#34 16 - 22 March 2001 20 pages Rs 20 SHUTTERBUG 1 9

ICE CREAM IS HOT 9

EXCLUSIVE HOTEL HARAKIRI Hotel executives and senior managers in ties waiting on tables, doing the dishes, answering JUMPING SHIP phones. It had to come to this: a strike no one wanted but everyone The farce in parliament hides an eternal was powerless to prevent. It was Nepali Congress feud that is taking the party so easy to solve: the unions are controlled by political parties, some down, and dragging the country down with it. hotels were willing to bargain with the unions, the unions themselves tussle, and we are going to resolve it once and for The question is: are the anti-Girija forces were showing flexibility. Then, two all,” one Congress insider told us. working together? And if so, is there a “hidden weeks ago the Hotel Association of If Koirala does not resign what options hand” that wants him out? How else would one does he have? He could go for a confidence explain these strange bedfellows working together

SUBHAS RAI SUBHAS vote in parliament if the UML lets him, he for so long? One way to find out is to seek motive. could call mid-term polls, or he could “step The UML cannot hope to come to power by aside”. Koirala has sounded out his rivals in bringing down Koirala—all they want is to stall the Congress, but they hate him dearly and the Armed Police Force ordinance, which the king Hotel executives serve breakfast don’t want to give him an easy parachute. Last took three months to sign, and which was on Wednesday week Koirala and Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, his supposed to be ratified by the winter session.

morning. another NC prime minister and the septuagenarian adversary, tried to smoke the “Because the king took so long to reluctantly ○○○○○○○○○ BINOD○○○○○○○○○○ BHATTARAI RAM HUMAGAIN UML would not gain much. Still, the UML’s peace pipe at Bhaisepati. Witnesses said everyone approve the ordinance, maybe even the Royal Nepal (HAN) sought a court arliament has not met for a month. The Ishwor Pokhrel is upbeat: “We’ve got hold of the talked in circles, nothing was resolved. As Sunday Palace and the Army want the bill to die quietly in injunction banning the strike, government has less than three weeks to leg, and we won’t let go until we pull everything is being put forward as a make-or-break session, parliament,” a political analyst who did not want to sending the unions again on pget two important ordinances (one to set out in the open.” Pokhrel is a member of the things may be different there. “The solution has to be named told us. The ordinance will cease to exist warpath. Till then, there was some up a paramilitary force to combat the Maoists) UML’s new task force entrusted with toppling the be found within the party,” agrees Hom Nath if it fails to get parliamentary approval. hope that the two sides would passed by the House. Two ministers jumped ship prime minister. The UML believes the Maoist Dahal, Nepali Congress MP from the rebel The other wild card is the India factor. What mellow, and government mediation this week, the remaining spend more time insurgency can only be contained by immediate faction. His group is discussing resignation, or does New Delhi want? Koirala gets along with an would work. But as usual, we politicking nervously than governing. The country and radical measures (which it want to work out), nothing. Chiranjibi Wagle from the rebel camp is older generation of Indian leaders, but foreign showed our exceptional talent for is effectively at a standstill. And even if the house and that is why the prime minister has to go. uncompromising: “We’re saying if resignation is policymakers in New Delhi and second-echelon national harakiri. Neither HAN nor impasse is resolved, there is the faction within the Koirala is said to be reconciled to leaving his the only solution, then don’t wait, go.” BJP cadre have not hidden their disdain for him. the unions are now backing down, ruling party spoiling for a fight. Prime Minister post—he would still wield considerable king- So, to recap: the opposition UML has And then there is China, whose defence minister and the only thing to do is count up Girija Koirala is running out of options. making powers in the NC as party president. And deadlocked parliament, and the Congress rebels gave the message last month in Kathmandu that it the losses for the national For its part, the main opposition UML is it must be tempting to let someone else hold the have deadlocked the party, and what this means is doesn’t want to see a re-incarnated Mao Zedong in economy: estimated at Rs330 squeezed between the Nepali Congress and the lightning rod of the prime ministerial post in that the whole country is deadlocked. its backyard. Both new Delhi and Beijing see million a day. The timing couldn’t Maoists, and has a single-point agenda: get rid of these trying times. But he does not want to resign The Girija-go campaign has led to interesting political instability in Nepal as feeding the be worse: the beginning of the Girija. For the UML this was never really about and needs a face-saving way out. “How can I resign realignments in the major opposition parties. The insurgency and want our rulers to get their act peak season with 80 percent alleged hanky-panky in the Lauda Air lease, it is when the CIAA has not even questioned me,” centre-right RPP’s radical wing is led by Pashupati together.By now we have seen Nepal governed by occupancy in some top hotels. The about grandstanding and blocking the armed Koirala told close aides this week while he tried to Sumsher Rana and Rabindra Nath Sharma, and two “majority” Congress governments led by speak in parliament. The NC having a huddle on impact of this will be felt years police ordinance which would benefit the Maoists, not its leader Surya Bahadur Thapa. Even the Bhattarai and Koirala. Internal rifts prevented both Sunday of all 113 MPs, upper house members UML is said to have fissures—between general from moving past first base. That feud is still hence. Everyone bungled, Nepal and make the Army glad. But who is using whom? Koirala’s departure will not necessarily mean and district leaders to strategise about the course of secretary Madhav Nepal who is more hard-line on, dragging the party down, and the country and Nepalis are the losers. the UML’s ascent to power, he will be replaced by action. “This is all the result of our our internal than next-in-line Khadga Prasad Oli. with it. “We can’t wait to be in Nepal” South Asia’s hottest band, other albums, you instantly know it’s Are you on TV now? Junoon, hits the capital next Junoon. Our writings are more B: We are not kissing ass to be on Friday. Yubakar Rajkarnikar, mature. There are three of Ali’s tunes TV. Not with the present government. editor of Wave magazine, spoke on the album. Earlier Salman did The people running television then— to Salman Ahmad, Ali Azmat and virtually all the writing. He’s a brilliant, if they had a grudge you could be Brian O’Connell in Karachi this but this album is different, refreshing. banned. In our case, for three years. week about music, politics, and You’ve made it in South Asia. Any So, the ban has been lifted? their upcoming trip. Excerpts: plans to move on, do songs in B: We’re back on Pakistan TV (PTV) English? in a big way. A lot has changed. Riz Khan [CNN] called you “the B: It’s natural—our music is How did you react to the demolition biggest band in Asia”. What’s becoming more world music. We of the Buddha statues in your secret? have one English number on Ishq. Afghanistan? on stage. It’s a very adventurous and new cultures. You’re our Bryan: There’s no secret. We’ve We had them earlier, but they didn’t Ahmad : Basically they are jahil, space. We don’t bind ourselves, do neighbour, how different can been doing this for ten years—and really fit, it was the rock n roll itch in uneducated and ignorant. They don’t a set thing. It depends on the crowd. Nepalis be from Pakistanis. We’ll it clicks with the audience. us. It’s much more organic now. really know much about religion. What do you look forward to in find out, we can’t wait. So what’s there for Junoonis in In an interview in Himal South Asian Do you have anything special Nepal? A: I’m looking forward to meeting your new album Ishq? in 1998, you said “You have to kiss planned for Nepal? B: I know so little of Nepal. I look new people, having fun, making B: It’s a pretty direct follow up of our the government’s ass to be on TV.” A: You don’t know what will happen forward to seeing mountains, nature connections, leaving a mark. worldlink 222 EDITORIAL 16 - 22 MARCH 2001 NEPALI TIMES

SEEING FORESTS ( AND TREES) You don’t need to be a genius to figure out that Nepal’s democracy is having a difficult adolescence. We can’t really blame the government because we haven’t had a government for a while. A festering labour dispute in the hotel industry that could be easily resolved is threatening the national economy. A Maoist insurgency that feeds on decades of neglect and apathy by successive rulers endangers democracy and the constitutional monarchy. Parliament, which should be passing bills, has been paralysed for three weeks. It is difficult to find things that are going right. But one of the most visible success stories of the past ten years has been the spread of community forests throughout the midhills of Nepal. It is success on such a grand scale that the increase in the chlorophyll content of the vegetation is now visible from outer space. Comparing Landsat images of Nepal taken 15 years ago with those taken in 2000 show new red

splotches—indicating greater canopy cover. There is as much as 15 OS percent more forest today than there was in 1978. At that time, for instance, only 10 percent of Kabhre Palanchok District east of STATE OF THE STATE by CK LAL Kathmandu was forest. By 1998 this had gone up to 35 percent. (High mountain forests and tarai forests are not doing as well, and show declines.) Kabhre and Sindhupalchok are districts that pioneered community forestry and showed us all what could be achieved through local Mythic Mithila motivation, devolved decision-making, and transferring ownership and It may be time our national politicians took a pointer or two from the deities of Mithila and went to the doors of voters rather than

preaching from their pulpits in the capital.

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ JANAKAPUR. In balmy, post-winter in liveried palanquins of the few sitting in the tea Mithila the bountiful rice harvest is now presiding deity to the tattered shops appeared to be safe in earthen silos. Mustard fields are clothes of devotees carrying bothered by the bright yellow. Brown bees swarm over green their meagre belongings on stalemate in mango trees in full bloom. The gray pigeon their heads in bundles, the parliament. and the co-coo of the black cuckcoo sight of pilgrims on the Some punctuate the lazy, hazy air. The season Mithila Parikrama voiced the seems divinely ordained for marriages, and rekindles faith, inspires opinion that newly-weds in red saris throng the hope. Times are bad all right, it was a ploy to whitewashed temples. but we shall overcome. Hasn’t obstruct the At dawn, it’s magical. The breeze is this circumbulation of the passage of the cool, but not chilly. The sky takes on a ripe ancient capital of Mithila been taking Armed Police Force MIN BAJRACHARYA Community foresters at rally in the capital this week. hue, as the sun peeps out from a filter of place for centuries—unbroken—despite Bill. Others thought it was haze, red as an apple. Legend has it that floods, fire, famines, plagues, and the petty meant to deflect attention from the King’s control of natural resources to the village level through true Hanuman, the monkey-god, actually wars of competing principalities? reservations about the Citizenship Bill. This decentralisation and grassroots democracy. Replicated throughout the mistook the sun for an apple and chomped Dharma is not such a long journey—in is heavy analysis that would put our well- midhills, Nepal’s community forestry programme today covers more on it, plunging the universe in darkness. a fortnight, Mithila Parikrama covers only plugged pundits in Kathmandu to shame. than half the nation’s forests and has become a showcase for After much coaxing, Bayuputra (Son of Air) Panch Kosh, or about 16 km. Apart from Here, it is citizenship that is the big neighbouring South Asian countries. If there is one group of unsung set the sun free and the world survived. the deities in their palanquins, pilgrims walk issue, and people tend to get openly heroes that deserve the next Right Livelihood Award, it will be the Time ticks slowly here in this corner of low- bare-foot, singing devotional songs and even inimical towards the Kathmandu elite. The thousands of village chairmen, forestry user groups and women’s land Nepal, and it reminds you that dancing occasionally. This year, armed communally-tinged riots that followed the organisations that manage and protect woods across the land. you are home. policemen were escorting the procession. Hrithik-fiasco in December has hardened This national achievement is now threatened by a proposed The only jarring note is Not surprisingly, some of them didn’t attitudes. Gajendra Narayan Singh of the amendment to the Forest Act 1997 that seeks to undo the 1993 that of loudspeakers blaring wear any shoes either. Sadhbhavana Party was on a long drive in Community Forestry law that made much of this success possible. latest Anoop Jalota bhajans Parikrama is a ritual of taking the name of his Mechi-Mahakali Rally, and Once more, our rulers have shown that they cannot see the forest for in the distance. The the deities to the doors of those the fall-out of all this was that Nepali the trees. Once more they are ruining in one fell swoop what has been invention of the amplifier devotees who cannot make it to Congress-backed Nepal Students’ Union achieved by decades of hard work and commitment by villagers all over must be considered a curse the temple. Starting from Kachuri lost the elections at its stronghold in Nepal. Once more corrupt national level politicians with a bureaucracy on mankind—it prompts near Janakapur, it goes along the Janakapur, defeated by Gajjubabu’s boys. in cahoots is equating forest with timber, and nothing else. And for the politicians to become demagogues and forces perimeter of the ancient capital of Mithila. Anti-Kathmandu sentiments are so first time, community forest groups, grassroots conservationists, and us to shout at each other in order to be heard. Part of this area now falls in the political strong in the tarai that the more Girija villagers from all over Nepal under the Federation of Community Users, Microphones and loudspeakers have snatched boundary of modern India, but it continues Koirala is cornered by the opposition in the Nepal (FECOFUN) brought their protest to the capital. Their message: away the serenity from rural landscapes. Even to belong to the same cultural region. capital, the more popular he gets in places like leave us and our forests alone. where there is no electricity, pop bhajans and Pilgrims walk during the day and camp for Siraha or Mahottari. Had the Nepal Timber has always been the resource of last resort that Nepal’s lewd folk songs are battery-powered. the night, usually in mango orchards on the Communist Party (UML) gone to the doors of rulers have traditionally sold for power or money. Fortunes were made When I was a boy, nobody in our village outskirts of villages. Such campsites are the voters, they would have got this message from clearing the hardwood forests of the tarai in the 1960s for had an alarm clock. They didn’t need it. As the then transformed into impromptu rural loud and clear. Lauda may be an obsession resettlement or development. The only reason logging has tapered off stars faded the sparrows and mainahs would markets for trinkets, toys and other stuff with the chattering classes of the Valley, but in the tarai today is because there is nothing left to cut. So, our mandarins start chirping as if it were tomorrow. And it that are part of any mela in the tarai. It can here in the plains the primary concern is (the word comes from the Sanskrit “mantri”) have pounced on young forests was: as the day broke the cuckcoos would go, get cold at night, and many spend their security. It’s not that people nurtured by communities across Nepal. Villagers had been using money well, cuckoo on the mango trees. These days, time by the fire. do not know about Lauda from their managed forests for development activities like drinking water, the din of badly rendered Hanuman chalisa Teashops spring up here, they simply don’t care. repairs to local schools and setting up health camps. The amendment being played over loudspeakers drowns out the where villagers Perhaps it’s time now for the bans further tree felling and other activities. songs of birds. gather to gossip. UML comrades to come to The lesson from Nepal’s success story with community- But getting up early has its rewards even And news their senses and end this show, managed forests was this: if villagers are assured a long-term stake in today. The sight of birds catching worms in about the state of it has paralysed the nation long healthy forests, they will protect them. The amendment to the bill will the fields is just one of them. Reminds me the state percolates enough. In fact it has helped the take away that assurance. Maybe it is better parliament is paralysed—at of the Shel Silverstein poem: “If you are a down here, too. Nepali Congress by distracting least the amendment to the Forest Act 1997 will not be passed. bird, get up early, if you are a worm, sleep The communication revolution brought on attention from the real issue of resolving the late.” Stepping on dew-wet grass on a walk by the night-buses (Kathmandu papers get Maoist insurgency. If the main opposition Nepali Times is published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd along the irrigation canal is another. The here by the next day) and long-distance continues with its antics much longer, it may Sanchaya Kosh Building, Block A-4th Floor, Pulchowk, Lalitpur Mailing address: GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal joy of picking monkey-peas off stems, phone booths allow villagers to check up on prove to be suicidal here in these parts and Phones: (01) 543333-7 Fax: (01) 521013 peeling off the pods and then eating the news from relatives and friends in others like it along the south. Editor: Kunda Dixit green kernel raw is as close to nirvana as Kathmandu. Rural Nepal was never It may be time our national politicians Desk editors: Deepak Thapa, Samuel Thomas, Anagha Neelakantan you can get in this day and age. ignorant, only apathetic. Today, it is also took a pointer or two from the deities of Editorial: [email protected] Marketing, circulation and subscriptions: [email protected] And then all of a sudden, it was rush aware, well-informed and alert. Because of Mithila and went to the doors of their www.nepalitimes.com Printed at Jagadamba Press (01) 521393 hour once again as people by the thousands this, there is general disdain for the political voters rather than preaching from their took over the empty road nearby. From antics being played out in Kathmandu. Very pulpits in the capital.  16 - 22 MARCH 2001 NEPALI TIMES 333 INTERVIEW by PADMA RATNA TULADHAR “Prachandaji has told me personally that if there is progress in talks, then the People’s War could be halted.” - Padma Ratna Tuladhar

How do you read the recent government overture for talks, communists are pro-republicanism, we will continue to raise the issue. But and Chairman Prachanda’s response? we are also clear that everything we put forward may not materialise right It is very positive because there had been no moves towards talks form away. We will try to get as much as we can and you will do the same.” any side after the Dinesh Sharma debacle, it was as if all communications Many also say: why just a constituent assembly, why can’t a peoples’ had broken down. Ram Chandraji (Deputy Prime Minister) has made the republic be on the agenda? The conflict may go on while talks are effort, and it is positive. The Maoists have also told me they are serious underway, so the Maoists are also saying why don’t we fight under rules set about talks. Till Tuesday (6 March) the government had not responded to out in the Geneva Convention. If both sides agree to abide by Common the Maoist demand to make public a list of disappeared people. But at least Clause 3, then violence and murders will stop. The clause bars you form the deputy prime minister has made public a list, it may be an incomplete killing unarmed people, people not party to the conflict, you have to treat list, but it forms the basis for resuming talks. the wounded, you cannot do anything to those who surrender, you cannot abduct. That would be an achievement in itself. Both sides say they want to talk, but talk about what? The government wants the Maoists to join the mainstream, under the The Maoists have also proposed an all-party meeting. The Nepali Congress constitution. The Maoists want to include everything, including what the or Maoists alone cannot have a constitutional amendment. They have hinted government considers non-negotiatiable aspects. But even the Maoists said there is the need for a national consensus from the king down. Prachandaji has at the informal talks between Ram Chandraji and Rabindra Shrestha (in told me personally that if there is progress in talks then the people’s war could be MIN BAJRACHARYA November) that talks are about compromise. Some fear that talks are halted. And the prime minister has told me that there could be a general amnesty useless because the Maoists want a communist peoples’ republic and the and compensation if talks succeed. There seems to be some thinking going on in government won’t hear of it. But Rabindra repeatedly told us: “We the leadership of both sides about a post-talks scenario. Æ Continued to page 4

