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JAGADAMBA PRESS #128 17 - 23 January 2003 16 pages Rs 25 [email protected] Tel: (01) 521393, 543017, 547018 Fax: (01) 536390

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Manjushree in

○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○ NEPALGANJ hoever killed their parents, the talks to Samrat children end up in the same place. W Sangita Yadav’s father was a farmer in Leave the kids alone Banke district. The Maoists came while he was the needs of those who are already affected.” Children recruited by eating, dragged him out of his house, beat and One of the undocumented aspects of the tortured him in front of his family, and killed Maoists to carry their conflict is the growing number of internally him. Sarala Dahal’s father was a teacher in the rucksacks rest at a tea displaced families. This has increased the same district. He was killed after surrendering house in Kalikot number of children in the district headquarters, to the security forces. district in June. townships and in Kathmandu Valley who have Sarala and Sangita are both being raised in a lost their traditional village support Novelist Manjushree Thapa, author of the child shelter which has just opened in mechanisms. School closures and threats of much-acclaimed The Tutor of History has Nepalganj by the charity group, Sahara. “We forced recruitment of one child per family by a cyber-chat with fellow-author and don’t really care who killed their parents or Maoists have added to the influx of children. A compatriot, Samrat Upadhyay who has relatives, we want to protect the future of these recent survey in the insurgency hotbed of just published his second book, The Guru children, and they all get equal care here,” says Rukum alone found that out of 1,000 people of Love in the United States. Sample of Sahara’s Balkrishna Joshi. displaced, nearly 300 were children. the exchange: With a capacity of taking care of 50 A high school headmaster from Manjushree “You seem to be a children, shelters like Sahara are just addressing Sindhupalchok who is also living in squeaky-clean Nepali boy next door, the tip of the mountain of misery affecting In a war between grown-ups, children are Kathmandu told us nearly half the students in correct me if I am wrong here. Isn’t this Nepali children. Even so, there is such either caught in the middle or forced to fight. his school had dropped out this year, most unusual for a writer?” negligible rehabilitation going on, Joshi says, have fled to Kathmandu and beyond. “Even Samrat “I’m hardly squeaky-clean, that every little effort counts. Bahadur. Besides the orphans and destitutes, Mandal, a parent and teacher who has recently those who have stayed behind have been very but yes my family and teaching are as Nine-year-old Hira Bahadur Pariyar and there has been a sudden spurt in the past moved to Kathmandu from Rautahat. “Because irregular in class,” he said. important to me as writing.” his 13-year-old brother Nar Bahadur from month in children being abducted from these are children, you are talking about the Tarak Dhital of CWIN feels children Read the full interview on page 8-9. Rolpa have become symbols of this lack of care schools across Nepal, forced to take part in nation’s future.” displaced or orphaned by the Maoists get more for the children who have been affected by the military training, attend Maoist mass meetings Moved by the enormity of the crisis facing media attention than those affected by the action Bagchal violence of the past seven years. Their father was or do portering for the rebels. Many have since Nepali children, activist groups got together of security forces. “Most of the young victims of killed by police, probably one of the first dozen been released unharmed, but the spreading this week to launch a “Children as a Zone of arbitrary action by the security forces have gone The First International Bagchal Tournament casualties after the Maoists launched their panic has made many parents send their Peace Campaign” under which they will undocumented,” Dhital says. These children concluded last week in Bern. The Bronze Tiger “peoples’ war” on 13 Feburary, 1996. Unable children to the safety of the district towns. address the specific and immediate education, are at far greater risk: they might not have access trophy went to Ruth Kaeser. Back in Nepal, to take care of the boys by herself, Hira and Nar By targetting schools across the country, health, shelter and food needs of children in to institutional assistance, and they may be too bagchal is losing its once-dominant place in the Bahadur’s mother abandoned them. Last week, the Maoists have indirectly affected the lives of 140 VDCs in 22 of the worst-hit districts. scared to seek help. entertainment scene, but you can revive this the boys walked up bravely to the district “Firstly, the children should be kept out of Since the government either cannot help, or game. To find out the rules, see page 15. millions of Nepali children. “They are the administrator in Libang and demanded that the unseen victims, they are de-sensitised by this conflict,” says Gauri Pradhan of Child isn’t doing much, activists say, it is now up to state raise them. reports of violence, they are psychologically Workers in Nepal (CWIN), which is part of neutral relief groups to protect Nepali children No one is even keeping count of thousands affected by the forced closure of schools, and the group implementing the children peace from further harm. Weekly Internet Poll # 68 of children like Sangita, Sarala, Hira and Nar they are haunted by uncertainty,” says Surendra campaign, “Secondly, we must start addressing See also p4-5 Q. Is the rule requiring helmets for pillion riders a good idea? “Recovery hinges on peace” he Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) is one of thinks the key is to restore peace. “If it is possible to resolve the Nepal’s largest development partners with around $2 billion conflict in the near future…there is a meaningful and effective invested since its assistance to Nepal began in 1969. Country program of rehabilitation, and development that really Total votes: 1,226 T Director for Nepal, Richard Vokes spoke to Nepali Times about addresses the underlying causes of the conflict, then the Weekly Internet Poll # 69. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com Q. Has the government done enough to rehabilitate ongoing assistance to Nepal, including prospects for economic recovery and addressing Nepal’s district headquarters destroyed by Maoists? delays in the Melamchi scheme, the persistent poverty are good, “ he says. development of hydropower The fiscal crisis is more serious, infrastructure and the controversy Vokes adds, and says the donor

over the lifting of subsidies for community is willing to help address it. MIN BAJRACHARYA shallow tubewells. But what donors also want to see is an Vokes admits that Nepal is improved effectiveness of public going through a critical period, and expenditure. Full interview p7 2 EDITORIAL 17 - 23 JANUARY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #128 NATION 17 - 23 JANUARY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #128 3 Nepali Times is published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Chief Editor: Kunda Dixit STATE OF THE STATE by CK LAL Design: Kiran Maharjan [email protected], www.nepalitimes.com Advertising: Sunaina Shah [email protected] Subscription: Anil Karki [email protected] Sales: Sudan Bista [email protected] Sanchaya Kosh Building, Block A-4th Floor, Lalitpur GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: 01-543333-7, Fax: 01-521013 Printed at Jagadamba Press, Hattiban: 01-547018/17 Have a party Seven years, 7,000 dead and counting

In half-made societies, the elite periodically yearns for a knight in shining armour. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ DAYS ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Sudip Pathak, President, Appeal to the parties in conflict: Our appeal to both the 100 Human Rights Organisation of The Maoist insurgency parties in conflict is: Don’t lose patience and try to find a ooner or later, when this conflict burns itself out as one day it must, he deep-seated animosity between placed multiparty democracy in its preamble, vibrant political parties leads to democratic Nepal, and Convenor of the peaceful solution to the problem. We urge you to stand in Nepali politicians and Kathmandu’s and beyond the purview of any amendment. decay and even the collapse of fragile states. we must be ready with a state apparatus that has learnt lessons and Committee for Facilitation of enters its eighth year next favour of humanity and abandon this spiral of violence and S is ready to rebuild. We can’t go back to 1990 and try to re-invent the T social elite is rooted in history. Ever The upper crust was finally forced to accept For Marxist thinker Antonia Gramsci, wheel, wasting another 12 years waiting for the leaders of political parties since the Rana days, politics has always been that the political parties existed. But even Machiavelli’s prince in the contemporary Peace Dialogue. hatred. to get their acts together and figure out what it is they got elected for. synonymous with court conspiracies, and the then, there hasn’t been much love lost world is a political party with all its strength month. We asked three We can’t afford another lost decade of governance paralysis. No more well-off have considered it beneath their between them. and vulnerabilities. On the impact of the On broader democratic agenda: People’s fundamental scandals that are named after foreign companies and have become dignity. Post 10-04, these old animosities have Why, then, does the Nepali elite still loath conflict: An increasing human rights activists about human rights can’t be protected in the absence of household words synonymous with the stench of corruption: Dhamija, King Mahendra found politicians not to resurfaced. Cursing political parties has once political parties? The revulsion is not based number of people are trapped the impact of the conflict, democracy. We have been launching peace campaigns in Pajero, Lauda Air, China Southwest. Nor can the country take another 12 his liking and punished them in 1960 by again become fashionable, and few see the on principles, but on practical considerations. by the conflict. This kind of different parts of the country calling for the protection of years of political horse-trading at the Shankar Hotel, MPs being whisked putting them behind bars, dissolving need to examine their own roles in the For one, political parties have their own violence is not natural and people’s democratic rights. We have also organised sit-ins away to Bangkok to be wined, dined and entertained at tax-payers’ parliament, suspending the constitution and decomposition of democracy. All they need to loyalty and patronage network and have no ways to minimise the expense just so that they wouldn’t vote for a rival coalition. We will not banning political parties. do in order to be a part of the “with-it set” place for those who don’t want to get their unacceptable. We have been and “upava” (fasting) to press for this cause. We denounce stomach the sight of the demolition of our democratic institutions because of By the time King Birendra ascended the is blame politicos for all ills besetting hands dirty. Second, party leaders do not campaigning to restore peace, suffering of the innocents, the government’s intervention even in the peaceful petty politics, ministers who regarded public sector companies as ripe for throne in 1972, political alignment of any society. There is a chilly sense of déjà vu in respect dress codes, know zilch about social and have been getting the parties involved to give up violence. demonstrations in the capital and elsewhere. plunder, and others who saw the civil service as a mass employment kind had come to be regarded as disloyal to the Kathmandu air this winter for those niceties, and end up antagonising the social We don’t even have the exact data on the number of people and steps to find a peaceful agency for their flunkies. Not after so much suffering and pain. the ruler and the country, in that order. At the who remember 1961. elite steeped in the tradition of court manners. killed, rendered disabled or displaced due to the conflict. Over Kundan Aryal, journalist This is why it is so nauseating to hear the same kleptomaniacs height of the “non-party” Panchayat system in In his Biratnagar address, King Gyanendra Third, and perhaps the most important, all the last few months, thousands of people have been fleeing their resolution. affiliated to the human demanding from the pulpits that the king correct his mistakes. “Democracy”, the seventies, the palace establishment labelled recognised that a monarchy of the 21st century political parties are perennially engaged in “pluralism” and the “constitution” have become mere words for these amoral homes in the mid-western hills in search of safety and rights group, Informal all political leaders “anti-national elements” has to be for democracy, and not against it. managing their own internal contradictions, a and sanctimonious chieftains. Words that they hope will propel them and us employment. We don’t know where they are living and under have said that they will not target infrastructure, and will Sector Service Center. and prosecuted them for high treason. So the The very existence of unity in a heterogeneous preoccupation that puts off disciplinarian back to the days when they ravaged the nation. which conditions, or where they have gone. It is the not kill cadres of different political parties. The human For its part, the “interim government” has just completed its 100 day true-blue elite and the career-minded steered society is dependent upon the practice of elites. clear of politics. Even when King Birendra democracy, and no ruler can inhibit pluralism And then, it is in the nature of half-made responsibility of the government to provide them security and rights community, including ourselves, want to monitor On the impact of honeymoon period. And aside from attempts to streamline government (and conflict: a health minister who performed a successful brain surgery on the sick called for a National Referendum to decide without undermining his own legitimacy in societies that the elite periodically yearns for a create an environment where its citizens can lead a life with whether their commitment is being implemented. People feel scared leader of a political party) we haven’t seen the flashes of brilliance we’d the fate of Panchayat in 1979, the ban on the process. knight in shining armour. This is a common dignity. Similarly, the government needs to make public and have to a great extent hoped to witness from the royal appointees. political parties wasn’t lifted. In heterogeneous societies like ours the dream of the oppressor and oppressed alike in whereabouts of Maoist cadres under detention and start lost the tradition of In fact, going by the lavish coverage on state media of various interaction The Popular Movement ten years later role of political parties is even more crucial— all collectives with a wounded psyche. When On the prospects of peace: We strongly advocate a peaceful releasing them to create an environment of trust. The generosity towards programmes, conferences and foreign trips and events that they forced King Birendra to accept the existence they have to offset latent tensions by acting as political parties fail to raise hopes, even solution to the present conflict which has exacted enormous government should adopt a flexible approach toward the strangers. The greatest mandatorily attend, it seems to be all a ho-hum busines-as-usual style. Let’s of political parties. The new constitution miniature states themselves. The absence of sensible people start looking for a saviour. socio-economic costs on the nation. The late Hrishikesh Shaha, rebels and withdraw allegations against them. Only victim of this conflict has hope we are wrong, and there is a lot more happening behind the scenes Neo-populist strongmen who have no than we are privy to. patience for democratic institutions bank on had called for peaceful solution to the conflict when the Maoists an environment for peaceful talks can bring both the been the freedom of However, at the public level, optimism that the Fourth of October this when they try to sideline political parties. launched their “people’s war” in 1996. We appeal to both the sides together. expression. People don’t speak their mind fearing reprisals. decision would give us a clean slate, efficient government and restore In the public realm, civil society is effective government and rebels to find a negotiated settlement to the People have been forced to live under curfew for more than peace is beginning to wear thin. That public trust is critical for the legitimacy enough in “protest-making” to check problem through dialogue. Both of them must be sensitive Krishna Pahadi, 14 months in districts like Dang. And, the irony is that they of this royal interregnum. misuse of the law by those in power. But towards the situation in the country. Chairman, Human Rights don’t feel secure even under the curfew. What is the We do not under-estimate the challenges at hand. The 3,000 VDC when it comes to “claim-making”— and Peace Society. justification of imposing such a prolonged curfew at a buildings, health posts, hydro power plants, bridges and the district demanding that laws be made based on headquarters that the Maoists have destroyed have to be rebuilt brick-by- On mediation efforts: We have been in direct touch with both particular place? Aren’t there alternatives to maintain peace certain universal values—there is yet no sides involved in the conflict. We have urged them to start a On the fallout of the and order? brick. We will have to catch up with lost time in the delivery of basic health alternative to political parties. An care, primary education, nutrition, agricultural extension and all the other independent politician is therefore an dialogue process, to begin with. In the second phase, we could conflict: Unarmed people aspects of development that have come to a standstill. Lack of money oxymoron, for there can be no politics identify the agenda for talks and in the third phase, formal and civilians are On the Geneva Convention: The Geneva Convention should not be the excuse: we just need to show the donors we are willing without adherence to certain shared values. peace talks or negotiations could start. But before that, both the increasingly being caught in stipulates that civilians should not be targeted during the to make a new beginning. SUBHAS RAI Party building is therefore the equivalent sides will have to agree to some sort of code of conduct. We the crossfire between the conflict and that humanitarian assistance should be made The absence of peace is also no reason to delay problems like kamaiya rehabilitation so that their children don’t die of exposure. The war is no of nation-building. It is a complex task that believe that the peace talks are possible through joint efforts of security forces and the available to the injured and sick. But there have been excuse not to send medical personnel and equipment to at least requires unwavering commitment, patience, the government, Maoists, political parties and the civil society. Maoist rebels. We recently numerous instances of violation of the provisions of this district hospitals, and vigorously start pushing education persistence, courage, compassion and a visited two western convention by both the parties in Nepal over the last seven reform. willingness to make compromises without On creating an environment for talks: We have yet to create districts, Dang and Baglung years. We have the widespread culture of impunity which sacrificing any of the fundamental values of For lack of a better way to put it, development an environment for peace talks. We are still far away from and found that innocent people had been killed by the needs to be changed. Moreover, the human rights needs to go on a “war footing”. We don’t need to wait the collective. Organised society can’t till complete peace is restored before we begin to escape from the compulsion of putting up bringing both the sides over to the table for negotiations. Of security forces alleging them to be terrorists. Similarly, community must warn the parties in conflict that they will attempt this, and the job of the Chand adminsitration is with politicians. So, go join a party today. course, both the sides have expressed their commitment Maoist rebels ambushed passenger buses in Sindhuli and one day have to face the International Criminal Court for to get the ball rolling. The honeymoon is over. Better still, start your own. towards dialogue, which in itself is a positive sign. The Maoists Dolakha, which is a gross violation of human rights. their gross human rights violations and abuses.

