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• Supreme Court Overturns The CIAA Decision • rourism: A Tale of Bali Campaign For Peace NC Meet: Searching Roles --- afG((\:I superior pepsodent GERM'CHECK PLUS FORMULA F! FLUORIDE cir-e:rr2fd1T
fIGHTS GERMS EVEN HOURS AfTER BRUSHING CONTENTS
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NEWS NOTES' 4
BRIEFS 6
QUOTE UNQUOTE 7
OFF THE RECORD 8 COVER STORY: LICENSING FOR INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS: A Costly Decision CONGRESS MEETING: Deuba's Offensive 9 At a time when much of the world's airlines have been los ing money, civil aviation authorities in Nepal considering to iss ue international flight license. SUPREME COURT: Restraining Order 12 Page 16
SAARC : Final Preparations 13
LIC NEPAL: For An Insured Future 14
TOURISM: Confronting New Challenge 15 : Long 'DIA : Bad News? 21 casualties continue to go amid intensified conflict PROFILE : Ram Pratap Thapa 24 Ibetwe"n the government and in su rgent s. human KATHMANDU VALLEY: Traffic Travails 25 acti vists urge for resto of peace. Page 10 BOOK REVIEW 26
THE BOTIOMLINE 27
SUPPORT FOR DESABLED: Cycle Of Courage 28 INTERVIEW : AIi Naw.z Memon PASTIME 29 Ali Nawaz Memon, Senior Fi nancial and Inst itutional Devel opment Consultant, talks about LEISURE 30 importance of pri vale sector par ticipation in energy sector. FORUM: Leyla Tegmo-Reddy 32 Page 22
SPOlLlGHT/DECEMBER 14,2001 !SPOTLIGHT EDITOR'S NOTE THE NATIONAL NEWSMAGAZINE 'vd: 21. No.22. Oeamber 14,3101 (ManoIr29.21158) I Chief EdItor _ PubIIaher n a liule more than two weeks after the declaration of emergency. the Royal Nepal MadMv Kumar RIm8I Army seems to be in command of the situation. Since there is no other source of Editor information except whatever is leaked on by the official spokesman. wc arc not in a SartlB Rimal poSition fu assess the exact situation. The incuherent reports that sometimes trickle in through the peoples living at the scene of incidenl~ do not always conform to official Managing EdItor . reports.I Still, there seems to be little doublthm the Maoists an.! at the recciv;ng end. Even though Keshab PoudeI most of Nepal's fliends have su pported the steps t C.D.O. Rep. No 1511039-40 Postat Rqcl. No 421057158 U.S. Libouy ofConJll'CSS CUologue No. 91·905(}6() Madhav Kumar Rimal Chief Editor& Publisher 2 SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER 14.2001 LETTERS rather strangely, have been seen changes in the fannat, style blowing the insurgency out of and con lent. There is virtually proportion. The Indian govern no item related to entertainment SPOTLIG-HT ment has declared that they will and sports. How can you expect take necessary action against your magazine to be read by all Nepalese terrorists living in In sections of society unless you dia. But Indian officialdom is introduce some interesting col allowing Maoist insurgent lead umns. I hope you will come out ers to hide in India. It seems with stories suiting the interests Indian officials are adopting of the people in the days ahead. CIVIL SERVICE double standards. In effect,they Bandana K. C fJJJJ'j J:J .!.i':!JjJ:!i are not supporting Nepalese ef Chhabahil forts to control theMaoisl insur gency; instead, they are backing Indonesian Lesson the Maoist. If the Indian gov ernment is reatly sincere about I would like to thank you resolving the insurgency in for highlighting the fami I y plan eToDeliver Nepal. it must take more con ning experiences of Indonesia. After reading your article, I re Your cover story "Civil Service: Time To Deli ver" (SPOT crete efforts. [t must back up its alized how peoplefs participa IGHT. December 7) provided a glimpse into the countryis words with deeds. tion and a decentralized ap ethargic bureaucracy. It is true that development activities Sitaram Kattel proach have helped to reduce ould remain stalled as long as the bureaucracy remains inert. Maharagunj the annual fertility rate in Indo Ithough the govemmenthas imposed a state of emergency ,the nesia. I hope SPOTLIGHT will ureaucracy is yetto move properl y to meetthe cballenges faced Change Style continue publishing such inter y the country. SPOTLIGHT has rightly pointed out that the [have been regularly read esting stories. ime has come for our civil servants to deliver. ing your magazine for the last Laxmillath Dahal Anji/a Regmi 15 years. However, [ have not Thimi, Bhaktapur New Baneshwor Not Objective economic and political issues objective and impartial. How 2002 Although your cover story ever, I was disappointed by your ("Civil Service: Time to De cover story "Civil Service:Time OM KNITTING ""er", SPOTLIGHT. Decerri- to Deliver" (SPOTLIGHT, De 7) revealed some interest CASHMERE cember 7), which I found to be ing facts about the bureau one-sided and subjective. It COLLECTION cracy. it failed to highlight the seems that SPOTLIGHT is tak positive side of our adminis ing the side of the government tration. It is well known that in condemning the civil service. ministers and other politicians CASHMERE COATS, CASHMERE MUFFLERS. As you know, a civil servant have spoiled the civil service cannot act independently. He/ CASHMERE SWEATERS, CASHMERE SHA WLS. for personal gain. [donit think she has to go to the politicians to CAPS & CASMERE SILK CLOTHES the civil service can escape take major decisions. You can responsibility for what has not ignore this reality while been going on. However. [ drawing conclusions. I hope you would expect a national adhere to your tradition of ob DIVINE GROUP & CO. INC. LTD newsmagazine like SPOT jectivity in future stories. BABARMAHAL RE·VISITED LIGHT to analyze all aspects Dharma Shakya KATHMANDU of the issue with objectivity. Mangalbazar, Patan Nirmal Khadka PHONE : +977-1-230369 Kalanki Words Not Enough FACISMAIL: +977-1-219622 EMAlL : [email protected] .np Although the Indian gov One-sided Story ernment has fully supported the As a regular reader of your move of the Nepalese govern OPEN TIME : IO:ooAM -7:30PM (SUN-FRI) magazine for the last five years, ment. in dealing with the Maoist I find your analyses on social, insurgents, the Indian media, SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER 14, 2001 3 NEWSNOTES China Reiterates Area (SAFTA). Addressing a function Pan day as sayin g that with the sec~rity held here to mark the SAARC Charter personnel further activated, no untoward Support For Nepal Day Saturday, Premier Deubasaid Nepal incident could take place during the strike. ' Chinese Foreign Minister Tang would like to deepen and accelerate re Meanwhile. reports from the western town Jiaxuan has reiterated his government's gional economic cooperation. The prime of Pokhara said the Maoists killed two support for the measures, including the minister said that during the 11th SAARC unarmed policemen in an auack at state of emergency, taken by the Nepalese summit, due to be held in Kathmandu Dharnpus village in Kaski district Thurs government to maintain peace and sta early next month, a review will be made day night. Three other policemen escaped bility in the country. According to the to consolidate the gains made so far. the attacks. The Defense Ministry said Foreign Ministry, Minister Tang ex He added that povertY'alleviation would Thursday that Royal Nepal Army person tended his support during a telephone continue to remain a priority area. nel arrested 30 suspected Maoist terrorists conversation with Prime Minister Sher The premier said two conventions, on from seven d.istricls, including four from Bahadur Deuba, who also holds the for combating the trafficking of women Bhaktapur in Kathmandu valley. COIII eign affairs portfolio, Saturday morning. and children for prostitution and on piled from reports Dec. 8. the promotion of child welfare in South Asia, will be signed during the India Declares PWG J, Kathmandu summit. Leading dailies re port Dec. 9. And MCC As Terrorists In what may have come as a morale Nepal Bandh boosting news for the Nepalese govern ment, thegovernmentoflndiaon Wednes Largely Peaceful day declared two Maoist outfits, the The Nepal Bandh (nationwide shut People's War Group (PWG) and Maoist down strike) called by the underground Coordination Ce11ler (MCC) as terrorists Maoists passed offlargely peacefully Fri and banned all the activities of their 25 day. An unprecedented heavy security affiliated organizations. The Nepalese was deployed in the capital valley. Army Maoists have maintained close relations personnel could be seen manning the with the Indian Maoist groups and are said streets with small tanks. Armed soldiers to be receiving training and supplies from were also patrolling and checking ve them. Kantipur daily quoted Press Trust PM Deuba hicles and passengers. Most of the shops of India as reporting that these organiza remained closed in Kathmandu out of fear tions have been declared as terrorists in Minister Tang made it clear that neither of violence, though no untoward incident Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and B ihar. the Chinese Communist Party nor the took place. RSS news agency quoted Home Meanwhile, Indian State Police of Uti any entity of the Chinese government Ministry spokesman Gopendra Bahadur Pradesh have raided and sealed two sholfs' had any links with the terrorists of Nepal. at Gorakhpur on charges of supplying Prime Minister Deuba informed Minis huge quantity of chemical s and weapons ter Tang about the compelling reasons to Nepal 's Maoists. The Indian police leading to the declaration of the state of have also sent four people lojail who were emergency despite sincere efforts of the arrested from near the lndo-Nepal border government to resol ve the problem while carrying weapons, a news report in through peaceful negotiations. Rajdhani the daily said. Compiled from reports daily reported that the Chinese minister Dec. 6. was especially worried about the use of the word 'Mao' by the CPN (Maoist) of Operation To Nepal. The Nepalese government has declared the Maoists as terrorists. Lead· Continue: Gupta illg dailies report Dec. 9. Minister for Information and Com munications Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta 'Nepal For Early has said (he military operations again st the Maoists are continuing successfully . Completion Of SAFTA' Addressing a regular press briefing at his Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba ministry Thursday. MinisterGupta said at has called for intensified efforts to give Khadka least 250 Maoist terrorists had been killed final shape to the South Asia Free Trade since the army IHunched its operations on 4 SPOTLlGHTIDECEMBER 14, 2001 NEWSNOTES Tuesday, Mr. Wisner said success of 'Operation Will Be privatizatio n largely depends on the government's poli cies and response of Over In Six Months' trade unions or employees. He said the H ome Minister Khum Bahadur government should not invest in enter Khadka has said the operation launched pri ses, rather it should mobilize its re by the security agencies against the Maoi st sources for the well being of the public. terrorists wou ld be over within the nex t Mr. Wisn er is currently in Nepal in con six months. Talking to a pri vate dai ly necti on with the launching of a local branch newspaper, Mr. Kh adkasaid the army and of American Life Insurance Company police personnel maintained high morale (ALICO), a subsidiary of the AIG Group. and the operation so far was successful. . Leading dailies report Dec_ 5. When asked about the role of the army. the minister sa id the anny was wo rkin g Interkraft And IPC under the government and was being co ordinated by the government. Mr. Khadka Competing For BPC said the talks with the Maoists could re Even after three years, Interkraft and sumeonly if they surrendered all the weap Independent Power Corporation OPC ons they had lootcd from Dang and other Nepal) are competing to procure the state parts of the country and apologized for owned Butwal Power Company (BPC). what they have done so far. --The talks Interkraft is a consortium of Nepali and cannot be held at their conve ni ence," he Norwegian investors whi le British-US in asserted. Rajdhalli Dec. 4. November 26. He said over 100 terrorists vestors own the I Pc. The government had had been arrested so far. The minister said scrapped the firsllender bid in late 1999 to Four Public Enterprises the government has withdrawn its deci sell its 75 percent stake in the BPC 10 sion 10 free Maoi st activists who were private buyers after the IPC pulled out of To Be Closed supposed to be released after the third the fray , accusing the Finance Ministry of The coun ci l of min is ters on Friday round of government-Maoist talks. Re favoring its ri val, the Interkraft. Nepalese decided to close down four loss-making sponding to a question. Minister Gupta officials rejected the allegations. The sec- state -owned enterprises. repo rt s said. said the army did not need arms and am Kantipur daily reported on Mon munition but required heli copters. day that the government has de "Ground forces are facingdifficuJty reach cided to c lose down the Nepal ing remote areas where terrorists are lo Transp9rt Corporation (NTC). cated. So we need helicopters with night Sajha Yatayat. Cottage Industries on faci liti es so th at troops can be trans and Handicrafts EmpOrium and ported easily into these areas," he added. Nepal Oriental and Magnesite Pvt. The minister said Nepal would purchase Ltd. Over 1,300 employees in the the helicopters from whichever coun try three entities. excluding NTC, will that could provide them quickly and at a be laid olT and would be compen cheaper rate. Leadillg dailies report Dec. sated as per the regulations. NTC 7. owes over Rs 20 mi ll ion in sa laries 10 its employees for the last I I 'Market Economy months . According to official sta tistics. the Sajha Yatayat has been EmergesAsAKey Force' incurring a loss of Rs 18 million Former US ambassador to India, per annum. Nepal Oriental and Frank Wisner, has said as the command Magnesite Pvt. Ltd. in curred a net economy has failed the world over to loss of over Rs 80million last year. del