers “not only to know how to live, but guide the people to live right.” In the afternoon session on October 23, Z Katiry, exMLA, spoke on the topic ‘Awakening to the call of socioeconomic development vis-àvis Pochury society’. Hoping that the people wake up to the call of socio-economic development, Katiry suggested the listing of every village into three zones: village zone, production zone and forest zone. He also made several other suggestionslikelimitingjhum cultivation, strict prohibition of use of chemicals for fishing, rearranging house sites and sanitation programme to be implemented in every village vigorously. The General Conference of the PGOF was held on the morning of October 24 with S Katiry, Director of Printing & Stationeries, Na-

A 4-crore nursing school for Dimapur NE-NCP to take up illegal immigrants’ case

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DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 30 (MExN): Parliamentarians, legislators and State presidents of the North East Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) held a one-day meeting at Shillong on October 25, to discuss various issues concerning the party in the northeast region. According to the press release issued by the party president of Nagaland, Povotso Lohe, the main point of discussion during the meeting had been the “problem of influx of foreign nationals and inflow of illegal immigrants in the region.” The party stressed the urgent need for the people of the region to come together on a common platform and discuss various problems confronting the region and strive to find solutions. It was further decided that the Nationalist Congress Party would take the initiation towards this direction. Another point of discus-

sion during the said meeting was on the prospects of the NCP of the region in the forthcoming Lok Sabha election. In this regard, National General Secretary of NCP, Purno A Sangma, who was the chief guest at the meeting, assured that efforts were on to forge an alliance of non-Indian National Congress (INC) parties of the North East to fight the coming Lok Sabha polls. With this objective, it was disclosed that a meeting of the recognised political parties of the region would be held by the end of November this year and added that the meeting would also take up the issue of influx of foreign nationals in the region. P A Sangma further stated that the NCP state Units in the region had been given the freedom to decide on the poll alliance for the coming Lok Sabha polls and also indicated the need to revive

the defunct North East Peoples’ Forum (NEPF). Meanwhile, NCP president of Nagaland, while addressing the meeting, expressed hope that the DAN consensus candidate for the lone Lok Sabha seat from Nagaland would emerge successful in the coming Parliamentary election. He conveyed confidence and determination to build a strong NCP unit in Nagaland. With the blessing of the Central leadership of the party and the cooperation of the two NCP legislators of Nagaland, all rank and file of the party in the state and all well-wishers of the party would serve the welfare and interest of the people of Nagaland, the release added. The meeting was chaired by former chief minister of Manipur and Chairman of NE NCP Coordination Committee, Radha Binod.

Cabinet approves ‘Capacity Building’ logo KOHIMA, OCTOBER 30 (DIPR): The Cabinet has approved a logo for the ‘Year to commemorate the year of Capacity Building’. This logo may be uploaded on the website and can be downloaded from www.nagaland. nic.in. It is also available on CD that may be collected from OSD, Planning. A notification from the Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner, Alemtemshi Jamir, has requested all departments to use the logo of ‘Year of Capacity Building’ in their letterheads/office pad during 2008-09. Further, the departments are to nominate one nodal officer to coordinate with the Planning

Department, and are required to submit the name of the nodal officer on or before October 30, 2008, the notification added.

Funeral Service Funeral service of Late Mrs.INDU LOTHA wife of Dr. Roland Lotha, President Nagaland Democratic Party and Former Chairman, NHHDC Ltd. who died at Lady Harding Medical College, Hospital, New Delhi on 28/10/08 will be held at 9:00AM today at their residence, Lower Lengrijan, below Kuda Mill, Dimapur.

Health & Family Welfare Minister, Kuzholuzo Neinu with ofﬁcials of the Dimapur Civil Hospital.

DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 30 (MExN): A much-needed institution that could go a long way in solv-

ing the problem for the nursing fraternity, the government of India has sanctioned four crores for a Nursing

school to be set up in Dimapur. The foundation stone for the Nursing School project in Dimapur was officially inaugurated by Health & Family Welfare Minister, Kuzholuzo (Azo) Neinu, at the Dimapur Civil Hospital today. The Minister informed that the construction work for the school would start very soon. The first instalment of the stipulated amount is to be released after the first phase of construction provided the work is done right. In this regard, Azo pointed out that workmanship should be of quality in order to create assets that can be used for decades to come. Azo also said the government is very serious about creating assets for the state and disclosed that the state cabinet has decided to set up a Quality Control Board. He expressed his hope that the upcoming Nursing School will serve its purpose and deliver the goods to the people, and urged the staff of the medical department to cooperate and usher in unity to provide better health care facilities for the people of the state.

galand, as the main speaker on the theme ‘Re-awakening the PGOF’. In his address to the officers, he lamented that the Pochury officers, in spite of increasing numbers, were too casual and not living up to the expectation of the society. He, therefore, asked the officers to have a strategic plan to live up to the certain level of standard and at the same time push the youngsters to be at par with others. Ex-MLA Rasutho Nyusou, also speaking on the occasion, said that the welfare of Pochury society depends on the Pochury gazetted officers, and encouraged them to “bear much fruit” and to walk in the fear of God. Reminding the officers of their parents’ sacrifice for their future, he asked them to accordingly do their best for their people. Informing this in a release, PGOF President, S Akho Leyri, stated that a new team of PGOF office bearers for the tenure 2008-2010 were elected, with S Akho Leyri as President, Vice President R Zhimatho Nyusou, General Secretary Er. Semasie Katiry, Finance Secretary Rosiepa Nyuthe, and Phrumasie Nyuthe as Treasurer.

DNSU warns on alcohol, intoxicants DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 30 (MExN): Viewing seriously the use of intoxicants, the Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) has warned all the proprietors and managers of video parlours, cinema halls, cyber cafés, “and especially” restaurants, hotels and lodging hotels, not to entertain any sort of alcohol or intoxicating substances, nor allow any student in school or college uniform. DNSU President, Solomon L Awomi, in a release stated, “If brought to the notice of the office, the proprietor of the manager shall bear the sole responsibility in regard to the action to be taken against the defaulters.” The Union further warns against students loitering around in uniform during class hours. Advising the students to “refrain from such unwanted activities,” the DNSU warned that if caught, they (students) would not be spared and stern action applied as deemed fit by the Union. The DNSU has asked all concerned to comply with the notification “to evade further complication” and appealed to all for their cooperation.

PVC directed to bring out written Customary Law Kuzhovesa Soho Phek | October 30

FOLLOWING THE endorsement of the leaders and intellectuals of Phek Village during the Phek Students’ Union (PSU) 49th general conference-cum-seminar, the Phek Village Council has been directed to bring out the Village Customary and Conventional Law in written form before the upcoming Christmas celebrations this year. Addressing the leaders and intellectuals of Phek during the seminar, N Suyie, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Dimapur, analysed the importance of functioning of the village administration under such Laws. Every institution is governed by certain kinds of laws, which enable for the administration of the institution a healthy commissioning of its activities in the long run, Suyie

said, adding that the village authority is one of the best institutions in the global context. Therefore, we too must research our forefathers’ ways of practice and at the same time preserve our traditional customs and laws, he added. Meanwhile, during the two-day seminar of the PSU held on October 21 and 22, which was conducted under the theme ‘Retrospection on educational maturity’ at Phek village, the Resolution Committee adopted a resolution for implementation and strict enforcement. The resolution states that “in order to maintain hygienic living within the village, rearing of pigs other than in its ‘sty’ will be banned with effect from November 20, 2008. Any citizen of Phek failing to comply with the directives will be severely dealt with.” In addition, other initiatives of the PSU include compulsory enrol-

ment of the children between the ages of 4 and 6, a check on dropout students in the village to be enforced under the cent percent enrolment campaign drive, felicitation of academically successful students and motivational sessions for students who failed, and evaluation of the schools’ annual results within the Union’s jurisdiction. The committee has further directed the Village Council to ban noise due to playing of music and functioning of rice mills, and the unnecessary loitering of students during the time of examinations. The Committee has also directed to PSU to maintain a ‘Notification Board’ to display the latest information of the advertisement of job vacancies in any department. The committee also endorsed the Youth organisation to check the proper maintenance of birth and death reports and

population and economic census as well. In view of the forthcoming PSU Golden Jubilee celebration on January 7-9, 2009, the committee has directed all denizens of Phek Village to carry out a cleaning drive in their own campus once every 2 weeks. Meanwhile, the Youth organisation has been directed to keep strict vigil of the same. A significant outcome of the seminar is the free medical camp that has been organised for all citizens of Phek village in the month of December, “to ensure a healthy functioning of every denizen’s lives in order to face the Jubilee with good health.” The specific date and time will be intimated later on by the Village Health Committee (VHC), it was informed. Meanwhile, the VHC has been directed to make the necessary arrangements for the same.

Icon ’08 heralds ‘Nagas belong to God ﬁrst’ DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 30 (MExN): “Nagas need to realise that we don’t belong to the tribe, but to God first. I am afraid we only have tribal, clan, village and family love, and we are controlled by ‘ism.’ But collectively we are more effective. If we need to reach to the world, we need to be united,” Kilang Jamir, Missionary, Nehemiah India, said today during the launch of Icon ’08, a music video ‘Beyond Imagination’ at Gospel Studio, Dimapur. With deep conviction, Kilang encouraged everyone to “really ask God to bless people behind this project,” and for people to get the right message through the project. “Allow God to explore in us. There is no limit for a man who gives fully to God because God is more than we know,” he said. Taking the text reference from Romans 12, Kilang said that “everyone is created differently so that the work of God should be glorified.” Toshi Longkumer, Youth Director DABA, delivering the exhortation said, “It is equally important that we come together to built the character of people inorder to be a blessing to the longest distance.” Introducing the Icon ’08 project, Sunep Lemtor, Managing Director of Grace Production, said that since the word ‘Icon’ means ‘image’, the project aims to reveal the image of God through gospel music. He also said that Nagaland has many talents but these talents are turning away to other

(L-R): Akala Ozukum, Producer of Grace Production, Kilang Jamir, Missionary, Nehemiah India, and Sunep Lemtor, Managing Director of Grace Production, at the launch of the Icon ’08 Gospel Music Video Project. (Morung Photo)

platforms which do not glorify God, due to the lack of a proper platform. The programme started with invocation prayer by Yanger, Missionary, John Mission Min-

istry, and vote of thanks delivered by Akala Ozukum, Producer of Grace Production. Icon ’08 has been termed ‘Nagaland’s biggest gospel Music Video Project.’

LOCAL

The Morung Express

Friday

31 October 2008

Dimapur

“Better road connectivity for development, Diatribe triumphs at Nagaland Music Safari progress and prosperity - a Big Tamasha” Our Correspondent

DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 30 (MExN): The NPCC today came down heavily on the NPF led DAN govt. on the appalling road conditions across the state. In a release by R.Paphino, chairman media cell NPCC, the Congress lashed out at the DAN govt. for failing to deliver ‘the tall promises made to the people of Nagaland’ despite being in power for the last ‘more than five years’. Stating that ‘the achievement of a Government is measured by its actual development delivered to its citizens,’ the Congress claimed that “people in general, are disillusioned and disenchanted with the kind of leadership being provided by the DAN/NPF in Nagaland,” adding that thus far the DAN govt. appears ‘to be a mere sound of empty vessels’ for failing to deliver ‘people’s welfare programme at the ground level.’ The Congress asserted that “Apart from the dismal

NPCC pulls up DAN on present road conditions

performance of many major departments, the efficacy of the Roads and Bridges department is at its lowest ebb. Despite having hundreds of crore at its kitty for the last few years, the road condition every where in Nagaland is not improved, not even a bit.” It further added, “The much talked about media hype of the Chief Minister and his DAN Government on better road connectivity for speedy development, progress and prosperity of Nagaland and its people turned out to be a farce today- a big tamasha!” (sic). NPCC also took a dig at the PWD department; the agency in maintaining the roads of the state. The congress asserted that the recently reported protests by the people of Tuensang area, ‘recent road repairing programmes’ carried out by youth organizations and villagers in dif-

ferent areas across the state, including by-pass of NH 39, clearly indicated the prevailing horrible road conditions across the state and “non- existence of the State authority, PWD Engineers and their field staff.” Kohima being the state capital deserve better roads but has eluded the capital of Nagaland for long. The present condition of roads in the state capital cannot be overlooked which the NPCC termed it as ‘little better than a stretch of river and in some portion of the town, the roads are fit for cattle path.’ The Congress also laid serious concerns over “huge sanction” meant for town road developments that seem to have “vanished in the thin air.” Moreover the present condition of roads in the capital only gives further strength to the argument of the Congress. Noting

DMC directs on garbage disposal, cremation

DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 30 (MExN): DMC member in-charge of Sanitation & Solid Waste Management, Kuhoi Zhimo, has expressed concern that many people living outside the DMC jurisdiction have been throwing garbage near the Dhansiri River, which is a DMC jurisdiction. A press release issued by Zhimo points out that the act inconvenienced the people living in the area and polluted the river water.

He, therefore, informed that anyone from outside the DMC jurisdiction desiring to dispose/throw their garbage, use the DMC designated garbage dumping ground at Burma Camp with due permission from the DMC authority on payment. Further, the release stated, it had been brought to the notice of the DMC authority that the mortal remains/dead bodies of the Hindu community, which are cremated in the cremation ground at

NEZCC to hold seminar on oral literature

KDCC meet resolves

DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 30 (MExN): The NEZCC in collaboration with the Sahithya Akademi is organising a 2-day oral literature seminar on October 31 and November 1. The seminar is for people from the Angami, Ao, Rengma, Sumi and Konyak communities. In addition, the NEZCC has also invited interested scholars to attend the seminar. For further information, one may contact at: 03862243557.

KBYF monthly prayer on Nov 1 DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 30 (MExN): The monthly prayer fellowship of Kohima Baptist Youth Fellowship (KBYF) has been scheduled for Saturday November 1, at Khiamniungan Baptist Church, Midland, Kohima at 7:00 am. President and secretary KBYF have informed all youth directors of Baptist churches within Kohima to attend the fellowship along with their respective youth department members.

KOHIMA, OCTOBER 30 (MExN): The first meeting of the newly constituted Kohima District Congress Committee (KDCC) was held at Kohima on October 29 last. The meeting observed one minute silence in paying tribute to departed soul Late Keduowhetuo, former KDCC president, who expired just the other day. The meeting resolved to re-affirm its faith and confidence in the leadership of KV Pusa, president, Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee and Chingwang Konyak, CLP leader and pledged to extend unflinching support in all their endeavours. The meeting resolved to register its support to the Congress party on its consistent mission towards demanding resignation of the Speaker and Chief Minister in the aftermath of the landmark Gauhati High Court judgment. It also resolved to register its concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state and the lackasaidal and lethargic attitude of the state government and its agen-

Walford area on the banks of river Dhansiri, were always found to be half-burnt and scattered by the riverside, thus causing much inconvenience to the people of the locality, besides affecting the environment. In this regard, the said Hindu community has been asked not to leave any body half-burnt in the cremation ground, and requested to carry out the cremation in proper manner, to avoid any inconvenience to the people of the area.

cies towards tackling regular feature of killing, extortion, abduction etc. Further, the meeting expressed concern over Government’s total failure to protect and safeguard the citizens of the state from the clutches of anti-social elements. It also resolved to express its displeasure over total failure of the DANNPF government on road developments and managements, particularly the capital town of Kohima despite having huge amount of fund at their disposal. The meeting called upon the people of Nagaland to denounce the apathetic attitude of the state government. While expressing heartfelt sympathy to the victims, the meeting resolved to condemn the atrocities being grievously committed on the minority Christian community in Orissa, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and other parts of Indian by Bajrang Dal/VHP. This was stated in a release issued by KDCC president Prasielie Pienyu and general secretary (Administration) Viseyienuo Keretsu.

‘Renthan Khyingro Loroe’ released

(3rd from left) The three artists along with N Jacob Yanthan, YK Ovung and Aronthung Odyuo at the function at Lotha Hoho Ki in Dimapur, on Thursday. (Morung Photo) Morung Express News Dimapur | October 30

“RENTHAN KHYINGRO Loroe – Vol-I,” an album consisting 8 Lotha songs, composed by Eranmoren Nchu Band was released today in a formal function, which was attended by YK Ovung, Chairman of Lotha Hoho, Dimapur as the chief guest and N Jacob Yanthan, SDO (Store), Agriculture, Dimapur, and few selected people at Lotha Hoho Ki in Dimapur. The function was organised and sponsored by Lotha Ekhung Diphupar ‘B’ and Dongphi

Chokae Okho, Dimapur. Eranmoren Nchu Band consists of Tsenpemo, Yansathung and Limhathung. In his speech, YK Ovung, stressed on gratefulness to God, hard work and sincerity to be successful in life. He said culture is very important for an individual, therefore, he continued one should preserve one’s culture. Stating that artists were scattered in the State, Ovung said artists should inculcate the habit of seriousness and stage performance, which is very important for an artist. Referring to the band

that was formed in the year 2006, the Chairman said the band had struggled two years to come up with an album, which is very encouraging. “Message of love can be disseminated through songs by artists,” he opined. Yanthan who was the chairman of the function informed that the songs were based on folklores. Earlier, the invocation and dedication was pronounced by Aronthung Odyuo, pastor of Bor-Lengri LBC while Marcos Kithan exhorted the gathering. The vote of thanks was proposed by Tungjamo Tsopoe.

that acute traffic congestions has added to the already existing road problems of Kohima the NPCC further expressed concerns over the ‘bankruptcy of idea(s) compounded with apathetic attitude of the Government of the day have taken its toll of finding alternative routes to ease the traffic problems in Kohima.” The miserable condition of NH 39 “the main arterial road (supposed to be no. I) of Nagaland and Manipur is no better than any other State Highway,” the congress maintained. The Congress alleged that, “Not only miserably failing to live up to the expectation of the people by the State Government and PWD department in its concerned areas of operation, the State authority is too feeble to monitor and tune up the works and projects being carried out by the BRTF in the NH 39 and

other State Highways.” The pathetic condition of roads of the state is also not helped by the “neo-standard culture of road construction and blacktopping (that) is confined to thin carpeting and potholes fillings,” the congress asserted adding further that, road quality maintenance have become a thing of the past owing to sub standard specifications, along with the absence of quality control mechanism. Having come down heavily on the NPF led DAN govt. on present condition of roads across the state, the congress further lamented stating that, “Going by the entire gamut of road development maladies and mishandlings in Nagaland, the rumblings started from the highest echelon of the Government and therefore, unless drastic behavioral changes takes place at the top level, no new ‘shock and awe’ changes will be seen at the ground level as far as the road condition in Nagaland is concerned.”

Kohima | October 30

ROCK BAND, Diatribe, from Kohima strutted away as the proud winner of Nagaland Music Safari 2008 in the bands’ category held here this evening at the State Academy Hall. Dementia of Dimapur and Aisle of Wokha were placed second and third respectively. Winning the coveted title, Diatribe was awarded with a cash prize of Rs.30, 000 which was given away by Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio. The individual winners’ prizes were shared by Diatribe and Dementia. Yanger Longkumer of Diatribe was adjudged the best guitarist while drummer Launtemjen of Dementia was adjudged the best drummer. Akihito of Dementia was adjudged best vocalist while for bass guitars Abijah of Diatribe took the prize. All were awarded with Rs.5000 each. Dementia of Dimapur and Aisle of Wokha stood second and third place and were awarded Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 15,000 respectively. In solos Topeni K Assumi of Zunheboto bagged the first position and was awarded Rs. 15,000. The second winner Wapong Ozukum of Mokokchung and third-placed Meribeni Patton of Dimapur received Rs 10,000 and Rs. 7000 respectively. Vesato Rhakho of Phek and Narsen of Kohima were placed in the consolation prize winning list and awarded with Rs. 2500 each. The event, conceived by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, is an effort of the Music Task

Force, Directorate of Youth Resources & Sports, with the Nagaland State AIDS Control Society as the event partner. Minister for Health & Family Welfare Kuzholuzo Nienu, Power minister Doshehe, Planning Minister TR Zeliang, Commissioner HK Khulu, Commissioner & Secretary for YR & Sports KT Sukhalu, Commissioner & Secretary to CM L Kire, press secretary to chief minister Abu Metha and G. Chishi, Project Director of MTF also attended the grand finale event. Earlier, legislator Dr. Nicky Kire MLA launched the event and also gave away a keyboard and two acoustic guitars to three blind persons from Mokokchung. The MTF also handed over a cash of Rs.10, 000 each to the blind persons and NMA HIV /AIDS community care centre. Senti of NMA HIV / AIDS community care centre and three blind persons also performed a song. Aries Music and Sound Foundation of Dimapur will sponsor a music video album of the winners of the final. The Kohima show was managed by event management group XL.

