#764 26 June - 2 July 2015 20 pages Rs 50

INSIDE

HOLD IT RIGHT THERE Because a super fast-track constitution is unacceptable, let’s hold local elections. ONE TO MANY BY BIDUSHI DHUNGEL PAGE 3

NEEDLESS DRAMA The Supreme Court interim order is like killing Caesar to prevent an anticipated misadventure. THE DEADLINE BY DAMAKANT JAYSHI PAGE 5

CARVING A NICHE GOPEN RAI Rebuilding temples won’t just bring back our heritage, but also create jobs by reviving the woodcarving industry BY SONIA AWALE PAGE 4 Benefiting beneficiaries

elegates to the International will actually come to Nepal, and whether Conference on Nepal’s Reconstruction it will evaporate en route in contracts, Din Kathmandu on Thursday pledged consultancies and overheads for foreign more than $3.5 billion in earthquake agencies. rehabilitation. But exactly two months after the disaster, we also got a sobering IN THIS ISSUE: reminder about unmet needs: David Seddon assesses the Post-Disaster 1 million people require emergency food needs Assessment Report of the National 800,000 homes destroyed and damaged Planning Commission page 15 50,000 households have got no help at all Even in accessible areas, many families Emily Troutman investigates how less haven’t got the emergency cash than 1% of disaster relief gets to Nepali grant of Rs 15,000 the government groups page 16 announced right after the quake. This raises questions about how support for housing reconstruction will be disbursed. nepalitimes.com There are also concerns 2 MONTH FLASHBACK about how much of the REBUILDING Interactive digital timeline of the aftermath of the 25 April Earthquake money pledged on Thursday OURSELVES SUBHAS RAI 2 EDITORIAL 26 JUNE - 2 JULY 2015 #764 REBUILDING OURSELVES More than aid, we need help to boost tourism, investment, trade and to create jobs in reconstruction

he headlines in the media about this week’s three-quarters of our annual budget for health, education and International Conference on Nepal’s Reconstruction infrastructure comes from overseas development assistance Twere scripted: donors pledges fell short of even at the best of times. This has given foreigners and assistance needed for long-term rehabilitation because Nepalis alike the impression that this country will grind to they are concerned about accountability and delivery in a halt if aid was stopped. This may be the right time, then, distribution. Aid agencies and governments have reason to for us to look beyond aid to trade, tourism, investment and be worried, given reports of emergency supplies piling up job creation as better alternatives for self-sustained growth, in warehouses, the politicisation of relief and government and to build a prosperous future. disarray. Despite billions pledged, hundreds of thousands For the kind of natural and cultural assets Nepal posseses, of survivors haven't even received the Rs 15,000 emergency we haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of tourism’s grants yet. true potential for revenue and employment. Visitors who But, as Emily Troutman argues in this edition choose to visit Nepal do so because our mountains, heritage (‘Subcontracting kindness’, page 16) a lot of the money and biodiversity are such powerful draws, not because raised for disasters around the world is also heavily skewed there has been any strategic marketing. We seem to excel at in favour of the donor. The colossal mismanagement making it as difficult as possible for tourists to visit. Nepal of aid after Haiti’s earthquake has become the stuff of should scrap visas, revamp our national airline, streamline legend. Seeing the way Nepal relief is going, it doesn’t look entry points, encourage visitors to stay longer and spend like the aid industry has learnt its lesson. ‘In Nepal, I found more (Destination Nepal, page 17-18). patterns in the humanitarian response that persist in every If they really want to help, donor governments should disaster,’ Troutman writes. ‘Money will be wasted, aid will drop their inaccurate and outdated travel advisories, and arrive too late. As in Haiti, local organisations with the the irrational ban on domestic air travel for nationals. expertise and commitment to really make a difference will High insurance costs are also dissuading tourists from be left out.’ visiting Nepal, especially after the earthquake. Distorted A disaster is an opportunity for humanitarian international media coverage that only shows destruction, organisations to replenish their coffers and cover overheads. and alarmist fundraising billboards of aid agencies in public Lot of the bilateral aid pledged on Thursday is already places in Europe have frightened off potential visitors. earmarked for donor agencies. A recent investigation crowdsourced funding for private relief work has filled Instead of more aid, we should ask donor governments by the group Disaster Accountability also confirms that the gap left by the state’s delayed and patchy response. to facilitate more trade. For this we don't have to look charities often fudge where donations go, hide overheads, But such aid lets the government off the hook and allows beyond our immediate neighbours. India and China are the and even blatantly misrepresent the actual assistance they it to abdicate its responsibility. Piecemeal relief can never locomotives that Nepal should hitch its wagon to. Europe provide. match the scale of operation needed, which only a national and the United States can help by lifting tariffs, redeploying To be sure, the destruction from the earthquake government has at its disposal. The Nepal government’s aid agencies to help promote Nepali products in their has been overwhelming, and the monsoon is set to concern about aid dependency among survivors in parts of countries, as GIZ has done with Nepali tea. Nepal's private move the mountains again. Nepal’s need for long-term some districts is, however, valid. While farmers in remote sector is more than capable of stepping in if governments reconstruction is so enormous that the country cannot go at areas will need help with food for the medium term, many open their doors. it alone. There is need for funding, logistics and the human living near roads who have paddy seeds are not planting The path ahead for Nepal is clear: we need to invest resource to manage it all efficiently. Now is the time for them this season because there is so much free rice being in infrastructure and encourage post-quake reconstruction targeted interventions, to do things less wastefully so that doled out. We should be careful emergency food aid doesn't through grants and soft credit for massive job creation. The beneficiaries benefit. crowd out long-term food security. only obstacles are weak political willpower, poor delivery, We have argued in this space before that relying on Nepal has been labeled ‘aid dependent’ because about and a culture of aid dependency.

YOUR SAY www.nepalitimes.com THIS WEEK

TROUBLE IN THE RUBBLE making of this syndicate. Hence, we not the priority - it is improving access make positive changes within schools The government’s handling of may have gone through the motions to education and ensuring trained and the education system and offers of help from the international of electing a government, but it is a far teachers that are at school. bringing it more up to date and with community has been a public cry from being a truly representative, David Seddon better resources ('Lessons still to be relations disaster (Trouble in the democratic and therefore trustworthy learnt', Sonia Awale #763). Lets hope rubble, Editorial #763). Even if it one. OUT OF DARKNESS the Education Minister revolutionises wanted to control the aid, there Abhishek B Well said Dr Sanduk Ruit. ('Moving it in a way which helps Nepal and its would have been a way to politely out of darkness together', Sanduk people in the best way. turn it down. Instead, the Nepali MONEY FOR CAPACITY BUILDING? Ruit #763) Your incisive assessment Allison STÉPHANE HUËT Most liked on Facebook government was downright rude. The word ‘donor’ is a curse for Nepal. refl ects your decades of track record Murals of hope by Stéphane Huët The donors were also arrogant, but They actually take all their donations of making things happen. (134 likes) that’s not new. In the end it is the back to support their own staff (How not Stahl Agreed. This is a chance to restructure education from the ground Most shared on Facebook Nepali people who are suffering from to reinvent the wheel, Bihari K Shrestha Stories of Nepal (47 shares) delayed and inappropriate aid. #763). Otherwise, after 50 years and Dr Ruit and Dr KC, both true up. Utpal The mood of the Nepali people millions of dollars, why is Nepal still Nepali heroes that dedicated their Most popular on Twitter at this juncture is against the time stuck in a rut and Nepalis dirt poor? lives to the service of the needy. Lessons still to be learnt by Sonia Awale After showing continuous (87 retweets, 80 favourites) proven failure called the political Look at those who made a pledge to Thanks to both these men. But it is progress for fi ve straight years, party men. This is most important donate in Haiti. They never did, or if wishful thinking to believe that the cold Nepal’s Education Index ranking has Most visited online page factor to take into account. Engage they did, it was a small percentage of blooded Maoists, or the corrupt NC stagnated last three years. Why? Stories of Nepal (1,144 views) those whom the people have good what they pledged. This will repeat itself and UML can help. Nepali Congress Pratik Most commented will, faith and belief on. in Nepal. Nepalis will have to rebuild netas have been implicated in the How not to reinvent the wheel Jim Morgan themselves. Foreign aid will just make abuse and theft of tin roofi ng. No GURKHAS by Bihari K Shrestha (15 comments) Nepali neta haru even richer than they one trusts these men anymore. So Brave Gurkhas! I respect Nepali It may be an ‘elected’ are now. it will be a tall order for unity among Times and David Seddon for government, but it hasn’t really acted Alex Shrestha these thieves. They do not care about highlighting the forgotten heroes Weekly Internet Poll #764 like one for most of the last seven anyone but themselves. Nepalis of the world war ('The Gurkhas of Gallipoli', #463). I am looking Q. Should Dharara be rebuilt or left as it is? years, has it? Most key decisions It’s the government and the elite of have wasted 25 years on losers and forward to reading more articles on Total votes: 83 are taken by a dozen or so top Nepal who should abandon rent seeking criminals. Now, let’s rebuild with Second World War and the Burma leaders of the three (or four) main attitudes and fund massive technical some honest men in charge. We campaign as well. It is one of the less parties behind closed doors. Even schools nationwide. need a political quake to shake things documented and researched part of this ‘syndicate’, unwholesome as it Nirmal Ghimire for the future of Nepalis. As for the World War II. is, may have been a bit acceptable constitution, let’s not hold our breath. Pradhan Kiran had the parties had some internal I disagree. Reconstruction is Hem Bahadur Thapa democracy. But no, it appears it is specifi c and justifi ed, vague ‘capacity The Gurkhas, one of the few Weekly Internet Poll #765 To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com the interests and whims of the top building’ cannot and has been the KEEP LEARNING things, we Nepalis, can be proud of. Airline Guy Q. Do you think the Supreme Court overstepped its bosses that really drives decision- worst form of aid. Building schools is Absolutely, this time can be used to jurisdiction with its order on the 16-point agreement?

Publisher and Chief Editor: Kunda Dixit Associate Editor: Tsering Dolker Gurung | Online Producer: Ayesha Shakya | Design: Kiran Maharjan Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd | Patan Dhoka, Lalitpur | GPO Box 7251 Kathmandu Nepali Times on Facebook [email protected] | www.nepalitimes.com | www.himalmedia.com | Tel: 01-5005601-08 Fax: +977-1-5005518 Follow @nepalitimes on Twitter Marketing: Arjun Karki, Surendra Sharma [email protected] | Advertorials: Ram Krishna Banjara | Subscriptions: Santosh Aryal [email protected] Follow @nepalitimes on Instagram Printed at Jagadamba Press | 01-5250017-19 | www.jagadambapr.com 26 JUNE - 2 JULY 2015 #764 OPINION 3

