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2 4 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH#185 2004 Strike while the iron is hot very four years, in his infinite wisdom, God gives humankind a bonus day. This Leap Year it falls on Sunday, 29 February—a www.nepalitimes.com Ereward from the Almighty for living our daily lives fulfilling Lord #185 27 February - 6 March 2004 24 pages Rs 25 Bishnu’s wishes, and an extra 24-hour period in which we can do good deeds like eradicate polio and punish the corrupt. And what a windfall it has been for our subterranean comrades who Rizal’s fast smartly seized the opportunity to incorporate the extra day in their Ballot lesson marathon five-day banda and bring the country to another grinding halt. Bhutani human rights leader in exile Teknath Rizal says he will soon go Using the Gregarious Calendar to convert a four-day strike into a five- on a hunger strike outside the SAARC day strike without actually adding a day is a stroke of genius. Secretariat in Kathmandu if Bhutan does not begin repatriating refugees. Physicists and social scientists are fascinated by how Nepal has defied Rizal is sending a letter to the Bhutani king asking him to start Newton’s Law by proving that a UPHILLin BAJURA taking back the 100,000 Bhutani UMID BAGCHAND body in a state of rest can actually refugees in Nepal and 30,000 in UNDER MY HAT be brought to a state of even greater India who were evicted 13 years ago.n the end, it is always ordinarysuspended food aid in Dailekh “If the king does not respond,” RizalNepalis who suffer when food isbecause of the security situation. Kunda Dixit rest by the application of an said, “I will begin my fast-unto-death.” external force. From the scientific point of view, it is a discovery of the Rizal spent 12 years in jail in BhutanIused as a weapon. Kailali and Kanchanpur of the same magnitude as being able to attain a temperature even colder than after being extradited by Nepal’sWhen the Maoists looted foodwestern tarai have also been hit. Panchayat government and was absolute zero. released after an internationaldestined for the mid and far-westernHowever, the WFP’s sub-regional Most Nepalis now realise that things can’t go on like this any longer: campaign by Amnesty International.districts two months ago, the UN’schief here, Padam Bahadur Singh, said food for aid is due to restart in we can’t wait another four years for another Leap Day. We must be more World Food Programme (WFP) Rukum and Rolpa later this year and creative, even more resourceful and inspired in inventing new ways of suspended its aid which was a 400,000kg of grain has been doing nothing. As usual, His Majesty’s Government lacks the political lifeline in this traditionally food earmarked. The other food aid will to do nothing. It must standardise and streamline the application deficit area of Nepal. The conflict donor, the German group GTZ, procedure for declaring general strikes and hartals so that they don’t fall has made the situation much more works in 30 districts and also pulled on weekends and national holidays, so that the banda calls by various precarious and the people of Bajura out of Dailekh in December. “But factions don’t clash and to coordinate the timetable for strikes by and other districts are on the move we have received assurances from the bringing out a shutdown calendar for 2061. in search of food and work. Many families from remote areasMaoists, there is more security now, The government must immediately set up a Department of and we will restart the aid soon,” said Bandobast under the Ministry of Home and Hearth so people can stay of Bajura have descended to the district headquarter in Martadi. OneDietrich Stotz from GTZ. home and relax. If the government doesn’t fulfil these demands with However, locals are already immediate effect, we will declare a general strike as soon as the current Weekly Internet Poll # 125 of them is Dal Bahadur Biswakarma, Q. Do you agree the extradition of two senior running low on food. This is usually general strike is over, that is if someone else hasn’t already declared a who says, “After the food-for-work Maoists indicates New Delhi’s policy shift? the time of year adult men from general strike on those days, in which case we will strike at the next program pulled out, we had no more every family from these parts opportunistic moment. hope. We had to come here.” He says many of the younger men from hismigrated in search of jobs, but this village and adjoining areas have goneyear entire families are moving out. to India. The ones who end up in At last week’s Bajura District Total votes:991 Martadi are the poorest of the poor:Development Committee meeting,

Weekly Internet Poll # 126. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.comthey don’t even have money for thethe contractor transporting the grain Q. How would you describe the status of bus fare to the south. to Bajura was blamed for being human rights in Nepal? The WFP aid was the last hopehand-in-glove with the Maoists. for about 10,000 people in thisCommittee members hope supplies district who, for the past threecould restart if the WFP can be years,worked in road and bridgeconvinced it was a security breach. construction in return for food Local Development Officer grains. But when the Maoists lootedSurya Nath Koirala told us many 6,500kg of rice being taken onBajura families are on the verge of mountain goats from Sanfebagar tostarvation. “We are looking

Bajura on 22 December, WFPat unimaginable suffering if the KIRAN PANDAY suspended its program. food-for-work program does notADULT FRANCHISE: A student casts her ballot in elections for the Padma Besides Bajura, the UN hasresume.” Kanya Campus student union on Thursday. Turnout was about 25 percent at valley colleges despite threats and a five-day strike by the Maoists. Analysts took this as an indication that it may also be possible to hold national and There are many ways we, as citizens, can exercise our rights in a local elections if there is political will. democracy as we have seen in recent weeks:

Lightning Strike: Work stoppage without warning, doesn’t strike the same place twice Lucky Strike: A strike which achieves its result as a result of a fluke and not because of the force of its logic General Strike: Work-to-rule by top army brass Three Strikes: Means you’re out Transport Entrepreneurs Strike: Nepali entrepreneurship at its shiny best under which passengers are required to ride on the roof and not sit in reclining seats in air conditioned comfort, because that would be against the national interest, and we need to protect domestic industry, don’t we? Gas Station Strike: If the government doesn’t let us rob people in broad daylight hours and expose them to carcinogens, we will close down our pumps indefinitely Pre-emptive Strike: Announcing your banda before someone else announces his banda, also known as ‘The Early Worm Ends Up in the Bird’s Gizzard’ Ramp Bus Strike: Airlines care so much about passenger safety they are willing to lose Rs 3 million a day to keep forcing domesticated passengers to ride ramp buses built in the early Malla period out of discarded tin cans Hunger Strike:: This is what most Nepalis have been doing for the past few decades Pen-down Strike: This column will be terminated with immediate effect in defiance of the Essential Services Act unless the government ensures the uninterrupted supply of taxfree hats at a subsidised rate, and bans the imports of cheap Indian hats

CDO Regd No. 194/056/57 Lalitpur, Central Region Postal Regd. No. 04/058/59 foundations of their careers began. EDITORIAL 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH#185 2004 OP-EDThey can’t help behaving the way 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH#185 2004 2 they do. 3

Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, ChiefKunda Editor: Dixit Non-government bodies thrive NEW DELHI — The alma mater of Desk Editors:Trishna Gurung, Jemima Sherpa Design:Kiran MaharjanWeb: Bhushan Shilpakar on mediocrity and the fear of Baburam Bhattarai is the epicenter Advertising:Sunaina Shah [email protected] New Delhi has a large Subscription:Anil Karki,[email protected] success. Nepal needs to remain of Indian Marxism in all its hues. Sanchaya Kosh Building, Block A-4th Floor, Lalitpur population of Nepalis and it is GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal poor, badly-governed, Named after an illustrious Fabian, Tel: 01-5543333-6, Fax: 01-5521013 Printed at Jagadamba Press, Hatiban: 01-5547018 mismanaged, corrupt and increasing. Most have been driven [email protected], www.nepalitimes.com Afraid of bravery the Jawarharlal Nehru University inefficient otherwise they would Nepal frominto exile by theJNU excesses of No wonder we never get ahead: we fear success (JNU) continues to offer safe 1985 in Kathmandu is now a spent circulation. In the business of lose theirraison-d’etre . Tax sinecures to all shades of crimson. Indiansforce are in Nepal. turning pessimisticMaobadi militia about and the monarchist Nepal news, bad news is good news. And officials don’t want to streamline Limo liberals and champagne The other two Nepal ‘experts’ ofmilitary. If political parties could get TEARING OURSELVES APART here may be many reasons things besides keeping alive: like The campus rumour is that he for Nepal’s slow progress. having a free and independent of course the pseudo-intellectuals collection procedures and fear Indian academia are Prof their act together, this is a large f all that is transpiring around us wasn’t so serious, we would have fallen who live like parasites off the anyone who tries to inject some briefed Indian Foreign Secretary constituency waiting to be built. At off our chairs laughing at just how daft we have shown ourselvesT to beBut of the main one is our fear voice. All around, we see the Shashank on the eve of his Dharmadasani of Banaras Hindu JNU itself, there are 25 Nepali late. The establishment has a care-a-hang attitude, the civil service manifestaion of timid minds that media would also lose their chance honesty into the system. How else STATE OF THE STATE University and Prof Parmananda of I of success itself. departure for Kathmandu. Muni is students. They have dreams for a couldn’t be bothered, the private sector hasn’t shown itself able to overcome to pontificate if things are sorted would they be able to squeeze the Politicians fear that national fear success. CK Lal a cordon bleu republican and Delhi University. Both have little its own greed and the revolutionaries don’t seem to mind they are on a path out. In fact, if they are not taxpayer for personal benefits? socialists grace its faculties, seminar hope for the future of democracy inNew Nepal, but the lack of to self-destruction. problems may soon be solved.If The security apparatus in this doesn’t hide his fascination for involved in sorting things out, Taxpayers don’t want to pay tax? rooms resound with echoes of the country that they have spent leadership to transform those If everything was going well and the country was steaming full-speedthat happens they will lose their country has now got a taste of another JNU almunus, Baburam then they are against anyone else Ridiculous. It is the tax-collector Lenin. Mao is masticated in the their lives studying. The contrast dreams into hopes is felt acutely. ahead to a bright future, this complacency would have been excusable. But power, their budgets have bloated. Bhattarai. Muni feels the atrocities who is. who doesn’t want the people to mess halls. For the present, the Indian at a time of multiple crises when salvation lies in pulling ourselves up by Total strength has grown from attributed to Maobadis in Nepal between the despondency of these our bootstraps, this fatalism isn’t just idiotic— it shows a lemming-like Students gather in hostel establishment under US tutelage is GUEST COLUMN 45,000 to 70,000, and they are Ditto for the student union pay tax. are government propaganda. No royalist professors and the upbeat suicide instinct. All of us in our little cocoons canteens after a state-subsidised mood of the republican Muni is solidly behind a constructive When it comes to bargaining and compromise, Nepalis can’t even Rajeebshow L Satyal better equipped. An end to leaders who fear success because surprise, then, that Bhattarai they would have to actually go behind high walls are afraid of dinner and discuss the revolution mystifying. monarchy. Academics who want to enlightened self-interest, we excel in shooting ourselves in the foot.power In tofact, manipulate. Whether it conflict now would mean going himself still believes the Khmer turn Nepal into a political science we excel in not learning from mistakenly shooting our toes off and proceed back to their classrooms and study. success. The enemy is within us: that is just around the corner. Even so, the royalists seem to be is the Maoists or the five-party back to peacetime status. Rouge’s genocide was exaggerated. laboratory to test their utopian to shoot ourselves in the foot again and again. They would have to stop taking the confidence and self-esteem we They have been doing so for the more representative of the popular alliance, all fear that a resolution of Media, too, fears success. News Bhattarai never studied under theories are supporting the Maoist The name of the game these days seems to be: everyone for himself. orders from their political mentors do not have, the insecurity we feedpast 40 years. But as soon as they pessimism about Nepal in the the crisis will mean they will have is always about the negative, the Muni, but their views about the experiment. But the common So, petroleum dealers, domestic airlines, transport unions, two-stroke three- and actually use their brains on. Let’s individually overcome graduate, the students go on to Indian capital these days. Indian wheeler owners, teachers, students, everyone is striking for somethingto share or power. The Maoists out of the ordinary. Success is not Nepal monarchy are identical. At a people of north India who independently. Today’s political rule the country, they dominate businessmen, politicians and tourists other. Strike and you shall receive, is their credo. There can be nowould better lose their reason this fear of success and sacrifice remember Indira Gandhi’s time than now to bring things to a standstill and gain concessions from a news, failure is. Political leaders all rose up from student the powerful bureaucracy, are all in deep gloom about Nepal. for being if the short-term comfort for something emergency empathise with what the government that is on its knees. turmoil is good for politics. The university is the including South Block’s babudom. A telecom executive who had Gas stations shut down for four days and the government givescountry in by prospered and permanent and true. Nepalis are going through. They cradle of their intellectual The guru of many of them is ambitious investment plans in allowing them another six months to keep on mixing kerosene withif everyone diesel got a good themselves are victims of the Professor SD Muni and they still Nepal commented ruefully: and petrol. Domestic airlines are told to get rid of decrepit ramp education.buses that Even development, where the empty People’s War Group and feel the look like vintages from the Old Bus Park, so they stop all flights for two days consult him on South Asian affairs, “Granted that the Maoists are in a ‘progressive’ communists pain of the relatives of Ganesh causing enormous losses to themselves. CAAN, which has quite a few stinky especially Nepal and Pakistan. time-warp, but what are other skeletons rattling in its own closet, buckles and allows the buses todo stay not wantin an things to go political parties doing? What is the Chiluwal. apron. Now, transporters are due to stop all buses and trucks to protestwell because an that would mean agreement for Indian and Nepali transporters better access across the king doing?” India is shining and The challenge for the Nepali their ideology is inferior. meeting border. Nepal seems to be turning into Congress and the UML is to For those who thrive on on 15 February in The Maoist revolutionary students, in what they think is a show of Somalia. channel this tacit support of the strength, decide to go ahead with their on-again-off-again five-daypoverty, prosperity is New Delhi to silent majority to resurrect shutdown. When it looked like the people were fed up and were notundesirable. going to Like introduce a new It is another marriage season in go along with forced closure, the comrades in an act of extreme bravery democracy. But the message from bacteria, they thrive on avatar of the India, but honeymooners are not blew up a Safa Tempo. Once again, it is the shopkeepers, the tea shop flocking to Kathmandu and India after the Shashank visit is: owners, the daily wage earners, the school children who suffered.decay. Children Maobadi front Pokhara these days, and there are nostability in Nepal at all cost, even if are punished again for the inability of adults to get along, penalisedDictatorships, for too, democracy has to be postponed. someone else’s greed and lack of foresight. proscribed by the Indian takers for $10 a night suites. The The choice is up to us citizens: take all this lying down and stayflourish home, in times of political government, Muni was one ofjust marrieds are off to the Maldives or go out into the streets in whatever wheels we like, open shops, instabilitytake our and upheaval. the speakers. He is all praise for and Mauritius, paying 10 times destiny in our own hands and together muster the courage to overcomeViolence fear. is their pal. Ram Raja Prasad Singh, blissfully more. Whenever there is peace, people unaware that the former terrorist have time to think about other who sabotaged the Nepali Shout up, Shout up you rich, you poor Congress’ Satygraha Movement by no more, no more random bombings of soft targets in of this

Roar up, Roar up you lower class, you middle class, you upper class thundering LLL ETTERS we have had enough within two days (Monday and Tuesday). Starting Wednesday, the THE POINT WE We are Maoists have called a five-day marginalise the expansive plans of COLOMBIA Nepal has a long way to go What’s the point? your editorialare the people for the people general strike. Another strike calledoncoming traffic. Otherwise you’ll Thanks to Karin Eichelkraut for before it becomes Colombia or asks (#184). I say, the point is:We are by the transport entrepreneursnever make it across town. drawing parallels between her Guatemala, but Karin Eichelkraut promises to be a grand event. 6 Give an angry look to other by the people SN Singh, email motherland and Nepal (‘Colombiais andright that if present trends Rise up, rise up Initially, it appeared that many ofdrivers when they cut you off. Nepal’, #184). It is becoming morecontinue we could be headed in you farmer, you worker, the problems in our country 7 Give an angry look to the other and more clear with every passingthat direction. The emergence of you warrior, you preacher KINGDOM OF STRIKES stemmed from the insurgency anddrivers when you cut them off. day that Nepali society is becomingdeathsquads and the growing the tussle between the king and8 Its OK to kill someone just make tell your leaders From the perspective of distance, it more and more militarised. The numbers of disappearances the palace. Now, it appears sure you don’t injure them. That is that we matter. looks like Nepal has become the people, who were traumatised showsand a disturbing trend, which, everyone has a problem with far too expensive. kingdom of strikes. Last week, disgusted with the politics of unless curbed, will inevitably everything. If Nepal was a 9 It is preferable to drive a pick-up Wake up, wake up there was an indefinite strike by violence practiced by the Maoistslead to a complete breakdown of computer, we could just defrag truckthe for a few reasons: you have you dalit, you women, petroleum dealers which was are now falling victim to the law and order and a rise in petty whole thing, reinstall the hard discautomatic right of way over you children, you parents resolved in two days (Tuesday atrocities of the security forces.crime. It is important to heed one and everything would start everyone else no matter what tell the moabadis, the khaobadis, and Wednesday). Early this week Why the soldiers and policemenparticular warning from functioning again. Why don’t people(except for the large trucks which the political parties, the monarchy there was another indefinite strike have to behave so recklessly whenColombia: most of the people like Prachanda, Baburam, Koirala,are gods) we will not be ignored by airline operators which ended they know their action just breedswho are being killed there today Madhab Nepal and all the infected10 If you must get home on time... more terrorists is beyond are victims of gangland crime Open up, Open up viruses in our nation go on walk. comprehension. It must be clearand to not conflict. indefinite strike and stop 11 Traffic lights are only a you janjatis, you paharis, the senior army generals what isJens Nordberg, Kathmandu you madhesis, you bhoteys breathing? That would solve all suggestionthe of what to do, so make happening on the ground, but it is don’t you see issues. up your own mind! time to come clean with it and admit we are the power Pravesh Saria, email12 If you are a recent migrant to that crimes have been committed and the city, make sure to cover your publicly punish those culpable. Get up, Get up eyes when walking across the Otherwise the army’s reputation is in you Nepali, you Gorkhali street. If you cannot see it, it danger of being permanently tainted. raise your hands cannot hurt you. The generals’ argument that thisHEROJIG to show them the strength 13 Insurance for bicycle riders is would hurt the morale of the soldiersThanks for sharing with us the cheap and lucrative. That’s why is facetious. Isn’t letting abductions,art of The Adventures of Herojig Stand up, Stand up cyclers seem as if they are trying torture and rape going unpunishedby Jiggy Gaton. Some of the you city dweller, you villager hard to get themselves hurt . going to be even worse for theirstrip’s culture shock shook me fight 14 If you drive a motorcycle and morale if the people turn againstinto grinning. Is he making a living for your rights TRAFFIC GURU you can create a three-hour long them? The Royal Nepali Army mustfrom this? Let’s see some more traffic jam by sliding up along the I have jotted down my own Nepal clean up its act, not because theHerojig. slow traffic and filling all the gaps, Come out, Come out Traffic Rule Book to add to the donors are putting pressure on themIan Powell, San Francisco please do it. you from the mountains, suggestions provided by David or the human rights organisations 15 NEVER, EVER, back your car you from the hills, you from the Cloud in ‘Trafficking in Kathmandu’ are criticising them, but because if to free up a jam. terai (#176) to assist drivers who may they don’t the Nepali people will have show them need guidance in attempting this lost trust in them. If not, then I’m Who is this Herojig? The guy your force PS: Always carry a printed version afraid, we are headed in the same extreme sport: is insane. of these rules so when you get direction as Colombia and Karin pulled over by police you can Ganesh Malla, Kathmandu Link up, Link up 1 Whoever occupies the space Eichelkraut’s descriptions will soon show this to them and they will let you Hindus, you Buddhists, first, wins. apply equally to Nepal as it does to you go. you Muslims 2 Avoid driving into a pothole even her country. hand in hand if the alternative is a head-on come out into the streets collision. Adam Friedensohn, email Name withheld on request, email 3 If you want to make a right turn then signal right. 4 If you want someone to pass you on the right, then signal right. 5 Try to drive as far on the wrong side of the road as possible to

MIN BAJRACHARYA foundations of their careers began. EDITORIAL 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH#185 2004 OP-EDThey can’t help behaving the way 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH#185 2004 2 they do. 3

MIN BAJRACHARYA education. Twenty percent of Nepalis are dalits, but there hasn’t been a single dalit minister since 1990. Surprisingly, it is dalit and janjati activists who are not convinced about reservation. “The NATION 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH#185 2004 NATION main problem is a centralised and 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH#185 2004 4 unitary governance system, so what 5 is more urgent is devolution to a DOMESTIC BRIEFS federal democratic structure by establishing ethno-linguistic Brussels group denounces Delhi autonomous regions without ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○ compromising the unity of A pro-Maoist group of Nepalis in Brussels has strongly condemned the our nation,” says activist Indian government for the extradition of Matrika Yadav and Suresh Ale Magar on 8 February, and says: “This despicable act has stunned and Some reservations aboutand academician Bal reservation Krishna shocked the democratic and revolutionary people and ignited fury Mahubang. among Nepali people the world over.” The government is readying a Buddhiman Tamang, adviser to Besides flaying the government, king and army, the communiqué the National Federation of signed by Surendra Bhusan, also blames “US imperialism” for supporting the counter-insurgency war. It said successive new affirmative action policy, Indigenous Communities, agrees: governments in Kathmandu have broken previous ceasefires even “What the government is doing is though the Maoists had pushed the agenda for a “forward-looking but will it work? quite revolutionary and we really political settlement”. appreciate it, but this is something But the group singled out India for special condemnation, saying: an elected government should be “This act of Indian regime is a blatant support to the unjust war of royal NARESH NEWAR for madhesi people. “The tarai regime against the Nepali people…we are extremely shocked by this population has been politically doing. Right now, this might just be a political gimmick.” despicable act of the Indian government and we strongly condemn the or the first time in Nepal’sdebarred from equal participation arrest of any leaders and any citizens who are handed over to the Activists doubt that the murderous regime of Nepal.” history, the government isand left out of economic and mulling over a job quota fordevelopment processes.” government’s small task force on F reservation can do justice to such an women and marginalised The sub-committee looking at quotas for women is recommending enormous problem. Why not start communities in the civil service. with local self-governance, they say, Dalits, madhesis, other ethnicproportional representation based Melamchi management bidders that will lead automatically to greater ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○ groups and women will benefit fromon the national census. Women have only eight percent of civil representation of minorities and help Although Melamchi construction has ground to a halt, the scheme which is expected to be and may even result in greaterpull the rug from under the Maoists. five foreign companies have applied to manage service jobs, only two percent of Kathmandu’s water supply. Two are British, two implemented by April along the lines disparities and discord. “This policy recommended by the Reservationjudges are female. “There are 525 French and one German, but officials at the Melamchi might never be implemented,” says Water Supply Project would not name them. “We will Provision-related Advisoryfemales working in government jobs and most are still not considered who has reservations aboutanthropologist and researcher, go through the letters and short list the names of the Committee led by Finance Minister reservation, told us. Nepal’s donorsMukta Lama. “There are no bidders,” Noor Tamarakar of the Kathmandu Valley Prakash Chandra Lohani. The five-permanent staff even after working Management Support Committee said. The there for decades,” says Durga are convinced the root of theassociated laws or a systematic management contract will be for four years initially and member task force has less than 45 MIN BAJRACHARYA Pokhrel of the National Women country’s inequities stem from socialapproach needed to make it will be extended for another two if the performance of days to complete its work. exclusion and are pushing for asuccessful.” the operator is found successful. Two earlier biddings The reason for the government’sCommission. Pokhrel says there should ended inconclusively after the French company, be at least one seat for a female joint- proactive government approach to The haste with which the Vivendi, was the only final bidder. Melamchi’s donors rush to take the initiative onsecretary in each ministry. “It’s time to redress the imbalance. They haveMaoists started declaring ethnic- have said tunnel construction of the $464 million affirmative action appears to beact now and this is the right way. Just even threatened to pull out fundingbased autonomous regions, most project must not begin unless the management contractor for distribution of the water is selected. aimed at countering the Maoisttalking about women’s problems will if the policy is not implementedrecently Magarant and Tharuwan, moves towards local autonomy andnot result in action,” she told us. soon. appears to be an effort to stay one to defuse its demand for inclusion “The Netherlands has alreadystep ahead of the government. This of ethnic communities in the Figuring out a quota system for z madhesi, janjati and dalit taken a strong stand,” a governmentmay explain the government’s national mainstream. source, confirming the pressure, toldtearing hurry to get the job finished. During last year’s peace process,communities may be easier said than done. There are over 100 ethnic and us. The UNDP is hiring Some independent researchers the government conceded to thecaste groups in the country and there international consultants to developadmit affirmative action elsewhere Maoist demand to establish ais no agreement about which are its own plans for reservation in casein the world has met with mixed reservation policy which includedeligible for reservation. Many fear the government committee fails toresults but do not doubt that a well- proposals for a five-year quota systemquota percentages might be excessive deliver. This has angered officials,planned quota policy is necessary in the civil service: 20 percent forin some cases and end up leaving who say the UN is wasting money.because of Nepal’s entrenched women, 10 percent for dalits and fiveothers out altogether. “There is no need for the UNDP toexclusion. Says Bal Gopal Baidya, percent for indigenous communities. While the reservation policy duplicate the work of theformer member of the National Following protests, the government government and spend so much on sounds good in theory, many are Planning Commission: “Obviously, formed a committee to come up with international consultants,” said one sceptical about whether it will work this is a controversial issue, but new recommendations. Time is official, who requested anonymity. in practice in reducing social affirmation action is needed. Things running out and many wonder if the Several janjati activists are askingwill not change on their own.” job can be finished on time. exclusion. There are also questions on the government not to jump into Bahuns, Chettris and Newars “This is a landmark for thewhy the government is in such a rush to implement the policy by the reservation bandwagon withouttogether make up 37 percent of the government,” says Dambar NarayanApril. studying the implications justpopulation but dominate 82 Yadav, member of Nepal “There is immense pressure from because of donor pressure. They saypercent of politics, bureaucracy and Sadbhabana Party and coordinator the policy may fail to achieve its goal donor agencies,” a janjati activist, of a sub-committee for reservation of proportionate representation for all communities in the civil service,

