• Game of Consensus • Deuba In Distress • Folk Music: Growing Market • SAARC : Final Preparation GfGlf~ Superior Pepsodent GERMICHECK PLUS FORMULA ~ FLUORIDE c6tt:rr2P1T

FIGHTS GERMS EVEN HOURS AFTER BRUSHING •

CONTENTS

Page

NEWS NOTES 4

BRIEFS 6

OTEUNQUOTE 7

OFF THE RECORD 8 COVER STORY: VACUUM OF LEADERSHIP Lack of competent human resource ha ve rend ered all spheres of POLITICS: Consensus Convulsion 10 state institutions virtually ineffective. Page 16

SAARC : Summit Amid Tensions 11

POLITICIANS: Losing Reason 12

YOUTH: Media Exposure 13

ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK: Continued Support 14

T URISM: Struggle For Survival 15

NEPAL RASTRA BANK: Economic Prescription 21 NATIONAL GOVERNMENT: Un parliamentary plea FOLK MUSIC: People's Melodies 24 The call for nation al government, the provision of whi ch does nOl ex ist in the co nstitution, sows confusion. Page 9 IT EDUCATION: Career Choices 25

BOOK REVIEW 26

THE BOTTOMLINE 27

INTERVIEW: VIEW POINT: Manohar K. Bhattarai 28 Kamal Thapa Former foreign minister and PASTIME 29 RPP leader Thapa talks about the upcoming 11th SAARC Summit. FACE TO FACE: Girija Prasad Koirala 32 Page 22 l-JL.:Io.=.IIII

SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER 28, fOOl SPOTLIGHT EDITOR'S NOTE THE NATIONAL NEWSMAGAZINE IVol. 21, No.29, December 28, 2001 (Pa"oh 13,2(58) I ust a little more than a week to the eleventh Summit of the SAARC, the Chief Editor And Publisher Madhav Kumar Aimal Deuba government seems very busy with the beauti fication and sprucing up of Kathmandu, the venue of the Summit. The work being done on a war Editor Sarita Rimal footing would definitely cost a lot more than it would in nOlmal way. But, there is always some special method in the working ofHMG of NepaL Since Managing Editor we all are aware of the causes of such working, it needs no elaborati on. It was, indeed, Keshab Poudel necessary that Kathmandu roads got a face lift for this regional meet. Even though Associate Editor Kathmanduites do not deserve the luxury of smoother roads. the special guests that nh '\.llrAth YOql would visi( rhe capilal for the Summit could not be put to severe physical discomfort on Senior iieporftK" account of the bumpy roads. Not that this temporary lUXUry forthe Kathmanduites due Sanjaya Dhakal to the face lift of the roads has not benefited some contractors, some bureaucrats and Reporter some politicians in the form ofa windfalL Whether beautifying the city by tearing Akshay Sharma buildings providing negligible compensation to the owners is going 1O impress Design and Layout visitors that Nepal, after all. is not so poor as they thought, is hard to say. But, it may Jyoti Singh not be irrelevant to quote a humorist friend who has compared this make shift Photographer beauti fication of Kathmandu with that of adorning an old whore, He further confided Nishchal Chapagain to me that Prime Minister Deuba should have used this emergency to book some of hi s Art corrupt colleagues. This would have helped him to earn some iota of respect from his M,S. Khokna own countrymen and would also have added some genuine legitimacy (Q the role ofIhe Legal Advisor leader of the nation's delegation he is going to play in the Summit. Whether he will get Advocate Lok Bhakta Rana another opportunity to host such a Summit and to rub shoulders with thedignitaries from MarketlnglAdvertlsement the SAARC countries no one knows. But, we do hope he will be able to rise upto his full Sarit Rimal (USA) height the country has bestowed upon him and work to augment, preserve and safeguard the honor of the country he represents by behaving in a manner commensurate with his Marketing Madan Kaji Basne1 high position. This is an unique challenge for Deuba to prove his diplomatic attainment. Navin Kumar Maharjan Whether he can conclude this chilling summit with warmth and bon homie is yet to be Madan Raj Poudel Bishnu Prasad Chaulagaifl seen. * * * Editorial Office Kathmandu is hubbing with the move for a "Greater Democrati c Unity" with the idea GPO Box 7256, Baluwatar, Kathmandu, Tel: (977-1) 423127, Fax: (977-1) 417845 offorming a coalition government of all parties represented in the parliament. Since this Chief Editofs : 435594, move is being initiated by greedy and corrupt politicians spoiling for grabbing E·mail: [email protected] once again, the country seems not at all inlerested in the sinister machinations. Thep. top Internet Add: http://www.nepalnews.com/ spotlight priority in the country, at the moment, is to bring down the insurgency of the Maoists. And the Royal Nepal Army has been assigned of doing the job. If the Nepalese Cover Design Wordscape poLiticians had any love for their country, they would all unite and cooperate 'fith the GPO 8975, EPC 5620, Kathamdnu Nepal, Royal Nepal Army to end the bloodshed that is plaguing the country. If Prime Minister Ph: 263098, 261831" Fax: 977-1-439386 Sher Bahadur Deuba has learnt any lessons, he would not delay in promulgating the Distribution ordnance that would authorize the government to nab perpetrators of corruption Bazaar International howsoever high and influential. If the Prime Minister fails to act, he would only be 228 Sanchaya Kosh Bldg. Ka1hmandu G.P.O Box 2480, Ph: 222983 Fax: 229437 in viting trouble for himself and his colleagues and other corrupt politicians. We trust, a-mail : [email protected] he is not unaware of the dangers lurking round the corner. With the overwhelming

Printers: Kishor offset Press (P.) Ltd, majority of the poor populace being totally disillusioned with the workings of the anti­ P,O. Box 4665, Galkopakha, Thamel, national and corrupt multiparty democratic governments, Deuba has no option but to Kathmandu,Tel: 351 044 (Off), 351172 (Res,), cutdown his pany coll eagues and other politicians to their size, cleanse the admjnistra­ Fax: 977-1-351172, E-mail: [email protected] tion , sland up to the challenges emanating from the neighborhood and enthuse the people with a new vigor and nationalism. This could be a very tall for a man like Deuba. C.D.O. Regd. No Failure may spell danger for democracy itself. • 151/039-40 Postal Regd. No 42/057/58 U.S. Library of Congress rf\\~" -...Q. CataJogue No. 91-905060 Madhav Kumar RimaI Chief Editor& Publisher 2 SPOTLlGHTfDECEMBER 28, 2001 LETTERS

tic sector by way of improving NoModelWilIWork and expanding flights. Given Recently I happened to read their inadequate expertise, they an article by noted intellectual are bound to suffer big losses if Dr. Mohan Man Sainju in Kan­ they are allowed to fly on inter­ tipur daily regarding whether national routes. Uganda could serve as beacon Dipesh Gautam for Nepal's poverty alleviation. Maharajgunj Since Sainju commands much greaterrespect in Nepal than the Why Not? corrupt politicians his concerns If our private airlines want should not be taken as rehtories. la fly on international routes. But the moot point is who will why not let them do so? (HA copy Uganda'? These same cor­ Costly Decision", SPOT­ rupt politicians? No Dr. Sainju. LIGHT, December 14). What is you don't need to copy any na­ the problem here for Nepalis? If tion to alleviate poverty in your dds All Around the sector is not profitable, the country. You need honest and airlines themselves will decide patriotic politicians. When your Nepal's economy probably never had to face the adverse to withdraw. As long as they prime ministers and ministers ituation it is confronting today ("Economic Gloom", SPOT­ remain convinced that they can are all tainted men no ideal can IGHT. December 21). The tourism industry, the prime source sustain international flights, let serve as model for Nepal's pov­ f foreign exchange, is in the doldrums. The manufacturing them go for it. In case they suc­ erty alleviation. If you can, do cctor is also in shambles. The carpet, pashmina and garment ceed, they will be making the fix some men of integrity to rule ndustries are facing tremendous difficulties even to survive. In country proud. the country. uch a situation. only a miracle can save the Nepalese economy. Biswo MallQlldhar Mat/IUra Prasad le job of the finance minister is the least envious one today. Kalimati Kalanki Suresh Karki Gaushala

Time For Discipline could prove counterproductive 2002 in the long run ("Economic The state of emergency Gloom" SPOTLIGHT,Decem­ OM KNITTING does not necessarily have a nega­ ber 21 ). Nepal has become de­ tive effect on the country's CASHMERE pendent on foreign assistance :jI;0my ("Economic Gloom". COLLECTION for far too long. As long as we TLIGHT, December 21). get assistance, we lose the in­ lfusedjudieiously, the situation centive to work hard. Crises and is favorable to enforce fiscal problems are a part of every discipline. The authorities can CASHMERE COATS, CASHMERE MUFFLERS. nation' s growth. At some point make use of the emergency to CASHMERE SWEATERS, CASHMERE SHAWLS, tame wayward businesses. The in history, each nation has to face its momelll of truth. We CAPS & CASMERE SILK CLOTHES additional resources required for have to learn to solve our prob­ security can be generated by lems oursel ves. If we can do that controlling revenue leakages. Moreover, improved security now, it will go a long way to­ ward instilling a sense of confi­ DNINE GROUP & CO. INC. LTD\ could lead to increased produc­ dence among Nepalis. BABARMAHAL RE-VISITED tion and create an atmosphere conducive to overall economic Hiles" Raidya KATHMANDU development. Samakhusi PHONE: +977-1-230369 Krisll1la S"restha Look Within FACISMAIL : +977 · 1·229622 Gwarko EMAIL : divine@mail .com.np The private airlines of the Aid Counterproductive - country do not need to go for Although the government international flights yet ("A OPEN TIME : 10:ooAM -7:30PM (SUN-FRI) appears keen on mobilizing for­ Costly Decision", SPOT­ eign assistance to sail through LIGHT, December 14). There the present crisis. such a course is a lot they can do in the domes-

SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER 28, 2001 3 NEWSNOTES

Maoists Must Disarm: rily and development programs. "The operati ons in Rolpa. Gorkha and Dolakha operation against terrorism is going ex­ districts, security forc.:e s seized a huge Army Chief Iremely well," said Gen. Rana. He urged cache of anns and aJl1ll1un it ion. the mi ni s­ Chief of the AmlY Slaff of Ihe Royal Ihe Nepalese people 10 inform and sup­ try said. Compi/ed from reports Decem· Nepalese Army General Prajwolla port the security agencies in the campaign ber 19. Sums her JB Rana has said his forces would again st the Maoists. "National security is deslroy the Maoisls if Ihey did not surren- a matter of concern for every NepaJi. not Deuba Seeks only the army," he added. COIII­ pi/ed frOIll reporls Dec. 18. Donors' Help Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Dcuba TU Facing has callcd on the donor community to suppon Nepal's developmcnt act i vi tics at Cash Crunch a time when the government is engagcd in Tribhuvan University, the an all-oul war with the Maoi st in surgents. country's oldest institution of higher Addressing a gathering ofrepresentati,& learning. is facing severe fmancial of Kathmandu-bascd diplomatic.: mi ss i{. constraints, a newspaper reponed. and donor agencies her~ Monday. Pre­ The governmenl could provide onl y mier Deuba said a slowdown in trade. Rs 1.2 billion oUI of Ihe Rs 1.52 tourism and industrial production had se­ billion demanded by the university, vere ly hit revenue mobiliLalion . Poverly the report said. Amid difficulties in is growing and economic activities arc providing salaries and benefits to diminishing because of tcrrori st activi­ its more than 14.000 employees. ties. he said. The prime minister sought Ihe TU has cuI down slaff allow­ the donor community's support in the ances. Even then , the uni versi ty government's efforts tn promote develop­ could not save morc than Rs 50 ment works and generate employment in million a year. said Nilkanlha Lal th e insurgcllcy-alTeclcu areas. He also Shrestha. registrar at the university . sought donors' support in hUl11anitJrian In 61 campuses affiliated 10 the TU. reli ef works to disadvantaged groups and over 4.000 tcachers and staff are women and ch ildren dlreclly affecled by working as temporary or contract the conllict. AccordIng to Or. Shankar employees. "We are not in a posi· Sharma. mcmbt'r or the NatIOnal Plan­ tion to reduce temporary stafr;)t a ning COllllllis~ion. the dnnor cO llllllunity time when the affiliated campuses I expre ssed full SUPP0rllO the ,0""'nIl101 are demanding more teachers," said Shrestha. Nepal Samacharpatra Dec. 17. Army Chief Rana Two Civilians Hacked;

de l' th eir arms to the government. In an Two Maoists Killed exclusive interview with state-owned A group of Mao is I guerrillas hacked Nepal Television Monday evening, Gen­ to death Surya Prasad Dawadi. a 75-year­ eral Rana admined Iha! the army had gone old Nepali Congress worker, and Shiva on the offensive after the in surgents at­ Prasad Adhikari. 28-year-old school­ tacked an anny barrad in Dang last tcacher, Monday evening. Both were the month and looted a huge cache of weap­ residents ofHansapur VDC in the western ons and ammunition. " It is our duty to district of Gorkha. Dawadi's wife, who retrieve the weapons they seized from our was seri ously injured in the attack, was (Dang) barrack )11 Nqvember 23," said airlifted to Kathmandu for treatment, Kan­ Gen. Rana. Donning hi s unifonn. Gen. lipur daily reponed. Meanwhile. Ihe Oe­ Rana lold eDisha Nirdesh' program Iha! fense Minislry said Tuesday Ihal two Ihe Maoisls had made a mislake by pro­ Maoist insurgents died in separate en­ voking the army. which was only aClingas coun ters with security forces in Surkhet Dcuba a supporting force in the integrated sec u- and Mugu the previous day. During search

