NDFB-P demands seperate Bodo State

The pro-talks faction of the National Democratic Front  of Bodoland-Progressive or NDFB-P on Thursday staged demonstrations across Assam demanding a separate State for the Bodos and early peace dialogue between the government and the outfit. Thousands of NDFB-P supporters took part in the demonstration in Udalguri. Intensifying its demand for creation of Bodoland and immediate peace talks, the NDFB-P oranized demonstrations near the offices of the deputy commissioners of nine districts, including the four BTAD districts of Udalguri, Kokrajhar, Baksa and Chirang. In Udalguri, over five thousand people, led by outfit president Dhiren Boro, marched from the Golma High School playground to the Bishnu Rabha Auditorium, Udalguri. After a public meeting at the Bishnu Rabha Auditorium, the protesters submitted a memorandum to the Udalguri Deputy Commissioner. The NDFB-P has threatened stronger protests if the government does not accept the outfit’s demands.

-NE

CCFM urges Naga political leaders

Dimapur, September 1 (MExN): The Concerned Citizen’s Forum, Mokokchung, (CCFM) has stated appreciation to the Naga leaders for taking bold steps in signing the ‘Naga Concordant’ whilst also congratulating the Forum For Naga Reconciliation (FNR) for their commitment and efforts in bringing the Naga leaders together to work for a shared common future. A press note issued by Tsupong Longchar, Convenor, CCFM stated, “For many years, it has been the ardent desire of the Naga people to see all Naga political group working together for our national interest. Therefore genuine reconciliation and unity in any form is very convivial and should be supported by every responsible citizen.”

CCFM also commented that in the history of the Naga national struggle tragically, Nagas have experienced factionalism and fratricidal killings for over three decades which has grievously affected every Naga households and individuals. “We have lost many precious lives and good opportunities. We have wavered, faltered and have gained only bitter experience through the designs of our adversaries. Therefore, now is the opportune time for the Naga leaders to prove to the Nagas and the world that whatever commitment/pledge is made through the Covenant and Naga Concordant, does not end up as a mere document for record sake but carry it forward as a genuine national commitment ‘for a shared Naga future, for every Naga citizen’, CCFM stated.

The Forum also urged all Naga leaders to make use of this opportune time, leaving aside all personal interests and differences for the sake of the common goal, as there are greater challenges ahead which demand a consolidated front. The CCFM also calls upon the Naga people, Churches and Organization to come forward and extend support to all our national leaders and the FNR in its Endeavor to strengthen and broaden the peace process for a just and lasting peace in our land.

Turkey expels Israeli ambassador over Gaza flotilla row

This came as the UN published a report saying that Israeli commandos used excessive force when they boarded an aid ship. Nine Turkish activists died.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said it was "time Israel pays a price for its illegal actions".

Israel has refused to apologise and said its troops acted in self-defence.

"Israel, like any other country, has a legitimate right to protect its citizens and soldiers," an Israeli government official told the BBC.

"Israel has made many attempts in the recent months to settle the dispute between our countries. Unfortunately these attempts were unsuccessful."

A US state department spokeswoman said Washington would encourage Israel and Turkey to repair their longstanding relationship.

"We regret that prior to the publication of the report they were unable to reach agreement on steps that might have helped overcome their differences," Victoria Nuland said, according to the AFP news agency.

The report was leaked to the New York Times on Thursday, the day before it was delivered to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's office.

Mr Ban made no comment on the conclusions of the document.

'Null and void'

The nine pro-Palestinian activists who died were on board the Turkish-flagged ship, Mavi Marmara, when it was intercepted by the Israeli navy in international waters as sailed towards Gaza's coast on 31 May 2010.

At the time, the Israeli military said its commandos fired live rounds only after being attacked with clubs, knives and guns. But activists on board said the commandos started shooting as soon as they hit the deck.

The UN inquiry chaired by former New Zealand Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer found the Israeli troops faced "significant, organised and violent resistance from a group of passengers" and were therefore required to use force for their own protection.

But it said Israel's decision to board the vessels "with such substantial force at a great distance from the blockade zone and with no final warning immediately prior to the boarding was excessive and unreasonable".

The report noted "forensic evidence showing that most of the deceased were shot multiple times, including in the back, or at close range".

The inquiry also found Israel's naval blockade "was imposed as a legitimate security measure in order to prevent weapons from entering Gaza by sea and its implementation complied with the requirements of international law".

The report was completed months ago, but its publication was delayed several times as Turkey and Israel attempted to repair their diplomatic relations, which have been frozen since the flotilla incident.

But on Friday, hours before the report was released by the UN, Turkey' announced that diplomatic relations had been reduced to the level of second secretary and all military agreements had been suspended.

"The time has come for Israel to pay for its stance that sees it above international laws and disregards human conscience," Mr Davutoglu said. "The first and foremost result is that Israel is going to be devoid of Turkey's friendship."

"As long as the Israeli government does not take the necessary steps, there will be no turning back," he warned.

Mr Davutoglu said the report "displayed the violence committed by the Israeli soldiers", but added that some of its findings were questionable.

"Turkey does not recognise Israel's blockade of Gaza. It will secure the study of this blockade at the International Court of Justice."

He added that Turkey would take all necessary measures to protect its shipping in the eastern Mediterranean.

Asked to comment on the UN panel's decision not to recommend that Israel apologise, Turkish President Abdullah Gul said: "To be frank, the report is null and void for us."

Turkey's embassy in Washington later said in a statement that it was "determined to defend the rights of its citizens and will take legal actions against all those responsible for the crimes committed".

Hamas, whose decision to seize control of the Gaza Strip in 2007 led to Israel imposing the blockade, applauded the Turkish move.

"This is a natural response to the Israeli crime against the flotilla," spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told the BBC.

The Israeli official said the government accepted with "reservations" the UN report, which it considered "professional, profound and serious".

"During the events of the Mavi Marmara flotilla, Israeli soldiers boarded the boat with non-lethal means. They had no intention to hurt anyone," the official said.

"Once the Israeli soldiers were viciously attacked by dozens of violent IHH activists, armed with batons, knives and steel pipes, the soldiers had to defend themselves," the official added, referring to the IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation, which Israel has banned for supporting Hamas.

"After many of the soldiers were wounded during the operation, nine of the IHH rioters who had endangered their lives were killed."

"As recommended in the report, Israel again expresses regret about the loss of life but will not apologise for acts of self-defence by its soldiers."

The origin of Tiger, Spirit and Humankind: A Mao Naga Myth

According to this Mao-Naga myth, Tiger, Spirit and Humankind(man) were three brothers who came into existence through the miraculous union between the already existing first woman and the clouds of the sky. How the first human being, that is, the woman came into existence is not explained but her existence is taken for granted. This is perhaps because the earth is already there and its origin cannot be fully explained. The woman represents the reproductive power of nature. The first woman’s name was called Dziiliimosiiro which approximately means the ‘purest water’ or ‘crystal clear water’. One day, she was resting under a tree with her legs wide apart, at a place called Makhriifii or Makhel which is supposed to the last halting place on the migration route of the Tengimie (Angami, Chakhesung, Mao and Poumei) and their closely allied Naga tribes.

This place is in the present Mao Naga country. Suddenly a cluster of clouds came over her and some drops of liquid came down over her private part and she became pregnant. Subsequently she gave birth to a Tiger, Spirit and Man or human being.

By the time the three children became adults, their mother was quite old and sick. So the three brothers took turns to look after their ailing mother. When the Tiger looked after her, the mother used to become sicker with anxiety and her worry seemed to be intensified. The reason for this was that the Tiger used to touch the mother’s body to identify the fleshy, good muscles which he could eat after her death.

During the turn of the Spirit, the mother used to become more feverish and develop acute headaches. The mother felt at ease and relaxed only when the Man looked after her because he tended his mother with great care and concern. Before their mother’s death, there was a dispute among the three brothers as to who should inherit her land. When the quarrels became more frequent and threatened to result in

violence, the mother decided that something had to be done in order to settle the dispute. So she devised a contest among them. For this purpose, she created a ball-like grass at a distance and said that the three brothers were to race for it. And the one who touched the ball-like grass first would inherit the mothers’ land. The Man being the youngest and a good fellow, his mother instructed him to make a bow and arrow to shoot at the grass target as she knew that he could not compete with the powers of the Tiger and Spirit in such a race. The Man following his mother’s instruction succeeded in touching the grass target first by firing the arrow and finally inherited his mother’s land. The Tiger in disgust went to the

thick jungles and the Spirit disappeared in the far south (Kashiipii). Thus the three brothers parted ways forever. Incidentally, this myth is also prevalent among the neighbouring Angami and Chakesang Nagas.

Myth-making is one of the primary and basic functions of human beings. Mythology reflects the socio-economic, cultural and historical conditions of the community or society. Creation of myth is creation of meaning, and there can be many levels of meanings. Obviously there cannot be any competition between science and mythology. James Frazer argues that human beings think alike. Analysis of myths, folklores,

folktales etc. reveals the universal structure of human being. Even I. Kant argues that basic forms of human thought are similar. The above myth represents evolution rather than the creation of Adam & Eve of Judao-Christian- Islamic world- view.