MIN BAJRACHARYA

Politics here is wild, weird, wacky Miami’s vicesand wicked, just as in Nepal Our Newars are the native Floridians, descendants of the umans, I now believe, were meant to live at sea level.department here was drummed out of office a few years agooriginal settlers and even the American Indians who’ve We are, after all, distant relatives of water creatures. for biting a woman dancer on her posterior. In public andbeen here as a people for thousands of years. The outsiders HOur ancestors crawled out of the primordial soup, very hard. He’s now back in politics. Call him our Khum are from everywhere else in the world—cold bits of the US grew legs and lungs and eventually became us. That is, theyBahadur Khadka, with a few differences. Here our monarchand Canada, the Caribbean, South America, Haiti and started falling in love, making art and committing genocideis King Jeb Bush, of America’s great ruling dynasty. They especially Cuba. In fact, it’s the Cuban politicians that on a regular basis. may not have united the country in a heroic series of battlesmake this place seem as if it were run by the Nepali I sit now by the Atlantic Ocean in Miami Beach, Florida,a couple of hundred years ago, but they’re working at Congress Party in full grab. They’re colourful, lively and almost at the southwestern extremity of the United States.disuniting it in the same manner. rather unashamed of how much they manage to I’m in a concrete and steel building but I feel as if a one Miami is home to a proud local populace with a deep accumulate in their time in office. No wonder these guys metre wave could slop onto the beach and get my shoes wet.culture that feels itself under lasting siege from incomers. want nothing to do with Fidel Castro and his communists. How else to explain my new propensity to stay up late There’s a very relaxed attitude to life here. Like Nepalis, (reading of course), in defiance of Kathmandu’s mandatory people take ‘sun baths’. They relax a lot. They drink bed before midnight rule? alcohol at lunchtime or early afternoon, they love food and I don’t seem to get so fun and tell jokes about most things, especially politics. HERE AND THERE tired here. And, errr, That is now disappearing in Nepal, I’m sorry to say, Daniel Lak everyone gets to wear shattered at first by the growing Maoist rebellion, then the shoes wet, even here at my desk and computer on the Narayanhiti massacre and finally by the failures of the second floor. Nepali ruling elite to take the situation seriously. When I But I have to say, the breathing is easy. Nothing like a first came to Kathmandu, I thought I’d arrived in South sea breeze to blast away the pollution. There’s plenty of Asia’s version of the Caribbean. Now the country is danger oxygen and fewer clothes here. Hindu orthodoxy is nowhere of turning into Haiti. to be found. Not that there isn’t plenty that’s familiar to a I suggest that our aid sector sponsor junkets to Florida, Nepal hand here. Miami politics is wild, weird, wacky and instead of Northern Ireland or Sri Lanka, so Nepalis can see wicked, just as it is in the Himalayan Kingdom. the road ahead more clearly. Famously, a somewhat colourful senior official of the law z education. Twenty percent of Nepalis are dalits, but there hasn’t been a single dalit minister since 1990. Surprisingly, it is dalit and janjati activists who are not convinced about reservation. “The NATION 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH#185 2004 NATION main problem is a centralised and 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH#185 2004 4 unitary governance system, so what 5 is more urgent is devolution to a DOMESTIC BRIEFS federal democratic structure by establishing ethno-linguistic Brussels group denounces Delhi autonomous regions without ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○ compromising the unity of A pro-Maoist group of Nepalis in Brussels has strongly condemned the our nation,” says activist Indian government for the extradition of Matrika Yadav and Suresh Ale Magar on 8 February, and says: “This despicable act has stunned and Some reservations aboutand academician Bal reservation Krishna shocked the democratic and revolutionary people and ignited fury Mahubang. among Nepali people the world over.” The government is readying a Buddhiman Tamang, adviser to Besides flaying the government, king and army, the communiqué the National Federation of signed by Surendra Bhusan, also blames “US imperialism” for supporting the counter-insurgency war. It said successive new affirmative action policy, Indigenous Communities, agrees: governments in Kathmandu have broken previous ceasefires even “What the government is doing is though the Maoists had pushed the agenda for a “forward-looking but will it work? quite revolutionary and we really political settlement”. appreciate it, but this is something But the group singled out India for special condemnation, saying: an elected government should be “This act of Indian regime is a blatant support to the unjust war of royal NARESH NEWAR for madhesi people. “The tarai regime against the Nepali people…we are extremely shocked by this population has been politically doing. Right now, this might just be a political gimmick.” despicable act of the Indian government and we strongly condemn the or the first time in Nepal’sdebarred from equal participation arrest of any leaders and any citizens who are handed over to the Activists doubt that the murderous regime of Nepal.” history, the government isand left out of economic and mulling over a job quota fordevelopment processes.” government’s small task force on F reservation can do justice to such an women and marginalised The sub-committee looking at quotas for women is recommending enormous problem. Why not start communities in the civil service. with local self-governance, they say, Dalits, madhesis, other ethnicproportional representation based Melamchi management bidders that will lead automatically to greater ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○ groups and women will benefit fromon the national census. Women have only eight percent of civil representation of minorities and help Although Melamchi construction has ground to a halt, the scheme which is expected to be and may even result in greaterpull the rug from under the Maoists. five foreign companies have applied to manage service jobs, only two percent of Kathmandu’s water supply. Two are British, two implemented by April along the lines disparities and discord. “This policy recommended by the Reservationjudges are female. “There are 525 French and one German, but officials at the Melamchi might never be implemented,” says Water Supply Project would not name them. “We will Provision-related Advisoryfemales working in government jobs and most are still not considered who has reservations aboutanthropologist and researcher, go through the letters and short list the names of the Committee led by Finance Minister reservation, told us. Nepal’s donorsMukta Lama. “There are no bidders,” Noor Tamarakar of the Kathmandu Valley Prakash Chandra Lohani. The five-permanent staff even after working Management Support Committee said. The there for decades,” says Durga are convinced the root of theassociated laws or a systematic management contract will be for four years initially and member task force has less than 45 MIN BAJRACHARYA Pokhrel of the National Women country’s inequities stem from socialapproach needed to make it will be extended for another two if the performance of days to complete its work. exclusion and are pushing for asuccessful.” the operator is found successful. Two earlier biddings The reason for the government’sCommission. Pokhrel says there should ended inconclusively after the French company, be at least one seat for a female joint- proactive government approach to The haste with which the Vivendi, was the only final bidder. Melamchi’s donors rush to take the initiative onsecretary in each ministry. “It’s time to redress the imbalance. They haveMaoists started declaring ethnic- have said tunnel construction of the $464 million affirmative action appears to beact now and this is the right way. Just even threatened to pull out fundingbased autonomous regions, most project must not begin unless the management contractor for distribution of the water is selected. aimed at countering the Maoisttalking about women’s problems will if the policy is not implementedrecently Magarant and Tharuwan, moves towards local autonomy andnot result in action,” she told us. soon. appears to be an effort to stay one to defuse its demand for inclusion “The Netherlands has alreadystep ahead of the government. This of ethnic communities in the Figuring out a quota system for z madhesi, janjati and dalit taken a strong stand,” a governmentmay explain the government’s national mainstream. source, confirming the pressure, toldtearing hurry to get the job finished. During last year’s peace process,communities may be easier said than done. There are over 100 ethnic and us. The UNDP is hiring Some independent researchers the government conceded to thecaste groups in the country and there international consultants to developadmit affirmative action elsewhere Maoist demand to establish ais no agreement about which are its own plans for reservation in casein the world has met with mixed reservation policy which includedeligible for reservation. Many fear the government committee fails toresults but do not doubt that a well- proposals for a five-year quota systemquota percentages might be excessive deliver. This has angered officials,planned quota policy is necessary in the civil service: 20 percent forin some cases and end up leaving who say the UN is wasting money.because of Nepal’s entrenched women, 10 percent for dalits and fiveothers out altogether. “There is no need for the UNDP toexclusion. Says Bal Gopal Baidya, percent for indigenous communities. While the reservation policy duplicate the work of theformer member of the National Following protests, the government government and spend so much on sounds good in theory, many are Planning Commission: “Obviously, formed a committee to come up with international consultants,” said one sceptical about whether it will work this is a controversial issue, but new recommendations. Time is official, who requested anonymity. in practice in reducing social affirmation action is needed. Things running out and many wonder if the Several janjati activists are askingwill not change on their own.” job can be finished on time. exclusion. There are also questions on the government not to jump into Bahuns, Chettris and Newars “This is a landmark for thewhy the government is in such a rush to implement the policy by the reservation bandwagon withouttogether make up 37 percent of the government,” says Dambar NarayanApril. studying the implications justpopulation but dominate 82 Yadav, member of Nepal “There is immense pressure from because of donor pressure. They saypercent of politics, bureaucracy and Sadbhabana Party and coordinator the policy may fail to achieve its goal donor agencies,” a janjati activist, of a sub-committee for reservation of proportionate representation for all communities in the civil service,

MIN BAJRACHARYA

Karl Marx’s grave at Highgate Cemetary in Gone bird watchingLondon. their struggle? Do they only fly by No Nepali Maoists were sightednight to meet up at in some a Maoistdark Daju Bhai smoke-filled room? Even here? Do to have failedsolidarity to see through its meetingthey have to be, in or are London they India-Nepal ties are on the mend, but blinkers post-1990 and 9/11. underground forming sleeper cells There is a new world order, Uncle like other ‘normal’ terrorists? Or is Big Brother taking undue advantage earing a Barbour and Sam’s hegemony. was the meeting too bourgeois? armed with a trusty It was surreal: sitting in the Maybe this just wasn’t the habitat of Kathmandu’s feeble state? Wbinocular and notepad, middle of London, 200 yards fromfor our particular species of waders. London Eye went bird watching the Thames, to hear stirring tirades There is an unofficial estimate ndian Foreign Secretary curbing ‘terrorism’ and major last week to try to catch a rare Shashank’s visit to Nepal has crimes, have yielded results. The that predicted Nepal would fall anythat a quarter of the Nepali glimpse of that elusive species: minute and become the beacon and Itriggered the usual fallout of handovers of Maoist leaders ‘CPN-M (London)’ and its flock. population in London are ‘Maoist- Matrika Yadav and Suresh Ale the inspiration for a glorious new affected people’. The so-called suspicions and controversy in Sightings in its new migratory trend across the globe for people’s Nepal. A periodic assessment of Magar in the weeks prior to the Maoists therefore must have been visit was meaningful. revolutions. The mouthpiece busy: not with spreading the class bilateral issues of interest is an (probably an ex-PKK or an Iranianstruggle, but with the struggle of absolute must. Successive Moving on from there, the two LONDON EYE communist) was exhibiting traits basic human survival in this wet governments in Kathmandu had sides have agreed to open their requires ratification ofKIRAN any treatyPANDAY Joti Giri more like his cousin from across theand miserable second city of agreed to regularly review the roads for public transport. Any habitat are rare because it has no whole gamut with India, involving natural resources was Tigris, Comical Ali. capitalism. What a bitter legitimate deal with India in a spiritIndian Ambassador Shyam Saran exchanging agreement papers with Nepali Labour and Transport distinctive markings or features on including the 1950 Treaty of Nepal’s water resources will inserted into the 1990 It was him and not the Nepali contradiction for comrades here in of equality and good-will will Management Secretary Narayanalways Silwal remain onthe mostMonday, crucial while Indian Foreign Secretary Shashank and his its coat or head, even in its Peace and Friendship, at the Nepaliwilling to counterpart sell-out to India. Madhuraman Acharya look on. Constitution on the basis of media who was deploying the the metropolis where Marx is deliver opportunities, but failure to component of our bilateral favourite hunting grounds of foreign secretary level. manage them could invite bigger Enlarging the scope of the perceived inequities in the Kosi weapons of mass deception. The buried. extradition treaty should be seen relationship. The demands made South East London or sunny days ofcause celebre and trendy problems as well. Kathmandu has and Gandak barrages. Royal Berkshire. London, even more so than the in the context of an ongoing by India’s vast economy and the activism like the pro-Sandinista establishment. All this must count not yet been able to explain or The current understandings The bird sanctuary for this DC belt area, is a microcosm of ‘global war on terror’ and its supply of Nepal’s untapped public meetings of the 1980s are for something for London to CAPITAL LETTER inform the people how the new water potential will no doubt on different projects totaling particular expedition was one of Nepali society. There are all here: international solidarity function to transport arrangements will benefitinternational ramifications. 1,700MW will raise the suspicion long past in London, but it looks leverage its position to broker a Yubaraj Ghimire bring the two together. But any Little Darjeeling, Little Na Tole, mark the eighth anniversary of It will be a major diplomatic capitalism’s premier educational like discussions on foreign deal and rescue the country it did An analysis of these exercises the Nepali economy. This is vital as decision has to be in conformity that a democratic India has been institutions in central London, a Little Dharan Camp, Little their war? India has also shown its willingnessfailure if Nepal fails to convince its trying to derive undue benefit revolutions will never be completelyDurbar, Little Kaski, Little Pahad, not want to colonise. should therefore be made in the with the constitution of Nepal. stone’s throw from the comrades’ passé. One can only conclude that, as To take the avian analogy a bit to extend its railway network into southern neighbour that it is as from a faltering regime in Little Thamel, Little Kanth and proper context and perspective, committed as India in cracking An understanding between the favourite broadcasting medium. with other Nepali migrants, it is a further, they could even kill two Nepali border towns at four points. Kathmandu. This may, in fact, So where were they, the CPN- Little Tibet. So there must be a not from rigid mindsets. down on border crimes and two sides beginning with the Ironies abound. desire for a better livelihood rather birds with one stone: restore peace Nepal cannot, and should not, make the transparency of M leaders, the diaspora cadre, Little Rolpa somewhere, too. But The absence of openness in the terrorism, but we have to be Upper Karnali, especially during Much to our disappointment, than ideology that is the in Nepal and enhance Tony Blair’s remain a landlocked island. It future bilateral deals even more during this networking why don’t they even appear at an conduct of foreign policy, lack of careful the clause on third party the absence of an elected the CPN-M (London) did not motivational driver. Britain, standing as a true international should explore connecting its difficult. opportunity? Why didn’t they consensus-building on issues of extradition will not take us too far. parliament has the potential to make its appearance. But like relics attend the very event organised to therefore, is a natural migratory leader. Blair gave his deep southern and northern boundaries create rancour. Article 126 from a bygone era, old Marxists destination for this species. “Once bilateral and multilateral for trade, commerce, tourism and Apart from these issues, the show international solidarity to conviction, Christian values and importance, and dual postures of were spotted in abundance still all struggle is grasped, miracles are morals, right over wrong, as one of easier access for people. But a cost- management and exploitation of dreaming and harping on of a possible,” Mao Zedong once said. the government during the benefit assessment of such moves his guiding principles in the negotiation and in public collective utopia. This breed seems Yes, the struggle can be grasped, headlong dash to join Iraq’s ‘war of has to be worked out in advance, not by the barrel of the gun but by (especially on the Nepali side) haveand explained to the people. liberation’. Fine principles indeed, favoured controversy in the past. the sweet incentives of global but can these principles be The move to amend or “enlarge Shashank’s visit was no z capitalism. extended to bring peace in Nepal? the scope” of the half-a-century old In all this, maybe there is a role Miracles do happen. But Nepal’s exception. However, his visit this extradition treaty has not made for Britain. After all, we have strongmisfortune perhaps is that it week took place amidst a new much headway apparently, because historical links and an enduring doesn’t have Iraq’s strategic worth. closeness between Nepal and Indiathe Indian insistence on awe and fascination of all things that occured both by necessity andrepatriation of third party nationals British by our Anglophile the experience of past mistrust, was not to Kathmandu’s liking. especially on matters of security. Intelligence sharing on the border If true, this should dispel and the effectiveness of the Joint widespread fears and allegations Working Group, mainly towards that the Thapa government is