4 SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER 28. 2001 NEWSNOTES programs. They urged the govemmentto 'Emergency To Be Lifted Court Bans Garbage set clear priorities for economic develop­ ment. The donors criti cized the govern­ After Job Done' Dumping ment for what they described as lack of A senior govern ment official has In what is seen as a landmark judg­ full commitment to implement good gov­ hinted that the national stat e of emer­ men t, the Supreme Coun on Monday has ernance programs. expedite economic re­ gency would continueas long as it takes to ordered the government and concerned forms and control corruption. Dr. Shanna achieve its objectives. Talking to report­ agencies not to dump garhagc on the banks said the government had not made a re­ ers here Sunday, Mi nister for Information of the holy Bagll1ati Ri v..:r. Responding LO quest for a specific sum or identitied u. writ petition filed by three law­ projects for assistance. Leading dailies yers last year un hchaJf nflhc Pro­ report Dec. J8. . Public. an NGO. ajoln[ bench L'OI11- prisin g jusllLe~ ·1\. f1 :-.nn,\ Jung Two Journalists Released Rayamajh i and Gyanendra BnhD­ dur Shrestha hcJd that such dump­ The authorities have released Bandhu ing should he done only after com­ Thapa. publi sher of Deshanter weekly, pleting an cll\"imnmcnwl impact d Gopal Budhathoki. editor/publi sher Sanghu weekly. without riling charges. assessmenl. Space Time dmly re­ ported Tuesday. They also cl"lti­ Thapa and Budhathoki had been detained dled the government. saying that it al the military barracks at Chh auni for nea rl y 24 hours for inl elTogation in con­ was not st:rious towanJ properly necti on with news report s their newspa­ manag ing solid wa:o.tc in th c capi­ pers had carried. Reports said the journal­ tal. Gcn!.!ral Manager of [he Solid \Vastc Rc~ourcc Moblli/atlon and ists have been told to report to the authori­ ties when required. Media organizations ~.,"" Management CCIllcr DC\'j N:JJ1J had cond emned the government's deci­ Subcdi ,aid temporary arrange­ sion to arrest the jourJl31 ists and demanded lllents have hL~C.11 made to dump their immediate release. Compiled from garhage in other areas. He sa id reporls Dec. J 9. ncarly 300 metric tones nf garbage produced frolll Kathmandu and 'Operation Can Succeed Lnl itpur mu ni cipal arcasdally cou ld be properly dUlllped as soon as the Only IfBorder is Sealed' ...._ ...... _01 ne cess road to the land fill si tc cH Dipta Prakash Shah, a retired hriga­ Gupta Okharrouwa in Nuwakot district di er general of the Royal Nepalese Army. was completed. Subcdi said the said the military operations to contain and C01l1municationsJaya Prakash Prasad court ve rdict would not hamper so lid­ e Maoist insurgency could succeed on ly Gupta said the government did not intend waste management on the eve of the 11 th if Nepal's open border wi th India was to prolong th e stale of emergency unnec­ SAARC summit due l\l he held ill the sealed . In an interview. Shah. a royal essaril y. "Thi s situation wi ll continue un­ capital early next month. Letulillg dailies nominee to the National Assembly, the tilthe security [orcescomplete their job of report Dec. J 9. • operation could succeed with in SIX months disarming the Maoist in surgent s:· if th e border was sealed. "There is a need said Gupta. who is also the spokes- ,------, to regulate and control Nepal's borders man of the governm en t. The mini s­ Amihai In Kathmandu (both in the south and north ). If the ter said the government could con­ Mordehai Allllhai. Director South and problem is prolonged and anny fails to get sider resuming peace talks wi th the South-east A~ia DiviSio n of the Government of political support. an unfortunate situation Maoists only if they surrendered Israel wa:; in Kathmandu recently. During an could arise," he said. Describing the mo­ their anns and money looted from informal talk, Amihai said he was here explor­ rale of the Royal Nepalese Army as high . banks and agreed to work within the ing the possibilities ofc.xpanding trad~ relations Shah said the soldiers would never lag ambit of the present consti tuti on. between Nepal and Israel and :o. harin!! Israel·" behind in protecting the country and fight­ Answering a question , Gupta said technical expertise with Nepal. upon ing fo r the nati on' s interest. Responding there we re no differences ofopini on Dw e l~ng Nepal's friendship and support during the ear­ to a questi on. Shah said th~ army would between King Gyanendraand Prime lier years, Amihm said Israel always valued definitely return to the bmTacks after ac­ Millister Sher Bahadur Deuba as Nepal's friendship and shall c,'cr remain grate­ complishing its job. "To say that there is a reported by secti ons of the media, ful for her support. Amihai met many oflicials possibility of regression is nonsense," Shah Leadillg dailies report Dec. J 7. and businessmen during hi S short stay here. said. Budhabar, Dec. 12.

SPOTLtGHTIDECEMBER 28. 2001 5 IRIEFS

Rights Organization of Nepal (HURON) said journali sts. human rights activists. lawyers. teachers and innocent people have been arrested si nce November26. HURON has urged the government not to arrest innocent citi zens and to protcct them frOlllthc opcrations or the security forces.

ALL THEJUDGESANDJUSnCESINTHECOUNTRYHA VE declared their property with Judicial Council. a leading daily rc­ pOl1ed. Supreme Court Chief Justice Ke!ihav Prasad Upadhyay ~aid the move would hclp promote transpllrcncy in the jUdICIi.lfY and control corruption. The move came amid gnJ\vin g criti Cism 01" rampant corrupti on in the judit:iary.

FIVE MAOIST INSURGENTS WERE KILLED AND 21 SUS­ pects arrested Thursday as security forces continuetlthei r cordon and search operations in different parts of the cou ntry. The sel.:urit y Christians offering prayers at the Assumption Church on the personnel arrested 24 more people in six di stricts on Friday. Acco Christmas Eve ing to Defense Ministry, three Maoist insurgents di ed in Gork < NEPALRASTRABANK(NRB),THECOUNTRY'SCENTRAL inc1udinga team commander of their militia. Radhika Adhikari. Two bank, is to take punitive aCliqn against several commercial banks other insurgellls died when they reportedly tried to escape from the for violating its directives. Banks that have borrowed amounts custody of security forces. In a separate incident. suspected Maoist more than their investments and those functioning as private compa­ terrorists shot dead Dip Narayan Chaudllary. a police constable. nies despite being licensed as public limited companies will face posted at Mainapur ilaka pol ice ofJice in mid-\V~stern district of punitive action. officiaJ sources said. The central bank's action. BardiyaSaturday morning. Chaudhary died olllhe way ( 0 Ncpalgunj. however. will not alTec( depositors' interest and the overall national A search is being condUl. .:tc d for the Maoist insurgents. police economy. the sources sa id . The NRB has already sent warning Icners officials said. and sought clarification from the commercial banks in thi s regard. reports said. MAOIST REBELS DESTROYED THE AGRICUL TURESER­ vices Cenler at Dcurali VDC in Nuwakot district last Thursday. !l\'OIANPRIMEMINISTERATALBEHARIVAJPAYEEWILL :lccording to Rajdhani daily. The newspapcr quoted Agriculture not hold abilateral meeting with Pakistani President Pervez MushalTaf Development Officer N:lfayan Prasad Khanal as saying the in sur­ on the sidelines of the SAARC summit in Kathmandu earl y next gents also set on fire windows and doors of th ~ government-run month. ''The question of talking to Pakistan given its attitude and center. The rebels di srupted communication links by sllapping the unresponsiveness in takin~ action against terrorist groups operating line of the only public call office or the Nepal Telecollllllunication from its soil against India really doesn't arise," an Indian Foreign Corporation at the same VDC in the district. Ministry official told reporters in New Delhi. Nepali officials have. however. said the escalation ill India-Pakistan tensions would not THE UNITED NA nONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM A. affect theSAARC summit's regional agenda. According 10 officials. the World Wildlife Fund have signed an agrc~ment to run a landsl.:a1P'" Ihe summit is expected to endorse regional agreements on poverty level bio-diversity conservation project Under the agreement. the alleviation. terrorism and trade. Preparations are also under way to t wo organizations wil I work together to formu late Cl joi nl program for sign regional conventions on prevention of trafficking of women and landscape level bio-d iversity protection in the western terai region of children and on the welfare of children. Nepal and in the eastern hilly region. The program will comprise bio­ diversity management along with income-generating programs \vilh THREE MAOIST INSURGENTS, INCLUDING A DISTRICT the participation of the local people. commanderofPalpa. have been killed and dozens others arrested in ecordon and search' opermions launched by the security forces. THE FEDERA nON OF CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND reports said Friday. Likewise. two Roya.l Nepal anny personnel lost In dust ry (FNCCI) has welcomed the liberal monelary policy rnt:a­ their lives in an ambush laid down by the Maoists at Deurali in their surcs announced by the Nepal Raslra Bank (N RB) on Thursday. The slronghold in Gorkha di strict. The anny has intensified aerial opera­ FNCCI said it hoped thal the liquidity flow of nearly Rs 2 billion tions after the incident In a separate incident. a powerful bomb expected to be pumped in th e market as a result of the cuts in cash explosion severely damaged the house of Minister of Slate for Water re se rve ratio would have some positive impact on lhe economy Resources Narayan Sharma Poudel at Gunjanagar in Chitwan district provided the capital was invested in Nepali industries. The apex Wednesday night. No one was injured in the attack. Police have private sector chamber also welcomed the cuts in the inlerest rates of arrested over a dozen people for interrogation. export credits and relinancing rates as epositive step'. It urg~<..I the government to implement the policy measures effectively and ensure A HUMAN RIGHTS BODY HAS URGED PRIME MINISTER that industries have easy access lO such cred it s. The NRB had Sher Bahadur Deuba to make public the whereabouts of people announced cuI in the cash reserve ratio. bank rat e and reiinancing rate arrested since the declaration of emergency late last month. Human by up to lWO percent in order to prop up th e. economy. •

6 SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER 28. 2001 QUOTE UNQUOTE

"I n the game for power, there is no need for consensus." Prime Minister Sher Bahadllr Dellba. denouncing the callJor national govemll1elll and consenslIs hy his party president Cirija Prasad Koirala, in Kantipur. * * *

"I never said that there is a need for a national government. 1lle media dislOrted my statements Girija Prasad Koiraia,jormer prime minister, rejecting media rep0l1s [IIllT he was attempting to pllll dml'll fhe Del/ba Movenlllle1lf by calling.for 1/{l­ (ional gm'ernlllell1 al/d broad COl/sel/­ S/lS, ;,/ WI inter\'ieu' H'ith BBC Nepal; :!en'ice. * * * "Maybe Girija Prasad Koirala can scc viclOry for himself in the defeat of Sher Bohadur Deuba. A habit developed over decades may nOl go away in a single day. But this habit is suicidal at present." Jaya Prakaslr Gupla, spokeslIlClN of Sitaram Maskey. gCll eral .w!cretary of cou ld be cut anti allocated for increased the gOl'emment ell/cl Minister for 111 - Private allll BO£lrt./illg Sclwols Asso­ secunty expl!nsc~. formatiol/ and COlllmunicatioll, speak­ cimirm of Nepal. challenging rlie Bija}'a Kumar Gachchatlar. l1Ii1dster iJlg at a program orgalli~ed by Press W(l(el' NesOlIl'('t!.'i. 10 me­ gO\'(!l'IIlIlenr's dril'(! of col/ecring IlL\" /01' wlkillg CllCllltari. ill Drishti. hy stating that the pril'ou! schools dia. * * * Hlollld /lot pay !he lax limier the Cml1- * * * "We will pay the tax only if the private P(lIIY Act. ill Nepal Samacharpatra. "The ten sion between India and Paki­ schools arc included in the Education Act * * * sum is the main reason why the SAARC d they arc levied certain percent of tax to "UP to 25-30 percent ot. the develop- couldn' t move as desired. 8 Ulthis does not collected in a fund." ment expenditure of the present budget mean we do nOl need SAARC:' Shailellllra KUlIlar Upatfhyaya. IOI'IIIl.":/U/'ei,[:!lllIIillisrer. ill Dcshanler. * '" *' "T he warm treatment tOUrists get here attract mnny women who arc fed Up with the weslern Liatillg scene'" Rimal NlIhllrkee. of Ec() Treks. 011

lI'IWf draws fhl' II'i!Sfemer fO (1 Nepali slIirof' IllCIf SOIII" of fhem mlln:r Ihe loceil boys. ill The: K3thmandu Post. * * ~: "I don't ha\c allY regrets. RJlher. I am enjoying iL"

Telljill Dolver Lama. (l 23-year-old post-f.:mdu(fle ill Bllddlll':)r philosophy. ~I'hv is lIeti\,C"." el/gaged ill 1//(Je/eIiIlR. ill Rajdhani. * *' *

SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER 28. 2001 7 OFF THE RECORD

Unusual Unanimity days meeting people and time \l,I hcn leadcrs of his own visiting places. Following party arc reluctant to CPN-UML leader the imposition or the state di sclose their property, Madhav Kumar Nepal anu his or emergency, Deuba has Acharya has h(:cn demanding deputy, K.P. Sharma Oli, arc found ti me to hear the l'OIll­ transparency in the palace's usually at loggerheads when plaints of organizations and propcrty. Don't YOll think it comeS to expressing views polit ical parties. Acharya could work won­ on burning national issues. In An in terest in g feature dcrs for his country if he onc of their rare moments of of Deuba's int craction~ is employed hIS cre~tivity to rc­ unanimity, Nepal a nd Oli the common response hI! sohc th ~ rcal isslles of the stressed last week that it is the has ready for oil kind., of clay" n::spollslhility of political par­ gncvances. While meeting tiCS to evalu ate th e conse­ with urticials or the Hu­ Gautam's VOW quences of the Imposition or man Rights Commissioll, CPN-ML leader Bam the Sla le of emcrgclh.:Y. Few the prime minister pledged Dcv GaUlalll has dcdareu (h, I wou ld disagree with the duo'~ ~~;~~~~~~~:::: ~ {Q increase the discourse on democracy. But he would IWI join the ep deruo tiilhlcr checks amid the organization's annual hudget. would the comrades tuke simi ­ Ufo..lL until some olhis formcr probing.... gaze of security or­ When Dcuba met with lar responsibility forthc mess r------~...,. fi cers. Some ministers and leaders of opposition par~ the emergency is intended to senior officials arc still lics, he wasted littl e lime used to thc old ways and in endorsin g their sugges­ try to entcr thc secretariat tions. The state o r emer­ premises \\!llhout provid­ gency seems to have in~ ing proper identification. stilled a positive attitude For Instance. it took thc in the prime minlstcr. intcn entian ofHomc Min­ istcr Khum l3ahadur Khadka to allow his l11ini~· Fertile Mind ler of stale into the office. Narhan Acharya. n Ho\\- many pt.:ople can Illembcrofthc cpali COil· counl oh the support of thc grcs ... Ccntral Working boss? Committce. has provcd lim e and again that h!.: possesses a fertile Illlnt!. Positive Premier Nepal: Rare Illceting of minds The problelll. howc\'er, is Prime Mini~ter Sher Ih at his imagination -=------~ Bahadur Deuba is busy these oftcn tri ggers controvcrsic!­ fcd corrcct'! As rcpreselltativc~ of comrades puhlicly aplllngl the country cou ld do the main opposition pnrty. for their mic in splitting the without. When Acharya Nepal and Oli might find it pany. was th!.: spokesman of convenient to pass the buck At a recent puhlH': i11(:ct­ the rulingpany. he pushed in g:, the firchrand C(llll lllUn isl on 10 the ruling Nepali Con­ hi s personal views as \!ress. But can they evade full leadcr r~peatcd that stand. BUI pany roliey. Former after having UM L leader K.!'. Sharm:t Ol i. ;e~ponsib ilit y prime minister and party enjoyed the privileges and no Ics" inct::Il(!J~lr) \\ hl..:-n it president Girija Prasad henefit s (hat come with bei ng comes to -;pca"-Ing Iw. nllnd. KOlraLl toler •.1Ied members of Ihe shadow gov­ aprc<.!rL~d no! to nn! ice Acharya's proclivity for a Cnlmt:lll? Gautam's presencc. Primc long time. Milll ... tcr SllL'r Bahndur Deuha But Koi rala 's pati cll cc turned (Jut to hc more sy mpa­ No Entry ran out when Acharya thctic. After fini"lling hi s Aft er the imposition of mad !.: controversial rc­ spcech. the prime minister Sal the state of emergency. the marks on the institution of in Iht.: Illiddk of the t\\'o COlll­ governmen t has fonified se­ mo narchy, forcing the rades unu raised thcir h,II1U5. curity in and around Singha Acharya : Loud mouth Congress chief 10 rernov!.: in an appar(,ll t rccnnciliation Durbar. Visitors have 10 un~ ---'------the pony spokesman. At a erfort. _

