#480 11 - 17 December 2009 16 pages Rs 30

LINEAGE, LEFT: Baburam Bhattarai is at home in the company of his fellow ideologues

Man in a hurry “Find the correct balance of pace for both sides” KIRAN PANDAY

ardliners in each of the For example, the UML has an an all-party coalition. afflicted with poverty, three big parties are almost right-wing faction, while Maoist ideologue Baburam unemployment, discrimination, EURO BHUTANIS H making it more difficult the NC has a leftist fringe that is Bhattarai represents the pragmatic dependency. We have to do away for the top leadership to find a acceptable to the Maoists. aspect of the Maoist hierarchy, with these as soon as possible. compromise power-sharing The Maoists, weakened by although one wouldn't guess that We have to hasten our pace," formula, prolonging the serious internal rifts, need an from what he has to tell us in an Bhattarai says. stalemate and threatening the acceptable face-saving way out of extensive interview this week. When asked about how his peace process. This could be why their ‘civilian supremacy’ stance. His clarification that ethnic party's labour militancy is senior leaders all sounded Conservatives in the NC and autonomous regions are just hurting industry, he replies: Older refugees from Bhutan may conciliatory after their numerous UML, however, smell blood and ‘symbolic’ betrays his party's "National investors and find it difficult to adjust to life in one-on-one and joint meetings don't want to give the Maoists an need to extricate itself from an multinational companies are Europe and separation from their this week, but came out with easy way out. Although the issue that is spinning out of the most welcome to invest in Nepal extended families, but their uncompromising stands the very Kailali incident this week and leadership’s control. and contribute to the children have fit right in, learning next day. the vicious Maoist attack on Peeling away the rhetoric, one development of the country. We Dutch, Danish or Norwegian. "The problem is not between Rukum journalist Tika Bista have senses his hurry to resolve the have no policy to discourage When asked why they agreed to the political parties, it is within sharpened the rhetoric on both political deadlock to pay investment in the country." third-country resettlement, the the parties themselves," one sides, the three were said to have attention to the economy and to Excerpts on p3, full interview on parents all say: "For our children's senior adviser told Nepali Times. edged closer to a formula for development. "Our society is www.nepalitimes.com future." p8-9 2 EDITORIAL 11 - 17 DECEMBER 2009 #480

Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Editor: Kunda Dixit Desk Editor: Rabi Thapa CEO: Ashutosh Tiwari Design: Kiran Maharjan DGM Sales and Marketing: Sambhu Guragain [email protected] Marketing Manager: Subhash Kumar Asst. Manager: Arjun Karki Hatiban, Godavari Road, Lalitpur Nepal in Copenhagen Fax: 5251013 [email protected] GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu 5250333/845 www.nepalitimes.com Printed at Jagadamba Press 5250017-19 Ten steps to a new carbon-neutral Nepal

ast week’s high profile country by 2030: currently Nepal to save the Himalaya: we are lucky CRISIS OF THE WEEK cabinet meeting below consumes a tiny amount of energy to have thousands of L Mount Everest must not be per capita and has a very small mountaineers all over the world As this country lurches from one crisis to another, the seen as just a publicity stunt. We carbon footprint. If we make a who love Nepal and who would government is too busy fire-fighting to plan or implement must build on it to mobilise a concerted and determined effort happily work with us in a global anything. This week's crisis was the violence in the forests of Kailali, real, sustained global campaign to now, it is quite conceivable that campaign to save the Himalaya. where we witnessed a combustible mixture of politics and protect the Himalaya, to uplift we can build a carbon-neutral Let us reach out to them, and populism. It is now becoming clear from field reports that the the lives of the billion-plus future. organise a campaign of global Maoists deliberately mobilised tens of thousands of people they people who live in the river 2. Develop a master plan for solidarity with them to help had promised land to in the past. basins flowing from these mighty energy independence: at a time protect the Himalaya and uplift Some were genuinely landless, some ex-Kamaiyas, but the when we have prolonged daily the living conditions of the majority were people bussed in from afar. The timing was what GUEST COLUMN blackouts and rely heavily on people of the Himalayan region. gave it all away: they were pouring oil onto the agitation. What Kul Chandra expensive imported petroleum 6. Further expand community the Maoists perhaps hadn't bargained for, and five people paid Gautam products for most of our modern forestry and national parks: Nepal for their lives for this, was that the government was determined transport and industry, energy has a very successful and to forcibly stop the land-grabbing that has rapidly spread across water towers of the world, and to independence may seem an exemplary community forestry the country, especially in the western Tarai. There is a moral to the story of the Maoists copying the NC generate momentum to build a unrealistic prospect. But Nepal program. We can expand these and and UML in resettling new vote banks along the highways by new carbon-neutral Nepal. has vast untapped water, solar our national parks to both provide clearing forests: don't stir the hornets' nest. Perhaps the more Later today in Copenhagen, a and wind energy resources, and livelihoods for our people and to important lesson pertains to the resettlement of Maoist large gathering of eminent people power. We certainly have earn credit under the global carbon guerrillas, qualified and unqualified alike. If they are let out into mountaineers from around the the potential to become energy emission-trading scheme. society without a plan, incidents like this week's explosion of world will be marching in a independent if we develop an 7. Promote eco-tourism: given violence may find better motivated and heavier armed ‘Summit of Summiteers’ ambitious, long-term master plan. the great diversity of its flora and instigators. campaign to the save the 3. Switch to Nepal-based fauna and the stunning natural But Dudejhari has already started to fade from the media Himalaya. Their message will be renewable energy sources for major beauty of Nepal, there is great glare, being replaced by some other crisis of the week. It is reinforced by Prime Minister new transport and industrial potential for us to specialise in clear that incidents like these will become increasingly Madhav Kumar Nepal next week projects: as we develop ambitious eco-tourism. commonplace unless the political parties do not come to a power-sharing agreement soon. Unfortunately, we see a when he addresses world leaders new national 8. Build a new capital city dangerous political polarisation between the Maoists on the one at the climate change summit. reconstruction and and regional growth hubs: hand and the NC/UML on the other. This chasm is difficult to Besides pleading for more development plans, we must Kathmandu is choking and can no bridge because both sides are being goaded on by hardliners on foreign aid citing our Least discontinue business-as-usual longer handle further population both sides who agree on only one thing: the peace process was Developed Country status, what development paradigms. Instead growth and traffic. We need to a mistake and we should start killing each other all over again. can Nepal actually offer its of building new roads and consider developing a new Forget the political slogans about civilian supremacy: the people, and humanity at large, as highways that depend on parallel capital city. As Nepal secret talks these days are all about the conditions (read its unique contribution to turn expensive imported petroleum moves towards a new federal cabinet berths) under which the Maoists will agree to come back the threat of global warming into products and destroy our pristine structure, we must develop new, to power. Deals that had almost been finalised by the moderate an opportunity to build a better environment, we must switch to well-planned, environmentally leadership of all three parties have in recent weeks been future? electricity-operated high-speed friendly and economically viable sabotaged by radicals within. Pushpa Kamal Dahal managed to save his party by deft trains, trams, trolley buses and urban settlements and growth footwork to have his party convention postponed. The thinking I suggest a 10-point action ropeways. Let us discourage centres. within the right wing of the UML is: "Let's finish them off before plan to build a carbon- smoke-belching, polluting 9. Promote a culture of non- they finish us off." And kangresi conservatives now openly say neutral Nepal: industries and encourage factories violence: we must end the culture the peace process was a mistake. 1. Declare Nepal’s aspiration and industries that use electric, of violence spreading across the All this pushes a power-sharing deal further away. However, to become a carbon-neutral solar and wind energy to power country. Non-violence must there is really no other our industrial plants. extend to protecting our precious way to ensure the 4. Offer generous tax natural resources. relative stability we incentives for vehicles and 10. Invest in children: we need to finish machinery using non-polluting must protect our environment to constitution writing and energy sources: although we pay save our children, and empower conclude the peace process. In fact, if the lip service to clean energy, our tax our children to save the power deal can be system does not favour the import environment. It is for our children done, everything else and use of electrically operated or and future generations that we could pretty much fall hybrid vehicles and industrial must build a carbon-neutral new into place. The equipment and machinery. It is Nepal. Like all progressive and question is will the time not just for tax incentives, prosperous countries, let us invest pragmatists in all three but also for subsidies for heavily in the survival, protection parties be allowed by transport vehicles and industrial and development of our children, their hardliners to machinery that minimise carbon and inculcate in them an abiding strike a deal? emissions and greenhouse gases. love of nature and the 5. Launch a global campaign environment. ANANDA RAM DANGOL

