#269 21 - 27 October 2005 16 pages Rs 30 Extend the ceasefire!

RAJESH KC undreds of thousands of Nepalis across the kingdom have turned up Hfor the travelling peace concert, Sundar Shanta Nepal, and songs of peace and national unity have got the most enthusiastic applause. At the performance in Ghorahi, Dang on Wednesday, the audience spontaneously rose up to dance to the tune of Amrit Gurung’s ‘Rato ra chandra surya’ (pictured). The concert has travelled to Birtamod, Hetauda, Dang and Dhangadi and will move on to Palpa, Charikot and Bhaktapur Darbar Square for the grande finale on 30 October. The message from audiences everywhere has been: “Extend the ceasefire.” Meanwhile, back in Kathmandu the political impasse continues with the seven party alliance announcing a boycott of municipal elections and parliamentary polls slated before April 2007. The promulgation of a controversial media ordinance outlining, among other things, stiff fines for news critical of the king and royal family and a ban on news on FM has led many to doubt the sincerity of the poll call. The new clampdown has been greeted with outrage and defiance within Nepal and lawyers on Tuesday filed a public interest litigation at the Supreme Court against the ordinance. In an unprecedented move, UNESCO Director- General Koïchiro Matsuura deplored the ordinance, saying: “At a time when the planning of democratic elections has been announced in Nepal, legislation that justifies censorship and curtails the ability of media professionals to do their job can only appear to be incompatible with a free and open electoral process.”

Weekly Internet Poll # 269 Q... How would you characterise the situation in Nepal one month after the ceasefire? Total votes:5,123

Weekly Internet Poll # 270. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com Q... Should the political parties participate in municipal and general elections? 2 EDITORIAL 21 - 27 OCTOBER 2005 #269

Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Chief Editor: Kunda Dixit Desk Editor: Marty Logan Design: Kiran Maharjan Web: Bhushan Shilpakar Vicepresident Corporate Affairs: Sneh Sayami Advertising: Sambhu Guragain [email protected] Subscription: Pushparaj Sharma [email protected] Sanchaya Kosh Building, Block A-4th Floor, Lalitpur GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu Tel: 5543333-6, Fax: 5521013 [email protected], www.nepalitimes.com Printed at Jagadamba Press, Hatiban: 5547018 Rock and hard place Elections will be a referendum on the behaviour of the political parties FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT t a recent interaction on pelters or by begging Indian more than 50 percent turnout of Throughout this dark decade of conflict, one thing that has never democracy and governance politicians to put whatever voters in the elections, this ceased to astonish us is the capacity of Nepalis to bear hardship, to Ain Kathmandu, a senior pressure they can on their behalf. would be a de facto referendum adapt and survive. Even when shocking events overtook us, when leader of a major party conceded However, to their misfortune, the on the behaviour of the political the future looked hopeless, when the bloodletting got too much to that people were not supporting credibility of the Indian visitors parties meaning that the Nepali bear, most Nepalis came through with their dignity and hope intact. It the seven-party agitation because was suddenly punctured right on people no longer regard them as shows an innate resilience in the Nepali psyche. they fear that the parties, once arrival at the airport when they relevant institutions of Over the years in these pages we have brought the voices of restored to power, would lapse confessed to an inquisitive democracy for the time being. ordinary Nepalis brutalised by conflict. Despite their desperation and into the same misbehaviour that reporter that they were not keen They want stability, peace and despair we hear them speak with inner strength about their faith in the future. What a contrast it is to hear the cynicism and negativity of characterised their post-1990 on promoting democracy in development and a chance to get the power brokers in Kathmandu. In fact it is the privileged among stewardship. autocratic Bhutan. on with their lives. For the us, those who have the least reason to be cynical, who are the most It suddenly became clear that political party leaders who have pessimistic and disparaging. GUEST COLUMN it was not their ideological kept their parties in their own In the past two months we have seen how little it takes for this Bihari K Shrestha commitment to democracy that paralysing grips to play cynical country to bounce back. A unilateral ceasefire was all that was brought them to Kathmandu. games such a development will needed to make trekkers return and bring jobs and cash back to the Although the people would be a disaster of unimaginable trails, for the internally displaced to rush home for Dasain, for smiles Upon being quizzed why her probably never know what deal proportions. to return to the faces of farmers. Villagers in Kailali who used to lock party did not come up with was struck between them and the Conversely, should they find themselves up in their homes by seven every evening are partying reform proposals that would NC and UML leaders, for lay their interest better served by in harvest festivals late into the night (see p 10). And everywhere the convince the people that next observers such moves only smack contesting elections they may people have the same advice to the warring sides: the Maoists of the behaviour of Sikkim’s have to watch their historically should extend the ceasefire, and the army should reciprocate. The time around her party would people know by now this war is a power struggle between the feudal mend its ways, she replied that politicians in the runup to 1974 fragile alliance unravel. When right and fossilised left. And they have made it clear they want to the issue would have to be taken when the country was annexed they do go to the people for have nothing to do with it. up by all the parties acting by the Indian Union. votes, the parties will have to By February it will be ten years since the Maoists started their together. Now that dates for elections demonstrate to them that unlike “people’s” war, so named, it seems, because nearly 14,000 people The seven parties which have to the municipalities have been in the past, they are now a have died in it. Before September, an average of four Nepalis were by now squandered most of their announced and there is a reformed lot and are therefore being killed every day in the conflict. In the past two months, it has popular support still seem to be deadline for general elections, the worthy of their trust. gone down to one a day. In the three weeks before Dasain, a total of keen only on wresting power country and the parties are in for Here, the public admonition 21 people were killed: 19 by the security forces and two by the through largely ineffectual street a new ball game altogether. Since and sane advice tendered Maoists. On the banks of Pokhara’s Phewa Lake on Tuesday night protests led by hired stone the security forces seem to be in a recently by the EU Troika peace activists floated candles in memory of the departed souls strong position mission to try “to restore the (pictured). If the death toll fell to ensure order faith of the electorate in the by one-fourth with a for the elections political parties” would stand unilateral ceasefire to be held, the them in good stead. With all imagine if it was parties are going the excess baggage of corruption bilateral. An extended to find and broken promises still fresh ceasefire would themselves stuck in the mind of the electorate the provide the atmosphere between the only way out for the parties to sort out the mess devil and the would be to scoop out their own February First got us deep blue sea. corrupt cores and make visible into, and for the Should the structural reforms to prevent political parties to so-called seven- malgovernance in future. come up with something more than a party alliance Either way, forthcoming kneejerk boycott of stick to their elections are going to be a polls. That is our Tihar pledge of referendum on the function and wish. boycott, and identity of the political parties should there be themselves. z SHRINKHALA SHARMA The bell tolls for polls The royal response to the rebel ceasefire was to announce elections

ing Gyanendra has commanded that After all, even the poll announcement came addressed, they will lose face. But if they Had the king been serious about free and parliamentary polls be held by April attached to a draconian press law. don’t, and elections are held anyway, they fair elections, he would have rescinded the K2007. The deadline decreed by diktat In the absence of anything else, will have to give up all hope of reviving royal proclamation of 4 October 2002 that is 18 months away. Municipal elections are however, the international community may the constitution. assumed extraordinary royal prerogatives. slated for February. decide that any election is better than no The post-election regime will most To restore the sanctity of the constitution, But these polls are fraught with election. The utter bewilderment of even assuredly hound them with even more ordinances issued after the royal takeover uncertainties. Do they even make sense in seasoned diplomats in the wake of the poll vigour. Party leaders exuded confidence at would have been allowed to lapse. Extra- the absence of a political consensus to announcement is palpable. their Dasain tea parties this week but they constitutional outfits like the RCCC and resolve the Maoist insurgency? It’s still The Maoists have been desperately must be having sleepless nights. The fact Regional and Zonal Administrators would early to trying to salvage their public image that that Nepal has ascended the ranks of the have been scrapped and the rule of law STATE OF THE STATE speculate was badly tarnished by the Madi carnage in most corrupt on Transparency restored. CK Lal but the June. The unilateral ceasefire was a public International’s list in just one year makes Were the king sincere in clearing up the royal relations masterstroke but what next? If the prospect of joining the royal misunderstanding between constitutional announcement has brilliantly succeeded in they accept elections boycotted by the government extremely tantalising to forces, he would have nullified the confounding the reigning confusion. mainstream parties, they will sweep the politicos with elastic morals who want to nomination of hardcore monarchists in For Nepal’s donors, democracy means polls but lose the political war and be hop on the gravy train. municipalities and DDCs. Most of all, if he elections. It doesn’t really matter who blamed for the deaths of 12,500 Nepalis for Civil society’s silence shows that it believed in a parliamentary system he holds the elections, under what a dubious cause. Should they join the doesn’t know what to make of the call to would have restored the previous circumstances or for which purpose. They boycott, they will have to cede the moral polls. After all, these elections sidestep the parliament. But no, he went ahead and see polls in Afghanistan and a referendum high ground to the parties. Either way, fundamental question of the ongoing announced an election in which he will set in Iraq and think: why not Nepal? polls won’t give them the soft landing they conflict: does our constitution envisage the rules, play the game and decide the Narayanhiti strategists have accurately need. king in parliament or parliament in king? winner. guessed the limits of formalism that bind The political parties are even more Surprisingly, all that the king had to No king, let alone a constitutional one, the international community. It is telling confused. The poll announcement, do to throw off his critics was to issue a can ever hope to have as unrestrained them what they have been impatiently however uncertain, has made the demand harmless sounding statement of intent. authority as King Gyanendra has exercised waiting to hear: the royal regime is serious for the restoration of parliament ring Doubtless, the king still controls the after October 2002. Now he wants to about restoring democracy. But hollow. If the parties participate in polls collective destiny of 25 million Nepalis legitimise it all with elections. The fact that Kathmandu-based dips by now have learnt called by the king when none of their and there seems very little anyone can do his poll call is so hotly debated is itself not to be taken in by the palace’s promises. demands have been recognised, let alone about that for now. proof that the plan may be working. z 21 - 27 OCTOBER 2005 #269 3

