#385 1 - 7 February 2008 16 pages Rs 30

KUNDA DIXIT in DANG Weekly Internet Poll # 385

Q. Who should be entrusted with election welve years after the security? Maoist revolution began in Total votes: 4,345 T the mountains north of here, people are still waiting to pick up where they left off when Top heavy the war began. The constituent assembly mood here among the people who election slated for 10 April would have seen the quality of their Let down twice, Nepalis are Weekly Internet Poll # 386. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com bring finality, but no one is sure lives deteriorate despite the Q. The constituent assembly election is? it will happen. After being let absence of war since 2006. The sceptical about polls down twice the euphoria that local economy is still stagnant, accompanied the ceasefire two there is no investment and young years ago has been replaced by people are migrating by the tens disillusionment and resignation. of thousands. “If it happens, I guess I’ll go Although there has and vote,” says youth activist been some Sanam Poudel in the highway reconstruction of town of Lamahi. “But we need damaged the election so we can close this infrastructure, chapter in our history and move health and education on with our lives.” are still in a shambles. For That view is echoed across the many, the elections are towns of Western . Local synonymous with peace, politicians, like NC’s Krishna without which they know Chandra Nepali in Nawalparasi there will be no development. district, realise that the people are “We haven’t had a peace blaming them for the delay. dividend at all,” says Ram “Their heart is not in elections. Hari Rijal, a teacher in We have let the people down, Ghorahi. “If the elections now we have to reassure them are held, hopefully we that polling will take place,” will finally see an Nepali told us. improvement in our The public meetings lives.” z organised by the seven parties across the country that ended on Wednesday in Birganj have been well attended despite bombings and strikes by Madhesi groups. But most of the crowds were party faithful. In Satbaria, where 52 policemen were slaughtered in a Maoist raid in 2003, the gutted building has been torn down. There are few scars of war remaining. And when Satbaria’s most famous son, former NC home minister Khum Bahadur Khadga, visited this week there was only a lone police van accompanying him. also passed through recently, but hardly anyone noticed. There is a wait-and-watch

BILASH RAI

Mc Dowell 2 EDITORIAL 1 - 7 FEBRUARY 2008 #385

Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Editor: Kunda Dixit Design: Kiran Maharjan Director Sales and Marketing: Sunaina Shah marketing(at)himalmedia.com Circulation Manager: Samir Maharjan sales(at)himalmedia.com Subscription: subscription(at)himalmedia.com,5542525/535

Hatiban, Godavari Road, Lalitpur editors(at)nepalitimes.com GPO Box 7251, 5250333/845, Fax: 5251013 www.nepalitimes.com Printed at Jagadamba Press, Hatiban: 5250017-19 Things fall apart Will the Madhesi centre hold? BEG, BORROW OR STEAL here is a problem with the not profitable. are vulnerable and will only Nepalis have come to expect shoddy treatment from their rulers, base, form, agenda, and But that is not enough. The become exposed. They should whether democratic, autocratic or feudal. Preoccupied as this T vision of the Madhesi first problem with the Madhesi know the limits of bargaining. interim government is with managing the alliance and making sure movement. The eastern Tarai forces is that their class and caste Instead, their shifting goalposts the peace process doesn’t derail, and as the political leaders are Mithila mafia of Thakur, Yadav base is limited. People from only confirm suspicions that with feathering their own nests, there is no time to ensure basic and Mahato may want to claim various communities died during royalists and those keen to disrupt services. Nepal’s long-suffering citizens didn’t expect things to get better leadership of the entire southern last year's movement, but the the polls are influencing decisions overnight. But it’s been nearly two years. Euphoria turned into plains. But they have neither leadership failed to capitalise on in each party. disillusionment long ago. Now the frustration is turning into anger. been able to steer Madhes in the the prevailing sense of unity. Mahanta Thakur defines the The one way this unelected government could have demonstrated right direction in the short term Dalits are disenchanted and have problem as colonial and says the legitimacy was by delivery. In that, it has failed pretty dismally. The nor thought enough about how to started saying that they have no Madhes needs a judiciary, denizens of the capital are lucky they have 12 hours of power cuts a reconcile regional and national choice but to launch their own executive, and legislature. day. Outside Kathmandu, power lasts only a few hours. Water priorities in the long run. movement, armed if necessary. Federalism is clearly non- supply is even more erratic. It is unlikely the poor are going to get free health care anytime soon. There has been no effort to bridge the Tharus in the west always felt negotiable. But what will be the gap between rich and poor schools. TARAI EYE apart, but now even eastern shape of that structure? What will None of this is due to a lack of resources. It is the result of gross Prashant Jha Tharus who see themselves as be the integrative mechanisms mismanagement, criminal wastage and endemic corruption. And that Madhesis find little space. Where with the hills and the nature of is true also of the most glaring example of government bungling to are the Muslim leaders? Where is resource allocation? date: the chronic fuel shortage. The ignominious roll-back last week Madhesi leaders don't lack the progressive agenda for the Madhesis claim they are close exposed not just an ill-planned price rise but also the incompetence commitment, neither are they landless? They may come out on to 40 percent of the population. and weakness of the state. The result is a nationwide shortage of diesel that has brought the country to a standstill. opportunists. 's the streets because of a shared Why is the aim restricted to only The government has the money to pay off the Nepal Oil son was suffering from a fatal sense of discrimination, but the securing power in the Tarai? Corporation’s debt to Indian refineries so supplies can resume, but illness in Delhi after February alienation from the Madhesi Shouldn't it revolve as much doesn’t want to do so until retail prices are raised to more realistic 2005, but the Sadbhabana leader mainstream is unmistakable. The around ensuring a share of power levels. So the Indians have stopped supplying diesel and kerosene still ran around to lobby for both leaders surely know that without in the capital, and demanding that and hence the serpentine queues, this time of buses and trucks. democracy and Madhesi rights. In them the movement will hit the a Madhesi be the country's prime What with the lack of diesel to run generators combined with load 2006, at a central committee wall. minister or president? For that to shedding, the cost of industrial production has gone up substantially. Transporters have also begun to charge more even though the price meeting when other NC leaders There are problems with the happen though, the leaders need of diesel remains the same. After all, if you can’t buy fuel when you condescendingly said they agenda and strategy as well. to have a clear vision of how the need it, the price becomes meaningless. should now 'give' citizenship to Madhesis want and need the polls Madhes fits into the larger If the shortfall in the market is to be eased, someone has to pay Madhesis as it would be more than anyone else. If April national framework. Only the India.The Ministry of Supplies (which should be renamed Ministry of electorally beneficial, the mild- 2006 had not happened, January Maoists had that theoretical Shortages) blames the Finance Ministry which in turn wants NOC to mannered Thakur responded 2007 would not have happened. understanding, conceiving of an live without subsidies. Fair enough. But how to do that when the angrily: "You still talk of giving Democracy is a pre-requisite for alliance of marginalised government doesn’t allow it to even recoup its acquisition cost from consumers? As with everything else in Nepal the problem is politics to Madhesis what is their Madhesi rights. And if polls do communities, though they failed rather than economics. With just about two and a half months to go inherent right." And Upendra not happen, the resulting miserably in translating it on the till elections, the seven parties don’t want to invite public wrath by Yadav has worked hard to build authoritarianism will not help the ground. Or is the final aim, as raising fuel prices. But they will soon have to face street anger political consciousness. All of Madhes at all. many Madhesi leaders privately caused by the lack of diesel, gas and kerosene. It is a Catch-22 this when Madhesi activism was Madhesi groups fear they will admit, independence? Won't such situation: increase prices and face not win, at least not in enough an unviable aspiration only lead to protests, don’t increase prices and invite numbers to influence the more bloodshed and suffering? anarchy. There is no way other than for the Finance Minister to clear NOC’s debts so constituent assembly debate. The These weaknesses should not fuel shortages won’t fuel instability in the major parties could play a role in make Kathmandu think that the run-up to elections. He faces competing assuring them of basic electoral Madhesi movement can be crushed funding demands from Maoist prospects. But irrespective of that, easily. Sending the army in would cantonments, war victims seeking Madhesi groups should know this be disastrous. Instead, Madhesi compensation and the elections. But even movement will continue even leaders must be supported, as they if it has to beg, borrow or steal, the after the polls, both inside and provide the only hope for pulling government needs to pay off India to resume supplies to get us to April and outside the assembly. things back from the brink. And beyond. The people will not accept any that is why it is important that the Just do it, Mr Mahat. discriminatory clause any more. A Tarai leaders get down to some confrontation does not help the serious homework and Madhesi groups right now. They introspection. SAM KANG LI

