AUGUST 8, 2004 18 Ticket To Korea By Satish Jung Shahi VOL. I, NO. 16 Widespread use of lotteries to select COVER: Uttam Nepal workers for overseas positions could www.nation.com.np plug the loopholes both government officials and employment agencies use to make big money 26 No Comebacks By John Narayan Parajuli Bhutan’s decade-long tactic of procrastination may have paid off 28 A Failed Aid By Sunil Pokhrel The Tenth Plan target to promote condoms to 35 percent of the population between 14 and 50 years of age looks impossible

COVER STORY HUMOR 32 Uma’s Manifesto 20 Not Above Law BySwarnim Waglé By John Narayan Parajuli ‘Let’s start a bloodless Wagle’s conviction could break the culture of impunity revolution, beginning on the Interview:Kul Shekar Sharma, President, Transparency International Nepal august date of Gai Jaatra’ OPINION: Deuba In The Dock by R.K.Regmee, Author of “Firing the Corruption” ARTS & SOCIETY COLUMNS PROFILE 34 Gossip Sells By Sushma Joshi 11 Peace Before Polls 42 The Hand With The Director Meera Nair has BySuman Pradhan Scalpel jumped on the “gossip is the web CPN-UML is right in pointing out By Siddhartha Basnett and Yashas Vaidya of life” bandwagon. that without a stable peace, polls are Dr. Paleswan Joshi Lakhey, the first impractical Nepali woman to become a general 36 Hitler With A surgeon Harmonium 30 Promoting Media By Sanjeev Upretyi Freedom Joshi Sir ruled the high school with an LIFESTYLE By Pratyoush Onta iron hand; Hitler was his hero Journalism has taken a severe beating 47 Upwardly Mobile 38 Cold Comfort By Satish Jung Shahi DEPARTMENTS By Deepak Thapa The vast majority of the 180,000-plus If the checkpoints are meant to mobile phones are in the hands of 6 LETTERS ordinary people who are living the prevent the Maoists from smuggling 10 PICTURE OF THE WEEK arms into the citadel of Kathmandu, mobile lifestyle 14 CAPSULES the strategy is definitely flawed SPORTS 16 BIZ BUZZ 40 Unrealistic 44 CITY PAGE Expectations 50 Not Sporting 52 SNAPSHOTS By Daniela A. Ponce By Raman Shrestha Are Nepalis waiting for a Gandhi, or a The country’s two main sports bodies 56 KHULA MANCH: ROBIN SHARMA Mandela to one day surface and make are in the news again and for all the 57 BOOKS: FIVE POINT SOMEONE wrong reasons. things better for everyone? 58 LAST WORD

5 Letters

Ke Garne? The “culture shock is mutual!

” HIMALI THAPA

“Ke Garne?” is not all belong to a rare, non-existent species; I FIND JOHN CHILD’S TONE IN “KE girls would not get an education; women Garne?” (Cover Story, Opinion, Au- would not be wearing trousers and gust 1) condescending. With due re- riding around in mopeds and scooters; spect to his “American brain” and the young would not be “chatting” with “American education,” which he refers others of a different caste and sometimes to as effective tools in identifying and even marrying them in the process; the solving problems, I consider his edu- Blue Diamond Society would be burned cation incomplete if he cannot apply at the Hindu stake and the list of “socio-economic relativism” other changes continues! than “fatalism” in his analysis of the Perhaps, the writer does not consider situation in Nepal. It is high time such urban changes (as mentioned above) Child and the likes discarded “Fatalis- worthy of inclusion in his sweeping tic Theories” to explain the develop- analysis of the “stuck-in-a-fatalistic- ment process in Nepal. It gets old af- mire” Nepal. ter a while when every second analyst Now how about a “Ke Garne?” latches on to Hinduism, Buddhism, analysis of the United States? Accord- Karma and Caste-ism to prop up their ing to George Bush (and regardless of reasons for Nepal’s failure to progress other views), the United States was/is at the breakneck speed of “developed” destined to be the eradicator of evil nations. I suppose the revered Dor Bahadur Bista is to be blamed for giv- ing currency to “Fatalism” as being the sole reason for all things that do not work in Nepal. The analysis of “Ke Garne?” seems to be the last straw that many intellectuals hang on to when they have nothing logical to say. If ac- cording to Child, “Fatalism” and “Karma” did apply to everything in Nepal: The Maoist Movement would not have existed today; Nepal would still be asphyxiating in “Rana Rule” for more than just those 104 years; Panchas and Panchayat would still be holding abso- lute sway; urban migration would be non-existent; frequent load-shedding would be hounding our lives (like it did in my school days when studying in candlelight was the norm!); English would not be spoken or taught in schools; Nepali career women would

6 AUGUST 8, 2004 | nation weekly and terrorism at any cost. Didn’t his One of the hallmarks of a civilized holiness call for prayers and Christian society is the regard for rules, norms

strength before embarking on his and discipline. These values have to be Nation Weekly, The Media House, Tripureshor, “Shock and Awe” mission of salvation? inculcated in citizens right from school Kathmandu, Nepal (Regd. 113/059-060). Tel: 2111102, 4229825, 4261831, 4263098 9/11 was not fated to happen but the itself. Only an emphasis on rights with- EDITOR: Akhilesh Upadhyay “Iraq War” was predestined by the pre- out stress on civic sense and duties [email protected] emptive strike. All people are equal but would make any form of society CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Suman Pradhan COPY EDITOR: John Child some are less so than others: Gay mar- ungovernable. Thus, if some norms SENIOR STAFF WRITERS: Sushma Joshi, Satish Jung Shahi, Tiku Gauchan riage is not legal in the United States like seatbelt wearing can be made STAFF WRITER: John Narayan Parajuli (the Bible does not condone it!). Medi- mandatory, there is no reason why PHOTOJOURNALISTS: Sagar Shrestha, Das Bahadur Maharjan DESIGNER: Raj Kumar Shrestha care has sent many a senior citizen to others cannot be too. It is apparent EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS: Indra Adhikari, Yashas Vaidya

an early grave. Enron has sent many that “traffic awareness” weeks need to AD & CIRCULATION DIRECTOR: Krishna Shrestha more! Education/Educational facilities be observed seven days a week and 52 OPERATING MANAGER: Ashish Bhattarai MARKETING EXECUTIVES: Sarita Gautam, Rameshwor Ghimire are an afterthought: Many U.S. public weeks a year. Besides raising aware- [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION OFFICER: Bipin Raj Ojha schools cannot boast of updated aca- ness and warnings through the public [email protected] demic course books, let alone air-con- and private media, a system of checks ASST. SUBSCRIPTION OFFICER: Jeshna Karmacharya DISRIBUTION: Angiras Manandhar ditioned school rooms and well- and balances is required through strict MARKETING CONSULTANT: Kreepa Shrestha

equipped libraries. Inner-city kids are enforcement of rules. The traffic po- CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Nripendra Karmacharya still being sold street drugs by white- lice should fine pedestrians violating PUBLISHER: The Mirror Media Pvt. Ltd collared drug pushers while the au- the rule of the road—at overhead AD ENQUIRIES: Tel. 4229825, 4261831, 4263098 thorities plead ignorance and the list bridges, zebra crossings or those COLOR SEPARATION: ScanPro, Pulchowk, 5548861, 5552335 is long! caught jay walking. Fines should also PRINTING: Variety Printing Press, 4278869 DISTRIBUTION: R.B. News, 4232784, 4244679 Ke Garne? The culture shock is mu- be imposed on drivers who are negli- Nation Weekly is published every Monday by The Mirror Media Pvt. Ltd. tual! gent towards the condition of their All Rights Reserved. The reproduction of the contents of this publication, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without the vehicles and misusing public space. prior consent of the publisher. HIMALI THAPA This can actually be a source of in- Vol. I, No. 16. For the week August 2-8, 2004, released on August 8 KATHMANDU come. The traffic police should also CONTACT repair faulty equipment in a speedy Policing traffic manner. Junctions that have heavy traf- www.nation.com.np WITH REGARD TO DEEPAK THAPA’S fic should have traffic lights and roads article (“Policing Traffic,” A Little Word, repaired, maintained and extended. July 25), it is encouraging to see some- These measures could go a long way We prefer to receive letters via e-mail, without one finally speaking about the state of in preventing accidents and making attachments. Writers should disclose any connection traffic in this country ,in general, and of life much easier for citizens. How- or relationship with the subject of their comments. All letters must include an address and daytime and Kathmandu, in particular. ever, it is also common knowledge evening phone numbers. We reserve the right to edit Driving in Kathmandu is actually a that the thriving market, wherein li- letters for clarity and space. kind of “free-for-all;” a manifestation of censes are a commodity obtained E-mail: [email protected] Fax: 4216281 “tragedy of the commons” wherein through money rather than through Mail: Nation Weekly everyone’s pursuance of their individual tests, is also to blame for this prob- The Media House, GPO 8975, EPC 5620 interests hampers overall welfare. De- lem. Tripureshor, Kathmandu, Nepal. spite traffic rules, hardly anyone seems SUBSCRIPTION interested in following them. Pedestri- SHYAMAL K SHRESTHA E-mail: [email protected] Nation Weekly, The Media House, GPO 8975 ans prefer the road to side-walks, cross SITAPAILA EPC 5620, Tripureshor, Kathmandu, Nepal busy streets when the traffic signal bars Tel: 2111102, 4229825, 4261831, 4263098 them from doing so and walk just under Fax: 4216281 overhead bridges putting their own lives Media analysis at peril. RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF THE Drivers (both two and four-wheel- media (“The Panchayat Media,” Cover ers) enter “no-entry” routes, park ve- Story, by Pratyoush Onta, June 6) offers hicles wherever they feel like and have an acute insight into the state of Nepali utter disregard for fellow commuters. media. The media offers plenty of news One of my friends actually remarked and information but analyses are rare. that driving in the Valley (can be gener- Almost nil, in my view. We will be in- subscription alized for the whole of the country as formed and educated if you continue to well) increases blood pressure levels offer these analyses. [email protected] due to both expression and suppression of “road rage.” What, then, are the solu- RAMESH KUMAR NEPALI 2111102 tions? BAGAR, POKHARA nation weekly | AUGUST 8, 2004 7 ... democracy is

only of use there that it may POLITICS Of the

pass on and come to SPORTS

its flower and fruit in manners

in the highest forms of interaction ARTS & SOCIETY

between people and

their beliefs OPINION For the DEVELOPMENT — in religion, literature,

colleges and schools —

EDUCATION democracy in all public

and private life.

CIVIL CONFLICT Walt Whitman

BUSINESS By the Pople Pe ple

PEACE BEFORE POLLS|| TICKET TO KOREA UPWARDLY MOBILE | GOSSIP SELLS

AUGUST 8, 2004 VOL. I, NO. 16 www.nation.com.np

60 Pages Now On FALLEN, FALLEN From HisHigh Estate Former Minister Wagle Is Convicted On A Corruption Charge

AL PECI S RT COU Peopl RS. 30 ISSN 1811-721X

THE NOTION of nationhood.

www.nation.com.np Picture of the Week

STANDING TALL: Support for the Special Court decision to jail former minister Chiranjivi Wagle for two and a half years on charges of corruption was widespread

nation weekly/Sagar Shrestha Meanwhile Peace Before Polls

CPN-UML is right in pointing out that without a stable peace, polls are impractical

BY SUMAN PRADHAN Before I digress any further, let us get back to the issue of elections. We can only wish the government clarifies its stand on polls, but that is hile appointing him the new prime minister in early June, highly unlikely since fudging the probability of elections serves its pur- WKing Gyanendra had given Sher Bahadur Deuba several pose just as well. While it can keep the Palace thinking that the govern- tasks. Among them: initiate elections before the current ment is serious about elections, it can also keep the alliance partners Nepali year is out. happy that nothing of the sort will happen before there is genuine peace. But the vagaries of coalition politics, especially the opposition to polls The issue of elections is crucial. No one doubts that it is the most without peace by the CPN-UML, have pushed the agenda to the back democratic exercise which, if conducted freely and fairly, has the poten- burner. Prime Minister Deuba and his ministers no longer adhere to the tial to right many of the wrongs in today’s Nepal. But there is an inherent King’s schedule for polls within 2061 B.S. The new mantra is: peace danger in it. Because it appears to be the mother of all democratic first, then polls. actions, the pressure to hold elections can grow, especially from well- All well and good, except somebody forgot to tell that to Bharat intentioned but naïve international do-gooders. Mohan Adhikari, the deputy prime minister and finance minister sent by The UML is right in pointing out that without a stable peace, polls are the UML to keep an eye on gov- impractical. Who will guarantee the ernment policy. While unveiling the safety of the candidates, the vot- budget early this month, Adhikari ers, the returning officers? And that made no mention of the too, not just on polling day but for government’s, and more specifically the entire campaign, the voting and his party’s, new mantra. Instead, counting phase of the elections? the budget says, “sufficient funds The Maoists, whose prime lever- have been earmarked to initiate age is their ability to disrupt polls, elections by the end of this year.” will never allow that leverage to be This makes the picture confus- squandered away without extract- ing. Will there be polls within 2061 ing comparable concessions. or not? If yes, why don’t all the coa- What might those concessions be? lition partners say so? If not, then A far-sighted government would why earmark funds in the budget, get down to work on those con- which after all is a policy document? cessions. For eventually, some While speaking of polls, allow give and take must occur for the me to digress a little. This budget Maoist conflict to be brought to a has done away with a novel idea peaceful end. What can the gov- floated last year by the Thapa gov- ernment offer that the Maoists ernment. Then Finance Minister can’t reject? We know what the Prakash Chandra Lohani came up rebels want: an elected constitu- with a unique proposal to finance ent assembly to draft a new con- political parties before elections. He LYING IN stitution. Comrades Prachanda had proposed that national parties WAIT: Idle and Baburam have repeatedly in- ballot boxes receive Rs. 20 per vote in public dicated that this is the absolute funds to contest elections. minimum they need to shove the This would put a stop to much bitter pill down the throats of their of the corrupting ways of political young warriors. parties, he had argued. Though It may be difficult for the gov- heavily criticized by the smaller parties which had no hopes of gaining at ernment to agree to the Maoist demand just yet, but that doesn’t least three percent of the popular vote (hence becoming national par- mean it should make the task even more difficult. Minister for Informa- ties), Lohani’s proposal had its merits. It is a pity that Adhikari, who tion and Communications Mohammad Mohsin, however, did just that earmarked substantial funds for elections this year, didn’t have any for last week. While stating the government’s desire to talk peace, the the parties. minister laid out pre-conditions as well: no negotiations on monarchy Could that be due to fear of having to make party books transparent and democracy. Someone should tell the minister that laying out pre- to public scrutiny in exchange for the public funding? Or was it the con- conditions before talks, especially on the very issue the Maoists are cern that the parties would hence be getting only millions in public funds keen to negotiate, if only to show to their own cadres, is just not the way instead of the tens of millions through corruption and extortion? to call for talks. [email protected] nation weekly | AUGUST 8, 2004 11 Dhondup Khangsar Handicraft Center

