#303 23 - 29 June 2006 16 pages Rs 30

SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME: Pushpa Kamal Dahal with his wife, Sita Poudel, flies the national flag in Home Minister Krishna Sitaula's official car as he arrives in Kathmandu airport last Friday for talks. KIRAN PANDAY

Weekly Internet Poll # 303 Q... Describe how you feel about the current political situation. Total votes: 4,361 Sneak preview Businesses are spooked by what they have seen so far of Maoists above ground Weekly Internet Poll # 304. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com Q... Do you think the seven party alliance ast week’s pact between the “The situation is very bad for Himalayan Snacks and Gorkha has given in too much to Maoist demands? seven parties and the us,” says Rajendra Khetan of the Brewery units in Chitwan. More delay L Maoists revived hopes for Confederation of Nepali Gurung, who is also a member After gender rights groups went on durable peace but recent hardline Industries (CNI) which organised of the Maoist negotiating team, warpath because of the absence of remarks by Maoist leaders has a conference on Tuesday to which tried to assuage businessmen at women in the commission set up to dampened the mood in the the head of the Maoist’s the CNI meet by saying he was for draft up an interim constitution, the business community. Economic Department, Deb capital accumulation. UML also decided it didn’t have a representative and has demanded The rebel comrades have been Gurung, was invited. “Development and prosperity will a slot. using their first month above Businessmen at the meet not happen without The wrangling has meant that a ground to make contradictory accused the Maoists of inciting industrialisation week has gone by after the Maoist- and often extremist statements. workers to make unrealistic salary and wealth Editorial p2 parties pact and there is only one The government on the other and benefit demands. Maoist- creation,” he said. more week for a draft interim Give us reason constitution to be ready. Even the hand sounds disunited, confused affiliated trade unions are But his to trust you Maoists agree that is not possible. and weak. Because the Maoists competing with mainstream separate remarks Although it will be a cut-and-paste job have better soundbytes, the media unions to be more populist, and in interviews in newspapers on (throwing out everything from the 1990 has given the comrades wide play. this has promoted unions land reform and nationalisation constitution that doesn’t tally with Although the people have affiliated to the NC and UML to have not gone down well (See p7). parliamentary proclamations last month) the parties want the cautiously welcomed all this as a also make even more radical The conference also heard Arjun commission to take its time. sign that peace is at hand, the demands so they don’t lose Narsingh KC of the NC and Bam The delay means an interim statements have spooked Nepal’s members. Deb Gautam of the UML who, government is at least a month away, beleaguered businesses. Dozens of factories have aside from asking businesses to if not more. Parliament still exists, Industrialists have serious closed in Kathmandu, Chitwan, “be patient” and wait for the and its various committees have been busy electing chairmen this week. concerns about the lack of Hetauda, Birganj and Biratnagar political issues to be sorted out, Since the budget can’t wait for the support from both the Maoists and businesses accuse the had no immediate concrete ideas start of the fiscal year, Finance and the seven parties in response government of inaction. “How can about reopening industries. Minister Ram Sharan Mahat is to the mass closure of factories we go on like this?” asks Khetan presenting an interim budget on 7 July. due to escalating labour disputes. who has shut down his Full story p5 2 EDITORIAL 23 - 29 JUNE 2006 #303

Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Chief Editor: Kunda Dixit Desk Editor: Marty Logan Design: Kiran Maharjan Web: Bhushan Shilpakar Vicepresident Corporate Affairs: Sneh Sayami Advertising: Sambhu Guragain [email protected] Subscription: [email protected] Hatiban, Godavari Road, Lalitpur [email protected], GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu Tel: 5543333-6, Fax: 5521013 Why, Wewhen have to move beyond quick and fixes to strategic restructuringhow? of the state www.nepalitimes.com Printed at Jagadamba Press, Hatiban: 5547018

epal’s resurrected visible and measurable capacity. fuel prices. The past witnessed HY SHOULD WE TRUST YOU parliament must For example, the declaration attempts at winning political W ? Ncomplement its stipulated of a secular state could have favour by artificially deflating There is a lot riding on last week’s peace pact between the seven objectives with milestones, fared better with full disclosure the price of fuel. Funds to be parties and the Maoists. targets, timelines and in terms, acceptable to both the spent on repairing vandalised If it paves the way to a new Nepal we will see prosperity and comprehensive roadmaps that Hindu majority as well the infrastructure could be saved by development. If it fails, it will be a return to a vicious war which this outline both costs and benefits. multitude of religious outlining the rationale behind time will be a fight to the finish. The overarching goal should ethnicities. For what reason was why national fuel prices must Kathmandu’s social circuit is abuzz with talk of “Munich”, the secularisation of Nepal a “appeasement” and snide references to “peace in our time”. There be heightened public awareness mirror world prices. A simple yet is a perception that the government gave too much away and didn’t that sets a precedent of informed priority? Was the move apt explanation of the magnitude get enough in return. decision-making through designed to demonstrate that and timing of what is sure to To be sure, it does appear as if it is the government that is accurate and timely information. armed insurrection need not be a come, could alleviate politically doling out all the concessions: release of Maoist prisoners, lifting requisite to progressive change? motivated civil unrest. the terrorist tag, dissolution of the house, agreement on an interim Was it enacted to emancipate This rationale applies equally GUEST COLUMN constitution. And the alliance hasn’t even managed to get a public downtrodden constituencies and Dipta Shah to the on-going negotiations with commitment from the Maoists to renounce violence or agree on a enhance social equality? Was it a the Maoists, elections to a timetable for demobilisation. symbolic extension of the constituent assembly, Bhutani But seen from their side, after April the Maoists were beginning Balancing the alleviation of roadmap to permanently refugees and ethnic to feel redundant. Parliament, through a series of proclamations, street anger with discrete, disempower the status of the discrimination. Surely, this had passed most of the demands that the rebels had foght for ten royal institution? Was it all of years to achieve. The comrades felt they were deliberately left out achievable objectives is not an government knows the varied of a seat at the banquet table. easy task. The recently initiated the above? social and political agenda from In a sense, the Maoists can be seen to have made the biggest peace talks bring another Having declared Nepal a which it derives its legitimacy? climbdown of all: a stated commitment to re-enter mainstream dimension of complexity. With secular state, what are the Empowering people through competitive politics. In doing so, the leadership has taken a big an indeterminate time-frame and practical implications of this accurate and timely information risk: not of being marginalised by the parties or decimated by the a mandate partially derived from change? Is the list of public is crucial to democratic military, but of sparking a revolt within their revolution. a constitution that is practically holidays to be expanded to governance and to the perceived It’s a tight rope walk for Pushpa Kamal Dahal as he tries to sell nullified, the current government include Ramadan and success of this resurrected his plan out west this week: to balance his stated desire to join the is challenged with placating the Christmas? Will Hindu parliament. The more mainstream and get his hothead commanders to agree. So when he general public, an irate civil holidays be limited to Dasain information that is shared with talks tough, the target audience is his own rank and file. society, an armed insurgent and Tihar? Will law dictate a the public on what is Even so, the Maoists haven’t given the parties and the public holiday scheme that permits a much reason to trust them. Wildly contradictory statements (“we’re group and its own constituent realistically possible (versus preparing for an October Revolution”), inflammatory and parties. In the meantime, the fixed number of days off, ideally attainable), in what time- irresponsible threats (“if we come government must also continue irrespective of religions frame and through what mode of to power we will ban the NC”) to deliver on a full range of affiliation? What is the timeline operation, the more measured and a refusal to atone for past governance functions that for such changes to go into public frustration is likely to be. arocities don’t help engender includes the maintenance of effect? Given the context of recent confidence that the rebel law and order. Is the deletion of ‘royal’ from political transformations, the leadership is serious about Much like a private enterprise the army where the intended sympathy of the population-at- reaching a negotiated settlement. undergoing an organisational reform ends or will it be large will likely remain with this The bottom line here is that the overhaul, the measure of success supplemented by a systematic government for some time, but Maoists can’t be part of an interim for this government will be the revitalisation of the military? If not indefinitely. The unique government without a public the latter, what are the concrete commitment to renounce violence. rate at which it meets circumstances under which it is An eight-party government can’t the expectations to steps, and how and when will operating provides both have two armies. which its mandate is they be implemented? What extraordinary challenges and In exchange for peace, inextricably tied. measures are the political elite opportunities. the people seem willing to This is all the more taking to accommodate and Success in managing risks test the Maoists’ reason for the seven wield the military as a legally against rewards requires commitment to guarantee party alliance and the sanctioned instrument of visionary planning, timely their fundamental rights to life, house to move beyond state power? execution and above all, a liberty, property, and free ‘quick wins’ and serve On the topic of setting consistent public message that expression. Otherwise why should up a strategic platform that expectations, now is as good a unambiguously depicts the the people trust them? addresses the state’s underlying time as any, to pre-emptively possible, the probable, the ‘why’ deficiencies in a structured, address the inevitable increase in the ‘how’ and the ‘when’. z ROBIN SAYAMI A hiccup in the peace process Let’s not let our doubts become a self-fulfilling prophecy

