#381 4 - 10 January 2008 16 pages Rs 30

GOING ACROSS: A woman prepares to take a sick relative across the Mugu Karnali. The Maoists blew up the bridge eight years ago, and it has never been rebuilt. The few remaining health workers north of the river left and haven’t returned.

NICK MEYNEN

Weekly Internet Poll # 381

Q. Will elections happen this time? Total votes: 4,761 Dying to get better

he government has of the country. The child The health gap is being filled single health post had been built legislated free health care mortality rate is nearly four times by well-meaning foreigners, but in the areas they controlled, T to the poor by next the national average. Many more when they leave, the problem replied: “First comes destruction, month. As with all previous mothers and babies die at child- remains. A local Maoist leader in then construction." Weekly Internet Poll # 382. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com promises, this is unlikely to birth here than anywhere else. Dolpo, when asked why not a Q. Do you think 2008 will be better than Complete story p10 2007 for ? be kept. Vaccination programs don’t get to The last place it may happen remote areas and people can die of is in Nepal’s remote simple infections. Life- northwestern corner in the expectancy is 44, and many of the districts of Humla, Mugu and remote areas are even more cut off Dolpo. Every health indicator after Maoists bombed bridges here is much worse than the rest during the conflict. 2 EDITORIAL 4 - 10 JANUARY 2008 #381

Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Editor: Kunda Dixit Design: Kiran Maharjan Director Sales and Marketing: Sunaina Shah marketing(at)himalmedia.com Circulation Manager: Samir Maharjan sales(at)himalmedia.com Subscription: subscription(at)himalmedia.com,5542525/535 Hatiban, Godavari Road, Lalitpur Running out of time editors(at)nepalitimes.com GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu 5543333-6, Fax: 5521013 Printed at Jagadamba Press, Hatiban: 5547018 www.nepalitimes.com The next fortnight is crunch time for the madhes

RAJBIRAJ—Elections are not All madhesi groups face a channel communication with THE POWER OF WATER possible in the eastern tarai credibility crisis. Tarai people are mainstream and armed groups, A lot of water has flowed down the Kosi, Gandaki and Karnali in the under present conditions. They sick of their infighting, and decide on a possible deal. half-century that we have been talking about Nepal’s infinite all agree: from a inconsistency and tendency to Madhesi groups will go in for a hydropower wealth. confidante of the PM to local strike deals with Kathmandu for movement for their survival. But We were caught up in our own national myth. Nepal’s police officials, from Congress personal benefit. The leaders are this can be limited, with clear hydropower potential became something we could only brag about: and UML politicians in aware of this and realize their goals, if they know before hand like Mt Everest or Lumbini. We didn’t have to struggle to get these to journalists in Lahan. future lies in appearing distant that the government will agree on icons of our fragile nationalism, they were bequeathed either by The three madhesi groups (led from, and opposed to, the seven certain issues. nature or by a fluke of history. by Upendra Yadav, Rajendra parties. They are trying to unite: Symbolic steps are necessary. When will our adolescent patriotism transcend slogans and come up with a realistic strategy for water and power? While we pen Mahato and Mahant Thakur) are the Mahato-Yadav front is talking Koirala should visit Lahan on 19 these lines (on a laptop that is running on battery because of the six- to Mahant Thakur to set up a January, the first anniversay of broader alliance. Ramesh Mahato’s death. This hour-a-week power cut) we are surprised at the shamelessness of TARAI EYE our leaders and the lack of outrage of the Nepali public about water None of the madhesi groups would be a show of respect, he and power shortages in a country that is rich in both. Prashant Jha have a strong organisation. should apologise for the state’s Large projects like Arun III were the wrong dam in the wrong This is why they have response, commit himself to place at the wrong time, but with the road now complete and preparing for agitation. Armed escalated the rhetoric. They hope inclusion and appeal for talks. domestic demand soaring it is becoming feasible. Nearly all our groups have sounded out a frustration with Kathmandu can Substantively, there will have power generation is on river diversion schemes. However much warning (see p 4) and all it will be channelised into street action, to be a fourth amendement of the activists hate reservoirs, there is no way we can meet peak take is the killing of a few and help restore credibility. And interim constitution with a domestic demand anymore without storage. candidates, localised riots and they have begun coordinating change in the electoral system. But storage brings us in competition for water with downstream India. The fact that 70 percent of the water in the Ganges flows down blasts to derail polls. There is no with armed groups. Madhesi leaders complain that if from Nepal’s rivers is not lost on Indian planners as they grapple administration, people are At the first mass meeting of they put up more than 20 percent with irrigation and domestic water projections for the teeming north- terrified, and alienation from the the Yadav-Mahato front in candidates in the proportional Indian plains. India has always looked at water geo-strategically. state is intense. Biratnagar, a host of speakers system, they will need to give Have we? But madhesis want polls. An defined the agenda in different representation to other River issues are tangled up with pseudo-nationalism in the elderly man in Rupani near ways: full proportional communities. Nepali psyche because past leaders sold us down the Kosi and Rajbiraj put it bluntly: “Only representation, dissolution of the “If we get 100 seats, based Gandaki. Yet, we can choose our friends, not our neighbours. We elections can get us our rights interim house, a caretaker only on madhesi votes, we can have water and power, India needs both desperately. How can we and give us security.” The government, a fresh census, only send 33 madhesis. This come to a mutually beneficial arrangement? problem is that people just don’t implementation of promises, a should be applicable to national Every country will try its best to strike home its advantage on trust the seven parties in commitment to autonomy. But parties, not regional groups. We natural resource deals by exploiting the weakness of the partner. In Nepal, there are a lot of weaknesses to exploit: incompetent Kathmandu and are sure they leaders know they will need to should be allowed to put up 33 officials, politicians ready to sell out, instability, economic will put off polls again, using come up with minimum percent candidates, our dependence. Yet, Nepal’s negotiating strategy has been the madhes as an reasonable demands. population ratio, while being to do nothing, just wait for things to happen. excuse. Things have still not reached allowed to skip the obligation to But time is running out more for us in Nepal not the tipping point. Girija Prasad be proportional,” explains just because we have a huge energy shortfall in Koirala and Mahato. the dry season, but because we need irrigation need to decide whether they India has a central role. It and income from power exports to drive growth really want elections. There is wants elections, but the madhes at home. India can always meet it energy needs reason to believe they are slightly is the biggest obstacle. New Delhi with nuclear power or work on inter-basin river more serious this time, but could pressure Kathmandu and transfers. skepticism persists. The Maoists madhesi leaders to compromise. Eighty percent of our rain falls in the three monsoon months, storing this is the only sensible know they will lose out if there If that happens, madhesi parties way for transboundary water management into the are more delays. Koirala has told and civil society can use their future. The only question is, will our politicians get aides the NC will be in real crisis leverage on armed groups to us a fair deal for regulated water? if polls fail. Determination and either come on board, or at least, Even without exports, there are project we can start visible commitment in not actively obstruct polls. In the right away like the expanded Melamchi (‘Revisiting multi- Kathmandu is the first step to process, money will exchange purpose Melamchi’, #379) which would be a neat way to sending out a message of hands, there will have to be spread the benefits of a water supply scheme out of the sincerity to madhesis, and promises on post election capital valley. Imaginative entrepreneurs in Sankhuwasabha putting pressure on madhesi prospects, and certain number of don’t just talk, they have built a scheme to sell power to the groups. seats will need to be assured. grid that pays to run higher education (‘Hydropowered Leaving out eastern tarai Unless the government is pro- education’, #377). God gave us water, but not the pipes. Sharing Nepal’s districts during elections is not active in the next fortnight, water with India needs pragmatism on both sides, not an option because it will lead to expect an increase in violence, an dogmatism. even greater alienation. Instead, agitation, and no situation for Kathmandu must begin back- elections in the madhes.

