WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 305 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 25.6 C -5.5 C Saturday, January 02, 2021 | 18-09-2077 Biratnagar Jumla National Assembly session begins but experts worry it could end soon With no lower house, upper house is the only legislative body to hold the government to account.

BINOD GHIMIRE the House of Representatives and call KATHMANDU, JAN 1 midterm polls on April 30 and May 10 on the recommendation of the KP Parliament holds the government to Sharma Oli government. account. And raise that concern it did. But with the lower house dissolved “The dissolution of the House of it is now the upper house doing the Representatives is a step towards the role of the legislature. same totalitarian move,” said Jitendra The 59-member National Assembly Dev, a Nepali Congress lawmaker. is envisioned as the permanent House Oli had long been concentrating POST PHOTO: HEMANTA SHRESTHA in the bicameral system of legislature power in himself including by bring- A car race held during the inauguration of Himalayan Motorland Circuit in Dhulikhel on Friday. The high-altitude race track is prepared to host go-kart, car races and motorcycle racing events. in Nepal and its members are elected ing National Intelligence Department, by an electoral college of the people’s Department of Revenue Investigation representatives at the local and pro- and Department of Money Laundering vincial levels. Investigation under the Prime As the winter session of National Minister’s Office, Dev said. Assembly commenced on Friday, this Pramila Kumari, a lawmaker from Nepali Congress’ refusal to join protests raises eyebrows responsibility was not lost on Dina the Janata Samajbadi Party, said she Nath Sharma, parliamentary party is hopeful that the Supreme Court leader of the Nepal Communist Party revokes the government’s unconstitu- Dahal-Nepal faction reached out to it but Deuba wants to wait for verdict on House dissolution before deciding on protest. in the upper house. Addressing it, he tional decision to dissolve the House. said, “A bigger responsibility has >> Continued on page 2 ANIL GIRI Party besides the Congress on Samajbadi Party, on Monday the President Sher Bahadur Deuba come to the National Assembly KATHMANDU, JAN 1 Thursday but had to call off the plan Nepali Congress and on Tuesday the against it while the faction led by sen- to surveil the government and after it did not hear from the party. Dahal-Nepal faction of the Nepal ior leader Ram Chandra Poudel is hold it accountable. The upper The plan to hold a joint agitation of “After the Nepali Congress decided Communist Party. calling for the reinstatement of the house remains the only place to political parties against the dissolu- not to join in the protests with us, we ‘There are proposals to hold a joint lower house. put forth public concerns. tion of the House of Representatives are now thinking of charting out a protest but as of now we are not join- “Deuba has refused to meet our Therefore the responsibility has has come unstuck after the Nepali separate strategy,” said a central com- ing any one and this is our decision leaders so we could not hold discus- come on the shoulders of its Congress rejected a proposal of the mittee member of the Nepal taken by the party committee,” senior sion with the Nepali Congress to hold members to raise the concerns Nepal Communist Party faction led by Communist Party. Congress leader Minendra Rijal told the joint protest,”said Narayan Kaji of the people.” Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Madhav So far the three main parties in the the Post. Shrestha, the Nepal Communist Party If the street protests are any- Nepal for it. dissolved House of Representatives The Nepali Congress is deeply spokesman who commands the pro- thing to go by, the concerns of The Dahal-Nepal faction had have already held separate protest divided over whether to hold tests launched by his party. “Poudel the people at the moment are planned to announce the joint protest programmes against the dissolution. protests against the dissolved was positive.” about the action of President that included the Janata Samajbadi On Sunday it was the Janata House of Representative with party >> Continued on page 2 Bidya Devi Bhandari to dissolve

C M Y K SATURDAY, JANUARY 02, 2021 | 02 NATIONAL Nepali Congress’ refusal to join protests raises eyebrows

>> Continued from page 1 But when and if the protests will Deuba has publicly said that the take place will depend on the Supreme Nepali Congress should wait for the Court’s verdict. court’s verdict and should not be in a “The case against the House disso- hurry to hold the protests. lution is pending in the Supreme More than a dozen writs have been Court,” he said. “We have to wait until filed at the Supreme Court calling for the court gives a verdict. After the House reinstatement arguing that its court’s verdict, we will decide accord- dissolution on December 20 by ingly.” President Bidya Devi Bhandari at the With the Nepali Congress not join- recommendation of Prime Minister ing hands with the Dahal-Nepal fac- KP Sharma Oli’s Cabinet and tion of the communist party, it is announcement of midterm elections unlikely that the Janata Samajbadi on April 30 and May 10 was “unconsti- Party will join. tutional”. After the Congress refused to hold The five-member constitutional joint protests, now there are slim bench of the Supreme Court has given chances of the parties staging the pro- the government up to January 3 to tests together, said Rajendra Mahato, submit the reasons for the dissolution senior leader of the Janata Samajbadi and hearing on it will resume on Party. January 6. Mahato was also critical of the The faction led by Poudel, however, stance taken by the Nepali Congress. is in favour of holding protests contin- “Shouldn’t Congress be taking the uously so that the court realises peo- initiative to hold a joint protest?” said ple’s power. Mahato. “Since the Nepali Congress Addressing the faction’s mass meet- was the primary opposition in the ing in Kathmandu on Tuesday, Nepal dissolved House, it should organise Communist Party chair Dahal had and lead the protest. It is its moral and called upon all political forces to joint- political duty. ” POST PHOTO: ANISH REGMI ly counter the anti-constitutional and It is not only political parties but A mobile crane unloads concrete poles to be installed for new electricity transmission lines along the Bagmati Corridor at Guheshwori, Kathmandu on Friday. anti-democratic move of Oli. also analysts that have been taken by Nepali Congress, on its part, is plan- surprise by the Congress decision. ning to hold protests on its own. “Nepali Congress’ decision not to “We have decided to hold protests hold protests has raised a suspicion separately, not joining hands with whether the Nepali Congress other parties. This is what our Central leadership is supporting Oli’s move,” BRIEFING Working Committee has decided,” Hari Roka, a political analyst, told Farmers in Thasang, Mustang said Rijal. the Post. No confidence motion filed against Mandal JANAKPUR: A no-confidence motion benefit from irrigation project has been filed against Satya Narayan National Assembly session Mandal, the Parliamentary Party Leader of the Nepal Communist The construction of an irrigation canal at Jhomo Phant in Tukuche has made it possible Party in Province 2. The Dahal-Nepal begins but experts worry faction has filed the no-confidence for people to return to their villages and start farming. motion against Mandal, citing that he supported Prime Minister KP PRATIKSHA KAFLE Sharma Oli’s move of House POKHARA, JAN 1 it could end soon dissolvement. Saroj Tulachan, a resident of Ward >> Continued from page 1 government. No. 1 in Thasang Rural Municipality, “I also strongly demand the govern- Of the 13 parliamentary commit- Vehicle of Finance Committee worked in Japan for 15 years before ment correct its undemocratic step by tees, four comprise upper house mem- chairman torched in Bheri returning to Nepal seven years ago. withdrawing the decision to dissolve bers. These are the Legislation “There was not much I could do in the House,” she said. Management Committee, Sustainable JAJARKOT: An unidentified group the village so I had to leave the coun- Besides the dissolution of the lower Development and Good Governance torched the vehicle of Ganesh Prasad try for employment. I worked really house, splitting of the ruling Nepal Committee, National Concerns and Singh, chairman of the Finance hard in Japan and saved some money Communist Party and the Oli govern- Coordination Committee and Committee in Karnali Province, on before coming back. I opened a hotel ment’s move to issue an ordinance to Delegation Management and Thursday night. According to the in Kathmandu with the money I had revise the Act related to the Government Assurance Committee. police, the vehicle (001 Jha 0040) of saved but my heart was not in it,” Constitutional Council to monopolise They evaluate the actions of the gov- the Karnali Province was torched in Tulachan told the Post. the appointments in constitutional ernment related to their areas of Ward No. 7 of Bheri Municipality. For Tulachan, his chance to return bodies are the political backdrops in watch. DSP Kishor Shrestha said, “The vehi- to his native village in Thasang Ward which the upper house has convened. According to Som Bahadur Thapa, a cle was parked near the house of No. 1 came with an irrigation project. Experts on constitution and parlia- former secretary at the parliament ward chairman Chandra Bahadur It meant he could go back to his vil- mentary affairs say though the secretariat, Parliament has two func- Shahi when it got torched.” lage and work in his fields. “I have National Assembly isn’t as strong as tions: drafting the laws and holding started cultivating my farmland the House of Representatives and the executive accountable. Muktinath temple which had lain barren for so many doesn’t have a specific role when there No bill can turn into law without its years,” he said. is no lower house, it still has the endorsement by both the Houses. opens from January 5 The construction of an irrigation authority to hold the government to The lower house has special powers POKHARA: Muktinath Temple, which canal at Jhomo Phant in Tukuche, account and bridle it if it tries to in cases of laws related to finance. was closed since the start of the pan- where Thasang Ward No 1. lies, has POST PHOTO: PRATIKSHA KAFLE breach constitutional limitations. Besides, bills that are introduced in it demic, will be opened for the public made it possible for many like Authorities say 75 hectares of land can be fully irrigated after the completion of the project. “It is up to the National Assembly become defunct even if they are pre- from January 5. On Friday, a discus- Tulachan to return to their villages whether to play an effective role to sented in the National Assembly. sion held among the Muktinath and start farming. Bishnu the same purpose and farmers had to The provincial government has also check and balance the government or However, if the tenure of the lower Development Committee, local resi- Sharma, the chairman of Jhomo wait a month to irrigate their farm- helped farmers grow crops in the be limited to the formalities,” said house comes to an end or is dissolved, dents, the local administration, police Tukuche Irrigation Consumers lands due to loss of water to leakages. rural municipality. Mohan Lal Acharya, who served as a the upper house can work on the bills and people’s representatives decided Committee, says Jhomo has a favoura- “Farmers can now irrigate their “Apple farming in the Kowang area legal adviser to the Constituent directly registered to it. to open the temple. DSP Nabin ble climate to cultivate apples and fields every week,” said Sharma. began after the construction of an Assembly. “It can hold the discussions “The National Assembly compli- Krishna Bhandari said, “We have many villagers are now engaged in “Better irrigation facilities will lead embankment along the Kaligandaki on Oli’s decision to dissolve the ments the House of Representatives in decided to deploy security personnel apple farming. to greater production of various agri- river. The river had eroded its bank House and can seek an answer from the lawmaking process,” said Thapa. to implement health safety measures “I have built an apple orchard as a cultural products.” areas in recent monsoons,” said Nara the prime minister himself on the But he is not optimistic that the on the temple premises.” pilot project and cultivated barley and Jhalak Mohan Ojha, chief at the Prasad Hirachan, chairman of matter.” National Assembly session will be uwa, among other crops, in my field” Drinking Water, Water Resource and Thasang Ward No. 2. It can also caution the government very long. said Tulachan. “Within a year, four Irrigation Development Sub-Division At present, only 2,800 of the total on any move it may take like those Thapa also believes the National Chief Minister Rai suspends more villagers returned to the village Office in Mustang, said 75 hectares of 377,300 hectares of land can be irrigat- related to provincial assemblies as the Assembly was convened just to oblige and started agriculture projects.” land can be fully irrigated after the ed in Mustang. two warring factions of the Nepal with the constitutional provision that another assembly member The irrigation project, which start- completion of the irrigation project. “Though there are irrigation facili- Communist Party are trying to take does not allow the gap between two MORANG: Chief Minister of Province 1 ed in the last fiscal year at the initia- Access to proper irrigation facili- ties in 4,030 hectares of land, these control over six of the seven provinces House sessions to be more than six Sherdhan Rai suspended Upendra tion of the Gandaki Provincial ties has attracted the local residents fields cannot be irrigated regularly,” where it has majorities, he said. months. Ghimire, a provincial assembly mem- government, is in its final stage. The towards agriculture, says Ratna Hirachan said. According to the “It can also caution the government As the budget session of the federal ber from the Dahal-Nepal faction, on project is underway at a total cost of Prasad Jwarchan, chairman of Drinking Water, Water Resource and not to take any extreme measures parliament was abruptly ended on Friday. Ghimire signed a no-confi- Rs23 million. Thasang Ward No. 1. Irrigation Development Sub-Division against provincial assemblies,” July 2, it was a constitutional obliga- dence motion proposal against Rai. Under the project, a 1,500 metre- “Farmers are now planting cash Office in Mustang, only 5,466 hectares Acharya said. tion to call the meeting by Jan 2. Until now, 16 provincial assembly long canal will supply water to a pond crops besides apples. Jhoma area pro- of land is suitable for irrigation and Parliamentary committees are “Don’t get surprised if the National members have been suspended in from Thapa Khola. duces apples worth Rs 40 to 50 million 6,446 hectares suitable for cultivation another aspect of a parliamentary sys- Assembly session ends within a few Province 1. Earlier, a rough canal was used for a year,” Jwarchan said. in Mustang. tem that can keep an oversight on the weeks,” he said. Construction of Binayak-Thantikhand road under Mid Hill Highway project delayed Works on the 16-kilometre road section have been delayed due to a lack of raw materials and skilled human resources, according to the employees of the road project.

