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-IC $!' . u i ~ i iU~ ~ i :;~ ~ j!:: • (Cover Photo : Saroj Dahal) 8 NEWSNOTES 2 OPINION: SHRISH RANABHAT 3 PRACHANDA IN LONDON :Out Of Radar 4 NEPALI ARMY: Baton Change 6 • URBANISATION :New Heights 11 FORUM : SB Pun 15 FACE TO FACE: SUK BAHADUR GURUNG 17 SOCIAL INCLUSION 18 ENCOUNTER: SARAH SANYAHUMBI 23 TIBET: Then and Now 24 INTERVIEW: Govinda Raj Joshi 12 Editor and Publisher : Keshab Poudel, Guest Writer: Sharmini Wijesekera, Correspondent: Saroj Dahal, Pradipti Bhatta Marketing Manager : Madan Raj Poudel, Tel: 9841320517, Photographer : Sandesh Manandhar Cover Design/Layout: Hari Krishna Bastakoti Editorial Office : Tel: 98510 79535 E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Office : Kamal Pokhari, Thir Born Marg, House No. 559/144 (Opposite to Himal Hospital) Printers : Pioneer Offset Printers (P.) Ud., Dillibazar, Kathmandu. Ph: 4415687 Kathmandu DAO Regd. No. 148/063/64 NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZIN£1 Aug. 16-20091 1 NEWSNOTES WIGGin Youth Since theCA Rules and Regulations made it clear that the constitution will incorporate the recommendations of thematic committees, it is necessary to start public discussions on the suggestions and recommendations given by thematic committees. following the series of amendments of the CA Calendar of Operation, the number of days allocated for public discussions has been reduced. rn this scenario, the solution is interactions arranged by non-governmental organizations at grass root levels. To start the discussions, Women in Good Governance (WIGG), in collaboration w ith Consortium of Constitutional Experts (CONCOE), organized a one day interaction program on the preliminary stages of constitution drafting and on a concept • paper submitted by the Committee for Minister Dr. Rijal (Right) Discussing with WIGG Determining Structure of Constitutional Bodies from gender and youth ofNepal.forADB'semergencysupport bi rth weightandsurvival ofinfants,and perspective at Padma Kanya Campus on for the country. The $25.6 mill ion MaxPro Pvt Ltd. won for its idea to 4th August. Emergency Flood Damage developacommunitybased distribution The program was inaugurated by Rehabilitation Project will help restore network for iodized salt. Another minister of Culture, Constituent economic activity in eastern and far winning innovation from Nepal was the Assembly Dr Miniendra Rijal. WlGG western Nepal, areas that were Helen Keller International Inc. member Kamala Dhungel stressed the devastated by last year's monsoon proposal to reduce malnutrition in need for public discussions of drafted floods. children under two years old. papers. "We will organize this kind of Competition Awards "We believe that by integrating program nation w ide," said Dhungel. Along with four organizations fi·om health and agriculture we can lead to ADB Scales Up Assistance Nepal, twenty-one civil society better nutrition outcomes. This event The As ian Development Bank organizations from South Asian were has given us a platform to learn about (ADB) has i_ncreasedits grant a ll ocation awarded grants from an $840,000 pool how behavior c hanges when you to Nepal to help the country meet its funded by the South Asia Region combine household food security and development needs. The allocation, a Development Marketplace (DM). The essential nutrition action," said Pooja blend of concessional loans and grants, winners received up to $40,000 each to Pandey Rana of Helen Keller • will increase to $538 m illion in 2009- implement theiT proposals for improving international Inc. 2010, from $258 million dming 2007- nutrition in their respective countries. The competition drew nearly 1000 2008. "Under nutrition is one of the most applications from Afghanistan, "Tbis scaling up of ADB's challenging issues faci ng South Asia," Bangladesh, Maldives, India, Nepal, assistance to Nepal testifies to ADB 's said Isabel Guerrero, World Bank's Vice Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Through a strong commitment to Nepal's President, South Asia Region, at t he vigorous assessment process by development and poverty reduction awards ceremony in Dhaka. " Poor international development experts, the efforts," said ADB Vice President of nutrition robs a child of a chance to applicants were narrowed down to 60 Operations, Zhao Xiaoyu. He added that succeed and live a healthy, productive finalists. sustaining this level of assistance will life. And yet, an investment in nutrition The South Asia Regional largely depend on Nepal's performance is one of the social policy interventions Development Marketp lace was in the areas of macroeconomic that bas the highest impact for each sponsored by UNfCEF, World Food management, govem ance and portfolio dollar spent, in improving this child 's Programme, PepsiCo, the management. future." Micronutrient Initiative (Ml), GTZ Tbe Vice President also signed a Equal Access Nepal was (Germany), and the Global Alliance for grant agreement w ith tbe Govemment recognized for its proposal to enhance Improved Nutrition (GAIN). • NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE! Aug. 16-20091 2 OPINION Constitution-Making :Time is of the Essence BY SHRISH RANABHAT A successful outcome in Nepal 's ' power tussle' since the beginning of the consultation, constitution-makin g process (CMP) CA. The priority has been shilled from 0 f t e n requires a serious and sincere focus on drafting a constitution to ·remain' in power ignored to producing the final document and ·as long a!> possible' and 'by any means visit places. adopting it. In a s ituation of post-conflict appl icablc'. The CM P has been sidelined. As a result, transition and a regime change. the CMP The date set by the CA to draft a Nepal is must properly be organized and such a constitution is just around the corner. In unable to process must be given adequate attention fact, the CA's events calendar has already effectively and resources. Nepal government, been amended for the fifth time. Anarchy absorb and therefore. must give top priority to Lhe is prevailing. Foreign influence on synthesiL:c CMP not only for its potential for conflict political leaders, specifically Indian, is the results of resolution, but also for the prevention as overwhelming. Public participation on the the popular contrib11tion in the well as for the maintenance of stable CMP has been given a least priority by development of the draft constitution. peace. not giving a more open and extended Even though the CA has a broad The constitutional process is often opportunities for people and civi l society democratic representation, the members fac ilitated by the establishment of interim in general to c ha llenge, debate, and are unable expressing their views on key arrangements. Even though • we have an influence the process. Immensely constitutional issues. So far, only a few interim constitutional framework that neglected by the political parties and the members from bigger political parties adequately d istribute political space to CA are the basic principles such as show the dominance with widely differed enable all parties to participate and debate tolerance, pluralism. human rights, the ideas. This problem has been a factor that contentious constitutional issues, it still rule of law, and gender, religious, and is distracting the CMP. lacks the essential characteristics such as ethnic equality that govern both the Of course, it is important that the role c larification of basic lega l rules, process of constitution making and draft of the international community i!> essential provisions for society to move forward the ultimate document. in many constitution-making exercises. with a minimum ofdisorder, and sufficient Constitution making is a deliberative However, their involvement in changes from the prior system to clearly process, and especially when integrating constitutional processes has no t always demarcate a break from the past. the public participation model, needs to been without problems. Often, the There are plenty ofexamples of interim be given adequate time. It is a mistake to international communities favor one arrangements that provided some degree attempt to short-circuit this process. political party over others. When one pa1ty of stability during the period ofthc CMP. Rathe r t han drafting the constitution is allowed to dominate the process, a One good example - app licable to Nepal behind closed doors by a small number of potential for future conflicts arise. Nepal - can be South Africa. South Africa elites, it is necessary to engage the broader must, therefore, embrace the international enacted a formal interim constitution that public to the CMP.Jt can serve to empower communities' help not for short-term set out a series ofconstitutional princ iples a broader range of groups, including political gains but as a neutral resource to guide the process. The South Africans women and emerging civil society groups and guidance for elucidating the pros and themselves determined the structure ofthe providing an opportunity for them to cons of particular substantive issues, • CMP with minimal input f rom the impact on the constitutional processes as frequ ently through comparative analysis international community. South African well as on the political process. The of bow constitutional issues have been parties had negotiated an interim constitutional process can provide a forum handled in other countries. constitution which set out the basic ground for national dialogue and education Instead of wasting time on gaining rules for the p rocess of adopting a regarding issues and decisions that are short-term political benefits, political permanent constitution and provided for vital to the future direction ofthe country. parties and the CA members must focus the basic functioning of a "Government Tt is very important to acknowledge on the CMP. The Constitution of National Unity" throughout the CMP. that in a country like ours, where majority Commission should start functioning Once the constituent assembly (CA) began population is still illiterate and poverty and pronto, and d evelop a draft that to undertake the CMP, South African unemployment arc growing, the challenge synthesizes the results of the popular adopted a comp rehensive program of ofconducting these processes arc difficult. consultation and the other submissions publi c participation that inc luded public It is fa ir to assess th at an attempt for the from various poli tical parties, non debates, consultations at the village level, task of popular consultation in epal governmental organizations and radio broadcasts of public education seems to have faited as the ?rocess was individua\s. ihe CA. shou\d carefu\\)' material, and large numbers of public poorly organized and the Nepal consider and debate every article in the submissions. government tried to rush the process. draft proposed by the CC. Time is of the Contrary to South Africa, Nepali There was a low turn out of people and essence. political parties have been engaged with the CA members, who were assigned for [email protected] NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE ! Aug. 16-20091 3 NATIONAL PRACHANDAINLONDON committed to develop Marxism in the special context of Nepal and in accordance with the realities of the 21 •• centuty. The Real Motive? Out Of Radar Reports suggested that Prachanda was in London to meet his comrades Maoist chairman Prachanda embarked on a mysterious foreign tour a from various communist parties. The day after the former rebels launched 'a mass movement to topple the Hindustan Times, a leading Indian daily, foreigners-installed' government reported that Prachanda had gone to London to secretly take part in the convention of Revolutionary By BHAGTRATH YOGI in London with SUSHJL SHARMA in Kathmandu International Movement (RTM), the global umbrella organisation of radical ugust 10, Monday. The residence of the P1ime Mi11 ister) if he communists. He was ttying to "drum up Woolwich Town Hall in the persisted to sack the then army ch ief. support to become the chief of A South East London was He did not elaborate. inlemational Maoists," the newspaper packed to its capacity as Prachanda 's ma in message, speculated. hundreds of expatriate however, seemed to be directed to his Though local organisers of Nepalis and some foreigners arrived at international comrades as well as to his Prachanda's visit in London refuted the Victorian building to listen to one own party suppo11ers. "The 'People's reports that he was here to meet officials of the most talked about leaders in the War' raised awareness among masses on from RlM, his visit was sh rouded in • world communist movement. issues related to class, region, ethnicity mystery. Even members ofNepali Samaj Indian Marxists now residing in the and gender and plays a decisive role UK-an organisation said to be close to UK had set up stalls to sell communist towards.