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14 Return Of The Rana ? MAY 9, 2004 By Satish Jung Shahi VOL. 1, NO. 3 RPP boss Pashupati SJB Rana COVER : Kishor Kayastha (98510 52778) once again hogs the center- www.nation.com.np stage, and in style.

22 Nepal Is Now Big Business By Sushma Joshi The buzz of excitement around Nepal’s entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), its 147th member, has been tempered by a school of thought that warns of the dangers.

24 Deflecting The Defectors By Sushma Joshi The government move to send former Maoists abroad kills three birds with one stone: It ensures the security of defecting members, it gets rid of people who might be tempted back to COVER STORY the rebel movement and, most importantly, it potentially lures 16 Nepal’s Donors Fall Out Maoists away from the movement. By Akhilesh Upadhyay This week’s NDF merely showcased the long-festering ARTS & SOCIETY differences between Nepal’s donors: Europe firmly stands 28 Not Coming for human rights; United States and India are not about to Back Again By Sanjeev Uprety give up their national security concerns. The Pheri yogis, original spies of the nation and wardens against evil spirits, COLUMNS may soon be out of work. 9 34 New Nepali Dream 18 Bones Of 30 Great Expectations Contention By Yubraj Acharya By Sharan Marahatta Only after a sense of kinship is Nepal’s young team is By Suman Pradhan created will a Pahadi Bahun from going from strength to At this point in Nepal’s conflict, the Arghakhanchi empathize with a strength. But the big test, 18-point demand by the parties has Magar from Baglung and vice versa. says coach Roy Dias, comes emerged as the bone of contention It is this feeling of Nepaliness that in the ACC Trophy in June. between the monarch and the parties. will attract youngsters abroad to head 32 Women And back home. Militarization 26 Five Ironies On DEPARTMENTS By Seira Tamang Chinese Brassieres 6 LETTERS The decision to recruit women did not By Swarnim Waglé 8 PICTURE OF THE WEEK come from a sudden realization by the When Maoists say the United States 12 CAPSULES military that women are equal citizens intends to use Nepal to “encircle” or that there should be more adequate China geo-politically, they seem 33 CITY PAGE representation of women in the forces. unaware that the United States and 35 BOOKS: HALF A LIFE It emerged from the basic reality of China are already economically 36 KHULA MANCH: ROY DIAS needing more bodies in the fight against entangled in US$ 170 billion of annual the Maoist insurgency. trade. 38 LAST WORD Letters

Congratulations THE BUZZ WAS ALREADY THERE AND now after having seen your two issues, Nation Weekly, The Media House, Tripureshor, Nation seems to be on a roll. The layout Kathmandu, Nepal (Regd. 113/059-060). Tel: 2111102, 4229825, 4261831, 4263098 is attractive, the articles and analyses are well written, and worth the money. A EDITOR: Akhilesh Upadhyay [email protected] well timed debut. The high standards are CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Suman Pradhan evident, but can you keep it up? I’m op- COPY EDITOR: Tiku Gauchan STAFF WRITERS: Sushma Joshi, Satish Jung Shahi timistic. PHOTOGRAPHER: Sagar Shrestha DESIGNER: Suresh Dhami GEETA PARAJULI JARIBUTI, KOTESHWOR AD & CIRCULATION DIRECTOR: Krishna Shrestha MARKETING EXECUTIVE: Rameshwor Ghimire [email protected] CONGRATULATIONS FIRST OF ALL. IT CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Nripendra Karmacharya is incredible. There should be a search

SUBSCRIPTION: Ashish Bhattarai section on your website [email protected] (www.nation.com.np). Please add ar- cated on these grounds, I do not think the

PUBLISHER: The Mirror Media Pvt. Ltd ticles on movies, fashion (I know it’s subsequent 19 months of active involve- frivolous). ment can be justified. It has crippled AD ENQUIRIES: Tel. 4229825, 4261831, 4263098 COLOR SEPARATION: ScanPro, Pulchowk, 5548861, 5552335 PRABAL GURUNG democratic institutions in their very in- PRINTING: Variety Printing Press, 4278869 DISTRIBUTION: R.B.News Paper Traders, 4232784, 4244679 NEW YORK, VIA E-MAIL fancy. The post-October 4 anarchy illus- trates the lack of vision on the King’s part. I PICKED UP THE NATION WEEKLY THE A bold initiative is fine, when followed very first day it hit the newstands and was up with breadth of vision to take account CONTACT instantly bowled over — by the cover of the aftermath. The King’s sacking of www.nation.com.np (though the masthead stretching from one Deuba government and whatever has end of the cover to the other seemed little happened thence reminds me of the situ- off-putting to me), the layout and the gen- ation in Iraq. President George W. Bush eral quality of writings. I had wanted to knew that Saddam posed a grave danger We prefer to receive letters via e-mail, without send in a congrats note. But I said, hold to American interests, and hence had to attachments. Writers should disclose any on, because you had been planning for be disposed, but Bush’s vision didn’t ex- connection or relationship with the subject of their the issue for months and it was bound to tend beyond Saddam’s removal. Whatever comments. All letters must include an address be good. So I had wanted to check if you has happened since the toppling of the and daytime and evening phone numbers. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity and space. could sustain the quality. Looking at the dictator is there for all to see. E-mail: [email protected] second issue, it seems, you could. BISWAS BARAL Fax: 4216281 The article by Deepak Thapa was excel- RATOPUL, KATHMANDU Mail: Nation Weekly The Media House, GPO 8975, EPC 5620 lent. So was Suman Pradhan’s Tripureshor, Kathmandu, Nepal. (“Malinowski’s Diplomacy,” Mean- Good and bad about Nation while, May 2). Samuel Thomas’s in- YOUR SECOND ISSUE WAS DEFINITELY SUBSCRIPTION criminating take on the documentary better than your first—in terms of both E-mail: [email protected] Nation Weekly, The Media House, GPO 8975 “Bhedako Oon Jasto” was interesting the layout and content. Deepak Thapa’s EPC 5620, Tripureshor, Kathmandu, Nepal (and justified) (“As Long As You Film take on the ramifications of the King’s Tel: 2111102, 4229825, 4261831, 4263098 it,” Viewpoint, May 2). But don’t be October 4 move provided a new per- Fax: 4216281 complacent yet. There are areas that spective on why the parties are taking to Nation Weekly could improve on, like the streets. Similarly, Sushma Joshi’s ar- cutting down the section for the snip- ticle on Everest was different from the pets of news to one page and making the run of the mill write-ups one usually copy typos-free. comes across in most media journals (“A GOVINDA GHIMIRE Laboratory Known As Everest,” Everest, POKHARA, VIA E-MAIL May 2). Caroline Rodal’s piece, how- ever, seemed no different from the typi- The Royal takeover cal newspaper articles with its covert I AGREE WITH DEEPAK THAPA THAT pro-Girija tone (“Is This The Endgame?” subscription our political parties needed “that jolt, Breaking News, May 2). I wonder if (without which) our politicians would there really are thousands of non-parti- have continued in their business-as-usual san democrats in the country who “re- [email protected] mode, with consequences unknown for vere” Girija. Can any non-partisan demo- our country”—if not altogether with the crat really “revere” today’s politicians? view that the King was the right person, But, overall, your magazine definitely 2111102 or means, to provide it (“The October 4 does provide food for thought. Windfall,” A Little Word, May 2). Even HARI JAISWAL if the King’s October 4 move is vindi- SUNDHARA 6 MAY 9, 2004 | nation weekly

Picture of the Week

OUR GREATEST GLORY IS NOT IN NEVER FALLING BUT IN RISING EVERY TIME WE FALL

nw/Sagar Shrestha Meanwhile 18 Bones Of Contention

BY SUMAN PRADHAN

ing Gyanendra’s recent summons to individual politicians for Kconsultations to defuse the current crisis is eerily reminiscent of the past but with a key difference. Instead of trooping

