#256 15 - 21 July 2005 16 pages Rs 30

UPSIDE DOWN WORLD: Pedestrians reflected in a Weekly Internet Poll # 256 puddle at Basantapur after Q. How confident are you that the new rains on Wednesday afternoon. budget will help Nepal make an economic turnaround?

Total votes:413 Weekly Internet Poll # 257. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com Q... Should the ban on news on FM radios be lifted?

Comrades-in-armsKIRAN PANDAY Looking at Nepal’s Maoist revolution through Indian Naxalite eyes CK LAL in BIHAR open dasgaja strip too is now going to Panditji’s paan shop Naxalite attack on the town of under close security watch. India’s down the road. Madhuban in which 21 people ere in the densely paramilitary Seema Suraksha Bal On the Nepal side, every were killed and six government populated Ganga plains, the (SSB) now pull up rickshaw shopkeeper is up to date on the buildings razed (see: ‘Spillover’, H10-yard strip separating wallas if they park their tricycles latest Maoist exploits. In Bihar, #254), there is a surprising lack of Nepal and India has never been on no-man’s land. despite media hype about the concern about Maoist activity treated like a national frontier. Security is stricter than before Naxalite ‘menace’ engulfing 160 along the border. Land is too precious to leave and there is talk here of introduc- districts in 12 Indian states, If the local people it as a no-man’s land. Nepali and ing identity cards and barbed-wire people along the border seem aren’t the least bit Editorial p2 fences to regulate crossborder barely aware of the activities of interested, we Democracy in Press Freedom for Indian farmers use it for grazing installments livestock, playing cricket or even movement. Still, the India-Nepal the Maoist Communist Centre thought we Peace and Democracy growing vegetables. frontier is probably the most (MCC) in Bihar or the People’s should try to track down an But as the Maoist war in the relaxed international border in the War Group (PWG) in Andhra Indian Maoist to ask if there was Nepal tarai intensifies, the Indian world. Pradesh. The two merged last indeed collaboration with their fear of spillover of violence has The SSB guard does ask you year to form the CPI-Maoist but Nepali comrades during the begun to change that relaxed where you are headed as you a local teacher isn’t even attack, as alleged by Bihari police. attitude. Along with border saunter across but doesn’t even aware of it. Continued p2

ISSN 1814-2613 check points, the traditionally blink when you answer that you're Even after last month’s 2 EDITORIAL 15 - 21 JULY 2005 #256

Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Chief Editor: Kunda Dixit Desk Editors: Abha Eli Phoboo, Aarti Basnyat Design: Kiran Maharjan Web: Bhushan Shilpakar Advertising: Sunaina Shah [email protected] Subscription: Pushparaj Sharma, [email protected] Sanchaya Kosh Building, Block A-4th Floor, Lalitpur GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: 01-5543333-6, Fax: 01-5521013 [email protected], www.nepalitimes.com The media’s ethnic gap Printed at Jagadamba Press, Hatiban: 01-5547018 Madhesis are Nepalis and not just residents of the southern plains t was an anguished email from many of us pay attention to the madhesi musical evening but DEMOCRACY IN INSTALLMENTS a well-known author and what is covered, we often there was no serious reporting on Billboards on the city’s intersections have been painted over with I editor, a pahadi janajati, citing overlook what they deliberately the discussions of the conference soundbites from King Gyanendra’s recent proclamations. The one a small news item which exclude due to the media’s nor even a mention of the outside Singha Darbar stands out, it reads in translation: ‘We firmly reported that no journalist collective self-censorship. The dukkha of being a madhesi in believe that centralisation of power is against the spirit of turned up for a press conference subject matters that journalists Nepal. democracy.’ called by madhesi students. He leave out reveal either their Journalists do write or speak No, it’s not a spoof. But we don’t blame people for being was agitated by this gross ignorance or more ominously, about the madhesh or tarai but bemused because that has been the problem all along since October discrimination. This is my their bias. mainly as a location down south 2002: the gap between words and deeds. The current regime’s detrimental defiance of domestic response to his fury and distress. It could be argued that the where negative events occur. The aspirations and needless needling of the international community grievances of a handful of madhesis themselves hardly isn’t helping it win any friends. It should have realised long ago that GUEST COLUMN madhesi university students figure in the stories. Or as one the public’s apathy towards the political parties doesn’t mean there Rajendra Pradhan being beaten up is hardly worth madhesi journalist bitterly is support for its authoritarian tendencies. If the royal-appointed reporting during a period of complained during a conference, council of ministers had been able to take a great leap forward in Journalists surely are entitled very grave political turmoil. the national press usually restoring peace or service delivery to the people, there may have to decide which press Other happenings are more ignores madhesis except to been some support. We have looked but haven’t discerned any such conferences they want to attend newsworthy and of interest to portray them in bad light. A dramatic improvement. On the contrary, there are daily reports of or ignore what they want to the public. Or is it one more reputed organisation which has inspection teams behaving high-handedly, political witch-hunts, construct and communicate as example of the perhaps published a series of landmark inconsistency and contradictions in the state’s functioning. news. They have the right to unconscious collective effort of books on the media’s coverage of Many people went along with the royal move nearly six months ago because they thought there was A Plan. But the only plan write about the antics of a minor the pahadia dominated press to dalits and janajatis has not yet seems to have been a systematic and premeditated plot to use the starlet in Kollywood or the news erase madhesis from the media brought out a publication on the insurgency as an ploy to of a diplomat and thus from public media and madhesis. disassemble democracy, gag who sang at a knowledge and national We often complain that the free press and put civil private party or discourse? Nepal is almost totally ignored liberties into deep freeze. about human The press invariably reports by the world media except when What really worries us now rights abuses, the on all workshops and there are stories about poverty, are feelings being expressed activities and conferences held in violence, political instability publicly by genuine well- wise words of Kathmandu, even the most and natural disasters. In a wishers of monarchy. They are our respected insignificant ones, especially if similar manner, pahadi media aghast at the ways of the politicians and inaugurated by a public figure gatekeepers are doing injustice to extremist right who are running the show and are concerned rulers. We may (the public figure being the madhesis (and many other that this will ultimately not agree with news and not the meeting). But groups) by what they cover, more undermine the institution of their choice, but the press on the whole did not importantly by what they omit. monarchy as a symbol of it is their choice. report on the first ever national The violence of erasure is Nepali nationhood. Beware of They exercise conference on the tarai, perhaps even more painful for those who are more royal than press freedom on focusing especially on the the madhesis for they are fellow the king, they say. our behalf. madhesis. Nepalis–and they would like This is democracy in The media The conference was held in their compatriots to know them, installments: release a few influences a well-known hotel, press to have their voices heard and detainees here, allow banned public releases were faxed and it was their dukkha discussed tv stations back, relax press knowledge and attended by several journalists. nationally just like other controls somewhat. The idea seems to be to stretch this out opinion both by Two columnists (one a Nepalis. for three years. Problem is, what it reports madhesi) wrote about the Madhesis are Nepalis and not there isn’t that much time. and what it conference and a popular just the residents of the southern leaves out. While magazine published a photo of plains. z MIN BAJRACHARYA …but they want tom fight their wars separately from p1 the Maoist movement in north India has Nepali Maoists is too shocking even for impossible. That is the reason Naxalites in not yet acquired a critical mass,” he says in India’s hardened Naxalites. “The Maoists India support political parties representing After three days of persistent enquiry at Hindi, skirting potholes, “they wouldn’t seem to have no qualms in killing the downtrodden.” various tea, paan and cycle repair shops, a risk ruthless reprisals by random attacks.” innocents, we never do that,” he argues, With Girija Prasad Koirala’s offer of young man claiming to be a local labour How does that explain the landmine adding, “affinity between Maoist groups of talks eliciting tempting responses from organiser sympathetic to the Maoist cause attack on a police van in UP last November the world over is natural and mutual Chairman Prachanda this week, it appears comes up outside a drugstore. He calls that killed 16 people? Or the attacks in cooperation between the Maoists and that the possibility of Nepal’s mainstream himself Bidrohi. He wears a hunted Madhuban and Bairgania? “They may have Naxals can’t be ruled out. But we never do political parties working with the Maoists look, refusing to talk anywhere except been executed for tactical gain rather than joint exercises or training.” are now higher than a unity between two in his battered Maruti. strategic reasons.” What he means is that Indian Naxalites are expecting the fraternal Maoist parties on either side of Comrade Bidrohi is surprisingly the attacks could have been criminal rather ruling coalition in New Delhi to launch a the border. well-informed and excessively paranoid as than ideological in nature. massive coordinated offensive against It is also clear that the Indian establish- he drives randomly across the dry farms of Bihari Naxals would be wary of joining Naxalite groups all over India. “Wherever ment needs to listen to the peasants of northern Bihar. He believes that a capitalist hands with Nepali Maoists for three there is a Marxist government, Maoists northern Bihar and learn from Nepal’s conspiracy has encouraged caste reasons, Bidrohi says. First, the Nepalis are suffer the most,” explains Bidrohi, wildfire insurgency for proof of what could confrontation in Bihar to undermine an better motivated, better armed and are more “capitalist conspirators want to use the happen in its soil, too. If sparks from Nepal inevitable class war. That seems logical battle hardened. The Naxals would have to cover of a Marxist government in New Delhi ignite the tinder-dry Ganga plains, a full- enough, and other than his unrealistic accept a secondary role in any joint exercise to hit at all leftist groups.” blown Maoist rebellion could spread portrayal of a global capitalist conspiracy and that is not something the Indian The Nepali Maoists seem to inspire awe rapidly to Andhra Pradesh and beyond. to defeat Maoism worldwide, the comrade comrades would relish. and fear among Naxalite groups in India. Given the objective conditions for sounds quite articulate and convincing. Second, if the Naxalites were to be as But how come Indian Marxists are revolution in these badlands, that future He dismisses outright the allegation reckless as Nepali Maoists they would be friendlier to Nepali Maoists even while conflagration is not just an alarmist that Indian Naxalites and Nepali Maoists decimated in Bihar. “In Nepal, security they fight their own Naxals on home turf? prediction. And it could be the fear train together in Bihar and is even more forces look the other way when Maoists “Perhaps they want to watch and wait for haunting ‘capitalist conspirators’ categorical in denying Nepali Maoist move around and do nothing as long as the outcome of the political experiment in pushing the theory of a Maoist-Naxalite involvement in the Naxalite attack on the they aren’t directly under attack. But Bihari Nepal before they make up their mind military alliance. police station in Madhuban. “The Bihar Naxals have simultaneously fought on two about armed rebellion in India,” says Otherwise Comrade Bidrohi’s police was just trying to hide its fronts for decades—the police and the Bidrohi, as we make a U-turn and head back arguments are quite sound: a common cause incompetence,” he says. private armies of landlords,” explains to Panditji’s paan shop. between Nepali Maoists and Indian Naxals Bidrohi thinks state governments in Bidrohi. Indeed, as we drive past mango What would his advice be to comrades will harm both of them. They may be Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar orchards and parched paddy fields, it in Nepal? Bidrohi replies without hesita- comrades-at-arms but for now they want to routinely exaggerate the threat of Naxalite looks like Bidrohi is more nervous about tion: “Make common cause with other fight their wars separately. z activity to get more funds from New Delhi vigilantes than the police. political parties, without bourgeoisie Some details have been omitted to protect identities for their police forces. “Unlike in Nepal, Third, Bidrohi thinks the brutality of democracy, a proletarian revolution is and localities. 15 - 21 JULY 2005 #256 3

