#41 4 - 10 May 2001 20 pages Rs 20 FOODMANDU 10 -11 6-7

Under My Hat 20

EXCLUSIVE invades India The Nepal Tourism Board began its long-awaited offensive in India last week, luring Indian tourists with GOING, GOING... everything from “Priority Puja” at

Pashupati to discounted shopping, KUNDA○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ DIXIT Girija Koirala has decided the time has come to cut and cut

free casino coupons and bungee irija Prasad Koirala may be everything cleanly. The big question is when will he do it, and who’s next? ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ jumping. The message: Nepal is his critics say he is, but he is not a ○○○○○○○○○○○ scenic, full of fun, and holy. Indian g quitter. So while he flip-flopped on unpopular,” says a Congress adviser. The will he do it, and who’s next? As far as the rest tourist arrivals have been down since Thursday to go or not to go, it was the classic prime minister could be reasoning it may be of the country is concerned, the answer to the IC 814 hijacking in December Girija: keep everyone guessing till the end. He better to let someone else take the flak for a both questions is: it doesn’t really matter. 1999, Indian media portrayal of has decided to resign, but he does not want to while, while he rebuilds his political capital. None of the frontrunners for succession have Nepal as a hotbed of Pakistani be seen as someone giving up, and show Insiders say the prime minister has wanted demonstrated the statesmanship and inclusive shenanigans, and the new rule instead he’s beating a strategic retreat. to quit for the past two months, but has been and decisive leadership the country needs requiring air travellers from India to There are pros and cons both ways. looking for a political parachute so that it today. For whatever it’s worth, here is a list carry passports or voter IDs. “At the Koirala’s advisers tried to convince him that would not appear that he was quitting because of wannabes: moment the passport rule is the the letter from the Centre for the Investigation of the UML’s charges of corruption, or z Ex-PM : Koirala’s biggest hindrance,” said an Indian of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) on Wednesday because of the failure of his strategy to contain thrice-humbled party rival has tasted power, travel agent. NTB officials hope their just asked him for clarifications on the jet lease the Maoists. The letter from the CIAA was a but his chances of succeeding will depend India blitz will make Indians want to deal for Royal Nepal Airlines. The five perfect exit: he could have been seen to be more on the eagerness of his political mentors. get a passport and hop on the next questions did not ascribe guilt. So why should resigning of his own accord without being z Deputy PM Ram Chandra Poudel: has plane to . you go, they asked him. actually tainted in the airliner deal. administrative experience and “seniority” and And then there is just no one Koirala Koirala, 78, assumed premiership a year is well-versed in the Machiavellian world of Lumbini Disneyland himself would feel comfortable handing over ago by removing his colleague, Krishna Prasad government and party. He has been a fence- A surprise awaited UNESCO experts to. The cabinet advised him strongly not to Bhattarai. He gave himself three tasks: control sitter, but got the most votes in who met in Kathmandu last week to resign, arguing that it would weaken the party corruption, improve governance and tackle the in party polls. finalise a concept for the and vindicate the demands of the opposition, insurgency and failed miserably on all three z Koirala cousin : A behind- reconstruction of the Mayadevi the Maoists and all his critics. counts. But from his own point of view, the scenes operator who was Girija’s main fixer Temple at Lumbini. They were invited But there are equally potent arguments for Koirala has survived against all odds by and one-man dirty-tricks department. His to the prime minister’s residence resignation. Koirala may decide it is better to standing up to just about every political force sphinx-like demeanour and his closeness to where an elaborate model with be a behind-the-scenes kingmaker than a that has been arrayed against him: the Maoists, Girija has not endeared him to too many buildings and roads was shown off. lightning rod. Retaining his party presidentship the moderate left parties, the palace, the Army, Congressis. He’s also not a family-insider. UNESCO chaps were not would give him power, without the headache and even his own Congress protégés who z Ex-PM : impressed. Said one: “It was too of being constantly needled. He had also wanted him out. All of the above have one unpredictable, frivolous and 77. Girija would aggressive, it was megalomania. It publicly stated he would quit the day the thing in common: they thought Koirala was love to hand over to him, if only because it looked like Disneyland.” The plan CIAA investigation pointed to him. He would getting too powerful. By getting the army out would silence critics for a while and he could goes against the original idea of the be keeping his promise by going. of the barracks he had notched another wrest the prime ministership back anytime. MIN BAJRACHARYA birthplace of the Buddha being a Besides, who would want to be a prime constitutional point vis-a-vis the palace. z Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat: Is tranquil oasis for meditation and minister in the country’s present state? “It Koirala must think: this is the time to nobody’s candidate but acceptable to all, international peace studies. ..… (p. 7) would be a political death wish. No matter depart in a blaze of glory. He has decided to including donors. May bring a fresh, who is in power now he is bound to be cut and cut cleanly. The big question is when technocrat’s perspective. 

“If I had 100 percent orders this time last year, now its down to 2-3 percent,” says Puspa Shrestha, Managing Director of Nepal Pashmina Industry, one of the top five exporters. “This used to be our busiest month—now I’ve stopped production Fading pashmina awaiting new orders.” And if the trend since January (see graph) continues, sales

could slide further.

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ BINOD○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ BHATTARAI What went wrong? The vagaries of international fashion are part of the story, but t’s a familiar story: a great Nepali export item rides an international fad, mostly, the reasons are internal: initial success led to a spurt of fly-by-night looms— the there is exponential growth, then a bandwagon effect as everyone tries to “wayside momo shop syndrome”. They competed and undercut prices. Petty traders icash in. Government squeezes exporters, there is regulatory failure, a glut in began to pass off woollen shawls as pashmina, over-production hurt quality, and the market, prices collapse, quality deteriorates, workers are laid off and the suddenly pashmina shawls that sold in boutiques started appearing in flea markets. industry starts to go under. It could be carpets or garments, but now it is A Rastra Bank study shows that the number of registered pashmina factories pashmina. jumped from 25 in 1993 to 959 by 1999. There were many more unregistered When the traditional soft shawls made from the neck fur of Himalayan goats factories, but a lot have closed down. The lack of market information and dumping took international fashion by storm four years ago, Nepali pashmina became a cheap shawls in India to be re-exported with 1200 worldwide rage. Selling for upwards of $500 apiece, the stylish, colourful woollen a “Nepal” label has tarnished our image. PASHMINA EXPORTS wraparounds were seen on everyone from Queen Elizabeth to Hollywood starlets. Harassment at customs, bribery to get 1000 July 2000–April 2001 (in millions of rupees) In Nepal, the industry employed over 50,000 people. At its peak in 1999, permits and licenses took their toll. The fly- 800 by-nights have by now folded up, and even the country exported Rs 6.22 billion worth pashmina scarves, shawls, blankets, 600 mufflers and even dressing gowns. The Mongolian cashmere wool came through the big players are feeling the crunch. Tibet and was mixed with synthetic and natural fibres. Last month pashmina Shrestha has shut down his factory. He 400 became Nepal’s single largest export item to India, and the third largest may open in June if he gets new orders. He 200 overseas export after readymade garments and carpets. But just when the says: “We’ve lost the up-market image that 0 industry had everything going for it, it bottomed out. Nepali pashmina had internationally.”  Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr

worldlink 222 EDITORIAL 4 - 10 MAY 2001 NEPALI TIMES

POWDER KEG Eclipsed by the Maoist crisis in this country, and buried by headline-grabbing news of the unseemly power struggle going on at Singha Darbar, is a crisis that could potentially make both look like a picnic. It is the Citizenship Bill, and the plight of some three million madhesi Nepalis of the tarai. With their linguistic and ethnic nearness to India, madhesis have over the years found it difficult to obtain Nepali citizenship. Last year, a law that finally sought to resolve the issue and define who is Nepali was tabled in parliament. While the bill was being debated, the main opposition Unified Marxist-Leninsts (UML), which had earlier worked on the draft, got cold feet and pulled out because it was afraid that its rival Marxist-Leninists (ML) and other fringe left groups would gain political mileage by stoking nationalist and anti-tarai sentiments. But since the had a majority in parliament, the bill sailed through the house. (We did suffer a bandh on 2 August last year called by comrades of the seat-less ML, remember?) The NC also thought it did a clever thing by sending the draft to the King as a Finance Bill, thus bypassing the need to have approval of the Upper House. The King, mindful of the fact that this was a political hot potato, in turn passed the bill on to the Supreme Court. And last week, the Supreme Court declared the STATE OF THE STATE by CK LAL Citizenship Bill unconstitutional. Now, everyone is in a bind. There is a bit of a legal Catch 22 here: the constitution requires the King to give automatic approval to finance bills and send them back to parliament, but because the Supreme Court has ruled it unconstitutional, he cannot approve it. And then there is the other complication of whether the Citizenship Bill could have been tabled as a finance bill In a state of statelessness in the first place. While lawyers debate this to death, you can bet that the real question of addressing the grievances of millions of Nepalis who cannot get a citizenship certificate because they “look Indian” will be sidelined. The fear of being If the Buddha was alive today, he probably would swamped by a billion Indians living to the south of our open border is so palpable, that politicians of every persuasion have tried to use the citizenship issue to their not be eligible for Nepali citizenship. advantage, while sabotaging any attempt by any party to resolve it and take credit from the tarai vote bank. hulhai Kapar is a non-person. He Indian population invasion. Nobody, but right to have rights. There is ample The Citizenship Bill as tabled in parliament finally sought to defuse a potential is a Nepali national, but not nobody, spared a thought for madhesis like proof from countries in the ethnic crisis by making it easier for genuine Nepali madhesis to get their papers. celigible for the citizenship of this Chulhai. If anything, some condescending neighbourhood of what happens if this There are enough safeguards in it to prevent foreigners from illegally getting country under existing laws of the land. opinion leaders were seen offering right is denied for too long. Citizenship citizenship, and tough penalties for fraud and misrepresentation. If properly Chulhai is just one of the estimated 3 unsolicited advice to madheshis that they is not charity that Kathmandu dispenses implemented, and that indeed is the real sticking point, the bill could stop the present million stateless Nepalis of the tarai will be swamped by immigrants from down at its will and convenience. It’s a right, travesty: foreigners with the right amount of cash can illegally buy citizenship, whose chances of acquiring legitimacy south, ignoring the reality that population and people do things for rights that are while bonafide Nepalis cannot get citizenship whatever they do. have been jeopardised by a recent court pressure from the hills already threatens to not always to the liking of those who The main objection of critics of the bill seems to be that it grants people order. In the considered opinion of the turn people of tarai origin into a minority in take those very rights for granted. citizenship even if their daddies do note have citizenship. This can easily be Supreme Court, the bill intended to their own region. Forget Chulhai, laws governing reworked without hurting the chances of genuine Nepalis to finally get their papers, grant citizenship certificates to people The attempt to drum up a mass- citizenship in Nepal are so inflexible and but that would demand political will and vision—both in short supply among our like Chulhai is against the provisions of hysteria by the likes of Ramesh Nath their implementation so blatantly elected officials. Political parties cannot seem to see beyond the tips of their noses, The Constitution of the Kingdom of Pandey, Daman Nath Dhungana, Bal discriminatory that if Lord Buddha were and are interested only in politicising the citizenship issue for easy pickings. In a Nepal 2047 (1990). Krishna Neupane and Kirti Nidhi Bista to be a commoner in contemporary multi-ethnic country like Nepal, citizenship should not be confused with nationality. For India-locked Nepal, citizenship failed to fire the imagination of the Nepal, he wouldn’t succeed in getting a And as we have seen from our South Asian neighbours, the worst possible thing has always been a contentious issue. The general population. But it caught the citizenship certificate. Being from you can do is mix politics and ethnicity. Don’t even think about touching that powder Kathmandu elite has a deep fear of being attention of the king. He promptly referred Kapilavastu, Buddha would be a madhesi keg. Politicians, back off. overrun by Indians. Laws are stringent, the bill to the Supreme Court. A special for the Nepali establishment, a person of and their implementation even more bench of the court—incidentally, composed Indian origin for the members of intelligen- NOBODY MOVE severe when it comes to granting entirely of the people of hill origin— tsia, and nobody would grant him his true citizenship to those who look or sound deliberated over the bill, and came to the status: a person of tarai origin. Politicians across Asia are getting streetwise. Why go through messy and muddled like Indians. Due to such a deep-seated conclusion that the proposed provision of Contemporary Buddha would constitutional procedures in parliament, when you can make your presence felt paranoia among mostly high-caste hill granting citizenship to a person whose probably speak Awadhi, and the Chief with street demos? Philippine president Arroyo got the ball rolling recently when the dwellers, the issue of granting citizenship father hadn’t acquired a citizenship District Officer’s clerks would give him middle class poured out on to Manila’s flyovers to overthrow Joseph Estrada in a to Nepali nationals of the tarai has been certificate amounted to a contravention of a standard application form to be filled replay of People Power ‘86. Estrada had tried to manipulate senate votes against hanging fire for decades. constitutional provisions. in Nepali. He would wear a dhoti-kurta, his impeachment, but the military switched allegiance to Arroyo and that was that. After the restoration of democracy in People like Chulhai will now have to and have to hire a bhadgaunle or dhaka This week Estrada was arrested for plunder, and on the flyovers history is 1990, almost all major political parties wait indefinitely for an amendment of the topi to be photographed for the repeating itself as a farce as Manila’s poor pour out in support of their Robin Hood played politics and sought votes on the constitution. Some may be forced to citizenship certificate. Someone in the screen hero who is actually a real- promise of resolving the citizenship issue. resort to extra-constitutional means, but CDO office would probably even taunt life crook. But they all backtrack as soon as they no one in Kathmandu is losing sleep over him for his gamchhi and ask him to appear On the streets enter the miasma of it. They are gloating over their success in in the office in labeda-suruwal, black coat of Jakarta, Gus where jingoism and pollution fight for the courts, unmindful of the implications and black shoes. Even after enduring all Dur’s hire-a-mob supremacy at all times of the day, in of their victory will have for the stability this humiliation, if his father hadn’t taken supporters are every season of the year. of the state of Nepal. the citizenship certificate, the Buddha fighting pitched The Nepal Communist Party (UML) Citizenship gives a person the basic would be stateless. battles with set the Dhanapati Commission to work; the The Kathmandu establishment must opposition SANDESH SHRESTHA Nepali Congress formed the Mahantha decide whether it wants a united Nepal protesters who Thakur Commission to examine the issue. based on inclusive nationalism or a want the president Both fizzled out and did nothing to fragmented one based on the impeached for address the madhesi grievances. In patriotism of communal purity. corruption. The the end, the Nepali Congress with This is a decision that can’t be idea in both Manila its majority in parliament took postponed any more and it is and Jakarta is to flex political muscle by showing strength in numbers on the the lead. Initially, the UML ticking. A sadistic section of streets. Here at home, our own comrades from the UML’s left alliance appear to see went along. But the comrades Kathmandu society seems to no reason why they can’t do the same. But they have to keep the momentum of backed out once they sensed be bent on self-destruction. protest up through artificial respiration. They brought parliament to a standstill, they the belligerent mood of the Those who do not listen brought traffic to a standstill, now they want to bring schools to a standstill. champions of hill-centric when the meek speak run Democracy doesn’t stand a chance when the motto is: “Nobody move, or else.” nationalism in Kathmandu. the risk of being blown After a bit of a away by the fury of silence. controversy, the bill was A state that does not Nepali Times is published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd passed on the strength of accept the legitimacy of its Sanchaya Kosh Building, Block A-4th Floor, Pulchowk, Lalitpur Nepali Congress majority in own citizens may lose its Mailing address: GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal Phones: (01) 543333-7 Fax: (01) 521013 the Lower House and was own, and when that time Editor: Kunda Dixit submitted for the royal seal to comes it can’t ask for the Desk editors: Samuel Thomas, Anagha Neelakantan turn the bill into an Act. loyalty of people it considers Editorial: [email protected] Meanwhile, Kathmandu’s High stateless. A point to remember, Marketing, circulation and subscriptions: [email protected] th www.nepalitimes.com Printed at Jagadamba Press (01) 521393 Priests of Patriotism went into perhaps, on Buddha’s 2,545 action, whipping up fears of an birthday.  NATION 4 - 10 MAY 2001 NEPALI TIMES 333 VIEWPOINT by GYAN JUNG THAPA An ostrich in trouble If the men on the frontlines get an impression that they are fighting to preserve a system that is not responsive to their needs and leaders who are

corrupt, then Army deployment will be doomed even before it starts.

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in due time, it alone will not be able what the acronym actually stands for: security and a state of law and order, to handle the insurgency as it exists Integrated Security and Development and internal development should today. —“Plan”, “Package”, “Programme” promote balanced growth by building The issue of a clear chain of and even a “Fund”. The refusal by the viable institutions—political, command for mobilising the army is main opposition party and most left economic, military and social—that valid if the intentions of the military parties to support the government in respond to the needs of the society. leadership are noble. However, if this this issue signals that they were not At the national level, the following is a covert struggle between the consulted during the preparation of points need to be addressed urgently:

OS political leaders, military and the this plan. Such a crucial strategy z The ISDP must mould the internal civilian bureaucracy to wrest more should have been based on a realistic defence and development activities authority, it would be extremely assessment of local conditions, into a unified strategy and must be unfortunate for Nepal’s national resources, and the needs and desires of capable of adjusting to the interest. The successful the people. Whether the activities intensity of insurgent warfare counterinsurgency experience of under the ISDP were tailored to z The ISDPs activities must be Gautemala in the 80s illustrated that achieve specific, constructive goals is coordinated with government the military had to turn to the civilian still vague, but this is an essential agencies, yet not interfere with the bureaucracy and professionals of its aspect for the security forces. normal day-to-day functions of own government, to political and If the army or the police is these agencies. psychological warfare programmes and committed to a campaign that has no z Political, economic, social, been crippled by insurgency reflect the strategies, as a means to defeat the clear aim or a vague one, they are military, psychological, and fact that their police forces, even insurgents and remove them as a likely to face defeat even if resources information affairs offices from the though paramilitary in nature, were political option for the nation. are plentiful, as was convincingly line ministries and concerned unable to cope with the insurgent Without adequate organisation at the proven in Vietnam. If the security agencies should be incorporated in movement in its early stages. When highest level to establish, enforce and forces do not have a clearly defined the national co-ordination council the government first took the decision refine a national campaign plan aim, especially in a counter- to develop policies and operational to deploy only the police to contain embracing both the civilian and insurgency, then the men who are concepts for inclusion in the the threat of the Maoists five years military efforts and programmes, putting their lives on the line are national plan of action. ago, it should have realised that the authority is fragmented. bound to ask what is it that they are Also needed: civilian advisory fate of the government and the nation When this happens, there is not fighting for. When this question committees to help evaluate the may hang in the balance and the sufficient unity of effort to resolve the cannot be answered properly and success of government activities, to outcome may be determined by the myriad of problems endemic in an convincingly, the motivation to fight help gain popular support, to success or failure of early police work. insurgency. Delaying the deployment and take risks vanishes. If the security establish a link to the people and The public declaration by the of the army by seeking political forces, especially the men on the to receive feedback on which to ovenants without swords are public consensus, but he seems to Inspector General of Police that the consensus, or by stating that bringing frontlines, get an impression that they base future operations are needed. mere words and that seems to have run into a wall. The army chief police was not set up to fight out the army out of the barracks is a are fighting to preserve a system that is Whether these theoretical aspects cbe the fate of the much as head of the security sub-committee terrorism, and that the Maoist last resort and it cannot fail, reflects a not responsive to their needs and have been included in the ISDP publicised Integrated Security and has not only achieved tactical surprise, insurgency is beyond the control of the failure to understand the reality. The leaders who are corrupt, then the plans and programmes of the Development Plan (ISDP) of the but also thrown the spanner in the police, calls for urgent action by the genius of generalship is not merely deployment will be doomed even government is unclear. But the government. This response of the wheel just when everyone thought government. Hoping that the recently knowing the principles of strategy, but before it starts. polarisation and confusion government to the astounding victories that the government had finally got its created Armed Police Force will also understanding how to correctly Co-operation, harmony and regarding the ISDP doesn’t bode of the Maoists at Naumule and act together to seriously address this restore public order and confidence judge the situation and apply the collaboration between the military well for now, or for the future.  Rukumkot started with the hasty national dilemma. His declaration would reflect the behaviour of an principles of strategy. Once the and civilian arms of the government is huddles of the ruling party and that the army will be mobilised at the ostrich in trouble. situation has reached the point of necessary because the Maoist crisis is (Gyan Jung Thapa was given culminated with the delegation led by appropriate time and appropriate The need for effective stopgap no return, bringing out the army not a military problem alone. The very premature retirement last year prime minister situation raises the million-dollar measures to check the Maoists may prove to be counter-productive concept of the proposed ISDP is as a Colonel from the Royal briefing the king on ISDP and asking question: who has and/or should have movement from expanding during the and actually hasten the collapse of based on the strategy of simultaneous Nepal Army. He is a graduate for his approval to deploy the army. the legal authority and the required time required to organise and train the the government. internal defence and internal of the US Army Command and Deputy prime minister Ram expertise to decide that appropriate paramilitary force has now become a The much-ballyhooed ISDP was development programmes, and is Staff College, Fort Chandra Poudel, as chairman of the time and situation—the army, or the stark reality. What do we do till then? concocted in haste and is still half- directed towards the populace and Leavenworth, Kansas, from political sub-committee, was on elected government? Even if the paramilitary is raised and baked. Proof is the fact that political insurgents alike. The internal defence which he has a Masters in overdrive trying to garner political and Historically, nations that have trained to become a competent force leaders do not even seem to know aspect should seek to achieve internal military arts and science.)

