Business or pleasure, now you can Biking travel with a free mind... in the timeof bandhs Pyramid Hotel, Las Vegas #126 3 - 9 January 2003 16+4 pages Rs 25 p8

EXCLUSIVE Un-united Marxist-Leninists The Communist Party of (United Royal rally Marxist-Leninist) is holding its seventh party convention 1-5 February in , where a contest is expected between Khadga P Oli The East is set to welcome King and Queen. and Madhav Nepal. The two have already sparred over making the party more ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ democratic and transparent by scrapping the their local cadre to go if they wanted to. general secretary post and replacing it with a chairman. The two are neck-to-neck, although By declaring the bandh, the Maoists are exploiting the rift between the king and the

Nepal is supposed to have the edge. BOTH PICS: BINOD RATHI The party may political parties. give itself an image The vacuum left by the political parties makeover with a new has been filled by erstwhile flag and new name. However, members stalwarts like Dil Bahadur Shrestha, Dirgha seem reluctant to Raj Prasai, Tanka Dhakal and other ex- give up the hammer panchas from the eastern districts who have and sickle, preferring to combine it with descended on in large numbers. the sun from the Nepali flag in the in BIRATNAGAR

RAJENDRA○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ DAHAL of the king’s itinerary have not been made CDOs from many eastern districts have “Thanks to the royal visit, Biratnagar is background. The sun is also the UML’s nitial public apprehension has given way public perhaps for security reasons, but he is election symbol. The new flag would been told to travel down to Biratnagar with cleaner than it has ever been, we have never distinguish the party from a spectrum of to keen anticipation in eastern Nepal to expected to also visit Myanglung Bazar in civil servants in tow. But lack of transport is seen such denting-painting before,” one other communist splinter groups, including Ithe massive civic reception planned for Terathum which was devastated in a fire last and security is said to be delaying their enthusiastic shopkeeper said. Indeed, the deep-red CPN (Maoist). Some party Friday in Biratnagar in honour of King month, and a tea estate in Jhapa. The arrival. In addition to the king, prime potholes have been filled overnight, stalwarts also want to take off “UML” tag and Gyanendra and Queen Komal. procession will start at 1PM and end by minister and security brass, nearly the electricity poles have been painted over, shorten the party name to simply: Fears that the Maoists may try to 3PM with the royal address scheduled to (CPN). The entire government machinery is here. there are welcome arches, the city is move, they say, will enhance the party’s disrupt the rally during the bandh they have be broadcast live about 2:30 PM. The The prime mover behind the rally is festooned with Nepali flags and even the standing as the main communist group in declared for Friday has been allayed by a queen is expected to return to the capital deputy prime minister Badri Prasad statue of King Mahendra is getting a face- Nepal and also reduce Western scepticism massive security bandobast in and around on Friday afternoon. Mandal. “This is a rally by Mandal of lift (see pictures). The municipality has spent about its democratic credentials. this industrial town. News from Kathmandu Conspicuous by their absence here are mandaleys,” Kishore Chandra Biswas of Rs 6 million, and local Marwari business- “Our party is by far the most democratic that King Gyanendra will be making a royal the main political parties. They haven’t Sadbhavana from Sunsari district told us, party as we hold elections from ward units men have contributed most of the money right up to the party’s central leadership,” address has raised expectations here of a announced a formal boycott, but leaders of referring to the label given to Panchayat for the rally. standing committee member, Amrit Kumar dramatic new announcement for political the and the UML have supporters. Several thousand extra security Bohara told us. While the party bosses are rapprochement. flayed the public felicitation for the king, Although most people are politically personnel have been deployed in the city receptive to changing the flag, there is King Gyanendra was set to fly out of saying it harks back to the days of absolute indifferent, they are generally happy to have and along the main highways for Friday’s reluctance to change the name. “It’s up to Kathmandu on Thursday itself, and spend monarchy. Even the centre-right RPP and the king here. Biratnagar has so far been the delegates to decide. We don’t want to event. Plainsclothes police will be travelling impose decisions from the top,” Bohara said. the night at the army camp in before the tarai-based have spared the worst of the Maoist attacks that in buses to thwart attempts by Maoists to his address at the city stadium. Full details formally stayed away, but left it up to have plagued other parts of the country. stop people attending the rally.

Weekly Internet Poll # 66

Q.Do you think 2003 will be a better year for Nepal and Nepalis than 2002? Why Sikkim works

in GANGTOK

○○○○○○○○○○○○ KUNDA○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ DIXIT Nepal’s rulers and planners may not need to go on governance junkets to the West to figure out how to run this country. The model is right there across our eastern border in Sikkim. The erstwhile Himalayan kingdom that once lagged behind Nepal in every development parameter is now surging ahead in literacy, child survival, health services Sikkim is one-tenth the size of Nepal, but it and infrastructure. And not just Nepal, Sikkim is overtaking other Indian states as well. seems to be governed ten times better. Sikkim is one-tenth the size of Nepal and has one-fortieth our population, and that makes it easier to get results. In terms of ethnic diversity, topography, culture and Sikkim’s Chief Secretary, Sonam Tenzing, receives us in his oak-panelled room, and traditions there is no other place more similar to Nepal. So, theoretically, what works in seems well-briefed about goings-on in Kathmandu. Tenzing’s wife is from Nepal, but that is not the only reason. “What happens in Nepal touches us,” he says. “In Total votes: 1,270 Sikkim should work in Nepal. But it doesn’t. Sikkim’s formula is good governance, grassroots democracy, and a strong, visionary leadership. The can-do state Sikkim’s development we’re trying to do everything Nepal didn’t do and should Weekly Internet Poll # 67. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com have done, and what Nepal has done and shouldn’t have done.” Q. Will privatising Royal Nepal Airlines help improve secretariat in Gangtok couldn’t be more different from the officialdom one the national flag carrier? encounters in Singha Darbar. continued p4-5 2 EDITORIAL 3 - 9 JANUARY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #126 NATION 3 - 9 JANUARY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #126 3 Nepali Times is published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Chief Editor: Kunda Dixit STATE OF THE STATE by CK LAL OPINION by GANESH RAJ SHARMA Design: Kiran Maharjan [email protected], www.nepalitimes.com Advertising: Sunaina Shah [email protected] Subscription: Anil Karki [email protected] Sales: Sudan Bista [email protected] Sanchaya Kosh Building, Block A-4th Floor, Lalitpur GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: 01-543333-7, Fax: 01-521013 Printed at Jagadamba Press, Hattiban: 01-547018/17 Jumla is not Jaffna A constitutional he less talk there is about talks with the The LTTE fought for an ethnic homeland, our Maoists Maoists, the more chance there is of

talks. Peace talks need political will and are fighting a class war. There is a difference. T ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ discreteness to succeed. In Nepal, both seem to CARNIVAL TIME be in short supply. there is bad blood between the Sinhalas and And unlike the Tamils of Sri Lanka, merging out of the morning fog at Tripureswor one morning this week was The lesson from Sri Lanka is that both Tamils in Sri Lanka. The Norwegians need to Nepali Maoists can’t count on the loyalty of an elephant in full regalia with mahout and pachuwa in attendance. Hoisted sides wanted peace, there was an honest broker work harder the closer they get to the final goal. an influential diaspora. Quite the contrary, E on three sides of a howdah atop the pachyderm were larger-than-life and they worked out of the media glare till they That there has been an effective ceasefire for the “long distance nationalism” of many the revival of a dissolved house. As our pictures of Crown Prince Paras. The elephant was leading a parade of Nepali were ready to announce progress. more than a year is itself an achievement. The overseas Nepalis make them quite right- A fully-functional executive, judiciary and parliament can constitution is very precise in drafting, a athletes and sports people to wish His Royal Highness happy birthday. The third round of peace negotiations Sri Lankans and friends of Sri Lanka here hope wing. Even the few non-resident Nepalis work as constitutional safeguards to the monarchy. reasonable interpretation has to be found. We welcome public displays of affection and respect towards our royal between the government of Sri Lanka and the that the peace lasts, and peace in Serendib will that support Comrade Prachanda (like the crown The Supreme Court could not stand in the family. Despite the tragedy of 2001 and the current triangular confrontation Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) presage peace in Shangri La. audience at the pro-Maoist meeting in way if the king acts on the advice of the between the king and the political parties and the Maoists, Nepal’s monarchy and ended on an optimistic note. No doubt, the Hope is infectious. Buoyed by the Sri Antwerp who applauded every time the inciting the Nepali people to revolt. These country would have to give in to the monarchy’s shields. The monarchy prime minister. And, it is high time for royal family is still a valuable symbol of our national unity, nationhood and their role warring parties of the teardrop island have Lankan peace process, a section of Kathmandu video screen showed scenes of Mangalsen) activities disrupted an established compromises and concessions that would commands enormous respect and them to decide. is embedded in our culture and traditions. The political parties currently confronting come a lot closer to peace, but the chasm is has started talking about replicating the do so as a matter of convenience rather than constitutional process and aggravated entail. There are definitely forces within the undisputed allegiance of all sections of Twelve years ago, Prime Minister the king seem to have lost track of who their real enemy is. still too wide to be bridged with simplistic experience here in Nepal, complete with any commitment to the revolution. political instability. country and outside, which want to fulfil Nepalis. The prime minister can fulfil his Lokendra Bahadur Chand had helped the This public support for monarchy may be hidden, but it is genuine and sponta- political arrangements. Norwegian facilitators. Had it not been for the It is extremely unlikely that people like The previous constitution could have their vested interests by aggravating the historic role by making this king to lead an extraordinary consensus in neous. It doesn’t have to be whipped up. In fact, it is counterproductive to try to Despite the handshakes and hesitant influence that these people have on public the Washington-based Dr Chitra Tiwari been made fully democratic through some conflict between the king and the people. recommendation. favour of multiparty democracy. Destiny whip it up. A rent-a-crowd rally doesn’t help the monarchy in these trying times smiles, neither Sri Lankan Prime Minister opinion, it would have been possible to ignore will be willing to lay down their lives for amendments. But it was completely But the king has not yet expressed his Besides the king and the army, the other has put him in an almost identical when it is under attack from politicians flirting with republicanism and Maoists Ranil Wickremasinghe nor the LTTE chief such noises as wishful thinking. But to prevent the dictatorship of the proletariat in a base abrogated and replaced by a new one. This desire to produce an alternative to the decisive force in Nepal’s politics is popular situation. He could recommend to the king fighting for it. negotiator Anton Balasingham budged an inch another false start in the name of talks between area somewhere in the mid-western sector. constitution had gone through a rough-and- prevailing political model as his father, late opinion, which is expressed and represented the revival of parliament, bring the Genuine supporters of the monarchy are nervous about these sterile rallies from their publicly declared positions. Premier the government and the Maoists, it’s More likely, they will readily denounce the tumble 12 years. Now, there are indications King Mahendra, had done after a drastic by the political parties through the democratic process back on track, and help that lend an artificial flavour to a sensibility that is already wholesome and Wickremasinghe is ready for devolution of necessary to emphasise the self-evident: the revolution once their livelihoods are even that forces are active to make this change in 1960. As the king has been in parliamentary process. It is not logical to avoid a fatal confrontation between the king heartfelt. If there is a royal PR problem, this is not the way to address it. And we power within a federal structure, but it’s a very nature of struggle for territorial self- slightly threatened in their adopted land. constitution also irrelevant. Unless we constant dialogue with the prominent expect them to recommend a leader or a and the political parties. have it on good authority that it is makingeven hardline monarchists squirm. confederation that Balasingham is insisting on determination is different from class-war Come to think of it, most people didn’t identify and resolve the reasons why our leaders of the dissolved parliament, he program unanimously. Once the house is Since King Gyanendra’s coronation is Once again, there is a strong sense behalf of his boss, Prabhakaran. being fought for social justice. even know what it was that Maoists were constitutions are so crisis-prone, no future seems to be in search of the solution within revived, the process of choosing and removing expected to be completed soon with full of déjà vu. At least during the Panchayat Instead of goodwill, In Jaffna, it’s a war of love—love for a fighting for till 21 November 2002, the day constitution, by whatever means it is the framework of the present constitution. leadership democratically will be reinstated. Vedic rituals, the restoration of a fully years we knew what was what—these prepared, will last even a year. It is up to Prime Minister Chand to There are two alternative proposals from functional constitutional process by then days every time you listen to state radio or homeland. People are ready to die when their Agni Sapkota, Krishna Bahadur Mahara and sense of self is at risk. But the insurgency in Company unilaterally walked away from the The royal move of 4 October was figure out what the king wants. Having served the political parties: the largest party of the would only enhance His Majesty’s stature. television the treacly tributes and fanatic completely unexpected, and it was a flagrant the crown before, he is capable and honest to dissolved parliament is demanding the That will be an occasion when a large flattery from people who are more royal than Jumla and Jajarkot is a class-war. The third round of talks with the government. Maoists are fighting their government to get We now have their three main demands—a violation of the constitutional provisions. render appropriate advice to get us out of the revival of the house and the main number of heads of state as well as the king make it all sound like a parody of The king can exercise Article 127 only on deadlock. He could, for instance, decide on an opposition wants an all party government. governments with a world wide media Panchayat times. a better deal for themselves, their goal is roundtable of all political forces, formation nothing more or less than appropriating of an interim government, and elections for advice of the prime minister through Article appropriate date for holding general elections In the absence of parliament, this kind of coverage will have an opportunity to see a But times have changed. The Nepali 35(2). It is quite illogical to expect the within a constitutionally visualised period of government may require extra- popular king with a complete democracy. people are much more sophisticated, and state power to create a utopian society within a constituent assembly. All very well, the existing territorial boundary. Comrade Prachanda, but please tell us— prime minister to recommend his own six months from the dates of the royal move of constitutional interventions by the king to It is known to all that the Nepali people see right through the rhetoric. You dismissal to the king. Article 27(3) imposes 4 October. The constitutional process can run government. There will be problems In plain terms, the “people’s war” is a what is in it that couldn’t have been have pardoned politicians from time to time should hear what he is once more an obligation upon the king to protect and return to normal soon after the election when that government needs the legislative political struggle, in which pressure-cooker achieved through a normal political process? for committing mistakes considering their is being said in in crisis, and in its wake comes the preserve the constitution. It does not allow is completed. support. In the absence of the parliament, utility. The king’s dignity would be bombs have edged out ballot boxes. But Perhaps finding an answer to that the tea shops T possibility of further chaos and the exercise of any power above the If elections can’t be held immediately and no new law can be promulgated, no annual enhanced if the prime minister helps him the Maoists know more than question itself requires another round of as people instability. One has to seriously ponder its constitution. Unfortunately, the constitution the prime minister is convinced that it would budget can be procured and the question with correct advice. watch the anyone else that they can’t ever talks. Oslo offers some useful lessons in the root cause. Why are the constitutions in is put into crisis not only by not be appropriate to continue a situation of the accountability of the government also The problem of violence, terrorism and television claim political legitimacy technicalities of high-stakes negotiations some countries in this region stable and its enemies, but also by persons entrusted without parliament for more than the remains uncertain. If the election cannot be lawlessness in the country will be the coverage of because: a. peaceful avenues mediated by impartial facilitators. But more functional despite their flaws? And why in to preserve it. constitutional limit of six months, he can held for some years, this kind of all-party challenges for a reinstated parliament and the prepara- of political protest are still than the public stance of the Maoist others does a constitution eulogised as “one The constitution is not the cause of the render a binding recommendation to the king will be unworkable. the government accountable to it. What is tions in available, b. the state is leadership, it’s the cross-border angle of of the best” becomes irrelevant and fails to present political crisis, but it has become its as per Article 35(2) to reinstate the dissolved If the parliament is revived, it will needed now is the courage, in proportion to Biratnagar. The neither colonial, nor their rebellion that is more worrying. And command support even from its framers? victim. The failure of the political parliament for the rest of its previous tenure. produce a government that will have the the stature of persons, to get rid of sycophants who dictatorial, even though it there is no way that straight negotiations Twelve years ago, Nepal faced an leadership, including the king and the Any exercise of power by the king necessary mandate, have backing of all compulsions seen and unseen. masterminded these has started on the latter course between two stakeholders can address the extraordinary crisis, which was both leaders of the political parties, are mainly to under Article 127 requires the consent and legislative functions and all major problems events may think that they are after October the Four, and c. concerns of an invisible third party. internal and external in nature. While we be blamed for this critical situation. advice of the prime minister and that clause of the country will come under (Ganesh Raj Sharma is a senior advocate drumming up support for the king, but they are judicial redress is not denied for There isn’t anything in the Maoist were trying to become self-reliant from a The king now has absolute authority to enables him to remove such obstacles. The parliamentary purview and its scrutiny and who served as counsel for Sher Bahadur achieving the opposite. The monarch needs to meet the people more instances of state repression. In fact, the insurgency that a political leadership with security point of view, a neighbour imposed decide which way to go. If he has already prime minister, and not the king, will it is possible to do this on advice of the Deuba during the Supreme Court debate often and more closely, but this is not the way to organise it, or cover it in the only similarity that Maoists share with the will and determination can’t handle. Even an extraordinary blockade with a declaration decided (however unpopular that decision therefore be responsible for the prime minister to the king. following his ouster. This column is a media. Sycophancy only helps the enemies of monarchy. It is a tragedy of our LTTE is their common strategy of what after seven years and 7,000 deaths, hope to bring Nepal “to its knees in three days”. may be) he might be able to gather external consequences. The parliament and the Some constitutions, like in Bangladesh translated version of the article that times that something as self-evident as this even needs to be said. is called “propaganda of the deed” in still lives in the hearts of common Political leaders of that country were as well as internal support for it. And the government accountable to it, are the and Sri Lanka, have express provisions for appears in Himal Khabarpatrika.) terror discourse. Nepalis.

