SHILLONG: BJP leader Basil Lamin will contest as an Independent candidate from Nongkrem constituency. In a staement issued here on Thursday, Lamin said the decision was due to the pressure from his BJP supporters and the people of Nongkrem.
NKorea plans nuke test aimed at US
Seoul: North Korea on Thursday said that it planned to carry out a third nuclear test and more rocket launches aimed at its “arch-enemy” the United States in response to tightened UN sanctions.
Following a UN Security Council meeting this week, the communist state hurled fresh invective at its US-led foes in a statement from its National Defence Commission, without specifying when the atomic test might be carried out.
But it said the test — which would follow detonations in 2006 and 2009 that were hotly condemned around the world — would be part of an “upcoming all-out action” that would mark a “new phase” of the country’s anti-US struggle.
“We do not hide that the various satellites and long-range rockets we will continue to launch, as well as the high-level nuclear test we will proceed with, are aimed at our arch-enemy the United States,” the commission said.
“Settling accounts with the US needs to be done with force, not with words,” it added in the statement, carried by the official Korean Central News Agency.
It did not elaborate on the meaning of “high-level”. Some experts have predicted that the North’s next atomic test might be of a uranium bomb, rather than the plutonium devices it detonated on the two previous occasions. Such a development would indicate it had mastered the sophisticated technology needed to produce highly enriched uranium (HEU).
The North’s threat coincided with a visit to Seoul by the US special envoy on North Korea, Glyn Davies, who urged Pyongyang not to challenge the international community with a third test.
“Whether North Korea tests or not, it’s up to North Korea,” Davies told reporters after a meeting with his South Korean counterpart, speaking shortly before the North’s statement.
“We hope they don’t do it, we call on them not to do it. It would be a mistake and a missed opportunity if they were to do it,” he said.
South Korea’s foreign ministry spokesman voiced deep regret over the test threat and urged Pyongyang to heed the international community’s “constant warnings” against further provocative acts.
Much of the North’s statement was devoted to condemning Tuesday’s announcement by the UN Security Council of expanded sanctions against Pyongyang in response to its long-range rocket launch last month.
Tuesday’s resolution, proposed by the United States, was adopted unanimously by the 15-nation council, including the North’s sole major ally China.
China, which had sought to shield North Korea from harsher sanctions sought by the United States and its allies, appealed on Wednesday for restraint and diplomatic efforts to avoid a dangerous escalation of tensions.
“The DPRK’s (North Korea’s) satellite launch as well as speculation of a nuclear test highlight the urgency and importance of settling relevant issues on the Korean peninsula,” foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters. (AFP)
Tripura militant sent to 14-day custody
From Our Correspondent
Agartala: The banned outfit-All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) suffered one of the worst jolts after its self-styled supremo Ranjit Debbarma was ‘detained’ by DGFI in Bangladesh recently.
The dreaded rebel leader was sent to judicial custody after he was produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) here Thursday.
“I was pushed back by the Bangladeshi security forces Jan 16 through the Dawki India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya. Tripura Police brought me here Jan 18,” Debbarma told reporters while he was being escorted to the court by a heavy contingent of police forces.
However, a senior Tripura Police official told IANS: “Separatist outfit ATTF’s self-styled president was arrested Wednesday. Then senior police and intelligence officials have interrogated him overnight before he was produced in the court.”
Ranjit was brought to the CJM court in a police gypsy to avoid public and media attention.
A specific case was registered against the rebel leader at East police station under section 153(A)/153(B)/120(B)/121(A)/122 IPC & 10/13 U.L.A(P) Act).
Based on the inputs passed by ATTF’s army chief Chitta Debbarma who was surrendered before the Assam Rifles last month, Director General Field Intelligence (DGFI), intelligence wing of Bangladesh Army carried out a secret operation and detained the fugitive from an undisclosed location in Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh authority, later, handed the rebel leader over to Indian authority terming him as an intruder, according to highly placed sources.
The ‘arrest’ of the ATTF supremo is seen as significant achievement on the part of security agencies engaged in the state and the Assam Rifles played a vital role in gathering information leading to the detention of the rebel leader.
Founded on July 11, 1990, by a group of former Tripura National Volunteer members under the leadership of Ranjit Debbarma, ATTF was banned by the state government for subversive activities.