LLL ETTERS

PEACE TRAIN government that can’t ensure elder Khumbu Sherpas claimed investment has been geared TIA Your editorial today (‘Peace supply of essential commodities, that there were still some resident toward big cities like Kathmandu. Akiko Tanaka, what you went train’, #380) says: ‘Still, from arrange garbage disposal in the bears in Khumbu. The last one I But big cities have their own through was not at all acceptable now till April there are three capital, guarantee freedom of heard about was in the beginning resources to be utilised wisely for (‘Airport attack,’ From the Nepali spoilers. Monarchists will try movement and can’t check crime of the 1980’s, when a dremo their own development. The Press, #380). If you had been their damnedest to not allow is susceptible to sabotage by attacked horses and cattle in the government needs to take care of outside the airport other people elections to happen, an society’s malcontents.” Mingbo area and the next day us in the districts. We villagers might’ve seen and helped you. escalation in madhes violence Bhuwan Sharma, email seriously wounded a Pangboche are subsidising the fuel for SUVs, Even as a Nepali, I have been would be a problem, and the villager. But definitely, yetis are motorbikes, and cars that, rich needlessly harassed by wild followers of the Maoists YETI not animals, but more people use in the cities. Nepal is immigration officials who ask me will have to be defanged.” ‘Chemo’ is a very bad phonetical supernatural beings associated a country where most people live for documents I don’t need to Are you naively suggesting equivalent for the Tibetan ‘dred with the great mountain gods of in remote areas, and lack water produce. I believe that some that the previous elections mo’, a Sherpa pronunciation Khumbu. I also know well the area supply, schools, and other basic customs officers at the TIA create couldn’t be held because the would be ‘temu’. (‘Chemo or north of Jomolangma, local people infrastructure. The $500 million unnecessary problems, especially king conspired against them? yeti,’ Nepali Pan, #380) I’m first consider dremos to be extinct for the Melamchi project for people who are leaving for If not, why would he do surprised by the presence of a there. But according to nomads of (‘Revisiting a multi-purpose overseas employment. anything now, if he did not Tibetan collared bear in Pharak. Northern Tibet, these animals Melamchi’, #379) should be Shiv, email before? The fact is the seven I know the area since my wife is (like all bears) can travel invested in remote areas. We can plus Maoists is such a load of from there and brown bears are considerable distances at night. learn from the Adhikhola project Tribhuban International airport incompetents that even if the relatively common in the high Marceau Reda, Paris about multi-purpose of resources. is a den of dakas. What Akiko king does nothing, they will not lateral valleys. I agree that The time has come to reframe Tanaka went through is a shame be able to hold elections. As modern yeti lore is based on DEVELOPMENT development issues. and we must all apologise to her as you say in your edit: ‘The ‘dremo’ stories. Years back, In the past, most of the nation’s P Neupane, Syangja a nation. But who will protect us NATION 4 - 10 JANUARY 2008 #381 3

KIRAN PANDAY Girija Koirala needs to act now on the tarai to save his legacy From rust to dust

year ago, the Maoists a year. Ever since the Madhes his shine to wear off. The NC stood vulnerable and Uprising last year, the NC’s needs to act, and act Aexposed with revelations credibility has seriously eroded. immediately, if it is to be saved about their successful association When Mahantha Thakur walked from electoral annihilation in the with King Birendra, failed out of interim parliament and tarai. negotiations with King Gyanendra the NC to float his own party, an Thakur’s Tarai-Madhes and shelters in Siliguri. unperturbed Koirala reportedly Loktantrik Party isn’t like told his madhes flock that a Deuba’s experiment of cohabiting “slight overflow from a full with the army to seal lucrative STATE OF THE STATE vessel didn’t mean the pot was defence deals. Everybody knew C K Lal leaking”. That would be true if Deuba had no alternative vision the NC still had its traditional for the Congress, it was all about Sher Bahadur Deuba’s NC-D base in the tarai intact. But the power. The TMLP has begun its and Madhab Nepal’s UML had ground has shifted. business by talking about self- debased themselves by associating Thakur’s commitment to respect and social justice. with the royals. Untainted with national integrity, republican Whoever took the initiative to any accusation of compromising democracy and probity in public ‘expel’ Thakur from NC when he sovereignty of the people, the NC life is quite well known. He was had already resigned on his own was riding high on the success of one of very few ministers who will probably escape lightly. But the April Uprising. Prime didn’t need to cultivate a clean Koirala will have to pay the price Minister Koirala was inches away image and his honesty was of that political blunder. Playing from being the tallest statesman in beyond reproach. His uncanny with questions of identity and Nepal’s history. ability to swim with the flow of dignity is fraught with He brought the marauding power politics is less consequences of unimagined Maoists into the mainstream. The publicised. Thakur is street- proportions. king was pensioned off into the savvy with a keen survival These are the twilight years of palace. The extreme left and rabid instinct. If a person like him Koirala’s career, it is headed right tightly reigned in, it deserted the NC, it probably towards decline and demise. His appeared for a while that he means the party is a sinking daughter Sujata Koirala is would build on centrist politics. ship in the tarai. positioning herself as heir The international community was Had it not been for the apparent, but by waving the card in awe of the octogenarian. rebellion of Thakur, Maoist of constitutional monarchy. Even President Jimmy Carter called him footman Matrika Yadav wouldn’t she seems to have failed to gauge his “hero”. Manmohan Singh have gotten re-entry into Singha people’s frustrations with pronounced him a South Asian Darbar on his own terms. politics of elite consensus. stalwart . Remember, Koirala had gruffly Nepal may just be a paper The Koirala coterie at told Yadav to go where he had republic now, but no other future Baluwatar must miss those heady come from. Since nobody loves a is likely to meet the aspirations days. How things have changed in loser, Koirala better prepare for of a large section of Nepalis.

Nepalis from the rapacious police officers at security who want to take money out of our wallets, ask for bribes from tourists so they can retain the brass idols bought in Thamel, or refuse to allow us to board the plane because we don’t have a ‘sponsor letter’? Gyan Subba, email

AAJA NACHLE Who made you a film critic, Diwas Kc? There are many people who CORRECTIONS thought Aaja Nachle was In ‘Hydropowered education’ (#377) the capacity of the Nigure fantastic, including me (‘Outside hydropower plant should have been 250 kilowatt and not megawatt as the box’, Critical Cinema, #380). erroneously reported. The only problem is that it was Due to an editing error, there was a mistake in the date of the Nepalganj riots in Tarai Eye (‘The year of the madhes’, #380). The street unrest released after Om Shanti Om and happened in December 2006. Sawaariya. Maybe if Madhuri had Due to a layout error, the captions for ‘In search of reconciliation’ (#380) starred alongside bigger actors, got mixed up. The corrected captions can be seen on Nepali Times she would’ve gotten a larger eSpecial, www.nepalitimes.com/issue/380/ audience. Madhuriji, chin up. Om Rajbhandary in ‘A real state developer’ (#380) spells his surname with a ‘y’. Name withheld, email 4 NATION 4 - 10 JANUARY 2008 #381

MIRROR IMAGE: Balaram Poudel shaves one morning last week in while his grand- daughter looks on. His family was chased out of Bijayapur in Rautahat after receiving threats from JTMM activists last month. He and other internally displaced pahadis are now living with relatives in Hetauda.