LETTERS

MUSSARAFSHIP capitalism? These self-evident PRIVATISE, OR ELSE layman’s perspective, the same privatise as fundamental a natural only financial institution and make donor-driven seminars till our society in “A nation’s call” (#121) we have given back enough, we to the right to choose between criteria for premiership: great- another faux pas when Pandit CK Lal’s “Musharrafship” truths mask an ethical I appreciated Bhagirath Yogi’s could be true for the cement resource as water, which is it further inaccessible? What’s to basic problems and basic needs is not justified. Lama deserves should let society judge our hard reduction or complete grandson of Sri 3 Chandra, Nehru came visiting, the Field (#124) delves into fundamental superiority complex of the article regarding privatisation of factories and other industries owned by its citizens, should fill guarantee that most of the are addressed. credit for being specific in contribution and not do that elimination? grandson of Mohan (“the last of Marshal offered his Rolls. concept of human and West. All civilisations and their government-run enterprises including the Janakpur Cigarette us all with indignation. Even if districts will still have basic S D Gajraj, by email explaining circumstances that ourselves. Mike Krajniak, Kathmandu the Mohicans”) and son-in-law of When the car was taken to the democractic rights. Are system of thoughts are a (“Going to the dogs”, # 124). My Factory (a despicable example of Melamchi is the only solution to the communication services when most students who are abroad Name withheld on request the Scindias (the role models for Palace for a rehearsal, Kaiser’s democracy and human rights product of that particular concern is that the debate was government ruining the health of scarcity of drinking water in NTC is privatised? It’s true that a SIR MICHAEL for studies face. However, being As Hemlata Rai points out, there the transition from princely state driver drove the Rolls, while he universal? Who made them civilisation’s experiences. We limited to the state’s (in)ability to its citizens). However, the Kathmandu, shouldn’t there be number of state entities have I really appreciated the interview a product of Budhanilkantha BOOZE AND BUTTS are various factors that contribute to potential head of state), followed in his jeep. The car universal? This is a Western need to be aware of the successfully carry out situation is different for service concern regarding how problems that need immediate of Sir Michael Jay (“Cross-party School myself, I fail to see why Thanks to Hemlata Rai for to alcoholism here. But the biggest Oxford educated, etc. was later sold to an concept that is deeply rooted in “colonisation” of our thought- privatisation and did not address entities like Nepal Bank, Rastriya privatisation of DWC could affect attention. However, proposing approach to conflict a must”, we, or products of any other emphasising that alcoholism is a factor is that it is cheap, very Field Marshal Kaiser too had Englishman and was shipped individualism and materialism ill- process. From the 1940s to the whether we as citizens are better Banijya Bank, RNAC and NTC. I affordability of drinking water? privatisation as the only solution #122) with regard to the solution schools in Kathmandu for that disease that can be contained widely available and sold to the same ambition of Lord back where it came from. suited for traditional society like 60s, people of the physically off with privatisation to begin believe the primary objective of By definition, private companies in all cases is analogous to a of the Maoist problem in Nepal. Of matter, should be called the (“Nepal’s anonymous alcoholism”, anyone. A 10-year-old could walk Curzon, one of them was to Kaiser himself was Nepal that still is rooted in colonised world, threw off the with. I am not opposed to the two commercial banks was to are accountable to their physician prescribing antibiotics course, the solution through “cream of our society”. What #125). But the Nepali public is also down to the corner shop for a become the prime minister of conferred the title of Field “inner worldly” quests. Who is yoke of tyranny. Now it's time privatisation per se. It could work provide banking service to the shareholders, not the general to any and all ailments. If negotiation is a superb idea to have we done that makes them seeing huge billboards enticing bottle of vodka. But I am glad to England. He brought a Rolls Marshal though he never to say that one particular to be aware of an even more in the case of Bhaktapur Brick and Nepali people. At a time when public and their objective is profit mismanagement, inefficiency and avoid a longer and bloodier different from some MaBi in them to identify unrealistically with see that AA type of organisations Royce on his way back from actually participated in any civilisation, philosophy, race or potent danger, a colonisation of Tiles Factory since its efficacy is there are a dozen or so private making, not public interest. In a corruption are grounds for conflict. Military means as a Dadheldhura? Does sponsoring a generation of high-fliers. The are now working to tackle the London after his tenure as battle. The reason for nation is superior to another, eg the mind...Nike, McDonalds, primarily restricted to the banks, it may be difficult for the scenario like this, isn’t it privatisation, then I’m afraid the solution cannot win the hearts a few economically poor alcohol and cigarette industries problem. Prevention is better than ambassador in the Court of St recapping all this trivia is to the ardent belief in the Coke, MTV, CNN… and has residents of Kathmandu and other conceivable that a significant case is made for privatising the and minds of the population. For students from supposedly have latched on to youth interests cure, and we need to focus on James. He hung it from the ceiling remind Pashupati, the “Nati universality of democracy, Subarna Bhattachan, competitors that prevent it from urban centres to see the proportion of the population may entire government machinery. this, the present government remote areas of Nepal through a in sports and entertainment to underage drinkers so they don’t of his garage covered with a General”, that history is making human rights and global Lawrence, Kansas, USA gaining monopoly. From a relevance of these two. But it’s not be able to afford drinking Kalyan Pande, should create a conducive Nationwide Scholarship Program launch tremendously successful become alcohol dependent in mosquito net at Kaiser Mahal. But a full circle and the analogy worth considering that although water? Are there other options University of Wisconsin, atmosphere to sit around the for their education make us the campaigns that erroneously link future. The media also needs to after 2007 BS, he moved around should be quite clear to him. private banks have been in for those who can’t? In most Madison negotiating table to revitalise cream of our society? Or, can booze and butts to success and target youngster to stress Kathmandu in a Mahindra and Sushil Kumar, by email operation for the past 18 years, western countries including the peace and security. In the we claim to be the best and the achievement. I curse the day alcoholism is an illness with fatal Mahindra jeep. their services are restricted to US, municipalities, not private WORST OF TIMES inception of dialogue, the Maoists’ brightest by simply counting the universities started giving degrees consequences. When Queen Elizabeth II about 15 out of 75 districts. So, companies, regulate drinking Reading “The red windmill in the demands might be higher, but after heads of Budhanilkantha in advertising. Joining the latest Dr A Thapa-Hamal, UK visited Nepal in 1961, she what’s there to ensure that water. Yet, we’re presented valley of the gods” (#125) I really the talks begin, hopefully both will products in Ivy League and first research in subliminal psychology was inadvertently escorted in a privatisation of these two banks with two stark choices— felt like it is the best of times and come to a substantial agreement tier colleges in the US? True, with marketing is unethical PASHUPATI SJB Mercedes Benz. To avoid will not essentially rob the majority privatise or perish—as if there’s the worst of times in Nepal. When to find an honourable way out of Budhanilkantha School stands because it uses information about Reading Pashupati Shumshere JB of the Nepalis (who happen to live no third option. will our heads work in unison this problem. out from the rest of the schools unconscious recesses of the Rana’s interview (“I will work to in the other 60 districts) of any It should concern us that both with our hearts? Are we a nation Name withheld, in the country in that it provides mind to stimulate desire for a bridge the gap between the king banking facility? the government and the donors of insensitive imbeciles that we Royal Nepal Army scholarships to bright but needy product. People don’t even know and parties”, #125) reminded me

The most egregious of all is are emphasising two solutions dance the can-can here in students from all over the they’re being had. The consumer of Prof Northcote Parkinson’s MIN BAJRACHARYA the proposal to privatise the (privatisation and decentralisation) Kathmandu when the rest of the CRÈME DE LA CRÈME country. However, how much is turned into a captive customer. dilemma in selecting a suitable Drinking Water Corporation that are contradictory in numerous country is burning? Let’s have a Phudorjee Lama’s referral to the return the country gets from that To make matters worse, donor prime minister for the Republic of (DWC). The very outlandish instances. How can you develop moratorium on these tasteless graduates of Budhanilkantha investment remains a mystery. funding for recovery program is Ruritania in his book “Inlaws and

MIN BAJRACHARYA notion that the state is willing to a place when you take away its festivities, celebrations, and School as the cream of the And unless we prove that non-existent. Whatever happened Oulaws”. Mr Rana meets all the 4 NATION 3 - 9 JANUARY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #126 NATION 3 - 9 JANUARY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #126 5 DOMESTIC BRIEFS Metro Channel by June

“In Sikkim we’re trying to do everything Nepal didn’t do and should have done, ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ A new feature has emerged on the Kathmandu skyline: a and what Nepal has done and shouldn’t have done.” 72m television tower within Singha Darbar for a new NTV channel. The The security problem is actually a euta, raja dui karod janata.”) This development blueprint. “There was Chinese-aided project will result of a failure of development, the strong emphasis on devolution and very poor understanding about the lack of jobs and opportunities.” self-reliance may just have been a needs of mountain people, and a belief be completed in June next Chamling’s instruction to the slogan elsewhere, but Chamling seems that the same development model will year. The Metro Channel bureaucracy is to implement to mean it. He called 2002 “The Year work everywhere” recalls Lama. “This facility will have two development goals on a war footing. of Implementation” in which all report is completely indigenous and studios, two control Sikkim’s literacy is higher than projects were rushed to completion. looks at baseline local parameters for rooms in a four-storey Nepal (see table, p5), but like in To outsiders, it appears as if the first time and makes SIKKIM NEPAL building. “Unlike the recommendations.” national program of NTV Nepal female literacy has lagged Chamling is still on election-mode. Male Literacy 77% 66% behind. The government’s priority is PD Rai agrees: “As a matter of fact, he Lama concluded that past being broadcast through girls’ education and it has a unique is already campaigning for the 2004 subsidies were used as government Female Literacy 61.5% 35.4% satellites, Metro Channel program of financial incentives: the elections, by proving to the people that handouts and had spoilt the people by Infant mortality 44 66 will be broadcast state deposits Rs 2,500 into a bank he has kept his promises to them.” killing local initiative and traditional terrestrially to begin with,” Dipak Mani Dhital, chief at the Under-5 mortality 71 91 account of every girl student every year The Chief Minister has been going self-help. The state is implementing engineering department of the NTV told us. The Chinese from the moment she enrolls in high around the state attending a series of Lama’s recommendations, and is now Life expectancy at birth 66.3 59 grant came with OB vans and other technical equipment. school. She gets a bonus Rs 2,500 Janata Mela, development jamborees focussing on loans for Human Development Index .532 .466 when she graduates. But she can only where the people get a chance to ask entrepreneurship, skills-building and take out the money when she is 21, their elected representatives and microcredit for farmers. Per capita income (Nepali Rs) 19,840 17,100 Top it with peace Chamling at a Janata Mela in western Sikkim in mid-December. and only if she is still single at that bureaucrats about progress on health, In the village of Rong, three hours Chamling’s election poster. Doctors/100,000 population 40 5 ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ age. If she drops out of school or gets education, roads, rural housing, or from Gangtok, the roofs of Darjeeling Everest has been climbed for many reasons—profit, from p1 1994 state assembly elections, he had managers who implement his vision, married, she forfeits the money. their old age pension. They can even can be seen glinting on a ridge across interline permits. Many tourists in Kangchendzonga from the northern AT SIDICO’s office in Its rulers want to develop without adventure, records and because it’s there. Now we can to battle for political survival. After and he has deliberately staked his “The idea is to keep girls in grill local officials where the money for the valley. There is evidence that the Gangtok today are those who Nepal side, climbing the world’s Gangtok, PD Rai’s staff is busy the separatist violence and security add peace to the list. Among the many climbers headed th Sikkim’s formula for success is being nearly voted out himself, critics political career on the promises he school, and to delay the marriage age, development projects is going, or why plans are being translated into real cancelled Nepal and came here third-highest peak is banned from the conducting courses for young problems that plague other for the top of Everest this spring, the 50 anniversary of appropriate planning, good say Chamling used the ethnic card to made to the people.” and when she does decide to get a road project is still stuck. development on the ground. The instead. Many tourists in Gangtok Sikkim side. Many holy mountain entrepreneurs (many of them northeastern states. “The only way the first ascent of the world’s highest peak, a group of governance, true devolution of power divide the opposition. This, they say, And what is this vision? married she already has some money To be sure, Chamling faces a lot secondary school in Rong has a new today are those who can celled lakes are out of bounds for tourists, women) keen on starting Sikkim can absorb the tensions of apostles representing the world’s major religions will and decision-making to elected has irreversibly harmed Sikkim’s Chamling counts them out on his of her own and is more independent,” of hurdles. Not the least of which are building, well-kept facilities, a Nepal and came here instead. and the state is promoting rural businesses through a project called modernisation and a multi-ethnic also attempt to summit the 8483m peak. While they’re at grassroots councils, and an idealistic communal harmony. But his critics fingers: “Ethnic harmony, sustainable explains the speaker of Sikkim’s state opposition politicians who think he drinking water system. A nearby A new airport at Pakyong, tourism by giving villagers loans to the Chief Ministers’ Self-help society is by focussing on genuine it, they’ll be praying for peace and tolerance. The and accountable leadership. grudgingly admit that Chamling’s development, security and legislature, Kalawati Subba. “Women has an autocratic streak, has a history health post vaccinates all children and expected to be completed in 2004, convert parts of their homes into Scheme. “New kids are coming into human development in its own commemorative climbing mission aims at promoting Sonam Tenzing gives full credit strategy worked, and he is now an environmental protection.” The fact don’t need affirmative action, they of hanging out with questionable keeps records, most basic medicines will handle ATRs and connect to pensions for trekkers. the job market, and we need to unique way,” says Mahendra Lama. Nepal’s image as a peaceful nation and has the to his boss, Chief Minister Pawan almost unopposed leader. Today, that the ethnic issue still looms large is need support to stand on their own figures including some Nepali are free. Children of poorer families go Calcutta, Bagdogra and even Sikkim’s location on the border create opportunities so they are So far, it looks like there is a lot the blessings of the Nepal Tourism Board, Nepal Chamling. “It is the vision of one man Chamling’s SDF party has a virtual an acknowledgement that the feet and be treated equally,” she says, Maoists and is someone who doesn’t to a nearby day-care centre which Kathmandu. At present the only with China and Nepal, and astride kept busy,” he tells us. “Preference rest of India, too, can borrow from Mountaineering Association, Asian Trekking, the Everest who believes in delegating run of the 33-member state divisiveness of the 1994 elections citing that nearly 40 percent of all hesitate to use the ethnic card. provides a daily free meal, while their alternative to driving up from the the Chumbi Valley makes it an area is given to women and families the way Sikkim has gone about Peace Project and the Pacific Asia Travel Association. To responsibility but expects results.” assembly, the lone opposition MLA bruised ethnic relations between the elected village leaders in the last local Corruption is still said to be rife. parents work in the fields. Health plains is to take the daily Jetranger of great strategic importance to below the poverty line. So far there ensuring peace through development. symbolise tolerance, the climbers include an atheist. We are ushered into the Chief is Bhandari himself. Bhutia, Lepcha and Nepali-speakers, elections were women. Admits one senior government worker SB Gurung knows almost every ferry from Bagdogra, and the India, a fact that is evident in the hasn’t been a single defaulter.” That is why Chamling likes to say: Minister’s official residence on a ridge Chamling exudes the down-to- who are collectively known as “NBC” Subba is convinced the demand official: “Our biggest bottleneck is the child by name, and tells us: “There is helicopters also operate mountain heavy military presence along the A generation after its “India is learning a lot from Sikkim.