iver desired outcome, the market The government is planning to economy has become an important force ---~------privatize these enterprises after in the global economy. Mt. Wisner. who and tender bid in September 2000 was closing them down and laying off their is also a vice-chairman of the American also scrapped as none of the bidders of staff, the report said. A total o f 16 public Group (AIG ), noted that corruption was fered an appropriate pnce for the profi t enterpnses have been sold la private man tantamount to cancer in a democratic so making company. Compiledfrom reports ageme nt by the government since 1992. ciety. Addressing a talk program here Dec. 6. Compiled froll/ reports Dec. 5. • SPOTLlGHTIDECEMBER 14.2001 5 BRIEFS by maintaining mutual coordination and cooperation between the local security bodies of both the countries. MORE THAN 80 BUSES THAT TRAVEL BETWEEN DIFFER ent eastern towns and Kathmandu during the night have stopped their operations citing security reasons. Kantipur daily reported. Some 1.000 transport workers and thousands of passengers have been affected by the disruption in the bus service. The transport operalors are discussing the possibilities of operating the buses dunng the day. Krishna Prasad Subedi. a transport entrepreneur said. THE GOVERNMENT OF AUSTRALIA HAS SUPPORTED the Nepalese government's efforts to bring an environment of peace and stab ility in the country . In a statement issued Wednesday. the Australian ambassador to Nepal, Crispin Conroy, said his government condemned theresumption of the armed campaign by the Communist Partvof;Nenal Crown Prince Paras with "r::'~~;::: """lalll allte,.ding' (Maoist). The Australian government has also called upon the the 29th Anniversary function of Budhanilkantha School to cease hostilities and move lO peacefully resolv!! the issues facing I country through dialogue within the democratic framework established THE GOVERNMENT HAS FORMED A FOUR-MEMBER COM by the constitution. minee to look into the matter of foreign investment in the media. Minister for Inform ation and Communications Jaya Prakash Prasad THE HOME MINISTRY HAS URGEDTHE PUBLICTOCARRY Gupta told reporters Thursday that the committee will investigate how photo ID (citizenship certificate. voters ID cards. driving license or foreign Investment Isbclng made in the media in'Nepal. The committee. other papers) while traveling in public places between 10 pm and 5 am headed by joint secretary at the ministry Hem Raj Poudel. will present in Kathmandu. The provision has been made with a view to strengthen· its report within 15 days. in'g security. the ministry said. The ministry has also urged people to dial telephone numbers 243715 and 243810 of the Home Ministry. 4 12780 THE INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR AGRICULTURAL DE of the police headquarters and 100. 110 and 120 of polit:econtroLifthey velopment (lFAD) has agreed to provide a grant of U5$20 million for receive undue pressure or threats. poverty alleviation in 11 districts in the mid· western and far-western regions of Ne pal. According to the Ministry of Local Development. the THE NUMBER OF TOURISTS VISITING NEPAL BY AIR IN grant is part of the total $32.6 million for the program during the next Novemberdropped by over 40 percent compared to thc same period last decade in districts including Rukum. Rolpa and Jajarkot, which are year, officials said. According to the Nepal Tourism Board. 24.515 among the worst hit by the Maoist insurgency. Besides. the World Food tourists arrived in November this year compared to 43.130 the same Program (WFP) has committed $4 million for road maintenance. The period last year. In the first 11 _months of this year. total tourist arrivals remaining amount would be borne by SNV. the Dutch Cooperation declined by nearly 17 percent compared to the samc period last year. The Agency. and local beneficiaries. Technical cooperation would be sought sharp decline in total tourist arrivals is due mainly [0 the 30 percent from tocal self·governing bodies. the ministry said. The poverty aJlevia· plunge in the number of Indian tourists visiting Nepal. tion program would be implemented in three phases in four districts. After assessment of the progress in the first phase, the next two phases THE LOCAL ADMINISTRATION HAS RELEASED 37 OUTOF of the program would be implemented under the flexible.lending 38 journalists and other people taken into custody after live days in program. western town of Butwal, Kantipur daily reported. Police had arrested them from a recepti on organized by the High-Tech Publication Pvt. PRIME MINISTER SHER DEUBA HAS SAID THAT REDUCING Ltd .. which publishes Jana Sangharsa daily. According to Bal Krishna poverty and addressing the problem of unemployment is critical to Chapagain, editor of Jana Sangharsa daily, who was also arrested. the maintaining peace in the country. Addressing a function organized to whereabouts of consultant editor of the daily. Basanta Pokhrel, is still mark the 35th Anniversary of International Labor Organization (fLO)· unknown. The authorities had taken into custody even the local repre· Nepal partnership in the capital Thursday, Prime Minister Deuba said sentatives of the state-owned Nepal Television and National News that the government is committed to create decent working conditions Agency who were later released. for the millions of Nepalis engaged in various sectors of economy. DirccloroflLO Office in Kathmandu. Leyla Tegmo·Rcddy. said Nepal HIE PROBLEM OF CHILD PROSTITUTION IS BELIEVED TO has over2.5 million child workers out of which nearly 120.000 were said be spreading all over the country. predominantly in the urban areas and to be in worst form. During the function, Minister for Labor and along highways, said a survey conducted by the United Nations Eco Transport Management Palten Gurung launched the website, nomic and Social Commission for Asia and the Paci fic. It estimated that www.labornepal.org. around 800 minor girls are engaged as sex workers in the Kathmandu Valley alone. The statistics were presented al a press briefi ng on the A JOINT MEETING O,F LOCAL ADMINISTRATIONS OF proceedings and outcomes of the recent South Asia Consultation for Nepal and India at Birpur of Supaul district in India has agreed to work second World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of out a strategy for curbing criminal and Maoist terrorist activities along Children held in Dhaka. The South Asia Strategy adopted at the the border. The meeting also agreed'to formulate a joint program for consultation will be presented at the Second World Congress in curbing all types of criminal activities taking place in the border areas Yokohama to be held from December 17 (0 20, • 6 5POTUGffTfDECEMBEIlI-4, 2{}()1 QUOTE UNQUOTE "I don't want to comment on the political situation, but I, too, was victimized by politics." Nayan Bahadur Khatri, chairman of National Human Rights Commission, speaking on Intemational Human Rights Day, in Himalaya Times. * * * Mom I .Does} 20"Yte pea.te -n~ "Yes, our party is demanding fres h Su.cl, peop le ? elections. The government must dissolve the House of Representatives and seek a fresh mandate after the situation is nOf malized." Gajendra Narayan Singh, president of Nepal Sadbhavana Party, in Bimarsha. • • • "The government was wrong in send ing the civil police to fight against the Maoist terrorists." Retired MajorGelleral Rag/IU Chan dra Bahadur Singh. ill lanabhawana. • • • proved that they are terrorists. Their ac cOl1ll1lell1illg 011 post-elllergency politi "W e have requested IndIa. and the tions justify the deployment of the arm y." cal scenario. ill The Capital. United States for night vision helicopters, Khem Raj Regmi,fom,er secretary, * • * army training and weapons." ill Janaslha. Home Minister Khum Balzadur • • • "Anny .IS nOl a So lulion to the problem. Khadka, ill Nepal Samarcharpatra • • • It's like taking Brucet when you have a "Whil e I am facing abuses, the UML is headache." Dr. Prakaslt C. Loltalli. Vice Presi· y killing innocent people and de enjoying the most." Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, dellf, Rasrriya Pr(~iara1lfra Party. iI/ stroyingpublic properly, the Maoists have Aparanha. • • • /-(0 W ",., Q'>l-)' "The prime minister has said he wi ll , 1 i1 -tim1.es so.id disann the Maoists wi thin three months, .:Poorit CDIW1.£. but Ihe geo-stralegical position of Nepal wifl, hel .... ~t-? may stand in the way." Bishwoballdhu Thapa, former mi1l ister and leader of rhe Rastriya Pra jatamra Part\,. in Deshantar. *" * * "N o one told me thm the internalional film festi vals were going on, so I mi ssed them." Bijaya ThapoJ yOllllg Nepalese ftllll director, 011 whether he had allelic/et! the Sri ulI1kal/ allt! French fillll festi vals illtlzecapital. ill Space Time Daily. * * * SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER 14,2001 7 OFF THE RECORD Premier & The Press make a similar display of loy seerC(8nal. mllli s l ~r!) and their alty this time, what do you think aides have linally breathed " Prime Minister Sher Ba his respons~ would be? Keep sigh of relief. When the secre hadur Deuba is known' as a your fingers crossed. tarial gates were flung open to "media friendly" politician. all. the offices inside resembled Wherever he may be on his Identity Crisis the premises of the ruling pany. career graph, Deuba has always Although ule lUsh of party work responded to journalists' que Among the problems ers in the ministries has slowed ries. Afterthe imposition ofthe Prime Minister Sher Bahadur for the time being. few are con state of emergency, Deuba has Deuba'sjumbo cabinet has pre fident that it would remain that organized a couple of press sented is the challenge mem way. conferences for Nepalese and bers face in making personal foreign reporters. Interestingly, introductions. With the council SAARC Scenery he made similar statements in of ministers packed with so Kathmandu had seen some all of his meetings. The prime many faces, it is hard to keep track of who represents which dramatic changes whe,. Madhav Kumar Nepal to Ras hosted the third summit of t , ministry. From the minister of triya Prajatantra Party leader South Asian Association of without portfolio to the three Pashupati Sumshere Rana, Regional Cooperation in 1987. leaders of all hues were in at ministers some ministries have, Deuha's lieutenants are com This time. too. the organizers tendance. During the two-hour want to bring some more pelled spend time in public meeting, the leaders drank changes in the capital's face. gatherings reminding the audi about a hundred cups of tea With less than a month remain ence of their names and titles. before finally agreeing to moni ing for th e grand gathering. the Giving the nuidilY of the po tor the state of emergency. organizing committee seems to litical climate, who knows how be preparing a massive pro many ministers may have La gram 10 build filling monu Singh'sAffirmation leave office without getting a a ment to th e 11th SAARC sum Nepal Sadbhavana Party real opportunity to introduce mit. The government has an leaderGajendra Narayan Singh themselves? nounced a plan to develop a has publicly declared that he would not contest the forth park and widen some streets in Relief & Anxiety Kathmandu. No matter how Deuba : Media friendly coming elections in the party. impatient Kathmanduites may This is nOl the first lime the After the announcement of be to find out the details, they minister seems to be cautious leader of the Terai-based party additional security measures at the entrances to the Singh Durbar about the red lines he must not has made such an announce cross and knows when he has ment. Four years ago, he voiced to keep things between the lines. similar words but suddenly This may be a lesson Deuba withdrew them, stating he was M£l I>fuj learned from his previous mis under pressure from pany Bhulaq Hoog Kon/VTal"';IIl takes. workers. If a hundred workers uss 100.00 uss 1S(l00 AUSlrllhalN~ ... z.,~13nd uss I~.ou uss ISQOO USS2)OOO Eu rope. £I SO.oo I~~~~~;;;;;;'U'E us S j2QOO US S 20000 USA LTS S j_~O,OO I: NOW (Send;l GIF'l' subscription 10 rriends they will love it) Tea-Party Meet r------~------IPJea-.c find enclosed hcrcwllh my unnu:l] ..ub:.cnphon for C\lp'<"' ...... •.. I With the restoration of de I I mocracy, political leaders have 1D.>nlDDlChequcNo for R-JEfUSS ...... Dale...... I I I memorized the mantra of all lNamr ... f ...... : meetings. Whenever there party lAddrc"" is a national crisis or any seri I I Pin Code ous political problem, our lead I I ers know that the first thing I they have to convene all-party 1L ______Signllu",______lri~phoM fax _ meetings. Following the Impo 'Do NOT Send CASH.in MAIL sition of the state ofemergency, Please send you r remlltance by OraftlCheque (0 the main opposition CPN-UML called an all-party meeting to SPOTLIGHT discuss the emerging scenario. THE NATIONAL NEWSMAGAZINE Singb: Nobleannouncement G.P. O. Box: 7256, BaJuwalar, PH: 977·1.423127.435594, Fax: 977·j·417845 From CPN-UML leader E-mail : [email protected], Wt'b s lte ~ www.nepaJnews.com!spoUjght 8 SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER 14,2001 NATIONAL With backing from fonn crprime min CONGRESS MEETING ister Krishna Prasad Bhatlarai. Deuba was able to defend hi s decisions. Although the meeting was summoned to di scuss the state Deuba's Offensive of emergency and its effects on the day-to day li fe of the common people, seni or Despite some criticism, the Nepali Congress backs Prime Minister Congress members spcnt most aftheirtime criticizing one another. Sher Bahadur Deuba's decision to impose the state of emergency Die-hard Kairala fo ll owers aHacked Deuba far not fu lly mobilizing the securit y By A CORRESPONDENT minisler and Nepali Congress presidenl forces against the Maoist insurgenlS und Girija Prasad Koirala suddenl y call ed a claimed that the rebels were still unl eash t a time when the country's security joint meeting of the party's central com in g death and destruction. Assistant gen A forces are fig hting insurgents, the mittee members, members of parliament eral secretary of the Nepali Congress. In:'\jo r political parties seem to be more and ministers. In the daylong meeting. Govinda Raj 10s hi. wllo resigned as home re ~lcd in internal sq uabbling than in Prime Minister Deuba's adversaries made m'inister several mollths ago aft cr accusing h:KI\ing th e government in its quest to every effort to criticize hi s government. lhe Royal Nepabc Army of nOl support restore nOl1lullcy to the country . Koirala hllnself was said to have re ing the police to repulse the MaOIsts' deadly The cmicism of the CPN-UML and mained qui et. all ow ing members ofparlia assault in Dolpa. was said to be parricularly ()Iher (IPOO" lll{)n parties is understandable. menl and central working committee to vocal in crit ic lL.i ng Deuba. 