www.nepalitimes.com #142 25 April - 1 May 2003 16 pages Rs 25 Class of 1970 Destiny has brought the graduates of a People’s Movement II small school in Gorkha together again. Major political parties in the dissolved parliament are launching a ‘people’s THOMAS BELL and MAARTEN POST in GORKHA movement’ 4 May unless the house is ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ restored or there is an all-party nce upon a time, there Bhattarai, and the health government. The four main parliamentary parties (NC, UML, was a school in Nepal minister in the royal People’s Front Nepal, NWPP, and a O where every student government, Upendra Devkota, faction of Nepal Sadbhavana Party) passed the SLC exams. It was were classmates. (In picture said Thursday the United Mission to Nepal’s taken circa 1969, Bhattarai is at Editorial p2 they have How much longer? agreed on the Amar Jyoti Janata School in extreme left, and Devkota first phase of Gorkha, and it was a remarkable second from right.) the movement, but they did not give institution with remarkable Today, in a dramatic instance details. “We have done our homework, and we’ll unleash a big students. of history coming full circle, the hurricane,” the UML’s Madhab Kumar The class of 1970 stands out two are members of negotiating Nepal told us. NC’s Girija Prasad because its graduates have lived teams from opposite sides in Koirala said the movement would “force the king to choose between and led Nepal’s recent history. proposed peace talks to end monarchy and republic”. The chief ideologue of the seven years of conflict. Maoist movement, Baburam continued p4-5 Weekly Internet Poll # 82 Q. Is the current student agitation hurting or helping the peace process? The price we pay for power

NAVIN○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ SINGH KHADKA American investors threaten retaliation if the gove- hen the $100 million Bhote Kosi

hydropower project went on rnment doesn’t buy excess power from Bhote Kosi. ○○○○○○○○○○○ stream in 2000, it was touted as ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Total votes:1,196 W Weekly Internet Poll # 83. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com a successful test case of Nepal’s policy George W Bush administration to arm- disputes were common in projects like Q. Who is responsible for the delay in the peace process? of allowing private joint-ventures in twist Nepal. “They intimidated us saying this and they could be settled amicably. Government, Maoists, Neither, Both, Don’t know energy. that they would make their senators in Rana said turbines meant for 36MW Today, the government seems to be Washington scrap the US textile quota for can sometimes generate more power wishing it had never signed the contract. Nepal,” a senior NEA official who was depending on the hydrology of the The power plant near the Chinese border present at the meeting told us. “They also river, and there was nothing wrong was supposed to have a capacity of 36 threatened to stop World Bank aid to with that. MW, but ended up generating 52 MW by Nepal.” The NEA says it has not paid Bhote the time it was built. However, the power Another option Panda offered was to Kosi for the extra power. “Anything purchase agreement between Bhote Kosi force Nepal to buy the project for $100 added outside the contract is being and the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) million plus interest owed to financiers deducted,” an NEA official said. With is to buy only 36 MW at Rs 5.5 per unit. with a 30 percent premium. an installed capacity of nearly 500 MW The NEA says Bhote Kosi has started The offer was made last month in the national grid, the NEA has a billing nearly $100,000 per month more when Nepali officials were in surplus of about 30 percent of its than stipulated in the agreement for 16 Washington to sign a power power during the monsoon. According MW of extra power. There wouldn’t be development deal with the World Bank. to an auditor general report, the NEA anything wrong with that had the NEA not Another senior government official who incurred a loss of over Rs 1 billion in already got excess capacity during the was present during the meeting fiscal 2000-01 buying power from monsoon. It would therefore end up refused to confirm or deny Panda’s Bhote Kosi and the other private join- paying more than originally agreed for threat. “This involves bilateral relations, venture project at Khimti. The NEA pays power it won’t be able to sell to and it could have a big impact,” that nearly half its entire revenue to buy consumers. official said. power from just these two private The NEA is now coming under Siddartha Rana of Himal sector producers. It shells out nearly

pressure from the American shareholders BHIM SUBBA International Power Corporation, the double per unit to Khimti and Bhote Kosi of the Texas-based Panda Energy, one of Nepali partner in Bhote Kosi, told us he what it pays Butwal Power the two US investors in the scheme, who had heard about the threats made at the Corporation, which was recently threatened to use their clout with the meeting in Washington, but such privatised.

#142 NT Pepc.p65 1 4/25/03, 5:14 PM 2 EDITORIAL 25 APRIL - 1 MAY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #142 NATION 25 APRIL - 1 MAY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #142 3 Nepali Times is published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Chief Editor: Kunda Dixit Desk Editor: Trishna Gurung, Design: Kiran Maharjan Webmaster: Bhushan Shilpakar [email protected], www.nepalitimes.com Advertising: Sunaina Shah [email protected] Subscription: Anil Karki [email protected] Sales: Sudan Bista [email protected] Sanchaya Kosh Building, Block A-4th Floor, Lalitpur GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: 01-5543333/ 5523845 Fax: 01-5521013 Printed at Jagadamba Press, Hattiban: 01-5547018/17 Maoist manifesto The Maoists issued a 75-point manifesto reactionaries” and warns that anyone who just before the breakdown of the last truce “played the role of counter- in November 2001. In language straight revolutionists…shall be deprived of all HOW MUCH LONGER? out of 1960s China, and containing political rights for a certain period”. All land et’s get this straight. The political parties don’t trust the king, and seeming contradictions about land titles will be “null and void”, all forms of vice versa. The Maoists and the monarchy don’t trust each other. appropriation and individual property, the prostitution will be banned. The manifesto L The political parties also don’t trust the Maoists, but issue broad threats that they will get into bed with them against the monarchy document calls for “nationalisation of the pledges to close Gurkha recruitment, stop while in the same breath accuse the Maoists and the monarchy of property of bureaucratic capitalists and INGO financing, and wants to set up a being anti-democratic. Both the Maoists and the political parties treat the royal cabinet with contempt. Try to brokers”, “freeing national industries from “South Asian Soviet Federation”. An untangle that. the shackles of Indian monopoly unofficial translation of selected excerpts: In this rigmarole, the political parties have got their student fronts to close the country down for days on end in a display of Bihar-style political stamina. It’s a bit United Revolutionary People’s of individual property, except in accordance end feudal, semi-feudal and bureaucratic Indians of the trade sector shall be right to be recruited in the people's disingenuous for our politicos to refuse to take responsibility Congress Nepal’s Minimum United with the law... means of production and develop a national terminated… military and the militia shall be formed for the burning of libraries, museums and books at universities and Policy and Program capitalistic means of production under 46. Exploitation and misery within the under a command centre for local colleges. Come on, they don’t do that even in Darbhanga. CHAPTER 2 which land will be distributed to the country and nation shall be liberated from security… It is an even greater sign of moral bankruptcy to declare a bandh CHAPTER 1 State System landless and poor farmers…no expropria- foreign loans. Financial institutions will be 64. Local level autonomous rule shall ‘successful’ just because the populace has been cowed down into shutting up Fundamental Policies 11. The people's assembly and people's tion of the land belonging to rich people free to carry out lending transactions in be formed in high mountainous regions shops by arsonists and window-smashers, to call factories, schools and bus ROBIN SAYAMI 1. The principal purpose of the new committee's government shall be formed in and absentee landlords shall be made… rural areas but the interest rate will be like Karnali, Seti and Mahakali which are companies to close down, or else. How is this any different to what the Maoists people's congress is to institutionalise a four tiers: central, autonomous region, 32. The help of the local level revolu- controlled… neglected and suffer unbalanced did? Now, every little rump faction can go around the city in a hailer-equipped people's republic. The fundamental tenets autonomous district, and village/municipal tionary peasants shall be obtained to 48. The imperialists' financial interven- development… three wheeler to declare a bandh whose 'success' is preordained. of the new people's republic are to end all level... determine the character of landless, poor, tion caused by ngos and ingos shall be 65. …The tarai will be a separate Is this country genetically programmed to self-destruct? Watching our forms of exploitation by national capitalists, 12. The people's assembly shall be semi-feudal and feudal, to prepare actual ended… autonomous region where languages like monarchy descend into anarchy it certainly looks like it. The paradox here is that imperialists and expansionists in the vested with the supreme legislative and land records, and to mobilise the commu- 50. Small-scale hydropower projects Maithali, Bhojpuri, Abadhi are spoken none of this needs to happen. Things were looking up after the ceasefire was leadership, the unity of labour and peasants, executive power, not the bourgeois nity as a whole... will be prioritised as against large projects. and different ethnic groups live. All types declared. It showed conclusively that there is no military solution to this crisis, and and the enforcement of the dominance of parliament. It shall be representative of all 33. Land expropriated from feudal and of discrimination in the tarai shall be it brought shaky, but genuine, hope among the people about the future. people's rule over class enemies… groups, castes, people of all areas and capitalist bureaucrats shall be distributed to CHAPTER 6 stopped, and the long pending problem of This can translate into support for a restoration of the democratic process STATE OF THE STATE by CK LAL 3. Absolute sovereignty shall be vested representative of the people's military…the local farmers without any discrimination Culture and Education citizenship shall be resolved in a scientific, with an all-inclusive interim government to prepare the ground for local and in the people and guaranteed by a new people reserve the power to recall their and such land will be their private 52. Education shall be made free, judicious way. parliamentary elections. On the road to that goal, there has to be an agreement constitution comprised of representatives representative if they are dissatisfied with property… compulsory and fair... about constitutional changes. So, where is the problem? elected through adult franchise by an their performance. 36. Land shall be distributed equally to 54. A special consideration shall be CHAPTER 9 The only one we can see is that the various power centres can’t agree on interim government… 13. The national conference or people's the representatives of peoples’ government given for the preservation and development Women and Family who gets powerful portfolios in the interim cabinet and are willing to jeopardise Easy come, easy go 4. All fundamental and political rights congress shall exercise the power of a as it is distributed to other peasants. A of culture and art…priority shall be given to 66. All types of patriarchal the peace process in order to get plum posts. Even if the main political parties of the people such as the right to speech and national people's assembly until such time special priority shall be given to the families people's military and people's forum for exploitation over women shall end, women were asked to decide on the composition of an interim cabinet, we all know what expression, to elect and be elected, and to as the election of a Revolutionary United of martyrs... dancing…a ban shall be made on vulgar will have equal rights to men in all areas.

will happen: it will look at a pack of hyenas tearing up a kill. The king has seen that Nepalis are condemned to suffer more interesting times. own or disown religion, and freedom of Front can be held. This election is to be 37. All documents pertaining to land literature and films. Sons and daughters will have equal ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

