Special Issue: Social Inclusion Policies in South Asian States UNMIN: Extending Uncertainty Food Crisis: Hunger Strike '"li!R "l'-' ,,,: -~---'~-- SPOTLIGHTNEWSMAGAZINE

8 QUOTE UNQUOTE 2

BRIEFS 3

NEWSNOTES 4

MAOIST POLITBURO: Ra id Signals 7

FOOD CRISIS: Hunger Strike 15 UNMIN: Extending Uncertainty 14 OPINION : Dr. A.B. Thapa 16

Book : On Personal Diary 17

Seminar On : Social Inclusion Policies in South Asian States 18

CONSTITUTION WATCH : Professor REI SHIRATORI 22

CONSTITUTION WATCH : Manohar Prasad Bhattarai 23

FORUM: Tatsuo MIZUNO 24 INTERVIEW- Shanker Pokharel 12

Editor and Publisher : Keshab Poudel, Copy Editor: Ben Peterson, Corresponde nt: Saroj Dahal Marketing Manager : Madan Raj Poudel, Photographer : Sandesh Manandhar Cover Design/Layout : Hari Krishna Bastakoti Editorial Office : Phone/Fax : 977-1-4602807, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Office : Newplaza, Putalisadak, Tel: 4421846 Printers : Pioneer Offset Printers (P.) Ltd., Olllibazar, . Ph: 4415687 COO Regd. No. 148/063/64

NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE IJ uly 01-2009 j l QUOTE UNQUOTE

"T he Maoists shou ld take responsibility for the parliament impasse."

Prime Minister Madhav Kumar , addressing a publicfunction in Gothatar.

"Just like heroes end up victorious in ftlms, we will win in politics." 'Prachanda', at a function organized to welcome 94 film artistes into Unified CPN­ Maoisf fold.

"I have asked Prachanda to head the high level political machinery to guide the government. l have told him that I • will also stay in it as a fi gurehead." , former prime minister and president of , in an interaction with reporters.

"M aoists want to establish Gurilla supremacy in the name of people's Sanjay Shrestha, a r enowned supremacy." Michael Jackson, in BBC Nepali Nepali pop singer, on the death of Service. CPN-UML leader K.P.Shrama Oli, Michael Jackson, in Nagarik daily. in Kanlipur speaking at Memorial program. "L al Salam (Red Salute) comrade." "H e was literally the emperor of pop music. We were a ll affected by his kind Famous Nepali actor with die-heart "I am still a fan of Michael Jackson. ofmusie." monarchist background joining l have been thoroughly inspired by his before Maoist party before Maoist • Om Bikram Bista, famous Nepali style." chairman Prachanda in Jandisha. singer, mourning the death of

TRANSITION advisor at the Ministry of Finance, by agreed to extend the mandate of the cabinet. UNMIN by another six months once APPOINTED: , its expires on July 22. FORMED: A high-level party Minister for Information and mechanism comprising Prime Minister INSTRUCTED: Rakam Chemjong, Communications, as the spokesperson , Chairman Minister for Peace and Reconstruction, of the government. Jhalanath Khanal, General Secretary to hold talks with the armed groups in Dr. Yubaraj Khatiwada, as the vice lshwor Pokharel and Secretary Bishnu Terai, by the cabinet. chairman of National Planning Poudel, formed by the CPN-UML to DECIDED: The government bas Commission (NPC), by the cabinet. assist in smooth running of the decided to establish government. embassies in Keshab A chary~ as the chief economic Canada, Brazil, South Africa and EXTENDED: The government has Kuwait

NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE I July 01-2009 j 2 BRIEFS Representative in Nepal Richard Ragan in a statement. "In observation of basic international humanitarian principles, l urge all protesting groups to allow safe and unhindered passage of WFP humanitarian relief convoys so that vital food assistance can reach Koshi flood victims in a timely manner," Ragan said.

THE IS MAKING significant efforts to eliminate human trafficking but has not fully met the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. says the US State Department's Trafficking in Persons Report. The annual report notes that Nepal still does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. Tt says the government continued modest Newly Appointed Ministers Taking Oath of Office w ith President Dr. Rambaran Yadav efforts to prosecute traffickers and raise public PRIME MINISTER MADHAV sworn in Wednesday, the party's awareness on trafficking during the KUMAR Nepal on Wednesday (June Mah..Y,ndra Raya Yadav as the Industry reporting period, thougb its efforts to 24) expanded the Cabinet for the fourth Minister was sworn in on Thursday. So adequately punish labor trafficking time, adding six new faces. In the latest was the party's nominee as Minister of could be improved. Additionally, extension, the PM inducted five cabinet State for Industry Dan Bahadur trafficking-related complicity by ministers, representing two Terai-based Chaudhary. government officials remained a serious parties and a fringe party. Five new THE GOVERNMENT HAS problem in Nepal. Nepal maintains its ministers are two each from the REVERSED THE PREVIOUS status as a Tier 2 country in the US State Gachhadar faction of Madhesi government's decision to sack Chief of Department's report released on June Janadhikar forum (MJF) and the Terai Army Staff Rookmangud Katawal and 16. "Nepal is a source country for men, Madhes Loktantrik Party (TMLP) and appoint Lt. General Kul Bahadur women, and children trafficked for the one from Rastriya Prajatantra Party Khadka as acting CoAS. A cabinet purposes of commercial sexual (RPP). Meanwhile, PM Nepal meeting held at the Prime Minister's exploitation and involuntary servitude. administered the oath of office and office, Singha Dw·bar took the decision . Children are trafficked within the secrecy to the newly appointed ministers CoAS Katawal was sacked by the country and to india and the Middle amid a program in presence ofPresident Maoist-led government on March 3. East for commercial sexual exploitation • Dr. this afternoon. President Dr Ram Baran Yadav blocked or forced marriage, as well Sarat Singh Bhandari and Mrigendra as to India the erstwhile cabinet's decision by and within the Kumar Singh Yadav from MJF were country for involuntary asking Katawal to remain in position. servitude as domestic sworn in as Minister for Tourism and servants, circus Prachanda resigned the next day over e 11 terta1· ners factory workers or Civil Aviation and Agriculture and ' the s ame issue. ' Cooperatives respectively. Likewise, b eggars. " A ccor d e·m g t o th report , Ram Chandra Singh Kusawaha and UN WORLD FOOD PROGRAM NGOs working on trafficking issues Ganesh Nepali from the TMLP were HAS CALLED ON protesting groups reported an increase in both sworn in as the Minister for Education, to allow safe and unhindered passage transnational and domestic trafficking and the Youth and Sports respectively. of humanitarian relief convoys- food during the reporting period, although Deepak Bobara of the RPP has been assistance - across the Terai. As a a lack of reliable statistics makes the appointed the Minister for Forest and result of ongoing strikes in the Terai problem difficul t to quantify. NGOs Soil Conservation. He also administered called by various groups, the WFP has estimate that I 0,000 to 15,000 Nepali the oath of office and secrecy to Man been unable to deliver more than 400 women and girls are trafficked to India BahadurShahioftheCPN-MLasState metric tons of food assistance to annually, while 7,500 children are Minister for Land Reforms. Though thousands of food-insecure Koshi flood trafficked domestically for commercial only two ministers from theTMLPwere victims, said WFP Country sexual exploitation." • NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE I July 01-20091 3 Chandra Acharya. Apart from that Nepal, the government should strictly Menon also met with top leaders of deal with the protests. He also assured major political parties including fonner of India's support in th is regard. Jana Prime Minister and Nepali Congress Astha weekly reports President Girija Prasad Koirala, fonuer NTH Launches Campaign In Prime Minister and Maoist Chairman India Pushpa Kamal Dahal, CPN-UML With the obj ecLive of promoting Chairman Jba lanath Khanal and Nepal among the Indian consumers Madhesi Janadhikar Fomm leader and targeting Indian summer holiday season Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya in New Delhi. Nepal Tourism GacW1edar. Menon bad arrived in the Board(NTB) in partnership with Nepal capital for a two-day visit on Santrday. Embassy, New Delhi, Nepal Airli nes Compiled from reports Menon Refutes Reports Of and Nepalese Private Sector companies Ex King Gyanendra to speak has launched consumer promotion Border Encroachment out? campaign in two big shopping malls Indian Foreign Secretary Shiva Ex King Gyanendra who has been of New Delhi, India in different dates Shanker Menon Sunday (June 21) keeping mum over the poli tical from 19-21 and 26- 28 June 2009, says reiterated his government's developments in the country is said to a release from Nepal Tourism Board. commit•uent to extend support to Nepal be preparing to speak out. According The consumer promotion program has in its transition to multiparty democracy to sources close to Nirmal Niwas, the been initiated to further position the and the ongoing peace process. Menon, ex King is anxious with the "Nepal Tourism Year-201 l" campaign whose visit comes close on the heels of deteriorating political situation. And he to achieve substantial growth in tourism reports that Indian side encroached is preparing to speak out in one way or industry through new programs. The Nepali territory in various Indo-Nepal the other on the occasion of his birthday Nepalese tourism promotion among bordering points, however, refuted that on Asar.23 (July 7). Meanwhile, to mark Indian consumer was launched from there has been unnecessary propaganda his 63rd bi1ihday, a committee has been 19-21 June 2009 at V3S East Center and publicity regarding the invasion of formed headed by forrner ambassador Mall in New Delhi in the first phase. A Nepali soil by India. "The fact is 98 Khil endra Prasad Pandey. The booth in traditional Nepalese style was percent of India Nepal boundary has committee is preparing to celebrate the set up in the shopping mall. In addition, been demarcated," said the Indian occasion by raising slogan in favor of information dissemination on Nepal bureaucrat at a press conference in the restoring monarchy for 'safeguarding Holiday Packages, attractive discount capital today before wrapping up his democracy and nationalism.' Ghatana packages offered by Nepalese Private two-day official Nepal visit. He added Ra Bichar weekly Sector, plasma screens displaying video that the border dispute should be Menon's Secret Missive On clips of vivid tourism product ofNepal, resolved through discussion between Maoists lucky draw contests for visitors at the the representatives ofthe two neighbors. booth, Nepali souvenirs and gifts for ''A peaceful and democratic Nepal is in Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon has asked the major visitors were other attractions of the the interest of Nepali people of India promotion, the release added. Leading and of the region," said Menon, adding, parties to keep the Maoists out of power. This was revealed after Nepali Congress dailies report "I also made clear this is Nepal's CONCOE's Interactions process there is no change in that. There (NC) president Girija Prasad Koirala • Attended by chiefjustice ofSupreme is no change in our commitment in spilled the beans during his meeting Court Min Bahadur Rayamajhi, bui !ding our bilateral relationship some close party aides. Menon which is very important for both the reportedly asked Koirala cotmtries." Menon said that India will to ensure that Maoists make every possible effort to help remain out of power. He is Nepali people in achieving peaceful and even said to have urged prosperous Nepal. He said that the parties to try and bring relationship with Nepal is and will about change in 'Maoist continue to be highest priority to India. behavior.' "India seems During his stay in Nepal, the Indian bent on by-passing the Foreign Secretary called on President Maoists," Koirala was Dr Ram Baran Yadav, Prime Minister quoted as telling his aides. Madav Kumar Nepal, Foreign Minister Menon also told Koirala , Defense Minister Bidya that even though anti- Devi Bhandari, Home Minister Bhim government protests were Rawal and his Nepali counterpart Gyan sure to create anarchy in

NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE I ~uly 01-20091 4 ' · .. . NEWSNOTES chairman of Constituent Assembly Khanal has said Subhash Chandra Nembang, seni or that the judges of the Supreme Court, members preparations for of the Constituent Assemb ly the budget is representing various political parties, going on in full former chief j ustices, judges of swing. Asked Appell ate courts, legal luminaries, whether the members of civi l society and lawyers the ongoing Honse interaction program began with a d.isru ption has speech by Chief.Tustice Rayam'ljhi. The affected budget Chief Justice stressed the need for an preparation, he independent of judiciary in new said, "Our work constitution. Chairman of Constituent has not been Assembly Subhas Chandra Nembang affected. We are almost ready." He said include many important clauses also said that theCA wi 11 bring the new that !he budget will be presented in the constitution in accordance with the second week of July. However, due to designed to protect the rights of the schedule. Convener of CONCOE Dr. political differences. the winter session people. Senior Advisor to the Social Surya Dhungel holds the view that the of the parliament continues to be Inclusion Research Fund Mohan Das law community can play a very obstructed. The winter session needs to Manandhar expressed tbe hope that this important role in bringing a democratic ended and budget session convened to workshop will help the committee to constitution into effect. President of the present the budget. Secretary Kbanal accommodate the expert views in Supreme Court Bar Association said hinted that this year's budget will be making the new constitution inclusive. that this interaction was organized to larger than last year. "The Finance Sociologists Dr. Chaitanya Subba help the constitution making process. Minister will give the exact size of the presented his paper on the issue of Role of Retired Civil Servants budget when he announces it. I can say social inclusion and member of CA Organized by Administrative Cowt that it''· will be larger than Rs 236 billion Ramesb Lekhak and advocate Purna and Public Administration Campus, (last year's figure)," he said. Khanal Man Shakya spoke about the need to minister of General Admin istration said commercializing agriculture and write inclusive fundamental rights. Rajendra Shrestha inaugurated a half creating employment opportunities for Former speaker of House of day workshop on the role of former rural youths through it will be top Representatives and senior advocate C iv i I Servants in the constitution priority of tf1e budget. "This time we Damannath Dhungana highlighted the making process. Chaired by Sobhakar will include the issues related with impottance of inclusion in the changing Parajuli, whip of the Nepali Congress, climate change also as p1iority because context. its affects are hurting om agricul ture participants discussed how they can Govt Panels To Monitor West support the constitution making as weU as industrial economy," he said. process. C hai rm an of the Compiled from reports Seti Administrative Court Kasbi Raj Dahal Question of Fundamental rights The government formed a steering stressed the need to utilize the expertise The Society for committee and a task force to monitor the acti vities of the West Seti Hydro Constitutional and Project and to effecti vely carry out the Parliamentary project activities, national news agency Exercise (SCOPE) RSS reported Wednesday. A National organized a half day Planning Commission member, w ho workshop on has been assigned to look into energy F undamental Rights issues, wil l lead the steering committee and Issues of Social and the director general of the Inclusion. Chaired by Electricity Development Board will lead Chairman of SCOPE the task force. Secretaries of the and senior advocate ministries of finance, agriculture and Badri Bahadur Karki, cooperatives, home, water resources, Binda Pande, land reform and management, forest chairman of CA's and soil conservation, environment, of retried C ivil Servants in t he Fundamental Rights and Directive science and technology and the director constitution making process. Principle Committee, revealed that her general of the Electricity Development Budget Preparations In Full committee is in the final stage of Board wil l be members of the Swing preparing the draft to table at the CA. committee. Compiled from reports F inance Secretary Rameshwore She said that new constitution wi ll NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE IJuly 01-20091 5 NEWSNOTES

percent. C hina's countries," in order to "avoid another economy was debt crisis as seen in the L970s and ~,..,..~!""'"1~""'1 forecast to expand 1980s." That was particularly the case 7.2 percent in in the bard-hit developing countries in 2009 and 7.7 Europe and Central Asia, where GDP percent in 20 I 0, was projected to fall 4.7 percent this while India's year. before a slight recovery to 1.6 forecast was for percent growth in 2010. A simi tar 5.1 percent pattern of dec] ine and rebound was seen followed by 8.0 for Latin America and the Caribbean, percent. The where a 2.2 percent GDP contraction latest World Bank in 2009 would be followed by a 2.0 forecasts on gross percent expansion the next year. Other Royal Alina's In Kantipath domestic product (GDP) - a measure regions of the developing world After successfully operating, five of goods and services output in a continued to show growth but no branches at valley's five main city country - came in a report, "Global contraction. Tn East Asia and Pacific, centers, RoyalAlina Baker Cafe opened Development f inance 2009: Charting GDP was expected to rise 5.0 percent its new restaurant in Kantipath. As their a Global Recovery," published to in 2009 and 6.6 percent in 2010, while previous five restaurants, Royal Alina's coincide with a three-day Annual Bank South Asia would expand 4.6 percent, Bakery Cafe will have similar kinds of Conference on Development Economics followed by 7.0 percent. GOP in the high quality and hygienic food. Situated opening Monday in Seoul. The World Middle East and North Africa was just above Mandala Book Point, the Bank expressed concern about the expected to ri se 3.1 percent in 2009 and restaurant will offer all kinds offood to thinning flow of private capital into 3.8 percent in 2010. Sub-Saharan different age groups. "We are in the developing countries, which has fallen Africa would expand 1.0 percent, then process of expansion. Because of nearly 'ty half this year - 49 percent accelerate to a 3.7 percent pace next growing popularity if om food menus, - to 363 billion dollars compared with year. The .relative economic weakness we will expand our chain in more places 707 billion in 2008, after a record 1.2 in the developing countJies after .recent in future," said Atjun Bhandari, head trillion in 2007. The development years of robust growth heightens the ofthe Royal Alina's Bakery Cafe Chain. lender also projected a 9.7 decline in risks of social unrest and deepening Developing Countries' GDP To global trade volume this year, before a poverty, the 185-nation institution said. Slow To 1.2 Percent: World 3.8 percent growth rebound in 2010. Compiled from reports Bank "The need to restructure the banking Pakistan's Foregin Secretary The World Bank has estimated system, combined with emerging limits Paid Visit economic growth in developing to expansionary policies in high-income Pakistan's foreign secretary Salman countries of 1.2 percent this year, and countries, wi II prevent a global rebound Bashir recently paid official visit to said that without China and india, from gaining traction," Justin Lin, Nepai.Ouring h is visit, Pakistan's output would shrink 1.6 percent. Amid World Bank chief economist, said in a foreign secretary called on prime the worst global financial and economic statement. The anti-poverty baok called minister and foreign minister. He also crisis in seven decades, the multilateral for "special attention" to "the risk of discussed bilatrial matters during the institution eight days ago lowered its balance-of-payments crises and talk with hisNepali Counterpart foreign outlook on global growth, to a corporate debt restructurings in many secretary Gyan Chandra Acharya. • contraction of 3.0 percent this year. It slightly revised the global gross domestic product (GOP) figure Monday, to a 2.9 percent decline. The development lender' s preceding forecast, published in late March, put developing countries' annual growth at 2.1 percent, and at zero if China and India were excluded. In 2010, global growth was projected a.t2.0 percent, and that of the developing countries al 4.4 percent, according to the bank. Excluding China and India, the developi ng countries would grow 2.5 NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE I July 01-2009 1 6 POLITICS