1I~ they a r ~ c>. pectcd to pOint out the lapses discuss vari ous aspects of the emergency Jos hi demanded massive mobilizmion and weaknesses of the government. But it and lheirpossible implications. Takin g part of all security forces to curb the Maoist in surgents. Prime Minister Deuha. how ever, was said to have refuted the charges and urged hi s puny workers to wait a few more weeks before drawing any cOlll.: iu · sion. 'The security forces have been muJ... in g every effort to con t:1in the Maoists Jnd have put them on the defensive." said the prime minister. Although Nepa l! Congress members expressed di ssa ti s l ~l c lj on with the perfor mance of the government. the meeling backed Deuba and his effort s to mobilize the security forces toquell the Maoists. The meeting also call ed on Congress members 10 takea lead ro le in the villages to generate awareness against the rebe ls. "The charac ter of Congress members and leaders is always unpredictable and nobody can :-.ay • how long they would :-.ta nd wit h Prime Minister Deuba." said:1 pol itical analyst. Many critiCS orlhe prime minlsterdur ing the meeting we r(: tht! same people who IS strange to scc di~~cnslOn growin g within in the debate, Congress members urged [he accused him of being soft on the rebels the ruling Ncpali Congress at a time of government to take swift and decisive ac during the peace talks. However. as a large gr~l\ C national cri sis. ti on against the Maoist in surgents and re number of grass-root level Congress melll Despite rift s in oppositi on ranks, Prime gain control of remote parts of the country. bers were killed by the rebels in the past. il Mi !liSler Dcuha has been able to secure Some members complained that even is not easy for leaders and members of the support from the main opposition CPN after lhc impos ili on of the emergency and ru ling party to speak against Deuba's latest UMLand other p:ulies. But tl1esituation in the mobilization of security forces. the ac tions. Despite efforl<;;; from within tile party his own party appears vo latile. The truee Maoists were continuing to kill innocent to undennine hi s position. Deuba appears to SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER 14.2001 9 NATIONAL Maoist cadres from WAR AGAINST INSURGENCY different parts o f the country. In a major encounter, security per~ sonnet gunned down I1 Maoi st activists Long Haul at Sehari village in far-western distri ct of Kailali during nearly eight-ho ur-Iong As the army continues its 'cordon and search' operation, Maoist battle Sunday. In it s two weeks long operation, the Royal Nepalese Army has rebels target communication facilities despite suffering huge losses already busted a number o f trainin g cen ters of the Maoists in different parts of By BHAGIRATH YOGt forces and the insurgents after the impo the country and tried to destroy their sition of a nation-wide emergency. The communications and supplies network. undreds of Maoist insurgents at anny also recovered few weapons in But due to lack of adequate intelligence H tacked a group o f soldiers man cluding light machine guns (LMG) after and in order to avoid morc causali ti es to ning a repeater station of the Nepal Tele the encounter. the troops, the army's operati on may . communications Corporation (NTC) at A day later, RNA personnel also have gained pace, analysIs said . Raatmate in Rolpa district Saturday, fo il ed Maoist attempts to damage a re "In such an operati on, intelli gence Armed with semi-automatic guns they peater station of the NTC at Kapurkot in gathering has a vi tal role to play," said had looted from the Royal NepaleseA 10 SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER 14,2001 NATIONAL REPEATER STATIONS Under Fire Maoist insurgents target NTC terminals in the remote hills The stale-owned Nepal Telecommunica blow up repeater A. then Band Libang tions Corporation (NTC) hired the ser will be down completely. In case B is vices of the Royal Nepalese Anny nearly serving some other districts as well. then two years back after the Maoist insurgents all of them will be down too. Radio broad tried to blow away its repeater stations in casts on the AM and shon wave band their strongholds. There were no more at widths do not require LOS. Those signals tacks on NTC towers since then. as the can bend as they propagate depending on Maoists avoided confrontation with the the type of terrain. army. But as soon as the Maoists started These repeater stations do not have targeting the army last month, the NTC any military significance. unless they are towers found themselves on (he MaOIst modified to install some military surveil government. The government is supple firing line again. lance system, said experts. However. for menting its efforts by procuring more According to technicians, Tulsipur in the purpose of maintenance, there is al 1\nns, ammunition and logislics includ mid-western district ofDang. for example. ways one extra telephone line 011 the re ing night-vision helicopters. Officials said has a telephone exchange, which can pro peater station so that a technician can talk it would take a couple of weeks how the vide telephone lines only within a 7 km to another technician from one station to war will have its impact on this year's radius. Now there is demand of say, 10 any other station. budget. "The government is considering telephone lines in Libang. What the NTC The repeater station at Raatmate in providing an additional Rs 4 billion to does is collect 10 telephone lines in Rolpa is located at a height of 9.000 fl. meet growing security expenses." said a Tulsipur exchange, bundle them together above sea level and is crucial in providing "ienior government official. in one stream and using the microwave telephone connections to three district For Prime Minister Deuba. there has tower. transmjt to Libang. In this process, headquarters, including Rolpa, Rukumand heen little resistance from the opposition Tulsipur's tower needs 10 sec the Libang Jajarkot. "There have been minor damage •• )is own faction-ridden ruUng party. A tower directly. This is called Line of SighI in the Maoist attacks at this repeater sta "nt meeting of the ruling Nepali Con (LOS) propagation of microwave signal. lion and we can maintain it soon," an NTC gress parliamentary party and central As we can't see the Libang station official told SPOTLIGHT. working committee on Sunday extended directly trom Tulsipur, me has to choose Installing of a repeater station costs its 'full support' to the government in its one or more places in between Tulsipur up to Rs 2 million depending on how fight against Maoist insurgency. The and Libang 10 place a repeater station, say many links are going out from it. The meeting also asked the government to two places at A and B. Now, Tulsipur's NTC has an extended network of tele introduce a special package to give relief tower sends signal to repeater station at A phone communications in up to 1800 to the people and take measures to en and A again re-transmits the signal to B VDCs of the country nnd has more than force fiscal discipline. Members of Par and then B finally transmits to Libang 600 terminals to support its MARTS fa liament said to be close to Ne President station. ci lity. But recent terrorist attacks at the GiriJa Prasad Koirala. however, came In this process. Tulsipur is in Line of NTC have not only added to its security down heavily upon the government Sight (LOS) with A, A is in LOS with B expenses. they have also hampered its and said it was failure on' pan of Premier and B is in LOS with Libang. If the Maoists expansion plans. said oftlcials. • Deuba to find a peaceful selllement to the Maoist insurgency as professed by they wanted the emergency to be over as dent of Human Rights and Peace Society. him. soon as possible. Human rights activists, Added Sudip Pathak, President of Congress legislators, however, on their part. were concerned that viola Human Rights Organization of Nepal seemed to ignore the fact that things have tion of human rights be avoided as much (HURON), "There is no alternative to moved quite far since Mr. Koirala re· as possible. "The government must re peace. So, sooner or latcr both the sides signed early this year after the 'Holeri straint itself from carrying on indiscrimi have la sit together to find a negotiated episode.' The opposition panies 100 said nate killings," said Krishna Pahadi, Presi- settlement through peace talks." • SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER t4. 200t tt NATIONAL the prescribed procedure and existing pro SUPREME COURT visions of law and the consequent result could not be overturned except by Ihe Supreme COUrl in exercise of extraordi Restraining Order nary power under Ihe Arlicle 88(2) of Ihe constitution. The apex court declares the Commission ofInvestiga But the CIAA. it seems in ignorance and total disregard to the rule of law, had tion of Abuse of Authority's actions unconstitutional intervened and issued the order directing the commission and the Ministry of Edu By KESHAB POUDEL again st him on the issue of the teachers' cati on to nullify Ihe resuhs of 84,000 examination resu lts, the court nullified teachers. ver the last year, many decisions the order of the anti-corruption agency. The CIAA seemed 10 fail to under O of the Commission of Investiga According to Article 4 1(I), conduct stand and appreciate the con'ectlegal po tion of Abuse of Authority (ClAA) have of government business, the allocation si tion as per the interpretations given ~ come under the scrutiny of the Supreme and transaction of business of His the Supreme Court in similar cases in " Court. With characteristic restraint, the Majesty's Government shall be carried past. Had it respected the law, Ihe CIAA court has been interpreting the constitu out as sct forth in rules approved by His should not have intervened in the resuits tion and clarifying the role and duties of Majesty. of the teachers. the CIAA. While interpreting the consti Article 41 (2) says no question shall "Once agai n the courl has rightl y and tution, the apex court has maintained ut be raised in any court as to whether or not strongly overruled the action. opinion and most consciousness. rules made pursuant to Article 41 (I) have decision taken by the ClAA. h must serve In a case tiled by former minister of been observed. Many were taken by sur as a final blow to CIAA's proclivily to education Govinda Raj Joshi, who chal prise by way the CIAA decided to make take arbitrary decisions .in future:' said a lenged the CIAA's recommendation its recommendation against the minister, senior lawyer. A bench comprising Chief who look his decision under Justice Keshav Prasud Upadhyaya and the provisions of cabinet Judge Kedar Pra,ad Giri took thc deci regUlations. SiOn. "In such a decision, The apex cOurt ha !>. clearly said that even theSupremeCoul1 can the CfAA has no right to issue directives not intervene. How did the akin to the order of mandamus, which is ClAA think it had to power the prerogative of the Supreme Court. "It to intervene?" asked senior is surprising why the ClAA lime and advocate Mukunda Regmi. again takes such kind:.- of actions h seems that the ClAA has are prima fal:ie and beyond its intervened without even tion," the lawyer said. knowing the basic provision The Supreme Court declared unlaw of the constitution. "Under ful the decision of the C IAA to open the this article, the executive case a year after the acltQn in question enjoys prerogative power had been taken. Underthe exiSling CIAA which even the court of law Act, no complaint can he accepted and including the Supreme Court entertained beyond the one-year lime cannot question," said limit from the dale of the commission of Regmi. the act. The CIAA !)eclllcd to ignore the Along with the recom clear provision of law, \vhidl could mendation to take action amount toabuse ofalllhority by the CIAA againstJoshi, theCIAA also itself. issued a directive to the gov According to 9S( I ) of the constitu ernment to cancel theresullS tion. the CIAA Illay in accordance with of the examination taken by the law. conduct or cau:-.c lO be conducted the Teachers Selection Com inquiries into. and investigations of. im mittee. The examination proper conduct or corruption by a person conducted by the committee holding any public oflicl.!. It is high time Supreme Court: Guardian of the constitution under the minister of parliament evaluated the performance of ______education's decision as per the CIAA itself. • 12 SPOTLlGHTIDECEMBER 14,2001 NATIONAL SAARC Final Preparations The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation celebrates 16 years of existence amid little concrete success By A CORRESPONDENT work is under way on the draft of a final declaration. "The SAARC leaders will discuss a fter a nearly three-year postpone number of issues, including terrorism, free ment, members of the South Asian trade, poverty alleviation, during the II th the country, AccORling to the for Regional Cooperation summit," said Prime Minister Shcr Baha Ministry, Minister Tang extended his (SAARC) are finally preparing for their dur Deuba, addressing a program marking port during a telephone conversation J J rh summit. But the meeting is mired in the 16th anniversary of the signing of the Prime Minister and ForeIgn Minister the kind of unpredictability the region's SAARC charter. Bahadur Deuba Saturday morning, monsoon season is known for. As rela Although the government is yet to TIle Chinese Minister made it clear tions between the two largest and most finalize the agenda, the summit is ex that neIther the Communist Pany nor any pected to witness the entity of the Chinese government had any signing of a number link with the terrortsts of Nepal. Though he of agreements, in did not specify any particular organil.ation, cludi ng those agai nst it was obvious that t:le senior Chinese the abuse of women official was referring toward the IV""m,L] and children for fa guerrillas in Nepal whom the Nepal gov cilitating free trade ernment has already lClmcd as terrori~IS. in region. Prime Minister Deuba infornled "The 11th sum about the compelling reasons leading to the mit will open the way declaration of the state of emergency de for greater regional spite the sincere efforts of the gO'vernm,enlll cooperation in South to resolve the problem through peaceful Asia," said Prime negotiations. Meanwhile, RAJLJr'f'\I,'" Minister Deuba. daily reported that the Chinese !VllmSller, "SAARC leaders was especially worried about the use will discuss issues of word 'Mao' by the CPN (Maoi,t) of Nepal mutual concern, in Recently, some Indian medi ..l reports cluding terrorism in tried to link the MaoiSt movement in Nepal South Asia, as al most as beong supported by ChlOa. By di,;so,:iat.