#318 13 - 19 October 2006 16 pages Rs 30

Weekly Internet Poll # 318 Q. If the Maoists laid down arms, which party would you vote for if the CA election were to be held next week? Total votes: 7,762

Weekly Internet Poll # 319. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com Q. Did the peace summit address all the major issues?

THE FUTURE IS PRESENT: Maoist demonstrators outside the prime minister's residence in Baluwatar where summit talks were underway on Thursday.

KIRAN PANDAY Close to a deal Barring last-minute hitches, a historic agreement is tantalisingly near

NARESH NEWAR tantalisingly close and a success vital importance in the lead up to of the militant ethnic groups would turn both into statesmen proposed elections to a constituent they’ve unleashed. hen the news finally that can reap the peace dividend. assembly in mid-2007. This issue For them, the only safe came out of Baluwatar In contrast with previous reportedly also came up in Dahal’s landing is through elections that Won Thursday afternoon, posturing, both sides are talk with special UN envoy Ian will be accepted as legitimate. The it wasn’t the breakthrough surprisingly upbeat. They present Martin on Thursday morning. international community, everyone expected. But it wasn’t a a positive front in joint press That election will be intensely including the United Nations and breakdown either. meets and stress progress rather polarised over the issue of particularly the United States are The top-level talks between than obstacles. “We have monarchy, and a weapon-free loath to support elections or an the Maoists and the seven-party significantly narrowed down environment is important to make interim government where one government will continue over the differences after a series of it free and fair. Those polls will party controls a weekend, and both sides appear consultations and hopefully we also decide on how to restructure parallel Editorial p2 close to a deal. The stumbling will come up with definite the state and assure proportional military. Senior The EPA blocks are the same as they were conclusion on Sunday,” said representation to remove the roots members of the six months ago: the Maoists don’t Maoist spokesperson Krishna of future conflict. UN team are in town, waiting for want to disarm completely before Bahadur Mahara. But for national and agreement on the mechanics of the a political resolution and the Home Minister Krishna Sitaula international players there are more election process and arms seven parties want them to. also oozed optimism. “The leaders specific issues at stake. The management. The Maoists are also holding are showing willingness to work political futures of the alliance The challenge for the Maoists out for a republic and dissolution for lasting peace and so we need members hinge on the outcome of and the government now is to of parliament, and there are signs more time,” he said. the constituent assembly. Even if make the final push to of persistent squabbling within For internal reasons, the rebels the Maoist army is interned, its breakthrough discussions. It’s no the governing alliance. Yet, Girija may have to grandstand on erasing militia could sway voting in many surprise there are delays. After ten Prasad Koirala and Pushpa Kamal the king from the constitution districts. But the rebels could lose years of conflict, many talk- Dahal seem determined to see a altogether. Then there is the issue control of parts of their militia and watchers say, it would be worrying deal. A historic agreement is of arms management which is of could be hit by the repercussions if agreement came too easily. 2 EDITORIAL 13 - 19 OCTOBER 2006 #318

Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Chief Editor: Kunda Dixit Editor: Sophia Tamot Executive Editor: Anagha Neelakantan Design: Kiran Maharjan Web: Rupendra Kayastha Desk: Jemima Sherpa Vicepresident Corporate Affairs: Sneh Sayami Director, Sales and Marketing: Sunaina Shah [email protected] Subscription: [email protected] Hatiban, Godavari Road, Lalitpur [email protected], GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu 5543333-6, Fax: 5521013 Revolutionary ways www.nepalitimes.com Printed at Jagadamba Press, Hatiban: 5547018 “Is this how you’ll run things in your THE EPA people’s democratic republic?” Nepal is on the mend. The Maoist leadershipís intention is to give “Bang! Bang! Bang!” Someone is revolution, now it is time for continue: “If you are nice to up the bloody ëPeopleís Warí and join mainline politics, and they knocking loudly on the gate. city-dwellers to make the them, the people will ask you to are being engaged by seasoned politicians of the seven-party “Come on down right now,” sacrifice. We have the vision and lead them, but if your behaviour alliance. commands a sharp-eyed boy, ability to build this country,” he and ideals hurt them, no matter True, the polemics emanating from the Maoist camp have wagging his index finger. said sounding like an inept tape how much you paint the place caused concern, and resolution on some matters has been delayed recorder. “You know ours is a red, it won’t make a difference.” by irresponsible references to an ëOctober Revolutioní and attempts party with more than 13,000 Suddenly, the kid mellows: to create fait accompli on issues that should be left to the peopleís GUEST COLUMN will. Also true is that any slippage would weaken pluralism, Raamesh martyrs. It is now our work to “What to do, dai, we can’t be nice democracy, and transparency, for one outcome of the Maoist-SPA bring their dreams to fruition; to everyone.” negotiations should be that the public gets more, and not fewer, that is why we need your My lecture was going full rights and privileges than contained in the 1990 Constitution. “We’re revolutionaries,” he support.” steam now. “People have doubts While itís possible to be sceptical about the Maoist intentions, introduces himself, “from the I try to reason with him: about your party, but they also they are believable precisely because they have tried to grab state Maoist student union. We are “Those 13,000 people are not have hopes. But you make or power by force and achieved failure. When they saw that it did not raising money for our convention. your martyrs—they are our break your party. I suggest you work, also in the context of a hostile geopolitical environment, they We are bringing 2.5 million martyrs, they were Nepali mend your behaviour and not decided at their August 2005 plenum meeting to engage the political people into Kathmandu. We need citizens. Your party was just the taint your party’s image. There parties. That engagement led to the ëPeopleís Movement,í but was your donation.” medium.” are many hard-working, good, endangered by the ham-handed handling of negotiations that let to the June eight-point agreement (which proposed an unrealistic “All right,” I replied, “first The boy isn’t interested. self-respecting people in this interim constitution process and was dismissive of parliament). explain to me what you “Tell me how much shall I make country. Treat them as such, Fortunately, the current discussions between the Maoists and understand by ‘revolution’, then the receipt for.” learn from them. Nepalis are fed the political parties are marked by sobriety. Both sides know the we’ll talk about donations.” “Five rupees,” I say, “that’s up with the status quo, there is a only way ahead is through laying down of arms and state The boy isn’t listening. “If all I’m giving you. That is what bush fire sweeping the land and restructuring. Today the Maoists are showing flexibility on ëarms our party hadn’t helped, the Jana Prachandaji said on television, it will incinerate the stinking managementí and the parties are willing to discuss restructuring of Andolan would not have been that all donations are voluntary. pile of garbage in our society. the state through the constituent assembly process. Thus we now successful, our people’s army had I’m just following his And from the ashes will rise a have a rough date, probably late May, for elections to the assembly. surrounded Kathmandu then. We instructions.” new, just, prosperous Nepal so Ups and downs are part of a peace process, and this one has used to be in the villages, now “You are insulting our party, future Nepalis can live with moved steadily forward, alarmist assessments notwithstanding. we’ve brought the struggle to the our convention, our leaders, and happiness and pride.” Once the political package is in agreement, it will be time for the United Nations peacemaking team under the Secretary Generalís cities. Villages sacrificed their cadres and you are insulting our The boy has a faraway look on Personal Representative Ian Martin to start work, providing sons and daughters for the people’s democratic republic. his face and asks: “You have international watch-dogging and We can come after you at any three hundred?” standards for arms management, time, you know? We can do “Maybe…” the CA elections and a referendum, anything to you.” His angry face, As I climb the stairs, I hear should that be the choice. if not his literal words, him telling his friend: “He really Fortunately, Martinís team is finally conveyed this clear message. blasted us, yaar.” coming together, and it is a fine “Look, we see your leaders I gave them a Rs 500 bill and group of professionals with ground- on television everyday now and took back three hundred. “The level knowledge of Nepal and also you are disobeying their 200 is my contribution to your understanding of international instructions. Besides, by cause. If we believe in you we precedents, giving it the political sensibility needed to help steer the terrorising the people you and may give you 2,000 or 200,000, country towards lasting peace. thousands of others like you are two million, two billion. I The Maoists need a way to go embarrassing your leaders. If you wasn’t angry at you, I was from being a rebel group to a get your people’s democratic expressing the wishes of the political partyóa member of the republic, is this the way you Nepali people. Don’t let us eight-party alliance, the EPA. This will run it? Are you going to down.” process will help provide a safe win over the people by seeking Like disciplined students, landing not only for the CPN their suggestions and letting they leave, lost in thought. z (Maoists) but for Nepali society as them lead you, or are you going a whole. We truly think, as we to terrorise and intimidate them Raamesh is a veteran musician and said, that the country is on the like you do now?” singer of 30-year old hit Gaun Gaun mend. Basti Basti. This is a true story and I look out at the streets, wet an abridged translation from from last night’s rain, and Himal Khabarpatrika.†