SPOTLlGHTIDECEMIlER 2~. 2001 NATIONAL

of democratic exercise our poiiticalleaders NATIONAL GOVERNMENT might have gained maturity. BUl no. they can't refrain from engagin g in petty politics even at times of national crisis like thi s." Unparliamentary Plea rued the analyst Although Koirala justifies his call for The constitution does not envisage a national government, broad democratic alliance and national gov­ ernment as being necessary to sustain the but it remains a favorite ploy among some politicians campaign against terrorists and protect de­ mocracy, it has acted in the opposite man­ By SANJAYA DHAKAL government was able to take all (Congress ner. and opposition) along when it declared the Prime Minister Deuba criti c ized stateof emergency amonth ago and launched Koirala's cail as "ull seasonal melody" hint- ational consensus is one of the most strikes against terrorists. Hi s move has been ing that it was having a dcstabilizing effect N used words in the JexiconofNepaJese endorsed by international community, in- on his government. Inaugurating the 28th politicians. Nepali Congress supremo Girija eluding Nepa]"s neighbors. Even the people general convention of Nepal Jayeees la st rasad Koirala is particularly fond of the are with him. "So, where is the need for week, Deuba asked what the world woufd vo words. More interestingly, the fonner national government? Does Koirala and his say if there was a political game (lO dtaf\~c. prime minister has the habit of calling for company mean that the relevancy of the government) while the police and army are nalional consensus but never being able to strikesagainstterrorists haveendedT'asked in the battlefield. actually forge it. a political analyst. As different media reported that Koirala When KoiraJa resigned from the prime For their own part, the opposition par- was calling for the national government to minister's post in July in the midst of mount- tics. mainly the communists. are sowing more replace Deuba. the Congress party presi- ing opposition from within his party and confusionbymakingcol1tradictorystatemenlS dent. in an imerview with the BBC NcpaJi outside. it wasafternationalconsensuseluded against the imposition of state of emergency. service clarified that he only meant that thc him. current government include min- Now, when his one-time pro- isters from other parties. lege andcurrenl prime minister Sher Koirala' s long time friend Bahadur Deuba seems 10 have and Congres~ leader Krishna forged a broad consensus, Koirala Prasad Bhaltarai has already Cas- isback in his old gal11e by callillg for tigated the call for national gov- broader democratic alliance and a emment. "I have never heard of national government. While the :1Oy party that is in majority want- phrase itself sounds convincing. its ing 10 induct members of Other rcverberations are bound to have a parties." he rctorted. adding that cstabilizing effect on the govem- anymovetodestabilizetheDeuba ent at a time when the country is in government althis particular tilhe a state of emergency. would send .. I very wrong mes- Stranger still , the opposition sage to the international eommu- parties, the very ones that treated nilY anu could bc cauntcrproduc- Koirala like a pariah only a couple __.10 ___" live to the democracy it ~c lr. oflllonths ago, are now joining his K',ir>l. Afler the initial warmth. bandwagon. Surya BahadurThapa, ------=------'------''------'------even the main opposition Ul\fL the president of Rastriya Prajatantra Party. Initially. all werc in favor of its imposition seems to have balked at thecall for national has already supported his call far national and now they are calling for ending it soon. government. Alkr the all-party meeting government. "The problems of the country "How can the state or emergency be with- held on Deccmber 24 L'a llcd by Koirala. are so inU11en se that a govcmmem of single drawn so soon? Do [hey mean that the army which endorsed the need for the broad party will not be able to solve it any more," should withdraw before completing ittask?lf democratic alliance. the Dri~hti weekly 6 he says. Likewise. the main opposition Un i- so, are they willing to rakc responsibility of c lose to UML - stated that the pany had fiedMarxist-Lcnimst, roo, has lentafriendly the aftennarh?" asked the analyst. turncd down lheoffer of ~ national govern- ear to Koirala's utterances. All this is happening in Kathmandujust men!. Interestingly, the Constitution of the when the security forces are engaged in a Less than a month after the army wenl Kingdom of Nepal 1990 d~s not have any full-nedged baule with the ten·orists. While into the offensive against the Maoists. the provision for national government. The pro- the army and policeare laying their lives for politicians arc back in their game. Ln the ponents of this apparently un·constitutional the sake of country and democracy, the absence of matured leaders and judiL'inus idea have faiJed to convince the people the politicians can't stop from messing around. decisions.lhepoliticking could put thecoun- need for the nalional government. Deuba "One would have thoughtthatafter 12 years try in a grave danger. •

SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER 28. 2001 9 NATIONAL

democratic alliance does Koirala want to POLITICS achieve by seeking support from undemo­ cratic political forces like the CPN-UML and other communists?" asked Bimarsha Consensus Convulsion editor Harihar Birahi in a recent column. " Koirala is the locus of Nepalese politics Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala's call and he must maintain his own credibil­ ity." for a broader national democratic alliance jolts Deuba Attaining power is obviously the fun­ damental objective in pol itics, but there By KESHAB POUDEL holds a majority with 113 seats in parlia­ are norms politicians are expected la fol­ ment, what is the rationale of fanning a low. When the main opposition CPN­ or the first time in five months, the national government?" asked Bhattarai UML and other panies. including Ras­ F Nepali Congress government led by during an appearance on Nepal Televi- triya Prajatanlra Party, stalled the winter Prime Minister Sher Bahadur felt the po­ slon. session of the House of Representatives litical equivalent of a moderate-intensity Members of Koirala's inner circle are fortwo months, Deuba, instead ofdefend tremor. Although pany president Girija busy defending Ills proposal, arguing that it iog his own government. had joined II Prasad Koirala insists that his call for a has nothing to do with Prime Minister opposition in demanding Koirala's resig­ broader national democratic alliance is Deuba and Ills government. "Girijababu is nation. not directed against Deuba' s government, just trying to develop a national consensus This does nal necessarily mean the political currents it has triggered have to bring all polit.ical forces together against Koirala, a seasoned politician who still exacerbated the national mood of uncer- te~rorism," says Arjun Narsing KC., enjoys mass following within the party, tainty. spokesman of the ruling party. should adopt similar tactics. Koirala may "My move is not directed be ready to ri sk hi s stature by agai nst the government. Rather, making compromises with the it will help the government in opposition to bring down the tackling the Maoist terrorism Deuba government. But how long problem," said Koirala. "We does he think hi s own govern­ need a broader national demo­ ment could survive on an al li ance cratic alliance to tackle the with unpredictable and undemo­ country's problems." (See box) cratic parties? Koirala's fonnidable stand­ " Koir"la can't have forgot­ ing in Nepalese politics can help ten his last days in power when th e country achieve the stability main opposi tion party along with it so badly needs today. Unfor­ the RPP burnt hundreds of hi' tunately, Koirala has always effigies as if he were a dreade ' been used by his coterie to cre­ crimina!," says a political ana­ ate instability. The former prime lyst. "What good does Koirala minister's latest moves may help PM Deuba (second from right) with Congress leaders: In trouble see in joinin g hand with such him regain power. but it would forces?" destroy his political legacy. But few seem willing to take Koirala's The main opposition party, however, Efforts to rock every incoming gov­ concern for the nation at face value. Prime seems to be in a mood to li sten. "We arc ernmentare nothing new in Nepalese poli­ Minister Deuba's supporters see it is a not interested in making any opportunis­ tics. Deuba had challenged Koirala' s gov­ conspiracy against the government. tic alliance with Koirala, but we are ready ernment just few months after it was "Koirala is showing double standards,'! to discuss it in order .to develop certain formed last year. However, two wrongs says a Congress member close to Deuba. consensus on national issues," says UML do not make a right. "When Koirala was prime minister, he leader Bharat Mohan Adhikary. Although fanner prime minister and tried to fend off demands for his resigna­ Surely Kairala must be aware of the Congress leader Krishna Prasad Bhattarai tion by showing his majority of 56 MPs in wrong message such opportunism would has tenned Koirala's new proposal as the parliamentary party. But now he says send to the people, who are already frus­ going against the spirit or multiparty de­ the Nepali Congress's 11 3 seats in parlia­ trated by the dirty power games being mocracy. the pany president seems to be ment have zero value. Is this not enough to played over the past decade. Moreover, in no mood to give up. show how power-hungry Koirala is?" Koirala, a victim of forces of destabiliza­ "The proposal isjust a bUllying tactic Others question the viability of such tion barely five months ago, is now play­ of Girijababu. As the Nepali Congress an alliance. "What kind of broad national ing into the hands of those elements. •

\0 SPOTLIGHTIDECEMBER 28, 2001 NATIONAL

in the region." SAARC According to offi cials, the summit is expected to endorse regional agreements on poverty alleviation. terrorism and Summit Amid Tensions trade. Preparations are also on to sign regional conventions on prevention of Despite escalating tensions between India and Paki­ trafficking of women and children and on the welfare of children. stan, officials are hoping for a fruitful summit Meanwhile, Indian Foreign Minis­ ter Jaswant Singh has said Myanmar and By BHAGIRATH YOGI vention," said Dr. Mohan P. Lohani, a Afghanistan should also be invited to former ambassador and foreign relations join the seven-member regional body. ~e terrorist attacks on the Indian expert. With the new interim govern me m in ~ parliament on December 13 once Though the charter of the 16-year­ place. war-torn Afghanistan m·\ gh\as.\~e" gain exposed deep animosity between old body prohibits raising any bilateral need a regional forum 10 air it s views. dia and Pakistan. With India pointing and contentious issues during the sum­ Though it will take a few more sum ­ its finger toward Pakistan for allegedly mit , analysts say one-to-one meetings mjts to welcome new members, SAARC harboring terrorists on its territory , and between heads of Slates or govcrnments could do well by accelerating economic the latter denying the accusation, it in the region have helped in easing ten­ cooperation within the region. The agree- seemed that the II th SAARC Summit sions. But indica­ would be postponed once again. The t ions are that the J::;::::;::::;::=--~-;;;------::=~=::::;;j rivalry betwee n the two countries had resuhed in the postponement of the sum­ swouldummit be heldthis undertime~liiill_~~~~~~~a mit in 1999. circumstances that Busy with last-minute preparations can be termed any­ for the summit. Nepali officials, how­ thing but friendly . ever. said they had already received con­ Last Thursday, fimlation of participation from all six Indi a made it clear members. In an effort to reach the inter­ that there wi 11 be no nati onal audience, Royal Nepalese am­ onc-to-one mceti ng bassador in New Delhi , Dr. Bhekh Baha­ between Prime Min­ dUT Thapa, organi zed a press meet in the ister Atal Behari Indian capital Monday and said the sum- Vajpayee and Paki­ ',ipt will take place as sc hedul ed. Dr. stani President ~ apa said all the members have reas ­ PervezMusharraf on Banners to welcome guests: Warn) hosp itality sured Nepal that they will participate in the sidelines of the the three-day summit (January 4-6) in Kathmandu summit. "The question of ment on South Asian Preferential Trad­ Kathmandu. "The iss ue of terrorism talking to Pakistan given its attitude and ing Arrangements (SAPTA) came into would be high on the agenda of the sum­ unresponsiveness in taking action against force in December 1995 so as to promote mit," sa id the Nepalese envoy. terrori st groups operating from it s soil intra-regional trade substantially. But thi s During the third SAARC Summit against India really doesn't arise," an arrangement still doesn 't cover large part held in Kathmandu in 1987, a regional Indian Foreign Ministry official said in of the regional trad e. convention on suppression of terrorism New Delhi. The proposal to declare South Asia as was signed . The convention calls upon Nepali officials have, however, said free trade areas by 200 1 also needs to be contracting stat es to cooperate through bilateral tensions wou ld not affect the reconsidered and re vised so as lo give appro priate measures to curb terrori st summit as it has its own regional agenda. more time to the member states for prepa­ activities in the region. The convention "We are happy that the SAARC process ration. "SAFfA (South Asia Free Trad­ is yet to be enforced effectively due to is being resumed after a gap of nearly ing Agreement) is very much required to lack of enabling legislation in most mem­ three years," said Or. Thapa. Or. Lohani reduce the prese nt tension between the ber state s. ''The Kathmandu summit is added: 'The Kathmandu summit will two South Asian powers. Political rela­ expected to reaffirm its ' commitmem prove to be a milestone in reactivating tion s will certainly change for the better forcefully to the convention and to the the SAARC process and further enhanc­ af!cr economic cooperati on is strength­ need for it s effecti ve and expeditious ing goodwill, mutual tru st and under­ ened," said Or. Posh Raj Pandey, an econo­ implementati on by making national laws standing among member states to ensure mi st. "Economic cooperat ion is the onl y consistem with the provisions of the con- continued peace, progress and stability way to defuse the Indo-Pak connict. " .

SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER 28, 2001 11 NATIONAL

the country who have been living under POLITICIANS the constant threat orthe terrorists, More­ over. those busy trying to bui ld opportu­ ni sti c alliances to gain political mileage Losing Reason during this national crisis ulIerly fail to realize that they have no moral ~tanding to Security forces are risking their lives in the fight against question the monarch'sexpression of con­ cern for the well-being of the country and ten'OJ'ism, but politicians are playing their old games people, Had our leaders shown enough sinccruy to the cause of freedom By A CORRESPONDENT and democracy and ac ted in a timely fashion. the life of Illany would ora month. the security forces iight­ have been saved, F ing terrorism are puuing their lives There is still time forpoliticians on the line to make life easier for every­ lO play a constructive role in restor­ body else. including politicians. [nstead ing nonnalcy in the country and . of doing their part to help the soldiers and prove thcirrelcvance. Central to sucP poli ce on the baltlefront. poli ticians arc an effort is the m.:knowlcdgemcnt busy say ing and doing irrelevant things in th at the state or emergency was de­ the comfort o f Kathlllandu valley. The clared in rcspo[Lse 10 thc grave threat cries or the people do 110t reach those who the country is facing. If politicians arc in a constant quest to grab power. ..K-o-ir-.-I .... .::d:.d-res....:.si-n-g-h-is-p-.":r"ty-m-e-n-:-C- o-re~iS':Sul!ie-u"n~de':'r-s-ha"d·o~w fail to grasp this core reali.ty and still King Gy~mendrn. the symhol of na­ try to advance the SpeC IOU S argu- tional unity. visited Birl.!ndra Army Hos­ suffer from the Afno Manche (Our man) mcnt that democracy is under threat. they pital la console soldiers injured in the syndrome." may find themse lvcs in a corner whcnlhc military operations. However. the same While security personnel are seeking going really gets lOugh, •

logisticai support to ,..~~ ______., politicians responsible for c reating the mess vied with one another to politicize go into villages to the monarchfs gesture of concern, drive out theMaoists. Picturesque and Peaceful Senior advocate Basudev Dhungana. the leaders are exhib· who was a ministcrand pradhan panchaof it in g a callous disre­ a PJ,grima,ge with Pleasure Kathmandu during the Panchayat years, gard to the political spoke againsllhc king's visil. He sounue,d side of the anti-ill- like the mouthpiece of the main opposi­ surgency campaign, ti on CPN-UML. The Nepali Congressfs "If politicians like Narahari Acharya, not known for a mea­ Girija Prasad Koirala :-un.::d response to anything outside the and Madhav Kumar amhit o f his party. went a step further to Nepal are really sin­ question the monarchfs visit. cere to the cause of In stead of doing somcthing to boost de mocracy and thc morale of the security forces. people country. thi s is the like Dhungan;1 and Acharya are vitiating right time for them th e atmosphere. Worse. Nepali Congress 10 visit the country­ president Oirija Prasad Koirala. main op­ side and mobilize tile rO~ilion pHrly leader Madhav Kumar people against terror­ S Ul Cl' Cl'IIIUrll':>, \LIII.lk,I1n:Ul.I \)l'\1 ha~ bt:t'n Nepal. Rastriya Prajatalllra Party leader ism." the political \\'u.kh bdu:lnJ III ru lrll Ihc \\'i:>ht'!' ul hn dt·\'olc('!I. '\.:l·p,I"~ rlrSt c,l bk I;.tr !'n\ ICl·. Clllnbll U'd Su rY3 Bahadur Thara and other seni or analyst

Minister and Defellse Mitlister Sher Baha­ doesn't mean a Dorrlem"'H "f \USITI:I , our ca ble car~ Ht' ,11 rar duI' Dcuba. has found timcto vi sit Birendra thing," 1\ IIh thc be!'1 ;11 Iht· \\'urlJ as afC our !'crI'lCt':< Anny Hospital to inquire about the health No seni or poli- ~ w •• ' .... '1I ~ (1IT) m. ni"injured soldi ers. "Nepalese political lead· tician has found time ... ~ U~ttt.N (Ve) Lm. Cl'S have lost touch wi th the common to visit the people in _.ftL- P. O. Bot ""16,NualNagpokhari.KatlYnandu. t"iepal. people:' says a political analyst. "They the remote parts of l_____ ~';:": Email· .~J<:::6:!!90~: .•~J<~..a~ , ~.J<::860:!:. ::.F.. ~ ' 9~T7~'':;~:.J<:5:;'5~ . §"",",~~s:s"!"",~,~,,~ ' ~!i!!c.J

12 SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER 28. 2001 NATIONAL

YOUTH status. Among these fac tors: edu cati on has the strongcst effect 0 11 youths' ex po­ sure to each spccilic media sourt:c. Media Exposure The survey results highlight prefe r­ ence for radi o and tel evision programs Television is the primary among different g roup~ o f urhan youth ..·;. source of information for Il indicates that unmarried youth.s are urban youths morc likely thun the ir married cou nt er­ parts 10 li slen 10 FM radio slali ons. Tele­ vised news and sports programs arc more By SANJAYA DHAKAL married m en and women ha ve much less popular among mal es. whereas televised exposure 10 each form of mass media th an serials (soap mong the urhan youthsofthccoun­ upe ras) :.lIld music programs their unm arned counterparts. A hi gher arc try. television more popular among females. is the most popular propor! ion A of femal es is exposed to televi­ Another sig nl fi cant indication of the mass medium. According 10 th e recently sion than male s o n a da il y basis. but fe­ survey is that it has found th e mass media • ,,0 nducted Nepal Adolescents and Young males have mu ch less exposure tQ radio to be effecti vc in Informing urban youth VullS (NA YA ) Survey of unmarried and print media. The resulrs from a multi ~ about va rious social and health issues. and married youths in the 14-22 age variate analysis of fa ctors affecting media such as drug addiclion. HIV/A IDS, fam­ bracket. about three quarters of urban exposure among yo uth s indicate that the ily planning. youth dOIllt!!'!tic vioic nce. and gi rl· s watch tel evision. slightl y 111 0rc effec ts of ge nder and marit al slatus arc IrJfrickin g. Telc\ isioll. followed by ra­ than ollc-third listen to radio und tlbou[ largely independent or olher raclors. in ­ dio. is the most common sourt.:e of infor­ one-founh read a newspaper or maga­ cluding urh

SPOTLIG HT/DECEMBER 28. 2001 13 ECONOMY

ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK NGCCI Continued Support Exploring A leading donor says it will focus on poverty reduction Potentials programs A pioneer bilateral chamber

By A CORRESPONDENT form Program to improve servi ce deliv­ eyes at immense potential ery in Nepal. The four-year-Iong pro­ offered by Germany ~e Asian Development Bank gram aims at establishing a civil service ..I. (ADB) has said it will focus ils in Nepal thal is more result- and people­ Though Germany is one of the biggest oriented and gender-responsive and thal future assistance to Nepal on poverty export markets for Nepali goods, Nepal reduction as per the Bank's policy to will contribute toward higher economic has not been able to fully tap the opport reduce poverty in Asia and will initiate growlh and reducing poverty, Ihe bank nities available there. "Although we ha measures to provjde "moreeffective sup­ said. Similarly, the Bank has also ap­ achieved a lot in the last ten years, wc have port" for rural development in Nepal. proved a loan of US$ 46 million for not utilized the full potential of our ties Addressing a press meet at his office last improving access lO Nepal's rural areas. with Germany," said Ram Thapa, honor­ Thursday, Resident Representative of According to the Bank, out of US$ 69.5 ary Royal Nepalese Consul iD Cologne, the ADB in Kathmandu, Dr. Richard million project costs to upgrade and main­ Gennany, With the Europe moving towartl Yokes said Ihe year 2001 has been ~ tain East-West highway, feeder and dis­ a single eUJ'lency regime since January "relatively good year" for ADB opera­ trict roads, the ADB will chip in 46 2002. there are tremendous opportlmities tions in Nepal despite different prob­ million dollars whereas the DFID/U K for Nepal. said Thapa. Agreed B, K. lems faced by the Nepalese economy will provide seven million sterling Shrestha. President of including Royal Palace massacre, fall pounds. The reS! will be borne by the the Nepal-German Chlllllb\liofCom­ out of September 1I terrorist attacks on Nepalese government. The project aims meree and Industry (NGCClI, ~Despite the US and insurgency, among others. to mainlain 140 km of Ihe East-West big possibilities to aItnlCl dIRe! fore.gn He said there was strong potential of a highway between Belbari and Chuharwa investment and technology from Germany. strong recovery over the medium and and to upgrade 165 kms of roads 10 an we have not been able to achieve the full long-term for Ihe Nepalese economy all-weather paved surface, among oth­ potential." German investment could be though the immediate prospects did not ers. brought in the areas of manufacturmg, hy­ look so good. "The recovery, however, This year, ADB also approved a dropower, teiecommurucabon, infonn;llion will depend on how quickly the internal $800,000 grant to support poor and dis­ technology and infrastnK:tURl _ political and law and order situation is advantaged farmers through civil soci­ sW. restored," said Dr. Yokes. ety organizali ons under the Bank's Ja­ Germany is the single largest market Respondingtoaquestion. Dr. Yokes pan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR). for Nepalesehand-woven carpelS- in 19991 said the Nepalese government had not The JFPR granl to Nepal aims to provide 2000, Nepal's total expons to Gennany specified any project or amount it needed better access to basic socio-economic stood at R 7511 million whereas unpon.s in assistance tocompensatc its declining services for some 30,000 poor and dis­ from Germany stood at Rs 1500 million. development expenditure in the wake advantaged farmers in the five lerai dis­ "Bilateral trade between Nepal and Ger­ of low revenue collection and ri sing se­ tricts-Dang, Banke, Bardiya, Kailali many traditionally has shown a va._t sur­ curity expenses. Dr. Yokes said the and Kanchanpur. plus in favor of Nepal. Th;' could also he ADB had approved loans amounting An interim report of the Agriculture seen as a kind of ecoQomic support. in to US Dollars 95.6 million to Nepal in Sector Performance Review conducted addition to our official lIevelopment assis­ the year 2001 in the areas including by the Bank said per capit a income of tance that places Genl1any among Nepal's teacher education, governance reforms Nepalese farmers' had increased at 2 three or four most Important duno!>," said and road network development. The percent (during FY 1995/96-2000) de­ Rud'ger Lemp, Gelm3n ambassador to ADB provided US Dollars 4 million as spite the decreased public investment in Nepal. addres;ing Ihe lenlh AGM of the technical assistance to~Nepal during the Ihe agricu Iture sector. Production of mi Ik, NGCCI 011 Dee. 14. He also laulled the role penod. meat and egg grew more rapidly than the played by the NGCCI in promollng bllal­ The loans sanctioned by theManila­ population growth, nearly meeling the eral trade and investment. wilh the supporl based Bank in clude a US$ 30 million target set by the Agriculture Perspective of GTZ and other organizations. between loan to implement the Governance Rc- Plan (APP), the Bank said. • the two countries. •

14 SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER 28. 2001 TOURISM

tourists in Nepal in the coming season. TOURISM Chinese tourists make up 1.27 percent of the total arriva ls today. The figure is ex­ pected to ShOOl up next year. Struggle For Survival Nepal needs to start vigorous market­ ing for Indian tourists in order to recover The government opens new peaks as a first step to short-term loss. "As the Indian media are still carrying hostile news against Nepal. attract more tourists in the coming season one cannot see immediate change in the pattern of Indian tourist arriva ls." says an By A CORRESPONDENT Airline Flight 8 14 in December 1999. the en treprencur. tourism sector has been hits by several If tourism fails to pick up in the s Nepal's tourism sector continue unfortunate events. Arrivals rrom India, a coming months, many airlines and hotels A to face hard times, the government major component of tourism. have plum­ will have to reduce their activities. Some I as taken the first initiati ve to attract more meted since then. The Maoist violence star hotels are already talking about offer­ rists. Although the government has and deteriorating law-and-order situation ing forced leave to half of their staff in made a major stan by opening more than further damaged Nepal's image abroad. accordance with the Industrial Act. 100 new snow-capped peaks (Q mountain­ Strikes called by hotel workers demand­ "The govcrnment has to come to eers, this would nO( be enough to raise the ing the introduction of service charges rescue us during this crucial time. other- number of tourists. If the government is really sincere about promoting tourism in Nepal. it must take a number of other steps, including modifying immigration regulations and reducing tourist visa fees. Opening up new peaks may attract a few hundred additional tourists, but what are really required are vigorous marketing and pro­ motional activities around the world. In the immediate teml. the govern­ ment has to work on facilitating the arrIval of Chinese tourists as soon as possible. 'The government is trying to fornluiate a " mprehensive program, taking into con- ence the private sector. to increase the tourists in Nepal." said Minister of Tour­ ism and Ci vii Aviation Bal Bahadur K.C. '"Along with opening the new peaks. our next step will be to reduce the visa fees for Mighty mountains: Prime attraction tourists who want to visit Nepal for the ------second time." and pollution problems contributed to tar­ wise we wil l be compelled lO close down As the international tourism market nishing the image of Nepal as a Shangri­ our hotels. We cannot continue to pay remains in the doldrums in the aftermath La. such a large number of workers without of the September J I terrorist attacks in Arterthe roya l palace massacre in the getting work," saId another hotel entre­ New York City and Washington DC. June, the situation hit a new low. In the preneur. NepaJis tourism sector will have to brace aftemlath of the September II attacks on The government seems to be consid­ for hardertimes in the days ahead. Despite the United States, tourist arrivals have ering a number of ways to rescue the hotel improvements in the law-and-order situa­ dropped dramatically. 'Although the ho­ industry. '"The ministry is proposing to ti on in the country after the imposition of tels and airlines are receiving cancella­ give some relief to tourism entrepreneurs the state of emergency, the government tions for January, the situation may be by waiving interest rates for the time be­ has failed to project this image through its better in February, March and April." says ing and other such facilities," said Minis­ embassies abroad. a hotel entrepreneur. ter K.C. Additional relief measures offi­ I Nepal 's tourism industry has suffered As China has already signed a tour­ cials announce in the days ahead wi ll ,I from series of blows over the last three ism agreement with Nepal, there are hopes detennine the future of Nepalfs tourism years. Following the hijacking of Indian ofadrastic increase of number of Chinese industry. • lr SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER 28. 2001 15 COVER STORY STATE INSTITUTIONS Scarcity Of Human Competence In the absence of capable leadership and viable growth of state institutions, Nepal has had to pass through political instability, chaos and confusion in all spheres of governance throughout its five-decade history of democratization. Whether under the absolu te Rana regime, li mi ted democratic Panchayat system, or today 's liberal democracy, the institutions of state have not been able to perform because of scarcity of people capable of leading them. The democratic system, whict. replaced the Panchayat system that was demonized as corrupt and inefficient, is facing similar charges. Sections of the intelligentsia are seeking to weaken the authority of democratic institutions by demanding greater powers for unaccount­ able institutions like the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority. As long as state institutions fail to find capable and efficient people to run them, every polity would be doomed to decay.

