#82 22 - 28 February 2002 16 pages Rs 20

Arty Spring mountaineering season Aarti16

8-9-10

EXCLUSIVE UMID BAGCHAND IN MANGALSEN ○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ust about everyone in remote Achham Three more months district was expecting a major Maoist Going by the last three months, politicalJattack the week of the sixth anniversary of insiders now have a more realistic the start of the “People’s War”. But no one expectation of the emergency. It is expected it to be such a devastating defeat for Nation in grief not likely to bring a major change inthe government, and such a rout of the the battlefield situation, or the political scenario. Prime Minister Shersecurity forces. Does nothing shock us anymore? Bahadur Deuba has bought himself Mangalsen residents are still in a state of time, but he will still be too busy shock, and what emerges on piecing together trying to stave off a mutiny within histheir accounts is a tragic tale of warnings not party to pay much attention to heeded, of unspeakable carnage and brutality national development and his much-during a long night of terror. touted socioeconomic-reform Five loud explosions at midnight on package. The Maoists can be Saturday heralded the start of the attack. It expected to keep the public in a general state of panic with booby- shattered the silence of the sleeping bazar and traps and ambushes, and gear up reverberated across the surrounding hills. The for major attacks when the next sound of automatic gunfire rent the air, and emergency cycle comes to an end bullets whizzed all around. There were frantic towards mid-May. If the security footsteps on the cobbled streets. It was pitch situation does not improve in that dark: the hydropower plant at Kailash Khola time, parliamentary parties will haveand the telecom tower had been knocked out. to get together to ratify a maximum—Half-an-hour later, there was a deafening blast and final—six-month extension. Three Malaysia-bound Nepalis trek up What the government will hope for inis the bazar, more gunfire, more explosions, to the airport on Monday, 11 FebruaryNARENDRAM SHRESTHA that the army will make a break- screams and slogan-shouting Maoists. through and force the Maoists back to “We were awakened by the sound of the the negotiating table. first explosions, and stayed awake all night,” a local resident told us. “But no one dared to look outside until about 10 o’ clock the next morning.” Like many others we talked to, he did not want us to name him. walk uphill. It speaks for the ferocity of the fighting almost to the last man, but they were weeks ago: “It looks The police chief of the district was An attackarmy honourthat the battle guard lasted salutes barely fallen half-an-hour comrades at Pashupati’soverwhelmed creamtion by numbers site andon Tuesday, the Maoists’ while a bereavedlike Kathmandu relative looks on. ordering his forces into position, and tried and only two out of a garrison of 59 soldiers better weapons. The attackers used automatic will send reinforce- calling the barracks on the ridge overlooking survived. One army source told us: “It was a rifles, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades ments only for our funerals.” As it turned out, the town for help. “No one answered the well-planned attack to completely wipe out the captured during the Ghorahi raid on 23 the firstEditorial army helicopters p2landed only at 25-35 phone initially, then the line went dead,” Yam base with overwhelming force and firepower.” November. The Maoists looted another 55 10AMComing the next out day. of slaughter The chief of Accham’s It is like bargaining at a street market.Bahadur Chettri, Deputy Superintendent of Twenty of the dead soldiers had execution- automatic weapons and five machine guns from Intelligence Department had sent in a Nepal and India are edging closer Police told us. He said that one hour into the style bullet wounds in the head. Other bodies the Mangalsen barracks. report— which usually goes to the govern- towards concurring on value addition,attack, the Maoists were attacking the town were severely charred. One injured soldier had The question on everyone’s mind is why ment, army headquarters and palace— and the meeting in New Delhi next from all sides. Chettri survived because he fell his hand blown off when he picked up a the base was not more prepared. Villagers warning of the impending attack. week may actually produce an into a trench while trying to escape after the Maoist grenade and tried to throw it back to around Mangalsen had noticed Maoist build- Nepali Congress MP for Achham Ram agreement before the 1996 treaty Maoists blew up his office and set his them. He survived because the Maoists gave up two weeks before the attack, the rebels had Bahadur Bista is livid, and says there was expires at midnight on 5 March. Indiaresidence on fire. Eye-witnesses said some him up for dead. We were not allowed to distributed pamphlets, pasted posters and even negligence at the highest level. He said: “I had initially proposed 50 percent value addition as qualification for duty-free2,500 Maoists stormed the town, moving speak to the other survivor, who was in a organised rallies warning that they would attack myself had informed the prime minister and export of Nepali goods to India. In theabout in batches of 10-15 in a coordinated state of shock. the district headquarters soon. They even wrote home minister of the build up. And nothing Kathmandu talks this week, the figuremanner, and forcing cowering residents out of In a simultaneous attack, the Maoists also threatening letters to the district administration, was done until after it was all over on Sunday came down to 35. government buildings before blowing them destroyed the airfield at Sanfebagar 20 km to which were passed on to Kathmandu. morning.” This is what remains puzzling. Nepal started bargaining at 20 andup and setting them on fire. the north, killing another 27policemen. With With all signs pointing to an impending Why, if so much information was available, has gone up to 25, and may be The first explosions had come from the the barracks razed and nearly everyone killed, attack, the Chief District Officer Mohan Singh was nothing done to safeguard Mangalsen and expected to agree on 30 percent, top of the spur on which the town sits, where the Maoists had a run of the district headquar- Khatri (who was killed in the raid) is said to Sanfebagar? though one Nepali official told us: the military barracks are located, a 10-minute ters. The policemen put up a brave defence, have lamented at an all-party meeting a few “Twenty-five percent is as far as we can go.” It seems the state elections in Uttar Pradesh were holding New Delhi back from a softer stance.

(With additional reporting in Kathmandu.)

electricity from the Syange projects Locally-designed and locally-financed small costs Rs 3.57 per unithydros are changing Nepal’s energy future. Weekly Internet Poll # 22 during the wet season and Rs 5.06 Q. Was the VDIS scheme a good or bad idea? Small is feasibleduring the dry RAMYATA LIMBU IN SYANGE season—in rupees— ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ There is a revolution sweeping hydropower development in Nepal. No, weand are even not though for talking about mammoth projects like the $ 450 million Kali Gandaki A whichthe will next come three on years line this year. Across Nepal, small-scale power projects, privately-financedthe andprice locally will increase built, are starting to feed electricity into the national grid and helping ruralby electrification. six percent The beauty of these projects is that they don’t need foreign consultants,annually, foreign it is still far more competitive. aid, or foreign investment. And here in upper Lamjung District on a snow-fed“The tributary development of water resources by foreign parties, which inevitably had to of the Marsyangdi is a shining example of how it works. be big enough to justify their costs, led to the price of energy being unaffordable for Last month, the Rs 19 million Syange Project delivered the first unit ofthe electricity Nepali population,” to says Kumar Pandey of the Lamjung Electricity Development the national grid, the first kW of hydro electricity supplied to the NEA by aCompany private (LEDCO). “This is a new model of hydropower development in Nepal. This is producer since the 36 megawatt Bhote Kosi Project came on line last year.the But future.” there is a difference. Electricity from the $100 million Bhote Kosi costs the government 7 cents, approximately Rs 5.40, per unit all year round, and is charged in dollars. Buying

Go to p4 Total votes: 389 2 EDITORIAL 22 - 28 FEBRUARY NEPALI 2002 TIMES NATION 22 - 28 FEBRUARY NEPALI 2002 TIMES 3 Nepali Times is published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Chief Editor: Kunda Dixit Editor: Anagha Neelakantan by PUSKAR GAUTAM Design: Kiran Maharjan COMMENTARY [email protected], www.nepalitimes.com Advertising: Sunaina Shah [email protected] Subscription: Anil Karki [email protected] Sales: Sudan Bista [email protected] Sanchaya Kosh Building, Block A-4th Floor, Lalitpur GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: 01-543333-7, Fax: 01-521013 Printed at Jagadamba Press: 01-521393 COMING OUT OF SLAUGHTER Accham post-mortem hat can we say that we haven’t said before? Andairliner is leasing scam and the biggest debacle in the nation’s on the marketplace of ideas. But that is true when democracy there any point repeating it? All we can do is prayhistory elicit the same level of rage. And either way, it is the reaches a certain maturity, stature and stability. Our nfragile their devastatingly successful attacks and mourn for the recent dead, the 3,200 killedfurniture in in the House of Representatives that bears the brunt. polity just can’t take this kind of chronic abuse. on Accham on 16 February, the Maoists The Maoists won the battle in theW past six years, the thousands upon thousands of And about the ruling party, the less said the better. Nepalis We have a situation here: democracy is threatened by an Iwere just going by the book. They used Nepalis who have been bereaved. We mourn for a nationare thoroughly sick of these plutocrats and their back-room ultra- violent group that does not believe in it. Their reach has Achham, but the outcome of the war classic guerrilla tactics: “Strike will full the “final enemy”. 12 FebruaryDhakka statement. Abhiyanof They may also in mourning. intrigue, the callous immorality, and a fatal ignorance of state- widened dramatically in the past six years, and they have Any force at war must be capable of launch a couple more attacks on govern- The political decay that led us down this slippery slopecraft. Their petty games and narrow minds has brought this used brutal violence to cleverly fill the vacuum left forceby the at the weakest spots of the enemy and massive strikes. (see also “Red terror”, #81). is still far from certain. defending itself, even if it is unable to ment installations to provoke the security was in full display in parliament this week as we preparedcrisis upon us. Why does the country have to pay in blood for state. And as the threat to our democracy and freedomsterrorise them.”get The impact was as The Maoists say they are presently in to mark the dawn of democracy 50 years ago. It was hardthe personality clash of these failed, venal and power-crazed more and more serious, our parliamentary partiesexpected: and it spread panic in government, defend others. And the RNA hadthe “Strategicthis as Defence”forces phaseas part of of the their to stomach the sight of the people’s representatives individuals? How long do we have to endure them? factions within them continue to use that threat to parliament,bring each and the people at large. policy: first secure yourself and“people’s your war”, and Accham may tempt tearing at each other, yanking microphones, and gheraoingIf a crisis of this magnitude and national peril cannot bring other down. And it has served to demoralise the army’s weapons. By allowing the Maoiststhem to to over- move on to the next phase: the podium—even before the bodies in the ruins of theour politicos together, it is hard to imagine what will. There go This cannot go on, because by doing that, the political rank-and-file. run the Mangalsen barracks, the“Strategic army Balance”. If they decide they are barracks and police posts of Achham had stopped smoul-Girija Prasad Koirala and Sher Bahadur Deuba challenging parties are chopping off their own legs. Successive Therulers attack not only sent three new showed it was unable to do either. This is a dering. each other to a duel on the Titanic. There is Madhav Kumar since 1996 have squandered the political option: the civil ready for the next phase, they will concen- anti-Maoist alignments into disarray, but new kind of war: it should havetrate been future attacks on sensitive infrastruc- It is hard to take this feigned outrage seriously whenNepal playing his fiddle on the tilting deck. And everyone else police couldn’t fight the war so an armed police force was glaringly evident by now that the traditional overturning the podium becomes the ultimate expressionis rushing madly for the lifeboats. set up, the laws of the land were not enough and hasthe also anti- focussed attention once again on ture like roads leading to the capital, major defensive approach of relying on sentries at of political anger in our fledgling democracy. Our opposi- To be sure, democracy is supposed to thrive precisely on terrorism act was needed, constitutional provisionscracks did in notthe ruling party itself. The airports, power installations. From there tion MPs have a problem with calibrating protest: an this partisanship, on competition between those who disagree, suffice and so an emergency was declared and theproposals army for “national government” and the gate was hopelessly outdated.they What would move on to the final phase: unleashed. And the problem is still there. If anything,“democratic it is alliance” that were being would have helped is alert, modern“Strategic guerrilla Offensive”. getting bigger. discussed will now be academic. King tactics and mobility based on maximumBut the Maoists may be underesti- There is a lesson here. If this road is not taking us Gyanendra’s carefully chosen words in his knowledge of even the slightestmating new the strength of the army. They anywhere we must be flexible—backtrack and lookmessage at the to the nation on Democracy Day movement in the surrounding terrain. political options we abandoned, while maintaining the may have won the battle in Achham, but (two days after Achham) have also created a “Know and understand thethe enemy, outcome of the war is not so certain. military pressure on the rebels. Unfortunately, Sher Bahadur then try to understand yourself,” was Deuba has painted himself into a corner with his stir,no-talks and people are interpreting it to suit And militaries the world over are good at what the well-known Chinese war stand that means he has only a stick and no carrot.their own beliefs. learning their lessons from defeat, just And yet, in the final analysis, there is no doubt Thethat Royal Nepal Army has admitted strategist Sun Tzu said. Thatlike lesson our own was army did after the Maoist parliamentary parties must see a common threatthat itmuch has taken a defensive posture from learnt well by Mao Zedong andattack through in Dang on 23 November. larger than each other and forge a minimum alliancethe very beginning on of its anti-insurgency him, his Nepali disciples. But, alas,The not Royal Nepal Army has always