the most difficult aspect of constitution writing and that is why the leadership, which chose to take on the challenge Hold it right there now has no choice but to rise up to it. A super-fast-track Because a super fast-track constitution is unacceptable, let's hold local elections constitution, which not only relieves the political class of fter 8 June, many people, matter a lot. In hyper- its responsibility, but denies even if just for a minute, sensitive times, the equal rights to women and is Asaw a glimmer of hope latest decision made unaccountable to the people is for a constitution in the making. by a single bench no better than the Interim one. Only two weeks later, the light at of Justice Girish And we’ve already got one of the end of that long dark tunnel is Chandra Lal was not those. rapidly dimming again. going to be spared A more effective approach an ethnic colouring. would be to call for local In 2012, when CA-1 elections as soon as possible was dissolved, the while taking more time for decision was made the constitution-drafting by a single bench of process. The urgency for local the then-Chief Justice accountability is the most ONE TO MANY Khil Raj Regmi. It’s palpable necessity throughout Bidushi Dhungel probably not pure Nepal, and especially in the coincidence that earthquake-hit districts. It is Instead, naysayers to the 16- Regmi’s decision not a ploy to forgo the federal point deal seem to be winning in benefitted him agenda, either. It is simply a this political arm-wrestling. The and the political measure to jump-start grassroots latest Supreme Court stay order forces, which development in the absence couldn’t be more welcome for better represented of federal and decentralised them -- proof that indeed the deal his point of view. structures. Every group and was illogical, and not to mention, Political parties claim political territory. Many court The same goes for Justice Lal’s volunteer who worked to unconstitutional. The Court’s they will continue with the orders remain unimplemented decision. Quite frankly, the 16- distribute relief in the aftermath foray into political waters be constitution-writing process over allegations that the justices point agreement is unacceptable of the earthquake has felt the damned, again. regardless. But amidst criticism have overstepped their bounds. to major Madhesi parties and absence of local accountability. Everyone already knows from certain quarters over how Maoist leader Bal Krishna activists whose politics is If local elections can be that we all voted in November the 16-point agreement has Dhungel who was found guilty of fundamentally rooted in the held before the year is out, the 2013 while the Chief Justice dealt with the citizenship issue, killing Ujjain Kumar Shrestha in demand for identity-based constitution, federalism and all, was the Premier of the country relegated the responsibility 2002 and against whom there is federalism. can come after. Parties should after the SC dissolved the CA -1 of federalism, abandoned the a SC order for life imprisonment, Even if that weren’t the case, effectively use what time the CA by not allowing an extension. inclusion agenda and fast-tracked is the first which comes to mind. however, one cannot discount tenure has left to produce the There were a few cries over the the process to earn a quick buck, The latest Supreme Court order that it is absolutely deplorable for kind of document most – if not muddling of the separation of the SC decision certainly adds to is less a threat to the will of a leadership to be incapable of all -- Nepalis will be willing to powers, but only silence had the agreement’s already-apparent the political leadership to do addressing the difficult situations, accept as the new constitution. followed the former dissolution legitimacy crisis. whatsoever it pleases and more which it has consciously put That was what was promised. order in May 2012 when, for a However, it is worth pointing a decision, which could further itself in. That too, by bypassing By then, it will already be time moment, it seemed a deal was out that SC stay orders in Nepal aggravate polarisation in society an existing constitution in order for new local elections to be imminent. But the Court thought are usually taken less than if left unaddressed and bypassed. to forge the political consensus held under the new federal set not. And, three years later, it has seriously, especially when the It’s obvious that those on the needed to write a new one. up. happened again. Court meanders into perceived bench when SC orders are given Federalism still remains @bidush 4 NATION 26 JUNE - 2 JULY 2015 #764 Carving out a niche Rebuilding temples won’t just restore our heritage, but also create jobs by reviving the woodcarving industry

SONIA AWALE

he 600-year old Kasthamandap, the iconic Tnine-storey Basantapur Palace, the Hari Shankar temple in Patan, and the Machhindranath temple in Bungamati were some of the Valley’s historic shrines that were destroyed on 25 April. Although the earthquake razed ancient towns, it also offered a chance to revive traditional wood carving and create new jobs. Nearly 500 temples and monuments in Kathmandu Valley were damaged. Historic towns like Sankhu, Bungamati and Khokana were badly hit. Wood carvings are essential architectural elements in Newari architecture and many carved eaves, columns and struts were crushed under falling masonry. “There is definitely a need to rebuild these structures accurately, and it could revive the wood carving industry and boost sales of handicrafts also,” says Upendra Rana of Nepal Traditional Crafts, an established exporter of Nepali handicrafts. The hub of wood carving in Kathmandu is the town of Bungamati, which was almost PICS: GOPEN RAI completely destroyed on 25 April WORKS OF ART: Although her home precision and practice. The skills (See page 10-11). Most of the town’s was destroyed, Santa Bajracharya resumes and tradition are still alive, and inhabitants are busy clearing the carving picture frames, and hopes that need to be passed down to a new debris, living in temporary shelters, business will return as tourism picks up generation. and haven’t had the time to think (above). “If we want to rebuild our about their traditional occupation temples exactly the way they were, of wood carving. Naresh Raj Shakya, 26, follows his ancestral we don’t even need tourists to “I hope government will use profession of wood carving in Bungamati, boost the wood carving industry, our ancestral skills of carving wood which many hope will be revived during there will be enough work for us,” to rebuild our temples. This way, reconstruction of temples destroyed in the says Silpakar. the monuments get rebuilt and the earthquake (left). Even so, the handicrafts people here get jobs,” says Manik industry has ups and downs that Raj Shakya, 49, who started wood Despite the toll the earthquake correlate with figures for tourist carving when he was only 12 and took on the people of Bungamati, arrivals. So, just as sales of wood has been to Thailand and Japan to there are signs of hope and and metal artefacts went down build Nepali temple replicas. His inspiration. Santa Bajracharya’s during the conflict, there has been son, Naresh (left), is also in the neighbourhood was destroyed, a similar slump in business after family business. but she has gone back to her the earthquake. hammer and chisel to carve photo “If the government makes frames for sale to tourists. She concrete plans to revive tourism is optimistic that sales of carved with promotion abroad, it will curios will pick up once tourists automatically help boost the wood return. carving industry,” “It will take time says Milan Silpakar to go back to how of Newa Wood it used to be, but Carving in Patan. we have to work Besides tourism, like before,” says Nepal’s wood Bajracharya who carving industry works alongside also has great export her husband amidst potential, which a stack of carved REBUILDING is only partially frames. OURSELVES tapped. For example, At the Patan Walt Disney Animal Industrial Estate, the wood Kingdom in Florida has been carving workshops look quiet. buying Newari and Tibetan motifs Many workers have not returned from Wood Carving Industries to from their home districts, and create Tibetan City in its popular showroom sales are down. Expedition Everest exhibit that But Srijana Silpakar who opened in 2006. The earthquake runs Nepal’s pioneering wood showed that there is immense carving company, Wood Carving goodwill for Nepal abroad, and Industries, sees an opportunity to if promoted right, this could resurrect the tradition and train translate into increased exports of new apprentices. Nepali wood art. “Reconstruction will start Says Srijana Silpakar: “This soon, the temples have to be is a big chance for us to conserve rebuilt, and we will need more traditional wood carving. If we skilled carvers. When handicraft don’t use this opportunity, future sales went into decline a lot of generations of Nepalis will not wood carvers got other jobs, now know about our own cultural they could come back,” says heritage.” Silpakar. Remaking some of the nepalitimes.com intricately carved windows  Monumental loss, #756 and columns will not be easy,  Watch video of wood carver at work though, it will need patience, 26 JUNE - 2 JULY 2015 #764 NATION 5

final product of the assembly is as per the provisions of the Interim BIZ BRIEFS Constitution. So the question Needless drama arises: Why the haste? The most unfortunate Won it consequence is that the interim Turkish Airlines has been named the ‘Best Airline in Like killing Caesar to prevent an anticipated misadventure order lent credence to calls to rein Europe’ in the Skytrax World Airline Awards for the in the SC’s independence. Justice fi fth time. The airline has also been chosen as the ‘Best e should all thank Sure enough, they lashed back at Lal’s order was aimed against a Airline in Southern Europe’, ‘World’s Best Business Class Supreme Court (SC) Justice Lal’s interim order, terming political decision. In the past, Justice Girish Chandra it an overreach of the judiciary the SC has refused to entertain Airline Lounge’, and ‘World’s Best Business Class Lounge W Dining’. Lal for exposing all the forces and intruding on the exclusive writs because they dealt with stacked against a new constitution preserve of the assembly and political issues: for example when for the past seven years. It has ruling on a ‘political’ issue. Some Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi was Double initiative also exposed the hypocrisy of our even suggested that Lal could be named the head of the interim Laxmi InterContinental, authorised distributor of political class. impeached. Some parties opposed government, the SC refused to deal Hyundai vehicles, introduced its ‘Hyundai Inspiration’ Acting on a writ petition to an independent judiciary saw with it. initiative. The company will contribute Rs 100,000 against the 16-point agreement this as a great opportunity to clip The SC’s May 2012 order from sale of all Hyundai vehicles until 21 July to between four major political the wings of the apex court. refusing any further extension of rebuilding quake-aff ected areas. It has also launched parties because it ostensibly The irony of political leaders the first CA has been compared ‘Hyundai Nava Yatra’ scheme under which consumers can get cash discounts up citing the separation of powers to Justice Lal’s interim order. The to Rs 72,000. and an independent judiciary was argument goes that if the 2012 not lost on the small proportion decision was acceptable, this one New color of Nepalis still following the should have been as well. The first Colors Mobile recently launched its Color X111 QUAD 1.1 dual endless saga of Kathmandu CA, elected for two years in 2008 sim smartphone. The phone comes equipped with Android was extended four times – first by politics. But this is not to say that KitKat 4.4 OS and 1.2 GHz Quad Core processor. It has a 1450 Justice Lal’s interim order is not a year, then by three months twice THE DEADLINE mAh battery and a 4-inch capacitive WVGA IPS touchscreen. Damakant Jayshi full of contradictions. The 16- and finally in November 2011 as point pact was reached by four a last and final extension of six violated the Interim Constitution’s political parties, but Lal issued months. At the time of approving provisions on state restructuring, the interim order in the name of the last extension, the SC had said What a TV! Justice Lal issued an interim the government and the CA. It is that the CA would be automatically CG electronics has launched the new Toshiba order on 19 June, directing the preemptive in that it aims to stop dissolved after the end of the 32P2400VL TV in the Nepali market. The TV features government and the Constituent the CA from acting on the 16-point ‘last’ extension even if the parties built-in sound bar and 10-bit CEVO engine for high Assembly (CA) to halt the agreement. fail to draft a constitution within quality sound and visuals. It also has a game mode, constitution drafting exercise until The biggest contradiction is the extended period. It suggested 3D colour management and continuous viewing timer. further order. He cited violations that the order purportedly sets out either a referendum or a new of Articles 1, 82 and 138 of the to protect the CA from political election. There is simply no Interim Constitution. interference but, in doing so, the comparison, in spirit or content, Discounted fare Justice Lal justified it single bench blatantly interferes between May 2012 and June 2015. Etihad Airways has announced special discount further by saying that the new in the exclusive domain of the That order of 25 November, on economy and business class fares to Europe. constitution would invite CA. Justice Lal based his order, 2011 had this to say: ‘Whether to The off er is valid till 30 June and travel period is controversy, impact the law among others, on Article 138 deliver the constitution within between 19 June and 30 December. and order situation and cause of the Interim Constitution. the next six months or to go for a conflict if it violated the Interim Here’s what Clause 3 of the same referendum or a fresh mandate or Constitution. Whoa! Killing Article says: ‘The final settlement any other option is purely an issue Caesar to prevent him from some on the matters relating to the to be decided politically, as ‘these anticipated future misadventure? restructuring of the State and are not supposed to be managed Can justice be based on what the form of federal system of judicially’. Was Justice Lal aware might happen? governance shall be as determined of this? To be sure, the political parties by the CA.’ The larger bench could decide that engineered the 16-point The SC has neither authority on Lal’s interim order, but this was deal on 15 June did so not out nor role in instructing the CA such a needless drama and a waste of a vision for the country but to act in a certain way. It can, of time. out of pure political calculus. of course, determine whether a @damakant 6 NATION 26 JUNE - 2 JULY 2015 #764