Ranjit Debbarma, president of ATTF is a resident of Esrai area under Sidhai police station and son of Krishna Debbarma from that area. ATTF main areas of activities were in the north-eastern part of the state- Sidhai, Khowai and Kamalpur.
Since its inception Satcherri, located just opposite to Mohanpur, about 20 km north of the state capital, had always acted as ATTF’s headquarters which is situated at the house of Jogesh Debbarma, a Tripuri tribal.
An opposition Congress leader in Tripura, Ratan Lal Nath demanded that he be interrogated by NIA (National Investigative Agency). Tripura’s two banned militant outfits – the ATTF and the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) – have set up bases in Bangladesh.
Tripura shares an 856-km border with Bangladesh, some of it unfenced and running through dense forests and mountainous, making it porous and vulnerable and advantageous for the terrorist outfits for their cross-border movements. (With inputs from IANS)
US military lifts ban on women in combat
Washington: US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has decided to allow women to serve in combat roles in the military, a senior official said today, as lawmakers termed the ground-breaking move as historic.
The announcement in this regard to lift the direct combat exclusion rule for women in the US military is expected by Panetta and General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, a senior US Defence official said.
“This policy change will initiate a process whereby the services will develop plans to implement this decision, which was made by the Secretary of Defence upon the recommendation of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,” the senior defence official said.
The official however provided no further details and did not indicate when the announcement might take place. US lawmakers termed it as a historic decision.
“I support it. It reflects the reality of 21st century military operations,” said Senator Carl Levin, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Ranking Republican Senator John McCain said he respects and support Panetta’s decision to lift the ban on women serving in combat.
“The fact is that American women are already serving in harm’s way today all over the world and in every branch of our armed forces.
Many have made the ultimate sacrifice, and our nation owes them a deep debt of gratitude,” he said.
“As this new rule is implemented, it is critical that we maintain the same high standards that have made the American military the most feared and admired fighting force in the world, particularly the rigorous physical standards for our elite Special Forces units,” McCain said.
Praising Panetta for overturning provisions that kept women from serving in front-line combat positions, Senator Ben Cardin said yet another glass ceiling is about to be shattered.
“I applaud Secretary Panetta’s actions that will open up thousands of front-line combat positions to America’s brave military women, giving them an equal opportunity to serve their nation, earn promotions and move up through the ranks as their male counterparts,” Cardin said.
“America’s military is the greatest in the world and it has been made stronger today with the promise of equal opportunity for women and men,” he said.
However, an eminent women’s group expressed its concern over Panetta’s decision.
“News of Defence Secretary Leon Panetta’s intent to lift the long-standing ban on women serving in direct combat is further proof that this administration simply does not care about the issues about which the majority of women care,” said Penny Nance, CEO and President of Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee (CWALAC). “Once again, their interest on women issues is driven by special interest groups.
The point of the military is to protect our country. Anything that distracts from that is detrimental,” she said.
“Our military cannot continue to choose social experimentation and political correctness over combat readiness,” she said.
“While this decision is not unexpected from this administration, it is still disappointing. Concerned Women for America (CWA) and its more than half-a-million members around the country will continue to do all we can to see that our men and women in uniform are governed with the respect and resources needed to do the hard task of fighting for and protecting our freedoms,” Nance said. (PTI)
Busy Hurley has no time to say ‘I do’
Actress Elizabeth Hurley says she wants to marry fiance Australian cricketer Shane Warne, but work commitments are making things difficult for them.
The couple has been engaged for over two years and getting married is a priority for them.
“We’d love to (get married), and it is top of our to-do list, but we just haven’t,” Hurley said after shooting for the cover page of Later magazine.
Hurley, 47, has a son Damian with businessman Steve Bing and Warne has three children Brooke, Summer and Jackson with ex-wife Simone Callahan and since the families are staying apart in Australia and Britain the idea of marriage becomes difficult.
“It is logistically quite difficult, because half the family are in Australia and half the family are here (in the Britain)” Hurley said. (IANS)
‘Nearly 20lakh expected to vote in NagaladAssembly polls next month’
Kohima: With nearly a week left for the assembly poll notification to be issued, Chief Electoral Officer(CEO) J Alam today said almost 20 lakh people are expected to vote in the 12th Nagaland Assembly Elections on February 23.
A total of 19,80,602, including 9,54,895 females, are expected to exercise their franchise, Mr Alam told a press conference here. He said the population growth in the Electoral Roll of 2013 is 59.2 per cent, with 57.9 per cent in males and 60.6 per cent in females.