By KESHAB POUDEL gatioll of Abuse of AIl1/Jority (C/AA) de· says thm no instituti on can sCc.!k an amount l/ICll/ded Cl Rs.30.4 lIIilIion deposit from that an indi vidual cann ot arfo rd topay. The he lndiall Suprel1Je Court re­ Sher Bahadllr Thapa, who \I'ClS accused ill judiciary in India made its decision accord­ eelltly granted·bail of abollt 111- (/ Rs.30 lIIillion corruption case ill Nepal in g 10 that principle. Nepal' s apex co un di(/lI Rs.IOO. 00010 Laloo Pramd Bal/k Lttl. Citing the exorbitn11l security though t otherwise. Ju dges speak with great Yadm', theforlllerchieflllillister deposit. Thapa u'elll to the Supreme COllrt convicti on and eloq uence in the media on ofT Bihar slale, ill cOl/llection wiTh his al­ seeking a redllction ill the 01110/111[, The the need to curb cO ITuption and to ensure leged il/I'oh'elllent ill Cl $300 millioll/adder COliI" IIplreld ,Ire {/IIIOIlIf' se' by ,Ire ClAA. fairness and eq uity. However, when it sClIIul{/l. Nepal's Commissioll for lllveSli- In both co untries, the prin ciple of bail comes to de liveringjudgements and orders

16 SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER 28. 2001 COVER STORY

Nepal's thinking c lasses have bared their intellectuallickleness. too. The same speaker can be heard supponing the basic tenets of liberal democracy at one seminar and defending the empowennent of an unaccountable body like the CIAA at an­ other. The importance of making criti cal evaluations is often far removed from the picture. ""A capable leadership can bring tre­ mendous results in a ve ry short pcriod of timc," says an analyst who has been study­ ing political practices in Nepal over the past decade, "Politicians and oflicinls are leading the democratic process but they themselves are not practicing democracy. No one is prepared to accept restrictions on the exercis~ of power. The leadership in almost every sphere of society remains dcmocratic as long as it does not hUl1 its pClty interests," he says. institutions Without Governance A group of youngsters: Nepal' sexpcricncc has elucidated that that maller, they somehow fall short of pared for a transfer to the Ministry of modern institutions alone are not enough to applying those standards. Agriculture and vice versa. change the pattern of governance. The coun­ The parliament is full of simil ar SIO' The media, which is supposed to serve try also requires a large pool of trained des of remissness. Its responsibility as an as a pillar of democracy by disseminating people who are capable or providing lead­ organ deriving its mandate directly from objecti ve and balanced informati on on vi­ ership to these institutions. the people is to control theexecutive through tal issues oftlleday. has not been free from Nepal' s northern neighbor. China. has legislation. But parliament has been work­ criticism even aftcr emerging from the been training a large number of its citizen ing in the manner ofa superexccutivc. Tt is controls of the Panchayat regime, Politi­ abroad on efficiem met!10ds o f running oftcn found directing the executive 10 do cians and intell ecLUals often accuse tht: modern institutions. A-:. fonner colonies, this and not to do that. The Public Accounts media of mi squoting and distorting their SOUlh Asian COUlltriCS like India, Pakistan, , " mmiuee. State Affairs Committee and opinions. The latest victim was former Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have a vast r parliamentary panels are oflcn seen prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala, who reservoir of trained and capable work force. doing the job best left to the executive. complained that the local media mi squoted Nepalis, who have to deal with such com­ There are hundred of cases of misuse comments he made in arecent intervicwon petcnt people in the north and south, can of and lapses in the executive's fu ncti ons. BBC Nepali Service as a call for a national expect to facediflicult times ahead in tenns It changes its stand without explanation government. For two days, broadsheeldai­ of pursuing their poim of view and present­ and often takes decisions in such a haphaz­ lies and weeklies ran storie s on what Koirala ing their interests. A country that should be ard manner that no one can be certain what insisted he had never said. Although the working to build effective infrastructure it intends to do next. In some cases, cabinet ownership. accessibility and sizeofNepal 's for modern governance. however. linds decisions have heen reversed within 24 media have changed drastically over the itsel f engrossed in the shi fling equations of hours on nimsy grounds. In controlling the last five decades, improvements have been politics, c ivi l service and making decisions, the slower whe n it comes to reliability and From politics to thejudiciary and from executi ve hardly follows any set of rules. credibility, the bureaucracy to the media, all institu­ The executi ve hires and fires secretaries Many pol iti cians accuse journali sts of tions seem to lack the quality o f human not on the basis of academic qualifications. . deliberately misquoting their statements. resources needed for effective governance . performance appraisals or experience, but More than half a dozen broadsheet daily Even political in stitutions run by elected personal influence. A civil servant who has newspapers are being published and asimi­ representatives are struggling to prove their spent his entire career in the Finance Min­ lar number of private radio stations are on relevance to an increasingly disillusioned istry is suddenly posted as secretary at the the air. The demand for competent media citilenry. Election Commission. rt has become morc professionals is growing. From the com­ When you see politicians. inte llectu­ than an adage among employees of the plaints you hear, it seems there is a serious als. professors and other influential people Ministry of Culture 10 be perpetually pre- dearth of qualified media professionals, call ing fortheempowennent of unaccount-

SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER 28, 2001 17 COVER STORY able organizations to restore order and pro­ turions have grown under various political cultural dynamics of the country. A society bity in life, you are forced to wonder where systems. For 104 years, the Ranas had with a long hi story of feudalism cannot Nepal's experiment in democracy has gone promoted and protected their own institu­ transform itselfovemight. Radical thoughts wrong. Strangely enough, even some west­ tions, which left its distinct imprint on the alone cannot change the behaviorand value ern donors under whose moral support country. After the political change of 1951 , systems of the people. Nepalis are learning the challenges of de­ the country found itself without the trained During the Rana regime, a few high­ mocracy, appear to be in favor of using work force and FInn institutional structures class officials sent their children to Indian such unaccountable organizations to con­ that were vital to strengthening the new colleges and universities. However, the trol bodies that are responsible to the people. democratic order. As a result, the country pool of educated work force was too small Expens argue that Nepal's problem is embarked on path that would go through to meet the emerging challenges. More­ not onc of institution s and regulations, but wildly varying political and economic over, the feudalistic background of these of their perfonnance. "The in stitutions are models. qualified Nepalis stood in the way of social not abiding by their prescribed acts. like in In hi s memoirs, "Atma Britanta". B.P. and economic change. the case of the ClAA, which intervened in Koirala speaks of the pathetic situation the The value system accumulated over Nepal Bank's internal financial irregulari­ country was in when he was appointed the past decades has prevented officials ties," says a political analyst. "The ClAA home minister. He had to build the ministry from becoming powerful agents of ch an The tendency of becoming a cyni cal , rather than cri ti cal. citi zens, pers ists. This feu­ dali stic curture con tinues to influence the outl ook of the power e lite. who do not hesitate to swin g from one extreme to the other. The ignorance of the common citi­ zens, most of whom are deprived of pur­ poseful education and the luxury of con­ templatio n, is unde rstand at5le. What is sur­ prising is that highl y ed ucated and west· ernized members of Nepal 's intelligentsia are in favor of empowerin g unaccountable organs like theClAA in stead of working to enco urage greater efficiency and responsi­ bility in the parliament, executive and judi­ ciary. "It is rather shoc kin g too see nobo 0, ta lki ng about how to make the Cl accountable," says a political analyst. "Where have the energy and enthusiasm Opposition rally against corruption : Misuse of slogan? that had gone into overthrowin g the Pan­ chayat system a liule over a decade ago statute does not pemlit it to investigate literally brick by brick, as there was no gone today?" th ose in stituti ons in wh ich the government institution to command or competent offi­ Public cy ni cism has grown (Q such a does not have an ownership of at least 50 cials to delegate authority to. le ve l that peopl e are willing to count on percent," adds advocate Gandhi Pandit, "The hopeful sign is that a large num­ meas ures that would limit indi vidual free­ who appeared in the Supreme Court In ber of people are being trained and pre­ dams and liberties to solve all their prob­ connecti on with the case. pared to run modern institutions," says an lems. Incapability and ignorance have pre­ Failure of Leadership analyst who has closely studied the evolu­ vented the political leadership, intellectu­ Nepal's acts and in stitutions are si mi­ ti on of the modern Nepalese state. "As a als and others fro m und erstanding the lar to their western counterpalt s, but they small country nestled between two big depths of the ori gin s of the violent activi· are giving the opposite results. This puts neigh bars, Nepal does not have an easy ties in the country today. whi ch forced the the blame squarely on the people who are way out. What is panicularly frustrating is state to impose a natio nal state of emer­ leadin g our institutions. Unlike former colo­ the incapable leadership that is on the top of gency. nies. which benefited from the strong insti­ the ladder." At a time when the Royal Nepalese tutions and capabl e work force the depart­ Cultural factor Arm y, the country 's oldest and m O~ L pro· ing power left behind, Nepal has had to Any discussion of the growth of state fessional instilUtion. is di sarmin g the build institution s from scratch. These in sti- in stituti ons needs to take into account the Maoists, political institutions arc in capable

18 SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER 28. 2001 COVER STORY

of hailing the soldiers' sacrifice. "In re­ sponse to such a grave situation, the coun­ try has mobilized the army, but the political leadership, both from the left and the right, is raising questions of credibility," says a political analyst. If one gauges Nepal's position in 1950 through the eyes of Tony Hagcn, the present changes and develop­ ment, though slow and steady. have defi­ nitely been able to inject feeling of mod­ ernism in the mind of the people. Accordi ng to "Observation on Certain Aspects of Economic and Social Develop­ ment Problems in Nepal. 1959" published by the renowned Swiss scholar. ''There is , ,11 lack of rural administration, of local ~anization and local government. Until 1950, Nepal was entirely a forbidden land and closed to the rest of the world. It is certai nly tempting forthe government offi­ cial s to think in tCl1l1S of big industries, Youths going overseas: Brain-drain modem research and techniques rather than in terms of the life. problems and needs of Nagendra Prasad Rijal. Tuls i Giri, is a weak, underpaid and unmotivated civil the common people." Kirtinidhi Bista, Surya Bahadur Thapa, service. Increased political interference at Political Instability Lo kendra Bahadur Chand. Nagendra key points in the project cycle. particularly Even with the growth of new institu­ Prasad Rijal, Marich Man Singh Shrestha in procurement matters and in appointments tions and establishment of nation-wide and Lokendra Bahadur Chand. After the and transfers of key staff. has further under­ networks in the last five decades, Nepalis re storation of multiparty democracy in mined the efficiency and effectivene ss of are yet to feel their existence and contribu­ 1990, Nepal has had 10 prime ministers 6 the civil service. It is not Ihat Nepal does ti on. In the last five decades, no govern­ Krishna Prasad Bhanarai, Girija Prasad not have capable leade rship. There were ment has survived for more than three Koirala, Man Mohan Adhikary, Sher Ba­ efficient politicallcaoers and bureaucrats. years. Political instability has ruincd the hadur Deuba. Lokendra Bahadur Chand. Because of in stability, the majority country from 1950 to 2001. From 1951- Surya Bahadur Thapa. Girija Prasad of mediocre people in the bureaucracy 1960, Nepal had six heads of government Koirala, Krishna Prasad Bhanarai. Girija and politics have succeeded in sidelining , tlohan Sums her Rana, Matrika Prasad Prasad Koirala and Sher Bahadur Deuba. the small number of exceptional individu­ 'ttlIirala. Tanka Prasad Acharya. K.!. Singh, With every change of government, als. The lack of competent people in dif­ Subarna Sumshcr Rana and H.P. Koirala. there have been changes in the bureau­ ferent important fields hampers thedehl­ Between 1961 and 1990, Nepal saw cracy and project coordinators. Such opmem process. In the bureaucracy. the I I prime ministers 6 Tulsi GirL Surya changes hamper the overall development situation is particularly pathetic because Bahadur Thapa, Kirtinidhi Bista, of the country. Along with political in sta­ o f relentless political interference. =------., bilily, Nepal has also Instability in the bureaucratic struc­ faced frequcnt prob­ ture has often led to the harassment of lems of vio lent i n­ foreign investors. Kodak Company, which surgency after the was permitted to open its processing fac­ change of 1950. Ac­ tory, had to close shop afler the govern­ cordi ng to Nepal 2000 ment refused to issue the certificate of Update published by origin of its producls. the World Bank, per­ Nepalese Students sistent in stitutional Although a large number or Nepalis weaknesses at virtu- go to India, the United Slates. European mIIImPwrit allyalllevelsareama­ countries and elsewhere for higher studies. jar impediment to de­ only a handful return. Those who do soon ve lopment effective­ become so fed up with the Nepalese e nvi­ ness in Nepal. At the ronment that they leave the country at the _S_u_p_r _em_e_C_o_u_rt_:_H_e_a_v_y_r_es_p_o_n_s_ib_i_li_ty ______heart of the problem first available opportunity.

SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER 28. 200 1 19 COVER STORY

According to the Ministry of Educa­ menl administration was ill equipped to tion, more than 10.000 individuals have realistically consider the demographic retu rned from foreign countries after com­ needs of its rural majority, making it vi r­ plClin g higher ed ucation. This number in­ tuall y impossible to plan comprehensive cludes se nior officials in the bureaucracy development efforts. and judiciary. The numher of graduates Over the last five decades, the number from the national university is also increas­ of educated persons has increascd by many ing. [0 the bureaucracy I students rrom the fo lds and thousands of university gradu­ local university hold the lion's share of the ates are competing in politics. judiciary pos itions. Because of the poor qualjty of and other sectors. But how capable are they education in Nepal. newly recruited gradu­ of runni ng modern institutions? "We have ales find it difficult to meet their challenges. been spe nding very mcager resources on Whether it is In the private or public university education," says a professor at sector. there is a dearth of people capableof Tribhuvan University. "A campus buill for understanding the trends. problems and 100 students is admitting 3,000 students. efficiency requirements of institutional How can you hope to produce qualilY stu­ growth. Nepal entered the modem age with dents from existing infrastructure? instead. fcw capable and skilled people. According we are producing mediocre manpower with to "Half-a-Century of Development: The a radical pol itical orientation." History of U.S. Assistance to Nepal 1951- Nepal embarked on human resources 20(Xr, published by the United States development with support from the United Agency for International Development Stales in the 1950s. According to "Half A (USAlD). Kathmandu, there were very Cenrury of Development". between 1952 few skilled personnel capable of formulat­ to 1959. US OM trained 164Nepali partici­ ing and direc ting policies appropriate pants in US universities. Nepal did not for Nepal's identity, and a lack of have its Own university systcm at that lime PM Deuba : Any viSion 10 huild institutions? admi nistrative machinery capable oftrans~ so USOM developed a participant lra in illg lating King Tribhuvan's political vision program to send Nepalis to US universities the forefront of polilical dcstabilization. into economic and social reality. for specialized training. Whether it wa~ under the limited demo­ Approximately 98 percent of Nepal , s The cynicism that has gripped civil cratic Pancha) at system or liberal eight mi ll ion people were illiterate with society has helped instil a general senseof multiparty system, Ncpal has faced simi­ only 300 college graduates in (he entire negativism.ln the last 12 years. members lar problems of political instability. In the country. The highly centralized govern- of the highly educared class have been at process. politiclan~ have lost their cred­ ibility. The abi lity of state institutions to deliver has eroded. However, thecounta \ . problcms could go from bad to worsW!,. the absencc of urgent steps to ~tem the rot. Building Competence TIle Constitutiun or the Kingdom of Nepal 1990 has en\'isag!.!d strong institu­ tions. 1110se that eXist have been under­ mined bypolilical instabililY. Except rora few years during the Pal1l:haym system. Nepal has not experienced the political stability that is essential to achieving the country's goal s. In his book "Nepal: Growtll of a Na­ tion" Ludwig F. Stiller. SJ. writes. "The Ncpaic!-;c nation \Va~ born against improb­ able odds:' These odds ,till exist in differ­ ent forms. The challenge this time is to encourage capable and competent people in state institutions. Withoullhat, tinkering wilh the political system would only add to the nation's woes . •

20 SPOTLlGHTIDECEMBER 28. 200t ENTERTAINMENT

industries," said Binod Bahadur NEPAL RASTRA BANK Shrestha, acting presidentoftheFNCCI. The apex pri vate sector chamber also welcomed the cuts in the interest Economic Prescription rate s of export credits and refinancing rales as cpos itive step' but stressed that The business community says the central bank's new not only the policy measures need to be cffectively impleme nted but also the measures are inadequate industries mu st have an easy access to such credits. "The government should By A CORRESPONDENT man or Nepal Bankers' Association. introduce a complete package to inject ''The central bank should assess the life in the economy and rescue the ex- n a bid to revive the country's sag- impact of its decision and further slash port. tourism aqd manufacturing sec- I ging economy. Nepal Rastra Bank th e CRR," he added. tor," said Shrestha. (NRB), thecentralbank.announcednew As expected, the Federation of According to the NRB announce- 01 measures Thursday. According to Nepalese Chambers o f Commcrce and ment, the ratio of cash in vault is three the bank, the compulsory cash reserve Industry (FNCCI) welcomed the liberal percent, as earlier. Previously, the com- ratio (eRR. the aTllount commercial Illonelary policy measures announced mcrcial banks had to keep a reserve of hanks keep as deposits with the central by the NRB. "We hope Ihe li quidily eight percenl in cases or cu rrent and bank) has been cui by one perce11lage flow of nearly Rs 2 billion expected to savin gs accounlS and six percel1l in Ihe point and bank rates (t he rale of interest be pumped in Ihemarket will have some fixed account. The central bank has cut the central bank charges from the com- positive impact on the economy pro- the refinancing rate on the convertible mercial banks) by one and two percent- vided the capital is in vested in Nepali currency export loans by two percent. age points with immediate According to new rules, the ccn- effect. tral bank has fixed refinancing As per new regulations, rate (for commercial banks) on the commercial banks mu st industrial rehabilitation loans at have 7 percent of the national three percent. down from 4.5 per- cu rrent and savings deposits cent. in the CormoCminimumcom- Similarly. the bank rate on pulsnry cash reserve ratio. In th e 10tllls for rural de vc lopment April 1998, the central bank banks and Nepalese currency ex- had slashed the CRR from 12 port has been brought down to 4.5 -elll to 10 percent on an percenl from the earl ier 5.5 per- age. NRB Governor Or. cenl. Tilak Rawal said the cen tral Responding to a qtlestion, bank had designed new mea- Governor Or. Rawal said the re- sures to make a positive im- lease of L:as h in market would not pact on th e national economy activate inllation. The central bank without arrecting economic has estimated that inflation will stabi lity. The cut in eRR is remain at arou nd 5 percent during expected to pump in nearly the currentlise,l year. The rate of Rs 2 billion into the national inflati on stood at 3.5 percent in t economy, which the com- the year 1999-2000. whi ch de- mereial banks then could 11- ciined to 2.-1 percent in 2000-01. nance on indusrries, tourism Officials sa id the new measu res and exports. he said. had been introduced after stu dy- Though theNRB'sdeei- ing the poor performance of the sicn was being anticipated country's economy in th e first fou r Cor qui te long, bankers said months of the current fiscal year. the monetary measures cou ld "The objective of this initiati ve is not help. "We welcome the , to provide loans to industries and N R B' s decision," said . . busine sses at lower interest rates." . I ' Governor Rawal : Tough deC ISion to take N aren d ra BI 1aUaraJ. c 131r- ______said Or. Rawal. •

SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER 28. 2001 21 ENCOUNTER 'SAARC Should Focus Its Attention On A Few Core Areas' - KAMAL THAPA

KAMAL THAPA, spokesmall oflhe Raslri)," Pra­ only through effective regional cooperation can we jatalllra Party (RPP), Ihe Ihird largesl group ill solve the acute problems plaguing the region. More­ parliament, is a!omlerjoreign minister. He spoke over, after the 11 th summit. Nepal will get an 10 SPOTLIGHT all Ihe "pcomillg Illh sUl1IlIIil of opportunity to lead the organization until the next the South Asian Association/or Regional Coopera­ summit. This is a great prestige ror Nepal. We can tioll. Excerpts: use lhis 0PP0rlUnily to funher slrengthen SAA C. Will the ongoing dispute between India How do you see the forthcoming SAARC Pakistan have any impact on the summit? summit in Kathmandu? India and Pakistan both are members of th e I am glad lhal the Illh SAARC Summil is , SAARC. Differences anel disputi!s belwci!n th i! 1l1 finally taking place. Despite many commonalties have lremendously affecled the SAARC process in among the seven nations of South Asia. it has not the past and definitely the present cri sis will have been able to project itself as a cohesive regional some negative impacl on the futu rc orlhe organiw­ grouping. There is tremendous potential in South tion. Asia. However, so far we have nol been able to As continuing hostility between the two big exploil illO the benefil of nearly one billion pov· powers in South Asia often disturbs the SAA RC, erty-stricken people of our region. The seven na­ do you see any future for thi~ regional associa­ tions' regional economic co-operation outfit, which tion? was created about sixteen years ago, has not been There is no doubt that the naturi! of bilateral able to stand up to expectations due to many seen relations will ha ve some effect in regional or mul­ and unseen faclors. II has gone lhrough Illany ups tilateral forums. After all. the foreign policy of any and downs, But,any way. lhedisrupled IllhSARC country is the rcll ecti on o f its domesti c policy. Summit seems now is set to take off. In the given However, if we beli evi! th at regional coopermiol1 is political and security situation of South Asia. [ a necessity. then the concern ed p::trties should try 10 would like to advise not to expect too much OUl of ensure that bilateral di spute would not take has .'f! the forthcoming summit. the regional process. Moreover. su mmits like As a former foreign minister, do you see the provide opportunities for consultJtion and dia­ possibility of any new agreement on regional logue , Indiaand Pakislan should ulilize the SAARC cooperation? summit for nalTowing thei r d iffercnces. The inter­ I do nOl see the possibilily of any extraordinary national community and the onc hillion-plus people breakthrough. Of course, lhere will be no dearlh of of this region are closely watching the Kathmundu rhetoric from the participating dignitaries during summit. Whether the leaders of the region will ri se the summit. Apart from some routine and general to the occasion or remain compl acent with rituals lype of agreemenl, J think, nOlhing tangible wi ll will be known shortly. Let us hope that under the emerge. However, I do expect some sort of com­ blu e sky of Kathmandu's winter. leaders will be Apa rt from mitments on combating terrorism. which the lead­ able to explore new grounds for peace and coopera­ ers cannot afford to ignore in the present regional tion. In whatever way the forthcoming summit some routine and international context. ends. however, the process of regional to-opera­ and general How important is it for Nepal to host the tion will continue. The mqst significant contribu­ type of agree­ 11th SAARC summit? tion oflhe Kathmandu summit will be to let the ball It is a maller of greal pride for Nepal. Being a get rolling. Even if we rail to gel a hreakthrough this ment, I think, founding memberoflhe SAARC Nepal has always lime, I am confident that the rUlure or SAARC is nothing tan­ played a significant role in strengthening the re­ bright gional organization. Late King Birendra contrib­ What benefits can smaller countries like gible will uted a lot in laying the foundation as well as in the Nepal get from the SAARC? emerge. pro mol ion of SAARC. We slrongly believe lhal AlIlhe seven countries or SAA~C will henefit

22 SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER 28. 2001 ENCOUNTER

man y factors the terrorist movements of the region over the years have developed some form of linkages and networking. Therefore. the nature of the threat de- -"--. mands collecti ve act ion for the long-term il/II... .~-; I resolution of the problem. Duringthe third summit in Kathmandu in 1987, the SAARC Regional Convention on Sup­ pression of Terrorism was adopted. How­ ever. it lacked teeth. From the third to eleven th summit we have trave rsed a long 10ll rl1 ev. Enri ched with experienc es and concerned wit h the currelll reality, [ am sure now wc arc in better positi on to take tough measures. How do you find the preparations for the summit? Are you satisfied'! Enriched with I am full y sati sfi ed with the prepara­ tions made by Hi s Majesty's Government expenences and the SAARC Secretariat. They arc and con­ being done according to international norms an d agreed practices of SA ARC. cerned with What is the reaction of your party the current to the 11th SAARC summit? reality, I am The Rastri ya Prajatantm Party is fu ll y commilted 10 make thl! 111h summit n sure now we I-IL...----".... -----"'- ...... ~------' g rea t s u ccc~s. The RPP wan ts to scc are in better from regional cooperation regardl ess of thei r size SAARC as a strong and vihrant regional organi za· and strength. li on, because wc firmly believe ilcould be a vehi cle position to What are the important areas for regional in fostering peace and bringing pr o~pe ril y in th e take tough cooperation? As all South Asian countries are region. We will accord total and un conditional measures. facing problems of terrorism, do you see the support for the success of Kathmandu summit. • possibility ofjoint regional cooperation to tackle terrorism? the past, possibly because of over-enthusi- we tried to cover as many areas as possible. SPOTLIGHT FAMILY ThaI proved unrealistic. II is about lime th at we review our past performance and concentrate on a few core areas like trade. water resources. trans· port. and tourism. Comhating terrori sm should be WISHES A VERY another area of our focus. Simil arl y, emphasis should given 10 promote people to people contact. In Male. during the ninth summit. we had fonned a HAPPY NEW YEAR Group of Emin ent Person (GEP) 10 recommend a perspective plan for SAARC. GEP has already presented its report in (he tenth Colombo summit. However, due to ti me constraint s, leaders coul d not 2002 lake any decision then. I am sure the Kathmandu ~ ummit will consider that report. Regarding terror­ ism. l expect that forthcoming summit will come TO ALL OF ITS OUI with firm commitments ~ n d specific measures 10 l.:OU nler this menace. Al most all coun tries of South As ia suffer fromlcrrorism. llle intensity of PATRONS the problem may vary. but no country oflhe region is compl etely free from thi s threat. Because of

SPOTLI GHT/DECEMBER 28. 2001 23 NATIONAL

compan ies like Music Nepa l. Ranjana FOLK MUSIC Cassette Centcr and ~o 011. on ly for the studi o fac iliti es. "They alrcady have the ir songs and Illu~ic planned. For around Rs People's Melodies 10,000 they can hove their albulll' re­ leased'" he ~aid. Folk-song albums are chart-toppers in the music But there arc people who demand heavy arrangement s. whkh are cosIly. market even for folk songs alhullls. Pr~m Raja MahiJt's ·'Hiunchuli Ma Hiun" is all ex­ By SANJAY A DHAKAL Juhari - lypic"l NcpaJi so ngs that rUIl ample. quite long and arc based on qucstion­ The audiences of fo lk songs ar~ pri­ ast year. Khem Curung's album answcr format oftcn hctween yo ung mewl 1y the rural population as well as L made record sales. His song "Wari couples - arc gCll in g more popular. Nepalese going ovcrsca:-.. "But no'''' Jarnuna Pari J:1l11unu" hecamc the big­ "Only th ose songs whose melodies people from di ffcrclll wal ks of I i "CS ha vc gest hit or lhe year. This year. Prem Raja are based on rolklore have been able to start cd to listen to folk sClIlgs. Their Mahm's " Hiunchuli Ma Hiun" is doing catch the listeners' allention in thecoun­ arc increar.,ing"· s,ud Uttar Kumar great business. try. Whether they be film songs or pop cassette shop owner in lawalakheL Although (hey \Vac never out orlhe songs. folk melodies hove prevailed .. ' The rising popularity of the folk scene, folk songs Hfl! now having a field said Shanna. He goes lO the cxtent of songs can also he gauged rrom the fact day. Such has been their commercial saying that Nepalese pop song!-. began to that the number 01" rcr.,taurants that h;lVC success that Ncpali films and pop songs get famous on ly aftcr they mouldcd th cm­ entertaining programs hased on Dohari arc now moulding themselves into folk selves in typical folk melodies. song:.. are increa:-.ing In th e capital. melodies 10 gain popularity. At present. Sharm<.l e!-.timmes that Sharma. hOWeVl'f. lament!'. the ap­ The sale:- of a l hum~ of folk songs arou nd ISO albums of rolk songs are parent neglect toward folk songs from occupy around 35 percent of the lot~1I released ... A nd "Im ost 80 percent of the III the authorities. ··Till.! folk ~o n gs prl!scrvc mu sic market. said Santosh Shanna. man­ become slI(.:cessfu l. " he said . This phe­ our trnditions hut there are no incentive:>. aging director of the Music Nepal. th e nOlllelliJl rate of success is rare among to folk singers. Thcy have to pay tax leading Illllsic company in the country. other di!-.ciplines. One reason why they similar to others. Besides, the govern­ The rest is shared hy albullls of Nepalese arc so slI ccessful could be the low cost of ment does not have nlly pnlicy regarding film songs. pop !-.lmgs. Hindi songs and their production. folk songs allll hllW to promote thcm'" he English songs. Most or the timc. the singers/musi- said. Even among folk songs, Dohari or cians of folk albums approach music Music is onc of the very few indus­ tries in the country thnt i .... currently wit­ ne~sing a phenomenal growth. FrcA ' market worth h:s:- than Rs 50U. OO~ 19R4. the Ncpaksc musIc Industry J!'. IOda) worth R .... ~O() millIOn a year. Even though the Nepalese Illus.ic market IS growing 111 length and breadth. the equally thriving piracy threaten!'. to eat lip its successes. AcconJin g to e~ti­ mates. by Music N\.!pal. as much as -W to 50 percent 01" the Nepalese musit Illarket is captured by piratc!'.. The folk song'" market. (00. is haunlcd by pm]c) . A .... ucccssful folk song album make .... salt! .... around 100.000 in Nepal. "And 60 percent 01' these "'ale .... are mnde by pirated cassetle ..... ·· "aid Sharma. Although folk song: .... have hright prospects. strong act lOll agaill~t pinlC) isneedcd if the industry IS to continue thri ving. •