Tiger and Man representing the animal kingdom and Spirit representing the supernatural realm

are shown as all related, since they are born of a common mother. Participating in the competition is quite natural as they are brothers. In attempting to decipher the meaning of the myth, the question of truth and falsity does not arise. The tiger wanting to eat the mother after her death is perhaps the reflection of the poverty-ridden society at that time. The woman represents reproductive energy. Her name signifying pure

water, being fertilized by a cluster of clouds is perhaps a metaphor of the union between the sky God father and the receptive earth mother from which all things have originated. This is perhaps like the Chinese Yin & Yan principles of female and male or like the Indian principles of Purusha and Prakriti.

A variant of this myth is also prevalent in Ao-Naga folklore. ?

 

 

by:

DR. X.P. MAO

Department of Philosophy,

NEHU, Shillong-22

Extracted from Indian Folklife: From Antiquity to Modern Naga Folklore

A Quarterly Newsletter from National Folklore Support Centre

Serial No.33 July 2009

Kongliang Otsü: An Ao Naga Folk Tale

 A long time ago, in the age of dreams and magical times, when the gods and humans resided side by side, there lived a family with two daughters. One day, the parents went to their jhum field, leaving the two girls at home. The time of year is understood to be around end July to early August. "Tenü (younger sister), today mother and father have gone to the fields, so today I will clean the rice and prepare the pigs’ feed. You go to fetch the water and firewood,” the older sister told her younger sister.

The younger sister readily agreed and went to collect firewood. She came laden with the wood and dumping the load on the ground said to her sister, "Oya (elder sister), I am hungry, give me something to eat!” But the older sister, ignoring her plea, sent her to fetch water three more times. When the younger sister filled all the pots and containers with water, it was time to cook food for the evening meal and the older sister set the pot of rice on the fire. By now, the younger sister was famished and cried out to her elder sister, "Oya! I am so hungry, please give me some food!”

The older sister, instead of feeding her starving sibling, told her to open her palm and proceeded to hit her palm with the hot rice ladle. This was too much for the younger sister who was hungry and tired after so much hard work. Crying loudly, she ran out and huddled in a corner of the ‘sünglang’ (bamboo balcony) at the back of the house. Meanwhile, her parents were on their way home, laden with fresh produce from their field. Their jhum field had yielded a bumper crop and the parents were overjoyed that their hard work had been blessed with such abundance. They were eager to meet their daughters and to see their surprise and joy at the food stuff they had brought for them. However, when they reached home, they found only the older daughter.

"Where is your younger sister?” the mother asked.

"Oh, she is too much; I had to do all the hard work while she has been just loitering around all

day. She must be somewhere sitting outside!” the older daughter replied, pretending to be very busy.

The parents rushed out to look for the younger daughter. They knew very well the characters of both their daughters and concluded that the older sister must have done something bad to hurt the younger sister.

They called out to their younger daughter, telling her that they had brought fresh cucumbers, maize and other foodstuff and that she would be given the first choice to eat whatever she wanted. But the younger sister had heard the blatant lies her older sister had told about her and could not bear the injustice of it all. So she climbed the nearest tree and transformed herself into a small bird ("kongliang”). The parents looked for her everywhere but she was nowhere to be seen. Finally, when they came near the tall tree, they saw a small bird perched there. It was singing the following song mournfully.

"Oyalai süngpeni oang ta

Oyalai tzütai oang ta

Aja-asa meki la

Süngko lidi

Kongliang ta

Kongliang ta”

 

(Older sister sent me to fetch firewood

Older sister sent me to fetch water

Not once was I giving rice and meat

Better to live in the trees

Where am I supposed to stay

Where am I supposed to stay)

Repeating this song, the small bird darted from tree to tree and eventually flew off into the thick forests, leaving the parents heartbroken.

 

Epilogue:

Today, when people hear this small bird darting from tree to tree singing the song "Kongliang, kongliang, kongliang”, they know that it is time to harvest their jhum fields. The harvesting of new rice, cucumbers, chilli, maize, gourds, brinjal and various other vegetables are preceded by this song. This story has been handed down from generation to generation with the idea that the song is a reminder for the parents to teach their children to love one another. The song "kongliang” (literally: where am I supposed to live?) is a constant lesson for older sisters and brothers to love, care, provide and sacrifice for their younger siblings, so that the younger ones will emulate them and, in turn, treat those younger to them in the same manner. The Aos believe that younger ones must be cherished, protected and taken care of and that the younger ones must be obedient and respectful of those older to them. The older children take on the responsibility of taking care of the younger ones and thus play an important supporting role when the parents are out in the fields the whole day. If there is no love between siblings, the home cannot be a place of harmony and contentment and, in such cases, we all become homeless. Material wealth (in this case bumper crops) become meaningless when there is no support, sharing, protection and affection among family members, resulting in disintegration of the most important unit in society In an oral society, such stories were told to children in order to instill in their minds the importance of filial loyalty and love as a strategy for harmonious survival. This and other similar stories can therefore be considered as examples of folklore performing a significant social function.

 

Source:

As told by Mr. T. Molungnenba Ao (86 years old) of Molung village.

Place: Tuli, Mokokchung district, Nagaland

Date: 19.4.2007 ?

 Extracted from Indian Folklife: From Antiquity to Modern Naga Folklore

A Quarterly Newsletter from National Folklore Support Centre

Serial No.33 July 2009

CM Ibobi in Delhi to meet PM

IMPHAL, Sept 2: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi left Imphal yesterday to discuss the volatile issues of the state pertaining to the demand and counter-demand of Sadar Hills district with Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh and Union Home Minister P Chidambaram in New Delhi.

Chief Minister has been summoned to table a detailed action plan of the state government on Sadar Hills before the Prime Minister and Home Minister. However, no official information could be obtained regarding the meeting.

Okram Ibobi is reported to be still camping in New Delhi. He will leave New Delhi for an official visit to Tokyo on September 4.

Taliban kidnap 30 Pakistani boys in Afghanistan: officials

PAKISTAN: Pakistani Taliban in Afghanistan have kidnapped more than 30 Pakistani boys who had mistakenly crossed the unmarked border from the country's lawless northwest, officials said on Friday.

They said the incident took place on Thursday after the group of boys, aged between 12 and 18, left the Gharkhi area of Pakistan's Bajaur tribal region during celebrations marking the Muslim Eid holiday.

"These boys inadvertently crossed into Afghanistan while picnicking on the second day of Eid and were kidnapped by militants," senior local administration official Syed Nasim told AFP.

Bajaur administration official Islam Zeb said the boys had been abducted by a militant group allied with Taliban commander Maulvi Faqir Muhammad, who led insurgents in Bajaur but is believed to have fled to Afghanistan in 2010.

"The kidnappers belonged to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan's (TTP) Faqir Muhammad group, which used to operate in Bajaur," said Zeb.

Two local intelligence officials confirmed those reports.

Afghan border police commander General Aminullah Amarkhel, the governor of Kunar, where the boys vanished, Fazlullah Wahidi, and the local Afghan Taliban commander all told AFP they were unaware of the incident.

Afghanistan shares a disputed and unmarked 2,400-kilometre (1,500-mile) border with Pakistan, and Taliban and other Al-Qaeda-linked militants have carved out strongholds on either side.

The Pakistani military has repeatedly claimed to have eliminated the militant threat in Bajaur, one of seven districts in the semi-autonomous tribal belt that the United States sees as the global headquarters of Al-Qaeda.

Another Pakistani administration official speaking anonymously said security forces were stretched thin along parts of the frontier.

"It is a porous border and security cover is not available everywhere," he said.

The last similar incident was in June 2009 when hundreds of Pakistani students from the tribal North Waziristan region were kidnapped by Pakistani Taliban as they travelled in a convoy of buses to the northwestern town of Bannu after their college closed for its summer vacation.

All were later released unharmed.

Afghanistan and Pakistan blame each other for several recent cross-border attacks that have killed dozens and displaced hundreds of families.

The Pakistani military have accused Faqir Muhammad of being behind an attack on a Pakistani paramilitary checkpost last week, which killed 25 troops.

It said his group helped co-ordinate the raid, adding that the terrorists regrouped in the Afghan provinces of Kunar and Nuristan with Afghan support after their expulsion from Pakistan.

An escalating border war in the area is fanning tensions at a key juncture as Afghans and Americans reach out to the Taliban for peace talks.

For years the neighbours have traded accusations over the Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants embedded in both countries, who criss-cross the porous, unmarked border and fight security forces from both governments.

Afghan officials say that since early May hundreds of rockets, mortars and artillery shells have been fired from Pakistan into Afghan villages.

But the Pakistan military admits only that a few stray rounds may have crossed the border and complains that villages on its side of the border have been the victim of Afghan-based Taliban violence.

The row is exacerbated by the fact that Afghanistan disputes the 2,400-kilometre (1,500-mile) Durrand Line, the 19th century demarcation of the border that separates Pashtun families and tribes.

US troops in Afghanistan earlier this year abandoned remote outposts in the far reaches of Kunar and Nuristan provinces, where they had failed to win over locals, in favour of concentrating on larger population centres.

ULFA to sign suspension of operations agreement with GOI

NEW DELHI, Sep 2 (ANI): Leaders of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) central committee arrived in the national capital today to sign the Suspension of Operations agreement with the Central government.

Chitrabon Hazarika, the finance secretary of the outlawed ULFA, is leading the three-member delegation that includes Sashadhar Choudhary, ULFA's foreign secretary, and Raju Baruah, ULFA's military operations head.

