664 12 - 18 July 2013 24 Pages Rs 50
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#664 12 - 18 July 2013 24 pages Rs 50 BIKRAM RAI day-to-day survival. Economic growth estimates released on ECONOMIC BURDEN Wednesday ahead of the budget show it will be below target ith just over four of preparation by the parties. at 3.6 per cent this year. The months to go for Voters seem disgusted with Nepali rupee nearly hit a record Welections, it looks like the same old political figures. 100 to a US dollar this week, the international community Nepalis, like this grass cutter feeding inflationary pressures. is more keen on elections than outside the Ministry of Local we are. The run-up to elections Development in Singha KATHMANDU has been characterised by Darbar on Tuesday (above), SOLUTION IS ELECTION chronic bickering and lack are more concerned about EDITORIAL PAGE 2 WAR ZONE PAGE 17 2 EDITORIAL 12 - 18 JULY 2013 #664 THE ELECTION SOLUTION ith just over four months to go for elections, in nine hours on Tuesday. His message before it does appear as though our international leaving Delhi, in meetings with officials here, and Wpartners are more keen on holding it than before departure from Kathmandu underlined Nepal’s leaders. Voters, for their part, are thoroughly just one main message: to strengthen democracy disinterested and apathetic because they don’t see and ensure stability, Nepal needs elections as new elections resolving anything. What’s the point scheduled. of voting for the same old people who failed to write The leaders who lined up to meet him at a constitution the last time, they ask. Dwarika’s Hotel heard it, but will they listen? This cynicism is understandable, but it won’t Baidya and his deputy, CP Gajurel, will probably lead us anywhere. The only way to break the impasse get the same message in China where there will and give some momentum to the political process is also be strong pressure for the Maoist party to to have a new vote and hope for the best. However, reunite before elections. the run-up to elections has been characterised by The Baidya faction has agreed to talks with chronic bickering and a singular lack of preparation the Big Four, but there will be some give and take by the parties. It is as if they are resigned to the fact in return for their agreement to take part in the that polls won’t happen as scheduled in November. polls. However, we see the bigger hurdle in how They must also sense the acute disillusionment the internal dynamics within the UCPN (M) play among voters and are afraid of losing, but are too out in its Plenum next week. consumed by greed and ambition to make way for There are larger, over-arching questions of a new generation of leaders with fresh ideas and whether it makes sense to have a bloated 601- perspectives. member CA made up of the same party proxies The parties are also distracted by deep-seated as before. Why elect 491 or 601 members to an rivalries and divisions within themselves and are expensive CA when it will be the same four party in a wait-and-watch mode. The two Maoist parties syndicate that will decide everything anyway? are in the throes of an intense power struggle at the Why not convene a roundtable meeting of the top between Baburam Bhattarai and Pushpa Kamal DIWAKAR CHETTRI four big forces to iron out most of the contentious Dahal. The animus between them has peaked with issues beforehand? Bhattarai’s resignation from his top post, hinting That way the election can be to an assembly that Dahal should do the same. The Baidya faction that will adopt what has already been drafted by the threatened to go back to war in Pokhara, offered talks a previous CA for the new constitution and leave the day later, and then the very next day, in a surprise move, contentious issues for later. This would avoid the volatility its two top leaders flew off to China. The NC and the If the parties are going to decide that is sure to accompany elections when the campaigning UML, meanwhile, have no new ideas of their own and everything anyway, what is is going to be dominated by communal polarisations. only act in reaction to moves by the UCPN (M). If it is stability and progress we want, this may be India’s Minister of External Affairs, Salman the point of having a large and the least harmful way forward. An election should be a Khurshid, air-dashed to Kathmandu and met 35 leaders expensive Constituent Assembly? solution, it shouldn’t make things worse. ON THE WEB www.nepalitimes.com OF NO SUPPLY, ONLY DEMANDS to do just about anything especially concerned ministries and departments religious backgrounds represented The Maoists set the example when the monetary stakes are high. instead. in the future CA. However, let’s not THE