KIRAN PANDAY bus tells us: “We are fully with permission to many activists, madhesi groups. We are the same often within the same district, to and this is their fight against carry out arthik karabahi. A spate slavery.” of extortion and killings It may not be accurate to dub followed, often of madhesis, Tarai frontline the tarai armed groups as breeding resentment. Madhesi militant groups are preparing for a showdown “criminal” since they have a At a recent meeting of his symbiotic relationship with the district chiefs, Jwala Singh asked politicians. Criminals are learning them not to harass madhesis PRASHANT JHA polarization, and believe that tit- help him get an Indian SIM card political nuances, and politicians anymore, reportedly saying: in NORTH BIHAR for-tat attacks on madhesis or and promised a Nepali SKY accept crime for organisational “Madhesi people will slap us if aggressive state security phone in return. benefit. we don’t change.” madhesi insurrection is deployment would benefit them. Jwala’s activists say they want While the cadre largely But it hasn’t been easy being discussed in a small Jwala has emerged as the most an autonomous single Madhes, comprises of young, ill-educated because the command structure is Ahotel room in a town two powerful armed group in the and an election without such a people, some politically hollow, leadership is hours from the Nepal border. tarai, claiming a strength of commitment is meaningless. committed activists have joined inexperienced and the Chandrashekhar, the newly 25,000 which is clearly a gross Chandrashekhar says, “It is their the armed movement. organisation needs money. There appointed head of Jwala Singh’s exaggeration. But others say they CDO, their SP, their election Chandrashekhar had an NGO in a is no ideological program or a intellectual front, Tarai do have about 500 people each in system. Only pahadis will win. Tarai town, and did relief work clear work plan and activists have Buddhijivi Mukti Morcha, and several of the sensitive districts as Kathmandu doesn’t want polls during the madhes movement. gotten used to the easy route. Arjun Singh, head of the student active cadres and part time but if they go ahead, we will Student leader Arjun Singh, a Toofan Singh Bidrohi, Siraha- front, look thrilled. They have sympathisers. “Kathmandu unleash a killing spree. It will be graduate, is the son of a in-charge of the JTMM, is just got news from an FM station thinks these are rag tag groups of like Kashmir or Iraq.” Kathmandu based madhesi despondent. Police action and about the assassination of a 20-25 people,” complains a The leadership of armed professional. Rajan Mukti, a infighting have caused losses. political target in Parsa by their Janakpur police official, “but groups is based largely here in Saptari activist, is the son of a “We tried to control the cadre. The two immediately call several villages are dominated by North Bihar, while district heads doctor who studied commerce in abductions of madhesis. But up their district chief to them.” keep moving back and forth across Kathmandu. several of our fighters ran off, congratulate him. “Ek do aur Besides Jwala’s JTMM, the the border. Jwala himself travels They all belonged to taking the limited arms and patkaiye,” one of them says. other militant groups are Goit’s around the Indian towns of mainstream groups and now money with them, and started Jwala Singh’ s JTMM has JTMM, the Samyukta Janatantrik Darbanga, Muzaffarpur, Hajipur, appear to have found a cause that working on their own.” Leaders given its local units the authority Mukti Morcha (SJMM) headed by Samastipur, Madhubani, and gives them a sense of purpose, have now decided that they will to attack pahadis. Ask its leaders Pawan aka Prahlad Giri, and the more recently, Gorakhpur. solidarity, and adventure. The blame the YCL when accused of why they do not go after symbols Madhesi Mukti Tigers of Praful JTMM activists say they are caste mix of Jwala’s JTMM is crime. of the state, and Chandrashekhar Yadav. Bisfot Singh’s group has careful not to carry arms in India largely Dalit and non-Yadav As the fog thickens outside, responds: “But the pahadi is the merged with SJMM. and face little problems here. upper and intermediate castes. Chandrashekhar takes a cigarette symbol of the state. We want There is increasing “The local people and leaders are However, many are also using puff and sounds a warning: “Wait madhesi self-rule.” collaboration between all of the with us, and the SSB is neutral,” armed groups as a cover for for the violence in the next two It is clear extremists in the armed groups. Chandrashekhar said one. Local support for the criminal activities and personal months. We are preparing for a tarai want to deepen the asked Manager, a SJMM leader, to JTMM is visible. A passenger on a benefit. Jwala Singh initially gave decisive movement.” BUSINESS 4 - 10 JANUARY 2008 #381 5

Travelling Laxmi

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Laxmi Bank has launched its Travel Related Services, the first of No jerks allowed its kind in Nepal. Everest Insurance is their travel insurance partner while Yeti Air, Buddha Air are domestic flight partners. Gandaki Is your workplace a jerk-free zone Travels, Everest Travels and Rainbow Travels are ticketing partners whereas Lalit Mandap Tours are package tour partners. ovies voted to be the personal insults, rude seemingly nice people into best in their categories interruptions, two-faced attacks, insufferable jerks in front of

Himalayan profit win Academy Awards email flames, threats and their peers, Sutton advises ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ M Himalayan Bank concluded its 15th annual general meeting in every spring in Los Angeles. intimidation, treating managers to remove many Kathmandu. The Bank’s total deposits stand at Rs 30,048.4 million, Similarly, books, voted to be the acquaintances as if they are unnecessary status differences an increase of 13.43 percent from last year. The bank has been able best in categories ranging from invisible, and the like. Since that dot today’s corporate to earn a net profit of Rs 491.823 million and has declared a 25 romance to science fiction by research shows that negative landscape. Besides, those percent bonus share and 15 percent cash dividend. more than 6,000 booksellers and interactions have a fivefold leading an organisation must stronger effect on a person’s first agree on what the

Asambhav winner mood than positive acceptable behaviours at their ○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○ STRICTLY BUSINESS interactions, the jerk’s actions workplaces are, and then help Saroj Thapa from Hetauda is the winner of the Ashutosh Tiwari add up to a huge cost for any everyone practise ‘small Yamaha Asambhav offer. Thapa won a house at company. Workers lose decencies’ that result in less Civil Homes Phase II worth Rs 5,500,000. motivation to work. The best stress for all, including clients. Morang Auto Works, official dealers for Yamaha, had launched Asambhav offer as the librarians, win Quill Awards ones head for the door. Sutton is aware that even Dasain- offer where customers of Yamaha every December in New York. The remaining ones fall sick, normally nice people act like bikes had a chance to win a house. The Quill Award winner in and many jerks under certain the category of Best circumstances. Such acting Business Book for 2007 is sometimes serves a purpose,

Plus Lounge Stanford University like when you have to shout at ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Global Bank has launched the Global Plus Lounge, a new banking management professor a customer-service facility.The lounge is targeted towards customers who are in a hurry Robert Sutton’s colourfully representative who gets busy or those with large transactions. The Plus Lounge is available at the titled bestseller: The No on the phone with her bank’s Kantipath and branches. All normal banking facilities Asshole Rule: Building a boyfriend while repeatedly are available at the Lounge. Civilized Workplace and ignoring your request for Surviving One That Isn’t. help. Other ‘temporary’ jerks

Another winner Available in come to their senses soon ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Kathmandu’s bookstores and after their episodes, and Shreeya Rani Shrestha of Balaju is Dabur Nepal’s Hajmola Khane written in clear prose, the have the decency to Bahana contest winner. She won a cash prize of Rs 100,000. book starts with an assertion: apologise or try to make Contestants had to come up with creative excuses for Hajmola. The second, third and fourth prizes were a personal computer, LG Jerks who mistreat colleagues amends in some ways. The microwave oven and LG mobile phone respectively. and subordinates at workplace book’s focus, however, is on by persistently inflicting habitual jerks, and it offers emotional, verbal or physical a 24-question test that you

