#70 30 November - 6 December 2001 20 pages Rs 20

Editorial: Just another Third World war 2 CK Lal: A state in dire straits 2 Gopal Siwakoti ‘Chintan’: In times like these 6 Puskar Bhusal: Peace pretence 7 From the Nepali press 15-16 CS KARKI/KANTIPUR COMMENT byKUNDA DIXIT Let’s get this over with

et us be perfectly clear about this: the Maoists brought this on themselves. This campaign must be brought to a LThey willfully took the “people’s war” to the next phase to bring down this swift and effective conclusion with the country’s constitutional monarchy and least amount of Nepali blood shed. parliamentary democracy. While there may have been a few other options, it is clear why the elected government decided declare a state of national emergency. By breaking the truce and the talks to attack theRoyal Nepal Army last Friday, the from those years. Maoists knew exactly what they were command and control, and a serious danger Here in Nepal, civil society, media, getting into. They must have foreseen they went for armed struggle, the Maoists’ is of internecine violence. human rights organisations and the how the government would respond, they Emergencies are not pretty. In 1975-77,intelligenstia must understand this if must have known it would plunge the and-file is now taking a heavy beating. still in essence a political cause. A defanged Maoist movement is the best bet that the Indian democracy suffered one as Indira they are to be true monitors of the country into civil war. And yet they went As repeated often, the killing of Nepalis Gandhi and her son Sanjay used it to try Nepali Emergency just begun: they can ahead and did it. Why? party will enter the political mainstream, as it by Nepalis cannot be a victory for anyone. should. There has always been space for their and rid the country of all its ills: the guard against its possible misuse. This is It was either an exaggerated sense of But that is exactly what the Maoists were ideology in the parliamentary arena. Naxalites were mowed down in West a test for our institutions: parliament, doing these past years, and now the tables their own strength and a complete mis- Impatient for power, the Maoists took Bengal, trains ran ontime, and there were government, monarchy, judiciary, reading of regional geopolitics. Or, it may turn. The Royal Nepal Army, which forced vasectomies. It is important to bureaucracy, army and police. It will be indicates a deep-seated division in the has held its fire for so long, now has the a violent short-cut rather than go the long- the alertness of media and civil society distance marathon of political organisation.understand that unlike the socialist leadership in which the hardliners now havedifficult job of bringing this campaign to a Jayaprakash Narayan and others who that will ensure democracy emerges the upper hand, and the cadre have run swift, effective and conclusive end with the They decided on a re-run of the Shining stronger from this test so it can at last Path in the Himalaya. During the past fourIndira had it in for, Sher Bahadur away with the agenda. least amount of Nepali blood shed. The Deuba’s emergency is directed solely at deliver socio-economic development to focus of this campaign must clearly be to months of truce, they also realised that all Nepalis. Either way, the country is now in it for the there is a lot else that comes out of the the Maoists. It must also be said that long haul, and the long-awaited (and feared) disarm the rebels and get them to surrender, Indian democracy has still not recovered rather than to eliminate them. The army barrel of a gun: criminalisation of a once- clash between insurgents and soldiers is a valid struggle, erosion of discipline, lack of reality. All indications from the first week of can only neutralise the Maoists, it cannot army action are that after Dang, where the solve the “Maoist problem”. Even though RNA was caught napping, the Maoist rank-

Weekly Internet Poll # 10 Q. Should the Maoists be required to disarm before further talks? Prachanda’s war path BINOD BHATTARAI ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 1949 (2006 BS): Pushpalal Pradhan 1994:A blow-by-blowThe NCP (Mashal) split account again. The of the emergence of the Nepal Communist Party formed the Nepal Communist Party trated street riots sparked off by rumours Election(Maoist) Commission from did its not inception,recognise through the splits inof Hrithikthe Roshancommunist remarks. movement, (NCP). Ideology was closer to the thenthe faction led by Baburam Bhattarai and Soviet Union than Mao’s China. theits Maoists, brief instead honeymoon approving the with United parliamentary democracy,22 January the 2001: start Koirala of got theroyal bloody 1971 (2028): Mohan Bikarm Singh (MBS)People’s“people’s Front. The war” “optionless” to the Maoists present state of national approvalemergency. for ordinances to set up a formed “Central Nucleus” patterned afterboycotted the 1994 mid-term polls. Some paramilitary force and appoint regional the Chinese communists. years later the court ruled that Bhattarai’s administrators. The bill failed to be was the legitimate party, but it was too ratified by parliament. 1974 (2031): MBS organises the Fourthlate. by Krishna Prasad Bhattarai won the majority in parliamentary elections. February 25, 2001: After their conven- Convention and formalised the NCP Februarysplit. 13, 1996: The United People’s The Maoists are latter-day offshoots of Bhattarai appointed Deuba to find a waytion, Maoists adopted a new doctrine Selected responses on p. 8 Total votes: 1236 this stream. Front of Baburam Bhattarai submittedout a of the Maoist crisis, and he held “Prachanda Path”—a combination list of 40 demands to prime minister Sherinformal talks. Deb Gurung and SureshMarxism-Leninism-Maoism advocating a 1983 (2040): Singh’s NCP (Masal) split Bahadur Deuba that it wanted met by Ale17 Magar, senior Maoist leaders, weredual strategy of simultaneous armed The world’s most reliable again, softer leftists stay with Nirmal February. But the Maoists went on the freed in the give-and-take. conflict and urban mass uprising. The Lama. Hardliners split again, Mohanoffensive four days before the deadline March 2000: Girija Prasad Koirala ousts‘mass uprising’ was spearheaded by Baidya (who now goes bynom the de attacking the police post in Rukum, frontal organisations of student, women, UPS for PCs KP Bhattarai, accusing him of failing to guerre Kiran in the Maoist ranks) walkedRolpa, Gorkha and Sindhuli. farmers and labour unions, which come Recommended by Microsoft, maintain law and order. Koirala takes IBM, NEC and Novell with the “revolutionary” suffix. away with those believing in Mao-styleNovember 1994-May 1999: Political over, promising to even use the army to revolution and formed the NCP (Mashal).disarray, coalition government with everyfight the Maoists. There is a debate March 6, 2001: Reading Prachanda 1989 (2046): Pushpa Kamal Dahal, political alliance of Right and Left, andabout who controls the army: the primePath to mean the Maoists were softening, an epidemic of corruption favoured theminister or the king. government met a long-standing rebel Comrade Prachanda, took over as generalrapid spread of Maoist activities. The secretary of the Mohan Baidya stream. 25 September 2000: In the biggest and pre-condition for dialogue and government tried to crack down the Maoist announced the whereabouts of those 1990 (2047): NCP (Mashal), Nirmal activities twice. “Operation Romeo” most audacious attack of its kind, aboutin custody. investigated and arrested suspected 1,000 Maoists raid Dunai, headquarters Lama’s faction and other smaller groups of Dolpo district in which 14 policemen2-7 April 2001: Maoists gunned down came together to form Ekata Kendra Maoists. Operation Kilo Sierra (1998/99) was a search-and-arrest campaign in theare killed. Koirala wanted to send the over 70 policemen in separate attacks in Back-UPS 500 (Unity Centre). Masal decided to boycott army in hot pursuit, but the brass balked. general elections, so Baburam Bhattaraimidwest. Police atrocities peaked. The Rukumkot and Naumule. Police chief Compact design with surge protected Home Minister Govinda Raj Joshi • joined Unity Centre which won nine seatsLokendra B Chand government set up the Pradeep Sumsher Rana admitted he outlet for Laser printers resigned in protest four days later. in the 1991 (2048) polls to become theDhami Commission to find ways to resolve could not fight Maoists anymore. Three battery back-up outlets • third largest party in parliament. Thethe crisis, but he was ousted and that was27 the October 2000: In the first ever one-to-Opposition UML stepped up street Lightning and surge suppression • United General Conference which last time anyone heard about the report. protests against Koirala, while Deuba EMI/RFI filters for noise filtration one between government and Maoists,stepped up campaign to unseat him. • convened the same year approved May-June 1999: The Nepali Congress ledDeputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra • Communication interface port (auto Prachanda’s plan to launch a “people’s shutdown for all major desktop OS) Poudel met Maoist central committee war” and out-voted Nirmal Lama’s “mass member, Rabindra Shrestha. • Quickswap™ battery replacement uprising” line. • Quick Recharge after power outages 3 November 2000: Government released 1992 (2049): The Unity Centre fared • Save battery power with user high-profile Maoists including Dinesh adjustable option switches badly in local government elections, and Sharma. The rebels denounced the • Industry approval (safe & reliable) the party formally had a name change: insurgency only to retract their statement. NCP (Maoist). ®®® 24-26 December 2000: Maoists infil-

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Computerland Building, New Plaza, Ramshahpath, Kathmandu Tel: 430858, 430859, 431199, 431746 Fax: 430641 E-mail: [email protected] The Total Solutions Company Go to p6 accountable elected local bodies can finally deliver development. 222 EDITORIAL 30 NOVEMBER - 6 DECEMBER NEPALI 2001 TIMES INTERVIEW 30 NOVEMBER - 6 DECEMBER NEPALI 2001 TIMES 333 Nepali Times is published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Your district is said to be among the Chief Editor:Kunda Dixit Editor:Anagha Neelakantan ones where some decentralisation is Design:Swosti Rajbhandari, Kiran Maharjan government crackdown. [email protected], www.nepalitimes.com working, how is it with the other Advertising:Sunaina Shah, Anup Adhikary After that, again following Mao’s tenets, the rebels picked off [email protected] districts? Subscription:Anil Karki [email protected] police stations one by one, first in their base areas and later all over At present the performance of a majority of Sales:Sudan Bista [email protected] the country. When the slaughter of policeman started resembling a “Where decentralisation has brought Sanchaya Kosh Building, Block A-4th Floor, Lalitpur the districts is good, as regards taking forward GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: 01-543333-7,an outdated utopia. They cashed in on the people’s silent rageduck at shoot, the government got ready to set up a paramilitary and Fax: 01-521013 Printed at Jagadamba Press:persistent 01- injustice and inequality, the frustration that political freedompass a public security ordinance. This brought down the Koirala the process of decentralisation. Another good 521393 JUST ANOTHER THIRD WORLD WAR didn’t translate into even the hope of economic wellbeing. government in July, and the Maoists declared a truce and started side of decentralisation is transparency. After faring badly in the first post-1990 elections the comradesnegotiations. development, you don’t see Maoists.”Millions may leak out of the system in the his is just what most of us felt should never have happened.found justification A to wage an armed struggle even though the politicalIt may have been naïve of us to believe that the talks would get centre, but people may never get to know of prolonged, messy conflict with uncertain outcome, more death space existed for them to make their mark. It still exists. On theanywhere, ground, but we hoped it would work out because the alternative that. But even small leakages in the villages and misery for long-suffering Nepalis. The birthplace of the T armed struggle translated into wanton mayhem. (See chronology,was p.1).so horrific. The alternative was what we began to witness and districts cannot be hidden because people Buddha, a land known for tolerance and harmony, is now goingThis toculture be of killing off anyone who does not agree with youthis is sopast week. Krishna P Sapkota is the elected chairman of the District know how much money is there and what it better known as just another Third World war. Yet another hotcorrosive spot and irreversible, it will have a profound impact on the Nepali It is clear now that the Maoists took another of the Great is to be spent on. This makes local officials competing for the brief attention span of the world’s media. polity for decades to come, and long after the Maoists themselves have Development Committee of Kavre. A staunch UML activist, Helmsman’s helpful hints to regroup, re-arm and train during periods much more accountable, and combining this How could things have gone so wrong? It is futile lookingmoved too far on. cannot happen in the absence of decen- of rest. And when they did resume fire last Friday, it was with Sapkota represents a new breed of grassroots leaders who withhave democracy means inefficient or corrupt What is surprising to many is the acceleration of the Maoist tralisation. back to the roots of this conflict. After all, you can go as far back as decisive and vicious force, exposing the vulnerability of the the vision and commitment to take Nepal forward. He believespoliticians who do not deliver development you want. The 12 years of democratic decay, the Panchayatrevolution, years and its rapid spread in the past six years. You couldgovernment say the and the total failure of intelligence. don’t get re-elected. Pressure from the people that stifled dissent and let social pressures build up, a hundredstraw years was tinder dry, but it is also true that the rebels faced no real How is grassroots development going The emergency is not going to resolve the crisis. It depends on the future lies in local self-governance and genuine participationincreases the chances of correcting the of Rana rule, or the socio-cultural substrate of apathy and beliefresistance. in the Our elected leaders had neither the moral standing nor a grants from the state are minimal, which is whynow? mistakes. pre-ordained. proper understanding of what was fuelling the rural revolution.how All well we we demonstrate that we have learnt the lessons about by the people in shaping their own destiny.It is full of contradictions. School enrolment the past lapses that got us to this stage, and begin to correct them. local units have to depend on others for We know the roots of the problem. It is the prolonged neglecthad wasand institutional failure and a governance crisis. Like improving intelligence and undercover work, not alienating development projects. is low and we want to raise that through How is the Maoist insurgency affecting Early attention to genuine grassroots development, and giving the He spoke to Nepali Times last week in Dhulikhel. indifference of the Kathmandu elite and political class to the needs and civilians. And, of course, restoring the peoples’ confidence that that contradict its provisions still formal education—this year we even ran an development in Kavre? aspirations of the majority of Nepalis. This did not change withself-governance the act real teeth (as Krishna Prasad Sapkota advocatesthere is a government that cares about its people, and not just about Last year you organised a rally againstenrolment campaign. Many students came to exist.○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ These laws go against the We have some problems, nothing major. In People’s Movement and the mandate our leaders got from aon newly p. 3) would have pulled the rug from under the feet of the itself.Maoists. forest regulations, did it get any result?school but there was not enough classroom sovereign people. Maybe it was too much to expect democracyAnd tothe 1998 Kilo Sierra Two search and destroy offensive in the mid- spirit and content of decentrali- one VDC, the Maoists looted Rs 125,000 After that the government called off the ban space for them. The BPEP (Basic and allocated to the Village Development Program. start delivering development overnight, and maybe we underestimatedwest played right into Maoist hands by alienating the civilian population sation and they have not been Primary Education Project) has money for the role of the anti-democratic forces to prove the failure ofand the fuellingnew the revolution. Just as Mao predicted (see p 17 for excerpts repealed or amended. The on local bodies selling timber from commu- The people opposed it, and similar acts have construction, but we don’t get the money on order. But it doesn’t excuse the way most elected leaders showedfrom theRed Book), popular support grew in direct proportion to the Association of District Development nity forests, but they are still plotting to take not been repeated. They are said to have disdain for the peoples’ welfare, exhibited a singular lack of over forests that communities have nurtured time. So we plan projects and they are not Committees has even drafted the formed some “people’s governments” in some leadership, squabbled incessantly, squandered away their chance, and managed. funded. What happens when the people’s villages but the VDCs there are still working. and in the process gave democracy itself a bad name. amendments that are needed and expectations are raised and there is no The situation here is not as bad as we hear Adding fuel to the fire were the Maoists with their twisted vision of listed laws that need to be repealed. TheConvince us that decentralisation is thedelivery? It will just turn young people into about in other districts. government has initiated the process to only way to go. extremists. change only 10-11 laws that affect Without decentralisation, the people cannot Could true decentralisation also be the decentralisation, not all. The laws that are participate in self-governance. They cannot N ow there are other players like NGOs antidote to the violence? participate in decision-making. We say and how do you rate their performance OS actually creating problems in decentralisation Where there is effective development, I don’t and donor efforts to support them? have not been taken to parliament for changes. people are sovereign, but that power is not think there can be Maoist supporters. The about only being able to vote once in five In a democracy, both people and people’s demand for regional and ethnic autonomy of For example, which ones? years and be ruled the way the rulers like. organisations have to be strengthened. If the Maoists can be met through local The citizen’s role is reduced to just carrying organisations are strong then there could be Is self-governance just a slogan, or is The laws relating to community forests, water autonomy. We cannot yield to regional and party flags. I believe it is more important todictatorial tendencies, if people are too ethnic autonomy at this stage because that it really working? resources and mines are all contradictory. This has involve citizens in planning, decision- strong then there could be chaos—I believe would weaken national unity. I repeat: The central government has not been able to create made it very difficult for local bodies to function. making, building and maintaining projects balancing the two is critical. So it is not a decentralisation as the only way to ensure an environment for self-governance. The pre- On forests, for instance, there are many pending law which are important for their lives. Unless question of either/or between supporting thethat people feel they are a part of the requisite is that the central government has to be suits between the district forest offices and the there is genuine decentralisation, I don’t see DDC or supporting an NGO. It is civil political process and actually participating positive about decentralisation. It isn’t. At the DDCs, even at the Supreme Court. We want the the VDC or DDC being empowered to carrysociety as a whole that has to be strength- in making their own lives and the lives of grassroots we are convinced that self-governance older laws to be repealed, but this is not happening out local development. And until they have ened, because NGOs come from there. I their children better. When people are cannot move forward without decentralisation. because of the lack of political will. full authority, people at the grassroots will believe that many of today’s NGOs do not involved in determining their own Kathmandu still wants to hold on to power and Then there is the vexing question of not have a say in governance, and will not represent civil society, and their activities development, there are fewer people who concentrate resources in its own hands. This createsadministrative autonomy. Even civil servants in local are not sustainable. All DDCs are not government institutions are sent by the central feel an ownership towards activities designed are dissatisfied by what is not happening. a lot of problems at the local level. to make their lives beter. capable either, so capacity building, power government. The secretary at the DDC or the Local and resources should come together. Their How can things be changed? Development Officer, for example, is hired by the This may seem like I am spouting jargon, but democracy, decentralisation, monitoring systems also have to be We think provisions have to be made in the Local Development Ministry. Decentralisation has improved. We shouldn’t only be Constitution first. We have a good Constitution, itbeen working in some places, mainly because the people’s participation and sustainable development complement each other. Until decentralising projects, but devolving power lays out in the preamble that people should be staff and elected officials are committed. But that is to local units. That is when strong and allowed to participate in governing themselves not always the case. we have true decentralisation, we cannot talk through decentralisation. The Constitution should about autonomy, without autonomy people go a little beyond that and lay out the norms for So what is holding things up? won’t get their powers, and will not facilitating that process. All political parties now People talk about need for decentralisation only participate and won’t take ownership of projects. Speedy and sustainable development realise that was an oversight while writing the when they are out of power. When they are in countable” for their actions. Constitution, so if we can incorporate those Kathmandu, where they can actually make it Nobody has a right to kill provisions, we can ensure that existing criteria for happen, they do nothing. It’s all about power, and innocent civilians, either in the local governance cannot be changed by changing lawshow to keep it. On one hand we don’t have name of Allah or in the name of and rules by the central government. Then we needauthority to fix the tax rates and on the other the politics. If fanatics like the The challenge lies in keeping the laws to implement decentralisation. Taliban and so-called holy response to violent rebellion carefully warriors could understand this, the world will be a safer place. calibrated, and avoid “collateral But already have a decentralisation law… and take. For Maoists to drop Sajju damage” that inevitably result in any Yes, there is a decentralisation act, but other laws their demands for a republic and counter-insurgency operation. the formation of an interim Pennsylvania, USA. State of emergency is an extreme government was tantamount to STATE OF THE STATE by CK LAL we want. We want victory over shooting themselves in the foot. and there is no need to enunciate step, and the only thing that justifies it neglect and poverty. It might take NABOB OF NEGATIVISM If our government was nuances—but it offers solace in the is the result that it is supposed to decades, but at least we have The comments and observations expecting the Maoists to surren- face of challenges too complex to deliver. In military jargon, it’s called to start working for it. The army LETTERS of Kunda Dixit in “Under My Hat” der their arms without receiving So they killed two birds with one is not the strength of a nation, it are best left under his hat. I was comprehend. The problem with any SHARP (Search operations to identify $70,000,000 even nominal concessions, then whether it is really true. I would stone—challenged the government, does not ensure peace and reading his “Mother of all conspiracy theory is that it’s too rebel hideouts, Hot pursuit to nab The 23 November attack on devoted to national developmentit is living in a fool’s paradise be glad if you could clarify the and showed that their figure-head security. If you ask me, you will inventions” (#68) and I was deterministic—even if you “know” terrorists, Annihilation of terror the army base in Dang should by just showing hastiness toand jeopardising our collective matter. taken unaware. In Salleri, they win my heart and mind if you struck by how one person can leaders do not call all the shots. about a “foreign hand” you can do network, Rehabilitation of victims of answer Binod Bhattarai’s attack the army in Dang. The future. Pramod Gautam A statewere better prepared andin inflicted dire straits open a good hospital in my live with so much negativism. Bigoted they may be, but it’s little. query in “$70,000,000” (#69) peace talks failed, but the insurgency, and Propaganda to isolate hometown Urlabari in Morang Saradchandrika SharmaMany other Nepalis agree with UK heavy losses on the guerrillas. about why the army needs the people’s perception towards fter a four month lull, the unlikely that the Maoist leadership On the other hand, rational insurgents) . The quicker an emergency and appoint few more doctors in PK Campus, Kathmandume on this. I would like to Kunda Dixit’s humour is becom- Thismoment. time In addition it tois social nothingBut it is less extremely than unlikely the that future of our freedoms that is at stake. new weapons. $70 million may them was slowly changing in country has once again been harbours any illusions about runs its course and achieves its the district hospital in Biratnagar. request the readers of Dixit’sing a farce. In “Mother of all unrest,○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ the country is in the grips of the insurgents can prevail over ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ analysis of socio-political events sucked into the vortex of defeating the security forces of the objectives, sooner the normalcy returns. seem like a lot but it is nothing their favour. This is one of their column to not get infected byinventions” his (#68) he has made A often fail to offer full explanation of to save the country and it is Sameer Khatiwadabloodiest suicidal mistakes. ItTERRORISM AND THE STATE an economic crisis. Revenue the security forces in the conflict violence. The Maoists’ withdrawal government in the present geo- cynical, masochistic, and self-fun of a school kid. It was the collection is at an all time low, the that has ensued. the causes, but what it does is give The press, the political parties, innocent people from the Indiana, USAwill be their ruin. I find Daniel Lak’s assertion defeating analysis of Nepal and from negotiations was so sudden, political situation. No insurgency us the options to deal with the presentation of the newspaper fate of the automatic renewal of the Despite all its shortcomings, our and the army of urban intelligentsia Maoists. Of course, the Rajeeb L Satyal(“Two months after”, #68) thatNepali society. Thank you, that published the original and resumption of attacks on clearly ever succeeds without the effects that occur. While it would purchasing process has to be US foreign policy is all right trade treaty with India hangs in besieged by the political correctness of The government lost its opportu- Baluwatar sincerely, article about his missile that identified targets so swift, that it is democracy hasn’t lost its legitimacy. intervention of outside forces, and monitored to avoid any because the makers of such balance, tourism is in shambles, and have been useful to know the reasonsopposing every move of government as nity to solve the Maoist problem Prachanda Prajapatiwas objectionable, not the Everyone may not respect the recent events in Afghanistan will corruption. Re: Binod Bhattarai’s policy are accountable is now clear they were just buying that made Maoists back out of the a matter of faith will do well to through peaceful dialogue due to young boy. ThenBijuli in “ ko all other industries are apprehensive government, but very few aside from “$70,000,000”. The police waspatently ridiculous. I’d be very Ohio, USA time. deter even the most determined negotiation process, it’s more remember that this time it’s nothing Pravin lack of negotiating skills and about what is going to happen next. the Maoist cadre, question its incapable of solving the Maoistinterested to know who in the tar, tar, tar…” he has tried to They used the truce for open sympathisers of Maoists from openly United Statespoor representation on both The only saving grace appears to be important now to effectively deal less than the very future of the freedom crisis because they were neverUnited States has ever been make fun of popular folk songs authority. The interests of a very supporting them. The Maoist cause sides. The Maoists lost their I heard through the grapevine extortion, clandestine recruitment agriculture, where, ironically, we with the crisis and free the country they cherish so much that is at stake. trained to fight a guerrilla war.brought to account for the of Nepal. It is better for Dixit to large number of people—including does not have a significant support opportunity to prove themselves that a Nepali eight-grader has and training of fresh recruits. The from a prolonged period of It’s important that the fashionable ‘left’ How long is it going to take for The army’s role is not only tovictims of US sponsored use his wealth of English have another year of bumper rice almost all of the middle-class—are a responsible committed party designed a missile. Is this a fact, government, meanwhile, carried on base either inside the country or debilitating instability. the government to realise that protect the country from outsideterrorism. knowledge in other fields than harvests. This is sure to create tied with the present system. When and closet ‘right’—more often than or is this another leg-puller from with no fall back options. It outside it. Or, is there more to the Maoists are not our enemy, enemies, but also from the translating folk songs. We don’t problems of plenty, with rice prices push comes to shove, they will Declaring a state of emergency to not, they are one and the same—hold Matt CaineKunda Dixit? As I am in the UK I slumbered through Dasain and Tihar the insurgency in Nepal than we their fire for the moment. To poverty is. We might be able to enemies within, who try to am not in a position to know want non-Nepali English dipping for the third year in a row. defend it. Now that the interest of deal with the problem of armed disrupt democracy. It is there- by email while the Maoists were busy filling know about? paraphrase Marx, if bourgeois fight the Maoists and defeat readers making fun of our folk But that’s another story. the army and the political class has rebellion is seldom a matter of choice fore high time to deploy the songs. up their pressure cookers. In Bewildered by the enormity of democracy can hold its internal them, but this is not the victory Sure, Maoists staged a tactical come to coalesce, the Maoists may for any democratic government—it’s a army to counter the insurgency,Thumbs up to Daniel Lak for the retrospect, it appears that the the crisis and immobilised by the Sudhangshu KC coup of sorts by hitting the find that they shall have to deal with compulsion created by circumstances contradiction, nothing else can ever and bring back economic splendid article about America’s government, civil society and, yes, complexity of its causes, it’s confidence so that investments Japan government when it hurt the society more than they had bargained for. that seems to go out of control and defeat it. war on terrorism. He rightly the media, were all taken for a ride tempting to grab a theory of can start again. most. The country could have done On the face of it, Maoists’ threaten the very integrity of the points out that Americans, by these cunning strategists. conspiracy and blame others for all country. The choice then is not whether Prajwal Joshythough not “angels”, are “ac- THE BEST without a messy war at this point. misadventures look nothing less than However, the government’s our problems. A conspiracy theory to be in a state of emergency or not. Loyola College, Madras This is to convey my support to It is clear the Maoists don’t care suicidal. The question that remains your paper and what it stands complacency may not be as disastrous may be a sign of intellectual much about what happens to the then: why did they decide to take for. It is very reliable and for us, as it looks during this week of gloom laziness—it requires neither economy, so focussed are they on this risk? Answer: they had no The latest escalation of Maoist people far away from home, a and doom. By their stubbornness and explanatory paragraphs nor footnotes, violence can be attributed to the the revolutionary goal. Even then, choice. Hardline Maoist rank-and- wonderful source for accurate by retreating from talks without government’s intrasigence it’s baffling why the Maoists have file have begun to feel threatened by information from Nepal. Keep it explanation, the Maoists have shown during the recent rounds of up, you are simply the best. chosen this particular moment to the politicians among their ranks. that they are not dependable players dialogue. It failed to understand Binod KC take on the Royal Nepal Army head- that negotiations involve give in national politics. on. Not expecting a frontal attack, Pune That’s for the long term. But in soldiers in Gorahi barracks were the short term, the dramatic escalation of violence couldn’t have occurred at a more inopportune 444 NATION 30 NOVEMBER - 6 DECEMBER NEPALI 2001 TIMES NATION 30 NOVEMBER - 6 DECEMBER NEPALI 2001 TIMES 555

