With New Map Passed, Oli Braces Once Again for Challenges from Within the Party

WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 115 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 35.3 C 13.5 C Friday, June 19, 2020 | 05-03-2077 Nepalgunj Jomsom With new map passed, Oli braces once again for challenges from within the party Party leaders had rallied behind Oli to present a united front in the border dispute with India, but they say their patience is fast running out.

TIKA R PRADHAN University’s Institute of Medicine, KATHMANDU, JUNE 18 despite Shah being much lower on the seniority list for the position. The The release of a new political and decision prompted criticism from administrative map that includes ter- party leaders, who said only Oli’s con- ritories contested by India had bought fidantes get the appointments even if Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli some they were not capable, said Bhandari. time. But now that the map has been In anticipation of criticism, Oli has endorsed by both Houses of also been escaping party meetings, say Parliament and by President Bidya leaders. Despite around 20 Standing Devi Bhandari, in-fighting within the Committee members, on April 22, ruling Nepal Communist Party is like- making a written demand for a meet- ly to resurface, especially since Oli, ing, Oli has managed to put it off at who is also a party chair, has yet to least three times. He even called off mend his ways, say party leaders. the secretariat meeting twice recently. “Oli has been avoiding party meet- POST PHOTO: KABIN ADHIKARI ings because he cannot face party Land plotting near Chobhar, Kathmandu. Open spaces in the Valley are shrinking due to rapid urbanisation as real estate becomes a primary business in cities and urban centres. leaders,” Nepal Communist Party (NCP) lawmaker Ram Kumari Jhakri told the Post. A standing committee meeting has been called for June 23, but Jhakri does not believe it will take place President approves second Diplomatic talks with India unlikely either. “If a standing committee meeting was held, leaders would question Oli on many issues, including the poor amendment to constitution in the aftermath of India-China clash performance of the government in its response to Covid-19.” Oli only has 13 members on his side Through Parliament and with the President’s With India’s attention focused on China following a deadly altercation in the 44-member standing committee. at the border, boundary talks with Nepal unlikely soon, analysts say. They include Bishnu Rimal, Subah seal, the new political map is now officially RSS Nembang, Satya Narayan Mandal, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli Raghubir Mahaseth, Prithvi Subba part of the charter and the national emblem. believe that India will likely focus all of its Gurung, Kiran Gurung, Shankar attention on first settling the dispute with Party leaders and even the opposi- Pokhrel, Pradeep Gyawali and BINOD GHIMIRE China, which will lead to Nepal’s demands for tion parties had all rallied behind Oli Chhabilal Bishwokarma, General KATHMANDU, JUNE 18 talks falling by the wayside. in the wake of a border dispute with Secretary Bishnu Poudel, Home Nepal has been asking for talks to resolve India over Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, and The second amendment to the Constitution of Nepal received boundary issues ever since India released a and Kalapani. The fiasco culminated Deputy Prime Minister Ishwar the presidential seal on Thursday evening, completing the new political map in November showing in the release of a new map and its Pokhrel. entire process to update the country’s new map on the national Kalapani as part of its territory. Again, in early subsequent incorporation into the The ruling party is also divided emblem. May, India opened a link road via Lipulekh, constitution on Thursday. over the US-led Millennium Challenge The Parliament Secretariat forwarded the constitution leading Nepal to issue a map of its own that Politicians had refrained from Corporation, which is once again in amendment bill to President Bidya Devi Bhandari a few hours includes Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and speaking out against Oli and his gov- the headlines for its alleged military after the National Assembly endorsed it through a unanimous Kalapani, all territories contested by India. ernment in a bid to present a unified links to Washington. In the nine-mem- vote on Thursday. After Nepal’s House of Representatives front to India but with the map passed ber party secretariat, Oli has Pokhrel, “The amendment bill has been authenticated by the President passed an amendment to the constitution to and India occupied with China after a Poudel and Thapa on his side. But as per Article 274 (10) of the Constitution of Nepal,” read a formally induct the new map into the national violent clash that led to at least 20 Thapa is not likely to support him on statement by Hari Prasad Dahal, spokesperson for the emblem, India had “noted” developments and Indian deaths, party leaders have the MCC. Most opponents to the MCC President’s office. POST PHOTO: ELITE JOSHI pressed its own claim. Even as tensions were begun to reassert themselves. are former Maoists, including Thapa. The bill to amend the constitution to update the new map, A call for peace in the region during a demonstration rising between Nepal and India, the violent “The prime minister has again “As a member of Oli’s cabinet, which depicts Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani within in Kathmandu on Thursday. clash in eastern Ladakh took place on Monday. resumed his habit of running the gov- Thapa has to support Oli on issues the Nepali territory, was tabled at the Upper House on >> Continued on page 5 ernment unilaterally,” said Hemraj related to the government, but he Sunday, a day after the House of Representatives unanimously ANIL GIRI Bhandari, a central committee mem- won’t be part of the MCC,” said endorsed it. KATHMANDU, JUNE 18 ber. “Leaders have not been speaking Maheswor Dahal, a central committee All 57 voting members of the Assembly voted for the bill. The out because of the map but their member who is close to Thapa. 59-member strong National Assembly is currently one member Days after a fatal clash between Indian and patience is running out.” According to Dahal, who is also a short. Chairperson Ganesh Timilsina did not participate in the Chinese troops in the disputed Galwan Valley After scathing criticism from party former Maoist, Oli and his advisor voting as his vote is required only when there is a tie. left at least 20 Indian soldiers dead, the world members of his unilateral ways, Oli, Bishnu Rimal have come out heavily “As many as 57 members voted for the bill,” announced continues to closely follow developments. Nepal in the secretariat meeting held in in favour of the MCC—the only Timilsina. “There was no voting against the bill and none of has significant interests of its own in a peace- April, had pledged to run the govern- remaining crucial agenda after the the members voted for the neutral category as well.” ful diplomatic solution to the tensions, but it ment in consultation with the party. government’s policies and pro- As per Article 274 (8), any amendment to the constitution also has its own border disputes with India and But recent decisions show that old grammes, budget and the map, which requires the approval of two-thirds members of both chambers. any hope of resolving the issue early through habits die hard. have all been resolved. But Oli is in The bill had received 258 votes in the House, with no lawmak- diplomatic talks might just have vanished, say On Tuesday, Dr Dibya Singh Shah, the minority in most party commit- ers voting against it. analysts. Oli’s personal physician, was appoint- tees and will see opposition. >> Continued on page 5 Strategic experts and former ministers ed the dean of the Tribhuvan >> Continued on page 5

C M Y K FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2020 | 02 MEDLEY

Inside the Post Quote of the day

Diplomatic talks with India unlikely in the aftermath of India-China clash, National Page 1 As a number of projects planned under government-to-government deals have sparked controversy in Nepal over their transparency, a government committee has recommended that Germany’s Munich Airport not be appointed as the oper- “India will probably not conduct ator of Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa. diplomatic talks with Nepal while Opinion scuffling with China over a With cases continuing to rise every day, it’s obvious that we haven’t reached the territorial dispute.” peak of the pandemic yet, but Covid-19 and its multiplying effects have already pushed a large number of people into hunger and poverty in Nepal as measures Geja Sharma Wagle, a strategic analysts, on the prospect of talks to fight the crisis restricted movement and incomes. between Nepal and India to resolve the boundary dispute. Money The lab at the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetable Market has restarted rapid bioassay testing of pesticide residue on vegetables and fruits. With the government changing the modality of lockdown and easing the lockdown last week, the decision to Most read online reopen the lab was made on Sunday.

World Politicians and analysts in Nepal await developments as India-China clash threatens regional security Early optimism that South Asia might have dodged the worst ravages of the coronavirus pandemic has disappeared as soaring infection rates turn the dense- A violent clash on Monday between Indian and Chinese armies in the disputed ly populated region into a global hot spot. Galwan Valley resulted in the death of at least 20 Indian soldiers and an unknown number on the Chinese side has sent shock waves across the globe. All of South Asia, and Nepal especially, is watching with bated breath for develop- Food & Travel ments regarding the first casualties on the India-China border in 45 years. For many, food is something that connects two people. But there are some historical food practices that have been used as tools for social exclusion. Unable to collect taxes, the government is going broke The national treasury is fast emptying and with few means of raising taxes and supplementing income, the government could soon be unable to pay employee salaries, social security allowance, pensions and bills from contractors and sup- News Quiz pliers, according to Finance Ministry officials.

1. Residents of which municipali- consideration in Parliament for Kathmandu cabbies hit by government decision to ty in Doti have demanded coro- around how many years? ease lockdown for private vehicles navirus tests after 15 individu- a. One POST PHOTO KABIN ADHIKARI Thirty-seven-year-old Hema Ghesing is a single woman who drives a taxi in als who had recently returned b. Three A porter transports fruit crates at a market in Kuleshwor, Kathmandu, on Thursday. Kathmandu to support her three children. On Tuesday, she took out her taxi home from quarantine tested c. Five from her Shantinagar apartment to transport food items to her landlord’s son in positive for the virus? d. Two Jadibuti. It was her first time taking out her taxi after 82 days of nationwide a. Dipayal Silgadhi Municipality lockdown that started on March 24. While returning from her trip, Ghesing was b. Shikhar Municipality 5. A clash occurred between the On this day in history stopped by traffic police officers in Koteshwor. c. Purbichauki Rural Municipality armed forces of India and d. Badikedar Rural Municipality which other country that resulted in at least 20 deaths? Iraq hangs 150 rebel soldiers Discharged Covid-19 infected individuals return 2. According to the Finance a. China Ministry, the government has so b Pakistan NICOSIA - Iraqi authorities have executed 150 soldiers who took part in an abor- to their villages only to be shunned far collected how much reve- c. Bangladesh tive mutiny against President Saddam Hussein on the outskirts of Baghdad, Dinesh Dhobi, a daily wage worker in Mumbai, India, lost his job amid the nue? d. Sri Lanka reliable Iraqi sources told APP Sunday. Covid-19 pandemic and had to return home recently. Upon his return to the a. Rs 692 billion Hundreds of relatives of the rebel soldiers of the Republican Guard’s 14 July country, he tested positive for the virus and was placed in an isolation ward in b. Rs 175 billion 6. The government has increased battalion have also been arrested, the sources said. Kohalpur. However, in the two weeks that he spent at the ward, he did not show c. Rs 889 billion the minimum support price for Forces loyal to Saddam crushed the mutiny led by General Turki IsmaiI al-Du- any symptoms of the disease, so authorities sent him home. d. Rs 920 billion paddy by an average of what laimi a day after it broke out Wednesday in Abu Gharib, west of Baghdad. percentage? The 150 soldiers were executed in Abu Gharib immediately after the revolt 3. When did the government a. 5 was quelled, the sources said. Other rebel soldiers were imprisoned while some impose a nationwide lockdown b. 10 managed to flee. Corrections to prevent the spread of corona- c. 8 virus? d. 12 The Kathmandu Post Our reporters and editors do their best to make sure our reporting is free from a. February 24 June 19, 1995 errors. But when we make mistakes that warrant correction, we will be transparent b. April 24 and clarify at the bottom of the specific article. c. March 24 If you believe we have got something wrong and it requires correction, please d. January 24 email us at [email protected] with “correction” in the subject line. Answers to News Quiz: 1(b), 2(a), 3(c), 4(d), 5(a), 6(c) For the most recent corrections, visit kathmandupost.com/corrections. 4. The amendment bill on the