this prime minister is not going to deliver, he is looking for a replacement. But will ○○○○○○○ movement will be guaranteed. Employment, held based on adult franchise where the loans, ownership and transactions shall be 55. The peoples’ right to free speech inheritance rights over ancestral property. his choice be acceptable to political parties who have declared Peoples' Move- education and health shall be people's assembly, labour, peasants, the declared null and void until land reforms and expression will be protected. The All sorts of prostitution including badi, ment II from 4 May? The names of compromise candidates are being leaked. n the politics of patronage, words. All that the government revolution going to rot is revolting. guaranteed…reactionaries who played the people's military, lower capitalists, national come into force and the people's government publication of factual newspapers will be jhuma and the social evils will be stopped. Surya Bahadur Thapa met the king and immediately air-dashed to New Delhi players rise and fall like ninepins, spokesperson could mutter in But reality can’t be wished away. role of counter-revolutionaries and acted level capitalist, ethnic communities, women issues new land deeds… encouraged… There will be strict punishment for those amidst an officially-inspired flurry of edits about the monarchy in the Indian media. I but the rule of the game always response was that a showpiece has its Comrade Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s against the interest of the nation and the and immigrants will be represented… 38. Cooperatives shall be promoted to engaged in the trafficking of women… The ex-chief justice and a constitution framer Bishwanath Upadhyay said this remains the same. The iron rule of uses. Indeed, it does. It allows statement this week (see p 12) has people shall be deprived of all political 17. All laws, orders and judicial increase production, for the maximum CHAPTER 7 week the political parties are like the river Ganges. "It contains raw sewage and any absolute rule is that there are no dummies to pretend that they done nothing to allay the public fear rights for a certain period… systems of the old reactionary rule shall be utilisation of labour, and to contribute to Health and Social Welfare CHAPTER 11 rubbish, yet it is still a holy river." It's true, our political parties are septic tanks and rules at all. So when two weeks ago, are for real. that the Maoists are hand-in-glove 7. The nation shall entirely be made repealed and terminated… economic growth... 57. Health services shall be free for all Foreign Policy most of their leaders are sleaze bags, but we are stuck with them. And we must faded comrade Devi Prasad Ojha, Considering this cabinet’s with the reactionaries. sovereign, independent, self-dependent by citizens, and the health sector's development 72. The main thrust of the foreign believe in the peoples' power to vote out the crooks and bring in a new crop of ending all semi-colonial and neo-colonial CHAPTER 3 CHAPTER 5 shall be emphasised in rural areas… policy of the People's Republic of Nepal leaders. We have to reinstate the process that restores the peoples’ right to jaded business-person Mahesh Lal irrelevance, it is astonishing why there National politics is brimming with agreements including of the treaty of 1950, People's Military and People's Security Industry, Finance and Infrastructure shall be to preserve the nation’s freedom chose their rulers. Otherwise they may want to go directly for constituent Pradhan, and the yellowed is such a rush to get into it. From R K all kinds of anomalies these days. and freeing the nation from loans imposed System Development CHAPTER 8 and sovereignty and to defend the people's assembly elections to decide once and for all what to do with the monarchy. bureaucrat Dharma Bahadur Thapa Mainali of the UML to Bijay Maoists seem to enjoy almost absolute by imperialists and expansionists. All 22. A united people's military force 40. There is no possibility of national Questions Relating to Caste and Region rule, to promote the happiness and were shown the same door through Gachhedar of the Deuba Congress, power with no responsibility, while citizens shall be provided employment shall be formed with the participation of the economic transformation without rapid 60. All castes and languages will be prosperity of its citizens, to support which they had entered the ante- all kinds of exhausted personas are the emasculated mainstream political opportunities by closing the Gorkha main force, subsidiary local force and militia national industrial development... treated equally…in the new rule problems national freedom movements against chamber of state power, no getting their labeda-suruwals pressed. parties are expected by society to act Recruitment Centre and running [it] as a to dismantle the old reactionaries' rule and industrialisation shall be taken ahead with shall be settled in accordance with the policy imperialists and expansionists all over the tears were shed. Since a minister’s job in the present responsibly. Meanwhile, the national college. The rampant exploitation of to keep the people's rule safe. The supreme nationalisation of the property of of autonomy…which shall have exclusive world... After all, the trio of neo- context is like that of a day-labour ‘government’ is merely an instrument imperialists over water resource shall be commander of the people's military bureaucratic capitalists and brokers, and by powers over matters relating to the people's 74. A strong relation shall be extended ended and it shall be used for the common shall be the president of the central freeing national industries from the shackles military, foreign relation, finance, with different revolutionary groups and reactionaries knew what they were hired to perform designated tasks of the ruler, lacking legitimate interest of people. committee of the communist party… of Indian monopoly to achieve rapid communication, international trade and national freedom movements that are getting into when they decided to under a faithful superviser, what do political authority, and thus free from 8. …An appropriate balance between economic development… basic industries etc. fighting against Indian expansionism, the ride the express bus of Clause 127 to they seek to achieve by being all moral responsibilities. private, united and joint ownership or the CHAPTER 4 44. The trade in essential items and 61. If there is more than one caste in an main external enemy within South Asia. Singha Darbar. By now, even inducted into this cabinet? Whatever be the unintended collective ownership by the state of Agriculture and Land Reformation foreign trade shall be in the hand of state autonomous region, there shall be And, an effort shall be made to form a Lokendra Bahadur Chand must have The Chand cabinet was consequences of stifling democracy, prioritised industries will be 26. The peoples’ revolution will have an whereas other trade shall be in the hands of proportional representation of each caste… South Asian Soviet Federation with realised that every new dawn brings unabashedly ‘non-political’ from the one thing is for sure: the onus of maintained…there will be no nationalisation agrarian revolution as its main goal. It will the private sector. The monopoly by the 62. All marginalised castes shall have a revolution in all countries. another portentous day in day it was formed, and it became delivering peace doesn’t fall either on Baluwatar. Sher Bahadur Deuba was ‘unconstitutional’ as soon as four this government or the political thrown out because he had failed to main political parties of the still parties. It is the Maoists who are the LETTERS hold parliamentary elections within surviving Upper House raised problem. So no one expects any six months of the dissolution of the questions over its legitimacy. After solutions from them. Under the STUDENTS OF HISTORY them of politics, so our students saying about the witch and the during the war. Win-win shine through clearly. I wonder BP keeps mentioning Shailaja Lower House. Chand has been in having entered into negotiations with circumstances, King Gyanendra is Why is it only in Nepal, the most can get back to their studies. PS: witchdoctor being one and the situation for one, lose-lose for what BP would make of the Acharya as the one he trusted that hot seat for longer, and he the Maoists to scrap the existing solely responsible for everything that trivial issue engulfs the nation I hope none of these selfish same person. After having the other. present day confrontation to take forward his vision, and hasn’t even tried. constitution itself, the government has happened in the country after with strikes and protests? political parties will be included in caused all that death and SS Pal, Kathmandu between his successors in we see in the past 12 years that Narayan Singh Pun must be has now become amoral as well. October Fourth simply because he (Editorial, ‘Time out’, #141). The the peace process. They are the destruction, the US is now the Nepali Congress and the she has conducted herself with oil price hike was due to the main reason why Nepal is still the poised to begin the task of BP KOIRALA monarchy. Would he have integrity and spoken out with doing some serious thinking as well. Morality gets a stretch in any hasn’t made any attempt to share rampant corruption and political poorest country in the world. rebuilding Iraq. It is not difficult to I don’t know about your other joined the king in his effort to boldness even against her own From being the one-man team armed insurgency, and the political political authority with any one interference at the Nepal Oil Pravesh Saria, Chicago, guess who the beneficiaries of readers, but I wait avidly for defuse the insurgency, or party for its short-sightedness ushering Maoist negotiators around position of Maoist negotiators is else ever since. Corporation by previous UML USA this American ‘kindness’ will be. your fortnightly installments from would he have tried to corner and corruption. Maybe she town, the good colonel has been getting rather shaky. All Poised between post-insurgency and NC governments. The Not the Iraqi people, that is for BP Koirala’s jail diary. Many of the king and raise the should make herself heard, and demoted to a mere member. That’s a circumstantial evidence indicates the ennui and pre-movement euphoria, student wings of these very LOSE-LOSE sure. US and British companies the details may sound mundane republican banner? It is clear put country before party. And mighty fall for the high-flying vanguard of the rebel force has the state of the state is drifting amidst political parties are now leading Re: Daniel Lak’s ‘The thunder of will no doubt get most of the (health worries, washing, etc) that BP’s brother, niece and his that goes for other young turks helicopter pilot, but Pun is a already entered into some kind of a the waves. But enduring peace can’t the charge with anti-social hooves’, #141. The war in Iraq is, post-war construction and other but what do you expect in the political descendants do not in the other parties as well. repair work of Iraq's damaged have his vision and Pratap Shah, Biratnagar survivor and knows the controls too secret deal with the ancien regime. By be pursued without first restoring activities. Here we have political for all practical purposes, over. diary of an incarcerated man? parties now actively taking part President Bush is once again infrastructure, all paid for by The last episode from 24 March experience. They can’t see well to complain. He is a practical the time Lenin’s ‘untutored rabble’ democratic order in the country. in dismantling the education riding high in the opinion polls, Iraqi oil, of course. Food for oil (‘I have suddenly become a beyond the next corner, and CATS man who offered his services to realise that they’ve been had, it will There is no sanitised short cut to the system by whipping up the Secretary Rumsfeld feels before, oil for rebuilding now. political being’, #139) is a the party badly needs Contrary to what Nanda Rana Girija Prasad Koirala and then to be too late for them to do anything slow and messy process of mass students into a frenzy. Parties, vindicated for his stand on And what about the oil itself? fascinating transformation of the someone of BP’s says in ‘Cat Man’ (#141) Sher Bahadur Deuba, then dumped about it. And they will do that politics. leave our kids alone. sending less troops than his Who might get the rights to man once he is put into solitary statesmanship and vision. conservation is not simply a both to join the royal government. with a vengeance. It’s never too late to correct a In my mind, Koirala and generals recommended, and the develop and manage it? Back in confinement. When the going Since Kishunji is still not management issue or a Subtlety is not Koirala’s forte, The people will allow the team of mistake, but time and tide doesn’t Nepal have lost the little respect I American public's anger for 9/11 America, fresh jobs in the gets tough, the tough get going, breaking his vow of silence, business. It is an issue but the force of his argument hit Comrade Baburam Bhattarai to cruise wait for us. Today, the students have had for them. The education and has at last found a mark to vent defence industry will be created and here we see the true maybe someone from the intrinsically linked to values, home ministries should work itself on. What America has done when the Pentagon orders greatness of BP as a man. His younger generation should ethics and most importantly, a home when it made even a seasoned down the Raymajhi Path and then let taken to the streets. No one can together to clean up the (and will be doing) in Iraq replenishments for all the nationalism, selflessness and speak up for a party that is a sense of being a part of nature. and superannuated scribe like them join the new corps of Royal predict who will be at the universities and colleges and rid reminds me of an old Nepali missiles and bombs used up belief in democracy and freedom sad shadow of its former self. Badri Rai, email Ramesh Nath Pandey fumble for Communists. The very thought of a gates next.

#142 NT Pepc.p65 2-3 4/25/03, 5:14 PM 4 NATION 25 APRIL - 1 MAY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #142 NATION 25 APRIL - 1 MAY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #142 5 DOMESTIC BRIEFS to honour this agreement, to collect fines and deport

Blue buses back refugees back to China. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ History comes The parastatal Sajha public transport company is back on the roads 15 months after being closed

down by the Deuba government. A ceremonial run to Student shutdowns ○○○○○○ Boys from Gorkha ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ from p1 Pashupati took place this week by one of the Two days of shutdowns on 20 and 23 April were called Mitsubishi blue buses. Excessive political by student unions and both were ‘successful’ in interference and corruption had forced the closure of bringing the country to a standstill. The student wing full circle the service which operated Kathmandu valley and allied with the Deuba Congress acted independently CLASSMATES: inter-city routes in Nepal. The government recently hen Thomas of the other seven unions who enforced the 20 April (From l to r) appointed Mukunda Raj Satyal as managing closure simply because their parent party is waging an Varughese came to director of Sajha for two years. Satyal managed Baburam Bhattarai, Nepal from Kerala to independent movement. The Big Seven are now Upendra Devkota W Sajha during the Panchayat years and oversaw the planning to grind the country to a halt again on 28 teach in a missionary school modernisation and expansion of the service with and 29 April. and Krishna at Luitel Bhanjyang in Gorkha, Japanese assistance. The company has a fleet of 72 Kishor Singh Rathor of the Deuba-backed student Pokharel pointing he knew he wanted to raise a buses and a modern maintenance centre at its depot union says their movement is against the king’s out the bullet holes generation of well-educated in Pulchowk, and Satyal says 50 of the buses can be “regressive move” of October Fourth and they want the Nepalis who would be dedi- made operational with repairs within 30 months. “We prime minister reinstated. The Girija faction of the in the wall of his cated professionals in their want to run an efficient and reliable bus service not Congress and the UML-backed students are all fields. just within Nepal, but also to serve Indian cities,” demanding student elections. The newly-surfaced school in Gorkha Satyal told us. where Maoists tried What he didn’t realise is Maoist union wants their colleagues released and a that the values he and his postponement of polls. to kill him two wife, Mary, inculcated in the Tibetan refugees jailed “The student demonstrations have now gone

years ago. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ beyond educational demands, they have become