Qatar’s entertainment distress are ultimately bad for can truthfully administer

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Qatar Airways has a new next generation inflight entertainment any company. It does not to yourself to see whether system on its Boeing 777 aircraft. Rebranded Oryx Entertainment’s matter how brilliant or you are one of them. Multiplex in the Sky offers more than 150 international movies, 150 productive these jerks are. In the Not everyone has the hours of TV programming, over 50 games and 500 audio CDs for long run, Sutton argues, they are option to leave a jerk- passengers to choose from. Qatar also has a special tie-up with the simply not worth the trouble for driven workplace. Sometimes, National Geographic Channel, History Channel and E! the company’s goals for growth. others become more tense, less you are stuck in one. Sutton has Entertainment and will also showcase the entire 21-film James But how do you figure out creative and unproductive. The a chapter on how to survive in Bond collection. who a jerk is? Sutton proposes levels of company-wide trust go nasty workplaces. Sutton two tests: First, after talking with down and those of fear go up. advises reframing how you see NEW PRODUCTS the alleged jerk, do you always Bad news gets neither shared things, developing indifference feel humiliated, de-energised or nor solved promptly, and that and detachment, and looking HUNKY: The 150cc Hunk is the latest belittled? Second, does the leads to further problems. for small wins. It’s hard to tell premium segment bike from Hero Honda. This ninth new model has a displacement of alleged jerk always spew venom Organisational performance whether these tips will work for 149.2cc, 14.2bhp and Advanced Tumble at people who are less powerful suffers. The result is that, over all. What one can tell is that Flow Induction helps the bike provide than s/he is? If the answer is ‘yes’ time, the jerk’s actions become Sutton has written a lively and improved torque and higher fuel efficiency. to both questions, the alleged jerk unaffordable for his or her useful book on one critical The Hunk is available for Rs 1,54,900 with a 3-year warranty. is likely to be a bone fide jerk. company. aspect of corporate behaviour Syakar Company is the sole authorised dealer for Hero Honda Sutton lists some everyday How can workplaces be jerk- that most victims talk about but in Nepal. actions that jerks use to bring free zones? Since power and pay feel helpless to do much down staff morale. These include structures tend to turn even against. 6 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 4 - 10 JANUARY 2008 #381 Gorkhaland re-ignites Dambar Krishna Shrestha in the Gorkhali community and will make Darjeeling, Himal Khabarpatrika, Darjeeling a slave to Kolkata while his 31 December-14 January supporters claim the sixth schedule is a door to Gorkhaland. Gorkhaland is suddenly in the news Bimal Gurung, a former member of the again among India’s close to 10 million Hill Council, was a staunch Ghising Nepali-speakers. The new protests are supporter and his public acceptance is against the Indian government’s high. Analysts claim that out of decision to introduce a bill giving the Darjeeling’s 1.6 million population, Subhas Ghising-led Gorkha National 75 percent of them support him. Gurung’s Liberation Front (GNLF) rights to self- popularity soared when he came out in full governance under India’s sixth schedule. support of Indian Idol winner Prashant The ‘Gorkhalis’ who are protesting want Tamang and even opened a fan club while to establish a separate Gorkhaland by rival Ghising kept mum. 2010. Former chief minister of Sikkim Nar The people of Darjeeling asked for a Bahadur Bhandari says that Ghising needs separate state in 1907 from the British. to properly understand what the sixth But even after a hundred years, this schedule means. “The schedule may mean demand has still not been met. The 1986 citizen rights but it is not what the people uprising led by Subhas Ghising and his of Darjeeling want. What they want, is GNU culminated in a tripartite Gorkhaland,” says Bhandari. According to agreement between the West Bengal DAMBAR KRISHNA SHRESTHA the Saparivar monthly magazine, Sikkim, government, the central government and with a population of 300,000 voters gets Ghising. Twelve hundred people lost demanded the resignations of the 28- parties oppose the sixth schedule. Other aid worth Rs 5,400 billion but Darjeeling, their lives and the Indian government member council. Ghising was also parties including the Gorkha National with more than 1.6 million voters, only quelled the uprising only by creating a appointed acting administrator by the Congress and the Gorkha Democratic Front gets around Rs 100 billion. Gorkha Darjeeling Hill Council (GDHC) Bengal government. Since then, Ghising have made clear their desire for a It is now coming down to a showdown and making the GNLF Subhas Ghising has become sole ruler of Darjeeling. Gorkhaland. Even the chief minister of between the pro-sixth schedule GNLF and its head. Those who trusted Ghising and hoped Sikkim, Pawan Chamling has come out in the pro-Gorkhaland GPLF. Although the Ghising’s term ended in 2004 but for a Gorkhaland have grown disillusioned support of Gorkhaland. According to GPLF was only formed last October, it there has been no re-election and he and are the ones who are involved in the Chamling, Darjeeling deserves to be a already holds a lot of support. It sent a shows no signs of letting the chair go. new uprising. The current movement is separate state because it doesn’t have representative body to Delhi to halt the There was supposed to be an election on being championed by the newly formed anything in common with the rest of West schedule and even organised a gherao with 25 March 2005 but on 1 January 2005, Gorkha People’s Liberation Front (GPLF) Bengal in terms of culture, finances or even over a thousand supports at Ghising’s Ghising demanded the scrapping of the and its leader Bimal Gurung. The environment. home. But the GNLF has also organised Hill Council and merger with the sixth Revolutionary Communist Party, All India Ghising’s detractors claim that the bandas and rallies in support of the schedule of India’s constitution. He also Gorkha League, GNLF ‘C’ and various other sixth schedule will only create rifts within schedule. FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 4 - 10 JANUARY 2008 #381 7

Old wounds

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Amrita Anamol in Nepal, 6 January

NAWALPARASI –Tijiya Yadav (below) of Bargadahawa cannot help crying and stuttering in front of anyone who visits the place. Her two sons were killed Hungry children and her house was blown apart ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ in a Maoist attack here. Gulichi Dhurba Kumar Rawal in Chaudhary, 80, has a similar Naya Patrika, 1 January story. She lost her son and grandson in the raid. NUWAKOT—The children Even though a year-and-half standing on the roadside were has passed after the brutal shivering, they looked tried and killing of 10 people, the village hungry. They were carrying is still drowned in sorrow. After small bouquets of flowers in the incident, 42 displaced their hands. They were there to families have migrated to India. welcome a minister. “Our Amongst those who have teacher brought us here,” said lost their sons is Dhandhari seven-year old Dilip Tamang Kahar, 73. She has been using who studies in the 2nd grade of the money provided by the Kalika Primary School adding, government to buy food. She “I am hungry, cold, but the says: “The government tried to teacher won’t let us go.” dull the pain with money but it Finance Minister Ram hasn’t helped. If only money Sharan Mahat was to inaugurate could bring my son back.” the rural road linking Deurali with Bungtang VDC. Twenty- four kids from grades two and three were pulled from their classrooms at 12PM to stand and wait for Mahat to arrive. All they were wearing was their school uniform and they were shivering. Sushil Tamang, who studies in the 3rd grade, says, “We have no idea why we were brought here.” Mahat was supposed to arrive at 2PM but due to delays he got there only at 4.30 PM. There was so little time that he took the flowers from the kids and said a quick thank you. Teacher Sumitra Tamang says, “The organisers told us we were to bring school children, that is why I brought them here.” The Maoists forced the Woman PM villagers out of their homes, ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ lined them up and shot them Kantipur, 1 January dead. The security forces set up a temporary camp at the local Prime Minister GP Koirala has school. Although the assured female NC leaders that government provided Rs 150,000 the country will soon have a as compensation but it hasn’t woman prime minister. At a tea paid any attention since then. ceremony organised by the NC The family of Kamal Kahar, women’s wing at Dhapasi on who was killed in Lumbini Monday Koirala said: “The Regional Hospital two days after constitution has guaranteed 33 the incident, did not even percent women participation in receive compensation. Kamal’s all the state bodies. Now there widow Batasha says, “I can’t take will be a separate woman prime care of my family. I can do minister. At that time the nothing but stare at the faces of participation of women will the orphaned children.” reach 50 percent.”

Our separate marchpasts

YCL towards Susta Maoist leaders towards the embassy

Nepal in 6 January

SELECTED MATERIAL TRANSLATED EVERY WEEK FROM THE NEPALI PRESS THAMEL’S LOS

IRENE PERONI able to wrench your eyes away from the potholes and multitude of wheels racing in all n the day your directions, threatening to plane lands at amputate your feet. You will Kathmandu airport start noticing the souvenir Oand an obnoxious shops, cafes and restaurants that taxi driver in an antique car you had previously ignored, charges you a fortune to dump choosing to dive into the closest you in the middle of its urban bakery before rushing back to chaos, you quickly learn to your guesthouse, all limbs navigate Thamel. intact. Finally slumped on a soft It’s like snakes and ladders. cushion in front of a sizzling Whatever your destination, and steak with pommes frites, you’ll however close, a series of observe the ecstatic, slightly daft obstacles will hold you up. You smile on the faces of emaciated have to walk very briskly, look fellow trekkers returning from a down and skirt teeming three-week diet of muesli bars, humanity. There are the drug instant noodles and dal bhat. dealers offering you pot, fruit That’s when Thamel becomes vendors with their one-dollar-a- a culinary Shangri-La where piece apples, rickshaw drivers, you’ll be flabbergasted to find touts who pretend you’ve met apple strudel that challenges its before and try to talk you into Viennese counterpart, pizza that going on a trek with their tastes exactly like in Rome and agencies. better hummus than in Each time you hesitate and Casablanca. In your memories, stop, you slip back a few Kathmandu is bound to become squares. Then there are the the place where you had the best prostitution is rife, of street ignoring that most of the time ragged ladies shaking empty food ever. As in Pavlov’s children sniffing glue out of things will be returned to the baby bottles, the kids begging for experiment, the word Thamel small plastic bags, of young shops or sold on to someone else biscuits, the guy with the mini- will trigger a conditioned reflex pimps in search of western to raise some cash. chess set, tiger balm, flutes, that will make your mouth customers for a snotty bunch, and If you observe people on the sarangis. If you are scared of water. of pre-teen boys wearily trotting main Thamel road from a first- Kathmandu’s reptiles, then you might also But there is also an advanced along. floor bar, you will see some of have to cross the road to avoid Thamel, which needs to be read There’s a few Nepali men these happening at any given tourist walking next to a snake charmer between the lines, examined staggering in the middle of the time. “Thamel is killing itself,” petting a two-metre python. against the light like a road, staring into the void, their says a long-time resident. “Will ghetto is a But all that is Thamel for watermark. It’s one the vast bodies and minds devastated by tourists really want to come to a beginners. Once you’ve learned majority of tourists never get to brown sugar. And finally there are place like this?” snakes and a few tricks, dodging the hurdles see, even though they are scores of kind-hearted travellers Maybe they will. Two are a piece of cake. That usually walking in the midst of it every who, despite the clear directions attractive young girls in bright ladders happens when you return to the day. It’s the Thamel of given by the Lonely Planet, buy saris get off a taxi on the street capital from your trek in the mushrooming massage parlours street kids and beggars something below. They walk quickly into a game mountains. First, you will be and dance clubs where to eat or a little present, perhaps massage shop. ALL PICS: SAM KANG LI ST INNOCENCE