Sashadhar Choudhary said that the ULFA members expect to sign the Suspension of Operations agreement with the Central government tomorrow.

Though till now there is no clear information that who all will preside the meeting from the government side, but according to sources it is clear that it will be a secretary level meeting.

The ULFA leaders landed at Delhi airport today, but were not allowed to meet mediapersons and were taken away from a separate gate.

Earlier, in August, the entire ULFA central committee under the leadership of Arabinda Rajkhowa had met Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram in the national capital, and presented him with their set of demands.

The ULFA leaders were arrested in Bangladesh and handed over to the Indian government in 2010. They are now out on bail and have been carrying the peace talks.

Currently large number of ULFA cadres has been placed in different camps at Nalbari and Tinsukia and have submitted their weapons to the government.

Now only the elusive ULFA commander in chief Paresh Baruah is left to join talks.

~ifp

Manmohan Singh, Musharraf came close to striking Kashmir deal: WikiLeaks

NEW DELHI: India and Pakistan had through "back channels" agreed to a non-territorial solution to Kashmir under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and then Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, reveals a latest WikiLeaks cable. According to the US embassy cable - dated April 21, 2009 - Singh confirmed this to a visiting US delegation, led by then House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Howard Berman in April, 2009, saying that the solution included free trade and movement across LoC. 

Singh told the US delegation that Delhi and Islamabad had made great progress prior to February 2007, when President Musharraf ran into trouble. "We had reached an understanding in back channels," he related, says the cable, in which Musharraf had agreed to a non-territorial solution to Kashmir. Singh went on to add that India wanted a strong, stable, peaceful, democratic Pakistan and makes no claim on "even an inch" of Pakistani territory.

Singh's comments authenticate Musharraf's assertions last year that India and Pakistan had reached that stage, where they were preparing the final draft for the resolution. He had said the two sides shared drafts through "back channels", and these were in keeping with the four-point template which he had envisaged to resolve the issue. Singh, too, mentions in the cable that the two sides had arrived at the solution through back channels.

Musharraf's four points included demilitarization, maximum autonomy, making border irrelevant and joint management of the area. Later, however, Pakistani government rejected the formula, saying that it was Musharraf's personal line of thinking that lacked endorsement either by Pakistani parliament or cabinet. Singh, though, does not make any direct reference to Musharraf's template in the WikiLeak cable. Musharraf had said, unlike in the case with PM Vajpayee, it was actually with Singh that Pakistan moved towards an agreement over the issue.

Reminding Berman and other US delegates that India had lost more than 150 of its citizens in the Mumbai attacks, Singh said it would be possible to resume dialogue only if Pakistan would "behave as a civilized country and bring the perpetrators to justice". "Now, Pakistani leaders had to stick by commitments made to PM Vajpayee and repeated to PM Singh in 2005 that they would not permit attacks on India launched from Pakistani soil. If so, huge trade opportunities awaited, according to the Prime Minister, who added that a strong Indian constituency favoured normalized relations," the cable says.

Recalling the July, 2008, attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul, Singh asserted that it had been carried out "with the active encouragement" of Pakistan's ISI and that he had raised the issue with President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani.

CNC calls for Prayer and fasting

DIMAPUR, September 2 (MExN): The Vice President of the Council of Nagalim Churches (CNC) P.S Vaison Vemai has informed about a prayer and fasting programme for the Naga nation to be held on Sunday, September 4. The timing of the Council headquarters Hebron is 8:00 – 12:00 noon, informed a press note.

The key prayer points are sins of the Nagas; Naga reconciliation and unity; Indian authorities; Collective Leadership; Naga public leaders and Church leaders and early political solution.  In this regard, the Collective Leadership has directed that the Steering Committee Members, all the Council of Kilonsers, Tatars and Secretariat staff s should come to the Council Headquarter Church Hebron for fasting and prayer.

All brigades/battalions/Units or regional offices are requested to conduct fasting and prayer in their respective places.
The CNC official has also mentioned about how prayer support in the past had helped “talks to progress in the right direction”. It also mentioned that in the past there might have been so many excesses in the work done by the national workers which might have displeased the public as well as individuals. “I hereby tender my apologies and beg your pardon for our past mistakes”, the CNC official stated and appealed for continual prayer support.

Anna Hazare spits fire at govt, dubs it cunning

RALEGAN SIDDHI: Anna Hazare may have won the latest round on the Jan Lokpal bill but his anger against the government hasn't subsided. On Friday, in a speech to a gram sabha at Ralegan Siddhi, the Gandhian spewed venom on the UPA dispensation, singling out Union home minister P Chidambaram for the strongest attack.

He also asked the Centre to stop "playing around" with his associate Arvind Kejriwal, who has been slapped with an income tax notice, warning that civil society may rally to his defence.

In the first public address after his release from hospital, Hazare slammed Chidambaram, using shockingly crude language. "He is not speaking the truth. He is the real 'khodsal' (mischief-maker) behind my arrest even before I could start my fast. The DIG told me that they (cops) got orders from the top," Hazare said. "This government consists of a mob of "labaad" (cunning) people," he said in Marathi.

Addressing the media, he strongly defended Kejriwal. "What they are doing with him is wrong. I am forced to say civil society will have to travel a different path," Hazare said, demanding to know why the a four-year-old tax issue had been resurrected.

"I have known Kejriwal for eight to ten months. His character, thoughts and actions are pure. I have seen his sacrifices, and he is not selfish. Kejriwal ke saath sarkar khilwad kar rahi hain. Yeh baat barabar nahin (the Centre is playing games with him. This isn't right).

He has dedicated his life for the cause of the nation and it is my request to the government to stop the game it is playing," Hazare said. The Gandhian said that just like him, Kejriwal does not have a bank balance. "Had he wanted to, he could have earned in lakhs," he said.

Earlier in his speech, Hazare accused the government of duplicity during the events before and after his arrest. "First they said they will give us J P Park. Then they refused to give us space for the fast and imposed Section 144. The police came to my house and arrested me saying I would to breach the peace. I asked them how would I disturb the peace when I was at home. The police then told me that they will release me if I paid Rs 10,000 to get bail, which I refused and told them to take me to jail. They took me to jail at 4pm and by 7pm they told me that I have been released," he said, recalling the events of August 16.

Hazare said the Delhi police were getting orders from the topmost quarters of the government. "When I asked them what had happened in the three hours to prompt the decision (to release him), the DIG said the orders had come from the top. He told me that since I was released, I cannot go back to jail. I told him that I will continue to sit in his office and hold my agitation. I sat there for three days. What kind of government is this?" he said.

Insisting that the movement for a strong Lokpal was needed, he said, "The government needs to be given a jolt time and again, like the one we gave during the nationwide agitation for the Jan Lokpal bill. The government has now realized the power of the people. The jan sansad (people's parliament) is higher than Parliament." Hazare said the government must decentralize power to stop corruption. "If the sarpanch becomes corrupt, make a law which can dismiss him. We need law to improve the lot of farmers and labourers to give them justice. We also need a law to stop commercialization of education. It seems as if they have opened shops. They demand donations, and we need a law to prevent this. The exploitation of natural resources needs to be checked by enacting another law," he said.

Addressing the criticism that Dalits had stayed away from his movement, the Gandhian said, "Politicians have created the rift based on caste and creed. At Ralegan Siddhi, the entire village offered voluntary labour (shramdaan) to repay a Rs 60,000 loan taken by a Dalit farmer. It is the bullock owned by a Dalit in our village that is worshipped during the bailpola festival."

UNC condemns 144 Cr PC along NH-53

Imphal, September 2 (NNN): The United Naga Council (UNC) sternly condemns the imposition of Section 144 Cr PC along National Highway-53 saying that it is the government of Manipur’s evil motive against peaceful bandh supporters. The UNC also said it condemns the ’intrusion of Thoubal police commandos' with evil intention and thrashing peaceful bandh supporters in Chandel district yesterday.
According to the UNC, about five bandh supporters were injured in yesterday's incident. Moresh Makunga who is the vice president of All Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM) D.K. Mothang, secretary art and culture of Maring Students Union (MSU), D. Mothilphun who is the treasurer of MSU and M. Moshil, publicity secretary of MSU were thrashed at Thamnapokpi yesterday by the police, alleged the UNC. "We have taken this as a serious matter," it noted.

Meanwhile, the UNC said the Nagas have traditional boundaries since time immemorial and therefore any "further division/bifurcation/carving out of Nagas’ land" for creating or upgrading new districts on the pretext of administrative or otherwise without the consent and knowledge of Nagas will never be tolerated.

HDFC Bank open branch at CCpur

Lamka, Sep 2 : HDFC Bank, India’s second largest private sector bank, inaugurated its branch here at Salem Veng with Power Minister T Phungzathang attending the inaugural function as chief guest.

It is the third branch of the bank inaugurated in the State in recent days.

The new branch promises to offer its customers world-class banking services under one roof ranging from basic services to sophisticated direct access banking channels such as ATM, PhoneBanking, Net-Banking and International Credit and Debit Cards.

The branch will start opening account for customers from  Monday, sources said. The HDFC bank is expected to ease to an extent the banking deficit in this fast growing township. Meanwhile, Power Minister Phungzathang Tonsing inaugurated a state-of-the-art hybrid operation theatre of the Nazareth Nursing Home early yesterday.