LETTERS DEVELOPMENT JOURNALISM progressed. I, for one, would trust Rukum, Rolpa, Kalikot, and almost was clear: curse the politicians Daniel Lak is right that foreign aid Daniel Lak to make a good start in type of product needed, feel about her husband leaving a every other district of Nepal. This is and their appointees who have and development are legitimate filling this void and, so, urge him to delivery, like there was for the pregnant wife at home apparently not America Mr. Liden. This struggle ruined the airline. subjects for journalists (Here and write more! army’s helicopter purchase away to pursue his self-fulfillment? of the people, whom you call Moaists Ananta Parajuli there, #40). Development should Simon Mollison procured from the same budget. What about the wife’s needs or the and who you believe are the “true” Bhimsengola be a publicly-owned endeavour Save the Children (UK) ‘A Nepali’ children’s needs? human rights violators of Nepal, and aid issues are major issues Jawalakhel by email I realise that these questions are cannot be compared to the Seattle everywhere in a rapidly globalising distractions in the principal case, protesters. They are people rising up world. It is both sad and surprising BIG GUNS GOVINDA which is to restore the human rights from centuries of oppression, that there is so little independent Here are a few points regarding your With due cognizance to the true that this man deserves. But, living corruption and abuse. Maybe if you journalistic involvement in them. exclusive “More guns” (# 40): violation of human rights that this away from Japan, and being outside experienced what they have from the Everywhere in the world, it z For $10 million, one cannot get poor man from a poor country is of the circle of people actually hands of those in power, you wouldn’t seems, the most common coverage 50,000 new assault rifles—maybe facing in a foreign land (“Govinda” devoted (and at present faced with a insult their movement. of aid issues is obedient and the figure quoted is for the first #39), one thing struck me as different goal: that of getting him Margaret King CORRECTION uncritical. Next—but still a long way consignment? incomplete. With due regard to the free), we can discuss such Kathmandu/Madison, USA The man in the mask being behind—comes cheap swipes at aid z Heckler & Koch of Royal most important story at hand, of the hypothetical scenarios. It just struck carried away by colleagues agencies. We need to move Ordnance, UK, is being miscarriage of justice, of human me that there is not a mention of the INEVITABLE during the UN’s disaster beyond both to a situation where promoted by the same group rights violations, and so forth that wife’s perspective, her involvement “The inevitable enemy” by Shixiong simulation exercise journalists are competent and free that was behind the controversial Kunda Dixit so eloquently describes in this matter. And the flaws of this Ni (#39) was brilliant analysis. But, (Happenings, #40) was actually to raise and analyse critical issues RJ100 jet deal last year for us, the article throws up many man are quietly brushed aside. Colin Powell, the US Secretary of Bart Hoekx of WFP. This is what in the behaviour and practice of z The Rs 3.70 million weapons questions: a man who left his wife “Hari” State says: “China is not an inevitable the real Shree Ram Maharjan of development agencies. Graham repair and maintenance and kids to presumably make their by email enemy in the future.” Does this not WHO looked like as he was Hancock’s “seminal” work is indeed workshop awarded to H&K is like lifestyle better is engaged in mean that right now China is carried away with pretend old and partly out of date now. But putting the cart before the horse soliciting (on multiple occasions) a BARBARA ADAMS regarded as enemy whether it is wounds. even at the time it seemed like a z Weapons procurements needs to prostitute. What does his wife think I was outraged at Robert Liden’s inevitable or not? missed opportunity to really get to determine whether a weapon is about that? Does she know? Does letter (#39) about Barbara Adams’ Sudan Shrestha The box showing delayed flight the heart of the crucial issues that it “battle-proven” and unfortunately she await him with equal eagerness? column. The words he used, schedules of Royal Nepal at least raised. Since its the H&K G36 is not Does her forgiveness involve her “politically correct” and “left-wing RNAC Airlines in “Pull up, pull up..” publication, informed development z There has been no tender regard for her children? Would she nonsense” have absolutely no Thanks to Prashanta Aryal for his well- (#40) should have been credited and aid journalism has virtually notice on the procurement of be willing to forgive her husband if bearing on the people who are researched, detailed report on RNAC to Nepal Travel Trade Reporter. disappeared and has certainly not weapons stipulating quantities, they had no children? How did she fighting for basic human rights in (Pull up, pull up...#40) The message Ed. 444 NATION 4 - 10 MAY 2001 NEPALI TIMES

difficult. sympathiser. One-and-a-half years Traditionally, thousands of ago he came to Kathmandu and People moved by peoples’ war young men from the mid-western now works as a porter or a hill districts in the Maoist heartland construction worker, whatever is used to migrate to India, “Kalapar” available. “Before my family moved in local slang. Impoverished and to Kathmandu, we could sustain neglected by Kathmandu for ourselves, at least as far as food centuries, they could never grow went,” he told us. In Kathmandu, enough food to feed their families his family’s total wages are not so they earned extra cash to buy enough for six people. He says food by working as seasonal there is hardly anyone left in his labourers in India. But since the village in Rolpa. fighting began five years ago, the “The government’s hardline exodus of youth into India has approach to the insurgency is become even greater. And those responsible for accelerating the who migrated earlier are wary of displacement. The harder the coming back home, families from government comes down on the the area told us. Maoists and their supporters, the In Rukum, Rolpa, Salyan, faster the insurgents accelerate Jajarkot and Kalikot there are very their defence,” says MP Shah. few able-bodied young men left, According to him, Jajarkot and pressure is mounting on young district saw the most people women to join the Maoist militia, displaced after the police which is now one-fifth female. launched its brutal Kilo-Sierra “Traditionally, youth who Two operation three years ago. went away to work would come In August 1999, Shah was home after the fallow season compelled to provide food and ended, but these days their stints shelter to about 150 of his in India are markedly longer. constituents for two months Families who fled the insurgency from Sihdhupalchok live and work in this brick kiln in Patan. Some have not returned for more when they refused to go home MIN BAJRACHARYA than a year,” says Govinda for fear of being victimised by Kathmandu Valley is turning into a refugee camp for people fleeing both the Bikram Shah, a parliamentarian the police. Maoists and the police from insurgency-affected areas. from Jajarkot. The Nepal Labour He fears that another exodus

Force Survey 1998/99 also will be triggered when the ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ noticed this trend—it counted government finally implements ○○○○○○○○○○ HEMLATA○○○○○ RAI by her sister’s family, but she knows Now, Kathmandu is also feeling a seeds worth Rs 20 million, it is more than 500,000 people absent the proposed Integrated Security adan Prasad Giri of she cannot depend on her forever. She pressure of the new arrivals. And to now negligible. Professionals like from their homesteads in the six and Development Plan (ISDP) Bhote Namgal village has already sent her three-year-old meet the rush, landlords have been lawyers and teachers find districts worst affected by the and the Maoists go on the m in Sindhupalchok was daughter back to Sindhupalchok to be adding floors and rooms to their themselves running tea shops or insurgency. offensive again. If all goes killed last year by Maoists to cared for by her maternal grand- houses in a frenzy of building not even working as day labourers in As illiterate and semi-literate according to plan, the ISDP will teach the villagers a lesson. Once mother. “My seventh-grader will also seen in the last six years. The dry district headquarters. Students youths swarm to nearby towns or be taken to Rukum, Rolpa, a Maoist supporter, Giri had got migrate to Kathmandu as soon as her season is usually slack for the real are forced to drop out and look across the border for manual Jajarkot, Salyan, Gorkha, disillusioned by the violence and exams are over. There is too much estate and construction businesses in for jobs to support their families. labour, young educated and Pyuthan and Kalikot districts. shifted his allegiance to the pressure on the young to join the Kathmandu, but brick kilns this year And all those who move away, do skilled people are trying their When that happens, it might Nepali Congress. And he had Maoist militia,” says Goma. did not experience the slowdown in so with very little—they find no luck in bigger places. “More and well be people like Shah—MPs, dared to publicly criticise the There are thousands upon sales they are used to. Locally takers for their property. more of my constituents have political activists, their support- Maoists for killing villagers who thousands with stories like Goma— manufactured bricks that normally Everyone agrees that the moved away from their homes ers and families—who find did not agree with them. people caught in the crossfire sell for Rs 1,700 per thousand were People’s War has resulted in a fearing clashes between the themselves on the run. Feeling threatened, Giri’s between the Maoists and the Police going for as much as Rs 2,800 this significant displacement of Maoists and the police. Some Ruling party parliamentarian widow, 22-year-old Goma, left who have fled both for the security winter. And it is getting increasingly individuals and families, but come to Kathmandu and expect me Bharat Bahadur Basnet, elected Bhote Namgal for Kathmandu to of Kathmandu. They are first difficult for displaced families with nobody is actually keeping to help them find a job. Others ask from Sindhupalchok and find a job to support her two compelled to migrate to the safety little savings and no income to rent count. Kapil Shrestha, a member me to use my influence to speed up president of the Nepali Congress children, one born four months of district headquarters, the towns rooms in the Valley. of the National Human Rights procedure to issue passports so they District Committee says that 25 after his father’s murder. In nearest their homes, and eventually Back in the villages, the impact Commission, estimates that can go to the Gulf,” says percent of party workers from his Kathmandu, she lives with her to the capital. Towns like of the insurgency on the economy of about 5,000 families from the parliamentarian Tirtha Gautam from district are already displaced, and sister’s family in a cramped , Ghorahi, Lamahi, the affected areas and the lives of ten worst affected districts have Rukum, whose husband was killed by that the rest are agonising over rented room. Her brother-in-law Surkhet also host a transient individuals is apparent. In the left their homes to find safety the Maoists. what to do. All political parties has now also fled his ancestral population of displaced and absence of young men, the entire elsewhere. But he cautions that Madan Bahadur Magar of agree that their party structure home in Sindhupalchok after he bereaved families. Some district burden of agriculture has been counting families who are Ghartigaun, Rolpa, was a high has been weakened due to the was identified an “enemy of the headquarters in Rukum, Rolpa, and shifted onto women, children and displaced because they support school student before he was insurgency and that this will revolution” by the Maoists. For other mid-western districts are the aged. Rolpa and Rukum used to the Maoists and fear being arrested and tortured by the police, seriously affect their prospects in the moment, Goma is supported already bursting at the seams. earlier produce and export vegetable victimised by police is very who suspected he was a Maoist the upcoming local elections. 

HERE AND THERE by DANIEL LAK Serendipitous lessons COLOMBO: Can a landlocked mountain kingdom learn anything from a Sri Lanka’s formerly virulent Maoists have renounced violence and become democratic socialist island republic? I hope so, for there are a few glimmers

of silver in the clouds over Sri Lanka that could reflect hope as far north as kingmakers in parliament. A lesson for our own comrades? ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Nepal. Of course, this place has been through orgies of unimaginable ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ violence that have scarred the national psyche and left hardly a family fury and more than a touch of cynical awareness that a bogeyman was just Eventually the government took a page from Nepali history and staged a untouched. A high literacy rate, the ever-improving status of women, and what the nation needed to unite, and forget the follies of politics. Tens of local version of the Kot massacre, wiping out almost all the JVP enthusiastic if frequently subverted democracy, all pale in the face of fear of thousands died, mostly JVP supporters. But the movement remained and it leadership at a stroke. the next car bomb in the capital, of the sound of slowly grew in strength and determination. So where are the JVP now? A bloodstained blot on the history books? the army on the march towards a northern village. When Tamils and Sinhalese turned on each Plotting a comeback in the jungles? In exile, licking their many wounds? No, But back to hope. Perhaps we could gather other with brutal ferocity in the 1983 ethnic the Peoples’ Liberation Front is an enthusiastic player in Sri Lankan Nepal’s pessimists and doomsayers together and riots, the JVP discovered crude communal democracy and the change of course has paid off. The party holds the fly them south for a while. A week on the beaches nationalism and became one of the most balance of power in three of five powerful provincial councils, and is a and in the cosmopolitan precincts of Colombo chauvinist voices on the island. It was member of a united opposition alliance in the national parliament. It has would do them a world of good. Especially once eventually banned in a paroxysm of paranoia renounced violence and committed itself to the helping the poor and they meet the men and women of the Peoples’ by the government of the day, another unemployed through job creation schemes, encouraging private investment Liberation Front, known by their Sinhalese catalyst to its growing militancy. and setting up government clinics to develop Sri Lankan talent. The initials, the JVP. This was an acronym that once Four years later began the dreadful secret 30th anniversary of the 1971 uprising was recently marked with a cultural stood for terror, unspeakable atrocities, piles of war that pitted Sinhala against Sinhala, show and, wait for it: a trade fair. bodies smouldering by the roadside at dawn. It divided families, and turned the southern Of course, there’s another side to this. The JVP has tasted power and its also stood for the ideas of Marx, Engels and Lenin countryside into a morass of blood and fear. perks. Accusations of corruption are starting to emerge. Former Maoist MPs with a leadership drawn from the middle class, Sixty thousand died, many horribly tortured now import duty free vehicles (even Pajeros!). Disgruntled purists who university-educated Sinhala majority, and a or maimed by JVP and government death escaped the death squads still long to return to the jungle. And it’s doubtful support base from the vast pool of unemployed squads. A ham-handed attempt by the that the JVP can even be more than a king maker in Sri Lanka’s two and downtrodden members of the same ethnic National Security Minister to negotiate a party system. But, I submit, this is a success story with obvious parallels community. truce collapsed when it emerged that his for Nepal. Now, all aboard the flight for Colombo leaving from gate The JVP first tried to fight its way to power in JVP founder Rohana Wijayaweera interlocutor was not from the JVP but a number two. Perhaps we’ll stop off in western Nepal and take on a few 1971. The government turned on the leftists with perverse hoaxer. The killing continued. more passengers... NATION 4 - 10 MAY 2001 NEPALI TIMES 555 KIRAN PANDEY

More than a climber

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Maoists target It is one of life’s ironies. Babu Chiri fell to his death on the mountain he had summitted ten times while he was out taking pictures at Camp Two. Babu fell down a crevasse last Sunday. His funeral was held in private schools Swayambhu on Thursday. An unassuming man, Babu Maoist threats to private schools have was much more than a Sherpa in hardened the position of the moderate left the quest for records. He climbed with a purpose—the funds raised as well, even though party cadre send their from his exploits and his growing

own children to private schools. international fame were geared ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○ towards building schools in his native village of Taksendu in Solukhumbu. The 35-year-old

HEMLATA○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ RAI feel that schools need a his is crisis time for the education thorough revamp. father of six daughters always regretted not having had the sector as students groups aligned Successive governments have been chance to go to school. tto various communist factions try making changes, and new models have Babu, who began his career as a 13 year-old porter, was to outdo each other in their hardline been tried. But the standard of cash- inspired by French climber Mark Batard’s attempt to spend stance towards private schools. As a starved government schools continues eight hours on Everest in 1990. Babu’s own attempt nine taste of things to come, they will to deteriorate, while expensive years later left the world gasping and will hold its own in force all schools to close for a private schools are charging mountaineering history for some time. Last year Babu set week—14-21 May. premium rates by promising quality the world record for the fastest climb of Everest. Babu's The demands are a ban on singing that is not always there. bulky appearance often belied his immense stamina and the national anthem that praises the Even the government admits that endurance. He said last year that his proudest moment was monarchy, a ban on teaching Sanskrit, the education sector is in crisis. The the 21 hours he spent on top of the world. slashing private school fees by half, reason it says is decades of

stopping “western” influences mismanagement and ad hoc Nepali skin ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ forthwith, and ultimately forcing the planning. But the students want the ○○○○ nationalisation of private schools. government to set things right Nepalis generally don’t sunbathe, and we don’t have any This frontal attack on the within a month, or else. beaches. But dermatologists have warned that Nepalis are schooling system is a part of a Maoist The closure of missionary-run not immune to a variety of skin ailments, including skin strategy to push what it considers schools, pressure on existing private cancer. According to a pilot study on skin disease, the populist reform and is spearheaded by schools to reduce fees, and reconstruc- number of Nepalis suffering from skin-related afflictions is a students’ union at the forefront of tion of the schooling system to on the rise. Skin diseases account for 20 percent of all the agitation. Unions backed by the accommodate children from poor diseases in Nepal, and 12 to 18 percent of these afflict UML and ML have been forced to families, is already taking its toll on children. Dermatologists warn against complacence and harden their positions in response to private schools in Kathmandu. Bhoj advise that 40 percent of skin diseases can be avoided if we the Maoists’ radical stance. Bahadur Shah of the Private and are more careful about protecting ourselves from direct However, some analysts say the Boarding School Organisation of sunlight. Allergy, shingles, scabies, ringworm, white leprosy agitation could prove counter- Nepal (PABSON) says that member and pimples are common diseases caused by diet, living productive since the closure of schools schools are already reporting a fall in conditions, a weak immune system, and environmental will affect a wide swath of Nepal’s enrolment. Only 20 percent of the pollution. Twelve people die from skin-related diseases middle class, including supporters of students of PABSON member schools every year at Kathmandu’s Teaching Hospital. The study all shades of communists. The move have applied for readmission, he says. indicates that leprosy and venereal diseases account for to slash fees will in all likelihood Others are awaiting a confirmation one percent of the skin diseases prevalent in the country, mostly benefit richer families who are that the Maoists’ call would not affect and that 12 percent of cancer patients suffer from skin the only ones who can afford to their children’s education.  cancer. And there is only one dermatologist for every send their children to private 600,000 people. schools in the first place. Senior