the basic things they say they agree on: non-violent DIWAKER BAGCHAND campaign three months ago. And, if Accham by our security forces. been trained to fight a guerrilla war, and struggle, democracy and social progress. It must be The military barrack on a hillside above Mangalsen that was over-run by Maoists on tells us something, it is that in this time the The army may now react andit must launch operationalise a this against the parliament that must provide the mechanism forarmy this has been incapable of assessing what 16 February. major operation, or at least get into the lowest common denominator to be articulated. The Maoists. It needs now to be able to the Maoists had up their sleeves. Lack of offensive mode. That can leadanticipate to wide- not just the broad strategy of statesmanship, as well as a new breed of political Accham will now remain a textbook and to serve a major blow to the govern- spread killings, and if the death toll climbs, leaders to articulate this must emerge from theinformation 205. and intelligence always has the Maoists, but also their selection of example of either our ignorance, or neglect, ment’s credibility. That leadership exists, it’s just buried underneathmajor arepercussions pile in any battlefield it would play right into the Maoists’targets hands, and the tactics they employ. It of high-profile cynics and crooks. This new leadershipsituation. must or inability to use intelligence. Needless to The defeat at Accham overturned the because they can use the resultingmust resent- have its ears on the ground, upgrade say, this is basic to any military strategy, psychological edge the government had make common cause at the political level to give the Whatpeople is therefore worrisome is that the ment to regain political groundthe they quality have of intelligence, infiltrate and hope and the security forces a sense that they are fighting to and assumes crucial importance in fighting a begun to gain over the Maoists. The army, despite having support of the media lost. penetrate. Whatever the eventual preserve something that matters deeply for the country’s future. counter-insurgency in our kind of terrain. shockingly heavy casualty rate suddenly and the political parties in its counter- As the events leading to Acchamoutcome, show, this is the Royal Nepal Army’s insurgency operation, seemingly failed to The army may have been on the made the general people hesitant, and many the Maoists may now be tryingfirst to pursuewar in ahome territory, and that assess the rebel battle plan and anticipate defensive, but much of its achievement since who thought things would be set right once strategy to discredit the securitymakes forces, this and its ultimate test. this raid—even when there were enough November has been in its cordon and search the military came riding in, were dismayed. drag the morally bankrupt politicians back reports and warnings about the impending and destroy missions during which it had The traditional respect, reputation and to dialogue—but this time from a position attack. Wars are not only won with better killed and captured large numbers of Maoist prestige that the army commands in the of strength. Depending on what happens weapons and better trained soldiers. foot soldiers. The Maoist militia was under public mind now needs to be restored. The now, the Maoists may even announce considerable pressure. They needed a Royal Nepal Army has always been looked another unilateral ceasefire as a strategy to victory as well—to boost morale of their upon as the State’s last line of defence. And win support of parliamentary left parties,(Puskar Gautam is a former Maoist district own ranks, to keep themselves battle ready, this is why the Maoists themselves call it which they hinted at through Prachanda’scommander for Okhaldhunga and left the movement three years ago.) UMID BAGCHAND UMID STATE OF THE STATE by CK LAL LETTERS “Diaspora in dilemma” (#76) guts and return and try to But he suffers from the work for the country’s common Nepali affliction of development, or they Tibet, Sikkim and India. finger-pointing. This is not should shut up. Lars Gundersen Lila Sapkota Denmarkhelpful. Nepal’s condition is Six years later not caused by those who are Kathmandu CK LAL abroad. Who is more responsible: those who say JUST DO IT? CK Lal’s “Let them eat cake” they are helping the country I enjoyed Binod Bhattarai’s fter the savage slaughter in administrative elite dates back to MIGRANT WORKERSirony is that the longer the MaoistNO GAIN (#78) about “Swar Samrat” Who has gained from the past six years of conflict? We but are corrupt, or those like “Can Nepal do IT?” (#79) Mangalsen Saturday night, it the days of unification. The palace Hemlata Rai’swar lasts,“Sending the more influencePitamber the Sharma’s critique of Narayan Gopal has attracted me who know we are not and commend his opti- has become clear that the represents this traditional elite, and money home”armed (#81) forces was would a have overforeign the aid in “No pain, no doing to not repeat the same the attention of this Trust. Lal’s A know who has lost: the Nepali people. helping Nepal—but at least mism on Nepal’s IT future. Maoists are more interested in it has kept its hold for over two serious reviewcivilian of government. Nepal’s gain” (#81) is a real eye- mistake? recollections are interesting ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ we are honest about it. Yes, definitely, Nepalis are migrant workforce. Nepal’s opener. After three decades of Mallika Shakya and wonderful, but what carnage than in political change. centuries. Between the Shahs and If a child born on 13 February, Furthermore, some of us as capable as anyone else labour export is pumping pro-donor planning, Nepal is LSE, London disturbed and shattered me Violence has now become an end in their Rana cousins, the extended ber, 1960 attempted to shift power day Gooroo Gujraj Misser and “democracy” in their list of 1996 were to ask Comrade did not “leave” Nepal. We in the world. But if we can’t not just $850 million a year the second poorest country in badly was his reference to the itself. The attack on the administra- Gorkha family has maintained from people to the palace, but Chunder Seeker Opedeea had been demands in 1996. In that sense, it is Prachanda what he did to national- were born overseas. If you even develop and imple- into the economy, as Rai the world, with the worst singer being a taxi driver. I was are going to use fallacies of ment a successful pro- tion came without warning, and by its power. Delhi adroitly exploited the rift a lot easier. refreshing to read in Comradewrites, but asism muchand democracy as $2.5 in this country,human development in the WORRIED with my husband during that logic and make off-base gramme to grow potatoes, it their dastardly act the Maoists have The 1815 Sugauli Treaty between these two players. India The permutations of the Prachanda’s recent statementbillion that throughhe would the probablyhundi read fromcontinent. his However, Sharma Being one of the leading tour period, and I am quite sure he generalisations, you may as is hard to believe we will be extended an open invitation to reduced the rulers of Kathmandu to played the palace and the Nepali chronic power play at Singha he is concerned about thechannels. weaken- Nepalijargon-filled Gurkhas statement and generalisesdeliver and rushes to operators for Nepal and the never even touched the well fault me for the pollution successful in IT. With a outside forces to intervene in our being proxies of the British Empire Congress against each other for its Darbar were unsatisfactory no ing of democratic forces inin the Brunei andyet anotherlegal Nepali lengthy apologiaconclusions, giving easy Himalaya in Scandinavia I am steering wheel of a taxi, let of the Valley while you’re at it. government that does not employees in southeast escape to those who failed to extremely concerned about the alone any vehicle with four internal affairs. Comrade in Delhi, introducing a second own advantage and maintained its matter how the chips fell. The country. There is some merit in his deriding a perceived palace-India Instead of addressing the reward honesty, hard work, Asia alone remit more than deliver. We must draw a situation in your lovely country. wheels. Prachanda’s wish in an interview in player in Nepal’s power centres. stranglehold over strategic affairs in uncertainty of hung parliaments and judgement that unless civilian nexus. But the bottom line is that real problems, individuals intelligence, integrity, or $400 million a year. This is distinction between develop- I am worried that corruption Pemala Guruwacharya 1998 that he looked forward to When Jang Bahadur usurped power Kathmandu. When BP Koirala revolving-door governments in the control over defence forces of the the Maoist insurgency has weakened like Khadka insist on blam- competitiveness we cannot how modern Nepal stays ment-workers who, even and mismanagement are Narayan Gopal Music fighting Indian forces on Nepali after the Kot and Bhandarkhal chose to return from exile to try mid-1990s must have made the country is unequivocally estab- people power, and enhanced the ing others. One would have do it. There is absolute afloat. Maybe we should though they were not born in more conspicuous than ever. Trust thought that the politicians correlation between these territory does not look insane Massacres of 1846, he accentuated and restore democracy, India lost strategic manipulators long for the lished, democratic rule bychoose a Nepal’sinfluence next of the palace and BigNepal, made a long-term, The Maoist crisis wouldn’t would be masters of pass- attributes and success. The anymore. Is there a method in the the authority of the empire next the card that it had used success- obstinate but reliable players of the popularly elected governmentcabinet can fromBrother among down this south. often life-time, commitment to have started if it wasn’t for this. CK Lal replies: “Despite my ing the buck but Khadka has opposite is valid too—just Maoists’ madness? door in order to establish his own fully for behind-the-scenes bargain- Panchayat years. never be guaranteed. Buthardworking the lot. the development of this The government is either too advancing age, I stand by my taken finger-pointing to a look at our government. Prachanda last week issued a legitimacy. The third player for ing with the king. New Delhi’s Enter the Maoists with their J Prasai country, and those who are in weak, too apathetic, or too memory.” new level. Here is a new Girwan Pandey Botswana Nepal because they see corrupt to do anything about it. bombastic press release listing the power in Nepal is the Nepali people game of arm-twisting Nepal came three sets of 40 demands, the first acronym: “NewBoFaPs”— by email business. Yes, there is a lot of One small example: the “quick The reference to Jamim Shah supposed achievements of his so- themselves, and they didn’t really out into the open and culminated set of nine completely devoted to Nepalis Who Blame Others money in poverty. visa” you can get at jars that brilliant column by CK called People’s War as it entered its count until 1990. in the eighteen month long matters concerning “nationalism”. For All Problems. Lal (“So close and yet so seventh year. But in nearly 2,500 The restoration of the Shah economic blockade (officially called Is it merely accidental that it is My second concern is: Is it Kathmandu airport arrival if R Thapa distant”, #81). Poor CK, fair to put the entire blame on you pay $5 to this-or-that Seattle, USA words, there is not a single argu- dynasty to the throne at Hanuman the “trade and transit impasse” in precisely this “nationalism” that has foreigners for our failed person so you don’t have to perhaps he does not know ment that would in any way justify Dhoka Palace on 18 February, 1951 India) imposed by Rajiv Gandhi in suffered the most over last six years? development? I am sure the stay in line. What kind of first what goes on in the I think you should stop the loss of over 3,000 Nepali lives. was an unprecedented event: the 1988. There is little doubt that Was undermining it the hidden article reminded every in- impression do you think that Kathmandu underworld. All printing the cynical com- What did they die for? people and the palace had come relentless pressure from New Delhi purpose of all the vocal name- formed, patriotic Nepali of the provides? The tourists can that glitters is not gold, so why ments from Nepalis abroad difficult questions that never easily shake their heads and is he springing to the defence What the insurgency has together for the first time to chart a was instrumental in making calling of our southern neighbours? in your paper and giving got answered. For example: go home, but what about of this guy? succeeded in is undermining the common destiny. However, it also Narayanhiti bow before the public Had the fire of patriotism stoked undue importance to their how come a country with the Nepalis who have to suffer Daniel Gajraj limited gains of the People’s legitimised the role of India. The clamour for multi-party democracy. during the Hrithik Roshan riots navel-gazing. They have an second largest hydroelectric corruption every day? The by email Movement of 1990. Power seems to New Delhi Compromise was India’s foreign policy pundits in reached its logical conclusion, opinion on everything, and potential in the world only Maoists are a great threat to like to preach from their safeCORRECTION: be once again shifting away from rammed down the throat of Nepali South Block discovered that the Comrade Prachanda may have been exploits less than five percent the stability of Nepal, no doubt. FINGER-POINTING and comfortable exile. They In #81, the deadline for the people, and it’s not just because Congress leaders, and proved that shift of power from palace to the declared the dictator of the of it? While Bhutan doubled its They have changed from a Rajendra Khadka has made should either show some renewal of the state of of the say that the Royal Nepal the strategists of independent India people in Kathmandu did not turn Confederation of Communist and GNP after its second political force using terror to a several good points in emergency by parliament Army has acquired in matters of the were no different from the managers out to be of any advantage to them. Maoist Political Organisations of hydropower plant, our own bunch of bandits stealing from should have been 22 state after the declaration of an of the Honourable East India In fact, it was even more cumber- South Asia (CCOMPOSA). NEA is facing problems just the people. There has to be a February and not 26 emergency in the country. Company when it came to ways of some to deal with a plethora of The very concept of popular meeting its running costs. way out of this dead end. February as inadvertently There have always been three dealing with the buffer state in the leaders working under the pressure rule is anathema to communists, so Who is to blame? The bideshi Nepal cannot afford not to find appeared in the page one principal players in Nepali politics. Himalaya. of facing an electorate. Hush-hush it isn’t surprising that the Maoists advisers, or our own leaders a peaceful solution. It is a no- brief, “Death toll”, and the win situation for both sides. The primacy of the military- The royal coup of 15 Decem- negotiations with the likes of latter- failed even to mention the word who failed to safeguard the editorial, “Emerging from national interest? Perhaps Otherwise tourism is just the emergency”. both partly, but what are they going to divert from Nepal to DEEPENDRA BAJRACHARYA 4 NATION 22 - 28 FEBRUARY NEPALI 2002 TIMES NATION 22 - 28 FEBRUARY NEPALI 2002 TIMES 5 Think nationally, invest Hari,locally the hydro-entrepreneur KUNDA DIXIT ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ An ex-MP shows us how to turn When Hari Bairagi Dahal “As long as the waters of Syange don’t dry up, was the UML MP from water into gold. Third Call for Proposals – A Reminder ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Sankhuwasabha district five○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ we will be able to generate electricity” years ago, the one thing people in his constituencysmall hydro projects, Dahal An average one mega- ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ The Asia Urbs Programme is a cultural programme supported by both the development always asked for was had no problem convincing watt small-scale and economic funds of the Commission. Its main activity is to fund two-year development electricity. He tried, he wentbankers that it was a sound hydropower project in paying penalties to the central bank.” around the government return on investment. The Nepal costs about Rsprojects, 100 or six-month studies, which seek to improve living and environmental conditions Under the new policy Rs 100 million ministries in Kathmandu,buy-back rate was set at Rs million, and banks arefor those living in urban areas. As one of its aims is to strengthen ‘decentralised cooperation’, is the amount acceptable for lending he even staged a sit-in 4 per kW-hour for peak willing to lend up to 70these projects must be designed and implemented by local governments in Asia together to one project in the hydropower outside Singha Darbar topower and Rs 2.75 percent of the amount.with others in Europe. local farmer named Singha Bahadur Local shareholders feelsector more by secure a bank. This means one increase the allocation fornon-peak. Private investors need to Gurung on a three kilowatt micro- about the project becausebank theircould easily lend the entire loan infrastructure development “Why go grovelling to put in the rest, and a hydro plant, and decided to do bigger contractors and engineerscomponent are also to complete a 1 mW for his district. But no onebureaucrats in Kathmandu, I partnership of five indi-Two deadlines are scheduled 20 March and 2 September 2002. and better things. owners—they say it ensuresproject. thatSo banks now feel more listened. He could not told myself. We have the viduals makes such a “As long as the waters of Syange they are really committedcomfortable to the to lend money to smaller deliver, and he also lost water,his we have the re- project surprisingly Please visit the web page for further details: don’t dry up, we will be able to SBC, and will go outhydropower of their way projects. to party ticket to contest thesources, we will make it affordable. Says Dahal: 1998 elections. http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/index_en.htm generate electricity and sell it to the make it work. “Now that the SBC has been ourselves,” Dahal told us. “You don’t have to be Any other ex-politicianSo, the Arun Valley Hydro super-rich to invest inSelect:Tenders and Grants The Syange waterfall, the national grid, so I guess there’s no It has become easierthrough in recent the years steep learning curve of would have returned to hisPower Development Com- hydropower in Nepal Go directly to tender opportunities and Calls for Proposals penstock pipe and power house. reason to worry,” says Singha Bahadur. for the private sector toforming move into a company and building a hometown to lick his pany Pvt Ltd was set up. anymore. And the beautySelect: ALA+open+grants+Asie+Submit querie>Asia Urbs Kubir Ghale (above). But there is a slight look of concern on hydropower due to favourablemini-hydropower project, the only wounds and butter the partySays Dahal: “What I realised of it is that you get your his face today as he watches a pair of government policies andsensible financing. thing to do is to build more bosses for a political is that if you have a good money back within five technicians from Kathmandu fixing a (See “Hari, the hydro-entrepreneur,”such projects. Without the additional comeback. Not Dahal. If proposal,his and it makes years.” snag at the powerhouse. Kubir put in p. 5) In 1998, Shailajaprojects, Acharya, the then per kW overhead cost of people wanted electricity,sound business sense, the The reason small EU Co-Financing of Actions with NGOs Rs 100,000, and he is also getting a bit deputy prime minister,the Minister SBC will for be very high. It is electricity they would get.bankers So will bite.” hydropower is so cheap is development a kick-start if efficiently impatient because he knows the clock is Water Resources pushedimperative forth a set to ofbuild other projects to what, if he wasn’t a politi- And they did. Dahal’s that the projects can be Call for proposals, A reminder managed and honestly built. Bigger is ticking. “The project is complete. policies that are a milestonebring downin the costs,” says Pandey. cian anymore? partners put in 30 percent of indigenously designed also better for projects like the 700 Everything is in place. Why the delay?” development of hydropowerThe in processNepal. in underway. In the Dahal got together a the Rs 280 million for and built, they need no Co-financing with NGOs forms part of the general framework of the European Union group of local business-Piluwa, and the banks put in expensive foreign consult- megawatt $1 billion West Seti project he asks, “the NEA should inform us if The new policy was favourablenext few years,for villagers around (EU) commitment in favour of the campaign against poverty, the rule of law, and the which will one day export to India. there’s a problem.” If all goes according small hydro developersSyange because expect it to be owners of almost men, took a loan from a 70 percent and the project ants, no foreign loans, consortium of banks in got underway two years ago. and it can all be financed respect of fundamental freedoms, set out in the European Community Treaty. And even for domestic consumption, to plan, the SBC will earn back the clearly set out a formula800 for kW the of buying power in the area. The Kathmandu and investedIn in fact, private hydropower with Nepali rupee credit, experts say, there is now an urgent investment of its shareholders in four rate of electricity. “TheSBC NEA has wasalready applied to negotiate the Piluwa Khola development in Nepal has thus eliminating the A call for proposals for “Operations to raise public awareness of development issues need for a medium-size reservoir years. Villagers will not only benefit required to buy backfor all apower Power and Purchase Agreement for hydropower plant near become so lucrative Dahal danger of dollar apprecia-(ED)” was launched on 5th December 2001. The deadlines for receipt of applications project like the Andhi Khola, which from the power generated from their energy generated by hydropowerthe Tatopani Khola, which will be Chainpur that will star is surprised more busi- tion. can provide dry season power when local stream, but also from revenue developers, which wasapproximately the assurance the size of Syange. providing 3 mW of power nessesto in Kathmandu aren’t Dahal has no illusions are: production from run-of-the-river earned by selling power to the local developers neededAnother to generate project, identified a half- the national grid by April.jumping onto the band- about why he succeeded. 18th March 2002 at 16.00 schemes falls below capacity. “Run-of- national grid. and supply electricityhour to the walk grid,” from Tatopani, will be Taking advantage of awagon. “In very few ventures “I wouldn’t have been able the-river schemes of snow-fed rivers, The Syange river has its source on says Pandey. capable of generating over 400 kW. landmark policy approved do you have both the to deal with the red-tapeFor if more information on these different types of operations, please visit the web page: unlike the Kali Gandaki, should be the snowy slopes of the Lamjung Companies like LEDCOLEDCO were says it will continue to by then deputy prime raw material and I hadn’t been in politics. I promoted. But at the same time Himal, and descends through a series encouraged to take thedevelop plunge andwater resources in Lamjung minister Shailaja the market knew Singha Darbar http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/ong_cd/index_en.htm projects like Arun should be of spectacular waterfalls to the promote the Syange Bidyutto promote Company. rural electrification by Acharya in 1995 which guaranteed,” he inside out, and that developed. It gives you firm energy, Marsyangdi. Water is transferred They build, own and operateoperating it, aas locally-based well enterprise set out a formula for says. “With helped,” he explains. the Nepal Electricity but does not have the environmental through a 120 m penstock pipe to the as other small hydro resourcesthat links in local the natural resources with hydropower Dahal says he hasn’t left Authority’s buy-back the raw politics, and will try to get FOR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES, PLEASE VISIT PHOTOS: TRIPPLE P GURUNG P TRIPPLE PHOTOS: impact of many large projects,” says powerhouse. The head gives Syange an area in a manner thatlocal would investors be through a profitable, rate from private material is elected again from his THE FOLLOWING WEB PAGES: water expert Dr Binayak Bhadra. “Of installed capacity of 183 kilowatt, and it commercially viable. Recentprofessionally managed private power suppliers, and water, and home district after the from p1 governmental outfits. The Pokhara- course there have to be adequate can generate approximately 1.1 million financing mechanismsenterprise, introduced and will include the stipulated an annual the market project is finished. based Macchhapuchhare Bank mechanisms and checks and balances, units of energy annually. by the government havepeople also of Lamjung in developing six percent increase is the NEA.” The lesson from Hari That is why LEDCO was set up provided a seven-year loan for the and room for activists to oppose them “So far we’ve delivered 2,000 encouraged local commercialtheir district’s banks water resources. It is for a certain period Bairagi Dahal’s project is in 1994, to see if things could be done project at 12.5 percent interest. Other if they feel the sociological and units—Rs 10,000 worth of electricity,” to invest in small hydropowerpresently focused on developing the for power from that small is feasible. differently. Since then, the organisation shareholders in the SBC include environmental impacts of the projects says Vinay Bhandari, project coordina- projects such as Syange,20 mW Piluwa Nyadi Hydro Power Project Twenty five-megawatt has been trying to see if the govern- individuals in Lamjung and are unjustified.” tor and a director of the SBC. Vinay Khola, Indrawati andand Chuku the 3 Khola. mW Khudi Hydropower projects would be ment’s policy to involve the private Kathmandu and a finance coopera- But for villages like Syange small was in Syange last week to check on Explains Pandey: “Theproject, govern- both on tributaries of the cheaper, more appropri-The Asia-Invest programme is a European Community initiative that provides financial sector in energy production can tive. Says Pandey: “This is a model, is not only beautiful, it is feasible. some teething problems owing to ment has decided to acceptMarsyangdi. loan It is also looking into ate, less of a burden supporton to facilitate business co-operation between European and Asian companies. For the national exchequer, actually happen. LEDCO helped set it involves the local people, they own The powerhouse is humming as the which the NEA has temporarily investment by banks inrequests the from communities to more information, please visit the web page: up the Syange Bidyut Company it, they run it, and the whole falling water turns turbines when disconnected the supply. “It’s not an hydropower sector as priorityinvestigate sector and develop the energy and could be built and (SDC) with a Rs 1.5 million country benefits.” Kubir Ghale, an ex-Gurkha soldier, unexpected problem, neither is it a lending. All banks arepotential required ofto isolated communities. financed within Nepal— compared to one 100 mW To be sure, small hydropower is shows us around. He is one of more http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/asia-invest/newhtml/aboutus.html investment. Other investors include persistent one. Until our local operators make 12 percent of their entire lending project. Just look at the local individuals, the Lamjung District not the complete answer to Nepal’s than 40 local shareholders who have get the hang of things, one can expect to priority sectors. The banks were figures—Piluwa Khola Development Committee, local Village energy development. Big projects come invested Rs 2.5 million in the project. minor hitches,” says the engineer, who having a difficult time meeting this costs $1,200 per kW to Asia-Link Development Committees, and non- with economies of scale, and can give In 1996, he had got together with a also has shares in the Syange plant. requirement previously, and were build in local money, while the Arun projectThe Asia-Link Programme is a new initiative by the European Commission to promote regional would have cost nearlyand multilateral networking between higher education institutions in EU Member States and $5,000 in hard cur-South Asia, South-East Asia and China. The programme aims to promote the creation of HERE AND THERE by DANIEL LAK rency. The 144 mWnew partnerships and new sustainable links between European and Asian higher education Kali Gandaki project costs $3,300 perinstitutions, and to reinforce existing partnerships. For further information, please visit the kilowatt. web page:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/asia-itc/html/about/about0.htm The gift of time Asia IT&C Getting elected and staying in power are measured in days and weeks, not in the decades and generations needed for improvements in peoples’ lives.