The privately-run maternity and child clinic was the first such facilities introduced in the district and it continues to upgrade its facilities since then.

Petra's frontman to perform in Nagaland

John Schlitt, lead singer of Petra would be performing at Kohima, Dimapur and Mokokchung as a part of his fourth project titled ‘The greater cause’. The event is being organized and promoted by Metro Team in collaboration with Lotha Baptist Church Association Youth department (KBES) to raise fund for KBSE youth rally.

John Schlitt is an internationally known recording artist and a lead singer of Petra, one of the world’s best known and most successful Christian rock bands, with hits like ‘Beyond belief’ and ‘No doubt’; he has also given single hits like ‘Show me the way’, ‘One by one’ and ‘Inside of you’.


With a view to promote and outsource local artists, painters and writers so they can contribute to the economic, social and spiritual transformation of their communities, the Metro team have been creating platform for local artists.

This time around, they are organizing a mega gospel tour concert in ten metro cities in India i.e in Mumbai (Nov, 4), Pune (Nov.5), Bangalore (Nov.6), Chennai (Nov. 9), Delhi (Nov. 11), Kolkata (Nov. 13), Shillong (Nov.15), Dimapur (Nov.17), Kohima (Nov. 19) and Mokokchung (yet to be finalized).

During the concert, local artists like Z. Renbeni Odyu

o Naga Idol 5.10, would be accompanying John Schlitt all through the tour, while Alo Wanth Band, would be performing the opening act at Dimapur concert. Tickets for the concert are available at www.indianstage.com and would be soon made available at www.bookmyshow.com and outlets within a week.

~NP

‘Headhunters’ make their first official film screening

An Evening of Short Films was held here Friday at The Heritage Complex, Kohima, marking the first official screening of films created by the Headhunters Entertainment in Nagaland. Experimenting with short duration films and voluntary projects, the Headhunters, consisting of five young filmmakers- Liyo Kikon, Kele Yhoshü, Lanso Yanthan, Cynthia Kolakhe and Imnawapang Longkumer- have five movies and several music videos to their credit.



Additional chief secretary & development commissioner Alemtemshi Jamir who graced the screening as chief guest, commended the Headhunters describing their work as that of “innovation, creativity and art”. Acknowledging that the present generation of Naga youth possessed tremendous skills in various fields, Jamir said many of them could fill up a vacuum in the entertainment industry, taking their gift in music and filmmaking to newer heights not only in the state but in wider levels. He stated that policy makers of the state, taking note of the futuristic exuberance in the youth, were trying to focus on how to promote those talents for progress. Stating that the policy makers were planning the 12th Five Year Plan for Nagaland with special focus on urbanization for all round development of the state, Jamir, however admitted that there were limitations when urban-based growth ventures were assessed.

The additional chief secretary said the government observed the entertainment industry as a huge direction for growth- both in economic and social aspects- and was open to suggestions that could channelize talents in related fields.

While disclosing that there had been an offer from Koreans to set up an entertainment industry in Nagaland, Jamir stated that the proposition had to be rejected based on monetary requirements. He asserted that available talents in the state like the Headhunters needed to collaborate and “bring things together” in making such an industry possible in Nagaland. While lamenting that many “unflattering comments” about the state government were being made in social networking sites, Jamir asserted that areas where intervention could come in should be highlighted and subsequently, good policies needed to be developed with collective efforts from both the government and the public.

Meanwhile, acknowledging that the Headhunters Entertainment group has not approached the government so far in any way, Jamir lauded group members stating, they had evolved into pioneers of filmmaking in the state with what they had. He urged them to suggest avenues where the government could step in and promote talented youth in the field of filmmaking. Jamir also stated that a separate event on 3D animation films, including workshop and screening could be taken up during the state’s annual Hornbill Festival. He opined that such even would be an eye-opener for many people towards the technical aspects filmmaking and could draw more audience.

The Headhunters screened four selected works on the occasion including ‘The Debt’, which was earlier screened at Nazareth College, Rochester, New York (USA) July last; a music video ‘Ancient Gangsta’, performed by Chan Kikon, credited as the first beatbox music video in India; ‘Explore Kohima’, a 30 seconds clip created as a sample advertisement to highlight the beauty and diversity of cultures in Kohima; and ‘Worker Drone’, a 20 minute short which is part of an American TV series called Future States. Liyo Kikon and Kele Yhoshü created the special effects and 3D animation used in the series.

On their recent trip to New York  sponsored by state government for Naga filmmakers, Headhunters crew members said they had a “fruitful” excursion and got to set up their own studio at Kohima with ideas and insight they gained during their trip. Headhunters also informed that they would be bringing out several music videos of top Naga bands and musicians in October and November next.

 

Source: NP

Argentina beats Venezuela

KOLKATA: Lionel Messi weaved his magic though without scoring as he played full 90 minutes to enthrall the football-crazy fans in Argentina's 1-0 victory over Venezuela in a FIFA international friendly at Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Friday.


The 120,000 capacity stadium did not see a packed house, a common sight during the local Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal derby but it had enough Messi elements for a real treat for the nearly 75,000 spectators at the venue and many more on television across the country and abroad.

Messi sparkled throughout the match, though Venezuela kept the Argentines under pressure.

It was in the second half, a 67th minute goal by Nicolas Otamendi from a Messi corner that sealed the issue for the Argentines.

The Argentine approach was more restrained in the first half as new coach Alejandro Sabella, in his maiden appearance at the helm of affairs for the Albicelestes, gave more stress on the ball possession and passing.

They dominated the midfield, with some magical Messi footwork but failed to translate into goals as the final pass or the shot was lacking.

But the spectators had a lifetime of a treat with some real Messi moments.

Early into the start, the spectators were left mesmerised by a clever Messi footwork off a foul at the top of the box but the FC Barcelona talisman could only found the wall from his powerful left-footer in the fourth minute

Five minutes later, Argentina got the first real chance but the Real Madrid medio Agnel D'Maria nearly put it in the goal before an alert Venezuela defender averted the danger. It also had the Messi element in it as the little genius nearly had it through Di Maria but only in vain.

There were some real Venezuela sparks as well but their inexperience showed with some wasted efforts.

In the 16th minute, Jose Salomon Rondon wasted a golden chance inside the box as he failed to connect a fine pass from the wide without even testing Argentina goalkeeper Romer.

In the 34th minute, Venezuela had a real possibility as Feltscher nearly put them up with a solo effort from the right side of the box.

Messi's second real chance came in the 29th minute, in fact it was a better one. It was a grounder that went straight to the goalkeeper.

Messi kept squatted, regretting what went wrong. But the spectators knew there is more to come as cheers of 'Messi... Messi..." reverberated in the stands.

A little earlier, Messi stole the ball from Amorebieta in the box before a little dash towards the middle, but his low shot was stopped calmly by Romo.

Messi played for the full 90 minutes to enthrall the crowd though the football-crazy spectators could not see a goal from the world's current best footballer.

Lou Majaw all set to rock Manipur.

IMPHAL: For Lou Majaw, rock 'n' roll has always been a way of life and he believes that good music comes out from the heart of a performer. It's with this conviction, and of course his acoustic magic, that the guitar guru from Shillong wants to join hands with the people of Manipur and combat HIV/AIDS and drug abuse together. 

Lou, who has been celebrating Dylan's birth anniversary every year since 1972 and has also earned the sobriquet of 'India's Bob Dylan', will study Manipuri folk music, share his vast knowledge on chords and notes with the people of the state and fight the two menaces together.

The 64-year-old legendary singer-song writer-composer from Shillong will perform at Gandhi Memorial Hall, popularly known as GM Hall or 'Town Hall' in the heart of Imphal, on September 7 after about four decades.

"On September 5, I'll perform in the Churachandpur district headquarters and at GM Hall Imphal on September 7," Lou said minutes after landing at the Imphal airport on Thursday afternoon. "I still remember the day I had performed at this Imphal auditorium when I was with the 'Blood and Thunder' and 'The Great Society'. That was in the early Seventies. After 40 years I will be performing again at GM Hall, a place that is close to my heart and also the best performing venue for yesteryear rock bands of Manipur," he said.

Along with the key members of Churachandpur's popular rock band 'Friends', Lou will interact with budding poets, song writers, musicians and singers on the trend of rock and blues in the region.

"We will spread awareness on HIV/AIDS and drug abuse through music in Churachandpur. Manipur, as all know, is one of the six states of the country which has a high HIV/AIDS prevalence. We have to combat the disease," Lou said, expressing his gratitude to the Manipur Aids Control Society (Macs) for sponsoring his 'Manipur Journey Trip'.



Friends' frontman Ricky Chakchuak, who is promoting music among youngsters, including inmates of various drug rehabilitation centres in Churachandpur, said Lou's new mission in the tribal-dominated district would definitely bear fruit.

On his love for Manipur folk music, Lou said he was mesmerized by a powerful performance by a Manipuri musician, Bhagirat, in Shillong early this year. "I felt he was singing from his heart. I reaaly love to study the components of Manipuri folk music.During my stay in Manipur, I'll try to understand this beautiful fom of music. I will also try to find out if I can use these elements in my music," Lou said.