n marked contrast to the air of elections of the constituent assembly. The wary of doing anything that can be construed to function. optimism in the countryside, The Maoists haven’t renounced violence, as violation of trust. Laxman Prasad Aryal and his team Kathmandu’s bourgeoisie is wallowing but then neither has the army accepted its The eight point agreement signed last have enough guiding principles to work on: Iin doom and gloom. It is deeply suspicious excesses including disappearances. Friday is a death certificate for the Maoist the initial 12-point understanding of last of the deal between the seven party alliance During these initial phases an air of rebellion. It’s quite unlikely that those who November that gave impetus to the April and the Maoists last Friday. mistrust is natural. Leaders need to negotiated and finalised such a momentous Uprising, the royal proclamations of 24 Taking its cue from the gossip of persuade sceptics that just as exceptions deal were unaware of the hurdles that its May, the 25-point ceasefire agreement of 26 worried professionals, the privileged elite can’t be generalised into rules, rules implementation was likely to face. And it’s May, the ‘Magna Carta’ itself and finally the has begun to see red. At parlour parleys, shouldn’t be minimised into exceptions. natural for the elite to fear for their eight-point agreement between the eight the social acceptability index of scare- The Maoists haven’t backtracked from priviledges. parties. Everything in the constitution of mongering about an imminent Maoist any of their commitments in the 12-point The MPs are also understandably 1990 that doesn’t directly contradict any of takeover is at an all-time high. understanding. Despite intense pressure peeved by the decision to dissolve these documents of trust remains valid until If distrust of the rebels and ridicule of from right-wingers, the parties have refused parliament, but they have already played the completion and promulgation of a the government continues at this rate there to dump the rebels from the democratisation their role by passing our own ‘Magna Carta’ completely new statute by the constituent is a risk process. A legal framework is necessary to on 10 June. Some self-important cabinet assembly. the institutionalise the pact, and perhaps that is members leaders are miffed that they weren’t From what we have seen of Pushpa STATE OF THE STATE peace the reason the committee to draft an interim consulted during the finalisation of the Kamal Dahal, he sounds naïve and C K Lal process constitution has attracted the attention of all historic agreement. But they forget that dogmatic. Underground leaders become will be malefactors. Once the provisional statute is powerful interests are still not comfortable extremely prickly and self-righteous and derailed. In conflict situations. perceptions enacted, it will be extremely difficult to with the possibility of an eight-party alliance Dahal has been out of public glare for 25 often turn into reality and become self- spoil the peace process. that includes the Maoists ruling the country. years. But he has a valid point when he fulfilling prophecies. The parties and the Pulls and pressures on transitional The preparation of an interim constitution says Nepal can achieve development and Maoist commanders are trying their best to regimes are often inversely proportional to is not as complex as it is being made out to prosperity in next decade “if the peace emerge out of stereotypes. They shouldn’t their strength. The weaker a government, be. An interim constitution by definition isn’t process becomes successful”. be forced back to their past roles. the more it is asked to deliver. Various a set of directives, it’s a document of The power to transform that ‘if’ into Weapons management of the Maoists is interests groups have been pestering the descriptions to codify existing practices. The ‘when’ lies in our hands. We must not a real issue of concern, but so is the government to address all inequalities. drafting committee can complete the squander it by magnifying innate mistrust position of the recently-renamed Nepali Having decided to share power with compilation of a workable statute within the between unlikely partners taking halting Army during the period leading towards Maoists, the government is understandably prescribed period of 15 days if it is allowed steps towards reconciliation. z 23 - 29 JUNE 2006 #303 3

LLL ETTERS

MEDIATION numerous and gigantic steps that tanks in the country organise so country, which should have aggrieved judging by the racket I was pleased to read Ashutosh the leaders of the seven party many brainstorming sessions or prompted us to take a closer look that they make when a street Tiwari’s Strictly Business alliance and the Maoist leadership publish so much. Instead, it was a at this phenomenon. I blame pack comes sniffing at the gate. column (‘Dealing with disputes’, have accomplished in just one horrible decision on the part of new centuries of isolation during the One can never condone cruelty #302) on the importance of day. What we are witnessing in Foreign Minister K P Oli to remove Rana Shah period. Mr Lal is right: to dumb animals but lobbing a alternative dispute resolution in Nepal these days, weeks and an energetic youth as executive we need to see things differently rock or two is a temporarily Nepal. The formal judiciary is months is truly revolutionary, director of the IFA and not appoint now. The business of interacting effective way to encourage them inaccessible to most Nepalis. inspiring and very unique. But anybody for more than a month. It with other countries should be as to desist. Snipping off and While communities traditionally where are the women of Nepal? seems that very soon IFA too will important as anything else. Nepal whipping out their canine have relied on informal dispute The intellectuals, writers, become senile like the NCWA. now depends on foreign countries naughty bits seems to me an resolution practices, those have politicians, fighters, teachers, Shristi Shreshta, for its survival. Archaic methods expensive and ultimately broken down in recent years as parliamentarians, doctors and Politcal Science Student, TU will simply not do anymore. ineffective way of dealing with society has changed. nurses, mothers, midwives, Nepal’s links to Malaysia, South the problem. When I lived in For the past six years, a grandmothers and even mothers- C.K Lal’s ‘Diplomacy for Korea and other countries are its Cairo, the local municipality handful of local and international in-law. Where are all our didis and dummies’ highlights something that links to modernity. The used a much more effective organisations have promoted bahinis when the country’s future generally stays hidden: diplomacy isolationism of the past, solution: once a month or so the community mediation as a is being redesigned, reinvented needs preparation and practice to encouraged by the old order, must armed policed would make a means to fill this gap. The Asia and rewritten? Are they not going master. A country wedged in be done away with. tour of locales with a large street Foundation and its partners have to be allowed a say in this new between two giants and stuck in a Manish Gyawali, email dog population and shoot them trained more than 2,800 Nepal? The eight-point agreement time warp until the 1950s will all in the head, effectively mediators who currently provide supports ‘restructuring the state naturally find it hard to understand WELCOME RAIN culling the population and community mediation services in a progressive manner through the world. India, and to a much Alok Tumbahangphey’s ‘Here ensuring that residents of the in coordination with local constituent assembly elections so lesser extent China, were the only comes the rain’ (#301) was neighbourhood (and their government offices in that it can resolve all problems countries until then that Nepal had relevant and timely. We need to attendant dogs) could sleep 13 districts. More than 7,000 including those related to class, any relationship with. Now the educate every person about the soundly. Surely there are more cases have been registered caste, region and gender’. What shell is broken and the light too importance of rainwater harvesting. pressing things than the city’s since 2004, ranging from land are they waiting for? Where are blinding and confusing. Unlike the The municipalities should make street dog population that disputes to household quarrels. the women on the government and United States, which can always rainwater harvesting systems require time and money? Eighty-seven percent of these Maoist negotiating teams? Where go back to being insular if it compulsory in every new building Andrew Steele, cases have been resolved are they in the leadership of the chooses to, countries like Nepal and house. In addition, the Handigaon-5 amicably. seven parties? Where are they in can afford no such luxury. Nepalis government has to start looking for Although Tiwari proposes the government’s cabinet? Where are now permanently linked to alternative sources of water. Till arbitration, the process of are they in the 31 member countries like South Korea, then, rain water is the only way to LETTERS facilitated mediation is more Ceasefire and Code of Conduct Kuwait, Malaysia, Australia and the meet our demand. Nepali Times welcomes feedback. appropriate for community National Monitoring Committee US. But we know little about these Rabin Rachalica. Letters should be brief and may be disputes. In arbitration, (yes, there is one, but really, one countries where hundreds of Green Team, Bhaktapur edited for space. While judgements are imposed like in out of 31?). And where are they in thousands of our compatriots work. pseudonyms can be accepted, writers who provide their real names a court. This can lead to flawed the six-member interim Edward Said lamented how DOG’S LIFE-2 and contact details will be given and unfair decisions if constitution drafting committee? little the Arab World understood I feel I must take issue with Helen preference. Email letters should be arbitrators do not have adequate Julia Sanchez, Kathmandu the US even as the latter’s Palmer (‘Dog’s Life’, Letters, 302). in text format without attachments legal knowledge or are biased. A influence on the former was Street dogs are often a dreadful with ‘letter to the editor’ in the mediator, on the other hand, DIPLOMACY increasing. The same goes for nuisance, their yowling and subject line. helps the parties to reach their CK Lal in ‘Diplomacy for Nepal. Ten years ago, people in howling late into the night is not Email: [email protected] own agreement. No decision is dummies’ (#302) compares the Kathmandu heard about Maoism conducive to peaceful sleep, Fax: 977-1-5521013 imposed. The process is Nepal Council of World Affairs taking root in the midwestern hills. especially if they have Mail: Letters, Nepali Times, conciliatory rather than (NCWA) and the Institute of We should have realised that the congregated en masse. My own GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal. adversarial and results in longer Foreign Affairs (IFA) and says ideology came from a neighbouring dogs are evidently equally lasting settlements. that both are irrelevant and While mediation services uninspiring. He himself was a are filling an important need in member of the executive the communities where they committee of the NCWA so if that operate, sustaining them is a organisation has become senile, challenge. The Local Self- Lal himself has to share the Governance Act (1999) provides blame. As a student of political for dispute resolution by VDCs science in TU, I have been and municipalities but the regularly visiting the IFA library at government program has not yet Tripureswor. It has over 1,000 been implemented. As Nepal books on various aspects of now moves towards peace, it is foreign policy and is one of the critical to institutionalise and best in the country. The IFA also expand mediation services, published half a dozen books last especially as a means for year. If the organisation was reconciliation in communities formed as Mr Lal says, to ‘groom recovering from the conflict. the son of the former foreign Nick Langton, minister’, I don’t think it was a bad Country Representative decision at all. Very few think- The Asia Foundation

