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#43 18 - 24 May 2001 20 pages Rs 20 NEW THRILL: CANYONING19 19 19 Thamel’Thamel’s Thamel’ secrsecrs etetet KESHARKESHAR KESHAR 10-11GARDEN10-11 10-11GARDEN GARDEN EXCLUSIVE BINOD○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ BHATTARAI nywhere else in the world a school EU pulls out shutdown that prevents nearly a million children from attending The European Union has put the a $13 million Gulmi-Argakhanchi Rural classes would be a national crisis. Here, it Development Project (GARDEP) on is just politics-as-usual. A classless society? indefinite hold after a project vehicle was Everyone agrees that Nepal’s education torched by Maoists on 8 May. The attack is a mess. Constant tinkering and AA millionmillion NepaliNepali childrenchildren couldn’tcouldn’t gogo toto schoolschool forfor aa came just as the project’s second phase experimenting with reforms since 1975 has to build roads, schools and drinking water resulted in politicised government schools week because adults were playing politics. projects in the two districts was getting week because adults were playing politics. with falling standards. Most private schools ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ underway. Most half-done construction that moved in to fill the demand are run of schools and roads have been like businesses. The result: a school system abandoned. The Maoists haven’t yet ridden with inequities. claimed responsibility for the attack, and there had been no overt threats. Local Since the government wasn’t doing officials said the torching was not much to reform education, student unions planned, and was the result of local affiliated with three left parties, including Maoists suspecting that a project one controlled by the Maoists, have personnel was using the car’s radio. entered the fray. They want to change They say EU over-reacted, and are overnight what took 30 years to wreck. lobbying for the project to resume. Said Further complicating matters is the fact DDC chairman Kausal Pokhrel: “This is that the three unions are competing with really unfortunate, it will set us each other to appear more radical. back many years.” Last week, armed members of the All- Nepal Independent Student’s Union Tibetans warned (Revolutionary) attacked in broad daylight MIN BAJRACHARYA Days before Chinese premier Zhu two private schools with Indian affiliations. Rongji’s visit Chakra Prasad Bastola told They vandalised property, set vehicles on the press that Nepal would not allow its fire, doused one principal with kerosene, territory to be used for anti-China and physically abused another. “This activities. And he meant it. Three government does not listen, so as a government agencies sprung into warning, we had to carry out the attacks on to negotiate after minister Amod Prasad some of them would need decades to be implemented. Our students are only action—the Ministry of Home Affairs, the schools that are run with foreign capital,” Upadhyaya was flayed by media for not implement. But to summarise the main demanding a reduction in fees, but by office of the Chief District Officer and the said the general secretary of the pro-Maoist taking the issue seriously. On Saturday, points, they include: 50 percent reduction how much can only be decided after a Hanuman Dhoka police office. All had one union, Purna Poudel. The Maoists have government officials met Maoist students, in private school fees, ban on singing the through study.” simple message for Kathmandu’s Tibetan already closed down many private schools parents and private school representatives national anthem, ban on compulsory The Maoist community: “Don’t be seen, and don’t be Essay p. 6 heard. Or else you will be deported.” in the districts where they are active. but failed to reach a compromise. Then the Sanskrit, ban on re-admission fees and an students are Hurt, frustrated and hopeful There are 60,000 Tibetans living in Nepal, Among them, the Japanese-run Notre government made a blunder by arresting increase in investments in public schools. admant that the and lately the government has become Dame in Bandipur closes next week. (See two Maoist student leaders as they left the The main opposition UML’s Standing government must intolerant of even Tibetan cultural box, p.7) talks. They have since been released, but Committee member and the party’s reduce private school fees by half activities. Said one Tibetan resident: “It is The government said it would provide the action torpedoed chances of education commisar, Jhala Nath and provide free education in sad that after 40 years of being here, we security this week, but private schools were compromise. Khanal, told us: “The 50 percent public school before they will even still have to be quiet.” Now that Zhu’s too spooked to