overlooking Gangtok, and Pawan earth charm of a self-made grassroots (Newar, Bahun, Chhetri). for development must come from the delivery mechanism for development. nothing more satisfying than working sight-seeing flights. But while mountain highways which are annexation by India, Sikkim is India is merging with Sikkim, not the Safety at a cost ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Chamling speaks in colloquial leader. He never went to college, and Chamling’s long-term grassroots, and says this is what the The bureaucracy is still too laid back, in your own village to motivate people, mountaineers can climb maintained by the army. being promoted as a model state. other way round.” Pillion riding in the Valley may become expensive for the peoples’ Nepali, not the Sanskritised a conversation with him does not go development goals are ambitious, but chief minister is trying to do with his and motivation levels are not as high as and see the effect of your work.” unprepared. Anyone not wearing a helmet will get Back in Gangtok, Tourism officialese one is used to hearing in into high-flying political theory or not unrealisitic in a state with a pro-poor programs. “Politics must we want them to be.” slapped with a up to Rs 200 fine by the Valley Traffic Kathmandu. He exudes the Minister, K T Gyaltsen says there are nebulous concepts of democracy. It population of only 500,000: universal come from every household, every Sikkim’s development has always Police Office who have confidence of a man who knows is about what is do-able, how long literacy, eradicating poverty and Sikkimese must feel powerful enough been driven by populist-minded lessons for Sikkim in the way Nepal made helmets compulsory. where he wants to go, and what to it will take to do it, and how much near-zero unemployment by 2015. to demand these services and get them politicians with pork-barrel funds, and has handled tourism—some worth do to get there. (See interview, p5). it will cost. By that period, he wants Sikkim to from the people they elected.” Chamling came from that tradition. emulating, others not. “We don’t want But this safety is to rush headlong into mass tourism,” “We have a radical democracy” coming at a cost. Nepal It has helped that this former “What the man has is a lot of be a hydropower exporter and wean When Chamling stood for re- But he has tried to change course and monarchy and Indian protectorate is common sense,” says PD Rai, an itself away from special subsidy election in 1999, his campaign slogan do it systematically by commissioning says Gyaltsen. “We are satisfied with has about 230,000 easier for us to implement our development programs from the motorbikes. If 200,000 bike one of ten special category states which engineer-turned-politician whom packages from the federal was: “Janata ko raj ma janata nai raja” economists and sociologists to write the the present level of traffic and we will Nepali Times spoke to Sikkim chief Minister grassroots up. We will work on making people at the village level aware j owners were to spend Rs receive central assistance from New Chamling convinced to head government in New Delhi. and “Afno gaun, aphai banaun.” Sikkim Human Development Report let it grow slowly.” Sikkim gets Pawan Chamling recently about his vision for of their rights and responsibilities in a democracy. We want to turn the 400 each for a new helmet, Delhi. But things haven’t been easy SIDICO, a one-stop shop to entice Chamling has no illusions that (Speaking to visitors from Nepal, released in 2002. JNU professor 300,000 Indian tourists annually and development and the Maoist problem. Excerpts: Sikkimese people away from being a part of the consumer culture, to

for Chamling. After ousting his investors to Sikkim so new jobs could development is linked to security, and Chamling spontanously crafts a slogan Mahendra P Lama helped write the 50,000 international tourists for become productive citizens. Once we become more productive, there it would cost the country Rs ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ mentor, Nar Bahadur Bhandari in the be created. “He has a group of says to his visitors: “Just look at Nepal. for Nepal’s own future: “Maharaja report, which is now the state’s whom it has relaxed the requirement of ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ will be more jobs for our unemployed youth. 80 million. Add the cost of a storage sidebox, ‘dickey’, Nepali Times: Can democracy bring development, or is it an impediment? Your programs have been criticised for being populist. Isnít that and we are looking at Rs 200 million in imports. Every year an average of 50,000 Nepalis buy new motorbikes. HERE AND THERE by DANIEL LAK Pawan Chamling: I can speak for Sikkim, I think we are developing just a short cut to win popular support? because of democracy. Development doesn’t just happen, it has to be You may call it populist, but just because some measures are populist Can we afford this, some are asking. nurtured. Sikkim will never develop if we depend on money from the doesn’t mean they are not needed. Look, my priority is to meet the basic central government. We have to invest in our own human resources, needs of the Sikkimese people. Call me people-oriented, not populist. Clean fuel

develop their capacity and knowledge. We’ve just had local (panchayat) And we may be a small state in India, but we are the only state that is ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ elections, and I am glad to say that our party won. Now, it will be much carrying out such an effective pro-poor program. Nepal Oil Corporation is mulling a ban on petrol and We are the only state that has free education up to college level, diesel vendors selling kerosene too. This is an effort to Predicting the worst free uniforms for school children, 17 percent of our budget goes to cut fuel adulteration, and will be implemented in education. We are working on improving our doctor per population ratio. consultation with the Nepal Petroleum Dealers alendar pages flutter by at an accelerating rate, the older you get, 3) The government and the Maoists in Nepal will continue to play word By 2015, we want to have a poverty-free state, 100 percent literacy Association. Several NGOs have been campaigning for the more pronounced this phenomenon. Years merge seamlessly games with the notion of peace talks, terrorism, revolution and The habit of using the new year and zero unemployment. We want to develop in a sustainable way, we this move as a way to reduce the rampant adulteration of C into each other, however you measure the passage of time. Yet the accusations of atrocities. Some of the latter will be covered more will never sacrifice our natural resources for short-term economic petrol and diesel with subsidised kerosene. Petrol habit of using the New Year, Western, Nepali, Tibetan or other, to boldly than ever before in local media. Messengers will come under to measure progress and growth. currently sells at Rs 52 a litre and diesel at Rs 26.50 a measure progress and predict the future dies hard. In fact, it staggers pressure while their message is ignored. It’s happening already in litre, and kerosene is priced at Rs 17 a litre. Kerosene about like a drunk on New Years Eve, refusing to go to bed or stop the rape fiasco and it will happen again and again until some lessons predict the future dies hard. Isnít it easier for a small state like Sikkim to achieve these worth more than Rs 1 billion is mixed with petrol and drinking, despite the damage done to oneself or others. So here goes, for are learned here. Meanwhile, Nepal’s killing terraces will pass results? diesel every year in Nepal, according to a recent True, we have only 500,000 people, but our overheads are high: we what it’s worth… through another season of death and estimate. decline, until increasingly distant script as the “conflict resolution” gravy train gets up a good head of need a , high court, accountant general, like all big states. Also, 1) War in the Middle East will begin but not end this year. Kathmandu finally starts to feel steam. No relief from conflict will be provided by any of this but the grants from the central government are pegged on per capita basis, America’s high altitude electronic war gaming will render some pain from insurgency. many consultants will be amply rewarded for running workshops so if you are smaller state you get less. But in the end it boils down to Conflict listings key bits of Iraqi infrastructure irreparable, but for Whether this adds urgency to and “building capacity”. Sadly, along the way, the significant leadership. The reason some larger states like UP haven’t been able to ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ develop is not because they are large, but because they have a The National Defence Council Foundation of United unforeseen reasons—be they biological, chemical, nuclear, official efforts to resolve the crisis number of truly committed and effective individuals working in States identified Nepal as one of the serious conflict or conventional—the reconstruction effort will not begin remains unpredictable. development here will leave–driven off by the cynicism of colleagues leadership problem. They say you have to drive livestock from behind, but people you have to lead from the front. We joined the Indian union zones of 2000 in a report released on 31 December in earnest over the next year. This will disappoint many, or a collapse in funding. 2002. Bangladesh, India and Pakistan are other South not least large construction companies in the United States 4) There will continue to be talk of late, but we are ahead in terms of development, environmental protection, and in peace and security. Asian countries on the list. The council has added 15 and Europe, and sound-bite politicians in Western capitals holding “elections” in Nepal, and 6) Remittances from expatriate Nepalis in other lands will become ever new countries in 1999 and twelve have been delisted. who will face growing public disquiet. The damage to the “constitutional reform”. Both more economically significant as tourists stay away and foreign aid Speaking of security, how is the insurgency in Nepal affecting Conflict in 2000 was up to 68 from 65 in 1999—one of Iraqi people will matter least. these crucial notions will be dries up. Sadly, few in authority will do anything to assist those who Sikkim? Are Nepali Maoists taking refuge here? the highest in the history of the report. It claims the level bludgeoned into further irrelevance remit. Some will even hinder, or try to profit unjustly from it. It There is talk of that, but so far we haven’t come across any. We are of conflict globally is far higher than at the end of the Cold 2) Terrorists will attempt another spectacular strike, perhaps by the continuing mayhem and won’t matter. People will still go abroad to work. vigilant about this, and what happens in Nepal has an indirect effect on War, when the total was about 35. The report also says succeeding in part. It won’t be another World Trade economic decline. Nepal’s valuable us. We look at what is happening in Nepal and feel sorry. But we have to the distribution of conflicts around the world has stayed Center but it may be another Bali. Over the same period, and hard-won institutions of 7) The Nepali Times will continue to be a star but in an ever-widening ask ourselves, why did the Maoist problem come up? Why aren’t there mostly stable. The most conflict-prone areas are in Sub- there will be countless dire warnings from harassed looking modernity will continue to be galaxy of local media, newly emboldened to cover all manner of any Maoists in Sikkim? That is because this is not very fertile territory for Saharan Africa and the Middle East, which together officials, security and civil rights restrictions on easy targets cheapened by a combination of wrongdoing, and to celebrate indigenous success when appropriate. them. There is little economic disparity, people have opportunities, they account for nearly half of all conflicts. The most like the vast majority of honest, well-intentioned people hypocrisy and design. Bring on the competition, it’s the best thing we have to look don’t have to lead a hand-to-mouth existence, there is democracy and significant change in geographical distribution is the rise will continue to tighten. It won’t matter. Many forward to. enough political space for every citizen. So I am learning from the Maoist of conflict in South and Central Asia, which has gone entrepreneurs will identify opportunities in the new 5) International agencies, bilateral problems in Nepal and India. We want to create conditions so they’ll from six in 1997 to 10 in 2000. paranoia that will continue to spread outward like cancer, and multilateral, will continue to 8) I’ve been wrong before, so let’s hope that I am about the more dire never come here. To do that I practice what I preach and we implement from the killing fields of West Asia, to our own backyards. read from the same mealy-mouthed predictions. our brand of radical democracy. 6 NATION 3 - 9 JANUARY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #126 ECONOMY 3 - 9 JANUARY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #126 7 COMMENTARY by GOPAL SIWAKOTI CHINTAN BIZ NEWS COMMENT by PRATIVA SUBEDI Tourist arrivals down 50 percent Tourist○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ arrivals to Nepal are down by more than half compared to two years ago. Nearly 460,000 tourists visited Nepal in 2000, and the latest figures show that this figure plummeted to 216,000 in 2002. Never in “Men-streaming” the past 20 years have tourist arrivals been so low. ormulating five-year-plans has One victory at a time According to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), a total of 215,922 tourists visited Nepal in 2002 The Tenth Plan is patronising towards women. become something of a tradition n 27 November the High compared to 298,456 visitors in 2001. The only segment of the market that showed some improvement F in Nepal. And the recently Court of Justice in was Indian tourists, who are up by just over two percent from last year. The biggest drops are in announced 10th Periodical Plan arrivals from the United States and Britain. The industry blames “alarmist” travel advisories from those London delivered a The court victory that approved by the National Planning women two countries for the downturn. Despite China listing Nepal as an outbound destination, tourists from our Commission, follows in that grand O landmark judgement in prisoners of war won for equal northern neighbour dropped by 20 percent. NTB, for its part, blames the decline in third country tourist favour of British Gurkha prisoners tradition by harping on poverty compensation last year may have a arrivals on the general slackness in international tourism and negative alleviation just like previous plans. of war that had important international coverage of Nepal. implications for further Gurkha bearing on pensions and pay cases This time around, however, the new pay and pension cases pending in twist is a stronger focus on “women’s the British courts as well as for affecting over 50,000 and Shangri-la is back empowerment and gender