24 SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER 28. :WOI NATIONAL

a door opener as any cerl or college IT EDUCATION degree could orfer." John Tamang silid he went pretty far wilh an associale's degree and an MCSE Career Choices certillcation. " I douhled my salary. leav­ ing onc job and going to another. How­ Is it hardware, software or something in the middle? ever. r vc gone ahollt as far as [ can without a B.S. dcgr~c.::;o 1'01 working on it part-tjmc (in formalion sciences)." he By AKSHAY SHARMA Shrestha of NIT Patan. adds. Whether you' re in coll ege and decid­ '.J feel that having bmh is very impor­ hen Pavan Shrestha. 24. went to ing on a career path or changing prores­ tant to maximiL.e your potential. An A.A.S. W a western embassy recently to sions a140. having helpful career resources degree and ccrti rieat ion wi 11 get you go­ apply for a visa for computer studies is critical to making the right decision. Ln in g. but you really need a foilr-ycardegree abroad. the visa officer told him there addition la the "loccnify or not to certify" or bener to be consid~red ror higher posi­ ~ better in stitutes in Kathmandu VaJ- debate. tions. \Vith all of tht: online coll cges and Icf That was a tribute to the quality of there is the "cenificalion or college" universities OUI therc. therc's no rC~l~o n computer studies here, but it did not help argument that several students have been not to ge t your degree:' Pavan, a computer-engineering under­ discussing. Asim Tuladhar. all instructor or IT graduate. La decide whelher to specialize A recent article about IT in The and director of Ihe Univcrs:ll COlllpUI\!r in hardware or software. Kathmandu Post, "What's better: skill s or In sti tutc. says a nc\\ program can an~wers Pavan, like most of his peers, wants certifications?", showed that members both issues or degrec and cerliflcation. 10 make sure he gels better openings and weighed in, for the most part, on the side "Our bachelor's of ::;cic nce in network opportunit ies in the field well engineering offers a four-year inlo the future. "Hardware wins degree from an m;crcdited ill~ti­ out, but only slightly. Go for tutiun with the ~nllrc fourth ycar hardware." says Surdarshan orthe program devotcd!O Irain­ Sharma. a guru at one of ing sludcnt, for their MCSE. Kalhmanduis technical institutes. Microsoft·, Nctwor~ EngJll\!cr "Any 14-year-old kid can write ccrtificatlon. These MCSE software." classes arc all "forcrcdit' classes Sharma doesn't believe that arc used toward this de­ learning software at a university grce. is a viable option. "Whatever Mahc,h ,ays: "When I .... teach you will be out of date worked :lS a broadcaster, there by the time you graduate." As an wa~ a similar dcbate going on alternative, Sham13 recommends - about getting a gcneral arts dc­ embedded systems. which COI11- ;;...... gree or Dill! in cOl1llllunicati(ln~. binebothhardwareandsoftware. People using computers: Growing attraction along with lO~~ing in all as'>oci- Kavita Silwal doesnft think ate degree from a tCl:hnology soflware is a bad field. "LI is highly un­ of undergrad degrees. This cxchange institute. Tht! inlcrc:-'Iing thing I discov­ likely that any hardware will run or do prompted several e-mails about the merits ered ovcr Illy nine years was that the anything worthwhile without software of technical, academic, and on-the-job people who were truly the best allhe cran (and vice versa). Take some intro classes learning. were people who had none of the rormal to both. as well as robotics and other areas Mahesh Chhetri. 21. who is in com­ train ing." in which you think you may be interested. puter systems support, points out that the He adds: 'They startcd in the business Doing that, you will find something you debate Icft out a third career path. "That because they loved it. worked ror din, and enjoy." being on-the-job training and/or alterna­ spent 10 to 15 years working their way up Regardless of whether you pitch your tive training and experience. The trainings the ladder to overnight' slIccess. In short. tent in the hardware or software camp. the provided me with balanced training (lead­ aspiring movers and shakers gctlhcir MSAs general feeling is that you shoald do what crship. teamwork. and management) whi le in-thc-trcllchc!'o lcchies get their cer­ you enjoy. "It will do you absolutely no combined with specialty skills in tele­ li ncmions. And let both sides hc the hest good If you get into something because communications. networking, computer they can be at what they want to be and not you think it would make a good career­ systems. and application support. I have try to force those hard drivers LO be some­ if you're always miserable." says Sanjay Found this background to bejust as much thing they arc not. '" •

SPOTLlGHTIDECEMBER 28. 200 I 25 REVIEW

amlY and its instituti.onal contributions BOOK in the process of nati onal integration. [n another piece. he has critically evaluated the decision of the Supreme Constitutional Concern Court On the ci tizenship amendment bill the royal palace referred to the judiciary Senior advocate Mukunda Regrui expresses concern in response to extensive public debate. In particular. he has questioned the consti­ over the weakening of democratic practices tutionality of th e apex court's recom­ mendation to the King. By KESHAB POUDEL the Mahakali Treaty on sharing water Apart from conveyin g cogent argu­ resources with India or the dissolution of ments in favor of or against particular eni or advocate Mukunda Rcgmi is the House of Representatives, the role of issues, the book allows readers to go Samong those ci ti zens who are very the main opposition party or the perfor­ back to the contex t in whi ch Regmj wrote concerned with contemporary political, mance of the speaker, Regmi has not his commentari es and opinions. constitutional and other issues. As a hesit ated to speak his mind, Some of his As a prominent activist of the constituti onal expert, Rcgmi is a regular comment s have provoked enduring con­ Ncpali Congress, Regmi's writing contributor of articles on contemporary troversies whi le others have drawn end­ necls hi s abiding commitment tothecause political issues. Regmi ' s interest in less criticism. In the process, he has en­ of upholding the underlyin g tenets of constituti onal issues and political debates couraged informed debate. which is vi tal democracy and freedom. He provides is understandable, as he is onc of the to the creati on of an alert cilizenry. incisive commentaries on internal fra mers of present constitution and an [n this book, Regmi discusses such dissension and other issues within the active member of the NepaJi Congress issues as constitutional monarchy, ruling party that have become a promi­ party, Royal Nepalese Army, legislature. de­ nent feature of contemporary Nepalese Individuals have their own ways of mocracy and nationalism. Nepali Con­ politics, gress, opposition in the parliament, law Regmi also relates a personal in ci­ Bigatka Abhibyakti Ra and legal professionals, human ri ghts, dent in which some hooligans man­ Bartamanka Anubhuti elections and incidents from his personal handled him, Hc has compil ed news re­ expenence. ports and commentaries published about (Expressions of the Pasts Regmi' s opinions on vital issues are the affair. Nobody has attempted to nab and Experiences of the valuable not only because of his role in the cul prit. A sorry situati on indeed. but drafting the constitution but also because onc that merits the aHention of conscious Present) he has been an astute observer of its citi ze ns. By Mukunda Regmi implementati o n • over the last 12 Annual SUBSCRIPrION Rate ") Published by MukundaRegmi years, lNDIVIDUAL lNSn nrrlON ChmBlKorea USS 1~(Jm US $ 200.00 Price: RS0400 In two lengthy N~pal NII. S ~_ 1-100_00 NRS II.s !~.OO "-I V 1s",,,1 USSISOOO US S 200.00 l lld i ~ le Rs. 1-10000 le R ~ noo.oo Bh utan US S 150.0n US 5 200.00 anicles, Regmi dis- OI~fSA ARC H on~ Kong!Tai"" '" USS 150.00 US S 100. Pages: 648 • Counln", US$IOO.OO USS 15000 ,\u"r.lhaIN.. ", Zealand I.;S S 1:\0.00 US S2oo. cusses the role oj the Japan US S 150,00 IjS 5 25000 Europo ': 15000 [100. A",." Couo\n~, LlSSI2000 USS 200.00 USA l'SS 1:>(1.011 US \100 expressin g their views on the social , po­ Royal Nepalese SUBSCRIBE NOW (Se nd a GIFT subscription to rriends the)' willtove it) liti cal and constitutional challenges of Army and the COn- 1------, stituti onal provision : p! ea'tfi ll de n clO~dhl:re""lhmYannlla!,ub)t.:n pll onror ..... cOP'C' ...... : the day. Regmi is gifted with a special ability to convey the most seri ous sub­ on mobilizing it. :c.a,hlDDlC hcq ueNo.. fo r Rs/£/USS ...... Dale ...... : jects with great ease to the common Written months be- IIN u,nc, . " 1 people, Despite hi s busy professional fore the mobilization 1IA dd",,, • ...... , 1

schedule, the senior advocate has com­ of the Royal : .. " ...... _.. PinCodc : piled previously published and unpub­ Ncpalese Army 10 1 I I I lished articles in the form ora new book, quell terrorism, 1 1

OOBigatka Abhibyakti Ra Bartamanka Regmi holds the IL ____Signalur~______relcphont ~______~I O Anubhuti ' (Expressions of the Pasts and view that the army DO NOT Send CASH in MAIL Experiences of the Pfesent), can be deployed, like Please send your remittance by Draft/Cheque to Whenever constitutional and politi­ in other countries, to SPOTLIGHT cal debates arise. Regmi has expressed aid civil authority, THE NATIONAL NEWSMAGAZINE his opin ions through various newspa­ Regmi hails the his- G.P. o. Box: 7256. Balu\\alar. PH: 977-1-423127. 435594, Fax: 1J77-1.417!W5 pers. Whether it was the ratification of tor i c a I 1'0 Ie 0 r the ,-__[_o"'_'_"_'_'OO,-"-' @="'"ai"I":.:'"""':.:'""P,,,'_'"'b:.: ,,,·jI,, ' "'""'""'w"',,n,,,p,,',,'",,'":.:':.:"c:.0",,"c:.,,,p":.:",,,lg:::h,,'-_J

26 SPOTLlGHTIDECEMBER 28, 2001 THE BOTTOM LINE

By M.S.KHOKNA

tJhy are the politicians shouNng for national consensus ?

to To grab power and save to their s~in ...

TRANSITION decade trolley bus service, af­ one on the spot, after an army Thapa, publisher ofDeshantar ter the government decided to truck fell to the ambush set up weekly, and Gopal ANNOUNCED: Awards to dissolve its operator, the Nepal by terrorists in Lalt1jung. Budhathoki, edilOr of Saanghu i ndi vi duals and organizations Transport Corporation. weekly, after brief arrest by that have played key rotes in LEFT: Sahana Pradhan, the authorities. cs t~bli shin g peace in thecoun­ ARRESTED: Two Nepalis, President of Communist Party try, by the Birendra Peace suspected Maoists, along with of Nepal (Marxist-Leninist), NOMINATED: Komal Shah, former minister. Academy, on tate Kiug targe quantity of exptosives, for Apollo Hospital, New as the lreasurer of the Bal Birendra's birth anniversary by the New Dethi Pot ice in old Delhi, in connection with heart Krishna Sama Foundation, on December 29. Delhi railway station. treatment. by a meeting of the founda­ TERMINATED: The three- KILLED: Three army men, RELEASED: Bandhu tion. •