LLL ETTERS

DEFROSTED This article has the right conclusion. issue head-on immediately, it will spiral believing the enticements of the The huge number of fires burning plastic Rather than debate what to do about out of control. The best way to fix the Marlboro Man. waste across the country must be a big ‘climate change’, it is better to concentrate problem is to create a conducive Observation contributing factor to the rising on the imperative to reduce carbon usage environment for investment in productive temperatures in Nepal for economic reasons. economic activities. Agriculture has been UNWANTED IN ACCHAM (‘Defrosted’, #479). In The imperative will absorbing most of the jobs so far, but this It may be more feasible to remind people the area where I stay in become more urgent with will have to change before it’s too late. that the husband usually has the strongest Pokhara, there are hundreds of millions of Gaule hero preference with regard to the child’s some days when we Chinese, Brazilians, gender (‘Unwanted in Accham’, #478). can hardly breathe Indians, and others now KING OF SNEERS Maybe he will be better able to withstand because of the toxic joining the ranks of the Excellent and insightful article (‘King of societal pressure than the wives and smoke in the air, as middle class. sneers’, #478). KFC is stomach-churning there will subsequently be fewer each household burns Ken and greasy, and Pizza Hut is pretty much abortions. their plastic rubbish. the bottom of the barrel of pizza chains. Proud to be a daughter Sadly people do not LABOUR WOES And I see no benefit economically to understand that the The Beed is spot on Nepal, except to a few wealthy folks who CORRECTION sickly fumes drifting (‘Labor woes’, #478). can buy franchises. Thinking that you’re Contrary to a caption from last week’s into their own homes Creation of employment being sophisticated and Western by Happenings section, the Australian Embassy are a great danger to opportunities is lining up to swallow food that, in the handed out cheques totalling AUD 170,000 the future health of paramount for West, is seen as cheap, low-status, and under its Direct Aid Program. Australian their own families. sustainable growth, yet it has become a just something to eat when nothing else Ambassador Susan Grace’s name was also incorrectly spelt. Bridgette Harris peripheral issue. Unless we tackle this is available is little different from INTERVIEW 11 - 17 DECEMBER 2009 #480 3 “If you consider all oppressed people Maoists, if you say all 28 million Nepalis are Maoists, we are quite comfortable with that”

Nepali Times spoke to vice-chairman of the UCPN will automatically go to the president. They are (Maoist) Baburam Bhattarai on Tuesday on encouraging the president to assume all power and federalism, the landless problem, the current political institute a formal dictatorship in the country. We deadlock and ways forward. Excerpts follow: hope he won’t be provoked.

Nepali Times: It was reported last week that the What should be done to end the current political politburo will demarcate federal units on the basis of deadlock? nationality instead of ethnicity. Have the Maoists We should have worked out the modality of taking abandoned the issue of ethnicity? decisions and forming government through Baburam Bhattarai: From the very beginning, we have consensus. But when the Maoists emerged as the said the basis of the federal system should be largest party, some of the old parliamentary parties nationality. In Marxist terms, nationality means a went against that principle and opted for a majority common language, geography, economy and system, which invites the dirty game of pulling down psychological make-up. On this basis we have and making new governments. Constitution writing proposed federal autonomous units in Nepal. has thus been overshadowed. We should only go for competitive politics once the constitution is written. Let me be clear that translating the word ‘nationality’ into Hindi it becomes jatiyeta (ethnicity), in Nepali it Are the Maoists not responsible for the deadlock at becomes rastriyata (nationality). In English, ethnicity all? is also jatiyeta, caste is also jatiyeta and nationality We are responsible in the sense that we are the is also jatiyeta. So there was some confusion. Since largest party. The current clash is between two the very beginning we have been consistent that forces, those who want to bring about changes in federalism should be along the lines of nationality. society and those who resist it. The challenge is to find a correct balance of pace for both sides. Isn’t the declaration of autonomous federal states by the party unconstitutional? You have made a unilateral decision to release Who says? In the interim constitution and unqualified combatants. Do you have UNMIN’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement we have already support? agreed to adopt a federal system. Those going back We have already made our commission for on this commitment are violating the spirit of the disqualified PLA combatants to be discharged. It is constitution. our duty to comply with that agreement and I don’t think anybody should have any objection to that. What if all political parties start declaring their own federal states? Some argue the Maoists want to use the PLA as a They are most welcome. That will help the people and bargaining tool. engage them in the debate. In the CPA, we made a commitment to integrate and rehabilitate the PLA and democratise the NA. That’s The Kailali incident has cast doubt over the Maoists’ the only way you can create a new national army and commitment to democracy and a new constitution. complete the peace process. How can you win the people’s confidence? The people are with the Maoists. The reactionary Is it true that your name was proposed for the post of elements who sided with the monarchy are feeling prime minister in a new coalition government? insecure because the monarchy is gone, but they Our concern is that civilian supremacy be need not be. The Nepali people who have suffered for established in the country, and that peace and the so long want to introduce a democratic system, constitution are guaranteed. You need a national restructure the state, and bring about social and coalition government to facilitate this. First let this economic transformation, which will create peace, peace process be settled, then only will we talk stability and prosperity in the country. about who will lead the government.

Did the Maoists encourage the landless to occupy So you think the Maoists should lead the government land illegally? government? Do you think the millions of landless people don’t This is the mandate of the people. We are the largest have any rights over the land? These are natural party. Even the second and third party combined are resources given free by nature. It is perfectly smaller than us. Where on earth do you make a legitimate for landless people to ask for their share of coalition government and not have it led by the land and we support them. largest party?

Are you trying to find a way to mobilise your cadres Do you regret leaving the government? by announcing autonomous states, as you did by No, we did the right thing. We set a very high encouraging the landless in Kailali? standard of political morality and we are very proud The landless peasants’ problem is a real issue in of that. Nepal. If you don’t solve it, they will agitate for their rights. If you want to say all 28 million people of International donors recently asked for reassurance Nepal are Maoists we will be quite comfortable with that the Basic Operating Guidelines will be that. respected, citing incidents of extortion and threat. We fully abide by the guidelines. There will be no Political leaders are frequenting the extortion of anybody, especially foreign donors president’s residence lately. What’s and NGOs and INGOs. If there are any specific your take? complaints, we are always ready to look into that The legal advisor to the president and take appropriate action against the culprits. wrote an article in a national daily arguing if the constitution is not Full interview on www.nepalitimes.com written on time, power

KIRAN PANDAY 4 NATION 11 - 17 DECEMBER 2009 #480

certainty with which both population. politicians and civil society in The Madhes movement is not the Tarai dismiss the CA, for they over by any stretch of the are convinced that a strong imagination. The 1990s showed Kathmandu lobby will block that as the interaction of the Forget-me-not federalism, affirmative action, Madhes with the state increased, a and structural change. constituency of young radicalised Kathmandu is once again people was born who perceived forgetting how movements for and personally felt the dignity and rights evolve. The humiliation of the discriminatory smallest slight can trigger a mass structures surrounding them. movement; a prolonged period of Politics may be going through a seeming peace can be followed by lull of sorts, but the churning on riots and disturbances; and when the ground continues. The both the authorities and political radicalisation of the young, the representatives are discredited, intelligentsia, mid-sized locally active segments of the landowners, families of migrant population will dictate the workers, and students has only agenda and pace of protests. grown in the last two years. The example of India is These groups are looking for a instructive. It seemed peace had political platform. The slowly returned to Kashmir with established Madhesi parties are a dip in Pakistan-sponsored losing ground. The NC has been infiltration. Then in 2008, a unable to regain their trust. The seemingly innocuous UML’s virulent anti-Madhesi administrative decision to mindset is now widely transfer land to the Amarnath recognised. The Maoists are temple board sparked off mass slowly increasing their base with protests, and polarised the state an influx of newer leaders, their communally. The alleged rape of commitment to federalism, and two women by security forces in the loyal Dalit-landless base, but