supplies; (c) conflict is exacerbating Perhaps those were the messages that vulnerabilities in the Tarai; (d) some groups US Ambassador Nancy Powell, now in Delhi, that are making life difficult in the Tarai may understood from his remarks. In about a have links to northern India; and (e) it would week’s time, will India can help be enormously helpful if India could keep probably be following in her footsteps to the these people under control. Indian capital. Our neighbour has influence but in the Basically, it’s a ‘to do’ list for India to Meanwhile, reports from Baluwatar prove its sincerity. And extremely well put, suggest Prime Minister end the buck stops with Mr Koirala sir. In contrast, outgoing Indian envoy Shiv is even less concerned about the fate of the Shankar Mukherji’s response was rather elections than he indicates in public, hree top Kathmandu-based diplomats assembly polls will be staged successfully lame. Talking to the media on India’s preferring instead to work on securing his have expressed their views on how to on 10 April; (b) the inclusion of Nepal’s Republic Day, he said Nepalis could sort daughter’s political future. Mahanth Thakur T approach the political situation in traditionally marginalised groups in the themselves out. If only that were true. Then was used, discredited and discarded after Nepal. UN Special Representative Ian electoral process is central to ensuring that it wouldn’t have been necessary for our being asked to negotiate with agitating Martin focussed on peace-building through the polls are staged successfully; (c) a mainstream parties and the Maoists to go to madhesis a year ago. Ramchandra Paudel is constituent assembly elections while significant section of the Madhesi, janajati Delhi to draft the 12-point understanding. awaiting a similar fate, with the government Matthew Kahane, the UN Resident and dalit communities felt left out of the 23- Nor would we have had to wait for the top failing to implement any of the many Representative and Humanitarian point agreement between the mainstream Indian spook to come to Kathmandu to bang commitments he made to Pasang Sherpa and Coordinator, emphasised a role for India in parties and Maoists; (d) it should be heads together to sign yet another 23-point Upendra Yadav. Meanwhile Bimalendra Nidhi possible to reach agreement on the agreement. and Ram Baran Yadav are attracting scorn participation of all groups in the elections Unlike the forthright observations of the by saying things they know to be untrue. STATE OF THE STATE because there is a common desire for such UN officials, the ambassador’s comments Clearly, NC hasn’t changed its C K Lal an election to be held; and (e) the dialogue seem to be based on assumptions. discriminatory attitude towards madhesis. needs to be urgent and real, and there Probably the Indian establishment Had it been any different, there would have needs to be a commitment to implement considers that: (a) bringing the Maoists into been many more madhesi names in the list of helping Nepal through its woes. The agreements reached with those groups. the mainstream is more important than party bigwigs slated to address mass implication is that the UN does not take for It is difficult to find fault with any of his anything else; (b) the SPA government has meetings all over the country. granted Nepal’s ability to handle its points, and he must be thanked for the credibility, competence and commitment The UML had originally wanted a 24th challenges by itself. In marked contrast, reminding the government in stark terms of to address all other issues on its own; (c) point put in the agreement, stating that Indian envoy Shiv Shankar Mukherji told the its basic tasks. the constituent assembly elections need to Koirala would go if he failed to conduct media that Nepalis were fully capable of Kahane, too, stated things that are be held at all costs; (d) the uprising in the elections on the stipulated date. It was solving all problems on their own. obvious: (a) humanitarian vulnerabilities tarai is a minor irritant; and (e) another removed in deference to the old man. But the Martin said in New York that: (a) he is are increasing; (b) landlocked Nepal postponement of the polls on any pretext situation remains the same: the buck stops optimistic the twice-delayed constituent depends on India for food and crucial would be unacceptable. very much at Baluwatar. 1 - 7 FEBRUARY 2008 #385 3

LLL ETTERS

MADHES raised the Madhesi issue are the some extent but the security SUJATA arguments to those in the I am not Madhesi but I have ones who are shedding crocodile- situation in the Tarai, eastern hill PM Koirala's recent appointment country who claim that the very respect and sympathy for the tears now. When you see areas and even Kathmandu itself of daughter Sujata Koirala as a word 'democracy' is a monkey's legitimate demands of the scoundrels like JP Gupta and is not satisfactory. In April 2006 I minister in the interim cabinet has coconut. people of the Madhes who have Rajendra Mahato leading the was out in the streets not to inspired a great deal of Mallika Shakya, been treated like second-class 'revolution', you can well guess replace absolute monarchy with a pessimism about the Washington DC citizens since Nepal was born. who the revolution is going to seven-party dictatorship but to democratisation process in a The mass movement benefit: the landlords and the replace dictatorship with country that has suffered forever DIPLOMACY spearheaded by the MJF forced corrupt. The only good thing I see legitimate democracy. However, from family dynasties. The I hope the next ambassador to the government to make Nepal a the decision to declare Nepal a silence of the political leaders our country will have the same federal state, to increase the republic without a referendum and and cadres on this fundamental sense of humour as Mr representation of Tarai people to divide it into a communal/ assault on the spirit of democracy Mukherjee (Interview, #384). from 42 percent to 48 percent, ethnic-based federal state is underscores their inability to live His logical diplomacy is heart- to give one million to the surely a very undemocratic by democracy as they preach it. winning. I hope from now on families of martyrs of the Tarai move and a spit in my face. The PM is quoted as saying he India will keep in mind that a movement and to provide What is the purpose of a CA may give the nation its first fair treatment of Nepal means a medical facilities to those when everything is already female prime minister. If the good deal for them too. And so injured in that movement. decided by this parliament? In difference between democracy future treaties between our Forgive my ignorance but I pursuit of peace, the parliament and monarchy has been forgotten, countries should be based don't know why the Tarai has given everything demanded leaders are not 'given' in scientifically on true movement has again started by the Maoists. Peace is not democracy. They emerge. And proportionality. Let's hope that when the nation is trying to simply the absence of war but they demonstrate their the first new treaty would conduct the elections. I would also the presence of justice. Is credentials, not to some coterie of resolve the border dispute request the respected CK Lal there any point in having an fat cats, but to the masses, the we're facing so that ultra- and Prashant Jha to inform us: election when less than 500 people. The struggle for nationalists from both countries 1. why Mr Thakur left the NC people have already decided democracy in Nepal has produced can't take undue advantage and is now starting an agitation. the future of 25 million several future leaders, from all of it. 2. why groups in the Madhes Nepalis? I do not see any genders, regions, castes and Nirmal Ghimire, University are still carrying arms when the reason why I should vote in ethnicities. It is a great irony that of Girona, Spain state has met the demands coming out of this 'movement' is the CA election. their chances are being pre- made by the MJF? that the oppressed Madhesis will Dilip Buda, Kathmandu empted by the smearing of a LETTERS It looks like the Madhes have the satisfaction of being budding agenda with nepotism Nepali Times welcomes feedback. Letters should be brief and may be agitation has started again just ruled by a goon who wears a dhoti Somebody please give Kanak and sheer arrogance. The PM's edited for space. While to prevent the election, because and speaks their language instead a hug. He sold us the claptrap of decision to groom his unpopular pseudonyms can be accepted, as far as I can see, the core of a goon who wears a topi and multiparty democracy and he is daughter as his successor writers who provide their real demands of the Madhesi people speaks Nepali. It is the elite of the still feeding us with the same to tarnishes his reputation at home names and contact details will be have already been fulfilled. Madhes who will benefit from this. save his own skin. It's okay and abroad, where he was lately given preference. Email letters Kanak, we forgive you for bringing celebrated for his genuine should be in text format without Name withheld, Kathmandu Biplab Nepali, Kathmandu attachments with ‘letter to the down the king and helping, in your courage and diplomacy in editor’ in the subject line. By now it is clear that the Who are you threatening, own way, these monkeys to bringing the rebels into the Madhes movement that started Prashant Jha? If you have the power. Still so much hope? Was it mainstream. It undermines the Email: letters(at)nepalitimes.com with such promise has Indian mobile telephone numbers really worth it? forces struggling to undertake free Fax: 977-1-5521013 Mail: Letters, Nepali Times, degenerated into petty ('Another window', #384), then you Reena Budhathoki, and fair elections that will shape GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal. communal hatred. If the can tell the armed terrorists there Chelsea, London the new Nepal, and provides Madhes' problems had been is not going to be a separation of only due to Pahadis living there Nepal. If the government is then you would have started offering autonomy, the Madhes seeing some tangible should take it: there is not going improvement in the living to be right to self-determination standards of Madhesis in and there is not going to be one places like and Tarai state. The Tarai is too Siraha, which have been in diverse to let Madhesis rule it effect ethnically-cleansed of alone. Don't forget the Tharus and Pahadis. I am sure the local many other ethnic groups who will populace will repent in the then fight for their own state. That years to come for having is the bottom line and they can chased away their Pahadi either face it and come forward for brethren. Make no mistake, the talks, or face the army. Now it is a new 'Nepalis'—read Biharis and matter of protecting national UPites—who are mainly identity. We will all unite in that, responsible for fanning this and ‘we’ means all Nepalis who communal hatred, will start love the country. The elections unleashing their terror on the will happen and all are invited to ethnic Madhesis once their voice their concerns through 'Pahade-bhagao' mission is voting, not by intimidation. over. I fully agree with Matrika Sandeep Dhungana, email Yadav when he says that the very people who were hell-bent ELECTIONS on deploying the army against Kanak Mani Dixit's analysis the Maoists when they first truly ('Getting There', #384) is true to 4 NATION 1 - 7 FEBRUARY 2008 #385