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short, may seem callous when you look at the cost in lives and lost opportunity for development, but it should focus the mind. As for 12, that’s the number of years since the officially approved start of theand development. democracy movement in Nepal—7 Falgun, 2046, now observed as Democracy Development, as defined by the aidocracy that exercises such influence Day. It’s not much of a trial period, let alone a chance to really give something here,a is partly to blame. Countries that took centuries to develop politically and The European Commission (EC) launched the Asia Information Technology and good, meaningful go before pronouncing it unworkable. economically throw promiscuous amounts of money into places that have barely emerged from the shadow of colonialism or autocracy. Communication Programme (Asia IT&C) in October 1999 in order to co-finance mutually The Maoists only waited six years and war is being waged against them. Who beneficial partnerships in Information Technology and Communication between Europe then can say that twelve years is adequate time to sit in judgement of an unwieldy Experts on short assignments, and their political masters at home, demand In bookstores now yet appropriate system of organisation that was wisely described once as the “leastquick results, quick fixes, in short, unsustainable solutions to deeply rooted, and Asia. The Programme can supply up to 80% co-financing to Information Technology worst” way to govern society? Not I. often-ancient problems. Lately, they even impose political imperatives spawned and Communication projects proposed by a consortium of organisations from the EU and Finally, there’s 51, an approximate measure of the years that have passed in overseas think tanks, or appealing to electorates half a world away and participating Asian countries/territories. Please visit the web page for further details: since Nepalis were more or less quit of the cynical and corrupt oligarchy that hadirrelevant at ground zero in Nepal. Measuring “human development” year on year is a good example of this. A worthy exercise up to a point, but largely ruled since the Kot massacre of 1846. It’s been just over half-a-century since this MUSTANG BHOT IN FRAGMENTS Rs 275 http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/asia-itc/html/main.htm country started striving to be a nation-state in the modern sense. “Striving” is theunconnected to the self-evident notion that reform and improvement happen by Manjushree Thapa key word. Accountable government, transparent relations between citizens and over varying and usually long periods of time. umbers matter, so here are a few to ponder. 3, 6, 12, 52. All are state, rights, responsibilities, none of these things happen quickly or by So too the demands of democratic politics tarnish and diminish the search The first book by the author of The approximate, even a little arbitrary—give or take a few digits. But each for meaningful change. Getting elected and staying in power are imperatives Tutor of History. Reprinted For further information needs to be considered as we bemoan the state and fate of the N fiat. They measured in days and weeks, not in the decades and generations needed for real ten years after it was first published, European Union Kingdom of Nepal. took centuries to arrive in the west, where regimes and other centres of power like improvement in the lot of the people. Yet don’t forget, no better system has this is an account of the writer’s The first is the number of months that the country has been underthe a state Catholic of Church spent those dark ages before the flowering of democracy emerged to date. European Commission Office in Nepal emergency. Three months, 90 days, one-quarter of a year. If you’re an insect, discovery of her country, and making mistakes and bullying the populace. There were revolutions galore, And finally, there’s my own lot, the media. We have a lot to answer for. herself, as she comes face to face 4/7 Baluwatar, Kathmandu that’s a long time, possibly a generation or six. For us philosophical discourse ad naseum and countless attempts and failures to reform. We compress time into minutes and—spurred by competition and relentless Homo sapiens, it’s barely a Tel: 423569/429445/429446 Fax: 977-1-423541 None of this is an attempt to excuse failure or provide empty comfort. Nor demand for “fresh content”—hurl each newly apparent bit of information into with realities that are both blink of our bloodshot eyes. should any sense of urgency be lessened by awareness of time and how long it the void. It all impacts upon the perception that things are poorly, and getting overwhelming and educational. Six is the number of years that Nepal’s Maoists have been battling for their takes to bring meaningful change to a bad situation. But isn’t it worth keeping in worse with no hope in sight. Until it heaves into view, that is, and I’m sure it Travelogue and social history, this particular version of utopia. They fired their first shots—as if we could forget—on mind that in the overall of march of political events around the world, Nepal is a will. Given time. acclaimed book provides an insight 13 February, 1996. That may seem a long time ago but it wasn’t. It was less than fledgling democracy, however beleaguered? The gift of time is exceedingly precious, no more so than in a place like EASY TIMES a decade, a third of a generation in human terms—six governments ago, if you into life in Upper Mustang before EASY TIMES I submit that this land, full of strong, resilient people of good will, needs to Nepal, starved of context and perspective in a modern age that seems doomed to It’s never been easier to subscribe to count the caretaker administration formed before the last general election. the influx of tourists. be given time to deal with its problems and decide on its approach to modernity repeat the countless errors of the past. Nepali Times. Measuring such a devastating revolt in years or months, then declaring it Just dial this number and leave your address. 543337 6 NATION 22 - 28 FEBRUARY NEPALI 2002 TIMES NEPALI ECONOMY 22 - 28 FEBRUARY NEPALI 2002 TIMES 7 SOMEWHERE IN NEPAL by PUSKAR BHUSAL INTERVIEW The power of positive negativism“Right or wrong, the government has to be decisive.” ow that the international donor Koirala felt compelled to step down as community has admonished us to prime minister last July while he still tourism. The way politics is being handled now is wrong and if this we have gained from the tax scheme. dig into the root cause of poor had a majority of Congress MPs on his uncertainty continues, we won’t be able to recover. Without effective N governance, nothing is going to work in Nepal. It is about time we What is industry doing to change the state of affairs? governance and stem the branching out side. Moreover, he was well on his way woke up. This mindless power-struggle will not just hurt tourism, Nothing will happen if we are unable to establish law and order. Tourism of a fabulously rich political class before to reconciliation with the opposition it will stop all progress. takes place even in countries that have terrorist movements, so we are expecting more cash, we must encourage parties that had boycotted the entire not losing hope yet. If we can ensure law and order, we are confident the culture of candour that has trickled winter session of parliament demanding How badly will the present tourism downturn affect the we can turn around the tourism industry, provided that the national airline into the ruling elite’s conversation lately. he quit. While Koirala was recording economy? is made capable. The airline is losing half a million rupees every day and it Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat his resignation speech, many opposition I am worried not only in terms of the investment in tourism, but also cannot stay around with that kind of loss. Its demise is very close, about the time and effort so many Nepalis have put into the sector, especially if we don’t take action now, or decide what to do with it. A was among the first leaders to show how leaders were checking their watches and including the workers and those aspiring for careers in tourism. This is commission formed on what should be done with the airline has made its seriously they’ve sensed that honesty is wondering why he was running late for one industry which has reached the villages and it is difficult to imagine recommendations, but if we don’t act on them, then no amount of the best foreign-aid policy. At the the all-important meeting he had Nepal without tourism. This is not the best of times for Nepal: now we marketing and promotion will help tourism. If we don’t have a strong conclusion of the Nepal Development convened to harmonise their 14- and hear of capital flight. While this is happening, we are rapidly converting national airline, there will be no tourism in Nepal. Forum, the honourable minister exhorted 22-point covenants. industries where we had competitive advantages into disadvantages, Nepalis to work harder towards ensuring Ever since he became a serious and doing nothing to change the larger disadvantages into opportunities. How do we put someone in the cockpit? These are decisions you can take overnight. It does not take forever to good governance and ending corruption contender for prime minister, Nepali You donít seem very hopefulÖ decide how one wants to run the national airline, privatise it or run it as a in order to preserve our moral right to Congress general secretary Sushil Recovery is not impossible provided someone is there to take positive company. The government has to show some decisiveness. If you are in seek international assistance. OS Koirala, too, has developed a fair degree action. There must be someone somewhere who must be proactive for government, you are expected to decide. Not everyone is expected to Instead of mocking Mahat for of forthrightness. During the peace talks the country’s sake. take the right decision, but there has to be a decision. prancing away the evening in Pokhara, with the Maoists and after the deploy- What about the effective actions you said are needed? So we need decisions, someone taking risksÖ let’s try to delve into the circumstances ment of the military, his refrain has That is something which is leading us to give up on the present political I don’t say risks, I say it is someone taking on the responsibility they have surrounding this reaffirmation of the been consistent: no Kangresi prime leadership. Not that things were different during the panchayat, but now been entrusted with, because they are members of government. virtues of rectitude. Amid the swift minister before Deuba had received the situation has become worse. The nature of the economy has not succession of events Nepal hosted or such widespread support from the party. changed from the reliance on customs duties for revenue, rather than Youíre a member of Nepal Tourism Board. Has it been effective? attended over the last six months, we Granted, that claim may not match the broad industrialisation. Yet the government says there have been If only we can run the national airline and NTB effectively, we will be able benefits and people have earned piles of money, which was its to restore the image we have lost in six months, even reach the 500,000 failed to grasp the gravity of what Mahat fiery public speeches Sushil has been MIN BAJRACHARYA So, the kangresis have discovered that honesty is the best foreign-aid policy. assumption in starting the voluntary income declaration scheme (VDIS). arrival levels within a few years. But the NTB needs a capable national airline ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ delivering lately. was up against. For every Bill Gates who Tourism pioneer Shyam Bahadur Pandey, That is the reason for much of the capital flight that has taken place. to work with. At this time the government and private sector should have chastises his government for being stingy But once you become familiar with What we have gained is about Rs 500 million, which is insignificant in been working together. But now we have a crisis of confidence, we do not with foreign aid, a Paul O’Neil cites howGeneral Assembly, deliver some of the hassles, he decided to become brutally He said the Maoist problemthe might power of positive negativism, you’ll chairman of the Shangri La Group of Hotels andterms of the business confidence that has been lost. trust the government and the government does not trust us. poor countries have received trillions of SAARC summit invitations, chair the truthful: he needed all those ministers to have been contained had the zonalunderstand how shadowy signature Resorts, has passed on his businesses to his dollars over the decades with precious SAARC council of ministers meeting, and keep things quiet on the Congress commissioners not been throwncampaigns out with within the party can help the sons, but remains member of the Nepal TourismSo confidence is very low? So what should the government do? little to show for it. It is in such a highly make sure Colin Powell got that enve- parliamentary party front while the two the system. That way, his clear implica-prime minister advance the Kangresi The VDIS has hit confidence and we are still unsure. Rather than do If only we can give a sense that the government has begun to work, that lope before his aircraft took off. For a elders continued their skirmishes. (One tion was, senior security officials in the Board. Nepali Times something to restore confidence, now the government has begun can help restore confidence. Then improve the governance of Royal polarised atmosphere that Nepal has had agenda, especially at a time when the spoke to him about the raiding businesses. As a nation I think we have lost more than Nepal Airlines. This will not just help tourism, but the country as a whole. to move around cap in hand. man under so much stress in a ministry hopes the prime minister soon comes districts would have been sparedmain the opposition party is busy healing its state of tourism, and his plans for a new resort At the NDF, Mahat was held ac- that’s not even his, it is remarkable that out with an equally apt explanation for humiliation of taking their marchingown wounds. in Pokhara, which have been shelved. countable for high-sounding pledges his Mahat is still available to warn tax why he needs 40-plus advisers and orders from Chief District Officers.It’s a harsh fact of life that politics predecessor made in Paris two years ago evaders to pay up or else. assistants as well.) Koirala’s assertion that his party’sand 113 its practitioners are considered before slinking away to the defence and In the political plane, Mahat’s boss, Deuba must have inherited part of members in parliament amountedcongenital to prevaricators almost every- Nepali Times: How bad is the situation? agriculture ministries. Of course, Mahat too, has become quite straightforward this frankness from his one-time mentor nothing drew strong criticism fromwhere on this planet. But if you look Shyam Bahadur Pandey: It is very bad. There has been so much could have prepared himself better for lately. Responding to critics of his jumbo Koirala. Remember what GP had said politicians and political scientists.hard The enough, you can find grains of investment in tourism that if the industry suffers, it will take the entire the inquisition by memorising the cabinet, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur was wrong with Nepal’s post-1990 latter questioned his commitmenttruth to thein the most pungent packs of lies. economy down with it. We cannot imagine the Nepali economy without contents of the sectoral files. But he’s Deuba asserted that his herd wasn’t that leadership? Kangresis and comrades were principles of parliamentary democracyWith leading Kangresis having recog- hardly had the chance to be a full-time elephantine. Actually, his council of so fixated on overthrowing the panchayat while sections of the former wonderednised the cash value of candour, we can finance minister this time. Check his ministers contains only four more people system that they had forgotten to work whether his mental faculties wereprobably as expect a larger proportion of BIZ NEWS schedule for the six months preceding thethan his predecessor’s. And Girija Prasad out their own strategy for governance. In strong as when they had last heardthe him billions in NDF pledges to be NDF: lead the delegation to the UN Koirala was the party president, too. But another moment of heartfelt reflection two speak. But all these critics misseddisbursed the fact this time. AVAILABLE when Deuba realised how few people years ago, Koirala said the multiparty that the Kangresi patriarch was speaking No bidders ○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ WORLDWIDE understood that a bloated cabinet also constitution should have retained some of from experience. No one wants to buy the Hetauda Textiles Industry. The company was shut down last year because the IN brought along massive management the good parts of the panchayat regime. It is important to remember that government decided there was no point propping-up the perennial loss-maker, and pumped in a final Rs 250 million to pay off liabilities, mainly the wages and salaries of about 1,100 employees. The company was set HARDCOPY up 25 years ago, and managed to do “well” so long as Nepali textiles were protected, but all that changed with the liberalisation of the economy and today even private Nepali textile firms are unable to compete with the cheaper Chinese and Indian goods in the market.