Maoist leader Sitting on the highway ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ himself went to a missionary-run ○○○○ school in Gorkha, a district where Approximately 60,000 people were left foodless, waterless many schools have now been shut and charpi-less for 17 hours last week when landslides at down due to Maoist threats. Krishnabhir and a couple of other places along the Prithvi St Mary’s School in Gorkha Highway brought traffic to a and Notre Dame Higher Secondary standstill. And of course it School in Bandipur have both was not happening for the announced that they are shutting first time: Krishnabhir made down from the coming academic headlines last year when year. Ironically, these two schools traffic was disrupted for about are not-for-profit even though they two weeks. are private, and they have shown Eyewitnesses say about more commitment to quality 25 km of road between education and motivation than Narayanghat and Mugling, most other commercially-run Pokhara and Mugling, and private schools. between Mugling and “I would like to believe that the Kathmandu was jammed with Maoists are serious about improving vehicles. education in this country, but by A Nepali Times calculation lumping everyone together, and arrived at 110 buses/trucks making no distinction between those per km (approximately 30 ft/bus or truck) resulting in approxi- for whom schooling is a business and mately 3,000 vehicles, some double or triple parked along for whom it is a commitment, they hyatt the highway and at Mugling. Now if half those vehicles were have proven that this is just a slogan buses, carrying 40 passengers each, then that makes for them,” says one educationist in 60,000 people. Sitting on the highway, with no facilities and Kathmandu. The Maoists have so far tempers fraying. only sent threatening letters to the

two schools, and they haven’t said Now what? ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

what aspect of the instruction in the ○○○○ schools they find harmful. When The Supreme Court has given its verdict. It is of the opinion asked, Maoist supporters give the that the controversial Citizenship Bill sent to the Palace for party line on “western cultural royal approval violates provisions of the constitution. The imperialism”. Says Devendra Parajuli proposed Bill, on which the king sought the opinion of the of the Maoist-affiliated student union: court, maintains that a person can obtain Nepali citizenship “The closure of missionary-run through descent even though if his or her father is not a schools is only the first step towards Nepali citizen. The constitution, however, categorically states our ultimate goal of janabadi that only a person whose father is a citizen of Nepal at the shikchha (people-oriented time of the person’s birth is eligible for citizenship by education) in all schools.” descent. After meeting some resistance in the Upper House To be sure, many private schools and from other parties in Parliament, the ruling Nepali are run like businesses, the quality of Congress, with a majority in the house, pushed the Bill instruction is questionable, fees are through as a Finance Bill. Complicating this whole situation many times more than government is the fact that a Finance Bill cannot be returned to schools and there is an emphasis on Parliament and the king is required by the constitution to English. Educationists, teachers, approve it. parents, and even students themselves, 6 6666

d HIMAL SOUTH ASIAN / RUPERT STEINER enters yourmindinfullmilitary and visualisethepersonalitywho “supreme commander”threetimes still havedoubts,repeatthewords clearly explainwhothebossis?Ifyou ISDP. Doesn’tthissequenceofevents mobilising thearmyaspartof for anationalconsensusbefore later, thearmychiefrenewedhiscall things ontheMaoistfront.Afewdays Development Plan(ISDP)tocalm implement anIntegratedSecurityand meeting amicablyagreedto Darbar. Wewerenotifiedthatthe an emergencymeetingatNarayanhity police chiefs,andtopbureaucratsheld key cabinetcolleagues,thearmyand the primeminister,accompaniedby was vestedinthepeopleadecadeago, sticking tohisguns. ever since,butthegeneralis a two-to-onemajorityintheNSC the NSC.Thegovernmenthashad to dilutethechiefsaab’sdominancein him thedefenceportfolioinaneffort about thebudgetdeficitandhanded finance ministertostopworrying So theprimeministerorderedhis supposed totakeordersfromwhom. they stillcouldn’tfigureoutwhowas National SecurityCouncil(NSC)and with thepradhansenapatiin pradhan mantrifoundhimselfsparring controls thearmy.Formonths, we haveputintofindoutwho obvious. Lookatalltheneedlesseffort wasting timetryingtodiscoverthe on allfronts?(#40)Ithinkweare particular featureofpersonalliberty Nepalis ingeneralareassertingthis We need to remember that the Buddha was For thefirsttimesincesovereignty BUDDHA JAYANTI SOMEWHERE INNEPAL apparent insubordinationwhen of criticismthearmychief’s o wereallyneedthisexplosion radical and a reformer. PM, C-in-C and HM missions can’tbecomparedtohigh- unauthorised traders.Suchlow-risk enough toscarethewitsoutof checkpoints, thearmy’spresenceis perpetual redalert.Atthecustoms danger zonesofDunaiorDailekhon different fromhavingtodeployinthe and gettingpaidindollarsisquite arms forlargelydecorativepurposes wearing ablueberet,carryinglight Hezbollah andtheIsraeliArmy ratio wouldbe.Standingbetweenthe calculating whattheinput-output have donetheirriskanalysesand foreign bufferzonesonlyafterthey soldiers gotolocalborderpostsand forests. Thecomparisonisunfair.Our shying awayfromtherebel-held on customscheckpointpatrolsbut peacekeeping operationsabroadand for salivatingtogoonUnitedNations are takingtherap.Theyslammed bullet canhopetoworktogether. just aboutasfartheballotand charging full-speedahead.Butthat’s best waytoroutyourrivaland operate thesamestrategy:plotting political andthemartialclasses your politics.Atacertainlevel,the for lettingyourpersonalfeelingsguide But timeslikethesearenotpropitious as nothingshortofapersonalfailure. tame thethirdRNAmusthavecome Academy, thisapparentinabilityto officio chancelloroftheRoyalNepal his fourstintsinofficeandwhoisex- Royal NepalAirlinesduringeachof developed aspecialrelationshipwith Technically speaking. of command,youcan’tblamethem. minister fortryingtobreaktheirchain regalia. Ifthegeneralsblameprime To behonest,ourmeninuniform For aprimeministerwhohas peace.) Thegeneralsknowthatthe to thepeopletheyrepresentandtalk affected districtsarewillingtogoback many leaderselectedfromMaoist- for winningelections.(Iwonderhow leaders towhomfirearmsarejusttools on ambiguousordersgivenbycivilian soldiers tofighttheshadowyirregulars craggy battlefield.Youcan’texpect many surprisesassocketbombs. adversary whosearsenalconsistsofas certainly requiretradingfirewithan risk operationsthatwouldalmost answer is clear: neither. out who is supposed to take The orders pradhan from mantri whom. and The the pradhan senapati can’t figure ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ SUBHAS RAI The Maoistcountrysideisa a 2,545 years 2,545 years r practising severeausterityforsixyears, most widelyunderstood.After basis ofBuddhistphilosophyasitis renunciation, really—thatformedthe unconventional act—another a humbleseekerofspiritualfortunes. pleasure andpompwentforthas turned hisbackonaprincelylifeof the SakyanobleborninLumbini from earthlysuffering.Andso,at29, a glimpseofpathleadingtofreedom of humans,butthefourthofferedhim into sorrowanddespairaboutthefate sadhu—the firstthreeplungedhim man, asickcorpse,and palace inKapilavastu—withanold the gatesofhisfatherSuddodhan’s Siddhartha’s FourMeetingsoutside renounce hisprivilegedbirthright.Of known, stepinthisdirectionwasto traditions ofhistimes. reforming thecustomsand constantly challengingand the mostunconventionalmanner, throughout hislonglife,behavedin Gautama wasaradicalwho, but thatiswhathewas.Siddhartha RAJENDRA S.KHADKA supposed toprotectthepolice,build specifics. Arethesoldiersjust oppose ordon’tunderstand. members ofparliamenteither development thathalfour promises ofintegratedsecurityand focused clustersofwarriorson foot soldierstofightideologically sight. Youcan’texpectflustered the floweringladsandlassesoutof flag marchwouldbeenoughtokeep beyond thatphasewhereanarmy Maoist insurgencyhasbloomed ○○○○ It wasSiddhartha’ssecond His first,andmorecommonly All thegeneralswantaresome mention ofGautamaBuddha, word thatspringstomindatthe evolutionary maynotbethe ○○○○○○○○○○○○ search ofyourselves?”Whenone to goinsearchofwomenor “Which isbetterforyou,youngmen, group ofyoungmenlookingforgirls: unprofitable”. Heonceremarkedtoa torture, bothbeing“ignobleand and theotherofpursuitphysical that ofindulgenceinsensualpleasures he explainedit,avoidstwoextremes: path tonirvana.TheMiddleWay,as had termedhisrealisation,wasthe conviction thattheMiddleWay,ashe Siddhartha remainedfirminhis had acceptednourishment.But “disillusioned andshocked”thathe immediately leavebecausetheywere who hadbeenhisadmirers only tohavefiveBrahmanascetics from ayoungvillagegirlcalledSujata, enlightenment? not therebeanalternativewayto wisdom.” Andhewondered:Might goal ofhumanstriving,trueAryan asceticism Ididnotreachthehighest hands... Butevenwiththisextreme hair, rottedattheroots,fellinmy backbone… whenIrubbedmylimbs, touched mybelly,Iencountered he saidlaterofthistime:“WhenI His self-starvationwassoextremethat enlightenment byabusinghisbody. he decidedwasnotgoingtofind concerns ofoursoldiers.They,too, be allowedtoobscurethegenuine country’s democraticfuturemustnot to liveinthecountry. his party’sloyaltyandfreedom overdue bills.Heendeduplosing them afreehandincollectinglong water andpowercompanygave out thetroopstomanagestate vetted loyalist.Sharifthencalled and replacedhimwithanofficially that containedpoliticalovertones an armychiefforgivingaspeech Pakistan’s NawazSharif.Hefired democratic evolution.Lookat framework couldposearisktoour within thecurrentconstitutional Allowing thearmygreaterlegroom issues involvedonbothsides. the people’srepresentatives? orders—expect basiccandourfrom civil societyaboutwhogivesthe institutionally moresensitivethan Can’t thearmy—whichis districts affectedbytheinsurgency? mandated stateofemergencyin declaring aconstitutionally holding backthegovernmentfrom army oncombatduty,whatis drastic solutionascallingoutthe the Maoistproblemdemandssucha own search-and-destroymissions?If operations tobefollowedbytheir expected toconductjoint of securitytothevillagers?Arethey roads andbridgesprovideasense Siddhartha thenacceptedfood That said,ourobsessionwiththe To besure,therearecomplex ○○○○○○○○○ 4 -10MAY 2001 not havebeeneagertoacceptwomen only lastfivehundredyears.Hemay the dharmaofMiddleWaywould now thatwomencouldbecomenuns, would’ve lastedathousandyears,but own orderofnuns,thedharma hadn’t beenallowedtofoundtheir faithful attendant,thatifwomen have saidtoAnanda,hiscousinand into hissangha.Heissupposedto first hewasreluctanttoallowwomen from hisegalitarianism,though—at his victims’fingers. Angulimala forwearingagarlandof notorious ex-robberknownas untouchables, slaves,andevena courtesans, aristocrats,merchants, His disciplesincludedkings, caste, occupationandsocialstatus. the trappingsthatarisefrombirth, completely andabsolutelyignoredall worthy ofemulation.TheBuddha urgently relevanttoustoday,and Buddha. Andthesearetheacts gained enlightenmentandbecamea radical actionstookplaceafterhe last stateas“theendofsorrow”. and nirvana.”Andhedescribedthis insight, tranquillity,enlightenment Buddha said,onegains“clearvision, adheres totheMiddleWay, partyless—lines? fervour acrossparty—and have beencelebratingwithequal the veryfewnationaleventswe an imperialprimeminister—oneof 1951 revolution—therestrainingof undo themainachievementof under thecontrolofSinghaDarbar wouldn’t puttingthemilitaryback historical validity.Afterall, question does,however,retainits ask-don’t-tell compromise.The blew itbigtimethroughtheirdon’t- their chancetosettlethematterand architects oftheconstitutionhad question adecadetoolate.The Shouldn’t itbe?We’reaskingthat government’s control?Certainlynot. question. Isthearmyunder historic people’smovement. to preservetheachievementsof not jumpthegunhereinourardour asked toputinharm’sway.Solet’s home turfwiththeboysheisbeing entitled tosomeman-to-mantalkon constitution, eventhearmychiefis free-speech provisionsofthe was hisco-panelist.Underthe Editors wherethedefenceminister by theNepaliSocietyofNewspaper face-the-nation programmeorganised not asifheexpressedhisfeelingsata all-military audienceatShivapuri?It’s consensus inanaddresstoalmost grave matterthanseekinganall-party commander-in-chief beonsucha The Hague. International WarCrimesTribunalin fighting extraditionproceedingstothe to besuretheydon’tfindthemselves More importantly,oursoldierswant kick aroundattheirconvenience. the rulingandoppositionpartiescan want theforcetobecomeafootball what theyalsomeanisthatdon’t their Maoists-are-Nepalis-toochants, serving andretiredgeneralscontinue keep upwithcurrentaffairs.When There isonecuriousdeviation But SiddharthaGautam’smost This bringsusbacktotheoriginal How muchmorecivilcanthe by PUSKAR BHUSAL NEPALI TIMES BUDDHA JAYANTI 4 - 10 MAY 2001 NEPALI TIMES 777

later... ○○○○○○○ into the order, but the Buddha did RAMYATA○○○○○○○○○ LIMBU admit to Ananda that women are in ome 7 May, thousands of every way “capable of realising Buddhists will have cause nirvana.” And what do we have today? cto celebrate. After years of Self-proclaimed leaders, discourse and delay, conservation organisations and even national laws work on the birth site of the that consider women less than a Buddha is slated to begin this man, even less than human, and Buddha Jayanti. believe that virtuous women are “We still have to get the final those hidden at home, illiterate, excavation report from the pregnant, slaving in the kitchen, Japanese archaeologist. It is bundled in voluminous clothes. behind schedule, but we hope to In the caste- and class-conscious, start work as soon as possible. Brahmin-dominated society of the People are running out of sixth century BCE, the Buddha patience,” says Omkar Prasad treated the courtesan and the king Gauchan, vice chairman of the with equal civility. Of many examples, Lumbini Development Trust, the two stand out: Nepali caretaker organisation. In Vaishali, the Buddha received a After the Mayadevi Temple dinner invitation from a famous Renovation Project, started by courtesan, Ambapalika, which he the Japanese Buddhist Federation accepted. Later, the city’s nobles also (JBF) and the Lumbini invited him to dine with them. He Development Trust (LDT), declined, owing to his previous metamorphosed into the Plans are afoot to restore and, indeed, transform the birthplace of the Buddha engagement. The second instance is Mayadevi Temple Restoration into a place for worship, research, creativity and dwelling.

exceedingly poignant, since it is Project in 1992, the sacred site ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ speculated that it probably hastened has been under siege. First by an ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ the Buddha’s death. At this time he exercise to rein in the wayward foundation stone of the reconstruc- earlier, one by Nepal’s Institute of nativity site. “The LDT supplies the allowing for future excavations. was over 80 years old and in poor roots of the pipal tree standing tion of the sacred site, a complete Engineering and three by Japanese plots, they design their own Such a structure would keep the health. He was aware that his near the temple and later by no-no in conservation efforts. architect Kumagai on the basis that building,” says Gauchan who feels site as natural and untouched as “parinirvana” was close at hand, and archaeologists excavating the They were even more taken the construction of a short-term this is an expression of the diverse possible, as envisioned by Professor was travelling north to Kapilavastu, to temple. Since then, the nativity aback when in April this year he temple (with an estimated lifespan of aspects of Buddhism. Nepal’s own Kenzo Tenge, the man who drafted die among his Sakya clan. Near statue in black stone, showing summoned members of the 100 years) will result in significant plot is lost in the shadow of the the original Lumbini Master Plan in Kushinara, he was invited to dinner by Mayadevi giving birth to young UNESCO international technical long term damage to the fragile site. Chinese and Korean temples. 1978, funded by the UNDP. an untouchable blacksmith called Gautama, which earlier stood in meeting for conservation and None of the designs met the criteria in Those who want Lumbini to Tange’s plan proposes to transform Cunda. There is some dispute about the sanctum sanctorum of the presentation of the archaeological place for the project, as they utilised remain a spiritual legacy to the three square miles of paddy land whether Cunda served pork or temple, has been moved to a site of Mayadevi temple to his steel, concrete and other materials whole world—and not be the into “a sculpted landscape to make bamboo shoots for dinner. What is nearby shed while antiquities residence and presented a deemed inauthentic. Also, they all stomping ground for a few sects the teachings of Lord Buddha irrefutable is that the Buddha ate uncovered by the excavation conceptual design he had asked a propose air conditioning to stabilise with money and access— are closely accessible to all humanity” and is whatever he was offered. All accounts (which go back to the Maurya, local architectural concern to the environment of the encased watching the garden to ensure that divided into three linear zones on a agree that soon after the Venerable Sunga, Kushan and Gupta prepare without prior notice. A archaeological remains. Such a system nothing inappropriate comes up. north-south access. One suffered from stomach trouble periods) are kept in another stunned expert politely pointed out was required by all four designs as Last month’s UNESCO interna- The first, the most northerly, is and, given his age and illness, soon shelter to which the JBF, the that the Sacred Garden had been otherwise the exposed brick walls, the tional technical meeting appears to to be a residential village, cultural entered that state which he himself LDT and Nepal’s Department of declared an international heritage nativity statue and the marker stone have nudged things in the right centre and accommodation for had described as “the end of sorrow.” Archeology have access. Visitors site in 1997 and did not only belong would be subject to temperature and direction. Nepali and international visitors and tourists. The second, or There are countless examples of have not been able to see any of to Nepal. “The model did not keep in humidity extremes. “Air experts agreed on a conceptual monastic zone, is divided into 41 the Buddha’s acts of compassion, these for close to a decade and mind several conservation aspects conditioning, however, would be design for a golden pavilion within plots for places of worship and it tenderness, generosity, wit, and conservation experts are con- strongly recommended by a extremely expensive. Then there’s the Sacred Garden of the Buddha’s possesses a library, a museum and even anger. Of course, over the cerned that the metal sheet and UNESCO monitoring mission to the question of inadequate and birthplace. “We have agreed as a an international research centre centuries, the stories and anecdotes scaffolding shelter may, under Lumbini last April,” says an architect irregular power supply,” says a concept to a timber framed on Buddhism. have been embellished, if not certain climatic conditions, pose a who was present at the meeting. UNESCO official. structure that will support a gold- The final zone is the sacred fabricated, by his followers to make danger to the archaeological The mission recommends that Observers point out that no plated metal roof, but the technical garden—the focus of much him look even better than he remains and visitors. draft conceptual designs for the human blueprint, however grand or details and design have to still be international and local interests. already was. But like many truly A devout Buddhist, Gauchan Mayadevi Temple keep in mind sublime, can ever do justice to sorted out,” says architect Protected by a circular levee with spiritual beings, Siddhartha Gautam believes the statue has been kept elements of non-intrusion, Lumbini and what it means to Sudarshan Raj Tiwari. The the Ashokan Pillar and Mayadevi discovered for himself a unique path away from the public too long and reversibility, shelter, visibility, focus, Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. structure will protect the statue and temple in the centre, the LDT in that he asserted would lighten the that it is time to begin access, worship, authentic material Already there is concern that the marker stone, and the former 1988 stated that the Sacred Garden sorrows and sufferings of his fellow reconstruction of the temple. This and integration with Kenzo Tange’s Lumbini is giving way to tacky will be put back in its original place. “to be tranquil and undisturbed, the human beings. For forty years, he is a far cry from the indifferent 1978 Master Plan of Lumbini—to commercialism, encouraged by the A light wood platform will be built beauty of its plant life restored to tirelessly preached this alternative path attitude of Kathmandu-based leave the site as natural and easy availability of East Asian hard around them so that it will be create a reverent atmosphere in to enlightenment, the Middle Way. politicians and bureaucrats. At untouched as possible. What currency and competition between accessible and visible to devotees. which to experience Buddha’s Today in Nepal— “the land of the World Buddhist Summit in Koirala displayed, says the architect, different sects and nationalities. The 15 brick chambers in the area universal message.” The current Buddha’s birth”, as we are reminded 1998, archaeologists and was “more suited to Disney World Thai Temples, Burmese pagodas will be evened out and protected by conceptual design would make ad nauseum—it is sad to note that conservationists were aghast when or Sentosa Island.” and Tibetan monasteries, on which three layers of old bricks excavated matters simpler, less time untouchability, oppression, deceit, Prime Minister Koirala poured The mission also rejected four tens of millions have been spent, vie from the site, making clear where consuming and more cost effective. corruption, discrimination and other concrete while laying the conceptual designs submitted for attention in an area near the the original structure was and “People complain about things social evils are rampant. The moving slowly,” says Gauchan. “But courageous Buddha dined with sometimes they forget the enormity courtesans and outcasts, while our and ambition of Tange’s plan. Nepal leaders carry out nefarious deeds under cannot implement it alone.” cover of darkness. A multi-volume report was The Buddha promised no recently completed by the JICA on miracles, no divine intervention that the infrastructure development would make us better people, but project of Lumbini. The report cites declared that with our own individual lack of resources and a lack of effort, we too, just like him, could reciprocal commitment as reasons achieve “the end of sorrow.” It won’t why Tange’s Master Plan has been do for us to just hope our pillars of restricted to paper for the past 18 community learn some lessons this years. Says a UNESCO official: Buddha Jayanti. As individuals, we all “Money is no bar. There are so need to. We need to realise that the many Buddhist and non Buddhist change we hope for can only come organisations, including the from within us. The Dhammapada Japanese Buddhist Federation, says: “The perfume of flowers goes not UNDP, ADB, who are interested in against the wind... but the perfume of developing Lumbini. More virtue travels against the wind and Kenzo Tenge’s Lumbini Master Plan, with the tourism zone on the left, the monastic zone in the centre and the circular sacred garden on the right. important is political will and an reaches unto the ends of the world.” improved and efficient LDT.” 888 NEPALI ECONOMY 4 - 10 MAY 2001 NEPALI TIMES BIZ NEWS ECONOMIC SENSE by ARTHA BEED