“Big cracks opened up in the moved to a temporary shelter. QUAKE FAMILY: Nabina walls, window panes shattered They are now back in their Jamkattel (right) gave birth to her baby in the lawn of and there was broken glass rented room in Kathmandu. the maternity hospital. Her everywhere. I thought we were all Altogether 39 babies were husband, Bhawanath (left, going to die,” Bhawanath recalls. born at Paropakar Maternity with daughter Namuna on his As the main shock subsided, Hospital on the day of the lap) carried her down from a man kicked open the door from earthquake. Two women had the delivery room when it outside and Jamkattel carried his Caesareans, and doctors were started shaking. wife down the stairs to the safety stitching back the uterus of one of the lawn, which was already of them after removing a dead crowded with patients lying on baby when the quake struck. the grass. The nurses brought a The other was Sunita mattress and screened Nabina Sunuwar, 19, who had just been with bedsheets as her labour anesthesised when the operation pains continued. theatre started shaking. Doctors Bhawanath watched as the and nurses ran outside leaving Nepal Rastra Bank building her alone, but they went back in nearby crumbled, immediately after and he worried about the main shock and his five-year-old continued with the daughter and mother operation despite in their rented room aftershocks. The in Gongabu. He left baby was taken his wife there and out at 12:21PM, 26 drove at breakneck minutes after the speed to his flat. REBUILDING main quake. When he reached OURSELVES When Sunita DEVAKI BISTA home, Bhawanath reached her was happy to find his daughter village in Ramechhap district, and mother alive. But seeing she did not find her house. him alone, they started to weep The earthquake had flattened thinking Nabina had been killed. it. She told Nepali Times on Two months old By the time Bhawanath the phone from her village: returned to the hospital in “When I came out alive from the Babies born during the quake remind parents of the dreadful day, Thapathali, his wife had delivered operation theatre, I felt like I had a baby boy. Nabina recalls she conquered death. I don’t think I but also give them strength to face the future was struggling to deliver even will die now.” as aftershocks came one after After she gave birth in the OM ASTHA RAI Nabina Jamkattel, 25, had of the hospital, Nabina’s husband another. “I felt one big jolt on my hospital lawn, people told been admitted that morning and Bhawanath ran in, staggering back from the ground below me, Nabina Jamkattel to name her wheeled into the delivery room through the swaying corridors and I pushed the baby out,” she baby ‘Bhukampa’ (Earthquake), t was just before noon that with labour pains. Just as the looking for his wife. He found recalls. but the parents have decided to Saturday at the Paropakar contractions started, the room her in the delivery room, swept The Jamkattel family’s house call him 'Vision', for the hope IMaternity Hospital in began to shake violently. The her up in his arms, and tried to in Dhading was destroyed in of the future that he brought to Kathmandu. Pregnant women wobbly bed was bouncing, the escape. But a part of the ceiling the quake. Their rented room is their lives. were waiting to be admitted, midwife ran for her life, and a had fallen and the door was intact, but they were too scared “We were expecting just one their families were busy filling nurse held on to Nabina’s bed. jammed. He knelt down, laying to stay inside. For the first new life,” says Nabina, kissing out forms, paying the cashier and As panic-stricken doctors, his wife on the floor and looked two weeks, the family slept in her baby. “But I feel we were all buying necessary medicines. nurses and patients scrambled out around for another exit. Bhawanath's delivery van, then reborn that day.” That has been a pretty late and weak start to the monsoon. The Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea arms of the southwest monsoon have low pressure troughs that are clashing over northern India, keeping the region sweltering and humid. The Arabian Sea depression is moving northeast and the Bay monsoon is turning northwest over Bhutan. Ultimately the Bay will hold sway and that is when we expect the monsoon to begin in real earnest. That we expect is still two weeks away, till then it will be partly cloudy days with KKATHMANDUATHMANDU night rain, heavy in places. FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY 27° 28° 28° #764 26 June - 2 July 2015 21° 21° 20°

SAHINA SHRESTHA THE BABY WHO LIVED Two months on, the Awal family is homeless but happy that both their children survived the earthquake

SAHINA SHRESTHA his miraculous survival made of a friend’s house in Bhaktapur daughter Sonia, but gave up as and kitchen with my friend. But cover stories in newspapers and where the family is staying. “He night fell. The next morning, you cannot depend on others magazines in Nepal and around has started to recognise me now.” Rashmila heard a faint cry from forever.” t is an iconic image of the the world. Two months on, after The baby, now seven months old, the ruins of their four-storey home Shyam Awal is a driver, but Nepal Earthquake: a baby, countless interviews to reporters, looks up at his mother and smiles and the soldiers returned to dig with construction stopped by a Icaked in dust, held up by the Awal family is still homeless almost on cue. him out. government ban till mid-July he rescuers on being dug out after 22 but feels blessed that both After their building collapsed Today Sonish shows no sign can’t find a job. “They have told hours from under the rubble of a children are alive. on 25 April, neighbours and Nepal of the ordeal except for a scar him there may be no work till house in Bhaktapur. “Sonish is a happy child,” Army rescuers tried frantically on his left thigh. He coos and Dasain,” says Rashmila, who had Sonish Awal was just five says his mother, Rashmila, as to look for survivors under the gurgles as he tries to crawl on the to borrow money from her sister months old, and the story of she leads us to the ground floor rubble. They rescued Rashmila’s floor of the unfurnished room. for Sonia’s school uniform. The “Everything was stolen from the only reason she can go to school house including the gas cylinder is because someone paid her fees. and cooking utensils,” says Rashmila used to knit Rashmila. “All I could salvage sweaters and socks to earn were a few clothes.” money, but she has her hands The family was living in full with little Sonish who a tent at a school, but had to starts crying the moment he is vacate when classes resumed last left alone. After what she went HAPPY FAMILY: month. Sonish fell ill and lost a through, Rashmila can’t let her Rashmila Awal with her lot of weight, and with the rains baby out of her sight. seven-month baby, Sonish, coming Rashmila didn’t want to Still glad that the family who was pulled out of the take any chances. Unable to afford is alive, Rashmila can’t help rubble of their home in a room to rent, Rashmila’s friend worrying about the future. The Bhaktapur after 22 hours agreed to let her live in a room in little money they had saved is all (above). Sonia Awal was their house. used up, the house and property also rescued alive and now “My husband is out of work, is co-owned by Shyam’s brothers. baby sits her sbrother when we don’t even have enough Says Rashmila: “Both my she is home from school money to buy furniture,” she children are miraculously alive, (left). says, looking at the bare room. and that means more than all the “For now we are sharing a room money in the world.” SAHINA SHRESTHA 8 EVENTS DINING MUSIC GETAWAYS

Black Pepper Café & Pub, Park Village Resort, Cosmopolitan dining and fancy beverages Far away from the madding crowd, yet so in a traditional style courtyard. Try the close to the city. apple sauce pork chops and enjoy the Budhanilkantha, (01)4375280, good service. [email protected] Kopundole Height, Lalitpur, (01)5521897, (01)5536926 Fire & Ice Pizzeria, For the best Italian pizzas in town. Thamel, (01)4250210

Unite for Changu Narayan, Gokarna Forest Resort, Support the locals of Changu Narayan to clean the temple complex damaged by the Dan Ran, A forest sanctuary to help you relax and earthquake. 27 June, 7am, Changu Narayan Temple, 9849303601, The best Japanese food this side of Back to breathe, and also encourages meditation, [email protected], www.dormnepal.com Bagmati. Try one of the bento boxes with just a 20-minute drive away from a fresh lemonade. school, Kathmandu. Jhamsikhel, (01)5521027 A fundraiser to provide educational Gokarna, (01)4451212, [email protected] support to the students of Seti Sindhupalchok Trail Races, Dhokaima Café, Devi Lower Secondary School, Listi, Mum’s Garden Resort, Three trail races of 29km, 15km and Enjoy the summer and chill with Sindhupalchok. Live concert by Head out to Pokhara for a peaceful and a shorter 1km in Thulo Sirubari, indigenous cocktails at the Rukhmuni Bar. Kutumba comfortable stay in beautifully designed Sindhupalchok, about three hours drive Patan Dhoka, (01)5522113, Rs 350, 27 June, 3.30pm, Trisara, cottages at 50% off , surrounded by a lush from Kathmandu to the East to raise [email protected] Lajimpat, (01)4442568, green garden with great views of Phewa money for quake survivors. [email protected] Lake and the Annapurna range. 27 June, 7.30am, Sindhupalchok, The Vesper House, Lake Side, Pokhara, (06)1463468, [email protected] Stop by for the best in Italian and all www.mumsgardenresort.com ultratrailkathmandu.com local favourites, in their breezy outdoors seating. Also a great venue for wine Inferno: A Monologue connoisseurs. An art exhibition by Deepmala Maharjan. Kathmandu Kora, Jhamsikhel, (01) 5548179, Inauguration on 26 June, 3pm, exhibition Join hundreds of cycling enthusiasts and www.vespercafe.com till 30 June, Gallery Mcube, Chakupat, ride for 50, 75, or 100km to raise money 9851170110, [email protected] for a birthing centre in Pyutar, Lalitpur. Draught beer, 18 July, 6.45am to 4.45pm, Enjoy a draught’s fl avour concentration ride@ kathmandukora.net, from a glass, not a can or a bottle. www.kathmandukora.net Kathmandu Draught now available at House of Music, 9851075172, Prasad, Irish Pub, 01-4416027, and An urban art show to inspire the youth Bunker’s Hill 015533571. by reminding them of the heroes Nepalis Blues night, Rustynails plays some of your favorite share in common, with music, beat blues and soul music. boxing, live art and video mapping. 26 June, House of Music, Thamel, 26 June, 5pm, Irish Pub, Lakeside, Pokhara, 9851075172, [email protected] Ropain 9813462106, 9846613584, An event to play with mud, and mingle www.facebook.com/projectprasad with the locals while planting rice. Music for healing, Accompany this with a Newari feast of UWC Nepal A musical fundraiser by Hamro Sahayog sorts, and this makes for an excellent day United World College’s annual gathering in support of Jalpa Devi Mahabidyalaya, out. for UWC alums and current students to Dechenling, Bhotechaur, Sindhupalchok which was Rs 1,999 per adult, Rs 999 per child, 27 June, meet up and catch up with drinks and The place to head to for Bhutanese and destroyed in the quake. The Yellow House, 9am to 3pm, Bajrabarahi, (01)4412508, snacks. Tibetan cuisine, pleasant and spacious 27 June, 1 to 8pm, Ai-La Restaurant, Bed and breakfast for the light traveller. 9801123401, [email protected], Rs 1000, 27 June, 4 to 7pm, Moksh, garden is also ideal for big gatherings. Kumaripati, Patan, 980840081324, Sanepa, (01)5553869/5522078, ropain.eventbrite.com Jhamsikhel, (01)5528362 Thamel, (01)4412158 9808400813 www.theyellowhouse.com.np

One of the biggest complaints of the local patrons these days is the unreliable closing times. If a bar has no customers, they often close earlier than stated. While this is a common phenomenon in Kathmandu in general, it is becoming more frequent since the earthquake. Due to the steady stream of their loyal clientele, places in Jhamel are less likely ALL IS WELL to abruptly close compared to restaurants in other parts of the valley. The popular Italian eatery Vesper Café and Restaurant had to shut down due IN JHAMEL to damages to its building. But within days, they started serving their delectable hamsikhel aka Jhamel may not be cuisine just next door at the Vesper as popular with foreign tourists House. Jas Thamel, but it is precisely why Suraj Missra, a chef at Bakers bakery, it has escaped the ghost town vibe said the frequency of local office goers that inhabits the tourist hot spot post for lunch has gone down since the quake. quake. They are still selling many cakes, but As evening sets in and children mostly to locals. make their way home from school, up with people looking for a fun night out in and far. Though the heart of Jhamel beats with people and cars start crowding this town. The Backyard Grill Joint and Pub is more gusto than much of the city, many bustling area. ‘Restaurant Row’, as The popular Moksh Bar fills up every a pleasant stop too. Though it doesn’t of the residents’ experiences since the the street with several higher-end night of the week, with its calm backyard consistently overfill as Moksh, the prices are quake add to the somber echo chamber restaurants, bars, and grocers has been patio seating packed with Nepalis and more wallet-friendly and the ambience is that has infiltrated daily life for Nepalis. unofficially dubbed, slowly starts filling foreigners from around the neighbourhood more casual and easy-going. Peregrine Frissell 26 JUNE - 2 JULY 2015 #764 9 Landless before, landless after DOUBLE TROUBLE: A shanty settlement near Boudha (left). Sita Tamang, 35, used to make a living from a small snack shop. But business is down since the quake.