which sells handmade stationery from Holland, who have been in into effect, vehicles will not be the goods, has seen business boom Nepal for two months. On one side only ones experiencing limited in the past year. “It seems that of the road, drug dealers whisper access. Mobile fruit-sellers will be political instability creates more their wares. On the other side, given passes and will only be problems than traffic,” says street children beg for money. allowed to sell at allocated places. Bhupal Raj, who runs the store. Most tourists interviewed said “We are also hoping to keep Businesses in Thamel took a that they did not respond to the away the street children through dive after Nepal’s tourism children’s pleas. “We choose to these barriers,” says Namgyal collapsed when the conflict ignore them because we are Lama, who heads the Council. intensified in 2001. But with aware that there are shelters Lama expects a more pleasant things now on the rebound, available, and these children had Thamel where pedestrians can Thamel is bustling again. And for been given a choice for a better walk without fear of being hit by many in Thamel the congestion life,” says Herman. motorcycles and harassed by itself is a sign that business is Storeowners in Thamel beggars. The shops and cafes picking up. sympathise with the tourists and would benefit as more people are But tourism officials and are determined to clean up the attracted by the ambience. Thamel hotel owners realise that area’s image. “The touts, beggars But when that happens, some Kathmandu’s tourist hub may be and children leave a bad say, the fun will be gone. Thamel the victim of its own success. The impression on visitors,” admits just won’t be Thamel without its Thamel Tourism Development Richa Maharjan of Pilgrims Book chaotic streets. z Council is liaising with business House. owners and entrepreneurs to Once the Council’s plans go Wong Shu Yun, Sheere Ng improve traffic and chase out touts. Thamel’s new traffic regulations include issuing special passes to vehicles, such as those belonging to hotels, outs and beggars, which will allow them to enter coupled with congested areas cordoned off by security traffic make navigating in guards. This month, the council Congestion Thamel a challenge in will be setting up roadblocks to Titself. During peak hours, walking test the feasibility of the plan. in Thamel is the 100m stretch into Thamel can “Traffic here is crazy, cars take up to 10 minutes. Yet, are bumper to bumper,” says a sign of a businesses at Thamel go on as Korean backpacker Kim Seung usual. Wook who has been grazed tourism Prakash Karmacharya of several times by side mirrors of Typical Handloom Weavers, a whizzing motorcycles. Kim has rebound, fabric exporter, says there hasn’t even been spat upon by been any noticeable change in his storeowners whom he rejects. but not business in the past five years Other tourists buttonholed despite the worsening congestion. outside Kathmandu Guest House everyone is Sales in some stores have agreed. “It’s not a relaxing place,” even picked up. The Paper Park, says Sjors and Herman, both happy 10 NATION 4 - 10 JANUARY 2008 #381 Saving a Charismatic mammals get WHERE IS MY MEDICINE? Humla people throng a health post that was distributing free medicines during a health camp. all the DAVID CITRIN attention, but there is a Sick system separate thrill NICK MEYNEN in HUMLA in finding rare edical charities in remote parts of Nepal are trying to fill the vacuum left by the government, but this has brought a host of plants below Mother problems. Because the government has neglected health for so long, providing care is like buying political support: it brings the NGOs working on health in direct confrontation with the Maoists. There are now about 130 NGOs based in Humla working for the development of Nepal’s most remote district. Some work on health SAMPREETHI AIPANJIGULY in PANCHTHAR and it didn’t take long before Maoists closed the first health post. Doctors, mainly western, used to fly into health camps by helicopter to distribute free medicines, like candies to begging kids. David Citrin, who is working on a doctorate, is not impressed: “Due to a lack of research on what people really need, not enough t was the 38th day of the ethnobotanist, this was a joyous awareness on how to use medicines and a complete lack of follow nearly two months that moment. He was seeing a plant, up, the camps are more like a medical circus.” Iresearchers from the locally called kenjo, in the wild People came on the second day, saying they didn’t feel any better Ethnobotanical Society of Nepal for the first time in 25 years. after swallowing all their medicines, meant to last for two weeks. (ESON) had spent in the remote Later on they saw a few more Instead of treating 8,000 people, the same 2,000 people show up four areas of Ilam and Panchthar. plants scattered around, but that times on average to stock up on as much free medicine as they can They were surveying plants in first sighting was unforgettable. get. Villagers are disappointed when referred to an Indian doctor. Shanti, a woman in Simkot, told us at least three people died last the lush foothills of the Planning a plant survey year, shortly after one of the health camps ended. Citrin says he saw Kangchenjunga range, and had expedition is no easy task. The children playing with used needles and later learned of people dying been working non-stop for five area where ESON was working is due to infections. “The concept of a bidesi doctor flying in by hours that day starting at 8AM. remote and takes about a week to helicopter to give free medicine is just so powerful in an area where Since a visit to the sacred get to. Plant collection the government hardly bothers to do anything,” he told Nepali Times. pond at Timbu Pokhari was expeditions are organised in the day examining up to eight “Health camps obscure the real political and economic origins of planned for the day, the devout monsoon when the flowers are in quadrat plots of 100 square sickness, they’re a band-aid on a festering wound.” surveyors were fasting. From bloom, helping identification. metres, explains Ripu Kunwar, a their night’s camp in Ghumne But monsoons are a difficult member of Shrestha’s team. Nepal’s poor can’t depend on (4,100m), the pond was a couple time to travel, especially in the Two separate teams worked of hours’ walk away. A light rain Kangchenjunga area which gets each plot, one collecting plants foreign well-wishers or profit- was falling and the temperature nearly 4,000mm of rain a year, and the other inventorying. Each minded doctors in the cities for had plummeted to 5°C. most of it falling in three evening the day’s collection of much longer They prayed at the pond and months. plants has to be dried over coal in when returning switched to an The absence of motorable a stone hearth. The government has promised free health services and free alternative track leading to a roads in this remote part of Shrestha remembers the last medicine for the poor from February. This sounds promising because fairly remote terrain of over eastern Nepal on the border with expedition which ended in 75 percent of the health care expenses of Nepalis are met by out-of- 4,300m. “It was there that we Sikkim means that all equipment disaster when the drying tent pocket payments, the highest percentage in Asia. As with everything saw, standing a metre high with for the kitchen, collecting and else, the problem will be in making sure it works. When 97 villagers its flower bracts already a dried drying plants and sleeping have SCENE SCENERY: Scenic and in rural Myagdi were asked recently what they really needed, the bright orange, the Rheum nobile”, to be carried on yaks or by majority simply said: “An honest doctor who’s here with us.” lush eastern Nepal is doused by recalls K K Shrestha, describing porters. There are no trekkers The government doctor at their health post came once a week, the monsoon and has Nepal’s sometimes not at all. He sold medicines from his private clinic in the moment when the team first here, and few settlements. richest biodiversity. At night at , claiming government medicines had run out. Village nurses saw the endangered plant species. A typical day involves camp (below) researchers dry and who study in the city usually don’t come back to work in the village. For Shrestha, a veteran 4-5 hours of walking and each store specimens of rare plants. Health care still hasn’t recovered from the years of conflict. On a recent trip through Mugu, where the life-expectancy is 44, large parts of both districts are almost cut off from the world since Maoists bombed the only two bridges over the Karnali eight years ago. There is only a fragile cable crossing in place. Medical personnel have left the area since, sick or elderly people can’t cross the river anymore. Most people here don’t beg for money, they beg for medicines, any medicines. A sick baby had only a plastic bag on his head. A dead dog lay next to the only tap in the village. A woman asked us: “If you’re not here to distribute medicines, then why are you here?” Locals in Mugu, Dolpo and Humla now perceive foreigners as doctors by definition. In Mugu, almost two out of ten babies die at birth, more then three times the rate for Nepal. In Dolpo the situation is not much better. When the local Maoist leader, who controlled most of the area for 10 years, was asked why not a single health post had been built in the areas they controlled, he just said: “First comes destruction, then construction”. In Nepal it is time somebody starts the construction. Not just of big hospital buildings, but of a functioning, visionary health care system. Health experts say that instead of a paternalistic top down- approach, Nepal needs to train local doctors and nurses and gear the health system towards creating wellness rather than treating illness. Pictures from before-and-after facial surgeries on disabled Nepali children may be effective fund-raising visuals in Europe, but if the health of Nepal’s poor is going to be dependent only on foreign well-wishers or profit-minded doctors in the cities, Nepal will remain a sick nation. In the abscence of a functioning rural health care system, the people of west Nepal will have to do with foreign medicine band-aids. nmeynen(at)hotmail.com NATION 4 - 10 JANUARY 2008 #38111 botanists’ paradise

