WI THOUT F EAR O R F A V O U R

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXIX No. 183 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 34.0 C 14.5 C Friday, August 20, 2021 | 04-05-2078 Nepalgunj Jomsom With ordinance challenged in court, doubts over Nepal and Thakur’s new parties Six advocates have petitioned against Deuba government’s ordinance to ease party splits, demanding its annulment and actions based on it.

BINOD GHIMIRE Samajbadi Party (Loktantrik). KATHMANDU, AUG 19 Whether Nepal and Thakur are allowed to form new parties as per As many as six writ petitions have their demands is up to the Election been filed at the Supreme Court, Commission, but confusion has demanding nullification of the ordi- already arisen as to what if the nance to amend the Political Parties Supreme Court scraps the ordinance Act, 2017, which was promulgated by altogether. President Bidya Devi Bhandari on “It is very much possible that the Wednesday on the recommendation of court can issue an order not to imple- the Sher Bahadur Deuba government. ment the ordinance because it has The petitioners have argued that already made similar decisions in the government deliberately pro- the past,” senior advocate Bipin rogued the House of Representatives Adhikari, a former dean at Kathmandu with a malafide intention to issue the University School of Law, told the ordinance by bypassing the House. Post. “As the introduction of the ordi- Advocates Shreekant Baral, nance has been guided by a malafide Prabesh KC, Niresh Kumar Lamsal, intention against the spirit of the Sakuntala Bhusal, Anusha Aryal and statute, there is a ground for the court Arjun Aryal filed the petitions on to stop its implementation.” Thursday, with but one demand—an In the last two months, the Supreme order to scrap the ordinance and Court has issued two orders asking actions taken based on it. the government not to implement the The Constitutional Bench of the ordinances. Supreme Court will conduct a hearing On June 10, it issued an interim on the petitions, but the date has yet to order against the implementation of be finalised. an ordinance, introduced by the erst- Post photo: Beeju Maharjan As an immediate effect of the while KP Sharma Oli government, to Workers without safety harnesses set up scaffolding for the restoration of the 1,300-year-old Bhaidega temple at Patan on Thursday. ordinance, the CPN-UML and the amend the Citizenship Act 2006. Janata Samajbadi Party have The court said the ordinance wasn’t split. Madhav Kumar Nepal, a of the nature requiring immediate senior communist leader who action as prescribed by the constitu- formerly headed the CPN-UML tion. It also said Parliament’s authori- for 15 years, reached the Election ty is infringed upon when attempts Inside Commission on Wednesday seek- are made to address some sensitive On Afghanistan, ing to register a new party—CPN issues like citizenship through an UML (Samajbadi). Similarly, ordinance. The court had issued a Over 800 homes under Mahantha Thakur, who was similar ruling to stop the govern- housing programme still stripped of the post of Janata ment’s plan to extract the mine-based Nepal to pursue a Samajbadi Party chair on August stones, pebbles and sand. incomplete 9, has applied for Janata >> Continued on page 2 RAUTAHAT: Jhagaru Musahar of the Musahar settlement in Dumariya, Rautahat, had happily dismantled his thatched-roof house some 10 months neutral position at ago after the government authorities assured him to make a concrete house under the People’s Housing Programme. The house construction present, officials say began and he was told it would be completed by mid-March. It’s been five months past the promised dead- omegawatches.com line, and his new home is nowhere Kathmandu has so far refrained from pronouncing Taliban near complete. “We were assured that our new house would be completed by officially and called for lasting peace and stability in mid-March. But the roof of the house is yet to be built,” said Jhagaru. He Afghanistan, as it focuses on evacuating Nepalis there. has fixed a tarpaulin sheet above his under-construction house, where he lives with his seven-member family. (Details on Pg 2)

Yet another high-level committee formed to deal with surging Covid-19 cases KATHMANDU: Amid a surge in new Covid-19 cases throughout the coun- try, the government has formed a high-level committee led by Minister of State for Health Umesh Shrestha to deal with both Covid-19 and non-Covid cases. The committee is the latest in the series tasked with combatting the pandemic. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, who also looks after the Ministry of Health and Population, formed the committee through the Cabinet meet- AP/RSS ing held last Friday. “This committee In this photo provided by the US Marine Corps, civilians prepare to board a plane during an will coordinate between the agencies evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan, on Wednesday. concerned to address both Covid-19 and non-Covid issues,” Dr Krishna ANIL GIRI Kabul and the country is in transition. Prasad Poudel, spokesperson for the KATHMANDU, AUG 19 Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand Health Ministry, told the Post. There on Wednesday evening told the parlia- is already a high-level committee, As major powers are divided and are mentary Committee on Law, Justice ‘Covid-19 Crisis Management Center’ in wait and see mode after the Taliban and Human Rights that Nepal is led by Prime Minister Deuba himself takeover of Afghanistan, one of the adopting a neutral position as the CONSTELLATION 29MM and subcommittees of the centre SAARC members, Nepal, the current most pressing matter for Nepal at exist at the district level. (Details on Pg 3) chair of the bloc, has decided to main- present is getting its citizens out of tain a “neutral” position. the country. Born in 1952, the Constellation quickly became a symbol of OMEGA’s The Taliban made a comeback on “We are closely monitoring the situ- high quality manufacturing and record-breaking precision. Today’s Master National payment switch Sunday, 20 years after being ousted for ation,” said Khand. slated for mid-October launch supporting terror groups. The mili- Major powers like the United States, Chronometer certified models, tested at the highest level by the Swiss Federal tant group’s return to power marks the United Kingdom, Russia, China, Institute of Metrology (METAS), guarantee more accuracy, reliability and KATHMANDU: The launch of the the end of the United States’ era in the India and Russia also appear to be supreme resistance to magnetism from electronic devices, such as phones and much-talked-about national payment war-ravaged country where many taking a wait and see approach as switch slated for mid-October will countries including India, China, there is no clarity yet on how the situ- laptops. Almost 70 years later, the Constellation remains a star performer. mark a step towards a cashless socie- Pakistan, Russia and Iran, among oth- ation unfolds in Kabul under the ty, Nepal Rastra Bank said. The ers, have major stakes. Taliban. national payment switch will inte- At present Nepal’s focus is to rescue US President Joe Biden has said grate multiple banks, digital payment and repatriate its citizens from that the Taliban must decide whether vendors such as IPS, ConnectIPS, Afghanistan and it has not made any it wants to be recognised by the inter- quick response (QR) code and other position on political issues, according national community. digital ecosystem players into one to government officials. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey system enabling them to transfer A senior Foreign Ministry official Lavrov emphasized this week that funds. Mooted a year ago, the imple- said the government has already Moscow was “in no rush” to recognise mentation of the integrated digital issued a statement on the recent situa- the Taliban as the new rulers of payment system was formally tion in Afghanistan. Afghanistan. announced by the Monetary Policy “The question whether Nepal will But he added there were “encourag- 2021-22 presented by Nepal’s central recognise the Taliban is premature at ing signals” of their readiness to let bank on August 13. The government this point of time,” said the official other political forces join the govern- also plans to introduce its own pay- who spoke on condition of anonymity. ment and allow girls into schools, the ment gateway to reduce its dependen- “Our people are still in the country Associated Press reported. AVAILABLE AT: REGENCY WATCH: Annapurna Arcade, Durbar Marg • Thamsherku Center, Durbar Marg, MGA International Pvt Ltd cy on MasterCard or Visa. Central and awaiting evacuation. We are in Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi bank officials said that having the process of rescuing them.” on Wednesday made it clear that his Nepal’s own payment gateway will Multiple officials the Post spoke to country was yet to recognise the enable customers to make digital said at this point Nepal is pursuing a Taliban regime and that would not transactions without depending on “neutral” position, as after the Taliban happen until government formation. Visa and MasterCard. (Details on Pg 5) takeover, there is a power vacuum in >> Continued on page 2 Omega_HQ • Visual: CO57_131.25.29.20.55.001 • Newspaper: 03177 12Mar21 CO57_131.25.29.20.55.001 (NP) Language: English • Issue: 12/03/2021 • Doc size: 161.5 x 250 mm • Calitho #: 03-21-145520 • AOS #: OME_03177 • AD 15/03/2021C M Y K FRIDAY, AUGUST 20, 2021 | 02 National More than 800 homes under People’s Housing Programme still incomplete Around 5,000 families in Rautahat have been affected by the delay. Officials say they lack funds to finish the homes.