“Many of the big houses that we used to work in are either damaged or the residents don’t live there anymore,” said Devika Dhungel, who also worked as a domestic help. But despite that, amidst the squalid surroundings there is a mood of surprising optimism. Many families here hope that once reconstruction starts when the government’s ban on new buildings is lifted in mid-July, there will be a lot more jobs coming up. An immediate worry for residents here is of flooding as the rivers swell with monsoon rains. Because the families do not own the property they occupy, they are not eligible for municipality services. “They just ignore us, and the only time they acknowledge our presence is when they give us an eviction threat,” says Dharmavir, who lives in a shanty near Boudha. Now, the women in Kathmandu’s shantytowns have decided to get organised and help each other. The Nepal Mahila Ekta Samaj women's group started running savings and loans cooperatives so they PICS: KARMA GURUNG could help women with microcredit. The KARMA GURUNG women contribute to their savings scheme, and have meetings to give out loans to women who need the cash most urgently. nlike hundreds of thousands made The society’s Bimala Lama, a slum homeless by the earthquake, Sita dweller herself said: “Because we do not UTamang (pic, right) didn’t have a home own any land and don’t have proper even before 25 April. Her family has been documents, we have to help our community living in a riverside shanty settlement in and ourselves with what we have.” Most Sinamangal for the past ten years struggling women who borrow, repay their loans on to survive from day-to-day. The earthquake time. just added another layer of hardship. Like Hira Lama, who lives in a shanty in Tamang, 35, used to make a living Kapan. She is lucky that she has found a job from a small shop where children from a for several days in a row and has managed neighbourhood school used to stop by to to deposit Rs 500 in her neighbourhood buy snacks and sweets. But business is down cooperative, which is almost like an because the school was closed. insurance premium for a loan that she may “The shop did well because of the school, need in a future emergency. Her husband but now no one seems to have money to is a wood carver, but the family has to cut buy anything anymore,” she said, with her back on expenses to send money home to grandchild in her lap. Her daughter is out in her family in Gorkha. the city looking for a job. but it isn’t enough for the 2,000 households employment. Most of the women here in Like the women, the young people living Much of the assistance is going to in the capital’s 22 shanty settlements. Sinamangal, like Tamang’s daughter, were in the shanties have also set up their own earthquake survivors in the mountains, and Although they were not directly domestic helpers in apartments and homes organisation to distribute food to those Kathmandu’s already-poor urban homeless affected by the earthquake, Kathmandu’s around the city. Tamang lost her job, and who don’t have enough, and are also have fallen between the cracks. Some help slum-dwellers who are mainly daily wage despite going out every day hasn’t found a organising camps for children and paying has come from Actionaid Nepal and Lumanti earners have been hit hard by the lack of new one. their tuition.

more permanently than just on a vacation or trip back home? Not having enough physical Love > Distance interaction can put a strain on any relationship. Is it possible for Hi all, value, can communicate with, AR: I feel it is possible for two both of you to be a supportive have a strong friendship with, people to be in two different part of each other’s lives? People think long distance and selfless love- then the bond parts of the world and make their If you cannot imagine being relationships (LDR) don’t generally is definitely stronger than many. relationship work, that being without the person, try not to work, but this doesn’t mean living If you truly love someone, being said, there also needs to be some give up on your partner. It really in the same city as your partner loyal is easy. confirmation that eventually doesn’t matter what other people guarantees a happily ever after. In all honesty in the long run, there is a possibility of the two say, because it is your life and a LDR can be inconvenient and people being in the same city or your relationship. frustrating but it shouldn’t be a within acceptable distance. Both should want to be dealbreaker. If the two people, Communication, optimism together and both should be are able to see the distance as a and trust are key to make a willing to work together. I believe temporary test than a permanent LDR work. Are you and your when two people want to make relationship challenge, and both partner on the same page with a relationship work, they find a ASK ANJANA want it to work and believe in it: it similar expectations and working way and when they don’t, they ANYTHING is very likely that the relationship Hello, I’m trying to make a long equally hard to make this work? find an excuse. Only time can tell Anjana Rajbhandary will thrive. Of course, there has distance relationship work. We People in LDR tend to be more what will happen, but it is rare to be a plan to see each other live on opposite sides of the forthcoming about their feelings. to find someone who makes you regularly with a strong potential world but I love him. People say Be more honest, acknowledge want to put in the extra effort. Nowadays, love is quite underrated that at some point, sooner than it won’t work but I also know that it will be hard and you will Good luck. so you have to see something in later, the two people will be in the some couples who have managed want to give up at times, so ask the other person to even consider same place. to stay together despite the yourself if you are ready to do Anjana is a certified mental health making an effort. Some can wait, Please send questions to: distance. Can our love survive this. Can you and your partner rehabilitation technician and has most don’t. If you have a partner [email protected] or @ the distance? wait for each other till there is a four years of experience in adult you can trust, someone who you AnjyRajy -B possibility to be with each other mental health in Maine, USA. 10

The plan now is to analyse the moment, we are focusing on and the museum is currently being A Changu resident who lost his 1 CHANGU NARAYAN soil, strengthen the slopes below the structure’s stability so that housed separately. family home sums up the mood the temple to prevent landslides, further renovation can be done “There are plans to rebuild the here: “The earthquake destroyed study the impact of vibration on the outside in the near future,” south section of the museum so our houses, but at least the temple from a nearby road, and only then Nakarmi told Nepali Times. that historical objects can all be is still standing and that gives us carry out the renovation, she adds. Around the temple, the four stored there,” says Sunita Bhadel of some solace.” However, some urgent repair work sattals housing the recently- the Living Traditions Museum. The Ayesha Shakya is being carried out on the outer opened Living Traditions Museum army, police and local volunteers BARELY walls to make the temple complex has been razed to the ground by have been helping out to clear and safe for visitors in future. the Nepal Army which is guarding sort the debris, but with the rice nepalitimes.com “Rebuilding the temple from the temple complex round the planting season around the corner  Changu Narayan  Return of the past #682 STANDING scratch is not feasible. At the clock. Artefacts from the temple help is in short supply.

tone inscriptions at Changu Narayan reveal that this Shilltop shrine is the oldest known settlement in Kathmandu Valley. With a history going back to the Lichhavi Period more than 1,000 years ago, archaeologists say the settlement is built upon several layers of ruins of buildings destroyed in previous earthquakes. The latest quake this year once more damaged one of Kathmandu’s holiest, most historic sites. The main temple is now propped up by wooden beams. Weakened by aftershocks, the temple’s corners are crumbling and the walls have cracks. “Although the earthquake did not destroy the main temple completely, a lot of damage was done. But before we begin to renovate the temple, we must take precautions to ensure that the structure is not further damaged,” says Aruna Nakarmi of Department of Archaeology. GOPEN RAI

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4 After thh 3 From Changu to Sankhu the y

3 BUNGAMATI YOUNG HELPERS

rom afar, visitors could be forgiven for mistaking the ridge-top village of FBungamati with its russet brick houses and a scenic backdrop of rolling hills as one of those historic towns in Tuscany. Indeed, Bungamati’s charm lies in its architecture, its vibrant festivals and a close- knit Newar community that is proud of its heritage. A large part of that cultural wealth is related to the Machindranath temple and the chariot festival of the rain god. This April, the festival was an important 12-year event and the people of Bungamati were in GOPEN RAI the midst of celebrating the jatra when the months after the quake, the locals have As elsewhere in Kathmandu Valley, became clear we needed to act urgently. The earthquake struck. cleared a lot of the debris and have built Bungamati’s youth have stepped in. Every challenge is to involve the community while Many of the historic mud and brick temporary shelters. But many damaged morning for the past few days members working on houses that are not their own.” houses went down along with the large white houses still need to be demolished. of Bhintuna Pucha have started clearing The group members are given Rs 200 as sikhara-style temple of the red rain god. “We want to bring down our house and the rubble in collaboration with the house incentive, even though they are volunteers. The chariot had already been pulled up to clear up the space but the road up ahead has owners and the community. The group is For people like Sakali Mali (pic, above), Chasikot where it stopped on its tracks. And been blocked by the houses that collapsed, getting help from the Ganesh Man Singh whose three-storey house went down the that is where it still is, leaning to one side. so the pick-ups to transport the debris Foundation and Umesh Shrestha, chairman youngsters are a big help. “We didn’t know Relief workers reached Bungamati cannot reach this place,” says Amar Raj of Prime Bank. where to start but with their help we are immediately with food and shelter but many Shakya who has been living with his family Naresh Man Shakya of Bhintuna Pucha almost done in a week,” she says. villagers are worried about the rains. Two in a temporary shelter. said: “With the monsoon approaching, it Sahina Shrestha 26 JUNE - 2 JULY 2015 #764 11

he ancient settlement of of their heritage and started picking two weeks after the earthquake of UNESCO Nepal, who was at the 2 SANKHU Sankhu in the eastern edge of up the pieces soon after the quake. by Sakwo Vintuna Pucha, a youth meeting, explained that houses TKathmandu Valley was being They cleared the debris themselves, organisation founded in 2013 to could be rebuilt in traditional considered by UNESCO for inclusion and are now trying to see if they preserve and promote the cultural style and still be safe. “Living in a into its list of World Heritage Sites. can raise money for rebuilding. traditions of Sankhu. There are now historic city and being safe from In January 2008, the Department “Waiting for the government 20 volunteers between 18-26 years earthquakes isn’t a contradiction,” of Archaeology submitted its isn’t a solution,” said Suresh old protecting the artefacts, bricks he added. application for Sankhu. Then came Pradhan, a social worker who and timber in the ruined town. Archaeologist David Andolfatto HISTORIC the 25 April earthquake and the founded the Sankhu Reconstruction Some 55 historical houses, accompanied Manhart to Sankhu historic Newar town lost most of its Committee. “We will rebuild many more than 100 years earlier this week and he was ancient temples and houses. ourselves.” old, have been damaged in the impressed by the work already AND SAFE The people of Sankhu are proud The assessment was initiated earthquake. Amrit Shrestha, 23, achieved by Sakwo Vintuna Pucha, a civil engineering student has especially because they hadn’t been been inspecting trained in heritage the buildings and conservation. deciding whether Two volunteers some of them are of Sakwo Vintuna safe enough to be Pucha trained by the repaired, or have International Council to be torn down. of Museums (ICOM) Volunteers are also have been sifting collecting artefacts REBUILDING carefully through the from damaged OURSELVES ruins. Manhart also buildings to store suggested they could safely. learn how to use KLL Collect app to However, Sakwo Vintuna Pucha transmit information on status of is facing challenges, some locals damaged monuments. have already sold their sajhyas, The Sankhu Reconstruction the intricately carved wooden Committee carried out an inventory windows. “People need money to of all the historic buildings in the rebuild their houses,” Shrestha town 10 years ago. But Pradhan said. “But we have to explain to says: “The plan isn’t a problem, why they shouldn’t sell them.” we need a rebuilding policy to In a meeting with social ensure the style and safety of our workers, English teacher Birendra houses”. Prasad insisted that safety was Stéphane Huët more important than preserving old buildings. “We want houses nepalitimes.com that are resistant,” he said.  Interview with Amrit Shrestha Christian Manhart, Director  Interview with Suresh Pradhan ANUJ SHRESTHA he aftershocks youth are pitching in to help rebuild Kathmandu Valley's historic towns

the open grounds where every day a group of five prepare meals for the 250 people living there. Food is not much of a problem for locals, most of who work as farmers. What they need they say are safer shelters that will protect them from the rain and wind. “Few of the shelters have already been damaged by the rains this week,” says Maharjan who is a teacher. As devotees head to the Trishakti Bhawani Temple at the break of dawn, things look pretty normal in Harsiddhi. But walk down 20m and the sight of uncleared debris greet you. “Some are traumatised by this scenery and are afraid to leave their shelters,” says temple priest, Dhana Bahadur. “We need vehicles to transport these rubble away.” Harsiddhi residents are thinking of reconstruction, but they want to ensure it is planned properly. After the earthquake, locals realised STÉPHANE HUËT the alleys were too narrow for fter the 25 April earthquake shelters. Some families have set up ambulances to drive through. “More 4 HARSIDDHI brought down 90 per cent of the tents, others have built shelters using lives could have been saved had the Ahouses in Harsiddhi, locals using corrugated zinc sheets while 80 remain in lanes been wider,” says Maharjan. tarpaulin sheets and bamboo poles, the original makeshift tent. “The plan now is to make the alleys built a big makeshift tent at Tafa Khala “More people came to Tafa Khala after three feet wider.” (pic), the town’s largest open space. 12 May as 15 additional houses collapsed Adds Maharjan: “Even if we are More than 150 residents camped in in the aftershock,” says Ajay Maharjan, close to Kathmandu, we haven’t UNDER this communal tent in the first ten days 31, from Jyako Tole who lost his house received aid from the government. We after the quake. in the first quake. “Two elderly men also have fallen under the shadow of the Two months later, Tafa Khala is died that day.” light as a saying in Nepali goes.” THE SHADOW filled with dozens of similar looking An open kitchen has been set up at Stéphane Huët 12