LETTERS

PRIVATE WATER after NWSC’s failure to utilise equipment maintenance and issues worthy of debate. civilisational block. A cursory Western conservatives are in fact worldly” quests. Surely, we know education facilities is instead ours. He is trying to compare the baby. How does closing down secondary. First of all we must short transit at TIA customs Kalyan Pande’s letter (#126) on previous loans for system repairs, computerised billing, Experience with the use of the glance at world history reveals very fond of the fictious notion of better than that. The million dollar being wasted on buying apples and oranges. Nepal may the whole country help us join WTO like China and work office). There may be a percent- privatisation is a welcome improvements during the 1990’s. service monitoring, a customer private sector to manage urban democracy, human rights, the “Western rule of law vs question is: If Bhattachan does weapons. be ten times bigger than Sikkim but celebrate the young prince’s rice more to export products to the age of shoppers who want to contribution to an important topic Many of us working on water complaints system, an water supply in South Asia is individualism, capitalism, Oriental despotism”. They go on to not believe in democracy, human The fake “revolution” of the our population is almost fifty times feeding ceremony? Haven't the world market. When the country spend a little more money and that has not yet been fully services believe that the root independent regulator, reducing minimal. Government has been materialism, etc, to be indeed claim that values such as charity, rights, etc, what is he doing in the Maoist terrorists cannot be put greater. Nepal’s population density Maoists done enough to ruin the becomes rich people will drive out buy genuine articles. So this is a discussed in public–the cause of Kathmandu’s water connection charges; and trying to recruit a PO for over 6 universal. The late Professor of mercy and compassion are US? Plotting Uncle Sam’s down at gun point. The optimism is five times higher than Sikkim's. country’s economy that the Maoists and peace will return. All warning to Nepali shoppers: Be proposed use of a foreign woes is a lack of institutional contracting out selected activities years without success. The Journalism at Tribhuvan typically Western derived from the downfall? and bravado of those who think Sikkim is simply a state of government now has to close these so-called leaders are a little more aware and cautious. private sector company to autonomy to operate the system in to the local private sector. World Bank, the lender with most University, Lal Deusa Rai, wrote a teachings of Christianity. Another Ram Limbu, Sydney so are misplaced. It has been over India, like one of our zones. We offices down at the slightest creating hurdles. CK Lal should Amrit KC, Bishalnagar manage Nepal Water Supply an efficient, equitable and But above all it is the removal international experience in the use book describing the prevalence of example of Bhattachan’s thought a year since the deployment of should not ignore the fact that the pretext? grow up and write more about Corporation’s (NWSC) environmentally sound manner. As of political interference that is of the private sector, has now what is now called “human rights” process being already in the vice- MORE GUNS the Royal Nepalese Army, and we government of India pumps How many days is the country economic and management operations in urban Kathmandu a result water tariffs are far too required, allowing the staff of dropped out of this project. in the Malla period of Nepal. To like grip of Western colonisation is With its human rights record haven’t seen any decrease in resources into Sikkim. Rulers going to close down at the up- issues. There is no "another valley. This is one component of low to encourage responsible NWSC (and one or two external Kathmandu’s water supply is a regard these values as typically his disingenuous assertion that (“Army vs Amnesty”, #126) one Maoist activity or extrajudicial always advocate their good coming royal wedding? The way world", Mr Lal. This is the only a set of major reforms for use, perverse subsidies help to managers if necessary) to put into truly important issue, one that Western is to fall victim to what our society is rooted in “inner can only hope that the military’s killings, and there has been no governance, as chief minister to mark these happy occasions is world. You better accept it. Kathmandu that will in total cost reduce the cost for the affluent, a practice what they know and affects every family in the five Bhattachan himself calls the abuses will not worsen after the independent verification of Pawan Chamling does. Just look to work harder and keep the Shivananda Adhikary, $470 million during the next substantial number of families are holding NWSC management, staff municipalities every day. WE need colonisation of thought process. arrival of more sophisticated skirmishes in Maoist-controlled at the history of Sikkim before it country open for business. email decade. unconnected to the distribution and board accountable for public scrutiny and discussion of weapons. This climate of crisis districts. The army is not a became one of the states of India S Acharya, Sanepa One important distinction network, the network leaks and meeting targets of more water, to these proposals that are simply and uncertainty has been further personal force of any individual or in 1974, and you will get a DROP SHOPPING between the privatisation of one third of all water is wasted, more people (especially the too important to be left only to aggravated by the rise of the institution. It is funded by different picture of governance. WOOLLY Your shopping special (“Drop in to state owned enterprises and the and NWSC has too many, unconnected poor), of a higher government, development banks, ultra-right, short-sighted military taxpayers and it must be more Suraj P Shrestha, CK Lal's column this week shop…shop till you drop”, #127) proposal for NWSC, is that the underpaid staff. quality, at a reasonable price, at donors and experts. strategists who have added fuel accountable to the people and an Lakehead University ("Another world", #127) was about supermarkets should be Private Operator (PO) will only There should be no mystery to convenient times of the day, Alan Etherington, to the fire by their unmitigated loud elected parliament. Canada woolly. It is astonishing why taken with a pinch of salt. Most of manage the staff and assets of running a good urban water throughout all seasons. When the WaterAid, Nepal clamour for more weapons. Saurav Jung Thapa, hidebound lefties like Lal refuse to them are selling fake footpath NWSC, and the people of Nepal– supply system and there are a PO takes over, it will be ensured Instead of helping the government Budhanilkantha School HOLIDAYS wake up. No amount of wailing stuff from the streets of Bangkok through government—will number of straightforward of autonomy and protected from UNIVERSAL VALUES to address the root causes of the It is great that Prince Paras has a can hide the reality that as “genuine”. I bought a pair of continue to own the assets. The solutions to Kathmandu’s many political interference by a contract The assertions by Subarna uprising (poverty and economic SIKKIM son, and last weekwas the globalisation is going to triumph in “Nike” sports shoes for my son use of a PO has been made a problems, some of which would and then it will begin to undertake Bhattachan (“Letters”, #126) in disparity) by implementing Kunda Dixit says in “Why Sikkim baby’s annaprasana. However, I the end. Evevn in our own country for Rs 2,500 and the sole came condition by those lenders and include: cost recovery tariffs, the activities listed above. Why response to CK Lal’s programs such as the ISDP, the works” (#126) that Sikkim is fail to see the reason for the Nepal, His Majesty King Gyanendra off in three days. My wife bought CORRECTION donors supporting the Melamchi universal metering, network repair does Nepal need to take out loans “Musharrafship” (#124) cannot go military is keen to reap handsome governed ten times better than government to declare the day a has rightly recognised that Nepal me an “Adidas” track suit bottom tunnel in the hope that this will and enhancement, paying market to pay its costs, when, with unchallenged. A belief in the dividends from arms deals, and is Nepal. How could he measure national holiday. What is this, must accept globalisation. Then for Rs 800. This is just not The pictures in #127 ensure these new water salaries for staff, retrenching political will and institutional universality of democracy, human leading the nation to the brink. that? Comparing the development another bandh? If there is a only industrialisation can take possible because the genuine accompanying “All for the supplies are well managed. The surplus staff and offering service commitment, a made-in-Nepal rights and global capitalism does Money that could have been data for Nepal and Sikkim shows celebration, there should be a place, employment opportunities article will cost at least $10. Sorry people” and in “From the impetus for using the private contracts to some, recruitment on solution could be possible? There not imply the superiority of a better utilised for improving health, that only medical doctors per party so the whole of the country can be created and poverty can to say, folks, most of the items are Nepali Press” were by sector appears to have started merit, more investment in are also many other related racial, national, philosophical or transportation, communication and capita are eight times more than gets a decent meal in honour of be eradicated. Democracy is straight from Banglangpoo (with a Dambar Krishna Shrestha. 4 NATION 17 - 23 JANUARY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #128 NATION 17 - 23 JANUARY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #128 5 DOMESTIC BRIEFS

Death toll update ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ More than 7,000 people have been killed since the Maoist insurgency began in Nepal in 1996. A report by the human rights A day in the life of Patan’s street children group, INSEC this week says 5,431 people have been killed by the state while 1,952 people have been killed by the Maoists. These include police, army, security personnel, farmers, teachers, civilians, political workers, civil servants, businessmen, social workers, lawyers, health workers and journalists. Among those listed killed between 13 February 1996 and 13 January 2003, 118 were children. The report, compiled from government and human rights organisations’ statistics says 2,514 people have been displaced during the insurgency—the majority from Lalitpur district. However, displaced populations have not been registered in Rolpa and Rukum, two of the worst-hit districts by the Maoist movement. Human rights organisations say the actual number is much higher.

Food shortage not acute: ICRC ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ The International Committee of the Red Cross has concluded after a From left to right: survey of districts in western Nepal worst affected by conflict that there Kuntey (centre, in cap) was “for the time being no acute food shortage” in the areas. ICRC staff sorting plastic from visited areas under the sway of the Maoists as well as those under government control. metal for his sack-load of This conclusion contradicts media reports (including this paper, see material to sell to the “Famine by February”, #120) that there was a looming food crisis in the junkyard. Kuntey’s districts of Bajura, Achham and Mugu. ICRC said there had been “alarming newspaper articles” in the Nepali media and there was little Families fleeing the conflict have friend with his pet dog. first-hand information from the area to confirm this. Balley is glued to glue. “Agriculture was being pursued fairly normally and families’ flocked to Kathmandu, swelling overall economic security remained comparable to that of normal Kuntey’s dog shares his times,” ICRC said in a report released earlier this week. But it added the ranks of street children. precious bed space. that restrictions imposed by both parties, a chronically poor transport

ALL PICS: KASHISH DAS SHRESTHA system, and insecurity arising from the fighting were all inhibiting commerce and transport. KASHISH DAS SHRESTHA

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ can we possibly do. Where do areas, or forced recruitment school fees, even though back streets and can’t adjust to the have over their lives. fog is still thick, and the street together to separate their whatever they find in the have picked up the habit of It said that these factors could still precipitate an “acute crisis” in hey are there, but most we even start to make a by Maoists. in the village most of the structure and discipline of Today, Kuntey and his lights are still on when they set collection. The going rate is garbage, but there are times sniffing glue. The children tell the area by preventing migrants from returning home with planting and harvesting. ICRC said it would refrain from large-scale food of us don’t care to difference?” So we went to find out children went to school. Some childrens’ homes. Many friends are a close-knit group off early in the morning from Rs 5 per kg of plastic waste. when they get a handout from me it makes them feel happy distribution in the areas of conflict so as not to undermine “existing T notice them. Ragtag Others have started how they live, what they eat, have either left their families complain of ruthless bullying of children between 8-16 their cardboard shelters in Metal fetches a higher price. a nearby restaurant, or and disregard the cold and coping mechanisms”. bands of street children making an effort either by how they pass their time, how or their families have deserted from older children in the rehab years. Their activities Pulchok. The best pickings Pieces of metal are hard to leftovers from a party. This hunger. But when we ask sleeping outside bakeries, buying the children clothes or they landed up in the streets. them. Their parents simply camps, and run away again. concern survival—survival are in Patan, Satdobato and find, and the boys consider morning, Kuntey has found a them more questions, they On trial

rummaging through garbage, food or by counseling them on They are nearly all boys. The can’t afford to feed them any Kuntey runs around with a from hour to hour, day to Jawalakhel and they fan across themselves lucky if they sausage, and we overhear him don’t want to talk about it. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ loud and sometimes raucous work and earning. Street recent Maoist-related influx ha longer. Caught in a dead end group of boys in Pulchowk. day. “I’ll work and live. That’s the town trying to be the early chance upon copper cable. telling his friend: “Eat this. White glue is easily available, A case has been filed against top Maoist leaders, including Dr Baburam children begging from children are a popular cause swelled the numbers of street with no education and no He had once stayed at the it,” says Kuntey’s friend who birds. When their sacks are They melt the plastic It’s a buffalo’s penis, and it’s the shopkeepers who sell it to Bhattarai and Chairman Prachanda for crimes against the state. Other defendants named in the case are Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Barman tourists, or inhaling glue out with many charity groups in children (“khateys”) who were work, the children end up Child Workers in Nepal looks 10, but claims to be 16. full, they return to base. insulation off the wires and really tasty.” Beaten rice or the boys have no qualms Buda of Rolpa, Pampha Bhusal of Arghakhanchi, Kali Bahadur Malla, of old milk packets. Kathmandu, but the relief already here. All family where we see them: blackened (CWIN) shelter. “The kids The boys work hard to Plastic waste is separated then hammer the wires into chiura with sugar is a real about it. They pour out a little Bharat Bom, Khadga Nepali, Bishwanath Yogi, Durga Rawal of Jajarkot. The problem seems so hardly compares to the members must work to with soot and warming didn’t want us there and gave make a little money. Begging into simple plastic sheeting heavy little balls. “It increases treat. One of them found a into old milk packets and They have been accused of attacking and destroying the Khatwada overwhelming that most of enormity of the problem. And survive, but jobs are hard to themselves at a trash heap. us trouble so I decided to works sometimes, but mostly and hard plastic. The two are the weight,” Kuntey says as he bag of sugar and everyone inhale the fumes. Kuntey’s police post in Kalikot on 25 November and killing 11 policemen, destroying bridges and government buildings and disrupting public life. us look the other way, what little is being done is find and the younger ones end A few maintain ties with leave,” he said. They would they have learnt to forage often mixed during recycling, shows me his hoard. had “really, really sweet tea” friends know it’s worse than The Kalikot district prosecutor’s office filed the case last month and has troubled by our own exacerbated by the new influx up in the streets to fend for their families, but they seldom rather sacrifice regular meals through piles of garbage, clean but the junkyards insist on What they eat and when that day. smoking cigarettes, but glue is demanded that the rebels be imprisoned in accordance with the State conscience. “But,” we try to of families, or school-age themselves. return to the fold. Many have and a roof over their heads than up and eat anything edible, buying it separately. Having depends on the generosity and Kuntey’s group would addictive and their glassy eyes Offence Act 1990, Article3 (3). This is the first case to be filed since a justify to ourselves, “what children fleeing the conflict The families can’t afford got used to the freedom of the relinquish whatever control they and sell anything usable. The finished their morning the whims of passersby. They probably survive at this rate tell us it’s going to be difficult special court against corruption and anti-state crimes was established on scavenging, the boys sit often have to make do with until they grow older. But they for the boys to give it up. 16 August last year.

