www.nepalitimes.com #151 27 June - 3 July 2003 18 pages Rs 25 A big hole in our budget NAVIN SINGH KHADKA

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ country could be declared officially “We will increase revenue further and cut bilateral donors are shoring up the nly three weeks into his new job, bankrupt. some more from the regular expenditure development budget by injecting some Rs Finance Minister Prakash Lohani is caught in a Catch-22: more this year,” he told us. 7 billion this year. “We have an improved O Chandra Lohani is trying to see if money than ever before is needed for If that works, the government will not scenario vis-à-vis the development he can plug the hole in the forthcoming development, but more of it is being need to rely on internal borrowing that budget,” says Shankar Raj Sharma at the national budget. He may have to start siphoned off for security. The army says grew by 24 percent last year in direct National Planning Commission. “And if with the huge hole on the street outside it needs to augment hardware to deter violation of the Nepal Rastra Bank Act the peace holds, we can improve his ministry (see pic, right). insurgents from going back to war. On which caps internal borrowing to only five implementation.” Lohani has his work cut out: the top of that, chronic fiscal ailments and percent of the budget. And that is the big “if”. Lohani’s plans government’s security budget has grown structural problems all persist. The security situation has meant that for an investment-friendly and job- four-fold to Rs 9 billion in the past four Even so, Finance Ministry officials see a large chunk of the budget in this fiscal creating budget also hinge on peace and years, revenue is up but still below a silver lining: revenue has grown by 10 year has not been spent, which does not political stability. If this week’s isolated MIN BAJRACHARYA target, export earnings and tourism are percent compared to last year and is now mean that the need is not great. (See: ‘Still skirmishes between the military and the down. If it wasn’t for the estimated $1 only Rs 3 billion less than the regular standstill’, #145). The World Bank, Maoists escalate, or the street agitation billion that came into the country from expenditure. Lohani is confident International Monetary Fund and the intensifies, his plans won’t be worth overseas remittances last year, this balancing the budget is within reach. Asian Development Bank and some much. see p8

Weekly Internet Poll # 91 Q. If the election were to be held next week, who would you like to see as our next prime minister to lead the country ?

Total votes:3,853

Q. If the Maoists laid down their arms and took part in elections, who would you vote for? Alok Bohara analyses recent poll results. p7

Welcome to Patan Museum Café Opening from1030 – 1930 hrs 2 EDITORIAL 27 JUNE - 3 JULY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #151 Nepali Times is published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Chief Editor: Kunda Dixit STATE OF THE STATE by CK LAL Desk Editor: Trishna Gurung, Design: Kiran Maharjan Webmaster: Bhushan Shilpakar [email protected], www.nepalitimes.com Advertising: Sunaina Shah [email protected] Subscription: Anil Karki [email protected] Sales: Sudan Bista [email protected] Sanchaya Kosh Building, Block A-4th Floor, Lalitpur GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal Imperious power Tel: 01-5543333/ 5523845 Fax: 01-5521013

Printed at Jagadamba Press, Hattiban: 01-5547018/17 The business of America is business, and the sooner we realise that the better.

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ KEEP TALKING he ties that bind Kathmandu with been sensitive to Chinese concerns ever own name over alleged campaign finance ren’t we talkative these days? Everyone is talking to everyone else, but it doesn’t Lhasa predate the formation of the since the American inspired Khampa irregularities involving her husband, seem to get us anywhere. T United States of America by uprising from Nepal was brought to an Dick Blum. And then she should boycott A The seven student unions talked to the Ministry of Education last week, but centuries. Kathmandu Valley craftsmen end in the mid-1970s. Such are the Boeing, IBM, Nike and Northwest for predictably, the talks broke down. The revolutionary students also talked, but it was clear minted coins for the Tibetan court, sensitivities that the diplomatic cost of a doing roaring business with Beijing. the talks were not about educational reforms but about social disruption. Those talks Nepal was Tibet’s principal trade partner Dalai Lama visit far outweigh having the Jeff Greenwald’s claim to fame so far have yielded results, but we don't know for how long. and cultural links were vibrant. So when spiritual leader of the Tibetan people are some books that have tried to cash in Temporary government teachers are now coming out with their long-standing the Mao regime annexed Tibet, it was meditating in the Lumbini Gardens. on Nepali exotica. Full of righteous demands, and threatening a strike—so the government is trying to talk to them too. quite natural that many Tibetans afraid Lately, things are getting a bit edgy. indignation, he is now leading the charge Tanker owners demanding the right to dilute diesel with kerosene blockaded supply to of the new emperor of China crossed the The deportation of 18 Tibetan refugees for a tourism boycott of Nepal. (The Kathmandu Valley this week, so the government talked to them and gave in by allowing them to carry on with business as usual. Now, tanker operators in Amelkhganj also want Himalaya into Nepal. on 31 May could be an indication of boycott has been witheld for now, see the same privilege and say the threshold of “leakage” should be raised so they can steal For very practical reasons it is things to come, not a “mistake” as an p7. -Ed.) Members of Ethical Traveler more en route from the Indian refineries. Talks to resolve that dispute are ongoing. difficult to differentiate between Tibet’s unnamed cabinet minister confided to should know that as a proportion of its The transport unions, egged on by their political mentors, brought the western half seasonal migrants and Tibetans seeking this paper last week. population, Nepal supports more of the country to a standstill for a week. The government talked to them, but to no avail. political refuge. Nepal has provided safe There may be several factors for this refugees than most other countries, Then, the eastern half of the country was brought to a halt, and the government passage for the refugees even though new get-tough policy. Just because the including the United States. Nepalis supposedly gave in to all the demands so the strike was lifted from Thursday morning. Kathmandu formally recognises the Chinese haven’t said anything publicly, don’t need lectures on how to be Political leaders admit to us privately that they are behind all these strikes, and the annexation of Tibet by the People’s doesn’t mean they are taking kindly to hospitable to outsiders. Why doesn’t idea is to force the king give in. By strangling transport and education and with the Republic of China. This duality has busybodies of the US Pacific Command Greenwald show the same concern for daily street protests, the parties have reminded us of what they used to do to each other. worked, and as long as Nepal’s sniffing around its backyard. Along with Guatemalans, Haitians and Cubans So, if this is what they’ll go back to once ‘democracy’ is restored, then let Pashupatinath hospitality for Tibetan refugees was Taiwan and Xinjiang, Tibet is China’s trying to escape to his own country? have mercy on us all. There seem to be some behind-the-scene talks going on between the kangresis and the prime minister, but those chats don’t show any signs of unravelling purely humanitarian, the Chinese soft underbelly and it will do everything Double standards and hypocrisy in the current political paralysis. Embassy in Kathmandu tolerated to pre-empt outsiders from poking America don’t seem to be confined to Then, there is the mother of all talks: the peace negotiations between the occasional street protests and let the around there. This is why the Sino- the current US administration. government and the Maoists which are stalled and seriously threatened by recent Nepali police handle it. Indian rapprochement this week with the We don’t need to worry too much skirmishes and flagrant violations of the code of conduct by both sides. Successive Nepali governments have formal swapping of each others’ annexa- about naïve lawmakers and misguided The extortion, threats and intimidation in the countryside have reached a cre- tions of Sikkim and Tibet was authors with a Tibet fetish. We need to scendo. The Maoists are transporting arms, significant. worry more about the pushy investors of training in the higher ground and operating Secondly, the Chinese are miffed at Bhote Kosi. They are also using the parallel governments wherever they are. The Nepal’s traditionally America-leaning threat of trade sanctions to arm-twist only thing the truce had going for it was that at elite taking them for granted. And one of Nepal into buying more power than least people were not getting killed. But for how the ways of showing their displeasure is stipulated in their agreement, and also much longer? It is now becoming clear that all the king’s to arm-twist Nepal over Tibetan refugees dithering on paying the mandated horses and all the king’s men can’t seem to from time to time. royalty per kilowatt to the NEA. The put humpty dumpty together again. Chinese President Hu Jintao used to loud-mouthed Texans have shown they The country is falling apart head the Communist Party in Tibet will use their political proximity to the at the seams. But at and is one of the representatives Bush team to punish us if we don’t. least we’ll go down of the Tibetan Autonomous None of this, of course, absolves our talking. Region in the Chinese own policymakers from blame. We need Peoples' National Congress to take the lobbying game in parliament. Unlike his Washington a lot more seriously, and predecessors, Hu can be our envoy and embassy in DC have to be expected to take a more than a recreation outpost. Let’s get hawkish view of anything someone out there who really knows the that involves his neck of the American way. woods. He may have decided The business of America is business, that if he has to make a compro- and the sooner we realise that the better. mise, he would rather deal directly No amount of chest-beating and hand- with the Dalai Lama and bypass Richard wringing is going to get us any conces- Gere. sions. If the Garment Quota Bill doesn’t Senator Dianne Feinstein is trying to benefit powerful American interests, it wield the Tibet stick to beat Nepal and will not materialise. The neighbourhood appease her constituency. But the is coming to terms with the harsh California Democrat should get her realities of a hyperpower world, and so SUBHAS RAI priorities right: first she should clear her should we.

LETTERS

POLL want Baburam Bhattarai. If this the impression the security forces should realise that you don’t win about the activities of the of SPCAN call upon the media and Your internet poll (Poll #90) has has any significance, it behooves are serious about cleaning up peoples’ minds by killing them. Washington National Primate authorities to: given a clear message: the the king and other political parties their image. But they have a long Buddhi Pant, Coventry UK Center and the Nepal Natural 1. Investigate how alliances such ongoing agitation should be to, for once, listen to public opinion way to go. People in the far-west History Society (‘Monkey as these can enter the country in against GP Koirala. The Nepali and ask Bhattarai to lead the are still afraid of the police and After reading ‘Hearts, minds business’, #148). As if not enough disguise, without permission and/ Congress led by Koirala is nation, and take us out of this the army. In Gorkha, where I was and haircuts’, I wonder if the suffering is being inflicted upon or informing authorities (and make responsible for ruining the ‘summer of discontent’. I notice a student, I was often harassed. Royal Nepali Army really cares Nepal’s animals already, this sure it won’t happen again). country over the past 13 years. that multiple voting is possible on It’s a good start, but they can’t about the people, or is it just a unholy alliance now eyes the 2. Clarify the country’s stand on We gave a clear majority to the your web poll. I wonder how you wash away the human rights pretence? After decades of country’s primates, considered the protection of its precious NC, but they wasted their plan to filter out the bias. Could it violations with these public political ineptness, corruption, sacred and an important part of fauna, including primates. chance with corruption and be that the good doctor got so relations exercises. The people irresponsibility and dysfunctional the country’s heritage by the 3. Pass animal welfare legislation selfishness. It’s clear what they many votes because most of his will want justice. The Maoists’ bureaucracy, ordinary people population. The Washington as soon as possible, including a want with the present agitation: followers are internet savvy, or is hearts-and-minds programs are were the least of anybody’s centre tries to find loopholes in ban on (inhumane) research on they want to have another go. it just because he can count on working better. But both sides concern. The elite leaders and the world’s legal animal rights animals and export of animal They have already betrayed the pranksters like me who love to rulers who hide behind the gated provisions, and in Nepal (one of species for scientific use. people. The Maoists are not a skew public opinion? fences in Katmandu should learn the few countries in the world still 4. Prevent overseas centres from cause but are an effect of the Deepak Neupane, email a lesson in winning the hearts and without such legislation) it found conducting tests on Nepal’s animal NC’s unsuccessful years of minds of ordinary citizens. You ideal working ground. The plans to species, unless aimed at government. Your poll says (No internet polling is ever totally cannot do politics without the establish a primate research/ improving their welfare and/or Koirala is 46.59 percent scientific. The software used in support of the people. I despair breeding centre in Nepal were genuine conservation. responsible for this chaos, I the Nepali Times Nepalnews.com for Nepal’s poorest of the poor— discussed during a 2002 Friends of SPCAN would put it at a 100 percent. internet poll does not easily allow the forgotten, ignored and Washington workshop on the www.fospcan.org.np Lila Khatiwada, multiple voting, but there are disadvantaged. future of ‘Nonhuman Primate IRRI, Philippines always ways around it for really Roshan Paudel, Resources’. Nepal is proud of its EDUCATION determined people with lots of Minneapolis, USA primates and does not want them Re: ‘Learning education’ (Editorial, Looking at the results of time on their hands. -Ed) to suffer unnecessarily. We #150). It seems that the anti- your ongoing poll regarding who MONKEY BUSINESS certainly do not want our education forces are not listening. is best suited to lead the nation HEARTS & MINDS Friends of the Society for monkeys—sacred or not—to end Last Friday, most schools in the (Poll #91), it seems that your Reading Min Bajracharya’s ‘Hearts, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals up in an American lab, subjected Valley shut down early fearing the internet voters overwhelmingly minds and haircuts’ (#149) we get (SPCAN) is extremely concerned to horrifying experiments. Friends Maoists would force them to join NATION 27 JUNE - 3 JULY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #151 3 OPINION by DIPAK GYAWALI Of Foreign Hands and Grand Designs or all the rhetoric to the For grand design conspiracies to contrary, Kathmandu lusts for Instead of being paranoid about outside interference, a work, it first requires a grand mind not F external intervention. One only visible in Nepal or the neighbourhood. has to go to Patan’s Bagalamukhi wiser course would be to focus on the conditions at home Second, such a non-existent grand temple on Thursdays to appreciate mind would need an unbelievably this innate national belief in help that encourage meddling. grand control of every lever and knob, from outside to set one’s affairs right. knowing just how and when to Intervention, both divine and produce the right flap of butterfly foreign, have the same source. wings in New Delhi to create a Bagalamukhi is one of the ten Tantrik cloudburst over Singha Darbar. goddesses, this one having the power The reality is that interests big and of blocking energy flow. She is also small all push their agendas, some with called the Great Stupefier and is the a two-day vision and some with two patron deity of hatha yoga that stems years. The ones with the longer view normal breathing to move vital flows often come out winning, and to their to higher spiritual planes. But is this more myopic rivals this would look like what the politicians and litigants that some sinister grand design. There is a throng the precincts on Thursdays simple explanation from political after? What is really being sought sociology for regular grand design from the goddess is not so much alarms in Nepali polity: we adopted a wisdom for self but active interference multiparty system without a party against one’s adversaries, whether in emperors, while the French and the challenge this juggernaut is with herself, will they not-out of self- culture of established procedures. the political or judicial arenas. One Japanese were always on the lookout effective market instruments of one’s interest-be making suggestions about Nepal’s main parties come from an wonders what democratic criteria the for any opening to push their interests own as shown by recent Chinese Nepal’s politics and governance? underground culture of loyalty to goddess would apply if adversaries of through. What makes Kathmandu history. Sloganeering and rallies may Foreign-aided development is charismatic figures rather than ideas or opposite camps prayed for the same cognoscenti believe that today’s help keep the faithful together for a another area where Nepal institutions. favour. foreign ambassadors should be any while but will not keep an intrusive automatically invites intrusion. If Such enclavist groups require some Appeals to powers more mundane different? They are after all paid by market out for too long. external aid accounts for two-thirds of fear, an external threat, to keep the to intercede on one’s behalf have their governments to further primarily If external interventions are the overall development budget, band of faithful within the prescribed happened often in Nepali politics. their country’s interests. If they inevitable facts of life and if there are conditionalities imposed should be no boundary. In power, when they are The king’s intervention using Article coincide with Nepal’s, the envoy will certain intrusions we do not like, surprise. Sahujis cannot be blamed for the threat to ordinary citizens, much of 127 of the constitution seems fine as be remembered for enlightened where should our attention be trying to protect their investments, their energy is spent in group long as it does not make the other statesmanship and good diplomacy. If focused? The temptation would be to but our political-administrative infighting between rivals with mutual guy prime minister. Resolving the not, then it will be said that nations attack the attacker, but a wiser course machinery can be for surviving on witchcraft accusations of defilement. quagmire is possible only by don’t have permanent friends, only would be to focus on the conditions short-term expediency. We have Out of power, an external bogey is appealing to a higher power, the permanent interests. at home that encourage meddling. entered into many internationally useful as a scapegoat explanation. sovereign people through free and fair Demonising retired diplomats and One example is religious enforceable contracts where The solution to external elections. But those who need to crediting ex-professors with conversion banned by Nepali laws, procurement of goods and services in intervention is a triad of better internal derive their legitimacy from popular transboundary powers is bad comedy, but ineffective in preventing it or development projects invariably shifts social justice, business efficiency and support don’t seem to want to do that not serious analysis. The most discouraging the committed the burden of risk away from administrative integrity. If an active without the rigging machine under devastatingly effective intervention proselytiser. It will merrily happen as international contractors and civil society and innovative business their grip. regime human history has ever seen is long as orthodox Hinduism refuses to consultants onto the unsuspecting were to promote enlightened political Like a ‘just war’, what is a ‘good’ the global market since the 1500s. Its reform enough to embrace dalits and Nepali consumer. and bureaucratic leadership, we could intervention? What is the wider aggressive expansion destroyed the janjatis within their ecumenical fold. Fulminations in the streets or the even intervene abroad through universal principle that justifies Chinese, Mughal and other empires. If Maoist violence and economic tabloids will not rectify the situation, economic diplomacy. Otherwise, appealing to external agencies, other Today, in the globalised world it stagnation from political instability nor stem the intervention. Those who foreign intervention is an easy than ‘it is good for me’? It helps to passes death sentences on many forced large numbers of Nepalis fashionably decry conspiracy theories walkover. accept the fact that interventions are a cherished traditions. Governments of abroad, will not the role of host are as wrong as those who mutter of way of life, righteous indignation nations sitting as drivers of economic countries automatically increase in grand designs. There are conspiracies Dipak Gyawali was water resources notwithstanding. Brian Hodgeson did bulldozers have inherent advantage Nepali affairs? If Malaysia and the both in politics and business, but minister in the Chand government. This it to further the interests of the Raj, over those that are weakly marketised Gulf countries employ more Nepalis failure to provide go beyond fuzzy article is based on a talk at Nagarik Awaj the Chinese Ambans did so for their or pre-market. The only proven way to in their formal sector than Nepal plots just exhibit grand mediocrity. on 17 June.