OPEL 444 NATION 16 - 22 MARCH 2001 NEPALI TIMES “A dangerous mafia is offering arms to the Maoists on credit.” Are the 40 demands still the main issues in the agenda of future fail and don’t have the ability or we lose interest, then the foreigners can come in. talks? If so, how can those demands be resolved through talks? But they need to be apolitical, like the Red Cross, which says it can provide I don’t think the 40-demands are very important. It was submitted by the humanitarian support. United People’s Front (UPF) and not the NCP- Maoists. The UPF has been There is talk about International Committee of the Red Cross disbanded, but the 40 points are still taken to be the Maoists’ demands. I think (ICRC)? the political issues at their conference last month are more important. I have contacted the ICRC myself and so have other groups. We have almost Isn’t that also a shift? reached the stage for talks. Suppose talks are about to begin at the leadership I think that is flexibility. If they have given up the demand for a constituent level and Baburam Bhattarai himself is to come, the logistics and safe-passage assembly then I take it as a positive sign. They may have assessed public have to be worked out. How will he come—in a taxi, a bus, or a government opinion—it is more reasonable. Ram Chandraji has said that the Constitution vehicle? There are issues of security involved and his supporters might not want we have is a people’s constitution, why do we need another one. But it is also him to travel under police escort. In such a situation there could be a role for the true that this may be more acceptable than the demand for a constituent ICRC. If both sides agree, it can even arrange a venue, in Nepal or abroad. If assembly. I think the only problem is getting the two sides to the table, and Baburam was to come, he may need a helicopter, and even that can be arranged. that’s why the human rights groups agreed on a common mechanism for There is now a new Maoist strategy. Some say Maoists have facilitating talks. Neither side is talking because of the absence of a mechanism. softened, others say it’s a classic communist hammer and anvil But what is the agenda? The government asked the Maoists to suggest one. The approach. How do you read the new position? Maoists say we’ll bring the agenda to the table. If the government is proposing On one side there's the possibility of talks. On the other the Maoists are talks, maybe it should come up with an agenda. doing everything as a communist party, having ideological debates, deciding on What should this agenda be? strategy. They have not stopped the war, and if it escalates, there could be civil There could be differences on what to talk about, like the issue of the war. Those who fear a civil war should be serious about talks. If there are no constituent assembly. The moment the Maoists raise the issue of a republic there talks, the Maoist party will continue to grow in influence as they have in the past could be differences. There could be differences about replacing multi-party five years. Another argument is that talks may never materialise and the Maoists democracy with communism. The government has said clearly these are the non- need to be crushed. I heard Prachanda once say, “If the efforts are aimed at MIN BAJRACHARYA negotiable aspects of the constitution. For their part, the Maoists have accepted crushing us, then we’re all ready to die rather than surrender. At least we will Continued from page 3 Æ that talks are about give and take. make history.” Violence could be benefiting some, there are profits for those What is the reason for this sudden mellowing? Will the constituents of the Maoists allow their leaders to talk dealing in arms. Those groups may not want talks. The Maoist supporters may It didn't happen overnight. The talk of talks began with the launching of the about anything short of their main goal? say we're finally having a revolution in Nepal, why go for talks. People’s War in 1996. Human rights groups met the then prime minister Sher It is unclear. Some leftist groups say that Maoists should accept the You seem to be well informed about the Maoists. What could be Bahadur Deuba, who said that we should try to get talks started. I sent messages, constitution and come to the mainstream, which will also aid the left movement. their strength now, in terms of core cadres? Weaponry? and the Maoists were positive. They wanted the government to make a public The Maoists have their own constituency. They had a constituency in the early I don’t know much. I have not visited the war zone yet. I have been to Rolpa call for peace, write them an official letter and they would reply. The Sher 1990s when they had nine seats in parliament. Now they have a special type of twice, but I could not go to the villages. From them I have heard that their Bahadur peace committee was formed, and the Maoists said they'd come to the support, not just geared towards collecting votes, but which has helped them numbers have grown. We hear figures of 25,000. The worry is that the table if the minimum environment was created, make known the whereabouts of establish people’s rule. They don’t believe in the parliamentary system, the government sometimes talks about using the military or the Armed Police, which those disappeared, withdraw fabricated charges, form an impartial commission to purpose of their people’s war is to destroy the existing system and establish a could force the Maoists to upgrade their weapons. There is a dangerous investigate incidents like Khara and end state terrorism. Contacts stopped new communist state. That is the long-term goal of the people’s war, which has mafia involved in the arms trade, and I have heard that they have reached only after the Dinesh Sharma episode. Ram Chandraji was trying, well, not made an impact nationally. So how can they give up everything at once? The the Maoists and told them “We will supply you arms on credit, and get with me, but with Kapil Shrestha, Bhakta Bahadur Shrestha and others to NCP Maoist cannot suddenly say ok, we’ll talk and return to parliamentary them across the border.” If talks cannot take place the Maoists would be restart talks. The Maoists repeatedly inquired of me if there was a fresh politics. They may also believe that with or without talks they will continue on trapped into taking the arms. proposal from the government. their path and even reach the capital in, say, five years. Those of us for talks have It is feared that the missing Maoists may have been killed. Do the When was the last time the Maoists asked you about a to think about the issues that could come up after the talks begin, there has to Maoists want the government to say so and so has been killed… government proposal? be homework. Many say the government has not done enough homework and Yes. It is a matter of formality. The Maoists’ suspicion was confirmed two They had asked if there was initiative for talks some time before Ram that is why they are asking the Maoists for an agenda. years ago when a delegation had gone to meet Krishna Prasad Bhattarai when he Chandraji took the recent initiative. What the Maoists have clearly said is they will present the agenda at the was prime minister. Kirti Nidhi Bista, Rishikesh Shaha, Krishna Prasad Bhandari table. The two positions are so entrenched, it may be better not to have a pre- What makes you think that talks are still possible? and myself had gone to express concern on those that were missing. Krishna determined agenda. That is why they may be taking a practical approach, let us We have both the PM and the DPM saying there should be talks. The Prasad Bhattarai interrupted and said in English: “They are already killed.” On get to the table first and discuss the agenda there. Maoists are also saying they are very serious about talks. After the Dinesh Danda Pani Neupane, there are doubts about his living. It is suspected (that he episode, Prachanda told me on the phone that he’d join talks if the four Is there space for foreign governments to mediate? may be dead). But the party cannot make that announcement formally without conditions were met. He even said I could take responsibility for talks on their I think that we should make that effort ourselves. If we need mediation, we some basis. Ram Chandraji has told me that after he become home minister the behalf if the conditions were right. I believe there is commitment on both sides. should do it on our own, not hand over the responsibility to foreigners. But if we government had not allowed police to kill anyone under their control.

LETTERS SEX ON THE ROAD business is booming in the tarai, bad thing to give them a wake- the ‘paternalistic power elite’ Thanks for the story “Drive- and this is a dangerous pointer to up call. cannot be blamed for using through sex” (#31) by the risk of HIV/AIDS transmission. publications shy away from or reportage in Bimarsha (From Binode B. Gurung binary oppositions to serve Hemlata Rai who seems to There is some HIV/AIDS and STD skim over. However, I felt that this the Nepali Press, #33) which Pokhara their vested interests. prevention work being done with was not so with your recent is a pro-Girija faction weekly. Without recourse to the much- sex workers which were not article on Thamel, which gave a Maybe by doing this you have CK Lal deserves to be declar- maligned binary oppositions, highlighted in Ms Rai’s article. We bit of background information scored points with the Indian ed the Sultan of Oversimpli- Lal himself could not come up strongly feel this information is then the usual drill on shops and Embassy, but you've lost fication. If there are still doubts with his compelling ratio- necessary to share with the a slant on the entertainment faithful readers like myself. over the eligibility of the brilliant cinations week after week. public. Next time? scene. Giving positive strokes to Ranjana Shrestha colum-nist for this singular PS: I remain a die hard CK Lal Deepak Deo Bhatta some outlets, and making Durbar Marg honour, then they should be fan, though. Family Health International negative or flippant remarks dispelled by this pearl of Kanden Thebe Kathmandu about others based on the CK LAL wisdom from his State of the Sinam, Taplejung author’s whim. How many times Thanks to CK Lal in State column (#32): “Capitalism PHOTO POET has this been done before and I “Corruption, Nepalis and the is based on avarice ... .” This Congratulations on your Though I do not deserve the am sure will be repeated again Expat” (#32) for calling a sweeping claim has as much excellent articles covering publicity, I thank you for giving me and again by other publications? spade a spade and exposing merit as, say, an assertion such various aspects of Nepali have put in a lot of work to the opportunity to speak to your I hope your articles in the future the hypocrisy and bigotry of as “Communism is based on Society. Mr CK Lal is the best, uncover the sex worker readers through your Nepali will be refreshingly different and the powerful and privileged, envy.” and others are no less. Your situation in the tarai specially Society column (#33). But your thought provoking as the majority donors and diplomats. As to his tilt at binary articles always keep me close in Family Health Inter- reporter has made a mistake in of them are now. Although his arguments oppositions, Lal stands self- to home while far away. national’s (FHI) project area, attributing titles to me which are A Pradhan about the democratisation of condemned. As one of the Prajwal Pradhan and backing it up with not correct and hardly used. The by email corruption after 1990 (and earliest researchers in the Canada indicators taken from the label that has actually stuck is perhaps helping the GDP by field, the Swiss linguist New Era survey. The work “photo kabi” (Photo Poet), a title PRO-GIRIJA spreading the wealth around Ferdinande de Sassure, DELHI SQUEEZES under FHI’s HIV/AIDS and conferred on me by Kamal Dixit in I have been a regular reader of and keeping graft money pointed out, language itself After reading your front page sexually transmitted disease Darjeeling in 1999. Nepali Times and have found within the country) are a bit functions through the brief “Delhi sneezes…” (#33) prevention also includes a Kumar Ale most of the features and analysis disingenuous, Mr Lal makes operation of binary oppo- where you show a near-empty media campaign, treatment, Kathmandu interesting. But I was astonished a strong point for self- sitions. For example, Lal’s toothpaste tube to detail the social marketing of to see that on the issue of the reliance and Nepalis pulling word ‘love’ in the sentence adverse effects of the Indian condoms which could not THAMEL Citizenship Bill and His Majesty’s themselves up by their “The paternalistic power elite budget on Nepal’s exports to have all fit into a single One of the reasons I am a regular decision to seek the bootstraps. But cursed with love ...” has any significance India, I thought you could have article. We hope you will buyer of your paper is the quality recommendation from the the calibre of rulers we have, only in its binary opposition to titled the piece “Delhi follow it up in future issues. and type of articles you publish, Supreme Court, your paper maybe the right dose of the word ‘hate’. The cognitive squeezes”. The article gives a strong often reporting on issues pertinent chose to keep mum, and diplomatic pesticide at the process itself is a function of S Shrestha indication that the sex to this country that other translated a poorly written right time may not be such a binary oppositions; therefore, New Road NATION 16 - 22 MARCH 2001 NEPALI TIMES 555 Hearts, minds and Maoists The government has started building roads with its Basket Fund for Maoist-affected areas. But it will take more than highways to make a difference to the lives of the long-suffering

people of Rolpa and Rukum.

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ RAMYATA LIMBU IN include: Musikot-Burtibang, out construction work. But they MUSIKOT, RUKUM

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Devsthal Kankadan-Chaurjhari are also a deterrence to Maoists, In the heart of Maoist country, and Charmare-Budagaun and have helped maintain the the chairman of the District Chaujhari. The Fund also provides government’s presence.” The Development Committee (DDC) for supply of chemical fertiliser, army is looking at the highway as Khem Man Khadka sees a silver improving the district hospital a test-case for the government’s lining in the insurgency. It is and looking at ways to boost “Defence and Development” because of the war that his agriculture. project for another Maoist- district is finally getting a road. But there is a problem of affected district, Gorkha. The The Salyan-Musikot getting the money where it is project seeks to involve the DHURBA BASNET mountain highway linking remote needed because of Maoist police, the army and aid Rukum’s district headquarters activities. Sita Oli is a Nepali organisations for integrated rural with Salyan to the south is under Congress supporter and VDC development programmes that construction by the Royal Nepal Army. On a clear day, the outline of the road is already visible in the distance from here, snaking up the mountains. Beginning from Salyan, the 80 km road has already passed Sitapati, Kharibot, Jhulkhet and will reach Musikot by next year—unless the government runs out of money. Rukum has always been famous for its export of vegetable seeds and other farm produce, and people like Khadka hope that the road will provide access to

markets, bring income to the SUDHEER SHARMA peasants here, and boost the local RAMYATA LIMBU economy. The road is happening SALIL SUBEDI as a direct result of the Maoist insurgency, part of the government’s effort to accelerate development in this long- chairperson of Khara in Rukum who have a quick and tangible effect Comrade Ajay. in mid-western Nepal this year. In Khadka and his DDC team, neglected area. Ever since the has been living in the district on local standards of living. How the Maoists, whose Rukum and Jajarkot it has largely Unified Marxist-Leninist Maoist “peoples’war” began here headquarters for the past four years. While Maoists tolerate parallel governments are a stark established district level (UML) supporters, admit that five years ago, development work “I know it is my duty to stay in the agriculture, health, and water reality outside of the district programmes, and is now moving visits into the interior have in the mid-western hinterland has village. But the environment is not technicians to go about their headquarters in these districts, will into outlying villages. “We’ve decreased following increased slackened because demoralised safe. We have an overseer who businesses in village areas, they react to Basket Fund projects selected five VDCs to run Maoist activities. But Khadka has local village representatives were monitors the work.” are critical of the roads being remain to be seen. In the past, the programmes depending on their been touring 30 of the 43 VDCs caught in the crossfire between the Back in Kathmandu, National built by the army in Rolpa and Maoists have made it clear that needs. These VDCs have agreed to as a part of the UML’s ‘Gaun government and the Maoists. They Planning Commission (NPC) Rukum. We ran into a Comrade they are opposed to foreign-funded contribute a lakh each as matching Jaun, Janta Jagau’ (“Go to the were unable to mobilise local member Dr Jagadish Chandra Ajay on the trail to Musikot, and development programmes, arguing funds while the DDC will contribute village, wake up the people”). He resources for community Pokharel sits at his desk in Singha he was clearly displeased: “The that they “undermine the people’s one lakh,” says Arjun Kumar Ale, says: “There is plenty of development. Darbar and listens as we narrate roads are not being built with the war and encourage economic PDDP representative in Rukum. propaganda, but the Maoist don’t Now, in Kathmandu and in the woes of local officials like people in mind. It will make it indiscipline, corruption and At a meeting recently organised control the whole district. It the mid-western districts, Khadka and Oli in Musikot. He easier for the government to parasitic tendencies”. Most non- by PDDP, 35 of the 43 VDC hasn’t kept us from going to the planners and policy makers are acknowledges the shortcomings of infiltrate our stronghold.” But for governmental organizations have secretaries from Rukum came to villages.” hopeful that the government’s the Basket Fund, and says there is the moment it is not in the left Rolpa and Rukum. In 1997, the Musikot to take part in an Basket Fund which pools central Lutheran World Federation pulled orientation. “They were very Top right: Bridge built by government budget with local How the Maoists, whose parallel out from Rolpa after completing its positive about development Maoists in Baagmaara, Rolpa, left resources, will revive development five-year Rolpa Community programmes. Judging from the to right: Porters on the Salyan- activities in Rukum, Rolpa, governments are a stark reality outside of Development Project which response, I don’t think we’ll have a Musikot Highway, Tribhuvan Sallyan, Jajarkot, and Kalikot. the district headquarters in these included literacy, infrastructure problem in the villages. But it’s too Highway near Naubise, Sita Oli, Says Khadka: “The Maoist- districts, will react to Basket Fund building, saving credit schemes, soon to say. We have yet to go in.” Khara VDC Chairperson, Rukum. affected areas do warrant special drinking water programmes. attention and development projects remain to be seen. “There was never any direct packages. But not at the cost of threat from anyone. But we were disabling and weakening local a need for better guidelines. “This Maoists’ strategic interest to take in an odd position, sandwiched governments.” While Khadka and is an area where local funds have on the army, so they are between the Maoists and the his colleagues welcome the idea of either been frozen in the absence tolerating the construction of the police, and we left because we did a Basket Fund, they are critical of of local representatives, or their Libang-Madichaur highway in not want to jeopardise the staff,” the government’s decision to fund use dictated by Maoists, where the Rolpa and the Salyan-Musikot says Shashi Rijal of LWF, which part of the project with resources village councils haven’t met, and road in Rukum—knowing fully has now moved further west to allocated to local development, local representatives remain in the well that they can easily sabotage Accham, Doti and Kalikot. Last especially the Rs500,000 already district headquarters owing to the road if they want to. But they year, Maoists in Madhichaur, allotted to each Village Maoist fears.” says Pokharel. With have sent back a team of Rolpa disbanded a 22-member Benetton Development Committee (VDC). problems of access to Maoist surveyors who had been women’s savings credit group and “This means individual VDCs will affected areas, the NPC feels it is dispatched to map out another warned off Women Development have less money for their better not to disperse the money road from a farming valley. officials. Recalls Nausara Pun: programmes,” says Khadka. So far to the grassroots, but concentrate The Maoists themselves have “We were having a meeting when the District Basket Fund on visible and tangible programs their own small development some cadres came up and took Coordination Committee, made like roads, health, agriculture. projects—building small bridges, the papers of the group and the up of representatives from various Currently 400 locals are repairing community buildings bags of the women workers. We political parties and the DDC employed on the Salyan-Musikot and maintaining village trails. haven’t met since.” chairman, has allocated 40 lakhs road. The army also treats locals Villagers volunteer for the That hasn’t kept aid for the Salyan-Musikot highway. at its health clinic and carries out construction work. “I know the organisations from trying. The The rest of the money came from small drinking water projects projects we carry out are small. UNDP-supported Participatory the Roads Department. Other which have been welcomed by But the work is carried out by District Development Project motorable roads being built with locals. “It has turned out that they the people themselves, and it (PDDP) has initiated programmes money from the Basket Fund serve two purposes. They carry teaches self-reliance,” says in several Maoist affected districts 666 NATION 16 - 22 MARCH 2001 NEPALI TIMES They speak for the trees DIL RAJ KHANAL Users of Nepal (FECOFUN): the rally seems to have scared the “Greedy people in Kathmandu want to steal our forests,” says “This is the result of greedy government, and by Wednesday, the Hari Prasad Neupane, chairman of the Federation of Community people who were groomed in an clauses in the amendment had been undemocratic and unethical changed and the mention of 50 Forest Users of Nepal. environment, and they want to hectares limit deleted. steal our forests.” Neupane says a The government wants to keep section of the forest bureaucracy large forest blocks under its control is cunningly getting the through District Forest Officers politicians to enact a law that will push back the clock on Clockwise from below: Women decades of conservation. “Nepalis protesters with banner saying: “don’t are no more ignorant, we know snatch the rights of people over what is what. We know our natural resources”; women at a Forest rights. They better not try to User’s Group gathering in Saptari; push us around,” warned Malati Mahila Forest User’s Group Neupane, whose federation offices and local club at Saptari; a groups community forest users all community forest at Phaparbari over Nepal. Makwanpur; Rani Pouwa forest in We asked the spokesperson Nuwakot; gathering fodder from of the forestry ministry, Uday Raj Sugajor Community Forest Udaypur. BADRI POUDYAL