-! all countries in the ing itself from the so-called Maoist region have been fac ment in Nepal, China has stood firmly ing similar types of ravor of peace. stability and devel,opme:n i '::R=-od-:-r"7ig-o-:";S=-u-c-c-es-s";fu:oOI:-'-----...... --- ...... ---' problems," he said. ~N'::i::'h-a::'1 in Nepal. The govern Earlier. a Chinese foreign powerful members, India and Pakistan, ment has already started expanding the spokeswoman had said the Chinese are yet lO nonnalize, one cannot rule capital's roads and refurbishing other in emment was concerned about the events i out the possibility of another postpone frastructure, apan from beautifying the Nepa! and was watching the latest de"clc)D-! ment. city. It has also beefed up security in and ments here carefully. The Chinese arc Whatever the situation, the Nepalese around the capital. The government said to he concerned that no roreign government is making e~ery effort to heaved a sigh Qf relief on the security tries to put Nepal unuer its so-called successfully hold the II th SAARC sum front after the imposition of the state of rity umbrella' taking benefit of the unwar mit in Kathmandu. Invitations have al emergency, especially since it gives enor ranted developments in Nepal. Unfortu ready been delivered to all the heads of mous power to the executive to hold the nately, the "Maoist insurgency" has given the state/government of the region and summit peacefully. • fertile to such ill SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER 14,2001 13 NATIONAL minimum term of five years and minimum sum assured is Rs 10,000, that of Money Back policy is 15 years and the mini mum sum assured is Rs 20,000. Both the policies offer bonuses and pro vide accident benefit at the rate of Rs one per thousand sum assured. The company also offers non-medical scheme and term rider benefit to ~ policyholders. ~ Inaugurating the company amid a func tion Monday, Ministerof State for Finance Bharat Kumar Shah said thegov emment had decided to open the life insurance sector to make it CO m New insurance company: Insured enough? ~'.:...~~~=-:~~::::c..:..~~~=~~:..-______petitiveand thereby ben- efit the people. LIC Nepal is the fourth LIe NEPAL life insurance company. which got its operating license in August 2001. N.C. Sharma, managing director of For An Insured Future LIC India, said LIC India was the big gest company in the world in terms of A new company starts operations in the life insurance the number of policies sold (over 110 sector with new packages million) in a single year. With a work of 800,000 agents and over branches, LIC India sells settles one By A CORRESPONDENT The company has introduced two claim every second, he said. policies, Money Back and Endowment For Nepal, the insurance market is n Srimadbhagavad Gita, Lord policy, to begin with. According to the still in infancy with the insurance ple I Krishna told his disciple, friend and company, the Endowment policy is a mlum standing at less than one percent relative Arjuna, "Yoga Kshemam low-cost insurance policy, which pro of the total GDP. "There is a vast virgin Bahamyahem," (that is, your welfare is vides high protection to the family of land for a life insurance company in my duty). With the same mission, Life the policyholder and a large sum for Nepal," said Or. Prafulla KafJe, chair Insurance Corporation (LIC) Nepal happy retired life. Loan facility pro man of the Insurance Board. "Besides Limited has formally launched its op vides adequate liquidity in case of ur benefiting local people, the insurance erations beginning this week. gent needs. provides for long and short-term fund A joint venture between the Life The Money Back policy, on the ing required for infrastructure project Insurance Corporation of India and the other hand, enables policyholders to and private sector development." Chair Vishal Group of Nepal, the LIC Nepal receive periodic lumpsum payments to man of the Vishal Group, I.P. Agrawal, has a capital base of R~ 250 million in provide for needs such as purchase of said the new company would strive for which the LIC India owns a 55 percent automobiles, booking of house prop bringing social stability and prosperity stake, while the Vishal Group owns 25 erty, etc. besides providing life insur in Nepal. A commitment that the new percent. The rest will be sold to general ance to the family. company needs to fulfill in the days public. While the Endowment policy has a ahead. • 14 SPOTLlGHTIDECEMBER 14.2001 TOURISM the officials have already given theiropin TOURISM ion regarding the licenses. If the government wants to protect the tourism industry. say some touri sm Confronting New Challenges analysts, private parties should be all owed to operate internationalllighls as early as Kathmandu and Bali are situated in two different geographical possible. However, aviation experts do locations on the globe but they have some economic similarities not agree with that argumenl and wge }))c government 10 evaluate the finnis overal' performance and infrastructure before tak By KESHAB POUDEL in Bali (Denpasar) ness entrepreneurs and private investors ing any decision on the issue. have soared. In the aftemlath of the new " We need to have more private par ary Thinkabij, 26. cannot find any agreement, the Nepal Tourism Board ticipation in the aviation scC lorto increase H one willing to rent his surfboards (NTB) and other entrepreneurs have been the number oftourisls but the government month of November. wh ich is con preparing vigorous marketing campaigns must evaluate the performance of private among the peak tourist seasons in to draw tourists from around the world. airlines before taking any decision," said Bali. As the nonnal crowds on the Indian "Nepal Tourism Board is trying to a leading aviation expert. on condition of Ocean beach front are nowhere to be found project internationally that Nepal is a safe anonymity. this year, almost all hotels in Bali are venue for tourists, as no tourist has ever Bali, a popular tourist destination of reporting less than 30 percent tourist oc c upancy. ''There ar" only I 0 percent of the nonnal number of tourists we should be having right now. T have never seen such a low number of tourists in the beach area." said Hary. who making a living Ollt of renting surfboards. "Tourism is the mainstay of our life. and the low tourist arri vals have already triggered a plunge in our income," Tourism officials agree. "We received morc than 70 percent booking cancella tion in October and November," said the rketing manger of Hotel Sahid of Bali. ftcrthe September 11 attacks, the tour ist arrivals have been drastically reduced." According to the Tourist Information nali beach: Where have all the tourists gone? Centcr at Bali. the government expects at least a 60 percent decline of tourist arriv been attacked by terrorists," said Tek Indonesia. is sea-locked while Kathmandu a ls in the last four months of 200 I. Bahadur Dangi. marketing manager of is landlocked. But both cities are facing Although Kathmandu, too. has been the NTB. similar problems in tourism. After the Sep swamped with cancell ations, tourist ar In the last four months. total tourist tember 11 terrorist attacks in New York rivals are still better than in Bali. Despite arrivals by air declined by 30 to 40 per and Washington, Bali's sea beach, which the surge in internal and external violence cent. " If some more private airlines are would nonnally be full oftollrists this time and consequent fall in tourist arrivals, all owed to operate international flights, of year, is virtuall y empty. Kathmandu, many private airline companies are eager they will bring in additional tourists," said which enduring the fallout from intema to operate international nights. a private airline operator. ''The govern tional and internal terrorism. still is in a "This is agood indication that Nepalfs ment must move swiftly to grant licenses relatively bencr position tha n Bali. Despite LOurism industry will recover in the com to private parties waiting to start interna the gloomy picture. private parties have ing years." says a tourism entrepreneur in tional flights." shown an interest to invest in international Kathmandu. "Even today. 'Nepal is still Because of the imposition of the state aviation. At 2 time when tourist arrivals safe for tourist. and I believe the tourism of emergency last month, the government and the aviation business around the world industry w ill boom once again." has not issued licenses to private airlines are facing an uncertain future, private pa( After Nepal and China signed an to fly on international sectors. According ties in Nepal are pressing for pemlission io'" agreement on tourism, the hopes of bus i- to sources at the Civil Aviation Authority, operate intemationaillighls. • SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER 14.2001 15 COVER STORY LICENSING FOR INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS A Costly Decision At a time when much ofthe world's aviation industry is losing money and some have been bailed out by governments, civil aviation authorities in Nepal are considering whether to issue international flight license to private airlines. With virtually non-existent infrastructure, tough intern, tional competition and huge initial investment, nobody understands the rational behind the decision. Interestingly, the private sector is pressing its demand for the license at a time when major international airlines are cutting staff and other expenditure for survival. How have private opera- ) tors in Nepal come up with the confidence to demand international flight } licenses at this crucial juncture? By KESHAB POUDEL erating the Kathmandu-Varanasi sector it has become very difficult for new air by ATR-42 aircraft. lines to operate international flights. mong the first five private air The other four airlines simply had to Just a few weeks before the attacks lines that were allowed to fly abandon their hopes of going interna in New York City and on th e Pentagon, in the international sector, only tional. The failure of private airlines to the Nepalese cabinet directed the Minis Neeon Air has been operating start jet services is a consequence of low tfY of Culture. Tourism and Civil Avia Aflights. But Neeon Air has suspended profit margin, big capital investment and tion to iss ue li censes to two private air two scheduled Biratnagar-Calcutta and . lack of technical capabilities. After the lines to operate cargo and passenger ser Kathmandu-Patna flights and is now op- September 11 attack on the United States. vice. The ministry. which in vited appli- 16 SPOTLIG HT/DECEMBER 14.2001 COVER STORY But private operators remain un daunted. "If we are given the opportu nity, we will prove our efficiency," says Birendra Basnet, managing director of • Buddha Air and one of the promoters of Nepal [nternational Airlines. "The gov ernment should iss ue license to increase the number of tourists in the country." Other Aspects There are many technical and finan cial aspects involved in the operation of international fli gh ts. How can airlines pay for aviation fuel" How will they arrange hotels at the time of cancella tions? Who will be the guarantors of money? What are the marketin g pros pects? "Once private airlines are allowed to operate, they will arrange everything. Failure of private airlines to start jet service is the consequences of double standards and lack of political will on th e Tribbuwan International Airport: Crowded' part oflhe government," says Maheshwor cations from interested parties last year, With the increase in insurance pre Bhakta Shreslha, an aviation marketin g is now said to be screening two airlines miums by 400 percent, the operation expert and vice-chairman of Alpine Air. from five applicants. Nepal International costs of Nepalese carriers have increased which abandoned plans to launch inter Airlines, Aero Nepal, Sita Air, Cosmic by many folds. The increase follows a national flights. Air, Air Shangri-La and Asian World 30-35 hike in the price of aviation fuel, a Some aviation ex pens argue thm International have submitted bids. 400 percenlcumulative rise in civil avia there is a huge opportunity for interna At a time when experienced carriers tion charges, including parking, hous tional flights. asserting that the market is like Dragon Air have postponed plans to ing, landing and navigation. growing still underutilized by RNAC. Those who begin a new schedule in Nepal, on what costs of spare parts, and rising taxes. The disagree with this