•. building a federal democratic the Maoists- didn't know where the li terature and leaflets in the entrance republi c of Nepal,'' said Prachanda Maoist chairman was staying. Neither leadin g to the h all. A few British adding, ''the peace process in Nepal had communists- a rare lot in the present day UK- were waiting in the meeting hal l to listen to their 'revolutionary leader.' Chairman of the Unified Communist Party ofNepal (Maoist) and former prime min ister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda,' entered the hall; he was greeted by the audience with standing ovation. When invited to the pod ium, Prachanda wondered if he was speaking to a general gathering of expat Nepal is or cadres committed to his party. Alter a video recording of his address to his cadres in a cantonment in west Nepal created uproar a couple of month's back, the Maoist supremo looked cautious. (He said tbe findings of an internal investigation into the episode will be made public soon.) The Maoist supremo was critical of Even members of Nepali Samaj UK-an organisation said to be close to the the ruling alliance led by CPN (UML) Maoists-didn't know where the Maoist chairman was staying. Neither had that replaced the Maoist-led they any idea wlwt kept the Maoist supremo busy from early morning til/late government in May this year. Arguing night during his four-day trip to UK. that his party was raising the iss·ue of a dialectical relationship with the armed had they any idea what kept the Maoist 'civilian supremacy' over the army after struggle." supremo busy from early moming till learning from the mistakes made by Saying that conflict analysis was the late night during his fom-clay trip to UK. other parties in the past, Prachanda said soul of Marxism, the Maoist supremo Sources said that Pracbanda was he was even warned of a possible said revolution in fact was a very initiall y due to visit lndia. Butfollowing 'bloodshed ' at Baluwatar (the official complex matter. He said his party was hectic behind the scene p lanning, NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE! Aug. 16-20091 4 NATIONAL arrangements were made at a very short notice to enable him to accept "the long standing invitation of Nepali organisations·· based in London. Prachanda heads to Jormer communist states Russia and Byelorussia after the mother country of the parliamentary democracy, UK. The motive of the visit is not c lear yet Out it did coinc ide with the anti government agitation of the Maoists to clear way for a "united national government" to be led by the Maoists. It also took place ahead of the prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal's visit to Nepal's southern neighbour, India, that is believed to hold the key to major political developments in Nepal. Analysts say that the future of the UML-Ied coalition wi ll largely binge on how much the prime minister succeeds • in fostering "goodwill" during his Delhi sojourn. Whether foreign minister Sujata Koirala's "preparatory 5-day visit" at the invitation of her Indian counterpart has made things comfortable is a lso subject to speculations, said a keen observer of the recent hectic politicking in the two capitals. In its recent meeting, the central committee of the UCPN (M) decided to strengthen its ties with Revolutionary International Movement (RIM) and Coordination Committee of Maoist Parties and Organizations of South Asia (CCOMPOSA). PM Nepal: Behind the scene game Analysts, however, say the London based RIM is no more than a the postal experience in Iran and the fom1ulas of Marxism, Leninism and address. It is, however. believed experience that in the Ph ili ppines. We Maoism and justifies their attempt to • RIM p layed an important role in learned from the experience in develop a new approach suited to encouraging the Maoists to adopt Bangladesh the and from some experience contemporary Nepal. Most of their people's war strategy. In an interview in Sri Lanka," he told Onesto. international al lies see this as with Li Oncsto, a journalist affiliated In its report entitled ,"'Nepal's revisionism - a harsh charge among with Revolutionary Worker- a Maoists: Purists or Pragmatists," communists. mouthpiece of the Revolutionary published in May 2007, International It may be too early to gauge if Communist Party of USA- in Crisis 2000, Group- a think tank- said, Prachanda's parleys in London will bear Prachanda said there "The was cons istent ma in difference between Nepal's fruit in terms of improved relationship international involvement in Maoists the final and their international allies is with his foreign comrades. But v.hat stages of planning the people's over how war, to put ideology into practice. seems clear is that at a time when his "first and foremost" with the The RIM CPN (M) has concluded that leadership is facing open challenge from Committee. "There was important revolution cannot be achieved by within his own party, especially from the ideological a nd pol itical exchange. classical strategy and tactics; Prachanda group that beli eves party should stick From the RIM Committee, we got the has coined a new mantra: "the repetition to its fundamental ideology, Prachanda experience of the PCP (Communist of revolution is impossible, only its may have felt the need to show that be Party of Peru), the two-line struggle development is possible." This explains is still at the helms and has not betrayed there, and also the experience their in Turkey, departure from the established the cause of revolution. • NEW SPOTUGHT NEWSMAGAZINE! Aug. 16-20091 5 ~ATIONAL Acting Army Chief General Gurung with COA General Katwal (Right) : Taking over NEPALI ARMY The controversial "adjustment" of the Maoist combatants in the Nepali army as demanded b)' the former rebels will be a major challenge he will have Baton Change to tack le immediately. The danger of ethnic trouble is Defying a/l.fears Nepali army witnesses a smooth change ofguards and looming. Sueurity situation is maintains the long-standing unity threatening to go out of control. On many occasions, Katawal By A CORRESSPONDENT showed guts to stand up against moves that many feared wo uld have led to a e Nepali army has got a new national disaster. Gurung will have to • another fe ll in the wake of political boss in Chhatra \!fan Singh show the same gut. storms. Gurung. The firstjanjati chief For all his shortcomings and The new army chief. Gurung, faces T regime, of the army staff has replaced dubious role under the royalist a big challenge in maintaining his the first commoner chief Katawal is credited to have presided institution in tact. over the a rm y through a very difficult Rookmangud Katawal. Soft-spoken and gentleman ly, his If Katawal's ascension to the top political trans ition. personality defies the character that has three years ago marked a watershed in The blood less transition from dominated the chair so f'ar. the hi story of the Nepal i army, hi s monarchy to republic would not have He lacks the style his immediate has added another lo been possible without a role of a man successor Gurung predecessor demonstrated in leading the who, ironically, was brought up and it. one-hundred thousand armed outfit. The winds of change have not nurtured by the royalty in the royal But he is unlikely to lack in institution that palace. spared the traditional substance, as some suspect. times. As a senior general, Gurung has has stood the test of the Testing times are ahead for the events over the been a witness to the dramatic events The two watershed Nepali army and. of course, its new past three years took place at a time that did unfold. He knows the o dds boss. when one traditional institution after ahead. The odds are heavy.• NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE! Aug. 16-20091 6 ECONOMY but this became even more difficult ~fr.iiuu ·II~ fo ll owing the onset of the globa l economic c ri sis as large international AOB TRADE FINANCE FACILITATION PROGRAM banks refrained from offering such - financing in favor or building up their capital base," stated a press release from ADB. Subsequently, the ADB developed the tool ofTFFP to help boost trade in its developing member countries, which it has acknowledged as a key tool for econom ic growth and poverty reduction. "We are very pleased to extend the reach of the program to Nepali banks which should benefit from increased partnerships with international banks," TFP : Banking on investment Photo : Sharmini said Philip Erquiaga, Director General of A DB's Private Sector Operations TRADE FINANCING PACT Department, which oversees the TFFP. "Such relationships can result in • expanded trade finance links and faci li tate knowledge and technology Banking In Trade transfer." '· Nepali bankers are excited about the Nepali banks grab onto the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) global agreement with ADB. tru Prithvi st by signing trade financing agreements aimed at boosting the country ~ Bahadur Pande, chief of international trade Nepal Investment Bank, said the agreement will act as guarantor for By SANJAYA DHAKAL Nepali banks in the global context. "This is a good move that will help allowing the global recession with banks overseas. foster Nepali banks in the global arena," triggered by the collapse of ADB signed the agreements with said Sashin Joshi, president of Nepal F giant investment banks of the Bank of Kathmandu Ltd., Everest Bank Bankers· Association (NBA). United States last year, the Ltd., Himalayan Bank Ltd. , Kuma ri Ashok Rana, chief of Himalayan banks around the world lost Bank Ltd., Nabil Bank Ltd., Nepal SBl Bank, noted favorably the speed with a which huge amount of trust. Bank Ltd., Nepal I ndustria l & ADB and the Nepali banks reac ln the ensuing scenario, the banks Commercial Bank Ltd., and Nepal hed the pact. The of developing countries like Nepal also Investment Bank Ltd. These areADB's TFFP provides guarantees to confirming banks, e suffered as it became difficult for them first agreements with Nepali banks. nhances banks' abi Iiti es to offer to forge alliances with internat importers and exporters ional Boosting trade is critical to helping access to financial services a nd works banks that were increasingly averse to Nepal overcome the current g lobal in partnership with the private sector any risk-taking. crisis that has hurt exports and may to provide capacity, liquidity a nd This, in turn, hurt the prospects of slow the growth in remittances this year stability to t he trade finance system. deepening international trade for poorer and in 20 l 0. In the longer run, It offers two main products Credit countries. increased trade s hould also lead to Guarantee (CG) a nd Product and With the aim of helping th e banks c rucial job creation a nd reduced Revolving Credit (RCF) Product overcome these challenges, ADB has poverty," said Barry Hitchcock, A DB's Unde r the CG, ADB provides started the trade finance facilitatio n Country Director for Nepal. guarantees to participating regional and program (TFFP) and has been s igning The TFFP, expanded to $ 1 bill ion international banks against the payment pacts with banks of various countries in March, provides guarantees and of trade credits issued by approved in the region. loans of up to three years to support issuing banks. On August 11 , ADB s igned trade trade transactions in its developing Likewise, unde r the RCF, ADB financing agreements with eight banks member countries. provides loans to issuing banks for on- in Nepal. The agreements are aimed at "Exporters and importers in the lending to private sector exporters and promoting international trade in the less-developed parts of Asia have importers, many of which are small and landlocked South Asian nation and struggled for some time to obtain trade medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). and helping Nepali banks forge alliances finance because of broad risk aversion, to finance trade-related transactions.• NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE ! Aug. 16-20091 7 COVER STORY MAOIST AGITATION LetA Confusions Bloom The fresh Maoist agitation has raised many questions that remain unanswered. Will it lead to a stable government under the leadership of the Maoists as claimed by the former rebels? Or will it deepen the instability and create unforeseen • complications? Ifthe Maoists are not sure, the others are equally confused. By SUSHlL SHARMA with SAROJ DAH AL he Maoists have reveled in Initially dubbed terrorists, the Seen by many as an outfit that confusing their rivals ever fom1er rebels later got recognition as a would enforce its agenda by remaining T since they launched a bloody major political force. in power by hook or by crook. the insurgency thirteen years ago. Brushed aside by many as a Maoists once again surprised analysts They continued this game potential small entity in the constituent by giving up the scat of power. even after entering into the peace assembly elections, the Maoists Out of power. many thought the process three years ago. eventually emerged as the s ingle largest former rebels would instantly set the It paid handsome dividends to party, winning a clear majority in the street on f ire. Nothing of the sort them. direct elections. happened. '------NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE ! Aug. 16-20091 8 COVER STORY Prachanda (Left) PM Madhav Kumar Nepal : Feeding crisis Photo : Saroj Dahal Barely had the surprise clement "patrioti c" forces. national dispensation." gone away when they found themselves And the third one: "To ensure that Many inside the party say, this is back in a comfortable state - the the constitution is made on time and just rhetoric. '·No government change agitation. peace process brought to a logical is expected before December," said a Very few, if any, could foresee the conclusion." politburo member. According to him, outcome of the marathon central But the Maoists have let doubts the agitation is intended to mobilizes committee meeting as far as the future about their agenda grow. Top leaders party workers lor future exigencies. course of action of th e party was have been flip-flopping on the party's The fact that supreme leader concerned. ultimate objectives. Prachanda left for London a day after Twenty-four days of meetings Some have not ruled out a people's the agitation was launched could be ended with a thunder-storm. revolt to capture power and "ensure a indicative of a less than optimistic mood The goals and objectives are not people's constitution." within the leadership. clear though. Other leaders smell internal and However, the party has started On the surface of it, the Maoists external conspiracies to finish off the efforts to woo ''friendl y" factions in have revived the "civilian supremacy" "revolutionaries" instigating agitation other parties for an alliance of "true slogan vis-a-vis President Ram Baran to ward off the perceived threat. republicans and patriots." Yadav's three-month old move to block Speculations also abound that the General secretary Ram Bahadur the sacking of the army chief, former rebels are bargaining for a Thapa 'Badal ' is leading the initiative Rookmangud Katawal. berth in the government, and maybe the with help of senior leaders Devendra Katawal's graceful retirement does top office. Poudel, Ram Karki and others. not seem to matter to them. Said second vice chairman They have held one round of talks The seco nd major slogan is the Baburam Bhattarai, "the agitation with the li kes ofNarabari Acharya and establishment of the Maoist-led united would continue until a UML-I ed Pradip Giri of Nepali Congress. national government consisting of government gives way to a Maoist-led But that the Maoists are themselves NEW SPOTUGHT NEWSMAGAZINE! Aug. 16-2009 j 9 ,,... COVER STORY announced. Top leaders do not rule out surprise, either. Said one, "we have kept all options open." The options vary from toppling the government to bargaining for a good position in a new set up. From setting the stage of a revolt to mobilizing cadres to pressure for "a people's constitution" and then for a thumping majority in tbe next elections. According to some analysts, the leadership was also under pressure for indulging in its own interests. As criticism of Maoist leader's luxurious life style grew, getting the cadres engaged was deemed necessary. Hence tbe agitation. Prachanda was himself a target of Maoist agitation : What purpose? Photo : Sharmlnl attack in the central committee meeting. a divided house is less li kely to help perhaps scent a victory. "First Bolero, then Scorpio and then their cause. Many believe they hope to thrive Prado.,ifthis is how a revolution is In the central committee meeting, in the resultant chaos and anarchy. driven, why should we toil hard?" was Prachanda did succeed in neuiTalizing The confLLSion seems to end there. a bard-bitting slogan aimed at the Mohan Vaidya and the company to Basda on the protest programmes Prachanda's love for luxurious cars. scuttle a poli cy of popular revolt. for the next two months, there seems Some members even reminded the However, the Va idya faction is little to be alanned by. stylish supreme leader that Mahatn1a down but not out. Given his Obstructing the parliamentary Gandhi led the independence struggle inconsistencies Prachanda may a lso proceedings ami holding rallies and ofTndia wearing a dhoti, not expensive relent if he thinks the situation will demonstrations are the highlights of the suites. change. protests. This is noting unusual for an 1n siders say that leaders are not sure He bas not entirely closed the opposition party. whether to regain the government or to option of revolt, which will inevitably But as they are adept in springing establish a people's republic through invite severe confrontation witb other surprises, Maoists may not limi t revolt. parties as well as international forces. themselves to what they have They are a confused lot. Naturally, It was for no reason that Prime the rest are confused too. • minister M.adhav Kumar Nepal warned of dire consequences iftheformer rebels "crossed the limits." The waming came ahead of his visit to India where he is hoping to deepen the old friendship and win new friends. Some suspect that the Maoist agitation is aimed at preventing PM Nepal from winning new favour in Delhi which holds crucial influence in Nepali politics. There are lurking doubts that the Maoists want to scuttle the constitution making process. The doubters claim that unless former rebels believe the constitution of their liki11g is ensmed they will not al low the statute to be drafted within the stipulated time. lf the current agitation leads to head-on confrontation or sets the stage for such a situation, the Maoists will Badal (left) and Prachanda with Pasang (middle) : Combat fatigue Photo: saroj oahal L______NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE I Aug. 16-2009 110 NATIONAL of the model cities of Nepal in a few decades", says Saroj Neupane, a student at Pulchowk engineering Campus. The new system has served many desirable ends. The establishment of massive shopping malls like the United World Trade Center (UWTC) in Tripureshwor has opened avenues for the employment of deni7ei1S in Kathmandu. This squares well with the interests of common people who wish to enjoy modern fac ilities with their normal budgets. These shopping centers are developed not only for shoppers; they also serve entertainment purposes. For instance, Kumari complex now has three theaters under one roof. UWTC has pro,·isions for offices, banquet halls, swimming pools, bowling alleys and restaurants. There are numerous other shopping destinations like these: City Centre Mall, Sherpa Mall, 2 miles- the list is endless. Similarly, the ease ofapartment living and owning houses in residential quarters seems to have caught everybody's imagination. Availability of lands and housing plots in Kathmandu is limited. High rises maximizes the uti lilies ofscarce New Apartment: Changing and fixed resources skyline Phot:D: Sharmini and make them an available part of our housing options. URBANISATION Furthermore, people lind it very difficult to set up their own buildjngs owing to the sky-rocketing prices of construction New materials. The discreet setting of Heights residentia l homes, well-equipped modem amenities Urbanisation in Kathmandu rises to new level and boundless facilities of the apartments thus allures many fami lies. ''I By ABHUSHAN GAUTAM chose to Jive in an apartment because I and my spouse have to work and travel The daily. Here, it's much more easier o ld and traditiona l and amen ities gripped the val ley. and secure to lock up the rooms and leave silhouette of ramshackle brick "In our days, Dharahara -thc landmark uninhabitated for long periods. Besides, build ings in Kathmandu is nine- s toried tower- was the only the aesthetic sense T transforming at such of the locality here is a rapid architectural foundation that raised very pleasing • pace that peop and we have no shortage of le returning after e veryone's eyebrows. But, these days it's facilities", shares Mr a few years abroad s.Poonam Pandey, an can barely hardly surprising to see tall buildings in employee recognize the capital. at Nabil Bank. Owing to the our city", opi nes Bidya Laxm i Shakya, burgeoning a Interior view of C ity Center Mall, land price values and 98 year old resident ofThamel. contracting Kamalpokhari land space, Kathmandu's Advertisements and billboards of Mass exodus of migrants from ou housi ng companjes are building vertical residential tside colonies, luxury apartments and the valley into apartments and office rented rooms and the blocks over ten state-of-the-art malls flood newspapers, stories hi moveme nt or inner c ity residents to gh. Growing urbanization, rising magazines and the streets. Large buildings apartments on the outskirts bas become incomes and a commendable boom in have not only found a new niche among an ironic scene now. Looking at construction busi ness have further boosted the sundry the modern city dwellers but have kick of first- class the demand for architects. facilities of apartments and started a new revolution in the architecture In the housings, the added cost of buying one is late seventeenth century Nepali and construction industry of Nepal. not only worth it but is also seen as a people had a penchant for grand villas and great "Nepal shares a very common sto1y investment. town houses. Much of the credit goes to with l ndia. It is quite evident that the them for However, the real estate sector has also the development of modern and system of apartments, s hopping arcades been facing numerous hurdles. T he pre-emjnent buildings in Kathmandu. It and planned modern cities also fuelled the government has remained impervious wasn't until the opening of Bishal Bazaar, urbanization to trend there. And looking at their demand of land the fi rst shopping complex plots for construction in the city, the current pace of development I have no purposes when the drift towards at lower prices and is obstinate modem buildings doubt that Kathmandu could turn into one about its involvement in this business. • '------NEW SPOTUGHT NEWSMAGAZINE l Aug. 16-2009 111 INTERVIEW 'Isolate The Authoritarian Maoists, Form A Strong Democratic Govt' -GOVINDA RAJ JOSHI A well known name in Nepali politics, senior Nepali Maoist suppor1 to form the next government. Congress leader, GOVINDA RAJ JOSHI, has seen CPN-UML leadership, includ ing p rime m inister many ups and downs in his political career and is noted Madhav Kumar Nepal, shou ld know this. If the for being bold enough to take a tough stand against the Maoist party is reall y s incere about the process, Maoists. Joshi, who has led a number of ministries in priority should be given to drafting the the past. says that the Maoists can not be trusted unless constitution. they show genuine faith in the mulli party parliamentary But the high level political committee is a democracy. He is one of the few leaders within and brainchild of your party leader Girija Prasad without the Nepali Congress who has been consistent in Koirala. his stand. While national politics experiences turbulent You cannot say that a ll the proposals made Maoist times and the future remains uncer1ain, the Congress by Nepa li Congress ended with good results. We • • strongman Joshi spoke to KESHAB POUDEL on have seen devastating consequences following intelprekdiOn various issues regarding the current political situation. some proposals. Signing the twelve point of civilian Excerpts: agreement. holding the elections of CA and After the announcement of street agitation and many agreements with Maoists all produced • supremacy blockade of Legislature Parliament and Constituent counterproductive results to the country and our is Assembly by Maoists, where is Nepali politics heading party. There is no reason to believe that this new • proposal will be different. dI.!Jerent;ff n~?