Pro-Maoist meet in London The London-based World People’s Resistance Movement and the Anti- Racism and Anti-Imperialism Organisation organised a public hearing to mark the eighth anniversary of the Maoist ‘People’s War’ in Nepal. Seventy people gathered on 18 February in a dingy little room at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), but there was a genuine sense of solidarity among participants during the three-hour session. The program began with a video screening of a mass rally on 3 April 2003 organised by the Maoists at Tundikhel during the ceasefire period. The video carried the now-famous speech by Baburam Bhattarai in which he said: “We have shed too much blood, suffered inhumane torture and oppression. Now it is time for us to look forward to a brighter future, one Qualitech Scan which is filled with peace and freedom.” The video was greeted with applause. An Iranian read a paper on the people’s war in Nepal and its underlying reasons, which he said were the inability of Nepal’s ruling classes to meet the basic needs of the people, address inequities as well as their failure to stand up to Nepal’s “hegemonistic, imperialist” neighbour, India. He also accused “imperialist powers” such as Britain and the United States of trying to undermine the Nepali revolution. A discussion followed with a Nepali student saying he didn’t believe in the Maoist ideology of violence. This provoked a long discussion on violence as a means of revolution. (Bimbika Sijapati) 8 ECONOMY 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH#185 2004 NATION 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH#185 20049 BIZ NEWS Making the grade ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Mixing oil and money Can we iExplore, the world’s leading resource for off-the-beaten-path travel has recently published its top 10 routes for exploring run the a pié gamut from day-tripper walks and hikes to multiweek treks in its website: Deregulate, and end fuel adulteration www.iexplore.com. In its admittedly audacious picks for the world’s top adventures on foot, Nepal’s Hiking Annapurna Circuit ranks number one,hings haven’t changed much bank on the described as a, “classic Himalayan trek is a classic for good reason: Itin the three years since this encapsulates the best of Nepal, wrapping around the stunning Annapurna range to put you in the shadow of peaks that pierce 26,000ft. YakT herds,paper started carrying eagle-like Himalayan griffons, blue sheep, fluttering Buddhist prayerinvestigative reports on oil dealers flags, and hot springs dot this central Nepal route, which starts in lush green foothills and climbs into high-altitude desert typical of theand Tibetan adulteration (‘Nepal oil Internet? plateau.” In the Whitewater Rafting category of iExplore, Nepal’scorruption’ Karnali #19). When the River White Water Rafting has been given seventh place describinggovernment it as, recently announced “the Karnali’s source is Tibet’s sacred Mount Kailash, possibly the reason Till we have cyber laws in place, this Class V river is so divine.” The Royal Chitwan National Park (RCNP)that it was going to remove e-banking is likely to remain e-lusive placed ninth in iExplore’s safari category. kerosene dealerships out of gas While this may be old hat in stations, the oil barons called for a developed countries, these services are KHADGA SINGH seen as a big stride in Nepal. Had there been proper cyber laws in place, our ECONOMIC SENSE he myriad commercial banks banks could have attempted more Global SMS Artha Beed that have started up in Nepal advanced transactions. In its absence, ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ nationwide shutdown. As the gas the fuel industry. In less than six months of launching its portal NepalOnline.com, ITNTI seem have done at least onecommercial banks are cautious about lines grew, the government lost its KIRAN PANDAY T announced its global access for short messaging service (SMS). Now We should learn from India. thing right: identify their clients. introducing basic e-banking facilities, people can log onto NepalOnline and send SMS to almost 70 percentnerve and of gave in. “This is possible for clients who well in the automobile industry. Indian consumers today have This target group trusts its cashalthough they are encouraged that most the countries in the world. The service is limited to the website’s The irony is that the oil sector access to better products and clients are educated enough toare authorised to make such subscribers but free SMS trials are available for Nepali mobiles. The government does not have to their chosen bank and expects transactions,” said Kumari Bank’s is controlled and owned by the distribution. Nepali oil dealers, like understand e-banking, and fortunate state. The end product is sold any way to regulate kerosene. It more services facilities and in return, Surendra Bhandari. “For that, keeps the prices of petrol high so many other businesses, understand like e-banking for instance. This latestenough to access the Internet with NEW PRODUCTS through distributors, most of that the government indirectly ease. both the parties must have Banks have yet to install a thirdtransactions we are doing through GREENER FIELDS: Gilbey’s Green Label whiskey has that a cross subsidy on kerosene service may seem a distinct oddity been launched in the Nepali market by Triumph whom have thoroughly greased protects their interests. If the sector accounts with us.” the Internet are just limited to one- continues. The only answer is that in a country that lacks cyber laws, After the successful launch of its party payment system through the Distillery. Touted as “rich and smooth”, the brand has palms for their dealerships. They is opened, they also realise the Other banks have not reached to-one deals.” This means the reportedly proved itself popular in the Asian market. It the government remove itself from and where less than 0.1 percent ofInternet banking two years ago and Internet. Even Kumari Bank’s adulterate the oil with subsidised regional and international players as far. Some are planning to arrangement works only amongunlimited reach of the Internet has comes from the same company that distils Johnnie the business of importing and the population has access to amobile banking recently, Kumari Walker and is available in three stylish packs starting at Rs 99.94kerosene for to plump up profits. In who will jump in the game are not introduce basic services like been limited to only few basic dealing in oil. Next, it must do computer, but for educated cityBank is at the forefront of the group accounts. Banks can increase 180ml. the past 15 years or so, new cars, in the adulteration business. allowing their clients to check their services. away with subsidies and begin a dwellers and the Nepali upperinnovation. Customers need no their transactions through e-banking models and makes have entered Surely, the answer is de-regulation accounts through the Internet. only if they use the technology for Bankers are aware that the TV/PC: A television that functions like a personal coupon system for those who middle class, e-banking is now alonger stand in queues to pay bills or computer, the fantasy of every Internet junkie who the Nepali market. But even if a of the sector and to treat the “We have begun a pilot project for really need kerosene. This will mouse click away. fees. All they have to do is log on to activities like shopping. In the recentgovernment has not been able to occasionally watches the soaps, is now available at car owner were willing to pay import, storage, distribution and this facility,” says Himalayan CAN exhibition, the stall for Constellation in Kathmandu. The Miyake TVPC 1588 is make it next to impossible for Bank account holders now havethe net, go to the bank website and do anything about cybercrime, for premium prices for good fuel, retailing of oil products separately. Bank’s Suman Neupane. “We will muncha.com promoted Internetexample when ISPs fall victim to both a powerful PC and an excellent entertainment industries or automobile owners to all kinds of services at their fingerenter their account number and system—consider the DVD/CD player, MP3 player, there is none available. Allow private sector entry into gradually expand the periphery of browsing of the outlet’s differenthackers. “How can we operate gather enough coupons to fill their tips such as checking their balancepassword. The final click of the internal modem, 15” LCD monitor and superb sound system. And yes,The it only things we can admire these businesses in a regulated this service.” products and placing an onlinebanking services when there is no comes with a remote control. tanks. statements by SMS. It is just amouse will transfer money from their Nepali ingenuity for is using manner and soon we’ll have better order. way to nab criminals in the cyber It’s a pity that successive question of time before they can startaccount to their service providers. KEEPING COOL: Voltas Coldcel, a Tata Enterprise, is a kerosene as a complete substitute oil and better air. E-shopping would pick upworld?” asks Neupane. governments in Nepal avoided the paying telephone, electricity and market leader in commercial refrigeration and for diesel. Nepal’s kerosene It is also important that dramatically if consumers can use ISPs say they have raised the preservationwith half a century of experience behind them. consumption has increased two- subject of deregulation. It’s a other bills online. Their entire range of products, including commercial air political hot potato that could consumer forums find better ways their bank accounts to makeissue with the government. “It conditioning units, will be available at competitive prices fold in the past three years while create difficulties for their in dealing with the issue and really payments to shopkeepers or servicewasn’t any use,” said Binay Bohara through Electro Appliances in Nepal. other oil imports remain stagnant. pressure the government to end providers through the Internet.of Vianet Communications. “They Kerosene was subsidised for the campaigns. But, since the present government does not intend to the monopoly of a state player and Without this, the service is very basicdon’t even understand what we are poor till the fuel adulteration a business cartel. and likely to remain static. talking about.” Another ISP barons figured it could work as hold an election any time soon, The banks are in no rush. Mostprovider says the last time a hacker there is no better time to implement some radical changes in of them feel that bigger transactionswas taken to the police, the officer through the Internet means riskingasked whether he had used a knife fraud. Payments may not reach theor a khukuri. “The police had no z desired destination or false claimantsidea what hacking was all about,” could result in heavy settlementhe said. expenses. “Risks are always there in Officials at the Ministry of business,” says Neupane. “And thereScience and Technology say a draft is no protection in the laws of thecyber law is ready. “But we have land.” not been able to take further steps Halving absolute poverty by 2015 His view is shared by every bankbecause it needs to go through looking into e-banking. “If we haveparliament,” a senior official said. Nepali Times: Given the mixed track record in Asia to Kim Hak-Su is the executive secretary of meet past targets, do you think the Millennium cyber laws, then only digital“The government has other Development Goals are achievable? the United Nations Economic and Social signatures are recognised,” sayspriorities at the moment so we have Kim Hak-Su:On average, our projection shows that it will Commisionbe for the Asia and Pacific based Bhandari. “Right now, whateverno choice but to wait.” achieved. But there is great variation both across sub-regions as well as individual countries. In particular, the least in Bangkok. He is in Kathmandu this developed countries, land-locked developing countries weekendand to attend a regional conference some of the economies in transition may not be able to z achieve the target. Moreover, due to growth in population, theon the UN’s Millennium Development absolute number of poor living below $1 day will continueGoals to (MDGs) to halve poverty by 2015. be a cause for concern. He answered questions fromNepali Times Besides the sheer scale of population, how are our problems different from Africa? on progress so far. The Asian context is different from other regions. It remains be sustained over time; increases in inequality need to be Kolkata bans bandasone of the most dynamic segments of the global economy. avoided; countries must invest in education and health of the And that helps. But many countries will not be able to While Nepal reels under successive bandas, the erstwhile hartal capital of population; they must promote the rights of women; and a broad achieve the targets in areas such as hunger, child mortality, the world, Kolkata, has banned them. range of partnerships need to be forged, both at home and maternal mortality and environmental sustainability. In fact, internationally, to achieve these goals. “Bandhs belong to Kolkata’s regressive past,” writes noted Indian although we may be able to address the issue of income columnist Bachi Karkaria Timesin the of India this week. “The only way to poverty quite effectively, the challenge of human poverty will There is an argument that the MDG targets are just is way for remain with us for quite some time unless drastic action is deal with them is to cripple them, bring them to a halt, indeed paralyse the international aid community to show it’s doing something, taken. We have gained a lot of experience in addressing them with all the and divert attention from the addressing the structural socio- these challenges. Ultimately, it will depend on each country subversive methods economic roots of the governance dilemma within countries. how it sees these challenges and what measures it ought to with which they have The MDGs provide a framework for human development. It does adopt. In my view, more target-oriented action, backed up by stymied West not substitute for the necessity to have right policies and sufficient resources and the participation of all stakeholders, Bengal’s progress for strategies in place. Those have to be devised by the countries will be a key component of the responses countries might wish decades.” concerned in cooperation with their partners. Appropriate to follow. Last August, the strategies can then address the structural issues. Supreme Court Everyone agrees on concepts like ‘good governance’ and In the time since the goals were announced, what has been banned strikes by ‘sustainable development’, but the problem has always the trend? Are we on target? government officials been in getting these things to work on the ground. What As I mentioned earlier, the situation differs from sub-region to and hartals saying it are the prerequisites that need to be in place? sub-region, from country to country. On the whole, we seem to be respected trade In fact, these are the prerequisites for achieving the goals. on the way to reach the income poverty target. But other targets union rights, but The Millennium Declaration spells out several values and may prove to be quite difficult to achieve at the current trend. citizens had rights too. After hartals were banned, Kolkata sprung back. norms that must accompany efforts to achieve the Millennium The economy has picked up and business is booming. Development Goals. As I said earlier, national commitmentMoreover, is as we move towards our target year of 2015, we But last week there was another banda: a blast from the past. There is an absolutely key determining factor. Along with that, areseveral likely to encounter the more hard-core poor who will need a a lot of opposition from those who have benefited from the boom. Writes things need to be in place: growth and poverty reductiondifferent must combination of policies and programmes than we Karkaria: “Kolkatans are reveling in the new writing on the wall, they followed in the past. Equally, non-income dimensions of poverty shouldn’t let a bunch of has-beens sabotage a long-delayed future.” Is it are likely to feature more prominently in national agenda as we time for Nepal to think of not repeating Kolkata’s mistake and learning approach 2015. from India’s ban on bandas? 8 ECONOMY 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH#185 2004 NATION 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH#185 20049 BIZ NEWS Making the grade ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Mixing oil and money Can we iExplore, the world’s leading resource for off-the-beaten-path travel has recently published its top 10 routes for exploring run the a pié gamut from day-tripper walks and hikes to multiweek treks in its website: Deregulate, and end fuel adulteration www.iexplore.com. In its admittedly audacious picks for the world’s top adventures on foot, Nepal’s Hiking Annapurna Circuit ranks number one,hings haven’t changed much bank on the described as a, “classic Himalayan trek is a classic for good reason: Itin the three years since this encapsulates the best of Nepal, wrapping around the stunning Annapurna range to put you in the shadow of peaks that pierce 26,000ft. YakT herds,paper started carrying eagle-like Himalayan griffons, blue sheep, fluttering Buddhist prayerinvestigative reports on oil dealers flags, and hot springs dot this central Nepal route, which starts in lush green foothills and climbs into high-altitude desert typical of theand Tibetan adulteration (‘Nepal oil Internet? plateau.” In the Whitewater Rafting category of iExplore, Nepal’scorruption’ Karnali #19). When the River White Water Rafting has been given seventh place describinggovernment it as, recently announced “the Karnali’s source is Tibet’s sacred Mount Kailash, possibly the reason Till we have cyber laws in place, this Class V river is so divine.” The Royal Chitwan National Park (RCNP)that it was going to remove e-banking is likely to remain e-lusive placed ninth in iExplore’s safari category. kerosene dealerships out of gas While this may be old hat in stations, the oil barons called for a developed countries, these services are KHADGA SINGH seen as a big stride in Nepal. Had there been proper cyber laws in place, our ECONOMIC SENSE he myriad commercial banks banks could have attempted more Global SMS Artha Beed that have started up in Nepal advanced transactions. In its absence, ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ nationwide shutdown. As the gas the fuel industry. In less than six months of launching its portal NepalOnline.com, ITNTI seem have done at least onecommercial banks are cautious about lines grew, the government lost its KIRAN PANDAY T announced its global access for short messaging service (SMS). Now We should learn from India. thing right: identify their clients. introducing basic e-banking facilities, people can log onto NepalOnline and send SMS to almost 70 percentnerve and of gave in. “This is possible for clients who well in the automobile industry. Indian consumers today have This target group trusts its cashalthough they are encouraged that most the countries in the world. The service is limited to the website’s The irony is that the oil sector access to better products and clients are educated enough toare authorised to make such subscribers but free SMS trials are available for Nepali mobiles. The government does not have to their chosen bank and expects transactions,” said Kumari Bank’s is controlled and owned by the distribution. Nepali oil dealers, like understand e-banking, and fortunate state. The end product is sold any way to regulate kerosene. It more services facilities and in return, Surendra Bhandari. “For that, keeps the prices of petrol high so many other businesses, understand like e-banking for instance. This latestenough to access the Internet with NEW PRODUCTS through distributors, most of that the government indirectly ease. both the parties must have Banks have yet to install a thirdtransactions we are doing through GREENER FIELDS: Gilbey’s Green Label whiskey has that a cross subsidy on kerosene service may seem a distinct oddity been launched in the Nepali market by Triumph whom have thoroughly greased protects their interests. If the sector accounts with us.” the Internet are just limited to one- continues. The only answer is that in a country that lacks cyber laws, After the successful launch of its party payment system through the Distillery. Touted as “rich and smooth”, the brand has palms for their dealerships. They is opened, they also realise the Other banks have not reached to-one deals.” This means the reportedly proved itself popular in the Asian market. It the government remove itself from and where less than 0.1 percent ofInternet banking two years ago and Internet. Even Kumari Bank’s adulterate the oil with subsidised regional and international players as far. Some are planning to arrangement works only amongunlimited reach of the Internet has comes from the same company that distils Johnnie the business of importing and the population has access to amobile banking recently, Kumari Walker and is available in three stylish packs starting at Rs 99.94kerosene for to plump up profits. In who will jump in the game are not introduce basic services like been limited to only few basic dealing in oil. Next, it must do computer, but for educated cityBank is at the forefront of the group accounts. Banks can increase 180ml. the past 15 years or so, new cars, in the adulteration business. allowing their clients to check their services. away with subsidies and begin a dwellers and the Nepali upperinnovation. Customers need no their transactions through e-banking models and makes have entered Surely, the answer is de-regulation accounts through the Internet. only if they use the technology for Bankers are aware that the TV/PC: A television that functions like a personal coupon system for those who middle class, e-banking is now alonger stand in queues to pay bills or computer, the fantasy of every Internet junkie who the Nepali market. But even if a of the sector and to treat the “We have begun a pilot project for really need kerosene. This will mouse click away. fees. All they have to do is log on to activities like shopping. In the recentgovernment has not been able to occasionally watches the soaps, is now available at car owner were willing to pay import, storage, distribution and this facility,” says Himalayan CAN exhibition, the stall for Constellation in Kathmandu. The Miyake TVPC 1588 is make it next to impossible for Bank account holders now havethe net, go to the bank website and do anything about cybercrime, for premium prices for good fuel, retailing of oil products separately. Bank’s Suman Neupane. “We will muncha.com promoted Internetexample when ISPs fall victim to both a powerful PC and an excellent entertainment industries or automobile owners to all kinds of services at their fingerenter their account number and system—consider the DVD/CD player, MP3 player, there is none available. Allow private sector entry into gradually expand the periphery of browsing of the outlet’s differenthackers. “How can we operate gather enough coupons to fill their tips such as checking their balancepassword. The final click of the internal modem, 15” LCD monitor and superb sound system. And yes,The it only things we can admire these businesses in a regulated this service.” products and placing an onlinebanking services when there is no comes with a remote control. tanks. statements by SMS. It is just amouse will transfer money from their Nepali ingenuity for is using manner and soon we’ll have better order. way to nab criminals in the cyber It’s a pity that successive question of time before they can startaccount to their service providers. KEEPING COOL: Voltas Coldcel, a Tata Enterprise, is a kerosene as a complete substitute oil and better air. E-shopping would pick upworld?” asks Neupane. governments in Nepal avoided the paying telephone, electricity and market leader in commercial refrigeration and for diesel. Nepal’s kerosene It is also important that dramatically if consumers can use ISPs say they have raised the preservationwith half a century of experience behind them. consumption has increased two- subject of deregulation. It’s a other bills online. Their entire range of products, including commercial air political hot potato that could consumer forums find better ways their bank accounts to makeissue with the government. “It conditioning units, will be available at competitive prices fold in the past three years while create difficulties for their in dealing with the issue and really payments to shopkeepers or servicewasn’t any use,” said Binay Bohara through Electro Appliances in Nepal. other oil imports remain stagnant. pressure the government to end providers through the Internet.of Vianet Communications. “They Kerosene was subsidised for the campaigns. But, since the present government does not intend to the monopoly of a state player and Without this, the service is very basicdon’t even understand what we are poor till the fuel adulteration a business cartel. and likely to remain static. talking about.” Another ISP barons figured it could work as hold an election any time soon, The banks are in no rush. Mostprovider says the last time a hacker there is no better time to implement some radical changes in of them feel that bigger transactionswas taken to the police, the officer through the Internet means riskingasked whether he had used a knife fraud. Payments may not reach theor a khukuri. “The police had no z desired destination or false claimantsidea what hacking was all about,” could result in heavy settlementhe said. expenses. “Risks are always there in Officials at the Ministry of business,” says Neupane. “And thereScience and Technology say a draft is no protection in the laws of thecyber law is ready. “But we have land.” not been able to take further steps Halving absolute poverty by 2015 His view is shared by every bankbecause it needs to go through looking into e-banking. “If we haveparliament,” a senior official said. Nepali Times: Given the mixed track record in Asia to Kim Hak-Su is the executive secretary of meet past targets, do you think the Millennium cyber laws, then only digital“The government has other Development Goals are achievable? the United Nations Economic and Social signatures are recognised,” sayspriorities at the moment so we have Kim Hak-Su:On average, our projection shows that it will Commisionbe for the Asia and Pacific based Bhandari. “Right now, whateverno choice but to wait.” achieved. But there is great variation both across sub-regions as well as individual countries. In particular, the least in Bangkok. He is in Kathmandu this developed countries, land-locked developing countries weekendand to attend a regional conference some of the economies in transition may not be able to z achieve the target. Moreover, due to growth in population, theon the UN’s Millennium Development absolute number of poor living below $1 day will continueGoals to (MDGs) to halve poverty by 2015. be a cause for concern. He answered questions fromNepali Times Besides the sheer scale of population, how are our problems different from Africa? on progress so far. The Asian context is different from other regions. It remains be sustained over time; increases in inequality need to be Kolkata bans bandasone of the most dynamic segments of the global economy. avoided; countries must invest in education and health of the And that helps. But many countries will not be able to While Nepal reels under successive bandas, the erstwhile hartal capital of population; they must promote the rights of women; and a broad achieve the targets in areas such as hunger, child mortality, the world, Kolkata, has banned them. range of partnerships need to be forged, both at home and maternal mortality and environmental sustainability. In fact, internationally, to achieve these goals. “Bandhs belong to Kolkata’s regressive past,” writes noted Indian although we may be able to address the issue of income columnist Bachi Karkaria Timesin the of India this week. “The only way to poverty quite effectively, the challenge of human poverty will There is an argument that the MDG targets are just is way for remain with us for quite some time unless drastic action is deal with them is to cripple them, bring them to a halt, indeed paralyse the international aid community to show it’s doing something, taken. We have gained a lot of experience in addressing them with all the and divert attention from the addressing the structural socio- these challenges. Ultimately, it will depend on each country subversive methods economic roots of the governance dilemma within countries. how it sees these challenges and what measures it ought to with which they have The MDGs provide a framework for human development. It does adopt. In my view, more target-oriented action, backed up by stymied West not substitute for the necessity to have right policies and sufficient resources and the participation of all stakeholders, Bengal’s progress for strategies in place. Those have to be devised by the countries will be a key component of the responses countries might wish decades.” concerned in cooperation with their partners. Appropriate to follow. Last August, the strategies can then address the structural issues. Supreme Court Everyone agrees on concepts like ‘good governance’ and In the time since the goals were announced, what has been banned strikes by ‘sustainable development’, but the problem has always the trend? Are we on target? government officials been in getting these things to work on the ground. What As I mentioned earlier, the situation differs from sub-region to and hartals saying it are the prerequisites that need to be in place? sub-region, from country to country. On the whole, we seem to be respected trade In fact, these are the prerequisites for achieving the goals. on the way to reach the income poverty target. But other targets union rights, but The Millennium Declaration spells out several values and may prove to be quite difficult to achieve at the current trend. citizens had rights too. After hartals were banned, Kolkata sprung back. norms that must accompany efforts to achieve the Millennium The economy has picked up and business is booming. Development Goals. As I said earlier, national commitmentMoreover, is as we move towards our target year of 2015, we But last week there was another banda: a blast from the past. There is an absolutely key determining factor. Along with that, areseveral likely to encounter the more hard-core poor who will need a a lot of opposition from those who have benefited from the boom. Writes things need to be in place: growth and poverty reductiondifferent must combination of policies and programmes than we Karkaria: “Kolkatans are reveling in the new writing on the wall, they followed in the past. Equally, non-income dimensions of poverty shouldn’t let a bunch of has-beens sabotage a long-delayed future.” Is it are likely to feature more prominently in national agenda as we time for Nepal to think of not repeating Kolkata’s mistake and learning approach 2015. from India’s ban on bandas? 10 DEVELOPMENT 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH 2004 #185 A time atlas of Nepal Maps that let us quickly find out which districts have made progress since 1971, and which haven’t

aps are static. They show the world flat, as it is. But Mwhat if you wanted to see Nepal’s progress in development, or Letter from America lack thereof? And suppose you wanted that segregated by district? he Americans are heading for elections in November as a deeply Information in both time and space. fractured nation. They are divided over the war in Iraq, over That is exactly what the recently T domestic health policies, tax cuts, education spending, budget published Mapping Nepal Census deficits, trade agreements, gay marriages, environmental issues, Indicators 2001 and Trends has immigration policies, jobs losses and the foreign policy. done. Brought out by ICIMOD, the The Nepali people also have never been as divided as they are Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) today. But unlike the Americans who let elections decide which side and the Dutch aid group, SNV, the wins, in Nepal the electoral process set by the 1990 constitution lies in book plots census data from 1971, tatters. 1981, 1991 and 2001, and divides That constitution was expected to herald a new Nepal by them by district. The maps mean the past 30 years leap out of the development officials to segregate institutionalising a representative, democratic and inclusive polity that more than just which districts are page. The problem then, is to figure the data by thematic areas, districts would begin efforts to deliver basic services to citizens. In the first ahead in schooling for girls, infant out what to do about them. and timeline. election, the Nepali Congress, a health, fertility rate, etc. They also The book was released recently Starting from relatively NEPALI PAN party committed to social show how much progress each without much fanfare, but deserves straightforward mapping of Ajaya Dixit democracy won with the UML in district has made and which ones much more attention than it has district-wise trends in population opposition to provide a power are lagging behind. hitherto been given. The study team density, the atlas shows us how fast balance, while the monarchy remained constitutional. But things soon The beauty of it is that you can was lead by ICIMOD’s Basanta the tarai is being filled. The eastern started to go terribly wrong and the new institutions could not respond make these trends out at a glance, Shrestha and Rabi Prasad Kayastha tarai, for instance, used to have a to the new challenges. without having to pore through of CBS, and used geographical population density of 200-400 per The US has faced serious challenges. But, over the years, the pages and pages of figures. And information system techniques to sq km. By 2001, that figure had Americans have overcome them and, in the process, built their political because the districts are colour- produce the thematic maps that jumped to 400-800 per sq km. institution. Closer to home, the Indians have managed to sustain a coded, the achievements and failures represent trends to enable rapid and Kathmandu Valley’s density has democratic process too. They elected new chief ministers in four states of development at the grassroots over visual grasp of the implications for now crossed the 800 per sq km in December 2003 and soon will begin the process of electing their the country of individual mark. new prime minister. Though imperfect and ridden with limitations, development parameters. The book The average population growth both the American and Indian forms of electoral processes have worked. will soon be followed by a CD-ROM rate used to be above 4 percent in One of the reasons for the derailment of the electoral process in that will enable planners and local the eastern tarai in the 1970s. Today Nepal is because of faults in the practice of implementation of the it is at an average of 2.5 percent constitution. The American and Indian constitutions were incomplete despite migration-related growth. when they were first drafted but both have space for amendments. As Ilam even shows less than 2 percent new challenges have emerged, both constitutions have been amended. population growth and, correlating In Nepal, however, the new constitution was projected to be the ‘best’ this with the trends in progress in in the world, with suggestions from its crafters and implementers that it female literacy, it becomes clear why needed no amending. this is so. It became clear, as the framework began to be implemented, that Sex ratio (the number of males the constitution’s provisions alone would not be able to address Nepal’s for every 100 females) is an problems. Clearly, adjustments were necessary and amendments had to important indicator of the status of be introduced. The 1990 Constitution has provisions for amendments women within a society. This atlas that require any amendment be passed by a two-thirds majority of the shows a clear correlation between parliamentary members. Between them, the NC and the UML enjoyed gender equity and other parameters a comfortable majority in successive parliaments, but amendments were such as girl’s literacy, maternal never considered though limitations had already been highlighted. mortality and fertility rates. It is clear Instead, successive governments and parliaments allowed only a few to that the worst sex ratio is in the east- corner all the power, resources and opportunities thus making the central tarai districts of Rautahat, governmental business exclusionist but rudderless. The only time Sarlahi and Mahottari where the Nepali lawmakers came together to muster a two-thirds majority in the number of males for every 100 parliament was when the treaty on the Mahakali River was ratified on females has remained above 105 the night of 20 September 1996. since 1971. The second worst are How and when will a participatory electoral process emerge in the Midwestern districts of Nepal through which the Nepali people can express their differences Achham, Bajura, Bajhang and through a ballot and not by killing each other? These questions Dailekh. haunted me as I observed American Democrats going through the The mean age of marriage of primaries of electing their nominee to take on George W Bush. Peace women shows that in the eastern and elections in Nepal seemed so far away. hills, Mustang and Manang are far “Thinkers prepare the revolution; bandits carry it out,” wrote ahead of the rest of the country with Mariano Azuela, referring to Mexico of a century ago. Azuela’s 22 years or above. But girls are still statement also became true in Nepal of the 1990s as the country’s getting married at ages between 16- thinkers allowed banditry of malfeasance, ideological bankruptcy and 18 in the east-central tarai and the loss of community with the people corrupt the gains of the 1990 midwestern hills and this mean age revolution. hasn’t improved much. Nepalis must, however, begin rebuilding on the foundations laid Female literacy rates show the by the 1990 ‘People’s Movement’. The good news is that everyone most sluggish progress in the remains beholden to its spirit. King Gyanendra keeps reiterating his midwestern and far-western hills commitment to multiparty democracy, the main political parties are and east-central tarai in the past 30 faithful to the parliamentary process and the latest statement by Maoist years, and hint at the neglect of leader Comrade Prachanda mentioned, “achievements of the popular development that has contributed movement of 1990”. So, where is the problem? Given this reference to to the rise of the insurgency. the spirit of the people’s movement a consensual way forward should Similarly, the midwestern hills show be achievable, hopefully to begin the electoral processes. Cultivating the least progress in enrollment in tolerance and engaging in creative dialogues will help build trust to schools. arrive at such a consensus. (Kunda Dixit) Water Analyst Ajaya Dixit wrote this piece while in Boulder, Colorado on a month long writing assignment. [email protected] www.icimod.org, www.cbs.gov.np NATURE 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH 2004 #185 11 Wild about bamboo Nepali bamboo is good enough to eat