ALL PICS: KAMAL HUMAGAIN/ESON

caught fire, with some of the high plant biodiversity areas. only go up to 2,500m. Higher FLOWER POWER: specimens inside. The ESON Through their work, the team than that, the forests are (from top down) Impatiens sp. is team brought back 600 plant has found that the Jamuna and considered no-man’s land and known as patpate in Nepali and samples of about 300 species, of Phalaincha VDCs in Ilam and are pastures for yaks and sheep. mainly used for fodder. which half have been identified Panchthar districts are richest in There are signs of overgrazing, Panax pseudoginseng. has at the species level and a quarter biodiversity. ESON is looking encroachment on forests and medicinal value and its root is at the family or genus level. The into involving the local wildlife poaching. The team sees used as a stimulant and remaining plants are undergoing communities in plant the removal of the cattle shelters, expectorant. Called mangen or identification. conservation. the provision of sources of nadir in Nepali. ESON received a one-year “Our work does not end alternative fuel and the handing grant from the Critical Ecosystem with identifying and naming over of unmanaged land to Daphne papyracea. is used to Partnership Fund (CEPF), to plants. We now have the huge communities as solutions to the make handmade paper and is identify plant diversity hotspots task of talking to the local problems of plant conservation called kagaj pate in Nepali. in eastern Nepal a project that is communities here about the in these fragile areas. z being implemented by importance of conserving plants Rheum nobile is an endangered kenjo Worldwide Fund for Nature – and working with them on the Sampreethi Aipanjiguly is a species called by the Limbus and chulthi amilo in Nepal. issue,” says Shrestha. communications officer with the Nepali. Its peeled petules are Inventorying is just the first Although community forests Critical Ecosystem Partnership eaten raw or pickled, and the root step in the process to identify have helped conservation, they Fund, Eastern Himalaya. is of medicinal value. 12 INTERNATIONAL 4 - 10 JANUARY 2008 #381 Few know of the assassinated Pakistani leader’s zeal for meditation Benazir Bhutto and Vipassana

n the summer of 1994, I got a call because she felt so tranquil. from the Home Ministry in We waited while she had a restful I Kathmandu. Prime Minister Benazir sleep. After a few hours, she emerged Bhutto, who was on an official visit to looking refreshed and happy. We explained Nepal, wanted to visit Dharmashringa to her the salient aspects of Vipassana: a Vipassana Center in Kathmandu. means out of human suffering and misery; Teachers and trustees of the not a ritual of an organized religion but an meditation centre were excited and art of living. Vipassana involves no gathered in the morning awaiting her conversion from one religion to another arrival. We had made arrangements to and is open to all without any barrier of show her around and explain the caste, creed or gender. The technique helps Vipassana meditation technique in the people control unruly minds and cleanse tradition of Sayagi U Ba Khin as taught by them of impurities like fear, anger, hatred, S. N. Goenka. ill will, animosity, greed, passion and restlessness. Vipassana teaches how to COMMENT diminish the ego and to find truth about Roop Jyoti oneself and to achieve inner peace. We talked a bit more about Vipassana and where she could possibly sit through a Unfortunately, the visit was full 10-day course. We also gave her books, cancelled. The night before someone had tapes and videos. By this time, it was late mistakenly told her that the meditation in the evening and the last flight from center was a half-hour walk after a 45- Islamabad to Karachi was about to leave. minute drive. She did not have that We rushed to the airport. Upon the prime much time and put off the visit. minister’s order, two seats had been kept Actually, the centre can be reached in 30 for us and the plane took off as soon as we minutes. boarded it. When we landed at Karachi that Two years later, the Foreign Ministry night, we learnt that there had been a contacted us again. Prime Minister Sher military coup and Benazir Bhutto had been Bahadur Deuba was going to Pakistan and deposed. We has been the last visitors she there was a specific request from Benazir met as prime minister.

Bhutto to bring along a Vipassana teacher. JAHANGIR KHAN Last week, as news of her assassination Our Principal Teacher Acharya came in, I was filled with sadness, but took Goenkaji asked me and Nani Maiya Kathmandu. Nani Maiyaji and I were away. Acharya Goenkaji had foreseen such solace in the fact that she had learned Manandhar, both senior teachers, to go finally summoned at 3PM, after the rest of a response and had given permission to Anapana, an important part of the with the delegation. Benazir Bhutto was the delegation had flown off. teach her the Anapana technique. So, Nani Vipassana technique. May she be happy busy with the state visit and sent word Benazir Bhutto had heard much about Maiyaji taught her Anapana. Benazir and peaceful in her heavenly abode. that she would meet us as soon as she Vipassana and wanted to learn the Bhutto started practising right away and was free. On the last day of the state visit, technique there and then. We told her it found it very calming. She said that she Roop Jyoti helps run Vipassana Centers the Nepali delegates were returning to required a 10-day retreat. She did not have had not slept for days and after the session in Nepal and is ex-minister of state f Karachi in the afternoon to fly back to such time, and insisted to be taught right of Anapana, she wanted to take a nap or finance.