INDIVIDUAL WINNERS Best Guitarist – Yanger Longkumer (Diatribe), Best Drums -Launtemjen (Dementia), Best vocalist- Akihito (Dementia) Best bassist- Abijah (Diatribe) All were awarded with Rs.5000 each.

FGN functionaries responds Azo concerned over HIV/ AIDS scenario in Nagaland

Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Kuzholuzo Neinu speaking at the consultative meeting with the PLHA network, organised by the Legislators Forum on AIDS (LFA) and UNAIDS. Also in picture, (L to R) MLA K L Chishi, DC Dimapur, Maong Aier, and Father Chakho, Holy Cross School Parish. (Morung Photo)

DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 30 (MExN): Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Kuzholuzo (Azo) Neinu, today expressed deep concern over the HIV/AIDS scenario in Nagaland. Speaking at a consultative meeting with the PLHA (people living with HIV/AIDS) network at Dimapur Tourist Lodge, he said it was unfortunate that a small place like Nagaland has very high prevalence rate of PLHAs. The Minister also conveyed his concern for the PLHA while reminding them that there was now political will to address the issue of HIV/AIDS. “You are not underprivileged; in fact we have concerns for you. We are bringing out one lakh from public money from the LADF (local area development fund) for your cause,” he pointed out. Azo, however, urged the PLHAs to have concern for self so they could be identified and avail the facilities available for PLHAs, while insisting that they be aware of their responsibilities. He also encouraged greater participation of PLHA in HIV/AIDS programmes to ensure awareness on the subject. Minister Azo assured the PLHAs that the money coming

in for their cause would not be misused and further urged the NGOs (non-governmental organisations) to utilise all funds judiciously, while also encouraging the PLHAs to make use of RTI (Right to Information) to find out whether money meant for PLHA and care projects are utilised properly. The main problems highlighted by the PLHA during discussion were in regard to nutritional support from the government and also for setting up of an ‘information centre’ in the district. One PLHA made suggestions regarding provisions for PLHA from the CMCF (Chief Minister Corpus Fund) and PLHA capacity building training exposure. The problem of police harassment while distributing syringes and condoms by NGO volunteers was also brought to the notice of the Minister. Deputy Commissioner Dimapur, Moang Aier brought immediate cheer to the PLHA by announcing the issue of twenty BPL (below poverty line) cards, while also suggesting that they make a project to be submitted under the CMCF.

DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 30 (MExN): Hukheto Chishi, Regional Secretary (FGN), and Vizheto Chishi, Leacy cum Convener, Western Region (FGN), in a joint statement have sought to clarify the news ‘NNC clarifies’, in the interest of the Federal Government and the general public. Vizheto Chishi and Hukheto Chishi maintain that they had accepted “the ground reality by merging into the mainstream of the parent body of the NNC/FG (non-accord) thinking there is only one NNC headed by Adino Phizo and only one legitimate FGN headed by Brigadier (Retd.) S Singnya, the incumbent Kedahge and assuming the NNC under the leadership of then president, Panger, and V Nagi, Secretary, was the only political movement.” However, they mentioned, it finally dawned on them that “the leaders were not elected basing on the stand of the Naga Plebiscite of May 16, 1951, and that the faction was a parentless body.” The two further stated that with the abduction of V Nagi, General Secretary of the NSCN (IM), on June 23 till his safe release after one month and three days, “the members were completely paralyzed as to which

direction it would take us,” adding that their desire to meet him was also denied and they were told not to contact him in the matter of the organisation. Hence, the duo has expressed dissatisfaction with their leadership, and also “for creating confusion and also misleading others just for his selfish interest and destructive designs to tarnish the good image of his followers by branding his innocent and sincere members as ‘habitual defectors’.” The statement mentions that the “situation itself has compelled us to share the facts. After all, this is where the habitual defectors join the parent body of the NNC/FGN,” they stated and added that the situation “is just all about homecoming and therefore it has nothing to do with any person or faction and nothing personal.” Further, they claimed that the parent body of the NNC/FGN does not know the so-called I & P Wing secretary Along Jamir, “who is one and does not exist in the NNC,” and that “the office does not know about the actual worker as the body itself is not a functioning body with no detail of its members,” while urging the general Naga people to identify the difference.

V.J’s Coaching Centre

D.C Court Road, Duncan Dimapur Offers Coaching for the Repeaters of

Class X/XII Arts/XII Sc/XII Com Admission starts for Regular students those Who got through in selection test

(Class X New Course)

Hostel attached for both Boys & Girls (Separately)

‘Education, the greatest guard of life’ DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 30 (MExN): Iherie Ndang, Deputy Commandant, 9th IRB, inaugurated the new GPS building constructed under the SSA scheme, at Old Jalukie (Upper) on October 22. The chief guest in his speech reiterated the important role of teachers in imparting quality education to the children, “which will eventually open doors to others fields.” He felt that the school site was ideal for learning, and asked the parents to cooperate and help the teachers create conducive atmosphere for the same. He assert that parents need not worry about sending their children to government schools as they have trained teachers and better facilities. “Education is the greatest guard of life and so it should be made a full circle with no dropout,” he added. The chief guest expressed appreciation to the Mission Director, DIS Peren, and the VEC for their laudable work and urged them to deliver the goods to the community even in the days to come. The DIS Peren also assured the village people of all help in maintaining the smooth running of the school. She was accompanied by Agale, SI, Jalukie area. The programme was chaired by Heluisaneu, teacher, GPS. Teachers, students, VEC, VC members, and parents also attended the programme, which came to a close with benediction by Kwetlung.

Vehicle Stolen BOLERO SLX

Regd.No- NL-07-7410 Chassis No- MAI PS2 GAK- 82A13488 Engine No- GA 84A 20009 Clour- Black Stolen on- 25/10/08 (12:30- 3:30 AM ) Stolen from- Kuda B (Nagarjan) Dimapur Finder please contact: 9856309509

Encounter

For details contact the ofﬁce or call: 03862-234272/9436600530

NR Networks express gratitude

NR Networks extends its gratitude for the grand success of ‘Rock United Festival II’ 2008 at DDSC. NR Networks has especially thank its sponsor BSNL, Co-sponsors, Dr Niky Kire (MLA), Shri Khuzoluzo Nienu (Minister for Health & Family Welfare), Shri Metsubu Jamir (R.D Director), Lanu Sanen Pongener, Noel Manuel, N. Esther Longchar, Senti Longchar, Akito Zhimomi, Z. Temsujungba Jamir, all the bands, volunteers, friends, Nagaland Post, The Morung Express and Eastern Mirror for their endless support.

Equip

Empower

WOMEN’SCONFERENCE&SEMINAR Venue : IMC (Old Lapa Loma Theater) Date : November 3-5, 2008 Theme : Daughter of Zion, Women of Worship Time : 9:00 AM – Seminar, 4:00 PM – Open Services Praise & Worship: Sinai Ministry, Dimapur. Speaker : La Vetta Williams and Team USA.

Features of the Program Morning – Evening –

There will be powerful teaching sessions for women Prophetic messages, Healing & Deliverance (Entire program will be interpreted in Nagamese)

How to get forms?

Forms are available at Christian Literature Centre, Word of Christ Literature Center, Bethany Hostel and Nan’s Viand, below Co-operative Bank. Contact : 9436261011, 9436003140, 9862145043, 9436013859, 9436072990

“Come and be transformed in the renewing of your mind. Rekindle your calling, reclaim your destiny, and rebuild your altar in your life and family unto the Lord!”

C M Y K

Dimapur

BUSINESS

Friday 31 October 2008

‘No global ﬁnancial pact possible without India’

World Trade Organisation (WTO) director general French Pascal Lamy attends a press conference after crucial trade talks collapsed, during the World Trade Organisation ministerial summit on trade liberalisation, at the World Trade Organization (WTO) headquarters, in Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday, July 29, 2008. (AP Photo/ﬁle)

NEW YORK, OCTOBER 30 (AGENCIES): As global leaders engage themselves to grapple with the worst

economic crisis since 1929, board for a new financial WTO chief Pascal Lamy world order. wants India, among other "As policy makers go emerging economies, on about creating multilateral

‘Social security of workers under EPF scheme dismal’

C M Y K

The Morung Express

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 30 (AGENCIES): The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has come in for severe criticism from a Parliamentary committee for the “glaring lacunae” in ensuring social security for organised sector workers. Noting that the EPFO covers only 4.71 lakh units with 4.44 crore total membership in the last five decades, the committee stated that it was “dismayed” as the membership amounts to just about 10 percent of the country’s total workforce employed in private sector. When the committee sought to learn about the efforts made by the EPFO to increase the coverage of the EPF scheme, the government replied, “The EPF Act applies with its own force.” Hence the government expects eligible establish-

ments to comply suo-moto. To this the committee pointed out that organisations which do not fall under the list of notified industries and classes of establishments by itself do not have any legal ground to enforce coverage, unless both employee and employer voluntarily subject themselves to the law. With a view to protect the interest of workers, the committee suggested launching of special awareness programmes to educate workers about the benefits available to ensure voluntary coverage. The committee also noted that while arrears of establishments increased from Rs 2144.82 crores to Rs 2607.47 crore during 2004-07, the EPFO’s recovery of arrears in the same period decreased from Rs 1901.03 crores to Rs 1236.38 crores.

architecture in areas like international finance...no international agreement on finance or climate change is possible today without China, India, Brazil and Indonesia on board...," Lamy said in a speech posted on the WTO website. While Europe and North America face an economic slowdown, the emerging economies of Brazil, India, Mexico, China, Egypt, Indonesia and South Africa continue to grow, in large measure because of trade, he said at Stanford University on Monday. The fast growing economies are of special interest to the US where exports are contributing significantly to GDP growth. On an annualised basis, the second quarter export growth and slowing imports were responsible for the US' GDP growth of 2.9 percent. "Should growth slow in the emerging economies, US exports-- the most vibrant part of the economy today-will be adversely affected. In this ever more interconnected world, prosperity in India, China, Brazil is very much in Washington's interest," said the WTO Director General. Lamy praised India and China for using liberal economic policies to remove poverty. "Since opening their economies, the Asian giants China and India have lifted more than 400 million people from abject poverty - an economic success story without precedent," he said. US President George Bush has convened a G-20 summit on 15th November for finding ways to deal with the economic turmoil triggered by the collapse of several US and European banks.

Oct 31 is World Thrift Day 31 OCTOBER has been declared as the World Thrift Day at the end of the first International Thrift Congress in 1924 in Milan. In the resolutions of the Thrift Congress it has been noted that the ‘World Thrift Day’ must be a day devoted to the promotion of “Savings” all over the World. This propaganda took the form of Posters, organisation of Lectures, publication of Articles. This resulted in an important collection of posters edited by each national organisation individually to celebrate the World Thrift Day. Special interest was also paid to the promotion of savings in schools, several savings campaigns were organized in the schools. In the week of thrift, special courses were organized to educate children with the virtues of “Thrift”. Money boxes and Savings Bank Passbooks were distributed in schools. Also the International Stamp for the World Thrift Day was used in all correspondence. In 1928, a first Hymn of Thrift has been composed by Gino Valori and Giuseppe Peitri

D S

In a recently held beauty award “Elle beauty Awards” by Elle Magazine where many big cosmetics brands like Shiseido, Clinique. L’oreal, Biotherm, Vichy etc participated, Mary Kay was also there to have won the awards in categories for “Hands & Feet Care” and “Wonder Products to Soften Skin.” Mary Kay’s ‘Satin Hands’ won the award in “Wonder Products to Soften Skin” category and Mary Kay’s ‘Red Tea & Fig Loofah body cleanser’ won the award in “Hands & Feet Care” category.

Valuation reveals loss of government NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 30 (AGENCIES): After Swan Telecom, it is now Unitech's turn to hit the jackpot by selling spectrum at seven times the price paid by these companies merely 10 months ago. Despite a global financial and economic slowdown that places a huge premium on liquidity, Unitech has walked away with an impressive enterprise valuation of Rs 11,620 crore. However, Unitech and Swan's gains point to a clear loss for government. These back-to-back deals confirm that the Indian exchequer has lost real money in the range of Rs 45,000 crore by allowing telecom minister A Raja to give away 4.4 MHz of pan-India spectrum — a scarce, national resource — for a price of Rs 1,651 crore. The government collected roughly Rs 9,000 crore by allocating 120 licensees to nine operators with the promise of 4.4 MHz of start up spectrum in the 1800 MHz band in January 2008. Both Swan and Unitech's deals reveal that the revenue collection should have been closer to 45,000 crore to Rs 50,000 crore, if not more. Unitech has sold 60% stake for Rs 6,120 crore, or a total enterprise value of Rs 11,620 crore for its 22 circles, of which it has spectrum in 13. Given that Unitech has no operations, infrastructure, equipment, customers, or cash flow, the entire valuation is on account of spectrum, which is seven times the Rs 1,651 crore license fees that it paid, without any meaningful investment in infrastructure since. The telecom ministry has faced criticism for choosing a first-come-first-served policy over auctions for 2G spectrum. This allowed Raja to give away spectrum in 2008 at a price established in 2001 when the total subscriber base was 4.2 million. In comparison, India's telecom subscriber base today is over 300 million, making spectrum far more precious.

Y N E G O L Y X Y L E N O L Q U L N R O Y A T O X R A S L U P Y A R X Y L O S E M I R D D E C P L I F E Y J R Y L S Q J

SUDOKU

Stephen Winkelmann, president and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A, poses with one of his Lamborghini 140 Gallardo Coupe models in Beijing, Thursday, October 30. As part of the strategy to further expand its global business activities, Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A, the Italian luxury sports car manufacturer will establish Automobili Lamborghini China, a branch in the country's capital city Beijing at the beginning of 2009, following their growth of car sales in China by 186 percent from 2007 towards 2008. (AP Photo)

The Morung Express number game

Sudoku # 1123

CROSSWORD # 1139 1

10 12

O X A H E U Y P E P M N B A I I W W I L

P I L O M J K N H C U E O S N I Q K K A

22 23

R V Y M D M O Y O Y I D Q G W T P R E N

A F V A H H N U M Y T H A Y R W H U W R

C I J T P O I I N O P I P N O A Y O O E

O K T O F S E B U S T D C R A U P K U T

L A L S N G H U Q Y I O K A O X L H Y S X H O S A A N O L W Q S G Y H L O D E H H N Y I O G A Y D I O H P I X H Y N D P 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

1. Intrude upon (7) 6. Outdo (3) 8. Era (5) 9. Tunneled (5) 10. Hospital worker (7) 12. Sketch (4) 14. US singer/actress (4) 15. Pattern (6) 18. Spot (3) 19. Collection of racehorses (6) 22. Assistant (4) 23. Play the lead (4) 25. Old-fashioned (7) 28. Audacity (5) 29. Sci-ﬁ ﬁlm of 1979 (5) 30. Fresh (3) 31. Apprehensive (7)

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

ACROSS

Y Y O I E E T N K O E C L Z L M J B J I

XIPHISTERNAL XIPHOID XRAY XRAYPULSAR XYLEM XYLENOL XYLOCARPOUS XYLOGEN XYLOGRAPHIC XYLOID XYLOPHONE XYLOSE XYLOTOMY XYST

U M H T A P O N L G E X X E N O L I T H

X Z X O R E X E B E C D G P T V K Q S S

S O N N W R C L A X E N O M A N I A M A

D O Y D O E C A B C I H P A R G O L Y X

C E I A E W W F O L U I D Z D M E E U Q

D E T A R - X A N T H I S M G E Q F E I

T S Y X E N O D I A G N O S I S L G N V

X-RATED XANADU XANTHEIN XANTHISM XANTHOMATOSIS XANTHOUS XEBEC XENODIAGNOSIS XENOGRAPH XENOLITH XENOMANIA XENOMORPHIC XEROPHYTICALLY XEROX XHOSA XI

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Senior Vice President Kazuhiko Toida poses with the automaker's new KIX mini sport utility vehicle in Tokyo Thursday, October 30. The KIX features A430 intercooled turbo inline 4-cylinder engine, wide track and long wheelbase as well as easy-to-select 4WD system that can switch between 2WD and 4WD operating modes easily. (AP Photo)

DAILY CROSS WORD

LEISURE W

Talking about beauty awards, then MARY KAY is not behind It’s just been a year that Mary Kay got launched in India and the products have started winning awards.

CAR MODEL

DOWN 1. Capital of Syria (8) 2. Dispatched (4) 3. Queen/Bowie hit, - -Pressure (5) 4. Inferior to (5) 5. Curly-haired dog (6) 6. Single (4) 7. 25 pounds [slang] (4) 11. Piece of wood (3) 12. Dreary (4) 13. Part of a church (4) 15. Nimble-ﬁngered (4) 16. Escalate (4) 17. Unnecessary (8) 20. Avoirdupois weight (3) 21. Fluid (6) 23. Famous Brazilian racing driver (5) 24. Add (5) 25. SW England country (4) 26. Defrost (4) 27. Three-piece band (4)

Answers to CROSSWORD #1138 Across:l. France, 3. Assent, 6. Tigris, 7. Grudge, 8, Lodge, 10. Compact, 14. Jane Seymour, 17. Panther, 19. Great, 20. Regent, 21. Cudgel, 22. Taught, 23. Fabric. Down: 1. Futile, 2. Crime, 4. Serum, 5. Twenty, 9. Drain, 11. Onyx, 12. Azure, 13. Ashe, 15. Spirit, 16. Italic, 18. Hunch, 19. Gouda.

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) 48.39 77.52 5.38 486.29 12.33 30.33 136.40 12.40 61.54

SELL(Rs) 51.01 81.87 7.40 539.49 15.32 35.53 147.90 14.53 64.83

Friday

REGIONAL

The Morung Express

31 October 2008

Dimapur

No let up in strife torn Assam : serial blasts rocks state

Shocks give way to violent protests

GUWAHATI, OCTOBER 30 (AGENCIES): Numbness and shock gave way to violent protests as 13 blasts ripped through Assam, killing 40 people and injuring 200 others. Within minutes of the serial blasts, unruly mobs took to the streets in the city and attacked fire-tenders, police and official vehicles. Policemen who were busy evacuating the injured were finding it tough as the unruly mob was posing hindrance by pelting stones. They even targeted ambulances which were on the way to blast site and tried to set some of these (Left) A jeep is set on ﬁre by an angry mob in the aftermath of a bomb explosion in Gauhati, October 30. (UB Photos) (Right) People object to taking photograph at a blast site in Gau- vehicles on fire. The Chief Judicial Maghati, October 30. A series of coordinated blasts tore through towns and cities in India’s northeastern state of Assam on Thursday, killing at least 61 people and wounding more than 470, ofﬁcials said. (AP Photo) istrate Court, one of the

Failure of intelligence Curfew imposed in Guwahati agencies exposed NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 30 (PTI): Condemning the serial blasts in Assam, the CPI on Thursday said it had once again exposed the failure of policing and intelligence agencies as also of the Centre and the state government. “Assam is one of the sensitive states in the Northeast, having international borders and infested with insurgency. The Union Government, particularly the Home Ministry, should not treat this as one of the routine things happening

in the country,” the party’s Central Secretariat said in a statement here. Demanding stringent action to pin down the culprits, the CPI also urged the people to remain united and foil the sinister designs of the terrorists who were targetting the common people to create fear and instability in the country. It said the terror act has “once again exposed the inefficiency of our policing and intelligence agencies and also the failure of the Union and the state governments”.