MENUKA DHUNGANA now only a month away. The contrac- ACHHAM, JAN 1 tor company had failed to meet the previous two deadlines. According to The construction work of the Binayak- the Mid Hill Highway Project, the con- Thantikhand road section under the tractor company will be liable to pun- Mid Hill Highway Project, a national ishment if he misses this deadline. pride project, has been delayed. “The deadline for the road project According to the employees of the has been extended three times. We road project, works on the 16-kilo- cannot extend the deadline again,” metre road section have been delayed said Singh. He, however, says the con- due to a lack of raw materials and struction work has gained pace after a skilled human resources. Rajendra meeting of stakeholders held on Construction Service, the contractor December 24 decided to expedite work company, has failed to manage con- on the project. struction materials on time, said an The blacktopping of two kilometres employee of the project preferring of the road section remains to be com- anonymity. pleted. According to workers, adverse According to the contract agree- weather conditions have also affected ment signed on April 28, 2016, the the construction work. contractor had to complete the con- Local residents say the delay in the struction work within April 28, 2019. construction of the road section is “The construction works of the mainly because of the negligence of Mangalsain-Thatikhand, Belkhet- the contractor company and the irreg- Kailash Khola and Binayak-Belkhet ularity of the workers. roads have already been completed,” “We see workers at the site only said Manish Singh, site engineer of once or twice a month,” said Koshraj the project. “But the construction of Timilsina of Thatikhand. “We have the Binayak-Thantikhand road sec- asked the local authorities to address tion has been delayed. We hope to the issue since the construction work begin blacktopping works soon.” has been going on for five years but POST PHOTO: MENUKA DHUNGANA The latest deadline for the project is the road is still incomplete.” The deadline for the road project has been extended three times but the road is nowhere near complete.

C M Y K 03 | SATURDAY, JANUARY 02, 2021 NATIONAL Protests called for release of eight people convicted in 2015 Tikapur incident The individuals who have been jailed for life are ‘political’ prisoners, struggle committee says.

TIKA R PRADHAN On 3 January, 2019, he was sworn KATHMANDU, JAN 1 in as a member of the federal parliament. He is currently in Two weeks after the Dipayal High Dillibazaar Prison in Kathmandu. Court upheld the Kailali District The Kailali District Court on Court’s verdict of life imprisonment March 6 had handed down a life for eight of the 11 individuals sentence to 11 people including implicated in the infamous Tikapur Resham Lal Chaudhary. incident of 2015, in which nine Surendra Chaudhary, announcing persons were killed by a mob, as the protests in the Capital, said many as 21 organisations have the state brutally suppressed announced a struggle for their the Tharus by deploying security forc- unconditional release claiming that es after the Tikapur incident. they were political prisoners. According to him, they would begin The Tharuhat/Tharuwan Tikapur a struggle demanding that the govern- Revolt Political Prisoners Release ment make public the Lal National Campaign, led by Surendra Commission’s Report of the probe Chaudhary, on Friday announced a committee formed by the Home struggle from January 4 for their Ministry under the leadership of release. former chief of the National POST PHOTO: SANJOG MANANDHAR “This incident must be settled Investigation Department Deviram A crowd at Kathmandu’s Hanumandhoka on the New Year’s Day on Friday. Health officials have warned of a surge in Covid-19 cases if people fail to follow social through political discussions,” said Sharma and the all-party distancing and mask rules, particularly when they are in public and crowded areas. Chaudhary, coordinator of the parliamentary committee’s report campaign, at a press meet. “Though it besides unconditional release of the was not the issue of an individual, political prisoners. people were jailed in a biased The Lal Commission Report is that manner.” of the probe commission the govern- Resham Lal Chaudhary, a Tharu ment formed under the leadership of rights activist who was elected a par- former Supreme Court justice Girish Hearings on Constitutional Council liamentarian in the 2017 election, is Chandra Lal on 18 September the main accused in the Tikapur inci- 2016 to look into the incidents of dent that erupted on August 17, 2015 Tikapur Tharuhat revolt, Madhes after a decision to put Kailali district, and Aadibasi Janajati movements but which is in the plains, in one province the government has not revealed the ordinance, appointments get deferred along with seven hill districts. Tharus findings yet. The commission had across the country had opposed the handed over the report to the govern- The deferral comes when questions are being raised over the alleged influence of the executive over the judiciary. decision. ment in December 2017. The protest, largely branded as a “Not only the Tikapur incident, PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA University School of Law. house of Parliament. Tharuhat movement of the ethnic most protests in Madhes were brutally KATHMANDU, JAN 1 On December 20, the KP Sharma Oli government As per Rule 26 (2) of the Joint Parliamentary Tharus, led by Resham Lal Chaudhary suppressed,” said Saroj Raya, chief of had dissolved the House and called for a midterm Meeting Regulation, there would be no obstruction in Kailali, was part of a larger move- the organisation department of the Petitioners and legal experts have expressed sur- elections for April and May, sending a political for the recommended people to assume office in con- ment that had been going on for Tarai Madhes Rastriya Parishad, a prise over what they call low priority given by the shockwave across the country. Political parties and stitutional bodies if the hearing committee fails to months in several Tarai districts as regional political party. “The struggle Supreme Court on petitions filed against the ordi- civil rights groups have termed Oli’s move unconsti- take any decision within 45 days of receiving the the constitution was being finalised was meant for the rights of the Tharu nance on the working procedure of the Constitutional tutional and the case has now landed in the court. letter from the council. against what they called Kathmandu’s people.” Council and the latest recommendation by the coun- On December 25, a five-member constitutional Adhikari, the constitutional lawyer, suspects rec- conspiracy to discriminate against The campaign will also begin Jail cil based on the ordinance. bench of the Supreme Court issued a show cause ommendations were made to avoid parliamentary large sections of the Tharus, Madhesis Bharau Abhiyan, or Fill up the Jails On Friday, the Supreme Court didn’t conduct hear- notice in the name of the Office of the President and hearings, as provisioned in the constitution. and Janajatis. Campaign, as part of its protest ings on the two petitions filed by advocate Om the government for their decision to dissolve the “This could be considered a constitutional On August 24, 2015, the Tharuhat programme which also includes Prakash Aryal and Dinesh Tripathi on December House. The court has ordered the defendants to sub- fraud,” he said. group called for breaching prohibito- interactions, pen down, demonstra- 16 challenging the constitutional validity of the mit their explanation by January 3. Advocate Tripathi, who filed the petition against ry orders. Protesters and police tions and mass meetings at different ordinance. “While the issue of House dissolution may be the the ordinance, argues that provision in the ordi- clashed, and nine persons, including a parts of the country besides handing The petitions were put on the eighth and ninth dominant issue right now, the court should not drag nance that allows the council to make decisions senior police official and a child, were over memoranda to the government places of the priority list of the constitutional on the case concerning the Constitutional Council. It without full quorum is against the constitution. killed. through chief district officers. bench, headed by Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher “The constitution has made the provision of a On September 15, 2015, police filed On December 18, the Dipayal High Rana, and they were not heard citing lack of time. six-member council and the ordinance cannot over- different charges, including murder, Court upheld the verdict of life “The court conducted hearings on all the cases ride the provision,” he told the Post. “Parliamentary against Resham Lal Chaudhary and 57 imprisonment given by Kailali that were just above the priority list than mine,” hearing is also a crucial part of the constitution and others, besides 55 others without men- District Court to seven individuals Aryal told the Post. “It was 1pm when the constitu- our democratic practice but the recommendations tioning proper addresses. including Resham Lal Chaudhary. tional bench decided to call it a day, though the office were made to avoid parliamentary hearings. This Resham Lal Chaudhary went into While the high court overturned the time was supposed to end at 3pm.” move is clearly against the constitution.” hiding. But when the elections took sentences of four individuals, it gave a The hearing on Aryal’s petition has been resched- Article 292 of the constitution provisions parlia- place in 2017, the Rastriya Janata life imprisonment sentence to Laxman uled for next Friday. mentary hearings of the judges to be appointed by Party-Nepal fielded him from Tharu, who had earlier been given a The Supreme Court had not included the petition the Judicial Council and those to be appointed to Kailali-1. He won with a huge margin three-year prison term by the district filed by law student Samrit Kharel contesting the constitutional bodies by the Constitutional Council. despite being in hiding. court. council’s appointment recommendations on various With the President dissolving the House on December constitutional bodies made on the basis of the 20 as per the recommendation of the Cabinet, parlia- ordinance. mentary hearings cannot take place now. The hearing on the petition, which was filed on A 15-member joint committee representing both December21, had been fixed for Friday. Houses of the federal parliament is formed to “My petition was neither included on the daily conduct the hearing as per the Article 292 (2) of cause list, nor on the list of postponed cases,” Kharel the constitution. told the Post. “After we demanded an explanation, POST FILE PHOTO But, in a recent interview with the Post, Advocate the court notified us that three relevant cases would Supreme Court postponed the hearings citing lack of time. Ramesh Badal defended the ordinance, arguing that be scheduled together for hearing.” it was introduced to ensure implementation of the On December 15, a meeting of the Constitutional is also of constitutional importance,” Adhikari said. constitution as two members of the Constitutional Council had recommended 38 names to fill the vacan- Some observers say the Supreme Court has been Council failed to attend the meeting “repeatedly” cies in several constitutional bodies, including the postponing hearings on the controversial ordinance and the council failed to take a decision. Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority. and the appointment recommendations made by the Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota did not attend the The council’s move has, however, raised a question Constitutional Council based on the ordinance at a council’s meeting on December 15. concerning its constitutional validity, as the meeting time when questions are being raised over the On December 13, the meeting of the council was was attended by only three members against the alleged influence of the executive over the judiciary. postponed after the main opposition leader Sher quorum requirement of six. They also noted the presence of Chief Justice Bahadur Deuba refused to attend it, citing a protest The three members who were present at the coun- Rana in the December 15 meeting of the programme of his Nepali Congress party against the cil’s meeting were Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Constitutional Council that took the controversial police manhandling and detention of its leader Ram Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana and decision to appoint officials in various constitution- Chandra Poudel. National Assembly Chairman Ganesh Timilsina. al bodies. “The ordinance does not bar the leader of the Kharel has challenged the council’s appointment Some legal experts have expressed concern if the opposition and any other member from participating recommendations in various constitutional bodies. delay in hearings would lead to automatic appoint- in the meeting. Therefore, the ordinance is fully con- “It is natural to expect some delays in conducting ment of those recommended without parliamentary stitutional,” said Badal. “If a person refuses to fulfil hearings on other cases due to the bigger case hearings. After recommending the names, the coun- his or her constitutional duty, such a move is neces- related to the dissolution of the House of cil on December 18, had sent the names to the sary to make the institutions provisioned by the POST FILE PHOTO Representatives,” said Bipin Adhikari, a constitu- Parliamentary Secretariat for hearings. But two constitution functional. It is very much a constitu- Security personnel stop a motorcyclist for questioning in the wake of the violence that erupted tional lawyer and former dean of the Kathmandu days later the Oli government dissolved the lower tional move.” in the town of Tikapur in Kailali district on August 24, 2015. Large number of people could be disenfranchised if polls are held as planned The government has announced midterm elections on April 30 and May 10 but experts say there isn’t enough time for new voters to get registered.

PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA cy of registering their names on vot- million voters’ identity cards before sudden announcement of elections. KATHMANDU, JAN 1 ers’ list in the last hour. Many people the provincial and federal elections “A large number of people don’t get eligible to caste vote might not have after distributing 14.05 million for registered as voters until the date of A significant portion of the popula- registered thinking that the elections local elections. It added new voters, casting ballots approaches near. Even tion could be deprived of voting rights would be held five years after the last correcting details of people who were my own son was not registered in the in the parliamentary elections, the elections,” said Bhojraj Pokharel, for- on the voters’ list and removing last elections for waiting to be regis- announcement of which took every- mer chief election commissioner. names of those who were dead during tered in the last hours,” said Shrestha. one by surprise, as the Election The next general elections were the period. New voters’ identity had “There should not be a situation Commission has suspended new voter supposed to be held in 2022 but the been distributed for mostly new vot- where a large number of people are registration after the date for midterm President announced the mid-term ers, who were eligible to vote, till derived from voting rights due to law general elections was announced. elections in 2021. August 21, 2017 after the first and sec- or election date.” President Bidya Devi Bhandari, “This raises the possibility of ond rounds of local elections had been Officials at the Election Commission upon the recommendation of the many people being deprived of voting held in April and June 2017. also admit that those failing to regis- Cabinet, dissolved the House of rights in the elections announced for “If around two million voters were ter to vote would be denied from cast- Representatives on December 20 and April and May,” said Pokharel. added in a short gap in 2017, this ing ballots in midterm elections if announced that parliamentary elec- The provision of a cut off date for shows the probability that a large they are held on the dates announced. tions will take place on April 30 and voters’ registration was made in the number of people could be deprived of Rajkumar Shrestha, spokesperson May 10 next year. As per the section 4 voters’ registration law to give enough voting rights in the scheduled elec- at the commission, said that the num- of the Act on Voters’ Registration-2017, time for the election body to prepare tions for April and May next year,” ber of people deprived of casting votes no new voters can be registered for for holding elections properly, instead said Pokharel. The voters added dur- may be limited because all those regis- elections once they are announced. of processing data about voters’ regis- POST FILE PHOTO ing that period in 2017 was around 15 tered on the voters’ list would not be Experts and observers on elections tration under a tight schedule. The KP Sharma Oli government has called for midterm elections in April and May. percent of total eligible voters in the eligible to cast votes. said the sudden nature of election But this should not be the case, local elections. As per the law, one can be registered announcement could deprive a large observers believe. new polls has been challenged at the cial elections held in 2017, a large gap Kapil Shrestha, a civil society lead- on the voters’ list after crossing 16 number of people eligible to vote from “Due to the same provision, there Supreme Court, the potential of a was found between the number of er and co-chairperson of the National years of age but one can be eligible to casting votes, because many people should not be a situation where many large number of people being disen- registered voters eligible for voting in Election Observation Committee vote only after completing 18 years. eligible to be registered as voters people are deprived of their voting franchised, if the elections are held in local elections and in provincial and which had observed 2017 elections, “Therefore those below the age of might not have felt the urgency to be rights,” said Pokharel. the next few months, has been a cause federal elections. also raised concerns over deprival of 18, will be disqualified to cast votes registered as voters. Even though dissolution of the for concern for stakeholders. The Election Commission had large numbers of people from casting despite being registered as voters,” “People usually do have the tenden- Lower House and announcement of Even in the last federal and provin- printed and distributed additional 2.17 votes in the upcoming elections due to said spokesperson Shrestha.

C M Y K SATURDAY, JANUARY 02, 2021 | 04 WORLD

BRIEFING Scores killed

Myanmar insurgents say they in June-July released ruling party politicians YANGON: Insurgents from western Ethiopia unrest, Myanmar on Friday released three ruling party politicians who had been kidnapped from conflict-torn Rakhine report says state, a spokesman for the insurgent group said, calling it a goodwill ges- ASSOCIATED PRESS ture to build trust with the govern- NAIROBI, KENYA, JAN 1 ment. The three—two women and a man—were abducted by the banned Ethiopian security forces killed more Arakan Army in mid-October while than 75 people and injured nearly 200 campaigning in Rakhine as candi- during deadly ethnic unrest in June dates before a November 8 election. and July following the killing of a The candidates were held for more popular singer, the Ethiopian Human than two months. “This is a goodwill Rights Commission said Friday. gesture ... and we hope Myanmar The commission’s report said 123 army and Myanmar government will people in all were killed and at least make similar goodwill gestures too,” 500 injured amid one of the country’s said Arakan Army spokesman Khine worst outbreaks of ethnic violence in Thu Kha told Reuters in an audio years, a “widespread and systematic recording sent by text message. A attack” against civilians that points to spokesman for Aung San Suu Kyi’s crimes against humanity. Some vic- ruling National League for tims were beheaded, tortured or Democracy confirmed the candidates dragged in the streets by attackers. had been transferred to an army Ethnic violence is a major challenge camp near Paletwa in Chin state. for Nobel Peace Prize-winning Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who has urged national unity among more than 80 Iran commander vows ethnic groups in the country. ‘resistance’ a year after The unrest in June and July fol- Soleimani killing lowed the killing of singer Hachalu Hundessa, who had been a prominent TEHRAN: The US killing of top general voice in the anti-government protests Qassem Soleimani will not deter AP/RSS that led to Abiy taking office in 2018 Iranian resistance, a senior com- Palestinian protesters use slingshots to hurl stones towards Israeli troops during a protest against Israeli settlements in the West Bank village of Deir Jarir on Friday. and announcing sweeping political mander said on Friday as tensions reforms. Those reforms, however, mounted in the build-up to the first opened the way for long-held ethnic anniversary of the drone strike. The and other grievances to flare. United States killed Soleimani, leader The commission found that amid of the Revolutionary Guards’ Quds the street protests following Hachalu’s Force, in Iraq on January 3, 2020. death, “civilians were attacked inside Washington had accused him of mas- UK in ‘eye of the storm’ amid surging their homes by individual and grouped terminding attacks by Iranian- perpetrators and were beaten and aligned militias on US forces in the killed in streets in a gruesome and region. Days after the US drone cruel manner with sticks, knives, strike, Iran retaliated with a rocket axes, sharp iron bars, stones and elec- attack on an Iraqi air base where US coronavirus cases blamed on new variant tric cables.” forces were stationed, and Iranian forces on high alert mistakenly shot Given the lags between new cases and hospitalisations, there are huge concerns about the path of the pandemic. down a Ukrainian passenger airliner taking off from Tehran. Esmail Ghaani who succeeded Soleimani as head the elite Quds force, said on Friday Iran was still ready to AstraZeneca Covid vaccine set to become respond. first one approved in India, sources say