LLL ETTERS

WFP REPLIES of our museum in your paper Only through representative Modern Marvels World Food Program (WFP) (‘Museum town’, #255). But it government can this country move MP: Member of Parliament. Nepal wishes to disagree and contained some inaccuracies. forward. The king has to help its MP 1: Military Police #1. argue certain statements made Tamu Pye Lhu Sangh was formation and work closely with it. MP 2: Maoists Parties Palace by James Shikwati in an founded in 1990 and our museum This is a participatory process in All have forgotten interview from Der Spiegel was opened in 1997. It provides a which the country will need not the most important part, reprinted in your paper (“For guide to Tamu cultural heritage only political parties but also other the people. god’s sake, please stop the aid”, and in particular to our shamanic social institutions. People want to MP 3: More Power (to the) #255). traditions. It does not offer ‘a see democracy in action, not in People Period. JS: ‘WFP is a massive agency detailed description of the words. They want to feel that the of apparatchiks.’ different subclasses of the Tamu country is in safe hands. That is Plug it in WFP is a United Nations people’. This statement is a not happening either. Ramesh Plug in on development agency guided by misrepresentation of our Nath Pandey and his colleagues Plug it on your head humanitarian principles of exhibition and has the potential to in the cabinet belong to a school to the beat of humanity, neutrality and create bad feelings. There are of thought which believes that Hear no evil impartiality (to which different clans in Tamu society, democracy has to be in abeyance to the sound of transparency and accountability all of whom are equal but there while concentrating on economic Do no evil are often added). Therefore, it is are no ‘subclasses’. development. The country cannot to the rhythm of not political but rather apolitical. Yarjung K Tamu, go ahead with this naya sandesh Say no evil. JS: ‘WFP demands more money director, Tamu Pye Lhu Sangh type of historical baggage. Lord have mercy than the respective host Museum, Pokhara. Raj Bahadur Chand, Seoul Hare Pasupatinath. governments’ request.’ S N Singh, WFP estimated TERRORISM CASTE ASIDE All in the same boat MIN BAJRACHARYA requirements are based on While it is sad that more than 50 I agree with Manjushree Thapa comprehensive food need innocent people died in London standard? Queen Elizabeth and that the caste system is still very JIRI ROAD assessments which are blasts, as a Nepali I am tempted Prince Philip both visited victims much a part of Nepali society I just had a visit to Jiri and conducted by food security to ask the British Ambassador in hospitals and made a public (‘Let’s talk about caste’, #254) but Charikot last month. This was experts in consultation and Keith Bloomfield what is the statement. In Nepal, not even the I don’t agree with categorising my fourth visit to Jiri since 1992. coordination with host difference between a bomb blast Royal Palace issued a public people on the basis of their caste I can easily see the meaningful governments and relevant in a passenger bus in Chitwan statement after Madi. and then forming an opinion impacts of the road to the whole national civil society actors and the blast in a double-decker G Pokharel, whether they are capable or not. It Dolakha and neighbouring (ie NGOs). bus in London? If the tragedies West Virginia, USA is ok to be a Chetteri and hold a districts as mentioned in Pragya JS: ‘WFP assistance comes were equivalent, there is no high position if that person is there Shrestha’s article (‘The great predominantly from highly rationale for the British The interviewer of Minister because of his knowledge and green road’, #254). My conclu- subsidised European and government to keep arm-twisting Ramesh Nath Pandey failed to ask experience. Just being from a so- sion is that building the road American farmers.’ Nepal to negotiate with the Maoist several important questions (‘Esle called ‘under-represented caste’ with development and economy A large portion of WFP’s rebels while it has vowed to janata lai dukkha huna hundaina’, does not entitle someone special of the area in mind as the Swiss global food purchases (69 “eliminate terrorism through #255). Granted that His Majesty is treatment irrespective of capabil- did was the key to this success. percent) is made in developing determination and resoluteness”? qualified, intelligent, hardworking ity. Let us have a merit-based I am happy to hear that the countries. In Nepal, 85 percent Shouldn’t we issue a travel and has all the qualities of a society, not a caste-based one. district rural road project is of WFP food assistance is warning to Nepali tourists not to visionary leader but these things Bhumika Ghimire, email expanding to 18 other districts locally purchased from Nepali make unimportant trips to only speak about the king, not his which is another sign of the producers and suppliers. London? Shouldn’t we also issue cabinet of ridiculous clowns like Having seen Ashmina road’s positive impact. While in JS: ‘A portion of WFP a formal statement calling on the Tulsi Giri, Tanka Dhakal, Buddhi Ranjit’s performance at my Jiri and Charikot last time, I assistance goes directly into the British government to negotiate Raj Bajracharya or Dan Bahadur college here in the US I am very asked myself if the people here hands of unscrupulous and accept the genuine demands Shahi. With their antics, they dissappointed to say it was would be better off without the politicians while another portion of Osama bin Laden in the make a joke out of democracy and nothing close to the hype that it road. The answer is definitely ends up on the black market.’ context of the British army and development. Our problems of received in your review (‘Into the not. WFP’s food assistance is the British intelligence totally mass poverty and political heart of darkness’, #254). It is a And that’s all that counts. entirely intended for its targeted failing to curb terrorism? hypocrisy are so serious and dull, unoriginal, and highly boring Devi P Dahal, beneficiaries, mainly hungry/ Preeti Koirala, Baneswor solutions are required so urgently performance and I am quite Training & Employment poor rural populations. WFP has that these inefficient people are surprised that a newspaper of Project set up extensive monitoring and The terrorist attack in Madi incapable of rescuing us from the your stature has stooped so low. control mechanisms ensuring (‘Sorry.’, #251) and the terrorist crisis. To do so, we need people Ms Ranjit’s performance was that the food reaches food attack in London are both very at the top, decision-makers who devoid of any of the special LETTERS insecure households. Such similar. The terrorists have only have foresight and good minds, mentions that your reviewer Nepali Times welcomes all mechanisms also prevent WFP one objective and that is to who are open to ideas, who can portrays and in no way can we feedback. Letters should be brief food assistance from being sold terrorise innocent people to seize opportunities like Deng relate her description of a cow to and may be edited for space. While in markets. Less than 0.5 attract attention of the public. We Xiaoping, Lee Kuan Yew and the current situation in Nepal. It pseudonyms can be accepted, writers who provide their real percent of WFP food assistance join millions of others to express Mahathir Mohamad. What say, is an affront to our country and its names and contact details will be is misappropriated or ends up on our sympathies to the families of Ramesh Nathji? artistic community to have such given preference. Email letters markets. the grieved people. After the Salini Johnson, Melbourne feeble performances. should be in text format without WFP Nepal Country Office, London bombs, King Gyanendra Nripesh Dhungel, attachments with ‘letter to the Patan was reported to have sent a Our country has grown Bard College, USA editor’ in the subject line. message of condolence to Queen without a dynamic architect. The MUSEUM PIECE Elizabeth. Yet, we did not hear a king has come forward to fill the CK Lal got a little carried Email: [email protected] As a founder member of Tamu single word from him after the vacuum but he has done it by away by alliteration in ‘Our 3Ms’ Fax: 977-1-5521013 Pye Lhu Sangh and the first Madi carnage even though both dismantling democracy. This will (State of the State, #255). Mail: Letters, Nepali Times, GPO director of the Kohinbo Museum I had about the same number of make the road to modernisation Nevertheless, I’d like to build on Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal. was delighted to see the review casualties. Why the double and the nation even more difficult. the theme: 4 NATION 15 - 21 JULY 2005 #256

LESS SEEDS, MORE HARVESTS: Ananta Ram Majhi points to week-old rice seedlings, while agriculture extension officer, Rajendra Uprety, examines copious tillers on a field Majhi planted with the new technique in April (right).