LLL ETTERS

NEPALIS IN LA When he tried to enter the USA from Canada, write what he did? Iqbal is the perfect minibus did not come as a surprise to me. Manjushree Thapa’s ‘Being Nepali (in the American immigration authorities on the metaphor for the India-Pakistan It was an accident waiting to happen given LA)’ (#268) captures the pain of being border treated him with great disrespect. They dilemma: such beautiful poetry lauding the way VIP convoys careen through our sidelined in the US. It is very kept him waiting and pestered him with the India or undivided India and narrow streets. I have often encountered commendable that the Nepali community usual questions directed at coloured then migrating to Pakistan after partition. ministerial cars negotiating their way in LA has an organisation to help Nepalis immigrants. One of the immigration officers Jyoti Malhotra, New Delhi through heavy traffic assisted by sirens in need. We really need that kind of handed him a form to fill containing from their backup vehicles. Sirens should solidarity in the US. The way Nepalis are questions which were offensive to the Nobel DAUGHTER’S PROPERTY only be used in emergency situations by ill-treated in Indian restaurants and grocery Prize-winning poet, who was traveling to I have had my share of frustrations ambulances and the fire brigade and not stores rings very true to me. As a struggling America to lecture at the invitation of several working in the gender field with so-called by ministers commuting to work and student my friends and I have all gone American universities. He was asked, “Can liberal men of the NGO/INGO profession. back. Most of them blatantly ignore basic through that. We have had nowhere to turn. you read and write?” Tagore’s feelings were But nothing beats the level of humiliation I traffic rules: running red lights, driving on We have also seen DV migrants who come deeply hurt and he called off the tour and experienced as a woman in a recent the wrong side of the lane, speeding. here leaving everything behind in Nepal did not go to America.’ incident with the Officer of the Land Recently, I had stopped at a red light at only to go through a lot of hardship. I have This was written in the 1920s so Revenue Department in Chabahil. the Maitighar junction and a minister’s seen people with PhDs working at gas Sangraula’s predicament is nothing new. In My parents with the best of intentions convoy drove up behind my car. They stations. I hope Manjushree Thapa’s report fact, it reminds me that Australian decided to share their property equally turned the siren on, telling me to move my will make people realise that the US is not aborigines protested the 200th among their children. My father kept car. Having nowhere to go and refusing to necessarily a land of milk and honey. anniversary of the landing of Captain Cook reminding us about the magnanimity of his cross the red light for fear of being pulled Bhumika Ghimire, Indiana, USA because for them it was the 40,000th gesture. I didn’t care much for his words over by traffic police, I stayed put. To my anniversary of living in Australia. as I thought it was only fair to allow utter disbelief, the minister’s car went on SHINING PATHISTS Gauri N Rimal, Putali Sadak daughters to inherit parental property. But the opposite lane and then drove over the CK Lal in his State of the State column (‘A when it came to making it all legal, the footpath and back onto the lane. I wonder Peruvian parallel’, #268) talks about the HINDOSTANI officer of the Land Revenue Department what was so urgent that the minister parallels between the policies of Nepal’s I agree with what Kanak Mani Dixit writes called my sister and I to his desk and started couldn’t wait for the light to turn green. As government towards Maoist revolutionaries in his Southasia Beat column (‘Urdu, Hindi, interrogating us. “Is it fair for you sisters to the highest ranking officials nominated to and those of the Peruvian government Hindostani’, #268) and wish that we could call claim parental property when your brother is ensure law and good governance in the towards the Shining Path has overlooked a the language by its name ‘Hindustani’ or if still living? Don’t you think you should be country, is it too much to ask from these confluence between these two you prefer spell it as ‘Hindostani’. However, increasing the wealth of your ghar rather ministers to follow the rules of the road? movements. There is a persistent the legacy of partition and bitter Indo-Pak, than decreasing the wealth of your maiti?” In Rabi Karmacharya, Patan Lalitpurian legend that the Shining Pathists and the Prachanda Pathists SURPRISE have contacted each other through the I couldn’t help noticing the uncanny network of Nepalis in Peru, who are prescience with which you seem to be trying to get to Japan for economic anticipating the king’s move when you reasons. Apparently, a way of said in your editorial (‘Don’t’, #268) ‘The accomplishing this is to go to Peru, Friday before Dasain has traditionally where there has for a long been a sizeable been the preferred occasion to spring Japanese community, which can even nasty surprises on the people…’ While produce presidents. There, they acquire a the real Big Surprise may still be in the Peruvian passport showing the bearer to be works, the media ordinance was a second or third generation Japanese obviously designed to silence Peruvian. Japan welcomes such people, whistleblowers like you. I just wish the gives them visas, even citizenship powers that be are heeding your advice, sometimes. Many Nepalis can pass for ‘don’t do what we think you are thinking of being of mixed Japanese extraction in doing’ but given their track record it Peru. There is also more than doesn’t seem likely. poetic justice to this trade-off. If S Kumar, Sanepa Japanese dressed like Nepalis can have darshan of Pashupati (as long HUMAN TOUCH as they don’t open their mouths), then Congratulations to Kasra Naji (“We want why can’t Nepalis posing as Japanese to go home”, #268) for bringing a human have darshan of Mount Fuji and the all- touch to the story of Maoist abduction of pervading Yen? DEEPENDRA BAJRACHARYA students in Surkhet. So far all we have F Williams, Kimdole Hindu-Muslim relationships is that people the office, heads turned, some men seen in the Nepali media are statistics of are becoming neutral in everything. whispered and women gasped. My parents 500, 300, 200 children taken away by VISAS Nobody refers to the Indian subcontinent as finally intervened and pointed to a Maoists and made to walk for days. Naji If any foreign embassy in Nepal treats the Indian subcontinent, they are so document where my brother, a successful has brought us face to face with girls like Nepali people rudely (‘Letter to His politically correct that they call it the South economist in the States, had willingly Ganga, Shoba and Khum and in doing so Excellency Bloomfield’, #268), it has no Asian subcontinent. Hindi songs and consented to the sharing. The officer was still made real the fear, intimidation and trauma right to be situated on Nepali soil. Hindustani classical music are now called not satisfied. My mother tried to explain that that thousands of children throughout Anu Pradhan, email “subcontinental” music or, much worse, as parents they believed in equality between Nepal have been made to suffer even South Asian music. I hope that someday all sons and daughters. during the ceasefire. Thanks for printing I would like to console Khagendra this will go away and be replaced by But even if my sister is able to claim her the article. Sangraula and people like him for their shared cultures, values and languages right to property she will not able to sell it Lin Sedlar, email ordeals at the British Embassy. I just N S Parameswaran, Chennai unless her husband and in-laws give their full came across a passage in the famous consent. As for me, I haven’t been able to LETTERS book, Fire of Bengal, written by Rozsa Nice piece by Kanak Mani Dixit. figure out why that government clerk had to Nepali Times welcomes all feedback. Letters Hajnoczy, wife of the Islamic scholar of Please note that Sir Syed noted that the two take the matter, which was none of his should be brief and may be edited for space. eminence, Dr Gyula Germanus. The communities have so much in common that business, so personally? It is only thanks to While pseudonyms can be accepted, writers Hungarian professor was invited by they produced a new language called Urdu. people like my father and brother that who provide their real names and contact Rabindranath Tagore to teach Viswa- Apparently, even he could not get himself to gender equality has hope in this country. details will be given preference. Email letters Bharati at Shantiniketan—the educational use the term ‘Hindostani’. One can say that Also women like my mother who stood up to should be in text format without attachments centre that blended the best of the west Urdu is ‘Hindostani’ in Persian script. that opinionated, chauvinist pig. with ‘letter to the editor’ in the subject line. and east in rural Bengal. His wife writes in J Jandayal, email Sabina, email Email: [email protected] her book: ‘The quiet flow of life was Fax: 977-1-5521013 suddenly disturbed by an unexpected Exactly my thoughts. Otherwise why would VIP MOTORCADES Mail: Letters, Nepali Times, GPO Box 7251, event. Some disagreeable news of the poet Iqbal who wrote ‘saare jahan se accha, The Dasain road accident in which the Kathmandu, Nepal. Rabindranath Tagore had reached us. hindostan (with emphasis on ‘o’) hamaara’ Tourism Minister’s car was crushed under a 4 NATION 21 - 27 OCTOBER 2005 #269 A winter of electric discontent Why the proposed 10 percent electricity price hike will not solve the problem epali electricity consumers are about can be found to step in to fill the gap. resulted in a ‘flood-drought syndrome’ in encourage them to supply alternatives such to receive a double blow: a hike in Some are thinking the unthinkable: are the national grid. As things stand, while as photovoltaics. N tariff and power cuts. Nepali consumers better off if this project, we will have a shortage of peak power (in Unfortunately, the Tariff Fixation The last tariff adjustment was in as currently structured, is scrapped? MW), there is an excess of energy (GWh) in Committee (TFC) failed to appreciate NEA’s September 2001 and, with creditors There is about 40MW of power under the system. In 2004 the national system proposal. If they had only looked at the scrutinising the financial viability of the Nepali private construction with fairly had 2,643 GWh of available energy, but the Khumbu Bijuli Company in Namche, they national utility, a new hike is overdue. In reasonable power purchase agreements but NEA could sell only 1,964 GWh, would have seen how such a tariff structure addition, power demand this winter is all they are under various stages of essentially spilling close to a third of the has doubled KBC’s load factor earning it set to outstrip supply. (See also: Editorial, incompletion. While poor financing system’s availability. The situation was significantly more revenue while saving trees ‘Power vacuum’, #267) arrangements are a problem with some, much worse in 2003. in the Sagarmatha National Park and giving The many have shown due diligence but are Recognising that this spill was the tourism a boost. national hampered by an official environment that equivalent of almost Rs 5 billion annually, The TFC’s objections to time-of-day and ANALYSIS grid has is neither supportive of their the NEA board made an effort to realise seasonal restructuring of tariff is based on its Dipak Gyawali 613MW entrepreneurship nor sensitive to the some of it as revenue. It passed a tariff inability to distinguish between peak time of national supply crisis in the offing. structure that would provide cheap power shortage and off-peak energy surplus installed supply available of which only Nepali entrepreneurs, technical seasonal as well as daily off-peak tariff that and the fact that in the electricity business about 526MW is reliable hydro and the rest manpower and bankers are quite capable of would boost sale of the spill energy. For demand not met is revenue lost forever. thermal. The peak demand in December adding up to 25 MW per year but they need instance, by providing off-peak (10PM- The TFC also fell victim to media 2004 was 557MW, just within reliable range a more enabling environment. Chilime 5AM) rates of about Rs 2 per unit for propaganda that the poorest would not which will have increased by seven percent shares are over-subscribed, Piluwa is on irrigation pumping and electric vehicles benefit from the proposed reduced rates. This this winter while generation capacity is schedule despite Maoist bombing, a and similar rates to domestic consumers charge still doesn’t make any sense: to stagnant. privatised BPC is aggressively scouting new and other measures, it estimated adding benefit from surplus energy (by replacing Nepal’s only seasonal storage power is prospects and theft-free community almost Rs 2 billion annually to its revenue LPG cooking gas, for instance) you first have the 92MW from two Kulekhanis, whose electricity are all successful examples of without penalising other consumers with to consume it. Those who pay only Rs 80 a reservoir is disastrously low, 11 metres alternative ways. Even when these success higher tariff. month burning merely four light bulbs don’t below post-monsoon levels. Poor rains and stories are staring us in the face, history is On the other hand, given low river flow even use LPG that they can replace. inept load management allowed energy to repeating itself and is indicative of a during the dry season in run-of-river The net result has been an estimated Rs 6 spill in other run-of-river plants instead of national learning disability. plants, there was a need to limit billion of lost revenue to the NEA (and the storing it in Kulekhani. The proposed across-the-board 10 consumption, hence higher dry season country) since 2003. Now a simplistic flat 10 The only major power project under percent tariff increase is an illustration of tariff. ‘Price as police’ was better than the percent increase in tariff is said to be in the construction, the 70MW Middle such a disability. New power plants, bureaucratic fiat of load shedding or offing, which may provide some increased Marsyangdi, is mired in managerial, especially ones with seasonal storage, have conservation jingles in media. These revenue to the NEA but will not do the many financial and institutional controversy. long gestation periods but there are other measures were also intended to provide a other things that a tariff should do to the When, and if, it is finally completed in immediate measures that can be taken price signal to Nepali (and foreign) utility, the overall national electrical 2008 it will handle about two years of load without foreign aid. The restructuring of investors to install more expensive storage industry or the economy. z growth. Marsyangdi’s ‘genetic’ institutional electricity tariff in May 2003 is an example. plants by giving them much better rates for defect lies in an open-ended contract with Failure to focus on storage projects after daily and seasonal peak electricity. They Dipak Gyawali, Pragya at RONAST, chaired the NEA no cap on construction cost so no donor the commissioning of Kulekhani-1 in 1982 would also boost energy industries and as Minister of Water Resources in 2002-2003. BUSINESS 21 - 27 OCTOBER 2005 #269 5