an environment created by One who did Nepal proud education, peer pressure, family ○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ support and accessible counselling. The 1960s through to the mid- Injecting drug users are young 1970s can be considered the Once a “foreign disease”, AIDSNepali is now epidemicpeople from all strata of society. agolden age of Nepal’s bureauc- grammes, and adds that a campaign racy, when a few but able Deny them access to safer habits, bureaucrats, led by redoubtable offering safe needles—called “harm and you only hasten the jump of individuals such as Yadu Nath reduction”—is the only way to the virus from vulnerable groups to Khanal and Padam Bahadur Khatry, group New Era showed that half of There is no such thing as a bring down the infection rate. the general population. HIV/ AIDS helped create the state infrastruc- all truckers along Nepal’s highways “The best way to stop the is not simply about drug use or ture that has kept the country high-risk group andfor 15 percent HIV of allin migrant Nepal spread of HIV is to ensure that migrant labour or commercial sex going until now. One of the best of workers visit prostitutes. Awareness this crop of world-class and anymore. anymore. Everyoneamong them is about at condoms risk. has needles are not shared. Yet our worldly-wise civil servants was agencies and activists working with mentality is still to try to use the Ram Chandra Malhotra, who ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ increased from 33 ○○○○○○○○ percent in 1997 After being in denial for many sex workers or drug users in Nepal. passed away at his home in to 51 percent now, but more than police method,” says Kafle. years, the government seems to It is clear that at the present rates Sharan Chhetri is another have finally woken up to the crisis Baneswor on the night of 22 half of all sex workers along the November at the age of 73. of growth, our health care system, person living with HIV who has ahead. Nepal is still ahead of the already grossly inadequate, will just highways said their clients did not Malhotra was born in Jamal on wear condoms. “There is a big gap gone public with his infection, and curve, and with a strong awareness not be able to cope with this is with the help group, Prerana. and prevention campaign like the 28 October 1928 to the family of Gokul Chandra Malhotra, a scholar onslaught of new AIDS patients. between awareness and behaviour,” who came from Lahore at the invitation of the Rana rulers of the day says Hahn. “Condoms have to be Two years ago, Sharan married one Thailand launched in the late- to teach at the Durbar High School and later at the Tri Chandra Nepal is moving from what Asha, who also has HIV and the 1980s, the epidemic could still be epidemiologists call a “concentratedeasily available and affordable. And College. The son, Ram Chandra, himself studied at Durbar High story of their lives got wide checked. On a visit to Nepal earlier School, finishing in 1945. After that, Malhotra completed his IA and epidemic” to a “generalised” one, then there are taboos, it is still very difficult for women to go to a shop publicity in the Nepali media. this year, the architect of Thai- then his BA at Tri Chandra College, and went on to earn a master’s which means the disease is spread- degree at Punjab University. and ask for a condom.” Sharan told us: “The most impor- land’s dramatically successful anti- ing from virulent pockets in He started off in the civil service as deputy secretary in the Poverty, peer pressure and tant thing is to generate awareness AIDS campaign, Meechai vulnerable groups to the general Varavidya, advised: “This is a war. Ministry of Transport, and in the following two decades held senior frustration are the major push- in schools for 10-11 graders. We population. And it is doing so The more you do today, the less of positions in a number of ministries. He was also variously head of factors here, forcing young women see so many of these boys sharing exponentially, driven by the rapid a problem AIDS will be in the the National Trading Corporation and Royal Nepal Airlines, and into prostitution along the high- needles, and getting infected. It is member-secretary of the National Planning Commission. spread of injecting drug use among tragic.” He says the most effective future. The less you do today the ways, and driving middle and Malhotra retired in 1974 and was immediately picked up by what urban youth and the expansion of strategy to arrest the spread of bigger the problem in future.” Nepal’s highway network, which is upper-middle class youth to drug was then ECAFE (now Escap), the UN office for Asia based in abuse, and its dangerous concomi- AIDS is to tell young people about Health Minister Sarad Singh Bangkok. In 1980, he joined the newly formed International Fund for giving people from the hinterland drug abuse and safe behaviour. new mobility. tant, needle-sharing. A sample Bhandari is lobbying to get the prime Agricultural Development (IFAD), where he served as Director of survey of Nepali teenagers by Drug users are often treated like minister to chair a National AIDS Monitoring and Evaluation, becoming one of the first Nepalis in senior The urban areas of Pokhara, positions in the international bureaucracy. UNICEF in April showed that more outcasts, due to the public’s Council which, when it is set up, will Kathmandu and Dharan are the main perception that they are deviants or be the first in South Asia that is led by In February 1988, in his last year at IFAD, Malhotra suffered a areas where the deadly combination ofthan one in ten people surveyed said they had tried drugs, and of criminals. Needle-exchange a head of government. A National heart attack after which he had open-heart surgery in the United prostitution and injecting drug use is programmes ae not widely sup- AIDS Prevention Strategy is in the States. He returned home with his wife Raj to their Baneswor incubating the virus, which then those between 5 percent in Heights home in Kathmandu. In retirement, Malhotra headed the Arya Kathmandu and 13 percent in ported, because society thinks they anvil and due to be released in April, Samaj society in Kathmandu. Besides his wife Raj, Malhotra leaves spreads through Nepal’s widening encourage addiction. The police the National Planning Commission is highway network to all parts of the Pokhara said they had injected. behind four daughters and a son, all settled abroad. Even Nepalis abroad are infected, take the same view, even as many ofalso addressing the problem, and Prayag Dutt Tewari, a long-time friend and colleague of Malhotra country. Along the highway, there has them continue to be in cahoots planning to make HIV/AIDS a been a dramatic increase in drive-by one AIDS treatment charity in in Rome, said “Ram Chandraji was one of Nepal’s best bureaucrats. Sydney says among the foreigners it with pushers on the streets. “cross-cutting” issue in the 10 In the international arena also he did the country proud as a straight- BOTH PICS: MIN BAJRACHARYA BOTH PICS: commercial sex. Brothels serviced by is treating with free anti-retrovirals, Advocates of needle-exchange talking, mild-mannered, extremely competent official. Those who young village women and client and know what he stood for will miss him dearly.” For urban Nepali youth, the lure of injectable drugs is sex worker alike help spread the virus there are as many as 50 Nepalis. programmes say their first priority is to the general population. Most drug users in Kathmandu to make addicts kick the habit. But increasing, and needles are hard to come by. And this is why, although HIV do not use the more expensive this is not easy, so as they work on it, they also try to get them to switch to Male migrant workers are also is still entering Nepal from men and“brown sugar” anymore, but a KUNDA DIXIT morphine-based compound called less harmful non-injected drugs. If ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ cause of death in the 15-49 age group.condoms returning from Indian cities with women working in Indian cities, it Highways bring mobility, and a they still inject, addicts are persuaded or those still sceptical that AIDS One in every six sex workers in the virus, it is not just Nepali would be mistake to believe it can tidigesic, codeine, or • benzodizapom, which are usually to stop sharing needles. If they share is a major crisis for Nepal, There’s more: Kathmandu is positive women who work in brothels. Drugbe checked by closing the border, greater demand for drive-by sex. available over the counter in most needles, they are told how to disinfect consider the following facts: users are not just street children, or carrying out mandatory tests on th F • There are 6,000 injecting drug • Ten percent of male migrant pharmacies. The tidigesic comes in needles before re-use. Plan. many are from the upper middle migrant workers. Says Michael There are nearly 40,000 users in Kathmandu Valley alone, workers returning to Doti from it, as well as the needle to shoot it in the proportion of drug users with There is reason for the • class in Kathmandu. Hahn, of UNAIDS in Kathmandu: 2 ml ampoules, and drug users share Whatever the method of harm Nepalis living with HIV or AIDS, this number is expected to double Bombay are HIV-positive with, because one ampoule is too HIV, and the danger of this reduction, says Hahn, the main goalgovernment to panic. One just Short on passports AIDS is not a “foreign disease” “Even if you close the border ○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ six times the total number of in the next three years Are you thinking AIDS is a problem of much for a single user. The curb on spreading into the general popula- is to allow young people access to needs to look at African countries and there is no such thing as a high-tomorrow, the epidemic is still Those hoping to go abroad in the near hospital beds in the country • More than half the drug users Nepali sex workers in India and sale of new disposable hypodermic tion. In 1993, only two percent of protection from HIV. “You have to like Botswana and Malawi (with injecting drug users, and that the risk group for HIV in Nepal going to spread domestically.” future are in trouble if they don’t have their 3,000 Nepalis will die of AIDS are HIV-positive needles (which cost Rs 12) by injecting drug users in Kathmandu make it acceptable that they nearly 40 percent of their passports yet. An official at Kathmandu’s • general population is not vulnerable? anymore. AIDS is a Nepali epidemic A recent survey by the research pharmacists to suspected drug were HIV-positive. By 1999 it had this year Nearly all injecting drug users protect themselves,” he adds. And population HIV-positive) to see Central District Office confirmed that the • You’re wrong. Ninety percent of and all Nepalis are at high-risk. addicts, and the scaling-down of soared to 49 percent. Rajiv Kafle, a which way we are headed if distribution of passports here and in 14 Nepalis are infected with are sexually active, and almost half here, awareness through media • Nepali women who are HIV-positive As AIDS spreads across the activities in the past year byLALS , former drug user who went public something is not done urgently. most parts of the country had been are married alone is not enough, there has to be HIV every day, at this rate the have had only one sex partner in their land, alarm bells are ringing among the only organisation involved in last year by disclosing he had HIV, This is going to be not just a stopped due to the shortage at the Foreign Ministry. The new stock of number of infected people will grow• Three-quarters of all injecting lifetime. They have been infected by public health specialists, donor needle-exchange, has led to an says the proportion today could be health crisis, but an economic to 200,000 in the next 8 years Nepali passports, which are printed in drug users have multiple partners, their male partners. increase in transmission among anywhere up to 70 percent. (See emergency for the nation, with a France, has been delayed for two • AIDS will soon be the leading and 64 percent of them do not use Kathmandu youth. also p. 7) He blames the scaling larger and larger portion of the months, supposedly because the The result is a dramatic increaseback of needle-exchange pro- productive labour force infected. Finance Ministry did not have the funds for it. They will take another two HERE AND THERE by DANIEL LAK months to arrive here. The Foreign Ministry distributed pass- ports until two years ago, when they handed the job to the Central District Administration under the Home Ministry office to make the process quicker. Officials at the Foreign, Home and Finance Minis- tries are said to be blaming each other for the current situation.