GUWAHATI, OCTOBER 30 (AGENCIES): Curfew has been imposed in Guwahati following the serial bomb blasts in the city and some other cities of Assam on Thursday morning. The Director General of Police office said that curfew has been imposed in four areas of Guwahati - Pan Bazar, Bhangagarh, Ganeshguri and Hatigaon. Following the blasts, angry crowds clashed with police in some areas of Guwahati. Some people were injured in the clash and at one place the police even fired in the air to disperse an angry mob. The state has been rocked by 13 blasts in which at least 39 people have killed and 196 others injured. In Guwahati

US condemns ‘horriﬁc attacks’

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 30 (PTI): The United States has condemned as “horrific attacks on innocent people” the serial blasts in Assam on Thursday and extended its deepest sympathies to the families of the victims. On behalf of the US, Ambassador David C Mulford extended his deepest sympathies to families of those killed and injured in the blasts. “I send condolences to the people of India. Americans share their sorrow and outrage at these horrific attacks on innocent

people,” Mulford was quoted sorrow at the death of innocent as saying in a statement issued people in the blasts. Terrorism and extremism in all forms by the American embassy. and manifestations need to be eradicated, he said. Pak condemns In a separate message, GiAssam blasts lani strongly condemned the ISLAMABAD, OCTOBER act of terrorism and offered 30 (PTI): Pakistan President his sympathies to the families Asif Ali Zardari and Prime of the dead. He expressed the Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Pakistan government’s “firm today condemned the serial resolve to fight terrorism in all bomb blasts in Assam, saying its forms and manifestations”. terrorism in all forms needs Gilani also “underscored the to be eliminated. In his mes- need for increased cooperation sage to the Indian leadership, among all countries for fightZardari expressed grief and ing this menace effectively”.

Assault case registered against Meghalaya minister SHILLONG, OCTOBER 30 (PTI): A case of assault was lodged yesterday against Mining and Geology Minister of Meghalaya, Donkupar Massar, for allegedly beating up and threatening Rangbah Shnong or headman of Pongtung village, causing embarrassment to the state government. The case was registered on the basis of an FIR lodged by the headman at Pynursla police station, alleging that Massar had beaten up Wallambok Lyngdoh on September 28 at the latter’s residence, police sources said. Lyngdoh had lodged the FIR on October 6 after Pongtung Dorbar Shnong or the village council reached a decision to lodge the complaint. The police said the victim was sent for medical test and statements of witnesses were being recorded. The minister had allegedly assaulted Lyngdoh due to the latter’s reported prohibition against putting up flags of Massar bearing his election symbol in February, a charge which Lyngdoh denied. Massar had already invited trouble for Meghalaya government when he allegedly beat four construction workers at Borsora in West Khasi Hills district earlier this month. Leading NGOs of the area had demanded that he be immediately sacked and threatened of massive agitation.

Militant killed in encounter

IMPHAL, OCTOBER 30 (PTI): An unidentified militant has been killed in an encounter with Assam Rifles personnel in Manipur’s Chandel district bordering with Myanmar, official sources said on Thursday. Sources said personnel of 29th Assam Rifles raided Sitakhul area under Tengnoupal police station, about 98 Kms south-east of here, yesterday following reports that some militants were roaming in the area. As they stepped up search operation in the hilly area, some militants opened fire at them, sources said adding that in the ensuing encounter a militant was killed. One lethal gun and three bombs were recovered from the spot, sources said adding that some others reportedly escaped towards thick hilly area. The body has been sent to district hospital for post mortem. Over 310 persons including civilians and militants were so far killed in militancy-related crimes in Manipur this year.

Tripura to have Tourism Corporation

AGARTALA, OCTOBER 30 (AGENCIES): Tripura government has decided to form a full-fledged tourism corporation to boost tourism as an industry. This decision was taken at a cabinet meeting in Agartala last night, Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism minister, Anil Sarkar said on Thursday. Tripura Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) will start functioning after separating the tourism wing from the information and cultural department, he said adding necessary formalities will be completed soon.

“We want to make the TTADC as one of the most professional and viable corporation in the state”, Sarkar said. According to the minister, Tripura has tremendous potential in the tourism field especially in eco-tourism, wildlife and pilgrimage tourism. The government will appoint skilled youths trained in tourism. Sarkar said that the state’s famous tourist destinations like Jampui hills, Sipahijala wildlife sanctuary, Dambur and Rudra Sagar lakes would pull huge tourists if facilities could be improved.

the blasts took place on Dispur Road, Pan Bazaar, Ganeshguri and Fancy Bazaar. More bombs exploded in Barpeta, Kokrajhar, Bongaigoan and Tinsukia districts. The bomb at Ganeshguri was planted in a car and took place about 100 meters from Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi’s official residence. In Guwahati, the death toll stood at 16 while 98 people were injured as in Kokrajhar 11 people have been killed and 53 injured. In Barpeta 12 people have been killed and 45 others have been injured. All the blasts took place almost simultaneously at about 1130 hrs IST at crowded marketplaces.

Panic grips Assamese in Delhi NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 30 (AGENCIES): Harried people from Assam in the capital on Thursday spent some anxious moments after the synchronized blasts in the state in New Delhi as jammed telephone networks made it impossible for them to get through to their relatives back home. “I have been trying to get through to my family and relatives for a long time. As the blasts took place in the morning, everybody is out. One of the blast sites (in Guwahati) is the main market and my father has to cross it on his way to office,” said Delhi University student Rashik. His home is just behind the Fancy Bazar, where one of the bombs went off. Rashik’s apprehensions were shared by Kasturi Nath, who works in a PR firm in New Delhi. “I have been tense since morning. I have been able to talk to relatives but not to my parents. I am just keeping my fingers crossed,” Nath told IANS. “I am in constant touch with my friends here who have got their families in Assam if they could help in giving some news,” Nath added.

Home Ministry seeks report from Assam NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 30 (PTI): The Union Home Ministry on Thursday sought an immediate report from the Assam government on the serial blasts in Assam. Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta, who is closely monitoring the situation, spoke to Assam Chief Secretary to find out the details of the incidents, a Home Ministry spokesman said. The ministry is keeping a constant watch on the situation, he said. Gupta has sought a detailed report from the state government on the blasts in several districts including Barpeta, Bongaigaon and Kokrajhar. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil strongly condemned the blasts. Eleven serial blasts rocked several districts of Assam, killing many people. The powerful bombs went off simultaneously shortly before noon.

blast site, which opened after Diwali holidays and saw presence of large number of lawyers and litigants was silenced by a loud bang which reverberated the court premises. The area was engulfed with dense black smoke and pieces of broken windowpanes of cars, mangled remains of two-wheelers, and blood laden bodies were scattered all over the premises. People were crying for help and some were too stunned to say anything. The railings around the parking area of the court were left completely damaged and one could see hundreds of splinter marks on nearby cars, walls and trees.

Govt denies intelligence failure

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 30 (AGENCIES): Denying any intelligence failure behind a series of bomb blasts in Assam on Thursday, Minister of State for Home Shakeel Ahmed said the terror attack could be linked with the communal clashes in the northeastern state this month. “No, there is no intelligence failure in this case. Even after intelligence reports, intensive policing is needed to avoid such tragedies,” said Ahmed, also a spokesman for the Congress party. “Although we can’t say who is behind the blasts, there were communal clashes in different parts of Assam on October 3 and October 5 in which at least 57 people were killed and 2,25,000 people had to take refuge in relief camps,” he said. Without naming any or-

ganisation, he said, “Such acts of terror are the result of politics of hate that is being spread in different parts of the country.” Conceding that it was difficult at this initial stage to say who were behind the blasts or whether it was an act of people from across the border or from within, the Minister said, “Now even those who used to blame others are found to be involved in the acts of terror.” He was referring to the arrest of five people this month, some of whom are said to have been associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or its affiliates. They were nabbed in connection with bomb blasts in Maharashtra and Gujarat on September 29.

Meghalaya put on high alert

SHILLONG, OCTOBER 30 (UNI): Meghalaya police sounded a “high alert” following a series of bomb blasts in several districts of Assam this morning. Police said the Border Security Forces (BSF) had sealed the porous international Indo-Bangla border and its men guarding the border in the region were put on extraalert to prevent human movement through the border. Eleven serial blasts, including four in Guwahati, rocked several districts of Assam today, killing at least

seven persons and injuring over 50 others. “All the police stations, especially on the inter-state border, with Assam, have been directed to keep extra vigil,” Inspector General of Police (Special Branch) S B Singh said here. Singh said extra precautionary measures had been put in place after fear that those involved in the serial bomb blasts might escape to Meghalaya. “We have set up barricades along the National Highways, connecting Guwahati and Meghalaya, and

our police are searching vehicles in the hunt for the bombers,” the Meghalaya police official said. Chief Minister Donkupar Roy condemned the serial blasts and said, “Terrorism would be fought tooth and nail.” Inspector General of BSF, in-charge of the Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur and Nagaland Frontier, P K Mishra said the frontier guards along the Indo-Bangla border had been instructed to be extra vigilant to thwart any attempt of infiltration.

12 killed in Arunachal landslides

ITANAGAR, OCTOBER 30 (AGENCIES): At least 12 people have been killed and many houses damaged in mudslides and flash floods triggered by heavy rains in Arunachal Pradesh, officials said on Thursday. Rescue work was being hampered by heavy rain, local legislator TG Rinpoche said, adding the death toll could mount further with unconfirmed reports of a van with seven to eight people going down a gorge. “So far about 12 people have died in separate incidents. Most victims died after hillocks caved in on their houses or they were washed

away in flash floods caused by unseasonal heavy rains for the past four days,” Rinpoche said. The casualties occurred in and around the West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering China. “More than 150 houses were damaged in the landslides, besides roads being washed away at several points cutting off surface links,” Rinpoche said. “We are unable to carry out rescue operations due to heavy rains. We don’t know how long it would take to restore road links,” a police official said. Disruption in road links have led to restriction in movement of Indian Army soldiers to forward posts

along the Chinese border. “With road links snapped, we are facing problems although restoration work is on to clear the road soon,” an army commander said. On Tuesday, about 150 villages were inundated following flash floods in the adjoining Assam state. More than 10,000 people were displaced. “Flash floods occurred in some districts of Assam after Arunachal Pradesh released excess water from a hydel power project. Floodwaters have since receded and all those who were displaced returned to their homes,” an Assam government spokes- A personnel of the bomb squad checking for explosives in a bike which was parked in man said. Bongaigaon on October 30. (UB Photos)

Center for fresh survey along Indo-Bangla border 8 killed in Arunachal ﬂash ﬂoods

SHILLONG, OCTOBER 30 (PTI): The Union Home Ministry will conduct a fresh survey of the Indo-Bangla border in Meghalaya before resuming the border fencing work that has been stalled since the last one year following protests from organizations. Official sources said the decision to revive the fencing after a fresh survey was taken during a high-level meeting with state government officials and the home ministry in New Delhi a few days ago. The state government’s push to resume the fencing work comes in the wake of concerns over the unabated influx of illegal migrants and increasing cross-border movement of criminals and extremists. The

fencing work has been stalled after various NGOs and villagers living in the border areas put up an opposition saying they would lose vast tracts of their land if the fencing is erected 150 yards from the zero line. About 50 per cent of the 443 km Meghalaya-Bangladesh border remains to be fenced. The implementing agency National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) is also learnt to have urged revision of the earlier estimates with then escalation of prices of various construction materials. The sources also said the Centre has also decided to release the financial compensation to all the farmers whose agricultural lands will be affected by the fencing.

ITANAGAR, OCTOBER 30 (PTI): Eight people have been feared killed in the recent flash floods in the Rupa town of Arunachal Pradesh, officials said on Thursday. A vehicle carrying six persons was washed away and a Nepali couple was drowned while attempting to cross a stream at Rupa town which experienced incessant rains in the last few days, they said adding that the bodies were yet to be recovered. The flash flood also breached several points on

‘Hunter’ detained over border row

ITANAGAR, OCTOBER 30 (THE TELEGRAPH): Arunachal Pradesh police yesterday detained D. Tadar, a 35-year-old man, who had on October 28 opened fire from his hunting rifle at a mob in Papum Pare district near the state’s border with Assam. Police said quoting Tadar that trouble broke out in Pichola under Taraso circle in the district when two mobs confronted each other with guns and swords after an altercation over felling. Tadar had gone on a hunting trip with six others, including three minor boys. The police said according to Tadar, nearly 100 villagers of Gorubandha of Assam were felling trees in Pichola inside Arunachal Pradesh claiming it as their territory. A group of villagers of Arunachal Pradesh objected saying the 30acre tract had been allotted to the Border

Roads Task Force for road construction by the Arunachal government and the villagers of Assam did not have any territorial claim over that plot. As the Assam villagers flashed firearms and swords, threatening to “retaliate” and obstructed the group of seven hunters from going into the jungles. Things took an ugly turn when the Arunachal villagers fished out their firearms and threatened to shoot at the approaching mob. The standoff continued for about 15 minutes and as the mob closed in, Tadar opened fire. The officer-in-charge of Banderdewa police station, N. Riba said the accused along with his three accomplices has been detained. Riba said Tadar had confessed to have opened fire to disperse the armed mob that threatened to attack them. Riba said according to Assam police, Amal Saikia, a villager

who was hit by a bullet, is being treated at Lakhimpur Hospital. Sub-divisional police officer Apang Tamut rushed to Lakhimpur to investigate the matter. The incident occurred barely five days after 20 foresters from Assam’s Sonitpur district forced their way into Durang village of Papum Pare district and forcefully took away Tadar Tache, a forest guard, on the pretext of violating the Assam Forest Act, 1890. A number of students’ unions, including the All Nyishi Students Union, All Papum Pare District Students Union and All Papum Poma Students Union have demanded immediate punishment of the Assam foresters. The frequent border skirmishes between the two neighbouring states over the past few years have threatened to create a “divide” between the people of Assam and Arunachal.

the vital road linking the border town of Tawang from Balipara in Assam, disrupting movement of vehicles. Border Road organisation sources in Tezpur told PTI over phone that long stretches of the road had been washed away and 500 men and machines were on duty to rebuild it. The officials said that heavy machines were being airlifted from Aalo to expedite the restoration work which might take 15 to 20 days. Traffic was disrupted

on the road for several days due to a similar breach in July last. Chief minister Dorjee Khandu after making an aerial survey of the Rupa sub-division yesterday announced Rs 50 lakh as immediate relief and ex-gratia of Rs one lakh to each of the next of kin of the deceased. While 24 houses, including two belonging to state government were washed away, 37 others badly damaged in the flash flood which was caused by the cloudburst.

Irom’s voice, symbol of Right and Resolve

From page 1

So women are being educated particularly from the rural areas to make them aware and well-informed to protect themselves, as well as make their contributions towards a healthier and more balanced society. She further observed the need to encourage and appreciate both the states of Manipur and Nagaland to cooperate and network in an effort to safeguard women’s rights and privileges. She said this is because the two states have been the

last states in India to set up women commissions. Dr. Ch Jamini, chairperson of Manipur State Commission for Women also said that the one year and ten months old commission of women has so far covered 7 districts of the state spreading awareness. So far 800 cases of domestic violence have been registered at the commission and the commission has also taken up important programmes like family counseling education programmes.

IN-FOCUS

The Power of Truth

The Morung Express FRIDAY 31 OCTOBER 2008 VOL. III ISSUE 302

Rewind

ot too long ago, there was a time when charisma was the door to mainstream politics. It opened possibilities and opportunities for many leaders not just in our own local context, but around the world as well. While some were able to capitalize on their charisma as a stepping stone, they in time proved to have had other qualities than just charisma alone; others unfortunately demonstrated that charisma was all they had. Indeed, strategist spent enormous time and resources shaping and creating a public image of political leaders, with the hope to grasp and entrap the public imagination. Perhaps it is one of the reasons why perception itself has become politics. In a world where information has progressed rapidly and where news is reduced to sound bytes, one would expect the value of charisma to have sharply increased in a world which no longer seems to have time for itself. And yet this has not been the case. People who a few years ago were uninterested and indifferent to the social and political conditions are now being slowly being reawakened and are rediscovering the natural desire for a better life. The people no longer wish to be confined in the role as receivers, but rather aspire to be participants in the making and establishment of a new conscious reality of life. The people are demanding active participation and genuine ownership over their future. In this sense, people realize the urgent need to look beyond just the charismatic aura and public image of their political leaders; they are craving for leaders who have values to lead them in building a just society that will enrich the quality of their lives. Yet overcoming the public image has been a dilemma because of the constant interplay between the personal and the public lives of people holding public positions. The fluid relationship and nature of the private and professional sphere of life is compounded by a media that is constantly creating and reiterating an established perception which is founded more on form, rather than content. Edward L Flom expresses this dilemma eloquently in the statement, “One of the hardest tasks of leadership is understanding that you are not what you are, but what you’re perceived to be by others.” In one of The Morung Express weekly poll conducted earlier this year, 77% of the people identified Integrity as the quality that they most seek in a politician, while Charisma had absolutely no finders at all. The poll results are quite contrary to the usual practice of people voting either along party lines or on the basis of a charismatic personality. While one acknowledges that majority of the participants in the weekly poll are young adults, it does however underline an increasing conflictual reality in which the newer generation of Nagas are emphasizing on content rather than form, on results rather than promises made; and on the integrity of a leader rather than on charisma. The underlying message of the poll indicates that there are sections of the public who are growing in consciousness and are determined to hold their leaders to democratic values of governance. The public is no longer willing to be just a passive receiver, but is determined to assume a more constructive role in the building of a society. The message is self-evident; political leaders, who have for too long only depended on their public image and name, must dig deep into themselves and rediscover qualities that will enable them to be leaders with integrity. Now that the DAN government has had some time to settle in since their ascent to power for a second time, is this not the appropriate juncture that the Naga public starts holding them accountable and responsible to the many promises they declared during the time of elections. If the people are true to themselves, they must begin the process of ensuring that their electoral leaders in the government are held answerable for the programs they said they would initiate if voted to power. And now that the DAN government has been able to exercise their power for several months, it’s about time that the Naga public needs to evaluate their performance and ensure that the government is upholding the interest of the people at its priority. If Nagas want the politicians to act with integrity, it is imperative that the people too act with integrity; and it involves holding the government responsible in an independent and impartial way to their election promises.