CEREMONIAL Enough fuss has been made about GP’s stance on the ceremonial king. What’s wrong with the remark made by a prime minister appointed by the king himself? What indeed can these republican revolutionaries expect to get just by thumping tables in a house revived by the king himself? How naïve for these parliament people, their cadre, and even the members of the civil society to dream that the king will announce his dethronement just like he revived the house. The self- proclaimed revolutionaries could not even suspend the CoAS who faithfully served the royals by shooting commoners. And where on earth has any king been dethroned by voting alone? Pretensions, mere pretensions. Divas Sharma Ganatantra Marg, Kathmandu

WOMEN WHERE? Reading ‘Landing’ (#302) I couldn’t but help marvel at the 4 NATION 23 - 29 JUNE 2006 #303 Other impediments were the needs have not been addressed.’ lack of state support and the Another UN inter-agency absence of homes and farms. mission, to western Nepal in “We saw several IDP houses that December 2005, concluded: ‘The were abandoned—they would majority of displaced in Nepal are need repairs,” said OCHA’s IDP not officially recognised as such adviser, Hanne Melfald. Some by the state and at present there locals said they would be are few measures in place to HomeWho will help the thousands alone of displaced willing to care for their monitor and ensure that their people who might soon return? returning neighbours initially. rights and basic protection Others told the mission “we concerns are met.’ PLENTY TO SAY: can’t really support them”. INSEC is working to repatriate Villagers in Taphetok IDPs’ other practical needs other IDPs in the midwest but VDC, Taplejung, gather might include farming tools and this is piecemeal because of to meet the UN’s IDP seed, said Pettersson, who inconsistent funding and mission in May. added: “The district authorities planning. “Until the government need to be taking the lead to takes the initiative there can’t be provide them some sort of an overall plan so it’s up to the support.” NGOs and INGOs,” explains The UN’s mission last Nepal. month included 15 people who Everyone’s major concern is travelled on foot and by vehicle assuring security for IDPs’ trips for nearly two weeks to assess home and resettlement but getting the situation in the region, people home includes a lengthy visiting some VDCs that hadn’t process of obtaining permission seen international workers from the rebels’ district leaders. during a decade of conflict. They “Each district is different,” found that one or two displaced says Nepal. “In some places the families from each VDC had Maoists are softer, they want to be ventured home but many other seen respecting human people indicated they were rights...but they still have not let waiting for signs of stability some people return—those who after the Maoists’ ceasefire have killed one of their members, expires in July. acted as spies or committed The team’s rough guess is crimes.” z

COURTESY OCHA that an average of 30 individuals left each VDC during the UNHCR IDP Plan 2006*: MARTY LOGAN has repatriated 357 IDPs so far, survival.” Otherwise the returnees conflict. Estimates of the with support from ActionAid, will be on their own, getting a number of IDPs countrywide Proposed activities: he ceasefire and recent DfID and the UN’s humanitarian follow-up visit from human vary widely. UNHCR suggested - Protection and monitoring - Guidance on registration affairs office (OCHA). Twenty rights groups only after three 200,000 in a document last political progress towards - Legal representation T peace have allowed each went home to Rautahat and months. month while the INGO Caritas - Counselling/Information thousands of internally displaced Sindhupalchok while INSEC Members of a recent mission said 350,000 when it appealed - Accommodation/Basic needs Nepalis to start thinking seriously resettled 317 people from to eight eastern districts returned for $1 million to help the - Preventing sexual/gender- about returning home. midwest centres, delivering 142 alarmed by what they saw. “The displaced in February. based violence Many will face the initial to Jumla last year and 26 to Bajura conditions for return are really In its Supplementary - Emergency Shelter hurdle of getting approval from and 149 to Dailekh last month. not there for several reasons,” Appeal, UNHCR critiqued state Each member of those families Bjorn Pettersson of the UN’s inaction. ‘The government has BUDGET - $2.4 million the Maoists who forced their exit *Partners: Ministry of Home, in the first place. And if they received Rs 3,000 to buy food. Nepal human rights office committed itself to assist and Ministry of Local clear that bar, another challenge “Their major problem is land,” (OHCHR) told us. One problem compensate this population, Development, OCHA, OHCHR, awaits: will they have the INSEC’s Rupesh Nepal told us. was intimidation by local without having the resources, UNICEF, UNDP, IFRC, ICRC, “For two or three years no one has Maoists, despite the rebel leaders’ and capacity to actually do so. Norwegian Refugee Council, Lutheran resources to reestablish World Federation, NGOs and their lives? been cultivating so they lack the pledge to allow IDPs safe As a result, many of their communities Human rights group INSEC seasonal foods that they need for return home. material, legal and psychological NATION 23 - 29 JUNE 2006 #303 5

Food aid delivered

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has started shipping emergency food aid for more than 225,000 people affected by Economic agenda the drought that hit last winter in the far-west and mid-west . Initially, WFP is borrowing close to 800mts of rice from the Please, can we have one? Nepal Food Corporation. Through the accelerated Food-for- he heady concoction of companies to raise capital outside better than lip service. The Work program, beneficiaries will earn a two-month ration of rice and fortified wheat flour. The areas most seriously affected are euphoria and uncertainty Nepal and become trans-regional multilaterals and bilaterals have in Bajura, Jumla, Humla, Mugu, Dolpa, Kalikot, Jajarkot, Tpost-loktantra has created a or global players? Do we have a chosen to fill in with a constantly Dailekh, Rukum and Rolpa (‘The west is hungry,’ #296). political high. We have leaders plan to heal the wounds of the changing set of priorities that coming above ground and fire- families and dependents of shifted with the people who brand interviews have dogged the 13,000 plus people killed during arrived to fill their ‘hardship’

Bank bags award the past ten years? positions in Nepal. Billions of ○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ The questions can fill pages dollars of assistance have resulted Everest Bank Limited was awarded the NICCI Excellence ECONOMIC SENSE Award from the Nepal Indian Chamber of Commerce and and as this Beed continues to in very little positive intervention. Industry last week in Kathmandu. The bank’s operating profit Artha Beed raise them in this column every The private sector ,which should grew 21 percent in May-June compared to a year earlier, fortnight, perhaps there are no have filled the vacuum by totalling Rs 4,350 million. Deposits and advances rose by 41 print and the electronic media. answers. Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s providing thought ful leadership, percent and 26 percent respectively. The task of seeking pocket money reference to darkness and the has been more interested in from India is over and so is appalling state of affairs at his politics, be it via the plethora of

On a roll testing the strength of parliament first legit appearance hopefully trade bodies or through a direct