SHIVA PURI can do nothing,” said Sah. RAUTAHAT, AUG 19 Province 2 government had issued Rs150 million for the People’s Housing Jhagaru Musahar of the Musahar set- Programme in the last fiscal year of tlement in Dumariya, Rautahat, had 2020/21. happily dismantled his thatched-roof Sah said the budget was not enough house some 10 months ago after the to complete the houses. government authorities assured him “Our repeated requests to the gov- to make a concrete house under the ernment to release additional funds People’s Housing Programme. were not addressed in time,” said Sah. The house construction began and The provincial government has he was told it would be completed by recently issued a Rs180 million for the mid-March. It’s been five months past housing programme, but the Urban the promised deadline, and his new Development and Building Post Photo: BEEJU MAHARJAN home is nowhere near complete. Construction Office has not yet Members of the Tharuhat-Tharuwan Rastirya Morcha demonstrate at Maitighar, Kathmandu on Thursday. They are demanding that the government withdraw the cases “We were assured that our new received go-ahead to mobilise the against those who were arrested while participating in a political movement launched by the Tharu community in 2015 and to implement the past agreements. house would be completed by mid- amount. March. But the roof of the house is yet Sah said it would take three to four to be built,” said Jhagaru. months for all 850 houses to complete. He has fixed a tarpaulin sheet above The government has a plan to con- his under-construction house, where struct 1,973 houses in different places he lives with his seven-member family. of Rautahat under the People’s With ordinance challenged in court, doubts ... The situation of 49 households in Housing Programme. the Musahar settlement in According to the Urban Chandrapur Municipality is the same. Development and Building >> Continued from page 1 effected by the introduction of the based on the ordinance will prevail if decision to award the Nepal Communist The impoverished Musahar people Construction Office, the provincial The Oli government in the national ordinance. the court stays the ordinance,” senior Party (NCP) name to Oli and Pushpa have been left in a lurch as the homes government provides Rs336,000 to con- budget, brought through an ordi- Through the ordinance, the provi- advocate Chandra Kant Gyawali, who Kamal Dahal, saying the party was promised to them by the housing pro- struct a two-room house under the nance, had announced the opening of sions on splitting and registering a specialises on constitutional law, told registered under his name. gramme remain incomplete. People’s Housing Programme. But the the extraction of the construction new party have been changed. As per the Post. “However, it can also scrap The court decision to revive the The construction of 850 houses office says it costs around Rs373,000 to materials and exporting them. On the amended provisions any group all the actions from the very begin- UML and the Maoist Centre had began in Rautahat last fiscal year to build one house. June 18, the Supreme Court said issu- with 20 percent members of the ning, which will invalidate the received flak from some quarters, provide homes to the extremely poor As per the government regulation, ing ordinance on issues like natural Central Committee or the registrations of Nepal and Thakur’s with many saying the judiciary had and the impoverished Dalit families in the budget is released in three tranch- resources will have a long-term Parliamentary Party can split from parties.” given more than the petitioner had the district. Not a single house has es by forming a consumers’ committee impact. the mother party and register a new It will, however, also depend on how demanded. been completed till date. of beneficiaries. Though ordinances are allowed by party. Before the ordinance, the the process moves forward and Raju Chapagain, chairperson of This delay has affected around The People’s Housing Programme the constitution, they should be used requirement was 40 percent members when the court starts hearing and Constitutional Lawyers’ Forum, says 5,000 people, most of whom are now was launched in the district five years prudently and sparingly, say experts of the Central Committee “and” passes its verdict. The Election the court ruling will determine wheth- taking shelter under flimsy tents ago to provide housing facilities to the on legal and constitutional matters. Parliamentary Party. Commission can take 45 days at the er the CPN UML (Samajbadi) and the and huts. poor and marginalised people. Each Article 114 (1) says if, at any time, The ordinance has also scrapped most to take a decision on Nepal and Janata Samajbadi Party (Loktantrik) Urban Development and Building family would get a house with a kitch- except when both Houses of the feder- the need for any party to secure 3 per- Thakur’s applications. will come into being even if they are Construction Office in Birgunj, a gov- en, two rooms and a toilet under the al parliament are in session, circum- cent vote share under the proportional “We have sent the amendments on registered by the Election ernment authority responsible for programme. The beneficiaries are stances exist which render it neces- representation system to qualify as a the regulations related to political par- Commission. carrying out the People’s Housing required to donate labour worth sary to take immediate action, the national party. The earlier provision ties to the Law Ministry. The new reg- “The way the ordinance has been Programme, says that it could not at least 10 percent of the total cost of President may, on the recommenda- said a party must secure 3 percent ulations will come into effect once issued has definitely breached the complete the house construction the house. tion of the Council of Ministers, vote share under proportional rep- published in the Nepal Gazette,” said spirit of the constitution,” Chapagain owing to the lack of funds. But the house construction under promulgate an ordinance. resentation and win at least one seat Dinesh Thapaliya, chief election com- told the Post. Birendra Sah, an engineer at the the project has faced delays after Nepal’s governing parties, however, in the lower house under the first- missioner. “It may take around 10 days Nepal introduced anti-defection Urban Development and Building delays due to funds shortage. have a tendency to issue ordinances at past-the-post system to become a to register the two parties though we laws for the first time in 1997 with a Construction Office in Birgunj admits “The construction of the houses has the drop of a hat whenever it suits national party. have 45 days’ time.” view to controlling horse trading, that the poor people have been left been affected as the government does them. The Oli government last year in Now the Election Commission will which had become the bane of fledge- high and dry as the houses could not not issue the required funds in time. There is unanimity among experts April had also issued a similar ordi- invite the leaders of both the parties ling parliamentary democracy. Even be completed in time. The poor people have been greatly that the recent ordinances, either by nance seeking to change the “and’’ and examine whether they have com- stricter provisions were introduced in “The roofs in the houses could not affected. The government should be Oli or Deuba, were not brought provision to “or”, keeping the 40 per- pleted all the legal provisions to regis- the Political Parties Act in 2017 by be installed due to the lack of funds. careful about the issue,” said Babulal because any immediate action was cent number intact. The Oli govern- ter a new party. Nepal’s politicians and lawmakers in Other works were completed by Sah, the provincial assembly member required, as provisioned by the consti- ment’s ordinance had led to the forma- Many say given the kinds of ver- search of stability, as frequent splits March. We sympathise with the hard- and coordinator of the People’s tution, but because they had to fulfil tion of the Janata Samajbadi Party, as dicts Nepal’s Supreme Court has were taking place. ships faced by the poor families but we Housing Programme. their vested interests. Sanghiya Samajbadi Party led by passed in recent days, no one should But the governments after the 2017 It has become apparent—and even Upendra Yadav, and Rastriya Janata be surprised if it comes up with an elections, first under the new constitu- ruling party leaders have admitted in Party led by Thakur, had announced a unexpected ruling on the ordinance as tion, have been using loopholes to interviews with the Post—that the hasty merger. The ordinance, however, well. issue ordinances, not giving two hoots Deuba government issued the ordi- was repealed after five days following On July 12, the Supreme Court to the stability principle, something nance to amend the Political Parties widespread criticism. Despite differ- while restoring the House dissolved what once used to be Nepali parties’ Act-2017 to facilitate splits in the UML ences, Yadav and Thakur, however, by Oli asked the President to appoint constant refrain. and Janata Samajbadi Party. were forced to remain under the Janata Sher Bahadur Deuba, the leader of Adhikari, the law professor, says the The introduction of the ordinance Samajbadi Party, as neither side con- then main opposition Nepali Congress, Deuba government has set an extreme- by the Deuba government a day after trolled 40 percent in the Central making it arguably the first instance ly wrong precedent by changing the proroguing the House makes it clear Committee and Parliamentary Party. in the world in which the judiciary law related to party split through an that there was some malafide inten- But the situation is different now. directly appointed the country’s exec- executive order, which will promote tion, according to observers. Unless the Deuba government utive head. instability. But that ordinance has been prom- rescinds the ordinance, the Supreme Earlier on March 7, the Supreme “His [Deuba’s] move is myopic. He ulgated and two groups have already Court has to respond to the petition- Court invalidated the Nepal doesn’t seem to be aware that the axe sought to register new parties as per ers. The question is what will happen Communist Party (NCP) and revived could fall upon his own party as well,” the ordinance, all eyes now will be on to Nepal and Thakur’s parties if the the CPN-UML and the Communist said Adhikari. “The move to scrap the the Supreme Court. Supreme Court not only scraps the Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre). The threshold provisions is equally objec- It will take a while for the Election ordinance but also asks to revert the two communist forces had merged in tionable, if not more, to lower the bar Commission to award Nepal and actions taken under it. May 2018 to form the Nepal Communist for party splits.” Thakur the parties they have demand- Constitutional experts say it Party (NCP). Rishi Ram Kattel, howev- ed, as it first needs to amend regula- depends on the nature of the ruling. er, had filed a petition, demanding an (Tika R Pradhan contributed Post Photo: SHivA PURI tions as per the changed provisions “The actions that have been taken order to annul the Election Commission reporting) The housing programme was launched five years ago targeting the poor families in Rautahat. Four people killed, two others On Afghanistan, Nepal to pursue a neutral ...

>> Continued from page 1 in Nepal from Afghanistan and an Nepal, however, has a history of choice and people’s participation, missing in separate landslides According to The Times of India, additional 342, who were staying vacillating on various issues in the and whether the new regime in will New Delhi will align itself with the legally and illegally, have expressed region. Myanmar is an example. be inclusive, democratic and repre- POST REPORT In Parbat district, a person died and two responses of the democratic bloc of their intent to return home. Nepal did not make any clear posi- sentative,” said Bhattarai, also a KATHMANDU, AUG 19 others were injured when a landslide bur- countries on whether the incoming “We have to assess a lot of things tion when the military junta on former ambassador who is current- ied two vehicles at Jaljala Rural Taliban regime can be recognised, before making our position on the February 1 staged a coup and seized ly advising Deuba on foreign rela- At least four people died and two others Municipality on Wednesday evening. and much depends on the conduct new regime in Kabul,” the Foreign power, overthrowing an elected gov- tions issues in an unofficial went missing in separate landslide inci- Rajendra Adhikari, inspector at the of the new masters of Afghanistan Ministry official who spoke on con- ernment. In the past too, Nepal capacity. “The question of legitima- dents in Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Parbat dis- District Police Office, said the two injured in the weeks ahead. dition of anonymity told the Post. decided to abstain from voting at cy will come only after government tricts over the past two days. persons were taken to Beni Hospital in Two days after the Taliban takeo- “Safety and security of our citizens the United Nations on the issue of formation. The entire world is A 32-year-old woman and her daughter Myagdi district for treatment. ver, Nepal’s Foreign Ministry on is more important to us right now.” Myanmar Rohingya Muslims, who watching each and every develop- were killed while her other two children In a separate incident in Gorkha district, Tuesday issued a statement urging There have been calls from some were being persecuted under Aung ment inside Afghanistan.” went missing when a landslide buried continuous landslides along a foot trail in all parties concerned to ensure the quarters that Nepal should make San Suu Kyi’s rule. After returning as the in-charge their home at Koldanda village in Chumanubri Rural Municipality has killed safety, security and well-being of its position clear as it is the current According to a Nepali official in of the country, the Taliban have Naukunda Rural Municipality, Rasuwa at least 16 mules. the people [in Afghanistan]. chair of SAARC, but given the Delhi who is looking after tried to assure the world that they on Thursday. Police said the animals were returning The ministry refrained from charter of the regional bloc, there Afghanistan affairs, the immediate want to maintain relations with the Police said the incident occurred while from the Lokpa area after transporting mentioning the Taliban in the is no practice of speaking on any priority of Nepal government is to world. the family was asleep. food grains. There were no human statement and called for safe and country’s internal matters. rescue and repatriate its citizens. Zabihullah Mujahid, the Similarly, a 43-year-old man perished in a casualties. orderly departure of all those who Afghanistan joined SAARC as “For Nepal, time is not ripe to Taliban’s longtime spokesman, in landslide at Lamachur in Belkotgadhi Prakash Dahal, deputy superintendent of wished to leave the country. the eighth member in 2007. make a position as the situation is his first-ever public appearance, Municipality, Nuwakot. The victim was District Police Office, said there has been “Nepal broadly supports the call Nischal Nath Pandey, director at still evolving in Afghanistan. We promised on Tuesday they would reportedly working in his kitchen garden continuous landslides in Chumanubri for from the international community Center for South Asian Studies, have to see how the government is honour women’s rights within the when the landslide struck. the past four days. to respect and facilitate the safe and believes Nepal has an obligation formed, how other countries from norms of Islamic law. orderly departure of all those who towards regional cooperation as it across the world and the region They sought to reassure the wish to leave the country through currently chairs SAARC. respond,” said the official. “We have world that they would bring law roads, airports or border crossings The SAARC process, however, to set some benchmarks, like how and order to Afghanistan and that and calls upon those in a position to has remained stalled for over five the situation unfolds, how the peace the horrors of their previous rule do so for the protection of human years now ever since its 19th process moves forward, how the would not be repeated. life and property and the mainte- Summit slated for November in new government accommodates “We want the world to trust us,” nance of peace, order and stabili- Islamabad was called off over various forces and how the new said Mujahid. ty,” read the statement. “Nepal India’s refusal to participate. masters treat the constitution.” Bhattarai said it won’t be easy wishes to see lasting peace and sta- “Prime Minister Deuba can at “But one thing is clear,” added the for the Taliban to become unfriend- bility in Afghanistan, a fellow least call heads of South Asian official, “we are not in any power ly with the rest of the world. member of South Asian Association countries to discuss regional issues game and not in any power play as “There could be a sanction by the for Regional Cooperation and the of importance,” said Pandey. “The far as Afghanistan is concerned.” West or the World Bank and continued progress and prosperity Taliban’s takeover will test peace in Dinesh Bhattarai, who in the International Monetary Fund,” of the friendly people of South Asia.” past has served as foreign relations said Bhattarai. “Some select Afghanistan.” As far as whether Nepal recognis- adviser to Deuba, said Nepal’s posi- nations cannot fund Afghanistan According to the Foreign ing the Taliban or not is concerned, tion in the new situation in forever so there are several issues Ministry, as of Thursday evening, Pandey quipped: “Taliban barely Afghanistan is almost clear. that we need to consider before tak- 296 Nepali nationals have arrived care.” “It will determine the people’s ing a decision on Afghanistan.”