FOLLOW UP Nepali Times is now available on PEPC World- Private television wide vending machines ○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ at major airports and The Ministry of Information and Communication (MoIC) has moved a step closer towards licensing private it, the Company Registrar’s Office hotel chains. ordered it to close down. A terrestrial television companies, over a year after it first sought proposals. There now seems to be a sense of urgency, because a committee has been asked to complete screening applications by this week. Eight Receive 40 pages of the but only if you bought very early Samrakchhan source tells us that companies have submitted their bids and some bidders tell us that they are watching to see if the govern- latest editions of Nepali Free moneySamrakchaan would make Rs 9.8 the firm has filed a lawsuit challeng- ment will only consider royalties in awarding licenses, or if it will also take into account issues of cross- Times and selected million from one chain, and it had ing that decision. The company ownership and the creation of media monopolies. They argue that licensing a company that already fully material from Himal South made something like Rs 15 million also says that because of what could owns other media companies, such as radio and newspapers, makes it difficult for smaller companies to Asian and Himal compete, as there are no laws to prevent larger monopolies from cross-subsidising products. They want One pyramid scheme is returning from the 5,000 members it had be a long-drawn legal battle, it Khabarpatrika in 150 cm x government to develop a clear policy on cross-ownership before deciding on licensing. 70 cm format on enrolled at the time of our first began refunding the Rs 3,000 it had money to its members, but others kept from each member starting 15 high-quality paper printed report. while you watch commer- are still functioning. And, Samrakchhan’s brochure August last year. So far about 3,985 members have collected the refund cial video content on the said, its mission was to develop monitor. Price: US$ 2.50, ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Nepal while creating opportunities and another 880 are yet to do so. Commercial bank law all major credit cards ○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Some members who have taken accepted. for independent gain. Samrakchhan The Nepal Rastra Bank is nearing finalisation of a draft umbrella act to regulate all deposit-taking institutions, 800,000 was spent on cleaning up was modelled after similar schemes their refund told us they had either the Pashupati temple area and some managed to sell their certificates to a move to help clean up the financial sector. The Commercial Banks and Financial Institutions Act is to be around the world, including one in finalised and taken to parliament during the current session, and will annul a long list of other laws govern- money was spent on helping shoe- recruit, you deposited Rs 3,000 intoAlbania which shattered the three members and had managed to ing the sector, some of which are not just confusing, but also contradictory. shine boys on New Road. It also Samrakchaan’s account, anothercountry’s Rs economy and ended in break even, but many said they had had plans to help Bir Hospital and 3,000 into the account of the firstrioting in Tirana that left 2,000 lost the rest of their investment. An had already conducted feasibility person on the certificate, and keptdead, the and the Italian scheme accountant who sold his certificates studies, but that plan has now been shares and broke even then bought Agri-census remaining one-third.○○○○ If you sold Pentagonoall that many Kathmandu ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ shelved. Samrakchhan says it had three certificates, you recovered residentsyour are familiar with. But two more memberships from his The Agricultural Census is likely to be put off until next year due to the budget cuts resulting from the also received a large number of initial investment and moved upArchana to Karki, who started the own chain (to ensure that he got to increase in security spending this year. The Fifth Agricultural Census was launched on 13 February in 43 scholarship applications and had sixth position on your recruits’ scheme in Nepal, told us she started the top of the list faster) told us districts, and the remaining districts were expected to be surveyed after mid-April. However, with the decided to fund 51, but that has certificates. As this scheme progressed,the scheme here because the that he lost about Rs 6,000 on one Census’ initial Rs 50 million budget slashed by 25 percent, the Central Bureau of Statistics says it may not not happened yet. more people bought and sold the membership. be able to analyse the data and make its report according to schedule. The census was to have started in popularity in Kathmandu of early January, but was delayed after the government declared a state of emergency in the country. The scheme, which had on certificates, eventually you wouldpyramids such as Pentagono was Samrahchhan says the money its board prominent reach the top of the list and couldresulting in huge sums of money that has not yet been refunded is Kathmanduites including “earn” up to Rs 6.56 million. leaving the country. Although Karki still safe in its bank and that its gender trainer and Prime The problem was the numbers.was quick to explain that database of members is intact. But Minister Sher Bahadur For Samrakchaan to deliver onSamrakchhan its was set up purely with little is known of what has Deuba’s wife Arzoo Rana promise of making every subscribersocial service in mind and that the happened to the many similar Deuba and Basanta Chaudhari of a millionaire, there would haveseven to members of the team agreed at schemes that were doing the rounds the Chaudhari group, came to be a never-ending supply of newtheir first meeting not to receive when Samrakchhan was in its public notice after people started investors. The chain ends for buyerssalaries or dividends, the company was prime, such as 1 Uno, Smartcash, amrakchhan, a “pyramid verdict on the legality of its doing the maths. Essentially, when they sell to three people,registered as a profit-making firm at Magicman, Sambandha, PC City, scheme” Nepali Times registration before deciding what toSamrakchhan worked like this: you those buyers sell to three more,the and Company Registrar’s Office. and other schemes that promise Sreported on last August do next. paid Rs 9,000 and were given three on until theth person 2,187 in this Samrakchhan’s registration papers computers or gold giveaways. There (“Scheme/ scam,” #54) has almost Samrakchhan employees we certificates with your name in “pyramid” sells his certificates. only claimed that it was a “social are also no governmental or closed shop, and a company source spoke to last week said the seventh position. This gave you theThen, you could win over Rs 6 marketing” company, although legislative checks in place yet, to tells us the firm is refunding the Rs company had raised about Rs 10 right to sell three certificates million. For one person to hit the the Lalitpur Tax Office treated it ensure that pyramid schemes are not 3,000 it had collected from each million before starting the refunds yourself, for Rs 9,000 each. Of thejackpot, 3,280 people must be as a “lottery”. institutionalised as legitimate free- member, has wound up operations in the wake of the public outcry, money you got from each new involved in the scheme. If Nepal’s When the controversy started market enterprises. for the time being because of “high and had worked on some projects entire population played, 6,500 snowballing, because a number of overheads”, and is awaiting a court before it had to close down—Rs people would win. You could win, influential people were involved in 8 ADVENTURE 22 - 28 FEBRUARY NEPALI 2002 TIMES 22 - 28 FEBRUARY NEPALI 2002 TIMES 9 area where he grew up, and his greatest wish was to build a school in his village Thaksindu in Solu Khumbu, so his six daugh- ters and other children in the area could enjoy the education he missed. Babu Chhiri was at Camp two in the Western Cwm guiding a Canadian-American expedition, Himalayanwhen he left, saying he wanted to take photographs. He wandered off the marked track unroped and fell 30 m or so down a crevasse. His absence went unremarked for spring five hours, after which a search was launched and his body was found. Babu Chhiri’s body was Watched by a long line of summiteers, Marco Siffredi leaves the summit In preparation for the spring challenging. carried down to Base Camp and of Everest and prepares to snowboard down. mountaineering season that begins next then flown to Kathmandu, where Sportsmonth, we look back to this season last Although the weather during the 2001tributes poured in from around year through the pages of pre-monsoon season was more unsettledthe world. The Nepali govern- South-east Face remains to be successful, and another PADAM GHALEY PADAM High Mountain than normal, particularly during the mentfirst donated Rs 100,000 to his climbed, and traversing the East increasingly popular peak, Lhotse Last spring was also a great . There were significant three weeks of May, there were a wife and his main sponsor, Ridge will be a long, time- Baruntse (7,127 m) was The most acclaimed ascent last season for adventurous descents accomplishments on major peaks, but the number of fine achievements and Mountain Hardware, has set consuming proposition. attempted by three expedi- spring was the much tried but from Everest. Claire Bernier-Roche, development to watch out for this coming historic climbs on Nepal’s mountains:up a trust fund. The third major new route in tions via the Standard Route, highly elusive Middle Summit of the second Frenchwoman on the season and in future, is undoubtedly the The first ascent of the world’s highest Nepal last spring (other than the South-east Ridge. the Lhotse group. Lhotse has been summit and the first to climb from opening up nine new peaks partly into the unclimbed summit, the first ascent of a Lhotse Middle and Manaslu) was Approximately 18 expeditions designated three summits: Lhotse the north side, and her husband, last spring season, the first time the hard new route on the 8,000 m giant on Pumori’s West Face. With were working on Standard Bertrand ‘Zébulon’ Roche, who only one 60 m rope and no Route, the North-west Flank Main (8,516 m), the world’s fourth record. Fellow American team- the first person to make two government has made such an Manaslu; an almost continuous traverse highest-mountain first climbed in first climbed Everest at 17 in 1990, announcement after the official start of of the west to east traverse of PumoriPopular peaks, bivouac gear, Swiss climbers Ueli of Cho Oyu (8,210 m)—some carried a six kg double paraglider up member Erik Weihenmayer became complete ascents of Everest in the Buhler and Ueli Steck climbed up 110 paying mountaineers, 1956 by Fritz Luchsinger and Ernst the first blind person to reach the same season. He held the recordthe for climbing season. Smaller peaks such which involved new ground climbed newin routes Reiss from a Swiss expedition; to the summit. The summit area Manaslu also saw a major new South Ridge and then continued excluding Sherpas and Tibetan was not large enough to launch top of Everest. the fastest ascent (16 hours andas 56 Gangchenpo in the Langtang Valley, pure Alpine style, many new recordsroute set being climbed, with a over the summit and down the helpers. A total of 37 climbers, Lhotse Shar (8,410 m) the eastern There were four deaths this minutes in May 2000) and the summit first climbed by Sepp their huge praglider, so they and peaks around popular summits such on Everest and, sadly, the death of strong Ukrainian team under Normal Route on the East Ridge, including Sherpas and Tibetans, descended 100 m to a snowy terrace season, two on the north side and highest bivouac—over 21 hoursas on Manaslu are cheaper to climb, easy to arguably the most famous Sherpa Msitslav Gorbenko successfully arriving back at Base Camp after summited Cho Oyu last season. Mayerl and Rolf Walter from an two on the south side, including the the 8,848 m summit without Austrian expedition; and the long, from where they spent 10 minutes get to and, most importantly, technically climber of recent times. climbing a line up the South-east 43 hours on the mountain. Only one expedition attempted on a bumpy ride down to Advanced tragic demise of Babu Chhiri that oxygen in May 1999. Babu Chhiri’s Face and upper East Ridge of the Two of the six expeditions on the North-east Spur to the crenellated connecting ridge really captured public attention. other ascents in Nepal include between the two, the previously Base Camp (6,400 m) below the 8,163 m peak. But the true Ama Dablam (6,812 m) were North Ridge, the Standard North Col, completing the first Babu Chhiri had in recent years Kangchenjunga with the Russian unclimbed Lhotse Middle (8,413 become perhaps the best known traverse team in 1989 and several of m), often dubbed the highest tandem paragliding descent from Everest, and the first flight from the Sherpa in mountaineering history Cho Oyu, Ama Dablam and The final pinnacle of Lhotse Middle, seen from where the Russians unclimbed summit in the world. after Tenzing Norgay. He had made Xixapangma Central Summit. Babu Last spring, there were three vicinity of the summit since Jean- emerged from the Kangshung Face. Marc Boivin’s historic September ten ascents, only one less than Chhiri was not educated in his Route, up Tilicho (7,134 m), and it expeditions focussed on Lhotse record holder Apa Sherpa and was youth, as there was no school in the Middle: Um Hong-Gil’s Korean 1998 descent. Twenty-two year-old was successful. whether they tried to repeat the team, which reached about 7,500 mFrenchman Marco Siffredi, well line taken by the all-Nepali on the normal route up Lhotse Sharknown for his outrageous expedition that made the first before giving up and climbing snowboard descents in the Mont official ascent of this mountain in Lhotse by the Standard Route; Blanc Massif, headed down on his Uncommon summits While the Ukrainians were at work 1990 via the West Ridge (ap- Oscar Cadiach’s Spanish team, snowboard from the Great on Manaslu, some of their members proached from the southern flanks) which climbed the Main Summit (Norton) Couloir, getting down to attempted the 6,251 Peak 2, also or attempted a partially new line but reached no further; and a 12- Advanced Base on Rongbuk glacier called Simnag Himal east, one of the on the West/South-west Face. member Russian expedition led by in little over two-and-half hours. nine new peaks added to the However, the trio gave up, having Sergei Timofeev. The Russians tookThis was the first snowboard permitted list last spring. Peak 2 had reached a high point of only 5,550 a completely different and untried descent of Everest and the first never been climbed before and m. Gangchenpo was first reconnoi- approach, climbing across the complete descent of the Tibetan Msitslav Gorbenko, Vadim tred in 1949 during Peter Lloyd relatively easy-angled but highly side of the mountain by ski or surf. Leontiev, Sergei Pugachov and and Bill Tilman’s historic visit to dangerous snow slopes that form Fifteen-year-old Temba Chhiri Mykhyalo Zagirnyak reached the the Langtang Valley and attempted the upper part of the Kangshung attempted to beat the record of summit via the East Ridge, having in 1964 by a predominantly Swiss Face overlooking the Tibetan Bertrand Roche—and a disputed spent three days on the final ascent. group that included well-known glacier of the same name. 30-year-old ascent by then 17-year- old Shambhu Tamang—in May The team first climbed the Pungen guide Michel Darbellay. The first 2000 to be the youngest person to Glacier to reach the East Ridge at ascent (unauthorised) took place make a successful Everest summit, about 5,200 m. the corniced East in 1971 and the situation of the but was forced to turn back just Ridge was generally of moderate peak geographically and bureau- below the Hillary Step with severly difficulty, but presented two crux cratically (it was closed to frostbitten hands and had to sections: a tricky gendarme around foreigners for many years) has led Everest 5,800 m, and later an 80 m covered to a number of unauthorised Compared with the fairly dismal undergo amputation to parts of five fingers on his return to Kathmandu. rock wall. The climb was awarded a ascents since. In 1990, nine autumn 2001 season, last spring 5A grade on the Russain scale, and Nepalis reached the lower West was a bonanza for Everest. Nearly Temba Chhiri returned to Everest as a one-man expedition last spring the team proposed renaming the Ridge from the South, climbed 50 teams operated on the mountain mountain Peak Ukraine. Peaks 1,2 over the West Summit, descended and many records were broken— and climbed via the Standard Route from the North Col. At 16 years and 3 are minor summits on the into a high snow basin on the there were 183 successful ascents in long East Ridge of Ngadi Chuli south side of the peak and finished just over five days. The majority— and 16 days, Temba Chhiri became the youngest Everest summiteer. (Peak 29, 7,871 m) and form the up on the East Ridge to the Main 101—came from the Nepali side, true right bank of the Pungen Summit. Several lines have now been while the rest were from Tibet. Another Nepali climber, 28-year- old Lhakpa Sherpa became only the Glacier which flows down from climbed on the easily accessible Apart from one expedition, all Manaslu to the Buri Gandaki. fluted North Face. teams attempted the normal routes:second woman to climb Everest from both the north and south sides A ten-member expedition made Mick Fowler and Pail Ramsden South Col and the South-east Ridge the second ascent of the somewhat planned to attempt the South-east from Nepal and North Col and the when she reached the summit via the North Col (she summited from enigmatic Himlung (7,126 m), Buttress of the unlimbed Peak 43 North Ridge from Tibet. Including which lies on the Tibetan border in (6,769 m), which lies above Hinku Sherpas and Base Camp staff, an the south side in May 2000). The 1,000 the Peri Himal northwest of Valley south of Kangtega (6,779 m). estimated 1,000 people operated on Manaslu. In 1992, Japanese climber The buttress is a well-known objective the mountain through the season. Yukio Niwa discovered that the and visible to many parties approaching Fifty of the 183 ascents were made coordinates assigned by the govern- the popular Mera Peak via the by people who had already ment corresponded to a peak standard route from Lukla. Peak 43 summited Everest at least one slightly north of Himlung, climbed has never been on the list of permitted time previously, and while in 2000 in 1983 by a Japanese-Nepali team. peaks, but the British duo gained only two ascents were made th successful ascent of So, Niwa attempted the more authorisation by obtaining a permit for without oxygen. Everest was made by Russian Yuri northerly peak via the West Ridge. Kangtega’s South Ridge Integral from Uteshev last spring, though the The southerly, more difficult Tangnag in the Hinku Valley. At Base thousandth person to reach the top mountain is now called Nemjung Camp, however, they discovered the of Everest is usually acknowledged and stands at 7,140 m. There have presence of a very active icefall barring as Temba Tsering in May 1998. been recent attempts to climb access to the buttress and were unable With climbers from three more Himlung, but no party was success- to find a safe route to the start of the countries, including Venezuela and ful until last spring, when eight climb. Colombia, making it to the top of French, a