HERE AND THERE by DANIEL LAK Climbing up ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Despite a steady drop in tourist arrivals to Nepal, there’s good news on the mountaineering front. Tourism ministry officials say 134 climbing expeditions, including 23 American, 13 French and 12 Japanese Take it easy on the “T” word expeditions received permits to climb in the Nepal Himalaya in 2002 resulting in revenue amounting to Rs 120 million. That’s the highest t is surely long past time to end the silly debate—here and around number of expeditions the country has seen since 1998 when 141 the world—about the “T” word. Should we journalists use the expeditions were permitted to climb in Nepal. Officials say the increase Today’s terrorists may be in expeditions is a result of recent amendments to climbing regulations, I words “terrorist or terrorism” when we report on insurgency, th but others attribute it to the Everest 50 anniversary year. Most of the militant activity, violent attacks in civilian areas, the American tomorrow’s political leaders climbing is concentrated in the Solukhumbu, Annapurna, Langtang and campaign against Al Qaeada, or should we simply tell our readers, Kanchanjunga regions. listeners and viewers what has happened and leave them to make the decision about terror? dialogue, compromise and efficient defence. Even President Bush’s

My own policy, garnered from my employers of many years, the “war against terror” is ill served by sloppy terminology and rampant Poisonous pesticides ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ BBC World Service, hasn’t changed. It is the latter—I say what has demonisation of the enemy. Again, an enemy that can be understood A study conducted in KathmanduValley has revealed an alarming rate happened and leave the colourful and subjective judgements to others. can be pre-empted and eventually beaten, especially in a case like this of toxic substances - many of them banned - in vegetables, fruits and To my mind, good journalism demands no less. where compromise is out of the question. crops grown in Bhaktapur, Kathmandu and Lalitpur. The study reported We in the world arm of the BBC were considered extremely suspect And so we come to Nepal, where the Maoists—we read in 2001— that 78 percent of vegetables and crops tested by scientists at Tribhuvan in the United Kingdom in the 1980s whenever we covered the were “officially declared terrorists” by the late, unlamented government University’s Zoology department, were contaminated with critical levels of quagmire known as Northern Ireland. The violent campaign to end of Sher Bahadeur Deuba. In those dark days of the state of emergency, hazardous toxins. The levels were higher than the acceptable daily British rule by the Irish Republican Army and others, was a clear-cut a docile media followed suit. News stories spoke of “terrorists” being intake level set by the Central Food Research Laboratory, a case of terrorism to many of my colleagues in other media, including killed, with no attempt being made to probe into circumstances or regulatory agency of the government. The study says farmers were the BBC’s home news services. A bombing that killed civilians was “an even the identity of the so called “terrorist”. Now, the media is much often ignorant about the safe waiting period between spraying and bolder and rarely uses the “T” word. In fact, reporters frequently ask harvesting the crops, and many were prone to pesticide induced outrage”, an IRA appeal for peace talks or a denial of responsibility was reality that only negotiation and compromise could end such illnesses owing to weak protection. “a bloodstained lie”. The IRA were “terrorists”—no questions asked. “outrages” once and for all. ministers if the Maoists—who are being asked to restart peace talks— We begged to differ, not with the intense feelings of the people In tragic, beleaguered Israel, an angry nation is lashing out at the are indeed terrorists. Some say yes, some say no, in the way of this affected by violence in Northern Ireland, or the understandable western media for showing—it’s widely believed—too much sympathy government. loathing that victims and potential victims had for those who used for Palestinians who tie explosives to their waists and detonate them in Visiting dignitaries and diplomats also mix their terms, especially EASYEASYEASY TIMESTIMESTIMES bombs and bullets against democracy and civilians. It was the use of markets and buses, killing dozens and calling down the wrath of the those from countries that provide military aid and sell arms to Nepal. It’s never been easier to the words themselves, and the occasionally self-indulgent tones of security forces. So much pressure is put on reporters from other lands Hard to justify a big arms deal or an aid package if the enemy isn’t as subscribe to newscasters and writers who let a bit of that hatred or anger creep into that one American TV network has taken to using the term “homicide evil as possible. Nepali Times coverage that was supposed to be enlightening, comprehensive, neutral. bombers” instead of the more widely favoured “suicide bombers”. Using the “T” word eclipses the obvious, that peace talks and Just dial this number and I, for one, could think of nothing worse to contemplate than a bomb in Yes, Israel is a victim of horrid violence, and suicide bombing is compromise are the only way out of the current, tragic reality of Nepal. leave your address. a crowded area that killed civilians. awful, unspeakable really, but by attacking terminology of media Today’s terrorist is tomorrow’s political leader, as the scions of the To call it an outrage was to miss the point. It was ignoring the coverage, aren’t we missing the point? Surely the priority is to end the Nepali congress, the UML and others no only too well. Let’s take it 543333 tragedy of individual victims and their families. It covered up the practice once and for all, and in the end, that can only be through easy on the “T”-word. 6 NATION 17 - 23 JANUARY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #128 ECONOMY 17 - 23 JANUARY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #128 7 SOMEWHERE IN NEPAL by PUSKAR BHUSAL BIZ NEWS

Scorpio re-incarnate ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ There has been an impact on new projects” Mahindra○○○○○○○○○○ & Mahindra the legendary Indian jeep and four- wheel maker has brought its latest Scorpio MUV (multi-utility Communist manifestation vehicle) to Nepal. Scorpio’s makers say the car’s new body from p1 Treaty and the lines, unique athletic styling, wraparound lamps, contoured ou have to hand it to cladding and the assertive new grille design give this car a Khadga Prasad Sharma marginalisation of his Nepali Times: How do you assess Nepalís current politico-economic to manage Kathmandu’s water distribution. This is not a privatization and situation? the assets of NWSC will remain with the government. Looking at the poor distinctive new look. Scorpio has definitely transcended the YOli and his reformist supporters after he returned Richard Vokes: On the political side, Nepal is going through a very track record of NWSC in water distribution — significant inefficiencies, common jeep look of its ancestors, but retains their ardour ahead of the UML’s to the UML last year. He critical time, the most pressing issue being the insurgency itself. It is sizeable leakages, and poorly managed development funds — there is ruggedness and durability. seventh convention in didn’t want to codify them having an impact on the economy and on the whole development process. broad consensus that change is necessary, and introduction of a private Janakpur next month. Oli’s because he didn’t want to be On the economic side, recent indicators show negative economic growth operator at this point is the most reasonable option. Clean water is a last year, for the first time in 19 years. scarce resource in the Kathmandu Valley. Given the large size and cost of dissent at the party’s four-day criticised for a second party For a low-income country like Nepal this is a very serious situation. Melamchi it is critical that the water is not wasted and equally crucial that central committee meeting split, especially when the Unless you have more rapid, sustainable and broad-based growth it’s it reaches the poor. Both the government and donors recognize the need this month may have eternal red dissenter, C.P. difficult to achieve a significant reduction in poverty. The insurgency has for sound water management and a new institutional structure, including resonated with his passion for Mainali, was out of the had a major adverse affect on both the industrial sector and tourism. This an appropriate regulatory mechanism – all to be developed in power, but the tone was picture. When a political in turn has contributed to the current fiscal crisis. The immediate prospects consultation with concerned stakeholders. The run-up to the UML’s Janakpur convention may yet of recovery depend on finding a peaceful solution to the conflict. After the hardly off key. player as proficient as sharp downturn, we expect some recovery in growth this year, to between 1-2 Now that Nepal has surplus power after Kali Gandaki-A, do you think it The central committee’s throw up a reformer. Gautam gives up the post of percent, but this is lower than the rate of population growth. So, this is a is time we started investing in developing infrastructure for obsession with the party’s general secretary of his own pretty worrying situation. transmission and distribution? leadership structure obscured If you’re flustered by the personal capacity and making misadventures less putrid. the best safeguard against party to return to the fold, he There is now quite significant surplus in the wet season and some surplus What has been the impact of the Maoist insurgency on ADB-assisted in the dry season. And, of course, you need to expand transmission and the ideological fissures most way Oli focused his campaign a public show of it. It’s easy to sniff personal personal dictatorship over the probably has a lot of ideas projects? distribution to make full use of available power. ADB is supporting the of us thought the comrades almost exclusively on the We need to go back a little vendetta in Oli’s tirades proletariat. Determining Oli would love to unearth. Certainly there has been some impact. Implementation of a few projects rural electrification transmission and distribution project with this in mind. would thoroughly expose this leadership question, consider further, though, to get a better against Nepal. But his whether the chairman, Oli has a pointed question has been seriously affected, including Upper Sagarmatha, Rural You have a power exchange agreement with India, but it is not fully The seats are designed by Lear Corporation, are form- time. The decision to where he’s coming from. sense of the power struggle. campaign also has a general secretary or both are for the political class. How Infrastructure Development, as well as Melamchi, mainly because of exploited given lack of transmission lines. But you can’t afford to ignore restrictions on the use of explosives for road construction. However, most generation because bringing new generation capacity on stream takes fitting and give you a soft ride no matter what the terrain is designate “regressive forces Having pranced into the When Oli and other UML distinctly democratic required is part of the larger could the palace muster the projects are continuing to function though there are some difficulties. time. outside. It even has a state-of-the-art music system from led by the palace” as the palace for talks two months members on the House of dimension. A party that long identity crisis the UML confidence to step into active There is also an impact on the identification and preparation of new Kenwood in case you don’t want mother nature to intrude. UML’s main centre of attack ago when general secretary Representatives Public transformed itself from a has been confronting since politics 12 years after the projects aimed at poor areas and those districts that are more affected by No one seems to be talking anymore about the 20-year-long Besides a diesel engine SZ 2600, the Scorpio is built like a appears aimed more at Madhav Kumar Nepal had Accounts Committee went flock of decapitators to a its inception. country thought it had the insurgency. The insurgency also requires us to look at new ways to Agriculture Perspective Plan (APP). Do you see lack of commitment on tank and its extra-wide tyres help it hug the road better. appeasing restive grass-roots designated a loyalist stand-in along with the rest of the fraternity of democratic Caught between two receded into the background continue to support poverty-focused projects in conflict-affected areas. the part of government to implement this plan? There are adequate crumple zones, and side impact beams for good? I don’t think there is lack of commitment. If you look at the Tenth Plan which are probably designed to withstand the worst that the cadres. The proposal to add before flying abroad, Oli came panel in forwarding head-counters couldn’t deputy prime ministers, Would you say, then, that Nepal is spiraling downwards towards sections related to agriculture and rural development these are within the Grand Trunk Road has to offer. Different versions of the party election symbol, the out brimming with brightness. corruption allegations against afford to continue with an Nepal and Bam Dev Gautam, If Oli keeps asking these disaster? framework of APP with an emphasis on a package of measures to support Scorpios come for a price range between Rs 1.85-2.4 sun, on the hammer and The cabinet expansion former UML tourism minister old-style communist Oli used the ploy that worked kinds of questions right up to No, I wouldn’t say this. Yes, different components of the economy have commercialisation of agriculture and increase productivity. million, which compares agreeably with other Indian-made sickle would probably satisfy announced the following day Bhim Rawal two years ago, organisational chart. during the last convention the Janakpur convention, he been hit hard, but we are probably reaching the bottom in several areas. SUVs. Scorpios are marketed in Nepal by Agni Incorporated. Take tourism. Despite the problems quite a few tourists are still coming. The removal of subsidies for shallow tubewells has been the Maoists, who have was a definite letdown. Nepal was furious. The Having come of age and eventually split the party. stands a good chance of Secondly, there has been a sharp increase in the export of labour. While, controversial. Is this an ideological issue, or an economic one?