C M Y K 03 | FRIDAY, AUGUST 20, 2021 National

Post Photo: Anish Regmi A farmer sprays pesticide on a paddy crop at Pharping in Dakshinkali, Kathmandu on Thursday. Yet another high-level committee formed An ordinance nation, and rule of law to deal with surging Covid-19 cases How President, despite having constitutional roles, can be instrumental Experts doubt the new committee will be any different from other committees formed in the past. in keeping political processes on track. ARJUN POUDEL been testing positive for the coronavirus sion, but takes no action.” Trauma Center, are other members of the KATHMANDU, AUG 19 every day for nearly four weeks now. Health The committee was initially formed new committee. Dr Guna Raj Lohani is BINOD GHIMIRE facilities treating coronavirus patients have under the leadership of a deputy prime member secretary. KATHMANDU, AUG 19 Amid a surge in new Covid-19 cases already been running in full capacity and minister of the previous government and “We have to see how effectively the throughout the country, the government those seriously ailing, who need intensive later under the prime minister himself. new committee will work, and what change When the Sher Bahadur Deuba government on Tuesday has formed a high-level committee led by care and ventilator support, are forced to The Health Ministry said that the highly it will bring in the treatment and control recommended an amendment to some of the provisions of Minister of State for Health Umesh wait for days to get the service. contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus of the coronavirus pandemic,” Dr Mingmar the Political Parties Act-2017, it was largely expected that Shrestha to deal with both Covid-19 and Public health experts, expressing doubt has been circulating throughout the coun- Gyelgen Sherpa, former director general the President would promulgate it without any delay. Even non-Covid cases. about the effectiveness of the new commit- try and is responsible for the ongoing infec- at the Department of Health Services, told though the Deuba government had already taken a lot of The committee is the latest in the series tee, said the new high-level committee will tions. But neither tests have been increased, the Post. flak for recommending the ordinance, there was no way the tasked with combating the pandemic. see an overlap of responsibilities. nor any agency is paying attention to con- “We need mechanisms that implement President could have stopped it. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, “Instead of forming a mechanism to tact tracing. decisions promptly, increase testing, make On Tuesday evening, a Sheetal Niwas adviser told the who also looks after the Ministry of Health implement the decisions, the government “Technical committees are needed for contact tracing effective, and enforce public Post that President Bidya Devi Bhandari would promulgate and Population, formed the committee has been creating committees one after giving technical suggestions, and political health measures, as new cases have been the ordinance on Wednesday. And she did. through the Cabinet meeting held last another,” Mahendra Prasad Shrestha, for- committees are needed for implementing surging every day.” As a result of the ordinance on Wednesday, two parties— Friday. mer chief specialist at the Health Ministry, those suggestions or taking prompt deci- On Thursday, 2,321 people tested positive the CPN-UML and the Janata Samajbadi Party—have split. “This committee will coordinate between told the Post. sions,” Dr Keshab Deuba, a public Health in 11,946 polymerase chain reaction tests. The ordinance issued by the Deuba government is similar the agencies concerned to address both “Work on pandemic control has not been epidemiologist, told the Post. Additional 754 people tested positive in to the one brought by the KP Sharma Oli government in Covid-19 and non-Covid issues,” Dr Krishna effective, not because we have fewer com- “But in our context, no suggestions of 4,492 antigen tests performed throughout April last year, save some technicalities—numbers in the Prasad Poudel, spokesperson for the Health mittees but in the absence of mechanisms the experts’ committee are taken positively the country. In the last 24 hours, 33 people Central Committee and Parliamentary Party—as both are Ministry, told the Post. to implement the decisions of the govern- and are rarely implemented.” died of Covid-19. Active cases stand at intended at easing party splits. There is already a high-level committee, ment and respective committees.” All three tiers of government—federal, 40,500 as of Thursday. One stark difference was that President Bhandari held ‘Covid-19 Crisis Management Centre’ The Covid-19 Crisis Management Centre provincial and local—have formed commit- “We do not have to do new things but fol- the government recommendation at least for a day to under the leadership of Prime Minister had decided to set up holding centres with tees under them. low the basics—enforce public health meas- “study” it before promulgating it. Similar recommenda- Deuba himself and subcommittees of the 1,000 beds each in all seven provinces and in Dr Roshan Pokhrel, the health secretary, ures strictly, increase testing, isolate the tions were made by the erstwhile Oli government also in the centre exist at the district level. Kathmandu Valley by assigning the job to is the vice chairman, Dr Dipendra infected people and make contact tracing past, but Bhandari’s promptitude then used to be spectacu- Asked how the new committee is differ- the Nepal Army before the start of the sec- Raman Singh, chief specialist; joint effective,” said Deuba, an epidemiologist. lar, forcing some to give the Office of the President the ent from the other committees and what ond wave but no holding centre has been vice-chairman and director generals—Dr “Even a ward committee or area develop- moniker of “rubber stamp”. new things the new committee will do, ready yet. RP Bichha, Dr Basudev Upadhyay and ment committee, youth committee can play This time around, according to Lal Babu Yadav, a Paudel said it will not do anything new, “Have you noticed any new thing the Bharat Bhattarai—are members of the new a role and authorities concerned can facili- political adviser to President Bhandari, she wanted to hold but coordinate with the relevant agencies Covid-19 Crisis Management Centre has high-level committee. Dr Krishna Prasad tate them. We have to wait and see if this consultations. to make the response to the pandemic done since its formation?” an official at the Paudel, spokesperson for the health new committee will do all these things or “The President did consult us after the ordinance was effective. Department of Health Services asked, seek- Ministry, Dr Rudra Marasini, chief consult- will be similar to several other committees recommended by the [Deuba] government,” Yadav told the Around 3,000 people on an average have ing not to be named. “It only holds discus- ant orthopaedic surgeon from the National formed in the past.” Post. “Anyway, as a constitutional President, she could have done nothing except promulgating it. She did so a day later. She did the same during previous governments also and she will do the same in the future.” Article 61 (1) of the constitution says the country has the President as the head of state whose primary responsibility is to abide by and protect this constitution. Even experts find idea of ‘smart lockdown’ puzzling The question, however, is not whether the President should or should not endorse any government recommenda- tion, according to observers. The question, they add, is also When it comes to strictly enforcing selective restrictions, the government has already failed to ensure public vehicles not that she took a day to promulgate the ordinance recom- mended by the Deuba government. do not carry passengers more than their seating capacities and restaurants do not operate dine-in services. “Actually, the President did the right thing by taking at least a day before promulgating the ordinance sent by the ANUP OJHA recording around 900 cases daily. Representatives and questioned government. Yes, it could have been better had she asked the KATHMANDU, AUG 19 “We still have time to make the logic behind imposing a ban government to reconsider it,” said Dinesh Tripathi, a senior preparations for ‘smart lockdown’ on vehicles after 8pm. advocate who specialises on constitutional law. In a bid to contain the growing because the existing prohibitory Health experts have also been “But could she ask the government to reconsider? number of Covid-19 cases, the orders will remain in effect until criticising the government for No. Because she had lost the moral ground by swiftly Covid-19 Crisis Management August 24. We need to take a dif- failing to take the basic Covid-19 approving and validating every move taken by the Oli Centre on Monday issued a circu- ferent approach to Kathmandu,” control measures such as tracing, government.” lar to the district administration said Kali Prasad Parajuli, chief testing and treating. Bhandari is the second President of the six-year-old offices across the country to district officer of Kathmandu. At a time when doctors republic of Nepal. She is currently in her second term and enforce ‘smart lockdowns’. “We will come up with new have been warning about a fourth year of her presidency. Though the constitution has However, this is not the first decisions before the expiry of the devastating third wave hitting the defined the President’s role, observers say the duty of pro- time the centre came up with the existing prohibitory orders in the country anytime soon, the tecting and enhancing the reputation of the high office lies idea of such a lockdown. Two Valley,” said Parajuli. Kathmandu Metropolitan City with the person who holds the office. months ago, on June 20, when the When asked what a ‘smart lock- from the first week of August has During Oli’s tenure, the Office of the President was heav- prohibitory orders in Kathmandu down’ means, he suggested selec- suspended Covid-19 free treat- ily criticised for acting like the executive’s puppet. Valley were loosened, the centre tively sealing areas that have ment services at the Naradevi President Bhandari was clearly working extra hours on had used the term ‘smart lock- higher Covid-19 cases to tame the Ayurvedic Hospital and May 21, when she endorsed the Oli government’s House down’ while introducing an odd- virus transmission. Chhetrapati Free Clinic Hospital dissolution move. As per the notice of the Office of the even number rule for vehicles and However, none of the districts purportedly to cut costs. President, the House dissolution recommendation was allowing businesses to operate on including Kathmandu has relia- The authorities have also failed approved in the wee hours of around 2am on May 22. alternate days. But the authori- ble data to pinpoint Covid-19 hot- to ramp up antigen tests and kits Even the Oli government’s earlier House dissolution on ties themselves were not clear spots and infection clusters to are close to their expiration dates. December 20 was approved at a lightning speed. So were the what exactly smart lockdown enforce localised restrictions. Expanding the antigen tests helps ordinances to amend the Political Parties Act-2017 and the meant and how they were going to Doctors say it is difficult to in tracing how the virus is spread- Constitutional Council Act-2010 on April 20 and December implement it. impose selective restrictions as ing in the communities and it is 15 last year. The Oli government had to introduce yet anoth- On June 20, Nepal recorded there has not been any homework. Post file Photo the best way to see how the virus er ordinance to amend the Constitutional Council Act-2010 1,421 new infections and 51 Covid- “It will be difficult to selectively A shuttered street in Ason, Kathmandu during the months-long lockdown last year. is spreading in society, according on May 4, as six months had elapsed without the ordinance 19-related fatalities. But, in a span impose restrictions in Kathmandu to doctors. being tabled in Parliament. The President would not take of nearly two months, daily infec- Valley. How will you control the the first and second second waves city’, ‘smart toilets’, and ‘smart Although the District even an hour to approve it. tions have doubled with the coun- flow of people if more cases are of the pandemic. street lamps’ have not yet materi- Administration Office, Observers say the question is not why Bhandari took a try reporting over 3,000 new cases found in Ason? It’s easier said Despite constant warnings by alised. Kathmandu in the first week of day to approve the ordinance brought by Deuba, as Deuba’s every day. On Wednesday the than done,” said Dr Sher Bahadur health officials about a looming The centre in its Monday circu- April made an announcement move is as wrong as Oli’s. The point is the constitution does country reported a total of 3,403 Pun, chief of the Clinical third wave, public movement lar had said authorities con- that it is mandatory for those not bar a sitting President from using his/her conscience new cases of which 2,613 were Research Unit at Sukraraj across the Nepal-India border cerned could divide districts, entering Kathmandu Valley to while taking a decision on a recommendation sent by the from polymerase chain reaction Tropical and Infectious Disease remains unregulated. local units or areas into red, undergo an antigen test, the rule government, according to them. tests. Hospital. “The government using the amber, yellow and green zones hasn’t been implemented. Mohan Acharya, a constitutional lawyer, said what In the Capital, major markets Dr Pun said he doesn’t know word ‘smart’ itself is problemat- and impose restrictions accord- According to Metropolitan Deuba has done by bringing the ordinance is out and out and business districts including what ‘smart lockdown’ exactly ic,” said Dr Baburam Marasini, ingly as per the risk status. Traffic Police Division wrong just as it was wrong on the part of Oli to introduce Ason, Indrachowk, Putalisadak means and how the authorities former director at the Even though the infection rate Kathmandu, on an average 20,000 the ordinance. and New Baneshwar have been are going to implement it. Epidemiology and Disease is gradually going up, the govern- people are entering the Valley “Now it does not matter whether the President does it seeing huge crowds. Health experts doubt the gov- Control Division. ment has not done anything other through various entry points swiftly or takes time,” Acharya told the Post. “The President Although the government ernment will succeed in enforcing He said officials at the Covid-19 than banning public and private daily. Health experts say this has actually had set a wrong precedent by swiftly approving launched a ‘mask up campaign’ a localised restrictions when it has Crisis Management Centre should vehicles, including two-wheelers, further increased the risk of every recommendation of the Oli government.” week ago, when the country’s failed to limit the passenger num- have been cautious while using after 8pm starting last week. virus transmission. According to Acharya, the President does hold the right Covid-19 related deaths crossed bers in public vehicles, ban dine- the word ‘smart’. But the decision to ban vehicles When the Post asked Dr Anup to study any recommendation by the executive and consult the 10,000 mark, many people are in services in restaurants and “How will they impose a smart after 8pm has caused quite an Bastola, director at the Teku- experts before promulgating it. still flouting the rule. prohibit public functions and lockdown when the authorities uproar, with many criticising based Sukraraj Tropical and “Had the President in the past not given the nod to every Kathmandu Valley on Thursday gatherings. have failed to control crowds and the move as short-sighted and Infectious Disease Hospital, what move of the Oli government and had she asked the execu- recorded 867 new infections. Of There has also been criticism make people follow health proto- impractical. ‘smart lockdown’ was, he replied: tive to reconsider, the situation would have been different,” those, 639 cases were confirmed in of the government for its inability cols?” said Marasini. Not only the members of the “I guess, it should be a measure said Acharya. “It’s not just about an ordinance or two, or Kathmandu, 127 in Lalitpur and to tighten the porous border with He ridiculed the government’s public and health officials, even a through which to control the this and that recommendation for that matter. After all, it 101 in Bhaktapur. In the past one India when the country’s Covid-19 infatuation with the term ‘smart’ lawmaker from the ruling party crowds, but that has not been hap- needs a collective effort to establish the rule of law, strength- month, the Valley has been cases saw record spikes during saying that the ideas of ‘smart raised the issue in the House of pening.” en the system and make democracy stronger.”