open. The Ministry of The list of demands by the three reduction in school fees come to the negotiating table. gone, things may be more relaxed. Education made some last-minute attempts student unions are long, confusing, and demanded by Maoists cannot p. 7 ¨ have given the maintenance workshop for free if we had bargained hard.” It is standard operating procedure to pay a sales Jumping the gun? commission to the manufacturer’s agent, and whatever gun the army buys there will commissions involved. But informed he race to supply the Royal Nepal Army with a new was finalised before the rifle was insiders say this should not be an excuse to push through an generation of rifles and carbines to replace its ageing SLRs selected. Nepali media has taken a inappropriate gun, just because some past deal didn’t t is going into its final lap. The main contenders include the keen interest in the deal, and there materialise. The other issue is weapons standardisation. German G-36, US-made M-16s and Israeli Galils, and they are all have been reports that the German The army presently has a requirement for 50,000 guns, neck-to-neck in this high-stakes deal which could total some $ 50 contract is linked to the army’s which include assault rifles, light machine guns, grenade million over the next five years. All are assault rifles that use decision to purchase the RJ-100 jet launchers and carbines. Most officers and rank-and-file soldiers imported 5.56mm calibre, “double base” ammunition that have a last year. That deal was scuttled seem to prefer weapons like the M-16 which they have used killing range of up to 600 m. because of media pressure and while on UN peacekeeping duty and of which the army already According to military sources, the G-36 which had been a intense lobbying by rivals. A well- has some 4,500 units. Still others find the Israeli Galil even more favourite because of intense lobbying is now falling behind after a known Nepali commission agent is suitable because it is lighter, and more durable because of its high-level field test showed defects with its sophisticated optical the representative in Nepal for both solid body parts. sight. The rifle optical sight needs zeroing every time it is jerked, Heckler & Koch (Royal Ordnance) and The gun purchase has a sense of urgency because the and is not battle-tested. British Aerospace. army is thinking of passing on its Belgian SLRs to the Armed MIN BAJRACHARYA The G-36 is made by the German company, Heckler & Complications arose because BAe Police Force that the government is setting up to fight the Koch which is partly owned by British Royal Ordnance. The G-36 had already paid its commission to the Maoists, and for internal peacekeeping. Many would debate was reported to have an edge over its rivals because the agent on the RJ100 deal, and the G-36 repair whether one of the world’s poorest countries should be manufacturers had won a $ 5 million deal to set up a shop was offered as a swap. Said the source: “With a spending so much on guns. But if they are needed, then they maintenance and repair facility for the rifle. The maintenance deal purchase of this scale, any other manufacturer would have to be the right equipment at the right price. Hotline: 523050 one world... ...one link Internet Access | Email | Fax2Fax | Web Hosting | Domain Registration | VSAT Networks | WAP Services | Software Development 222 EDITORIAL 18 - 24 MAY 2001 NEPALI TIMES Nepali Times is published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Editor: Kunda Dixit STATE OF THE STATE by CK LAL Desk editor: Anagha Neelakantan Design: Swosti Rajbhandari, Kiran Maharjan [email protected], www.nepalitimes.com Marketing: Anup Adhikary [email protected] Sanchaya Kosh Building, Block A-4th Floor, Pulchowk, Lalitpur GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: 543333-7 Fax: 521013 Printed at Jagadamba Press: 521393 Time to go MAYDAY, MAYDAY It is time Koirala the citizen and Koirala the president of the ruling Analysts have come up with many analogies to describe the present state of the party asked Koirala the prime minister to step down. nation: a patient in intensive care, a village on a volcano, a boat that has sprung a leak, a truck falling off a cliff. But the best one we have heard so far in the cocktail he Nepali bourgeoisie is angrily display of political promiscuity during circuit is a jet with a major systems malfunction that is diving towards the ground, demanding the resignation of Prime the shameful days of coalition govern- while the captain and co-pilot are busy punching each others’ faces, as a hijacker t Minister Girija Prasad Koirala. ments recently? By asking for Koirala’s behind them holds a gun to their heads. Go figure out who is who. Capitalists of the capital are up in arms ouster, the Panchas do him a favour.