societies even today. The bastards of Norwar does Islam justify the ill treatment of women who refuse to hide behind closed doors and veils. Covering the hair and wearing loose clothing is a way of The lessons of war and everyday life are deterring rape, again something all too hideously common at the Prophet’s time. often simple and similar: equal rights, He fought against it. The inference by conservative clerics that somehow women Culture of preservation equal development. For women and men.were to blame if they showed an elbow or a forelock is a latter day perversion of ○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ what Mohammed intended, again so my liberal Muslim friends assure me. The ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Cultural conservationists have cause to celebrate. They hope the grafting of Islam onto the fiercely patriarchal society of what is now Afghanistan endorsement of the Kathmandu Declaration, adopted by the Ministry o many of us, the case for women’s equality in all walks of life has beensaw the faith assaulted and diminished by tribal custom. There’s no mention of for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation in August at an international self-evident for a long time. But it is a fight that must never cease and the burqa in the symposium on illicit traffic in cultural property, will allow existing mechanisms to function better. The 12-point declaration includes Textolling the dividends of victory is one way to keep fighting, ceaselessly establishing a commission of representatives from the Departments and in our own self interest as men. Qur’an. of Archaeology and Customs, and the Nepal Police to coordinate Put quite simply, Afghanistan is in the state it is in today because of the vast Afghan leaders of the 18th and 19th centuries were a bloodthirsty, cynical, protective actions, customs control and recovery of cultural property, LUNCH establishing a comprehensive record of ownership of all monuments gulf between the social position of men and women. And before we start noddingunaccountable collection of robber barons. They married what they believed was our heads and muttering good riddance to the Taleban, let’s be clear: the Islamist and cultural properties in Nepal, strengthening the Department of their allotted total of four wives, then sought concubines by the dozen. Naturally, Archaeology, and updating and effectively implementing relevant students militia that is on the verge of extinction is soundly traditional on thethey fathered far too many children, and sons and bastards fought over the legislation. “But the most essential issue is local ownership,” says Dr question of women. Burqas and confinement to home are widespread Afghan succession to power, squandering resources and ignoring the development of any Yoshiaki Kitamura, UNESCO representative to Nepal. “We can pour customs, not an aberration by Taleban diktat. institutions save armies and treasuries. It is not a far cry from Afghanistan today. Every Saturday & Sunday come to the Godavari Village Resort and savour a wonderfully juicy Barbeque Lunch millions of dollars into protecting local heritage but if the community The exception was Kabul, where the television cameras showed a once It’s as if the attempted reforms of King Amanullah in the 1920’s, Zahir Shah in prepared to delight your palate. Unwind in the lush-green Vaijayanta Garden Restaurant or the Poolside and savour does not feel responsible that is useless”. A good way to foster a relatively liberated female populace clapped into irons—doctors, lawyers, scientiststhe 60’s, and the Moscow-backed Afghan regimes of the 70’s never existed. the delectable cuisine at your own leisurely pace. You could also watch Chef Prem Baniya showcase his outstanding sense of ownership, says Kitamura “would be to release a small part of local revenue from cultural income to the community.” and civil servants forced from their jobs into maximum prisons called home. Medieval robber barons, whether you call them Taleban or Northern Alliance, cooking style and pick up culinary skills from him. Afghan history is a litany of crimes against women, the belittling and use the values of the countryside to accumulate wealth and power, and to enslavement of half the population. And it was always done in the name of a ceaselessly fight against fellow warlords—today’s bastard sons squabbling for a scrap from the king’s table. Enjoy a complimentary glass of wine or beer for adults and soft drink for children. Prior reservations are recommended religion that actually guarantees a form of equality by insisting on education and to avoid disappointment. careers for the female of the species. The Holy Prophet’s first wife, Khadija, was a Nepal of course is not a Muslim state, and its laws forbid polygamy and successful businesswoman who funded his religious activities with the revenuesguarantee of rights to women. The reforms of King Mahendra in 1963 were a good her camel caravans. He fought long and hard against the practise of polygamy,start and towards erasing patriarchy. The women’s property bill should build on that. Purposeful PAC eventually settled for a compromise—a maximum of four wives but only if allBut there are still too many obstacles to the progress of women here. Rate: Rs. 650/- + tax per person. ○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ could be treated with equal dignity and each approved of new marital unions. My 50% discount for children below 4 ft.* For once, someone appears to be taking the Public Accounts Politicians and feudal landlords who marry more than one wife need to be Committee seriously. After the PAC issued a notice in August learned friends tell that was supposed to be a way of guaranteeing that polygamy,taken to task for their behaviour is an offence to all. Denying property rights to Time: 12:30 - 15:00 hrs. Business Advantage/GVR/0109 threatening to make public a list of former ministers, bureaucrats, and widespread and horrific in pre-Islamic Arab culture, would eventually disappear.women in any way is to deny them their humanity. Rape and sexual assault need Village Resort parliamentarians using government vehicles they were not entitled to, It is true that the Prophet himself married nine women in total. But the nextto be addressed on a war footing. And so on. No, Nepal is not Afghanistan, but *Swimming included in the package (during season). Kathmandu Nepal 106 vehicles have been returned. That leaves 46 vehicles, including seven after Khadija were poor widows, and by marrying them he put them underany place that condones inequality needs to change and quickly. Once men realise a couple of motorcycles, still at large, and PAC officials say if they his protection and gave them a safe and sheltered existence. Before that, they the economic benefits, they’ll stand aside and let women, and society, flourish. . are not brought back soon, they will have to take legal measures. begged on the street or were prostitutes—the fate of widows in all patriarchal Equal rights equal development, it’s that simple. Amarabati, Toukhel, Godavari. Tel: 560675, 560775. Fax: 977-1-560777. E-mail: [email protected] ~ Website: www.godavariresort.com.np 666 NATION 30 NOVEMBER - 6 DECEMBER NEPALI 2001 TIMES NATION enshrining in the preamble the 30 NOVEMBER - 6 DECEMBER NEPALI 2001 TIMES 777 people’s movement as the inspiration COMMENTARY by GOPAL SIWAKOTI'CHINTAN ' SOMEWHERE IN NEPAL for the constitution. This had the by PUSKAR BHUSAL virulent effect of sanctioning violence as the catalyst for political change. There was another serious flaw: a hastily appointed interim cabinet exercising the legislative powers of a dissolved Peace pretenceunicameral partyless chamber endorsed this recapitulation of contemporary Calling someone or some group a text prepared by a panel of judge/ political history may have been “terrorist” does not necessarily politicians/lawyers in which one of the reduced to little more than academic In times like thesejustify taking action against them in Maoist semantics has clearly been misunderstood. relevance. given lucrative ministerial portfolios inking’s nominees was too ill to ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ freedom of thought, conscience and violation of existing laws, interna- an elected government. participate. The first session of the “Prudence, indeed, will dictate degrading treatment). It also tional human rights standards and that governments long established religion. The same covenant also prohibits the passing of sentences fter a drawn-out debate heavily drafted by their true representatives. But Comrade Prachanda’s parliament elected in 1991 squandered the principles of international a major opportunity to plug the should not be changed for light and prohibits any act on the part of the and carrying out of executions skewed in favour of why It’s a quote from the Declaration of bombshell last week convulsed a humanitarian law (IHL), or the loophole by failing to endorse the new transient causes; and accordingly all government that violates the right to without trial by a regular court ANepalis didn’t need a constitu- Independence the Americans adopted nation that was still digesting Dr Geneva Conventions. basic law. experience hath shewn, that mankind life, freedom from torture of any kind, that affords all judicial guaran- tional assembly, the Maoists last in 1776. At that time Nepal had just Bhattarai’s argument in a newspaper emerged as a unified country, and Over the years, leaders of the are more disposed to suffer, while evils and the right to a fair and speedy trial tees, and discusses the protection Times are grave for the country week began presenting their case in article that morning why Nepalis stood on the threshold of its first war are sufferable, than to right themselves in a regular court. and care of the captured, the and the people, and we must act the form of a discursive discourse couldn’t expect to move ahead as long Rastriya Prajatantra Party, the Nepal immediately followed by a deadly with Tibet. as the “we” in the constitution’s Sadbhavana Party and other political by abolishing the forms to which they One can argue that Nepal has wounded and the sick. together to find a permanent trail of devastation. If the rhetoric of Nepali Maoists preamble did not refer to the people. groups could afford to wear that don’t- are accustomed,” the American nothing to do with such interna- solution to the conflict, and a revolutionaries said. The Maoists In addition, there are absolute “[G]overnments are instituted resonates with the conviction of the In less than 50 hours, it became clear blame-us smirk every time the tional obligations in a situation of return to normalcy from the state leadership would probably tell you safeguards for the protection of the Continental Congress, it is because what the Maoists actually meant when constitution was castigated because they emergency. However, we made no of emergency. But until this among men, deriving their just powers that their favourite sentence in the civilian population and places of those white men assembled in they decided to withhold their demandweren’t on the drafting panel. Many of such reservation or declaration happens, it is the primary duty of from the consent of the governed— Jeffersonian affirmation is the one that civilian use such as hospitals, Philadelphia were also revolutionaries on declaring Nepal a republic during those who make up today’s Maoist while ratifying this internationally- all human rights groups, the media whenever any form of government comes next: “But when a long train of electric power plant, sources of who inspired the creation of the the third round of peace talks. leadership feel they have a greater claim binding legal treaty. Further, this and citizens to closely monitor the becomes destructive of these ends, it is abuses and usurpations, pursuing drinking water etc, even in times of world’s first written constitution, Government negotiators simply failed to condemning the constitution today treaty has supreme status over other situation and establish the the right of the people to alter or to invariably the same object evinces a serious armed conflict and during a unless you count Cromwell’s 1653 to grasp the substance of Maoist because they had already rejected it in domestic laws in Nepal, including accountability of violators of the abolish it, and to institute new design to reduce them under absolute state of emergency. The same Instrument of Government as one. semantics, and were as startled as 1990. (Don’t even try contemplat- legal and human rights provisions government, laying its foundation on despotism, it is [the people’s] right, it the Constitution, under article 9 standards also apply to the legality anyone else by the scale of the violence ing a Maoist-RPP-Sadbhavana of the 1991 Nepal Treaty Act. and the international humanitar- such principles and organising its With almost every Nepali political is their duty, to throw off such and the validity of most of the powers in such form, as to them shall the rebels unleashed to shatter the coalition government under these The governments of George W ian laws principles. And one party working within the multiparty government, and to provide new provisions of the government’s seem most likely to effect their safety four-month-old truce. circumstances.) As a result, the Bush and Tony Blair are recent can presume that the violations system evidently in favour of amend- guards for their future security.” long-awaited Terrorist and and happiness.” ing the Constitution of the Kingdom The roots of the current crisis lie examples for those who believe will be many. Whether Nepalis have reached the Perhaps the emergency was the only way out of the present Disruptive Activities (Prevention This is not a legalistic translation of Nepal 1990, it was believed the in the monumental misjudgement the point where they should be killing we should not care about such All this is different from the Maoists (or at least the top leadership) agents of the 1990 change made by impasse. But civil society should now ensure it is implemented and Control) Ordinance that came of Maoist ideologue Dr Baburam each other in the quest for a more standards or obligations. usual work of human rights NGOs. would inevitably be drawn into the into effect together with the Bhattarai’s latest exegesis on why inclusive alternative to multiparty without contravening national laws and international covenants.Another legal challenge is the And for the media it is a far cry political mainstream once they were declaration of emergency. It is now Nepalis need a genuine constitution democracy will be discussed more ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ issue of compliance with similarly the responsibility of the governmentfrom the usual churning out of binding obligations under article 3 rhetoric to please the political elite energetically in the days ahead. The here is no question that the six- immediately. Indeed, it is possible that 13(1) relating to pre-censorship, security forces as well as the Maoist debate over whether the country common to all the Four Geneva guerrillas to uphold these. or ensure monetary gain. For even year old Maoist “People’s we will see the conflict escalate in an 15 (preventive detention), as we are alert, we must be sure requires a constitutional assembly will Conventions on the Laws of Armed As for the Maoists being called TESTIMONY by RAJIV KAFLE refuse to go away with greater TWar” provided sufficient even more barbaric manner. 16 (right to information), Conflict (1949), which Nepal that we are not capitalising on the terrorists, there is really no stubbornness. Exercising my personal constitutional background for the Whatever the pros and cons, 17 (right to property), ratified in 1964 without reserva- suffering of others. government and the king to declare a hoped-for results and unvoiced fears, a universal standard or definition—it share of popular sovereignty, I submit 22 (right to privacy), and tions. As a minimum, this article my case against such an assembly: why state of emergency. This situation wasstate of emergency is now in force. always depends on the opinion of a 23 (right to constitutional remediesprohibits the act of violence to life waste time and money on electing the in a sense expected—we have been And with it, comes the challenge to government, political group (non- excepthabeas corpus). and murder (including murder of allstate), criminal group or person(s). same sample of people who have barely living in an environment of “trial justify it in legal and political terms. kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment Who will look after us… shown a capacity to follow the and terror” in recent years, rather Briefly, an emergency allows for the Terrorism can be classified as of people—people in Kathmandu and Nepalis in Australia and Malaysia—who The government and the king and torture) and the taking of criminal terrorism, political constitution, let alone draft a new one? than the “trial and error” a new suspension of the following articles: hostages, outrages upon personal call and write to me. I tell them what they need to do, about the retroviral Nepali Congress, the UML and all Since a panel of experts with percepti- democracy expects. must now consider this: the UN terrorism, state terrorism and sub- treatment available. They now know more about the disease, the ways in whichthe a other parties were left voicing dignity (such as humiliating and state terrorism, among others. ble political allegiances would be doing What this new development does 12(2)(a), (b) and (d), (relating to International Covenant on Civil and person can get infected, what to do to safeguard yourself, and the importance ofplatitudes on the irrelevance of a the writing anyway, why force not mean, however, is that we will freedom of speech and expression, Political Rights (ICCPR), ratified by (‘Chintan’ is a lecturer at the giving infected people care and support. constitutional assembly while the ourselves into the quagmire of having come upon an appropriate solution freedom of peaceful assembly without Nepal on 14 May, 1991, prohibits the Nepal Law Campus, and practices Nepal is facing an enormous challenge. Every day 14 people are getting Maoists were providing specifics on to draft a new constitution every time arms, and freedom of movement), suspension of rights relating to UML and Bamdev Gautam of M-Lhuman sneak rights to Siligurilaw.) India for an audience infected by the virus. There are many government and non-government how this constitution blocked their there is a demonstrable shift in the with Prachanda. The two, and other communist leaders, disagree with the organisations working in prevention. Millions of dollars are being put into vision for Nepal. balance of power? Maoist plan for a joint struggle for a republic. different projects. Seminars, international conferences take place every now and The key argument with which the After the latest carnage, the From p1 30 August, 2001: Round I of peace talks were held in Godavari. Three then followed by cocktail receptions. A lot of reports are written, but the sansadbadis hoped to score over the political discourse will be defined by Maoists and five government negotiators agreed to keep on talking. situation is getting worse. This does not make much difference to those who are an additional element: the profound not infected, since they have many years to come to make things better, but forMaobadis in the court of public 14-15 September 2001: Round II. Maoists tabled their wish-list, had three sense of betrayal felt by those who us every day counts. We don’t want to just wait to die. opinion—that a constitutional core political demands: an interim government, a constituent assembly, a wanted to give the peace process a I have been one of the lucky HIV-positive people to work on advocacy andassembly might help the monarchy get The last 12 monthsnew constitution and the institutionalisation of a republic. back the powers it lost in 1990—was chance and thought they had almost awareness both within Nepal and outside. I have a big responsibility on my 13 November 2001: Round III of peace talks. Government scraps Public contradicted from the outset by their succeeded. 12 April 2001: Ordinances for setting up paramilitary and regional adminis- Rajiv Kafle addresses an international conference on AIDS in Kuala Lumpur in 1999.shoulders and have been able to contribute to an extent. The irony is that my Security Regulation and frees 68 prisoners before talks. Maoists give up assertion the palace had witnessed an trators re-promulgated. Maoists attacks on police bases continue. own country is one of the hardest hit and I am powerless since there are not demand for a republic but stick to constituent assembly, all political parties erosion of authority and influence after many who are willing to listen to me. Without care and support for people 1 June 2001: Royal massacre. Maoists say they had a “working understand-say ‘no.’ It is not who you are, but what you do the tragedy of 1 June, 2001. Amid the living with HIV, no matter how much money or effort is put in, the problem ing” with King Birendra, the massacre was masterminded by India.21 TheyNovember 2001: Maoist leader Prachanda sees no point in keeping on blood and tears that flowed last week, infiltrate street protests following massacre. Government declares curfew, that puts you at risk. will get worse. At present, very few organisations are providing care to infected talking. Maoists set up a 37-member Joint Revolutionary People’s Council brings situation under control. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ headed by Baburam Bhattarai. people. Around 100 Nepalis with HIV are being provided direct support. 4 June 2001: Government issues the Public Security Regulations amidst What, I wonder, are the other 39,900 Nepalis going through? 23 November 2001: Maoists launch attacks in Surkhet, Dang, Syangja and widespread protest from the Left and civil society. have been living with HIV for the last five years. I went public with this There is an urgent need to set up hospices for care of infected people, other parts of the country, for the first time attacking the Royal Nepal Army, exactly one year ago, on 1 December 2000, World AIDS Day. It was a because home-based care is not suitable for Nepal. There are many young 15 June 2001: Maoist women declare Chitwan a dry zone, student killingwing 14 soldiers in the Gorahi base. 23 policemen are also killed. Maoistsdifficult decision, but I decided that by coming out in the open I could help loot Rs 225 million from banks over the week. I men with HIV right here in Kathmandu who have nowhere to go. There is steps up attacks on private schools. spread the message about this disease much more effectively, and also prove thatalso an urgent need to find injecting drug users access to life-saving tools 25 November 2001: Maoists attack army again at Salleri. They kill 27 29 June 2001: Baburam Bhattarai says in a newspaper article that the infected people are not sick people on the verge of death. such as clean needles and methadone. Our government must recognise that Republic of Nepal was born after the royal massacre. policemen, a chief district officer and four soldiers. But this time, Maoist Today, I have a viral load of 2,600 and a 300 CD4 cell count. This is not casualties are heavy—over 60 said to be killed, although only 15 bodies needle-exchange works. 6-13 July 2001: Maoists attack police posts in Lamjung, Nuwakot, are recovered. too bad, but it does get worse when I am stressed and don’t get any sleep. But I Some of the most important and immediate measures that the government Ramechhap, Gulmi, Dailekh and Holeri. They abduct 69 police from Holeri. don’t get much sleep usually, because my advocacy work requires me to be on the 26 November 2001: King Gyanendra declares a National State of and concerned individuals and organisations should take are very basic—such as Army helicopters intercept Maoists, there is a shootout, but the army is Internet a lot, and since I don’t have money for an email connection, a friendlyproviding access to proper medical services, access to medication, care and called back. Maoists also form a regional alliance called the ConfederationEmergency. Government declares Maoists terrorists, and deploys the Royalcybercafé allows me to get on the Internet there after ten at night. of Communist and Maoist Parties of South Asia (CCOMPOSA). Nepal Army to fight the insurgency. support programs to those who have no place to go, laws to protect the rights of Since I came out, I have been able to help friends, and even people I didn’tinfected people, empowerment and skill development programs, projects to 22 July 2001: Deuba replaces Koirala on 19 July. The next night, Maoists know, with advice and counselling. I went to Accham to train volunteers to spreadrehabilitate them in the community. If they cannot do that, they should stop attack police post in Bajura killing 17. Deuba strikes a truce with Maoists on awareness about HIV. Because there are so many people who have returned fromusing our misfortune for their own selfish ends. 23 July and says talks will begin. India who are positive, AIDS is popularly called a “Bombay disease”. And here inAs people with HIV and AIDS, we do not want sympathy, we do not want 14 August 2001: Top communist leaders including Madhav Nepal of the Kathmandu I have seen so many children of well-off parents who are getting tokenism and we certainly don’t want prejudice. All across the region, we see infected. It is not who you are, but what you do that puts you at risk. people dying every day. Care for people living with HIV and AIDS may not In my experience, the impression that people with HIV are discriminatedhave to be treatment in the most technologically advanced environment with the against by the Nepali public is exaggerated. Personally, I have found nothing latestbut anti-retrovirals. It could be the most basic of needs: a home to live and die sympathy from relatives, friends and even total strangers here and abroad, withwith dignity. their care and love. A few days after I got the results of my blood test in 1998, I got accepted to(Rajiv Kafle is a board member representing the Asia-Pacific in study in Denmark. While there, they made a television film about me called the Netherlands-based Global Network of People Living with Life HIV/AIDS, GNP+.) under a ribbon, which will soon be shown on Danish TV—it shows how I adjusted to my life as a Nepali person with HIV in a co-ed school. Now that I have appeared on radio, television and in the media, there are a lot