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ mainstreaming”. the judicial history of England Shangri-la, the in-flight magazine of Royal Nepal Airlines has been revamped their families that will be heard in Although women are considered been snail paced and has not been illiteracy, poverty and and Wales. and re-launched. The new-look issue of the quarterly is on board Royal central to this plan, the programs to helped by the Maoist insurgency. unemployment, new ones like war The judgement awarded equal London 18-21 February. Nepal flights from 1 January. The magazine is now published by Nepal fulfill this objective do not live up to Since the last decade, women have and violence have come to prey on our Traveller Publications, edited by Shalini Wadhwa and her team. The first compensation of £10,000 to all the promise. Bringing women into the been involved in group work, savings, country. The 10th Plan turns a blind edition features Temba Tsheri, the youngest person to climb Mount British Gurkha prisoners of war are therefore comprehensively Instructions (BGSI), a separate mainstream should perhaps begin credit and agricultural activities. These eye to the links between violence and Everest, and is printed in Nepal. (POWs) held by the Japanese protected from discrimination by racist regulation applied by the with policy makers. The patriarchal could be ideal entry points to address Nepal’s socio-economic problems. during the Second World War. In the principle of equality. Brigade of Gurkhas in private, is bias of the plan’s male economists and many gender issues. Credit programs There are no strategies, no plans— November 2000, the British “The allocation to the Indian not going to stand before the court SAFTA deadline put off planners is rather obvious. It is would need to widen their focus to nothing in the new plan to indicate government had decided to award code of discipline was based upon of law. The 1947 Tri-Partite ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ The seven-member South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has failed to finalise the impossible to ask for gender incorporate health, education and the framers were aware of the new such compensation to all members race. No amount of semantic Agreement also had nothing to do mainstreaming if the sub-text is awareness building. Vocational crises. One would be hard pressed analysis of the ancient acts can in these cases since the court has treaty framework for a regional free trade area (SAFTA) within the given deadline. The 11th Summit of of the British Army and colonial the SAARC in Kathmandu had set December-end 2002 as the deadline to finalise the framework. The patronising. From the grassroots to training sessions that equip women to guess the nation is undergoing hide that fact,” the judge established that “discrimination is a forces, including widows. But the meeting of Committee of Experts ended here Sunday agreeing to finalise the framework draft only after the highest level of government, with skills to merge in with the drastic changes at all, so similar is it Gurkhas who fought for the British declared. “The Gurkhas were discrimination” no matter when, economic decisions are still out of working population should be set up. to the umpteen plans before it. “conducting an in-depth evaluation on implications of transition to free trade area from the existing South th Empire for about 200 years were excluded on the basis of a where or on whatever grounds. Asian Preferential Trading Arrangement (SAPTA) among member countries”. The Sri Lanka-based women’s reach. In a largely rural A credit program that exists in The 10 Plan recognised poor excluded from this scheme. There constitutional distinction which These other cases pay and pensions consultant, Institute for Policy Studies, has been asked to submit the report by March-end 2003. The subsistence economy women isolation will not work. Unfortunately, health and education as two main were over 3,000 Gurkhas (3 Servicemen’s Organisation separate UK Army Act. The MOD instructed by Phil Shiner of Public was in fact founded upon race.” affecting over 50,000 Gurkhas and issue of special and differential treatment for small and Least Developed Countries, including longer contribute monetarily but are not there is too little focus on these areas. contributors to poverty. It was battalions) captured out of which (GAESO) brought a case of racial had discriminated against the Interest Lawyers in Birmingham) Effectively, this judgement has their families will be heard in phase-in period, mechanism for compensation of revenue loss etc. would be addressed at the next allowed a decision-making voice. Instead of building on and learning decided that poverty can be solved nearly half died in prisons in discrimination against the British Gurkhas on the same grounds in for the claimants concluded that now abolished the status of the London 18-21 February. The meting, the SAARC secretariat said. Let’s start with reproductive from past successes, policy makers by focusing on economic growth, Singapore, according to Pahalman Ministry of Defence (MOD), the awarding compensation in 1955 the there was racism in the way the Nepali Gurkhas serving in the Gurkhas will be represented by health. The fertility rate of women is have flitted impatiently to new distribution of resources, human Gurung, one of the claimants. ministry pleaded that the Gurkhas upon the conclusion of a peace Gurkha compensation issue had British Army as mercenaries, or Cherie Booth QC and her team of predicted to decrease from 4.1 percent programs, increasing suspicions of resource development, social their subordinates. Once the barristers and solicitors. Siddhartha Bank takes off to 3.5 percent thanks to female- political machinations. balance, empowerment and

There are an estimated 1,000 were part of the colonial Indian treaty with Japan in 1951. been handled. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ th survivors and widows in Nepal, Army and the British Army had no This time, history took a Justice McCombe observed that same criteria and the principle of If these cases are won, the Kamaladi-based Siddhartha Bank Limited commenced operations from Kathmandu last week with the targetted family planning. These The 10 Plan also admitted that governance. The five percent growth India and Burma. The responsibility of any kind towards different turn. The London High law and the government must equality are applied in all other soldiers and their families will slogan: “Our business is to understand your business.” With an authorised capital of Rs 1 billion, issued campaigns are bound to be ineffective the economic policies of liberalisation we experienced in the first years after because the decision-makers forgot that only widened the gap between the 1990 now seems like a dream. Yet, compensation scheme does not them. The MOD further claimed Court of Justice gave priority to the accord every individual equal pending cases of discrimination, finally be able to end a chapter in capital of Rs 500 million and paid up capital of Rs 350 million, its chairman is MC Group head Chiranjilal most decisions inside the home, even haves and have-nots. Financial the plan tells us to expect economic then the Gurkhas are sure to win the history of Gurkha recruitment Agrawal and senior banker DC Khanna is CEO. Khanna, who served as executive director of Nabil extend to their children. that Indian Gurkhas, although they case of the POWs and held an concern and respect for their that of bearing children, are still made institutions set under the banner of growth of 6.2 percent this year—if In 2000, the official reason for were recruited from an independent urgent hearing on 31 October and 1 welfare and dignity. Everyone is the remaining cases as well. The from Nepal and finish their battle Bank for over seven years, says: “Siddhartha Bank believes in a lasting professional relationship between clients and the bank. His views full conform to the Bank’s guiding principle, by male family members. Until she liberalisation failed in its all goes well, fingers crossed. depriving the Gurkha survivors of country, Nepal, were trained, November. Honourable Justice entitled to equal protection of the only serious difficulty in some for equal treatment. The injustice can make those decisions both inside responsibility towards the The bulk of our budget—60 compensation was that prior to the disciplined and discharged as per McCombe, after hearing from law, which must be applied without cases is unreasonable delay in inherent in this colonial legacy will the home as well as outside, fertility disadvantaged. The only assistance percent—still depends on foreign 1947 Tri-Partite Agreement signed the Indian Army Act as equal to the Nocholas Blake QC and Aileen fear or favour except where bringing these cases before the then be finally rectified. NIIT CATS Centre rates will not change much. available to them are high interest aid. The instability within the

MOD and/or the courts as ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ between the UK, Nepal and India native Indian Army. McColgan of Matrix Chambers compellingly justified. Distinctions NIIT’s CATS (Center for Advanced Technology Studies) at Tripureswore in Kathmandu will be offering The logical first step would be to loans that straps them into a country means increasing the budget specified in the UK military law (Gopal Siwakoti Chintan is after Indian independence there For European white officers or (where British Prime Minister’s must never be made on the grounds ORACLE Cetrified Courses for the first time in Nepal. The centre will also be equipped with Authorized encourage literacy among women. financial straightjacket. According to for security, which means in turn GAESO’s lawyer, and part of the were no Gurkha battalions. In non-Asians serving in the British- wife Cherie Booth QC is also a of race, colour, belief, gender or and the Queen’s Regulations. Prometric Testing (APT) facility and will also allow testing skills and getting certification for Microsoft, Only 37.4 percent of women are recent international statistics, nearly the marginalisation of developmental legal team in UK.) August, when the Gurkha Army Ex- Indian Army, the British applied a senior law partner, and as other irrational ground. Individuals The British Gurkha Standing Oracle and Lotus products. These certification are recognised globally and will provide an opportunity literate. Like previous plans the new half of Nepalis live below the activities, the very factor that could for Nepali IT professionals to get international recognition, NIIT says. Since it launched its operations in one aims to raise female literacy to 65 poverty line. The commission turn things around in villages and Kathmandu seven years back, NIIT Ltd has trained more than 2,000 Nepali computer graduates. percent. Educated girls become however, puts the figure at 38 rural communities. educated citizens, capable of percent and plans to shave off 8 shouldering responsibility and making percent in the next five years. (Prativa Subedi is a human rights

Army vs Amnesty decisions. Progress in this area has Besides the old vultures of activist, social worker and writer.)

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ MANJUSHREE○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ THAPA NEPAL IN THE FOREIGN PRESS he Royal Nepal Army and Amnesty International are on a collision course over allegations of rape of two girls from Nepalganj in T April which are contained in the human rights group’s latest report on Nepal. A National Human Rights Commission team visited Nepalganj this week, and returned to Kathmandu Tuesday. It is expected to present a

DAVID○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ROHDE Frombut upper-caste farmer, demands Chhabilal the “He treated every other kid as one ofDahal his to Prachanda report shortly. But the family home of the victims is reported to be guarded, and the girls did not agree to talk to investigators from the commission. BHIMSEN NAGAR, Nepal — His former eradication of chronic rural poverty and brothers,” he said. Umanath Lamichhane, a One of the girls’ father was also not allowed to speak privately to them. neighbors describe him as “kindhearted” abolition of Nepal’s constitutional 60-year-old farmer, glowed when he spoke A “public hearing” was also held at the Chief District Officer’s office on and “generous.” His junior high teacher monarchy, which he calls a “eunuch about him. “He was such a kind-hearted Tuesday, in which the family including the cousins again refuted the rape changed his name to “Lotus Flower” parliamentary monarchy”. His war has man,” he said. because he was so gentle and exposed Nepal’s vast inequalities, self- Neighbours recalled asking Prachanda charges. Plainclothes soldiers were reported to be present in the crowd. The handsome. His father still shows off interested elite and, to the surprise of to settle petty disputes and seeing him RNA has set up its own internal inquiry into the matter. pictures of him as a grown man tenderly many longtime Western residents, move dozens of landless families to A video tape screened at the RNA press conference last week was made placing his hand on his mother’s potential for savagery. vacant, government-owned grazing areas. public in a joint Nepal TV/Channel Nepal broadcast over the weekend. It forehead as she lay dying of leukemia. “Marxism-Leninism-Maoism is His leadership abilities quickly emerged. shows the 18-year-old girl allegedly raped at the Chisapani army camp “It was his habit to make people smile,” undefeatable because it is a system based “Everyone who met him would be very confirming in her mother’s said his father, Mukti Ram Dahal, in a rare on truth,” Prachanda said in an interview quickly impressed, and would stand to listen presence that nothing had The standoff between interview with a foreign journalist. “He used with a Nepali newspaper in 1997, a year to hear what he had to say,” said a former happened to her or her 16 to do it with everybody.” after he declared a “people’s war” on Maoist activist who attended a local year-old cousin in their three Royal Nepal Army and But to the rest of Nepal and to the “imperialists” and “reactionaries.” “Marxism agriculture college with him. days’ detention. This Amnesty International outside world, the man now known by the says the reactionaries continue to create By the time Prachanda graduated in statement, which witnesses nom de guerre Prachanda, or “the fierce problems until they are eliminated.” 1978, he held a bachelor’s degree and a (Left to right) Prakash Dahal (son of Prachanda), Dr Baburam Bhattarai, Hisila Yami say was made in the continued this week over one,” is the leader of a violent Maoist Since then, the Maoists stand accused radical Maoist perspective. Chinkali (Dr Bhattarai’s wife), Ram Bahadur Thapa alias Badal and presence of the alleged the alleged rapes of two insurgency that has claimed more than of killing 800 civilians deemed “enemies of Shrestha, headmaster of a high school alias Prachanda. perpetrator, Captain Ramesh 7,000 lives since 1996. The United States the revolution,” kidnapping, extortion, where Prachanda later went to teach Swar and his superior Major cousins in Nepalganj. has grown so concerned that it is forced conscription and the use of child horticulture, recalled being struck by his At first, civilian government officials parties has also hindered the peace effort. Ajit Thapa, contradicts providing $17 million in military soldiers. The Royal Nepal Army, absolute confidence that Maoism would countered the insurgents with brutal police A recent photo captured by the army charges made in the Amnesty Report and a BBC report broadcast on 19 equipment and sending American dispatched a year ago to crush the triumph. sweeps. The corruption, ineffectiveness and shows Prachanda as a bearded, pot-bellied December. soldiers to train Nepal’s army, a move insurgents, has proven no kinder to its Prachanda and other Maoist leaders harsh methods of successive governments man who scarcely resembles the rail-thin This week, Swar is said to have agreed to forgive the family’s Rs 11 lakh that has Chinese officials worried about people, human rights groups say. took their hard-line Communist faction also aided the insurgents’ cause. Over figure who cared for his dying mother. debt if one of the girl’s father were to join his wife and daughter in refuting American meddling in their backyard. Chhabi Lal Dahal, as Prachanda was underground in 1996, after winning only 9 time, the Maoists’ methods, too, grew Critics joke that his belly symbolises his own AI’s rape allegations. The father had been in hiding since March and A post-Mao, quasi-capitalist Beijing known then, was born in a mountain village of the 205 seats in Parliament in earlier more brutal. Villagers were forced at corruption. Prachanda’s son, Prakash disowns the rebels and accuses them of near the town of in central Nepal elections. Government officials initially gunpoint to join their cause and pay a Dahal, who is in his 20’s and apparently returned home on 29 December. “usurping the name of the leader of the in December 1954, the eldest of eight scoffed at the group. But within months, war “tax.” Teachers and local activists part of the movement, stands a few feet AI this week issued a publication appeal to pressure the prime Chinese people”. Indian officials, children. The timing of his birth was Prachanda and other leaders had created were kidnapped and murdered. away from him. minister and the Chief of Army Staff to “immediately suspend” those meanwhile, fear a rising tide of refugees considered propitious; in Nepali astrology, a highly organised insurgency. Mainstream politicians were beheaded. Asked about how he felt about his son, involved in intimidating the family, pending the findings of an and what a Maoist victory could do to re- having an eldest son in December signals They overran isolated police posts to A recent poll found that if the Maoists Prachanda’s father said in the interview that independent investigation. energise sputtering insurgencies in their good things to come. obtain weapons. They robbed banks to were to put down their arms today, they he feared for his son’s life but also that he “The first thing the army should have done is to arrest their officers on own country. When Prachanda was 6 or 7, the family obtain money. They banned drinking, would win at best 10 percent of the seats in was proud that “this great revolutionary suspicion of rape. By staging a show trial, the government is treading on Prachanda, 48, who has managed to moved along with hundreds of thousands of gambling, trafficking in women and Parliament—double their showing before, leader is a son of mine.” He also added a dangerous territory,” said a senior Kathmandu-based diplomat. deepen the support for his movement by others from the mountains of central and domestic violence. They staged plays that but not enough to control the government. caveat that echoed the sentiment of many National human rights groups too have deemed it “inappropriate” for portraying himself as a Nepali Robin Hood northern Nepal to the country’s fertile depicted caste and ethnic discrimination to While both Prachanda and government in Nepal as the death toll soars. alleged perpetrators to carry out investigations, and “unjust” for victims to facing down corrupt and ineffective southern plains. recruit cadres. They soon became active in leaders frequently express a willingness to “I also would like some kind of have to provide testimony before the armed forces. A delegation of nine governments. Brilliant and charismatic to Balaram Bishwakarma, a lower-caste more than half of the country’s 75 districts, talk, negotiations have yet to materialise. settlement to this problem,” he said. “I’d major human rights organisations has met the Prime Minister, pressing for his followers, fanatical and opportunistic to recalled how Prachanda bounced him forming shadow “people’s governments” in Infighting between the country’s king, also like to see a situation where people an independent investigation commission. his enemies, Prachanda, the son of a poor on his lap when they were both children. 22 of them. Gyanendra, and its mainstream political from either side are not killed.” 8 ADVENTURE 3 - 9 JANUARY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #126#126#126