slowly but surely, and without Bolivia’s President Evo Morales the backing of the banks in the consider an equitable nation- west. wide distribution of revenues Mimicking Eritrea’s headstart stemming from natural resources? on self-reliance, Venezuela, How dare Ecuador’s President Bolivia, Ecuador and most likely Rafael Correa decree that 99 Banco del Sud others are eager to shrug off what percent of extra oil income will An alternative to the World Bank and IMF they perceive as the political yoke be distributed among the people, of foreign aid. They think leaving only one percent for western aid is frequently aligned foreign firms? MICHAEL SHANK AND with the geopolitical priorities They dare because they can. AMI CARPENTER and interests of developed With fuel prices crossing $100 a nations. barrel, oil-rich and gas-rich he World Bank’s launch in Not long after the Bank nations are exerting the same late November of a five-year appointed Robert Zoellick and power on developed nations that T action plan for fighting the the IMF appointed France’s they once did so determinedly on HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa is Dominique Strauss-Kahn, South developing nations. The tables emblematic of the Bank’s new American nations announced have turned and the formerly direction. The structural their intentions to form the Bank dependent are less so. And adjustment programs are of of the South. Now, with who’s to blame them? yesteryear. December’s launch, Argentina, HIV/AIDS programs in Africa Less controversial campaigns Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Uruguay, then for the Bank? With the are becoming more common and Paraguay and Venezuela have pandemic on the rise throughout economic strong-arming less staked their self-reliant claim to the continent, countries are in frequent. Why the shift? The be free of foreign philanthropy. weak position to refuse economies of some former Bank How the south will fare is yet assistance. Self-reliance in Sub- recipient countries have to be seen. Venezuela’s 2008 Saharan Africa may be slower to improved, loans repaid, and Bank budget allocates 46 percent to the pick up steam than in South presence ushered out. Venezuela, social sector with special America. But don’t be surprised Bolivia and Ecuador have done as developing countries. the UN Human Development attention to health, education, if the African continent creates a much, even creating a Bank of the Take Eritrea. Long an Index which measures food aid, land reform, affordable Bank of its own sometime soon. South, launched in early isolationist nation determined to achievement in three dimensions housing, micro credit and job The Eritrean model may well be December with four other South be self-reliant, the country’s GDP (long healthy life, knowledge and training. These are sectors in worth mimicking. American countries. and income both rose nearly a decent standard of living) rose which the Bank and the IMF The split from foreign aid is a 9 percent in the last ten years, 9.3 percent. traditionally focused on. Michael Shank is an analyst with significant one, even though with adult illiteracy dropping by While Eritrea is no shining Some economists see this as George Mason University’s western economists doubt that 8.4 percent. Life expectancy, star ranking at an unenviable serious socialism. How dare Institute for Conflict Analysis the southern three will survive on school enrollment and primary 130th in the HDI, it does challenge Venezuela’s President Hugo and Resolution. Ami Carpenter is their own. Yet, the numbers school completion rate all the paradigm of dependency, Chavez funnel oil and natural gas a fulltime instructor at California already look promising and there increased, while mortality rate faced by many developing revenues into the social sector State University’s Program on is precedence for economic dropped substantially. During the countries, on foreign aid. Its and rebuild the deteriorating Negotiation, Conflict Resolution stability in foreign aid-free, same period, Eritrea’s ratings on social indicators are improving, infrastructure? How dare and Peacebuilding. FILM 4 - 10 JANUARY 2008 #381 13 AimingAiming highhigh withwith KagbeniKagbeni

PICS: QUEST ENTERTAINMENT The first Nepali feature film to be shot digitally is being released all over Nepal, India and even in New York

MALLIKA ARYAL industry is not open to change come across a hermit who hands and do not understand that Krishna an animal’s paw that has ith the openness in filmmakers need to evolve. power to fulfil wishes, but also Nepali media, and a Dhungana was keen on create horrific consequences. Wboom in documentary making a Nepali movie that is Unaware of its ominous powers, filmmaking in late 1990s, film different, so he got together with Ramesh makes a wish, and the critics, audiences and film others who shared his vision, and journey of betrayal and revenge enthusiasts hoped that some of discussed the possibility of begins. the investment, enthusiasm and working on a feature film that The filmmakers say that the expertise would influence feature would impress even those who story will remind the audiences filmmaking. are used to Bollywood and of Nepali folk stories. They In 2000 Quest Entertainment Hollywood. Quest sought help describe Kagbeni as a dark drama Into the silver screen started movie exhibition business from those who worked in the and say that the story is very via the duplex Kumari Cinema music video industry because simple. “If you compare it to udiences are used to seeing Deeya Maskey dancing on stage, or and Jai Nepal in Kathmandu. they understood digital media other mainstream films, it is less A in music videos. She is most popular for her work in Pabitra Right from the time the theatres and had successfully used it. noisy, there’s uniformity in terms Subba’s Sirani le bhijayo ki music video. In summer 2006, Maskey opened the owners saw that there The filmmakers brought in the of colour and tint, and the film took an acting course with Anup Baral’s Actors Studio and was was a clear demand for Hindi and high-definition digital camera does not exaggerate,” says Dahal. hooked. Fans were delighted to see her again as Charandas Chor in Hollywood movies. They that Silken Imaging, an American Kagbeni is releasing in Studio 7’s production of Habib Tanvir’s The Honest Thief last May. observed the crowds and company, was just trying out. In theatres on 11 January. Quest Maskey plays the leading female role in Kagbeni. “I was concluded rightly that they October 2006, the cast and crew Entertainment has digitise immediately absorbed into the story, and as soon as I realised that would never watch mainstream set off to Jomsom. They shot non- 14 theatres all over Nepal, with my role was more than just being a pretty face, I wanted to be that Nepali movies. stop for thirty days in Kagbeni, most theatres also upgrading to character,” says Maskey. The demand for multiplexes Marpha and Shyang. digital surround sound. “It took a Maskey says she wants to put her 100 percent in whatever was growing in India and more “The camera is as big as a lot of coaxing, cajoling and projects she takes up. “Professionalism is very important to me,” Bollywood directors were looking CCTV and does not use tapes for convincing the theatre owners Maskey adds. After shooting Kagbeni, she is splitting her time to have their films released recording, everything is saved on about the benefits of digitising between working on music videos and is preparing for stage internationally. Hindi movie hard disk,” explains director movie theatres, not just for this, performances in Dubai and the US. She is looking forward to doing directors had understood that the Bhusan Dahal. The challenging but also future releases,” says more theatre and lots of good acting in the coming year. money was in middle and upper part was that the crew was a Dhungana, who is also the For the longest time, pop singer Nima Rumba could not quite middle-class audiences, and guinea pig for the camera in producer of the film. figure out why in a country where music, radio, and music videos Indians living abroad determine South Asia, so every time there Kagbeni is directed by Bhusan were doing so well, feature films were not making it. “I knew it the success and failure of movies. was a technical problem they had Dahal, produced by Bhaskar wasn’t talent that we were lacking because I meet so many talented However, in Nepal it was exactly to walk a few hours to a cyber café Dhungana, Nakim Uddin and people everyday through my work,” says Rumba. When he heard the the opposite. to write to the US manufacturers Rajesh Siddhi. The film features story of Kagbeni, he immediately knew that was what he wanted to “It is the general masses who and wait for instructions by dancer-turned-actress Deeya do. “I knew Kabeni was going to be different, it would be a determine the success and failure email. Maskey, pop singer Nima Rumba, milestone, and I just knew I had to be a part of the change,” Rumba of mainstream Nepali movies, and Kagbeni is the Nepali actors Saugat Malla, Puja Gurung, adds. the middle and upper-middle adaptation of W W Jacobs’ Hanif MD, and Anup Baral. Rumba was offered the lead role, but it was the character of class do not even consider Monkey’s Paw. The story begins Kagbeni is the first Nepali film Krishna that attracted him: “Krishna has travelled, is single, street watching commercial Nepali with Krishna coming back to his releasing simultaneously all over smart and has so many stories to tell, I knew I had to play him.” films,” explains Bhaskar village after spending time in Nepal, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Many have asked Nima Rumba if he is going to give up singing Dhungana of Quest Malaysia. After visiting his friend Siliguri, Sikkim, Dehradun, now that he is an actor but he says he will do both. His next album Entertainment. One reason is Ramesh, they decide to travel Shimla, Delhi, Calcutta, Mumbai will be released this year. z because the Kathmandu movie together. On their journey they and New York. z 14 CITY 4 - 10 JANUARY 2008 #381

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Gallery, Naxal. 4413580 Entertainment Ishaan. The movie tells a story of a teacher who tries to ™ Enchanting Life with Light photo show by Rocky help his student discover his real world. Prajapati at The Bakery Café, Pulchowk until 10 January. Call 4442220 for show timings at Jai Nepal

9851014930 Quest www.jainepal.com

EVENTS ™ City of God a film by Fernando ;xeflutfdns" ;ljwfg+ lgdf0fsf{ nflu ;ljwfg;efsf+ ] g]kfn ;/sf/ Meirelles at the lgjfrgdf{ ;xefuL eO { cfkm}+n] 5fgsf] kltlglw| dfkm{t ;"rgf tyf ;~rf/ dGqfno Lazimpat Gallery ;"rgf ljefu Café, 6.15 PM on gof F ;ljwfg+ lgdf0f{ u/f }+ . 4 January. 4428549 ™ Shastrartha on labour rights with Ganesh Shah, 5 January, 3-5PM at Martin Chautari. 6910277 ™ animalNEPAL community meeting to discuss the street dogs of Patan, 4PM on 20 January at the Summit Hotel. 9841334537

MUSIC ™ Ciney Gurung every Wednesday and Rashmi Singh every Friday, live at the Absolute Bar, Hotel Narayani Complex, 7PM. 5521408 ™ Catch 22 live at the Zest Restaurant and Bar, Pulchok.