to the Royal Palace, as they did three times before, the leaders of the But the King has thrown the ball in the parties’ courts, and they have five major parties, which are spearheading a pro-democracy agitation already sent a stinging rebuke. The danger now is two-fold. have refused to meet the King without first winning some concessions. The first is that, a chance at genuine dialogue could be missed. It While some of those concessions have already been made—re- sounds simple, but dialogue is always better than confrontation. The lease of Jana Morcha Nepal leaders and activists, scaling down of the parties should ask for a collective meeting with the King, and lay out their prohibitory orders in Kathmandu, etc.,—the key one has not: discus- position with a precise road-map of the future. The King should, in turn, sions with the King based on the parties’ 18-point agenda. In case you hold the dialogue in good faith, not just aim to increase his powers which have forgotten, the 18 points basically aim to reduce the monarch’s is at the source of the conflict with the parties. active role, limit the royal title, re-establish control over the Royal purse, And the road-map the parties propose should not confine itself to and somehow bring the Royal Nepal Army under parliamentary control. bits and pieces of the 18-point agenda but rather include the overarching In essence, the demands go to the heart of the conflict between the issues of the political and social conflict embodied by the Maoist insur- Palace and the parties. gency. This is where the second danger lies: in their attempt to limit the The Rashtriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) president, Pashupati Shumsher monarch’s role, the parties may forget that there are real bread and Rana, who is among the very few people to have the ear of the Palace, butter issues out there which the people want them to deal with. has said that the 18 points are a hindrance to a real dialogue between the monarch and the parties. The indication coming out of the Palace is: the parties should drop some of the most stringent demands and there could be reconciliation, perhaps even an all-party government led by nw/SS someone who is the parties’ choice. Clearly, at this point in Nepal’s conflict, the 18 points have emerged as the bone of contention between the monarch and the parties. The King sees his interest in retaining as much power and authority for him- self as he can, and the parties see theirs as being just the opposite. In this two-way tussle for supremacy, the Maoists—the third force in the conflict—are waiting in the sidelines, watching how the parties and the monarch play out their chess game. Their intention, no doubt, is to come in at some point and check-mate both sides. The rebels seem content at the moment to win some favorable press coverage, as with the release of the 41 policemen abducted from Pashupatinagar on April 8. Just the fact that the Palace has made overtures is being seen by the parties as a victory of sorts. Some of the politicians and activists I have In short, the parties should listen to some of their own activists and spoken to in recent days seem to believe that the street protests were supporters, people like CPN(UML) activist Bishnu Maden of Dhankuta, crucial in forcing the monarch to seek a dialogue. While this seems to be who know why there haven’t been mass participation in the protests, true to some extent, it is not the whole truth. and what needs to be done about it. Appearing dejected after a sparsely Without the impending embarrassment of a potentially unsuccessful attended party protest in Dhankuta Bazaar on a recent day, Maden said: Nepal Development Forum meeting, and without pressure to reconcile “This agitation has taken the character of a middle-class agitation, not from donors whether they be India, the United States, Britain or any an agitation of the masses. The reason is that the parties are not saying number of other European countries, the government (and by implica- what the people want to hear. People are more concerned with livelihood tion the Palace) would probably not have sought a dialogue at this point. issues. The parties have lost touch with the people’s aspirations. Now After all, despite all the hullabaloo raised by the press, the sad fact of the parties must reform if they are to survive. They must reform their the protests is that it is still devoid of the masses. They may have spread philosophy, their structures, and the way they do things. They have to out from Bagbazaar to New Road and Chabahil, but the protests are still democratize from within and allow for more discussion from the grassroots largely attended by the same politicians, activists, students and partisan up. The time to do this is now, not later after we win power back from the members of civil society groups. Palace.” nation weekly | MAY 9, 2004 9 We are one of the qualified paint Contractors and Importers- Distributors of Building Materials such as the various types of EXTERIOR INTERIOR paints and texture coating from Kansai Paint Co. Ltd, Japan. Berry Floor (The Wooden Laminate Flooring with the new “The Designer & Coating Specialist” technology of loc system) from Belgium. 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New envoy, old policy sitting in his palace chain- Obit to a reporter egg is inserted back into the James F Moriarty, the U.S. smoking, writing vaguely Pushkar Thapa, 30, a reporter uterus where the egg ambassador-designate, went worded speeches and, with Space Time Dainik, develops into a fetus. Unlike through a Senate hearing last Nepalese leaders and died on April 24, three days popular misconception, test week. “I promise to work in foreign diplomats say, after he was hit by a minibus. tube babies are not grown in close coordination with our keeping nearly everyone in Thapa was returning from a test tubes. The IVF proce- international partners to his anguished Himalayan news assignment at the dure will cost Rs. 200,000. assist the government of kingdom guessing.” The Federation of Nepalese Nepal in countering the Times quoted an Indian Journalists premises in Oxygen in the Valley Maoist threat,” Moriarty diplomat as saying, the King Sanchargram, Ring Road. Some months ago, newspa- told the Senate Foreign has managed to create a two- Kantipur quoted an un- pers ran stories of hospitals Relations Committee. “The front war for himself—one named eyewitness as saying running low on oxygen for Maoists commit serious with the Maoists and that Thapa was hit twice by surgeries human rights abuses another with parties. the bus. Many believe that during the through their policies of According to the newspaper the country’s Transport Law Maoist called systematic torture, murder, of records, the King treats drivers who kill banda in the kidnapping and extortion.” receives tips on what books pedestrians less harshly than Valley. This Each ambassadorial appoin- to read from Henry those who just knock them gave Shanker tee has to be confirmed by Kissinger, former U.S. down short of death. Lal Agrawal the Senate. If history is any secretary of state. the incentive indication, it takes any- Test tube babies to start where between several days Free at last Couples unable to conceive Shanker to several weeks for an The government last week will get a helping hand from Oxygen Gas. Around 57 ambassadorial appointment released Vice President of science soon. Om Hospital percent of some 700 liters of to be confirmed, a U.S. Janamorcha Nepal and Research Center in oxygen brought into the Embassy official told Chabahil will have an in-vitro Valley everyday is consumed Nation Weekly. Analysts say fertilization (IVF) center up for medical purposes. It is the U.S. policy on Nepal is and running from July. Most also used by metal workers, unlikely to change with the infertile couples have been high-altitude trekkers and departure of Michael E getting artificial insemination the aviation sector. Malinowski, who was not in Indian cities. IVF, the most particularly popular with common artificial reproduc- Shooting the sheriff the political parties. tive technique used the Mayor of Butwal Punaram world over, is the preferred Pokhrel last week became It’s the Times now method of choice for women the second city chief to have The New York Times last with fallopian tube defects been shot by the Maoists. week had a loud headline. and men with sperm Maoists had shot to death “Kathmandu Asks: Is deficiencies. It’s a four-stage Gopal Giri of Birgunj Gyanendra Smoking as Lilamani Pokharel, and process: a follicle-stimulating earlier this year for allegedly Nepal Burns?” “As an more than 20 others from hormone is used to stimulate refusing to give in to their intensifying Maoist insur- his party after 17 days in growth of eggs, which are extortion demands. Like gency kills an average of custody. Many said the removed from the ovary. The Giri, Pokhrel too belongs to nearly 10 of his subjects a move was long overdue eggs are then transferred to a the ruling RPP. Pokhrel, day,” said the Times, “King and quickly attributed it to laboratory dish after which a who was airlifted to the Gyanendra of Nepal has the pressure on the sperm fertilizes the egg. In capital, was fighting for his spent most of his time Royalist government on the final stage, the fertilized life when we went to press. two fronts—the support base of the five agitating parties (Janamorcha is one) is widening and the international community is increasingly disen- chanted with the govern- ment giving the cold- shoulder to the parties. Others see this as a prelude to an all-party government and insist that the days of the Thapa government are numbered.

12 MAY 9, 2004 | nation weekly New development “politicking,” have called a March too, to mediate the Hyundai sells 2000 cars The 14th Nepal Develop- Nepal banda on May 11 and release of the security Deep Lama became ment Forum slated for May 12. They have called for a personnel abducted from Nepal’s 2000th Hyundai 5 and 6 will take place on shutdown of educational Beni on March 20. vehicle owner in Nepal and time after all. The European institutions, government won himself a Cosmic donors who had earlier offices, business enter- Nigerians return Yingyang motorcycle from almost given in to the main prises, public organizations Three Star Club became the the vehicle’s distributors political parties’ demands to and a nationwide chakka first football team in Nepal AVCO International. W. S. postpone the forum have jam. The only vehicles to import international Min, Hyundai Motor now decided to stick to the which will be allowed to footballers when they India’s executive director schedule. In an attempt to ply the roads during the two recruited Ibrahim Babayaro quell the parties’ demands days are: ambulances, water Samuel and Adams Musa. that the NDF not take place tankers, fire brigades, Well, not quite. When we during the tenure of a non- vehicles belonging to the went to press, the news was representative government, press, garbage carriers and that the Nigerian duo the donors had asked the diplomatic missions’ refused to take the field parties to nominate a vehicles. over their disenchantment common prime ministerial at what they called poor candidate. The bilaterals, Free abductees quality of football played in Maoists freed 39 police Nepal. Three Star Club they had abducted from finished their game in style Pashupatinagar early last though, scoring 10 goals month. They were set free against Brigade Boys. in Guphapokhari, Striker Surendra Tamang Sankhuwasabha in the scored the first hat-trick of presence of human rights the Sahid Smarak league groups and the Interna- this season with five goals after holding an informal tional Committee of the to his name. In India, meeting amongst them- Red Cross officials. The football clubs-encouraged selves, said that their taking Maoists apparently gave the by the success of Chima says that they exported 536 part in the meet does not released policemen Rs.500 Okerie in the domestic cars to Nepal and recorded signify that they have given each as travel expenses. The league in the 80s-started a growth of 40 percent over up on their support for a ICRC had been in the signing up African players, the previous sales calendar representative government. forefront during negotia- mostly from Nigeria, year. AVCO sells over 600 The first NDF took place tions with Maoists in Ghana and Kenya. cars a year. in 1976 in Japan while the first NDF in Nepal took place in 2002.

Show it in India Nepali entrepreneurs and senior government officials will be on a road show in major Indian cities later this year to attract Indian investments. They will travel to Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkotta, Mumbai, and New Delhi in September. The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce

and Industry (FNCCI) and nw/SS Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) are the organizers.

Nepal banda The five agitating parties, to protest the Palace’s recent MAY DAY, MAY DAY: Trade union workers at a May Day parade nation weekly | MAY 9, 2004 13 RPP RANA?RETURN OF THE

Rana once again hogs the center-stage, and in style. Not only did he come out on the streets to oppose his own party’s government, there are now whispers that he is also the King’s choice for the next prime minister.