Palpa’s villagers don’t suffer power cuts because they Do it yourself generate their own electricity

T

PICS: GOVINDA LUITEL

GOVINDA LUITEL in PALPA Located 50km from Nepal’s ourselves,” recalls Sushila Gaire than Rs 1 million and was built Debi Arkhal, a local farmer, biggest hydroelectric project on the of Dobhan in Palpa where 100 with local donations and says: “My children can now study he electricity is one-tenth Kali Gandaki which generates households get 24 hour electricity voluntary labour from villagers. till late and don’t have to squint the NEA’s tariff. There are 144 megawatts of power, Palpa’s from a 3 kilowatt micro-hydro The same model was used in while doing their homework in T no power cuts. villages sent petitions to plant on the Suketal rivulet. dozens of villages in Palpa with the flickering kerosene lamp.” Sounds too good to be true. Kathmandu to be hooked up to Sushila says she used to spend seed support from the Alternative Palpa residents have lived in But if you live in rural Palpa the grid. But the NEA didn’t Rs 200 a month for the kerosene Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) darkness for centuries, and even after these days, like thousands of listen, neither did the politicians. for lighting, but now has to pay in Kathmandu. the transmission lines from Kali families, you don’t have to suffer “We took the matter into our only Rs 50 a month for the There are nearly 2,000 micro- Gandaki were strung up over their the inconvenience of load own hands, we said if they’re not electricity. hydro plants below 500 kilowatts villages eight years ago, they never shedding. going to do it for us, we’ll do it The entire project costs less all over Nepal and they generate got any power. “It’s a dream come nearly 13 megawatts of total true,” says project in-charge of the power. If Palpa is any indication, Dobhan micro-hydro, Kesar Singh. the way out of the power shortage AEPC’s technician, Narayan in rural Nepal may be to Subedi is equally excited. “Palpa decentralisation energy generation is an inspiration for other parts of from Himalayan streams and Nepal, this model of local self-help rivulets. can easily be replicated elsewhere At Kachal Okhaldhunga in in Nepal.” In the past year, Palpa Palpa, villagers donated Rs 5,000 villagers have set up five micro- each to build a peltric-turbine hydro plants with local initiative power plant and a 1km generating a total of 36 kilowatts transmission line that costs of power and benefiting nearly 700 Rs 1.3 million and provides households. electricity to 84 homes. “We Today, when the villagers hear never imagined we’d ever see an the news over the radio that power electric light in our villages,” says cuts in Kathmandu have increased Om Bahadur Gharti, “now we to six hours a day, they feel like know anything is possible if we thumbing their noses at the get together for a common goal.” capital. BUSINESS 1 - 7 FEBRUARY 2008 #385 5

Another colony

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Guna Colony,the latest housing Political youth project, is located in Sinamangal and has a total of 160 apartments. Each flat consists of three bedrooms, two Our ageing politicians neglect the young at their own risk bathrooms, a living room and a kitchen, dining room. The flats are wo out of three Nepalis about his own children’s future in election time? available for Rs 3.2-3.9 million. you meet on the street are Nepal? You haven’t because most In the time, when T younger than 30. But politicians’ children, as the press going abroad was something few

Distributing deal three out of three politicians you is shy to report, do not live in could afford, young people’s ○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ see on television are nearly 60 or this country. restlessness was channelled into Logitech has appointed Neoteric Informatique as a distributor. Logitech is a Swiss electronics giant with a wide-range of computer older. Nepal’s Jana Andolan II When you feel that your kids’ running state-blessed NGOs. peripherals, home-entertainment and gaming and wireless devices. was remarkable in that young future is secure elsewhere, how Today, our politicians can afford people under 30 took to the likely are you to work hard here for to ignore the youth during streets, broke police cordons and a better tomorrow? People elections because the most vocal of

Artificial beauty everywhere work hard for their them are not in the country or are ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ VLCC has unveiled various styles of beauty treatments including STRICTLY BUSINESS children’s better future. Few toil busy running various donor- botox, a natural protein that is injected under the skin where wrinkles selflessly day-in, day-out, to give funded NGOs that become, well, Ashutosh Tiwari have formed to give it a smooth look, fillers, where chemicals are anonymous children a better politically affiliated sooner or injected for volume augmentation and peeling, where a superficial tomorrow. This reality of absent later. layer of the skin is peeled off. even lost lives to ultimately kids distorts our political rhetoric. No succession plan: Nepali recycle, in a strange evolutionary Our politicians cannot mine their political parties, run as they are by

Golf winner twist, the same old Nepalis over own, or even their family’s, stories father-figure strongmen, never ○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 60 as the leaders of New Nepal. to concretely offer hope and entertain succession plans. The Major Bejoy Moktan has won the first ever Johnnie Walker Classic Amateur Challenge at the Le Meridien Gold Resort and Spa. The When the old politicians saw optimism for a better Nepal. Like father-figure’s mode of operation is Amateur Challenge has been taking place for 18 years but this is its how young people could sacrifice trained parrots chirping phrases on to extract maximum service from first time in Nepal. themselves for the benefit of their cue, our politicians have to fall his underlings in return for a elders, how likely were they to back on repeating abstract nouns vague promise of party leadership

Revamped condoms take seriously the issues related to such as political rights, freedom, someday, ensuring they all

○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ the youth and children in New democracy, youth power and the compete for his attention. As a The Dhaal and Panther brands of condoms have been relaunched as Nepal? Very unlikely! like until the audience becomes result, to aim for leadership the Dhaal Deluxe and Panther Premium. Dhaal was launched in Even today, as the politicians jaded. positions of any significance, 1975 with Panther in 1986, both are manufactured by the Nepal CRS stand on their pedestals in Youth displacement: ambitious young people have to company. Nepalganj or Birganj, they do not Another reason politicians do not compete with political nobodies know how to explain what the talk much about the young is that over the age of 50 whose only

Valued Hyatt new political process can do for they have quietly come to expect virtue is that they are senior, and ○○○○○○○○○○○

○○○○○○○○○○○○○ these two core national urban youths to go abroad for not necessarily more competent. Budget Travel Magazine has selected the Hyatt constituencies. Complicating studies, and rural youths to Every Andolan is a harbinger of Regency, Kathmandu as a leading Best Value their ignorance are three become migrant labourers in the hope. Next time, the young people hotel. The hotel was ranked number seven in Asia and number 22 worldwide in a list showcasing the additional factors. Gulf. When those who are most of Nepal might stage an Andolan to 100 best value hotels with an average nightly rate of $250 or less. Missing personal story: likely to take issue with poor put power in the hands of their When was the last time you heard governance are out of the way, why peers, not their grandparents’ a Nepali politician happily talk worry about what to say to them at generation. 6 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 1 - 7 FEBRUARY 2008 #385