· . . . . . · . . . . . Mao1st agrtatron IS mystcnous as 1t will 1nv1tc d1rect Then, why do they need it? froln the confrontation. The Maoists want to establish their own In terms of political philosophy and accepted kind government. democratic norms, this kind of committee has no . . . What is the difference between Maoist and other meaning. There are 22 parties in the government ClVl1 zan parties? and the Maoist are in opposition. If the aim is to supremacy Nepal's major political parties Nepali Congress, control the government, even inviting the upheld by CPN-U.ML, M.TF, TMLP .a l~d .o th ers feel that the Maoist opposition to such a committee gives the wrong • party ts a threat to C1Vl1 1an supremacy. Mao1st message. A high level committee may be needed democratiC interpretation of civilian supremacy is different from the to create consensus in drafting the constitution, parties. kind civilian supremacy upheld by democratic parties. but this committee seems to be more political and Th The Maoist's slogan of civilian supremacy is a strategy directed to interfere with the prime minister's e to capture power. power. Maoist's You said it is just a Maoist strategy to capture If the decisions taken by Nepali Congress s[ooan of power. If that is ~o; what strategy does the Ne1>ali in the 1>ast bave not been favorable to your C: • • · Congress have to fOJI such a move? party and country, don't you own som e ClVlllan Our party supported the initiative to pull down the responsibility for this? If you don't, were you supre1nacy Maoist government. We supported the epalcse army's just a helpless spectator? • move against the Maoists. Our whole strategy is to isolate We did not remain silent spectators. We lS a the Maoist party. If we fail to isolate it, it is always a fought tooth and nail against the decisions. strategy to threat to civilian supremacy. Unity among a ll political But you failed to prevent such decisions? capture parties is needed to isolate the Maoists. We made strong efforts to prevent it. For Don't you think Maoist are now isolated? instance, out of 31 members in the Central power. Yes, they seem to be isolated. But Maoists are making Working Committee of the party. 28 were with efforts to play CP -UMLand Nepali Congress against us. 1t is very unfortunate that 3 members were each other. The recent move to form an all party high able tO override the decision of 28 members. level poli tical comminee is a ploy. This is a part of a If the decisions of 28 ewe members docs conspiracy to give political space to Maoists. The wbole not prevail, who directs the Nepali Congress'? objective otthis·committcc is to change the government. . This is because of concentration of power in So the formation of a high level committee will one indiv idua l. We have been talking about the include Maoists in the government? need to have collective leadership to avoid such There is no sense in constituting such a comminee things in the future. We want a change in except to woo the Maoists a·nd: bring them into the leadership and a change in party organizations. government. This is a very ,tactical move. lf Maoists Our party's policy is not to join hands with the disagree to join the government, the aim is to secure extreme leftist party like. Maoists. It is against '------NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE I Aug. 16-2009112 I NTERVIEW the spirit of national reconciliation propounded s incere about the constitution. When they were in the by B.P. Koirala. By undermining B.P. 's policy, we government, they were not sincere. Instead of taking part reached the present state. in the constitution making process, Maoists interfered UCPN-Maoist is the largest party with one with the affairs of the Nepal army, particularly with the third of the seats in CA. Ho\\ can you draft the chief of the army. Maoists wanted to integrate their The state constitution in time and bring the politics back combatants into the Nepal am1y. When the anny chief has on the right track by pushing Maoists into declined to obey them, Maoists initiated action against isolation'? him. various It seems very difficult to do it. But given their Don't you think isolating Maoists will invite ll political institutions, nature. we cannot correct the Maoists without clash? including isolating them. Maoists also know the international Political clashes are sometimes natural in politics. situation is not favorable to them. Thus, Maoists Politics is not a place for medidation li ke in a Pashupati the police are playing Nepali Congress and CPN-UML (H indu Temple). It is natura l to have competition and and the against themselves to survive. clashes but they should be within democratic norms. army, to Members of the international community, Clashes between the ruling and opposition party are take the including Nepal's two nr ighbors, have been natural in a democratic system. If Maoists push their suggesting the need to bring Maoists to the agenda threatening bloody confrontation, the govemment necessary national mainstream along with major political has to deal with it in accordance with law and democratic steps to parties. How can you justify your view on the norms. In case the Maoists declare bloody war, the maintain need to isolate them? government has to take a ll necessary measures to The suggestions are genuine. We also want maintain law and order. The go,ernment needs to be harmony Maoists in mainstream politics. Instead ofcreating strong to deal with forces hostile to democratic norms and hurdles, Maoists need to support the constitution and rule of law. The state.has vari ous institutions, order in making process by expressing complete faith to inc luding the pol cei and arn1y, to take the necessary steps the democratic ideals. But Maoists are saying that to maintain harmony and·order in society. society. they will not support the constitution making Do you t hin k s uch persons will come from process without forming a national government nowhere? under their leadership. Definitely. Such persons Wil l come. Is it J>Ossible to draft the constitution without Where will they come.from'! . ' involving the Maoists who have over 230 seats They·will come frortvCt:mstituent Assembly. Among in the CA? the 60 I members, there are persons with strong 1t is impossible to make the constitution willpower. Such persons aJe in·our party and CPN-U\1L without their participation. But, Maoists are not Time will bring them. L______NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE I Aug. 16-2009 jB INTERVIEW Oo you mean When Nepali Congress and CPN-UML have Nepal does not have a lost their grounds at the village level as well as p olitical l eader in urban areas, a nd .Maoists arc gradually worthy the name yet? improving their strong hold, how is it possible If the country had for them to compete with Maoists? the rig ht political Because of weak policies, CPN-UML and leader, we would not Nepali Congress became weak. l r they follow the have to see th is correct policy, they will recover. situation. Our W hat do you mean by correct policy? experiences have We need to show our commitment to shown that one cannot democracy and national reconciliation. The become a political current priority of our party is to get power at any leader like B.P. cost even at the cost of pa1ty. Our priority must Koirala, who was bethc country's interest, democracy and people. capable of taking all There is a rumor that undemocratic kinds of decisions, governm ent is being made in the name of overnight. We have stability and strong leadership. What do you had politicians to lead think about the possibility of such a government the government but not the statesman. being formed '? What alternatives do political parties like Nepali These are completely baseless rumors. I don't Congress and CPN-UML have? think anyone will support a non-democratic They have two alternatives. Either they can surrender government. What people want is a s tro ng ITMy to Maoists or they can pressure the party to accept the de mocratical ly elected gove rnment that can d democratic norms in politics. Maoists are trying to provide stable and strong leadership. People want un ers- capture power through threat and pressure. the government to address Jaw and order, garbage tanding Even King Gyanendra imposed a state of problems and health related problems. is Jhat emergency stressing the need to restore law and order Oo you think Nepal's two neighbor's, India Maoist but he too failed. and C hina, will support a non- tab 1'l'ty 1 S There is a difference between what King Gyanendra government? and said and doing and what l am hinting at. Unlike King They will support such a government. Only a peace7n Gyanendra's authoritarian ways, the democratic stable and democratically elected government can Nepafris government has an obligation t~ protect the ~itizcns ~s protect their interests. If there is a weak • well as democracy. I am proposmg to mamtam order 111 government, both neighbors w ill suffer. Some tnrthe society by following constitution. law and human ri ghts. m ig ht think that destabilization in Nepal is interest One cannot restore law and order just by making beneficial to them, but unstable and chaotic Nepal of'IJ;ndia statements. People must feel it. You cannot compare it will have negative long term implications. with King Gyanendra's way. He spoke a lot but failed to Is this your own personal analysis or have an d deliver. you perceived this in your meetings w ith s'? China. Oo you think the international community, oflicials from both neighbor 1 used to say similar th ings in formal and y Nepal's two neighbors who have major Unstable pa rticularl inlormal discussions with friends at various levels politics, will back a strong d influe nce in Nepal's from our neighboring countries. They agreed with an. democratic government? me. chaotzc Prolonged political instability in Nepal is in nobody's Do they draw similar conclusions to yours? Nepal interest. If Nepal tums into an anarchical state, nobody They say that they alsowant stable, strong and creates wil~ ?eneiit. ~~ fa~ as our ~o n e ighbor~ are conccmed, democratic government in Nepal. Nobody pol1t1cal stabll1ty 111 Nepal IS pre-reqms1te to guarantee disagrees with me. The Chinese are very much more their security. Only stable and democratic govemments worried about Nepal's situation. This is because of the weak government in Nepal. Similarly, problems can restore law and order in the country. My Indians are also deeply conccmed about Nepal's ility and peace in Nepal is in tollhem understanding is that stab deteriorating situation. and chaotic • the interest of Jnd ia a nd China. Unstable When can Nepal see a strong and stable Nepal creates more problems for them. go vernment? Is it after making a new Who will restore the law and order? constitution or before? OnJy democratic governments and democratically Since there is an elected CA. it can give the elected govemments can take strong decisions. L am not country a strong government. in favor of any form of dictatorship whether it is Maoists', But Maoists claim that they are committed the ir agitation is a anny's or anybody else's. Whatl want is strong and stable to the constitution and strategy to press t he government on writing it? democratically elected government to restore law and 1 don't think Maoists are committed to make a people in our party and CPN order. There are lots of democratic constitution. Their actions and roles UML. are hostile to democracy. • .....______NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE I Aug. 16-20091 14 FORUM Whither Bijulee Adda - 3 Arun lll, NEA Right Sizing and the IPPs 1 Entry -SB Pun Introduction: Intermediate Technology Development Corporation owned a training center over If we are to scrutini ze NEA over t he last G roup/ UK etc. drummed up thei r beats two decades ago. This lack of manpower one year, much water has nowed down the both within and outside Nepal. Lawsuits training is primarily responsible for the Bagmati river. At a time when the nation were filed at the Supreme Court for right performance of NEA whether it is in the was groaning under load shedding, last to information about the Project and the ledger book keeping, employees' discipline, year's monsoon besides causing havoc to swppage of th e Project unt il a thorough proper cons umer servicing or the nasty the nation, put NEA's 92 MW Ku lekhani I investigation was done. Happily the Court accidents that occur now and then. What and II power stations 2 out of action • The 20 I did not halt the project bm did direct NEA we need today is trained motivated MW Arun Ill project has become a desert to abide by the constitutional right to manpower. proud and not ashamed to be mi rage to some and to others the Gordian information. The project has also undergone NBA employees. This, I confess, is not an Knot. Whether A run Ill is a mirage or a knot. a series of Public Hearings. This reminds easy task to achieve. the manna from it has been plentiful for one of a comment by an expatriate Commercialization: T he Attitude NEA. In fact some aiTectionately call these environmentalist who had traveled to A member from one of the donor innumerable covenants or Arun Ill, the all Tum I ingtar for one of tht)Se public heari ngs. agencies is s upposed to have commented curing Vicks 44 formula. NEA underwent When asked how much noise the anti-Arun to the NEA Managing Director that none of a major manpower rationalization surgery, NGOs made there. he said none at all but the officers he met in "lEA were NEA produced its long term investment and added the further away they get from commercially oriented. This, I am afraid, corporate plans, NEA is in the process of Sankhuwasabha the louder their noises get. is a true statement. We tend to see ourselves another commercialization surgery, and One must know that Arun lll besides having as kindred of the all mighty civil servants "'EA drew tlak from its consumers for 38 a very soft loan also has a good amount of of HMO where the Nepalese proverb, percent tariiT increase. From last year also, grant from the friendly coun tries to the "Rajako Kam Kaile Jala Gham ·· is very apt. wi th the signing of the Power Purchase people of Nepal. And when some Nepalese But •· Raglwpati Raghm• Rajarwn, Jitna Agreement (PPA) in March 1994 with shout'"themselves hoarse against it. it is but We/an Utana Kam ·· is also apt. So where Himal Power Limited Companyl for the 60 natural for those countries to take time to do we start from? A pocketful of salaries MW Khimti Project, the 2049 Act for ascertain whether something is really and perks to the employees first or the other a ttracting Independent Power Producers wrong. way around of sweat and to il by the (LPPs) in the power sector has become a realiry. NEA can no longer bask herself in Whether one likes it or not, one the sunshine or monopoly. ofthe mannafromArun Arun Ill - T he Gordian Knot: III for NEA has been manpower rationalization. NEA row lt:tus take a peep at Arun Ill where. rationalized its manpower from in the words of a donor, "the cou11fl:\'. the nine thousand plus NJ::A and the donors have their head~ and employees to eight thousand. hearts". With an estimated investment of Manpowe over seven hundred million dollars on a r Ratio n 11 lizatio n - T he employees for the institution tirst. This has single project (all eggs in one basket Surgery: always been the chicken before or the egg Whether one likes concept) in a country that is rated as one of it or not, on..: of the before argument and no one has the answer. manna from the poorest in the world, the question of Arun 111 for NEA has been A recent soul searching on N EA manpower affordability, the impact on the macro rationalization. NEA rationalized commercialization at the Nepal its manpower economy and the crowding-out effect on from nine thousand plus Administration Staff College workshop employees to eight thousand. other social sectors had boiled very much For a poor came up with some interesting findings. countr in the Amn Il l pot. Hence, the 402 M WArun y w ith very little employment One of the main dissatisfacti on among the oppommitics. Ill slimmed down to 201 MW and the 192- this was indeed a very painful consumers is the high electricity tariff'. The surgery. km hill-route road curtailed to 122 km ' ot happy with manpower consumers are aware that 1'\EA can do no rationalization. valley-route road. With lessons learnt from management pundits coined magic to alleviate thi s burden. B~r t they arc the term NEA India's Narmada abortion. the Project Rightsizing w hen actually acutely aware that. with a little more effort, NEA addressed the issues of direct environmental Downsi:ing was resorted to. This NEA NEA can provide good regular electricity Righlsi:ing impact through its Acquisition, was expected to cut away the fat supply on days other 1han load shedding to make NEA, Compensation and Rehabilitation Pla n hopefully, lean and fighting days. And, 1 admit, this is not an excessive lit and not mean and (ACRP). The wider and longer tenn indirect hungry. demand. The consumers also exp.:ct NEA lfNEA is to continue impact issues are addressed by an as the pioneer in to do something about its high 23 percent the power independent Regional Action Plan (RAP) sector. then we need to look at losses and especially the rampant direct ourselves inwardly At a time when the Project was just and make an honest self hooking theft. The consumers expect appraisal. Now girding itself for the last fina l lap, the NGOs let us face it that we, as an prompt new connections, regularity in meter institution also made a last ferocious attack. GO's of 750 officers and over 7000 reading. prompt no-light services. sound non-officers, like Alliance for Energy, Arun Concerned do not even have our own consumer ledger keeping which, it is hoped, training centre. The Group, Institute for Human Rig hts, Training Centre came will be addressed by the comput.erization in to ex Environment and Development istence onl y a couple of years back proj ect and above all t o have a good and these are (INIIURED) along with fNGOs carried out from rented customer relationship by being courteous buildings. Nepal International Rivers Network/USA and Telecommunication and friendly to our consumers· problems. '------NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE I Aug. 16-2009 ! 15 FORUM With the IPPs already in the field, NEA interim period befo re Arun III gets Conclusion: can no longer rdax in its armchair. Butwal co mmissioned in 200 2. llimal Power With steep tariff hike up, the demand Power Company already sells abo ut 24 Limited is credited with being the first lPP from consumers for better services hiked Gwll from the 5.1 MW Andhikhola and they in Nepal to have concluded the PPA for the up accordingly and they wanted a full stop will shortly be scllu1g about 72 Gwll frQm 60 MW 350 Gwl l Khimti Project wi th to the reg ular ritual of tariff increases" . the 12.3 MW .lhimruk. The PPA with Hima l NEA. Though HPL is a (Qcal Nepalese From last year th e IPPs have become a 9 Power Company for 350 Gwfl from the 60 private company , tl1e entire negotiation for reality and NEA can no longer bask in an MW Khimti expects generation to come in r-rPL over the six months was done sin gle era of monopoly. Bu t experiences in other early 199R ~ . With the MOUs already s igned handedly by a globe trQtting expatriate countries indicate th at the government for the 14 MW 9 1 Gwll Modi6 and 36 MW lawyer whose fees must be enormous. should deal cautiously with the IPPs. The process of commercialization or rightsiz 245 Gwl [ Bhote Koshi, when a ll these I PPs Though NEA was s upported by a high ing 111 of NEA arc a imed at building a strong produce power in 2000. N EA w i II be ranking indigenous lawyer , we were institution. Projects like Arun Ill and Kali handing them o ver 22 percent' of its wtal baft1ed by the co mplexities o f rhe Gandanl-.i A wi II augment the sorely needed rc\ enuc collection- 17 percent of it in good negotiation. Issues like the sovereig n domestic energy requirement and help to ha rd converrible currency by the guarantee. letter of credit. escro\\ account. 5 strengthen l\ EA a s a strong institution ' • It Government. Some IPPs have brought in the repatriation in convertible foreign currency, is in the gove rnment's interest to have a British concept of access to NEA's existi ng a minimum monthly demand charge, loss strong in s titution that will negotiate C - SUK BAHADUR GURUNG SUK BAHADUR GURUNG retired Malaysia alone has half a mi llion from the British Army in 1984 and started a 'epali workers. business. Now he heads a group of In terms of income, which companies that supply manpower to global countries are the best? markets. Pioneer Overseas Services, Pioneer Japan, Israel and Korea arc the Travel and Tour, OZE Student Consultancy best countri es in terms of monthly and Eli te Gorkha Technical Training Institute income. Poland is going to be keep him busy in work. As the economic another good destination for recession hits the overseas market, Gunmg Ner alesc workers. The average ta lks to the NEW SPOTLIGHT about the income of Nepalese workers in various issues and challenges facing Gulf countries is around USS300 a manpower companies. month. Excerpts: What is t h e state of How has the global econ omic manpower industries? r ecession affected the manpower frankly speaking, the situation is not cheating people. When something goes demand overseas? very satisfactory. Although we have been wrong, manpower agencies arc blamed. In early 2009, the demand of epalese helping the government to find jobs for Registered manpo" er agencies are manpower suddenly fell in countries like Nepalese in countries overseas, thereby following ru les. There are laws to punish Malaysia, United Arab Emirates and helping to increase the remittances, weare wrongdoings. I don't think any registered Qatar. These are large markets which treated just as middleman. A manpower manpower company can engage in absorb more than half of all Nepalese coti\'pany needs to deposit Rs.3 million to ma Ipracti ces. working a broad. Gradually, the markets get registered but the government does not What do you want in society? of UAE and Qatar are now recovering. give us due respect and honor. We want honor and recognition for the Malaysia is also expected to follow suit. News of l'lepalese workers cheated contribution made by us. We a rc How about other markets'! b y manpower companies is quite supporting the government and the society ln other countries like Kuwait, Saudi common to sec a nd bear these days. by offering jobs tor the unemployed. I'm Arabia and Bahrain, the demand of Don't you think these incidents not claiming that everything we do is Nepalese workers is sti ll hi gher. Nepalese minimize your contribution? good. l can claim, however, that an workers do not have to face any problems Tt is very unfortunate that the overwhelm ing number of manpower in South Korea and Israel also. The market government and the society in general companies have been doing honest work. As a ret is recovering fast all over the world. l don't failed to distinguish bcl:\veen the good and ired British Gorkha soldier, how do y think Nepal w ill lace any problem in this the bad people. A few individuals and ou look at the decision of the Britis h government sector for another thirty years. companies might have been involved in to prov ide permanent residency to peopl How many countries are officially unscrupulous deals, but it is unjust to e like you? It is a very pos itive decision. The recognized d estinations for Nepalese blame all the companies as defaulters. We British government recognizes the role workers? have invested a huge amount of money, played by Gorkhas. A II retired Gorkbas are The government has chosen 10 J supporting vaJious industri es like travel, • happy about U1e decision. It provides our countries around the world where it sends airlines and insurances. We arc also children to get better education in tbe UK. Nepalese workers. business people like travel agents, hotel Since the UK has vcty good social security Are there new markets now? agents and other lirms ray in g annual taxes system, people like me w ill also benc f'it. Japan and Poland are new countries to the government. Thus, we want dignity Some p eople argue that Nepal will which arc seeking epa lese workers. After and honor. lose huge amounts of money io terms more than ten years of my efTorts, Poland If manpower companies have been