The miracle is it’s no miraclePICS: KUNDA DIXIT Seeing is believing for rice farmers in eastern Nepal who are reaping bumper paddy harvests from fewer seeds

KUNDA DIXIT in MORANG the technique on the Internet and decided and Development in the United States this month, Luitel was in Dan Bahadur’s to test it out. “Since 2002, we’ve achieved started pushing the idea that it was taken field teaching him how to replant his n a recent morning, Ananta Ram Majhi double and triple harvests on test plots. It’s seriously. seedlings the new way. was getting ready to transplant just amazing.” The System of Rice Intensification The tiny two-week-old seedlings look O another plot of paddy in this tranquil, Ananta Ram admits he was skeptical. (SRI), as it is now called, has been tried in fragile in Luitel’s hands as he picks them green village 30 km east of Biratnagar. “Initially, I thought to myself if this is Tamil Nadu where it has been shown to one by one and plants them 20 cm apart in The monsoon was late and other farmers such a great idea why didn’t my ancestors increase rice production by 28 percent for 53 the pasty mud, not 10 cm apart in slushy had delayed replanting but Dan Bahadur think of it,” he tells us, wading ankle-deep percent less water. In arid Hyderabad, muck needed for normal rice planting. was ready. He is one of a dozen farmers in in mud to prepare his next field, “but I farmers have reported 85 percent less seed Luitel shows us his own field where April Morang trying out a new method of rice decided to take the chance and this is the use for double the harvests. In Sri Lanka, rice now grows in thick tufts with more planting that doesn’t need flooded fields, third year I’m using the new method.” farmers earned 44 percent more and in than 80 tillers from one seed. “In the old produces stronger plants that don’t need Ananta Ram used to harvest five tons per China and Laos there were harvest increases method, you plant three or four seedlings artificial fertilisers and pesticides, and yet hectare in his fields, now he is getting at of 35-50 percent. The German aid group, in one spot and you only get about 10 yields bigger harvests. least 10 tons. More importantly, he has GTZ is pushing SRI in Cambodia where tillers per seed,” he says. It’s almost too good to be true. This achieved those yields with only one-third harvest have increased by 41 percent. Uprety and Luitel are happy farmers skeptical reporter wants to find a hole in of the seeds he used before and with less However, field trials at the International now and don’t need any convincing the story to shatter the myth of this miracle water. Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the because seeing is believing. They are rice. But the miracle is that it’s no miracle. News of Morang’s amazing harvests have Philippines weren’t as successful. To be convinced that no part of Nepal need be This is not a high-yield genetically spread quickly by word of mouth. This sure, SRI demands skilful farming, food deficit anymore if SRI is promoted as engineered rice but the normal mansuli year, farmers in Sunsari, Dhankuta, conscientious planting, good timing and a national campaign. Every year, Nepal variety of local seed. Only the method of Chitwan, Dang and Jhapa are trying out the careful drainage. Since the traditional needs 93,000 tons of rice seeds but with cultivation is different: instead of waiting new method. Uprety brings many of them method of planting on flooded paddy fields SRI it will save 80,000 tons and in six weeks, the seedlings are transplanted on inspection visits here. “Actually, it has was a weed-control technique, the drier SRI addition, harvests nationwide could be when they are only two weeks old. The field been more difficult convincing the fields need to be weeded several times doubled. Kathmandu Valley farmers doesn’t have to be flooded, in fact it needs agronomists and officials than farmers,” he during the harvest cycle. presently grow 5.2 tons of rice per hectare, to be drained of excess water. The seeds are laughs. But the benefits far outweigh these with SRI they could grow up to 12 tons, planted farther apart so that while a normal It hasn’t been easy to convince obstacles and Uprety says the main save most of their seeds and use less paddy field needs 50 kg of seed per hectare, international scientists either. Ever since a challenge is training. In Morang, he has chemicals and water. the new method uses less than 10 kg. And French Jesuit in Madagascar, Fr Henri de turned local farmers like 28-year-old Uprety sums it up: “Sometimes the best the harvest? It is more than double. Laulanie discovered the new method in Kishore Luitel, who are now total converts solutions are the simplest solutions.” z “I thought, how can this be?” recalls 1983, agriculture research institutes have to SRI, into trainers. Dan Bahadur Rajbansi Rajendra Uprety, agriculture extension been skeptical. It was only after the Cornell thought Luitel had gone mad a few years ago http://ciifad.cornell.edu/sri/ officer for Morang when he first read about International Institute for Food, Agriculture for adopting the new technique. But earlier http://www.irri.org/publications/today/pdfs/3-3/grain3-3.pdf BUSINESS 15 - 21 JULY 2005 #256 5

Nepal’s first flying school

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ As the number of military and civilian aircrafts increase, the Royal The economics of freedom Nepali Army has decided to get into flight training from Kathmandu airport. COAS Pyar Jung Thapa inaugurated the Royal Nepali Army Curtailment of economic freedom is detrimental to a nation’s growth Aviation Training Centre on Wednesday at the premises of the 11th Brigade on the occasion of the king’s birthday. Six pilots are enrolled athmandu: Doug Bandow, a structure provide more economic on reforms dwindled, the growth in the first batch and instructors will be from the military as well as Senior Fellow at the Cato freedom. The perusal of economic rates fell. While the insurgency can from CAAN. The army will be training its own pilots as well as K Institute, speaks about freedom mandates least be held responsible for lower charging a fee to train civilian pilots. economic freedom and why Nepal interference from the state and that growth rates, lagging off on reforms should also not curtail it. happens best perhaps in a was more of a factor. In Sri Lanka

Apartments in Pokhara London: The Middle East democratic political structure. the state has been engaged in ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Symposium focuses mainly on With plural political forces, there domestic warfare for the past two Annapurna is constant check on the decades but has still managed to Developers have government in power. keep growth rates steady. Sri built Fishtail ECONOMIC SENSE Residency, the first Artha Beed In South Asia, we have seen Lanka’s continuous pursuance of apartment complex that democratic India has more reforms and loosening of state in Pokhara. why countries should pursue economic freedom than military- control was the reason for Sprawled on the reforms else run the risk of losing ruled Pakistan. That perhaps also sustained growth. outskits with a magnificient view of Machhapuchhre it consists of 63 out in the global race for economic explains the economic growth of This Beed believes economic apartments, three business houses, four community buildings and 70 supremacy. India outstripping Pakistan. freedom integrates a large part of residential houses. Scotland: The G8 urges the informal economy that never countries to open up their converts to the mainstream

Easy fares economies more, formal economy. For instance, ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ emphasising on the direct allowing money transfer firms Indian Airlines has started new fares called ‘Easy Fare’ for travel to correlation between poverty to compete for remittance from various destinations within India. Under this scheme, it is available reduction and economic abroad has brought remittances for sale on four levels of fares with discounts upto 60 percent on freedom. under the legitimate economy published fares. Beijing: Condoleeza Rice that was otherwise languishing NEW PRODUCT tells Chinese leaders to in the hundi trade. However, pursue the path of economic not allowing Nepalis to invest MARKING: NOMARKS, a flagship brand of freedom. abroad legitimately has kept the Ozone Ayurvedics, has launched the herbal Studies have shown there hundi business going. Opening cream in 12 gm packs that easily fits into is direct correlation between Academia has always locked horns this in a regulated manner would handbags and pockets. It is available now at economic freedom and economic in the debate of whether China surely provide better returns to the retail outlets and pharmacies across Nepal for growth. The collapse of the Soviet with its single party rule might tons of foreign exchange sitting on Rs 46.40. Union and the state of eastern lose its momentum of economic state coffers. European economies as well as growth to India which has more So, repeat after me: curtailment that of most African countries political freedom. of economic freedom has always HOT ‘N SOUR: Himalayan Snacks demonstrate this adequately. Nepal’s experiment with proved detrimental to a nation’s and Noodles Pvt Ltd has introduced Mayos Hot & Sour, the instant Economic freedom also has freeing parts of control on the economic growth and economic noodles’ latest flavour. The product is direct correlation with the system economy in the early 1990s did freedom is directly correlated to available at all stores. of governance. Again, studies have lead to positive results. The GDP political freedom. z suggested that countries which growth rates early in the decade pursue pluralism in their political were good but as the momentum www.arthabeed.com 6 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 15 - 21 JULY 2005 #256

energy for the movement, such coordination isn’t productive. Even the NC and the UML have not thrashed out their differences. Every time the parties bring out new Protests that go nowhere protest programs, it appears to be a rehashed version of the same old things. If this is going to be a real movement, NC leader Narhari Acharya (seen left being released last it shouldn’t limit itself to the parties. In a genuine people’s week) in Budhabar, 13 July movement, protest programs are shaped spontaneously by the people. In 1990, we witnessed how the movement grew There are still some ambiguities in the common agenda of organically out of the decay of the Panchayat. Today, it the seven parties that have been agitating against the royal appears that the parties want to keep the situation under takeover. The agreement hasn’t been able to bring out a their control. They have been tightly regulating days, common mission statement. Since there is no uniformity in schedules, slogans and even the speeches. It is becoming the opinion and commitment of the parties’ demands, the increasingly clear that the parties do not want to see the movement has not been able to convince the people. Forget active involvement of individuals in their protest. The role about the people, the movement has not even been able to of the parties has been restricted to simply set the attract the parties’ own activists. schedules and carefully calibirating the level of protest. If The process of internal debate within the parties has they control everything, the demonstrations will just become very weak. There have been efforts to coordinate remain street protests. That is exactly what is happening but when there is no open debate to generate the necessary now and that is where things will stay. PRAKASH MATHEMA