Citizenship Act has been under POST PHOTO HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) CANCER (June 22-July 22) LIBRA (September 23-October 22) CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) *** *** **** **** Just because your phone hasn’t been ringing off The silent treatment will not get you anywhere It’s not universally true that opposites attract, Today, someone’s brilliant one-liner will do the hook doesn’t mean that people don’t want to today, so if you’re using that tactic you’d better but you’ve been noticing some hot magnetic more than tickle your funny bone:Few people connect with you. They are probably just wait- come up with something else. Hey, here’s energy between two very different people in realize how having fun can lead to having a ing for you to make the first move -- and are you a crazy idea— how about talking it out? It can be your life. You are in a position to put them in romance, although you have always understood sure you even want to, right now? Sure, your hard to start the conversation, but it won’t be the same room together. Are you up for the the connection, haven’t you? Your ideal mate is social life may be throttling down lately, but that hard to continue it once you know you are being matchmaking task? Follow your gut, and if more likely to be someone who makes you smile can be a very good thing. heard. you’re ready to connect these hot dots, do it! than someone who makes you swoon.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) LEO (July 23-August 22) SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** ** ** *** New beginnings are not always marked by com- Someone who’s been at the edge of your radar The confusing behavior of someone you are You may think that you are judged by the compa- mencement ceremonies or starting pistols. All for a very long time will suddenly move to the just getting to know is becoming frustrating -- ny you keep, but that is not necessarily true. it takes to branch out in a new direction or get center of your field of vision today. If you give today it might be time to push things all the Don’t worry about people making assumptions that side project finally off the ground is you! them a chance to make their case, they just way . Taking an unexpected action could throw about who you are based on who you are with— Stop waiting for the green light—there isn’t might. They are ready to prove to you that what this person for a loop, but it’s nothing com- your true personality is too potent to camou- going to be one. Right now, you need to move they have to offer isn’t a correction—it’s a sug- pared to the uncertainty they have been put- flage, and will shine brightly through boring forward on your own. gestion. ting you through meetings, and meaningless small talk.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) VIRGO (August 23-September 22) SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) PISCES (February 19-March 20) **** **** *** ** Good things come to those who wait—so if you As your social life starts heating up again, be While you may want to work diligently through From time to time, you go through what could be have been waiting for a time when things might sure to dedicate some of your outings to cultur- your day today, your mind is on other things. called a ‘velcro phase’, when you feel a strong free up a bit, today just might be the day! al events. Sushi restaurants and even foreign You will have a difficult time staying on track. need to stay close—physically and emotionally Get ready for some last minute cancellations on films will make a welcome break. Plus, they will Whether it’s an unexpectedly beautiful day, or —to the people you love the most. But right now, some meetings or dates—and line up some expose you to some very interesting and attrac- just your own short attention span that causes you could be moving away from that, detaching backup plans so you can make use of the extra tive people. Stimulating your mind by trying your frequent detours, you won’t really mind yourself from folks and going off on your own time. something new will earn you respect. the disruption in your routine. for a while.

CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K 03 | FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2020 NATIONAL Kathmandu plans to build hall at expense of open space in heart of city Urban planners and heritage conservationists criticise it and say such concrete structures should not be built on the last remaining open spaces in the city. ANUP OJHA sy over several projects including the KATHMANDU, JUNE 18 reconstruction of Rani Pokhari, recently criticised a civil society-or- At a time when Kathmandu’s open ganised and citizen-led movement to spaces are shrinking due to rapid con- safeguard open spaces in the city as struction of concrete structures, publicity stunt of some politically Kathmandu Metropolitan City has motivated people. announced plans to build a “mega Ganapati Lal Shrestha, one of the hall” in Bhrikutimandap. youth activists behind the ‘Occupy Urban planners and heritage con- Tundikhel’ campaign, the city’s deci- servationists say that such structures sion defies logic. “Instead of preserv- should not be constructed on the only ing open spaces, the city has been remaining open spaces in the city. destroying them. Now it plans to build “This is the only breathing space in a hall at the time of the coronavirus Kathmandu, and what the city is plan- pandemic,” said Shrestha. ning does not make any sense,” said According to geographer, Pitamber urban planner Suman Maher Sharma, only around 0.4 percent of Shrestha. “ This space has its own the land area in the city is reserved for value for everyone, especially during open spaces, increasingly under the time of a crisis,” said Shrestha. encroachment from various bodies. Bhrikutimandap is the only remain- The open space at Purano Buspark ing open space in the heart of has been occupied to build a view Kathmandu, after Tundikhel and tower after the city awarded the con- POST PHOTO: HEMANTA SHRESTHA Khula Manch, which have already tract to Jaleswar Swachhanda Bkoi Reconstruction of a temple underway in Teku, Kathmandu. Works have begun after the government relaxed measures enforced to contain the Covid-19 contagion been encroached upon. It is also one of Builders. But the contractor has been early this week. the 800 locations identified by the unable to carry out significant work. Kathmandu Valley Development Similarly, over fifty percent of the Authority as open spaces people can land belonging to the historic Khulla go to during the time of disasters such Manch has been encroached upon for as an earthquake. over four years. But the city hasn’t According to plans announced by done anything to preserve it. Mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya, the hall “We protested so much to return the Rapid test kits procured by Omni only will spread over 26.6 acre of land, will encroached land in Tundikhel to the have six meeting rooms each to accom- public, but city officials showed their modate 200 people each, three confer- indifference towards our demand to ence halls for 450 people each and an preserve open spaces,” said Ganapati auditorium that can host 3,000 people. Lal Shrestha. accurate 50 percent of the time: Report Similarly, parking space for 1,000 cars The city office has allocated Rs 120 will also be available. million for the project. Campaigners The hall will also feature a green accuse the city of coming up with the Health Research Council notified the Health Ministry about its findings in May but rapid tests have continued regardless. room, food court, restaurants and an plan for Bhrikutimandap just to exhibition hall. “spend money” without any sense of ARJUN POUDEL Ministry in May, laboratory officials tine after only being tasted with RDTs 233,546 rapid tests have been conduct- Saroj Basnet, vice-chairman at the purpose. They also say that if the KATHMANDU, JUNE 18 say that the ministry held the report and 50 percent of them could’ve had ed across the country so far. These city’s Urban Planning Commission, Mayor really wants to build a hall, it for a month and a half while continu- false results, said the official. tests now include kits procured from said not all of the land will be used for can be built somewhere else. The 75,000 rapid diagnostic kits ing to employ RDTs for diagnostic According to Dr Harischandra other companies, not just Wondfo. the hall. He said 60 percent of the “This could be a good concept as procured by the government purposes. Uprety, former director of the National According to Health Ministry offi- space will be allocated for garden, and Kathmandu does not have a place to through Omni Business Corporate Rapid SARS-CoV-2 antibody test Public Health Laboratory, the chances cials, 226,000 kits were purchased from the hall will be built on the remaining host big conferences. But officials International are only able to detect kits developed by Guangzhou Wondfo of the coronavirus spreading in the Beijing Lepu Medical Technologies 40 percent. Basnet said Mayor Bidya could have looked for other places, the presence of the coronavirus anti- Biotech were procured by the Health community will only increase if Nepal and these are the ones that are cur- Sundar Shakya has taken up the hall because Bhrikutimandap is the only bodies 50 percent of the time, accord- Ministry via Omni Business Corporate continues to rely solely on substand- rently in use. as his “dream project”. encroached open space in the city ing to a report by the National Health International in late March for around ard RDTs. But they are even more problemat- Shakya, who has courted controver- right now,” said planner Shrestha. Research Council. $10 million. The procurement process “Use of rapid diagnostic tests in ic, said a Health Ministry official. “Compared to the reference stand- had landed in controversy when ques- case detection was a serious blunder,” “We cannot say it publicly, but the ard (RT-PCR), the sensitivities of the tions were raised over the quality of Upreti told the Post. “I still don’t rapid diagnostic test kits being used Wondfo Kits were 50 percent, and the the medical equipment and allega- understand what message the Health throughout the country now are even specificities were 99.5 percent,” said tions of corruption. The ministry had Ministry wants to convey by continu- more substandard than the ones Omni the report, submitted to the Health cancelled the procurement tender ing to use test kits that give false and bought,” an official at the ministry Ministry in May but only released to but since 75,000 RDTs had already misleading results.” told the Post. the public in mid-June. arrived, it decided to make use of According to the National Health Thousands of people have been Sensitivity is the ability of a test to them regardless. Research Council report, the Indian released from quarantine on the basis accurately detect those with the dis- The ministry had said that it will Council of Medical Research had of rapid diagnostic tests and many ease or antibody in question while only use the test kits if they prove returned Wondfo test kits after they have later tested positive on polymer- specificity is its ability to accurately reliable, and had tasked the Nepal showed variation in sensitivity in var- ase chain reaction tests. Some people identify those without the disease or Health Research Council with carry- ious Indian states. Health officials have even died on the way home. antibody. In this case, the Wondfo kits ing out the validity test. However, the from Britain had also said that the The health research council, in its were able to correctly identify nega- ministry rolled out those test kits Wondfo rapid diagnostic test kits were report, recommends that the govern- tive cases 99.5 percent of the time but throughout the country at once with- not effective or accurate. ment stringently evaluate the validity only able to identify positive cases 50 out waiting for the report. Wondfo itself had reportedly told of the rapid test kits they are using for percent of the time, when compared In early April, the National Public the Chinese newspaper Global mass screening. against the more accurate real-time Health Ministry submitted a prelimi- Times that their “product was intend- “Accurate diagnosis of people polymerase chain reaction (PCR) nary report based on just four samples ed only as a supplement for patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2 is essen- tests. from patients with Covid-19. Even in who had already tested positive for the tial to control the global spread of The report is based on tests per- those four positive samples, two had virus,” according to the New York Covid-19,” the report stated. formed by the council in April on 200 shown a false result. The ministry, Times. “The existing clinical accuracy individuals from Sudurpaschim however, had pushed through with The World Health Organization cur- of rapid tests still needs to be strin- Province, which has a high concentra- RDTs as a diagnostic tool. rently does not recommend the use of gently evaluated before they are POST FILE PHOTO tion of Covid-19 cases. Although the This means that thousands of peo- rapid diagnostic tests for patient care. authorised for the mass screening of An exhibition at Bhrikutimandap. Urban planners and heritage conservationists say such report was submitted to the Health ple have been sent home from quaran- According to the Health Ministry, Covid-19.” structures should not be constructed on the only remaining open spaces in Kathmandu. Don’t appoint Munich to operate Gautam Buddha Airport, panel tells government Committee says a government to government deal might once again court controversy as such agreements haven’t been received well in the past.