LEFT WING |

David Griffiths

India: the ﬁght is on for pluralism

he air is still thick with tragedy in Orissa state. Someone just told me the story of a Christian widow he chanced upon in the state capital, Bhubaneswar, who chokingly related the story of her husband’s death. She said that he fled from an angry mob that came to his house in the night of August 28, but he was caught and told that he and his brothers and all their families must convert to Hinduism or he would be killed. He resisted the pressure, so they tied him to a tree, took kerosene from his brother’s house, poured it over him and set him on fire. He escaped when the plastic ropes holding him melted, but had suffered serious burns. He died the next day. Traumatised, his widow left the body in the house, which began decomposing and attracted dogs. After three days, he was buried, although the body was exhumed by investigating police the next day. Their house was destroyed by one of the mobs systematically attacking Christian targets, and its contents looted. The widow and her four children now live in a relief camp, wondering what their future could possibly hold. What makes this particularly horrifying is that the political narratives of extremist Hinduism suggest that the victims are to blame for the atrocities committed against them. A demonisation of conversions to Christianity has allowed radical Hindu nationalists to paint this as a root cause of their violence against that minority community. The extremist Hindu nationalist groups known collectively as the Sangh Parivar, with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as the ideological mentor, the opposition Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) as the political face and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) as the instigator of the violence in Orissa, propagate a narrative about Christians allegedly converting others by “force”. In response to violence against religious minorities they call for legislative restrictions on conversions: there are now anticonversion laws in seven states and possibly nationally after next year’s elections. This assumes that the victims are ultimately culpable for the violence against them, which has destroyed their lives, by consequence of their supposed illegitimate behaviour. Violence against religious minorities is nothing new in India. In 2002, around 2000 people, mostly Muslims, were massacred in Gujarat in one of the worst religiously-motivated attacks known in recent times. Anti-Christian violence is nothing new either. Although the past months have seen a notable rise in attacks (including arson attacks or significant damage caused to around 35 churches in southern Karnataka state since mid-September), the fact is that on average, at least three anti-Christian attacks have been reported each week for several years now. However, the violence against Dalit and tribal Christians in Orissa since August 24 is on an altogether more serious and devastating scale. The attacks began after the murder of local Hindu nationalist figurehead, Swami Lakhmananda Saraswati, and although a Maoist group has claimed responsibility, mobs were rampaging through the area almost immediately, shouting Hindu nationalist slogans and blaming Christians for the attack. Now around 60 are confirmed dead, many of them killed in brutal ways, and over 50,000 have been displaced. Most people are still terrified of returning to their villages. A brief acquaintance with the Christians displaced by the Orissa violence indicates that most are at least third-generation Christians, not forced to convert from Hinduism against their will. Secondly, India has perfectly adequate laws to deal with issues of religious intolerance, but nobody is being indicted under these. Anti-conversion laws simply add public legitimacy to the fevered rhetoric about conversions, and their normative effect is very damaging to religious minorities. If forced conversions are a problem (a notion of which many commentators in India are far from persuaded), they should be dealt with under India’s excellent penal code, not by inciting anti-minority fervour and dispatching hate mobs armed with lethal weapons In interpreting the violence in Orissa, and elsewhere in India, it is highly important to see that it is not about natural animosity between Hindus and Christians. In the relief camps, some Christians praise attempts made by their Hindu neighbours to mitigate their suffering – heroic acts in the midst of frenzied inhumanity. Across India, Hindus committed to a secular, religiously pluralist society have made very clear their outrage at the violence. But the very idea of a secular, pluralist India is at stake here. Are religious minorities to be tolerated, even if they share the same right as the majority to “profess, practise and propagate” their faith? And does the government have the grit and determination to prosecute those who

THE EDIT PAGE

C O M M E N T A R Y

Max Kantar

The Opium Of The Masses

his November, Americans face a choice. But the choice not between John McCain or Barak Obama; it is between submitting to the will of the corporatemilitary establishment or taking a moral stand in boycotting their rigged institutions of fake democracy. Democracy, in any meaningful sense, is a system that allows people to have a say in decisions to the degree that they are affected. Do we have that? With popular support for the Bush administration continually hovering at around 20% and support for the mostly Democratic congress struggling to maintain double digits, you can decide whether we have a democratic system or not for yourself. They tell us to vote if we care about the economy. Vote for whom? Obama could not reiterate enough times in the “debate” how much he “agreed” with McCain on the issue of the near trillion dollar Wall Street bailout, despite overwhelming public opposition to it. The message to the public was clear: “We don’t care what you think. Our job is to protect the wealth of those who own the country, not those who built it.” They tell us to vote if we care about war, foreign policy, and the horrendous image of the US around the world. Vote for Obama or McCain, both who vow to enact a “surge” of US occupying forces into Afghanistan, in spite of the sharp rise in US-NATO bombings of civilians, most notably the massacre of 90 innocent people in late August, two thirds of which were under the age of 15. We can vote on Iraq, but our choice is not between war and peace. The choice is between two war strategies. One continues the Bush-Cheney-Rice plan, and the other entails significant US troops, privately contracted mercenaries, and the maintenance of extravagant foreign (US) military bases, not to mention potential US operations in the future in Iraq. Both plans continue the aggressive war against the wishes of the Iraqi public, the American public, and the international community. Not to be outdone by the Maverick’s burning passion for imperial violence, liberal Obama has declared that he strongly supports military strikes in Pakistan, further threatening the already trembling stability of the region by violating sovereign territory with killings and assaults. Should we vote if we care about peace in Israel-Palestine, a conflict with global im-

plications? Unlike the slight deviations of policy mentioned above between those who wish to rule over us, we have a truly bipartisan commitment to continue blocking a peaceful settlement through providing the overwhelming military, economic, and diplomatic support for the US-Israeli illegal military occupation of Palestinian land, illegal colonial settlement expansion, and the starvation and imprisonment of the 1.5 million human beings trying to stay alive in the Gaza Strip. Either way we vote, we give money to kill Palestinians, support Israeli terror, and avoid peace based on international law and human rights. That has been US policy for decades. Turning to the health care crisis, both candidates refuse to recognize what has been the population’s

wish for decades: the abolition of for-profit healthcare. Thousands of insured Americans are going to die in the next four years because both candidates refuse to support preexisting legislation that guarantees all necessary medical treatment to everyone. America has the most prisoners of any country in the world. Our corporate built prisons are a reflection and symbol of a violently unequal and racist society where black men are incarcerated at a rate of nearly 400% more than whites. Black men in America are locked up at a rate nearly six times that of Black men under the notorious South African Apartheid regime in the early 90s. Our prisons are filled with the poor and disenfranchised: social conditions that transcend race in American dun-

Letters to the Editor A Humble Appeal •Sir, I appreciate the news feature – Orissa’s reality: A Voice Scarred by Violence Speaks Outthat was carried in your paper on October 29. It has brought to light the real picture of Christian prosecutions in Orissa. Reverend Daniel Sahu and his children are just one of the thousands who have been affected by the anti-Christian violence. As per the report, the children’s schooling has been affected due to forced closure of their school. As a Christian, it is my humble appeal to all Christian church leaders, school authorities and all other Christian organizations that it is our moral duty to help Reverend Sahu’s children get admitted into one of our good schools in Dimapur. They are loosing one year of their education for some, as the report says, ‘bigoted’ Hindu extremists. This is the moment when we can prove our solidarity to our fellow Christians. Dr. S Chishi, Chekiye village, Dimapur

BSNL responds to Commissioner •Sir, BSNL Nagaland Telecom has requested T. Meren Paul, Transport Commissioner to arrange the payment of outstanding dues to telephones working in his office/subordinate offices. The intention was that the Transport Commissioner has to arrange payment of the outstanding bills from the Government fund using his official capacity but not in his personal capacity. BSNL is always at the doorsteps of the customers to serve them better by receiving suggestions from all. As a part of it, the difficulties posed by the customers in receiving the bills, BSNL has entrusted the same to Indian postal Department. BSNL is always invites good suggestions from all, as corrective measure of the services. BSNL tries to submit things in the most obedient fashion but never to escape. BSNL tries all the customers as esteemed only. BSNL is making arrangement to dispatch the bills immediately for the good office of T Meren Paul for information and arranging early payment please. At the same time BSNL once again humbly requests T Meren Paul to cooperate, to improve the services up to his expectations and satisfaction Public Relations Ofﬁcer O/o GMTD, BSNL, NLD SSA Dimapur

Human Trafﬁcking; a deep concern •Sir, The recent incident of selling of five girls from the North East to a night club in Malaysia after they had been taken away on promises of job offer is downright reprehensible but should all the same send alarm bells ringing for parents of many other youngsters especially girls form the region who are living in a dream world thinking that they could easily get decent jobs once they set foot in big cities. Had not the girls got the chance to escape from the hands of their exploiters, things would have been quite different --- people would not have known the

terrible incident let alone their whereabouts. They could not have been repatriated back home and lost for good. It cannot be overstated that incidents like this are increasing at an alarming rate in our country particularly in the North Eastern region. And if the reports that as many as 150 girls have fetched up in night clubs in Kuala Lampur after they were promised jobs in Singapore are to be believed, then one is more than sure that the trafficking of five girls and the attempt to take other girls to Chennai are only a tip of the iceberg---many trafficking cases have gone unreported each year. Human trafficking like trafficking of drugs and arms, is not a new phenomenon; in effect we have witnessed crime of this nature so many times over in several parts of India. Unfortunately, still many people cannot see through the modus operandi and continue to fall prey this nefarious racket. One wonders whether many previous incidents did not suffice to teach us a lesson or two. One possible question here is -- oughtn’t the parents to have some inkling of the well worked out scheme given the fact that promises given by fake agents in most cases are identical--- offer of job. Apparently, many parents fail to realise that it is only wishful thinking that their children could get respectable jobs in big cities even without actually possessing any formal or necessary qualifications. The underlying assumption, in fact, is that the victims and their parents are solely concerned about the prospect of job and money and not concerned enough for their own safety. So much so, they let themselves in for the con without so much as a second thought. What should be clear to all is that even though youngsters insist on trying their luck in big cities of the world, still parents should realise the moral propriety to be cautious and not pander to their whims and fancies at the drop of a hat. One is inclined to assume that the parents have created a Frankenstien’s monster in a misguided attempt to find their children easy jobs. It is high time we as an upright society did something to put an end to this menace of trafficking. In the absence of any prompt and stringent measures, it may be only a matter of time before another group of youngsters falls victim to the racket. As of now, the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has only expressed its plan to strengthen the Immigration Act and Manipur government has opened anti-trafficking cells in some parts of the state. But how far will this help in curbing the crime is anybody’s guess. Meantime, it is important that the government give adequate attention to the twin problem of acute poverty and lack of development that has literally made the region fertile ground for a slew of fake recruiting agencies to mushroom in recent times. Alongside this, we need to go the extra mile to raise awareness to alert the general public to the presence of these illegal agencies and their activities. So as to enable all concerned to tackle the crime on a war footing and any cases of trafficking do not slip through the net and the perpetrators are booked and punished appropriately. Amen.

geons. This socioeconomic/human rights issue is off the debating table. Neither exclusively Democratic nor Republican, this is an American policy. Let us not forget either, that a vote for either presidential hopeful is a clear declaration of support for the continued Bush-Cheney anti-constitution program of illegal spying and wiretapping of American citizens. Are we really willing to accept this as a permanent American policy? Elections in the US are nothing more than ratifications of illegitimate power and approval of concentrated wealth. So long as we continue to rationalize our vote by selecting the “lesser of two evils” vying for Chief Terrorist Commander and Upholder of Elite Interests, we will be giving our tacit approval to and consent of the continued human rights violations committed by the bipartisan power structure. This business of selecting indentured servants of existing power is more symbolic as a means of conquest of the popular will rather than that of democracy. Perhaps we were never taught that the wonderful advancements our country has made over the years came as a result of popular struggle, not electoral politics. When we place our political energy into elections, power and privilege always win while our movements die. In our country, voting is the opium of the masses. When we cast our ballots for the McCains and Obamas of this country, blood continues to be shed on the battlefields of justice, not only around the world as the US continues its imperial crusade to protect the world from the threat of democracy, but at home as well in America’s prisons, hospitals, factories, courts, ghettos, working neighborhoods—in essence, on America’s “main street.” We cannot be, in good moral conscience, participants in this deceitful and superficial process legitimizing crimes of the powerful and an economic system erected for the wealthy. “After all, is there not a sort of blood shed when the conscience is wounded?” Yes, let us make a choice in November, a choice to stop “tinkering with the machinery” of the Washington-Wall Street establishment of exploitation and violence and commit ourselves to taking matters into our own hands to bring about self-determination and justice for our countrymen/women and our fellow human beings around the world.

Is The Media Doing Enough?

he media has a key role to play in effectively addressing the two major challenges of the 21st century -- sustainable development and climate change. But is it doing enough? The verdict was mixed -- at least judging by the views expressed by a group of academics, journalists, scientists, government officials and representatives of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and U.N. agencies at a seminar held at The Hague in the Netherlands Thursday. “Media has been focussing on the financial crisis; but what about the climate change crisis, what about the food security crisis?” asked Farah Karimi, director of OxfamNovib. When climate change is an emerging issue of major worldwide concern to everyone on the planet, “how can the media help us to re-energise and re-organise ourselves to plan, coordinate and implement the necessary responses on a global scale?” asked Dr Mohan Munasinghe, director-general of the Sustainable Consumption Institute at the University of Manchester in the UK, in a paper read out on his behalf at the meeting. The panel discussion on the theme ‘Strategies to Preserve and Increase the Support Base for Global Sustainable Development: the Role of the Media’ was co-sponsored by OxfamNovib, the Netherlands’ National Committee for International Cooperation and Sustainable Development (NCDO), and the Inter Press Service (IPS) news agency. Munasinghe, who is also vice-chairman of the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), said that global warming is a reality which the world has to accept sooner than later. In Darfur, he pointed out, where several hundred thousand people have died in recent years in the political conflict, climate change has exacerbated water and land shortages due to growing desertification. This has undermined agriculture,and fuelled conflict for these scarce resources among the poor. On the opposite side of the globe, he said, many Pacific islands, and the Maldives in the Indian Ocean, are often only centimetres above sea level, and threatened with inundation by rising seas. This is not much spoken of in the media, said Sabina Voogd of OxfamNovib. “When reporting on climate change, the media presents us more often with lonely polar bears on ice shelves than with all these people in developing countries that already suffer from longer periods of drought, extreme floods, and sudden cold spells. “Climate change has a huge effect on agriculture and food security, and it will get worse when water will become really scarce, climate zones will shift, and a quarter of all animals and plants will be extinct,” Voodg said. She called on “the rich countries, but also institutions like the World Bank, to stop doing harm, and to help farmers in developing countries become more resilient to external shocks.” The meeting explored ways these stories are playing in the media, specifically in some of the mainstream Western media, which still believes that climate change is mostly a non-story unless there is a major political twist to it. Lynette Thorstensen, communications director at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, said that when selling a story to the news media, one has to be a “consummate story teller.” She said “big numbers work with the media”, as with the stories of the billions who suffer from a shortage of clean water or adequate sanitation in the developing world. She acknowledged that some newspapers view climate change as “dull, tedious and technical”, but it is left to the person pitching the story to make it more interesting and more human. But “information is not a panacea,” said Prof. Cees Hamelink, scientist at Amsterdam University. People have plenty of information, they often know what is harmful, but they also often do not act on what they know, he said. Rather than information, what is needed is communication and a greater readiness to listen, Hamelink said. There are too many talk shows; what is needed are more “listen shows”. Mario Lubetkin, Director-General of IPS, pointed out that there is no single answer to the role of media in climate change. “It is part of a process,” he said. The question, he said, was “how can we build the process for a final solution?” Lubetkin argued that climate change coverage is undeniably better today than it was five or 10 years ago. There is more and more of both the mainstream media and the alternative media coming on board, he said. There are also millions and millions of readers who now access stories on sustainable development. At the same time, he Lester Rehob’am Makang, said, there is now a widespread concept of partnership between NGOs and Ukhrul news agencies. “Five years ago, we would not have had these alliances.”

WRITE-WING

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

31 OCTOBER 2008

PERSPECTIVE NEWS ANALYSIS, FEATURE AND DISCOURSE

Women Hold Key to World Prosperity Madeline Chambers

pitbull with lipstick may not be every woman's idea of a role model. Indeed, many liberal women hate everything arch-Republican U.S. vice presidential candidate and self-proclaimed hockey mom Sarah Palin stands for, even as conservatives are enamoured by her down-to-earth leadership style and jokes such as one comparing hockey moms to attack dogs with lipstick. But like her or loathe her, women around the globe are fascinated by Palin's juggling act as an aspiring Vice President, governor of Alaska and mother of five. Combining a career with motherhood is a battle familiar to millions of working women who are often accused of failing to look after their children properly. "It's seriously stressful having a family and holding down a career. I often feel guilty," said Gill Thomas, a 43-yearold lawyer with a 2-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son. "Childcare is alright until the kids are sick. That's when it's a nightmare and I do feel as if colleagues, family and friends sometimes disapprove of my lifestyle." Getting women to have children and work poses a conundrum for governments who have begun to realise that women hold the answer to the dual challenges of achieving long-term economic growth and boosting sagging birth rates. Closing the gap between male and female employment would dramatically boost the economies of OECD countries -- by up to 13 percent in the euro zone and even more in Japan, say Goldman Sachs economists. "This is an issue that is agitating policymakers across the world," said Alison Maitland, a UK-based academic and writer specialising in women in business. "There is a huge gap between women's talents and skills and the use of that potential. It requires a concerted effort by governments and the private sector in collaboration," she said. What's more, nations with a high proportion of women in work, such as the Nordic States and France, tend to have high birth rates. Mean-

while, countries with fewer working women, such as Italy and Japan, often have lower birth rates. On the face of it, Germany, which three years ago elected Angela Merkel as its first female chancellor, is a positive example, as it has a relatively high share of women in the labour force compared to other OECD nations. But a deeper look tells a different story. Not only do 20 percent of women aged 25 to 54 work less than 20 hours a week but the maternal employment rate is below the OECD average, says Frankfurt-based Deutsche Bank analyst Claire Schaffnit-Chatterjee. Merkel, who has no children, exemplifies this trend which may help explain why women account for only a quarter of Germany's senior managers and a third of its federal lawmakers. On top of that, Germany's birth rate is one of the lowest in the EU. The government, alarmed at the demographics which mean a shrinking labour force and growing dependence on immigrant workers plus ballooning pension and healthcare costs, now offers financial incentives for women to have more babies. But changing entrenched attitudes poses perhaps an even bigger challenge to the government. Until 1957, married German women needed their husband's permission to take paid employment, and working mothers are often derided as "Rabenmuetter" or "raven mothers", suggesting they push their young out of the nest too early. "It is deeply engrained in German culture that the mother should mainly look after childcare," said Deutsche Bank analyst SchaffnitChatterjee, who had to delay returning to work due to a lack of appropriate childcare. Women who plan to return to their careers when their children start school are stymied by a school system that makes it hard for mothers to hold down full-time jobs. "Mothers get a real shock when children start school as they mainly finish in time for lunch at home," SchaffnitChatterjee added, noting also that schools sometimes send children home if their teacher is sick, assuming mothers are on hand. The old adage about the role of

Although they are too young to vote, high school students Hannah Sherman, 15, center, and Becca Kohn, 15, join other volunteers working in a phone bank at the Obama for President headquarters in Bethesda, Md. on Friday, October 24. Washington-area teachers and party ofﬁcials have noticed an uptick in political activism by high school students this election cycle. Not old enough to cast a ballot, hundreds of teenagers are making phone calls, painting rally signs, knocking on doors and raising funds for their chosen campaigns. (AP Photo) women: "Children, Church, Kitchen" still rings true for a large number of Germans, men and women alike. In the last few years, Germany has raised the number of nursery places on offer and provided higher child benefits, but the steps have mainly been aimed at getting women to have more babies rather than encouraging mothers back to work. Experts say this is the wrong approach and governments need a comprehensive range of policies that do both. "Governments throwing money at subsidised childrearing does not work," said Maitland, noting that Japan had also tried that path and failed. "It's not what women want to do. These governments just don't get that women want to work." Forced to choose, women in developed countries tend to opt for work over children, say economists, and those who do not work have less money, itself an obstacle to having a family. "I enjoy my job, which involves a lot of travel, and although there hasn't been a conscious choice, I have fo-

cused on work over the years and now I doubt I'll have children," said Lucy Ward, 39, who works at a marketing company in London. Andrea Bassanini, senior economist at the OECD in Paris, says, however, that governments can change attitudes. "Policy can certainly affect culture," he says, citing Nordic countries, which have the highest proportions of working women and have recently stabilised falling birth rates. "These countries decided their tax system would work better with two earners in a family rather than with one breadwinner and they developed a system that put women into work," he said. "At the start there wasn't total support for the system, now the changes are deeply entrenched." The culture has changed so much that Iceland has just appointed women to head two of its main banks after the collapse of its maledominated financial system. First, governments have to make sure good and affordable childcare is available as without that, few mothers will even consider leaving their offspring to go to work.

Tax is also important. Bassanini says countries need at least a tax-neutral system for second earners. Some experts even advocate a gender-based system to encourage women to work more. It is not only the Nordic countries that are a model. France, with a relatively high birth rate, has family policies that are conducive to getting women working, including generous parental allowances and good, state-subsidised childcare. Experts say that system could be a model for the 27nation EU which is trying to extend fully paid maternity leave and protect jobs for women who take leave. More women in the prime of their life now work in France than in Germany, the United States and Britain, says the OECD. But women who successfully juggle work and children still contend with criticism for, on the one hand, devoting too little time to their children, and on the other, not taking their jobs seriously enough when they stay home to look after sick children. Even Palin faced stinging criticism for running for

the vice presidency when she has a baby with Down's syndrome. "When I talk about something my kids have got up to, my male boss crack jokes about how I'd be better off at home. It's offputting," said a female professional in Germany who requested anonymity. Nevertheless, campaigners are mostly heartened by developments in the last few decades and by the wealth of role models young women now have -- from Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin in the United States to Germany's Merkel, former French presidential candidate Segolene Royal and French Justice Minister Rachida Dati, who is a pregnant single-mother-to-be. "Whatever kind of models they are, the main thing is that they are there and our daughters are seeing them," said Avivah Wittenberg-Cox, head of gender consultants 20-First. "These days, girls have models to choose from -- a few years ago we had (former British Prime Minister) Margaret Thatcher -- but no young women wanted to emulate her."

