#51 13 - 19 July 2001 20 pages Rs 20 MUSIC, NEPALIALIALI MODERN STYLE 10-11

Under My Hat Visit Nepal 20

EXCLUSIVE War budget Finance minister Ram Sharan Mahat had no choice but to give the army and police hefty increases in the budget. The army got a 17 percent raise to add up to Rs4.52 billion, about Rs445 million of which is to be spent on hardware. The police (including the armed police) allocation went up even more: 27 percent over last year to Rs5.79 billion. Of that, Rs500 million is for equipment like guns and helicopters. The total security budget is now Rs10.31bn—ten percent of the total. “I had little choice,” Mahat told us. “The Maoist activities have been harming the economy, they have targeted industrial production.” What this means is less money for health, education and other services. It is a Catch-22, the most effective weapon against the insurgency is development, but there is less money for it because more is diverted to fighting rebels. The test of the budget is the implementation. And that depends entirely on the insurgency. On that also hinges the ability of the government to keep investors that are already in the country, and attract new ones. Despite pressures to keep the deficit narrow, projected to be about a third of the total Rs99.79 billion, Mahat has managed to address one of the main problems faced by exporters. He has decided to introduce the “pass book” system and make duty refunds at the customs points rather than from the central coffer—a system that has been a total failure. Back payments are to be handled by issuing exporters five-year debentures at a five percent interest rate. SUBHAS RAI

use original hp inks and paper “You will enjoy more democratic rights under the New Democracy than you are enjoying today.” Nothing more, or less. Will the reactionary ruling classes hand over state power through a Baburam Bhattarai, Politburo Memberrevolutionary process in terms of human casualties, “negotiated settlement”? You should ask them. and Chief of the Foreign Relations we feel the “price” paid by the Nepalese masses so Department of the Communist Party far in the six years of the people’s war has been NT: The government says your party is not of Nepal (Maoist) replied in English rather on the lower side. Such “prices” in genuine serious about dialogue, how can we be to written questions sent last week by revolutions are paid in millions, and not in convinced that you are? Nepali Times. The Maoist leader thousands. Do you remember the French BB: Our Party has time and again expressed Revolution? Considering the power and prestige its readiness for a meaningful dialogue if the replies forthrightly on issues such as gained by the poor and oppressed masses of the the royal massacre, future of the government creates a conducive atmosphere, at Nepalese countryside during the past six ye ars, the least by making public the conditions of the more peoples’ war, policy towards “price” paid for has been definitely worth it. than 200 “missing” persons from the government development aid and trade, the Nepali custody, among other things. But the government Always Clear monarchy, and the “donations” his NT: Is your armed struggle going to be a has repeatedly backed out of it. Rather, it has Always Sharp party is raising from businesses. continuous strategy or do you see the real resorted to more fascist measures like the Following is an unedited transcript ofpossibility of that ending for, say, a negotiatedpromulgation of the so-called “Public Security the faxed response: settlement? Regulations 2058 BS”, which practically negates all BB: Whether the armed struggle will be waged the fundamental and democratic rights won by the till the very end or not, depends not on our pious people in 1990. So how can you blame us on the * Stay away from imitations and refills wishes but on the objective and subjective question of dialogue? Nepali Times: After six years of the peoples’ conditions of the revolution, particularly on the Authorised Distributor: war and over 2,000 Nepalis dead, do you thinkpolicy of the ruling classes. Our openly stated goal is it has been worth the price paid so far? the total state power for the oppressed masses. ComputerLand Building, Ramshah Path, Kathmandu Baburam Bhattarai: Though it is anachronistic Tel: 431199, 431746, 430858-9 Fax: 430641 to attach a “price” tag to an epoch-making Email: [email protected] See p. 3 The Total Solutions Company Ö

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Biratnagar Pokhara ~ With 6Mbps bandwidth -- fastest Internet access in Nepal one world. one link. Narayanghat ~ Over 700 telephone lines -- no busy signals ! ~ 2 VSAT Stations at different locations -- no “link down” ~ Reliable and friendly customer support www.wlink.com.np NATION 13 - 19 JULY 2001NEPALI TIMES 333 raise taxes from them and make a much betteruse of them. From p. 1Ö “The ‘price’ of the people’sNT: The little we knowwar of the NCP(M) is economic worth and development strategy isit” what you wrote in a booklet Politico-economic rationale of the Peoples’ War some years ago. What is your present policy regarding the economy, thousands of Nepalis are going to be affected. Why are you out to wreck thedevelopment aid and trade? NT: So, do you see a possibility of the CPN (Maoist), as was the case of the BB: The basic outline of the New Democratic economic development strategy is JVP in Sri Lanka, being a powerful parliamentary party? economy? provided in the booklet cited by you and other documents of the party. To recapitulate BB: No, the CPN (Maoist) is not the JVP of Sri Lanka. There is absolutely no BB: This is another sinister propaganda fanned by the enemies of the revolution. It is quite amusing that the reactionary ruling classes who have wrecked the country and theit very briefly, we intend to usher in vibrant, self-reliant, independent, balanced and possibility of the CPN (Maoist) turning into a parliamentary party. That would be a great planned economic development in the country primarily through a radical land reform betrayal to the revolutionary aspirations of the masses. economy beyond repair are accusing us of the crime they have shamelessly committed. Are we Maoist communists responsible for reducing the country to the second poorest statusprogramme based on the policy of “land to the tiller” and national industrialisation. Our basic thrust would be to completely dismantle the retrograde semi-feudal and semi- NT: Your party has put forward the theory that Indian and US intelligence in the world? Are we responsible for the rampant poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, inequality, backwardness and corruption? Are we responsible for the industrial decline,colonial production relations in agriculture, industry and trade, and to develop a new agencies conspired to encircle China. Is that a credible hypothesis to explain type of national capitalist relations oriented towards socialism. We would definitely the palace murders? trade deficit, debt trap and foreign dependency? When the whole economy is sluggish and declining because of retrograde production relations, how can only tourism flourish? maintain trade and financial relations with all the countries in the world based on BB: That is not our “theory”, but an objective fact, acknowledged by US imperialists equality, mutual benefits and national needs. and Indian expansionists themselves. You should read the CIA-sponsored reports that NT: Related to this is a question on the puritanical drive your party is enforcing forecast China as another superpower by 2025 and the main rival to the US. Also, you to ban alcohol, or the demands like the nationalisation of schools. Do you NT: Where is the “peoples’ war” headed from where we are now? should recollect the much-discussed statement of the then Indian defence minister George really believe such actions will be sustainable in the long run? BB: Given the acute crisis faced by the ruling classes and the rising mass support for Fernandes that China was the main danger to the security of India. Everybody knows the BB: Please do not mistake us to religious fanatics like the Taliban. Our guiding the revolutionary forces, the people’s war is definitely heading towards greater success in hasty ganging-up between the US and India, specially after the collapse of the USSR, the days to come. If the current trends of staggering military victories and surging mass primarily designed to encircle China. In this changing global and regional geo-strategicphilosophy is dialectical and historical materialism. We have no agenda of puritanical fads like the alcohol ban. Of course, we occasionally launch campaigns against social evils likesupport continue, the revolution will achieve final success sooner than expected. Of calculus Nepal occupies an important place due to its geographical and historical setting. course, the danger of external military intervention, particularly from Indian Hence the imperialists and expansionists would not tolerate any regime, political forcealcoholism, or gambling, prostitution, pornography, etc. Please note that campaign against “alcoholism” is not the same thing as “alcohol ban”! As regards to the question of expansionism, is also looming large. But we are confident, ultimately the people’s war leader in Nepal that refuse to dance to their tunes. They are dead scared to the prospect of will triumph. a Maoist communist revolution in Nepal, and King Birendra had to pay the price withnationalisation of school education, everybody would agree that this too is no his life for his liberal attitude towards the people’s war led by the CPN (Maoist) and for“communist” agenda. When most of the advanced capitalist countries have nationalised NT: What support and links do you have with fraternal revolutionary parties his traditional closeness towards China. This is the hidden truth behind the palace school education, why should not a poor massacre on June 1, 2001. country like ours do the same? If you agree elsewhere in the world and in what ways are they helping you in your that education is not a privilege but a right struggle? NT: Also, isn’t it premature to declare a republic in Nepal now, especially afterto every citizen, it is only logical that the BB: We enjoy good political and moral support from all the Maoist parties and the genuine and spontaneous display of support for Constitutional Monarchystate in should provide equal access to organisations of the world, particularly those united in the RIM (Revolutionary Nepal after the royal tragedy? education for everybody. This is not Internationalist Movement). Also we enjoy moral support from many other anti- only “sustainable”, but a must for every BB: It is not premature but rather too late to declare a republic in Nepal. The imperialist and anti-expansionist forces in the region. civilised society. institution of traditional monarchy has collapsed, partly under its own weight and partly NT: What is the committee you have formed for South Asian Maoist under the pressure of the imperialist and expansionist forces. It is just ridiculous and NT: You advocate national industry historically out-dated to attempt to raise another monarchy for the benefit of the coordination expected to do, launch a South Asia-wide struggle? and end to multinationals. Can this BB: Yes, a Coordination Committee of Maoist Parties and Organisations of South imperialists and the expansionists. The spontaneous mass protest after the murder of Kingapproach be defended in the age of Asia (CCOMPOSA) has been launched on July 1, 2001 to unify and coordinate the Birendra and his entire family was primarily against the conspiracy behind the killingseconomic and globalisation? Or is your aim revolutionary process in the region. As South Asia is developing into one of the post partly for King Birendra’s liberal attitudes and patriotic leanings, and not in favour ofto create a state like North Korea? You are potent volcanic centres of revolution in the 21 raising another fake dynasty. That is why our Party, the CPN (Maoist), has called foralso said to be raising “donations” from institutionalising the newly born republic, which is gaining wide support among the the same industries you oppose. people all over the country. BB: If your are familiar with economic NT: Many genuine and honest Nepali politicians, education and developmenthistory, there is no separate age called the “age of workers have been attacked by your party just because they don’t agree witheconomic globalisation”, but only the age of you. Is that the future you are looking at for governing the country? imperialism. We are in the age of imperialism for the past 100 years now. So we need not be BB: This is a canard spread by the enemies of the people and the country to malign over-awed with the imperialist propaganda of the the ongoing revolution. We challenge you to prove with facts such baseless allegations.so-called globalisation. And we have only said we st century, this initiative of CCOMPOSA When the whole purpose of the revolution is to establish genuine people’s democracy,are or for a self-reliant economic development, like all has been very timely and significant. We are all strengthening and expanding New Democracy, for the overwhelming majority of the people, how can we prosecutethe developed countries are. Self-reliant CCOMPOSA which is destined to play an historic role in the South Asian region. somebody just because he disagrees with us? Please be assured you will enjoy more development does not mean an anarchic democratic rights under the New Democracy than you are enjoying today. development. Self-reliant development is not NT: How are your present relations with the communist parties in Nepal: the only sustainable, but it is the only economic UML, ML and the nine smaller left parties? NT: And do you think the approach (of suppressing dissent) will be development model that is sustainable. And BB: We have a good working relationship with all political forces in the country sustainable especially when openness and debate are values Nepalis regardwhy should you pose North Korea as the only highly? which are opposed to anti-national and fascist Girija Koirala and Gyanendra Shah negative example? Are not there more than 100 cliques. We are trying to further consolidate that relationship. BB: The “openness” and “debate” you talk about today are monopolised by a countries, that too are very “democratic”, miniscule majority of the privileged and the opulent classes, and the vast majority of thewhich are much worse off than North Korea NT: Can you give us more details of the “contact” with King Birendra, people are totally deprived of them. The ongoing people’s war is meant to ensure sucheconomically? Is not North Korea or Cuba through Dhirendra Shah, which you had mentioned in your previous “openness” and “debate” to all such deprived masses of people, and not only to the much better off than the banana republics

SUBHAS RAI statement? privileged few. Hence be assured that the New Democracy, or the people’s democracy, patronised by the World Bank or the USA? As BB: Yes, Dhirendra Shah had approached us on behalf of his brother King will be more “sustainable” than this fake democracy you see today. regards to the bogey of “donations” from Birendra, to express concern about the impending danger from Indian expansionists and the industries, we could certainly like to to try to build an understanding among the patriotic forces in the country. Our Party NT: You have not attacked tourists directly or targetted tourism, but it is beingbreak the monopoly of the reactionary forces to hurt badly by publicity of the insurgency. Once tourism suffers, hundreds of representatives had several rounds of talks with him. It would be historically important to record it publicly that, in his last meeting with our representatives just weeks before the royal massacre, Dhirendra Shah had expressed danger to his and other royalties’ life. This is one of the concrete proof we have about the larger conspiracy for the royal Regulations and the Act by legal massacre on June 1, 2001. History will definitely unfold the real truth some day… practitioners who know what they are talking about. Although supposedly targeted against the Maoists, the legal experts say the PSR will do very little to curb their activities. some action this time. And we can start with our tax office staff who are Instead they are afraid the PSR will government against journalists, millionaires many times over. be used against journalists,dalit LETTERShuman rights activists and PSR andjanajati activists and politicians who have nothing to do Name withheld on requestwhen the crowd really went wild. CK Lal’s venture out of town tomainstream get politicians by local with Maoist terrorists. And the next Chhetrapati, Indian TV journalists were some first hand hint of the groundgovernment authorities (especiallyLal, it was interesting to read histime Lal repeats his pro-madhesi instigating riots by their very reality in the “unquiet hills” is Regulations under 3(2)). We have“An unquiet peace” (#49) not forand anti-pahadi analysis (one of his presence. The crew I was working appreciated (State of the state,also participated in public protestswhat it said but more as evidencestaples of over the years), the with were also time and time #49). Let’s hope he will now held in Kathmandu against PSR.his inconsistencies. First, after authorities would put him behind again asked menacingly whether venture into Maoland so we keep the bars for “exciting communal That is why we were surprisedarguing for years that Nepal’s they were STAR TV or Zee TV. I getting more insight and factual tourism industry had contributedactivities” as defined by PSR 3(2a). had to convince them that they that CK Lal seems to think these information about how fellow nothing to its rural economy, heNo doubt Lal writes well, but he were not. There is obviously a protests are being led by “the idle VOLATILE Nepalis are caught up between now states that the absence of needs to ask himself if his need to regulate such reporting intelligentsia of Kathmandu” (State Rupa Joshi’s article on the TV the policemen and the insurgents. trekkers in Sindhupalchok is enhanced visibility and reputation which gives Nepal nothing but of the State, #49). While we journalists hit the bull’s eye (“Tears I also agree with the writer’s view “depriving rural Nepal of one of hasits all gone to his head. bad publicity, and makes a ourselves have not done enough, and roses”, #49). Being in the same about the idle intelligentsia of sole sources of income and Umesh L Tuladhar volatile situation even more those leading the protests against line of reporting for television the Kathmandu elite who have employment.” Second, Lal bashes volatile. PSR are doing everything within Tyodha Asannetworks, I was aghast at the way proven themselves to be true Kathmandu’s intelligentsia as their reach to also criticise the foreign TV crews were going about “Amar” followers of Bhupi Sherchan’s “idle”. However deficient the work of activities of the Maoists. They are their work in early June in Kathmandu poem. But, Mr Lal, do you really the Kathmandu intelligentsia anything but “idle” or “empty Kathmandu. In front of King believe implementing the Public might be in general, Lal cannot minds” as Lal calls them. Invoking Mahendra’s statue in Durbar Marg, I Security Regulation is the right deny that it has been their critical Orwell, Lal says this is an idea that heard a reporter for STAR TV direction towards solving the work toward the creation of more is so absurd that “only an saying on camera that there was a “terror of unfreedom” or you are democratic public space in Nepal intellectual could believe” in it. It crowd of 2,000 behind him just being your pro-government that allows columnists like him to SILLY is good to know what your friend brandishing swords and knives and self? Many conscious Nepalis fully flaunt inconsistent arguments It is frustrating reading Kunda thinks of ideas you support, and the had mishandled Indian journalists. believe it is not yet too late to week after week. Third, Lal accuses Dixit’s shallow and silly remarks work you do to implement them. DR MAHAT In fact, there were hardly 200 resolve the Maoist insurgency with Kathmandu intelligentsia for not in his regular column “Under Binod Bhattarai’s coverage of thepeople and they were not a carrot and stick policy. Pratyoush Onta, Martinprotesting while Maoist “kangaroo My Hat”. economy on the eve of budget aggressive at all—that is, until they Tilak Lama Chautari courts” dispense “Taliban-like quick session was an eye opener (“It’s heardthe him say that, and that is I have often wondered about justice”. This is a totally unfair Lainchaur Kathmandu economy, stupid”, #49) . Whatever the purpose of this column—is it characterisation of the existing our Finance Boss says, we have very a satire? Is it an attempt to be responses to Maoist excesses by little reason to believe him or his funny? Is it a light-hearted When public protests against theAs a longtime reader and fan ofKathmandu’s CK intelligentsia. Public Security Regulations (PSR) ilk. We have been hearing discussion of a more serious issue Fourth, Lal states that the started, we organised a reading of commitments like full security to to get people interested? His its text at Martin Chautari and Public Security Regulations (PSR)industry, a simple and reliable choice of topics and areas of then a second meeting where the are being implemented to just taxing system, investment friendly discussion is vague, his Act on which it is based was tackle the Maoists. Sure, becauselaw and rules and regulation for a language and style are discussed in historical terms. We he is unable to see how PSR is long time now. The Maoist are pathetic. It is perhaps best to listened to interpretations of the already being misused by localcollecting more revenue than the leave the writing bit to serious government, and Dr Mahat still people like Binod Bhattarai wants to “verify” that! Does he want and CK Lal. the Maoist come to him and show Suresh K Kafle receipts? Enough said, let’s see Manchester, UK. 444 NATION 13 - 19 JULY 2001NEPALI TIMES activists say cannot happen unless you pay fixing charges to govern- ment officials and politicians. One company, Kathmandu Tuk Tuk, imported 18 LPG-powered engines, duty and VAT exempt, reportedly claiming that they were four-wheelers. The Tribhuvan Air, gas and electricUniversity Institute of Engineering in Pulchowk conducted tests on after the vehicle had been the engines and warned the This is a tale of broken promises,imported. corruption andgovernment that they were not The standards of conversion suitable for use in public transport botched attemptsSushil at Agarwal, providing technical wereValley not specified. residents LPG-run because they could cause serious health and safety hazards. The director of the DOTM, the man vehicles reduce pollution safe, reliable and clean public transport. government pretended it did not in charge of regulating tempos and effectively only when they use of catalytic converters. The equip- hear what the technicians had to say. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ microbuses, was on vacation and ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ vehicles, but not those that use not available for comment. ment generally used abroad is And then in October 2000, sophisticated, and costs about petrol or diesel, from the list of In December 1999, the the MOPE issued yet another imports eligible for the 99 percent $2,000-3000. In Nepal, operators order clarifying emission standards MOPE, under pressure from customs and 100 percent VAT of such vehicles install substandard for tempos and microbuses. The Vikram owners, announced 100 exemption. “The government equipment, which don’t do what emission standard for “gas run percent VAT exemption for realised its mistake but has chosen they’re expected to. Operators three wheelers” was being heard Vikram owners who wanted to to admit it silently because of the decided to go for gas because of for the first time. Public utility import four-wheel microbuses and massive corruption rule allowed,” lower running costs than petrol or vehicles were allowed a maximum a 99 percent import duty waiver says Bimal Aryal, a member of the diesel and also because there carbon monoxide (CO) level of for petrol-run autos and 75 Martin Chautari anti-pollution were no pollution standard until three percent by volume. Four- percent for diesel-run. The public interest group. very recently. wheelers were allowed 1,000 ppm regulation was silent on maximum We are told an industrialist (parts per million) of Hydrocar- Private entrepreneurs and passenger load, which is the other bon (HC), and three- and two- green activists say the root of the major factor affecting emission from Birgunj, said to be very close problem lies in corruption— levels, and soon the microbuses to senior Nepali Congress leaders, officials at the Department of were squeezing in up to 20 used the rule on gas four wheelers Transport Management (DOTM) passengers—almost 25 percent more to import three-wheelers, which and the Ministry of Population than they are designed to carry. and Environment (MOPE) are so Then came the next waiver. A busy lining their pockets, they say, that they don’t seem to have few months later another noticed that the policy they wrote concession—a 99 percent waiver and relied on contradicts their on import duty and 100 percent own guidelines. waiver on VAT—was given to four-wheelers that could be Transport sector watchers say converted to run on gas. To it is too early to celebrate the qualify, three- and four-wheelers victory in the budget because a had to be converted to run on larger problem remains completely Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), un-addressed. “The government Kathmandu's daily dose of traffic snarls and lousy air Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) or MIN BAJRACHARYA needs to immediately address the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). ALOK TUMBAHANGPHEY massive, open corruption that ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ massive waivers on import duty Importers had to present proof of takes place at the Department of and did not have to pay VAT. conversion either from the country hen the budget was Transport Management. Without Similar waivers were announced of manufacture, or by a govern- presented on 9 June, that, the problem of air pollution the next year for gas-run public ment department (which wenvironmental activists cannot be solved,” says Aryal, who transport vehicles. As it has department was not specified) and proponents of clean energy had says he has heard details of the turned out, gas-run vehicles are within a stipulated period of time been hoping Finance Minister Ram graft from the horse’s own not quite as clean as they were Sharan Mahat would come down unrepentant mouth. “If it does made out to be, and electric strongly on gas-run vehicles. When not, we will expose every last vehicles, which are, were never