C M Y K FRIDAY, AUGUST 20, 2021 | 04 Opinion EDITORIAL The Afghan tragedy Taliban takeover Afghanistan’s chaos stems Nepal must explore routes to engage from American hubris and a diplomatically with the militant group. military-industrial complex that thrives on war. Tensions rise in Afghanistan, marred by fighting in the past month, culminating in the sudden Taliban takeover of the capital Kabul on Sunday. As nations conduct panicked evacu- Amish Raj Mulmi ations of diplomats and citizens, the Taliban in charge vow no haven for terrorists. But the return of the infamous Islamic militant group known for its brutality and radical Islam is already accelerating international concerns of human rights, especially for women and children, and global security threats posed by Islamist radicals and transnational terrorist networks. I remember watching one of the planes The fight against al-Qaeda, the militant Islamist group crash into the World Trade Centre on a responsible for the 9/11 attacks harboured by the Taliban, hazy television set in our hostel com- mon room that day in September 2001. was the casus belli for the United States and North Atlantic For such a momentous event, I have few Treaty Organisation invasion of Afghanistan 20 years ago. other memories of that day, except On Tuesday, NATO said the Taliban must not let terrorism ephemeral flashes: Plumes of smoke gain a foothold, and warned of a military strike from a dis- rising in the clear blue skies of New tance if Afghanistan became a breeding ground for terrorists York. Chaos and dust on the streets. again. “Those now taking power have the responsibility to And a group of 12th-grade boys sitting in faraway Dehradun, trying to ensure that international terrorists do not regain a foothold,” figure out what on earth was happen- NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said after the ing out there. Taliban takeover of Kabul. Twenty years later, we now know Now that the Taliban is back in power following the US and 9/11 was the day that changed NATO pullout, Afghan observers and diplomacy experts say everything, at least for our generation. the takeover will have consequences for the world. The When George Bush Jr announced, quick Taliban victory and the power vacuum it has created “Either you are with us or against us,” we should have known liberty and free- will further escalate the global threat of radicalisation dom went hand in hand with military and terrorism, they say. Dhaka was quick to respond that contracts, KFC and Big Macs, and CIA the Taliban takeover will impact the region and beyond, black sites. Twenty years later, as the and said Afghanistan is an “integral part of South Asia” United States leaves Afghanistan in a and that the leadership feels the region “must grow and pros- shambles, how many of us remember per together”. the climate of fear and paranoia in the aftermath of 9/11? And the dire warn- South Asia witnessed some significant incidents in the ings about the “clash of civilisations” weeks leading to the shock Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. that was doomed to occur, because only Shutterstock In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province in Pakistan, a bus carry- the West believed in individual free- American establishment. But it was trained the Afghan army was, how where it really matters: the military-in- ing Chinese hydropower developers was blown up, killing dom while the East didn’t? And the not so different even in 2001 when corrupt its ranks were, how poorly dustrial complex and its intractable nine Chinese engineers and three Pakistani soldiers. In the narrative of a war between good and American vice-president Dick Cheney’s motivated they were, and how the col- hold over the American establishment. capital Islamabad, the daughter of the Afghan ambassador to evil? As Arundhati Roy wrote in her links to the military contractor lapse was “years in the making”. As we’ve learnt in the past two decades, brutally prescient essay on the eve of Halliburton were known. Americans Essentially, it’s anybody’s fault but the wars begin with lies. And surely, Pakistan was kidnapped and injured by unknown assailants the US invasion of Afghanistan, ‘How chose to gloss this over, for they were Americans. there will be more lies in the future, for and released several hours later, leading the Afghan Foreign many dead Iraqis will it take to make too hungry for revenge. “This new Let’s also not forget that it was not the war industry needs something to Ministry to recall its ambassador and other senior diplomats. the world a better place? How enemy seeks to destroy our freedom just the US that went into Afghanistan, feed off. In India, security forces continued operations against mili- many dead Afghans for every dead and impose its views,” Bush Jr had but a host of other countries. These The US invasion of Afghanistan has tant groups in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory. Nepal, American? How many dead women and said in November 2001. Twenty years countries were the first to evacuate been labelled futile by many, but the the current chair of the South Asian Association for Regional children for every dead man? How later, it’s clear the US of today—post- their citizens and then denied their nearly $2 trillion spent on the war Cooperation, must recollect the 1999 hijacking of an Indian many dead mojahedin for each dead Trump, post the white Christian Afghan counterparts the same facili- tells us it really wasn’t futile by investment banker?’ supremacists, post the Capitol Hill ties. Some, like Sweden and the any standard. Whether it was corrup- Airlines jet en route to Delhi from Kathmandu with 180 peo- Whether freedom has endured and attack—resembles the very enemy it Netherlands, are said to lead the world tion or whether it was funnelled ple on board, which was flown to Taliban-controlled Kandahar justice has been infinite, we will learn once attacked. in the human rights discourse; some, to the military effort, the money has in Afghanistan, where hijackers negotiated the release of in the coming days, as the US media And let us not forget the white sav- like France, will “protect itself from a made its way to someone’s pocket. three Kashmiri militants in exchange for the passengers. machinery creates a counter-narrative iour complex about bringing democra- wave of migrants” from Afghanistan. Careers have been made, and fortunes There is little doubt that the collapse of the civilian govern- that will portray its 20-year occupation cy to a war-torn land. Though US These are the nations whose “humani- built from this war. Further, nearly $19 ment in Afghanistan will add to these uncertainties, but the as a victory. Perhaps a few Hollywood President Joe Biden may deny the US tarian missions” are lauded in coun- billion was lost to “waste, abuse and films will tell us about the bravery of was in Afghanistan for “nation-build- tries labelled as the third world or fraud” between 2009-19 by the US gov- region has failed to answer difficult questions after US American soldiers in these last days ing”, his predecessors certainly didn’t. developing. Now that we know they ernment’s own admission. Such a gar- President Joe Biden set a formal deadline for its military (hopefully, the two men who fell off the The US “pledges its full support as will leave us behind in a crisis, how can gantuan loss, and it remains an operations. But this is also an opportunity for the region to military aircraft’s wheels will also be Afghans continue to build the institu- we trust them? accounting footnote. engage with the Taliban, especially after their assurances to portrayed). But what we know now is tions of democracy. America will In the days to come, there will be Twenty years to the day, everything the international community, especially the US and neigh- that by invading Afghanistan and launch an ambitious training pro- thousands of op-eds and reports on the changed, the US has left Afghanistan bouring countries, that Afghanistan won’t be used against Iraq, the latter on falsehoods, the US gramme for newly-elected Afghan poli- Afghan war, on the “inevitable” col- with “[n]ot one benefit, political or mil- them. The Deuba administration, which is yet to appoint a began to spiral down a path that ticians and help newly-elected assem- lapse after the withdrawal, on Afghan itary… Our eventual evacuation of the brought the world closer to Osama bin bly members better serve those who women under the Taliban, and on the country resembled the retreat of an foreign minister, must feel the heat of the fast deteriorating Laden’s fanaticism. elected them... We’re helping to build “graveyard of empires” that army defeated”, as a reverend wrote in situation. It must use all its resources and engage with the When the history of these two wars the new Afghan national army and to Afghanistan is supposed to be. Their the aftermath of the First Afghan War international community to ensure the safe and swift evacu- will be written, let it not be forgotten train new Afghan police and border newspaper editorials will call it the in 1842. Once again, the focus has ation of all Nepalis stuck in Kabul. Second, the leadership that Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib patrol”, Bush Jr had said in June 2004. “tragedy of Afghanistan” and lament remained on the retreating power. As must explore routes to engage diplomatically with the existed despite American claims of jus- If the US wasn’t in Afghanistan for the erosion of the American dream— for Afghanistan and its people, they Taliban instead of a wait-and-watch policy and introspect tice and human rights and that private nation-building, it was undoubtedly ”of being the ‘indispensable nation’ in will be newsworthy only until the next mercenary armies like Blackwater the biggest warlord in a country full of shaping a world where the values of crisis, a tragedy unfolding on social how Nepal’s policy in Afghanistan will evolve shortly now (renamed twice for better PR since its warlords. And now that the collapse civil rights, women’s empowerment media in real- time. After all, some that Pakistan, China and Russia have communicated their soldiers massacred 14 civilians in came quicker than it expected, the spot- and religious tolerance rule.” But few countries will always be more equal interest to work with the Taliban. Baghdad in 2007) became part of the light has been turned on how poorly will have it in them to point fingers than others.