Floods, dreaded by urban dwellers for the inundations they cause, are natureís way of replenishing the soil in the tarai. The real challenge is to create irrigation facilities for Food for thought the dry season. This can be done at relatively low cost with minimum damage to the environment by installing shallow tube- Much-needed agricultural reforms can’t wait for elections wells recharged around the year with a network of ponds and water tanks. he SPA and the Maoists might delay But the country canít wait for complete cash crops such as vegetables, spices, Over three-quarters of the price of rice a resolution for short-term political resolution of the conflict, a procedure long- medicinal herbs, and other niche products, in some mountainous regions is to cover T gains, but neither dares discontinue drawn by definition. There are vital issues the overall performance of the farming the cost of transportation. This is clearly an the peace process. The SPA leaders canít of governance and development that the sector is rather bleak. unsustainable food supply mechanism. afford to let peace talks fail, for that would interim government must begin to address This is almost harvest season in the Farming in the hills and mountains requires allow right-wingers to raise their heads even as the peace chariot trundles along. countryís rice bowl, the tarai, but farmers an appropriate produce mix and location- again. Prachanda and his cohorts need an Influential sections of society want their arenít smiling. Grain production hasnít specific seeds. Easy credit, assured agreement with mainstream parties, or preferences to top the governmentís actually declined, but it hasnít kept pace minimum price, and guaranteed access to hotheads in the CPN (Maoist) could force priority list. For non-resident Nepalis, dual with population growth. Even a country market are common facilities that farmers of them out of the scene. citizenship is more important than the charting a new course must eat to think, the mountains, hills and tarai need alike. resolution of statelessness of Madhesis. and agriculture canít be relegated to a Pushpa Kamal Dahal was trained as an Bank defaulters are more interested in tax- secondary status. agricultural scientist in the Rampur STATE OF THE STATE waivers than in loan rescheduling. Unbeknown to major players in the Campuses. To survive encounters with the C K Lal University teachers on temporary contract political arena, large parts of the country Americans in Hetauda, Rampur, and must have automatic tenure no matter what are slated to face an unprecedented food Dhangadhi in the 1970s, you became a it implies for the shaky structure of their crisis if preventive measures arenít taken wheeler-dealer or a communist. A self- With the complete UN team in sick institution. In this melee of staking immediately. The market mechanism works declared emotional person, Dahal chose the Kathmandu, bigwigs on both sides have claims and counter-claims, farmers are fine for families kept afloat by remittances. latter. If he succeeds in establishing even less excuse for backtracking. The nowhere on the stage. The feeble cry of the But for everyone else, farm produce needs sustainable peace in the country, the deadline for constituent assembly elections largest section of Nepali society is too to be increased to stave off slow starvation. excesses of the Maoist cadres under his is set for mid-June next year, and the muted to create an impact at the centre. The solution isnít all that difficult. The command will eventually be forgiven, if not procedural details must be clearly spelled Agriculture, the mainstay of Nepali gap between potential and actual yield of forgotten. But if he fails to address the out by the negotiating teams so the UN economy, has been utterly neglected by the foodgrains in most of the country is so plight of Nepali farmers, he will be guilty of experts have clear, consensual terms of government and donors for over a decade. large that even incremental improvement betraying his calling. Ploughshares beckon reference for their operation. Despite conspicuous successes in farming measures can have a spectacular impact. the gun-wielding chairman. z 13 - 19 OCTOBER 2006 #318 3

LLL ETTERS

STILL AMONG US recorder and flight data recorder been of the rebellion every time negotiations body should also be charged with the I had the opportunity to read all the analysed? It takes weeks, if not months, to donít go their way, and their armed militia task of planning the future of the Nepal stories published in the Nepali Times conduct a proper air crash investigation. terrorise the countryside. Army with possible induction of the about the tragic loss of Nepalís Despite all this, weíve had ëexpertsí Is it really possible to hold fair Maoist militia. conservation experts (ëRemembering passing judgement on the cause of the elections and a referendum on the Ishwari Pradhan, email friends and colleaguesí, #317). But it crash. Some said it was pilot error, others constitution of Nepal under such was your editorial (ëStill among usí) that bad weather and difficult terrain, and a few conditions? Furthermore, changing the BASIC VALUES touched my heart. have even gone as far as saying the pilots constitution of a country should not be a You make a genuine observation about Chandra and Mingma were my were flying under pressure from their matter of a simple majorityómost the responsibility of the foreign missions conservation gurus. I worked with them VIP passengers. countries demand a qualified majority of in Nepal (ëCantonment commitmentí, in the Annapurna and they inspired me To compound all this, we now have a two-thirds, or several referendums #316). At this critical juncture, in my PhD work on examining why judge heading the investigating committee. separated by general elections. ambassadors who do not understand the community-based conservation is so In what way can someone with his Otherwise, electoral results are easily roots of the problem and diplomatic successful in Nepal. The void they left background help an air crash investigation tampered with. norms should keep their mouth shut. will not be easily filled. They designed other than providing legal advice? It is It isnít enough to just ask whether Their ad hoc comments will only weaken and implemented the project as logical to have legal advisers on air crash Nepal should be a monarchy or not. the ongoing peace effort between the directors and trained many grassroots investigation committees, but to have one Without such a valid alternative, the real government and the Maoists. Right now conservation workers to raise as a chairperson is beyond my realm of ballot questions could very we need mediation that will bring about a awareness about conservation, understanding. well be: solution, not confrontation. People do not making it a way of life for the people of Subodh, email Would you want wish to let slip the democracy now within the region. a) a powerless apolitical head of state, our reach. Through their efforts they have FULL DISCLOSURE and a government responsible to a No matter what sacrifices the seven- made ACAP a practical learning We are not surprised by Comrade parliament elected by the people? party alliance and the Maoists have to university for conservation and their Baburamís latest revelation, that India was b) a despot responsible only to his own make, we need a positive result from the visionary conservation ideas have a key actor in the inking of the 12-point party, whose power rests with militia, and peace talks. Foreigners could derail the been adopted beyond the countryís pact between them and the seven-party whose name is most likely Prachanda? process by taking sides or imposing borders. Today ACAP serves as a alliance in New Delhi. What was an Lars G, email conditions. Unfortunately, we have a model project for biodiversity allegation has been substantiated today. weak and old prime minister whose past conservation and sustainable Now, our grey safari-clad republicans need The Maoists have replicated the record includes nepotism and corruption. development in developing countries, to disclose other understandings and Pol Pot style of extortion, torture, and We also know little about Prachanda, so and together with the Kangchenjunga secrets of history, such as who funded murder of Nepali civilians, and this they far seen as a leader of a group which has handover make Nepal a global leader in them in their so-called ëPeopleís Warí, call ëloktantraí. Maoists openly go to terrorised the people with intimidation. achieving sustainable conservation who supplied the arms, who provided their peopleís houses in the cities to extort and In the land where the Buddha was objectives. They showed the global top-brass with a safe haven for most of the loot money. And the shameless Home born, the path of forgiveness and conservation community that local past 12 years, who planned their strategic Minister is a mute spectator, leaving the reconciliation is the best approach to communitiesí participation and their attacks,†who trained their combatants, who helpless civilians to defend themselves. achieving peace and prosperity in role in conservation are vital to Nepal.† safeguard the worldís most precious Tuladhar, email resource, biodiversity. Nepalís conservation community is still in PERMANENT SEAT shock, too stunned to think beyond the Under my hat, Backside, All SidesÖ tragic loss of their seniors. canít a person wish for some semblance Two decades ago, they planted the of permanence in these unpredictable seeds of community-based will oí wisp times? If you got tired with conservation in the Annapurna, they your weekly hat change then you could nurtured the project and made it flourish have just made do with caps. And whatís in the buffer zones of national parks with the ass and backside and all? Oh, and reserves and eventually dedicated well. themselves to Kangchenjunga. V Kharel, email Hum Bahadur Gurung, Australia SAGAR SHRESTHA Your last issue was excellent, You have written a moving and their dead co-fighters were who were It is time for the citizens of the Valley particularly the memorial section on the heart-wrenching (ëStill among usí, beheaded after battles, and so on. and elsewhere in the country to defend 23 September helicopter crash. #317), yet somehow positive piece Donít get nervous, comrades! The their right to live, even if it means taking However, I think that your new back page about a real tragedy. people have the unconfirmed answers to up arms. The Maoists must be brought to is very hard to understand, and have Mirpos, email these questions. You just need to confirm book for all the atrocities they continue to spent many hours wondering what you them. Big Brother wonít mind because you commit. are trying to accomplish by printing such Unlike most of Kathmanduís elite, I both are ëvery closeí to succeeding in your Suyocha, email nonsense. Under My Hat was silly, but didnít know any of the people we lost in political mission. But a word of warningó now this is just confusing for us ordinary Ghunsa last month. But I wept at the after all you are our brothers and sistersó MAINSTREAMING MAOISTS Nepali readers. Please consider using waste when I read the carefully-written remember that Prabhakaran had open The inclusion of Maoist leaders in the such an important space for serious tributes. What a litany of sorrow and meetings in India in the early phase of interim government cannot but be issues of interest to the people. caring ëFriends and colleaguesí (#317) their war, but then had to fight the very welcomed, provided, as the prime minister Sailesh Bista, Kuleshwor was. I was impressed by the care neighbours who mentored the Tigers, when has been insisting, the Maoist arms are evident in your coverage, and by your they decided to change sides and join managed. When they are in government, LETTERS editorial. It takes restraint not to slide hands with the Sri Lankan army with the would-be Maoist ministers will be Nepali Times welcomes feedback. Letters from grief into cheap exploitation of sophisticated hardware and logistics. overseeing the Nepal Army and there canít should be brief and may be edited for space. emotion, and not to write hagiographies, Our culturally similar neighbours must be two adversarial armies in the country. While pseudonyms can be accepted, writers but genuine tributes. Well done. also not forget that a fire on the side is There need be no hurdle to that who provide their real names and contact Sarita Thapa-Hill, email likely to transmit heat all around if fuelled because the basics have already been details will be given preference. Email letters for long. agreed to, and the UN representatives should be in text format without attachments with ëletter to the editorí in the subject line. WING AND PRAYER Pradeepta S, Mumbai†††††† are†here. To look after arms management, Soma Sen (ëWing and Prayerí, #317) is there should be a military advisory body Email: [email protected] absolutely right in saying it is too early ARMED AND DANGEROUS consisting of retired army officers who Fax: 977-1-5521013 to draw conclusions on the crash. The It is interesting to read pundits seeing have served in UN peacekeeping Mail: Letters, Nepali Times, jury is still out, so to speak. Has the royalist conspiracies behind every bush. missions, together with serving army GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal. information from the cockpit voice Meanwhile, the Maoists threaten a flare-up officers and Maoist representatives. This 4 NATION 13 - 19 OCTOBER 2006 #318 Halving poverty by 2015