FINE CARPETS & DECORATIVE ARTS

Tridevi Marg, Thamel, Opp. of Sanchayakosh building Tel: 4416483, 4417295 E-mail: [email protected]

Capsules

Oil exploration Embassy floods Cairn Energy Company The Nepal Embassy in (CEC) of Britain will begin Dhaka was flooded. A devas- exploration of petroleum in tating monsoon deluge Tarai after monsoon. CEO swamped a number of im- Bill Gammell and director portant offices and diplo- Mike Watts of CEC flew to matic missions in the Kathmandu last week to hold Bangladeshi capital, the Daily talks with Minister for Indus- Star reported. Nearly two- try, Commerce and Supplies thirds of Bangladesh and half nw/SS Ishwor Pokhrel. Last Mon- of the capital remain inun- day, the Cabinet had agreed dated. At least 10 diplomatic to award CEC the explora- missions’ premises and the tion rights in five blocs— residences of diplomats were DIVERSITY: Muslim women welcoming British Parliamentary Dhandagi, Karnali, Lumbini, reported to be knee-deep in Under-Secretary of State Gareth Thomas in Lumbini Birgunj and Malangawa. A water. bilateral agreement is likely Property rights panel under the secretary of to be signed by August 15. Labor dispute Women will no longer have National Human Rights CEC produces oil and natu- The dispute over the idea to to return their inheritance to Commission to look into ral gas in Bangladesh and In- select the workers for South their maternal home, when no the contradictory provisions dia. The company officials Korea through lottery contin- other heirs exist even after in law relating to family and said they remain undeterred ued, as both the Ministry of marriage. The Supreme Court property rights that dis- by the Maoist insurgency. Labor and the recruiting (SC) ordered to do away the criminate women. agency remained adamant in provisions relating to heirless Strike off their stance. The government property in the Muluki Ain, Poland arrest Part-time Teachers at the is in favor of lottery but the Nepal’s civil code. The SC Two Nepalis along with 17 Tribhuvan University (TU), agencies insist they should issued a directive to the gov- other Asians were arrested by who have been agitating for have a say in deciding over the ernment to scrap Section 12 Polish border guards when the last 16 months for perma- selection. The agencies say (a) of the Muluki Ain, which they were trying to cross over nent placement, called off the government should be allows married women to in- to Poland from Germany in a their strike after the univer- held responsible if South herit heirless property but lorry. The lorry driver, a Pole, sity officials promised to Korea removes its quota for mentions that unmarried will be charged with human meet their demands. Nanda Nepalis workers due to the women have to give away the trafficking and faces up to five Kishore Singh, president of current standoff. The State property after marriage. The years in prison, AFP reported the TU Part-time Teachers’ Minister of Labor and Trans- same SC directive also or- from Warsaw. However, the Association, broke his fast- port Management, Urba dered the Prime Minister’s fate of two Nepalis, alongside unto-death at the capital’s Dutta Panta, said the govern- Office (PMO) to conduct a 12 Vietnamese and three Ratna Park on the 14th day of ment would not retract its de- study on discriminatory laws Afghanis, was not known im- the strike. cision. against women and form a mediately. Maoist split he New York-based Human Rights preme Court gave the Ministry of Home Af- Two militant organizations Watch (HRW) has asked the govern- fairs until July 27 to show “why open homo- T affiliated with the Maoists ment to dismiss attempts to shut down sexual activities should not be banned in have severed ties with the the country’s only Nepal?” The effort group. The Kirat Workers’ gay rights group, Blue would go against the Party (KWP) and the Diamond Society right to freedom of Equal rights Madhesi National Front (BDS). A petition association and ex- (MNF), in separate meet- had been filed at the pression, HRW said. ings, decided to part ways Supreme Court to Last week, BDS ac- with the Maoists. The MNF shut down the Blue cused police person- has accused the Maoists of Diamond Society on nel of committing continued discrimination June 18, arguing that atrocities against ho- against people of Madhesi homosexual activities mosexuals. It has origin. KWP said they had are deemed by been pressuring the disagreement over the Nepal’s law as crimi- government to de- party’s policies, especially nal. In response to criminalize homo- the “direction” the Maoists the petition, the Su- sexuality. were heading to. nw/SS 14 AUGUST 8, 2004 | nation weekly Risal obit implemented in two phases: ponents and civilians, tor- Senior Nepali Congress in phase-I, Rs. 330 million ture and mass abductions of leader and former Rastriya will be spent and in phase-II school students and teach- Sabha member Basu Risal, Rs. 23 million will be spent, ers, the report said. Subodh Singh who had been suffering from the project monitor reported. asthma, died at the age of 77. Everest dispute Risal was a founding member Mortality aid The Mountaineering Divi- of Nepal Students’ Union and The British government’s sion of the Ministry of Tour- had served as the general sec- Department For Interna- ism has asked foreign climb- retary of the Nepali Con- venture company, has been tional Development (DFID) ers to help resolve a row over gress. He was also minister given a 10-year lease to run will provide Nepal 20 mil- the fastest ascent of Mount for water resources, informa- the dry port. The company lion pounds to combat ma- Everest. The ministry has sent tion and communications af- said it was planning to oper- ternal mortality. Gareth Tho- letters to the leaders of 13 for- ter the restoration of democ- ate two trains a week. mas, British Parliamentary eign climbing teams. On June racy in 1990. Under Secretary of State, 10, Lakpa Gelu Sherpa peti- Court acquittal who was visiting Nepal last tioned the ministry question- Prison term The Special Court acquitted week, made the announce- ing the authenticity of Pemba A New Delhi court sentenced former Minister of Informa- ment. Nepal has one of the Dorje Sherpa’s record break- two suspected Nepali tion and Communications highest maternal mortality ing ascent to the Everest in Maoists to five years in prison. Jaya Prakash Gupta along with rates in Asia. Twelve women eight hours and 10 minutes. The two suspects, Surya the Managing Director of die every day due to preg- Lakpa held the previous Bahadur and Kishan Bahadur, Kantipur Television, Kailash nancy-related complications. record of 10 hours and 56 were arrested at the Old Delhi Sirohiya. The court said it minutes. Railway station while trying didn’t find enough evidence Rights violation to smuggle explosives to to convict them on charges of Amnesty International (AI) Taxi strike Nepal some two and half irregularities while taking denounced both the secu- The traffic in Katmandu years ago, the United News back KTV’s bid bond. rity forces and the Maoists came to a virtual standstill of India reported. The two are for flagrant violations of last Friday when taxi driv- said to be from Lumbini. Refugee options human rights since the ers parked their vehicles in The Bhutanese refugees have breakdown of ceasefire in the middle of the streets. High dam urged the government of August last year. In its an- The drivers were protesting India and Nepal will build a Nepal and UNHCR to ex- nual report released on the police intervention in high dam on Koshi river. In- plore alternatives to repatria- Wednesday, Amnesty docu- their rally at Koteshwore the dian Prime Minister Man tion. Refugees said they didn’t ments an escalation in ar- day before. The drivers, Mohan Singh said that Indian believe reparation would ever bitrary arrests, extra-judi- who said that the protest was officials have been holding take place. Rakesh Chettri, a cial killings and torture. aimed at police high-hand- talks with their Nepali coun- refugee leader, told Nation Members of the CPN- edness and chanted slogans terparts, The Indian Express Weekly that a third country Maoist have also been re- against Valley’s traffic man- reported. Singh, who toured resettlement should take sponsible for grave human agement. The police were the flood devastated regions place. The government of rights abuses, including as- able to clear the jam only af- of Bihar last week, said his Nepal should approach the sassinations of political op- ter 7 p.m. government had allocated Rs. U.S. government for a re- 390 million to conduct feasi- settlement drive, he said. Even nw/SS bility study to build a high the UNHCR officials have dam. The Koshi claims hun- said that they won’t encour- dreds of lives both in Nepal age repatriation unless a third and Bihar every monsoon. party monitors the bilateral process. Train arrives After a successful test in June, Oil pipeline the Birgunj-Kolkata direct Indian Oil Corporation cargo train arrived at Sirsiya (IOC) has proposed to put dry port in Birgunj last Tues- up a Rs. 350 million pipeline day. The rail service started its to Nepal to export petroleum commercial transaction car- products. The pipeline, IOC rying the cargo for business said, will be laid from Raxaul houses. The Himalayan Ter- in India to Amlekhganj in minals, an Indo-Nepal joint Nepal. The project will be CHAKKA JAM: Taxi drivers brought out their grievances on the streets last week nation weekly | AUGUST 8, 2004 15 Biz Buzz

NEPAL’S PARK AVENUE PRODUCTS PILGRIMAGE TOURISM Exim International introduced personal care Nepal took part in the 16th edition of the India brands of Park Avenue and PREMIUM from International Travel Mart (IITM), India’s pre- J.K. Helene Curtis (India) in Nepal recently. An- mier travel and tourism exhibition in Bangalore nouncing the launch at a function held at Hotel from 24-26 July. The Nepal Tourism Board and Annapurna, Rajesh Srivastav of J.K. Helene Royal Nepal Airlines promoted Nepal as a popu- Curtis gave a brief presentation on the brands. lar holiday destination for the Indian market in the IITM. P. G. R. Sindhia, Karnataka Minister SENIOR ADVISOR AT MOF for Large and Medium-scale Industries, de- Govinda Bahadur Thapa, Director of Nepal Bank, scribed his memorable weeklong holiday in was appointed to the post of Senior Economic Nepal several years ago as being one of his Advisor to the Ministry of Finance (MoF) at a best. “Wonderful scenery, weather and warm nity for the fans of actor Rajesh Hamal, the brand Cabinet meeting held last week. According to the friendly people. I am coming back very soon,” ambassador of Cosmic Yingyang, to test ride the Ministry, the post will be equivalent to that of a he said. bike and rally with the cine star. The rally took off member of the National Planning Commission. Visitors also made number of enquiries and at three different points: Patan Trade Center in Thapa holds a Ph.D. in tax systems of developing requested RNAC to resume its flights and com- Satdobato; Raju International in Teku; and countries. He also was an active member of the plimentary hotel packages that were offered RabRen International in Nagpokhari. Hamal vis- team formed by Deputy Prime Minister and Fi- last year. Apart from queries about religious ited the 3 showrooms and met and offered en- nance Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari to pre- tourism, they also enquired about tours to Mt. couragement to the test riders. Twenty lucky rid- pare the newly announced budget for the fiscal Kailash and Manasarovar in Tibet, as Nepal is ers from each showroom got the opportunity to year 2004/05. an established gateway to Tibet. rally with the star. The riders were presented with a poster calendar of Hamal and a Cosmic Yingyang NEW MENU AT ROYAL THAI t-shirt. Customers who booked the bikes before GARDEN TERRACE RESTAURANT EXTENDS 25 July were eligible for a special scheme. The Garden Terrace Restaurant and Coffee The Royal Thai Restaurant recently opened a Shop at Soaltee Crown Plaza Hotel introduced new branch at Kasthamandap Bazaar in IFB WASHING MACHINE AND DRYER a new menu recently. The new menu com- Kamaladi. The conveniently located restaurant Sagtani Axim organized a free trial exhibition of prises of unconventional preparations like offers authentic Thai and continental cuisine, washing machines and dryers at the Grilled Prawn Wasabi, Funghi Di Sherry Alpino, executive lunch and catering services. The other Bhatbhateni Supermarket. According to Rama Tex-Mex Burger, Focaccia Melt, Grilled Salmon branch of the same restaurant is located at Shah, Marketing Manager of Sagtani Axim, IFB Livornese and plenty of Nepali and Indian se- New Baneshwore. washing machines and dryers have economi- lections. According to Chef Pawan Sharma, cal features like minimum usage of water, de- eating habits have changed over time and the ADB DELEGATION tergent and power consumption. IFB has intro- new menu attempts to satisfy the taste of al- IN NEPAL duced six front-load models in the market. Cus- most anyone. For the first two weeks of Au- A delegation from the Board of Directors of the tomers who purchased the product during the gust, the Soaltee is also offering a compli- Asian Development Bank (ADB) arrived here trial period were given free 10 kilograms of Surf mentary soup or dessert for every main course last week on a four-day official visit. The group Excel. ordered. is visiting three countries in South Asia— Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal—to gain a bet- ter understanding of their needs. In Nepal, the group is said to discuss ADB operations and the impact of conflict on Nepal’s development with government officials. The delegation will also hold consultations with civil society, the private sector and other development partners. A visit to the ADB-assisted projects in Pokhara and the Melamchi Water Supply are also on the schedule of the delegation. Established in 1966, ADB is owned by 63 member states, of which 45 are from the region. COSMIC YINGYANG RALLY RabRen International, the sole distributor of Cos- mic Yingyang Motorcycles in Nepal, organized a test ride and rally in Kathmandu last week. Cos- mic Yingyang is the first motorcycle to be manu- factured in Nepal. The rally was also an opportu-

16 AUGUST 8, 2004 | nation weekly

Workforce

ence to the government decision to en- for Investigation of Abuse of Authority Widespread use of lotteries force the lottery system without their suggested the lottery system be intro- to select workers for over- consent. “We dare the government to is- duced to correct past wrongdoings and sue a similar illegal lottery system in avoid corruption. For their part, employ- seas positions could plug public and police services,” he adds, in- ment agencies say things have changed the loopholes both gov- sisting the government is violating Ar- with the appointment of the new labor ticle 11 of the Foreign Employment minister and government officials are ernment officials and Regulations. still willing to revise their decision for a employment agencies use The article requires a government price. presence during the selection process of Officials, however, dismiss the to make big money. No the prospective migrant workers but charge, insisting that the lottery is a surprise that the idea has does not specify that the selection conscious policy decision. The De- takesplace through a lottery. Labor Min- partment of Labor says it has registered provoked strong reaction. ister Raghuji Pant says the Commission over 12,000 complaints from victims TICKET TO KOREA