SANGAM PRASAIN ministry had also asked the company to submit border point by January-end. A technician at KATHMANDU, JUNE 18 a detailed plan. the project said that installation of all the But Munich is yet to submit its detailed plan, equipment will take at least two months, As a number of projects planned under govern- including the operation modality, fees and and another two months is needed to test ment-to-government deals have sparked revenue sharing as the Covid-19 pandemic the machines and get certification for the controversy in Nepal over their transparency, came up. airport. a government committee has recommended In June 2019, the Cabinet gave the tourism Construction work at Gautam Buddha that Germany’s Munich Airport not be appoint- ministry its go-ahead to appoint international International Airport began in January 2015. ed as the operator of Gautam Buddha firms for the operational readiness and airport The Civil Aviation Authority awarded the International Airport in Bhairahawa. transfer (ORAT) operation of Gautam Buddha Rs6.22-billion contract to China’s Northwest Located in south-central Nepal, Gautam International Airport through a govern- Civil Aviation Airport Construction Group in Buddha International Airport, which will ment-to-government deal after receiving pro- November 2013. serve as the gateway to the international pil- posals from Munich Airport and other interna- The airport was initially slated to be ready grimage destination of Lumbini, the birth- tional firms. in December 2017. But the project suffered mul- place of Gautam Buddha, will be Nepal’s sec- As the government is under pressure tiple hurdles that pushed back the completion ond international airport. to improve the efficiency of the sole interna- deadline several times. The airport with a 3,000-metre-long and tional airport in Kathmandu, it 45-metre-wide runway is in the final phase of was also planning to observe construction with final works of installing how Munich handles the new communications, navigation and surveillance airport. equipment, including the meteorological Munich Airport is the second instruments, affected by the lockdown. busiest airport in Germany “We have suggested that in view of the con- after Frankfurt in terms of troversy in Nepal regarding government to passenger traffic, and the sev- government deals, Gautam Buddha enth busiest airport in Europe, International Airport’s operation should not handling 44.6 million passen- be handed over to Germany’s Munich Airport,” gers in 2017. said Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane, joint secre- The much-delayed airport in tary at the Ministry of Tourism. “We have Nepal was expected to be com- suggested that the permit should be awarded pleted by March. But now it is through an open competition,” said uncertain when the project’s Lamichhane, who led the committee. contractor will deliver the nec- Lamichhane, however, said that if Munich essary equipment as the gov- was willing to provide technical support ernment hasn’t announced a for the airport, Nepal could accept it. date to lift the lockdown fully. “It’s the government’s call whether to proceed The contractor has not with the government to government imported runway lights nor the deal or issue an open call to hire the airport’s FILE PHOTO conveyor belts and the baggage operator.” The airport with a 3,000-metre-long and 45-metre-wide runway is in the final phase of construction. handling systems. Technicians Questions of transparency have been raised to install the systems are also over a number of G2G projects such as the set- and medical equipment. Most of the projects formed the six-member team to negotiate with yet to be called in. ting up of a security printing press, procure- were eventually cancelled. the German airport after it expressed interest This equipment was slated to ment of machine-readable passports, satellite In November last year, the government in operating the new airport. The tourism arrive through Rasuwagadhi

C M Y K FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2020 | 04 OPINION EDITORIAL Nepal must be smarter in its approach to agriculture

Stop pseudoscience What could be more bizarre Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is just trying to be an than an agrarian economy outlier when the country is in despair. ignoring its rampant Apart from entertaining his audience with funny proverbs soil erosion? and jibes aimed at his opponents, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli likes to be seen as an outlier. He doesn’t mind peddling MADHUKAR UPADHYA ‘alternative facts’ if they serve his purpose. Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, he claimed that the number of STARTING Covid-19 deaths, which stood at 20 when he spoke—it’s 22 POINT now—was an exaggeration in line with the WHO guidelines. As per his alt-facts, the actual number of the pandemic deaths was just two or three; the rest had died of their pre-existing ailments even though they had been infected by the With cases continuing to rise every day, virus eventually. it’s obvious that we haven’t reached the peak of the pandemic yet, but Covid-19 Ignorance is bliss; denial is dangerous. Even as the entire and its multiplying effects have already world follows the same guidelines to count the number of pushed a large number of people into casualties, Oli wants it otherwise. And in his denial, he is hunger and poverty in Nepal as meas- doing the deceased a great dishonour. So pathetic is our ures to fight the crisis restricted move- response to the pandemic that polymerase chain reaction ment and incomes. It’s also deepening pre-existing inequalities, affecting tests are being conducted only after the infected patients are women’s lives disproportionately and dead. The dead surely can’t come back to correct the PM and differently than men’s. The actual scale tell him that they had indeed been killed by the virus. But of the multifaceted damage will not be that doesn’t absolve the PM of his failure. In failing to clear until mobility resumes when lock- acknowledge where we’ve arrived today, he is underestimat- down measures are lifted completely, ing the dangers that await us tomorrow. As such, we’re not which will not happen soon. What’s more, there’s a high likelihood of a sec- even anywhere near the curve of infections and deaths as yet. ond wave of the virus in the coming What’s more, Oli’s alt-facts came a day after the Ministry of winter. Regardless of when it will all Health projected the number of infections to reach 40,000 by end, Covid-19’s impacts will be far-reach- mid-July. According to the ministry, 80 percent of the infec- ing and complex. Amidst this, the tions will be asymptomatic, 15 percent will need hospital or most fundamental responsibility of the economic sector will be to rebuild isolation beds, and 5 percent will need ventilator support. livelihoods for millions, and in the pro- That’s 32,000 home isolation beds, 6,000 hospital beds and cess continue to revive the economy. SHUTTERSTOCK 2,000 ventilators. The Ministry has also detailed other It is worth noting that even developed of catastrophic and chronic soil erosion. those six inches of soil to sustain food flexible enough to accommodate these requirements such as paramedics, medical staff, nursing countries have started calling for whole- Anna Krzywoszynska, a research production. Sadly, we haven‘t. ground realities and provide remedies. staff and assistants in local quarantine and isolation centres sale reforms of the food system, to fellow at the University of Sheffield, in avoid any sustained crises in the discussing the crucial role that healthy Adapting to climate impacts Support local governments to accommodate the ever-increasing number of infections. As post-Covid-19 era. soil plays in our lives, said ‘The Covid-19 has hit us at a time when we Local governments are responsible for of now, we’re ill-prepared to meet these requirements, and The national budget for the fiscal year only thing that stands between us and were already grappling with the pre-ex- managing agriculture including climate the least we need right now is the advice of a pseudosci- 2020-21 has recognised the urgency of extinction is six inches of soil and the isting burdens of floods in the Tarai and adaptation and disaster risk reduction. ence-obsessed prime minister who says all you need to do is addressing economic challenges. It has fact that it rains’. These measly six droughts in the hills, along with rising But they don’t have the required capaci- drink warm water and sneeze the virus out of your system. emphasised actions for the revival of the inches of soil provide 95 percent of our cases of insects, such as the fall army- ty nor the expertise to manage the cli- The healthcare system is already buckling under pressure, economy and employment generation food. When the soil is gone, food is worm infestation across both regions. mate impacts that often occur simultane- through the mobilisation of labour in gone. Modern agriculture has been tak- It’s likely that we will also encounter the ously even within a small geographical having to care for 6,600 active-case patients and over 6,000 the agriculture sector—a reliable eco- ing more out of the soil than it has locust swarms sweeping through parts area. Unlike handling of Covid-19 itself, persons in isolation. With the lockdown eased and a possibly nomic base. The budget also aims to been putting back in. As a result, our of India in the near future. Therefore, where we had the opportunity to learn greater number of infections underway, the current rate of encourage farmers to utilise available soils, especially in the hills and river there is an urgent need to understand from others’ mistakes, now we will have 6,000 daily tests is grossly inadequate. Although the ministry land to maximise production, by allocat- valleys may as well be considered how the changing climate would com- to assess for ourselves how droughts, plans to make arrangements for 10,000 tests daily starting ing additional resources for irrigation, life-less. pound these risk factors for agriculture, floods, insects, diseases, warmer weath- fertiliser, seeds, finance, technology and What could be more bizarre than an especially in the current context as our er, and the likes impact agriculture June 29, doubts persist whether it will materialise. The fail- market. However, under the given agrarian economy rooted in a young choices for economic revival are limited. across the diverse landscape of this ure to regulate quarantines—and in effect turning them into near-stagnant conditions of agriculture and growing mountainous landscape of It needs reiterating that Covid-19 is only country as well as what farmers can do virus incubation hubs—has already led to authorities com- and in view of rapidly growing climate the Himalayas ignoring its rampant soil intensifying climate impacts. to avoid the risk and adapt to the new ing up with a new modality of home quarantines or isolation risks, these expectations may prove erosion? Unfortunately, this has been Rainfall patterns will continue to situation. It will require a greater and facilities under the watch of the local level. This is not going unrealistic. constantly ignored by our development change, as it has in the last decades, more focused approach and perhaps to work either, for a large number of Nepali homes have no Of course, the current crisis has pro- policies and, most importantly, our affecting agriculture more than any some mechanisms and systems in place vided an opportunity to rejuvenate agri- agriculture policy. Soil helps regulate the other economic sector. On one hand, ris- to support local governments in techni- separate rooms for isolated living, even more so in cities culture to not only benefit a majority of Earth’s atmosphere and is an excellent ing flood risks will continue to damage cal matters to assess, analyse, and where families live in one-room tenements and share toilets our people but also to strengthen the carbon sink. Managing soil could play a crops and farmland, while on the other, respond to these simultaneously occur- with other families. The new modality might just end up economy for many years to come. big role in tackling climate change. Yet, an increasing number of farms will ring problems than merely an increased translocating the incubation hubs to individual homes, lead- However, we can’t expect different it hasn’t received attention in the way remain fallow due to water scarcity. As a budget or a few additional programmes. ing to an even greater number of infections. results when we apply the same other climate actions have. remedy to water scarcity, the budget has At the end of the day, it’s farmers who approach. There are some fundamental Soil erosion is a much-talked-about proposed to install 5,000 shallow and 247 need to adapt to the emerging realities. However, rather than asking himself how to save more issues such as land degradation continu- subject in the academic field of the envi- deep tube-wells in the next fiscal year to Therefore, development policies must be lives, PM Oli continues to undercount the casualties and mis- ally being ignored, and some new ones ronment but least-addressed by actions increase irrigation coverage. However, able to build confidence in them and lead citizens. If the prime minister of the country can’t manifesting from the changing climate. on the field. Paradoxically, planting trees in many areas in the Tarai, groundwater encourage them to rethink the way they gauge the magnitude of the crisis, healthcare professionals We can’t afford to ignore them anymore is often recommended as an answer to has fallen beyond the reach of average farm and initiate actions to improve on the frontline are highly likely to hesitate to put their lives if agriculture is to be rejuvenated. this chronic problem without any evi- tube-wells. Changing rainfall patterns soil health and address climate risks in at risk testing and treating the Covid-19 patients. It’ll be a dence of how it helps reduce soil erosion with more intense rains are no help to order to make agriculture resilient to Addressing land degradation resulting from agriculture farms. Had augment groundwater sources. Besides, climate change, as well as ensure that great service to the country if the prime minister kept his The foundation of agriculture is land, erosion been an issue at the centre of the warmer climate will intensify water post-Covid-19 agriculture does not fur- alt-facts and pseudoscience to himself and let health profes- which is significantly degraded in most land management for agriculture, we demand for food production. The ther entrench existing inequalities in sionals do the talking at this time of crisis. parts of the country due, largely, to years would have developed our way of saving post-Covid-19 agriculture plans must be agriculture.