Innocent targets students are forced to go back schools in the region and only figurehead but as the chief of an imminent reshuffle in the ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ every month for more training. one is still running. The Maoists executive. Two years ago, at a council of ministers. Samaya, 15 July But last month, a group of 600 say the campaign is working public felicitation in Nepalganj, Meanwhile, the army sent students and Maoists who were because government schools have he declared that it was not commandos to Kabhre and BAGLUNG—Seventeen high taking them towards their improved their SLC records. Out possible for a 21st century Sindhuli after getting intelligence schools students from Beni had training grounds came face to face of the 38 students who appeared monarch to be seen only but to be reports that Prachanda was in the gone home to their villages for with an army patrol. The soldiers in the SLC from the Nepal heard also. He proved this by area. Although the units looked holidays. They never returned. On had already taken up firing Secondary School, 27 passed. But granting several interviews to for the Maoist leader everywhere, the way, the Maoists accused positions but a confrontation was the closure of private schools has both local and foreign journalists he appears to have slipped away them of leaving the village to go averted when the Maoists ran increased the overcrowding in and interacting closely with after Maoists got wind of to school without their away. A student from Bhanu government schools and there are media representatives. increased military activity. One of permission. The rebels had told Secondary School who had been cases where 185 students study in the units that was returning to them to study in the village forced away from her class a single class. Troika the capital after the operation was

school but the classes had been without even getting a chance to ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ambushed at Nepalthok on the disrupted because the Maoists tell her parents trembles as she Abuser of authority Jana Aastha, 13 July Sindhuli Highway on 7 July and

themselves had forced Grade Nine recounts the incident. “I was ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ two soldiers were injured. and 10 students to join their never as afraid as I was then,” she Nepal Samacharpatra, 12 July After Prachanda called on the abhiyan. A group of journalists recalls. Her parents were even political parties on Sunday to set Eye for an eye

ran into the students just after more frightened. BIRGANJ—Nepal Journalist up a negotiating team, the parties ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ they had been stopped from The Maoists are obviously Federation’s Parsa Division are learnt to be deep in Editorial in Drishti, 12 July returning to their schools in the doing this as a part of their Adviser and Publisher/Editor of discussions about how to district headquarters. They were recruitment drive and to tap the Gramin Samachar, Bhadranath respond. But the Maoists The action and behaviour of state all teary-eyed but there was young minds which are more Adhikari, who was released on themselves haven’t set up any authorities prove that the country nothing they could do against the malleable. But most of the school Sunday has accused the Mid- such negotiating team of their has been pushed back to the 16th threat of Maoist violence. All of children say they only go out of Zonal Regional Administrator own. If Girija Koirala is in the century where the rule of law was them were forced to agree to study fear and if it were up to them, Rabindra Chakraborty of illegally team then the Maoists are nonexistent. Dictatorial behaviour in the village school. they would just return to their arresting and mentally torturing expected to set up a new team, is dominant. It is the Students here are used to studies. The Gulmi Baglung head him. Adhikari was released after a according to the Maoist government’s responsibility to being force on one abhiyan after of the Maoist affiliated student few strings were pulled but only mouthpiece Janaadesh. Sources oversee the arrest and another where they have to listen union, Sarad Oli, says his group on the condition that the say the Maoist offer for talks came interrogation of suspects but to long speeches on the is in a militarisation phase and managing editor of the paper after secret overtures between when it is involved in atrocious revolution, drill and get some the training of students is a part Raghab Saha would be produced them and after Koirala affirmed treatment of civilians, we need to military training. The abhiyan of that process. The Maoists have before the police. Adhikari was he was ready to talk if the Maoists rethink things. Security forces lasts five months and the already closed down 49 private taken into police custody without stopped attacking political dragged Rama of Jhapa out from a warrant at 10AM last Friday on parties. The parties are still inside her house and shot her the orders of Regional suspicious of Maoist intentions dead in front of her family Administrator Chakraborty. and are also wary of the members. How is this different Adhikari, who supports the government’s response to them from the Maoist atrocities that king’s direct rule, was first taken talking to a group declared as took place recently in Kailali to the Ward Police Office Birta, ‘terrorist’. But they haven’t ruled when a policewoman and her transferred to the District Police out negotiations and are child were killed in cold blood? Office in Parsa and then sent to reportedly discussing the The state is the protector of the Mid-Zonal Regional composition of their team. If citizens, it should not give any Administrator’s office in Hetauda Koirala and Madhab Nepal are on excuse to be compared to the that very day. Speaking to the team, it is likely that Maoists. Rama’s murderer must colleagues at the Nepal Journalists Prachanda will also be on the face justice otherwise it will show Federation Parsa, Adhikari said team from the Maoist side. state security as barbaric and he wasn’t even allowed to call his Government ministers have said uncivilised. family members. the parties will also be declared as terrorists if they talk to the Forced march Royal bash Maoists. Other party leaders like ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ KP Oli of the UML have Rajdhani, 9 July Samaya, 14 July dismissed the Maoist calls for talks, saying talks with those Human rights and child welfare The king arrived a bit late for his believing in violence was out of groups have spoken out strongly 59th birthday bash organised the question. It is not clear how against the government forcing specifically for journalists on 1 the government will react to students to march on the streets July. They stood still as he made future talks but there are rumours on various anniversaries and his entrance dressed in a white ceremonies. Often, the children shirt, trousers, black waistcoat have to march under the and a dhaka topi, expecting him scorching sun or in the rain and to chat like he did last year. But there have been cases of children he walked past them with a fainting from dehydration. They National Commission on the Rights of Rats serious face that left most say such forced marches are a Chariman journalists surprised and violation of human rights. They disappointed. This year, 15 have asked government organs, Batsayan in Kantipur, 9 July minutes after he had arrived, he schools and others not to use QUOTE OF THE WEEK took his leave with the children to push their case on the impression that it was not streets. Earlier, it used to be “I often wonder why I ever returned to Nepal. I was necessary for the king to either political parties, now it is the very comfortable living abroad. Now, I’m in a mess.” listen or find out what was government that is forcing happening in the kingdom. It children to march on the streets Tulsi Giri in Purnajagaran, 12 July clearly proved that he no longer using the excuse of one occasion saw himself as a constitutional or another. SELECTED MATERIAL TRANSLATED EVERY WEEK FROM THE NEPALI PRESS FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 15 - 21 JULY 2005 #256 7 “The euphoria has evaporated” Himal Khabarpatrika, 30 June - 15 July Six years ago, Dirgharaj Prasai hit headlines by leading a demonstration to Narayanhiti Palace shouting the famous slogan: “Raja au, desh bachau.” Today, Prasai says: “It will be disastrous if this regime stays for a moment longer.”

Himal Khabarpatrika: How has the past five months of the royal regime been? Dirgharaj Prasai: February First was a result of the incompetence of the political parties. Unfortunately, His KIRAN PANDAY Majesty couldn’t find the right people. Even this regime is incompetent, corrupt and in the grip of smugglers and that is why there is no national unity. The euphoria of the royal takeover has now evaporated.

And you, a person who wanted the king to takeover! Raja au, desh bachau was a demand intended to balance nationalism, monarchism and parliamentary democracy. The people are sovereign; the king has to be their protector. The ball is now in the king’s court, he has to create the condition to hand over power to the people’s representatives. This regime is submerged in economic mismanagement and steeped in self-glorification, it will be disastrous if this regime stays for a moment longer.

Why do you think the political parties aren’t on board? The king doesn’t have people around him who want the parties on board. Why should anyone try to agree with people who are intent just on provocation? That is why the parties and the Maoists haven’t come for negotiations. The people around the king want to push His Majesty towards authoritarianism. The RCCC shouldn’t have character assassinated Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, who is the most committed democrat. That doesn’t help the king. cgzf;g' / gltstfljxLg} JolQm / ;dfh cGttfuTjf] ktg Maybe you’re being critical because you didn’t get a position? >L % sf ] ;/sf/ I am speaking the truth because I am a patriot, I have to speak eP/ hfG5g \ . To;}n] /fli6o« hLjgsf x/s] cfofdx¿df ;"rgf tyf ;~rf/ dGqfno against those who are bent on destroying the monarchy. There is no pbfx/0fLo cgzf;g' / gltstf} sfod ugk5'{ { . / To;sf] greater danger to the nation than having a monarchy that is not for the ;"rgf ljefu country. ;'?cft cfkmaf6}+ u/f }+ . 8 TRAVEL