BY SATISH JUNG SHAHI light (“Prakash,” finance minister’s first he Kathmandu skies cleared on name) is dimming. Even the lotus Thursday, a day after heavy down- (“Kamal,” the Home Minister’s first T name) is withering,” he told hundreds pour. The barometer quickly soared to regular early-summer tempera- of party cadres from a makeshift stage tures and hovered in the higher 20s. erected outside Birendra International On the eastern edge of the Valley Convention Center in Naya Baneshwor. in Baneshwore, away from the The underlying message he seemed to government’s “riot-prone” area where convey to the party cadres: he can now the regular party protests were taking afford to take a potshot at powerful min- place, a man in his crisp white daura isters. suruwal and a thick, green belt made The streets this past week were rife his way on foot. Wearing black Nike with rumors over who would be the fu- sneakers, instead of his customary ture prime minister, ever since the pos- shiny leather shoes, he was constantly sible fall of the Surya Bahadur Thapa wiping perspiration from his fore- government started doing the rounds. head. Since April 22, the King has started meet- Rastriya Prajatantra Party President ing leaders from mostly smaller parties. Pashupati SJB Rana paused for a while Rana and Nepali Congress (Democratic) and drank from a tumbler that had been President Sher Bahadur Deuba were carried by his aide. Behind him were among the first Royal invitees. party cadres sloganeering for an all-party RPP hasn’t clearly spelled out its government. Unlike the protest in other prime ministerial candidate yet but Rana parts of Kathmandu, no one uttered a is making the right noise. If ever the elec- word against the King or against his Oc- tions take place, it seems he wants to tober 2002 move. oversee them. Suddenly scores of media persons “This government must go,” Rana surrounded Rana. Two photojournalists declared. “It is impossible to resolve the broke into a near-scuffle—one had got current crisis under the present circum- into the other’s picture frame. stances and the government has been a Rana once again hogs the center-stage, major barrier between the King and the and in style. Not only did he come out protesting parties.” on the streets to oppose his own party’s One of the protesting parties, the government, there are now whispers that Nepali Congress is set against Deuba’s he is also the King’s choice for the next possible appointment as the new prime prime minister. minister. “‘It is better to keep Surya “The sun (“Surya,” the prime Bahadur as prime minister rather than

minister’s first name) is setting and the have Deuba,’” a Deuba aide quoted nw/SS

14 MAY 9, 2004 | nation weekly nw/SS

MUSICAL CHAIRS: RPP style

Nepali Congress President Girija “We are not pulling the prime minis- Prasad Koirala as saying in reference to ter down as an act of vengeance,” says the NC supremo’s intense dislike for Chand, who belongs to the same faction Deuba. as Rana. Chand joined Rana last week in Koirala has gone on record to say that asking Thapa to step down. “We just want he wants the King to discuss the 18-point to create an environment for all consti- agenda put forward by the five agitating tutional forces to sit together and come parties in limiting the Royal perks and to an agreement.” privileges, and bringing the Army under Only last year, Thapa was the prime the parliament. The government com- engineer in pulling down the Chand plied with the demand of the protesting government, the first one to be appointed parties to release their cadres arrested by the King after he took executive pow- during the agitation and downsized its ers in 2002 October. riot zone. But the protests have turned Last Friday, at least 35 out of 45 RPP anti-King in recent days and the Rastriya central committee members decided to Prajatantra Party wants to cash in on that. call for a national council meet to renew “We want to take the mid-path be- its demand for Prime Minister Thapa’s tween the socialists and the commu- resignation. The Thapa faction re- nists,” says Jogmeher Shrestha, an old sponded by holding its own meeting a RPP hand. “We are against an active mon- day later and decided not to abide by the archy but we have to realize that the King party’s call. is also a power to reckon with.” Thapa is a tenacious politician as his- To be sure, the Rastriya Prajatantra tory proves and he still controls a size- Party is a party of former Panchas, and able following. “RPP joining the street most of its senior leaders enjoy some agitation isn’t the party line at all,” says sort of personal ties with the Palace. But central committee member Bhuvan it has always shown two strands—pro- Pathak, a Thapa ally. “It is just personal Palace and liberal—though the ideo- animosity spilling onto the streets but logical leanings are decided often by the government still controls the rural convenience. Prime Minister Thapa, base of the party.” once touted as a liberal, is a classic ex- When the party asked him to resign ample. early this year, Prime Minister Thapa had When the party faced the first demo- an easy answer: “I was never put into this cratic elections in 1991, it had two fac- chair by the party.” He instead managed tions—one led by Thapa and another by to collect 415 (out of 680) signatures to Lokendra Bahadur Chand. The two call a national council meeting and came together after humiliating results threatened to oust Rana from presi- in the elections. dency. nation weekly | MAY 9, 2004 15 Cover Story

NNEPAL’SEPAL’S

DDONORSONORS nw/Sagar Shrestha FFALLALL OUTOUT

16 MAY 9, 2004 | nation weekly This week's NDF merely showcased the long-festering differences between Nepal's donors: Europe firmly stands for human rights; United States and India are not about to give up their national security concerns

BY AKHILESH UPADHYAY participation in NDF’s preparatory ith the major political parties deciding to boycott meets last month. The donors had even gone so far as to ask ministers in the Thapa the much-awaited Nepal Development Forum, the cabinet to keep out of the NDF consul- donor meet slated for this week hit a roadblock tations so as not to antagonize the par- even before it got under way. While political parties ties. do not, by practice, directly influence the outcome Their rationale: The parties have W been pushed to the fringes, but they still of NDF, the donors had solicited their active nation weekly | MAY 9, 2004 17 Cover Story

have an important role to play in Nepal’s of a representative government. For a The 11 European donors, including development and their participation while, they even seemed willing to de- delegates from Norway, Denmark, Swe- would lend NDF a much needed legiti- lay NDF to let that happen. Britain, de- den, Switzerland, the Netherlands and macy at a time of deep political polariza- spite its solidarity with the Europeans the European Union, met at the Nor- tion. wegian Embassy on Thursday to chalk Donors do not make pledges for up their plan of action. After a long day, funds at NDF but they do discuss they decided to move according to sched- overarching development strategies with ule but only after asserting that human government officials at the forum—with rights and political reforms would fea- civil society representatives and politi- ture high up in their agenda in the fo- cal parties on the sidelines. rum, though some analysts see this com- The polarization of political forces promise as back-tracking on their ear- has also cut a wedge in the donor com- lier stance. munity. Japan and the Asian Development On one side are the Europeans, Ca- Bank, the largest bilateral and multilat- nadians and United Nations, who are eral donors, have largely remained silent extremely unhappy with the in the pre-NDF battle marked by loud government’s poor human rights record statements. and the attendant security situation, For their part, political parties con- which they believe will significantly af- tinue to stick to their guns: with a non- fect the development programs. “Human representative government in office, it NO THANKS: NC’s Acharya says it’s not rights abuse inevitably impacts the the right time to discuss development makes little sense to discuss issues of poorest and most vulnerable,” says Rob- good governance and forward-looking ert Smith, Deputy Chief of the British on human rights and a number of other development strategies, they say. funding agency, DFID, “so you cannot issues, decided to stick to the scheduled “NDFs are meant to give impetus to separate development and protection of date in line with the other two major Nepal’s development,” says Nepali human rights.” donors—the United States and World Congress central committee member Last week, 11 donors sided with the Bank which co-chairs the forum with Narhari Acharya. “Why discuss sundry parties in demanding for the restoration the government. technical stuff on development at a time nw/SS

Europeans are strong on human rights

18 MAY 9, 2004 | nation weekly nw/SS

Nepal’s leading donor is happy to remain silent

when the whole nation is embroiled in a cept international human rights moni- and protection of human rights. Human larger battle of defining its very polity? toring. But the Europeans still managed rights is very high on the UK agenda for And that too under a government that to keep Nepal in the dock through the NDF.” doesn’t have any legitimacy.” ruling from the Commission’s chairman India, which is not a member of the While the core issue of the who issued a binding statement asking NDF, has been invited to take part as an government’s legitimacy has been Nepal to accept international monitor- observer. No one questions either its around for sometime, the parties now ing of its human rights situation. role in influencing the state of affairs in sense that the King may even decide It is understandable that the donors Nepal or its concerns that poor security to give a fresh lease of life to the Thapa do not want to get caught up in the party- situation in Nepal will have a direct bear- government, whose days looked num- ing on India. New Delhi is increasingly bered last week. The parties have a concerned that Nepal’s Maoist insur- bagful of worries in the next few The parties have a bagful gency is having a spillover effect in its weeks, if the government does outlast of worries in the next few territory. the NDF: street protests against re- weeks, if the government Unlike the Europeans who see that gression have remained largely con- improvement of human rights situation fined to Kathmandu, and with the does outlast the NDF as fundamental to arrest Nepal’s down- NDF gone, the government will face ward spiral, the Indian reading of the less direct pressure from the donor government polarization and yet their Nepal situation is informed more by its community. position can be traced in their veiled lan- national security concerns, much like Nepal’s donors have been divided for guage. America’s. quite a while. NDF only brought forth “The government’s recent Human New Delhi, which has never appre- the inevitable public showdown in Rights Commitment paper was a welcome ciated international pronouncements on Kathmandu. development but it needs to be imple- Kashmir, fears that the international moni- Last month, during the Human mented and independently monitored as toring of Nepal’s human rights situation Rights Commission’s annual session in a matter of urgency,” says DFID’s Robert could be “an intrusive.” Outgoing U.S. Geneva, the United States and India lob- Smith. “Human rights abuse inevitably Ambassador Michael Malinowski, in his bied against the Swiss-sponsored Item impact on the poorest and most vulner- pre-departure, press meet, seemed to 19, which binds member-nations to ac- able. So you cannot separate development echo the Indian concern. nation weekly | MAY 9, 2004 19 ...... #...... #...... #......

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“Since it is always easier to investigate approach can even, inadvertently, play into ferences between the donors and the and to castigate established governments the hands of a violent and often brutal in- bleakness that surrounds the nation’s de- rather than insurgencies,” says Indian Am- surgency, by putting the legitimate State in velopment, Nepal Development Forum bassador Shyam Sharan, “such an intrusive the dock.” For the present, for all the dif- looks all set to move on time.

India believes that allowing international monitoring of human rights situation could be dangerous in that it is easier to investigate established governments than insurgencies. Britain, on the other hand, argues that international human rights monitoring would help improve Nepal’s ground situa- tion which is vital in implementing development programs. Indian Ambassador Shyam Sharan and Deputy Chief of the British funding agency, DFID, Robert Smith spoke to Nation Weekly ahead of the National Development Forum.