Prachanda with NC and UML leaders: Selling Idea MAOIST POLITBURO operation in the West Bengal vi ll age of Lalgarh has sent red henings across the Nepalese Maoist citadel. Sources say, Prachanda is under Raid Signals tremendous pressure to rein in his "hardliner" comrades if he wants to The agenda ofs torming into Singh Durbar with a national government have another go at Singh Durbar. takes precedence over the customary "nationalistic" rhetoric At the politburo, he fell short of the target. He could not get the idea of BY SUSHlL SHARMA "national government" Okayed. All he secured was a unanimous oon after reports of scathing According to him, it's only a matter decision to take the idea to the much comments at the Maoist of weeks. "The present government is larger body - the central committee. s politburo meeting on recent a water-bubble that will burst in no A Maoist-led joint national reports of border time." government is, therefore, a distant encroachment, two o r He d id not explain the reasons reality, if at all. Prachanda 's top guns got calls from two behind his new-found confidence. But if Prachanda does succeed in senior Kathmandu-based diplomats of Interestingly, it came a month after "the sidelining the likes of Mohan Baidya, a powerful mission for an urgent fore ign masters engineered his ouster C.P. Gajurel and Netra Bikram Chand, meeting. from the seat of power.'· he may not be far from the target. A week later, the much-publicized As he predicted a national Double-speak is what he should stop Maoist politburo meeting ended, government, Prachanda was to regain the trust of the influential without the customary "nationalistic" conspicuously low-key in repeating the power centers, sa id a source close to one rhetoric. "foreign master" al legations. of such centers. The focus was more on a "national" The former rebels have also been Prachanda did partly succeed in the government. less than forthcoming in expressing the pulitburo meeting. He made it sure that Chairman Prachanda thundered, camaraderie with their Indian the ·'nationalistic'' rhetoric on border •·we will soon lead a joint national revolutionary counterparts, dubbed encroachment got a back seat whereas government." terrorists by the Indian government. keeping the ''national" government Clearly, the "anti-terrorist" security agenda in the driver's seat NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE I July 01-20091 7 COVER STORY THE AIDES The • e Men ''·

Arguably the weakest prime minister in recent years heading a fragile 22-party coalition, Madhav Kumar Nepal faces an uphill task of leading the country through a very critical political transition. Cool and extraordinarily tolerant, Nepal is also criticized for weak leadership and inconsistency in thoughts and actions. Seeking to ride on his strengths, he has sought to make up for the weaknesses by hiring a number of advisors. He also banks on the advice of some • close acquaintances and the party colleagues who have not been officially hired. A look at the men who matter to him.

By SUSHIL SHARMA with SAROJ DAHAL

Widely known as a cool person, force, despite a sudden exit from power. Leading the list is Raghu Pant. A Madhav Kumar Nepal is today in the So, how does prime minister Nepal Nepal loyalist, the chief political adviser hot seat in the Prime Minister's office. cope with the challenges? is a UML politburo member. He has As head of a 22-party coalition, his Js he, like many ofhis predecessors, been given a ministerial ranked job is by no means easy. lonely at the top? "No," say close aides, position. The first and fo remost challenge is "he has kept many people around him Tbe former cabinet minister was to keep the fragil e coalition running. for advice and guidance". press adviser to Nepal's first elected The coalition partners are not cohesive. Official Advisers communist prime minister. Man Mohan None too taxing is to clear the main Prime minister Nepal has six official Adhikary, in 1995. opposition block on the road. The advisers under his belt. All of them are Pant has been assisting his boss in former Maoist rebels are a formidable close personal acquaintances. negotiations with own party leaders and

NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE I July 01-20091 8 COVER STORY

PM Nepal : Searching his men ... the leaders from other parties. He discusses controversial stories diplomats. J le takes my advice He regularly goes to the prime with the prime minister.''Besides being whenever he feels it needed. We discuss minister's office at Singh Durbar as well the PM's press advisor, I also do assist the issues at great length." as the official residence at Baluwatar. him in many other areas," he says. Personal secretary Yadav Sharma is He does the drafting of most of the He is nol however oblivious of the a key aide of the prime minister. Un li ke political speeches of the prime min ister, criticism. Many say Rijal is too junior other advisors, he has a different kind however the PM himself gives the fina l and inexperienced for the job. of relations with the PM. He has been touches. Sources say. the PM is not unaware with his boss since the latter became Says Pant. "I have drawn from my of the criticisms. He did confess as the general secretary of the UM L 15 experience and closely watched the much to the UML general secretary years ago. poli tical developments to give ri ght lswor Pokharel but he has stuck to his Sharma was with him even after he advice to the prime minister." decision and does not seem to have any quit as general sccretaty after the poll Bishnu Rijal is the prime min ister's regret. debacle last year. Understandably, he press advisor. His cell phone has never Raj an Bhattarai is the PM 's foreign has the easiest and maximum access to stopped ringing since he took up the job affairs advisor. He normally does not the PM. a month ago. go to Baluwatar except on occasions He looks after the PM's daily He bas the responsibility to answer where foreign dignitaries meet the PM schedule, appointments with the visitors all media queries about the prime there. and even the food that the PM takes. minister and his acti vities. T he assistant minister-ranked While working out the daily schedule, Given the government secretary's advisor makes it a point to attend the he consults with the other advisors. The rank, Rijal was earl ier editor of the PM's Singh Durbar office regularly. PM's instructions to the government UML mouthpiece, the Budhbaar A former secretary of the UM L secretaries are mostly relayed through vemacular weekly. foreign relations department, Bhattarai him, as does the former's consultations He has been closely associated with has a degree in international relations with senior government officials. the PM for the past seven years and in from Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru Unlikeothers, hebvesin Baluwatar the process edited a book on h im. Uni versity. in a separate apartment set aside for the He reaches the PM's official He briefs the PM about the visiting private secretariat of the PM. It was residence early in the morning. By that foreign dignitaries and the issues likely the same apartment where Iswor time, the PM is almost through with to be taken up during talks with them. Pokharel as political advisor to the then­ major daily newspapers. But Rijal's job Says he, "the PM does attach big UML prime minister, Man Mohan is not. importance to the meeting with foreign Adhikary, used to live. NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE ' July 01-2009 1 9 COVER STORY The newly appointed aide. Rajendra Rai, once jokingly wondered with another aide, Rajan Bhattarai, if they have any specific place to meet the PM and give advice to him. "If they bump into the PM on the stairs of the Singh Durbar, should they offer ad vice right there?" All a ides agree that principal political advisor Raghu Pant is the focal point. Being a politburo member, he can Minister Pokharel (left) Rawal and Adhikari: Insider lead all the PM's aides. But, one aide asked, "If we are to The latest entry into the aides' list He has been a personal secretary at the consult with him, we will be left is former student leader, Rajendra Rai. PM's p1ivate Koleshwor residence for wondering if we are advisors of the PM inducted as a senior expert, he has many years. or Pant?" not got an office room yet. He was wit11 He is mainly in charge of the family Madhav Kumar Nepal during the appointments of the prime minister. internal tussle with K.P.Oli. He actively Naturally, he has a close access to him. lobbied for making Nepal the chairman The Prime minister can appoint up in the recently concluded party to 46 persons as his advisors, experts convention in Butwal. and staff but so far appointed only one However he failed to get himself cabinet-ranked political advisor, Raghu elected as a convention delegate in the Pant. face of a campaign by pro-Jhalnath He roped in Yadav Sharma as K hanal youth leaders like Yogesh special "class-ranked private secretary, Bhattarai. but the state minister-ranked principal private secretary remains vacant. He now acts as a bridge benveen the According to press advisor Rijal, PM and the number of delegations that " Madhav Nepal wants to keep all come up with different demands and options open. That's why the principal grievances. private secretary has not been filled He also bas the responsibility of yet." liaising with top security officials. No Coordination Says he, "It is my duty to see to it All the advisors and secretaries are that the prime minister does no t keep a supposed to give advice to the PM distance from the common people.l also whenever he wants and needs it but the make it sure that the people's grievances five key aides that he has appointed do are directly heard by the Prime not coordinate among themselves. Minister. " They do not hesitate in admitting He is little known but N itish Poudel this. They are not clear who sl1ould have has a big role as a close aide of the PM. easy and better access to the PM.

Being new to the office has also confused the aides. Says Bhattarai, "I am still learning. 1 feel that I am not aware of what I am supposed to do. I don't think that much has been ach ieved over the past month." Pant does not see a big problem. He says, "we decide on the advice to the PM after consultations among ourselves. It's not a big issue." Having served as a political advisor to the then-prime minister Man Mohan Adh ikary, the present party general Pokharel (left) and Oli : Inner strategists secretary lswor Pokharel says that the

NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE !July 01-2009 110 COVER STORY advisors should ah' ays be ash.ing themselves whether they are in a position to offer advice to the PM. They must maintain the dignity of the office. Party Leaders The PM banks on a number of leaders from 0\\n party while making key decisions. But ironically the party chairman Jhalnath Khanal is not among them. Except on a couple of occasions to "Civil Society": Outside insiders take part in fom1al meetings. Kh

From Top of the Left Panta, Bhattarai, Rai, Rijal and Sharma: Yes Prime Minister

NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE !July 01-2009 111 INTERVIEW We Want To Restore Faith In The Government'