BY SATISH JUNG SHAHI

HE FLOOD OF NEPALIS HEAD- ing abroad for work has buoyed the Tnation’s foreign exchange reserves as well as the bank accounts of officials and agents who broker the jobs. Ony Jul 22, the government took a first big step towards rationalizing the process and preventing rampant abuse of job seek- ers: It ordered that 480 job openings in South Korea be filled by a lottery among those who met all the job requirements. If the Labor Ministry sticks to its guns and expands the system, the dirty business of manpower recruitment could change for good. Unfortunately, insiders say as much as good intentions it was politics that gave way to the lot- tery system. There are widespread wor- ries that the dispute between the gov- ernment and the employment agencies over the selection process of the work- ers could seriously jeopardize Nepal’s growing overseas job market and the poor Nepalis could be the needless vic- tims. The Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFA), which has about 360 member agencies, has de- nounced the government move to stick to the lottery format. “This is not Tiananmen Square of China where a minister can give orders in a Jangabahadur Saile,” says the association’s First Vice President Ganeshman Lama, in refer-

18 AUGUST 8, 2004 | nation weekly who have over the years been cheated took office, Lumbini Overseas was mys- for Rs. 10 million for himself and an- by employment agencies. Last year, teriously reinstated. other Rs. 20 million for his party. “Sir some of the 160 workers sent by The manpower business has become (Karki) will never admit this; he will Moondrops Overseas complained so lucrative that there is every possibil- get into trouble with the government,” they had been made to pay anywhere ity that officials are happy to maintain he adds. between Rs. 400,000 to Rs. 500,000, the status quo since everybody gets their Amid all these allegations and much higher than the figures the com- palms greased, according to an employ- counter-allegations, Lumbini Overseas pany quoted or government rules al- ment agency boss. NAFA First Vice- says they are well behind the schedule low. Applicants for the current 480 President Lama says the lottery order to meet the demand for Nepali work- positions in Korea have been paying “was rushed at the last moment to mask ers made by the Korean employers. Rs. 180,000 according to Lumbini corruption scandals taking place between Agencies fear this failure may have a Overseas, the agency brokering the various parties in government.” Kul multiplier effect as a number of other jobs, even though the ceiling is Rs. Bahadur Karki, the managing director of Korean employers will assume that 96,000. Lumbini Overseas, says, “I cannot di- Nepalis are not reliable to do business It’s not only the agents who play loose vulge all the details, but I will tell you with. This, they say, may lead many with the rules. Tax authorities had sus- this much: There were a few requests other countries to slash quotas for pended operations at Lumbini Overseas from the UML to include some of their Nepali workers. over allegations that the company owed party workers in the quota.” “The quota is given to the agencies,” millions in back taxes. Three days after An aide to Karki told Nation Weekly says Jun Young Soo, the Korean middle- Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba that a top government official had asked man between Korean Federation of Small and Medium Business and

nw/SS Lumbini Overseas, through an inter- preter. He is here along with four of his colleagues and has already interviewed the applicants. “It is not only a matter of reputa- tion and trust but also government sup- port that determines the quotas to be provided in the near future,” he adds. Soo claims to have managed Nepali workers in South Korea since 1993. He has a list of selected Nepali candidates on a CD, he says. The South Korean Embassy in Kathmandu refused to make any comments on the contro- versy. “The labor market brings in huge re- mittance to the country,” says Nirmal Gurung, president of NAFA. “It would be sad if the government resorts to such unilateral decisions also in cases for workers heading to Saudi Arabia and Qatar.” Agencies estimate that about 200 to 300 Nepali workers head for foreign destinations daily, mostly to Arab des- tinations and Malaysia. Even a short in- terruption of the current kind will make the foreign employers nervous and could have serious implications on Nepal’s image as a reliable labor mar- ket. If the government is serious about cleaning up the manpower business, then it should get on with it. But, many believe, if the lottery order is just about the politics of money, there certainly are hard times ahead in the foreign em- ployment scene. nation weekly | AUGUST 8, 2004 19 NOT ABOVE THETHE LAWLAW The outcome of the Wagle case could break the culture of impunity that is pervasive in our society

Former Minister Chiranjivi Wagle Photo by Ravi Manandhar

20 AUGUST 8, 2004 | nation weekly Cover Story

BY JOHN NARAYAN PARAJULI ence as far as our responsibility goes. We breaking the culture of impunity in will continue our job as provided by the Nepal. It could substantially change per- HERE IS SOMETHI- law, regardless.” ceptions of the jus- ng cathartic about After a long delay, the Special Court tice system in the watching the fall of finally slapped Wagle with a two and country. See Chiranjivi Wagle, a senior half years of imprisonment and Rs. 27.2 After the restora- Last Word Nepali Congress leader, million in fines. Even though Wagle has tion of democracy, pg 58 Twho according to many was 50 days to appeal, many consider the the country had a destined to be the prime verdict a major victory in the battle golden opportunity minister. After a Special Court convicted against corruption and abuse of author- to establish a new value system through him on July 22 on charges of corruption, ity: Wagle is the first former minister decisive actions against the guilty. The a small group of people took to the to be convicted on charges of corrup- attempt to hold accountable people in streets to celebrate. tion. He has said that he would appeal high places, however, failed because the The demonstrations seemed care- the verdict at the Supreme Court but report of Malik Commission was bur- fully choreographed and no one seemed had not done so by the time we went to ied. After the regime change in 1990, a overly anxious to hide the design. The press. three-member commission was formed President of Transparency International The CIAA has an unhappy history of under Justice Janardan Mallik to probe Nepal (TIN), a watchdog agency, Kul losing face on high-profile battles, al- atrocities committed during the Shekha Sharma, said, “We have an alle- though it claims an overall success rate Panchayat regime to suppress the demo- giance with the Commission for Inves- of 83 percent. Cases based on the cratic movement. The Mallik Commis- tigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) Dhamija scam in 1994 against former sion report was put into a cold storage to ensure transparency in the society.” Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, the by successive governments, mostly no- The verdict in the courtroom in Padma Sundar Lawati fertilizer scam in tably by the Koirala government in Anamnagar on July 22 and the street dem- 1997 and a telephone scam against 1991—the first one after the restoration onstrations a day later may have substan- Chiranjivi Wagle didn’t have a happy of democracy. tially lifted the spirit of the CIAA. “We ending as far as the CIAA was concerned. Many still believe that was a lost op- are happy that people have come out to If the Supreme Court does uphold portunity, a colossal failure. If the report express their support,” says an official the conviction against Wagle, it will be a had been publicized and its recommen- with the CIAA. “But it makes no differ- major victory, one that could go far in dations duly implemented, it would all

DEFACED: An official booked by the CIAA nw/SS

nation weekly | AUGUST 8, 2004 21 Cover Story

OPINION In the saga of fight against cor- ruption, Wagle’s story could be dubbed a test-case. The Commis- Deuba In The Dock sion for Investigation of Abuse of Authority following the report by the Property Probe Commission R.K.REGMEE soned multi-partyists not uttering parallel party—Nepali Congress even a word against it despite their (D)—may have prevented Deuba charged the former minister and hat the Wagle case continued lip service to anti-corrup- from taking a prompt action against moved to court registering a cor- has exposed is in line tion movement. Various corruption Wagle. Wagle’s political past that ruption case against him. The circle W becomes complete with the jail with most corruption scandals of the past—ranging from indicated high prospects may also scandals involving powerful politi- carpet, snake skin cases in have deterred the premier. It is true term, and the confiscation of cians the world over. The punish- Panchayat times to Red Passport, that Wagle contributed handsomely Wagle’s property standing at 27.3 ment he received from the Spe- Lauda and Pajero scandals of mul- to the restoration of democracy. But million rupees as earned through cial Court has also drawn atten- tiparty era of the 90s—saw their this cannot justify the tolerance for undisclosed sources. This is quite tion of international observers. actors escape without losing face a criminal. That Wagle could not a pleasing score. This has given They believe that politicians find and name. Should this case meet maintain the positive traits in char- anti-corruption workers some comfortable by-passes to evade a similar fate, the public faith in the acter while in power is a reality and hope and strength. But the imple- punishment and continue the institutional mechanism to control cannot be overlooked. mentation of the court order has chain of corruption infinitely. Trans- corruption would erode for good. Have the two NC veterans then been blocked and this might have parency International has not only Already, the present govern- forgotten the great democratic les- a chilling effect on the very move- analyzed the political corruption in ment, in not jailing the convict, has son—when politicians fail in par- ment against corruption. the world but announced through failed: It goes against the high liament, they are entitled to go to The Integrity Perspective, a “Global Corruption Report 2004” norms of good governance. It has the voters for their support but their concept developed by anti-corrup- a list of top 10 corrupt rulers and acted more as a savior of Wagle failure to avoid conviction in court tion cadre over the years, demands the amount allegedly embezzled the convict than as a facilitator in cannot be a topic to be referred to that Wagle serve the sentence, pay by them. the fight against corruption. The the people? All those in govern- the fines and not obstruct confis- Wagle is not in the list, but convict’s attempt to mobilize sup- ment should realize that the ver- cation of his illegal property. This could well represent the wrong spirit port for him in the public and dis- dict of a court is always honored; it could re-establish faith in the rule of political corruption that the list play himself as a victim of political can of course be challenged le- of law and could in a way pave the seeks to disseminate. The inter- vendetta would not have been gally in appeal courts. Challenging way for his political comeback once national body does not counsel possible had the government the verdict publicly and politically he completes the two-and-a-half tolerance for such vice. stood by the value of justice. could prove suicidal for the prac- year jail term. The present case has one The political proximity between tice of good governance. “Political Salvaging Wagle at this point unique dimension—a senior poli- the prime minister and Wagle, be- corruption,” the Transparency Re- of time is not easy. He might drag tician-turned-convict describing cause of their long association in port 2004 mentions, “is the down even the rescuers. the court’s final word as “unfair the Nepali Congress and subse- abuse of entrusted power by po- (Regmee is the author of “Firing and prejudiced” and other sea- quent comraderie in founding a litical leaders for private gain.” the Corruption.”)

have been a different story today: So- GETTING ciety would have been purged and the THERE: CIAA resultant catharsis might have helped Chief Surya Nath Nepal move forward. Unfortunately, Upadhayay the culture of impunity that flour- ished during the Panchayat era has ex- panded. The specter of corruption has grown. In a democratic society, justice is largely a public affair. Unless it is exer- cised in full public view and fairly, cyni- cism over the rule of law will grow. “The conviction against Wagle has instilled a sense of fear (among those who are cor- rupt),”says Transparency’s Sharma. “T his will discourage others.” The argument is: Corruption is now so widespread and impunity so blatant that everybody feels nw/SS tempted to accept bribes.

22 AUGUST 8, 2004 | nation weekly nw/SS In 1991, Wagle’s property amounted to Rs. 90,000 and some land in rural Gorkha. A decade later he and his rela- tives have amassed millions in real es- tate and bulging bank accounts. Most of the corrupt are still flying high. Allegations of scams involving high-ranking leaders, policemen, judges and bureaucrats are too numerous to list. Koirala was implicated in the infamous Dhamija scam involving the appoint- ment of a General Sales Agent for RNAC on the lucrative European routes. The CIAA gave Koirala a clean chit follow- ing the report of the Rayamajhi Com- mission. In 1997, the Chase Air scam siphoned $783,750 from RNAC’s coffers. RNAC sent the advance to Chase Air in a shady deal to lease a Boeing 757: The aircraft never came and the money never re- turned. CPN-ML leader Yam Lal CLEARED FOR NOW: Former Minister J. Kandel, then the minister for tourism, P. Gupta just received a clean chit

materialistic. Perhaps that may be No Running Away due to the growth of consumer-ori- ented culture in the society.

ul Shekhar Sharma is at brought to book. People also seem ing it to strategic policy-making, How do you assess the CIAA’s K the helm of Transparency to resent the fact that only those monitoring and evaluating, and pro- role? International Nepal, involved in petty crimes are pun- viding certain key services to citi- The CIAA is working hard to create which is campaigning for a cor- ished while the big fish are never zens and reducing the size of gov- a corruption-free society. But it ruption-free society. Sharma netted. Largely, people are angry ernment. would be wrong for the govern- talked to Nation Weekly about that the corrupt are having a field ment to leave everything to CIAA corruption in Nepal and ways to day. Talking of administrative re- and consider the job done. The curb it. forms, you served as the Chief Cabinet is accountable to the Has the conviction of Chiranjivi Secretary (1966-69). How was people for bringing about integrity How do you describe the state Wagle helped change that? it different then? in government officials. If the gov- of corruption in Nepal? Wagle’s conviction has certainly I find a fundamental difference. ernment remains alert and watch- It is pervasive in our society. It is given a much needed warning to Now civil servants have grown more ful, corruption can be curbed. the result of a distorted sense of public figures. But prompt actions nw/SS values and growth of consumer- must be taken against the corrupt oriented culture. Corruption, no to underscore the point that no doubt, is deeply rooted in our so- one can run away from law. ciety. What must be done to effectively How has corruption affected curb corruption? Nepal? Two things are necessary. Vigorous It has hampered the pace of de- prosecution against the corrupt velopment. It has undermined and administrative reforms with a democracy and the rule of law. built-in mechanism of monitoring and inspection to nip corruption in The state of impunity in Nepal? the bud. During our surveys we have found Reforms like? that people resent the fact that Like cutting down red tape and only a small percentage of those excessive regulations, reviewing involved in committing crimes are the role of government and limit- nation weekly | AUGUST 8, 2004 23 24 AUGUST 8, 2004 | nation weekly Cover Story

Hong Kong Rana and two RNAC board watchdog has implicated many big time we went to the press); Khum members were booked but Kandel was names. Bahadur Khadka, former home minis- never tried in a court of law. But Wagle is by far the biggest fish in ter, is awaiting his final trial. CIAA offi- In 1999, yet another aircraft leasing scam the net. Former Communications Min- cials understand it is these high-profile was uncovered. CPN-UML leader Bhim ister Jaya Prakash Gupta’s final trial be- trials that will best serve the notice: Pub- Rawal was accused of underhand dealings gan late last month (and was acquitted lic officials should mind their code. while leasing a plane for RNAC from South on one case by the Special Court by the Could the high-profile trials and the China Airlines. The Parliamentary Public CIAA’s greater powers be used to target nw/SS Account Committee (PAC) recommended opponents? It is a charge Wagle makes action against Rawal and the RNAC chief. vociferously. “The verdict is a part of The CIAA eventually let them go because strategy to put an end to my political ca- the cases weren’t established. reer,” Wagle told reporters days after the It is after August 2002 that the watch- Special Court announced the conviction dog agency started being more assertive. against him. He said he would appeal to The CIAA Second Amendment Bill the Supreme Court within 35 days. shifted the burden on the accused to “Wagle’s conviction has certainly prove himself innocent once booked by given a much needed warning to public CIAA. Now CIAA started making dar- servants,” says Transparency’s Sharma. ing raids arresting scores of leaders and “But prompt actions are needed against bureaucrats. On the night of August 16, others who are corrupt to underscore CIAA raided the houses of 22 tax and the point that the you can’t run away from customs officials—16 of them were ar- clutches of the law.” Wagle’s conviction, rested. One customs official whose nor- if upheld, will underscore an important mal monthly income was Rs. 5,000 was lesson for the dirty few while giving a found to possess millions. Since then the bit of hope to many. nw/SS

HEAVYWEIGHTS: Khum Bahadur Khadka (left), Govinda Raj Joshi (above) and Girija Prasad Koirala, all have been investigated for charges of corruption nw/SS

nation weekly | AUGUST 8, 2004 25 Refugees

Whether there are Maoists in the Bhutanese refugee camps or not, another round of allegations has further dimmed hopes for repatriation and made refugees won- der if they actually want to go. The Bhutanese side’s de- cade-long tactic of procrastination may have paid off.