Fail-safe failures

Ravage, electricity suddenly disap- The Machine promises pears, with chaos, disease, and famine following. More recently, in Infinite to improve our lives, but Detail by Tim Maughan, cyber terror- ism has shut down the internet, and what happens if the doors with it, global production, supply chains, communication, energy, trav- no longer open? el, and state security systems. The population reverts to barbarism. The same idea is the premise of Blackout ROBERT SKIDELSKY by Marc Elsberg, a disaster thriller about a cyberattack that causes the collapse of the European and US elec- tricity grids. Apocalyptic collapses on this scale are still the stuff of fiction. Apart from anything else, many places remain without the internet, having The other day, my wife and I were leav- never had the infrastructure to sup- ing our apartment building. I pressed port it. But the number of such places the button which automatically opens is steadily and rapidly declining, in and shuts the door. Nothing happened. part as a result of the efforts of social We could not leave the building, except media and tech giants, which, by perhaps by jumping through a win- expanding the number of internet dow. Eventually, the concierge, who users, also enlarge their customer happened to be outside, managed to base and broaden the reach of their open the door manually. He explained information monopolies. that there had been a power cut. The The slower-burning threat is that fail-safe system, which also worked populations, accustomed to the “auto- electronically, had failed as well. The matic” provision of services on which power cut lasted two hours. they rely, will gradually lose their I thought of all the doors in London resilience to “shocks,” both natural and elsewhere which now open and and artificial. Having lost their memo- shut automatically: train doors, auto- ry of how things were done in the mobile doors, elevator doors, super- Shutterstock past, and knowing little or nothing market doors (not yet, thank goodness, steal your car! And now researchers Maharashtra’s energy minister attrib- “Cannot all you lecturers see that it without us, it would let us die.” about how the processes on which aircraft doors). At one time, all these have discovered ‘key cloning’ is not uted the two-hour Mumbai outage to a is we that are dying, and that down But then the Machine starts break- they rely actually work, they will be doors were opened and shut by only possible, but it’s a serious threat.” “technical failure.” here the only thing that really lives is ing down. There are hiccups to the helpless and panic-stricken in the face hand. The same was true of locking So far, power outages have been A permanent outage that shuts the Machine,” the hero, Kuno, tells his piped music; the “virtual” lectures of even mild upsets to ‘normal’ and unlocking. Today my key fob caus- local and temporary. India has experi- down the entire world has been a benighted mother. “We created suffer power cuts; the artificial food life. They have made a God of the es my car doors to lock and unlock enced two major incidents, in New favourite theme of science fiction. In the Machine, to do our will, but we turns moldy; the air becomes foul; the Machine, or as academics more sober- automatically. I googled to find out Delhi in July 2012 and in Mumbai in EM Forster’s 1909 short story “The cannot make it do our will now. It has bath water starts smelling; and the ly explain, they live by the “scientif- why: “Modern key fobs work through October 2020. The Delhi one affected Machine Stops”, the survivors of an robbed us of the sense of space and of sleeping apparatus fails. ic-technological paradigm” and are RFID, an intelligent barcode system 620 million people (some 8 percent of (unexplained) ecological disaster now the sense of touch, it has blurred Then, one day, the Machine stops governed by its “frame of necessi- that uses electromagnetic fields the world’s population). In Mumbai, live underground. Transport, commu- every human relation and narrowed working altogether. Civilization ends. ties.” The Machine promises to to identify and track data on ‘tags’ all suburban train services stopped, nications, production, and services down love to a carnal act, it has Panic-stricken crowds fill the tunnels improve our lives, but what happens if that contain stored information. The with passengers trapped inside; cen- are powered by electricity, and there is paralysed our bodies and our wills, leading to the surface, but the jammed the doors no longer open? information then passes through tral heating systems failed; traffic no personal contact: music is piped and now it compels us to worship ventilation shafts have stopped work- radio waves.” lights went dark; financial services continuously into cells from which it. The Machine develops—but not on ing as well, trapping them under- Skidelsky, a member of the British And apparently my key has become were suspended; intensive care units inhabitants never stir, beds descend at our lives. The Machine proceeds—but ground. Permanent night descends. House of Lords, is Professor Emeritus a source of risk: “If a digital key fob in hospitals had to run on generators the press of a button, and human mat- not to our goal. We only exist as Since Forster wrote his story, there of Political Economy at Warwick gets hacked or electronically duplicat- to keep patients breathing; and ter is excreted into giant “vomitories,” blood corpuscles that course through have been many more explorations of University. ed, the cybercriminal who did it can online exams had to be canceled. located above ground. its arteries, and if it could work this idea. In René Barjavel’s 1943 novel —Project Syndicate

C M Y K 05 | FRIDAY, AUGUST 20, 2021 Money

FOREX

US Dollar 119.09 National payment switch slated for mid-October launch Euro 139.26 Pound Sterling 163.06 The move will mark a step towards a cashless society, Nepal Rastra Bank says. The government also plans to introduce its own payment gateway. Japanese Yen 10.86 Chinese Yuan 18.35 KRISHANA PRASAIN Bhuban Kadel, executive director of KATHMANDU, AUG 19 the Payment Systems Department of Qatari Riyal 32.19 Nepal Rastra Bank, said that the cen- Australian Dollar 85.32 The launch of the much-talked-about tral bank had mooted the national Malaysian Ringit 28.10 national payment switch slated payment switch in mid-May 2020 and for mid-October will mark a step passed on the technical and functional Saudi Arab Riyal 31.75 towards a cashless society, Nepal work to Nepal Clearing House which Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank Rastra Bank said. is developing the software. The national payment switch will According to him, the national pay- integrate multiple banks, digital pay- ment switch will settle the account Shares ment vendors such as IPS, ConnectIPS, centrally and keep a central record of quick response (QR) code and other all electronic transactions that are Nepse 3,180.78pts -0.57% digital ecosystem players into one sys- done through banks, financial intui- tem enabling them to transfer funds. tions and digital payment service pro- highest losers Mooted a year ago, the implementa- viders. “It will provide updated PMHPL KKHC HIDCL NGPL MHNL AKJCL -10% -10% -10% -8.76% -8.18% -7.6% tion of the integrated digital payment records of the mode of electronic pay- system was formally announced by ment and the transaction amount in moderate losers the Monetary Policy 2021-22 presented real time,” he said. BARUN ICFC GHL HDHPC MEN UMRH -7.2% -7.18% -6.68% -6.65% -6.57% -6.41% by Nepal’s central bank on August 13. “Similarly, the national card The government also plans to intro- system will help to settle transactions moderate gainers EIC SGI PICL NLG AIL GIC duce its own payment gateway to domestically and prevent money 4.74% 4.75% 4.89% 4.93% 5.35% 5.74% reduce its dependency on MasterCard from going out of the country,” Kadel

highest gainers or Visa. added. LGIL UIC CHDC SKBBL RHPC JBLB Central bank officials said that hav- The 2020-21 budget statement also 5.78% 6.32% 6.95% 7.51% 8.59% 10% ing Nepal’s own payment gateway will announced that arrangements would enable customers to make digital be made to enable all types of pay- transactions without depending on ments to be made through the national Visa and MasterCard. The payment payment gateway. switch routes individual transaction The National Information Technical Price Per tola bullion settlement requests to a central Centre, which maintains a data bank, switch, instead of being transmitted said that the national payment gate- Fine Gold Rs 90,800 through multiple international card way would come into operation in the schemes. first quarter of this fiscal year, but Silver Rs 1,180 Currently, customers using digital complained that the central bank was wallets cannot perform inter-wallet delaying its introduction. Source: FENEGOSIDA transactions. The national payment Ramesh Prasad Pokhrel, assistant switch will enable the transfer of director of the centre, said the central money from one wallet to another. For bank had not been working actively on gasoline watch example, customers can transfer the national payment gateway. funds from eSewa to Khalti or vice “We are connecting the national versa once the system is implemented. payment gateway system with the Nepal Rastra Bank Governor Maha Financial Comptroller General Office Prasad Adhikari said while present- and banks and financial institutions, ing the monetary policy last week, and the work will be completed “We aim to celebrate the fiscal year soon. But the central bank is delaying 2022-23 as electronic payment transac- the introduction of the system. It tion promotion year, thus developing is yet to prepare guidelines for its essential infrastructure and raising implementation.” awareness about cashless society Kadel said that the national will be our key focus in the current payment gateway would also be inte- fiscal year.” SHUTTERSTOCK grated with the national payment Nepal’s central bank has assigned The national payment switch will integrate multiple banks, digital payment vendors such as IPS, ConnectIPS, quick response (QR) code and switch and work related to the system the technical and functional work of other digital ecosystem players into one system enabling them to transfer funds. was in progress. the national payment switch to Nepal Digital payment systems started Clearing House, a public limited com- said they were developing the system code will be routed through the nation- MasterCard transactions are switched gaining widespread popularity in pany established in 2008 to facilitate in three different phases. The first al payment switch in the first phase.In through international payment gate- Nepal after the government imposed a electronic payments and financial phase involves working on routing the second phase, according to ways and are charged in dollars per nationwide lockdown on March 24, transactions within the country. non-card transactions which will Rajbhandari, the company will work transaction. “But with the implemen- 2020 ordering people to stay at home to The company said it started work come into implementation in the first on the national cards system. “In the tation of the national payment switch, prevent the spread of Covid-19. on the national payment switch three quarter of the current fiscal year. third phase, all domestic electronic the card payment switch will be made The rising number of smartphone months ago. All non-card transactions in the transactions will be routed through inside the country which will reduce users and increasing internet penetra- Munni Rajbhandari, chief operat- country that are done through mobile the national payment switch.” charges and make transactions faster tion has boosted digital payments ing officer of Nepal Clearing House, banking, e-banking, e-wallet or QR Currently, domestic Visa and and convenient,” Rajbhandari said. overall. China’s planned anti-sanctions law for AstraZeneca CEO Hong Kong unsettles financial sector Soriot tops FTSE 100 REUTERS between the world’s two largest econo- HONG KONG, AUG 19 mies escalates. pay-out charts in 2020 While top executives at Hong Kong’s Global banks and other financial insti- biggest financial firms have not aired REUTERS tutions in Hong Kong are scrambling their concerns in public, people famil- LONDON, Aug 19 to find out details of China’s planned iar with the matter said there had The median pay for imposition of an anti-sanctions law on been intense discussions internally on Pascal Soriot, the chief executive of the city, and trying to understand how how to deal with it. Covid-19 vaccine maker AstraZeneca, CEOs is still 86 it could impact their operations in the A senior executive told Reuters was Britain’s highest paid company times the median financial hub. that Hong Kong Financial Secretary boss in 2020, a year when the Beijing adopted a law in June under Paul Chan had abruptly cancelled average FTSE 100 leader saw their pay earnings for the which individuals or entities involved a meeting with business groups fall by almost a fifth, a report on in making or implementing discrimi- scheduled for Thursday, without pro- Thursday showed. average UK worker. natory measures against Chinese citi- viding a reason. Soriot, whose handling of the pan- zens or entities could be put on a gov- The executive, who declined to be demic response has drawn criticism ernment anti-sanctions list. identified due to sensitivity of the despite the company producing its ous 3-5 years, compared to 82 percent Financial firms are closely watch- matter, said businesses were scram- vaccine at cost price, took home 15.45 the previous year. Of the nine compa- ing a meeting this week of the bling for information and Chan had million pounds ($21.25 million), a nies which took public money through National People’s Congress Standing made no effort to allay concerns report from the High Pay Centre said. the British government’s furlough Committee, the highest organ of despite repeated requests for meet- That compares with median pay for scheme, the average CEO pay was 2.2 China’s parliament, for signs on how ings. Hong Kong is the regional hub CEOs in Britain’s flagship stock index million pounds. “CEO pay packages and when similar legislation will be REUTERS for many global financial firms, of 2.69 million pounds, down from 3.25 are designed to reflect the experience introduced in Hong Kong. A man walks past buildings at a business district in Hong Kong, China. and accounts for the bulk of the prof- million pounds in 2019, the report of shareholders, employees and other Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said its for firms such as HSBC and found, but still 86 times the median stakeholders so in one sense the lower on Tuesday she did not have an explic- legal risk in Hong Kong for doing so, may find themselves caught between a Standard Chartered. earnings for the average UK worker. pay levels this year show the system it timetable for its implementation. financial sector executives and law- rock and a hard place.” “Some of our financial institution Shareholders had demanded bosses working as intended,” said High Pay The move came as the US govern- yers said.“Many foreign multination- Concerns have swirled over foreign clients are trying to plan out different share the financial pain as companies Centre Director Luke Hildyard. ment imposed several rounds of sanc- al companies are asking about the financial institutions’ prospects in scenarios ahead of the anti-foreign across a range of sectors experienced “On the other hand, these are still tions on Hong Kong and Chinese offi- impact of the anti-foreign sanctions one of their most lucrative markets sanctions law, trying to decide what a tough year, with lockdowns in many very generous rewards...at a time cials over Beijing’s crackdown on the law, especially international banks since Beijing’s implementation of the they would do if someone is sanc- countries hitting sales. when, in general, government city’s freedoms under sweeping and financial institutions,” said security law in the former British col- tioned by the US and subsequently The proportion of companies pay- support for the economy has probably national security legislation. Shaun Wu, a Hong Kong-based part- ony last year. run the risk of prosecution in Hong ing bonuses dropped to 64 percent been more important to the survival Under the planned law, if financial ner at law firm Paul Hastings. The anti-sanctions law now raises Kong for complying with such sanc- from 89 percent in 2019, while 77 per- and success of the UK’s biggest com- institutions in Hong Kong implement “It is significant because interna- the spectre of financial firms getting tions,” said Rod Francis, head of FTI cent paid out long-term incentives panies than the decisions of their US sanctions, they may be exposed to tional banks and financial institutions caught in the crossfire as sparring Consulting’s financial crime practice. based on performance over the previ- executives.” Taliban’s return clouds long-delayed plans for Afghanistan’s resources