Bad news on media freedom

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ International group Reporters Without Borders has ranked Nepal #160 among the world’s countries in its fourth Press Freedom Index. That Thailand’s surge puts us right below China (#159) and slightly ahead of Turkmenistan (#165) and North Korea, which finished last (#167). King Gyanendra From bookstores to rapid transit, there are lessons for Nepal everywhere “is trying to wipe out 15 years of democratic achievement by the independent press with censorship and arrests”, while “the Maoist rebels killed, kidnapped and threatened journalists, especially pro- government ones, who criticised them”, said the group.

Aid appeal hushed

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ The UN’s international appeal for $65 million for Nepal’s humanitarian needs has gone low-profile after the government reportedly urged the UN to cancel planned press conferences in Geneva and New York because it did not want to be seen as a ‘failed state’. As reported in Nepali Times (‘Aid appeal’, #268) the money would finance 60 projects in five areas, including human rights protection and refugee support. But the plan, part of the UN Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP) has been criticised by government officials and some NGOs, particularly because it could siphon money from long-term development needs. Despite the government’s reluctance, the appeal remains on the UN website (http://www.un.org.np/cap.php) and according to an observer the world body expects donor nations to start hen the first set of newspapers and magazines. Global chains like Tesco and Carrefour making pledges. swanky Daewoo Ceilo publishers are churning out more are already there and US-based W sedan taxis were spotted titles weekly in Thai. This surely chains like Toys ‘R’ Us will open

Instability spurs corruption on Kathmandu roads, Bangkok should be a big lesson for reading- soon. Local Thai food and retail

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Thanks to the firing of the multiparty government and restrictions on was seeing its inaugural batch of averse hearsay-dependent Nepalis. chains have also emerged. The the media, among other reasons, Nepal has fallen 27 positions on the air-conditioned taxi sedans. More While we have caught on to stock exchange has a business corruption perception index (CPI) published by Transparency than 10 years later, while the Thai partying and fashion, reading development wing that seeks local International. According to the CPI 2005 released Tuesday, Nepal now capital graduated to 7 series which could open up new vistas businesses that might their stands 117th out of 159 countries surveyed. Last year, Nepal was 90th BMWs parked graciously at the for our youth, has been neglected. shares, focusing on unlocking the out of 146 countries. On a scale of 1 (most corrupt) to 10 (most clean), airports, we slipped to rattling The Thais have got it right. potential of closely held private Nepal scored 2.5 this year and 2.8 in 2004. “The poor performance of Thailand has also spent Nepal can be attributed in large extent to the continuing political companies and giving the public a instability in the country,” the TI report said. “The royal takeover in ECONOMIC SENSE heavily on infrastructure such as chance to participate in the February this year, the sacking of the elected government in October Artha Beed mass transit, making it a country’s growth. 2002 and the bloody civil war have all weakened the country’s competitive production hub. Of course, the fact that governance systems and the public’s trust in them. Despite Marutis. (Let us not even talk Global companies want to be Thailand is not a full-fledged constitutional protection of freedom of expression, in practice, the about the ready-to-scrap-vintages based there because supply chain democracy means its potential ability of the media to report on corruption is curtailed and other called airport limousines). We do costs are lower. Condominiums cannot be unleashed to the democratic freedoms are severely threatened.” Bangladesh and Chad not need to explain again how the are mushrooming as the are lowest on the list while Pakistan and Sri Lanka stand in 144th and 82nd fullest. Thais understand that positions. Iceland was the ‘cleanest’ country with a CPI score of 9.7. national carriers of Nepal and government has permitted non- economic growth is dependent on Thailand started at the same time Thais to own property. Here is economic freedom itself

Wai Wai in Cal and how their flight paths have another lesson for Nepal: allowing dependent on political freedom ○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ diverged since then. (Economic foreigners to buy property in but they are unsure how to bell The Nepali instant noodle brand Wai Wai which had already taken the Sense #38) designated areas would not only the cat. Therefore, pet projects like Indian northeast by storm is now being launched for Tihar in Calcutta. Like India, Thailand today provide us with an expatriate OTOP (One Tambon One Product) Wai Wai is the leader in the instant noodles market after it started exporting to India 10 years ago where it has an annual turnover of Rs has a feeling of charged energy, a population that would consume still go ahead for political reasons 500 million. R K Gupta, vice president of the Chaudhary Group can-do attitude. The biggest locally but also lots of job and not economic ones. The bad news (Foods) India Ltd says: “We are trying to strengthen our position in change noted by this Beed is that investment opportunities for about OTOP for our business and Calcutta, it will be our launch pad for the eastern region because of its more and more young Thais are Nepalis. political leaders who believed it connectivity and infrastructure.” Wai Wai is trying to push the brand taking reading seriously. This We should always remember was a wonderful thing to emulate as a value-added instant noodle that can even be had directly from the explains the mushrooming of that only quality will deliver in is that it has been hyped but pack.“Though noodles are very popular in Calcutta, the ready-to-eat bookstores on the streets, the the long run. Thais have started unsuccessful. Another lesson to brown category is virtually absent. We want to target that virgin segment,” says Gupta. expansion of existing store chains asking for better products at learn: let us emulate good and the growing circulation of competitive prices. Global retail practices only. 6 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 21 - 27 OCTOBER 2005 #269