their protest rally. I would like to ready markets can be a good inalienable right, to having I cannot say that Artha and that monster does not need about the severe lodge a strong protest against thing—but like the apples he pouches, and bellies, full of Beed’s comparison between any blind abetting from our part. consequences of an the Maoists’ protest rallies. disparages, they must be goodies and spoils, they are death rites in Nepali and American Sujan Rajbhandary, international uproar and the Whatever the ‘revolutionary’ matched with the ecology, known to go to great lengths in cultures is completely illogical. But email probability of Senator students may say, the students transport and market agitation, even joining hands with the arguments are flawed Feinstein’s withdrawal of in school uniforms drenched in arrangements as critical, and a predator species if their instinct because he compares apples and TIBET, TIBET quotas for Nepali garments. the rain prove they were not number of other so called drives them. When it ingests oranges. The death rites in the There may be some validity to Obviously, our foreign policy there out of their own free will. esoteric factors—including ample food, it become satiated, two cultures stem from, at the the argument that a tiny poor does not function in terms of Political turmoil and the self- gender—spell either success or dull and unresponsive to any most fundamental level, different country like Nepal bears the national self-interest. Which is interest of politicians has already disaster. In the case of Taxus, outside stimulation, ignoring beliefs. True, there may be brunt of a superpower in ‘Nepal greater: jobs for Nepalis, trade, ruined our economy and set the did Lak look into the many areas danger, even to the point of its numerous things that we have to feels the heat over Tibet foreign currency earnings at country back 50 years. The where it has failed? Or, as he own annihilation. review or that we can do away deportations’ and ‘Tibet, Tibet’. this dire political and country is in shambles, and obliquely notes, does cultivation Tony Undholm and within our rites, but the Beed But you failed to look economical juncture, or dismantling education is the final serve as the guise for David Marcus, email umambiguously praises the introspectively at our own sending back a handful of step. wholescale looting of natural ‘American’ way of doing things inadequacies. We do not have a Tibetan refugees to appease a Pravesh Saria, email sources? CURTAINS while calling into attention only the coherent policy that tackles neighbour? Let us not blame Rattan Chand, email Re: ‘Curtain call’ (Artha Beed, negative aspects of our culture. refugees, foreign policy and the Senator, INGO’s or other TAXUS #149). As there is no planning for There are problems associated trade. Our government officials nations for this. We must blame Daniel Lak’s column is always ZOOLOGY life in Nepal, how does the author with the ‘American’ way of and diplomats are ill-informed or our own policies that run at the refreshing and is an asset to Since Kunda Dixit seems to be expect us to plan for death? handling death and the dead not adequately trained to tackle whim of a few in Kathmandu. your weekly. However, his born- running out of hats, we hope this When basic needs like health which we are all aware of. The complex international issues. A SN Singh, email again discovery of a miracle piece of research is helpful. The care, education, transportation, article smacks of cultural sudden 180 degree turn in the medicinal herb as worth much ‘World of Animals’ book has got a human rights are not taken care denigration, a lop-sided view that official refugee policy towards CORRECTION “more than all the development new entry: Kangresis. They are of in Nepal, it is absurd to talk exalts the ‘American’ way. Our Tibetans could not have In ‘Nepal feels the heat over esoterica” (‘Revolution in apparently wild animals that about death. How will a farmer traditions are not so sacrosanct happened without the blessings Tibet deportations’ (#150) Mustang’, #149) is a frightening maintain a feudal hierarchy and set aside money for his funeral that they do not require review. of the powers to be. This type of Senator Dianne Feinstein’s example of a journalist as an hop around on their hind legs in when he doesn’t have enough But these can be done without policy of appeasement will only husband was incorrectly instant development expert. the streets in an agitated manner for the education and food for his incomplete and biased reference lead to greater problems. Our identified. He is Richard C Cultivating Taxus and other when their pouches are empty. children when he is alive? to other cultures. Cultural ambassador in Washington Blum. - Ed specialised mountain plants with As they believe it is their Kiran Nakarmi, email hegemony is a very real threat should have warned Kathmandu 4 NATION 27 JUNE - 3 JULY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #151 Gold rush in Dolpa The Himalayan viagra harvesting season brings tens of thousands of fortune seekers to this harsh region.

MAARTEN POST in DUNAI ○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○ Yarchagumba is known by its making Rs 2,000 per day.” This is Clockwise from top, left: his is the yarchagumba Latin name Cordyceps sinesis and big money in one of Nepal’s more Dolpa trader with sackful of picking season, and across is a unique combination of a remote and rugged areas. yarchagumba worth lakhs. T Dolpa district schools are yellow caterpillar and a mushroom. It is an intricate network of Porters on the caterpillar trail. empty, government offices are Few scientists have studied the Kathmandu investors who finance A yarchagumba. deserted. Just about everyone has phenomenon, and its lifecycle is local businessmen who in turn hire gone up the mountain to see if not completely understood. The subcontractors or buy Rukum villagers on the road to they can pick the mysterious half- Tibetan name means ‘summer yarchagumba directly from Dolpa last month. caterpillar-half-mushroom known grass, winter insect’. Just before the gatherers. “Everybody who has a Scouring the slopes on Jangala as Himalayan viagra. rainy season, spores of the lot of money in Dolpa is involved,” Pass. “Yarchagumba cures cordyceps mushroom land on the Dipendra Shahi, a local A yarchagumba ‘base camp’ in headaches, stomach aches, many heads of caterpillars of the businessman told us. This year the Dolpa. diseases. You’ll get lots of energy,” Lepidoptera family that live mainly yarchagumba is bought from Chandra Shahi explains. Then he underground. After the fungus collectors for Rs 120,000 per kg. That changed two years ago, leans across and whispers: “It’s also buries itself in the caterpillar’s Depending on quality and size of when the government allowed good for…if a man doesn’t feel body, it works its way out through the product, the middlemen sell collection of the precious like sleeping with his wife anymore the unfortunate insect’s head. The the stuff by the sackload in caterpillar-mushroom outside of he should definitely try parasite soaks up the caterpillar’s Thailand, Korea, China and Japan the Dolpa National Park yarchagumba.” energy until it dies. Yarchagumba for $2,800 per kg. The Western boundaries. The government By the end of May every year, can be found when the snow starts market is also said to be getting wanted a share of the lucrative some 30,000 people in Dolpa set to melt between 3,300-4,000m in bigger. Japanese scientists, who pie: businessmen now need a off to find yarchagumba. The parts of Tibet, India, Bhutan and first came to Dolpa’s mountains in permit and the government season lasts until the end of June. Nepal. a helicopter, have even tried to collects Rs 20,000 tax per kg. “It’s an unofficial holiday,”says “When Dolpa people find grow yarchagumba back home in However, most businessmen say Narayan Parajuli. “I have only 10 yarchagumba, they don’t find a refrigerators to simulate Himalayan they sell the yarchagumba directly students out of 65, most of them caterpillar, they find money,” conditions. It didn’t work. to Tibetan traders, who come to are out searching for Chandra Shahi tells us. “Last year I Until recently, collecting buy the goods in Do Terab, yarchagumba.” made Rs 50,000. Even kids were yarchagumba was illegal in Nepal. Upper Dolpa. MOHAN MAINALI ALL PICS: MAARTEN POST

HERE AND THERE by DANIEL LAK Gender agenda at the Hotel Blue Sheep

DOLPA—What would the grand procession of events be, if not a study in possible to its own devices. She also voiced the opinion that too much contrasts? Things may not go as we want them to. But they go, and go, and gender awareness work in Nepal concentrated on telling women their rights It’s hard to see how anything that go. And there’s little we can do about it. and not making men aware of the damage that orthodoxy does to them and These are the thoughts of the trekking trail, the mindless pound of society. “Ke garne,” she concluded and left for the gruelling three hour trek happens in Kathmandu will ever change booted feet on stone and forest floor, the numbing of the brain freeing up to the airport, a lucky woman at the head of long line of poor, unlucky things in these remote mountains. the soul to roam and reflect. Cynicism begone, let only idealism flow. Alas, porters—men, the lot of them. on my trip through Dolpa last week, only my existing ideas got confirmed. Up the river Bheri, I found the reality of gender in much of Nepal. the land for the hotel—prime land astride the only trekking trail and just Sorry. Read on at your peril. Never mind audits, ‘rights-based’ advocacy, foreign funds to empower the the right distance between other hotels for rest and hospitality. “Dowry,” First encounter of note was a ‘gender specialist’ in the employ of a large, sisters, a man I’ll call Prakash Raj Shahi embodies what’s really going on he explained, gesturing at either the land or the harried number two, respectable European bilateral aid agency. (Note to few remaining friends at here. Prakash runs the best hotel on the trail between Dunai and Dolpani and pregnant. DfID: I don’t consider Britain “European”, not yet.) Anyway, said Phuksundo Lake. He’s not from Dolpa but two of his three wives are. Wife Spouse number three, just 19, came along when Prakash hit 40. His specialist was relaxing with tea at the Hotel Blue Sheep in Dunai. Old tea it number one lives back home in Rukum where “you can’t earn a proper mid-life crisis, I guess. She quickly delivered a son, the object of the was, left over from the last large trekking group through town. Last year living”. First married at age 20, he wed number two ten years later to get marriage. Before that, she’d worked as kitchen help in the hotel for several some time, I’d say, by the sad, stale brew in our cups. years. Prakash shrugged when we told him his actions were against the law. We sipped, and talked. Mostly I listened as she—sleek, well-dressed, “Well, who’d help these women if I didn’t, and they have a good place English-speaking, elite education, extremely dedicated and well aware of here.” Besides, he pointed out, there is no “law” as such in his part of how her own privileged background overcame this country’s vast Dolpa. No police, no army, no government officials, not even national parks inequities—told me she was doing a ‘gender audit’ for head office in officials. Just trekkers, yarchagumba traders and Maoists. Plenty of Maoists. Europe. “There’s funding left over before the end of the year and we need That’s the final little irony of Dolpa. It’s pretty much a sovereign to spend it because good governance is going out of fashion, and we’re not Maoist state at the moment. The rebels, and it now sounds foolish to call sure where gender fits in.” Not sure? I’d call that a damning indictment of them that, run the show, posting environmental regulations for trekkers and years of funding, but there you go. I’m just cynical, I guess. porters and regulating the yarchagumba trade (see article, above). Shops, She’d wandered Dolpa, Mugu and a few other remote, disadvantaged restaurants and hotels charge Maoist-regulated prices. They run a tight districts talking to women and doing what I am sure is good work. ship, and Prakash—ex-army man that he is—has no trouble with that. Valuable too, if it goes to any end other than propping up the smugness of Nothing wrong with a little discipline, he says, motioning for our glasses the development elite back in Europe. My friend over bad tea and I agreed of chhang to be refilled. Welcome to reality in Nepal, light years from that much needed to change in the gender department in Nepal. And—very Kathmandu and happy to have it that way. Hard to see how anything that honestly I thought—she agreed with me that indigenous change was the happens in the capital Valley can change things in distant Dolpa, or Mugu, best option. Nurtured, helped, prodded subtly if all, but left as much as or Bajura, or Accham, or Rukum or... NATION 27 JUNE - 3 JULY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #151 5 DOMESTIC BRIEFS