In New Year’s speech, Taiwan REUTERS said one of the sources. “All president again reaches NEW DELHI, JAN 1 preparations are on with today’s out to China date in mind.” India’s drug regulator is set to The other sources were less TAIPEI: Taiwan is ready to have approve on Friday a coronavirus certain about Bharat Biotech’s AP/RSS “meaningful” talks with China as vaccine developed by prospects. Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed equals as long as they are willing to AstraZeneca and Oxford “We are hopeful,” another responds to questions from members of put aside confrontation, President University for emergency use, source said about the vaccine parliament on November 30. Tsai Ing-wen said on Friday, offering three sources with knowledge of developed with the govern- another olive branch to Beijing in her the matter said. ment-run Indian Council of More than 6,000 people were New Year’s speech. Democratic The decision would pave the Medical Research. displaced and at least 900 properties Taiwan, claimed by China as its sov- way for the vaccine’s rollout in A CDSCO representative looted, burned or vandalised, the ereign territory, has come under the world’s second-most popu- declined to comment. The group report said. The attacks often targeted increasing pressure from Beijing, lous country which, after the is meeting a day ahead of a ethnic Amhara or Orthodox Christians. which has ramped up military activi- United States, has the highest nationwide trial run for vaccine “While it is understandable that ty near the island. China says it is number of Covid-19 infections in delivery in the country with security forces had the challenging responding to “collusion” between AP/RSS the world. more than 10 million coronavirus task of restoring order in the face of Washington and Taipei, angered at A quiet Wardour Street in London, as the New Year’s Eve fireworks were cancelled due to the pandemic. Britain and Argentina have infections. such widespread violence, the propor- growing U.S. support for the self-gov- already authorised the vaccine More than 50 million doses of tionality of the force employed in erned island. Beijing views this a pre- ASSOCIATED PRESS England. Given the lags between new cases for urgent public use. the AstraZeneca vaccine have some contexts is highly questionable,” cursor to Taiwan declaring formal LONDON, JAN 1 and hospitalisations and subsequently India’s Central Drugs Standard already been stockpiled by its the report said. independence, a red line for China. deaths, there are huge concerns about the Control Organization (CDSCO), local manufacturer, Serum As an example, in several communi- Speaking at the presidential office, British medics warned on Friday that hos- path of the pandemic over the coming whose experts were meeting for Institute of India (SII), and one ties, “the commission found that there Tsai said that in the past year, pitals around the country face a perilous month or two in a country that has Europe’s the second time this week, could of the sources said the shots were people killed with bullet wounds Chinese military activity near few weeks amid surging new coronavirus second-highest virus-related death toll at also approve a vaccine locally could start to be transported to the head, shots to the chest area or Taiwan has threatened peace and sta- infections that have been blamed on a new nearly 74,000. developed by Bharat Biotech, two from cold storage to Indian states the back. People not participating in bility in the Indo-Pacific region. variant of the virus. As a result of the spike, which has spread of the sources said on condition as early as Saturday. the protests—passersby, bystanders A day after the UK posted a record around the country and seen lockdown of anonymity. SII said in an email it would observing from their doorsteps, Australia changes National 55,892 new infections and another 964 coro- restrictions tightened, the strategy around “Both AstraZeneca and Bharat “wait for the final approval to young people, elderly people trying to navirus-related deaths, concerns are the rollout of vaccines has been changed to Biotech will get approval today,” come” before commenting. mediate, people with mental illnesses, Anthem wording to reflect mounting about the impact on the get more people an initial jab as soon as and even police officers—also lost Indigenous history overstretched National Health Service. possible, with a scheduled second one their lives.” Field hospitals that were constructed in the delayed. In other cases, the commission SYDNEY: Australia amended its nation- early days of the pandemic but that In a joint statement on Thursday, the found that “local authorities and secu- al anthem to remove reference to the were subsequently mothballed are being chief medical officers for England, rity did not respond to victims’ repeat- country being “young and free” amid reactivated. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, said ed calls for help, being told instead calls to recognise that its Indigenous The Royal College of Nursing’s England the first vaccine dose offers “substantial” ‘that higher ups gave no order to inter- people are the oldest continued civili- director, Mike Adams, told Sky News that protection. vene’ ... Survivors and witnesses also zation in the world. The change to the UK was in the “eye of the storm” and Currently, two vaccines have been recount how sometimes police stood “for we are one and free” took effect that it was “infuriating” to see people not approved for use in the UK. watching as the attacks took place.” on Friday. “We live in a timeless land following the social distancing guidance or Just under 1 million people have received Some watchdogs have warned of a of ancient First Nations peoples, and wearing masks. the first dose of the vaccine developed by return to repressive measures in we draw together the stories of more He also warned of burnout among health American pharmaceutical firm Pfizer and Ethiopia as authorities grapple with than 300 national ancestries and lan- workers on the front line of the outbreak in German biotechnology company BioNTech, hate speech and ethnic violence. guage groups,” Prime Minister Scott hospitals. with a small minority also getting the sec- The unrest was not related to the Morrison told reporters in Canberra. “I am worried,” Adrian Boyle, vice pres- ond dose as planned after 21 days. conflict in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray “And our anthem should reflect that. ident of the Royal College of Emergency Alongside the approval earlier this region that began in early November, The changes we have made and we Medicine, told the BBC. “We are very much week of the vaccine developed by the but it was another sign of the tensions have announced today, I think, at battle stations.” University of Oxford and British straining the country. achieve that goal.” Australia has New infections have more than doubled pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca, a new A spokeswoman for Abiy’s office did struggled for decades to reconcile in recent weeks after a new variant that is dosing regimen was outlined, aimed at not immediately comment on the with Aborigines, who arrived on the said to be around 70 percent more conta- providing a speedier rollout. This means REUTERS report, and the commission did not continent some 50,000 years before gious was found to be behind a big spike in the second dose of both vaccines will be Britain and Argentina have already authorised the vaccine for urgent public use. say what the government’s response British colonists. (AGENCIES) cases around London and the southeast of within 12 weeks of the first. had been. Trump in winter: Eight days of golf, tweets and rage

AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE Other targets of vitriol? The FBI, of him taken from a distance playing last minute to pass up the traditional WEST PALM BEACH, JAN 1 his attorney general, The Wall Street golf wearing a white polo shirt and a glitzy New Year’s Eve party at Mar-a- Journal editorial page, etc. red “Make America Great Again” Lago. President Donald Trump wound up During his vacation in Florida, baseball cap. 0He will have 20 days remaining in his vacation at his Florida resort on Trump also uncharacteristically did The White House had insisted that the White House. Thursday, isolated, angry and refusing not have anything to say to the White while Trump had no public events And what will he do with his final to give up centre stage despite making House pool of about a dozen journal- planned at Mar-a-Lago he would be days in office? Who will he pardon little pretense of governing the coun- ists who accompanied him to the working “tirelessly.” next? Will he attend Biden’s January try any more. Sunshine State. “As the Holiday season approaches, 20 inauguration ceremony? Two months after losing the US The silence was a sharp contrast to President Trump will continue to Nobody knows. But it is clear that presidential election to Joe Biden, the the past four years during which work tirelessly for the American his desperate efforts to overturn the 74-year-old Trump is still refusing to Trump has thrived on the give-and- People. His schedule includes many results of the November 3 presidential admit his defeat. take with reporters. meetings and calls,” the White House election are doomed to failure and his He spent the past eight days at his On the White House lawn, under the said. influence is waning. Mar-a-Lago resort playing golf at the wing of Air Force One, on red carpets At a time when the United States, Senator Mitch McConnell, the pow- Trump International Golf Club and and elsewhere Trump has rarely been like many other countries, is facing a erful Republican Senate majority lead- firing off angry tweets. able to resist the lure of waiting televi- grim surge in coronavirus cases, er, acknowledged Biden’s victory and Trump expanded his insults beyond sion cameras and microphones. Trump had nothing to say about the flatly rejected Trump’s demand to his usual targets, the “fake news” Not at the end of 2020. pandemic except to blame state offi- increase direct Covid-19 relief pay- media and the Democrats. After years of proudly displaying cials for delays in vaccine distribu- ments to Americans. The Supreme Court, three of whose bills and decrees that he had just tion. And a newspaper that has been one justices he appointed? “Totally incom- signed for the television cameras, AFP On his next to last day in Florida, of his most ardent supporters, the petent and weak.” Trump put his signature on Sunday US President Donald Trump waves as he leaves a golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida. the United States saw a record 3,927 New York Post, told Trump it was time Leaders of his Republican Party? on a massive coronavirus relief pack- deaths in the space of 24 hours. to concede defeat. “Pathetic.” age out of public view. stimulus bill, which was passed with receiving any concessions. Trump returns to Washington on “Stop the Insanity,” the Rupert The Republican governor of Trump had initially threatened to bipartisan support, before finally The lasting images of Trump’s final Thursday afternoon after cutting Murdoch-owned Post said in a banner Georgia? “A complete disaster.” veto the eagerly awaited $900 billion backing down and signing it without presidential vacation will be pictures short his vacation and deciding at the headline on Monday.

C M Y K 05 | SATURDAY, JANUARY 02, 2021 MONEY Few takers show up for loans under Supreme Court orders Business Continuity Credit Plan sugar mills to pay The scheme allows firms left cashless by Covid-19 to borrow funds to pay their employees. farmers within a month

PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA POST REPORT cane farmers have been forced to go to KATHMANDU, JAN 1 KATHMANDU, JAN 1 the district headquarters and travel all the way to Kathmandu annually to Sanima Bank last week approved a The Supreme Court has issued an hold demonstrations to get the money loan worth around Rs10 million for a interim order to sugar mills to settle that is owed to them. This is unjusti- hotel under the government’s outstanding payments to sugarcane fied and also not acceptable for the Business Continuity Credit Plan. The farmers within one month. state of public welfare,” states the scheme allows micro, small and medi- Justice Kumar Regmi issued the interim order. um enterprises and tourism business- order Thursday ruling that payment “The constitution assures the basic es left cashless by Covid-19 to borrow to sugarcane farmers was directly right to earn, utilise earnings, buy funds to pay their employees. related to the basic right provided by and sell property and benefit through Borrowers have to pay 5 percent inter- the Constitution of Nepal. business. The farmers use their own est the first year and 6 percent the fol- Pleading on behalf of the applicant, capital or take loans, and put in a lot lowing year. advocate Punya Prasad Khatiwada of hard work to grow sugarcane. “We approved the first loan last said that the recent agreement made When they don’t get money for their Thursday,” said Bhuvan Dahal, chief between the government and sugar- crops, they are not able to pay for their executive officer of Sanima Bank. cane farmers that they would get their daily expenses, education and health “More than half a dozen applications money within 21 days may not be care. Most importantly, they cannot are under consideration for approval. implemented too, as a similar previ- repay their bank loans and face forfei- At my bank, most of the applications POST FILE PHOTO ous accord had gone unimplemented. ture. This shows that the sugarcane for credit under the government pack- The government released a working procedure in late November, nearly six months after announcing a Rs50 billion package for the current “If the interim order issued by the farmers have been deprived of the age have come from the hotel sector,” fiscal year through the budget statement in May. Supreme Court is not implemented, basic right to live a respectful life he said. that will constitute contempt of court, assured by the Constitution of Nepal,” But demand for loans under the Dahal, who is also president of the survived.” Rs50 billion. and proceedings can be initiated the order said. Business Continuity Credit Plan has Nepal Bankers’ Association, said that The central bank said that the tar- As per the budgetary provision, the accordingly,” Khatiwada told the Post. A dozen sugar mills owe the sugar- fallen short of expectations, bankers he had not yet seen massive demand geted businesses could now get credit sources of funds for the rehabilitation The application to the Supreme cane farmers around Rs1.5 billion said. They attributed the lacklustre for credit under the government’s in line with the working procedure package will be foreign aid, govern- Court was made a few days after the from the last fiscal year, according to response to a provision in the working rehabilitation package. with banks also completing their ment-owned entities and the govern- farmers launched a protest demand- the application submitted in the procedure which bars enterprises that “Eight to nine other banks have homework for extending loans. “Some ment’s own resources. ing settlement of long-standing Supreme Court. Government subsi- have received subsidised credit under communicated to me that they have banks have already started extending Dhakal said that various govern- arrears of payment for their sugar- dies totalling Rs1.31 billion have not other windows from getting loans received requests for credit from some credit,” said Dev Kumar Dhakal, exec- ment agencies had already pledged to cane crops sold to sugar mills. reached the farmers either. under this plan. borrowers,” he said. “But overall utive director of Nepal Rastra Bank. provide Rs18 billion in rehabilitation The applicants have also demanded The farmers are facing the problem According to Chief Executive demand for credit does not appear to As per the working procedure of the funds. that the expenses of the farmers who of non-payment every year, and as a Officer Ashoke Rana of Himalayan be significant so far,” he said. two-year credit programme, an enter- In addition to the Rs1 billion from have come from their villages to result, they have been discouraged Bank, his bank has not received any The government released a working prise from the most affected sectors the government, the central bank has Kathmandu including their health from growing sugarcane. request for credit under the govern- procedure in late November, nearly can get up to Rs100 million credit deposited Rs1.5 billion, according to check-up costs should be paid. “We The government has announced ment’s package, but it has been six months after announcing a Rs50 while enterprises from the sector that Dhakal. Nepal Rastra Bank has have also asked for compensation for that the country will be made self-suf- extending refinance facility to a lot of billion package for the current fiscal is facing medium-level impact can get pledged to inject Rs3 billion. the family of the sugarcane farmer ficient in sugar, but this cannot be borrowers. year through the budget statement in up to Rs70 million. Enterprises from “Nepal Oil Corporation has prom- who died of a heart attack on Tuesday,” achieved without attracting farmers “Many enterprises who enjoyed May. A few days later, the central bank the partially affected sector can get up ised to provide Rs5 billion while the Khatiwada said. to take up sugarcane farming, insid- refinance facility didn’t ask for a loan asked banks and financial institutions to Rs50 million. Employees Provident Fund has “Anyone can clearly see that great ers said. under the government’s package,” he to provide credit in line with the work- Half of the loan can be used to pay assured Rs4 billion soon,” Jhakka injustice has been done to the sugar- The government does not seem to be said. ing procedure. staff salaries, and half can be used as Acharya, joint secretary at the cane farmers by not paying them serious about the problems of sugar- The central bank said it had In a recent interview with the Post, working capital to continue the busi- Finance Ministry, told the Post in a immediately for their crops while cane farmers as it has not arrested released funds totalling more than Binayak Shah, first vice-president of ness. An enterprise cannot fire any recent interview. there was high demand in national delinquent sugar mill owners even Rs85 billion under refinance facility. Hotel Association Nepal, said that the employee as long as the credit facility According to him, the Citizen and international markets for the though the Ministry of Home Affairs Clause 10 of the working procedure government’s relief package was is in effect. Investment Trust has promised to sugar manufactured from their sugar- has issued arrest warrants against states that borrowers who are enjoy- implemented when many hotels and The government has injected just inject Rs2 billion while Nepal cane,” reads the interim order. them, they said. ing subsidised credit facility from restaurants were shuttered. “Had the Rs1 billion so far in rehabilitation Reinsurance Company, Rastriya “It is a basic and universally accept- The Minister of Industry, Commerce banks and financial institutions, gov- credit facility been made available a funds amid decreasing revenue collec- Beema Sansthan and Deposit and ed principle that anyone who sells a and Supplies has made it public that ernment agencies or donors are not few months earlier, many of the enter- tion, and concerns are being raised Credit Guarantee Corporation have product in the market should get pay- there is political pressure not to arrest eligible to get loans under this scheme. prises that have shut down would have over how it would be able to generate pledged Rs1 billion each immediately. ment for it immediately. But the sugar- the sugar mill owners.

FOREX Britain ends long Brexit journey US Dollar 117.30 After golden year for Euro 143.27 Pound Sterling 160.41 precious metals, silver with economic break from EU Japanese Yen 11.37

Chinese Yuan 17.97 Qatari Riyal 32.22 set to shine in 2021 Australian Dollar 90.38 REUTERS nomic growth. Malaysian Ringit 29.16 NEW YORK, JAN 1 Huge government debt, negative real returns on bonds and threats of Saudi Arab Riyal 31.27 After a spectacular year, precious met- inflation and market turbulence, all of Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank als are set for further gains in 2021, which support gold, will persist in with silver tipped to outperform, but 2021, said Ross Norman, an independ- analysts are growing more cautious ent analyst. Gold could rise another 20 about the prospects for gold as the percent next year, he said. PRICE PER TOLA BULLION global economy recovers from the A safe-haven asset like gold, but also impact of the coronavirus. an industrial metal used in products Fine Gold Rs 94,500 The pandemic triggered stockpiling including solar panels, silver climbed by investors looking to protect their from $18 an ounce in January to Silver Rs 1,300 wealth. This, alongside supply defi- almost $30 in August before slipping to cits, pushed gold and palladium prices around $25. SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA up by more than 20 percent this year, Analysts say its dual role and its while silver rose 47 percent, and plati- greater volatility mean it could fare num 10 percent. better than gold as economic growth GASOLINE WATCH “We are going to see new record picks up, and as US President-elect Joe highs for gold and palladium [in Biden’s push into clean energy 2021],” said Philip Newman at consult- prompts more usage. ants Metals Focus. Investors soaked up a surplus of “But silver will see the chunkiest platinum, which is also used in jewel- gains,” he said. lery, industry and by auto makers to Traditionally seen as a safe place to reduce pollution. store money, gold began to rise as eco- But they are unlikely to do so again, nomic growth slowed in 2019, but the particularly as supply, which fell pandemic accelerated the rally and in because of the novel coronavirus, August prices hit a record high of bounces back, said StoneX analyst $2,072.50. Rhona O’Connell. AP/RSS While demand for physical gold was That will likely drag on prices, Goods lorries enter the ferry terminal at Port of Dover, in southern England. hammered as the virus forced shut- which at around $1,000 an ounce are downs, investment demand surged as only slightly higher than at the start ASSOCIATED PRESS ures to curb the coronavirus curtailed their breath. Youngs Transportation reflected in the holdings of the world’s of the year. LONDON, JAN 1 mass gatherings to celebrate or mourn in the UK suspended services largest gold-backed exchange-traded The auto industry uses four-fifths the moment, though a handful of to the EU until January 11 “to let fund, SPDR Gold Trust, which record- of palladium, which, like platinum, Britain’s long and sometimes acrimo- Brexit supporters defied the restric- things settle.” ed its biggest yearly gain since 2009 at neutralises engine emissions. It is nious divorce from the European tions to raise a toast outside “We figure it gives the country a about 30 percent. used little for investment. Union ended on Thursday with an Parliament as the Big Ben bell sound- week or so to get used to all of these Prices then dipped to around $1,900 Years of undersupply drove prices economic split that leaves the EU ed 11 times on the hour. new systems in and out, and we can as investors stopped buying and vac- to a record high of $2,875.50 an smaller and the UK freer but more A free trade agreement sealed on have a look and hopefully resolve any cines were deployed against the virus, ounce in February. “The market isolated in a turbulent world. Christmas Eve after months of tense issues in advance of actually sending encouraging investment in assets that thought it might run out of metal,” Britain left the European bloc’s vast negotiations ensures that Britain and our trucks,” said the company’s direc- perform well during periods of eco- said one trader. single market for people, goods and the 27-nation EU can continue to buy tor, Rob Hollyman. services at 11 pm London time, mid- and sell goods without tariffs or quo- The services sector, which makes up night in Brussels, completing the tas. That should help protect the 660 80 percent of Britain’s economy, does biggest single economic change the billion pounds ($894 billion) in annual not even know what the rules country has experienced since World trade between the two sides, and the will be for business with the EU in War II. A different UK-EU trade deal hundreds of thousands of jobs that 2021. Many of the details have yet to be Indian shares kick off 2021 on record high will bring new restrictions and red rely on it. hammered out. tape, but for British Brexit supporters, But companies face sheaves of new Months and years of further discus- REUTERS Consultancy Services was the biggest it means reclaiming national inde- costs and paperwork, including cus- sion and argument over everything BENGALURU, JAN 1 boost to the Nifty 50. pendence from the EU and its web of toms declarations and border checks. from fair competition to fish quotas lie Foreign fund inflows Among individual stocks, rules. Traders are struggling to digest the ahead as Britain and the EU settle into Indian shares closed the first trading Mahindra and Mahindra closed Prime Minister Boris Johnson, new rules imposed by the 1,200-page their new relationship as friends, session of 2021 at record highs on and expectations of up 1.6 percent. US automaker whose support for Brexit helped push trade deal. The English Channel port neighbours and rivals. Friday, led by the IT services sector, as Ford Motor and Mahindra have the country out of the EU, called it “an of Dover and the Eurotunnel passen- Hundreds of millions of individu- continued foreign fund inflows Covid-19 vaccine called off their automotive joint ven- amazing moment for this country.” ger and freight route braced for delays als in Britain and the bloc also face and expectations of imminent ture due to challenges caused by the “We have our freedom in our hands, as the new measures were introduced, changes to their daily lives. Britons Covid-19 vaccine roll-outs kept inves- roll-outs kept pandemic. and it is up to us to make the most though the pandemic and a holiday and EU citizens have lost the automat- tors bullish. The Nifty Auto Index gained 0.86 of it,” he said in a New Year’s video weekend meant cross-Channel traffic ic right to live and work in the other’s The blue-chip Nifty ended up 0.26 investors bullish. percent, with Maruti Suzuki message. was light, with only a trickle of trucks territory. From now on, they will have percent at 14,018.50, marking its first India, tractor maker Escorts, and The break comes 11 months after a arriving at French border posts in to follow immigration rules and close above the 14,000 level, while the automaker Ashok Leyland rising political Brexit that left the two sides Calais as 2020 ended. The vital supply obtain work visas. Tourists face new benchmark Sensex firmed 0.25 per- Covid-19 vaccines. between 0.6 percent and 3.8 percent in the limbo of a “transition period”— route was snarled for days after headaches including from travel cent to 47,868.98. India’s drug regulator is set to after reporting higher December like a separated couple still living France closed its border to UK truck- insurance and pet paperwork. The Nifty gained 14.9 percent in approve AstraZeneca and Oxford sales. together, wrangling and wondering ers for 48 hours last week in response For some in Britain, including the 2020 and the Sensex added 15.75 per- University’s Covid-19 vaccine Municipal solid waste management whether they can remain friends. Now to a fast-spreading variant of the virus prime minister, it’s a moment of pride cent, both recording their best yearly for emergency use at a meeting later company Antony Waste Handling Cell the UK has finally moved out. identified in England. and a chance for the UK to set new performance since 2017. in the day, Reuters reported citing jumped 29.3 percent from its offering It was a day some had longed for The British government insisted diplomatic and economic priorities. The indexes recovered more than 86 three sources with knowledge of the price of 315 rupees per share in its and others dreaded since Britain that “the border systems and infra- Johnson said the UK was now “free to percent from March lows, boosted by matter. market debut. voted in a 2016 referendum to leave the structure we need are in place, and we do trade deals around the world, and liquidity support measures from glob- The Nifty IT index closed up 0.84 Most markets across the world were EU, but it turned out to be something are ready for the UK’s new start.” free to turbocharge our ambition to be al central banks and progress on percent, and heavyweight Tata closed for New Year’s Day. of an anticlimax. UK lockdown meas- But freight companies were holding a science superpower.”