-Shanker Pokharel

Minister of Information and Communications, the past but nothing has changed. If I were to SHANKER P O K HAREL is powerfu l second believe you, how long would l have to wait? generation leader of the CPN-UML. Pokharel was You cannot bring the si tuation back to normal appointed as a minister in the second expansion of the overnight. It will take ti me but l assure you that cabinet by Prime Mini ster Madhav Kumar Nepal. there will be a definite change in a certain period. \Vhile the country is passing thro ugh a serious crisis, The Home Minister is making all out efforts to the Maoists continue to block the parl iamentary session bring back normalcy in the country. We cannot , and the law and order situation has further deteriorated. write a constitution without bringing normalcy I don t The spokesman of the government, Pokharel , spoke to to the country. KESH A B PO UDEL and SAROJ DAHAL on It is often reported that most of the persons want to challenges before the government at his ofTice in involved in the criminal activities arc in some Singha Durbar. Excerpts: way backed by political parties and the police read How does the government plan to meet the are pressured to release such criminals. • challenges'! After twelve year- long bloody insurgency, IntO We have two main priorities now. Tbe fi rst priority we are finally in the peace process. There is not is to end the political deadlock with the Maoist and unusual to see some cadres from certain political what second priority is to maintain law and order and assure parties involved in violent crime. Generally, no • the people that there is a state to protect their interests. political party will dare back criminals. Since thezr Maintaining law and order is the responsibility of all our common minimum program also gives the ci vil society members, political parties and common highest priority to law and order, Maoists wi II public people as well. ·•· too support us in this regard. When abductions, extortion and other crimes are How can expect their support when all the skdel11el1fs rampant should not the security situation be the top top ranking Maoist leaders including priority of the government? Prachanda have been accusing Prime Say, I am not saying that law and order is not our Minister Madbav Kumar Nepal of being a priority. What I mean is that there needs to be an end poppet of external forces. ? what I to the political deadlock with Maoist to accelerate the First of aU , this is a very regrettable statement drive against criminal elements. Of course, impunity that undermines the sovereign will ofpeop le and the want to is growing and people have lost the faith in state, we Constituent Assembly. Everyone knows that this • want to restore that faith. government has the supp01t of CA members of 22 See lS As the Maoists are in the opposition and have political parties and that Nepal was elected w1opposed already made it clear that they intend to capture following the resignation of Maoist leader Pushpa good the street, parliament and state, how do you seek Kamal Dahal Prachanda from the post of Prime their support? Minister. The Maoists' statements have minimized geStUreS. Had they intended to do so, they would not have their o•vn position and the will of the people. statied dialogue with the prime minister. I don't want. If that is the case, why few are criticizing to read into what their public statements say, what I the Maoists? • want to see is good gestures. Tf the law and order No sane people go with such statements of situation breaks down and criminals are allowed a free the Maoists. What I can say is that the Maoists reign, nobody will be safe. I don't think the Maoists have been exposing themselves by chanting such will oppose any move of th is government to restore a cheap slogan. the law and order situation. How can you expect the Maoists to start a But one has not seen any visible change so far, dialogue with 'a puppet'? that your government bas made a difference? In political terms, there is no way other than Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has already to start negotiations Lo end the deadlock. This is directed the concerned authorities to take the necessary the reason Maoist leader Prachanda and the actions to reduce the crime rate and punish those who Prime Minister met recently at Godavari. They are involved in such activities. Y011 may be aware that are in close contact. even dwing the time when our party held the Home You are hopeful that political the deadlock Ministry i.n the last government we were demanding will end soou? strict actions against criminals. Since our party is If they continue to obstruct the session of the leading the government now, we will definitely improve Legislature Parliament, it wil l invite another the law and order situati.on. major political deadlock. If the situation gets out Nepalese have beard such verbal assurances in ofhand, even the Maoists will lose. Tam hopeful

NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE !July 01-2009 112 INTERVIEW

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that Maoist leaders will work to end any political at our party's formal position and party President's role, deadlock. party has not changed its stand. How do you see the recent statements of Will the prime minister resign iftbe situation goes your party leaders particularly President out of his control? Jhalnath Khanal against this government? That is a hypothetica l question 1 would not want to lam T don't believe what has been reported in the answer. II am confident that Prime Minister Nepal will media. So far as party president Jhalnath Kbanal restore norm al situation through persuasion and confident is concern ed, he is the person who opposed the accommodation. that Maoist move against the Nepal Army and One month has already passed since the Prime supported the process to get Nepal appointed as formation of the government, how do you see the prime minister. performance of last one month? Minister If there is no dispute, why are statements of This government was formed after CPN-Maoist had Nepal your leaders reported in the newspapers? made efforts LO dcrai I the country. The foremost r believe in the actions of our leaders not their important job of this government was to overcome the will statements reported here and there. I want to major political setback fo r democracy. After the restore reiterate that the party president Khanal and all formation of this government, there is reason to be normal party leaders arc solidly backing Prime Minister assured that there wi ll be no reversal in the democratic Nepal. After the intervention by the Maoists in system. With the decisions of the Maoist to try and situation the Nepal Army, there was a clear possibility of undennine the Nepal Army the peace process was also division in the army. At that crucial time party through under a threat. Maoist leadership's efforts to attack the president Khanal himself requested president Dr. sensitivicy ofNcpal Army threatened the peace process. persuasion Ram Baran Yadav to stop the Maoist move. In this sense, we have been able to rescue the peace If that is the case, why is y our party and from going to the brink. president reportedly saying that some elements process accomm­ don' t want to see the CPN-UML and Maoist You just admitted that the cabinet is still coming together? incomplete. To add to th e problem and the support odation. A ll of us know, Khanal initiated whole process given by political parties seems very shaky. to prevent the Maoist move and save the country This is a complete government. Of course, we still from going to the brin k. I don't see that our leaders want to accommodate al l political parties. The Maoists would make any immature statements. If you look too are graduall y show ing 11exibility.•

NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE !July 01-2009 113 What prompted premier Nepal to stick to lhe magic figure of 5,000- which is just one-fourth of nearly 20,000 Maoist combatants verified by the UNMlN- is not known but it comes close to asserti on by Maoist supremo Prachanda-whi le addressing his combatants more than one and half years ago that the real stTength of hi s party's tlghters was around 7,000-8,000 only. After the controversial video was made public, the Maoist chairman tried to downplay it saying that he had said it in a different context. Prime minister Nepal too has tri ed to Maoist Combatants: Uncertain future downplay the remarks that be purportedly made in the Reuters interview. His office UNMIN has denied the remarks attributed to the prime minister. The office said that the PM's remarks have been distorted and put Extending Uncertainty out of context. But the controversy has not died down. Despite the extension of tenure of UNMIN for (lnother six mfmths, the issue of The Maoists leaders suspect that the fresh integration and rehabilitation of e.r:-Ma(Jist combatants remains as thorny as ever proposal by the premier has been put forth to divert their major demand s like By BHAGIRATH YOGI 'maintaining civilian supremacy over the army' and correction of President's move. he six month - extension of As Nepal 's peace process reaches "We are not ready to discuss the modalities tenure of the United Mission to arguably• .9 ne of the most critical junctures of (army) integration unless our major Nepal (UNMIN) by the Madhav yet, international community -that was demands are addressed," said Barsha Man T Kumar Nepal-led government quite upbeat when the CPA was signed­ Pun 'Anant,' a senior Maoist leader. reflects the complexities Nepali has started pressurizing both the Whatever Maoist leaders may say, it is polity is passing through at the government and the Maoists to set aside but obvious that they are under tremendous moment. their differences and find a common ground pressure to fulfi ll tbeir promises as staled This is the folll1h time that UN!'viiN's for the integration ofthe Maoist combatants. in various agreements and understandings tenure was extended since it was set up to While visi ting Kathmandu in early that they had signed in recent past. Analysts, facil itate Nepal's peace process in January June, the newly appointed US assistant however, say precondition for any progress 2007. secretary of state for South Asian affairs, towards integration or rehabil itation of the One of the mandates of the UNMTN is Robert Blake, warned that the intemational Maoist combatants woul d be return to to moni tor the management of anns and community did llOt have unl imited patience. power tor the former rebels. Whether they armed personnel orthe Nepal Army and the 1-Je urged rival parties to work together to would agree to join the so-called 'national Maoist army, which the UN agency is achieve peace in Nepal. government' or insist that they bead the new undertaking in line with the provisions of " ln diplomatic speak, this is a vei led coalition remains to be seen. the Comprehensive Peace Agreement warn ing to Maoists as they seem to be But, changing geo-politics may not be signed between the Nepal government and buying time in the past," said Dipak he lpful for Lhe Maoists. The routing of CPN (Maoist) in November 2006. Gajurel, a pol itical analyst and assistant LTTE in Sri Lan ka and the Indian But it is the proposed integration and professor at the Tribhu van Un ivers ity. government's decision to ban In dian rehabilitation of Maoist combatants that is ''No·w, the Maoists and the govemment need Maoists may have limited the options for proving a hard nut to crack as crisis of to put their cards on the table." Nepali Maoists. But as the single largest confidence prevails among the major Soon after the v isit of Indian Foreign party in the 60 !-member Consli tuen t political actors in Nepal. Secretary, Sbiva Shanker Menon to Assembly and a nationwide network of Nearl y a year after the elections to the Kathmandu, Prime Minister Madhav militant cadres, they still hold the key to Constituent Assembly and nearly seven Kumar Nepal first put his cards on the table. success or otherwise of the peace process. momhs after the formati on of the Maoist­ lle told Reuters news agency that only up Dialogue and encouragement, rather than led coalition. an eight member Army to 5,000 former combatants who fulfilled isolation, may help the pJOccss, say Integration Special Committee (A!SC) was criteria for enrollment in the national army analysts. constituted under the chairmanship of could be absorbed in the Nepal Am1y and But, many people believe that the premier Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachauda.' that the remainder must be given alternative present coalition is roo fragi le to push A separate eight-member Army Integration jobs. "Tbe future of Maoist lighters must through a major agenda like army Technical Committee (AITC) was also be settled before the new constillltion is integration-that too within the next six formed to assist the AISC in its job. But written. The rehabi litation of combatants months. Stakes may never have been so high the AISC remains defunct after the sudden would be complete by lhe end of lhe year:' for the Nepal i political actors as well as for downfall of the Maoist-led coalition last he added. the international community. month. NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE !July 01-2009114 ECONOMY