Double traverse in t Diary of a rainshadow trek a

STEPHEN J KEELING good as my engine engages. safe route the long way round the Climbing and climbing and taking eastern side over two high passes. in the amazing wild landscape of I am slowing down and have to Days 1, 2, 3 and 4. snow peaks, forests, whitewater push myself forward. Passing a Fly Pokhara-Jomsom (2,710 m) streams and anticipating the few blue sheep I soon reach the and the next day reach Muktinath challenge ahead. first 5,240 m pass. The path then (3,760 m). Climb the dramatic What was driving me on was peters out and from here the going Dzong Dadaa (5,200 m) that the prospect of the beautiful wild gets really tough for the next, towers north of Muktinath. Tough landscapes and the need to push somewhat challenging, 24 hours. going with no clear path to the top my limits now and again. I am not I navigate along the side of a and great views towards Upper suicidal but like a challenge. melting glacier to the Eastern Mustang. Next day ascend “Never trek alone!”…“Take a guide Pass (5,340 m). Terrific views of Thorung La pass (5,416 m) and as the route is arduous and the lake framed by a cliff-sided then head east and down, difficult to find”…“Only climb gully. overnighting in the dramatic 300 m a day over 3000 m altitude!” At 4.15 PM I lift myself up and surroundings of Thorung Phedi. You can set aside this sensible set off towards Meso Kanta La advice if you know what you are (5,121 m) along the large lateral Day 5. doing, are fit and the conditions moraines. I make good progress Down to Manang village (3,540 m) are favourable. but keep losing the path as I follow with my mind on the challenge of What a fantastic trail through the suggested route from the crossing back over the Annapurna huge scree slopes and along cliff Internet round the north of a shark- massif to Jomsom via Tilicho sides. I linger taking in the toothed peak. I plod on at a pace of (lake). Accounts of this trip warn wilderness atmosphere and the about 30 steps and then a minute’s of difficult route finding and precipitous drops as the lodge rest. inaccurate maps. keeper catches up with me. We At 6PM I reach the saddle and pass scarecrows designed to keep look into the valley leading Day 6. snow leopards away. towards Jomsom. The gusting Not feeling too well but ‘the thing wind and the late hour stop me that drives me’ starts to rumble. I Day 7. from lingering. The next part is buy a walking stick for the The next morning’s pull up to the supposed to be pretty treacherous treacherous scree slopes ahead lake is tough. There is 800 m of and so I quickly head down what is and head for Khangsar village. lung-bursting altitude to climb with the wrong steep scree and I find the keeper of Tilicho my rucksack feeling like it’s full of boulder-filled gully. A few large Base Camp Lodge. He agrees to boulders. I cross the rim stones whiz past. I keep to the open the lodge. He promises to and…what a sight…a huge side thankful for my 25-rupee stick follow me out there and points out expanse of azure water to negotiate the patches of steep the way—an improbable-looking surrounded by rock, snow and ice. snow and ice. route across some distant steep It is 11AM as I set off towards I feel relief from the drop in scree slopes. Beginning to feel the other end of the lake. I take the altitude (4,700 m). Now it is a 15 - 21 JULY 2005 #256 9

the trans-Himalaya across Thorung and Tilicho PICS: STEPHEN J KEELING

question of finding the route. I about a leopard leaping on me. ground at about 11AM with great can’t make sense of the map and Somehow feel quite rested as I set relief. After crossing another am convinced it is wrong. off at 5.30 AM the next morning. I ravine I reach a good path and a Anyway, I am heading in roughly head down into a ravine few hours later, pace into Jomsom the right direction and losing clambering through wild forest. feeling relieved and quite altitude but the indistinct tracks Below I try to work my way exhilarated but puzzled about my show no human footprints. I have downstream but soon find my way route-finding difficulties. in my mind the need to avoid the barred by a waterfall with no way The next morning sitting in risky prospect of stumbling into around. I then head back upstream Pokhara airport waiting for the the army’s high-altitude warfare and pass what looks like a fresh connection to Kathmandu I take training camp below Nilgiri in the bear footprint on a boulder. I then another look at the map. I laugh half light. try to climb out the opposite side out loud as it suddenly makes Heading further northwest up some slatey scree and cliffs sense. I pick out the meandering and down I reach the treeline. I thinking that if I come across a route across the contours I had keep going by the light of the half bear’s den with cubs I’ll be a taken the day before and realise moon and at 8PM, stop at a level goner. that the Internet route photo was patch of dusty ground and spread Near the top it gets too risky wrong and had sent me to the my sleeping bag out for the night. and I painstakingly pick my way wrong side of the shark tooth back down. Finally I manage to peak. Next time I’m going for a Day 8. clamber up the northeast side of beach holiday in Thailand, I don’t get much sleep worrying the ravine reaching more level although the time after that I’ll be back in the hills. Route The first part of the route follows the Annapurna Circuit in a clockwise direction from Jomsom to Manang village. Most people do the circuit anti-clockwise partly to avoid having to climb the Thorung La pass from the Muktinath side as it involves 1,700 m of ascent. Quite a number of trekkers reach Tilicho from Manang as an acclimatisation trip with at Tilicho Base Camp Lodge on the way. Very few make the trip over to Jomsom from Tilicho and it does help if you know the right way! 10 REVIEW 15 - 21 JULY 2005 #256 Fiction more real than fact Narayan Wagle’s first novel drags us to the edge and forces us to peer down at the abyss below epal’s slide began with the beginning empathise with Narayan’s feeling of of the insurgency 10 years ago and it inadequacy about journalism’s capacity to N was after the royal massacre of 1 June provide a true picture of our nation’s 2001 that things really started hurtling out trauma. of control. We wrestle with reportages, columns, The person with a ringside seat to all editorials but somehow what isn’t getting this is Narayan Wagle, the journalist who through is the brutalisation of society by rose up the ranks to become the chief editor conflict. Nepal’s social fabric is being torn of Kantipur. He taught himself English apart and all we are doing is reporting it spending days at the British Council while with the journalism of detachment. So, the People’s Movement protests raged on Narayan has taken the courageous step of the streets outside. choosing the medium of a novel to get the Unlike most of his laid-back peers, real story across. Narayan was never satisfied with reporting In all countries in the throes of a messy just on conflict, facts are often more dramatic than BOOK the fiction. As journalists in Nepal, we feel that corridors every story of a landmine killing children, KIRAN PANDAY Kunda Dixit of abduction of students, young women power disappeared by security forces is a heart- somewhere. We are just chroniclers of about every day in the newspapers. But in the capital. He’d rather be trekking to rending family tragedy. Unfortunately, by the carnage.” because they happen to characters we now remote corners of the country bringing time the deaths are reported the manner of The storyline weaves the fragile and know intimately the incidents seem more stories of neglect and apathy to the notice of their reporting turns them into statistics. We undeclared love between Drishya and real than the factual headlines. a government in faraway Kathmandu. rarely see, hear or share the pain and Palpasa, a first-generation American Nepali That is the power of fiction. Not only is It helped that Narayan loved to travel personal loss of someone’s loved one. who has returned to the land of her parents this novel as fresh as an open wound, the and had a spirit of adventure instilled in him Narayan Wagle’s first novel, Palpasa after being unable to take post-9/11 racism, author’s imagination makes Nepal’s real by his doting father. Growing up in Tanahu, Café, is a fictionalised account of some into the artist’s reunion with his school unfolding tragedy come alive with raw Narayan was so fond of taking high dives to actual events, the lives and deaths of friend, Siddhartha, who is now a guerrilla. urgency. The plot is rendered in non-linear swim in the river that after he nearly ordinary Nepalis caught in the vice of war. Siddhartha comes to Kathmandu in the style that is experimental in the world of drowned twice, his parents sold off their In the first chapter, Narayan makes a cameo aftermath of the royal massacre to seek Nepali fiction. Wagle’s Nepali is simple, riverside property and moved to a farm up as himself, the editor of a paper in shelter in Drishya’s house, the two argue colloquial and his voice is genuine and in the mountains just to take their son away Kathmandu who hears of the abduction of a over whether the goals of revolution justify sincere. Drishya comes across sometimes from danger. friend by soldiers. the means. as being unnecessarily abrasive, but It was an idyllic home and Narayan has That much is fact but in the next chapter “How can you ever justify violence?” Palpasa is an authentic diaspora daughter a gleam in his eye as he describes the mud Narayan turns his disappeared friend into Drishya asks. caught between love for her motherland and and tile house at the edge of a an imaginary artist named Drishya and the Siddhartha replies: “Without destroying alienation from her adopted home. rhododendron forest, terrace fields, a clear rest of the book is his story told in the you can’t build anew.” Narayan Wagle’s book can be called an brook flowing through it and across the artist’s own voice. The author admits that “But people are dying,” Drishya pleads. anti-war novel. It drags us to the edge and valley, the icy ramparts of the Annapurnas. much of what Drishya goes through are “The people don’t need peace, they forces us to peer down at the abyss below. Even as a child, he remembers the semi-autobiographical. need justice,” says his Maoist friend, “If It is being released this weekend and is excitement of climbing hills to see what was In the first chapter, Narayan Wagle the there is justice there will be peace.” going to be talked about for a long time. z on the other side. His most vivid memories author and protagonist gives us a hint about “But you are carrying out injustices in are of holding his father’s hand as they why he is writing the book. As he takes the name of justice,” says Drishya one last walked across the mountains to attend dictation from a district reporter about time but it is clear the two can’t even agree Palpasa Café melas several days away. another firefight in the mountains, he thinks: to disagree. by Narayan Wagle Narayan Wagle’s bylines will be “Nothing new here. Every day it is the Drishya travels to his home village to 245 pages familiar to the readers of Kantipur over the same. Tomorrow’s paper will be the same meet Siddhartha and finds it torn apart by Publication Nepalaya, 2005 past 10 years and the datelines were as this morning’s. The same stories of an war. They are all there in these pages: the (in Nepali) usually of the most farflung places: Mugu, army patrol being ambushed, suspected spy atrocities, executions, disappearances and Hard cover Rs 450, Bajura, Bajhang. As a fellow editor, I executed by Maoists, a bomb going off people caught in the crossfire that we read Soft cover Rs 350. Big 5 Visit www.nepalitimes.com//archive.htm and vote for your favourite Nepali Times article from the last five years. Articles that get the most votes will be featured in our fifth anniversary special issue on 29 July. NATION 15 - 21 JULY 2005 #256 11 Underfed and underfunded Seventy percent of child deaths in Nepal are indirectly a result of malnutrition