Heavenly tips headquarters, the departments politics is not an exception to ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ and other agencies must globalisation. It is folly to say Gorkhapatra, 17 October complete. The aim of this that democracy has different New cabinet strategic planning is to kinds of models. Even a layman According to Dr Madhab Bhattarai institutionalise the organisation understands that democracy is of the Nepal Rajkiya Panchanga and to keep it free from the built upon an essential Nirnayak Samiti, it is unusual whims of a single person. Under cornerstone—the supreme next week for there to be two eclipses in this process, we have established authority of the people. It is the one month and to have them an inspection cell at headquarters supremacy of the people that has Rajdhani, 20 October within 15 days of each other is and have activated different units been sidelined now and an extraordinary event that to check human rights violations whatever system has been A high-level source has revealed that there happens only once in many and the abuse of authority by any introduced does not fall within will be a major reshuffle next week in the years. He emphasised that personnel. We have also formed a the democratic model. council of ministers chaired by His Majesty. during this period it would be in task force to prepare a 20-year King Gyanendra is said to be dissatisfied people’s best interests to refrain vision for our organisation. The with the performance of the council in Freezing news

from negative activities and to concept of unified command has ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ implementing the 21-point agenda certainly worked. But the fact he had given them on indulge in religious ones. On Gorkhapatra, 11 October appointment. There is also a the day of the lunar eclipse, remains that we still have feeling that some ministers people should not eat and inadequate resources to perform The Ministry of Information and have not been able to should remain pure from dawn. our duties fully. We don’t even Communication has declared forcefully counter criticism of Those born under the have enough manpower to handle that only the Rastriya Samachar His Majesty by the main astrological signs of Taurus, the growing population, Samiti (RSS) is authorised to buy political parties and to win Gemini, Libra and Capricorn urbanisation and the complexity news from international the confidence of the public. would benefit from observing of today’s crimes. Compared to agencies. According to RSS Law “His Majesty would like the the eclipse. other SAARC countries, we still 2019, clause 32, subclause 2, forthcoming municipal lag behind when it comes to other agencies must first get elections to reflect his desire manpower. explicit permission from HMG for it to be pro-people but there Police plans

seems to be a shortage of people ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ before buying such news, said a in the council who can adequately Inspector General of Police Felicitating Fiji Ministry news release. The

communicate His Majesty’s Shyambhakta Thapa in ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ amendment to the Media Laws wishes,” the source said. Gorkhapatra, 17 October Gorkhapatra, 10 October 2005 through Ordinance 2062 states He added that the two vice- ‘ that individuals and companies chairmen, Tulsi Giri and The law and order situation in On the occasion of the national using frequency modulation Kirtinidhi Bista, and seven the country is quite satisfactory day of Fiji, His Majesty the King (FM) broadcasts are notified that cabinet rank ministers would be compared to the past and there are sent a message to the president ‘information’ has been redefined retained. The new faces would be indications that it will improve of Fiji Rat Josepha Eloilovat, to include only health, “competent and with public further in days to come. The wishing the best for his personal education, sports, population, credibility” and be picked from the health and happiness as well as environment, weather, road RPP, Nepali Congress, communist improvement is the result of our parties or of independent successful offensives against the development and prosperity transport and development- backgrounds. The total number of terrorism. There may have been of the people of Fiji. oriented programs. The ministry ministers would not exceed 24 and some isolated disturbances but in has requested all concerned to they would form the core of a new the long run we are moving Global democracy stay within the law when

alternative nationalist democratic political towards restoring peace ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ determining the content of force to be set up in the next two-and-a- permanently. Terrorism has Nepali Congress General broadcasts. No broadcaster is half years. The source told Rajdhani that complicated the law and order Secretary Ramchandra Poudel in allowed to simultaneously re- many of the current ministers came from situation, including crime control Deshantar, 2 October broadcast programs in another non-political backgrounds and had failed to and investigation. That is why we place without permission. be effective, and added: “Don’t even think that have joined with other security We can never guarantee that we The ministry has also His Majesty will give up heading the announced that the Press and government. Given the crisis in the country agencies to maintain law and will not compromise with any there is no way the splintered parties can handle order. It has already been three quarter as long as we are doing Publication Act 2048 has been it. His Majesty’s wish is just to conduct years since we implemented a politics. Circumstances can amended to ban any items of news elections to a new parliament and hand over the four-year strategic plan to compel us to make minor that promote terrorism and to government to the people’s representatives.” strengthen the police force. It lays compromises. Even the Maoists, restrict publications that contain

MIN BAJRACHARYA out clear-cut tasks that police who claim to be more radical than content that goes against us, have discussed a symbolic, national interest. The Press ceremonial or Cambodia-like king. Council Act 2049 has also been Other communist parties that amended to discourage ‘yellow chant republican slogans have journalism’ and to make somehow adjusted to the journalists follow a code of institution of the monarchy. But conduct. all these compromises will be short-lived. The longterm policy Managed media

and ideal of the Nepali Congress ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ is the people’s democracy. We Editorial in Gorkhapatra, have clearly stated this in our 15 October constitution–nationalism, democracy and socialism. I don’t The new media ordinance is not a see any possibility of foreign hindrance to disseminating news intervention due to conflicts that maintains loyalty to the between the internal forces in our nation, nationality and throne, for country. We believe rather that the betterment of the country and the more intensive the movement the people, in a disciplined becomes, the less likely foreign manner. No doubt the media intervention will be. The irony should not just sing the praises of in our country is that those who the government but also criticise are influential deliberately its weaknesses. The new ordinance invite foreign interventions for will help make the media their vested interests. It was the trustworthy and disciplined king’s move that invited foreign keeping in mind that protesting intervention. But the People’s for the sake of protesting, not “Local and general elections by 2007...puff... puff...” Movement will keep such appreciating good work and Pot: Democracy interference at bay. If a foreign defaming the nation, nationality power joins hands with Nepalis and throne while protesting is Nepal Samacharpatra, 16 October for democracy that cannot be unacceptable to the Nepali termed as intervention. Gone are people. It is natural that the QUOTE OF THE WEEK the times when others could say government gives preference to nothing while feudal kings news that is good for the nation.

“The royal takeover in February this year, the sacking of the elected government in October 2002 committed all kinds of atrocities. This is practiced in the most and the bloody civil war have all weakened“ the country’s governance systems and public trust Today we have the United developed and democratic in them...the ability of the media to report on corruption is curtailed and other democratic Nations and many international nations. This is the freedoms are severely threatened. organisations working for responsibility of every national democracy and human rights. The government and the new - Transparency International 2005 Corruption Perception Index king talks about globalisation so ordinance should be welcomed commenting on the situation in Nepal he should understand that and respected by all. SELECTED MATERIAL TRANSLATED EVERY WEEK FROM THE NEPALI PRESS FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 21 - 27 OCTOBER 2005 #269 7

Sly ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Nepal Samacharpatra, 15 October

On the eve of Dasain the government slyly passed an ordinance amending some media laws. There wasn’t even enough time to discuss it properly and Dasain was upon us—which was probably the intention. That same day the Election Commission declared that municipal elections will be held on 8 February. Then there was another breaking news: His Majesty in his Dasain address instructed the Election Commission to hold general elections in April 2007. All these announcements mean the country will now go into election mode. If the polls are free and fair, it will open the door for the constitution to be activated and the government to be run by the people’s representatives. But the way the government is going about gagging the press, it doesn’t give us much confidence. In fact, it shows that authorities are not trying to be open but are bent on clamping down. If the media makes mistakes, there should be punitive action. There is no doubt about that. The press must be accountable, responsible and disciplined—no two opinions about that either. If the media indulges in unnecessary defamation or libel it should either prove it or be ready to face the consequences. Britain, the US and India, which have mature media, have similar provisions. Increasing fines for journalists or placing restrictions on reports about terrorist activities are not unusual. But these measures were announced when there was no elected parliament, before Dasain, without public debate and without homework. This raises suspicions about the government’s true intention. The government must now try to allay these suspicions by convincing the media that its intentions are honourable.

Uncivilised ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Editorial in Kantipur, 17 October

Ever since 1 February the government has gone out of its way to characterise the independent media as practising “yellow” or “irresponsible” journalism. It has used its own state-owned media for this slander campaign. It is not unusual for a regime that snatched away the constitution to be afraid of the light and to push the nation towards darkness. But by taking away the people’s right to information the regime has isolated and weakened itself even more. It has a guilty conscience, which is why it labels the pro-democracy movement as “anti-national” and “terrorist” and characterises actions of friends of Nepali democracy abroad as “interference”. A state media that is used to ostracising those who speak for the people’s rights will itself be ostracised by civilised people. A free press has a vital role in a system of government run by the people’s representatives. It is natural for those who disregard people power to try to control the press because an independent media strengthens the people’s struggle. State media never tires of repeating the canard that “FM radios are not allowed to broadcast news anywhere in the world”. Only the most rigid dictatorships misuse state media for propaganda and it is a direct abuse of state power. Officials of this regime are given to lashing out at public meetings against the independent media. They are intent on throttling the free press, demoralising professional journalists with threats, intimidation, locking up newspapers in the The best advice I have districts, launching an economic embargo on papers by stopping ever received is from government notices, banning news on FM and ignoring the Supreme the book Court’s rulings on the media. When their efforts to get the media to do God Father: as they say are unsuccessful, they turn the state media loose to label “Know your friends and independent journalism “yellow”. The media ordinance is just the well-wishers well latest example of the regime’s extreme cowardice. But know your enemies Nepali media has been forging ahead professionally and and adversaries better” institutionally after earning the rights enshrined in the 1990 - Binod Kumar Chaudhary constitution, which itself was the result of the People’s Movement. The present regime’s crackdowns give the media more energy to resist. The media is responsible towards its readers, listeners and viewers. They will judge us because freedom of press is also their My life changed after I right under the 1990 constitution. joined the police force. - SP Bimala Thapa Sharma

Foreign masters ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Editorial in Gorkhapatra, 16 October 2005

At present, self-proclaimed spokespersons for the free press and those wishing to spread anarchy by misusing the right to publish and to make a laughing stock of a pluralistic media are giving lopsided Never give in - arguments that the media ordinance is an attempt to control the free Instead of cursing press. By sticking to this view they are exaggerating the feedback the darkness, why from foreign nations to a law deemed necessary by an independent not light a candle? country, against political, social and diplomatic norms. They do not - Ani Choying Drolma seem to realise that this is not the duty of any self-reliant patriotic Nepali. Those who welcome such anti-national interference should see how the larger and supposedly liberal countries of the world enact strict laws to control terrorism, violence and anti-national behaviour.