Kim Hak-Su is the Bangkok-based executive secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social No-fly season Commision for the Don’t challenge the Asia and Pacific Himalayan monsoon (UNESCAP). Nepali ir accidents donít have a season. They can, and do, occur Times interviewed just about anytime and anyplace. In Nepal though, most air Kim in Kathmandu Acrashes over the last 15 years have occurred in the rainy season. this week, where he Recall the disasters of 1992 when a Thai jet and a PIA jet crashed into the mountains surrounding Kathmandu during the attended the South monsoon, killing all onboard. Or the RNAC crash in July 2000 near Dhangadhi that killed 25 people. Or the Shangri-La Air Twin Otter Asia Millennium crash of August 2002 which took 18 lives. Or the May 2004 Yeti Air accident in Lukla in which three crew members died. The list goes Development Goals on and on. Now add to that last monthís helicopter crash in Taplejung, (MDGs) Forum. The which snuffed out 24 lives. All the new-fangled technology such as goals include halving GPS, GWPS, EGWPS, with which the copter was reportedly equipped could not save it from slamming into the mountainside. poverty by 2015. The The immediate lesson of the Taplejung crash is this: no South Asia MDG MEANWHILE technology can rule out Suman Pradhan disasters in poor weather Forum met here to conditions, especially in the Himalayas. It can minimise the develop a roadmap to frequency of crashes, but not stop them. In some cases, eradicate extreme technology actually contributes to accidents by giving rise to a false sense of security. poverty in the region. After covering aviation and air disasters in Nepal for over a KIRAN PANDAY decade, I have a simple rule: donít fly in the monsoon, especially in the mountains. Itís not worth the risk. Go by bus or pony, hike, Nepali Times: What does the MDG Forum poverty’, and increased the number of students trek, or postpone your program. The litany of air crashes in the hope to achieve? enrolled in primary education and ensured these monsoon is now too long to be a fluke. Kim Hak-Su: This Forum provides an enrolments include girls and boys. Nepal is also Itís true that improved technology and navigational aids have opportunity for stakeholders from eight South progressing well in reducing deaths in children made all-weather flying routine in Nepal, bringing once remote and Asian countries to evaluate their progress towards below the age of five. cut-off destinations into contact with the outside world. But the meeting the MDGs, the challenges they face, and the However, like other South Asian countries, number of flights have also led to an increase in the accident rate. The official investigation committee looking into the Taplejung actions needed in the short-to medium-term future Nepal is not doing so well on reducing infant crash will probably find the reasons for the disaster, but we may to meet the 2015 deadline. mortality. I hope the Forum will allow the Nepali never know what led the pilot to fly in such bad weather. What led The participants—who represent governments, delegation to gather lessons from other countries on him to take risks on a day when most other pilots would have civil society, media, and academia in their home how to redress this situation. called the flight off? ìI wouldnít have flown in that weather,î one countries—will develop an action plan listing the pilot told me recently, with the benefit of hindsight. immediate steps necessary for South Asian Do you agree with donors who say the Was the Shree Air crew under corporate pressure to return to countries to move forward with MDGs. conflict is the biggest obstacle to Kathmandu? Did the pilot come under inadvertent pressure to fly But this time, I am disappointed to see that development? from some of the illustrious passengers? Or was the pilot foolhardy enough to want to test his skills in zero visibility only one government level official, just your Investing in MDGs, even when countries are facing conditions? If any meaningful lessons are to come out from this finance minister, out of eight countries has security difficulties, can improve the situation. disaster, figuring out what motivated the pilotís decision is attended the Forum. This shows that we must do Studies show that when basic development needs essential. more to solicit more high-level participation. are met—such as a reasonable level of income, food The probe committee should look into the role of technology. If security, and access to basic health care—security the chopper was indeed equipped with all the latest gizmos, did it And how do you plan to do that? issues can be addressed more effectively. lull the pilots into a false sense of security? UN agencies must certainly step up their awareness The MDGs are a long term plan, an investment Technology can do wonders, but it also encourages flyers to take unnecessary risks. At the very least, pilots get so used to it campaigns and the lessons learned here should be for the future. National or international security that they sometimes ignore the obvious. Both the 1992 crashes kept in mind during the other upcoming sub- issues, which are often temporary, should not stop resulted from human errors stemming from a momentary inability to regional forums, like the Southeast Asian Forum our efforts to fight poverty and other goals. correctly read or calibrate crucial flight instruments. These coming up in December in Hanoi. shortcomings convinced the Japan government to install radar at How do you rate the UN’s role here in TIA airport, primarily to verify the altitude, location and direction Does achieving MDG targets mean a country achieving the MDGs? reported by pilots. is relatively problem-free? Nepal has made progress since 2000. For example, The committee should also focus on interpersonal relationships between the cockpit crew. According to one domestic If a country met the targets it would mean it had between 1996 and 2004 Nepal reduced the airline pilot, cockpit communications in Nepal is poor because the taken the basic steps to reduce poverty and address percentage of people living below $1 a day from 34.4 pilot in command usually ignores advice from the junior pilot. ìWe crucial development challenges. The UN believes to 24.1 percent. However, progress needs to be are all required to undergo Cockpit Resource Management training the MDGs are the minimum requirements for a stepped up to meet the 2015 deadline. Like other aimed at building good communications in the cockpit, but its country to move towards progressive development. countries in the region, Nepal needs to strengthen lessons are quickly forgotten,î says the pilot. The MDGs are not the answer to all development its institutional capacity to deliver accessible Did the Shree Air co-pilot or navigator issue any warnings to problems, but a good blueprint for moving forward. services to the poor, vulnerable, and marginalised the pilot before taking off? And if so, why did the pilot ignore these groups. warnings? In January 1995 an RNAC Twin Otter plunged right off the How does Nepal’s progress on MDGs There is a need for strengthened regional runwayís northern edge in Kathmandu, killing the pilot and several compare with other South Asian countries? cooperation so countries like Nepal can learn from passengers. It was later discovered that both the pilots were of No developing country in the world is on track for the good MDG practices of other South Asian similar rank. As the plane was rolling on the runway, the co-pilot all of the 2015 targets. Nepal too is on track for countries. I’m proud of the work we in UNESCAP, had wanted to abort the take-off but the pilot continued with it some, but off track for others. and the tri-partite initiative with UNDP and ADB, anyway. The confusion resulted in the crash. z Nepal has reduced the number of people with have been doing to assist countries in meeting the income under $1 per day, an indicator of ‘extreme MDGs. NATION 13 - 19 OCTOBER 2006 #318 5