KIRAN PANDAY Shopian and the state’s efforts to remains limited. And the armed cover it up then discredited the groups have become fragmented, pendra Yadav announced new Omar Abdullah government discredited, criminalised, a new movement last Even as the focus remains on the completely. In 2004, it was a and weaker. U week, demanding the government-Maoist impasse, the single ‘encounter’ resulting in the If the state is more confident implementation of the eight- death of an unarmed civilian today, it is because of this point agreement, the restoration Madhes is slowly coming back to woman in Manipur that triggered political vacuum in the Madhes. of the vice president to his haunt the ruling classes an agitation for the repeal of It is not because of a change in constitutional position, and draconian security laws. The heart among Madhesis, or their recognition of Hindi. The simple agitation was renewed earlier this sudden love for the present power structure. ministers, what else do you want?” year when another so-called establishment, or because state This is a part of the is a common refrain. And the encounter was caught on camera. structures have become inclusive PLAIN SPEAKING conventional wisdom in utility of the Madhes card for the The brutality of the security and won the loyalty of a broader Prashant Jha Kathmandu that holds that the Indians and others who wanted to forces and the alienation of local social alliance. Madhes movement is dead. The weaken the Maoists is over. populations are greater in India’s The fundamental trust deficit Madhes parties are fragmented This view has elements of hotspots than in Nepal. But the between the state and Madhesi cynical interpretation is that and have been co-opted into the truth in it. But it misreads the capacity of the state to quell people persists, and it will Yadav has locked himself into a establishment. The armed sense of rage that lies beneath the dissent, and use coercion and translate into a confrontation. At position where he cannot join movement has faded away with seeming disillusionment. It political persuasion, is also that point, the fact that a Dr this government. Through the slightly better public security. ignores the sense of betrayal that higher in India. In Nepal, a weak Yadav heads the state, even if he andolan, he wants to increase his Concessions have already been most Madhesis feel with both the and unreformed Nepali state, were to to run it, will bargaining power, and then push made to the Madhes – “You have state and their own representatives. reluctant to make any substantive be irrelevant to the Madhesi for a decisive stake in a future all the top posts, so many It does not take into account the change, faces an angry and restive masses. Inspiring success

he poet Madhav Ghimire indicated the pipal tree, these nursing students had faced themselves, they which can grow through boulders, to illustrate the readily understood the needs of a career counselling T power of creation. So it is that the five students centre. from the Seti-Mahakali Nursing College in the far western Meena Chand explained the counselling centre's Tarai district of Kanchanpur have won the British Council’s two-year business plan. About 300 youths will be Enterprise Challenge 2009, to claim Rs 100,000 as well counselled every month at the centre, to earn Rs as a video camera. The nature of their project proposal – a 1,080,000 a year, of which over Rs 800,000 will go on career counselling centre – has allowed them to realise expenditures. The balance will be ploughed back into not just their own considerable potential but also paved the business as well as scholarships. The team also the way for other young students to do the same. plans to expand operations to other districts. The Enterprise Challenge is organised annually by The girls from Seti-Mahakali Nursing College now the British Council’s skills for employment program. have an opportunity to expand their horizons yet further. According to project officer Tsering Gurung, “Our principal As winners of the Nepali Enterprise Challenge, they aim is to create opportunities for the new generation by have been tasked with making a five-minute project supporting social and economic development.” The Council video that will be aired on YouTube, Facebook and has made special efforts to reach youth outside the Twitter in competition with projects from Bangladesh, Kathmandu Valley, and the results are there for all to see. Pakistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. This year, entries included students from the Seti-Mahakali The team netting the most votes will travel to the United Nursing College, the Far West School of Medicine, Trade Kingdom in March 2010 for further training. School-Sunsari, Balaju School of Engineering and Last year’s winners from the Balaju School of Enterprise Challenge Technology and the Pokhara Tourism and Training Centre. Engineering and Technology made it past the regional The winning team was announced during an event held competition to travel to the United Kingdom. Project 2009 proves the from 16-17 November at the British Council in Kathmandu. Officer Gurung is confident such successes will inspire creativity and If creativity, entrepreneurship and financial sustainability others in Nepal to believe in their own potential and were to be rewarded, Sukarsha Ghimire, Sunita Chaudhary, work with others to set up projects. Equally important, perserverance of Nepali Madhu Gurung, Babita Bista and Meena Chand’s project the success of Seti-Mahakali College has proven wrong youth is not limited to had it in spades. As their instructor Rusila Paudel the stereotype that Nepal’s all about a Valley-centric explained, “It’s tough for SLC and +2 graduates to decide patriarchy. There’s plenty going on out there. the Kathmandu Valley on a career. We wanted to help them.” Given the difficulties Suresh Raj Neupane BUSINESS 11 - 17 DECEMBER 2009 #480 5

Forefront

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Standard Chartered Bank was Lessons learnt awarded ‘Bank of the Year’ by the Banker Magazine for their his month is my last as part makes it easier for him to shoulders. values sharing information long-term strategic quickly with one another. The commitment to Asia, ability to the CEO of Himalmedia. have good working relations with For long-term stress-free more information the staff deliver shareholder returns As I look back on the last the Board, which can then results, a CEO has to initially set T members have about their and gain strategic advantage. 27 months of restructuring work provide advice, guidance and himself up as a patient coach who and turnaround challenges, all of necessary doses of skepticism. will let some employees make company, the more they feel that which have been completed for Conflicts that many Nepali mistakes, stumble, not get results they know what’s going on, and

Bike loans this knowledge helps reduce the

○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○ now, here are three lessons that I private firms, notably banks, have for some time, before making sure level of internal Everest Bank is collaborating have learnt and applied. between their CEOs and Board with Morang Auto Works to members boil down to the politicking. facilitate loans for the former’s inability to repeatedly Company culture purchase of Yamaha bikes. It STRICTLY BUSINESS communicate their own job that faces outside has is the first bank to introduce Ashutosh Tiwari description to the Board to be customer-centric. bike finance in Nepal. members. This means that all Persistence is important: I staff, from those who Board is the boss: The used to think that create the goods to

Helping hand those who ship the ○○○○○○

○○○○○○○○○ state of corporate governance is communication was very As part of their social abysmal in Nepali private important. It is, but not as goods to the commitment, Yeti Airlines is companies. That sorry state comes important as persistence to see customers, are donating Rs 4 per flight ticket about not because of malice on challenges through over a stretch to four organisations, namely anyone’s part, but because of of time by focusing single- Helpless Children Welfare ignorance about what the mindedly on the results. Almost Mission, Itahari, Sewa Kendra Governance, persistence Leprosy Relief, Kathmandu, governance of a private sector firm all managerial accomplishments Spinal Injury Rehabilitation entails. are about getting things done. As and culture matter most But an astute CEO need not such, quietly determined Centre, Sangha, and Women thinking about a single question: for Human Rights, Kathmandu. despair. His primary task is to persistence on the CEO’s part that they have mastered the art of think of himself as an agent signals to staff that the results getting their act together to start how can we please the customer who’s been appointed by the matter more for the company than delivering results. An initial so that he does repeat business

Soaring high Board to represent the interests of just communicating back and investment of coaching pays for with us? ○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○ the owners of the company, that forth and getting along with one itself many times over. At Himalmedia, though we Thai Airways is celebrating its have been able to get the internal Golden jubilee this year. The is, the shareholders who have put another. Culture matters: Culture culture of openness working, we first commercial airline to in money to earn returns. This To get the results, one can rant has two parts: one facing inward, operate with jet services with clarity about why he’s there and rave and scold employees. and the other facing outward. still have a lot of work to do to be SE210 Caravelle aircraft makes it easier for the CEO to Fear works very well to get Inside the company, the CEO can more customer-centric. Still, at a between Bangkok and filter important decisions outcomes in the short run. But it use his role to share information media company, balancing what Kathmandu, it has been through the lens of this question: will fail to develop the long-term with all, be approachable to staff, advertising customers want with serving Nepal for 41 years “Is this decision in the interest of capability and the professional be transparent about important the obligations of being a now. the shareholders?” If yes, proceed. confidence of the staff to deliver HR and management decisions respected, independent public If no, rethink and revise. results on their own, without that affect staff, and focus on watchdog is a task that is

Win-Win This mindset on the CEO’s anyone hovering over their creating an environment that challenging for any manager. z

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Rabi Khadka won Tuesday’s play-off of the third event of the Surya Nepal Golf Tour against Shiva Ram Shrestha. Rupak On the web|www.nepalitimes.com Acharya won the Amateur Section. Last week, the Maoist party announced that the federal autonomous provinces will be delineated on the basis of nationality, as opposed

Buy and sell to ethnicity. We asked people what they thought was the difference ○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○ between ethnicity and nationality. Selected comments below: A special scheme is now available to customers of It’s nothing, just propaganda. Creating states based on ethnicity will Morang Auto Works give the Maoists enough support from each and every ethnicity as all purchasing Gladiator SS of them would get a stake in the government. motorcycles. It offers 0% - Sagarmatha finance on finance purchase of bikes and a Rs 10,000 ‘Ethnicity’ has become a dangerous term to use in politics precisely discount for customers who because it has become politicised. The word ‘nation’ here is meant make cash purchase. The to have positive connotations about fellowship, kindred spirit, offer is valid till 15 January. communion, not to mention self-determination and individuality. But Also, it is offering a ‘Buy Back let’s not kid ourselves. This kind of federalism, even if it is only Guarantee’ on Alba ‘symbolic’, will hand down, from above, legitimacy to one group of Motorcycles. people over others.