BY JOHN NARAYAN PARAJULI Abraham Abraham, Resident Represen- tative of UNHCR in Nepal says, “Pro- FTER A HIATUS OF SEVEN tracted refugee situations are prone to months, Bhutan finally appears give rise to increased frustration, and this A willing to resume the bilateral can easily give ground to anti-social process. But there are no reasons to be- behavior and, in extreme cases, militancy.” lieve in Bhutan’s sincerity this time around A Foreign Ministry official denied having either. How can the impending repatria- any information about Maoists in the tion of nearly 12,000 refugees of camps but added that it could become a Khudunabari camp take place in the ab- reality if the refugee stalemate drags on for sence of monitoring? More importantly, long. An American diplomat hinted last will the refugees sign up for voluntary month that these reported Maoist infiltra- repatriation under dubious circum- tions were offshoots of the prolonged refu- stances? gee crisis. U.S. Ambassador James F. Three days after Minister of State for Moriarty, who recently arrived in Foreign Affairs Prakash Sharan Mahat re- Kathmandu, says the issue “underlines the turned home from the SAARC meeting necessity for repatriation to take place.” in Islamabad with a characteristically Refugee leaders accuse Bhutan of optimistic reading of Bhutanese inten- using the issue to complicate matters and tions, sentiments turned sour again. The causing further delay. Many fear such Bhutanese National Assembly made an- complications could slam the door shut other round of serious allegations of on the possibility of repatriation. Out- Maoist infiltration among the Bhutanese going Indian Ambassador Shyam Saran NO COMEBA

refugees. The speaker of the National declined to comment on the repatria- Assembly, Dasho Ugen Dorjee said that tion calling it a bilateral process, although about 2,000 refugees have joined the he did express concern about the reports Maoists and entered India. on Maoists infiltration. Nepali security officials on the Though Bhutan has now agreed to re- ground admit that some young refugees turn to the bilateral process, the backdrop may be attracted by Maoist ideas. But the of harsh rhetoric and calls for discontinu- estimates provided by security officials ation of the bilateral process by Bhutanese to us (Nation Weekly Vol. 1, No. 10) leaders puts a question mark on Bhutan’s were far fewer than the figures alleged self-acclaimed commitment. by Speaker Dorjee. Refugee leaders con- “We are always committed to the bilat- tend there are no Maoist refugees in the eral process,” said Khandu Wangchuck ad- camps, though some admit that Maoists dressing the National Assembly early last might have infiltrated the camps. month. “The agreement reached during If there are Maoists in the camps, a the [Thimphu] meeting is clear confirma- decade of delaying tactics by the tion of our seriousness in seeking a lasting Bhutanese side is the likely cause. solution to the problem.” Not everyone is

26 AUGUST 8, 2004 | nation weekly nw/SS

willing to buy his argument. A diplomat dependents, was categorized in category said the Thimphu agreement was full of I—for refugees who are recognized as “hollow assurances” and hedged on issues bonafide Bhutanese—by the Joint Veri- like providing resident permits, access to fication Team (JVT). CKS health care, education and welfare facili- There is again renewed talk in the ties to returnees. More importantly, the official level about the resumption of the

BR deal skips the provision of third-party bilateral process; Nepali officials are monitoring. Much like the diplomat, refu- hoping that the impending repatriation gees have grown pessimistic about a mean- of refugees from Khudunabari camp will ingful repatriation. resume soon. But even before the calen- Refugee leaders doubt if a meaning- dar for repatriation is announced, con- ful repatriation will ever take place. “We cerns have started to emerge about the don’t imagine going back to Bhutan numbers of prospective returnees. “I through this process,” says Bhutanese don’t think any one will go to Bhutan human rights leader Tek Nath Rijal. under such circumstances and I won’t Refugees over the years have lost faith. encourage anyone to go,” says Tek Nath “Bhutan is not going to take us home,” Rijal. says Rakesh Chettri. Most respondents Perhaps Rijal’s comment sums up the appear non-committal about jumping on general mood of the camp inhabitants the repatriation bandwagon. “I am not living in the seven camps in eastern sure if I will apply for the voluntary re- Nepal. Finally Bhutan’s years of delay patriation,” said Shanti Ram Acharya (to might have produced precisely what they this reporter in Khudunabari camp in wanted: repatriation with no return- October, last year). Acharya, who has 12 ees.

nation weekly | AUGUST 8, 2004 27 AIDS

The Tenth Plan target to promote condoms to 35 percent of the population between 14 and 50 years of age looks impossible

BY SUNIL POKHREL The reasons are many. One is cer- tainly the unique cultural challenges that HE POPULATION EXPLOSION the campaigns to promote condoms have and exponential rise in the num faced in Nepal. Thirty years of constant Tber of HIV infections in Nepal talking and flow of aid money has not should be making everybody very ner- produced the desired results. A signifi- vous. The latest UNAIDS report on the cant percentage of women do not have global HIV epidemic estimates that at control over how the would like to have least 61,000 people in Nepal are infected sex, says an official at FPAN insisting with the deadly virus. Since most of anonymity. Rural men who are aware of these infections are due to sexual con- condoms rarely have money to buy them, tact with an infected partner, clearly us- even if they are available in the market. ing condoms could cut down the high Storage and disposal problems in rural AA rate of transmission. But the campaign settings also limit the use. to raise awareness to widen the effec- Though officials make the right noise tive use of condoms is deeply flawed. in seminars in Kathmandu and elsewhere, In a country where people are squea- concerted efforts to break social taboo mish about discussing sex habits, the on discussing sex and condoms are hard FAILEDFAILED conventional methods of condom pro- to find, and there is no sign of any collec- motion have been largely useless. The tive effort involving media, civil society civil conflict offers a good excuse for and concerned authorities. “Public edu- the authorities and the donors to cam- cation and information can play a vital ouflage their failure. The national target role in promoting safe sex and condoms, AIDAID stated in the Tenth Plan to take condom but the utility of the information is seri- use to 35 percent of the population be- ously undermined,” says Dr. Prakash tween 14 to 50 years of age looks impos- Subedi, a medical officer at B&B Hospi- sible to achieve, though no empirical tal. Dr. Subedi acknowledges that the National Statistics of HIV/AIDS prevalence studies exist on nation-wide patterns of medical community itself has not played FIGURES YEAR (1988-1998) YEAR 2003 condom use. an effective role in promoting condoms. Estimated number Records show that six million “Even sophisticated looking hospitals in of HIV cases condoms were dispatched in 2003 to the the Valley lack provision for safe sex (adults and children) 21,000 61,000 health agencies and the market but ex- counseling,” he says. Estimated number of deaths perts say the demand-and-supply dy- Sex education for high-risk groups— due to AIDS 1,700 3,100

namics seem to have gone off the rails. sex workers, migrant laborers and Estimated number Dr. Giridhari Sharma Poudel, a consult- intravaneous drug users—is the holy grail. of AIDS orphan 750 –

ant at Family Planning Association of In school, related topics have been in- Source: UNAIDS Global HIV/AIDS Report 2004 Nepal, believes that the demand in the country continues to remain very low. News reports also suggest that a large number of the condoms get smuggled across the border to India. Instead of recalibrating their strat- egy amid new challenges, the officials are happy to voice the common refrain: Make condoms available so readily that increasing numbers of men start using it. “Condoms should reach communi- ties beyond health posts and sub-health posts,” Sharma urges. “We should take condoms to the people and not make people come seeking them.” He then concedes, “That is exactly what we have not been able to do.” nw/SS 28 AUGUST 8, 2004 | nation weekly nw/SS

two million Nepali work- ers go to work in India ev- ery year. A considerable number of them visit sex workers during the long absence from their fami- lies. Studies show that seven to 10 percent of male migrants returning from India are HIV posi- tive. A comprehensive ef- fort to promote condoms to contain the epidemic among this population is visibly lacking. Other than the govern- ment, various actors such as UNDP, USAID, DFID, the ILO and UNICEF are on the field vowing to contain HIV/AIDS but experts aren’t too happy about the results. “Desir- able success have not been achieved,” says Dr. Ram Prasad Shrestha, former chief of National Center for AIDS and STDs Con- trol. He attributes the failure to the lack of col- laborative efforts between cluded in Health, Population and Envi- the government agencies and ronment in curriculum for the INGOs. “What we see grades nine and 10. But now is limited to verbal lack of training and guid- commitment.” ance for teachers on how the topics should be ap- proached has caused many edu- nw/SS cators to simply skip them. Of- ficials admit that they have not been able to come up with a visionary approach on sex edu- cation for children and adolescence. Ideally, the government should have been able to exploit the vast potential of media, but the commercials on condoms that are broadcast on state television are filled with half-information and are only in Nepali, which makes little sense to non-Nepali speakers in the hills and Tarai. The influx of economic migrants poses great risk of a rapid rise in the number of HIV infections. Some 1.5 to nation weekly | AUGUST 8, 2004 29 Media PROMOTING MEDIA FREEDOM

The fear regarding one’s own security has forced journal- likely to happen if demonstrably effec- tive measures are taken to prevent or stop ists to be very cautious about what they write, say and unlawful arrests, torture and abductions show in their media outputs. Nepali journalism has taken of media persons and associated rights activists by the protagonists of the con- a severe beating from which it will take a while to recover. flict. It would also be necessary to pun- ish those who abuse power and hence journalism has taken a severe beating media’s role in exposing these abusers BY PRATYOUSH ONTA from which it will take a while to re- cannot be overemphasized. N THE LAST THREE YEARS, THE cover. It has not only lost some of its The present situation demands many incidence of rights violations against practitioners by death or desertion, kinds of appropriate action on the part Imedia practitioners in Nepal has in- thanks to the excesses of the conflict of all who cherish media freedom in creased to such an extent that national protagonists, the job of trying to retain Nepal. With that in mind, some ideas, and international rights bodies have ex- its skilful members and recruit new ones restricted to rights monitoring and ac- pressed grave concerns about both the in its fold has been made all the more tivism, are discussed below. nature and volume of such violations. difficult. The dislocation of skilful me- Media institutions, practitioners and dia practitioners from regional or ILLIBERAL LOGIC their products have been regular targets smaller centers of media production has A. Record and dissemination work by of suppression and harassment by the slowed the process of the decentraliza- media rights organizations: With the security forces of the state and armed tion of media capacity. hope that the illiberal logic of both the members of the Maoists. These viola- The violations mentioned above have state and the Maoists will be defeated in tions by both sides have occurred in the been recorded by organizations such as the long-run through certain practices, form of unlawful killings, abductions, the Federation of Nepalese Journalists organizations such as the FNJ and arrests, harassment, threats and forced (FNJ), Center for Human Rights and CEHURDES have been documenting dislocations of journalists from their Democratic Studies (CEHURDES), rights violations against media persons. primary location of work. Media per- Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and They are doing this partially with the sons have been routinely denied access International Federation of Journalists support of some international organiza- to locations they have wanted to visit as (IFJ). The situation is likely to get bet- tions. With help from DANIDA, the part of their professional reporting ex- ter only if the present level of impunity FNJ has already published two books, ercise. Seizure of printed materials, ob- for perpetrators of human rights viola- one each in English and Nepali, which stacles to circulation of print media or tions decreases drastically. That is only document these violations for the pe- broadcast of programs and the fear of ar- bitrary interpretations of one’s reference materials have all contributed to an at-

mosphere of fear amongst media practi- nw/SS tioners. Legal instruments such as the Terror- ist and Disruptive Acts (Control and Punishment) Ordinance (TADA) that have been made effective by the state since late 2001 and the subsequent prac- tices of the two main protagonists of the present conflict in Nepal are chiefly re- sponsible for creating the present state of affairs. The fear regarding one’s own security has forced journalists to be very cautious about what they write, say and show in their media outputs. Nepali

