#754 17 - 23 April 2015 20 pages Rs 50

DOR BAHADUR BISTA AVALANCHE MORE EQUITY Kesang Tseten’s ANNIVERSARY new documentary ON EVEREST investigates the BY OM ASTHA RAI disappearance of Nepal’s foremost 31 CHILDREN anthropologist 20 LOST THEIR IN MEMORY years ago FATHERS Surya Bahadur Thapa BY DAVID DURKAN (1928-2015) PAGE PAGE 16-17 19 PAGE 7

SARA LEVINE

clients to the top. of eight Nepali guides were busy Despite the attention to fixing ropes and ladders on a insurance and compensation, new, hopefully safer route up BACK TO WORK the disproportionate risk that the the Khumbu Icefall as heavy 300 high altitude workers face unseasonal snowfall engulfed s the mountaineering altitude workers, the Nepali while employed every year on Mt Everest this week (pic, above). community prepares to guides have gone back to what Everest has not diminished. The More than 300 climbers are Amark the first anniversary they have to do for a living – least-paid workers are still doing waiting at Base Camp for the of the Everest avalanche tragedy risking their lives to fix ropes, the most arduous and dangerous route to be ready and the weather last year which killed 16 high ladders and ferrying rich western work on the mountains. A team to clear. 2 EDITORIAL 17 - 23 APRIL 2015 #754 THE 2072 CONSTITUTION Even for their own self-interest and self-respect, top politicians would do well to end this farce

ith the Nepali new year comes progress by being a federal, secular new hope that there may finally republic. What the leaders of the main Wbe some progress on finishing parties have failed to fathom is that their the pending business of writing a new delay in writing the constitution is calling constitution. The public is fed up, and if into question the institutionalisation of their opinion still matters, the politicians these agreed guiding principles. will do something about it. Although for the sake of balance we We don’t want to say that the tend to generalise and lump all political political parties should finish writing the parties together for equal blame on the constitution during 2072, because they may constitution delay, it is clear that the take that to mean they have another year current obstruction is mainly from the to do it. Nepal’s rulers must realise that a Maoist-led 30 party opposition alliance. It political transition cannot go on forever, is a blocking action for the sake of it: the and even for their own self-interest and losers don’t want a constitution that is not self-respect they should now end this farce made during their watch. Their stand on and allow the country to move ahead. ethnicity-based federalism may once have That will happen when Nepal gets been a progressive one, but it has been a democratic constitution that doesn’t roundly rejected by the public – the latest exclude any citizen. Every Nepali must be in the Baglung by-election in which what guaranteed equal access and say in every remains of the Maoist party got less than state institution. It is hard to imagine 10 per cent of the vote. who would be against that, so it’s just a Earlier, Maoist Chairman Pushpa disagreement of how we are going to get Kamal Dahal had already got the message there. from the low turnout of his own cadre The main agenda of the April 2006 at a mass rally he called last month to pro-democracy movement was peace and protest the Supreme Court decision to development. After that, all main political reject amnesty provisions in the Truth forces also agreed that this ethnically and Reconciliation Bill. Then a three-day diverse country could make most rapid nationwide shutdown enforced by the 30-