of remittances from Britain. W hat do agreed to recruit Nepalese workers. doing their business honestly, then who are you say on this? What is the governm ent response like? to blame for tarnishing of their in1age? I don't agree \\ ith this argument. Not The govemmcnt is very positive. lt is ln the last few years, the number of all retired Gorkhas will leave Nepal since supporting us as we do our business. education consultancies has increased and our families and relatives arc living here. Minister of Transport and Labor, unregistered individual agents arc also For persons like me, I prefer to live in Mohammad Aftab A lam, has already told taking advantage of the deteriorating law cpal since I am running five companies us that he can do his best to uplift th is and order situati on. Many education here.J do not get simil ar kind of status in business. This is a good beginning. consultancies are illegally sending the UK. Of course, I have already applied How many Nepalese are wor king Nepalese youth abroad for work in rhe for permanent residency, but I want to work in Nepal. abroad? name or education. We have reports th at For my children, it helps to acquire high There are almost 1.5 million "'cpalese some education consultancies are sending quality education and job opportunities. • presently working in foreign countries. workers abroad. The individual agents are L------NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE I Aug. 16-2009117 SOCIAl INCLUSION Status of Conflict Induced Migration in Nepal BY PADMA PRASAD KHATJWADA1 The post 1995's migration trend in was generally high in the household Maoist or Nepal is the dichotomy of voluntary and who members were associated w ith Government forceful migration which partially political parties other than Maoist. Force. credits to the ten years long armed Jn the conn ict period, the flow of Likewise, movement of Communist Party of I DPs was generally from rural to urban women also Nepal- Maoist (hereafter Maoist) area. The reason was the high intensity fear on bow initiated in 1996. Internal of Maoist armed movement in the mral to undertake Displacement Monitoring Centre areas. As Maoist armed movement got a n y reports that Maoist's armed movement intensified and started to spread the catastrophic results displacement of 50,000 to beyond rural areas, the destinations of in absence 70,000 people. In light of increasing displaced became higher status areas. of the male number oflnternally Displaced People Sequentially, the displaced from village counterpart. (IDP), there is an urging need to explore and remote area moved to district The nature of displacement du ring on current situation of the conflict headquarter; the displaced from district the con11ict period of Nepal exhibits induced migrants. Specifically, it has headquarter moved to small town of immense flow of displaced peoples from become important to identify the nearby district; and the displaced of rural to the urban areas. Their current present s ituation of the conllict-i nduced small towns moved to market center like status is vulnerable in term of living displaced persons in terms of living Kathamandu, Pokhara and others. condition. Beside, the relative of condition, employment and education Some displaced even leaved aboard displaced residing in the place of origin and to examine the factors contributing specifically due to the employment also has their own gri evance. to exclusion and inclusion in both opportunity. However, the migration of Social Structure after origin and destination migrants. In this young populace to aboard is brain drain Displacement regard, 1 have conducted a field based for the underdeveloped country like The immense fl ow of TDPs fro m research study in l5 districts of Nepal Nepal. rural to urban area during conflict under research fellowship a ward of The displacement of whole family period of Nepal leads to divergent Social lnclusion Research Fund. The has high threat of settlement problem. society in the urban. The communities article highlights on some important Specifically, such displaced families are of urban area have discriminatory finding of the research. facing the problem to obtain minimum behaviour toward JDPs. They do not Armed Movement and Nature of basic need like food and shelter. The consider IDPs as original residence. Displacement quality of the shelters often leaves many Such discrimination compounded as the In the past, the int ernal fam ili es v uln erable and unprotected original populace of urban are displacement had been observed in from the harsh winter months and prosperous and fDPs are poor which Nepal due to development, economic or monsoon seasons. Their children are not consequently placed the IDPs in natural disasters. Since 1996, the armed able to attain regular schooling. The separate social group leading to divided conflict between the state gov ernment working age household members are not society. Many of the IDPs in the studied and the Maoist lighting "People's War" able to get employment because of districts feel discriminatory behaviour evolved as a prime cause of internal limited employment opportunities in by people of destination. lDPs were displacement in Nepal. After the p eace urban. Further, such families are always treated by the local people in a talks between the con11icting parties in the state of mental trauma of being suspicious manner as if they are not the and the signing of a comprehensive reside in other's land and the social citizens of the same place. The peace agreement (CPA) in 2006, the structure also discriminate them as discriminations faced by IDPs in place arn1ed conflict ended but it gives birth migrants which brutally cursed the of origin as well as destination are to the social group innumerable overall development of such family. related to: poor security; social and displaced populace. This process nurtures to create a cultural discrimination; inadequate Specifically, the populaces aged separate social excluded group oflDPs. food, poor shelter, limited health care; below 35 were the most displaced age ln the household where only male limited access to education for children; group in the con 11 ict period. There were member has displaced, women are a lack of identification document and two reasons for highest displacement compelled to carry out the whole burden gender-based violence. of this aged populace - Firstly, this aged of the fam il y including childcare, Specifically, the identity becomes an populace llad high risk of be ing household chores and agricultural work. issue of concern when people are forcefully recruited in Maoist group; So the workload of women has forcefully displaced which has also been and Secondly, this populace group had significantly increased in the rural observed in conflict induced lDPs of high risk of being suspected spies by household s ince the conflict period. Nepal. They were not allowed to vote Government forces. The displacement Further, women and other members of in the constitutional assemble election of whole family was also observable in such household are always in the state which clearly signifies that the state the conflict period and such tendency of mental trauma of being attacked by structure has made their identity void. .______NEW SPOTUGHT NEWSMAGAZINE IAug. 16-2009 118 SOCIAL INCLUSION Such state practice is discriminatory by compensation arc ad-hoc and experiencing most serious internal nature. A common feeling among the haphazard by nature, with not vision displacement, there are limited targeted lOPs and the members of their families of long term planning. The majority of assistances to address the most is to identify as lOPs just with IDPs have tried to support themselves immediate humanitarian needs of the expectation of support by the through their own means and "ith the displaced populations. The basic needs go\'cmment or any agencies. help of their extended lamilics. fhcsc of health. nutrition and shelter should The obsened discrimination and rehabilitation mechanism appear to be be lirstl} addressed in the conditions of exclusionary practices against the lOPs near exhaustion massi\ e population displacement as is different than traditional!) nurtured Social Support obscl"\ed during conflict period of caste based discrimination prevailed in The situation of IDPs is 1\epal. Apart from being a humanitarian Nepal. The social exclusion and deteriorating day by day but there arc problem. the internal displacement also discrimination has always been an limited resources on humanitarian persist a human rights problem so the obstacle l(>r the inclusive development support for IDPs. They ha\C limited government also need to initiate specific '' hich is also prime cause of conflict. access to basic needs such as food, measures to protect the physical safety So government needs duly recognize the shelter. education. health and sanitation and human rights of those displaced. new form of discrimination prevailed and there is dire need for psycho-social Further, the government needs to in the country for inclusive support to them. The emergency initiare proper measure to address the development. humanitarian assistance with particular issues of diverse society evolved after Resettlement and Rehabilitation reference to women and children has immense 11ow ofTDPs. The stale has prime respons ibility become an urgent need because the Despite such an increase in number in term or rcsclllement and women and children are more risky in of lOPs. Government ofNepal is not able rehabilitation of IDPs, reunion with the term of exposing to prostitution and to set- up proper mechanism to monitor, family members and compensation of trafficking. The allention also need~ to evaluate and document the con tlict the lost properties. The rehabilitation shift to assimilation of IDPs with the induced displacement. Some attempts programmes for I DPs is a challenging community of destination lor which the have been made by local )JGOs in the task for the Government of Nepal as it social campaign needs to be enhanced. recent days but such attempts are not docs not ha\'c authentic database on There should immense media campaign pervasi' e to sketch the overall tendency lOPs e;...pect than the few studies against the discriminatory practices or conllict induced migration in Nepal. conducted by donors and NGOs so the against TDPs. The Go,·ernment of ·epa! bas to conduct rehabilitation programmes ha\e faced State Recognition an authentic survey to assess the formidable challenges. The go,·ernment The state should recogni7e IDPs as 'ulnerability of lOPs in term of difTerent seems to lack proper planning and its citizen and the legal provision that indicators such as access to shelter. food. direction in dealing with the issue of barred the LOPs' right to vote should be drinking water, sanitation. medicine, lOPs. The government organs are not made void. Likewise, the government security, social inclusion and care. This well coordinated with local should revise all the legal provision will also assist the government to design development partners in term of favouring the discrimination of IDPs. more realistic plan and policy. • implementing rehabilitation program. Conclusion Despite the fact that Nepa l \fr l..