for business life, the development of the stock market”, and lower barriers to entry to do business. Looking Phelps-wards What does that tell us about raising Nepal’s economic dynamism, especially in light of the FNCCI’s protest program? Valuable lessons from the economics Nobel laureate Four things: First, a high economic performance matters urgently for Nepal. ast Monday in Stockholm, Sweden’s how some key market-friendly This is so basic an idea that it gets Central Bank announced that it relationships affect one another. routinely ignored. It’s as if those who lead Lwould award this year’s Nobel Phelps is not a market fundamentalist. us happily view the rise of a remittance economics prize to Edmund Phelps. That He grew up during the Great Depression. He economy as an excuse not to engage in any same day in Kathmandu, the Federation of has written against George W Bush’s tax serious thinking about Nepal’s economic Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and cuts that favour the rich, showed how state performance. Industry (FNCCI) announced that it would subsidies help firms to hire additional Second, our politicians need to view shut down all businesses across Nepal on workers, and critiqued his own profession high employment and productivity rates as Monday, 16 October. for neglecting issues concerning social issues that will keep them in power, no justice. matter who gets to govern from Singha Phelps defines high economic Darbar. STRICTLY BUSINESS performance as a state in which there is Third, Nepali defenders of free Ashutosh Tiwari high productivity and high employment. enterprise need to further argue publicly For such performance, he outlines two What raises a country’s economic that making it easier for all sorts of private Phelps completed much of his ground- conditions: that there be jobs that “enlist dynamism? Phelps cites the role of sector businesses to function in Nepal breaking work in the 60s. His core the minds of employees, engage them in institutions. What matters for dynamism, provides the best antidote to insight—that “imperfect information and problem solving—leading them to discover he says, is how an economy’s rules of the unemployment and poverty. imperfect knowledge, with their some of their talents and expanding their game are defined and played out. It’s not And finally, the terms of our national consequent complications,” affect abilities”, and that employees see such jobs enough, he says, as some socialist-leaning economic debates need to be recast not to macroeconomic results—is to economics “embedded in a stimulating workplace, European countries display, to have a look at ways to restrict, but to understand what, well, gravity is to physics. In the 90s, with new problems to solve, harder tasks to general rule of law that safeguards, say, how institutions or rules help Nepali Phelps turned his attention to issues that be mastered, and added abilities to strive private property or places conditions on business owners, employees and customers could be of immediate interest to countries for.” This combination of challenging jobs who gets hired and fired at a firm. A to thrive together. like Nepal. He looked at the transitional and motivated employees, with its country’s economic dynamism is slowed Applying the findings of Phelps’s economies of Europe, and teased out attendant influence on employment and by the absence of specific, yet flexible, recent real-world research is a way for us to factors that help raise a country’s economic productivity, is what Phelps says makes up institutions—“company law and corporate look forward to an economically dynamic performance. In doing so, he has shown a country’s “economic dynamism”. governance, the population’s preparation Nepal in times ahead. 6 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 13 - 19 OCTOBER 2006 #318

Code breach school has been closed for almost Royal right ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ three years. The Basu Smriti Kantipur , 11 October Brigade Third Division has Janadharana , 12 October established a temporary camp in Maoists have taken control of a the school compound. At a time when the SPA-led school in Sunsari district and are In Dharan, 22-year-old Akash government and the Maoists using it as barracks for their army, Agrawal was abducted by Maoists. are discussing the future of the in violation of the ceasefire code According to family sources, the monarchy, 47 independent of conduct. News received from Maoists bundled him into a taxi politicians have released a Khanar VDC says that Maoists and disappeared down the statement in favour of the took over the Sharada Higher railway line in Dharan. monarchy demanding that the Secondary School without any In Baitadi, policeman peace talks be led by the king. authorisation on Monday. The Narbahadur Chand has been in The statement begins: ‘This Maoists have said they will ‘custody’ since Dasain. Chand, scared earth of Nepal cannot remain in the compound until who is posted at Baitdai prison, bear to watch the weakening of the holiday is over, after the was taken away the day after Tika. the monarch who has borne the Chatth festival. According to a In Salyan district’s Tribeni historic responsibility and A dalit Maoist worker, Hemant, 25 cadres VDC, Laxman Shrestha was taken given it warm guidance.’ are currently based there, into ‘custody’ after being accused Independent political and additional militia are of eloping with a married woman. leaders like Radheshyam expected soon. In Taplejung district’s Thapa, Dinbahadur Aryal, is born The Maoists agree that, as Khebang VDC, villagers managed Dharmaraj Giri, Haribahadur principal Subarna Thapa says, Basnet, Kamansingh Basnet, Sudha Khakurel in Kantipur, What will my sonís future be? to free 27 locals detained by the 29 September they took over the building Maoists, but former VDC Golche Sarki, and Dhanendra Even though I get no special without permission. chairman Khadag Prasad Tamling Bahadur Basnet signed the I, Brahmin by accident of birth† favours Maoists have also taken over and his brothers Sancha Bahadur statement. What crime did I commit? I am considered privileged † the Holyland International and Himal Dhwaj Tamling are They state that the king’s Although I am not called dalit My peer, a ministerís son ìSarkiî Boarding School in Chitwan still in Maoist custody. 24 April proclamation was a Poverty has ground me down Is today classed as dalit district’s Chainpur VDC. The fulfilment of a historic I have no access to education Another, a Newar sahuís responsibility to safeguard the And health care is denied me. daughter sovereignty of the state, the Has now become janajati. unity of the Nepali people, My father spoke himself hoarse and the betterment of the I do have the right to live as an Consecrating for a godan of one country, and that it did not rupee equal Even then he did not complain Donít take away my rights stem from personal When called mean names like There are no dalits here aspirations. ‘Any step that ìtapareî Only legions who suffer. aims to disrupt the cordial He simply laughed it off. relations between the king and Light the beacon of education the people, the united force of But today my self-esteem Give access to health for all the people, and the historic Has taken me far from my father Make a society with no establishment of the monarchy I cannot act any longer as my differences will not be beneficial to the father did Donít let another dalit be born. country and the people,’ the statement adds. KIRAN PANDAY FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 13 - 19 OCTOBER 2006 #318 7

MPs peeved MP Raghu Panta of the CPN- came from Pushpa Dahal

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ UML cited the example of Italy, himself, but was meant Nepal Samacharpatra, 12 October where the issue of having a satirically, as he suggested that monarchy was resolved through a the SPA needed a break to Members of Parliament have referendum after there were consult with foreign powers and accused the government of complications during the process the palace. dishonouring the House of of writing the interim On Sunday, after saying his Representatives. They said that constitution. He also said the piece, the prime minister went to though it was the government’s decision to hold elections to a bed, complaining of tiredness. duty to inform parliament about constituent assembly by next year NC (D) chairman Sher Bahadur issues of national importance was not new, reminding the Deuba kept going out and coming while the House is in session, the House that the current government in and talking on his cell phone. government is now acting as if has already allocated a budget to When asked for his opinion there were no parliament. MPs are hold the election by next year. Debua just said, “Whatever asking why the prime minister is Girjababu says we feel the same.” not in attendance at the House, Summit satire It looked as if the two though his health is already ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Congresses were on the same back on track. Jana Aastha , 11 October side, and opposed to the other The MPs complained that parties. The Nepal Majdoor Kisan they were finding out about Everyone may have wished the Party, and the left fronts unresolved issues such as arms summit talks between the SPA- complained that the Congress management through the media led government and the Maoists and the CPN-UML were paying and not through official channels, that began on Sunday would too much attention to royalists and said that if there were no succeed, but few actually believed and others who had no role in referendum on the fate of the they would. Fewer still could the people’s movements and monarchy, they would see it as a have thought that there would be sidelining those who had conspiracy to keep the monarchy. a break on Monday. The proposal contributed to it.

Sign: Seat of power Pushpa Kamal Dahal: Youíve been making us waitÖ havenít you swung enough?

Nepal, 15 October

QUOTE OF THE WEEK Take these issues home, sleep over them, wake up the“ next morning and ask India “ what to do. Donít forget to ask America. Also ask Britain, and the EU. Even ask the palace, because you cannot decide by yourself.

Pushpa Kamal Dahal mocking SPA leaders in Jana Aastha, after the first dayís summit talksended inconclusively on Sunday, 8 October.

SELECTED MATERIAL TRANSLATED EVERY WEEK FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 8 HUMOUR Clown t Smiling ambassadors try healing

SOPHIA TAMOT “We are all not professional clowns. We just want to bring joy and love where suffering is woman in a shirt dominant,” says an animated patterned with smileys Ginevra Sanguigno. Sanguigno is A signals to a man wearing founder of the group Clown One oversized pyjamas. Their Italia. A theatre artist and teacher mischievous eyes meet, and as back home, she was encouraged to their red noses squish against start the non-profit group after each other, they fill their cheeks her meeting with Patch Adams in with air. This draws great guffaws 1994. Adams is an American from the small crowd gathered on clown and doctor who founded a the street around them. holistic medical centre and You’ve probably seen this became famous after the group of funnily dressed people eponymous 1998 movie based on with red noses and a mish-mash his life starring Robin Williams. of accents entertaining children “Patch taught us that you and the elderly on the streets of don’t need special skills to make Kathmandu this past week. They people happy, just the intention call themselves "smiling to spread love. And that is exactly ambassadors," but many say they what we are doing here— should instead be described as spreading the message of love and ‘clown doctors’. They are peace,” says Sanguigno. currently in Nepal on one of the Accompanying her are 11 clowns ‘healing through humour’ from Italy, Cambodia, and Japan missions that take them around who are here for two weeks the world. and will be visiting orphanages,

Clown for love Vania Calzavara, 30, was studying to become a diplomat but she gave that up to do something decidedly undiplomaticóbe a clown and promote clowning around. Calzavara decided to work with her boyfriend, Fabio Sorgato, 40, who runs voluntary clownery workshops in Thiene, Italy. ìFor me, being with the person you love is far more important than a great career,î she says. Seeing the joy Fabio spread among people, she also became a clown. ìFour times a week, we visit hospitals, orphanages, nursing homes and prisons and make people laugh,î adds Calzavara. But life for the couple is not always funny. Calzavara works ten hours a day managing a local bakery in Thiene. She earns just about enough for the both of them. ìI saved 3500 euros so Fabio and I could come to Nepal. We are also celebrating his birthday here,î smiles Calzavara. Does the almost-diplomat plan on being a clown all her life? ìYes,î she shoots right back. ìMoney is not everything. Once you know how not to waste money, a little is enough.î 13 - 19 OCTOBER 2006 #318 9