Success does not mean status or money; it is rather the I work hard enough to get a good night’s sleep ability to enjoy every night. But you know, there is a saying one’s work. here: if the people are happy, the King is happy. - Yubraj Ghimire - His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev

BOOK YOUR COPY NOW CALL 4781153 8 SUBURBAN HOUSING Kathmandu’s suburbiadrift into The capital’s residents are moving to up-market housing colonies on the Valley’s outskirts

MALLIKA ARYAL

here used to be a time was finally complete, they ran “My husband and I both work parties. And now, real estate affordable homes at all price when Kathmandu around from pillar to post for full time, building a house by wallahs are going up market with ranges with no compromises in T residents who wanted to phones, water, drainage. ourselves in Kathmandu was ‘gated communities’ like Valley quality. It makes perfect economic move out of the inner city area No more. For less than the cost never in our plans,” says Charu Homes in Suthankothi which has sense because the real estate built their dream houses brick-by- of building a bungalow yourself Pradhan, a resident of Sunrise launched luxury bungalows. developers save a ton of money brick. and for a lot fewer hassles, one can Homes in Balkumari. Planned “People understand today that buying construction materials in They ran around finding the go to Sunakothi and get oneself a colonies are convenient for all, building houses requires special bulk and that is where the profit right plot, haggled over the price, Valley Homes unit (above). especially young professionals skills and they want to leave the margins come from. Each planned bought the raw materials It is pre-designed with water, who work five days a week and construction to the experts,” says community is unique. Royal themselves, spent months getting electricity, phones and drainage those who are on the road or Shakar Giri, managing director of Homes is geared towards middle a building permit, found an all taken care of. There are wide live abroad. Royal Homes at Dhapasi heights. class families and five of the architect and threw out his plan roads, lots of parking space, a Sunakothi, Bagdol, Kalanki, “Usually when an individual is 22 homes are complete and to replace it with their own grocery store, a swimming pool, an Dhapasi and Sitapaila, once building a house, unanticipated already sold. design. Then they got a contractor, ATM machine, a gym, a banquet considered Kathmandu’s sleepy costs increase and out goes I R Tamang, executive got fleeced by him on cement and hall and even a movie theatre. backwaters, are now the names quality.” chairman of Civil Homes, says steel rods. And when the house What more could you want? one hears being dropped at Planned housing promises real estate is a booming market for 21 - 27 OCTOBER 2005 #269 9 Nowhere to go but up As the Valley runs out of land, developers predict the future of housing in Kathmandu is in new self-contained high-rise apartment blocks. “Apartments will be the way to go because space is going to be a rarity and there is nowhere to go but up,” says Sidhant Raj Pandey of the up-market Ace Apartments at Naxal. Of 56 Ace units, 45 have already been sold. The complex caters to upper middle class families and is very selective about who they sell to. “Neighbours have to get along,” Pandey explains. Apartment living gives people the luxury of being at the city centre while having well- appointed housing. It saves the hassles of commuting, the units come with all the utilities and there is better security. Indreni Apartments is building 48 units in Bhatbhateni, an area that it considers a prime location. “Our uniqueness is in our location, we are very close to the city centre,” says Deepak Man Sherchan, executive director. Ansal’s complex of more than 140 apartments in Bagdol was sold out six months after opening. The firm has built another one in Harisiddhi, where nearly all of the 125 apartments are booked, mostly by Kathmandu’s inner-city residents. “The business in apartments is gradually growing and will take off in the next few years,” predicts Sandeep Bikram Rana of Ansal Chaudhary Developers, which pioneered the concept six years ago.

PICS: KIRAN PANDAY investment. Most Nepalis want to affordable financing from banks. Kathmandu, open spaces and says since the government has similar risk and ventured into the live in the valley now for security Standard Chartered, Kumari, lots of greenery. been unable to take the initiative planned housing business. reasons, which is driving up Everest, Laxmi, Himalayan and Siddarth Gopalan, architect in urban planning, private Tamang of Civil Homes says, property prices and increasing Bank of Kathmandu all provide for Valley Homes, admits that companies have had to step in. “There were risks involved but demand. home financing packages. Home designing individual houses for Civil Home’s Tamang thinks the the idea has caught on.” “In the last three years, the Loan Schemes can be paid back in clients was difficult. But these government should be involved Kathmandu’s suburbia is the real estate business has really monthly instalments lasting five designs are based on surveys in regulating new communities. private sector’s response to public prospered and helped generate to 15 years with 7.5 to 9 percent conducted with potential buyers “There is a role for the demand. And it is the future, says businesses and jobs for many interest. on what they want in their ideal government in zoning and Joshi of Valley Homes, adding: Nepalis,” Tamang says. Earlier, Valley Homes offers 115 home. “We have kept the planning so that the city can be “Planned housing is more than a young professionals who wanted luxury homes and is planning its responses in mind while managed effectively,” he says. trend and it is not a bubble that a house in Kathmandu would construction in phases. Of the 28 designing the houses but so Seven years ago Ashtaman will burst soon.” Proof of that is have had to save for 15-20 years to houses in the first phase about 60 much depends on the individual Maharjan bought a large tract of that real estate developers can’t build their own dream houses. percent have been sold. Valley tastes of the actual buyers,” land in Bagdol and built a build houses fast enough– they Now, not only is the construction Homes promises the best view of he adds. colony of houses. Almost five are snapped up even before they taken care of, there is also the mountains around Suraj Joshi of Valley Homes years ago Civil Homes took a are finished. 10 REVIEW 21 - 27 OCTOBER 2005 #269

There are, of course, signs of past violence everywhere. At Chaumala stands a bombed-out police post, the Banbheda barrack Relief and respite in Kailali was the scene of the horrific unsolved killings of APF family members in July. In far western Nepal, villagers enjoy the ceasefire as long as it lasts Dhangadhi is a city of bicycle-rickshaws. Barely a car plies the streets, perhaps because COOLING OFF PERIOD: the rich have fled to Kathmandu. Boys enjoy a dip in Its mayor was shot dead and it Ghodaghodi Lake near has suffered more insecurity than Tikapur in Kailali possibly any other large town in on Saturday. Nepal. Last February, 2,000 Maoists stormed its prison, freeing over 150 prisoners including 70 Maoists. Seven guards were killed. “Before the ceasefire you heard blasts everyday. It was a kind of routine,” says local restaurateur Saroj Bikram Shah, “but since September people are happy. We don’t have any problems at all.” The Far Western regional police chief, DIG Ramesh Kumar Shrestha, has just finished a round of badminton. He acknowledges things have relaxed. He does not use the terminology “so-called ceasefire” that officials in Kathmandu use. “The situation is improving remarkably, not only because of the ceasefire but because of our effectiveness as well,” he says, “people are enjoying the ceasefire. But our security status is the same: the Maoists have declared it for the people, not for the security agencies.” He says the security forces are

CHARLES HAVILAND effectively reciprocating the truce by not going on offensive CHARLES HAVILAND comrades’ own terms. Their red man styling himself Comrade be drawn. “We have not been operations, but alleges that in in KAILALI banner is displayed and a Atom. He tells me this is a informed about this. I can’t say remote parts of this region the minute’s silence is held for a ceasefire aimed at helping anything more.” Maoists are still kidnapping and he fields are golden, much local Maoist leader recently killed ordinary people and at working Kailali is, however, breathing torturing people. He says they are of the rice has already been in hostilities. But Maoist speakers with the parties ‘against more easily. In Tikapur’s Great still extorting money from T harvested. Here in the far- apologise for what they call their feudalism’. He said the door to Garden, a huge ornamental park businessmen in Dhangadhi, and western plains of Nepal it is “mistakes” and some of the guests talks with the authorities was not incongruously laid out on the expresses doubts about their difficult to believe we are in the feel it is worthwhile. closed but strongly criticised banks of the Karnali, Tharu overall intentions, saying they most conflict-affected districts in “In the past, workers from our them. dancers rehearse their routines for may be using the ceasefire to the country. party and others were victims of “This ceasefire is one-sided,” a new music video. To the west, stock up on weapons and A 20-minute bicycle ride Maoist violence,” says local he said. “The royal regime’s boys spend their day bathing in ammunition. south of the highway, a school, Nepali Congress leader aggression has made things very the sprawling Ghodaghodi Lake, Whatever the politics of the closed for Dasain, has been Ghanashyam Joshi. “Relations difficult for us. The army is still enjoying themselves as much as ceasefire, it is giving the people a appropriated for a meeting of the between us were bad. But the killing and kidnapping people. In the buffaloes wallowing in the respite. Late at night, in one far- sort that would have been ceasefire has brought a change. the past we would retaliate but as mud. flung village, Tharu villagers put impossible before the ceasefire. They’re increasing their contacts we’re not retaliating now they are At a heavily fortified highway on a Dasain show, comedians Maoists have invited with us and there’s no violence doing it all the more–killing barracks, a couple of soldiers alternating with dancers gyrating representatives from the parties, against us any more. They aren’t dozens, arresting people, stopping climb on to the Dhangadhi-bound to Bollywood hits. It is being along with teachers and restricting our movements.” us from moving around.” bus, give a cursory glance at the revived for the first time in six businessmen to talk about the The Maoists’ chief for this Asked of recent accounts of passengers and wave the vehicle years. The revelry lasts till three country’s future. and neighbouring Bardiya district schoolchildren abducted in on. There are no searches, no in the morning, laughter echoing The meeting is on the is present– a fresh-faced young Surkhet, the comrade would not disembarking. through the moonlit night. z Himalaya in Holland The third Himalaya Film Festival in Amstelveen, the Netherlands, will include about 60 films and documentaries and highlight some of the dramatic changes taking place in this mountain range that sprawls 2,700 km across India, Pakistan, Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan. To be held from 4-6 November, the festival will open with a concert by Nepali band Nepathya and will also include lectures by filmmakers and other experts. Works by Nepali filmmakers Dil Bhusan Pathak, Kiran Krishna Shrestha, Tsering Rhitar Sherpa, Dinesh Deokota, Subina Shrestha and Dhurba Basnet are on the program. z www.himalayafilmfestival.nl/eng/ index.php NATION 21 - 27 OCTOBER 2005 #269 11 We heard it on the radio Kathmandu Valley residents have come to rely overwhelmingly on FM stations for news