ChFDP Sharma, what he thought of the ○○○○○○○○○○○

SALIL○○○○○ SUBEDI demonstrations in the capital. It alone and let our forests and development. So far, it has been a allegations. He hedged the ore than 12,000 villagers was focused, multi-partisan, multi- children grow together,” asked 40- resounding success and many question, answering: “We are in from all over Nepal ethnic, apolitical and designed to year old Kanchi Gurung of Nigure developing countries have tried to the process of devising new m descended on the capital prevent what many consider a Community Forest in Dolakha. replicate the Nepal model. programmes to be implemented this week to protest a draft colossal mistake that will have far- Community forestry has been a More than half the forests in in different parts of the country legislation that threatens to take reaching consequences for Nepali successful people’s participation Nepal today are community- to manage forests in a proper away their right to protect and society and environment in future. enterprise in Nepal. It dates back to managed, and it is this resource that way.” The Ministry’s plan is to manage community forests. The Old and young, men and women the implementation of the Forest the government seems to be eying. let hill communities manage amendments to the existing Forest alike, were asking to be allowed to Act and Regulations after the This week in the capital, simple forests, while in the tarai it wants Act (1993) and the Forest own and nurture their forests, to be restoration of multiparty democracy villagers made the forceful point a “block forest” management Regulations (1995) will, they say, able to build schools and health ten years ago. Forests were allowed that they were not going to give up system called chakla. In the turn the clock back on a progressive posts from forest earnings. All this to be cared for and managed as the greenery they have nurtured to proposed amendment, the MIN BAJRACHARYA law that has saved Nepal’s forests was promised by the 1993 common property by organised “corrupt politicians in government says chakla forests in from total destruction. legislation, but would be taken groups of villagers who decided how Kathmandu”. Says Hari Prasad the tarai, inner tarai and chure This was a historic rally, one of away by the amendment. “Why to use forest products sustainably Neupane the chairman of exceeding 50 hectares, will not be the biggest consumer doesn’t the government leave us and use earnings for community Federation of Community Forest given out to communities. But

HERE AND THERE by DANIEL LAK The worm in the pudding FRANSCHOEK, SOUTH AFRICA: This is an achingly beautiful land. The hills are low by Nepali standards but they soar above broad valleys full of It is impossible not to use a racial lens to view the successes

vineyards, orchards and prim white cottages built by religious refugees from and failures of post-apartheid South Africa.

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ northern Europe three hundred years ago. Weather sculpted rock tops each ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ height, tempting the hiker, tracing convoluted lines against an impossibly blue sky. By night, stars blaze in a celestial fireworks display, the constella- waiting on tables, harvesting crops, buying tatty clothing sold from the back of a tions subtly different. This is the southern hemisphere. car in front of an exclusive, white-run boutique. I accept that it’s wrong, very It’s early autumn south of the equator. The vines droop with bunches wrong, to celebrate the end of apartheid and then use a racial lens to view the of purple and green grapes. The apples are ripening and groups of migrant successes and failures of the aftermath of such a stunning social change. But it’s labourers are starting to turn up in the central square, getting ready for the almost impossible not to. harvest. Overwhelmingly though, this is tourist country. The little villages Flying over the cities of this land is a troubling experience. There are vast are full of small, nearly perfect guesthouses and restaurants, dozens of tracts of green suburbia, detached, luxurious homes with blue swimming pools a vineyards promise a chance to taste far too many wines. The relics of a vivid pattern among the trees and fences. Then across a busy motorway, what poor, rural past provide the backdrop for urban stress-relief—a wooden used to be a called a “township”, a cluster of huts and dusty lanes, a densely plough in the window of an antique shop is borne off to a stockbroker’s packed warren of lives given to labour and probably more than a little crime. sea-front flat, the sweat from the ploughman’s grip still etched on handles These are the black South Africans—free to vote and travel where they of twisted cypress. please, still living in squalor with aspirations unmet. Apparently, a black And yet, as one always doomed to look for the worm in the pudding, I middle class is growing rapidly and buying homes with swimming pools in can’t help but see that things are not as they seem, that there are swirling areas once reserved for whites. And that’s not just socially acceptable; it’s sinister undercurrents. Immediately, you see the signs on literally every A man killed and thrown off a high speed train in a Johannesburg suburb. essential for harmonious development. Economics, and not just racism, house that read “Armed Response”. A burglar alarm is not enough. Crime is admire a multiracial democracy committed to social justice and free markets. now divides this society, as many others. so high that the only deterrent is the threat of a private SWAT team, just a Nelson Mandela’s generosity of spirit, his emphasis on reconciliation, meant But I keep thinking about those signs promising armed retribution for phone call away. At the airport, people check in for their flight, then go to a that all but the most vicious excesses of that evil system are ostensibly forgiven, if burglars daring enough to break-in. One house in this seemingly idyllic special counter to deposit their guns for secure storage on the plane. You not forgotten. Everyone votes, anyone can marry anyone else, no more are village of vineyards and cafés sported a placard asking “Is there life after pick up your pistol at your destination. Everyone has a tale of robbery or people officially classified by race and ethnicity so their privileges can be death?” and then went on to answer, “Come inside and see for yourself.” An violence and they get passed on at cocktail parties in the same tone of voice qualified and restricted. Yet, I’m still looking for the South African dream. So illustration of a prone human body underlined the point. as we in Nepal discuss the Lauda Air scam, or our next trek. far, it seems confined to those to whom apartheid was most kind—prosperous It was easy to hate apartheid. It’s much more difficult to develop the We once abhorred South Africa for its dreadful apartheid system. Now we white people. In this part of the country, black Africans still do the menial jobs, new South Africa.  NATION 16 - 22 MARCH 2001 NEPALI TIMES 777 (DFO) and Regional Forest

Directors who will be granted Where is Sen?

○○○○○ sweeping powers on registration, ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ renewal, evaluation, management Journalists and human rights activists have criticised the government for withholding the and resource utilisation. This places whereabouts of Krishna Sen, editor of Janadesh, a Maoist-affiliated weekly. the community at the mercy of Sen, who was in detention for nearly two years at the Rajbiraj prison under the Public Security forest officials, even for resources of Act, was released on Saturday, but his whereabouts remained unknown as of mid-week. Unofficial daily use. “It will be like the Rana reports say Sen was taken to the Mahottari prison, where he is being detained, again under the regime and the Panchayat era. We Public Security Act. In a sitting of the full bench, the Supreme Court last Thursday issued a habeas will start sneaking back into the corpus writ releasing Sen. Last Saturday, Sen invited local journalists to visit him Sunday morning. forest to fell trees, because we need Rajbiraj prison officials say they released Sen 7pm Saturday evening. it,” warns 49-year old Krishna In protest, the Federation of Nepalese Journalists presented a protest letter to Deputy Prime

Kumar Lama of Nigure Community KUNDA DIXIT Minster and Home Minister Ram Chandra Poudel, and members of the federation wore black Forest of Dolakha. bands at the workplace. A spokesman of the FNJ, of which Sen is a member, said the protests will The amendment does allow turn more “serious” if the journalist’s whereabouts are not revealed soon. local communities to grow forests on dead or dying woodlands,

scrubland, and degraded slopes. Holiday Index plummets

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Though the proposed legislation Come 1 Baishak, and the overwhelming number of holidays that brighten the Nepali calendar will says daily necessities like grass and be nine less. The Home Ministry after consultations with the Cabinet has decided to cut Dasain firewood will be given free to the holidays short by four days, including the day of Ghatastapana (planting of jamara). Basanta communities, forest users will have panchami, Rishi panchami, and the Valley-specific Gaijatra, Ghodejatra, and Bhotejatra have also to pay 40 percent of proceeds from been removed from the list of public holidays. the sale of timber to the A Home Ministry official says Dasain holidays will extend from Saptami to Duadashi, a mere six government. Forest user groups say days. Previously, government offices remained closed from Saptami till Purnima, a grand total of this is unrealistic, and opens up gray nine days. The courts, however will continue to enjoy holidays as before, because changing these areas for widespread corruption. dates would mean amending laws regarding the judiciary. Interestingly, even this clause Even though nine days are off the list, Nepalis continue to be eligible for a day off when the king now seems to have been changed BADRI POUDYAL decides to take a royal trip. after the rally. A new version of the draft legislation now states that the

40 percent proceeds from sale of Soldiers’ pay

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ timber will now be “shared” British Gurkha soldiers fighting for pension parity with their English counterparts organised a between the Village Development tell us was: “We are still under the Bhuvaneshwor Adhikary of Chautari conference to gather international support for their cause, which they plan to take to major human Committee and the District process of finalising the Community Forest of Rajhar, rights forums. The Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen’s Organisation (GAESO) has also formed a 11- Development Committee. But it amendment. It is wrong to accuse Nawalparasi. “People will be angry member committee to continue the lobbying. GAESO demands a review of the Tripartite Treaty says the rule is applicable only in the government at present.” and start chopping trees at will. (1947) between India, Nepal and Britain which governs recruitment of Nepalis into the British Army, the tarai, chure and inner tarai Another contentious part in the Even I will do it, it’s my right. After and disclosure of the complete list of Gurkhas killed in major conflicts. It also wants Nepal to begin regions, which comprise roughly 35 Bill are forest corridors connecting all if the government wants to take talks on pension parity with the British government. percent of the total forest area in national parks, reserves and what we have planted and GAESO says that Gurkhas are paid about one-sixth of what their British counterparts are in Nepal. There are more than 10,000 protected areas under the Nepal protected, why should we leave it pensions and other welfare benefits. GAESO is also demanding compensation for Gurkhas sent forest user groups (FUGs) in Nepal, Biodiversity Action Plan which to them?” Adhikary and others at home without any benefits at the end of World Wars I but only 184 in the 19 districts of focuses mostly in the tarai. It aims the Kathmandu rally were clearly and II, residential visas for Gurkhas and their the tarai. Deepak Kumar to take over forests—whether worried about the future. Said families, and education and employment Chaudhary the VDC chairman from community or government Chandra Bahadur Lama of Tuli opportunities for their children. There are two Terouta in Saptari says people in managed, and put them under the village in Dhanusa: “The forest organisation that claim to represent the former the tarai have been denied the right control of the national park mafia will completely take over Gurkhas. Former Gurkhas organised under GAESO to do community forestry. “If they management allowing people to people’s lives.” and the Gurkha Ex-Servicemen’s Association began let us manage our own forests, we only use the forest resources under Community Forests in Nepal lobbying for these demands about six years ago. In will protect it like it is our own. the applicable rules. “But once the are functioning under the Forest May 1999 the British government announced equal But if it is someone else’s people Bill is passed, the same will apply to Act (1993) at the policy level and compensation for death-in-service, following the will poach from it,” he says. national parks in the hills as well. the Forest Regulations (1995) at killing of Sergeant Balaram Rai, a Gurkha soldier In 2 November 1999 the So this forest corridor plan will also the operational level. Though the who died on duty in Kosovo, and whose widow would’ve received a pittance compared to the wife of Department of Forest (DOF) and affect people in the hills,” says forest remains state property, the a British soldier of the same rank. the Community Forest Narayan Kazi Shrestha, facilitator use of forest resources and its The British government has been making some efforts to address the issue. British Gurkha Development Programme, both for South Asia Forest, Tree and management is taken care of by the pensions were increased by 100 percent in November 1999, and they are revised every year. This under the Ministry of Forest and People Programme, which lobbies community themselves with the year, the increase was 10.9 percent. Soil Conservation issued a circular for community forest organisations state providing technical support. to all forest officials giving them and raises awareness among people When the community forestry act

powers to put a halt on the sale of and policy makers. “Bureaucrats are was first mooted in 1987, it was Waste not

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ timber from community forests. It just bullying the people and it’s futuristic and first-of-it’s-kind. The residents of Radhakrishna tol of the Jorpati Village Development Committee in Kathmandu said that the circular was targeted been quite a while since they’ve Nepal became the first country in have shown the government a way out of its decade-old attempt at creating a landfill site to deal with at the tarai to halt the felling of been doing that,” he says. Activists the Asia-Pacific with a community the capital’s waste. The 600 families of Radhakrishna tol, under the name Local Effort for hardwood sal trees. However, fear that people in the tarai won’t forest master plan. Although overall Environment Protection and Locality Development Committee, have built their own waste recycling district forest officials all over the be given any more forests to manage forest cover has gone down because plant. The three-chambered recycling plant cost the committee around Rs 100,000, which was country bent the rule and issued a and even existing community forests of the destruction of tarai forest, raised through a donation drive within the community. The 160 kg of waste that Radhakrishna tol different notice asking all forest user will disappear into park boundaries. there has been a resurgence in produces everyday is collected from residents’ homes for weekly fee of Rs 20. The recycling plant groups to stop harvesting trees. “This will be disastrous,” says forest cover in pockets along the hopes to become self-reliant in the near future through the sale of composted manure produced at This triggered a revolt among FUGs another tarai villager, midhills.  the plant. The plant can produce about 1,000 kg of compost a month, which means an average against what they considered earning of Rs 15,000 a month—sufficient to maintain the daily waste collection schedule, and the corrupt forestry officials. recycling plant, and pay the salary of the two people employed to operate the plant. The government seems confused. If it wants to protect sal ... where why is there a blanket ban on all FUGs? Spokesperson Poudel is Friends meet unable to clear it up, all he could

At Himalayan Shangri-La Resort, Dhulikhel Every Saturday Reach Dhulikhel and your picnic begins in one of the most beautiful place on earth. Just relax and enjoy, start your day with Breakfast and bridge-up your lunch With our mouthwatering Snacks in the rhythm of Madal Have our Chef's 7 Course Special Lunch Menu And you will surely dance with joy.