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Two petitions have for Nepal but this Beed, gimlet-eyed as been made by Rastriya Beema Sansthan shareholders (including a always, sees room for bungling. Chinese tourists really want and what director) at parliament’s Public Accounts Committee and the Commission The newest agreement in tourism cannot remaincan Nepal justoffer compared a paper with other tiger. Indeed, it sometimes seems to one in aren’t under any legal obligation to for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA). Here’s a chronology of what has happened so far: especially bleak moments as if it is destinations. They’ve seen plenty of Seattle and other places like it last week Indosuez (owned by Credit Agricole Indosuez, France) has been trying to divest and leave Nepalhe Beed since is not in a mood for mountains, religious pilgrimage is do so. “At least the networks sarcasm and sly beginnings becoming a bit of a national pastime, July. (See “The scramble for Indosuez,” #56) At that time, it wrote to the central bank seeking clarification on to get up, yawning, for another cup ofpassé, and as for adventure sports, make it clear who butters their if it could sell its holdings to its promoter partners, the Rastriya Banijya Bank (RBB) and the TRastriyathis week. Beema So here goes. there are plenty of options even in kicked off an annualbread,” said Laurence anti-consumerism Tribe, a tea, just as a wonderfulpportunity o It is widely believed that the Harvard Law School professor. But Sansthan (RBS). Indosuez’s concern was that both these have held 15 percent shares each since 1985, lands in our laps. China. So why would they come to against a 1993 central bank directive limiting individual or institutional ownership of banks toagreement 10 percent. signed The between Nepal and campaign to dealhe added: with “The networks “affluenza”. seem to Past experience, which ye olde Nepal? A young bourgeoisie group, public owns 20 percent of Indosuez. The Nepal Rastra Bank wrote back saying the promotersChina could this week not will end our over- getting larger as we speak, is looking Not surprisingly, the 30-second have a short-sighted lack of wit.” increase their holdings in the Nepali-French venture. columnist has in abundance, suggests reliance on visitors from south of the for the kind of exoticism that stems spot was rejected by major net- The commercial trashing In August, Indosuez wrote to the RBB and the RBS as per the Promoter’s Agreement andborder. notified That them relation is, of course, we might not make the most of such anfrom a cosmopolitan lifestyle that they works.○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ “We don’t want to take any agreement. For instance, in 1996, after a commercialism is Adbusters’ and about the NRB opinion. The Banijya Bank wrote back saying it would like to buy, but would needimportant, government but affected by such a cannot enjoy in China. The United advertising that’s inimical to our Lasn’s way of reaching the masses. approval. The NBS meantime wrote back saying it would like to get a proper offer as per thegamut Section of some 4.02 bizarre of and some not- big hue and cry the number of weekly States is still a dream destination, and funny thing happened on one million to one by glassy-eyed airline seats was increased between legitimate business interests,” said In 1989, Lasn founded the Media the Promoter’s Agreement—irrespective of what the centralso bizarre factors, that it is wise to with its ever-effective branding, no Thanksgiving weekend in shoppers, but there were signs Nepal and India, but since then this has Richard Gitter, vice president of Foundation in Vancouver, British bank said. Meanwhile, Ram Sharan Mahat’s Finance Ministryfinally have a back-up. China has doubt the west will continue to be a the United States. Tradi- that six years after it began, the decided that the Rastra Bank would have the final say in remained stagnant. Private operators A advertising standards at General Columbia. The group—which he listed Nepal as an outbound premium option. Why would a young whether the Banijya Bank could increase its stake in Indosuez. tionally one of the biggest week- Electric’s NBC. Westinghouse event was starting to take on a destination for its citizens. This means have opted out of India and the nationalChinese who can fly to Australia as With both the RBB and the RBS interested in buying the Rs 290 flag carriers have not increased their ends for retailers, Kalle Lasn and Electric’s CBS, in a letter rejecting life of its own. “All I know is that million worth of shares offered, Indosuez wrote to the RastraNepal will get more Chinese easily come to Nepal? We need to his Adbusters group have for the last the commercial, went as far as to there are these spontaneous tourists all right, but it also allows frequency. Similarly, Nepal has bilateral Opponents complained that Bank again asking if it could go ahead with the deal in early November. The central bank said “no”, following work and work hard to provide a five years been calling the day after say that Buy Nothing Day is “in outbursts of street theatre, of Nepal to develop into a transit airline agreements with many countries,wonder product. Buy Nothing Day was a guilt- which Indosuez made an offer to a private group, which was followed by the anti-corruption petitions. and theoretically we have over 60,000 the festival Buy Nothing Day. The opposition to the current economic mall invasions, of pranks and inducer as well, and that retailers destination for tourists from third Once again, we come to the issue shenanigans of all kinds,” said a group and manned tables countries visiting China. seats a week. But what part of this do we message? Well, buy nothing. That, at policy in the United States.” Not provide the economy millions of of understanding the market and least, is what the former advertising Lasn. “And this is nothing we’re outside the famous Burlington, The announcement was no really use? The China agreement should jobs and billions of dollars in not die down with the initial euphoria.providing quality service. The Beed executive turned anticonsumerism pushing heavily; it’s happening Vermont, malls passing out “gift doubt greeted with semi-hysterical income. “It doesn’t make any Perhaps, the Nepal Tourism Board andwill repeat his rhetoric: open up the activist would like. spontaneously.” There were of time” certificates that offered whoops of joy and relief by the travel trade to foreign operators, if we the recipient a block of the giver’s sense,” said Allen Parker, a other travel associations should start This year, Buy Nothing Day scattered reports of Buy Nothing dishwasher in Burlington. “People demoralised Nepali tourism continue to protect Nepal’s travel Day posters, downloadable from time instead of a material gift. industry. Surely, the whisper goes, should be able to buy whatever BPC bids industry, we will lose out. It is better the Media Foundation’s website, “The message is positive, not ○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ wonders will now happen. to have a handful of travel companies confrontational,” Spencer said. they want without being made to The government has extended the deadline for submission of bids for the Butwal Power Company up to 5 cropping up on college campuses feel guilty about it. To do for China is a large emerging market of international repute providing around the US, and of related “We’re not telling people we December. The bids should have come in by 20 November but did not. Three previous attemptsfor outbound to privatise tourists—estimates say others, you have to spend money.” the company have been bungled over one technicality or another—on 20 August the government rejected quality services than hundreds of events, from seminars to shouldn’t buy what we need, but the only qualifying bid in the third round saying the price offered was lesser than what it hadthat expected—in from the 12 million now, this local ones that exist to perish swiftly. singalongs, in a dozen spots, Lasnwe need to look at what we’re Still, many would like to spend number will increase to 50 million in The China Agreement cannot be dollar terms. (See “BPC’s privatisation saga,” #57, and “BPC on the block again,” #60) The government has said anticonsumers in more than abuying and what the effect of less. The Center for a New 2010, and as much as 100 million in allowed to remain a paper tiger. not gone through such a major privatisation process since the Nepal Tea Development Corporation (NTDC) dozen other countries put on that is personally, socially and American Dream, a Vermont group was handed over to the private sector last year. Even that handover has not been completed2020. yet. Over the years, many venerable says had revenue of $500,000 last environmentally.” that advocates “sustainable experts predict, China will surpass all year and has five full-time similar events, he said. In Vermont, Chapin Spencer, Among passers-by who stopped consumption,” recently commis- countries, emerging as the largest employees—produces alternative sioned a survey that found that source of outbound tourists. The advertising for student and a part-time carpenter, said he hadto take in the Buy Nothing tableaux in Burlington and Seattle, virtually most Americans would welcome Deloitte Touche gets RBB purchasing power of many Chinese is environmental groups, including not heard of Buy Nothing Day lower spending and less emphasis ○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ increasing as the economy opens up. an anti-automobile commercial until he recently saw a public none had ever heard of the holiday- surprisingly, the networks have also in-the-making. While a few grum- on gifts during the holidays. The The Banking Reform Project inched a step forward with the selection of Deloitte Touche TohmatsuPotentially, as China the could spend for Greenpeace. The foundation television program about survey, conducted last month, management group for the job of turning around the Rastriya Banijya Bank. Tohmatsu representativesbillions of dollars have on tourism. refused Lasn’s repeated requests to also publishes a quarterly maga- “affluenza,” the spiritual and bled, most caught its gist quickly and been invited over for negotiations. There has also been some progress in the bid evaluation of companies run his 30-second spot encouraging seemed to agree. “Ads just try to get found that 15 percent of its 800 And yes, there is great potential zine called environmental ills brought on by respondents were still paying off wanting to manage Nepal Bank Limited, with the central bank now in the process of evaluating the financial viewers to participate in “TV Turn- American-style over-consump- you on a guilt trip to come in and bids of the four qualifying companies. (See “Bailing out the banks,” #62) their 1996 holiday bills. Readers can post their views at off Week.” tion. Spencer and a college start running up your credit card,” [email protected] “I came from Estonia where you professor friend cobbled together said Paul Byron Crane, an environ- had a somewhat different twist. were not allowed to speak up mental planner in Seattle. The Adbusters were saying “Buy against the government,” says the Weekly Internet Poll #10 www.nepalnews.com Nothing—For Peace”. The new 55-year-old Lasn, whose family fled slogan was a response, the group to the west in advance of the said, to “George W and Tony BlairRussian takeover in 1944. “Here I saying shopping is the best way to was in North America, and suddenly Should the Maoists be required to disarm beforeprotect further First World freedoms and I realisedtalks? you can’t speak up against This question was posted before the Maoists began attacking army bases on 23 November. support the new war.” the sponsor. There’s something Adbusters, or “culture fundamentally undemocratic about Definitely they should be disarmed before further talks. If they reallyNepal. want Whether the Maoists drop their guns or not, whether the govern-The government must use the army and finish off the Maoists. They jammers” as they call themselves, our public airways.” to solve the problem peacefully why do they need arms and ammunition?ment is decent or not, as long as the bulk of Nepalis are what theyonly are, understand violence, they don’t deserve peace talks. plan to take on Christmas shopping But some viewers did get to see Adbusters that sells for wise only after the event, Nepal will not see a better day. GR Joshi Lama one day at a time, beginning with the commercial. For the third year $5.75 a copy and, according to The only people still to be trusted in Nepal are the Maoists. They must Deshbhakta There is opposition in every country in the world. But the way the Maoists silent peace marches through large in a row, CNN Headline News Lasn, has 40,000 subscribers. The remain strong. It is only because of their arms that the governmentWhat tried is happening to reflects the people’s anger, suppressed grievances,are expressing their opposition is extremely costly in terms of lives and malls in the US and Canada. The agreed to air it, with Lasn paying magazine lambasts advertising’s negotiate with them. When they put out their 40-point demands dissatisfactionat the start and frustration. No party met their expectations. Iflivelihoods. the Does revolutionary progress mean destroying everything? In biggest Buy-Nothing celebration $10,000 for a slot—far lower than effect on popular culture and of their war, the government tried to crush them. Many Maoists were killed that case, the government should be stubborn and resist. government brings out sophisticated weapons in the false belief that will was in Seattle, where organisers cutstandard network ad rates. “We includes lampoons of famous ads: before they attacked police. People are fed up of constitutionalflush parties. the IfMaoists out, they are inviting the current situation of Afghani- the Maoist leaders are genuine, they must fight and turn this country into a Avash Shah up their credit-cards outside a should make our commercial space One parody of Camel cigarettes stan or Kashmir. features a cartoon character republic. Of course, they shouldn’t be dictators. They must be able to Let us be clear: Maoists are terrorists who don’t want a peaceful Nepal. major downtown mall. available to debate issues of our tolerate different ideas, allow them to flourish with Mao’s doctrine. called “Joe Chemo”; a jab at Hum Gurung Nirendra Shrestha But what perhaps generated day,” said Steven Haworth, a Calvin Klein’s Obsession cam- No one is stupid enough to lay down weapons before coming to Congratulationsthe to Prachanda for declaring a people’s government. more debate than any of these spokesman for Time Warner, which Deshbhakta Nepalinegotiating table. No one will engage in peace talks with handsMost tied Nepalis are behind you, and hope you succeed one day. Just make measures was the Adbusters TV owns CNN. paign shows a slender model behind their back. It is natural that we listen to those who have power seductively caressing a toilet, Our Australian organisation has always promoted Nepal as a country of sure the people do not suffer. There is no question of disarming. commercial. This year it features That other networks refuse to otherwise we could have resolved the Maoist issue six years. But without peace. Things however seem to be changing rapidly, and if this senseless vomiting; and a “Big Mac Attack” disarming them there cannot be a true peace. So we should find a mid- KRS an animated pig superimposed on abroadcast the swinish swipe doesn’t violence continues it will have devastating consequences for all Nepalis. ad displays a man on an operating way that can lead to a peaceful outcome without any kind of violence.Can’t your pollsters come up with something better than this stupid map of North America that smacks bother most constitutional-law We urge the Maoists to work within the system to change Nepal’s govern- its lips and says: “The average experts, who point out that they table, hooked up to a heart ment and constitution. There is a framework in place that, with the support question? It’s not “should the Maoists be required to disarm...”, but “Can monitor aglow with the Mc of a majority, can bring about the changes the Maoist are asking for. Mike Garg they be disarmed?” There would have been no need for talks if they North American consumes five could be disarmed. Because they can’t be overpowered, the government Donald’s Golden Arches. One of the main reasons the young generation is following these bands of times more than a Mexican, 10 was forced to sit and talk to them. The Maoists would never disarm until times more than a Chinese person, Buy Nothing Day action was A concerned Australianterrorists is that they have been let down by their leaders. Beingtheir poor demands and are met. This is their bargaining chip, and no one else vulnerable, living in rural areas, they cannot disagree with these terrorists largely limited to utopia-tinted Maoists are against the present so-called leaders who amass wealth at the knows it better than those guys who are holding the country hostage. and 30 times more than a person and subsequently are being forced to fight by their cowardly leaders. peoples’ expense. The solution is to stop these corrupt leaders. The Maoist from India... Give it a rest. 24 places like Vermont and Seattle, objective is not to create trouble but to eliminate corruption. Talking with November is Buy Nothing Day.” and the handfuls of quixotic Billal Bhattarai such corrupt leaders is worthless. Subodh counterpropagandists were Not a question of disarming, they need to be finished as soon asThe possible. Maoists should indeed be disarmed before negotiations with the outnumbered nationwide perhaps AnonymousThere was no doubt these guys were terrorists. But to avoid bloodshedgovernment and continue. We don’t want them to start killing innocent widespread damage to the nation the government took the right step In light of the recent attacks by Maoists, your poll question is beginning to civilians and cops again do we? giving peace a chance through talks. Now we must realise that these sound like a cruel joke. In the past, it was only ill-equipped policemen and terrorists were using the talks as an opportunity to strengthen their military Arpit Chapgain poor villagers who could not afford to bribe the “brave” Maoist revolutionar- position and they have shown their terrorist nature. Police brothers, you ies who were killed. Now that some of our “brave” Royal Nepal Army soldiers We are the people of Nepal, nation of peace in the world, birthplace of have suffered a lot in fighting these terrorists and while you were dying have also been killed, is the RNA brass still going to insist that it does not the Buddha. Let us stop killing each other. political parties claimed Maoists were a “political problem”. They are How to decide want to get involved? Remember the massacre in Dunai, when the RNA simply terrorists. Ramesh Kumar Maharjan stood by as the policemen were butchered? The millions of gods residing The Buy Nothing Day campaign in Seattle distributed this checklist to in the high Himalaya have truly foresaken this land. The government might be pressing the Maoists to do it, but I hope the Maoists are smart enough to see the trap. When has the government let shoppers evaluate things they were thinking of buying. Bhurtel ever responded to the people’s needs? When has it ever honestly worked $ Do I need it? for the betterment of Nepalis? Never. If the Maoists give up their gun Zorro There is no chance of peace dialogue with Maoists. They are waiting for $ How many do I already have? power the elite will stop listening to them. It is sad, but that’s the way it is. The Maoists are growing due to social injustice and suppression.the Let army. us not $ How much will I use it? forget how we are treating fellow countrymen. The Maoists are an expres- G Gurung Anonymous $ How long will it last? sion of the social frustration. It is sad it came out in this way. The police Could I borrow it from a friend or family member? aren’t saints either, their “Flush Out” operation made the MaoistsThis tougher. question is irrelevant in the present context. Talks should beI believe dropped in peace. Our nation can develop only when there is peace. $ and the Maoists must be silenced by searching them out. They invited a First of all there should be peace, and for that, the Maoists should $ Can I do without it? BPA bloodbath, they will get it. Peace was given a chance and they shunneddisarm. it. It was Deuba’s and Bhattarai’s policy which allowed them to grow. The $ Am I able to clean, lubricate and/or maintain it myself? Killings will not solve any problems. Nepalis should open their eyes, opposition UML, the RPP and human rights groups are also responsible. Rajendra Joshi, Malaysia $ Am I willing to? support only those who are fair and honest. Students, wake up, andIn order unite. to halt more bloodshed, it is necessary to activate the army. No one in the world should negotiate with guns in hand. We all know that $ Will I be able to repair it? Meen Gurung netas are bad, but at least they are voted by the Nepali people. So if $ Have I researched it to get the best quality for the best price? Aren’t we victims of our own actions? The majority is lazy, cynical, jealous Murkhasing Maobadis are really “people power” as they claim, let them face the $ How will I dispose of it when I’m done using it? of others’ progress, always at each other’s throats. Every one is racingThe Maoists to are a political problem and should be taken in that sense. election and we can support them. It is time for the government to be Are the resources that went into it renewable or nonrenewable? become rich overnight and the same people blame the governmentThe NC, for UML, and other political parties wasted the past 12 years.strong This and is demand disarmament of the Maobadis , or face the conse- $ being corrupt. And who is most worried and knowledgeable aboutwhat Nepal? we get. The Maoists are raising the core issues to develop quences.the nation The army is better equipped to do it than the corrupt police. $ Is it made or recycled materials, and is it recyclable? The diaspora. The people who didn’t think Nepal was worth livingfor in the and prosperity of the people. They should be disarmed, but how? Is there anything that I already own that I could substitute for it? left the country for greener pastures. Get real. There is a social problem in $ Dinanath Amit, Dharan 101010 TRAVEL 30 NOVEMBER - 6 DECEMBER NEPALI 2001 TIMES TRAVEL 30 NOVEMBER - 6 DECEMBER NEPALI 2001 TIMES 111111 OFF THE BEATEN TREK by PADAM GHALE

Oktang Valley with blue sheep Annapurna Sanctuary, but perhaps more spectacular. The English-speaking elderly ex- Day 8: Race back to Tseram north face of Kangchenjunga is servicemen. Day 9: Rapka Kharka is a long visible with its three stacked Day 4: Yamptudin is probably day from Tseram, crossing two glacier shelves from which seracs the only Gurung village this far 4,800 m passes. From the break off from time to time and east. Unlike their Rai or Limbu exotically named Sinion La is a tumble down in billowing clouds neighbours, they speak Nepali. view to rival Poon Hill. of ice. There are views of Kirat Day 5: Lamite Bhanjyang does Kangchenjunga and Jannu Chuli, Nepal Peak, and The not offer much of a view dominate the eastern horizon, toTwins at the head of the valley. because of the thick forest of the west is the jagged ridge of The valley itself goes on and on. tall trees. Beyond here, there Jaljale Himal which separates Day 13: Pangpema, even better are only herders and shepherds the Tamur and Arun watersheds,views of the north face. Stay for to be seen taking livestock to and far in the distance are two days if you have time, attain high pastures. Makalu and Everest. On a clear nirvana and soak in the silence Day 6: Tseram at 3,770m is day, you see down to the Indian and tranquillity. the junction from where you plains to the south. Day 14: Can get right back down Nil Gurung rests near KanchenjungaSouth Base Camp branch off to the Yalung Day 10: Ghunsa, site of a to Ghunsa in one day. Glacier. Tibetan Refugee Camp, is four- Day 15: Amjilasa. Day 7: Ramche at 4,800m is a and-a-half hours down to the Day 16: By Chirwa you are back yak shelter from where it is valley and you can reach in time in the low mid-hills with Bahun, two-and-half-hours to the base for lunch. Chhetri villages. ALL PHOTOS: PADAM GHALE camp for Kangchenjunga south Day 11: Rampuk Kharka. The Day 17: Climb up to the ridge to face. Further up there is a day starts with a forest trail and get back to Taplejung for the broad glacier field at Oktang, a slowly gets into moraine countryflight back. great place to camp if you with narrow trails and rock falls. don’t have altitude symptoms. Day 12: Lhonak is like reaching White Wave and Jannu from Lhonak