young minds of the children of KUNDA DIXIT Eighteen Tibetans, including 10 teenagers, caught mouthpieces of their political sponsors,” says Gorkha would also turn them after crossing the Nangpa La into Nepal were jailed educationist Man Prasad Wagle. The trouble into revolutionaries—especially “We were torch-bearers for our Science, both agree. “Baburam was Upendra Devkota and Baburam Baburam stayed in touch with his Krishna Pokharel took out a bi- While Pokharel was in in Kathmandu this week. The Home Ministry said worsened when an anti-oil price rise demo was fired one particular class. they would be deported back to China. Two six-year upon by police in Butwal, killing a student leader. generation, extremely competitive,” extremely disciplined, very sharp and Bhattarai were passionate opponents of friend Krishna Pokharel in weekly newspaper called Daraundi. It Kathmandu he witnessed the chaos Two of his brightest says Devkota before his face darkens he had a phenomenal memory,” recalls the Panchayat system, but differences Kathmandu, writing letters that was strongly critical of the Maoists, following the royal massacre. He Mary and Thomas Varughese. olds and a nine-year old who spent the last three The postponement of student union elections added students—Baburam Bhattarai days in prison with the other 18 refugees are said to fuel to the fire. Angry students set ablaze Tribhuban with the memory of his classmate. Mary Varughuese, “Upendra was the remained. Pokharel, Devkota and described his political journey. He was and Pokharel wrote an open letter to met his old friend, Upendra and Upendra Devkota—went down two other missionary Upendra Devkota at Bir have been handed over to the United Nations High University’s press and the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial “You don’t say one person is better more vocal one.” But both were eager Bhattarai went to Amrit Science impressed by his meetings with BP his classmate and friend: “Our Devkota who was now a famous on to stand first and second in schools in Gorkha and Tho- Hospital last year, and remem- Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) officials in Hall. than another just because he got more to learn, and soaked everything in. (See College, now Amrit Campus. and Girija Koirala, then living in exile society has invested so much in you neurosurgeon. “We talked about the whole country in the 1970 mas’ Kailali school was bers that the doctor knelt on Kathmandu on 19 April. Vice chancellor Govinda Sharma had assured marks in the SLC 30 years ago.” box, p 5.) Bhattarai and Pokharel were in India. “BP Koirala is the most and what are you giving back? I have the palace incident, he had treated students that union elections would take place on the Bhattarai came Board First and The rivalry between the two groups roommates and remained close friends. patriotic personality in Nepal,” he two friends who are doctors now. Crown Prince Dipendra when he SLC exams and may soon be bombed and torched last year, the ground to touch her feet. The refugees were jailed because they did not have the money to pay the fines levied by the scheduled date of 23 April, but a compromise could Devkota was Board Second in the took on a political dimension. The poet “In this period Devkota was still wrote, “Girija is the most revolutionary One is saving people and one is was in a coma. He still had strong sitting face to face across the although the Maoist leadership “He took me around the negotiating table to find an denied responsibility. neurosurgery ward, and said Immigration Department for illegal entry. There are not be reached on the issue of detained students. 1970 SLC exams. The two have not and TU lecturer Sita Ram Adhikary was very interested in communism,” personality.” Later, at JNU when he killing them.” convictions, but he is a monarchist Now the students are concentrating on ensuring the end to the Maoist insurgency. The Keralite couple haven’t ‘it was because you taught me 27 other Tibetans serving time in Kathmandu jails. met since Bhattarai went underground two years senior, and remembers Pokharel recalls. “We used to discuss heard that BP Koirala had accepted the Bhattarai responded in the now.” The group of 21 refugees from various areas of next bandh is a ‘successful’ curtain raiser for their eight years ago. “He’s serving the old Upendra Devkota’s older brother as politics every day on the rooftop of the result of the narrowly-endorsed Maoist mouthpiece, Janadesh, For his part, Adhikary is What was so special about the met Baburam for 15 years. honesty and hard work that I Peoples Movement II to begin on 4 May with a big Amar Jyoti Janata School in Earlier this month Thomas can do this.’ He looked like a Tibet had crossed the 19,000ft Nangpa La pass in regime, I’m serving the new regime,” being attracted to communist ideology. college. He believed that communism referendum on the Panchayat system calling his old friend a government pained by the violence of the past Solo Khumbu and were on their way to Kathmandu’s rally in Kathmandu organised by the big four parties: Baburam Bhattarai tells us, smiling. In school, he says it was Devkota who was the best political system for the in 1980, Bhattarai became a commu- servant and a reactionary, and seven years. “I hate it,” he says Gorkha that it produced so went to the Maoist rally at real missionary doctor!” Tibetan Refugee Reception Center when they were Nepali Congress, UML, Jana Morcha Nepal and “We are in opposite camps.” Years ago appeared to be more influenced by poor.” But because communism did nist. “I think Marxism is better,” threatening that the role of the simply, “change comes from the many brilliant minds? Tundikhel to listen to his In interviews, Baburam arrested on a public bus by police last week. Since Nepal Workers Peasants Party. they were in different camps too: communism than Bhattarai, and started not guarantee personal freedom, Baburam wrote to Pokharel. ‘peoples war’ was to eliminate people mind not from the barrel of a “I think we tried to teach the former student’s fiery oration Bhattarai has paid tribute to 1989 there has been an informal arrangement It is clear the parties are now committed to a Devkota and his friends from a student union in school to oppose the Pokharel developed an antipathy Krishna Pokharel disagreed with like Krishna Pokharel. That threat gun.” But he also regrets the path children life values, the but did not meet him face-to- his Keralite teachers, saying it between UNHCR and the Nepali government that the make or break struggle. The question is, how soon can Bohoragau and Bhattarai and his authorities. Baburam, reportedly did towards it—a feeling that has lasted to Baburam, and recalls: “I also wanted to was nearly carried out: on 24 his own party has taken. “I concepts of honesty, integrity, face. “I was impressed,” he was their simplicity, integrity refugees will be allowed to transit Nepal to India. the palace forge a deal with them on an interim friends from Kaplung were rivals. not join the union. Surprisingly, this day. Baburam Bhattarai wasn’t defeat the Panchayat system, but I January 2001 four Maoists armed remained a kangresi throughout social justice,” explains told us, “it was a good speech and commitment that laid the Tibetan refugee groups say there is now a trend not government acceptable to everyone? Krishna Pokharel was in Baburam Bhattarai who had a slight pro- particularly attracted by communism accepted the result of the referendum.” with revolvers came to the teacher but I am sad about how our leaders Thomas. “You embed these and the crowd was with him.” foundation of his life. Thomas Bhattarai’s group. “Gradually Congress leaning in school went on to even then, but Pokharel says he was Bhattarai tried to persuade Pokharel to training college in Gorkha where have let us down, our party has values in a person’s mind, In that speech, Baburam took a and Mary are hoping to meet Baburam and Upendra didn’t even become a revolutionary, while the left- resolutely against absolute monarchy. start teaching communism in school, Pokharel was conducting class. They lost its prestige.” you nurture the seeds and dig at his former classmate Baburam soon. What is the want to talk to each other because leaning Devkota is now a monarchist. After college, the school friends but he refused. Their fired three shots, which missed and And what about his school watch them grow with the when he said: “The constitu- one question they want to ask Baburam wanted to stand first and Upendra Devkota also rallied his went their separate ways. Sita Ram correspondence then tapered off. Pokharel fought them off. friends? “Upendra is the best individual.” tion is sick. There is a doctor in him? Thomas says: “I will ask EASYEASYEASY TIMESTIMESTIMES Upendra was competition.” Devkota friends against Christian activities at the Adhikary returned to Gorkha to work After the 1990 Peoples’ Sita Ram Adhikary was in doctor I know. He cares for his After leaving Gorkha in the cabinet, but even he won’t him, Baburam, where do you It’s never been easier and Pokharel were leaders of different missionary school. “Even in grade five, as a teacher. But being a member of Movement, ideological differences Gorkha at the time to vote in the duty. Baburam is a unique the early 1970s, Thomas and be able to revive it.” That was a think you went wrong?” And to subscribe to groups in school, while Bhattarai had he used to say that it wasn’t proper to the Nepali Congress-affiliated Tarun were briefly set aside. Baburam general election. “I heard the shots personality, very creative, and Mary set up three schools in reference to health minister he even has an answer for Nepali Times has nose in his books and by all have to study the bible and go to Dal he was driven out for his anti- Bhattarai’s United Left Front formed and ran to the school,” he recalls. “I kind-hearted. But both are Kailali. The Maoists’ ideo- Upendra Devkota, who ironi- his own question, “His goals Just dial this number accounts was a serious student. church,” recalls Pokharel. “He called it Panchayat activities in 1975. Upendra a pragmatic alliance with the Nepali advised Krishna to move to ambitious.” The batch of 1970 is logical campaign against the cally, had said soon after his are good, but the end never and leave your address. Pokharel recalls: “He (Baburam) religious imperialism, but I don’t think Devkota became a renowned Congress, but differences quickly re- Kathmandu. “When there is a having a class reunion picnic this was always afraid of the teachers, he anybody at that time even knew what neurosurgeon, studying and working emerged and this was to have famine, save grain. When there is weekend in Kathmandu, but country’s education system appointment that the constitu- justifies the means. Violence wanted to be obedient…he was the ‘imperialism’ meant. We used to say we in Britain and Hong Kong before dramatic consequences for the disorder, save yourself,” Adhikary Upendra Devkota is not planning badly affected the Gorkha tion wasn’t worth the paper it begets violence, he is a most obedient student in the school.” were Nepali Congress and we liked BP returning to Nepal. Baburam Bhattarai classmates from Gorkha. told Pokharel, quoting a Nepali to attend. Baburam did not know school as well as those in was printed on. smart boy, he should learn 5543333 Thomas Varghuese, who was principal Koirala just to oppose Upendra.” went to Jawaharlal Nehru University While Baburam Bhattarai and proverb. Krishna did go to about the event, but said, “I’ll go if Kailali. The Maoists closed Mary ran into her student from history.” of the school and his wife Mary who After leaving school in 1970, the in New Delhi to study architecture his Maoist comrades launched the Kathmandu, but within a year was they invite me. I’m proud of taught the boys Math, English and politics became more serious. Both and did his PhD in urban planning. ‘peoples war’ in February 1996, back in Gorkha to carry on teaching. my school.”

HERE AND THERE by DANIEL LAK Closure is a good thing

o Washington is declaring ‘victory’ in Iraq. This is good. Although a battlefield triumph for the hard-body, hi-tech of the invaders was S never in doubt, closure is almost always a good thing. And for the Careerist aidocrats can never people of Iraq and the media, a declaration of victory means it’s time to hold the victors to account, to make them repair the damage they wrought be successful, because that and begin to build this new Iraq that they speak of in almost religious tones. means they will be jobless. Get on with it boys. Here in Nepal, we watch the opening of something new, a peace process begins. Will it ever know closure? Not that we should fill ourselves with Has the development community managed success on a national level in dread at the outset. There is, this time, something different in the air, a any other country in the world? Let’s remember that most poor nations sense that the constitutional bargaining table may be the most profitable have been receiving aid and guidance from wealthy mentors for decades. In battlefield for the nation’s political forces. You’re a royalist? Justify it. You fact, a surf through UNDP and other web sites seem to show many places want a republic? Why? What’s in it for the people? Make your argument getting worse, not better. Largely, I suspect, because the aid bureaucrats and make it stick. Then take it to the electorate and convince them are cooking the books to keep closure at bay. Who wants to declare too. Closure on Nepal’s many, many years of arrested development themselves out of a job after all? Especially, a lavish, benefit-saturated, awaits. one no longer has a job. Failure must be maintained, either by the perpetu- largely tax-free job in a wonderful foreign setting with cheap domestic Ah yes, and then we come to development, or should I say ation of inefficient programs or the constant moving of the goal posts. Got labour and oodles of local gratitude for the wonderful, compassionate Development—for which, it seems, there can be no closure. I cannot there in literacy? Right, but how’s the gender balance. No? You’re a failure, job you do. think of a single, largescale developmental success in the modern age. you still need us, Nepal. This is also why the theory of development grows ever more This excludes—of course—the achievement of various benchmarks set For the compassionate and competent in the aid community, honesty esoteric and impenetrable to the lay person, and especially to the in meeting rooms and seminars by comfortable, educated people who serves a similar purpose. In the time of any single development worker’s ostensible beneficiaries. Now no one can tell me that the rural folk of are part of the process, the ruling foxes of the chicken farm, as it were. period of assignment, no significant progress can be made on any of the Nepal, or the urban poor for that matter, don’t know what’s wrong in Notable successes in Nepal include improvements in literacy rates, pressing issues that they are here to address. And they know it. From water their lives. And they have some damn good ideas on how to set things maternal mortality, availability of basic health services and so on. But to legal reform, from children’s long term security to economic equity, these right, usually involving education, clean water and transparent politics. rather than closure, each of these benchmarks achieved serve to are matters that take generations to put right, centuries even. And Nepal But the implementation of such simple, common sense ideas might have underline one glaring notion — international developmental practice has barely begun, thanks to many years of cynical oligarchy, misguided one dreadful consequence. I can sense the shudders from bilateral and thrives in the vacuum of local failure. authoritarianism and lately, constant foreign patronage, part self-serving, multilateral meeting rooms as I write this. For the careerist aidocrat, there can be no success for that means that largely inept. Closure. We can’t have that.

#142 NT Pepc.p65 4-5 4/25/03, 5:14 PM 6 NATION 25 APRIL - 1 MAY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #142 ECONOMY 25 APRIL - 1 MAY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #142 7 SOMEWHERE IN NEPAL by PUSKAR BHUSAL BIZ NEWS STRICTLY BUSINESS by ASHUTOSH TIWARI

‘Unseen Thailand’ of Labour and Employment Promotion

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○ shows the number of Nepalis seeking Reeling from the SARS scare, Thai foreign jobs decreased to 75,000 from HAN’s controlling hand Toni's Nepal Airways has announced a special holiday 77,000 in the corresponding period last

package for tourism promotion. The deal year. Malaysia and the Persian Gulf saw the ast week, for a half-day workshop tourist guides could command up to Once the managers realised that

○○○○○○○○○○○○○ KUNDA○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ DIXIT oni Hagen knew Nepal inside out. Literally. As a geologist, including a return ticket in economy class, largest drop of 25 percent. “It is an on venture capital, a colleague Rs 50,000 a month. The sky was the these hitherto under-served he put together the first 3-D jigsaw puzzles of stratigraphic three days, two nights of hotel accumulated effect of war in the Gulf, the Ltried to book a hall at one of the limit till things started sliding after an customers could, to a large extent, cross-sections of the Nepal Himalaya. He took 15 years to Kingcraft accommodation and breakfast, and month-long government ban on travelling to five-star hotels in Kathmandu. To get Indian Airlines flight was hijacked compensate for the slump in the T transportation between airport and hotel trek 14,000 km across the length and breadth of a roadless Kuwait, difficulties in obtaining passport, a the best rates, he made a few calls, only from Kathmandu in late1999. tourist market, they became bold country, analysing rock outcrops and mapping the orogenics. But authoritarianism. They haven’t century monarchy are shrinking comes with a price tag of around $120. global economic recession and the recent to discover that all the five hotels As global media played up news and creative on their own, and went the more he studied Nepal, the more Toni Hagen found his interest been seeing anything else. Six from that task. ‘Unseen Thailand with Thai’ was ceasefire that has made young men feel quoted the exact same price. Surprised, about the violence in the hilly on to woo and pamper. As a result, veering away from rocks to people. months on, the people seem to The palace has done a poor launched 18 April and will last till 30 safer at home,” says sociologist Ganesh he probed further and found out hinterland, international guests they brought in entertainers as He was looking for mineral treasures that would turn Nepal share that sentiment. job of explaining what our leaders September. Passengers can choose to Gurung, who is studying Nepal’s labour hotels were following a directive, decided to vacation elsewhere, while diverse as French Can Can dancers into a modern developed nation, but he found treasure of a King Gyanendra’s address at have been telling the king all begin their journey from Bangkok or from outflow trend. recently issued by their trade group— the infamous “Ritik Roshan Kanda- and lissome satellite-TV VJs to different kind: the Nepalis' capacity for hard work, their fortitude Dhangadi earlier this month, these months. It has been less Thailand’s 15 domestic destinations. The the Hotel Association of Nepal 2000”—which allowed attacks against Kathmandu, and sold profitable and cheerfulness. As he got to know them up close and stressing the need to incorporate forthcoming on what the king Thai government has been trying to (HAN). The HAN, mind you, dinners to thousands of Nepalis

personal, Toni Hagen became a lifelong admirer of the Nepali encourage the Thai people to travel Fire safety looks after the interests of the local at obscenely high prices. market economy, good governance, told the leaders. Bijay Kumar ○○○○○○○○○○ people. transparency and corruption-free Gachchadar and Jog Mehar domestically. Hitco has begun Nepali owners and partners as During the same period, new Toni Hagen died on Friday at his home in Lucerne at age 86, practices into the national agenda, Shrestha have managed to convey selling three opposed to those of the restaurants that were not members of any restrictive one day before he was to fly to Nepal to attend a conference would have enchanted a Davos some of King Gyanendra’s modular fire professional managers of

which on 25 April will premier the film Uhileko Nepal containing Exports down Kathmandu’s top-tier hotels. And trade-association did roaring ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

audience. Local reaction focused on concerns. The people don’t ○○○○○○○○ extinguisher types thanks to the political and the business too. Thamel’s the 8mm visuals he shot 40 years ago. The screening will start a why he never mentioned the words consider them the most credible The slump in tourism is adversely in the kingdom. conference by the Social Science Baha on the theme, The affecting handicraft producers. Exports Produced by the financial clout it carries, the HAN Himalayan Java, for instance, is ‘constitutional monarchy’. When messengers. Officially, the only has historically enjoyed the kind always crowded with Nepali Agenda of Transformation: Inclusion in Nepali Democracy. The worth Rs 1.8 billion was exported in the Indian firm Steel more Nepalis believe democracy is thing we’ve been hearing is the of price-fixing prerogatives that customers who appear willing subject matter itself is a fitting tribute to a man who never at greater risk from the palace than standard the-crown-created-this- first eight months of the current fiscal year, Age, the equipment abandoned his belief that this diverse land can only be governed down 7 percent from the same period last OPEC members might envy. to shell out Rs 100 for a cup from the Maoists, it’s not difficult country-so-it-must-save-it line. is available in three of coffee. and developed by decentralised planning and grassroots year. The Handicraft Association of Nepal Still, HAN’s one-price-fits- Price-fixing From the public comments packs of two, five and 10 kg all directive struck me odd for Bad decision: Now with its participation through democracy. said demand for Nepali handicrafts has each. The company says the extinguishers prerogatives that OPEC Toni Hagen was a die-hard optimist about Nepal. Many Nepalis and private complaints of people two reasons. On one hand, directive, the HAN clings to presenting themselves as palace decreased significantly from the United are automatic and reduces damage thanks in part to the January narrow-minded views even are fashionably cynical about their own country, but he was States, Japan, Britain and Germany —all members might envy. always spreading hope. On a visit in 2000 during the dark days confidants, you can cull caused by fires. Their products grace many ceasefire agreement between the though the profiles of its variations of the following: for an major importers. When there are fewer venues ranging from the royal palace to government and the Maoists rebels, dark-skinned Nepalis on the streets— paying customers have changed. of the insurgency, he predicted that Nepal could come out of the tourists, it is natural for the handicraft crisis stronger as a nation. When asked why, he replied, institution where five consecutive offices, homes and hospitals. Kathmandu’s newspapers now report threw cold water on Indian visitors’ And so, instead of trusting the industry to take a beating, handicraft “Because I see the younger generation of Nepalis value their monarchs found themselves that room bookings, even at five-star desire to come to Nepal. The year judgement of its professional freedom, and want to change things.” prisoners to hereditary premiers producers and exporters say. Pashmina hotels, are up. On the other hand, just 2001 was the annus horribilis what managers, it has forced a monolithic exports declined by 28 percent in the last Juicy stuff In the past 50 years, Toni Hagen had unsurpassed access to for over a century, some ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ as more tourists are reportedly coming with the royal massacre, the imposition stance that negates the diverse Nepal’s rulers. He knew Mohan Shumshere in 1950 to King When more Nepalis believe democracy is at misgiving is inevitable. For the eight months. Nepal’s exportable With 28 sweet Himalayan mandarins to a in, Nepali consumers, who brought of the state of emergency and the war offerings that Kathmandu’s five-star Mahendra, BP Koirala, Ganesh Man Singh. In 1981, Toni Hagen palace, it doesn’t really matter handicraft include pashmina, woollen bottle of Rasilo, the newest beverage on the hotels good business in the lean in the hills, while 2002 wound down hotels offer. Moreover, it has robbed met King Birendra in Switzerland and they had a long goods, silver jewellery, metal craft, the market is a homegrown solution to help years, are being slapped with as the bloodiest year in Nepal’s the Nepali customers their right to