C M Y K SATURDAY, JANUARY 02, 2021 | 06 SPORTS | MEDLEY BRIEFING Liverpool start new year on top but Labuschagne wants Leicester City defender Jonny batsmen to ‘grind’ Evans signs new contract LEICESTER: Leicester City defender other teams have chance to dream to foil India’s plans Jonny Evans has signed a new con- REUTERS tract that will keep him at the King Jurgen Klopp’s men have 33 points but their challengers are all within striking distance, with only seven MELBOURNE, JAN 1 Power Stadium until the end of the 2022-23 season, the Premier League points separating the champions from their next opponents Southampton, all the way down in ninth spot. Australia’s batsmen must find balance aggression club said. Evans’ contract was due to with discipline to combat India in the third Test in expire at the end of the current cam- Sydney after being pinned down by their bowlers in paign and British media had linked the first two matches, number three Marnus him with a return to Manchester Labuschagne said. United, where he won three Premier Australia have not surpassed 200 in either Test so League titles. The 32-year-old far, struggling to break the shackles of a well-drilled Northern Ireland international has Indian attack which has targeted the stumps and cut made 89 appearances in all competi- off cheap runs with heavy leg-side fields. tions following his arrival from West While much of the focus has been on Steve Smith’s Bromwich Albion in 2018 and was struggles and his failure to reach double-figures in instrumental in Leicester’s fifth-place the series, top order batsman Labuschagne has also finish in the Premier League last sea- had to battle for runs. son. “I’m delighted to commit myself Yet to score a half-century a year after dominating to the club, and delighted the club Pakistan and New Zealand on home pitches, have committed themselves to me,” Labuschagne paid credit to India’s bowlers but said Evans said in a statement on Australia had to rise to the challenge. “They’ve been Leicester’s website. Brendan Rodgers’ very disciplined in their bowling and in their plans, side visit Newcastle United on with both spin and pace, I think they’ve really held Sunday. that straight line,” said Labuschagne, who was dis- missed for 48 and 28 in the second Test in Melbourne. “They’ve made us face a lot of balls for ... a strike Arsenal defender Kolasinac rate of about two runs an over. We need to be very joins Schalke 04 on loan disciplined. And we also need to come up with ways to LONDON: Arsenal defender Sead put them under pressure. For us, it’s just making sure Kolasinac has rejoined Schalke 04 on we keep finding ways to score ... It doesn’t have to be loan for the remainder of the season pretty, but we just got to keep grinding and keep fight- with manager Mikel Arteta saying on ing away and if we do get in, we’ve got to make sure Thursday that more players are likely we get those big scores.” to leave on loan as they aim to trim After Australia won the opener in Adelaide, India’s their large squad. Kolasinac, eight-wicket win in Melbourne has left the four-match signed from Schalke in 2017, made series poised at 1-1. The Sydney Test starts on January only one league appearance this 7. With opener Joe Burns dropped after twin failures season and was used mainly in cup with the bat in Melbourne, David Warner has competitions such as the Europa returned to the squad and is racing to recover from a League and League Cup. | groin strain. Although close with Queensland team “There are a lot of players that are mate Burns, Labuschagne said Warner’s presence going to go on loan... that’s the would give Australia a real boost. priority at the moment because “Someone with over 7,000 Test runs and averaging we cannot sustain the numbers near-on 50, he’s a superb player,” said Labuschagne. “I that we have in certain positions,” think he’s in that top calibre of player ... Just his ener- Arteta told reporters ahead of gy that he will bring around the group and his energy Saturday’s trip to West Bromwich AP/RSS in the field will be terrific.” Liverpool, who have drawn three of their past five league games including last weekend’s disappointing 1-1 draw against struggling West Brom, now risk losing their crown. Albion. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE have rarely been at their best at the same time. The reason Guardiola’s team have an extra Real Sociedad edge Athletic LONDON, JAN 1 It would take a brave punter to back against game in hand is because their match against Liverpool, and Manchester City are tipped by Everton this week was postponed over a Covid- Bilbao 1-0 in La Liga Liverpool will start 2021 in a familiar position the bookies as more likely winners than their 19 outbreak at City. First-team training has BILBAO: Cristian Portu scored the at the top of the Premier League but with a neighbours. But despite lingering questions resumed and the club said a fresh round of only goal as Real Sociedad edged rejuvenated Manchester United leading a pack over United’s defence, there is a sense of testing had not revealed any new positive cases. Athletic Bilbao 1-0 in a disappointing of challengers who are all within striking dis- momentum at the Old Trafford and a growing Following the update from City, the Premier Basque derby on Thursday. Portu tance. Only seven points separate Liverpool belief that they could mount a proper title chal- League issued a statement confirming the game found the net after just five minutes from their next opponents Southampton, all the lenge for the first time since Alex Ferguson at Chelsea on Sunday currently remains on. at the San Mames, finishing off a way down in ninth spot, giving clubs a chance retired in 2013. Just a few short weeks ago Jose Mourinho’s counter-attack by Mikel Oyarzabal. to dream, with Jurgen Klopp’s men not in The most eye-catching game of the weekend Tottenham were top of the Premier League and Sociedad remain in third place in La action until Monday. pits Frank Lampard’s Chelsea against Pep looking every inch credible challengers. Now Liga with 29 points, four behind Real Jurgen Klopp said he was not “overly frus- Guardiola’s Manchester City at the Stamford they are seven points off the pace after two Madrid who have a game in hand. trated” after seeing his side held to a goalless Bridge on Sunday—coronavirus permitting. draws and two defeats in their past four Atletico Madrid still lead the way at draw at Newcastle on Wednesday. But the New-look Chelsea appeared to have found a matches—and had to face the further frustra- the end of 2020 on 35 points, two squandered points denied Liverpool the com- good balance after an early defeat to Liverpool, tion this week of a coronavirus-enforced ahead of their city rivals. Victory for fort of a five-point lead over bitter rivals United embarking on a long unbeaten run, but have postponement. Mourinho said his side should Sociedad was also a boost with the heading into the New Year. lost their way in recent weeks, taking just four be doing more to kill games after conceding two sides possibly facing each The leaders have now drawn three of their points from their past five matches. They now late in a disappointing 1-1 draw at Wolves. other in the Spanish Super Cup final past five Premier League games, including last find themselves level on 26 points with City, His mood was not helped by the postpone- in January. They will also meet in weekend’s disappointing 1-1 draw against strug- who also have two games in hand after quietly ment of Spurs’ home match against Fulham on the delayed 2019/2020 Copa del Rey gling West Brom. putting together an impressive string of results Wednesday with three hours’ notice after a final in April. “By results I would Midfielder James Milner has noticed following a slow start to the campaign. coronavirus outbreak in the visitors’ camp. say that it has been a very good year, Manchester United’s rise and has warned inju- Despite the cluster of teams within striking Tottenham host free-scoring Leeds on Sunday but we have a bittersweet taste for all ry-hit Liverpool that they must “kick on” or range of the Premier League summit, neither in a mouthwatering clash, with Marcelo the fans who have not been able to risk losing their crown. manager will want to risk falling further Bielsa’s men just three points behind Spurs AP/RSS enjoy our victories in 2020,” said Liverpool and United are the two most suc- behind Liverpool, who have the capability to go after bouncing back from their 6-2 Old Trafford While Steve Smith has failed to reach double-figures in the Portu. (AGENCIES) cessful clubs in English football history but on a long unbeaten run. humbling with two wins. series, Marnus Labuschagne has also battled for runs. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) **** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) *** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** If you are not ready for a heavy commitment, you You’ll have lots to do today, but that doesn’t mean you It’s one of those days when you can turn your brain You cannot always have clarity of thought, so why need to be prepared to disappoint someone. You’re have to do it all by yourself ! Teamwork is definitely down to a low simmer—and let yourself focus more worry if your mind seems a bit muddled right now? not on the timetable they might want you to be on, required. Take a tag-team approach to things—talk on simple things. Your intellectualizing is done for a Any cloudiness you’re feeling could be the result of but it is important that you listen to your inner voice to other people about who will do what and when little while, so it’s time to kick back and let your gray your own self-preservation techniques. Your mind and do whatever you think is the right thing to do. they will get it done. matter relax. needs a bit of a vacation.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) *** LEO (July 23-August 22) *** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) *** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** Before you sign any legal documents today, look at Don’t worry if it’s hard to get going this morning. As Obey your emotions and do whatever you feel is the You feed your brain with facts, figures and ideas, but the fine print very closely. Take your time, and keep soon as you begin your daily routine, your synapses right thing to do today, especially in a business situ- how often do you feed it with love? It’s time to enter- in mind that haste can make some major waste. Your will spring to life and you’ll be ready to meet any- ation. Just because you’re working in a professional tain ideas about a new romance. Your interest is actions today could have long-term effects—are you thing the day has to offer. One excellent use of your environment does not mean that your heart shouldn’t being piqued by someone—try to spend more time ready for that type of commitment? energy would be to rally the troops. have a voice in the proceedings. with this person today if you can.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) **** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) **** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) *** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** You’ll have lots of things going on today, but they’ll The work issues you will have today aren’t really as Any tests you encounter should not frighten you! You’ll be full of energy today, although figuring out all be different from one another—which will help difficult as they appear to be at first glance, so keep Relax and be confident about how you’ll do. You are how to harness it all might be something of a chal- you stay engaged with every minute of the day. your chin up. Maintaining a positive attitude will in complete control of your abilities, and the out- lenge for you. You have many new people and com- You’re on top right now, and you can handle mul- help you stay focused and reassure the people around come is totally up to you. If you’ve done your home- mitments in your life right now, and all of them will ti-tasking better than ever before. you that you know what you are doing! work, then the outcome will be a very good one. benefit from your huge influx of liveliness. CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K 07 | SATURDAY, JANUARY 02, 2021 CULTURE & LIFESTYLE Govinda Prasad Lohani’s final book is an exemplary literary initiative The stories truly depict what can be called progressive and leftist ideology that attracted the veteran writer and thinker at an impressionable age.