UPSIDE DOWN: Clowns amuse the children at therapy CWIN shelter at Rabi Bhawan on Wednesday g through humour

shelters, hospices, schools, and clown tried to paint a red nose hospitals in Kathmandu and on a mujahideen who was Pokhara run by organisations as carrying a gun. And what did he diverse as CWIN, Sahara, Shanti do? He ran away while the Sewa Griha, Bal Mandir, Saathi, women and children all Dalit Welfare Organisation, Prayas laughed,” chuckles Bertolasi. Cooperative, and Maiti Nepal. The members of Clown One The group’s focus is mainly Italia are clowns here, but back on young girls and women who home they practise all kinds of have been victims of violence, professions—they are and who have been rescued and counsellors, artists, actors, and rehabilitated. While visiting the physiotherapists. They share a girls in various shelters, they common goal, to hear sick hope to even train a few and children laugh, and see lonely sponsor them on the next Clown old people smile. They are all One Italia mission. volunteers, and some have used The group is also laying the up their entire savings to come groundwork to sponsor ten dalit make Nepalis smile. girls to attend school for ten “We try to get funds for all years. “This is our pilot project our trips, but sometimes we and we will start with the villages don’t have enough for everyone near and around Boudha because in the group,” explains the school is located there,” says Sanguigno. Even when they do, Italo Bertolasi, organiser of the there’s just enough to cover trip, who first came to Nepal 35 airfares. In Nepal, their years ago and has since studied accommodation and logistics is the work of jhakris. “I have sponsored by Apeiron, an Italian studied the traditional way of organisation that works to uplift healing, we now will mix it with poor and disadvantaged women the untraditional way and children. (clowning),” he says. “Nepalis are cheerful people “We may look stupid, but in despite their suffering. But the this costume, you can be very war has left many people powerful,” Bertolasi adds. The displaced and bitter. We are here group says that they use the to remind them that they should power of ridicule to poke fun at not forget to smile because only figures of fear, such as men with that can give them the courage to guns. “In Afghanistan, a female go on,” says Sanguigno. ALL PICS: MIN BAJRACHARYA 10 NATION 13 - 19 OCTOBER 2006 #318 Abused on Race for both sides JB PUN Tibetan refugees are also he restoration of democracy mistreated by Nepali border guards in April has prompted T Nepal’s plethora of ethnic, regional and linguistic groups to MARTY LOGAN press for self-determination and autonomy. But political scientists o many Tibetan refugees have been fleeing to India via warn that identity-based Nepal for so long that their crossing is accepted as federalism may lead to S something normalóuntil a day like 30 September, when fragmentation and perhaps even a group of 70 would-be refugees was fired at by Chinese ethno-separatist conflict in future. border guards while trying to cross into Nepal over the Nangpa The Maoists, who felt La in the Cho Oyu region (pictured, file photo). sidelined by the restoration of ìThey started shooting and we ran. It was around 8AM. parliament and the pace at which There were 15 small children aged 8-10, only one escaped and it passed dramatic legislations the rest were arrested,î a monk from Tibetís Gyamda county since April, have tried to remain told website phayul.com. relevant by strongly pushing for ìI think the soldiers fired for about 15 minutes,î he added. autonomous ethnic regions. Even ìThey were shouting, probably warning us, but I did not hear non-Maoist indigenous them as I was terrified, I just heard gunshots passing my ears organisations, ethnic minorities Ö the nun was with us and she was shot and a boy from and marginalised groups have Kandze was shot in the leg.î found common cause with The monk and 40 others who fled arrived in Kathmandu late the rebels. Monday accompanied by an official from the UNís High Together, they tried Commissioner for Refugees. unsuccessfully to push elements The nun, a 17-year-old according to phayul.com, died in of ethnic regionalism into the draft the incident. Climbers at Cho Oyu advance base camp interim constitution, and various reported seeing as many as eight people killed, but these groups struggling for indigenous reports are unconfirmed. autonomy have been holding Although such shootings are relatively rare, abuse of public meetings calling for radical Tibetan refugees is common, much of it at the hands of Nepali border guards, says a new report. state restructuring along ethnic Two years ago, researchers interviewed 50 refugees lines. staying at the refugee reception centre in Kathmandu about But neither the Maoists nor the their trips from Tibet to the capital. On average they travelled various ethnic-based groups seem 34 days, both by foot and by bus. Most carried little food for to be clear about how ethnic fear of arousing suspicion and had to go hungry for days or regionalism will work in practice resort to begging when their supplies ran out, says the report in a country with such racial and ëDangerous Journey: Documenting the Experience of Tibetan caste heterogeneity within districts Refugeesí, published in the November issue of the American and regions. Journal of Public Health. For instance, when the Although two refugees caught by Chinese border guards Chepang Union held its conference experienced the most severe treatment, 'one of the findings of in Chitwan in July it said it most concern in our study was the treatment of refugees by the wanted 'self-determination with Nepali border guards. We documented beatings, torture, and ethnic autonomy' in the 29 VDCs sexual assaults at gunpoint,' says the report. where an estimated 52,000 Three women 'were separated from their groups and, Chepangs live in Chitwan, Gorkha, despite attempts to escape, were captured. The women were taken to an outside area where a group of six guards disrobed MIN BAJRACHARYA them and sexually assaulted them at gunpoint,' adds the document. All of the refugees who met Nepali border guards were threatened with refoulement (being forcibly returned to China). Others ran into Maoists. They 'experienced extortion or detainment. When they were able to pay the required amounts to the rebels, they received Maoist passes and were allowed to Faulty feeding proceed,' says the report, whose authors include Edward J Mills, of McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada. 'The longterm impacts of such dangerous circumstances Ignorance fuels malnutrition in the western tarai are having a large impact on the physical and mental suffering of refugees,' he told us via email. The report recommends that the Tibetan government in SUMAN PRADHAN in BANKE exile in Dharamsala start providing care programs for all and KANCHANPUR refugees, not only political asylum seekers, including special programs for children. z his picture (right) was not taken in Africa, but at a T nutritional centre in Nepalganj. It shows four-month- old Samjhana Chaudhary, who was brought here for treatment of severe malnutrition. There were 16 other such children at the centre when we visited recently. In the western tarai districts, there is a silent malnutrition and wasting epidemic brewing. Health workers say the cause is not lack of food but faulty feeding habits and lack of awareness. “Mothers here don’t know how to feed their children. They only give them rice and milk, which deprives the kids of protein and other essential nutrients,” says JAMIE MCGUINNESS/PROJECT HIMALAYA Punam Singh Adhikari, who SUMAN PRADHAN NATION 13 - 19 OCTOBER 2006 #318 11