Nepali and a Swede Everest last spring, the number of reached the top via the West Ridge. nationalities to have climbed the German Jürgen Schütz and world’s highest mountain now two friends attempted to climb stands at 61. the beautiful 6,387 m It wasn’t only on the Tibetan Gangchenpo in Langtang valley side that records were set. Sixty- from the west. It is not clear (High Mountain Sports, four year-old American Dr Sherman February 2002. High magazine is Bull became the oldest person to available in bookstores and summit, beating then 63-year-old department stores in Kathmandu. ToshioYamamoto’s spring 2000 To subscribe, email [email protected]) 10 ADVENTURE 22 - 28 FEBRUARY NEPALI 2002 TIMES WORLD 22 - 28 FEBRUARY NEPALI 2002 TIMES 11 ANALYSIS by S FREDERICK STARR AND MARIN STRMECKIDealing with Big Brother ○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Are the climbers coming? WASHINGTON - As China prepared to greet President George W Bush during his state visit to Beijing this week, the country’s RAMYATA LIMBU government and intellectual elite are deeply split about how to deal ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Soon, Afghan nationalists—nearlywith the all world’s only superpower and handle relations with the f officials at the trekking and global community, experts on China-US relations say. “A rising China mountaineering section of the Afghans—will discover the political backgrounds of memberswill of General be a somewhat uncertain and perplexed China,” said Shi Ministry of Culture, Tourism Yinhong, a professor of international relations at Renmin University I Fahim’s inner circle. who has written extensively on the internal debates about China’s and Civil Aviation were hoping to Even this overwhelming evidence recover losses in mountaineering role in the world. “Consistent and clear national of one-sidedness and biasstrategies in the new are still missing” from the revenue this spring, the picture army’s high command couldnational be leadership. China’s foreign doesn’t appear too favourable. So neutralised if the new generalspolicy, brought Shi added, is “inconsistent far, less than a dozen teams have to their work professionalismand and fragmentary” and usually applied for permission to climb commitment to the patrioticreflects values ofthe a “vicissitudes of various mountains, mostly truly national armed forces.immediate But only world events” rather than situated in the eastern region. a long-range view of the world. The ten have backgrounds as professionaldegree to which political elites differ The teams include an American military officers, and an eleventhabout foreign policy is “unprec- and Indian expedition that have served as a pilot. Twenty-fouredented come since the 1949 applied for permits to Everest. from civilian life—the professions,revolution” that brought the “But no one has paid the fees yet. Communist Party offices,Chinese or in one Communist Party to Going by past trends, we should case, a career as a mullah.power, he said. have received more than two In day-to-day terms , theseShi explained that on the statistics mean that when matterthe com- of the US, China’s dozen applications by now,” says leadership is divided into two Ganesh Raj Khatri, undersecre- The more things changemanders of the internationalgroups. peacekeep- The first, which tary at the Ministry’s mountain- ing forces in Afghanistan,represents as well as a majority, doubts that long-term accommodation with the eering and trekking section. American military and diplomaticUS is possible because it believes the United States “won’t tolerate Khatri is hoping that the last two officials, meet Afghanistan’sChina Deputy as a world power, even in Asia.” “It is highly suspicious of US weeks of February, which he There’s very little different in the new Afghan army. Minister of Defence, theymilitary will strategy in East Asia andLi Peng,its alliance head of relationships,China’s People’s particu- larly with Japan,” said Shi. A second small but highly influential group ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○ encounter Abdul Rashid Dostum, a National Congress considers a crucial period, will see hopes to reach an accommodation with Washington by 2010 and an increase in applications for the notoriously brutal and corrupt warlord he murder of Afghanistan’s command structure made up almost Burhanuddin Rabbani. This party and communist who keepsbelieves in touch that, in the long run, US forces in Asia provide stability and spring season that begins in March. are important in dealing with the dangers from countries holding Minister of Aviation by a mob entirely of Tajiks. The Pashtuns’ ruled Kabul briefly in the mid-1990s, with old Red Army friends still Despite expeditions bound for weapons of mass destruction and supporting terrorism, he said. The (perhaps incited by members language is as different from Tajik as creating the bloodshed and chaos that serving in Moscow. It means the Chief Makalu, Everest, Lhotse, T contrasting voices of the Chinese political leadership were on open of Afghanistan’s own interim Spanish is from English and millions caused most Afghans to welcome the of the Afghan Armed Forces,display as well last as week. On Monday, Li Peng, China’s second most Thamserku, and Ama Dablam this administration) shows that Afghan of Pashtuns of military age know only coming of the Taleban. Almost the Chief of Operations andpowerful the Chief leader, condemned what he called foreign interference in spring, expedition organisers expect society remains deeply fissured. The a smattering of Tajik, at best. equalling the number of Jamiat of Army Intelligence are alsoChina commu- around human rights, a reference to the constant complaints a 50 percent decline in the number first reforms to Afghanistan’s army The geographical profile of the members in the army hierarchy are nists, men whose loyaltiesfrom remain Washington about Beijing’s human rights record. A few days GEO of expeditions to Nepal. “Since will only make these divisions worse. new military leadership is as narrow as communists. Sixteen have long been uncertain and who are distrustedlater, Zeng by Peiyan, director of China’s State Development Planning many of the teams climbing from The Defence Minister in Hamid its ethnic makeup. Thirty-five of the aligned with this party, whose ploys in most Afghans. Commission and the country’s top economic planner, told official Tibet usually pass through Nepal, news agency Xinhua that “non-economic factors”, a euphemism for The number fell short of the Karzai’s temporary administration has 38 senior officers hail from one small the late 1970s led to the 1978-79 Is the presence in Kabulhuman of so rights, “won’t interfere with the deep economic ties between we’re expecting a ten percent average 60-65 expeditions that formulated a one-window policy, named the top officers of the new area north of Kabul consisting of Soviet invasion that cost two-and-a- dubious a crew likely to instilChina and the United States.” decline there, too.” climb in the Nepal Himalaya under the Ministry of Tourism, army. The Minister, Gen Mohammed Parwan province (where the Bagram half million Afghan lives. Most confidence in the three-quartersThe of more moderate group appears to be ascendant. Since 9/11, Still, Khatri, and the climbing every fall—in autumn 2000, under which climbers don’t have Fahim, is a Northern Alliance Tajik airport is located) and the nearby Afghans today view the communists Afghanistan’s populationChina who are has shut been cooperating closely with the United States in its war against terrorism. For the first time since the collapse of the Soviet business as a whole, are all there were more than 64 to pay separate fees for entering from Panjshir district in the North. Panjshir valley, long the Northern with the same degree of sympathy out of the top army command or bring hoping the current situation As a group, his appointments pose a Alliance’s stronghold. Potential leaders Czechs or Poles reserve for the Nazis. war-torn Afghanistan together?Union, Or US is and Chinese intelligence agencies have been sharing teams here. parks, filming, and trekking. Also, information about al-Qaeda and radical Islamic groups in Asia. China won’t deter too many mountain- The government has made direct challenge to Karzai’s goal of from 27 of Afghanistan’s 29 provinces True, Afghans, as others, joined this list, the harvest of a “winner-take- expeditions below 6,500 m are no reunifying the country. were excluded from their country’s the Communist Party for various all” approach to governance,has bound, also atpledged $150 million for the reconstruction of post-war eers. “Normally, the climbing quite an effort to cash in on Afghanistan and may provide troops to a UN peacekeeping force in longer required to be accompa- Afghanistan is a multi-ethnic new military elite. reasons, and not all were hard-core some point, to unleash another bloody community is more adventurous, 2002, which opens the Destina- Afghanistan after US troops are withdrawn. Chinese leaders have nied by liaison officers. nation, the largest group being Perhaps so narrow-based a group ideologues. But in the case of General national backlash by those whose they take more risks. We’re tion Nepal Campaign, and is the “The climbing regulations also held back criticism of the US military role in the Philippines and hoping they are less spooked by Pashtuns, with two-fifths of the total. could overcome the impression that its Fahim’s generals, six were professional legitimate interests have beenJapan’s cynically cooperation with US forces around Afghanistan. All of this start of the 50 have been reviewed, and amend- Hazaras and Tajiks constitute about a members are a closed clique if they Communist Party workers, and trampled? is a far cry from the tensions a year ago over a US spy plane that current events and the law and thanniversary ments meeting almost ninety order situation,” says Khatri. fifth each of the population. Of 38 represented a broad cross-section of continued to serve the Party after the collided with a Chinese fighter jet near Hainan Island, or the near- rupture in relations when US warplanes bombed the Chinese celebration of the first ascent of percent of the demands of the officers elevated to general’s rank by the country’s dozen or more political Red Army’s invasion. These six, plus (Project Syndicate) “They’re probably watching and Everest, as well as the Interna- international climbing commu- embassy in Belgrade during NATO-led war against Serbia two years waiting, too. And no one’s Fahim, 37 are Tajiks, the other being parties. But this is not so. Eighteen three more communists who served as tional Year of the Mountain. It nity have been finalised and are Uzbek. If any of the country’s 15 to come from one party, the Jamiat-e- officers in the Afghan army, collabo- ago. But it is also at variance with Chinese public opinion, which Shi cancelled, yet.” (S Frederick Starr is chairman, said is highly nationalistic and frequently anti-American. has opened 103 new peaks, awaiting approval from cabinet,” 17 million Pashtuns are recruited as Islami, the Islamic faction long led by rated actively during the decade-long The trouble is, the post- Central Asia-Caucasus Institute, including 20 in the far-west, for says Khatri. soldiers, they will serve under a mullah and former theology professor Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.Johns Hopkins University. monsoon 2001 season was not which it is offering a 100 percent Expedition operators remain too great either, with only 48 Marin Strmecki is Vice President, waiver on royalty from March sceptical of government efforts. Smith Richardson Foundation.) teams attempting various peaks, 2002–2005. The government has They say they will believe the and no expeditions to Everest. also waived 75 percent of the government once the regulations royalty on 40 other peaks are implemented. “So far, we around the country for the haven’t seen anything happening in COMMENT by DANI RODRIK same duration. practice. It’s still not flexible,” a The government has also major expedition operator told us. And even if they are imple- mented, the changes aren’t enough, some say. “The new Flawed panacea (IPS) Tewa Walk-a-thon regulations are not enough,” says a Kathmandu-based expedition t first sight, the World Bank’s newest report on globalisation contains few Tewa is a non-governmental philanthropic social organization operator. “In normal times, it surprises. It repeats the mantra that the countries that went farther down established in 1996. It aims to increase the self-reliance of Nepalis would be a real incentive for Athe path of globalisation became the ones with the greatest success in by reducing dependency on foreign donors by inculcating the climbers. But if teams aren’t economic growth and poverty reduction. Buried inside the report, however, is a nam—deep trade liberalisation is hardly ever a factor in fostering higher growth habit in Nepali men and women to donate regularly for sustainable coming to climb the major peaks startling admission: countries that integrated into the world economy most and expanded trade early on. It is good to see the World Bank catching on to this simple reality. and equitable development of the country with special focus on now, how can we expect them to rapidly were not necessarily those that adopted the most pro-trade policies. Unfortunately, there is still a lot of subterfuge in the World Bank’s report. women. climb the new ones given the Think about what this means. For the first time, the World Bank acknowl- current situation. The government edges that trade liberalisation may not be an effective instrument, for stimulating You won’t notice how much ground the Bank has given up unless you dig deep should follow Pakistan’s example growth or integration into world markets. It is in and look at how the evidence is presented. Even there, there is a residue of the In the last 6 years: intellectual sloppiness that the World Bank has displayed on this issue in the • Tewa has mobilized local resources from over 1,300 Nepali and reduce royalty by 50 percent admitting, in an underhanded manner, that its on major peaks, including on assertions about the benefits of globalisation do past. For example, a chart in the report shows that the World Bank’s sample of donors; “more globalised” countries had deeper tariff • Everest. That’s the only way not carry direct implications for how trade policy Established an endowment fund for its operational costs; should be conducted in developing countries. cuts than the “less globalised” countries. The • climbers will be tempted to come. ” Given over 120 grants to women’s groups in 49 districts of Still, there is some good The Bank is beginning to face up to a reality unstated implication—but one the reader is expected to draw—is that tariff cuts were an Nepal and news. Contrary to past trends, obvious to anyone who looks at the empirical • important determinant of global integration and Trained and mobilized over 200 volunteers. the number of expeditions record with an open mind. Rapid integration into global markets is a consequence not of trade hence growth. Of course, if there were direct Tewa is organizing the third walk-a-thon on 8 March 2002 to climbing in winter increased evidence that these tariff cuts were correlated with significantly, with seven teams liberalisation or adherence to WTO strictures per coincide with the International Women’s Day with the theme se, but of successful growth strategies with often growth (there isn’t), you can be certain that the “Women in Peace”. Walk-a-thon consists of 10 km walk through attempting various peaks. And World Bank would have presented those results one team will be coming to climb highly idiosyncratic characteristics. the city of Patan. instead. In fact, only a few lines further down, this spring, despite the odds— Consider China and India, the growth miracles of the last twenty years, and leading the report denies that the question is even We invite all the interested people to help us make this event a that of Tashi Tenzing, grandson exemplars of what the World Bank calls relevant. “Whether there is a casual connection of Tenzing Norgay, and Peter success by: “globalisers.” In both, the main trade reforms from opening up trade to faster growth is not the • Walking with us by donating or raising required amount Hillary, son of Edmund. The took place about a decade The World Bank is starting to issue” declares the report. One wonders why • Connecting us with donors and sponsors who can support duo, who climbed Everest together understand globalisation may not spur then the World Bank invested so much this cause in 1991, will be attempting the growth, but finds it hard to say so. intellectual capital on establishing the linkage • Sponsoring Tewa volunteers to walk by donating or raising mountain again this spring with afterthe onset of higher between the two if that is not an important issue? growth. Moreover, trade restrictions in China These oddities are perhaps to be expected required amount Yves Lambert, son of one of the climbers of the 1952 Swiss and India remain among the highest in the world. In China’s case, high growth from an institution that is being forced to backtrack from a position that has The entire amount of the funds raised from this event will be given Everest expedition of which started in the late 1970s with the introduction of the household responsibility become analytically and empirically untenable. We should just be happy that as grants to needy and deserving rural women’s groups who are Tenzing Norgay was a member. system in agriculture and of two-tier pricing. China’s authorities did not embark some degree of realism is returning to the World Bank’s discussion of making an effort to empower themselves. They will be commemorating the on import liberalisation in earnest until much later, during the second half of the globalisation. The bottom line is this: countries that managed to grow rapidly and 50th anniversary of the first 1980s and the 1990s. reduce poverty also tended to become increasingly integrated into the world PLEASE COME AND JOIN US IN THIS EVENT! historic climb of Everest on 29 As for India, its trend growth rate increased substantially in the early 1980s economy. What’s at issue is the policy conclusion drawn from this empirical FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT May, 1953. by about 3 percent. Meanwhile, serious trade reform did not start until 1991- observation. Previously, the Bank wanted you to think significant liberalisation of 93. Governments in both countries focused their scarce political capital and the trade regime is key in all those good things. Now it is no longer so sure. administrative resources on areas other than trade liberalisation. Because both Neither should we be. Tewa India and China did increase trade substantially, they are both considered as (Project Syndicate) globalisers by the World Bank’s criterion. But as their experience reveals—along Chakupat, Lalitpur with the experiences of many others, such as South Korea, Taiwan, and Viet- Phone 524647 / 544659 Dani Rodrik is professor of political economy at the John F Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. 12 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS THIS PAGE CONTAINS MATERIAL SELECTED FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 22 - 28 FEBRUARY NEPALI 2002 TIMES CULTURE AND SOCIETY 22 - 28 FEBRUARY NEPALI 2002 TIMES 13 Out of hand BOOK REVIEW by RAMASWAMY R IYER ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Editorial,Nepal Samacharpatra, Back at Sundarijal >5 Stop the carnage and 18talk February been a failure of intelligence (because “A cold bath is physically and