REUTERS companies listed in Australia, Canada and Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosted KABUL, AUG 19 or the United States having a mandate Mullah Baradar, chief of the Taliban’s to buy assets there. political office, in Tianjin last month China is warily eyeing the resumption “China would be the only potential and said the Taliban is expected to of some Afghan resource projects buyer.” play an important role in Afghanistan’s but it will take years before the infra- China could contribute to post-war peace and reconstruction process. structure is ready while security reconstruction in Afghanistan and China’s foreign ministry did not issues threaten to once again stall resume major stalled projects, immediately respond to a request for projects, according to state media and state-owned tabloid Global Times, comment on whether it already industry sources. said on August 17, while noting securi- had raised the issue of developing Afghanistan’s vast mineral wealth— ty concerns. Afghanistan’s resources with the including large reserves of lithium, A consortium of Metallurgical Corp Taliban. which is key to the burgeoning of China (MCC) and Jiangxi Copper These resources also include gold, electric-vehicle sector—has been took on a 30-year lease for natural gas, uranium, bauxite, coal, trumpeted as a path to economic Afghanistan’s largest copper project, iron ore and rare earths but concerns independence for the country but the Mes Aynak mine, in 2008 but it about potential human rights abuses instability has repeatedly hampered remains undeveloped. under a Taliban regime will likely past projects, dousing most foreign One MCC source told Reuters this prevent investment. “I think most of investor interest. week it could take five to six years to the world’s financial system is apply- “I wouldn’t and couldn’t invest in build infrastructure for mining at Mes ing some fairly stringent ESG [envi- Afghanistan with the Taliban running Aynak but the project could not go REUTERS ronment social and governance] the country. It’s lawless,” said Ben anywhere while safety concerns lin- A file photo shows an Afghan miner sifting through coals at the Karkar coal mine in Pul-i-Kumri, about 170km north of Kabul. lenses now over investments in that Cleary, the chief executive of Tribeca ger. Eight security force members sector,” said ANZ Senior Commodity Investment Partners, which runs a were killed in a Taliban attack on a ment,” the source said. unnamed MCC source as saying the the Taliban regime, including by the Strategist Daniel Hynes in Sydney. global natural resources fund and checkpoint at the mine last year. MCC and Jiangxi Copper did not company would consider reopening Chinese government, takes place. “It would be a pretty difficult project finances mining projects. “It is impossible to push forward immediately respond to requests for the mine once the situation is stabi- There has been no official recogni- to get underway considering all He added that he couldn’t see any the project without a safe environ- comment. The Global Times cited an lised, and international recognition of tion, although China’s State Councillor the hurdles.”

C M Y K FRIDAY, AUGUST 20, 2021 | 06 world Briefing Protests against Taliban spread in signs of resistance China marks Tibet anniversary with call to accept party rule First Vice President Amrullah Saleh, who is trying to rally opposition to the Taliban, has expressed support for the protests. BEIJING: China on Thursday marked REUTERS the 70th anniversary of the founding KABUL, AUG 19 of the Tibet Autonomous Region, with a call to accept the rule of the Flag-waving protesters took to the Biden says Taliban Communist Party. Beijing has ruled streets of more Afghan cities on the remote western region since 1951, Thursday as popular opposition to the after its People’s Liberation Army Taliban spread, and a witness said must decide if it marched in and took control in what several people were killed when the it calls a “peaceful liberation”. “Tibet militants fired on a crowd in Asadabad can only develop and prosper under wants recognition in the east. the party’s leadership and socialism,” “Our flag, our identity,” a crowd of WASHINGTON: The Taliban must decide Wang Yang, who heads a national men and women waving black, red whether it wants to be recognised by organisation responsible for uniting and green national flags shouted in the international community, US all races and all parties under the the capital Kabul, a video clip posted President Joe Biden said in an ABC leadership of the Communist Party, on social media showed, on the day interview aired on Thursday, adding said in Lhasa. Afghanistan celebrates independence that he did not think the group had from British control in 1919. changed its fundamental beliefs. Malaysia’s longest-governing A witness reported gunshots fired Asked if he thought the Taliban had near the rally, but they appeared to be changed, Biden told ABC News, “No.” party seems set to return armed Taliban shooting in the air. “I think they’re going through a sort KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s longest-gov- One woman walked with an Afghan of existential crisis about: Do they erning political party appeared set to flag wrapped around her shoulders, want to be recognized by the interna- reclaim the premiership it lost in a and those marching chanted “God is tional community as being a legiti- shock 2018 election defeat, with its greatest”. At some protests elsewhere, mate government? I’m not sure they lawmakers summoned to the palace media has reported people tearing do,” he said, adding that the group on Thursday to verify their candidate down the white flag of the Taliban. appeared more committed to its has enough support to take office. A Taliban spokesman was not beliefs. But, he added, the Taliban also The choice of former Deputy Prime immediately available for comment. had to grapple with whether it could Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob would Some of the demonstrations are provide for Afghans. “They also care essentially restore the ruling alliance small, but, combined with the ongoing about whether they have food to eat, of Muhyiddin Yassin, who resigned scramble by thousands of people to whether they have an income that ... as prime minister on Monday after get to Kabul airport and flee the coun- can run an economy, they care about infighting in the coalition cost him try, they underline the challenge the whether or not they can hold together majority support. Taliban face to govern the country. REUTERS the society that they in fact say they The Islamist militant movement Afghan people take part in an anti-Taliban protest in Jalalabad, Afghanistan on Wednesday in this screen grab taken from a video. care so much about,” Biden said in the conquered Afghanistan in lightning interview, taped on Wednesday. “I’m Two Hong Kongers plead speed as foreign troops withdrew, sur- not clear if the casualties resulted and media reported. Media reported iban stronghold of the Panjshir not counting on any of that.” He also prising even its leaders and leaving from Taliban firing or from a stam- similar scenes in Asadabad and anoth- Valley northeast of Kabul, called for added that it would take economic and guilty to foreign collusion them to fill a power vacuum in many pede that it triggered, witness er eastern city, Khost, on Wednesday. Western support to fight the Taliban. diplomatic pressure—not military HONG KONG: Two Hong Kongers places. Mohammed Salim said. First Vice President Amrullah “I write from the Panjshir Valley force—to ensure women’s rights. pleaded guilty on Thursday to Since seizing Kabul on Sunday, the “Hundreds of people came out on Saleh, who is trying to rally opposi- today, ready to follow in my father’s conspiring to collude with foreign Taliban have presented a more the streets,” Salim said. “At first I was tion to the Taliban, expressed support footsteps, with mujahideen fighters forces as well as Next Digital founder moderate face to the world, saying scared and didn’t want to go but for the protests. who are prepared to once again chaos as people rushed for a way out Jimmy Lai to endanger national they want peace, will not take revenge when I saw one of my neighbours “Salute those who carry the nation- take on the Taliban,” wrote Massoud, of the country. security, local media reported. In a against old enemies and will respect joined in, I took out the flag I have at al flag and thus stand for dignity of the son of Ahmad Shah Massoud, a Twelve people have been killed in separate case, local media reported the rights of women within the frame- home. the nation,” he said on Twitter. veteran guerrilla leader killed by and around the airport since then, a seven pro-democracy activists work of Islamic law. “Several people were killed and Saleh said on Tuesday he was in suspected al Qaeda militants in 2001. NATO and a Taliban official said. The pleaded guilty to organising and During their previous rule from injured in the stampede and firing by Afghanistan and the “legitimate care- Other former Afghan leaders deaths were caused either by gun inciting others to take part in an 1996-2001, they severely restricted the Taliban.” taker president” after President including ex-president Hamid Karzai shots or by stampedes, according to unauthorised assembly held in 2019. women’s rights, staged public execu- Protests also flared up in the city of Ashraf Ghani fled as the Taliban took have been holding talks with the the Taliban official. The cases are part of a broad tions and blew up ancient Buddhist Jalalabad and a district of Paktia Kabul. Taliban as they put together a new He urged people who do not have crackdown on dissent following statues. province, both also in the east. In an op-ed for the Washington Post, government. the legal right to travel to go home. anti-government protests that roiled In Asadabad, capital of the eastern On Wednesday, Taliban fighters Ahmad Massoud, leader of the While Kabul has been generally “We don’t want to hurt anyone at the the semi-autonomous Chinese province of Kunar, several people fired at protesters waving flags in National Resistance Front of calm since Taliban forces entered on airport,” said the Taliban official, who territory in 2019. (AGENCIES) were killed during a rally, but it was Jalalabad, killing three, witnesses Afghanistan based in the old anti-Tal- Sunday, the airport has been in declined to be identified. Haiti quake death toll crosses 2,000