the 3,000 Vikram tempos were corrupt official there.” MIN BAJRACHARYA taken off the streets in 1998, their granted similar subsidies for some owners were allowed to import unfathomable reason. petrol- and diesel-run microbuses as Mahat addressed the issue in replacements. They were given the budget—by removing gas-run

HERE AND THERE by DANIEL LAK When the going gets tough Nepal isn’t a bed of roses, there are many things to be gloomy about. But the blessings and potential are still on the positive side of the ledger

t’s become a habit almost everywhere for politicians and leaders to in gobbledygook by a multilateral organisation or a foreign government confront crisis with a call for introspection, for people to assess “expert” dispersal department. i themselves and what’s around them. The motive is usually evasion Whatever one may think of the Maoists and their tactics, trying to of responsibility by the politico, or frantic buying of time to see if see their activities as at least an attempt at self-help by a people denied events will sort themselves out. development and you’ll perhaps begin to understand what I mean. As Me, I long for a different sort of call from the public podium. for the hill folk, does anyone have to hold out begging bowls for the When the going gets tough, I want someone to tell us all to stop Sherpas, Manangis, Thakkalis or others? I think not. thinking about ourselves and our little microcosmic points of time, But oh, I hear you say, Kathmandu is a wretched mess, a blot on space and attitude. I wish someone, sometime would tell the people to the landscape full of parasitic, bloodsuckers and corruption. Frankly, get real, grow up, get a life and start making the best of what they’ve what national capital isn’t seen that way by the citizens. Washington got. DC certainly has such a reputation, and deservedly so. Me, I see Even here in Canada. We hear it again and again and again. Oh Kathmandu as the nation’s best hope, an urban cauldron of ideas and how dreadful things are in Nepal. The Royal massacre on top of bandh lively young people, where an entrepreneur or an activist with an idea after bandh after bandh. The Maoist rebellion swelling and can break the chains of caste, tradition and rural poverty; where smouldering over the dreamy western hills and the foreign investors democracy is still in its infancy, and doomsayers get paid by the charting a steady course away from our shores; our deteriorating predictions, and where everyone forgets that it has only been eleven environment and the ever-gloomy aid community waxing bearish over years since democracy began. beers during their paid home leave each sweaty monsoonal summer. I write from Canada, another nation prone to introspection, gloom Well I’m tired of it. It’s time to count some blessings Start with and squabbling over things that seem meaningless to outsiders. There the basics. This is the world’s most beautiful country. Bar none. Along are many here who lack perspective and ponder whether, after 134 the splendid heights of the Himalayas from Kangchendzonga to Api- years of existence as a modern nation, this place somehow lacks a neat, green patchwork of sustainable farms and scrubbed villages. Saipal this is a land of unmatched natural splendour and beauty. Not relevance. It seems ludicrous to someone familiar with Nepal’s travails, The Nepali people are a truly phenomenal bunch, however full of just the peaks and high valleys, the middle hills with their rice terraces but ask a citizen of Sierra Leone or Guatemala if they wouldn’t prefer self-loathing and angst the tiny intellectual elite may be. and impossibly situated villages put other countries to shame, even the Nepal’s problems to their own. You’ll get a flood of requests for visas. fabled Philippines or Bali. The plains, don’t forget, were feverish jungles of death not two No, Nepal isn’t a bed of roses. Yes, there are many things to be The Kathmandu Valley is a lush cradle of civilisation, a natural generations ago; the middle hills had no development, new crops orgloomy about. But my calculator tells me that the blessings, the foreign ideas. Now, whatever the drawbacks and social challenges, temple to human creativity, whatever the depredations wrought by attributes plus potential, factoring in the amount of time allowed for there’s a ferment of change and development that doesn’t come from modernisation and growth. And the tarai is sheer bliss. It’s what north development, are still on the positive side of the ledger. And that’s a northern European aid agency boardroom or a document written India would be without so many people and a stultifying caste system, where the introspection should end. And so, until this year’s budget is passed by parliament, HC test, mainly because the gas-run vehicles, the centre of this MOPE imposes the same high NATION whole fracas, will continue to 13 - 19 JULY 2001NEPALI TIMES Pro-Public worked together to level on “clean” gas- and “dirty” receive duty and tax waivers, 555 lobby government to take back the petrol- and diesel-run autos. regardless of compliance with wheelers were allowed 7,800 ppm. duty and tax exemptions for gas- On 1 June the Supreme Court safety measures, and with no The levels specified were the same run vehicles. Taking back waivers ordered a ban on the operation of realistic emission ceilings in place. for petrol-run autos as for gas-run. on petrol- and diesel-run vehicles LPG-run vehicles not meeting the The country has lost about Rs Beetle mania The government apparently might prove more difficult, because emission standards in response to a 450 million in revenue due to ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○ counted the number of wheels to they are not touted as “clean”—by public interest lawsuit filed by exemptions given to the LPG It isn’t an endangered species like the tiger or snow leopard, but Nepal’s common stag beetle is gaining a fix the standard. replacing the Vikram tempos, they advocate Bharat Mani Gautam a vehicles, and another Rs 600 simply provide much-needed public similarly cult status abroad. The beetles are in high But, say environmental year ago. The government is yet to million on exemptions to petrol- demand in Japan where people fork out many yen to activists, if gas-run vehicles are transport. begin enforcing the court order. and disel-run microbuses. The watch them fight and reportedly pay $30,000-40,000 a cleaner, they should have lower On 24 April, the Valley Traffic “Such inactivity can only be gas-run vehicles guzzle 400 tons of pair. Five of the 300 species of the bug in Nepal are emission ceilings. If they are not Police randomly tested 35 LPG- explained by corruption, or else the already scarce cooking gas especially popular. The insects, found all along the cleaner, why subsidise them? run vehicles at the request of the why is no action being taken supply each month, the government Mahabharat Chure range, from Ilam in the east to “Government charges import CEN. The results were what the against the polluters,” says Amod loses another Rs 306 million in Dadeldhura in the west at an altitude 1,800-2,500m, are duties as well as VAT on petrol- environmentalists had been saying Pokharel of the CEN. “All the smuggled into Japan. Says Janardan dhakal, a CITES revenue in the form of the subsidised consultant with the Department of Wildlife and National run vehicles, while giving large all along: 55 percent failed the faulty decisions were taken by gas the vehicles burn. Parks: “They’re not listed in the Convention Against concessions to LPG-run ones, emission test for Carbon Monoxide mid-level DOTM officials who The ideal gas to run public International Trade in Endangered Species but that does which now turn out to be (CO), spewing an average of 7.2 thought of nothing but filling their transport on would be CNG, but not mean it’s legal to carry out a trade in them without subjected to the same criteria of percent by volume, more than own pockets.” it would have to be imported. informing the Nepali authorities.” Wildlife officials performance,” says Dr Usha double the maximum three percent India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, suggest the beetles can be exported after the Sharma of Clean Energy Nepal allowed. The vehicles did pass the sustainability of the species is ensured and matters of all of which use the gas, have revenue sorted out. (CEN). CEN, Martin Chautari, trouble meeting their own Explore Nepal, Leaders Nepal and demand, and the economics would not work out if it were brought in from anywhere else. LPG use in transport reduces pollution, but does not eliminate it, as Nepal’s zero-emission labels Piqued PAC misleadingly suggests. Vehicles ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○ running on cleaner fossil fuels are The Public Accounts Committee is not amused. In the categorised as either low-, ultra- last 10 months the government has sanctioned nearly Rs 110 million as “financial assistance” and “medical low or and super ultra-low expenses”. But it has failed to clarify the details. The emission vehicles in many committee had asked the Ministry of Finance for a countries, including India. detailed report so it can investigate the basis, the This depressing story of process, and the justification for sanctioning the funds. pollution and corruption does not The recipients are largely top government officials, end here. The truly ironic part is politicians and parliamentarians. After finding discrepancies in the disbursement of funds from the that while all attention is being national treasury, three years ago the PAC ordered the lavished on gas-run autos, the real Home Ministry to stop sanctioning funds under the item zero-emission mobiles, electric “financial assistance”. Since then, funds are directly vehicles (the battery-operated sanctioned by the Council of Ministers. The PAC is still Safa tempos), get no similar waiting for the finance ministry to provide a detailed concessions. They are required to report on funds disbursed under items other than pay VAT and only get a one financial assistance. percent exemption from the 15 percent import duty on batteries. If we are serious about having the cleanest possible vehicles on our roads, the government should be concentrating on producing Heir today, gone tomorrow EVs. “But it is not interested, and ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○ we cannot mass produce electric Prince Paras better behave himself. If Nepal’s parliamentarians have their way, the prince’s female vehicles cheaply without relatives may one day be able to government support,” said one claim the crown. First they electric vehicle producer who did demanded equal property rights for not wish to be named. Industry women, now some progressive MPs experts tell us that batteries, their are clamouring that parliament be disposal and recycling facilities are allowed to amend the Act relating to not as big a problem as the drain the royal ascension. They say the current law, which allows only the on government revenue due to eldest son of the king, or the nearest male relative to lay mis-targeted subsidies and claim to the throne is backward, biased, and obsolete. increased pollution. Nepal produces about 2,000 tonnes of lead from used batteries, which are recycled in India. It is not economical to set up a recycling Sensitive strain plant for less than 3,000 tonnes of ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○ lead from batteries annually, but While others talked at length about the blood and gore once we reach that level, there will and reported with relish the death toll this week, one be investors coming forward to do private FM broadcaster in the Valley, K.A.T.H. FM, rose ing gets tough above the rest of the radio pack and displayed a that, the same industry source added. But that, of course, depends sensitive streak. Following the news of the gruesome on whether the number of EVs will massacre by the Maoists early on 7 June, the station increase in the first place. announced that it would not broadcast the usual FM trivia—chirpy songs, declarations of love—but instead How importers will take this requested listeners to phone in condolences and quiet change in the budget is messages of a more sombre nature. It was a unclear, as is the government’s fitting gesture. ability to implement the June Supreme Court ruling. Is there any way out of the impasse? Piety for peace—backwards ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○ In a pious gesture to appease the gods, two drivers are going the extra mile. Believers Sampurna Shrestha from Makwanpur and Jhalak Bahadur Thapa from Dolakha have started a painstaking drive from Pashupatinath in Kathmandu to Bhimsenthan in Dolakha—in reverse gear. The effort is not to establish a record, say the men, but to save the country from the conflict, death, and destruction that is spiralling out fo control. They hope to cover 136 km and several hair-raising bends to Dolakha in three days. 666 NATION 13 - 19 JULY 2001NEPALI TIMES Even the upsurge in violence has failed to break the political Stepping up the ante standstill in government. end. But the military has now been deployed in some seven districts and four more have been added for deployment this week after the latest attacks. Senior government officials told us they suspect the sudden spurt in Maoist activity in the towns and cities is a direct response to army’s arrival in some mid-Western districts that the Maoists have declared liberated areas. For example, the Royal Nepal Army now has a sizeable presence in Bafikot in Rukum, one of the eight districts where the Maoists have SUDHEER SHARMA SUDHEER declared their “people’s govern- BINOD BHATTARAI ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ explosives and carrying out arson ment”. The army has also already here is no sign of a letup in attacks. moved into the hinterlands of Maoists violence: some 50 But even the upsurge in violenceGorkha, home district of Maoist to restore its presence in districts t policemen and locals were has failed to break the political ideologue Baburam Bhatarai. where police have been forced toSUDHEER SHARMA killed in the violent attacks last standstill in government. The Everywhere the Army has gone, it is withdraw, and with the army’s week and rebel supporters have demoralised police is paralysed, andnow engaged in hearts and minds backing, implement development programmes to “win” over the continued to spread panic in the the army is reluctant to get involved operations like health care and urban centres by detonating in a messy war in which it sees no locals. The Integrated Security road-building. In some cases the and Development Programme army has been involved in providing(ISDP) is being tried out in seven relief to villages hit by landslides and districts and discussions are on for taking on the job of the local police expanding it to another four. But who have abandoned their posts. there are logistical problems with The new paramilitary unit the getting the plan underway. government is training to fight theBesides, say critics, the situation Maoists is expected to be ready is now too far gone for just the for action in another 3-4 months, ISDP to resolve the threat. The even though it is uncertain Maoists have already read that, whether the government can get and have stepped up their parliament to approve the law to campaign in urban centres and the form the Armed Police Force hitherto peaceful eastern regions. (APF). Failing that, a government The main opposition remains source told us, it would be forced trapped between its “prestige” to rely on the Army itself for demand for Koirala’s head and the counter-insurgency. Army, police need to hold a radical face to and senior government officials prevent its cadres joining the held a brainstorming in NepalgunjMaoist ranks. “We tried to last week in which they reviewed discuss their support for the APF Shangrila progress. during meetings but the UML However, army sources doesn’t even want to touch the interviewed for this article, say it issue before they are given a would be difficult to deploy fully date,” a minister told us. without a clear cut objective and “They’ve not even made any a chain of command. Privately, public statement on the the military sources say, they possibility of having to sooner or don’t see themselves taking orderslater fight the Maoists.” from fractious and confused The Maoists on their part civilian politicians. seem better at the strategic game. Prime Minster Girija Koirala’sThey’ve succeeded in isolating the effort to get the opposition on government, prevent the board to support the APF throughopposition parties from getting parliament—as part of his 14- together to form a joint force, and point agenda—remains stuck. Theare already into their preparation UML insists that he first give for their “mass uprising” by them a date for resignation. “If sowing terror in towns while the only the UML would make a army heads to the hills. In this, Call: 560675 or 560775 commitment on fighting the their best allies seem to be the Maoists and agree on confused and bickering parliamentary strengthening the position of the parties who can’t seem to take the Prime Minister, I think the primethreat seriously enough to agree on a minister would resign even if the joint strategy. Wet & Wild Summer opposition wasn’t forcing him to,” a source close to Koirala told us. Now every Saturday & Sunday “They just want credit for his resignation.” The government’s strategy is

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OPINION by SIMON MOLLISON VILLAGE VOICE by KABINDRA PRADHAN Do we need a Ministry “Uplifting” “backward” “beneficiaries”of Agriculture?