Bhutanis in limbo

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Bhutani refugees in Nepal had no illusions about the outcome of the joint verification team report on the interviews of families at the Khudunabari camp. But what they are shocked about is the disinterest shown by the Nepali government and the international community to what they say is stonewalling by the Bhutan government on repatriation. If the Khudunabari results are anything to go by, most of the 100,000 “The tax is way too high,” a Dolpa’s 500 armed Maoists went People drink ‘Tibetan water’ at this rate, yarchagumba may be Nepali-speaking Bhutanis who have been living in camps in Nepal for the past businessman from Dunai says. to Do Terab in Upper Dolpa at (raksi), listen to the radio, and driven to extinction. The gatherers 12 years will fall into the “Bhutanese who emigrated voluntarily” category set out by the bilateral Joint Verification Team. “This year we might have to use the end of May. The Maoists say dance in a big tent in the middle also disturb the park vegetation Of the around 12,000 refugees at the Khudunabari camp, more than 70 official channels and send the they have a tendering system: of the camp. They talk about the and leave trash. percent fell into that group, which means loss of citizenship according to yarchagumba to Kathmandu, businessmen who want to buy necessity of peace and, inevitably, At Tarakot, a conspicuously Thimphu. The Bhutani delegation at the 14th round of talks in Kathmandu last because the border is closed for and sell yarchagumba have to pay about yarchagumba. dressed man named Purna Buda month has said that these refugees would be allowed to apply for citizenship and their case would be dealt with leniently. Human rights groups say the Tibetans because of SARS. But a Rs 20,000 advance. If the “A week ago there were more has just arrived from Kathmandu. Nepali side was taken for a ride as Bhutan has a law that prohibits re-entry to we’ll probably first wait and see, Maoists find a trader without a then 200 tents here,” Sher Sitting under his umbrella, Buda those who emigrate voluntarily. keep our goods in stock for a permit they loot his Bahadur Shahi says. “Many relates how he discovered The majority of the refugees claim they were forced to sign forms saying they were leaving of their own free will before being loaded into trucks and while.” yarchagumba. people have gone to try their luck yarchagumba in Dolpa ten years taken across India to Nepal in 1991-92. “The question here is of trust. The Walking up the small trail from ago. “After a friend told me about Nepali ministerial delegation trusts the Bhutanese when they say they’ll take Dunai to Thaage Lekh, an area yarchagumba I went to Lhasa with back Cateogry Two people, but no one else trusts the Bhutanese,” said one human rights activist here. Furthermore, the news that Nepal agreed to accept near the Rukum border, there is a samples. The first year I sold 16 kg refugees rejected by Bhutan has fanned domestic and international outrage. lot of to and fro of fortune for Rs 12,000 per kg. The second “We are aware of the criticism,” says Foreign Ministry spokesman Madan hunters. Many are from Dolpa, year I collected 85 kg.” Buda Kumar Bhattarai. “We assure you, our naturalisation process is not easy. You but some are from distant districts, hasn’t looked back since, and he shouldn’t believe that so many refugees will become Nepali citizens.” In that case what happens to the majority of the refugees in the seven carrying baskets with tents and swears by the aphrodisiac value of camps in eastern Nepal? Officials say the nitty-gritty details will be discussed food. People going up are the caterpillars. His method: take at the 15th round of talks in Thimphu in August. Meanwhile the refugees stay generally in a far better mood than 30 or so yarchagumba, dry them, where they are: in limbo. (Navin Singh Khadka) people coming down. “I’m going keep them soaked inside a bottle

home,” says Bahar Rawal from of local raksi for a month then drink Children suffer sexual abuse silently ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Jajarkot. “Everybody told me: go the raksi every day for a fortnight. “It ○○○○○○○○○○○○ A survey report on child sexual abuse in Kathmandu Valley has quantified to Dolpa, you’ll make lots of works for me,” he says. what society has tried to sweep under the carpet for so long. Based on a money.” He took a loan and No one really knows whether random sample of nearly 5,500 school children and over 200 out-of-school walked for six days, his food is yarchagumba has aphrodisiac children, the survey looks at physical sexual abuse of children as well as the prevalence of exposure of children to obscene materials and verbal abuse. finished, and he found only three In addition, they have to pay somewhere else.” The next value. But when belief in Children in the 11-14 age group were found to be most vulnerable with pieces in three days. “I’m in big Rs 5,000 per kg. Maoists buy morning the remaining group traditional medicine is so strong, nearly 15 percent of the girls and 13 percent of the boys admitting that they trouble,” says Rawal. yarchagumba directly from leaves early with their sickles. Near that is really not important. For an had been sexually abused. Girls reported more abuse at home, school or market, while boys were mostly abused at the home of the perpetrator. The The Dolpali don’t like the freelancers as well for a fixed price Jangala Pass (4,500 m) small dots area of Nepal where there are no rate of abuse among street children was the highest with most having sexual invasion of their district by groups of Rs 30 per caterpillar and sell it of people are scattered across the roads, no jobs, and hardly any relations with multiple partners of different ages and both genders. (Silent from other districts, but the back to businessmen. “We use the flanks for the mountain. On agriculture it is just another cash Suffering, Research Report, CWIN and SCF-Norway, [email protected]) outsiders have the protection of money to pay for our armed hands and knees they go through crop. Maoists. “Everybody has the right forces and cultural programs, the ground on all fours looking to collect yarchagumba,” Comrade since we no longer take donations for the small brown stalk of the Leknath explains. The Maoists from locals,” Comrade Leknath yarchagumba mushroom that allow the Dolpali to collect a Rs explains. The Maoists have also sticks out of the ground. 100 fee from the visitors, but if a been collecting $100 from every “Last year we found many collector finds only a very few trekker entering the Dolpa region, yarchagumba here,” Chandra HUBERT H. HUMPHREY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM The Commission for Educational Exchange between the United States and Nepal (also yarchagumbas the Maoists force and their collection point is only Shahi says, his eyes focussed on known as the Fulbright Commission and USEF/N) announces the competition for Hubert the VDC to refund the money. 100m from the security base at the slope. This year, the catch is H. Humphrey Fellowships for the academic year 2004-2005. The Maoists collect their own Jufal airfield. poor. Some believe it is because The Humphrey Fellowship Program brings mid-career professionals from developing tax as well and are competing with At a camp on Taaghe Lekh there has been too much snowfall. countries to the United States for one year of graduate study and related practical, the government to control as (4,200 m) the sun goes down. It Others think too much was professional experiences. Fellowships are granted competitively to professional candidates much of the business as possible. is quickly getting cold and collected last year. And that is also who can demonstrate a commitment to public service in the government, NGO, or private sectors and potential for national leadership. The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship is a In order to bring a bigger area everybody sits around campfires. what national park rangers are non-degree program. under their influence, 150 of The atmosphere is cheerful. worried about: if picking goes on The Humphrey Fellowships are offered only in the following areas:

1) Agricultural Development/Agricultural Economics; 2) Communications/Journalism; 3) Economic Development; 4) Education, including Educational Planning, Educational Administration, Curriculum Development, Teaching of English as a Foreign Language; 5) Finance and Banking; 6) Human Resource Management; 7) Law and Human Rights; 8) Natural Resources and Environmental Management; 9) Public Health Policy and Management, including HIV/AIDS Policy and Prevention as well as Drug Abuse Education, Treatment and Prevention; 10) Public Policy Analysis and Public Administration; 11) Technology Policy and Management; 12) Urban and Regional Planning. General Requirements for Entering the Competition

Applicants must have at least 5 years of progressively more responsible professional experience in Nepal, be under 45 years of age, and possess the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree (i.e., at least six years of study beyond SLC). Except in the field of journalism, applicants must hold policy-level positions as Managers, Administrators or Planners. PLEASE NOTE THAT TECHNICIANS, TEACHERS OR RESEARCHERS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE HUMPHREY FELLOWSHIP. An applicant’s employment record must show a pattern of exceptional career progress.

Qualified women candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this exceptional professional development opportunity.

Application Forms Application forms and further information regarding the Humphrey Fellowship competition are available at the Fulbright Commission, the American Center, Gyaneshwor. Applications and information may also be accessed and downloaded from the Commission’s website: www.fulbrightnepal.org.np

NO APPLICATIONS WILL BE GIVEN OUT AFTER JULY 11, 2003. COMPLETED APPLICATIONS MUST REACH THE COMMISSION NO LATER THAN 4:00 P.M., FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, 2003. INCOMPLETE OR LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. 6 NATION 27 JUNE - 3 JULY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #151 SOMEWHERE IN NEPAL by PUSKAR BHUSAL Why they love to hate GP Girijababu’s impatience with the left’s timidity

before royalty may carry a deeper meaning.

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irija Prasad Koirala moved his eightieth decade on the MPs amounted to nothing. With Royal Nepal Academy days after out of Baluwatar nearly two planet. the entire lower-house he went to the Supreme Court to Gyears ago when he still had Candour sets him apart from membership having come to bypass the CIAA. In retrospect, a majority in parliament and his the crowd. Koirala’s celebration of naught, the joke’s on us. maybe we missed the parliamentary party. For nine the restoration of multiparty Many Nepalis who agree with connection. The post-October months, he’s been at the forefront democracy as a victory for the Koirala’s message can’t quit Fourth fight is a political one. of the movement to preserve the panchas as well was only the suspecting his motives. With an Koirala’s battle with the CIAA is gains of the Jana Andolan. Yet beginning. He was the first eye on his legacy, couldn’t he be constitutional. most of us think the kangresi prominent politician to genuinely concerned about the His demand that the army be patriarch is primarily responsible acknowledge that political parties country this time. Consider some brought under the elected for the current state of the nation were too busy trying to overthrow of Koirala’s post-October Fourth government’s control had started (Nepali Times/Nepalnews.com the panchas to think up a way of moves. The man has gone to over sounding devoid of national- Inernet Poll #150). We must be doing things better. He regretted 60 districts railing against the security sensitivities. Given the real angry. having thrown the zonal perils of royal assertiveness. Of the timing, it looked like a shrewd What is so nauseating about commissioners along with major post-1990 players, he’s move to deflect the generals’ ire SUBHAS RAI the man that we can’t even give Panchayat bath water. A prime come the closest to at the kind of slogans being him the respect a senior citizen minister battling to restore law acknowledging his mistakes, with raised on the streets. deserves? The realisation that no and order could forget his the strict proviso that the rest But, then, who was the first monarchy—constitutional or anchaladhish-inflicted accept their full share. After Sher non-ex-pancha to come out in absolute—has room for two tribulations to appreciate the Bahadur Deuba’s boys hurled defence of the troops’ right to dynasties? Koirala’s all-in-the- administrative sturdiness of the those projectiles on home turf, unrestricted movement? If Koirala family demeanour where real office. Koirala maintained a dignified and the commander-in-chief can power rarely flows along the most By pitting Govinda Raj Joshi silence until he called his former see eye to eye on national issues, democratic party’s organisational against Ram Chandra Poudel in protégé for an update on his not all hope is lost. chart? The dubious fund-raising Tanahu, Bal Dev Sharma health. Deuba’s presence at the Each time Koirala comes tactics kangresis couldn’t have Majgaiya against Khum Bahadur palace meeting rankled Koirala back from Biratnagar, adopted without his concurrence? Khadka in Dang and Ram Sharan not because of the intrusion. He Kathmandu politicos know he Koirala’s worst critics praise Mahat against Arjun Narsingh still can’t figure out who’s has something up his sleeves. His his strong organisational skills. KC in Nuwakot, Koirala bred shielding whom. (Remember impatience with the communists’ Not enough of his supporters factionalism in a party complacent what we were discussing around timidity before royalty may have ponder how he still has them in in its exceptionalism. Handled this time last year?) a larger meaning. Koirala properly, intra-party warfare Why didn’t Koirala expose probably read last week’s poll could have fostered democratic the “grand design” in an early- saying that only one in 20 competition right down to the morning address to the nation on Nepalis blame Madhab Kumar district level. 2 June, 2001? Because, he says, Nepal for the country’s mess. He Surya Bahadur Thapa may he wanted to avoid further certainly knows that the UML have conceived the broader turmoil. Doesn’t sound like a bad general secretary served nine democratic alliance, but Koirala reason. How many column inches months in power with the gave it a context. (Would the RPP did that assertion get in the official designation of deputy ever have been able to publicise papers? premier. If you can’t stand the the platform in such a big way?) It was a little jarring to see heat, stay out of the kitchen. By Most of us jeered when Koirala Koirala chairing a special session the way, how does Koirala feel said the Nepali Congress’ 113 of the dissolved parliament at the about us? ECONOMY 27 JUNE - 3 JULY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #151 7 ANALYSIS by ALOK BOHARA Illiberal democracy and the leadership crisis

Analysing results of recent opinion polls on public perception of governance.

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ith much of the country’s while nearly half the voters blame Girija Weekly Internet Poll # 85 Nepal (15 percent), and Deuba (8 The internet poll results tally with a institutions such as law Prasad Koirala. On the issue of national Q. Do you think the agitation by the parties will end the percent) vis-a-vis the leaders of the smaller nationwide random sample Himal W enforcement, education, welfare 20 percent show ambivalence, but present political deadlock? parties-Pashupati SJB Rana (16 percent) Khabarpatrika poll in April in which 20 bureaucracy, and judicial system politicised the king scores about 46 percent as being and Baburam Bhattarai (34 percent)—who, percent of respondents said they would vote and shamefully corrupted, our election- someone who cares about the country and at least in theory, are engaged in a for the Maoists if they laid down their arms, focused democracy has become unstable, its people. The parties and the Maoists get negotiation effort? Polls can plunge and the with 50 percent undecided. The major dysfunctional, and illiberal. only 18 percent and 16 percent shares polls can surge, but the Nepali people seem parties trailed in the single digits. This could be why civil society has respectively. to be looking for new faces. In the long-term, only the political refused to join the current political This royal tilt is consistent temporally Koirala’s tenacity to stand up against parties can provide the superstructure of leadership in its struggle against the royal when compared to a 64 percent support the royal intervention is commendable, and democracy. Perhaps more internal intervention. The press too does not seem for the king’s October Fourth move. he is right to set a boundary for the democracy and transparency within the overly enthused. More than 7,000 Nepali Generally, the Maoists trail distantly along constitutional monarchy. But the public parties will encourage bold and visionary lives have been lost, the peace process is in with the parties whenever the people are seems to care more about issues like rule of new leaders to emerge and start asking limbo and yet no one seems interested in a asked to express their opinion on the royal law, stability in education, good hard questions. Questions like: Will long-term fundamental solution: How to role vis-à-vis other powers. The people Weekly Internet Poll # 89 governance, political stability, checks and holding elections alone solve our build a liberal democracy by striking a seem tolerant and generous in giving the Q. Who do you think currently best represents the balances in governance, and above all a problems? balance between system that values king the benefit of the doubt whenever he general welfare of Nepal and Nepalis? negotiated settlement to the insurgency. In Nepal, public opinion has always elections, and liberty that promotes the rule is embedded with other rivals. But such Their preference for a multiparty been expressed in two ways: through the of law and political, economic and legal generosity will not last forever, and can system and constitutional monarchy is media and through street agitations. The reforms. change with political developments. strong (40 percent for multiparty with well-organised political rallies, often So, is there a leadership crisis in the The leadership of the major parties active monarchy and 46 percent for disruptive and sometimes violent, do not country? To understand this, I will take a seem to be on the wrong side of public multiparty with constitutional monarchy). always reflect public sentiment. The press, heuristic approach and analyse a series of opinion. For example, 84 percent of the Internet Nepalis seem to be sending a a remarkable achievement of the post- recent polls conducted on the internet by people support the CIAA’s actions whereas message that they want more than election- 1990 era, often tries too hard to shape Nepalnews.com and Nepali Times. Internet our leaders have shown contempt for this focused democracy. They seem to crave for a public opinions to promote certain polling is not completely scientific because organisation. In answers to several functioning liberal democracy with political views instead of engaging in fair of the possibility of multiple voting and questions, between 60-77 percent do not necessary institutions to sustain it. analytical assessment. demographics. But public opinion is support agitating student unions. The There also seems to be a wish to see a Conducting scientific public polls is indispensable in a liberal democracy, and people’s desire for peace is so strong that Weekly Internet Poll # 90 fresh leadership. How else to explain 47 expensive business in a country like Nepal the results of most internet polls bear 57 percent do not mind including the Q. Who do you think is primarily responsible for the percent of respondents blaming a veteran where very few households have strong correlation to scientific random Maoists in an all-party government, and a current state of the nation? leader of a veteran party for the national telephones, and the internet has its own sample nationwide polls done by Himal large percentage (90 percent in a small woes, and their dismal showing against the problems. But regular, nationwide, and Khabarpatrika in the past. Also, the sample) urges the parties to extend support leaders of smaller parties? A similar pattern scientifically-conducted public opinion educated Nepalis may have something to to the government, not necessarily to join seems to be emerging in the current poll polls are an investment worth making to say to our political leaders. After all, it was them. And 58 percent want the problem (#92) on the question of party preference help create and defend liberal democracy. this same group that played a vital role in solved either through an all-party in case the Maoists lay down arms. Is this a And its results should be vigorously and the People’s Movement of 1990. government or a constituent assembly. signal for the major parties to regroup and carefully discussed through the media in In five questions related to the royal The public therefore gives high reassess their messages, methods and the public sphere. role on various issues, King Gyanendra has priority to the current conflict resolution, priorities, or even their leadership? And between 45-60 percent favorable opinion. whereas the political parties prefer to stay rewriting the national anthem does not Alok K Bohara, PhD, is professor of For example, 70 percent don’t blame away from it. Could this be the reason for seem to be on the priority list of most economics at the University of New the king for the current state of the country, the poor showing for Koirala (8 percent), Nepali voters. Go figure! Mexico, [email protected]