During both the Churachandpur and Imphal concerts, Lou will cover Dylan and Bob Marley's numbers. The added attraction would be his numbers, though. "I love Dylan's powerful lyrics. Unlike the past events, we will organize Dylan's 71'st birthday on May 24 next year in a fabulous and meaningful manner in five acres of land near Shillong," Lou said.

Meeting with CM unsuccessful, SHDDC walks out.

IMPHAL, Sep 1 : The stale-mate over the Sadar Hills district status demand and the ongoing blockade and general strike on the National Highways continues with representatives of Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee staging a walk out from a meeting with the Chief Minister today morning.

Apart from three executive members of the SHDDC, the three MLAs from Sadar Hills, two former MLAs from Sadar Hills, the vice chairman of Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council were present in the meeting with the Chief Minister.

Accusing the Chief Minister of falling back on the ‘delaying tactics’ ploy by bargaining for time, SHDDC in a statement said that its representatives staged a walk out from the meeting, when the Chief Minister started harping on creation of Sadar Hills and boundary adjustment/reorganisation.

This is contrary to the demand of the people of Sadar Hills which is inauguration of Sadar Hills as a full fledged district as envisaged in the Manipur (Hills Areas) Autonomous District Council Act, 1971, and passed by the Parliament of India, it said.

Taking pot shots at the Chief Minister, the Committee questioned whether Ibobi is trying to create a new Sadar Hills or trying to implement the Act of Parliament.

Sadar Hills has very well defined boundaries administered under 24 Auto- nomous District Council Constituencies and three sub-divisions, said the SHDDC and asked whether there were any objections to these boundaries at any point of time.

Asserting that there have been no objections, SHDDC asked why the objections have been raised now. The talk broke down close on the heels of the decision to continue with the agitation on the highways.

Chidambaram to revisit AFSPA

New Delhi, Sep 1 : A fresh attempt is being made to build consensus within the Government to amend the controversial Armed Forces Special (Powers) Act (AFSPA), Home Minister P Chidambaram indicated today.

“I am trying to revisit AFSPA but as you know one needs to build a consensus within the Govern- ment before amendments can be brought before Parliament,” Chidambaram said while replying to questions after presenting the monthly report for his Ministry.

“We are trying. You know we have tried in the past,” he said during the press interaction on being asked whether AFSPA could be repealed in Manipur and Jammu and Kashmir.

He said in J and K there was a consensus within the Central Government that if the state withdraws the Disturbed Areas Act, AFSPA will automatically go.

“You know that in Kashmir, we have asked the state government to review the application of Disturbed Areas Act and if that act is reviewed, then automatically if the DA does not apply to areas in Kashmir, the AFSPA is not applied to that area in Kashmir.

“So we took that route in Kashmir. In Manipur, the demand is that AFSPA should be repealed. There is a Jeevan Reddy committee report. We have discussed this a couple of times.

“As I said, there is no consensus yet and I am trying to build consensus..I have not succeeded so far. There is a statement of the Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) that we will replace the AFSPA with a more humane act. So we are trying,” he said.

The army has conveyed its apprehensions to the Defence Ministry that replacement of AFSPA or any dilution could hamper its operational capabilities to effectively deal with militancy and insurgency.

“On the first route (in JK) there is a consensus at the Centre. Now at the operational level, the JK govt would have to, in the Unified Command, agree to review the application of Disturbed Areas Act.

“If they are able to lift the DAA from, say five places, then AFSPA would not apply to those five places. So that is something which they have to do and I am in touch with the Chief Minister (Omar Abdullah),” Chidambaram said, adding Omar has to “weigh the pros and cons and then decide when to do it, where to do it. That is for them.”

Omar’s government in the state has already constituted a Committee earlier this year to review the DAA. The Committee comprises Director General of Police, Home Secretary and Corps Commander of 15 Corps (for Kashmir) and Corps Commander of 16-Corps (for Jammu).

The Committee has met twice so far and is expected to meet again next month.

The AFSPA gives the Army the powers to detain and, if the situation warrants, eliminate suspected terrorists when they are fighting insurgents without the fear of prosecution.

The Act is only in force in some areas in Kashmir and insurgency-affected states in the north east.

The Second Administrative Reforms Committee had suggested to the government replacing of the Act with an amended law which gives the Centre the right to deploy the Army or para-military forces in situations involving national security.

Messi magic set to unfold in Indian soil

Kolkata: Superstar footballer Lionel Messi is set to keep his date with India and unfold his magic when he leads Argentina in a FIFA international friendly against Venezuela on Friday when the euphoria of one of the most high-profile matches in the country reaches the crescendo.

History will be scripted at the 120,000-capacity Yuba Bharati Krirangan at Salt Lake when the two time world champions with the world’s best footballer in their ranks take on their South American rivals.

24-year-old Messi, the twice World Footballer of the Year and nicknamed ‘The Flea’, will be cynosure of all eyes for the football-crazy city that had in the past hosted the likes of Pele, Oliver Kahn, Diego Maradona, Gerd Muller and Diego Forlan.

The response of the football fans has not been as overwhelming as compared to Pele’s visit with Cosmos for an exhibition fixture against Mohun Bagan in 1977 or more recently the euphoria generated by Maradona.

But it will hardly matter to coach Alejandro Sabella who will debut as Argentina coach.

After their debacle in Copa America where they are champions 14 times but failed to get past quarterfinals this time in July, Argentina are in process of rebuilding their side under Sabella with an eye on 2014 World Cup.

From here the Argentines travel to Dhaka for a second friendly against Nigeria on September 6.

The former Estudiantes coach, who takes over the reigns of the national team after the dismissal of Sergio Batista, who was fired after their quarterfinal exit in Copa America in July, has already shown his eagerness to begin on a winning note.

Messi has been in the prime form of his career in FC Barcelona and notwithstanding the criticism over his dip in performance when he dons Argentina jersey, he will be the cynosure of all eyes.

There is also the Real Madrid duo of Angel Di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain, another FC Barcelona star Javier Mascherano who will will no more have the captaincy burden, besides other top players who will be seen in action.

In Copa America under Batista, a 4-3-3 formation was employed but with Sabella saying that he wants to give Messi a free hand it remains to be seen about the formation.

Three Argentina players – Lisandro Lopez, Cristian Ansaldi and Ezequiel Garay – have been ruled out of tomorrow’s match after suffering injury blows while playing for their respective clubs but Sabella has enough ammunition to make a winning start.

“My first game in command of the team. It’s very important to make a good beginning. Winning will give us confidence. Yes this is the beginning of a long trip ahead and hope it finishes with qualification to the World Cup,” Sabella said.

But Venezuela, who finished fourth in Copa America will definitely not be a cakewalk and an upset cannot be ruled out for the Messi and Co.

Incidentally, this will be the real dress rehearsal for both the teams who will lock horns again on October 11 in a 2014 World Cup qualifier.

Besides the big names, there are also quite a few to look out for in the Albicelestes ranks, including the home grown goalkeeper Esteban Andrada, the only player in the team who does not play in Europe.

Andrada, who was the first to reach here along with coach Sabella, had long goalkeeping drill and there is chance, though small, of him coming in place of the experienced Sergio Romero for a debut at the senior level.

Sabella, in his interaction to the media, had revealed his plans of bringing a playmaker to leave Messi in a comfort zone and the highly-rated Ricardo Alvarez, a lanky creative midfielder who joined Inter from Velez Sarsfield this summer, fits the bill.

Known for their beauty queens, Venezuela’s football was not known till 1967 when they first competed in Copa America. Straightaway, they finished fifth in the coveted Latin American tournament.

But football became more popular in the baseball-oriented country when the former Spanish colony hosted Copa America in 2007 and made it to the quarterfinals.

Coach Cesar Farias said they are no more the Cindrella football country and their fourth place finish in Copa America 2011 only affirms that.

“In recent years, we have able to been grow in the leagues. In Copa America we had a very good presentation. Results in Copa America showed that the teams are very close right now. We are obligated to be in the next World Cup,” Farias said about the 44th ranked side who have the dubious distinction of being the only South American country not to qualify for the World Cup till now.

Their recent rise definitely will be a threat to the Argentines who exited from the Copa America quarterfinals after losing to Uruguay.

Venezuela will bank on their talismanic captain Juan Arango. The 31-year-old midfielder, who currently plays for Borussia Monchengladbach, is the most capped player.

Getafe’s Nicolas Fedor and Salomon Rondon will be the ones to watch out for in the Venezuelan forward line-up and coach Farias will bank on the duo to bring their scoring touch in the battle against Argentina.

The Squads:

Argentina:

Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero, Estaban Andrada, Mariano Andujar.

Defenders: Martin Demichelis, Federico Fernandez, Nicolas Burdisso, Nicolas Otamendi, Pablo Zabaleta, Nicolas Pareja, Marcos Rojo.

Midfielders: Angel Di Maria, Javier Mascherano, Ever Banega, Ricardo Alvarez, Fabian Rinaudo, Jonas Gutierrez, Javier Pastore, Luis Gonzalez, Jose Sosa.

Forwards: Gonzalo Higuain, Lionel Messi, Eduardo Salvio, Sergio Aguero.

Coach: Alejandro Sabella.

Venezuela Squad:

Goalkeepers: Rafael Romo, Renny Vega, Daniel Hernandez.