benefited from Balkhu’s crisis That Oli didn’t get the general secretary re-jigged the during Chairman Mao’s and Except this time, he used refining a reformist image. of course, it would be better to see more employment generation within the It’s difficult to give a short answer as this is quite a complex subject. Wai Wai Football Fundraiser ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ of conviction in the past. As deputy premier’s post UML line-up on the PAC, General Secretary Brezhnev’s Gautam against Nepal. Or at Since Nepal says he’s not country, overseas opportunities are a safety valve. But the exodus of a Certainly it is not an ideological issue about whether subsidies are good or ○○○○○○○○○○ large number of people from the hills can be expected to have an adverse bad. Rather, the aim is to create a policy environment that supports a Nepali musicians played a fundraiser football match for those who want everything complete with the home giving Oli and others slots on stewardship of the two least tried hard to. Towards sure whether he will seek against Nepali cine artists at the Dasrath Stadium on 11 of the party except the word less prominent panels. Nepal strongest communist the end of the central another term as general impact on agriculture. However, this is too early to assess. Agriculture more rapid growth in groundwater development. The old subsidy portfolio wasn’t the real production also depends on weather and prices in India. Nepal’s economy effectively prevented private sector traders from coming in and making January. The actors thrashed the musicians 4-2, as “communist”, the sun might problem. The palace wasn’t worried too much by machines the world has committee meeting, Gautam secretary, Oli might consider is clearly linked with that of India. So, if India experiences strong growth it available what is very clearly a private good, designed to serve an thousands of spectators thronged to see their favourite one day shine bright enough communiqué gave Nepal a the stain on the party’s ever seen, Oli could be restricted his combativeness rallying behind some other will have a positive impact on Nepal. Most of the macroeconomic individual farmer or small groups of farmers. This, coupled with limited celebrities do some fancy footwork. The proceeds of the on the flag to eclipse the good reason to censure Oli for standing. He was infuriated by forgiven for getting lost in to his rhetoric. Not that comrade for the top job, even fundamentals of the economy remain sound and Nepal has a comfortable funds for the subsidy was limiting the numbers of wells installed. In match were donated to the hundreds of victims of the fire at emblems of workers and approaching the palace and the way Oli turned Girija a structural maze. Gautam didn’t have his if the name happens to be level of foreign exchange reserves. addition, due to the collateral requirements, the old subsidy was captured Myaglung in Tehrathum. The fundraiser was organised by Yes, there is a fiscal crisis. But we and the number of other donors have peasants for good. foreign diplomats in his Prasad Koirala’s Lauda Air Collective leadership is grudges on the Mahakali Bam Dev Gautam. mainly by large and medium sized farmers who didn’t need it. Under the the Chaudhary Group, makers of Wai Wai instant noodles. indicated our willingness to try and help alleviate this problem and ensure government’s Community Groundwater Irrigation Sector project, supported Said Binod Chaudhary, managing director: “Together we that funds are available to finance critical development expenditure. by ADB and CIDA, small farmers are being assisted to gain access to this can, we will.” However, there is a need to improve effectiveness of this development technology. Certainly, immediately after the removal of the subsidy, there expenditure at the same time. was a significant fall in the number of wells installed. While some such

dislocation is to be expected, it was made worse by the sharp fall in the Qatar Airways ups flights ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ We hear Melamchi is further delayed. What is the status? prices of rice and wheat at that time. But now the number of installations is ○○○○○○○○○○ There has been some delay, and as a result the expected completion is picking up again and equally importantly, a much wider range and cost of Qatar Airways is planning to operate two weekly flights now year-end 2009. This revised date assumes that a private operator for shallow tubewell technology is being offered to farmers. directly to Kathmandu from Doha, a senior airline official distribution will be in place by early 2004 so that tunnel construction can said. Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways made this begin during 2004. While, there have been some delays, but the Despite the ADBís strong anti-corruption guidelines, some announcement following the relocation of the airline’s office government and development partners are working to keep this complex procurement procedures leave room for irregularities. There is also in Kathmandu. “Kathmandu is considered an important project on track. the perception that the ADB hires expensive foreign consultants when destination for Qatar Airways (QA) since its launch in 1994,” local expertise is available. said Baker. He announced that the airline is planning to But given the record of privatisations in this country, isnít it a gamble to We have well established procurement policies and procedures designed double the number of passengers outbound on Qatar by try to privatise water distribution? to minimise corruption. And we do closely monitor the implementation of operating bigger aircraft with capacity of up to 400. Qatar People have said that the donors want to privatise the Nepal Water Supply these procedures. Regarding use of local expertise, ADB allows a margin brought 90,000 tourists to Nepal last year, and is the airline Corporation (NWSC). That is not what we are talking about. The of preference for domestic manufacturers or contractors in the supply of most of the 35,000 Nepali workers in Qatar take to come government and donors have reached a consensus to introduce a private goods and civil works. But they still must be able to meet the quality sector operator, working under a performance-based management contract, specifications and have a financial position to provide the required level home. of production. Local suppliers may also form a consortium within the

country or with companies outside Nepal to meet such requirements. ADB Nepali delegation in US, Canada ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

also considers whether there is local consulting expertise available during ○○○○○○○○○○ design of assistance, and where local expertise is not sufficient, foreign A joint delegation of the private sector and the government consultants team up with local consultants. left for the United States and Canada Saturday, to promote Nepali exports. The focus of the visit would be to obtain duty The donor community, including ADB, has been pushing for holding and quota-free access for Nepali products in US markets, in local elections as soon as possible. But do you think it is realistic? addition to exploring the market potential in Canada. Last First, let me make it clear that ADB has not pressured the government on year Canada announced free imports of all commodities this sensitive political decision. Still, the suspension of the local bodies from Least Developed Countries (LDCs), except a few farm has complicated development activities at the grassroots. The system of products. In 2000, the US had also provided such local government based on elected local bodies had been working concessions for garment imports from Sub-Saharan African reasonably well, and there was considerable donor support to strengthen and Caribbean countries. Uday Raj Pandey, general them as part of their support to decentralization. The present government is aware that the current interim arrangements are not as effective as the secretary of Garment Association Nepal (GAN), said the previous system and this is hampering development of new delegation would present Nepal’s case to the US State and programs at the local level. The government has itself indicated Trade Departments and discuss with US Congressmen, its intention to hold local elections but it is for the government to importers and consumers. decide on the timing.

How optimistic are you that the Tenth Plan will be able India to help in rural electrification ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ to attain its objectives under the present India○○○○○○○○○○ has provided grant assistance worth Rs 55 million to For more details, log in to the official site www.2003.com.np ENTRY FORM circumstances? Nepal for rural electrification through solar photo-voltaic cell Based on the current situation and recent data, even Site URL Language technology in Parsa, Sarlahi, Baglung and Dhading districts. the lower growth scenario included in the plan is Description The project is expected to benefit about 1,400 households optimistic. But, it depends critically on the with over 15,000 people. This would also light community insurgency. If the conflict can be resolved in the Name Age Sex Male Female centres, schools, hospitals, VDC offices and public spaces, near future and there is an effective program Address Phone Email of rehabilitation and development that the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu said. The project will be I certify that the information above is accurate and honestly presented to the best of my really addresses the underlying causes of the executed by India’s Central Electronics Ltd (CEL), knowledge and that I (We) are the designer(s) of the site submitted. conflict, including the problem of exclusion, Ghaziabad and through consumers committees in the Signature Place Date then I believe that the prospects for villages under which each household is to get 75 watts of economic recovery and addressing Nepal’s home lighting. Send this form by January 20, 2003 to WWW 2003, WAVE, P.O. Box: 9220, Kathmandu persistent poverty, are good. MIN BAJRACHARYA 8 BOOKS 17 - 23 JANUARY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #128#128#128 17 - 23 JANUARY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #128#128#128 9 “I rely on the muse of hard work.” Manjushree Thapa has a writer-to- writer chat with Samrat Upadhyay about his new novel The Guru of Love, and also how life has been since his first short story collection, Arresting God in Kathmandu, catapulted the Nepali author to literary fame around the world last year.

Can you say something about the process of writing The Guru of This interplay between the erotic and the spiritual seems to me is a discussing their writing or a piece of published literature. I’m lucky to be Love? fundamental part of our universal psyche, but is not often addressed or in a vocation where my writing is stimulated by my teaching. My My daughter Shahzadi had just been born, and somehow the attended to, especially in our culture, where the erotic is publicly students’ writings give me new insights on issues of craft. My courses overwhelming energy of her birth transferred to the writing process. shunned in favor of over-religiosity. on postcolonial literature and contemporary short story are closely The novel finished in about ten months. That sounds fast, but I think that connected to my own placement as a writer in a world where English this novel was a culmination of two ‘practice novels’ I had written earlier, The protagonistís wife, who asks her husbandís lover to move in writing from Africa and Asia have emerged as strong alternative which allowed me to understand the form in my own terms. While as a second wife, sounds very strong. narratives to the master narratives of the West. writing those, I was influenced by preconceptions of how a novel ought The protagonist Ramchandra’s wife Goma’s evolution as the novel’s to be written—partly garnered from bad “how to write a novel” books— strongest character was a very pleasurable aspect of writing the book. Word has it that, taking offense at a literary exchange between so I was overly concerned with plot. With The Guru, I followed the I have been working with the concept of “reversal,” where I make the you and them, some professors at the Tribhuvan University character, like I do in my stories. The novel was written without a plot character or situation move in exactly the opposite direction than I had English Department have discouraged academic discussion of sketch. initially planned. If I think a character is going to act a certain way, I ask your writing, in what amounts to an unofficial boycott. The idea of a tutor having an affair with his tutee came from my myself, “What possibilities open up if I make the character act differently I, too, have heard the same thing from multiple sources. I hope someone being in the teaching profession, where this happens all the time, with than how I expect him or her to act?” This thwarts predictability. Initially from the English Department can clarify this, for indeed if it has dire consequences for both parties. As I’m always interested in putting Goma seeks refuge in her maiti, but later, instead of resigning herself to happened or is happening, it suggests an intellectual depravity that my characters in trouble, this seemed like a good way to do it. I placed her husband’s infidelity, she gains control by “demanding” Malati into the doesn’t speak well for a department that has the role of nurturing them in the wider canvas of the jana andolan—a fascinating period for same bedroom with her husband. Goma shows the complexity with students to be future critics, writers, and teachers. I mean, even a me as my formative years were spent in Panchayat’s repressive which women must negotiate their existence in our culture. curmudgeon like VS Naipaul, who has very nasty things to say about atmosphere. I became interested in the gap where the old was dying academics and critics, gets his readership in English departments and the new was about to be born: the troubles of the protagonist You have fans around the world. Youíve earned the Whiting across the world. And I am only a green writer. echoed the troubles of the nation in impressionistic, not-so-tangible Award, and many Nepalis feel genuinely proud of your As teachers, we exercise enormous influence over our students’ ways. The novel became an exploration of the dance between the achievement. Are you enjoying your celebrity status? intellectual growth, and to discourage, either explicitly or implicitly, private and the political, where they meet and where they drift apart. Yes, I am. Although the basic elements of my life haven’t changed—I still discussion of a literary work is an abuse of that sacred power, a Writing the novel was more taxing than writing my earlier story struggle with my writing, prepare for my classes, wash the dishes, violation of both faculty’s and students’ academic freedom. It also gives collection, Arresting God in Kathmandu. But the novel didn’t go through paint with my daughter—I have become a recognizable name for many the impression that some people in the English Department at TU feel the same extensive revision process—my wife Babita, my agent, and my lovers of literature. Sometimes I see my name in print as if it were threatened by new voices in Nepali literature in English—an impression editor thought it was complete as it was. It merely went through some someone else. After Arresting God came out, I was flipping through an that stigmatizes the entire department. copy editing before it was published. interview of Amitav Ghosh. In answer to a question about which South Asian authors he admired, Ghosh mentioned my name! Only my name! Youíre a devoted husband and doting father. From your essays In your stories, your characters often turn to illicit love and sex So it’s been wonderful in many ways. itís clear youíre a passionate teacher. You work hard, waking up Himalayan Bank amid emotional turmoil. Your novelís protagonist has an at 4 in order to write. Youíve shared your success with Nepali extramarital affair. Why are you drawn towards such Youíve just been offered a new teaching position. writers, translating their work and helping them to be published transgressions? I’ll be joining the MFA faculty at Indiana University in the fall. It is one of in the US. Youíre extremely affable in person, and seem very As they say, only trouble is interesting in fiction. Trouble can galvanize the oldest programs in the country, started by the great southern writer much a squeaky-clean Nepali boy next door. (Correct me if Iím an awareness of parts of ourselves we hadn’t considered before. Peter Taylor. Robert Frost, Robert Penn Warren and John Crowe wrong here). Isnít this unusual for a writer? Trouble makes us realize the value of pain and the value of happiness, Ransom have taught there, so it’s an honor for me to be a part of that I’m hardly squeaky-clean, but yes, my family and teaching are as how transitory both are, and how life is a constant negotiation between heritage. I’ll be teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in fiction important to me as writing. I also think there’s also a great myth the two. Love, in all its myriad forms, has always been of interest to me. writing and literature. I’ll also be active in the admissions committee, and surrounding the writer as a “man” of genius, probably a bit bairagi, Illicit love in particular fascinates me because it violates the traditional I’m eager to attract an international community of writers, especially inspired by fits of hand-waving, mouth-whispering madness, with deep boundaries to which we become attached and take for granted. The young Nepali writers who might benefit from a rigorous three-year descents into alcoholic stupor or depression that spawns even more indiscretion of my characters, especially of the novel’s main character, program where they are fully supported through teaching brilliant work. While there are iconoclastic writers who only need to wait leads to a maddening mixture of pain and happiness, where the two assistantships. for the muse, most writers I know rely on the muse of hard work— merge and are hard to separate, and so the transgression becomes an I’ve loved being in the classroom since the first day I taught more writing as meditation where devotion and daily practice connect you to

almost-spiritual experience. than a decade ago. I come alive in my interaction with students, the spirit. SUKETU○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ MEHTA much was explained — when the reader here is an international fraternity is assumed to be a foreigner. It is one of artists of the middle class—the thing to use a Nepali word in dialogue lineage whose patron saint is and then to recast it in English in the next Chekhov and that takes in Ibsen sentence; it is quite another to place the and Ozu, Cheever and Mahfouz. translation within the quotation itself. This Their dragons are poverty and need not detract from a non-Indian’s in-laws; their Holy Grail, college The Guru of Love A middle-class social novel, set in Kathmandu overall grasp of the narrative, but degrees and good marriages for their children; enhances the pleasure for readers who are Tand their transcendence, adultery. What gatherings. “Without a house of one’s own in But the political turmoil is just a backdrop; of a moment of pleasure; the shame he feels familiar with the words. Those who get it animates these artists’ moral vision is, above this city, it doesn’t matter what you do.” none of the characters are active participants in in front of his children. The writing is feel that they’re reading something all, compassion. Into this unhappy but settled existence the struggle. The beginning of the last chapter emotionally restrained and doesn’t call authentic — in the subcontinent, spoken The universality of this class and those walks Malati, a pretty young girl from the sums up this disconnection: “Eleven years later, attention to itself. There are no lyrical English as well as written is widely themes is demonstrated in Samrat Upadhyay’s countryside determined to get ahead in the city during the tense days when the Maoists looted, bursts of exuberance over the country’s spiced with words from the local first novel, “The Guru of Love,’’ which by passing the school-leaving exams. She is terrorised and killed people across the country, beauty or the torments of love. The family languages. But as a practical matter, many considers the middle class in a place one also a single mother. Ramchandra begins and a month before the crown prince scenes—particularly one set in an of these decisions are taken out of the would not normally look for --in the city of tutoring her and quickly falls in love. When obliterated most of the royal family, amusement park where every entertainment writer’s hands and made by Kathmandu. his wife finds out, she demands that Malati Ramchandra, his hair turning gray, went on bleeds Ramchandra’s wallet—are suffused the editor with one eye on the Western Ramchandra is a 40-ish schoolteacher and her year-old daughter move in with his morning walk to the local market in with tenderness. The juxtaposition of the market. married to Goma, daughter of a rich family them, installs her husband and his mistress Kirtipur.’’ The implication is that empires father imagining himself walking free and connected to the royals. They have two young in the bedroom and moves into the kids’ and tyrannies may rise and fall but life goes light with his girlfriend amid the rides with Suketu Mehta is a fiction children, and Ramchandra has an assortment room. Ramchandra’s guilt redoubles, and on much the same for the broad mass of the fixed, present reality of wife and writer and journalist who of acquaintances in his school and he becomes the butt of jokes and barbs from people. This is certainly a valid point, but children is rendered with skilled lives in New York. He is a neighbourhood but no real friends. He is a his in-laws, the school and the such passages seem strewn about the novel as understatement. A little later, there is an winner of the Whiting hapless sort of fellow, pushed around by more neighbourhood. Not that they prevent him if the writer felt the need to paint on a larger inspired passage about Ramchandra and Writers Award, the O Henry confident people. His life is spent in from continuing to make love to Malati canvas, to depict a whole nation in transition. Malati’s first attempt at lovemaking, in an Prize for his fiction, a New York unremitting anxiety about money, and his in- while his wife sleeps in the next room. Upadhyay lives near Cleveland and has abandoned temple. He is on the verge of Foundation for the Arts Fellowship in laws constantly snub him over his poverty. Goma is a strong woman, Shakti incarnate. previously written a fine book of short possessing the girl of his dreams when they fiction. This review appeared in The “He’d thought his full-time, permanent status Her husband has visions of her as a goddess, stories, “Arresting God in Katmandu.” He are attacked by monkeys, which yank off New York Times this week. would change his in-laws” minds, that they’d and his mistress, too, seems to think of her as excels at depicting the thousand small cuts Malati’s sari and run off with it. The begin to see him as a full-time permanent one. It is as valid an excuse for adultery as any: that afflict a middle-class married man incident, which could have been farcical, The Guru of Love : A Novel by: Samrat son-in-law. But Goma’s parents had quickly being married to a goddess. having an affair: the continuous expenditure quickly turns dark, another obstacle in the Upadhyay List Price: $23.00 Amazon Price: shifted their focus. “You must build a house, All this occurs against the background of of money in taxis and restaurants; the path of true lust. $16.10 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Co Ramchandra babu,” they said to him at family the pro-democracy agitations around 1990. furtive, guilt-ridden rendezvous in pursuit But I was uncomfortable when too (January, 2003) 10 WORLD 17 - 23 JANUARY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #128 17 - 23 JANUARY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #128 11 COMMENT by ALAN F KAY ethnic, economic, and factional rest of the hawks) never sought