Governments Still Don’t Do Enough

Zahira Kharsany

ore than 116 million people in 131 countries across the world participated in the global "Stand Up and Take Action" campaign that became the biggest mass mobilisation on a single issue. Activists criticised the fact that the gap between the rich and the poor continues to increase, while governments refused to make poverty alleviation a priority. The Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) and the United Nations Millennium Campaign said the Oct. 17-19 initiative sent a message to world leaders that citizens will not stay seated if promises to end poverty remain unfulfilled. "[The campaign] is a

wonderful statement of global determination and commitment to end the injustice of extreme poverty," said Desmond Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town and chairman of The Elders -- a group of former heads of state, Nobel laureates, leading entrepreneurs and philanthropists who contribute their wisdom, independent leadership and integrity to tackle some of the world's problems. "116 million people demanded the right to food, water, health care, education and a life of dignified work for all. 116 million people have stood together to end extreme poverty. This message must be heard by leaders everywhere -- it cannot be ignored," he added. Kumi Naidoo, co-chair of

GCAP and honorary president of CIVICUS, a World Alliance for Civic Participation, said it was important to make "common people" realise that they can play a role in improving their livelihoods. "In virtually every single country across the world the gap between the rich and the poor is growing at an unsustainable and horrendous pace and the gap between rich and poor countries is growing quite considerably too," Naidoo told IPS. This needed to change, Naidoo said, demanding more commitment from governments around the world, who he said were more interested in spending money on boosting their countries’ economies than on poverty relief. The recent collapse

of global financial markets "showed that when there is a will, governments will mobilise," he explained, suggesting that governments respond to the poverty crisis with the same urgency than to the financial crisis. Taking action People’s dissatisfaction with governments became apparent at "Stand Up and Take Action" events across Africa when people asked policy makers to be more pro-active in reaching the MDGs that aim to reduce poverty and child mortality, improve education and maternal health, promote gender equality and women’s empowerment, create environmental sustainability and combat HIV/Aids and other diseases by 2015. In Malawi, for example, 600,000 people asked government for greater transparency and accountability. In Rwanda, president Kagame joined 10,000 people who stood up against poverty at the Rubavu Stadium, in the country’s Western Province. Kagame called on Rwandans to use their hard-won peace and stability as the foundation to fight poverty, create wealth and drive development for the well-being of the entire population. Activists not only lobbied governments, but also religious leaders for support in the fight against poverty. In Egypt, millions stood up in mosques, and in Nigeria,

the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa'ad Abubakar III, joined 20,000 people in the country's poorest state, Jigawa, in their call for the empowerment of women and other marginalised groups through skill acquisition programmes, empowerment schemes and access to micro-financing. "This is a new kind of action the world is seeing: it's the local influencing the global," said GCAP co-chair Sylvia Borren. "Thousands of actions, pictures and messages show a powerful groundswell of determination and that a new global financial architecture must be about equality and gender justice." "What we need is transformation of all issues from gender, climate change and education to poverty. We need to start seeing ourselves as a human family. Urgency is the message and it is a democratic challenge for local and national governments and for the global world," she added. Poverty hearings In South Africa, mobilisation against poverty already started in August, two months before the "Stand Up" campaign took place. NGO African Monitor, in collaboration with a number of other civil society organisations, held poverty hearings across the country to find out from ordinary South Africans what there needs are. A report based on the hearings showed that more than half of South

Africa’s population is faced by extreme hunger and poverty, and entire rural communities go without food for days. African Monitor researchers also found that poverty in South Africa has deepened during the past ten years. Kate Lefko-Everett, researcher of Institute for Democracy in South Africa’s (IDASA) political information and monitoring service unit, said that poor people should be at the centre of efforts if governments want to develop appropriate and effective strategies to combat poverty. "[At one of the poverty hearings in the Western Cape] many of the stories participants shared were poignant and stark, confirming that many people continue to live in extreme poverty 14 years into democracy," she said. "Teenagers told of dropping out of school because they were unable to afford transportation. Farm workers shared stories of land evictions and insecurity of tenure. One participant with a disability discussed his daily experiences of social exclusion and discrimination." "[There] was a deep sense of frustration and hopelessness, particularly around issues of unemployment, lack of basic services and crime," Lefko-Everett further explained, and that needed to change.

REPORTERS DIARY Longrangty Longchar

Network problem! All the way to Mon

“

Keep checking the network,” Kazu from the Panos South Asia who was taking a team of journalists from Kashmiri, Manipuri and Nagaland to Mon that October 19 night. We were half way through to Mon and phone network stopped working. With two mobile phones in my hands, one belonging to Kazu and one to Adi belonging to the Ukhrul based correspondent of the Sangai Express (Manipur English daily), I was a worried man. Here I was sitting in the front of the three car entourage supposedly to expose the life of the people in Mon and Lungwa village, and the problem was that I have never been to Mon leave alone visit Lungwa village. My dear colleague Bonnie Konyak had earlier booked the hotel rooms and my friend Minphong Konyak the Konyak Union Joint Secretary was supposed to take us around; the only problem was that I cannot reach anybody! “Damn, still no network,” I honestly told Kazu who was at the wheels driving as the Mahindra Scorpio fast as he could. It was around 7 pm, the sky was dark and if we traveled at the same speed then we would be in Mon town by half an hour. But the problem lay ahead since reaching Mon town not such a big problem as finding the lodging contacting some local people to lead us to Lungwa village. By one hour, I have to reach the people in Mon town and tell them that we are about and ask them if possible, to take us to our lodging. And the phone service was not helping me at all. “No service is bad service,’ he muttered worriedly; my colleagues from Manipur and Assam laughed, I found no humor in it. I have to contact some people otherwise we would be sleeping on the roads! I looked at the phone network again and again. The team of journalist traveling in three vehicles had moved from Dimapur at 9 am from Hotel Saramati and we were traveling for nearly ten hours through Assam, and ten hours of journey deserves a nice rest, that what the others would surely demand, and that surely does not include spending some hours searching for some Hotels in some place where we never had been. It was an uneasy thought. We drove in silence! And I was not interested in the winding uphill roads, just the LCD screen on the two mobile phones in my hand. Kazu did suggest that we stop in the nearest settlement, find a landline phone and make the contact. I agreed, thinking it was a great idea. The only thing is that it did not materalise. We did reach an area where we found some houses, but the houses were all closed and not a shop or a PCO could be found, it was rather like a ghost town in some western movies. “Longrang, there seems to be no shops at all,” said Kazu as-a-matter-of-factly. And I became more worried by as the minutes ticked by. I swiped the touch screen LCD screen of Adi’s phone and the fair Korean girl on the screen kept smiling back at me without the “CellOne” indication which otherwise would cross her face like a French moustache, and make her face more amusing. I tried to forget the predicament that I was in, and tried to amuse myself how my friends at the back cars and those sitting with me would like to spend some time searching for lodging or even sleep in the streets or in the cars. I am sure my friends did not see me grinning with that wicked thought. “Well we are journalist,” I tried to console myself, “And journalists have to be prepared for anything, like that time in Anaki village in Mokokchung in January.” Ha, Anaki village! That was the time when my colleague Moasen, my friends Rongsen and Nungsang, amidst the tension created by the election process in Tuli constituency, ventured out to the Anaki villages on a Panos south Asia sponsored Oral Testimony project. We had no contacts no friends in the village and we just went inside the village with the sincere hope that someone would be kind enough to accommodate us for the night; but after a few hours, we became so worried that we nearly forgot about the purpose of our visit there. “Hmmmm! I wonder how the Kashmiri would like to sleep in the car near in the street,” I thought though it was not a very entertaining one though, so I again checked the network coverage. Thank God the CellOne on the mobile phone finally appeared and a message arrived on the AirTel phone too. I punched the phone numbers so fast and so had that I nearly damaged the phone, (Nearly, Adi, please I did not punch the numbers on your phone that hard in case it is damaged). My excitement turned to frustration as the prerecorded voice of the BSNL started saying, “The number you have called is unreachable, please try after sometimes”. I tried again and again, and the same voice repeated again and again, and I must admit that the BSNL do have some sophisticate machines that never breaks down and which can really help a traveler in distress anytime a caller tries to reach a BSNL subscriber. WE reached the town, it was 7:20 pm and the town was deserted except for some youths loitering in the streets; I promptly climbed and asked them if they knew of any hotel where people can lodge for the night, as expected they did not know. Of course they did say that they knew Minphong Konyak, but his house was far away, they said. Kazu suggested that we go up to the main town. Finally I could reach my Editor, The Morung Express MD and I was glad that I could reach him since I had to inform him about a change of plan which Kazu and I had decided in the car and which must be informed to my Boss. “Ask him (my Editor) if it is the same place we stayed earlier,” said Kazu. It was in affirmative. The hotel owner was about to go off to sleep when we reached the Helsa Cottage. It was a nice place, she was a very homely woman, a bit blunt but not rude. The number of rooms was a bit in adequate to accommodate the fifteen of us but none of the journalists were complaining. Hurriedly I asked Kazu to go out and meet Minphong who would be taking us to Lungwa village located in the Indian-Myanmar boundary area. And as I was about to leave the hotel owner whispered in a thrilled (not worried) voice, “Aji morning SBI (she meant SIB- Sate Intelligence Bureau) khan haishi to.” (This morning the SIB agent came to the hotel). It was not a big deal looking at Kazu’s face, since he told that the intelligence agents have been trailing them all alone. All that we were interested now was some nice meal and a good night rest. And the quietness, the coolness and the beauty of the night assured us that and promised a nice day for us in Lungwa village the next day. Oh! And in Anaki village this January, a very generous old man and his wife did welcome us in their house and they even prayed for us.

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

C M Y K

Dimapur

NATIONAL

Friday 31 October 2008

NEWS FILE Man held after threatening to hijack Air India plane

MUMBAI, OCTOBER 30 (AGENCIES): An unidentified man has been arrested after he threatened to hijack an Air India plane numbered 191. The Air India airliner was to fly from Mumbai to New Jersey when a passenger started shouting he would hijack the plane. After the man was overpowered by officials, the aircraft was evacuated and all the passengers are reported to be safe. At present, officials are searching the airport premises for more clues. The flight finally took off at 11 a.m., almost three hours behind schedule.

Vessel collides with Cambodian craft; Indian crew safe MUMBAI, OCTOBER 30 (AGENCIES): Thirty-six Indian sailors on board a vessel are reported to be safe after it collided with a Cambodian craft in South Korean waters. The collision occurred yesterday. The Indian vessel, MT Desh Viraat, has been anchored at Busan in South Korea for investigations into the incident, the Directorate General of Shipping said in a release. “The master and second engineer have been taken to the marine police for investigation,” it said. The vessel was on its maiden voyage on South Korean waters. The Cambodian craft sank and its crew has been rescued by the Korean Coast Guard, the release said. The Cambodian vessel had 10 Chinese and Vietnamese crew.

Now, MNS workers assault journalist

MUMBAI, OCTOBER 30 (AGENCIES): A journalist from Uttar Pradesh was on Thursday brutally beaten by supporters of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) in Mumbai, police said on Thursday. Dinanath Tiwari, 45, who works for the Nirbhay Pathik tabloid, had gone to Kurar village in the eastern suburb of Malad just after midnight to report on MNS workers abusing and attacking a settlement of people from north India. When they saw him taking photographs, about 15 MNS activists, including the area’s municipal corporator Vanita Ghag, assaulted Tiwari, an eyewitness said. Tiwari was rushed to the Bhagwati Hospital with injuries to the ear and some fractures. Doctors described his condition as ‘stable’. Tiwari, who belongs to Jaunpur and has worked for Mumbai’s first Hindi evening paper for 10 years, was dragged by MNS activists inside the police outpost and beaten up, said the newspa-

per editor A K Mishra. The police denied the allegation. A police official in Kurar said complaints had been registered against the corporator, Ghag, and 14 MNS activists. They have been charged with assault, rioting and causing grievous injury. This is the second attack on north Indians in three days in and around Mumbai. Dharamdev Ramnarain Rai, a worker from UP, was beaten in a running suburban train to Mumbai following a dispute over occupying a window seat in the train. He died soon after. A day before that, on Monday, a Bihari unemployed youth Rahul Raj was gunned down by the police after he allegedly attempted to hijack a BEST public bus with 25 passengers on board. The series of attacks on north Indians started October 19 when workers of MNS and Shiv Sena attacked scores of men from north India appearing for railway recruitment examinations in different parts of Maharashtra.

Pressure mounted on Cabinet and veiled threat Govt ‘taking steps to north Indians. “The situation in the state is under total con- the UPA government over of cancellation of trains to ensure law & order’

NANDED:ChiefMinister Vilasrao Deshmukh Thursday said adequate measures have been taken to ensure law and order in Maharashtra which has witnessed attacks against

trol and adequate measures have been taken to ensure law and order,” Deshmukh told reporters here. The Chief Minister was in town to attend the tercentenary celebrations of Guru-ta-Gaddi.

MUMBAI, OCTOBER 30 (AGENCIES): Maharashtra has submitted its report to the Centre in the Uttar Pradesh migrant killing case. The report to the Centre says that the fight leading to the migrant’s death started over a window seat. It has denied that the youth was killed over any UP-Marathi issue. Dharamdev Rai, a 25year-old labourer from Gorakhpur was beaten to death on a suburban train in Badlapur on the outskirts of Mumbai. Three of his companions were also thrashed by a group of Marathi speaking people. Dharamdev was beaten so badly that his liver

gave way. Meanwhile, five persons were on Thursday arrested in connection with the case, a senior officer of the Government Railway Police (GRP) said. “We questioned many people yesterday and based on information and eye witness accounts, five persons have been arrested today,” GRP Commissioner A K Sharma told a news agency. Sharma, however, refused to comment on whether the five arrested persons were affiliated to the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) led by Raj Thackeray. They are likely to be produced in a court later on Thursday.

Force (RAF), the companies will have a strength of 60 each. They will be sent to Poonch, Rajouri and Badipora areas for poll duty, the security officials said. Equipped with mobile phones and stationary security in Kashmir valley and in militancy areas of Jammu region, the forces will be guarding venues of poll rallies. There are 8109 polling stations in the state and they would be guarded as per their specific nature – sensitive and hyper-sensitive, sources said. The state’s Director General of Police has asked range Deputy Inspector Generals (DIGs)and district police chiefs to prepare security control rooms in each district and to undertake sanitisation operation in the sensitive places India's Chief of Air Staff, Fali Homi Major, center, arrives for air commanders' conference in New Delhi in the districts. October 30. (AP Photo)

C M Y K

ities seeking permission to interrogate the officer in a bid to ascertain his role in the Malegaon blast. The officer in question hails from Maharashtra and currently serving in Madhya Pradesh. The Army is also expected to clear its stance over the issue by this afternoon. It is believed that the suspected officer has close links with Ramesh Upadhyaya, the retired Army Major who has been arrested in connection with the Malegaon blast. The two came in contact with each other much before joining the armed forces. On Wednesday, the Nasik court ordered brain-mapping, narco and polygraphy tests of the two suspects following disclosures by police that one of them was in touch with Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur already held in the case. Nashik’s Civil Judge P G Patil upheld ATS’ plea

to subject Upadhaya and Sameer Kulkarni to the scientific tests and remanded both to 14-day police custody till November 10. Last Thursday, it gave permission for similar tests on 38-yearold Pragya Singh, former officebearer of BJP’s student wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad. Pleading before the court, Upadhyay, however, denied the charges, including his meeting with Pragya Singh and his involvement in the blast. He said, “I had shared a dais with the sadhvi only once and did not have any communication with her for a long time since then.” Meanwhile, ACP Mumbai Sukhvinder Singh has claimed that the two retired Army officers Ramesh and Sameer were “part of the larger conspiracy” and played a “major role” in the Malegaon blast.

amount to be given to the churches. “The revenue department will soon bring out a guideline on the basis of which the district administration can distribute compensation,” he said. The apex court had asked the Orissa government to provide ‘reasonable’ assistance to church authorities for reconstruction, on a petition filed by Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Archbishop Raphael Cheenath. While the government had in principle decided to assist in church rebuilding, it was facing a problem with church authorities submitting claims for damage. The authorities of one church in Kandhamal had reportedly asked an assistance of Rs 35 lakh as it was completely damaged in the mob attack during the riots, sources said, adding that the government was in a quandry on fixing the compensation.

Tsunami hit Indian Ocean 600 years ago

An Indian Police woman helps pilgrims in Srinagar, Thursday, October 30, as they leave for the Hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. The ﬁrst batch of Kashmiri Muslims left for the annual trip to Mecca. Millions travel every year to Islam’s holiest sites in Saudi Arabia to participate in the Hajj. (AP Photo)

Indian peacekeepers caught in Congo ﬁring

GOMA, OCTOBER 30 (AGENCIES): Indian peacekeepers deployed in UN Mission in Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) for peacekeeping in that nation came under attack on Wednesday night in the increasing violence between Congolese government forces and rebels in North Kivu, a region where the situation has deteriorated over the past several days. Commenting on the issue, the Indian Army said

on Thursday that the Indian soldiers in DRC are on a United Nations (UN) peace mission, therefore it cannot influence the soldiers. However, the UN Security Council has already been familiarised with the issue, the Army added. A Lt Colonel and two other personnel of Indian Army in Congo reportedly sustained injuries when a contingent of UN troops was attacked in Congo. Indian Army is the largest contributor to the 17,000-

strong UN force. According to reports, Indian troops were urged to position themselves in North Kivu province from Goma. Two armoured personnel carriers belonging to the Indian troops was attacked with five rockets. UN Secretary General Ban Kimoon has urged to end the violence. He further blamed a “collapse in discipline” in units of Congo’s armed forces for the escalating looting and attacks on UN and associated personnel in North Kivu.

was found around two kilometres inland north of the town of Meulaboh in Aceh province, on Sumatra’s northern tip, where waves up to 35 metres above sea level were recorded in 2004. The Thai location was at Phra Thong Island, 124 kilometres north of the resort of Phuket, where the 2004 tsunami reached heights of up to 20 metres. The age of the sand sheets was derived from carbon-dating organic debris collected just below the deposit. The Sumatra sand sheet was dated to 12901400 AD, and its apparent counterpart in Thailand to 1300-1450 AD. The clear proximity in dating suggests both deposits were left by the last big forerunner to the 2004 tsunami. The Indonesian researchers found an older sand sheet, dated to 780-900 AD, but there was only sketchy evidence to match this in Thailand. The Thai team also found a sand sheet that was dated to around 2,200 years old. In a commentary, Norwegian geologist Stein Bondevik said it was vital to confirm what these studies indicated – that it may take some 600 years for stress to

Lalu promises job, the youth from Patna who compensation to was shot dead in an encounter with the police in a MumDev’s wife PATNA:RailwayMinister bai suburb while allegedly

Lalu Prasad on Thursday announced Rs3 lakh compensation and a job in the Railways for the widow of Dharam Dev, the migrant labourer from Uttar Pradesh who was lynched to death in a local train in Maharashtra. Lalu conveyed the decision on compensation and job to the dead man’s brother Brahmadev, to whom he spoke over phone this morning. Earlier in the day, Lalu along with Union Minister Akhilesh Prasad Singh and Patna Lok Sabha member Ram Kripal Yadav, visited the residence of Rahul Raj,

UNITED NATION, OCTOBER 30 (PTI): Strongly opposing unilateral measures by countries which impinge on the sovereignty of others, India has asked the United States to lift the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed on Cuba 46 years ago. Intervening in the General Assembly debate over a resolution asking Washington to lift the economic embargo, Indian delegate Rajeev Shukla criticised the American domestic laws which prohibit foreign companies as well as foreign subsidiaries of US companies from doing business with Cuba. The resolution, which is recommendatory in nature, has been routinely discussed and adopted by the 192-member Assembly for the past 17 years and ignored by the US. Domestic US laws like the Cuba Democracy Act of 1992 and the Helms-Burton Act of 1996 have enhanced the terri-

for church-rebuilding

BHUBANESWAR, OCTOBER 30(PTI): With the Supreme Court having directed the Orissa government to provide ‘reasonable’ assistance to churches damaged in the Kandhamal riots, the state government on Wednesday decided to formulate guidelines for it. “The government has to prepare a guideline to assist in repairing and rebuilding the religiuos places as such provisions are absent in the relief code,” Home Secretary T K Mishra told reporters after a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar. Despite the absence of such provisions, some measures would be taken following the October 22 Supreme Court ruling, the official said. Mishra said though the government had earlier announced Rs two lakh to each public institution damaged in the violence, it was yet to fix the

PARIS, OCTOBER 30 (AFP): A massive Indian Ocean tsunami, similar in size to the behemoth that claimed a quarter of a million lives in December 2004, smashed into Thailand and Indonesia around 600 years ago, scientists believe. The evidence comes from deposits of sand washed inland by colossal waves and preserved under layers of coastal peat, according to studies published in Thursday’s issue of Nature, the Londonbased science journal. The December 2004 tsunami was triggered by an earthquake of 9.2 magnitude that ripped open the Sunda Trench – the fault that zigzags up the eastern side of the Indian Ocean – along 1,500 kilometres. Around 220,000 people were killed in a dozen countries. The two teams pored over coastal areas in Indonesia and Thailand, seeking sheets of sand that had been deposited in past tsunamis but had been left undisturbed by wind, rivers, storms, animals or humans. They found the sedimentary treasure by drilling core samples in “swales,” or dips between beach ridges, that are filled with peaty marsh. The Indonesian site

Maharashtra. Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil had yesterday spoken to Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and expressed hope that the state government would act to check the violence.

trying to hijack a bus brandishing a gun. He assured all help to the bereaved family. The Railway Minister also slammed the reported remark of Maharashtra Home Minister RR Patil in the wake of the encounter that ‘those who use bullets will get bullets’ and said the slain youth was not a hardened criminal or a terrorist to have been gunned down. The police acted in undue haste in shooting him dead when the youth could have been persuaded to surrender, Lalu, who spent about half-an-hour with Rahul’s family, said.