•tutliu•tuln B ' r1 reft?Orch fdlow of SoC'io/ Jndu,,ion Some of the government program has been Jl, •,,t·mrlr Fund (SIRFJ for 2006. Thls ortide l'f h 8 Y MOHAN DAS MANANDHA R ROJAN BA JRACHAR YA' The movement of peoples- migration formidab le chal lenges to - is a usual process for the human resettle and rehabilitate thi.! development and prosperity. However. increasing numbers of lOPs such movement will have negative impact caused by the decade l ong""'~. if the movement is forceful which depart armed conflict of Nepal the migrant from access to the resources Communist Party Maoist and available in the place of origin causing subsequent armed re,·olution of e:\clusion from state's mainstream various small factions structure. The forceful migrations which specifically in Terai. The armed can be caused by allied reasons viz. - movements of Maoist and natural calamities, conllict and others - others small factions were give birth to Internally Displaced People against the traditional (lOP) and this process will give birth to exclusionary state structure but socially excluded groups of I DPs in tbe it gave bin b to innumerable lOPs whose group in the country. society and state. So the sla te policy issues need to be add ressed by state with Stylish Fact of Conflict induced should encompass the issues of JDP. proper pol icy meas ures otherwise the I DPs rDPs: There is no comprehensive and In thi s regard, Nepal also has group itself will evolve as exclusionary reliable data on the displaced population '------NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE I Aug. 16-2009 119 SOCIAL INCLUSION in Nepal. The sttJdy conducted by l/uman despite they gain economic prosperity aller The b udget line d isbursement of this Rights without Frontiers estimates that displacing to market centric districts. Ministry has been categorized as first I 00.000 to 150.000 people could have Likewise. Rom Bahadur Thapa Maga Priority (PI ) group by National Planning been displaced in· epa! in the Maoist finds that lDPs of Kathmandu arc Commission so the resettlement and armed movement period. But, Community compelled in live in s lum area and there rehabilitation ofiDPs is main concern of Study and Welfare Cente r, an NGO is extreme v iolation on I DP 's right to government The foreign grants of donor advocating the rights of IDPs in Nepal. return home, get back the deceased agencies contribute approximately 55 estimates high figure of between 350,000 properties and get compensation of the percent of the Ministry's program budget. to 400.000 being displaced from their damaged prope11ies. Sin1ilarly. Janga Bir further, the program of local NGOs and homes in the Mao ist armed movement Rana Magar h ig hli ghts that IDPs of TNGOs supplement the government period. The displacement of Phadc (H ill Madhcsh movement feel lear to participate measures. Peoples) from Terai is also alarming in any socio political activities which is However. it is has been observed that during Madheshi movement. So, the an instinct human right of an individual. there is lack of trust in Maoist in Global lOP Project of the Norwegian Further, Padma Prasad Khatiwada argues resettlement process. Prior to 2006's peace Refugee Council positioned Iepal among that lOPs arc severely overl ooked by th e settlement with Maoist, the governmenr the worst affected countries of internal government. Even though the government only considered lOPs not associated with displacements brought out some policy measure for IDPs Maoist as el igible for assistance so Maoist Speci fieally, the peoples displaced and some NGOs are working for the fears that the IDPs associated with Maoist from ru ral to urban ar ea during Maoist rehabilitation, resettlement and will still be d iscriminated in this line. armed movement period. S V/ INF reintegration of IDPs, the implementation Further, lOPs are not well informed on (Netherlands Development Organisation/ of such measure is weak so the problem government assistance by government International Nepal Fellowship) research of IDPs remain unsolved and the itself or via local NGOs so the lOPs highlights t hat there is displacement of peoples due to pressure and violence from The study conducted by Human Rights without both sides - Maoist "ell as GO\·emmcnt's Frontiers army. The majority of IDPs includes: the estimates that 100,000 to 150,000 people pol itica l l eaders and stakeholder whose could have been displaced in Nepal in the Maoist political ideology is different than Maoist; the poor civiljan who became target of armed movement period. Government's Army or Maoist's attempted arc unsuccessful. remain in deprived status also due to the operation; and the individuals who were Policy Measure for Conflict induced uncoordi na ted delivery mechanism. suspected spies of Maois t by I DPs: Nepal is member of Un ited Nation Likewise, IDPs has to fo llow complex Government's Army. On the other hand. (UN) and a party to all important U legal procedure to get legitimate status of Madheshi movement was against international treaties so Government of displaced which completely ban·ed them trad itionally nurtured domination of Hill cpa! is obliged to solve a lithe problems from receiving assistance. peoples to Terai Madheshi so th e peoples faced by TOPs according to the U 's Conclusion: Nepal has formidab le displaced during this period were Phade Guiding Principles on Internally challenges of resettlement and (Hill Peoples) from Terai plain to Hill Displaced Persons 1998. ln this regard. rehabilitation ofiDPs. Government, I GOs region. Tbc internal displacement still Government of Nepal has brought out and NGOs have brought out many program continues though in lesser degree as the National Policy on Internall y Displaced and policy mcastu·es to address the issues political stability has not been maintained Person in March 2006 which aims to ofiDPs. But the attempts seem marginally yet in the country. guarantee the fundamental rights and successful because there is no proper C urrent Status of Conflict induced duties of the displaced person or family. implementation of these plans and policies IDP s : Despite the a la rming facts of The policy has provis io ne d Central due to week coordi nation and supervision increasing lDPs day by day. Government Steering Committee under the in assistance delivery. So. government of epal has overlooked and neglected chairmanship of Council Minister to needs to improve its assistance delivery them. United Nations Secretary-General guide, coordinate and mon itor the mechanism. Government also needs to on the Human Rights of Internally formu lation a nd operation of various develop trust in Maoist on eligibility of Displaced Persons has continuou s ly programs for delivering rel ief to families LOPs associated w ith Maoist for alarmed on the deteriorating situation of and individuals displaced by the conflict. government assistance. Further, lPDs in NepaL Likewise, the researchers Further the policy bas provisioned government also needs to revise tbe of Social Inclusion Research Fund who Program Coordination Committee under complex legal procedure of legitimizing have conducted studies on IDPs highlight the chairmanship of Chief Secretary to displaced status so the IDPs receive timely on the grievance and deprivation of lOPs effectively implement and coordinate delivery of assistance. Government needs ofAnned Maoist movement and Madhesh programs targeted at internally displaced to address these desperate plights of IDPs movement. Tulsi Panthce finds that the persons or families. After the 2006's otherwise they wi ll evolve as socia ll y l OPs in Rupande hi, Kapilvastu and politiea l transformation, M inist1y of Peace excluded groups which can be a cause of Nawalparashi districts face psychological and Reconstruction has been set- up for further conflict situation. • tortured of leaving their place of origin so resettlement and rehabilitation of conflict they lags in Mr .\fanandlwr is a.n-octoted \\ilh Sonal/ndmion term of overall development induced victims which also includes lOPs. Research Fund and Mr. B(Ijracharya is ajrel'lnncer. ~,______NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE I Aug. 16-2009120 I SOCIAL INCLUSION "Women are denied their basic and fundamental rights" -SAPANA MALLA PRADHAN Constimenl Assemb ly (CA) membe r ri ghts and some issues have broug ht about SAPANA MALLA PRADHA N, who is change in womcn·s societal status, but a lso a member in the Co ns titutiona l women arc still excluded in large areas. Committee ofCA, is a well -known female N e p a I i s in the process of lawyerandactivist. Ma llahasbeenraising constitution making. As a woman the issue of discri mination aga inst women activist and lawyer, how do you plan to in the court, in the house and on the street. contribute in making this constitution S he is no te d for p laying her pa rt in ge nder friendly? empowering women and promoting their ft is the duty of all CA members to inc lusion in decision mak ing. Pradhan write a gender-friendly constitution. T his spoke to ~ E W S POTLIG HT on the is an historic opportunity for us to start a issues of social inclusion in the p resent new chapter in history by ending a ll forms day context. Excerpts: of discrimination against women. Our Have you noticed any changes in the experi ences have shown that only through process of social inclusion of women of the process of inclusion of women can we late? bring changes in the society. Wome n's We have still a long way to go. Of right to equality in all sectors and their course, you can see som e changes. But a participation will bring tang ible c hanges. largenumberofwomcnarestillexcluded What role are you play ing to in cultural, social, re ligio us and other guarantee an inclusive constitution? parliame nt. How do you see their ways. Women are denied their basic and lndi\idually. I have been playing the impact? fundamental righrs. For example, they arc biggest role possible i n a ll the acti vities Of course, we have made som e discriminated in terms of reproduct ive of the Assembly. including in the progress in terms of announcemenls. So rights. formulation of CA regulations, working far as their implementation is concerned, How does exclusion work? regulations and so on. You need to play >ve are far off the mark. Although the By denying equal rights in property an effective role from the very early stage Legislature Pa rliament a nd oth has passed er economic activities, the process of constitution making to make the resolutions to prO\'ide women with 33 per of exclusion begins. It starts from document inclusive. cent representations in all households _when women sectors. the ·s opinions a rc Have you noticed any cha nges in th e m inimum has yet to be met even in the NOT considered important for major pe rcep tions o f CA members o n i ssues CA decis ions. C and the lcgislatme parliament. Despite ui rurally, women are the of women and inclusion? several amendments to the interim victims of all kinds of physical and Being a temale member. I have bitter constitution, gender friendly psychological violence. words are not experiences. I have not fo und that theCA included in the Wh constitution. In mral areas, y arc women exclud ed ? has left behind the values of a patriarchal from the hills to Tcrai, you can see all kinds Because of our physical appearances society. A majority of male members still of discriminations and certain against women. inherent biological undermine our role. \llyexperiencc is that W hat is required to e nd t hi characteristics, we are excluded from s th t: CA is gu ided by feudal istic a nd s ituation '? society and denied our basic equal rights. patriarchic thinking. The whole process is Our physical features and the We need patriarchal still cxclusion-oricntecl rather than bei ng some kinds of legal culture are responsible tor the current inclusive. provisions that can encourage women to fo1ms of discrimination. come W hich women a re excluded in terms into the mainstream. We have been How serious is the problem? of geography'? talking about the need fo r positive Although more than fifty percent of the Women living in the Terai are facing discrimination. For this, women need total popul ation is com prised of women, more discrimination than their sisters certain a ll ocations as an oppressed group. women are not only deprh ed of pO\\er and elsewhere. 1-lO\\ ever, the discrimmation They need certain quotas. for too long, opportunities but they are a mong poo rest against women is simil ar in its fo rms in women have bet:n excluded c ulturall y and in the communities. From property rights the region. Despite the legal provisions socially. They need special provisions to to educati on, women have a long way to tha t guarantee equal prope rty rights to be included in the mai nstream process. go. women, many women arc still denied From our families to society, women arc Do you see a remedy? property even in urba n areas. T he re is a given the role ofehil There d bearing and running are certain legal remedies for rampant prevalence of feudalistic culture households. Through this process, women this but they are not enough. After t hat denies basic rights to women. are ex promul cluded from th e society. We rieed gation of the Act on Vio lence In the las t f e w years, important social justice also.