MIN BAJRACHARYA greater risk from the palace than from the whether the prime minister draws conversation about development. Finally, King Birendra asked his strength from a democratic handmade paper, silk products, garments, farmers get direct access to the market and astronomical fixed prices for halls and history. Given all this, it is a wonder choose among hotels based on him: “Is it too late for Nepal?” Toni Hagen recalled replying: “No. Maoists, it’s not difficult to gauge the scale of mandate or despotic dhaka products, woodcrafts, thangka and consumers to sample an alternative that is banquets. Has the HAN already that our five-star hotels have not gone various factors, price not least among It’s late, but it’s never too late.” machinations. ceramics. not carbonated, is natural and forgotten how the slump years really out of business altogether. the considerations. With his characteristic bluntness, Toni Hagen pushed his Narayanhity’s PR problem. When you count the king as manufactured with high quality controls. played out? Nepali customers: Professional The sooner the HAN takes its Flashback: Kathmandu’s hotel managers, sans HAN guidance, hand out of the business of fixing conviction that Nepal needed an alternative formula for a political force, it’s unfair to ask The fruit are transported from the hills to a

Fewer workers leaving professionals look back and agree that found a new set of customers right prices for its members, thereby ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ development. That is why he opposed the Arun III ten years ago wo major public speeches at encourage, the monarch concluded to gauge the scale of Narayanhity’s him to play a purely ceremonial ○○○○○○○○ central processing facility in the tarai and The number of Nepali workers leaving for 1997 was the last banner year in their under their noses but had been controlling even the portion of the in favour of smaller decentralised units. Nepal’s present success the eastern and western edges that a little more candour with the PR problem. role. No head of state should be then distributed throughout the kingdom. story with indigenous suspension bridge building was based on foreign employment declined by 3.5 Rasilo is available in half-litre and 200 ml industry. Bookings were up. ignored. These local customers paid pie per member, the sooner it can T of the country and countless news media might help. King One soothing aspect of the expected to bear silent witness Preparations were underway for the in rupees and they paid well, hiring learn to adapt to the market’s percent in the first nine months of this his early efforts to help farmers increase income with access to statements reiterating his Gyanendra lost little time in coarsening of our political to the depredations of the sizes. year. The latest data from the Department then Visit Nepal Year 1998. Hotels posh rooms and halls for banquets, invisible hand to increase the size of markets. He was a strong advocate for multi-modal transportation commitment to multiparty asserting his belief that the discourse is that it has brought political class. with cable cars and cargo-ropeways for the mountains, and sprang up. Multilingual seasoned parties and Friday evening dances. the total pie for all its members. democracy haven’t helped King personality of the person wearing some clarity to our thoughts on A Hindu monarchy of 22 thought reliance on motorised transport and highways would be expensive to build and maintain. Gyanendra explain why he had to the crown goes on to define the role the monarchy. Girija Prasad million people and a monarch of Toni Hagen wasn’t a utopian Luddite. But he believed in taking take political centre stage on the the institution plays. Koirala wants use of the Shri 1 billion Hindus are two separate INTERVIEW one step at a time, mastering one level of technology before night of October Fourth last year. Long before he invoked Articles Panch title restricted to the three concepts the Nepali crown has to moving on to the next. Some of the hydropower projects he first Critics and supporters of the 27 and 127 of the constitution, main royals and control of the embody. We have no way of studied (Kulekhani, Kali Gandaki) have now been built. But the king’s assumption of full executive King Gyanendra gave clear hints army handed over to parliament. knowing how many of these cautionary notes he made after studying the possibility of a high powers after dismissing the that his patience was wearing thin. Madhab Kumar Nepal insists that concerns emanate directly from dam on the Karnali at Chisapani in the early 1960s are as “incompetent” but elected Sher Although he lost his job as a royal the palace for its own good must the crown. The palace stopped “No rewards for breaking away from the pack.” prescient today as they were then. Bahadur Deuba government nominee to the upper house of acknowledge that the days of the issuing politically explicit Toni Hagen has left us a strong and clear legacy. What he told couldn’t help but notice the royal parliament for offering gratuitous divide-and-rule doctrine are over. statements during King King Birendra in 1984 when he was awarded the Birendra proclamation’s uncanny advice, Dipta Prakash Shaha didn’t From the outset, the Maoists Mahendra’s reign. If they do Alankar Medal for national service was what he told everyone resemblance to the language King say much as to what the palace have explained their reflect King Gyanendra’s views, How badly is the slump in Kollywood affecting you? that. Due credit should be given to film-makers as well, they are ever since: Nepal needs to be self-sufficient by using local Mahendra used in Satra Sal in subsequently didn’t do. incompatibility with the crown then such concerns are central It’s not too bad. It could be better, though. Last year was very bad taking risks. expertise, local financing and technology appropriate for our level December 1960. The circumstances King Gyanendra may have through ideological and battlefield to the national agenda and because of the emergency and political instability. People had of development. “But all this has to start at the grassroots,” he that led to his enthronement almost genuinely intended to administer ferocity. Conscious of the need to would have to be conveyed stopped going to movie halls and, night shows were closed. For our Do you personally feel films have a societal role besides just told us three years ago. “The people have to participate in two years ago were tragic enough to enough shock therapy on burnish their democratic properly. A candid political part, we also didn’t make too many good films. I’d say last year was being a box office hit? shaping their own destiny. No one can dictate to them, and you provide King Gyanendra a tableau squabbling politicians to make credentials, the rebels are ready to debate cannot proceed as long one of the worst years for the film industry. We have about 200 film companies here and many of them close down cannot have democracy through violence and bloodshed.” of the challenge he confronted in them drive democracy and go along with what the rest of the as the mainstream parties after producing one feature. Not a lot of banner repeat. Everyone wants winning the hearts and minds development together. The stunned people think. pretend they have been What is the post-ceasefire experience? to come up with something different. But they are hesitant, because of Nepalis. politicians took a while to make What kind of monarchy does extending a favour to the It’s much easier for films to be released. Distributors can send prints there are no rewards yet for breaking away from the pack. So, we have to wherever they like. There is free movement for film-shootings. to encourage film-makers who bring out non-formula films like Balidaan, In exercising his constitutional sense of what had happened. Once the monarch envisage? Those palace by not pressing directly Moreover, people are not too scared to come to the cinemas. Sales Prem Pinda, Basanti, Seema Rekha, among others. Let’s face it, films prerogative to be consulted, they did, they saw footprints back expected to expand on King for a constituent assembly and have picked up, and there is a new kind of confidence in the film shape society in a very evolutionary process. What you hear and see in responsibility to warn and right to to Panchayat-style Gyanendra’s vision of a 21st- continue to get away with it. industry now. movies have a psychological impact. But our films do not reflect the reality of society so much. They are fantasies and fulfil an escapist role. Why have Nepali film-makers gone purposely downmarket? University of Cambridge The working class is a market, it has no alternative forms of Will the viewers market shift from big screen to small screen entertainment. So, our fellow producers might have thought we are like what has happened in India? International GCE catering to their needs and borrowed the Bollywood formula. Front- That will happen in Nepal also. It is in fact already happening. The Levels benchers make the initial collection very strong, but in the long run it first telefilm we did for Nepal Television cost Rs 3,000. It took a lot of A leaves no impact. So, if we provide a different taste then even effort to convince the producer and big name actors from stage to Application forms are being given out for admissions to Malpi Institute frontbenchers will go and watch upmarket films. It doesn’t have to do that telefilm. But within two years, there were 500 people wanted be based on the same formula all the time. There used to be a phase to make telefilms. With the impact of Hindi teleserials have in our to pursue when we replaced up to 70 percent of imported films with local society, the trend will come here too. That in turn will impact on the production. That phase is now over, so we have to start turning our celluloid industry. the prestigious two year international General Certificate attention to a different more sophisticated crowd. of Education Advanced Level course of United Kingdom's How is politics in moviedom? University of Cambridge. This course is often refered to Do these quality producers exist, or are they in the making? On major issues, we are not divided, we are united. The film industry simply as 'A Levels'. Science, Arts and Commerce streams We have to maintain a minimum standard of filmmaking, otherwise we is one of the most united sectors in Nepal. But on individual issues are taught. can’t compete with imported films. They [Bollywood] have started there may be some personal differences. But these should not cloud Students who have passed SLC, GCE O levels or any other Neer Shah is Nepali filmdom’s towering making films in advanced formats like digital sound, ciemascope and the national agenda. equivalent examinations inclusive of those awaiting results the like. Lots of state of the art equipment are being used because of this year's SLC examinations may apply. personality. After helping establish Nepal Europe and the US have also become a big market. Here, if we keep What next for you? Selected candidates will need to attend classes commencing June 2003. Television in 1984, he started acting, on making the same films we were making 20 years ago, we will be I am performing a major role, one of the best in my career, for the film directing and producing movies. He started nowhere. There are already signs that Hindi films are doing better. Jeeva Rekha. It’s almost complete. I have taken an assignment for Interested parents and students may contact/visit: We have to go for higher budget films with better technical format. another film Shreeman Shreemati. Then I will start producing Seto his own cable television network, and will Bagh, the 105-episode mega teleseries for Nepal Television. That MALPI INSTITUTE soon be launching his own private Can Nepali films displace imported movies, or do you need was an old commitment. We have already signed the contract with government help? NTV, there will be more than 60 characters. I will have to be extra MIN BAJRACHARYA television channel, Shangrila Channel. Lazimpat, Kathmandu, Tel: 4418206, 4425201 Our national film industry does get some tax breaks. But it is not just careful on this one.

#142 NT Pepc.p65 6-7 4/25/03, 5:15 PM 8 TREKKING 25 APRIL - 1 MAY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #142 9