assessment hold the basis are Nepalese business groups and devaluation the Nepalese rupee against view that high-sou nding words are not 1. iatio n authorities considering to oper the US dollar in the past few months has enough to operate on the international '!re international flights? When the pri pushed the domestic aviation industry sec tor. vate sector has seen little success in do into a very difficult position. The cancel In any normal industry, the solution mestic flights, how do they expect to go lation of visits by tourists from North is obvious: consolidate. But the airline international ? In the last seven years America and Europe and the uncertain business is not a normal indu stry_ as it alone, more than half of the private car international situation will create more needs to have fulfilled many terms and riers have shut down after incurring huge financial problems for the sector. conditions before being ready to fly on losses, Already battered by the global re the international sector. The intcrnaljonal Airlines need to consolidate if they cession, how can an industry that re .... aviation system is guided by the 1944 hope to prosper during times of crisis. quires intensive capital investment ex Chicago Convention. Routes are negoti But Nepal's private airlines, which are pect to survive? The recent decision of ated between governments on behalf of struggling for survi val, are pushing ahead RNAC to pull out from the European their national carriers, A bilateral avia with a new demand to fly on the interna sector also underscores the challenges of lion agreement between Kathmandu and tional sector. With limited investment, operating international flights, Ohaka, for example, stipulate s the pre lack of infrastructure, low technical ca RNAC, which incurred millions of cise number of flights. the number of pabilities, poor marketing and a weak rupees in losses while operating in the carriers and the number of destinations financial base, operating in the interna European sector. survives by cross sub that can be serve d by the nalional airlines tional sector is almost certain to invite sidies in various sectors. One of the ad of each country . What that means. in bankruptcy for these carriers 'and to push vantages for RNAC is that it is a govern effect, is that airlines mu st have a nation the country's national flag carrier to clo ment-owned airline. Necon's experience ality and each nation must have a flag sure . with the Patna and CaicUlla flights is a carrier. Unfriendly Market relevant example for private carriers. Internati onal Airlines SPOlLlGHT/OECEMBER 14,2001 17 COVER STORY Struggling even to survive in the do Lhasa, Calcutta, Varanasi, Bombay. years ago. Except RNAC and Necon Air, mestic market, Nepal's private airlines Delhi, Karachi, Is lamabad, Dubai, other airlines gave up their claim. wi ll have to face fierce competition in the Sharjah, Doha, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Issuing licenses to private airlines to international sector. Almost all of the 15 Moscvw, Vienna, Amsterdam, London operate international nights would onl y intern ational airlines that are currently and Munich (charter). help to destroy the well-organized RNAC. operating international nights toand from Nepal has signed air agreements with "In the existing si tuation . there is no alter Kathmandu have wide-body jet aircraft 32 countries, but Nepalese carriers are native to strength ening RNAC. As private and stro ng financial and technical capa nying to fewer than 10 countries, includ airlines are engaged in a price wa r in the bilities. The exception is Neeon Air. ing India, China, Thailand, Hong Kong domestic sector. operating in the hi ghl y Aerotlot Russian International Air and Japan. RNAC recently suspended competitive international sector wi ll de Iines , Austrian AirlineslLauda Air. Biman nights to Dubai, Frankfurt. Paris and stroy them," says an av iati on expert. Bangladesh Airlines, China Southwest London. The price war amo ng commercial Airlines. Condor Airlines, Gulf Air, In Signing an agreement is not enough private airlines in th e domestic sector dian Airlines, Necon Air (Nepal). Paki to operate airlines, as there should be underlines how they might want to deal stan International Airlines, Qatar Air firm financial viability. RNAC withdrew with the competitive imernational en ways, Royal Bhutan Airlines. Royal its nights to Colombo, Karachi, Dhaka rooment. The private airlines have r Nepal Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai and Yangon after it incurred heavy losses. duced their fare by many folds. The olli cial rate of a mountain flight is around • US$ 108, but airlines are now fetching in less than US$ 50. The fares on other routes, including Pokhara. have also been reduced drasti cally due la competiti on. aMy two-d ecade exper iences in RNAC show th at private airlines cannOt operate internati on31 night with the exist ing investment si tuation. lack of technical capability and market know-how. In a si ngle flight to Europe. an airline needs to spend more than live million rupees. 11' a new airline nies half empty to Europe and other sectors, it will go into bankruptcy with in a month . How it will pay the costs of fue!. navigation and otherthings?" asks a senior RNAC executive. Airlines cannot operate merely leasing or purcha si ng aircraft. In the course of operation. an aircraft has to perform certain mechanical checks in RNAC's Jet: Fighting for survival different phases in a place certified by the aircraft manufacture. RNAC, which Airways International, Transavia and Even Lufthansa pulled out from Nepal has been openi ng Boeing 757 for the last Dragon Air are the airlines operating because of unsustainable losses. 10 years, sends it s aircraft to Brunei for international flights to and from Necon Air suspend ed its tech ni cal checks. Kathmandc. Connecting directly to 24 Kathmandu-Patna and Biratnagar In the case of the Boeing 767, the cities. these airlines provide service Calcutta flights and is now limiting its aircraft has to be sent 10 Europe for com through variety of jet and turboprop air services la Varanasi. Necon Air, which pulsory checkin g. When RNAC leased craft like ATR-42, BAe 146,Boeing 737. is operating services with turbo-propel Boeing 767 aircraft. it had certain techni B757. B777. Airbus A 320, A310, A330 ler ATR-42, has to face competition with cal problems. The aircraft was sent to and A300. Indian Airline 's wide-body airbus. Vienna from Bangkok. as the Thai capi tal These airlines new connect Nepal Among the 29 domestic airlines does not have maintenam;e facilities. This directly to 24 cities a nd offer 15 ,845 granted air operator certificate in Nepal, means, for maintenance alone, the ai rlin e seats on 94 night per week. International Air Nepal International, Alpine Air and has to spend millions of rupees. destinations connected directly from Nepal Transcontinental Airlines The private sector can operate air Kathmandu are Osaka, Shanghai, Hong (Freighter), RN AC and Necon Air were lines but how will it prove its credibility. Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, Dhaka, Paro, given rights to international fli ghts five "A private airline can buy two old Russian I~ SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER 14.2001 COVER STORY aircraft, but the question is, who wi ll buy tional sector is much 1"'"------, tickets on ii when US and other European hig her. In January, airli nes are adding additional facilities 8 1,716 passengers and upgrading security?" asks an expert. and 733 aircraft There is a popular saying in the avia movement were re- tion sector that a single aircraft is no corded at the TIA, In ai rcraft. In a situation when there is no March, April and possibility to invest in two aircraft, it May, the movement would make little sense to allow new of aircraft and pas- carriers to fly on international routes. sengers was much Ground Facilities higher. According 10 an estimate, Tribhuvan As the runway, International Airport (TIA) has 107 flights terminal building, a week, with a total seat availability of taxiway and other -0,223 per week (based on winter sched racilities become ~ year 2000\2001), Along with regular more congested, schedule, the airport handles more than. there is more pres 200 charter flights a year, According to sure on aircraft and the TIA, aircraft movement in 2000 was passenger move 66,513, including 8, 105 international ment Ifnewairlines flights, are allowed to oper The international passenger move ate, the country's ment was 1,061,343 and 853,006 in the on ly international domestic sector. The airport handled airport will have no freigh t of 19,481.40 tons, includi ng place left. The seven 2480,3 tons in the domestic sector. aprons avail able in The last ten years' comparative chart the intern ational ter of passenger movement in the TlA shows minal are now al an in crease in volume. Accordin g la the mosthalffulL There TIA Office, 996,890 passengers were re is onl y one halwe,r corded, whi ch includes 780,933 in the and li mited space fo r Buddha Air : Flexing win g international sector. In 2000, passenger maintenance facili- movement doubled, reaching 1,914,349, ties. Khanal, chief manager, corporate and .rcraft movement also increased by many "A credible marketing study is term inal management, at the TlA, "The ds, The TIA recorded 19,285 flights, needed to understand the potenti al be authorities must study how passengers The record of first fi ve months of passen fore all owin g the pri vate airlines on in can be brought in, " gers and aircraft movement in the interria- tern ati onal fli ghts," says Keshav Raj Internati onal Situat ion The deadly terrorist attacks on the United States September II were unp rec History of International Flight in Nepal edented both in conceptio n and in their consequences. According to the World Trade Organi zation (WTO), as the brutal Himalayan Aviation Dakota DC-3 aircraft operated a chaner flight on February ity oftheeventscontinues to haunt people, 20, 1950 from Gauchar to Calcutta that lasted 2 hours 45 minutes, the first there may be more damage in the near international flight Later, the airlines staned three weekly scheduled flights future. Air transport companies have been between Palna and Kathmandu, Indian National Airlines subsequently staned affected, in general, and US ai r transport flights between Calcutta and Kathmandu, The government nationalized the air compani es, in part icul ar, cancelled do transport system in Nepal to form Royal Nepal Airlines in July I, 1958, Between mestic and intern ational fli ghts for sev 1960 and 1965, RNAC operated four international flights, including Dhaka, eral days. Air transport to North Ameri ca Calcutta, Patna and New Delhi, Nepal entered thejet area in 1978 when the RNAC came to a standstill unt il Sept ember 13, acquired :ts first Boeing 727-100 and extended its flight to Bangkok and Hong Although fli ghts started again grad uall y, Kong, In 1979, RNAC brou/1ht the second Boeing 727 aircraft and expanded to six to and from the United States, it will still new regional routes, Dhaka, Hong Kong, Yangon, Singapore, Karachi and Dubai, take months to recover. The lATA esti Between 1987 and 1988, RNAC acquired two Boeing 757s and extended its international service to Frankfurt, London and Paris, males that direct losses from that week alone wi ll amount to US$ 10 bi ll ion, SPOlLIGHT/DECEMBER 14, 2001 19 COVER STORY "The figure shows that new book ings have fallen. This behavior by tour ists is normal and has been observed in The 1944 Chicago Convention s imilar si tuations in the past. How long it lasts will depend on how the conflict Each contracting state grants to all other contracting states the following freedoms of develops and on the reaction of tourist the air in respect to scheduled international air services: services providers," says the WTO. 1. The privilege to fly across its territory without landing; Life isn ' t gettin g any easier for ~ost 2. The privi lege to land for non-traffic purposes; Nepalese private airlines. Three years of 3. The privilege to put down passengers, mail and cargo taken on passengers, mail consecutive disturbances following the and cargo destined for the territory of the state whose nationality the aircraft hijacking of an Indian Airlines night to possesses; New Delhi have laid bare the stark reali 4. The privilege to take on passengers, mail and c.argo destined for the territory of ties and challenges facing the industry 6 any other contracting state; not just domestic but also international. 