Berlusconi’s failed right violence and war all over the world, what he now says would have ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○ the US can save time, money, and been the best course. Doves have ROME — Italy now looks as lives. What is needed is a “Marshall known for decades that the failure unsettled and decrepit as Britain did plan without the war’’, “building to reduce worldwide nuclear when Margaret Thatcher assumed friends instead of enemies.’’ arsenals convinces everyone that power 24 years ago. Fiat wallows in Hawks fly higher Abe Lincoln was accosted by pre-emption may ultimately crisis, university rectors resign en in mass, judges attend the opening an angry northern senator at the become our only recourse. end of the Civil War, who told Adelman should have figured that Ganesh session of the judicial year carrying Why should anyone listen to the copies of the constitution as a him, “I believe in destroying out long ago. Why should anyone warning to the government. When he retreaded hawks who came to enemies.’’ Lincoln replied, ‘’I listen to him or any of the southeast Asia returned to power, Silvio Berlusconi agree with you, sir. And the best retreaded hawks who came to in BANGKOK promised bold Thatcherite reforms to prominence under Reagan and way to destroy an enemy is to prominence under Reagan and SUNANDA○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ K DATTA-RAY set things right. His reforms, flourished under the Bush I make him into a friend.’’ flourished under the Bush I and hroughout the day, devotees offer flowers and incense to a however, have been few and insipid, For years the US people have II? large gilt Ganesh, the elephant-headed Hindu god. The statue aimed mostly at benefiting himself, and Bush II? preferred dismantling and With an Iraq invasion T squats on its high pedestal under a canopy outside Bangkok’s says Italian academic and former MP, Ferdinando Targetti. rendering impotent and obsolete probable we may soon know the World Trade Center. If passers-by do not have a gift for the god, Italy is in economic decline. Its share of exports in world markets all nuclear weapons of all nations outcome of our first major pre- they offer a simple sawasdee. is contracting. On the list of “most competitive countries” prepared by hen the decision-makers pushing even more as soon as possible to our current emptive strike. The belief that The respect accorded to the Ganesh is a reminder that Southeast the World Economic Forum, Italy has fallen in one year from 26th devastating money into the “military-industrial- strategy of allowing a few certain dictators can never be Asia has had a thousand years of interaction with India. Yet modern Hinduism’s lofty philosophical place to 39th. Unemployment is higher than the EU average (9% Wpossibilities labour-university complex’’ for over “trustworthy’’ nations including made into friends is a racist Southeast Asians seldom mention the Hindu kingdoms that once message may have been lost in against 7.6% ). Inflation is nearly twice that of France and Germany, of atomic bombs had 50 years with only brief, minor the US to maintain and possibly assumption without scientific flourished in Java, Sumatra, Laos, Cambodia and Malaya. though all three countries use the euro. The ratio of debt to GDP just become apparent reversals. upgrade a reasonable stockpile of basis. Populist leaders like Fidel Princess Sirindhorn of Thailand, erudite in Sanskrit and Pali, Thailand, but its symbol of (110%) is almost twice the European average and is growing. Fiat’s to the world, heroic, Hawks make one powerful nuclear weapons. (In December Castro, Lula da Silva, and Hugo once warned me not to speak of Indian influence, even though her crisis may see the country lose its last great internationally victorious WWII argument that, reluctantly or not, 1987, responses were (a) 56 Chavez, one a dictator the other father’s formal title, King Rama IX, recalls the legendary Hindu material success is flourishing. competitive industrial enterprise. generals George most people accept: “It makes percent and (b) 41 percent.) two popularly elected, wish for god-king, hero of the epic Ramayana, which Thais call Ramaken. In response, Italy’s President has asked the Marshall, Douglas sense to begin to develop some The hawks now make the good relations with the US, but so ‘‘They probably think even the Buddha was born in Thailand,’’ the My guide explained that Indonesians keep Ganesh in their entrepreneurial classes to help shore up the country’s MacArthur, Dwight anti-missile capability. Even case that the danger of “non- far find only hostility and death princess said with a smile. gardens and treat him as a decoration and not a deity. I wondered competitiveness. Unions should return to the policy they Eisenhower, Omar Bradley, initially when it is very expensive deterrable’’ dictators acquiring threats. A dictator of the greatest Such is the degree to which things Indian have been absorbed therefore who had left flowers at the feet of the Ganesh in the adopted during the successful struggle against inflation in the 1990s. The state must improve public services, and even the right wing’s and has only a small chance of nuclear weapons may leave the “evil empire’’, Mikhail into Southeast Asian culture. A Thai dignitary once reportedly asked 1,100-year-old Prambanam complex near Jogjakarta. And why the strengthen the educational system, and devote greater favourite, George Patton, working, if it is needed and it does United States with no recourse Gorbachev, was totally redeemed a high-ranking Indian visitor, whom he accompanied to a dance 20,000 rupiah note should flaunt his visage. Some Western scholars resources to research and development. The government must independently made public work, it will save millions of lives. but a pre-emptive military strike in US eyes after a few years in drama of the Ramaken, whether he didn’t have something like it in even called him the ‘‘Indonesian god of wisdom’.’ reform social welfare and pensions. statements along these lines: If What is a human life worth? to remove the weapons. Ken office. Redemption is preferable his country too. I came across another form of internalisation in Chiang Mai in The entire political spectrum, indeed, must recognize the we don’t get rid of nuclear You cannot put a number on Adelman, as head of Reagan’s to pre-emption. With rabid Hindu chauvinists in India claiming Ganesh as the northern Thailand, where a little brass Ganesh in a wide-brimmed country’s predicament and find common ground for legislation. But this weapons they will get rid of us. it. We cannot afford NOT to Arms Control and Disarmament Upstaged by nuclear era original Santa Claus, I can understand local sensitivities. Hindu art coolie hat rowed a boat, just like Bangkok’s food sellers before the will be impossible so long as Prime Minister Berlusconi dominates The following year a directive proceed with missile defence.’’ Agency, thought unnecessary (and upstarts, an 80-plus percent languished in Southeast Asia with the rise of Theravada Buddhism. city’s muddy canals were filled in for roads. A depiction of Ganesh is Italian politics. Berlusconi is a new phenomenon on the European from President Harry Truman This argument seems to fought against) bilateral verifiable consensus of the American people Islam wiped out many Hindu traces, and 19th century Western also the Thai Fine Arts Department’s logo. right. In recent decades, mainstream right-leaning parties in most still operative—barred active- trump all possible responses, but nuclear arms reductions, is frustrated. The WWII heroes history, which stressed the benefits of European colonialism, further Burma knows him as Maha-Pienne and Cambodia as Prah Western countries evolved from a defence of tradition (sometimes duty military personnel from leaves open one crucial particularly the nuclear freeze will roll over in their graves as helped to play down India’s influence. Cold War politics Kenes. Ganesh lives in an ancient iron ring from Laos, a terra-cotta with a tinge of nationalism) to a more liberal worldview favoring a making public their individual possibility: the United States referendum which was supported billions more are spent on a compounded the estrangement. in Kedah and a Japanese scroll. His images have been found in limited role for the state and greater individual responsibility. Coming opinions on nuclear weapons. A could both save the colossal by over 80 percent of the course the heroes predicted, and But while more exalted deities were forgotten, Ganesh remained China and Turkmenistan. Ganesh is the god with the common from the pinnacle of Italian business, Berlusconi might have been few military heroes, after amount of money such a system American people beginning in the the people rightly fear, will a vibrant reminder of the synergy of Indian and Southeast Asian touch. That is one reason for his abiding popularity as a source of expected to conform to this pattern. In fact, however, Berlusconi retirement, publicly expressed would cost and cut the early ’80s. ultimately end in our destruction, cultures. His elephant head stands for sagacity, wisdom and good fortune. Perhaps a more compelling one today is his represents political extremism and programmatic ambiguity. such beliefs. Most said nothing at probability to near zero that Twenty years later Adelman while the possibility of stopping prudence. His mount, a rat, gnaws through every obstacle. association with commerce, underlined by the World Trade Center (Project Syndicate) all publicly. anybody will ever launch a says that the only recourse the our own demise grows increasingly Indians believe that Ganesh has only one tusk because the other backdrop as well as by Bangkok’s other large Ganesh, in the lobby Why were the heroes’ nuclear missile attack by US has in the case of Iraq may be remote. (IPS) was worn down writing the Ramayana at a sage’s dictation. Traders, of the Rama Hotel.

Rogue creditors threaten debt plan admonitions to get rid of nuclear countering the outside world’s an imminent pre-emptive strike, travelers, artists and statesmen but above all business people claim Hinduism’s lofty philosophical message may have been lost—but ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○ weapons ignored? There were reaction to our behaviour by non- and the longer it is delayed the (Alan F. Kay is a mathematician, his patronage. The first Southeast Asian Ganesh I saw was a its symbol of material success is flourishing. LONDON — The World Bank and IMF’s Heavily Indebted Poor many developments which show violent means. more difficult and necessary pre- social scientist, and pioneer of sandstone carving from Cambodia in the Los Angeles County Museum. Countries (HIPC) initiative for debt relief is looking increasingly how that happened over the By using diplomacy and the emption will be. public-interest polling. He is the The first I acquired was Indonesian. The cast iron figure is not especially (Sunanda K Datta-Ray is he former editor of The threadbare because of rogue creditors, according to economist course of the nuclear era. But forms of conflict resolution that Yet for twenty years the US author of “Locating Consensus for beautiful, but I was intrigued to find a roadside shop in the world’s most Statesman in India, and is currently senior fellow at Romilly Greenhill. behind the scenes, hawk strategies in recent years have successfully pursued the hawks’ approach Democracy’’ and numerous public populous Muslim country stacked with Hindu icons. Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University.) Because it is not addressing the central issue of unpayable debts have served to keep political resolved both new and ancient during which Adelman (and the policy articles) and is not seen to be independent from both debtors and creditors, the process is perceived as unjust and ineffective. Conditionalities attached to HIPC relief through IMF programmes have been lambasted by NGOs as veiled economic mechanisms for transferring resources

from debtor to creditor countries. Sri Lankan talks on track ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Now, however, the initiative is under threat from another NAKHON PATHOM, Thailand – Negotiators of the just-concluded Sri quarter —non-participating creditors and governments like Iraq and Lankan peace talks have deferred trying to seek an immediate remedy Taiwan, which are refusing to write off their share of HIPC debts. for explosive issues, particularly those that could destroy the still According to Ann Pettifor, Director of Jubilee Research, the long-term fledgling peace process between Colombo and the Tamil Tiger rebels. solution would be to implement the Jubilee Framework for international Tehelka pays for raising hell But this does not mean shying away from politically sensitive

insolvency, by which HIPC debt would be treated like middle-income LUKE HARDING in NEW DELHI matters. Rather, the two sides appear to be willing to soldier on by ○○○○○○○