Any answers? ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Kiran Nepal in Himal Khabarpatrika, “The PLA will not be 30 January-12 February Even two weeks after the Bara Pasaha bridge bus tragedy, the used as security guards” truth about what actually happened remains murky. The bus fire on 16 January killed nine Interview with senior Maoist leader Ram Bahadur Thapa in responsible for providing security. The people of the Tarai also have people but how it happened, Samay, 31 January to help and support the government and the political parties. If the situation worsens in the Tarai we should deploy the Nepal Army and what kind of flammable material In public meetings you have said that some Maoist leaders have to People’s Liberation Army together. was used and whether the fear for their lives. incident was premeditated or an Some forces are conspiring against those who So you don’t think diplomacy and talks will accident is still unknown. support elections, federalism and change. solve the problem? Although police DIG Kiran Recently those forces which are spreading terror People’s demands are slowly being met. But Gautam claims that “someone left in the Tarai met in Patna. Some of the there’s also a section which is demanding that petrol on the bus and somehow it participants of the meeting have confirmed that we split the Tarai into pieces. Such caught fire,” the passengers, the certain groups in the Tarai are targeting us. The unreasonable demands will not be met. bus workers and even an armed bomb that recently exploded in Kathmandu at the group say otherwise. public assembly was meant to hurt Maoist Isn’t their movement for autonomy? leaders. Madhesi people are raising some very valid The Tarai Army rebel group demands, which the state has to address as claims responsibility, saying that What are you doing to address issues of security soon as possible. However, some criminal they used ‘nitrogen’. But the for your leaders? groups are trying to break up the country in the police rubbish this assertion, They make these plans in India, so the seven name of autonomy. These criminal groups are saying that nitrogen would not parties have to address this issue through regressive and armed. This is against what the spread the flames but would diplomacy. We also have to inform the Indian people want. These groups cannot play on instead extinguish them. The public that such conspiracies against Nepal are people’s feelings and call their unreasonable police seem to be sticking to the being hatched on their soil. demands a fight for autonomy. story of the incident as an accident. Do Nepali Maoists have a hand in increasing Why is there a dispute about the issue of army But many facts do not support Maoist influence in India’s Jharkhand region? integration? We have a principle, which is why we have The issue of army integration has to be police assumptions. Except for always resisted imperialist forces. In places addressed after the constituent assembly two women, none of the other where people are demanding better pay, where elections have been conducted, after much passengers smelled anything nor they are speaking out against labour oppression MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA debate by elected representatives. The way the saw anything suspicious. Even if and discrimination, the rulers are threatened, so it is obvious they will likes of Sujata and Katuwal are talking about integration goes against the police hypothesis does hold, speak out against us. You also have to understand that Nepalis and the comprehensive peace agreement. As far as the PLA goes, petrol requires a spark to ignite. Indians share a deep relationship because we believe in justice and Nepalis have to understand that these soldiers fought for the According to the passengers, there change. liberation of the Nepali people. If there are people who think that they was no smell of cigarette smoke. cannot be integrated into the national army, that they be used as Mechanics say that the seats A3 How to solve the Tarai issue? security guards, then they are speaking against the movement that and A4, from where the fire Security in the Tarai has to be tightened, and the state has to be was formed to liberate the people, and against the peace agreement. started, couldn’t have been the source of the initial spark. If FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 1 - 7 FEBRUARY 2008 #385 7 Still unconnected

Nepal, 3 February, Tularam Pandey, Kalikot Dailekh, Surkhet and Nepalgunj because of the downturn in business. In November, people from 17 VDCs in the north- The makeshift ropeways over the Tila and the west part of Kalikot failed to get treatment at the Karnali rivers cost Rs 30 per person, which is a week-long specialist health camp organised by high price to pay for the ordinary villagers. Jukti International Fellowship Nepal simply because Prasad Chaulagai, a farmer, says: “Even after RAJU SHRESTHA there were no bridges for them to cross the paying such a high price, the fear of dying by faulty wiring were to blame then foreign allowances that our Karnali River. falling off the ropeway is still there.” telltale smoke and an acrid smell ambassadors in foreign countries “It’s easier for us to go to Surkhet than to Non-governmental organisations have been would warn of the imminent receive. Of the 28 Nepali Manma,” says Sarjane Bishwakarma, 67. “I have working towards easing the burden on the ordinary a stomach illness. Although I heard about the people. The EU in collaboration with Practical danger. The bus’s regular ambassadors, five of them will not foreign specialist doctor, I could not go because Action Nepal has been working on constructing mechanics are adamant that the even have to wait for 2065 to there is no bridge that connects my village to improved ropeways. fire could not have started in the arrive. Their allowances are being Manma.” bus’s inner workings and that increased in January. During the decade-long war, six external agents are to blame. After a four-month debate, the suspension bridges over the Tila and The bus left Birgunj for finance ministry finally decided to Karnali were blown up by the Maoists. Janakpur at 6.20 in the morning let the foreign ministry take this The damage done to the bridges has but returned to Bardibas at 11.45 issue to the council of ministers. affected the daily lives of more than citing problems with a faulty tire. There had been no increase in 70,000 people from the almost two The majority of the bus’s allowances for ambassadors and dozen VDCs in the district. The passengers got on at Harioun. embassy staff since 1994, while headquarters, Manma, has become more like a foreign land, far away and About 16km before Pasaha, two salaries and allowances for other out of reach. Since the bridges were Madhesis suddenly stopped the workers increased three times over destroyed, three children and seven bus and got off and even cursed this period. Since 1994, there has adults have lost their lives trying to the driver for being slow. About been a 36.25 percent fluctuation in cross the river in boats. six minutes after they got off, the the US dollar and inflation has Although the pain caused by the bus burst into flames. The police risen accordingly. Maoists and the security forces has have not been able to ascertain Given the dollar’s recent ceased, it is still difficult to cross the who those people were. decline and increasing inflation, it Tila and Karnali. Hiralal Devkota, 88, TULARAM PANDEY The police are dismissing an was becoming very difficult for says: “Talks about constructing the attack by terrorists as there was ambassadors and embassy workers bridges have been going on for two years but “Although the Rural Region Development no big explosion. Used to dealing to meet their daily expenses, to the nothing has materialised yet. If the bridges are Committee has been trying to construct bridges built, I could go to Manma for an eye check-up.” over the Tila and Karnali rivers since 2002, it has with Maoist and armed Madhesi extent that it was having negative The Maoists blew up the biggest and busiest not been successful yet,” says UML district units’ Improvised Explosive effects on Nepal’s reputation and suspension bridge at Ralingghat seven years ago secretary Tularaj Bista. According to him, during Devices, they are not considering pride. Worst off was the Nepali to prevent the security forces attacking them. The the royal takeover some royalists collected more that an incendiary IED could embassy in Russia and its staff. explosion killed 11 policemen and seriously than Rs 12 lakhs in the name of constructing have been used, one that would After the fall of the Soviet Union, injured 14 others. The same night the Maoists bridges. not cause an explosion, shock or prices increased dramatically and blew up another suspension bridge connecting Last year the district development committee shrapnel wounds. These kinds of the currency's value fell. Manma with Kotbada. gave a time limit of June 2007 to two construction weapons are made with nitrogen, Facing pressure from all sides, The destruction of the bridges has seriously committees that included party workers of the sulphur or chemicals of a similar the Ministry of Foreign Affairs affected business at the district headquarters. various political parties to complete bridges at nature. Chemicals like petroleum, made a plea to the Ministry of “When the bridges were intact we could earn Ralingghat and Raraghat. However, the ether and acetone are easily Finance. However, Finance about Rs 10,000-15,000 daily but now it is difficult committees have not even completed half the even to earn 5,000,” says Ananda Giri, acting work. Various reasons, including substandard available at the bordertown Minister Ram Sharan Mahat chairman of the FNCCI in Kalikot. Many materials, have been cited as reasons for markets. rejected the proposal, saying the businessmen have left the district to go to the delay. Perhaps the most neglected amount requested was too much. fact is the involvement of ‘Mr After adjusting the amount, the John’, who is also Rautahat’s foreign ministry once again asked Kaushal Sahani and the for a raise in the daily allowance. purported leader of the Tarai This time the finance ministry has Army. Within an hour and a half given its approval. According to of the explosion, Sahani had the agreement, the newly already called up a Birgunj FM established embassies will receive journalist to claim responsibility. their increased allowances in The Army was also responsible January, while the others will have for the 2 September Kathmandu to wait for the Nepali new year. bomb explosions. This outfit The biggest increase will be for doesn’t take part in rampant the Russian ambassador, Surya killing, abductions or extortions Kiran Gurung, who has been but instead spreads ‘mass terror’. receiving a monthly living It doesn’t have a specific agenda allowance of $1,870. He will and doesn’t deal with the media receive $2,850 starting in the new much except for one specific Nepali year – an increase of $980. journalist or publication. All The foreign ministry had ominous signs of a very originally asked that it be dangerous group. increased to $3,295. Even 15 days after the In the case of the US, the incident, forensic evidence hasn’t finance ministry has agreed an been properly analysed by the amount larger than the figure experts. This incident now also requested by the foreign ministry. runs the risk of being labelled The ambassador in Washington ‘unsolved’ and disappearing into DC, Suresh Chalise, will receive the background, just like the $2,845, up from $2,070. The Nepalganj and Kapilbastu foreign ministry had asked for Man: NOC incidents and the Kathmandu $2,545. Fire: Debt bomb explosions. The ambassador to the UK, Container: Price rise cancelled