What is your response to the resolu- Parties are saying that this gov- tion on Nepal in Geneva? ernment is illegitimate and there- There was no resolution adopted at the fore a meet so important as NDF UNHRC in Geneva. India did, however, join should be withheld until a repre- the international consensus reflected in the sentative government takes of- Chairman’s statement on the human rights situation in Nepal. fice? It is for the government to decide the timing of NDF. The decision by What is your position on NDF, now that the the Parties not to participate represents a missed opportunity and parties have called for its postponement? will make the NDF less representative and inclusive. This is a pity. India is not a member of the NDF, but has been invited to partici- pate in its deliberations as a major economic partner. It is for the The previous NDF meetings were marked with fair bit of Nepal government to decide whether the meeting should be post- optimism. What is the mood like before this NDF? poned, not the donors. In its current difficult situation, Nepal I think it fair to say that the mood is different and reflects the needs the sympathy and support of the international community difficult situation in which Nepal finds itself. We are approaching in facing both the security and economic challenges confronting NDF with some real concerns related to the operating environment it. in which development partners are working. The environment is becoming increasingly difficult and NDF represents an opportunity Your thoughts on the human rights situation in Nepal for open discussion between partners and government about those The armed forces must be convinced that adherence to human concerns and ways in which progress can be made towards devel- rights norms is one of their most effective weapons to fight insur- opmental objectives in a conflict impacted environment. gency successfully and not a constraint that weakens them. This Unless something is done to agree and define different approaches would be far more effective than adopting an intrusive approach, to service delivery in an environment where large parts of the insisting upon the right to investigate and to judge alleged cases, country are inaccessible through traditional government delivery of such violations. Since it is always easier to investigate and to systems, there is a real risk that the development process will castigate established governments rather than insurgencies, such stall. an intrusive approach can even, inadvertently, play into the hands of a violent and often brutal insurgency, by putting the legitimate Britain has on more than one occasion said that politi- State in the dock. cal parties should have a bigger role in governance? Democratic, accountable and open government is central to ef- What is the solution to the present crisis? fective development. We continue to urge those concerned to find India’s own experience in dealing with insurgency clearly indi- a way to bring about representative and multi-party government. cates that a military solution is usually neither probable nor even The development and governance agendas are intertwined and possible. The armed forces can only help create a space within will inevitably come together in the NDF discussions. which political process can be activated for a negotiated solution. We believe the same applies to the current situation in Nepal. What is your position on the human rights situation and conflict in Nepal? How do you view the political parties? There is no military victory possible for either side (Maoist or the It is clear that there can be no multiparty democracy without the government). The move towards peace and a negotiated leading role of political parties. India has taken a consistent posi- settlement must be accelerated by all those with the tion, that the two pillars required for Nepal’s political stability are best interests of the Nepali people at heart. It has to start with the institutions of constitutional monarchy and multiparty democ- a resolution of the current impasse involving the political par- racy and that to successfully deal with the challenge of Maoist ties. insurgency, the security offensive must be accompanied by com- The government’s recent Human Rights Commitment paper was ing together of all constitutional forces on the basis of a national a welcome development but it needs to be implemented and consensus. independently monitored as a matter of urgency. nation weekly | MAY 9, 2004 21 WTO

TAKING ON THE WTO: Anti-WTO protestors in Cancun, Mexico, last September just before the WTO conference broke down

only allowed entry much later. The rules and regulations, therefore, are geared to help countries with stronger economies NEPAL IS and trading systems. A huge chunk of Nepal’s economy is based on subsistence agriculture, and is non-taxable and non-commercialized. NOW BIG Small farmers, who used to receive sub- sidies for pesticides and chemical fertil- izers in the 1950s, were cut off from sub- sidies as the 80s brought a new era of liberalization and privatization. BUSINESS The fertilizer story illustrates how liberalization might not work for coun- tries where basic monitoring institu- BY SUSHMA JOSHI tions are not yet in place. In the 1980s, Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani, the cur- rent finance minister, ushered in the he buzz of excitement around Nepal’s entry into the Nepal Fertilizer Policy, which cut off World Trade Organization (WTO), its 147th member, public subsidies. Private companies T took over the import of chemical fer- has been tempered by a school of thought that warns tilizers. The lack of controls soon led to sub-standard products being brought of the dangers posed to Nepal’s economy ers, lobbies for small farmers. “Not all in. The government then nominated in- by the new international membership. countries are on the same playing field. dividuals with no training to be “fertil- Will the WTO membership harm or Some are stronger than others.” The ba- izer inspectors” to make sure the prod- benefit Nepal? This depends upon who sic problem, says Sedai, is that the WTO ucts were authentic, and not manufac- is asking the question, and who is an- is a spin-off of the General Agreement tured at unregistered factories. A small swering it. on Trade and Tariffs (GATT), an inter- bribe, however, was enough to get the “It’s a question of interpretation,” national organization whose rules were paperwork certifying quality. The farm- says Dr. Gopi Sedai, who is with Pro- designed for industrialized countries. ers had no legal institutions to complain Public, an organization that, among oth- The least-developed countries were about the sub-standard fertilizers be-

22 MAY 9, 2004 | nation weekly ing pushed onto them by private com- access to international funding. But derived from highly funded research panies. small-scale farmers would lose. projects, but his model of lost livelihood Nepali farmers, who today fund Bhattarai, who is researching the is concrete enough. their own fertilizers and pesticides, are privatization of health care systems in Small business-people who see at a tremendous disadvantage vis-á-vis Nepal, observes that even the rudi- larger corporate houses taking over multi-national corporations and even mentary public health care system that their traditional turf are also con- small farms from countries like the is in place will be in danger of collaps- cerned. In Khokana, the hub of United States whose farms are heavily ing if the WTO’s conditionalities are Nepal’s mustard oil industry, hun- government-subsidized. to be imposed. dreds of small oil presses have gone The industrialized nations are not Small farms and health-care are not out of business as industrial houses averse to protecting their own domestic the only institutions at risk. Basic ser- have taken over their market. “Busi- economies. “The WTO says its mem- vices like water, electricity and telecom- ness is not like it was before,” says bers cannot have trade barriers, but if you munications, which are currently state- Suryabahadur Maharjan of the look at the actual practice of developed run, may have to be privatized under Khokana Oil Mill, shaking his head. countries, they have many laws that re- WTO’s arm-twisting policies. The Asian “We used to sell a lot more before.” strict free trade,” says Sedai. He points Development Bank, which is providing Maharjan has seen the insidious work out that raw milk, which would be very a $40 million loan to Nepal, has asked of globalization first hand, as the oil expensive to airlift from other countries, that the Dairy Development Program in crop of Khokana has given way to has zero tax in the United States, but yak Pokhara be privatized. those from France and Denmark. cheese, which would sell very well, has “Three to four lakh litres of milk is History proves that catering to big an approximate 400-500 percent tax consumed daily in Kathmandu,” says Dr. business is not always good for the poor. slapped on it. Sedai. “Around two lakh families pro- After the garment factories of Kathmandu “I cannot answer whether the WTO duce this milk. If that were to be com- lobbied the government to lower taxes membership would benefit or harm mercialized, a multi-national could take on imported raw cloth, the market be- Nepal in general,” says Anil Bhattarai, over a village, pay a high salary to two came flooded with cheap cotton from a community health researcher at Mar- managers, hire 30 laborers, and keep India. Small handloom farmers found tin Chautari. “But I can tell you how it cows that are engineered to produce a their woven clothes were out of reach will affect specific groups.” The WTO, lot of milk. The milk will become much for even middle-class families. Today, he says, would significantly benefit more expensive. Thousands would lose even the cotton homespun dhoti worn trading classes and people who have their livelihood.” Sedai’s figures are not by Padma Kanya students are imported from India. The gap between rich and poor gets worse with liberalization, say its crit- ics. In Nepal, where employment op- portunities are not being created, people will lose their traditional live- lihoods to multi-national corporations. Thousands will end up being displaced to industrialized countries as cheap la- bor. Sources at international organizations are also concerned about the impact of WTO laws on intellectual property rights, on wildlife, herbs, and traditional and indigenous knowledge. As with any other package, the WTO one is a mixed bag—richer countries can ask truant states to impose environmen- tal and health standards on level with international ones, providing benefits to all people in the long run. But the harm far outweighs the benefits, observe its nw/SS critics. “The WTO is a group that protects the interests of big business. We are go- ON THE WAY OUT: Oil mills like this one ing to them and begging them to let us in Khokana already have a hard time in, promising to conform to their rules competing with foreign companies and and regulations,” says Dr. Sedai. their future looks even worse nation weekly | MAY 9, 2004 23 Work Force DEFLECTING THE DEFECTORS

The government move to send former Maoists abroad kills “The Army gave me Rs. 25,000 for three birds with one stone. It ensures the security of de- cremation expenses,” she says in her soft voice. She declined to go back to fecting members, it gets rid of people who might be tempted the village to live with her mother-in- back to the rebel movement and, most importantly, it po- law, preferring to be close to her brother’s family in Kathmandu instead. tentially lures Maoists away from the movement She received Rs. 900,000 in compensa-