survey of urban and rural was their preferred source of news ban curtailed the people’s residents of the news. The proportion relying on right to information, and only A Kathmandu Valley has FM for news was lower in the five percent supported the shown that people have come to core urban areas where government’s claim that news on depend overwhelmingly on FM newspapers still predominate. A FM helped ‘terrorist activities’. radio for news and dismiss the slightly higher proportion of Even more surprisingly, nearly 80 government’s claim that radio women watched news on tv percent of respondents said they news helps ‘terrorists’. while more men listened to the supported the campaign by The survey of radio news on FM. While television journalists to pressure the listenership indicated that the seemed to be an evening government to lift the ban on FM. broadcast of news, discussions medium, listening to news on There are 56 FM stations all and current affairs programs on FM was a morning ritual for over Nepal 16 of them are FM has transformed the way many. operating in the Kathmandu Nepalis get news and this could A majority of those surveyed Valley. Although government have far-reaching consequences listened to entertainment officials state incorrectly that no for newspapers and television. programs on FM but most said country in the world allows news Although the government’s the program they listened to on FM, its own Radio Nepal ban on news on FM after the most avidly was news although a broadcasts news on 100FM and MIN BAJRACHARYA Ferburary First royal takeover was majority in the below-30 age relays the BBC World Service in widely criticised, this is the first bracket said they listened to English on 103FM. time a public opinion poll has entertainment with more Even the democratically- shown just how unpopular it interest. Reasons for preferring elected government under was. Half the respondents said news on FM was: clarity, Minister of Information and they either stopped listening to conciseness, frequency of Communication Jaya Prakash Step back and wait All his life he has done just that

“One at a time, can’t you hear?” the officer yells at a boy who almost follows his father to the counter. We are in the immigration queue at the Tribhuban International Airport. The boy steps back and smiles, slightly embarrassed for having broken such a simple rule. “Is there anyone named Rajshree R L Singh?” a man calls out and a young woman steps out of the queue and sighs, “Finally!” She has already waited for five long minutes. Two ladies accompany her. “They’re with me,” she announces as they strut past the long queue and you watch them in silence. Their aide quickly collects their passports and presents them to the immigration officer, who asks the boy to “hold on” as he stamps the ladies’ passports. The boy holds on. His father moves aside KIRAN PANDAY and waits for his son. The officer hands over the passports to the radio or reduced the time they broadcasts. A third of the Gupta had in 2001 tried to aide and bids the ladies spent listening after FM stations respondents said they still listen impose a ban on independent NEPALI PAN namaste. In a moment, Mr and stopped broadcasting news. to Radio Nepal (a majority of news on FM, but it was Shradha Ghale Mrs Singh also appear on the The survey results indicate them living in rural and overturned in a landmark scene and a boisterous family that a majority of citizens don’t suburban areas) and the reason Supreme Court decision that reunion takes place right beside the immigration counter. No one complains because just see the ban on FM news as was habit and also to find out allowed news and current affairs. everyone knows that’s just the way things are in Nepal. something affecting journalists the government’s perspective. The Supreme Court stepped in They bypass all security hassles and reach home long before but also as a restriction on their The most popular FM station again on 11 August with an you step out of the airport. Outside it is drizzling. No one is there to right to information. The in the Valley was Kantipur, interim order to lift the ban on pick you up because no one in your circle owns a vehicle with a findings also show that the followed by HITS FM, HBC, radio news after the royal special license plate or a permit that allows you to go past the public take a dim view of the KATH and Sagarmatha. This takeover. military pillbox at the airport gate. Your luggage is heavy and you promulgation of the media order could change for news The media control ordinance desperately wish someone was there to help. But none of your control ordinance by the king on since some of those stations signed by the king on the night of relatives would be allowed into the airport for security reasons. 7 October. don’t broadcast bulletins. 7 October once again makes it There is a mysterious procedure to obtain a special permit. Most of The survey was carried out in Asked about the ban on news illegal for FM stations to your relatives don’t know how to go about it. Much as they wish to August for the Social Science after 1 February, 31 percent of broadcast news, and defines welcome you, they do not want to stand on the road and brave the heat and rain. There is nothing else for you to do but get inside the Baha among a purposeful people above 45 said they information as content about ridiculously expensive and amazingly dilapidated airport taxi. sampling of 300 respondents stopped listening to FM stations weather, sports, traffic, At least you have a choice. Those who cannot afford the taxi drag segregated by gender, profession after it went into effect. Half environment and health. This has their luggage all the way to the Ring Road. It is now pouring. Some and among residents of inner- those below 45 said they listened created an uproar in the media take out newspapers and handkerchiefs to cover their heads. city, suburban and rural areas of to radio less. Forty-two percent community and the FNJ has said Outside the main gate, a group of people stand near the the Valley. of those younger than 30 said the it will once more take the matter intersection and wait under umbrellas. There isn’t even a bench for Although residents of ban on news made no difference up at the Supreme Court. them to sit on. Some must have been waiting for hours because Kathmandu Valley turned to to their listening habits. Meanwhile, all news-oriented FM they are soaked. These are people with neither connections nor television slightly more The most revealing finding stations defied the ordinance special permits. These are also people who must follow the rules at all frequently than FM stations, was that an overwhelming 85 right through Dasain and said times. In fact, you may say rules are created for people like them. more than half stated that FM percent of those polled said the they would continue to do so The cars with the permits and special connections glide past one after another, whereas they are not even allowed near the gate. “Back, despite the stiff fines and jail back, further back,” a security guard shoos away a Madhesi-looking man terms. who wants to know if the Nepalganj flight is on schedule. The man has waited for an hour. His wife and child cannot get around town on their FM Radio as a Source for News: own. He needs to know what’s going on. He wants to make a phone call Is This a Constructed Imagination or Is It Really Popular? but the nearest phone is way across the street. He must remain near the September 2005 exit just in case his family arrives. The security guard seems like his only source of information on the muddy sidewalk. He doesn’t know that Survey conducted for Social Science the rude guard has no clue about flight schedules. Baha with Premdarshan Sapkota, “Just wait, man, can’t you wait?” the guard repeats in irritation. The Paribesh Pradhan, Kabita Pokhrel, man steps back and waits. He does not raise his voice because this is Indu Adhikary, Prava Viswakarma, nothing new to him. All his life he has stepped back and waited. Rajan Karmacharya 12 KASHMIR EARTHQUAKE 21 - 27 OCTOBER 2005 #269 land area falls within seismically active zones. A particularly worrisome area in the Himalaya has witnessed four gigantic earthquakes in the past century, each of a magnitude of 8.5 or greater. Worse to come This is the great faultline where the Indian plate collides with the Eurasian plate Geophysics collides with geopolitics in Kashmir generating enormous strain to build up along 2,400 km of mountains. The energy PRAFUL BIDWAI and relief. This won’t endear either accumulated in the rocks is suddenly government to the Kashmiris. Pakistan has released in catastrophic earthquakes every cited “domestic sensitivities” for refusing few hundred years. And yet, India is he 8 October earthquake that India’s prompt offer of aid and joint relief. building the Tehri Dam smack on this great devastated Kashmir suddenly Islamabad fears accepting Indian aid would faultline, near the very location where T rendered the India-Pakistan border be seen as a sign of weakness. This geophysicists forecast another monster meaningless. Like its geophysical origins, replicates India’s own repeated recent earthquake of intensity 8.5 in the next 50 to its effects too cut across politically drawn rejection of aid offers during the Gujarat 100 years. This would release more than 30 boundaries. At the very least this warranted earthquake and the tsunami. Pakistan even times the energy delivered by the a cross-border response. Both topography spurned a loan of light helicopters to airlift Muzaffarabad event, probably breaching the and the destruction of road links logically people trapped in remote villages. dam, downstream of which some 300 dictated that Pakistan should have Evidently, false notions of “national pride” million people live. This is an invitation to a accessed ruined valleys through the Indian matter more to these governments than calamity of biblical proportions. segment of Kashmir. The two governments saving the lives of their citizens. India and Pakistan’s failure is evident could have cooperated to rescue people India generously offered relief material on a less catastrophic scale too. They have and rush relief. to Pakistan. But it has refused to share done little by way of designing earthquake- But India and Pakistan failed to seismic data for fear that it could be used to resistant structures, evolving a building summon up a joint response. That was their detect the precise location of any future code and enforcing it at least in the most second tragedy. The cause of the nuclear experiments (including non- vulnerable areas. Some Indian cities now earthquake lay in plate tectonics. The explosive tests called hydro nuclear tests). insist that new buildings comply with some cause of the second crisis was entirely In reality, such locations are known to the earthquake-resistant features. But these manmade and political. Disaster entire international science establishment are inadequate according to seismologists management and relief has always been through thousands of seismographs placed and architects. Besides, builders often politicised in the subcontinent. This all over the globe. cheat on these and obtain false certificates. became glaringly obvious with the tsunami The real reason for India’s refusal lies Old buildings are meant to be retrofitted last December, when India was more in its nuclear ambitions and its opposition join IRIS even though it would give it real- with modifications to make them anxious to project its power in the Indian to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. The time access to seismic data. Although this earthquake-proof. But these are based on Ocean by dispatching relief teams than to CTBT remains a dead letter because would still not allow earthquake prediction, obsolete and unsound principles. help its own citizens. The politics of powerful states, including the US, have it could substantially cut the response time Official apathy is thus leaving millions disaster this time is taking place two years refused to ratify it. But some verification to earthquakes and save lives. of people vulnerable to the next great after the India-Pakistan peace process arrangements agreed under it have become Such indifference towards human life is earthquake, which is due any day in the began. Which goes to show just how fragile operational in another guise. For instance, part of a larger bureaucratic culture of seismic gap between Dehradun and it is. there is a network of 128 high-quality apathy, which results in appalling levels of Kathmandu. The two governments swear by seismic stations maintained by the disaster unpreparedness and Kashmir yet they failed to respond to Incorporated Research Institutions for mismanagement of relief. Earthquakes are Praful Bidwai is a senior Indian journalist and appeals by Kashmiri leaders from both Seismology in Washington, a consortium a normal feature of India’s geological author of South Asia on a Short Fuse: Nuclear sides of the Line of Control for joint rescue created by universities. India has refused to make-up. More than half of the country’s Politics and the Future of Global Disarmament. Lessons of Kashmir for Kathmandu My home is still standing but my soul is buried in the rubble