A new Wave For home delivery every month, contact: 01-543 333, [email protected] Wave just got bigger and better. And grander, slicker, glossier, sleeker, brighter, smoother and full-colour. Bikingin the timeof bandhsBiking right across Nepal from Kodari to Mahendranagar is a

breeze when the roads are empty. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○GARRYK HAMPTON

didn’t know how to ride a bicycle resort; some money is better than take it all in—the peace, the view or they jumped on for a free ride. nothing. One of the boys looked and the solitude. When I noticed they weren’t disappointed because he had After that somewhat spiritual pedalling, I’d stop, point at the offered to let me stay at his house. interlude, I had to attend to more pedals and make with a pedalling As I walked up the resort bodily concerns like food. motion with my arms. Not that it steps with three porters carrying Unfortunately, every restaurant did much good. In the end I had my bags, I noticed the garden was closed, like on the first day of to give them both the boot. I’m had a surprisingly mix of cacti my ride from Kathmandu. I no rickshaw. with seasonal blooms. My settled for some crackers from a Around noon I got hungry intention was to go to Pokhara roadside stall and a few bananas and looked for a place to eat. the following day, but as I got from an old man. I don’t think he After finding nothing in three more comfortable, I realised there really wanted to sell them, but a fter spending the last 5,000m monsters on our way against my face stretched my grin different small towns, I began to wasn’t any reason for me to get young girl came up and made the few months riding from Lhasa to Kathmandu. After from ear to ear. think it wasn’t such a great idea there before Jamie, my friend and transaction with him looking on with views of cresting Thankot I could see the It seemed as if everybody was to ride during a bandh day. fellow Peace Pedaler, who was to bewildered. majestic snow capped road winding all the way down taking advantage of the bandh— Finally I found a place that served reach a day after me. I’d let the By the time I was within 25 Apeaks rising high up into the the other side. I was met with the kids used the road like a dal-bhaat and despite having to food make the decision. Dinner km of Pokhara my stomach was deep blue skies of Tibet and astounding sight of not a single blackboard drawing pictures with wait half an hour, the food was was great. That was one decision really empty and I felt tired. My Nepal, I’ve been bitten by the vehicle on the road. This place is coloured mud, others played not too bad. taken care of. After dinner I saving grace was a pack of kids on climbing bug. I have to summit a usually a snarled honking mass of soccer and street cricket while Thankfully I didn’t run into hashed out a few songs on my bikes. They took turns helping to mountain over 8,000m, just not cars and buses. As I took the first adults strew hay across the entire any Maoists, but everytime I saw new Martin Backpacker guitar, pedal and some of them spoke today. It was the first day of a bend and started my descent, I road, I’m not sure why. More men in camouflage with guns, my but the staff’s performance put enough English to hold a simple bandh declared by the Maoists looked to my right and saw some than once I stopped to let herds heart skipped a beat or two. mine to shame. The next day I conversation, which distracted me and I was biking my way to of the higher peaks jutting up of cattle, goats, and buffalo pass. Much of the fear stemmed from did little more than type in my from my growling stomach. A Pokhara. It felt great to be back from behind the shorter Kids are always eager for a ride rumours—someone always knew journal and bask in the sun with magnificent view of the on the road. Riding at lower mountains. Halos of clouds and as a Peace Pedaler, getting or had heard of someone who was a spy novel. That night there was range also helped to elevations with plenty of oxygen circled their peaks. Even though I them to join me is part of robbed by the Maoists. We even a downpour but luckily the skies keep hunger at bay. I was accompanied by beautiful views hadn’t seen any traffic I was still spreading a little joy. It was easy heard they gave receipts for items cleared by morning. After a big fortunate enough to see nearly all is a pure pleasure. cautious when going around the enough taking them where they taken so the tourist could later breakfast I set off with farewells the peaks, that late in the day the To get out of Kathmandu turns but that caution decreased wanted, usually short distances claim insurance, or if by chance from the staff, a small bouquet of range is usually shrouded in clouds. Valley I had to bike over a small as I sped faster and faster down the road. Twice I offered they were to meet another group flowers and a Nepali ceremonial From the road they looked pass—small in comparison to the downhill. The rush of wind old men rides but they either of Maoists, prove they had scarf tied around my seatpost. massive juxtaposed against lower already “given” to the cause. The It was a long day with some forested hills. Those mountains story has been circulating long serious climbs. I was constantly are giants, marvels of tectonics. enough for there to be some truth on the lookout for kids to recruit in it. So I always kept my speed because they don’t weigh much Garryk reached Pokhara up and yelled a cheery “Namaste” and have lots of energy. They without mishap but the real as I rolled by. I was stopped at also have friends who want to adventure for the Peace Pedalers one checkpoint, but they were have a go, so you get fresh legs was to begin on their six day ride very friendly and wanted to know every few kilometres. The best from from Pokhara to Bardia if I’d seen anything. They part is hearing them laugh and National Park. They passed declined a ride. At least I tried! watch them get excited when blown bridges, slept next to At 98 km I ran into some they see people they know as Maoist camps, ate breakfast a boys who took turns riding with we ride by—their few minutes stone’s throw from their campfire me before taking me to a couple of stardom. and even unwittingly picnicked of hotels because I had to stop for Again, there was hardly any on the very spot where two police the night. The first was a dive traffic on the road. I saw a few officers had been killed. and wanted twice what I was cars and buses in the last 15 km. paying in Kathmandu. The Other than that, only two (Garryk Hampton, is co-founder of second was more of a resort and military vehicles and one the Peace Pedalers along with would accept nothing less than ambulance whizzed by. The Jamie Bianchin. They are on a five-year mission to ride through $15, which seemed unreasonable scenery from the resort to more than 100 countries and over because they had no guests and Pokhara was even more 80,000 km. They began on 13 April weren’t likely to overbook all of a spectacular. As I rounded a bend, 2002 from the US and have sudden. The third place was the I saw a waterfall spraying about pedalled in Japan, Korea, China, charm. I said my budget was Rs 10 feet like a waterslide into the Tibet and Nepal. India and Sri Lanka are next on their route. 200, and the manager said that’d river below. Above it the They tour on two tandem style be fine—a much wiser Himalaya stretched across the bikes, ideal for “guest riders”. businessman than at the previous entire skyline. I had to stop and www.peacepedalers.com) 10 WORLD 3 - 9 JANUARY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #126 ASIA 3 - 9 JANUARY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #126 11 ANALYSIS by JEFFREY D SACHS ANALYSIS by JEAN-PIERRE LEHMANN Economic woes

Scarf as symbol ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ISTANBUL - When Turkey’s President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and his JAKARTA - In the last four months, at least 19 foreign wife, both staunch secularists, left for a recent overseas trip, they companies have pulled out of Indonesia, mainly for reasons of were seen off at the airport by the speaker of Parliament and security and law, and relocated to places like Vietnam, Land of the setting sun? China, Cambodia and Australia, signalling continued his wife in what seemed like a routine exercise in protocol. But the country was in for a shock. Munevver Arinc, wife of the economic headaches for the country. The ranks of the Taxing the poor new head of Parliament from the Islamic-rooted Justice and Can a new Japanese sensibility renew unemployed are presently 8.1 million and is expected to Development Party (AKP), wore her headscarf, which is economic credibility in 2003? increase to 9.7 million people in 2003. Unofficial figures

Will the rich walk away with more? banned at schools and public offices and often identified with say the number is closer to 20 million.

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○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ religious resistance to established secular values, if not a Analysts say the creation of new jobs is an impossible task symbol of fundamentalism. for the government of Indonesian President Megawati advocating new tax cuts. But no, their Voter turnout in the 2002 election To many secularists Mrs Arinc’s headscarf was a sign that have set in motion new policies in incapable of an efficient rescue Sukarnoputri, which is desperately looking for financial highest priority is to enact more tax was only around 40 percent of AKP, despite disclaimers, was planning to undo Turkey’s staunchly Japan. The problem lay in its operation and refused the assistance of sources other than loans from the IMF and the World Bank. cuts that will mainly benefit the rich. which around half went to the secular system. The ruling party said it sees wearing headscarves corresponding ideological orthodoxy. the US 7th Fleet. Indonesia has been allocating 15 percent of its budget to At the same time, the Administration Republicans, or around 20 percent as one element in increased freedoms. The headscarf issue has Japan had developed a dirigiste Today’s deflation arises from the pay its foreign debt and 35 percent to maintain its is calling for big increases in military of eligible voters. also haunted authorities in Europe. In France, wearing closed mercantilist nationalism. state of anomie in which Japan was collapsing large companies. spending. With the November 2004 Of course, the outlook need not headscarves in secondary schools led to a fierce debate. In This was reflected in an aggressive plunged in the mid-1990s. The Relocations by foreign investors greatly affects the presidential election now coming into be so bleak. War in Iraq may be Germany a court recently ruled that a Turkish woman was industrial machismo and in various Japanese have no confidence in the government’s ability to sustain its economic program, view, you can be certain that no avoided. Proposed tax cuts may be wrongly dismissed after her German employees fired her for forms of chauvinism, illustrated by future because the establishment has because most of these firms are export-oriented and help resident Bush seems poised to meaningful cuts in non-military watered down or abandoned. But I the book, The Japan That Can Say lost credibility and legitimacy. Yet the wearing the scarf at work. The issue also ended up in court in bring much-needed revenue into Indonesia. Meanwhile, wreck America’s budget for spending programs will be made. predict large budget deficits for years Denmark and became a cause celebre in Spain. (IPS) ‘No’, (1988) co-authored by establishment remains entrenched in P years to come. When Bush So massive budget deficits seem to come, and a growing sense of the current Governor of Tokyo, power, its reforms little more than Indonesian industries have to compete with cheaper goods came into office, the outlook was for here to stay. If domestic spending unease within the US and abroad Shintaro Ishihara, and Sony cosmetic: “re-arranging of deck chairs from other South Asian countries. But despite the problems,

budget surpluses as far as the eye simply stays constant as a fraction of about America’s macroeconomic Decriminalising drugs founder Akio Morita. on the Titanic-Maru.” Indonesia’s GDP grew by 3.39 percent in late 2002. (IPS) ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ could see. Today, through a national income, the cumulative situation. Foreign investors may decide OTTOWA - The government of Prime Minister Jean Chretien is apan is sick, but once again pampered protégé. This was “real By the late 1980s the world was The Japanese tend to be patient combination of irresponsible and Bill Clinton had to raise taxes to budget outcome for the next ten years to cut back financing America’s budget examining the option of decriminalising possession of small people are becoming hopeful that geopolitik” in action. The Cold War, changing fast, but Japan refused to and disciplined but when social Replacing labour Republican-led tax cuts, a slowing clean up the Reagan-era mess. Those will be a combined deficit of $1.5 and current account deficits on J it may at long last recover, mostly the rise of Maoist China and the change. Institutions were archaic and eruptions have occurred, they have ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ amounts of marijuana, while the city of Vancouver is leading the SINGAPORE - Nearly 27,000 foreigners have left the economy, the bursting of the stock tax increases probably contributed to trillion. But this figure may be favourable terms. The dollar may country in establishing safe injection sites for heroin addicts, because a committed reformer named Korean War all made Japan pursued mistaken economic strategies also been very violent. There is also a market bubble, and a massive increase President Bush Sr’s defeat by Bill optimistic, because it probably weaken, and fears of inflation may despite pressure from the US to maintain its zero-tolerance federal Heizo Takenaka now seems to be indispensable to America. The US and structures. The illiberal strong extremist political minority recession-hit island in the year up to June, affecting highly in defense spending, huge deficits Clinton in 1992. Yet Clinton bravely doesn’t adequately factor in the costs become more pronounced. drug policy. Canadian courts have issued a series of rulings that running the economic policy. But provided military protection and vast nationalist ideological ethos brooked and a not-too-difficult to tap latent paid financial sector and information technology professionals dominate the fiscal horizon. decided to complete the process of of a possible war in Iraq, another All of this will make US allow AIDS sufferers and those with chronic illnesses to smoke what policymakers and pundits fail to economic assistance, including massive no genuine debate, let alone national chauvinism. but hurting foreign domestic workers the most. Worse is coming, because the restoring fiscal balance, in part to round of tax cuts or the risk of higher policymakers less confident and less marijuana to alleviate their pain. recognise—or refuse to recognise—is technology transfers. Most heterodox positions. Indeed, among But a different scenario is Singapore employs an estimated 140,000 foreign Bush Administration and the protect the long-term financing of interest rates in the years ahead. flexible in their responses to John Walters, the director of the US Office of National Drug that economic policies per se will not importantly, it opened its market to Japan’s most moribund institutions possible: a reinvigorated, open post- domestic workers, most of them from the Philippines, Republican-led Congress are the Social Security retirement Why are Republicans so economic shocks. The poor, both Policy, said a relaxation of Canada’s marijuana regulations would reinvigorate Japan. Their crisis is Japanese exports while allowing Japan are its universities and media. industrial, globally-oriented Japanese Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Burma. They earn between $112-196 preparing to deepen the fiscal mess. program. When Clinton left office unconcerned about this mess? Some inside the US and abroad, could expand the inflow into the US and worsen the US addiction. Robert systemic, not cyclical. The causes to protect its home market. There was no new leadership and society can be established on liberal a month and the employer pay a government levy of $194 a The damage they will do will likely in 2000, the budget situation was Republicans care more about tax cuts suffer the most, as President Bush Maginnis, a drug policy adviser to US President George Bush, are a combination of institutional Japan developed an “outward the seniority system continued to political foundations. Such a scenario month for every foreign domestic worker he or she has. Now the weaken the US and add instability to the best in decades. for the rich than they do about almost and the Congress tell the American warned that Canada/US border trade faced disruption if Ottawa sclerosis, social anomie and looking protectionist” strategy and prevail. This ossification was driven will require thorough institutional government is trying to wean residents off their reliance on foreign the world economy. Then along came President anything else. Others believe that people and the world that, due to amends its criminal code, even hinting at a possible boycott of gerontocratic governance. structure. Select sectors of Japanese by the rigid and conservative nature renewal, rejuvenation of leadership at domestic help. Traditionally, America’s George Bush Jr to replay Reagan: large deficits will force major cuts in the large budget deficits, there is no Canadian products. For several decades after WWII industry actively participated in of governance. So even as the Japanese all levels, a radical change in national An official suggestion to increase the domestic worker levy Republican Party stood for balanced tax cuts, a big increase in military domestic government spending, thus money available to address But Eugene Oscapella, an Ottawa lawyer and a co-founder of the Japanese system worked international markets. Far ranging tidal wave appeared poised to “mindset” and the opening up of to encourage employment of locals in domestic jobs was met budgets. This changed with the spending, and continuation or even shrinking the state, which is their problems of poverty, disease, and the Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy, talked of a backlash if remarkably well, not only in efforts were deployed to obtain overwhelm the world economy in the Japan’s economy and society to with protests by the population. The government needs to find Reagan Administration, when expansion of popular spending heart’s desire. The problem with this education. Unless ordinary generating growth, but in providing technology transfers. The domestic the US attempts a “war on drugs” ideology on Canadians, who are late 1980s the country was nearing foreign influences and participation. jobs for some 100,000 locals who have been left unemployed. conservative Republicans favoured tax programs. The result was predictable. latter view is that most taxpayers like Americans wake up to these fiscal increasingly sceptical of spending about $500 million a year to high levels of education, long life market however was protected by a collapse at home. There is a young generation of cuts even at the cost of large budget In January 2001, the cumulative domestic programs, and will not risks, the rich may walk away with expectancy, security and other welfare combination of industrial policy, Many of them are former factory hands who have no formal prosecute addicts and drug traffickers. (IPS) Collapse it did, in 1991. Japan Japanese who need every deficits. President Reagan told the budget outcome for the years 2002- readily support major spending cuts. another multi-billion-dollar gift as benefits to its citizens. This system cartels and a “Buy Japanese” mentality. wasted a decade. Policymakers, encouragement. Today’s trends are educational qualifications. The National Trade Union Council American people that they could enjoy 2011 was projected to be $5.6 trillion A more intriguing question is the country and the world bear the rested a cohesive political-industrial It worked fantastically well. business leaders, academics and frightening for Japan, for Asia and for (NTUC) Income’s chief executive officer Tan Kin Lian believes tax cuts, a military build-up, and in surplus. By mid-2002, those why do Americans vote for such harsh consequences for years to Going nuclear establishment, the mobilisation of By the mid-1980s Japan had journalists did not recognize their the world. (© Project Syndicate) that many unemployed Singaporeans could be trained to do continuation of their favourite projected surpluses had vanished. policies, when they should know that come. (© Project Syndicate) ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ resources to achieve national economic more than caught up. The 1985 New country’s problems. the work done by foreign domestic workers if locals are UNITED NATIONS - The United Nations appears unable or unwilling spending programs all at the same In view of these changed economic trouble would probably result. One ends and America’s defensive shield. York Plaza Hotel meeting of US, A day of reckoning came with the (Jean-Pierre Lehmann, Professor of persuaded it is ‘respectable’. (IPS) to react, caught in the middle of a new political showdown time. The result—no surprise—was a conditions, and the shadow of war in answer is that many voters do not see (Jeffrey D Sachs is Professor of Almost immediately after defeat European, and Japan’s finance Kobe earthquake on 17 January International Political Economy, between the United States and North Korea over weapons of series of vast budget deficits that took Iraq, you might expect the Bush the looming budget troubles. A better economics and Director of the in WWII, Japan metamorphosed ministers—a meeting where the yen 1995. As thousands died, the IMD, is a Founding Director of the mass destruction. North Korea openly defied the US last week by True globalisation