The assessment report has warned that40 out of the 75 districts in the country arc currentl y food deficit because of the drought. Its elfcct on the nutrition situation is harsher. '"Half of children under the age of five in these districts are stunted. while 39 percent ofchildren are underweight and 13 percent arc severely maiJJourish;d," the report says. As a consequence of the fall in crop production, the number of people the WFP is assisting in the country has increased from 1.5 million to 2.2 million in the recent times. WFP has said it will rrovide food assistance fo r an additional 700,000 persons while helping drought-affected communities build assets through a variety of Food fo r Work and Food for Training projects. Likewise, FAO plans to work w ith local communities to expand irrigation networks • Rice Planting : Little water while distributing seeds for the next harvest. FOOD CRISIS ·'We are extremely concerned with the present food supply situation," said Bui Thi Lan, FAO Country Representative. ''We urge more efforts from the Hunger Strike GovernmentofNepal and the intemational community to provide immediate support The erratic rainfall has hit the agriculture triggering fear of for the next season crop to farmers in Far widespread food shortage and M id Western regions where 75 percent of the cultivated land is un­ By SANJAYA DHAKAL irrigated," Lao said, adding that timely support in terms of agricultural inputs. ast week when Finance normal is yet to be ascertained. especially seeds, fertilizers and repair of Secretary Rameshwore Khanal Officials at the Ministry of small irrigation schemes will help needed spoke before the press, he was Agriculture and Cooperatives have not farmers in these areas get a better harvest L unusuall y candid about the been able to come up with actual lor their own food security. govemmenfs failure to address estimations of the effect of delayed The WFP officials have said that the what he called as monsoon. humanitarian disaster emanating from 'consequences of climate c hange.' They have, however, calculated the food insecurity is already unfolding in the "For a long time, we had not paid consequences of winter drought. country. "We are already noticing that attention to climate change. But Accordingtoajointassessment by the people have started to sell their assets, sometimes our paddy productio~ was hit Ministry o f Agriculture and Cooperatives migrate for work and in some cases skip and sometimes wheat production was hit. (MoAC), the U Food and Agriculture meals,'' said Richard Ragan, WFP This year we assume our paddy production Organization (FAO) and the UN World Representative in Nepal. w ill decline (due to delayed mon soon)," Food Program (WFP), winter drought has ''This is very worrying. We he said. are also led to a severe drop in crop production. concerned about the impact that road "We have. therefore, decided to give placing more than two million people at blockades and increased food and fuel high priority to addressing the high risk of food insecurity. prices are having on mountain and hill conseq uenccs or climate change in this The 2008/2009 winter drought said markets. The supply of food stocks in local year's budget. to be one of the \\Orst in the ~ountry's markets is insufficient and in some cases In fact, in the last one year a lone, history- has destroyed crops across Nepal, depleted,'' he said, addi ng that fam1ers­ Nepal had witnessed extreme fluctuations with wheal and barley production reduced who make up more than 60 percent of in weather pattern. by \4 and 17 percent respectively. Nepal's population - depend upon the The massive Kosi inundation in the The assessment report states that crop country's winter crop production to tide east and nash llood in west had rendered yields in some districts in Mid- and Far- them over until the main crop is harvested thousands of people homeless while the Western Nepal - \\ hich received less than in September/October. prolonged drought in the winter severely 50 percent of average rainfall during the The farmers have no altemative hampered agricult11re. to period from N ovember 2008 to February hoping for good rainfall because only ten The effect ofthe delayed monsoon this 2009 - have dropped by more than hal f. percenL of the fields in the country enjoy year- which came some 15 days late than Severity oflmpact irrigation facility. • NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE !July 01-2009 , 15 OPINION WORLD CLOSE TO DEADLIEST CATASTROPHE TRIGGERED BY KOSI EMBANKMENT BREACH -Dr. A. B. Thapa

A Hanging River Now the Yellow River flood problems have The Kosi embankment had been been completely solved. XIong Lei writes designed for a maximum flood discharge in CHINA DAILY dated October 16. 1998 of 9.5 lakb cusecs. The annual rate of the that keeping the Yellow River at bay has sedimentation upstream barrage based on saved China US $ 50 bi lli on. observations as of the early 1980s is about Taming the Kosi 5 em per annum. It implies that within the lt would be a big mis take to opt to last 50 years after the commissioning of implement at the very beginning the the barrage a layer of 2.5 meters thick mammoth Kosi dam project to resolve the sediments might have already deposited on rapidly worsening flood situation. It will the river bed. Now the Kosi also, as said take a very long time to complete the about the Yellow River, truly looks like a detailed study and construction of th e Shifting Courses of the Yellow River hanging river. At present the capacity or optimum si:~:ed Kosi dam project. that might have a dam perhaps the highest in tl1e The Yel low River of China known as the barrage to discharge safely the maximum flood could be only about 5 lakh world and a hydropower plant capable to "the Sorrow of China" resembl es to a cusecs, which is further decreasing year by generate about J6,000 MW in accordance considerable extent the Kosi River similarly year due to continued bed level rise. rt is with further studies based on more correct known as ''the Sorrow of Bihar". The killer pretty obvious that in future the breach ing recent data a nd well tes ted evaluation Yellow River has already been tamed after of the Kosi embankments even during procedures recently applied in the Kamali the completion of the construction of several mi110r fl oods would be a regular project stud y. storage dams aJld it has completely phenomenon. fornmately for us, there is a quick and relinquished its aggressive character, Monstrous Kosi easy solution. The implementation of whereas the greatly feared Kosi River held Vc1y recent! y the Kosi burst the eastern relatively small Sun-Kosi Project and back by side embankments and now fl owing embankment unleash ing a reign of terror Tamar- I Project would suffice to resolve well above the adjoining surrounding lands and s hi ft~d its course headed to south wben the Kosi flood problems at least for a period remains a great danger to li fe and property the nood discharge was only about one lack of next 50 to 60 years. of millions of our region. Judging from the and eighty thousand c usecs. T his flood Bihar Deeply Concerned angle of similarity between these two rivers discharge is quite insignificant compared People of Bihar are often heard the way they roamed rampaging their vast to the flood discharge of around nine lakh complaining tlJat the Government of India floodplain quite often completely changing cusecs, which had already been recorded is not doing enough to develop their state. twice within the last fifty years. In spite Vo icing the concern of the Bibar people Mr. their course, it appears, the world might of it the Bihar and Nepal suffered very Nikhi lesh .Jha, .J oint Secretary CSIR has be very close to the deadliest catastrophe heavy losses. T he whole world was badly a lleged in one of his published articles that trigge red by the fa ilure of the Kosi shaken by the news of this disaster. the Bihar state was getting raw deal from embankments. It is frightening even to think of the the central goverument in allocation of Wodd's Worst Natural Disastet·s horrors if the Kos.i would suddenly burst resources. As a result Bihar being among Among the world's top five worst tbe embankment at a time when the fiood the top three states of the country in terms natural disasters are the 193 1 Yellow River d ischarge is close to nine lakh cusecs. of per capita income and administration in flood in China, the 1887 Yellow Rivernood, Needless to say that there would be a total the 1938 Yellow River flood, the Bbola devastation of the whole north-east Bihar. Cyclone of 1970 in East Pakistan (now The flooding could have disastrous Bangladesh) and the 1556 Shaanxi consequences for regions far beyond Bihar. earthquake in China. The next five in order The railways and roadways linking lndia's of severity are the 1839 Cyclone in Coringa north-east states with the rest of the cotmtry India, the 1642 Kaifeng flood in Henao could be severed. Even the distant West prov ince China, the 2004 Indian Ocean Bengal and Bangladesh lying on the old Earthquake and Tsunami in various nations, course of the Kosi might not be completely out of the Kosi fl ood danger. and the 1138 Al lepo Earthquake in Syria. There is little doubt that the last year's The 1931 Yel low River flood flood disaster is only the precursor of the devastated the China in summer. It took deadliest catastrophe to be triggered off the lives of people numbering between one by the Kosi embankment failure in very to four millions. It is lhe worst natural near futLlre. Many renowned top scholars. disaster ever to have been recorded of any like Schill ing Feld, had been forecasting time. The 1887 Yellow River flood resulted since a long time the extreme severity of from a long period of rains which caused the fast approaching Kosi flood disaster. the ri ver water to rise above the man made The Present Day Yellow River Shifting Courses of the Kosi River dikes. When that happened, it resulted in Since 1949 "some eight dams have the early '50s has now languished at the the worst natural disaster ever recorded been bui lt and four more are under bottom of ladder for decades. prior to the 193 1 flood. It is believed that construction along its 4,674-kilometre ll is certain that th e Government or India between 900,000-2,000,000 people had lost course to control the Ye ll ow River wou~d not leave the Bibar people in lurch in their lives in that horrible disaster. The flooding. Among the dams built a long their efforts to protect themselves against the Kosi flood disasters. The projects earmarked 1938 Yellow River nood disaster claimed time ago are the dams Liujaxia, Sanmenxia, to save the life and prope1ty of millions of the lives of people numbering between Longyangxia which were constructed in the years 1968, 1979 and 1988 respectively. Bihar people would be a top priority. • 500,000 and 900,000.

NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE !July 01-2009 116 REVIEW Book being in a state or continuous confusion. The guests went away most distrubtled, 1988 On Personal Diary 26December Meeting on Nepal in the PM 's room. Former Indian bureaucrat s and politician, K. Natwar Singh ~ book He and I opted fo r tough li ne with the discusses his own experiences working at India's foreign o.ffice in ki ng. Heat to be p ut on, hi s not so different position Majestic Majesty, r asked jf I could be execused attending the noon meeting. Rajiv Gandhi said I should be present. By KESHAB POUDEL What a grind. -page 138. Former I ndian minister and nee an Indian civil servant, diplomat, S ingh spent a lot of time in security personel or such various mission but his specialization 0 person retires, what they first is in China where he started his carrier do is to wri ct a book on their w hen Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru as a own e xperi ences enriching prime minister. nation's literature as well as polls of My China Diary 1956-88 recounts materials relate to state affairs. the events which occurred when the Desp ite c lose border and several author served as a d iplomat in Beijing, other links, it is very unfortunate to say and what transpired during Premier that this practice is very rare in Nepal. Chou En-lai's ill -fate On ly a few former b ureaucrats or d visit to Indian politicians have shown courage to write ... in Apri l 1960. The book concludes with the book on their past experiences. Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's path­ Singh's book highlighted many breaking passage to China. It offers things about fndia's forcing office and new insights about the complexities of his appointments at various mission India-China bilateral relations between abroad. There are also passing refrences 1956 a nd 1988. about Nep al's poli tical development. "T his book is divided into th ee For instances, when S ing h was sections. The first covers the years stationed in China in 1950s, Nepalese 1956-58. The second deals with Prime prime minister Minister Chou En-lai's visit to India in was vis iting Chinda. In hi s iary o n My China Diary April 1960. The third describes Rajiv 1956, 26 September, he mentioned the 1956-88 Gandhi's path-breaking passage to visit of Nepalese prime minister K . Natwar Acharya. Singh China in December 1988. He succeeded Tbe worst is yet to be. Drove to the Price: where his g randfather J awaharlal airport to receive the Nepali pinne Rs.632 Nehru faltered and fa iled," writes Singh mi nister Ta nka Prasad Abcarya. T he Published by Rupa. in his preface. Chinese gave him a welcome. which 1 The book d escribes Co 7/16 Ansari Road, various phases would call, an organized spontaneous of l ndia-China relations and the many on e. The right number of girls, the right Daryaganj ups and downs which occun·ed during number to g ive bouque ts to t he ri ght Distributor in Kathmandu: the period. As an eye-w itness of the people. Diplomats were allowed on the Mandala Book events, former renowned diplomat tarmac, no con fusion about Point, Singh w rites what he encountered photographers, no noise, band played Kantipath during his v arious tenures. li vely music, goose step by the gaurd of Ne w Delhi, 110002 He honour. Chou En-lai handosome joined the Indian Foreign Service (lFS) in 1953 and Singh entered charin1ing and fresh as ever. The Nepali HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BOOK national dress is a sartori al monstrosity, poli tics after hi s retirement and be Even the smartest of them looks as if 28 Septmebr became External Affairs Minister he is either got out of bed or is just about Banquet in the evening for the (2004-05). He has written many books to do so. Some even resemble coat Nepali prime minister - a t otal fiasco. in the past, and this book has its own hangers. The Nepali PM gave the impression of interesting stories. •

NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE !July 01-2009 117 SPECIAL ISSUE

and developed the social and cultural Seminar On systems that excluded the certain communities from common facilities or Social Inclusion Policies in benefits. South Asian societies comprise innumerable caste, ethnic, racial and South Asian States cultural groups that are diverse and were (and are) mjxed up through local A three day seminar on social inclusion and South Asian States' policies hierarchy networks, structural state highlights various aspect5 of the proces.-. of :wcia/ inclusion in South Asian processes and the hegemony of superior countries social groups. Since tbe ancient past, Bv A CORRESPONDENT the communities were arranged and structured normatively and uniformly t a time when there is The social exclusion discourse of in an unequal system of graded growing demands for social South Asia is a result of stratification. exclusion which again was supported inclusion in Nepal due to the Stratification based on caste, ethnicity by the political, economical and A process of writing a new and racism has prevailed, in one form knowledge-based dom ination of a few Constitution for the county or other, in the region for centuries. This communities. thorough the Constituent Assembly, the unique discourse of South Asia was the The hierarchical structures based on nation's scholars got together for the main course of debate during the South a religion/class give the economic and opportunity to share views with various Asian regional seminar on "Social cultural rewards only to elite experts from elsewhere in the region. Inclusion Policies of the State." communities and groups in South Asia. Organized by the Social Inclusion According to experts, the social Social scientists also opine the social Research Fund (SIRF) in collaboration exclusion concept that originated in exclusion as a political agenda. with the Center for Nepal and Asian France in mid 1970's, existed in the Specifically, South Asia accounts for Studies (CNAS) and Tribhuwan South Asian societies before the many political movements against the University, the participants discussed discourse in Europe and is quite distinct social exclusionary practices, the latest social exclusion. Discussion of South from that seen in many other societies. of them the 10 year armed struggle of Asia predates the 1970s discourse of South Asia evolved as the result of Nepal. Exclusion was a major part of Europe which conceptualizes social stratification based on caste, ethnicity the political and tactical agenda of the exclusion. and racism that tbe region for centu1ies (Maoist)

NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE !July 01-2009 118 SPECIAL ISSUE which launched an armed insurgency in Nepal in 1996 and continued it for I 0 years. It cu lminated in the Com prehensive Peace Accord in November2006, fo ll owing which a new In terim Constitution was enacted. From 25-27 June, the three day seminar was as in part to honor the auspicious occasion of Golden Jubilee celebration of Tribhuwan University. The seminar a im ed to provide the platform fo r South Asian socia l scientists to exchange their experiences and to initiate a discourse on social inclusion and state policies of the SAARC states. The three days seminar was fuJI of South Asian Scholars : Discussing on inclusion exchanges of views and experiences on social inclusion issues among the phase ofNcpal's constitution bui lding. papers on Nepal during the seminar. participants from India, Pakistan, The chairman of the Nationallnclusion The paper titled "Contemporary Bangladesh. Afghanistan, the USA and Commission Narsingh Chaudhary Nepalese Politics'· by Krishna the immense pool of social scientists considered the program a good lesson Hachhethu of CNAS deals on the from Nepal. to the commission for its future course political parties of Nepal and identified Inaugurated by Minister of Foreign of action. the paradoxical convocation of two Affairs, Sujata Koi rala, it also launched Highlighting on the activities of major political parties, namely Nepali the book titled "Identity and Society" CN:A.S, executive director of CNAS, Congress and published jointly by SIRF and Mandala Yagya Prasad Adhikari said that this (United Marxist Liniest). Book Point. In her inaugural statement, program was highly relevant in the Bijaya Subba, leader of epa! she opined that the topic of the seminar current constitution building phase of Communist Party (United Marxist is highly relevant for Nepal in the the country. Nirmal Man Tuladhar, Leninist) commented on the paper present context of constitution bui Iding coordinator of the program gave a saying it is an explanatory insight of and the peace process. She thanked the we lcome speech and Mrigendra Nepal's contemporary politics. Other international communities for their Bahadur Karki expressed his thanks. senior leader of CPN-UML Sahana support and cooperation in the peace Delivering a key note speech, Pradhan, who chaired the session, process and developing democracy in Professor T. K. Oommen of Jawaharlal talked on the political movement since Nepal. Nehru University argued that the Rana regime. Likewise, other guest ofthe program discourse of exclusion and inclusion is Ramesh Kumar Dhungel's paper Minister of Local Development, Purna gradually evolving in South Asia. The titled "Revisiting the History of the Kumar Serma - praised the effortful conceptualization of social exclusion Formation of the Nepali Society in the work of SIRF and CNAS, gave hi s has three major problems, namely: i) Context of New Nepali Discourse of warm regards and wished for the conceptual expansionism and Inclusive Democracy" discussed Nepali success of program. exclusivism: ii) qualitative attributes on history since the process of unification Mohan Das Manadhar, Senior social exclusion; and iii) inequality in of Nepal. Adviser of SIRF highlighted the opportunity due to incompetence and Dhungel remarked that the objectives of the program, activities of lack of motivaLion. Professor Oommcn historical events ofNepal were inclusive SlRF and brief synopsis of th e stressed that inclusion is not a single in nature. Pratyoush Onta of Martin inaugurated book. Madhav Prasad package that can deal with all the Chautari commented on the paper's Sharma, Vice Chancellor ofTU thanked excluded social categories and limited insight on the Panchayat and the SIRF and CNAS for organizing the communities as some have single Rana regime. Prof Tri Ratna seminar on such a highly relevant deprivations and other have many. "So Manandhar ofTU who had chaired the theme on the occasion ofgolden Jubilee the phenomenon of cumulative session suggested a revision oft he paper ofTU. exclusion should be recognized. In a in consistence to social in clu sion/ Han Heijdra, Director of SNY multi ethnic, multi caste and multi exclusion theme. Nepal, explained the social inclusion social country like Nepal," he added." A paper was presented by Govinda discourse ofNepal and assured further The socially inclusive constitution is the Tumbahang of TU titled support to epal in order to reduce comer stone for the country's success." "Marginalization of Indigenous exclusion particularly in the current Four Nepali scholars presented four Languages and their Inclusion in the

NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE !July 01-2009 119 SPECIAL ISSUE

• occasion of on ttl• ~>.usplclolfS .