Additional attractions: Own Secluded Picnic Spot, Children's Park and Play Ground, short hiking and Pilgrimage to kali Temple amidst serene landscape and Himalayan Panorama, Bingo game and so on!!! Per Person Rs. * 400 (nett)

HIMALAYAN SHANGRI-LA RESORT Dhulikhel: 011-61611-12-13, Fax: 011-61621 City Office Tel: 427837/ Fax: 430839 (*Conditions apply) 888 NEPALI ECONOMY 16 - 22 MARCH 2001 NEPALI TIMES BIZ NEWS ECONOMIC SENSE by ARTHA BEED

Reviewing the plan

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ A review of the country’s “development” performance reveals that growth continues to fall short of goals set by the Ninth Plan 1997-2002. Overall growth in the real sector in the past three years was 4.6 percent, Leaving it to the last minute 1.4 percentage points short of the Plan’s 6 percent target. Growth in the agriculture sector was 2.9 percent between fiscal year 1997-1998 and fiscal year 1999-2000, against a target of 4 percent. Growth in the non-agricultural sector was 6 percent compared to the Plan’s 7.3 percent growth target. In negotiations, it isn’t just lack of talking and listening The only sector where growth has exceeded the target is social services—0.3 percentage points over the 7 percent goal. The overall Gross Domestic Product was low in the first two years of the Plan period skills, we do little homework and wake up too late. due mainly to poor weather, which directly affects agriculture that contributes about 39 percent to the GDP. Yet, the Nepal Rastra Bank report estimates that the average growth in the five-year period will fall short by hile writing this column ready to resolve a particular negotiations with the WTO. To about one percent only, based mainly on the assumption that GDP growth will be six percent in the current the Beed was eagerly issue at a particular time will not be fair, it isn’t just lack of talking fiscal year. w awaiting the decision of have the same intentions later. and listening skills—we also do The government plan was to increase revenue by 0.5 percent each fiscal year, which the NRB review the Appellate Tribunal on the Situations and motivations little homework and wake up too says is quite unlikely. Revenue from customs and domestic production are lower than the Plan target, while petition submitted by hotels and change, especially after one or late. The current government there has been a slight increase in income and property tax, and non-tax revenue collections. The Hotel Association of Nepal both sides are ready to talk, but believes indecision is the best privatisation of public enterprises is also way off target. The plan was to privatise 30 of the 43 public (HAN) demanding the their attempts are frustrated. It’s form of governance. The enterprises. Only one, the Nepal Tea Development Corporation, has been privatised. Work on privatising declaration of strikes in hotels like going to buy something. A government realised in December one more enterprise, the Butwal Power Company, is on, while the two large commercial banks that were on illegal. By the time this goes out buyer is ready to pay a particular the importance of tourism to the list seem to have been taken off. to readers, a decision will have price at a point of time, and a Nepal, and the Prime Minister The government’s regular expenditure—in salaries and administration mainly—is up to nearly 9 percent been made, but that will not take seller may be willing to sell at intervened. Perhaps then tourism of the GDP during the three years under review, growing at an average of 12.4 percent each year. The away from the central question: that price at that time. If the stopped being important, or Plan had envisaged keeping the growth of regular expenditure at less than six percent of the GDP. Inflation did Nepalis deserve such an transaction does not take place looked like it could use a few has remained low during the review period, though it is higher than the Plan target of keeping it under 6.5 impasse? then, it might be hard to find the months of curing, like a fine percent. The average inflation was 7.7 percent during the review period, lower than the average during the As your melancholy same consensus later. In the case cheese. So Sleeping Beauty fell Eighth Plan (8.3%). correspondent often has occasion of the service charge impasse, all back into her slumber, and those to remark in these pages, our parties concerned overlooked khadi-clads who remained awake

Birgunj ICD update problem is that we react, but this fact. We forget that decided to turn their hand at ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ don’t know how to be pro-active. negotiations are based firstly on muddying the industry waters Two months after completion, Nepal’s third Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Birgunj remains unused, mainly The eleventh hour for us gets prevailing conditions. The issue for sport. because Indian Railways has yet to approve the operation modality for trains carrying cargo. Tracks were whittled down to the nail-biting tested on 7 March and it may only be a matter of time because the formalities have been completed. But the ICD could face another problem though. The residents of Sarsiya village development committee fifty-ninth minute of the last say they will not allow the ICD to be operated unless the government meets some of their demands—made hour. Add to that our uniquely when construction began in March 1998. The demands include construction of a dumping site and public bumbling manner of conducting toilets and the renovation of the road. Another demand is to employ one member of each family displaced by negotiations, and the the construction of the $28.5 million complex. government’s lassitude and you The new container depot is expected to reduce transit and transport cost of goods moving to and from see how bad things can get. This Nepal by almost 30 percent, and can handle about 40,000 containers annually. It is the largest among the isn’t about minor impasses either. three ICDs in Nepal—Biratnagar and Bhairahawa have container depots that are already operational. Our service charge situation is a trifle compared with how we’ve

Overseas exports up 13 percent failed to clear the air to get the ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Maoists to the table and talking. The Trade Promotion Centre has reported a 13 percent growth of overseas exports, pushed mainly A month ago, hoteliers were ready by readymade garments, pashmina shawls, lentils and tanned leather. Data for the six months of the to talk and agreed to negotiate fiscal year show pashmina sales reaching Rs 2.3 billion. The export of woollen carpets, Nepal’s through all outstanding issues, number one export item until last year, dipped by 12.4 percent to Rs 4.56 billion. not just the service charge. Representatives of the hotels’ is ensuring that they are So what have we Not Yet

Kodak again workforce were also ready to conducted properly and are Learnt from this hotel-labour- ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ finally agree on a resolution to result-oriented. Let’s stop service-charge imbrolgio? That The Supreme Court has asked the government and the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of the whole unsavoury affair. But dreaming about the perfect negotiations are important and Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) to explain why a Certificate of Origin (CO) was not issued to the issue remained unresolved. “talks”, and just focus more on mature ways of resolving Kodak Nepal. One of the first things you having good negotiations. problems. That opportunities Kodak began production in September 1999 but was forced to stop producing after failing to learn in business school, or in a There are even consulting should be grasped, with both obtain origin certification needed for duty free export to India. Kodak’s product origin was certified for real business, is the art of firms whose forte is negotiation, hands, while they exist. That the export to Singapore but not for sales in India, which is what the company is now challenging in court. negotiation. And one of the a vital aspect of management next such “situation” could be Kodak had planned to sell 80 percent of its products in India and is likely to pack up and leave should fundamentals is the lesson that skills. We’re just singularly—and foreseen well in advance, so it it fail to obtain origin certification through the court order. Industry sources say India has opposed the negotiating psyche, or the one uniformly—bad at it. Just look needn’t have to come to this.  Kodak’s colour photo paper making process as “manufacturing”, by which it would be eligible for being negotiated with is never the at our talks with India on water duty-free entry. The trade treaty between Nepal and India however does not define “manufacturing”. same. It cannot be reduced to a or trade issues. Or for that Readers can post their views at few constant features. A party matter our attempted [email protected]

WANTED MARKETING EXECUTIVES

Himalmedia, Nepal’s premier publishing group, is looking for Marketing Executives for its operations in Kathmandu. Eligibility: Graduates in any field, although those with media experience will be given preference.

Send in a detailed CV before 10 March 2001, by fax, email or hand delivered, addressed to the Marketing Manager, Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Sanchaya Kosh Building, Block A-4th Floor, Pulchowk, Lalitpur, Kathmandu, Nepal, Phones: (01) 543333-7, Fax: (01) 521013 or email to: [email protected] NEPALI ECONOMY 16 - 22 MARCH 2001 NEPALI TIMES 999 Ice cream is hot

ALOK TUMBAHANGPHEY ○○○○○○

○○○○○○○○○ Slurp, dribble and drool this summer at the ice-cream wars. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

he ice-cream business is now ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ hot. Consider this: within two you get quite a decent sum for an sold a few flavours in front of the consumers in Nepal never got used to tyears two international brand industry that doesn’t cost much to boutique. We sold Rs 20,000 worth,” paying the price it demanded. names have entered the Nepali set up. Street carts with names like he claims. Movenpick ice creams are That may be why Nepal Dairy’s market. Clearly, the days of Anand, Himali, and New Everest brought all the way from Switzerland brand ND’s is popular. Khasa Bazaar drooling over pictures are over. painted on them are a familiar sight. and knowing Nepali connoisseurs in Maha Bouddha is an unlikely place Quality slurp days are here, and “I sell an average of Rs 400 worth of fondness for spending it certainly to find ice creams one would think, well in time for the summer. ice cream and ice lollies a day. For me looks like the brand is here to stay. but surprisingly ND does and well. Old timers still remember the the profits come from ice cream but If what Himmat Shrestha claims “ND’s is a home product, cheap first ice cream business in Nepal. It the company makes a lot of money did actually happen, others in the and good,” says Mukunda was called Rum Doodle and was from the ice lollies,” says Ram business are in for a tough time. While Bhattarai, an ice cream lover. Any know the environment here. That investment worthwhile. “The total started in 1976-1977. It was cheap Thapa, who sells Anand. it is true that international brand flavour and one has only to pay Rs caused problems even though the market worth could be anywhere and good, but it soon shut down. The bigger players offer you a names easily attract initial attention 30 compared to the Rs 100-350 per outlet was doing good,” says VR between Rs70-80 million,” says There is no account of small range as varied one could ever want. they are harder to sell in the long run flavour for foreign brands. Satyan manager of Food Court Pvt Bhupendra Shakya who has been in businesses that manufacture ice Whether you want low-fat or an ice because they are expensive. Another name that was a big hit a Ltd, the company that is now trying the industry for a long time. Shakya sticks sold by street vendors in cream dangerously high in calories, Baskin31Robbins, the famous few years back was Nirula’s in Darbar to cash in on Nirula’s goodwill. helped Kwality get on its feet and colourful little carts, but the big you get it all. Mövenpick is the new American brand, is on the verge of Marg. Crowds thronged the fast food Food Court produces ‘Neerala’ and today runs his own Himalayan Ice names are all too familiar: Kwality, rage. This Swiss premium ice cream shutting down after just a year in the joint cum ice cream parlour that has an outlet in the same place Cream factory that sells the brand Ice Neerala’s (formerly Nirula’s), is Europe’s hottest selling brand, now Nepali market. Industry sources say served popular flavours like 21 where Nirula’s previously sold Cream King. Baskin31Robbins (B&R), Nepal set to capture South Asia as well— it’s likely to happen within a few Love, Manhattan Mania and theirs. It has an average annual Most of the ice cream business Dairy (ND’s), and more recently, they have already set foot in nine months. B&R has already been Strawberry. It did well and was turnover of over Rs 10 million use local raw material well and the the world-famous Mövenpick. It’s up countries. The guys behind replaced by another brand, hugely popular but internal and outlets in three other places industry employs thousands. With to you to decide how deep you Movenpick say they are not here to Walls, in the first outlet management problems outside Kathmandu. summer fast approaching, the business want to reach into your pocket to take over the entire market. “We are that it opened at Wimpy’s eventually shut it down. An average manufacturer sells is all geared up for another bout of give yourself a treat. targeting the upper ten percent niche on Darbar Marg. It still “The problem was that it around 500 litres of ice cream a day. tough competition. This, here, has The street vendors outside market,” says Ananta Amatya, sells in other popular was managed by people Most of the big firms have expensive meant greater choice. Summers will school gates and parks sell what is Marketing Manager of Movenpick joints but its target from Delhi who didn’t machinery but returns make never be the same again.  not really ice cream in the truest South Asia. The 300 varieties that sense but rather ice sticks or ice- Movenpick has to offer are expensive, lollypops—iced sugar water with a but the brand is already making its touch of added colour and flavour. presence felt here, which is exactly There are more than 200 what they want. “We are here to manufacturers in Kathmandu who make our presence felt because churn out these iced sticks of sugar Movenpick is not what ice cream is, water and they sell well. A street it is what ice cream is not,” vendor sells an adds Amatya. Movenpick’s average of Rs distributor in Nepal 300 worth of Himmat Shrestha of sticks a day and Ratna Organisation is each company optimistic. “On the has 10-15 first day we put a carts. Easy street car and math, and

Sweet tooth

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ CK○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ LAL I have a confession to make. Ice cream. The ultimate luxury of slurping this silky, sweet frozen delight in the cool interior of a cinema hall in India. Before you know it, you are 25, and rushing to reach somewhere, anywhere. For a brief moment, you are distracted by the opposite sex, but soon the sweet tooth reasserts itself and you reach for the scoops out of impulse. By 45, the excesses of life have to be paid for. You learn to wake up early, rediscover swimming, and sweat at the local gym, but you put all the calories right back with a heap of Mango-Tango. Holding an ice cream cone, you close your eyes, philips trying to remember your teenage fire. Hit 50, and ice cream becomes a fantasy, an object of desire. When the temptation gets too strong, you steal a lick now and then, rejoicing over the forbidden fruit or agonising over your lack of self-control. Past 65, you prefer ice creams served in crystal bowls with long stems. Rather than a single flavour, you want an amalgamation of vanilla white, strawberry pink, mango yellow, chocolate brown—all forming a rainbow of seduction. Now it’s the eyes that stimulate the brain, and not the tongue—or tooth. After 75, you don’t care a hang and you enjoy slurping up cones once more in the company of grandchildren. When I was a child, we used to swarm the ice-candy man. He announced himself with a rattle of his damaru. Clutching a five paisa copper coin that had a picture of a cow, we would rush to buy an ice-block with a stick. We had to start licking immediately because the hot tarai sun would melt the stuff. It cost a mohar—all of fifty paisa. In Kathmandu you could get it at Ranjana Galli on New Road, where they also sold soda water bottles with glass-marbles for corks that made a whoosh sound when opened. Then Nepal Dairy Corporation (NDC) opened an outlet in Basantpur that sold ice cream in tiny cups. But being a government-run outfit they were always out of stock. Even today, what NDC ice creams lack in variety they make up for in value for money. Restaurants made and served ice cream to order, but the mass market of the middle class didn’t really reach here till the eighties. That’s when New Delhi’s Nirula’s joined hands with the Hotel de l’Annapurna, and Annarula of Darbar Marg took the city by storm. The well- heeled made a beeline for ice cream with a dash of saffron. Boys and girls would would save to splurge and slurp. Take-away thermocole packs were introduced for those who didn’t want to socialise with the hoi polloi. When the Amatya Group brought in Kwality, a favourite and deliberately mis-spelled Indian brand, they opened a factory at Sina Mangal later, and fresh ice cream was suddenly in all the general stores in town. The next brand to hit was Vadilal’s, from Bombay, and the Lords of Poverty could be seen chilling out at its outlet in Patan. But the crème-de-la- crème of ice cream today are Baskin Robbins and Mövenpick. In the beginning, you had to go to Darbar Marg for Baskin Robbins, now even Bakery Cafes stock it. Like jeans, gym and gin there are people who consider ice cream symbols of westoxication and decadence. But this is one form of decadence I don’t mind. 101010 MUSIC 16 - 22 MARCH 2001 NEPALI TIMES Songs of Freedom “The spirit is the common denominator and that’s

how people from different cultures relate to us.”

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ is sure to transport Kathmanduites love. They too are prophets of into a magical world that can freedom, much like the Sufi sants. heighten and liberate their sense But these times are difficult; in of music. the Pakistan they live, they have Salman Ahmad, Ali Azmat and had to stand up for their rights to Brian O’Connell form Junoon. be even allowed to sing. “You see, The word might mean passion and as long as you kiss the govern- obsession in easy English, but this ment’s ass you’ll be on TV. Urdu noun is a complex gem—one Basically, that’s what it is about,” has to explore the mystical to that’s what song writer and ferret out its depth. Or even ‘spokesman’ Salman Ahmad said in better, be at a Junoon concert. an interview when the band was Junoon, excuse me, is just not banned on Pakistan Television your regular band. True, they too (PTV). sing of mysticism, passion and Junoon’s lyrics come from the Sufi poets of the 12th century who were your original romantics and gypsy minstrels. What Junoon