FEEDBACK ‘We withhold action on the proposed tourism boycott...’ n ‘Tibet, Tibet’ (#150) Sara Shneiderman and China is still being scrutinised and pressured by Mark Turin bring up cogent points questioning numerous action groups. Nothing that China has done, our proposed boycott of travel to Nepal— a however, excuses Nepal’s actions. Over the past 40 I suggestion made in the wake of Nepal’s years, the US government alone has provided Nepal’s repatriation of 18 Tibetan refugees, a stark government with more than $700 million in aid. Most violation of international law. Some of the authors’ of this aid has been squandered, wasted, or just plain points are naive, however, and must be addressed. stolen. Somehow, this is never the Nepali government’s Both Ethical Traveler and the Tibet Justice fault, the blame is always shunted elsewhere. In this Center, partners in this action, acknowledge the fact situation, too, confronted by the international press, that a Tibetan monk, Shovo, was appropriately the government of Nepal offered up lies and excuses. handed over to the UNHCR this past weekend. We “Hey, we didn’t do anything wrong! This is all normal! thank the Nepal government for this sign of humanity, Anyway, it’s all China’s fault!” Sorry, guys. The US and take it as a commitment to legal and ethical government has its own agenda, but any traveller who behaviour in the future. pays your hefty visa fees has a right to say: “You want Still, as Shneiderman and Turin point out, Nepal’s my money? Then abide by international law.” human rights situation is alarming, despite the nascent No one who has read Jeff Greenwald’s books or ‘democracy’ installed in 1990. The Nepali citizens articles doubts his respect and admiration for your suffering these abuses at least have the constitutional country, culture, and people. He has been advocating MIN BAJRACHARYA right of redress—and the right to overthrow any for human rights in Nepal since the mid-1980s, as his government, democratic or otherwise, that denies controversial book, Shopping for Buddhas, makes clear. these rights. But the deportation of the 18 Tibetan Neither Ethical Traveler nor the Tibet Justice Center refugee men, women and children, who have utterly has any wish to harm Nepalis who depend on the From Nepal into China over the Friendship Bridge. no rights under Nepal’s law, was a cynical act of tourism trade. kowtowing, and had to be discouraged at all costs. Here is our current position. After consulting whenever possible and appropriate, express their taken—and not just by travellers, as the US Senate’s The fact that the government actually accepted money with several other human rights and Tibetan activist concern directly to Department of Immigration killing of a recent Nepal garment trade bill attests. for these refugees made them appear no better than groups, Ethical Traveler and the Tibet Justice officials, and to other authorities. We hope that, should further actions become slave-traders. Center—the authors of a key report on the refugee Most importantly, we ask that travellers in Nepal necessary, all Nepalis will support whatever actions The idea that the international activist community crisis (www.tibetjustice.org/reports/nepal.pdf)— serve as “witnesses” helping the international human Ethical Traveler and the human rights community is “too intimidated to challenge China directly” is have decided to withhold action on the proposed rights community monitor the fate not just of Tibetans suggests. Respecting international law is not just a absurd. We have been involved in numerous such tourism boycott. who have crossed the Himalaya seeking refuge, but of good thing for Tibetan refugees—it is an essential movements, especially in the early 1990s, against This said, we are by no means taking Nepal out of other Nepalis suffering from human rights abuses. condition for the peaceful coexistence and true China’s prison labour abuses, and led to immediate the spotlight on this issue. We have instead developed a The goal of Ethical Traveler is to promote travel, democracy so beautifully articulated by the late King investigations. A boycott of Chinese imports was strategy that will better serve the concerns of Tibetans not curtail it. Yet travellers must be ready to use our Birendra’s in his call for a ‘Zone of Peace’. indeed launched, but the attempt to pressure China and Nepalis who rely upon tourism for their combined economic clout, when necessary. If the economically proved untenable due to US industrial livelihoods. To begin with, we are issuing an advisory, government of Nepal continues to repatriate Tibetan Jeff Greenwald interests. Most Favoured Nation status was asking that travellers planning to visit Nepal do so with refugees in violation of these laws, sending shackled Executive Director, Ethical Traveler prematurely granted to China in 1994 by then- open eyes, and with full awareness that Nepal is on Tibetan refugees back to Chinese prisons, stronger Minnie Cancellaro president Bill Clinton. notice. We also ask that travellers within Nepal, measures will need to be taken. Assuredly, they will be Executive Director, Tibet Justice Center 8 ECONOMY 27 JUNE - 3 JULY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #151 ANALYSIS by J BRADFORD DELONG The new new thing

We need another policy-making revolution for the world’s macroeconomic problems.

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he Great Depression brought government requests to moderate their John Maynard Keynes to the demands for wage increases, and T forefront of economic thought. governments would bow to union The key ‘Keynesian’ insight was that demands for public spending and private investment spending is social insurance. Keynesian thinking “Mid Summer Nights at Windy Hills - 15ºc cool” inherently unstable—due to fads and guaranteed that nothing like the Great fashions among investors, or because Depression would ever return. But its Chiso chiso hawama package of shifts in the “animal spirits” of solution to the problem of creeping businessmen, or because falling prices inflation was jury-rigged, and broke Windy Hills (Club Himalaya) 6680080, 6680083 Lazimpat (Hotel Ambassador) 4410432, 4414432 disrupt the financial system. down completely in the 1970s. In the Keynesians thought that prudent aftermath of the main industrial monetary policy—central banks raising countries’ burst of inflation in the www.nepalshotel.com email: [email protected] and lowering interest rates to diminish 1970s, mainstream economic thought fluctuations in private investment in the world’s industrial core shifted spending—could go part of the way into a “semi-Monetarist” channel. toward stabilising the economy. But Milton Friedman’s victory was In the June Himal they also believed that the government never as complete as the Keynesians’ had to be willing to step in directly, had been. But by the mid-1980s Nameless Asia through expansive fiscal policy, to keep policymakers throughout the world the overall level of spending in an were assenting to the following and territorial economy stable. Such a policy, they propositions: angst believed, would forever banish the Central banks must make their Selling out the spectre of large-scale mass commitments to long-run price Bhutanese unemployment, as in the Great stability credible, refugees Depression. Moreover, near-full Central banks must accept that the employment might effectively be average level of unemployment is Nepal’s women guaranteed. determined not by cyclical factors, but Maobaadi The Keynesians foresaw that near- by “structural” factors, which they have Orientalism in full employment raised the threat of no business trying to address, blamed bad decisions for the revolution like the Keynesian and the media inflation. After all, why should Announcing and trying to breakdown of the social-democratic semi-Monetarist ones, a revolution that workers and unions moderate wage maintain a money-supply growth systems’ ability to control inflation. will not (wholly) lose sight of its Hating Romila demands if governments will boost target is an easy way for a central bank Politicians did not understand that predecessor’s achievements, but will Thapar spending whenever high to communicate its principal expanding social insurance was the eliminate its natural failures. Where ‘Hamro Tenzing unemployment looms? One big curb intentions, gain credibility, and give inevitable price of wage restraint, might that revolution come from? Sherpa’ on high wage demands—fear of being outsiders a way to check whether sound while union leaders did not Perhaps the next revolution in let go when unemployment rises—was policies are really being followed. understand that if corporatist social economics will grow out of US Federal Kanak Mani gone. What would replace it? Monetarism was the mirror image democracy did not restrain inflation, Reserve Governor Ben Bernanke’s Dixit on king and For the first post-1945 of Keynesianism. It seemingly political power would shift to the career-long concern with asset prices, parties generation, the predominant answer guaranteed that nothing like the right and high unemployment the role of adverse selection in credit was that corporatist social democracy inflation of the 1970s would ever would be used to restrain it. markets, and the need for central banks To subscribe: Call 5543333 or write to [email protected] would replace it. Unions would bow to return. But it offered no solution to the The inflation of the 1970s was in difficult situations to do more than problem of structural unemployment a natural failure of Keynesian conduct short-term open-market that arose in western Europe. The past political economy. The deflation that operations. He believes that banks decade and a half demonstrated that threatens Japan, Europe, and should try things like putting a floor monetarism is as ill-equipped to deal perhaps the US with the prospect of beneath key long-term bond prices. with the challenges of falling prices in a long period of large gaps between Bernankeism, anyone? Educate Sushila the context of highly-leveraged firms potential and actual output is a (© Project Syndicate) and banks as the Keynesian natural failure of the semi-Monetarist Sushila Chaudhary is nine-years-old and lives in Sonpur, Dang. prescription was ill-equipped to deal orthodoxy that governed J Bradford DeLong is Professor of She has three sisters and two brothers. Unable to take care of so with the challenges of inflation. macroeconomic policy in the worlds Economics at the University of many children, her family gave her away to work as a child domestic Back in the 1970s and at the start industrial core since the early 1980s. California at Berkeley and a former in a household in Ghorahi. She has now been rescued, and goes to of the 1980s, many (I was one) We need another policy-making Assistant US Treasury Secretary. school thanks to a unique sponsorship programme.

There are thousands of girls like Sushila all over Nepal who also need help. We are sponsoring the schooling of 65 girls in Dang, and all it takes is Rs 8,000 a year for each. So far, we have found sponsors from p1 for 30 of the girls, with your help we can help all of them. Tight balancing act This project benefits and empowers Nepali girls directly through basic education, and is undertaken by the United Nations Women’s This year, the budget faces the same fiscal “Finance ministers are often not bothered about Organisation, the Dang-based Friends of Needy Children, and the constraints of the past. Ineffective VAT collection such loans because they have longer grace periods,” Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry. is one of the biggest setbacks in improving says economist Bishwamber Pyakurel. “But sooner revenue. “Regulating VAT billing remains the top or later, we have to pay them back.” Debt servicing challenge,” admits Badri Prasad Shrestha, the already eats up seven percent of the regular budget, previous finance minister who was working on the and now that it is time to pay the principle the If you want to support one, budget he thought he would get to present, but strain will show. or more, of girls like Sushila, had to hand over to Lohani. VAT contributes The World Bank and the IMF are stepping in contact: with nearly $70 million each to bail us out through Vibha Singh at 44 71 836 only three percent of Nepal’s GDP, while income tax represents barely two percent. The slight their Poverty Reduction Strategy and the Poverty Daljit Sudan at 9810 24352 Reduction and Growth Facility. But there are Yangtzee at 9810 38264 increase in revenue compared to last year is not enough to cover the Defence Ministry’s strict conditions: effective implementation of demand to add Rs 2 billion to its budget reforms, privatisation and trimming the United Nations Women’s this year. The extra money will be used bureaucracy. These are conditions that the Organisation to buy aircraft and equipment and presently shaky Thapa administration may find recruit soldiers, says Defence too risky to push. Secretary Madan Prasad Aryal. “We The two lenders also want Federation of Nepalese Chambers need to upgrade our defence Lohani to keep to the budget that of Commerce and Industry capability, but let’s see what Badri Shrestha was working on. Finance says.” We put that to “Before finalising our aid for the PRGF, Lohani, who replied: “It will go up, we will confirm if the budget comes out but we can’t compromise on the same way we had agreed upon with the security.” last government,” Sukhwinder Singh of the As if that were not enough, the IMF’s Nepal office told us. Since the World government is burdened with Bank is working closely with IMF in the Changing the world starts with you. maturing foreign loans the country poverty reduction scheme, it will certainly Make a difference. borrowed almost 50 years ago. follow suit. ECONOMY 27 JUNE - 3 JULY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #151 9 BIZ NEWS ECONOMIC SENSE by ARTHA BEED

Nathu La and Nepal ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ The agreement between India and China to open the ancient trade route between Sikkim and Tibet Come together has sounded alarm bells for Nepali businessmen who trade with Tibet. The 4,500 m pass connects the two countries by a high-altitude motorable road. The ANA Bipalis are gearing up for their annual do. While Indian and Chinese leaders toasted each other in Beijing during Atal Behari Vajpayee’s visit, fter last year’s conference rise to a plethora of smaller political issue. A floodgate of Nepal’s trans-Himalayan traders are worried that in Washington DC, the organisations within the ANA. funds and opportunities can be their business will dry up. A Bipalis—bidesi Nepalis— Unfortunately, the Beed has channelled from the economic They believe Nepal’s export of rice and wheat to Tibet will decline drastically. “Tibet will increase in the Americas are looking noted you can take a Nepali out North. The Nepali government its imports from India while our export will go down,” forsees Tribuban Dhar Tuladhar, Vice President of Nepal forward to their annual of the country but you can’t should look into the matter of Trans-Himalayan Trading Association. At the Federation of Nepali Chambers of Commerce and Industry jamboree, this time at Denver. shake them out of the old ways: dual citizenship on a country- (FNCCI), businessmen foresee a gloomy picture and perhaps a repeat of the fate Kerung when the Kodari route Organised under the auspices in this case, too many factions to-country basis, beginning was opened in the 1960s. Nepal imported goods worth around Rs 53 billion from Tibet during fiscal year 2000- of the Association of Nepalis in have led to squabbles and with the US. 2001. Americas (ANA), this is the power struggles. Our basic outlook has to highlight on many calendars. change. Professionals of