Jurassic World exists as an HAPPENINGS oft-visited park on the infamous Isla Nublar where so many dinosaurs had run rampant in the past films. It is now a declining attraction where not even the dinosaurs are really that exciting any longer (neither to us, nor to the parkgoers). Hence, the creation of the Indominus Rex, an aberration conceived by the park’s money hungry administrators and board members among whom all are pretty much insufferable due to terrible cardboard cutout characters that not even the likes RSS of Irrfan Khan (who plays Simon NEW FLIGHT: Prime Minister Sushil Koirala inaugurates two MI-17V helicopters Masrani, the owner of the park) aquired by the Nepal Army at Tribhuvan International Airport on Monday. Jurassic World can save. Really, the only reason that s a fourth film in a installment. It has none of the you should watch this particular, Hollywood franchise, a wonder and awe of the first film, bizarrely boring film (how can Acreation whose inception which fearlessly pioneered and you go wrong with the likes of started in the mind of the late, used jaw dropping CGI to recreate velociraptors and t-rexes at your (arguably) great sci-fi writer the Jurassic era brimming with disposal?) is to see if you can Michael Crichton, and was the gamut of wondrous dinosaurs forget all the silliness of what perpetuated into cinematic glory that held people spellbound, ought to be clever characters, young or old. and perhaps do some person Unlike the Crichton novel, watching in the form of Chris Jurassic Park wasn’t really all Pratt (who plays Owen Grady, that sophisticated, it just had all an animal trainer), an actor who the elements of a Spielberg film made his breakthrough with that put it above par: the crazy Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy MUST SEE science fiction, the blithenaiveté (2014). Pratt, a talented but BIKRAM RAI Sophia Pande of the characters, the obligatory struggling actor for decades, who CURTAIN RAISER: Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat and Minister of kids who are adorable but also is now, finally, getting his due, Foreign Affairs Mahendra Bahadur Pandey brief the media on the International intrepid, and finally, technology pulls this slight film together Conference on Nepal’s Reconstruction on Tuesday. Govinda Raj Pokharel of the in the first Jurassic Park (1993) by to match the vision. out of sheer will and force of National Planning Commission is on right. none other than Steven Spielberg, Unfortunately, 22 years later, persona. In the words of one Jurassic World already had a lot to none of the above continue of the characters in the film, live up to considering its rather to hold true for poor Colin Pratt is the real badass, not the splendid roots. Treverrow, the romantically dinosaurs. For those of you who named, clearly competent are already scoffing at my director of Jurassic World who, in nepalitimes.com description, well, don’t even his defense was probably never  Trailer bother to go see this latest really allowed full rein.

GOPEN RAI PRANAYAM: Vice President Parmananda Jha and actress Manisha Koirala participate in International Yoga Day celebrations at the Indian Embassy on Sunday.

RSS SIGHTSEEING: Delegates to the International Conference on Nepal’s Reconstruction tour the Hanuman Dhoka area on Wednesday ahead of their meeting.

GOPEN RAI RAMADAN KAREEM: Nepali Muslims attend the first Friday prayer of the month of Ramadan at a mosque in Kathmandu. 26 JUNE - 2 JULY 2015 #76413 Should Dharara be rebuilt? YOUR SAY After an earlier version of this article on Dharara was posted online, many readers tweeted to @nepalitimes fter the 25 April earthquake, Nepalis must rebuild it by making sure it is earthquake with their views. were shocked to hear that the iconic resistant.” ADharara tower in Kathmandu came There are many examples from around @RupSunar down, killing at least 70 people. It gave the world of destroyed monuments being left This is an unprecedented event and therefore we can leave the first indication of just how serious as a reminder of the disaster that caused it. the ruins as was done with Qutub Minar in Delhi. Attracts the quake was, and also took away an For example, the Hiroshima monument has more tourists as well. important landmark that many had an preserved a building, and parts of the World @regmi_ujjwal emotional attachment to. Trade Centre building have been kept at It should be rebuilt but made earthquake resistant. Prime Minister Bhimsen Thapa built two Ground Zero in New York. The concentration towers in the 19th century both of which camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau is now a museum @sakyagm123 went down in the 1833 quake. Only one to remember Had Bhimsen Thapa built schools instead of towers, was rebuilt, and it was destroyed again in human cruelty. In millions more would have been educated by now. 1934 and rebuilt once more. Now, some are Sichuan, some of saying that since it had gone down twice the ruined buildings @ManuelSintubin It was rebuilt after the 1934 earthquake, so rebuild it as previously, maybe Dharara should not be in Wenchuan symbol of the resilience of Nepalis. rebuilt, but the ruins kept as a memorial to commemorate the the 2015 earthquake. 2008 earthquake and @saragam111 Rohit Ranjitkar of the Kathmandu the loss of life. It should be built again but the life of people climbing it Valley Preservation Trust thinks rebuilding REBUILDING Entrepreneur should not be in danger again. Dharara shouldn’t be a priority. “We can OURSELVES Amar Jyoti Ranjit, leave it as a memorial of the 25 April who undertook the @ReachAshHere Heritages are called so because they are history, building earthquake,” he said. “It will also remind building of a 2.30-metre cement replica (pic, new ones wouldn’t separate it from any normal buildings. us of the risk of building high and unsafe left) of the tower costing Rs 250,000 on a constructions.” traffic island in Sundhara, said rebuilding the @PrabirRana Artist Bhishan Rajbhandari, who fallen tower will be symbolic of Nepal rising If the Nepalis can build the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, why not advocates for the reconstruction of all from the debris. the Dharara? monuments of Kathmandu, doesn’t agree. Ranjit understands concerns about safety, He says the Moghul-style tower was part of but he thinks there must be a way to construct @pbogati99p Leave it as it is. It should serve as a reminder to politicians Kathmandu’s identity. “It symbolised our a stronger Dharara. of their inefficiency to protect heritage sites. acceptance of other cultures,” he said. “We Stéphane Huët STÉPHANE HUËT The Vesper House esper Café and Restaurant kick. The pizza was delicious and has carved a soft spot in the a reminder of the pizzas near a Vhearts of Nepali and foreign corner restaurant in a piazza in patrons in the heart of Jhamsikhel, Italy. The thinness of the curst unfortunately the 25 April balanced the amount of toppings earthquake took down the beautiful on it. red mud-brick building the Our second entrée was Ravioli restaurant was located in. Within di Pollo (Rs 415), beautifully layered days, the Vesper House next door in a dish with a strong aroma of reopened for business- catering the white sauce. These little ravolis to their loyal fans and providing a with chicken was covered with relaxing environment for people to the most mouthwatering creamy unwind and enjoy a good meal. sauce. It was rich and tasty, and It was a perfect move. Most the small portion was just enough restaurants in Jhamsikhel were still to not overwhelm any food lover. closed and people needed a place The ravioli was impressive with to unwind. Adding the original the shell a tad bit al dente for our Vesper Café’s food menu brought liking, but may be perfect for in a new group of customers to the many. Vesper House, which earlier catered OPEN FROM The filling meal did not to wine and cheese lovers. chicken chilli (Rs 370) and some is enough for 7.30AM leave room for dessert but the TO Set in a beautiful yellow continental inspired entrees 2-3 people. While 10PM Vesper House has a selection bungalow, which was once (Rs 350-2100): The Vesper House satisfying, we all of homemade desserts a garage, the Vesper House offers a selection of appetisers and agreed it could have ranging from raspberry specialises in wines from all entrees to suit various pallets and used a bit more cheese. cheese cake to panna cotta (both over the world and provides a wallets. Our first entrée was the Rs 280), which will guarantee a trip significantly sized wine cellar We started our meal with a Smoked Chicken and Jalapeno back for most. where you can buy wines to take generic popular Mexican appetiser: Pepper pizza (Rs 695). This thin Anjana Rajbhandary home or enjoy with a pasta dish. Nachos (Rs 370), a delightful crust pizza came with generous Claiming to be a fusion combination of tortilla chips the crunchy chips with fresh salsa chunks of sliced smoked chicken, How to get there: Located on the restaurant of Italian and Mexican, covered in beans, chilli, cheese, was refreshing and the flavour was lots of little pieces of olives and restaurant row between DanRan with a selection of sandwiches (Rs olives and fresca salsa with a side accentuated by the sour cream. a sufficient amount of jalapeno and previous Vesper Café and 340-570), Nepali staples such as of sour cream. The combination of This dish may appear small but peppers to give it just the right Restaurant. 14 NATION 26 JUNE - 2 JULY 2015 #764 The Indifferent Republic Even a massive earthquake can’t shake the concerned authorities into actually being concerned

y first clue that the right to pontificate endlessly, act governing elite in this holier-than-thou, and threaten Mcountry don’t really give people with hell-fire if they dare a damn came way back in the disobey. 1980s when The Rising Nepal Whatever caste or party newspaper was my only English bureaucrats belongs to, they language link to the world. Its usually adopt the habits of the front page invariably featured old feudal elite. This was never the royal family, international more painfully exposed than in news was sparse and the liveliest the immediate aftermath of the section was often Letters to the earthquake. As aid poured in, Editor. the concerned authorities froze, Diligent citizens wrote alarmed they were suddenly eloquent complaints about the expected to act swiftly and give lack of water in the pipes and away valuable emergency goods

trash piling up uncollected BIKRAM RAI to people they don’t care about. (some things never change) and Just when the country desperately frequently signed off with the bureaucrats be so different? It low expectations encourages this these days. needed leadership, all party hopeful phrase ‘we trust the seems, in short, whoever joins indifference to flourish. Plus, As my journey of discovery leaders disappeared for a couple concerned authorities will look the civil service somehow let’s not forget that inept official degenerated into a morbid muse, of weeks, probably to hide their into this matter.’ mutates into a lower, more ignoring the water supply or overwhelmed by examples to clue-less faces while plotting to cynical breed. diverting funds might be the uncle ponder, I couldn’t help noticing steal a share of the windfall. My second question was why of someone you owe favours to, this negligent bureaucracy is The government’s crude none of these jokers ever got making your best course of action dominated by Brahmins and attempt to extort customs tax on fired. ‘If only it were that simple,’ obvious: do nothing. Chettris. Coincidence? The higher free donations displays a level of came the mysterious response The fact that some poor castes have always used their short-sighted greed insulting to from between the lines. Most villagers in far-flung districts were religiously sanctioned status to both the donors and those waiting government staff need family swindled out of the promised lord it over ordinary citizens and for help. Two months on, aid still MOVING TARGET networks before even getting irrigation canal, road or health- gain access to the treasury. As a litters the tarmac at Tribulation Foreign Hand hired (or they’d never get the job) post is far less compelling than fallen Catholic, I’m no stranger Int’l Airport as Customs officials and spend the rest of their careers protecting uncle. The village is to chicanery in divine guise but haggle over duty rates. Despite building a web of contacts and remote, uncle isn’t, and next time am still impressed by such a being an old Hand, I must admit As the garbage piled higher strategic alliances that’s more it could be your future threatened devious system that preaches the this profound level of indifference and water-taps stayed dry it important (to them) than the by dismissal. You’d surely count low castes deserve their poverty to fellow countrymen in desperate dawned on me the concerned state they’re supposed to serve. on your co-workers to cover your and suffering because of sins straits is difficult to fully authorities everyone pinned Liaisons are forged and mutual back and do nothing then. committed in previous lives. It comprehend, especially when their hopes on were simply not benefit societies established that But somebody must have cared certainly makes it easy for the contrasted to the dynamic young concerned, about the trash, water grow more intricate with time. If in the past, I mused, thinking elite to shrug their shoulders and Nepalis who threw themselves or anything else. Thus began all this wasn’t so time-consuming of the beautifully laid-out old pretend they’d like to help, but wholeheartedly into helping those the Hand’s journey of discovery (and financially rewarding) quarters of the valley’s towns and who can argue with fate? in need. into Bureaucratic Apathy on a the bureaucrat might find time cities. Public spouts that delivered This high caste sense of Some dreamt this disaster Himalayan scale, delving deep for other matters, like work. I water for centuries must have been entitlement continues to be would sweep away the old ways into the mindset of those in eventually realised it’s not that maintained or they’d dry up, as abused by all the party leaders and galvanise the politicians positions of authority. the authorities aren’t concerned, they have now. Communal areas and their coteries. The Maoist into action but all evidence The Nepalis I knew and rather they’re concerned about all were incorporated in the planning luminaries may be atheist and indicates otherwise. Even a worked with were generous the wrong things. of every neighbourhood, spaces pretend to be egalitarian but are massive earthquake can’t shake of spirit and caring, my first A mutually agreed impunity that would likely be sold on the quick to use the perks of their the concerned authorities into question was how could these combined with exceptionally sly by the concerned authorities Brahmin caste, which include the actually being concerned. Interim order and interim constitution By delving into politics, the Supreme Court verdict on the 16-point deal has once again blurred the separation of powers

he interim order issued by the single bench of the Supreme Court this week on the 16-point Tagreement between the four biggest political parties to ‘fast-track’ the constitution with a power- sharing compromise has become mired in controversy over the separation of powers. This is not new, there was a similar debate with the installation of the election government headed by Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi in 2013. The fact that those who approved of that decision are against it this time just shows how opportunistic politics can be.