does is to fuse these traditional ○○○○○○○○○○○

SALIL○○○○○ SUBEDI a heady mix of Sindhi-Punjabi set now for their maiden prayer-songs of love with rock, h what do you call a band folk, hard rock and mystic Sufi performance in Nepal. Never has folk and qawwali, and for which that has been weaned on music? Junoon, Urdu for passion. a band of this stature and they have had their share of flak. oSantana, Led Zeppelin and South Asia’s biggest band, popularity come to this country, Salman Ahmad says: “When I Queen, described as the “biggest hailing from Karachi, is essentially and the band’s intensity in compose, it’s natural for us to see crossover success since the late a blend of ancient Sufi lyric and performance and the uniquenesss these elements coming into our Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan”, and play modern expression. The stage is of their genre is a potent mix that melodies and then the rhythm comes automatically. The dholak and tabla reflect Punjabi and Sindhi rhythms and they are already in our sub-consciousness. It is the same with our listeners.” Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was (is) a great influence on the group and the band’s popular Azadi album is dedicated to the late maestro. It was Nusrat who experimented and proved that something traditional could be adapted into the modern context. “You see, as long But, like Nusrat, Junoon’s middle class boys too faced scorn for government’s ass y doing the musically blasphemous —fusion. Basically, that’s w When you have young men suddenly being seen as rebellious mystics, then they are up for it from the orthodoxy and the political establishment. The band has been banned, their phones tapped, their homes searched by the police and they have received death threats. The Benazir Bhutto-led government in 1990 completely banished them from the state airwaves. The boys held on, with a conviction largely hysterical crowd of around derived from the stuff they were 50,000, in all places, New Delhi. doing, and from the love the One banner there, they Toyota Junoonis (the fans) had for them. particularly liked: “Cultural And so, three days after the Fusion, not Nuclear Fusion”. Indian nuclear tests in 1998, you Back home, another ban. have Junoon performing to a Their first big hit—Jazba-e- MUSIC 16 - 22 MARCH 2001 NEPALI TIMES 111111 Junoon (spirit of passion) became Ali Azmat is the magnetic lead singer who delights and entrances the official song of the 1996 his audience with shamanistic stage World Cup Cricket jointly hosted performances. Critics say he is perhaps by India and Pakistan. The song the perfect representation of Nusrat-tinged later featured in the Inquilaab Sufi vocals electrified by an Eddie Vedder- (revolution) album the same year, esque persona. Ali was Salman’s pushing Junoon into the neighbour in Lahore when the latter was mainstream where their existence studying medicine. Ali used to do Whitesnake was both welcomed and and Led Zeppelin in the early days. rubbished. In December 1996, the song Ehtesaab (accountability), which mocked Brian O’ Connell and Salman were childhood friends at age 13, when they like Talash (search) that had lines first met in NY as Salman’s father had like: “Under the hot sun we are an airline job in the US. Though Brian seeking shelter/ once the dust of was always into music, he supported prejudice settles we’ll find our himself by working with mentally identity” did not raise people’s disabled people. Upon Salman’s concern. But when Benazir Bhutto’s request Brian moved to Karachi in 1992 government fell a month later after for good, married a Pakistani model-actress and now visits NY once the Ehtesaab release, the public fell in a while. He does bass, keyboard, tambourine, and backing vocals back on Junoon who were still for Junoon. performing and speaking rebellion. Salman Ahmad is the Sufi poet of PTV banned them for the next six modern times and the heart of Junoon. Salman does electric and acoustic guitar, and backing vocals. months, until Sayonee came to their He was with the first Pakistani pop band ‘Vital Sign’ and quit the band when it was at its peak. Salman rescue. It is said that PTV was is a medical doctor, which he says he completed for his parents. His inspiration is wife Samina, a compelled to show the video, as it backbone of the band. She worked heroically to promote the band in the early days, printing flyers, was rocking the Subcontinent and booking gigs and physically dragging friends to concerts. much else. The most acclaimed album, Azadi, is a 1997 release that If you want to be a Junooni (the fond nickname for the band’s fans), log on to the band’s official opened with the hit song Sayonee. website The band believes each song in Azadi is like a chapter in a book. In an interview with Connect, Salman says: “All the songs have to deal with freedom of the soul…Brian is a Christian as is our drummer Malcolm. Ali and I are Muslims. The people in India are Hindus but we all come from the same source. The Sufi realm is all about transcending religion since that is all dogma and a barrier. So Sayonee could be about humanity talking to God, asking Him to relieve us of the madness around us and free our spirit. I think what people are trying to define is inner spirituality as you kiss the of the music that is in the melody and the poetry, and a lot in the new you’ll be on TV. album Azadi deals with metaphysics. Now a lot of people what it is about. ” tried to push that into the Islamic realm. I don’t think it has to do with any religion, the spirit is the common denominator and that’s how people from different cultures relate to us.” In 1998, the band was awarded the Best International Group Award at the Channel V Musical Awards in New Delhi. The next year the UN recognised them for fostering peace in South Asia. And while all the plaudits came along, they also got to play along at corruption and the Pakistani with Western big names like Sting political culture, was banned by and Def Leppard. Before the Nepal PTV on the pretext that it might trip, Junoon has toured Denmark, destabilise a country already on Japan, India, US, West Asia and carlsburg the brink of elections. Bangladesh. Salman, in one of his Let’s welcome the Junoon men to interviews, remembers how songs town. We need some music.  121212 ARTS 16 - 22 MARCH 2001 NEPALI TIMES And the winner is: Nepali Music confidence, maturity and Yonjon, Deep Shrestha, Kunti Chha, a song he wrote keeping professionalism that modern Nepali Moktan, and Arun Thapa. Narayan Gopal in mind. But music has gained in the past five or It’s interesting enough that Narayan Gopal died before he so years. young Reema Gurung and veteran could sing it, and so did Gopal It may be too soon to call it the Kunti Moktan were nominated in Yonjon and Aruna Lama. By this golden age of Nepali music, but we the same category, Best Female time, Jindagi... seemed jinxed. As are certainly getting there. And if Vocal Performance. And no junior Kshetra Pratap Adhikari’s son this is the pace of change, then it artistes were forgetting what they recalled while receiving the award won’t be long before Nepali music owed their seniors. That is why on behalf of his father, there were receives much-deserved Reema Gurung did not have to feign doubts that the song would ever international recognition. What’s surprise, or even shock, when she find a voice. But it did. And who the harm in dreaming? All we emerged winner in that category. better than Ram Krishna Dhakal, require is a little bit of patience and “This honour means even more to Narayan Gopal’s protégé. It a whole lot of passion. me because I was nominated with seemed then that destiny was just Love for music survives on this artists I regard as my inspiration,” waiting to do its bit. passion, and that is how icons are said a visibly moved Reema as she Sunny Shrestha of Hits FM Modern Nepali music has gained enormous confidence born. All the contemporary artists clutched her silver award statue. and the architect of the award and maturity. Proof of that was the annual Hits FM Music nominated for the 4th Annual Hits People who like and follow evening is thrilled with the FM Awards—Jems Pradhan, Nima Nepali music have been a little response. “What it showed is that

Awards last Saturday. Rumba, Nabin Bhattarai, Reema worried lately. Would the younger if you have quality in Nepali ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Gurung, Raju Lama, Ram Krishna generation come from under the music, you can finally have your ○○○○○○○○○○○

TSERING○○○○○ CHODEN award night in this country. This is Birendra International Convention Dhakal (to name only a few) oozed shadow of big names like Ambar economic reward. Look at t isn’t just Nepali music that has the lasting impression the 1,300 Centre last Saturday took away. conviction in their talent. And they Gurung and Narayan Gopal? With Narayan Gopal, he died a pauper. come of age, so has the people who attended the 4th Annual The quality of the music was an all sang praises of renowned the demise of Arun Thapa, the future He needn’t have. Today, as long as imeticulous choreography needed Hits FM Music Awards 2057 indicator of how far we have come, musicians like Narayan Gopal, of Nepali music did seem a little you don’t compromise on quality, to stage a Grammy-style music sponsored by Close-Up at the and a tribute to the enormous self- Aruna Lama, Ambar Gurung, Gopal bleak. But now there is no reason to music artists can have a great panic. Still in our midst is Deep career.” And if it seems the Nepali Shrestha, who has broken his almost public has become more decade-long silence with the finest demanding, it is also finding ways Nepali album of recent times— to reward merit. Dhristi, Deep’s ode to his daughter. The award ceremony went It was Deep’s night as he walked without a hitch, the organisers The quality of music was an indicator of how far we have come, and a tribute to the enormous self-confidence, maturity and professionalism in modern Nepali music.

away with three of the most coveted clearly learnt from the glitches of awards, Album of the Year, Best the past and carefully planned the Male Vocal Performance and Record performance that was broadcast live of the Year. on Nepal Television as well as on Other young musicians also got Hits FM 91.2. The ushers were their place in the sun, and the older hearing- and speech-impaired and more experienced were students. And the three-hour appreciated for their timeless and performance was awe-inspiring for tireless contribution to the Nepali the sole reason that we have come to music industry. In the limelight this expect time over-runs, power year was 74-year-old, composer, outages, boring speeches, squealing lyricist, singer, Nati Kaji Shrestha microphones, hooters in the mercantile who received the Lifetime audience. But Hits made sure Achievement Award. It was in 1948 everything went right, and the whole that Nati Kaji recorded his first song. performance was slick, exuded And on Saturday night, when finesse, and was brilliantly MC-ed by presenters Basudev Munal and Deepesh Shrestha. The Hits FM Haribhakta Katuwal climbed down Annual Music Awards is definitely from the stage to the first row of the now an event to watch, and it will hall to bestow his award, there was encourage Nepali musicians to aspire in Nati Kaji’s eyes a glint. His to greater professionalism.  shining eyes must mean that his Tsering Choden is assistant editor of struggles, his passion, his love for Wave magazine. music weren’t wasted after all. The Left to right: Comeback man Deep audience gave him the loudest and Shrestha, Kunti Moktan, who won the longest ovation. award for the Best Pop Vocal Performance It was a historic moment when Female, and Nabin Bhattarai, this year’s lyricist Kshetra Pratap Adhikari won Best Pop Vocal Performance Male winner, the silver statue for Song of the Year. who’s now won at all the four Hits FM Jindagi Ma Dherai Kura Garna Baaki Music Awards. ALL PHOTOS:MIN BAJRACHARYA Fusion band Mahayantra WORLD 16 - 22 MARCH 2001 NEPALI TIMES 131313 OPINION by JEFFREY SACHS The myth of the strong dollar CAMBRIDGE - In his first interna- The US would do better to focus on its own business conditions, tional outing, America’s new Treasury

Secretary Paul O’Neill got tripped letting markets determine the exchange rate. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ up—by telling the truth. During the ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Clinton Administration, Treasury actually pursue a “strong dollar” Some believe that, without such If statements about a strong dollar Secretary Robert Rubin and then policy: the Federal Reserve’s monetary statements, the dollar would plunge policy had any effect at all, they Lawrence Summers stated that policy is designed to keep inflation relative to the Euro and Yen. After all, probably helped promote America’s America had a “strong dollar policy.” low. The dollar is kept “strong” in if the US Treasury Secretary does not financial bubble during 1998-2000. O’Neill reportedly said that “We are terms of its purchasing power over US support the dollar, what would Investors in the US and the rest of the not pursuing... a policy of a strong goods and services. But this is not sustain its value? world believed for this short period dollar.” Immediately attacked for what markets believed the “strong According to this that investments in the US guaranteed reversing a long-held policy, he quickly dollar” policy meant. They believed interpretation, market participants riches; this contributed to the boom retreated. Too bad, because his that the strong dollar policy referred would begin to predict the decline and bust in US technology stocks. comment made a lot more sense than to exchange rates. In this sense, the of the dollar. They would sell The naive view that the dollar his predecessors’ statements. “strong dollar” policy would mean dollars in anticipation of its decline. would always remain strong (and The truth is, America really that America has a “weak Euro” Those currency sales would indeed would strengthen even more) vis-à- doesn’t have an exchange rate policy. policy or a “weak Yen” policy. It lead to a collapse of the currency. vis the Euro added fuel to the When Alan Greenspan ponders the has no such thing. The decline in the dollar’s value capital inflows into America. Now next move in US interest rates, little So why did successive Treasury would be a self-fulfilling prophecy. that the bubble is bursting, US attention is paid to the dollar’s Secretaries say that the US has a But eventually, fundamental stock markets are down and the exchange rate vis-à-vis the Euro, Yen, strong dollar policy? Part of the economic strengths and weaknesses dollar is weakening relative to the or other currencies. American answer is that support for a strong have more effect on the exchange Euro. The earlier excesses could monetary policy decisions depend on dollar is an easy slogan; it sounds rate than self-fulfilling prophecies. bring on a recession in the US US, EU, and Japan, do better to focus vis both the dollar and the Euro. the strength or weakness of the patriotic. A truer statement for If, as now seems to be the case, this year. on their own business conditions, Secretary O’Neill therefore had it domestic economy and on US Rubin and Summers would have America’s economy is weakening So what should America’s letting markets determine the right, even if his words were clumsy. inflation. If the economy is slowing, if been to say that America actually while Europe’s economies remain exchange rate policy be? Basing exchange rate. America should have neither a strong there is excess capacity, and if inflation has no exchange rate policy, the strong, the dollar will weaken vis-à-vis American monetary policy on The dollar should be left to rise dollar nor a weak dollar policy, only a is low, interest rates are reduced; if the answer that O’Neill tried to give. the Euro whether or not the US domestic business conditions, rather or fall vis-à-vis the Euro and Yen policy of sensible domestic monetary economy is strong, if excess capacity is Another reason exists for their Treasury Secretary promotes the than on t he exchange rate, is correct. depending on the underlying policies, and a belief that foreign limited, and if inflationary pressures statements. Some US officials believe dollar. A weaker dollar vis-à-vis the Small economies closely integrated strengths and weaknesses of the exchange markets should determine are growing, interest rates are raised. that the “strong dollar” statements Euro will help sustain demand in the with their trading partners might set three economic areas. In today’s exchange rates.  (Project Syndicate) Nor does the Fed intervene directly in helped stabilise foreign exchange US as the economy slows. Similarly, exchange rate targets, or fix their context, market forces will probably Jeffrey D. Sachs is Galen L. Stone foreign exchange markets except in markets, even if American monetary the Yen will tend to weaken vis-à-vis exchange rate to the currencies of lead to a further weakening of the Professor of Economics, and Director of extraordinary circumstances. policy was not directed at the dollar’s both the dollar and the Euro because their trading partners, but large and dollar vis-à-vis the Euro, and a the Centre for International In only one sense does the US strength vis-à-vis the Euro or Yen. of Japan’s underlying weaknesses. relatively closed economies like the further weakening of the Yen vis-à- Development, Harvard University.

New peace prize, for women

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ UNITED NATIONS - Four women and three women’s Zapatistas takes the plaza organisations from war-torn and conflict-ridden nations are first winners of the new Millennium Peace Prize for Women, awarded

DUNCAN CAMPBELL AND JO TUCKMAN IN MEXICO CITY ○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ last Thursday, International Women’s Day. While the Nobel he unimaginable happened. The Zapatistas, led by their masked Peace Prize has been awarded since 1901, only 10 of the commandantes and their enigmatic leader, Subcommandante Marcos, approximately 106 winners have been women or women’s tfinally entered the heart of the capital of the nation with which they organisations. The Millennium Peace Prize acknowledges have been at war for seven years. women’s leadership in finding innovative alternatives to war, Their entrance was remarkable in that these rebels not only came unarmed holding communities together and bridging ethnic divides. The but also with a welcome from the president of the country that made them recipients are Flora Brovina (Kosovo), Asma Jahangir and Hina outlaws. “We came here only to say we are here,” Subcommandante Marcos told Jilani (Pakistan); Venerananda Nzambazamariya (Rwanda), an enraptured crowd of 150,000 in the Zocalo, the main square of the capital. Ruta Pacifica de las Mujeres (Colombia), the Leitana Nehan “We are a reflection and a cry and we will always be there. We can be with or Women’s Development Agency (Papua New Guinea), and without a face, armed or without fire. But we are Zapatistas as we will always be.” Woman in Black (based in Belgrade). He had arrived with 23 Zapatista commandantes in an open lorry bearing Despite the many challenges they face, women across Asia, the slogan “Never again a Mexico without us”. Helicopters circled over as the Africa, Europe and North and South America are already at the caravan finally reached the end of its historic journey. In an appeal to all of forefront of many peace efforts. “In some cases, women have Mexico for a fairer society, he called on “indigenous brothers and sisters, workers, succeeded in collecting arms in exchange for hot meals, or they peasants, teachers, students, farmworkers, housewives, drivers, fishermen, taxi- have relentlessly demonstrated and appealed for the violence to drivers, office workers, street vendors, gangs, the unemployed, journalists, stop. Others have formally joined peace negotiations, working to professionals, nuns and monks, homosexuals, lesbians, transsexuals, artists, ensure that new constitutions include such legal protections for intellectuals, sailors, soldiers, athletes and legislators, men, women, children, women and girls as access to education, land and property young people and old, brothers and sisters”, all to join with them. rights and at least 30 percent representation in public office,” But despite the enormous turnout and the success of the long march, the said Noeleen Heyzer, director of the UN Development Fund for mood was not triumphalist in recognition, perhaps, of the uncertainty that lies Women (UNIFEM). The prize is a joint initiative between UNIFEM ahead. Before Marcos spoke, other commandantes made brief appeals for and the London-based non-governmental organisation greater respect for indigenous people. Each read their speeches, as they have Subcommandante Marcos addresses supporters in Xochimilco as the rebels International Alert that works with organisations and individuals done throughout the march, from spiral notebooks and then took their neared Mexico City. to identify the root causes of violence and contribute to the just places back in the line as Marcos directed proceedings.The Mexican press and peaceful transformation of violent internal conflict. was in no doubt as to the significance of the day. “Marcos takes the capital!” Zapatistas march to the capital in pursuit Brovina of Kosovo is the president of the League of Albanian said one paper. “They’re taking the plaza!” said another. La Prensa summed of constitutional rights for Mexico’s 10 Women of Kosovo, a non-political organisation she founded in up the mood with the word “unimaginable”. 1992 to assist ethnic Albanian women. Brovina was accused of At dawn, the caravan of the Zapatistas and their supporters was already million indigenous people. and imprisoned for gathering food, clothing and medical breakfasting on tamales in a sports complex on the outskirts of Mexico City ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ supplies for the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). Jahangir and her where they had been billeted for the last night of their 16-day pilgrimage from T-shirts, mugs, jugs and recorded music, their Marcos scarves and action dolls sister Jilani helped to found the Women’s Action Forum to help Chiapas. They had come in pursuit of constitutional rights for the country’s 10 complete with pipe and balaclava, mixed in with images of Che Guevara. women obtain divorces from abusive husbands. In 1986 they co- million indigenous people, around 10 percent of the population, and yesterday Watching the Zapatistas on their final push, Santos Orozco, 67, a canal founded the Pakistan Human Rights Commission. was the culmination of the journey that had taken them through 12 states. As the boatman said: “They are the defenders of the poor, not just the indigenous.” Nzambazamariya, who died last year in an air-crash, dedicated 2,100-mile, 16-day trek from Chiapas ended, they were joined by public figures The Zapatistas finally marched on the capital, disdaining an invitation herself to empowering women politically and economically, and from around the world: human rights ambassador Danielle Mitterand, issued over the weekend by President Vicente Fox to meet in the to restructuring and sensitising Rwanda’s imbalanced political, Portuguese Nobel prizewinning author Jose Saramago, and the French anti- presidential palace. Marcos accused Fox of trivialising the indigenous cause. economic and social infrastructures and laws that were biased multinational activist Jose Bove. The Zocalo, the largest city square in the world “He wants to turn a serious movement into a prime time event,” said against women. The Ruta Pacifica de las Mujeres movement after Red Square, greeted them, but the only sights trained from the rooftops and Marcos. “It would be a hollow media event.” In a 20-minute address to the ensures that women’s alternative plans for peace and co- behind the belfries were those of the photographers and camera crews from crowd and the nation beyond, Marcos referred to the way that the “first existence reach influential circles in conflict-ridden Colombia. around the world and the only explosions were of firecrackers and rockets. people” of Mexico had become the last in terms of how they had been The Leitana Nehan Women’s Development Agency has been a It was in 1914 that Emiliano Zapata, the man who gave his name to the treated. “We are the people of the colour of the earth. We ask you not to keystone in the process of peace negotiations and current movement, rode in revolutionary triumph into the same Zocalo. There let another dawn break before that flag has a place for us, we who are the reconstruction in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea since the had been rumours that the new Zapatistas would also gallop into the square on colour of the earth,” he said. 1990’s. The island has been home to a rebellion against the horseback but this, like many of the rumours that have shrouded the march and While opinion polls do show overwhelming support for the march, a Papua New Guinea government. Finally, Women in Black is a the Zapatistas, proved unfounded. But yesterday Marcos and the Zapatistas did peace accord and Mexico’s need to act over trampled indigenous rights, not worldwide network sponsoring politics of resistance, which indeed stand below the balcony of the palace where Zapata and Pancho Villa had everyone is sympathetic to the Zapatistas. The head of the country’s biggest inspires women in different parts of the world to organise action greeted their own adoring crowds nearly 90 years earlier. Throughout the employers’ organisation, Jorge Espina Reyes, called them “irresponsible and non-violent protest. (IPS) morning the street vendors there were busily selling their Zapatista masks, utopian demagogues”.  (The Guardian) 141414 ASIA 16 - 22 MARCH 2001 NEPALI TIMES and manufacturing production. Sri year, up from last year’s earlier Lanka’s finances, dented by rising estimate of 55 billion rupees. It defence spending, worsened as later shot up to 85 billion rupees foreign exchange reserves slumped when the military went on a to $950 million at the end of last buying spree to ward off a Banking on peace year from $2.5 billion two years massive Tamil rebel threat in the ago. With just enough reserves for 45 northern Jaffna peninsula. The days of imports, against the earlier expected slowdown in the The ethnic conflict once again average of three months, the Central economy this year has been casts its shadow over Sri Lanka’s Bank was forced, late January, to free compounded by a prolonged the rupee from controls. labour dispute on tea and rubber

national budget. “Peace will trigger off a plantations, which produce Sri ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