BUTWAL — A recent official pronouncement mentions that Nepal has doubled its agriculture production in the past three decades. Oh? The item goes on to say there has also been a further 60 percent increase in the land under cultivation in the same period. Double-oh. So, this increase in yield had nothing to do with the Ministry of Agriculture and all to do with the Ministry of Forestry providing additional land for cultivation under the government sponsored resettlement plans, politician-sponsored squatters’ plan or just good old fashioned land grabbing. Half-seriously, I now propose an alternative plan to develop agriculture in Nepal since it seems the billions spent by the Ministry of Agriculture over the years have not made any difference at all. I have been farming for 20 years now, and I know it for a fact that the only thing green that our rulers recognise is the Rs 100 note. If a fruit tree becomes barren, we don’t just curse it as a certain mythical man in the Middle East once did. We chop it down. If our water buffaloes become terminally ill we call in the butcher. Even our holy cows are pragmatically trucked across our south-eastern border where there are people who find the oxen nutritious. Similarly, closing down the Ministry of Agriculture, far from hurting the country, would actually benefit us. There are many ways to evict employees: the golden handshake, the boot on the backside, or for those who covet their chairs, a quiet posting in one of the midwestern hill districts where an alternative form of government is being tried out. But we must spare the ministers—we need them to sell us dreams of turning Kathmandu Valley into Singapore and washing the streets of the capital with the stolen waters of the Melamchi. After all, if we can have ministers without portfolios, why can’t we have a ministry without employees? There are numerous advantages of having a ministry without anyone in it: consider first the enormous savings in wages, allowances and overheads. This will free up resources to allow the prime minister to actually appoint more ministers in his next reshuffle. The employees themselves will now have more time to devote to moonlighting for backwardness. NGOs and take on lucrative consultancies. After all, there are more and We give this syndrome the more donor resources going into non-government than government. The recently retired agricultural apparatchiks can then speak and write name “aid-dependency”—the the latest mantras of sustainable agriculture in English and attend name itself seems to put the seminars and workshops which go on in the virtual world of development people down—and often we are that has no bearing whatsoever on reality. All our experts who have proved to be helpless in helping farmers because they were helping units to cover 200 people. This is told that the people will not Real social development arises out of the peoples’ own“participate” understandings unless we make it andthemselves to greater harvests of greenbacks can then contribute to the because the first 100 people country’s GNP. worth their while. But when we agreements of their situation, and theirrequire own the same aspirations “support” as the for the future. The cleaning up of the Ministry of Agriculture will also help donors look at the rare shining examples ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ newly added 100 people. Where who have the tendency to function like the mosaic virus that sometimes people are being truly of inspiring social development, infects my potato crop. By itself, the virus is just a string of genetic what we find is that the people material, a chemical code in a sheath of protective protein. But once it very so often a social openly claim in their publicity “empowered”, however, we should expect that an expansion of the participate creatively and gets in the DNA of my potato, it takes over the functioning of the cells development project material to be showing people energetically. They often even and forces it to produce more virus than tuber. Once infected with the achieves remarkable how to live—who then fund process that empowered them donor virus, our politicians and elite begin to act and speak like the e should cost no more than the make sacrifices to do so. But the Nepali version of World Bank bureaucrats: “free market… privatisation… results. But such examples are local organisations, usually activities that they participate in so market forces… no subsidies… no welfare… no safety net…” We’ve seen astonishingly rare. Perhaps this staffed by otherwise unemployed original process. Indeed an exponential expansion might be enthusiastically are not dictated to it happen everywhere, politicians who forget the mandate of voters and just goes to show how difficult members of the local elite. citizens and become the implementers of donor policy. So they stop aspired to. them by patrons. Rather, they arise social development is and we The mission to show the out of their own understandings and sending grain to food deficit areas, they put irrigation beyond the development practitioners can This is so because (a) the reach of most farmers by scrapping the subsidy on shallow tube wells. people how to live may not be agreements of their situation These wells could be the cheapest and most tangible form of irrigation relax (if that is the right word to especially attractive to the first 100 people have been and their own aspirations for empowered and so do not need for most of the tarai, and could be the viable alternative to grandiose describe our frantic activity—for people themselves, and so those the future. donor-backed tarai irrigation projects. But we have put them out of the the resources that they originally we are, on the whole, a hard at the ends of the chains of What should social reach of the poor. Without a body of agricultural bureaucrats to infect, working and dedicated bunch) patronage must also receive did and (b) because the first 100 the donor virus may actually wither away. And once they move away development practitioners learn from government, our afflicted leaders can begin the journey to de- assured that we can rarely expect some tangible benefit from the people will tend to help the next 100 people so that the original from shining examples? One toxification so that they remember who they are actually supposed to to get it very right. The process. They are paid just lesson is clear: if the people need work for. Those seriously addicted to the donor virus can be sent for development endeavour, we tell enough to ensure their budget may now serve many rehab to the western districts. In fact, such rehab centres should be more than 100 new people. to be pulled or pushed, it should opened in all parts of the kingdom. Only then will they begin to see the ourselves, is a continuous strugglecompliance and good will. Thus, suggest that they are doing it for but, unlike the labours of Many development workers citizen farmers as their ultimate masters, and not just a means to get visiting managers or monitoring us rather than for themselves. periodically elected to office. Sisyphus, it is not hopeless. It is know this but it remains an ideal and evaluation staff see and hear This will only work when there is So now, we have a community of resource-rich, voter-sensitive surely a noble struggle. But even if that we rarely realise … it is exactly what they should. Far enough money to pay everyone ministers and a large population of resource-poor farmers. What next? I good examples are remarkably rarefrom empowering people, the always just around the corner. This is an indicator that (for ever) and to pay most to the have a gosling in my farm that latches on to the first moving thing, this still does not explain why we project is another example of overseers who will ensure that the taking it for its mother. Our politicians have similarly been brought up do not learn from the notable how people can be kept securely patronage rather than exposed to feudalism and life in opposition: leading strikes, hijacking empowerment is what the project people do what is required of planes and beheading people they didn’t like. It will take time for them exceptions. Why is it that the in their place. them. To conceive social evolution of an effective response is achieving. to learn the ways of parliamentary democracy, to learn their The more tangible the development in this way is indeed responsibilities towards present and future citizens of Nepal. to a social problem cannot lead to Let us be clear just who is benefit given out at the end of to conceive it as a Sisyphian We farmers don’t expect our chicken to go swimming or our cows to much better responses thereafter? dependent in this sketch. The the chain is, however, the more struggle. lay eggs. We treat poultry and livestock according to their nature. Our The answer may perhaps be found likely it is that the very poor will people—who recognise that their present crop of politicians from all parties are feudal in their habits, in certain tendencies within the be excluded from the process part in the game might often be and they have to be treated as such—not as the parliamentary international development and that relatively comfortable, to claim dependence—are democrats they pretend to be. endeavour. if still picturesque, villagers will probably the least dependent. Let me focus on one particularbe the main beneficiaries of the On the contrary, the rest of us (Kabindra Pradhan works on his farm .)in Butwal tendency amongst development programme. All seems to go well are dependent upon them. But institutions. We seem to until the work is stopped elsewhere in the patronage chain, construct the world of our because of the withdrawal of numerous otherwise unemployed “beneficiaries” as backward and funding. Then, no one has any men and women are dependent hopeless, while simultaneously reason any more to continue upon the continuance of the living well on the resources with the pretence which they activities and desirous of their intended for these “backward” have been engaged in, and no expansion. It is a vital aspect of people. My sketch is an one asks why five years of good this style of development that the unpleasant one but I make no work seems to have come to poor and marginalised should be apology for that, for it is surely nothing in the end. But, as the presented as fatalistic, ignorant, criminal that so little social donor’s interest in the project backward and generally useless. development practice lives up to has ended, no one cares very We are asked to believe that they Simon Mollison works for Save the the promises that a few shining much about this. It looked good will do nothing for themselves Children (UK). The views expressed examples seem to offer us. while it was running. and that it is necessary to recruit here are personal. Many relatively well-educated There is a test of whether middle men (and now women) to, almost physically, “uplift” people find a better living than something of this sort is them. If things go wrong, this is they might otherwise expect whilehappening in a development likely to be explained as a they struggle to “uplift” or project. When a project is product of the people’s “teach” people who are said to bemerely a form of patronage, “backward” and “ignorant”. To expansion of the project will make this work, a sort of require an equivalent expansion patronage network is constructed.of funding. Thus if it costs 100 Donors fund intermediaries— money units to work with 100 often international NGOs which people it will cost 200 money 888 NEPALI ECONOMY 13 - 19 JULY 2001NEPALI TIMES BIZ NEWS ECONOMIC SENSE by ARTHA BEED Glad GDP tidings ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○ The government estimates Nepal’s Gross Domestic Product grew by 5.8 percent in fiscal 2000/01 down election manifestos and only talk about by 0.6 percentage points from the previous year. Agriculture grew by about four percent Everybodyand the non- says ho-hum objectives it can meet. There is no point agricultural sector by 6.9 percent. The GDP growth in 1999/00 was 6.4 percent (agriculture five percent and non-agricultural sector 7.4 percent). The projections in the Economic Survey are based on talking about poverty alleviation the performance in the eight-months of fiscal 2000/01. Agriculture accounts for about 40 percent of the definite increase over the previous year’s programs that the budget cannot even GDP and a drop in food grain production, down to 2.7 percent from eight percent last year, was the estimates. The reality of these numbers is kick-start. It is not necessary for the reason for the decline. Production of cash crops grew slightly, by 7.3 percent compared toThe the seven budget takesoften away different. For from example, the its finance ownbudget speechauthority. to be long to demonstrate percent growth in 1999/00. minister said that this year’s allocation forthat the government has lots of things in morose Beed sat staring at his irrigation—Rs 4.89 billion represents a mind. How about, instead, focusing on computer screen, wondering 20.4 percent increase over last year’s critical issues that can be implemented. awhat on earth one could write estimated actual. In fact, the amount Thereis something to worry about after the finance minister had droned his budgeted for the irrigation sector is less related to this year’s budget—the mix of Leanest summer yet budget speech. Aha! Turn in last year’s than last year’s budget allocation of Rs ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○ regular to development expenditure. We Nepal Tourism Board reported an overall 57 percent drop in tourist arrivals in June comparedcolumn. to the On second thoughts, the better 4.94 billion. These tiresome discrepan- must take note of the repeated recommen- previous year. This is the leanest summer yet and caused by upheavals and bad publicitysolution in the might wake be to leave a blank space cies need to be explained. dations to privatise and end the dole to of the 1 June murders at the royal palace. Indian arrivals were down by a whopping 72 percent,on p.8, where worthy readers are used to The purpose of the budget is also state-owned enterprises. And the despite the new NTB “Festival of Life” package marketed in India. NTB officials say the promotionalgenteel discussion on matters economic. elusive. The document is once again a government must bow out of areas it has efforts in India were overshadowed by news reports on the royal palace massacre, increasedOf course, Maoist these were only the grab-bag of promises of regulatory no business being in, like the power activities and continued political uncertainty. The June slump came just when overall arrivalsdreamy were workings of a mind affected by measures and reforms—all to be put into looking good and the NTB had been hoping its costly marketing effort in India would fill hotels from the sector. It is ridiculous to see over Rs 9 June-September, the traditional low season for Western tourists. Only 10,238 tourists camethe sameby air overwhelming in lassitude and effect through legislation. Do we really billion allocated to the power sector, and June, 4,101 Indians and 6,137 others. petty deception our Money Men (they need to draw any more attention to how only Rs 3.5 billion to the education The low arrivals caused occupancy of hotels across Nepal to drop to the low 20s. Sourcesare all men) at inthe government seem to many days parliament meets in this sector. What are the government’s suffer from. Our parliamentarians country and how many laws it passes Radisson Hotel in Kathmandu said June occupancy was about 18 percent and they were hoping it priorities? would crawl up to the 40s this month. “We can spring back only if we could have some stability,”present at the said festivities seemed either each year? Given this, what can one say As for revenues, we live for the day Kent Davidson, general manager at Radisson. “But there is no reason that the high seasondisinterested beginning or restless. in The annual fete about a budget that shifts the when the budget will actually be met. October will not be good.” Overall arrival figures for the first six months were pretty good.has Arrivals come and gone,for leaving the economy responsibility for formalisation of its Everyone agrees that the problems in the first six months of 2001 were almost similar to that of the past year. to pretty much fend for itself. No doubt contents on to a virtually legislature. The interpreting and implementing the tax the rituals on analysing and commentingbudget shares with the government of thelaws in Nepal are as diverse and various on the budget will be well underway by day the unpleasant whiff of mediocrity, as the nation itself. As long as no link is the time the Beed makes his weekly in terms of commitment. recognised between the assets one holds appearance. So, methinks, one must We have learnt that one year is too and the income one reports making, no instead examine more fundamental short to deliver much. It is time we tax laws will be successful. Standard Chartered Grindlays issues, ask what the philosophy behind ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○ adopted a system of rolling plans with a Countries never plan to fail, but our budgets are. From 16 July, Nepal’s largest corporate taxpayer will have a new name. Standard Chartered PLC three-year perspective. The budget they generally fail if they fail to plan. The The first, and most basic (Standard Chartered Grindlays Bank Ltd) bought out the 50 percent stake the Australia and New document should stop resembling planning process needs to wake up to Zealand Banking Group Limited had in Nepal’s ANZ Grindlays Bank in July 2000. “It’s just aquestions—Who change in believes in the budget? name. The services will be the same, even better,” says Rajeev Kulkarni, general managerTo of what the end is it prepared? The this. Budgets are not inherently “good” newly-named Standard Chartered Bank Nepal Limited. Nepal Bank Ltd owns 33 percent andexperience the public, of a decade of making and or “bad”—we need to start 17 percent of the bank. presenting budgets, instead of evaluating budgets on whether After this acquisition, Standard Chartered, which focuses on emerging markets in Asia,sharpening Africa, our the planning skills, has been or not they work and are credible. Middle East and Latin America, is a leader in banking in the Middle East and South Asia Region.so devoid The of lessons that the acquisition is a win-win situation, says Jeffrey Cox, CEO of Nepal Grindlays Bank Ltd. “Whiledocument Standard is now losing its Chartered Bank’s expertise is in the emerging markets, ANZ, focussed on Australia and Newcredibility. Zealand, The budget has had limits in understanding the markets.” Standard Chartered has a network of 570 offices in more than 50 countries. “Almost 70 percent of the bank’s income is from emerging markets so ourbecome commitment little more than a is strong,” says Kulkarni. compilation, a steady twitter of numbers with interludes of percentages. And what appears to be deception. New budget allocations are announced in manner that bespeaks Scoot off  ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○ Kinetic Engineering has launched a 100cc 4-stroke two-wheeler in Nepal and says it has plans to Readers can post their views at introduce six other models into the market soon. The company says the new launch, Challenger, has [email protected] “lean-burn” technology which gives the bike excellent mileage, the turbo induction gives it good pickup and a large wheel base, more stability.

Care for kidneys ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○ Shanker Traders Company has re-introduced a Sri Lankan herbal tea brand which it says has medicinal properties that helps overcome different renal, gall-bladder and gastrointestinal problems. Kidney Tea is a concoction of herbs grown in the island nation and is said to also have blood-purifying properties. NEPALI ECONOMY 13 - 19 JULY 2001NEPALI TIMES 999

came from a district, because BINOD BHATTARAI only a general member can be president, and associates can only be fourth vice president. We have to contest from the districts, Rabi Bhakta Shrestha FNCCI vs CNI comes from Hetauda, Binod The FNCCI had not been able to Chaudhary came from the reach out to its real constituents. Kathmandu Chamber, Padma The FNCCI will elect new office bearers next week andThere were also associates, which Jyoti came from Birgunj. Rabi Bhakta Shrestha is to be the new president. Pradeepincluded all kinds of businesses. We blunt, if somebody can spend 100 Large businesses face two Kumar Shrestha, FNCCI president is not contesting for afelt the need to support larger major problems, duty drawback businesses by making the FNCCI percent of his time running a and export to India. Duty second term, because he says, he had given Rabi Bhakta amore professional, capable of business organisation, if he has no drawback has been pending for “businessman’s word” two years ago when the first vicesupporting potential growth areas business of hisown to worry about, years now, and those pointing president stepped aside to make way for Pradeep. while building up the district units. then I don’t know how much business fingers should not forget the But even as FNCCI constituents jostle for votes to other experience and calibre he will have. “You can’t fool You have visibility and respect, CNI members“If will yoube like pay thumb is pointing towards them. positions, a group representing some of the largest businesses all the people We have taken up the issue and yet you want a new organisation. shareholders,peanuts, office bearersyou will get make are confident it will be is trying to set up another institution, which it says will tackleIsn’t FNCCI serving you well? policy but the organisation has to be all the time...” addressed. The trade treaty was what has left undone by the FNCCI. Leading the formation of Doing business is very tough driven by professionals.monkeys...” signed at the FNCCI’s initiative, the new group—called the Confederation of Nepalesetoday, and the community has grown You’re about to leave the when Padma Jyoti was president. Industries (CNI)—is Binod Chaudhary, a former FNCCIsubstantially. All the FNCCI Is the CNI some sort of “big FNCCI, what are you There is a provision for president, who feels FNCCI can no longer serve the interestsconstituents have grown and they faceboys” club? leaving behind? automatic renewal, India is of all constituents, especially large groups and thosedifferent problems. The FNCCI was No. Big is relative. We want to concerned about manufacturing right to bring everybody under its Pradeep Kumar Shrestha: representing new make it a representative body of the I was elected for a two-year and surge. We’ve visited India umbrella, but it isn’t relevant today. real taxpayers, employers and term The constitution does almost 15 times to discuss the growth areas. We want specialisation. Every enterprises that have substantial not stop me from contesting treaty. Was that not addressing The business community is divided over CNI’s emergence,business organisation has to identify itsinvestments. Focus will be on the for a second term but I said I the concerns of large businesses? with opponents charging it with being a “big boys” club, andcore competence—you cannot be growth sectors and how they can add We were also instrumental in would step aside and make even having “communal” undertones. Another charge is thatmaster of everything. Garments today value to the umbrella organisation. getting the Special Additional survive on quotas, which will be We expect to make a substantial room for the first vice- it is just election-time posturing. Praddep thinks the CNI idea president to take over. I gave Duty abolished. We’ve been phased out and Nepali industry will investment in running the CNI, we my word that there would be a following up industrial security will die after the FNCCI elections, as similar initiatives have inhave to compete with India, Sri Lankaintend to bring in some of the best consensus president because issues and changes in the the past. and Bangladesh. Unfortunately, brains with credibility and a proven the business community needs labour act. CNI proponents don’t think so. They say they’re trying tobecause of its increased size, there are track record. It should be too any demands on the FNCCI. Its unity. Time will show what I set up an institution that would be professionally run, would inconsequential who is leading the have left behind. In the past Do you see CNI only as a core constituents are the district organisation. we had much politicking to be divisive force? alwaysnot bother needs a with platform, elections I don’t but devote itself to larger businesseschambers and their needs rightly come president but we felt that was Divided we won’t remain a thinkand that growth can happen. industries Managing and complement the work being donefirst. Take the VAT, larger businesses Will it interface with the a lose-lose situation for the force. It will benefit nobody and anby institution the FNCCI. professionally is pay it, smaller ones don’t because. FNCCI? How? good. But to see if that is possible community. Some people the is a lose-lose situation. We know Chaudhary claims he stands for change, Shrestha forJoint venture industries have their The FNCCI’s core constituents we cannot stop a new we need to look at how these own problems—Kodak, a brilliant FNCCI needed we left out by continuity of FNCCI with necessary reforms. Nepali Times are the district and municipal electioneering. I tried to be organisation from being formed. same people run their businesses example of attracting investment in chambers, the main channels of more accommodative and work But who will be its members? andmet their the staff two turnover. leaders of industry to talk about the FNCCI, theNepal had to leave. If there were distribution for manufacturers. with people who wanted to The CNI, with vested interests, CNI and the charges and counter-charges now circulating. issues about the extent of processingThey have to be strengthened, so give something to the FNCCI, is not going to solve the So personally you believe the and value addition had been raised we can never be far from the not just get something out of problems faced by businesses. FNCCI has more promise? earlier, this situation would not FNCCI. We are also going to it. I consider myself quite Everybody has the right to fight The FNCCI has a future, we have arisen. If the major taxpayers remain individual members of the successful and we were able to elections, so why should any one have the economic and political and employers lose confidence and FNCCI, because we have problems start a lot of new activities. feel left out. You can fool some strength. There are areas we need stagnate because they aren’t getting in common. We will keep politics, of the people all the time, but to correct. We have an advisory the desired level of support, that is personality and ego out and How would list your not all the people all the time. board and Mr Chaudhary is a ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ What is the CNI and why do we bad for the country. I think it is electoral divisions minimal. If achievements? member. But how many meetings need it now? humanly impossible for the FNCCI another organisation gets a job done Here are some: The first But don’t you think issues has he attended? The issues being Binod Chaudhary: The CNI is to provide all the same degree of that is one thing less for us to importance and consistent activity we did jointly with the proponents of the CNI raise raised could have been discussed not a new concept, it has been tackle. attention. Industry needs a larger, Ministry of Industry and about professionalism valid in-house. This is not the right debated for the last five years. People more effective support mechanism. Commerce was focus on and the corporatisation of time to have the CNI. Let us first associated with the private sector in a How do you plan to structure A stagnating FNCCI secretariat has exports—the Expo 2000. Our the institution are valid? make one institution strong. As professional manner and the CNI? been unable to focus consistently at honorary councils abroad and I would be the happiest president it is my job to keep the knowledgeable and concerned about We will have 100 sponsors and all levels. businesses now know what person to see that work but family intact. it have always recognised the need for 300 members contributing about Rs Nepal can offer. To build the unfortunately with a man who an organisation which would truly 4.5 million as annual membership fees. Why? FNCCI’s image, we organised cannot stay idle (at its helm) and represent the real stakeholders. This money will run the organisation. It has become election oriented.