5. The privilege to take on passengers. mail and cargo destined for the territory of Simply put. there are so many private any other contracting state and the privilege to put down Pilsscngcrs. mail anrl airlines flying LOO many aircraft. Interest cargo coming from any such territory. ingly. they stili want to add more aircraft in the international sector. particularly in neurs willing to go? Opening the sky to example. were to take majority control of regional areas. the private sector does not necessarily other airlines. it could lose it rights to fly The solution is as simple as it is increase tourist arrivals. In fact, it will between Kathmandu and. say, Thailand apparent: The industry 111usl consolidate cause more damage to the national because it would no longer be regarded as ifit is to prosper. In the West, airlines arc economy. Even acountry like India, where a Nepalese-flagged airline. ready begging to experiment with radical more than a couple of private companies But, for now. even i nvcstors are press change th rough international alliances have strong fleets of modern aircraft and ing for the license to tl y the aircraft. ignor and cross-border investments. But in the capability to manage all kinds ofinler ing the evident compulsions. The 1944 Nepal, the situation is different The gov national flights, does not all ow private Chicago Convention sti ll governs inter ernment is considering whether to issue a carriers to fly on the international sector. national aviation law. It ~t ipulat~ s five couple of morc licenses to private-sector Domestically. airlines can consolidate basic freedoms that each country should carriers to fly on {he international sector. fairly casily because domestic aviation is respect. However. the fifth freedom. the At stakc are bill ions of rupees in losses. driven mainly by market demand. nOt right of a carri er to pick up passengers bankruptcy and even air safety. international aviation law. But across bor outsidc its homeland and fly them 10 a How far are officials and enlrepre- ders. it·s a different story. If RNAC, for third country. rcmains largely unrecog nized. Despite its apparent glamour. . airlines business is pretty unatlracli The lmcrnali o nal Air Transport Asso ciation reported th ,:n its 268 members' combined profits was "hout US$ 2 bil li on. about as much as Japan's biggest cannaker, Toyota. earn s in s ix months. Foracapital-intensive industry. where a single asset likc a Soeing 757 costs millions of dollars. the return is pathetic. After the terrorist allacks in the United States, all big airlines in Asia have had to suffer. For almost eight years, profit margins and passenger yields have been on a steady mark - a trend matched around the world as 1110re airlines Ily more Ilights.ln the last live years, the number or private commer cial aircraft in service has grown by more than the growth intrartic. Gone-perhaps for good - are the years that helped lift Nepal's aviation industry in thel990s . • 20 SPOTLlGHTIDECEMBER 14. 2001 NATIONAL airport was on the front page for days but MEDIA few readers actually understood the com plexity of the issues involved," he says. "Then there was news about Osama bin Bad News? Laden's men being spoued in the capital. which turned out to be little more than As it flourishes under democracy, the press IS also crude rumor and speculation." Tourism entrepreneurs are particu coming under greater public scrutiny larly worried by the media's coverage of national events and ideas. "The tourism By AKSHAY SHARMA looking foreign media start picking up industry is barely able to limp along. which your poorly sourced and hole-ridden sto could have di sastrous consequences for ries?" the national economy. And what do news s the nation reviews the accom Such caustic castigation of the press papers do? They are out to get us," says a plishments and failures of 12 years may not have become the norm yet. Nev travel entrepreneur. "Something like the I!multiparty democracy, the media has ertheless, it does signal a significant shift bird hits at Tribhuvan International Air been discussing the performance of state in public attitudes. The euphoria gener port, which is a common scenario in many in stitutions and the indi vid uals that run ated by the restoration of multiparty de airport around the world . is blown out of them. Less onspicuously, however. more mocracy in Nepal in 1990 soon gave way proportion." and more Nepalis appear to be monitoring la deepening dejection amid political in Ashraf Shah. who owns a gamlem the media. Are today's newspaper head fi ghting. ''This mood of cynicism is best shop in Thame!. says the negative press lines helping or harming tbe country's renected in the media. which sti ll believe coverage has hit th e wider business com long-term interests? Variations of th is the biggest news of the day is the sordid munity very hard. "Wc used to depend on question are being asked more frequently state of the nation," says a security expert. Indian tourists. whose numbers have been in recent months at public forums and The pressures on Nepal's nascent in- dwindling ever since the Hrithik Roshan episode." Media coverage of certain issues seems la have troubled some common people as well. "All the papers played up that story on how Nepal was likcly to be hit by a massive earthquake soon." says 50-year-old Amri! Sherchan. who post poned his plan to add a noor 10 hi s house in Chabahil. "Few in the media cared to qualiry that the term 600n' meant any thing between now and 50 years." Reporters and editors in sist they are just doing Iheirjob ofinfonning the people. But some readers think the infonnation they are getting is of the wrong kind. "I was gOIng through a national dail y which had a picture of children gri nn ing at th e camera holding AK-47s and handgun s in their hand~. Imagine what me ~sage such pictures could convey to Ncpalis of that age," says Shah. Newspapers: Questioning cteadibility Analysts agree thalthe issue contains greatsensili vity. They say the stale cannot social gatherings alike. dependent media to make their mark are enrorce it s will on the press under any "Are you people in the media trying immense. Publications are in a heated pretext but cannot stop expecting greater to starve the country's only booming in competition ror public attention and are cooperation rrom the media. "A propa dustry, tourism. by printing stories like experimenting with style and content. ganda war is waged to paralyzc Ihe en· these?" an entrepreneur challenged a re Critics, however, say the key casualty of emy/' says a security expert. "BUllook at porter recently. "What image will Nepal this contest has been quality of journal who's holding the dagger against whom have abroad if the far bigger and brighter- ism. "News of a Nepali caught at a US in Nepal." • SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER 14.2001 21 INTERVIEW 'Private-Sector Partici pation Vital To Energy Restructuring' -ALINAWAZMEMON ALl NA WAZ MEMON, a senior financial and insti· financial viability to borrow money. International lend tutional consultant. worked with the World Bank for ing agencies have changed their policies and they want 29 years before retiring in 1996. He also served as a to involve private parties in this business. All these chairman a/the Power Commission afPakistan/or J5 factors necessitate reform in the energy sector. In order 1110111115. Memoll was recently ;n Kathmandu to ad to get financial resources, one has to admit these dress a seminar on "Energy Re structuring and Pri problems and see how each of them can be solved. vate-Sector Participation" organized under South Asia What does restructuring mean? l Regionallniriarive\Energy (SARI\E ) and Academy of It is looking at the basic structural system and16" Education Development and USA/D. Memon spoke to see what are the ways to address it. That can be internal KESHAB POUDEL all various energy-related is restructuring where the slate enterprises will be simply sues. Excerpts: restructured from inside 10 make il more acceptable. Regulatory agencies, which can be introduced to pra How do you define energy restructuring and tect the interest of the consumers, are needed. The private~sector participation? state-owned companies, investors and government It is important that consumers who are very im demand restructuring. pol1ant stakeholders should know exactly what is What are the: tools for restructuring? happening in the energy sector. Consumers should There are different tools for restructuring. Pri understand the pros and cons of different things so that vate-sector participation is one. In the United Stales, they can act accordingly. We are looking at worldwide Europe and Japan, electricity is generally handled by experiences of power structuring. People from differ the private sector. Why are they performing better than ent countries have had an opportunity to exchange the bodies in developing countries? If Ihe private seClor views on their own. We know that there are problems has something to offer, we mU SI develop a plan t~ in electricity in particular and the energy sector in deriv.e benefits. We are looking al each of the options general. The energy we are talking about includes we have and are trying to find ways of addressing the petroleum, electricity and many others forms. But it issue. particularly focuses on electricity. . Wbat are the challenges'of the energy sector in Wby do we need to reform the energy sector? countries like Nepal and what are the options av We know that nobody is satisfied. The govern able? ment is not satisfied because it hasn't been able to Although I have had the 0ppol1unity to look at the ensure hundred percent coverage of the population. In experiences of different countries, I am not very famil the case of Nepal, it is 15·20 percent. Sri Lanka has 60 iar with the issues of the energy sector in Nepal. J was percent, Pakistan 50 percent India 50 1 percent and here about 18 months ago to look at the Melamchi Bangladesh has 15·20 percent coverage. So the public Water Supply Project on behalf ofthe Asian Develop· is not served properly. Despite the low coverage, Quality and the ment Bank. I can say the issue here is more or less cost is already high as the prices of electricity are going similar to thal in many developing countries. You have system reli up on the component basis of the international market state-owned enterprises that are not perfooning well. price. The price of oil and machinery goes ability, stable up, whereas I hear that only 15 percent of the population have consumers' income in developing countries remains access to electricity , which is shameful. The world has voltage, re low. They are supposed to pay forintemational output, gone quite far ahead. If you don't have electricity, how but their own income reflects local conditions. ducing power Sp can you have industry and commerce, schools and affordability is a problem. colleges? lncreasing electricity supply is imponant for loss, relying Will reform bring beneficial changes in the development. Quality and system reliability, present structure? stable more on inter voltage, reducing power loss, relying more on internal There are many specific issues to address. Power cash generation are among the major issues. nal cash gen lesses are very high and the system is not very reliable. In Nepal, it is said that multilateral donor R.ural electrification and cost recovery eration are are lacking. agencies often force the government switch struc The loss of the system is so high that the governments tures. The government nationalized the private among the are in no position to recover it. Investment requirement power sector to get foreign aid. Then it set up the is so much that the government doesn't major lssues. have the Nepal Electricity Authority to seek another loan. 22 SPOTLIGHTIDECEMBER 14,2001 ., INTERVIEW How do you look at these changes? As I have already said. I don't have first-hand experience of Nepal. BUll can understand what you say. There are other countries that have switched from one system to another. For instance, Jarnaica privatized Iheelectricity sector. Then the government and people became unhappy that private sector did not make adequate investments. "[he dispute ended after the government bought back the companies. The state owned enterprises latcrshowed similar problems. Now the people are returning the companies to the private sector. lthink this is a natural problem. Certain poli cies rejected five years ago may be more acceptable today. When the world had two super powers, there was competition between the United States and the iet Union to win friends. Since the collapse of mmunism, there is only one super power now. Sonobody is competing to give aid. Since new inde· pendent states have been born. the demand for capital has grown. Gennany is spending a lot of money to improve infrastructure in the eastern pansofthecoun· try. Poorcounlries like Nepal have to find resources on the responsibility ofNepaJ to make sure it signs agree their own. There is also a philosophical shift in the ments that suit its interest. world. Now everyone is talking about the private What suggestions do you have for Nepal in sector. terms of private-sector participation? After the energy sector was opened to private The national economy is not different from the participation, many Independent Power Produc household economy. We have to see what income ers «(PPs) have come up in South Asia. What are the level we have, what expenses we have. and which new challenges for a country like Nepal? expenses need to begiven priority and which need to [pPs are commonly known as a group of private be curtailed. If there is shortage of resources, we have investors including national and international inves to borrow money. If we have relatives, we will go tors. IPPs are investing capital hoping for a very high those who will not charge interest. How much can the level of return. They feel that greater the risk. greater national economy afford? The government has to should be the rate of return. IPPs want their money la invite private participation by judging its needs. be protected in US dollars. Documentation of this There is a huge loss of electricity in almost all ~sacti(," is very complicated as you may find 20\30 developing countries. Because of high losses. you are agreements ranging from power purchasing paying the price fortheenergy you are not using. This to LIansfer of technology and management. Tbe chal· has 10 be reduced. Electricity is sold but bills are not lenge is to negotiate with these LPPs in such a way that collect properly. So many consumers owe money and you are not giving away your house. no one takes initiative to recover it. There is corrup· What are your experiences with IPPs in Paki tion in t~e system and the government procurement is stan? fairly high. Lf the government improves the system. In the case of Pakistan, there were a few funda the procurement may change. Foreign investment is mental errors in sign ing the technical agreements. The still needed. For this, one has to go shopping. First. Use internaL agreements were not reviewed properly. After all, the one has to get one's house in order. Use internal capitaL if it is IPPs have lawyers who are getting five hundred times capital if it is available. If not, private parties have to more money than the government lawyers of Pakistan. go to foreign countries. If funds are available with availabLe. If Because of high salaries. the quality