0 A.s~mina r on . Asian States n \'\\ Inclusion P-ot\cleS of South . . SC organited by Trib~uvan u 01vers1ty a! and Asian Studies (CNAS), Con\<' tor Nep ;n colla~oratio~;;~ (SIRF), SNVIN scc:\a\ todvsloo ResearCh ~ itlm:Lll-dv, Nopal u - 'l.7Jun• 'lQ09

Inauguration Ceremony : Diverse views Restructuring of the State", the paper P K Chaubey, the participant from relocating the Sachar Commission accounted the details of marginalized India, presented a paper on Social (high level commission formed by indigenous language and their inclusion Inclusion through the Exclusive Prime minister of India) report's in the current state restructuring Provision of India. He highlighted the finding. The two commentators of the process. macro social inclusion policies ofindia paper - P K Chaubay and T K Oommen Commenting on paper, Chaitanya and there implications. Specificall y, in argued t hat the paper bad tried to Subba, former member of National his paper, he explained unemployment genera I ize the findings of the study Planning Commission Nepal, said that growth to j ob-l oss growth; in conducted in a small area to all of India. the paper has infom1ative accounts of fo rmalization with low productivity; Shree Krishna Yadav suggested that various indigenous languages but it is restructuring the economy, there is a need to incorporate the lacking in analysis of the language redistribution of work and liberal comments expressed by various pol icy of the government. P rof. Dr. education. As a commentator, professor speakers. Novel Kishor Rai of CNAS urged Krishna Khanal of TU said that the Along with India, Afghanistan too parliamentary debate on the inclusion paper is an analytical work. "Tbe has similar kinds of situation. Zuhra of indigenous language. paper's findings will be useful to Nepal Bahman, the partiC ipant from Presenting the fourth paper ofNepal in the current state restructuring Afghanistan, presented a paper on the titled ''Reserved Seats for Women in process," said Khanal. impact of Afghan governmental policy Politics: Right Way for Inclusion," Keshab Man Shakya, leader of on the inclusion of women. The paper Prabha Devi Kaini argued that the Newa RastTiya Party - Nepa, praised the accounted the changes in government's reservation policy for women in Nepal paper for raising the social inclusion prospects toward women in pre and post should be complemented by capacity issues at vertical as well as horizontal Taliban era. The paper highlighted that building measures for women to domain. the liberal policy ofpost Taliban Karzai increase fruitful inclusion. Renowned Nazima Praveen, another government had limited impact on anthropologist, Hikmat Bishta stressed participant of India, presented paper women 's inclusion because of the the need to restructme the paper to be tiled "Understanding Exclusion(S): A prevalent exclusionary practices and consistent w ith the title. Former Study of a "Muslim Ghetto" in which customs in Afghanistan. member of the National Planning she high!i ghted the micro level study Chaired by Natio11al Inclus ion Commission, Prof Dr. .Pushpa Shrestha of G hettos 111 Chadani Chock Commission Nepal, Narshingh highlighted the limited participation of parliamentary constituency of Delhi. Chaudhari, professor Dilli Ram Dahal women in Nepal. Tn her paper, she remarked for of TU said that the paper was

NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE !July 01-2009 120 S PECIAL ISSUE informative. Pakistan ·s case of social inclusion is different than other countries of the region. Ayaz Muhammad Rana and Miah Ghulam Yasin. participant from Pakistan presented the paper titled "Social Exclusion Causes. Therapies and Suggestions: Experiences of Pakistan'' in which they highlighted the exclusionary practices in local government in Pakistan. Commenting on paper, Ferdous Jahan argued that the paper has not touched on the overall experience of Pakistan and exclusion. Sagar Sumsher Junga Bahadur Rana said that there need to work more to make the paper analytical. Scholars in debat e : South Asian Case Along with South Asian scholar, Henry M Vyaner, the participant of USA, Manandhar made comments on all the to both counlTies. also presented paper on "Healthy identity presented papers. Former deputy speaker of and Healthy Identity Politics." He Ms. Jhahan held the view that parliament, Chitralekha Yadav thanked highlighted that the ego of person in favor identities occupy an uneasy place in the organizer for the seminar and of his caste, ethnicity and race is the main political structure and some of the South stressed for the proper implementation cause of social exclusion practices. Asian states have suppressed the of seminar findings by working together Commenting on paper, Saubhagya cultmal identities of minorities. He for inclusive Nepal. Shah of TU said that the paper tries to added that some states have Summing up the seminar, the panels address the unique feature of exclusion. incorporated reservation policies for the drew the conclusion that social exclusion From the chair, Minister ofTourism and suppressed communities which have in South Asia is condoned and supported Civil Aviation Sharat Singh Bhandari enhanced the participation of these by the exclusionary state ideologies and opined that Vyaner's paper has analyzed communities in politics. stratification based on caste, ethnicity psychological approach to social However, scholars from India Ms and racism. Domestic discovery, inclusion/ exclusion discourse. Upadhaya stated that the seminar had everyday resistance and global Although there is no participation focused on a confined theme. She added contention against social exclusion place from Japan, a paper titled "Social that tbe social inclusion and exclusion an immense pressure on the South Asian Exclusion and Inclusion in Japan: discourse should address the individuals, countries to review their policies to Policy Challenge for a More Inclusive as well as group's rights. She expressed address social exclusion issues. Civil Society" is distributed. Written the hope that the identity of Nepal has a "This context is more relevant for joi'ntly by three Japanese scholars - positive future due to the forthcom ing the country like Nepal with its historical Kiyoshi Abe, Akria Furukawa and Kenji constitution which is presently in the and geopolitical l ocation and as a Kosaka, the paper stated the social process of being drafted. "The country which is in the process of inclusion case in Japan. experiences of India will be a valuable making a new constitution through an The seminar was divided in various input for Nepal," said Upadhaya. elected constitutional assembly," said sessions. After the presentation of Summing up the seminar paper, the panel. papers, there was a session for panel Yasin argued that all South Asian The seminar gave a good platform discussion. Chaired by T K Oommen, countries face conflict with suppressed for South Asian as well as international other panel members included Ferdous communities, which sometimes may social scientists and intellectuals to Jahan from Bangladesh, Anjoo Saran take a violence form. "Nepal and debate on the prevailing socially Upadhaya from India, Miah Ghulam · Pakistan are two South Asian States exclusionary practices ofSouth Asia. At Yasin from Pakistan and Chitralekha which are presently in the course of a a time when all the countries of South Yadav and Mohan Das Manandhar political transition as Nepal is in the Asia are in the process of restructuring, from Nepal. course of building a new constitution the panel expressed the hope that South The chair concluded that that the and Pakistan is in course of Asian countries will incorporate the seminar had papers from a wide range institutionalizing its democracy," said seminar's findings to craft inclusive of categories capturing macro as well Yasin. "So the social inclusion discourse state policies. For Nepal, the workshop as micro perspectives of social which had been identified by the can be very helpful in its constitution exclusion. On behalf of organizer, Mr. seminar will be insightful contribution writing process•

NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE jJuly 01-2009 J21 CONSTITUTION WATCH "If local autonomy is a goal, you need to attain it step by Step"

-Professor .REI SHIRATORI

Japanese Professor REI SHIRATORI, who is president of the Institute for Political Studies in Japan, is well known Japanese political scientist. As Nepal is in a constitution making process, the Japanese professor discussed the constitution drafting progress with CA's cbairn1an Subhas Chandra Nembang, CA members and others such as constitutional experts like Dr. Surya Dhungel, lawyers and ci vil society members at the office of Consortium of Constitutional Experts (CONCOE). Before leaving Nepal, professor Rio spoke to KESHAB POUDEL at Hotel Himalaya. Excerpts of half an hour meeting: How do you see the viability of federal system in the country like Nepal? For a small country li ke Nepal with a poor economy, it is very difficult to prove its viability. In Japan, we have been practicing local self government very effectively. Whether one likes it or not, the federalism includes the concept of Tn developed countries, we see the phenomenon of • some kinds of disintegration. devolution in different ways as they have very different How do you see the loca.l autonomy? situations to developing countries. ln developed countries, Local autonomy is important aspect of power devolution. almost all of their fundamental policies involve the welfare It is impossible to achieve one bundred percent local state. When we consider the nature of welfare state, we are autonomy or a one hundred percent federal state. If you pursue complete federalism with ri ght to self determination, dealing with human beings. your country will split into many countries and then you Wbat are most important characteristics of Japanese cannot remain as an independent entity. If local autonomy constitution? is a goal, you need to attain it step by step. One of the characteristics ofJapaoese constitution, which What is the system of governance in Japan? was not in the constitution drafted by Japanese intellectuals, We have parliamentary system at national level and is that there is separate chapter for local self government. presidential system in prefecture level, city, and town and Japan is a small country which was established on the concept vi II age levels. of centralized power, but gradually it accepted the need to At a time when Nepalese politicians and civil society bave decentralized elements and some autonomy at local members have been saying federalism is panacea to all the level. Japan has a long tradition of a centralized and problems, bow do you see the concept ofdevolution ofpower? integrated political system. The general trend of devolution of power is different in different countries. There is a growing demand to have more Do you have separate chapter for local government in devolution of power in developing countries like Nepal due the constitution? to them being multi-linguistic, multi-cultural, multi ethnic Yes, we have a separate chapter for local self government. and multi-religious. But devolution of power may create In this chapter, it states that the role of local government is problems if mishandled. In order to protect the minority in regulation concerning the organization and operation of interest and identities, there should be two chambers- one local entities in principle of local autonomy. All local open to minorities. Minorities and different ethnic groups administration is in accordance with the law decided by the want a federalist structure. Diet (Lower House), the national parliament. We have tried How do you define federalist elements? to keep the principle of local autonomy and the integrity of When I say federalist elements, it does not necessarily mean the nation. the complete federalism. Federalism means division of the How do you see the role of prime minister and head country into states or provinces and each state or province has some kind of independence from the central government. In of local bodies? Nepal along with establishing political power structures, one As the Prime Minister is elected by the members of of the most serious problems is how to achieve economic parliament, he cannot ignore members of the assembly. The development. In order to accelerate and push forward economic prime minister always has to consider the voice