will, however, first need the political parties to have greater internal diversity. The Nepali Congress and UML are both dominated by so called high-caste identity figures and even the top Maoist leadership doesn’t reflect ethnic or gender diversity. Ethnic-based federal Krishna Khanal, professor of political science at Tribhuban autonomy may open up University, is convinced that given Nepal’s ethnic and linguistic another can of worms diversity ethnic-based federalism would be a mistake. A better way Dhading and Makwanpur. But those groups are themselves would be to set up a federal some of these are districts are also minorities. Magars, Tharus, structure for regional autonomy claimed by the Tamang Tamang, Newar and Gurungs each that would guarantee ethnic Autonomous Region. have majorities in only one representation. He adds: “This way Similarly, there are misgivings district each within their regions, you don’t risk communal conflict, among the Tharu and other tarai for instance. and you provide indigenous communities about the Maoist In an interview before he was groups with the chance to govern. Autonomous Madhes region that killed in the helicopter crash last The issue should be equity, not would encompass the entire tarai month, ethnicity expert Harka race politics.” from east to west. Even the use of Gurung told us: “It’s not enough Such a structure could be the word Madhes has generated to say ‘Limbuwan’ or ‘Tamuwan’. based on King Birendra’s five debate among the tarai You have to decide where to ‘development regions’, which communities. Madhya desh is the demarcate the borders of these could serve as federal units for area between Ganga and Jamuna regions. So you can have endless regional governance. The rivers and over time, the people debates for political reasons about indigenous and marginalised from this region started being whether these divisions are groups would have a say within referred to as Madhesis, which ethnic or geographic, but the key KIRAN PANDAY these autonomous regions and also does not indicate any ‘national’ or question is whether these regions WARNING: Various janjati organisations demonstrate outside be present in a future federal ‘ethnic identity’, says Khem can be truly autonomous.” Singha Darbar on 31 May to caution the government to pay serious parliament under proportional Narayan Chaudhary, president of There is no denying that attention to indigenous rights. representation mechanisms. the Tharu Kalyankarini Sabha. In successive governments in Nepal Nepal’s past experience shows fact a Maoist-breakaway faction ever since unification have posturing by various identity- ethnic autonomous regions are that whenever governance has been called the Janatantrik Tarai Mukti refused to devolve power. There based groups. Political parties muted. Yet, true regional takeaway from Kathmandu to the Morcha is already fighting both was extreme marginalisation of have also been tempted by ethnic autonomy would kill two birds districts and the grassroots, it has the Maoists and the state, and certain ethnic and caste groups, populism and are trying to take with one stone: guaranteeing worked better. So future federal assassinated RPP MP Krishna and centuries of neglect of remote advantage while the Maoists are political devolution while giving structures have a better chance of Charan Shrestha just before regions and exploitation of tarai using the ethnic card as a proportional representation to ensuring accountability and good Dasain. resources by feudal rulers in bargaining chip. All this could be marginalised groups. governance by giving hitherto The ethnic regions carved out Kathmandu. dangerous, analysts say, because it Bahun-Chhetris have neglected groups a say in the by the Maoists for the Gurungs, Some, like political scientist threatens to turn Nepal’s class war dominated the political process, decision-making process. Magars, and Kirats also overlap, Krishna Bhattachan, believe that into a caste war. but still account for more than 50 “It is past exclusion in the and autonomy could lay the seed ethnic autonomy should not be There is near-unanimity percent of the population in 18 political process that has given of unprecedented inter-ethnic seen as synonymous with among academics and politicians districts and more than 20 rise to this demand for ethnic conflict in future, experts say. The separatism. “If you offer genuine that some form of federalism is percent in 62 districts. Regional autonomy,” explains geographer communal riots that followed the autonomy it won’t bring needed to correct historic federalism would be fair to Pitambar Sharma, “it is certain we massacre of 12 Nepali workers in separatism, in fact it will prevent Kathmandu-centric governance. everyone, some experts feel, now need federalism. But it Iraq in September 2004 proved it” he says. But the question is whether a without swinging to the other should be geographical federalism, that ethnic violence can easily be The sudden upsurge in future federal structure should be extreme and sowing the seeds of not ethnic-based federalism and stoked. demands for ethnic autonomy demarcated along ethnic lines or future conflict by creating new these federal units should have a In fact, in many of the regions after the collapse of the royal by regions. At the moment, the exclusions. mechanism to give indigenous set aside for particular ethnicities, regime is partly political voices of those calling for non- A more-inclusive politics groups fair representation.” works at the centre. sanitation and care make The Nepalganj nutritional Kanchanpur an appalling district centre, funded by the Nepal for children’s health. A recent Youth Opportunity Foundation assessment study by UNICEF in (NYOF) and jointly managed by Kanchanpur found that '21 the Banke District Hospital and percent of children are afflicted Saathi, a women’s charity, is the with wasting, an indicator of only one of its kind in western acute general malnutrition.' The Nepal. It treats hundreds of study further found that the malnourished children from prevalence rate is almost twice the Banke and surrounding districts. national average found in the But most importantly, the centre Demographic Health Survey also teaches mothers that conducted in 2001. judicious use of common food is “It’s not because families can’t the best defence against feed their children,” says Nursing malnutrition. Inspector at the Mahendranagar “Mothers are surprised that hospital Indudhir Paudyal. their babies still waste away even A PICTURE OF HEALTH: “There is enough food that most though they feed them rice and A well-fed baby in Manang parents can afford, but lack of a ghee,” says nurse Saraswati balanced diet is causing this Acharya. “It takes a while for just rice and milk but also greens problem.” them to learn that the kids need and protein. There is hope on the horizon. protein which can be had in The dietary habits of locals in Just as in Banke, the NYOF is common food such as legumes far-western Kanchanpur district funding a nutritional centre in and meat.” are of particular concern. “In my Kanchanpur too. A new building A malnourished child 15 years here, I have been is being erected at the zonal presents with severe wasting, low appalled at the eating habits of hospital to treat the children. “We weight, has sunken eyes, pale the locals,” says Dr Subhesh will be providing both treatment skin and discoloured hair. The Kayastha, superintendent of the as well as awareness programs for child almost certainly dies if left Mahendranagar Zonal Hospital in mothers,” says Som Paneru, untreated, even though the Kanchanpur district. “They only NYOF’s executive director. “If we treatment is simple, and eat rice and potatoes. That’s the can only educate the mothers that prevention is even simpler. All it only thing they grow here, even the normal food they eat is good requires, say health workers, is a though the land is vast and enough for children, then we will little awareness among the fertile.” have half won the battle against parents that children need not Lack of a balanced diet, proper malnutrition.” 12 INTERNATIONAL 13 - 19 OCTOBER 2006 #318 poor beyond the power of tension, minimise risk, and help economic squeeze, and China guard against accidents. devastating the country by cutting But if this relaxed view is not its power would merely generate viable in North Korea’s case, there Collateral damage starvation and mass migration. is only one sensible alternative. Sanctions are cowards’ wars, cruel Sophisticated air power has a role and counterproductive. Anyway, in the ‘coercive diplomacy’ of non- here they are too late. proliferation. Israel used it Perhaps the world must get effectively against Iraq’s nuclear used to a new generation of plant in 1981, and the US repeated nuclear states. The head of the it with Operation Desert Fox in International Atomic Energy 1998. If Kim is the unstable Agency, Mohamed ElBaradei, menace he appears, his bomb- estimates that some 40 countries making capacity and missile sites are on the brink of being able to should be removed at once with make nuclear bombs. As we live Tomahawk missiles. Fewer people with 10, perhaps we must live would die that way than with any with 40, struggling to reduce other pre-emptive response. z

The world according to Kim Jong-il

This is how the Korean Central News Agency reported the blast, and some of Mondayís other top stories.

Economic sanctions would DPRK Successfully Conducts Underground Nuclear Test The field of scientific research in the DPRK [Democratic Peopleís Republic of harm North Koreans, and Korea] successfully conducted an underground nuclear test under secure conditions on October 9, Juche 95 (2006) at a stirring time when all the people help Kim Jong-Il of the country are making a great leap forward in the building of a great prosperous powerful socialist nation. It has been confirmed that there was no such danger of radioactive orth Korea is the fourth, Pakistan are regarded as vaguely avoided had George Bush emission in the course of the nuclear test as it was carried out under a possibly fifth, state to reliable, Iran a headache, and continued Clinton’s mild scientific consideration and careful calculation. N reject the 1970 non- North Korea a nightmare. The engagement policy instead of The nuclear test was conducted with indigenous wisdom and technology proliferation treaty and proceed treaty itself is hypocritical, opting for belligerence and 100 percent. It marks a historic event as it greatly encouraged and pleased towards a nuclear arsenal. The policed by those states whose rhetoric. the KPA and people that have wished to have powerful self-reliant defence capability. others are India, Pakistan, Israel, security it confirms. If preventing Kim from It will contribute to defending the peace and stability on the Korean and perhaps Iran. That makes five Building and delivering a acquiring a bomb was a legitimate Peninsula and in the area around it. states in the old nuclear club nuclear bomb is a massive goal of UN policy, so must be industrial and military exercise. removing it in advance of Commemorative Stamps Issued North Korea appears to possess deployment. Asking, demanding, Commemorative stamps have been brought out in the DPRK on the occasion ANALYSIS of the 80th anniversary of the Down-with-Imperialism Union (DIU). In order to both the wherewithal to build a bribing, and threatening have all Simon Jenkins open up a new way for revolution in the darkest period of the Japanese working bomb and the missiles failed. There is no way of stopping imperialistsí colonial rule over Korea, President Kim Il-Sung formed a to deliver it—effective nuclear a determined state, even destitute revolutionary vanguard organisation to conduct the anti-Japanese national (America, Russia, Britain, France capability. North Korea, from doing what it liberation struggle in reliance upon popular masses with a correct fighting and China) and five in the new The west does not see India or wants. program and organised the DIU on October 17, Juche 15 (1926). one. The appropriate relationship, Pakistan as threats. Iran’s ruling The stupidest policy would be Nepalese Library Delegation Arrives diplomatic, military and moral, elite is devious and self- economic sanctions. This A delegation of Kim Il-Sung-Kim Jong-Il Library of Nepal headed by its Director between the two clubs is now a promoting but not mad or craving impoverishes peoples while Narayan Prasad Sapkota arrived here Sunday. world obsession. war. North Korea is different. It is rendering their rulers ever more The big five have had nuclear reasonable to ask why Britain and embattled and paranoid. Nothing Floral Basket to Kim Jong-Il General Secretary Kim Jong-Il received a floral basket from the family of weapons for half a century and America went to war in the wrong props up dictatorship like Zhang Weihua, an anti-Japanese revolutionary martyr, on the occasion of the continue to dishonour the treaty’s country—Iraq—in 2003. It is also economic siege. Ask Castro, 61st anniversary of the Workersí Party of Korea. second pillar on disarmament. Of reasonable to wonder whether the Qaddafi, Saddam, and the (The Guardian) the others, Israel, India and present crisis might have been ayatollahs. The North Koreans are