Protecting midwives and mothers during the pandemic

quate resources to support it, and respect and The international community recognise the work carried out in homes to ensure the safety of pregnant women. must allocate funds directly to Increased pandemic-related concerns regarding pregnancy have made the midwife’s role in organisations that represent providing antenatal care even more important. In many cases, however, home services are maternal health-care providers. unrecognised and unpaid, and continue even during PPE shortages, putting both midwives SALLY PAIRMAN & and patients at risk. ROOPA DHATT Many have been shocked by our health-care systems’ lack of basic resources and inadequate capacity in the face of a global pandemic. But such shortcomings should come as no surprise. Health-care staff are overworked and underpaid, have inadequate training opportu- nities, and are subject to restrictive policies. As the world struggles to control Covid-19, the For example, midwives often are not recog- global health workforce is under increasing nised as frontline health-care workers. strain—and woman-centred, midwife-led care These problems are still more acute in mid- is more at risk than ever. wifery, which, even before the pandemic, had The current crisis is stretching health-care long struggled to gain recognition as an auton- facilities to the limit, as shortages of both staff omous profession—and to secure access to the and resources place intense pressure on servic- funding, resources, and training that goes with es. Harrowing accounts from midwives on the it. And now the failure to invest in maternal front line highlight human-rights concerns, health services, and to pay women fairly for the over-medicalisation of birth, and growing their contributions to the health sector, has distress among them and pregnant women weakened the global response to Covid-19 and alike. In the battle to contain Covid-19, care for put women at greater risk of infection, espe- mothers-to-be has become a low priority. cially in lower-middle-income countries. Midwives are vital to the health and protec- To keep midwives safe and enable them to tion of women in childbirth. In 2017, an esti- provide women-centred care, governments, mated 295,000 women worldwide died from international donor agencies, and philanthrop- causes related to pregnancy or childbirth—the ic organisations must make funding for mater- vast majority of them in low-income and low- nal health services a high priority. That er-middle-income countries. Most of these includes supporting community-based care, deaths were preventable. Throughout this which is crucial at a time when facility-based health emergency, we must ensure that mid- services are declining. Without such assis- wife-led care is maintained as far as possible. tance, midwives will struggle to reach the most As it stands, midwives in all regions are fac- vulnerable. ing acute shortages of personal protective The international community must support equipment (PPE) and other infection-control the female health workforce and allocate funds supplies, including hand sanitiser, which directly to organisations that represent mid- means they must face painful and traumatic wives as front-line maternal health-care pro- decisions. Should they risk their own families’ viders. We must trust women at the centre of health in order to care for women in child- health-service delivery to use funding as they birth? How should they provide assistance see fit, and to invest in the protection and without PPE, given that they are unable to SHUTTERSTOCK resources they need to ensure the continued maintain a safe distance from the women in Health Organisation recommends that caesar- women’s right to make informed decisions also many women’s realisation that they can safety of our communities. their care? Is it better to provide normal care ean sections be performed only when medical- regarding childbirth and their overall health. opt for more decentralised services that cater anyway, even at the risk of infecting their ly justified, but there is growing concern from Where women are given the space to decide, to their needs. In the case of low-risk pregnan- Pairman is Chief Executive of the patients? health-care professionals and the wider global they are increasingly choosing to give birth at cies, national governments should support this International Confederation of Midwives. There also is mounting evidence that the health community about the number of unnec- home with the support of a midwife, or in a decision. Dhatt is the founder of Women in over-medicalisation of childbirth has essary and inappropriate procedures. This midwife-led unit, rather than in a hospital. But decentralising childbirth poses its own Global Health. increased during the pandemic. The World troubling pattern suggests a weakening of This shift reflects not only fear of Covid-19, but challenges. In particular, we must provide ade- —Project Syndicate