…The Maoists don’t have the people’s DEEPENDRA BAJRACHARYA it was unable to account for the large New ways of thinking Editorial, Rajdhani, 18 February support. Instead they are fighting their number of Maoists who had amassed war on the basis of their military there) and there also seems to have morally uplifting. Morally, The violence and counter-violence underway strength. The people will be the final in this country for the past seven years took been lack of coordination between the winners, no force can win over them. a devastating and unimaginable turn Sunday different security agencies. The prime because the operation involves a But are the people today ready to come morning at Mangalsen and Sanfebagar, the minister has to immediately give the out on the side of the present headquarters of Accham district. This people details of the incident and and planning. I cannot do justice to country, which has still not been able to free government, the ruling and other courageous decision and action.” ensure that they can feel safe. This itself from the compulsions of history, may parliamentary parties? We can easily this ambitious undertaking through a country has to know just how serious summarising of the contents. I can have nothing but tears, ashes and perpetual DIWAKER BAGCHAND conclude, they are not. This is one of the government is about ensuring law repentance left for itself if we don’t take the major reasons helping the Maoists only earnestly urge the reader: read it. and order. It is Nepal’s bad luck that corrective actions soon. push their agenda. And none other I share Gyawali’s suspicions of It doesn’t need to be said that the Maoist its political leadership still lacks the than the government, the ruling party gigantism; his doubts about the BP Koirala, incarcerated for the second time at violence reached the height of barbarism in commitment to take decisions and and other parliamentary forces have existing bureaucrat-politician- Sundarijal Jail, completes his first week behind Accham, but even the adjectives simply cannot describe the turn the situation in the nation has taken. The implement them. The Maoists are like given the people reason to take their consultant-contractor nexuses (not actions of the Maoists, who have been declared terrorists, have given us further insight into their violent the Taleban, on the road to turning always or necessarily pointers to bars. In this instalment, he is getting used to and destructive mindset. At the same time, it also reveals the government’s inability and defunctpresent machin- position… the country into another Afghanistan. the little things that loom large in a detainee’s ery. This heart-wrenching incident has also shown how the lack of political vision and stubborn…The partisan country is currently going corruption, but indicative of similari- Accham has strengthened their interests of parties have taken this beautiful but ill-fated country closer to total ruin. through a serious and very difficult ties in ways of thinking and conver- life: bodily functions, washing, a bleeding ambitions. If Deuba does not have the The Accham massacre is a repeat of legendary self-destruction of the Yadavs. This Himalayansituation. This nation is not the time for any gences of interests), his criticisms of nose, a cold bath, a sore throat, and an clarity of vision and the courage to face that has been desperately searching for a bridge of faith, is becoming surrounded by ever-risingone concerned walls about of the Nepali people the courage of fifth-grader Sabitri the present engineering-driven uni- corpses of her children, and is being crushed under their weight. The Maoists ideology probably rates the the crisis, his continuing as prime obsessive need to stave off boredom. He and about democracy to rally behind Balami and sixth-grader Akhbari disciplinarity of approach to water- carnage in Accham as “exemplary bravery and victory”, but they will never be able to get to their goal of minister is unjustified. The prime worries about his family and how they will get individual, group or party interests. Shrestha to defy the tradition that planning (or at best attempts at multi- communism by stepping on steps made of bodies of the innocent security forces they have killed. minister needs to give the nation by. Every fortnight, Anything can happen here today if the propels hundreds of underage disciplinarity with no real integration) The Maoists have painted not just Accham with the blood of more than 125 innocent people (this answers right now. Nepali Times brings this figure, however, does not include the Maoists, even though they are also Nepalis), but alsosituation our history. is not managed properly. TheExtend the children into unfair marriages every and his plea for inter-disciplinarity; And no amount of regret can make up for it. No philosophy, ideology or administrative logicMaoists can justify are not or as weak as the year. The parents of the two children his profound distrust of donor-driven unpublished diary of BP Koirala absolve the Maoists’ unforgivable crime. However, it is not possible to get to the roots of ourparliamentary self-destruc- forces might think they emergency had arranged for their marriages to “development”, particularly valid in written in English that covers the tion by simply cursing the Maoists. The blood of the security forces who attained martyrdomare, in and Accham the revisionists○○○○○○ are not going ○○○○○○○○○○ take place on Saraswoti Puja day, in countries such as Nepal or Bangladesh period immediately following his will also continue to curse our government and the political parties. Our security forces at tothe stay front silent fought either. Nationalism has Editorial,Himalaya Times, keeping with the Balami’s tradition in but not unimportant even in India; valiantly until they shed their last drop of blood, but our political parties have always failed to overcome return to Nepal in 1977. The also begun to falter. And all around us 18 February Okharpauwa VDC. The two children and his preference for smaller, people- their selfishness, indifference and cowardice. centred, co-operative, community- diary is on microfilm at Madan Those who have handed over the problem to the security forces instead of taking democracyare dark clouds to the of uncertainty, and submitted a written appeal to the problems. Tussles between the ruling, …People can interpret the state of VDC office in Okharpauwa, as well as managed answers to felt local needs. Puraskar Library, and was grassroots along with broad social and economic programs to try and resolve the crisis must now ask There are two views in Nepal themselves one question. How much is each one of them responsible for the blood that hasopposition been shed and other in parliamentary emergency as it suits then, but what is the local Janjagriti Yuva Club asking made available by senior this country in the past seven years? The battle was raging in Accham until Sunday morning.parties But right the now would be detrimen- clear here is that it is a constitutional that their marriage be stopped. And, regarding that country’s endowment of advocate Ganesh Raj Sharma. prime minister, ministers and leaders of different political parties could be seen going aroundtal. attending We need to show collective strengthcompulsion. It is also clear that the under the stewardship of the VDC KUNDA DIXIT water resources. The prevailing, formal meetings in Kathmandu, as if there was no place called Accham on the map of Nepal,to tackle or that the situation,we and if demo- emergency is associated with the office, the marriage of Sabitri and A former Indian water resources secretary reviews “Establishment”, dominant view is that had no relation to those who fell. It might not be out of place to say that such ingratitude andcratic irresponsibil- forces cannot form a united front,mobilisation of the army. Similarly, Akhabari has been postponed for at water to Nepal is like oil to the Gulf: a ity only reflected our shamelessness. there is also little disagreement that least five years. Dipak Gyawali’s recentWater in Nepal in the potential source of immense wealth I bathed today. It was a What we cannot forget now that is that more dangerous than Accham’s extensive materialit may and not takehuman long for the situation to 7th January, 1977 Maneesha’s [Manisha get out of hands. the emergency was imposed to disarm Kanchhi Balami, Akhabari’s through the sale (largely to India) of very short bath, but it was a losses is the message from the incident. We did not get the message from Dunai, Ghorahi or Salleri. The Economic and Political Weekly. He expresses massive quantities of hydroelectric Koirala] responsibility as Maoists are anarchists, destructive, and motivated by violence, there is no doubt about that. But we must the Maoists and restore law and order mother, threatened to commit suicide Daily duties as usual. I well as Prakash’s sobath far all as right. I put my head not forget that it is some of our nation’s failures and weaknesses that have fuelled the destruction and in the country. So, if we want peace if she was not allowed to marry her chagrin that a book “of this degree of intellectual power. The author debunks this pass deeply coloured and then my entire body dream fairly effectively and shows what we are concerned, should violence. The country should have been progressing peacefully, instead it is being overcome by fear and and security, there is no reason to son off on the auspicious day. Kanchhi distinction has emerged from Nepal, not India”. urine. The quantity is not be carried beyondunder three the running tap. repugnance. And Nepal’s smouldering society is being pushed into the pits of cruelty, barbarism, suffer- suspect or doubt the purpose of only agreed to postpone the marriage formidable efforts of diverse kinds arenormal but the more years. SriharshaPainfully cold water. I had ing—and unthinkable consequences. having an emergency in force. It is when her○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ equally determined son ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ involved in converting the natural colourisation is unusu- should be provided takenwith a regular bath with soap and lot of water on 25 The security forces’ effective and concerted efforts may be one way to save the nation from disinte- impossible to end a six- or seven- countered this with his own threat of endowment into a “resource”. ally deep yellow. Perhaps some money so that he gration and total destruction, but it cannot bring about the ultimate solution. For that we would need to take December in Patna—i.e. 12 year-old Maoist problem within three suicide. It took similar threats and his is a book of considerable despite the availability of better From early warnings on these when patient is in deep could be mentally at ease the road of talks, talks and talks. After all, democracy is a system that relies on co-operation, constructive importance with a relevance options; and how, eventually, not lines Gyawali moved gradually away anxiety or high tension when he would nowdays be ago. In Sundarijal, I Act○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ or resign months. All political parties that counter-threats in Sabitri’s family to debate and peaceful means to open the doors of social change. Our parliamentary and political repre- the bodily secretion only rubbed my body with a believe in the parliamentary system convince the would-be child bride’s Tbeyond Nepal to the whole of environmental concerns or displace- from big export-based projects towards seeking an opening. All in sentatives must rise above their habit of only listening and understanding what they want to, and, if it the region. Despite some reservations ment/rehabilitation problems, but the becomes abnormally all, we would need wetRs towel. Today the cold comes to that, even agree to a referendum on the constituent assembly to save the nation Editorial,and findKantipur, a 18 February have denounced the Maoist insur- parents to agree to the postponement a distinct preference for smaller, coloured. The stains in 200,000. Our Biratnagarwater bath was a very peaceful end to Maoist violence. gency and are worried about its of the marriage. Other child brides and disagreements here and there, it sheer logic of economic arguments people-centred and people-driven the area around the property—my share—torefreshing experience— The Maoists, if they truly believe in the people, should be ready to lay down their armsThe and Maoists give have the taken their campaign impact. Since we all agree that this and grooms followed suit, and barring seemed to me necessary to begin with rendered the abandonment of the projects for the country’s internal physically and it was to a new level. Using unarmed women, that clear positive statement. My project inescapable. needs. It cannot be said that he has armpits in my kurta are fetch more than this amount. people the power to decide what political system they want; they cannot be allowed to devise a political problem needs to be ended, why can two, all child marriages in Kagatigaun also of high colour. It is a morally uplifting also. system based on the number of bodies that have fallen. We must stop the unnecessary killing and response to the book is compounded That may be considered a one- If only Sushila or Prakash or men and children as human shields, we not agree on the steps that must be scheduled for this Saraswoti Puja were had great success in persuading largetextbook symptom of Morally, because the opera- safeguard the nation for our future generations. No system is an end in itself, it is only a meansthey have to succeeded an end. in murdering over of several elements: sided statement; even today there are numbers of people in Nepal to accept Sriharsha were practical, taken to address the problems created postponed. anxiety. My bowels are there should be no tionfinancial involves a courageous And no system can be sustained unless the country and people are safe. Forgetting the country and the people in Nepal who regard that his way of thinking, though his 100 soldiers, policemen and govern- by the insurgency? This is a vitally Sixteen-year-old Aitaram Balami not moving properly, and difficulties for them.decision and action. common people and only harping on about the purity of the system is like selling one’s eyesment and employees. buying The river of blood Familiarity (I have known the decision as an unfortunate setback to influence is undoubtedly growing. glasses to replace them. important question today. The and 15-year old Radhika Balami are I don’t have clear mo- shed in Accham was the largest and to emergency must be directed against one of the two underage couples whose author for many years and have heard development. All I can say is that I The debate is still on. tions. There is a trace of the Maoists, may be one more the Maoists, and it must not affect the marriage went ahead as per their him expounding the ideas contained find Gyawali persuasive on this issue, Finally, I must refer to a differencedysentery. Again the text successful step in their violent daily lives of other people, or parents’ wish. “Aitaram and Radhika in the book at many seminars and particularly when he shows that giving between Gyawali and myself on the book symptom of chronic campaign. They have stopped being a development work in the country. are at least close to the legal age of conferences, and have also read some of up Arun-3 made it possible to proceed subject of the Mahakali Treaty. He hascolitis. political force and have taken to crime, The entire country wants peace. his writings earlier); with smaller, quicker and cheaper many criticisms to offer both on the Today towards the marriage—we will work towards afternoon I had bleeding but the government has also done little Without peace no political or creating public pressure to eliminate possibilities on the energy front. processes leading to the signing and other than denounce their violence and Pleasureof assent with much of The piece “Water Conflict in ratification of the Treaty and on its from the right nostril. It is development activity can gather child marriage from our village from what the author says (though we do call them terrorists, which indicates its Southern Riparian Lands” is a path- contents. I myself have dissatisfactionsnot regular bleeding, but momentum, and that is why all must next year,” says Balaram Shrestha, have some differences); when I blew traces of ineffectiveness and weakness. The support every effort to make peace. It president of the Janajagriti Yuba Club breaking contribution. It brings with the Treaty; it could have been Chagrin (nationalistic and together in one narrative two different blood were found in my political parties are now set to “bargain” is wrong to be confused about the that is leading the anti-child marriage better in many ways. Nor am I kerchief. Nothing serious hard with government as parliament need for peace, and so, by extension, campaign in Kagatigaun. unworthy, no doubt) that a book of conflicts proceeding separately and at enthusiastic about the Pancheswar because it may have debates whether or not the emer- it is wrong to be in two minds about It is believed that Balamis of this degree of intellectual distinction different levels, with not much Project. However, whatever our viewsbeen caused by exces- gency—imposed because the army ratifying an extension of the emer- Okharpauwa VDC migrated from has emerged from Nepal, not India; interaction between them. The first is a about these matters, we are concernedsive dryness which is wanted it—should be extended, even gency. Yes, the government needs to Bhaktapur, and parents in this Regret that what might have classical “riparian” conflict: Bihar here with a Treaty formally entered also affecting the right as Girija Prasad Koirala and his cronies take seriously the reform proposals community have traditionally arranged seemed new and challenging in the engineers and Ministers are increas- into by two countries, and it seems side of my throat. But why are scheming to wrench power. put forward by the opposition parties, their children’s marriages at birth. eighties when most of these essays were ingly apprehensive of the rights of the clear that both signatories want the only right nostril and right QUOTE OF THE WEEK Koirala’s greed for power and his but it is simply not right to counte- The tradition also demands that the written has not become conventional State over the waters of the Ganga Pancheswar Project. Unfortunately, theside of the throat is affected by dry weather? cronies’ attempts to question the nance opinions that could disrupt the marriage be carried out on Saraswoti wisdom and passé even in 2002; system being eroded partly by the Treaty has got bogged down because of upper riparian (UP) and partly by the certain differences between the two A fleeting anxiety about “How did the nation get into this situtation? What are the reasons behind it? I am confident that we willgovernment’s abilities are deplorable. peace. Several political party meetings Puja day, as soon as possible after the and That is not to say that Prime Minister Dismay that in recent years, lower riparian (Bangladesh, particu- governments. Given that situation, wemy throat. analyse this without any prejudice, and all Nepalis will unite to find a solution.” have been held, as well as all-party Peacegirl crosses seven.and Sher Bahadur Deuba’s government has particularly in the context of the larly after the Ganga Treaty of 1996). can treat it as a dead letter and rejoice At the afternoon tea, meetings. Now it is necessary to come we discussed—GM and done praiseworthy work. Even though alarmed responses to the report of the The second is a conflict between civil in its presumed demise. Alternatively, —King Gyanendra in his message to the nation on the 51st Democracy Day, 19 February to a solid conclusion. It must be development I—about my family’s ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ World Commission on Dams, there society and the state over the latter’s the government was able to mobilise all clarified what reforms are possible in we can take the view that any accord, financial position. I told security agencies, it has been unable to the political, economic and social Nilamber Acharya inKantipur, has been a loss of wisdom, a retraction ill-conceived response to floods however imperfect, is better than him that my constant control terrorism. It is evident that spheres and what are not. If necessary, 20 February from a slowly emerging enlighten- through the construction of embank- discord; that the failure of the Treaty worry in prison will be there is no coordination between the there should be more discussions, ment, and a serious retrogression to ments, and the difficulties these have will be fraught with serious conse- how they would meet the security agencies and because the and each side needs to be clear on “…There are those that say let us first older attitudes and dichotomies. caused to the people, including those quences for the relationship between daily expenses and the political leadership is weak, it is likely what it believes are the possibilities or establish peace, then we can take on the As mentioned earlier, this is a supposed to have been “protected”. the two countries. financial responsibility of that the country could be heading otherwise. We need understanding development task. If we are to wait for collection of essays written largely in The Bihar Establishment, while Let me conclude with renewed educating children. I towards a civil war, and may even be and coordination—only they can take development to begin after peace, it the 80s. The question is: do they form very conscious of the State’s riparian tribute to the depth of the author’s couldn’t in haste tell the subject of international conspira- us toward a solution. Thus the need could take very long. Peace and an integrated, structured book? The rights, shows an inability to appreciate concerns and the quality of his Sushila to sell property cies. It is a different matter that Koirala to ratify the emergency and get on answer: “Not entirely”. Undoubtedly the people’s rights and concerns. And thinking. This is a book that needs toand ornaments to meet development complement each other. the expenses of chil- and his cronies see this as an opportu- with other reforms. The general If development is neglected, that they are unified by style, approach, those engaged in the struggle against be read very widely in India. nity to grab power. Prime Minister and to an extent, by “cultural theory” embankments are apprehensive of dren’s education. After feeling today is that there should be would support those who back all, Sushila and myself Deuba faces new challenges and productive debate leading to a solid violence. We now need to implement a (CT). My second difficulty is I am possible further harm emerging from unable to share the author’s enthusi- the State’s pursuit of its riparian rights can’t expect to live ignoring them in the belief that conclusion in parliament. major program to build the nation. beyond 10 years. Munu’s holding on to his position is the most Doing that needs changes within— asm for CT fully. It is valuable and through big projects. The paper is [Shashank Koirala] and important thing would be wrong. within political parties and within powerful, but like all ideologies it notable for its impressive research and Chetna’s education will Democracy is a political system their leaderships. imposes a jargon, and forces one to powerful and compelling analysis. last five years, that depends on the people’s trust and The battle against terrorism could think along pre-determined grooves. The long paper “Water in Nepal” (Ramaswamy R Iyer is a former support to function. And allowing the be prolonged and the country cannot But the book is characterised by a is an impressive compendium Indian secretary of water resources. people to feel secure is the govern- wait for that to be over to tackle other spirit of enquiry, a determined covering geography, hydrology, This review is excerpted from the ment’s first responsibility. Do people problems, nor can we have an departure from established ways of engineering, economics, history Bombay-based Economic and Political Weekly, 2-8 February 2002.) feel this way after what happened in emergency for as long a period. The thinking, and a distinction of writing, (including “culture”), sociology, Accham? Although it is premature to Young and single best way to address the problems is to with, from time to time, a flair anthropology, politics, institutional reach conclusions without full do things we would do in a normal (occasionally a weakness?) for a striking factors and aspects, and so on, as they information, it is clear○○○○○○ that there has ○○○○○○○○○○ turn of phrase. bear on water use, management, policy Spacetime, 18 February democracy, which would also help Water in Nepal strengthen the democratic process. The The Arun-3 article shows how a dubious choice was made and Dipak Gyawali, Himal The age-old tradition of child- country’s democratic leadership has to Books, Kathmandu, be strengthened democratically.” persisted in on specious grounds “I’m giving the 41-horsepower man a hard time.” marriage among the Balamis in Nepal, 2001, pp.xiv + Kagatigaun, Nuwakot, met with some 280, Rs 550 Nepal Samacharpatra, 17 February stiff opposition this year. It took all 14 CITY 22 - 28 FEBRUARYNEPALI 2002 TIMES CITY 22 - 28 FEBRUARY NEPALI 2002 TIMES 15