MADAN KUMAR BHATTARAI of both economics and story-writing While readers may have different from his illustrious father, has given opinions on both the contents and context ovinda Prasad Lohani highlights of the life of his father, who NETRITWAKO BHOK of the publication of these stories of recently published was one of the founding members of RA ANYA KATHA yesteryears, the sheer zeal shown by the ‘Netritwako Bhok Ra Nepal’s central bank. Lohani also served, GOVINDA PRASAD LOHANI writer is admirable. Anya Kath’, which can be with acclaim and dedication, the National While we may have differences on the loosely translated as Planning Commission as a member. Publisher: Kripa Publication House approach of the author or his prescrip- ‘hunger for leadership and A cursory reading of the book shows Pages: 143 tions for resolution of evils and malaises Gother stories’. The book, which includes readers the multiple facets of the writer. Price: Rs 250 that have hit society, there is absolutely stories that the prolific author wrote six The intrinsic message of the stories no doubt that the author has done his best to seven decades ago, is divided into covered in Lohani’s book truly depict to share his knowledge with readers in two parts. The first portion with a collec- what can be called progressive and leftist ism as the source of many evils. It mocks the form of the book. tion of eight essays is a reprint of the ideology that attracted the veteran writer political leaders with a virtual punch in Sadly, soon after the publication of this book he wrote way back in 1953. The sub- and thinker since his childhood days the face for their alleged duplicity, dis- book, Lohani passed away at the age of 93. sequent part also has eight stories that and his habitual preference for candid honesty and deceptiveness. Lohani was a storehouse of knowledge have come out in various magazines from and straight-forward response to all exi- The book also passes strong strictures and had published many articles in 1952 to 1962. gencies in life including hard life of the against prevailing gender discrimination the past covering both hard facts of The book is jointly dedicated to the late people of Nepal, with even a shred of in the days he wrote these stories. economics to lighter issues of trave- Buddhi Prakash Pandey and his better romanticism. While we can safely say that there are logues, we hope that these are appropri- half, the late Ruchilabala Devi Lohani. An assessment from this single book improvements, it is still a long way to go ately compiled and brought out in the Late Pandey is known to have inculcat- alone proves how difficult it is to rightly before we can ensure gender equality in form of books for the benefit of the ed various attributes to the author in the fathom the depth and extent of both theory and practice. younger generation. form of acquisitions of diverse strands of knowledge that the voracious reader and Imbued with a strong will-power and There is absolutely no doubt that he Marxism, materialism, literature, inter- prolific writer has acquired during his determination with no paucity of friends was a top-notch intellectual—one that national politics and modern philosophy. long life. and detractors, Lohani is a one-man insti- makes the world a little lesser now that he Friends often refer Lohani as a prag- In its essence, the stories covered in the tution incorporating various enviable is gone. matic economist or practical Marxist book portray the life of the toiling masses ing our society. It hints at our gross mis- facets like a brilliant student of Banaras interested in actual output rather than of Nepal who have great difficulty in hav- management, political, administrative Hindu University, seasoned economist, Bhattarai is a former Foreign Secretary harping merely on ideological jargon. ing two square meals a day, not to speak and managerial, in terms of optimum Marxist thinker, senior planner, banker, and author involved in the study of On behalf of publishers, his son, Kapil of other achievements or goals in the utilisation of our scarce resources. administrator, ambassador, and, above Nepal’s foreign relations from a historical Lohani, who has inherited strong traits context of acute rich-poor divide pervad- The book scathingly attacks consumer- all, a prolific writer. perspective. BEST-SELLERS | NEW RELEASES

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ferences, often repeating the same BEATRICE LARCO phrases in response to questions ROME asked by reporters. Japan so far has avoided an ike elsewhere in Europe, explosive growth in infections, museums and art galler- but its recent upsurge has many ies closed in Italy in people worried. the spring and again in Suga took few pandemic meas- the fall to contain the ures until mid-December, when spread of Covid-19, leav- he suspended a state-funded dis- Ling virtual tours as the best option count travel promotion campaign. for art lovers who wanted to see He has also been criticised for the treasures held by institutions joining a steak dinner for eight such as the Uffizi Galleries in people when the government Florence and the Vatican Museums advised against parties of more in Rome. than five. But some exquisite pieces of Known for bestsellers such as Italy’s cultural heritage remain on ‘A Wild Sheep Chase’, ‘The Wind- display for in-person viewing up Bird Chronicle’ and ‘1Q84’, inside the country’s churches, Murakami said during the show which stayed open during the that issues raised by the coronavi- autumn resurgence of the virus. rus seem to be part of develop- Some churches hold collections of AP/RSS ments such as globalism, climate Renaissance art and iconography Murakami, in a two-hour live New Year’s Eve show on December 31, urged political change, rise of populism and wid- that would be the envy of any AP/RSS leaders to “talk honestly from the gut” to the people to encourage them to help ening social disparity. museum. Visitors inside the Cerasi Chapel of Santa Maria del Popolo church, Rome. slow rising infections which are on the verge of getting out of control. Murakami has hosted Residents of Rome—and, in a “Murakami Radio” shows almost normal year, tourists—can admire Paul on the way to Damascus, can packed with masterpieces, includ- MARI YAMAGUCHI December 26. every two months since August masterpieces by Michelangelo and be admired in the Santa Maria del ing Michelango’s “Pieta,” a touch- TOKYO “I think an essential problem 2018 on Tokyo FM. Thursday’s Caravaggio in the city’s lavish Popolo church together with “The ing sculpture of the Virgin Mary with the coronavirus is our uncer- program was his first live show. cathedrals and churches. Assumption of the Virgin,” by holding the dead body of Christ. apanese novelist Haruki tain future, which is triggering a In May, he hosted a pre-recorded “Emotions and sensations expe- Annibale Carracci. The Santa Maria della Vittoria Murakami says politi- sense of fear, anger and escapism show from his home to cheer up rienced upon entering are no less Works by another Renaissance church has a less known but pow- cians need to help reduce among people, which I think is the people who were under stress dur- than those experienced upon master, Raphael, can be found in erfully evocative marble sculpture public uncertainty and biggest danger,” Murakami said ing a state of emergency in place entering museums,” said art histo- several churches in Rome, includ- by Baroque architect and sculptor fear over the coronavirus in a conversation with one of two in parts of Japan, including rian Benedetta Mazzanobile, who ing Santa Maria della Pace. Gian Lorenzo Bernini, “The and gain people’s support guests, Nobel physiology prize Tokyo. gives tours of the artwork inside That’s where the artist painted Ecstasy of Saint Teresa.” J by speaking sincerely winner Shinya Yamanaka of Murakami began writing while Roman churches in French, “Sybils,” a fresco also known as That Italian church-goers now about the pandemic. Kyoto University. running a jazz bar in Tokyo after Spanish and Portuguese. “Sybils receiving instruction from can admire art without having to Murakami, in a two-hour live “It would be difficult for the graduating from university. San Luigi dei Francesi, the Angels,” starting around 1514. compete with the usual throngs of New Year’s Eve radio show, urged people to squarely cooperate with Following his 1979 debut novel French community church in The pandemic interfered with tourists is a mixed blessing, political leaders to “talk honestly the [anti-virus] measures when “Hear the Wind Sing,” the 1987 Rome, has three majestic works by plans to mark the 500th anniversa- Mazzanobile said. from the gut” to the people to politicians are not communicat- romance “Norwegian Wood” 16th century painter Michelangelo ry of Raphael’s death. In Rome, the “Surely the pandemic has encourage their participation in ing with messages” in words that became his first bestseller, estab- Merisi, known as Caravaggio. largest Raphael exhibition opened allowed us to reflect on the hordes slowing an upsurge in infections, can reach people’s hearts, lishing him as a young literary star. Visitors who deposit a coin to illu- in March and closed three days of tourists who would be now which are on the verge of getting Murakami said, without identify- He has written stories inspired minate the church’s Contarelli later when the Italian government invading, sometimes in an unwor- out of control. ing any politician by name. by events that have shaken socie- Chapel can enjoy the paintings, ordered a nationwide lockdown. thy way, the streets and galleries His comments came hours after Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga ty, including the 1995 Tokyo sub- centred around the life of St. The exhibit reopened in June as of museums,” she said. “But I cer- Japan’s capital announced its new and his predecessor, Shinzo Abe, way gassing attack by an apoca- Matthew. restrictions were lifted and ran tainly believe that, like me, most daily cases soared to a record have been criticised for reading lyptic cult and a deadly earth- Two other Caravaggio paint- until the end of summer. of the guides and tour leaders are 1,337 on Thursday, up sharply carefully scripted statements pre- quake in Kobe, where he grew up. ings, depicting the crucifixion of A work of art in its own right waiting for those hordes.” from the previous high of 949 on pared by bureaucrats at news con- — Associated Press St Peter and the conversion of St the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Basilica is — Associated Press

C M Y K SATURDAY, JANUARY 02, 2021 | 08 CULTURE & LIFESTYLE (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 How Mukti Singh Thapa makes paubha and thangka his own The traditional artist’s work is peculiar and culture defying, and that is his legacy.