Murari Raj Sharma, had his Robin Sayami in Himal Khabarpatrika, 30 Jan - 12 Feb allowance increased to £1,500 from

£1,309. Nepal’s ambassador to

Diplomatic pay QUOTE OF THE WEEK “ ○○○○○○○○○○○○

○○○○ China, Tanka Karki, will receive Sitaram Baral in Jana Astha, $2,755, up from $1,815. New 23 January Delhi’s designate, Durgeshman The machinations to make brother fight brother in the Tarai have started. Singh, will get $2,370, up from “ It seems that the Nepali new year $1,575. This increase was made will bring good things for our with Shailaja Acharya in mind. Acting chairman of quoted in diplomats. The government has But she hasn’t been able to assume Gorakhapatra, 25 January finally decided to increase the her position due to ill health. SELECTED MATERIAL TRANSLATED EVERY WEEK FROM THE NEPALI PRESS A-DRESSING THE NATION

WONG SHU YUN

ou can’t go far in Kathmandu has popularised the concept of fashion without coming across a tailor’s design among Nepal’s young urban middle shop or hearing the whirr of a class. When Adhikary opened the school in dress maker’s sewing machine, 1997, few could see any demand for what but Nepalis’ skills in garment she was offering. “People didn’t know what design have not yet made much fashion designing was about,” she says. And of an impact internationally. parents couldn’t see any future in fashion for YNow an increasingly ambitious and their children. They wanted them to be trend-conscious generation is trying to doctors or engineers. change that. But the past decade has seen a six-fold Among those hoping to set the trends in increase in the number of students at the the near future are aspiring clothes designer school, and Adhikary says capacity cannot Sristhi Bista and her friend Najima Aman, keep pace with demand: “Today, we have to who runs a clothing export business with screen the students.” She admits that not her husband. The two women met at everyone is concerned about fashion, but Kathmandu’s IEC School of Art and believes demand will continue to rise Fashion, which has been teaching would-be steadily over the next decade. designers since 1997. While women of Bista and Aman all ages and have more ambitious Ambitious clothes backgrounds take plans for Nepal’s classes at the school, fashion industry than designers seek to Adhikary’s plan is to most in the business. expand their market bring fashion to the Traditionally, the more remote parts of bread-and-butter work for clothes designers Nepal. “There are designers from remote here has been making costumes to celebrate areas who are very creative and have the the country’s numerous religious festivals. desire to do fashion designing, and they have The potentially more lucrative and exciting to come to Kathmandu to learn it,” she says. alternative is to design for the export “I have a dream to open up branches in other market, for sale to European and American parts of Nepal so fashion design can reach shops. out to more people in the country.” It will be Tenzin Tseten, a prominent local a while before Nepal truly establishes its designer at Himalayan Couture, says the own fashion style. difficulty with aiming for the foreign Adhikary, noting the evolving fashion markets is that good designs are copied and scene in Singapore and Malaysia, hopes that relabelled by overseas outlets, while the one day Nepal will also be headed in that name of the Nepali designer fades into direction. She says the government oblivion. can play a role, just by encouraging Nevertheless, sustained creativity design exhibitions. “These small and flare will doubtless attract opportunities will also count,” she attention, and industry watchers says. here see the demand for good Mirroring the state of the design slowly growing - country’s fashion industry, thanks in part to the efforts Adhikary admits the future will of people like Shailaja be tough: “I still have a long Adhikary, the director of way to go,” she says with a the IEC fashion school, who hopeful smile.

IN THE HOT SEAT: Adhikary believes that creativity must be nurtured, and plans to expand her fashion school to remote parts in Nepal. HANDS-ON HOPE Aspiring designers at the IEC School of Art and Fashion turn their paper dreams into reality CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: GIFT AND GLAMOUR: Neeti Acharya makes an embroidered shawl as a present for her aunt. AFTERNOON CATWALK: Students shuffle to get to lessons, which come in one-hour blocks. REAP AND SEW: A student materialises her designs in a drafting class. DRAWN TO LIGHT: Sketching classes include selecting textile, fabric and silhouette types. NO AVERAGE JOE: Tailor Sujit Ratanamrakal attends the school to develop his design sense, one of the increasing number of males engaging in fashion.

ALL PICS: SAM KANG LI 10 NATION 1 - 7 FEBRUARY 2008 #385 Back from breakdown Post-conflict mental trauma is hard to treat