Inauguration - Alexis ○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○ Let’s face it, we are headed for ethnic federalism. We must look Jebile’s Finance Limited was forward and take examples from where this model has worked, and formally inaugurated by NRB’s avoid the mistakes of places where it hasn’t. deputy governor Bir Bikram - Patriot Rayamajhi this week. The finance company is run with Give Gurung, Magar, Tarai, Tharu, Rai, Sherpa and Limbu people a Rs 400 million authorised historical opportunity to take part in governance, which is systemically capital, Rs 200 million fixed denied them. Maybe they will be more accountable and responsible assets and Rs 102 million for the development of Nepal. current assets. The company - Anuj has already collected Rs 168 million deposit and invested Rs 72.7 million. On the blogs|www.nepalitimes.com/blogs

Turning 20 East-West with Kunda Dixit: More observations from the road. ○○○○○○

○○○○○○○○○ The Brief: All the news you need in one place. Continental Trading Enterprises, the authorised New this week: distributor of Komatsu My city: A photo blog from the photographers at Nepali Times. construction & mining equipment for Nepal is More ways to get connected: celebrating 20 years of www.nepalitimes.com for added features on this week’s issue partnership with Komatsu. The www.facebook.com/nepalitimes to connect with other readers enterprise has extended its www.twitter.com/nepalitimes for updates on politics, business warranty on all equipment to and society two years. 6 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 11 - 17 DECEMBER 2009 #480 Community deforestation

Durgalal KC in Nepal, 13 December decided to cut the forests and start cultivation because they were being encroached upon by squatters. The chairman of one user group, Nepal’s community forestry success story may be Duryodhan Pandey, said: “When the squatters unravelling if the trend in Dang is anything to go wouldn’t move, we thought it was better to cut by. Forests that were conserved by communities are down the trees and use the land ourselves.” being cut down by the user groups themselves. Two The Dang DFO has warned user groups that it thirds of the 447 community forests in Dang are may get the police to evict the encroachers and if said to be in the process of being denuded, that doesn’t work, they may lose their lease on affecting more than 3,200 hectares of woodland government forests if the deforestation protected by villagers in the past decades. continues. The main parties in Dang have also Many places that used to be thick forests are started consultations on how to stop the today unrecognisable because they have been destruction of community forests. The UML turned into farmlands, or even plotted out to and NC are fully on board with getting the housing colonies. In many of the community encroachers out, but the Maoists are against KIRAN PANDAY forests, the user group committees have themselves the move. Kailali’s lessons Anti-climax Kantipur Dabali, Kantipur, 27 November Karna Bohara, Nagarik op-ed, 8 December

The Tibetan mastiff is losing hair. Snakes in Last Friday, while scenes of the cabinet preparing to meet on the Tarai are moving uphill. There are mice and Kala Patthar were being shown live on tv, preparations for a cockroaches in the kitchen. Kafal is ripe in confrontation were ongoing in Kailali. More than 15,000 Dadeldhura. Rhododendrons are blooming squatters had gathered along the highway with ‘orders from early. Phewa Lake is receding. Winters are above’ to encroach on the forest, while 2,000 security force getting warmer. Rain falls after the rice harvest. personnel too had orders not to let that happen. When the All because of climate change. Now, even the police started setting fire to the huts, the squatters brought out inflation is being blamed on climate change their khukuris and axes. Both sides had orders not to give in. and so is the political deadlock! By dusk, five people lay dead. Many were wounded. Both sides took their dead and wounded and retreated, weeping and looking down. The squatter problem is not new to the farwestern Tarai. The clever and powerful have always encroached on the forests of Kailali and Kanchanpur. There is now pressure on land from the landless, the freed Kamaiyas, from migrants from the hills and flood and landslide victims. Political parties like the NC and UML have always used this shifting population as a vote bank for elections. The Maoists used the same groups for recruitment, but after getting into government the party couldn’t deliver on its promises of land to its supporters, who were increasingly disillusioned. Three weeks ago, an all-party meeting in Kanchanpur decided to clear squatters from community forests with the use of force if necessary. So the district administration chased out 4,000 squatters who came out on the highway and started chanting anti-Maoist slogans. The Maoist leadership felt it was losing control of its erstwhile supporters, so it announced that anyone moving down to Dudejhari would get 10 kattha of land each. In one week, more than 20,000 people were bussed in by the Maoists, some from as far away as Surkhet. The party then started provoking the squatters to confront the expected security clampdown. The ordinary folk who were enticed to Dudejhari with the promise of land did not know they were pawns in a political game, the political parties themselves were pawns in the shenanigans of the land mafia. Ordinary peasants were being readied to kill or die. The Kailali administration decided to use live bullets as the tension escalated. If the government still doesn’t learn its lesson, and unless the main parties stop using Left arrow: ‘Agreement’ peasants as cannon fodder in their power games, the problem Right arrow: ’Disagreement’ of land is going to be much more explosive in the future. Batsayan in Kantipur on 6 December CONSTITUTION 2010 11 - 17 DECEMBER 2009 #480 7

“CA shouldn’t be parliament also”

Debaraj Joshi, NC CA member, Bajura

How have you spent the last two years in the CA? We set the CA agenda and formed the committees. Then, the committees canvassed and discussed public suggestions for the constitution and started work on preliminary drafts. The Determination of the Form of Rule Committee, Judicial System Committee and the Distribution of Natural Resources, Financial Rights and Public Revenue Committees haven’t finished their drafts yet.

How difficult will it be to write the constitution on time? Going by the current pace of work, it’s unlikely to be written on time. But we must write it, even if that means pushing back the deadline once again.

What are the chief reasons for the delay? The main reason is the distrust among Autonomous Karnali the parties. This distrust would disappear if there were a high-level political mechanism. In a discussion organised by Himal Khadga Sejuwal (NC): The army chief mistakes too, but the Maoists committed a Khabarpatrika last week in Jumla, people issue caused a lot of insecurity and major wrong in halting the constitution- revealed that they are concerned about the hindered the constitution-writing process. writing process. protracted political impasse and delayed But the people are aware of what’s constitution-writing process. They also necessary, and if the parties fail to write Gajendra Mahat: We need to stop worrying unanimously supported an autonomous the constitution, the people will do it about whether the constitution will be Karnali region with special provisions for themselves. written and actually write it. There is need its development. Translated excerpts: for more discussions on federal states and Would an amended interim constitution be the rights to be given to them. How hopeful are you about the constitution- acceptable? writing process? Durga Prasad Pandey (President, NGO What type of federalism does Karnali need Birkha Bahadur Budha (Treasurer, RPP- Federation, Jumla): So much money has and on what basis? Nepal): The CA members were elected to already been spent on the new German Nepali (Dalit activist): Federalism write a new constitution incorporating the constitution. Frankly, if the politicians became a hot topic because the centre has people’s aspirations. They seem to have can’t run this country, let’s give it up to too much power in the current unitary submitted themselves to their party’s India or China. system. Decentralisation and the devolution interests and foreign forces. of power will ultimately strengthen the Sarpananda Hamal (President, Nepal Red federal structure. Karnali people want Has the CA stopped working Debi Sejuwal (Chair, Appellate Bar Unit): Cross Society, Jumla): The interim federalism based on geography and the altogether? Both the CA members and party leaders are constitution is temporary, and doesn’t availability of natural resources. No. It’s tough because the CA fighting only for their existence. They can’t incorporate all of the people’s aspirations. functions as the legislature too. We make one decision without consulting India, While it may take a while to write a new Kantika Sejuwal (Principal, Karnali should have kept the functions China or America. Instead of writing the constitution, we must complete it. Secondary School): Karnali’s voice won’t be separate. That way, the CA could constitution we are contemplating which heard no matter how loudly we shout. The focus exclusively on writing the country Nepal should obey: India, China or Laxmi Kanya Budha (Chair, Republic media doesn’t care about us, especially our constitution. America. Women Network): If the interim gender issues. Women are discriminated constitution is appropriately amended, against at every step yet don’t have a voice What needs to be done for the Gajendra Mahat (District in-charge, then it can serve as our new constitution. in the CA. constitution to be written on time? Maoists): It shouldn’t be so hard to write the The real issue is to ensure that the First, first every thematic committee constitution. The republic has already been people’s aspirations are met. Nanadraj Dhital (Disabled Rehabilitation must complete its drafts and submit established and although there are some and Development Centre): It’s unfortunate them to the main assembly. Second, disputes on federalism, the big parties are Bishnu Timilsina (advocate): The Karnali hasn’t been discussed during the the assembly should promptly finish near a consensus. The issue of the state constitution can’t be written overnight. debate on federalism. Some argue Karnali discussions and quickly make executive will easily be solved. We can Besides, we don’t need a perfect should be a separate state but it is not clear necessary revisions. Third, the even get a good constitution with constitution. It just has to enforced what basis is suitable. The states should Constitutional Council should collate amendments in the interim constitution. But properly. For instance, the current incorporate hill, mountain and Tarai regions, all of these drafts. But none of this can the question is, will whatever document we political problems wouldn’t have occured since they can’t survive independently. No happen without political consensus. write be implemented? The president’s had Pushpa Kamal Dahal followed the matter how many states we make, Nepali violation of the constitution is a bad portent. constitution. The President made national sentiment shouldn’t be fragmented. “Constitution must be written”