Trekking in the time of Maobadi

WANDA VIVEQUIN ○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Behind closed doors we sipped our dusty bottles of Pepsi in the village of Chiruwa, away from prying eyes on the street and Maoists who might be lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce on hot, thirsty, hapless trekkers, or more likely, take retribution retaliate against the hotel owner. underdeveloped than other, This is in no way intended to take away from the seriousness of the atrocities and violence that have beset similar parts of Nepal. this country over the last few days. It is an example to illustrate that tourists are not unaffected anymore in the A recommended 15-17 day sparsely-trekked Kangchenjunga region. trek would entail flying to Undertaking a 40-day exploratory trek in the region with three other tourists, two western guides and a crew of Taplejung and taking the ridge about 16 produced plenty of evidence that despite reassurances that tourists are not Maoist targets, this may no route to Kangchenjunga south longer necessarily be the case. I have literally just finished washing my trekking clothes, so the examples I Kangchenjunga is not a mono- highlight are current and relevant, though I hasten to add that in none of the incidents I was told about or base camp, backtracking to experienced was there evidence of violence or coercion. lithic peak, like Dhaulagiri or Mt Tseram and crossing over to the Everest, but a 10 km long ridge We arrived in the area in mid-October to the news that, for the most part, the places we would be visiting foreigners here. The area is now a northern side. Taplejung is not so were “dry”. What beer we did manage to find had to be drunk behind curtains or closed doors, certainly never in National Park, and there are over 8,000 m high which makes difficult anymore to fly to since front of a window looking onto the street. Salele camp View of Chang, 6,812 m, from Lhonak. ACAP-type restrictions on its one of the largest mountain private airlines began service. From Taplejung up into the trekking area police have abandoned their posts and their buildings are promptly drop off. However, to masses on earth. Kangchenjunga travelling. There is no extra boarded up. The airfield at Suketar, into which many trekkers fly, is visited by policemen when flights are prevent from getting at your skin is tucked away in the northeast- fter you have done all the in the first place you can use the royalty to go in, but you have to Day 1: After arriving in Taplejung expected, but they always sleep in Taplejung. ast’s delight. If orchids are pay the park fee. Individual ravel ern corner of Nepal and is in the on the early morning flight start During the early part of the trek there was classic treks in Nepal, This is a trek liketobacco no juice thatother: porters prefer wilder, wetter, andrainshadow. wondrous. It has the same feel news of several incidents of people being actually○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ parasites, then you could is discouraged, but○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ this rule can walking to Lali Kharka past Aafter you have seen Kala and rub it like a balm. It’ll keep as Manang Valley, although the stopped by Maoists on the south side route of call the Tamur River basin a Patar and done Annapurna them at a safe distance. be sidestepped if you pretend picturesque multi-ethnic villages. Kangchenjunga in particular. One sirdar who Parasite Paradise. your porter guides are your mountains here are even higher Day 2: Keswa. From the ridge had been asked for money allegedly offered Sancutary there is another Because of the higher rainfall, and nearer and crowd the sky. If there is another conserva- companions. there are good views of Jannu a day’s wages. The Maoists were after challenge that awaits you: farmers are more prosperous, and The upper stretch of the trek is something on the order of Rs 10,000 tion area to be declared in Nepal, The trek is a challenge in (also known as Kumbhakarna Kangchenjunga. there is more food. Eastern Nepal along the crumbling lateral although it is unclear how this situation was then it must be a Leech Sanctuary Himal), the mountain looms at First off, Kangchenjunga is also borders India’s Darjeeling other ways: although there is moraines of retreating glaciers, resolved. Subsequently we decided that our in the upper Tamur Valley where the head of the valley and has a sirdar would not carry a large amount of cash. located in the easternmost part district, where Nepalis have plenty of food, the villages are fewand can be treacherous in places in the lush undergrowth of the striking presence. Our group witnessed a training camp in of Nepal, which gets triple the traditionally gone to work. They and far between and you have to because of rockfall. The trail forests on either side of the river Day 3: Mamangkhe on the south side, with several amount of annual rainfall have brought back new ideas fromdepend on your own provisions. Mamankhe is a Rai and is a diversity of leeches probably leads up to the farther end of participants checking the loads and condi- compared to western Nepal— the tourist and education centres The distances are also long from Limbu village the houses sur- found nowhere else on earth. the valley, Jansang Pass to Tibet tions of our porters. The following day while these mountains on the foothills of that hill station. This has the road-head at Basantapur, rounded by barley, millet and camped in Lali Kharka, our sirdar spent an There at least 20 different types at 6,100 m. of the world’s third highest broadened their outlook, and Gopetar or the airport at cornfields. The local tea-shops hour conducting delicate negotiations with of blood-suckers: striped and This is a photogenic land, the mountain get upwards of 3,500 made the people of eastern NepalTumlingtar. have great tongba where you can a group of Maoists asking for cash dona- black, spotted like leopards, small villages even on the upper reaches tions, binoculars and cameras. He politely mm of rain a year. The effect is more affluent and worldy-wise. The views during the walk in sip the warm drink with a black ones, fat and brown ones are more prosperous, the terraces refused them. most visible in the vegetation: Added exposure has come from are not as spectacular as in some bamboo straw and chat with that look like slugs, slender long are meticulously carved out of the They claimed these were tools that would help in their training and surveillance work. About two weeks ago a thick, verdant forests with heavy Gurkha veterans, who spend theirof the other treks in Nepal, but ones that seem like they haven’t slopes, and although the area is group of English trekkers was stopped in the Makalu Barun National Park by Maoists with guns, asking for the undergrowth. Even at the height retirement in their ancestral once you get to the glaciers same things. In this case also the sirdar negotiated his way out of the situation. had a good drink lately, and then remote and roadless, it is less of the dry season, the jungle homes in the villages of the draining the north and south the common leeches that flail None of the trekkers I spoke to on the trail expressed fear or apprehension about being in the area, but it will trails are moist and fresh. The Tamur Valley. flanks of Kangchenjunga, the their snouts at you from the be interesting to see to what happens next, to what extent the Maobadi will affect Kangchenjunga’s fledgling rhododendron in eastern Nepal vistas are outstanding. tourism industry. bushes and rocks. There are And for trekkers, the greatest is some of the most spectacular, environment-friendly ways to dealthing about the Kangchenjunga Wanda Vivequin is a New Zealand journalist who has just finished a 40-day trek in the Kangchenjunga especially the Milke Danda with these creatures, and the trek is that you see very few other region. range north of Taplejung which traditional method is to rub salt has been declared a sanctuary for on the fellows and they will Nepal’s national flower. The whole trek through the moist forests is also an orchid enthusi- 121212 TECHNOLOGY 30 NOVEMBER - 6 DECEMBER NEPALI 2001 TIMES WORLD 30 NOVEMBER - 6 DECEMBER NEPALI 2001 TIMES 131313 COMMENT by JOVAN ILIC COMMENT by FRANCIS FUKUYAMA One more UN office ○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ UNITED NATIONS - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is creating a new high-ranking post whose functions include overseeing the plight of the 49 least developed countries The end of geography (LDCs), the poorest of the world’s poor. The UN Conference Shopping for humans on LDCs, held in Brussels last May, recommended creating the 16 this post for a UN High Representative. Besides LDCs, the th and 17th centuries, when gender are non-essential characteris- High Representative will also oversee the world’s land- The new breed, coming topasal a near you. bloody sectarian struggles between tics, this implies belief in a substrate locked developing countries and small-island developing Christian sects in Europe exposed the of “humanness” which entitles us to states. There is some overlap among the three categories of impossibility of political rule based equal protection against certain types country. The High Representative will carry the rank of Under- on religious consensus. Montesquieu, of behaviour by other groups or Secretary-General, a standing below that of Deputy Secretary It may be easy to say that bananas states, cultural arguments notwith- General in the UN hierarchy and the representative’s office Hobbes and Locke reacted to horrors will be at the UN headquarters in New York. Currently, all in the supermarkets of England are such as the Thirty-Year War by standing. The spread of democratic institutions in non-European contexts matters relating to LDCs come under the purview of the UN still bananas even though we all know arguing religion and politics must be Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Geneva. bananas don’t grow in England. This separated to ensure civil peace. in the late 20 th The first High Representative is very likely to be from one of is simple import/export, a travelling of Islam confronts a similar century suggests the the LDCs although though several Western countries have develop differently because the social goods. When those tourists roam the dilemma. Efforts to unite politics and west is not alone in this belief. staked claims on the job, which comes with an annual salary and environmental context within streets of Thamel and especially when religion are dividing Muslims. Our But if human rights are of over $151,000. Annan, in a report to the General Assembly, which his life unfolds will not be the they venture further to Chhetrapati or politicians are right to insist that the universal, should we demand their said the High Representative would be responsible only for As our notion of what life is all same as mine.” “The same, but not theAsan Tol many of them are quite current conflict is not with Islam, an implementation everywhere, always? coordination and reporting as well as advocacy and about is immersed in sexuality and thesame,” you say. plainly peculiar. The way they act and extremely heterogeneous faith that Aristotle argues that natural rules of fundraising to implement the LDC action plan adopted at the biological attraction of male and dress makes us laugh, smile, or even justice exist, but that their application Brussels conference. All analytical and technical cooperation The Roslin Institute at Edinburgh recognises no authoritative source of functions would continue to be carried out by other organisa- female, much of the history of annoys us, sometimes offends us, but This conflict is no clash of civilisations. doctrinal interpretation. Intolerance demands flexibility and prudence. have already cloned two sheep, Dolly ○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ tions in the UN system, including UNCTAD, in accordance civilisation has as a result been played and Polly. Whereas Dolly was a we know that they are all human and fundamentalism are one choice We must distinguish between a beings like us regardless of their with their mandates. e are at a moment of history out along sexual lines; think of your straight carbon copy, for Polly a for Muslims, but Islam has always theoretical belief in the universality of colour, where they live, their language, en years ago, Samuel force in human history and world equivalent to when human family, think of the royal family. All ofhuman gene was customised into a had to contend with questions of human rights and the actual practice or their clothes. So when we ask Huntington argued that the politics is not cultural plurality, but beings first discovered fire, this will change, reproductive sheep cell and then the sheep was secularism and religious tolerance, as of supporting human rights around W ourselves is a gaur from Iowa still a world where new technologies speed Second World War. Nazi ideology fault lines of world post-Cold modernisation, whose institutional technology will marginalise and T is evident from the ongoing reformist the world, as our shared “humanness” cloned, making it the first “designer for before us lies the very imminent the process of “improving” our completely discredited eugenics and the War politics are mainly cultural—a expressions are liberal democracy and eventually make redundant most of animal”. Using the clone as a standard,gaur? We must say yes, though, if a ferment in theocratic Iran. is shaped in varying social environ- prospect of the cloning of a human little different. But is a gaur born to offspring. We can all become gods as wellidea of “improving the race”. It has been “clash of civilisations” between five or market-oriented economics. The these social patterns and norms. The scientists can produce endless The second source of rights—the ments, such that ourperception of (IPS) being. We have already cloned an as parents to our children. This is the decades before any one thought about it six major cultural zones that can current conflict is not a clash of biological attraction of male and femalecustomised variations for their clients. and raised by a cow, still a gaur? This rights differs. In many traditional animal and it has just been claimed perfect realisation of the driving dynamic again, but we have. sometimes co-exist but will never civilisations between cultural zones of positivist view that whatever a society will be abandoned, superseded by the The same can go for your friend: your is fundamentally different, will a clone societies where choices and that the first-ever cloned baby will born to and raised by a human of Western civilisation, this is what Imagine a society where more and converge, because they lack shared equal standing. Rather, it is a declares by constitutional means to be be born next year. The impact of thisworkings of technicians in labs. friend with white skin, your friend a right becomes one—also provides opportunities are limited, the Shackling the Internet become a human or some clone/ capitalism is all about, this is where it more people clone and customise their values. One implication of this is that rearguard action by those threatened ○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ And what do we get in return, but with the threat of cancer removed, your no guarantee for liberalising western, individualistic view of reproductive technology and the human deviant? takes us—shopping for humans. genotype to design specifications and 11 September, and the US-led by modernisation, and its moral BRUSSELS - The European Commission is expected to issues it raises for all our lives are shopping and not just shopping at friend with no inherited diseases. tendencies, for it leads to cultural rights is jarring, because it cannot Human cloning also opens the Customised human cloning offers engineering standards, how will its response, should be viewed as part of acomponent, respect for human rights. adopt rules in the coming weeks that would bind the 15 EU quite staggering. that, but the ultimate shopping Is there anything wrong with all relativism.If, as Huntington be abstracted from the larger door to the dawn of a commercial the spectre of a new kind of immortal- people regard the child who isn’t cloned civilisational struggle between Islam Any right that is or has been members to outlaw racism and xenophobia on the Internet Welcome to the age of biology. experience. Design your children in this? We may mock Western women implies, the rights we claim in the process of modernisation. The eugenics civilisation, a brave new ity. Each generation can continually or customised? What about the child and the west. Another is that what in asserted historically relies on god, and offline. A draft proposal lays out what it terms “effective, We have always made changes to advance and get them produced to who have plastic surgery to improve west emerged uniquely from the notion of universal human rights is proportionate and dissuasive” criminal penalties for racist customise their model (themselves, born with a “disability”? Will the rest of the west are considered universal man, or nature. The original source of one part of the complex context of a our environment, we need to grow foodyour specification, remove those their looks, but if this is what makes political crisis of European offences and provides a common definition of racism but their ‘genotype’) playing and society come to see the child as an error human rights are an outgrowth of rights, god or religion, has been universal civilisation, from which and build shelters merely to live. This degenerative genes, give them a good them happy, and happiness is one of Christianity after the Protestant grants member states leeway in ensuring compliance. The body of hair, strong arms, make them upgrading with new genetic traits. It in the genetic code, as a defective European culture, inapplicable to rejected in the west since the Enlight- an understanding of the other impact has progressively grown as our the higher if not the highest goal to would be naïve to think that there product? Governments might even sue those outside this tradition. Reformation, what is to stop other draft defines racism and xenophobia as “the belief in race, a boy or girl, whichever takes your enment. John Locke’s elements of modern societies— colour, descent, religion or belief, national or ethnic origin as methods of control over the physical attain in the good life, then really, our aren’t plenty of people who would parents for not removing degenerative I believe Huntington is wrong. societies from appealing to their fancy or need and pick them up from mocking is misplaced. If a prospective Second local traditions to deny these economic justice, democracy— a factor determining aversions to individuals or groups.” It world have improved and magnified. jump at such an opportunity. Clone a genes and thereby making an unneces- Nobel laureate Sir VS Naipaul once the local store. Let’s go shopping, parent knew they were likely to pass on rights? The Chinese government is cannot be excluded. lists six race-related offences, which must be made punish- For example, electricity generated by king, managing director, top scientist sary drain on health services. Future wrote an article “Our Universal Discourse on Government begins with shopping, shopping, and shopping! a genetic predisposition for heart adept at wielding this question. able as a criminal offence throughout the EU. Vera hydroelectric power has transformed or political leader and that way insure generations might become far less Civilisation,” arguing that “western” a polemic against the argument for Egenberger, director of the non-governmental European Your child will not be ugly, physicallydisease, wouldn’t they feel obliged to Nepal, road building has and still is against their death or an assassination tolerant of those who are not engineered values are applicable across cultures, kings’ divine rights. The secularism of The final source of rights is Network Against Racism, said: “At the moment, EU legal or mentally impaired, they will have spare their child by eliminating those doing the same, and on a quieter level, attempt, or an accident. Tata trucks, and who deviate from the genetic and that he owes his literary achieve- the western conception of rights is the nature. The language of natural (Project Syndicate) provisions on racist crime are very different, especially whatever colour skin you wish, and genes in the donor cell or embryo? And improved accessing of health services is why not Tata kids? Clone your own standards and norms adhered to in the ments to precisely that universality root of the liberal tradition. rights—advanced most emphatically concerning people who put racist propaganda on the maybe one day soon, you can buy further, if an infertile couple desires to also slowly transforming the fabric of workforce. Mind you there are certain “best practices” of the bio-industrial afforded by crossing Huntington’s Today, this seems to be the major in 18 Francis Fukuyama, author of Internet.” The proposal starts from the premise that what is the Himalayan kingdom. Dramatic them genes for bravery, intelligence, pass on their genetic inheritance by illegal in the real world should be illegal online. The docu- personalities I would not wish to be market place. Will the human ability for putative civilisational boundaries. dividing line between Islam and the The End of History and the Last physical and social changes are all charm and honesty. You can have a producing clones of one or both partners, ment notes it is very difficult to prosecute those who dissemi- baby that never cries. replicated, Hitler being one of them. empathy survive this? Will the human Universality is possible in broader west, as many Muslims reject the Man, is professor of politics arising from the application and shouldn’t they be able to exercise their In fact, all this would have happened being survive this? secular state. But we should consider nate racist material on the Internet because racist sites often An Italian couple has already terms as well, because the primary th international political implementation of these new technolo- right of choice? We have fertility clinics, much sooner if it hadn’t been for the century America—continues are located in non-EU countries, particularly the US, where why modern secular liberalism arose economy at Johns Hopkins the offence is protected as free speech. The member states’ gies. Some people will make dramatic announced that they plan to have a why not cloning clinics? in the west. Liberal ideas emerged in to shape our moral discourse. When amounts of money from the changes, baby that was a clone of the “father”, But the science is uncertain; the we say race, ethnicity, wealth, and University. anti-racism legislation would need to cover people who design racist web pages for European consumption, even if many will make little or nothing, but and the maverick doctors Severino experience of Dolly and Dolly and Antinori and Panayiotis Zavos claimed they are not on EU territory. The proposal would also make it the underlying ideology which holds Dolly has taught us that some defects COMMENT by VICTOR BULMER-THOMAS recently that the first cloned baby will a criminal offence to set up a racist web site on EU territory, all these changes together, is that do not show themselves until after the even if the material is not hosted in Europe. To be adopted, be born next year. Many people are improved technology and improved first few months of life. Aside from the proposal will have to be accepted by the EU justice and services—development, no less, is ofhowever, offended by the prospect of that terrible thought, there is also the home affairs ministers once the European Parliament has benefit to a majority of the people. people looking exactly the same. ultimate question of whether the clone weighed in. The so-called Developed World is Imagine going round to a friend’s to will still be a human being? For see their new baby boy. “Ah,” you say, Growth in an age of anxiety at this moment embarking upon a new example, in Iowa, in the US, cows now process of “reproductive development” “he looks just like you.” give birth not to calves, but to gaurs that will change its fabric as fundamen- “What about his eyes,” the mother the ox-like South Asian animal. More estoring growth is an ever more vital issue in this current crisis. GrowthLatin America and Asia urgently need tally as development is changing ours. says, “aren’t they a bit like mine?” specifically, Bessie the cow was the remains an imperative in developing countries because populations are With the feat of cloning they play god “No,” you say, “the eyes, the ears, well surrogate mother of the world’s first Rexpanding, so jobs must be found for new workers. Real wages for manyto put their economic house in order. with our evolutionary destiny. Is this everything really, they’re all his, all cloned endangered species. The animal are pitifully low and can only be addressed through the higher productivity that○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ (IPS) the dawn of a bright new age or are we exactly the same.” she carried was cloned from a single growth usually entails. Governments need the extra resources growth generates to Growth in many Asian countries—barring China and to some extent tackle social deficits in health, education and social security. risking ominous consequences for the Your friend looks on proudly cell of a dead gaur and implanted for a Taiwan—was stopped cold by the 1997 financial crisis. Growth in Latin future of civilisation? while you stand petrified, you like cross-species pregnancy. Latin America’s growth experience has been a play in two acts. Until the earlyAmerica has often suffered from a shortage of domestic savings, leading to the Whether we like the thought of your friend, he’s nicea dude, but not so 1980s, economic growth in most of its countries was driven need for foreign capital tosustain an adequate rate of by an import-substituting industrialisation supported by clones or not, reproductive technology much that you want a smaller version of investment. Foreign capital inflows led to an accumula- high tariffs, quotas, licenses and, at times, outright will become so sophisticated that the him tagging along. “Yet,” your friend tion of debt, which on numerous occasions says, “he may have the same genetic prohibitions on imports. Only three Latin American biological imperative will recede. One provoked financial crises. The key to sustainable day, procreation will not take place in makeup as me but he will grow and countries joined the GATT in 1947. Currency long-run growth in Latin America is higher bedrooms all around the world, won’t controls created a strong bias against exports. Moves domestic savings. even take place between a man and a away from import substitution regimes began woman, instead, you’ll order the before the 1980s, but many failed. Latin America’s Some steps have been taken in this direction. genetic make up of your child and the share of world trade collapsed in the three decades Fiscal deficits are much smaller now inflation is laboratory will develop the embryo. after 1950. Still, Latin American growth averaged under control. Pensions systems have been 5 percent a year from 1950-1980, with Brazil privatised, at least partially. Loss-making state- briefly enjoying growth over 10 percent after owned enterprises have been closed or sold to the 1967. Income per head more than doubled, and private sector. However, extreme income Latin America—with a few exceptions—was seen inequality in the region has not produced high as one of the world’s fastest growing regions. rates of savings by wealthy households, as their The import substitution model became liquid assets are often held abroad. exhausted long before the 1980s, and it took the Asia’s problems are the opposite. High 1982 debt crisis to kill it off. Latin America struggled domestic savings encouraged financial institutions in the 80’s to adjust to a new economic model, which to lend beyond prudent limits. Non-performing imposed a heavy toll on growth. This model emphasised loans slowed growth, or required adjustment measures trade liberalisation, markets, and foreign investment. All Latin that incite recession. For sustainable long-run growth in American and Caribbean countries (except the Bahamas) joined the Asia lower domestic savings are needed, or a greater WTO (GATT’s successor). Most also participate in regional integration schemes such as NAFTA and MERCOSUR. The share of world trade began to increase. willingness among banks to lend to the rest of the world. But Yet only a few countries—notably Chile—achieved growth rates in the 1990s asfinancial system reform has been timid, bank portfolios still contain a large fast as before 1980. number of non-performing loans. Close ties between business and govern- In comparison, Asia’s growth in the 1950s was disappointing, save for ment—crony capitalism at worst—linger, and there is a reluctance to let large firms go bust or be taken over by foreign companies. It is hard to channel Japan. Import substitution did not deliver the same benefits as in Latin America. domestic savings where most needed. In the 1960s some countries began to emphasise exports and generated rapid export-led growth. South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore became As Latin America and Asia became more open, their vulnerability to external models for Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand. Two years aftershocks increased. Slow or no growth in Japan is a negative factor across Asia. Mao’s death in 1976, economic reform in China liberalised rural and urban Today’s difficulties in the US have exacted a heavy toll on growth in Latin markets, encouraged foreign investment in export enclaves and permitted a greaterAmerica. Mexico, with most of its exports destined for North America, is now in degree of income inequality. The result was a spectacular spurt of growth, recession. rivalling if not exceeding Japan between 1950 and the mid-1980s. (Project Syndicate)