BY SUSHMA JOSHI Nepal One, a television channel, re- ita Basnet lives alone in a rented cently showed a program in which the room in Dhumbarahi with her Royal Nepal Army sends off a defecting R Maoist to the Gulf. The former guer- three-month-old baby. Her teen- age niece comes over at night to sleep rilla gave an extensive interview about with the 22-year-old and her infant so his disillusionment with the Maoist they won’t be alone. She had been mar- movement and leaders. After being gar- ried for six months, and pregnant for five, landed with marigolds, and given a warm when her husband Dambar Bahadur hug by the security personnel to show Basnet was shot and killed by Maoists. there were no hard feelings, the lucky Rita is not alone. Hundreds of other man was sent off towards a plane with young women, many of whom have of- Arabic letters. In the last scene, the tri- ten been married for less than a year, have umphant man moves in slow motion been widowed by the civil conflict. The towards the stairs that will fly him to his increasing number of widows include destination. both the wives of security forces as well The move by the government to send as the Maoists. The government, in an former Maoists abroad kills three birds attempt to provide for the young wid- with one stone. It ensures the security ows of security forces, has initiated a new of defecting members, and it gets rid of program which sends them to work people who might potentially be abroad. tempted to join the rebel movement On January 25, the Armed Police again if they are left without any options Force (APF) and the SAARC Secretariat of employment. Most importantly, it jointly organized a new initiative to give potentially lures people away from the employment to wives of slain security Maoist movement. personnel. Fifteen widows were flown It was very likely a group of disaf- to Maldives to start work at the Maldives fected young men without employment Industrial Fisheries Company. Ten wid- opportunities who were recruited to ows of the APF and five of the Nepal shoot Rita Basnet’s husband to death. Police accepted the offer. Dambar Bahadur, 25, an Army havaldar To work abroad is a common Nepali was returning from the post office on dream, which lures thousands out of the his bicycle in Tikapur, Kailali. Four country every year to try their fortune Maoists, dressed in school uniforms and from the Gulf to North America. Now mixing with a crowd of students, shot the overburdened government has, in an him fatally. His body was brought over ironic twist, harnessed this dream not to his pregnant wife at 2 a.m. She was only to provide for young widows, but helicoptered, along with his body, to also to rehabilitate former Maoists. Kathmandu the next morning. 24 MAY 9, 2004 | nation weekly tion. About Rs. 150,000, she says, would have opportunities within the coun- life, with children being sent to work as have to be paid as “tax” to the Maoists if try itself, by getting recruited in domestic workers in middle-class she were to live in the village. places like factories, police and the homes in the cities. “We advocate for labor migration of Nepal Agricultural Development Not all widows, however, are jump- widows of not just Army personnel but Bank. ing on the migrant bandwagon. Rita also so-called Maoists,” says Lily Thapa, Activists who support women’s Basnet was offered the chance to work director of Women for Human Rights. rights to work abroad say widows in Malaysia by the Army. Five months Her organization has specifically advo- should have the right to go and work pregnant at that time, she declined. cated for women’s rights to get passports abroad without restrictions. These The Army, as part of its compensation without their guardian’s signatures, a re- opportunities would give them finan- package, must offer her a job that gives quirement which still exists in the law. cial stability, and a means to support her Rs. 3,600 a month for seven years, Many widows have a difficult time get- their children at a time when the after which she can retire and get a pen- ting their fathers-in-law to sign the pa- economy offers little employment to sion. “I would rather stay here and be pers required for them to get their travel women. with my son than go work in another documentation. The argument that sending women country in difficult conditions,” she “But I am not in favor of sending abroad to work would break up families says. women to work outside the country and dislocate them is false, they say. Most en masse,” Ms. Thapa adds, saying families split by conflict are already fac- (Names have been changed to protect women widowed by conflict should ing dislocation and disruption in family identities.) nw/SS

WAR WIDOWS: Widows of slain personnel are given compensations by the govern- ment but that does not make a livelihood nation weekly | MAY 9, 2004 25 Writing On The Wall FIVE IRONIES ON CHINESE BRASSIERES BY SWARNIM WAGLÉ

n February, the influential U.S. Trade Representative, Robert Zoellick, went to Beijing to Iacknowledge “tremendous accomplishment” in Chinese reforms since 1980. As Russia tried to join the WTO, Zoellick wanted China and the United States to coordinate their

stances in Geneva, on terms for their lion of annual trade. That’s 30 times the No nation proves as spectacularly as former enemy’s entry into the club. On GDP of Nepal, which shares a mere post-Maoist China how much the world handling Russia, Mao and Nixon had a three percent of the long borders of has changed in the past three decades. It similar conversation 30 years ago in the China, a nation 90 times larger in size engaged in 15 years of negotiations to join thick of Cold War enmity. Nixon felt he and 55 times in population. This is an the WTO. Its trade with the United needed to engage China as a great, pro- age when sorties of American bombers States was less than US$8 billion when gressing nation, and not as the “epicen- begin in England or Louisiana—not the process began; it had increased by 20 ter of world revolution.” Mao had Mustang—and return to England or times in 2003, when its growth rate itself agreed, saying Maoist anti-imperialist Louisiana the same day. And on last crossed a phenomenal nine percent. A remarks were “empty cannons” anyway. count, China had 14 neighbors that sur- voracious market, it is now wedded to Yet, in the jungles of the Nepali Mid- rounded it. Had Nepal not been Tibet the United States to drive the global West, we have compatriots dying and and India-locked, we could so easily economy this century, the couple already killing in the name of Mao, likening their have been out of the Beijing radar. Who creating 12 trillion dollars of annual out- territorial “acquisitions” to Hunan and is going to ask our comrades to relearn put as a combined capitalist juggernaut. Hubei. “War is politics by other means,” their geography and history? Brian This unhappy, but durable, marriage is the Chairman said. But this was 66 years Hodgson, the British resident in Irony Number Three. Recently, George W Bush slapped restraints on import of Chinese bras, tak- Maoists say the United States intends to ing advantage of a safeguard clause that China accepted in order to join the glo- use Nepal to “encircle” China. They seem bal trading system. Restrict inflow of bras from China, but see if you can sell unaware that the United States and China the Chinese as much soybean as possible: are already economically entangled this is Bush trade policy. And, if you can have the Chinese pay for American fis- cal and current account deficit by buy- ago, long before he was to tease Nixon Kathmandu observed in 1842 that the lat- ing 100 billion dollars of U.S. securities, saying he preferred dealing with right- est news about Chinese actions vis-à-vis even sweeter. It is trade as the driver of wing leaders for their predictability. This the British in Canton (and Afghan ac- globalization that binds nations today. is Irony School One. tions in Kandahar) would influence how Trade in bras and beans, Cognac and cars, When Maoists say the United States polite Hanuman-Dhoka was to ideas and patents, matter more than trade intends to use Nepal to “encircle” China Lainchour. Did the crazy royal court of in tirades (empty cannons, as Mao called geo-politically, they seem unaware that King Rajendra, then, assess world real- them). In contrast to the big example of the United States and China are already ties better than today’s Maoists? This is Iraq, stuff about bras and beans is small, economically entangled in US$ 170 bil- Irony School Two. but they are better illustrations of the

26 MAY 9, 2004 | nation weekly Then Now

THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGING: Post-Mao China, in stark contrast to its Communist past, is a superpower whose exports like cheap bras have infiltrated global markets

nature of today’s frontlines that limit or der the Ming, reduced a fantastic navy of threads,” Nepali feminine marks, to stretch other wars. This is Irony School 3,500 vessels to zero). Some argue the groups not supporting their cause. Call Four. economic decline of China began with it an impolite wake-up call. For refusing Of course, the Chinese appear care- this withdrawal in the 16th century, and to get it, for defying reason and human- ful not to let rising economic freedoms the nation could only be revived after ity, for having stopped reading good reform what Amartya Sen clumsily calls Mao’s death 430 years later. But, what books since the 1970s, I suggest Maoist political unfreedom. The New York are we picking from our big neighbor’s ideologues deserve similar dispatches. Times reported on April 20 that the U.S. grand history? So archaic is our learning The orator Pradip Giri, of the Nepali Vice President Dick Cheney negotiated that the Chinese themselves are shy to Congress(D) notes how being an under- to speak live and uncensored on Chi- call the Maoists of Nepal by name. I was ground leaders is like being held “im- nese TV during last month’s visit, but told in Beijing that they are simply mobile in a spider web,” distanced from his printed remarks were freely edited “rebels” on state TV. This Irony Num- reality. To show a glimpse of today’s for troublesome words like freedom. ber Five is cruel to our Maoists who have world to comrades in tropical spider Regardless, in 2008, by way of hosting become a minor embarrassment in the holes, why not deflect to Lucknow and the Olympics, China will make a splash land of their own namesake. Siliguri the next cargo of Chinese bras on the world stage. Just like its giant ships In the 1990 People’s Movement, ac- that George W Bush no longer wants. paraded on the Indian Ocean 500 years tivists apparently adopted a gender-in- This, alas, is the irony that shall never ago (until bizarre imperial decrees, un- sensitive gesture of sending “bangles and be. nation weekly | MAY 9, 2004 27 Arts & Society

Pheri—which means “again”—gave the Not Coming ritual its name. Prithvi Narayan Shah also used such Pheri performing jogis as spies of the Back Again state. Since the jogis visited the houses during the night, and re-visited them early in the morning to collect ritual of- The Pheri jogis, original spies of the nation and wardens ferings, they were obviously in an excel- lent position to collect information and against evil spirits, may soon be out of service keep an eye on the criminals. The con- cepts of secular and religious protection BY SANJEEV UPRETY No wonder, there are so many untamed were thus fused together during the 18th violent energies and spirits in Nepal.” century. By performing their second ilbar Nath Yogi, a professional Dilbar Nath’s bitterness is then directed role as spies working for the government, performer of the dying Pheri at contemporary political leaders. “Prime they played their part in protecting the Dritual, is a permanent fixture in Minister Thapa, like Girija, or Nepal, or people from thieves, swindlers and other Taudaha. Every year for the past 28 years, Deuba before him, is unable to tie the suras criminals. Dilbar Nath, who hails from Morang, of the nation,” says Dilbar Nath. “The line Today, however, these original spies has visited the village on the south-west- of protection is broken. Evil spirits and of the nation have no place in the spy ern edge of Kathmandu Valley to con- ghosts are wandering around the Army networks or systems of surveillance set duct Pheri. camps and Maoist holdouts. Violence is up by both the government and the The 55-year-old Dilbar Nath wears a spreading in all four directions.” Maoists. Modern systems of surveil- red cap, and carries a long iron trident Dilbar Nath Yogi belongs to the Nath lance are based on classification and in- wrapped in red cotton. He blows a wind community. The guru of all the Naths is terpretation of visible data rather than an instrument made of the horn of Gorakhnath who is also considered to be evocation of invisible deities. Dilbar Krishnasagar and chants mantras to set up an emanation of Lord Shiva. It is popularly Nath says that he might not come back a mystical circle of divine protection believed that Gorakhnath’s blessing enabled to perform Pheri at Taudaha from next around the houses in Taudaha. It is be- King Prithvi Narayan Shah to win over nu- year. “There is no incentive or encour- lieved that such a ritual wards off illness merous kingdoms and unify Nepal in the agement for us Pheri jogis,” he says, “and and famine and prevents evil spirits and ghosts from entering the houses within the circle. “When the four suras or the tones of the house become disjointed its psychic defense is breached,” Dilbar Nath explains. “It is through such a breach that misfortunes, evil spirits, and ghosts enter into houses and cause mischief.” His task is to tie the four suras—a word that signifies for him both inaudible cosmic sounds as well as the four directions to which they are linked. Dilbar Nath complains that his pouch—containing salt, turmeric pow- der and various herbs—was seized by the