India asks US to lift economic embargo on Cuba

Malegaon Blast: ATS questions Lt.-Col Purohit Orissa to devise guidelines

MUMBAI,OCTOBER30(AGENCIES): The officials of Maharashtra Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) on Thursday questioned a serving LieutenantColonel Purohit for his alleged links with the two retired Army officers, who were sent to a 14-day police custody in connection with the Malegaon blast case on Wednesday. The questioning by the ATS team took place in the Panchmarhi military campus after the officer was taken under Army’s detention. Purohit and his close friends are believed to be involved in motivating and training of youth, who were ready to take up revenge for the ‘Hindu cause’. The ATS team had reached Panchmarhi this morning after conducting raids at the officer’s residence in Jabalpur. Reports say that the ATS officials have approached the Army author-

attacks on north Indians in the state, with allies putting forth various demands including dismissal of the Congress-NCP government in the state, resignation of Bihar ministers from Union

“Squabble” led to UP migrant killing

70 Central paramilitary companies reach J&K for poll duty JAMMU, OCTOBER 30 (AGENCIES): The Centre has dispatched 70 companies of para-military forces for maintaining peace and security during the seven phased assembly elections in the state. Security officials here said Thursday that the Centre has so far sent 70 out of 425 sanctioned companies to J&K for holding peaceful elections during first phase of polling on November 17. The J&K government had demanded for 625 companies of security forces from the centre for poll duty but due to elections in other five states only 452 were sanctioned. Drawn from Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Special Services Bureau (SSB), Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Rapid Action

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build on the Sunda Trench to the point that a 2004-style quake is unleashed. Events occurring on such a slow scale had major implications for urban and coastal planning, he said. “Inhabitants might consider the benefits of living close to the sea as greater than the risks of a catastrophic tsunami that will not return for many generations,” he said. “Also, it does not make sense to invest in and maintain a warning system for devastating tsunamis if they recur so infrequently. But smaller tsunamis may well happen more often, and a warning system could save lives during such event.” The Aceh team, led by Katrin Monecke of the University of Pittsburgh, note that catastrophes which occur in the distant past are prone to fade from folk memory. In 2004, thousands of lives were saved on nearby Simeulue Island because the local population had been devastated by a tsunami in 1907, they note. Over several generations, parents taught their children to flee to high ground if they felt the ground shake, thus providing a “natural” tsunami warning system.

torial reach of the embargo, Shukla said adding that India supports categorical rejection of such laws by the international community. He regretted that Washington has not respected the repeated calls by the Assembly against imposition of laws and regulations with extraterritorial impact and all other forms of coercive economic measures. “Despite the repeated calls of the General Assembly, its resolutions remain unimplemented in contravention of world opinion,” he emphasised, adding that the the embargo, through its extra-territorial effects, is adversely affecting the Cuban people and the development efforts of the country. “Health care is particularly affected due to access controls on critical medical equipment, medicines, technologies and diagnostic aids, apart from enhanced cost of supplies,” he said.

Panel probing cash-for-vote scam concludes work, but divided NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 30 (PTI): The Parliamentary committee that went into the cash-for-vote scam concluded its task today amid signals that the panel was a divided lot with some members including that of the BJP planning to give dissenting notes. BJP deputy leader in the Lok Sabha V K Malhotra, who tried unsuccessfully to quit the panel at the last moment, said he would be giving a dissent note. Senior Congress MP V Kishore Chandra Deo, who heads the panel told reporters after its last sitting that some members wanted to give dissent notes and they have been given time upto November six to do so. Opposition parties including BJP, BSP and the CPI(M) and other Left parties have been critical of the way the government had secured the trust vote. He, however, declined to specify who were the members wanting to give dissenting note and was neither ready to share the conclusions of the report that was adopted by the Committee at its meeting today. His refrain was that “money trail” was not part of his job and his only task was whether the money was paid, as alleged by the three BJP members during the July 22 trust vote in the Manmohan Singh ministry. The Three BJP MPs Ashok Argal, Fagan Singh Kulaste and Mahavir Bhagora had displayed bundles of currency notes and named Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh and Congress leader Ahmed Patel behind the attempt to lure them to the ruling side. Singh and Patel had, however, denied the charge.

‘Divisive powers trying to halt country’s progress’ NANDED, OCTOBER 30 (PTI): In the backdrop of attacks on north Indians in Maharashtra and series of bomb blasts across the country, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday warned that national unity and integrity is under threat from “divisive” forces and terrorism, which needed to be combated collectively. Addressing a function here as part of Guru-ta-Gaddi tercentenary celebrations of Sikhs, he said there are forces who want people to fight among themselves. “The country is progressing rapidly. But there are divisive powers who want to break this country and halt its progress,” he said. “There are forces of terror and there are forces who want people to fight with each other. We have to combat all such forces collectively and effectively and protect the unity and integrity of our nation,” Singh said. Though he did not refer to any particular incident, the comment assumes significance as it comes in the backdrop of attacks against north Indians in Maharashtra which has triggered angry reactions in Bihar. Singh’s comment also significantly came on a day when Assam was rocked by serial blasts. He underlined that there was a need to think about how to move the nation ahead. “On this auspicious occasion, we must think how to move the country and society ahead. Come let’s move ahead together shoulder-toshoulder,” Singh said. Highlighting the role played by Sikhs in nation building, the prime minister appealed to the Khalsa Panth to do its best for the development of the country.

INTERNATIONAL

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Friday 31 October 2008

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Race to White House Too Close To Call ORLANDO, OCTOBER 30 (AFP): Democrat Barack Obama hit White House rival John McCain with a primetime TV onslaught as he vied to clinch victory in battleground states in the climactic run-up to next Tuesday’s vote. After his 30-minute appeal on national television late Wednesday, which cost at least three million dollars to air, Obama held a midnight rally near here with former president Bill Clinton in the latest burial of Democratic hatchets. Obama beat Clinton’s wife Hillary to the Democratic nomination, but the ex-president delivered a fulsome endorsement at his first joint campaign event with the party’s 2008 champion in front of 35,000 supporters in Kissimmee. “The presidential campaign is the greatest job interview in the world. And on Tuesday, you get to make the hire,” Clinton said, contrasting the economic prosperity of his own 1990s tenure to the crisis now sweeping the nation. “This is not a close question. If you make the decision based on who can best get us out of the ditch... I think it’s clear the next president should be, and with your help will be, Senator Barack Obama,” he said. Obama is stepping up the pace on the final approach to the most consequential election in a generation, as the United States grapples with the financial hurricane and two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Democratic frontrunner was to hit three states Thursday, departing Florida after a morning rally for more events in the raging battlegrounds of Virginia and Missouri. McCain was conducting a bus tour of Ohio. Pursuing his quest to

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., left, and former President Bill Clinton wave to supporters at a rally in Kissimmee, Fla., Wednesday, October 29.(AP Photo)

be elected America’s first black president, Obama ended his special broadcast with a live cut to the thumping climax of a rally attended by 20,000 supporters in Sunrise, Florida late Wednesday. The ad, which aired on three networks before the decisive World Series baseball game, featured patri-

otic tropes, intensely personal moments and stories of real Americans struggling to make ends meet. The 47year-old Democrat, promoted in the broadcast as a loving family man who overcame hardship to reach the pinnacle of politics, pledged to remake the American Dream for all and safeguard the na-

tion from foreign threats. “We’ve seen over the last eight years how decisions by a president can have a profound effect on the course of history -- and on American lives,” he said intently to the camera. “This election is a defining moment. The chance for our leaders to meet the demands of these

challenging times and keep faith with our people.” McCain, 72, was unimpressed earlier Wednesday as he also hit the campaign trail in Florida -- the biggest of all the battleground states where the November 4 election will be won and lost. “When you’re watching this gauzy, feel-good com-

mercial, just remember that it was paid for with broken promises,” he said, attacking Obama’s decision to opt out of public campaign financing. The Arizona senator renewed his attacks on Obama’s past links to 1960s radical William Ayers and lambasted his opponent’s credentials to be command-

er-in-chief. “With terrorists still plotting new strikes across the world, millions of innocent lives are still at stake, including American lives,” he said. “The question is whether this is a man who has what it takes to protect America from Osama bin Laden, Al-Qaeda, and other grave

threats in the world,” McCain said. “And he has given you no reason to answer in the affirmative.” Whether the Republican’s tactics are successful remain to be seen. Polls have repeatedly shown that the economy rather than national security remains the defining issue of the campaign. A poll from Quinnipiac University Wednesday showed Obama with a still sizeable, albeit slightly narrower lead in Ohio and Pennsylvania but with Florida now too close to call. Another poll from Rasmussen meanwhile showed McCain closing to within three points of Obama nationwide for the first time in more than month, trailing 47 percent to 50 percent. But a survey of toss-up states by CNN and Time had Obama expanding his lead in Colorado and holding steady margins in Florida and Virginia, which last voted for a Democratic White House hopeful all the way back in 1964. Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin hinted in an interview with ABC News to be broadcast Thursday that she will remain a key player in US politics regardless of who gets elected president next week, and may even run in the 2012 election. A transcript of the interview was made public late Wednesday. “I’m not doing this for naught,” Palin said, when asked if all the mudslinging in the current campaign made her long for a return to the politics of Alaska, where she is governor. “I think that, if I were to give up and wave a white flag of surrender against some of the political shots that we’ve taken, that would bring this whole” endeavor to nothing, she said.

AIDS PATIENTS DYING Congo violence seen creating catastrophe because of "tragic stigma"

BEIJING, OCTOBER 30 (REUTERS): Chinese AIDS victims are dying needlessly because a "tragic stigma" prevents them seeking help in a country where one fifth of people think the disease can be passed on by sharing a toilet, a top activist said on Thursday. The government has promised to hand out free, Chinese-made drugs to anyone infected with the disease and the country's leaders have met those living with HIV/ AIDS but there is still widespread ignorance about how it is spread. Two thirds of the 6,000 people questioned for a recent survey of six cities said they would be unwilling to live with an infected person, and a fifth said they would be unwilling to care even for a relative with the illness. Nearly 10 percent even thought working in a room with an infected person would be enough to pass on HIV, according to the report commissioned by UNAIDS and partners. "Everywhere I have gone... they have reported to me the high levels of stigma, ostracism and discrimination that people with HIV/AIDS expe-

A nurse comforts a three-year-old patient in the HIVAIDS ward of the Beijing YouAn Hospital

rience in China," said Edwin Cameron, a South African Supreme Court judge who is HIV positive. "This is a tragedy because the Chinese government has a very good treatment programme," he added during a visit to China to help raise awareness. Cameron said that while 35,000 to 40,000 people with AIDS were on treatment, more than double that number needed drugs and were scared to be tested, or even to pick up the results of blood tests because of the result of being labelled HIV positive. "People are sick and dying of

AIDS and all of it is unnecessary," he said. Last year China officially had 700,000 people living with HIV/AIDS and expected 50,000 new infections this year, It is officially illegal to discriminate against those with the disease but ignorance means signs banning victims from places like gyms and bathhouses are common and blood tests sometimes required for jobs or hospital operations. The government has also sent out mixed messages, with sporadic crackdowns on domestic activists and visa bans on most foreigners infected with the disease.

UNITED NATIONS, OCTOBER 30 (REUTERS): Escalating violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is creating a humanitarian catastrophe and could have tragic consequences for the entire region, U.N. SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon said on Wednesday. Rebels loyal to renegade General Laurent Nkunda advanced on the eastern city of Goma, scattering residents and threatening to overwhelm a 17,000-strong U.N. force, known as MONUC, trying to halt a return to all-out war. Thousands of civilians and hundreds of Congolese government soldiers poured into Goma. In a statement read by U.N. spokeswoman Marie Okabe, Ban said "the intensification and expansion of the conflict is creating a humanitarian crisis of catastrophic dimensions and threatens dire consequences on a regional scale." She said Ban urged "all parties to immediately cease hostilities and to respect international humanitarian law." "He deplores the use of civilians as human shields and their deliberate targeting by belligerents," Okabe said. Shortly after Ban's statement, a spokesman for Nkunda loyalists said the CNDP rebels had

declared a cease-fire. The U.N. Security Council discussed the issue for the second day in a row and unanimously adopted a non-binding statement that "condemns the recent CNDP offensive ... and demands that it bring its operations to an end." The Security Council statement also called on the governments of Congo and neighbouring Rwanda "to take concrete steps to defuse tensions and to restore stability in the region." It also welcomed Nkunda's cease-fire and urged him to rejoin the peace process. Several council diplomats told Reuters that Rwanda was clearly providing support to Nkunda's CNDP but Rwanda's U.N. Ambassador Joseph Nsengimana denied the allegation. "It is not true," he told Reuters. "There is no proof." The council took no action on a request from MONUC chief Alan Doss for a temporary increase in his force by roughly 2,000 personnel -- two battalions of soldiers, two companies of special forces and one police unit. The statement said the council "duly notes" the request. British Ambassador John Sawers told reporters the request for additional troops would be discussed in the

A man carries his son as thousands of displaced people stream into Goma in eastern Congo, Wednesday, October 29. Thousands of refugees started streaming into the eastern provincial capital of Goma in the afternoon, impeded by army tanks, trucks and jeeps pulling back from the battle front. (AP Photo)

coming weeks, above all by the European Union. In the short term, he said MONUC would be redeploying peacekeepers to reinforce the roughly 800 MONUC troops now in Goma. In an attempt to mediate the crisis on Congo's border with Rwanda, Okabe said Ban was dispatching two envoys to meet the governments -- deputy U.N. peacekeeping chief Edmond Mulet to Congo and U.N. special envoy to Zim-

babwe Haile Menkerios to Rwanda. Ban's decision to send Menkerios to Kigali reflects a growing concern among U.N. officials that Rwanda may be providing support to Nkunda, as Congo has alleged for weeks. Okabe said both sides in the fighting were preventing U.N. peacekeepers from evacuating civilians. Among those needing evacuation were "humanitarian workers, including a double amputee nun who has

been injured in the fighting," she said. "I cannot emphasise how desperate the situation on the ground is right now," she said. The U.N. refugee agency UNHCR said up to 45,000 uprooted people had left camps for the displaced and headed to Goma on Wednesday. The agency also said more than 1,000 villagers fled to neighbouring Uganda, with many more expected to follow.

Cold and hungry, quake children start to sicken

KAN BANGLA, OCTOBER 30 (AFP): Veiled mothers huddled with feverish babies in ruined Pakistani villages Thursday, as sickness started to bite among earthquake survivors who spent a freezing night beneath open skies. In crumbled settlements that no aid workers had reached more than a day after the powerful quake that killed at least 215 people, shivering residents begged for shelter, food, medicine -or just any help at all. “We had so few blankets to cover ourselves during the night that we only had one between six children,” farmer Shahnawaz Khan told an AFP reporter who reached the remote southwestern village of Kan Bangla. “The cold was so severe that some of our children have fallen ill,” he said, pointing to some wailing infants as their mothers A Pakistani woman cries on the debris of her house destroyed during an earthquake in tried to provide them with Ziarat, about 130 kilometers south of Quetta, Pakistan Thursday, October 30. Rescue warmth and comfort. Khan said some 20 peoworkers searched Thursday through the rubble of villages destroyed by a powerful earthquake in southwestern Pakistan that killed at least 170 people. (AP Photo) ple died when their mud-

brick, straw-roofed homes collapsed in the 6.4-magnitude quake, but said they had not had any contact from Pakistani authorities or aid groups. The village, which lies about 35 kilometres from the historic hill town of Ziarat, is one of a cluster in impoverished Baluchistan province that were worst affected by the quake. Jaan Baba, an injured elderly man, showed makeshift tents that villagers had constructed with whatever they could scavenge from the shells of their houses. His own house was reduced to a pile of rubble. “Some of the children do not even have sweaters or shoes and they are very gravely exposed to the weather,” he told AFP. “Many of our villagers slept in the dry riverbed across the road. No one from the government or any rescue agencies have come to help us,” Baba said. “We need shelter, blankets, food and medical help as soon as possible.”

Most of the inhabitants eke out a living by working at apple farms for which Ziarat and its surrounding villages are famed in Pakistan, but Baba said they would now be busy just trying to survive. In Kawaz, another badly hit village, survivors huddled around weak campfires. “It was so cold at night we thought we would freeze,” villager Abdul Qadeer told AFP. “We have been waiting for help but we have no tent, no food, no medicine for my children.” Fears of further aftershocks kept many people in the open overnight even when their houses had not collapsed. A 6.2-magnitude tremor rocked Baluchistan 13 hours after the initial, pre-dawn quake. The mayor of Ziarat district hit out at the government for failing to help survivors. “I am not satisfied with this operation,” Dilawar Kakar told AFP. “The help we expected from provincial and federal government, we are not getting.

It is very slow.” Around 8,000 houses were completely destroyed and another 45,000 were damaged and are at risk of collapsing in aftershocks, he said. Most of the 30,000 inhabitants of Ziarat itself were also defying the cold and sleeping outside. “I have got my family in this open playground to sleep because you never know when the earthquake could return,” said Irshad Ahmed, a government official. “The meagre amounts of clothing that most of these people had are now buried in the rubble. What we urgently need are warm clothes, tents and food,” mayor Kakar added. The army said rescue teams had reached some affected areas late Wednesday. “We reached here last night and got tents, blankets, jackets and foods for the victims,” Captain Mohammad Barakullah said in Ziarat. He said they had initial supplies of 1,500 tents, 2,000 blankets

and 300 bags of food for distribution, adding: “More aid is forthcoming.” The World Health Organisation also said it was sending enough medical aid and supplies for 50,000 people. But as with the 2005 earthquake that killed 73,000 people in northern Pakistan, it was hardline Islamist groups, some with militant links, that were among the first on the scene. One of the groups, Jamaat-ud-Dawa, has been listed by the US as a “terrorist organisation” because it is the political wing of the outlawed Kashmiri militant group Laskhar-eTaiba. Its officials were handing out blankets, food, milk and biscuits in the area as early as Wednesday night. “We do not believe in politics but to serve the people when they need it the most,” Mohammad Qasim, a local Jamaatud-Dawa official told AFP. “We will also send tents to the people soon.”