(Victor Bulmer-Thomas is director of the Royal Institute of International Affairs, London.) 141414 ASIA 30 NOVEMBER - 6 DECEMBER NEPALI 2001 TIMES FROM THE NEPALI PRESS THIS PAGE CONTAINS MATERIAL SELECTED FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 30 NOVEMBER - 6 DECEMBERNEPALI 2001 TIMES 151515 OPINION by EMMA BONINO solved. If we do not have wisdome, ‘Maoist restraint’ Who’s a real tact, patience and docility, we may Another Three Gorges? ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ (Excerpts from editorials) resort to force to solve the problem, BEIJING - China is reviving an old water-diversion scheme favoured by revolutionary? and none of us will be able to foresee Janadisha, 25 November ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ the late Chairman Mao 50 years ago, that would see the waters of the the outcome. A solution is possible China’s longest river, the Yangtze, transferred from the south to the Black Friday Chhalphal, 25 November and for this the government and the parched north. Critics deride the project as “Great Leap Forward think- The “People’s Liberation Army” have ing”, which held that nature could be transformed in a great wayWomen for and the “war” Tarun, 26 November Maoists must keep their use of arms human benefit. But officials argue that the biggest water diversion carried out military operations in Editorial project in China’s history is “a fundamental strategic solution” toBRUSSELS the - As the Taleban regime Since it was a Friday, the rulers and administrators of the country were in a holiday mood.Dang, Prachanda, Syangja and other parts of the …The Maoists must understand very under control. (This edit reads as if it serious water crisis in the north. The ambitious South-to-North Watercollapses, the moment of truth is supreme commander of the Maoists, had broken the talks (two days ago), saying there wascountry, no point which in shows that they are clearly whether or not the other non- was written before the emergency was Transfer Project, estimated to cost over $60 million, will kick off early talking anymore. Still, he had not ordered his forces to attack. The government was trying slowlyto revive becoming the victorious and that Maoist communist parties are also next year and large parts should be completed by 2010. Peopleapproaching and for the main victims of declared) Taleban rule: Afghan women. dialogue and impress its importance upon the intermediaries, facilitators and other people inthe contact old political with system the is being slowlyinvolved in liberating society. The industries in Beijing and Tianjin—two cities beset by worsening water Maoists. shortages—are expected to use water taken from the Yangtze River basin wiped out. Despite all this, Maoists Maoists should not believe that only The international community—in At Baluwatar Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s aides had left for 100 km to the south. More than half of China’s 600 cities suffer thewater form of the US, European powers those who pick up a gun are true New constitution shortages. The overuse of groundwater has caused the water table under the day. The telephone rang around 9PM. It was the first sign of trouble ○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○ most involved in the present conflict, revolutionaries. The reactionary forces the North China Plain to drop substantially over the past five years. The and no matter how hard he tried, he could not avert the consequences. had also come to a point where they Janadisha, 20 November Yellow River, on which much of northern China depends for its industryand the UN—must insist on the The phone kept ringing throughout the night. By Saturday morning, most and agriculture, is so overused, it often runs dry before reachinginclusion the sea. of women at every level of citizens knew that peace had been shattered. were prepared to make changes in the constitution. At this point, the MaoistsExcerpts from an interview with This year has seen one of the worst droughts in decades. China’sthe Ministry country’s new provisional The 9PM call from Surkhet not only informed the prime minister about of Water Resources says that in 2030, when China’s population reaches left the negotiating table and have Padma Ratna Tuladhar government. This is the demand of a the attack on the helicopter, but about the possibility of an attack in Dang. 1.6 billion, its per capita water resources quota will be only 1,700new cu campaign m, launched in recent days again taken up arms. This will not do What is the main reason that the a generally acknowledged danger limit. Northern China, the country’s As soon as he heard this, he realised it was not enough to mobilise the by the Transnational Radical Party. army in those affected areas only. He asked the concerned army officers the country any good. At a time when government and the main opposi- breadbasket where a third of the population lives, taps only 7.7 percent all the imperialist and capitalist forces of the country’s water resources. Some experts argue that such a The campaign, which already has to start preparing for suitable action, and the army replied that everyone tion parties cannot agree on the mammoth project would adversely affect the environment and displace had been put on “alert.” of the world are watching us, they matter of a constituent assembly? the backing of hundreds of members should have tried to win the people’s thousands of people along its routes, rivalling the controversialof Three parliament across Europe, spread The prime minister and defence minister was unaware that the army The Maoists have now removed the Gorges Dam in damage caused. high command had four days earlier ordered its forces not to engage confidence and carried forward the demand for a republic from their list the word among the international dialogue. They did not do that and are public to observe an “international day with the Maoists—they were not to shoot at them or follow them. He was and have publicly said that the satisfied having informed the army, but that was shattered after the call walking into the trap set for them by of fasting and non-violent protest” on formation of a constituent assembly is from Dang came through. reactionary forces. The Maoists need to 24 November. The event was to put their minimum agenda. The At 10PM there was news that the Maoists were organising a torch think hard about this. It was not a pressure on political leaders around government did not understand this at procession. A few minutes later another call came—they were attacking wise decision for them to resume (IPS) the world to move beyond rhetorical all, and instead told the Maoists that The world must insist on the inclusion of Afghan women in public life. the offices of the Chief District Officer (CDO) and the Superintendent of Police (SP). The prime minister violence when reactionary forces are since they had forsaken the issue of a commitments to by taking concrete ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ the few occasions they were allowed to have shown a great deal of flexibility asked his aides to remain in constant contact with the army, and called senior ministers over to his place. All bent upon oppressing the people by republic, it was not necessary to raise steps to ensure the full participation go outside—always accompanied by that acting Chief of Army Durga Prasad Aryal had been saying until now was that the orderson the had issue already of dialogue. If the old labelling them all terrorists. It was verythe issue of a constituent assembly A lot of gas of women in the new Afghan professions, or held positions of relatives—public stoning, absolute direct participation in the new been given and the army was on alert. Communication with Dang was cut off around 11.30PM.system By disregards that time, this flexibility and ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ necessary to establish a good under- either. As far as I understand, the government. responsibility in the civil service. submission to men, and daily abuse government. Anything else would the massacre had taken place. carries out its policy of oppressing the standing and rapport with the people constitutional assembly was to be the DHAKA - Bangladesh has long been under pressure from internationalPutting women in power in Kabul However, the condition of Afghan and rape, often resulting in suicide. risk being nothing more than At the same time, information came through that the Maoists had kidnapped the SyangjaMaoists, CDO and that would be detrimental. It oil companies, representatives of the World Bank and other multilateral and between the forces and the people. medium through which the people is not only a form of reparation, but a women began to deteriorate rapidly at ineffectual denunciation, soon District Development Committee (DDC) president. Police were being massacred, property wouldwas beingbe proper set for on Deuba’s agencies, donor countries and businessmen to export part of its gas In 1998, during a visit to Kabul The gun is not the only means of would take a decision on the matter of necessary condition for resumption of the beginning of the 1990s with the forgotten when the Afghan question fire and widespread looting was taking place. The prime minister’s aides were busy contactinggovernment people to agree in to the Maoist reserve, but the newly elected government seems to be rethinking an as European Commissioner for defeating reactionary conspiracies. the republic. The UML and the earlier decision to do so. Finance Minister Saifur Rahman saysdevelopment the (including the develop- war between the various Afghan is no longer in the spotlight of the other districts. This continued till 3AM. By daybreak there were reports of Maoist attacks indemand 32 districts. for a constituent assembly Humanitarian Aid, I denounced the Nepali Congress have to realise that in administration of Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia may still mentgo for of democracy) in a country factions and the rise to power of the international press. At 6AM, the prime minister ordered the army to start searching the jungles in Dang and Syangja.before it is too The late. It was only after dramatic condition of women in principle the issue of a constitutional natural gas export—“provided that is beneficial for the country.”brought Rahman to its knees by over 20 years Taleban, who reduced them to slavery, To ensure that this very reason- army said it would only accept those orders following all due procedures. The prime ministerthe governmentcalled a shut the doors in the Afghanistan and was arrested by the assembly is positive, it is democratic, sparked an outcry against the export plan in October, when he saidof civil the wars and occupation. depriving them of the most elementary able proposal is accepted, strong meeting of the Security Council early in the morning. Both police chiefs, Pradeep Sumsher faceRana of the and Maoists Krishna that they began government had decided in principle to export gas to India. This Taleban. At that time I was alone in (This edit appeared a day before the and you cannot possibly oppose it. rights and making them literally pressure must be exerted on the Mohan Shrestha were present, the army was represented by its acting chief, and there werecarrying two out other their military campaigns. prompted the principal opposition Awami League, and left-leaningBefore the civil war, Afghan my struggle. I hope that I will not But it is not practical. The Nepali invisible. The barbaric, bloody governments of the US and the other army personnel there too. The meeting lasted until noon and decided the army would act asThis a isback-up clear for allforce to see. All peace- emergency was declared) organisations and professional groups to declare the decision danger-women took an active part, especially remain so. for the police and the armed police. Just before this meeting, the prime minister had called all the cabinet Congress said clearly that it would not ous, even “suicidal”, for Bangladesh. Awami League president Sheikh in the urban areas, in the develop- Taleban regime deprived them of the There is only one way to ensure countries taking part in the military ministers to his residence. They discussed mobilising the army and declaring a state of emergency.loving Nepalis The must raise their voice Hasina, Khaleda Zia’s immediate predecessor, noted: “Over 90 percent support it at any cost. The UML ment and modernisation of the right to study, to work, and to vote, thethat the issue of women’s rights is operations, on the UN, on the leaders prime minister met UML leaders, Krishna Prasad Oli, Amrit Bohara, Jhal Nath Khanal and Bharatagainst Mohan the present system. of Bangladesh’s total population has no access to the benefits of gas.” right to equality before the law, and of the Northern Alliance, and on King Wisdom, patience cannot oppose it in principle, and will country, sometimes occupying roles discussed during the negotiations Adhikary and got their approval to declare the Maoists “terrorists” and send the army after them. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Hasina accused the present government of striking a secret deal with even the right to circulate freely. Mohammed Zahir Shah. have to support it. Some raised the foreign oil companies to export natural gas to India through a normallypipeline. reserved for men in the for the constitution of the provi- After the Security Council meeting, the prime minister went to report to the king. He informed the king Himalaya Times, 27 November During more than 10 years of issue that an even worse constitution Instead, she said, raw gas should be used to establish gas-basedMuslim world. Many women sional government of Afghanistan: (IPS) about all the events and also told him why the army needed to be deployed. He informed him that the UML industries within Bangladesh. It is difficult to determine the sizepractised of in the legal and medical theocratic rule, women were subjected to ask for and obtain their full, had also agreed to these directives. The prime minister then went to the residence of former prime minister (This paper Bangladesh’s recoverable gas reserve. Different bodies offer different to compulsory segregation in the …This is a difficult moment for the (Emma Bonino is a member of Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, ascertained that he agreed to the plan, and then went to meet formerstopped prime appearing Tuesday) country, a very critical juncture. We figures, ranging from 2.83 trillion cu m to 315 billion cu m. At the home, the imposition of the burqa on minister Girija Prasad Koirala. This meeting decided an all-party meeting had to be called for. present rate of utilisation, says state-run oil firm Petrobangla, this will be the European Parliament and are moving towards war, terrorism and The cabinet again met at 4PM at the prime minister’s residence. It had already been decided that the exhausted in the next 20 years. Bangladesh uses 70 percent of gas to a former European suppression. Our education, generate electricity and produce fertiliser. Some 20 percent goes to run Commissioner). army would be deployed and the Maoists would be termed terrorists, but since the all-partyClosed meeting had society? not industrial and other constructive taken place yet, and the Nepali Congress had not passed any directives either, no decisions○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ could be taken. mills and factories while 10 percent is for domestic use. The government sectors will all come to a standstill. spends about $500 million annually importing 3.3 million tonnes of At 5PM an all-party meeting was held in Baluwatar. The events were thoroughly discussedDeshantar, and 25 it Novemberwas Fear, unrest and uncertainty have crude oil and petroleum products. Last year, using approximately 8.5 made clear that there was no option but to deploy the army. KP Oli made it very clear that since they had million tonnes of oil equivalent saved Bangladesh $1.6 billion. spread to all parts of the country and it attacked the army, the question of whether or not to deploy the army was no longer relevant.…The He Maoists said this have bitten off more is the duty of the citizens to stop this. was a question the Maoists had to answer. Interestingly, the Samyukta Jana Morcha, the Rastriya Jana than they can chew. The government HEFORBIDDENTRUTH Morcha and the Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party did not attend this meeting, though they have always sent The Maoists and the government both T ? was doing its best to carry forward the seem to be caught up in their own representatives to all all-party meetings. Other left leaders present were Jhalanath Khanal, Bharat Mohan JULIO GODOYIN PARIS Adhikary, Sahana Pradhan, Bam Dev Gautam, Radha Krishna Mainali and CP Mainali. Rulingdialogue. party Thismembers is also what the people pride and show of strength. No one ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ A new book adds to speculation that KP Bhattarai, Ram Chandra Poudel, Sushil Koirala, Chakra Bastola, Narahari Acharya and wantedArjun Narsinghtoo, but the Maoists did not knows for sure when uncomfortable (IPS) nfluenced by United States oil companies,at bottom the fight between the US KC were also there. The RPP was represented by Surya Bahadur Thapa, Prakash Chandrarespect Lohani, their aspirations and broke the decisions will be taken. In such a President George W Bush’s government and the Taleban is about oil. Rabindra Nath Sharma and Kamal Thapa. The Nepal Sadbhavana Party sent Gajendra Narayanceasefire. Singh, Within 50 hours of breaking situation it is not wise to maintain the Iinitially blocked intelligence agencies’ Rajendra Mahato and Badri Narayan Mandal. it they massacred a lot of people. After status quo. A time like this requires investigations on terrorism while it bargained The Nepali Congress Central Working Committee held its meeting Sunday morning and decidedDang and that Syangja, the it is clear that the peace, stability and unity, either with the Taleban on the delivery of Osama government should take appropriate legal action against the Maoists, mobilising all securityarmy forces. must The be mobilised. CWC Armies through the deployment of the army, might be formed after the election of bin Laden in exchange for political recogni- also asked the government to take appropriate action against anyone threatening peace anddon’t security. return to Home their barracks until or an ordinance or an emergency— the constituent assembly. Their tion and economic aid, two French intelli- Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka said since the party had already declared the Maoists terrorists,they have action finished the work assigned. whatever means laid down by the concern is baseless. should be taken against them. gence analysts claim. The Maoists have killed soldiers, and constitution. This requires a great deal Why do you say this? In a new book, if the army decides to react, a lot of of patience, docility and wisdom. The Bin Laden, La Verite … I feel this shows that there is blood will flow. The army is certainly Maoists and the government have Interdite (Bin Laden, the Forbidden Truth), no confidence within the NC or the better trained and equipped than the already had three rounds of dialogue. UML. Otherwise these parties would Jean-Charles Brisard and Guillaume Maoist militia, and also larger. The Why not sit for another round? The agree to the constituent assembly, as Dasquie, reveal that FBI Deputy Director international scenario is not favourable intellectuals, politically active and they would be sure that democratic John O’Neill resigned in July in protest over the obstruction. The authors claim O’Neill told them that “the main obstacles to the Maoists either. India has already aware members of society must also leftist forces would be in a majority, to investigate Islamic terrorism were US oil corporate interests and the role played by Saudi Arabia in it.” They alsoe claim th declared them terrorists. Once the focus on this. In his recent statements, and the constitution that would be US government’s main objective was to consolidate the position of the Taleban regime to obtain access to Central Asia’s oil government here does the same, then Prachanda has claimed his party is stillformed would not be to their liking. and gas reserves. regardless of the kind of suppression interested in solving this problem Neither party believes in itself, for if Until August, they say, the US government saw the Taleban regime “as a source of stability in Central Asia that would and atrocities government actions through dialogue. If this is the case, any of them wanted, they could easily enable the construction of an oil pipeline across Central Asia” from the rich oilfields in Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and might involve, no other government orwhy start this unnecessary massacre, have tilted towards a republic. They Kazakhstan, through Afghanistan and Pakistan, to the Indian Ocean. But confronted with the Taleban’s refusal to accept US QUOTE OF THE WEEK international body will speak in favour spill more blood? Similarly, if the were simply not confident they would conditions, “this rationale of energy security changed into a military one,” the authors claim. “At one moment during the of the Maoists. There could be more government knows this problem can win the elections and write a negotiations, US representatives told the Taleban, ‘either you accept our offer of a carpet of gold, or we bury you under a The Nepali Congress comprises a crowd of incompetents. When these incompetents could not carry bloodshed,out but to what end? be solved with the help of certain constitution they liked. carpet of bombs’,” Brisard said in an interview. their job efficiently, they called for an emergency, proving their incompetence. The type of communism the factors, why resort to violence? If The book says the Bush administration began to negotiate with the Taleban after coming into power in February. US Maoists want exists only in North handled with tact, understanding and and Taleban diplomatic representatives met several times in Washington, Berlin and Islamabad. The last meeting was in Pradip Nepal, spokesman, Nepal Communist Party, UMLBudhabar in , 28 November. Korea and Cuba. Nepalis are not wisdom, any difficult problem can be August, five weeks before the attacks in the US, the analysts maintain, when Christina Rocca, in charge of Central Asian interested in a closed society. There affairs for the US government, met Taleban Ambassador to Pakistan [Abdul Salam Zaeef] in Islamabad. may be some people unhappy with the Brisard and Dasquie have long experience in intelligence analysis. Brisard was until the late 1990s director of economic government’s activities now, but this analysis and strategy for Vivendi, a French intelligence company. He also worked for French secret services, and wrote for in no way means that they support them in 1997 a report on the now famous al-Qaeda network, headed by bin Laden. Dasquie is an investigative journalist the Maoists’ actions. If the Maoists and publisher of Intelligence Online, a respected newsletter on diplomacy, economic analysis and strategy, available through are really fighting for the rights of the Internet. the people, they should make sure Brisard and Dasquie draw a portrait of the closest aides to Bush, linking them to the oil business. Bush’s family has a that people are not killed. Going by recent events, there will soon be a strong oil background, as do some of his top aides. From Vice President Dick Cheney, through the Director of the National massive bloodbath. Once the Security Council Condoleezza Rice, to the secretaries of commerce and energy, Donald Evans and Stanley Abraham, all have Maoists start this, the government for long worked for US oil companies. will not sit quietly, and certainly, it The book also takes issue with the role played by Saudi Arabia in fostering Islamic fundamentalism, in the personality of should take immediate steps to bin Laden, and with the networks that the Saudi dissident built to finance his activities. In addition, the authors say the US counter it. The government is government’s claim that it had been prosecuting bin Laden since 1998 [is a big fraud]. “Actually,” Dasquie says, “the first responsible for providing security to state to officially prosecute bin Laden was Libya, on charges of terrorism.” the citizens. It has the fundamental The book confirms earlier reports that the US government worked closely with the UN during the negotiations with the responsibility to take action against Taleban. “Several meetings took place this year to discuss the situation in Afghanistan,” says the book. “Representativese of th people who break laws, the rules and US government and Russia, and the six countries that border with Afghanistan were present,” it says. Sometimes, Taleban regulations of the country.(This edit representatives were also there. appeared a day before the emergency was These meetings, called Six plus 2, have been confirmed by Niaz A Naik, former Pakistani Secretary for foreign affairs. In a declared). French television program earlier this month, Naik said that during one meeting in Berlin in July, the discussionshe turned to “t formation of a government of national unity. If the Taleban had accepted this coalition, they would have received international Government-Maoist talks: So what if the justification for the talks has ended? Possibilities still remian. economic aid. And the pipelines from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan would have come.” Naya Sadak,24 November (IPS) put into practice. Only in this way can we really extend democracy within the Party and at the same time avoid ultra-democracy and the laissez-faire that destroys disci- pline. In the sphere of theory, destroy the roots of ultra-democracy. Ultra- bad, it is Marxist. democracy damages or even completely wrecks the Party We are advocates of the abolition organisation and weakens or even of war, we do not want war; but completely undermines the Party’s war can only be abolished through fighting capacity, thereby causing war. the defeat of the revolution. The source of ultra-democracy is in the petit bourgeoisie’s individualistic The Party commands the gun, the aversion to discipline. These ideas gun must never be allowed to are utterly incompatible with the war has its own particular character- command the Party. proletariat’s fighting tasks. istics and in this sense, it cannot be equated with politics in general. “War is the continuation of politics The People’s Liberation Army has Our slogan in training troops is by other . . . means.” When politics developed its vigorous revolution- “Officers teach soldiers, soldiers develops to a certain stage beyond ary political work, an important teach officers and soldiers teach which it cannot proceed by the usualfactor in victory over the enemy, each other.” The fighters have a lot means, war breaks out to sweep the on the basis of a people’s war and of practical combat experience. The obstacles from the way. Politics is the principles of unity between officers should learn from them, war without bloodshed while war is when they have made other politics with bloodshed. people’s experience their own, they absolutely superior force (two, will become more capable. three, four and sometimes even five or six times the enemy’s strength), History shows that wars are of two encircle enemy forces completely, kinds, just and unjust. All progres- strive to wipe them out thoroughly sive wars are just, and all wars that and do not let any escape from the impede progress are unjust. Not ning to publish. What guarantee is responsible for bringing uncertainty to net. In special circumstances, use only do we Communists not oppose THIS PAGE CONTAINS MATERIAL SELECTEDof the FROM government’s THE NEPALI PRESSmotives. there that another group will not start HISTORY NEPALI TIMES 161616 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS the nation. 30 NOVEMBER - 6 DECEMBER NEPALI 2001 TIMES the method of dealing the enemy just wars; we actively participate in 30 NOVEMBER - 6 DECEMBER 2001 171717 The government claims it had toanother paper tomorrow? The Fourth The Maoists had already come to crushing blows, that is, concentrate had taken action against civilians do this because of the Mao- Estate is under attack. If the Deuba the negotiating table, but they safeguard the interests of the nation and the Historically, all reactionary forces onall our strength to make a frontal form of warfare. Guerrilla warfare is opposing their ideology and the police ists… government thinks it can still protect The cost of peace who were doing their duty. But once considered it unimportant to discuss other is to fight for the protection and the verge of extinction invariably attack and an attack on one or both a weapon a nation inferior in arms ○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○ The Maoists’ activities are inappropriatethe first, second and third estate in of his flanks, with the aim of they started attacking a respected simple demands. They could have and it is necessary to control them. interests of the country’s daily conduct a last desperate struggle and military equipment may employ Excerpts from an interview with such a situation, that is only wishful newspapers…When you analyse the wiping out one part and routing security agency, the Royal Nepal started by compromising on the This situation, where all security against the revolutionary forces, and against a more powerful aggressor Damanath Dhungana thinking… working, the identities and objectives of the another so our army can swiftly Army, this state of emergency comes tosimpler demands and pressured the organisations are deployed, is a result of some revolutionaries are apt to be nation. When the invader pierces Saptahik Punarjagaran, members of this Society, you realise move its troops to smash other be a necessity dictated by the situation.government through talks to accept thetheir conduct. That they provoked deluded for a time by this phenom- deep into the heart of the weaker 27 November something is not right… It appears that they enemy forces. Strive to avoid battles Through this period what is expected more complex ones. Instead, they did the army is not acceptable. However, enon of outward strength but inner country and occupies her territory in will be unable to satisfy the needs and of attrition in which we lose more of all national security organisations is exactly the opposite. They started out a state of emergency means barring weakness failing to grasp the essential a cruel and oppressive manner, there “Before the talks started, and even after interests of the fourth estate. None have than we gain or only break even. that they will concentrate their efforts with the major demands. They could all political activities. What kind of fact that the enemy is nearing is no doubt that conditions of that, the majority party in the parlia- articulated their vested interests until now… (5) Fight no battle unprepared, in disarming the Maoists. …Individu-not reach a solution, got frustrated, democratic practice is the government extinction while they themselves are terrain, climate, and society in ment, the Nepali Congress, could not As far as national interests are concerned, fight no battle you are not sure of als and the ideologies they (Maoists) and made the big mistake of breaking implementing… approaching victory. general offer obstacles to his even reach a unilateral agreement on nothing has happened until now that is winning; make every effort to be stand for cannot be wiped out throughthe peace talks. If they had made the It is said the army was not Where do you progress and may be used by those detrimental to the nation. If you think about well prepared for each battle, make violence. It was because the Maoists government agree on a few issues willing to be deployed unless a who oppose him to advantage. it, there have been other times when people If they [the Kuomintang] fight, we every effort to ensure victory in the did not care about this fact that they before breaking the talks, the Maoists state of emergency was de- stand? During the progress of hostili- ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ have been singing the praises of someone or will wipe them out completely. This given set of conditions between the opted for violence to enforce their would have had an advantage. Rather, clared? ties, guerrillas gradually develop Space Time, 29 November the other. There are some editors on the is the way things are: if they attack enemy and ourselves. beliefs. If ideology could be dictated they have become the party that walkedWhy wouldn’t they? The government into orthodox forces that operate in payroll of other countries, some have been and we wipe them out, they will have(6) Give full play to our style of by force, why could countries like the away from the talks. The Maoists did deploys troops. The army has already conjunction with other units of the imported from other countries, still other that satisfaction; wipe out some, fighting—courage in battle, no fear former Soviet Union, East European not only make themselves responsible been attacked, army personnel have …There has been a nation-wide regular army. editors continue to receive their pension from some satisfaction; wipe out more, of sacrifice, no fear of fatigue, nations, Cambodia, Vietnam, and the for breaking the talks, but also already been killed, weapons looted, discussion for some time now We pursue our basic policy, the proved themselves of being an concerning foreign investment in print(foreign paymasters), and then there are those more satisfaction; wipe out the wholecontinuous fighting (fighting People’s Republic of China not have a why wouldn’t the army respond? It creation of a national united anti- irresponsible power that has now media. After leaders of the ruling partywhose newspapers have foreign (donor) lot, complete satisfaction. China’s successive battles in a short time permanent communist government? It has already been deployed after the Japanese front, to gain our political pushed the nation to a grave crisis. started speaking in the favour of foreignsupport… problems are complicated, and our without rest). is just because the Maoists have not attack in Dang. goal, the complete emancipation of This is a shameful political and investment in the print media, the This new Society is apparently unaware brains must also be a little compli- (7) Strive to wipe out the enemy really accepted this fact the nation is Since a state of emergency has the Chinese people. There are diplomatic loss for the Maoists. matter has suddenly taken a serious of this, nor does it show any inclination for cated. If they start fighting, we fight being sucked deeper and deeper into already been declared, what will certain fundamental steps necessary turn. If there are problems between ourhealthy competition. If it becomes active, back, fight to win peace. this whirlpool of violence. To bring The government for its part also you do now? in the realisation of this policy: nation and the parent country of the readers will suffer. And since this is a cartel, the situation back to normal the could not analyse the Maoists’ announced 1. Arousing and organising the how to solve the problem—whether to Since the government has source of foreign investment, obviouslythey will never publish anything detrimental government must prioritise its demands and behaviour. Instead of this without proper consultation and people curb it through the use of force or that company will side with its own to their interests. This will be an assault on If anyone attacks us and if the efforts—take back the weapons looted trying to make the talks decisive, the discussion, we do not support the 2. Achieving internal unification whether to press for a peaceful solution country. The end result will be a directthe fundamental rights of the people, those conditions are favourable for battle, from the police and army, and those ofgovernment tried to stretch the declaration. We are not protesting what politically through talks. I feel that similarly, even assault on our nation, nationalism andguaranteed by the constitution. This Society we will certainly act in self-defence to Maoists, and strictly check entry pointsprocess. This was one mistake. Both the government does within the 3. Establishing bases the Maoists could not reach a unilateral all that Nepal stands for. It might evenwas actually formed only to stop the foreign wipe him out resolutely, thoroughly, along the border and hidden routes sides appeared unaware and even parameters of the constitution to control 4. Equipping forces decision. The Maoists and the Nepali affect the very basis of this nation’s investment in wholly and completely (we do not through which illegal arms are 5. Recovering national strength Congress (and its government), were smuggled. existence. The truth of the matter is, no strike rashly, but when we do strike, forced into peace talks because that was nation has so far opened its Fourth we must win). 6. Destroying enemy’s national strength what the people wanted. Unfortunately, Estate to foreign investment. Since neither of them wanted to make definite The Himalayan Times. But 7. Regaining lost territories Nepal is a small, weak country, it is Mao Zedong with BP Koirala in Henchow in 1960 As for the training courses, the commitments. What has happened now even more important that we take thisthe editors in the Society were not ready to As far as our own desire goes, we do Guerrilla strategy must be based is the result of the indecisiveness, in the acknowledge this objective publicly. There not want to fight even for a single main objective should still be to primarily on alertness, mobility, seriously. Our neighbour India does raise the level of technique in two minds. The conflict resumed not allow foreign investment in the have been many discussions concerning day. However, if circumstances force and attack. It must be adjusted to because the intentions of the concerned foreign investment in the Fourth Estate. It is us to fight, we can fight to the marksmanship, bayoneting, the enemy situation, the terrain, the print media either. Indian politicians grenade-throwing and the like. The parties did not center on peace. They Maoists’ mistake and intellectuals ensured foreign not right to let any media organisation work finish. existing lines of communication, the ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ secondary objective should be to talked for a few months, but both sides investment was not allowed in the under the directives of foreign powers or army and people, between relative strengths, the weather and Dristi, 27 November raise the level of tactics, with special were not satisfied or confident that they sector. But here it seems that only countries. The investment in the new Going by theLittle commanders and fighters,Red and Book the situation of the people. In the revolutionary war as a whole, emphasis on night operations. would get what they wanted out of the people directly involved in the print newspaper could not come in through disintegrating enemy troops. In guerrilla warfare, select the the operations of the people’s peace process. They broke the peace Using the powers granted by the media are discussing this concern. Theproper channels, and so it took a roundabout tactic of seeming to come from the guerrillas and those of the main process without even saying that they constitution, for the first time in the government and the opposition have, route, and definitely it is fulfilling someone’s These excerpts from Mao Zedong’sLittle Red Book—from sections on the armed struggle to east and attacking from the west; careless about the aim of the talks and the violence begun by the Maoists… forces of the Red Army complement would not stay on for talks. They got 12 years of democracy, the country is surprisingly, not discussed it yet. Thisinterests. If both these objectives are Weapons are an important factor Wherever there is struggle there is avoid the solid, attack the hollow; the strategy required in the process. Are you suspicious that the each other like a man’s right arm capturing political power, surrounding the cities from “base areas” in the hinterland, and the down to action right away. Either the in a state of emergency. After the is a matter of utmost seriousness, andimproper, then why let countries open in war, but not the decisive factor; sacrifice, and death is a common attack; withdraw; deliver a lightning And, so both sides have failed. government is trying to hit at and left arm. In concrete terms, two sides have no knowledge of each Maoists walked away from the peace all political parties, intellectual and diplomatic missions in this country? You formation of the People’s Liberation Army—allpeople, notshow things how are decisive. closely Nepalioccurrence. Maoists But we have follow the Maoblow, seek a lightning decision. The very Maoists who in the past democracy through the emer- especially concerning military other’s powers. If they truly realise talks and broke the four-month-old members of society in general should should start closing them too… The contest of strength is not only interests of the people and the When guerrillas engage a stronger said they had an “undeclared working gency? operations, when we talk of the thought, and where they see fit to diverge. The excerpts also indicate which way the Maoists each other’s strength, and why ceasefire through a series of violent a contest of military and economic sufferings of the great majority at enemy, they withdraw when he unity” with the king and an agreement We will not say that at this moment, clarify their stance immediately… people in the base area as a factor, we them. World War I is an instance in violence is not good for the nation, attacks, the government decided that a are headed, and give us a glimpsepower, butof alsotheir a contest ultimate of human destination.heart, and when we die for the advances; harass him when he stops; to not deploy the army against them, but there are chances that democracy mean we have an armed people. That which both sides fought for then they will come rushing back to state of emergency needed to be power and morale. People people it is a worthy death. strike him when he is weary; pursue this time attacked what was not just a here might be affected depending on is the main reason the enemy is imperialist interests; therefore, the the peace process. But the sad part isdeclared. The king did that on necessarily wield military and Nevertheless, we should do our him when he withdraws. In guerrilla sensitive institution, but also the how the situation unfolds. Intellectual freedom afraid to approach our base area. Communists of the whole world that by then many Nepalis will Monday and the army was also ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ economic power. best to avoid unnecessary sacrifices. strategy, the enemy’s rear, flanks, nation’s last security line. This will Should there have been an all- firmly opposed it. To oppose a war already have lost their lives. deployed throughout the nation. The Himalaya Times, 23 November and other vulnerable spots are his haunt the Maoists. This attack on the party government? of this kind do everything possible government also labelled the Maoists The object of war is “to preserve vital points, and there he must be Royal Nepal Army has shown that in That could have happened. We have to prevent it before it breaks out All men must die, but death varies terrorists. This declaration has pretty Surprising silenceExcerpts from a page 1 editorial oneself and destroy the enemy” The atom bomb is a paper tiger harassed, attacked, dispersed, reality the Maoist leadership is now in seen through the years that the Nepali ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ and, once it breaks out, to oppose in its significance. Dying for the much put an end to the talks between response (which means to disarm him or that US reactionaries use to scare exhausted and annihilated. the hands of reactionary people like Congress has not been able to govern Nepal Samacharpatra,,, war with war. people is weightier than Mount the government and the Maoists. The …What worries me right now is this “deprive him of the power to resist”, people. It looks terrible, but it Some simple-minded milita- state of the nation deteriorated because Mohan Vaidya and Ram Bahadur the country well. 22 November and does not mean to destroy every isn’t. Of course, it is a weapon of Tai, but working for fascists and question: if media companies start rists say: “We are not interested in the Maoists broke off the peace talks Thapa... member of his forces physically). when he is on the move. At the mass slaughter, but the people dying for exploiters and oppressors forming cartels, then what happens politics only in the profession of and resumed their attacks. After …Foreign investment in the print Destruction of the enemy is the same time, pay attention to the Every Communist must grasp the decide the outcome of a war, not is lighter than a feather. to intellectual freedom? Who will arms.” It is vital that they be made breaking the peace talks, and with that media is investment in the intellectual primary object of war and self- tactics of positional attack and truth; “Political power grows out of one or two new types of weapon. Necessary evil rights of the people, and surely safeguard that? Many publishers the barrel of a gun.” to realise the relationship that exists ○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○ the hope of the government and the preservation the secondary, because capture enemy fortified points and seem to think that they are “king- What Is Guerrilla Warfare? between politics and military affairs. people that the six-year-old insurgency conflicts will arise between the source only by destroying the enemy in cities. Space Time, 27 November makers”. Are publishers, editors and In a revolutionary war, guerrilla would come to an end, for the first country of the investment and our large numbers can one effectively (8) Concerning attacking cities, With guerrillas, a discipline of other media-related people also Seizing power by armed force, operations are necessary and must time in the history of the insurgency nation. It will be difficult for Nepal to preserve oneself. resolutely seize all enemy fortified Education in democracy must be compulsion is ineffective. It must be Although the announcement of a state going to start forming lobbies settling the issue by war, is the not be considered an independent the Maoists attacked the Royal Nepal function properly in such a situation. points and weakly defended cities. carried on within the Party so that self-imposed, so the soldier is able of emergency is a new development in similar to those in many other central task and the highest form of Army. The Nepali intelligentsia and The least the government could have As for strongly defended enemy members can understand the to understand completely why he the history of Nepali politics, we cannot sectors? Today they have formed an Every war exacts a price, sometimes revolution. This Marxist-Leninist political parties protested and done was put forward its opinions fortified points and cities, wait meaning of democratic life, the fights and why he must obey. In a say it is unreasonable or unjustified, association to protect their interests; an extremely high one. Is this not in principle of revolution holds requested the Maoists to not break the concerning this, but it did not even do until conditions are ripe and then relationship between democracy revolutionary army, all individuals because it has been done in keeping tomorrow they might start to form contradiction with “preserving universally. peace process, but the Maoists refused that…Once a paper controlled by take them. and centralism, and the way enjoy political liberty and the with the constitution. It is natural to Media war alliances to form and destroy oneself”? There is no contradiction at ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ question of the emancipation of the and resorted to military action. That is Indians starts publishing from Nepal, all; sacrifice and self-preservation are(9) Replenish our strength with all democratic centralism should be take recourse to all the methods “We suspect the do you think it will discuss matters governments. What will happen people must not only be tolerated why it is the Maoists who are Kantipur, 22 November both opposite and complementary tothe arms and most of the personnel According to the Marxist theory of prescribed in the constitution and such as Kalapani, the encroachment ofthen? If the thought processes are but discussed, and propaganda must each other. All military operations—captured from the enemy. Our the state, the army is the chief allowed by the law to maintain peace, government’s Nepali territory, and the trade and going to be controlled, will the encouraged. It is incorrect to hold to A tidal wave from the principles of shooting army’s main sources of manpower component of state power. Whoever law and order. Until now the Maoists transit treaty? It certainly won’t. Whypeople be the wiser? …I used to a theory of equality in all things. …Our national media is falling prey to (taking cover to preserve oneself, andand materieal are at the front. wants to seize and retain state power motives” - KP Oli have our government and our publish papers even in the But there must be equality of ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ commercial papers from abroad and it making full use of fire-power to (10) Make good use of intervals Panchayat regime. At that time the must have a strong army. Some existence in accepting the hardships is to fight this assault that major nationalist parties been mum on this? destroy the enemy) to the principles between campaigns to rest, train Dristi, 27 November objective of most papers was the people ridicule us as advocates of the and dangers of war. There is also a publishers and editors of the country … of strategy—are permeated with this and consolidate our troops. Periods restoration of democracy. Despite “omnipotence of war.” Yes, we are unity of spirit that should exist have got together to form the Nepal spirit. All technical principles and of rest, training and consolidation The government has announced a state this, we did not form cartels, advocates of the omnipotence of between troops and local inhabit- Media Society… Foreign investment in Himalaya Times has been published all principles concerning tactics, should not be very long, and the of emergency. How does the main because cartels can never work for revolutionary war; that is good, not ants. The Eighth Route Army put this sector is flowing very rapidly, for the last six years. Now, with the campaigns and strategy represent enemy should as far as possible be the benefit of the nation. Forming into practice a code known as “Three opposition CPN – UML react to this? which may be detrimental to the help of foreign investment, an English- applications of this basic principle. permitted no breathing space. cartels in the media would lead to Rules and the Eight Remarks”: When different political parties asked nation. Nepal has to fight against this language paper affiliated with it, calledthe control of intellectual rights and the government of its plans on Rules: tidal wave and this is why this Society Himalayan Times, will be published. freedom. …This time around, Saturday, it only mentioned that it has been formed. The government is Our principles of operation are: All actions are subject to Certain sections of society have “War is the continuation of would take effective steps. They did keeping silent about this and not doing (1) Attack dispersed isolated enemy command. protested against this very vocally, but politics.” In this sense, war is not say anything else besides that. anything. This casts a web of doubt on forces first; attack concentrated strong Do not steal from the people. the dead silence in certain quarters is politics and war itself is a political When we said we must move towards its true intentions. The government enemy forces later. Be neither selfish nor unjust. very surprising…The silence of the Himalaya Times is not part of this action; since ancient times there has declaring a state of emergency and may lose its sense of responsibility to Remarks: government and the opposition partiescartel, andGorkhapatra was not even (2) Take small and medium cities never been a war that did not have possibly alter the rights of citizens, the the nation. Political compulsions or Replace the door when you leave on such an important issue is most and extensive rural areas first; take a political character.... However, government did not even articulate the immediate benefits may sometimes play invited. Further, smaller papers like surprising. It is improper and big cities later. the house. “E” of emergency. The government a major role in the turn of events and Naya Sadak, Prabhatkalin, Janadisha unacceptable that such forces of (3) Make wiping out the enemy’s Roll up the bedding on which you said such a situation would not arise in such times national compromises are were not invited either. How are we nationalism should be quiet at such a effective strength our main objective; have slept. and that we could be comfortable with not uncommon. We have many such to be sure that the cartel (Media time and even more surprising is that do not make holding or seizing a city Be courteous. effective deployment of security forces. examples before us. Foreign investment Society) will not be used against the some sectors have only spoken in or place our main objective. This is Be honest in your transactions. …It is wrong to recommend a state of in the media sector may not be taken smaller papers also? If this influ- favour of the new paper, saying things the outcome of wiping out the Return what you borrow. emergency without even consulting theseriously by the Deuba government ences the government to stop papers that are detrimental to nation… enemy’s effective strength, and often Replace what you break. main opposition and other political because of its own political compul- from being published, that will be a a city or place can be held or seized Do not bathe in the presence of parties. A state of emergency is sions. Still, how can national dailies be suppression of the fundamental for good only after it has changed women. concerned not just with the govern- quiet when issues concerning the rights of the people. The constitu- hands a number of times. Do not without authority search ment, the problem is not of the nation, nationalism and national tion gives all Nepalis the right to (4) In every battle, concentrate an those you arrest. government alone, and they are not theinterests are being compromised? HowMedia cartel publish papers in this country. That only ones bearing its costs, so why didcan we forget our responsibilities? The ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ is something to be decided by the they deceive the opposition parties? It formation of the new society must be Deshantar, 25 November courts. ... but weapons used against is a matter of grave concern for us that analysed in this light. …Today the others may backfire sometimes, and the government said one thing and didgovernment is quiet and Asia Pacific Excerpts from its editorial then what? So I ask the members of something else by suddenly declaring Communication Associates is begin- A group of wealthy newspaper the Society if some other people or a state of emergency. We are suspicious publishers and editors have got force is not using them. together and formed a media society that has two purposes. One is to 18 18181818 GETAWAYS GETAWAYS EATING OUT EATING OUT EXHIBITION EXHIBITION Manandhar. Everyday except Tuesday. 8PM–11PM, The Everest Hotel tary beer or soft drink. Rs 555 per head, Rs1010 couple at Dwarika’s Hotel. 479488 & Yeti club and swimming pool. Every Sunday, 11.30AM–5PM. Rs 750 Hotel Yak Hotel, Sanepa. 521810 Latinos Adults Rs 500, Children under 12 250. Taxes extra. Summit tions ring 525920. November, La’Soon Restaurant and Vinotheque, Pulchowk. For reserva- Tik ‘n Tok (New Road). 27 November–2 December, Russian Cultural Centre. (Babar Mahal Revisited), Himal Media (Sanchay Kosh Building, Pulchowk), French Embassy (Lazimpat), Alliance Française (Thapathali), Chez Caroline Embassy and Alliance Française. All films subtitled. Free passes at the GETAWAYS EATING OUT MUSIC EVENTS EXHIBITION MOVIES Nepali menu until 7 December. Jyatha, Thamel, opposite Hotel Blue Diamond. 225777 Thapathali. 241163 December, Nepal Art Council, Baber Mahal. 220735 Organised by Japan-Nepal Photographic Exchange Society. Lasts until 7 photographer of Mustang, Dolpa and pilgrimages to old Nepali temples. on Fridays and Saturdays An Fainne. 7PM onwards, Shangri-La Hotel. 412999 Café. 7.30PM-10PM 262526 Saturdays 1.30PM. 434024, 434830 Tuesdays 4.30PM-6.30PM, 241163. At Banu’s, Kamal Pokhari, Wednesdays 6.30PM-8PM, 226101, 226099. ber, 2PM onwards, Hotel Yak & Yeti. For registration and details contact NGCCI Secretariat by NGCCI in cooperation with GTZ/PSPP. Participation fee Rs 1,000, includes high tea. 5 Decem- perhead, children under 12 free. 10AM-5.30PM, 1 December, Hyatt Regency Hotel. the lamp-lit courtyard, free entry. Dwarika’s Hotel. 479488 tary beer or soft drink. Rs 555 per head Rs1010 couple net. Traditional dances nightly in 414336 return airfare. Expats $250 per head. Valid until New Year. Jomsom Mountain Resort. 492009 head. Club Himalaya Nagarkot Resort. 410432, 414432 east at the Imperial Pavilion every Sunday. Hotel Shangri-La. 412999 trout, roasted vegetables, desserts. Hotel Hyatt Regency. 491234 days and Sundays at the Godavari Village Resort. 560675 [email protected] 436850 Special rates for Nepalis and resident expatriates. Hotel Keyman Chautari. Hotel. 479488 afternoon tea, breakfasts, cocktail. $155 per couple net. Valid until end December. Dwarika’s GETAWAYS GETAWAYS EATING OUT EATING OUT MUSICMUSICMUSICMUSIC EVENTSEVENTSEVENTSEVENTS EXHIBITION EXHIBITION MOVIESMOVIESMOVIESMOVIES NEPALI WEATHER BBQ and Thai buffet dinner Festival of French Films Spa Rejuvenation Cuisine Live music Colour of my mind Afro-Caribbean night Far Pavilion Live acoustic music Himalayan Feelings Fusion Nepali and Hindi movies Barbecue lunch Contemporary Jazz dance classes Peking Duck and Mandarin Music Himalayan Feelings Chiso Hawama Workshop on Knowledge Management AWON Holiday Bazaar Le Cafe des Trekkers Nagarkot Escape Kenichi Komatsu 2001 Escape to Jomsom Weekends at The Jazz Bar Rox Restaurant Breathtaking Escape ABOUT TOWN CITY Tuesday and Friday nights at the 40,000 ½ ft Bar, Rum Doodle Restaurant. Indian cuisine with Sapan Pariyar and Suresh with complementary wine or beer for adults, soft drink children. Satur- For inclusion in the listing send information to [email protected] Traditional home-style European cuisine from a wood-fired oven. Steaks, Weekends in cottages, views of the Himalayas, valleys and forests. Paintings by Mona Ghosh. Until 2 December, Alliance Francaise, Two nights, three days, B&B package with tours and Pokhara-Jomsom Fusion band every Friday night with full sekuwa dinner and complimen- Dinesh Rai and Deependra every Friday Sunday at the Himalatte with music and speciality food. Rs 500, 30 two nights accommodation, sixcourse Krishnarpan dinner, massage, DSES-28-11-2001 0700 GMT Summer B&B package for Nepalis and expatriates. Rs 1,250 per with food, games, handicrafts and Santa Claus. Admission Rs 50 New Tibetan and French restaurant. Special 10 percent discount on Exhibition and sale of photographs by Japanese 12 feature films presented by the French online ticket booking at www.nepalshop.com Special brunch offer with use of health every Friday with live band Las Sonidos band every Friday night with full Sekuwa dinner and complimen- The Jazz Commission on Thursdays, Chris Masand’s Latin band by Meghna Thapa. At Alliance Francaise Sundays and Chinese chefs’ mild and spicy delicacies from the far- by Mohan Dhamotharan and Vivek Rana. Organised breezy afternoons. fog due to temperature inversion with sunny clear and clouds at bay. For Kathmandu expect thicker morning area over the plateau and northern India will keep other patches for the eastern Himalaya. But a high pressure before long. The pressure pattern indicates cloudy stream. It may be blowing a westerly front our way from the Sahara to Pakistan and indicates an active jet in Pokhara. But the satellite picture shows a long cloud recorded this month was a mild storm two weeks ago This has been a long, dry November. The only rainfall KATHMANDU VALLEY 40 30 30 40 23-05 24-05 23-05 23-06 24-06 r a u o Tue Mon Sun Sat Fri by NGAMINDRA DAHAL K-T www.borderlandresorts.com. 425836/425894. [email protected]. Program, Leadership Courses and many more. trekking at Tibet borders, Professional Development The Borderlands Resort For canyoning, rafting, percent off-season discount. and Tequila Bar is near Thamel Chowk. 266433. 15 The way to Mexico food, friendly service. 480262, [email protected] modation, attached bath, balcony or terraces, good vantage points to Himalayas. Comfortable accom- cave. Hike to villages with various ethnic groups, mountains, Buddhist monasteries, ancient Shiva good views of Nepal/ Tibet border, jungle-covered Kodari Eco Resort Stupa V on full moon. Open daily 11AM-8.30PM. 480262. Saturdays, Sundays from 5PM on. 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NEPALI TIMES by MIKU CITY A suffered the same disease as every other pioneer of absurd millinery. “This business has are not the same anymore,” complains this by the creations she is surrounded by. “Things have begun. Tripathi sits bored, far from amused Street, where mad hat-making is rumoured to of the world stop dreaming. Nepal’s madhatters are endangered, as the Alices idea of making the silly things in this country. But person in the industry claims to have hit upon Nepal has a complex genealogy. Every second Nepal. Like the yeti, crazy hat business in humour has in the last decade or so come from find out that much of this headgear with a sense feathers and fleece are, it is more interesting to thing in common. Ever notice the crazy hats? ALOK TUMBAHANGPHEY ○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Take, for instance, Aruna Tripathi of Freak Surprising as some of these confections felt, to the New Orleans Mardi Gras, have one from the football and cricket World Cups ll the great extravaganzas of world, orders for as many 8,000 industry in Nepal. Tripathi frequently received some eight years ago, ○○○○○○○○ Unhealthy A competition started as soon we started the height of hats. In peak season— heyday of the hat, doing well.” In the LICE endangered as business madhatters