Ekraj Bhandari, Maoist CA member, Salyan issues have also been what do you have to say about this? discussed. All that is I disagree with you; CA members are busy working on What has the CA achieved in the past year required is a consensus. the constitution. NGOs and INGOs are helping us and a half? draft the constitution. This is a positive sign. In the beginning we prepared the regulations for the Are you addressing Therefore, it is an unfair assessment to say that the CA and formed different committees. Then we had issues or just adding on CA members are not effectively working on the members of the CA visit people’s homes to find out more problems? completion of the constitution. what they wanted to include in the new We are not trying to create constitution. Out of ten thematic committees, seven chaos and confusion. We are If the constitution is not ready within the have presented their drafts. Most of the technical just trying to address what stipulated time, will this not create further aspects have been addressed by the CA. The only is important and necessary. problems? thing left is to come to a consensus. We have to come to a consensus to finish writing the Instead of focusing on constitution. But in case we are unable to complete it Do you think the constitution will be the completion of the in time, we can always amend the interim drafted in time? constitution, the majority of CA members are constitution as an alternative. That way the function Yes, I am sure it will. Most of the technical work touring abroad, taking care of their personal of the CA will still be validated. Even if it takes 2-4 has been completed, and some of the principal business, and concerned with their own parties, years, we have to write the constitution. 8 NATION

fast with the language it is amazing,” Jacobsen told the Nepali Times, “but I must say we language instructors have learnt much more from our students about Bhutan than they have from us.” Bhutan evicted nearly 100,000 of its citizens 20 years ago, and with India’s assistance dumped them in eastern Nepal. Their numbers in seven camps in Morang and Jhapa have grown to 110,000 and those born in the camps are now teenagers. Two years ago, a consortium of western countries agreed to resettle the refugees and over 20,000 have now left, mostly to the United States. So far, Norway has taken 310, Denmark 305 and the Netherlands 122 refugees. After living for nearly two decades in bamboo huts in the hot and dusty plains of eastern Nepal, the Bhutanis now enjoy the amenities of modern apartments with high-tech kitchens. But it’s not the novelty THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT: of life in Europe that the refugees Bhutani children in a are most happy about. They say it Norwegian school. is the first time in a long time they are being treated with respect. Naturally, there is the sorrow of separation from their extended families back in Bhutan and Nepal (see box). “We now have everything we want, the only worry is about the relatives we left behind,” says Kebalram Rijal, 55, who arrived in Utrecht from Euro Bhutanis Goldhap recently. Third country resettlement GOPAL GURAGAIN sake, so he would have a future,” has not always been able to place Refugees no more, says Kamala Rijal, who was family members together. resettled in Utrecht in the Kebalram starts his day in a Bhutani families adapt efugees from Bhutan who Netherlands last year with her prayer room filled with pictures had been living in camps husband Hem and son Manish. of Hindu gods and goddesses and to life in Europe R in Nepal since 1991 are “He already speaks Dutch better he prays that he will soon be finding it difficult to adjust to than Nepali and all his friends reunited with his parents, who life in Europe and separation are Dutch.” were resettled in America, and his from their extended families, but In Denmark, Durga and daughter, who is still in Jhapa. their children have fit right in. Balkumari Adhikari’s two sons In the west Norwegian town of They are learning the local are already fluent in Danish and Tysuar Rohit Pokhrel, 68, and his languages and making friends are so good with gadgets they are wife are worried about their fast. in high demand in their family as well, and say the only It is the older family members apartment to fix the neighbours’ thing missing in their life is a who bear the brunt of culture malfunctioning computers. Hindu priest to do saradhha and shock, and find their new Ramesh Gautam, 26, only other ceremonies. z environment difficult to get a arrived in Norway three months handle on. But all agree that they ago, but even he has picked up See also: ‘Can’t wait to leave’, # 409 'Refugees finally find respect’, #409 are willing to go through it for Norwegian so rapidly that his 'No place like home’, #306 the sake of their children. teacher, Ina Jacobsen (pictured 'Home away from home’, #340 “We came here for our son’s left), is impressed. “They are so 'Long way from home’, #353

PICS: GOPAL GURAGAIN Ram, Laxman and Arjun

here are many Bhutanis with relatives Tscattered all over the world and the resettlement process hasn’t always been able to ensure that family members are sent to the same country. Fed up with living in the camps, Ram Karki arrived in the Netherlands via the Czech Republic and Belgium seven years ago. He is an activist for refugee rights and is now a Dutch citizen. He has filed a case against the Bhutan king at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands. Ram’s brothers Arjun and Laxman (pictured, to his right) have now joined him in the elder brother for nearly 20 years, and would like Netherlands under the third country to have a family reunion more than anything resettlement scheme. But his eldest brother is a else. As a Dutch national, Ram can now teacher in Bhutan and their parents are still in theoretically travel back to Bhutan but says he their ancestral village in southern Bhutan. Ram, is afraid the Thimphu regime may harass his Laxman and Arjun haven’t met their parents and brother and parents because of his activism. HOME SWEET HOME: Nawaraj Gajmer and family in the Netherlands 11 - 17 DECEMBER 2009 #480 9 Endless goodbyes

FAMILIES, INTERRUPTED Bhutani refugees in Jhapa substitute photos for family

GOPAL GARTOULA

GOPAL GARTOULA in JHAPA

ere in Beldangi there are tearful scenes of farewell every day as fleets of white IOM (International Organization for HMigration) buses taking Bhutanis for third country resettlement leave for Bhadrapur airport. Among those seeing off relatives and friends are those who have travelled clandestinely from Bhutan for poignant farewells before time and distance separate them from their relatives. Antari is 35 years old, and has come all the way from southern Bhutan, crossing two international borders, to say goodbye to her parents, and seven brothers and sisters and their children. She is the only member of her family still in Bhutan. “I don’t know when I will see them again, they are going so far away,” Antari sobbed, clutching a faded photograph of the family taken while they were still in Bhutan. Antari’s elderly parents Krishna Prasad and Dhanmaya can’t hide their tears. Hugging her parents, Antari tells them there is now no sign of their little ancestral home in Bhutan and even the tulasi plant in front of their house is gone. But Antari has brought a handful of soil from their homeland to give to her parents in a little plastic pouch before they leave. Dhanmaya takes a pinch from the pouch and puts it on her daughter’s forehead like tika as a final farewell. Like most Bhutanis here, Antari doesn’t want to be named or her picture taken for fear of retribution back home in Bhutan. She says the repression of Nepali speakers continues. More than 80,000 Lhotsampa Nepali speakers were not allowed to vote in last year’s elections. The signals of some Nepali FM stations reach southern Bhutan, but Antari says one has to be careful not to listen openly for fear of spies in the neighbourhood who have already labeled her ‘ngolop’ (anti-national) for having refugee relatives in Nepal. Saraswati Sharma is 83, but has travelled for three days to get to Beldangi to say goodbye to her second daughter, Shibamaya, who will soon be leaving to join her elder sister in the United States. For others, like 45-year-old Bhim, there was a different kind of farewell. Hearing his father was ill, he rushed to Nepal, arriving at the Sanishchare refugee camp only to hear that his father, whom he hadn’t seen for ten years, had just died. Bhim went straight to the banks of the river to light his father’s funeral pyre. z (Some names have been changed.) 10 OP-ED 11 - 17 DECEMBER 2009 #480 Friends like these With our friends homing in on security, Nepali democracy really will have to be home-grown