NARESH NEWAR alone causes an estimated 30,000 underweight, below 2.5 kg. child deaths every year as The need to combat espite recent official undernourished children are undernourishment doesn’t get as statements about rising weaker and more likely to be much attention from donors or D average living standards, brought down by the vicious the government as it deserves. grinding poverty and the conflict, spiral of disease and Protein-energy malnutrition, the effects of junk food in cities malnutrition. Combined with they say is much more serious have made undernourishment worms, undernourishment is than Vitamin A, iron or iodine and malnutrition a serious seen by many as Nepal’s primary deficiency. Surveys have shown national epidemic. health concern for children. it is responsible for 70 percent of Protein-energy malnutrition “Global studies have shown child deaths through related affects 63 percent of Nepali that malnutrition is an illnesses.“Malnutrition doesn’t children which means they don’t underlying factor in 55 percent of get priority because it doesn’t get enough food to ensure normal all child deaths. Since the rates yield visible and immediate physical and mental of malnutrition are very high in results,” explains Dilli Raman development. More than half of Nepal—South Asia is the worst Adhikari of the government’s Nepali children are therefore in the world, worse than Africa— Child Health Division. physically stunted, and although we can assume that the situation “The government has to this is reversible if the child is similar or worse,” says introduce more nutrition wards starts eating enough after age two, UNICEF’s nutrition expert, PO and programs to specifically deal they may suffer learning Blomquist. with malnourished children,” disabilities as well if Malnutrition hits many says Som Paneru of Nepali undernourishment persists . Nepali children even before they Youth Opportunity Foundation Hunger increases their are born because their mothers (NYOF), which runs nutrition susceptibility to diarrhoea, don’t have adequate food while rehabilitation centres in measles and acute respiratory pregnant. Between 30-50 percent Kathmandu, Mechi and Bheri. infection. Diarrhoeal dehydration of Nepali children are born “Usually, sick children are discharged from hospitals after having had other diseases treated A hungry war but their malnourishment remains neglected,” says Paneru, Nutrition experts are concerned that the conflict has worsened the state of “this causes relapse and leads to child malnutrition. “The constant migration and displacement of villagers has made the problem even worse because it is the children whose food habits we other diseases and often death.” have to change once they arrive in the cities,” says Pradeep Silwal of World Child health experts have Vision International Nepal which has been working in several food deficit pushed for school feeding NARESH NEWAR districts and villages with nutrition projects. Silwal adds that the parents won’t programs and it was Junk food malnutrition be able to afford green vegetables or enough rice, so the children are fed dry implemented with donor and non-nutritious food lacking in proteins. Lakpa Sherpa’s staple diet while growing up in Solu Khumbu was instant noodles. In Maoist-affected areas like Kalikot, Jumla and Dailekh a recent security support in coordination with By age 13, she was so addicted to it that she had lost all appetite for regular meals. ban on transport of food items, clothing and shoes is sure to make the the Health, Education and Her mother didn’t detect Lakpa’s deteriorating health because she had four other situation worse. In Diktel and Khotang in the east, a Maoist ban on Agriculture Ministries. But it children to look after. Last month, Lakpa collapsed from severe stomach pain and transporting food items is causing a severe food shortage. Even in was phased out in 1990 due to headaches. She had become weak and weighed barely 19 kg. She was flown to Kathmandu for treatment. Her condition has improved steadily afterwards at the Kathmandu, the internally displaced are under nourished. lack of coordination. Nepal’s “Scarcity of food due to constant road blockades cause severe crises, Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) which has helped over 1,000 malnourished especially in deficit areas,” says World Visions’s Indra Baral. This is already target to reduce malnutrition by children. evident in Humla which has the highest hunger rate in Nepal, with 90 percent half by 2015 is therefore not “The problem is not just poverty and ignorance but neglect by mothers especially of the children suffering chronic malnutrition. going to be met. those who bear more than five children,” says nutritionist Manosa Bhattarai. Lakpa The problem is getting worse because whatever nutrition projects that A UNICEF report says that suffered protein-energy malnutrition, a chronic form of undernourishment, indicated by stunting and underweight. It is usually the result of lack of food but can also be remained are gradually phasing out as more organisations shift towards even with 6.2 percent of annual conflict-related humanitarian and relief work. caused by the wrong kind of food, as in Lakpa’s case. Lakpa is lucky to have reduction of malnutrition, it survived because her family could afford to fly her to Kathmandu. Many other Nepali 350. will take another 26 years. z children aren’t so lucky. 12 INTERNATIONAL 15 - 21 JULY 2005 #256 Brown man’s burden Who is to distinguish between a young Muslim of ‘Pakistani’ ancestry and a young Muslim of ‘Indian’ ancestry both living in Leeds?

t was in the autumn of 1980, at the height of which extended to Afghanistan and Pakistan. In what was known as the Iranian Hostage Crisis, the case of the attacks on the London trains and I when over 50 Americans had been taken in by bus, all suspects thus far are of ‘Pakistani’ Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini’s radical followers ancestry. in Teheran. Granted, a Great Britain which has seen In the US, Jimmy Carter was in deep trouble such overwhelming brown migration since half in the last days of his presidency and anti-Iran a century–enough to change the composition of hysteria was at its height. I was at the Criminal British society–is vastly different from Court of King’s County (Brooklyn), New York exclusivist America. As a result, there will be City, as a journalism student covering a murder much more introspection in London and less of trial. I asked a question of the prosecution bench, a blame-the-world syndrome evident. and the government’s counsel turned around and Nevertheless, the discovery of young lashed out, “Where’re you from, Iran?” He Southasian Britons as the perpetrators of the pronounced terror attacks on Londoners will once again SOUTHASIA BEAT it ‘eye-ran’, bring to the fore their identification as ‘Islamic Kanak Mani Dixit just as in a terrorists’ rather than ‘terrorists’. Nor will the later era reaction be limited to brown-skinned people George W Bush would say ‘Sad-damn’. There was who are Muslim. For who is to distinguish a no reporting for me that day in Brooklyn. Pakistani from an Indian, a Southasian Sunni The gentleman was of course making the from a Southasian Shia, a Sindhi from a characteristic mistake of the ugly insular Punjabi, a Bangladeshi from a Gujarati? American who can be found even in ultra- Indeed, one must consider the distance or cosmopolitan New York: that anyone who is proximity between a young Muslim of white is right, all blacks are former slaves and ‘Pakistani’ ancestry living in Leeds and a young brown people forever the unreconstructed alien. Muslim of ‘Indian’ ancestry living in the same The worldview of that particular prosecutor has town? We may thus witness a strange situation doubtless progressed since the Iran hostage- in which an attack on London’s public taking, even as the national ire has been diverted transport system forces Southasians to consider from the Ayatollah to Osama, with a brief their own shared natural and cultural heritage– diversion at Sad-damn. from the colour of their skin (olive to brown) to Without doubt, following the tide of brown their accents. General Musharraf’s lilt is not that immigration to the United States since the 1970s different from that of Lal Krishna Advani’s, and from Latin America, Southasia and West Asia, now the two even appreciate the same Quaid-e- Americans are today better educated as to the Azam. nature and content of world humanity. But at While there are those Southasians of the moments of crisis, the deeply held prejudices Himalayan rimland who are considered will boil to the surface. The 9/11 attacks were ‘Mongoloid’ and ‘Australoid’, the majority of such a crisis, and afterwards, people with Southasians are brown ‘Caucasoids’ who are Muslim names and/or brown skin tone became easily mistaken for one another the world over. the targets of venom. While Southasians have suffered acts of The inability of the occidental to distinguish terror often enough, this is the first high profile Osama bin Laden’s headgear from the Sikh’s attack in a western capital by radicals of turban made life unbearable for a while for Southasian descent. It is certain that the sardars all over, and among the first to be worldliness of London, the political clout of murdered by vigilantes in the US after the World the Southasian community in Great Britain, as Trade Centre attack was a Sikh in Arizona for his well as the deeper links between the European ‘Middle Eastern appearance’. island and the subcontinent will not deliver The way in which ‘Islamic radicals’ are seen the kind of primitive reaction we saw after 9/11. in the west will have changed subtly with the But there will be a subtle shift in the way that London attacks of last week, and there will be a we are perceived and it will once again force simultaneous shift in how all Southasians are Southasians outside Southasia, at least, to perceived outside the subcontinent. The 9/11 consider each other as more similar than attacks were all carried out by young Arab men, dissimilar. Nationalisms cannot get us too far in mostly from Saudi Arabia. The only link to other hemispheres, howsoever we may treat each Southasia then was through Osama’s network, other here. SPORTS 15 - 21 JULY 2005 #256 13 Sweeping through Improve your swing and get the ball flying