-Manohar Prasad Bhattarai

I laving served for more than 30 years in the parliament, !] MANOHAR PRASAD BHATTARAl is now heading the Pari iamentary Secretariat as an acting Secretary General of the Constituent Assembly and Legislature Parliament. Since the country is in the process of constitution making, Bbattarai is shouldered with a huge responsibility. Secretary General Bhattarai spoke to NEW SPOTLIGHT at his office about his responsibilities. Excerpts: As Secretar y General of the Constituent Assembly, how do you see the progress of the constitution making process'! The constitution making process is moving as per the schedules fixed by Constituent Assembl y. In accordance with the schedule, the committees are now in the process of a nd the disturbance in the Legis lature-Parliament will not constitution writing process. final ization of concept papers and four of the committees ha ve 0 bstruct the a Iready presented their concept paper in the CA. While Nepal is in the process of writing constitution, has The schedule of Constituenl Assembly has amended h t ere been support from the international community? • sever al times in the last few months. How can you assure The support of the international community has been people that the schedule will not be amended again? . generous. Since Nepal is drafting the new constitution for itself. Frankly speaking, the schedule has already been changed SIX we should have sense of ownership over the document. So far as times. The Legislative role ofthe Constituent Assembly hampered t he support and cooperation of international communities in this the constitution writing process. Since the legislatj,ye function of process is concerned, they arc offering us logistic and technica l CA has been obstmcted several times in the past, it has disrupted s upport as required. Donor communities also want t~ ~ee a the functi ons of the Constituent Assembly. Given the present settlement. This has been an issue for 60 years, wnt111g a progress, CA will fwalize the constitution by May 2010. constitution by Nepalese themselves. Don't you think amending t he schedule has been a Do donors have put conditions for their support'! negative sign for Nepal's future? . Although they have been providing all kinds ofs upport, they I is 1f we promulgate the constitution in time, then no body WII I1 aven 't interfered in our affairs. As all of us know that Nepal blame us. So far as the amendments of dates are concerned' a country with constraints in resources, Nepal's government alone they were done for internal adjustments to make the constitution is unable to provide necessary services. Donor communities are making process smooth. Nobody needs to worry about these now filling the gap. Their support is making us more efficient. kinds of simple changes. A Ithough there are some negative views regarding their support, Is the CAsecretariat is responsible for such amendment? 1 don't think we should be negative and biased towards the kind So far as the responsibility of the schedule is concerned, it is of generous help given by t he international communities. not a responsibility of the Secretariat but that of the politicaI As a General Secretary of the Constituent Assembly, how actors. The Secretariat does not inlluence the making of the difficult is it to achieve effective coordination among your schedule as that is a political decision. staff and CA members? -. How is the Secretariat supporting the Constitution We have very strong, dedicated and self motivated team writing process? including experts and other employees. Our employees are very The Secretariat is providing all kinds of logistic support an d much enthusiastic and they have been working very hard. We expertise. For instances, in the process of constitution writing ' are fortunate enough to work in an organization which is working we have distributed more than 4 million questionnaires fo r to complete a historical task. We have also assigned our opinion collection. We received more than half a million fille d employees to support the Parliamentary Party Offices of the 24 questionnaires in return. Our staffs supported concerne d political parties with much needed logistics. committees to process and analyzed the questionnaires. How are your experiences in working for such a long Since the session of Legislature Parliament has been period oftime in the legislature and now theCA? frequently disrupted, don't you think this will hamper thc We are very fortunate, whether the CA or previously the constit ution drafting process? pa rl iament, because we have very w ise and competent poli tical All of us need to keep one thing in mind, that if we fail t0 leadership that has knowledge or constitution and constitutional fu ltill our historical responsibili ty to draft a new constitution °11 law and is experienced in working in a parliamentary system. I schedule, history will portray us as irresponsible citizen~ . Ifwe have not faced any difficulty in working with them. I_ too have want to fulfill our historical responsibility to wnte th e no difficulty working with my colleagues in the secretariat with constitution, nobody should do anything to disrupt th e whom I have worked for such a tong period. Even I found Constitution writing process. We must fulfill our obligation b y complete support and backing when we moved the CA from writing the constitution on time. If we fail to do s~, it will be a Singha Durbar to the international Convention Center. l am v~ry very unfortunate event in history and the country will be pushe d proud to say that, despite so many difficulties, the staffs workmg into darkness. 1 am confident that the change of govemme nt in the parliament secretariat handled it very efficiently. •

NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE !July 01-2009123 FORUM Steady progress in the peace process is Important

- By Tatsuo MIZUNO It is my great pleasure to sign and exchange a set of Notes with Mr. Khanal, Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, on the Project for Construction of Sindhuli Road Section Ill. amounting to four bill ion, three hundred and thirty ­ three m illion Jap anese Yen (¥4,333,000,000) or approximate ly three billion, four hundred and eighty ­ three mi llion, seven hundred and thirty­ two thousand Nepalese Rupees (NRs.3 ,483, 732,000). The Grant being extended today is to be utilized to procure the products On the other band, there were a representing the heart of the Japanese and services necessary for the huge number of hardships and people. Or perhaps the road could be construction of Sindhuli Road Section accidents. 1 was shocked to learn that called the 'JaNep Road' . TIT, which stretches [rom Khurkot - one of the Japanese experts, Minoru The Sindhuli Road bas already Nepalthok for approximately 37km. MORlSAWA , died on September 24, brought about great benefits to the local In consideration of the aspirations 2006 after falling from a steep slope in people in the field of public services of the people ofNepal, the Government the course of construction work. I would such as health and education. For ofJapan has been responding to Nepal's ltke to sJ;Jaremy sincere condolences for example, 1 beard that, in the past, even requests to achieve sustainable socio­ his demise with all of you here. emergency patients were forced to be economic development for poverty Once tbis Section llJ (K.hurkot - transported for several hours by car alleviation, which will ultimately Nepalthok) is completed, th is Sindhuli along bumpy aod narrow mountain faci litate peace building and human Road will be ready to play tbe role of paths. But, no w those emergency security in Nepal. In this regard, Japan main corridor between the capital city patients can be transported very rapidly has been extending grant assistance for Kathmandu and the Mahendra to medical facilities, s uch as to the the Sindhuli Road Project since 1996. Highway (the East-West Highway) in Dhulikhel Medical Institute (DMI), This Road is about 160km in length, the Terai via Kavrepalanchok, which is well known as a high class stretching from Bardibas to Dhulikbel, Ramechhap, Sindhuli and Maohttari hospital. Just for your reference, its and is divided into four sections. Districts, reducing travelling distances hostel building and some of the medical The Sjndhuli Road is one of the most significantly. equipment at the DMI has been promising projects being implemented Incidentally, on the route between provided by Japan through its ODA under Japan's ODA. Tt is one of the Bhaktapur and Kathmandu, road­ funding. world's largest Grant Aid Projects being widening construction work is now in Nepal is on the path to peace and implemented under Japan's ODA, so far, progress, as another one of Japan 's prosperity. ln order to accomplish the in terms of aid volume. ODA projects. When all the road national development targets, steady For the construction of Section I, projects are completed in some years' progress in the peace process without Section II, Section IV, emergency time, we will be able to say that the v iolence is vitally important. l would rehabilitation of Section IV and the road-route from Kathmandu to like to salute the spirit of tolerance and detailed design of Section 111, Japan has Bardibas via Bhaktapur and Dhulikhel harmony that brings the Nepalese already extended a total sum of fifteen shall be totally connected into one line, people together and united regardless billion, eight hundred and sixty-nine and tbus, long awaited dreams of the of their political and ethnic differences. million Japanese Yen local people will come true. Japan is determined to continue to (¥15,869,000,000) for this Project. Now, let me reiterate my proposal provide all possible assistance as long I am sure you know that Phase Ill on the naming. I heard the concept of as the Nepali peace process moves ofSection II was successfully completed Sindhuli does not cover the whole route ahead in a democratic manner without on April 27, this year. I am very happy up to B ardibas, and this Road threats and intimidation. that I could attend the completion symbolizes the friendship between two I believe the Sindhuli Road is a ceremony at Sindhuli Bazaar together countries. Taking these points into symbolic road that will lead to peace with former Prime Minister, Mr. Pushpa consideration, 1 would like to propose and prosperity for a new Nepal,· and a Kamal Dahal. The highway was very a new naming, for example, 'Nepal­ road that will further connect the hearts beautiful and was LO harmony with the Japan Friendship Road'. But if you feel of the people of Japan and Nepal. fresh green of the mountains, and one this name is too long, the next option Remarks by 11£ Mr. Tats11o MIZUNO, Ambassador ofJapan to Nepctl on lire Occasion of e; can enjoy splendid panoramic views. It is 'Sakura Road', Sakura means N Signing Ceremony of tlte Project for tlte is a wonderful new sight-seeing spot. Construction of tlt e Sindltuli Road (Section 111: 'cherry-blossom ' in Japanese and Kl111rkot- Nepaltlwk Sectio11).

NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE !July 01-2009 124 •

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