○○○○ massive rehabilitation programme Lanka’s main export. The annual start in May, would trigger a the next six months and fully co- for the north and the east, which inflation rose in February to a four- major economic revival, helped by operate with us to re-strengthen would boost economic activities year high of 16 percent. The rise is an infusion of $700 million in our economic fundamentals,’’ said across the country,” Peiris said. It attributed to higher local and foreign aid. The aid has been Deputy Finance Minister GL could also halve military spending imported food prices, due to a promised to support rehabilitation Peiris while presenting the year down to three percent of the depreciating rupee and the impact programmes in the conflict-torn 2001 annual budget in national income, he added. As of higher prices of flour, kerosene, northern region of the country. parliament. “If peace comes, then part of the austerity measures, diesel and public transport. Most The ethnic violence has the whole scenario changes and the government has decided to people were expecting some claimed more than 65,000 lives so confidence could be restored in freeze public sector salaries till relief on consumer prices, which far and retarded economic growth, the economy,” said Sumanasiri January 2002. Peiris raised taxes never came. which now averages about five Liyanage, senior economist at Sri and trimmed allowances of Peiris also increased to three percent annually. This year too, it Lanka’s University of Peradeniya. ministers and their deputies as rupees, the one-rupee export tax has cast its shadow on the Hopes of peace have been raised part of proposals that are on garments, hiked the surcharge government’s budget that is with Tamil rebels, who were estimated to raise 264.5 billion on corporate taxes and doubled expected to add to the woes of demanding a separate home for rupees ($3.1 billion) in revenue the international embarkation

HIMAL SOUTH ASIAN ordinary Sri Lankans. Last week, Sri Lanka’s Tamil minority for the government, against a tax to 1,000 rupees. The Smoke billows from Colombo’s main fuel depot after an LTTE strike in 1995. the government imposed further people all these years, now saying projected expenditure of 387.5 government also decided to tax belt-tightening—at least for the they are ready to discuss a billion rupees. The government also gamblers by pushing up the tax FEIZAL SAMATH IN COLOMBO

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 18-year-old ethnic conflict in the next six months—on Sri Lankans, devolution of powers to Tamil- hiked by one percent, an earlier 6.5 on casinos to 2.5 billion from ri Lanka’s government is Indian Ocean island nation. already reeling under soaring majority areas. percent defence levy on one million rupees earlier, while banking on likely peace Economy analysts said the living costs in the past year. Peiris said the country’s manufacture. This is expected to the tax on companies accepting stalks with Tamil Tiger government’s 8 March budget “The government appeals to economic growth might slow to 4.5 further push up consumer prices. bets on overseas horse races was rebels to kick-start an economy was based on the hope that the the people to refrain from percent this year from six percent War spending has been hiked 10 times to one million slowed down considerably by the peace talks, widely expected to demanding concessions at least for last year, due to lower agricultural pegged at 64 billion rupees this rupees.  (IPS)

The Drug Divide

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ The last of the Kochi Jews Accused of ‘piracy’ by transnational drug companies, India is defending its right to

JOSHUA NEWTON IN KOCHI, KERALA ○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○ distinct identity and pursue their make cheaper generic medicines, on ohnny Hallegua hates cameras. beliefs over centuries. They added legal and ethical grounds. The charges jHe swishes his arm across the immeasurably to the rich cultural were renewed recently when Cipla, an lens and shoos away a wide-eyed tapestry of Kerala and, at the same Indian pharmaceutical company, tourist, because he doesn’t like to time, adopted many of the offered poor countries an anti-AIDS be considered a leftover of the traditional social aspects of life. medication at a fraction of its international price. Jewish presence in Kochi, a major “The uniqueness of Kochi Jews is The controversy points to the strengths of India’s 31-year- port city in southern India’s Kerala the manner in which they got old patent rules, which recognise manufacturing processes and state. “They come here and flash Indianised,” Jewish scholar Nathan not products. Western drug majors call this piracy. A study by the lenses and stare at us,” complains Katz says. “Though their religious Pharmaceutical Research Manufacturers of America last year the man in his early 60s, before observances are for the most part like calculates the losses to the US drug industry to be about $60 declaiming to no one in particular: those that prevail in Israel and the million annually on 20 drugs made in India. “Gentlemen, we’re not dinosaurs.” United States, the location of the India’s top government health official, Javed Chowdhury says But the dwindling numbers of synagogues here—at the end of the there’s nothing illegal about generic manufacture until 2005, Jews in Kochi (formerly Cochin) Kochi’s Jews are often viewed as no more street—is similar to that of temples at when India will have to conform to the WTO rules on intellectual mean that Hallegua and others are than living relics of a bygone age—as few the end of a row of Brahmin houses.” property. India’s patent policies on drugs were put into place in often viewed as no more than a Just like devout Hindus at a temple, 1970 with the aim of making the country self-sufficient in

living relic of a bygone age—one as 16 remain in Jew Town today. Kochi Jews will remove their shoes or medicines, and backed by strict government control on drug ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ more tourist attraction in a ○○○○○○○○ sandals before entering their prices. Though chafing at the regulations, the largely private stunningly beautiful coastal state. die here. This land brought us up… 1998 after reaching his early 90s. synagogue. Often their houses will Indian pharmaceutical industry grew rapidly—providing direct Today, as few as 16 Jews remain in I myself wouldn’t want to go Today the youngest of the Kochi have a front door and an inner employment to over half-a-million people, besides producing the a narrow lane named Jew Town anywhere. I want to die here.” Jews, a cousin of Sammy Hallegua, is door, as in Brahmin households. cheapest drugs in the world. Road in Kochi’s Mattancherry The Jews of Kochi, called 24. She is thinking of migrating. That SALIL SUBEDI India’s prowess in making generic drugs was dramatically neighbourhood. Cochinis by Israelis, originally would leave 15 Jews. evident earlier this year, when the Mumbai-based Cipla offered to On the quiet and empty lane to settled in Cranganore, an ancient Just two of the eight synagogues sell poor countries an anti-HIV ‘drug cocktail’ for a fraction of the the synagogue stands Samuel port 35 kilometres north of Kochi, remaining around Kochi are in good price charged by drug transnationals. With support from the Hallegua, a 69-year-old Jewish after the Romans sacked Jerusalem shape. One is in Paravur, maintained Nobel Prize winner, Paris-based doctors’ group, Medecins Sans businessman whose forefathers in 70 AD. In the 14th century, they by a Jewish family, while the other, Frontieres (MSF), Cipla is offering a one-year course of the AIDS settled here in 1595. They came moved south to Kochi—a thriving built in 1568, is in Mattancherry. Yet drugs at $350, against the about $15,000 charged by Western over from Aleppo in Syria. Like his and colourful port that drew traders the quest for a Judaic ambience in pharmaceutical companies. brother Johnny, he is among the from the Middle East, Persia, Israel has not always ended in bliss. The global debate, which followed Cipla’s offer, saw WTO few Jews in the town who have China, Portugal and Holland. Elias Elson, a tailor, migrated with his chief Mike Moore, defending the patent system. “Were it not for a refused to leave for Israel. But They were never persecuted family to Israel in 1978 seeking a patent system that rewards companies for risking millions on Sammy, as friends call him, wonders and, indeed, prospered as better life. But as he told the research, anti-AIDS drugs would not exist,” Moore wrote in the how long the young will stay. merchants. But the Kochi Jews Mumbai-based Blitz weekly, he found International Herald Tribune. The WTO chief, however, The synagogue at the end of the road. “Kerala is not a place where never crossed the count of 2,500. it elusive. “It’s too hard to live there,” acknowledged that the new, world trade rules have made businessmen would like to settle By 1951, their numbers declined to he said. “I was unable to bear the And an oil lamp will burn in a small medicines more expensive for the poor. The WTO-administered down,” the fatherly figure says. 370, largely due to an exodus to economic and political turmoil.” cavern in the wall. global intellectual property rules protect patents for 20 years. The “Our young ones quite naturally Israel following its creation. Two Although Elson says that some Indian Now their dwindling numbers new rules do impose some conditions and permit certain saw through it and travelled to more decades and their number Jews seemed “mighty happy” in Israel, have forced Kochi Jews to adjust their national restrictions on patent rights to help poor nations. Israel seeking better prospects. slumped to 112. Across India, there others have been known to return to remaining religious rituals. “These But, says Mira Shiva of the Voluntary Health Association of “Besides, they might have are some 6,000 Jews, who belong to Kochi after being miserable abroad. days we find it tough to form a India, “Pharmaceutical companies may even stop production of preferred the Judaic ambience in four main communities—the Bene Monique Zetlaoui, a Jewish minyan in the synagogue,” says drugs, which are used to treat diseases that have been wiped Israel to the minority feeling here,” Israelis, Kochi Jews, Baghdadi Jews scholar from Tunisia, says in his Blossom Hallegua, referring to the 10- out in the West, but continue to plague warm tropical countries.” he says. “I guess it had something to and Manipur Jews (Bene Menashe). book, History of Jewish member quorum needed for Sabbath Companies like Cipla say they’ll continue developing cheaper do with the cultural mood there. Judaism is probably the oldest of Communities in India, that those services. “We just pray and leave.” generic drugs until 2005. Not that we face any ill feeling from the religions of non-Indian origin to who moved to Israel faced It makes Samuel Hallegua sad. Meanwhile, Cipla’s offer on anti-HIV drugs has already Keralites—till today, not a brow arrive in India—some Bene Israelis discrimination and were shunned by “Down 50 years our synagogue might triggered a downward revision in prices. The US drug maker has folded at us. That is the best and Kochi Jews claim their the orthodox and religious sections pass on to something like a trust and Merck announced earlier this month that it was slashing prices of facet of these people ... I really love forefathers came to India over of the population; they have neither flourish as a tourist spot,” he says. two AIDS drugs in developing countries. The company this place.” This sentiment has 2,000 years ago. become a part of the intellectual or “There’s nothing any of us can do to announced that it would strive not to profit on sales of these grown so strong in men like Samuel Whatever be the truth of their social life nor made it financially. avert the end of the Jewish life here. medications. According to a Merck statement, this was partly a Hallegua, they cannot think of history in India, it seems even more In India, Jews were embraced Perhaps a day might come when response to increasing competitive pressure from Indian generic living anywhere else. “Those of us remote today. Jacob Elias Cohen, the by the mainstream secular culture, someone here will think that it was all drug manufacturers. (IPS) who are still here want to stay and oldest Jew in Kerala, died in October and allowed to maintain their a dream.”  (Gemini) FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 16 - 22 MARCH 2001 NEPALI TIMES 151515 Officers, not leased from CSWA. This aircraft was to replace the earlier one. One reason “Higher the position, higher the corruption” brought into the country in March why the parliament is still in session is

gentlemen 1999. It was about the time when the the ordinance. The government has ○○○○○○ Excerpts from an interview with Ramesh Nath Pandey, MP, Upper House. ○○○○○○○○○○ Jana Aastha National Weekly, general election was held, Bhim Rawal also formulated the regulations and Tarun National Weekly, 5 March was the tourism minister then. On 25 appointed the regional administrators 7 March January 1999, RNAC called for bids on the basis of another ordinance. If Every 10 years there is a crisis. Is the present one a crisis of the legislature? for a wide-body Boeing with a the ordinance is not passed by The final court martial report capacity of 250 seats. On the day the parliament, then the government will Balakrishna Sama has written a book on the concerning the 38th group of UN unexpectedness of events. These events do not tender was to close, 8 February, many be caught in a moral dilemma. peacekeepers has been submitted to interested parties had submitted the Sensing all these problems, the follow any laws or thought processes, and happen the Royal Nepal Army. It is learnt all of a sudden. The events occurring in our bids. But acting chairman BK Man government has decided to go for an country every 10 years are just like what Sama that Captain Dr. Steve Pande has fled Singh, who was brought into RNAC amendment to the ordinance that will said. The decadal cycles show that we haven’t sensing that action would be taken by minister Rawal disqualified all be issued soon. The government is been able to learn all that history has taught us. against him and that the remaining bidders. RNAC did not seek more also thinking of formulating the court-martial procedures would be tenders but Singh, without informing amendments by consulting the Who are people in these tiring times waiting for— undertaken after his arrest. (The the RNAC board, went to China. On opposition parties. However, there the army, the King, the parliament or Maoists? soldiers on UN Peacekeeping duty in Ramesh Nath Pandey (right) with Gajendra Narayan Singh. 4 March 1999, he leased a CSWA are still doubts about what the I do not see the army in that role. According to Lebanon have been accused of selling narrow-body jet (Boeing 757-200) on government is actually thinking about. tradition the army is an organ of the State. Its loyalty is towards the country. Since the King is at the centre of arms and ammunition to rebel a wet lease and returned to Nepal The government has also already the nation, its loyalty will lie towards the King. Let us not move the army any further from that position. Let it groups). stay as and where it is, that will benefit the nation. with the pilots who had been hired. named the regional administrators, Lt Col Rajendra Khadka, who Sunil Rai, a member of the UML, and one for each of five of the country’s History is looking for the role of the King. Our history, culture, in fact even our constitution accepts that led the Nepali forces on peacekeeping the King is the focal point of this nation. It is but natural therefore to look for a role of the King. board director of RNAC at the time, development regions... duty, has been dismissed from the had accompanied Singh to China. And Please give us a definite answer. Which individual or party is responsible for the present crisis? army and fined Rs 2.2 million. Others even though Nepali pilots were Maoists become Everybody, including myself who sits in parliament, is responsible. A bigger part of this blame has to be who have been asked to resign are: capable of flying the said aircraft

carried by the people who are in power, who are ruling this country. After that it is the responsibility of all Havaldars Megh Bahadur Khadka, stronger