the Industry and Commerce ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Quality service costs money. Some Day. It will be held on 10 The existing institution is not When the constitution was amended sections have tried to stir up April every year. We tried to representative enough? we felt it would help integrate the unnecessary tension between the recognise the contribution of The FNCCI, the 50 other district chambers better. But they haveFNCCI and the CNI, but we are all those who have helped commodity association and 85 districtbecome vote banks and people have talking with everyone. The timing and build Nepal’s economy. We and municipal bodies are all involved forgotten winning means serving all election of the FNCCI has led people have become more proactive, in economic activities. Twelve years constituents in a balanced manner. to look at the implications of their focusing on what the FNCCI ago, when I joined the FNCCI it had electoral pursuits—some even want us needs and wants. We’ve had a 40 district chambers whose Will the CNI have the core to help negotiate and consolidate their lot of unfortunate events in the involvement with the FNCCI was competence you say the FNCCIpositions. We don’t want to delay the past year—I was unlucky. But limited to attending the Annual lacks? organisation. FNCCI elections will be we managed to get over them. General Meeting and other functions. Even the CNI cannot serve over next week and so will the After the Hrithik Roshan everyone, so we have to identify ourconfusion. incident we organised a core areas. Our focus will be the countrywide rally to bring the larger stakeholders, larger taxpayers,How soon will you set up shop? nation together against the companies who have large Our biggest task is to identify a communal nature of the riots. investments, the ability to generate CEO, the membership and more investment, who are providinginfrastructure issues are being dealt But you’re charged with not more jobs and also areas with with, the bylaws are being prepared. being able to address the growth potential. Financial services,We want to develop a mechanism concerns of larger infrastructure, export industries andthat avoids the election process. businesses, the major tourism. We will reach out to The office bearers’ role will be employers and taxpayers… countries that are our real buyers limited, so there will be no reason There has been no FNCCI and sellers. The CNI will be to fight. The challenge then is to election where we have not professionally run and have sound identify a team of highly-paid made news. This year there corporate governance. Businesses professionals—if you give peanuts was nothing else to talk about with a corporate culture and you will get monkeys. and thus the CNI came about. professional management are It has been discussed at moving forward. So business election time for five years. We organisations that represent their have been charged with interests will also have to focussing on the districts. That corporatise. That will be CNI’s is not true—I can guarantee biggest challenge—office bearers are that 80-85 percent of our work not supposed to spend all their time has been addressing the running the organisation. To be concerns of larger businesses. Most FNCCI presidents have been associate members. I too 101010 ARTS 13 - 19 JULY 2001NEPALI TIMES

Even so, the canonisation of Bhanubhakta continues. Last year, the first full-length feature (De)constructing film,a Bhanubhakta Nepali was made on icon the life and times of the poet. And Yadav Kharel, its director, defends the effort: “The cultural BhanubhaktaThere is now lively—sometimes has beencontext credited was different withthen and Nilo, nilo gagan ma makingheated—discussion Nepali about a this unifyingBhanubhakta’s lingua contribution franca, is “national figure”. Bhanu Jayantis purely towards literature and the SALIL SUBEDI ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ offence—are you, really? butthemselves some have becomeare not sure.Nepali language.” The mixed t is difficult to pinpoint exactly That’s what serious musicians staggeringly○○○○○○○○○○ boring affairs.○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ reviews of the film reflected just Historian Pratyoush Onta has how complicated the webs of when it all started. Some say it are worried about—that the studied the Bhanubhakta identity, language, religion and iwas after the explosive arrival industry will be overrun with phenomenon, and suggests that nationalism are in Nepal. of FM radio in Kathmandu, othersmusicians with questionable talent. the elevation of the poet as a “What Prithvi Narayan Shah say it came with Nepal’s own Composer Bulu Mukarung has seen Nepali Adhunik and pop change central figure in established did for Nepal’s political young MTV generation exposed stories of Nepali history was to good music and good lyrics on dramatically in the last 22 years. unification, Bhanubhakta’s legacy “Ignorant people with the means, driven by more complicated is the Nepali identity,” says cable. Whatever the case, Nepali motivations. “Perhaps those music has arrived. And unlike for whom music is a hobby, are Kamal Dixit of Madan Puraskar ruining the Nepali music landscape. promoting Bhanubhakta wanted Pustakalaya. “This sense of Hindi music which is largely to bring to life a national symbol driven by Bollywood, modern The new songwriters can’t even national identity need not explain their own songs,” he sighs, and culture that, in its distinc- necessarily detract from Nepal’s Nepali pop has evolved largely tiveness, would provide them independent of cellulloid. Which pointing to soundtrack and pop rich linguistic and ethnic diversity.” songwriters. Mukarung and his past with a recognisable national Another important factor that means the songs are a little “pop- identity in the international ish” since it does not have to contemporaries enjoyed some of the helped turn the Nepali language best Nepali lyrics of the century in arena,” he says. “But alterna- into a lingua franca was the return appeal to the box-office’s tively, their motivation primarily preoccupation with the lowest the 1960s and 70s. The consensus of ex-Gurkha soldiers from the seems to be that the gradual erosion came from their role as brokers ofBritish and Indian armies into the common denominator. the national culture.” Once The new genre called Nepali of standards has been in large part Nepali hinterland. Various ethnic due to the film industry which Bhanubhakta had been inducted groups in the military needed Adhunik music has now got the into national culture, Onta adds, maturity, self-confidence and abandons the real in all areas, Nepali to communicate among including music. it became even easier to pull out each other. world class professionalism and a But, say some like popular all stops, use school books, And yet the resonance of the growing body of young fans who posters, and film to “make Adhunik singer Kunti Moktan, it is Nepali language in the diaspora, demand that quality from our Bhanubhakta every Nepali’s too early to start writing weepy combined with a more urgent need singers, musicians and lyricists. ancestor”. But he wasn’t and dirges for Nepali music. “You can’t Dilip Rayamajhi, star of last year’s Bhanubhakta biopic, with more modern friends. for a symbol of togetherness was These are discerning afficionados SALIL SUBEDI TU’s Bhattachan points to the and they are no longer satisfied have good music without good precisely what drove the conception lyrics, and without both together, SALIL SUBEDI rich story-telling cultures of the with mediocrity. And having been ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Narayan’s famous dictum of “a of Bhanubhakta as an icon of Maithili and Magar languages, you can’t sing a good song. And garden with many flowers” there Nepali unity. Says noted exposed to professional oday, 13 July, 2001, is the and asks: “Why aren’t there production on the cable music right now, Nepali music is right th was the danger of elevating one Darjeeling-based literateur, Indra 188 birth anniversary of laureates of the other different there.” Nepali singers and musicians language to the level of a national Bahadur Rai: “The beginning of channels, they can tell when t Adikavi Bhanubhakta, the castes and classes?” something is fake, a copy, or who matter have, in a sense, symbol at the cost of others. Bhanu Jayanti here was very poet who is credited with single- Today, many children in plain bad. gained—freed from dependency on Bhanubhakta’s legacy finally symbolic in the Nepali diaspora’s handedly cementing the Nepali government schools across Nepal But not all is hunkydory. the bureaucracy of state-controlled returned to Nepal in 1946, when fight against the oppressive West nation with its unifying language. who read Mahendra Mala can media, and with more flexible a group of writers in Dharan took Bengal government which had been With commercialisation has come His translation of the Ramayana recite the first line from production houses. Says Moktan: a fancy to the celebrations in denying us our rights. The strongest the rat race which means only from Sanskrit into lilting Nepali Bhanubhakta’s Ramayana by “Nepali music, and attitudes have Darjeeling and that year unifying factor of our diverse those who can afford the verse made the poet a household heart: “Ek din narada satyalok have opened up greatly. Singers celebrated Bhanu Jayanti, as they communities here is the Nepali exorbitant costs for studio and name throughout the Nepali pugigaya garu lokako hita bhani”. must now season each new song called it. In 1951, Bhanu Jayanti, language. And Bhanubhakta’s speaking world. Ironically, he was Ballav Mani Dahal, a social with a different taste.” which had already started taking presence subtly knits us together.” embraced first by Nepali-speakers scientist and authority on Nepali After the annual Hits FM on the air of a tradition, made it The transplanting of socially- living in India for whom the literature, says: “In the guise of Music Award in March, many to Chudi Ramgha in Tanahu, rooted phenomena is tricky, and if Nepali language had become the giving uniformity to Nepali critics and lovers of Nepali music where Bhanubhakta was born in there is growing debate on the place symbol of their separate identity. society, the Panchyat rulers and were talking about the dawning of a 1814, and resulted in the of Bhanubhakta in Nepal, the Within Nepal, even for Nepalis bureaucrats deprived other “golden age of Nepali music”. The establishment of a library. different cultural needs of Nepalis for whom the language was a languages and cultures their rightful buzz has been that lyrics, Another birth anniversary also fell in India ensure that there Bhanu mother tongue, there was more of place in the mosaic of Nepali composition and vocals are all on this day in 1951, that of Jayanti grows bigger every year. a ho-hum attitude about Nepali identity. This is hardly acceptable coming together in new and Tulsidas who is credited with This year, says Rai, celebrations will and many from Bhanubhakta’s in a pluralistic society.” wonderful ways. “Good lyrics have time to today took the language translating the Ramayana. In go beyond Darjeeling and simple and soft words, they need to Birgunj that coincidence was At the very least, believes Kalimpong to other parts of north- for granted. Dahal, the official version of have depth of feeling and, most The bust of this poet from reason enough for quite a eastern India. importantly, the need to portray a clamour, and doubtless imbued Bhanubhakta that we receive is Bhanu Jayanti in Kathmandu Tanahu was installed in guilty of distorting the poet’s vision. Popular songs in Nepal have this “Nepali” Bhanubhakta to this year will be the same Darjeeling in 1949, eighty three admittedly difficult-to-pinpoint always had these elements. The new stand for with the additional predictably rigid celebration it years after his death and four intentions. Bhanubhakta, he says, arrangement can afford to get generation of songwriters have characteristic of Hinduism. has been for the last few decades. years after his birthday was first did not undertake his epic there. It is a catch 22, you need a taken the work of the past as their Kathmandu was slower to Students from government marked in 1945 also in translation to serve the Nepali break to make it big, but you needmodel. This has certainly helped catch on, here were a couple of schools will be made to line up Darjeeling. At that time language. “He was simply a poet toNabin make K. it bigBhattarai so you can afford a Nepali music rise to new heights,” years of low-key celebration by outside the Durbar High School MIN BAJRACHARYA Bhanubhakta was hardly heard of who enjoyed the flavours of folk break. Gone are the days when says 51-year-old Deep Shrestha, writers, and in 1953, the poet in Rani Pokhari, politicians will in his own homeland. culture and local dialects. It was asprising singers lurked outside who made a brilliant comeback in finally arrived in the capital when garland the bust of Bhanubhakta, But there was something sheer coincidence that his the Radio Nepal studios in Singha 2000 after a 16 year hiatus. “The Darjeeling writer Gopal Pandey give a speech extolling the poet potent in the idea that this poet, translation (of the Ramayana) Darbar fishing in the small pond only problem I see is that the works Asim’s Nepali Siksa Parisad we will all forget for another year. an apparently apolitical man of emerged at a time when the before their turn to sing finally of some better-known lyricists is (NSP) funded a large celebration. Perhaps the best way to celebrate letters, could symbolise Nepali language was only just arrived. They got paid the grand deteriorating as they try to adopt By 1959 King Mahendra was Bhanubhakta the poet is to forget something larger than his work— developing as the lingua franca.” sum of Rs 10 per song. the style of newer writers,” says about symbols for a while, and no less than a generic “Nepali” unveiling the first of many Bhanu Today, everything can be doneDeep. But he is certain this will not buy a collection of his tapes identity, with the Nepali languagebusts outside the Durbar High bring down the house Nepali produced by Music Nepal which for you. Fast. Make an as a cornerstone. Bhanubhakta School opposite Rani Pokhari. Adhunik has built—after all, says contains the entire recitation in appointment with a composer/ would not remain a poet for long. The by-now state-supported Shrestha, a good song written in any soothing Nepali folkchhanda of arranger at a private recording For officialdom that began to annual event was slowly pushed in studio. Hand him your lyrics and style will always be beloved, regardless the Bhanubhakta’s Ramayana. define Nepali nationhood in the different districts and along the tell him what genre you prefer. Sitof its genre. “We are getting good 1960s, Bhanubhakta became too way, many towns and villages back and relax. (But have your lyrics these days. And there’s a tempting a symbol. Panchayat- named local sites after hard cold cash ready.) In a couple demand of good songs from the era bureaucrats turned the poet Bhanubhakta, and Bhanu Jayanti of hours, your music track will be listeners, too. And we are working into an icon of national identity slowly incorporated nationalistic ready. Take the track home, hard,” says crossover Adhunik/pop and unity—right alongside the slogans. Krishna Bhattachan, practice your vocals and come singer Nalina Chitrakar. monarchy. Bypassing the richness Tribhuvan University sociologist back for the final recording and The kind of Nepali music we and diversity of Nepal’s many and janajati activist calls this mixing, and you’re done. In the are talking about doesn’t go too far languages and cultures, “the manufactured reality of meantime, you would have surely back. Until Radio Nepal was undercutting with a broad sweep Bhanubhakta”, and says it was not organised your TV appearance, at established in 1950, for most of ceremony and rhetoric the always accepted unquestioningly. a mere Rs 10,000. The cable Nepalis music was an ephemeral possibility that the people There was an undercurrent of channel will escort you to the affair. The state-owned station set brought together by Prithvi suspicion among the diverse location of their choice and shoot up recording facilities in the late Narayan Shah could have evolved ethnic groups of Nepal, and also you with dancing girls galumphing 50s, but it was not until 1965 that their own common reference among feminists, who said around you. In a couple of days it gave up transmitting most of its points, of which the Nepali Bhanubhakta’s work is too you’re on air. Friends and family musical programmes live from the language was only one. patriarchal for him to be a source will watch you and you will studios, launching the careers of Getting the stamp of approval of national pride. become a superstar. But—no such artistes as Hari Bahadhur of officialdom in a sense After the People’s Movement discredited the poet’s worth. And in 1990, much of that anger and instead of celebrating Prithvi dissent has found expression.

Music Nepal has produced a complete recitation of Bhanubhakta’s Nepali Ramayan in tapes, available for Rs 550 (11 tapes). 13 - 19 JULY 2001NEPALI TIMES ARTS 13 - 19 JULY 2001NEPALI TIMES 111111

versed with a range of western and eastern music. Here, the Darjeeling Diaspora stood out: Sharad Pradhan, Karma Yonzon, Jitendra Bardewa. There were Nilo, nilo gagan malocals too: Prem Manik, Pushpa Nepali, Prakash Gurung and Deep Shrestha. But in the decade 1985- Deep Shrestha 95 Nepali Adhunik lost steam as singers seemed to go into mass hibernation. But now, like a phoenix, it has risen again spreading its wings. Until Adhunik arrived on the scene, folk songs were the logical medium to express individual and underclass angst, but the power of these new lyric forms changed all that, and people now had new ways to react to romance and social situations. Dharma Raj of Hindi music in the market has MIN BAJRACHARYA Thapa’s 1960s ballad “Nepali le gone down to 40 percent. maya mare bari lai” , for example, released in the next few months. The growing fame of Nepali spoke about the growing number Many contemporary singers are music is also marked by the music Kunti Moktan of Nepalis migrating to India for suspicious of digital synthesisers. distributor’s rush to buy the work. A contemporary hit, Bidesh “Upcoming musicians know the copyright from popular artists. jane mayalu teeme lai (“For a love importance of acoustic sound and The prices ranges from Rs 40 going abroad”) talks about a so they won’t completely rely on thousand rupees to Rs 300,000 similar theme—Nepalis migrating the digital sound. But it has (Nabin Bhattarai’s Smriti). All SALIL SUBEDI to Hong Kong and the Middle certainly amde the existing said and done, but what the senior East and the broken hearts they musicians fine tune their skills and Nepali songwriters and musicians leave behind. They tug at the look for good songs,” says Sanjay have to be proud of is the impact heartstrings of individuals Shrestha, musician and recordist their hard labour of long years has separated by the cruel globalised at Omni Phonics studio in Balaju. brought about. For Nepali Nepali music-lovers are no longer satisfied with mediocrity.world And of migrant workers. The Music Nepal, one of the Adhunik listen to the young voice our singers, lyricists and musicians are responding. Today, music is a Rs 150 foremost private run studios and of the 22-year-old song writer and million industry, with some 250 music distributor started from two musician Prabin Shrestha of ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ meant success for him and because until then only aristocrats increasing public demand for albums of all genres from folk to small rooms 15 years ago when the Tantra which recently debuted the Ranjitkar, Uhi Govinda Bahadhur listened to recorded music—78s Adhunik. native rock being released every Hindi music had a grip over 90 emotive word music ofNilo nilo year. Regular demand of stage percent of the market. Today and Bhairab Bahadhur. Nepalis got (78 rpm singles)with love songs by The decade starting 1968 was gagan ma. It is a prayer for peace shows has equally helped the Music Nepal produces 120 songs a their first taste of Adhunik as singers like Master Mitra Sen, Nepali Adhunik’s most inspiring, and goodwill. popular, mass culture in 1961, Melwa Devi, Stulal Shrestha and musicians earn extra income. Kunti year with an annual turnover of Rs productive period, with lots of Moktan and Nalina Chitrakar 40 million. Meanwhile, the share when Radio Nepal started Master Ratna Das Prakash. Bachu experimental and avant garde music broadcasting Bachu Kailash who Kailash’s winning combination of whom we interviewed are also busy being composed by people like Natiworking for their new album to be was the first Nepali singer to recordgood vocals, a hint of classical Kaji, Amber Gurung and Gopal his own LP (long play, remember?) melodies, a folk flavour, simple and Yonzon, all of whom were well- with a Calcutta-based orchestra. sweet lyrics, and good arrangement This was quite radical in itself, 121212 TECHNOLOGY 13 - 19 JULY 2001 NEPALI TIMES [the World Bank] about the initiative, supposedly authoritative website, it and will continue to do so. We value should be clearly stated. In any shared learning with development Development Gateway’s prototype Worldwide web of domination information initiatives,” Anriette edition, only a tiny World Bank logo Esterhuysen, APC’s executive can be found – at the bottom of the Will the new World Bank development director, told us. “However, we feel main page. that the Development Gateway, to Development Gateway’s head of portal overshadow the diversity of put it simply, is trying to be too much, communications, Connie Eysenck,

opinions on the Internet? for too many, at too great a cost.” says the whole debate over the Bank