○○○○○○○○○ broken one of the biggest stories president of the ruling Bharatiya been launched in June 2000, was The official campaign of the riot-hit western state of country debt. A public, transparent insolvency framework would give arun Tejpal is sitting amid in the country’s history—an Janata party, who was filmed receiving 30 million hits a week. vilification against the website Gujarat after campaigning on a seeking solutions that will, in the end, satisfy the warring parties. legitimacy to the sovereign debtor’s insolvency while protecting the Two years after this muckraking This was how the negotiators overcame the first major obstacle at the ruins of his office. expose of corruption at the shovelling the cash into his desk. But the glory did not last. “I had has attracted protests from a few virtually fascist anti-Muslim fundamental human rights of the debtor nation, Pettifor says. (IPS) the just concluded talks — a sharp difference of views between a Sri T There is not much left - a highest levels of government. The scandal was deeply expected a battle. But we had not investigative website went undercover to of India’s prominent liberal platform. Lankan military commander and the Tamil Tigers over the few dusty chairs, three computers His reporters, posing as arms embarrassing for the BJP prime anticipated its scale,” Tejpal said. expose corruption in India’s defence commentators, such as the Tehelka’s expose was not resettlement of Tamil civilians in lands under military occupation in and a forlorn air-conditioning salesmen, had bribed their way minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. “The propaganda war started the veteran diplomat Kuldip Nayar about “individuals”, but about Sri Lanka’s north. It arose after the military commander suggested that unit. “We have sold virtually into the home of the defence Vajpayee sacked Fernandes and next day.” establishment, it has been hounded out and the respected columnist “systemic corruption”, Tejpal the Tigers should disarm and decommission its heavy weapons in the everything. I’ve even flogged the minister, George Fernandes, and ordered a commission of inquiry. Nearly two years later, he has of business and is nearly defunct. Tavleen Singh. Tehelka’s insists. He admits that his sting north before Tamil civilians are permitted back to their homes. airconditioner,” he says dolefully. handed over £3,000 to one of The scandal promoted a mood been forced to lay off literary supporters, who include operation would have gone During this fourth round of talks, which ran here from 6-10 January, Twenty months ago Tejpal, the minister’s colleagues. The of national catharsis, and all but four of his Salman Rushdie, Amitav Ghosh down badly with any the Tigers pulled out of a special committee set up in the war-ravaged editor in chief of tehelka.com, an journalists found many other congratulations poured in 120 staff. He has scrounged money from friends. investors. Tehelka’s financial and VS Naipaul, have also government, but says that the island’s north to discuss the sensitive issues such as de-escalation and investigative website, was the people prepared to take money - from ordinary Indians tired got deeply into “They drop by for dinner and backer, Shanker Sharma, was expressed their outrage. But in BJP’s response was venomous. normalisation. most feted journalist in senior army officers, of official corruption. debt, sold the office leave a cheque behind.” thrown in jail without charge. general, India’s civil society has “The degree of pettiness has But this act of protest did not result in the collapse of the talks. On The website, which once Detectives also held Aniruddha the contrary, the Tigers agreed to Colombo’s proposal to speed up India. He had just bureaucrats, even the Tehelka, which had only furniture and reacted with awkwardness been extraordinary. They have a resettlement in areas beyond the disputed territory and, further, to seek boasted sites on news, literature, Bahal, the reporter who carried and embarrassment to the crude understanding of power the views of an Indian military expert on striking a balance between sport and erotica, is “virtually out the expose, and a colleague, website’s plight. and a lot of that stems from the humanitarian and security needs.(IPS) defunct”. George Fernandes, Kumar Badal. Badal is still “I read all of Franz Kafka fact they are in power for the meanwhile, is again the defence in prison. when I was 19 and 20, but I first time. Our struggle is

minister. “It got to the stage that I only understand him now,” emblematic of a wider issue: can More nuke tit-fot-tat ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ WANTED FOR EMPLOYMENT The saga is a depressing used to count the number of Tejpal wrote in a recent essay in media organisations be killed off ISLAMABAD - India’s disclosure of its nuclear doctrine this month was example of how the Kafkaesque booze bottles in my house to the magazine Seminar. “He when they criticise supposed to quell fears by clarifying the conditions under which it Foreign Joint Venture Company seeks to employ a weight of government can be make sure there wasn’t one accurately intuited that all governments?”. would use nuclear weapons, but it has only increased uncertainty in the Communications Officer. Candidates with good command used to crush those who more than the legal quota,” power is essentially implacable The gloomy answer appears subcontinent, Pakistani analysts say. challenge its methods. In the Tejpal recalls. The atmosphere is not helped by the latest tit-for-tat moves by of both written and spoken English with ability to carry and malign.” to be yes. Last night Balbir aftermath of the scandal, the The government commission The treatment of the Punj, a leading BJP member of India and Pakistan on the missile front. Four days after India explained out independent correspondence are invited to apply with Hindu nationalist-led set up to investigate Operation website’s investors has scared parliament, claimed the its nuclear doctrine, Pakistan handed over the Ghauri, a medium- testimonials and a passport size photograph. Familiarity government “unleashed” the West-End, Tehelka’s sting, away anybody else from government had nothing to do range missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads, to its army. A day with email and the Internet will be added advantages. inland revenue, the enforcement meanwhile, started behaving very pumping money into Tehelka. with the website’s collapse. afterwards, New Delhi announced that it had successfully test-fired a Interested candidates are encouraged to apply via email short-range version of its Agni-1 intermediate ballistic missile. directorate and the intelligence strangely. “The commission The company owes £620,000. “Just because you do a story Predictably, Pakistan’s foreign office dubbed the Indian disclosure with the required information to be sent as Word bureau, India’s answer to MI5, didn’t cross-examine a single Vajpayee’s rightwing exposing the government of its nuclear policy and formation of its nuclear command authority attachments. on Tehelka’s office in suburban person found guilty of corruption. government has bounced back doesn’t mean the gods make you (NCA) as further evidence that nuclear weapons and their use is very south Delhi. It was astonishing,” said Tejpal. from the scandal and is expected immortal,” he said. “Many other much part of India’s strategic policy. They did not find anything. Instead, it spent its days GPO Box 2628, Kathmandu to win the next general election internet portals have closed India had previously publicised only a draft doctrine in 2000, and Frustrated, the officials started rubbishing Tehelka’s journalistic (IPS) Email: [email protected] Tarun Tejpal, Billy Singh, CEO NuBazaar.com and reporter Aniruddha Bahal in 2004. Last month, it won a down. The boom is over.” Pakistan itself announced its NCA in February of that year. tearing apart the website’s methods. landslide victory in elections in (The Guardian) 12 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS THIS PAGE CONTAINS MATERIAL SELECTED FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 17 - 23 JANUARY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #128 CULTURE 17 - 23 JANUARY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #128 13

30 years,12 years press to protect identities of rape FICTION by GEETANJALI A. LAMA ANIMAL KINGDOM by JIGME GATON

○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○ victims by not publishing names “The king doesn’t see Editorial in Himal Khabarpatrika and photos in the recent years. (31 December-15 January) But the victims of alleged rape by two senior army officers in democracy as a free-for-all” Nepal’s economy grew by an Chisapani barrack of Nepalganj average of 2.5 percent per year were not accorded such respect. A pile of Trained as a power engineer in the former Soviet Union, Dipak over the last 12 years. But during The English language Nepali Gyawali studied resource economics from Berkeley. He is the the three decades (1960-90) Times newspaper even t’s raining incessantly, a monotonousKanchi’s drone drearily knocking on wooden Tale when there was no violence in reproduced a picture (#125) of Minister for Water Resources. Excerpts from an interview in panes… I lean over the window of the wooden house that I call home… gazing Second in the British Council Short Gorkhapatra. the country and the king ruled the victim earlier broadcast by I at the myriad colours unfolding under a luminescent grey sky and the smiling puppies

directly, the economy grew at Royal Nepal Army on its weekly gold rimmed eyes of Lord Buddha on a hilltop boring down into infinite stretches of Story Competition (18-35)

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Gorkhapatra, 12 January only 0.5 percent. During 1960- Nepal Television program. himself, this article carries a stench, filth, poverty and brilliant sunsets.... Blowing away a lingering stray hair, ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 90, the child mortality rate Protecting identities of victims strapline that says: “Sikkim is listening to nature’s rhythm alternating between a frenzied climactic din on tinned You have returned to the ministry as minister. How does that feel? declined by only 2.6 percent, does not mean the press should one-tenth the size of Nepal, but roofs and a stealthy hushed up muffle. This is a world where the rich and the poor of urine- dank and fetid. “Hush baby go to sleep”, she mutters, mumbles and When I was at the Water Resources Ministry 16 years ago, the staff lie closely juxtaposed, constantly surveying each other under a microscopic dozes crawling close to the coal stove, its soft embers giving off a feverish whereas in the following next 12 leave out crimes against women, it seems to be governed ten glance, one envying the full throated laughter seeping to the streets below from heat… the only living warmth in the shack. It’s night this little study of tragedy and used to be professionally motivated. This time, I found them years Nepal’s child mortality rate but to respect the privacy of a times better.” Maybe. Kunda demoralised due to excessive politicisation. I am trying to change winding stairwells and the other...? It’s the sanctified grounds of the Pashupati misery of my time must be sleeping, probably dreaming of holding a little yellow victim. If the woman voluntarily temple; undying expanses of glistening idols gaping blankly into eternity, haired and blue eyed doll, softly sighing and tossing involuntarily closing her ears that. In 2011, we will be completing 100 years of electric power declined by 4.2 percent. Dixit went to Sikkim, looked compassionate and avenging deities freely mingling with a stream of humanity; to the sound of creaking wooden planks and occasional grunts; her father and generation in Nepal. My goal is to make cheap and reliable power Similarly, the average life wants to reveal her identity, then around and there is no reason to expectancy of Nepalis rose to 59 it is her decision. But in the doubt what he has to say. But fat, skinny, poor and wealthy, beggars and tramps. Shiny Mercedes and green mother are at it again… Making babies… So many babies and so little rice.... available. By cheap, I don’t mean reducing tariff. A number of Maruti taxis, tooting rickshaws, muddy river water and soap bubbles blending with Little THOUGHTS, few LONGINGS, innocent DREAMS and A PLATEFUL OF agreements are in place which make this option difficult. We will have during 1990-2002 as against only Chisapani incident, nobody the message of the piece is fragrant incense and fuming pyres and glowering embers of scorched corpses; the HOT STEAMING FOOD and probably boring into her drowsy soul are blue eyed to make arrangements for cheaper electricity and making it available 42 years in the three decades bothered to ask if she wanted to incongruous. Sikkim is a state of remains of someone’s aunt, father, son or mother. dolls and English rhymes as she consigns herself to sleep and the all pervading to industries. We can also generate cheap electricity by developing preceding it. Only 48 percent of be identified. The government India. Nepal is an independent When I start the story of Kanchi… I wish to begin from the start, not that her labyrinth of noise; barking dogs, a restless river, quivering wooden planks and efficient infrastructure. Privatisation doesn’t necessarily bring the men and 14 percent of the and the army repeatedly inflicted nation. How can you compare birth was anything near to being momentous, there were no celebrations and no noisy grunts. Night draws to an end… her night as usual has been an ordeal puffed YASUJI SHOJI efficiency, competition does. A commodity like electricity should be women could read and write in mental torture on the women the two? It may sound like Nepal sawing heads off goats and even chickens. She was born because she had to be up with trifle heartaches and a half full stomach. partially privatised to promote competition. born… sad but a bitter truth! Her mother kept mourning repeatedly deeply hurt by Nepal till 1990, whereas over the publicly by showing their pictures also needs to move in the yet another daughter. “ I can’t put her back in my stomach, didi (sister), so she My Kanchi has joined her mother they are allies, sharing a gunny bag on the last 12 years (1990-2002) the and revealing their identities. But direction of becoming like Can the Maoist problem be resolved through dialogue? might as well come out...” I suppose she was an accident formed in a passionless floor of the temple complex selling flowers. Running after tourists and worshippers male literacy rate has reached 59 the press and human rights Sikkim. Certainly, that was not coupling where biological urge prevailed over any emotion that came close to alike tugging at the corner of brilliant red saris, handing out amulets she has been First of all, the Maoist leadership should prove that its cadre are under organisations should have been affection and in due course became a newborn wrapped in a bundle of tattered taught to say “Six rupees only madam please, buy, please,” if things go well she One page from the memoirs of its control. If a political negotiation is to take place with the Maoist leadership, the armed cadre must be and that of women 24. The the editor’s message. expansion in the Nepali more sensitive. Instead of forming Timely cautiousness doesn’t do saris, abandoned to suckle her thumb in the corner of a dingy shack while her will pocket at least three rupees and happily strut back to her mother who closely listening to them. You can hold political dialogue only with political side. To deal with those who are carrying mother trudged along to the gates of Pashupati temple joining hands in follows the progress of her young protege. Kanchi’s father, Rame dai an an unaffiliated aid worker. arms, you must use arms to bring them to dialogue. economy, level of awareness different committees to probe on anyone harm. supplication, bowing, rubbing red vermilion paste on her forehead, praying for a irresponsible man, rather a Casanova in his sober state, quite handsome in a the incident and making the among common citizens and son and promising the lord a coconut and undying devotion in return. rugged way, flaunting his looks to get sympathy from the fairer sex, an out and t was to be a great day in the life of an unaffiliated aid worker in How do you analyse Maoistsí strategy of destruction? unprecedented and positive victims to relate their horrific Tolling temple bells from the banks of river Bagmati harken the valley of out male chauvinist pig, beats up people at the drop of a hat and apologises for his Change bank fierce deities into golden shadows, the clanging bells herald no blessed sacred wrong doings when sober, cries broken heartedly when drunk, perpetually in a state Nepal, and today’s mission was to help a dozen puppies noticed

The Maoists have adopted the Hegelian philosophy. They are destroying power plants and productivity itself. changes seen in the social sector experiences afresh, everyone ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ This will not take us towards socialism by enhancing productivity. There are a number of contradictions within should respect the credibility of showers but scream through a gathering dusk, splitting, screeching, vibrating over of stupor. He sits close by drinking tea, letting life slide by… Nonchalance suits I yesterday piled in the mound in the lot behind my office. A over the last 12 years should be Nepal Samacharpatra,14 January the Maoist fold, they must correct these. trees sullenly naked and seeping into a surrounding dreariness which by now you him well. Leaning on the table of his early morning habitual den “She is six… old dozen puppies huddled together for warmth, while 3 or more compared with the entire history the Amnesty International report know is the world that the likes of Kanchi, my heroine inhabits. A little shack enough to help,” he mutters at the old women huddled together on the doorsteps of of Nepal, and not only the to pressurise the government and The Finance Ministry has issued against the wall of my building with our windows curiously staring at each other its the dilapidated Pashupati old home, nodding their heads in unison. Wisdom and age mothers with udders watched from afar or wandered out in busy How do you see the political future of the Maoists? previous three decades. the army to punish the directives that all UNDP-assisted as if we view each other’s lives through these gaping holes intent and absorbed oozing from every word uttered, senior citizens, the gnarled habitants of the Pulchok in search of scraps, invariably being kicked or beaten away I think the book, Future of Maoism by noted Marxist thinker, Samir Amin, is still relevant in case of Nepal. Amin perpetrators of the crime. with faces pressed against the panes. Stripped off all warmth she sits pale today Pashupati old home come together for a biweekly ritual of prayers and hymns, a from the open-air tea shops or chicken stands. I was ready, and called the USSR “bureaucratic socialism”, and referred to the Maoist model in China as a good socialist path. programs open their accounts with Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) squatting on the floor, a stainless steel plate glaring up at her, scantily furbished cantankerous loud affair with hooting conch shells, jangling of bells and sudden armed with the following: two cans of dog food purchased from a