ABOUT TOWN YAK YETI YAK by MIKU

EXHIBITION Antique Yao Textiles Exhibition and sale of Yao textiles from Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. 24 February, 2PM, Indigo Gallery. Spring collection 2002 Watercolour paintings of flowers and botanical art by Neera J.Pradhan. Until 25 February, Park Gallery, Pulchowk, 10AM-6PM, except Saturdays. 522307 Rox regular What doyou do on Friday nights? EVENTS High-altitude first aid and rescue Week-long workshop starting 25 February with practical and theoretical training by Jacques Beaume of the French Federation for First Aid and Rescue in Hautes Alpes. Free and open to all. The Alliance Française, Thapathali. 241163 any Rox regular. Most agree on the conceptualised a sophisticated bar that much of it live. Says Abhaya Subba Nepali classical dance and folk music at Hotel Vajra. Dances of Hindu and Buddhist gods music. Others talk about the would cater to an exclusive clientele, in Weise, the vocalist with the Sky Tuesdays and Fridays, 7Pm onwards, the Great Pagoda Hall. Ticket and tea Rs 400. Nepali spaciousness. Still others say the staff simple terms, the rich and the richer. Walkers, “We are there to entertain folk tunes Wednesdays and Saturdays, 6.30PM onwards, hotel restaurant. Hotel Vajra. 271545 BOOKWORM doesn’t give you attitude. “It’s the But after two months of exclusion, people, and the crowd is varied. So safest and the most happening place, they realised that though this strategy we don’t restrict ourselves to any and I get to meet all my friends—and may work in other cities, in small, particular type of music.” MUSIC Women, War and Peace in South Asia Rita Manchanda, ed Sage Publications, New Delhi, 2001 new people—there, which is great after democratic Kathmandu, it just doesn’t But all that popularity came at a Live music by Catch 22, Tuesday and Friday nights at the 40,000 ½ ft Bar, Rum Doodle a week of hard work,” says Yalambar cut it. That, and the fact that a price for the Rox. Along with the Restaurant, Thamel. 414336 Rs 472 This volume challenges the centrality of men’s experiences and theorisations of conflict in Khairgoli, a young entrepreneur. Of significant proportion of big spenders honest, fun-seeking crowd, there South Asia from Kashmir to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts to tribal course, it is impossible to find any one in this town are younger people. were also a few people who couldn’t unifying reason such a diversity of “We had to move along with the handle their alcohol, or simply DRINK conflicts in Assam and Nagaland, and the Maoist insurgency in Nepal. Instead, it focuses on people would make the Rox their market trend and the original concept couldn’t countenance an ex-partner Herb vodka, your cocktail recipe at the Corner Bar, Radisson Hotel. 411818 women’s experiences as representing alternative and non-violent ways of negotiating the Friday evening home, but most people changed, but there is still the air of dancing with someone else, both of construction of conflictual identities, and on women’s notions that privilege the notion of a we spoke with who spend time there sophistication,” says Charu ChadHa which led to fisticuffs a few weeks in FOOD “just” peace. say this is the thing: it is easy to have Rizal, public relations manager at the a row. And so, the days of anything International Buffet Lunch Choice of main courses, salads, fun at the Rox. You can be tired and Hyatt. They were right. Soon, everyone goes at the Rox came to an end, as all dressings, soup, live cooking stations and desserts. The Garden Gender, Peace and Conflict Inger Skjelsbæk and Dan Smith, eds just stop in for a quick drink and chat, was coming, as much for the funky things too good to be true must. Terrace, Soaltee Crowne Plaza. 273999 Sage Publications, London, 2001 but chances are, you’ll be lacing up blond wood and granite décor and “Security has always been a big Rs 792 your dancing shoes soon enough, or at three luxurious floors that invite priority for us, after all we are an Pastry discount 25 percent off at the Radisson Pastry Shop This volume focuses on the traditionally male domains of war and international relations, everyday 7.30PM-9PM least tapping away in your chair either spreading out, as for the totally mixed international brand name and we exploring the gender relationship and engaging with the many elisions and dichotomies that at the bar or one of the numerous cosy clientele. There came a time when cannot let that image down,” says Royal ceremonial cuisine Six-20 course dinner from $19 onwards, dominate and distort the issue. The case studies include examples from South America, little alcoves the place is littered with, people actually had to be turned away Rizal. A dress code was introduced, four-course lunch at $13. Krishnarpan Restaurant, Dwarika’s Hotel. South Asia and Europe, including the former Yugoslavia and focus on such issues as sexual ALOK TUMBAHANGPHEY or catching the fresh air on the because the bar, the lounge and the and Kathmandu finally had its own 479488 violence in war, the role of women in military groups and peacekeeping operations, and the ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ too familiar. And then you notice a between diplomats and college terrace outside. restaurant were all packed with people version of the New York club rope— impact of a ‘critical mass’ of women in political decision making. riday night and the lights are steady stream of vehicles heading students. The radio commercial for the Oddly enough, this isn’t quite knocking back the famous Caprioschka entrance was at the discretion of the Saturday brunch Poolside brunch, unlimited draft beer, children’s north towards Baudha and turning Rox Bar says you don’t need to be a activities and use of Club Oasis fitness centre. The Café, Hyatt Re- low, and you’re looking for a what the management of the Hyatt and grooving to the tunes of the Red management, and the management right. To where else but the Rox Bar. rock star to go there, and they’re right. gency Kathmandu. 491234 Sexuality, Obscenity, Community: Women, Muslims, and Fplace to go. There’s too much Regency had in mind when they Sky Walkers, the Rox’s weekend band. was strict. This is where, every weekend, a With no real restrictions—except a the Hindu public in Colonial India Charu Gupta hassle in Thamel, dance floors are initially started the Rox Restaurant and The music is the other major That said, it is still a great place Sandwiches Over the Rainbow American Diner has reopened. handkerchief-sized and the loos are rather eclectic crowd gathers. Budding dress code and a bill that can hurt at Permanent Black, Delhi, 2001 Bar. Following their international reason people can’t get enough of the to go, and neither the emergency nor Fifth Avenue sandwiches, full meals at backpacker prices. Opposite horrific, most DJs in town just can’t young achievers rub shoulders with the end of a long evening—why go Rs 720 policy of having a trendsetting Rox—between the Red Sky Walkers the rope have discouraged Pilgrims Book House, Thamel. 42651 spin the kind of tunes that keep a large the already rich, royals dance a hair’s anywhere else for hyperactive dancing signature outlet on every property— and DJ Neill, you can hear Latin Kathmanduites who want to let it all Gupta shows how gendered notions of women’s sexuality and Muslim debauchery were crowd going and often, so often, breadth away from commoners, and and people-watching? Perfect Symphony Dark or white chocolate mousse with fresh coffee. The Piano Lounge, the Grand Hyatt in Delhi has The music, acid jazz, 70’s disco and funk, hang out. Looks like the Rox is an used to pull together a heterogeneous populace into a coherent Hindu community in everything in this city seems old, just there seems to be little distinction But what is the real attraction? Ask Hotel Yak & Yeti. 248999 colonial North India. She traces the deliberations of (largely male) publicists on how to Bricks—the Hyatt in Kathmandu grunge, as well as the latest hip-hop, addictive habit. Patan Museum Café Mixed menu, garden seating. Lunch only, 11AM—2PM. 25 percent off make Hindu women ‘pure’, how to distance Hindus and Muslims, and what constitutes with Summit Card. 526271 Hindu sacredness and purity as opposed to Islamic lust and perversion, and the moral and Singaporean and Malaysian food Satay, rice, soymilk dishes, curry puffs and more. Be- sexual worries of Hindu middle-class reformers. HAPPENINGS tween Jawalakhel fire station and St Mary’s School. Sing Ma, the Food Court.