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○ In a policy paper, Esterhuysen project has been blown out of notes that other examples of proportion. She says this month’s market demand and inadequate the Gateway Foundation. While the knowledge sharing over the Internet, launch is part of an on-going phasing- public funding. “Technology creators Foundation will technically be such as the World Bank’s Global in process. And John Garrison, in the private sector respond to the independent of the World Bank, seats Knowledge mailing list, launched in Gateway’s head of Civil Society, adds needs of high-income consumers, on the board of directors can be 1997, have been unable to shake off that the Development Gateway rather than the needs of those who bought—at a high price. Those their identity as projects that are “doesn’t want to be a super gateway have little purchasing power.” wanting to be in on decision-making initiated and mediated by rich in which everyone has to come to our With less than one-half percent will be required to make a $5 million industrialised countries. “This is not platform. We want to be one more of sub-Saharan Africans and South contribution. Major corporations like to say that access to information and portal… that hooks into existing Asians using the Internet, it’s easy to Microsoft, IBM and America Online communications technologies are not portals.” see why critics doubt that a project (AOL) have already had a hand in the an important tool for development,” Neither does the Gateway want such as the Development Gateway project. she writes. “But it does not create to put other portals out of business, will succeed in bridging the digital and In the interest of avoiding a top- development.” Esterhuysen, like says Garrison. He points to the other divides between the wealthy down structure, the Gateway will Wilks, worries that the Gateway may independent Latin American portal nations of the North and the poor of have locally-run ‘country gateways’, unintentionally end up competing ALOP (Latin American Association of the South. “Disembodied, globally but, says Wilks, “some unpopular with local initiatives. “The Internet is Promotion Organizations): “They stored information is not a choices have been made” over who a very public space,” adds Wilks. “For didn’t want to work with Gateway development tool,” argues Alex Wilks will be running the gateway in each the World Bank it is a nightmare. Any because of the World Bank. We’re of the Bretton Woods Project, a country. And with some successful small organisation can set up and very comfortable with that, and we

TANYA BIRKBECK IN LONDON ○○○○○○○○○○

○○○○○○ Internet portal designed to bring Britain-based campaigning group that country-sites already up and running, publish. The World Bank has for a have given them a grant,” he says. hen it comes to the together “communities, organisations monitors the World Bank and the such as Uruguay’s www.uruguaytotal. long time been very dominant, and Garrison and Eysenck know the Internet and its role in and individuals” in order to reduce IMF. Wilks, who has been following com total. Wilks argues that it may be now it’s threatened by the pluralism.” Gateway is challenged by many w promoting development, it poverty. the evolution of the Development counter-productive to put up more. Dr David Gauntlett, a lecturer in people’s suspicions about the World seems that everyone is sure of the goal, The launch will come on the Gateway since the inception of the “In the end it will just give more social communications at the Bank, especially in light of growing but few agree on how to reach it. The heels of the latest UN Human idea, has many reservations about the prominence to those who are already University of Leeds in Britain, notes anti-globalisation protests. They claim World Bank, the United Nations and Development Report (HDR), the nature of the project. “A lot of people having no trouble making their voices that it is the very nature of the that they are trying to make the various NGOs all say they want to annual publication documenting will feel alienated by the way the site heard”, thus widening the existing Internet to be pluralistic. “The World institution more transparent in an transform the lives of poor people. progress made by nations in is set up,” he says. Wilks is concerned digital divide. Bank may well want everyone effort to quell fears. And, from the point of view of those improving their peoples’ quality of that the structure of the Gateway Already, some organisations in interested in development issues to But when asked how the working in computer and Internet- life. The HDR for 2001 argues that Website is too hierarchical and that it developing countries are saying they use their gateway. But the good thing Development Gateway will saturated developed nations, tech- “information and communications will act as a filter rather than a will stay out of the Development about the Internet is that users can maintain editorial independence nology appears to be the obvious technology… can actually make disseminator of ideas. He compares Gateway. One such, the South Africa- always look for, and usually find, when large corporations can buy a answer. major contributions to reducing the Gateway to an “Imperial gated based Association for Progressive alternatives,” he says. “The web seat on the Gateway Foundation, On 30 July, the World Bank will world poverty.” That is also the community”. He adds, “It’s not your Communications (an Internet site contains many voices and, whether Eysenck admits she does not have be launching its ambitious project, the premise that the Gateway is working right to be there, it’s only if you are that focuses on the “environment, the World Bank likes it or not, people an answer. “It hasn’t been put in Development Gateway upon. But it is no simple issue: The granted access by the gatekeeper.” human rights, development and will access those more challenging place yet,” she says. “You have (www.developmentgateway.org). The HDR notes that most of the potential Now in the hands of the World peace”) has opted for what it calls sites.” Gauntlett feels that whenever to see this very much as Gateway bills itself as a place where benefits of technology actually bypass Bank, the Gateway will soon be “constructive disengagement” with an institution with particular political something that is being “worlds of knowledge meet”—an poor people, because of a lack of passed over to what will be known as the Gateway. “We have talked with or ideological leanings sets up a developed.” (GEMINI) WORLD 13 - 19 JULY 2001NEPALI TIMES 131313 Congress and a former deputy by CHENG LI ANALYSIS governor of Jiangxi Province, the highest-ranking officials ever executed Closer to home in PRC history. A few members of the ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ BRUSSELS - The EC has announced reforms in its aid and trade formidable challenge to the CCP’s CCP’s Central Committee were functions to increase efficiency. The announcement followed legitimacy. The smuggling case againstdismissed from their posts for corrup- reports that EU spending on aid programmes had grown three-fold the Yuanhua Group, for example, tion, including the justice minister. during the 1990s, reaching some $11 billion in 2000. The From red to green?But the most important initiative is Commission admitted it is not equipped to manage this volume of involves illicit money totalling 80 aid and the speed of delivery and quality of its projects have been billion yuan ($9.7 billion). Several the “greening” of the Party. One-third of China’s 1.3 billion are under 21. “suffering badly.” Decentralising management if external hundred officials, including 70 high- assistance and devolving greater responsibility for the functions of The Chinese level officials, have been arrested. The CCP targets this age pool, its External Service to field offices are the main aims. The transfer China’s top leaders call corruption a especially the college-educated. More of responsibilities is expected by end-2003. “Anything that can be Communist Party “cancer within” and a “life and death” importantly, the so-called fourth better managed and decided on the spot, close to what is is finally issue for the CCP and China. Yet, “Togeneration, will succeed Jiang Zemin’s happening on the ground, should not be managed or decided in generation as CCP leaders. Growing Brussels,” where the EU is headquartered, said a communique “changing its expect the Party to eliminate official from the EC’s Europe Aid Cooperation Office, set up to improve corruption is like asking a surgeon to up during the Cultural Revolution and internal management of its aid budget. The reforms, pending colour”. operate on his or her own body—it is were ideologically disillusioned. Many approval by ministers from the 15 EU member states and the impossible,” said He Qinglian, an were sent to rural areas to do manual European Parliament, include reducing red tape by opening several outspoken Chinese economist. CCP labour. Great physical hardship and an new EU delegations and offices throughout the world. “The cost of an official serving in a third country is approximately double that leaders have launched a vigorous ever-changing political environment nurtured valuable traits—adaptability, of one at headquarters,” said the communiqué. The decision on image-improvement campaign. At a where to place delegations will therefore be “based on a set of recent high-level party meeting Jiang endurance, political sophistication. criteria comprising volumes of aid and trade, political significance, spoke of learning from Communist This generation is the least workload and management responsibilities,” the paper said. The popular slogan was: “Only the and ruling parties that have lost powerdogmatic of elite generations in PRC Commission’s proposal is ‘budget neutral’, meaning it is not in recent times—the Communist history. These new leaders will intended to increase overall spending. So to increase its Chinese Communist Party can save representation in the Balkans, a key area of security concern, and China,” fifty years later, the slogan is: Party of the Soviet Union, the accelerate political reform, consolidat- ince its founding eighty years areas deemed to be of increasing economic importance, cutbacks “Only Capitalism can save the Kuomintang in Taiwan, and the ing China’s legal system and develop- will be made elsewhere. The Commission intends to open a sago, the Chinese Communist Chinese Communist Party.” Partido Revolucionario Institucional ing “inner Party democracy.” They delegation to Nepal with a non-resident head of delegation Party (CCP) has been obsessed with Can the CCP adapt to China’s of Mexico. Jiang says internal will consolidate reformed institutional in India. red. As the “vanguard of the mechanisms, like elections within the new socio-economic environment andproblems caused such failures, like the proletarian,” CCP claimed its mission Party, term limits, age limits for maintain the one-party system? The inability to respond to new challenges. was to eliminate capitalist exploita- retirement, and regular reshufflings of Chinese Academy of Sciences says over The CCP now intends to tion. This is understandable—the provincial and military leaders. A more 46 million workers in State-owned represent “the developmental need of CCP was originally an organisation of institutionalised political succession and collective firms have been laid off production,” “the forward direction of peasants, workers and Red Army will be essential to the CCP’s future. since the mid-90s. Unemployment is advanced culture,” and “the funda- (IPS) soldiers. After seizing power in 1949, The best news for the CCP is that no expected to increase in the next five mental interests of most of Chinese Mao warned that the Party should rival institution exists to replace it. years when China enters the WTO. people.” The Party’s base thus never “change its colour.” broadens to include entrepreneurs, First Nations, then self rule These statistics are damming in a ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ In a recent speech by Jiang communist state. Economic disparitiesintellectuals, and technical specialists. OTTAWA - The Canadian government is working to overhaul the Zemin, secretary general of the Party, between coastal and inland regions, By bringing talented people into the Indian Act and hand much of its authority over aboriginal affairs to said the CCP should permit private urban and rural areas, private firms system, the Party prevents an anti- First Nations, or indigenous communities. The Ministry of Indian businesspeople (capitalists) to and State-owned enterprises are government force from forming. Affairs and Northern Development says the government will become party members. This is not phenomenal. The difference in GDP Execution of corrupt officials is also consult the country’s 600 indigenous communities in coming surprising. Over 110,000 CCP aimed at improving the party’s image. months before tabling amendments to the Indian Act in Parliament. between Shanghai and Guizhou, for But Native leaders across Canada are sceptical and say they members run private businesses, and example, increased from seven times inAmong the executed were the former have not been shown the draft legislation. Although the power of about three hundred work for 1990 to 12 times in 2000. Millions of vice chairman of the National People’s Native local government has been strengthened in recent years, Motorola, for example, in managerial surplus rural labourers migrated to the 125-year-old Indian Act has not been amended in 50 years. and technical posts. Today, the cities where many cannot find jobs. Native groups have often condemned the law; despising everything from its name to the veto power it gives Canada’s colour of China’s social and political This explains the Falun Gong. values is not the red of class struggle, government over decisions made by Native governments. One Rampant corruption is the most sticking point concerning the proposed changes is that the but green, the colour of money. An government will not give up its powers over Native governments’ illuminating Chinese joke says that in Cheng Li is the author ofRediscover- status and treaty rights. The issue of voting rights and access to the early years of Communism, the ing China: Dynamics and Dilemmas Native-run services has been particularly contentious, with of Reform andChina’s Leaders: The several cases now making their way through the courts. First Nations governments operate under the Indian Act, but some have New Generation. made land claims or administrative agreements that give them greater power over local government, law enforcement, health and welfare. Robert Nault, Minister for Indian Affairs and Northern ANALYSIS by MARK SOMMER Development, acknowledges that such legal challenges to the Indian Act are driving the legislative process. The powerful Assembly of First Nations, which works with the government to improve the quality of Native self-government, has not taken a position on the proposal yet. The government’s proposed changes to the Indian Act fall far short of a recent Royal The age of spin Commission recommendation for full self-government for Canada’s Native peoples. BERKELEY - “Truth is a liquid,” said Edward Bernays, who in the interbellum years invented the modern art and profession of public relations. An alchemist of mass consciousness, Bernays blended sordinary reality with lies and half-truths so seamlessly that even sceptics could not discern where the real ended and

deception began. Bernays, Sigmund Freud’s nephew, applied his uncle’s insights (IPS) into the individual psyche to the manipulation of mass psychology. Today PR is global industry with annual profits of tens of billions of dollars and 40-60 percent yearly growth. Many PR companies are independent practices Born Free, to Survive? legitimately seeking greater visibility for their clients with press releases, press ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ conferences, and author tours. But the larger firms exert massive influence using a Archer’s Post, Kenya – Somewhere in a secret location in the cone-shaped hills and volcanic rocks of the Shaba Game Reserve, wide range of intrusive and manipulative tactics largely invisible to the public.Truth and its PR counterfeit are 350 km north-east of Nairobi, American TV channel CBS is The world’s leading PR companies—Fleishman-Hillard, Burson-Marsteller, Hillinsidiously destroying democratic culture.shootingSurvivor ,III the latest instalment of the popular television and Knowlton, Weber Shandwick—are based in the US and UK but maintain ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ series. The road into Shaba is guarded 24 hours a day by armed offices in scores of countries. Most couple PR operations with larger advertising game rangers from the local Isiolo County Council, which lent two- divisions, offering “integrated communications strategies”—ads project Corporate PR is so successful that often its chief victims—progressive thirds of the park to irresistible images and PR massages the messages from behind. CBS for two months politicians, environmental, labour and social justice movements—turn to the for 18 million Kenyan Much corporate public relations is neither public nor relational but stealthysame techniques (and often the same firms). On behalf of global population shillings ($228,000). and manipulative. Its effectiveness is in its invisibility. “The best PR looks likeorganisations, a US foundation recently granted a major PR/ad agency $16 Shaba, the location news,” says a prominent practitioner. “You’ll never know when a PR agency ismillion to inundate eight second-tier US cities with paid ads and PR strategies of the feature films effective; you’ll just find your views slowly shifting.” Media researchers estimateto “brand” international family planning like Coke and Toyota. Can a social Born Free andTo that 40 percent of what Americans see, hear, and read as news is lightly editedcause be effectively marketed like a soft drink? Is something vital lost in the Walk With Lions, is press releases. Publicists also place voices and faces, supplying journalists withprocess? Like advertising, PR can be dismayingly effective in inducing people toloved by the local ready-made stories. PR agencies promote and protect corporate and partisando and believe things they otherwise might not choose, like smoking or voting Boran tribe and agendas, democratic pols and image-challenged dictators. PR boosts or blastsfor a corrupt politician. But can PR induce people to think for themselves or befilmmakers because of its teeming wildlife, scenic beauty and eerie atmosphere. The public policies by targeting constituencies with a strategic blend of paid ads, better citizens? Does it even want to? What happens to a democracy whose CBS crew has cleared 20 km sq of vegetation in the 250 sq km “earned” (PR-prompted) media, and “reputation management” strategies to citizens have been steadily and artfully deceived so they no longer detect any park, and pitched 2,000 tents and other semi-permanent wooden industrial espionage, damage control, use of third party authorities, clandestinedifference between reality and its counterfeit—or even care? PR’s tacit structures inside the reserve. Heavy crew trucks cruise on and censorship, and infiltration of groups opposing their clients’ interests. Most assumption is that most people are incapable of intelligent, independent thoughtoff the road. Says Guyo Mokku, an Isiolo MP, “I do not think the clients in such a high-stakes, high-priced industry are wealthy—major and action and must be programmed en masse to act in prescribed ways “for theAmericans would allow such a thing in a fragile environment.” corporations, political parties and celebrities with a powerful interest in greater good”. “It is now possible to control and regiment the masses accordingAngry locals want CBS to pay for the environmental destruction, and want the contract between CBS and the County Council made advancing their agendas or maintaining a positive public image to camouflageto our will without their knowing it,” wrote Edward Bernays. “The conscious public. Others are also resentful. In late June, five journalists, dubious motives or personal and institutional misconduct. Many PR clients and intelligent manipulation of the organised habits and opinions of the masses eageris to get to the bottom of the story, were detained for more spend more money rebuilding their images than redressing the problems that anfirst important element in a democratic society.” Bernays’ chilling vision has comethan four hours by armed rangers. A reserve warden said he had tarnished them. Energy companies, for example, have pumped vast sums intoto PR pass. And it has so brain-damaged democracy that the “masses” being “strict instructions from the movie company” to keep journalists tactics in recent years to dissuade US policymakers from trying to reduce manipulated and the invisible hands manipulating them have surrendered their from following the story. And tour operators are furious that their responsibilities—and possibilities—as free, conscious beings. Only by refusing toguests can only see one-third of the reserve. CBS and Isiolo America’s greenhouse gas emissions. Through an industry-sponsored Global County Council have not yet commented. Climate Coalition, they seek to discredit the UN’s esteemed Climate be “spun” and reasserting our independent judgment can we reclaim our Change Panel’ conclusions by feeding the media a few scientists (mostly incitizenship and revive a diminished democratic culture. the pay of these corporations) dissenting from the overwhelming opinion that rapid action is essential. (IPS)