seems to have forgotten is that this is precisely where prior to its dissolution. But the court order has dampened those hopes everything has been stuck for the past seven years, and The court maintained that according to the provision somewhat. the 16-point agreement represents the first hope in of Article 138 of Interim Constitution the Constituent The four parties are putting on a brave face, and LEGALESE untangling the knot. Assembly should decide the borders, number, names, have said nothing will stop their agreement from being Binita Dahal The interim order doesn’t mean that the structures and headquarters as well as a detailed list implemented. Their resolve comes from the fact that Constituent Assembly has to stop work on drafting of these provinces, their resources and the sharing the UML, CPN(M) and the MJF(L) will all get berths in a the constitution, and it is clear that the judiciary is of rights. Based on this the court said that federalism new national unity government after the constitution is The two-page court decision clearly shows that over-stepping its bounds by interfering in a sovereign should be decided by the CA itself and not by a future written. They are all pinning their hopes that the division the Judiciary has entered into the political realm even elected assembly. commission. bench of the Supreme Court will overturn the single though it has mentioned that Article 1, 82 and 138 The major parties which signed the agreement It is not normal practice for the Supreme Court bench verdict on the petition. of Interim Constitution are challenged by the recent held an emergency meeting on the same day that the to entertain this kind of writ petition, and it was in Justice Girish Chandra Lal’s decision has also agreement between the parties. Supreme Court issued the interim order declaring that fact rejected by the Supreme Court administration. opened him up to allegations of a Madhesi tilt in a The political leaders decided that the disputed they will not stop work in drafting the constitution. This writ was filed by Vijay Kant Karna, former editor decision that favours disgruntled members of the issue of federalism would be settled by a two-thirds Chairman of the CA Subhas Nembang has also been and ambassador to Denmark, and the hearing was opposition alliance which did not agree with the 16- majority in Parliament based on the report of a Federal vocally critical of not just the court this week, but also conducted by Justice Girish Chandra Lal, who is retiring point deal. Numerous op-eds in the Nepali media Commission to demarcate the borders of the provinces. of President Ram Baran Yadav for seeming to side in the first week of January. The recent 16-point have remarked that it is not a coincidence that the writ The Supreme Court, however, issued the interim with the court. Actually, the Supreme Court order only agreement had sprung hope among Nepalis that there petitioner, lawyers, and Justice are all Madhesis who order to not promulgate constitution without solving the alerted CA that according to Article 138, the issue of was finally a breakthrough on the constitution so that have been against the constitution compromise. issue of federalism first. But what the honourable justice federalism must be included in the new constitution the country could focus on post-quake reconstruction. @binitadahal 26 JUNE - 2 JULY 2015 #764 NATION 15 The disaster is not over Assessing the National Planning Commission’s Post-disaster Needs Assessment report

he National Planning other’s efforts. family members and neighbours, grassroots derived model. Commission (NPC) It is important to recognise and damage to property and Finally, any ‘needs Tconducted fieldwork the overall dimensions of the injury to persons is widespread. assessment’ worth its salt should between 22 May-10 June to assess disaster in time as well as in But perhaps more important still consider not only the ‘needs’ Nepal’s ‘post-disaster’ needs and space. Thirty-one of 75 districts is the damage done to livelihoods, (derived I suggest from more than produced a report with an 18- are affected, with 14 declared on which hundreds of thousands an assessment that concentrates page executive summary. The ‘crisis-hit’, and the geological people rely absolutely for on damage and destruction of Health and Population Sector movement continues as the survival. assets) but also the resources and also submitted its findings to monsoon looms, threatening The report recognises that capabilities, and the institutional further landslides and flooding ‘subsistence-based households and other mechanisms, available over several months is of critical are badly affected in rural areas to meet those needs. Clearly significance. as the earthquake hit Nepal only there will be a role for foreign The needs assessment, a few weeks prior to the start of aid and assistance in the however, is largely retrospective the paddy planting season’. But immense task of recovery and and does not really begin to the key consideration is not only reconstruction, and also for the THE GADFLY address the implications of the the capacity to engage in activities deployment at a national and David Seddon cumulative effect of a series that will bear fruit later in the regional level of government of earthquakes followed by year, but arguably even more resources of all kinds (human, the PDNA (Post-disaster Needs months of monsoon rain. A critically people’s ability (or lack technical, financial, etc). An Assessment) Secretariat. The key realistic strategy and program of ability) to sustain themselves in housing, only 2.3 per cent in integrated overall strategy findings are being considered at for reconstruction will need to through a continuing income agriculture, and only 1.9 per cent for infrastructural, economic the International Conference on include an assessment of likely stream both in Nepal and abroad. in employment and livelihoods. and social – and political – Nepal’s Reconstruction (ICNR) on needs going forward, not only the Ensuring that continuing flow This seems to be a strange way reconstruction will be crucial. 25 June. damage that needs of income will be of assessing both ‘damage’ and But if there is one thing The reports were produced to be repaired as crucial. ‘need’ and appears to be based that has been revealed during with speed and professional skill, of now. It should Yet the focus on a physical or macro-economic the on-going disaster over and have pulled together a range not really be a of the report is on rather than a micro-economic the last two months, it is the of information and provide a ‘post-disaster’ the damage done to and social model of ‘damage’ absolutely crucial role of valuable overview and synthesis needs assessment, buildings: it points and ‘need’. The whole approach, ordinary Nepali people (in of the scope and scale of the but rather an out that almost half which is essentially very top- local communities and through earthquakes. assessment of of what it calls ‘the down and retrospective, should a variety of local initiatives, The collaboration between short, medium, destruction and be reconsidered to recognise informal organisations and local communities, NGOs, and long-term REBUILDING production decline’ that the crucial priority now and NGOs, supported by the actions government and international requirements and OURSELVES was in the housing over the coming months and of local government officials, the agencies at this stage is clearly priorities as the sector and that even years is to encourage and police and the army) working far better than it was at the needs emerge. ‘the environment, education, promote an adequate flow of together at the grassroots, in any outset, despite continuing Two months after the first finance and agriculture sectors income to households and local effective assessment of what is issues. It is essential if effective earthquake, tens of thousands of represent between 4 and 5 per communities to rebuild people’s needed going forward by way reconstruction is to take place people, many of them in remote cent each of the total disaster livelihoods and lives. This can of response and of the ways that all parties work together, areas, are still living in temporary effects’. It concludes, to my be through whatever sectors are in which priorities should be complementing rather than or transitional shelters. Many mind misguidedly, on this basis likely to be most effective for established. overlapping or duplicating each have lost crucial assets as well as that 49 per cent of ‘needs’ are income generation: a dynamic @pigreen 16 NATION 26 JUNE - 2 JULY 2015 #764 Mission far from Subcontracting accomplished kindness RICHARD RAGAN

iscovering Maurice Herzog’s book Annapurna as a boy growing up in the Less than 1 per cent of global funding for flatlands of the Mississippi Delta, I dreamt of the Himalaya. My heroes were earthquake relief will go directly to groups in Nepal Dthe mountaineers. Much later, I had the privilege to work as the World Food Programme (WFP) Country Director to Nepal when I, also, had the opportunity to explore Nepal’s mountains and experience the sublime beauty of this unique country. EMILY TROUTMAN on time. The online application little more than hired help. Three days after the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that ripped through Nepal on system is cumbersome, built for In Sindhupalchok, Asaman 25 April, I was back there leading WFP’s massive response to the disaster. It is a big insiders and it requires technical Tamang’s extended family of 23 is challenge. In the breathtaking Langtang Valley, the quake had triggered an avalanche hen the second English-language skills. It’s sleeping under corrugated sheets. that buried an entire village under thick layers of ice and rock. earthquake struck on 12 a shame because to-date, aid Asaman has a lot of theories Life in Nepal’s mountains and plains have always been difficult. But now, May, I was in an antique organisations have received $131 about why he hasn’t received any hundreds of thousands of family homes are shattered, their food stocks wiped out, W store in Thamel. The shopkeeper million of their requests. substantive aid. At the top of his their cows, goats and poultry killed, while precious seeds for the current planting was showing me a Nepali toy There is no disaster response list, he blames the government season are caked in mud. Had the earthquake struck at night rather than at noon on a from the 1950s. Ten tiny people without locals to do the work for stealing the money. It makes holiday, the death toll would have been much higher. carved of wood and standing in on the ground. Nowhere is sense. But the problem isn’t Alongside many other organisations, big and small, Nepali and international, we a line. They had no faces, only this more true than in Nepal, theft. It’s that aid is much more at WFP have been bringing life-saving food to almost two million people, using roads bodies covered in miniature saris where the geography alone is a expensive than people think it is. where possible, porters where necessary, and by flying heavy-lift helicopters where no and the accumulated huge challenge for foreigners. Aid organisations are to blame other option exists. dust of decades. When But instead of receiving funds for this misunderstanding. I Nepal’s splendour is also its curse: home to eight of the 14 highest I moved one arm, all directly, local organisations looked at the claims of 45 major peaks in the world, with affected communities nested in isolated of their arms moved, are being hired by foreign groups operating in Nepal on valleys or perched precariously on steep cliffs, the logistical challenges giving the impression organisations as subcontractors. their websites. They say they’ve may be the worst I have encountered in my long humanitarian career. they were begging. The aid industry calls them provided shelter to more than The mountains also brought us exceptional allies. My childhood For the past ‘implementing partners’. three million people, the real hero, Yuichiro Miura, the first person ever to ski down Mount Everest ten years, I’ve In the Flash Appeal, number is 762,000 people, which and at the age of 80 and the oldest person to reach its summit, is now REBUILDING travelled around the international organisations is calculated by UNOCHA. leading efforts to raise funds for Nepal in his native Japan. OURSELVES world to disaster identified more than 80 local When organisations Five of the brave Nepali women of the Seven Summits Women’s zones, reporting ‘implementing partners’. Why not collaborate on a project, they Team are among my colleagues at WFP. One of them is Nimdoma Sherpa, born in on humanitarian aid. Disaster just fund them directly? It’s not a all claim the aid as their own Rolwaling, who as a child had received school meals from WFP and became, at 16, the victims are often portrayed like question of experience. Leaving accomplishment. For example, youngest person to climb Mt Everest. Her parents’ house was destroyed, and she is the figures in the toy: faceless, locals out is a systemic bias and it USAID, the IOM (International now part of the team making sure that food reaches the most remote places. powerless and all alike. But I see happens every time. Organisation for Migration) and them differently. I lived in Haiti The earthquake response ACTED, a French-NGO, have from 2010 to 2012 and reported will be much more expensive collectively claimed to ‘provide’ extensively on the earthquake because of this cascading funding 570,000 people with shelter. recovery. In my work, I see a structure. Big organisations will They are actually taking credit reality few will ever glimpse. I take their cut for ‘administrative for the same aid. USAID donated visit victims’ homes. I ask about fees’, followed by each plastic sheeting. IOM received their lives. I try to push beyond organisation in the chain. The it at the airport. ACTED worked the headlines. aid response will also be less with local groups to pass it out. Over and over again, people effective, utilising local experts as There is no way for donors to ask me, where does the money know how many groups are taking go? It doesn’t go where donors credit for the same aid. That think it does. In Nepal, I found means there’s no way to know patterns in the humanitarian what it really costs. By the time response that persist in every the big aid organisations KUNDA DIXIT disaster. Money will be subcontract everything, pass wasted, aid will arrive around the tarps and then The first emergency may be over, but the work too late. As in Haiti, implement a thousand other of rehabilitating lives is only beginning local organisations temporary fixes, the with the expertise money will be gone. Other renowned mountaineers and a group of paragliders, who had been in the and commitment Like Haiti, the country exploring the Himalayas, spontaneously joined WFP’s relief efforts, bringing to really make a victims of the Nepal their intimate knowledge of a dangerous terrain. Pilots flying food, medicine and difference will be left earthquake were already construction materials on WFP helicopters include Madan KC who rescued two climbers out. the most vulnerable on Mt Everest in 1996 -- the highest-ever helicopter landing at the time. Only a few days people in the country. Our mission is far from accomplished. Flying over the worst-affected areas recently, after the earthquake, They’ve been faceless I spotted six plumes of dust rising from the ground in just one hour. Landslides have the international and voiceless for always plagued Nepal but with the earth unsettled by the earthquake and aftershocks, aid community began decades. A recent survey they are more frequent. With the monsoon upon us, more villages are at risk of being calculating the cost of the of the quake-impacted area cut off or hit by slides. Much agricultural land has been lost, and almost 70 per cent of humanitarian response. in Nepal found that 99 households in the mountain areas face poor or borderline food consumption. Led by the United per cent of mud houses The first emergency may be over, but the work is only beginning. Shelters must Nations Office for collapsed, while only 3 per be rebuilt, livelihoods must be restored, and crops must be planted and harvested. the Coordination cent of cement houses were Otherwise, what is now a difficult food situation will get worse. of Humanitarian damaged. On 25 June, exactly two months since the first earthquake, high-level Affairs (UNOCHA), Five years after the representatives of donor countries met in Kathmandu at the invitation of the they put together a proposal to earthquake in Haiti, the Government of Nepal. It’s important that donors continue their generous effort beyond spend more than $422 million on international community has the relief phase, allowing the millions of survivors to recover and rebuild their lives. emergency needs in Nepal. rebuilt only 9 per cent of the We at WFP have already started distributing cash to thousands of families with Called a ‘Flash Appeal’, it houses that were destroyed. It will access to markets, helping them restart agricultural activities and build temporary happens in every disaster. The happen in Nepal too, and it shelters, while revitalising the local economy. Many more will benefit from this program collective appeal is made up is happening now. Like the in the coming months. We have hired thousands of porters, who had lost their jobs of dozens of individual project wooden toy in the antique because of the abrupt end of the trekking season, to bring food to the most inaccessible outlines, submitted by any aid store, the people who really villages. As they climb, they restore vital economic trails that had been blocked by organisation that wants to apply. need help will be left with their landslides. Our logistics services are also being used by the wider humanitarian The appeal is like a wish list hands out, just waiting, frozen in community to reach communities in need. presented by the UN to donor time, subject to the whims of the As I reflect on the last two months of emergency relief efforts, and look towards this countries. My analysis shows that truly powerful.