security officers during his bus trip from nw/SS Morang to Kathmandu. Maoists had killed about a dozen policemen in an am- bush the night before and the police 18th century. That is why Gorakhnath’s with the younger generation seeking wouldn’t take any chances while check- name is still engraved on Nepali coins. other opportunities, the tradition of ing the luggage of those coming into the Dilbar Nath says Prithvi Narayan Shah first Pheri is dying out gradually.” Since their Valley. “But I need my pouch while initiated the practice of the wandering work—as spies of the secular world and chanting mantras,” laments Dilbar Nath. Naths who went around the towns and vil- protectors of the spiritual one—no “They took away my pouch even after I lages performing the ritual of Pheri. longer has any value, people like Dilbar explained to them that I was not some When the people saw that Pheri was Nath have become marginalized in the terrorist but a Pheri jogi and showed protecting them from evil spirits and ill- nation’s march of modernity. It seems them my iron trident and my nesses, they asked the Naths to “come likely that the call for the “again”—or Krishnasagar horn. The government’s back again” to perform the ritual. This future performances of Pheri—will spies and security men are inefficient. demand for repeated performances of gradually fade into oblivion.

28 MAY 9, 2004 | nation weekly

Cricket

two one-day matches—the last one dur- ing its recent Zimbabwe tour. People Great Expectations expected wonders when it upset Paki- stan in the 1999 World Cup. Obviously, the failing fortunes of Nepal's young team is going from strength to strength. Bangladesh has a lot do with the ICC’s determination to put its associate mem- But the big test comes in the ACC Trophy in June bers—those outside the Test club—to the rigors of the longer form of cricket before giving them the Test baptism. This exposure is expected to narrow the gap between the top Test playing nations and rest of the cricketing world. Nepali cricket officials, who are re- luctant to admit their shortcomings in Bangladesh, aren’t at least complaining. The consensus seems to be that Nepali players, while skilful, are woefully inad- equate in their tactical game-plan. Bats- men, for example, still don’t know how to pace their innings and bowlers are good only for short bursts, not sustained spells. The domestic league introduced in 2002 has been limited to 50 overs-a-side. President of the Cricket Association of Nepal Jay Kumar Nath Shah doesn’t believe that Nepal’s Bangladesh campaign was a letdown, but he admits, “We’ve strongly felt that it would be simply too difficult to achieve our goal (of gaining Test status) unless we rise above the con- nw/SS ventional training regime.” He adds, BY SHARAN MARAHATTA tue of its first innings lead. But the Ma- “We’re planning to add services of a phys- laysian team was roundly beaten at home. iotherapist and psychologist to the team.” eldom have Nepal’s cricketers Now UAE travels to Malaysia to decide No wonder then, taking into consid- come under this kind of media the final standing. UAE had beaten eration the high endurance level that these Sglare. No sooner were critics Nepal on all four previous encounters. three-day games demand, the team coach done with their dissection of the disap- The 12 teams in the Intercontinen- Roy Dias had geared up the training regi- pointing Under-19 World Cup outing tal Cup have been pooled in four cat- men. A closed camp put players under in Bangladesh early this year than it was egories: Asia, Americas, Europe and Af- long sessions of training each day. Dias is time for the national side to brace up for rica, with Nepal, UAE and Malaysia mak- also trying to put up a well-drilled team a major encounter. In a three-nation con- ing up the Asian region; Canada, the plan where every single player knows test, Nepal was pitted against Malaysia United States and Bermuda the Ameri- what exactly is expected of him. and UAE, both of whom looked better cas; Holland, Scotland and Ireland the For the moment, he is all focused on than Nepal, at least on paper. European pool; and Namibia, Uganda the ACC Trophy, which starts on June It was also the first time the young and Kenya, Africa. Two teams from each 12 in Malaysia. ”I’m really looking for- team—it had several players from the U- pool will advance to the second leg that ward to the ACC Trophy,” Dias told 19 team that had played in Bangladesh— will be played in UAE in November. Nation. “And if we put in a good perfor- was getting baptized in the longer ver- The competition has been widely mance there, I will be very excited about sion of the game. In the Intercontinental regarded as a warm-up for bigger and the future of Nepali cricket.” Cup, Nepal would play two three-day better things: the first step to the elite Nepal is pitted against Bhutan and matches—an away-match against UAE in Test club. Cricket’s world governing Iran in Group D. The top two teams in March, followed by one against Malay- body, ICC, conceptualized this tourna- the 15-team event will qualify for the sia at home in April. ment in view of Bangladesh’s run of dis- 2008 Asia Cup featuring India, Pakistan, Nepal performed commendably in mal performances since its elevation to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, and for the both the encounters. It managed a draw the No. 10 Test playing nation in 2000. ICC Trophy to be held next year in Ire- against UAE, though UAE pocketed 18 Bangladesh, for all its early promise, land. The ICC Trophy serves as the points, as against Nepal’s 14, by the vir- has lost more than 20 Tests and won only qualifier for the World Cup.

30 MAY 9, 2004 | nation weekly

Viewpoint Women And Militarization

The decision to recruit women did not come from a sudden realization by the military that women are equal citizens or that there should be more adequate representation of women in the forces. It emerged from the basic reality of needing more bodies in the fight against the Maoist insurgency

BY SEIRA TAMANG A closer attention to the dynamics of militarization and the influence The induction of women in the Royal Nepal Army (RNA) in armed, non- of military values into society during this time of instability is necessary. technical positions including the military police has received wide ap- The military is one of the most, if not the most, patriarchal of institutions. proval. Feminists and others have seen this step as a major victory for It is run by men, for men, according to masculine ideas. Military recruiters the empowerment of women and an added challenge to the stereo- and trainers play on young men’s desires to prove their manliness. The types of women only being fit for domestic work. link between ‘combat’ and the construction of ‘manhood’ exists through- Strangely enough, the connection between the ongoing militari- out the world. Soldiers in basic training are told to run faster, to not run zation of society and the abrupt decision to include women in armed “like a girl,” to lift more weights because “their grandmother could lift positions in the military has not raised any questions. The decision more,” etc. To prove one’s manhood is to prove that one is not a to recruit women did not come from a sudden realization by the woman. Military life is built on a foundation of belittling all that is female. military that women are equal citizens or that there should be more Feminists point out that with the military built on such women-hating adequate representation of women ideology, it is no wonder that men rape in the forces. It emerged from the during wars and that military wives as basic reality of needing more bodies a population are more prone to being in the fight against the Maoist insur- beaten by their husbands. gency. Military forces embody and legiti- The history of other militaries in mize violent attitudes and behaviors. times of war and insurgencies has That women now also have equal op- shown that women are recruited portunity to kill and injure is a ques- when recruitment of men do not tionable “victory.” Yet prominent fe- match up to the required levels of male activists have called for widows labor power. Recruiting women for of the conflict to be recruited into the certain positions such as computer military in various roles. One has and signal operators enable militar- stated that this RNA initiative coun- ies to “free men to fight.” RNA head- terbalances claims by Maoists that quarters had asked for applications 40 percent of their cadres are women. from women for various positions in- Forgotten in the current congratu- cluding computer/signal operators latory atmosphere of women being re- and drivers. Will they, as in other mili- cruited into the Royal Nepal Army is taries, be mainly assigned to posi- the fact that women are now able to tions of clerk and secretary? Is this directly contribute to the country’s mili- really a chance for Nepali women to tarization process. Women are actively show that they do not lag behind participating in legitimizing the state men in any sphere—as stated by definition of “security” in which the pur- one renowned feminist? chase of new guns and ammunition is Women have historically joined the more important “for the well-being of military for varied reasons. These in- people” than the supplying of staff and clude the need not just to demonstrate patriotism or learn military skills, medical supplies to health posts. but also to leave suffocating families and villages, and delay marriages. Militarization is an ideological process which legitimizes violence. Free shelter and food, a steady paying job, medical care, etc., are also Whether it be soldiers, or wives of soldiers who take care of the family clear incentives for many. In Nepal, it is likely that basic economic so soldiers can be “free to fight,” or women within the military institution benefits are the most powerful pull for the majority of potential female working “for security,” all are playing roles in the legitimization of vio- army recruits. lence, and in the military as a solution.