30 AUGUST 8, 2004 | nation weekly riod 2001-02. It has also recently pre- promote prompt action on behalf of any and international networking would pared an unpublished report of such vio- of its members who might become vic- obviously be necessary for rights activ- lations for the seven-month period since tims of state or Maoist excesses. The ism to succeed but robust ways of real- the end of the last ceasefire in August hotline, established through the finan- izing such networks have to be devised. 2003. CEHURDES has prepared an an- cial support of International Media Sup- nual report on the “Status of Press Free- port (IMS), a Denmark-based organiza- COLLABORATIVE STUDIES dom and Freedom of Expression” in tion, has made a difference. C. Scholarship: Promotion of good aca- Nepal since the year 2000. These docu- demic studies on the subject of media ments in turn have been the bases for RIGHTS VIOLATIONS freedom in Nepal is absolutely neces- reports prepared by international orga- B. Rights activism, legal re- sary. We need studies of the nizations such as RSF, IFJ, Committee course and law reform: To con- power constellations in to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and others front rights violations, it is also Nepali society that have tra- who have also sent their own fact-find- important for media practitio- ditionally worked against ing missions to Nepal in the recent years. ners to be aware of their rights media freedom. We also need Such documentation is absolutely and have recourse to legal help. broad and comparative stud- necessary to first record the situation of With respect to the first of these ies that give us the benefit of violations against specific individuals and items, the newly established insights developed from to seek justice on their behalf. Secondly, Centre for Media Rights scholarly output elsewhere. such documentation is necessary for all (whose office is located in For this to happen, long-term kinds of subsequent activism including Thapathali) aims to provide collaborative studies between the preparation of special reports for dis- help through the setting up of a media practitioners, legal semination or the holding of informed resource center that would house nec- scholars, social scientists and rights ac- public discussions to raise voice against essary information regarding the rights tivists will be necessary. Such efforts will actions that have curtailed media freedom. of the media. The Centre’s work—it re- strengthen the social foundations of pro- This type of documentation is also nec- mains to be seen what it will encom- media freedom environment in Nepal. essary to build national and international pass—is being supported by the Cana- I am afraid that the present mode of con- networks that would advocate for the dian organization, Institute for Media, flict tourism—whereby Nepali journal- rights of the victims by creating moral Policy and Civil Society (IMPACS). ists and rights activists are herded for a pressure against the perpetrators of in- With respect to legal help, fast tour of Sri Lanka, Northern Ireland justice in Nepal. Such documentation is CEHURDES had helped about 20 jour- or South Africa—will not produce much also part of an active monitoring process nalists who had been illegally detained scholarship or insights. of the situation regarding freedom of ex- to file a compensation suit with the dis- D. Resources: Doing all of the above pression in Nepal, an arena of rights which trict courts of Kathmandu, Sunsari and will require resources, both financial and is larger than those available to the media Morang. Compensation amounting to human. Hence it would be necessary to alone. More rigor could be used in the Rs. 100,000 each has been demanded cit- secure financial resources from Nepal’s current practices of documentation. ing reference to the relevant legal provi- international friends to support the Beyond textual documentation, other sions. One petitioner, Shyam Shrestha, above discussed activities. As I have ar- activities are also necessary and some of editor of Mulyankan monthly was quoted gued in the past, piecemeal funding sup- them are already being done by FNJ. For in the 2003 report by CEHURDES as port will not work. Also the funding dy- instance, since fall 2003, FNJ has been saying, “We want to set a precedent that namics ought to shift from the individual running a 24-hour telephone hotline to the state must bear responsibility for donor-recipient type to a coalition-re- violating people’s fundamental rights cipients model in which discussions re- even during the state of emergency.” garding comparative cost-benefit advan- However nine of the cases filed have tages of such support become a routine been dismissed somewhat arbitrarily part of the grant-giving exercise. while the remaining cases are ongoing. It would also be important to generate Self-education of the legal bases of financial and non-monetary resources restrictions and rights ought to be an in- within Nepal to do a large part of the work tegral part of rights activism for the fu- described above. For instance, Nepal’s ma- ture of media freedom. This will enable jor media houses ought to invest resources the activists to devise ways to continu- that can fund activism and scholarship that ously challenge existing and future dra- support a pro-media freedom environment conian legal measures and illegal deten- in Nepal. After all they will benefit the most tions by the state. It will also contribute from such an environment. Networking toward the realization of a legal environ- costs between scholars and rights activists ment where necessary progressive leg- could also be internally generated and shared islation can be passed in the form of a by interested NGOs and informal groups. Public Information Act, etc. National Is anybody listening? nation weekly | AUGUST 8, 2004 31 Cloud Cuckoo Land UMA’S MANIFESTO

his grandfather had led a protest against left-handed Leftist from Dhankuta. He BY SWARNIM WAGLÉ the import of banaspati ghee from India is now my fiancé. He insisted on taking a AM AN INTENSELY PRIVATE when Koirala II was Prime Minister. The shower with his under-wear on. I used person, except when angry, or in bed. grandfather was later made manager of to tease him if that was to stop him from II’ve been really mad since 1996, so I the Russian-built Janakpur Cigarette looking down at the unemployed. He will tell you all. How and where my cru- Factory. His loot was legendary—the fac- didn’t get the joke. Nepali Leftists are sade to save the nation began, and why. I tory itself looked like a cancer patient in too serious. They were apparently pun- once took a walk with my father for two two years. These days because of my ished for drinking Coca Cola, and if you hours along River Seine. He didn’t utter profession, I hobnob a lot with politi- laughed, one of your comrades would a word for the first hour. Then when I cians. They are an interesting bunch in report to the politburo saying, “Com- saw the Eiffel Tower, I said, “Bua, that’s a an unflattering sort of way. Thinking to rade Jwala laughed like Lyndon Johnson nice view, don’t you think?” When we them is as alien a concept as staying mute the Capitalist.” But women like us are reached home, he said, “That was a fool- is to Bill Clinton. Worse, they stink. gifted enough to make boring men funny. ish remark you made an hour ago.” I They stink more than the rest. Yes, ve- Like dining table etiquette, humor too is learnt later that he’d been reading about nal, most of them are, but here I mean to an acquired taste. Benjamin Jowett, a 19th century don at say, they stink literally. They don’t wash, Well, it’s no secret that my faith in the Balliol College, Oxford, who had trans- you know. Once, returning from Osaka, parties is diminishing. They squandered lated Plato’s “Republic.” My father mod- I stopped by the Hong Kong Duty Free the moral authority they earned in 1990. eled his eccentricity on Jowett and I grew and bought fragrance by Giorgio Armani. But I can’t stand the rest either. I hate the extremists, and find active monarchists athens2004.com up with a man like that in a family with I gave that as a present to a Congressman five sisters. Naturally, I dislike anything who visited me with ordinary. My father used to say that since Saptahik Bimarsha in his the unification in 1769, the kingdom had hand every Friday. After I produced just two gentlemen—one was gave him the gift, he said, himself, and the other was the present “Thanks for this thingy, king’s older brother, who had appointed Uma. But you should really him the royal envoy to The Elysée in have got me some Paan Paris. The year was 1983. Francois Paraag from Japan. You Mitterand was in office, Thatcher hadn’t know, the jumbo size in a yet won her second term, Jacques Chirac tin bucket. Krishna Prasad had been mayor of Paris for six years, Bhattarai says Paan Paraag is Nancy Reagan ran the White House, good for making speeches Indira was India and the little Algerian about democracy. When boy who worked in our kitchen had whis- you speak with Paan Paraag pered in my ear the eighth day we got in your mouth, you look into town, “Let’s do it.” He was cute. But more stupid than you actu- I didn’t do it. Some doings are destined, ally are. So you can surprise and some are not. The doing proposed by people later by coming off the Algerian was of the latter category— as smarter than you appeared risky and shameful. But as Madame earlier.” Merteuil tells a virgin in an adaptation of Leftists in Nepal are Les Liaisons Dangereuses, “Shame is like the even more interesting. They pain. You only feel it once.” grew up reading a lot of gar- After four years, we returned to Nepal bage, but there is this innate and I joined the Gorkhapatra Sansthan. sweetness about them— Disgusted with a boss who snored in they actually believed at one Sanskrit, I quit to give independent me- point in their lives that dia a try. After 15 years I have become the communism actually first female editor of a national broad- works. Almost like a sheet. I have triumphed in romance, but Harvard professor believing my first marriage failed. My husband was in UFOs. I took a lover af- a wimp. His only claim to fame was that ter my divorce, Shishir, a

32 AUGUST 8, 2004 | nation weekly as well as Maoists revolting. Water is scarce and toilets don’t flush in Kathmandu. But I don’t see a point in just bitching about all this. It is time to start anew. The only group that remains untested is that of young women. We are not organized yet. When individual women join mainstream parties, they become invisible. Our movement will be different: men may join us, but the character—our charitra—will be defined by values we cherish. I know there’s a new group in town called the “Charitra- hin Chelis.” We will find out who they are in due course, but we happen to have “charitra,” and I’m serious about our thing. I am sick of Nepalis resorting to false nostalgia. We never really had a golden phase in our history, you know. Our forefathers built the Changu Narayan, resisted the Brits, translated Ramayana, and walked bare feet at 4,000 meters, but they also had a life expect- ancy of 37 and burnt women alive. Look- ing ahead, thus, we can only do better. It is with this belief, dear all, that I am in- viting you to join me and my colleagues. Let’s start a bloodless revolution next month, beginning on the august date of Gai Jaatra. When interested women and men from outside Kathmandu (they are healthier) are in Kathmandu, please drop by my house. It’s the big red bun- galow with a blue gate near Thapathali Bus Stop. We’ll talk then. If it takes nine months to make a baby, building a nation will take nine years, or even 90. I don’t want to sound pious and all, be- cause “desh banaune” stuff is not so much about religion as it is about physi- ology, i.e. getting a body to function. But I suggest, comrades, people like us should get started. Definitely bring your spouses along. If your partners keep neat goatees like that of Ho Chi Minh, I would particularly want to meet them. They are always quite a char- acter, and are always great players of Volleyball. Faithfully, Uma Chand (Ms.) P.S. All you folks above the age of 29 can call me by my first name. (This is a modified version of one of the episodes of the author’s 10-part humor series, “Gaunthali and Bhurtel,” first published in 2002.) nation weekly | AUGUST 8, 2004 33 Movies

subtle play in a background saturatednw/SS Gossip Sells with bridal finery and monsoon rain. She made her feature film debut with the Director Mira Nair has jumped on the “gossip is the web nuanced and moving “Salaam Bombay!” in which children from the streets of of life” bandwagon. Her new film, “Vanity Fair,” gives Bombay played themselves. And long homage to Thackeray who turned gossip into high art. before Anuradha Koirala dreamt of ap- pearing on Oprah, Mira Nair had already ine that era. The influence of Bollywood shaped a sensitive and non-exploitative BY SUSHMA JOSHI doesn’t seem to hurt either in staging portrait of a Nepali girl trafficked to a hink of the most famous Victorian big panoramas. Colorful costumes, song Bombay brothel. That realism got some- novelists, and who do you get? Jane and dance and absurd comedy—all the what lost in her later films. “Kama Sutra: T elements high-art snobs flinch at A Tale of Love” was critiqued by many Austen, the Bronte sisters, George Eliot (the nome de plume of Mary Ann Bollywood masalas are making a tri- for its cheesy lesbian eroticism and bla- Evans). Get it? They were all women. umphant return in the period dramas. tant exploitation of exotic sensuality, but And guess what held them together? What Giving Broadway musical fans a run for this paradoxically may also have been the held them together and keep them being the money is “Bombay Dreams,” a reason why Nair got separated from the read by adoring fans from Japan (there’s a song-and-dance spectacle that draws crowd of indie filmmakers and got such whole society of George Eliot fans in Ja- straight into the rags-to-riches basic a warm hug from Hollywood in her later pan) to Kathmandu (where the British urge of human beings. (Note: this projects. Her other projects “Mississippi Council library stocks them in generous musical is one of two Broadway shows Masala” and “The Perez Family” have also measures to enlighten young Nepali about the world outside the west— gotten mixed reviews. minds) is—gossip. That’s right—uh-huh, along with Julie Taymor’s “Lion King.”) Nair, who also authored “Bringing gossip. Women are good at that, aren’t And who better to envision the Victo- Thackeray’s Timeless Novel to the they? And poor Dickens really had to rian world rife with drama and intrigue Screen,” a pictorial moviebook brought write a lot of words and draw a grim pic- than Mira Nair? out by NewMarket Press, has this to say ture of misery to keep up with their sales. Nair is the internationally acclaimed about “Vanity Fair”: “Thackeray’s glori- The other gentleman who was a giant in director of “Monsoon Wedding,” which ously entertaining saga offers an enor- scandal-mongering was William won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film mous panorama of themes familiar to us Makepeace Thackeray, and his skill not Festival. The movie showed the travails steeped in Bollywood: a woman who just kept him abreast with the ladies, but and triumphs of a middle-class Delhi defies her poverty-stricken background also passed him on to us to enjoy for pos- family arranging a wedding, during to clamber up the social ladder, unre- terity. His tour de force “Vanity Fair” is a which extra-marital sex, incest, class dy- quited love, seduction through song, a book chock-full of larger than life char- namics and financial problems all get mother’s sacrifice for her child, a true acters brimming with backbit- gentleman in a corrupt ing chitter-chatter. world...the catalog of human Director Mira Nair has stories remains the jumped on the “gossip is the same. Moreover, it is a story web of life” bandwagon and that comes down to the basic gives homage to this inquisitive question: Which of us is happy gentleman who turned gossip in this world? Which of us has into high art in a movie, also his desire? Or, having it, is sat- titled “Vanity Fair.” The film isfied?” stars Reese Witherspoon (of Let’s hope our desires to get “Legally Blonde”) and opens a slice of Victorian melodrama this September. Becky Sharp, will be satisfied by Nair’s new the anti-heroine, connives, cal- confection. culates and manipulates her way up society’s ladder. The film was shot entirely on loca- tion in Britain and India. Period remakes are all the rage after Merchant-Ivory broke ground with such mov- ies as “Howard’s End” and “Room with a View.” And in- creasingly, the post-colonials seem better poised to re-imag- Nair