smooth flanks of Gangapurna, it is Back down to Himalaya for the strange to see Annapurna South, night, and then up the dreaded that familiar mountain that climb to Chomrong, which passes accompanies you from the very quickly in anticipation of the best beginning of the trek, from behind. hot shower in the region. The Annapurna Base Camp is the wildest After glorious sunset view Depending on how eager you are to photographs are taken, the return to bandh-bound short trek in Nepal. A perfect bandh-getaway. temperature drops immediately to Kathmandu, you can manage The around minus 4 degree Celsius. Chomrong to Pokhara in a day, designed like a solarium with 180 and dance in the evenings by the mountain goat curry and dal-bhat. Morning brings an almost other- taking an alternative route past degree views of Annapurna South, light of the moon. You are now above the treeline and worldly stillness and beauty as you Jhinu Danda hot springs straight Hiunchuli and Machapuchre. After You get up early the next plod up the barren moor-like stand on the edge of a glacier down the Modi Khola and back to hot showers, you relax on the morning to get some sun and see landscape, walking along an icy looking around at the panorama of Naya Pul. If you have a week, grab terrace with cans of beer and the glaciers on Machapuchre's river up to ABC. This last part of peaks. Tent Peak, Fang and Roc your backpack and a good sleeping mouthwatering chili potatoes, western side. After the initial burst the day is less than 400m gain in Noir are interesting, but all else is bag—and just do it. looking directly down at the valley of energy, your progress will slow altitude, but being over 4,000m dwarfed by the magnificent you will be trekking through in the since the day’s total height gain will now begins to make each step a bit Annapurna I and the north face of (Aruni John is a Sri Lankan coming days. be over 1,200m. Some trekkers of an effort. Annapurna South. We relaxed till working in Kathmandu, and of Another great bonus of this trek break this down into two days, All the while, the magnificent about 11, breakfasting on pancake Anil Shrestha is a media is that it shows you exactly where especially if they are feeling the vertical wall of Annapurna I looms after pancake until sadly, it was manager whose hobby is you're going, unlike other treks that altitude. You make a brief stopover over the northern horizon. By time to go. Leaving ABC is difficult photography.) tend to be linear or circuitous, this at Deurali where you fortify yourself around four in the afternoon you because it is virtually impossible not one simply weaves through the with hot lemon drinks and garlic finally clamber wearily up to a small to keep turning one's head for one ABC green hills in front of you. There is noodle soup, before braving the cluster of lodges and make your way last look at this incredible place. the incredible hulk of Annapurna avalanche prone stretch of the trail to Paradise Lodge. You look at the South Face, and you think that the that lies ahead. ring of jagged ice peaks of the night after next, you will actually be There is a small shrine to an sanctuary over a hot cup of tea and at its base. And there is the ever- Australian family killed by an realise that it was all worth it. present forked spire of avalanche here two years ago. The This is often said, but we must Machapuchre that looks completely porters had worried looks, and you say it again: there really is no different from the standard postcard don’t feel like lingering in this gully mountain view quite like this. One with photographs by view from Pokhara. that funnels everything that falls off feels an amazing sense of being ARUNI○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○trekking JOHN ANIL SHRESTHA Chhomrong to Himalayan Annapurna South to the valley within, rather than looking at—this Hotel is another long day, with a below. The avalanches come really is the very heart of the ave a long weekend to start walking and the view never give you a much-needed energy lunch stop at Bamboo's German without warning, and there is an mountains, and you feel like a spare? Sick of the city? goes away. This makes the ABC boost the second morning, as you Bakery, which boasts a fat cat, eerie emptiness to this part of the trespasser who has come too far. HBandhs getting you down? trek’s reward-to-pain ratio plunge down to the Modi Khola coffee and cinnamon rolls. You trail, broken only by the thudding Looking back towards the mouth of Then the Annapurna Base Camp extremely high. The first day is a river basin and struggle up to walk through dense rhododendron noise of a trekker from New the ravine to the south at the (ABC) trek is the big break you are gruelling, relentlessly steep climb Chhomrong at 2,060m. This is the forest and strands of bamboo most Zealand travelling through the trail silouhette of Machapuchre, looking for. You can do it in a from Naya Pul (trek start point great Himalayan rollercoster, also of the day, where the trail clings to at breakneck speed. In answer to Annapurna III and the beautifully week, but it may be advisable to near Pokhara) to the Ghandruk known as Newton’s Fourth Law of the side of a steep flank of astonished looks, the long distance budget about 10 days for the Guest House, the highest point Trekking: Every step downhill must Hiunchuli. Himalayan Hotel at runner who trains regularly in the roundtrip to the sanctuary since within Ghandruk, perched on a be followed by an equal and 2,900m is a place deep in the mountains at home, says he is spring is avalanche season, and ridge with glorious views of opposite step uphill. shadows of a narrow ravine, with no ‘running’ up to ABC instead of just there may be detours. Annapurna South and Hiunchuli. Mountain View Lodge, just mountain views, and just a couple walking. Unlike other treks, you see Lace-thin pancakes with honey, before the popular Captain's Lodge of hotels. This is Gurung country At 3,700m on Machapuchre mountains from the moment you and mashed potatoes with lemon has a fantastic set of triple rooms and the villagers love to serenade Base Camp (MBC) there is

Clockwise, starting with big picture: Machapuchre from Chomrong, the great south wall of Annapurna I from base camp, Chomrong's garden restaurant, Ghandruk's scenic lodges, the blue hotels at ABC. Off the beaten track. World class printing in Nepal.

MANDALA TREKKING Contact: Padam Singh Ghale Tel: 01-4412438, 01-4428043 Fax: 01-4428042 [email protected] JAGADAMBA PRESS [email protected] Tel: (01) 5521393, 5543017, 5547018 Fax: 977-1-5536390 Explore with us. www.mandalatrek.com.np

#142 NT Pepc.p65 8-9 4/25/03, 5:18 PM 10 WORLD 25 APRIL - 1 MAY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #142 25 APRIL - 1 MAY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #142 11 OPINION by ROBERT SPAEMANN

Balancing act

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ BUDAPEST– After having firmly sided with Washington on the Iraq Generals still war—much to the chagrin of Europe’s major nations—the government in Budapest is now at pains to have more balanced relations with both the US and the European Union.This was made of death. The threat of death is a individuals’ fear of death grows ever rule Burma’s clear in a statement issued this week by Hungarian Prime Minister powerful weapon. To have greater. Most people nowadays face Péter Medgyessy jointly with German Chancellor Gerhard to deliver on that threat is death never having witnessed the Schroeder and Swedish Prime Minister Goeran Persson. The death of death leaves us. On the other hand, always a defeat. death of someone else! The new tone in Hungary’s foreign policy came several weeks political labyrinth On television screens we watch a deathless war, The ritualised culture of death Next comes a desire to after it had joined seven other European countries and signed a only the knowledge of our

mortality provides our existence and funerals in the old European eliminate quietly those who can in RANGOON letter supporting US military plans in Iraq. The ‘letter of the eight’ LARRY○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ JAGAN but in the midst of life we are surrounded by death. tradition was an experience in no longer be seen as members of provoked an attack from French President Jacques Chirac, who with its preciousness. If we did or months now there has been no movement in Burma's fragile said that the central and eastern European EU candidates were not die, everything would lose which society was aware of its the social world. Holland, with dialogue process between the military junta and the pro-democracy “reckless, infantile and dangerous” when supporting the US on Iraq. meaning. Everything we do today, limits. By embedding death in its euthanasia law, is not F leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Hungary opted not to be directly involved in any ground we could do tomorrow. rituals, society made its self- internationally condemned; Though they have been in secret contact with her for more than two operations in the war but allowed US forces to use the military base At a golden wedding questioning into a part of itself. indeed, its killer-doctors see years—and released her from house arrest in May 2002—the generals in Taszár, southwest Hungary, for the training of Iraqi refugees to anniversary one may wish that, This attitude has a necessary themselves as avant-garde. have resisted growing international pressure to implement political participate in civilian action in Iraq and help the country’s rebuilding now, everything should really religious dimension – and one that Suddenly, such killings can’t go reform. Repeated visits by UN special envoy Razali Ismail, who brokered as mediators, translators and guides. In addition to the current start in earnest. But endlessly? legitimized society. By fast enough. Definition of death the original dialogue between the two sides, have not been able to break efforts to redraw its relations with the EU, Hungary is also eyeing That would immediately ruin acknowledging itself as finite and as ‘brain death’ allows one to the deadlock. Over the past 10 months, few journalists have been allowed rebuilding opportunities in Iraq. (IPS) everything. Knowledge of the end limited, society could think of itself declare breathing beings dead and into Burma to see the situation for themselves. opens up dimension of meaning, as also sanctioned by God. to eliminate the process of dying, But in an interview with Inter Press Service at the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) headquarters in Rangoon this week, she which also makes it possible for Belief in immortality made the in order to exploit the dying as

Water divides said: ''If somebody is really asleep it's easier to wake them up. It's very, ○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ some things to be meaningless. opposition between life and death warehouses of spare parts for the very difficult to wake somebody up who is pretending to be asleep '' JERUSALEM – Although shortages and poor quality of water are “You hang on to beauty…”— relative. Mortals see death as the living. Death no longer comes at Hopes are now being pinned on the forthcoming visit of Razali Ismail, common throughout the Palestinian territories, the tensions with this is the other characteristic gateway to true life, much as a the end of the process of dying, who has been pressing the regime to allow him to return to Rangoon to Israel run highest in the West Bank where the region’s two main that Kunze’s poem ascribes to caterpillar might look at a butterfly. but—by decree of a Harvard restart the stalled talks. Hopes were raised a year ago that a new era of reservoirs are located. Since 2000, Ariel Sharon’s government has humanity. The experience of As the words inscribed on an commission—at the beginning. serious political talks were about to start when Razali convinced the security and stability will not be disturbed, then we can go on releasing been building a wall, ostensibly to ensure greater security for Israel beauty is closely related to execution sword in Munster put it: The Judeo-Christian custom military regime to release Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest. But the prisoners''. from attacks by radical Palestinian groups. knowledge of death. Beauty does “When I raise this sword, I wish of burial is rapidly being replaced expected direct negotiations between the two sides on Burma's political The current failure of the dialogue process is making many countries But Palestinian sources say the best farmland and water not derive its meaning from its the poor sinner eternal life.” not by the ritual of an Indian pyre, future never got underway. in the West, particularly the United States and Europe, consider adopting sources are on the Israeli side of the wall. Under the 1993 Oslo value for our biological survival Our atheist modern age but by a crematorium, ie, the That public expectation and renewed optimism have given way over tougher sanctions, to force the generals to keep their promises to introduce Peace Accords, Israel must provide 70 to 80 million cubic meters of or its use for other people, who understands the contrast between destruction of a corpse by means of the last 12 months to frustration and impatience. ''We are doomed to political reform. This is something Burma's leaders reject. poverty and repression,'' said Win Tin, who runs a market stall here. Most ''There should be no question whatever about our commitment towards water annually to the Palestinian population for immediate must also die. What we call life and death as absolute. We high-temperature machines, a necessities. Of the 2.5 million Palestinians living in the West Bank, people clearly see the country's top generals, especially senior Gen Than this process of national reconciliation,'' said Burma's deputy foreign beautiful has meaning in itself. It search for some palliatives, but they procedure from which the public is nearly 200,000 do not have household potable water services and Shwe, as the ones to blame for the current failure of the dialogue process, minister Khin Maung Win. ''The reconciliation process is very important. are ineffective. “My life continues excluded. More and more people are supplied by water tanks. can be human gestures and but some also feel that Aung San Suu Kyi is also at fault. ''Daw Suu has We are in a process of transition to a democratic system because we want believe that they are doing their Meanwhile the 6.7 million Israelis actions, even when they are futile in the lives of my children,” we say, let us down,'' said a young woman in Rangoon who did not want to be our country to be developed and modernised.'' consume at least three times as nce again killing on a great well as to commit suicide. midst of life, we are surrounded or squandered on the wrong but for an individual this is an children a favor by letting identified, ''she hasn't really told us what to do to make change happen''. But since Aung San Suu Kyi was released in May last year, there has much water as the Palestinians. scale has been taking place, This is so, we can rightfully by death—went a medieval song. people. Beauty is resistant to the empty phrase. We doggedly fight to themselves be buried anonymously But the dialogue process has produced some results. been little effort by Burma's top generals to talk to the opposition leader. ''I There are those who believe O this time in a land in which assume, because human beings Heidegger made the knowledge of hubbub of the absurd. For prolong life, only to find that we “under the green grass” to spare The secret talks have led to the release of political prisoners. Some see it very simply,'' said Aung San Suu Kyi, ''the SPDC (State Peace and that with rational management, Paradise is said to have once are the only beings that death key to the understanding of religious believers, as earlier with cannot win this battle–and are left them the costs of the funeral and 600 have been released since the dialogue process started more than two Development Council, as the military government is called) is just not water could also contribute to lay—the valley between the comprehend death—that of what it means to live. Plato, beauty is a foretaste of unable to produce authentic rituals the upkeep of the grave. The oldest years ago. International human rights groups estimate that there are still ready to talk. We've been trying to get the to the negotiating table for more than 1,200 political prisoners in Burma's jails. In the past five unity. Now the political divide Tigris and Euphrates rivers. others as well as our own. We all Death isolates every what survives death. to accompany the end of our distinction of homo sapiens–ritual fourteen years but they have never been keen on the idea.'' months, only a handful of political activists have been freed. ''The lack of ''We are in opposition to each other at the moment but we should work over water could narrow with Today’s killing is no worse than know that we will die one day. individual, because there is no How does society deal with existence. burial of the dead–is disappearing. releases is directly tied to the state of the dialogue process,'' said the UN together for the sake of the country and we certainly bear no grudges Because our societies have no (© Project Syndicate) water management and history’s countless massacres, “You are one being among many/ such thing as collective dying. dying and death? With death one rapporteur on human rights in Burma, Paulo Pinheiro. against them. We are not out for vengeance. We want to reach the kind of distribution in the Palestinian perhaps even more restrained. Only you hang on to Beauty/And Everyone dies alone. Those who ceases to be a member of society. A sense of limits, they strive to Burma defends its policy by citing security concerns. ''In order to settlement which will be beneficial to everybody, including the members of areas shifting to five public, non- Some suggest that it was know: you must part,” wrote the realise this are thus tempted to state can threaten death, but, as eliminate death from our (Robert Spaemann is a leading maintain security, we have to be very careful in how we release certain the military,'' she added. profit entities, run by a private necessary to forestall future poet Reiner Kunze. This deny any meaning to human many totalitarian regimes have consciousness. More and more Roman Catholic philosopher and is prisoners,'' the government spokesman, Col Hla Min, said in an IPS The top generals just cannot seem to bring themselves to meet international company chosen killings. In any case, it is the sad, knowledge penetrates every conduct; everything, it seems, is learned, no one is stronger—and often, death takes place in a hidden Professor of philosophy at the interview. ''But that does not mean that we won't release any more. We will. Aung San Suu Kyi personally and prefer to delay the day when the through a bidding process. (IPS) solitary privilege of human beings moment of our lives. Media in futile in the end, because in dying possibly more dangerous—than hospital room. Death is suppressed University of Munich and the But we also have to make sure that the country's security and peace is army has to acknowledge she has a crucial and central role in Burma's to kill our own consciously, as vita in morte sumus —in the we leave society and society those who have overcome the fear socially, but the effect is that University of Salzburg.) maintained, so we have to do it gradually. Once we are confident that political future. (IPS)