next phase of recovery, I know that WFP will work tirelessly with the government and only a few Nepali organisations SUBHAS RAI people of Nepal to help rebuild this magnificent country. applied for funding: they asked Emily Troutman is an for $3.5 million, just 0.8 per cent independent writer and of the total. photographer. For a longer Many Nepali groups I version of this report, see ‘What Richard Ragan is Emergency Coordinator for the spoke to had never heard of Happened to the Aid? Nepal World Food Programme in Nepal. the Flash Appeal. Even if they Earthquake Response Echoes did know about it, they would Haiti.’ have been hard-pressed to apply www.aid.works We believe that knowledge is the starting point to generate a conversation. DESTINATION This monthly knowledge series has been initiated in order to raise important questions and stimulate debate within Nepal’s tourism industry. It is hoped that structuring the conversation based on new knowledge and developing an open platform to share ideas will lead to action, positive

siddharthinc works to build a sustainable future growth and impact in both the public and private sector. NEPAL www.siddharthinc.com 26 JUNE - 2 JULY 2015 An opportunity for all: Nepal is open to visitors

Taking a leisure holiday is a choice – and most tourists, even adventure tourists, An opportunity to ‘Build Back Better’ An opportunity will select destinations where they feel safe and secure. April 25th shook (among The process of rebuilding, rebranding and redefining for foreign visitors so many other things) the confidence of potential tourists to Nepal. One of the Nepal’s infrastructure, products and services creates Tourists can support Nepal at a time key tasks the Nepali tourism industry now faces is rebuilding that confidence. a significant and rare opportunity for the tourism of need, to witness reconstruction industry to reposition and reconnect itself. Improved efforts first hand and directly support This is done primarily through marketing, but also through the creation of new services in hygiene, safety, water management, use communities affected by the disaster. products and mechanisms to ensure safety wherever possible. This requires a and interaction with natural resources, and transport The money foreign visitors will bring in clear, cohesive plan jointly implemented by the government of Nepal, tourism management can be delivered alongside rebuilding with them will help to rebuild Nepal in entrepreneurs and trade associations in Nepal and abroad. It should also be efforts. This may be the perfect time train to staff, a positive and sustainable way. EVENTS done by thinking of the revival process as an opportunity. porters and managers in the industry. Habitat for Humanity’s 32nd annual Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project is bringing around 2000 volunteers to Pokhara in November. CELEBRITY Can we encourage large tourist ENDORSEMENT GREAT groups to visit Nepal by hosting sporting events, religious events Post earthquake, Nepal has been able to MARKETING and international conferences? leverage the endorsement and support of many famous personalities who have recently visited reat Marketing inspires tourists and convinces Nepal including Susan Sarandon, Oscar winning Gthem to take their next holiday in Nepal. Hollywood actress, and Michelle Yeoh, Malaysian Globally, Nepal is top of mind – the tourism industry HOLISTIC IMAGE actress of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Which can capitalize on this awareness through honest, Promotion efforts for international tourists, celebrity do you think would help raise the most meaningful messaging that portrays a true picture of estimated at NRs. 5.25 billion by the Post awareness about tourism in Nepal? Tweet your post-earthquake Nepal and invites tourists to support Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) will answer using #TourismNepal the country by visiting. have to portray a holistic image of Nepal. This is because average growth rate in ‘holiday pleasure’ tourists from 2000-2013 was 11%, while that for trekkers and mountaineers was under 3%. Promoting unaffected areas, such as Lumbini, INDIAN Have you ever travelled to Nepal? Start WHAT IS OUR Chitwan, Pokhara, etc. will also have to be MARKET making plans. October and November NEXT CAMPAIGN? prioritised. The twin-city projects to are Nepal’s peak season for tourism, Find peace in Nepal link Janakpur to Ayodhya, and are, of course, the best time of the Nepal – a place of wonder Kathmandu to Varanasi, and year to come and visit. Nepal – discover yourself Lumbini to Bodh Gaya should REVIVAL be furthered when directly Adventure Travel Trade A clear and consistent revival plan is promoting to Indian Association, a global trade network required to rebuild trust across the source markets. supporting sustainable adventure travel markets and give tourists confidence that Nepal markets worldwide. is safe and open for visitors. The plan should consolidate activities led by the government of Nepal, tourism entrepreneurs and trade associations, and it should promote and deliver IMPROVE SAFETY consistent messages and approaches. Above all SUPPORT MECHANISMS else, the plan should create an opportunity for all ENTREPRENEURS and enable better products and services to oing safety audits of trails and tourist sites be delivered in the future. The revival plan ore targeted support is required to help Dis vitally important to build assurances and should have three components. Mentrepreneurs to recover. to counteract the negative publicity Nepal has received. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Now Nepal is safe. So help Nepal by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) should introduce special provisions for sending your nationals if you want to help enterprises, especially in the tourism sector. Their own research suggests Nepal in the real sense. that Nepal can accommodate 7.44 million tourists annually with the current infrastructure (around 0.8 million tourists visited Nepal in Kripashur Sherpa, Minister for Culture, SAFE SYSTEMS 2013). They need to introduce a mechanism for Tourism and Civil Aviation Inspiring confidence not only requires checking hotels and entrepreneurs to get subsidized credit, allow restaurants for safety, but also seismic assessments of rescheduling of loans and tax breaks. These trekking regions. Trekkers and mountaineers will require provisions should be conditioned on build back assurances of safe routes. This will require geological better principles, i.e. entrepreneurs get BUILDING subsidies only if they improve their ASSESSMENT surveys, and information systems to track people and the weather. It will also require an inventory and certification service and product. Detailed More extensive damage system for infrastructure. Better safety assessment and assurance schemes will encourage damage assessments of tourism assessments and safety insurance brokers to review listing of Nepal. Importantly, it will also encourage countries enterprises are required first to audits are required to who have warned their citizens from visiting Nepal to relax their messaging. assess the specific needs. encourage tour operators in source markets to regain confidence in Nepal’s Before we announce that the earthquake-hit areas are safe as tourist tourism sector. Hotels, destinations, we are determined to get an assessment report from international home-stays, trails, etc. geologists and experts who will be visiting the ground. COORDINATED EFFORTS were damaged, but many Ramesh Dhamala, president of Trekking Agents’ Association of Nepal (TAAN). The government and the private sector have issued a 51-point establishments were declaration on June 22nd to revive the tourism industry. The declaration unaffected and are still calls for lowering trekking permit fees, allowing tourists with single-entry running. visas to enjoy multiple entries, providing subsidized loans to enterprises, etc. The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) is also planning to establish an ‘emergency rescue fund’ for rescuing If you just look at the last couple of weeks, tourists. Several weeks earlier, NTB had all the cafes, clubs, restaurants, everything, also decided to it has all come to life. Once people are here, establish a tourism they will realize, impact is not as it has been recovery fund to projected. support enterprises, with their initial Prasidha Panday, Managing Director of Safety audits and restoration of cultural sites is also a priority. Almost 743 monuments were damaged in the earthquake, but many are still standing. contribution of NRs. the luxury Shangri-La Hotel in Kathmandu. 100 million. 18 TOURISM 26 JUNE - 2 JULY 2015 #764 Focus on innovations Augmented reality To create a unique and award winning experience for tourists

estoring damaged UNESCO heritage tourists can be offered new experiences to before and after images could help attract at a certain space or area. There could also Rstructures is estimated to cost $18 attract them to the cultural heritage sites. more tourists to the heritage sites. be narration by famous actors, information million. While restoring the combined With loss of our heritage assets, the An augmented reality application could and interactive tools to create a world class 743 damaged monuments can cost $117m. challenge is how to keep tourists in also allow smart phone users to see pictures and award winning multi-media experience The restoring and rebuilding of all these Kathmandu for longer. Exhibitions or of what the square would have looked liked that is promoted in Nepal and abroad. The cultural sites will take years. However, murals in front of heritage sites showing before the earthquake when the camera is disaster could be a new beginning. Training Safe During the off season to deliver better services omprehensive retraining of staff laid off and unemployed at this Trekking time (porters, waiters, hoteliers, managers, etc.) could be the Cideal next step for the tourism sector to bounce back. In many ways it could be the perfect time. After good management training programs, staff and laid off employees will be ready to provide better Systems services when the tourist season starts again after the monsoon. Training programs will have to focus on helping entrepreneurs and To inspire confidence employees provide newer services/products and identifying newer markets. Programs could focus on management, marketing, hygiene, customer care, etc. They could be delivered directly to affected workers as part of a revival package.