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By Sanjeev Uprety Sanjeev By courtyard, and a puja was performed with a sprinkling of flowers, purified water and holy ash upon the television before it aired its first performance. Ironically the first show that the people of Sanischare and Arjundhara saw was the much acclaimed, Oscar-winning “Gandhi.” Gandhi’s paci- fist world view was an exact opposite of Hitler’s, Joshi Sir’s idol. Apart from history and English, the subject he taught at Sanischare High School, Joshi Sir’s other two passions are spiritualism and music. He is cur- rently a priest, of a community of people who worship Thakur, a holy man born in India. “Bhakti of Thakur has given me inner peace,” he says, pointing to the photographs of his spiritual mentor as Hitler with a Harmonium he played his harmonium. “Now that I am retired from the school, Thakur and music are my major passions.” Joshi Sir ruled the high school with an iron hand; Hitler Joshi Sir then elaborated how he was his hero learnt music at Banares for a short stint before entering Nepal on his way from he did and I condemn the violence he Assam. “I hummed the tunes of Kundan BY SANJEEV UPRETY perpetrated upon the Jews. However, I Lal Sehgal and Talat Mehmood during a ohan Joshi, headmaster of still respect and revere him because he six-hour bullock cart ride that brought M Sanischare High School in was a true nationalist.” me from Mechi river, the border of Jhapa for 29 years, retired in Joshi Sir complained that the feel- Nepal, to this village that has become my 2000. During his tenure, Joshi—or “Joshi ings of nationalism are on the wane these home,” he said. “Times have changed. Sir” as he was popularly known—was days. “The younger generation is moti- The world since then has become too both respected and feared by his col- vated by personal greed rather than by materialistic. The schoolchildren no leagues and school children alike. He was the feelings of nationalism,” he said. “It longer respect their teachers. They go to respected for his sharp wits, his deci- was not so when I first came to Nepal the cities, get educated and then forget siveness and his talent for administra- from Assam. A Nepali born in Assam, I their old gurus,” he eyed me doubtfully tion. He was feared, and sometimes de- decided to come to Nepal because it was with piercing eyes as if to ascertain if I spised, for his authoritarian ways. Joshi the motherland of my ancestors, their was one of those who revered the memo- Sir had an irritating habit of jumping spiritual home.” He paused for a few sec- ries of his old teachers or someone who stealthily upon his students to kick their onds to recollect his memories—“People was corrupted by the ways of the city. His backsides. Even his marks of apprecia- in this village welcomed me with open gaze was intense and piercing; it made tion, expressed through hard slaps upon arms. They really valued good English me think once again of the punishments the shoulder or sharp pinches upon the teachers at Sanischare which was a really I had received as a rebellious student. Joshi cheek, were sometimes too abrupt and remote village then. It was surrounded Sir’s expression changed quickly, how- disorienting. In the view of some senior by thick forests and was perpetually ever, and the next moment he seemed students he was too much of a dictator, threatened by both malaria and poison- kind and immensely wise. Was my old too fixed in his opinions and practices ous cobras called gobans.” headmaster going to kick my backside or to be considered a democratic leader of Apart from ruling the high school with was he about to mark my cheek with a men, women and children. Some of his an iron hand, Joshi Sir has an added dis- painful pinch? Neither happened. Now students—the present author in- tinction. He was the first person to own a in his late 60s, Joshi Sir had become too cluded—secretly spoke of rebellion and television in the village. This happened mellow to administer either kicks or nicknamed their headmaster “Hitler” when he first got an opportunity to visit pinches; at 40 I was too old to receive during their whispered conversations in Thailand and other South Asian countries such intimate attentions. Times had in- the school corridors. in the early 80s to attend a teacher’s ex- deed changed for both of us. Then, after Revisiting the memory lanes, how- change program. He brought back with gazing at me steadily for a couple of sec- ever, Joshi Sir remains unfazed, unapolo- him not only an expanded awareness of onds, Joshi Sir just turned to the getic. “Hitler is my favorite historical fig- the South Asian region but also a black harmonium in front of him to play and ure,” he told me during a recent meet- and white television set. The television sing an old Rafi hit. The master and his ing. “I don’t agree with everything that was later displayed publicly at Joshi Sir’s pupil had finally arrived at a truce.

36 AUGUST 8, 2004 | nation weekly

A Little Word Cold Comfort

If the checkpoints are meant to prevent the Maoists from smuggling arms into the citadel of Kathmandu, the strategy is definitely flawed

I am sure there must be a more effective mechanism to ensure the BY DEEPAK THAPA security of the city that does not involve interrogating any and everyone few days ago, a newspaper published a photograph of a line of who happens to take certain roads at a certain time of the evening. This Abus passengers clambering up a muddy path cutting across the takes me to a conversation I had with a former British Army officer soon Tribhuvan Rajpath rather than wait for their buses to inch forward after the Royal Nepal Army came out on the Kathmandu streets. Asked to the security check-post at Nagdhunga, the main entry point into the about his views on the security checks, he had pooh-poohed the Army’s Valley. The idea probably was to reach the top and then hop onto an- efforts as most ineffectual, and his prognosis has proved right over the other bus that had passed through the checking. Smart thinking. A wait of years. a couple of hours is quite normal as one tries to enter Kathmandu from I had also asked how they had tackled the situation in Northern the western side. Ireland. He said that about the only thing that works in such situa- The point of recounting this is to question the motive behind putting tions is mobile checking. In his words: put a corporal in charge of a up a checkpoint at Nagdhunga and all the other naka into the Valley at squad with two vehicles; the two vehicles work at tandem and at any the cost of the hapless passengers. If it is to prevent the Maoist rebels random place they “box in” a line of cars (buses, motorcycles, what- from smuggling in arms into the citadel of Kathmandu, the strategy is ever) with one in the front and the other flanking the rear; the rest of definitely flawed. For one, despite the heavy security presence every- the traffic is allowed to continue while the ones that have been where, the Maoists seem to be able to bump off almost anyone or blow blocked are subjected to a most thorough check unlike the “Kehi up almost anything at will. chha?” variety we get here. This happens all day and all night long, in Secondly, it would have to be a really dim-witted Maoist who would the city and on the highway. Not everyone is forced to undergo the wait quietly for two hours or more for a police search if he or she were routine security check at fixed spots, which anyone can bypass by carrying anything that could be compromising. There are numerous trails taking a different route, but then anyone is liable to be pulled over at that strike off the highway and into the Valley for anyone considering any time and at any place. something drastic. This also leads one to ask what use are the check- It sure does not take a military strategist to figure out that this makes points that spring up at certain city intersections at night. Apart from the eminent sense. If I were a Maoist, I would definitely be much more wary one at Narayan Gopal Chowk in Maharajgunj, all the others tend to be of traveling if this were the case in Nepal as well. Wonder why our security around only for a few hours. What one begins to wonder: are our security guys still believe that the best way to prevent the Maoists from moving forces privy to information that the Maoists are known to move around around is to advertise openly that they are waiting for them—should only during those hours in the evening? Or, as is more likely, is it all just a they come their way. sham? The sham is also neces- sary, I’m sure, since the citizens would like to believe that the streets are well-guarded and they can all get a good night’s sleep. Except that the news the next day does not al- ways reflect that. Every time I pass one of these barriers in a taxi, I ask the driver—believing, as I read some- where, that taxi-drivers are the eyes and ears of a city—if anyone has been nabbed during these checks, and so far the answer has always been a firm “NO.” Expectedly so, since again it would have to be yet another dimwit Maoist who would try anything knowing fully well that there would be cops and soldiers crawling all over Kathmandu at that particular time. Why not wait until later in the night, or better still, do it during the day when there is no one to ques- tion your movements?

38 AUGUST 8, 2004 | nation weekly ...... #...... #...... #......

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Are Nepalis waiting for a Gandhi or a Mandela to one day surface and make things better for everyone? In authoritative regimes such as in Nepal, “good leaders” will remain in the darkness

BY DANIELA A. PONCE among leaders of other student organizations, because the students felt they would not refrain from voicing their opinions. he Nepali Congress’s dismissal of the elected body of its student It is sad but not surprising that the anti-regression movement failed to wing, the Nepal Students’ Union (NSU), not only depicts the achieve the structural reforms it demanded. Unlike the 1990 move- T ment, leaders were unsuccessful in establishing credibility and thus failed undemocratic and nepotistic practices within the NC’s headship. It is also symptomatic of a more serious illness: a social system that en- to attract important segments of the population. Though it is an under- courages civil society’s high expectations in leaders’ personal traits which statement that the leadership lacked vision and true commitment to in turn lead to disappointment and blind compliance. democracy as illustrated by the CPN-UML move to join another hand- Every time I talk to Nepalis from all walks of life about the situation of picked government, it was ultimately civil society’s failure to make their the country, I’m certain to find deep-rooted skepticism about the political political parties more democratic and accountable. leadership. Pessimistic po- Yet it is the civil society’s unre- litical forecasts naturally fol- alistic expectations about their low a diagnosis where the leaders what continues to cause leaders’ lack of vision and disappointment. Confining good credibility becomes re- leadership to a person or a group, sponsible for the current rather than demanding a demo- state of affairs. As ex- cratic system that “produces” ac- pected, they advise that countable leaders and elevates the solution to the quag- the price of peace and democ- mire is simply the emer- racy. Nepalis need to realize that gence of a “good leader”— these leaders will continue to fail somebody with vision and them until democracy reaches selfless interest who can their political parties. In various bring peace and prosperity parts of the world, even in devel- to the country . oping countries with dark pasts STIFLED: Dissenting leaders like Thapa The treatment they (above) and Ghimire are shown the door such as Chile, leaders are able to

prescribe might be correct, betternw/SS provide for people’s needs yet it always strikes me as profoundly idealistic. Are Nepalis waiting for a not because of their supernatural morality but rather because they lead Gandhi or a Mandela to one day surface and make things better for in a new democratic polity which has inbuilt mechanisms of checks and everyone? Let me argue why the idea of a “good leader” is unattainable balances. Hence when a leader makes a flawed decision it is the people, in undemocratic systems, why it is necessary to redefine good leader- either through contentious and non-contentious politics, that “make” ship as a social system rather than to a person or group, and how the leaders accountable. The ballot box performs the ultimate miracle as despite this, a strong civil society that demands accountability could lend it usually votes bad leaders off. Democracy, even in its most precarious a much needed hand. form, is the voter’s insurance policy against deficient leadership. In authoritative regimes such as in Nepal, “good leaders” will remain Those who claim to be fighting for peace and democracy in Nepal in the darkness. Individuals with aspirations in political careers (regard- need to make their parties narrow the gap between rhetoric and practice less of their motivations) would invariably need to comply with the views from within. What is the difference between a King who dissolves an of those on top—views which are generally distant from the interests of elected government and appoints a new one and the NC leadership who the general public. Anybody who does not obey poses a threat. The dissolves its elected student leadership and appoints a new committee? sacking of prominent student leaders Gururaj Ghimire and Gagan Thapa The Palace, which holds a long history of monocracy, has set the prece- illustrates this point. The NSU’s political analysis and thus its recommen- dent for authoritarian and undemocratic leadership to develop yet it has dations were surely different from the ones held by the Koirala leader- been the Nepali civil society who has allowed their political parties to ship. They were different in part, because Ghimire and Thapa witnessed continue the dreadful practices. Unfortunately, the few who dare to ques- and led a historical moment of mobilization where new opinions and tion the old establishment and build an alternative through accountabil- frameworks were shaped. As leaders, they had the choice to either voice ity will be silenced and pushed to the side just as Gururaj Ghimire and these new views or replicate the speeches of the NC. They chose the Gagan Thapa were. former. In my interviews with university students for my thesis research, (Ponce, a Chilean national, is conducting her thesis research on the student movement of Nepal for a Masters degree in International Peace and Conflict Reso- I consistently found that Ghimire and Thapa were well-respected, even lution at the American University, D.C.)

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BY SIDDARTHA BASNETT AND YASHAS VAIDYA

EETING DR. PALESWAN Joshi Lakhey is Mlike watching a blossom open. Her name, paleswan, means “lotus” in Newari. More and more of her personality comes to light as one talks to her. But it still takes quite an effort to make her talk

about herself. Quiet and almost shy, she prefers to limit herself to ques- tions she is asked. One is about her achievements. She maintains that she is at best “a simple person.” She is one of the first two Nepali women to become a general surgeon. But she remains hesitant, even reluctant to accept it as an achieve- ment. “I am just a general surgeon,” she says with a stress on “just.” “That is something I will always cherish.” To her, there were women who were surgeons in Nepal before her—in gynecology and ENT—and being the first woman general surgeon is really not such a stellar achievement. Dr Joshi Lakhey knew very early in her life that medicine was her goal, and surgery “was where my interest lay.” But, it was for the challenge that she chose surgery as her career: general surgery is still considered a male bastion and she would have none of that. To her, if there was something men could do, so could women. All these years, be it her studies or her chosen line of work, she has been motivated by “a single-minded desire” to excel. And she has got the results too: She was among the toppers first in SLC and then in I.Sc. Where does all this motivation come from? Maybe from St. Mary’s High School, Jawalakhel, where she came in contact with the convent sisters who instilled in her early on the value of hard work. Or maybe it was during those vacations with her mother, a medical doctor herself. She would spend hours listening to her mother interact with doctors and wanted to be one of them. “When I was interviewed by the Nepal Television and the Gorkhapatra after my SLC results (she was secong among girls), I remember saying I wanted to become a doctor,” says Dr. Joshi Lakhey recalling the moment with clinical precision. “I hadn’t really thought about it that much.” But studying medicine seemed the natural thing to do. nw/SS