Mark Sommer is an author and columnist who directs the Mainstream Media Project, a (GEMINI) US-based effort to bring new voices to the broadcast media. 141414 ASIA 13 - 19 JULY 2001NEPALI TIMES COMMENT byMUSHAHID HUSSAIN

in South Asia. Today, internationally, Closing the gap India’s support stems primarily from ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○ the US, which in keeping with the CANBERRA – East Timor’s prospects of economic independence improved after the signing of an agreement Bush administration’s desire to Be pragmatic last week guaranteeing it a greater share of income from oil promote India as a counter to China development in the sea between its territory and Australia. has taken an “India First” approach. The Australian government relented from its initial insis- Vajpayee and Musharraf need to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, tence that the revenues from the 75,000 km sq zone be- weave peace upsurgearound as simply the a by-product aspirations of visiting South Asia in March 2001, tween Australia and East Timor, ‘cross-border terrorism’ allegedly also made it clear the UN is not going known as the Timor Gap, be of the Kashmirifomented people. from Pakistan. Over the to get involved in mediation on divided evenly. The Australian government says that over the 20 ○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ course of the decade-long Kashmiri Kashmir, and prefers bilateral talks. years of the agreement, from Vajpayee’s insurgency, the character of the Despite the media hype, this remarkably similar 2004 East Timor could receive conflict has itself been transformed. It month’s summit is different than, say, vision. more as much as $7 billion in is neither wholly bilateral nor entirely other ‘historic’ summitry, like Camp revenue from existing and future Musharraf said international. Rather, it has become David 1979 (‘land for peace’), the developments in the area. Income that “if both sides trilateral. A third party, the 12 millionUS-China 1972 breakthrough (to from oil and gas developments stick to their stated Kashmiris, two-thirds living under counter the common enemy, the would be split between the oil positions too rigidly, India and the rest with Pakistan, has companies, Australia and East Soviet Union) or last year’s summit Timor after deducting the costs of there will be no been injected as the vital factor between the two Koreas (healing of indispensable to any enduring production. Both countries will progress” at the wounds ‘within the family’). This share the revenue evenly for the next three years. After 2004, summit. But if both settlement. summit pertains to the Kashmiris, East Timor will receive 90 percent of the total income. While are “sincere and Musharraf and Vajpayee have principles, their right to determine estimates of the oilfield’s resources vary, the UN open-minded,” there been busy in consultations with their destiny, and peace between two Transitional Authority in East Timor (UNTAET) estimates it can be a settlement politicians and foreign policy experts. nuclear armed neighbours. The could conservatively contribute $103.6 to the threadbare $57 on Kashmir in “less Consultations are a political plus for urgency of any settlement stems from million East Timor budget. Peter Galbraith, UNTAET Repre- sentative, said the agreement was not as generous as than a year.” The governments handling sensitive the high stakes involved. The Times of India talked Australia claimed. “Australia is getting some of the oil and security or foreign policy issues. They insurgency of Kashmiris is destabilising gas production north of the mid-point, which it would not of Vajpayee’s “new help in forging a political consensus, for the region, leading to death and normally get, and will also receive the benefits of vision and strong convey a perception of domestic destruction, and poses a real threat downstream activities,” he said. Other activists say it is sense of realism,” political ‘strength’ prior to to peace. After the May 1998 important to keep an eye on the process of determining and adding significantly negotiations since most of those nuclear tests by India and Pakistan, accounting for the costs of production. Australia’s interest in that he would be prepared to discuss consulted support ‘unity behind the Clinton called South Asia “the most gaining control over the oil resources was a major reason “how best to meet the aspirations of government’ and neutralises dangerous place in the world” since for giving tacit backing to the Indonesian invasion of East potential critics by providing them Timor in 1975 and later recognising Indonesia’s claim to the people” of Kashmir. He was also any future India-Pakistan conflict East Timor. ISLAMABAD - With media hype said to be admiring what the Indian a sense of participation in the could easily develop a nuclear edge. decision-making process. building up, leaders of archrivals newspaper termed General The failure to resolve this dispute Pakistan and India are busy doing Musharraf’s “sincerity, frankness, Since the last Pakistan-India would ensure that 1.1 billion their homework ahead of the 14 July warmth and straightforwardness.” summit in February 1999, when people remain hostage to the 53- Besides the sudden personal year-old status quo. If India and summit. This will be the th19 Vajpayee rode a bus to Lahore at the summit admiration between their two leaders, invitation of now-deposed Prime Pakistan can agree that the status of the two adversaries in the last 50 both countries now apparently Minister Nawaz Sharif, the quo in Kashmir is no longer years. There have also been 65 understand that 12 years after the tenable, and that any settlement international political environment (IPS) meetings of the two countries at the guerrilla war in Kashmir, they have has become a different one. Then, must incorporate the aspirations of level of foreign secretaries to discuss failed to achieve their maximalist Pakistan was somewhat better placed the Kashmiri people, the summit their still unresolved, core cause of positions. Pakistan, for instance, did with President Clinton pushing the would be presumed a ‘success’ and Almost globalised contention: the dispute over Kashmir, not succeed in trying to Pakistan-India dialogue, and trying to the peace woven around this ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○ with its armed insurgency since 1989 internationalise the Kashmir issue by maintain a policy of parity and balanceprinciple could endure. GENEVA - China is a little closer to accession to the World and three wars in the past. Both sides, involving the UN or other sections of Trade Organisation (WTO), after last week’s multilateral eager to make the summit a success, the international community. And negotiations, which the WTO said allowed both sides closer unveiled their pre-summit India failed to Pakistanise the conflict to agree on a number of issues. WTO authorities hope China’s admission can be approved during the WTO’s perspectives last week. On 29 June, by trying to reduce the Kashmiri the Washington Post carried General November meeting. The next meeting will be 16 July and if (IPS) further deliberations are necessary, they will take place in Musharraf’s view of how the two sides September after the WTO’s summer recess. China’s could move forward, and the same day Mushahid Hussain was minister for assistant minister for Trade, Long Yongtu, though upbeat, The ‘Times of India promoted information in Nawaz Sharif’s stressed that there is still much work ahead. During the government. admission talks over the last 15 years, China has been firmly implementing a national policy of reforms and market openings. However, a sticky point remains: agriculture. China maintains it should be considered a developing belonging. I could sense the difference between me and my Pakistani friends andcountry, and seeks the benefits afforded such countries by cousins. But we spoke the same language, wore similar clothes, shared a culturethe WTO agricultural accord, including permission to grant and history. Enmity and nationalism seemed a long way away. subsidies for 10 percent of agricultural production. But the It was on that visit 10 years ago that my family and I acquired a new family US says China is included in the category of industrialised across the border. We were not unique in this. Despite the difficulties created bycountries, which must limit their farm subsidies to just five percent of agricultural output. A final hour bilateral treaty the Indian and Pakistani governments for people who wish to travel across the between Washington and Beijing established that China Make upborder, their numbers grow every year. So do the strategies to defeat the would set a ceiling of 8.5 percent for its subsidised farm machinations of government. Generally, it is production, dissipating the last of the storm clouds hovering URVASHI BUTALIA virtually impossible for Pakistanis and Indians over the talks. In addition to certain points related to services ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ to get visas to each other’s countries. When and tariff contingencies that have delayed the multilateral New Delhi - In the small lanes and alleyways they do, they are granted a visa for a city (or a agreement under discussion by the working party, China of Turkman Gate in Old Delhi, the legend of must also finalise its bilateral talks with Mexico, the only Nina and Daman lives on. In 1947 when India maximum of three cities), not a country. But in country with which it has not signed a protocol of was partitioned and millions of people chose— recent years, people have started forming understanding. or were forced to choose—to become citizens themselves into a group, say of doctors, of one or other country (India or Pakistan) Nina lawyers, journalists, students… and apply for and Daman, legendary couple and head permission to visit as a group. The eunuchs, also split up. governments can refuse individuals visas, but Nina went to Pakistan and Daman stayed it’s much more difficult (and embarrassing) to in India. But unlike many others, Nina, Daman refuse groups. (IPS) and their followers remained in touch, visiting When the British got Cyril Radcliffe, an each other virtually every year. The border English lawyer, to draw a boundary separating between India and Pakistan had little meaning India into two countries—India and for them: they were eunuchs, the ‘third sex’ for Pakistan—they cut open people’s hearts, whom the quest for identity lay at the borders of divided up their lives, turned friends into gender, not religion. For many others this wasn’t enemies and left behind a legacy of hatred and VACANCY so easy. For Bir Bahadur Singh, a Sikh who enmity. It’s this enmity that is kept alive by the Himalmedia seeks applications for the post of Marketing migrated from Rawalpindi in west Punjab, it two governments today as they do their best to took more than 50 years before he was able toThe most sensible option for the Executive for its English language monthly magazine, Himal visit his home village again. Why was he so Indian and Pakistani governmentsdeflect attention from their own shortcomings South Asian. The applicant must have the ability to formulate anxious to go back? “Because,” he said, “we by casting the other into the mould of villain. and implement appropriate marketing strategies, solicit is to tackle their issues as friends. advertisements, identify and tap new market segments in South came away in fear and enmity. Besides, once you have fought, what is left but to But over the years, at a people-to-people level, ○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Asian countries, manage subscription campaigns and run make up?” I was struck by the simple truth of this statement and think that the constant movement across the border, the desire to restore and maintain friendships with the ‘other side’ has led to the beginnings of a process of international distribution. Excellent communication skills, President Musharraf and his colleague across the border, Prime Minister flawless English, wide experience in marketing and a willingness Vajpayee, would do well to learn from this in their summit meeting. healing the bitter wounds of the partition. Those who manage to get to the ‘other side’, come back with hundreds of stories and others live off them for to learn about the South Asian market are essential. Salary Hundreds of journeys like Bir Bahadur’s are made every year, people going negotiable. Apply with curriculum vitae by 27 July, 2001. back to find their roots, to locate friends or family members, or simply to lookdays at on end. their old homes. My own journey began some years ago when I tried to track There’s no romanticism about this – no one really thinks that the down my uncle, who had stayed on in what became Pakistan at the time of partition can be undone, or that the two countries can easily get together as Partition and subsequently converted from Hinduism to Islam. Ranamama hadone. But there is a realism: there’s a desire for friendship. The substantial issues beenpersona non grata in our family. For 40 years there was no contact with him.that remain to be resolved can be better tackled as friends. For Musharraf and And then I became interested in the Partition and its impact on the lives of Vajpayee there could be no better point from which to start. ordinary people, and acquired friends in Pakistan. The ‘other’ country no longer seemed so intractable. I was enormously moved by my first visit to Pakistan. The (Gemini) experience was deeply emotional. I felt a strong sense of homecoming, of Urvashi Butalia is the authorThe of Other Side of Silence: Voices from the Email: [email protected] Partition of India. She is director and co-founder of Kali for Women, India’s Himalmedia, PO Box 7251, Kathmandu first feminist publishing house. gave up their personal interests and started taking an interest in the nation. Only people interested in the FROM THE NEPALI PRESS welfare of the country should13 - be 19 in JULY 2001NEPALI TIMES 151515 don’t neglect the work of the (larger) charge of government. For 30 years, people’s war. Prioritise underground the reins were in the hands of one Maoists Lies activities but don’t neglect work that person, the king, but it is difficult to “Birth of a Repub- ‘Parliament must have the power to○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○ can be done openly. Make the rural believe that he knew about the question and keep a watch on the Budhabar Saptahik, 4 July class struggle a priority, but don’t situation of the people. Whatever his lic—Ha!” neglect the nationwide struggle. coterie wanted, the king, in most ○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○ character of the heir apparent’ The Maoists announced the formationPrioritise guerrilla activity but don’t cases, did. Madan Mani Dixit inSpace Time, of the peoples’ government in Dailekhneglect exposing political activities These days, no one trusts the 7 July on 26 June at a public function at and publicity. National level publicity Narahari Acharya, former NC spokesmanKantipur, 26 June government and this is our fault. We Naumule (the place where police wereis important, but don’t neglect have been proved unsuccessful. We A monarch’s “order” and Baburam’s “conviction” both mean the same …The (royal palace) incident hasmassacred in April). All three top international publicity, prioritise need to correct our political raised some fundamental leaders of the janasarkar, including its building the armed forces, but don’t shortcomings. If we are unsuccessful, thing. After they lose their power of questions. It has shown that it is chief, are not Dailekh residents but neglect the formation of local level democracy will be in great danger, reasoning, reliance on order or time to analyse all political have been brought over from groups (and militias). Prioritise and this nation will not develop at all. conviction, leave those that order no bodies, all institutions of neighbouring Jajarkot. Maya Prasad relying on strength of your own group escape route. In his article in Kantipur governance, all national agencies It is necessary for us to realise we have and all other organisations that Sharma (Acharya), the head of the and organisation, but don’t back out shortcomings, study and rectify (see “From the Nepali Press”, #50), are in any way related to the peoples’ government, Dailekh comes from working alliances, support of them…All parties will have to rise Baburam, says “with conviction” that fundamental issues of survival offrom Jitpur Village Development international public opinion. It has above their pettiness and work for thea republic has been born and is trying this nation and state. However Committee (VDC) in Jajarkot. The always been held that these ideas will to force people to go along with his important a person may be after benefit of the nation. some time he or she would ceasewoman representative, Puspha Gharti,help make the peoples’ revolution logic. Hitler and Stalin tried similarly to survive, but a nation is an entityis from Jajarkot’s Dandagaon VDC successful, it has now been proved to to prove that they had replaced God that will continue for ages to and the chief of its armed wing Nanda be a scientific approach.” and that led to their downfall. come. The life of a nation will notBir Gharti is also from Jajarkot. This is Baburam is trying to rewrite stop. The people have always accepted the fact that the monarchywhy some was have labelled this janasarkar history when he says that Prithivi the strongest aspect of this country. It was the very essence of asthe a “government on hire.” Acharya nation. It was what gave this country its character and life. The 1 June Narayan Shah committed a lot of incident has raised many questions concerning this. Twelve yearssaid he ago had the support of 95 percent atrocities against the common man. Is Nepalis changed absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy.of the people of Dailekh. He added this all that Baburam studied about …Nepalis proved that they had a lot of respect for the monarchythat sinceand the formation of the Prithivi Narayan and his Divyaupdesh? so it was never questioned, not even in parliament or in the courts. “We have lost our peoples’ government, all elected I pity Baburam. For the Such was the peoples’ belief in the institution of monarchy anddistrict the institutions including the Royal purge monarch. All issues concerning the monarch and the institution of the ○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○ establishment of a republic he had to District Development Committee hadmorals” monarchy were left to His Majesty’s pleasure. This all proves that the ○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○ Saptahik Bimarsa, 6 July bring forth Dhirendra Shah (now people had a lot of faith in this institution and held it in high beenesteem. declared illegal and had no right Krishna Prasad Bhattarai in Nepal dead) as his witness. Long live such a The 1 June incident has raised some fundamental issues and towe function. are …Why was it necessary Jagaran, 2 July republic. After exhausting his sense of now forced to review all this in a new light… for the Maoists to import leaders from A high-level committee formed under …At such times, it is necessary for all national agencies to keep the chairmanship of retired Military logic and reasoning, Baburam raves other districts to announce the and rants that this is the truth and we their cool, not keep anyone, including themselves, guessing, formationor build of a government in a district…“We have seen a majority and a Secretary Shanta Bahadur Malla to castles in the air. Since the NC is the largest party and is in power, it have to believe it. Was this how he where they hardly have any influence? minority Congress government. We analyse the incident of 1 June has has a larger share of responsibilities and duties. The UML, as the main have seen UML rule and the RPP presented its findings to the king. acquired his PhD? Jawaharlal Nehru opposition party, also has its share of responsibilities and likewiseThis isall a serious question being raised University should take note of this. other parties too haveplay. to by intellectuals. Another interesting too. Our widespread poverty has not The first action after the committee’s People who have nothing to do Immediately after the 1 June incident, all Nepalis had hoped factthat is thata the Maoists have also resulted from the NC or the UML, it report was the sacking of the ADCs meeting of all their representatives would be called, meaning parliamentannounced village committees. In is there because of ignorance and to His Late Majesty King Birendra, can waste time reading Baburam’s would sit down and take stock of the situation. It may not have beenRom VDC they forcefully made a illiteracy. That is not the fault of the and Her Late Majesty Queen thoughts and they can then abuse required by constitution, but the people of the country had, in theirUML supporter, Khadga Bahadur system. More than 50 percent of our Aishwarya, and ADCs to His Late anyone they feel that deserves it. This honesty and innocence, hoped for this. By this time it had already been people are illiterate and that is where Majesty King Dipendra. On the is the manner in which Baburam is proved that the Privy Council was incompetent. The royal family Shahihad been a member of that committee. massacred and even after 12 hours, it was unable to give definiteShahi has said the Maoists had the fault lies. committee’s recommendation, King abusing the UML and the ML. It was answers. … The people wanted an emergency sitting of parliamentthreatened and and tortured him and In the last 10 years, decadence Gyanendra has closed down the interesting to note that Baburam’s they were curious why this esteemed body did not convene … asked him to be a member of the and corruption have spread. Our secretariat of His Late Majesty King advice to the armed forces, printed in …The many questions about the monarchy raised by the incidentcommittee. It has been over two political leaders have lost all respect, Dipendra. Kantipur, was missing in his write-up will have to be looked into by parliament. Some of the major weeksconcerns since Shahi was abducted... and morals and political values. Until Palace watchers interpret this as a in another daily, Rajdhani. Maybe are: the politicians do not earn back the sign that the palace is wielding the Baburam heard that the army does not 1) The laws and regulations concerning accession to the throne. listen to such speeches or advice. In 2) The issue of parliament not empowered to discuss the character of respect, and regain their moral and axe. At a time when the palace and the same way he did not utter the the heir apparent. political values, this society will not the government are working in …The constitution gives the powers governing all issues develop, this country will not tandem, people are curious to where names of Jigme Singye Wangchuk or concerning the heir apparent to the king. The 1 June incident has progress. For 30 years the monarchy the axe will fall next. Both commit- Lendup Dorji. He must have realised forced the citizens of this country to reconsider this. The monarchy is actively ruled this country and the tees, one formed by the government that Nepali citizens do not want to the oldest and strongest institution here. Most people thought it was people did not get a chance to and the other formed by the palace, hear that. but natural that the issue of the heir apparent should be left inMaoist the Do’s and What can be more amusing than a hands of the king. The incident has swept the house clean of the old practice the art governance. If have pointed out serious lapses in thinking. Our historical institutions face many problems now and thus anyone raised the issue of justice security. They demanded action left-wing leader saying that a republic for the preservation of the institutions, parliament has to take Don’tsmatters has come into being all of a sudden? ○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○ and equality, they were locked up. against all who didn’t carry out their under its wing and be directly involved. Saptahik Jana Aadesh, 3 July Those were very difficult, compli- duties and have been assured all their Baburam’s article was like a bolt of Similarly, parliament has to rethink its policy of not questioning, or cated and trying times. We have recommendations will be carried out. lightning on a clear day. What more speaking aloud about the behaviour/ character of the heir apparent. It our own compulsions. In this Still, some people are raising concerns can be said when it is presumed that is a national insult that the abuse of illegal drugs has reachedThe the following has been excerpted the demise of just one person has led royal palace and members of the family. A bigger tragedy is that such decade-long period (of democracy) about the modalities under which from the book entitled The Basis of action has been taken so far. to the birth of a republic. Does the an abuse has all of a sudden exploded in the face of the peoplethe Prachandapath of adopted at the we have not set in place good this nation. To ensure that such an incident does not occur again, the systems, we have not put in place Questions are being raised asking great Marxist-Leninist-Maoist leader people and parliament must have the power to question and keepsecond a Maoist convention in Dang in Baburam want to establish a republic February. rules, laws, practices. We haven’t whether the army deployed in the watch on the character of the heir apparent and other members of the even done the groundwork. Today through a revolution or through a royal household. …In many ways our society is still backward. We“…In the present circumstances, palace is under the jurisdiction of the is the result of all that we did and army or the palace? Does the palace miracle? Has Baburam become a cannot move forward if we do not study or rectify our weaknesses.it is feltWe that the peoples’ war can be will have to learn from our mistakes and from history. did not do. The country is passing employ them or does the army post leader by talking rubbish? It is my turned into a total war and for this to through a serious crisis. To get out them there? If the army deputes tragedy that I am writing this article take place certain guidelines have beenof this situation, it is necessary to them, then should the army or some instead of helping to send a mentally put in place. form some sort of a consensus other agency take action against ill person to an asylum. The work in village be given between all political parties. them? All this one has one positive utmost attention and top priority, but For society to move forward, all The constitution clearly states repercussion. Through his two articles, do not neglect the work in the cities; democratic forces must unite and that the king, on recommendation of Baburam has insulted all Nepalis who prioritise unconstitutional struggle forge ahead together. It is necessary the Security Council, will be in chargehad said we needed a dialogue with (people’s war) but do not neglect legalfor everyone who fought for of deploying the army. Another sub- the Maoists. For Baburam the possibilities. Prioritise particular democracy to give a thought to the clause states that the enlisting, monarchy is dead and a republic has strategic areas but don’t neglect othersdevelopment of our society. How did management and deployment of the been born. It is time all those as well. Prioritise the war effort, but we become poorer by the day? Why? army will be done according to negotiators came to their senses and Political leaders and people in power existing laws, rules and regulations. realised they do not need to waste must search for the truth behind The constitution does not give the their time. Instead of starting a this... Only by looking back and dialogue with him, they should have QUOTE OF THE WEEK king extraordinary powers. But there analysing the events of the last 10 are some rules and laws formulated pity on him and take him to a mental institution. Maybe after he is treated Development does not just depend on the economy. years will we be able to truly move before the present constitution forward. Politicians must give this became effective that do give him and recovers, and then we can start a serious thought, but right now all special powers, like deciding the dialogue. - Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, Finance MinisterReporters at a Club Press Meet,10 June. political parties are engaged in tenure of the army deployed in the infighting. It is time political parties Royal Darbar.