FNCCI sponsors girl education As the rate of Nepali Nepali origin working in the

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Nepali business is showing it has a social conscience by launching a campaign to sponsor girl children from immigration to the Americas US are beginning to network underprivileged communities in Dang. This unique partnership between FNCCI and the United Nations grew in the last few informally amongst Women’s Organisation (UNWO) in Nepal will work with local groups in Dang to sponsor 65 girls. Businesses and decades, a diverse themselves. The individuals can sponsor one or more girls at Rs 8,000 to see them through a year of schooling. “In the long populace of Bipalis came Chalphal group in term, business will benefit from having an educated and productive work force, for us it should be an investment into being, Boston is a good in our future,” says FNCCI’s Suraj Vaidya. Candy Karcher of UNWO said the project was a unique partnership in which Nepali business could help Nepali children. “Education is the most important gift you can give a child, encompassing everyone example. The time has because it empowers her for life,” she said. from gas station come for Bipalis to attendants to software realise they wield

Small is beautiful engineers. With only substantial potential to ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ tenuous links to the form a pool of human, Laxmi Bank has taken the initiative to reach small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These entrepreneurs motherland, finding intellectual and financial can now supplement their investments to start a small business or to achieve growth in capacity by borrowing common ground for them to resources to be leveraged term and working capital funds from the bank. The financial institution has created a full-fledged SME cell to cater to their financial needs. The bank’s foray into this new area follows after a successful implementation of relate to each other became both in their adopted and manufacturers and suppliers of raw materials catering to local and multinational companies. increasingly difficult till the ANA native homes. Instead of was formed in 1983. This For the most part, Bipalis executive committees ad

Fortified relaxation umbrella organisation is a forum are patriotic and proud of their nauseam, might the Beed ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ to network and reaffirm a shared identity. Our rate of application suggest an informal guthi type The Fort Resort in Nagarkot has launched five-star packages for “over worked individuals”. They range from Rs socio-cultural experience for an for US citizenship is relatively network, with a rotation of 900 per person to Rs 14,500 per couple for a day out at the resort with a three-meal plan. estimated 60,000 Nepalis in the low. Of course this could stem leaders so nobody feels short- United States, Canada and other from the fact that US citizenship changed? That way, at Denver

Solar power nations in the American means forfeiting Nepal’s, we can get together and get ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ continent. therefore cancelling property and down to business that benefits Solar batteries may be the perfect answer for areas still outside the national grid. Charging the batteries has been made easier by Sunrise Energy and Accessories. Its solar charge controller has a microprocessor that lets Despite the ANA’s good ownership rights in the latter. both Bipalis and Nepalis too. you chose how to juice up your battery. The device is designed and made in Nepal, and has been successfully intentions, it is practically Dual citizenship must be made Readers can post their comments used all over the country in the past decade. impossible to cater to the needs possible. In our context it would or suggestions to of all Bipalis, which has given be an economic and not a [email protected] 10 ENTERTAINMENT

tools? Afraid to invest in technology that becomes obsolete almost as soon as it is introduced? Unless you like to have the first of everything new on the market, the most practical route to buying a new entertainment system is to research the best-selling technologies. Although obsolesce is guaranteed, at least you’ll know you can upgrade and the manufacturers won’t discontinue your product. Those who bought the Betamax over the VHS in the 1980s, and LDs over CD players in the early 1990s have learned this lesson the hard way. Don’t get

NAVIN SINGH KHADKA ○○○○○

○○○○○○○○○○○ caught with a dead technology. ained out? The cinema Shopping for a new could be a perfect escape. entertainment system, or even just But thanks to the enormous leaps made in digital technology you can watch the latest movies from the comfort of your own sofa. All you need is a state-of-the-art system, a universal remote control, a flat LCD or plasma screen and several strategically placed speakers equipped with a Dolby surround system. These systems are now available in Kathmandu, the prices for the top-end systems may be way too high but they are not much more expensive than in Singapore or Bangkok. Intimidated into never upgrading your couch potato 27 JUNE - 3 JULY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #151 11 upgrading a few peripherals, can In the past most people paid be an intimidating experience. more attention to the visual part You wander into a showroom of the audio-visual equation. Not and very often all you can go by anymore. They are fine-tuning is size. The fancy acronyms their entertainment systems for might as well be in Greek. So optimum sound quality which is you let the salesman make the why ‘home entertainment’ choice for you. Research is key, packages throw in five Dolby 5.1 so is window shopping and system equipped speakers and a sticking to the budget. Happily, hoofer to boost the already many big companies offer brilliant DVD quality. Of course installment schemes that don’t it doesn’t come cheap at Rs knock the bottom out of the 50,000 for the Samsung model, budget. but for connoisseurs it is truly Price is a big factor. The tag bliss being cradled by perfectly on a conventional and flat TV is balanced sound. “By installing almost the same. The difference them at home you will have what in cost is a mere Rs 2,000 you hear while watching movies between a Philips 21-inch colour in Jai Nepal Cinema,” says TV priced at Rs 24,000 and a Shekhar Golchha, the authorised flat screen of the same size. dealer for Samsung and Daewoo. Although bigger is not If you want better, why then, necessarily better, the shock-and- you need only ask—Dolby awe quotient of the Crocodile Digital DTS and DTI AC are all Hunter is certainly boosted available. when seen on a 50-inch plasma The demand for a theatre screen which can set you back a experience at home is growing, cool Rs 1.5 million. Some are reaches critical mass you can be Rs 7,000-8,000. and competition is stiff among almost as big as a car and they certain the rest will go the way of A surprising new trend, the suppliers although all of them can take you places a vehicle the dinosaurs. Jyoti predicts very techo-savvy lot at DND average annual TV sales between never could. soon DVDs will take over VCDs. International tells us, are families 50,000 and 60,000. Major Analogue entertainment— “People can tell the difference in buying multimedia projectors for international companies have the way of the Cathode Ray quality and know a better buy the home. Restricted earlier showrooms in Kathmandu: Tube screen, VHS and cassette when they see it,” he says. almost exclusively to corporate Samsung, Philips, Daewoo, Sony tapes—don’t have a patch on The more-for-less approach is use, these projectors that can and LG. This works to the digital quality. The pictures are always a winner for consumers interface with DVD, VCD and advantage of the consumer in sharper, the sound crystal and and DVD players today are PCs are addictive. “Once you terms of price, after-sales services you can manipulate exactly what uniquely positioned for this. develop a taste for watching and warranties. Think about it: and how you want everything to They are compatible with VCDs, movies on these you’ll never no more queues, no more cell- be set. Besides, rewinding is a CDs and MP3s, which is why really go back to anything else,” phones ringing in the middle of cinch. So is setting it up. There buyers are opting for a system says Tarun Bajracharya at DND the show and no spoilsport are no endless wires snaking that does it all and paying who has sold about 60 Optoma giving away the ending. Now all under the carpet and for the upwards of Rs 40,000. A projectors in a year. At Rs you have to do is organise a long, most part it’s as easy as plug- branded DVD player costs a 180,000 it’s obvious the buyers tall drink, roll down the blinds, and-play. little over Rs 10,000 while a don’t put a premium on their let the dogs out and enjoy the Manufacturers are getting Chinese knock-off is between entertainment. movie. smarter. TV sets are being manufactured in what they call “future format”, made in such a way that can easily be made compatible for the technological advances in the future. Saurav Jyoti of Jyoti Group, the authorised dealer of Philips, believes consumers should think about the future. “These TVs can be adapted for receiving digital transmissions if Nepali broadcasts start down that road,” he says. Should that happen, all we need to change is cable, from coaxial to fibre optic, and possibly even wonderful wireless technology. Even if Nepal doesn’t get on the information highway, it is likely that the information highway will come to us. Of course this doesn’t mean we are stuck in the past. Distributors and retailers are seeing a marked change in consumption patterns. Nepalis are rapidly educating themselves and adopting newer technologies. Video Compact Disc (VCD) players have almost completely replaced the VCRs that used the VHS systems. Digital Video Display (DVD) is catching on and when that 12 WORLD 27 JUNE - 3 JULY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #151 OPINION by JOSEPH S NYE The Iraq quagmire azzling military victories Terrorists can obtain assistance to raise the world in Afghanistan and Iraq There will be no equivalent to the fall of Baghdad, microbes and viruses from from poverty as the answer to Dmay mislead us about the inadequately protected foreign terrorism, we will all be dead. war on terrorism. If it were and no silver bullet in the struggle against terrorism. laboratories, or by bribing Both sides of this argument merely a matter of rogue states, underpaid scientists in the have a point. The time horizons we could think that progress is remnants of the Russian of development policy are out of being made. But technological biological warfare system, or line with the time horizons of progress is putting into the from natural sources. The counter-terrorism, but terrorist hands of deviant groups and World Health Organization groups are often led by well-off individuals destructive has created a global network of deviants who—like Osama bin capabilities that were once national laboratories that do Laden—recruit followers by limited primarily to early detection work, and pointing out the world’s governments and armies. manages on a meagre annual injustices. Development Even if eliminating all budget of roughly $400 assistance by wealthy countries terrorist incidents proves million. can help deprive terrorist leaders impossible, reducing their Another crucial area for of such arguments by showing frequency and lethal potential assistance is the Cooperative that policies are aligned with the will make a large difference in Threat Reduction effort, long-term aspirations of the their impact on our societies. which provides funds to help poor. It is important to provide The world needs a multifaceted improve the control and the prospect of hope, both in strategy that de-legitimises destruction of weapons-grade material terms and in our attacks on civilians as a method materials in former Soviet policies towards intractable of conflict, discourages states countries. These programs, conflicts such as those in the from providing resources or safe too, are under-funded, Middle East and Kashmir. harbour to those who use such although there was an US military success in Iraq methods, hardens our targets at In such instances, military also enhance information sharing. both the technical and policy agreement in principle at the was dazzling, but the metaphor home, denies terrorists easy assistance may be relevant. In Working to raise the dimensions of homeland G-8 summit in Canada last of war is misleading. There will access to weapons of mass others, intervention may be thresholds that terrorists must security. Homeland security is year for ten countries to be no equivalent to the fall of destruction; and reduces necessary. overcome requires a systemic an international issue. provide an additional $10 Baghdad, and no silver bullet in incentives to use terrorism. Intelligence sharing and approach, since plugging one Aid and assistance can be billion over the next ten years. the struggle against terrorism. Military measures may not police cooperation is often the hole can simply divert terrorists used to strengthen the Somewhat more Success will require investment deal with the largest part of the most effective front line of to others. Our societies are as capacities of poor countries controversial is the question of in a wide range of instruments. problem, but they are essential defence. Because of the vulnerable as the weakest involved in these transnational whether aid to development is Yet, while the US spends only sometimes. Depriving al-Qaeda sensitivity of sources and the international link. It makes no systems. Such investments are a an important counter-terrorist about 1 percent of its federal of its Afghan safe haven was not dangers of disclosure, much of sense to beef up airport security clear case of coincidence instrument. Advocates say that budget on foreign affairs, an sufficient, but it was necessary. this work is carried out through in London if a terrorist can between self-interest and it is a crucial tool for “draining effective counter-terrorism The number of states bilateral arrangements. enter the system easily in, say, charity. A particularly the swamps”. But sceptics strategy cannot be divorced from sponsoring terrorism has Multilateral cooperation is Rome or Lagos. important type of assistance is challenge whether poverty lies all the dimensions of foreign decreased over the past decade. possible in tracing financial Because modern societies are in helping other countries to at the root of terrorism. They policy. (© Project Syndicate) Diplomacy backed by military flows, which can help to similar in their vulnerabilities, develop capabilities to deal point out that most of the threat can reduce the number deprive terrorists of resources countries have a great deal to with weapons of mass terrorists who attacked Joseph S Nye, author of The further. Some failed states are as well as provide useful learn from each others’ mistakes destruction. In the case of America in September 2001 Paradox of American Power and a so chaotically organised that information. Devoting more and best practices. Governments biological agents, world public were middle-class citizens of a former assistant secretary of they cannot be deterred from resources to under-funded should establish regular contacts health has become a security relatively wealthy country. If defence, is Dean of the Kennedy providing a haven for terrorists. organisations like Interpol can among agencies responsible for issue. we must wait for development School of Government at Harvard.

COMMENT by MJ AKBAR Analysing ourselves to death

South Asians talk too much, and the media laps up every word.

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ will cross. Lambs work their corner taken place because of Kashmir, and if increase the level of contacts between while lions growl nearby. There are something is not done, a fourth one India and Afghanistan. This is how silly a bees who will sting and disappear, and cannot be ruled out. (Just for the record, problem can become. When President snakes who will wait in the grass. Bears one of the three wars was not over Musharraf says that he will take two will growl, even those who mean no Kashmir; it was over Bangladesh.) steps towards peace for every one that particular harm. You will also find Pan More depressing are the other India takes, it is greeted with a yawn. But strolling along playing the flute, dreaming “usuals” in his repertoire, which he within the thicket of statements look and of the beauty that is also an integral part pulled out in the course of his trip to you will find a suggestion that if both of a forest. Within paradox and conflict Germany, the United Kingdom and sides shed their rigidity, there could be we have to keep struggling to find peace, the United States. The nuclear the beginning of a solution to problems, certain in the knowledge that the only gambit, for instance. Crying nuclear including Kashmir. alternative to peace is a debilitating and wolf frightens no one, except of The most specific unusual statement dangerous war. course investors who might for some was made by Advani during his visit to There is one way out of the reason want to put a little money into the US and the UK. He clearly said that confusion. If you want to know what is Pakistan. Why should any with a little bit of give and take, the most really happening, or more accurately what businessman sow money into a difficult of problems could be resolved. might really happen if some saboteur does country whose leader threatens to He is doing something that may be not turn up, then look through the wipe out the crop in a nuclear war? happening in both countries. It seems to he biggest weapon of mass What-did-Musharraf-say-and-why-did- thicket of statements that land up in The debris of past experience me, and it is difficult to be more definite destruction on the subcontinent is he-say-or-not-say-it is the favourite game newspapers every day and search for the must be cleared. The bus to Lahore than this, that an effort is being made to T that double-edged sword called the of Delhi. Islamabad displays similar unusual rather than the usual. will hopefully restart in July, but seed the mind of the people and prepare tongue. affection for Lal Krishna Advani. War General Pervez Musharraf was an hawks have descended on the train them for the start of some new turn in Our leaders seem determined to be and peace sway on the edge of a sound author of the Kargil operations, and he and the aeroplane. All manner of direction. I would be happy to be proved sentenced by their sentences. This is bad bite. If such analysis were merely puerile will always believe that it was useful in excuses are being trotted out to stop right, but I am prepared to be proved enough. It becomes worse when media it might be left alone. But it does have its any case and could have turned out the Samjhauta Express from resuming: wrong. Experience tells me that becomes interventionist. Television impact on atmospherics, and atmosphere more positively for his country if but a train becomes a vehicle for pessimism rules longer in India-Pakistan searches for a story in between the blank is a critical indicator of the season the politicians had listened to him. smuggling, suggest some officials relations than optimism. spaces of a conversation. Text flutters at through which we might be passing. Otherwise he would have to deny his sombrely. Pakistan wants flights to India-Pakistan relations should be the top of a newspaper page, rudely India-Pakistan relations are a forest sole contribution to Pakistan’s military resume between India and Pakistan taken away from the tongue and returned divorced from context. Forget peace: this in which everything can be found. Hares history, and not a very glorious one at but is hesitant about overflights across to the heart. is a strange environment where even race in one place, hounds in another and that. A general like him is bound to airspace. Why? Apparently someone silence cannot deliver peace of mind. it is only to be expected that their paths argue that three full-scale wars have in Islamabad believes that this would (MJ Akbar is the editor of The Asian Age.) ASIA 27 JUNE - 3 JULY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #151 13 Bhai-Bhai again China could become India’s third largest economic partner.