Japan walks tight-rope experts. The current health crisis might well turn out ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ to be a time bomb that would inflame dormant social TOKYO – Japan continues to walk a slippery political tensions in the long-neglected countryside. tightrope, this time in balancing its traditional support A visiting team of World Health Organisation Talks on hold for the UN and multilateralism and the strategic value (WHO) experts that did their investigations in Guangdong, southern China, where the first case COLOMBO – A sudden decision by the Tamil it puts on having Washington’s backing during these emerged in November, reported that it had “found an Tigers of Liberation Eelam (LTTE) to suspend its The LTTE pull out of tense times in the Korean peninsula. Tokyo found itself in a tight spot just before the urgent need to improve surveillance in the participation in the seven-month old peace talks negotiations with the Holy cows of Indian politics US-led invasion, caught between its long-time security countryside to head off new outbreaks in rural areas”. with the Sri Lankan government came as no Sri Lankan government. ties with the United States and pacifist calls at home. “The team observed that many of China’s poorer

surprise to political commentators here, who Now, in the wake of the collapse of the Saddam provinces may not have adequate resources, ○○○○○○○○○○

believe it is an arm-twisting exercise by the ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Again, the sacred bovine strays into the political arena. Hussein regime, it is busy trying to find middle ground facilities, an equipment to cope with outbreaks of ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

rebels. ○○○○○○○○ SARS, and underscored that Guangdong’s capacity As a result of this move, the 29 April round of between sticking by the UN against openly supporting In a letter to Prime Minister Ranil was (actually) exceptional among China’s provinces,” talks in Thailand has been postponed. The rebels’ central legislation on a federal subject beef-eating. pro-Hindu approach to the dispute. US plans for running post-Saddam Iraq—plans that Wickremesinghe, Tamil Tiger chief negotiator have been criticised for its insensitivity to Middle the report said. (IPS) suspension of the talks was triggered by its that has got the goat of politicians from In fact, one of the most vocal Reclamation of Hindu shrines Anton Balasingham said they decided to suspend Eastern realities. participation in the peace negotiations. “We will exclusion from a 14 April conference of donor the political parties that are professedly supporters of a national ban on cow lost to iconoclastic Muslim invaders This is all happening against the backdrop of a not be attending the donor conference in Japan in countries held in Washington, jointly organised by secular, mainly the opposition slaughter is Chief Minister Digvijay over history is a popular and Japan worried by neighbouring North Korea’s India hopes for Iraq contracts the US State Department and the Sri Lankan Congress and the Left Front, which Singh, who has headed a Congress explosive enterprise in contemporary ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ June. While we regret that we were compelled to bellicose statements about US ‘threats’ against it and NEW DELHI – India may have passed a resolution in make this painful decision, we wish to reiterate government. US Deputy Secretary of State Richard rules West Bengal and is powerful in party government in Madhya Pradesh India and one which has paid huge warnings that it will fight back if Washington treats it Armitage said the LTTE was not invited to the southern Kerala--two major states for two consecutive terms now, or political dividends to the BJP. parliament condemning the US-led invasion of Iraq, our commitment to seek a negotiated political like another Iraq, despite the latest reports that but it still hopes to recover $2 billion worth of debt solution to the ethnic question,” Balasingham said, Washington meeting because it remains on the list which have large beef-eating almost 10 years. Digivjay Singh is In fact, a violent campaign to Pyongyang may now be open to multilateral talks on th owed by the Saddam Hussein government—and referring to the Tigers’ nearly two decade-old of banned terrorist groups in the United States. The populations. regarded as one of the Congress demolish the 17 century Babri its nuclear program. even bag a few reconstruction subcontracts. quest for a separate homeland for the country’s last time a similar donor meeting was held in Oslo in When a BJP member's resolution party's more progressive leaders and is Masjid in Ayodhya catapulted the “The dilemma in a nutshell,” said political analyst Before launching the war in March, Washington minority Tamils. Balasingham also said the November 2002, the LTTE was a key participant to introduce a bill to ban cow credited with an overhaul of the state's BJP, an obscure party to until the Kichiya Kobayashi, “is trying to keep Washington canvassed India’s support for the war on Iraq, offering government had failed to implement parts of the and Armitage was present at that meeting. slaughter was voted into the Lower primary education system. But then, early 80s, to national power under happy to defend Japan from North Korea, and at the in return “fundamental roles” in the physical ceasefire agreement, like moving out government Jehan Perera, a respected political House on 10 April, the opposition the incumbency factor weighs heavily Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee same time supporting the United Nations so as to reconstruction of Iraq as well as in the task of military camps from civilian areas and non-military commentator and a director at the National Peace Congress party, members of Left on him and the BJP in the state is five years ago. Last month, the prevent such an attack.” (IPS) constructing a civil society there. US Ambassador in buildings and freeing hitherto civilian areas now Council (NPC), a private foreign-funded peace Front and the Indian Muslim League expected to give him a good fight in Supreme Court turned down a India Robert Blackwill even harped on India’s long- dominated by military camps to allow the return of promoter, said he believed the success of the (IML) walked out on the grounds that provincial elections due in November. request from Vajpayee's China comes to terms with SARS term ties with Iraq, which he said he was confident

displaced people. Washington summit had worried the rebels, who the house was incompetent to legislate Two other important states that government to be allowed to ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ would make this country welcome in a situation where fear they are being marginalised internationally on a state subject. ''We are not will go to polls along with Madhya conduct religious ceremonies BEIJING – SARS has brought to public attention one “not every country will be welcomed”. while Colombo’s hand is being strengthened. Other opposed to legislation to protect cows Pradesh are Rajasthan and Delhi. Both at the site. carefully concealed failure of China’s development But India’s outspoken Defence Minister George commentators said the LTTE move could be a as such, but we want this to be left to are currently run by Congress With the temple issue having to over the past two decades—the regression of its rural Fernandes has criticised reconstruction activity as a diversionary tactic from last week’s clashes the state governments,'' said governments. Rajasthan has moved to be shelved, the BJP has had to fall health care, largely overshadowed by the country’s “feast for vultures’’ and said the destruction could between Tamils and Muslims in the eastern town of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has but, left the actual decision to Priyaranjan Dasmunshi, spokesman arrest fanatic Hindu leaders like back on that other popular icon of remarkable economic achievements. have been avoided in the first place. On Monday, RANJIT DEVRAJ Hundreds of millions of peasants in the Chinese Blackwill, considered to be a close personal friend of Mutur. Some also believe this to be another ploy to in NEW DELHI decided to rope in the cow by individual state governments. The for the Congress. Praveen Togadia and also ban public the Hindu religion—the holy cow. force the government to recognise the Sea Tigers, ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ introducing a bill in parliament aimed uneasiness of the elders was apparent ''People in different states have displays of the trident, another But the Congress party, the main countryside have been left without even basic US President George W Bush, suddenly resigned a naval arm of the rebels, and allow it undisturbed ecular-minded politicians in at completely banning its slaughter in their attempt to dilute the cow's different dietary habits and certainly in religious icon that is associated with loser in the BJP's pro-Hindu preventive care which they had during the old days of giving rise to speculation that his efforts at getting access in the northern and eastern seas, in an India are discovering that across the length and breadth of this importance by pledging to 'organise the north-eastern states beef is Hindu fundamentalism. movement has begun to hit back socialism. After the government withdrew from the India to back Washington’s war on Iraq have not been effort to avoid clashes with Sri Lankan navy ships. S keeping cows off busy roads in vast and diverse country of more than agriculture and animal husbandry on regarded as an important source of In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP with what has been described by role of being the free provider of medical services in particularly successful. Bernard Goonatilleke, head of the government’s this majority-Hindu country is as 1 billion people. modern and scientific lines' with protein,'' Dasmunshi said. But with has moved to reclaim for Hindus political watchers as ‘soft Hindutva’ the early 1980s, when its market-opening measures Officially, India, which seeks Washington’s peace secretariat, said that they were not unduly impossible a task as keeping the sacred Laying out the ‘guiding 'steps for preserving and improving many politicians from his own party the Bhojshala, a medieval structure which takes into account the were stepped up, the worst affected by this shift have support in containing “cross-border terrorism” in Kashmir by militant groups operating from worried about the Tigers move and that it was bovines from straying into politics at principles’ to India's 1950 the breeds and prohibiting the keen to be seen as supporting a ban on whose ownership is disputed by sentiments of Hindus who form 70 been public health services—preventive care, disease surveillance and medical control. neighbouring Pakistan, has taken care to tone down Let’s shake on it: Anton Balasingham (r) and most unlikely that the group would pull out critical moments. constitution, the founding fathers slaughter of cows and calves and other cow slaughter rather than otherwise, Muslims and Hindus and now used percent of the population while In rural China, the collapse of public health care its disapproval of regime change in Iraq effected GL Peiris (l) completely from the peace process. (IPS) With provincial elections to three sought to protect the cow, its progeny milch and draught cattle.' Dasmunshi was careful to stick to the by both communities for prayers. hanging on to secular ideology. has been a disaster waiting to happen, say health through military force. (IPS) major states slated this year the ruling and other cattle used in agriculture But it is the attempt to pass culinary rather than religious side of Digvijay has taken a suprisingly (IPS)

#142 NT Pepc.p65 10-11 4/25/03, 5:18 PM 12 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS THIS PAGE CONTAINS MATERIAL SELECTED FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 25 APRIL - 1 MAY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #142 HISTORY AND CULTURE 25 APRIL - 1 MAY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #142 13

PM-in-waiting? spokesman Arjun Narsingh KC and violence. It is ironic that those NEPALITERATURE by MANJUSHREE THAPA BOOK REVIEW by CK LAL ○○○○○○

○○○○○○○○○○ Krishna Prasad Sitaula among very principles were the Ghatana Ra Bichaar, 23 April others, have begun to try and foundation stones of Nepal’s scuttle Acharya’s path to democracy. By demolishing the Tek Nath Rijal Disappointed with the working premiership. Gandhi Bhaban, the students have style of Prime Minister Lokendra placed themselves squarely on the Looking back Bahadur Chand, the royal palace is side of violence and terrorism.