SRADDHA BASNYAT

t is said Nepali culture demands bamboo from birth to death and everything in between. We use bamboo as scaffolding I material, as food, for music, to carry things and to write with. Nepal has over 50 species of bamboo. Another 10 species are in the process of being classified. Most Nepali bamboo types are found in the wetter middle and eastern regions of Nepal from 50m-4,000m, with Ilam, Dhankuta, Bhojpur and Taplejung having the sturdiest stems. This is great diversity for country our size, says our foremost expert on this woody grass, Annapurna Das. “Nepal has up to five percent of the world’s bamboo population, within only 0.1 percent of the world’s land area,” says Das, who is the only Nepali with a PhD in bamboo. Another of Nepal’s foremost experts on the plant is Shyam K Paudel, who is based in Beijing with the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR). A forester by training, Paudel has been in China since 2002, looking at bamboo’s potential for rural enterprise and poverty alleviation. One hectare of bamboo can earn a farmer up to Rs 400,000 annually, says Paudel, adding: “Bamboo is a natural tool that encourages sustainable, integrated farming systems and is an excellent resource for income and employment generation.” The beauty of bamboo is that it is fast- growing, needs little maintenance, can grow on forest margins and requires only modest investment. Some communities in Nepal, like the Dom Dalits in the tarai who number only 20,000, are completely dependant on the bamboo, making their living from weaving mats from nigalo. Many Rai and Limbu communities in the east also rely on bamboo, and are expert weavers of doko and dalo for the local market. Bamboo has finally been recognised as an ‘international commodity’ and is now under the purview of the International Commodity Body. And international conference in New Delhi next week will be looking at expanding bamboo trade. “Nepal can be a key player in the international bamboo and cane trade which averages $6 billion annually,” Paudel says. In terms of quality, Nepali bamboo is as good as, if not better than most. And we are still finding new uses for this versatile plant. For instance, bamboo is the best ‘carbon sink’ for greenhouse gases putting out 35 percent more oxygen than other trees and every hectare of bamboo soaks up 12 tons of carbon dioxide every year. “We should all consider living in a bamboo jungle,” Das says, and he doesn’t seem to be joking.

Food For the Japanese, Taiwanese, Chinese, Thai, and Nepalis bamboo shoots are a staple diet. Nepal produces 102 tons of tama and each household consumes about 46 stems a year. It is a good source of fibre, carbohydrate, vegetable fat, protein and vitamin B.

Timber Strong but flexible and incredibly versatile, bamboo is an excellent alternative to wood. With a tensile strength of 28,000 per square which can be up to 25 times more than timber when well managed inch, it’s even a stronger building material than steel. “Harvestable makes bamboo an environmentally sound choice. Bamboo homes, in three years for building, bamboo homes only need an eighth of light and elastic, are also earthquake resistant. the energy concrete requires to create building material with the same capacity,” marvels Paudel. To top it off, it is also the quickest Green growing plant in the world, growing 30 percent quicker than the In a country as vertical as Nepal, bamboo is also great for soil fastest growing tree. This capacity to regenerate and its yields, conservation. Growing in mixed cultures, it is naturally less likely to cause soil erosion than monocultural farming. “Bamboo creates a mat-like structure underground, effectively stitching the soil together, it is perfect for fragile river banks, deforested areas, A case in point earthquake zones and preventing mud slides,” says Das. Paper When Himalayan Bamboo and Wood Products went into Bamboo has been used for making paper since the 2nd century. At business two years ago, the Nepali owned company didn’t one point, this renewable resource was used to make 70 per cent know it would grow so fast. Roshan G Shrestha looked after sales, and says: “Nepali bamboo has good hardness, yet is of India’s paper. flexible. It has better in quality than many Chinese bamboos so we can compete quality wise.” The company sources bamboo Medicine from local farmers in Ilam and Dhankuta. Up to 50,000 pieces Ancient Ayurvedic and Chinese healing traditions have used the a month are transported to the factory in Hetauda where medicinal properties of bamboo. In acupuncture, bamboo Himalayan Bamboo employs 150 Nepali workers, exclusive of the indirect employment created through cultivation, harvest, secretion is powdered and hardened and used internally to treat primary processing and transport. But it faces challenges: “Cost asthma, coughs and as an aphrodisiac. Black bamboo root is used of production is still very high: factor in transportation from to treat kidney disease. In Ayurveda, bamboo manna is a Ilam to Hetauda and the Rs 4,000 per truck in arbitrary ‘local rejuvenating herb for sore throats. development tax’.” The business enjoys no government subsidies, incentives or The 7th World Bamboo Congress will be held technical support. The miracle is that the company has managed 27 February-4 March, 2004 at New Delhi to turn this miracle crop into a great export for the country. www.worldbamboocongress.com 12 CONSERVATION 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH#185 200413 remain unaffected and prevent catastrophic animal and human disease epidemics from spreading. Bone pickers depended on these birds for other reasons: after the hide collectors were done with skinning the dead animals, they waited for vultures to pick the animals to the bone (a flock can clean a carcass in a few minutes). Himalayan Griffon No more In India, this is reportedly affecting the A widely-used livelihoods of Dalit families who depended on these birds to clean the carcasses before they In Kosi Tappu the drop in breeding pairs collected the bones to make bone meal andof the White-backed Vulture means potential veterinary drug is glue. The concern, then, lies with the loss ofdisaster. The reserve’s ungulate population, circling biodiversity (the extinction crisis) and also theincluding of the last remnant population of driving our vultures potential impact on ecosystem integrity,Asiatic Wild Water Buffaloarna) ( and a large livelihood security and public health (humandomestic livestock population would be felled to extinction and ecosystem well-being). by contagion if it weren’t for effective scavenging. At the Kathmandu vulture summit, everyone agreed that banning or severely restricting the use of diclofenac should be the first step. This should go hand-in-hand withWhite-backed Vulture a captive breeding programme for release and relocation of the Oriental White-backed Vulture, Slender-billed Vulture and Long- billed Vulture. It is hard to tell people to save the vulture. They are unglamorous birds that people speak for only at the risk of being accused of having a taste for the bizarre. Surely they do not inspire conservation efforts like charismatic mammals. That is the cruelty of beauty. But for as long as humans have been around vultures were there to clean up, in life and in death. Slender-billed Vulture Says Hem Baral of BCN: “Time is running out for the vultures, and if we are to save these magnificent jewels of our skies we must act soon. We have only months, not years.”

Bird Conservation Nepal is seeking help with monitoring nesting sites and information on vulture

Dr Lindsay Oaks examines a dead vulture declines. Call: 01-4439296, 01-4417805. BIRDS OF NEPAL

BIRD CONSERVATION NEPAL

the extinction of the Great AukSAMUEL or thethe THOMAS delegations of the three countries agreed Passenger Pigeon in the 19 that immediate steps were necessary. Narayan he trouble with a scavenger species is Poudel of Nepal’s Department of National that even when it is on the verge of th century. Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) has Textinction no one wants to save it. Soon, researchers zeroed in on the cause.said the government will assist captive breeding Vultures have this problem. Analysing the remains of dead vultures in Punjabefforts and seek a ban on the use of the drug in Four years ago, vultures suddenly startedand Nepal, scientists from the US-based PeregrineNepal. The conservation group, Bird disappearing over the subcontinent. No oneFund found that the vultures were dying becauseConservation Nepal (BCN), is currently knew why: some suspected pesticides, othersof the presence of diclofenac in livestocknegotiating with the government for land near thought the birds were running out of food.carcasses, an anti-inflammatory drug usedChitwan to build the centre. Two other range Whatever it was, three species of vultures werewidely in human and veterinary medicine incountries, Bangladesh and Bhutan, were not vanishing. Other kinds of vultures andSouth Asia. Lindsay Oaks of Washington Statepresent at the meeting but have expressed their secondary scavengers did not seem to beUniversity said he and other researchers werewillingness to act upon the recommendations.would get so fat, they could hardly fly. The affected. puzzled by the fact that the vultures were dying In Nepal, the Oriental White-backedplace is still the same but the vultures aren’t Even as researchers investigated theof kidney failure, and soon they narrowed itVulture and the Slender-billed Vulture arethere any more.” mystery in India, Pakistan and Nepal, theyto residual diclofenac. Three species of vulturesfound mostly in the tarai, churia and lower reaches Because of the country’s other pressing noticed a catastrophic decrease in vultureare hypersensitive to the drug that they ingestof the mid-mountains. Nepal also hosts theconcerns, conservation is taking a backseat, numbers. Populations of the Oriental White-from dead animals leading to renal failure,Himalayan Griffon, the Eurasian Griffon, themaking the job of launching a campaign to backed Vulture, Slender-billed Vulture andavian visceral gout and death. Lammergeier, the Egyptian Vulture and thesave vultures difficult. Conservationists say Long-billed Vulture in the three countries Oaks and his fellow researchers met withCinerous Vulture. The Nepal Vulture Study,officials need to understand the importance dropped by between 95-97 percent.government officials and conservationists froma partnership of The Peregrine Fund andof these birds to ecosystem integrity, livelihoods Considering that the Oriental White-backedIndia, Pakistan and Nepal at a ‘vulture summit’BCN, is now looking into whether the declinesand public health. Vultures have long been Vulture had been considered one of the mostin Kathmandu last month to present theare also affecting the Himalayan Griffonthe most effective natural scavengers in our abundant large raptors in the world, suchfindings and decide what to do. They agreedVultures. environment. They quickly dispose of the population declines had never been seen sinceon a ‘Kathmandu Declaration’ under which In Koshi Tappu, the decline in the last fewremains of diseased and old animals. They years has been catastrophic. In 2000, there were 67 breeding pairs of nesting vultures. This number dropped to three breeding pairs this year, according to BCN. Villagers living near Milke Danda in eastern Nepal say the Lammergeier has all but disappeared from cliffs that were regular dwelling sites. An IUCN staff member from Pokhara recalls: “As children we’d see large flocks of vultures feeding on the carcasses of mules from the Jomsom trail. The birds

PEREGRINE FUND 12 CONSERVATION 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH#185 200413 remain unaffected and prevent catastrophic animal and human disease epidemics from spreading. Bone pickers depended on these birds for other reasons: after the hide collectors were done with skinning the dead animals, they waited for vultures to pick the animals to the bone (a flock can clean a carcass in a few minutes). Himalayan Griffon No more In India, this is reportedly affecting the A widely-used livelihoods of Dalit families who depended on these birds to clean the carcasses before they In Kosi Tappu the drop in breeding pairs collected the bones to make bone meal andof the White-backed Vulture means potential veterinary drug is glue. The concern, then, lies with the loss ofdisaster. The reserve’s ungulate population, circling biodiversity (the extinction crisis) and also theincluding of the last remnant population of driving our vultures potential impact on ecosystem integrity,Asiatic Wild Water Buffaloarna) ( and a large livelihood security and public health (humandomestic livestock population would be felled to extinction and ecosystem well-being). by contagion if it weren’t for effective scavenging. At the Kathmandu vulture summit, everyone agreed that banning or severely restricting the use of diclofenac should be the first step. This should go hand-in-hand withWhite-backed Vulture a captive breeding programme for release and relocation of the Oriental White-backed Vulture, Slender-billed Vulture and Long- billed Vulture. It is hard to tell people to save the vulture. They are unglamorous birds that people speak for only at the risk of being accused of having a taste for the bizarre. Surely they do not inspire conservation efforts like charismatic mammals. That is the cruelty of beauty. But for as long as humans have been around vultures were there to clean up, in life and in death. Slender-billed Vulture Says Hem Baral of BCN: “Time is running out for the vultures, and if we are to save these magnificent jewels of our skies we must act soon. We have only months, not years.”

Bird Conservation Nepal is seeking help with monitoring nesting sites and information on vulture

Dr Lindsay Oaks examines a dead vulture declines. Call: 01-4439296, 01-4417805. BIRDS OF NEPAL

BIRD CONSERVATION NEPAL the extinction of the Great AukSAMUEL or thethe THOMAS delegations of the three countries agreed Passenger Pigeon in the 19 that immediate steps were necessary. Narayan he trouble with a scavenger species is Poudel of Nepal’s Department of National that even when it is on the verge of th century. Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) has Textinction no one wants to save it. Soon, researchers zeroed in on the cause.said the government will assist captive breeding Vultures have this problem. Analysing the remains of dead vultures in Punjabefforts and seek a ban on the use of the drug in Four years ago, vultures suddenly startedand Nepal, scientists from the US-based PeregrineNepal. The conservation group, Bird disappearing over the subcontinent. No oneFund found that the vultures were dying becauseConservation Nepal (BCN), is currently knew why: some suspected pesticides, othersof the presence of diclofenac in livestocknegotiating with the government for land near thought the birds were running out of food.carcasses, an anti-inflammatory drug usedChitwan to build the centre. Two other range Whatever it was, three species of vultures werewidely in human and veterinary medicine incountries, Bangladesh and Bhutan, were not vanishing. Other kinds of vultures andSouth Asia. Lindsay Oaks of Washington Statepresent at the meeting but have expressed their secondary scavengers did not seem to beUniversity said he and other researchers werewillingness to act upon the recommendations.would get so fat, they could hardly fly. The affected. puzzled by the fact that the vultures were dying In Nepal, the Oriental White-backedplace is still the same but the vultures aren’t Even as researchers investigated theof kidney failure, and soon they narrowed itVulture and the Slender-billed Vulture arethere any more.” mystery in India, Pakistan and Nepal, theyto residual diclofenac. Three species of vulturesfound mostly in the tarai, churia and lower reaches Because of the country’s other pressing noticed a catastrophic decrease in vultureare hypersensitive to the drug that they ingestof the mid-mountains. Nepal also hosts theconcerns, conservation is taking a backseat, numbers. Populations of the Oriental White-from dead animals leading to renal failure,Himalayan Griffon, the Eurasian Griffon, themaking the job of launching a campaign to backed Vulture, Slender-billed Vulture andavian visceral gout and death. Lammergeier, the Egyptian Vulture and thesave vultures difficult. Conservationists say Long-billed Vulture in the three countries Oaks and his fellow researchers met withCinerous Vulture. The Nepal Vulture Study,officials need to understand the importance dropped by between 95-97 percent.government officials and conservationists froma partnership of The Peregrine Fund andof these birds to ecosystem integrity, livelihoods Considering that the Oriental White-backedIndia, Pakistan and Nepal at a ‘vulture summit’BCN, is now looking into whether the declinesand public health. Vultures have long been Vulture had been considered one of the mostin Kathmandu last month to present theare also affecting the Himalayan Griffonthe most effective natural scavengers in our abundant large raptors in the world, suchfindings and decide what to do. They agreedVultures. environment. They quickly dispose of the population declines had never been seen sinceon a ‘Kathmandu Declaration’ under which In Koshi Tappu, the decline in the last fewremains of diseased and old animals. They years has been catastrophic. In 2000, there were 67 breeding pairs of nesting vultures. This number dropped to three breeding pairs this year, according to BCN. Villagers living near Milke Danda in eastern Nepal say the Lammergeier has all but disappeared from cliffs that were regular dwelling sites. An IUCN staff member from Pokhara recalls: “As children we’d see large flocks of vultures feeding on the carcasses of mules from the Jomsom trail. The birds

PEREGRINE FUND inflation of the past encouraged saving: the high interest rates that tend to accompany TRAVEL 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH#185 2004 SCIENCE AND HEALTH 27 FEBRUARYrapid price growth. - 4 MARCH Borrowers#185 2004 may be 14 forced to “save” more by paying higher15 (OECD), household saving rates declined to conquer, once in mountains, vertigo, raptures, fears. mortgage rates. Consider the US in 1980, Travel advice to those between 1984 and 2001 in Australia, when the personal saving rate was 11 making ritualised Austria, Belgium, Canada, Finland, Italy, percent. The inflation rate was 12 percent V Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Portugal, If somebody yells “Hey, stranger!” don’t answer. Play deaf and 30-year fixed-rate home mortgages pilgrimages on well- Spain, the United Kingdom and the were over 15 percent. This effectively trodden paths and dumb. United States. forced some households to reduce their Lighten upEven though you may know it, don’t speak the tongue. One might think that, with declining consumption expenditures drastically, Try not to stand out—either in profile or birthrates in rich countries in recent contributing to the high saving rate of the full face; simply don’t wash your face at times. What’s decades, it should be easy to save more. time. When inflation fell, people more, Fewer children mean fewer expenses and eventually refinanced their mortgages at when they rip a cur’s throat with a swa, don’t cringe. adults can work longer to earn extra incomelower rates, breathed a sigh of relief and Smoking, douse your butts with spittle. And besides, beyond their immediate needs. So why started spending more. arrange have so many different countries Finally, declining saving rates around to wear gray—the hue of the earth—especially experienced a decline in savings? The the world reflect strong growth in asset underclothes, answer markets—namely, stocks and real estate— to reduce the temptation to blend with your flesh the earth. must over the last 20 years. We value our assets be more because we imagine that they will be VI ANALYSIS that in great demand in the future. For most When you halt in the desert, make an arrow from pebbles, peopleRobert do not decideJ Shiller whether to increase people, the troubles caused by the old-age so, their savings on the basis of careful crisis seem remote, while booming share or if suddenly woken up, you’ll fathom which way to go calculations about their future needs. housing prices look concrete in brokerage in the darkness. At nights, demons in deserts try A study in 2000 of saving rates in 150 statements or on the business pages of travellers’ hearts. He who heeds their cry countries, headed by Norman Loayza at newspapers. People feel richer and save less. gets easily disoriented: one step sideways and—well,c’est the World Bank, found that some basic The problem is that these increases in tout. economic factors explained much of the value create the impression that our lack of Ghosts, specters, demons, are at home in the desert. You variation in national saving rates, without saving for the last decade has had no too will discover that’s true when, sand creaking under your any reference to cultural differences. serious consequences. We think we’re still sole, Surprisingly, the study found that saving getting richer even though we save less. rates tend to be high when inflation is But since speculative prices are ultimately all that remains of you is your soul. high, and to decline when inflation determined by psychology, they can also declines. Since inflation has been declining suddenly be deflated by psychology. VII in most countries of the world over the last Unless we come to terms with the lethal Nobody ever knows anything for a fact. 20 years or so, this could help explain the combination of declining saving rates and Gazing ahead at your stooping guide’s sturdy back, global decline in saving rates. falling birthrates, many more people may think that you gaze at the future and keep your distance (if retire poor than we ever imagined. that is possible) from him. Since, in principle, life Loayza and his colleagues thought that Don’t retire poorinflation encourages saving because it is itself but a distance between here and there, and quickening the pace only pays when you discern the sound We think we’re getting richer though we save lesscreates an atmosphere of uncertainty. behind of those running after you down the path When people see high inflation, they with lowered heads—be they murderers, thieves, the past. conclude that the economy is precarious, so round the world, social security and many more old people in coming decades, perhaps they should tighten their belts. health care are today’s hottest governments will be hard pressed to raise VIII Thus, inflation serves as a visceral reminder Aeconomic issues due to the rising enough money to pay for their needs by to save, while old age seems too far away for In the sour whiff of rugs, in the burnt dung’s fume, dependency ratio: the proportion of elderlytaxing the young. most people to think about. z prize the indifference of things to being regarded from people relative to younger, economically Why aren’t people saving more for their afar, and in turn lose your own silhouette, turning, thus, There is another reason why the high (© Project Syndicate) active, workers. According to the Populationfuture retirement? Why are they actually unattainable to binoculars, gendarmes, mass. Resource Center, this ratio will double in the Coughing in a cloud of dust, wading through mud, muck, doing the opposite by saving less? According Robert J Shiller is Professor of Economics at world’s more developed regions and triple into a recent study by the Organisation for map— Yale University, and authorIrrational of less developed regions by 2050. With so Economic Cooperation and Development Exuberance and The New Financial Order: Risk in What difference does it make how you would look close the 21st Century. up? It’s even better if some character with a blade figures out you are a stranger a bit too late.