frequent victims. When humanitarian staff or operations are targeted, aid agencies often have no choice but to suspend or downscale their operations. The result: an aid lifeline to millions is potentially Risky rescues severed. Attacking an aid worker undermines the fundamental right of all or those who work to save the worldís civilians on the front lines of violence or sick and wounded, this summer was Attacking aid agency workers disaster to receive assistance. Safe, among the worst of times. Too many unimpeded access is essential, as it is F days began with desperate calls from deprives the neediest impossible to be a safe, remote, long- field colleagues, telling us still more distance humanitarian. humanitarian workers have been Proximity entails risksóbut this is the ambushed, kidnapped or killed while attacked in Somalia, Iraq, Chechnya, perpetrators and an increasingly politicised price we must pay to access those in working. Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, environment for aid work. In each case, aid greatest need. Today, in numerous and elsewhere over the last three years, workers, armed only with their principles, conflicts around the world, aid workersí and the tragedy of these crimes becomes paid with their lives to uphold the ethos of ability to help millions of civilians who OPINION still more stark. Those who seek to alleviate humanity, neutrality, and impartiality that urgently need it is curtailed by the threat of Jan Egeland manís inhumanity to man have become defines the humanitarian movement. armed attacks or bureaucratic obstacles its victims. Under the Geneva Conventions, both imposed by warring parties. Attacks against humanitarians have civilians caught in armed conflict and aid That suffering civilians have the right By extension, these assaults occurred against the backdrop of workers seeking to assist them are to be to impartial assistance is an unassailable potentially sever the lifeline of hope that deteriorating security, impunity for protected from harm. UN Security Council principle. We need a neutral and impartial unarmed aid workers provide to millions of Resolution 1502 and humanitarianismóneutral, in name, deed desperate, destitute families in Darfur, Sri the 1998 Rome and perception. Local communities need to Lanka, Afghanistan and elsewhere. Statute of the know humanitarian workers are there for In August, 17 humanitarian aid workers International Criminal one purpose: to alleviate suffering through in Sri Lanka from Action Against Hunger Court both affirm that outreach of lifesaving assistance based on were shot in execution-style killings. Two intentionally attacking need alone. more aid workers were killed in Sri Lanka: a humanitarian aid Aid workers enjoy no ironclad 19 deaths in one month alone. Violent worker could guarantees of safety. Security does not incidents in Darfur increased more than constitute a war come from armed security officers, or by 100 percent in the first seven months of crime. withdrawing from the front lines of 2006 as compared to the same period last Despite these suffering. We must continue to build trust year, further jeopardising the worldís proclamations, with local communities by demonstrating largest relief operation. humanitarian aid through word and deed that In Afghanistan, 27 aid workers have workers are still humanitarianism is entirely separate from died this year to date, while 31 were killed targeted, with the political or military agendas. We need a the year before. Add to this the dozens of local staff of NGOs humanitarianism that is by and for all other aid workers killed, kidnapped or by far the most humanity. z MUSIC 13 - 19 OCTOBER 2006 #318 13 The stage is set ANUP PRAKASH

A week of jazz in the Valley

he musicians at the Surya Andy Grosskopf of jazz legends. Carrier told rock energy and acoustic jazz. percussionist is back on his own, Classic Jazzmandu 2006 A saxophonist, flautist, and Nepali Times that at Surya following Afro Dizzi Actís new T are a hard lot to spot and composer, the German Andy Classic Jazzmandu 2006, heíll The Latin Jazz All Stars album Welcome Speech. chat with. Several will arrive mere Grosskopf isnít afraid to ìplay the FranÁois Carrier kind of The Latin Jazz All Stars includes hours before they go on stage, experiment. Besides his jazz-rock jazz. I donít really like labelling Puerto Rican Jorge Castro on Andreas Hessen Schei and Hilde others sport heavy accents group Scrooge, heís also a part of anything but I can tell you that all tenor sax, Yunior Cabrerra from Marie Kjersem ranging from French to Cuban. But trance.ition, which mixes dance, the music will be improvised.î Cuba on bass, Colombian pianist Norwegian jazz vocalist Hilde when the festival began on jazz, funk and oriental rhythms. Eddie Martinez, and Steve Berrios Marie Kjersem teams up with Wednesday, with the Upstairs His latest project, Nyle, works Two On the Horizon: Judy Lewis on drums. Each of the artists has countryman Andreas Hessen Schei Jazz Bar packed to the rafters, it with singer Miles Griffith to create & Orr Didi an impressive solo record, and for Surya Classic Jazzmandu 2006. was the music doing the talkingó dance-funk-jazz. Exactly what After an illustrious 18-year career together they are a considerable Kjersemís musical career began at and telling Kathmandu that thereís mixture of his vast range of as a classical pianist, Judy Lewis force in the Latin jazz scene. 14, and now, at age 25, she is a lot to look forward to this week. influences and talents Grosskopf has in the last eight years earned already working on her third album. Despite Wednesdayís session is going to display here remains to international acclaim as Israelís Nick Aggs ñ Afro Dizzi Act Schei worked with her on 2004ís being an intimate, unassuming be seen. leading jazz artist. With four Nick Aggs played in the first Red Shoes Diary, and has played affair, it showcased a whole range albums to her name, she now Jazzmandu in 2001 as part of the around the world with bands like of talents, with local jazz TR Dhandapany Ensemble teams up with 18-year-old Israeli Australian funk-jazz group Afro Jaga Jazzist, Tub Quartet, Bertine trailblazers Cadenza getting Master percussionist TR guitar virtuoso Orr Didi, who is Dizzi Act. Six years later, the Zetlitz, and Shining. things moving along with Remi Dhandapany has over 40 years of blind, creating a unique mix of groupís saxophonist and Jemima Sherpa Abram and Claudio Celada of the musical experienceóand only one Remi Abram Quartet, and David performance in Kathmandu, the 16 Burgos. Besides the home-grown October Jazz at Patan show, Cadenza, Kutumba, Stupa, and where he will build on South Sukarma, only Afro Dizzi Actís Indian rhythms to create fusion Nick Aggs has done the jazz with his ensemble of seven Kathmandu jazz route before, musicians and Cadenza. which means nine fresh new acts to look out for. There are 11 events David Burgos in total, running until 18 October. Billed as ëEl Davidí on the Surya Hereís Nepali Timesí whoís who Classic Jazzmandu 2006 of the visiting acts at Surya schedule, 26-year-old David Classic Jazzmandu 2006. Burgosí passion for music started in his native Venezuela, as The Remi Abram Quartet percussion lessons were quickly Fronted by charismatic followed by trumpet lessons at age saxophonist Remi Abram, the 13. Growing up in Venezuela and French quartet have an Florida, he excelled at music, impressive track record and two winning several awards. He plays CDs. Pianist Claudio Celada, at European jazz festivals and drummer Ulrich Edorh, bassist works in South Florida on Philipppe Guiraud, and Abram all numerous musical projects. have noteworthy solo careers, and have been playing together since FranÁois Carrier Trio 2000. Their music is rooted in be- Canadian alto sax player FranÁois bop, hard-bop, and Caribbean Carrier is a tireless improviser, Jazz, and they perform mainly in and his spontaneity and energy Europe and the Caribbean. have moved his trio into the realm

JEMIMA SHERPA

JAZZING IT UP: At the first Surya Classic Jazzmandu 2006 event at Lajimpatís Upstairs Jazz Bar, (top) Cadenza band members (r-l) Rajat Rai, Navin Chhettri, Pravin Chhettri, and Samir Chettri are joined by Remi Abram Quartetís Claudio Celeda on the piano and (bottom, l-r) Remi Abram, Mariano Abello and David Burgos. 14 CITY 13 - 19 OCTOBER 2006 #318

ABOUT TOWN YAK YETI YAK by MIKU EXHIBITIONS Green Apple exhibition by Saroj Kushwaha till 19 October at Bandana Art Gallery, Lajimpat (below Gallery Nine). Women in Nature by Erina Tamrakar till 20 October at Siddhartha Art Gallery. 4218048 Aloha Namaste Sacred Places, Sacred Animal paintings by Wicki Van De Veer till 20 October at Siddhartha Art Gallery Figures in Paint by Chirag Bangdel at Imago Dei CafÈ Gallery, 9AM-9PM. 4442464 Exhibition of paintings, sculptures at Tantra Resturant, Thamel featuring Juju Kaji Mahajan, Anil Mahajan, Uday Karmachrya and more. 4218565 In a new documentary after the success EVENTS of Bhedako Oon Jasto, the team follows Sa-Karnali through Dolpo, documenting † Rotary Festival fun, food and festivities including displays, magic and cultural shows at the Malla Hotel Garden, Lainchaur, Nepathyaís Amrit Gurung, director Bhusan 13-15 October, Rs 50 Dahal and Thinle (of Caravan fame) into Japanese Day displays of Ikebana, Bonsai, Japanese dolls and the heart of the remote Dolpa region more, 14 October, 10.30 AM-10PM, Rs 500 at the Garden of music video. The 52-minute documentary Dreams, Kaiser Mahal shows the making of Nepathayaís

Fulfillment in your Relationship life oriented topics and group Entertainment Sa Karnali music video. discussions with life-therapists Nina Lange and Ludwig Zaccaro, 15 October, at German Info and Culture Centre, Thamel. 4700835 Call 4442220 for show timings at Jai Nepal