Overseas exports slow

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Carpet exports were down by about eight percent in mid-March from Rs 6.31 billion to Rs 5.79 billion. Exporters say inferior quality exports from India, sold in Western markets under an ‘Indo- Tea time Nepal’ label, and poor government support to the industry are reasons for the downslide. The export of readymade garments may also be beginning to plateau—exports grew by just 1.4 percent to Rs 9.30 billion, according to the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB). Producers blame the This could be a great time for tea in Nepal—unless the opening up of the American market to products from African countries. Garment exports are expected to dip further after the World Trade Organisation trading regime comes into effect. industry goes the way of carpets and pashmina. ast week’s Tea Meet and Expo labour laws to options on long-term

Half-yearly BoP showcased the first organised finance. It is useless to harp upon ○○○○○○

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ endeavour in Nepal to bring potential (like we often do about our Continued growth in total exports (overseas and to India), and a slowdown of imports kept the togetherl the different groups involved water resources) until we have the trade deficit at Rs 27.39 billion in mid-January, the sixth month of the fiscal year, but the current in the tea trade. This focus on a right environment for investors. account deficit has grown, NRB’s six monthly Balance of Payments statistics show. The gains on potential agribusiness is long overdue, The demand for tea across the the trade front were offset by a 16.2 percent drop in services—resulting from, among other things, and people like Dr Shakya of the Agro world has not increased much over the a 14 percent slump in tourism receipts and a 29 percent increase in payments on investments, Enterprise Centre at the FNCCI years, but supplies certainly have. such as repatriation of earnings from major hydro-projects and other investments, and a 12.5 helped a great deal in bringing this Improved technology has cut the cost percent decline in grants. The capital account remained sound, despite a trade credit (payable) of forum to fruition. It is time for us of production and any country wanting Rs 3.58 billion, offset mainly by “miscellaneous capital items” receipts, which reached Rs 8.07 to examine where Nepal stands vis- to be a major player needs a strong billion—a 39 percent increase compared to the same period in 1999/00. à-vis this industry. competitive advantage. Sri Lanka, for Despite favourable climatic watch in the future. example, is doing very well in

Financial reforms update conditions and topography, Nepal has The industry, plagued by a strong producing quality tea at very ○○○○○○

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ not been a big player on the world tea labour-politics nexus, has also seen a competitive prices, and poses a threat Court-appointed governor of the central bank Tilak Bahadur Rawal says he’s willing to discuss the scene. Though the hills adjacent to surge in manpower costs. Coupled to India. Apart from traditional timing and practicability of the directives issued by the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) to commercial Darjeeling have the potential to with the increase in prices of other countries that are now doing better, banks recently, but there was no possibility of going back on financial sector reforms. In a 48-page produce the same class of tea, we inputs, especially electricity, it has countries like Thailand, Indonesia, statement distributed on Friday, the NRB adds that banks not meeting core capital adequacy have not been able to exploit this made the viability of many units Vietnam and even Turkey are requirements (Rs 500 million) by mid-July 2001 would be barred from paying dividends to share potential. Last decade saw a spurt questionable. Overheads are rising experimenting with tea. Competition holders. Banks can count paid-up capital, general reserves, share premiums, non-redeemable in new plantations, especially in the and revenues falling—obvious for Nepal will continue to increase. preference shares, preference shares and retained earnings for meeting the capital adequacy mid-nineties, after a surge in tea indicators of an industry in trouble. One advantage Nepal has is access requirement. But they cannot use the retained earnings without displaying capital adequacy. prices on account of a world wide It is not the intent, again, to point to the large Indian market, but here Rawal also said there was a tendency among bank promoters to offload shares after a certain fall in production. The herd fingers at the government, but we again quality is a key issue. Exports to number of years and walk away with profits, which the new directives also aim to discourage. mentality in Nepal then saw definitely do not have a long-term Europe and Japan may have potential Rawal, sacked last year by the government on grounds of incompetence, rampant unplanned plantations of policy conducive to the growth of but it is important that Nepal creates a was re-appointed governor after he came back with a court order 28 March. tea, and from being a country that such an industry. This industry has a niche brand for itself. We have seen The reappointment came after about seven months. In the meanwhile, his hardly met half its consumption long gestation period, and certainly with the carpet industry and now successor Dipendra Purush Dhakal had begun some changes, such as needs in the early nineties we are has lots of gains on account of with pashmina, that being in the rat cancelling the NRB’s plan to purchase eight banknote sorters (Rs 6.4 million now more than self-sufficient. economies of scale. Therefore, race makes us compromise on apiece), ending overtime payments to note sorters and requiring commercial If production has increased unplanned mushrooming of quality. One can only hope that tea banks to do their own sorting. Dhakal also began a move to “systematise” quantitatively the issue of quality plantations may not be the best way exports don’t follow this the contract workers by requiring them to take tests to become full-time staff. remains as pertinent as ever. of going about this business. predictable, depressing route. The NRB has about 300 contractual employees. Rawal has indefinitely Complete disregard for quality and World-wide, tea is a business that Yes, these are times to be euphoric postponed the examinations. constant price undercutting have is mostly conducted by multinationals and talk of Nepal’s potential to be a “I cannot go back on government policy, nor do I want to,” Rawal says about financial sector rendered this industry one of the more operating on a large scale. If Nepal tea great, but there are many issues reforms. The NRB has already selected a company to take over management of one of two difficult ones to run in Nepal. Retail wants to be a world player, there has that lie between the cup and the lip.  troubled banks, while proposals for the second one are being evaluated. The plan is to hand over prices having remained nearly to be a conducive environment for Nepal Bank Limited and the Rastriya Banijya Bank to foreign companies under a management constant over the last eight years, and such players to operate. This could Readers can post their views at contract by mid-July. The World Bank is helping the financial reforms project with a $20.5 million this will be an interesting aspect to range from having enterprise-friendly [email protected] loan.

Singapore aims at Nepali tourists

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is planning a campaign to attract Nepali tourists, the first time the island nation will actually be promoting . The effort is part of the STB’s “New Asia Singapore” under the “Live it up in Singapore” campaign. Last year 12,700 Nepalis visited Singapore, 25 percent on holiday. “We have much more to offer visitors in Singapore and this year we are actually doing some promotion in Nepal,” says Leslie Chan, STB Director for South Asia. The promo begins 24 May when the STB and Singapore Airlines will put together a three-day Singapore food festival at the Yak and Yeti Hotel. Nepalis visiting Singapore don’t need visas, a bonus for frequent travellers. Chan was in Kathmandu last week for a seminar with Nepali tour operators to inform them of events Singapore was planning, like the Great Singapore Sale, Jazz Festivals, etc.

NT on your palmtop

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Now you can get the Nepali Times from the Nepalnews.com site on your Palm or PocketPC device. Visit this link for the service and instructions: http://www.chhahari.com/avantgo.html NEPALI ECONOMY 4 - 10 MAY 2001 NEPALI TIMES 999

BOOKS NBPAN ○○○○○○○○○○○○

SALIL○○○○ SUBEDI Nepal Programme and the t is time for the Valley’s book International Centre for lovers to take some time out. Integrated Mountain iAt the fifth Nepal Education Development (ICIMOD) are and Book Fair 2001 beginning also participating with today, they can walk through, specialised nature, environment browse and buy from almost a and conservation-related titles. million titles on display and sale Himalayan Book Centre, run by at over fifty stalls set up by one of the oldest Nepali book distributors and publishers from distributors, Pairavi Prakashan, Nepal and India. The organisers Nepal Sahitya Prakashan and expect about 75,000 visitors, Vidyarthi Pustak, will showcase including bookworms and classic and contemporary students exploring educational and career options. “This year more publishers are participating with new titles,” says Govinda P Shrestha, president of the National Book Publisher’s Association of Nepal (NBPAN) which has been collaborating since 1999 with a private firm, Nepali literature. The annual Kathmandu book fair, beginning Friday, will be the biggest ever.

Global Exposition and Last year’s visitors, who saw ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Management (GEMS) to organise unbelievable sales as distributors ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ the fair. saw a great chance to dump Unfortunately, in Nepal, the (OGL) regulations, foreign region to develop an annual book NBPAN’s Maharjan. SAARC It all began in 1997 when the stock, will be disappointed that economics of book fairs, exports currency restrictions make fair with support from the countries can then decide first of such fairs was put together discounts this time will not run and imports aren’t yet completely imports and exports tedious. SAARC Book Development whether to also organise their at the same venue, to more than 10 percent. “This sorted out. Under existing laws, Chettri also complains about the Council in New Delhi. The usual domestic book fairs or just Mandap, with 47 participants. “It year’s discount is based on books and hardware are in the complicated financial consortium plans to have each have one large jamboree every few instantly worked as a facilitator international standards and aims same category. “It’s strange that transactions: “We can’t charge SAARC country host the book years. The NBPAN also envisions between educational institutions, at discouraging the sort of cheap iron and books are categorised as higher entry and participation fair on a rotation basis, and have promoting co-production, joint publishers and the public,” says competition evident in earlier the same kind of export,” says fees. But we are faced with the others participate with a good authorship, and the sale of Bijay Chettri of GEMS. The exhibitions,” says Madhab Lal Maharjan. “The Nepali diaspora increasing overheads and it is selection. All publishers will be subsidiary rights. If all goes organisers say that the number of Maharjan, general secretary of in north-east and north-west getting difficult to sustain requested to donate a display according to plan, they anticipate visitors has been increasing by the NBPAN. Organisers estimate India is a rich potential market. the fete.” copy to the SAARC library. “If all that the regulations governing 10,000 every year, beginning with that each participating The government should come up There is good news, though, countries receive approval from cross-border trade of books will 25,000 at the first show. This institution will bring books with a trade policy so the export that might encourage more their ministries, the plan will be be made less cumbersome. The year, with the fair running two worth Rs 500 million and that of books is easier,” he adds. discussion about these issues: the put forward during the meeting of first SAARC book fair is additional days, Chettri expects a revenue generated will be in the Basically, because they do not fall NBPAN plans to work with six the SAARC Foreign Secretaries in tentatively planned for next year larger rise in numbers. region of Rs 1 billion. under the Open General Licence associations from the SAARC Colombo early June,” says the in Bangladesh.  This year’s expo has two The book fair includes components, the Education and renowned publishers and Career fair, from 4-7 May, and distribution houses from Nepal the Book Fair proper, from 4-12 and India, while the education May. Students can meet career fair has institutions from the counsellors and use interactive UK, Singapore, India, Cyprus, programmes to identify Australia and Nepal. Most 1 appropriate institutions they can institutions will be represented apply to overseas. There will also by their local agents in Nepal. be on-the-spot admissions to There’s plenty of opportunity for some universities and colleges. students, but the organisers are The book section will unable to develop a mechanism showcase a large collection of to check instances of fraud that academic and general books from seem to dog the foreign 0 India and Nepal, with over 100 university counselling business.

publishers displaying their works Students are advised to take in the fifty or so stalls. But you’ll their time and do independent have to walk through and see research before committing what catches your interest— themselves to anything.

books and stalls are not sorted Another problem that 0 into Nepali and foreign books, or organisers acknowledge they will by category. There will be many face is piracy and institutions new releases in the Nepali stalls— that peddle pirated books. They Ratna Pustak Bhandar, Mandala say they have no criteria to Books, Himal Books, and Ekta reject applications for Books are all expected to bring participation, and that they are their bestsellers and new releases in no position to evaluate an 2 in English and Nepali. Children’s institution’s authenticity. The books will be well represented by NBPAN sent out a circular Bal Sansar, an organisation that requesting publishers to be promotes children’s literature. vigilant about pirated books, but The King Mahendra Trust for how effective this will be is Nature Conservation, the WWF anyone’s guess. y

a

w . a v e m g c o n p M 10 LIFESTYLE 4 - 10 MAY 2001 NEPALI TIMES THOUGHT FOR FOOD Kathmandu valley is alive with the sounds of nibbling, tasting and

downright chomping in at least 12 languages.

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Rana–style, you don’t have to bend to greet the Thai lady-chef who too much. Around you are portraits tells me what to eat next. of ancestors who look stern but An American flag flies outside well fed. King Birendra is known to Over The Rainbow in Thamel— have eaten at Baithak and rumour John Childs’ tribute to The Joy Of has him so enjoying himself that Cooking, the US’s best-selling when he left late, huge tips were left cookbook and to Dorothy, Toto, to the staff as a royal apology for and Oz. Here are humongous New keeping them late. York deli sandwiches, named after Also there is Chez Caroline, run The Wizard of Oz, and wholesome by an long-time Kathmanduite who, American fare like chicken pot pie, I like to think, tired of cooking meatloaf, shepherd’s pie and a stew macher jhol for her Bengali so delicious I order it on the side husband, and now serves crepes, every time. Doggie bags are freely quiches, and other hedonistic available and frequently necessary. dishes. My favourites are the roast Opposite is Pilgrims Feed and capon with truffle oil and foie gras, Read that a vegetarian gourmet the recherché guinea fowl served in friend insists is the best in a pink pepper sauce and the mixed Kathmandu. Run by a jovial Mandarin, The Everest Hotel’s not strictly Italian, is a delightful