hen I heard of the 8 killed by the collapse of mortality among children was building authorities so that October earthquake I buildings. I had a camera but did highest as they were trapped in future generations will not be W went to my hometown not have the heart to take a single collapsing classrooms. killed by their own houses. of Muzaffarabad in Azad Kashmir picture nor to stay longer as is The lack of open spaces I am thankful to the to see and evacuate my family. I expected in our culture. contributed to the high death sympathy and financial aid also wanted to assess the loss to Viewing television footage of toll and large numbers died from shown by the Nepali people and Muzaffarabad, its people and the tragedy doesn’t even begin to being hit by falling debris. The His Majesty’s Government. I infrastructure. I reached the town give the true scale of the victims are now questioning the thank the staff at the on foot a few days after the catastrophe and the loss of technical and professional International Centre for disaster only to find a place human lives, property, the abilities of their town planners Integrated Mountain bereavement and the shock of and structural engineers. They Development (ICIMOD) in EYE WITNESS those who miraculously are asking their government to Kathmandu for their support. survived. look into building codes and These gestures of solidarity Farooq Ahmad I lost 23 relatives from our strengthen them in line with lighten my burden at a time extended family. Friends, mountain people: rethink and acceptable earthquake-proof when I mourn the deaths of where only the ghosts roamed. teachers, doctors, neighbours and reinvent the designs of your guidelines. They are also many friends, relatives, Most of the streets were filled entire communities were homes, roads, bridges and all questioning why most of the laboratory staff and other with debris with the dead destroyed. It was amazing to see infrastructure. government buildings fell, colleagues. They provide me underneath. All government that the house which I had built I request everyone to killing and injuring their personal inspiration to restart the buildings, except the Secretariat, in 1986 was still standing and disseminate this message occupants. difficult task of helping rebuild the Legislative Assembly, the that was why my elderly father, throughout the region. Mountain For us mountain people it is my town and my neighbourhood, Supreme Court and the High my brother and his family all areas are naturally prone to time to learn a lesson from to leave behind the misery I Court buildings,were in ruins. survived. This might be a miracle disasters and we must be Kashmir’s tragedy. Let’s work witnessed and to begin moving Schools, the university and but I see it from another especially mindful of the design together and insist on framing forward into the future. all the colleges were heaps of perspective: the quality of of school buildings. Most of the and implementing a code of Farooq Ahmad, PhD, is a sustainable rubble. Most people working in structure, design and materials schools in the earthquake area conduct sensitive to disasters for agriculture expert at ICIMOD in these institutions had been used. Here is a message for all have been destroyed and local, provincial and national Kathmandu. SPORTS 21 - 27 OCTOBER 2005 #269 13 Call me coach Coaches are most effective when they lead by example

“Son, I want you to be a doctor or an engineer, or a pilot.” Sound familiar? Did you feel the pressure to study science and math while growing up in Nepal? Was there really a choice? Although I experienced some of it, I am thankful my parents allowed me to explore other interests and let me choose my own path. My search eventually took me to a profession called coaching. In 1988, I came to Luther College in the United States to pursue a double degree in international relations and public communication. When I graduated in 1992, I wanted to work for the United Nations. I took a year GAME POINT off to work as a tennis coach in South Carolina with the famous Sujay Lama tennis teacher Dennis Van Der Meer. Soon, I had fallen head over heels in love with tennis and made coaching my career. Very early on, I realised I had a knack for motivating and

inspiring students. What I lacked in knowledge of the finer points KUNDA DIXIT of tennis, I made up for with positive energy, enthusiasm and passion. To hone my technical and tactical skills, I obtained professional certification from the two largest tennis teaching organisations (PTR and USPTA). And for the last 13 years I have worked very hard to improve as a coach. I learn something new Just for fun every day and that is exciting. Success with the junior players gave me the opportunity to work with professional players. My time on the WTA tour with Indian golfers are coming to Kathmandu in professional athletes such as Amanda Coetzer (South Africa) and Naoko Sawamatsu (Japan) was great for my growth as a coach. droves with their families for holidays Working with players from all over the world gave me a sense that my college degree after all did not go to waste. I discovered being group of 26 Indian tourists wholeheartedly. Zom Hranga, a-half hours. Also a four a coach at the collegiate level was my true passion. were in Kathmandu this who runs a GSA for Malaysian handicap, Atwal says, “This is A coach is A week. But they hadn’t come Airlines in Kolkata, admits being an amazing course, very essentially a to gamble in the casinos, on a bit sceptical about coming to challenging and with lots of ups teacher and the best honeymoons or to shop. Nepal to play golf but said after a and downs so you get a great teacher is one No, they were here for three nine-hole practice this week he workout.” who knows days of golfing at the Gokarna would come back. “It’s an The group meets informally his subject, is Forest Golf Resort in what could amazing course, the natural for golfing in India and every passionate signify a new trend in tourism. ambience is not like anything I year holds the fiercely-contested about it, is Indeed, the only thing that have seen,” he said, “The course Mango Cup between teams from well prepared unites this disparate group of itself is narrow and very Noida and Delhi at the ITC Golf and makes Indians from Delhi, Mumbai and challenging, if you get into the Club in Gurgaon. Such is the learning fun Kolkata is their passion for golf. rough it is difficult to extricate lure of the game that some of the for students. Ankur Prakash, a four yourself.” wives have also taken it up. They are also handicap golfer, had heard about The tourists broke up into But in Gokarna, the women role models Gokarna and came here in August three groups of three players each and children were either at the and have a on a reconnaissance mission. and played a Stable Ford match. Le Meridien spa or sightseeing at tremendous What he saw made him so Often the ball would go off into nearby Boudha. “We are golf impact on students. excited he phoned his friends in the wild and players could be widows,” explained Ruma Roka, Coaches are Delhi from his hotel room and seen entering the forest to hit it “but we are merry widows. These most effective immediately started organising back onto the fairway. “There was men will be boys.” when they this trip. a lot of jungle walking and For advertising executive lead by “None of us are pros, we just mountain climbing going on but Sabal Singh Sikhawat from example. To enjoy the game and with Nepal’s it was fun,” joked Kaizer Roka, an Mumbai, the trip was a great way teach scenery and Gokarna’s amazing Indian exporter of Nepali descent to combine a holiday with discipline, I must be disciplined. To teach loyalty, I must be loyal. setting I knew everyone was going who says he found practicing his family and friends with a game To teach ethics, I must be ethical. As a coach, you play many to enjoy it,” Ankur told us Nepali with the caddies almost as that each of them loves. “Golf is roles. Sometimes you have to be tough and demanding and other waving from the Number One enjoyable as the game itself. not a power game, it’s a great times you are there to give a hug or just listen. hole at the view of the Himalaya Kim Atwal, a cousin of leveler,” he explained, “You play One of the best parts of my job is the opportunity to work with and the thick jungles of the famous Indian professional golfer according to your ability and players over a period of four years. I can help them in all phases nature sanctuary. Arjun Atwal, was ecstatic after more than anything it is the of their game and track their progress. Having developmental The others agreed completing 18 holes in four-and- camaraderie and the setting.” plans for each of my students and setting short and long term goals is very important. My students not only need to know their destination but understand that the emphasis must be on the process itself. Positive feedback and the belief you have in them through the good and bad times is vital for your students’ development. Effective coaching means holding your students accountable for their actions and being consistent in your dealings with them. The greatest thing about coaching is seeing your students succeed on and off the court. “Son, I want you to be a doctor, or engineer, or a coach.”