Childrenís Day music by children, bagpipers, face painting, Quest www.jainepal.com Snakes on a plane magicians and more, 15 October, 12PM to sunset at the Garden of Dreams, Kaiser Mahal† Transcendental Meditation Program at Self Awakening Centre from 16 -19 October. 4256618 Fire in the Monastery a play by Abhi Subedi, directed by Sunil Pokhrel and presented by Gurukul, 17 October, 7PM, Rs 300 at the Garden of Dreams, Kaiser Mahal Laxmi Puja 21 October Bhai Tika 24 October Festive Fiesta post-Tihar celebrations at Liquid Lounge, 27 October, 7PM. 9851046604 Salsa Classes at the Radisson Hotel, 6PM. 4411818 Tai-Chi, Qi-Qong and Hatha Yoga at the Self Awakening Centre, Baber Mahal Revisited, call to sign up. 4256618

MUSIC Moksh Live presents musician night with Stupa at Moksh, 13 October, Rs 150. 5526212 Jazzmandu at 1905 Kantipath featuring Francois Carrier Trio (Canada), Hilde Marie Kjersem and Andreas Hessen Schei (Norway), 15 October, 6PM, Rs 300. 4215068 g]kfnL Sarad an evening of music, performance by Irish Band, Salil on the Didgeridoo and finale Trikaal, 6PM, Rs 500 Daily 20.45-21.15 on 102.4 Aavaas performs at Garden of Dreams, Kaiser Mahal on 20 October at 6.30 PM, Rs.500. 5552839 Surya Classic Jazzmandu 2006 till 18 October Musical Evening a special concert by an Indian percussion ensemble led by T.R. Dhandapany - Laya Gaana Madhur Lahari, Radio Sagarmatha P.O. Box 6958, 19 October Bakhundole, Lalitpur, Nepal Open Mic Night at ViaVia CafÈ, Thamel every Friday, 8PM Tel: ++977-1-545680, 545681, Fax: ++ 977-1- 530227 DINING [email protected], Harvest Moon Chinese food festival at www.radiosagarmatha.org Hotel de líAnnapurna till 14 October Mezza and Margaritas at Dwarikaís Fusion, every Wednesday at 5.30 PM, Rs 555. 4479448 Seven Sensations at Hotel Yak & Yeti, cocktails and snacks. 4248999 g]kfn slifk[ wfg| d'n's Scrumptious woodfired pizzas at Roadhouse Cafe, Thamel xf ] . oxfsf+ *) 4262768 and Pulchok 5521755 k|ltzteGbf a9L hgtf A Sweet Taste of Life at La Dolce Vita, authentic Italian cuisine. s[lif k;fdf] cfwfl/t 4700612 Season of Freshness at Shambala Garden Cafe, Shangri-La 5g \ . sn" /fli6o« cfosf] Hotel, happy hours 12-7 PM. 4412999 ‰G8 } $) kltzt| lx:;f Creations from the Clay Oven at Stupa View Restaurant, Boudha clxn ] klg slif[ Ifqn] ] g} Stupa, 4480262 cfu6] sf] ] 5 . l;Ëf] Wet & Wild Summer Splash†swimming and lunch, or overnight d'n'ssf ] cflys,{ ;fdflhs stay with breakfast and swimming, Godavari Village Resort. d]?b08sf ] ?kdf /xsf] ] 5560675 Weekend Brunch at Hyatt Regency, Kathmandu. 4491234 NEPALI WEATHER by NGAMINDRA DAHAL s[lifIfq] pklIft] x'g' October may be the second driest month x'Fb}g . sifsx¿[ bzsf] GETAWAYS of the year, but nothing this year has jf:tljs gfos x'g\ . Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge open for reservations. 4361500 been quite what it should be. The sudden pgLx¿nfO { ;Ddfg / heavy downpours in the last week were Nature Retreat at Park Village Resorts & Spa. 4375280 KATHMANDU sb/ ugk5'{ { . sifsx¿n[ ] a local phenomenon, set off by a low Escape Kathmandu at Shivapuri Heights Cottage. 9841371927 klg cfˆgf ] kl;gfdfly Escape to Godavari Village Resort,†an overnight stay pressure centre in Tibet. There are still package†with breakfast & swimming. 5560675 some prominent patches of cloud that ljZjf; ugk5'{ { . gofF signal rainy spells through the weekend. gof F slif[ k0ffnL| Thursday morningís satellite picture does For inclusion in the listing send information to [email protected] show a storm moving in north from the cjnDag ugk5'{ { . k9\b}df Bay of Bengal, but it is unlikely to reach v]tL ug '{ gx'g] xfOg] . ‰g\ Nepal and the overcast skies have little s[lifIfqnfO] { cfwlgsLs/0f' to do with it. Tihar will likely be as bone- dry as we need it to be for fireworks. ug { lzlIft / ;r]t The nights are getting positively fresh s[issf ] vffrf ] 5 . To;}n] and the days will be wonderfully sunny, s[lif k;fnfO] { cfb/ u/f}+, but not hot. s[isnfO { ;Ddfg u/f }+ . KATHMANDU VALLEY Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue g]kfn ;/sf/ ;"rgf tyf ;~rf/ dGqfno

27-16 29-15 28-15 28-15 27-15 ;"rgf ljefu HAPPENINGS 13 - 19 OCTOBER 2006 #318 15

MIN BAJRACHARYA

JUSTICE: Paragon School teachers and staff of Nepal Rastra Bank stage a demonstration demanding immediate action against the killers of eight-year-old Bibek Sharma Luitel, who was found dead on the banks of Dhobikhola, Chabahil on 30 September. The demonstration blocked traffic in Maitighar for over an hour on Wednesday.

KIRAN PANDAY WITH THIS GUN, I THEE WED: Nine Maoist couples tied the knot with the blessings of the party in Chitwan last Saturday, solemnising the union with a ritual exchange of weapons. In attendance at the ceremony were comrades from the Basu Smriti Brigade Third Division. The guests currently live in a school in Chainpur VDC.

COURTESY: INFINITY INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DREAMS: Dutch trumpet player Saskia Laroo (centre) performs during the Jazz Affair, part of the opening of the Garden of Dreams. She is accompanied by (l-r) Warren Byrd, Ronald Wright, and Virgil Stelk.

KIRAN PANDAY I SMELL SOMETHING FISHY: A young boy proudly displays the catch of the day by the Rapti river in Sauraha last Saturday. 16 BACKSIDE 13 - 19 OCTOBER 2006 #318 The edifice complex

n those slow lazy days after Dasain when you don’t www.nepalitimes.com feel like working, you may want to browse Google OEarth and check out all the new embassies coming up in our fair capital. Our mole tells us that what we see of the Stalinsque façade of the new American embassy is just the tip of the iceberg: it apparently goes down five stories. Wonder why they need all those basements. And it won’t be all work and no play for American dips who have the misfortune to be assigned to this hardship post: Phora is being refurbished. Yay! And the fringe benefit for Nepalis is that the magnanimous yanks have yielded US territory to widen the road and sidewalk outside the palace. And that is what we hope the Norwegians will do as they start demolishing their current embassy building in Kopundole to build a bigger one in its place. Please, can you widen the road from Pulchok up to the embassy while you are at it? We know Patan Sub-metropolis or whatever it's called will never get around to it in the next 100 years. Up the road a bit, the Swiss are in negotiation with a certain former finance minister to buy the Ekanta Kuna premises that they have rented ever since that neighbourhood was still ekanta. The price tag is so high, apparently even the Swiss can’t afford it. The Indians and Chinese are not sitting idly by. The Indians are tearing down their Dak Bungalow in Lajimpat and the Chinese are back in Naxal at their swanky new premises. In the early 1970s, they used to say that Indian Naxalites got their name from the location of Mao’s embassy in Kathmandu. Must have great feng shui. FG

While the cessation of hostilities between Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie have dominated international peace talks over the last week, Nepali leaders have shunned the spotlight of a spectacular resolution, instead taking their time to really chew things over. It seems the summit talks took a bizarrely literal and literary turn, taking the proverbial worries about putting food in our mouths and our money where our months are very seriously indeed. Apparently caterers had put out a spread fit for a king—or president, as the case may be. But there was, shall we say, unequal distribution of these gustatory assets. The Sunday talks ended without any concrete developments possibly because the desserts were lousy. Still the Baluwatar Bhojanalaya Bonanza did cause a miniature economic revival around the PM’s residence, as an ocean of photographers, reporters, demonstrators and the simply curious created a classic supply-demand case study by cleaning out local shops and eateries of food, cigarettes, and soft drinks. FG Still, Sunday being the first workday after Dasain, it’s unlikely that anyone keeled over as a result of abject hunger. There were more than a few newly-refilled spare tyres around in the midriff of prominent Nepalis, although The Awesome One himself had the toned look of a man with a few morning walks under his belt. Some of our own colleagues had the foresight to use Dasain to stock up for the long haul taking their cue from our very own CP, who wisely avoided the dangers of flying by being a tad too portly for a Dhading- Pokhara chopper trip with his parents. FG

As the Ass dutifully reported in a previous instalment on this space, there is no letup in the mass marriages of Maoists among themselves. They’re all getting wedded as if there is no tomorrow. Is there something they know that we don’t? By the way, just wondering, how do these avowedly atheist revolutionaries tie the knot? Okay, so they swap weapons. But do they also swear by the red book? Do they carry their SLRs like some of us carried khukuris in our patukas while riding a horse in the old days? Apparently, jantis are de rigeur, and the wedding of nine young Maoists in Chitwan last week was part of the new ‘make love not war’ campaign.

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