Rajdhani, 22 April Symbolic act ○○○○○○○ frantically searching for someone to ○○○○○○○○○ Ahuti’s call to arms replace him. From the long list of Punarjagaran, 22 April Kidnapped by Nepali police 12 years ago and Debt wish riting in the tradition of committed Marxist poetry, she sees in blocks of tears the love of her parents’ home jailed in Bhutan for 10 years, the pro- possible candidates, the palace has ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Ahuti captures the sorrows and struggles of Nepal’s and she walks down to her dear parents’ home with fondness democracy crusader Tek Nath Rijal of the begun to zero in on one name, During the seven-year insurgency, Birendra Rawal in W most vulnerable subaltern classes: those who are carrying a pack of clothes on one side, another pack on the he author’s search begins in the rolling hills of Maryland where she gets all Bhutan People’s Party continues to fight for the Shailaja Acharya (below), the the Maoists vandalised and Chhalphal, 20 April systematically excluded from the sphere of political other the essentials of a ‘perfect’ childhood. Her elders, however, have completely repatriation of Bhutanese refugees from firebrand leader of the Nepali destroyed numerous government representation. Women—the invisible majority today—are given without so much as noticing that her fariya has come undone Tdifferent needs. When her family moves to the city with the highest per Siliguri after his release. He believes that one Congress. She is a corruption and semi-government buildings. It Sundari Devi Chaudhari doesn’t centre stage in some of his best works, which in their militancy and when in her parents’ home her heart is stung by the capita income in the United States, young Susan is brought into the huge and day democracy will dawn in Bhutan. Excerpts of vigilante who has blown the whistle was a symbolic act for them: know how she will come up are prescient, and quite chilling. The poem below, which is in harsh words impersonal world of New York City. an interview: several times in the past 12 years. If demolishing physical structures that with Rs 50,000 that her late the original language two separate poems of the same title, is of some villagers, of some brothers and sisters-in-law Susan finds that she is not a material girl. She hates the regimented life of a appointed to the position, His represented the present regime to husband, Bel Bahadur found in his collection Tapaswika Geetharu, which translates as she picks up the same packs and walks back up to her cog in the giant machine of an urban space that works like a precision clock. For What do you think about how Nepal and Majesty will get all the credit for establish a new one to replace the Chaudhari, borrowed to pay the Songs of the Devotee. unfeeling house some, living in the Big Apple is the ultimate temptation. But her soul wants to Bhutan have categorised the refugees? giving Nepal it’s first female prime old. Last week, students burned ‘donation’ that the local like a traveler who through all her life mistakes the road escape and go somewhere, anywhere. The word ‘wanderlust’ doesn’t quite catch the essence of such an urge to move It should never have happened. This down the Mahatma Gandhi Maoists demanded for the The Nine-Hued Pheasant and the Daughter-in-Law of the like a thirsty person. She makes the rounds of her own minister. It is believed that on, to keep going. To use a Nepali word, the spirit of yayabar—a wanderer on an categorisation will never solve the refugee Acharya’s appointment to the top Memorial Hall, popularly known as family’s safety. Her husband, a Poor people seeking shade, walking this way and that, wandering… endless journey of eternal search—casts a spell on a girl barely in her teens. Lesser problem. I oppose it. executive post will not only subdue Gandhi Bhaban, on the Tribhuban former chairman of Pathariya mortals in her place would have chosen to suppress the yearning with the help of the movement of the major University premises. But unlike the VDC in Kailali, borrowed the 1 Unable to bear anything anymore she beats her chest as a washerwoman beats cloth on the rocks stormy relationships, psychedelic drugs or a determined go at the career ladder Is there any guarantee for the refugeesí Maoists, what philosophy were the money from the village political parties of the dissolved As the pheasant, the nine-hued pheasant She sits by the dirty dishes next to the rubbish towards the glass ceiling. safety and their citizenship once in Bhutan parliament but also mollify Girija rampaging students adhering to? moneylender at 60 percent Susan being Susan, yields to her longing and finds herself in Finland. By after repatriation? leaps from branch to branch, jumping and shaking its comb and she looks at the pheasant with spread wings. Prasad Koirala (Shailaja’s uncle) If these students think interest. The Maoists were paid spreading its wings like a vagrant himalayan breeze She tries to fly as the pheasant does, spreading her wings. page 7 of this slim volume, she is ‘gompa-stomping’ in Zanskar. Two pages later, I warned the Bhutanese king of trouble when who was incensed after the king’s vandalising infrastructures built but it failed to buy Bel Bahadur she complains about one of her fellow trekkers to Mustang whose ‘prodigious Thimpu began to evict Nepali-speaking Bhutanese and revoke their citizenships. Nepali- scattering a nine-hued rainbow while dancing the open sky— She strokes the cracked wounds on her soles. 4 October move. with Indian taxpayers’ money is the security. On 25 November last she covers over the colours of her life She scoops up dung and scrubs the dishes, a pitiable being: snores set the village dogs barking and the mules braying’. You brace yourself for speaking Bhutanese are not less patriotic than any other citizens—all they demanded The unmarried leader of the only way to express their year, just a few days after having lost her dreams as a pearl lost in a refuse pile the daughter of the poor, the daughter-in-law of the poor a roller coaster read. Then she suddenly arrives in a village in Dolpo, and her was their rights. I wrote four letters to the king requesting him not to snatch away the NC, who has time and again vowed displeasure against India, they handing over the money, the she sits by the dirty dishes next to the rubbish expressions get mellower. rights of the people, but he remained indifferent. At present the Bhutanese government not to contest elections, has already might as well destroy Bir Hospital Maoists killed him anyway. and looks at the pheasant with spread wings 2 The intrepid explorer has been resettling other communities in the areas we were forced to leave. How can we carrying in her eyes tears like the ocean propels herself from one The author smothers had several audiences with the king. and the East-West highway as well. “The Maoists have to either unusual destination to another. believe Thimpu will play fair? The Nepali government should have seen through the crafty she strokes the cracked wounds on her soles I never noticed— The monarch and Acharya are said If that is the only way to defend repay the loan with interest or The text jumps from potted readers with her own Druk diplomacy. It seems Kathmandu knowingly fell into the trap. In this light, it is she scoops up dung and scrubs the dishes, a pitiable being: When did she start washing her face with moonlight? to be on agreeable terms. However, our nationalism and take responsibility for my four philosophy (‘When the understandable that we are wary of the Bhutanese government’s honesty with regard to the daughter of the poor, the daughter-in-law of the poor. When did Sanikanchhi start sloughing off many in the Nepali Congress are independence there shouldn’t be children,” says a grieving student is ready, the teacher zing and zest. the refugee problem. the calluses from her hands and feet? not happy with this development. a second’s hesitation. If there is Sundari Devi. will appear’) to romantic mush She stepped across the threshold as the bride of the house Everything is as it is. The barbet moans in the woods, as Where will this take the refugee problem? Some leaders including the party’s some pause for rational thinking, She recently had to borrow (‘Over he comes, a good six feet tall, with black beard flecked with grey and snow, then the behaviour of these Rs 1,000 again from a just as in darkness the full moon comes bearing light. always. obviously at home with the elements’), and sermons from the mount (‘Power can The Bhutanese government and the refugees should have maintained a dialogue. That general secretary Sushil Koirala, Her seven-hued realities and nine-hued dreams Our daughters bathe their eyelashes with tears, as always. was something I always stressed, even when communicating with the king. There can be students, regardless of their neighbour so her eldest be many things’) to bitter doses of prosaic realism (‘Much of the real Nepal that were tucked into the corners of her lace-up blouse. But like the firefly who disdains the cricket for emptying its many tourists seek is desperately poor, and not very romantic. Babies die, a third party mediator, as long as they are not part of the decision-making process. How affiliation, should be condemned. daughter could appear for the She came with the mind of one who buys on credit life crying can a Nepali court settle Bhutanese cases? Ever since our movement for democracy and The actions of these irresponsible SLC exams. Now her neighbour children die, women die in childbirth.’) at such a pace that it makes an with uneasiness in her chest, her face, her hands and legs and so stays apart, flying alight, unprepared reader want to come up for air after each page. human rights began, more than 2,000 Bhutanese have become martyrs, and above hooligans make us look uncivilised. wants to be repaid as well. With with uneasiness all over, from head to feet. Sanikanchhi has stopped the flow of her tears. The ruin of Gandhi Bhaban only a hut and small patch of The author smothers her readers with her own zing and zest. After a 16,000 families have lost their homes. Will the Supreme Court of Nepal agree to look into She came like a daughter taking on her father’s debts. She has started to speak about her dissatisfactions. while, you wish you could just put the book away and gaze out of your these cases? That is why I say we, the refugees, and the Bhutanese government should has a deeper meaning than the land, Sundari Devi’s assets are Her mother-in-law cloaked her with the black shawl of She has started to sing songs of justice in folk tunes. window at what lies beyond the mountains. The problem of keeping up with be directly involved in solving the refugee crisis. mere vandalising of any other minimal. She was unable to convention. She has started to cut to size those who say “Oh, women”. the speed of reflections in a memoir is perhaps generic. It’s not very often infrastructure. It could not return to her village after her She trembled before her husband as a mouse before a cat I now believe that two complete strangers—a writer and her reader—share the same level of Why do you think you were released from jail? have been unplanned, the husband’s death, and lives with and she gathered the leftovers from his dirty plate Sanikanchhi, who used to look at the pheasant with spread energy and stamina. Susan obviously feels that her explorations are so deep, Bhutan came under tremendous pressure to free me after intense lobbying from activists incident took place at her children with a relative in always feeling afraid that he may take another wife. wings her experiences so profound, and her knowledge so practical that to deny any around the world. Letting me go was a face saving move. a time when we are Lamki Bazar. “Neither the party Without so much as soaking in hot water the bruises he gives will bloom as a moon that clears up clouds in the sky. of it would be gross injustice to her readers. “Naïve Nordic,” says someone attempting to that spoke of relief for the poor, her Like the sky’s offering of dew to the leaves, who knows her well. What direction will your movement now take? negotiate a peaceful nor the government that made she stays up half the night mixing her tears into oil she will fall upon the darkness, becoming the light of the My practical advice to anyone buying this book: don’t try the full We need to know the crux of the problem and convince those who support Bhutan’s solution to free high promises came to help,” and massages those feet that batter her chest moon volume at one go. It’s a long way from a log cabin in Norway to Bajhang and and his thighs, his wrists, his arms. She stamps out her becoming the pearl of life, spreading brightness. rulers. The different factions of the Bhutanese movement must unite. There has to be an ourselves from she says angrily. The you have to take it in controlled doses. The book is illusrated with serene desire. understanding among these parties. violence and government announced a relief black and white photographs. Paper and print quality of even the soft-cover She scoops up dung and scrubs the dishes, a pitiable being: She doesn’t flinch at her husband’s berating. volume are of coffee-table class. Quite obviously, this book isn’t directly terrorism. It package for conflict victims but Has India helped you? the daughter of the poor, the daughter-in-law of the poor. Neither does she massage his feet. aimed at Nepali readers. But then it’s not aimed at any other particular portrays us as a though the local administration India has not helped directly to solve the problem so far. I’m not aware of any behind-the- Taking cover as she used to when playing hide-and-seek as readership either. Susan seems to have written this book in order to let it nation who stands sent a list of the affected to the scene talks, but I hope India will respect the rights of the Bhutanese. Sooner or later, The earth cries all night seeking light a child float, not unlike her own fancy-free soul. A good parting gift for visitors, there will be changes. Any government in Thimpu needs to maintain cordial relations against the Home Ministry in Kathmandu, as the sky roams in the brightness of countless stars. and feeling slightly abashed, she tries now to read books. perhaps? with India. Gandhian values of victims like Sundari Devi are How often her husband changes his attire She reddens her face and asks questions of those who truth and non- still waiting for assistance. as the lace-up blouse of her wedding day tears. understand. As her pleasures tear apart like her favorite blouse She tries to grasp everything: In the Land of Heart’s Desire she bears so many stains on so many parts of her face. She Why isn’t the measure of the grain pot full? QUOTE OF THE WEEK Reflections of a Western bears Why don’t the children have proper clothes on their backs? Grandmother in Nepal rope burns and calluses on her forehead, a stone’s cut in her Why isn’t there a warm roof to take shelter beneath? Susan Hovik The madhes is ripe for the ‘people’s war’. It is the result of 250 years that marked the ascendance of the heel She memorizes everything as though they were alphabets. Mandala Book Point, Shah dynasty…from monarchy to the first multiparty regime, the Panchayat era to the present multiparty the weight of anxieties all day and night. She bears At this year’s May Day she straightened her fariya Kathmandu system, all regimes have dominated and oppressed madhesis. the underfed pockets of blue all over her body though it was inferior and patched together. Pages: 152 No trees the flesh shrunken on the bone, the tears that brim in her She washed her blouse and came to the program -Matrika Yadav, member of Maoist peace talk team, represents the madhesi community from the southern eyes. and said “Long live” and also “Death to” Price: Not mentioned belt of the country, in Janadesh, 22 April. Laxman Khadka in Rajdhani, 18 April She is like watercress become bland for lack of salt. and when her friend who had been talking with head held She cannot tell what is lacking in her life. Becoming teary high Dolakha’s forests are thinning fast eyed was taken by the police and pushed around because of the increasing demand for the axe. and coming to a boil when she washes the dishes she held her friend, raised her finger EDUCATION, LANGUAGE AND timber in Kathmandu and Solukhumbu. Some far-sighted locals have she opens her heart at the well and at the stone taps and like a lioness roared, “Don’t touch her!” and speaks of her suffering. She murmurs, too, in the I then came to believe DEVELOPMENT TRAINING Helicopters regularly transport illegal realised that at this rate the forests will PROGRAMMES (ELD) logs to these two high demand regions. be denuded and are demanding that loneliness. Sanikanchhi, who used to watch the pheasant with spread When her mother-in-law cannot stand to see her wings April 2003 Training After the Sagarmatha National Park logging be banned in Dolakha. Even if a —and other suffering girls like her— banned logging in Solukhumbu, locals law to that effect is put into place, will one day come to the battlefield carrying guns Telephone Skills / Enquires Handling (April turned their timber smuggling operations logging may not stop due to At the very least the girls who are most fearful 26th – 27th) in the direction of Dolakha. Jungles there enforcement problems. Many forestry will look after their brothers who are in battle Writing Effective Memos, Letters & became a valuable source of raw officials have not returned after the and when their houses are searched will hide their Minutes (April 30th – 2nd May) materials for the burgeoning plywood Maoists burnt down their posts. Ranger husbands’ guns Presentation Skills (May 4th – 6th) PowerPoint Presentations / Design & market in the Valley. Mitra Jirel of Jiri Range flatly denies th th Demands for both are met from there is any timber smuggling going on. Now Sanikanchhi, like gold that is also touched with Use of Visual Aids (May 7 – 8 ) Dolakha’s private, public and community There are hundreds of logs at the fragrance sometimes remembers her friends who are still asleep “…and finally, the weather report, late forests. Nearly 60 contractors are Dolakha helipad awaiting loading. In the and sometimes talks to her friends who have just awakened. Director: When a voice says lights, camera action, afternoons will be gusty, trees will fall, involved in the timber-logging and past, the police had informed the Chief When her childhood habit of thinking “I can’t do anything” that’s when you begin talking. tyres will burn and towards the evening it supplying business and in the last four District Officer about the involvement of tries to obstruct her path will rain and the environment for talks years, forests bordering the main roads the Dolakha district forest office in she disciplines her soul with stinging nettles. may grow bleaker…!” have all disappeared. An illegal outfit is illegal timber smuggling. Tipped off, the I truly believe ALL COURSES TAUGHT BY TRAINERS actively cutting trees down from the Sagarmatha National Park seized 1,300 the person who flees from obstacles does not live, FROM THE U.K. but dies in each step. But like Sanikanchhi, Details: www.eld.org.uk / 55 41 613/ Punarjagaran, 22 April Nepal Samacharpatra, 22 April national forest. Even corridors chalked cubic feet of wooden planks flown in out for conservation are not spared from from the region. who disciplines her soul with stinging nettles [email protected] he too can change the face of the world one day. ELD is a registered charity no. 1083385

#142 NT Pepc.p65 12-13 4/25/03, 5:19 PM 14 CITY 25 APRIL - 1 MAY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #142 ART 25 APRIL - 1 MAY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #142 15 BOOKWORM pangs of conscience. In 1999, an American collector decided to Unlimited Power: The New Science of Personal Achievement Anthony Robbins returned four idols stolen from Simon and Schuster UK, 2001 Nepal in the 1970s: a 9th century Rs 700 Buddha image from Patan, a 10th Robbins is often described as the guru of gurus in the self-improvement genre. In this book he century Vishnu from Kathmandu, Here today, in a beheaded 12th century teaches that success is habit forming and the habit of success, once learned, is nearly impossible to forget. The reader is encouraged to harness the power of the mind to do, have, achieve and Saraswati from Pharping and a create anything they want. 14th century Surya image from Panauti. All are now in safe- ABOUT TOWN A Traveller and the Road : The Journey of an Indian Communist Mohit Sen keeping at the National Museum FESTIVAL AND EXHIBITIONS Europe tomorrow in Chhauni. Rupa and Co India, 2003 Kathmandu Vendors paintings by Mark Jordans at the Lazimpat Gallery Café. 4428549 Rs 632 To stop more art thefts, Nepal needs An image of Uma Maheswor Moments photographs by Mani Lama. 12-7PM till 30 April at Gallery Nine, Lazimpat. 4436944 Sen’s biography is a stirring account of the life and work of a veteran Communist during the to start demanding that its stolen which disappeared from Contemporary paintings by Kanchan Chander 25 April-5 May at Siddhartha Art Gallery. last six decades of the 20th century. Through his experience and reading, the author Dhulikhel in 1982 was returned 4218048 endeavours to work out the theory and practice of those he calls “the new thinking religious objects be returned. to Nepal by Berlin Museum and

Tibetan paintings till 20 May at Pathibhara Art Gallery, Thamel. 4256004 communists”. This book is part of his ongoing effort. is now at the Patan Museum ○○○○○○○