42 AUGUST 8, 2004 | nation weekly 2001 was big year for her. She finally earned her Master in Surgery (MS) from the Institute of Medicine, Maharajgunj. Little surprise that she also won the Gold Medal in the bargain. Has life been all easy thereafter? Hardly. Her mother, an obstetrician and gynecologist, had always warned her “a doctor’s life was a hard life.” “After earning my MBBS degree, I had to struggle to get a job at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospi- tal,” she recalls. Starting with 1996, she worked as an unpaid volunteer at the hospital for 18 months. Bureaucratic red tape got in the way as her appointment lingered on, even though the department of surgery needed new doctors. The times were difficult for her. “I thought I would give up and work at some other place ” she recalls as her husband completes the sentence for her. “She at least didn’t have financial worries as I had already established myself,” says Dr. Sanjay Lakhey, a consultant physician at B & B Hospital. Teaching Hospital, he says, is one of the most prestigious hospitals in the country. “So I encouraged her to stay on, keep trying.” Now, as a member of the faculty at Teaching, she feels her perseverance has started to pay off. She now talks about how she is training to sub-specialize in gastrointes- tinal and laparoscopic surgery and pauses to see whether the terms are understood. Laparoscopic surgery, she explains, “is a minimally invasive surgery, where instead of making large wounds, small incisions are made when performing complex operations,” she says with uncharacteristic passion. And “subspecialization” is a little world of super-specialists among the “special- ists.” That probably was the only time she volunteered more information about herself than she had to. nation weekly | AUGUST 8, 2004 43 CITY ThisWeek EVENTS ART SERIES OF Miss Nepal 2004 EXHIBITIONS SITUATIONS ilaiporn Pethrith Lisborg is a Thai student from the Royal Danish PAcademy of Fine Art, Copenhagen, Denmark. Her upcoming ex- hibition entitled “Series of Situations”(SOS) is a continuation of her previous work, “Elf Land,” which was featured in the Siddhartha Art Gallery earlier this year. Her work is a form of “mixed media,” painting on acrylic photos and is, what she calls it, a new pop art. The title SOS is derived from seemingly serious pho- tos, mostly on war to which she has given an ironic twist with her out- of-the-world character, Google—an elf-like creature with just one eye. This exhibition will be opening on August 6 at 6:30 pm at Gal- lery Moksh, Club Hardic, Jhamsikhel. It The countdown to the Dabur Vatika My Choice Contest,” to will continue till August Vatika Miss Nepal 2004 has be- help the general populace pick 12. For information: gun. This year also marks the 10th their choice amongst the 18 con- contact Ragini at anniversary of Miss Nepal pag- testants. Information on the con- 2113339, 6630335. eants. The contestants have tests is being aired by Nepal Tele- reached the final week of an ex- vision in the run-up to the pag- tensive five-week training pro- eant to assist the viewers. The Tibetan Craft gram in confidence-building and pageant takes place at the personality development by the Birendra International Conven- Antique and replicate fine exquisite best professionals in the country. tion Center on August 7. Tibetan boxes on display. Susan’s Dabur Nepal and The Hidden Watch the grand finale, live Collection, Kathmandu Guest House, Treasure for the first time this year on Nepal Television. Time: 4:30 Thamel. Till August 31. For information: have launched the “Viewer’s p.m. 4700632, 9851055435.

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Films @ Lazimpat Gallery Café Free admission. All profits from FAHRENHEITFAHRENHEIT 9/119/11 food and drinks will go to PA Orphange Nepal. Time: 7 p.m. ne of the most controversial For information: 4428549. Oand provocative films of the August 3: Love Actually year, “Fahrenheit 9/11” is Acad- emy Award-winning filmmaker The directorial debut by Rich- Michael Moore’s examination of ard Curtis, screenwriter of “Four the Bush administration in the Weddings and a Funeral,” “Notting Hill” and “Bridget wake of the tragic events of 9/11. Jones’s Diary,” is a romantic With a whopping $21.8 million in comedy that boasts a jaw drop- its first three days, the movie has ping line up of A-list British and become the first documentary ever Hollywood talent, including to debut as Hollywood’s top week- Hugh Grant and Colin Firth. end film. It has also become the “Love Actually” is a delightful highest-ever grossing documen- mess, which inter weaves 15 sto- tary with box-office collections go- ries of love and heart break, and ing over the $100 million mark. is unpretentious about what Michael Moore tends to make his is—cute, fluffy and utterly point with a sledgehammer and charming. his latest anti-Bush administration Cast: Hugh Grant, Liam documentary is no exception. But, tival. It is an uproariously funny film Showing on August 7 and 8 Neeson, Emma Thompson, this time around he uses more but, at the same time, thought pro- at The Film Club, Baggikhana, Rowan Atkinson, Keira delicate instruments as well and voking. This two-hour flick is a must Patan Dhoka. Time: 2 p.m. Tick- the result is a powerful film. The watch for an in-depth view of a ets: Rs.50, available at the documentary has already won the brilliant piece of political filmmak- venue itself. For information: Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Fes- ing and showmanship. 5542544.

Knightley. Director: Richard about Meena, an British-born Training by Fair Trade Curtis. Indian girl, and her 14-year-old Group Nepal blonde neighbor, Anita. Each A five-day training on “Export August 5: Anita and Me character in the film is well de- Marketing Management for Anita and Me, written for the veloped without seeming to rely SMEs and Micro Enterprises.” screen by Meera Syal from her on stereotypes and caricature. Organized by FTG Nepal, best-selling novel of the same Dawdling around these two Bakhundole. Date: August 3-7 name, is a coming-of-age film main characters “Anita and Me” For information: 5542608, is hilarious, thoughtful and in 5549848. the end quite touching. ONG NG Cast: Max Beesley, Sanjeev Cine-Club OI Dwarika’s Thali Bhaskar, Anna Brewster, Kathy Movie: Une sale affaire (Direc- Enjoy Nepali cuisine, hospital- Burke, Ayesha Dharker. Direc- tor: Alain Bonnot). At Alliance Ladies’ Night ity and heritage. At Dwarika’s tor: Metin Hüseyin. Francaise de Kathamandu, Exclusive Ladies’ Night. Courtyard, Dwarika’s Hotel, Tripureshwore. Date: August 8. Swing to the beat of the live Battisputali. For information: Time: 2 p.m. Free admission. For band, The Cloud Walkers, or 4479488. information: 241163, 242832. DJ Raju. At the Rox Bar, Hyatt Regency. Every Summit BBQ Dunga Daud Wednesday. Time: 7 p.m., Barbeque with vegetarian spe- As a part of the ongoing Bagmati happy hours from 6 to 10 cials. At Summit Hotel. Every River Festival, Nepal River Con- p.m. For information: Friday. For information: servation Trust (NRCT) and 4491234. 5521810. Sustainable Tourism Network (STN) are organizing the Executive Lunch Farm House Cafe “Dunga Daud Media Chal- Executive Lunch available Explore nature with pleasure lenge”. This event will be a raft- for Rs. 170. At Bhanchha and delicious meals. At Park ing race consisting of media en- Ghar Restaurant, Kamaladi. Village Hotel. For information: tities. The race to be held on For information: 4225172. 4375280. August 7 will start at 7 a.m. from Sundarijal. nation weekly | AUGUST 8, 2004 45 YourYour MedicalMedical billbill.. PlanPlan ForFor YourYour GoodGood HealthHealth Now.Now.

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When mobile phones UPWARDLY arrived in Nepal in 1999 a few thousand sold quickly to businesspeople, who truly needed the service, MOBILE and to gadget-loving trendsetters. The vast majority of the 180,000-plus mobile phones today, however, are in the hands of ordinary people who are living the mobile lifestyle.

BY SATISH JUNG SHAHI

wenty-four-year-old Rashmi Lama is at the T Himalayan Java in Thamel with a glass of iced tea. She’s trying to hold the sofa in the corner while she waits for two of her friends to turn up. She types an SMS to her friends: “Wr r u, me hre.” After a while, there’s a reply: “Cumin .” Lama puts her Nokia 2100 mobile phone back on the coffee table and sits back, relaxed. She quickly picks the phone up again. “Technology has made it so easy,” she says, as she prepares to call home to tell her mother that she’s having dinner with her friends tonight. “Even Muwa at home knows where I am.” A mother’s touch was the key for recently married Anu Bajracharya. Her mobile helped her over the “first two or three days when all was new around me, missing my home so much.” She contin- ues, “Since I had a mobile I

nw/SS could just dial home and share the private feelings, espe- nation weekly | AUGUST 8, 2004 47 cially with Mom whenever I wanted.” halted again for two more months as “Mobiles are the in-thing. Pagers are Many mobile phone users like Lama Nepal Telecom frantically adds infra- turning into a dying technology,” says and Bajracharya feel that the mobile has structure to catch up with the demand. Ram Aryal, who works in an insurance made some difference in their lives. While Nepal Telecom upgrades its company as an accountant. “At the work- Since Nepal Telecom introduced pre- infrastructure, so do the consumers, it place, it has become necessary to have a paid services in August 2003 and de- seems. Nisha Amatya from Patan opted mobile number so your clients can reach creased the price of post-paid services for a mobile phone and dropped her you immediately.” by about a third in May, more and more pager service. She decided to shift to pre- Instant access has its downsides. people are turning “upwardly mobile,” a paid mobile services when she realized Movies, meetings and dinners are in- term even telecom officials are using to that it cost only a few hundred rupees creasingly interrupted by mobile phones explain the mobile lifestyle. more than her pager. There has been mas- as the number of mobile users shoots “Our pre-paid service has been able sive pager-to-mobile shift and paging up. People seem reluctant to turn off to extend our mobile phone reach into companies are suffering: many are al- their phone and relinquish the mobile middle-income households and even to ready lobbying for a cut in their five- lifestyle, even for a few minutes. students,” says Surendra P. Thike, a Nepal year licensing fee. Some have closed “It’s intruding into others’ pri- Telecom spokesman. Nepal Telecom is branches outside Kathmandu to focus on vacy,” says Deepak Bhattarai, a televi- the only provider of mobile phone ser- niche market in the capital. A one-time sion journalist. “It’s such a nuisance vices in Nepal right now. Though the booming business looks ready for a dras- when you are together with a friend government brought Nepal Telecom tic cut. and he is busy talking on the mobile under the Company Act last April and phone with someone else as you wait announced plans to float shares to the for him to finish his conversation.” public, the government still retains the He complains, “Why can’t we learn to lucrative monopoly. be more social like before?” Just then That has had little impact on the he gets an SMS from his office, smiles mobile craze, though. “The demand has politely, and gets ready to read the suddenly increased after we offered free message. receiving charges [during the evenings Such interruptions are only bound and nights],” adds Thike. Lower one- to grow and mobile etiquette has to be time investments have sparked the de- developed and mastered over time, both mand too. Pre-paid service costs only by companies and individuals. For now, Rs. 1,700 plus the price of handset. Nepal the mobile lifestyle is here to stay and is Telecom has so far sold 67,500 post-paid certain to grow over time. Anu lines and 116,000 pre-paid lines across Bajracharya sums up the mixed blessing: the country, including 97,852 pre-paid “Most of the time it has made life easy, lines in the Kathmandu Valley alone. but sometimes I wish I could have a Distribution of additional lines has been mobile-free day.” nw/SS

48 AUGUST 8, 2004 | nation weekly tht ad Sports

NotNot Sporting!Sporting!

The country’s two main sports bodies are in the news Asian chapter, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), expressed surprise over the again and for all the wrong reasons. Nepal’s participation government move to dismiss the NOC. in the Olympics is sure to get tarnished. The strongest statement came from IOC: “This [suspension of the NOC] two warring camps together. It was not might severely harm the Nepalese BY RAMAN SHRESTHA to be. “Sadly for the Nepali sports fra- Olympic Movement as a whole and the he curse of Nepali politics, ego- ternity, the two have resumed their fight participation of the athletes of your coun- driven factionalism, is at work from where they left off,” says Niranjan try in various regional, continental and Tover Nepal’s participation in the Rajbansi, president of NSJF. The long- international sports events, including the Olympics. The National Sports Coun- running dispute, which started with the next Olympic Games to be held in Ath- cil (NSC) and the National Olympic NOC elections in May 2003, has taken a ens in August 2004.” The ongoing fight Committee (NOC) are locked in a bit- nastier and more personal turn. between the country’s two most impor- ter dispute. Both are headed by heavy- The athletes are caught in the middle. tant official sports bodies is unlikely to weights and neither is budging an inch. Rajbansi says the fighting almost cost prevent Nepal’s participation in the On the one side of the battlefront is the Sangina Baidya her participation in Olympics, say officials, but it is sure to Member-Secretary of the Sports Coun- the Olympics because neither of the give Nepal a very a bad name, if it al- cil Kishor Bahadur Singh, a relative of sports bodies would fund her. “Fortu- ready hasn’t. Princess Himani. On the other side is nately for Baidya, the private sector inter- It’s business as usual with the sports Olympic committee President Rukma vened just in time, pledging her the sup- fraternity. “We have duly advised the IOC SJB Rana, son of Nepali Congress stal- port required for her participation.” She of these developments,” says Rana, “but wart Subarna Shumsher. Rana also has is likely to be the flag-bearer of a six- even at this juncture we are prepared to close ties with highly placed Olympic member Nepali team when the games discuss and come to an amicable resolu- officials outside the country. open in Athens on August 14. tion on this matter.” The Sports Coun- “To someone not terribly familiar After controversial elections to the cil, however, is unrelenting: This dispute with politics of Nepal’s sports,” says a National Olympic Committee last can only be resolved through fresh elec- long-time employee with the Sports spring, the government re- tions to the NOC, it says. Council, “this may all look like a battle pealed NOC’s registration With all the support Singh on plain sports terms. It’s not. It’s only a and gave a green light to the now garners from a majority of reflection of our deeply fractured na- Sports Council to hold national sports associations, he tional politics.” fresh elections to the com- believes that getting support Rana and Singh were once buddies, say mittee. from the IOC and OCA is just a sports officials, and Rana still maintains he Rana, never short of friends matter of time. NOC president enjoys “close personal ties” with Singh. and allies in the interna- Rana offers his own solution: That hasn’t stopped them from fighting for tional arena, mounted “This problem will be re- supremacy over who gets to control the pressure on the then solved in two hours if Olympic purse. Nepal’s Olympic com- Thapa government we stand on our legs mittee gets at least $30,000 from the Inter- to restore NOC’s rather than stand by national Olympic Committee each year registration. In nw/SS our egos,” he says. to cover administrative costs, plus thou- their letters ad- “Obviously, it sands more through a “Solidarity Fund.” dressed to then requires a certain Hopes were high last March when Prime give-and-take pro- Singh and Rana shook hands in a move Minister Thapa, cess. ”Hopefully initiated by the Nepal Sports Journal- the Interna- we’ll get out of NEAR-MISS: ists’ Forum (NSJF) on the eve of the 9th tional Olympic Baidya was this deadlock once South Asian Federation Games. Many Committee rescued by and for all, soon.” the private expected that the move would bring the (IOC) and its sector How soon?