years to clean up. Administration and the Republican- answer is that most Americans did Earth Institute at Columbia from being America’s enemy into its was considerably re-valued—should government froze, proving itself Evian Group, Lausanne, ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ declaring its intention to revive its long dormant nuclear weapons Both President George Bush Sr led Congress to be cautious in not actually vote for these policies. University.) Switzerland.) NEW DELHI - Peace and security as factors to counter neo- program. A UN spokesperson said there were no indications for a liberal globalisation will dominate the Asian Social Forum formal Council meeting to discuss the emerging crisis. COMMENT by BYUNG-JOON AHN (ASF) to be held in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad this North Korea said that it was restarting its nuclear reactor for OPINION by ALEKSANDER KWASNIEWSKI badly needed electricity following a decision by the US and other week, as a prelude to the World Social Forum (WSF) in Brazil Western nations to cut off oil shipments. The cut resulted after later in January. The ASF has emerged as the rallying point for reports that the country had been making secret efforts to those opposed to globalisation and the ‘Washington continue its nuclear weapons program in violation of its 1994 The North’s nukes Consensus’ on economic liberalisation. agreement with the US. orth Korea’s decision to expel UN atomic without changing his stance on engaging North This six-day conference will include leading human rights Unlike its stand against Iraq, the US has refused to threaten energy inspectors is but another reason to Korea means that times have radically changed. A activists such as Asma Jehangir from Pakistan, Walden Bello, Honest politics commentator on globalisation from the Philippines and Samir North Korea with military action because of a possible retaliation Nview Roh Moo Hyun’s election as South yearning for change is now the overriding concern of hose who desire to treat politics and Kant described two types. The political moralist by Pyongyang against two close US allies: South Korea and Korea’s president as a watershed. The beginning of ordinary Koreans. Amin, the France-based authority on western imperialism. “ morals separately will never who wants to “hammer out morality” and the Japan. Recently however, US Defence Secretary Donald his term coincides with one of the most dangerous Roh’s campaign also took advantage of a rising There will be testimonies from Nora de Cortinas of the T understand anything of either.” So moral politician, who rejects cynical pragmatism Rumsfeld said the US was militarily capable of fighting and winning episodes on the Korean peninsula in decades and anti-US tide. The acquittal by a US military court of Argentinean group Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, Sahar Saba wrote Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and I agree. The but does not succumb to naive moralising. He two wars simultaneously—one against Baghdad and the other will test South Korea’s relations with the US to a two American soldiers who accidentally killed two of the Revolutionary Association of the Women in Afghanistan practice of politics can and must be reconciled will not lose sight of higher objectives in against Pyongyang. The US has about 37,000 soldiers on South degree that has not been seen for many years. Korean schoolgirls with their armored car last June (RAWA). Former Indian president K R Narayanan, Nouri with the imperatives of honesty. But what is pursuing even partial goals with patience and Korean soil. (IPS) Roh’s victory over Lee Hoi Chang signifies a triggered street demonstrations across the country. Abdula Razzak Hussain and Francisco Whitaker are honesty or dishonesty in a politician? Is it compromise . generational shift in Korean politics, with the Demands continue for changing the Status of Force scheduled to speak at the conference. possible for a politician to be honest at all? An honest politician pursues pragmatism Disputed crown young determined to gain a freer hand in Korea. Agreement (SOFA) that governs the legal treatment Jeevan Reddy, chairman of the WSF, said the meet is a

The question goes to the heart of democracy. built on principles, on the courage to say ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Indeed, generational differences were the deciding of US troops stationed in South Korea. Ordinary “true globalisation of people”. More than 10,000 delegates When voters write off politicians, anti- unpleasant things, but always with a constructive MEXICO CITY - For the last 15 years, Mexico has been demanding factor in the race, replacing the regional sentiments Koreans insist US soldiers who commit crimes from over 300 organisations will participate in an open forum democratic movements thrive. All politicians attitude. Indeed, the eagerness to expose and the return of the headdress or “penacho” that belonged to that dominated every presidential race before this should be tried in Korean courts. structured into eight major conferences, smaller seminars, know ambiguity and compromise tend to prevail publicise a problem without proposing feasible Moctezuma Xocoyotzin (1466-1520), the last emperor of the Aztec one. According to one report, over 60 percent of This expression of wounded national pride was workshops and discussions. (IPS) over universal truths. Sometimes one must solutions, is perhaps the most common form of dynasty, from people in the 20-30 age group voted for Roh to enabled by South Korea’s tremendous performance choose the lesser evil. Our ordinary standards of dishonesty in politics. Austria. Austria produce a margin of 2.3 percent in this first two- in the World Cup football tournament last decency and righteousness cannot always be This is why actual governance is so often the claims to be the sole man, head-to-head presidential race in 31 years. summer, which helped convince ordinary Koreans Under scrutiny

Can President Roh walk the ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ applied—but not because cynicism and best test of political honesty. In democratic and legitimate owner Roh’s populist and nationalist stance will be tightrope of maintaining security on they might be able to stand without the presence of BANGKOK - Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s third year in hypocrisy are all that matter in politics. countries, voters can and often do punish their of the artefact. swiftly and sorely tested by reality when he 37,000 US troops. Indeed, many ordinary people office is going to come under severe scrutiny in the new year. A assumes power in February. But couple the now view the US presence, and not North Korea’s Political dishonesty takes different forms. dishonesty at the ballot box. The toughest test of The piece, made the peninsula, keeping America network of 50 NGOs plans to host a “people’s parliament” at a One who is dishonest to begin with, will be a an honest politician comes when defending ideas with feathers of the generational changeover that put him in office with communist regime, as the biggest obstacle to engaged, and retaining the support university here in March 2003 to give the Thai public a venue to dishonest leader, ideologue or diplomat in any that are unpopular but right. Not everyone “quetzal”, a bird a strong popular desire for continued engagement unification. According to a recent poll, 31.7 percent circumstance. Another type is the well-meaning passes such a test, particularly when elections are native to southern with North Korea—not withstanding North of the voters who oppose the stationing of US troops in the country. criticise the kind of development that the Thaksin administration dilettante. Clumsy and amateurish, he harms approaching. While the dishonest politician Mexico and Central Korea’s growing nuclear brinkmanship—and the elected him? These sentiments will test Roh’s presidency has pursued in its two years in office—one that sceptics say does the interests he aims to advance. Political It goes to the heart equates politics only with popularity, the moral America, and recipe is complete for disputes with the US. from the start, for he must re-engineer relations with not heed the voices of affected communities. “gamblers” put competence to bad use. They are politician cannot succeed in ensuring the currently in danger of extinction, was taken from Mexico during the Roh, a self-made man who passed a bar examination without going to college America at the same time that the Bush administration is fretting about North Activists recently launched a campaign to collect 50,000 skilled, ruthless, lack humility and eschew of democracy. common good single-handedly. Only when Spanish Conquest, some 500 years ago. Austria purchased it in and law school, succeeded in convincing voters that he would usher in a new Korea’s nuclear ambitions. For now, Korean voters—apparently impervious to the signatures in order to oust Thaksin from office, a move reflection. A close kin is the political politicians support one another’s decency can 1880, and it has been on exhibit in Vienna since 1929. brand of politics reflecting South Korea’s growing wealth and middle class North Korean nuclear threat—support Roh’s policy of maintaining dialogue and sanctioned by Thailand’s 1997 constitution. The signatures in “troublemaker”, who pursues his soaring ambitions by any means, whatever the they rise above their political divisions. Efforts to win the return of the historic headdress gathered sentiments, thereby sweeping away insider-dominated politics, regional bickering, economic exchange with the North. support of dismissal have to be submitted with a petition to the risks. The political “fanatic” is also dishonest, blinded by the conviction that he is But political honesty is not the sole responsibility of politicians. Public force after anthropologists, biologists and other experts from and factional struggles. His style and rhetoric projected the fresh (for Korea!) Under President Roh, South Korea’s domestic politics and relations with the Senate to institute an inquiry. These actions by activists were always right. The fanatic is a steamroller ready to flatten everything in his way. opinion must play a part. Honesty is more likely to take root in a society marked both Mexico and Austria drew up a plan to determine whether image of a common man committed to eliminating the ossified networks of US and North Korea will require an almost total overhaul. Can he walk the triggered by his government’s stance on two controversial By contrast, the political “wheeler-dealer” is no less dishonest. He is spineless, by a culture of tolerance, solidarity and the equal rights. the artefact is authentic and to assess the state of its cronyism and corruption. tightrope of maintaining security on the peninsula, keeping America engaged, and projects—the Thai-Malaysian gas pipeline in southern lacks principle and retreats from responsibility. I am a political practitioner, first and foremost. So I know that no theory, no preservation. The Austrian Ministry of Education and Culture For the first time in modern Korean history, the presidential campaign retaining the support of the voters who elected him? Reconciling those goals would Thailand and the Pak Mun dam. There are more general political postures, led by cynical forms of amount of analysis, can free a politician from bouts of soul-searching, from gave the scientists permission to study the piece only under debated central issues rather than focussing on parties and personalities. test even the most experienced and cynical of politicians, so it is anyone’s guess as But Thaksin may have little reason to panic. His pragmatism. It is embodied in the principle that the end justifies the means troubling his or her conscience with questions about what is and what is not glass because of its fragility. Candidate Roh called for a new relationship between South Korea and the US, one to whether President Roh can succeed. Failure, however, offers such a horrific administration has seen an economic growth this year of more whenever moral imperative conflicts with political interests. At the other extreme honest when confronting political choices. Above all else, the honest politician Historians and indigenous organisations say its recovery based on the principle of independence and equality. He said he would not kow- prospect that no one can possibly hope for it. (© Project Syndicate) than 5 percent and there continues to be wide support for is a naive, utopian, and moralistic stance. It deplores the grit and relativism of willingly shoulders this burden. (© Project Syndicate) would be the beginning of efforts to win the return of dozens tow to the US. He also promised to continue President Kim Dae Jung’s “sunshine some of his universal health care scheme and poverty politics. History is not an idyll and politicians’ biographies do not read like the of valuable pre-Hispanic objects they say were taken illegally policy” of engagement with the North. (Byung-joon Ahn is Visiting Professor of International Relations at the reduction program for villagers. Most significantly, Thaksin lives of the saints. (Aleksander Kwasniewski is President of Poland. This text is based upon from Mexico. (IPS) Remarkably, Roh won the election despite North Korea’s decision to reactivate National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, Tokyo and a Member of the commands an unprecedented majority in parliament. (IPS) This does not mean that we cannot identify honest politicians. Immanuel his recent speech to Project Syndicate member editors in Vienna. ) nuclear reactors that had been frozen since 1994. That he overcame this obstacle Korean National Academy of Sciences.) 12 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS THIS PAGE CONTAINS MATERIAL SELECTED FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 3 - 9 JANUARY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #126 HISTORY AND CULTURE 3 - 9 JANUARY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #126 13