SUBRATH SHRESTHA ordinary citizens have been struggling with these disorders at various levels of severity, sometimes for many years. he international community sees Nepal as a They may have developed a defence mechanism “nation in transition” where government, civil and become addicted to alcohol or drugs. If society and humanitarian organisations are supporting organisations do not seriously address T patients’ mental health problems, there may be a striving to bring peace after a decade of war. A key part of peace-building is the provision of treatment significant increase in social problems such as for those mentally traumatised by the conflict, either suicide and homicide rates. An individual troubled by directly as victims or perpetrators, or indirectly as an unstable mind stands a greater chance of witnesses. becoming homeless, suffering long-term depression Such treatment is essential in helping them to and resorting to substance abuse. once again feel, think and behave appropriately The first pragmatic intervention could be to within existing societal norms. It helps to stabilise develop campaigns for awareness of and insights patients’ minds and allows them to focus on other into mental illness in the Maoist cantonments, army significant needs of daily life, such as economic and police barracks and communities living at the survival and education. heart of the worst conflict areas. These campaigns Kids of Since many of these patients have had direct could include psycho-educational programs such as experience of conflict, they often suffer from Post- street dramas, posters and visual documentaries to Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), various mood help people contemplate their mental health needs and adjustment disorders, schizophrenia and other and feelings of security. Cosmandu psychotic problems. The next step could be to assess the need for For proper treatment, they need help from formal mental healthcare. Once the individual cases psychiatrists, clinical counsellors, psychologists and broad trends have been identified in the Young pioneers of and psychiatric social workers, who can offer them community, mental health professionals can try to either medication or a range of therapies and create a therapeutic environment which allows the astronomy in Nepal counselling to help with their rehabilitation. patients to vent their unresolved past issues. It is important to recognise that soldiers on both n my previous columns, I have mentioned a group of sides of the conflict, as well as police and many subrath(at)gmail.com enthusiastic young astronomers who have formed the Nepal I Astronomical Society (NASO). This time, I will be talking about what activities the society is engaged in and what captivates its Divya Malla, 20, works at a members about astronomy and stargazing. stone quarry in Dhading. She left Though stargazing is a very new phenomenon in Nepal, school because her family needed members of NASO are organising ‘star parties’ in different corners help earning enough money to of the city. At these events, they show planets like Jupiter, Mars and feed them all. Shortly after she left Venus to the public through a telescope. They also publish press War trauma school, she witnessed a close releases on important celestial events like meteor-showers and friend, Maya Devi, being gang- eclipses. raped by boys from a neighbouring “We can’t see all the planets at the same time, so we village. When news of the rape STARGAZING are showing them according to spread, the victim’s mother Kedar S Badu their appearances in the night accused Divya of spreading false sky,” says Suresh Bhattarai, rumours. student of Tri-Chandra College. A few days later Divya was Riwaj Pokharel, also from Tri-Chandra, recalls his recent gathering firewood when some experience: “Recently, I tried to make people in my neighborhood Maoist women seized her. For two understand the positions of planets in the night sky. They all laughed weeks they beat her and made her at me and said that those were only stars and I was just trying to do difficult physical work. They outsmart them.” However, this kind of attitude among the general threatened to kill her if she would public in no way undermines the zeal of these astronomers. They not join their group. feel that, in this age of globalisation, young people should come forward to fight superstition, help educate people and publicise the The five months she spent truth about the cosmos. Suresh thinks that astronomy can even help with the Maoist fighters were the economy through “astro-tourism”. difficult. She had to gather I found a real passion among the young astronomers for studying firewood, plant rice, carry bricks to the firmament and also a feeling that it is important to keep up with build roads and cook food. When developments in the rest of the world. They feel that astronomy and she told them she wanted to go stargazing are important in this regard, and are somewhat frustrated home they beat her again. about the government’s lack of interest in developing this science in There were no separate rooms Nepal. “We visited government officials many times when we needed for men and women, so all the help, but every time we returned empty-handed,” says Riwaj. “We fighters slept together. She think it’s a shame that the government has no interest in our work.” witnessed many of the women Suresh says the group’s main difficulty is that they don’t have SAM KANG LI any telescope of their own, and so every time they hold a star party being molested and raped by male they have to borrow one from somewhere. This sadly limits the oona BK, 17, from Salle in lived with strange men in the fighters. Luckily, Divya’s father amount of parties they can conduct. Rukum district, was a Maoist army when she was away from pleaded with the group leader to He also laments the fact that there is no systematic study of Jfighter for seven months. home. let her go. By that time Divya had astronomy in Nepal, meaning that anyone who wishes to study it has During her time with the PLA she Joona still lives with her become so sick that the leader said to go abroad. “The BP Koirala Planetarium was established long received political and weapons parents. The rigorous exercise she was of no use to them anyway. ago, but even now it is not functioning properly,” Suresh says. training. Most days she was out routine and the beating from the Back home people ostracised her As we approach the 400th anniversary since the invention of the in the field. leaders have left her physically her. Divya was called a ‘loose’ telescope, let us hope the government will understand the role The physical training was very injured with a severe stomach woman and not allowed to astronomy can play in modernising Nepali society and will help rigorous and Joona used to fall ulcer. But her psychosocial participate in public ceremonies. these budding ‘Kids of Cosmandu’. sick quite often. There was never problems are more serious. She She tried to go back to school, but enough medicine. When she has flashbacks of some of the the teasing got so unbearable that February 2008 Highlights: This month there will be a solar eclipse on 7 February, but sadly it could not participate in activities gruesome incidents she had to she could not step out of her will be visible only from Antarctica. We will then have a total lunar due to her sickness, she used to witness as a Maoist fighter. She is house. eclipse on 21 February. Seen from Nepal, the eclipse will begin as get physically assaulted by her irritable, has no appetite, and says “I am sad most of the time, my the moon sets. Among the planets, Mercury will go through an seniors and leaders of the group. she feels lonely all the time. She head hurts,” says Divya. She inferior conjunction on 6 February as it switches from the evening to “If I could not come for training, still thinks the Maoists will come suffers from an inferiority the morning sky. NASA’s Messenger craft has just visited this planet the leader used to beat me up and and take her back. Recently she complex and is restless. Her sister for the first time since Mariner-10 visited 33 years ago. kick me until I would join the swallowed poison in an attempt says Divya has no appetite and Granted, the western sky is kind of dull, but don’t neglect the dawn others,” says Joona. She had been to kill herself. spends her time alone, staring into sky. In early February, two brilliant worlds, Venus and Jupiter, will looking for a way to escape for a Local doctors are treating her space, too distracted to finish the appear close together, low in the southeast at dawn. They will be long time. When her mother fell physical ailments. She also housework. joined by the crescent Moon on the 4th. During the month, Jupiter will move up and away from Venus, which will be joined by Mercury at sick, she was given permission to receives psychosocial support Divya says: “Every time I see a month’s end. Mars, in Taurus, is almost overhead in the evening. go home. She never returned. from professional counsellors, bunch of women coming towards Saturn, in Leo, reaches opposition on 24 February and is visible in Back at home, life was not and after a few sessions has been me, I think they are coming for me. the east after 7PM. Wishing you clear skies and great stargazing in easy. Joona’s parents said that making progress. Her relationship If they take me now I know they February! because she had joined the PLA with the local community is will kill me.” her reputation was tarnished. improving, and she tells the kedarbadu(at)gmail.com People in her community said counsellors she is feeling more Source: Transcultural Psychosocial she was ‘polluted’ as she had positive and confident. Organisation (TPO Nepal) COMMENT 1 - 7 FEBRUARY 2008 #38511 Ganatantra at 30,000ft A New Nepal takes off in our kingdom-cum-republic

ver since RNAC, our once reputable flag carrier, dropped the royal ‘R’ to E become merely NAC (No Airplane Coming) the spirit of New Nepal has controlled the skies. Who needs a national airline anyway, with the nuisance of irate customers who insist on adhering to a tiresome schedule? Better let the People’s Republic’s people simply take over all flights destined for Kathmandu. This is Naya Nepal, after all, where seizing the assets of others is official party policy of one third of our parliamentarians and a right soon to be enshrined in the constitution.

MOVING TARGET Foreign Hand

No better chance to see this new trend than on flights coming from the Middle East, where rowdy passengers and their raucous demands overwhelm hapless staff. Like any gathering of Nepalis these days, passengers soon split into rival factions competing for attention. The political conflict that wrecked this country was always about access to resources. In a

crowded plane, access to whisky, snacks SURESH RAJ NEUPANE and bathrooms is the jet-age equivalent of grazing rights and import licenses. who he was, and told her to shut her lurching drunks is akin to dodging crazed the absurd was all one needed to get by in The Hand fully appreciates the allure of mouth or he’d fix her when they arrived in motorcycles, and the sight of harassed flight Nepal, but if the culture of intimidation has free booze, especially after being stuck in Kathmandu. Though clearly taken aback, attendants placating the rowdies reminds become so routine that YCL goondas are the Gulf for years. As for the bathrooms, it’s she challenged him to show her what he one of helpless traffic police. The Hand’s willing to attack anyone who stands between strongly advised to take care of bodily had in mind. He hissed she’d find out who personal favorites are those who insist on them and the bathroom, it may be time to functions within 20 minutes of take-off. he was soon enough and slipped into the wearing headphones while talking loudly to take up judo. Answering nature’s call any time after that stall. Moments later, a drunk fat man fell their mates, reminiscent of our politicos Wheels barely touch the ground before is hazardous to one’s health, and not only on his face in the aisle behind us, who always prefer yelling to listening. everyone jumps up to pull their huge hand- because of the filth and fluids covering all lightening the mood considerably. Nor does one have to reach home for the luggage from the overhead bins, the drunker surfaces. As Naya Nepal spreads its wings, one threats to begin. The YCL reportedly has ones getting knocked backwards by the sheer While queuing for the toilet on a recent doesn’t actually need to arrive in the members working in the Gulf and their weight. Shouting stewardesses and the flight, a young man with a bandana on his kingdom-cum-republic for a taste of where network of informers insures the Maoist flashing seatbelt signs do little to deter these head barged forcefully to the front of the this country is heading. The chaos at party gets a cut of earnings. Bandana-head stalwarts of empowerment. For the rest of us, line. When a woman old enough to be his Tribhuban International Airport and the sat with half a dozen others, the only coterie at least, this cartoon that started hours ago is mother objected he turned on her with madness of downtown traffic can now be drinking without a grin. good preparation for the free-for-all that implicit menace, asked whether she knew enjoyed at 30,000 feet. Staying clear of In the past, a well-developed sense of waits in the airport and beyond. 12 INTERNATIONAL 1 - 7 FEBRUARY 2008 #385