The gender ratio among the electorate as per final roll of 2013 is 975 females per thousand males.
The state will have 2,023 polling stations. These will be manned by 14,161 polling personnel, besides the security forces. A total of 600 counting personnel will be engaged for counting of votes, he said.
Mr Alam said the Longhto Polling Station under Alongtaki constituency in Mokokchung district has the highest number of 3,642 voters while the lowest number of voters will be in Lichuyan polling station under Bhandari assembly constituency under Wokha district with only 32 voters.
Among the constituencies, Ghaspani I under Dimapur has the highest number of voters, while Mokokchung Town constituency has the lowest number of voters. He also informed that the number of newly enlisted voters is 16,322 and most of them are ‘first time voters.’
On the security arrangement, the CEO said the state had demanded a total of 250 companies of additional security forces, but the Union Home Ministry has sanctioned only 180 companies.
Besides, the state has two existing battalions of CRPF and approximately 13,000 personnel from the Nagaland Armed Police, Village Guards and Home Guards. The percentage of security will be one security man per 48 people. Moreover, there are 11 battalions of Assam Rifles, who will provide the ‘Environmental Security’ throughout the state, but will not be engaged in election duty.
Mr Alam also revealed that for the first time in Nagaland, there will be 11 police observers in the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police, who will come from outside the state and stationed in the district headquarters to monitor the policing by the state Police Department.
He also informed that a total of 13 Expenditure Observers will arrive on January 30. There will also be 22 General Observers appointed by the ECI. Mon and Mokokchung districts will have three each, for Kiphire, Peren and Longleng districts will have one each and the others will have two Observers each.
He informed that the notification would be issued on January 30, the last date of filing nomination papers is February 6. Scrutiny will be taken up the next day and the last date of withdrawal is on February 9. Counting will be taken up on February 28. (UNI)
Is the Governor above law?
Editor,
Recently, these facts came to my attention: The aide de camp of the Governor was traveling, in the company of two other men and two women in a vehicle which was struck in the rear by a truck on the GS Road after dark. None of these persons were able to get the license number of the truck, or give other sufficient identification of the truck, which fled the scene, and was not pursued by the aide de camp, nor apprehended. No one was physically injured and the government vehicle remained operable. The police handled the matter within the normal requirements of police procedure and were on the scene within 15 minutes. However, the aide de camp was not able to telephone a higher official of the police, and apparently complained to the Governor. This police officer has now been transferred.
The Common Law Side: In the middle ages the western world saw a struggle between the barons and the king to establish the fundamental rights of men, and prevent abuses of power. From this struggle came the Magna Carta series of documents which placed the king (the executive branch of government) under law. This meant the king could no longer act in an arbitrary and capricious way. The days of the Queen of Hearts shouting “Off with their Heads!” were over (Alice in Wonderland). In “modem-speak” this struggle produced the legal concept of due process. The due process concept guaranteed, among other things, that no employee of government should be punished without a notice of charges, the right to a hearing, the right to produce witnesses, the right to cross-examine, the right to an impartial trial of fact, and the right of appeal.
Even more fundamental was the requirement that the employee be guilty of a violation of statute, case law, or administrative law. The government could not punish an employee without legal cause. The days of punishment against civil servants for private or political reasons were over.
The Church Law Side: Wikipedia reports the seven deadly sins as wrath, greed, sloth, pride. lust, envy and gluttony. It further defines wrath (or “rage”) as inordinate and uncontrolled feelings of hatred and anger. Retaliation, and revenge, are the usual products of wrath.
Is this proper Governmental behavior? Some citizens have opined that this transfer is retaliatory and summary, a draconian, punishment against the police officer because the aide de camp (and his superior) were not given sufficient VIP treatment. Protests against this transfer are planned. Some citizens have suggested the Governor should have followed due process and explain the proper reasons for the transfer. However, no comment from the Governor or his staff is known to have been made.
What is the wrong? This writer knows of the wrongs and sins of commission, and wrongs and sins of omission, but finds none of them here. The wrong committed by the officer must be the failure to give sufficient homage and fealty to those in power. No matter how we look at these reported facts, the fundamental question remains: Is this the behavior we expect from those we allow to govern us?