Nathu La as seen from Gangtok

and there is no other scope for countries that surround Sikkim providing employment for our like Nepal, Bhutan and people,” he says. Since the 1975 Bangladesh. Baruah, who is merger of Sikkim and the working on a book on the trade abolition of the monarchy, the history of the region, said China’s state has depended on large booming south-western province amounts of development funds of Yunnan has long been seeking automobiles and motorcycles, from the central government in economic cooperation with the which were reassembled in New Delhi, a distant 1,500km to eastern parts of India, Bangladesh garages in Tibet,” recalls the west. Sikkim has no airport or and Burma. Aggarwal. railhead and the roads down into This, however, has been MIN BAJRACHARYA According to Aggarwal and the plains are prone to blockage blocked by the unsettled border

RANJIT DEVRAJ in NATHU LA trade. On Tuesday, as a highlight roamed not too long ago and even other traders in Gangtok, China by perennial landslides. issue between India and China. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ elations between the world’s of Indian Prime Minister Atal find brides,” says Kazi, who is would greatly benefit from “If there can be a bus route Yet following the liberalisation of two most populous Bihari Vajpayee’s six-day-long himself married to a Tibetan, revived trade because the high from New Delhi to Lahore then the economies of both countries, Rcountries, India and China, visit to China which ends Friday, Tsering, a teacher in Gangtok. Tibetan plateau is better there is no reason why there bilateral trade has galloped at an hinge on the newly reopened leaders of the two countries Until recently Sikkimese, who accessible from the Indian state of cannot be a bus route from extraordinary speed. Over the last cross-border trade across this signed documents that facilitate formed part of Indian official Sikkim, which is barely 500km Gangtok to Lhasa,” says Palden three years, trade has been snow-swept 4,545m high trade between the “Sikkim state” delegations to China, were north of the bustling port of Gyamtso, a member of India’s growing at a rate of 25 to 35 mountain pass, which provides a and the “Tibet Autonomous routinely denied visas. This Kolkata. Gangtok traders say that parliament and an influential percent annually, touching $5 window into the once forbidden Region of the People’s Republic week’s agreements fall short of long before the 1962 war bureaucrat. But the opening up billion in volume in 2002. If land of Tibet. of China” over the Nathu La open recognition for Sikkim as an erupted, the Chinese army of Nathu La to trade holds out Hong Kong and Taiwan are also From time immemorial, yak pass. integral part of India. Excited by actually used their services to prosperity not only for Sikkim included, Greater China would and mule trains bearing anything While analysts in New Delhi this week’s developments are the stock supplies of rice and but for India’s entire north- become India’s third largest from salt, gold, silk, cotton and are still wrangling over what Indian traders from India’s equipment brought in through eastern region, which has been economic partner after the Buddhist ideology have trudged exactly was agreed on and eastern port city of Kolkata, who Kolkata port, while Indian ridden by insurgencies partly European Union and the United up and down this gap in the whether or not this would mean were encouraged to settle in intelligence agencies believed they because of unreconciled ethnic States. formidably high Himalaya, a little Beijing’s recognition of Sikkim, Gangtok in the early part of the were meant to help with the differences with the bulk of India “With globalisation a fact of more than 300km south of the which merged with India in last century by the British in the ‘pacification’ of Tibetan rebels. and partly because of sheer life, there is now no way of Tibetan capital of Lhasa. But it 1975 following a referendum, hope that their renowned “Sikkim is the lifeline of Tibet. remoteness. According to Alokesh stopping the opening up of the took Britain, that ‘nation of there is cause for local celebration. business acumen would further For the better management of Baruah, a well-known economist floodgates of border trade shopkeepers’, to formalise and “This is the best news we have stimulate the cross-border trade. Tibet, China needs to regularise and expert on north-eastern between such giant economies as widen the trade through the had in a long time maybe there is “We have been waiting for food supplies through Sikkim,” affairs, the revival of cross-border those of India and China—and Sikkim-Tibet Convention of now chance for the real decades for the trade to revive ,” explains K Srikanth, China trade could also greatly help with allowing the entire region to benefit 1890, which thereafter continued development of this remote says Bhaskaranand Aggarwal, scholar and researcher at the New the rapid development of from it,” Baruah says. (IPS) uninterrupted until the brief but state,” explains Jigme N Kazi, a whose family maintained shops in Delhi-based Institute of Defence bloody 1962 border war between writer and historian based in Yatung that had to be abandoned Studies and Analyses (IDSA), a yet new post-colonial republics of Gangtok, the picturesque capital hastily on hearing the news that government-backed think tank A new beat of Sikkim. the Chinese army was sweeping well-respected for its independent ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ China and India. BANGKOK – Thailand’s national police force will soon have another This week, three decades after Until the 1962 war, down to the Indian border. A views. beat—the support and ‘protection’ of the development of a long- the war that saw deep incursions Sikkimese like Kazi maintained keen photographer, Aggarwal’s Sikkim’s elected chief disputed gas pipeline project with neighbouring Malaysia. The by China’s army into Sikkim— close relations with people in such prized possessions and minister, Pawan Kumar estimated 400 policemen who have been assigned this task will also then a Buddhist kingdom and Tibetan towns that lead to Lhasa, memorabilia from the “good old Chamling, who has been have to deal with the groundswell of opposition to the Thai-Malaysian protectorate of India—Asia’s such as the trading town of days” include amateur footage of advocating the revival of the pipeline project from local communities. Yatung and that great centre of the mule-back trade across Nathu The pipeline project, which will also have a two-unit gas separation giants have decided to put aside cross-border trade, is convinced plant in Songkhla, is due to be completed in 2005 at an estimated cost their quarrels over real estate aside the Buddhist Lamaistic faith La as it was conducted during the that the future development of of $565 million. But available reports point to some 10,000 lives being and get on with the business of Xigatse. “If nothing we can now 1950s. “We even used to carry the state lies in trade and tourism. affected by the pipeline and the nearby sea and marine life, which the mutual development through visit those places my forefathers across knocked-down American “We have no industrial base here villagers depend on for their living, being polluted. Community leaders and grassroots activists have made it known they will continue their opposition to the pipeline by staging demonstrations along its route. Last December a peaceful demonstration of community leaders and grassroots activists provoked harsh police action. Parichart Siwaraksa, a member of the Environment Impact Assessment Panel, a national body believes police presence will cement the dispute that is at the heart of this issue: “a clash between the national interest versus the local way of Indian troops to Iraq? life”. (IPS)

PRAFUL BIDWAI in NEW DELHI ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

○○○○○○○○○ Caught between the two forces, the Indian government is Bangle manacles NEW DELHI - A major political row is brewing in India over the issue of desperately looking for a figleaf such as authorisation for the troops’ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ HYDERABAD – Pakistan’s glass bangle industry exploits children who dispatching troops to Iraq to partially relieve the US and British soldiers dispatch from the UN Security Council. For it, this is a test case for have to work in confined spaces where they are exposed to dangerous diplomatic fancy footwork and spin-doctoring. New Delhi would like to now in that country. substances and long working hours with little personal free time and no The US government is insistent that India should send about depict military cooperation with the occupation powers in Iraq as a previous training in safety. Jiwan Das, country program manager for 17,000 soldiers as a ‘test’ of its commitment to fighting international variant of a peacekeeping operation. It would like to get around the Save the Children UK, a UK-based international children’s charity, said terrorism, and more important, of India’s bid for great world-power problem of a US-dominated command structure in Iraq by asking for an that while the work itself is not life-threatening, it is hazardous. status and its much-coveted ‘strategic alliance’ with Washington. autonomous operating area or zone for Indian troops. Coalition partners A study they conducted pointed out that “eradication of this labour Washington is offering India the carrot of military hardware and of the ruling pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party, including Defence is not a viable option unless new avenues and opportunities are lucrative contracts in Iraq’s reconstruction. Minister George Fernandes’ Samata Party, are opposed to the proposal. created”. One impediment is that there are few work alternatives and few On 16 June, the US government sent a senior-level Pentagon The reason why the Indian government wants to collaborate with pay as much. Children are the mainstays of the industry. The current delegation to talk to Indian ministers and diplomats. It did not get an the United States in Iraq has to do with its eagerness to seal a long-term wages are between three and five cents per batch of 300 bangles. In a assurance that India would send troops, but was told that the military alliance with Washington and outflank Pakistan. day, an individual may complete between 25 and 35 batches. The government is trying to generate a “consensus” on the issue by talking India is also keen to buy top-of-the-line US and Israeli military average monthly household income for families whose children are to all political parties, as well as Iraq’s neighbours. equipment, including missile-defence systems and the ‘Patriot’ missile. involved in the industry is $74, of which two-thirds is generated by glass Indian public opinion and the political opposition is set against The United States is keen to hold joint exercises with Indian forces bangle work. The children get less than a dollar a month to spend on sending troops to Iraq and bestowing legitimacy on what it regards as and establish access to military bases. According to a Pentagon report, themselves. The economic reality, the Save the Children report the illegal and immoral invasion and occupation of Iraq. Besides, quoted by US defence specialist John Carbaugh: “American military concluded, is that “poverty leaves few options for the family other than Indians would not like their sovereign army’s soldiers to salute the US officers are candid in their plans to eventually seek access to Indian for the children to lend a hand in income generation”. (IPS) flag or fight under a US general command. bases and military infrastructure.” 14 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS THIS PAGE CONTAINS MATERIAL SELECTED FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 27 JUNE - 3 JULY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #151

Foreign students medical treatment by a local ○○○○○○

○○○○○○○○○○ NGO. When the police were Kantipur, 25 June approached by the organisation, The long road home the former said the accused DHARAN – Foreign students are would be interrogated. The Ajako Kura lining up to get into the BP Centre for Victims of Torture Teknath Rijal, Bhutani human rights activist living in Siliguri, Koirala Health Science Institute. (CVICT) in Kathmandu has interviewed by Kiran Pokhrel for Radio Sagarmatha on 22 June. /]l8of] ;u/dfyf The institute received 1,322 already invited Jivsi for further applications for the MBBS treatment. Kiran Pokhrel: What is your reaction to the results of the classification of Bhutani refugees? entrance exams this year of which

Teknath Rizal: After suffering so much in Bhutan and living as refugees in Nepal 203 are Indian nationals. For the ‘Not incompetent’ ○○○○○○○○○○○

for the last 12 years, Bhutan has put us back to square one. The results of the BDS degree, 25 of the 59 ○○○○ classification are not satisfactory. It’s not just us here in Nepal, even within applicants are Indian. In order to Nepal Samacharpatra, 26 June Bhutan people are against this. give equal opportunities for But now it is clear that Bhutan acknowledges the problem. Shouldn’t this people of all caste, creed and Excerpt from an interview with be taken positively? region, quotas have been allotted Sher Bahadur Deuba. I thank the Nepali government for this. Its efforts made Bhutan accept that they for applicants from 15 remote drove us out. No matter what reason they give, whether they say we migrated from Bhutan or came here of our own free will, they have at least accepted that districts. One seat each has also His Majesty labelled you we are Bhutani. But that is not enough. We have lost our relatives, our property. been reserved for janjati, dalit, incompetent when he The sacrifices we made for the Bhutani monarchy have not been recognised. Although I am satisfied with what the Nepali and women. The institute has 75 dismissed your government has done for us they cannot leave us hanging in the middle. What I do not like is the government of Nepal seats for MBBS, 40 for BDS, 15 government last year. offering us citizenship if Bhutan will not take us back. for BSC Nursing, 6 for BAM IT, Why should an grudges against the king, neither Will the 293 out of 12,000 refugees from Khudunabari certified as Bhutani return to Bhutan? 10 for OT Technician, 40 for incompetent government will I call him incompetent… No, they will not go. How can just these 293 people return? We will have to leave some members of our families behind diploma level technician, and 6 be reinstated? because they did not qualify. When we were driven out we were separated from our families, now if we go back we will be for MSc. Fourteen places are I am not incompetent. I Will the present agitation further divided. reserved for SAARC country dissolved the House of by the political parties turn What is the next step? applicants and nine others for Representatives and announced the tables? This is what I wanted to ask you in the media. What can we do now? other nationals. Applicants other election dates. Even at the I would not like to point fingers We have never gone against the king of Bhutan. I am only talking of our basic human rights. They shot us, beat us, than from Nepal and SAARC eleventh hour we were prepared at anyone, but the truth is that put us in jail and finally drove us out. The world remained a silent witness. The king has absolute power. He can appoint a peon or a minister and dismiss them if he so pleases. Those who drove us out are the ones who are in power. They are the nations need not give entrance to go ahead with elections but when I was dismissed, all the same people who come here to say who is Bhutani and who is not. Will they take responsibility for us when we return to exams and are eligible for the political parties came main leaders of the other Bhutan? interviews straight away. forward and said the situation political parties hoped to There is not a single representative from southern Bhutan in the courts or the administration, no one to speak for us. wasn’t right. They suggested we become the next prime minister. If the UNHCR, the Indian government or UN stands guarantee for our safety and sees to the return of our ancestral land form a government that would

and property, then we will certainly return to Bhutan. Another witchhunt The scales fell off their eyes only ○○○○○○