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE with no shelter by the 7.2-magnitude In the hard-to-reach area of PORT-AU-PRINCE, AUG 19 earthquake had to endure lashing Maniche some 120 miles from the cap- winds and pouring rain as Tropical ital, residents are still waiting for aid. The death toll from a massive earth- Storm Grace passed over the country. “The institutions we used to have ... quake in Haiti soared past 2,000 on Even before the earthquake, Haiti, are in ruins,” local resident Rose Wednesday as relief workers warned one of the world’s poorest countries, Hurguelle Point du Jour said, adding of challenges to aid efforts five days was wracked by a mounting Covid-19 that the church, parish and clinic have after thousands of people were left crisis and political chaos that culmi- all been totally destroyed. homeless. nated last month with the assassina- Another resident, Geordany The number of people killed in tion of president Jovenel Moise. Bellevue, fears for people living in Saturday’s devastating quake has And while gang violence plagued remote and landlocked parts of risen by almost 250 to 2,189, the coun- the poverty-stricken neighbourhood Maniche. try’s civil protection agency said. of Martissant near the capital in the “There were a lot of mudslides in “There are around 600,000 people weeks since early June, that threat the mountains that injured and killed who were directly affected and who appears to have diminished for now a lot of people. Some are missing and need immediate humanitarian assis- with an informal truce in place, eas- we don’t have the means to go find tance,” said Jerry Chandler, speaking ing fears that gun violence could them,” the 32-year-old said. from the emergency operations centre impact the flow of convoys out of “It was already hard to get aid here in the capital Port-au-Prince. Port-au-Prince. in the centre of Maniche, so when it “We had to find ways of ensuring But relief workers still face other comes, it never reaches the disaster security, which remains a significant challenges. victims in the remote areas.” challenge.” “Sometimes we’ve been confronted Haiti’s civil protection agency said The quake also injured at least by frustrated and impatient people, Wednesday that at least 332 people are 12,268 people and damaged or who have caused problems and still missing. destroyed tens of thousands of build- blocked our convoys,” Chandler said. Meanwhile aid agency USAID, ings in the Caribbean nation, which The government has declared a which has been leading US relief has still not recovered from the devas- month-long state of emergency in the efforts, said in a statement on AP/RSS tating earthquake of 2010. four provinces impacted by the latest Wednesday that “many roads remain A Kashmiri Shiite Muslim boy flagellates himself as he participates in an Ashura procession, the tenth day of Muharram, On Tuesday, many Haitians left quake. impassable in some areas.” in Srinagar, Indian-controlled Kashmir, on Thursday. Khmer Rouge official denies complicity in genocide Covid-19 booster shots ‘mockery’ of equity, ASSOCIATED PRESS for the actions of the group to which Under Pol Pot’s leadership, the dered along with Nuon Chea, the PHNOM PENH, AUG 19 they belong. Khmer Rouge sought to eliminate all movement’s chief ideologue. In her closing argument, defence traces of what it saw as corrupt bour- Nuon Chea was considered Pol Pot’s WHO Africa says The last living member of former attorney Anta Guissé reiterated her geois life, destroying most religious, right-hand man, while Khieu Cambodian leader Pol Pot’s inner cir- contention that the argument her cli- financial and social institutions, and Samphan as head of state presented a ASSOCIATED PRESS cle denied complicity in the genocide ent “could not not know” as a key forcing millions out of cities to live in moderate veneer as the public face for NAIROBI, KENYA, AUG 19 committed under the brutal Khmer member of the Khmer Rouge govern- the countryside. the highly secretive group. Rouge government, telling an interna- ment was not enough to meet the bur- Dissent was usually met with death Nuon Chea was convicted alongside Rich countries’ decisions to roll out Covid-19 tional tribunal hearing his appeal on den of proof. in the notorious “killing fields” or Khieu Samphan in 2018 and died the booster shots while so many people across Thursday that he was being judged as But prosecutor Brenda Hollis elsewhere, while starvation, overwork following year. Africa remain unvaccinated “threaten the a proxy for the entire radical commu- argued the evidence showed Khieu and medical neglect took many more Khieu Samphan’s 2018 conviction promise of a brighter tomorrow” for the nist regime. Samphan publicly supported and pro- lives. was largely connected to crimes com- continent, the Africa director for the World Speaking slowly and deliberately, moted Khmer Rouge policy, and was Only when an invasion by Vietnam mitted against Vietnamese and Cham Health Organisation said on Thursday, 90-year-old Khieu Samphan told the minorities in Cambodia. warning that “as some richer countries tribunal of Cambodian and interna- The only other leader convicted by hoard vaccines, they make a mockery of tional judges in a final statement to the panel has been Kaing Guek Eav, vaccine equity.” end his appeal of a 2018 verdict that he also known as Duch, who as head of Matshidiso Moeti and other African “categorically denied” participation the Khmer Rouge prison system ran health officials had warned against booster in genocide, crimes against humanity the infamous Tuol Sleng torture cen- shots in recent weeks as less than 2 percent and war crimes. tre in Phnom Penh. He died in 2020 of the population on the continent of 1.3 “The trial chamber has demonstrat- while serving a life prison term for billion people is fully vaccinated. ed its inability to adjudicate me war crimes and crimes against Moeti noted that the latest resurgence in impartially,” he said as he read his humanity. cases across Africa is levelling off and more statement. “It is clear that through After the conviction of Khieu vaccine doses are finally arriving on the me, the chamber was, rather, targeting Samphan and Nuon Chea in 2018, the continent, but “Africa is encountering head- the Communist Party of Kampuchea.” government of autocratic Prime winds” as rich countries like the United Khieu Samphan, was the former Minister Hun Sen, himself a midlevel States decide to roll out booster shots. head of state for the Khmer Rouge, the Khmer Rouge commander before The situation in Africa remains “very name popularly used by the CPK, defecting while the group was still in fragile” as the more infectious delta variant which ruled Cambodia with an iron power, declared no more cases would is now dominant in most of the continent’s fist from 1975 to 1979 and was respon- go forward, saying they would cause 54 countries, she said. More than 7.3 million sible for the deaths of an estimated 1.7 instability. cases, including more than 186,000 deaths, million people. AP/RSS A verdict on Khieu Samphan’s have been confirmed across the continent During the four day hearing in Khieu Samphan, the former head of state for the Khmer Rouge, sits in a courtroom during a appeal is not expected until next year, and health systems are straining to provide Cambodia’s capital, his defence team hearing at the UN-backed war crimes tribunal in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Thursday. and even if the 2018 conviction is over- medical oxygen and other care. argued that the 2018 verdict should be turned, he is already serving a life US health officials on Wednesday overturned, alleging procedural fail- present at top planning meetings. finally drove the Khmer Rouge from sentence on a 2014 conviction on announced plans to dispense Covid-19 boost- ures during the original trial before “When he was at these meetings, he power in 1979 did the magnitude of the crimes against humanity connected er shots to all Americans amid the surging the Extraordinary Chambers in the was there as a senior leader of the killings become truly known. with forced transfers and disappear- delta variant and signs that vaccines’ effec- Courts of Cambodia, and questioning CPK — he had the ability to object,” After being ousted from power in ances of masses of people. That con- tiveness is slipping. the evidence against their client. Hollis told the tribunal. “Instead, he 1979, the Khmer Rouge waged guerril- viction was upheld on appeal in 2016. Moeti told reporters she couldn’t say with Khieu Samphan was primarily con- supported in the meetings, either by la warfare for another two decades “No matter what you decide, I will any accuracy whether the doses the US victed under the principle of joint silent ascent or active support, deci- before disintegrating. Pol Pot died in die in prison,” Khieu Samphan said as plans to use for booster shots will come from criminal enterprise, under which sions relating to criminal policies and the jungle in 1998, and on Christmas he ended his nearly 20 minute state- stocks that had been planned for Africa, but individuals can be held responsible their implementation.” Eve that year, Khieu Samphan surren- ment to the tribunal. “hopefully not.”