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nw/SS Smith’s “I, Robot” hit the silver screen, Nepal’s own homemade robots took the field at the Covered Hall in Dasrath Stadium. Unlike the vicious metal men in the movie, these Ronaldos and Beckhams of the robotic kind were cheered on by an excited Nepali crowd. The mastermind behind Robo Soccer- 2004: RAMESH CHAUDHARI, head of the robotics department at the Institute of Engineering, Pulchowk. “If given a chance,” says Chaudhari, “I want to make my mark in robotics.” He already has. Chaudhari, along with two other col- leagues, is making his presence felt in the international arena. They have competed in ABU Robo Con 1 and 2 held in Japan and Thailand. His team even finished third at the International Robotics Competition in Mumbai last year.

Long, Winding Road Sur Sudha is not Nepal’s only music ambassador. Lend your ears to the fast-rising star of Nepali music, ANIL SHAHI. The Crity Awards 2061, on July 12, featuring Shahi and his Maya Mantra group as the star attractions, was an evening to be remembered. Blending raag and fusion, Shahi has been steadily expanding his fan base far and wide, up to far-off countries. He already has five concerts nw/SS in England under his belt and several others in Malaysia. A composer and guitarist, Shahi’s journey to stardom, however, began rather humbly. Eighteen years ago, he started as a performer in a hotel in Kathmandu and has come a long way since. Hard work certainly does pay.

BEAUTY, NOT SKIN DEEP Actions speak louder than words. At least, NUMA RAI, the second runner up at Miss Nepal 2003, believes so. Last week, she donated a sum of Rs. 21,000 to the Mahalaxmi Lower Secondary School in Patan. Talking about her effort to better the children’s lives, Rai says that she wants to live a meaningful life herself. Indeed, she is on the right track. At 20, this vivacious lady has done it all—from the ramp to television, and now philanthropy. www.cynernepal.com.np 52 AUGUST 8, 2004 | nation weekly Yeti Airlines Vacancies Proposed Revised Flight Schedule (Covering remote sectors) Effective from 25 JUN-15 SEP’04 A Luxury Hotel based in Kathmandu requires the following positions to be From To Flight Days of Dep. Arr. Rupee Dollar Remarks filled: N1o. Operation Time Time Tariff Tariff One way One way Asst. 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P.O. Box: 21914, Maitidevi, Kathmandu Tel: 4421756 Fax: 977-1-4420517 URL: www.royalechoice.com e-mail: [email protected] nation weekly | AUGUST 8, 2004 55 Khula Manch Old Habits Die Hard

ew people wear so many hats and with as much Fease as Rajendra Sharama, popularly known as Robin Sharma. Over the years, he has made his mark as a singer, announcer, news reader, university teacher— you name it. At the pinnacle of his career now, the Deputy Executive Director at the state-owned Radio Nepal thinks those at the helm of affairs in the government media still nw/SS

carry the ghosts of the Panchayat days. But the private media is booming Do you think deregulating Sharma talked with Satish Jung Shahi Nepal is finally practicing media plural- Radio Nepal would help? of Nation Weekly about the changing ism but I am skeptical about who’ll ac- It depends on the government’s priority. face of Nepal’s media, political pressures tually follow all the upcoming media. Personally speaking, Radio Nepal, like at Radio Nepal, media ethics and about Advertisement revenue has dwindled similar others in the South Asia region, public service broadcasting. even in the government media. It is high should be developed as a public service time we aim at specialization and look broadcaster. There are three options avail- How do you view the current for niche viewership and become audi- able: develop it as a public service broad- state of the media? ence specific. The positive development caster with total government funding but It has been phenomenal. We are enjoy- is that people have started reading news- grant editorial independence; allow pri- ing great freedom. There is so much va- papers and the radio has emerged as a vate writers to underwrite it as public ra- riety, even among broadsheets. strong medium of communication. dio; or allow complete autonomy to de- Kathmandu has 10-11 FM radio stations velop it as a commercial radio station. currently operating; there are already 56 What ails Radio Nepal? FM stations registered nationwide and Radio Nepal was established in 1951. What are other requirements? 32 or 33 have already started operation. The priorities and objectives of that pe- We need a media monitoring authority to riod no longer hold today, but we haven’t establish a code-of-ethics and guide the What was it like when you first modified them. I thought Radio Nepal media within the parameters of the joined Radio Nepal? was a public national service broadcaster. country’s laws. We have to realize that news The media was centrally controlled then But, in 1987, it was converted into a Bikash stories have also created an adverse impact and it wasn’t even necessarily by the in the society. There is no standard lan- Ministry [of Information and Commu- It is heartening to guage and pictures of bloodshed and death nications]. We used to call the place have been used blatantly. The influx of pri- where instructions came from as “Naxal see young people vate media came when there wasn’t suffi- Durbar.” Later on, it was more of a self- choosing journalism cient infrastructure and human resources. censorship and fear than political or bu- There is no proper training center for jour- reaucratic pressure that made us to re- as a profession nalists. We need to focus on that too. frain from performing our duties as jour- nalists. We still carry part of that system Samiti, which meant less control by the How has the entry of young people in the government media. It has stuck to government and greater autonomy. The changed the media? us like a really bad habit. darling child of the government and the It is heartening to see young people Royal Palace was suddenly fending for choosing journalism as a profession. It How has it been since the itself. In the early stages of euphoria that has given the media new vigor and a restoration of democracy? was fine, but now we have adopted a facelift. The old guard definitely has to The situation is actually worse in certain dual system to live by. We have been make way to let the younger lot create a ways, as we have to take orders from stu- directed to promote issues such as Lok greater impact through innovation, ex- dent leaders whose affiliated parties are Geet and Krishi but we also had to make perimentation and creativity. I would in the government. Half of the employ- money by going commercial. It’s like a like to advise the young to shoulder their ees are political activists and the rest of us horse tethered to a pole. Now there are responsibilities well, as popularity is the don’t have the guts, as we are all jagires. We so many players already in the market; greatest stimulant in the media. You have have a huge army of employees, 750 people the green pasture we enjoyed solely is to sustain it. Make sure you don’t strike just to run daily 16 hours of transmission. no more. just once and then disappear.

56 AUGUST 8, 2004 | nation weekly NEW RELEASES Three Musketeers MY LIFE By: Bill Clinton An IITian’s first-time book tells the story of three Hutchinson (London) unlikely heroes aspiring to make it big at India’s Pages: 957 Price: Rs. 1432 prestigious institute An exhaustive, soul-searching memoir, Bill BY MEENA KAINI without the hassle of studying, they em- Clinton’s “My Life” is a refreshingly candid look bark on a foolhardy journey—in search of at the former president as a son, brother, ive point someone – What not to higher grades and good jobs—through a teacher, father, husband and public figure. do at IIT” is by debutant author series of Ryan’s theories and experiments Clinton painstakingly outlines the history be- F called C2D (cooperate to dominate). Chetan Bhagat, an alumnus of IIT hind his greatest successes and failures, in- Delhi. Set in his alma mater, the book, Amidst all the chaos, Alok tries to commit cluding his dedication to educational and eco- as the author says, is not a survival guide suicide and Hari finds time to fall in love nomic reform, his war against a “vast right-wing but is about how things can go terribly with Neha, the Dean’s daughter. operation” determined to destroy him and the wrong if you don’t think straight. An ordinary story told extraordinarily, “morally indefensible” acts for which he was this book is a delightful read. nearly impeached. My Life is autobiography as It’s a refreshingly simple tale, therapy—a personal history written by a man humorously told and has no trying to face and banish his private demons. pretensions of being a “great work of art.” Bhagat’s humor LOVE AND DEATH is direct and contemporary IN KATHMANDU that will appeal to all, espe- Amy Willesee and Mark cially youngsters. It has its Whittaker patches of black humor Rider (London) (“Alok was poor but not Pages: 320 those World Bank ad Price: Rs. 632 types”), which some readers IIT Delhi: Where it all may find unsettling. But in The Narayanhiti Royal Massacre on June 1, The book is about Ryan, Alok the context of the story and 2001, not only brought Nepal to a standstill and Hari, who have just joined IIT, its characterization, it per- but also fascinated and appalled the whole the most prestigious Indian insti- fectly jells and does not seem world. Award-winning journalists Amy Willesee tute. After achieving the seemingly out of place. “Five Point and Mark Whittaker set out to understand what impossible—getting through the Someone” will surely re- could have led to such a devastating tragedy. IIT entrance—the three muske- mind the readers of their bo- Exploring Kathmandu and other parts of the teers go on a four-year hemian college days. country, the writers have conducted interviews rollercoaster ride with plenty of Some have termed Five with everyone from Maoist guerillas to mem- thrills and spills. Point Someone as “Dil bers and friends of the royal family. An effort to Ryan, his friends think, does Chahata Hai Part II.” How- FIVE POINT SOMEONE understand the chain of events leading up to clever things but at the wrong Author: Chetan Bhagat ever, apart from three young- the tragedy, which will forever leave a mark upon Rupa (Paperback) place and at the wrong time. Alok Price: IRs. 95 sters, lots of humor and a the country’s history. comes from a family of “limited Pages: 270 fresh idea, there is nothing means,” a polite way of saying similar between the two. INDIA- NEPAL he’s poor, and has an ageing unmarried “Five Point Someone” has all the in- RELATIONS: THE sister. Hari is kindhearted, confused, gredients of a typical Bollywood masala CHALLENGE physically unappealing and hopelessly in movie. It has a paralytic father, a crying AHEAD love. The story is told from his perspec- mother, an ageing sister yet to be mar- Collection of Nepali tive. ried, friends falling apart, coming back and Indian writers. In the institute, the trio realizes that again, a dash of suspense, sex and plenty Rupa & Co. though getting through the entrance was of humor. Incidentally, the film rights Pages: 325 tough, surviving academically at IIT is for the book have been taken by a Price: Rs. 695 even tougher. After achieving below-av- Mumbai filmmaker. I certainly just hope This book is a compilation of the papers presented erage GPAs (five on a scale of 10) in their the images are as delightful as the words. at a seminar on “India-Nepal Relations –Perspec- first semester exams, they find them- With the book sales doing well, Bhagat tives for the Future,” organized by the Observer selves loitering way down in the merit who is an investment banker by profes- Research Foundation, an institute for Asian Stud- list. To redeem themselves, their self- sion, must be literally laughing all the ies in New Delhi in February last year. esteem and, of course, their grades, but way to the bank. (Books available at Pilgrims Bookstore, 4700942) nation weekly | AUGUST 8, 2004 57 Last Word

PIONEER IN Raising The Bar NEPALI & NEWARI CUISINE he Special Court deserves a spe- In this context, Wagle’s conviction Establised Since 1989 Tcial pat on the back for convicting offers a historical opportunity to rede- Chiranjivi Wagle, the first-ever fine our value system as a society. South former minister to face a jail term for Africa did so with the Truth and Recon- EXPLORE 45 charges of corruption. And the CIAA too ciliation Commission. It helped the MINUTES OF CULTURE & for doggedly pursuing the high-profile South Africans deal with the pains and ETHNICITY case despite the attendant controversy atrocities of the apartheid era. It also EVERY and political pressure. We consider the helped them to come to terms with their EVENING 7:00 PM action against Wagle a huge milestone in past without losing their moral fiber. We ONWARDS context of where we stand as a society, never gave ourselves that opportunity— state and regime that hopes to establish a as a nation, as a society. Unlike the rule of law. Panchayat, which relied on individual Bhanchha For Details: 4225172, We however would like to qualify at whims for order, we now have to dili- KEYMAN, 4228723(T), E-mail: the very outset that Wagle still holds the gently set up a rule of law. Then everyone [email protected] right to appeal the conviction; the Su- should agree that we would play by the preme Court still reserves the right to rules. There would then be a competent overturn the conviction; and we hope legislature. And a sound justice adminis- that the conviction has not tration system. Which will been politically motivated. both then be supported by Our purpose here is not to strong law enforcement get into the specificities of agencies that are blind to the charges. Nor is it to one’s political leanings and question their veracity. We family connections. would like to believe that We missed a golden op- those things have been well portunity to set up such a taken care of. Indeed, as a regime in 1991. The Mallik senior leader with a proud Commission, named after history behind him, Wagle the lead investigator deserves every single benefit of doubt. Janadran Mallik, had found that 45 The point we are trying to make here people had been killed and 23,000 in- Nepal's Natural Himalayan splendor, just three hours drive however is very much related to Wagle’s jured during the 50-day Jana Andolan that from Kathmandu, at the banks of mighty Bhote Koshi river, there lies - The Borderland ... A perfect ambience of Nature conviction. We believe it is the culture restored democracy. The commission & Adventure. of impunity that has over the years been named names, including those in high Thamel, Kathmandu, Tel: 4425836, 4700894 Fax: 4435207, [email protected] responsible for the widespread abuse of places, who were involved in “contain- www.borderlandresorts.com public office. When officials don’t fear ing” the movement. But the government punishment, their personal morality of Girija Prasad Koirala decided to par- Manaslu Pashmina stands as the only deterrent against vices. don, for instance, the guilty police offi-

MANUFACTURER OF HAND WOVEN PASHMINA GOODS And personal morality, as history attests, cials, “in order to keep the morale” high. can take a beating in face of material The Supreme Court fared no better. It temptations. Ironically, the Panchayat at refused to entertain a petition that called least would keep officials on a leash with for action against those named in the fears of mathiko aadesh, if not the rule of commission’s report. The court, instead, law. The post-1990 period, on the con- decided “the petitioners had failed to trary, has seen a gradual erosion in the elaborate as to which of their fundamen- authority of public offices; the morality tal rights had been infringed by the non- of public officials has been in free fall. execution of the Mallik Commission We are not arguing that the Panchayat was report.” In doing so, they committed a a golden era of good governance. People historical wrong. The Wagle saga, if in high places, a select few, were always handled well, is our second chance to beyond the reach of law. But law enforce- raise the bar for good governance. ment agencies such as the police force, and the bureaucracy largely remained NOW INTRODUCING AN EXCLUSIVE RANGE OF SAREES immune to changes in the government SHOWROOM: # 351, Third Floor, Bishal Bazar, New Road tel: 977-1-4242258 | fax: 977-1-4223344, 4435617 (which became too frequent) and to di- [email protected] rect, and petty, political meddling. Akhilesh Upadhyay, Editor

58 AUGUST 8, 2004 | nation weekly