But it was only after Deng Xiao Ping turned China on a strong, capitalist productive road that China has now Respect privacy with whatever “ama” (mother) has been saving all day, a little rice and a lump of outbursts of “Hare Shiva.” They will totter back gaily to their tiny corners with ○○○○○○○○○○○

turned into an economic superpower. Nepali leftists and Maoists, too, need to understand this. If they continue ○○○○○ Sikkim instead of Standard Chartered watery potato curry. She gazes at it wistfully. She has just come back from her armful of alms from the wealthy to pacify wrathful deities, shooing off half- neighbourhood foo-foo grocery store at Rs100 each, a cheap metal ○○○○○○○○ the tradition of worshipping neo-feudal elements as was seen in case of Pol Pot no achievement is possible. Anju Chhetri in Kantipur, ○○○○○○○○ Bank as presently. A source at neighbours’ house across the street, thankfully for her they have a daughter of dressed street urchins and familiar beggars waiting on the stairs ways to jump on spoon also purchased there for Rs35, and one pair of rubber gloves. 9 January Dhruba Adhikary in Samacharpatra, the ministry said that the her age, her playmate and she has had her fill of yellow haired dolls and brilliant the old selfish hags. At dusk the river Bagmati swells dwindles and turns murky I came prepared to help the down-trodden, sheathed in rubber, and coloured plastic toys and not even the steel plate glinting at her can wrench away washing away the feet of corpses as a red bridal sari torn away from a dead When will this government hold elections? 16 January decision was part of the govern- with a silver spoon other than my own. His Majesty has asked us to focus on holding elections. We want early elections, but because of climate and Amnesty International (AI) last ment’s initiative to bring about the thrill that has enveloped her guts. woman reluctantly trails along. As evening settles down and the temple silhouette other reasons elections can only be held during April-May or December-January. But local elections can be blends into the night… I hear Kanchi singing I find 12 street urchins playing next to a pile of 12 one-month month published its report The Nepali Times is regarded transparency in foreign aid. “Chaali chapli setting in dewal old puppies of various colors and conditions of health. All of which held at any time. My personal preference is to hold local elections first for the development of local (Nepal: A Deepening Human counted as a quality English Similarly, the UNDP-funded Couting nummer sikty pho....” “Aija chuneri chunu munu chunu mun aija, leadership followed by general elections as early as possible. were very excited to see me—a white boy on a motorcycle, looking Rights Crisis) giving the language newspaper. It is cited as projects in the districts will have Aija chuneri aija ho baba hoho.” identities of the rape victims in to operate their accounts (Charlie Chaplin sitting on the wall vaguely like the Marlboro Man. Their excitement increased as I But arenít there political obstacles? the paper regularly read by Counting numbers sixty-four....) “Come pretty sleep come Nepalganj. Whether it was right Kathmandu-based diplomats. through local branches of the started opening a can and produced a spoon. Disappointment There are two or three hurdles. The prime minister has said elections can be held within two hours of the Come to my little baby.” quickly ripped through the crowd once they realised the food was political parties saying that they are ready to face polls. They are citing two reasons for not going to the polls. in doing so is an issue of debate. Since it is edited by a professional state-owned Nepal Bank Limited She hums the rhyme twisting words of a language largely incomprehensible, The insurgency may only be 40 percent of the problem, but 60 percent of their problem is that they have got Probably, AI needed to identify and skilled journalist, one doesn’t and Rastriya Bainjya Bank. Nepal nibbling at the meal and licking off morsels running down her hands. After the meal An ancient lullaby that has echoed within walls of marble laden homes and not for them, but for the dogs. Still, one small boy was deeply nothing to tell the people. the rape victim women for come across too many mistakes received nearly $15 million she will go down to the river and come back lugging a copper water pot on the fragrant white palaces lined with Jacaranda trees hummed by fragile bejeweled honored when I handed him the task of feeding the puppies and international credibility. or weaknesses in this paper. But worth assistance in 27 UNDP- crook of her hips, moving a little from side to side with the lightness of a mothers in imported nighties. Her hands are busy and intent pushing the cradle the mothers who were starting to growl at my closeness to their What is your impression of the king? pendulum. Dodging greedy, street dogs milling around the butchers’ shop. Smiling suspended from a tin ceiling... I hear the familiar Creak! Creak! Creak! The beams However, it was expected of there are exceptions. One such assisted projects in 2002. Nepal at the potbellied shop keeper busy cracking betel nuts while spitting out a flame of in the ceiling sing out in rhythmic protest as the grown up sister of six puts her pups. I had an opportunity to know him when I was with the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC). Nepali media to protect the exception may be the 3 January Standard Chartered Bank red spit on the floor. “Aye, Kanchi wants to marry my son,” the mustachioed sister to sleep. The young lad clearly had to resist the urge to sample the can Chairing its board meetings he used to listen to all, but took decisions himself. He had a “no nonsense” identities of these victims. A issue which has an article on following the government’s neighbourhood drunk, raucously teases her as she hurries home where nightly Kanchi’s mother has stopped making her routine dish washing calls on me and himself. I then donned my rubber gloves and began picking up the attitude and took criticism seriously. I have felt that he doesn’t see democracy as a free-for-all system. He wants trend has been set by the Nepali Sikkim. Written by the editor directives. chores patiently await her little chapped fingers. “C’mon hurry you good for nothing when I meet her occasionally on the temple stairs she smiles awkwardly, bursting things managed. During my last meeting, His Majesty said the invoking of Article 127 of the constitution was a girl,” screams her mother swaying on the doorstep, a heavily pregnant mother of and swelling with her pregnancy, she tells me it’s the... “Lords work,” raising her pups and placing them in my specially equipped side boxes, ready compulsion and that he had not acted unconstitutionally. three who by day sells little amulets and flowers on leaf plates on the portals of eyes towards the sky and confiding... “Didi what to tell you, I have nothing to do in to be whisked away to the SPCA Animal Shelter of Nepal where a the temple where the massive bull Nandi sits towering on a stocky potbelly, this matter, my husband wants a son. Kanchi sits close by looking up with eyes doctor was waiting, but I was suddenly and surprisingly stopped by dolefully gazing down at worshippers tripping past. that are little dream pools of hope suspended... fluttering, waking…dying… I get up to familiar sounds in the morning with the loudest blare imaginable spinning, her fingers hovering over the wilted flowers. a few elderly residents of the neighbourhood. QUOTE OF THE WEEK from my neighbours’ made in China radio churning out latest Hindi film songs very It is early morning and I wake up to an agitated noise and loud shouts from the “What are you doing with those puppies,” asked a woman in close to my ears and the swoosh of onions on frying pans. It’s nine o’clock and street below and get up, leaning over the window to see a small crowd gathered guttural Nepali. Huddled masses every one is hurrying past my door. First comes Santa didi freshly powdered with behind the tea stall. Animated gesticulating and loud shouts from below. Sarita didi If you talk about conduct - political conduct, individual conduct, the conduct of parties, then Luckily, I had brought my friend Prakash from the nearby tea- Birendra Rawal in Himalaya Times , 13 January pink lipstick in a bright green sari, proudly touting her children “Bye bye… going to comes screaming up the stairs spluttering, “Come quick... somebody has thrown a democracy is alive. A question arises when you talk about the workings of the constitution. school” the two heavily oiled students call out to neighbours. Maya auntie my newborn baby in a sack, it’s dead.” “Hare! Shiva! … Bad times are here… Imagine! shop for translation support. I instructed Prakash to tell the rather Kailali – Since the government abolished the bonded labour system nearly three years ago, the ex-kamaiya landlady waddles down the rickety stairs, sighing and loudly blowing her nose at Doing it so close to the temple… may the witch get sores and die...” yells my large and well-dressed woman of our plan: to bring the dogs to the - Chakra Bastola, Nepali Congress leader in Ghatana Ra Bichar, 15 January, 2003. have not been able to enjoy their biggest festival–Maghi. For some, it is a time for merrymaking but for every step, with betel leaf stained teeth, the official commentator of anything landlady spitting arrows of white saliva on the ground below, hitting her palms shelter, get them medical treatment, and then to find good homes others it is a time for more debt and sorrow. While rich Tharu landlords are preparing to spend lavishly on “hanky panky,” that is worth a gossip in the narrow nooks and crannies of the against a leathery forehead and leaning over the railing and directing a “I told you their biggest festival, freed bonded labourers in far west Nepal are struggling to make ends meet. They are neighbourhood, presently on a self imposed exile from things that she deems so” look at the increasing volume of bystanders below and gaping tenants. I look for them where they would live happily ever after. Well, she was concerned that Maghi, the day when kamaiyas traditionally decide which owners they’re going to work for the mundane like, cooking and cleaning. Dedicating herself passionately to match down at a world suddenly turned awry, mad and bewildering. nearly-violently opposed to the idea, as she waved her hands telling rest of the year, is here. making, bhajans and puja (hymns and prayer) and churning out “top of the line” Monsoon has long gone from the valley foraging for victims in stranger places us that while we could bring a vet to the dogs, the dogs were not Despite the abolishment of the kamaiya tradition by the comments on a wide variety of subjects ranging from teenaged pierced falling on unknown tin roofs and courtyards. It’s a sunny Tuesday in the belly buttons, mini skirts and greedy politicians to ongoing scandals going to a vet. government, the tradition of bonded labour is still alive in this part of valley, my neighbours have roused themselves up, down below people and controversies. Maya auntie drops into my squat bundled around teashops, transistors gaily blaring out film songs I had assumed the dogs were stray. After all, I had seen one of Nepal. With the approach of Maghi, many landowners are scouting the room once in awhile on her way to the temple, and business is in full swing with the the puppies just yesterday running in the traffic. She gestured to kamaiya camps in search of bonded labourers. “They’re promising a hastily examines my room, sniffing nosily as if vegetable vendors and flower sellers. It her house, “The puppies belong to us.” Feeling confused and well lighter workload,” says Ananta Chowdhary, a freed kamaiya of Durgauli she were on the look out for condoms and has been many months since I last saw VDC – 9 in Jagatpur. scandals, plomps herself cross-legged in my Kanchi and her mother. I was told in a aware of the Nepali neighborhood-care system of stray animals I Last week, Chaudhary sent his eldest daughter to work as a armchair turning over the pages of a magazine conspiratorial tone by Maya auntie that asked her: “But who exactly is taking care of them, who is feeding dishwasher in a hotel in Tikapur bazaar for a year. With no certainty of and wrinkling her nose at the pictures of actresses Rame dai had taken them back to them, who is keeping them warm?” food, shelter and an education for his children, Chaudhary was in bared midriffs and after a hot cup of chiya (tea) Panchthar, their village in the hills and She replied with a shrug and a gesture that indicated that she compelled to take the step despite being a freed kamaiya. This year, offered out of mere compulsion and habit on my Kanchi’s mother was accused of it’s been harder for the kamaiyas in the camps. If there is no help from part and heartily welcomed with a gracious smile strangling a live baby girl and would would share no more information with this kuire. But I had one by her she continues her pilgrimage. Down support organisations, he’ll have to put his other children to work. serve ten years in a prison in Charkhal more question for her: “And just who is looking after the puppies below in the gates of the temple, Kanchi’s Adda, Dilli Bazar in Kathmandu. She was Tarka Bahadur Sawad of Baliya VDC - 8 is on the lookout for a mother has started cajoling and coaxing pilgrims found inside the temple premises like that one.” I pointed to the rotting corpse of one who had not-so kamaiya to look after his young children at home. The older children hoisting her sari up above her knees and clutching her dazed children close to her recently departed the litter. With that she stomped off. go to school, his wife is busy with home affairs, and he has to look after swearing on the entire pantheon of gods and breasts in a state of delirium, smelling And so did I, puppy-less. I wondered just what I was doing in the business. The family requires house help. As most of the freed goddesses that her flowers come from the like a sutkeri (woman who has just delivered) this country as an unaffiliated aid worker trying to save starving kamaiyas don’t have the basic necessities it’s difficult to talk about their cleanest plots in the valley. raving and ranting at the gods and accusing Rame rights, says social worker Laxman Kunwar. I think Kanchi’s mother exists in a microcosm, daiÖ who always wanted a son swearing on the stony puppies. Once home, for the rest of the afternoon I sat The careless and unplanned manner in which the government wrapped up in a vignette of dreams and idols .that she had not killed the stony idols…. That she contemplating Buddha’s teachings on Idiot Compassion—with an announced that bonded labourers were free has resulted in more personal cravings and a deadly desperation had not killed the baby… she was innocent! emphasis on the idiot part. abject and miserable conditions for the kamaiyas. Previously, the to feed her children, relishing bits and pieces As I write this, I wonder where Kanchi is. She is most of diverse emotions and outbursts of cruelty. Sometimes kamaiya were oppressed by their owners, now they are oppressed by the probably running bare feet along a muddy path with hair she brings radish pickles to me and asks me if I could teach Kanchi streaming in the wind, down to the village school with a book tucked Jigme Gaton is the pen-name of a rarely-employed government. More than 300 freed kamaiyas have been given identity ABCs and sometimes she releases her rage that must be locked up all under her arm. Squatting for hours in a shop handing out betel nuts to Left umbrella: all-party government cards. Says Jokhram Tharu of Narayanpur VDC “Last year various NGOs American “aid” worker in Nepal. Despite his inside and once unlocked flows out lava like seething with fury. She is customers and keeping coins under a mat or sweeping the floors of a big abortive rescue attempt, the Society of the Right umbrella: reinstitute parliament and Ingos helped the kamaiyas celebrate Maghi by providing a pig, a screaming today in the middle of frenzy that her kids do not understand. house and given a square meal in return. Well! Who knows she might still be Wave: right-left extremism goat, rice, lentils, salt and oil to each of the kamaiya camps. This year, “Hurry before I tell your father and he thrashes you and move quickly you… in the streets of Kathmandu, salvaging plastic bags and bottles from under a Prevention to Cruelty–Nepal, SPCAN is making a there’s no sign of them. They must be enjoying their warm houses and lazy girl,” she lashes out stinging her poor daughter into instant action. Kanchi pile of rubble by day and by night humming lullabies and gently patting her difference to help people and animals who suffer Robin Sayami in Himal Khabarpatrika, 15-29 January, 2003. big cars at our cost.” runs into the hut and starts vigorously pulling the strings of the straw cradle sisters to sleep while Rame dai looks on nonchalantly... letting life slide by… needlessly everyday. [email protected] wherein lies her sister cuddled up in the warmth of tattered rags, faintly smelling noisily sucking at a Khukhuri brand cigarette and flicking ashes on the ground. 14 CITY 17 - 23 JANUARY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #128 GAMES 17 - 23 JANUARY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #128 15 BOOKWORM played well against all opponents Janakpur during the Panchayat and was the highest-ranked woman days, recalls organiser Visma Ethnic Conflict & Secessionism in South & Southeast Asia Editors Rajat Ganguly and Ian in the tournament, eventually Jwalananda Rajopadhyaya. But Macduff winning the Bronze Tiger. Silver since then there have been no Sage Publications, 2003 was won by newcomer Martin concerted efforts to revive this Rs 792 Bagchal in theAn ancient AlpsNepali Moser of Bern who played an ancient game. Legend has it that The flaws and contradictions in the process of post-colonial nation building in many countries of excellent game against Daenu none other than Gautam Buddha South and Southeast Asia have been highlighted by the intractable and continuing phenomenon of board game enjoys a Wyss, which ended in a stalemate himself was a baghchal fan. The ethnic conflict. This volume incisively analyses six such ethnic conflicts in the region in order to revival in Switzerland. after 10 minutes. Due to time game has a strategy similar to chess understand not only the internal destabilisation and havoc that they have created, but also their dynamics and limitations, Crazy David was and drought. There are 25 spaces ABOUT TOWN wider impact. forced to determine a winner by on a baghchal grid connected coin toss, which Martin lost. diagonally or on a straight line. Jihadis in Jammu and Kashmir: A Portrait Gallery K. Santhanam, Sreedhar, Sudhir Saxena There was even a Green These are the only valid lines of FESTIVAL AND EXHIBITIONS Trophy for the worst player, 15- movement the challengers may take. Paintings by Stina Haldorsen at Siddhartha Art Gallery. 11AM-6PM from 10-19 January. 411122 and Manish Sage Publications, 2003 year- old Samuel from Wallis in The bagh attempt to leap over and southern Switzerland. Plans are devour lonely, unprotected bakhri. EVENTSEVENTSEVENTS Rs 608 India’s relentless fight against cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir is well known. already afoot for the next Baghchal The bakhri find their strength in CAN Info Tech 2003 Experts, professionals, buyers, sellers, manufacturers and suppliers provide a Tournament which will be held in numbers. They throng together, forum for networking and exchange of ideas in Information Technology. Technical seminars and However, what is not so well know is the pattern of terrorist activity and the tactics of the pebbles as bakhri (goats). In Nepal, May in the Bernese Oberland. “I attempting to surround the bagh

workshops. 23-28 January 2003 at Birendra International Convention Centre, New Baneswore. Book in different tanzeems or organizations, particularly during the troubled decades from 1980 to 2000. baghchal is played much the same ○○○○○○○○○○