32 MAY 9, 2004 | nation weekly City Page

and with a renewed faith in Nepal’s BUDDHA GALLERY mystical powers. A thorough medical ART GALLERIES AND ZEN CAFE examination revealed no signs of cancer whatsoever. “I got a second GALLERY NINE, LAZIMPAT chance at life which made me believe Sound of hope. An exhibition of There is a new art gallery in town in miracles. I see my future in Nepal paintings by Manish Lal Shrestha where artists can showcase their work and I can think of no other place that I Till May 9 without having to pay for space, thanks would call home,” says Cho. to Korean photographer Cho Go At the Zen Café people can read, relax SIDDHARTHA ART GALLERY, Dam’s Buddha Gallery and Zen Café and eat; and at the Buddha Gallery BABARMAHAL REVISITED in Thamel. Cho Go Dam says, “I want artists can showcase their work for An exhibition of photographs by this gallery to be a meeting place for free. The gallery will formally open to Wayne Amtzis titled “Still Life/Street artists and art lovers, where we can the public on May 4. Life”. Till May 3. For information: share our ideas and promote art and For information: 4422915(T), 4414607. culture in Nepal.” Cho’s love- 981041182 (M) relationship with Nepal goes a long SRIJANA CONTEMPORARY way back. He first ART GALLERY, KAMALADI came to Nepal in Paintings and sculptures by prominent 1984 during a contemporary artists as New Year’s gift trekking expedition. exhibition. Till May 13. For informa- He was diagnosed tion: 4247889 with stomach cancer later that year and INDIGO GALLERY was given only six Healing elements Acrylic paintings by months to live. He Chungo Tsering and Reiki carpets by came back to Nepal Rupert Smith to visit Muktinath, one of the holiest GALLERY MOKSH (inside Hardic Club sites in the country, compound), JHAMSIKHEL and after the trip he Diary of portraits by Carolyn Boch emerged healthier spanning 1996-2004: Over 40 portraits of people met in Nepal. Till May 15. MOVIES THEATRE For information: 2113339

Lazimpat Gallery café: May 4--Green NAGA THEATRE, HOTEL VAJRA Mile, May 6--Gladiators “Fire Raisers” an English adaptation of the contemporary drama “Biedermaan Martin Chautari und die Brandstifter” by Swiss Let’s talk men: 4 documentaries by playright Max Frisch. directors from Nepal, India and May 7, 8, 9 at 7:15 p.m. Bangladesh on the burden of being a man For information: 4271545

Main Hoon Na: Starrring Shah Rukh RUSSIAN CULTURE CENTER Khan, Sunil Shetty, Sushmita Sen, Students of Rato Bangala School will Zayed Khan and Amrita Rao stage “Macbeth”, May 7-9 Showing at: Jai Nepal, Gun Cinema, Gopi Krishna, Barahi Movies SURYA LIGHTS GRIND

Freedom to do the Jive, Tango, Mambo & other moves that don’t have a name yet. International DJs, dance acts, 40,000 watts of pulsating music & cool blue water. Venue: Poolside, Hyatt Regency Date: May 8 Time: 2 p.m. Price: Rs. 300 nation weekly | MAY 9, 2004 33 Letter from America New Nepali Dream

Only after a sense of kinship is created will a Pahadi Bahun from Arghakhanchi empathize with a Magar from Baglung and vice versa. It is this feeling of Nepaliness that will attract youngsters abroad to head back home

BY YUBRAJ ACHARYA someone who attends the most elite school in Kathmandu have in hanks to the Maoist war, an increasing number of youngsters common? Not much. Definitely not language, not ethnic group and seem interested in Nepali politics. But the number is still too in some cases not even religion. Now, what obliges me—a Pahadi T male from a Bahun family—to think for a Magar from Baglung, my small. To state that very few consider returning to Nepal in the future will not be so much of a generalization. neighboring district? I do not see anything. I am surrounded by graduates from some of the best schools in We never had a strong democracy to take pride in as a symbol of Kathmandu. Many say they do want to return, but there is always a national identity. We do not have a homogenous society—with the lingering qualifier: “if things get better,” or “not in politics, though.” same language, culture and religion. The attempt by our course Sometimes online-forums get charged with political discussions, but books to force into us the concept of nationality—to the extent that our involvement in national affairs is limited to just that. there is a chapter on Prithvi Narayan Shah, in one subject or the Every Nepali student in the United States need not be interested other, from the fourth grade all the way to the tenth grade—has in politics and need not return to Nepal. After all, it is a question of simply failed. Until recently, many believed the King to be the symbol personal interest. However, it goes beyond the general what-will-my- of unity. But this construct has now come under a closer scrutiny. kids-think-later dilemma, political instability, and the lack of employ- While the street agitations get more intense by the day and the civil society and the political leadership discuss an outlet to the present crisis, the issue of nationality, national unity, or one of “the Nepali Dream” is too urgent to be ignored. No matter what system we have in the future—a republic or a multi-party democracy—the success of the system—our success—rests on the level of affinity we have towards each other. If a person from Kathmandu, for instance, cannot sympathize with the agonies of a person from Rolpa, the war like the one we have right now is bound to recur. That affinity can no longer emanate from our culture, language, ethnicity, a political institution, and the like. That affinity—the Nepaliness—can emerge only through a new Nepali ethos built on the foundations of decentralization, affirmative action, gender equality, educational reform and transparency. WORLD APART: Nepalis in the United States at an annual Any solution to the present crisis will be fleeting gala in Denver last year if, after the present crisis is resolved, we continue sajha.com in our old path. It is only after that sense of ment opportunities back home, to something missing from all of us. kinship is created will a Pahadi Bahun from Arghakhanchi empathize And that something, to borrow a phrase from a friend, is “the idea of with a Magar from Baglung and vice versa. It is that feeling of Nepali Dream.” Nepaliness that will make youngsters abroad to head back home, to If you speak against democracy in an American college, you will be involved in the decision-making process, to protect the country be surprised to see how many people get offended. What offends from malaise. The central role of the civil society and intellectuals a Nepali? Someone calling him an Indian? Probably not. A now is to create this Nepaliness. significant number of our population lives in Terai. And many of us look similar to the Indians. What does a middle-class SLC graduate (Acharya is an undergraduate student at Swarthmore College, from Doti, who has a hard time understanding Nepali, and USA)

34 MAY 9, 2004 | nation weekly Letter from America New Nepali Dream

Only after a sense of kinship is created will a Pahadi Bahun from Arghakhanchi empathize with a Magar from Baglung and vice versa. It is this feeling of Nepaliness that will attract youngsters abroad to head back home

BY YUBRAJ ACHARYA someone who attends the most elite school in Kathmandu have in hanks to the Maoist war, an increasing number of youngsters common? Not much. Definitely not language, not ethnic group and seem interested in Nepali politics. But the number is still too in some cases not even religion. Now, what obliges me—a Pahadi T male from a Bahun family—to think for a Magar from Baglung, my small. To state that very few consider returning to Nepal in the future will not be so much of a generalization. neighboring district? I do not see anything. I am surrounded by graduates from some of the best schools in We never had a strong democracy to take pride in as a symbol of Kathmandu. Many say they do want to return, but there is always a national identity. We do not have a homogenous society—with the lingering qualifier: “if things get better,” or “not in politics, though.” same language, culture and religion. The attempt by our course Sometimes online-forums get charged with political discussions, but books to force into us the concept of nationality—to the extent that our involvement in national affairs is limited to just that. there is a chapter on Prithvi Narayan Shah, in one subject or the Every Nepali student in the United States need not be interested other, from the fourth grade all the way to the tenth grade—has in politics and need not return to Nepal. After all, it is a question of simply failed. Until recently, many believed the King to be the symbol personal interest. However, it goes beyond the general what-will-my- of unity. But this construct has now come under a closer scrutiny. kids-think-later dilemma, political instability, and the lack of employ- While the street agitations get more intense by the day and the civil society and the political leadership discuss an outlet to the present crisis, the issue of nationality, national unity, or one of “the Nepali Dream” is too urgent to be ignored. No matter what system we have in the future—a republic or a multi-party democracy—the success of the system—our success—rests on the level of affinity we have towards each other. If a person from Kathmandu, for instance, cannot sympathize with the agonies of a person from Rolpa, the war like the one we have right now is bound to recur. That affinity can no longer emanate from our culture, language, ethnicity, a political institution, and the like. That affinity—the Nepaliness—can emerge only through a new Nepali ethos built on the foundations of decentralization, affirmative action, gender equality, educational reform and transparency. WORLD APART: Nepalis in the United States at an annual Any solution to the present crisis will be fleeting gala in Denver last year if, after the present crisis is resolved, we continue sajha.com in our old path. It is only after that sense of ment opportunities back home, to something missing from all of us. kinship is created will a Pahadi Bahun from Arghakhanchi empathize And that something, to borrow a phrase from a friend, is “the idea of with a Magar from Baglung and vice versa. It is that feeling of Nepali Dream.” Nepaliness that will make youngsters abroad to head back home, to If you speak against democracy in an American college, you will be involved in the decision-making process, to protect the country be surprised to see how many people get offended. What offends from malaise. The central role of the civil society and intellectuals a Nepali? Someone calling him an Indian? Probably not. A now is to create this Nepaliness. significant number of our population lives in Terai. And many of us look similar to the Indians. What does a middle-class SLC graduate (Acharya is an undergraduate student at Swarthmore College, from Doti, who has a hard time understanding Nepali, and USA)

34 MAY 9, 2004 | nation weekly Books Baring It All Boo A Nobel Laureate’s Fictionalized Life Mark REVIEWED BY SWARNIM WAGLÉ