Yours etc.,
Dr. Kitbong Publuis,
Shillong – 8
Illegal sale of liquor
Editor,
The recent surge in raids against illegal sale of liquor in some parts of the city by the crime branch of the Police is an eye-wash, as they target only few restaurants and turn a blind eye to the hundreds of joints and shades which are equally guilty of the same crime. It is very easy to make a section of community that has no voice as their target. Every day we read of serious crimes like rape , extortion, incest, child molestation, murder, drug peddling and gun running. They should be controlling such crimes and taking more stringent action against all such crimes. The recent attack on a VIP like Deborah Marak, is a clear failure on part of police information network.
If the police really thinks that all crimes are due to alcohol, then they should propose to the Government to make Meghalaya a dry state and close all wine stores. Perhaps this could then eradicate all crimes.
Yours etc.,
James Syiem
Shillong – 4
Hillary clashes with Republicans over Libya attack
Washington: An angry, combative and sometimes emotional Secretary of State Hillary clashed with Republican critics over her department’s handling of the Sep 11 terrorist attack in Libya even as she acknowledged a “systematic breakdown”.
“As I have said many times since September 11, I take responsibility,” Clinton said Wednesday at two long-anticipated congres-sional hearings examining the attack that became a major issue in the November presidential election.
Conservative Repu-blicans alleged, as they had during the election campaign, that US Ambassador to UN Susan Rice had misled the nation over the attack at the diplomatic compound in Benghazi in which Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three others were killed.
Rice, they said had provided an erroneous account by suggesting Sunday TV talk shows that the attack grew spontaneously from a protest over an anti-Islam film produced in the US.
“With all due respect, the fact is we had four dead Americans. Was it because of a protest or was it because of guys out for a walk one night decided they’d go kill some Americans,” an angry Clinton shot back.
“What difference, at this point, does it make? It is our job to figure out what happened and do everything we can to prevent it from ever happening again,” she said.
At both hearings, which together totalled more than five hours, Clinton acknowledged the “systemic breakdown” cited by an Accountability Review Board she appointed. Clinton said she had accepted all 29 of its recommendations, adding her department was taking additional steps to increase security at US diplomatic facilities around the world.
She also told both the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee that the FBI is pursuing what she called “very positive leads”.
But, the 2008 Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain, one of the harshest critics of the administration over the Benghazi attack, called Clinton’s testimony unsatisfactory. Democrats on both panels praised Clinton’s service and noted that House Republicans have voted to cut funding for diplomatic security.
However, Republicans rejected any connection between budget resources and vulnerability at the Benghazi compound, citing a report by a State Department financial officer. (IANS)
Jolie expecting another child?
Hollywood superstar
Angelina Jolie is
reportedly expecting another child with fiance Brad Pitt.
Jolie, 37, who is a mother of six kids, is hiding from the public eyes these recent days because she has been battling morning sickness and wants to keep the pregnancy secret as long as possible.
“She had morning sickness and didn’t want to draw attention to herself in public. She’s focusing on the other children right now, trying to prepare them for the new baby,” a source said.
The Maleficent star gave birth to her youngest children, twins Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline, in 2008.
“Angelina has been talking about having another child for years now. But Brad kept putting his foot down because of their intense schedules and chaotic lifestyle,” the source added. (PTI)
The couple is parents to six-year-old Shiloh. They also have adopted three children Maddox, 11, Pax, nine, and Zahara, eight. PTI NDS NDS 01241253
Clean Poll Campaign by NBCC in Nagaland gainis momentum
Kohima: The clean election campaign launched by the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) has been gaining momentum in Phek district under the initiative of the Chakhesang Mothers Association (CMA), Chakhesang Baptist Church Council (CBCC), Chakhesang Youth Front (CYF) and Chakhesang Public Organisation (CPO).
The organisations hold a public awareness meeting at Phek Town Clock Tower. CMA officials sought the support of the people to ensure a clean and fair process in the February 23 Nagaland Assembly elections.
Addressing the gathering, CMA president Zaposhelu Venuh pointed out that undue worries and burdens are caused to particularly mothers every election season. Anti-social practices, proxy voting for cash and the many other unfair practices associated with the polling process in the state bring added worries and problems on the womenfolk, she said.
Former Women Secretary, CBCC Vesalü Swuro called upon the public to exercise their franchise in true democratic spirit and avoid selling their very right to vote.
Past elections have brought worries and sorrow to many families, destroyed many able leaders owing to the negative reasons associated with election, she said, and challenged the citizens to desist from such acts in the forthcoming election. (UNI)