○○○○○○○○○○○ RNAC had settled for a wet lease. ○○○○○ Kundal Bahadur Tamang, Hom forces capable of forming governments. Another group that is responsible are the ones who are not in Nepali pilots went on a strike in 14 March government but run the show. It does not do to just blame the people, the constitution and democracy for our Bahadur Katuwal and Subedar Tirtha Ghatna Ra Bichar, present ills. Bahadur Adhikary. Officers who have been demoted are: Hari Sharan The Maoist ‘people’s war’ that began Still, who is to be blamed? Is it because of the inefficiencies of the political parties or because of the Adhikary, Captain Bishnu Khatri, with khukuris and spears in a handful character of some people? Captain Rajesh Thapa Magar, of mid-western districts five years ago We practice a weird type of politics in our country. Political parties publish manifestos during elections and Subedar Sambhu Jung Thapa and is now the most serious threat to the other policy papers and documents, but no one reads or studies them it till it is time for the next elections. monarchy and democracy. The Even the people never raise questions concerning anything that is published in the party manifestos. This Havaldar Ram Hari Thapa. Major Rishab Dev Bhattarai will Maoists now have modern weapons at means that the common people never ever read these papers. Three elections have already taken place protest but the strike was defused their disposal and have spread to all since. not be promoted for the next four after 11 days. Foreign pilots are still years. Officers who will not be the 75 districts of the country. Except There is not one responsible position in the country at the present moment that comes on the basis of flying the plane. for district headquarters, they now capacity or capability—they have all been bought. How can there be honesty when positions are bought? All promoted for the next three years are: The tender had specifically stated have effective control in 36 districts. positions have been abused, misused. A person who has been found to be inefficient has gone on to be Majors Prabhat Bikram Shah, Pradip that RNAC was looking to lease the posted to a better position, and no one has completed his or her tenure. We have set bad precedents and Shrestha, Maha Dev Gurung and In these districts government and created an inefficient system. What a tragedy that no one wanted to take the post of finance minister. The aircraft on a dry lease. According to administration are confined to the Naresh Subba. Jamadar Narayan sources, the cost of the lease was US$ leader of the majority party in parliament had to go to MPs’ houses to ask them to join government. What Bahadur Thapa Magar will also not headquarters. They are rapidly gaining can be a better example of the falling standards of democracy? Isn’t this an insult to democracy? 2,850 per flight hour. The acting ground in another nine districts. At be promoted for the next three years. chairman then decided that the rate Additionally, five Majors and one this rate the nine will also fall under The opposition has asked for the resignation of the prime minister. Is the Lauda Air corruption case the only should be US$3,150 per hour. The their control in a few months, forcing reason or are there others? Captain will not be promoted in the commission worked out to be next two years, and four Captains, the government to confine itself to the Seriousness and trust are lacking in the country. This is a regular session of parliament and it is the responsi- US$200 per flight hour and that was headquarters. Maoist sources say bility of the government to conduct these sessions. The opposition will have its complaints. Why should four Subedars, ten Jamadars and four shared by the UML and high officials taking control of the headquarters parliament be caught up in these problems? This shows a lack of seriousness and responsibility. Havaldars will not be promoted for at the RNAC. If we point out inefficiencies of the prime minister, they deserve proper answers. Questions must be raised one year. It has also been decided that won’t be difficult if they are able to properly. The PM does not come forward on a personal basis or as a group to discuss matters, and those none of those against whom action occupy the periphery. But they are

around him are incapable of carrying out a discussion. There is also doubt about his honesty. He promises Another ordinance? not advancing just yet because

○○○○○○○○○○○ has been taken will be sent again on ○○○○○ everything when he wants support but does not fulfil his promises. The opposition is raising its voice in maintaining control can be difficult. UN duty anywhere in the future. Deshanter Saptahik, 4 March parliament but the ruling party is not providing answers. Almost 90 percent of the ruling party seats are It is learnt that the Maoists are always vacant in parliament. How can empty chairs provide answers? The ruling party members present there have become mere spectators. Is there any parliament in the world where there are only spectators and Why UML cries If the present Armed Police Force people asking questions? No one has paid any attention as to why such a situation has come about. The (APF) Ordinance does not become

government takes everything lightly. Matters that have to be acted upon are not touched at all. foul about Lauda

○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○ law, that is if it is not passed by After the third general election, a huge hue and cry was raised in parliament concerning the leakage in parliament in this session, then an revenue. An all-party committee was formed, and a report was submitted. Just as the report was being Deshanter Saptahik, 4 March presented the country went into elections, after which the report was presented and passed by both houses. amended APF Ordinance may be But nothing was done about it and it was not implemented. Ministers who had been accused by that report Using the Lauda Air issue as a shield, formulated immediately after the are still ministers. No action was taken against any bureaucrat, businessman or other person who was named. the UML has been able to hide session ends. Legal experts close to the We have closed the door on ourselves. corruption that took place in the ruling party are said have come In the Lauda Air case, no court has said that the PM is involved in corruption. Therefore, why should he China South West Airlines (CSWA) together and drafted amendments to resign? Now that is a legal matter. Everyone agrees that corruption has reached a very high level in this deal some years ago. Two the ordinance after the opposition country. People believe that whoever reaches a high position is corrupt and the higher the position, the parties said they were opposed to it higher the level of corruption. There maybe some honest people but the masses are not prepared to accept parliamentary committees were that. The longer parliament does not function, the longer this thought will linger in the minds of the masses. formed to look into the irregularities and as a precaution if it were not to be The longer this thinking persists, the faster problems will arise. that took place in both the Lauda and passed at all. The amendment will most CSWA deals by the Public Accounts using Manang district, believed to be a probably be issued after the current Committee (PAC) The chief of the Nepali Congress stronghold, to session of parliament. Clause 2 (d) of QUOTE OF THE WEEK committee investigating the CSWA smuggle weapons from Tibet. They Art. 72 of the constitution clearly deal is Budhiman Tamang of the have not intensified activities in the states that an ordinance once issued Corrupt individuals have more resources than the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority RPP, the two members are Pari district, but plan to use it as a safe will have to be passed within 60 days. (CIAA). For example, they can afford better defence lawyers than the CIAA. The Constitution has granted Thapa of the Rastriya Jan Morcha point to trade and transfer weapons. If it is not passed within the stipulated authority, but CIAA lacks adequate funds to practice the given authority. and Rajendra Pandey of the UML. In recent years Tibet has become a big time, then it is automatically deemed —Former CIAA Chief Commissioner Radha Raman Upadhaya, in Nepali Patra, 9 March The parliament has not been market for illegal arms. Maoist sources void. But if the same ordinance is allowed to function since its opening, claim that Tibet is a safer, easier and amended and then re-issued, then it which has come as blessing for the cheaper alternative to India for gets a total of 240 days within opposition party because the PAC smuggling weapons. which it must be passed, and it can team has not been able to look into The districts where Maoists are be presented to parliament again the CSWA deal. The committee was strongest are Rolpa, Rukum, Salyan, within this period. all set to meet, but Rajendra Pandey Pyuthan, Jajarkot, Dailekh, Surkhet, Since the opposition parties have was hurt in the scuffle that took Kalikot, Humla, Jumla, Dolpa, been preventing the House from place in parliament and had to be Achham, Bajura, Udaypur, Siraha, carrying out normal proceedings, the hospitalised. This means that the Bhojpur, Okhaldunga, Solukhumbu, government has not been able to table committee will not be able to Sindhuli, Ramechhap, Dolakha, the ordinance in parliament. Although present its findings in the present Makwanpur, Rautahat, Bara, the ruling party has a majority in the session of parliament. Kapilvastu, Arghakhachi, Gulmi, Lower House, it does not have a According to sources at RNAC, Kavre, Sindhupalchok, gorkha, majority in the Upper House. The there have been irregularities while Lamjung, Tanahu, Dhading, Parbat, members of the Upper House the CSWA plane. To date RNAC Myagdi and Baglung. In these nominated by the king are not in has leased aircraft 19 times, and it districts, government presence can be favour of the ordinance. Sensing this, has taken CSWA planes 9 times. In felt only near the highways and the the the government has not tabled the 7 out of the 9 instances a Left-led headquarters. ordinance. Meanwhile the government was in power or a In addition to the 36 districts, government has already formed the Leftist minister was in charge of Maoists have intensified their Armed Police Force (APF) and since RNAC. In most cases it was a activities in Dang, Khotang, the ordinance has not been passed, it “The biggest success of my France visit is that nobody there demanded my resignation.” member of the UML. Sangkhuwasabha, Dhanusha, Palpa, At present RNAC has one plane is now forced to issue an amendment Himalaya Times, 11 March 2001 Syangja, Mugu, Saptari and Nuwakot.

THIS PAGE CONTAINS MATERIAL SELECTED FROM THE NEPALI LANGUAGE PRESS 161616 CITY 16 - 22 MARCH 2001 NEPALI TIMES ABOUT TOWN CLASSIFIED

MOVIES Dolphin Guest House ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Vadilal Ice Cream Pure Vegetarian Francophone Film Festival with free screenings at the Moliere Auditorium, Alliance Francaise, Modern accommodation with rooftop 522923, 529199. Fax 526123. Thapathali. Ring 242832 for info on subtitles. Unless otherwise noted all screenings are at 6 pm. garden. Excellent value and friendly service. www.vadilalgroup.com. Lalitpur, Dhobighat. La Banquiere with Claude Brasseur, Jean-Claude Brially, Romy Schneider and Jean-Louis PO Box 12170, Thamel. Trintignan, and directed by Francis Girod. Sunday 18 March 2pm. Amatya Block Works [email protected]. La Cite des Enfants Perdus by M Caso. Zinc blocks, rubber stamps, nylon stamp, Kirikou la Sorciere A Franco-Belgian cartoon by Michel Ocelot. New Yeti International nylon block, cinema slide & negative and Le Barbier de Siberie A Russian-French joint venture by Nikita Mikhaelkov. We deal in all kinds of physical fitness positive. Ghantaghar, Jame Market. Tel Le Huitieme Jour A Belgian film by Jaco Van Darmael. equipment, joggers cycles, multi gym, 252485. Hannibal Oscar-nominated English film with Anthony Hopkins. The Club, Bhatbhateni. No cover charge home gym etc. Tel 231017, 242057. for members or their guests. Sunday 18 March, 7:15pm. 416430 Deepak’s Print and Craft Shop Nepali and Hindi movies online ticket booking at www.nepalshop.com European Mountain Bike for Sale Exporters, wholesaler and manufacturers of Very good condition, 21 gear front Nepalese handmade paper, cotton garments, EATING OUT suspension. Make: Dunlop. $400. Contact woollen goods and other handicrafts. Thamel. Momo Mania The Bakery Cafés’ third momo festival. Eat 18 varieties Andre at 424147. Tel 358476. [email protected]. and participate in momo-making and eating competitions. Door prizes. Live Hostels for students and working people Umesh Rice Mills music by Rock Yogis and others. Rs 350 for adults, Rs 200 for children. Comfortable and homey hostel available at Fresh and excellent rice production and sales Includes a beer for adults and aerated drinks for children—and unlimited momos. The Bakery Café, Teku. Saturday 17 March. 12noon-3pm & 5pm-8pm. Siphal. Tel 481577. centre. Confident home delivery service available. Subash Chandra Rai, Tel 530901, Mayhem in March Radisson Hotel’s annual March festival: Bubbly Brunch Kiran Store Talchikhel, Lalitpur. Buffet and unlimited champagne, BBQ In the Waterfall Garden Grill your own steak with Please remember us for provisions, an array of sauces, Coffee for Connoisseurs Gourmet coffees and premium liqueur, Rice groceries, dairy products, ice creams, From Around the World - enjoy the best world class cuisines under the same roof at The Fun sausages, salami, dry meat, ham, chicken For insertions ring NT Marketing at Café. Hotel Radisson, Lazimpat. Open anytime. items etc. Kalimati. Tel 274476. 543333-36. Exotic Coffee and delicious Nepali food Jatra houses a café, reading room, a dark room, craft shop and an art gallery. Serves exotic coffee from all around the world as well as delicious Nepali food. Saat Ghumti, Thamel. www.jatranepal.com 433859 QUICKWORD 24 by CROSS EYES Weekend Buffet Lunches at The Café overlooking the pool. Rs 850+tax. 11am onwards. Hyatt Regency. 491234 HOUR 25 WIN A EXHIBITION INFOCOM

Drawings of Jerusalem Israeli artist Yossi Chitrit displays over 44 etchings of Jerusalem in ink, MILLENNIUMWORTH CD charcoal, acrylic and panda. Sponsored by the Tribhuvan University and the Embassy of Israel. RS 1500/- Tribhuvan University Central Library, Kirtipur. 19-26 March. Open 10am - 5pm. A Festival of Photography “Photographs of Mustang” by Hungarian Normantus Paulius, The most convenient and economic way to surf the internet “Photographs of Nepal” by Japanese Kioji Masuo, and “Great Moments of World Championship in Terms and conditions Athletics”. 19 March-2 April. Siddhartha Art Gallery, Babar Mahal Revisited. 1 The contest is open to everyone, except employees of Himalmedia Pvt Ltd and Infocom Pvt Ltd. EVENTS 2 In case of more than one correct entry, the winner will be decided by lucky Rescheduled Son et Lumiere at the Ram Mandir. Please bring your tickets dated 24 February. draw. 3 Entries have to reach Himalmedia, by 5 pm, Tuesday. Sunday, 17 March 7pm. Dawarika’s Hotel. 479488 4 The winner will be announced in the coming issue. Aruka Fulko Sapana AarohanTheatre group stages Abhi Subedi’s play. 22 March, Royal Nepal 5 The prize has to be collected from Himalmedia within a week of the Academy. Tickets Rs 1000, Rs 500 and Rs 100. Contact Sunil Pokharel at 429311. announcement. Please come with an ID. Across Down 1 The seven-year predicament (4) 1 Creole home (4) DANCE 5 Holy, with a double degree (4) 2 Doppelganger (4) Odissi dance by Sangeeta Dash TEWA in association with the Indian Women’s Club in support of 9 Won soon, sheer effect (5) 3 Old-fashioned Gujarat’s earthquake victims. Tickets Rs 1000, Rs 500 and Rs 200 at Tick n’ Tok, Bluebird. 27 March 6.30 11 Makes a non-divine mistake (4) gender-sensitivity (4) 12 Allegiance in Belgium (5) 4 Greedy pig (3) pm Royal Nepal Academy Hall. TEWA, 544659 and the Indian Women’s Club, 421717. QUICKWORD ANSWER 23 St. Patrick’s Day Party Dance with live Irish music by An Fainne. Tickets at Chez Caroline, Babar 13 Turn chair for the cuppas (4) 5 Don’t gamble on hedging (3) Mahal Revisited, Fire & Ice, CIWEC Clinic and The British School. Saturday 17 March 7pm on at the 14 Cul-de-sac (3) 6 Gladiator’s home welcomes 15 Beetle (2) stadium rock (5) International Club, Sanepa (opposite Shuvatara School). Rs 300 with dinner Rs 650 (members Rs 500). 17 Lady of the cloth (3) 7 Teutonic depilator (5) 531934 18 Nut? Aha! All mixed-up. (6) 8 Assembly of Simply Stupid DJ Bishwas every evening at the Rox Bar, Hyatt Regency. Live Jazz Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, 20 Maybe it’ll go away (6) Nincompoops (4) and Thursday. Latin nights Friday and Saturday. Hyatt Regency, Taragaon. 491234 22 Depart or leave (3) 10 Academic apple (6) 23 Not intertwined, perhaps (2) 16 Diverse, like a spotty flower (6) MUSIC 24 Tear the shroud (3) 18 Unhinged nationality (2) 27 Missing in action (4) 19 Ambassador’s title (2) Junoon Live in Kathmandu The South-Asian Sufi rock band plays at the Birendra International 29 Bail button (5) 20 I owe one, in the midwest (5) Convention Centre Friday, 23 March 6pm. Organised by Infinity International. No cameras. Tickets Rs 31 Effusive about the music (4) 21 A close fit (5) 2000, Rs 1000, Rs 500 and Rs 350 at Siddhartha Art Gallery, Chez Caroline, Nanglo Bakery Outlets, Hot 32 Queens of Carthage in 7Up 22 Uncivilised Europe, ca 7th CE (4) Bread outlets, Bhat Bhateni Supermarket, Namaste Supermarket and Tik n’ Tok. commericial (5) 24 Work… déjà vu? (4) 33 Lower hinge joint (4) 25 Idol, usually of flesh, Of the five correct entries, the MARTIN CHAUTARI 34 Affectionate, perhaps like a water sometimes wood (4) lucky winner is Chris Sowton. Story of Disabled Children Discussion led by writer Khagendra Sangraula. Participation open to body (4) 26 Post-trauma, briefly (4) 28 Confederate commander meets all. Unless otherwise noted presentations are in Nepali. 20 March. 246065. Fax: 240059 kung-fu king (3) 30 In a moment, ages ago (3) SPORTS Himalayan Hash House Harriers Stats and the Merry Men will set a St. Patrick’s Day run which To send in your entries, please fill in the details below and fax to 977-1-521013, or email to will start off at Jalapa School at Baniyatar. 17 March, 3.30 pm. Contact grandmaster David Potter at [email protected]. Entries can be dropped off at Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Patan Dhoka, Lalitpur. [email protected] or Fr. Bill Robbins at [email protected] for more information Name...... Ph...... email...... For inclusion in the listing send information to [email protected] NEPALI WEATHER by NGAMINDRA DAHAL on FM 102.4 DSES- 14-03-2001 0600 GMT