IX Rivers in Asia are longer than elsewhere, more rich EU missionagainst solar radiation.to From Mars 2014 Grim reaper in alluvium—that is, murkier. As you reach to 2018 it will test solar energy for a mouthful, your cupped fingers ladle silt, he European Space Agencyhumans to Mars begins in 2007, with AIDS in the fastest growing (ESA) has announced plans to a mission aimed at testing technologypropulsion, controlled landings and one who has drunk this water would prefer it spilt. and orbits. Vennemann noted that Never trust its reflection. Crossing it, cross it on Tsend the first manned mission for a spaceship’s high-speed re-entry epidemic in eastern Europe the atmosphere of Mars is mainly a raft built with no other hands but the pair you own. to Mars by 2033. It faces three decadesinto the Earth’s atmosphere. carbon dioxide, which humans Eastern Europe is seeing the fastest growing AIDS epidemic in Know that the gleam of a campfire, your nightly bliss, of hard work in creating crucial life- In 2009, if ESA is able to achievecannot breathe, and that solar support technologies to meet that the world, studies by UN agencies show. Across eastern Europe will, by sliding downstream, betray you to enemies. satisfactory velocities, it will send aradiation is much greater on the red and the central Asian republics, the number of AIDS cases has skin, and prefer blue eyes to brown eyes. Search hard goal. The agency has a detailedfirst ship to Mars for biologicalplanet than it is on Earth. grown from 30,000 in 1995 to 1.5 million, according to the World for the blue ones, especially when the road takesKUNDA you DIXIT into X timeline that must be followed if it isresearch, to collect mineral and gasFurthermore, the manned space Health Organisation (WHO)—a 50-fold increase in eight years. In your letter from these parts, don’t divulge whom and to send a human crew to “red planet”,samples in order to determine the The WHO and other UN agencies like UNAIDS and the s another Season begins, bringing with it gabby the wood, missions in the past 40 years have into its heart. On the whole, as for eyes, one should what you’ve seen on your way. If anything should be said Dietrich Vennemann, ESApresence of life, past or present.lasted no more than 400 days. “A United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) highlighted the young debutantes repeating the same grizzled spread of AIDS in Europe at a two-day conference in Dublin, watch for their cut. For at last instant it’s penned, research director in charge of mannedThose samples would return tomanned mission to Mars would Aconversations echoing older travellers, many of us are missions. The agency’s Mars researchEarth between 2011 and 2014. By Ireland. “In western Europe the incidence has risen to between better to stare at that which, though cold, permits use your varying feelings, musings, regrets, et al.: probably last a thousand days. That half a million and 600,000 cases,” says Gudjon Magnusson of terribly aware of the irony of these Journeys as Discoveries. forms part of the Aurora program, seeing through: ice may crack, yet wallowing in an ice a letter can be intercepted. And after all, 2014, ESA plans to testmeans we have to work hard to the WHO. The numbers are still small compared to the In fact, they are ritualised pilgrimages on well-trodden introduced in 2001 by the European hole is far better than in honey-like, viscous lies. the movement of a pen across paper is, technologies to support mannedcreate technical supports” for worldwide incidence of an estimated 40 million cases, with paths. These trips widen the trails they follow, making the Union for exploration of the Solar about 27 million of them in sub-Saharan Africa. But eastern in itself, the worsening of the break between you and those missions, such as respiratory systemssurvival in outer space, he said. places along the way a little more in this fetishised image System. The calendar for sendingfor the astronauts and protection Europe and the central Asian republics are of major concern that combines fear and revelation, paranoia and deja vu. ToIII with whom you won’t any longer sit or lie down—with As for the cost of a manned Mars because the number of cases rising so rapidly. Eighty percent Always pick a house with baby clothes hanging out of infected people in this region are below 30 years of age. these travellers who are whom, mission, Franco Ongaro, director of in the yard. Deal only with the over-fifty crowd: unlike the letter, you won’t share—who cares why—a the Aurora program, said it would Seventy percent are believed to have contracted AIDS through NEITHER HERE nevertheless wanted, to infecting needles while taking drugs. a hick at that age knows too much about fate to gain home. be a good investment for Europe, NOR THERE those old hands who anything by attempting to bust your brain; Across western Europe two-thirds of all infections are through nevertheless give advice representing less than a dollar a year Anagha Neelakantan same thing, a squaw. Hide the money in your fur coat’s heterosexual sex. The Dublin conference sought to get political and to those natives who nevertheless roll their eyes and XI per person. He assures that the leadership in these countries to take strong action to stop the collar or, if you are travelling light, in your brown culottes European space research is not for spread of infection and to treat infected people. “Of all the social mutter, I say “lighten up” and offer Joesph Brodsky. under the knee—but not in your boots since they’ll find When you stand on an empty stony plateau alone under the fathomless dome of Asia in whose blueness an military purposes. “I can’t think of and political challenges facing an expanded European Union, the dough any military uses for this research. AIDS is one of the greatest, requiring determined and sustained An Admonition airplane easily there. In Asia, boots are the first to go. action now,” said UNAIDS executive director Peter Piot . The I On the contrary, the experience of conference statement warns that a large portion of the youth in or an angel sometimes whips up its starch or star— the past 30 years proves that Trekking in Asia, spending nights in odd dwellings, in when you shudder at how infinitesimally small you are, eastern European and the central Asian republics countries granaries, cabins, shacks—timber abodes whose thin IV studying the universe has created a engage in unsafe sex. The percentage of people reporting remember: space that appears to need nothing does premarital sexual relations more than doubled between 1993 squined windowpanes harness the world—sleep In the mountains, move slowly. If you must creep, then feeling of gregariousness in crave, as a matter of fact, an outside gaze, humanity, an inclination towards and 1999, from 9 percent to 22 percent. dressed, creep. a criterion of emptiness—of its depth and scope. peace,” he said. He also ruled out In addition to increased AIDS funding from national wrapped in your sheepskin and do your best Magnificent in the distance, meaningless closer up, And it’s only you who can do the job. mountains are but a surface standing on end. The snail- that Europe is competing with the governments, the World Bank and European Union, the Global always to tuck your head into the corner, as US, which announced its own Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has approved more in the corner it’s harder—and in darkness at that—to swinglike and, it seems, horizontal meandering trail than $400 million over five years for 22 programs in 16 countries is, in fact, vertical. Lying flat in the mountains, you manned mission to Mars, to take in eastern Europe and central Asia. an axe over your heavy, booze-laden gourd place sometime after 2020. and to chop it off nicely. Square the circle, in short. stand. Standing up, you lie flat. Which suggests your true freedom’s in falling down. That’s the way, it appears, II Fear broad cheekbones (including the moon’s), pockmarked

Also published as ‘Advice to a Traveller’. z z (IPS) (Sanjay Suri) Translated by the author and George L Klein. (IPS) inflation of the past encouraged saving: the high interest rates that tend to accompany TRAVEL 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH#185 2004 SCIENCE AND HEALTH 27 FEBRUARYrapid price growth. - 4 MARCH Borrowers#185 2004 may be 14 forced to “save” more by paying higher15 (OECD), household saving rates declined to conquer, once in mountains, vertigo, raptures, fears. mortgage rates. Consider the US in 1980, Travel advice to those between 1984 and 2001 in Australia, when the personal saving rate was 11 making ritualised Austria, Belgium, Canada, Finland, Italy, percent. The inflation rate was 12 percent V Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Portugal, If somebody yells “Hey, stranger!” don’t answer. Play deaf and 30-year fixed-rate home mortgages pilgrimages on well- Spain, the United Kingdom and the were over 15 percent. This effectively trodden paths and dumb. United States. forced some households to reduce their Lighten upEven though you may know it, don’t speak the tongue. One might think that, with declining consumption expenditures drastically, Try not to stand out—either in profile or birthrates in rich countries in recent contributing to the high saving rate of the full face; simply don’t wash your face at times. What’s decades, it should be easy to save more. time. When inflation fell, people more, Fewer children mean fewer expenses and eventually refinanced their mortgages at when they rip a cur’s throat with a swa, don’t cringe. adults can work longer to earn extra incomelower rates, breathed a sigh of relief and Smoking, douse your butts with spittle. And besides, beyond their immediate needs. So why started spending more. arrange have so many different countries Finally, declining saving rates around to wear gray—the hue of the earth—especially experienced a decline in savings? The the world reflect strong growth in asset underclothes, answer markets—namely, stocks and real estate— to reduce the temptation to blend with your flesh the earth. must over the last 20 years. We value our assets be more because we imagine that they will be VI ANALYSIS that in great demand in the future. For most When you halt in the desert, make an arrow from pebbles, peopleRobert do not decideJ Shiller whether to increase people, the troubles caused by the old-age so, their savings on the basis of careful crisis seem remote, while booming share or if suddenly woken up, you’ll fathom which way to go calculations about their future needs. housing prices look concrete in brokerage in the darkness. At nights, demons in deserts try A study in 2000 of saving rates in 150 statements or on the business pages of travellers’ hearts. He who heeds their cry countries, headed by Norman Loayza at newspapers. People feel richer and save less. gets easily disoriented: one step sideways and—well,c’est the World Bank, found that some basic The problem is that these increases in tout. economic factors explained much of the value create the impression that our lack of Ghosts, specters, demons, are at home in the desert. You variation in national saving rates, without saving for the last decade has had no too will discover that’s true when, sand creaking under your any reference to cultural differences. serious consequences. We think we’re still sole, Surprisingly, the study found that saving getting richer even though we save less. rates tend to be high when inflation is But since speculative prices are ultimately all that remains of you is your soul. high, and to decline when inflation determined by psychology, they can also declines. Since inflation has been declining suddenly be deflated by psychology. VII in most countries of the world over the last Unless we come to terms with the lethal Nobody ever knows anything for a fact. 20 years or so, this could help explain the combination of declining saving rates and Gazing ahead at your stooping guide’s sturdy back, global decline in saving rates. falling birthrates, many more people may think that you gaze at the future and keep your distance (if retire poor than we ever imagined. that is possible) from him. Since, in principle, life Loayza and his colleagues thought that Don’t retire poorinflation encourages saving because it is itself but a distance between here and there, and quickening the pace only pays when you discern the sound We think we’re getting richer though we save lesscreates an atmosphere of uncertainty. behind of those running after you down the path When people see high inflation, they with lowered heads—be they murderers, thieves, the past. conclude that the economy is precarious, so round the world, social security and many more old people in coming decades, perhaps they should tighten their belts. health care are today’s hottest governments will be hard pressed to raise VIII Thus, inflation serves as a visceral reminder Aeconomic issues due to the rising enough money to pay for their needs by to save, while old age seems too far away for In the sour whiff of rugs, in the burnt dung’s fume, dependency ratio: the proportion of elderlytaxing the young. most people to think about. z prize the indifference of things to being regarded from people relative to younger, economically Why aren’t people saving more for their afar, and in turn lose your own silhouette, turning, thus, There is another reason why the high (© Project Syndicate) active, workers. According to the Populationfuture retirement? Why are they actually unattainable to binoculars, gendarmes, mass. Resource Center, this ratio will double in the Coughing in a cloud of dust, wading through mud, muck, doing the opposite by saving less? According Robert J Shiller is Professor of Economics at world’s more developed regions and triple into a recent study by the Organisation for map— Yale University, and authorIrrational of less developed regions by 2050. With so Economic Cooperation and Development Exuberance and The New Financial Order: Risk in What difference does it make how you would look close the 21st Century. up? It’s even better if some character with a blade figures out you are a stranger a bit too late.

Also published as ‘Advice to a Traveller’. z z (IPS) (Sanjay Suri) Translated by the author and George L Klein. (IPS) restrained the export of enrichment and reprocessing facilities. That plugged part of the loophole in the treaty without amending it. Today, such countries should and recent press reports about the imports from Pakistan suggest Iran join together to offer Iran (and ASIA 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH#185 2004 INTERNATIONAL 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH#185 2004 16 failed to disclose everything to the others) a deal. Countries that wish 17 IAEA. to develop nuclear energy but not nuclear bombs should be given Iran claims that as a party to the international guarantees of fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, it has the supply and disposal of spent fuel. For right to enrich uranium for peaceful example, Russia, which is helping Giving microcreditfrom the market economy. its due purposes. Correct, because the NPT Iran construct a nuclear reactor at To be sure, the experience GCC boom was born with a loophole. Even if a Bushehr, should offer Iran a with microfinance is not country agrees to broad ranging IAEA Buoyed by the highest oil prices in years, the six countries comprising the guarantee of low enriched uranium universally positive. Nor can it be Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are reaching some of the world’s highest inspections, it can legally accumulatefuel and reprocessing of the reactor’s suggested that microfinance alone growth records, but they might not be able to sustain the momentum. The enriched uranium (or reprocessed average growth estimate for 2003 in the GCC countries was 4.5 percent, spent fuel by sending it back to is responsible for change. In plutonium) under the guise of a much higher than the average in Europe or the United States of about 2.8 Russia if Iran agrees to forego Bangladesh, the rapid growth of percent, according to figures released by the various Arab and international peaceful energy program, and then enrichment and reprocessing. This sources. The figures were released before 2004 and actual figures, to be suddenly declare that circumstances the garment manufacturing deal could then be given teeth by the industry, which employs mainly released in the coming months, may differ from the estimates. have changed and withdraw from the Of the six countries—United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, UN Security Council. women, and the activities of treaty—with the ability to produce The Council would declare that Kuwait and Saudi Arabia—Qatar showed a whopping growth rate of 8.4 nuclear weapons on short notice. women’s rights advocacy groups percent because of massive natural gas exploration projects. Much of the further proliferation of nuclear If Iran did this, it would not only and movements have also had an increase in the GCC growth is due to spiking oil prices. With an average weapons is a threat to peace and that impact. Nevertheless, barrel of crude oil costing about $28 on the world market, the GCC countries add to the dangers in an unstable any country moving in that direction have rarely been this rich. region, but would likely begin a microfinance has drawn millions According to figures released by the Centre for Global Energy Studies, is subject to sanctions. Such a of women into commercial process of unravelling the non- resolution would also include a the six GCC countries were expected to have earned $134 billion in oil proliferation regime worldwide. Iran economic activities for the first revenue last year, an increase of 30 percent just compared to the previous carrot by guaranteeing Iran access to year. The biggest earner among the GCC countries has traditionally been may ask what right others have to time, enabling them to take the non-dangerous parts of the advantage of new opportunities Saudi Arabia, with the UAE demand that it forego nuclear nuclear energy fuel cycle. The pot and Kuwait running distant and develop new roles as cash second and third. But weapons. The answer lies both in thecould be further sweetened by offers income earners and economically higher oil prices are hard fact that it promised not to do so to relax existing sanctions and to sustain. Even Saudi when it signed the NPT and in the provide a security guarantee if Iran active members of the community. officials have said they consequences that it would impose onremains non-nuclear. In its early days, the believe that the Oil others. Petroleum Exporting European foreign ministers have microfinance revolution focused Countries (OPEC) should For these reasons, President Bushalready expressed their concerns on lending. Loans were typically bring down its oil prices to declared an Iranian nuclear weapon secured through the mutual at least $25 a barrel. Non- about Iran’s nuclear program. Russia OPEC exporters will likely follow suit. unacceptable. However, America’s indicates that it is willing to provide guarantee of solidarity groups. unilateral options are limited. Not The microcredit model pioneered Aside from declining oil revenue, the GCC countries have other problems such fuel services. It is time for the that, unless addressed, could have adverse effects on their economies. One Drop the bombonly is the US military busy trying in by the Grameen Bank of seemingly keenest to create its own Security Council to try to is the continued overspending in defence. In 2002, the last year for which A better way to reduce nuclear risksIraq, but the way the US went into internationalise the most dangerous Bangladesh has now been official figures were readily available, GCC countries spent $37 billion on nuclear arsenal. According to the Iraq—which proved to have fewer arms purchases and other military expenditures. For the past two years, the n 1977, when I served in I predicted back then. Some call parts of the nuclear fuel cycle. It is Last week’s microcredit summit in Dhakareplicated all over the world. International Atomic Energy Agency nuclear capabilities than Iran— six countries have on average spent 30 percent of their annual budget on President Jimmy Carter’s State Khan’s network an effort to spread not too late to learn the lessons of showed how small loans to women can transformWhile society a minimum amount of defence, the highest percentage in the world. (IAEA), Iran began enriching undermined American credibility, Department, I was sent to India an “Islamic bomb”, but given that the misadventures of AQ Khan. JOHAN MIKAELSSON savings was generally required Combined with expected decline in the oil revenue and sustaining I uranium at a pilot centrifuge plant making it difficult to recruit allies to North Korea was on the list of before a loan was granted, initially defence spending, some GCC countries, most notably Saudi Arabia, are to dissuade that country’s leaders last August and is constructing largercontain Iran’s nuclear ambitions. he microfinance revolution They are also more likely to send from developing a nuclear bomb. Myrecipients along with Libya and Iran, less emphasis was placed on finding it hard to cope with high rates of population growth. As a conservative underground enrichment facilities. Fortunately, there is a multilateral started by rural women in their daughters to school. Muslim country that does not advocate population control, it has a population hosts replied that they needed to it might better be termed a corrupt creating flexible and voluntary Iran proclaims that its programs option and an existing precedent. In TBangladesh in the 1970s Women’s status, both in their growth rate of about 3.4 percent a year. Perhaps most relevant to whether bomb. savings schemes that could be keep up with China. I said that are for peaceful generation of nuclear proved we were wrong to believe the GCC countries can maintain their economic growth is whether they can As events in Pakistan illustrate, the mid-1970s, many parties to the homes and communities improve directly controlled by the group forego the changes needed to diversify their economic infrastructure from energy, but inspectors have already NPT planned to import and develop that poverty and a lack of collateralwhen they are responsible for one solely based on oil. the spread of nuclear technology members. found traces of highly enriched enrichment and reprocessing facilities. Many economists argue that a couple of the GCC countries that have ANALYSIS does not extend the stability that loans and for managing savings. The Millennium weapons-grade uranium. Last Realising the threat to the non- When they generate and control tried are shaping up to be the model for the rest. Although the UAE’s 2003 Joseph S Nye comes with mutual deterrence. COMMENT October, Mohamed El Baradei, the proliferation regime, countries as Development Goal to promote economic growth is expected to have been around 4.5 percent, the non-oil Pakistan would inevitably follow suitRather, it increases the prospects of their own income, women gain a sector’s growth for last year is estimated at 11 percent. Much of the UAE’s head of the IAEA, announced that diverse as the Soviet Union, France, Phrang Roy gender equality is key to achieving and the world would become less corrupt leakage that may allow level of power that means they non-oil sector growth is due to construction and tourism. For the first time, Iran had accepted enhanced Germany and Japan formed a the target of halving extreme the UAE last year earned more from tourism, about 20 percent of its overall safe. terrorist groups access to nuclear meant that poor people were not can make decisions inspection procedures. In addition, “Nuclear Suppliers Group” that creditworthy. When rural women poverty and hunger by 2015. revenue, than it did from oil exports. Qatar and Bahrain have undertaken India promised that it would not weapons. That makes everyone less independently and command large-scale natural gas exploration projects that have suddenly added after visits by the French, British and z were given the opportunity they Women’s microfinance groups can export its weapons technology. So safe. Any pathological group of German foreign ministers, Iran more respect. billions of dollars to their proven wealth, and as a result have allowed their (© Project Syndicate) proved poor people were efficient and should also be strategic agents governments to increase public spending that in turn has contributed to far as we know, its leaders have kept extremists could destroy New Delhi, announced a temporary suspension Poor women often have the users of credit. for achieving these goals. economic growth. their word. But revelations about theTokyo, Paris or any city they chose. of its enrichment program. Now it best credit ratings. In Bangladesh, Joseph Nye, Dean of the Kennedy In Bangladesh, for example, nuclear weapons smuggling network Now the world’s attention is hints that it may resume enrichment, School of Government at Harvard and a women default on loans less often organised by AQ Khan, the father of focussed on Iran, one recipient of former US Assistant Secretary of women involved in microfinance than men, and credit extended to Pakistan’s bomb, confirm the dangerPakistani technology, as the country Defence, is author of the forthcoming not only changed the way they women has a much greater book,Soft Power: The Means to managed household incomes, they impact on household Success in World Politics. no longer believe they should be consumption and quality of life dependent or that they should for children. But women across z remain confined to the home. South Asia have been excluded The author is with the Rome-based International Fund for Agricultural z (IPS) Meagre contributions Development, IFAD.