slumps. Nepal’s IN are N owner of the Madhatter, “The wholesale market is their fingers were. Says a bitter Rajendra Deuja, Rs 400-Rs1,000 a day, depending on how nimble decreasing, and at one go. Each of its 25 at one go. Each of its 25 used to receive bulk orders for at least 15- 20,000 hats baroque absurdity. This was a flourishing company that Kathmandu Madhatter, a o nce-proud bastion of to just a few years ago. One of the others is The taken away by the cheaper labour and goods markets in businesses left of the dozen country was home trouble. India and China.” hats gave even the sweatiest football fan no material and fastest dyes from India, to ensure the from Khasa, and pair that with the lightest EPAL Chinese velvet in all manner of virulent colours of a tear in her eye how she would pick the finest sight now, with just a handful of workers listlessly triumph was, well, trumpery, recalls with the hint stitching up the last of small, 6,000-hat Christmas order. That this industry, which did Tripathi’s is one of just four or five such that on the streets of Kathmandu cost Rs 250. The Kathmandu Madhatter factory is a dismal make a profit of as much 25 percent on hat stellar service to modernise Nepal’s image worl Tripathi, who scoffs at suggestions that her internationally and lighten the lives of so dwide festivities, not tourism—she would many Nepalis, is dying out, yet what’s more, our business has been another reminder of the ephemeral nature of life and its laughs. workers could make between