SRADDHA○○○○○○ BASNYAT love this game and the way it and limit their movement. Just like advance: www.can.org.np Part One deals briefly with the origins of the Kashmir dispute. Part Two is a handy reference with portraits of 31 way it has been for centuries: school rom the Himalaya to the Alps, children scribble a board on paper brings people together,” Crazy real wild tigers in the tarai, Au Coeur du Mensonge Showing at Alliance Francaise, 2PM Sunday January 19. Free. Moliere tanzeenms. Auditorium, Alliance Francaise, Thapathali. 241163 baghchal has now traversed during breaks or we find grids David told us. baghchal tigers are constantly on Weekly dialogues on life and living and borrowing of books/audio tapes at K Study Centre, F the continents with the First and organised the tournament in an etched into dirt patches. Today, the Back in the land of its origin, the prowl for food. If the goats are Vishnu on Freud’s Desk Editors T.G. Vaidyanathan and Jeffrey J. Kripal Swiss Bagh Chal Tournament held old church in the Swiss capital. baghchal grid is carved into a baghchal is in slow but steady not clever, they make an easy meal Swoyambhu, open 2PM-6PM every Saturday. Contact Kumar at 279712. Oxford University Press, 2002 Monks from Lo Manthang to Create and Destroy Sacred Sand Mandala. The in Bern last week where 200 Bagchal is thought to have been wooden or brass game box to sell decline. A tournament was held in for the hungry felines. sand mandala brings benefits not only to the makers, but also to the donors Rs 552 participants battled it out for the discovered by Himalayan herders, to tourists. and viewers, 17-19 January, Hotel Ambassador, Lazimpat. No admission, but Freudian psychoanalysis, commonly critiqued for being rooted in a male-centric, Central European Bronze Tiger Trophy. whose occupation the game mimics. At the Bern tournament last donations accepted. 410089 ethos, has surprisingly been an extremely fertile ground for the study of the Indian psyche. This The tournament was organised Shepherds spent many hours week, Raya Gurung from Gorkha volume brings together a rich variety of classical and contemporary writings in aspects of Hindu by “Crazy” David Levine, who playing baghchal on a grid scraped advanced to the semifinals with MUSICMUSICMUSIC culture, and places these within the frames of understanding of psychoanalysis. became a baghchal aficionado after a into the dirt, using larger stones to brilliant moves only to be beaten by Live music by Catch 22, Friday nights at the 40,000 ½ ft Bar, Rum Doodle Restaurant, Thamel. visit to Nepal. He sells baghchal sets represent bagh (tigers) and smaller his Swiss wife, Ruth Kaeser. Ruth 414336 Courtesy: Mandala Book Point, Kantipath, 227711, [email protected] Rusty Nails presents their blues, jazz and beyond, 7.30PM every Friday at The Fusion, Dwarika’s Hotel, Battisputali. 479488. CLASSIFIED Sur Sudha and friends performs “Shukrabar” at Patan Museum, Patan Durbar Square,

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ How to play Baghchal 5 PM onwards 17 January. Rs 350 (Rs 600 with “Shukrabar” CD) Visit Ground Zero Fine wines, designer candles, To Let Fully furnished apartment in Cadenza Collective Live, 17 January 7.30PM onwards. Entrance Rs 300 inclusive of welcome drink. cards, exclusive Nepali paper products, silver jewellery, Jawalakhel, near zoo. 3 bedrooms, 2 Requirements: Specially discounted menu at the Jazz Bar Shangrila Hotel, Lazimpat. Contact Aishwarya.412999 wooden items, perfumes and more. Darbar Marg, bathrooms, spacious living, dining, modern A family of 4 Tigers (bagh) and a herd of 20 Goats (bakhri) opposite Hotel de l’Annapurna kitchen, individual telephone, terrace The game board is a 25-point grid DRINKSDRINKSDRINKS overlooking English garden with tall trees in Positions.... Kiwi Sensations Cocktails, mocktails & desserts made with organic Kiwis 11AM till midnight daily at Anokhi Newly opened home store for bedcovers, quiet surrounding. Contact: 524389 Baghchal is a challenge between predator and prey: The Piano Lounge and Bar, Hotel Yak & Yeti. 248999 ext 2865 curtains, cushion covers, salwar kameez and more The Tigers assume their positions, one prowling on each corner of the board. Paddy Foley’s Irish Pub A wide range of drinks and food. Live music on Wednesday, Thursday and from Jaipur, Rajasthan. Kupondole, opposite Hotel For Sale Toyota Starlet Station wagon, One Goat appears in the distance, cautiously occupying a vacant space on the Sunday nights. 416096. Himalaya 1984. Owned by foreigner. Very good board. Following the placement of each Goat, a Tiger stalks along the line of condition. Regular maintenance. Checked movement. Rang Mahal Buy one drink and get one free from the house of Seagrams and Carlsberg Beer. Dinner Note: All twenty Goats must first appear before any may move from its position. and performances by Kathmandu’s top dancers. 7-10 PM, Hotel Vaishali. 413968/ 423878 Naked Chef Room, dinner, breakfast, transport by mechanic. Seat belts, repainted. Duty package programme NRs 1170 or US $15.for Nepalis paid. $4000/ Rs.316,000. Contact: 372174, The objective is SURVIVAL! FOODFOOD To satisfy their hunger, the Tigers must “eat” a total of five Goats. Leaping over a FOODFOODFOOD & Expats. Tel: 413628/ 680006 mornings only. Goat, the Tiger devours its prey. (A variation to the game may be played where the Tigers eat all the Goats.) The greenest patch Weekend lunches in the oldest and largest garden in Nagarkot at The Fort Resort, To protect themselves, Goats throng together, surrounding the Tigers and limiting their movement. [email protected]. 226799 For insertions ring NT Marketing at 543333-36. Tigers win when five Goats are “eaten.” Goats win when all Tigers are surrounded, unable to leap over and eat the Goats or make regular Oriental Express From the fragrant spice coast of Southeast Asia...Fiery Thai Cuisine to subtle movements. Japanese. Wednesday nights at The Sunrise Café, Hotel Yak & Yeti. 248999 Prowl or Press? Patan Museum Café Mixed menu, garden seating. Lunch only, 11AM-2PM. 25 percent off with Summit One Tiger is on the prowl at a time, moving from one space to an adjacent space along a connecting line. To get one’s Goat, the Tiger leaps over Card. 526271 an unprotected Goat along a line of movement on to an open space. The devoured Goat is removed from the board. Rox Restaurant Enjoy Italian cuisine for lunch on Sundays with a wide selection of antipasti, main Once all Goats have appeared on the field, one Goat per turn moves to an adjacent space along a line of movement. Tigers cannot leap over more course, varieties of pizzas and a dessert buffet at Hyatt Regency, Kathmandu. 491234 than one Goat so Goats must press together to protect themselves. ìGhost Goatsî ìCircle of Deathî Note: Tigers cannot leap over Tigers or around corners and Goats cannot jump at all. Taste of Beijing Roast duck and other Chinese meat, fish and vegetarian delicacies. Beijing Roast Life in the jungle continues, alternating moves between Tiger and Goat... Duck Restaurant, Birendra International Convention Centre. 468589 Traditional Newari and Nepali Cuisine 6 to 20 course meals at Krishnarpan Restaurant. Lunch and Strategies ìGhost Goatsî : Goats can have the Tigers by their tails, without physically dinner. Reservations recommended. 479488 extn: 230 occupying a space, restricting the Tigers’ movements. Tukche Thakali Kitchen Buckwheat, barley, bean, and dried meat specialities. Also brunch with ìCircle of Deathî : To lure the Goats into their grasp, Tigers cordon the Goats, porridge and pancakes, all raw material from Tukche village. Darbar Marg. Rahul Khanna, Lisa Ray, Moushami Chaterjee, leaving two vacant spaces in front of each Tiger. Vegetarian specialities and clay oven pizza at Stupa View Restaurant & Terrace, Boudha. 480262 Dina Pathak, Ranjit Chowdhary star in Deepa Wood fired pizzas, cocktails and coffee at the Roadhouse Café, Thamel. Mehta’s comedy debut. The movie follows the Bollywood “clash of civilisations” genre of which this year’s GETAWAYS low-budget hit, My Big Fat Greek Wedding is Tea House Combo Room, breakfast, Nepali thali dinner, swimming, jacuzzi. Rs 700 per head on twin one. When people from a culture largely Hollywood sharing for Nepalis and expats, Tea House Inn, Nagarkot. 410432 defined by Bollywood find themselves in an Birdwatching, short hikes at Bandipur. Rs 1,850 per person with dinner and breakfast, Rs 925 per environment that is saturated with Hollywood, child 5-14 years Shivapuri Heights Cottage, [email protected], 370616 the result is a state of mind that celebrates these The Secret of Kathmandu Package Local residents buy one night for $99.00 plus tax and get the two seemingly disparate worlds. A “Bollywood/ second night at 50%, single/double at Dwarika’s Hotel. 479488 Hollywood” state of mind. The film Bollywood/ The Great Godavari Getaway Special weekend packages including room with breakfast and dinner, 25 Hollywood is a madcap love-song to both East JAI NEPAL CINEMA percent discount on health club facilities. Godavari Village Resort. 560675 and West with Bollywood music, Hollywood Writing Retreat Full board package. Aesthetic living, innovative thinking, creative writing and nature at choreography, North American locations. And 12PM, 3PM, 6PM Park Village Resort, Budhanilkantha. 375280 the Actors? Bollywood’s best! Telephone booking: 442220 Bardia Bonkers Freshwater dolphins, giant tigers, elephants, safaris, rafting, evening cocktails, From Friday, 10 January onwards. Online booking www.jainepal.com traditional food. [email protected]. Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge Rs 2750 per person per night (Tax included) for accommodation, meals, arrival and departure transfers from Bijaypur, walks, bar snacks and swimming. 01-361500 on FM 102.4 For inclusion in the listing send information to [email protected] Mon-Fri 0615-0645 BBC World Today Sat 0615-0645 BBC Reporting Religion NEPALI WEATHER by NGAMINDRA DAHAL Sun 0615-0645 BBC Agenda VIS -15 -01-2003 06:00 GMT Those expecting an end to the devastating fog in the tarai will be disappointed to learn that it will persist at Daily 2045-2115 BBC g]kfnL ;]]]jf least till the weekend. As can be clearly seen in this g]kfnL ;]]]jf satellite picture taken Wednesday morning, the fog Daily 2245-2300 BBC blankets the entire Indo-Gangetic plains from Lahore to Guwahati. The only hope lies in a weakening of the high- Sun-Fri 0740- 0800 Ps}}}l5g\\\ -/]]]l8of]]] klqsf_ pressure zone over Tibet that is drawing icy Siberian winds Sun-Fri 0800- 0830 8anL8anL8anL -ljifout-ljifout-ljifout cGt/lqmof_cGt/lqmof_cGt/lqmof_ from the north into South Asia. A fresh westerly front is emerging in Afghanistan and may enter western Nepal by Sun-Fri 2000- 2030 cfhsf s'''''/f -;d;fdlos ljifodf ax;_ Friday. That could see the end of the fog, but not the zflGt cleofg haze. Expect some light snow over the high mountains Sat 0800- 0830 this weekend, isolated drizzles across the midhills. Sat 1930- 2000 cfrf/ ljrf/ -e||||i6frf/lj?4 ;xsfo{_{_{_ Morning frost and fog in Kathmandu valley. s"6gLlts d~r KATHMANDU VALLEY Sat 2000- 2030 Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Radio Sagarmatha P.O. Box 6958, Bakhundole, Lalitpur, Nepal Tel: ++977-1-545680, 545681, Fax: ++ 977-1- 530227 /]l8of ] ;u/dfyf 18-00 17-02 16-01 18-00 18-00 E-mail: [email protected], www.radiosagarmatha.org 16 17 - 23 JANUARY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #128 Vijay Kumar’s makeover

hat does it take for out the goodness in me. I his daughter, wife and Nepal’s formerly thinkAngel I have become less himself.time Vijay has partnered W most-arrogant arrogant, less of a hypocrite with Siddharth S Rana of the journalist to suddenly go soft and I think I am a genuinely Soaltee Group to set up SS&V, on us? Those who knew Vijay better person. Earlier, my and it aims to produce news Kumar Panday 15 years ago ambition was to become and current affairs for some of will wonder when they meet fantastically famous the four new television him today where that fantastically fast. Now, I just channels starting out in legendary swagger and want to be a good human Kathmandu this year. He haughty disdain have gone. being.” reasons: “The tv market has Partly it is spiritualism. Easier said than done, but opened up, and people are Vijay has now become a this fellow mellows with age. looking for sharp, incisive devotee of Sai Baba and the He has now launched Sara, and independent content.” Buddhist guru, Choikinima Sarans & Vijay, a television But promise not to chew Rimpoche which has production house named after people alive anymore? transformed his personality. “You may find it hard to believe,” Vijay tells us, “but I was always an introverted person. I used my brashness to mask my shyness.” Still, who can forget his combative and blunt questioning of Amitabh Bachhan and some senior Indian ministers in the early 90s? Thanks to these high- profile television interviews in the pre-cable age, Vijay Kumar developed a reputation for being an interviewer who would chew people alive in the studio. Even senior political figures thought twice before agreeing to appear on his shows. But watching him these days on his Monday night show, Dishanirdesh on Nepal Television, Vijay Kumar looks like he has reincarnated from a carnivore into a herbivore. “What my gurus did was point

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