○○○○○○○○○○ include them and possibly the when the king appointed So you will agree to go back if the UNHCR is involved? Won’t there be an international agency to monitor things Spacetime, 23 June Maoists too. All of them had Lokendra Bahadur Chand to the anyway? collectively agreed on this post. Then they understood that No, Bhutan will not involve any international observers because the king is orchestrating all of this. His ministers are involved in the verification and classification process, which is acceptable, but he must give us in writing that we were his Six-months pregnant Jivsi Devi course of action. I acted Deuba’s removal was motivated subjects before, we still are, that we had to suffer because of the mistakes his ministers made. He must personally Shah didn’t know she would pay correctly by following through by the king’s desire for power. In a guarantee our dignity and safety. There have been many cases of people returning to Bhutan for nothing. such a heavy price for acting as a on their suggestions. The events way their struggle is good. midwife for her nephew’s wife. that followed the royal move How crucial is India’s role? Until and unless India is involved the problem will never be solved. India made Bhutan what it is. The Indians implemented The baby had a difficult delivery have proved that the Will it be enough to bring the fourth development plan for southern Bhutan, not just in the technical aspects but also in the administrative side. They and died soon after being born. accusations the king levelled back the people’s power? know everything, but they chose to keep their eyes closed. Yesterday Bhutan drove us out by creating a green belt. Immediately, muttering began in against me were false. If he is The Maoists opted for war and so Today they are using the terrorist belt to drive people out again. Indian terrorists are entering Bhutan and creating havoc. the Saptari village that she was a really worried about elections did the king. The people want Indian involvement in resolving this issue is vital. witch. Four months after the he would have announced a peace at whatever cost. Nepal and Activists in Kathmandu say their efforts might be more effective if they take the issue to Bhutan and start a incident, Jivsi was dragged out of date on the very day my Nepalis still suffer from terrorism. rebellion there. her kitchen by a group of locals. government was deposed. He That is why political parties The question here is not of taking the rebellion to Bhutan. When the country refuses to acknowledge its own citizens what They picked a day when her should have been able to hold cannot mangle peace and go to can outsiders do? I don’t believe taking the protest to Bhutan will be of any help. husband, a rickshaw puller, was the elections I couldn’t. My war. It is critical that they choose Do you think visit of Queen Ashi Tshering Pema Wangchuk to Nepal will help matters? away in Biratnagar. Jivsi’s hands removal from office had nothing peaceful ways of showing their I certainly hope so. I can confidently say 52 percent of Bhutanis are Hindu but the king has never spoken in Nepali when and feet were tied and she was to do with elections, which is dissent. he visits the south. His ministers translate his speeches for the people. Likewise, the people’s grievances are translated taken to a nearby river. After why my government should be from Nepali to Dzongka for the king. The queens speak Nepali and know the problems of the people in southern Bhutan. They could help the king understand the situation and talk with the government of Nepal. This official visit is an important beating her, they forced Jivsi to reinstated. Nepal is swinging between opportunity for a possible breakthrough. eat human waste. She was left calls for a republic and a unconscious before a passer-by Then why were you made possible return to monarchy. took her to a police post. “The to step down? The country is not ready to police arrested one of the locals The main reason for my become a republic. Our party is for a very short time and let him removal was the king’s desire not willing to push for a republic go,” says Jivsi who has been for a return to absolute system. We have to put the king in brought to Rajbiraj for immediate monarchy…I will not hold his place through a peaceful revolt. Trading places Rajdhani, 26 June Excerpts of an interview with Prahlad KC, representative of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce in America.

What happened to the Nepali garment import bill? Unfortunately the bill that was proposed in the American Senate for a tax subsidy to Nepali garment imports was rejected because of the controversy surrounding the 18 Tibetan refugees being sent back to China. Hollywood is enamoured of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and it was from that lobby that the most pressure came to squash the bill. But it wasn’t passed only because of the deportation of the refugees.

Blurb: “Come and get it! New books students must have!” How can the situation be remedied? The Nepali garment industry and the government must now attempt to get the ball rolling Signs on books: ‘Lockout’, ‘Demos’, ‘Rallies’, ‘101 Ready-made Slogans’, ‘Beginners’ Guide to Burning again. His Majesty’s Government has already sent a formal request to the American Effigies’, ‘Instant Speeches’. Senate to reconsider the tax subsidy bill. Entrepreneurs, too, must launch a movement through their lobby explaining that Nepal was under pressure from our northern Rajdhani 24, June neighbour to deport the refugees. We must convince America that our actions were prompted by immense duress from other forces and we are willing to work at creating a QUOTE OF THE WEEK positive atmosphere.

“It’s OK, mother, we have killed enough [goats]. We don’t need to carry out any more sacrifices. Our What is our position in the American market? wishes have been fulfilled.” We have always looked towards Europe to export our carpets, but trade hasn’t been what it used to be in the past. Nepal must therefore look to America and spend as much time - Baburam Bhattarai to his mother at Manakamana Temple, as quoted by Ujir Magar in and money investigating the market here as we have done in Europe. Kantipur Koseli, 21 June HISTORY AND CULTURE 27 JUNE - 3 JULY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #151 15 Back at Sundarijal >38 ‘I miss GM a great deal.’ 7 April, 1977 8 April Sundarijal Sundarijal

I don’t know how GM is passing his time in the next jail. He has no books Dr Bhattarai: my BP: 136/82. The morning cough that I brought out was except one Nepali to Nepali dictionary. He is perhaps writing. He sent for staurated with blood. About more than a month ago I had persistent some paper clips and pins from me. It think he has a…of fullscape size cough and for sometime every morning my sputum contained blood— paper and a dot pen with a refill. When he was being taken away he not traces of it but full of it. It was sent for culture, but the report that was told by the officer that he would be brought back again to his jail to was sent to me said that no pathogen was detected. I took Avil cough be lodged with me after a week or so. And he even suggested that he expectorant prescribed by Dr Vaish of BHU which gave me relief and could leave his things which he won’t need for a few days urgently. the cough subsided. This morning again the blood is seen in the Hence GM’s suitcase, a handbag, and bedding, hold all and some dolai sputum, I have kept it for the doctor to see it. I have asked the major to are left in his room here. But the kind of arrangement that has been made get me a doctor soon. I don’t know how soon he will come. I am for them in the new jail specially constructed for him in a record time worried. I am fully conscious that health is the most precious thing in doesn’t suggest that he has been taken away only for a short duration. prison and I have been careful about it. But no care seems to avail. BP Koirala and Ganesh Man Singh with a Chinese I miss him a great deal. He is not very pleasurable company because This is what is worrying me—and I think worry aggravates the illness. I dignitary at Beijing in 1960. he is too strongly self-willed, which not a very endearing qualification of shouldn’t be suffering from serious illness, because the thorough companionship, and he tried to impress his style of life on others. But he health checkup I had gone through in Varanasi was reassuring. When I BP Koirala worries about Ganesh is a man of sterling quality. He is absolutely free from any superiority came here I was in perfectly good health, and I have no reason to complex, is not embarrassed to do manual work if occasion demanded. expect a foul play and the doctors are available tho they come tardily, Man Singh in the next cell, and Of late he has given up considerably using strong language against his not promptly when we want. That is why I feel that physically I am not wonders how he is faring. He opponents and has considerably softened in his rigid political stand. He affected with any serious trouble. The trouble is mostly mental—which has been a source of a great political strength to me. He is totally is due to the most unnatural condition of prison life. also analyses his comrade-in- identified with my line. He has one great quality, he takes long to be I do a little bit of writing and reading but there is no joy in the arms and pays tribute to Ganesh convinced, but once he is convinced you can depend on him to adhere exercise. Therefore I drag myself through the exercise of study. The to it to the end. In the beginning, he was not convinced of the reasoning diary pages are full of commonplace read of my insignificant mental Man’s tenacity, conviction and of our present political line, but once he was convinced, he hasn’t state—and the records are repetitive. This is an indication of the commitment to the cause. Since shown any sign of wavering. As a matter of fact, even when I am determination of my mind. I hope it is temporary, as I think my physical sometimes assailed with doubts, he remains firm in his conviction. The illness is of no serious kind. both are now in solitary govt has deprived me of his company and now I have nobody to discuss Dr Bhattarai came to me. He examined me thoroughly which is his confinement, BP rues: ‘Now I my ideas with. I don’t think he will be bought back here to rejoin me. I usual practice—had brought cardiograph machine also. He saw my hope and pray that GM will be all right. sputum which he took with him for culture. He appeared to be a little have no one to discuss my ideas I am feeling lonely today. In the afternoon there was no electricity, concerned about that. He was also a little concerned about the with.” There are continuous hence I couldn’t prepare my tea. I prepare my tea—altho it is only for shooting pain that I had about 14 days ago in the liver region. He was me—and that too to be taken in loneliness. I prepare with some inquiring if the pain remained located there itself of it radiated. That I worries about BP’s health, he elaboration—like how Mahabir does things. Since I can’t prepare the had similar pain about a month ago appeared to have some coughs blood and a doctor is afternoon tea for there was no electricity, I suffered from a sense of significance in the determination of my trouble. I had expected Basnet worklessness and the time hung more heavily with me. I spent the day to come—he is more friendly, but Bhattarai as a doctor is more brought in. with extreme boredom and loneliness. reassuring.

REVIEW by SANJIVE MISHRA A cartoon is worth a thousand words ubhas Rai has been drawing ever power of media is exaggerated, that it is eyes looking at a well-crafted cartoon since he can remember. The given more due than it deserves as an will take in the message subliminally Sdraughtsman-ship itself seems to agent of change. (Opportunist and the issue will become a matter of come easily to him, but like all journalists need no convincing that the public debate. professionals he grapples with the Fourth Estate is extremely powerful.) Compared to journalists, cartoon- universal dilemma: does my work make So, it is natural for someone of ists have it much easier. They are any difference? Subhas Rai’s calibre to wonder why. He allowed to have a point of view, to be Journalists who work with words go needn’t. A cartoon is worth a thousand sharply critical. Reporters have to keep through throes of such existentialist words, and drives home the message their biases to themsleves, and strive to angst, too. After ten years of writing, they using satire and humour much more be objective. wonder whether what they have written effectively than mere words ever can. Also, in this visually-dominated SUBHAS RAI has changed anything at all. Serious Change may not be immediate or media world, where newspapers are journalists seriously believe that the dramatic, but thousands of pairs of fighting a losing battle with television, infographics and cartoons take on added significance. They are not, should not be, just the one column Khabarpatrika and this newspaper for of non-violence and tolerance more than filler on page one, they must expand the past four years. By training himself words could ever do. to prominence, be directly interwoven in the latest computer graphics Rai’s distinctive and relaxed touch, with the page one text. techniques, Rai’s illustrations have a and vivid imagery are familiar to readers of Luckily, in Nepal the post-1990 world class finish. But he has never Nepali Times. But in this book, Rai growth in media has made editorial abandoned the basic skills of an artist expands his field of interest to include cartooning blossom into an important to the short-cuts and gimmicks of conflicts in Afghanistan, the Middle East, part of newspapers and magazines. Quark Express. Rai's basic work is still Iraq, India-Pakistan and Nepal. Every Nepali cartoonists in fact have used done laboriously pen-in-hand on a image forces us to reflect on the subject of new freedoms much more effectively piece of paper, and scanned for peace and non-violence, and the humour than their text counterparts to push computer tinting. gives us hope for the future. the envelope of what is allowed. They Subhas Rai is one of have tackled the traditional holy cows Nepal’s most versatile Peace Keeping By Subhas Rai in Nepali politics to present biting cartoonists. In the Himalmedia 2003 satires of the traditional ruling elite in collection of his cartoons pp 50+4, Rs 200 Kathmandu. on peace (Peace Keeping) Available at major Subhas Rai’s cartoons and graphics released this week, he bookshops or through [email protected]

SUBHAS RAI have been the common feature of Himal drives home the message 16 CITY 27 JUNE - 3 JULY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #151 BOOKWORM

The Best of Laxman: The common man in the new millenium RK Laxman Penguin Books, 2000 Rs 350 From financial crises to the woes of householders, from political instability to rampant corruption, Laxman’s cartoons capture the entire gamut of contemporary Indian experience. Hilarious and thought- provoking at the same time, this is a treasurehouse of humour from one of the most striking voices on Indian socio-political life today.