○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ through a plethora of political extends beyond the symbolic role in governments. Vehicle maker Hulas Motors recently celebrated its 10th resolutions. However, no one still light bulb. We are yet to hear him We need to create economic anniversary. Hulas specialises in manufacturing pollution free knows where the economic speak on an economic agenda, we prosperity. We need more and light vehicles. agenda stands. are yet to understand the key ten millionaires and billionaires to Are we as a country going to economic issues that the Maoists create more jobs, tax revenues, NEW PRODUCTS shun the right to property? Is a would like to see implemented. opportunities and philanthropy. distinction between inherited He has an opportunity to emerge We need an economic agenda that SLEEK CARS: Hansraj wealth and acquired wealth going as the Buddhadeb Bhattacharya of allows creation of wealth without Hulaschand, agent of to be made and taxed differently? Nepal but will he choose that or being shameful about it. If there Premier Motors, has Are we going to be so pro-labour go the Prakash Karat way? was no Bill Gates, there would launched the Sigma that enterprises may just choose The past 50 years has shown have been no foundation, therefore Express and Roadstar 2500 at its showroom in to shut down? Are we going to how we have never had an no dollars pouring into the needy Kalimati. The Roadstar is a small truck equipped with a 2000cc reform tax laws? Are we going to economic agenda and continued sections of the world. diesel engine. The Sigma Express is a cargo vehicle with a have authorities that will help to squander economic If there is no wealth there will capacity of 3.7 kilolitres, which also runs on a fuel-efficient companies exit through the new opportunities. It began with be nothing to be shared so the diesel engine. insolvency act? Are private social adopting a half-baked-faulty- issue of inclusion and inequality service delivery institutions in Nehruvian model and till recent will be meaningless. All debates SIPPING SIZE: Mcdowell’s Nepal Limited has healthcare or education going to times a completely anti-enterprise on an empty stomach are useless. introduced the 375-ml Signature whisky pack. The be allowed? Are we going to leave labour law that killed Hopefully Nepal will not have to octagonal bottle comes in green and gold with a tamper prices of petroleum products to productivity and comparative continue this debate in tourist- proof cap and is priced at Rs 345. the market or will the state advantage. Economics have just less hotels or in the dark tents of a continue to bear losses? Are we been paragraphs in election poor country. TREATING DISEASE: SR Drug Laboratories launched going to allow boosting private manifestos, which are nothing its specialty division CARE, dedicated towards manufacturing capital through state-of-art drugs for the treatment of cardio-cerebro vascular diseases and capital markets? Are we going to metabolic disorders including stroke, diabetes, epilepsy, obesity signal that earning money is good and hypertension. or bad? Are we going to work towards having a better company COMPUTER PRODUCTS: Cybernetics Pvt registrar’s office? Do we have an Ltd has been appointed authorised reseller agenda for the multilaterals and for HP and Compaq products in Nepal. With the bilaterals to look at and four years experience, Cybernetics recently decide where to help? Are we opened its new showroom in the Computer going to pursue a decentralised Bajar building on Putalisadak. fiscal policy or a centralised one? Are we going to allow Nepali

from p1 Budgeting for a political transition

NARESH NEWAR alliance haven’t helped put doubts to rest. “No one would dare oppose the pro-poor largest contribution: a Rs 7.3 billion The IMF pre-budget mission is programs and not even the Maoists would development package, Rs 2 billion in reportedly satisfied with the macroeconomic dispute that,” says a government official who budgetary support, a waiver of Rs 1.6 billion rospects for peace have never been scenario, which has been propped up by revealed that the government is consulting owed by the army and rescheduling of Rs 5 better, yet there is even less optimism remittances, but is seriously worried about widely with all political players, including the billion owed for petroleum imports. P about the future in the business and the slow pace of reforms, the delay in rebels, as it readies the budget. The Danes announced assistance worth development communities. tackling wilful defaulters and the impact of The needs are urgent and monumental: Rs 2 billion next year on top of regular In the Ministry of Finance, work on the rising fuel prices on the current account Rs 140 billion for new investments in bilateral assistance of Rs 1.88 billion. It budget for the next fiscal year has reached deficit. However, as a reward for having hydropower to cover crippling shortfalls this also offered Rs 500 million for the ongoing its final stages but there is a sense of restored democracy through people power, winter, Rs 3 billion to improve access to safe peace process, constituent assembly uncertainty even about whether Minister the IMF is likely to give the ‘budget drinking water and billions more for elections and demobilisation. Ram Sharan Mahat will actually be certificate’ on Friday that Nepal needs for education, health and roads. The government Nearly all Kathmandu-based donor presenting it. This insecurity permeates all the World Bank, ADB and other donors to just doesn’t have that kind of money, and offices said they would have problems sections of government, including the follow suit. although there are pledges of support, it will continuing aid if the Maoists were included cabinet itself which doesn’t know its own Minister Mahat is seeking funds for his take time for the cash to materialise. in a future government without first lifespan. ‘interim development plan’ not just for “There will be increase in support but renouncing violence. They also need an And despite a slew of visits by senior reconstruction, but to take a great leap only if the the peace process remains on IMF green light, clarity on budget priorities donors (the latest were the heads of Danish forward in infrastructure and delivery to track,” says Mark Mallalieu of the British aid and a demonstrable decrease in Maoist aid agency Carsten Staur, the Asia director prove to the people that the government ministry, DfiD, in Nepal. Donors remain extortion and threats in the countryside. of Europe Aid Cooperation Office, Erich means business. However, experts are concerned about the safety of their staff and “Our direction will be set by how the Muller and an IMF mission) the international worried about the government’s chronic are still uncertain about the Maoists’ government’s budget looks,” says Rajiv aid community seems to be in wait-and- inability to spend money, which has been commitment to allow development work. In Upadhyay of the World Bank. watch mode. exacerbated by the conflict. recent weeks, the rebels have hiked Questions remain about how the peace Last Friday’s pact was a dramatic As signalled in Mahat’s White Paper demands for donations and registration of dividend from the government’s cuts on political compromise but it forced just about presented to parliament last month, the top non-government groups. military spending will be used. Recent arms everyone to wait at least three more weeks priority is a massive investment on new “Development work should be allowed deals have been cancelled, but the upkeep before the interim constitution and an roads. Nearly 15 districts and over 4 million without any hindrance and it is important that of a 120,000 plus security force is a drain. interim government that includes the Nepalis still have no access to roads and people in the villages mostly benefit from the Other grey areas include support for the Maoists is set up. Public disagreement with construction would also create jobs in peace process,” Mallalieu told us. Maoist army so they give up extortion, and the pact from members of the governing rural areas. Until now, India has made the single who is going to foot that bill. 6 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 23 - 29 JUNE 2006 #303 “One person per house, or Rs 3,000 fine”

Anju Chhetri and Manju Thapa in couldn’t send anyone. Krishna was among children also join them out of their own Samaya, 23 June about 50 people who marched towards free will,” he reasons, “after all in many of Rolpa that day. Among them was the son of these households 13-14 year olds have to “We have suffered enough,” says NC the woman in whose house everyone had work in their homes. We let them work district leader Nanda Bahadur Bista of gathered. Her Grade 8 son was among according to their capacity.” Rukum, “we must make sure the peace those who went. “They say they will return It is clear the children should not be process is successful so we don’t have in 15 days,” said the mother, “Two days to forced to leave school to work on the road. to hear the sound of guns and bombs go, two days to return and the rest to dig the The Maoists should have tried to convince again.” road. I have given him some money so he the people about the importance of the According to Bista’s count, 1,500 can buy food to eat. I hope he’ll be ok.” road rather than impose a fine on those people of Rukum have died in the past 11 She has heard stories of others who who don’t send one person for the work years of war. Of them, 94 percent are have died during road construction or killed gang. This could be counter productive men from the ages of 17-40 and most are in crossfire. “But now there is going to be for the Maoists themselves. Dalits and Janjatis. An estimated 4,000 peace, no?” asks neighbour Lila Rokaya There have been positive children have been orphaned. who also had to send her sister who was developments for women in districts like The scars of war are everywhere in in Grade 7, “maybe they shouldn’t have Rukum. Polygamy and untouchability the trails leading out to the district capital taken them.” have been virtually eradicated. The of Khalanga. In the town itself there are Dil Shobha and Sapana Sunar worked Maoists have forced Dalits to enter the endless stories of suffering from every in the highway last year when the Maoists houses of upper caste people wearing family of the internally displaced: asked for one person from every household. shoes or forced Thakuris to take water disappeared family members, Sapana marched to Rolpa and worked on from the village tap from Dalits. bereavement, forced labour, extortion, the road with her one-year-old baby “They have become bolder, they speak abductions and rape. strapped to her back. The Maoists would out against injustice, they are politically We run into Grade 7 students Bimala also make the workers drill, watch cultural aware,” says Dilmaya Pun of Chhing Bohara and Krishna Rokaya (pictured) programs and sing songs. Both Dil Shoba village in Rukum. on the trail on 24 May. They were and Sapana’s husbands have married But other women admit the negative carrying small bags with just enough food second wives and don’t live in the effects of the insurgency outweigh these for 15 days. They had been told by the village anymore. benefits. Their complaints mainly centre Maoists to gather at a house in Gunjil Not even the brother of the Khalanga around being forced to attend mass Dhunga from where they were supposed representative of the child rights centre, Khadge Buda, 27, of Athbiskot meetings and work on roads, not being to go and dig a ‘martyr highway’ in Rolpa. CWIN, was spared. He was forced to work committed suicide last year when the allowed to travel freely to Khalanga and Krishna,13 was still wearing his school on the highway but was caught up in a Maoists tried to force him to go work on the the loss of lives and livelihoods. uniform. They had to go because the firefight and was hit in his leg by an army highway. After that the women in the village “In the last ten years, the lives of many Maoists’ edict was: ‘One person per bullet. Very few people go out of their own prevented their men folk from going too. women and children here have been house, otherwise Rs 3,000 fine.’ free will because of the dangers, the The Maoists say 13km of the 19km road ruined,” says Sita Oli, a NC activist, Since there was no one in Krishna’s villagers have to go whenever called, from Tila to Ghartigau is completed. We ask “many have been widowed, women are house except for his mother and baby and they have to march for days from the local Maoist leader Sarun Batha why his struggling to survive and the children have brothers and sisters, he was compelled their homes before they reach the party is using children. “When everyone in a lot of mental stress. This has affected to go. His family didn’t dare say they construction site. the village go to work on the highway, the their studies. FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 23 - 29 JUNE 2006 #303 7 Rabindra speaks out “An October revolution” Jana Aastha, 21 June Pushpa Kamal Dahal in Nepal, June 18