he Joint Secretary of to militarise the Nepali state, interests – meagre as they were India’s external affairs democrats and peaceniks in Nepal back then – in Nepal. With Af-Pak T ministry Satish Mehta has need no enemies. But that doesn’t emerging as a global hotspot, the decided that an army airstrip at mean they don't have to contend concept of the India Desk may yet Surkhet and the resumption of with more friendly advice from see a revival. But if the experiences non-lethal military supplies are further afield; everyone seems to of the past are anything to go by, the two most important needs of have designs for the vulnerable, there is nothing to cheer in the Nepal. Chief of Army Staff geopolitically strategic state decision of the Embassy of the Chhatra Man Singh Gurung is of Nepal. United States in Nepal to develop The Eurozone is still a American Centers in four different marginal player in global affairs, towns in the country. Intelligence STATE OF THE STATE often playing second fiddle to gathering rather than C K Lal Uncle Sam. But individual strengthening of democracy will European countries wield probably be their priority. leaving today for India for a week- considerable clout in the capital It seems Nepalis will have to long visit. For the Indian security cities of the Third World, where learn the ropes of democracy on establishment, the imperilled the academic elite and the INGO/ their own. All foreign aid is peace process of Nepal has KIRAN PANDAY NGO sector are important actors invariably aimed at strengthening suddenly become a low-priority in national politics. the establishment, of which the issue. Security cooperation rather West Point or the Indian Military soon to discuss the modalities of This sector may be naturally military is the most prominent than political interactions is Academy at Dehradun. General improving security along the more comfortable with the suave part. Hillary Clinton affirmed this going to be the focus of Indo- Gurung is an alumnus of the 1400km Nepal-Tibet border, much social elite than with the rustic viewpoint by vowing to restore Nepal relations in the coming latter and will be attending a of which remains impassable political class. The problem arises American leadership through a days. graduation ceremony there during throughout the year anyway. The when opinion leaders begin to ‘smart power’ mix of diplomacy These days, few Nepali his visit, but he will also have a agenda for Premier Madhav play favourites with the transfer and defence at her Senate politicians can access top-rung crucial meeting with Prime Kumar Nepal’s scheduled visit to and promotion of officers in the confirmation as the US Secretary Indian leaders. They have to go Minister Manmohan Singh’s Beijing from December 26 is thus Nepal Police or the Nepal Army at of State earlier this year. through featherweight politicos national security advisor M.K. more or less set: there may be the instigation of their sponsors Meanwhile, the queues at the like D.P. Tripathi, who was here Narayanan. some development assistance at various aid agencies. Playing KFC and Pizza Hut outlets, to say some time ago to bolster the Meanwhile, the Chinese sent a thrown in to sweeten the deal, politics with the defence nothing of the booming sales of resolve of the anti-Maoist team under Gen Shu Yu Tai, its but he will be asked to accept establishment is a bigger cause for Coke and Pepsi, will ensure that coalition in Singh Darbar. deputy force commander in Tibet, security assistance first and concern than even militarisation. Americans taxpayers needn’t Officers of the Nepal Army, to assess ways of enhancing foremost. Till the early 1960s, the India worry about the source of funds however, can boast of high-profile military assistance. Another With friendly neighbours like Desk at the State Department in that go in the name of aid to batch mates from Sandhurst, Chinese team is likely to arrive these competing with each other Washington looked after its Nepal. NATION 11 - 17 DECEMBER 2009 #480 11 Stagnant times For a country known for great political changes, we don’t have much to show for the last seven months

n Nepal, we have long Nepalis knew the transition maintained that political would not be easy and it would events happen too fast. be difficult to bring different I KIRAN PANDAY What was true the night before is ideologies together. But we also no longer so the morning after. knew that no matter what our This was especially true after the beliefs we all wanted the same end of the war and during the thing – peace and development. peace process. The way we have Political parties will always disagree, but this time around they agreed to come together and INTERESTING TIMES write the constitution. If the Mallika Aryal constitution is not written on time, and it is looking more and leapt forward from signing the more likely that it won’t be, there peace treaty, holding the will be anarchy in Nepal. We will Constituent Assembly elections be an embarrassment in the world and ending the monarchy, it has community and the leaders will been a rollercoaster ride. have once again failed the people. But since the Maoists quit A recent survey indicates the the government in May our rush majority of Nepalis either don’t towards change has come to a know what federalism is, or don’t complete halt. The largest party want it. Perhaps if the leaders had hasn’t stopped sulking about left Kathmandu to talk to their civilian supremacy. Mistrust constituencies we would not now between political parties has so be stumbling towards a system deepened that no high-level task that most Nepalis do not even force or fence-mending meet has want. The priority should be come up with a solution. This fixing Nepal first. In order to do has been going on for over seven that Nepal’s leadership must let months and there’s no end in go of rigid ideological stances that sight to this deadlock. the common people do not care Very few things have actually about. Being flexible does not changed in Nepal in the last equate to being weak. People want year. The country is still reeling promises delivered. They want from a crippling fuel crisis, and results. They are tired of the Nepalis are quietly getting ready limbo. They want great change. for long, dark, cold winter They want the leadership to put nights. Nepal bandas have them first. z continued, new businesses are too scared to invest and the continuing extortion of entrepreneurs has led some to consider closing shop. While those who killed journalists Birendra Sah and Uma Singh have gone scot-free more journalists are being threatened and beat up all over Nepal. The rehabilitation of ex-combatants is in limbo. Three years on from the CPA, the families of the victims of war have no word on missing family members, nor official acknowledgement of wrongdoing by either side or reparations. The Nepali people are not a priority for the leadership because the latter are so bogged down by political bickering. Then there are the big meetings to attend, from Kala Patthar to Copenhagen. These are important global meets, but they are easy distractions and an excuse not to deal with what is really important at home. Most of the mammoth 57-member government delegation in Copenhagen for the climate conference are CA members. Shouldn’t their priority be writing the constitution that is due in six months? 12 NATION 11 - 17 DECEMBER 2009 #480 Tales of the underclass

Frank Senn, Hari Thapa and Otto C. Honegger The sixth experience of these migrants Many end up worse off than had Sherpas - The true heroes of Mount Everest except for those who make the they stayed in Nepal. Kathmandu headlines for the wrong reasons. What was your inspiration? International The film’s protagonist, In 2003, we did an expedition on the north side of Mount Everest and How hard was it for you to Dalbir, is swindled while decided to film what noone had filmed before – how hard the Sherpas Mountain Film film in the Gulf countries? attempting to go abroad the worked. Festival opened It’s difficult to get a visa let alone second time. Was he not get permission to film in the aware of such dangers? You trained some Sherpas in camerawork as well. in Kathmandu on Gulf. I had friends who Dalbir is a mature guy, but he got We had two Sherpas and they shot the portions above the base camp. Thursday. Nepali sponsored my first visit to the swindled by a Nepali conman. So But we had six cameramen and at the end of the film, it was hard to Times spoke to UAE but refused to do it when we you can imagine the chances of know who did what. went to film. I couldn’t get a visa the young folk fresh from the the directors of to Dubai the second time, so the village. What was the audience’s reaction in Switzerland? two of the films filming centres on Qatar. There was a huge discussion. The climbers were both happy and What role should the unhappy. Some Swiss climbers had come home saying, “I climbed Because of the presence of government play on behalf of Everest.” Now people were asking them: “Who was your Sherpa?” Kesang Tsetan nearly 400,000 Nepalis in the migrant workers? In search of the Riyal Qatar, you have said that it Given that workers’ remittances Did you have safety concerns during filming? is colonised by Nepalis, but add up to almost USD 3 billion, There is always a chance something will happen but we knew we had Why did you make a film from the bottom up. What is the government should make a strong, professional team. about migrant workers? their condition there? migration safer by regulating Everyone from a low-income An average worker with some skill manpower agencies, posting What would improve a Sherpa mountaineer’s life? background thinks about does alright – he returns home labour attachés in the migrant They should get internationally recognised degrees as mountain guides. migrating, has migrated or knows with savings. But it’s still tough destinations, and negotiating They are good climbers, and with a degree, they would have better someone who has migrated. Very condition: long hours, extreme with foreign governments for positions in the expeditions. little is known about the heat, stress and a lack of leisure. better wages. SOCIETY 11 - 17 DECEMBER 2009 #48013

“These kids know everything, but they don’t even cut one handful of grass” Being Mugali