C M Y K 05 | FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2020 NATIONAL President approves second ... Women’s rights groups call for safe repatriation >> Continued from page 1 political map on the national emblem. The National Assembly on Sunday Nepal decided to release its new had unanimously endorsed the pro- political map after India on May 8 posal for the consideration of the opened a link road via Lipulekh to and reintegration of returnee female workers amendment bill, allowing lawmakers Kailash Mansarovar in the Tibet 72 hours to register amendments, if Autonomous Region of China. any. No amendments were registered Minister for Law, Justice and They have demanded that the government allow registration of illegally migrated women workers with with the Assembly, although the Parliamentary Affairs Shiva Maya House received one, which was later Tumbahangphe presented the amend- the Foreign Employment Board and ensure the rights of the returnee women migrant workers. scrapped by the Speaker saying it con- ment bill for endorsement in the tradicted the principle of the amend- House. CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL from abroad. ment bill. Speaking in the National Assembly KATHMANDU, JUNE 18 They have demanded for a dignified The Cabinet, on May 20, had issued to answer lawmakers’ concerns, Prime repatriation and reintegration of a new political and administrative Minister KP Sharma Oli said that the The government should start the reg- female migrant workers, which they map of the country, which includes endorsement of the amendment bill istration process of undocumented say was apparently lacking when Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and was a milestone towards reclaiming women migrant workers who had Nepali women workers were repatriat- Kalapani, areas that India too claims Nepal’s land. gone on foreign employment through ed from Kuwait recently. as its own. The government, two days “Both the Houses of Parliament informal channels, women’s rights The rights groups have pointed out later, registered a bill in Parliament, demonstrated unparalleled unity in activists have demanded. that the Kuwaiti government facilitat- seeking to amend Schedule 3 of the endorsing the bill. This is a historic Registering the undocumented or ed the return of women from Kuwait, constitution to update Nepal’s new achievement for Nepalis,” said Oli. illegal women migrant workers with and the Nepal government did not the Foreign Employment Board in the have to spend any funds. wake of special circumstances created However, the returnee migrant by the Covid-19 pandemic is one of the workers were sent to their respective demands raised by the women’s rights places from the government’s holding activists for ensuring rights of the centres in Kathmandu by different Residents of Doti town returnee women migrant workers. organisations, showing a lack of con- As the Nepali migrant workers have crete rehabilitation plans on the part started returning home from Covid-19 of the government. demand tests after Covid-19 hit labour destination countries, wom- “In order to ensure that the return- en’s rights groups—Women-Friendly ee women migrant workers do not face Disaster Management group, Inter- further indignities and insecurities, Generational Feminist Thought the government should provide resi- patients leave quarantine Leaders’ Group and Women POST PHOTO: HEMANTA SHRESTHA dential facilities that meet minimum Humanitarian and Disaster Risk Women migrant workers arrive at the Tribhuvan International Airport from Kuwait on June 12. standards of infrastructural ameni- Reduction Platform—have called on ties, psychosocial counselling and the government to make special workers who have reached various respective local units. health check-ups according to their arrangements for returnee women countries through illegal channels in Although Nepal has placed a ban on needs,” reads the joint memorandum. migrant workers. view of the ongoing humanitarian sending Nepali women as domestic “Furthermore, their inclusion in rein- The three women’s rights crisis. workers abroad, every year many tegration programmes with dignity groups have released a common char- “Once they are registered with the women migrate for overseas jobs should be treated as a priority.” ter of demands for the rights and pro- board after contributing the amount through informal channels owing to They have also demanded that the tection of migrant workers and sub- to the welfare fund, they can receive their impoverished situation in the government should immediately res- mitted it to different government services, insurance and compensation country. cue undocumented women migrant agencies, including the Ministry of provided by the board. They will be Rights activists have been blaming workers working in other countries Labour, Employment and Social entitled to state facilities like that the government’s restrictive other than popular labour destination Security. other migrant workers,” said approach of putting a blanket ban on countries or taking refuge in embas- They have said that the board Shrestha. “Arrangement should be women migrant workers has forced sies. They have also called for a proper should begin the registration of made so that the undocumented Nepali women to migrate through ille- plan for their rehabilitation and rein- women migrant workers in line with migrant workers or their families gal and unsafe routes, making them tegration in the society. the provision of Article 38 of the back home can deposit the amount to more vulnerable. “Migrant workers, in general, are Constitution of Nepal, which outlines the fund. With registration, they will According to rights activists, regis- brought from various countries. After the adoption of special arrangements also get access to the government’s tration with the board will offer landing in Kathmandu, they are kept for women’s employment, health and reintegration plans.” much-needed respite to the women at holding centres before they are sent social security, including the provi- In case of the returnee women migrant workers who are working in to their districts,” said Shrestha. “But sion of special arrangements that can migrant workers who are unable to hiding or seeking refuge elsewhere. what next? How will they be integrat- POST PHOTO: MOHAN SHAHI be adopted for women workers in the contribute to the welfare fund, the The registration will also protect ed into their society? Women workers Residents of Shikhar Municipality for the past few days have been demanding more tests. Foreign Employment Act, 2007. women’s rights activists have suggest- them from frauds and traffickers. should also get equal treatment like According to Sharu Joshi Shrestha, ed making an arrangement where the The joint memorandum of the wom- male workers. Just bringing home is MOHAN SHAHI have been deployed in Ward No. 3 to a gender and migration expert, the amount could be deposited to the en’s rights groups has also raised con- not enough. Absence of such plans DOTI, JUNE 18 settle the issue with the locals. “The government should allow registration Corona Pandemic Prevention, Control cerns about the government’s han- would only make women migrant villagers are yet to come to an agree- of undocumented female migrant and Treatment Fund 2076 or to the dling of returning migrant workers workers more vulnerable.” Local residents of Shikhar ment on whether to send the infected Municipality in Doti are demanding to the isolation centre or to have them that they be tested for coronavirus stay in self-isolation at home,” said after fifteen individuals who returned Joshi. home from quarantine tested positive Meanwhile, the 15 Covid-19 infected With new map ... for the virus. individuals said that they were Police raid Ram Bahadur Bomjan’s ashram Of the 29 who returned home after informed about their positive result >> Continued from page 1 staying in quarantine at Amar only six days after their swabs were RAJ KUMAR KARKI Pushpa Kamal Dahal, the other Secondary School in Ward No. 3 of collected According to them, they did SINDHULI, JUNE 18 party chair, is in favour of passing the Shikhar Municipality, 15 tested posi- not take safety precautions while at MCC only after adjustments to some tive for coronavirus on June 14, 12 the facility since they believed they A police team raided the ashram of clauses as per the recommendations days after their swab samples were were not infected. controversial spiritual leader Ram of a committee led by senior leader collected for testing. Harka Bogati, 18, one of the Bahadur Bomjan in Kamalamai Jhala Nath Khanal. The Dahal camp Ramesh Malasi, chief of the Doti Covid-19 patients, said, “I was so Municipality, Sindhuli, on Thursday. now includes senior leaders Khanal District Health Office said. “The first confident I didn’t have the virus so Bomjan is wanted by the authorities and Madhav Nepal, vice-chair Gautam case in the district was also reported I met my friends and family for the disappearances of four of his and party spokesperson Narayan Kaji from the same quarantine facility.” after I returned home from the disciples. On Thursday, a joint team Shrestha. Health workers suspect the patients quarantine. But the other day while I from the Central Investigation Gautam has once again switched contracted the virus while at the quar- was playing volleyball with my Bureau, the Bagmati Provincial Police sides to the Dahal faction after allying antine facility. friends, I was informed that I was and the district police offices in Kavre, with Oli in March. Gautam’s support Given the high risk of the spread of among the infected.” Sindhupalchok and Sarlahi raided his had broken what had come to be the disease in the municipality, locals “There were around 40 to 50 people ashram in Pairey, but could not locate known as the ‘Bhaisepati alliance’ of Shikhar municipality have been in the volleyball field with me. The him. Around 150 security personnel where Dahal, Nepal, Khanal and demanding that authorities test them virus may have spread further,” he sealed off the ashram spread over POST PHOTO: RAJ KUMAR KARKI Gautam had gotten together to at the earliest. Around 400 residents in added. 42 bighas of land and combed the A police team raided the ashram of Bomjan in Kamalamai Municipality, Sindhuli, on Thursday. demand Oli’s resignation as prime Tallo Ali, Mallo Ali, Aturali, Joragaun Khadka Bogati, a local of Ward No. area, but they could not find Bomjan minister in the wake of a controversy of Ward No. 3 have been demanding 3, also among the Covid-19 infected in anywhere. Bomjan and his followers after the Boy” by the media. over two ordinances. the tests since the past few days. On the ward, said, “ I was relieved after According to a police officer reports about the disappearances of After emerging from his meditation But on Thursday, Bishwamani Wednesday, a team of the Armed coming home. I stayed in quarantine involved in the operation, two sniffer Sancha Lal Waiba and three others. he and his followers have set up ash- Subedi, Gautam’s press advisor, said Police Force from Dipayal also visited for 15 days and came home after I was dogs were also employed in the search. Bomjan has gone out of contact rams in Bara, Sarlahi, Sindhupalchok on social media that Gautam was no Aturali expecting demonstrations in told my test result was negative.” Police had raided the same after the families of the missing per- and Sindhuli. Meanwhile, the Bodhi longer with Oli. the area. According to him, they were told to go ashram in January last year and sons lodged complaints with the Dharma Shrawan Sangh, the organi- “There are uncountable differences Harish Shah, health coordinator at home by security personnel deployed arrested two of Bomjan’s followers for police. Bomjan had shot to fame in sation founded by Bomjan, have among the party leadership against Shikhar Municipality, said the local at the facility. investigation. 2005 for allegedly meditating for accused the police of torturing and KP Oli’s working style,” Subedi wrote unit does not have the capacity to run However, Prem Jora, chairman The authorities have been keeping a months without food, water or sleep. harassing them in the name of con- on Facebook. “He [Gautam] is not mass tests since it only has 20 viral of Ward No. 3, said those 15 patients close watch on all ashrams run by He had been dubbed the “Buddha ducting their investigation. with the prime minister on various transport media now. had insisted on returning home issues, including the MCC.” “It is not possible to test each indi- from the quarantine. “I had requested Many in the party believe that vidual in Ward No. 3, let alone the them to stay in the quarantine until Gautam is airing his views through entire municipality. For the time the test results came back. But they Subedi, who was also critical of Oli’s being, we are preparing to collect did not listen to me. They left the facil- style of governance. swab samples of one individual from ity on June 12,” said Jora. As of Diplomatic talks with India unlikely ... “A collective reaction is expected every household,” said Shah. Wednesday, the number of people soon against the non-implementation Sitaram Joshi, mayor of the munic- infected with Covid-19 in Doti has >> Continued from page 1 over and talks with India will move caught between a rock and a hard of the party’s decisions,” Subedi said. ipality, said people’s representatives reached 33. And compared to the nature, ahead,” Oli told reporters after an place, due to its own inability to take severity and magnitude of the bound- address in the upper chamber. serious diplomatic initiatives but also ary dispute between India and China, So far, all India has said in due to India’s intransigence in sitting the troubles between Nepal and response to Nepal’s demands for talks for talks. Even if talks with India may India are not as serious or complex, is that diplomatic talks can only not be possible immediately, say analysts. take place after the Covid-19 pandemic Nepal can utilise this time to do its “India will probably not conduct subsides. homework and prepare its ground, say diplomatic talks with Nepal while But there is no reason why talks analysts. scuffling with China over a territorial cannot be held simultaneously with Ramesh Nath Pandey, a former for- dispute,” said Geja Sharma Wagle, a both Nepal and China, say some rul- eign minister, believes that Nepal strategic analyst who writes frequent- ing party leaders and government offi- needs to abandon politics and embrace ly on security matters. “This, however, cials. “Yes, we understand the serious- diplomacy. is a sign of India’s diplomatic failures ness on the other side of the border “It is unfortunate to say that diplo- with both Nepal and China. Unless but I do not see any reason not to sit macy has been bypassed when it India realises this, there will be no for talks with us,” said Rajan should be in the driver’s seat,” said dialogue anytime soon.” Bhattarai, Oli’s foreign relation’s Pandey. “We have a serious trust defi- Relations between India and Nepal adviser. “We are already employing cit with both neighbours and this can have perhaps reached their lowest various back-channel sources to cre- be restored by serious talks. There is point since the 2015 blockade of Nepal, ate an environment conducive to no alternative to talks, but I do not see said Wagle. Political rhetoric had talks.” a proper environment at this moment.” flown from both sides and even peo- Bhattarai did not elaborate on what India’s disputes with Nepal are ple-to-people relations appeared to hit back-channel sources the Oli govern- small when compared to its border a significant low. But the clash with ment is using to reach out to New issues with China or Pakistan, say China has displaced brewing animosi- Delhi. analysts, which is why it needs to ty towards Nepal. If India can hold talks with Nepal at work on resolving them sooner and Given Nepal’s close relations with this moment, it will send a message preventing them from turning into India, including the presence of that India’s “neighbourhood first” bigger headaches. If India allows the thousands of Nepalis in the Indian actually works and will contribute dispute with China to overshadow Army and a treaty of peace and friend- positively to India’s standing in the talks with Nepal then it will only ship, any conflict that involves India region, said a ruling party leader who cement the perception that India is could result in a very complicated and did not wish to be named citing the not interested in speaking to Nepal, sensitive situation for Nepal, Wagle sensitivity of the unfolding events. said Indra Adhikari, a research fellow said. “But with the nature of the dispute at the Policy Research Institute. But Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli between India and China getting seri- “India should realise that small irri- appears confident that talks with ous, Nepal will find it difficult to get tants with its neighbours are not India will take place “very soon.” On on New Delhi’s foreign policy radar,” favourable to its peaceful rise as a Thursday, the National Assembly he said. “With the way some in the global power,” said Adhikari. “India’s passed the constitutional amendment, Indian media are stoking the dispute, dispute, engagement, disagreement which was swiftly endorsed by public opinion towards Nepal is also and conflict with China is different President Bidya Devi Bhandari. very low and any positive outcome is from ours. So as a responsible nation “As soon as the President authenti- unlikely.” and an aspiring global power, India cates the new updated map, the pro- Some foreign policy wonks in should resolve its small frictions with cess of constitution amendment is Kathmandu believe that Nepal is its neighbours and move ahead.”