DINING ™ Illy espresso coffee at the Galleria cafe, Thamel with contemporary Art exhibition at the Galleria lounge, every Friday espresso coffee cocktails. ™ Saturday special barbeque, sekuwa, momos, dal-bhat at The Tea House Inn, Windy Hills, Nagarkot every Saturday. 9841250848. ™ Dice-licious brunch at Kakori, Soaltee Crowne Plaza, roll the dice to the number of the day and get 50% discount on an individual meal, Saturdays and Sundays, 12.30- 3.30PM. 4273999 ™ Vegetarian alternative at Stupa View restaurant and café, Boudha Stupa. 4480262 ™ Enjoy the new menu at Roadhouse Cafe Pulchok, Bhatbateni and Thamel. 5521755, 4426587, 4262768. ™ Christmas dinner with turkey and pork chops at the New Orleans Café, Thamel. 4700736 ™ Cocktails and jazz with the JCS Quartet and a choice of WEEKEND WEATHER by NGAMINDRA DAHAL cocktails at Fusion – the Bar at Dwarika’s. 4479448 As they used to say in the years this weekend is going to be “fair ™ Starry night barbecue at Hotel Shangri-la with throughout the kingdom”. No kidding. Except for a narrow westerly front that Live performance by Ciney Gurung, Rs. 666.00 nett. per crossed from Iran into Afghanistan on Wednesday that will depositing copious person, at the Shambala Garden, snow over Kashmir this weekend, there is nothing to perturb us on the horizon. every Friday 6.30 PM onwards. 4412999 Effects of this system will send some clouds over western Nepal but not much at the Dhaba, Thapathali. by way of moisture. will have thick smog over the weekend, ™ Kebabs and curries which will keep the airport closed till noon so book on evening flights. 9841290619 ™ Calcutta’s rolls, biryani, kebabs Indian cuisine at Bawarchi, Bluebird Mall Food Court. 9741000735 ™ Rediscover fine Italian cuisine at La Dolce Vita, Thamel, 4700612 ™ Little Britain coffee shop fresh organic coffee,

homemade cakes, WiFi internet, open all day, everyday. KATHMANDU 4496207 Pizza from the woodfired oven at Java, Thamel. 4422519 KATHMANDU VALLEY GETAWAYS ™ Fulbari Resort and Spa, Pokhara Rs 10,999 for Nepali Fri Sat Sun double, $219 for expat double, two days and three nights package, with transportation from the airport, drinks, tennis and swimming, discounts on food and beverages. 17.2-1.7 21.1-2.2 21.1-2.2 ™ Weekend getaways at Le Meridien, Kathmandu, Resident Night Rs 4444 and Two Nights Package Rs 8888. Also includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, spa facilities, swimming pool, steam sauna, Jacuzzi and gym facilities.

For inclusion in the listing send information to editors(at)nepalitimes.com HAPPENINGS 4 - 10 JANUARY 2008 #381 15

KIRAN PANDAY DACING REVOLUTIONARIES: Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal claps as a girl dances at Tamu Lhosar, the Gurung new year, at Tundikhel on Sunday.

PATRICK KAUBA NOT SO VOLUNTARY: Maoists collect ‘voluntary donations’ from an American tourist at Ghat in Solu Khumbu last week. The Maoists claim that the donations will be used for community projects and not arms and ammunition.

KIRAN PANDAY BLIND LEADING THE BLIND: A blindfolded man leads people holding lighted candles and placards at a rally organised by the Continuous Peace Campaign (Ahanirsh Shanti Abhiyan) on Friday.

SAM KANG LI FESTIVE THAMEL: Thamel thangka shops are happy business has picked up with the boom in tourism. Swearing inMaithili 16 T disqualified beforetheyeven candidates andbothhavebeen women amongourambassadorial children. Pity,wehadonlytwo ministry ofwomenand practice whatshelearntinthe She’ll justhavetoputinto lessons, andallfornothing. already startedtakingFrench Poor ComradePampha,shehad annual generalmeetingofNAST. most importantchoreisthe that tokenministrywherethe reportedly interestedintaking madhesi worthhissaltis Thakur quitlastmonth,no Scientology? AndsinceMahanta for taraiministers,but have traditionallybeenreserved Ministry andtheForest understand thattheSupply Even thisdonkeycan ministers isanybody’sguess. portfolio setasideformadhesi Technology shouldbethe Why theMinistryofScienceand celebration. in Mandikatarjoyous First Daughterthrowasektparty thumbs. Thatshouldmakethe the cornerandtwiddlehis coordination rolesohecansitin idea istogiveSitaulaatoken Defensive Minister.Theother Ram ChandraBajeorbemade sideways toswitchplaceswith probably onlygoingtobekicked (Awesome’s in-law)heis had astronginsurancepolicy since thehomeministeralways electoral liabilityfortheNC.But Bro becauseheisseenasan on thePMtogetridofSitaula and theAsstakesitback. Presidente isnotasleepafterall, that’s thecasemaybeEl the dateofelections.OK,if announced simultaneouslywith kangresi ministerstobe working onTheReshuffleof in hisBaluwatarbedroom quiet isbecausehehasbeenbusy campaign funds. are ministers)busyraising every hue(especiallythosewho whistlestop tour,kangresisof Comrade Awesomewasona town-hopping inthemidwest, campaign trail.Makunaywasout politicos fromhittingthe Still, thathasn’tstoppedour summit onThursday. was supposedtoplanforthereal on WednesdayinBalkhuthat UML showedupforthemeeting being thatonlyJanaMorchaand one pretextoranother,thelatest task forcehasbeenpostponedon the meetingofhigh-level announcing anelectiondate,and still hasn’tbeenprogressin sleep. It'sbeenaweekandthere Minister thathe’sgonebackto There istremendouspressure The reasonGirjauhasbeenso honourable Primordial took somuchoutofthe he 23-pointagreement BACKSIDE FG FG FG kick assatelectiontime. all oftheabove)thattheycan via daughter,cousin,nephew(or sending wordtotheOldMan angling forthejobwhoare hardcore pahadikangresis mess wearein.There foresight we’dneverbeinthe was thatmuchintelligenceand course hewon’tbecauseifthere would beamasterstroke.Butof home minister.Ifhedid,it replace Sitaulawithamadhesi Girjau isunderpressureto full.” “Yes sir,yesthreebags stand onhishindlegsandgo: to hisformerguruManmohanji, will beunnecessarilybeholden ambassador designatetoIndia Shailaja, onewondersifour Durgesh-cha hasreplaced reached thesemi-finals.Since FG this whatweallwanted?But be wildjubilation.Afterall,isn’t republic theAssthoughtthere’d democratic people’sfederated finally declaredNepala When the23-pointagreement already. if wehaven’texceededthatquota handicapped MPsaswell,thatis make roomformentally parliament willprobablyneedto proportionally represented language. Andaninclusive 93 Nepalitonguesandsign required tobeableswearinall should nowtheoreticallybe at SinghaDarbar?Ministers precedence wassetonWednesday Does anyonerealisewhatkindof know howtoswearinMaithili. oath inNepali.Hemustsure is back,andrefusedtotakehis So petulantcomradeMatrikababu FG ass(at)nepalitimes.com going intoexile. definitely not Citizenji andis to becoming reconciled himself is. InsiderssayKingjihas Porous aremoreworriedthanhe on andheir-apparentPrince Gujarat andHimachal. part aboutrecentBJPvictoriesin especially whenhegetstothe with aslightlybemusedsmile, papers andwatchingtelevision reading theheadlinesin happened. Insiderssayhe’s is sittingtightasifnothing congratulation ontv.Kingji Tundikhel, noparoxysmsofself- leaders circumambulating parades, novermilionsmeared nothing, nada,zilch.Novictory In fact,royalcronies,hangers- CDO Regd No194/056/57Lalitpur, CentralRegion PostalRegd.No 04/058/59 4 -10JANUARY2008 #381

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