Interview with Rabindra Shrestha who was expelled from the CPN- What’s the real reason for the 12-point understanding Maoist earlier this year after he publicly criticised party leaders and with the seven parties? published an appeal for a ‘new cultural revolution’. Excerpts: Our party was never into rigid politics. Even after starting the People’s War, we emphasised that we Jana Aastha: Are we going the Peru way? were never traditional communists. We are different Rabindra Shrestha: We feel that Prachanda and and flexible. Baburam have the same attitude that brought Was there any foreign power pushing you or the about the failure of the Peruvian people’s war. parties? Gonzalo used stubborn, puritanical, The country would have headed in a different individualist and mechanical methods. direction if only the seven party leaders had the Prachandaji is doing the same. capacity to think independently. If only there were What was late Prince Dhirendra’s role in political leaders who could use their own brains. talks? India particularly provided positive support to the 12- What Dhirendra said was ‘lets (palace and point understanding. Maoists) unite, deal with the all the parliamentary parties and share power’. We want this letter made public. Second, Dhirendra said that But seems like your understanding with the UML Gyanendra and he agreed but that Birendra opposed it. What does this doesn’t seem to be working? The UML seems to feel it is losing ground and indicate? Whom did they have an undisclosed working agreement always felt threatened by us entering mainstream with? Gyanendra or Birendra? politics. Why this attraction towards the palace? Both Baburam and Prachanda realised that they could not reach the seat You held talks with India in Rolpa prior to the king’s of power without the help of a powerful nation. Baburam started coup? saying we needed India’s help while Prachanda wanted to use the We had our Indian friends with us and they palace. After all, Gyanendra had already begun his coup on 4 October. suggested restoring parliament but we were not in Prachandaji also started displaying neo-Rayamajhi tendencies. How favour of it. The people who rose up against the king foolish could he have been to expect something that was not given even did not even demand parliament’s restoration, which to the seven parties? The same politburo meet decided to take action we only as a tool to reinstate the seven parties to against Baburam and raised the issue of meeting Gyanendra. For power. KIRAN PANDAY Prachandaji 1 February was a surprise. If he had tried to hold talks So are you positive the peace talks will work? with Gyanendra after that his political career would have been over. We want a peaceful resolution but the parties are At that time Baburam was accused of being pro-India. creating unhealthy atmosphere by doing all There could be no constituent assembly elections as He was angry that they took away his chairmanship of the United inappropriate things without respecting the well? Revolutionary Peoples Front and only started leaning towards India sentiments of the people. We still want to continue That is true. We are talking about forming an interim after his disagreement with Prachanda. But Prachanda definitely began pressuring from our ground level and want to constitution until now. But the parties in the present siding with the king and then Gyanendra stepped on Prachanda’s back increase that even at the high level. There will be an government are already panicking about dissolving and did his coup. Baburam said, “We need to get together with India October revolution if the talks fail again and we are parliament. and fight against the king.” But our point was that India might just use ready to take the lead in that. What happens to the People’s Liberation Army? of us. Gyanendra made a fool of Prachanda and India made fools of Even with the 30,000 PLA and 90,000 NA soldiers, both Baburam and Prachanda. You’re ready to wait until October then? Frankly, the situation will move towards revolution in we still will not think of fighting with China or India or Differences between Baburam, Prachanda and Badal came to light October if the seven parties fail. any other country. Only our own people would be during the Bangalore meeting. The fight between Prachanda and killed. National security is possible if the whole Baburam and between Badal and Prachanda became public. We said Do you doubt Koirala’s sincerity? population is turned into a militia. With compulsory then that a counter-revolution has begun, our leaders have shown their It’s not his sincerity but his political stand that is military training, we will have an army strength of 27 opportunist attitudes, we need a new cultural revolution. But others more important. During my first meeting with him million people and they will help to protect our didn’t agree. three years back, I had told him we are ready for country in case we are attacked by India or China. Why weren’t any women named to the talks committee? multiparty system if he agreed to a republic. In that I have already proposed that both armies should There is a serious reason for this. Pampha Bhusal should have been the way, there will be a new Nepal. He promptly reduce their size and rather give militia training to automatic choice. But Baburam was against her as he wanted to bring responded that NC would never do that. He is still the citizens who will then maintain law and order. The army should be kept only to give military training his wife. We’ll start seeing the real tussle in this team when the where he was three years ago. He still talks of to citizens. interim government is being formed. ceremonial king and this shows how rigid he is. “Land to the tiller” Deb Gurung, head of the Maoists’ economic division, in Abhiyan, 19-25 June

z The only way to economic transformation of society is through an industrialised economy. In the past this wasn’t allowed to be developed. Past policies favoured foreign multinational companies, allowed them to establish markets, take away cheap raw material and sell their manufactured goods here. This shouldn’t happen. z Our view on the free market is to encourage competition between domestic capital, national industries, or cottage industries. If domestic capital isn’t allowed to develop in the name of a

free market economy then it won’t have a KIRAN PANDAY chance to compete with big capital coming in through multinational companies. Outside capital has to be regulated for projects and investments. z We’re not saying we don’t want multinational companies, or to ban them from Don’t do that! That will send a wrong message to the people! investing here. We have to see where they want to invest, and we want to first Men’s backs: Power greed see under what conditions they want to invest. Is it in the national interest? Only Seven Parties then should we allow them in. z We want to encourage domestic manufacturers and industries so that they Abin Shrestha inSamaya, 22 June

become robust so that we can encourage them to invest more and make the

economy stronger. We want to promote them in a planned and strategic manner. QUOTE OF THE WEEK Instead of supporting servile capitalist enterprise or foreign broker capitalism. We would like to encourage a self-sufficient domestic economy by using locally “ available resources. We want to encourage and assist mercantilist class and industrialists and go hand in hand with them into the future. Our party played a key role in coming to the 12-point understanding. But z Our program of revolutionary land reform is focused on the tarai. There are “Prachanda started attacking us even before the ink had dried. many families there who farm someone else’s land since the time of the Ranas and Shahs. In these places we will implement the policy of giving land to the tiller, the property deeds should be completely handed over to them. But landlord capitalists are also citizens of this country and we have devised a formula UML leader Bharat Mohan Adhikari in Budhabar, 21 June whereby they will be allowed to keep 10 bighas of land for their own upkeep.

SELECTED MATERIAL TRANSLATED EVERY WEEK FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 8 HERITAGE

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KUNDA DIXIT and the Shrestha household was included. The Department of Archaeology then ike hundreds of other residents secured support for restoration from of Patan’s historic heart, UNESCO, which had in 1979 declared Debendra Shrestha could have Patan Darbar Square one of the seven torn down his ancestral home monument zones in the Kathmandu LLLand replaced it with a concrete highrise Valley World Heritage Site. UNESCO had and earned lots of money renting out been getting increasingly worried about apartments. But the Shrestha family urban sprawl eating away at the old decided that their 18th century Malla-era buildings and of the Valley losing its home was too precious, so they architectural and cultural heritage. collectively decided to restore it. They UNESCO worked with the Patan were looking for money when in 1997 the Tourism Development Organisation and German aid agency GTZ came along to found a unique formula to turn the promote urban development through local restored private houses into bed and initiatives. It was making an inventory of breakfast pensions. It took five years but buildings that deserved to be preserved the Shrestha’s house was reborn on Wednesday as Newa Chen. Like Debendra, Uday Rajbhandari’s ancestral home, which is adjacent to a 2,000-year-old Kirat-era excavation site, was also crumbling. The Rajbhandari House was also inaugurated on Wednesday as a tourist inn. “Preservation of architecture is an integral part of Kathmandu Valley’s culture which is under great threat from urbanisation,” said UNESCO’s Nepal representative, Koto Kano (pictured left at Newa Chen). “The Shrestha and Rajbhandri houses in Patan are models for rehabilitating traditional buildings and also how they can be sustainably preserved through tourism.” The National Federation of UNESCO Associations of Japan raised money for the restoration of the two houses.