of IPPs' lawyers donors, go there. not, private is higher than that of government lawyers. Ln signing Is there any reason to split generation, trans the agreement. those who represented Pakistan did not mission and distribution into different systems? parties have safeguard the interests of the country. Some may have Again, it is a world trend la break a large inte· to go to for had a personal interest. Many of the people are facing grated company into small and manageable cornpa· jail terms. lPPs that are willing la set up companies nies. The reason is to increase competition between eIgn coun- know the ins and outs of the work. Countries like differententities. Let there be competition between the tries. Iffunds Nepa1. which are llsing IPPs for the first time, don't generation, transmission and distribulion 'iides.1t will know about their capabilities. International agencies show who can be more efficient. If will also help us to are available have an obligation to guide developing countries. But know the cost of producing the electricity and the costs with donors, the burden is on the part of developing countries. lL is ohransmission and distribution. • go there. SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER 14.2001 23 PROFILE He is alsoa foundermemberofMontabaur, RAM PRATAP THAPA an organization of Nepalese youth. Along with olhersociai organizations. Thapa is also interested to promote trade Commitment To Action between Nepal and Germany. As part of his effort in this direction. Thapa has worked A German of Nepali origin has been engaged in pro as the resident representative of Nepal German Chamber of Commerce and In- jecting the cause of Nepal in his adopted land dustries since 1992. He has also contributed to populariz By A CORRESPONDENT Stadtsparkassse Koln (Savings Bank of ing the cause of nature conservation in Cologne). Nepal. For Ius contribution, Thapa was ntil a decade ago. there was few Thapa has written books on the devel nominated member secretary and founder U Nepalis permanently living in other opment of Nepal and issues confronting member of the German Chapter of the parts of the world. In recent years, the Nepal's foreign trade and several articles King Mahendra Trust for Nature Con number of Nepalis living as citizens of on a wide range of issues. He is interested vation in Cologne ( 1989-1993). other countries has increased by many folds. in Nepalese economic and trade develop In recognition of his contributions to When you add the number of permanent ment. From his days in college, Thapa has promoting German-Nepal friendship, residents, the size of the Nepali com- r...... !::' ...... ,~~-~~I:IIlI!IIIIII.1IIi ~ ___""IThapa received the Prabal Gorkha munity abroad shoots up. This situa Dakshin Bahu. lllapa has also re tion helps Nepal to introduce itself ceived the NGCCI Achievement overseas. Award for Valuable Support for his A large numberofNepalis abroad contribution la enhancement of the spend time worrying about what has image of Nepal conferred by the gone wrong in their country of origin. Nepal-German Chamber of Com However. only a few are doing some merce and Indu stry . on its eighth thing to change things. Annual General Meeting in 1999. Every individual needs to main Thapa recei ved the Visit Nepal tain his or her identity in a particular 98 Appreciation Award as Friends of society. Many people find social work Nepal for the outstanding contribu particularly engaging. From his home tion rendered lOwards the promotion in Germany Ram Pratap Thapa has and development of LOurism in the al ways been comm itted lO doing some Kingdom of Nepal. uling for the betterment or his country One of the major contributi of origin. Thapa, who was born in of Thapa is organizing activities Nepal in 1950, went to Germany in the areas of trade, tourism, social 1984 to settie there pennanently. A works and NGOs. Thapa has also masters degree holder from Tribhu worked toward promoting Nepalese van University. Thapa did his post exports 10 Gem1any . Organizing vari graduate in 1984 from University ous trade-relmcd act ivities, Thapa Bamberg, Germany. initiated the First Nepal Day Cel Having started his career as re ebrations for the German-Nepal search assistant of 10int Evaluation Friendship Association in Bonn. He Project of Peace Corps\National Plan coordinated tne trade and investment ning Commission, Nepal in 1975, ~;;=~~~!!:.! delegation of Nepalese industrialists Thapa worked as an assistant lecturer ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ______under the aegis of the Federation of at Saraswati Campus from 1975 to Nepalese Chambers of Commerce 1976. AftergoingtoGermany, Thapajoined been interested in writing on various eco and Industry, Nepal Industrial Develop as a reader in VHS (Adult Evening School nomic and development issues. mentCorporation.the Ministry ofIndustry in Bamberg and Nuremberg). o support different activities in Nepal, of Nepal and the United Nations Industrial During his career, Thapa has worked Thapa formed several organizations in Development Organization. in different offices in Gennany, including Germany. Thapa is also president of Ger Thapa's contributions not only prove free-lance-staff at GTZ, Eschbom, adviser man-Nepal Friendship Association, Co how much people abroad can actually do to the Asia Desk at the Asia-PacificCenter logne since 1999 and board member of for their country of origin but also serve as in Cologne, and corporate analyst at German Asia Foundation, Essen since 1997. an inspiration to others. • 24 SPOTLlGHTIDECEMBER 14,2001 NATIONAL poli ce. We have to argue and some people KATHMANDU VALLEY can be very nasty at times. The traffic poli ce ca n lift motorbikes and lock cars. The owners have no ot her choice but to go Traffic Travails to the Baggikhana (traffic police head quarters) to pay the fine and get back their Congestion and pollution have created all kinds of vehicle." Sometimes the pressure of work gets road-management challenges absurdly hilarious. Sub Inspector Dal Bahadur Rana Magar remembers some By AKSHAY SHARMA International Geosphere-Biosphere Pro thing funny. "] suddenly woke up in gram and the International Human Di themiddle of the ni ght and saw (fellow mension Program. The project focuses on sub inspc(.;(Qrl Raj Kumar blowing very any streets of Kalhmandu valley creating a simulati on that can be used to hard in hi s sleep. I Wi:\!') a little afraid and MI. are being widened for the up predict land use and carbon basel ine at th e shook him up. When he got up, it turned ~ning South Asian Association for Re· national level and to explore poli cy sce out that he was dreaming he was franti gional Cooperation summit scheduled for narios. cally blowing his whistle to handle the early next year. However. the enduring Benefits from projects like lhm are a chaotic traffic at Kalanki. where he is question of whether the valley is capable long way off. Sub-Inspector Kusum Pou posted." of handling traffic-related problems is far del, who directs traffic in front of Singha Although tl~e government has suc- from being answered. "1 desperately needed a car," said Sunil Shrestha, a computer professional. He bought a Red Santro as a Dasain sur prise for the family. But the roads he dri ves on are full of vehicles dating all the way back to World War ll. The availabil ity of cheaper car models through install ment and loan programs has increased pressure on the streets. Barely two months later, Shrestha is already complaining. "] am tired of find ing and paying for safe places to park. r. reover, I'm sick of having 10 pay for rking in places where I'm not supposed 10." Chabi Lal Joshi, the superintendent of police at the Central Traffic Office, says the number of vehicles in Kathmandu Valley has grown exponentially. "There are more than 11 ,000 motorbikes and over 5,000 cars. The number of micro vans has crossed 1,500. Counting the tempos, which are to replaced by newer models, you can Dubar,looksat hi s unifonn. "At the end of cceded in phasing DU I diesel-run tempos. add another 1,500." the day, it looks like it's covered with the introduction of micro va ns. gas-ru n This is much more than the 800 km of soot. He whistles at a passing carthat has and Safa tempos and older modes of narrow roads inside the valley are capable made a wrong turn. "You see that fellow, transportation has created its own set of of carrying. "You'd be better offwith five he thinks I'm a big baboon 6 something problems, A developing co untry like cigarettes a day," says a health expert. inhumane." The dense traffic poses seri Nepal need s to cOllle up with its own "Kathmandu's roads carry len limes the ous health hazards to traffic police offic so lutions. instead of cmulallng expe ri number of vehicles they are supposed to." ers, who are barely equipped with masks, ences of other I.:ountrics. The co untry Some experts are trying' to combat It 's a different story in Ratna Park. neees the right kind of polilical, social the pollution problem by using empiri Kamal Ghimire works at the parking area and economic arrangements that foster cally based models like the Land Use and run by the municipality. "It's harder forus suc h innovations. Land Cover Chang, a core project of the to collect money than it is for the traffic But what might these be? • SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER 14.2001 25 REVIEW triotic concern, He also warns against BOOK how the corrosiveness of the political machinations of the moment go on to cause irreparable harm to the nation, By Creative Caution zeroing on the citizenship issue, Deuja makes a fervent appeal to the political A fictional narrative powerfully portrays how today's corro class to desist from such action and rheto ric that would push the nation closerto the sive politics could weaken the nation's long-term interests abyss of ruin, Often. the sensitivity of such vital By A CORRESPONDENT national issues is diminished when writ ers present arguments just for the sake of any books and articles have been putting them on the record, M oreover, the M written on the pros and cons of use of literary devices to project concerns the controversial Citizenship Amendment laced with grave national impiicati bill, which is in limbo after the Supreme risks trivializing the point the author see Court ruled it unconstitutional earlier this to make. To his credit, Oeuja carefully year. As the government works its way avoids that pitfall. In doing so, he makes out of what has become an embarrassing a commendable contribution to opening tangle. Nepalis of all backgrounds have the eyes of an audience that lacks both the had the opportunity to weigh the issue in opportunity and incentive to take that vi all its stark dimensions. tal long·tenn perspective on critical na While constitutional experts are di tional issues, • vided on the fonn any legal resolution of the matter should take, politicians are still Bikram Sambat 2080 Simanantar Written by Dhruba Kumar Deuja Published by R.H. Bajracharya Bagbazar, Kathmandu 84 pages Price: Rs. 100 engrossed in an endless exchange of blame. The philosophically minded see the prob lem as another affinnation that constitu tional governance is as good as the inten tions and motives those entrusted with it are capable of demonstrating. Ohruba Kumar Oeuja, a veteran com mentator known for his incisive analyses SlnCT n 'lItutu::<. \I;ul:lk~lmana I)t"" ha~ bt' nl on contemporary national issues. has em \\' ldl:l~' bdttTt'U III (,liCit tin' \\ ' I ~ hl'~ III hl'f ployed his literary imagination and crc Ul'\'tlll:l '~ , ~l'P"~'~ r.r~1 cabl .. , C,lt ~l'r\ ' ICl ', cumbltll'lt ativily in dealing with the citizenship is wilh Ihl~ \\ uj( '~ IHI:;tJ n'~ pI:CI anJ HIJll:rb Il;tlll!':!) sue.ln his short but highly readable novel. ~UrrOU!lJIIl~~. h:l~ Ir;lIl~fnrllll:d Ih l , Mallak,II11:tIl;t Oeuja has brought to the fore the long fl:giull IU .. pupul.tr ptlgrlmagl.: anJ hulllLIY dl:~lIn:\llfln , IIl~r : tltl'tl by rhl: wurld rl:nU\\'lll'd term significance of an issue that has J)nppkm1\~ r "r , \u~trt:l, nut cabk c:!r~ an: :11 r:1r acquired great sensitivity in Nepalese ,dill thl' bl:~t :n ,hl' wurld 1\~ 1\rl: our : 26 SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER 14,2001 THE BOTTOM LINE By M.S.KHOKNA If S£lems Deuba might jlou fool.l CCi1l.'f control the Situation after ~ou see Koirala has imposing emergencJ. started flexing '1'l'luscJes. --:<:<-~ J TRANSITION ARRIVED: Ambassador of the MP Surya Bhakta Adhikary at ofthe Human Rights Commissidi\ United States of America to Nepal the age of 81 Michael E. Malinowski. SIGNED: Tribhuvan University NOMINATED: Queen Kornal LEFT: Mayor of Madhyapur and Kathmandu University, memo RETURNED: Finance Minister Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah, Crown Thimi Municipality Madan randum of understanding for ex Prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dr.RamSharanMahatandMin Krishna Shrestha to Athens, changing teacher, officials and con Dev and Crown Princess Himani ister of Cooperatives and Agri Greece. ducting joint research and semi Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah and culture Mahesh Acharya after nars. Princess Prerana Rajya Laxmi completing visits to South Asian Ganesh Raj Lachi, president of coumries. Devi Shah to the Raj Parishad by the All Nepal Prajap\ui National FORl\1ED: Under the chairman King Gyanendra. HONOURED: Laureate Coordination Committee, to New ship of former prime minister Dhuswana Sayami (Govinda Delhi to take part in the Interna Lokendra Bahadur Chand, a Cr~wn Prince Paras as chair Manandhar) by Byathit-Sindhu tional Potters Conference. committee to perform Yagya. The man of the King Mahendra Trust Award. commiuee formed another seven For Nature Conservation by King APPOINTED: Dr. Shankar subcommittees to perform another Gyanendra. DIED: Congress leader and former Krishna Shrestha as a secretary religious work. • SPOlLIGHTIDECEMBER 14.2001 27 NATIONAL SUPPORT FOR DISABLED Cycle Of Courage Defying his physical disability, Wichian Pinkesorn has embarked on a world