Sign:Resignation Arrow:Parliament’s 20th Session Naya Sadak, 9 July, Monday

THIS PAGE CONTAINS MATERIAL SELECTED FROM THE NEPALI LANGUAGE PRESS 161616 SPORTS 13 - 19 JULY 2001NEPALI TIMES

Sparring for thehim performinggood with some of the life top Americans.” But for Harrison’s next outing, the public—or at least the press— GAVIN EVANSIN LONDON Middleton, a 33-year-old private ○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○ Britain’s super heavyweightinvestigator whose professional Olympic boxing willmedal-winner demand something tastier. boxer ou can’t go far these days in record showed eight wins and nine Harrison has talked of winning the Britain without being Audley Harrison is moving from amateurBritish title athletics in five fights and to the the y Former heavyweight boxer Jess losses. The problems with the bout presented with the beaming world title within five years. As he worldHarding is doingof thebillboards promotion, began and when celebrity. McMillan neglected to smile of Audley Harrison. The delete a clause in the contract. put it, “By the time I’m 34 I’ll be a Harrison’s○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ friendand former WBO ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ nation’s undisputed ‘Face of the Middleton, who was offered £4,000, fully fledged, experienced Sydney Olympics’ has been (World Boxing Organisation) heavyweight and that’s the time I featherweight champion Colin clued into a regulation that allowed effortlessly transformed into a face him to claim a 22.25 per cent share ofshould be challenging for world on billboards, on television quiz McMillan is taking on the honours.” management, while American the television revenues. Harrison shows and even in newspaper ended up having to pay Middleton So what are his chances? His business features. His handsome trainer Thell Torrence is tackling assets are impressive—size, natural the physical side. Harrison then £40,000—an expensive mistake, but image is invariably larger than life, one that he says serves as a lesson. athletic ability, impressive speed of even for a man who stands 6ft 6in signed a £1 million ten fight-deal The other big problem with hand and foot, a quick, accurate and weighs 260 lb. (118 kg). But with the British Broadcasting left cross, a southpaw stance that it’s certainly not the usual image of Corporation to maximise his Harrison’s debut was the bill header. Even Olympic champions can be switched to orthodox, great the novice professional boxer. He exposure, increasing his balance, sharp reflexes and a doesn’t quite fit the bill. bargaining power with sponsors, are entitled to undemanding career launches, but this usually takes proven ability to rise to the big For a start, he’s a bit old. advertisers and ultimately, rival occasion. But there are also several television networks. Clearly, place somewhere near the bottom Turning 30 this year, he is 10 years of the bill. Middleton simply wasn’tfactors counting against him. First, older than Mike Tyson was when there is a wise old head on those quite literally, he has no time to massive shoulders. up to the task of heading a bill he won his first professional world viewed by a crowd of 6,000 and a lose. Most great champions of the title. He’s also a bit more Looking back a bit further, past have suffered setbacks, learnt however, the same credentials that television audience of over six educated than boxers usually are, million. It wasn’t much of a fight: from them and bounced back. boasting a Bachelor of Science most professional boxers tend to Harrison has no such luxury. thrive on can be found here. Harrison won it in 2 minutes, 45 with Honours degree from seconds. Still, Torrence’s verdict Second, it is not clear that Brunel University in London. Harrison may not have come from Harrison has the consistent London’s slums, but he’s certainly was generous. “I was quite satisfied But more than all this, it’s the and I’m more critical of my fighters dedication to gowith his way he has approached the seen a bit of rough. He spent 16 ambition. With his eye on the months in jail for his part in a than anyone else,” he said. “Audley business of his new profession— has a long way to go, but he has thebig picture he sometimes seems business being the operative word. brawl, and was then fined for to forget the here and the now. another assault, making him notjust ability. We are trying to build a Audley was one of Britain’s most foundation, and once we get that Third, there are gaps in his popular Olympic medallists— a loveable, well-educated softy, but foundation the advance stuff is very technique. He has yet to learn beaming, articulate, loveable, also a fighter with a violent ‘street’ easy. If we stay on our programme the art of infighting, he tends to handsome, good and gracious: the past. He made his professional debut, and don’t get off track, you’ll see throw single punches rather than acceptable face of British amateur amid much fanfare, on 19 May. combinations and does not use sport. Ever-conscious of his image, Heading a BBC televised bill at enough head movement. Then he retained the services of a leading Wembley, London, Harrison was there’s his stamina. Inseveral public relations company before slated against American Mike amateur fights he was blowing leaving for Sydney, just to make heavily by the end. “He will really sure he got it right. Afterwards, he have to work on his fitness,” set up his own company, A-Force. commented British and Commonwealth professional champion Danny Williams after several sparring sessions with Harrison. Finally, he may not have the power to stop the heavyweight elite. “When I sparred with him I could tell he’s a tremendously skilful boxer with beautiful hand speed and a great boxing brain, but he doesn’t hit hard for a big man and a lot of strong guys will walk through him because of that,” notes Williams. So, Harrison for worldheavyweight champion in 2005 is a long shot, but then again, as he has shown us before, he has a way of making his dreams come true.

(Gemini)(Gemini)(Gemini)

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“Kuires” are not the only people who have ow to build a house for a trouble with Very Proper Dining Etiquette. goddess? What magnificence can match a deity’s supreme ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○ h living goddess importance? What provisions to make? What skills to employ? fter our marriage, my husband (who is Australian) and I have both had to compromise on a large number of issues. I hearTemples, mosques and churches the you say, “But isn’t marriage all about compromises?” Yes,world it is. over have faced similar a problems, but they are only houses of However, a cross-cultural marriage demands more than what I would call a normal dose of compromises. I could give dozens of examplesprayer. In Kathmandu, when a king of underlying differences between us, differences that have theirordered roots a fitting abode built for a not in our individuality, but the disparity of our cultures. One Living Goddess, his architects, mere prominent area where both of us have had to understand and accept each other’s culture is eating. mortals themselves, designed a house I was brought up learning to eat with my right hand fingers.about In my a courtyard with carved opinion, food always tastes better eaten with fingers. (I heard windowsa good of outstanding beauty. It explanation for it the other day. As we all know, smell contributesfaces to onto Darbar Square, a road’s taste—that is why food does not taste half as nice as normal whenbreadth one from the old royal palace, and has a cold. Likewise, touching the food introduces yet anotherlooking out onto temples and sensation to the experience and complements the pleasure derived from it.) My husband, R, has had to acquire the art of eating withplatforms on which kings once sat to fingers. The initial attempts resulted in his shovelling food intogive his royal audience. mouth in the most unattractive fashion. He has slowly learned to The entrance to the building is manipulate his digits to be able to effectively transfer nutrients from the plate into his oral cavity in a more graceful manner. It no guardedlonger by large stone lions. The gives me an eye-ache watching him eat. window at which the Kumari can The most difficult chapter in the book of Nepali table or rather,sometimes be seen and from where, in floor etiquette (mindful of the fact that most Nepalis sit cross-leggedolden times, she gavedarshan, is two on the floor at meal-time) for R to grasp was the idea of “jutho”.stories I above, exquisitely carved and explained that the closest English translation of the word wouldgilded. be “to Several other windows, soil” but jutho carries a bigger load of meaning than its English counterpart, in a sense. I had never appreciatedcomplex how the adorned with deities, garudas, strange concept is in its entirety. It is easy enough to understand thatwater you monsters and dancing peacocks do not touch anything with the hand you have been eating adornwith the plain white façade. A triple because everything that comes in contact with the jutho handfinial rides the tiled roof like a golden automatically becomes jutho and remains so until washed. boatIf you in full sail. have been using cutlery instead of fingers, the same rule applies except that then, the fingers are considered clean and the cutleryCarved windows and verandahs jutho. The practice of observing jutho requires a tremendousopen onto the courtyard. Nowadays amount of commitment. R tries very hard to play by the juthothe Kumarirules makes obliging but once in a while, I still catch him tasting food from a saucepanappearances at one of these inner with a stirring spoon! I have learnt to not go hysterical over it. I myself have also had to undergo a fair amount of educationwindows for crowding tourists. A notice near the stairs leading to the in Western table etiquette as observed in my British mother-in- law’s dining room. In Nepal, I knew how to manage my righttop hand floors warns — ‘For Hindus to hold a spoon or a fork whilst eating untraditional foods suchOnly’— as who are permitted to enter exists the precedent of a married noodles. However, the complication of using the full range anof audience chamber where they may Kumari, so the future may be happier “kuire” cutlery was beyond me. R has patiently taught me almostreceivetikka from the Living Goddess all that I needed to know, however he did skip the bit about for these briefly privileged girls. politely abstaining from drinking if people are toasting you.herself. This Here, during the IndraJatra, The tantric rites surrounding the piece of information would have saved me a lot of embarrassmentwhich coincides with the Kumari selectionShe must of a Kumari have are so well thirty-two virtues, including an unblemished at my wedding reception where I ended up toasting myself. JatraI now in early September, the king guardedbody, that the few know voice really whatof a bird, the neck of a duck. know what to do in the unlikely event of being toasted again. comes to receivetikka from the passes.○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ The child is only three or four ○○○○○○○○○○○○ Challenge number one to be tackled was working out exactly Kumari and obtain from her the right years old when discovered, much too what shaped and sized piece of apparatus to use at what stage of

the meal. The rule of using cutlery on the outermost positionto rule of another year. In exchange he young to have the capacity to put on MIN BAJRACHARYA the setting as one goes through the different courses has beenpresents like her with a golden coin and an act taught by her parents. One of a magic mantra. Then there was the challenge of using thetouches his forehead to her feet. her many required virtues is to have an implements in an apt fashion. Many are the stories current in emotional control that would be the Fork on the left hand and knife on the other (unless you are left- handed, in which case it’s the other way around. You can neverKathmandu of how the Kumari has envy of most adults. To test her win!). Fingers at precise positions (one centimetre up or downfailed, has for one reason or another, to courage, for instance, it is said that the you branded as uncouth). The cutting technique (lest the elbowsbless a suppliant king, and how child must spend the night in a temple fly too far away from the body and poke the neighbours). The surrounded by the severed heads of consuming of hot soup without a trace of a slurp techniquetragedy (tip the has resulted. There is the tale contents of spoons sometimes the size of elephant ears intoof aone’s Rana maharaja who, failing to sacrificed animals. Grotesquely cakehole). The eating with the left hand technique (especiallyreceive the Kumari’s blessing, was masked men leap and scream about difficult when you start getting an attack of ethanol-relatedsoon exiled by his avaricious brothers. her. Amazingly, she emerges from her remarkably composed. Sometimes, tremor). And the culmination of it all, the “eat the pea balancedAnother describes howvaid a ordeal without a trace of fear. just sometimes, there is the trace of on the back of the fork technique” (a fine balance, indeed). dignitaries, appear on a balcony of the treating the Kumari for some minor The festival of Indra, the Lord of excitement that any child would feel. Americans are thought of as a rather uncultured lot (to make old palace, from where the king ailment, somehow offended her. Hethe Heaven, who once visited the Could it be that she remembers a a broad generalisation) , but now I think that their “cut the steak showers coins upon the Kumari and no longer lives to tell the tale. SuchKathmandu Valley in the guise of a similar jatra two centuries ago, into pieces first, then eat with a fork held in the right hand” her attendants, two virgin boys, philosophy makes far better sense than the at-times-absurdan table aura of mysticism understand- handsome mortal, and Kumari, the when the goddess Taleju’s dire who represent Bhairab and Ganesh. manners observed by finicky Brits. ably attaches itself to a child of Living Goddess, blend together in prophecy came true? As the people Each is enthroned inrath a of his Now let us take the social side of the eating game. Personally,such singular importance. early September. All Kathmandu of Kathmandu celebrated the own. A goat is sacrificed in front of more than the logistical challenge of mastering how to eat what,Though I worshipped and revered gathers from earliest dawn to watch festival with great joy and excessive mind not being allowed to replenish my body unbridled and the Kumari’s chariot, muskets fire adrinking, the Gorkha King Prithvi as a Hindu goddess, the Kumari is the procession ofraths, crowding unhindered, no matter how famished the physical state. One has startlingvolley and the procession Narayan Shah attacked and easily selected from the Newari caste of nearby temple plinths, windows, to watch the size of one’s morsels (dainty mouthfuls please!) and moves, the young Living Goddess overcame the city. The Malla king worst of all, make polite conversation with “the family friendSakya from goldsmiths, who are Buddhists. balconies and roofs. The king, himself dressed in gold and fine silks, Jaya Prakash fled, his dynasty at an Perth no-one has seen for 20 years” in whose honour the dinnerShe must have the thirty-two virtues, considered a reincarnation of Vishnu, bejewelled and exotically painted, end. The Gorkha king ordered the party has been hosted. For god’s sake, can’t small talk wait amonguntil which are an unblemished his ministers, officials, and foreign the business of eating is over and done with? Why interrupt the sitting serenely among her attendants. festival to continue. It is said he body, the voice of a bird, the neck of a prayer to Anna Devta (the god of food) with idle chatter? Masked dancers leap and brandish himself lent a hand to pull the duck. She must never cry or show One intriguing post-dining etiquette (explanation would be swords. Colourfully dressed tantric Kumari’srath .  fear, nor bleed at puberty or as a highly appreciated) is the bit about not stacking dirty plates on Buddhist priests chant mantras. The the table. What useful purpose does it serve except to makeresult extra of any of the small injuries that crowds press forward to take a turn work for people? Many a time have I felt like an idiot makingnormal children experience. Her on the chariot rope. countless journeys between the dining table and the kitchenhoroscope sink, must match that of the carrying only two plates at a time. king in every detail. Small child that she is, the The subtleties of “fraffly propa” British table etiquette might This means that no Kumari reigns Kumari rides out the clamour and never be conquered by a mere mortal like me. I still make many excitement of her jatra with a face (Excerpted with permission from mistakes in the dining room, but hey, I have a good excuse.for I more am than a few years, for at the In the Kingdom of the Gods, a foreigner! first sign of approaching menstruation Harper Collins, 1994.) she is relieved of her high status and retired into the world from which she came, rich but no doubt transformed and unsettled by her extraordinary experience. Free to marry she seldom finds a husband because tradition decrees death to any man who ends her virginity. However, there now 181818 CITY 13 - 19 JULY 2001NEPALI TIMES ABOUT TOWN BOOKWORM

MOVIESMOVIESMOVIES Security in South Asia Policy Study Series Nepali and Hindi moviesonline ticket booking at www.nepalshop.com Institute of Foreign Affairs, Kathmandu, 2001 Rs 300 The seven SAARC countries “share a common geography, a common ecosystem and, EATING OUTOUTEATING except for the Himalayan countries of Nepal and Bhutan, a common history of colonial Breakfast with birds Lunch with butterflies, dinner with fireflies. Traditional Nepali, rule.” This volume analyses the region’s many political disputes from Kashmir to Indian and Chinese cuisine. Farm House Café in the Park Village Hotel, Buddhanilkantha. Bhutanese refugees, the ULFA to the LTTE. 373935 Curry Factory Veg and non-veg curries. Dessert of the day. Rice, naan, salads, and Nepalese Political Behaviour one draft beer or soft drink free. 7pm-10.30pm. 15-22 July. The Fun Cafe, Radisson Hotel. Ole Borre, Sushil Panday, Chitra Tiwari Dwarika’s Saturday EscapeAfternoon tea, cocktail, dinner, room, massage Sterling Publishers, New Delhi, 1994 and breakfast. Every Saturday until end-September. $130 per couple. Dwarika’s Hotel Rs 320 479488 This study registers the political attitudes prevailing in Nepali society, the voters’ Weekend Brunch Use of pool, welcome drink, buffet, a la carte, kid’s menu. Hyattperceptions of political problems, their evaluations of party differences, their participa- Regency. 491234 tion in the election campaign and eventual partisan choice. LaSoon Restaurant and VinothequeLunch, tea and dinner with European and American food, fine wines. Pulchowk. 535290 Spirit Possession in the Nepal Himalayas Brunch with swimmingShangri La Kathmandu’s award-winning garden. Rs 700 plus John T Hitchcock, Rex L Jones, eds tax. Hotel Shangri La. 412999 Vikas Publishing House, New Delhi, 1976 (1996) Wet and Wild Summer Swimming in a cool pool and a buffet lunch. Saturdays at Rs 600 Godavari Village Resort. Adults Rs 600, children Rs 350. Taxes extra. 560675, 560775 The result of fieldwork by 16 anthropologists, this anthology contains accounts of all Mango Tango Exotic mangoes desserts Hotel de l’ Annapurna. forms of spirit possession and shamanism found in Nepal. The social religious, psychic and therapeutic aspects of spirit possession are dealt with on a broadly regional and All food and beverage outlets. ethnic basis and contains contributions on lamaist spirit possession and historical Exotic Nepali Food.Mongolian Restaurant and Bar. Exotic observations. Nepali food, dhindo, gundruk, good family environment. Putalisadak, 425454 Emperors of the Peacock Throne: The Saga of the Great Mughals Saturday splash Swimming and brunch. The Cafe & Poolside, Abraham Eraly 11am onwards. Rs 555, Rs 299 for children under three ft. Everest Penguin, New Delhi, 2000 Hotel. 488100 Rs 472 With the ease of a fiction writer and the objectivity of a scholar, Eraly narrates the MUSICMUSICMUSIC definitive biography of the Mughals—Babur, the intrepid pioneer, Humayun, the For The Love of Rock!Re-scheduled 2 July concert. Old tickets still dreamer, Akbar, the most enigmatic of Mughals, Jehangir and Shah Jahan, the valid. 25 percent discount on tickets bought at Suwal, New Road and aesthetes, and dour and determined Aurangzeb. Lazimpat before 15 July. Scout Headquarters, Lainchaur. 3pm, 21 July Rs 200.