Newa Chen The Shrestha House is located in Kulimha Tol on the ancient road leading from Patan Darbar Square down to the Bagmati at Sankhamul. It is built of brick and timber in the traditional Malla style with three wings around a sunny courtyard. The rooms have been functionally restored and are cosy—although tall guests must be warned not to get up suddenly or they will bump their heads on the ceiling. The suite and bedrooms are minimally stylish and are ideal for long-term guests. [email protected]

KUNDA DIXIT 23 - 29 JUNE 2006 #303 9 odelstoto of good bebe berestoration presepresepreseto rrrvedvedved

The two inns have modern temples and darbar squares but also the amenities, but keep the traditional historic core of the towns.” ambience of Newari houses with their There are two kinds of restorations low ceilings, mortar and brick walls, going on in Patan these days. The first is warm subdued lighting and quiet the tearing down of low, old buildings courtyards. Newa Chen and The which are replaced by high rises with Rajbhandari House are open to tourists traditional brick facades. This trend has as well as long-term residents. But more been encouraged by the municipality than just preserving two houses, giving subsidies on construction material Debendra and Udaya both hope other for buildings with historical looks. old buildings in Patan can also be However, many of these buildings look similarly restored. disproportionately tall on the old Kathmandu Valley heritage expert, skyline. Anil Chitrakar, says he is convinced the A much more harmonious way is to word will spread as the inns start restore the old buildings like the two making money. “The good thing is that inns, strengthening them structurally and it is not only bad things that are keeping true to the original in dimension, contagious in Nepal, good things are also looks and building materials. And a contagious,” he adds. Indeed, the trend useful side benefit is to turn them into of bringing back the brickwork facades is hotels so they earn their keep. spreading in Patan and Bhaktapur. Debendra’s wife, Saraswoti, hopes that The restoration of the two private the tradition of restoring old homes will houses shows that support is now now spread. She adds: “This is not just available not just to restore temples and an old house. This is who we are.” z public buildings but also private houses of architectural importance. It also shows what can be achieved when local communities get together for a common cause. Says Dilendra Shrestha of the Patan Tourism Development Organisation: “In Kathmandu Valley the formula is: monuments minus the surrounding residential buildings equals no tourists. That is why it is important not just to preserve the KIRAN PANDAY

The Rajbhandari House In Kwalakhu adjacent to an ancient Kirati religious site which is being excavated by the Department of Archaeology, the house is located in one of the squares within the Patan Monument Zone and has a courtyard and a garden. Rooms on three floors are accessed through elaborately carved wooden balconies. It is an oasis in the middle of bustling Patan, perfect for retreats for authors. [email protected] 10 CAREER TIMES 23 - 29 JUNE 2006 #303 What are you going to be when you grow up? Stop worrying, immerse yourself in the field you love

s a college professor, I hear thought that computers will decades, and that these jobs have a lot of career concerns. As replace only low-skilled jobs, my indeed tended to be replaced by A my students prepare to students remind me otherwise. computers. enter working lives that will last Medical expertise is in some In an important sense, their 50 years or more, practically all of ways being replaced by computer- research confirms that my them try to be futurists in based diagnostic systems and students are right to be worried. choosing the skills in which to much of the work that engineers But these trends tended to persist invest. If they pick an occupation once did has been replaced by within occupations, industries, that declines in the next half- computer-assisted design and educational attainment century, they may deeply regret systems. My students worry that levels, thus providing little it. They know that a mid-life such trends may continue, guidance concerning what reducing job security, lowering occupation to choose or how COMMENT rates of pay, and even eliminating much education to pursue. The Robert J Shiller some of the jobs altogether. important issue, according to Should students really be Levy and Murnane, is that the career change is difficult, so they worried about commoditisation? most promising future careers want to make the right choice In their recent book The New will be those grounded in either while they are very young. Division of Labour: How expert thinking or complex From what my students tell Computers Are Creating the Next communication skills. me, there is a widespread fear of Job Market, economists Frank Expert thinking means commoditisation of jobs in the Levy and Richard Murnane, using understanding how to deal with modern, information technology- job descriptions that go back to new and different problems that driven global economy. They 1960, carefully classify jobs do not fit the mould of past worry that in coming years even according to the kinds of problems. Complex highly skilled people might be cognitive skills that they require. communications skills entail

MIN BAJRACHARYA hired and fired indiscriminately, They were particularly interested understanding ideas, how to bought and sold like so many in identifying jobs that were evaluate their social significance, tons of copper or cases of frozen routine, even if complex and and how to persuade – tasks that turkeys. Job satisfaction would difficult, which could in no computer can accomplish. suffer accordingly. After all, if the principle be replaced by a The important point for job requires nothing more than sufficiently well-programmed students to bear in mind is that knowledge of existing computer. They then show they should motivate themselves technology, then it can be done evidence from the United States to attain deep understanding, not by anyone anywhere in the world that jobs involving both routine rote memorization, of the subjects who has learned this technology, manual work and routine that they study, in order to fulfil or, worse by some computer. cognitive work have become the role of a true expert in Indeed, while it is often much less plentiful in recent whatever field they ultimately choose to pursue. At the same time, they should invest in acquiring the communications skills that will be similarly crucial to a successful career. Achieving this kind of education probably means pursuing what one naturally finds interesting and engaging, whether that is finance or physiology. Students should stop worrying so much, immerse themselves in the field they love, and learn to appreciate the people who populate it. What may appear to them to be an unaffordable luxury is really a necessity that they can’t afford to reject. Project Syndicate

Robert J Shiller is Professor of Economics at Yale University and author of Irrational Exuberance and The New Financial Order: Risk in the 21st Century. REVIEW 23 - 29 JUNE 2006 #303 11

HowToons ridicule brought take down royalon rule tyrants

second with his Charlie Chaplin moustache and owlish spectacles. With Sher Bahadur Deuba it is his permanently smug smirk. Batsyayan tears apart Koirala’s arrogance and tolerance of corruption, Nepal’s flip-flopping and Deuba’s shameless kowtowing of the king and his army. His biting cartoons attack the Maoists’ cynical justification of violence for political end. Batsyayana’s real name is Durga Baral and he never started out being a cartoonist, he is a painter. Living in Pokhara, he kept an eye on the shenanigans of the capital ooking back at the April Uprising and more defiant, caricaturing the king’s face, from a perspective that the people of analysing media coverage of the last his wrap-around shades, jowls and a Kathmandu lacked. What he saw was so information vowed to take action. The Ldays of royal rule, what seems to have frowning visage. funny, he just had to make fun of it. government mouthpiece Gorkhapatra wrote played a bigger role than bricks and Although Batsyayana did not directly Baral’s son Ajit has compiled his a scathing editorial and the king’s barricades was the power of ridicule. depict King Gyanendra his cartoons on the father’s best cartoons of post-1990 Nepal in henchmen even asked for the death penalty In Kirtipur, a formerly unknown front pages of Kantipur and Kathmandu this elegant volume and writes in his against the cartoonist. student recited satirical poetry Post his cartoons lampooned a morally preface: ‘We want this book to be a The fact that Batsyayana’s cartoon of entertaining an audience of thousands for bankrupt regime and helped bring it down. sustained visual history, warts and all, of Girija and the dead horse is more relevant hours. Even riot police within earshot One of Batsyayana’s memorable drawings post-1990 Nepal…’ The book went to press today than it was a year ago goes to prove burst into laughter at the mockery of from last year is of a soldier escorting an in March 2006 and includes some cartoons just how prescient and timeless his monarchy. Elsewhere, a student did underfed and near-naked farmer carrying a from the post-February First period of drawings are. impersonations of the king imitating his Rolls Royce into the royal palace. censorship. But mostly it reminds us of For that reason alone, this book which regal gestures and was greeted by gales of Because he is so famous, Batsyayana the hope and hopelessness of the past 15 is being launched on Sunday 25 June is a laughter. doesn’t have to prove himself and be years of Nepali history: a sobering reminder must-have. z And then there were the cartoonists. overtly contemptuous—his subtlest to the same politicians who came to power Kunda Dixit Every day, as the palace dug itself deeper cartoons are his most scathing. He sets after People Power II not to make the and deeper into a hole of its own making, aside his sharpest barbs for sycophants, same mistakes again. the illustrations got more and more daring. yes-men, opportunists and hyprocrites that Last year, at the height of royal A cartoonist depicted the king burying his infested post-1990 Nepal, the ones who rule and the republic vs monarchy Batsyayana & his barbs A Cartoonists’s Take on head in the sand with his crown next to through lust and greed squandered the debate, Bastsyayana’s famous cartoon Post-1990 Nepal him, or showed him sawing off one of the gains of the 1990 People’s Movement and of Koirala carrying away a horse’s FinePrint, Kathmandu 2006 legs of his own throne. thus set the stage for the conflict. corpse labelled ‘constitutional 148 pages It was risky because lese majeste laws With his prominent proboscis Girija monarchy’ (above) appeared on the Rs 700 were still in place and punishment was Koirala seems to be Batsyayana’s favourite front page of Kantipur. The paper got harsh. But cartoonists became more and cartoon character, Madhab Nepal is a close threatening calls and the minister of 12 MOUNTAINEERING 23 - 29 JUNE 2006 #303 Back from the death zone Sherpa survives night near the top of the world

walk into camp shortly but he fell asleep out of exhaustion,” says Dinesh K Magar, the team’s trekking agent, who was at Advanced Base Camp at the time. At 4AMthe next morning, Pasang Tendi woke up and when he noticed that his uncle still had not arrived he started to cry. Meanwhile, Ang Temba, who had spent the night moving his fingers and toes to DINESH MAGAR prevent frostbite, gathered his last strength AFTER THE STORM: Chomolungma from and started to descend at dawn. the north had a coating of new snow last “When the sun came up I knew I had to month after the storm that nearly killed Ang move on in order to survive and even Temba Sherpa (third from left, above). though three Tibetans told me they would bring me down after summiting, I did not been too tough for anybody,” said Ang wait for them and started walking,” Ang Temba, who is from Rolwaling and has a Temba said. wife and two children. His fingers and legs