tour on his bicycle By A CORRESPONDENT won more than 15 gold medals. Before embarking on his world tour, Pinkesorn f a man has courage and determination, participated in acycle tour from Bangkok to I it is often said, there is nothing that can Vienchan of Thailand during which he tra stop him. Wichian Pinkesom, a disabled versed a distance of 897 km. Thai citizen, provides vivid testimony to The tour has also proved to be an explo that reality as he prepares to complete a ration of'lhe natural wonders of the world world tour on his bicycle. and a journey across diverse cultures. Start he arrived in Kathmandu crossing the high Pinkesorn lost a hand in 1990 in an ing his journey on September 22, 2000 in mountains. accident with explosives. His right hand Bangkok. in the tropical region of the world, Since he does not have his right hand, was amputated when his doctors could not 41-year-old Pinkesorn has passed through it is some lime very difficult to ride the see any other course of treaUTIent. "It look the more than 3,000-meter-high Tibetan bicycle, he says. But Pinkesorn has not lost me many months to recover from the psy Plateau on the way to Kathmandu. his patience and remain scommitted to com chological trauma of discovering that I would In 14 months of riding, he has crossed plete the world lOur whatever the lime and be permanently disabled," says Pinkesorn. Laos, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, Hong physical cost he has 10 pay. "In the Tibetan He has done much more than recover from Kong, China and Neal. He will go to India plateau, I faced many physical problems, that shock. He is travelling around the world and Pakistan and then proceed to Europe including hi gh-altitude sickness." said on his bicycle with the aim of generating and United States to complete his world Pinkesom, who says he was thrilled by the awareness about the problems and poten tour. way the people in remote parts of the world tials of the disabled. "I simply want to show that a disabled supported him and gave him shelter. Determined and courageous, Pinkesorn person is as strong as normal people. My Pinkesorn says he would like to keep is interested in cycling, swimming and ath aim is also to generate among the people on providing moral support for the disabled letics. He has participated in various inter about the plight and difficulties of the dis people around the world. "In my world lOur national tournaments for the disabled and abled person," said Pinkesom shortly after quest, [have not faced any difficulties. as I am like any other ordinary people in lee physical strength." says Pillkesorn. Pinkesom says he has been enthused by the warm welcome he has received in Nepal and other destinations. "] did not realize that people would be so helpful and would treat me like their brethren." says Pinkesom. "1 have to go a long way before completing the world tour." He believes that the disabled need con stant support and encouragement from the state and society in order to achieve success. "Although we are disabled. we can work as well as other people. We want equal treat ment and justice in SOCiCI y." says Pinkesom. "I have met other disabled during my tour and I have seen that they have been enjoying equal opportunities in society." Although Pinkesom is a Thai citizen. his aim is tQ generate awareness among the people of different strata across the world . Pinkesorn : Cycling for a cause ''My aim is to support thecause ofdisabled .... 28 SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER 14. 200t PASTIME Medical Anthropology of Nepal Now In Town BOOK M.S. Subedil2001 Rs.3S0.00 Challenges to Farmer Managed Irrigation Systems u. GautamlS. Ranal200 I Rs. soo.oo NGO, Civil Society and Government in Nepal K.B. Bhaltachan & OtherS/200 1 Rs. 200.00 Corporate Taxation: Issues in Nepalese perspective Puspa Kandel/200 I Rs. 200.00 New Policy Initiatives for Trafe and Investment R.H. Thapal200 I Rs. 2S0.00 Corruption, Governance and International Cooperation D.R. Pandayl2001 Rs.2S0.00 Nepal Social Demography aDd expressions 2nd edition Harka Gurugn/2001 Rs.400.00 Food Security in the Global Age: South Asian Dilemma R. Adhikari/200 I . Rs. ISO.OO Peasand Insurgence in Nepal 1951·1960 Shanker Thapal200 I Rs. 47S.00 Fundamentals of Horticulture ShresthalBaral/ShakyalGautaml200 I Rs. 300.00 The Political Economy of Land Landlessness and Migration in Nepal Taxation in Nepal: Retrospect and Prospect Nanda R. ShrcSlhal200 I Rs.720.00 Rup Khadkal2001 Rs.39S.00 A Step Towards Victim Justice System: Nepalese Perspective Legal Aspects of Biodiversity Conservation S.K. ShreSlhal2001 Rs.47S.00 D.M. Pokharel/2001 Rs. 120.00 (Source: Himaiayml Book Cellrer, Bllgfl Ba zlJ r. K"rlul/wu/lI. Ph : 2";2085) ------Video (Ellglish) Harry Porter Jack Knight Spy Game Out Cold Bandits HeU Riding In Cars Hilldi ShaUowHaU Ehsaas 13th Ghost Tera Mera Saath Rahen Domestic Disturbance Moksha "With faith man can Ashoka achieve anything, Rehna Hai Tere DiI Mai Abhay faith is the foundation ArjuD Deva for the realisation of God" Indian Deewanapan Yeh Zindagi Ka Safar - SATYA SAl BABA (Source : Super Star Video, New Road) SPOTLIGHTIDECEMBER 14,2001 29 LEISURE HAGAR THE HORRIBLE r CA"", geL-IE3Ii(f H6U?A HAG .A PIifT {7/.1c" ,!-lA, G.AYG'~lI.ACK" IN6/1if,Af? of''qP.A,t::;/C'·/ GARFIELD "TOPA'" I'Ll BE. PEOPLE ASK , "OESS WHO'S PREPARINCS MY " WHAT' S SO BEEN HITTING< 5PECIAl " SOUP SURPRI'&INCS THE VANILLA SUR'PRISE. " ' ABOUT SOUP"? EXTRACT? LUANN , MOMMA UH, EJEF'OlZ'e I 60, NO,DE.A~ . THAT WM T... e W>lDL.e CAN r fJO~IZ'OW r NIWel<: loeA OF ,-... e: A Few sUCJ<'~ ? MI)C p~eA~I)IZE', ·, _-' I'I.I~INE~S WITH p~eA~ul<:E' . 30 SPOTLlGHTIDECEM BER 14.2001 LEISURE CROSSWORD BRIDGE NORnl •• • Q 761 "A Kl • KH • B" WEST EAST .KIOIS .-" 101'642 "QH • ts 1 ., . • Q J 101 .1752 50tmI .,• AHU • AQIO.4 OAK YlllnenbIe: &th DuJor."",,, ""s-ca ...... Wrat NtrUI tMt I. PaA ,. PaA ' 4.' Pa-. 4'" PaY s.'•• PaAAI,.. s,,' PaA .""""" OpeDincnd ; CIIIb~ ACROSS DOWN held up, to some "If all misfortunes were laid in one com· I. Come up and address officers in a court I. Fall down mutually mllst fake all (6) eXlent (6) mOll heap whence eve'ymle in high naval post be con· 4. Double helping of food for dog (4-4) 2. Is jubilant. sent out equal portiol/, most people would 10. Conflict settled by introduction of the (5.4) lellfed fO lake fheir own alld depart, " horse (6.3) 3. Sort of card sharp (5) -SOCRATES but conserving en- 11. Reject watch committee's brief (5) 5. Raced strenuously. 12. Detennined to come in to silence bag- ergy (5) all get an equal ne Believe it or not, we (7) 6. Airy advance in dangerous battle-zo pipe share of bad trump breaks. Lucky players 13. Justification of barrier against the lower (4.5) so likely to get theirs when playing a partscore; the classes (7) 7. Be very busy with article, when playing a s lam. Ad 14. He argues against any add iti on 10 the err? (5) unfortunale you play calendar (6.8) 8. Willow shoot a bright calor,like Keat's equately forewarned. how would 19. Result of canvasser's spontaneou s ex- sedge? (8) the trumps in today's spade slam? pression? (6,8) 9. American shrub given fre sh soak (8) In a Iypical game. South wins hi s prevent infection Order to dig around fi put on hard hat (7) 15. Would I dean out to club ace and is happy with what he sees. Command to speak slowly (7) (9) With no side-sui llosers, he can focus on dressed in is· 16. Sinks died, clam just before Ihe end (8) 26. Any number classically how best to play Ihe Irump sui I. 17. Heading London district. girl is gelling land (5) An unsuspecling South will lead a 27. No degrees at thi s newish university? (9) tough (9) fallacy (8) heart to dummy's ace to take a trump 28. Entering cen tral part, monitor tempera· 18. Contemptible sort of jack wins, but the slam doesn '(. lure in vessel (8) 20. Does he look lasciviously round church? finesse , His trump tricks, sending 29. Bishop's passion for old car (6) (6) East must score two 22. Police district staff, men of junior status the slam one down, (5) The only danger threatening the slam first of gravy given to 23. Leg of lamb with is a nasty 4-0 trump break. If West has me? (5) Ihem all, South cannol prevail. However, 25. Final adjustment made to river dance (5) irEast has them, a safety play is available. To succeed in loday's layoul, South should lead a low Irump to dummy's ,~uo::J ',< 10~[D T< queen at trick two, (Low to dummy's six 'L I S;)lpU!""G '91 ;)}elnJoU] 'S' I dOS1~~""S '6 Joue~ 'lZ J;)4;);;11 'Ol ;)!1;)l(Jed 'SI fiu!le;)Uuy will also work.) East wins hi s king, bUI 'L lUOJj uueM '9 p;)JeH 'S' uewS 'f 1S;)U SMOJ:) 'l uwmny '{ : NMOa paJ;)l(1!M, '8 uewnH South retains control, picking up East's crosses to J;)~Ue8 '6Z ;)l1;)AJO:) 'Sl 10-9-5 by repeated finesses. He u0!1;)V '61 ~ne;)()Ape SI!A;)G 'PI dummy Iwice in Ihe red suits to lead 4 ;)!""U;)~JD 'Ll e~u0.L '9Z ;)}C1;)!G ''P'l ~JnqwoH 'Il 'ifu!1u!'3d 'p lSOJJV'1 : SSOll::JV trumps, limiting his losses ,JU'J'G '£I ,",snVII '<1 I[W'~ ' 11 lEM ".rOlL '01 M04J-M04::J through East's trick. NOUil'IOS 10 only one trump 31 SPOTI.IGHT/DECEMBER '2001 · RUM ILa In- Nepal By LEYLA TEGMO-REDDY Weareextremely honoured by the presence of the PrimeMinister This partnership needs to grow stronger. to 1110ve forward in of Nepal, which demonstrates the value Hi s Majesty's Govern developing a common vision on decent work for the,people ment has continuously shown to the !La and our work during the Nepal and to pursue efforts to make it a realiiy, so that everyday past three and a half decades in this beautiful country. In return. livesofwomen and men in the world of work nnu their families and on behalf of the !La, r can assure the Prime Minister and the communities will improve. people of Nepal that we will continue to dedicate our efforts As early as in 1946. the !La Declaration of Philadelphia towards the eradication of poverty and the promotion of social stated that "Poverty anywhere constitutes a threat to prosperity 1'_'"'''__ and decent work for all women and men in Nepal. everywhere". I think thi s still stands out blatantly today. The !La's global agenda is to promote Che realisation of We have been strongly cncouraged by the commitment decent work for all. As highlighted by the !La Director-General. expressed by the Prime MinistertoplacccmploYll1cnt as a pri "The goal of decent work is best expressed through the eyes of initiative on the national agcnda. Weare. lhus. convinced that t c people. For workers faced with extreme poverty. decent work "is Tenth Five Year Plan will highlight the role or employment in about moving from subsistence to existence" and is "the primary poverty alleviation. route out of poverty. For many Olhers "it is about realizing personal aspirations in their daily existence and about solidarity • with others." ·'Everywhere. and for everybody. decent work is (bcerpts ofa speech by Ms Leyla Tegl//O-I!eddr. Director, ILO about securing human dignity." Decent work means adequaLc Nepal. at (he 351h wllliver.'iary of ILO ill Nepal J employment opportunities. social protection. rights at work and social dialogue. But, without work, there can be no decent work* , .While over two and a half million children in Nepal work, including over 120,000 in the worst form s of child labour, many adults do not have access to productive employmenl. Young adults, the future of the country, are unable to find jobs. This is precisely why wc arranged an interactive Round Table Discussion this morning on Employment. Poverty Reduction and Social Justice in Nepal. Eminent researchers, policy planners and POTLIGHT our tripartite partners provided their views to guide the ILO, and NATIONAL NEIVSMA CA ZINE the country, in facing up to the challenge of eradicating unemploy ment. poverty and social injustice in Nepal. Color Black & What is fundamental for development, is that efforts are targeted at job creation for poverty alleviation. An environment Front Cover Inside R, 16.000.00 should be created to ensure that businesses are secure and able to Back Cover. R, 20.000.00 grow. New enterprises should be sel up and supported. Economic Cover Inside Rs . 16.000.00 efficiency should be combined with social efficiency. Promoting and securing fundamental rights of workers, especially those from Any Page Inside the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, should be an overriding principle. The lLO, along with its tripartite partners in Full Page Rs 12.000.00 Rs H.OOOOO Nepal * government, employers and workers has developed a Half Page R; 7.000.00 Rs 5.000.00 series of activities to support such areas. Quarter Page R, 4.0()O.00 Rs :1.00000 111e ILO's partnership isa special onc as you can see from my Special Pull -nut partners on the dias. We bri ng together - in this partnershi p - the key Minimum Four-page: Rs . 45,000.00 Rs. :10.000.00 actors in the world of work. And we encourage a genuine spirit of partnership through social dialogue. Th< foundation of our part nership is based on mutual respect, mutual trust, transparency and accountability that we are proud of. For details, contact: This partnership is n.ot only special- but it isessential- in this SPOTLIGHT world in which all countries, even the richer ones, face very TH< NATIONAL NEWSMAGAZINE serious threats to the livelihood and security of their people in the first global world recession - and in which Nepal has also been GPO Box : 7256, Baluwatar affected. Ph : 977-1) 423127 Kathmandu 32 SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER 14.2001 ~------ THE KHUKRI IS THE FAMOUS NATIONAL WEAPON OF THE GORKHA SOLDIERS OF NEPAL. KHUKRI RUM IS THEIR FAMOUS NATIONAL DRINK ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, IN A BATTLE OR IN A BOTTLE, YOU CAN ALWAYS PUT.YOUR TRUST IN A KHUKRI THE NEPAL DISTILLERIES PVT. LTD. BALAJU,KATHMANDU I'll. : -'5U'IXX. -'5un5. FAX : -'5u'nl --.n. IL-IVIp.PJ· :SQar:chlnn Rnloc.------~ Casino· Nepal Casino Anna Casino Everest Casino Royale Soaltee Compound Hotel de l' Annapurna Hate: Everest Hotel Yak & Yeti Tahachal. 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