Mon-Fri 0615-0645 BBC World Today Sat 0615-0645 BBC Science in Action Sun 0615-0645 BBC Agenda Daily 2045-2115 BBC g]kfnL ;]jf]]] So, if this is spring, how come it is still so chilly in the mornings? The answer to that is a cold front from the northwest that is shaping our weather these days. Hazy and patchy clouds prevent the normal warming trend. For the weekend Daily 2245-2300 BBC g]kfnL ;]jf]]] we can expect the same maximum and minimum temperatures, with wild daily variations of sometimes up to 23 degrees. So dress like an onion. The satellite imagery shows a low-pressure zone centered over the western Himalaya siphoning in a series of cloud bands from west and central Asia. These will percolate towards Nepal, but much of it will have dissipated by the time it gets to us. But the low pressure will bring higher water vapour content which can Radio Sagarmatha manifest itself as isolated thunderstorms in the midhills over the weekend. P.O. Box 6958, Bakhundole, Lalitpur, Nepal KATHMANDU Tel: ++977-1-545680, 545681 Fax: ++ 977-1- 530227 Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue E-mail: [email protected] /]l8of ] ;u/dfyf www.radiosagarmatha.org 26-06 26-07 27-05 28-05 28-06 CULTURE 16 - 22 MARCH 2001 NEPALI TIMES 111777 SAVING FAITH by DESMOND DOIG Three golden kings mong the many Nepali kings of old, three are remembered There are the inevitable tales that have kings so delighted by the anot so much because of how work they commissioned they had the artist either killed or maimed they reigned or what they achieved,

so much as by the very personal to avoid their masterpiece being surpassed. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

monuments they left behind—three ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ golden likenesses of themselves. They Certainly he could have seen all the flamboyant King Bhupatindra Malla But tradition has it he played on and kneel in the Durbar Squares of three kings, and beginning work on of Bhaktpur who ruled from 1697 to on for time assuring a fastidious king Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur, the first statue as a very young man 1729. By then, he was a master of that his work was not quite complete atop high stone pedestals with lotus have completed his ultimate mature excellence who created in his until he was too old to beat and gild capitals for their thrones. All are masterpiece in his late sixties or early likeness of the king his greatest metal any longer. Alas, that his name attired in the finery of court dress seventies. It was unusual for a master masterpiece. does not survive with his masterpieces. obviously inspired by Mughal fashion: craftsmen to be employed in all the This, of course, is conjecture. Even to this day, several lanes of turbaned, plumed, bejewelled, belted three cities. And so when Pratap Even though there were artistic Patan echo to the tap-tap-tap of and armed with swords, daggers and Malla of Kathmandu, who reigned exchanges between the three cities so metal workers creating anything from shields. All are in attitudes of from 1641 to 1674 decided to be often at loggerheads if not embroiled pots and pans to images of gods and devotion. Two are shaded by the immortalised in gilded metal, it is in open warfare, it is unlikely that a goddesses. So it must have been in the hoods of rearing serpents; one by a possible the sculptor went on to single sculptor would in fact have past, and many could have been the royal parasol. portray King Yoganandra Malla of created the three statues, since masters who took their wares and If the same master created all Patan who occupied the throne of patrons jealously guarded their master their skills to the other capital cities of three, as it would seem, then he lived Patan from 1865 to 1705. Finally, he craftsmen and kings were no Kathmandu and Bhaktapur, just as and worked as long as Michelangelo. would have been summoned by the exception. There are the inevitable the famous woodcarvers of Bhaktapur tales that have kings so delighted by laboured in Patan and Kathmandu. the work they commissioned they had Of the three golden kings, there is the artist either killed or maimed to no doubt that Bhaktapur’s avoid their masterpiece being Bhupatindra Malla is the most classic. surpassed. As inevitable are the stories If I were permitted to choose a single that have artists knowing they would masterpiece from all of Kathmandu lose their eyes or hands stalling for valley’s amazing treasure, without time usually by saying their work hesitation I would ask for the statue of wasn’t complete until they had made the Bhaktapur king. He sits so lifelike, sure of their escape. his hands gently touching in the So I blatantly romanticise. A attitude of namaskar, his shirt sleeves young Newari Benvenuto Cellini minutely creased, his forehead marked comes to the notice of the king of with vermilion, and turquoise rings Kathmandu, known as a great poet still upon his fingers that it should and lover of art. He commissions a surprise no modern beholder if he rose metal likenes of himself and his sons, slowly and mounted a waiting and as it is done the king whispers elephant. The golden likeness matches palace. The young prince grew strong an active part in their building. orders for the artist’s despatch, and the man, for his life was as rich as the and well versed in the arts of his foster Strangely, none of the succeeding the young man escapes across the river metal he was immortalised in. people. And he gained sufficient Malla kings were moved to perpetuate to Patan. There he does a similar life It is said that when he was a popularity to lead an army on the themselves in lifelike gold. Perhaps size portrait of the king by royal young boy he was sent by his palace, kill his usurping stepmother there was already a heavy strain on command and when the time comes scheming stepmother to the forests and her lover, and ascend the throne their gilded purses. Or had the for his life or limbs to be endangered, about Bhaktapur with paid assassins. in triumph. ultimate master cast the ultimate he flees to the distant city of So earnestly did the handsome prince Once crowned king, he lost no golden king?  Bhaktapur. There, as an old man with plead for his life that the assassins left time in lavishing his love of the arts all the skills of his years, he sculpts a him with a family of Tibetan upon his city. Several of Bhaktapur’s Excerpted with permission from King Bhupatindra Malla’s gilded staue silhouetted serene likeness of the king. And there, craftsmen and, dispatching a goat to most memorable monuments arose at In the Kingdom of the Gods, against the evening sky. Harper Collins, 1994. MIN BAJRACHARYA perhaps his glorious creativity ended. bloody their knives, returned to the his command. It is said he often took

BOOK REVIEW by MARK TURIN

makes for good reading. More than the other accounts, it reads easily and has a distinctly light Banjas along the Barkhor touch. His description of an accident with a mule after epal’s master storyteller, Kesar Lall, has brought out a a toilet stop could be called comic, were it not for the new collection of tales, but these ones are anything but The mythical aura surrounding Lhasa has serious nature of the incident. The episode was clearly nfolk. The Newar Merchants in Lhasa is a tribute to the long entranced Newars south of the memorable enough to warrant the purchase of a horse: “my traders of the Kathmandu Valley who braved bandits, snow border, and is not limited to Westerners intense dislike and total distrust of the mule are already well drifts, ice falls and stubborn mules to discover for themselves known to all readers” (page 106). The section of his account

both the mercantile potential and spiritual dimension of disenchanted with the capitalist way. entitled A Tibetan Home is full of interested cultural observations ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Tibet’s mysterious capital. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ and demonstrates his keen eye for social documentation. It is The compilation is comprised of seven first-hand with the feeling that he left no stone unturned and no comforting to know that the famed Newar business acumen and accounts, varying in detail and length, from men who village unvisited. His eye for descriptive detail together with associated cockiness was alive and well as much 50 years ago made the journey to Lhasa and wrote about it. Aside frequent passages of direct speech make his story a as it is now: from one, which is adapted from an original in particularly interesting historical document on travelling in “A few Newar businessmen suggested that I join them in English, all the contributions were previously Tibet in the late 1920s. their occupation. They told me that they preferred Newars to published in Newari, and it is a tribute to Lall as Dharmaloka Mahasthavir’s account, A Pilgrim in Tibet, is Tibetans. The latter, in their opinion, were not quite suitable for compiler and translator that he has managed to a touch more anthropological and he makes some thought- the purpose.” (page 96). convey the very different individual styles of the provoking, if rather open-ended, comments, such as The final three accounts, by Harshamuni Shakya, authors. It is often said that the best translations “travelling can be quite instructive” (page 50). He notes that Manikratna Kansakar and Kuldharma Ratna Kansakar are are the ones in which the translator’s voice is mute until the construction of the Kalimpong-Tibet road, Tibetans pleasant travel vignettes but too short for the reader to be and where the reader would never have guessed that were reliant on Nepal for their southern trade. Once the road drawn into the world of the narrator. The reviewer would have the text has been translated. Lall achieves this, and it is no small was up and running, Tibetans made their way to places as far afield preferred one longer piece, with more descriptive insight, in the task, given that he was faced with rendering cultural, culinary and as Calcutta and began trading themselves. According to place of these three cursory outlines. religious terms into English from the four languages of Nepali, Mahasthavir, this meant that “they lost their respect for the Nepalese” Tibet, as we know, is all the rage. Everyone is bleating the Newari, Sanskrit and Tibetan. (page 50). His conclusion that “religion was rooted deeply in Tibet word, it is the veritable chorus of the sheep. More intriguing is that The intermingling of trade and religion is a common thread because the learned lamas made great efforts to explain the texts the mythical aura surrounding Lhasa has long entranced Newars which weaves through each of the seven accounts, and nowhere clearly” will ring true with many practising Buddhists to this day. south of the border, and is not limited to Westerners disenchanted is this more apparent than in the first, and longest, story in the A Merchant’s Letter to his Wife, by Chittadhar ‘Hridaya’, is an with the capitalist way. In the Preface, Kesar Lall confesses that he book. Entitled In the Footsteps of A Lama, it charts the fortunes of excerpt from his longer novel Mimmanah Pau written in Newari. This too “was fascinated and duly impressed by the lore and legends of Mahapragya who gained notoriety for being one of the five short account has a more personal flavour, particularly his poignant Tibet”, and his magnificent collection shows us why.  Buddhist monks arrested in Kathmandu in 1924 and later description of leaving his wife (“your tears had stained my white expelled from the country for refusing to renounce his religious socks”, page 65) and being reunited with his father in Lhasa. The Newar Merchants in Lhasa, by Kesar Lall. 2001. Travel convictions. His voyage takes him through Kyirong, Gyantse, An excerpt from the autobiography of Nhuchhe Bahadur Series, Ratna Pustak Bhandar, Kathmandu. iv + 126 pages. 16 Lhasa, Champaling, Samye and Shigatse, and the reader is left Bajracharya is included, under the title of A Tibetan Odyssey, and it black & white plates. ISBN 99933-0-187-6. Rs 150. ARTS 16 - 22 MARCH 2001 NEPALI TIMES 191919

Shutterbug“I don’t like to idealise things.

I like breaking rules.”

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

sudden action. itself. If the photograph is in colour, It’s also very difficult to get him then the emphasis is on colour, tone, to talk about the technical aspects of patterns.” Yonzon believes most of his work. “The mechanics of it are less the work comes from his sub- important to me,” he says. Ask him conscious. “When you start focussing, how he thinks his work has been it modulates the vision. I see things progressing, and he replies: “The work then that I don’t normally see.” is still in the same genre—part “Photographs disturb people. I realistic, part abstract—but the like that,” says Pradeep. Asked to subjects have changed. I like playing assume the role of a critic he laughs:

with elements—light, shade and solid “This is probably the work of a SAMUEL○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ THOMAS forms. My focus is not on the subject madman.” Not one for a regular job, radeep Yonzon calls himself an cabinet for a long time. His first big my work today—that which can be paccidental photographer. It break came in 1991, when he worked sold some day and the work that I do describes how he strayed into along with several artists on a Goethe only for myself.” He’d like to do it all the vocation, but not the careful Institut-sponsored project. “I had for himself, and spend all his time on attention he pays to his subjects. His worked for years, but was always building a superb collection. But then recent exhibition in the capital, unsure about how the public would “the other bit is for survival” he adds. Euphoria—presented at the Soaltee react to my pictures. I just did not Yonzon also refuses to discuss by the Chomolungma UNESCO have a clue as to how to present my whether his work is “art”. “Art is that Centre—was a studied exploration, pictures to the world.” That first which has artiness in it,” he laughs. and the 30 photographs had a definite exhibition did Yonzon a great deal of He then hands me a paper with a touch of class—engaging, brilliant good. “It gave me a lot of inspiration, quote from writer Susan Sontag: for the most part, and somewhat even though people did not fully “Photographers generally claim to be disturbing. understand my work.” recording, impartially observing, The man constantly experiments. Yonzon’s done his share of revealing, witnessing, exploring “I don’t like to idealise things. I like commercial photography—fashion, themselves…anything but making breaking rules,” he says. This was tabletop and the like—but today he is works of art.” Many at the exhibition amply on display—in the almost more of a stock photographer. This would disagree.  surreal Eternal Quest, the euphoria of shift happened over the last five years, The Uninhibited Artist, the as he decided to concentrate on the Pics: Lonely Sail (top); Solidarity humanisation of pottery in Solidarity, kind of photography that he likes (below); Uninhibited Artist (left); or the disturbing Passion, there is a lot doing. “There are two distinct parts of and, Invincible Force (far left). of free play in his work. Yonzon doesn’t fit the bill of a regular photographer in many ways. You won’t find him lugging his camera around all the time, armed for Yonzon was helped into photography constantly experimenting. HAPPENINGS by a relative. He started off with a What is it like being an Nikormat FT in 1978, doing experimental photographer in Nepal? portraits, attending functions and the Well, Yonzon thinks “one can survive,” odd assignment. “I never knew then but says there’s no culture here of that photography could have such people buying photographs for their scope, such influence,” he says. He’s a personal collections or of business self-taught photographer, his houses and organisations doing enough knowledge and skills acquired by to promote such work. The lack of such reading books and magazines and a tradition kept Yonzon’s pictures in the SAGAR SHRESTHA SILVER JUBILEE: King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya at the Silver Jubilee celebration of the Mrigendra Medical Trust on 12 March. Dr Mrigendra Raj Pandey (on left).

Sharp MIN BAJRACHARYA KOFI IN KATHMANDU: On arrival in Kathmandu for a 24-hour stopover Kofi Annan, flanked by Foreign Minister Chakra Bastola and UN Resident Coordinator Henning Karcher, answers questions from the press. SAGAR SHRESTHA POLITICAL VOLLEYBALL: Bodyguards and chauffeurs play volleyball outside the National Parliament as house deliberations remained stalled for the third week. 202020 16 - 22 MARCH 2001 NEPALI TIMES Under My Hat

by Kunda Dixit ow that we have handed courts in our country always have to choose his own poison, a hearing over the governance of this the locus standi to work out the is on in the case of People vs MPs ncountry to lawyers, we can status quo of an amicus curiae (not for paralysing parliament, hotels all stand back and take a well- to mention the lapis lazuli) which is and unions are in the appellate deserved R&R, snug in the a priori included in the court fighting for the right to keep conviction that we are in capable lophophorus impejanus and sine all tourists away, and the national hands, and that the legal eagles will qua non of that fundamental airline has made a court deposition sort everything out for us. question: quo vadis? that it rented a wide-body plane so Parliament can go into hibernate There has never been a busier it can fly nearly-empty thus mode, political parties can do what time in the history of democratic providing greater comfort and more they do best, which is tear each Nepal for our court system. Plenty personalised service to its other’s throats out in public, the is going on: the Supreme Court is passengers. army can go about shooting on trying to decide whether the So, to figure out what on earth sight anything that barks, the legitimate child of an illegitimate is going on, we finally sneaked a bureaucracy could take mass casual Nepali is eligible for citizenship, the hidden camera inside the speaker’s tahalka.com.np Move’n pick leave—not that it would make an chamber and saw an all-party iota of difference, the national meeting in progress: airline can mothball all planes and Speaker: OK, the Treasury Bench get into the kitchen-gas powered wants buff momos, and the tuk-tuk business, hotels can declare Main Opposition wants khasi. a two-year moratorium on guests, The Smaller Left will go with and we in the fourth estate can now khasi provided it also comes re-direct our energies towards more with gravy. It is now eleven at gainful activities. Such as organising night, can I make a motion to tri-annual staff picnics at Sundarijal. have dinner while we wait for Slogan for Amazing Nepal Year an all-party consensus on the 2001: “When in doubt, leave it to lunch menu? lawyers.” Nepal: Yeah, let’s have dinner first. So, now that barristers are I second that motion. sliding down banisters in their hurry Speaker: Is that OK with you, to rescue the nation, the only prime minister? question we can ask is: wonder why Centre for Investigation of Abuse of Koirala: My dear friend, all I need we hadn’t thought of this before? Alcohol (CIAA) is busy figuring out right now is a tall glass of tea. All along, we put our faith in if the Attorney General has on Speaker: Good point. Marshall, politicians whereas we should have occasion had one too many, and the tea! deployed the vastly superior legal Attorney General has in turn sued Marshall: Sorry sir, hotels are on profession. After all, didn’t the the CIAA for infringing on his right strike. There is no delivery.

NEPALI SOCIETY Citizen Ken When he came to Nepal to help the Gandaki Boarding School modernise in 1984, Ken Afful had no idea he would be beached in landlocked Nepal for almost two decades. But that is what happened and this affable Ghanian is still working on plans to go home. AMBASSADOR “Maybe in a year’s time,” he says wistfully. You can tell he doesn’t really mean it. Ken’s got to love Nepal. He has he lingers. We put it to him, and he thought scores of friends and although it is a long about it before replying: “They had warned me way from the village of Anomabu on Ghana’s when I first came that I may not survive long in Atlantic coast to Anamnagar he feels perfectly Nepal. But I wanted to prove them wrong.” at home here. He is still “Ken Sir” to GBS In his latest avatar, Ken calls himself an alumni and Kathmandu University students. Organisation and Management Consultant, And to grocers and farmers in Okhaldhunga busying himself with the Organisation he is “Ken Daju”. (He was a rural Development Centre that he helped set up in development consultant with the United Kathmandu. Staffed mainly by former Mission to Nepal). In his time in Nepal, Ken colleagues and students of Ken, the ODC is has seen development workers come and an attempt to try to pass on their experiences development workers go. Some may have in the management of Nepali organisations. forgotten him, but none has forgotten his He spends the rest of his time writing books famous peanut soup. “You really have to and reports on management and behavioural teach me how to cook that soup without meat. approaches to organisation development. And How come it tastes that good,” a guest at when he eventually gets back home, he wants Ken’s in 1991 wrote in his Visitors Book. The to set up a similar organisation there. secret of Ken’s “national” soup is a closely We asked Ken if being African was a guarded secret. problem in Nepal, and if Nepalis are racist. And Ken the person? “You are a crazy “No they are not racist,” he answered firmly. “I academic dedicated to Nepal,” wrote another have experienced racism elsewhere, not here. guest in his Visitors Book. Many find it difficult If Nepalis sees a dark, stocky person with a to explain what the stocky, African with flat nose and curly hair they are not used to it, degrees from Lancaster and the London but they always accept you.” Maybe here is a School of Economics sees in Nepal and why candidate for Nepali citizenship?