C M Y K 07 | FRIDAY, AUGUST 20, 2021 Sports | Medley Briefing Arsenal’s troubled start could Barnes extends Leicester deal LEICESTER: Leicester winger Harvey Barnes signed a contract extension get worse in London derby Thursday to keep him at his boyhood club until June 2025. The 23-year-old England international had been one The Gunners, stunned by newcomers Brentford 2-0 in the Premier League opener, will of Leicester’s best players in 2020-21, scoring 13 goals in all competitions host Chelsea on Sunday before a trip to champions Manchester City a week later. before undergoing knee surgery that ruled him out of the European Reuters Championship. “I’ve been here for so LONDON, Aug 19 many years now, it feels like home,” Barnes said. ”For me, it was a Arsenal’s troubled start to the Premier no-brainer. Of course, I wanted to League season could get worse before extend my stay here.” He’s been with it gets better as they prepare to host Leicester since the age of 9 and rose Chelsea this weekend before a trip to through the club’s youth academy. champions Manchester City a week Barnes made his debut for England in later. a win over Wales in a friendly match Optimism was not sky high amongst last October and looked to have a Arsenal’s followers in the lead-up to decent chance of making Gareth the new campaign but the manner of Southgate’s squad for Euro 2020. the 2-0 defeat at newcomers Brentford Leicester beat Wolverhampton 1-0 in last week has made it open season on their season opener and will play at manager Mikel Arteta’s job prospects, West Ham on Monday. the club’s recruitment policy and just where exactly they are heading. In the fickle world of football a win Turkey’s Tufan joins Watford on Sunday against Thomas Tuchel’s LONDON: Premier League club Chelsea would smooth the waters, but Watford signed Turkey midfielder few will be wagering much on Arsenal Reuters Arsenal have finished eighth in each of Mikel Arteta’s (left) first two seasons in charge and Ozan Tufan from Fenerbahce on prevailing in the London derby. the Spaniard, according to bookmakers, will not be the man to lead the club into new era. Thursday on a season-long loan with Whereas Chelsea are still basking an option to buy. The 26-year-old in becoming European champions and Tufan has played his whole profes- look well-equipped for a title chal- Chelsea along with fellow forward Saturday lunchtime while later in the sional career in Turkey and has made lenge, Arsenal appear to be a club in Alexandre Lacazette. day champions Manchester City host 63 appearances for his country. “A transition as they seek to recover from It is all in stark contrast to the mood Norwich City as they seek to bounce holding midfielder with a range of finishing last season in eighth place. at Chelsea who will probably hand a back from their surprise opening day passing and an eye for goal, the According to the bookmakers, second debut to new 97 million defeat at Tottenham Hotspur. Hornets have beaten a host of Arteta will not be the man to lead the pounds striker Romelu Lukaku this Manchester United’s 5-1 hammering Premier League and European clubs club into a new era with the Spaniard weekend. Lukaku, unavailable for of Leeds United at Old Trafford last to Tufan’s signature,” the London even money favourite to be the first Chelsea’s 3-0 opening day cruise past weekend has prompted talk of a title club said in a statement. Financial top-flight manager to be sacked. Crystal Palace, looks like being the assault and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s details were not disclosed. Tufan Arsenal technical director Edu’s posi- final piece in Tuchel’s jigsaw side will look to maintain the early scored two goals in Turkey’s 3-0 win tion is also vulnerable after a less than puzzle—a genuine number nine who momentum as they travel to over Norway in a World Cup qualifier impressive player recruitment policy will give his manager yet another Southampton on Sunday. in March. Watford beat Aston Villa over the past couple of seasons. His attacking option. Buoyant Brentford face their sec- 3-2 in their season opener and will judgement is again being called into “I’ve done a full pre-season. For ond successive London derby, away at play at Brighton on Saturday. question with the club apparently on now, I just want to get to know my Crystal Palace on Saturday, as they the verge of paying around 25 million team mates better,” the Belgium strik- look to continue their dream start to pounds ($34.23 million) for Sheffield er who joined from Inter Milan said life back in the top flight after 74 Mushfiqur, Liton return to United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. this week. “The English game is dif- years. There are also reports of friction ferent but, for me, it’s not something Tottenham’s new manager Nuno Bangladesh T20 squad Post Photo: Hemanta Shrestha between Arteta and club captain new. Whatever plan the coach has, I Espirito Santo will be back on famil- DHAKA: Mushfiqur Rahim and Nepal’s Para-taekwondo player Palesha Goverdhan practices during a training session in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who can adapt myself and help the team.” iar ground as his side travel to his Liton Das were recalled to the Satdobato on Thursday. The wildcard entrant Goverdhan will compete in the women’s missed training on Wednesday and is Liverpool kick off the weekend with former club Wolverhampton national squad on Thursday for below 58 kg weight category at the Tokyo Paralympics, set to start from August 24. doubtful for Sunday’s clash with a home game against Burnley on Wanderers on Sunday. next month’s five-match Twenty20 international series against New Zealand. Mushfiqur and Liton missed Bangladesh’s stunning 4-1 Twenty20 International thrashing of Australia earlier this month Australia include Smith, Finch in T20 World Cup squad because of Covid-19 rules. Opening batsman Tamim Iqbal, who was Agence France-Presse ing clear Test cricket was his priority. the West Indies and their tour of some time with his performances in Australia head into the World Cup also absent from the Australia SYDNEY, Aug 19 But he was part of the 15-strong squad Bangladesh. white-ball cricket and more recently on a miserable run of form. They lost series due to a knee injury, has named for the tournament from Finch’s knee problems followed eye in the Vitality (T20) Blast where he their recent T20 series to the West been left out as he is yet to recover Steve Smith and Aaron Finch were October 17 to November 14 in the surgery this year after he complained topped the run charts,” said chairman Indies 4-1 and slumped by the same fully. Batsman Mohammad Mithun both included in Australia’s squad for United Arab Emirates and Oman. of blurry vision. But he will lead the of selectors George Bailey. “He offers result against Bangladesh in a tour was dropped and Bangladesh added the Twenty20 World Cup on Thursday Finch said this week that Smith was team at the World Cup which will also the squad flexibility in the batting capped by being bowled out for 62— leg-spinner Aminul Islam Biplob to despite injury struggles, while “going really well”. “The last time I see the return of David Warner, Glenn order with his adaptability, counter-at- their lowest ever T20 score. the squad. The Black Caps arrive in uncapped wicketkeeper-batsman Josh spoke to him, he wasn’t having any Maxwell and Pat Cummins, who all tacking ability and power striking. He Dhaka on August 24 for the series Inglis was a shock selection. pain batting so that was a real posi- opted out of Australia’s recent limit- is a player we are excited about.” Australia Squad which comes ahead of the ICC T20 Batting lynchpin Smith had been tive. He’s going to be such an impor- ed-overs tours to rest. Selectors opted for four spinners— Cricket World Cup, set to be held in under a cloud after pulling out of tant part of our campaign,” said the Fast bowler Andrew Tye along with Mitchell Swepson, Ashton Agar, Adam Aaron Finch (capt), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, October and November in the United recent tours to the West Indies and captain. top-order options Alex Carey, Moises Zampa and Maxwell. “Given the Arab Emirates and Oman. The Bangladesh due to a left elbow prob- Finch underwent knee surgery last Henriques, Josh Philippe and Ashton amount of cricket being played at the Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn matches will be played behind closed lem. He said last month he could sacri- week after flying home from the Turner were notable omissions, but World Cup venues, we expect the Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, doors on September 1, 3, 5, 8 and 1 fice playing at the T20 World Cup to Caribbean where he aggravated it dur- Inglis surprisingly got the nod as wickets in the UAE to favour slow Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David 0 at the Sher-e-Bangla National ensure he was fit for the home Ashes ing a T20 clash in St Lucia. He missed back-up gloveman to Matthew Wade. bowling, particularly in the latter Warner, Adam Zampa. Stadium in Dhaka. (AGENCIES) series against England this year, mak- the team’s subsequent ODIs against “Josh has been on our radar for stages,” said Bailey. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) **** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) *** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** Direct your focus to your friendships today, Aries. As a Cancer, you’re driven to explore the emotional You’re ready to leave this week behind and trade it in Capricorn people don’t usually grant emotional The gregarious Aquarius moon aligns with sweet undercurrents. That curiosity actually stems from a for a good time, Libra. The moon slips into social- accessibility. In fact, you hold that very key that Venus, sending your attention to these all-important secret desire to dive into your own untapped well of ly-curious Aquarius today, encouraging you to aban- helps you sort out what’s going on deep within. bonds and asks. Who is worth maintaining connec- mysterious feelings. Friday’s skies encourage you to don your workload and reconnect with your creative Friday’s skies encourage you to peek inside and tion with and who do you seem to have outgrown? embrace this kind of therapeutic approach. spirit and the fun side. make room for unexpressed emotions.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) *** LEO (July 23-August 22) *** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) *** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** You’re ready to make strides toward your future, The universe is directing all of your focus onto your Turn your focus to your roots, Scorpio. You’re in It seems as if the universe has supplied you with new Taurus. Don’t let anyone hold you back from re-de- current partnership story, Leo. The moon treks into need of close, family-like connections today. Luna responsibilities, Aquarius. You’re ready to step up to fining your reputation and bringing renewal to your objective Aquarius today. Luna’s alignment with har- spends the day in a sweet alignment with Venus and the task, however daunting it may feel at first. Today’s career. The intellectual Aquarius moon aligns with mony-seeking Venus and responsible Saturn makes wall-building Saturn, helping you get to the bottom skies see the moon’s entrance into your sign. sweet Venus, making it easy to form bonds. it easy to embrace important conversations. of long-standing relationship issues.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) **** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) **** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) *** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** Things are changing in a big way beneath the surface Embrace your workflow with open arms today, Virgo. As a Sagittarius, you have a tendency to be looking As a Pisces, you require more time alone than the of your playful facade, Gemini. Your ruling planet, You’ll feel your best when you’re putting in the ever-upwards at life. Friday’s skies remind you that others. Honor your need to carve out that solitary expressive Mercury, spends the day in an energized hours into a craft that you actually care about, as the in order to reach those great heights, you’ll need a space today, as the mood slides into solitude-seeking alignment with electric Uranus. This stimulating pair- innovative Aquarius moon merges with steady supportive anchor grounding you. The moon slips Aquarius. Luna spends the day in a healing align- ing encourages you to embrace major revelations. Saturn and creative Venus. into intellectual Aquarius . ment with lover Venus. Crossword Sudoku

Yesterday’s Solution

C M Y K FRIDAY, AUGUST 20, 2021 | 08 Culture & Lifestyle (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 Anjan Gajurel: The audience sees the world of the film through the work of art directors One of Bollywood’s leading art directors on what his job entails and the differences between working in Nepal and India.

orn in Janakpur to a family My collaboration with Anurag Basu, the with no connection in the film film’s director, dates back to the begin- industry, Anjan Gajurel first ning of his career. As a filmmaker, he is arrived in Mumbai, India, 25 someone who has a different working years ago to study fine arts. style. He often makes impromptu deci- Gajurel has since worked as sions on the set, and with whatever he Ban art director and a production designer does, he strives for perfection. And even for some of India’s leading movie and if things deviate slightly from his plans, television production houses. he gets bothered by it. All these factors His most recent movie was the critical- add a lot of pressure and challenges. But ly acclaimed ‘Ludo’ which was released at the same time, working with him is on Netflix last year. Some of the noted always exciting and forces me to think out Bollywood movies Gajurel has worked for of the box. are ‘Kabul Express’, ‘Kerry on Kutton’, For me, ‘Ludo’ has been the most chal- and ‘Om Prakash Zindabad’. lenging film of my career. Most of the For the last three months, Gajurel has things you saw in the film were sets. been in Nepal building the set of ‘Sa Re Everything was built from scratch, from Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs Nepal’, which will the den of Sattu Bhai (played by Pankaj soon be aired on Galaxy 4k TV. A few days Tripathi) to the bedroom of Bittu (played before Gajurel leaves for Mumbai for by Abhishek Bachchan). We literally built another project, he sat down with the a hotel room inside a famous temple in Post’s Ankit Khadgi and talked about his Film City. And to deliver the realistic look journey in Bollywood as an art director, with minimal resources was immensely what his job entails, and the difference he challenging.

found while working in Nepal and India. AR H Excerpts: While building the world the film is based on, where do you get your inspiration G MANAND

Besides those who work in the film O from? How do you approach your work? ANJ

industry, many are unaware of what art S directors do in films. Could you please As an art director, I don’t usually get explain what role they play in the mov- enough time to think and plan my work.

ie-making process? Photo: Post Time isn’t something we, as art directors, are afforded. We get around three to four Art directors are people who are responsi- They also plan and decide which col- As I studied arts, a Nepali friend sug- Bollywood, and how much has the field days to build a set. Despite the limited ble for creating the overall look of the ours should be prominent on a set, back- gested that I work as an art director in of art direction and production design time I get to do my work, I don’t like to films. Art directors create layouts and grounds, and sometimes even the charac- movies and television. At first, I wasn’t changed from when you started? compromise. I try my best to be as authen- build sets, backgrounds, props, and col- ters’ attires. They are heavily involved in sure about it. But after knowing the role tic as possible. Before sketching the lay- our palettes based on the film’s script. the pre-production stage of filmmaking. would allow me to use my expertise and People didn’t acknowledge my talent out and building a set, I try to visit real- An art director has to work with a lot of Whereas an art director is more love for creation, I decided to try my luck. when I was a beginner in this field and life locations to research and study and people from painters, typists, carpenters involved during the production stage, and With the help of my friend’s uncle, I got was taking baby steps. To get my foot in make sure that my sets look as realistic as to vendors to execute the director’s vision. they have to work in close coordination an opportunity to work as an assistant art the door, I even worked for free for a possible. In short, art directors are responsible with the production designer to build sets director for Balaji Telefilms. while. In Bollywood, what matters eventu- for the overall look and feel of the films. and execute the director’s vision. I still remember the day I visited a set ally is your skills and talent. Soon, people You have been working in Nepal on a The audience sees the world of the film for the first time. From the outside, the I worked with started to refer me for jobs project for the past three months. What through the work of art directors. You studied fine arts and even did a few building was dilapidated, and it looked as that allowed me to expand my network do you think about the working environ- art exhibitions. How did you end up if it would collapse anytime. But once I and get more opportunities. ment here? In common parlance, art directors and choosing a career in films and televi- saw the set that was built inside the build- In my almost two-decades-long career, I production designers are often simulta- sion? What inspired you to make that ing, I was blown away. It looked like a have seen many changes in my field. In India, there’s intense competition. neously used to describe one another. shift? palace. This striking difference made me When I started, the filmmakers wanted People make sure they give their best Are the roles of art director and produc- realise the power of art directors, their set to look glamorous. They wanted because they know they can be easily tion designer the same? After completing high school at and I was fascinated. And that was when everything to look bright and shiny. But replaced. But in Nepal, things are differ- Lalitkala Campus, I moved to Mumbai in I decided to pursue a career in art things have changed now. Filmmakers ent. ‘Ali adjust garum na’ (Let’s make When I first started, films only had art 1998 and studied fine arts at the city’s Sir direction and use the film sets to show my these days care more about authenticity some adjustments) is something I have directors, and it was their responsibility JJ School of Art. In my four years there creativity. and prefer to make their films’ world heard people say numerous times. to do everything involved in creating sets. as an art student, I was able to learn a lot. appear more believable. Also, another thing that is lacking in But over the years, films started having To earn some extra money, I was planning You have worked with some of the media industry here is passionate production designers, and they are now to learn VFX and make a career in it. But Bollywood’s most prominent production Your recent project ‘Ludo’ was praised professionals. In the last three months, I primarily responsible for planning and the courses were so expensive that I houses like Balaji and Yashraj. How has for its visuals and aesthetic appeal. What have only met a few really passionate designing the layout of the sets. couldn’t afford them. the experience been like working in was it like working in the film? working professionals.

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