PICS: SUSHAN PRAJAPATI

RABI THAPA look so good, but they lasted,’ she says, then eyes a crop-haired niece in shorts with distaste. ‘Look at them, wearing pants, short aigaun, Muga is a very ordinary Nepali hair. You can’t tell men from women.’ A hill village, and the traveller may be brash, gravel-voiced boy of about 10 R forgiven for passing it by. This may standing nearby sums it up. ‘Sun chaadi be how it should be. The seasonal road, in hira moti dhoti’. Gold, silver, diamonds, the words of 75-year-old Lila Maya Rai, has pearls and saris, that’s what grandma likes. made precious little difference to her life. She’s a grandmother to all these kids. ‘I’d have to walk whether there was a road or But Lila Maya isn’t too happy with the son not,’ she says. ‘We used to walk to Dhankuta, she shares the homestead with. ‘Seventeen to Dharan, and even to Jogbani on the Indian is when the brain goes bad, a blind age,’ she side, which took three days. But since I mutters. ‘He didn’t complete his School hardly go anywhere these days, even to Leaving Examination, and what good was market, what do I care where the road school then? Study, study, to plough the goes or not?’ land. He was a fool, he got married.’ It is not entirely true that civilisation has ‘And now he wants to go abroad again.’ passed Lila Maya by, even if she suggests the She points at a photo of a youth in blinding new, easy age of education and medicines sunlight against a backdrop of glittering and roads is not for her, this old woman of towers. ‘He said he couldn’t stand the heat, hard times. Just as her mother before her, Lila replaced, then again for glasses. ‘My teeth Manish, ‘they have to study, so they can’t do he was sweating from the soles of his feet. Maya had to bear the burden of a husband’s were all bad and cutting into my gums. Then anything else. They’re smart, they know Three years, and for what?’ A television, a early death, which left her with four I was seeing double, I’d chase one cow everything. But they don’t even pick up what computer, a camera and a few thousand daughters and a son. ‘Babu, those were the thinking it was two. So I went.’ they drop, they don’t cut one handful rupees. That’s all he brought back from hard days,’ she remarks matter-of-factly. ‘I Perhaps she would have made use of of grass.’ Dubai, what for?’ even had to put my hand to the plough.’ education, too, if she’d had the chance. ‘The Lila Maya doesn’t much fancy the chiplo ‘I just got the things I always wanted,’ Her calloused hands are as busy as ever. old man up the hill, he says, “We were born luga either, the smooth clothes from India Mani Raj admits when he and his wife join Shelling corncobs, drying the kernels in the too early, sister!” We had to spend our lives and China. She recalls with evident fondness us after a day planting millet. ‘I want to go yard. Herding her four cows with lusty in the dark. These kids,’ she grimaces, the days of weaving, cutting and dyeing her back because there’s nothing to do shouts, cutting grass for her four goats. gesturing at her seven-year-old grandson, own cloth. ‘It was hard work and they didn’t here.’ Never mind that only last month a Cooking for her son, daughter-in-law and cousin came back in a coffin. grandchild, washing dishes, chiding the It is perhaps too much to expect Lila neighbourhood kids. Chasing away the Maya to understand what her son wants hornets that threaten her apiary-in-a-log. She away from home. For her, despite is only at rest when she rolls herself a bidi everything, ‘Muga is like heaven,’ it’s home. and lights it. ‘This is my friend.’ She’s not sentimental for the past, and has ‘The days of happiness are here,’ she few desires, though when asked if she’d like drawls, as often as she mentions the bad old to go live in Kathmandu, she’s game. days. Watching her work, unceasingly, it is ‘Why not?’ not clear if she means it. Education she never ‘But my days are gone,’ she repeats with had, nor until recently, modern medicine. a laugh. She gets up, wry and spry, and ‘We were dull children, not like these kids,’ waves a slipper on a stick at the hornet that she says. ‘If someone died, they’d say they just won’t give up. z got the death-illness, marne rog lagecha. We didn’t know anything, didn’t have anything. This article is excerpted from Hamra My son and his family, they run to the health Hajurama: Our Grandmothers, a photo.circle post for everything.’ project. A book launch and exhibition will But she’s not let her prejudices keep her take place at the Nepal Arts Council, Babar from essential treatment. She went down to Mahal, on 18th December. Please check Biratnagar a few years back to get some teeth www.photocircle.com.np for details. 14 CITY 11 - 17 DECEMBER 2009 #480

ABOUT TOWN Harpreet Singh Bedi (Ranbir Kapoor) has just graduated, but his marks are a little embarrassing. Nevertheless, his scores do EXHIBITIONS not stop him from dreaming of an exciting and adventurous Visual Poems, art exhibition by Emma Ponsart, 11 December, career and so, he dives into the world of sales (rumoured to be 6.30PM, Alliance Francaise, Tripureshwor an ultra cool career for all smart people blocked from entering Faces from the heart of India, photographic exhibition by medical, engineering or business schools). It’s everything he dreamt of, with its smooth dressing, smoother talking men and Sharmila Runa Pyne at The Kathmandu Contemporary Art women who can sell ice to an Eskimo, dreams to an insomniac, Center, Jhamsikhel, Lalitpur, 13 December 11AM-6PM, 5521120 and a lifetime mobile connection to a dying man. But soon, his Marfa to Manhattan, exhibition of photographs by Kashish Das idea of success begins clashing with the strange ways of these

Shrestha at Siddhartha Art Gallery, Babar Mahal Revisited, 11- Entertainment ‘professionals’ and ‘bosses’ he looked up to. 31 December 11AM-5 PM, 4438979 3D Images Exhibition by Bishnu Kumar Shrestha, till 13 Call 4442220 for show timings at Jai Nepal www.jainepal.com December, 6PM, New Orleans Coffee Shop, Pulchowk, 5522708 Quest A people war, permanent photo exhibition, Sunday-Friday at Madan Puraskar, Patan Dhoka EVENTS sfd ;fgf ] 7nf" ] eGg ] x'Fb}g . kl;gfsf ] s'g} /ª / hft klg x'Fb}g . sfd Inglourious Basterds, movie screening at Lazimpat Gallery Cafe, u/]/ vfg nhfpg' klg x'Fb}g . rf]/]/, 9fF6]/, 5n]/, n'6]/ vfg kf] g]kfn ;/sf/ 17 December, 6PM, 4428549 ;"rgf tyf ;~rf/ dGqfno nhfpgk5' { . hf ] hxf F /x/] hg' sfd u5 { pm To;df} /dfpgk5' { uf/a} Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival, 11-15 ;"rgf ljefu December, City Hall/Nepal Tourism Board, Exhibition Road, ugk5'{ { / ;dlkt{ eP/ ugk5'{ { . sfd g } zlQm xf,] elQm xf ] / dlQm' www.kimff.org xf ] . sfdsf ] OHht u/f,}+ kl;gfsf ] ;Ddfg u/f }+ . GAA Forum, organised by The Godavari Alumni Association, topic ‘What Ails Nepali Media’, 13 December, GAA, Thamel, 4PM, 4414785 Kathmandu Chorale, a winter concert at The British School, Jhamsikhel, 12 December, 3.30PM and 6PM Weekly Internet Poll # 480 Q. Do you think the Everest cabinet MUSIC meeting is a worthy stunt? Mukti Shakya and his band playing blues and original tracks, 11 Total votes: 2,294 December, Friday, 7PM, House of Music, Thamel, entry Rs 100 French Gypsy Jazz, 11th December, 7PM, Délices de France, Thamel Benefit concert for Street Dog Care, at Hyatt Regency Ballroom, with Ani Choying Dolma, 19 December, 5-7PM HyJazz every Friday evening by Inner Groove at the Rox Bar, 4489362 Weekly Internet Poll # 481. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com Baja gaja every Tuesday at Moksh, Pulchok, 7.30PM onwards, Q. Who is using provocations to stall the 5526212 peace process? Live band every Friday and rooftop bbq everyday at Kausi Kitchen, Darbar Marg, 4227288 Some like it hot, every Friday BBQ and live music by Dinesh Rai and the Sound Minds, Rs 899 at Fusion, Dwarika’s Hotel, 7PM onwards, 4479488 Roots and American Music with Donato, Beppe and Desmond, 16 December, 6PM, Lazimpat Gallery Cafe, 4428549 Nepali Ghajals and songs at D’Lounge Beijing Duck Restaurant, every Thursday 6.30 PM onwards, 4468589 Rudra Night live fusion music by Shyam Nepali every Friday, 7PM at Gokarna Forest Resort, 4451212