Elections in April why shouldn’t His Majesty make FICTION by NAYANTARA KAKSHAPATI NEPALITERATURE by MANJUSHREE THAPA ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ an effort? It is important to cast Dipak Bhattarai in Space Time, aside the legal and constitutional TIME IS PASSING 30 December questions and ask: who wants to Of the people mobilise the crowds in the name SUBHAS RAI Shailendra Sakar By April 2003 the government is of the king, and why? Are they doing it for the protection and Up the drains of Kathmandu aving steadily put Losar, 1 Baisakh and Bhintuna behind us, we have Deshantar, 29 December preparing to hold elections for Third in the British Council Short Story Competition (18-35) local bodies in areas that are not continuity of the monarchy, or now arrived at the last new years of the year—and let us hope it marks a for their own short-term gain? To: [email protected] Hi Ma, H change in our fortunes; for the past year, by any calendar’s mark, has The strongest message to come out of a six-month research conducted by the Centre for Economic and extremely affected by the Maoist been singularly destructive. Social Development (CESOD) is people across the country are terrified but are still holding onto their faith in Given the limited time, only From: [email protected] Do I absolutely HAVE to go to that puja? And please don’t say young girls today insurgency. The government is Subject: Interview are losing every moral and religious morsel they ever possessed. I had to fight Shailendra Sakar’s poems have the emotional gravity and intellectual a democratic system. A whopping 72.36 percent of the respondents side squarely with a democratic system the king can analyse this. An expected to present its proposal in Date: 5 July 2002 very hard to make this appointment with the Mayor and I cannot shift it to another weight—as well as elegance—to make us feel by turns unstrung and incensed and a constitutional monarchy. The research, conducted between February and July 2002, does not aloof palace secretariat that is an all-party meeting likely to be time. The Major does not have time to “entertain student writers” I was told. Please about the rush of time that leaves us all behind. The first poem below matches incorporate opinions regarding the royal move in October. About 11 percent favour a Panchayat era single- divorced from the will of the convened by Prime Minister Dear Dr Stoles, Ma, go on without me tomorrow. And do pray for me. today’s mood, though it was, like the poem that follows it, published in 1990 party political system, while only 9.4 percent of respondents support a people’s republic proposed by the people cannot do this. The I believe Mrs Khatri from The Valley Times mentioned to you on the phone Chori Lokendra Bahadur Chand soon. in Sakar’s poetry collection Sarpaharu Geet Gaundainan. underground Maoist party. Official sources said in the first urgent necessity now is to bridge three forces in the country, yesterday that I wished to interview you. I would very much appreciate half an the gap between the king and the namely the monarchy, hour of your time, at your convenience next week. I am a Journalism student at To: [email protected] phase elections for local bodies the University of Bhaktapur and an intern at The Valley Times. I am doing some From: [email protected] NEW YEAR could be held in 30 out of 75 political parties, since only that parliamentary and proletariat research on for the cover story on the drainage system in the city. I read your Subject: pages 6-7 This new year too in those same eyes districts in the country. The will bolster the strength of the revolutionary, to find a way out. book, Urban Planning or the Lack of it in Kathmandu. It always fascinates me Date: 13 July 2002 Elements destabilising the country % What can mitigate the effects of the the same stamp of theatricality former Deuba government had constitutional forces and in turn We have constantly said we are how people like yourself, come to Nepal from oceans away, and manage to learn insurgency and improve living standards? % and publish more about Nepal, than us who live and work here all our lives. I Deepak ji, I wanted to learn and I’m going to see Maoist insurgency 26.41 authorised government employees give legitimacy to future ready to carry out either talks or negotiations with the Maoists. military actions to this end. The hope to further this line of thought with you in person soon. Please keep pages 6 and 7 open for the mayor’s interview. And no I won’t need each moment of time passing by a unit of time Corruption 21.18 Infrastructure development 45.32 to run local bodies after the tenure page 5 for a full colour picture of him! Thanks for your generosity with the pages Such an alliance of constitutional other sides have not been able to I wanted to understand and I’m going to hold onto Unaccountability 12.82 Improve peace and security 21.88 of the popularly elected Sincerely, though. It really comes through at times of need. the melting snow mountain of lifespan forces will also convert the internalise our demands that we Pareli Shrestha Pareli Insecurity 11.74 Employment 13.33 representatives expired in mid-July How will the sun place its strange footsteps Maoists’ current modus operandi put forward in a very responsible Intern Journalist Weak government 6.18 Cottage industry 5.20 2002. His government had also in people’s eyes expressed its commitment to hold into an imperative for talks. If way considering the sensitive geo- The Valley Times To: [email protected] Unemployment 3.43 Education 4.12 From: [email protected] How will it recall its own presence? elections within last year. Various the king, can in the next two or political situation and present Illiteracy 2.73 Fulfillment of basic needs 3.87 To: [email protected] Subject: Gai Jatra 1PM? I wanted to touch each face of time as it passed donor agencies have agreed to three days, take the necessary power balance in the country. We From: [email protected] Date: 13 July 2002 Establish skill-training centres 1.48 I truly felt greedy to see the face of the coming day Poverty 2.30 provide Nepal a grant worth Rs 13 steps to defuse the situation, are not talking about carrying out Subject: Greeeeen! Eeks! Lack of unity among parties 2.11 Good governance 1.46 then there will be spontaneous a “New Democratic Revolution” Date: 5 July 2002 Subeer, room wall street fetid alleyways billion over the next decade after in the papers in shops the premonition of coming days Democracy (for Maoists) 1.65 Others 7.00 the elections. public felicitations for him all but are only raising the issue of Are you free at 2 tomorrow? The Mayor’s office called and informed me that all over the country. completing bourgeoisie Subeer, “student writers” need an official escort. I can only fume in indignation and ask you eager to learn who’s hammering relentlessly at the granite of time Inequality (for Maoists) 1.64 The page 14 ad DID come out horrible. And after all those hours I spent with to kindly “escort” me. Actually, would it be possible to leave at 1? It’s Gai Jatra democracy. It is very unfortunate Shattering shattering will it then emerge Non-Communist institutions (for Maoists) 0.51 Deepak ji on the computer! How our dandy “creative director” can be so colour tomorrow and I don’t want to risk getting stuck in traffic and you know how in a whole new form? King’s move and paradoxical that parliamentary blind is beyond me. And how the Boss is so nonchalant about the appearance of frustrating that can get. You’re my knight in shining armour!

International interference (for Maoists) 0.24 ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Make peace ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ his product, well that I suppose is none of my concern. Like he so eloquently put Dowry (in ) 0.02 Yubaraj Ghimire in Kantipur forces failed to respond to our Who’s shaking the tree of time to drop the bodhi seeds Reasons for joining insurgency % Baburam Bhattarai via email in proposal in a manner we expected. it the other day, I am but an intern here. Sigh. The charms of wanting to be the Your feeble female colleague, New years 30 December Princess of the Print world are slowly fading I’m afraid. Pareli Poverty, unemployment 26.75 Saanghu, 30 December If the elections to the Ripping up and tossing away those same days opening those constituent assembly are held, the Political system of choice % Unaccountability 19.09 A public felicitation is just a The not-so-Princessy Pareli To: [email protected] same peels Our party strongly believes that ‘state authority’ and ‘sovereignty’ Social discrimination 16.27 formality. Before going into any From: [email protected] unclosing those same pupa breaking those same mirrors Multiparty system with constitutional there is no alternative to a joint said to be inherent in the To: [email protected] Subject: Task force Crisis of governance 15.19 such exercise it is necessary to standing at the door wiping those same mouths—aspirations on loan monarchy 72.36 people’s movement comprising all monarchy will be formally From: [email protected] Date: 14 July 2002 the butterfly comes in season books in time night and day in Injustice 13.61 work towards building Subject: pages 2-6 Single party system 11.27 the leftist and non-leftist transferred to the people. It will time Violence 8.59 confidence between the king and Date: 6 July 2002 Dear Dr Stoles, Communism (the Maoist brand) 9.41 the public. Neither Badri Prasad democratic forces. Only such a also facilitate the movement of I am pleased that you thought the article was good. I have you to thank. I realise the butterfly comes in season casting off pupa Don’t know 0.45 parliamentary and proletariat Military rule 2.94 Mandal nor the palace nationwide movement can make Deepak ji, there is more to this issue than what went down in print. I met with the Mayor A new day has come through the back door—a new year Don’t know 4.02 Corruption 0.05 secretariat are in a position to bourgeoisie democracy complete. If forces. This may, in turn, resolve Please keep pages 3 and 4 open for the Dr Stoles interview. And yes I need yesterday and he has agreed to appoint a special taskforce to look into the matter. pages 2,5 and 6 too. It’s the cover story Deepak ji, of course I will need space. I ventured into suggesting that in addition to the expertise of his own office, the Without my knowledge its sunlight has reached my bed build that trust because they the present ruling forces agree to problems that have plagued us Even as I close the window make the people sovereign and find in the past. task force be comprised of residents from at least eight local wards and an Urban Situation of the village men (in percent) women (in percent) either don’t have a feel for the Thank you, Development expert. I took the liberty of suggesting your name Dr Stoles. And I as I go on strike as I refuse pulse of the people, or the a permanent solution to the As far as the issue of Pareli suspect in an attempt to spite my cheek, Mr Mayor suggested that I oversee this without my knowledge someone’s opened the back door of Terrifying 70 67 people simply don’t believe problem through peaceful talks involvement of international daunting task as coordinator. I take it as an honour, whatever the intentions may the room of unawareness of the semi-awareness wrapped over Easeful 6 5 them. then we are ready to take part in forces is concerned, we want our To: [email protected] have been! So I write to ask you for your time and energy in helping me. I don’t the brain Don’t know 15 28 From: [email protected] think it is often that the Mayor’s office, willingly or unwillingly, agrees to involve That is why His Majesty such a dialogue. We have already domestic conflict resolved the day has entered like a thief like a wrongdoer formed a dialogue committee for internally without the Subject: Pick up- sorry "outsiders" in municipal matters and I aim to make the most of this unexpected himself must analyse the pros Date: 8 July 2002 opening in their defenses. I’m not ready to accept it and cons of participating in the this purpose. intervention of foreign forces. If Please say yes! Source of terror % the situation demands How greedy am I how eager? public felicitation program [in We hope that our immediate Hi Ma, Gratefully yours, Still, somehow, suddenly they keep arriving— Maoists 26.4 Biratnagar on Friday]. Even if it demands—including holding a otherwise, we will have to The tests are clear! Bhaguwaan be praised! Now that all your medical worries are Pareli Shrestha Government institutions 4.8 taken care of, try and have a good relaxing holiday okay? Give Ba my love. each new year being forced upon us is to save one person whose life roundtable conference, formation accept a genuinely true, Both 60.2 of an interim government and independent and impartial force Take lots of pictures! I am looking after Maya. Don’t worry we are not fighting. To: [email protected] The second poem is a simpler meditation on the same theme: our inability may be in danger because of his You guys just have a good time and give Mama and Maiju our love. From: [email protected] Others 3.7 elections to the constituent or an institution in the role of a to control roguish time. Don’t know 4.9 or her participation at the event, Oh and Ma, I have an important interview for the cover story scheduled for Subject: names-urgent! assembly—are acceptable to all facilitator or mediator. 11 on Tuesday. If it isn’t over on time, Maya will pick you up at the airport. It’s Date: 19 July 2002 the first time they have agreed to give me a chance to work on anything bigger TIME than two columns Ma and I want to be as thorough as possible and prove it to Subeer, Hanging an x-ray of a friend’s fractured hand them that a young female Nepali CAN be an effective journalist. I need the names and addresses of those people urgently! If we do not submit the like a frame in the center of a room’s clean wall QUOTE OF THE WEEK See you soon and have a safe flight back. candidates profiles for the task force by 5PM, they might scrap the whole idea. I’ve Love, put too much into this project to let it slip by. Please hurry! I owe you big time I look at it and see an illusion— Chori buddy. It’s a carved lattice window The king can be publicly felicitated for his work at the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation and Sanctuary Pareli Sanctuary It’s possible to see the open sky through it for his contributions to the industrial sector. His hotel is operating well and the employees there receive To: [email protected] If I examine the x-ray against bright lights good salaries and benefits. But he cannot be felicitated for what happened on 4 October. From: [email protected] One month later I’ll see in it broken, bent and shattered bones Subject: Thank you scattered so that they can’t be joined Date: 11 July 2002 To: [email protected] - Comrade Swanam, leader – NCP (Ekatakendra- Masal) From: [email protected] Otherwise, glancing quickly— Dear Dr Stoles, Subject: puja It’s a design for an attractive window Thank you so much for your time on Tuesday. I had a truly inspirational 45 Date: 20 August 2002 Like this x-ray time is hanging minutes. After our discussion, some research on my own, and walking down my flooded stretch of pot-holed street for the sixth time today, I am convinced it is Dear Ma, all over the clean wall of my life about time the Kathmandu Municipality begin to review the current state of How is Maiju feeling now? Better after physical therapy I hope. We all miss you at Meditating upon impermanence—or just feeling it acutely—is said to the city drainage system and some public indignation be expresses in the home. The task force has finally been approved! The Mayor’s office made the motivate us to make the most of every moment of our short time on earth. media. Your interview will be printed as part of the cover story for Friday’s announcement today and have confirmed that I am to coordinate. Dr Stoles agreed issue. I hope the dual timing of your recommendations and the fresh too. Things are finally looking up. Ma, please tell Ba not to speak to the Boss. He is Perhaps our decision-makers should read Sakar’s poems in the original memory of daily downpours will result in some substantial public reaction. I difficult to work with but I will deal with it in good time, in my own way. It will look Nepali? …And allow us to have a constructive new year. hope to compile a concrete collection of public opinions for the following beneath Ba to “talk” to him about his bad manners. week. Let us hope we can keep this discussion heated for at least two if not three weeks in a row, and then submit it to the government. Something will Chori come out of this. I send you a copy of the proof and once again, a load of Eight months later EASYEASYEASY TIMESTIMESTIMES gratitude for all your help. It’s never been easier to To: [email protected] subscribe to Pareli Shrestha From: [email protected] Nepali Times Himal Khabarpatrika, 31 December-14 January Subject: phew! Just dial this number and To: [email protected] Date: 15 April 2003 leave your address. “Father was eating when they came and dragged him out and killed him.” From: [email protected] “Our father had gone to teach, he didn’t come back.” Subject: party-sorry Dear Subeer, Date: 12 July 2002 I hope you are liking New Zealand and the new job. We, I mostly, miss you here at 543333 This is the horror that children like Sangita and Sarala have to live with. Sangita’s father, Sohan Yadav, a the office. Thanks for all the praise but I assure you, half of it is totally farmer from Banke was beaten to death with clubs by the Maoists. Security forces killed Sarala’s father, a Subeer, unwarranted. Onto the good news; the task force recommendations and our teacher also from Banke. Both the girls now live in a children’s home established by Sahara Samuha in I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to the party last night. I was up till 3 reading letters proposed budget has been ratified. The Boss actually made note of my Nepalganj for the rehabilitation of children who are victims of the insurgency. The group, which started we received in response to the drainage system piece. Please congratulate your contributions, ahem, that too a staff meeting today! I’m hoping they will work fast operating from 17 November, has enough room for 50 children. sister and Bhenaju and little Subeerab (why do I sense the new uncle is all so when you get back in August, your streets will not be flooded, your brother’s puffed up with pride?) for me. As for your sister’s curiosity with regard to when Eight children now live at the home. Six of them had no one left to support them, two of the children bike not sputter at every turn and your sister’s (God bless her soul, she has I’m ‘catching a man’, I’ll definitely let her know when I’m open for business. For presented me with three promising candidates for my matrimonial perusal this were left homeless by the security forces. Balkrishna Joshi, secretary of Sahara Samuha says, “It doesn’t all PhD wisdom, she can be very one tracked. No offense. month alone!) brand new Persian carpet is not ruined by seepage. Dr Stoles, highly matter whether the children have been rendered helpless by the Maoists, the police or anyone. We treat See you at work on Monday. impressed by my ruthlessness with the government officials has offered me a them the same.” Pareli scholarship to do my Masters in Urban Development at the Institution for Urban The home is run on Rs 350,000 donated by locals and needs more money since there are so many who Development Studies in Geneva! I am to begin in Spring. Hurry and come home Wow, how smart! They’ve already bought helmets. Okay, let’s go. need help. Supporting one child for a month is estimated at Rs 1,200. Says President Chandra Prasad To: [email protected] Subeer, things seem to be working out too well, I need one of those reality checks Timilsina, “There’s a danger of those affected by violence to seek revenge. The children’s home wants to help From: [email protected] you so adeptly administer. Nepal Samacharpatra, 1 January, 2003. them avoid the violent path, and to work towards peace.” Subject: Puja Date: 13 July 2002 Pareli 14 CITY 3 - 9 JANUARY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #126 ARCHITECTURE 3 - 9 JANUARY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #126 15 BOOKWORM The mood in the no-nonsense How to combine study is tranquil. The computer table The Brick and the Bull: An account of Handigaun, the ancient capital of Nepal old and new, and is low and the keyboard is just the Sudarshan Raj Tiwari right height to sit cross-legged. A Himal Books, 2002 blend it with the passage off the study leads to a simple, Rs 1,150 elegant and sophisticated bathroom. The bath is softly contoured to lend Handigaun, the earliest known urban settlement of Kathmandu Valley, was the site of the medieval The house grace. The blue and white coloured great Kirat and Lichchhavi palaces and served as the capital of the Valley for more than a that tiles add a contemporary dash to a millenium. Tiwari, an architect and cultural historian, weaves a fascinating past with the urbanscape of brass washbasin. power places and public spaces still in use. ABOUT TOWN This floor opens up into a Rana style Bhaktapur. balcony (bardali) adorned with a lamp FESTIVAL AND EXHIBITIONS (sukunda) and an Israeli hammock, Halfway to the mountain: the Jirels of Eastern Nepal H Sidky, J Subedi, J Hall, Rabindra built Card design exhibition by Dewendra Pandey, Nepal Art Council, which somehow doesn’t look odd. Babarmahal. 10AM-4PM, till 6 January. 220735 S Williams-Blangero The kitchen is in the attic and it’s Paintings by Stina Haldorsen at Siddhartha Art Gallery. 11AM-6PM from Centre for Nepal and Asian Studies, Tribhuvan University, 2002 mix of modern appliances with brass 10-19 January. 411122 Rs 1,500 utensils symbolises the balance of Snow and other adventures: “Poems in Frames” by Mark Wyatt at Lazimpat The Jirel people of Dolakha display a mixture of diverse cultural elements from Hinduism, ancient and modern sensibilities in this Gallery Café, Lazimpat. Buddhism and Shamanistic traditions that they have adapted to unique ways. The authors remarkable house. Woodturning in Kathmandu by Dan Hogan, and Unspoken Words: new emphasise the extraordinary Jirel sociocultural and religious traditions located halfway “My house is an interpretation of Tibetan Calligraphy by Dhumakhang at Indigo Gallery, Kathmandu. 8AM-6PM till between the lowlands and the lofty mountains. how upper-middle class families can 14 January. 413580 combine comfort and at the same time New Road Street Festival Free 3-4 January, Kathmandu preserve our traditional architecture Date Conversion Chart: Bikram to Christian Era Tri Ratna Manandhar (ed) which holds the secret to our diverse EVENTSEVENTSEVENTS Centre for Nepal and Asian Studies, Tribhuvan University, 2002 cultural past,” says Puri. “Hopefully it Winter Day Camp ECCA for students (Class 4-9) 29 December-14 January. ECCA, Rs 115 will impress and influence others.” Thapathali, Kathmandu. 268297,268328 email: [email protected] A handy guide for those who have to switch from AD to BS and vice-versa. This slim book Free Aura-Diagnosis: Andreas Lohmann gives aura advice.11AM-4PM on 4 January will be invaluable to researchers, historians and students. The conversion chart begins in In the January Himal Encounter Kali free entrance. 5PM, 4 January. Aura-Seminar Learn to perceive aura, heal and 1752 and ends in 1906 when the Nepal calendar was transformed from the lunar to a solar listen to your inner guidance by Andreas and Kali Ma: Rs 2000, 10AM-6PM on 5 January. All at the KTM based system. The living room has a pleasing In Centre of Healing, Maharajgunj. 425946 New Road ambience. The architect has been a little audacious by introducing a search MUSICMUSICMUSIC Courtesy: Mandala Book Point, Kantipath, 227711, [email protected] fireplace, alien to traditional Nepali of Asia Live music by Catch 22, Friday nights at the 40,000 ½ ft Bar, Rum Doodle Restaurant, Thamel. houses.The floor is laid with baked 414336 clay bricks (tilya eit) and accented by Rethinking the