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Friday 31 October 2008

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ARGENTINA FACE JOURNEY

into the unknown with Maradona BUENOS AIRES, OCTOBER 30 (REUTERS): Argentina FA president Julio Grondona has concentrated on bringing stability and calm to the national side in his 29 years at the helm, but is set to end his traditional conservatism by appointing Diego Maradona as coach. While Argentina's neighbours have fired coaches left, right and centre, all but one of those appointed by Grondona has completed the four-year cycle ending at the World Cup and some have lasted longer. The coaching staff would also include Carlos Bilardo, coach from 1983 to 1990, as general manager, and possibly former defender Jose Luis Brown and midfielder Sergio Batista in a move reuniting members of Argentina's last World Cup-winning team in 1986. Maradona and Bilardo met Grondona on Tuesday to discuss their project and a decision is expected within the next week. Grondona, who has had public spats with Maradona in the past, denied it was a spur of the moment idea and said that he had wanted to appoint Maradona earlier but could not because of the former number 10's personal difficulties. "I have wanted Maradona to be coach of the national team since 1979," said Grondona in a radio interview on Wednesday. Maradona's eventual appointment would he a huge personal achievement for a man who spent 10 days in intensive care in 2004 with respiratory problems, has also been hospitalised with alcohol-induced liver problems and undergone an operation for obesity. But it would send the Argentine team, who are in a far from comfortable position in the World Cup qualifiers, on a journey into the unknown. Maradona is held in awe by the current generation of Argentine players and his commitment to the light blue and white shirt is unquestioned. He will go to any lengths

Maradona laughs off inexperience claims BUENOS AIRES, OCTOBER 30 (REUTERS): Diego Maradona, expected to be named Argentina coach in the next few days, said he laughed off suggestions he was too inexperienced for the job. One of the game's greatest players, and also one of its most troubled and volatile, Maradona is expected to get the job despite having had only two short coaching stints in the mid-1990s totalling 23 games. "People have spoken a lot about experience but I have had 20 years with the Argentina national side," said Maradona, who captained his country to World Cup victory in 1986 but was kicked out of the finals in 1994 after failing a doping test. "So it makes me laugh when they say I'm inexperienced," added Maradona, who since retiring has fought off drug addictio n, alcohol-related liver disease and obesity and at one stage four years ago spent 10 days in intensive care. "Football hasn't changed," he added, speaking to reporters outside his Buenos Aires home. "I don't think there's anything there that can surprise me." Maradona added that the presence of World Cup-winning coach Carlos Bilardo as general manager would compensate for any inexperience. "I have Bilardo at my side and he has as much experience as anyone," Maradona said. "I think they have given this to me at the right moment," he added when asked if he was now more mature. Maradona played down comparisons with former Brazil captain Dunga, who was appointed coach of his country's national team after the 2006 World Cup despite having no previous experience. Dunga, a hard-tackling midfielder, won the Copa America last year but has been fiercely criticised for his team's recent displays. "I didn't play like Dunga -- he kicked, I didn't," said Maradona. Argentina's Diego Maradona talks to reporters while leaving his house in Buenos Aires' outskirts, Wednesday, October 29. Julio Grondona, head of the Argentine Football Association, asked Tuesday Maradona and Argentine coach Carlos Bilardo to lead Argentina's national soccer team. (AP Photo)

to win for his country, as proved by his notorious Hand of God goal against England in 1986. Argentina have looked lethargic in recent internationals, at one stage drawing six in a row this year, and his presence would certainly galvanise the team. But he is also impulsive, unpredictable and temperamental and his coaching experience runs to a total of 23 games with modest provincial club Deportivo Mandiyu and then Racing Club, both in the mid 1990s. There is no telling how he may react, for example, if a refereeing decision goes against his team, and his

presence could attract unwelcome attention when they travel abroad for World Cup qualifiers. Maradona's presence, though, would significantly increase Argentina's pulling power at friendly internationals, a lucrative market for South American national sides. Argentina still have eight World Cup qualifiers to play and face a bumpy ride. Only four of the 10 teams in the South American group qualify for South Africa and Argentina are third, ahead of Chile only on goal difference and seven behind leaders Paraguay. There are plenty of pitfalls on the way with a match at

home to Brazil, plus visits to high-altitude Bolivia and Ecuador as well as neighbours and bitter rivals Uruguay. Argentine media rushed to declare Maradona coach on Tuesday afternoon even before any official annoucement had been made. This enthusiasm does not appear to be shared by the public. Online polls conducted by the daily newspapers La Nacion and Clarin put the disapproval rates at 72.3 and 79.3 percent respectively. "Maybe he's risking too much, as always in his life," wrote Daniel Arcucci, a columnist for La Nacion. "Even his status as a myth."

Lionel Messi plays down fears over Maradona

It is all a far cry from his early days with Sauber and, more recently, as a supporting act for Michael Schumacher and Raikkonen at Ferrari. Massa's talents have always been evident, but so too have his flaws. Former Ferrari driver Jean Alesi tipped the Brazilian for greatness when he first saw him drive a Formula One car, maybe because the fast and furious Frenchman saw a kindred spirit."I think he's a future champion," Alesi said before Massa's race debut with Sauber as a 20-year-old in 2002. "I've watched him testing... and he's mad, fast and clever." As Sauber soon discovered, he was also expensively crash-happy. Hired to replace Raikkonen, Massa failed to replicate the Finn's impressive debut season and was dropped after a year.

Managed by Nicolas Todt, son of then Ferrari team boss Jean, Massa was rescued by the Italian team who appointed him test driver for 2003. At Maranello, the Brazilian learned his craft from the master -- seven times world champion Schumacher -- in a year that he has likened to being at university. The close relationship forged with the German continues to this day. He returned to Ferrari-powered Sauber in 2004 and when Ferrari's Brazilian Rubens Barrichello moved to Honda at the end of 2005, it was Massa who was given a one-year contract to replace his compatriot as Schumacher's loyal number two. With Raikkonen's move to Ferrari from McLaren an open secret and Schumacher still undecided about retire-

ment, Massa was still in danger of being squeezed out after just one season with the champions. Schumacher's departure ensured he stayed in 2007 but even then speculation about Massa's future refused to go away after double world champion Fernando Alonso fell out with McLaren. Massa has never wavered, answering those who dismissed him as championship material by going faster than ever. He has won five races this season, adding to five from previous seasons, and notched up a string of pole positions. It has not all been plain sailing, with the Brazilian failing to score in the first two races of 2008, but he has enjoyed changing perceptions. "People always put me completely out of the game. Nobody expects

you to do a good job and then you do a better job than everyone thinks and it's even nicer," he said recently. "I'm sure if I started my career as a Ferrari test driver my reputation would have been completely different. Because of the first year, which was bad, my reputation was bad for so many years. "I made some good results, scored some good points and made some good races," he said of that first year. "But I made some very bad races as well. That was not a great thing for my image and it took very long to recover and change my image in Formula One. But, fortunately, I think we changed it." Sao Paulo is where Senna was born and buried but Massa was much more of a Schumacher fan as a youngster.

LONDON, OCTOBER 30 (REUTERS): An inexplicable handball by Portsmouth's Papa Bouba Diop enabled Steven Gerrard to score a late penalty to earn a 1-0 home win that maintained Liverpool's threepoint Premier League lead on Wednesday. Second-placed Chelsea, beaten at home by Liverpool at the weekend, recovered well with a convincing 3-0 victory at Hull City highlighted by a superb Frank Lampard chip. There was an even better goal at the Emirates as David Bentley lashed in a dipping volley from 35 metres to put bottom club Tottenham Hotspur ahead and they later snatched a point with an injury-time equaliser by Aaron Lennon in a pulsating 4-4 draw after Arsenal had twice led by two goals.

Liverpool's Steven Gerrard, center, scores a goal from the penalty spot during their English Premier League soccer match against Portsmouth at AnďŹ eld Stadium, Liverpool, England, Wednesday, October 29. (AP Photo)

LONDON, OCTOBER 30 (REUTERS): Tottenham Hotspur continued their revival under Harry Redknapp, coming from 4-2 down in the 89th minute to snatch a 4-4 draw at Arsenal in a pulsating north London derby on Wednesday. Spurs, bottom of the Premier League despite beating Bolton Wanderers in new manager Redknapp's first game on Sunday, led with a stunning David Bentley volley but needed late goals by Jermaine Jenas and Aaron Lennon to claim an unlikely point. An inexplicable handball by Portsmouth's Papa Bouba Diop enabled Steven Gerrard to score a late penalty to earn a 1-0 home win that maintained Liverpool's three-point lead. Second-placed Chelsea, beaten at home by Liverpool at the weekend, recovered well with a convincing 3-0 victory at Hull City highlighted Arsenal's goalkeeper Almunia fails to stop a shot from Tottenham Hotspur's David Bentley, by a superb Frank Lampard not in picture, for the opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match at the goal. Spurs got off to a stunEmirates Stadium, London, Wednesday October 29. (AP Photo) ning start when Arsenal old

boy Bentley teed up and crashed home a dipping 40metre effort. However, Arsenal soon took charge with headers by centre backs Mikael Silvestre and William Gallas either side of halftime and a third by Emmanuel Adebayor. Darren Bent made it 3-2 but when Robin van Persie banged in Arsenal's fourth after 68 minutes it looked all over. Jenas, though, struck in the 89th and, after a Luka Modric volley came back off the post, substitute Lennon swept home the equaliser four minutes into stoppage time. "It was amazing, a throwback to the old days," Redknapp told Sky Sports television. "It's been a good week so far after a good win on Sunday," said Redknapp, who took over from Juande Ramos at the weekend. Spurs remain bottom on six points but the whole mood around the club has changed in a matter of days. "There are some good players here but certain parts of our game lets us down," said

former Portsmouth manager Redknapp. "The dressing room is buzzing and we go into Saturday's game against Liverpool with some confidence." Bentley said: "We showed character and spirit, a lot of people have questioned that over our recent games but we showed there that we are willing to fight for every point. "Certain things have gone on, we've sorted them out now and are all pulling in the right direction." Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger sank to his knees as Lennon's goal hit the net. Wenger said: "I'm angry because we produced an outstanding performance but got the minimum result. We were at a level above Tottenham but got only one point. "They were there for the taking, could have got five or six but we tried to keep the ball negatively and paid for it. "The team has outstanding potential but we are immature and need to be guarded in the decisive moments."

SAO PAULO, OCTOBER 30 (REUTERS): Lewis Hamilton has always been supremely confident, a young man so unshakeable in his self-belief that some have accused him of arrogance. Last month, he was the best in the business and in Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix he can hand over the proof by becoming Formula One's youngest champion. There have been doubters since the Briton made a sensational debut last year, reeling off nine successive podiums only to blow his chance of becoming the first rookie champion in the final two races. After Hamilton flopped from pole position in Japan this month in a moment of first-corner madness, there were those who saw history repeating itself and detected an inner fragility behind the polished facade. Questions were raised about whether he could see the bigger picture, was susceptible to pressure and mentally equipped to

MILAN, OCTOBER 30 (REUTERS): Argentina forward Lionel Messi has said he is unperturbed by Diego Maradona's possible appointment as Argentina coach despite the soccer great accusing him of selfish play in the past. Maradona, who captained his country to World Cup glory in 1986, said on Tuesday he was on the verge of being named national coach. "They were things that were said on the spur of the moment. I know that Diego appreciates me and I don't hold a grudge," Barcelo-

na's Messi told Wednesday's Gazzetta dello Sport. "There will be no problem. He is a great. I admire him for what he has given to Argentinian soccer. I am optimistic. The generation that won the Beijing Olympics is up and coming. "If we had been more fortunate in the 2006 World Cup quarter-final with Germany, we would have won. Argentina have missed out in the World Cup for too long." Italy coach Marcello Lippi, who lifted the 2006 World Cup, welcomed the poten-

tial appointment of one of soccer's most controversial figures. "His charisma will make the players follow him 100 percent. They will listen to him like an oracle," he told Italian media. Maradona's daughter is having a baby with Argentina's Atletico Madrid forward Sergio Aguero. Messi and Aguero have both been talked up as the new Maradona with the pair in the running for the Ballon d'Or -- the former European footballer of the year award. "I don't know what I would give to be the first Argentinan

to win it," Messi said before suggesting who should win. "Aguero. But Torres and Xavi deserve it too. From Cristiano Ronaldo to Kaka, from Ibrahimovic to Rooney, everyone is in the running. (Barcelona team mate Andres) Iniesta is missing and I don't understand why. He is a genius." Messi's respect for Spain striker Fernando Torres extends to his club side Liverpool, who the Argentine thinks are Barcelona's big rivals in the Champions League this term. "If I had to choose it would be Liverpool," he said.

Felipe Massa not to be underestimated Gerrard penalty keeps Liverpool clear

SAOPAULO,OCTOBER30 (REUTERS): Felipe Massa can go from being one of Formula One's more underrated drivers to world champion against the odds in his home Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday. Only this season has the 27-year-old Ferrari driver, who would be Brazil's first world champion since the late Ayrton Senna in 1991, managed to emerge as a genuine contender. Even if the seven points separating him from McLaren's championship leader Lewis Hamilton prove a gap too far at Interlagos, Massa can still end the season as the driver with most race wins. He has already eclipsed team mate and 2007 champion Kimi Raikkonen to emerge as Ferrari's leading driver with a contract to the end of 2010.

ready Late Spurs goals stun Arsenal in draw Hamilton to break boundaries

race strategically. Attacked on all sides by rivals criticising his driving, and with former world champions urging him to calm down, Hamilton showed at Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix he was determined to become Britain's first champion since Damon Hill in 1996. He took pole position, set the fastest lap and won with ease to head for Brazil with a seven-point cushion over Ferrari's Felipe Massa. Sao Paulo, the birth and final resting place of his hero and triple champion Ayrton Senna, would be a fitting backdrop to Hamilton's coronation. Alonso was the obvious threat but it was Raikkonen who snatched the crown by a single point after Hamilton struggled to seventh place. This year he has sounded more humble. "I would never say I was better than anyone else. But I am a Formula One driver and all of us have to believe in ourselves to get to where we are," said Hamilton before the China race.

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Ent/Tabloid

11 William & Harry take inspiration from 007 PRIME TIME

The Morung Express

n their slick dinner jackets Princes William and Harry gave Bond a run for his money at the world premiere of Quantum of Solace last night. The brothers, who were hosting their first Royal premiere, were welcomed by 3,000 screaming fans who had braved arctic temperatures to pack into Leicester Square. Walking side-by-side William and Harry greeted the celebrities and actors of the film. But they also took time to welcome 200 real-life action heroes - soldiers who lined the red carpet. They were there because William and Harry had chosen two charities to benefit from ticket sales to the starstudded event - Help for Heroes and the Royal British Legion. Inside the cinema, the Princes spent almost half an hour greeting cast and crew. Prince William gives a diffident smile as the waiting girls cheer him and snap photos on their mobile phones During the meet-andgreet Arterton was seen clearly enjoying her time with the

Princes. It took 20 minutes before Prince Harry reached her, and he joked: 'What took us so long to get down this end?' Responding to a compliment from Prince William, Arterton said: 'That's great, that's very touching.' Afterwards Bond girl Gem-

ma Arterton said: 'I had a nice chat. They are lovely guys, really charismatic and polite. We had a giggle.' James Bond actor Daniel Craig, who sliced off one of his fingertips during filming, had his arm in a sling after recent plastic surgery on

the injury. Craig, who earlier in the evening had shaken hands with people using his left hand, removed his discreet sling to chat with the Princes. He was asked how the injury was doing and said doctors had 'stitched it back up' and it was on the mend.

Accompanying the 40-yearold was his very own Bond girl, long-term girlfriend Satsuki Mitchell, who dazzled in a floor-length backless sparkling purple gown. After Craig wowed critics and audiences with his Bond debut in Casino Royale two years

Friday

31 October 2008

ago, Quantum of Solace is expected to eclipse its global box office take of $594 million. In Quantum of Solace Bond crosses Europe and South America to discover why the woman he loved betrayed him before she died. He also battles to stop evil eco-terrorist Dominic Greene installing an exiled general in what is supposed to be Bolivia in exchange for land containing huge natural resources. In a complex web of deceit and diplomacy, the secret agent falls foul both of his enemy and British and U.S. intelligence as his mission becomes intensely personal. 'They think he's gone off course and that he's a loose cannon and his emotions have taken over, and that is a bit more complicated in the story,' Craig said in a recent interview to promote the film. For German-Swiss director Marc Forster, Bond is the biggest movie he has taken on to date. He has won acclaim for Monster's Ball in 2001 and Finding Neverland, a biopic of Peter Pan author J.M. Barrie starring Johnny Depp.

‘Chemotherapy is hell on wheels’

Zuma Rosssdale is a Cutie Pie

uma Nesta Rossdale, the 2-month-old son of rocker couple Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale., carried by mom Gwen at a library in Beverly Hills on Wednesday morning. Zuma was reportedly named after Zuma Beach in Malibu. And Nesta was Bob Marley’s first name before he officially switched it with his middle name, Robert.

ancer-stricken movie star Patrick Swayze has described chemotherapy as 'hell on wheels'. In his first interview since returning to acting following his January diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, the "Dirty Dancing" actor said: 'I'm still fine to work, I haven't changed - oh, I have changed, what am I saying? 'It's a battle zone I go through. Chemo, no matter how you cut it, is hell on wheels. Despite his traumas, Swayze is currently working 12-hour days filming cop drama The Beast and is halfway through the series' 12-episode order. Swayze, 56, has recently managed to put on more than a stone in weight by drinking muscle-building milkshakes. And amid his determined fight back to health, he's missed only a day and a half of filming so far. Swayze recalled his first feelings of sickness while filming last December. He revealed he thought it was a minor but persistent case of indigestion. "Then all of a sudden real symptoms start showing up," he said. "You see it in the mirror and you go: 'O.K., better go get checked out.' " Doctors are optimistic about his recovery. 'His scans have been clean and clear. But they always couch things in caution,' said Zack Van Amburg, co-president of Sony's television studio. They tell us things like: 'He

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1:30 - Us Pga Tournament Ginn Classic - Day 1; 3:30 Indian League: Mb V Keb; 5:30 - European Tour Weekly; 6:00 - Inside The Pga Tour 2008; 6:30 - Great Centuries :- Jacques Kallis ; 7:00 - Wwe: Raw; 9:00 - Icl Hls - Delhi V Mumbai; 10:00 - Dutch Football; 12:00 - Scottish League; 14:00 - Inside The Pga Tour 2008; 14:30 - Icl Hls - Delhi V Mumbai; 15:30 - Wwe: Ecw; 16:30 - Wwe: Smackdown; 18:30 - Icl 20-20 - Preview: Chandigarh V Dhaka; 19:30 - Icl 2020: Chandigarh V Dhaka; 22:30 - Icl 20-20 - Review: Chandigarh V Dhaka; 23:00 - Sportsnight; 23:30 - Wwe: Ecw

should be fit to work, as far as we can tell today. They have never said he's cured.' One US report claims the actor collapsed at his rented Chica-

go home after a long day on set. A source told the National Enquirer: 'He had a fever and collapsed. Afterward, he was bedridden for the next day.'