DINING Christmas Cake shop, christmas pudding, chocolate Santa Claus, hampers and more at The Lounge, till WEEKEND WEATHER by NGAMINDRA DAHAL 31 December, 4491234 Lavazza Coffee and Baskin n’ After a long dry spell, parts of Nepal should see rain in the days ahead as a European Expedition Robbins, at Blue Note Coffee Shop, westerly front enters Nepal via Kashmir. However, it’s moving fairly slowly, and Lazimpat Legendary mountaineer Apa Sherpa chances are that it will only yield light precipitation in western Nepal, leaving and fellow Everest summiteer Dawa Strawberry Étagère, strawberry much of central and eastern Nepal dry. Satellite pictures show a low pressure flavours at The Lounge, 4.30PM- Steven Sherpa are embarking on an zone over eastern Tibet and Chengdu in China exerting a pulling effect over the expedition through 10 European cities – 6.30PM, Hyatt Regency Kathmandu, emerging westerly front and a cyclone in the Bay of Bengal. This weekend, Prague, Brno, Bratislava, London, Rome, 4491234 expect cloudy days, with more cloud cover in the west than east, and average Geneva, Chamonix, Vienna, Brussels Oriental Nights, all flavours and specialities of Asia every daytime temperatures to fall by 3 degrees. and finally to Copenhagen to raise Wednesday at The Café, 6.30PM, Hyatt Regency Kathmandu, awareness about the impact of climate 4491234 change in the Himalaya. Aqua Java Zing, bbq and gourmet fare, 4254809 Live continental BBQ Fiesta, exclusive BBQ Dinner at Splash Their European journey will reach out Bar & Grill, Radisson Hotel, from 6.30-10.30PM everyday to high-profile politicians and celebrities Chocolate, Coffee and Caramel, every evening at The Lounge, KATHMANDU and people in the streets of these European cities whose energy needs will 4.30-6.30PM, 4491234 determine the future of hundreds of Wine and cheese, every Friday & Saturday at The Lounge, 5- millions of people who depend on 8PM, 4491234 Himalayan waters. A cafe’s café, Dhokaima Café, Patan Dhoka, 5522113 The European Expedition is part of the Jazzabell Café, relaunched at Jhamsikhel, TGIF, 10% discount KATHMANDU VALLEY Climate for Life Campaign started by all day, happy hour 6-8PM, 2114075 Fri Sat Sun WWF Nepal and the Nepal The Corner Bar, 5-7PM, 3-11PM, Radisson Hotel Kathmandu, government, its development partners 4411818 and many non-profit and private Al Fresco, for homemade pasta, steak and freshwater trout, organizations. Soaltee Crown Plaza, 4273999 22-6 20-7 19-7 www.climate4life.org Kakori, for biryanis, curries and kebabs, Soaltee Crowne Plaza, 7-10.45PM Chez Caroline for French and Mediterranean cuisine, Babar Mahal Revisited, 4263070 RECIPES by GRAHAM SYDNEY Mediterranean cuisine every Friday from Greece, Italy and the Middle East at The Café, Hyatt Regency, 4491234 Fried Spinach and Bread Teppanyaki meat items and garlic rice at Le Restaurant, Cut the bread into 1cm cubes and mix with Gairidhara, 4436318 Dumplings the spinach and egg. Season well and roll Plat Du Jour at Hotel Shangri-La, Lazimpat, Rs 600, 4412999 (Serves 4) into balls the size of golf balls. Deep fry Reality Bites, The Kaiser Café, Garden of Dreams, operated by at 170C for 1-2 minutes until golden Dwarika’s Group of Hotels, 9AM-10PM, 4425341 Dumplings brown. For the dipping sauce, lightly beat Starry night barbecue at Hotel Shangri-La with live performance 8 slices white bread the cream and mix in the rest of the by Ciney Gurung, Rs 999, at the Shambala Garden, every Friday 2 cups chopped blanched spinach ingredients. Serve with the hot dumplings. 7PM onwards, 4412999 2 eggs Himalayan Rainbow Trout at Hotel Yak and Yeti, Darbar Marg, salt and pepper to taste 4248999 Oil for frying Tiger for Breakfast, breakfast everyday at 1905, Kantipath, 4215068 Dipping sauce Stupa View Restaurant, for vegetarian creations & clay oven ½ cup grated blue cheese pizza at Boudha Stupa, 4480262 ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard Gokarna Forest Resort for a variety of sizzlers at Tripti bar, 1 cup thick cream or yoghurt 44512126 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley 1 teaspoon sugar juice of half a lemon For inclusion in the listing send information to editors(at)nepalitimes.com salt and pepper to taste HAPPENINGS 11 - 17 DECEMBER 2009 #480 15

KIRAN PANDAY TRUTH BE TOLD: Rukum-based journalist Tika Bista was flown to Kathmandu for treatment after suffering severe injuries from an attack by suspected Maoists.

KIRAN PANDAY REMEMBER US: President Ram Baran Yadav looks on as traditional dancers perform at the Human Rights National Magna Meet-2009 at the Academy Hall on Tuesday.

KIRAN PANDAY THANK YOU: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal meets Chief Justice Min Bahadur Rayamajhi on the latter's last day in office on Wednesday in Singh Darbar. has hisshare Everyone S 16 ass(at)nepalitimes.com as swing itcouldmakeakillingbyrentingthevenueout royal palace.Nowthatthematingseasonisinfull potboiler tobeshotonlocationinsidetheformer The govtissohard-upitallowedaKollywood threats. Syabas! forced tocloseonpainofdeath,Thamelshopsgotdoor-to-door a bonfireofbusesinLamki,Pokharalakesiderestaurantswere ambulance wasassassinated,drugstoreswereransacked,there was and a‘ The BaddiesdeclaredSunday’sunscheduledmori-bund‘peaceful’ everybody getsashare. should betoallow kickbacks anywaywhicheverplaneNACacquired,soourpolicy prosperous future.Thewaytolookatitis:therewouldbe attitude thatwillallowNepaltoleapfrogintheLongMarchintoa Airbus anadvance.Goodthinking,it’sthissortofgo-getter had ‘trapped’thegovtintoagreeingwithdealbypaying have aknackforthesethings,andboastedtothemediathathe around abitmore. temporarily, becauseallthatneedstobedoneissharethewealth forget thePACmen,whichiswhydealstuck.Butonly corruption watchdogshavebeensuitablylubricated.Butthey honchos, CAANauthoritarians,theairlineboard,evenanti- in theworks.Apparentlymostpartystalwarts,ministerial completely daftthatsomebornlosersaretryingtoputaspanner everyone canlivehappilyeverafter.Whichiswhyitso two moreplanesandsavesjobsinEurope,Nepalgetsricher his share,theairlinecanflyjetsitdesperatelyneeds,Airbussells percentage points,andwegettokeeptheplanestoo.Everyonehas theoretically beinthehands(palms?)ofNepalis. percent kickbackthatmeans20millionsmackerooswill million dealforthe330and320,right?Evenifitisonlyaten Donkey givesitathumbsup.Lookatthisway,isUSD200 the Airbusdeal.Sorrytodisappointyou,comrades,but You’ve allbeenwaitingwithbatedbreathtoheartheAss’takeon know whatthey’llsneakintothosewalls. allow theChinesetobuildourconsulateinLhasa have neverbeensweptforbugs.Anotherreasonweshouldn’t is becauseBaluwatar,ParisDanda,PistachioPalaceandBalkhu both MakunayandFerociousalwayswanttomeetsomewhereelse lounge atSuwarnapoom.Whichleadsustothinkthatthereason real substantialmeetingwasnotinS’poreatallbutthetransit understand whyIhadtogoSingapore?”Actuallywegatherthe hound-dog tenacityandherdmentality,though. from thepryingpress.TheyunderestimateNepalimedia’s Tuesday thatthethreeshouldmeetatKalaPattharjusttogetaway into thenationalmediathatMakunaysuggestedattheirconfab and tiredoftheirmeetingagendagettingprematurelyejaculated The holytrinityofMKN,PKDandGPKarenowreportedlysosick They shouldall delegation thehighestpercapitacarbonemitteratconference. Summit accordingtolatestestimates,makingtheNepali nine ministers.Morethan600NepalisarealreadyattheClimate member donor-financeddelegationtoCopenhagenthatincludes abroad. SpeakingofwhichMakunayisleadingajumbo56- who metwho,flewoffandcamebackfromjunkets had expandedtoincludeABC,IJK,MNO,QRS,andXYZ. all metoncemoreandatthetimeofgoingtopress,meeting individually withRS.OnThursdayMKN,PKD,JNK,RCP,NKS RBY andsoonafterMKNalsometthentheyall met MKNonthesidelinesofallthis.OnWednesdayPKD Narayanhiti PartyPalace The AssisquiteimpressedwithNACCEOSRK,whoseemsto This wouldraiseNepal’spercapitaGNPbyacoupleof Thereupon, Awesomeissupposedtohavesaid:“Nowyou It lookslikeallweinthemediadothesedaysisreporton together beforetheybroughtinJNK,NKSandRCP,CPG Tuesday MKN,GPKmet,thenPKD,MKNandallmet o, torecapthisweek’smainnews:MondayMKNmetPKD, grand success BACKSIDE ride bicyclesforoneyear constructive corruption ’ becausevanswerevandalised,an FG FG FG FG . tomakeup. . Thatway, , who CDO Regd No194/056/57Lalitpur, CentralRegion PostalRegd.No 09/066/67 11 -17DECEMBER2009 #480

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