DUBBY BHAGAT ○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○ sounds of nibbling, tasting and salad with Roquefort cheese, Banarasi and a Nam veteran, the Chinese outlet, revolves around the combination of east, west and other ipling famously wrote: “The downright chomping in at least 12 walnut and chicken. Diplomats bookshop’s café is full of tourists gyakok, a meal in a dish that compass points. I have many k wildest dreams of Kew/Are languages. Kathmandu is throng Chez Caroline giving delighting in daals, bolting down meandered from Manchuria to favourites but frequently order the facts of Kathmandu.” incestuously small and one knows credence to Oscar Wilde’s saying, bhartas and revelling in rotis hot Tibet four centuries ago. And what the sirloin steak or rack of New You’re taking a walk on the all the people whose establishments “To make a good salad is to be a from a visible tandoor. The a dish—brass with a chimney for Zealand lamb. Roger’s art lies delightfully wild side when you eat one frequents. So if this is a plug for brilliant diplomatist—the problem restaurant also serves tongba, a hot coals around a bowl full of in the herbs that gently flavour in Kathmandu’s many-splendoured friends, acquaintances and those in- is entirely the same in both cases. millet beer traditionally served meats and vegetables in a herbed my favourites. havens of civilisation. between, no apology is tendered. To know exactly how much oil one hot in bamboo and sipped chicken broth. The sauces allow The Alfresco at The Soaltee Old Nepalis will tell you about Their food is superb. must put with one’s vinegar.” through an iron straw. you to create your own taste—fiery Crowne Plaza is traditional Italian fare a lineage of kings who ruled for 800 Gitu Rana isn’t just the Opposite Chez Caroline, is KC’s, whose steaks are the best Szechwan, zesty Han or mild at its best. The ambience is perfect, years but went into decline because landlord of Baber Mahal Revisited, Kunal Lama’s ambulatory Simply in Thamel, rivals Rum Doodle as Cantonese. Chef Xiao Bing and the minestrone genuine and the pastas they feasted too much and too well, but also co-owns a Rana restaurant Shutters that moved into Baber the earliest restaurant in Thamel. Chef Bhatia preside and mainland a marvel. But best of all is the smoked and that 108 years of regal Prime there, Baithak, where you feast on Mahal Revisited and is about to Rum Doodle is run by a clan of China and India are endlessly “bhai salmon starter, not Italian, but Ministers faded away because of a delicacies like wild boar cooked to move out again. Lama, 28, is the friendly Pokharels. The drinks are bhai”. The food at The Casino impeccably served with just the right surfeit of hedonism and food. perfection served on youngest purveyor of fine food in generous and get more so as the Everest is delicious and free for amount of capers, and onion rings. The old Nepalis inevitably add heavy silver thalis that Kathmandu. His Zen Mackerel evening progresses and the snacks, gamers. Chef Keshab’s most special And the tiramisu is a dream. that food is a wonderful way to go, have legs so that, delicately sautéed in ginger and especially the vol-au-vent, are speciality is a Bhunna Bhunna Ghost. So come to Kathmandu eat and if go you must. garlic and salad of Chinese spinach terrific. Large plywood Yeti feet The Radisson has an outlet drink late into the Himalayan No surprise, then, that tossed in soy sauce and sesame oil, adorn the walls with messages from called The Olive Garden with a nights, sleep and then go gently to restaurants are thick on the ground will have me search Thamel for all patrons who’ve climbed a six- menu positively sinful in its calorific the first meal of the day in the Valley and the hills are Simply Shutters and Kunal’s new thousander. If some are unreadable, content. Chef Roger Blundy remembering that only dull people alive with the incarnation. Or perhaps not, I owe blame it on the booze. conjures sheer magic, which, while are brilliant at breakfast. t him a horrific sum of money for Away from Thamel is The several helpings of his unbelievable Shangri La Hotel, which has a new Torta Caprese. Jazz Bar. The menu is Thamel combines the Left Bank contemporary fusion chic— and Greenwich Village in a unique Southeast Asian delicacies, French shop-live-eat experience where accents and even some Indian—and youth of all ages from around the there are cigars on order and cognac world find bliss. And at the heart of in snifters. The Shambala Garden it is the Thai Yin Yang, the only Café in hotel’s award-winning place in Kathmandu you have to garden has a nifty mixed grill I make a reservation. Mine host and indulge in every time I pass by. friend is Martin, a noble When a friend objected to the Schweitzer, who regales me with amount of meat and talked of clean anecdotes of Kathmandu arteries, I looked around at the happenings like rickshaw rallies, beautiful garden and the beckoning fashion shows and who’s doing what grill and thought maybe this is to whom. I eat his superb Penang the hereafter and who wants Curry or the delicate chicken in Better Homes and Gardens oyster sauce, coming up for air only arteries anyway? LIFESTYLE 4 - 10 MAY 2001 NEPALI TIMES 11 WHAT THE PAPER EATS DEBUNKING MYTHS by MARK TURIN NT staffers pick their favourites. There’s a suspi- Have you taken your fooding? cious abundance of daal-bhaat and Japanese restaurants, which leads one to believe reports are filed on rice paper. A white man’s experience of Nepali cuisine. BK’s Fries Myth One: Daal Bhaat Tarkari paste, nettle-soup and animal bits. compelled to censor the opinions (hereafter DBT) is the national It was delicious, once I had found a of rice-eating guests everywhere. A Thamel place with a difference—there’s no food of Nepal, and Nepalis eat way to break bits off the summit Should they succeed, it will be the IndianChineseContinentalNepaliSetMeal menu. They nothing else their whole lives. and get them into my mouth end of Dietary Natural Selection do fries. These are the best fries in the Valley, perhaps Hogwash. without losing them down my shirt. (by which people choose to eat in even the country. The small, medium and large servings Myth Two: Once you have the tastiest restaurants) and the of double-fried chips come in paper cones with a choice beginning of an era which will go of dips in little leaf platters. BK’s does mayo, ketchup, hot ketchup, tartar, cocktail, devil, down in history as The Survival of pinda, pataje oorlog and the mysteriously named “special”, which contains mayo, onion and hot ketchup. This friendly place is an open-on-two-sides storefront with four barstools off which it is easy to slide when engorged on fries. Near the Bamboo Club and Hotel Vaishali. Thakali Bhaancha Thakali Bhaancha, opposite BK’s Fries, has that classic sign of good, down-home food—it is packed with customers, all eating the same thing. The specialty here is daal, bhaat and tarkari, Thakali style. It is ideal if you are a “bhatte”, a rice lover, but you can also make a pig of yourself over more hardcore Thakali food like ghyanto (spinach gravy), dhung (thakali sausage), dhedo (corn or millet pudding), and phapaar ko rotis. Chhang is also available. the Blandest. Momotarou The culture and traditions of A small Thamel place for Japanese budget tourists—30 the countries one visits should be covers in a pinch—that encourages you to look beyond respected. In fact, the differences tuna rolls and norimaki. There are delicious breakfasts are the very reason that most like tempura, egg, or onion chicken over rice, accompa- people travel. However, some nied by a tiny, incredibly fresh salad and miso soup. things go too far. Just as I believe Lunch and dinner are pitch perfect renditions of the usual tried one DBT, you have tried But it was not rice. that no visitor to Britain should suspects—sukiyaki, teriyaki, cutlets and udon. The set them all. Humbug. Perhaps the motive behind the be forced to converse about the meals include potato and tofu, ginger chicken, mackerel Let me speak from personal Myth of DBT is what we can call weather nor to engage in the and a stunning light fried whole fish with a faint zing of experience. Ten years ago, my the lowest common denominator rhetorical nonsense of the “how wasabi. All come with a generous bowl of rice, miso first plate of Nepali village food effect. From the plains of the tarai, do you do” ritual, so too I think soup, a ginger dressed shredded cabbage salad, the was not quite what I had where breads (roti, paratha, puri) that foreigners should not be breakfast salad, and a large herby cube of extremely creamy expected. I had read various make up a significant part of the asked to lie about food when in tofu. Good complimentary mukicha (barley tea) too. guidebooks, and while they diet to the mountains where dhedo Nepal. In short: if it’s not tasty, differed in certain respects, they in all of its incarnations (maize, then don’t pretend that it is. If the all concurred that in Nepal, life millet wheat and buckwheat) is the idea of chewing on eyeball of goat is DBT and DBT is life. staple, little unites Nepalis in terms or foot of chicken is not your idea Tamura at Hotel Kido Admittedly, I was sitting in of dietary intake. Rice is an all- of dietary delectation, then you Finding Tamura on Thapathali Hill can be tricky, but once you’re there, it’s great. The almost the dark and only the flickering rounder that is increasingly should not be forced to eat exclusively Japanese clientele, wood panelled décor, bilingual waiters and piping hot hand- light from the fire illuminated available throughout the country, even ali kati. towels upon arrival make for a chilled out spot. The comprehensive sushi box with California our meal, but I could make out and it has understandably become Perhaps there is a solution rolls, or a huge slurpy bowl of udon or soba noodles with very fresh green veggies and/or no rice, no lentils and definitely the carbohydrate of choice. to the political vacuum in Nepal prawn tempura is perfect for a light lunch. Chicken with ginger, pork with garlic, and fillet with no vegetable curry. The As for dispelling the second at present: Nationalism through onions are served sizzler-style with all the trimmings: rice, miso soup and a Japanese salad yellowish mountain on my plate Myth: no two DBTs are the same. DBT. Given the chance, from that’s a meal in itself. Undoubtedly, the best green tea in town. Probably the best Japanese was either one very large grain of Alongside the obvious differences Mechi all the way to Mahakali, food north of Lumbini. hitherto undocumented rice or it resulting from longitude and I am sure that villagers would was not rice at all, and I had a latitude, every household has its vote for Daal Bhaat Tarkari Upstairs sneaking hunch that it was the own trade secrets for bringing out Party instead of Tree, Sun or latter. In the place where the those special flavours, and of Plough. After all, there is a limit If you’re a momo buff who doesn’t have hang-ups about lentils should have been was a course, as all young Nepali men will to the number of Pajeros a plate pork, go to Upstairs. This cosy outfit opposite the semi-florescent green soup, and tell you, no wife cooks quite like of rice can own. When you start Bluebird on Lazimpat has the best pork momos in town. where I had imagined bite-sized mummy does. However, a deep and seeing steaming plates of rice There are also excellent vegetarian, veggie cheese and chunks of potato or strings of dark undercurrent in Nepali society and vegetable curry all over the buff momos on offer. And great aloo dum. The spicy spinach, I was faced with what is trying to nullify the difference billboards in town, with “Vote potatoes are cooked Darjeeling style—not too much looked distinctly like bits of between a good plate of rice and a Daal Bhaat” stencilled masala, but plenty of chilli. The perfect accompaniments stomach lining. bad one. These are the followers of underneath, you will know that to such delectations are on hand: chilled beer and good Yes, I was eating Dhedo the “Even If It’s Not Tasty, Then real democracy has come. And jazz (live Saturday evenings). After the momos and Sisnu Maasu (hereafter DSM), Eat It As If It Were” Movement, a while we are on the subject: potatoes, try the fried pork and juicy French fries. roughly translated as polenta- group of radicals who feel Enjoy Your Fooding. t Didi ko Bhaancha Ghar In Thamel, if you want daal bhaat, Nepali Standard style, go down the alleyway leading to Hotel Sagarmatha until you come to a small building that looks like it should be in a paddy field. This is where Thamel shopkeepers, pepsi guides and Chinese balm sellers wolf down achaar, seasonal tarkari, jhane ko daal—brown lentils with ghee and jimbu—salad and chicken or mutton. It is the closest you will get to eating at home on a workday. And it almost is—Maya “didi” has been in Thamel for about two decades and runs a family operation. 12 TECHNOLOGY 4 - 10 MAY 2001 NEPALI TIMES Been there, outlawed it—banned the T-shirt

JOHN NAUGHTON

○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○ encryption and security ur future is bracketed technology to counter the o by two writers. George technological challenge of Orwell thought we MP3 and the like. would be destroyed by the The third involves the things we hate. Aldous Huxley effective suborning of feared we would be undermined compliant and ignorant by the things we love. For much legislatures (notably the US of the last century, Orwell Congress and the European seemed to have the upper hand. Parliament) to create a new And although the forces of Big legal framework that gives Brother (the UK Regulation of unprecedented privileges to Investigatory Powers Act and copyright owners over other the new EU Directive on groups in society. It’s the cybercrime) are still alive and combination of technology kicking the hell out of civil plus compliant legislatures liberties, it’s beginning to A combination of technology plus that threatens to bring about look as though Huxley’s Huxley’s nightmare. nightmare will dominate the compliant legislatures threatens to We’re already seeing the

twenty-first century. bring about Huxley’s nightmare. effects of this with DVD discs. ○○○○○○○○○○○○

How come? Well, it’s all ○○○○○○○○○○○ DVD movies are encrypted to do with our lust for packaged entertainment, using a system called CSS and can be played only on particularly films and recorded music. The advent of devices that are equipped with approved decryption digital technology, and especially the rise of the software. The industry tries to use this to control who can Internet as a mass medium, created a formidable see which version of each movie: DVD discs purchased in problem for the huge companies that control the the US cannot be played on European DVD players. But “intellectual property” embodied in movies and music. the encryption system is relatively easy to crack. Now Their initial responses to the challenge were clumsy ‘hacked’ DVD players can be obtained (if you know where and inept. Long after the MP3 horse had bolted, for to look) and a decryption program (called DeCSS) is example, the record companies tried to lock the stable available on the net, so owners of Linux-based computers door with their own—proprietary and controllable— are able to play DVDs on their machines. file-compression software. But here’s where the double whammy strikes. The The world yawned and gave its answer in the shape copyright lobby persuaded the US Congress to include of Napster, an MP3-fuelled file-sharing service that a clause in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act signed up 60 million users in its first 18 months of life. (DMCA) that makes it illegal to write software like Because Napster was a company seeking to make DeCSS. And not only are people being prosecuted for profits, it was easy to bring to heel. The existing laws of doing so, but a computer magazine is being sued in copyright proved sufficient for the purpose. What the New York for publishing the DeCSS code. furore over the case obscured, however, was the The program is relatively small. It is possible to incredible lengths to which the copyright lobby is print it on a T-shirt—and indeed such garments prepared to go to secure its intellectual property—and already exist. Under the DMCA, wearing one in public the implications of this for civil society. may be a crime. DeCSS has also been published as a What has emerged is a formidable three-pronged haiku. Does this mean that certain kinds of poetry will strategy to secure these property rights. The first—and eventually be outlawed simply to appease the holders most obvious—strand is aggressive use of existing of intellectual property? This stuff is no longer about copyright laws. The second involves the use of technology; it’s about freedom. t (The Observer)

Global Expo WORLD 4 - 10 MAY 2001 NEPALI TIMES 13 ANALYSIS Patents and poor patientsby JEFFREY SACHS STEPHAN VANFLETEREN CAMBRIDGE - Debates over drug How can the benefits of a global patent system that provides pricing and intellectual property rights incentives for innovation be combined with an assurance that are raging. Many life-saving drugs,

notably those used to fight AIDS, are poor people gain access to medical care they desperately need?

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ produced under patents mainly by US ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ and European pharmaceutical companies. The patent-protected person; in much of Africa, annual substantial assistance to poor rise just because drug companies agree prices of these drugs often puts them income is less than $350 per person. countries, so that the poor—who to lower prices in poor countries. out of reach of poor people in the Poor countries are, indeed, so poor are too poor to afford these drugs During the recent court fights poorest countries. Thus, while many that they cannot afford the drugs even even at reduced prices—can make over AIDS drugs in South Africa, AIDS patients in rich countries are at the production cost of around $350 use of them. patents received a black eye. But kept alive by these drugs, millions of per patient, per year, because even Indeed, rich countries should without them, the stream of new anti- people in poor countries are dying these reduced prices amount to a create a “Global Health Fund” to retroviral products used to fight AIDS before they should, leaving behind year’s average income. Thus, few help less fortunate countries buy drugs would not have flowed, because the misery, millions of orphans, and Africans can afford AIDS and medical services to fight killer incentives for developing new drugs economic devastation. treatment even when supplied by diseases like AIDS, tuberculosis, and would be lacking. Some opponents of A typical AIDS drug regimen is $500 per patient per year. protection should continue so that generic drug producers. malaria. This fund would be aimed patents argue that government- priced at about $10,000 per patient, The tragedy of millions of the pharmaceutical industry keeps Any viable solution requires not only at poor countries, but at sponsored research is enough to per year in rich countries. The costs of impoverished people dying of AIDS innovating. This is particularly that the following conditions be some middle income countries like develop new drugs, but history shows producing these drugs, however, are even when drugs exist to treat them important in the case of AIDS, satisfied: drug companies—whether South Africa where diseases like AIDS that, although government-sponsored much less than the market price, raises deep questions about global because the spread of drug resistant patent holders or generic drug are so rampant that the volume of research is good at basic science, the perhaps as low as $350-$500 per year intellectual property rights, because viruses and the unwanted side- producers—must provide drugs to drugs needed to combat disease profit-based private sector is best at for some of the three-drug patent protection is creating a barrier effects of existing medicines, means poor countries at prices near to cannot be purchased even at reduced developing and introducing new combinations. Some quality producers to essential medicines reaching the that new anti-retroviral drugs will production costs; drug prices in rich prices. But rich-country voters may products. So, reform the international of generic drugs, such as Cipla of world’s poor. But how can the be needed to keep treatments countries must remain higher demand that drug prices for them patent system to guarantee the poor India, have offered to provide these benefits of a global patent system that effective. Thus drug companies through patent protection to should also fall. If politicians cave in access to essential medicines, but drugs at prices near to the cost of provides incentives for innovation and must keep ploughing their earnings preserve incentives for innovation; here—say, by eliminating patent don’t kill the goose that lays the production. In response to this offer new discoveries be combined with an back into research and development. rich and poor markets must be protection, imposing price controls, or golden egg by undermining the patent (and to bad publicity), Merck, Abbott assurance that poor people gain access To assure that, profits—protected by separated, so that cheap drugs from allowing re-import of drugs from poor system. t (Project Syndicate) Laboratories, and Bristol Myers to the medical care that they patents—are needed. poor countries are not smuggled countries—innovation for new drugs Squibb, three large patent-holding desperately need? Yet poor countries—or donors into rich countries (or are not will stall. Still, rich country drug Jeffrey D. Sachs is Galen L. Stone companies, announced their One way is to set drug prices at acting on behalf of the poor—cannot allowed in legally through parallel- purchasers, however, should not fear Professor of Economics, and Director of willingness to supply the African different levels in rich and poor pay the same price. America’s average market imports); governments in the worst: there is no reason to believe the Centre for International market at “zero profit”—at around countries. In rich countries, patent annual income is over $35,000 per rich countries must provide that the drug prices they pay would Development, Harvard University.

OPINION by SHLOMO AVINERI 2030, not 2015

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ UNITED NATIONS - The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is disappointed that an international commitment to reduce the Let the Serbs try Milosevic world’s hungry by half by 2015 has fallen far short of its target. “The rate at which progress is being made is not sufficient. This is not acceptable,” complained FAO Director-General Jacques The lessons from any trial of Milosevic Diouf of Senegal. should be taught to Serbia’s citizens by If the current rate of reducing the world’s hungry—about 8 million a year—continues into the next decade, the goal set by the Serbian judges, within a normative system World Food Summit would only be achieved by 2030, not 2015, he

that most Serbs accept as legitimate. told reporters last weekend. The target set by the summit, which

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○ was held at the FAO headquarters in Rome in 1996, was to reduce the number of hungry people by half by 2015, from 824 million to 412 especially among the many Serbs who still need to be educated in million. The summit also adopted a Rome Declaration and a Plan of order to realise the true extent of Milosevic’s crimes. Most Action to resolve the food crisis. importantly, by dealing with Milosevic, the Serbs, many of whom The issue, Diouf argued, is one of political will and resources— supported his regime, will be forced to confront their own behaviour both of which are in short supply, precipitating the ongoing food and deal with their own consciences. Only through this process crisis. The FAO is planning a follow-up to the World Food will Serbia be able to rejoin the ranks of free and healthy Summit, also in Rome, 5-9 November. The proposed meeting—to European nations. be attended by heads of state and government—is not intended If the trial is held before distant judges, sitting in a far-away to re-open discussions or re-negotiate the summit’s goals. But it capital, applying a not very transparent and somehow abstract code of will address the lack of political will and the shortage of law, many Serbs will see this not as a trial of Milosevic, but as victors’ resources to achieve the target. lot has been happening in Yugoslavia recently, much of it justice meted out to the Serbian nation. They will be wrong. Two years ago, Ambassador Francesco Paolo Fulci of Italy, then president of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), surprising. After some procrastination and an initial failed Nonetheless, political trials (and war crime trials are always political a singled out the World Food Summit as an “illuminating example” of a attempt, Milosevic has been arrested, without bloodshed, trials) must not only punish, but also teach. The lessons from any trial UN talk-fest long on pledges but short on action. (IPS) though not without danger. The peaceful vote in Montenegro last week of Milosevic should be taught to Serbia’s citizens by Serbian judges, may presage conflict and difficult decisions about independence, but within a normative system that most Serbs accept as legitimate.