Defenders: Andres Tunez, Oswaldo Vizcarrondo, Cesar Gonzalez, Roberto Rosales, Rolf Feltscher, Fernando Amorebieta, Rohel Briceno, Josef Martinez

Midfielders: Franco Signorelli, Josmar Zambrano, Tomas Rincon, Yohandry Orozco, Raul Gonzalez, Gabriel Cichero, Juan Arango, Frank Feltscher, Julio Alvarez, Luis Manuel Seijas.

Forwards: Nicolas Fedor, Salomon Rondon, Mario Rondon.

Coach: Cesar Farias.

Match Commissioner: Col Goutam Kar

Referee: A Rowan; Assistant Referees: Biplab Poddar, Dinesh Nair and Franky Fernandes; Fourth official: Pratap Singh.

Kick off: 7 pm

Students pulled out from movie hall

IMPHAL, Sep 1: In all 28 students have reportedly been roun-ded up by volunteers of Kangleipak Students’ Association (KSA)  from Pratap Talkies cinema hall for watching movie during school/college hours and in uniforms of their respective institutions.

speaking to newsper-sons at its Sega Road head office today, KSA vice president Thangjam Premananda said those pulled up from the cinema hall include nine  students of Zenith Academy, five HRD Academy students, three each studying at Brilliance School and Johnstone Hr Sec School, Biramangol College, Budhachandra College and Manipur Public School accounting for two each while one each were from Temple of Learning and Digambar Jain School.

While informing that all 28 are class IX or XII standard students and had either skipped class to watch the movie or sneaked into the cinema hall while shopping for the forthcoming Teachers’ Day celebr- ation, Premananda urged school/college authorities to refrain from levying excessive monetary donation from the students for the celebration. Executive member of Film Forum Manipur namely M Eepu said drive against students watching movies during school/college hours had been jointly carried out by members of the Forum and KSA.

Faith in Action (FIA) enters quaterfinal in India's Got Talent Season 3

Faith in Action (FIA), a martial arts group from Nagaland, which has entered into the quarterfinals round of “India’s Got Talent Season 3”, received a standing ovation in 

the quarterfinals, after their brilliant performance.
The event was shot at EyeDeam Studio, Mum

bai with hosts Mayang Chang and Gautam Rode. The reality show is being judged by Bollywood superstar Dharemendra, Sonali Bendre and Kiron Kher. 



 

The show would be telecast on September 3 at 

9pm at Colors channel and a repeat telecast on the same channel on September 4 at 8am, and 11am. Right after the telecast on September 3, the voting lines would be open for the public till 9am next morning.

The show would have two Bollywood celebrities, Tusshar Kapoor and Shreyas Talpade.
FIA team leader, Deep Kumar, who is leading a 10-member team to the reality show has appealed to the people of Nagaland and northeast to vote for them so that they can emerge as winners. To vote, SMS FIA and send it to 56882.

It may be mentioned here that FIA is the only team from the entire northeast, which was selected during the screening round held last month.



FIA : India's Got Talent Season 3 - Faith in Action stages thrilling martial arts (Ep.6, 3/8)

 

Loyala School Organized Annual Seminar On Naga Culture

 

Cultural Club of Loyola School, Jakhama organized its annual seminar on the topic “Rootedness in Naga culture amidst growing modern society” on August 27.   Around 80 students participated in the programme.         Headmaster Br Antony SJ invoked God’s blessings while Rokobeinuo Pfiikha of class 10 proposed the welcome address.

Speaking as chief guest, Rokovizo John Meze said the modern generation was modernizing everything including language and those who do not speak modern form of the language were labeled as ‘bastiwallas’.

He also spoke on the changing structures in villages and negative attitude of educated youngsters towards elders and further cautioned the students not to fall prey to such unhealthy trends.
The chief guest also exhorted the students to learn the art of weaving and basket-making.

Earlier, the programme began with a traditional group song competition for the members in which Kigwema village group stood first, Jakhama village group came second and Mima village group bagged the third position.

A special number was also presented by the boarders and a concluding song was presented by the entire gathering in traditional folk tune. 

-NP

Two Tripura Teachers for President Medal

Two teachers of Tripura have been nominated for the President’s medal for distinguished service in the field of education.
The teachers are Kalyan Kumar Purakayasta, assistant headmaster of Fatikroy Higher secondary school and Kramfru Mog, headmistress of Manu Bankul H S School, primary division.

An official communiqué of Education department of Tripura said, the President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil will award them on September 5 at New Delhi during the observance of ‘Teacher Day’

ANTA protest Against Multipurpose Project Dam Project In Chandel

Resisting the construction of Chakpikarong Multipurpose Project Dam in Chandel district of Manipur, aggrieved villagers under the aegis of Anal Naga Tangpi (ANTA) today said that the proposed mega project does not comply with World Commission of Dams (WCD) and therefore violates the Environment Protection Acts besides causing grievous threat to life and natural equilibrium. 

Meanwhile, twelve chiefs of the affected area who had entered into an understanding with the government have withdrawn their signatures.

“More than thirty two upstream and over 100 downstream villages will be affected if theproposed Chakpikarong multipurpose project dam comes to fruition”, said All Naga Tangpi (ANTA) president Wng. Kohring Victor at a one-day consultative meeting of Anal community at Ruwngchang Chakpikarong in Chandel district today, and added that it will not allow construction of the dam.

The Anal people are not anti-development but against any socio-economic, cultural and racial threat posed by the negative impacts of the dam under the initiative of Manipur Government with assistance from the Central Government, he added.

He said that the dimension of the dam is 78 m high and 510 m long with an estimated submergence area of over 3,568.78 hectares. The dam is likely to displace several villages from the proposed site (Lijong) in the south and several agricultural jhum and wet, arable land towards the east, west and north and severely affect socio-economy of our indigenous people with the loss of rich biodiversity, land, people and natural resources, he said.

According to Victor, the site is a seismic prone zone and does not conform to therecommendation of WCD. “Non compliance of World Commission of Dams (WCD)prescriptions will violate the environment protection acts and this will invite world equilibrium disturbances”, he said.

ANTA has therefore urged the State and the Central Government to cancel the projectfailing which the tribal body will be forced to resort to democratic means of agitations in order to protect and safeguard their land and resources.

In the meanwhile, the twelve village chiefs who had earlier signed an understanding with the government that allowed for the construction of the proposed multi-crore projecttoday withdrew their signature and apologised to the Anal community through a customary ritualistic sacrifice.

HL Thungam, president of Chakpikarong Chiefs’ Association said that the twelve chiefshave been forgiven.

-AT

Funny and crazy newspaper headlines

What goes around, comes around! Click the pic to read the article online.



Talk about funny headlines...!






Civil War planes? Lemme know how that works out...



Must be one of those celebrity-without-makeup pictures...



And you wonder why...






Yeah, don't you hate those guys at DOE who do the NEPA's EIS on BNFL's AMWTP at INEEL after SRA protests?



"This is an artist's conception of the Mount Pleasant High School footballfield Friday after an electrical transformer blew, knocking out the stadium lights."



"We had no idea anyone was buried there"






"I wouldn't do it again" says the hero, "she's been a pain this week"









Please, if you've seen this man...



What are the odds of that?









Mistress of the universe... Now that sounds like a lot of work!



Here's the winner of a local dog look-alike contest... He does look exactly like his dog!



Ok, that's just mean

Baba Ramdev's Scotland island prompts formal inquiry

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate has filed a case stating that yoga icon Baba Ramdev and his trust have violated foreign exchange laws. The case centres upon an island in Scotland that was gifted to Baba Ramdev by a wealthy couple of Indian origin who say they are his followers.

Early last month, the Enforcement Directorate had asked UK authorities to share records of the purchase of The Little Cumbrae Island, which serves as the yoga icon's base abroad.

According to sources, the agency has found evidence that Baba Ramdev and his trusts receiving unauthorised financial assistance from the US, New Zealand and Britain.

However, Ved Pratap Vaidik, a close associate of the yoga teacher, said, "The timing of the case is suspect. If the government had all this information, why did they not file a case earlier?"
Baba Ramdev's massive yoga camp in Delhi in June made headlines after thousands of people who had gathered there were lathi-charged late at night. The Supreme Court is reviewing the police's actions.

The camp had been organised by Baba Ramdev to highlight the need to recover black money or undeclared income funnelled into foreign bank accounts by Indians.

The yoga icon held extensive negotiations with the government over his suggestions for how to tackle the problem. When the talks broke down, the government allegedly sanctioned the police sanction at his camp. The police says that Ramdev added to the chaos by leaping off his stage into the crowd when the police arrived to arrest him. They said he had violated the permission sanctioned to his camp by turning it into a political demonstration.

The yoga teacher was found walking toward the railway station dressed as a woman.

 

One mosquito coil equals 100 cigarettes, says expert

New Delhi:  Smoke emitted from one mosquito repellent coil is equivalent to those of 100 cigarettes, thus causing harm to a large number of people in India, an expert said on Wednesday.

"Not many people know about it, but the damage done to your lungs by one mosquito coil is equivalent to the damage done by 100 cigarettes. This was according to a recent study conducted in Malyasia," said Chest Research Foundation director Sandeep Salvi.

He was speaking at the conference 'Air Pollution and Our Health', organised by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) along with the Indian Council for Medical Research and the Indian Medical Association.