Sujay Lama will be conducting a tennis clinic for Nepali children in Kathmandu in December. [email protected] 14 CITY 21 - 27 OCTOBER 2005 #269

ABOUT TOWN Jason Statham returns in his signature role: ex-Special Forces operative Frank Martin, aka the “Transporter”. Now retired as a EXHIBITIONS professional driver, Martin is living in Miami, where he is ™ Silent Doorways, Dark Windows & Soulful Streets, photos by temporarily filling in for a friend as the chauffeur for twin Herbert Grammatikapolous at Siddhartha Art Gallery, brothers in a wealthy family. He develops unexpected friendships 23 October. with the brothers. When the boys are abducted, Martin ™ Art Walk Traditional artworks at Hotel Yak and Yeti, Darbar immediately becomes involved in protecting the children and Marg. 4248999 exposing the criminals behind the plot. He must use all his ™ Arts from Tibet, Dolpo and the Himalayas by Pasang at skills to bring them to safety and discover the kidnapper’s master Baber Mahal Revisited plan before it’s too late. FESTIVALS AND EVENTS

Quest Entertainment Quest Entertainment Call 4442220 for show timings

Quest Entertainment www.jainepal.com ™ Why is the new generation not interested in political Quest Entertainment Quest Entertainment leadership? Discussion at Martin Chautari, 23 October, 3PM. 4256239 ™ Death and Impermanence, one day course led by Anila Tenzin KATHMANDU AIR QUALITY Namtrol from Kopan Monastery at HBMC, 22 October. The Dasain holidays did wonders to clear up Kathmandu’s air. With significant 4414843 reduction in traffic on the streets, even along normally busy streets such as ™ Women in Concert 23 October, 7.30 PM, Putalisadak and Patan Hospital, the average concentration of PM10 particles (harmful matter less than 10 microns in diameter that lodge in the human body) Hotel Shangri-La. last week was within the national standard of 120 micrograms per cubic metre. ™ United Nations Day 24 October. However, this week with vehicles back on the street, the pollution level is bound ™ Disarmament Week 24-30 October. to go up once again. ™ Hey DJ, party at Hotel Yak & Yeti featuring 9-15 October 2005 in micrograms per cubic metre. DJ Mukul from London, 28 October, 8PM Source: www.mope.gov.np onwards, Rs 699. 4410798 ™ The British School Football Tournament at Dasrath Stadium, Hazardous >425 30 October. [email protected] Harmful 351 to 425 ™ Plight of Widows in Nepal by Lily Thapa, 23 November, Unhealthy 121 to 350 9.30 AM Shankar Hotel. O k 61 to 120 Go od < 60 MUSIC ™ Singhini Research Centre performs traditional Newari music Putalisadak Patan H Thamel Kirtipur Bhaktapur Matsyagaun and dances, 26 October at 6PM. ™ Project Peace 2005, third Thamel Street Dance Music NEPALI WEATHER by MAUSAM BEED Festival, with British DJ Mukul and various other local DJs, The high pressure prevailing over the 29 October, 2PM onwards. Tibetan plateau sucked in dry cool air from ™ Sundar Shanta Nepal travelling peace concert, 15-30 October. the northwest over Dasain giving us the ™ Jatra Friday nights, live music by Siron. 4256622 spectacular weather and views, but it moved on to be replaced with this Bay of ™ Unplugged sessions with Strings, Jatra Saturday nights. Bengal depression that is fighting a tug-o- 4256622 KATHMANDU war against the westerlies. Central and ™ Live Music at Juneli Bar, Hotel de l’Annapurna, Darbar Marg. eastern Nepal will continue to receive 4221711 moderate to heavy showers into the ™ Ladies Night Wednesdays, one free cocktail to the ladies at weekend in the midhills and the season’s first snowfall down to 4,000 m. Some Jatra. breakaway clouds have moved south over ™ Musician Night every Tuesday at Moksh, 7.30 PM onwards. Nepal from last Wednesday. Even when 5526212 the sun comes back early next week, ™ Cadenza Live! Upstairs Jazz Bar Lazimpat, every Saturday expect maximum temperatures to go down and Wednesday. to 24 and minimums in the single digits. The Kathmandu Valley will see ™ Live Jazz by the pond at 1905, Kantipath. 4225272 characteristic winter fog that will take till mid-morning to burn off. FOOD KATHMANDU VALLEY ™ Signature Pasta and Italian Wine 20-31 October, 6.30-9.30 at Yak & Yeti. 4248999 Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue ™ Kebab and Biryani Festival, Cuisine from the house of Mughals at Hyatt Regency 5-20 November, 6.30 PM onwards. 4491234 22-126 23-11 6 23-11 25-09 24-09 ™ Sushi and Saki Promotion at Hyatt Regency. 4491234 ™ The Sidewalk BBQ with live jazz, Fridays, Shangri-La. 4412999 ™ BBQ Dinner at Summit Hotel, Fridays, 6:30- 9:30 PM. 5521810 ™ The Chimney Restaurant Signature dishes at Hotel Yak and Yeti. 4248999 ™ BBQ by the Swimming Pool at Le Meridien, Rs 888 ™ Daily Delite lunch at Shambala Café, Hotel Shangri-La, Lajimpat. 4412999 ™ The Jazz Gourmet Fine dining redefined, Shangri-La. 4412999 ™ Annapurna Value Lunch at Rs 299. 4221711 g]kfnL ™ Autumn Chillout Moments at 1905 Kantipath, delightful entrées and lounge grooves by DjPj. 4225272 Daily 2045-2115 BBC GETAWAYS ™ Junglewalks, rafting, elephant rides all at Jungle Base Camp g]kfnL ;]jf Lodge, Bardia. [email protected] ™ Exciting Holiday Packages with Le Meridien, Kathmandu. Radio Sagarmatha 4451212 P.O. Box 6958, Bakhundole, Lalitpur, Nepal ™ Nature Tour at Shivapuri national park from Park Village Tel: ++977-1-545680, 545681, Resort. 4434705 Fax: ++ 977-1- 530227 ™ Gokarting Rs 200 for 4 laps, 4361500 [email protected], www.radiosagarmatha.org 16 21 - 27 OCTOBER 2005 #269 New decrees from the ordnance factory

eing an organ of the state and thanks to the new ordnance given to us in media, our editorial today will delve into how there B can be no two opinions about the ground reality that things are www.nepalitimes.com really looking up in the past eight months. And since we have no choice in the matter you can be sure we will leave out no detail however slight as we go about enumerating these accomplishments. And, yes, it’s the money talking: Rs 500,000 fine in unmarked Rs 1,000 bills or two years in jail, whichever comes first. None of us had any inkling about it but it appears that the country had been taking great leaps forward. It was such a top secret that no one had a clue. America may be the land of opportunities, but we are a land of opportunists. Whenever our UNDER MY HAT leaders see an opportunity they Kunda Dixit grab it. And thank heavens for that, otherwise we’d still be living in an age when FM radio stations actually broadcast news. That is why as Nepalis we shouldn’t be asking what more the government can do to us, but how we can give it back to the government. Given the plethora of accomplishments in the government’s pandora’s box, we are in the horns of dilemma. Where do we start enumerating them? But someone has to open the can of worms, and being the new official mouthpiece that task has fallen upon us. So, let’s begin with this week’s main achievement which is the good news that Nepal has established diplomatic relations with Turkmenistan. About time. I know there is always a question that springs to the minds of most Nepalis when they see a news item like that, and the question is: “Where on earth is Turkmenistan?” The simple answer is that the government hasn’t told us, so we can’t tell you. It’s a closely guarded secret. As a part of the government’s diplomatic offensive (Official motto: “Let’s be as offensive as possible to interfering diplomats”) Nepal has also signed a Non-aggression Pact with the Kingdom of Tonga which significantly reduces the chances of full-scale war breaking out between the two kingdoms. This will allay fears in many patriotic minds about threats to our national security from the Tongans so that we, as Nepalis, can rest even easier than we have been resting so far in the days to come. (Editor’s note: To find out where the Kingdom of Tonga is, go to www.earth.google.com/). As the official mouth organ we must also for the record make a note of the Nepali Congress striking off any reference to constitutional monarchy from its party preamble and replacing it with an absolute ruling dynasty in its own Central Committee. The other national accomplishment this week was that Nepal has climbed in the global corruption rankings of Transparency International from number 90 to 117. Now, some of you may think that is bad news. But we believe it all depends on whether you are counting from the bottom or from the top. And since we have traditionally taken a bottoms-up approach on these matters in this country, this is great news. Nepal is now officially recognised as a place to do shady arms deals and this can only help alleviate poverty in certain echelons of society. Amidst all these shining achievements the only dark spot is the fact that Tribhuvan Interchangeable Airport has still not been relocated to Pokhara in a blatant disregard of recent royal directives. Let this be a warning that department heads will face disciplinary action if the airport is not moved to Pokhara forthwith. Do we have to use heavy ordnance or what? ISSN 1814-2613 CDO Regd No. 194/056/57 Lalitpur, Central Region Postal Regd. No. 04/058/59