[email protected]. 520004 ○○○○○○○○○○○○○ What’s wrong with Lunch, tea and dinner European and American cuisine with fine wines. La’Soon Restau- rant and Vinotheque, Pulchowk. 535290 Read about it in the Authentic Thai food Everyday at Yin Yang Restaurant. 425510 Courtesy Mandala Book Point, Kantipath, 227711, [email protected] Tukche Thakali Kitchen Buckwheat, barley, bean, and dried meat specialties. Also brunch MARCH with porridge and pancakes, all raw material from Tukche village. Darbar Marg. 225890 Barbecue lunch with complimentary wine or beer for adults, soft drink for children. Satur- CLASSIFIED issue of days Sundays at the Godavari Village Resort, Rs 650 per head. 560675

Semi-furnished spacious house in quiet○○○○○○○○○○○○ K-Too! Beer and Steakhouse not the GETAWAYS residential area near UN complex suitable“longest”, “highest”, “first” or any other RAM HUMAGAIN Muktinath Darshan Two nights/three days on B&B basis with Pokhara/Jomsom/Pokharafor foreign family. Contact 521024. superlative. Just a relaxed, easy-going flights and airport, resort transfers. Indian nationals Rs 6,999 per head, expats $250 per head. bar and restaurant with the coldest beer Jomsom Mountain Resort, [email protected] or [email protected]. 496110 and juiciest steaks this side of the Reflexology! The therapistFor insertionsapplies alternat- ringmoon. NT Marketing By the Kathmandu at 543333-36. Guest House. Taste the difference Cosy Nepali-style house on ing pressure to the feet. It reduces stress, 433043 MORE MONEY: Ben Bradshaw, British Under-Secretary of State for ? an organic farm in Gamcha, south of Thimi. Up to Rs promotes relaxation and good health. Email 1,200 per person per night including meals. [email protected], 410735 Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (right), and Ronald Nash, British [email protected]. Ambassador to Nepal, telling reporters that Britain will increase aid to HMB Mountain Biking Have your bike Nepal to about $30 million annually. Wednesday, 20 February. Escape to Nagarkot Special packages for Nepalis Stupa iewV and Restauranterrace & T at serviced or repaired by HMB’s Profes- and expats at The Tea House Inn. Singles Rs 800 Baudhanath Stupa. Well-appointed restau- sional Mechanics at the HMB Work- B&B, couples Rs 1,200 B&B. 410432, 680048 rant and terraces with views of stupa and shop. Riding gear, accessories and Himalayas. International vegetarian parts available. Second hand bikes Heritage Package Two-night package with six- specialties, pizza from clay oven, ice cream, bought/sold/hired. New and recondi- course Nepali dinner, massage, breakfast, $155 per soft guitar tunes on Fridays, Saturdays, tioned mountain bikes for sale. couple, Dwarika’s Hotel. 479488 Sundays from 5PM on. Special events on full Himalayan Mountain Bikes—Tours and Expeditions. 437437. Pokhara Package with a difference Bows and moon. Open daily 11AM-8.30PM. 480262. Arrows, Rs 6000 per couple, stay two nights, get third night free. Includes breakfast, final dinner and one lunch. Registration fee for archery contest Rs 500. Or Pimms, Pathways and Picnics, Rs 6000 per couple for two nights and three days with easy guided trek to The Peace Pagoda with packed lunch, buffet breakfast all days. Extra bed complimentary for children under 12. 15 percent discount on F & B. Shangri-La Village, Pokhara. 435741 RAM HUMAGAIN For inclusion in the listing send information to [email protected] LEARNING THE ABC’S: Children praying to be good students at the on FM 102.4 Neel Saraswoti temple in Lazimpat, Sunday, 17 February. NEPALI WEATHER by NGAMINDRA DAHAL DSES-20-02-2002 07:30 GMT Another westerly wave advancing across north India willMon-Fri 0615-0645 BBC World Today make Kathmandu skies overcast by Friday and bring drifting clouds over the weekend. Expect a dusting of Sat 0615-0645 BBC Science in Action snow at higher altitudes, and some drizzles, but nothing major. This will bring down the maximum temperature in Sun 0615-0645 BBC Agenda the valley, and raise the minimum. There will be a brief Daily 2045-2115 BBC window of sunshine next week (raising the maximum to 25 degrees) until the next front, presently over Iran, g]]kfnL]]] ;]]jf]]] arrives. The prevailing haze over the Valley has its origins in the Ganga plains and is brought in by southwesterly winds which have also raised the minimum temperature.Daily 2245-2300g]]kfnL]]] ;]]jf]]] BBC

KATHMANDU VALLEY Radio Sagarmatha

Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue P.O. Box 6958, Bakhundole, Lalitpur, Nepal ALOK TUMBAHANGPHEY Tel: ++977-1-545680, 545681 Fax: ++ 977-1- 530227COMMUNITY RADIO: Minister for Information and Communication, Jaya E-mail: [email protected] 24-07 22-10 23-07 24-06 25-05 www.radiosagarmatha.org Prakash Pratap Gupta, at the inaugural session of the Community Radio in /l8of] ] ;u/dfyf South Asia Conference. Also seen are Saneeya Hussain of Panos South Asia, William Crawley and David Page of the Insitute for Development Studies. 16 22 - 28 FEBRUARY NEPALI 2002 TIMES Under My Hat

by Kunda Dixit We are looking for enthusiastic, highly competent and committed professional to assume the following roles.

Corporal punishment EXECUTIVE MANAGER Nrs 35,000 - 50,000.00 range per month plus attractive fringe benefits. ane Fonda may claim that she discovered the to keep our bodies nimble and our ear lobes Duties & Resposibilities : after-office work-out, but we know it for a fact beautiful. After all, as Confucius say: A good body is Jthat it was actually the great Indian stato- a devil’s workshop. And who doesn’t want to have 1. Development of Marketing plan & strategy dynamic human yoga guru, Yogi Matsyendranath, Satan’s gluteus maximus—especially when it is 2. Development of Marketing Program (cca 2,585 BC), who perfected the art of tying accompanied by that cute tail with a cursor arrow 3. Execution of Marketing programme and Strategy oneself into knots. This unique method of relaxing at the tip. 4. Market based expansion mind and body entails entwining one’s left leg Time and tide waits for no man. So it is 5. New service line launches through one’s right leg and pulling out the left leg important for us to learn to improvise. Many of Sri 6. Customer Relation and loyalty enhancement to make a loop around one’s neck until it is held Matsyendranath’s techniques are a bit, shall we say, 7. Brand and positioning developments. tightly in position with the help of one’s right arm, outmoded and in fact may get us into trouble in while one slips one’s left arm through the gap this day and age. What if, god forbid, we are Requirements : between the legs to emerge in the vicinity of one’s running late for work, and we cannot unknot • Nepali or any foreign national, aged in mid 35 to early 45, sex : male or Female solar plexus to reach a particularly inaccessible itch ourselves from the Bow and Arrow Position (grab • MBA in Economics finance or a related discipline, preferable with overseas education on one’s right shoulder blade. Little to the left, both your ankles firmly with both your hands or having worked aboard. down a bit, some more to the right. Yesssss. while lying flat on your stomach, and pull your • Minimum 3-5 years experience, preferably in an international Environment. That was just the warm-up. Now, take your legs over your back like a scorpion so that your • Energetic and hands on with excellence interpersonal and presentation skills and right toe and, after disinfecting it with a wet wipe, abdomen is curved in a convex shape, make it adaptable to all levels of people. stick it into your left ear lobe and while standing in tighter and tighter until you hear a few ribs snap, • Goal-getter, extrovert, energetic, self-initiative, ambitious. the Tree Position take your right index finger and or until you begin rolling across the floor like a • Aggressive with a strong drives for success. thumb and pinch your nostrils to see how long you rocking chair, whichever comes first. Children! • Excellent in both spoken and written English. can hold your breath before you for all intents and Never try this trick without adult supervision. • Computer Literate and well versed with MS Office Software. purposes, die. Then crouch like a tiger and, while Never). pretending to be a hidden dragon, leap up into the The problem with this position is that you Initial salary will be within the above stated range and will be commensurate with the air and try to touch the ceiling with your cannot let go of your ankles without the successful candidate qualification and experiences. kundalini. Very good, now let’s try that danger of your abdomen suddenly Special instruction for Applying: with your left toe and right ear lobe. Sorry, snapping back into its equilibrium position A. By post: Applications in one’s own handwriting, furnishing every possible Academic can’t hear you. I see, you’re stuck in the with a loud bang that will rattle window- qualifications and background alongwith the experiences have had, as well as current and ceiling fan. OK, let’s attempt this panes in a 3 km radius. The best thing to expected remuneration, and a recent photograph should be sent to manoeuvre to get you down by twisting do in a situation like this is to call the bomb this little knob here on the wall to full disposal squad which will untie you Executive Recruitment intensity. without harming any vital organs. HRD Division See what I mean? Our ancestors Since this is a national emergency, it VOITH Complex developed these simple but effective techniques to keep may be much better for the next three months to stick to the Tinkune, Sinamangal body and soul ship shape, and we have ignored them as wetime-tested Cobra and Peacock Position, which will not put P.O. Box: 233/2640 passed ourselves down from generation to generation to theany life and/or limb in danger. Better still, try lying Kathmandu, Nepal post-Industrial Age. In these stressful times, it is importantstraight on your back, head and arms limp, eyes closed and for each and every one of us to rediscover these simple waysplaying dead. This is called the Cadaver Position. B. By e-mail: Download job application form available to http://www.voith.com.np/jobs.html Fill up the form and send it along with your resume, and a scanned passport size photo to [email protected] Application will be treated in strict confidence. Reference(s) will not be contacted unless the applicant gives prior approval. Application should reach “VOITH” on or before 28th February 2002. To learn more about Vaidya’s Organization, log in to www.voith.com.np

NEPALI SOCIETY W Arty Aarti hen Aarti Chataut asks relieved and very, very impressed was a struggle to get the go-ahead Nepali males to be with their discussion host. Lately, on some of the more controversial guests on her discus- Jagriti has dealt not just with issues I picked up.” sion show Jagriti on Nepal issues like menstruation and For someone who is so easy Television, many quiver. There is extramarital sex, which other and natural on camera, it comes as something in the male psyche journalists might never touch, but a surprise for us to hear that Aarti that cannot bear the thought of also larger questions of social just stumbled into television. When losing face on camera— justice and development. And the NTV advertised for a trainee especially when grilled by a everyone gets his or her say. producer, Aarti, a college student woman. And it doesn’t help that “I prioritise the issues on the applied, thinking she could make Aarti tackles sensitive issues feedback I get from my audience,” use of her leisure time. She sailed from a women’s perspective. an animated Aarti told us, her through the training, and found that Actually, Aarti is not one of hands gesturing vigorously. “They she liked it. And NTV liked her too. your born-again feminists who always come up with bright In fact they were so impressed puts men off. In fact, many of suggestions.” In real life, Aarti is with the dummy current affairs her guests leave the studio after even more impressive than on programme she made, that the a particularly intense session screen, she has a persuasive station offered jobs on the spot to presence that forces you to listen her entire team of trainees. to what she has to say. And if Behind the camera, Aarti you are a man, well, many men channelised her passion into would privately admit that they script, camera and visuals. But her have a secret crush on her. love for literature never left her, She makes it look all so easy, motivating her to earn a Master’s in but Aarti had to overcome major Nepali literature. Two years went obstacles in trying to convince her by, and along came Jagriti, bosses at NTV about the selection conceived by NTV producer of subject matter and also the Deepa Gautam. Initially, she was panelists. “It is much easier reluctant to accept the offer to convincing my audience about the produce the fortnightly half-hour issues,” she says, throwing back programme because she didn’t her head with a hearty laugh. think it had viewership potential. Nepali men are supposed to She did finally go ahead, and be socially conservative, but hosted ten episodes. Then there Aarti has found it is surprisingly was a training stint in the Nether- easy to change their attitudes lands that allowed Aarti to broaden if you put the argument in the her horizons, and hone her craft. right away and don’t make She came back fired up not just them feel too insecure. about television, but about a And she is even socially activist programme that making progress with her would demystify attitudes among bosses, all of whom Nepali viewers about issues like happen to be men. gender and development. So Jagriti “They are more was revived. The rest, as they willing to listen say, is history. now,” she Jagriti is broadcast every admits, “earlier it Tuesday at 9:30PM on NTV.

CDO Regd No. 194/056/57 Lalitpur, Central Region Postal Regd. No. 04/058/59