BILL BIERLING At about 8AM an international team of were paralysed when he got to Base Camp mountaineers, who had abandoned their on the Chinese side, from where he was BILLI BIERLING on the ordeal and told us he just wanted to sit summit bid due to a sick member, found rushed to Kathmandu. RONGBUK GLACIER down for a quick rest as he felt exhausted the exhausted Sherpa at 8,400m. Ang Temba got very ill on the road to coming down from the summit, which he “When we came down we came across Nepal and the team had nearly given up n 17 May, Ang Temba Sherpa reached at 12.22 PM. this guy who was all tangled up in the hope on his survival. He stayed in hospital collapsed on descent from the “I must have fallen asleep as when I rope. He seemed very uncoordinated,” said in Kathmandu for nine days and recovered. O summit of Chomolungma and was woke up it was dark and I had run out of Phil Crampton, leader of the team. As “I had lost my memory completely. I did forced to spend the night at 8,600m while oxygen,” he recalls. “I couldn’t carry on Crampton was busy looking after one of his not recognise my wife or my two sons. It his team carried on down to the safety of down as the batteries of my headlamp were own clients who had developed celebral was horrible,” he added. The Sherpa Camp III. flat and it was too dark.” oedema, the team’s sirdar Jangbu Sherpa regained his memory after five days and At a time when news about the In the meantime, Ang Temba’s team, helped his worn out compatriot down miraculously didn’t lose any of his fingers controversial death of a British climber and which consisted of four Japanese climbers towards Camp III. or toes. the amazing rescue of an Australian and two other Sherpas, were expecting Even though he was left in the death The 46-year old does not think he mountaineer dominates media headlines, their leader, who had fallen behind on the zone overnight, Ang Temba has no hard wants to go back to climbing eight the tale of Ang Temba Sherpa seems to be descent down the north side of the feelings about his team. “Nobody could thousanders but he needs the money. “You forgotten. mountain. have come up from 8,300m to look for me earn much more on Everest than on smaller Ang Temba has been speaking about his “The team thought Ang Temba would on summit day,” he said, “it would have peaks,” he says. SPORTS 23 - 29 JUNE 2006 #303 13 This is it? Winning ways Coke football commercial stirs controversy

n a windy Himalayan plateau a football game is in full swing Collapse at the US Open, consistency at Gokarna between local Nepalis and African players. They crack the ball, which soars in the high thin air and sprint with snow-capped Prem Sachdev took the seniors’ trophy with 37 Opeaks in the background. Eventually, the smaller Nepalis triumph and points. celebrate their victory while guzzling the energy drink Powerade, a The weekend’s drama was really at Coca Cola product. Mamaroneck, NY, site of the US Open. For those of The commercial for which the mountain football match was filmed in you who were too engrossed by the World Cup to Jomsom in March has already been launched in Europe to accompany watch golf live or even catch the highlights, let me World Cup coverage. But after 10 days of shooting and just when the sum up Mickelson’s collapse. commercial airs in Asia, some of the actor-players are complaining. The 32-year-old had a two-shot lead with four Initially Indian ad makers Highlight Films were going to shoot with holes to play but miscues plagued his final round, only Nepali players but the African footballers were brought in at the last including missing 16 of 18 fairways. His tee shot on minute. Ten Nepalis were chosen from more than 100 who auditioned, th accepting Rs 3,000 a day while the the 18 went far left and rattled through the trees African footballers got Rs 4,000. into the trampled rough. Instead of playing out to the For the B division Nepali players fairway and trying to get par, Mickelson went for the it was a rare treat: they made more in green but hit a tree, the ball advancing only 25 10 days than what they could yards. His third shot sailed left of the green and got normally earn in a year. Besides, the buried in the bunker, plugged so badly that he could world would see them. But it only escape the hole with a double bogey. suddenly hit them afterwards that That opened the door for Australian Geoff they may have been paid too little. Ogilvy, who displayed some exceptional shots in “We should have got more his closing holes: he chipped in from a distorted considering how much Coke makes olf’s major championship, the US Open, was rough on the 17th to save par, then overcame a but it was a lot of money for us,” says marked last weekend by the sudden and miserable break on the 18th when his tee shot came Raj Kumar Ghising, who plays for the G complete collapse of leader Phil Mickelson’s to rest in a divot. His approach shot faltered as it Manang Marsyandi Club. The African game on the final four holes. But here in reached the wrong side of the green but Ogilvy players were not available for Kathmandu, Sanjib Rajbhandari (receiving trophy followed up with a splendid chip shot and sank the comment since they have left after on Saturday, above) displayed consistently superb putt for a par. the end of Nepal’s football season. skills to capture the 8th Gokarna Open at Le Scot Colin Montgomerie had the best chance of But Chijioke Akuneziri, coach Meridien Gokarna Forest Golf Resort & Spa last his career to take the major title but his dreams died and manager of the African United Saturday. when he double bogeyed the last hole. He wasn’t BRIAN SOKOL Club, is furious. “What they paid the Playing a alone. The Winged Foot course punished many players is nothing to what they will make. The Nepali players got far less TEE BREAK 15-handicap players, including Tiger Woods, who missed the cut than what the African players did,” the boss of last year’s league winner Deepak Acharya told us. allowance, by shooting 12 over in two rounds, ending his Highlight Films Producer Shiela Chatarjee denied there was any Sanjib scored streak of making the grade in 37 consecutive discrimination between the African and Nepali players. “For one, they 43 stableford points for a 3-stroke victory over his majors. z were all paid more than what they asked for,” she said, “the African closest rival Ang Tsering Sherpa. The runner-up hit footballers we used got paid more than the Nepali players since they 11 pars and two birdies to finish three points back. Deepak Acharya is a golf instructor and Golf Director at were from the top teams and the Nepali players got paid more than their YD Kwon topped the ladies field, followed by Gokarna Forest Golf Resort & Spa, Kathmandu. average salary.” z Puspa Rai while Le Meridien Gokarna Chairman [email protected] Alok Tumbahangphey 14 CITY 23 - 29 JUNE 2006 #303

ABOUT TOWN Sean Boswell is a loner whose only connection to the world around him is through EXHIBITIONS illegal street racing — which has made him unpopular with the local authorities. To avoid jail time, Sean is sent out of the country to live in a cramped apartment in a low- ™ People’s Power 1990-2006 by Ragini Upadhyay Grela at rent section of Tokyo. There a simple street race has been replaced with drift racing, NAFA, Naxal till 25 June, 10AM-5PM. 411729 a deadly combination of brutal speed on heart stopping courses of hairpin turns and ™ Steel Butterflies a solo photography exhibition by Sarah switchbacks. For his first unsuccessful foray in drift racing, Sean unknowingly takes Schorr till 25 June at Gallery Nine, Lajimpat. 4428694 on the ‘Drift King,’ with ties to the Yakuza, the Japanese crime machine. The only ™ Paintings by Grace Asirwatham at Sirjana Contemporary way he can pay off the debt of his loss is to venture into the deadly realm of the

Art Gallery, Kamaladi 25-27 June. 4247889 Entertainment Tokyo underworld. ™ Bagmati River a photo exhibition at Gallery Café, Lajimpat till Call 4442220 for show timings at Jai Nepal 11 July. www.jainepal.com Quest EVENTS ™ Wave Kick-off Cup media vs. celebrity match at Dashrath Rangasala, 24 June 2PM. 5523845 ™ Globalisation discussion with Chaitanya Mishra at Martin Chautari, 24 June, 4-6PM. 4238050 ™ Bagmati River Festival 3 June – 20 August. 5011013 ™ Japanese Tanabata (Wish ) Festival food, actvities for the kids, live music and more at U Café, 1 July. ™ World Cup Action at Soaltee Crowne Plaza, Rodi bar 9 June- 9 July. 4273999 ™ Communication and leadership program with Toastmasters, meeting every Tuesday at IEM building, Tripureswor. 9841307447 ™ Alcoholics Anonymous problems with alcohol? 9851016079 ™ Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival 2006, 7-10 December, calling for entries. Forms available at: www.himalassociation.org/kimff