place. We don’t have to send out proconsuls or viceroys to administer our properties around the world to qualify as owners. Who owns The Bush administration’s attitude toward global power is as David Addington, Vice President Cheney’s counsel from 2001 to 2005 put it: “We’re the world? going to push and push and push until some larger force Not America anymore makes us stop.” We’re seeing signs of this larger force emerge he United States acts as if it States abides by international here in the United States. owns the world. This law, indeed that we are largely When will it emerge globally? T might seem counter- responsible for the dispersion of When Argentina thumbed intuitive. After all, more and wealth, political power, and its nose at the U.S.- more foreign entities are lapping transparency throughout the dominated World Bank and up bargain properties in America. world. There might have been International Monetary Fund, The left despairs of the U.S. some excesses during the Bush it had the powerful Mercosur government’s attitude. The radical years, the moderates caution, but trade association to back it up. right believes that the United the Dems will put everything When the United States tried to back to right. muscle Europe into ending WORLD BEAT So, does America own the agricultural subsidies (while John Feffer world or not? Let’s go through keeping its own) the European these four key elements of Union refused to back down. ownership and see if they apply And now India, China, and States should own the world and to Uncle Sam. Russia are drifting toward a snarls with perfect De Niro You Break It, You Own It: If a partnership, alliance is too intonation: “what are you going to retail outlet filled in for a turn as strong a word, that could do about it, huh?” The Moderate president of the UN Security transform global relations and Middle pretends that the United Council, imagine the bill that would be sent to the U.S. of choice. Wikipedia, however, shift the power axis from Treasury: There would be the full tells me that there are now more Washington to New Delhi, costs of Iraq. There would be euros in circulation in the world Beijing, and Moscow. Afghanistan. There would be the than dollars. That’s perhaps one In many ways, democratic economies we broke through reason why Brazilian supermodel movements around the world odious debt. There would a large Gisele Bundchen began to also serve as a counterforce to chunk of the ice cap. demand payment in euros last U.S. domination. The United You Have Exclusive Access: year. States, despite its rhetoric of Russia occupies Afghanistan and You Call the Shots: After the “democracy promotion,” the United States goes ballistic. Wolfowitz debacle, you’d think maintains power and influence The same with Vietnam invading that the world would rise up in in key regions through its Cambodia. And now the Bush revolt and say, “Let’s put the alliances with autocratic states, administration accuses Iran of ‘world’ back into the World particularly in the Middle East. sending its troops to Iraq. Bank.” Instead, the United States Pro-democracy movements in You Extract Rent: How is it gets to choose again and selects these countries challenge U.S. exactly that the United States, the former deputy US secretary of power. world’s largest debtor nation, state Robert Zoellick. He’s not the The United States has done doesn’t have to submit to an IMF worst of the Bush team. But if he for the cause of democracy what stabilization program or answer to has a choice between taking a call the Soviet Union did for the the requirements of its mainly from Condi or Lula, which do cause of socialism. Not only has Asian creditors? Because the US you think he’ll take? the Bush administration given dollar is used for most of the According to these four democracy a bad name in much world’s financial transactions criteria, the United States of the world, but its high-profile and remains the reserve currency certainly acts like it owns the and highly suspect democracy promotion agenda has provided repressive regimes and their apologists an excuse to label any popular pro-democracy movement that challenges them as foreign agents. One last indicator that the United States thinks it owns the world is sports. In the World Cup, soccer teams from around the world compete to take home the trophy. And in the World Series? Only teams from North America. Enough said. REVIEW 1 - 7 FEBRUARY 2008 #385 13 Bloody capitalist here Will Be Blood opens Anderson creates the two deep in American soil– characters carefully, but at the An literally. At the turn of the end does not know what to do Tth 19 century on America’s with them. The conflict American western frontier, men toil between the two is occasionally doggedly in a subterranean compelling, promising an drama of setting, portentous contraptions evocative mix of oil and oil and looming around them. Our religion, but is ultimately protagonist, headstrong puzzling. religion prospector Daniel Plainview If politics had nothing to do (Day-Lewis), emerges from this with all this, and if Plainview wordless world to become, over were simply a figure of the course of the film, a Aristotelian tragedy, it would monstrous oil baron. If you can’t make sense to laud Blood as an already guess what this will extraordinary achievement. entail, then prepare for the Critics have welcomed it with original American drama. enthusiasm and it has received eight Oscar nominations. So it CRITICAL CINEMA is rather beside the point to Diwas Kc complain that aesthetics alone are not enough to judge the rise and fall of capitalism. The frontier–which is always the sparse, desert-like landscape There will be Blood of the southwest where the film Director: Paul Thomas Anderson. was shot–is the ultimate Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul American trope. This is the Dano, Dillon Fresier. mythical place where American 2007. R. 158 min. (capitalist) democracy is thought to have ingeniously evolved from a dialectic of wilderness and civilisation. This is the place which most thoroughly embodies the American Dream, a favourite of filmmakers narrating tales of the nation’s success and identity. If Blood reminds you of the hugely popular Western and gangster genres, it’s because of the shared construct. Like a Western, it points us towards the fear and violence that was fundamental to the creation of the American identity, a precarious identity that is both savage and civilised at once. Like a gangster movie, Blood is about a tragic individual(ist) whose success is inseparable from his failure. Director Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, Magnolia) hits all the right chords, telling this story of greed and conceit with a masterly touch. What the film lacks is a sense of allegory. If the cowboy and the gangster have been the imaginary figures of modern American capitalism, the capitalist himself is far too literal. And unlike Citizen Kane, with whom some comparison will inevitably be drawn, Plainview does not have genuine mystery. Basing the film loosely upon Upton Sinclair’s 1927 novel Oil!, Anderson has done away with all the crucial political nuances that characterised the history of that great industrial surge. Instead, his ruthless, avaricious protagonist–portrayed by Daniel Day-Lewis in a bravura performance–serves only as a great character study. It is as if we are to discover in Plainview’s hatred of both God and humanity, and in his egoistic relationship with his son, a profound insight on capitalist pursuit. We are also given Plainview’s far weaker antithesis, Eli Sunday (Dano), a spurious man of God, a prototype of the evangelist type who is to etch the 20th century with his own success story. 14 CITY 1 - 7 FEBRUARY 2008 #385

ABOUT TOWN Seher (Ayesha Takia) is missing one day in her life. She has mysterious scratch marks on her neck and EXHIBITIONS unknown men are out to kill her. Her fiancée ACP Rajveer (Ajay Devgan) is trying to find out what exactly ™ photo.circle.xiv with Silvia Gruber, Bijay Gajmer and Kathmandu Off- Beat participants, at the Sundhara Bakery happened on that fateful Sunday. As two dead bodies surface, Seher is inexplicably linked to both of them. Café, 9.45 AM, 2 February. Rajveer unearths clues to Seher’s missing Sunday ™ Design show with Kripa Joshi and others at the Pulchok but grows increasingly suspicious as he realizes that Bakery Café, curated by photo.circle, until 29 February. Seher may not be as innocent as she claims to be.

™ Tibetan Lhosar photographs by Daniel Collins at the Saturday Entertainment Café, Boudhanath stupa, 6 February-31 March. Call 4442220 for show timings at Jai Nepal

EVENTS Quest www.jainepal.com ™ Youth Discussion Series on water, energy and our strategy with Ratna Sansar Shrestha, 3-5PM, 1 February at Martin Chautari. 4238050 ™ Political economy of the New Nepal with Hari Roka, ;xeflutfdns" ;ljwfg+ lgdf0fsf{ nflu ;ljwfg;efsf+ ] † 2 February, 3-5PM at Martin Chautari. 6910277 g]kfn ;/sf/ ™ The Kathmandu Chorale rehearsals for the Spring season, lgjfrgdf{ ;xefuL eO { cfkm}+n] 5fgsf] kltlglw| dfkm{t ;"rgf tyf ;~rf/ dGqfno 4 February, 7PM, at The British School, Sanepa. All singers ;"rgf ljefu welcome. gof F ;ljwfg+ lgdf0f{ u/f }+ . ™ French classes at the Alliance Francaise, last registration date 5 February

MUSIC ™ Kutumba with Mica Sundari live at Momo Mania 2008, Sundhara Bakery Café, 2 February, 5PM, Rs 350. ™ Ciney Gurung every Wednesday and Rashmi Singh every Friday, live at the Absolute Bar, Hotel Narayani Complex, 7PM. 5521408 ™ Catch 22 live at the Zest Restaurant and Bar, Pulchok.