chances are strong that the parties will settle these matters by talking The international hue and cry for Milosevic to be brought to The Rhetorical justice ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ rather than fighting. Hague, regardless of political consequences, is understandable. Yet this ○○○○○○○○○○○ These are great steps forward, and they show that despite pressure is unwise, and somewhat hypocritical. After all, the VIENNA - An Austrian appeal court ruled last week that far right brainwashing and the complicity of many Serbs in the crimes of the peacekeeping forces in Bosnia can, should they decide to act, arrest politician Jörg Haider had made comments which trivialised the crimes of the Third Reich. The judgement was a victory for political Milosevic regime, democracy and open society have a chance of taking Radovan Karadzic and General Ratko Mladic, the leaders of the root in what remains of Yugoslavia. scientist Anton Pelinka of Innsbruck university. In a television Bosnian Serbs who have been indicted by the Hague Tribunal. They interview Prof Pelinka had referred to a statement by Haider that One key decision facing Serbia, and its new authorities, is whether have not done so, and show no signs of doing so. concentration camps were “punishment centres”, saying that Haider Milosevic should be extradited to The Hague. There seems to be Why this inaction? Clearly, political reasons are at the root of this: had played down the horrors of Nazi rule. almost universal agreement that he should, and international pressure is the British, US and French governments are reluctant to risk the lives The cases against Haider have highlighted fears that the entry being applied on President Kostunica to comply. But the decision may of their own soldiers in order to bring these arch-criminals to justice. of Haider’s Freedom party (FPO) in a coalition government with have life-and-death ramifications for Serbia’s future. Many who agree Indeed, Karadzic and Mladic have evaded arrest for years; indeed, since conservatives has severely damaged freedom of speech in Austria that Milosevic is a war criminal now think that we should listen to the the Dayton peace accords were signed. Shouldn’t equal consideration and has also served to make the FPO’s anti-foreigner rhetoric part voices coming from Belgrade and their cry that Milosevic should face for the political constraints faced by President Kostunica and the of mainstream discourse. trial before his own people. sensitivities of the Serbian people be given? Is it really worth the risk Haider gained notoriety for enthusing about Hitler’s Ultimate moral responsibility for what was done by Milosevic rests of destabilising Yugoslavia’s infant democracy to carry out trials that unemployment policies and praising SS veterans as “men of with Serbia’s people. They brought him to power, albeit not in a way Yugoslavia’s government shows every sign of being able to carry out? character”. He has turned into a figure of fascination for linguists that conforms precisely with democratic norms; they supported him, That there will now be a Truce and Reconciliation Commission in over the years, who have remarked that he has become even when he led them into genocidal crimes and to defeat after defeat. Belgrade suggests that the current Yugoslav leadership understands increasingly proficient at using the methods of distortion, Finally, they brought him down, and the new democratic leadership in that it needs to heal the wounds inflicted on its own people by the exaggeration, diversion, simplification, mitigation, and more than any Belgrade has, at no little risk to its own position and standing, arrested murderous Milosevic regime. Let the international community show other Austrian politician, humour, to play his populist game. “Haider is him. That arrest could well have ended in a bloodbath that might have the same compassion and understanding to the Serbian people that it someone who plays the populist game combined with a very clever destabilised a still insecure democratic government. applies when it has to decide whether to risk its own soldiers in an rhetoric to which one cannot react with objective facts,” according Yugoslavia’s new leadership should now be allowed to deal with attempt to apprehend Karadzic and Mladic. t (Project Syndicate) to Ruth Wodak, professor of applied linguistics at Vienna university. Milosevic in a way that promotes democracy within Yugoslavia. His A linguistic study she led some months ago concluded that Austria crimes should be judged by his own people—not by an international Shlomo Avineri is Director of the Institute for European Studies at the was the only country in which the far right was not only included in tribunal. In this way the trial will gain more legitimacy and credibility, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. mainstream debate, but where it actually led the agenda. (The Guardian) 14 ASIA 4 - 10 MAY 2001 NEPALI TIMES OPINION by PRAMOEDYA ANANTA TOER

president. Rais, on the other hand, wants to be Old order, new order president, and everything that he does is geared toward that goal. As for Tandjung, he is the chairperson JAKARTA - Indonesia is in the Indonesia needs leaders with character who have passed the test of Golkar, Suharto’s political process of decaying and if the of history. Unfortunately, none of the country’s current political bandwagon. younger generations do not take Indonesia needs leaders with

over the leadership, the country leaders has even undergone this test, let alone passed it. character who have passed the test

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ could break apart. Although ○○○○○○ of history. Unfortunately, none of Indonesia’s reform movement, the country’s current political spearheaded by the younger Suharto’s forced resignation. hungry hypocritical politicians, overseas trips without a clear leaders has even undergone this generation and particularly If the situation does not who are fighting only for their mission. As president, he is test, let alone passed it. The young students, succeeded in toppling improve, the disintegration of own party’s interests at the responsible for shaping chairperson of the Democratic then-president Suharto in May Indonesia will become a very expense of their constituents’ government policy, not travelling People’ Party (PRD) 1998, it failed to bring about real real danger. The people no well-being and the country’s overseas or focusing on Budiman Sudjatmiko has. He was change. Almost three years later, longer believe in the rule of unity. They all witnessed the extraneous issues, like the imprisoned in 1997 and 1998 the country is in worse shape law and have started to take massacres that Suharto’s New indictment of alleged corrupters. because of his political convictions. than before as a result of matters into their own Order regime carried out over its He has, however, successfully When former president Baharuddin conflicting interests of the hands. More than one 32 years in power and did nothing reduced the power of the Jusuf Habibie granted him amnesty political parties that participated hundred police stations to prevent them. Indonesian army, at least for the in 1998, he vehemently rejected it in the 1999 general elections. have been attacked by These self-proclaimed pro- time being. Other leaders because he believed he committed Ethnic and religious violence angry mobs so far. Such reform politicians are the wouldn’t have dared to do that no mistake. continues across the country, events could eventually products, indeed the remnants, of and likely would have There is no hope for the present causing the deaths of thousands of ignite a social revolution. the New Order regime and lack compromised with army leaders. regime. It should exit the stage and innocent people. In his more than displacing tens of thousands more When the founding fathers the moral authority to govern the Megawati, who is also the make room for the younger 15 months in office, Indonesian on both sides. Moreover, Wahid declared the country’s country. President Wahid, Vice chairperson of the Indonesian generation in order to prevent the president Abdurrahman Wahid has has failed to win back the hearts of independence on 17 August 1945, President Megawati Democratic Party of Struggle country from breaking up. t (IPS) clearly failed to bring the situation the Acehnese and Irianese who they envisioned Indonesia as a free, Sukarnoputri, Speaker of the (PDI-P) that won the 1999 under control. In Ambon and North fought so long for independence. democratic and modern country. It People’s Consultative Assembly general election with 153 Pramoedya Ananta Toer, now 75, is Maluku provinces, religious clashes These ethnic and religious is very far from that today. At (MPR) Amien Rais, House of representatives in the House, Indonesia’s most famous and prolific have flared for more than two years conflicts are the creation of people present all problems are resolved Representatives (DPR) Speaker owes her political advancement to writer, with over 30 works translated now and show no sign of abating. In who lost their power and privileges through killing. Democracy has Akbar Tandjung, and other the New Order. In fact, she is a into 30 languages. He was imprisoned West and Central Kalimantan because of the country’s reform simply never taken root, leaving the political leaders were all members New Order politician. When she and banished under both Sukarno provinces, ethnic violence between movement and are attempting to patronage system, or of the MPR and/or the DPR was an MPR member during the and Suharto. The ban on his books indigenous Dayaks and migrant regain them. It is no coincidence “panutanisme”, in place. under Suharto. Suharto regime, she did not dare imposed by Suharto for allegedly Madurese has become a common that they, and other forms of The reform movement seems to Wahid is a leader without a to fight for the rights of her father being pro-communist has not been occurrence, killing thousands and violence, began immediately after have given a free ride to power- vision. He makes frequent Sukarno, the country’s first officially lifted.

The distance between olives ○○○○○○○○○○○○ Daughters of the faith ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ North Korea’s communist leaders imported two Italian chefs to prepare secret banquets of pizza at the height of the country’s famine, it has emerged. The chefs were flown The Sikh edict against female foeticide is into Pyongyang with special ovens to feed its “Respected a bold step in a country where religious Supreme Commander”, Kim Jong-il, in 1997 while millions groups are yet to theologically reckon with starved on a diet of seaweed, cabbage stalks and grass. Ermanno Furlanis and Antonio Macchia were monitored

modern methods of sex determination. by army generals as they taught selected chefs the art of ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

○○○○○○○○ rolling dough to ensure thin crusts. “They measured every one of my moves. They even measured the distance But in the following year, Kaur was forced to step down after the between the olives,” Furlanis said. CIA agents allegedly Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), India’s premier sleuthing intercepted oven parts at Berlin airport, suspecting they had agency, charged her with having had her teenage daughter murdered a military use. “They were very worried. Maybe they thought after she was discovered to have been pregnant through a lover Kaur they were nuclear ovens or something of the sort,” he said. did not approve of. In spring 1997, North Korean agents, posing as India’s foremost demographer, Ashish Bose, says the Sikh edict against businessmen, asked Macchia, the head chef at a Trieste foeticide issued last week was a welcome move. But he also worries that hotel restaurant, to find a partner who would be willing to nothing similar could be done in other northern states where there is social give a pizza training course. He turned to Furlanis, an hostility toward the girl child. “It is more than clear that the law cannot be

RANJIT DEVRAJ IN NEW DELHI independent financial adviser who moonlighted as a pizza ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

○○○○○○○○○ enforced unless the government hires thousands of private detectives,” he chef in the nearby town of Codroipo, north-east Italy. The larmed by the rapid fall in the number of girl children in northern said. According to Neelam Singh, an obstetrician who has been running a chefs, travelling with their wives, had their passports Punjab, Sikh religious leaders have threatened excommunication for United Nations-backed campaign against female foeticide in Lucknow, a confiscated during their three weeks in military quarters at adherents who resort to female foeticide. The fears of the Sikh clergy capital of northern Uttar Pradesh state, the practice has lately been Pyongyang and a seaside resort. that followers are using ultrasonography to determine the sex of unborn spreading to the city’s large Muslim population. The revelations will appear in the geopolitical journal children and aborting female ones were confirmed by statistics from India’s “Islamic tenets expressly forbid foeticide but I know many women who Heartland, which commissioned Furlanis to shed light on the latest census, which was conducted through February. do it secretly,” said Sultana Usmani, a government health extension worker secretive regime. Furlanis’s piece, entitled Four Italians in the According to the headcount, the female sex ratio in Punjab has who believes that religious leaders have a major role to play especially Court of the King, was a cross between Marco Polo and an dropped to 874 for every 1,000 males in 2001, from 882 10 years ago. through counselling. Much of the problem, she says, stems from the fact unfathomable James Bond, said the Italy Daily. (The Guardian) Even more shocking is the fact that the number of girls for every 1,000 that doctors who use ultrasound machines—indispensable for monitoring boys in the under-six age group had dropped to 793 over the same the health of the growing foetus—can convey the sex of an unborn child to

period of time. its parents without even uttering a word. No favourite concubine ○○○○○○○○○○○○ Apparently, girls in the under-six age group have received no better The next step, abortion, is facilitated by lenient laws shaped by ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ treatment over the last decade in several important northern states and population control needs and by legions of quacks and midwives whose BEIJING - China’s legislature last week passed sweeping territories that flank Punjab. In Haryana, the ratio of girls to boys has services may extend to outright infanticide. Singh says it is impossible to changes to the nation’s marriage law, in a bid to curb the dropped from 879 to 829, in Himachal Pradesh from 951 to 897, in detect with accuracy the sex of the foetus in the first trimester of widespread adultery blamed for many family breakups, the Gujarat from 928 to 878, in the federal territory of Chandigarh (the heavily pregnancy, when abortion is safe and legal. “What is likely is that male state media reported. It will now be illegal for married urbanised joint-capital of Haryana and Punjab) from 899 to 845. In Delhi, foetuses are also aborted because doctors who accept payments don’t Chinese to live with someone other than their spouse—a the ratio of girls to boys has fallen from 915 to 865 in 10 years. want to take chances,” she said. move aimed mainly at the widespread practice of men This week, India’s Planning Commission asked Punjab’s chief minister Leaders of India’s major religions, including Hinduism and Islam, frown living part-time with their mistresses Parkash Singh Badal for a detailed report on the continued decline in the on abortion at any stage as murder and most are yet to theologically reckon The marriage law for the first time now also explicitly state’s female-to-male ratio. “If this (trend) is not arrested in time, there with modern methods of sex determination. The Sikh edict was a first. Soon bans domestic violence, reported in 30 percent of Chinese will serious social implications,” Planning Commission Chairman K C Pant after its issuance last week, the Akal Takht, the headquarters of the sect in families and the cause of 60 percent of divorces. warned Badal during discussions last week on Punjab’s annual plan. Amritsar city, was flooded with messages of congratulations from religious Bigamy and the keeping of mistresses by the country’s The Sikh clergy plans to rope in heads of other religious leaders and international organisations. new rich are eroding social morality, the state news agency denominations in India for a concerted campaign against female Bose, the demographer, says the girl child is up against an unholy quoted lawmakers as saying.They also said such practices foeticide. “It is the moral responsibility of religious leaders to ensure a alliance between tradition, with its son complex and customs like dowry, by many Communist Party and government officials was proper balance in the sex ratio,” said Manjeet Singh, one of Sikhism’s and technology represented by ultrasound and the electronic media which tarnishing the image of the government. China has for five top leaders. Though orthodox, the Sikh religion accords a high promotes consumerist values. He says: “The message for would-be parents years debated the growing problem of adultery, but critics status to women. In March 1999, the well-endowed Sikh Temple is clear: If you produce girls you will be financially crippled. Better to spend previously stopped moves to toughen the law, saying the Management Committee (STMC), which controls the community’s a few thousand rupees now on pre-birth and sex selective abortions rather government had no business in people’s bedrooms. shrines around the world, had its first woman head in Bibi Jagir Kaur. spend fortunes on dowries after years of saving.” t (IPS) FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 4 - 10 MAY 2001 NEPALI TIMES 15 mission if they could create a fissure will publish a list of all boarding between the palace and the schools that are not going about their Running out of time government. As soon as they business in a proper manner and take realised that the king had also action against them. agreed to deploying the army, The students’ wing of the ML Excerpts from an inter- Excerpts from an interview they became scared. This decision also has similar demands. Besides the view with Padma Ratna with Lagu Dhan Rai, of the government has put the regular demands which all unions Tuladhar nominated MP Maoists on alert. have, the ML student group wants a Nepali Jagaran, 23 April Saptahik Bhugol 23 April 50 percent cut in public transport and

Radio Lumbini entertainment costs. ○○○○○○

The various meetings As a nominated member of ○○○○○○○○○○

between the Maoists and parliament, what are your Saptahik Sahara, 22 April Post haste ○○○○○

the palace have led views on the political situation ○○○○○○○○○○○ many to believe that in the country? The transmitting capacity of Radio Saptahik Nepalipatra, 27 April democracy is in Lumbini, located eight km south of The country is in a very bad danger. What Butwal and 14 km north of The Maoist attacks in many areas of state politically. The situation do you think? Bhairahawa, has been improved. the country, especially in Rukum, is going from bad to worse. Earlier the radio station transmitted Dailekh and Dolakha, have created I do not No one besides His Majesty programmes for seven hours daily, but panic in the minds of policemen, as think seems to be concerned. from 14 April, Radio Lumbini has this recent incident in Pyuthan shows. democracy is threatened, because the king is a There is another government outside Kathmandu. The been on air 10 hours a day. The The police heard that Maoists constitutional monarch. There are questions being raised government at Singha Darbar has not realised that Nepal exists station was set up in 1999, as a were going to attack police stations in concerning changes in the constitution. The prime minister outside the Valley too, and this has made matters worse. Outside cooperative, and is said to be the first a number of villages. Upon hearing has met the king and discussed deploying the army. the Valley, police posts are being destroyed rapidly, people are cooperative-run radio in South Asia. the news, over 100 from one post Everyone knows he is keen to have the backing of the king being killed in large numbers. Elected representatives are being Radio Lumbini is also the first station surrendered their weapons and fled to in this matter. If everyone remains and works within the asked to vacate their positions and reactionary forces are moving set up outside the valley, and was set the district headquarters, even as parameters of the constitution, then it is all right. Once they into the vacuum they have created. up using its own resources. senior officials were instructing them go beyond those parameters, people will protest. Until now The total cost of setting up the to stay put. The policemen packed the king has not crossed the parameters. How do you analyse the opposition parties’ demand for the station was initially estimated to be their bags, got onto buses and left for resignation of the prime minister? around Rs 800,000, but because of the district HQ. After the constables Of the Maoists and the government, who do you think is This is a political demand. But not letting parliament function, the lack of skilled manpower and left, the officers followed. more sincere about coming to the table for dialogue? stopping traffic and destroying public property is not the way to technical know-how, the costs went Only a week ago, the police force go. One must work through constitutional measures. up by about Rs 700,000. The station at the post had been doubled from 50 There is a problem—we have to be very careful, we just is very popular and it seems that to 100. This post is more than an cannot answer this question. Since we are involved in What can be done to deal with these problems? listeners want more. The station hour’s walk from the main road and is facilitation, we have agreed not to bring out in the open the broadcasts from 6am to 9am, then located between two hills. It is in an issues raised by the sides that are to come to talks. Both The main problem now is the Maoist insurgency. The second again from noon to 3am and finally ideal target. The station had asked sides must prepare to be flexible to some degree in the is unemployment. The Maoists have become very destructive. from 5pm to 9pm. for additional personnel, but this meetings. Otherwise not much can be achieved. We The situation is such that now one cannot ask “who is a request was turned down which is cannot take sides and say that one party is more flexible Maoist,” but must rather ask “who is not a Maoist”. The why they decided to leave the post.

than the other. government must go in for a dialogue, there is no other way. Ransom notes ○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○ They complained that neither enough The mobilisation of the army will be detrimental to the nation, Saptahik Sahara, 22 April personnel nor weapons were supplied it will destroy the nation. The army must not be mobilised at How do you analyse the prime minister’s address to the to the policemen on duty. Instead, if a all. The question on many people’s minds is why the army nation? The people think it was quite strong. Left-wing students unions were policeman complained, he would be should be used to kill another Nepali. If His Majesty had used waiting for the SLC exams to end to taken into custody, questioned and In the context of the dialogue, we have taken that speech in the army in 1990, then what would the situation have been, begin their protests. The students’ action would be taken against him. a positive manner. Whoever the prime minister may be, the what would have happened to all the leaders who are today in groups interested in organising the The policemen who have reached the person in the office of prime minister continues to raise the the political spotlight? This is a political problem, a problem of bandhs, boycotting classes and holding district headquarters are just whiling issue of a dialogue all the time. The deputy prime minister, beliefs and ideology. Since nothing positive has happened in the education system to ransom are away their time. too, has called for talks, time and again. Even Prachanda, the past 10 years, people have become frustrated and have aligned to the UML, the ML and the in his latest speeches, has said that dialogue is the only moved to the other side. Since the king believed in democracy, Maoists. The unions are going their

way forward. He too seems in favour of having a dialogue. as soon as 20-30 people were killed, he was hurt and Porn free ○○○○○

separate ways, but their demands are ○○○○○○○○○○○ Since both the sides are keen on it, we hope that they will disturbed, and agreed to having multiparty democracy. The similar, and some clearly impossible to Jana Ahwan National Weekly, come to the table and sit together and solve the problem in present leaders are different. More than two thousand people fulfil. The Revolutionary Students’ 27 April a peaceful manner. This is what we believe in and wish have died but the government is not worried at all. It has not Wing, which is very close to the would happen. been progressing much on dialogue. Maoists, has 15 demands, including The All Nepal Women’s Union the abolition of school fees. They also (Revolutionary) is going to start an Would you like to say anything else? Will you tell the same to His Majesty? demand that children of all high agitation against the publication of The people of the country want dialogue to be held very I will place this before the king. But our advice will not be taken ranking government officials, including pornographic books and against soon, as soon as possible. Before we have a civil war on seriously. The main advisor to the king is the prime minister. the PM, ministers, heads of all anything they deem as anti-culture. our hands, we should come to the negotiating table and The king has to listen to the PM. But the prime minister has constitutional bodies, political leaders The ANWA will start its anti-porn start talks. Until the possibility of talks is explored, the not taken any steps to solve this problem. He does not take programme in the next couple of army should not be mobilised, and the Maoists should any advice, or even listen to any that is offered. In a weeks. They will protest the indecent refrain from escalating their attacks. This is what the parliamentary system, parliament is where all problems are behaviour of customers in dance people want and both sides must take this seriously. We listened to ard and then solved. We nominated MPs are restaurants, fight for the protection of will help in whatever way we can. neutral. We only speak in the interests of the nation. women and, in fact, attempt to close dance restaurants that appear to be flourishing all over the country. QUOTE OF THE WEEK Red alert A press release issued by the