MUSIC ™ Heartbreakers live every Friday at Rum Doodle Bar & Restaurant ™ Cadenza Collective live every Wednesday and Saturday 8PM Himal goes monthly with the July issue. at Upstairs, Lazimpat ™ Live Music at New Orleans Café. 4700311 ™ Uncork the good times with Ciney and Par-e-jat playing every Friday from 7PM o at Fusion bar at Dwarika’s Hotel. 4479448 On the stands ™ Jatra Friday nights, live music by Siron. 4256622 ™ Unplugged sessions with Strings, Jatra Saturday nights. 4256622 Sunday. DINING ™ Floats and Fantasies mocktails and desserts at Juneli Bar till 24 June. Includes: ™ Brunch from the east weekend brunch till 29 July. “The Fuzzy Logic of Maoist ™ The Fun Café for set buffet breakfast, lunch or dinner, Olive Bar Transformation” & Bistro, Radisson Hotel. 4411818 by Kanak Mani Dixit ™ World Cup at K-too! games available with meal and free Irish Coffee. 4470043 ™ Mezza and Margarita at Dwarika’s Fusion- the bar every Wednesday, Rs 555 NEPALI WEATHER by MAUSAM BEED ™ Vineyard Gallery Lounge for wines and cocktails at Babar Just as farmers were beginning to fear a repeat of Mahal Revisited. last year’s rainless June, the monsoon has ™ Mango Masti at all restaurants in Soaltee Crowne Plaza. suddenly revived. The onset of the monsoon is essentially a tug-o-war between the moisture-laden 4273999 KATHMANDU ™ Beat the heat with milkshakes and smoothies at Hyatt warm winds from the Bay of Bengal versus the Regency. 4491234 westerlies. When the jet stream delays its annual summer migration north of Himalaya, the monsoon ™ Momo & Sekuwa Revolution every Saturday at Tea-House Inn. is delayed. 668-0080, After a ten-day tussle, the monsoon is now ™ Wet & Wild Summer Splash at Godavari Village Resort, a surging westwards along the midhills again, as special package of Swimming & Lunch. 5560675 this satellite picture taken on Thursday morning shows. The storm on Tuesday evening dumped ™ Breakfast at Singma Restaurant. 8.30 – 11.00AM daily. 20 mm of rain in the Valley. Western Nepal has 5520004 only got a third of normal precipitation so far, but that is likely to change for the better. The Bay arm GETAWAYS of the southwest monsoon is now active again and ™ Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge, relaxation and massages in the weekend should see some brisk showers. Pokhara. 4361500 KATHMANDU VALLEY ™ Junglewalks rafting, elephant rides all at Jungle Base Camp Lodge, Bardia. [email protected] Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue ™ Park Village, Budhanilkantha, Full room Rs 1,600. 4375280 ™ Nature Retreat at Park Village Resorts & Spa. 4375280 ™ Escape Kathmandu at Shivapuri Heights Cottage. 9841371927 31-18 30-18 6 29-166 29-17 28-1566 HAPPENINGS 23 - 29 JUNE 2006 #303 15 Fo t ball for the kids

KIRAN PANDAY KILLING TIME: A Maoist cadre (left) and policewoman wait outside the prime minister's residence in Baluwatar during the summit talks last Friday.

SWORUP RANJIT hile the rest of the musicians, singers, actors, long way. A child living in the world celebrates the RJ’s, VJ’s, and even models. orphanage recently died when a W biggest sporting The Wave Kick Off Cup is bomb that the Maoists had extravaganza by staying up late being held Saturday at Dasrath carelessly left exploded in the into the night watching the Stadium and will raise money nearby jungle. Two other children World Cup, a small orphanage for the Mayadevi Orphanage in were severely injured in the KIRAN PANDAY is struggling to keep itself Rupandehi. The orphanage is explosion. TELLING IT TO THE WORLD: The BBC's Charles Haviland interviews running so the children can run on local resources by After the match, a dinner will be Bhutani refugees staging a relay hunger strike in front of the UN have a better future. Baburam Pyasi, a local resident held at Himalmedia football field Well what better way to who started it two years ago as in Sano Hatiban where prizes will building in Pulchok, on Tuesday, World Refugee Day. raise funds for them than by a child shelter. Today, the be given to the winners and a celebrating the spirit of orphanage is home to 47 World Cup match screened on the teamwork and sportsmanship children who live in the big screen. z through the beautiful game temporary shelter built of itself? And that’s exactly what bamboo sticks and tin roofs on Wave Kick Off Cup our sister publication, Wave, is two acres of Pyasi’s own land. 2-4PM Dasrath Stadium doing by organising a football The children attend school 24 June, Saturday match between various but the organisation is in dire Party: 7PM onwards at members of us in the media and need of financial support and Himalmedia, Sano Hatiban Nepali celebrities including even a little money can go a For tickets call: 9851011937

MIN BAJRACHARYA AYO NOON: Sushil the Magician turns paper into iodised salt at an event at Patan Darbar Square on Tuesday to mark Indian assistance for iodine deficiency and goitre control.

KIRAN PANDAY TRADITIONAL TUNES: Newar girls perform traditional music at Shiva Parbati Dabali on Wednesday to mark the occasion of World Music Day. Shiva and Parbati watch from window overhead. 16 23 - 29 JUNE 2006 #303 Moving the goalposts www.nepalitimes.com

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT We Apologise to Viewers That We’ve Had To Poach The Signal For This World Cup Broadcast From Myanmar TV Because ESPN And STAR SPORTS Have Refused To Honour The Decision Of The Honourable Patan Appellate Court For An Interim Stay Order Requiring Them To Not Block The Live Relay Of World Cup Matches To This Cable Network Even Though We Haven’t Paid Their Stipulated Fees. We Regret This Inconvenience To Our Valued Customers Which Is Caused Entirely By the Unreasonable Demand of ESPN and STAR SPORTS To Try To Get Us To Actually Pay for Their Service. What Do They Think, That Money Grows on Trees in Nepal or What? Proletariat of the World Unite! You Have Nothing To Lose But Your World Cup Coverage. This message brought to you by Tangle Cable Network (Pvt) Ltd, Tangal

After watching the Czechs playing the Stripes till three in the morning last night I’m actually writing this week’s column in my sleep, so I would appreciate it if you didn’t make any loud noises or sudden movements while reading it. But wake me up when this evening’s games start. Is it just me or are some of you also falling asleep while watching the World Cup? This is much more worrying than being unconscious at work. It is an indication that something needs to be done quickly if we are to preserve the interest of Nepalis in football and stop people from flicking their remotes to watch Comrade Prachanda’s interview instead. UNDER MY HAT The problem has always been that there just aren’t enough goals in Kunda Dixit football to maintain viewer interest. There they are, 22 self-important adolescents in ponytails running amok around a field kicking balls for 90 minutes and the score at the end is 0-0 and they shake their hands and go home. Something has to be done quickly before the nation goes into coma. I have been in email touch with FIFA President Sepp Blatter and after hard bargaining have agreed on a 12-point MoU which has been distilled from my original 157-point demand and a 40-point final ultimatum to make the game of football more thrilling. Here is the gist of our final 8- point agreement:

1. Move the goalposts. In fact, increase their width from 9m at present to 25m so there are more chances of goals being scored. What we want to see are scores like Argentina 73-Serbia 9. 2. Remove goalkeepers. These spoilsports unfairly block hard-earned free kicks with this hands and keep the score down. 3. Don’t level the playing field. Incline it at an imperceptible 5 degrees to give the stronger side the advantage of running downhill and scoring more goals. 4. Allow offsides. Strikers will be allowed to hang around the enemy goal post waiting for a long pass, thus making more goals possible. 5. There are just too many stoppages for fouls and misconduct. Players will be allowed to tackle, use Thai-style boxing and Greco-Roman wrestling techniques to bring down enemy players and the referee as well if he doesn’t behave himself. 6. God gave us hands. But hands are allowed only for throw-ins. What a waste. Let’s grab the ball and hit the ground running. 7. Get the balls. Defenders setting up a wall to face a free kick near the penalty area will not longer be allowed to protect their crown jewels with their hands. It's a disgusting habit. 8. Sack the referee and linesmen. We don’t need them, they just slow the game down by stopping play at the slightest excuse. We have democracy now, so let players settle things with fistfights. ISSN 1814-2613