Design idea for a Himalayan mountain hut/Safe Trekking System courtesy of HMMD architecture competition initiated by Samarth-NMDP.

s Nepal seeks assurances from international good communication along the trail, a monitoring system

MANI LAMA geologists and consultants on its popular trekking that tracks the location of visitors & staff during the trek, Aroutes, especially the Everest and Annapurna a responsive rescue system, appropriate shelter along regions that attract around 70 per cent of trekkers, the the way, enterprises that offer good basic services and

PDNA suggests creating a Safe Trekking System with quality infrastructure including bridges and drinking water

standards and regulations for the quality of the product provisions. The Safe Trekking System also requires an “Ninety percent of the tour guides are unemployed, they have no work,“ and how to manage it. Classifying trails will go a long way effective management system that looks after classification, they are jobless. There is insecurity among the tour guides [about] in enabling visitors and the industry to assess the risks promotion, maintenance & investment and staff skills. what to do. I have [asked] my colleagues, just wait for one year. associated with certain treks and areas based on altitude, During the slow monsoon season, the Samarth-NMDP length, facilities, location etc. programme is taking the lead towards the establishment of Hare Ram Baral, head of the Tourist Guide Association of Nepal A Safe Trekking System requires a product that allows the Sate Trekking System with funds from UK AID/DFID. 26 JUNE - 2 JULY 2015 #764 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 19

Nepali songs at the Royal Albert

Himal Khabarpatrika, 21-27 June the same time. Although a concert by Nepali artists at the hall had been planned since last year, Mishra says the earthquake forced them to bring the date forward as Road sign: Fast track On 28 June, the Royal Albert Hall in London is all well as made it easier for the organisers to lease the world Vehicle: 16-point agreement set to be resonant with melodies from Nepal. For famous concert hall. Organisers are expecting Nepalis Batsyayan in Kantipur, 22 June the first time, 17 Nepali singers and musicians from all over Europe to attend the event. will be performing at the prestigious venue for the “We believe that both Nepalis and foreigners will charity show ‘An Evening for Gorkha, Charity for the come and show their support for Nepal,” says singer Earthquake Victims of Nepal’ organised by Help Nepal Yogeshwor Amatya. Network UK (HeNN). Since its opening in 1871, world’s leading artists Artists including Jems Pradhan, Om Bikram Bista, including Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, Led Zepplin, Eric Deep Shrestha, Trishna Gurung, Sujil Karmacharya Clapton and Elton John have performed at the Royal Give and take and Yogeshwor Amatya will be performing. HeNN’s Albert Hall. founder Rabindra Mishra says the charity show will The concert tickets are available at Royal Albert Hall’s create history not just because of the venue but also website. Editorial in Annapurna Post, invite the Indian Prime Minister? because it will have so many luminaries on stage at 25 June While we may interpret it differently, the question of how China views this lapse remains. LOST ALL: Asha Tamang, 50, of Mailung Following the devastation In the midst of all this, there escaped miraculously but lost his wife, son, caused by the earthquake is criticism that the rehabilitation daughter-in-law, and nine other relatives in Nepal, the international agency to be headed by the Prime when a rockfall buried his house. community and donor Minister is dominated by political agencies have pledged to expediency. During the donor support reconstruction conference, the government it unbearably hot here in the lowland. and rehabilitation. But the needs to present clear plans and The children have no school to go to and government needs to policies, and assure just play in the dirt. There is rice, but no be clear in its policies them that they will vegetables to eat it with because no one can and programs on be implemented afford it. rehabilitation to transparently There were 17 people in Asha Tamang’s reassure them about with clear lists of house when the earthquake struck. They transparency and expenditures. With heard the landslide before the rocks delivery. the government and started falling, it sounded like a big storm Donors have political leadership approaching. In an instant, the rocks buried major reservations coming under the house and Asha lost his wife, son and about the lack of severe criticism time daughter-in-law and nine other relatives. accountability of and again about Nuwakot, and he has only one request from Asha barely survived, his head wound has the government relief delivery, it is the government: relocate our village. “Our been stitched up and has two broken ribs. and the widespread imperative that the village was always at risk from landslide, and Sanumaya Tamang of Karumrang had corruption. It is government explains MOVE US not that the donors three years ago we had lobbied with district gone to gather fodder in the forest when the the reason why the politicians and the CDO,” Tamang said. “No quake struck. Her brother and sister-in-law themselves are a BASU KSHITIZ / ANNAPURNA POST prime minister had one listened to us, and now this happened.” were buried by a rockfall. She is now taking 100 per cent clean Prime Minister to head to head the new Phurpa Tamang in Himal Khabarpatrika, Govinda Bahadur Thapa is a Nepal Army care of her four-year-old nephew and eight- since the amount Reconstruction Authority agency. 21-27 June guard and barely escaped with his life after month-old niece who have been orphaned. they pledge for Calling on the huge boulders started falling on the project “They keep asking about their parents, Nepal comes from donors doesn’t site. One soldier was killed in front of him, where will I find them?” asked Sanumaya. taxpayers, and provided with mean we go begging. No affluent Santaram Tamang had toiled for ten years in and he gave the orders to the others to cross Subi Tamang of Gogane was also in evidence any dishonesty will country has become poor by Malaysia and Saudi Arabia and built a house the Bhote Kosi to the other side, where they the forest on the slope above the village, and should be investigated. giving and no poor country has in Chipleti of Rasuwa with his hard-earned stayed for four days while rocks fell all around. and was buried by a rockfall. Her husband Unfortunately, the become rich by receiving. Nepal savings. Tamang was near his village when They were finally rescued when a helicopter Kaman has brought their eight-year-old government failed to show should be able to convince the the earthquake struck on 25 April and his eyes spotted them. Thapa’s team is now involved daughter Karma Dolma, two-year-old Nur necessary diplomatic skills international communities that tear up as he recounts how his house and the in demolishing and rebuilding homes in Maya and one-year-old son Anurag to a even when inviting heads we are dependable and competent entire village was buried in a huge rockslide. It Thulogaun. Many dozens of people working shelter in Betrawati. of delegations from our two to change and develop our nation was impossible to rescue his nine neighbours. on the highway in Mailung were buried by The biggest fear of the displaced here neighbours. Why didn’t anyone and all we are looking for is His house is buried under the mountain. rockfalls, and their bodies haven’t been found. is that landlsides will wipe out what remains go to invite the Chinese, when humanitarian assistance and soft Today, Tamang lives in a tent in the grounds Life in the shelter at Shantibazar is of their villages during the monsoon. The we sent the Finance Minister to loans. of the Trisuli 3A Project in Shantibazar of chaotic. Villager from the mountains find question is where will the survivors live? First draft ready Rajdhani, 24 June

A task force under the Constitution Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly (CA) has prepared the first draft of Nepal’s new constitution. The task force, led by the committee’s president and Nepali Congress (NC) leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula, had started its work on 18 June following a 16-point constitution deal struck by four major political parties. The draft of Nepal’s new constitution, finalised on Wednesday night despite a Supreme Court order against the 16-point deal, contains 35 parts and 312 articles. The number of parts in the new constitution is unlikely to change but there might be more articles when issues of pluralism, right to self-determination and local government bodies are sorted out. Most parts and articles of the new constitution look like they were cut and pasted from the Interim Constitution-2007. But the new constitution has some parts and articles about federalism. For example, part-8 has articles about federal provincial councils and part- 12 has articles about power of executive chiefs of federal units, their appointments and formation of provincial councils. Similarly, part-14 contains articles about relations between federal provinces and part-15 dwells on economic systems of these provinces. Sitaula has already briefed top political leaders about the first draft. And when they sort out minor disputes like pluralism and local government bodies, it will be presented in the CA for approval. 20 BACK SIDE 26 JUNE - 2 JULY 2015 #764 www.nepalitimes.com www.nepalitimes.com

What’s so funny?

ne collateral damage BTW, geology and geopolitics international government. from the earthquakes have more in common than  O(aftershocks ongoing we realised. Geologists have even as we speak) is that some now proven what some Nepali The real question preoccupying Nepalis seem to have lost politicians had been warning our lameduck ultra-national their famous sense of humour. us all along: that India is pushy. leaders about reconstruction is: Seriously, we’ve stopped In fact, it seems that the Indian who will head the body? Dr BRB, laughing at people slipping landmass has had expansionist who is currently headless, would on banana peels. It’s no joke. tendencies for over 75 million have been the perfect candidate, Slapstick humour that used to years ever since it broke away but his arch-rival Comrade make us LOL and ROFL till as from Gondwanaland, shed Awestruck feared @brb_laldhwoj recently as 24 April instead Madagascar and Mauritius along would gain too much political makes us feel like puncturing the way, and sailed northwards, capital and pulled the rug from someone’s gizzard. ramming headlong into China. under him. KPO suspected BRB For example, I fail to see the And this is where geo-tectonics would outshine and outlive him. humour in this alleged joke: and geo-politics converge because, And Kangresis were afraid the Doc as Founding Father of the Nation would actually help the millions Q: What is the difference Prithvi Narayan Shah recognised of people living out in the open between an astrologer and a long ago: “Nepal is a Bazooka and make the NC look like idiots. geologist? Bubblegum between two large Now that KPO and PKD have both A: An astrologer can predict the molars.” joined the Yellow Hat Sect, their exact time and date of the next The result of the Indian plate only worry is that Jhusil Da will earthquake. But a geologist can pushing us relentlessly against get too comfy and prolong his only give you a 100-year time the Eurasian plate is that we’ve stint, or that the Prez will throw frame. had no recourse but to go up. This a spanner in the works by siding Don’t laugh. The Federation was fine as long as it gave us the with the Supremo Court. of Nepalese Astrologists highest mountains in the world (Locktantrick) finds it absolutely which we could climb 22 times  unfunny because it’s true: without artificial oxygen, without So, this is what the gobblement Nepal’s asstrologers can’t just underwear, and wearing only flip- means by being “accountable”: forecast aftershocks to the exact flops in order to land ourselves kleptocrats keep careful accounts minute and second next Tuesday regularly in the Guinness Book of the cuts they get from the DIWAKAR CHETTRI DIWAKAR afternoon, they can even predict of World Records. But at the rate arabs and kharabs that have been its epicentre and Rectal Scale to we are being shoved around, in donated for earthquake relief. the nearest decimal point. another couple of million years, And since no internationals had Nepal will be flattened to a thin any confidence in the Prime zigzag wall about 5,000km long, Minster Relieves Fund, the PMO 25km high and a 100m at its hit on a cunning plan: get the widest point. Nepal Army, the APF, the Nepal This is already starting to Oil Corruption and the Nepal happen. As India and China come Electrified Authority to donate to closer, we have already lost Lipu it. So what if it’s like one hand Lekh. Along the Tarai, border giving to the other? At least there pillars have been sometimes is now a fat amount sitting there known to move northwards by as ready to be misappropriated. much as 50m in the course of one night. Nowhere else on the planet  is continental drift happening at There has been a lot of criticism such a rapid pace. At this rate, that GONe is indecisive. Far Buddha will have been born from it. Jhusil Da has proven more and more inside Nepal each himself to be a resolute and passing year, and we will have to speedy decision-maker. It is under adjust our time zone to make it 37 his watch that the government minutes ahead of Indian Standard moved quickly to ban relief Time instead of the current 15 for quake victims after June 3, minutes. The other piece of good imposed a 30% import duty on news is that the earthquake moved water purification units, told Mt Everest 1m to the south, Chinooks to go home, declared which means the world’s highest a one-year state of emergency in mountain is now wholly in Nepali Kathmandu to attract tourists, and territory. Lose some, win some. inaugurated buses with toilets on the Kathmandu-Pokhara route  thus declaring road transportation Political anal-yeasts in the capital to be open-defecation free. He are currently divided between also decided on lifetime car and those who favour a national chaufferus to ex-PMs. Besides the unity government and those Education Cluster who don’t. Most of us couldn’t or Logistics give a rat’s posterior. National Cluster, he may or anti-national, either way they decisively decide will purloin tarpaulin. In fact, on a Cluster on instead of setting up a national Cluster Bombs. government maybe we should (Oops, alleged have got together with Nepal’s joke.) donors this week and set up an The Ass CDO Regd No 194/056/57 Lalitpur, Central Region Postal Regd. No 09/066/67 Back to