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04:35 - Thank You For Smoking; 06:10 - Vip Access; 06:40 - Beautiful Girls; 08:55 - Just My Luck; 11:00 Penguins A Love Story; 12:50 - The Invisible; 14:55 - Rambo: First Blood Part Ii; 16:55 - Phat Girlz; 18:55 - Sunshine; 21:00 Night At The Museum; 23:10 - Scoop

efore surprising Clint Eastwood this week at the Hollywood Film Festival Awards Gala, Angelina Jolie traveled to the other side of the world for her first trip to wartorn Afghanistan.Jolie, a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Refugee Agency, met refugees who have returned to their post-Taliban homeland to rebuild their lives after fleeing in 2001. She also visited projects by Afghan Hands, an organization helping women and children, inspired by her work with refugees. "After seeing real suffering," she tells PEOPLE, "you never complain anymore." What's the first thing she did after returning home? "Hug the kids."

atin pop star Shakira, showing she can move more than her hips, will lobby Latin American presidents this week to start a regional project to pump money into children's health and education. The singer will address a summit in El Salvador of Ibero-American leaders, including the presidents of Brazil and her native Colombia, over the need to feed and educate poor children, especially amid a global economic slowdown. "There are difficult times coming in Latin America. Thousands and thousands of children will die if governments do not organise ways to distribute food during this crisis," Shakira told Reuters. "I grew up in the developing world and I have witnessed the lack of opportunities that children have to live with," she added, speaking by telephone from Miami. "In a country like mine, when a child is born poor, people die poor. But I'm fascinated by the fact that through education you can transform lives, you can end this cycle of poverty." Some 35 million children live in poverty in Latin America with little or no access to proper food and education, Shakira said. Investing in a year of primary education can increase a person's adult income by up to 20 percent, she added. Shakira's hip-swivelling dances and catchy ballads have earned her a huge global following and a string of Grammy awards. She began getting into social issues just a few years into her pop career, starting a Colombian children's charity called the Pies Descalzos (Bare Feet) Foundation in 1997, named after her breakthrough hit album released a year before. While celebrities like Bono and Angelina Jolie have focussed on Africa, Shakira uses her fame to make headlines on Latin America, where stubbornly high poverty levels can get overlooked because of healthier overall economic indicators. Shakira helped launch the Fundacion ALAS (Latin America in Solidarity Action), which is behind the new initiative, and has lobbied Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the U.S. Congress on the need to educate children in poor countries. "My heart is committed to this cause and it has been there for a long time, since I was 18," said Shakira, now 31, who has sold some 50 million albums around the world. "I like to think that I can use my public profile to bring attention to more important issues than my own." Her new project will seek funding from organizations like the World Bank and would monitor governments' efforts closely, although the golden-tressed singer regretted she would not have time to get involved in inspection efforts on the ground.

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 - The Simpsons; 22:00 - Blood Ties; 23:00 - The Unit

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

Amy faces Jolie Sees 'Real Suffering' in losing her voice Afghanistan

Shakira to lobby on child welfare

Dimapur

06:00 - Paprika; 07:45 - Dreamcatcher; 10:30 - Look Who’s Talking Too; 12:00 - The Tailor Of Panama; 14:15 - The Associate; 16:30 - Making Superman: Filming The Legend; 17:15 - The Amazing Panda Adventure; 19:00 - Failure To Launch; 21:00 - Mars Attacks!; 23:15 - Aeon Flux 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; 08:30 - Jai Jai Tridev; 09:00 - Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 200 - 9; 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 200 - 9; 23:30 - Kahani Ab Tak; 23:55 - Exposure Ek Nazar 06:00 - Adventures Of The Ladies Tailor; 06:30 - Feast India; 07:00 - Luxury Yachts ; 08:00 - 100 - 0 Places To See Before You Die ; 09:00 - Dream Hotels; 09:30 - Finest Hotels In The World ; 10:00 - A Makeover Story ; 10:30 - Big Boutique; 11:00 - Superhomes 2; 11:30 Amazing Vacation Homes; 12:00 - Bangla Bangers; 13:00 Nigella Express ; 13:30 - Madhur Jaffrey’s Flavours Of India ; 14:00 - Indian Rendezvous ; 14:30 - Finest Hotels In The World ; 15:00 - Seven Wonders ; 16:00 - Florida’s Best Hotels THis Programme Has A Pg Certiﬁcate; 17:00 - Dream Hotels; 17:30 - Feast Bazaar Year 2006; 18:00 - Vegas Bikefest; 19:00 - 100 - 0 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 - Passport To Europe With Samantha Brown; 23:00 - A Model Life With Petra Nemcova

roubled singer Amy Winehouse now faces losing the most important asset of her life – her voice. Winehouse’s friends fear that the erratic lifestyle the singer has been leading has caused so much damage that she will not be able to make another album. To confirm fears, a source at her record company Island said that progress on her next album was “going slower than we’d have hoped”. “She’s struggling. We just hope the wait is worth it,” the Daily Star quoted the source as saying. “She’s got the genius in there, it’s just taking more coaxing to get it out these days,” he added. The 25-year-old Rehab singer was, according to sources, in The London Clinic for scans in her battle with lung disease emphysema last week. But Winehouse had on a web video told fans she was fine and she was likely to release “two EPs and an album”, and her spokesman also denied that she was back in rehab. “Amy isn’t on a deadline with her album,” her rep said. “The last album’s still selling. She’s in and out of the studio working… the record company hasn’t seen the final result yet. Amy’s fine,” he added.

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 - Gulebhakavali Katha ; 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 06:00 - Hum Ladkiyan; 06:30 - Jai Hanuman; 07:00 - Telebrands; 07:30 Teleshopping; 08:50 - Box Office Muzic Hitz; 09:00 - Comedy Circus; 10:00 - Cid; 11:00 - Boogie Woogie; 12:00 - Hum Ladkiyan; 14:00 - Xcuse Me!; 17:30 Indian Idol 4; 18:00 - Comedy Circus; 19:00 - Cid; 20:00 - Boogie Woogie; 21:00 - Indian Idol 4; 22:45 - Cid 6:00 - Numb3rs; 7:00 - So You Think You Can Dance; 8:00 - Chuck; 9:00 Numb3rs; 11:00 - Early Edition; 12:00 Afterworld; 12:03 - World’s Most Azing Videos; 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 - Chuck; 8:00 - World’s Most Azing Videos; 9:00 - Ultimate Guinness World Records; 9:30 Ebuzz; 10:00 - Xxx: The Next Level; 12:30 - Afterworld; 12:33 The Contender Asia; 2:30 - So You Think You Can Dance; 4:00 The Contender Asia 04:30 - Modigliani; 06:30 - Charlie Chaplin; 07:00 - Infomercial; 08:00 Rushmore; 10:00 - Little Women; 12:30 - Out Cold; 14:45 - 50 First Dates; 17:15 - Crimson Tide; 20:00 - Cold Creek Manor; 22:30 - Dark Water

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8th Open Basketball V. Anand is king, says Championship 2008 victory comprehensive

WASHINGTON/NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 30 (AGENCIES): It's his third world chess title, but the relief at winning this one is palpable and the joy is unbridled. ''I'm just exhausted, man,'' Vishwanathan Anand told the Times of India, speaking on his cell phone from Bonn on the way back to his hotel to stash away his trophy before heading out for a Mexican dinner. It's been so bad, he said, that he's not even followed the world financial crisis, let alone the Obamania that's sweeping America - something unusual for a guy who likes to stay on top of news and current events. But the preparation has been bruising, and his team of seconds is so overjoyed that everything panned out well that they are already out roistering, well before Anand and his wife Aruna can join them. ''I might surprise you guys this time,'' Anand joked, when asked if he would join them for a tipple. But the man who is said to drink nothing stronger than tomato juice has sent the country's spirits soaring with a performance that will sparkle in the annals of sporting history that is getting richer by the year. It's not every day or every year that the Soviet/ Russian/Central Asian chess dominance is challenged, and Vishwanathan Anand is starting to make it a habit. The victory over Kramnik, a consummate artist, was

Kasparov hails Anand's victory

World Champion India's Vishwanathan Anand, right, and Russia's Vladimir Kramnik show the trophies during the winner ceremony of the Chess World Championship after the 11th game against Russia's Vladimir Kramnnik in the Art and Exhibition Hall of the Federal Repblic of Germany in Bonne, western Germany, Wednesday, October 29. (AP Photo)

especially sweet (Australian Grandmaster Ian Rogers called it a battle between the painter and the philistine, so well-regarded is the Russian's sense of aesthetic play). But Anand is a stylist in his own right, and one of his fabulous win among the three in this series is set to

go down as one of the great games in the chronicles of world championships. ''Kramnik does not lose three games in a year, forget three games in a series,'' Anand mused, ''So in that sense, I guess it was a comprehensive win.'' The fact that it finished one game

SCC lifts Tennis Ball Cricket Tourney

ahead of the scheduled 12 means, Anand and Aruna can actually advance their plans to visit India, where doubtless a hero's welcome awaits him. Asked to choose which was his favourite between the three world titles, Anand said they were all special. For us, too.

Phek Open Marathon Race Competition 2008 on November 7 Kuzhovesa Soho Phek | October 30

In this image released to the media, Mintu Sinha, Manager cum Coach of SCC along with his players at its ofﬁce in Dimapur, on October 30.

DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 30 (MExN): The Sparks Cricket Club (SCC) clinched the 1st annual Tennis Ball Cricket Tourney, organised by the Ravel Club of Toulazou Tenyimi village at its local ground, on October 29 last. SCC thrashed Thahekhu Rangapahar RCC by 57 runs in the final match. After winning the toss, SCC elected

to bat first and put up a total of 144 runs in the alloted 20 overs. In reply, Thahekhu Rangapahar RCC managed to score only 87 runs lossing all wickets. Nirbhay of SCC was adjudged man of the match in the finals and man of the series. Rakesh and Akhrietuo of SCC was awarded the best bowler and fielder respectively of the tourney. SCC

also walked away with a cash of Rs. 12, 000. With this win, SCC has registed five tournamnets in its name this year alone, informed Mintu Sinha, Manager cum Coach of Sparks Cricket Club of Dimapur. He also expressed gratitude to the organisers of the 1st annual Tennis Ball Cricket Tourney on its successful completion.

Ronaldo brace seals United victory

THE 1ST Phek District Open Marathon 2008 will be held at Phek Town on November 7, 2008. Deputy Commissioner Phek Z.Thele will flag off the Marathon which is being organized by the Veteran Sporting Club (VSC) Phek. According to the VSC President Kudechoyi Venuh, the competition will start 6.00.am onwards. The run off will begin from GHSS, Phek Town Ground, and head towards the Phek-Lozaphuhu junction, and will culminate at the starting point covering an approximate distant of 7 kilometers. Sources further disclosed that a refreshment booth will be set up at 3 locations viz; Phek Bible Hill Traffic point, Phek Chosaba junction and Phek-Lozaphuhu junction, where refreshment, water, medicines etc. will be provided to the participants. Official will be present at all refreshment booths. The officials will oversee the race as per the guidelines framed by the organizers of the marathon. Meanwhile, a Medical Check up for all the intending participants will be held at the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Office, Phek on 6th November to ensure that all participants are fit for the race. Hence, the intending participants are directed to turn up for the same without fail. The VSC sources further disclosed that a bound sign will be signed up by all the intending participants provided that ‘each participant will be held responsible in case of any unto wards incidents face out during the competition hour’. Entry form will be made available in the office of the District Sports Officer ( DSO) office Phek from October 29, 2008 onwards. Organizers informed that entry form will be dispatch to any interested participants free of cost. They further disclosed that the best 3 participants will be awarded a cash prize of Rs.25,000/-, Rs.15,000/- and Rs.10,000/- respectively along with proficiency certificates. Required participants will be selected during the competition hour where they will be representing the district during the forthcoming State level Marathon race competition schedule to be held on December 8, 2008 at Kohima which will be coinciding with the Hornbill Festival 2008. The VSC appeals to all the sports lovers of the district to come and witness the event and be part of the event.

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 30 (PTI): Former world champion Gary Kasparov of Russia on Thursday hailed Viswanathan Anand's triumph over Russian Vladimir Kramnik to retain the World Championship title in Bonn, Germany, saying it would not be easy for the younger generation to push the Indian aside. "A great result for Anand and for chess. Vishy deserved the win in every way and I'm very happy for him. It will not be easy for the younger generation to push him aside," Kasparov said. The former great said while Anand played consistently, Kramnik showed decline in strength and had some work to do. "It was a very wellplayed match by Vishy. Except for the loss of concentration in the 10th game he played consistently and managed to enforce his style. This result ends the illusion that Kramnik is a great match player," he was quoted as saying by 'Chessbase'. Analyzing the performances of the two

players, Kasparov, who lost to Kramnik in 2000 in London, said Anand was well prepared to counter his opponent who appeared "overly defensive". "Anand out-prepared Kramnik completely. In this way it reminded me of my match with Kramnik in London 2000. Like I was then, Kramnik may have been very well prepared for this match, but we never saw it. I didn't expect the Berlin and ended up fighting on Kramnik's preferred terrain," he said. "(In this match) Kramnik did not expect tough, sharp challenges with white, and this was the key for Anand. He kicked some sand in Kramnik's face and hit his weakness, his conservative approach to the game itself. Suddenly Kramnik had to fight in these sharp positions and he wasn't able to do it. "London was a unique occurrence and I still stand with Leonid Yudasin as the only players Kramnik has ever beaten in a match! Kramnik now has some work to do."

Tendulkar surprised at Ganguly’s decision to quit MUMBAI, OCTOBER 30 (REUTERS): Sachin Tendulkar has expressed surprise at former captain Saurav Ganguly’s decision to quit international cricket after the ongoing home test series against Australia. Ganguly announced that the four-test series this month would be his last following suggestions that the Indian board had drawn up an exit plan for five senior players. A board official said this month that skipper Anil Kumble, Tendulkar, Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Vangipurappu Laxman, all well into their 30s, had been told to plan their retirements by December. “I was little bit surprised but you know... the individual knows exactly when to move away from the game and I don’t know exactly what’s going on in his mind, what he thinks of his future,” Tendulkar said of Ganguly’s

decision. “I am sure it must have taken him a long time to reach that. And it’s a big decision. It is a difficult decision. “If he feels that this is the way to go, then we all should respect (that),” he told NDTV channel in an interview to be aired on Friday. India’s ageing batting stalwarts came under intense pressure following a poor series in a 2-1 test defeat in Sri Lanka in August that led to a debate in cricket-mad India about whether it was time for them to make way for the next generation of players. But the senior batsmen found form in the test series against Australia. “One is made to believe that this is the right opinion ... (to) know exactly when to move away from the game,” Tendulkar added. “We individuals will take that decision when we feel it is the right time.”

Our Correspondent Kohima | October 30

The 8th Open Basketball Championship 2008 entered the third day here today at the Kohima Local Ground.

RESULTS OF THURSDAY’S MATCHES St. Joseph College-22 beat Evergreen Club 17 Wolfhounds- 26 beat Point 12- 18 Blazing Raider 38 beat Mezhiirum (MHSS) 35 Team Gravity -35 beat Underdoggs-15 Air Hoggs-37 Phezhu Boys -25 Chandmari HSS -27 beat Dorians -15 Werewolves Junior – 28 beat Doberman -26 Hill Knughts-17 beat Stallion 15 Team Gravity -30 beat Evergreen Club-12 Air Hoggs-52 beat Point-12 -32 Wolfhounds walk over Phezhu Boyz Chandmari HSS -30 beat Mezhiirum(MHSS) 23 Blazing Raiders -14 Dorians -9 On October 31, the league match will begin at 8:00 AM between St. Joseph College and Underdoggs. QUARTER-FINAL MATCHES Faithabllers vs Hill Knights at 10.00 AM Eastern Railways vs Team Gravity at 11.00 AM Werewloves Senior vs Werewolves Junior at 12.00 noon Chandmari HSS vs Air Hoggs at 1.00 pm

41st Rengma Area tourney underway DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 30 (MExN): The 41st Rengma Area Tournament, organised by the Rengma Sports Association (RSA) got underway on October 21 last at its headquarter at Tseminyu under Kohima district, with Wezope Kenye, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Tseminyu as the chief guest. Kenye, in his speech, encouraged the players to be disciplined and dedicated and also to develop the spirit of sportsmanship. He also donated a sum of Rs. 20, 000 to the RSA. Altogether 21 teams football (Men) teams and 6 Volleyball (women) teams are participating in the tourney. The tourney will culminate on November 4 next. This was stated in a press note issued by Akhu Kath, general secretary, RSA.

DSO Dimapur calls meeting DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 30 (MExN): The District Sports Officer (DSO) of Dimapur has informed all veterans footballers (40 yrs and above) that a meeting will be held at the DDSC office on November 4 next at 11:00 am, for the formation of District Veteran Football Association, which has been necessitated as all the district is forming their association. The aim is to promote and encourage the youngsters and also for health consciousness through football, stated Nizheto Awomi, DSO of Dimapur further informed all concerned to attend the meeting without fail.

Nagaland chess team at NE Chess C’ship KOHIMA, OCTOBER 30 (MExN): The Nagaland Chess Association (NCA) has sent five players headed by NCA president Helie Rupreo representing Nagaland to participate in the 2nd North East chess championship which got underway at Guwahati. The five participants are Helie Rupreo, K. Sekhamo, Vithanyu Yano, Mughato Awomi and Sukhavi Achumi. Meanwhile the NCA extended congratulations to Vishwanathan Anand for retaining the World Chess Championship title and conveyed best wishes for his future endeavor and prayed that he would more laurels in sports to the nation.

LONDON, OCTOBER 30 (AFP): Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson Open Football tourney at Phek has challenged Cristiano Ronaldo to repeat last season's DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 30 (MExN): The Veteran remarkable feat of scoring Sporting Club of Phek has informed all concerned presimore than 40 goals. Ronaldo dent of interested youth clubs and teams to submit their took his tally for the current participation list on or before November 6 next to its ofcampaign to five following his fice, for Open Football tourney to be held on November first half brace at Old Trafford 13 to 14 next at Phek, under the programme of District to inspire United to a comfortLevel Tournament in sponsorship with the Nehru Yuva able 2-0 win over West Ham Kendra (NYK) of Phek. Attractive prizes will be awarded on Wednesday. The Portugal to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd and 4th position holders. For more winger struck on 14 and 29 Cristiano Ronaldo kisses his European Golden boot information contact, 9436811020 and 03865-223725. This award in front of the Old Trafford crowd on Wednesminutes and now Ferguson is was stated in a press note issued by Kedechoyi Venuh, backing Ronaldo to continue day. (AP Photo) president of Veteran Sporting Club of Phek. finding the back of the net as Carlos Tevez that he still remains a top player in United go in search of another has a massive role to play the eyes of myself, the Inter Club Cricket Tournament to be held soon trophy-filled season. He scored with the European cham- players and the support42 times last season and Fergu- pions. ers. It's just that three DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 30 (MExN): The Dimapur son sees no reason why he can't Tevez started his first players won't fit into two District Cricket Association (DDCA) has felicitated the do the same again. game for a month in the positions and my job is to Nagaland Cricket Association (NCA), under the presiThe United manager win over the Hammers balance the team. dent-ship of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio for ‘achieving said: "Cristiano is getting and there have been ruWest Ham manager affiliate membership of BCCI.” “DDCA also thanked there (back to his best) with- mours the Argentinean Gianfranco Zola said: the BCCI for granting affiliate membership to NCA for out question. "He missed a lot international is becom- "Manchester United are development and promotion of the game of cricket in Naof pre-season work but he's ing frustrated. But Fer- such a special team, but galand,” stated A Rahman, general secretary, DDCA in getting work now just with guson has held private our second half perfora press note. The DDCA also informed all cricket clubs playing games and is improv- talks with the striker and mance is a starting point. under Dimapur district to renew membership or get reging all the time. "He's got five told him he is still heav- It gives us something to istered under the DDCA for the forthcoming Inter Club for the season now and he can ily in his plans. Ferguson build on. I know the Tournament to be held soon for selection of the district go on to get between 25 and 42. added: "Carlos remains qualities of my players team. It informed all interested school and clubs to form He's capable. He might even just as important to us as so I'm not worried. I still an under 14 team (for students upto Class 7) for which get 42 goals again. He's such a the guys that have been believe in them and have the DDCA will extend all possible help. The selection threat in the penalty box and I hogging the headlines of faith in them. "We don't of under 14 team will also be held soon. The association thought he took his goals very late. "I sat down with him know how long he (Faufurther felicitated I Pihoto Awomi, working president of well." Despite lavishing praise DDCA for being promoted and inducted as joint secreC on Ronaldo and Dimitar Ber- only last week to stress bert) will be out for but it to him that our faith in doesn't look good. He has tary of the NCA. M batov, Ferguson has reassured him is absolute, that he damaged his calf." 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

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