C M Y K FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2020 | 06 MONEY

FOREX Chinese e-commerce US Dollar 122.13 Pesticide testing lab resumes operations Euro 137.31 giant JD soars on Pound Sterling 152.78 Japanese Yen 11.41 at Kalimati Fruits and Vegetable Market Hong Kong debut Chinese Yuan 17.24 AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE The lab conducts tests for two types of pesticides in vegetables and fruits—organophosphate and carbamate. HONG KONG, JUNE 18 Qatari Riyal 33.54

Australian Dollar 83.95 KRISHANA PRASAIN Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com KATHMANDU, JUNE 18 soared nearly six percent on its Malaysian Ringit 28.55 Hong Kong debut Thursday, after The lab at the Kalimati Fruits and raising almost $4 billion in an initial Saudi Arab Riyal 32.56 Vegetable Market has restarted rapid public offering that was the world’s Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank bioassay testing of pesticide residue second-biggest this year. on vegetables and fruits. The new debut comes as Chinese With the government changing the companies—especially those in PRICE PER TOLA modality of lockdown and easing the tech—eschew Wall Street because of BULLION lockdown last week, the decision to rising tensions between Washington reopen the lab was made on Sunday. and Beijing. Fine Gold Rs 89,800 It is also a shot in the arm for Hong Kong as fears mount over the Silver Rs 930 potential fallout of Beijing’s plan to While the lab has impose a new national security law on SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA been reopened, the city banning subversion and foreign interference. testing is limited JD, which listed on the Nasdaq GASOLINE WATCH in New York in 2014, opened at HK$239 due to a lack of in early morning trading in Hong Kong, compared with its listing price manpower. of HK$226. It ended the day at HK$234.00. It’s been a frenetic few weeks for Prakash Ghimire, plant protection Hong Kong’s exchange. officer at the lab, said that the lab was POST FILE PHOTO Earlier this month fellow Chinese reopened on Monday after being The lab at the Kalimati market conducts rapid bioassay of pesticide residues on vegetables and fruits arriving from Kavre, Dhading, tech giant NetEase raised $2.7 billion closed for more than two months. He Makawanpur and Chitwan. in its IPO and also saw a similar added that they were not operating at six-percent gain on its first day full capacity due to a lack of manpow- This means that while the lab has make them look more attractive and organophosphate and carbamate. of trading. er. To perform a test, the lab has to been reopened, testing is limited due ripen them in a short time, said con- “Vegetables imported from India are Chinese companies are increasing- collect samples, conduct tests, to a lack of manpower. sumer rights activists. tested for pesticide residue at labs in ly looking to raise capital closer to analyse the results and record the Currently, Ghimire can test only The lab at the Kalimati market con- the provinces before arriving in home given the soaring trade and data, tasks which are not possible to two types of vegetables. Normally, ducts rapid bioassay of pesticide resi- Kathmandu,” said Ghimire. diplomatic tensions between the US perform alone. with a full team of three technicians, dues on vegetables and fruits arriving According to the Plant Protection and China. Before the lockdown, the lab had the lab can conduct tests on eight to from Kavre, Dhading, Makawanpur Directorate, more than 635 tonnes of “We have come to Hong Kong not three technicians. Now it has ten fruits and vegetables daily. and Chitwan, the largest suppliers of 170 types of pesticides including just because we want to share our one. The other two technicians are not He said that tests on tomatoes, cau- fresh produce in Kathmandu valley. insecticide, fungicide, herbicide and promise and development with able to commute to work as the liflowers, eggplants and green beans The lab has been using the rapid bio- biopesticide enter the country annual- more clients... but because we have government has still not allowed arriving from domestic farms showed assay technique to detect pesticide ly. Doctors say that long-term con- absolute confidence in China and the public transportation to resume and no residue of pesticides. residues in farms products. sumption of vegetables and fruits con- future of China’s economy,” JD’s their office does not provide transpor- Farmers typically spray pesticides The lab conducts tests for two types taining high levels of pesticide could Retail Chief Executive Officer Xu Lei tation facilities. on fruits like litchi and mango to of pesticides in vegetables and fruits— cause health problems. said at the opening ceremony.

BIZLINE Australia jobless rate

World Bank upgrades Nepal to sub-regional office surges to 19-year high in May, slow recovery seen REUTERS SYDNEY, JUNE 18 Australia is facing Australia’s unemployment rate jumped to the highest in about two its first recession decades in May as nearly a quarter of a million people lost their jobs due in nearly three KATHMANDU: The World Bank Country to the coronavirus pandemic-driven decades. Office in Nepal has been upgraded to shutdowns. a sub-regional office responsible for Employment in May plunged a fur- country operation in three coun- ther 227,700 after a record slump of tries—Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, about 600,000 in April, figures from the As a result, fewer people went look- effective from July 1. The sub-region- Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) ing for work, sending the participa- al office has been changed from Sri on Thursday showed. tion rate to 62.9 percent from 63.6 per- Lanka to Nepal which will be headed The unemployment rate shot up to cent in April. by the country director and oversee 7.1 percent, the highest since October The number of employees who three countries from Kathmandu. 2001, from an upwardly revised 6.4 worked fewer hours or no hours at all The bank said that Faris Hadad- percent in April and broadly in line fell to 1.55 million from 1.8 million in Zervod has been appointed as the with economists’ expectations in a April, with those working zero hours country director for Maldives, Nepal Reuters poll. halving to 360,000 and Sri Lanka. Currently, he has been The figures highlight the economic Australia is facing its first serving as the World Bank’s Country damage wrought by the pandemic recession in nearly three decades Manager for Nepal. In a statement, as mobility restrictions forced with the country’s central bank Hadad-Zervod said that in his new business to down shutters since predicting the jobless rate to hit 10 role, his top priorities are to ensure late March. percent by June and stay elevated programmes in all three countries “Although it’s early days, there are through 2021. The Reserve Bank of contribute to sustainable growth, job, signs that May will be the worst month Australia (RBA) has gone all-in by poverty reduction and inclusion; for the labour market,” said Sarah cutting rates to a record low of 0.25 work in close cooperation with devel- Hunter, chief economist for BIS percent, flooding the financial system opment partners to leverage support Oxford Economics, pointing to an with cash and even buying govern- and results, and lead a diverse and improvement in job advertisements. ment bonds to lower borrowing rates effective country management leader- “But the scale of the job losses for business. ship team and actively participate in means it will likely be years before the “It’s possible the unemployment the regional agenda. labour market has fully recovered.” rate won’t rise much further though The ABS said the jobless rate would we suspect a rebound in the participa- have been even higher at 11.3 percent tion rate will keep it elevated for a Nepal Investment Bank were it not for a government wage while yet,” Marcel Thieliant, senior receives Rs 2 billion in subsidy scheme that allowed business- economist at Capital Economics, POST PHOTO: KABIN ADHIKARI bank guarantee claim es to keep staff on their payrolls. wrote in a note. Workers sort watermelons at a fruit store in Kuleshwor, Kathmandu. Traders say watermelon is sold at Rs 30 per kg in the market. Air maintenance firms plan for $60 billion in lost sales

REUTERS with revenue down by half to $419 bil- cal year. At $3 million a plane, that WASHINGTON, JUNE 18 lion, the worst year in the sector’s adds up to $7.8 billion in lost aftermar- history. ket revenue. But planes over 10 years Maintenance firms and spare parts “This is going to be a very brutal old also tend to demand more work. producers who keep airplanes run- time for companies dependent upon They make up around 48 percent of ning are bracing for a decline of up to aftermarket revenues,” Aboulafia the current fleet, but account for more 75 percent in sales this year—and said. than half the maintenance, according KATHMANDU: Nepal Investment Bank more pain to follow—as airlines park “The job cuts and spending cuts to consulting firm Oliver Wyman. So has received the full amount of bank or retire thousands of aircraft due to have only begun,” he added. lost revenue is likely to rise. guarantee from Italian Bank, Intesa the coronavirus pandemic. “Generally, they need to fall as closely “As aircraft are retired, aircraft Sanpaolo SPA. On June 17, the bank Worth about $80 billion in sales last in line with output as possible, and operators will extract parts [used ser- received the full amount of the bank year, the industry ranges from engine output—of aircraft and spare parts— viceable material] from retired air- guarantee amounting to 8.75 million makers like General Electric Co and has only begun to be cut too.” craft rather than purchase parts from euro and Rs 850 million totalling to Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc to systems Some 18,000 planes, or around 65 aftermarket suppliers,” Credit Suisse Rs 2 billion from the Italian bank. companies like Honeywell percent of the global fleet, were analyst Robert Spingarn said. The payment was received after a International Inc and Raytheon grounded throughout April and most Costs per plane also vary drastical- three-judge bench from the Italian Technologies Corp and a host of of May and the industry is now plan- ly. A young Boeing 737 may cost court, Tribunale Di Bologna on June smaller suppliers. ning for a global recession and a less than $1.5 million to maintain, 9 revoked the previous decree issued Jetliners on average cost $3 million future where business travel is while a widebody 777 or 787 four times by a one judge bench, which had pre- a year to service and make up a signif- reduced and holidaymakers stay clos- as much. vented Intesa from paying the amount icant portion of revenue for most of er to home. Delta Air Lines Inc, in one example, back to the bank, the press statement these firms. That is under threat as Estimates collected by Reuters sug- is cutting 18 Boeing 777 planes issued by the bank said. This episode the crisis cripples air travel and reduc- REUTERS gest the reduced demand will result in which one analyst told Reuters cost is a positive development in the arena es the number of hours planes spend People work near the door of a 737 Max aircraft at the Boeing factory in Renton, Washington. fewer than 20,000 planes in use in 2021 $7.3 million each on average to main- of Nepalese and international bank- in the air, pushing back overhauls. compared with an active fleet of about tain per year. ing practices, reinforcing the trust on “We foresee reduction in mainte- that out, you are going to have to retire for future parts servicing. 27,000 planes in 2019. Timothy Kuder from consultancy banking instruments like bank guar- nance, repair and overhaul demand of thousands of aircraft.” Thousands of layoffs are already All analysts with whom Reuters Frost & Sullivan said airlines are like- antees, which can be recuperated 60 percent or more for commercial The decline of up to 75 percent in planned or under way but some aero- spoke said they did not expect mainte- ly to make “significant” job cuts once back to the country, states the press aero engines [in 2020]. And production services revenue, which amounts to space experts suggest the impact is nance spending to recover to 2019 lev- a moratorium on new layoffs under release. This is one of the first will fall 40-50 percent,” said Kevin about $60 billion in lost sales, was esti- likely to be deeper than originally els until 2023. the government’s bailout runs out in instances in Nepal’s banking history Michaels, managing director at aero- mated by analyst Richard Aboulafia at thought and point to several years of Numbers on the current age of September. where a bank has successfully recov- space consulting firm AeroDynamic aerospace consultancy Teal Group. hard choices, with the market proper- fleets, together with indications given “What that means for the compa- ered the bank guarantee amount after Advisory. Lower demand for new jets is also ly recovering only in 2023. by some airlines, suggest between nies reliant on aftermarket revenue ... successfully challenging the interim “We will have an overhang of thou- causing the industry to revisit projec- The International Air Transport 1,500 and 2,600 aircraft could be [is] there is going to be less business order issued at the first stage of hear- sands and thousands of aircraft more tions for demand for services later on, Association said last week that air- retired over the next 12 months, more out there than [parts suppliers] are ing in an international court. than we require for years. To balance as fewer jets come down the pipeline lines would lose $84 billion in 2020, than three times as many as in a typi- able to sustain with their workforce.”