reinforcements back. 26 November. Kathmandu airport from Phaplu on Monday afternoon. The aircraft rushed Tuesday, 27 November. SAD HOMECOMING: Security forces casualties being brought back to SAD HOMECOMING: SHOW OF FORCE: Soldiers patrol the streets outside Singha Darbar on Tuesday, 27 November. Krishna, relatives and friends at the Police Headquarters in Kathmandu on Buddhi Sagar Tripathi of Solu Khumbu is given a tearful farewell by his wife, GRIEVING WIDOW: The first CDO to be killed in the Maoist insurgency, 30 NOVEMBER - 6 DECEMBER 2001 HAPPENINGS

NEPALI TIMES

19 19191919 ALL PICS: MIN BAJRACHARYA MIN PICS: ALL 202020 30 NOVEMBER - 6 DECEMBER NEPALI 2001 TIMES Under My Hat

by Kunda Dixit One helluva move mong the priceless items of heritage that we are in We have managed all, now we are working on the sundry. danger of losing to the relentless march of civilisationQ: Giving you, as Devil, his due, is the declaration of a Aas we know it are our glorious superstitions. There arestate of national calamity going to affect your activities those who do not value our traditional faith in these beliefsin any way? which have been handed down from one generation of A: Well, I may have to go underground and lie low for a bit Nepalis to another since time immemorable. Today, these with my cousin, Beelzebub. customs are in danger of being discarded into the dustbin ofQ: Poor devil. It is alleged that you have a hand in history. making lesser mortals engage in nefarious activities like For instance, the practice of blowing into your forefingercorruption, smuggling and even urging them to become in case you accidentally touch your throat with it. Countlessmiscreants at Tundikhel. people through the centuries have prevented gotire with thisA: These reports are grossly exaggerated. I will frankly admit simple, yet cost-effective, remedy. Similarly, it is because weto you—and this is totally off the record and if you quote me believe in Black Cat commandos crossing the street that ourI will force you to print a retraction and vehemently deny I national leaders are safe and sound, mostly sound. ever said it—I have on occasion mistaken the Tundikhel for Superstitions have a role to play in development as well.a urinal. Q: Be that as it may, hasn’t this perpetual state of We can concoct new superstitions to combat corruption, fortension between Heaven and Hell gone on for a bit too example, by spreading the belief that stealing is a sin and long? After all, it is having serious consequences on the those who accept kickbacks will notice their fingers falling offtourism industry. Will you at some point resume one by one. That should clean things up. negotiations with God? We have other natural and supernatural wonders that areA: No way in hell. You see, these tensions benefit me. also endangered. One of them is Hell. People have forgottenQ: How exactly? that there is such a place, and it is vitally important in thisA: Well, some of the guards at the pearly gates are on my day and age to re-invent the concept of Hell as a deterrent topayroll and they misdirect the new arrivals to purgatory control corruption, smuggling, urinating on Tundikhel, andfrom where, after intensive training in being bad, they come other ills that plague contemporary Nepali society. To findto me. out exactly how things are going on in Hell, we were recently Q: We hear rumours of a granted an exclusive interview with the Devil in his secret serious energy crisis in hell. hideout. Excerpts: Q: Mr Satan, let me play the devil’s advocate here and Some returnees have told us ask you a hypothetical question. Suppose we said you that the fires are not burning as are personally responsible for fiercely as in the past and there many of the misfortunes that is a draft. Are you caught here have visited our nation in the between yourself and the deep recent past, how would you blue sea? respond? A: That is correct. It is due to a A: At this present point in time, I’m temporary shortage of CNG afraid, I can neither confirm nor caused by universal pollution deny those rumours. But it is a control measures, and unfortu- matter of policy in The nately we in Hell are also Netherworld (and I said this to CNN this morning) that we make affected. But we will soon be switching life a living hell for all and sundry. to burning tyres to tide over the shortage. Things should be nice and toasty then.

NEPALI SOCIETY

Chatyangsent him to India. AfterMaster graduating from an Australian university, Gautam came back to Nepal to see if he could apply what he learnt. Besides his professional work, and hobby as “part-time comedian”, Gautam is an activist who tries to change attitudes by setting a personal example. Some days you see him and a group of volunteers sweeping the premises of schools in Kathmandu Valley, or planning new ways to enhance the dignity of cremation rites. Gautam is dead serious when he talks about Nepal and his absolute belief that this country can and will progress. “There are lots of Nepalis who are not corrupt,” he says gesturing vigorously, “the majority are honest, hard-working people with integrity. But you don’t hear about them because they are too busy getting work done.” As Chatyang Master, Gautam gets immediate feedback on his radio talk and this is his adrenalin. After poking fun at the sad state of the library at the Royal Nepal Academy, he got a call one day from Tulsi Bhattarai, the librarian, who said: “Come and see for yourself what it looks like now.” Chatyang Master thinks Nepalis have an innate capacity to laugh at absurdities. “As long as we can do that we will be ok,” he says. “Humour is all about twisting the logic of things.” Chatyang Master has MIN BAJRACHARYA resumed his popular radio talk after ave Nepalis become too “I was buying fruits in nearly six months, which is on air at 7:25 AM every Friday on Radio cynical to laugh? Ha-ha, that’sDakshinkali, and a couple of kids Sagarmatha a good one, chuckles Krishnacame up and said: aren’t you H 102.4 FM. Murari Gautam, who goes by hisChatyang nom Master. It’s amazing that de guerre Chatyang Master (lightingthey recognise someone’s voice,” flash). He is best known for his says Gautam in his rapid-fire chatter. morning monologues on Radio While he is not making the nation Sagarmatha, and a fortnightly satire laugh at itself, Gautam is helping in verse onHimal Khabarpatrika. boost farm productivity. His work has Many Nepalis don’t know his realbeen so effective, the World Bank name, or that he is an agriculturehired him to share his knowledge economist. But they know his voice.with farmers in China. USAID has

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