Mr Salvi said there is a lack of awareness about the impact of air pollution on human health.

Pointing out the "lack of research culture" among Indian doctors, Salvi said that indoor air pollution too is a health risk factor.

Participants at the event, which included doctors and health researchers, also spoke about vehicular air pollution in the capital.

According to estimates, about 55 per cent of Delhi's population lives within 500 metres from main roads - and is, therefore, prone to a variety of physical disorders.

"The vehicular pollution is a major concern for the environment. The rising incidents of genetic disorder have a lot to do with air pollution. India loses one million children under five because of respiratory problems every year," said Sanjeev Bagai, the chief executive officer of Batra Hospitals.

He said industries also contribute to the air pollution and these need to be shifted out of the capital.

Sharmila says Anna's movement artificial

Imphal: While Indians seem to be exulting in Anna Hazare's successful fast, far away in Manipur, there is a voice that seems to going unheard. Irom Sharmila has been on fast for 3,763 days today, just short of 11 years. Called the 'Iron lady of Manipur,' she is fasting to demand the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, which gives the armed forces wide ranging powers to shoot, arrest and search civilians.

Irom Sharmila was invited by Team Anna to join Anna Hazare's fast at Ramlila grounds in Delhi. But she was not able to go because she is in judicial custody. In an interview to NDTV she expressed disappointment with the Hazare movement saying, "It's (Anna Hazare's movement) somewhat artificial, how can we eradicate corruption? In my case I am a simple woman who wants to reform society. I have no idea about social activists or social workers."

Despite her disappointment with Hazare, Irom Sharmila said that she had no objection to meeting the veteran Gandhian. Reacting to reports that Hazare may come to Imphal to meet her, she added that he was welcome to come, as long as his conscience allowed it.

Irom Sharmila also expressed her disappointment with the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for failing to keep his promise of amending the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). "I don't like his (the Prime Minister's) leadership. When he couldn't keep his promise, it is a shame". Singh had made the promise in 2004.

source: ndtv

 

Facebook adding music services: Sources

NEW YORK: Facebook is putting finishing touches to new features on users' home pages that deeply integrate music services from partners including Spotify, MOG, Rhapsody, Slacker and Rdio, according to people familiar with the plans.

The music platform is expected to be unveiled at Facebook's developer conference, which kicks off on September 22.

Facebook was not immediately available for comment. Though Facebook is the world's most popular social networking services with more than 750 million users, its founder Mark Zuckerberg is keen to increase the amount of time users spend in the Facebook environment.

Music is said to be just one aspect of the strategy to improve Facebook's 'stickiness' and it is also expected to partner with other media content owners like movie studios.

"They are working on a platform for music where the goal is to create a connective tissue for fans," said one person familiar with the talks who asked not to be named as the plans are confidential.

Facebook has declined to comment on its new music platform before, but in July several technology blogs reported a software engineer had uncovered programming code for a Facebook product called 'Vibes' for music downloading.

Facebook could give an important boost to its fledgling music streaming partners as they try to compete in a digital music sector dominated by Apple Inc's iTunes's download store. Apple is also readying a streaming service called iTunes Match expected to launch this fall.

The largest music subscription service, Rhapsody, has about 800,000 paying users after nearly 10 years. The next largest in the United States is believed to be Slacker, which claims some 400,000 subscribers, while more recent start-ups like MOG and Rdio are estimated to have significantly less than that.

London-based Spotify, which launched in the United States in July, has more than 1 million paying subscribers and some 10 million users registered to its free access service across Europe. Spotify is believed to have partly benefited from its early integration into Facebook's platform.

The most popular music app on Facebook is currently BandPage, a service from RootMusic that enables artists to market their songs, videos and tour dates. It has over 250,000 artists and 30 million active users monthly. Last month it raised $16 million in Series B funding.

While all the existing music services can already be used on Facebook, the deeper integration will enable Facebook users who are subscribers to a service to share songs and playlists seamlessly with each other and to see what friends are listening to, and more.

The digital music services hope Facebook users will sign up with them after seeing friends sharing playlists that require subscription.

Another senior executive close to the talks said social networking is important to help overcome one of the key challenges for digital music companies: how to help fans discover new music rather than just search for artists and songs they already know. "Your friends are engaging with you on Facebook, he said. "It's the new form of radio or TV."

Though the prospective business partners have high hopes for Facebook, combining social networking and digital music hasn't always been a guarantee of success.

In 2008, Myspace -- then still a leading social network -- created a music service in partnership with major labels. It had early traction, but not enough to save Myspace's popularity from collapsing.

Youth run over in Tinsukia, tankers torched

DIBRUGARH: Irate locals torched two oil tankers at Longswal in Tinsukia district after a youth was run over by a vehicle on Wednesday morning.

Amitabh Dey (19) was knocked down by an oil tanker on NH-37 at Longswal at 7.15 am while he was on his way home riding his motorcycle, police said. The victim, a resident of Chapori village of Doomdooma, died on the spot. The tanker driver fled the scene with the vehicle after the incident but later surrendered at Bordubi Police station. The accident infuriated the locals who came out in hundreds and assembled at the spot, blocking the national highway. The mob torched two oil tankers which were passing through the area at that time. The fire was, however, extinguished and a major tragedy was prevented as one of the tankers was loaded with fuel at that time.

Soon, police arrived and tried to disperse the crowd. But they had to fire in the air to bring the situation under control. Tinsukia DC SS Meenakshi Sundaram and SP PP Singh also arrived at the scene and managed to pacify the crowd after a long discussion. The highway was finally cleared for traffic at 11 am. Significantly, people of the area were already peeved at the high frequency of road accidents on busy highway caused by trucks and tankers travelling at break-neck speed in the recent past.

Northeast law university enrols first batch of students

GUWAHATI: The first batch of students got enrolled in the first National Law University of the northeast in Guwahati on Tuesday.

The administration and students are hopeful that the new addition to the law universities will open up a new avenue for professional law studies in the northeast and provide scope for students of law to avail a high-quality infrastructure to compete with the best law schools any where on the globe.

Speaking to TOI on Tuesday, vice-chancellor of the National Law University, Assam, Gurjit Singh expressed his willingness to work for taking professionalism in law education to new heights in the northeastern region and especially Assam.

The classes for five-year integrated BA LLB course for the first batch would start on September 1 at the university with 25 per cent seats reserved for students of Assam.

"Undoubtedly, the law university which is the 13{+t} {+h} organization in India, would be able to cater to the needs of law students of the northeast. The Assam government and the University Grants Commission will fund various development projects to be taken up in the coming days. Funds will also be provided from the Annual Central Assistance", Singh added.

He said the world class library and the Centre of excellence is equipped with extensive study on international humanitarian law, comparative law, and consumer protection law, human rights etc.

"We would urge UGC to provide infrastructure to set up an academic staff college for training law faculties. The LLM and PhD programme will also commence from next academic session", he added.

The vice-chancellor said a memorandum of understanding will be signed with foreign universities and government-run national law schools so that students can be sent to other leading law institutes as part of exchange programmes.

Officer on special duty Virendra Mittal said an attempt is being made to shift the National Law University, Assam to permanent campus at Amingaon in North Guwahati. "The total expenditure of the project in North Guwahati is about Rs 350 crores. We have already got 21 acres allotted and more land allotment process of another 26 acres would be completed by November. Order has been made for an online law library at the university," Mittal added.

Dinesh Rajpurohit, who have come all the way from Rajasthan to get enrolled in the law university says the high quality of education in the National Law Universities have brought him to Guwahati.

"To become a successful lawyer is what in my mind today. The National Law Universities are the best", he said.

Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court, Madan B Lokur is the Chancellor of National Law University of Assam.

CM summoned by PM and HM

IMPHAL,: Concerned with the complicacies arising out of the demand for Sadar Hills district and its subsequent counter-demand made by some Naga organizations in the state, Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh and Union Home Minister P Chidambaram have summoned Chief Minister Okram Ibobi to give them an explanation on the action plan taken up by the state to address the volatile issue.



According to a highly placed official source, Chief minister Okram Ibobi will leave Imphal for Delhi this morning as per the summon made by the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister at Delhi to give explanation on every step and measure taken up by the state government to bring an amicable solution to resolve the ongoing bandh and blockade imposed along the national highways of the state by two major tribal communities on Sadar Hills issue.

It may be recalled that the people of the state in general have been facing problems of scarcity of essential commodities in the state due to prolonged economic blockade imposed along the highways. The matter has become a serious issue for the state at present as it has started affecting the administrative reforms of the state.

Thousands of students deprived of education due to Sadar Hills stir

IMPHAL, Aug 31: Thousands of students studying in schools and colleges located in Sadar Hills area have been affected seriously due to the ongoing impasse arising out of the demand for separate Sadar Hills district.

The impasse is likely to continue for another more months as there is no immediate certainty on granting districthood by the state government.

The impasse will complete one month tomorrow but the Sadar Hills people are in no mood to give up their agitations. It is evident from the recent public meetings held in Gamgiphai and Kangpokpi organized by the Sadar hills districthood demand committee (SHDDC), wherein people strongly voiced for continuation of the ongoing stir until their demand is met.

The agitation is posing a threat to the career of thousands students in Sadar Hills area as all educational institutions remain paralyzed for nearly a month now.