ommunity development groups are dismayed that the Australian government will only Ccontribute $6.6 million a year to a global fund to combat HIV, malaria and tuberculosis. Many say this poor commitment shows that Australia is shirking from its responsibility to help counter the growing health crisis. Oxfam/Community Aid Abroad and Medicines Sans Frontieres Australia calculated that Australia, based on its GNP and position on the National Development Target: Islamic schoolsIndex, should contribute $70 million over a three- year period. While countries such as France and the As the violence in Thailand’s south threatens to spiral out of control,United States the made major funding commitments to government has cracked down on Islamic schools in the region. This action against ‘pondoks’, the Islamic schools, stems from a theory that supportthey are the a Swiss-based Global Fund to Fight AIDS, “breeding ground for Islamic militants” and hence the only solutionTuberculosis is to either and Malaria, Australia held back. reform them by having them join the education mainstream or closeAttempting them. to ensure the fund reaches its target $1.5 Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is among those pushing for the latter. And the Thai army also agrees. A military source was quotedBangkok in thebillion this year, executive director Dr Richard Feachem visited Australia last week and met with Minister for Postsaying: “Southern insurgents and their allies commanded more than more than double what the total Australian 3,000 mostly teenage followers who were given weapons and guerrillaForeign warfare Affairs Alexander Downer. Feachem hopes togovernment overseas aid development program on training in the past two years.” raise $500 million for this year—one-third of its totalHIV in the region is in half the time. Currently there are some 550 ‘pondoks’, 300 of which offer budget—froman Islamic Japan, Canada, Australia and the oil- Earlier in February while visiting Australia, World education while the rest use the dual curriculum of religious and secularrich lessons. countries. But this clampdown on the religious schools has given rise to a tide of concern,However on 18 February, Downer announced thatBank President James Wolfensohn complained of the particularly in the wake of the confusing messages from the government about staggering inequities between spending on global who the actual perpetrators of the violence are. Since the 4 January attack by the Australian government would only commit $20military expenditure and development programs. The assailants on a major military camp in the south where four soldiersmillion were killed over a three-year period. Acknowledging the and over 300 weapons were stolen, senior military officials and government Australian Greens spokeswoman on health, Kerry ministers have been floating a number of theories to explain the attacks.contribution The was relatively small, Downer pointed outNettle agrees, saying “The global threat of AIDS, list of new suspects appeared to keep pace with the increasing frequencyAustralian of the aid funding of HIV programs within the regiontuberculosis and malaria is impossible to overstate and violence, which has resulted in 42 deaths. This spurt of unrest has alsoof $160 resulted million over six years. in injuries to 23 people and the torching of public buildings and schools. The yet a government that is willing to waste over $800 death toll over the past seven weeks in the Muslim south is much higherSince than its launch two years ago, the global fund hasmillion supporting an illegal invasion of Iraq can only the estimated 50 deaths of government and security officials overcommitted the past $1 billion to the Asia Pacific region, three years. find $6.3 million a year to address (these diseases).” representing 20 percent of its resources, and has spent z (IPS) (Bob Burton) z (IPS) restrained the export of enrichment and reprocessing facilities. That plugged part of the loophole in the treaty without amending it. Today, such countries should and recent press reports about the imports from Pakistan suggest Iran join together to offer Iran (and ASIA 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH#185 2004 INTERNATIONAL 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH#185 2004 16 failed to disclose everything to the others) a deal. Countries that wish 17 IAEA. to develop nuclear energy but not nuclear bombs should be given Iran claims that as a party to the international guarantees of fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, it has the supply and disposal of spent fuel. For right to enrich uranium for peaceful example, Russia, which is helping Giving microcreditfrom the market economy. its due purposes. Correct, because the NPT Iran construct a nuclear reactor at To be sure, the experience GCC boom was born with a loophole. Even if a Bushehr, should offer Iran a with microfinance is not country agrees to broad ranging IAEA Buoyed by the highest oil prices in years, the six countries comprising the guarantee of low enriched uranium universally positive. Nor can it be Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are reaching some of the world’s highest inspections, it can legally accumulatefuel and reprocessing of the reactor’s suggested that microfinance alone growth records, but they might not be able to sustain the momentum. The enriched uranium (or reprocessed average growth estimate for 2003 in the GCC countries was 4.5 percent, spent fuel by sending it back to is responsible for change. In plutonium) under the guise of a much higher than the average in Europe or the United States of about 2.8 Russia if Iran agrees to forego Bangladesh, the rapid growth of percent, according to figures released by the various Arab and international peaceful energy program, and then enrichment and reprocessing. This sources. The figures were released before 2004 and actual figures, to be suddenly declare that circumstances the garment manufacturing deal could then be given teeth by the industry, which employs mainly released in the coming months, may differ from the estimates. have changed and withdraw from the Of the six countries—United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, UN Security Council. women, and the activities of treaty—with the ability to produce The Council would declare that Kuwait and Saudi Arabia—Qatar showed a whopping growth rate of 8.4 nuclear weapons on short notice. women’s rights advocacy groups percent because of massive natural gas exploration projects. Much of the further proliferation of nuclear If Iran did this, it would not only and movements have also had an increase in the GCC growth is due to spiking oil prices. With an average weapons is a threat to peace and that impact. Nevertheless, barrel of crude oil costing about $28 on the world market, the GCC countries add to the dangers in an unstable any country moving in that direction have rarely been this rich. region, but would likely begin a microfinance has drawn millions According to figures released by the Centre for Global Energy Studies, is subject to sanctions. Such a of women into commercial process of unravelling the non- resolution would also include a the six GCC countries were expected to have earned $134 billion in oil proliferation regime worldwide. Iran economic activities for the first revenue last year, an increase of 30 percent just compared to the previous carrot by guaranteeing Iran access to year. The biggest earner among the GCC countries has traditionally been may ask what right others have to time, enabling them to take the non-dangerous parts of the advantage of new opportunities Saudi Arabia, with the UAE demand that it forego nuclear nuclear energy fuel cycle. The pot and Kuwait running distant and develop new roles as cash second and third. But weapons. The answer lies both in thecould be further sweetened by offers income earners and economically higher oil prices are hard fact that it promised not to do so to relax existing sanctions and to sustain. Even Saudi when it signed the NPT and in the provide a security guarantee if Iran active members of the community. officials have said they consequences that it would impose onremains non-nuclear. In its early days, the believe that the Oil others. Petroleum Exporting European foreign ministers have microfinance revolution focused Countries (OPEC) should For these reasons, President Bushalready expressed their concerns on lending. Loans were typically bring down its oil prices to declared an Iranian nuclear weapon secured through the mutual at least $25 a barrel. Non- about Iran’s nuclear program. Russia OPEC exporters will likely follow suit. unacceptable. However, America’s indicates that it is willing to provide guarantee of solidarity groups. unilateral options are limited. Not The microcredit model pioneered Aside from declining oil revenue, the GCC countries have other problems such fuel services. It is time for the that, unless addressed, could have adverse effects on their economies. One Drop the bombonly is the US military busy trying in by the Grameen Bank of seemingly keenest to create its own Security Council to try to is the continued overspending in defence. In 2002, the last year for which A better way to reduce nuclear risksIraq, but the way the US went into internationalise the most dangerous Bangladesh has now been official figures were readily available, GCC countries spent $37 billion on nuclear arsenal. According to the Iraq—which proved to have fewer arms purchases and other military expenditures. For the past two years, the n 1977, when I served in I predicted back then. Some call parts of the nuclear fuel cycle. It is Last week’s microcredit summit in Dhakareplicated all over the world. International Atomic Energy Agency nuclear capabilities than Iran— six countries have on average spent 30 percent of their annual budget on President Jimmy Carter’s State Khan’s network an effort to spread not too late to learn the lessons of showed how small loans to women can transformWhile society a minimum amount of defence, the highest percentage in the world. (IAEA), Iran began enriching undermined American credibility, Department, I was sent to India an “Islamic bomb”, but given that the misadventures of AQ Khan. JOHAN MIKAELSSON savings was generally required Combined with expected decline in the oil revenue and sustaining I uranium at a pilot centrifuge plant making it difficult to recruit allies to North Korea was on the list of before a loan was granted, initially defence spending, some GCC countries, most notably Saudi Arabia, are to dissuade that country’s leaders last August and is constructing largercontain Iran’s nuclear ambitions. he microfinance revolution They are also more likely to send from developing a nuclear bomb. Myrecipients along with Libya and Iran, less emphasis was placed on finding it hard to cope with high rates of population growth. As a conservative underground enrichment facilities. Fortunately, there is a multilateral started by rural women in their daughters to school. Muslim country that does not advocate population control, it has a population hosts replied that they needed to it might better be termed a corrupt creating flexible and voluntary Iran proclaims that its programs option and an existing precedent. In TBangladesh in the 1970s Women’s status, both in their growth rate of about 3.4 percent a year. Perhaps most relevant to whether bomb. savings schemes that could be keep up with China. I said that are for peaceful generation of nuclear proved we were wrong to believe the GCC countries can maintain their economic growth is whether they can As events in Pakistan illustrate, the mid-1970s, many parties to the homes and communities improve directly controlled by the group forego the changes needed to diversify their economic infrastructure from energy, but inspectors have already NPT planned to import and develop that poverty and a lack of collateralwhen they are responsible for one solely based on oil. the spread of nuclear technology members. found traces of highly enriched enrichment and reprocessing facilities. Many economists argue that a couple of the GCC countries that have ANALYSIS does not extend the stability that loans and for managing savings. The Millennium weapons-grade uranium. Last Realising the threat to the non- When they generate and control tried are shaping up to be the model for the rest. Although the UAE’s 2003 Joseph S Nye comes with mutual deterrence. COMMENT October, Mohamed El Baradei, the proliferation regime, countries as Development Goal to promote economic growth is expected to have been around 4.5 percent, the non-oil Pakistan would inevitably follow suitRather, it increases the prospects of their own income, women gain a sector’s growth for last year is estimated at 11 percent. Much of the UAE’s head of the IAEA, announced that diverse as the Soviet Union, France, Phrang Roy gender equality is key to achieving and the world would become less corrupt leakage that may allow level of power that means they non-oil sector growth is due to construction and tourism. For the first time, Iran had accepted enhanced Germany and Japan formed a the target of halving extreme the UAE last year earned more from tourism, about 20 percent of its overall safe. terrorist groups access to nuclear meant that poor people were not can make decisions inspection procedures. In addition, “Nuclear Suppliers Group” that creditworthy. When rural women poverty and hunger by 2015. revenue, than it did from oil exports. Qatar and Bahrain have undertaken India promised that it would not weapons. That makes everyone less independently and command large-scale natural gas exploration projects that have suddenly added after visits by the French, British and z were given the opportunity they Women’s microfinance groups can export its weapons technology. So safe. Any pathological group of German foreign ministers, Iran more respect. billions of dollars to their proven wealth, and as a result have allowed their (© Project Syndicate) proved poor people were efficient and should also be strategic agents governments to increase public spending that in turn has contributed to far as we know, its leaders have kept extremists could destroy New Delhi, announced a temporary suspension Poor women often have the users of credit. for achieving these goals. economic growth. their word. But revelations about theTokyo, Paris or any city they chose. of its enrichment program. Now it best credit ratings. In Bangladesh, Joseph Nye, Dean of the Kennedy In Bangladesh, for example, nuclear weapons smuggling network Now the world’s attention is hints that it may resume enrichment, School of Government at Harvard and a women default on loans less often organised by AQ Khan, the father of focussed on Iran, one recipient of former US Assistant Secretary of women involved in microfinance than men, and credit extended to Pakistan’s bomb, confirm the dangerPakistani technology, as the country Defence, is author of the forthcoming not only changed the way they women has a much greater book,Soft Power: The Means to managed household incomes, they impact on household Success in World Politics. no longer believe they should be consumption and quality of life dependent or that they should for children. But women across z remain confined to the home. South Asia have been excluded The author is with the Rome-based International Fund for Agricultural z (IPS) Meagre contributions Development, IFAD. ommunity development groups are dismayed that the Australian government will only Ccontribute $6.6 million a year to a global fund to combat HIV, malaria and tuberculosis. Many say this poor commitment shows that Australia is shirking from its responsibility to help counter the growing health crisis. Oxfam/Community Aid Abroad and Medicines Sans Frontieres Australia calculated that Australia, based on its GNP and position on the National Development Target: Islamic schoolsIndex, should contribute $70 million over a three- year period. While countries such as France and the As the violence in Thailand’s south threatens to spiral out of control,United States the made major funding commitments to government has cracked down on Islamic schools in the region. This action against ‘pondoks’, the Islamic schools, stems from a theory that supportthey are the a Swiss-based Global Fund to Fight AIDS, “breeding ground for Islamic militants” and hence the only solutionTuberculosis is to either and Malaria, Australia held back. reform them by having them join the education mainstream or closeAttempting them. to ensure the fund reaches its target $1.5 Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is among those pushing for the latter. And the Thai army also agrees. A military source was quotedBangkok in thebillion this year, executive director Dr Richard Feachem visited Australia last week and met with Minister for Postsaying: “Southern insurgents and their allies commanded more than more than double what the total Australian 3,000 mostly teenage followers who were given weapons and guerrillaForeign warfare Affairs Alexander Downer. Feachem hopes togovernment overseas aid development program on training in the past two years.” raise $500 million for this year—one-third of its totalHIV in the region is in half the time. Currently there are some 550 ‘pondoks’, 300 of which offer budget—froman Islamic Japan, Canada, Australia and the oil- Earlier in February while visiting Australia, World education while the rest use the dual curriculum of religious and secularrich lessons. countries. But this clampdown on the religious schools has given rise to a tide of concern,However on 18 February, Downer announced thatBank President James Wolfensohn complained of the particularly in the wake of the confusing messages from the government about staggering inequities between spending on global who the actual perpetrators of the violence are. Since the 4 January attack by the Australian government would only commit $20military expenditure and development programs. The assailants on a major military camp in the south where four soldiersmillion were killed over a three-year period. Acknowledging the and over 300 weapons were stolen, senior military officials and government Australian Greens spokeswoman on health, Kerry ministers have been floating a number of theories to explain the attacks.contribution The was relatively small, Downer pointed outNettle agrees, saying “The global threat of AIDS, list of new suspects appeared to keep pace with the increasing frequencyAustralian of the aid funding of HIV programs within the regiontuberculosis and malaria is impossible to overstate and violence, which has resulted in 42 deaths. This spurt of unrest has alsoof $160 resulted million over six years. in injuries to 23 people and the torching of public buildings and schools. The yet a government that is willing to waste over $800 death toll over the past seven weeks in the Muslim south is much higherSince than its launch two years ago, the global fund hasmillion supporting an illegal invasion of Iraq can only the estimated 50 deaths of government and security officials overcommitted the past $1 billion to the Asia Pacific region, three years. find $6.3 million a year to address (these diseases).” representing 20 percent of its resources, and has spent z (IPS) (Bob Burton) z (IPS) Political scientist Krishna Khanal in 18 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH#185 2004 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS While the program presenter and Deshantar, 15 February 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH#185 200419 without much food to eat. up and locked up for more than facilitators spoke in English, rural six days. The political party has women politicians with no English An armed movement for a republic can never Hisila Yami (r) with her husband,Child soldiers “Our husbands beat us if we be successful. No matter how much the ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ asked them to leave the village or skills had to sit quietly through it Baburam Bhattarai don’t work hard,” says Darima Maoists try, they will not be able to establish Jhalak Gaire inNepal Shahi from Jumla. “If we are suffer more punishment. After the all and try to figure out what was a republican state through violence. Even if it Samacharpatra, 23 February unable to do hard labour, we will incident, many dalit families have happening. is established, there is no basis to believe left Syaula and taken refuge in a that Peacethe system will be a people’s and democracy. disharmony be kicked out of the house and neighbouring village. Some As long as the Maoists society will consider us a shame,” continue their armed The Maoists have intensified the actual fighters, come from poor approached the Maoist activists for rebellion, the monarchy will their campaign to train child says the 22-year-old who has backgrounds. This could prompt them to worked as a shepherdess since she help and the rebels published a remain. soldiers in their strongholds in statement condemning the participate in a peaceful movement. At the midwestern Nepal. A highly was a child. Life was so hard that Army school No present international very least, they will not favour suppressing Janmorcha party for their unjust ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ placed Maoist source said she even lost her child during power will tolerate a change such a movement if it were to gather strength. delivery. “We live like animals,” treatment. The local Maoist Drishti, 24 February -1 March of guard through arms in Another important factor is the moral force secondary and higher secondary Nepal’s state power. But, if commander, Ashis Magar has said of an unarmed movement, which is vital. It is students in many villages are says Jankala from Kalikot. Her the movement advances his group will take action against natural to use force against someone who being trained in secret camps. In parents forced her to spend all her BAJURA – In Martadi village, toward republicanism through the activists and make them fights using arms. For instance, after the line with the decision of their time in the forest and never sent students are forced to attend their peaceful means, I see compensate the loss of property class in a hospital room since the possibilities for it to succeed. Maoists resorted to arms, the high command, the rebels’ target her to school, even though it was government also used and physical torture of the victims.army took over their school to set People may ask how a is to have 50,000 child soldiers near her village. “My future is republic can be ushered in violence to quell the by April. A senior leader of the destroyed because all I know is up a barrack. Their school has now peacefully if the king does not insurgency. Nobody viewed party indicated that the latest how to graze cattle.” She walks turned into a military camp abdicate but history has the countermove as abduction of students from with her cattle and wanders from surrounded by barbed wire. Their examples of kings giving up as peaceful unnatural. Today, we hear Shahi, regional coordinator, the pressure mounts. about Maoists dying almost Achham and Rolpa was for this one district to another through the playground has trenches and everyday. Except for simple Maoist student organisation is The Shah of Iran is a recent example. purpose. forests. Security is a major concern, No English landmines. Five hundred students human curiosity, the news already in the process of ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ American political pundits called him a Called the Special Peoples’ not from the Maoists or the army are now crammed into the doesn’t arouse undue strengthening itself both militarily but from wild animals. “Our only Rajdhani,24 February hospital. There isn’t room enough modernising monarch who commanded a concern. This is because Military Campaign, it is being and politically. strong military. Yet, when the people’s people believe the rebels protection are our dogs,” says for most of them so they sit demand for change became overwhelming, run in what the rebels call ‘model The multi-pronged approach chose to kill, and get killed districts’ in the remote Jumla and another shepherdess. LALITPUR– It was Bhimkumari outside during classes. The chairs, he abandoned his throne and fled. The main themselves. But there is a issue in Nepal is what percent of the people Jajarkot, areas where state power comes in the wake of the military More than 200,000 girls and Magar’s most embarrassing desks and other materials have great deal of concern when operation at Mudbhara in Doti been scattered. At times, they have really back republicanism. If the people non-combatants and is almost non-existent. In the last women here have never seen the moment when other women genuinely want a republic, I see no reason district where some trainee to bear the insults and the rude unarmed people die at the hands of both the month, 15,000 recruits are said inside of a school building. laughed at her inability to speak for bloodshed. students lost their lives. “That is behaviour of doctors. There is no security force and the Maoists. to have completed basic training. Statistics show 70 percent of English properly at a workshop on The army cannot be separated from the why we have began this training toilet, water, playground or school When a movement is peaceful, no one women can’t count money or even women’s empowerment. It was a people. The lower ranks of the army, who are The trainings have three phases will be able to justify the use of arms against and are being conducted in campaign under the campaign differentiate between currency program for Nepalis, but everyone office. The hospital morgue is ‘one educational institution, one adjacent to a classroom. Due to it. If one side were to do that, it would add fuel ‘base’, ‘model’ and ‘special’ areas notes. “They are worse off than started introducing themselves in to the fire. The Maoists are still far away from controlled by the Maoists. reformed militia’,” says Shahi, whoeven prisoners,” says Sita Singh, a English for the benefit of their lack of sufficient space in the their goal despite those who sacrificed their Girl power is also a member of the central hospital, the school sends many While the core Maoists and school teacher from Kalikot. She American facilitator. As Magar lives for their armed struggle. This is why I secretariat of the ANNFSU (R). struggled to introduce herself in students to another school two km am convinced they will never be able to attain Maoist leader Hisila YamiKantipur in , 23 February their student members are all out adds that besides grazing animals, He claimed his organisation has English, the elegant ladies taking away. The school was promised their goal through force. If the rebels give up to train more children, locals are the women also walk long stretches their arms and join the peaceful movement, it already created a military force with heavy loads. There is an part all burst into laughter. As it compensation of Rs 2.2 million by will be easy to advance the republican cause. Now that the royal army has decided to recruit female fleeing their villages from fear of equal to a battalion in a regular the government through the soldiers, the idea has become a matter for discussion. The urgent need for developing happens, Magar is a grassroots Therefore, the Maoists are the biggest having to join the Maoist army. He said the Maoists would Home Ministry. They haven’t seen obstacle in attaining their own goal. move came after the ‘People’s War’ became a nationalrecruitment issue drive. Nim Bahadur income generation programs for politician. The program, jointly and a threat to the old regime. The first reason for the army’s soon have 50,000 militia and these underprivileged women. organised by the American Centre any of it despite repeated visits to recruitment is to arrest the increasing participation of womenRawal left Dailekh and is now in 375,000 members. Singha Durbar by the teachers, Gujarat. When he arrived in and Kathmandu College of in the people’s war. The second is to use the ladies as a lure Management, brought together CDO and school management to control committed Maoist fighters and to either distractNepalganj, he reported that that committee. them from their mission or make them surrender. The thethird rebels is were training all school women participants from both to provide employment to women of the families who are urban areas and remote villages. against this and have been displaced from their villages.students The to use rifles. “The fourth is in line with the global practice of having womenMaoists in the said all school students army. need to know how to use guns, Women are not forced into the People’s Liberation Army.or else the army will gun all of us Injustice They don’t join for any practical or short-term reasons. down,”The he said. “We were lucky ○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○ fact is the women make the biggest segment of the because we could get away. Rajdhani, 21 February population in downtrodden communities. They are foundThere in are hundreds of students every family, house, community, region, religion and language. Live through this who have had to walk for more ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ BAGLUNG- Dalits from Syaula Where there is oppression, there will be revolt. Since than a week to reach the training Rajdhani, 21 February women have suffered class and sexual oppression, they have village were recently beaten up double the capacity to revolt. This why the Communist camps.”Party of The Bheri Karnali and tortured by a group of Nepal (Maoist) recruited them. After our third expandedregional branch of the All Nepal Karnali is not only the most Janmorcha party workers for meeting nine years ago, we made it mandatory to haveNational two Free Students’ Union affected war zone in Nepal but allegedly supporting the Maoists. women in each of our fighting, security and volunteer teams.(Revolutionary), the student also has the worst record for Among the victims were 50-year- Unlike the royal army’s scheme to attract females withwing money, of the Maoists, says it has a position and facilities, our women are recruited on the basis women’s rights. In the villages of old Dhan Bahadur BK, 14-year- principles and ideals. new mission. According to Kamal Jumla, Kalikot, Jajarkot, Rukum old Sukmaya and one-year-old They were introduced to reality: women are the most and Dailekh districts, women Chitmaya. According to a local deprived in the existing feudal system, despite their vital role spend most of their lives grazing resident who arrived at the in Nepal’s agroeconomy. They are denied parental property cattle in the forests. They live in Baglung district headquarters, two although they run their households on their own when their tents and sleep on the wet ground women, both above 50, were tied husbands are away earning money. When the men return, they marry other women and the wives are forced to leave. Under such circumstances, when these women marry someone else, they become outcasts. This is how the feudal system protects criminals and victimises those already made victims. The CPN (Maoist) is reversing this feudal practice through its people’s war. It is leading the new revolution to implement ideas like equal rights for parental property and tillers as landowners. Women are fascinated with this change. The people’s war has liberated women who otherwise had to spend their lives solely on domestic matters. Because of Hindu philosophy, girls are married off at an early age. They become grandmothers even before they reach menopause. The people’s war has brought women out of that vicious cycle of living as a reproductive machine. The movement has taken them to different parts of the country. Rural women, who were once deprived of their rights, are now at the forefront of the people’s war, fighting as commanders. Now, women are deciding not only when they live but also when they die. Female participation is increasing in the People’s Liberation Army. Their numbers are growing also because of repression and the physical violations of the so-called Armed Police Force and the royal army. Women who join the people’s war are not only from the general mass but also from other political parties. In such a situation, the condition of women in the royal army will be counterproductive. Parents: Go carefully! The Maoists might take you! Children: Stay safe! The Maoists might come for you! Rajdhani, 22 February

QUOTE OF THE WEEK “India cannot back off from the refugee issue,”