POST PHOTOS: SRIZU BAJRACHARYA Thapa is known mostly for his meticulous paubha and thangka works, but he is also appreciated as a modern thangka and paubha fusion artist.

SRIZU BAJRACHARYA being just a paubha or a thangka artist,” started working part-time at Majdur influenced by techniques of paubha and stick around to learn but that didn’t hap- KATHMANDU says Thapa, adding he also delves in Enterprise, where he used to count papers thangka. pen,” he says. imaginings beyond the world of the dei- and iron them. Then, later he started “Paubha basically is a design tech- However, in contrast to the traditional hen Mukti Singh Thapa ties. working with Clive Jeeward, a British nique that can be done in five mediums: norms Thapa adheres to, he is also one was in his early teens, Thapa for years has been using differ- expat at Kathmandu Guest House, where stone, metal, wood, ceramic, and cloth, among the few traditional artists to be he was a free spirit. ent traditional art forms as mediums he started crafting wardrobes, and chok- while thangka is more comprehensible to experimenting with traditional tech- Roaming around of self-expression. He has created a varie- se, Tibetan tables. There he also met people’s understanding; it is more niques. And he believes this is important Bandipur, his home- ty of works on pivotal issues of patriar- Tibetan thangka artists, who further straightforward,” he says. “But my work as times are changing and with it people’s town, he painted what- chy, sexuality and faith. And thus, as an drove his interest in the traditional art is neither thangka or paubha, it’s a fusion interest. “We are drawing closer to the Wever interested him, he says. What would artist, he has stood out for his progressive form. He would hang out with them and of sorts.” time where images of deities will no this reality look like on paper, he would ideologies. try to find a teacher for himself. He finally According to Thapa, thangka is more longer be important to people,” he says. think, and just sit and draw for hours. At his studio, a huge painting of did manage to, at White Gumba behind illustrative and shows landscape works, “And this will directly affect its market.” At school, during breaks, he would Buddha’s life shows exactly how Thapa Boudha, two Tibetan gurus, Karsang and whereas paubha is more a design paint- To provide evidence to his judgement, spend his time in the library trying to thinks: his interpretation of Buddha’s life Tengda, who had come from Dharamshala. ing that depends on lines and cuttings. he recalls how his paintings after being imitate images he saw on books and can be unsettling for some. Unlike the “I learnt a lot from them, on how to While his work borrows techniques from confirmed for acquisition were rejected sometimes he would sneak out comic many artworks that put Buddha’s life on a make the characters, and the cuttings. the two styles, over the years, Thapa has by a private museum owner in Seattle, the books to practise the strokes of the imag- pedestal, Thapa’s work makes Buddha And slowly I started making my works developed his own command over the US, over 20 years ago, when he told the es in them. “I enjoyed drawing things look more human: we see a poor-looking and selling them at Jhochhen,” he said. technique. buyer the works depicted religious dei- more than anything. I was a curious kid, Buddha after he leaves the riches of his But over time, the works of thangka ties. And Thapa expects the situation to I wanted to try making everything,” says palace and is teaching his disciples. and paubha have degraded, he says. And get worse in the years to come with the Thapa, laughing heartily at his “I have always loved making works Thapa fears that the future will be devoid ongoing economic crisis in the world. Jawalakhel-based work studio. that depict my own imaginations and He is also part of the of artists who can continue traditional “The market for religious painting is And Thapa was famous for his art in views more than thangka and paubha. ongoing restoration of art or contribute to the heritage of art. shrinking, and so, we need to be able to school, he says. Besides his drawings, he My thoughts and rationale drive my art,” “The general people don’t really know make works that can engage people’s would also articulate designs for clothes he says. 16th century murals what is thangka and paubha and so, they attention, works that are meaningful to as per people’s request. And people would Thapa today is one of the most respect- blindly believe every work presented to the current time,” he says. “We need to be willingly pay for it, he says. He would save able artists in the country. And is also one in the monasteries of them as paubha and thangka. But I think ready to experiment and explore more every penny for his colourful imagina- of the master artists behind the ongoing artists need to work on their precision ideas with our traditional art.” tion. Today, almost six decades have come restoration of the 16th century murals in Lo Manthang. more and really try to learn the authentic But now at 64, Thapa is slowing down. to pass, and Thapa in many ways is still the monasteries of Lo Manthang. His art. Right now when I see the works of the He is not as energetic in completing a the curious boy he once was, unconven- expertise on paubha has been valuable in new artists, I see that they are confused,” number of works in a year. Rather, he tional and purposeful with his thoughts. training a workforce for the restoration “I was also interested in paubha but no he said. now lives contently and has surrendered He is known mostly for his meticulous of murals in the monasteries. one wanted to teach me at the time. So, I However, people are not that keen on to his mood. “Aajkal jhijho lagcha,” he paubha and thangka works, but he is also However, his journey to becoming one started roaming around temples and learning traditional art today, says Thapa. says, which can be translated to “These appreciated as a modern thangka and of the most distinct faces in the Nepali monasteries, trying to emulate distinct “That interest in learning traditional art days, I get lazy”. paubha fusion artist, with his works bear- art world has not been easy. Thapa is a characters, cuttings and iconography of is declining and perhaps because our cul- So, on days when he finds himself in ing the nuances of thangka, paubha, and self-learned paubha artist but he had paubha works,” he says. Thapa put his ture is not that open to learning. Everyone his spirit, he spends hours and hours in Mithila art. But ask him what he identi- struggled to find an art teacher for him- everything to learn the nuances and thinks they have already learned and his studio. And when he is not happy with fies with most and he says he dislikes and self when he wanted to learn and polish norms of paubha, investing time in his they feel small when they have to be a the depiction of his imaginings, he tears disapproves of such identities. his skills. own research. student again,” he said. his work right away even if he has spent “I just don’t wish to be boxed. As artists “There were no teachers at the time And then in 1977, Thapa participated in Thapa’s cynicism about the future of hundreds of hours to the work. you should try to strive beyond a category interested in teaching me, plus because I an art competition organised by Nepal traditional art comes with his own expe- “You see there’s plenty of topics to because then you will be able to do more,” was from a different caste and these art Academy of Fine Arts, where his paubha rience. Four years ago when he won the delve into, but if your work is not able to he says. styles were sacred, people were not will- won the first prize among artists like Arniko Puraskar from NAFA, he had exude an essence, if it is not able to tell “My expertise is in different forms of ing to share the knowledge,” he says. Prem Man Chitrakar and Batsa Gopal ventured to teach thangka and paubha to your expression, what good is that work?” traditional art. I am an artist who uses Thapa remembers the first time he saw Vaidya. It was a surprising success, as no young artists from Bhaktapur, Patan and said Thapa. “As artist’s we have to chal- traditional art to express my thoughts, a thangka work was when he was a lanky one knew who Thapa was. It was as Kathmandu. In total, he had taught over lenge ourselves to work on that, patiently and if I try, because I have learned thor- 18-year-old. For him, that moment was though he came out of nowhere and took 61 students, and he hoped for the students and bravely; as an artist you have to try oughly the traditional skill, I can work to spell-binding—and awakening. He just over the art scene of the late ’70s. to continue learning with him. But none everything to meet your vision, your make paubha, thangka, Mithila, knew that he had to learn the skill of Thapa dexterously produced thangka of them continued. visual perception.” Madhikarmi, Mughal works. But that making such art. and paubha works but simultaneously “This just shows how things are chang- “Because for an artist, the rendition is doesn’t mean I should be classified as And when he arrived in Kathmandu, he worked on his own art style that was ing. But I had hoped at least a few would everything.” Midnight cafeteria feeds Taipei’s stray cats It all began in math teacher Hung Pei-ling’s neighbourhood, where about 20 neighbours are helping stray cats in addition to their full-time jobs.

HUIZHONG WU Hung also helps capture injured cats TAIPEI and cats that need spaying, takes them to get veterinary attention and then returns ipi already dines well. them to their haunts. The plump, black-and-white The wooden houses in Hung’s neigh- street cat lives near a night bourhood were hand-painted by a local market in a neighbourhood of artist Stefano Misesti and feature smiling Taiwan’s capital where volun- felines as well as street food that is loved teers have fed and taken care of in Taiwan such as stinky tofu. In addition Pstrays for years. But Pipi and his fellow to food bowls, one houses basic medicine street cats got an upgrade of their dining for the cats. Neighbours have brought situation recently with the ‘Midnight small cushions as well as decorated card- Cafeteria’ project. board boxes to add to the houses. Launched in September, the “cafeteria” Started by Chen Chen-yi, a researcher is actually 45 small wooden houses paint- at the Taiwan Animal Equality ed by Taiwanese artists and scattered Association, the cat houses help ensure across Taipei. The idea is to give the cats stray cats get fed well and local residents a place to rest while making feeding them do not have to deal with a mess. They also less messy. raise awareness about the spaying pro- It began in math teacher Hung Pei- gram and the condition of stray cats. ling’s neighbourhood, where about 20 “In Taiwan there are a lot of people neighbours are helping stray cats in addi- who feed strays, but often they leave a tion to their full-time jobs. mess, and then the public becomes “We want to push forward this philoso- annoyed by it and they become annoyed phy that you don’t have to be part of a with strays as well,” he said. very top-level association or something The cat houses were a multi team that takes up all of your time,” she said. effort. Chen applied for a grant from the “You can just be one person doing some- Taipei city government to fund the thing a little bit at a time, a little bit, and project, and then connected with a local taken all together, you can achieve a lot.” ward leader as well as volunteers to carry Hung began volunteering after a good it out. friend rescued and raised a stray cat. For On a recent Sunday, Pipi and two of his five years, she has worked with other cat friends were enjoying attention from lovers in the neighbourhood who buy Hung and another volunteer who came to the cats food, help clean the houses and feed them. After eating at the cafeteria, coordinate with residents who may have they settled in for a lazy morning nap. AP/RSS complaints. — Associated Press Street cat ‘Flower’ is fed by volunteer Yuju Huang at a Midnight Cafeteria in Taipei, Taiwan.

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