• Against Women, equal parental property legislations have been passed by the L------NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE I Aug. 16-2009 I 21 ENCOUNTER 'Nepal in some ways has done really well' - SARAH SANYAHUMBI SAR A H SANYAHUMBI is 1he remote areas is a huge cha llenge. support to roads and bridges as well, Head of The Department for Getting teachers, qual i ficd teachers which is a new thing for me because in T111ernational Development (DFID there and getting them to stay there, most other countries we ·ve moved away Nepal). As the director for what is same with doctors and nurses, that's from doing infrastructure programs. currently the largest bilateral donor in what we need but that's a real challenge. But here in Nepal it's still very Nepal, Sarah Sanyahumbi talked 10 Are there o ther obstacles :"l"epal necessary. SHAR M I N I about the currenl currently faces? And you' re supporting economic development issues facing Nepal at the Obviously security is a big issue at development as well? DFID office in Patan. Exce1pls: the moment. We have a peace process We arc doing increasingly more What is t he current situation of but that doesn't mean that there is a work on what we call inclusive group Nepal's development? good level of security in a li the regions, which is basicall y about helping the Nepal has made really huge strides and we're getting increasingly economy, helping s mall business in development over the past I 0 years. concerned about our abi li ty to deliver prosper, helping people get the skills The poverty level has gone down from in regions where there is quite a bit of that need, and helping people to get 42 percent to 31 percent. Infant instability. And of course 1 have to back to work. mortality rate has halved and mention climate change as perhaps the For example? enrollment in education is up to 89 biggest threat that 1 think Nepal is We're helping people with their percent in boys and girls which is facing in the next decade or so. livelihoods through forestry. Forty f.1 nlastic. Nepal in some ways has done What are you wo•·king on now to percent ofNcpal is forest and 40 percent really well but it still has a long way to address climate change'? of that forest we arc working in through go because 31 percent (poverty) is sti II We are supporting the climate our program. I think that is a reall y too high. The number of women dying change conference at the end of this impressive program because its people in childbirth is still too high. In month. The first two days of that will getting together in small groups and education now that we've got children be a regional conference. The prime managing the forests themselves. One enrolled we need to focus more on the minister himself is gong to launch it lady is planting trees for medicinal quality of education and on access in which 1 think is great because he's purposes and she knows now that she some of the remote area. So the really taking a strong interest in climate won't be able to use those trees for challenges are still very much there. change. And we hope that will be a another .l 0 years so she's planning How has y our experience been forum where countries in the region ahead, which 1 think is great because since taking over directorship of affected by climate change can get its conserving the forest, which for DFJD'? together to discuss the common issues cLimate change is fantastic, and Well the day J arrived the PM and agree on a common position that potentially carbon financing that Nepal resigned. So 1 thought I was coming to they can then take to Copenhagen. The will get for planting the forest if that a country which was well on the way to third day is a Nepal focused day where comes through in Copenhagen. But peace and was really stable and Nepal experts and politicians and also it's giving people right now a everybody was talking to each other. technocrats can discuss what the source of income which they otherwise People still are talking to each other and national action plan is and how this wouldn't have. I think as long as people are engaging country needs to manage it. You said you are involved in with each other I think there is room What other types of programs are supporting the constitution drafting. for hope that the peace process w ill you currently funding? Can you explain what you are doing? move forward. At least it is moving We plan to spend about 56 million We've got two ways of doing that. fo rward. I think Nepal faces a lot of pounds in Nepal this year, and we're Through our Enabling State Program, challe nges. funding a number of different areas. We and through RDI F, Rights, Democracy What are those challenges? are providing support to the peace and Inclusion Fund. Through the 1didn 't know before l came here that process through the Nepal Peace Trust Enabling State Program we re Nepal is the poorest country in Asia. I fund. We're supporting constitution supporting the Center for Constitutional didn't know that if the airports were writing and trying to make it as Dialogue (CCD). That's a drop in closed it can take 13 days to walk to the inclusive as possible. We're also center for CA members or anybody else nearest road in some areas. Just getting supporting basic services like health which provides information on how to things like basic services to really and education. We're giving lots of draft a constitution. lt also he lps L______NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE IAug. 16-2009 I 22 ENCOUNTER arrange discussion programs so that CA members can discuss w ith each other and learn from other experts. And what about HOIF'? Through RDIF, in partnership with other bilaterials li ke the Dutch, Swiss and Australian. we have a challenge fund. People come up with a proposal and put in a bid and ask us to support it. Through that we've supported a number of s maller g roups who are seeking to have their voices heard, Dalit groups. women's groups, etc, helping them to organiLe themselves and engage with CAs so those issues arc included in tbe constitution. we·re helping Nepali's Lo have a greater voice so that lhis constitution is as inclusi' e as possible. What do you think or the government's current involvement in development? I think that there ·s much that we can we lcome in the budget that the ... go' crnment has just announced. They havl.! increasing budgets for health and education and we look forward to worki ng w ith th e government o n ensuring that those budgets arc as well spent as possible. Also they have an increasing amount of funding set aside for social protection measures. I think the anention the government is giving to these issues is to be commended. How would development on those quite a challen ge in the global economic in this country. So 1 think there's a lot issues help with stability in terms climate or that we have at the moment of work to be done to empower women tbe political situation'? but also in lhe country where there is a here both economically and also In the political situation in this lot of instability in a number of regions. sociall y. country I think that we can encourage Vou also support women's groups. You 've mentioned instability ns a politicians to talk to each other and to What work needs to be done in that major issue. How does that affect take the most inclusive line possible and area? development'? I think its good that Nepal has a very The position of women in Nepal is There are a number of groups that inc lusive CA, 1 think its good that Nepal quite shocking. A lot of work needs to are causing dilliculties for development has a very Nepali owned peace process. be done on gender equality and the workers but they're also causing Looking ahead, what are your position ofwomen in Nepal. You have difficulties for the industrialists and future goals and what kinds of other some reall y powerful women figures private entrepreneurs. ln order for the challenges do you foresee'? particularly in Kathmandu and in the economy here to grow and for people vall Cli mate change is not going to go ey. But the position of women if to reap benefits from that you need you go out away. Climate change is still going to and you talked to people in stability and security in the regions. the regions and mor And need a lot of our allention and probably e remote a reas they in my view we don't have that at are still very much seen the moment a significant amount of funding to help as second class and that's quite a difficult citizens. Girl children go to school issue in tem1s oft the government implement the national after hc future. The thing boy children. Women are the that affects plan of action. Economic growth, last to us most is this issue about eat. Anecdotally, there is evidence that the instability and insecurity getting people to work and helping concerns violence against women is a major issue in the region because if our staff isn' them to get well paid jobs is I tllink is t safe we can't continue. • ____ ~...-- _ _ _ _ NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE I Aug. 16-2009123 ART officials and atistocrats. Most of these pictures showed how the serfs were tortured duting that time. Someofthe pictures at the ex hibit showed the difficulties common people had to face in order to lead a normal life. Other pictures showed the beautiful side of Tibet. These included photographs of various di versified natural sceneries, including mountains, grasslands, as well as different species of animals. The pictures of New T ibet included those taken after the 1956 reform. T hese pictures showed the development tbat bas taken place in Tibet after its reform. Compared to the pictures of old Tibet, these pictures were hard to believe. They showed all the changes and developments that have taken place in Tibet These photographs showed the advancement of Tibet in the sectors of educati on, transport, .. communi cation, business, trade and TIDET health . The wind of change in Tibet has brought positive things along with it. Then and Now The present day Tibet no longer comprises of ill treated serfs or a tyrant The photo e:.'Chibition depicts the changing face ofthe Tibetan Autonomous upper class. The people of Tibet now Region of China live freely and they are exposed to all sorts or facilities which have benefited them. Even in religious areas, people BY PRADIPTI BHATTA seem to be living in harmony now. In a place where only stupas stood, now hen it comes to our photographs focused on the history of there are churches and mosques as well. southern neighbor, lndia, Tibet, the feudal stardom of old Tibet, The photographs on disp lay stand in we tend to take for granted the beauty of Tibet and the present day W testimony to this. that we know a lot about Tibet. The photographs also provided Wben asked about the response it. About the northern glimpses of the relations between the given by the public, Deepak Sarkar, the neighbor, however, we seem to know CenlTal Govemment of China and the President of the World Cultural Net, an li ttle. autonomous region in various historical organizer of the event, saicl" We are An exhibition in the City Hall of periods and portrayed the really happy with the response. This Kathmandu, held from August 5'11 to administration and management of the event was the first of its kind. We had 9th, had some good yams about Tibet, Central Government over Tibet. never bad any exhibition related to the autonomous region of our northern All 217 photographs on exhibit had China, so the visitors seemed very neighbor, to tell visitors. The name of a story ofth eir own. Pictures of old Tibet curious and interested. The response the exhibition, 'Tibet of China: Past and featured historical monuments, statues has been very positive." Present' spoke it all, as visitors knew and other instruments dating thousands As a whole, this event showed the what was in store for them there. of years back. The picntres taken before development of Tibet and the changes The five-day event, which was tbe Democratic Reform, which took it has been through. Seeing this change inaugurated by Chinese Arnbassador to place in 1956, showed the Tibet's poor does give some hope to a country like Nepal Qui Guohong and Nepali situation. ours. Tibet can be seen as an example Minister fo r Information and These pictures showed the of development. Hopefully this example Communications Shankar Pokharel, unfortunate life of serfS contrasted with will be seen as the light in the end of a oave the guests a taste of the bitter past the privileged life of the serf owners, long ntnnel for Nepal. • :nd the prosperous present ofTibet. The made up of high ranking monks, L______NEW SPOTLIGHT NEWSMAGAZINE l Aug. 16--2009 l 24 ~~!.. ~====~ ~====~ Alina's Bakery Cafe Tel :5520544 P.O.Box : 8975 EPC : 494 New Baneshwor Tel : 4782946 New Road Kalimati Lazimpat Tel:4253023 Tel : 4276851 Tel : 441750.6