ver watched weekend golfers sweep their drives successfully off the tee, then fluff their fairway woods no matter how hard E they try? Well, they have the right key but don’t know when to use it again. In today’s game where courses are getting longer, it’s imperative to be able to hit fairway woods well. It’s also a lot easier to hit a fairway wood than a long iron. Not having these shots in your armoury will inevitably leave you short of the green on any long hole, giving but a slender chance of making par. So why aren’t those three and five wood fairway shots TEE BREAK getting properly airborne? Generally, woods are Deepak Acharya designed to hit the ball almost on the upswing. In fact, it’s just the

opposite of how irons have been designed (to hit the ball on the KIRAN PANDAY downswing). The driver is the largest and longest of the woods and is most effective if used to hit the ball on the upswing. Thus, the long tees are used to lift the ball up above the ground. Fairway woods are also designed to be used in such a manner. The action is to almost sweep the ball with a shallower or more horizontal angle of approach A trigger happy sport than the irons. With a new shooting range, new equipment, new tournaments Here are some tips to get you started: Nepali shooters may soon be bagging medals The first step is to make sure you have the ball correctly positioned in your stance, somewhere opposite the inside of the forward heel. If the ball position is too close to the centre you AARTI BASNYAT only professional shooting range Says Karki, “It does need more tendency to hit it downward and the effectiveness of the club is in Nepal is in Kathmandu has exposure but we have to be reduced tremendously. onsidering how much limited accessibility. Then there careful about the people we select Nepalis are shooting each is the additional problem of to train or accept membership Next, work with practice swings without a ball until you can Cother lately, you’d expect costly equipment. from because of the country’s consistently sweep the grass in the location opposite the inside of shooting as a sport to be much Most of our national level volatile situation.” The sport is your forward heel as opposed to taking a divot or swinging in the air more popular than it is. shooters, so far, come from either already being promoted in above the grass. Relax your arms and hands and feel the club Shooting and swimming are police or army backgrounds. The schools and colleges with an swinging more freely, it helps rather than gripping with your hands two compulsory sports in the top two female shooters, inter-college tournament in the and trying to force the club to swing faster. Olympics but shooting never Saraswati Baniya and Sangita pipeline. received much recognition here. Karki, winner and runner-up in The Nepal Shooting Still, Kishore Karki, president of the air pistol category of the Association is on the look out for the Nepal Shooting Association Birthday Cup, are both from the new players and is increasing the says, “Shooting has come a long police. But Asim Yadav, who participation of schools and way and now we are trying to get won the Best Air Rifle in the colleges. “We are not only looking new equipment to promote it Birthday Cup Open Shooting for younger and newer players to further within the country.” Competition is a civilian gun send to tournaments but also It was recognised as an enthusiast. encouraging the sport by making official sport only after 1980 but “I come from the tarai and the it more accessible to those it has come to the fore in the men in my family have always interested,” says Karki. past two years after Nepali been interested in shooting, they Shooting is not as easy as it sharpshooters got experience at used to go hunting but I’ve liked looks. It needs a lot of focus and international tournaments. it as a sport,” says Yadav. concentration, says Yadav, There is evidence of increased Saraswati Baniya got interested adding: “It helps me stay fit With your practice swings, get to the point where you can sweep interest. The participation of after she joined the police force. because it requires both physical the grass for a noticeable distance (let’s say three to six inches) both male and female players in “Shooting is a part of my job, I and mental fitness. Without rather than at just one small point where the club bounces off the this sport is high and the Nepali enjoy it but can understand how clarity of the mind, taking a shot ground. You can usually see the grass blades move when you sweep team also managed to bag the it would be difficult for a can be very difficult.” through or you might even leave a path through the grass that you can bronze medal in the 8th SAF civilian to take it up,” she told Now, with the establishment see after your swings. games. National player and us. And even though she is from of the shooting range at Birendra runner-up in the recent Birthday the police she says she doesn’t International Convention Centre, Once you feel comfortable with practice swings, stay focused on Cup Tournament, Sangeeta Karki get enough time to practice. new equipment on the way, new this ‘sweeping of the grass’ when you swing through the ball. Many golfers change their focus at this point and try to hit the ball instead. says, “We want to see shooting “Regular intensive practice only tournaments in the pipeline and This usually results in a different swing (with no sweeping) and more made more professional with happens right before a a new committee in place, Nepal problems. better equipment.” tournament, which is not should be earning shooting Stay focused on the sight, sound and feeling of sweeping the Training and the fact that the enough,” she adds. medals soon. grass through the ball and the quality and consistency of your contact with fairway woods will improve. The bottom line is: with the less lofted and longer length clubs, you should not hit the ball on the downswing, sweep through it with a shallow angle of attack instead. Practice the above drills and you’ll soon find your entire range of fairway wood shots getting airborne towards the target. Once you can launch the ball further with your fairway woods, don’t be surprised to find yourself scoring lower.

Deepak Acharya is a golf instructor and Golf Director at Gokarna Forest Golf Resort & Spa, Kathmandu. [email protected] 14 CITY 15 - 21 JULY 2005 #256

ABOUT TOWN Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise), a divorced dockworker and less-than- FESTIVAL AND EXHIBITIONS perfect father is about to get his kids for a rare weekend visit. Soon ™ Brief Encounters Photos by Holly Holzer at Siddhartha Art Gallery, after his ex-wife (Miranda Otto) and her new husband drop off teenage until 30 July, proceeds go to Kathmandu Valley Preservation son Robbie (Justin Chatwin) and young daughter Rachel (Dakota Trust. 4218048 Fanning), a strange and powerful lightning storm strikes. Moments ™ Art Walk Traditional artworks at Hotel Yak and Yeti. 4248999 later, at an intersection near his house, Ray witnesses an extraordinary event that will change their lives forever. A towering EVENTS three-legged war machine emerges from deep beneath the earth and ™ Reggie Party Speed dating at 1905, Kantipath, on 15 July, 7PM before anyone can react, incinerates everything in sight. An ordinary with DJ session. 4225272 day suddenly becomes the most extraordinary event of their lives— ™ Weekend Retreat with teachings by Ivy van Eer, 16-17 July, the first strike in a catastrophic alien attack on earth. 10AM-4PM at HBMC, Thamel. 4414843 Call 4442220 for show timings www.jainepal.com Quest Entertainment Quest Entertainment Quest Entertainment ™ Guru Purnima 21 July. Quest Entertainment Quest Entertainment ™ Bheda Ko Oon Jasto at Jai Nepal on 21 July, 9AM in aid of Kantipur City College’s Educational Tour 2005. 4430239 ™ Photography Workshop Seven days with Nepal’s experts, 21 July KATHMANDU AIR QUALITY at The Bakery Cafe, Sundhara, 7AM-9AM. 4289818 Although the pollution levels along busy streets such as Putali Sadak are still ™ Feel the Drizzle Monsoon mela at Hotel Yak and Yeti on 30 July, above national standards on most days, the air in residential areas, suburban and 10AM-8PM, free entrance. 9851043268 rural areas of the Valley is now fairly good, thanks to the monsoon rains washing ™ Call for entries Film South Asia ’05, submission deadline 31 July. down the pollutants. The most harmful are dust particles below 10 microns in www.himalassociation.org/fsa diameter which lodges themselves deep within human lungs. Even the air in busy ™ God Dance of Kathmandu Valley Tuesdays at Hotel Vajra, 7PM. streets is breathable on days when it rains heavily. Expect this phase with clean air 4271545 to last for a couple of more months before the dust starts kicking in again. ™ Intercultural Exchange Program Every Wednesday at Goethe 3-9 July 2005 in micrograms per cubic meter. Zentrum, Thapathali, 4.15 PM. 4250871 Source: www.mope.gov.np ™ Tai Chi Demonstration and meditation at Swayambhu. 4256618 Hazardous >425 ™ Fun in the Sun at Club Sundhara, Hotel Shangri-la. 4412999 Harmful 351 to 425 ™ Art workshop for kids at Buddha Gallery. 4441689 Unhealthy 121 to 350 ™ Rugby Practice Saturdays. 4435939, [email protected] ™ Sanibar Mela Saturdays at Bakery Café, Dharara, 2PM and O k 61 to 120 Chuchepati, Boudha, 3PM. Go od < 60