C M Y K 07 | FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2020 WORLD South Asia reels from coronavirus surge Donald Trump asked India fourth worst-hit country in the world with 354,000 cases, though limited testing means true number is likely higher. Xi Jinping for re-election

Many there chose to ignore social distancing guidelines and provincial help, Bolton claims lockdowns were relaxed during last month’s Eid al-Fitr holiday, helping fuel the current increase in cases. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE “When Eid celebrations came, WASHINGTON, JUNE 18 the public took the ease of the lockdown as a sign that the disease Donald Trump pleaded with China’s was all over. They swamped the mar- leader Xi Jinping for help to win kets, they went to funerals, there was re-election in 2020, the US president’s no enforcement of the [social distanc- former national security advisor John ing measures],” said Samra Fakhar, Bolton writes in an explosive new a surgeon in the northwestern city behind-the-scenes book, according to of Peshawar. excerpts published Wednesday. Authorities have warned that Bolton alleges in a blistering cri- Pakistan would likely see more than tique that Trump’s focus on winning a one million cases by July, and the second term was the driving principle World Health Organization has called of his foreign policy—and that top for new lockdowns, a measure Khan aides routinely disparaged the REUTERS rejected. Republican leader for his ignorance of Donald Trump In Pakistan’s overwhelmed hospi- basic geopolitical facts. tals, doctors say national leaders wast- In excerpts published by The to block the book. ed precious early months to brace for Washington Post, The New York Arguing that Bolton failed to allow a potential onslaught. Times and The Wall Street Journal, completion of the vetting, the depart- “We had a chance to prepare for this Bolton also claims Trump repeatedly ment urged the court to take action to but unfortunately it didn’t happen. showed a readiness to overlook “prevent the harm to national securi- Things are going to get worse,” said Chinese human rights abuses—most ty that will result if his manuscript is Saeedullah Shah, a doctor with the strikingly telling Xi the mass intern- published to the world.” Pakistan Islamic Medical Association ment of Uighur Muslims was “exactly Bolton “broke the law” by divulging Covid-19 task force. the right thing to do.” “highly classified information,” “Are we ready for it? Not at all. ... “I am hard-pressed to identify any Trump said in a late Wednesday inter- People will start getting violent when significant Trump decision during my view with Fox News’ Sean Hannity. AFP/RSS they don’t find beds.” White House tenure that wasn’t driv- He also derided his former advisor, Swab samples are taken from residents to test for Covid-19, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Further complicating the crisis en by re-election calculations,” Bolton a veteran Washington insider, as is limited testing which is skewing writes of the real estate magnate “washed up,” and mocked Bolton’s AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE “Patients are dying in the ambu- ing means the true number is likely data lower. turned president, who was impeached past support for the US war in Iraq. ISLAMABAD, JUNE 18 lances on the roads as they shunt much higher. Last week, burial figures released in December for seeking dirt from In the released excerpts Bolton said between hospitals looking for (inten- The number of fatalities leapt by by nine state-run graveyards in the Ukraine on his 2020 Democratic elec- that by intervening in cases involving Early optimism that South Asia might sive care) beds or hospital admission.” more than 2,000 to top 11,900 on Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, as well as tion rival Joe Biden. major firms in China and Turkey, have dodged the worst ravages of the Archie Clements, the vice-chancel- Wednesday after Mumbai and New dozens of small graveyards in a neigh- In a key meeting with Xi last June, Trump appeared to “give personal coronavirus pandemic has disap- lor of the health sciences faculty at Delhi updated their figures. bouring city, showed at least 1,600 Trump “stunningly turned the con- favours to dictators he liked.” peared as soaring infection rates turn Curtin University in Western The government won plaudits in additional deaths in April and May, a versation to the US presidential elec- He describes “obstruction of justice the densely populated region into a Australia, said the situation would late March for imposing one of the top Bengali news site reported. tion, alluding to China’s economic as a way of life” in the White House, global hot spot. likely worsen. world’s strictest lockdowns. But mil- Yet health ministry data show only capability to affect the ongoing cam- and says he reported his concerns to After several months trailing the The growth curve “is still in an lions of migrant workers were left 450 people died from Covid-19 in the paigns, pleading with Xi to ensure Attorney General William Barr. US and western Europe, cases of exponential phase”, Clements said. jobless and, unable to get home, some- two cities during the period. he’d win,” Bolton claims in his upcom- The bombshell book, “The Room Covid-19 are surging across South “We could be heading towards a times held in crowded facilities that Similar anecdotes are emerging in ing tell-all. Where It Happened,” due for Asia—home to almost a quarter of the larger number of deaths in the weeks increased the risk of transmission. conflict-battered Afghanistan, which Bolton writes that Trump stressed release next Tuesday, in the thick of a world’s population—where the virus ahead.” As the government steadily lifts has only acknowledged more than the importance of US farmers and presidential campaign against is wreaking havoc on fragile medical Worldwide more than eight million restrictions, cases have surged. 26,000 cases and 500 deaths—seeming- how “increased Chinese purchases of Democrat Biden. systems and underfunded health people have been infected by Covid-19 “The problem is that in a country ly impossibly low numbers for a coun- soybeans and wheat” could impact the The former vice president said that agencies are pushed to breaking point. and over 446,000 have died, with the like India, with its large-scale poverty try that failed to enforce lockdowns US electoral outcome. Bolton’s revelations show Trump Overflowing hospitals from Kabul virus accelerating across South Asia and large migrant community, you amid ongoing fighting and where “I would print Trump’s exact words “sold out the American people to pro- to Dhaka are turning away suspected and Latin America. can’t expect everyone to shelter in impoverished day labourers are una- but the government’s prepublication tect his political future.” virus patients, mortuaries are being Devastating scenarios are playing place and ride out the storm,” said ble to stay home. review process has decided other- Another potentially damaging overwhelmed as cemeteries and cre- out as cash-strapped governments Michael Kugelman, an analyst from “We have reports of increasing sus- wise,” Bolton says, referring to the take looms, this time from within matoria struggle to cope, and desper- choose between enforcing lockdowns the Washington-based Wilson Center. pected deaths, people burying dead requirement months ago that he have Trump’s family. ate families are searching for help for or watching low-income families slide In neighbouring Pakistan, which bodies at night,” said Kabul governor his manuscript vetted by US agencies. The president’s niece, Mary Trump, critically ill loved ones. deeper into poverty, often with no safe- has recorded more than 160,000 Mohammad Yakub Haidary last week, In a sign of Trump’s anger over the releases her memoir, featuring the “The situation is catastrophic,” ty nets to catch them. cases and over 3,000 deaths, Prime adding that the Afghan capital was memoir, the Justice Department filed scathing title “Too Much and Never Abdur Rob, a senior doctor at India is the fourth worst-hit country Minister Imran Khan resisted a suspected of having more than a mil- an emergency order late Wednesday Enough: How My Family Created the Bangladesh’s Chittagong General in the world with more than 354,000 nationwide lockdown, saying the lion infected people. seeking a halt to publication, the sec- World’s Most Dangerous Man,” on Hospital, told AFP. confirmed cases—though limited test- country could ill afford it. “There is a disaster coming.” ond time in as many days it has tried July 28.