alf A Life” is a work on studied non- with the invention of failure, the other Hchalance to conformity, to this need life that he knows he partially avoided, of self-respecting men across societies to Naipaul succeeds. “In Half a Life” we have pretend that life is going on fine when it three distinct voices narrating happenings is not, when to admit so is sacrilege, and a in India, England, and Africa. It is the fi- life of emptiness continues to be led. nal section that is particularly joyous Naipaul deconstructs this through a tal- where, as the Nobel citation puts it, ented character blessed and cursed in Naipaul “unites perceptive narrative and equal measure by circumstances beyond incorruptible scrutiny to compel us to his design. He gives public confession of see the presence of suppressed histories.” under-performance a new sort of respect- There’s an awful lot of sex in the novel. ability by saying that awkward things do Mostly, it is of the imprudent variety: happen to innocent people. And he whis- Willie tactlessly seducing women who pers this in a tone of devastating fatalism. belong to his friends, or sleeping with in- Naipaul’s protagonist, William sulting prostitutes in London and girls Somerset Chandran, has an uncanny re- with tight breasts in Mozambique. Willie’s semblance to the author himself. In 1956, early years with Ana mark some pleasant Willie, son of a Brahmin and a sister of an discoveries, but it is only through brazen untouchable radical from a princely pro- infidelity at the age of 33 that he finds bliss. tectorate in India, lands a schol- Willie spends 18 years with Ana, and yet arship at a London college, that predictable product of most thanks to his father’s comical marriages isn’t even men- fame as the man who attracted tioned. A painful conversation tourists by keeping a vow of si- occurs when a graceful Ana lence. Willie finds the bohe- confronts an indifferent Willie mian atmosphere of the about his indiscretions. Even immigrant’s London in the 50s she is not spared the humilia- Raj Bhai Suwal mildly liberating. He experi- tion at the end. wenty-three-year-old Preeti Sitaula, ments with sex, scorns his clos- Sir Vidiadhar Surajprasad Twho was crowned Miss Nepal last est relations, reads Naipaul declared the novel year, is an unconventional reader. At a Hemingway, and gets pub- form of narration dated five time when most people her age might lished. He then falls in love years ago, foretelling that his be reading bestsellers and modern with Ana, an heiress to an Af- next creation would introduce writers, here's a youngster who's into rican estate, and follows her to a colony a new style. “Half A Life” does this by Shakespeare and medieval writer where they spend 18 uneventful years. The ending without a climax, without a reso- Geoffrey Chaucer. She is currently country is unnamed, but the overdone lution, with Willie becoming incorrigi- reading "Othello." The first book she Portuguese pedigree and other clues give bly unfaithful, divorcing Ana, and flying ever read was "Romeo and Juliet," it away as Mozambique. to Germany to meet his sister Sarojini. when she was in the ninth grade. For Willie’s career in the book is not il- Naipaul’s books apparently don’t sell Preeti, "The Letter A" is a must, a book lustrious. Certainly nothing like the well, not in big numbers. The market- about a child who fights physical Naipaul we know today—an accom- place for his readership is diverse, but it disability and manages to write the plished life adorned with a Booker and a is a skeptical crowd without a huge, loyal letter "A" with his toe. And why is it Nobel, and a giant so tall that a reviewer core. It is easy to appreciate Naipaul be- her favorite book? Because Preeti too in his country of adoption recently de- cause nobody writes like him. But to is the kind who will not give up easily: clared, “In the canon of contemporary admire him, people need to see in him a she's a go-getter! Not surprisingly, her British writing, he is without peer.” Willie partial reflection of themselves, almost favorite literary character is the wife of is the Naipaul who never became, but connect with his origin in a humbled, Bath-that feisty feminist from Geoffrey could easily have, given how he himself ignored land, or his attempt to Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales." The portrays fate dragging complete lives of reconfigure his relation to his roots with book that has had the most impact on

promise to mediocrity. If the intention is the luxury of distance.N her: "Shakespeare in Love." to allow a convincing merger of honest PILGRIMS BOOK HOUSE reportage from a life that he knows best 4700942 BY PRATEEBHA TULADHAR nation weekly | MAY 9, 2004 35 Khula Manch The Man Who Sees Tomorrow

epal’s cricket team is gradually making its Npresence felt in the international arena. Cynics may argue that as a South Asian nation Nepal was bound to make a mark sooner or later. India and Pakistan have been there for a long time. Recently, Sri Lanka achieved the land-

mark, and Bangladesh followed. But that’s like Coach Roy Dias

saying Brian Lara’s 400 against England Lanka has one of the best cricketing have had to work with them. But for in the recent series came in a flat school structures to tap younger the last one and half years, we have wicket, well after the West Indies were players. Nepal still has a long way to young players coming in and even the pulverized by the opposition. The fact go. national side hasDr. two Prakash or three Sharan young Mahat is that Lara still needed to score those guys because we have the under-15 and runs. Has your experience as a player in under-17 tournaments. The seniors are Sri Lanka helped in establishing a under pressure because of the young- A lot of credit for Nepal’s recent structure here? sters. success should go to coach Roy Dias, When we were young, under 13, we former Test player for Sri Lanka. Dias had very fine coaches who had no What have been your major talked to Satish Jung Shahi of Nation certificates as such but introduced disappointments as a coach? Weekly about Nepal’s standing in the coaching the way they knew cricket. So far none. Many say it was the loss international circuit, and how the Maybe in a year or two, quite a few with Scotland in the Under-19 World young players are shaping up. coaches will come up in Nepal. Cup (early this year) but I say Scotland isn’t a weak side as they How do you rate Nepal among non- already have professionals playing the Test playing cricket nations? A coach in Sri Lanka county circuit for a long, long time. I Nepal is among the first three. UAE is asked a journalist to name his top a very strong side followed by Hong doesn’t have to teach three batsmen. He named Rahul Kong because they have a lot of Sanath Jayasuriya Dravid. And where did Rahul Dravid expatriates playing for them. Among play top class cricket? In Scotland. these three, one will be promoted to how to bat or (Marvan) Scotland even played in the World play one-day cricket. Everything will Attapattu how to bowl. Cup in 1999. depend on the ACC Trophy that will In Nepal, it’s different. be played in Malaysia (in June). Who are the top players in Nepal? The seniors are already there but if Does Nepal have any advantage What is the role of a coach you compare up and coming young- over UAE and Hong Kong? in cricket? sters, I think Sharad Veshwakar and Yes, because UAE will have a lot of It’s different in each country. A coach Paras Khadka from the Under-15 Pakistanis playing for them and Hong in Sri Lanka doesn’t have to teach and Under-17 will be future players Kong the expats. Nepal can only go up Sanath Jayasuriya how to bat or that could do so much for the because we have our own young (Marvan) Attapattu how to bowl. In a country. They have a long career players unlike UAE and Hong Kong country like Nepal, it’s different. ahead. where the players might return to their country once they get older. Does Nepal have that critical mass What are your future plans? of players to form a well-rounded I am just taking it tournament by How far is Nepal from national side? tournament and we need to keep getting Test status? What has happened to Nepal is that we improving. The ACC Trophy (in Sri Lanka got its test status in 1979 and have a maximum of 13 or 14 school Malaysia in June) will be our litmus we played our first Test in 1982. Sri kids with a certain aptitude and we test.

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The Media House , Tripureshwor, Kathmandu GPO 8975, EPC 5620tel: 4229825, 4261831, 4263098 fax: 4216281 [email protected] www.wordscapeonline.com nation weekly | MAY 9, 2004 37 Last Word Development Dilemma

t his pre-departure interaction gives us a new opportunity to re-assess Awith the press two Mondays ago, our development priorities and make a American Ambassador Michael statement on how the differences be- Malinowski was conspicuously calm and tween the political entities and the atten- composed, displaying a quality some dant poor human rights situation inevita- people he has worked with don’t always bly impacts development. And how best give him credit for. The previous week, a we can utilize aid in these desperate times. newspaper had claimed that he was being We were much encouraged when unceremoniously recalled by Washington, diplomats based in Kathmandu told us eight months before his scheduled de- that human rights will be their top agenda parture. So the press conference (though at NDF. The government, on the other Malinowski had initially insisted that ev- hand, insists that issues of human rights erything was “off the record”) at the U.S. and development cannot be boxed to- Embassy spokesperson’s residence at gether and Nepal, at this point, needs Chundevi came on the heels of a blazing foreign aid and not the politics that come controversy. with aid (the government spin is “D” Still, when the question of his recall stands for “Development”). But that’s a House on Rent inevitably popped up, Malinowski rather limp argument. seemed well prepared. He The insurgency has killed made a point to stress that more than 2,300 people since his successor, James the ceasefire collapsed in Au- Moriarty, was named gust; human rights group, months ago and that his was INSEC, puts the daily toll at only a routine departure. In 12. And we have every reason the heat of the moment, it to believe that a lot of the dead was easy to miss perhaps the were innocent. We are not An ideal and new family house for rent at Shankhamul, New more important message: singling out the security Baneshwor with all modern facilities including: n West faced 2.5 storied fully furnished (optional) building in that there was going to be no forces—Maoists have to take 1 ropani compound with basktball court. n Ground floor with living (16x18), kitchen (10x10), dining (10x8), policy shift in the way Wash- their fair share of the blame— guest room (12x10), study room (12x12) and bathroom. n 1st floor with 1 master bedroom (14x14) with attached bath- ington viewed Nepal’s in- but we do strongly believe room and dressing room (10x10), 2 bedrooms (12x12 each), surgency. that a representative govern- bathroom and terrace. n 2nd floor with 2 rooms and big terrace. While we still have rea- ment is more likely to feel n Sufficient water supply (underground), hot water facilities (Solar), and a toilet outside the building. sons to doubt Malinowski’s claims about the public pressure to correct its wrong Rent negotiable, contact Shambu or Meena his recall (diplomats we have talked to than the current one. Some donors, espe- Tel.: 4782543, Email: [email protected] since his departure continue to tell us cially the Europeans and Canadians, sup- conflicting stories), there is little ground ported the call for postponing NDF to to question him when he says that the make way for a representative government U.S. policy on Nepal will remain un- within a timeframe. But the more im- changed. portant ones, like the United States and And therein lies our concern. The the multilateral agencies, saw no need to United States continues to view Nepal’s postpone the development jamboree. The Maoist insurgency through the prism of underlying argument is Nepal needs sup- its global “war on terrorism,” as it once port in its development efforts no matter again did at the UN Human Rights what the cost of the conflict. But it is worth Commission’s annual meet in Geneva reflecting how the development dollars last month, when it almost scuttled the can reach where it matters most—the European attempt to bind Nepal to in- grassroots—if large parts of the country ternational human rights monitoring. We remain inaccessible. Who says develop- believe that America’s fixation with ter- ment and politics are not tied up? rorism has given cover to many govern- ments, like ours, to justify their own crackdown on human rights. The National Development Forum, which brings Nepal’s donors together, Editor

38 MAY 9, 2004 | nation weekly Board Meeting &More Club @@Himalaya

The Resort, Windy Hills, Nagarkot, Bhaktapur, Nepal Tel: 6680045 - 47/80/83 | Fax: 6680068 E-mail: [email protected]

Hotel Ambassador, Lazimpat, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: 4414432, 4410432 Nagarkot Resort E-mail: [email protected]

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The Resort, Windy Hills, Nagarkot, Bhaktapur, Nepal Tel: 6680045 - 47/80/83 | Fax: 6680068 E-mail: [email protected]

Hotel Ambassador, Lazimpat, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: 4414432, 4410432 Nagarkot Resort E-mail: [email protected]

cover.pm6 1 5/2/04, 1:07 AM cover.pm6 2 5/2/04, 1:08 AM