Tekhnath Rijal, Bhutanese refugee leaderSamacharpatra in , February 24

SELECTED MATERIAL TRANSLATED EVERY WEEK FROM THE NEPALI PRESS Political scientist Krishna Khanal in 18 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH#185 2004 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS While the program presenter and Deshantar, 15 February 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH#185 200419 without much food to eat. up and locked up for more than facilitators spoke in English, rural six days. The political party has women politicians with no English An armed movement for a republic can never Hisila Yami (r) with her husband,Child soldiers “Our husbands beat us if we be successful. No matter how much the ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ asked them to leave the village or skills had to sit quietly through it Baburam Bhattarai don’t work hard,” says Darima Maoists try, they will not be able to establish Jhalak Gaire inNepal Shahi from Jumla. “If we are suffer more punishment. After the all and try to figure out what was a republican state through violence. Even if it Samacharpatra, 23 February unable to do hard labour, we will incident, many dalit families have happening. is established, there is no basis to believe left Syaula and taken refuge in a that Peacethe system will be a people’s and democracy. disharmony be kicked out of the house and neighbouring village. Some As long as the Maoists society will consider us a shame,” continue their armed The Maoists have intensified the actual fighters, come from poor approached the Maoist activists for rebellion, the monarchy will their campaign to train child says the 22-year-old who has backgrounds. This could prompt them to worked as a shepherdess since she help and the rebels published a remain. soldiers in their strongholds in statement condemning the participate in a peaceful movement. At the midwestern Nepal. A highly was a child. Life was so hard that Army school No present international very least, they will not favour suppressing Janmorcha party for their unjust ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ placed Maoist source said she even lost her child during power will tolerate a change such a movement if it were to gather strength. delivery. “We live like animals,” treatment. The local Maoist Drishti, 24 February -1 March of guard through arms in Another important factor is the moral force secondary and higher secondary Nepal’s state power. But, if commander, Ashis Magar has said of an unarmed movement, which is vital. It is students in many villages are says Jankala from Kalikot. Her the movement advances his group will take action against natural to use force against someone who being trained in secret camps. In parents forced her to spend all her BAJURA – In Martadi village, toward republicanism through the activists and make them fights using arms. For instance, after the line with the decision of their time in the forest and never sent students are forced to attend their peaceful means, I see compensate the loss of property class in a hospital room since the possibilities for it to succeed. Maoists resorted to arms, the high command, the rebels’ target her to school, even though it was government also used and physical torture of the victims.army took over their school to set People may ask how a is to have 50,000 child soldiers near her village. “My future is republic can be ushered in violence to quell the by April. A senior leader of the destroyed because all I know is up a barrack. Their school has now peacefully if the king does not insurgency. Nobody viewed party indicated that the latest how to graze cattle.” She walks turned into a military camp abdicate but history has the countermove as abduction of students from with her cattle and wanders from surrounded by barbed wire. Their examples of kings giving up as peaceful unnatural. Today, we hear Shahi, regional coordinator, the pressure mounts. about Maoists dying almost Achham and Rolpa was for this one district to another through the playground has trenches and everyday. Except for simple Maoist student organisation is The Shah of Iran is a recent example. purpose. forests. Security is a major concern, No English landmines. Five hundred students human curiosity, the news already in the process of ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ American political pundits called him a Called the Special Peoples’ not from the Maoists or the army are now crammed into the doesn’t arouse undue strengthening itself both militarily but from wild animals. “Our only Rajdhani,24 February hospital. There isn’t room enough modernising monarch who commanded a concern. This is because Military Campaign, it is being and politically. strong military. Yet, when the people’s people believe the rebels protection are our dogs,” says for most of them so they sit demand for change became overwhelming, run in what the rebels call ‘model The multi-pronged approach chose to kill, and get killed districts’ in the remote Jumla and another shepherdess. LALITPUR– It was Bhimkumari outside during classes. The chairs, he abandoned his throne and fled. The main themselves. But there is a issue in Nepal is what percent of the people Jajarkot, areas where state power comes in the wake of the military More than 200,000 girls and Magar’s most embarrassing desks and other materials have great deal of concern when operation at Mudbhara in Doti been scattered. At times, they have really back republicanism. If the people non-combatants and is almost non-existent. In the last women here have never seen the moment when other women genuinely want a republic, I see no reason district where some trainee to bear the insults and the rude unarmed people die at the hands of both the month, 15,000 recruits are said inside of a school building. laughed at her inability to speak for bloodshed. students lost their lives. “That is behaviour of doctors. There is no security force and the Maoists. to have completed basic training. Statistics show 70 percent of English properly at a workshop on The army cannot be separated from the why we have began this training toilet, water, playground or school When a movement is peaceful, no one women can’t count money or even women’s empowerment. It was a people. The lower ranks of the army, who are The trainings have three phases will be able to justify the use of arms against and are being conducted in campaign under the campaign differentiate between currency program for Nepalis, but everyone office. The hospital morgue is ‘one educational institution, one adjacent to a classroom. Due to it. If one side were to do that, it would add fuel ‘base’, ‘model’ and ‘special’ areas notes. “They are worse off than started introducing themselves in to the fire. The Maoists are still far away from controlled by the Maoists. reformed militia’,” says Shahi, whoeven prisoners,” says Sita Singh, a English for the benefit of their lack of sufficient space in the their goal despite those who sacrificed their Girl power is also a member of the central hospital, the school sends many While the core Maoists and school teacher from Kalikot. She American facilitator. As Magar lives for their armed struggle. This is why I secretariat of the ANNFSU (R). struggled to introduce herself in students to another school two km am convinced they will never be able to attain Maoist leader Hisila YamiKantipur in , 23 February their student members are all out adds that besides grazing animals, He claimed his organisation has English, the elegant ladies taking away. The school was promised their goal through force. If the rebels give up to train more children, locals are the women also walk long stretches their arms and join the peaceful movement, it already created a military force with heavy loads. There is an part all burst into laughter. As it compensation of Rs 2.2 million by will be easy to advance the republican cause. Now that the royal army has decided to recruit female fleeing their villages from fear of equal to a battalion in a regular the government through the soldiers, the idea has become a matter for discussion. The urgent need for developing happens, Magar is a grassroots Therefore, the Maoists are the biggest having to join the Maoist army. He said the Maoists would Home Ministry. They haven’t seen obstacle in attaining their own goal. move came after the ‘People’s War’ became a nationalrecruitment issue drive. Nim Bahadur income generation programs for politician. The program, jointly and a threat to the old regime. The first reason for the army’s soon have 50,000 militia and these underprivileged women. organised by the American Centre any of it despite repeated visits to recruitment is to arrest the increasing participation of womenRawal left Dailekh and is now in 375,000 members. Singha Durbar by the teachers, Gujarat. When he arrived in and Kathmandu College of in the people’s war. The second is to use the ladies as a lure Management, brought together CDO and school management to control committed Maoist fighters and to either distractNepalganj, he reported that that committee. them from their mission or make them surrender. The thethird rebels is were training all school women participants from both to provide employment to women of the families who are urban areas and remote villages. against this and have been displaced from their villages.students The to use rifles. “The fourth is in line with the global practice of having womenMaoists in the said all school students army. need to know how to use guns, Women are not forced into the People’s Liberation Army.or else the army will gun all of us Injustice They don’t join for any practical or short-term reasons. down,”The he said. “We were lucky ○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○ fact is the women make the biggest segment of the because we could get away. Rajdhani, 21 February population in downtrodden communities. They are foundThere in are hundreds of students every family, house, community, region, religion and language. Live through this who have had to walk for more ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ BAGLUNG- Dalits from Syaula Where there is oppression, there will be revolt. Since than a week to reach the training Rajdhani, 21 February women have suffered class and sexual oppression, they have village were recently beaten up double the capacity to revolt. This why the Communist camps.”Party of The Bheri Karnali and tortured by a group of Nepal (Maoist) recruited them. After our third expandedregional branch of the All Nepal Karnali is not only the most Janmorcha party workers for meeting nine years ago, we made it mandatory to haveNational two Free Students’ Union affected war zone in Nepal but allegedly supporting the Maoists. women in each of our fighting, security and volunteer teams.(Revolutionary), the student also has the worst record for Among the victims were 50-year- Unlike the royal army’s scheme to attract females withwing money, of the Maoists, says it has a position and facilities, our women are recruited on the basis women’s rights. In the villages of old Dhan Bahadur BK, 14-year- principles and ideals. new mission. According to Kamal Jumla, Kalikot, Jajarkot, Rukum old Sukmaya and one-year-old They were introduced to reality: women are the most and Dailekh districts, women Chitmaya. According to a local deprived in the existing feudal system, despite their vital role spend most of their lives grazing resident who arrived at the in Nepal’s agroeconomy. They are denied parental property cattle in the forests. They live in Baglung district headquarters, two although they run their households on their own when their tents and sleep on the wet ground women, both above 50, were tied husbands are away earning money. When the men return, they marry other women and the wives are forced to leave. Under such circumstances, when these women marry someone else, they become outcasts. This is how the feudal system protects criminals and victimises those already made victims. The CPN (Maoist) is reversing this feudal practice through its people’s war. It is leading the new revolution to implement ideas like equal rights for parental property and tillers as landowners. Women are fascinated with this change. The people’s war has liberated women who otherwise had to spend their lives solely on domestic matters. Because of Hindu philosophy, girls are married off at an early age. They become grandmothers even before they reach menopause. The people’s war has brought women out of that vicious cycle of living as a reproductive machine. The movement has taken them to different parts of the country. Rural women, who were once deprived of their rights, are now at the forefront of the people’s war, fighting as commanders. Now, women are deciding not only when they live but also when they die. Female participation is increasing in the People’s Liberation Army. Their numbers are growing also because of repression and the physical violations of the so-called Armed Police Force and the royal army. Women who join the people’s war are not only from the general mass but also from other political parties. In such a situation, the condition of women in the royal army will be counterproductive. Parents: Go carefully! The Maoists might take you! Children: Stay safe! The Maoists might come for you! Rajdhani, 22 February

QUOTE OF THE WEEK “India cannot back off from the refugee issue,”

Tekhnath Rijal, Bhutanese refugee leaderSamacharpatra in , February 24

SELECTED MATERIAL TRANSLATED EVERY WEEK FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 20 HISTORY AND CULTURE 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH#185 2004 SPORTS 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH#185 200421 Back at Sundarijal >55 Playing host to Euro 2004 has lots of benefits Golf cooperation council golf course is built, golfers The first-ever fund for developing One day in BP’s life in jail come and play and those golf in Nepal has been set up. Fore! Awho realise the benefits and can afford to learn and take up the sport, do so. Once things BP Koirala, imprisoned at the Police Training are running smoothly, some Centre in Kathmandu, describes the begin to wonder how the sport can grow and spread to those tediousness of his near-solitary confinement. that find it difficult to even find He describes in excruciating detail his daily out if they would be interested. routine from the time he gets up in his cell to You have to give something to get a return. Be it education, the time he goes to bed. It is a life he leads self-improvement courses, from hour to hour, being able to pass 60 setting up and stocking a minutes is itself an achievement. Life is Portugal’s business or industry, giving your slightly better than at Sundarijal, where he was in solitary confinement and didn’t have TEE BREAK big chancetimeDeepak to a cause Acharya and, yes, even access to newspapers, radio and meetings abandoning your principles as a with relatives. BP also can’t find the energy MARIO DE QUEIROZin LISBON the 20 best in the world. It has a bureaucrat or politician–some capacity for 65,000 spectators and will investment or sacrifice has to be to do anything that taxes the mind too much. made. good music. GM comes into my room from the kitchen s host to the European Cup host the initial matches between where he goes straight from his room to announce Croatia, England, France, Portugal and It often takes a person who that dinner is about to be served. I go to the bathroom, 2004, Portugal could shed its Russia, as well as the final between the has both foresight and passion wash my hands, peep into the kitchen + ask the boys Aimage as a sort of appendage Tsenthok Dorjee, Station Managergolfing of Druk community Air, receiving to give the Running two teams that eliminate the other 14. to see a vision through to Trophy from Himalaya SJB Rana of Himalayan Bank last week. is the dinner ready, and go to the table for the food. to Spain and consolidate a position as momentum to achieve significant The dinner for me consists of some meat (optional) a tourist destination. In Guimaraes, a city in the extreme implementation. Many months 14-12-77 [continued] the time. It takes about ½ hour. About that time someI get dal, vegetables and some pop corn. GM takes progress.” Portugal is hoping to reap the fruits north, where Don Afonso Henriques ago, when the Himalayan Bank promotion with the development After breakfast I want to read + write, I haven’t beenRising Nepal+ Gorkhapatra + by 12:30 I finish readingdinner with a glass of milk with coffee. Then retires to Limited (HBL) was planning on Highlights of the HBL Open of a $745 million investment infounded Portugal in the th13 of a very popular and lucrative able to do it—total disinclination for any seriousthem. Again, I attempt to read till 2PM, when GMhis room after listening to broadcasts from BBC + All century, Golf Championship was a win mental work. I sit on the table all right + there is India. I try both books and radio to find out which of building 10 new stadiums for the ways of promoting itself, the sport that opens up new horizons comes to my room for an hour’s joint reading of a a $106 million stadium was built, by Tsenthok Dorjee, Station always a book open before me on the table or voluminouswriting book‘Mahakali dekhi Mechi samma’. It is them would interest me. This keep me occupied for championship that runs 14 June – 4 idea of a golf tournament was for making both a career and a materials—pen + paper. That is all that happens by an hour. Sometimes I get good music, sometimes, bearing his name, and with the capacity Manager of Druk Air, in his first a worthless book giving a very superficial information July. No country hosting this considered. way of my literary work. I just sit quietly at the table not very frequently of course, a book excites interest. I for 30,000 people. The stadium mark in the world. about the kingdom, but since it helps me to pass, The Chairman of the Board appearance in a tournament. He waiting for some moments of inspiration. I become finally go to bed at about 10PM, This has been a international football tournament has The benefits can be however boringly, 60 minutes of the day I listen to the belongs to the Vitoria football club started playing golf only after his tired of sitting and waiting very soon. Then I start healthy change in my daily routine, otherwise I used to ever gone to such lengths. of Directors, Himalaya SJB Rana, reading of the book by GM. Exactly at 3PM GM puts the and gained tragic notoriety on 25 tremendous—learning to be a rearranging things in the trunk and boxes in the go to bed immediately after dinner. The day ends. I put posting in Kathmandu last year. kettle of water to boil for tea. In the meantime we take The Euro Cup is expected toJanuary when young Hungarian player, felt that simply a tournament for teaching professional, playing almirah, or the table + on the shelf. Then by 10AM, off the heater, shut the radio, take off the heavy In this space in an earlier some cheese + biscuits GM takes a glass of tea attract more than a half-million promotion without some further when the sun falls slantingly on the southern wall of clothing and get into bed withTimes the of Indiathat Miklos Feher, forward for the Benfica professional or even just being followed by a glass of milk with coffee. At about 4PM, benefit to society would not be column I had mentioned how my room from one of the eastern windows, I open the visitors, in addition to the 9.5 millionclub, died there of a heart attack. A able to play the sport well opens he returns to his room and I start pottering abouthas in just the arrived. But the moment my head hits the difficult and rare it was to get a windows and I ask forchawki the to be brought into my tourists arriving here annually, 61100km away, in Braga, the nation’s in line with HBL’s commitment up many avenues of income and room to make it ready for the evening and the night,pillow, ie, I become drowsy. I throw out the paper put on “hole in one”. This golfer’s campus on which I spread a bedsheet and try to bask the night cap and put the table lamp out + go to sleep. percent of whom are Spaniards, Torres“Catholic capital” according to to being a socially-responsible contacts in the business world. It I tidy the bed, pull down the mosquito net (there are said. From the perspective of the dream came true for Binod in the sun. The presence of three sentries (therestill are a few mosquitoes in the room, more than theMost of the time I get sleep promptly when I close my tradition, a $103 million stadium was and leading corporate body. The often signifies a degree of two on the roof) looking down on me when I takeprotection, the the net provides against them, it is aeyes. On some occasions I also seem to suffer, like tourism industry, the sector of thebuilt that has a capacity for 30,000. board of HBL heartily sophistication and belonging to a Shrestha who was given a special sun doesn’t encourage me to stay out. I go back to the others, from insomnia. When I feel that I wouldn’t get Portuguese economy that generates protection against the severe cold of the night). Close The national teams of Bulgaria, concurred. fraternity. prize for his incredible shot on room and wait for the lunch. GM [Ganesh Man theSingh] curtains + draw the blinds and put on the roomsleep, I debate in my mind whether I should take most cash, the governmental Denmark, Netherlands, Italy and When the Himalayan Bank probably the most difficult Par 3 comes from his camp at about 10:30 + we takeheater lunch. with a pan of water for the evaporation andvalium or sedative—decide against it. How did I contribution of $132 million towards The thoughtful use of this GM comes from his camp at about 10:30 + we take spend the day? Latvia will be playing in the Guimaraes Open Golf Championship hole in South Asia. humidity. Then I put on heavy clothes + go out for the the construction of the 10 stadiums is new fund will be a major step our lunch together. GM’s lunch consists of rice,evening dal constitutional, taking a brisk walk for ½ hour. I and Braga stadiums. Heading 120km concluded last Saturday, HBL has shown that a reasonable investment, especially towards the development of the vegetables, + if there is meat, a portion of it. I takereturn dal, to my room + begin to spend the evening south, one runs into Coimbra and its Chairman Rana announced that business promotions with vegetables, meat (optional). After lunch, which is over considering the returns in years to sport amongst those who would waiting for the dinner to be served. This is the time I $45 million stadium, which is to host all entry fees collected from the contributions towards new at about 11AM, GM goes back to his room + I goturn to myinto various stations of radio for a good come. normally not be able to afford matches played by France, England and tournament would go towards a opportunities can be successfully bed for some rest and sleep. I rest for an hour. programme.Then I I don’t find them but the process The debate about whether it was access to equipment and training. do sunbath, massaging my body with mustard oil all Switzerland. The Aveiro and Leiria Golf Development Fund. implemented, while Tsenthok occupies me for more than an hour. Sometimes I get justified to build 10 stadiums has been With HBL’s track record of stadiums, located 150km north of the In these cynical times, it proved that one can learn and be left behind, and now the focus is oncapital, were designed by the professionalism and dedication, I would be easy to take a negative foresee exciting developments of able to win a big tournament in attracting tourists, improving security,controversial architect Tomás Taveira. less than a year’s time. building new hotels, reinforcingThe total cost of the two stadiums was stance about this decision. One the sport ahead. transportation, airports, highways,$114 million. They will host matches could say: “There are so many At the award ceremony last hospitals and public services—andbetween Croatia, France, England and worthy causes to support, so week, Rana said: “The general drawing the advertising dollars of theSwitzerland. why golf?” The case rests on idea is to develop golf by BIGBEN big transnationals. President Jorge blending good business providing opportunities to Sampaio described Euro Cup 2004 as youngsters to start the game. We “a collective challenge for the (IPS) have started it and we want the country,” and Prime Minister José Deepak Acharya is a golf instructor and Head Golf Professional at Manuel Durao Barroso said it is “an UEFA - Euro Cup 2004 (http:// Songs for all seasons Gokarna Forest Golf Resort & Spa, www.euro2004.com/competitions/euro/ unbeatable opportunity to consolidate Kathmandu. [email protected] Gopal Yonjan’s compositions in our international image”. Both have index.html) he late Gopal Yonjan spent been on the frontlines of the “battle years researching and studying andRitu flute—a Ranga hybrid “highlandare a major milestone to promote” Portugal around the folk and traditional as well as T groove”. ‘Ritu Ranga’, the six main world. classical Indian and Newari music. compositions, borrow from the concluding piece, ‘Rhythms’ is like The tournament premieres with a While remaining free from any rigid Nepal’s cultural identity that is the united heartbeat of Nepal. It is a match between Portugal and Greece boundaries, his music captures a newstrongly interwoven with seasonal percussion medley that incorporates Nepalipan that is apparent inRitu cycles. ‘Sharad’, for example, reflectseverything from the Dholak of the in Oporto, Portugal’s second city, set Ranga. Yonjan’s compositions the sound and verve of Indra Jatra tarai to the Damphu of the hill on the coast 320km north of Lisbon. They will play at Dragao stadium, reflect his deep and innate bond while ‘Barsha’ captures the people. with his art. exuberance of the rains with the which holds 52,000 spectators and This 44 minute-long CD begins Santoor, Sitar and bells. The cost $124 million. Also in Oporto, the with a flute piece before moving into Ritu Rangais being launched on 3 March Boavista stadium was rebuilt at a cost three short pieces: ‘Kathmandu’, at the Garden of Six Seasons, of $56 million and holds 30,000 ‘Selo’ and ‘Sagarmatha’, followed by Keshar Mahal. people. The national teams from the six seasonal suite of ‘Grishma’, Denmark, Germany, Italy, ‘Barsha’, ‘Sharad’, ‘Sishir’ and Netherlands, Latvia, Spain and Sweden ‘Basanta’ and ends with ‘Rhythms’. will be playing in the Oporto stadiums. Yonjan composed Ritu Rangain In the southern region of Algarbe, 1992 and the rest in 1983. Spain will take on Russia in a stadium ‘Kathmandu’ evokes the rhythms that holds 30,000 belonging to the heard in the Newari bahals and toles cities of Luolé and Faro. The $147 in July and August as the locals make million Estadio da Luz, of the Benfica their way to Swayambhunath to pay club in Lisbon, is considered one of homage to the Buddha during the Gunla festival. ‘Selo’ has the trademark Tamang Damphu beat interwoven with violin Cowmandos! 20 HISTORY AND CULTURE 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH#185 2004 SPORTS 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH#185 200421 Back at Sundarijal >55 Playing host to Euro 2004 has lots of benefits Golf cooperation council golf course is built, golfers The first-ever fund for developing One day in BP’s life in jail come and play and those golf in Nepal has been set up. Fore! Awho realise the benefits and can afford to learn and take up the sport, do so. Once things BP Koirala, imprisoned at the Police Training are running smoothly, some Centre in Kathmandu, describes the begin to wonder how the sport can grow and spread to those tediousness of his near-solitary confinement. that find it difficult to even find He describes in excruciating detail his daily out if they would be interested. routine from the time he gets up in his cell to You have to give something to get a return. Be it education, the time he goes to bed. It is a life he leads self-improvement courses, from hour to hour, being able to pass 60 setting up and stocking a minutes is itself an achievement. Life is Portugal’s business or industry, giving your slightly better than at Sundarijal, where he was in solitary confinement and didn’t have TEE BREAK big chancetimeDeepak to a cause Acharya and, yes, even access to newspapers, radio and meetings abandoning your principles as a with relatives. BP also can’t find the energy MARIO DE QUEIROZin LISBON the 20 best in the world. It has a bureaucrat or politician–some capacity for 65,000 spectators and will investment or sacrifice has to be to do anything that taxes the mind too much. made. good music. GM comes into my room from the kitchen s host to the European Cup host the initial matches between where he goes straight from his room to announce Croatia, England, France, Portugal and It often takes a person who that dinner is about to be served. I go to the bathroom, 2004, Portugal could shed its Russia, as well as the final between the has both foresight and passion wash my hands, peep into the kitchen + ask the boys Aimage as a sort of appendage Tsenthok Dorjee, Station Managergolfing of Druk community Air, receiving to give the Running two teams that eliminate the other 14. to see a vision through to Trophy from Himalaya SJB Rana of Himalayan Bank last week. is the dinner ready, and go to the table for the food. to Spain and consolidate a position as momentum to achieve significant The dinner for me consists of some meat (optional) a tourist destination. In Guimaraes, a city in the extreme implementation. Many months 14-12-77 [continued] the time. It takes about ½ hour. About that time someI get dal, vegetables and some pop corn. GM takes progress.” Portugal is hoping to reap the fruits north, where Don Afonso Henriques ago, when the Himalayan Bank promotion with the development After breakfast I want to read + write, I haven’t beenRising Nepal+ Gorkhapatra + by 12:30 I finish readingdinner with a glass of milk with coffee. Then retires to Limited (HBL) was planning on Highlights of the HBL Open of a $745 million investment infounded Portugal in the th13 of a very popular and lucrative able to do it—total disinclination for any seriousthem. Again, I attempt to read till 2PM, when GMhis room after listening to broadcasts from BBC + All century, Golf Championship was a win mental work. I sit on the table all right + there is India. I try both books and radio to find out which of building 10 new stadiums for the ways of promoting itself, the sport that opens up new horizons comes to my room for an hour’s joint reading of a a $106 million stadium was built, by Tsenthok Dorjee, Station always a book open before me on the table or voluminouswriting book‘Mahakali dekhi Mechi samma’. It is them would interest me. This keep me occupied for championship that runs 14 June – 4 idea of a golf tournament was for making both a career and a materials—pen + paper. That is all that happens by an hour. Sometimes I get good music, sometimes, bearing his name, and with the capacity Manager of Druk Air, in his first a worthless book giving a very superficial information July. No country hosting this considered. way of my literary work. I just sit quietly at the table not very frequently of course, a book excites interest. I for 30,000 people. The stadium mark in the world. about the kingdom, but since it helps me to pass, The Chairman of the Board appearance in a tournament. He waiting for some moments of inspiration. I become finally go to bed at about 10PM, This has been a international football tournament has The benefits can be however boringly, 60 minutes of the day I listen to the belongs to the Vitoria football club started playing golf only after his tired of sitting and waiting very soon. Then I start healthy change in my daily routine, otherwise I used to ever gone to such lengths. of Directors, Himalaya SJB Rana, reading of the book by GM. Exactly at 3PM GM puts the and gained tragic notoriety on 25 tremendous—learning to be a rearranging things in the trunk and boxes in the go to bed immediately after dinner. The day ends. I put posting in Kathmandu last year. kettle of water to boil for tea. In the meantime we take The Euro Cup is expected toJanuary when young Hungarian player, felt that simply a tournament for teaching professional, playing almirah, or the table + on the shelf. Then by 10AM, off the heater, shut the radio, take off the heavy In this space in an earlier some cheese + biscuits GM takes a glass of tea attract more than a half-million promotion without some further when the sun falls slantingly on the southern wall of clothing and get into bed withTimes the of Indiathat Miklos Feher, forward for the Benfica professional or even just being followed by a glass of milk with coffee. At about 4PM, benefit to society would not be column I had mentioned how my room from one of the eastern windows, I open the visitors, in addition to the 9.5 millionclub, died there of a heart attack. A able to play the sport well opens he returns to his room and I start pottering abouthas in just the arrived. But the moment my head hits the difficult and rare it was to get a windows and I ask forchawki the to be brought into my tourists arriving here annually, 61100km away, in Braga, the nation’s in line with HBL’s commitment up many avenues of income and room to make it ready for the evening and the night,pillow, ie, I become drowsy. I throw out the paper put on “hole in one”. This golfer’s campus on which I spread a bedsheet and try to bask the night cap and put the table lamp out + go to sleep. percent of whom are Spaniards, Torres“Catholic capital” according to to being a socially-responsible contacts in the business world. It I tidy the bed, pull down the mosquito net (there are said. From the perspective of the dream came true for Binod in the sun. The presence of three sentries (therestill are a few mosquitoes in the room, more than theMost of the time I get sleep promptly when I close my tradition, a $103 million stadium was and leading corporate body. The often signifies a degree of two on the roof) looking down on me when I takeprotection, the the net provides against them, it is aeyes. On some occasions I also seem to suffer, like tourism industry, the sector of thebuilt that has a capacity for 30,000. board of HBL heartily sophistication and belonging to a Shrestha who was given a special sun doesn’t encourage me to stay out. I go back to the others, from insomnia. When I feel that I wouldn’t get Portuguese economy that generates protection against the severe cold of the night). Close The national teams of Bulgaria, concurred. fraternity. prize for his incredible shot on room and wait for the lunch. GM [Ganesh Man theSingh] curtains + draw the blinds and put on the roomsleep, I debate in my mind whether I should take most cash, the governmental Denmark, Netherlands, Italy and When the Himalayan Bank probably the most difficult Par 3 comes from his camp at about 10:30 + we takeheater lunch. with a pan of water for the evaporation andvalium or sedative—decide against it. How did I contribution of $132 million towards The thoughtful use of this GM comes from his camp at about 10:30 + we take spend the day? Latvia will be playing in the Guimaraes Open Golf Championship hole in South Asia. humidity. Then I put on heavy clothes + go out for the the construction of the 10 stadiums is new fund will be a major step our lunch together. GM’s lunch consists of rice,evening dal constitutional, taking a brisk walk for ½ hour. I and Braga stadiums. Heading 120km concluded last Saturday, HBL has shown that a reasonable investment, especially towards the development of the vegetables, + if there is meat, a portion of it. I takereturn dal, to my room + begin to spend the evening south, one runs into Coimbra and its Chairman Rana announced that business promotions with vegetables, meat (optional). After lunch, which is over considering the returns in years to sport amongst those who would waiting for the dinner to be served. This is the time I $45 million stadium, which is to host all entry fees collected from the contributions towards new at about 11AM, GM goes back to his room + I goturn to myinto various stations of radio for a good come. normally not be able to afford matches played by France, England and tournament would go towards a opportunities can be successfully bed for some rest and sleep. I rest for an hour. programme.Then I I don’t find them but the process The debate about whether it was access to equipment and training. do sunbath, massaging my body with mustard oil all Switzerland. The Aveiro and Leiria Golf Development Fund. implemented, while Tsenthok occupies me for more than an hour. Sometimes I get justified to build 10 stadiums has been With HBL’s track record of stadiums, located 150km north of the In these cynical times, it proved that one can learn and be left behind, and now the focus is oncapital, were designed by the professionalism and dedication, I would be easy to take a negative foresee exciting developments of able to win a big tournament in attracting tourists, improving security,controversial architect Tomás Taveira. less than a year’s time. building new hotels, reinforcingThe total cost of the two stadiums was stance about this decision. One the sport ahead. transportation, airports, highways,$114 million. They will host matches could say: “There are so many At the award ceremony last hospitals and public services—andbetween Croatia, France, England and worthy causes to support, so week, Rana said: “The general drawing the advertising dollars of theSwitzerland. why golf?” The case rests on idea is to develop golf by BIGBEN big transnationals. President Jorge blending good business providing opportunities to Sampaio described Euro Cup 2004 as youngsters to start the game. We “a collective challenge for the (IPS) have started it and we want the country,” and Prime Minister José Deepak Acharya is a golf instructor and Head Golf Professional at Manuel Durao Barroso said it is “an UEFA - Euro Cup 2004 (http:// Songs for all seasons Gokarna Forest Golf Resort & Spa, www.euro2004.com/competitions/euro/ unbeatable opportunity to consolidate Kathmandu. [email protected] Gopal Yonjan’s compositions in our international image”. Both have index.html) he late Gopal Yonjan spent been on the frontlines of the “battle years researching and studying andRitu flute—a Ranga hybrid “highlandare a major milestone to promote” Portugal around the folk and traditional as well as T groove”. ‘Ritu Ranga’, the six main world. classical Indian and Newari music. compositions, borrow from the concluding piece, ‘Rhythms’ is like The tournament premieres with a While remaining free from any rigid Nepal’s cultural identity that is the united heartbeat of Nepal. It is a match between Portugal and Greece boundaries, his music captures a newstrongly interwoven with seasonal percussion medley that incorporates Nepalipan that is apparent inRitu cycles. ‘Sharad’, for example, reflectseverything from the Dholak of the in Oporto, Portugal’s second city, set Ranga. Yonjan’s compositions the sound and verve of Indra Jatra tarai to the Damphu of the hill on the coast 320km north of Lisbon. They will play at Dragao stadium, reflect his deep and innate bond while ‘Barsha’ captures the people. with his art. exuberance of the rains with the which holds 52,000 spectators and This 44 minute-long CD begins Santoor, Sitar and bells. The cost $124 million. Also in Oporto, the with a flute piece before moving into Ritu Rangais being launched on 3 March Boavista stadium was rebuilt at a cost three short pieces: ‘Kathmandu’, at the Garden of Six Seasons, of $56 million and holds 30,000 ‘Selo’ and ‘Sagarmatha’, followed by Keshar Mahal. people. The national teams from the six seasonal suite of ‘Grishma’, Denmark, Germany, Italy, ‘Barsha’, ‘Sharad’, ‘Sishir’ and Netherlands, Latvia, Spain and Sweden ‘Basanta’ and ends with ‘Rhythms’. will be playing in the Oporto stadiums. Yonjan composed Ritu Rangain In the southern region of Algarbe, 1992 and the rest in 1983. Spain will take on Russia in a stadium ‘Kathmandu’ evokes the rhythms that holds 30,000 belonging to the heard in the Newari bahals and toles cities of Luolé and Faro. The $147 in July and August as the locals make million Estadio da Luz, of the Benfica their way to Swayambhunath to pay club in Lisbon, is considered one of homage to the Buddha during the Gunla festival. ‘Selo’ has the trademark Tamang Damphu beat interwoven with violin Cowmandos! 22 CITY 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH#185 2004 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH#185 200423