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Kathmandu Valley chief of ANWA There is a constitutional provision for the National Security Council to mobilise the army. But to my Ghatana Ra Bichar, 25 April and MPs, study in government states that the union would try and knowledge, it has not even formed an action plan let alone a policy. Why this inaction? Why can’t a constitu- schools. They want the teaching of pressurise dance restaurants, tional body like the Council initiate an action plan even a decade after its formation? As soon as it was confirmed that the Sanskrit language to be discontinued, massage centres, and cabin government would be deploying the the present national anthem scrapped restaurants to shut down, and try – Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani, Rastriya Prajatantra Party leader in Saptahik Bimarsha, 27 April. army in Maoist-affected areas, the and replaced by one that represents to halt the screening of films that Maoists panicked and held an the “true feelings” of the people. They portray women in a negative emergency meeting in Chitwan. The say that if their demands are not met manner. They feel that women are meeting was held some time last week by the end of this month, they will be being sexually abused in all these and lasted two days. After the attacks forced to take drastic action. places and that if something is not in Rukum and Dailekh, the The students’ wing aligned to the done, then our society and culture government became very serious and UML has also presented to will be destroyed. They have called realised there was no alternative to government a list of 46 demands, on all these places to stop the deploying the army. The king, too, some new and some old. Some of their activities by the middle of May, has agreed to the deployment, in demands are: immediate reduction of otherwise they will move in and principle. As soon as the Maoists got fees in private boarding schools, an take whatever action they feel is wind of the decision to deploy the end to the teaching of Sanskrit in necessary to close them down. They army, they began moving and called schools, starting many of the proposed have warned that they would not be an emergency meeting. They had middle schools, investing more in the responsible for any of the guessed the army would be deployed education sector and providing quality consequences. after the Rukum and Dailekh education to all. These unions have The release further states that incidents. Prachanda and Baburam planned several programmes from 29 the government is corrupt, thinks Bhattarai in the meantime met many April to 9 May. If these demands are only of taking kickbacks from the people supposed to be very close to not met by then, they say, they will business class and treats women the Palace. They did this in a launch a nationwide agitation. As a as commodities. Women are desperate attempt to stave off the first step, the union will burn down exploited in all places, big and deployment of the army. The Maoists the chairs of all corrupt district small and the government, by not Only air! Where is the water? On the Internet? realised a long time ago that they education officers, teachers and doing anything, seems to be Spacetime Dainik, 29 April would only be successful in their headmasters. The group also says it encouraging such behaviour.

THIS PAGE CONTAINS MATERIAL SELECTED FROM THE PRESS 16 4 - 10 MAY 2001 NEPALI TIMES

Teeing off in the sun ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Like father, like daughter ○○○○○○○○○○ As the summer progresses and the golfing greens get greener, one-day golfing tournaments are happening all over the Valley. The most recent was a tournament Young Malika Rana wants to be organised by the Shangri La Hotel at the Gokarna Golf Resort. 99 golfers, including diplomats and entrepreneurs,

a tennis star. PICS COURTESY SHANGRI LA

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 1998 and Pakistan in 1999, Karsolia from India (ranked 74 by where, just two years after she the All India Tennis Association, began playing, she was ranked the AITA) in the finals of both 13th among the 26 under-14 the ladies junior female singles. girls playing. Karsolia’s advantage was her At the Delhi Lawn Tennis greater experience, which she Association’s DSCL Open Tennis used cleverly, forcing Malika to Championship, formerly known as constantly use her weaker the Shriram Open Tennis forehand. Championship, in October 2000, Malika practises for two

ALOK TUMBAHANGPHEY Malika managed to serve, volley hours everyday on weekdays and Golfers in action at the Shangri La's one-day tournament. and smash all the way to the three hours on weekends. Her

ALOK TUMBAHANGPHEY teed off on 28 April. The grand prize—a trip for two to ○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○ He was runner-up in the quarter finals. This championship dad is her inspiration and coach, ew young Nepalis take veteran’s (over 40) singles is the largest tournament on the but she lacks tournament Vienna by Lauda Air, accommodation there in a luxury f seriously enough to think division of the recent second Indian tennis circuit. And in the experience. “Players in Nepal get hotel, and a 51cm colour TV—was taken by Pawan about it as a career option. King’s Cup Open Tennis second King’s Cup Tennis as little as two tournament Chawala of Sun Apparels Industries who scored 40 stable The reasons are clear—lack of Championship organised by the Tournament in Kathmandu, last experiences a year, while in India ford points. The runner-up, Major DB Gurung, received a opportunity, an uncertain future All Nepal Lawn Tennis week, Malika faced Niana tournaments are held constantly. ticket for two to Bangalore and accommodation there at the and remarkably little money. But Association (ANLTA) in ALOK TUMBAHANGPHEY That is where the experience Le Meridian Hotel. 15-year-old Malika Rana has Kathmandu. His showcase at comes in handy,” Malika The Soaltee Crowne Plaza is organising the annual decided she wants to be a tennis home displays dozens of cups acknowledges. Nepali players Soaltee Challenge Cup on 4-5 May at the Royal Nepal Golf star. This is no idle fantasy, she he’s won at tournaments in cannot really make up for the Course. The Soaltee has been organising championships is already beginning to realise Nepal and overseas. And to expense involved in going abroad, and tournaments for the past 13 years. The Soaltee her dreams. these, young Malika is slowly even to neighbouring countries, Challenge Cup, one PICS COURTESY SHANGRI LA Malika, a grade nine student adding her share. where they are often invited. of the most popular at Shuvatara School in Lalitpur, Although Malika has not yet The ANLTA does seem to events on the Nepali began to play tennis rather late, clinched any titles, her slowly be catching up, which is golfing scene, was just four years ago, when she was performance is worth keeping encouraging for players like won last year by MB 11. “I was into swimming at first track of. She might well be the Malika. As the turnout at the Limbu. Prizes will be but my father inspired me to play only Nepali to have played six King’s Cup showed, more Nepalis awarded to not just tennis,” she says. She even hopes tournaments at such a young age. are being attracted to tennis. the winners and to go to a professional tennis And her career is still young. She This development is as good for runners-up in all age academy abroad. has participated in the Malika as it will be for the future groups, but also for Malika’s father and coach, International Tennis Federation’s of the sport in Nepal, if this the most birdies, the closest pin, the longest drive, a lucky Manoj Rana, is one the few Central Asian Tournament talented young player does indeed seven, and, oddly, the most elegant golfer. decent tennis players in Nepal. (under-14) twice, in Sri Lanka in become a star. t

allege this is why the Council What happens to people like looks out just for itself and insists Bogati when the money and the Running with the wind on being the deciding authority power to make decisions remain on everything. Organisations like under the control of an the NAAA, a government- overarching central body is that affiliated body to which all he must wait until the NSC goes ALOK TUMBAHANGPHEY because they couldn’t pass the ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ English exams, and they were athletes representing the country through his entire profile and 38-year old Tika Bogati from disgruntled. “We did not have the must belong, are dependant on decides whether they will employ Gorkha district is a gold medal necessary connections to get us the the NSC and the NOC for the him as a coach. If the NAAA or winning marathon runner, but no certificates,” said a long time colleague budget to organise events and another body dedicated to one seems to remember him any of Bogati who spoke on condition of train their members. (Some athletics alone had a little more more. From an average Nepali anonymity. But Bogati doesn’t mind. organisations, like the All Nepal power, they could take such family, as an 18-year-old Bogati “The certificate is just a symbol, I am Football Association (ANFA), do decisions, and focus on develop- did what many Nepali boys his confident enough to go and train occasionally receive funding from ing the capabilities of Nepali age did then and still do—join other younger people if the international bodies.) On a tiny athletes. The NSC could focus on the Royal Nepal Army in the non- NSC gives me a chance to do so,” Rs 200,000 budget, the NAAA larger sporting issues, instead of gazetted ranks. That was where he says. provides free training for amateur getting involved in the nitty-gritty the athlete in him emerged—for Bogati’s case is emblematic of athletes, organises competitions of the administration of all sports. reasons one might not immedi- what happens to many Nepali and somehow manages to meet Bogati wants to go back to ately guess. sportspersons. The problem overheads. Kamal Lama, a Gorkha and train young athletes “In the army performing well MIN BAJRACHARYA revolves around money—the member of the NAAA executive there, but he may never be able to in sports betters your chances of Gold medal-winning Tika Bogati’s NSC, which is an umbrella group committee says that realistically, do so formally. He still does his getting promotions,” says Bogati, for all other government sporting the association’s annual budget daily practice runs and visits the who rose to the rank of sergeant hopes of coaching young marathoners isn’t even enough to organise a NAAA hoping the association can bodies, gets a good deal of t before he voluntarily retired in funding from donors, and many proper competition. do something for him.

1997, with enough years of may be dashed by the NSC. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

service to earn a pension. “I had ○○○○○○○○ promotions at the back of my receives a monthly salary of Rs marathoners. mind through all my efforts,” he 1,534, part of the Nepal Sports The NSC does not recognise adds. While serving in the army, Council (NSC) attempt to Bogati as a national trainer, the annual King’s Banner Inter- support athletes who have although he and 29 other former Barrack Games offered Bogati the performed well for the country. national athletes recently The fastest way to receive money worldwide.SM chance to see just how fast he “What can we do with Rs 1,534,” participated in the International could be, and soon he was asks Bogati, who considers Amateur Athlete Federation’s As of now 86,000 agents in 180 countries are providing this service. participating in non-Army himself lucky because he also Coaches Education Certificate Easy payment in Nepal currency only. Fast and secure. sporting events. He first receives his army pension. This System training programme Authorised Agent in Nepal since May 1993 represented Nepal in the men’s may change when the Nepal sponsored by the International marathon in the fifth South Asian Sports Council (NSC) finalises a Development Co-operation Federation Games held in Sri plan in the works to increase the Programme and organised by the Lanka in December 1991 where monthly payment to anyone who he managed to snag bronze. He has won gold for Nepal. (NOC) and the Nepal Amateur continued to run steadily and in After Bogati took first place Athletics Association (NAAA). the seventh SAF Games in Madras in the seventh SAF Games, he The two week long training in 1995, he jogged into first place decided to retire from programme was meant to sharpen Tridevi Marg, Thamel, Kaiser Mahal, in the men’s 42 km marathon. competition and be a coach or a their skills so they could train P.O.Box: 2656, His performance in the ’95 trainer. Until 1997, he trained younger athletes professionally. Kathmandu,Nepal Games impressed the government athletes in the army, but now that Unfortunately, only 13 of the 30 Tel: 418363, Fax: 977-1-423422, 426546 enough to award him the he is retired, there’s no avenue for participants passed both the Pokhara Contact: Tel: 061-23060 prestigious Dakshin Bahu him to impart his knowledge to written and practical exams— award and Rs 100,000. He also the next generation of most were denied the certificates CULTURE 4 -10 MAY 2001 NEPALI TIMES 17 SAVING FAITH The hill of the flaming lotusby DESMOND DOIG any many legends ago, the A completely serious and learned survey of m valley of Kathmandu was Swayambhu by a foreign agency has concluded that turquoise like, so beautiful

that sages who came to meditate the number of monkeys always remains the same. along its shore considered it sacred. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Upon its waters rested a single lotus from which rose a flame as colourful as settled in the new valley, the city they it did the sages of old. a rainbow. In time it was called built was called Manjupatan. Several Tibetan monasteries have Swayambhu, the self-born, self- A combination of legend and begun to ring the hill and even climb existent one. Among those who heard history places the origin of the great it. An adjoining hill is covered with of its divine reputation was the great stupa of Swayambhunath about two buildings housing such diverse people Mongolian saint Manjushri, who thousand years ago. While repudiating as neohippies, Tibetan refugees, came to pay homage. When he saw divine intervention, geologists support Buddhist nuns, the first Western the lotus for himself, so great was his the belief that the Kathmandu Valley Rinpoche, artists and Tibetologists. desire to approach it that he cut the was once under water. One of the nuns, who claimed to have Valley wall with his flaming sword of Swayambhunath hill was probably lived centuries ago when the reigning wisdom to allow the water to drain an island, which in a way it is today, Malla king was so impressed by away. The lotus settled on a low hill a forested island in emerald fields, meeting her that he gifted her land and and there Manjushri worshipped and which attracts pious individuals and money for a monastery, tells fortunes caused a shrine to be built. As people religious institutions as certainly as and unhexes the hexed. I’ve taken a problem to her. She’s quite impressive. Leading to the top of the hill are a flight of ancient steps and in recent years, a motorable road that stops reverently short of the summit. To take the 365 steps is not only meritorious but rewarding as well, for it climbs through trees and piled rock, fairly shattering experience the first nearby, the reigning king of Nepal the original monastery and declared past huge painted images of the time around to find monkeys sliding comes as Vishnu incarnate, and an to the assembled monks that if their Buddha and the traditional vehicle of towards one at vast speed, chattering aspect of Buddha, to receive the deities were truly divine they would the gods, a horse, an elephant, a happily to themselves as they pass by. homage of hundreds of gilded feel the cut of his sword. As he slashed peacock, a garuda, a lion. There are The children merely imitate them. Buddha statues brought from all at images about him they miraculously also the imprints of Manjushri’s feet I’ve always wished one could slide over the valley. Countless Hindus cried out in pain. Brought to Nepal in in stone. And hordes of monkeys, rapidly upward, for legend again and Buddhists climb the hill to 1959, they remain happily mute. which have given Swayambhunath promises nirvana and all the bliss in worship, for Swayambhunath is It is possible to see stupa the popular tourist name, it to those who can climb the 365 sacred to them both. As I sat to Swayambhunath hill from every ‘monkey temple’. A slightly stairs in a single breath. sketch, procession after procession, corner of the Kathmandu Valley. irreverent legend accounts for them At the foot of the stairs are three each led by a band of flutes, pipes There are magic moments when also. When Manjushri had his hair old and enormous statues of Gautama and drums, descended the hill, from a cloudy sky that shadows the cut on the hill, every hair became a Buddha in meditation. Old people marking the last day of the holy entire landscape, a shaft of light tree and the lice monkeys. A make obeisance as they pass, touching Buddhist month of Gunla. illuminates the hill, its stupa and its completely serious and learned their foreheads to the crumbling Now a colourful Tibetan style golden spire. It is easy, then, to survey by a foreign agency has pedestals. The young climb the gateway stands at the entrance to remember the ancient legend. The concluded that the number of statues happily in play or to pose for the stairs and a wall of prayer divine lotus floating on a lake. The monkeys always remains the same. tourist cameras. The benign wheels promises to circumscribe the mystic flame. The self-born, self- Where the steps grow suddenly expressions never change. The huge hill. Not far away is a small new existent one—Swayambhu. t steep below the summit, iron handrails hands remain at rest. If their monastery that enshrines some have been thoughtfully provided, that meditation permits, what amazing miraculous images. Long ago in (Excerpted with permission from help the falling pilgrim only when sights they must have seen! Tibet, when an agnostic king tried In the Kingdom of the Gods, Harper Collins, 1994.) MIN BAJRACHARYA children and monkeys permit. It’s a Every twelve years in a field to stamp out Buddhism, he came to

NEPALITERATURE by MANJUSHREE THAPA

No matter what, Krishna Man has not betrayed his father’s Govinda Giri Prerana and grandfather’s good name—he hasn’t lost his integrity. No one in all the neighbourhood has ever derided his family with the smelly cap of wrongdoing. When he stands before all his bosses, and before those considered important in the DRIVEN BY INSPIRATION neighbourhood, everyone’s ten fingers join in namaste. Krishna Man is most civilised. Everyone says so. ovinda Giri ‘Prerana’ is one of Krishna Man to stay hungry through a couple of mealtimes every Today Krishna Man is extremely sick with hunger. His back g today’s most prolific writers, month. Of all the office’s staff members, he’s probably the one and shoulders feel weakened by starvation. There are churning out as many as six who buys the cheapest snacks. bundles of bills in his hands. He is at the moment translated