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For inclusion in the listing send information to [email protected]

NEPALI WEATHER byNGAMINDRA DAHAL

The monsoon is back after a little break. The satellite picture shows a series of clouds rushing towards from Arabian Sea across Indian on FM 102.4 peninsula to the Bay of Bengal. The moisture- laden clouds, struggling against northerly winds, are being moved towards the Nepal Himalaya

DSES- 10-07-2001 1000 GMT by a powerful cyclone in the Bay. That, and a Mon-Fri 0615-0645orld BBC Today W low-pressure trough in north India means one thing: rain. Expect stormy rainfall, and possibly Sat 0615-0645 BBCience in Sc Action cloudbursts in the southern hills, similar to the storms in previous weeks in Dhading which killed 35 people in flash floods and landslides. Valley Sun 0615-0645 BBC Agenda residents will stop experiencing hot flashes and cold chills, since the increased rainfall will bring Daily 2045-2115 BBCg]kfnL ;]]]]]jf down the variation between the minimum and maximum temperatures to 10 Daily 2245-2300 BBCg]kfnL ;]]]]]jf

oC or under.

Radio Sagarmatha KATHMANDU P.O. Box 6958, Bakhundole, Lalitpur, Nepal Tel: ++977-1-545680, 545681 Fax: ++ 977-1- Fri530227 Sat Sun Mon Tue E-mail: [email protected]

www.radiosagarmatha.org 30-21 31-21 29-20 29-19 30-20 222 EDITORIAL 13 - 19 JULY 2001NEPALI TIMES

Bichaur, Lamjung 7 July 2001 S. SHRESTHA

STATE OF THE STATE by CK LAL

THE MID-WEST IS RED it’s easier and safer to blame the glut in the Does nothing shock us anymore? It was the highest casualtyBorderline on a hopemarket—but a job-seeker from Sindhuli now has single night during this whole mad war: 41 policemen slaughtered, less chances of being employed if a suitable nine attacking Maoists killed and three non-combatants dead. It was is picked up several times in a day, and there is candidate from Sarlahi is available. It used to be the largest number of Nepalis killed by other Nepalis in a 24-hourAfter the dreadful calm of eventhe a musical capital fountain. valley and the justmerciless the opposite—workers massacre from the hills of were period in our nation’s entire history. policemen across the hills, theSrivastava’s tarai’s success commotionshows how easy it is if justofpreferred normality for being hardy is aand welcome loyal. relief. How did we react? In Kathmandu our elected leaders were in their one person takes his responsibilities seriously. In public, industrialists bicker about narrow corridors of power, bickering endlessly. The guardiansBIRGUNJ of our — It is not the best time of the year to Democracy also brings out the best in a person—exorbitant ‘donations’ demanded by Maoists, but human rights were busy ringing Tundikhel. The commander-in-chiefbe here in the tarai. During the day, it is hot and the mayor’s tenure as the Pradhan Pancha of in private they frankly admit that such regular was on a junket to Britain and saw no particular reason to hurryhumid. Flies flit between open drains and my Birgunj before the advent of democracy was outflows of cash have been adjusted to the usual home. Some argued cautiously that getting the army to fight the riddled with charges of corruption. This same costs of doing business. A businessman, who insurgency would invite civil war, but many asked: aren’t we mangoalready lassi inin swift roundtrips, and emptying the whole glass in one breath is the only sensible man is now setting new standards of performance must remain unnamed for obvious reasons, the midst of a civil war? Coming a month after the other slaughter in and efficiency. confided that bribes to government officials and the royal palace, there was a numbing sense of fatalism, an option.apathy At night, sweaty bodies attract swarms of mosquitoes. Sleeping inside the mosquito-net Under Srivastava, Birgunj is now the first ransom paid to Maoists are settled from the same and silence that came close to condoning the killings. account, and both of these have the same effect— Elsewhere across the country, terror-tactics and intimidationreduces air circulation but it is still a lot more municipality in the country to have a school for bearable than the repulsive smell of repellents. dalits. But segregated education to the students of they reduce the taxes he would have paid had the magnified by media spread low-intensity panic. The Maoists, building situation been normal. The bottom-line may dip a up to a bloody week that could see the declaration of their parallelDespite the physical discomforts, it’s disadvantaged castes and communities has its critics. Dr Kulananda Das, professor of bit, but there is no undue worry. peoples’ republic and regional government in the mid-west, reassuringappear to be in tarai these days. The oppressive The other reason behind the economic to think that killing any fewer than 40 people doesn’t give themsilence the of the valley at night canmaddening, be educational psychology at the Thakur Ram vibrancy of the tarai is the competitive advantage it headlines anymore. So they make canon fodder out of recruitshere drivenyou can sleep under the stars out in the Bahumukhi Campus here, says students in such to police jobs out of sheer desperation. schools grow up with a rage towards society that has over Bihar across the border. North Bihar is open and still feel safe. Unlike the ominous an industrial cripple. It survives on subsistence The police, whose initial atrocities during Kilo Sierra Two peacein 1998- of the insurgency-hit hills, the tarai treats them for what theyare rather than what they could be. Citing the experience of differential agriculture and money-orders sent home as 99 unleashed this savage revenge, has already lost the warthrives with the usual confusion of everyday remittances by millions of its workers outside the physically, psychologically and morally. When bad blood flowslife. soOn the chaotic bus-stand, the haggle to treatment for blacks in the United States (where Das was a Fullbright scholar in the sixties) he saysregion. One Birgunj businessman who has freely, and society is brutalised by violence and fear, it is difficultsettle the to correct fare before jumping on to a interests on both sides of the border says think of solutions. Our parliamentary parties utterly failed to unite integration of the disadvantaged into the rickshaw is still a necessity. Near the freshly sardonically: “Here we are dealing with an during the national calamity of the royal tragedy, they are nowpainted failing Ghantaghar, a drunken brawl betweenmainstream is a more worthwhile objective for miserably to evolve a joint plan to respond to the insurgency and offer community schools. While outright assimilation organised group. In Bihar, everyone with a gun is twotangawalas attracts a crowd of bemused an independent Maoist.” And that’s exactly the a negotiated solution. It is at times of national crisis like thisonlookers. that the A traffic police gives an irritated can cause resentment, integration through the constitutional monarch is required to use risk: if Comrade Prachanda does not come into the glance as a motor-cycle zigzags its way throughprocess of socialisation helps produce more constitutional means to seek a settlement. But tolerant citizens attuned to the reality of unity in political mainstream quickly, can he hold on to his the king is handicapped by an image problem. the jam overtaking rows of rickshaws, tempos, command over men and women with guns who tangas, trucks and cars waiting for a marriage diversity. Even so, Das is jubilant that his long- The Maoists don’t even need to be standing call for Birgunj municipality to do morehave seen its deadly power? procession to pass. It is this commotion of Even the pollution by industrial effluents of brilliant military strategists when the enemy normality that is remarkable after the dreadful for education than merely dispensing annual is so feckless, corrupt and self-centred that calm of the capital valley in the wake of banner-awards to teachers have been answered. River Sirsiya that flows past Birgunj is a sign of it sends under-armed, under-trained and bomb terror and the merciless massacre of The shadows of Maoist killings in the hills the region’s economic life. The river is dead under-motivated young men to be can be seen in the industrial belt between Birgunjbecause the economy is alive. Reporter Chandra butchered in cold blood. We have said it policemen in the hills. and Pathlaiya where people from troubled districtsKishor was recently awarded the Environment many times in this space in the past If you have a choice between either the Journalist Award of the year for bringing Sirsiya’s year: there is no military solution to Maoists or mosquitoes, buy yourself a net and find it difficult now to get jobs. Of course, no entrepreneur cites insurgency as the real reason— plight into the public, and there is a story there this emergency, the only solution is head for the tarai. A word of caution here for the somewhere about the inverse relation between the political. The government knows it, ultra-nationalists though: Nepalis of the economy andecology. The Sirsiya can be saved and deep down in their heart of tarai are dhoti-clad, pan-chewing madhesis if ecological awareness grows among the hearts the Maoists leaders must who don’t understand the fuss over know it too. industrialists and inhabitants of the area. But Comrade Rohit answering Indian for now, better industrial pollution than the journalists’ questions in Hindi. blood of innocents. Being relatively free from the scourge of I board the bus for Kathmandu with Maoism is not the only attraction of Birgunj, trepidation, and a sliver of hope that the tarai though. Its other asset is that it has a mayor who holds for the future of Nepal. cares. Bimal Srivastava may be a controversial person for the Kathmandu media (having got himself embroiled in a controversy over the citizenship of an engineer), but he has succeeded in transforming Birgunj from one of the dirtiest Nepali Times is published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, ChiefKunda Editor: Dixit towns of Nepal till a few years ago to what is Editor:Anagha Neelakantan,Design: Swosti Rajbhandari, Kiran Maharjanperhaps the cleanest ones today. Roads are paved, [email protected], www.nepalitimes.com Advertising: Sunaina Shah, Anup Adhikary [email protected] footpaths are clean, drains are functional, garbage Subscription:Anil [email protected] Sales:Sudan Bista [email protected] Sanchaya Kosh Building, Block A-4th Floor, Lalitpur GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: 01-543333-7, Fax: 01-521013 Printed at Jagadamba Press: 01-521393 ARTS 13 - 19 JULY 2001NEPALI TIMES 191919

BINOD BHATTARAIIN BANEPA ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ says Dr Saroj Rijal who carries out hen he was four, Krishna surgery everyday in Banepa. HRDC fell off the window of his functions as a referral centre for whouse and hurt his knee. hospitals across Nepal, and a The bones inside never healed and he teaching extension for the has limped ever since. Krishna is now Hope on the hilltopKathmandu University. It also does 16, and his parents brought him to its own scouting for disabled the Hospital and Rehabilitation children through mobile clinics and Centre for Disabled Children following up on patients in about (HRDC) at Banepa. Doctors there 30 districts. found that the knee injury had All of that costs money: affected the boy’s thigh as he grew. HDRC’s annual budget of Rs 40.5 Last month, the deformity was million comes mainly from charities corrected by surgery and Krishna abroad. The average cost of treating wears a special ring fixator to lengthen a patient is high (Rs 30,000) his short leg. He will soon walk because the children need to stay normally. for at least three weeks for Like thousands of Nepali BINOD BHATTARAI physiotherapy and follow-up. “Our out of funds from an employee major worry is continued funding,” children born with clubfeet, Sunita, contribution kitty. 11, was told she had the curse of the admits Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, Statistics on childhood gods. But Sunita always dreamt of the as good as any part of the world, he Director at HRDC. “We’ve tried to day she would walk normally. Her disability in Nepal are sketchy. Oneraise money locally, but with little out of life,” says the soft-spoken says Banskota. The hospital has 10 estimates says that as many as a dream has nearly come true: after doctor. “The practice in America visiting specialists, 120 staffs and a success.” Tdh has begun downsizing “The need in Nepal is so great that despite quarter of all Nepalis have some contributions, which means the surgery in Banepa, a year or two of the“The facility need is the realisation in Nepal of a life- is sowould great have been that well-paying despite but workshop where low-cost physiotherapy and she will be back on everything we have done we are not even form of disability or other, and 30 hospital would have to generate more long dream. “In Nepal disability is a routine. Here I face challenges every orthopaedic devices—from crutchespercent of them are preventable. her feet again. scratching the surface.”day, the need in Nepal is so great that to custom-built shoes—are money locally each year. At present, problem of the poor, and what we are HRDC’s own data from patients the hospital’s income is only Rs 6 for Sunita and Krishna are two of BINOD BHATTARAI I know that despite everything we fabricated. doing is giving them the best possible offers a clearer picture: 34 percent every Rs 100 it spends on treatment. thousands of children who, after living care and making that treatment have done we are not even scratching HRDC also has a way to fulfil have congenital disability, in 27 with physical deformities for years the surface.” There is therefore no option but to affordable.” The hospital is supported its stated promise: no child with percent it is caused by infections take fund-raising into high gear. have a chance now of beginning a new by Terre des homes (Tdh), a Swiss And Banskota has given this disability ever goes back without (for example polio), 11 percent by But Banskota is optimistic: life. And all this thanks to a unique charity and grants from even boy and project his heart and soul. And the treatment. The costs are subsidised, burns and another 11 percent by “We’ve already accomplished what charity for treating disabilities with girl scouts in Luxembourg. The idea was to build a centre of and the really poor patients are paiduntreated trauma. world-class orthopaedic surgeons— we thought was impossible, we will construction of the $2.6 million 71- excellence in orthopaedic surgery, “Every case you get there is a right here in Nepal. find a way out.” bed hospital was completed in 1997, challenge. It is a medical challenge Nearing Banepa on the Arniko and inaugurated by the late King to treat, and it is a social challenge Highway, a cluster of elegant tile-roof Birendra. to ensure that those who can’t buildings on a thickly forested hilltop After finishing medical school in afford it get that treatment, and to comes into view. From the road, the the United States and specialising in make sure that there is followup,” complex looks more like a five-star orthopaedics at Johns Hopkins HRDC, GPO Box 6757 resort. Spreading across nine hectares, University, Banskota could have [email protected] the hospital at Adhikari Gau is stayed on and become a well-off situated in idyllic surroundings, the doctor in America. But a sense of facilities are clean, bright and airy, giving back to Nepali society what functional and well-managed. society gave to him brought Banskota The hospital is the brainchild of home. “It all depends what you want Nepal’s most-famous orthopaedic surgeon, Ashok Banskota, for whom

HAPPENINGS MIN BAJRACHARYA MIN

CONGRESS PHALANX: The prime minister, flanked by the finance minister walk with the rest of the cabinet from Singha Durbar to parliament to present

the budget on 9 July. Pepsi MIN BAJRACHARYA MIN

UML PHALANX: Opposition stalwarts led by UML supremo Madhav Kumar

Nepal march to parliament on 8 July to demand the prime minister’s resignation. MIN BAJRACHARYA MIN

HAND -IN-HAND: A human chain made up of rights activists rings Tundikhel to protest the government’s new Public Security Regulation 2058 on 9 July. 202020 13 - 19 JULY 2001NEPALI TIMES Under My Hat NEPALI SOCIETY

by Kunda Dixit Visit Nepal: You HaveMathema-san It All To Yourself inding his diplomatic “Ps” and “Qs” is a 24-hourand job, a but drink at mit hasn’t kept Nepal’s ambassador to the the Mathema Chrysanthemum Throne, Kedar Bhakta Mathema, fromresidence. trying The his hand at verse. Mathema writes haiku to relieve stress.academic- One of his own: turned diplomat is a great host. Sun rises But his Behind tall buildings memories Silently a new day aren’t always Seated in his tastefully decorated apartment in suburban pleasant. “I Tokyo, comfortable in casual trousers and a cheerful invitedshirt, a group Mathema admits that he is an odd man out. “I’m an intruder.of athletes here Unlike career diplomats, I’m not so correct and proper,”for khasi he ko says. But after four years in Japan, from where he looks

MIN BAJRACHARYA masoo and after Nepali affairs in Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Papua he best-kept secret in the Asia-Pacific tourism industry this season is not New Guinea and the Koreas, the former Tribhuvanbeer. Univer- Next I what you may be thinking: it is not the unspoilt rustic charm and local sity Vice Chancellor admits he has learnt to be morehear, tactful a few and slightly subdued. don’t make it on t colour of the Democratic Peoples’ Republic of North Korea. It is in fact the plane back For the last month Mathema has been observing the our very own land of the Danfe, Monal, Everest and Arniko. Unbeknownst to to Nepal,” says the rest of humanity, this is actually the best time in recent history to visit Nepal.mourning period following the death of Nepal’s royal thefamily. envoy. If you come now, you have the country all to yourself. The Nepal Tourism Nepalis in Japan, the Japanese imperial family and theMathema has to RAMYATA LIMBU Hoard has now finally woken up to the enormous untapped potential for the Japanese people were shocked and like Nepalis everywhere,do all he can to discourage Nepalis overstaying in Japan. they are trying to come to terms with the loss. In May, Crown An estimated 8,000-10,000 Nepalis live in Japan, many visitor industry and our unique selling point this season, and has come up withPrince Dipendra had made an official visit to Japan. “He was another of its catchy slogans: “Visit Nepal While It’s Still There”. extremely gracious, the visit was a huge success,” Mathemaof them illegally. Japan’s ties with Nepal are strong, and Nepal’s comparative advantage is apparent right at the point of departure, remembers, shaking his shorn head. there is a common affinity for mountains, monarchy, and Buddhism that binds the two countries. Mathema is keen where, being the single passenger on the flight to Kathmandu, you get the But it isn’t only princes and prime ministers who enjoy the to revitalise Nepal’s tarnished image and organise a undivided attention our valued clients deserve. You will be treated as a CIP (a ambassador’s hospitality in Japan. The odd Nepali visitor—positive media campaign in Japan. commercially important person), which as we know from the Deficit Finance athletes, bureaucrats, are often served daaldelicious bhat, Minister’s budget speech, is a new category of important persons reserved for those who contribute directly to the economy. CIPs are entitled to special treatment on arrival at the Tribhuvan Multilateral Airport. And that means, being the only passenger getting off your Airbus, you are allowed to walk to the arrival terminal instead of being forced to take a 9.7 second ride in a Sajha Bus. At the terminal itself, a CIP is greeted by pancha kanyas and accorded a 18 gun-salute by underemployed friskers. You will then inspect a guard of honour of assorted airport personnel as you are whisked through the pier to immigration. Here, you will not have to wait in any queues, for the simple reason that there are no queues anymore. We’ve done away with them. The immigration official is not the grumpy guy you remember from your previous visit, he will actually engage you in detailed chit-chat inquiring into the general health situation of your extended family, and your estimated gross annual pre-tax income. This may sound like an interrogation, but he is just making small talk so he doesn’t fall asleep at the desk while stamping your passport. After fast track through immigration you will find that for the first time since Nepal opened up to the outside world, you actually beat your luggage to the carousel. And so it is on to customs, where it used to be a custom to x-ray all incoming baggage. No more. All x-ray machines have been redeployed in the public health sector. As an arriving CIP, you have access to special transport to the city in a Big Blue Bus with police escort and outriders. On the drive in, you will notice that the city (indeed the whole country) has been cleared of all traffic of your arrival, and a special two-day bandh has been declared for the duration of your stay. The great thing about a Nepal holiday these days is that the rest of the world doesn’t know about it. Why go to Pyongyang? The important thing, however, is to keep your stay here a closely-guarded secret so that others don’t come rushing in. Promise not to tell anyone?

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