HAPPENINGS NEPALI SOCIETY

are younger, better educated, have more energy and Bindra’scommitment. When beliefBindra first sat at the director general’s desk, it ven before activists had against fuel adulteration. took some time to get used to the started struggling for “You need a bit of ambition inrespect shown by her junior male affirmative action to reserve E life,” she smiles, confiding that herstaff. Once she overheard them civil service jobs for women, real ambition was to be an airlinesay: “Wow, even a woman can do Bindra Hada was already climbingpilot but she didn’t have enoughthis job!” up the career ladder with quiet money to go abroad for training. “I Asked about her two daughters determination. have no regrets,” says Bindra now, and husband who is a Bahun, and That is Bindra’s style: don’t satisfied that she has set standards why she keeps her Newari maiden for the bureaucracy and, in her own ABOUT TOWN BOOKWORM make a big fuss, just do your job name, Bindra laughs it off. She small way, changed the public’s professionally. As the first ever steers the interview deftly back to perception of how things are run. FESTIVALS AND EXHIBITIONS Against the Current Don Messerschmidt with Dina Bangdel female director general of the her job: show she is in charge Sadhus: The Great RenouncersPhotographs by Thomas Kelly till 29 Department of Commerce, Bindra“Traditionally, bureaucrats areof 42 staff. She’s a leader, not a Orchid Press, 2004 KIRAN PANDAY does not believe that the February at Indigo Gallery, Naxal. seen as inefficient, dishonest andboss. Rs 850 EASY TARGET: Soldiers inspect the wreckage of an electric threewheeler government has ever lazy. I want to change that,” she says For the sake of loveSculpture, painting and print exhibition till 2 discriminated against assigning This is a biography of Nepali writer, painter and art historian Lain Singh Bangdel, the which was blown apart by a bomb on Thursday afternoon near the firmly. “It can be done.” She is March at Gallery Moksh, inside Club Hardic, Jhamsikhel. 5528703 women to top senior posts. “Youworking to turn the Department of Reflection and RealityPaintings by Erina Tamrakar till 7 March at “Renaissance man” of Nepal, chronicling his journey through the world of art to RNAC Building. have to prove yourself with Commerce into one of the eventual national and international fame. Accompanied by photographs and color plates professionalism and hard work government’s best departments. Gallery Nine, Lazimpat. 4428694 starting from school,” she says. Bindra believes Nepal’s Dolpo LivesPaintings by Tenzin Norbu 6-20 March at Shangri-la of his paintings, Messerschmidt’s account of this unique figure in Nepali history is a After working seven years as a z Hotel, Lazimpat 10AM – 4PM must-read. civil service is improving geochemist at the Department andof that top bureaucrats (Naresh Newar) Mines and Geology, Bindra EVENTS decided it was time to move from Nepal RideDaman, Sauraha and Courtesy: Mandala Book Point, Kantipath, 4227711, [email protected] the lab to administration. Her no- Pokhara with Himalayan Enfielders and nonsense style and efficiency VW rally from 4-6 March. 4440462 meant she had nowhere to Aarohan Theatre Grouppresents Henrik CLASSIFIED go but up. You can tell It has been a while since Hollywood has produced a bonafide Bindra is not a whiner. Ibsen’sA Dolls House at Sama natak action hero, but it appears that one has finally emerged. Look She has a positive ghar, Gurukul, Old Baneshwar. Weekends till 14 March. Tickets:out Rs Vin 25Diesel, because the Rock appears ready to roll. He is Luxurious 2 bedroom apartmentwith the Schwarzenegger of the 2000s with a comprehensible outlook and firmly (for students), Rs 50 and Rs 100. 4466956 accent. WelcomeIn to the Jungle- The Rundown,director spacious living dining, modern kitchen, 2 believes that hard work bathrooms, private telephone, ample parking, Introduction to Foot Reflexology 6-7:30 PM, 1 March. Above the Peter Berg has wisely kept computer animators on a short and integrity pay off in leash. The story is simple: Beck (The Rock), a self-described sunny terrace overlooking garden, solar Everest Bookstore at Babar Mahal Revisited. 4425931 “Retrieval Expert”, finds himself in Brazil on his latest job. His heating. Call:5524389 the end. These values Dhokaima Saturday Haatfrom 10AM-1PM at Dhokaima Café, Patanmission is to locate Travis (Seann William Scott), his boss’s and her steely son, and bring him to California.Welcome offers everything a Visit Femilines,the Exclusive Lingerie Store determination are an Dhoka. Organic vegetables, ceramics and more. 5522113 good movie of this sort should: plenty of suspenseful action, a for ladies undergarments, nightwear, asset as she takes on few good laughs and a share of obligatory “reluctant buddy” bathrobes and more. Ladies staff. Opposite the combined might of MUSIC bonding. If you’re in the mood for this sort of lighthearted Sajha Yatayat, Harihar Bhawan, Pulchowk. Lifted Higher DJs St Yves, Baba and Crystal Zero from 7:30 PM entertainment, it’s right on the money. gas station dealers who Tel: 547428 oppose her campaign onwards on 28 February, Via Via café, Thamel Welcome to the jungle KIRAN PANDAY LIVE IN STYLE!Arcadia Apartments in the The Trio Givone Gypsy Jazz band from France, every night from 7PM The rundown heart of Thamel. Centrally located, fully BIRD’S VIEW: A policeman with a riot gun watches over the student onwards at the Piano Lounge & Bar, Hotel Yak and Yeti. 4248999 furnished apartments at unbelievable rates. JAI NEPAL CINEMA For details: 981026903, 4260187 elections at Ratna Rajya Campus on Thursday. FOOD From 20 February Call 4442220 for show timings. www.jainepal.com Sunny Side UpBBQ lunch with live music at the Garden Terrace, Renting made easy: www.2letonline.com- Soaltee Crowne Plaza Kathmandu, every Saturday and Sunday. Rs Looking for a place to stay- Log on to find the perfect house, apartment or even a retail 650 per person. 4273999 space that meets all your needs. Make an Café Uin Sanepa, Patan, opposite British School is now serving easy 1000 bucks by reporting a vacant MIN BAJRACHARYA dinner every Friday and Saturday night. 5523263 property to us. Find out how- www.21etonline.com Roadhouse Cafefor speciality coffees. Opp St Mary’s School, Pulchowk. 5521755 Get 10 % exclusive discount on the normal subscription rate of Himalmedia’s publication namely; Himal Khabarpatrika, Nepali Times GETAWAYS and Wave magazine. Only at the Grihini Escape to Godavarion a special halfboard package for Nepalis and Department Store limited, expatriates at the Godavari Village Resort, Taukhel. 5560675 Baluwatar, Phone: 4415186

Pure relaxationAward winning Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge. 01 Wanted:Nepali pilot, interested person 4361500 TMPL Reservations or [email protected] should have experience for ultra light aircraft Shivapuri Cottage Dadagaon luxury package of gourmet meals, with Rotax 582 engine. Apply with cv, photo and contact address within 7 days to Avia board and transport. Highland Travel & Tours. 4253352, 4253053 Club Nepal Pvt. Ltd., P.O. Box 13680. Golfin the Valley’s last pristine forest. Gokarna Forest Golf Resort & Modern houses for residential office or flat. Spa 4451212 Contact 4720147, 4721728 Weekend Specialfor Rs 3,000 per couple, Park Village Resort, 1 to 3 bedroom modern apartment with all KIRAN PANDAY Budhanilkantha. 4375280 facilities. Jawalakhel Ringroad, 5528134, 5527632 ACROSS BORDERS: Indian Foreign Secretary Shashank meets with Nepal’s Ambassador-at-Large, Bheg Bahadur Thapa on Monday. KATHMANDU AIR QUALITY

In spite of the bandas on Tuesday, 17 February and the public holidays on 18-19 February, average pollution levels last week in Kathmandu were still higher than the previous week. On the banda day, the PM10 (particles that are small enough to enter the human body) concentration in Putali Sadak went down by 30 percent, but it jumped back to ‘normal’ pre-banda levels on the following days. The banda did not have a major impact on the air quality in outlying areas such as Kirtipur, Bhaktapur and Matsyagaun which is another proof that PM10 is linked mostly to vehicular What91.2 you burn is emissions. Lord Shiva may be partly blamed for the high level of PM10 last week as many Kathmanduites lit bonfires to celebrate Shivaratri. what you breathe. For insertions ring NT Marketing at 5543333-36. Good < 60 Ok 61 to 120 Unhealthy 121 to 350 Harmful 351 to 425 Hazardous >425

KIRAN PANDAY Putalisadak Patan H Thamel TU Bhaktapu Matsyagaun BLESSED BE: Women make offerings on Wednesday at the Samyak NEPALI WEATHER by MAUSAM BEED festival in Patan, which is held once every five years. VIS -26-02-2004 05:00 GMT The latest satellite images show clouds scurrying over Nepal from the west. A westerly jet propelling them all the way from the Mediterranean Sea has enough moisture to bring light rains to western and central Nepal early next week. The haze is growing thicker as the sand and dust from the plains is blow into our hills. Temperatures will climb steadily and this trend remains intact till a brisk southwesterly wind will makes a clean Rise and shine sweep of the skies. Other freaky features Get ready for a brand new day with BBC World Today. of this week’s weather was Dipayal hitting 30 degrees Celsius and 6mm of rain in Every morning on 102.4 FM from 5:45-6:15 AM Taplejung. Daily2045-2115 BBCg]kfnL ; ]]]jf

KATHMANDU VALLEY Daily2245-2300 BBCg]kfnL ; ]]]jf

Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Radio Sagarmatha P.O. Box 6958, Bakhundole, Lalitpur, Nepal Tel: ++977-1-545680, 545681, KIRAN PANDAY Fax: ++ 977-1- 530227 6 E-mail: [email protected], POSTER GIRL:Student activists cover walls with political posters on 23-06 22-07 23-06 24-0525-05 on FM 102.4 www.radiosagarmatha.org/]l8of ] ;u/dfyf Wednesday in preparation for the Thursday student elections. 22 CITY 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH#185 2004 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH#185 200423

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KATHMANDU VALLEY Daily2245-2300 BBCg]kfnL ; ]]]jf

2 4 27 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH#185 2004 Strike while the iron is hot

very four years, in his infinite wisdom, God gives humankind a bonus day. This Leap Year it falls on Sunday, 29 February—a www.nepalitimes.com Ereward from the Almighty for living our daily lives fulfilling Lord #185 27 February - 6 March 2004 24 pages Rs 25 Bishnu’s wishes, and an extra 24-hour period in which we can do good deeds like eradicate polio and punish the corrupt. And what a windfall it has been for our subterranean comrades who Rizal’s fast smartly seized the opportunity to incorporate the extra day in their Ballot lesson marathon five-day banda and bring the country to another grinding halt. Bhutani human rights leader in exile Teknath Rizal says he will soon go Using the Gregarious Calendar to convert a four-day strike into a five- on a hunger strike outside the SAARC day strike without actually adding a day is a stroke of genius. Secretariat in Kathmandu if Bhutan does not begin repatriating refugees. Physicists and social scientists are fascinated by how Nepal has defied Rizal is sending a letter to the Bhutani king asking him to start Newton’s Law by proving that a UPHILLin BAJURA taking back the 100,000 Bhutani UMID BAGCHAND body in a state of rest can actually refugees in Nepal and 30,000 in UNDER MY HAT be brought to a state of even greater India who were evicted 13 years ago.n the end, it is always ordinarysuspended food aid in Dailekh “If the king does not respond,” RizalNepalis who suffer when food isbecause of the security situation. Kunda Dixit rest by the application of an said, “I will begin my fast-unto-death.” external force. From the scientific point of view, it is a discovery of the Rizal spent 12 years in jail in BhutanIused as a weapon. Kailali and Kanchanpur of the same magnitude as being able to attain a temperature even colder than after being extradited by Nepal’sWhen the Maoists looted foodwestern tarai have also been hit. Panchayat government and was absolute zero. released after an internationaldestined for the mid and far-westernHowever, the WFP’s sub-regional Most Nepalis now realise that things can’t go on like this any longer: campaign by Amnesty International.districts two months ago, the UN’schief here, Padam Bahadur Singh, said food for aid is due to restart in we can’t wait another four years for another Leap Day. We must be more World Food Programme (WFP) Rukum and Rolpa later this year and creative, even more resourceful and inspired in inventing new ways of suspended its aid which was a 400,000kg of grain has been doing nothing. As usual, His Majesty’s Government lacks the political lifeline in this traditionally food earmarked. The other food aid will to do nothing. It must standardise and streamline the application deficit area of Nepal. The conflict donor, the German group GTZ, procedure for declaring general strikes and hartals so that they don’t fall has made the situation much more works in 30 districts and also pulled on weekends and national holidays, so that the banda calls by various precarious and the people of Bajura out of Dailekh in December. “But factions don’t clash and to coordinate the timetable for strikes by and other districts are on the move we have received assurances from the bringing out a shutdown calendar for 2061. in search of food and work. Many families from remote areasMaoists, there is more security now, The government must immediately set up a Department of and we will restart the aid soon,” said Bandobast under the Ministry of Home and Hearth so people can stay of Bajura have descended to the district headquarter in Martadi. OneDietrich Stotz from GTZ. home and relax. If the government doesn’t fulfil these demands with However, locals are already immediate effect, we will declare a general strike as soon as the current Weekly Internet Poll # 125 of them is Dal Bahadur Biswakarma, Q. Do you agree the extradition of two senior running low on food. This is usually general strike is over, that is if someone else hasn’t already declared a who says, “After the food-for-work Maoists indicates New Delhi’s policy shift? the time of year adult men from general strike on those days, in which case we will strike at the next program pulled out, we had no more every family from these parts opportunistic moment. hope. We had to come here.” He says many of the younger men from hismigrated in search of jobs, but this village and adjoining areas have goneyear entire families are moving out. to India. The ones who end up in At last week’s Bajura District Total votes:991 Martadi are the poorest of the poor:Development Committee meeting,

CDO Regd No. 194/056/57 Lalitpur, Central Region Postal Regd. No. 04/058/59