KUMAR ALE books in a single year. He writes What can he do about this? It’s just a myth that bank jobs are into Counter Man. If he wished, it would take no off-day for him novels, he writes stories, he writes poems, he translates plush—not only does he not meet the demands of his wife and to slip eight or ten thousand into his pockets, and disappear literary writings into Nepali, and he is by far the most energetic children, he finds it hard to set straight even the simplest of on the pretence of going to the toilet. How difficult can it be to figure in any gathering of (generally quite listless) Nepali problems. slip eight or ten bills into the pocket? litterateurs. He manages to write even as he holds down a day job Krishna Man has integrity, he doesn’t resort to Krishna Man is hardened today. as an internal auditor in Tribhuvan University’s Inspection wrongdoing; everyone trusts him. But perhaps Paying no mind to the rest of the world, Division. The inspiration that drives ‘Prerana’ (this Nepali word because of his integrity, money has never shown he has placed ten bills of a thousand into means inspiration) is obviously quite forceful: he is also currently much faith in him. his pocket. Slowly he stands up, and editing a literary magazine dedicated to contemporary free verse. All day long, Krishna Man is translated excusing himself from a nearby The story below appears in his 1990 short story collection into Counter Man. Counter Man is rich. colleague, goes outside. There is a Antaraal, and shows the mercurial wavering of the identity of Playing with one paisa coins and bundles guard with a loaded gun at the door. The an ordinary man. of thousand rupee bills, lots of people cocked gun in the guard’s hands arouses receive payments of thousands and no fear in him. But outside the door Krishna Man: Counter Man thousands from his hands. But when stands integrity—entirely unarmed—and evening falls, he is translated back from this makes Krishna Man slacken. In the end he’d come to be known by his nickname Counter Counter Man to Krishna Man. Krishna Man Poor Krishna Man gets ashamed, Man. is poor: he’s liberated from his duty only after and feels weak and watery. He returns He had entered that bank as an employee with the name of placing all the money from the counter in the once again to his counter. Slowly he mixes those Krishna Man, and since the day of his appointment he had for bank’s safe. Then his pockets are empty. bills into a bag filled with countless bills. And finally the the most part performed counter duty. Ever since a colleague It’s not that on some days, when he’s faint with Krishna Man living inside Krishna Man is set to peace. jokingly called Krishna Man Counter Man, everyone had taken hunger, Krishna Man doesn’t feel the urge to take a handful of In the meanwhile he is bathed in sweat. to calling him Counter Man. Now things are so far gone that bills, and go to a good restaurant to eat till his stomach bursts; Krishna Man calls the peon Hari Bahadur and asks for only when a staff member addresses him as Krishna Man but the intellectual integrity inside attacks the base thoughts that water. Hari Bahadur brings a glass and places it in his hands. does he remember that he is indeed Krishna Man. arise from such momentary impulses, and he changes back into Krishna Man begins to gulp the water. The engorged Krishna Man is hungry today. a meek and civilised worker—into the same hungry, dissatisfied, veins on the neck of the famished man are clearly visible It’s not just today that he’s hungry; it’s a common matter for and suffering Krishna Man. at this time. t 181818 CITY 4 - 10 MAY 2001 NEPALI TIMES ABOUT TOWN BOOKWORM Namma: A Tibetan Love Story Kate Karko EATING OUT Hodder and Staughton, Great Britain, 2000 Thai Food Festival The Hyatt Regency Rs 800 Kathmandu. Ingredients flown in from Thailand. Karko’s comfortable upbringing did not prepare her for meeting her Tibetan husband, 11-20 May. A lucky diner will win a round trip to Tsedup, in India. For nine years they had to live on England and could not see his Bangkok, courtesy Thai Airways, and a three night family. When they made it back, Karko was accepted into the tribe and called stay at the Grand Hyatt Erawan, Bangkok. “Namma”. She lived in a tent on the remote grasslands of Amdo, at the far east of the Barbecue at the Ropes Noon-2.30pm, 7pm- Tibetan Plateau. Namma is a travel book and love story for our times. 10.30pm daily at the Mandarin Terrace. Saturday Splash, brunch buffet with use of the pool, Rs 555 Two Wheels in the Dust: From Kathmandu to Kandy Anne Mustoe per head, including a soft drink or beer, Rs 229 for Virgin Publishing Ltd, Great Britain, 2001 children under three ft, including a soft drink. The Rs 1,680 Everest Hotel, 488100 Mustoe, an English schoolteacher, made an amazing bicycle journey from Nepal to Sri Sekuwa (BBQ) Night. Starters, meats and vegetarian selections, an array of desserts, Lanka, spurred on by a man she saw praying to Hanuman in the middle of a hectic traditional dances. Rs 699 per head including a complimentary drink. Fridays at Dwarika’s Udaipur street. She decided to ride through the Indian subcontinent—and back three Hotel. 479488 millennia—to the origins of the Ramayana. With her chosen method of transport, she Weekend Splash and buffet Shangri La Village, Pokhara. Adults Rs 550, children upto 12 was able to interact with local people and learn of their customs and daily lives in ways 50 percent discount. Noon—3pm. 412999 closed to the conventional traveller. Wet & Wild Summer Swimming and a buffet lunch with Kantipur FM. Saturdays at the Godavari Village Resort. Adults Rs 600, children Rs 350. Tax extra. 560675, 560775 Nadia, Captive of Hope: Memoir of an Arab Botega Restaurant and Tequila Bar authentic spicy Mexican specialities, steaks, salsa and Woman Fay Afaf Kanafani meringue music. Thamel. 266433 Penguin, India, 1999 Naked Chef Restaurant Nagarkot. Indian, and continental gourmet cuisine. Great views. Rs 472 262039, 680115 The birth of Kanafani (Nadia) coincided with the end of WWI and the collapse of the Movenpick ice cream Exotic desserts at the new ice-cream lounge on Darbar Marg. Ottoman Empire. She moved from her native Lebanon to Palestine and lived there Soaltee lunch buffet at the Garden Terrace Restaurant. International cuisine, salads, until the creation of Israel made her a refugee. She reconstructs her life as an abused soups, desserts. Rs 700 for full buffet. Rs 450 for soup, salad, dessert. Rs 300 for salad. Rs child, a young smother, a widow twice over, a breadwinner, and ultimately a survivor. 450 for children under four ft. Tax extra. The Death of Vishnu Manil Suri MUSIC Bloomsbury Publishing, Great Britain, 2001 Love thy earth, love thy neighbour The Worldcolor band. Tickets Rs 1,000, 500, 350 at Tik Rs 895 ‘n’ Tok, New Road; Dexo Music and East meets West, Thamel; Namaste Supermarket, Vishnu, the odd-job man in a Mumbai apartment block, lies dying on a staircase Jawalakhel; Bluebird, Lazimpat and Tripureswor; International Club, Sanepa; all Nanglo landing. Fevered, he looks back on his love affair, while all around him is played out Bakery Café outlets, and Kathmandu Environmental Education Project, Thamel. Birendra the drama of the apartment block dwellers: bickering over shared kitchens, obsession, International Convention Centre 5 May, 5pm. dreaming, elopement… To ignite this mix of social and religious differences comes a pronouncement that Vishnu is no ordinary man. EVENTS The Panchatantra Studio 7 presents classic tales about wise conduct in life. The Naga Courtesy Mandala Book Point, Kantipath Theatre, Hotel Vajra. 4,5,6 May. 7.15pm. Tea and show, Rs 600. [email protected]. 271545 The Maoist Problem in Nepal 1998 Australian documentary on the Maoist insurgency. Tuesday, 8 May, 6pm. Baggikhana, Patan Dhoka. CLASSIFIED

Nepal Education and Book Fair 2001 Nepal’s career, educational and book fair. 4-12 May, ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ To let A small but markedly different sort of practitioners, imported vaccinations, lab test, Bhrikuti Mandap Exhibition Hall. house near St Mary’s. Expats preferred. Write minor surgical facilities, free information to: [email protected] about mountain sickness. Parking available. MEETINGS 9am-5pm. Jyatha, Thamel. Near Utse Hotel. Friends of the Bagmati River The Nepal River Conservation Trust puts forward its proposal Mountain biking HMB for all your mountain 225455, 223197 for a “Monsoon Bagmati River Festival”. Wednesday, 9 May, 3pm. Dwarika’s Hotel. 479488 biking needs—full workshop, repair facilities, all models. Pick up, delivery, professional Kodari Eco-Resort Tatopani. A few minutes EXHIBITION mechanics. Bike clothing, spare parts, from the Tibetan border, peaceful and Painting exhibition of the work of 37 artists. In memory of artist Prashanta Shrestha. accessories. Hire, buy, sell, new and pleasant stay with delicious food and friendly Organised by Kasthamandap Art Studio. Until 9 May, 10am-5pm. NAFA Gallery, Bal Mandir. second-hand bikes. Himalayan Mountain service. Hiking, Tibetan border shopping, hot 411729 Bike. www.bikingnepal.com. 437437. springs in Tatopani. Rooms with attached Exhibition of paintings Siddhartha Art Gallery concludes a two year long project with Dutch bath in the Resort and lodge-type rooms with artists Ed van der Kooj and Peter Warffemius. 7-21 May, 11am-6pm, Sunday to Friday. Square computer All kinds of graphic common bath at the Roadhouse. Special Nepal Vision II Paintings by Roy Breimon and Vaclav Pisvejc on exhibition. American Roy designing, desktop publishing, typing, rates for Nepalis, expats, travel agencies. Breimon uses a technique called reverse image” painting, acrylic on Plexiglas. Open until 29 printing. Also, Internet, email. Putalisaadak. [email protected], 480262. May, 8am-6pm, Indigo Gallery, Naxal. [email protected]. 439878. Realities An exhibition of multi-media paintings by Shova Adhikari-Wagley. Until 16 May. Exotic orchids and dwarf azaleas for sale, Alliance Francaise, Thapathali Reflexology Professional US-, Europe- extremely sophisticated. Call Dinesh or Pinki trained naturopath, therapist. Improve your ○○○○○○○○○○○○ at 424877 or email [email protected] blood circulation, energy flow. Perfect Nepali Diasporic Histories (East Nepal-Calcutta-the Caribbean–the Netherlands preventive therapy and also for specific Car for Sale. Connection) Personal reflections by Dr Glenn Mitrasingh, general secretary, International ailments. 416118 (11am-5pm) or email 1987 Toyota Tercel 4WD Station Wagon. Duty Council for Friends of Nepal, The Netherlands. Friday, 4 May, 3pm. Martin Chautari, Thapathali. [email protected]. Paid. 5 Door, 5 speed manual, 1452 cc petrol [email protected]. 246065 very good condition, 112000km. US$7,600 Subaltern agency An epistemological and methodological challenge for human science. Himalaya International Clinic in Western (NRS 560,000) Call Lee or Lynn Poole at Guy Poitevin, Centre for Cooperative Research in Social Science, Pune, India. 8 May, 5.30pm, setting, MD physician and general 524202 (Home) or 521377 (Work) Martin Chautari. For insertions ring NT Marketing at 543333-36.

For inclusion in the listing send information to [email protected] NEPALI WEATHER by NGAMINDRA DAHAL

The westerly storm systems have suddenly got more robust, as can be seen in this satellite picture of a huge cloud mass over central Nepal taken on on FM 102.4 Wednesday morning. The daily afternoon storms were full of sound and fury, but didn’t give much rain until the DSES- 02-05-2001 0300 GMT moisture-laden systems arrived from the west earlier Mon-Fri 0615-0645 BBC World Today this week. The storms brought snow down to 14,000 ft, blocking high Himalayan passes, but the rainfall was Sat 0615-0645 BBC Science in Action below 10 mm in most parts of the midhills. This was enough for the power deficit to ease. Satellite images Sun 0615-0645 BBC Agenda show that the present trend of thundershowers will Daily 2045-2115 BBC g]kfnL ;]jf] continue for another week. There is a favorable g]kfnL ;]jf]] pressure pattern over the North Ganges plains and Daily 2245-2300 BBC g]kfnL ;]jf]]] Himalaya to draw fresh westerly fronts toward the region. Western Nepal will receive more rain and snow in the upper reaches. Expect afternoon thunderstorms with occasional hail in Kathmandu. The present trend Radio Sagarmatha of pre-monsoon showers could continue in May. P.O. Box 6958, Bakhundole, Lalitpur, Nepal KATHMANDU Tel: ++977-1-545680, 545681 Fax: ++ 977-1- 530227 Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue E-mail: [email protected] www.radiosagarmatha.org 30-13 30-14 31-14 31-13 32-14 ARTS 4 - 10 MAY 2001 NEPALI TIMES 191919

group. Bravo, Ludmilla script-writer Sabine Lehmann’s Hungerhuber! rich dialogue. If the production And there are three plays, not has a weakness, it is the English Princess Sruti diction of the Nepali members of Under the banyan tree one, all of which are scripted such the ensemble. To give them their

intimacy with the MIN BAJRACHARYA that they powerfully convey simple subject. homilies that all of us Nepalis due, though, they are improving And so it is with would do well to remember. The every year.This weekend is your the portrait of acting, as always, is superb and last chance to catch this production, so rush.  Princess Sruti, well supported by director and which will be on exhibit at the Siddhartha Art Galley in Baber Mahal Revisited from 7-21 May in

an exhibition with ○○○○○○

MANESH○○○○○○○○○ SHRESTHA many facets of Nepali society. abstract paintings he annual spring presenta- But probably the best also by fellow- tion of Studio 7 at the Vajra part is the set design and the Dutch artist Piet tHotel is the only reliable costumes that transport the Warffemius. The theatre event to look forward to in audience to a faraway but radiance of the this city for many reasons. The uncannily familiar land. The princess’ smile, her Naga Theatre’s relatively small Panchatantra: Poetic Images utch painter Ed Vanderkooy is face and bearing gives us a rare look size allows actors and audience a of Wise Conduct in Life, the obsessed with beautiful women at our royalty that a photograph certain intimacy. The company’s current offering, does not plays are satirical and meaningful disappoint. The décor, dand with Asia. He has roamed would not have been able to without being didactic. Almost dominated by a banyan tree from Bali to Tibet, from Mustang to capture. Ed first spoke to Princess always adaptations of novels, films, in white is striking and Shanghai in search of subjects to Sruti for nearly two hours, getting to biographies and even plays, probably the best set design render into acrylic on canvas. He know her personality, taking Studio 7 seems to portray the in the five year history of the takes months on each portrait and photographs of her and taking it all only paints a few every year. back to The Hague to But what a few! The work for two months on Kilroy’s paintings are astounding: the painting. “She is a breathtakingly intricate thoroughly modern woman Music of love with a sharpness and of the world. She is shy but clarity that transcends not formal, and she is very Worldcolor, a musical ensemble of even a photographic knowledgeable about art. artists from around the world, will image of the subject. The It was a pleasure to paint perform for love, harmony, paintings are life-size, her,” says Ed who started spiritualism and nature this and the women all wear from dark brown and worked with Saturday, 5 May, at the Birendra International Convention Centre. traditional dresses with Ed taking lighter and lighter shades of acrylic. The two hour multi-media, multi- as much trouble painting the The result is a portrait that could cultural production promises a show Kathmandu won’t forget. dresses as the faces. The elaborate well be in the same class as the International artists like Lakota/ Sioux flute player, hoop dancer and designs, the texture of the fabric, Dutch masters exhibited in the international speaker Kevin Locke, Emile Hassan Dyer, the African-American the play of shadow and light on Amsterdam Museum.  percussionist known in Kathmandu as Jambo, Pamela Whitman, a western the robes yield rich and classical flautist from HBC, Franck Bernede, a French cellist researching a PhD stupendously life-like portraits Siddhartha Art Gallery: 411122 on the Hudko Damais of western Nepal will perform with Nepali that give the viewer a feeling of Web site: www.edvanderkooy.nl musicians. The all-star Nepali cast includes Prangat Moktan, Shristi’s tabla player, Hindustani classical flautist Manose Singh from Mahayantra, HAPPENINGS Binayak Shah from the old band Criss Cross, Rizu Tuladhar and Sunit Kansakar from Robin and Looza, rock drummer Nikhil Tuladhar, and the young vocalist from the Flower Generation Sanyog Shahi. The band has come up with a composition called Mother Gaia (the Greek mythological word for Earth). Alongside its performance, a video on Nepal’s environment jointly produced by the Nepal Forum for Environ- ment Journalists and Vista Entertainment will be projected. Singh and Bernede will perform their version of a Bach composition. And finally, Hiralal Gandarva acclaimed sarangi player will also sing some folk songs accompanied by Moktan on tabla. Sounds like fun. 

(The proceeds of the concert go to the Bagmati River Awareness and Purification Project.) DEEPENDRA BAJRACHARYA INDIGENOUS WALK: Women members of the All Nepal Conference for Ethnic People walking through the city centre on 1 May at the start of their conference this week to press demands for local autonomy.

GAURAB RAJ UPADHAYA Sharp SUMMIT AUTOGRAPH: Russian climber Sokolov Sergey signing his name on the Rum Doodle Summiter’s Club’s hall of fame in Thamel on 24 May after climbing Mt Everest. MIN BAJRACHARYA HOSPITAL STRIKE: Striking nurses outside Bir Hospital on 27 April as a handicapped man wheels himself into the ward. The strike was called off Sunday after the nurses’ demands were met. 202020 4 - 10 MAY 2001 NEPALI TIMES Under My Hat

by Kunda Dixit

ave you ever faced a Hobson’s choice about whether to go for a Pyrrhic victory while casting a “Cosmic Air... truly a different kind of airline.” Nelsonian eye over your Achilles’ heel, or letting out a can of worms from your Pandora’s box hduring a storm in a teacup with the assistance of Atilla the Hun? If so, then stop being hydra- headed, cross the Rubicon, and write to Auntie Agnes and pour out your agony. She will be only too happy to answer them by hook, or by crook. Probably the latter. Tola Ram Dugar Our first question today comes from a housewife in Sorakhuttepati who says: “For the past two Chairman decades, I have endured a househusband who snores. Yes, after all these years, I have finally realised TM Dugar Group that I have all along been married to a stereophonic Greater Himalayan Sloth Bear. He even looks like one. I have tried stuffing Q-tips into his beak, clipping his snout with a clothespin, but to no avail. "To be the best in any field requires Short of hiring an assassin, is there anything that I can do to muzzle my reverberating better half? extraordinary dedication, knowledge and Yours in anticipation, Gemma.” a will to succeed. After over 50 years in Aunty Agnes: The Taiwanese have come up with the ingenious Silent Night TM proboscis silencer business, I have profound respect and that is guaranteed to bring down the nocturnal decibel level in your bedroom. (Blurb: “Turn your husband’s roar into a purr, or your money back.”) It is quite a admiration for these qualities. handy contraption that looks rather like a World War I gas mask. Flying Cosmic Air gives me pleasure because I You can assist your husband in putting it on every night before he see these same qualities in their staff. They goes to bed, adjust the volume setting to “Low”, and you can also take the extra effort to be courteous and simply turn over and sleep the sleep of the just. With a small on- to ensure that one has a truly different experience onboard." Aunty Agnes SAAB 340 board computer that analyses the wave-length of a particular snore (no two snores are alike) the mask transmits anti-noise to cancel out your husband’s nasal saxophone. Next we have a question from Battisputali: “After getting hooked up to cable TV, I have fallen head over heels in love with the BBC’s Richard Quest. Is it realistic for me to pursue this relationship, or is it a lost cause? How do I let him know that I care for him deeply? Are there any historical records Why fly Cosmic Air’s SAAB 340 Aircraft? of affairs of this type coming to a mutually satisfactory conclusion? Yours lovingly, Nina.” ♦ One of the most popular commuter aircraft in Europe and USA. Aunty Agnes: We have it on good authority that Mr Quest is already married. Not only that, he has ♦ Seats 32 passengers on 47 cm wide seats. also quit the BBC and defected to CNN’s Money Programme. I’d suggest you switch to watching CNN ♦ Complete pressurization and environmental air-conditioning & heating, enclosed overhead stowage, very quiet cabin, wide aisle for a while and let this relationship grow on you and see how you both feel about it after a while. and a lavatory .

Logistically, it may be easier to fall in love with someone from Nepal Television. There are quite a few ♦ Safety Features: Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS), Traffic WIN A FREE TRIP Business Advantage/Cosmic/0104 hunks in the daily Farming Programme. Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), Color weather radar, High Win a FREE TRIP to Jomsom including 2 nights accommodation at Jomsom Mountain Resort for a couple. Just fill up a form onboard any Cosmic Air flight altitude passenger oxygen system, Fire resistant seat fabric and and wait for our call. You could be on your way to a fantastic holiday. Winners will be decided through lucky draws every two weeks (March - Aug 2001). The next question comes from a certain GP Koirala in Baluwatar: “Dear Aunty Agnes, I have carpet. been meaning to write to you, but something or other keeps coming up. I am having difficulty commuting to and from Singha Darbar, do you have any suggestions? Yours frantically.” Sales & Reservations: Heritage Plaza, Kamaladi, Kathmandu. Ph: 241053 (Hunting Line), 244955, 244026. Direct: (Reservations): 246882, 241052, 247121, 247132. Fax : 241051. E-mail: [email protected] ~ Web Site: www.cosmicair.com Aunty Agnes: I have checked with some constitutional experts and it seems you have a range of Ktm. Airport: 474783. Pokhara: (Sales): 061-32039, 26680. (Airport): 061-31601. Bharatpur: 056-24218. Bhadrapur: 023-21179. Jomsom: 069-29424. Tumlingtar: 029-69201. Nepalgunj: 081-23380, Biratnagar: 021-24898, Bhairahawa: 071-20919 options: a) get one of those masks with dark glasses, nose and moustache and walk to work incognito pretending to be from the Groucho faction of the Marxist-Leninists, b) go underground by digging a tunnel from Baluwatar to Singha Darbar c) Just buy a Silent Night TM Proboscis Silencer and sleep at home.

FAIR AND LOVELY