Nepalese Cartoons: a portfolio of cartoons of Nepal by representative cartoonists ABOUT TOWN Ram Kumar Panday Ratna Pustak, 1997 FESTIVAL AND EXHIBITIONS Rs 190 Pictures from Modern Life in Nepal photographs by William Mebane till 4 July at Siddhartha Art Gallery, The cartoon as a genre of satirical drawing in the occidental and now universal sense appeared late to Baber Mahal Revisited. 4411122 Nepal. But the modern history of the cartoons, though short, has a strong functional basis. The author, a Soham Silver jewellery by Shruti till 6 July at Gallery Nine, Lazimpat. 4436994 writer and cartoonist too, presents contemporary Nepali cartoons in a timeline and accompanies it with a EVENTS lively analysis. Fulbright Forum The Status of the Red Panda in Ilam District, a talk by Brian Williams, 5PM on 1 July at the American Center Auditorium, Gyaneshwor. Peace Keepers Subhas Rai Imaging Everest photographic exhibition from the Royal Geographical Society, London, in association with Himalmedia, 2003 The British Council, Kathmandu. 8.30 AM-4.45 PM till 31 July at the British Council, Lainchour. Rs 200 Shukrabar presents Jharana 27 June at Tridevi Mandir, Thamel, opposite Himalayan Java. Rs 350. Tickets available at Jatra, New Orleans, Suwal Music and Movies, Patan Museum Gift Shop. Email: The cartoons in Rai’s first book cements what we already know: this is an insightful, talented [email protected] artist who has a keen eye and a light touch. One of Nepal’s foremost political cartoonists, his Reiki Level One Workshop with Elif Koksal from Turkey. 28-29 June at Babar Mahal Revisited. work has appeared regularly in Nepali Times and Himal Khabarpatrika. His work in Peace [email protected], 4256618 / 5541613 Keeping embraces a wider global perspective with the finesse we have come to expect. MUSIC Cadenza live 7.30PM every Wednesday and Saturday. Rs 200 entry. Interested musicians welcome to jam. Courtesy: Mandala Book Point, Kantipath, 4227711, [email protected] Upstairs Jazz Bar, Lazimpat. Live Music Friday at 5.30 PM, Saturday movie at 4.30 PM. Jivin’ Joe’s Restaurant, Kupondole. Live Acoustic Jam 7PM on Saturdays at Himalatte Cafe, Thamel. 4256738 CLASSIFIED Full Circle acoustic jam every Friday at New Orleans Café, Thamel. 4427311 Thunderbolt with Ram Shrestha and Sabu Lama. 8PM onwards Wednesdays and Saturdays at the Red Visit Ground Zero Fine wines, designer candles, Co-Q10 and all dietary supplements imported Onion Bar, Lazimpat. 4416071 cards, gifts, stationery, wooden items, perfumes and from Singapore & Malaysia Contact 5520294 The Jazz Bar presents Abhaya and The Steam Injuns. 7PM onwards, 27 June. 50 percent discount on food more. Darbar Marg, opposite Hotel de l’Annapurna and drinks. Shangri-la Hotel, Lazimpat. 4412999 To Let: Rabibhawan area two storey house 4 Chill out Friday jazz and club music 7PM onwards. Free entrance. The Club, Bhat Bhateni. 4440163, Visit Femilines, the Exclusive Lingerie Store for bedrooms 2 bathrooms large kitchen dining 4416430 ladies undergarments, nightwear, bathrobes and living terrace lobby and porch and telephone. DRINKS more. Ladies staff. Opposite Sajha Yatayat, Harihar Contact: Roshani 4275180 Bhawan, Pulchowk. Tel: 547428 Liquor Buffet 7-9PM at the Splash Bar & Grill. Rs 550 per person. Radisson Hotel, Kathmandu. 4411818 New York Pizza: Free Home delivery Fusion offers over 100 cocktails. Happy hour from 6-7PM. Dwarika’s Hotel. Flowerlovers: Flowerlovers, it’s FUCHSIA time Contact:5539345 K-too! Special Tropical Khukri drinks Rs 125 or Rs 750 for every 1.5 litre. Free Irish Coffee with every main again !! See 60 beautiful varieties in bloom! Our course. K-too! Beer & Steakhouse, Thamel. 4433043 lovely CYCLAMEN are also flowering. Only at THE PIII PC. For Sale in good condition with 17” FOOD BISHALNAGAR NURSERY, tel. 4431797; 5 min. Philips view, especially for graphics use. Free PC Exquisite dining at the Chimney. Hotel Yak & Yeti. 4248999 from Bhatbateni Supermarket, 2min. from table. Expresso Bar Calling all coffee lovers at new look La Dolce Vita, Thamel. Bishalnagar Chowk (turn right and downhill). Contact 5551333, 981053475. 4419612 Friday BBQ at the Summit Hotel 6.30 PM onwards. Rs 500 + tax. 5521810. Custom Made: Generate wealth with Feng Shui ~ Car on sale: Hyundai model no. 95 Ascent Breakaway Buffet Lunch Rs 325-375 (weekdays), Rs 650 (weekends) at the Get a custom made tabletop fountain! Call made in Korea. Contact: Balaram Sharma at Radisson Hotel, Kathmandu. 4411818 981054102 5524629 Traditional Nepali Thali lunch at Patan Museum Café inside Patan Museum. 11AM-2.30 PM. Cocktails and snacks 4-6.30 PM. 5526271 For insertions ring NT Marketing at 5543333-36. Weekends BBQ at the Shambala Garden. 50 percent off through June. Shangri- la Hotel, Lazimpat. 4412999 Summer specials smoked salmon soufflé, shrimp Newburg and crispy duck breast. Kilroy’s of Kathmandu, Urgent Notice for Kathmandu Valley Residents Thamel. 4250440 What you burn is what you breathe. Is your vehicle Naachghar Revisited with Myrna, an international exotic dancer, and North Indian delicacies. Every evening from 7.30 PM onwards. Rs 749 per person. Hotel Yak & Yeti, Darbar Marg. emitting black smoke? Wood fired pizzas, Baskin Robbins ice-cream, cocktails and coffee at the Roadhouse Café, Thamel. Kathmandu cannot take it anymore. Nothing will happen unless World BBQ Nite 27 June at Dwarika’s Hotel. Singaporean satay, Persian kababs, Churasqueria. Rs 699 + tax. you take individual action. Please get your vehicle checked to see 4479488 it is burning fuel efficiently. Better still, ride a bike or walk wher- Café Bahal Dieter’s delight for the health conscious at Kathmandu Guest House’s Food Court, Thamel. ever possible. This reminder is brought to you by Hits FM. Hits 4413632 you where it maters. Kids Combo Meal at all Bakery Cafés. Kids’ meals with exciting gifts. Saturday BBQ Lunch at Club Himalaya Nagarkot. Rs 500 per person. 4680083 Papaya salad, seasonal vegetables with fillet or chicken and Italian icecream at Singma, Jawlakhel, Lalitpur. 552004 GETAWAYS The genius of the Wachowski brothers JAI NEPAL CINEMA Dakshinkali Package every Saturday Rs 500+tax. 4370714, 4371537 returns in the Matrix Reloaded. There are Shivapuri Heights a traditional cottage with modern facilities. Rs 1,850 pp. www.escape2nepal.com. Email: better special effects and action [email protected] sequences as the sequel journeys Great Godavari Getaway special weekend packages. Godavari Village Resort. 5560675 deeper into the Matrix where more humans The Secret of Kathmandu Overnight package $99. Dwarika’s Hotel. 4479488 are free and attempting to live in the real Gamcha Organic Farm Guesthouse Traditional Nepali farmhouse. 6631734 world. Crisis strikes when the Machine Writing Retreat Full board package. Aesthetic living, innovative thinking, creative writing and nature at Park Army lays siege on Zion, the last real-world Village Resort, Budhanilkantha. 375280 city. Neo (Keanu Reeves), Trinity (Carrie Showtime: Call for details. Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge Special offers for Nepalis and expats. 01-361500 TMPL Reservations - Anne Moss) and Morpheus (Laurence Coming Soon: Charlies Nepali/Expat Offer Fishburn) have to save the day. Angels Full Throttle. Bardia Tiger Madness special deals for expats. Jungle Base camp, Bardia. 061-532112. Email: [email protected]. Escape to Jomsom this summer. Rs 3,999 per person at Jomsom Mountain Resort. 449610 Five-star packages at The Fort Resort, Nagarkot. 421633

NEPALI WEATHER by NGAMINDRA DAHAL on FM 102.4 VIS -25 -06-2003 11:00 GMT After a weak start, the monsoon is picking up strength and has now covered the whole of Nepal from east to Daily 2045-2115 BBC west. This satellite image taken on Thursday afternoon g]kfnL ;]jf;]jfg]kfnL shows that the rains will take a breather, and the next Daily 2245-2300 BBC monsoon pulse will arrive early next week. Till then, g]kfnL ;]jf;]jfg]kfnL Sun-Fri 0740- 0800 expect clear bright mornings, warm days and showers Ps}l5g\ -/]l8of] klqsf_ Kathmandu towards the evening and night. The Bay of Bengal Sun-Fri 0800- 0830 8anL8anL8anL -ljifout-ljifout-ljifout cGt/lqmof_cGt/lqmof_cGt/lqmof_ branch of the monsoon is getting distracted and Sun-Fri 2000- 2030 dropping its moisture over northeast India, while the cfhsf s'/f -;d;fdlos ljifodf ax;_ Arabian Sea branch has been vigorous and pumping Sat 0800- 0830 zflGt cleofg water vapour into western Nepal. Sat 1930- 2000 cfrf/ ljrf/ -e|i6frf/lj?4 ;xsfo{_ KATHMANDU VALLEY Sat 2000- 2030 s"6gLlts d~r Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Radio Sagarmatha P.O. Box 6958, Bakhundole, Lalitpur, Nepal Tel: ++977-1-545680, 545681, Fax: ++ 977-1- 530227 30-20 30-19 30-20 39-19 28-19 E-mail: [email protected], www.radiosagarmatha.org /]l8of] ;u/dfyf ADVENTURE 27 JUNE - 3 JULY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #151 17 Way to the top

Want to be a mountaineer? Now PADAM SINGH GHALEY you can train in technical climbing right here in Nepal.

JANAKI GURUNG ○○○○

○○○○○○○○○○○○ rainshadow, the fallow monsoon ne fallout from the 50th months can be used for training. anniversary hoopla of the The NMA school in Manang ascent of Everest last was set up in 1975 with help from omonth is that many Nepali Yugoslavian climbers and has youngsters suddenly want to learn already produced 130 graduates. It to climb. And they are not just still uses training manuals from Sherpas. France’s Ecole nationale Aplisme et So, the Nepal Mountaineering Ski (ENAS) and many of the Association (NMA) climbing instructors have been schooled in school in Manang (see pic, below) mountaineering training by is gearing up to meet the rush. In professional instructors. “Although addition, a group of veteran Nepali many of the applicants for climbers have set up the Nepal mountaineering training are still Mountaineering Instructor Sherpas, there is a noticeable shift Association (NMIA) with the view towards other communities,” says to encourage Nepal’s youth to NMIA chairman, Dawa Gombu for its training programs, and is discover the wilderness, learn basic Sherpa. “This is a healthy trend.” subcontracted by the NMA to carry climbing techniques and undergo NMIA, with support from the out some of its courses, like the survival training. Austrian group, Eco-Himal, is one in Langtang and Manang. “It is NMIA was set up last year by translating its mountaineering a mutually beneficial partnership,” three-time Everest summiteers, training handbooks into Nepali so says Dawa Gombu. NMIA also (from left to right in picture taken that trainees as well as porters who wants to branch out and offer at the NMIA launch this week, hiking and trekking experiences below) Lhakpa Sherpa, Pemba for schools in Kathmandu, Gyaljen Sherpa, Ang Norbu Pokhara and Dharan so that sherpa and Dorjee Lama. The Nepali children can learn about group’s professional instructors their country. “The programs carry out training on rock will introduce Nepali children to climbing in Chewang in Solu trekking, mountaineering and Khumbu and in Nagarjun and basic techniques and wilderness Hatiban in Kathmandu. Ice and survival training,” explains Ghaley. glacier traverse training is done There are also inquiries from in Langtang, basic mountaineer- corporate groups in Nepal to ing courses are carried out in organise challenging outdoor Manang while advanced moun- don’t know English can learn activities for their senior managers taineering courses take place in technical aspects like fixed rope and executives. Business houses Thame. climbing, glacier traversing, in Britain, France and the US “Mountaineering in Nepal is search and rescue and altitude regularly bring senior staff to changing, it is no longer just about sickness. “We hope the book will Nepal for trekking to train them high altitude portering to make a spread knowledge about safe in teamwork, and NMIA thinks it living,” says Padam Singh Ghaley climbing to a larger Nepali can do the same for Nepali of the instructors’ association. public,” Ghaley told us. corporate houses. “Many Nepalis now want to climb NMA is already self-sufficient “There are a lot of benefits: for the love of it, and there is a because of the royalty it receives managers learn to work together, tremendous lack of proper from trekking peak fees, and a part they gain self-confidence and they training.” of its mandate is to popularise become better at problem-solving,” The NMIA is collaborating mountaineering activities among says Ghaley. “This is not just about with NMA to carry out specialised Nepali students and youngsters, climbing, it prepares them to deal training in rock and ice, as well as according to its president, Ang with life’s adversities, and they also in mountain rescue and survival. Tsering Sherpa. “We want to get to learn a lot about the Some 15 trainees took part in a spread awareness at both the diversity of their own country recent course in Langtang (see pics, national and international levels to which is an added bonus.” above), and another course is preserve the beauty and challenge planned in Manang this August. of the Himalaya,” he says. [email protected] Since the two valleys lie in the NMIA is currently fundraising www.nma.com.np

closes for monsoon brbrmonsoon eakeak juljuljuly 11y st 200320032003 re-opens august 1st 2003 with all new lounge bar serving cosmic cocktails | home- style boutique with bed, tabletop & cushions | spicy chinese food every saturday nite thamel 4259015 [email protected] 18 27 JUNE - 3 JULY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #151 Under My Hat by Kunda Dixit CORRECTIONS t is our duty, as journalists, to adhere to the Because of an editing error, an article by truth as far as humanely possible. But, now and Chicken Little on page one of the Sunday I then, we make mistakes. Who doesn’t? And edition gave the impression that the world had when we do, it is part of our strict journalistic ended. We are happy to report that the world is Code of Ethics to lie low and hope no one noticed. still very much around, according to a higher Just kidding. Actually, we issue a correction and up authority. “We’ll let you know if and when publish it at the bottom of page 37 where you we decide to terminate the world,” the need a magnifying glass to see it. Almighty said in a statement, read out by a It may be a tiny typo or a huge grammatical spokesperson. error, either way the important thing is to alert all unsuspecting citizens about the blunder, Due to confusion in the newsroom, the acknowledge our short coming, and learn from our prime minister was incorrectly identified in mistakes so we can move on to make even greater yesterday’s editorial as Sher Bahadur Thapa. ones. Such is life. This is why it is incumbent The present premier is actually the Right upon the Nepali media to examine and rectify its Honourable Lokendra Bahadur Deuba. We erratum. For the public record, we hereby publish apologise to both prime ministers. the following corrections: Several readers have been rushed to the ICU A small typographical error crept into an article after trying out the weight-loss formula in our last Saturday about Kathmandu being developed Lifestyle Section last week. The sentence ‘Take as an International Humour Centre. Heh-heh. 6 oz of Kathmandu water straight off the tap, Sorry for that funny mistake. In actual fact, the remove all unidentified floating objects, and city is developing into an International Tumour drink it. The ensuing dysentery will guarantee Centre. you will lose 10 kg in one week.’ was supposed to be a joke, silly. Any incontinence is regretted. A picture caption in the Entertainment Section misidentified a new eatery in New Road as the The Five-Party Alliance against Regression Revolting Restaurant and Bar, it is in fact the (FPAR) has just informed us that a news item in yesterday’s edition announcing the launch of Revolutionary Restaurant and Bar run by the th ANNUS(R). The terror is deeply regretted. the 148 Phase of their street agitation was a huge mistake. They shouldn’t have done it. We apologise to the UML General Secretary for the major national crisis triggered by our headline Due to a fact-checking error, reports in our on the Sports Page of yesterday’s edition, ‘Nepal Obituary Section yesterday of the death of Mr Thrashed Badly’. The article was actually about Mark Twain were exaggerated. After a strenu- the Nepali soccer team beaten 8-0 by Oman in the ous workout, Mr Twain actually felt only half- ongoing Asian qualifiers. dead.

NEPALI SOCIETY

any Nepalis are doing well for themselves in the field Mof Information Technology. Some work for Nokia in Finland, Silicon Valley to others are up-and-coming names in Silicon Valley. But few ever uproot themselves and come back to their Kathmandu Valley homeland to make a difference. One such Nepali is Suresh Ojha quite forgot his childhood potential in the IT field to bridge (pic, below). A wireless systems memories of growing up in a Newar the digital divide. He set up the design engineer on the fast track at neighbourhood in the Valley. “I Nepal Information Technology Task Hewlett Packard, Suresh lives and decided I couldn’t face myself if I Force of Silicon Valley with the works in the San Fransisco Bay didn’t do anything for Nepal,” he help of a few other Nepali area. At the age of eight he moved says. engineers and American friends. to the US with his parents, and in After a visit to Nepal, Suresh The purpose was to usher in the all the years that followed he never was convinced that Nepal had great wireless revolution, and let Nepal’s IT industry leapfrog technology. “Given Nepal’s terrain and financial restrictions, wireless technology can be hugely beneficial,” says Suresh. This conviction led his group to bring in $500,000 worth of radio frequency and microwave-testing equipment for the Institute of Engineering (IoE) at Tribhuban University. The IoE will now have a wireless lab that is more sophisticated than most labs at US universities. Suresh is currently taking time off till December to teach wireless engineering here. “Very soon wireless technology will replace cable-based technology all over the world. The beauty of it is that though it is more sophisticated than cable based technology, it is less expensive and most suited to Nepal,” he says. He is convinced Nepal is on the edge of something wonderful: “I believe in the calibre of Nepalis to succeed, but it requires effort. This is a test case, there are people willing to help us. In the end, it is the Nepalis alone who can make it work.” (Alok Tumbahangphey)

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