JANAKI○○○○○○○○○ GURUNG Ethnographic Museum in Vienna since it was believed it would be EVENTS Tibet, Tibet: A personal history of a lost land Patrick French he 400-year-old manuscript for $180,000 (See, ‘Lost-and- safer there than at its original site Open Adoption Day 1-3PM on 27 April at the SPCAN Karuna Rescue and Rehab centre, Siphal. Harper Collins India, 2003 stolen from the Patan found Buddha’, #94) The gilded in Dhulikhel. But with last week’s Directions see www.fospcan.org.np. 4414332 Rs 632 T Museum last week was cast-copper Buddha mask is on theft from Patan Museum, there La Cabana Salsa Night at the Jazz Bar, 8PM on 25 April. Free entrance. Shangrila Hotel. French’s 20-year involvement in the Tibetan cause is represented in a book that is part probably ‘ordered’ by an display at the museum where it is may have to be a re-evaluation 4412999 memoir, part travelogue, part history. It is a quest for the true, as opposed to the mythical international art trader for a worshipped by Vienna-based of this. Studio 7 presents Babu Raja at the Naga Theatre of the Vajra Hotel. Tickets Rs 700. 7.15 PM private collector and the theft Buddhists, while efforts are on 25-27 April, 2-3 May and 9-11 May. 4271545 Tibet. His Tibet is a land of a long warlike past and a complex interlocking relationship with China is illuminated in this book. carried out by local burglars, underway to try to repatriate it. Tennis coaching classes Club Oasis, Hyatt Regency Kathmandu. 4491234 experts say. The Royal Nepal Embassy in Reiki Level 1 Healing Workshop at Everest Bookshop, Babar Mahal Revisited. 5541613 The manuscript was hand- Berlin is working with the Everest Marathon on 19 May from Everest Base Camp to Namche Bazar. Last date of entry Courtesy: Mandala Book Point, Kantipath, 4227711, [email protected] drawn in ink and watercolours in museum and the German courts 25 April. E-mail: [email protected], 5545900, 4443337 Bhaktapur in the 17th or 18th to expedite the process, but the Indonesian Food Festival and Cultural program 25-29 April at The Café. Hyatt Regency object is now evidence in a theft Kathmandu. 4491234 CLASSIFIED century and is made up of 21 The Nepal Amateur Open 2003 of the Nepal Golf Association at Le Meridien, Gokarna Forest accordion-like folios containing case against the art dealer in a Golf Course and Spa Resort from 1-4 May, Inter-Club Tournament on 30 April. 4451212, Visit Ground Zero Fine wines, designer ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Visit Femilines, the Exclusive Lingerie Store for tantric depictions of the energy German court and cannot be sent 4450444 candles, cards, gifts, stationery, wooden items, ladies undergarments, nightwear, bathrobes and centres of the human body (see back to Nepal until it is decided. perfumes and more. Darbar Marg, opposite Hotel more. Ladies staff. Opposite Sajha Yatayat, Harihar picture). The diagrams have The Ethnographic Museum in DRINK de l’Annapurna Bhawan, Pulchowk. Tel: 547428 detailed listings of the chakras Vienna has already raised money Splash Bar & Grill Exotic cocktails, panoramic view. Happy hour 5:30-7PM. Radisson Hotel, and the lotuses which tantricism from donations to pay for flying Kathmandu. 4411818 Training RTC IELTS courses are taught by IELTS Flowerlovers: Flowerlovers, it’s FUCHSIA time regards resides in the physical back the Buddha. But nearly one examiners using the very latest materials. Too again !! See 60 beautiful varieties in bloom! Our human body. There are seven year later, the Dipankara is still MUSIC good an opportunity to miss. Enroll now! Tel: lovely CYCLAMEN are also flowering. Only at THE chakras from the spine to the in Vienna and the German legal Live Music Friday at 5.30 PM, Saturday movie at 4.30 PM. Jivin’ Joe’s Restaurant, Kupondole. 429590 BISHALNAGAR NURSERY, tel. 4431797; 5 min. from head arranged in an ascending process is taking much longer Abhaya with the Steam Injuns 7PM every Friday at Moksh in Hardic Club, Jhamsikhel. Bhatbateni Supermarket, 2min. from Bishalnagar order of consciousness. than anyone expected. 5528703 To Let In Jawalakhel near Zoo Fully Furnished Chowk (turn right and downhill). The manuscript, together “Even if the stolen manu- Live Acoustic Jam 7PM on Saturdays at Himallatte Cafe, Thamel. 4256738 Apartment 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, spacious with two smaller ones which are script is found, it will be difficult living, dining, modern kitchen individual telephone, Custom Made: Generate wealth with Feng Shui! on exhibit in other galleries in to get it back,” a Nepali historian FOOD terrace, overlooking English garden with tall trees Get a tabletop fountain custom made for you. Call Patan Museum, had been for sale told us on condition of anonym- Wood fired pizzas, cocktails and coffee at the Roadhouse Café, Thamel. in quiet surrounding. Contact: 524389 981054102 in the antiquity market in Nepal ity. “The reason is that there are Kids Combo Meal at all Bakery Cafés. Kids’ meals with exciting gifts. and was bought with Austrian very high-up people here who are A Margarita Night Churasqueria BBQ, delicados, margaritas and live music by The Rusty Nails. For insertions ring NT Marketing at 5543333-36. funds for RS 90,000 and donated up to their necks in idol smug- Rs 699 pp. 25 April at Dwarika’s Hotel. 479488 to the Patan Museum in 1997. gling.” If stolen objects start Weekend breakfast: Smoked salmon scrambled eggs and filtered coffee Rs 100. 9AM-12PM. Ironically, the Patan Museum being returned to Nepal, he Thomas Kilroy at 1905, Kantipath. 4225272 Project thought the museum added, it would send the price of Dutch food festival 24-30 April. Summit Hotel, Kupondole. 5521810 would be the best place to keep Nepali artifacts crashing down. Masala Dosas for Breakfast and Chatamari’s for Lunch.Traditional favourites at The Back at the Patan Museum, Sunrise Café for breakfast and lunch. Yak & Yeti Hotel. 4248999 it, not just for its historic and Traditional Nepali Thali Lunch at Patan Museum Café 11AM-4PM. 5526271 educational value, but also so the special room that housed the Saturday Asian Brunch at The Café, Sunday European Lunch at Rox Restaurant. Hyatt that it would not be exported. manuscript has been closed off Regency Kathmandu. 4491234 “Since the manuscript has with a sign that says it is off limits Saturday BBQ Lunch at Club Himalaya Nagarkot. Rs 500 per person. 4680083/ 80 been well documented and for ‘technical reasons’. The The greenest patch Weekend lunches in the oldest and largest garden in Nagarkot at The Fort published, no reputable museum museum is planning to display an Resort.Email: [email protected]. 226799 in the world will buy and display actual-size digital print copy of the chakra illustration in the Newari Bhoj Traditional snacks, drinks and meals, outdoors or indoor, in a restaurant designed The successful comic-western pairing of Chon Wang (Jackie Chan) and Roy it,” said one expert in Nepali by Bhaktapur artisans. Lajana Restaurant. Lazimpat. 413874 O’Bannon (Owen Wilson) are back in the saddle in Shanghai Knights. This time religious artifacts. However, once original showcase. There will also Tukche Thakali Kitchen Buckwheat, barley, bean, and dried meat specialities. Also brunch around, the dynamic odd couple head for London after a Chinese rebel murders an object like this goes into a be additional information about with porridge and pancakes, all raw material from Tukche village. Darbar Marg. Chon’s estranged father and escapes to England. There are plenty of twists in the private collection, it is usually when it was stolen, and about Vegetarian specialities and clay oven pizza at Stupa View Restaurant & Terrace, Boudha. tale and the lads even uncover a plot to assassinate the royal family. The movie very difficult to track down. other stolen Nepali art objects. 480262 offers great stunt fighting and several funny scenes that are reminiscent of the What Nepali and foreign heritage An emergency meeting of the Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton era. Chon and Roy chase bad guys, get conservationists are worried Patan Museum board set up a GETAWAYS chop-happy and Roy even finds time to develop a serious crush on Chan’s sister about is that the manuscript will committee to investigate the Dakshinkali Package every Saturday Rs 500+tax. 4370714, 4371537 Lin (Fann Wong) in-between all the action. Definitely a sequel worth watching! just drop out of sight since the matter and recommend security Shivapuri Heights a traditional cottage with modern facilities. Rs 1,850 pp. Nepali government hasn’t shown measures to prevent future thefts www.escape2nepal.com 12PM, 3PM, 6PM much interest in even bringing as well as to find ways to retrieve The Great Godavari Getaway Special weekend packages. Godavari Village Resort. 5560675 JAI NEPAL CINEMA Telephone booking: 4442220 Online booking www.jainepal.com back stolen objects which have the manuscript. In 90 percent of The Secret of Kathmandu Overnight package $99. Dwarika’s Hotel. 4479488 been identified in Europe and the art thefts around the world, it is Gamcha Organic Farm Guesthouse Traditional Nepali farmhouse. 6631734. United States. an inside job, and part of the Writing Retreat Full board package. Aesthetic living, innovative thinking, creative writing and A 200-year-old Dipankar committee’s job will be to explore nature at Park Village Resort, Budhanilkantha. 375280 Buddha stolen from Patan last this. It will also look at the Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge Special offers for Nepalis and expats. 01-361500 TMPL installation of surveillance Reservations - Nepali/Expat Offer on FM 102.4 year surfaced in Austria five months later after a German art cameras, alarm systems and even Mon-Fri 0615-0645 BBC World Today dealer tried to sell it to the hiring private guards. NEPALI WEATHER by NGAMINDRA DAHAL Sat 0615-0645 BBC Reporting Religion Art historians reckon that the only reason art thefts are less VIS -24 -04-2003 05:00 GMT Sun 0615-0645 BBC Agenda The spring storms will continue across the midhills as common in Nepal these days is moisture trickles in from the west and rises along the Daily 2045-2115 BBC g]kfnL ;]]]jf because there is not much left to steal. “The only things still left mountains due to convection. The heat in the tarai has Daily 2245-2300 BBC g]kfnL ;]]]jf now started to cross 40 degrees, and this will rise in the are those that are too heavy to coming months. But since direct sunlight is filtered by Sun-Fri 0740- 0800 Ps}}}l5g\\\ -/]]]l8of]]] klqsf_ cart away, or those protected in wind-blown desert sand in the lower atmosphere across museums,” says one connoisseur north India, it will not be at full intensity. Expect unsettled Sun-Fri 0800- 0830 8anL8anL8anL -ljifout-ljifout-ljifout cGt/lqmof_cGt/lqmof_cGt/lqmof_ of Nepali art. The late Nepali art afternoons across Nepal, brief snow flurries in the high cfhsf s'''''/f -;d;fdlos ljifodf ax;_ historian, Lain Singh Bangdel’s passes and violent thunderstorms in the higher Sun-Fri 2000- 2030 zflGt cleofg book Stolen Images of Nepal and mountains. A westerly front in the weekend will bring Sat 0800- 0830 Jurgen Shick’s The Gods are isolated but intense storms over the weekend in the valley. Sat 1930- 2000 cfrf/ ljrf/ -e||||i6frf/lj?4 ;xsfo{_{_{_ Leaving the Country: Art Theft KATHMANDU VALLEY s"6gLlts d~r from Nepal present the only Sat 2000- 2030 evidence of the seriousness of the Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Radio Sagarmatha MIN BAJRACHARYA plunder of 2,000 years of The 21-page manuscript stolen Kathmandu’s cultural history. P.O. Box 6958, Bakhundole, Lalitpur, Nepal last week from Patan Museum, Based on details from the two Tel: ++977-1-545680, 545681, Fax: ++ 977-1- 530227 and the locked door of the room 30-14 29-14 31-13 31-14 32-15 books some private western art /]l8of ] ;u/dfyf where the artifact was housed. E-mail: [email protected], www.radiosagarmatha.org collectors have started getting

#142 NT Pepc.p65 14-15 4/25/03, 5:23 PM 16 25 APRIL - 1 MAY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #142 Under My Hat NEPALI SOCIETY construction is over, it becomes by Kunda Dixit public property and is managed by the village school committees. Hari lends a hand The Maoist insurgency put a spanner in the works and since even years ago when Hari Man looking back for this astute 2000 Hari’s attempts to take this Lama took a group of Kathmandu-based trekking initiative to other districts was The crux of the biscuit S Japanese trekkers to Daneshwor entrepreneur who has used his severely restricted. But since the village in Kabhre, his clients were business acumen and considerable January ceasefire, Hari’s work is apalled by the state of the local charm to go on a school-building about to start again. primary school. Hari convinced spree across Nepal. He has There is lots to do. Hari grew is the apostrophe them some seed money may persuaded individual donors and up in Kabhre’s Madankudari remedy the situation. With the Rs philanthropic associations like the village, and has seen how o the casual observer, it may seem that this Still, there will come a time when our unity will be 150,000 he collected, Daneshwor Asia Friendship Network and deprivation wastes the talents of got it’s first proper school building. various Lion Clubs to contribute Nepali children. He is keen to country has come to a complete standstill. In sorely tested. And for that we must remember our Since then, there has been no help in building 15 schools in expand into building rural health T fact, it hasn’t. If you look carefully, there are National Oath: “Be prepared to fight over the umbrella eight mid-hill districts. So far, he posts to help women and children. still signs of normalcy in the nation’s nooks and on a rainy day.” That is why we are pleased to has collected assistance worth Rs “Health and education are crannies. For example, despite successive Nepal bandhs announce a series of tripartite conflict resolution 10 million to benefit more than related: educated children are our corner momo shop is still dumping unused body exercises so that we can apply ourselves with even more 5,000 school-going children. “This more careful about their health parts of deceased water buffaloes on the single-minded vigour to the task of national is completely satisfying both for me and good health ensures better neighbourhood garbage pile. As long as Nepal’s average deconstruction. First off, we strongly recommend that and for the donors,” he says education,” he tells us. He per capita consumption of momos stays above the the leaders of all political parties take a 10-day modestly. believes it is the average Nepali’s national benchmark for Middle-Income Developing residential Vipassana Meditation Retreat at Shivapuri. The schools come with no self-defeatist and cynical attitude strings attached. Once that keeps the country down. “Too Nations, we know that we’re not yet a failed For people used to talking all day, the vow of often we give up even before state. silence will be unbearable at first. Since the trying because of imagined The question I have is: if we are ego is the root of all divisiveness, we obstacles. I am convinced we can all agreed that we want to destroy remove the ego and, presto, problem change and tourism can be the country completely, why solved. That, and a diet of fern salad aligned to social work.” Enough fight about it? Let’s avoid for ten days, should finally allow the said, Hari himself is living proof duplication and pool our leadership of the political parties the that this idea works. resources. I’m glad to report path to inner happiness, fulfilment here today that despite a crisis and a universal remedy for universal of nationalistic proportions, ills. As a follow-up all participants our leaders are firmly united in are required to log six hours of their effort to make things worse. watching Maharishi Channel every (Sworn Statement: “United, we day on cable: only by listening to stand. Divided we lie down and go someone even more boring than to sleep.”) themselves will they realise the impermanence As expected, the Goodwill Talks went better of existence and the transient nature of the soul in than expected. They ordered 15 plates of chicken the cycle of death and re-birth. At the end of it, they momos and a crate of beer to break the ice, and by the may even be able to levitate without aides. end of it all there was a lot of back-slapping and As for the peace process, since the government bonhomie. We need to build on this with a second team has finally been selected they can now graduate round of Goodwill Talks to be held at the Naya Nepal from playing badminton to volleyball. A Goodwill Dance Restaurant & Bar (With Cabin Private Volleyball Tournament-cum-Fund Raiser has been Limited). In fact, if we keep on partying like this, we scheduled this weekend at the National Stadium. will never have to get down to substantive issues so Money raised will go to finance goodwill talks in the there will never be any danger of talks collapsing. coming decade-and-a-half.

500 ml

#142 NT Pepc.p65 16 4/25/03, 5:25 PM