Talking to IFP, A. Singsit, Deputy Inspector (DI) of School-Saitu Gamphajol, said there are about altogether 136 schools under the Saitu Gamphajol sub-division, of which around 23 schools which are not under the radar of the bandh are functioning while about 117 schools including some private schools have been paralyzed totally due to the ongoing stir of the Sadar hills issue for almost a month. The DI further informed that there are around 7000 students alone in the Saitu Gamphajol division, which extended till Bishnupur and some section along the NH-37.

Around 80 schools of approximately 100 schools located from Kangpokpi to Molnom area also remained defunct due to the stir, he said.

The DI maintained that with the academic session nearing its end further delay, besides the loss of almost a month, will become an enormous challenge for the authority to complete the syllabus in stipulated time.

He observed that even if the education institutes are relaxed from the purview of the agitation, the teachers and students will find it hard to attend their respective institutions due to non-availability of transportation system.

In the meantime, talking to IFP over the phone, SHDDC president Ngamkhohao Haokip, when ask whether the committee is considering on relaxing educational institution from the purview of their agitation while citing the career of the students who have been deprived of attending schools following their agitation. He responded that the committee is aware of the situation however the matter will be decided by the people of the sadar hills.

The SHDDC imposed economic blockade from after midnight of July 31 on both the National Highways in the state restricting only movement of commercial vehicles however the entire Sadar area especially along the NH-2 (formerly known as NH-39) came to a grinding halt when the committee imposed an indefinite general strike on both the highways on the midnight of August 2, as a mark of protest of the death of three protestors in three separate incidents at Kangpoki, Kanglatombi and Charhazar, during the blockade the same day.

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Naga Band airs on VH1

Years of studio effort to create original sound for themselves and to stand apart from other rock bands in India has finally come to limelight for the very popular rock band ‘ALOBO NAGA & THE BAND’ from our very own Dimapur, Nagaland as their first band music video single.

‘Painted Dreams’ was world premiered in International channel VH1 on August 15, 2011.
The band ‘ALOBO NAGA & THE BAND’ is all set to release their first studio outing in the month of September 2011. The album is titled as ‘Painted Dreams’ and the title track ‘Painted Dreams’ was the official song for 1st Guwahati International Short Film Festival.
The music video was produced & conceptualized by Creovaent Productions, Guwahati and has been directed by Mr. Prithish Chakraborty & Ms. Puja Chakraborty from Creovaent Productions.

The band is endorsed by SPIRIT UNDERGROUND and the company has played an important role in giving exposure to the band. The record label for the band is U.M (Unicornis Movement) PRO RECORDS – North-East India’s
First Independent Record Label who looks after entire band management, promotion and marketing. The band is schedule for their album promotion tour from the month of

September 2011 onwards and tour has been named as ‘Painted Dreams’. The band members includes Alobo Naga , Akum Jams , DJ Sumika , Fung Walling and Theja Khate.

 



 

 

Alobo Naga & The Band is a Contemporary Progressive Rock band from Dimapur, Nagaland, formed in the summer of 2010. The Band comprises of five musically talented youngsters, hell-bent on creating good music and has several shows to its credit since its inception in Nagaland and outside the state. The Band’s song ‘Painted Dreams’ was selected as the Theme Song of the prestigious International Short Film Festival 2011 – Guwahati. The band is currently working on their first EP “Painted Dreams” which will be released soon.

 Details about the band members :

Alobo Naga, a Grade 8 certificate holder in Concert performance in Contemporary Vocals from Rock School Under Trinity School of Music London. He is a very famous and established solo Pop artist from Nagaland, who is also a Vocal Trainer at Furtados School of Music, Dimapur.

Theja Khate is an example, Plays Drums & Percussion and also Hold Grade 8 Concert performance certificate in Classical Vocals from Trinity School of Music London, and have performed many shows as a vocalist in Broadway Show, and many other concerts. Former Drummer of Sunep Ensemble Band, Nagaland.

Akum Jams, former Guitarist of the Metal band " Melodrama from Nagaland, befittingly rock and rollish looking, with a multitude of tattoos is the lead guitarist and also sings.

Fung Walling playing the bass guitar is a music teacher and works at Furtados School of Music and a former member of a very famous Christian band "Blended for Him".

Dj Sumika makes the band a unique factor as its the only band in Nagaland or even North East to ever have a Turntablist playing alongside is definitely a plus wow factor. He is currently teaching in Furtados School of Music, Dimapur.

Interview by Indianrockmp3

IRMP3: Hey man! Thanks for taking time for this interview, how’s it going? What have you and the band been up to?
Alobo Naga : Hey Thanks for having me, M honoured. Well so far so good, Getting ready to release our Band’s first EP and gearing up for our “PAINTED DREAMS TOUR”. After our song Painted Dreams music video was featured on VH1, We are very excited at the same time, scared because people are having more expectations from us now.

IRMP3: Since this is yor first time on our site, can you introduce yourself and the band to our readers?
AN : Hi I am Alobo Naga, I am a solo singer from Nagaland, I do Soulful & Acoustic, jazz kinda genre, but right now I am working with my band, Alobo Naga & The Band, We have Akum Jams on guitar (former Guitarist of Metal band Melodrama), Fung Walling on Bass , Theja Khate on Drums (Another Grade 8 in classical Vocals) and DJ Sumika on the Turntables . We do Contemporary Progressive rock & alternative, we have a Turntablist in the band, which makes us different from the rest of the bands out here in North East, and ya! we also try to make our Music different from the rest.

IRMP3: Alobo Naga & the Band just released a four Song EP titled ‘Painted Dreams’, tell us more about it, How do you describe your music to (non-Gospel) listeners.
AN: The Band is yet to release our debut EP “PAINTED DREAMS”, we are releasing this September, We do have Christian messages but it is applicable to all the listeners which they can relate it with their life. I should say all the 4 songs are different from each other. We do like to experiment lots with our music, specially with the tones and the Turntable effect. It might sound a bit Linkin Park-ish or Incubus-ish to some of you but over all we do have some elements in our music that you can call it..”Its totally Alobo Naga & the bands” music,, m/

IRMP3: Tell us about making of video for ‘Painted dreams’
AN : We had no plans to make the video at all so early, but by God’s Grace our song was selected to be the official Theme Song of International Short Film Festival Guwahati 2011. So we got chance to make a music video to be screened during the festival, and thus how we came up with this video. The overall experience was like a dream..

IRMP3: You are a grade 8 in Contemporary Vocals who learnt guitar at a young age and wrote songs when you were 12, you’ve been a part of ‘Nice & Ugly’ won many awards etc, the list is long, but then the ‘encounter’ what was the turning point all about?
AN : Yes I have been doing music for quite a long time now, I did my Grade 8 Certificate in contemporary vocals from Rock school Trinity school of music London. I was going on as a solo artist for long, and the other members were all playing in different bands. They all helped me in one of my show and from there we realized that we could gel well and moreover the music we create was something different so decided to stick together and we played few more shows together and thus finally here we are now as a Team.

IRMP3: Pardon my knowledge about bands from Nagaland, So far I only know about Abiogensis, please tell our readers what the ‘Scene’ is like in Nagaland?
AN : The Music scene is getting better as the year rolls by, comparing to those days. Now since the State Government has recognised Music as an Industry, many people are taking it serious and taking it as a career option rather than just as a hobby. There are many bands which are doing good not just here but even outside the state, Bands like Divine Connection who won the MTV Desi Beat contest, Melodramawho won the Campus Rock Idol, UDX (Dementia) XTC, OFF (Winner of Hornbill National Rock contest),Incipit and many other upcoming bands are also doing good besides the Solo artist.

IRMP3: It’s a common misunderstanding that the ‘mainland’ Indie Media does not promote bands from North East India, where as I find it is the NE bands who refuse to promote themselves over the internet. What do you have to say about this statement?
AN : No doubt there are many talented and potential bands from our North East, Its just that we are a bit laid back when it comes to PR section & publicity. Maybe we don’t go out much so the mainland media fails to capture us but also at the same time I feel they don’t put an effort to come here and cover the music scenes. Anyways I do agree that many of us fail to take advantages of promoting ourselves through Internet.

IRMP3: I know this question will tick you off, North East is plagued by insurgencies, Nagaland too has faced the brunt of it, and how has music, and ‘Gospel rock’ in particular played a role in this situation?
AN : We as a Christian artist & band, we do carry lot of messages in our songs how to be one and live as one, about peace, love and unity. Indeed music plays a big role by bringing all the youths together and spread the awareness & message of peace, Love & Unity. Indeed these problems are just part of our life now but we do pray and hope that one day it will all be over.

IRMP3: What is Alobo Naga like on free time? What do you enjoy apart from Music and Religion?
AN : I am always into music, when am not doing shows, I am teaching Music, busy in the church leading Praise & worship, writing, composing and recording in the studio. But I do love hanging out with the band & my friends during weekends, I love cooking, watching movies and Facebooking..lol

IRMP3: Thanks for your time man, and your message to your fans and IRMP3
AN : Hey thanks for having me once again, I am honoured, well Thank you all for stopping by and reading this interview of mine. Well to all the musicians ‘Keep the music alive’ and lets all try to create positive energy out of music in someone’s life and try to bring up the standard of music in India. And to all the listeners & readers do keep supporting us, cos we are nothing without you guys and together we can achieve our dreams. Thank you & God bless