27 SPOTLtGHT/DECEMBER 28, 2001 VIEW POINT IT And E-commerce In Nepal By MANOHAR K. BHAITARAJ

Since rapid expansion of electronic transactions constitute a E-commerce development is depcndent upon faclOrs like major opportunity for trade and development. information and the number of Internet users internationally \\ ho could have a communicat ion technologies and e lectronic comme rce can be prima facie interest on Nepal. quality and types of products expected to drivl! the trade component of economic growth for and services o ffered by Nepalese t.:oJl1p;JJlic~. thc skills and many years to comc. Trade transactions conducted through the creativity employed III deS igning weh SltC"; ;1Ild hand width Internl!t and \Vnrld Wide Weh will have e normous IInpli cn­ available for users and serv ice providers. Onc ... hould thu ... he ti ons over the next few years for Asia's international competi­ aware of pmenti:ll pitfalls resulting 1'1'0111 lopsided view or tiveness a~ld Nepal cannot possibly arford to be left oul. treating e-CO Il1Il1 crce issues solely from Ihe Information and Nepal needs to seriously evaluate its position vis-a-vis communication technology perspective. The!-oc techllol(Jgie~ emergence of infonnation economy world-wide in general no doubt enable e-commercc hu t there are h\J5!ts of othcr and c-colllmercc in particular. issucs, mostly non-technical. thm musl be tak.cn into J.C'~O Actual stati stics are scarce. but application of IT in Nepal while trying to formulate poli~ies conduc ive In the had been particularly slow until the late eighties. Eve n though c-commcrcc. rct:e nt years have seen remarkable growth in terms of aware­ Even though there have been ~ OJl1e limlled initiatives ()n ness and application of IT resources in a number of activities. the front of e-comlllercc in Nepal. the l'l>U 11 tr) has) ct 10 see all Nepal as a whole is yet to scc sati sfactory pace of appli cation organiled and concerteu effort towards tbi!-o direction. This i~ nf It In cducalJoll. government mainl! hec::tu ... e e-cOIll­ :md <.:orporatc "'(!CLOrs. Private Things are, however, changing at a rela­ merce IS~L1e~ cut ,-u.:ros s a huslnesses. hanh and financial hroad range of technlc .. il. in stitut ions. NGO. INGOs and tively faster pace. There has been a re- legal. eC'onomic and insli­ international agencies operati ng lut ion~iI questions fnr withi n Nepal arc 0 11 the fore­ markable rise in the number of personal whidl \VC are yct 10 CO Ill C fr ont of using IT resources com­ up wilh appropriate re-

pared to the governme nt and computers and related equipment sold spon ... c~. small business sector. The pre­ Apart from isobtcd vailin g socio-ccoll om ic realities and installed in Nepal especial!.v after efforts undertaken b) a few coupled w ith human resources 1992. Of late, Nepal has seen all emer- Pi.1~hmina trader .... the limitations have. to a great ex­ Handicraft Assm;:imion of tent. stunted the gruwth of this gence of Internet service providers (ISPs) Ncpal ha ... the heginnlng sector In Nepal. or i\ \Crlll:a\ pnfla\ Things arc. however, which resulted in increased use of I , . changin g at a relatively faster ThissilC ha~ li nb to Iweh c pace. There has heen a remark- Internet and World Wide Web. member home pages and able risc in the number of pcr- an cmail ombudsman ... ('1'­ sonal comput ers and related equipment sold and installed in vice to mutch suppliers with foreign uistrihutors. But the sitc Nepal especiall y after 1992. Of late. Nepal has seen an emer: kaves a lot OfroOIll for improvemellt. as it is characterized by gencc of Internet service provid ers (ISPs) which resulted in incomplete information and poor u~cr intcrfaL:c. hSllcs like increased use o f Inte rnet and World Wide Web. There arc paymcnt mechanism and export formalities a lso have nol been altogether seve n liccn:o;cd ISPs. including two V -SA T private addressed adequately In these sites. operations in Nepal. Rccenlly. Nati onal Tclccommunicntions With conventional economics signs or age especia ll y in I Corporation has also jOi ned the [SP bandwagon and all­ Asia. study of potential ucvelopmental aspect of e-commerce I lltlunced provision of Internet-related services. ill the Nepalese cont ext dcmands seriuus attention. Along Internet connecti vity. though increasin g at a faster pace. these lines. it will be worthwhile first to cxamine as to what is fnr from bci ng at a sat is factory level. The number of Internet will be the poten ti al benefits 10 Nepal ohtainable through e­ accounts in Nepal is estimated to be around 10,000 and the comme rce a nd also how can Nepal create and enabling and majority of the users ~re w ithin Kathmandu vall ey. Since the conduc ive e nvironme nt for e-comlllercc. • potential for electronic comme rce within and outside Nepal will also depend on the number of users. But thi s a lone will not (Excelpts fr01ll a paper presellled at 'he rOllnd whle Oil IT 1II1l1 be suffic ient to guarantee the governme nt of c-commercc in e-COJ1lmerce for derelopll/C'm orgcmi:.ed hy Cl'llfre for J)('\,('/­ the country. opl1lem and GOl'ernance. Blwllarai is lIJ/ IT expert)

28 SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER "~. 2001 PASTIME

Medical Anthropology of Nepal Now In Town BOOK M.S. Subedi/200 1 Rs.350.00 Challenges to Farmer Managed Irrigation Systems U. GaUl amlS. Ranal200 1 Rs. SOO.OO NGO, Civil Society and Government in epal K.B. Bhallachan & OtherS/200 1 Rs. 200.00 Corporate Taxation: Issues in Nepalese perspective Puspa Kandel!200 I Rs. 200.00 New Policy Initiatives for Trade and Investment R.B . Thapal200 1 Rs. 2S0.00 Corruption, Governance and International Cooperation D.R. Panday/200 1 Rs.2S0.00 Nepal Soci~tl Demography and expressions 2nd edition Hark a Gurugnl200 I Rs. 400.00 Food Security in the Global Age: South Asian Dilemma R. Adhikari /200 I Rs. IS O.OO Peasant Insurgency in Nepa1195J. 1960 Shanker Th apa!200 I Rs.47S.00 Fundamentals of Horticulture ShresthalBaral/S hakyalGautaml200 I Rs. 300.00 The Political Economy of Land Landlessness and Migration in Nepal me Taxation in Nepal: Retrospect and Prospect Nanda R. Shrest hal2001 Rs. 720.00 Ru p Khadkal200 I Rs. 39S.00 A Step Towards Victim Justice System: Ne lHll csl! Pcrspecti \'e Legal Aspects of Biodiversity Conservation S. K. Shrest hal2001 Rs . 47S.00 D.M. Pokharel!2001 Rs. 120.00 (Sullrce: Hil1ltllaY(1II Book Cell1er. Bagli BtI:.ar. KlIIIIII/lIIIlIII. Ph : 2-120R5)

Video (English)

Behind Enemy Lines

The Order

Ocea n Eleven

Harry forter

Spy Game

Cold

13 G host Hilldi Life Is A House Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham

Black Kinght Ehsaas

From Hell Tere Mera Saath Rahe "See God installed ill everyone; Moksha every body is a temple, Ashoka

Abhay where the Omnipresent God is Decwanapan to be adored and worshipped Meri Adalat by your service?" Renha Hai Tere Dil Mai

Veh Zindagi Ka Sarar - SATYA SAl BABA (Source: Super Slar Video. New Road)

SPOTLIGHT/DECE MB ER 28. 200 1 29 LEISURE

CA;I'RY

GASOLINE ALLEY ! Rover! You LOS1; m\:l girl! LOS1; Have you 1051; \:lour rir,jn,CI !So v.:e\l ! mIJ job! Thin\-' 1'1\ mind? bur,:! mIJ head in the sana!

~BOFFO

,

30 SPOTLIGHTIDECEMBER 28. 200 LEISURE

CROSSWORD BRIDGE

NORTH 302' .763 • K 9 7 • QJ965 '" 8 2 WEST EAST • J 9 5 4 • Q 8 2 • Q 632 • J 5 4 • A 1042 '"• Q 3 J to 9 '" 6 5 4 SOUTH • A K to • A to 8 • K 8 7 '" A K 7 3 Vulnerable: North-South Dealer: South The bidding: South West North East 2 NT- Pass 3 NT All pass -W-2t HCP ACROSS DOWN Opening lead: Club queen I. Action hero. composite of droll don and I. Group together and start to banle fraud ''Danger breeds best on too much dumb mug (7.8) (7) 9. Two scholars introdw.:ed to change old 2. Lover's race nO( fully run (5) confidence." sc hoo l (4.5) 3. Non·speaking cast overcome with -CORNEILLE 10. Blunder made by foreman fI that 's not astortishment (9) right (5) 4. Number ,1IIending Georgia Tech cut by Today's game looks like a ""no-brainer." 11. Think you can ring off? You only finish half(4) With dummy's five-card diamond suit up fighting (4.2 ) 5. Travelling via An·as. sec something very easily established and wilh a sure heart entry to 12. Utensil pa can use irprop~ rly trained (8) unu sual (4.4) dummy. what does Soulh have to fear? The 13. Appear to make louder (4.2) 6. Wonderful raincoat worn by soldier (5) answer. of course. is a poor diamond break, 15. I had rejected ideal parI (8) 7. HybirdgrilTons bcaringquiet progeny (9) How should Soulh play diamonds to guard 18. Took pari of strange instrument (4-4) 8. Stamps no name on when businesscannot against a bad beak? 19. Slate showing promise (6) be transacted (4.3) South wins his club king and counts six 21. About head and neck (8) 14. Nothing len 10 have beneficial effect on top winners excluding diamonds. Against any 23. Capital doctor joining vessel (6) worker laid off (9) 3-2 diamond split. he can easily add four The cheek of some players! (5) 16. Is 2 outside of tax haven (4.2.3) diamond winners to make an ovenrick. How Worker in business involving mineral 17. Former tax collector now innkeeper (8) does he play safely ifdiamonds brl!ak poorly? (4·5) 18. This was in the wind nonly forestalled by If Soulh leads low 10 dummy' s diamond 28. Bird (American) with man in charge of dismi ssal (7) queen. East wi:-.c1y ducks, A diamond back to Amen can play (5.10) 20. Approaching town, having left north. on South's king bring!:> a discard from West and a rond south (7) trouble for Soulh. Ea:-.t's Ai 10 remains behind 22. Nothing in the present circumstances can dummy's J-9-6, and South cannot win afford a haven (5) more than two diamond tricks, 24. Bestowed in infancy nnickname forGreck Had West held the diamond stack. rou­ philosopher (5) tine play would always succeed, Soulh would 25. Just for show (4) discoverthe bad break in limcto finesse against West's 10, To guard agai nst a stack with either de­ fender. Soulh must begin by leading his dia­ Jle,! ·t;l OI U",:) 'vl mond king, If East ducks. South leads his S!SCO ',z: SpJE"'O.l '0<: lIlq'lJCS 'SI UEJ!lqlld 'LI UEW JO JI51 '91 luepunp~~ 'vi uou Sd !O '8 diamond eight. Jelling it ride when West dis­ nupds.lJO 'L J!ilr. l l~ '9 S!P.A eJc"H '~ J IEQ 'v punoJqwna T ueula1 " la)fJeJO . ( : NMOa cards. East wins his 10 to deny South four diamond winners. but South is in charge. sn:.HUOJpUE snl!.l '8l Jau!ul IEO:::> Lc.. He ducks East's club return, wins the SSEJ 8 VC: MOJSI!IN T, ;.:'IIPoou~::> ' Il 143!1d '61 wnJp ap!s 'SI UO!S!A!O '~ I dn-wlll '£ 1 next, and knocks out East's diamond ace. The uedJ:mes '(; 1 n.l iiull)l '11 aJJuQ '01 JJll?wewIV'6 PUOWWIUP 50Pllns ' 1 : SSOH::>V safety play in diamonds ensures three winners in the suit and gives SOllth h is game and NOUf1'10S rubber,

SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER 28. 2001 31 FACE TO FACE "Let's Forget The Past And Unite For

The Future" - GIRIJA PRASAD KOlRALA Former prime minister GIR/JA PRASAD in the parliamentary party. However. I re­ KOI RA LA has bl/ill a repllfGtioll a/an iron­ signed after assessing the country's situa­ willed politician. When he made his latest ti on.lfpeople describe me as power hungry, call for naliOllal consensus, if was bound to it is a totally foolish charge. send ripples across the political waters. You really believe MPs from differ­ Koimla. presidew a/lhe ruling Nepali Con­ ent parties should be included in the gress, spoke la BBC Nepa/i service on government to tackle the existing prob­ I~Sltllday all various issues. including his lems? unity call. Excelpls: 1 have not said the prime minister must include MPs of various parties on an indi­ It is said that you are proposing vidual basis. What 1 have said is that there is national unity simply to replace Prime need for a national consensus on minimum Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. How do common program. I believe the govern­ you look at this allegation? ment should be run on the basis of such The talk of national unity is not new. I nati onal consensus. resigned as prime minister voluntarily. When As you say, you have been stressing I submitted the resignation, I proposed a 14- the urgency of national consensus for a point program and had held talks with all long time. Why haven' t political parties don't wantto talk about anything else. I am po litical panies to implement it. The present been able to develop such consensus? trying to develop a national consensus in situation of the country is very serious be­ The Nepali Congress has given this order to safeguard Ihe future of the country. cause of the violence unleashed by the mandate la me and 1 have just begun my I don't want to gel in volved in the past Maoists. They have already been declared ini li ative. 8ut opposition leaders have been terrorists and a state of emergency has been You could not bring political parties saying that the Nepali Congress is inca­ imposed LO quell the insurgency. In this on a common platform earlier. What pable of governing and that Girija Prasad si tuation. 1realized the relevance of a broader makes you think you would succeed in Koirala is using this proposal as a ladder national democratic alli ance. Lf all demo­ forging a greater democratic alliance? to regain power. How do you see these cratic parties come under one umbrella. Nothing is impossible. The Nepali allegations? they could bring a major change in the Congress has given me the mandate to form I urge all political parties not to dwell country by incrcasin g confidcnce among a greater national democratic alliance and I on the past, but to look at the future of ,., the people. It would also help to isolate the have already initiated efforts. r have met country. tCITori sts. senior political leaders. All political parties You say you arc working to bring all It is also reported that you have know how the economy has been destroyed parties under a single umbrella, but what raised the possibility of a national gov~ and how non-functional the coulllry has do you say about the disunity in the Nepali ernmenl What is this all about? become. I believe all political parties that Congress? Prime Minister Sher Baha­ I have not said anything about the pos­ care about the nation's problems will sup­ dur Deuba himself has termed your pro~ sibility of forming a national govemmcI1I. port me. posal as "untimely music", hasn't he? The confusion was the result of misquotes. 8ut opposition parties accuse the There is a big game going on to sow What I said was th althere is no provision in Nepali Congress, which has ruled the disunilY in the N'epali Congress. Prime Min­ our constitution on forming a national gov­ country for more than 10 out of the 12 ister Deuba 's madean clllOlional reaction to ernment. Our government is a majority gov­ years of democracy, for creating this mess, my proposal. The statement of Deuba - ernment. However, if the prime minister Some opposition leaders have even said like mine - was twisted to create misun­ wishes to [broaden the base of hi s govern· no national consensus could be possible derstanding in the party. This misunder­ ment], he can include people of other parties under the leadership of the Congress. standing has been cleared after I talked with on an individual basis. Why are you insisting on the effort? Prime Minister Deuba. It is commonly said that Girija Much water has Oowdown the Bagmati So the Nepali Congress does not plan Prasad Koirala cannot remain outside River. I don't want to repeat things of the to replace the prime minister? lhe power. What do you say? past I don't want to comment on why There is no plan to change the govern­ I have already told you that I quit the parliament was not all owed to run for 57 ment leadership. On the contrary, my pro­ prime minister's post vol untarily. Let's not days [during the winter session]. When l am posal for a greater democratic alliance is forgetl resigned when I still had a maj ority talking about a broader nati onal alliance, I ai med at strengthening the govemmenl . •

32 SPOTLIGHT/DECEMBER 28. 2001

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