CLASSIFIED MOHEINDU AMIRAN CHEMJONG Acoustic jam at Moksh, Sanepa (inside Club Hardic) 6:30 onwards on 3 January. Free. 528703 Afghani rugs. The lounge leads to two politics, Shikhar Music Beat competition and performances Free 2PM onwards at Dasrath MOHEINDU AMIRAN you will realise how cleverly it and helping build an ashram in beautiful adjacent rooms which serve culture and

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CHEMJONG○○○○○○ combines old with new. Rabindra’s Dolalghat. as resplendent reading rooms. history of the email: [email protected] or ring 425- l’Annapurna t’s fitting to find the perfect attachment to the house is almost After selecting this house in The overall impression is of space. continent There DRINKSDRINKSDRINKS 931 marriage of traditional emotional: when he was a boy, Bhaktapur, Rabindra remodelled it The lounge on the third floor is Friday Indulgence Irish music from An Fainne, tasting with 12 Scottish single malts, Rs 999. The Naked Chef – Room, breakfast, dinner package architecture and modern living in Rabindra saw an old and familiar and did the interiors himself. After particularly beautiful with a wooden is no PLUS: WAR Piano Lounge, Hotel Yak & Yeti. 248999 Visit Ground Zero Fine wines, designer programme NRs.1170 or US $15.New Year Special Bhaktapur, the Valley’s best- house being torn down. The loss passing through a pagoda-style gateway threshold and pillars that support the Paddy Foley’s Irish Pub A wide range of drinks and food. Live music on Wednesday, Thursday and candles, cards, exclusive Nepali paper Tel: 413628/680006 Ipreserved town. affected him deeply, and although he you see the exterior of the house with main ceiling (dalin). The pillars are IN THE Sunday nights. 416096. products, silver jewellery, wooden items, A few blocks off the Dattatreya has a degree in development policy its subdued elegance and impeccable embellished with elaborate WESTERN Temple in this ancient town is from Germany’s Bremen University, workmanship of brick and wood. traditional carvings. The floor has a TARAI Asia FOODFOODFOOD For insertions ring NT Marketing at 543333-36. Rabindra Puri’s house, and you could architecture has always been his At the entrance stands wooden simple, all-purpose straw mat The greenest patch Weekend lunches in the oldest and largest garden in Nagarkot at The Fort be excused for walking right past it: so hobby. After working for the German beams, made from original, antique (sukul). The play of the light is an TO SUBSCRIBE yet Resort, [email protected]. 226799 well does this 150-year-old Newari- aid group, GTZ and Patan Museum, wood. In the foreground of the lobby excellent architectural addition, CALL 543-333 OR Wood fired pizzas, cocktails and coffee at the Roadhouse Café, Thamel. WRITE TO style townhouse blend with the 33-year-old Rabindra is now are two exquisite windows in highlighting specific spaces SUBSCRIPTION@ Sekuwa Saanjh with Rusty Nails at Dwarika’s Hotel. Rs 555 plus tax per person with free beer or surroundings. But once you enter it, designing a nature club in Dhapasi latticework (tikijhyal). and objects. HIMALMAG.COM soft drink. 479488 extn: 432. Patan Museum Café Mixed menu, garden seating. Lunch only, 11AM-2PM. 25 percent off with Summit Card. 526271 Vegetarian specialties and clay oven pizza at Stupa View Restaurant & Terrace, Boudha. 480262 Taste of Beijing Roast duck and other Chinese meat, fish and vegetarian delicacies. Beijing Roast Duck Restaurant, Birendra International Convention Centre. 468589 Newari Bhoj Traditional snacks, drinks and meals, outdoors or indoor, in a restaurant designed by Bhaktapur artisans. Lajana Restaurant. Lazimpat. 413874 James Bond’s 20th cinematic outing, Die An- Traditional Newari and Nepali Cuisine 6 to 20 course meals at Krishnarpan Restaurant. Lunch and other Day, keeps things fresh. Bond is leaner, dinner. Reservations recommended. 479488 extn: 230 meaner and edgier, especially when MI6 strips him of his double-O status after his imprison- Die Tukche Thakali Kitchen Buckwheat, barley, bean, and dried meat specialties. Also brunch with porridge and pancakes, all raw material from Tukche village. Darbar Marg. ment in a North Korean prison. Pierce Brosnan’s fourth movie as the super suave spy has more GETAWAYS than the usual signature action chases, requi- Another site gorgeous co-stars, snappy one liners and Tea House Combo Room, breakfast, Nepali thali dinner, swimming, jacuzzi. Rs 700 per head on twin exotic locales. Judi Dench (M) and John Cleese sharing for Nepalis and expats, Tea House Inn, Nagarkot. 410432 (Q) return in this sequel, joined by Halle Berry Birdwatching, short hikes at Bandipur. Rs 1,850 per person with dinner and breakfast, Rs 925 per (Jinx), Rosamund Pike (Miranda Frost) and a Day child 5-14 years Shivapuri Heights Cottage, [email protected], 370616 cameo appearance by Maddona, who also sings The Great Godavari Getaway Special weekend packages including room with breakfast and the title track. Die Another Day will silence crit- JAI NEPAL CINEMA dinner, 25 percent discount on health club facilities. Godavari Village Resort. 560675 ics who said the Bond series should’ve been 12PM, 3PM, 6PM Writing Retreat Full board package. Aesthetic living, innovative thinking, creative writing and nature buried years ago. Telephone booking: 442220 Online booking www.jainepal.com at Park Village Resort, Budhanilkantha. 375280 Bardia Bonkers Freshwater dolphins, giant tigers, elephants, safaris, rafting, evening cocktails, traditional food. [email protected]. Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge Rs 2750 per person per night (Tax included) for accommodation, meals, arrival and departure transfers from Bijaypur, walks, bar snacks and swimming. 01-361500 on FM 102.4 For inclusion in the listing send information to [email protected] Mon-Fri 0615-0645 BBC World Today Sat 0615-0645 BBC Reporting Religion NEPALI WEATHER by NGAMINDRA DAHAL Sun 0615-0645 BBC Agenda That one sprang out of nowhere, as you can see from this sequence of satellite pictures of the subcontinent. What Daily 2045-2115 BBC g]kfnL ;]]]jf was a small low pressure area over the Arabian Sea Daily 2245-2300 BBC g]kfnL ;]]]jf suddenly swelled into a major circulation that engulfed northern India and Nepal with rain on New Years’ Eve. Sun-Fri 0740- 0800 Ps}}}l5g\\\ -/]]]l8of]]] klqsf_ This was welcome rain for the winter crops, and the first westerly front of the season dumped up to 35 cm of snow Sun-Fri 0800- 0830 8anL8anL8anL -ljifout-ljifout-ljifout cGt/lqmof_cGt/lqmof_cGt/lqmof_ in Humla, Mugu, Manang and Khumbu. The rain has Sun-Fri 2000- 2030 cfhsf s'''''/f -;d;fdlos ljifodf ax;_ SUN MON dissolved the dust and smog haze over the Indian plains, look forward to partly cloudy skies but the sun should be Sat 0800- 0830 zflGt cleofg bright and warm when it shines thorugh. Foggy mornings cfrf/ ljrf/ -e|||i6frf/lj?4 ;xsfo{_{_{_ with front in Kathmandu. Sat 1930- 2000 s"6gLlts d~r KATHMANDU VALLEY Sat 2000- 2030 s"6gLlts d~r Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Radio Sagarmatha P.O. Box 6958, Bakhundole, Lalitpur, Nepal Tel: ++977-1-545680, 545681, Fax: ++ 977-1- 530227 17-01 16-02 17-00 16-00 17-01 /]l8of ] ;u/dfyf TUE WED E-mail: [email protected], www.radiosagarmatha.org 16 3 - 9 JANUARY 2003 NEPALI TIMES #126 Under My Hat by Kunda Dixit Some more news items we’d like to see in 2003 s you may have noticed, 2003 is off to a flying Helmets mandatory for pedestrians start with the daily papers carrying a slew of KATHMANDU – The Kathmandu Valley Traffic A positively-angled news items designed to warm Police Office has announced that helmets and our cockles. The best piece of news to hit us in the protective suits will be mandatory for all pedestrians new year is the actual one reproduced here that in the capital from 1 April 2003. announces plans by the Royal Society for Humour Citing the increasing numbers of speeding and Satire (Rebellious) to establish Nepal as an Kathmanduites who collide with parked vehicles International Humour Centre. everyday, commuters who get sideswiped Further details are awaited. But, if by motorcyclists on zebra crossings, true, what this means is that besides vendors in Asan who get gored every so being known as the abode of often by bulls and those who fall into Pashupatinath, the venue of the potholes while attending to calls of nature SAARCASM Secretariat and the Bandh on the sidewalk, the police has decided Capital of the Eastern Hemisphere, that pedestrians will be required to wear Kathmandu is also going to be turned protective gear while going about their into a seriously funny place. About time, daily business. too, since things were starting to get a “It is our duty to make it safe for bit out of hand around here. people to walk on the streets,” said the According to well-placed sources head of the police’s new Safety First and quoted by RSS, the Nepal Chapter of Last Task Force. “We will not rest easy Humorous International will work until every life and limb of every street closely with the Nepal Tourism Bored to walker in Kathmandu is accounted for.” promote humour tourism, and to kick The mandatory gear that every this off it has already declared 2004 Kathmanduite will be required to wear “Amusing Nepal Year”, launching it by while walking on the streets will include a hosting the XVII International Congress Grade 50 Thermex Crash Helmet with on Good Humour which will be Neck Brace and Visor, industrial strength inaugurated jointly by the Ministers of facial mask with a 1,000 litre oxygen Fun and Games of all participating cylinder, elbow and knee guards, teflon- countries. coated shin pads, crampons, carabiners and The Chairman of the Amusing Nepal jumar rope to rappel out of potholes. Organising Main Committee told newspersons at a “Anyone found walking about without this gear solemn press conference: “It is of great national will be fined Rs 250,” police said. “The public has pride for Nepal to be chosen as the venue for this to realise that we are doing it for their own safety conference. You there near the window, what’s so and protection.” funny? This is no laughing matter, we are taking this development very seriously indeed. We will not Girija threatens to spill beans allow our country to be made a laughing-stock.” BIRATNAGAR – Former ex-prime minister Girija Besides the plenary, the convention will have Koirala today threatened to “tell all” about who several working groups to deliberate on issues like masterminded the 1914 assassination of Archduke gof + cs+ ahf/df “Good Governance and Humour”, “The Role of Ferdinand in Sarajevo that plunged Europe into ;Dk0f" { dgf/~hg] Court Jesters in Conflict Resolution”, “Is conflict 90 years ago. Democracy a Joke?” during which delegates from all “So far, I have refrained from the urge to speak over the world will present their research findings out for fear that it may trigger World War III, but ;Dks{M lxdfnldl8of kf=ln=| , for peer review. one day at an opportunistic time, I will bring ;~rosfif] ejg, kNrf' s,] nlntk'/ We may laugh about it, but the main duty of out the truth,” he told a motorcycle rally kmfgM] %$###& ˆofS;M %@!)!# kf=a=g] =+ &@%! sf7df8f}F, any government is to protect its citizens. That is of pillion-riding party cadre, all of whom were la/f6gu/ #@#*&, kfv/f] #)!#), gkfnu] h+ @#*$* why we are glad to see this news item in the press: wearing helmets.

NEPALI SOCIETY Ellen Findlay, MBE llen Findlay had just returned to improvements in Nepal’s urban health care Pokhara from a rural health camp in system, but rural health care is still too E western Nepal on New Years’ Eve thinly spread. In remote districts like when she got a call from the British Baitadi and Mugu, patients walk for a week ambassador in Kathmandu. or more to seek medical help, usually for “Congratulations,” the ambassador told infections and gynaecological problems. her, “you have made it to the Queen’s New There has been a slight decrease in Year’s Honours List.” patients visiting these camps after the The 60-year-old Scottish nurse insurgency accelerated in western Nepal, thought he was joking. But it was true: but there are still a lot of sick people. The Ellen Findlay had just been made a insurgency hasn’t affected Ellen’s work, Member of the British Empire (MBE) in although there was a firefight close to a recognition for more than three decades of gynaecological camp in Baitadi last year. selfless work in the Nepal. A midwife by “But the patients stood in line through it training, Ellen first came to Nepal in 1970, all, some waiting up to 12 hours for their treating everything from leprosy to turn,” she recalls. maternity cases in and around Pokhara. “The thing that keeps me going is the Since 1994, she has been coordinator of extraordinary strength of the Nepali people the International Nepal Fellowship (INF) to smile even through the most difficult which organises mobile rural health clinics situations,” she says. “There is throughout western Nepal. tremendous sense of personal fulfillment, Ellen says she has and now it is great to see the work I enjoy seen great doing being honoured.” Looks like someone who belongs in our honour list too.

CDO Regd No. 194/056/57 Lalitpur, Central Region Postal Regd. No. 04/058/59