BRIEFING Indians hold funerals for

Heavy coronavirus traces found in seafood soldiers killed at China BEIJING: China has found the trading sections for meat and seafood in border, burn portraits of Xi Beijing’s wholesale food market to be severely contaminated with the new coronavirus and suspects the area’s REUTERS traded blame for the deadliest border low temperature and high humidity NEW DELHI, JUNE 18 clash since 1967 and called for the may have been contributing factors, other side to rein in their troops. officials said on Thursday. Their pre- Indians burned portraits of Chinese “The need of the hour was for liminary report comes as the coun- President Xi Jinping on Thursday as Chinese side to reassess its action and try’s capital tackles a resurgence of families cremated the remains of take corrective action,” the Indian Covid-19 cases over the past week some of the 20 soldiers killed in brutal foreign ministry quoted Jaishankar linked to the massive Xinfadi food hand-to-hand fighting with Chinese has telling Wang. The Chinese diplo- center, which houses warehouses and troops in a disputed mountainous mat said India must punish those trading halls in an area the size of border region. responsible for the conflict and con- nearly 160 soccer pitches. The latest Troops remained on alert at the trol its frontline troops, the Chinese outbreak infected more than 100 peo- Galwan Valley in the Ladakh region foreign ministry said. ple and raised fears of wider conta- of the western Himalayas three days Hardline nationalist groups with gion in China. Among the patients after the clashes, in which India said ties to Prime Minister Narendra who work at the Xinfadi market, most China had also suffered casualties. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party have serve at seafood and aquatic product China has not given details of any stepped up calls for a boycott of stalls, followed by the beef and mut- deaths or injuries among its troops. Chinese goods and a cancellation of ton section, and patients from the sea- Indian Foreign Minister contracts with Chinese firms. food market showed symptoms earlier Subrahmanyam Jaishankar spoke to China’s Oppo cancelled the live than others, Wu Zunyou, chief epide- senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi on online launch of its flagship smart- miologist at the Chinese Center for Wednesday and the two sides agreed phone in India. Scores of people Disease Control and Prevention, said not to take any steps to escalate mat- shouted “Victory to Mother India” as at a daily briefing on Thursday. ters and instead ensure peace and sta- the body of Colonel B Santosh Babu, bility on the contested frontier. the senior-most Indian officer killed An Indian official said senior mili- in the clash, was taken in a flower-be- NDP leader Singh kicked out of tary officers from both sides were decked military truck to his home- House for calling MP racist holding talks on Thursday to defuse town of Suryapet in southern India. OTTOWA: Jagmeet Singh, the head of tensions. The talks were ongoing, the Funerals of other soldiers will also AP/RSS Canada’s New Democrat Party (NDP), official said. be taking place in their hometowns A visitor watches the northern side from the Imjingak Pavilion in Paju, South Korea, on Thursday. Relations between the Koreas have been was ejected from the House of But both Jaishankar and Wang Yi and villages. strained since a second Kim-Trump summit in early 2019 fell apart due to wrangling over the sanctions. Commons on Wednesday after he called a member of another opposition party racist and for refusing to apologise or withdraw his comments. Singh, the first minority leader of a federal Canadian political party, was Over 1 percent of humanity forced to leave home due to violence trying to secure support for a motion recognising the existence of systemic racism in the Royal Canadian AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE increase of nearly nine million from a own country, while 26 million had fled Mounted Police. When Bloc GENEVA, JUNE 18 year earlier. across borders as refugees. Another Québécois MP Alain Therrien refused “This is a trend that has been going 4.2 million people were asylum seek- to support the motion, Singh called Nearly 80 million people have been on since 2012: the figures are higher ers, while 3.6 million Venezuelans dis- him racist, prompting speaker forced to flee their homes due to vio- than the year before,” Grandi said, placed abroad were tallied separately. Anthony Rota to kick Singh out for lence and persecution, marking a pointing out that this meant “there Last year, some 11 million people the rest of the day, the Canadian near-doubling of global displacement has been more conflict, there has been were newly displaced, many in a hand- Broadcasting Corp reported. in a decade, the UN said on Thursday. more violence that has pushed people ful of conflict-wracked countries and By the end of 2019, one out of every away from their homes.” regions, the report showed. 97 people in the world was living It also means, he said, “that there They include Syria, which after Health officials praise Laos after uprooted and displaced, according to a have been insufficient political solu- more than nine years of civil war fresh report by the United Nations tions” to the conflicts and crises that counts 13.2 million people displaced coronavirus-free declaration refugee agency, highlighting swelling would allow people to return home. either inside or outside the coun- BANGKOK: International health organi- displacement from conflicts in places Grandi pointed out that 10 years try—a full sixth of the global total. sations on Thursday praised Laos’ like Syria and the Democratic ago, the number of people living in In fact, Grandi pointed out, a full 68 early response and countrywide net- Republic of Congo. displacement around the global stood percent of the world’s refugees come works for containing the novel coro- “One percent of the world popula- at around 40 million. from just five countries: Syria, navirus after the Southeast Asian tion cannot go back to their “So it has basically doubled. And we Venezuela, Afghanistan, South Sudan nation declared itself free of the homes because there are wars, perse- don’t see this trend diminishing,” and Myanmar. virus earlier this month. But they cution, human rights violations, and he said. This, he stressed, “means that if the said the country with a border with other forms of violence,” UN refugee “With the international community international community found the China, which is tackling a new out- chief Filippo Grandi told AFP in an so divided, so unable, so incapable of unity, the political will and the break, must remain vigilant. Prime interview. making peace, unfortunately the situ- resources to help these countries get Minister Thongloun Sisoulith The UNHCR agency found that by ation won’t stop growing, and I am out of crisis and rebuild, most likely declared Laos free of the coronavirus the end of last year, a record 79.5 mil- very worried that next year it will be we would have solved well over half of that causes Covid-19 on June 10 after REUTERS lion people were living either as refu- even worse than this year.” the world (refugee) problem.” The the last of the country’s 19 cases In this May 29, 2020 photo, refugees wearing face masks sit in front of a police cordon gees, asylum seekers or in so-called Thursday’s report showed that at report did not address the evolving recovered and 59 days with no new outside the UNHCR offices, during a protest against the government decision that says they internal displacement within their the end of 2019, nearly 46 million of displacement situation since the glob- infections. (AGENCIES) should leave their accommodation by the end of May, in Athens, Greece. own countries, marking a dramatic those displaced remained inside their al coronavirus pandemic struck.

C M Y K FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2020 | 08 FOOD & TRAVEL (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 Food that divides us For many, food is something that connects two people. But there are some historical food practices that have been used as tools for social exclusion.

PRASHANTA KHANAL religious ceremonies. In most hilly mat- KATHMANDU wali communities, millet is a staple and even offered to their ancestral deities. n the book ‘Social History of Nepal’, “Although Newas in Kathmandu Valley the authors—Tulasi Ram Vaidya, ate millet, its dishes were never included Tri Ratna Manandhar and Shankar in the bhoye. Only baji (beaten rice) was Lal Joshi—account that the people served,” says Manandhar. When asked if who drink alcohol and eat buffalo it was because millet was perceived as an meat were looked down upon by inferior or lower class grain, he opines Isupposedly higher castes. Because of this that it is possibly not the case. But rice culture, some Newas, who were close to has always symbolised class. Ranas and employed in high post, gave up Rice, from the very onset, was consid- drinking alcohol and eating buff publicly ered a superior grain, and only well-offs even though those customs were followed and the ruling class could afford to con- while worshipping ancestral deities. sume it on a daily basis. Consuming rice They considered themselves elevated in reflected one’s higher status in society. social status by abhorring those customs For that very reason, many communities in public. shifted their staples from traditional In a society, already stratified with grains such as millet, buckwheat, barley, class, high caste folks have not only dic- naked-barley and sorghum to rice. tated the supremacy of their social norms But for centuries, barley and rice were but also food culture. As much as food has considered pure and even used in Hindu’s connected us, historically, some food prac- rituals and sacrificial offerings to Agni, tices have also been used as tools for the god of fire. The concept of pure (chok- social exclusion. What you eat has histor- ho) and impure (bitulo) food is ingrained ically defined your class and vice versa. in Hindu and can be traced back to vedic Growing up in two cultures—Newa and era, some 3,500 years ago. Bahun—with contrasting practices and Today, things have evolved: even varie- values, I have observed how food has ties of rice have class. Aromatic rice is defined the differences and supremacy of the most preferred and consumed by rich one culture to another. In my mother’s royals and elites. Ghaiya, dry-land rice Newa culture, people revere buffalo meat grown in hills and consumed largely by and alcohol, and even offer them to dei- hilly ethnic communities, are considered ties. Whereas my father’s Bahun commu- lower in status. nity abstains from consuming buff and But with changing society, new genera- alcohol, and considers people who prac- tions have challenged the conventional tice such a culture of belonging to an notion of what to eat and what not to eat inferior class. SHUTTERSTOCK according to caste. There was once a time Although we have embraced and throughout the country, including among cooked by lower caste were deemed died naturally or by accident. when orthodox Bahuns abstained from enjoyed both the cultures at our home, the non-Hindus. The state divided Nepali impure. Gurungs, who didn’t have the culture consuming chicken and mushroom. But still, till this day, goat and buffalo meat society into tagadhari (Hindu sacred- Historically, many ethnic communities, of eating pig, claimed to be superior to today many new generation Bahuns con- are cooked separately during Dashain thread wearer), matwali (alcohol consum- including Dalits, in Nepal had beef-eating the pig-consuming ethnicities. Many sume pork, buffalo meat, and alcohol, and Tihar to avoid contamination er) and dalit (untouchable) classes. The practice. But the killing of cows was out- Thakalis abstain from consuming yak, albeit they practice this outside his home. and to make the meat acceptable for my code also put strict regulations on caste- lawed nationwide by the Hindu Shah king which was commonly consumed by neigh- In recent times, food has slowly become father’s kin. based food practices, especially on con- in 1805. The state sent out public notice all bouring communities. Even though less about the caste but more about eco- My paternal grandmother abstained sumption of alcohol and meat. over the country stating that anyone who Hindu higher caste folks frown upon con- nomic class—not saying that it wasn’t the from visiting our home for a very long Brahmin and Chhetri, the tagadharis, slaughters a cow will be given a death suming pig, they, except Bahuns, con- case before. But as it is with everything in time and never ate the food cooked by my were considered socially superior to the sentence and their property confiscated. sume wild boar as a delicacy. The accept- life, food cultures change over time too. mother. As dictated by society, this culi- matwalis, and they wouldn’t eat the food The 1854 Muluki Ain reduced the capital ance was probably because of the influ- For instance, rice was once one of the nary casteism—who is allowed in the cooked by people belonging to the lower punishment to life imprisonment for ence of the ruling class, royals and Ranas, most expensive grains, but today it is kitchen and purity of food—still exists. caste. Dalits, the untouchables, were the intentional killing and fine for negligent who commonly consumed wild boar. becoming inexpensive and accessible. “Even higher caste Newas refrained lowest class in the hierarchy, and even killing. I remember, at my mamaghar (mater- Other grains such as buckwheat, millet from consuming buffalo meat,” recalled water touched by them was considered Today, consuming beef is allowed in the nal uncle’s home), how maiju would hesi- and barley are becoming pricier. The historian Tri Ratna Manandhar, one of impure. They were even abstained from country, but slaughtering a cow is still tate to serve me millet dhido when I was growing urban middle class are attracted the authors of the book. “They consumed directly fetching water from the water proscribed, earlier as a sacred animal and young. In Bahun and other higher castes, toward these grains primarily for health goat meat, which is associated with the source and entering the houses of the now as a national animal. But because of millet was considered as an impure or reasons. higher castes. In the Kathmandu Valley, higher castes. centuries of state’s systematic indoctri- bad grain (ku-anna) and a poor person’s And acknowledging the history of dif- only the lower caste consumed pig.” These rules were designed by the high- nation, beef-eating is frowned upon, even staple. This reasoning could be partly ferent food cultures, and understanding In 1854, through the first Muluki Ain, er caste to fit their necessity. Even though within the communities that once prac- because of the association of millet with and respecting their food practices is the Rana Prime Minister Jung Bahadur Rana utensils made or grains harvested by tised eating beef. Some even exhibit their lower caste and alcohol making. Although only way we can move forward. Only then legalised centuries-old societal hierarchy supposedly untouchable caste were superiority to those who continued, often the higher caste consumed millet, they can we let food be that which connects us of caste and class and institutionalised it deemed usable by the upper caste, food secretly, consuming the meat of cows that abstained consuming the grain during rather than something which divides.

Published and Printed by Kantipur Publications Pvt. Ltd., Central Business Park, Thapathali, Kathmandu, Nepal, P. B. No. 8559, Phone: 5135000, Fax: 977-1-5135057, e-mail: [email protected], Regd. No. 32/049/050, Chairman & Managing Director: Kailash Sirohiya, Director: Swastika Sirohiya, Editor: Sanjeev Satgainya