DINING ™ Smokey Mountain High midday BBQ lunch at Dwarika’s Himalayan Shangri-la Village Resort, Dhulikhel, 26 January, Rs 700 including a bottle of beer. ™ Illy espresso coffee at the Galleria cafe, every Friday espresso cocktails. ™ International four course buffet at the Sunrise Café with a range of Boris’ signature dishes at The Chimney, Hotel Yak and Yeti. 4248999 ™ Wine and Cheese every Friday and Saturday at the Rox Bar, Hyatt Regency, 5-8PM. 4491234 ™ Jazz in Patan with coffee, food, drinks and dessert at the New Orleans Cafe, Jawalakhel. 11.30 AM-10PM.5522708 ™ Saturday special barbeque, sekuwa, momos, dal-bhat at The Tea House Inn, Windy Hills, Nagarkot every Saturday. 9841250848. ™ Dice-licious brunch at Kakori, Soaltee Crowne Plaza, roll the dice to the number of the day and get 50% discount on an WEEKEND WEATHER by NGAMINDRA DAHAL individual meal, Saturdays and Sundays, 12.30-3.30PM. Most significant this week has been the winter snow that covered much of upland 4273999 western Nepal and brought the snowline down to 3,000m. But the cold fronts over ™ Scrumptious wood fired pizzas, cocktails and specialty China that produced that snow have captured much of the moisture meant for the coffees at Roadhouse, Bhatbateni 4426587, Pulchok 5521755 southern hills. As a result, the Kathmandu Valley, most of the hill region and the and Thamel 4260187. south have so far received only a small portion of their winter rainfall quota, ™ Cocktails and jazz with the JCS Quartet and a choice of leaving them largely dry since the end of the summer monsoon last October. The cocktails at Fusion – the Bar at Dwarika’s. 4479448 satellite photo taken on Thursday morning shows Nepal sandwiched between two ™ Starry night barbecue at Hotel Shangri-la with weather systems, with the northern Himalayas blasted by cold air while the Live performance by Ciney Gurung, Rs. 666.00 nett. per southern plains remain clear and warm. The weekend will see cold air from the person, at the Shambala Garden, northwest keeping the Valley cold, with foggy mornings but warm sunny afternoons. every Friday 6.30 PM onwards. 4412999 ™ Kebabs and curries at the Dhaba, Thapathali. 9841290619 ™ Calcutta’s rolls, biryani, kebabs Indian cuisine at Bawarchi, Bluebird Mall Food Court. 9741000735 ™ Xpress yourself Lavazza coffee at La Dolce Vita and Roadhouse Cafe, Thamel. 4700612 KATHMANDU ™ Little Britain coffee shop fresh organic coffee, homemade cakes, WiFi internet, open all day, everyday. 4496207 ™ Pizza from the woodfired oven at Java, Thamel. 4422519 KATHMANDU VALLEY GETAWAYS Fri Sat Sun ™ Fulbari Resort and Spa, Pokhara Rs 10,999 for Nepali double, $219 for expat double, two days and three nights package, with transportation from the airport, drinks, tennis and swimming, discounts on food and beverages. 19-2 18-3 19-2 ™ Weekend getaways at Le Meridien, Kathmandu, Resident Night Rs 4,999 and two nights package Rs 9,998. Also includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, spa facilities, swimming pool, steam sauna, Jacuzzi and gym facilities.

For inclusion in the listing send information to editors(at)nepalitimes.com HAPPENINGS 1 - 7 FEBRUARY 2008 #385 15

KIRAN PANDAY HEARTFELT: Prime Minister GP Koirala defies his own ill health to speak at the 12th anniversary of the Shahid Gangalal Heart Centre on Tuesday.

KIRAN PANDAY SHIELDED: Security forces maintain a high profile at the penultimate seven-party mass meeting in Nepalganj on Monday. TAXI STANDSTILL ta

MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA MANHANDLED: a ballot box is carried across the hall for use in elections of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists' Kathmandu Chapter.

KIRAN PANDAY DOPPELGANGERS: Models posing with their photo doubles at CAN InfoTech 2008, currently running at the BICC. M 16 has beenBP’sgofer,an You mustadmirethestayingpowerofourPMji:he Hospital andevengivesashortspeechsittingdown. day, toopenanewcoronarycareunitattheMartyr’s he’s outthere,relativelyhaleandheartythenext boycotts theweddingonhealthgroundsalthough Crown brother’s weddingattheappropriatelynamed This week,Manishaisintownagainforher leading apro-democracycrusade. guy atatimewhenheruncle,BP’sbroGirijau,is Manisha, comestoNepalandsaysKingjiisagreat “national reconciliation”.ThenPrakash’sdaughter, provided newmeaningtohisDad’sdictumof minister forbeingsucha Mahendra’s sonGyanendramakesBP’sPrakasha whose sonstagedacopycatcoup36yearslater. democratically electedprimeministerbyaking fighter BPKoiralawasjailedfor10yearsbeinga Koirala clanareprobablythemostbizarre.Freedom lavatory. Inallthis,thesquabbleswithin Shekhar hasdraggedFirstCousinSushilintothe between FirstDotterSujataandNephew Meanwhile, theotherfeudinKoiralaclan issue notinNepalbutIndia. using theHinduCardtomakemonarchyan Birganj theotherday,itisclearourroyalistsare in attendancesittingonthedustyRaxaulRoad Seeing thepantheonof Sadhu BandhinBirganjbeapartofthereason? like theKingdomofSettingSun.Might progressed showingoncemorethatthisdoesn’tlook back-slapping andguffawingastheevening Kazakhstan: KingjiandQueenji.Therewasmuch for SiddharthKoirala’snuptialwithMiss But noprizesforguessingwhothechiefguestswere of counterfeitIndiannotes. hijacker, andithasrecentlyemerged,alsoaprinter Social lavatory Plaza.Heruncle,theprimeminister, BACKSIDE scatological opinion,itismoreofasocial theatre oftheabsurd.ButinAss’ any havedescribedNepalipoliticsasa FG FG FG Hindu godmen underground guerrilla sycophant . Prakashthus fromIndia , a for fray, whohaspulledupthePortfoliolessMinister know whichgearstolubricate. even havetobethehighestbidder,youjustneed the GreatNepalHydropowerGarageSale.Youdon’t conglomerate andtheirgrandmotherisintownfor elections doesraiseeyebrows.EveryIndian granted toforeigncompaniesinthefinalrunup power deal.Buttheflurryofnewlicensesbeing no onereallycareswhoisgettingkickbacksinwhich hydropower deals.Theenergycrisisissoseverethat The otherpartiesarealsorakingitinthrough parties aredoing.Monkeysees,monkeydoes. comrades saytheyarejustdoingwhatallother especially targeted.Whenaskedaboutthisthe extortionists. Indianmultinationalsarebeing businesses thatrefusetopayelectionransomYCL life-threatening phonecallsandclosingdown taking overpropertyofanyonewhorefuses,making been traditional gun-to-the-headmethod.TheYCLhas themselves tobeunablegetoutoftheir business community,theMaoistshaveproved mainstream styleofphoninguptheirpatronsinthe mainstream partiesaredoingitintheirtraditional Replenishment have activatedtheirCommitteesforthe As themomentumofelectionspickup,parties Darbhanga-style election. no doubtthisisheadingtobea capturing pollingbooths.Thereis are goingtooutdoeachotherin stations. Atthisraterivalstudents would haveitsmembersatpolling drinks at electiontime(obviouslynottopassout announced itwouldfield200ofitscadreperbooth No soonerhadtheYoungCompatriot’sLeague Nepal: notSSRbutCFR.CampaignFinanceReform. shooting Here istheAss’newbuzzwordfor hyperactive ), theNC’sNSUalsosaidit her mouthoffre:royalty. of WarChests.Whilethe ass(at)nepalitimes.com in campaignfinancingmode, FG FG FG Loktantrick soft CDO Regd No194/056/57Lalitpur, CentralRegion PostalRegd.No 04/058/59 1 -7FEBRUARY2008 #385

ISSN 1814-2613 www.nepalitimes.com