during the war and afterwards Prabin Jung Thapa Vijay Gurung forget that the previous CA with almost O WEEK proved that one can literally get 200 female lawmakers was about What is your favourite adventure sport away with murder (‘No supply, only Over the last 40 years, my Well-planned and durable roads are to draft one of the most regressive in Nepal ? demands’, Editorial, #663). So why husband and I have visited Nepal undoubtedly a better option than having citizenship laws in the history of shouldn’t water suppliers go on 14 times. We have trekked all the no roads. They open up new avenues Nepal. If the draft had been passed, it strike to uphold their right to cheat standard routes and some not so of employment. Pursuing cultural would have hurt women (and children) Sarad Pradhan: Rafting consumers? well known ones as well. While we preservation does not mean we have to from marginalised communities Richard Bull: Paragliding Nepali Chap understand that roads can open lock the place down. the most. So it’s not always about Rishab Khanal: Bungee access to medical care, markets, Som Nath numbers or proportionality, it’s also Vineet Sharma: Mountain biking Such unruly behaviour on and convenience, we have also seen about how independent women/ Bob Mason: Parahawking the part of business owners is a the economic ruin and depression This is a good piece by Pranab Man Janajatis/Madhesis/Dalits in the CA Yash Kumar: Himalayan marathon direct legacy of the 10 long years that roads can bring to villagers on Singh (‘Making inroads’, #663). And can be from their parent parties and Andy Collins : Yak milking spent in the jungle. They have former trekking routes such as the Kali here is my two cents on the issue: dear to what extent they can resist the Suraj Aryal: Trekking Douglas DiSalvo: Visa extension absolutely no respect for laws and Gandaki Valley. Nepal is one of the tree huggers, hippies, and sycophantic political arm-twisting and be assertive Komal Shah: Driving bike on Nepal banda regulations; whatever they demand, few countries left in the world where environment-brokers, please refrain in ensuring the welfare of their Sigmund Stengel : Nepali toilets they get. Ordinary Nepalis and the enviro-tourists can walk for days in from commenting on the disadvantages communities. AS HO KA: Dandi biyo media need to put pressure on the a natural road-free environment, but of roads. As a poor country, we need Meems Nisha Sharma Pnageni: Bungee government so that these criminal at the same time, these precious roads to spur economic growth, period. Gc Rabindra: Paragliding, kayaking cartels are brought under the rule sanctuaries are becoming increasingly Sanam L LIVING THEIR DREAMS Sudeep Kandel: Ultra marathon of law. sought after. They are being destroyed Not all Bhutanese refugees who were Basant by new roads. When they are gone, DOOMED TO REPEAT IT repatriated to the US are doing well This week’s Question: they are gone forever. Lama is right: They say only fools learn by repeating (‘Living their dreams’, Jangbu Sherpa, What do you like best about monsoon? FROM NOWHERE TO NOWHERE if the Tsum road is to go ahead, it mistakes. That tag fi ts perfectly well #663). The Department of State Go to www.facebook.com/nepalitimes or www.twitter.com/nepalitimes to respond. As a transportation engineer by should be an alternative approach that on us Nepalis as we are once again recently reported that Bhutanese have profession and a native of Gorkha, protects holy sites and a vital trekking woefully unprepared: remember the the highest rate of suicide among I am deeply concerned about route. 2008 polls (‘Doomed to repeat it’, all refugee groups. Offi cials are not this ambitious road project which Sue and Howard Dengate Trishna Rana, #663)? The 11-point sure why, as most refugees to the US could cause much cultural and agreement says polls have to take also come from war-torn countries Weekly Internet Poll #664 architectural damage in Tsum Valley The development of roads is place before December, I doubt adding where they have seen a great deal of (‘Road from nowhere to nowhere’, indeed a double-edge sword. In a month will help much. So what is violence. The younger ones are doing Q. Is the CPN-M right to boycott elections? Sonam Lama, #663). The project today’s world, roads are imperative it going to be? Hardcore back door well and many in my own town have Total votes: 1,552 seems to be driven by the wild for development. Unfortunately, negotiations with Mohan Baidya and bought nice homes, have jobs, have ambition of greedy politicians and road-building comes with its share of friends to make elections take place in started businesses, and are living contractors who are lured by the negative effects.