Putalisadak Patan H Thamel Kirtipur Bhaktapur Matsyagaun MUSIC ™ Interpretations of JS Bach’s Suites for Solo Cello by cellist NEPALI WEATHER by MAUSAM BEED Frank Bernède at Darbar Hall, Better late than never, that is the Hotel Yak and Yeti, 6.30 PM-8PM feeling among paddy farmers in Kathmandu Valley who have finally on 15 July Rs 500. 4241163 planted rice one month late. Central ™ Fridays Best of U2 and more at Nepal got its first real monsoon rains Moksh, 8PM, Rs 150. 5526212 this week. Ironically, it was a ™ Shades of Blue Tuesdays at KATHMANDU stronger-than-usual circulation of the Moksh, Pulchok, 7.30 PM. Arabian Sea branch of the monsoon that kept the Bay winds at bay. Now, 5526212 the Bay of Bengal sector is active ™ JCS Trio Saturdays, 8PM at 1905, Kantipath, free entrance. again and as this satellite image ™ The Duo Live at the Jazz Bar, Hotel Shangrila, Lajimpat. taken on Thursday morning shows, ™ The Good Time Blues Band at Rum Doodle, 7PM. 4701208 a heavy mass of rain-bearing clouds is headed towards central Nepal. The ™ Ladies Nights Wednesdays at Jatra, Thamel. 4256622 pressure patterns are also favourable ™ Fusion Mondays at Jalan Jalan Restaurant, 7PM. 4410438 and the rains should be dumped right ™ Jazz at Upstairs, Lajimpat, Wednesdays and Saturdays, 8PM. across the midhills this weekend with the chance that July precipitation FOOD may be normal after all. ™ Summer Special Cocktails this July at Rum Doodle. 4443208 ™ Culinary Fare of Game Food at Hyatt Regency, Boudha. 4491234 KATHMANDU VALLEY ™ The Chimney Signature dishes at Hotel Yak and Yeti. 4248999 Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue ™ Mango Masti Tempting tropical treats and International Buffet Lunch at Soaltee Crowne Plaza. 4273999 ™ Daily Delite Lunch at Hotel Shangri-La, Lajimpat. 4412999 ™ Crosskitchen, Lajimpat, European and Indian cuisine. 9851083806 29-196 28-1866 27-1766 28-186 29-19 ™ Boire and Manger at Vineyard, Baber Mahal Revisited. ™ Bawarchi The Restro Bar for Nawabi cuisine at Lajimpat. 4436673 ™ BBQ Lunch at Le Meridien, Gokarna Forest Golf Resort. 4445550 ™ Barbeque lunch Saturdays at Club Himalaya, Nagarkot. 6680080 ™ Special Combo Burmese and Thai Menu at 1905, Kantipath. ™ Krishnarpan Nepali restaurant at Dwarika’s Hotel. 4479488 ™ Delicacies Pastas at Roadhouse Café, Jawalakhel. 5521755 ™ Earth Watch Restaurant at Park Village, dine with nature. 4375280 ™ Café Bahal Newari cuisine at Kathmandu Guest House. 4700632 ™ The Beer Garden at Godavari Village Resort. 5560675 ™ The Tharu Kitchen at Jungle Base Camp. [email protected]

GETAWAYS ™ Spa Seasonal rates valid till 21 October at Le Meridien. 4451212 ™ Go Karting at Tiger Karts, special monsoon offer. 4361500 ™ Overnight Stay Breakfast and swimming for Rs 999 per person at Godavari Village Resort. 5560675, 5560775 ™ Malaysia Dream Holidays Introductory offers for first four flights of Air Nepal International to Kuala Lumpur. 2012345 ™ Star Cruises Available in Nepal. 2012345, [email protected] ™ Fun Free Offer at Shangri-la Village, Pokhara. 4435742 ™ Jungle Base Camp Lodge, Bardia, special package and prices. [email protected] ™ Shivapuri Heights Cottage Best time to be in Shivapuri. [email protected] ™ Special Summer Package at Tiger Mountain Tharu Lodge. 4361500, [email protected] 15 - 21 JULY 2005 #256 15 Fatima the healer atima Younoos is 62 but she Chinese acupuncture. The wallas come here.” But unlike is still poking needles into knowledge of both has enabled airfares within Nepal, foreigners F four dozen patients a day. her to help patients heal naturally and Nepalis both pay the same for This tireless acupuncturist has without side effects. “People think treatment. Explains Fatima: “The steadily gained a reputation as a acupuncture is a painkiller but in first thing you learn in Chinese healer and her clinic, Hua Tho, is Chinese medicine, we say it is acupuncture class is to treat all crowded with patients. “This is like a tree, we check both the patients equally.” not my business but my life,” inside and the outside. It is not There are 12 different lines in says Fatima who runs the centre about killing pain but long-term the body according to Chinese KIRAN PANDAY with her son, Jamal Younoos, a healing,” she says. acupuncture and these help find the THAT WAY: COAS Gen Pyar Jung Thapa on his way to lay the medical doctor. “I’ve always had foreign problem and its cure, which involve foundation stone of the rehabilitation centre for wounded soldiers being Part-Nepali and part- patients but Nepalis have slowly skilful and specific use of needles. constructed at Bhandarkhal Chhauni on Sunday. Chinese, Fatima has studied opened up to acupuncture,” adds “The cure for a disease differs from Tibetan herbal medicine which Fatima, “Now, even pani-puri person to person according to its concentrates on enhancing origin. It’s like road traffic, you spiritual goodness, and need to check the jam, open up the clog and then make the system stronger. Eighty to 90 percent of the people I have treated have got better,” she adds. Fatima says she has never stopped learning. And everyone is amazed at her energy and youthfulness. “The answer is simple: I love my work and it keeps me in shape,” she says, “I learn a lot from each patient, they are my real teachers.” z Abha Eli Phoboo MIN BAJRACHARYA FRONTLINE REPORTERS: Nine journalists from the districts came to Hua Tho Chinese Acupuncture and Healing Centre. 01-4416243 Kathmandu to share experiences in conflict reporting this week at a seminar organised by Himal Association. (From l-r, back row) S Khanal, Sankhuwasabha, K Tamang, Chitwan, T Pandey, Kalikot, M Poudyal, Surkhet, D Chaudhary, Jajarkot. (Front row) N Karki, Pokhara, JB Pun Magar, Butwal, BK Yadav, Janakpur, A Sunar, Dailekh.

KIRAN PANDAY

KIRAN PANDAY ANTI-BANNERS: Student activists of the eight-party student union alliance tear down a banner felicitating the king on his birthday during a protest on Sunday at Baneswor.

KUMAR SHRESTHA/ NEPALNEWS.COM DANCING IN THE RAIN: A cultural group performing a traditional dance was caught in a monsoon downpour as it made its way to the inauguration of the National Film Festival at BICC on Monday.

KIRAN PANDAY TIGER, TIGER BURNING BRIGHT: The premiere of Satya Mohan Joshi’s play Bagh Bhairab being performed by Aarohaan Theatre group at Gurukul on Monday. 16 to usepre-paidmobiles helmets arenowallowed Pillion ridersnotwearing are wearingseatbeltsandnohelmetswithshadedvisors. free postpaidmobilecallsforpro-monarchyphoneprovidedthey can useprepaidmobilesatanytimebutpillionridersonlyreceive status ofthebanonusingmobileswhiledriving? Answer: Motorcyclists 5. And nowthequestionyou’veallbeenmeaningtoask:What isthe we weredoingourjobrepairingroads.” Department engineer:“Ifwedidtheresealingatnightnoonewouldknow order tocausemaximuminconveniencecommuters.SaysaRoads 4. ThePulchokRoadisclosedforvacuumingatrushhoureverydayin at streetlevel. pedestrians whoshouldcontinuetotrytheirlevelbestcrosstheroad Kathmandu andPatan.Theseareactuallybillboardstandsnotfor 3. Themunicipalityisbuildinganotherhalf-dozenoverheadbridgesin government andsecuritypersonnelcandowhatevertheylike. recognised atcheckpoints.Peoplewearingturbans,headsofstateand insist, shouldrefrainfromwearinghelmetssotheycanbeeasily wearing ahelmet. Terrorists arenotallowedtoridepillionand,butifthey sunglasses, thenthedriverisallowedtowearavisorprovidedhe’snot sitting onthefueltankiswearingafancyhatandpinkplastic be thereinthefirstplaceisn’twearingahelmetwithvisorandchild far? Right. To continue:however, ifthepillionpassenger whoshouldn’t and regardlessofwhetheritisshadedorclear. Everythingunderstoodso even ifhispillionpassengeriswearingahelmetwithorwithoutvisor clear visorbutifhehasashadedisn’tallowedtowearhelmet no ambiguity. A motorcyclistisallowedtowearahelmetprovidedithas more straightforwardbutwe’llrepeatthemhereanywayjustsothereis 2. Comparedtopillionriding,therulesonhelmetsaresimplerandmuch three, fourorevenfivetoabikeisok. side oftheroad.So,torecap:twopeopleonabikeisnotallowedbut other trafficrulesinthiscountrysuchasnotdrivingontheright(wrong) “humble suggestion”thatcitizensnotridetwotoabike,justlikeallthe spot. Theheadoftrafficpolicehasbeenquotedassayingthatitisjusta motorbike youareliabletohaveyourbasichumanrightsviolatedonthe pillion ridingisinfactnotbannedbutifyouarecaughttandemona decided toendtheconfusiononceandforallcategoricallystatethat which itwasbothbannedandnotbanned,trafficpolicehasfinally and thenimmediatelyunbanningtheban,followedbyaweekendduring 1. After officially banningmotorcyclepillionridersonFridaymorning, Rules BulletinforThursday: rules. So,todriveeveryonearoundthebend,hereis9.45PMTraffic minutes toappriselaw-abidingdriversofthelatestchangesintraffic drivers weallneedtobealertabouttherulesandregulationskeep again fromthecrackofdawnonwards.Thatiswhyasresponsible midnight andtwointhemorning,butverywellrevertbacktobeingillegal Darbar Marg)couldsuddenlyandwithoutwarningbelegalbetween confused withKathmandu’srapidlychangingtrafficrules. bulletin in15minutes. Fine print:Thesetrafficrulescanchangewithoutwarning,sostaytunedforthenext T UNDER MYHAT What’s illegaltoday(forexamplemakinganunauthorisedU-turnat can’t reallyblametheordinarymanonstreetforfeelingalittle there issomuchuncertaintyaboutwhataroundthebendthatone his countryischangingsofast,thingsareinsuchastateofflux, Kunda Dixit mandate toissuebulletinsevery15 feel itispartofourpublicservice getting caught. And weinFMradio when wecanbreakthemwithout abreast ofchangessoweknow CDO Regd No.194/056/57Lalitpur, CentralRegion PostalRegd. No.04/058/59 15 -21JULY 2005 #256

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