YOUR SAY www.nepalitimes.com

MIGRATION Nepalis have to pay to get to I fear that once the constitution is You are right. I, too, am a Very sad fi gure for nation development their work destination, and once promulgated, these thugs will go back journalist and have been on many THIS WEEK (‘Belabouring the obvious’, Editorial, there: they are disrespected, to doing what they do best: bickering, of these trips where the males (it #753). abused, overworked and underpaid. fault fi nding, obstructionism, foot is always males) act uncouth. But Jagat Limbu Meanwhile, everyone from manpower dragging, etc. Anything but citizen their behaviour is not the issue, agencies, the governments of oriented governance. Now would that right? The issue is whether it is It’s weird how we don’t even countries involved, and even the be too much to ask for? ethical for journalists to accept these question the obscene amounts of airlines and travel agencies profi t Namah all-expense paid trips. Sure, I too money that manpower agencies charge from naive countrymen looking to go am guilty of having accepted such migrant workers (‘Zero cost migration, there. LANDSCAPE OF FEAR offers and clearly, so are you. When GOPEN RAI (66 LIKES) really?’, Om Astha Rai, #753). Stories Bairagi Khukhuri The US and the European countries you speak of ethical behaviour, it Most liked on Facebook People collect garbage from the Bagmati of families in huge debts and labourers that swear by international conventions must apply across the board, no? River during the Bagmati Clean-up Campaign in getting swindled have become so CONSTITUTION on human rights have an obligation to Otherwise, we are all hypocrites. Thapathali on Saturday. common that we barely think twice This view point is one sided: the see that justice is served and that the Belakoboli after reading such stories. I was at the issue is not about ‘Homogenising the ‘high and mighty who robbed and killed Most shared on Facebook ASS Looking for Dor Bahadur Bista airport when I saw two coffi ns in the Nepali identity in the name of national with impunity’ during the war be indicted by Kunda Dixit space of an hour, it was heartbreaking integrity and fostering nationalism and taken to the International Court of Meow-badis were always somebody's pets. We need to send Most popular on Twitter and jarring. Migrant labour is going to ...’, which the author perhaps rightly Justice (‘Landscape of fear’, Foreign them back to their owners or to Belabouring the obvious, Editorial be the next big problem in Nepal in Hand, #753). (171 retweets, 60 favourites) feels is not a goal to pursue, but it is animal pond centers. This is the terms of its economic and sociological about the attempt we are seeing in Poudyal result of what happens if they are impact. creating divisive political units based left to run amok. (Building a better Most visited online page TR on chauvinistic ethnic enclaves - and Curious, did any Maoist leaders visit Zero cost migration, really? Mao’s trap, #753) by Om Astha Rai (821 views) this is precisely what will divide the Europe after the Col Lama episode? Bairagi Khukhuri These are mind boggling fi gures. nation (‘Nearing the goal’, Anurag Gaurav Nepali Most commented Forgive us our press passes Imagine the commission on those 2 Acharya, #753). by Tsering Dolker Gurung (17 comments) million plus workers. Any idea what Good to note that there seems PRIVILEGED PRESS percentage of Nepal’s 15-49 group to be some sort of near agreement Very well written and very true (‘Forgive (or any other breakdown) is working between the political actors. But us our press passes’, Tsering Dolker CLARIFICATION Weekly Internet Poll #754 abroad? whatever is agreed to by these Gurung, #753). But the brutish, Q. Will the ban on the use of plastic bags be In ‘Getting away with (almost) implemented? Rabi political elites needs to be tested in shameful behaviour is not limited only anything’, #753 the quote a referendum. The leaders do not to the Nepali press. Where does our attributed to Next Generation Total votes: 47 Instead of creating employment have the mandate to impose the arrogance come from when we have Nepal’s Martin Punaks was in our own country, the leaders are constitution on us. A referendum achieved naught? related specifi cally to donors happily sending our brothers and should be given for the people to Khagendra and volunteers that support sisters to toil in foreign soil. We need choose to endorse or not to endorse orphanages in Nepal. NGN takes leaders who can make the country a the constitution. Other countries have Bravo! This type of article with no position on the case that the place where all Nepalis can live and done it (for e.g. Kenya), there is no journalists holding a mirror up to Weekly Internet Poll #755 article discusses. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com fulfi ll their dreams. reason why we cannot. themselves was long overdue. Editor Mahendra BK Poudyal Guest Q. Should journalists go on sponsored trips?

Publisher and Chief Editor: Kunda Dixit Associate Editor: Tsering Dolker Gurung | Online Producer: Ayesha Shakya | Design: Kiran Maharjan Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd | Patan Dhoka, Lalitpur | GPO Box 7251 Kathmandu [email protected] | www.nepalitimes.com | www.himalmedia.com | Tel: 01-5005601-08 Fax: +977-1-5005518 Marketing: Arjun Karki, Surendra Sharma [email protected] | Advertorials: Ram Krishna Banjara | Subscriptions: Santosh Aryal [email protected] Nepali Times on Facebook Follow @nepalitimes on Twitter Printed at Jagadamba Press | 01-5250017-19 | www.jagadambapr.com 17 - 23 APRIL 2015 #754 EDITORIAL 3

party alliance fizzled out humiliatingly after the first day because of public outrage. By now the message must have got through to the Maoist hierarchy that their strategy of stoking identity politics and using threats and violence is not working. The Madhesi parties should have also got the message after the 2013 election in which a majority in the Tarai voted for non-Madhesi politicians, proving just how discredited they are. The agenda of a Madhes-only province is not going to fly because it has few takers even in the Madhes. By now, it looks to the Maoists who waged a war to end class and caste-based discrimination, and the Madhesi parties who wanted respect and autonomy, that ethnicity-based federalism with Madhes- only provinces will not further those aims. And proof of that is the 180 degree turn they have made in the past week. Even though Chairman Dahal was not listening to the Nepali people, he got the message loud and clear last month during his China visit, and an earful from Indian Foreign Secretary Subrahmanyan Jaishankar in Kathmandu on 2 April. Dahal has returned to the negotiation table demanding assurances that his party will not be prosecuted for war crimes, and that his overseas assets will not be tampered with. The NC-UML, and especially hardliner KP Oli of the UML, are also under pressure from home and abroad to be more accommodating in negotiations. There are indications that if the disagreements on power sharing, amnesty and money are resolved, the dispute over the allocation of five Tarai districts will not be a stumbling block. So, there is a new silver lining. Let’s all hope that 2072 will be the year of the new constitution. DEEPENDRA BAJRACHARYA 4 BUSINESS 17 - 23 APRIL 2015 #754

When you go into numbers, it gets harder to enforce.” While the government has been pointing at jute and cloth Plastic-free new year, not easy bags as alternatives, the NPMA has been fighting a rearguard action to keep manufacturing and “Only a blanket ban will work, making exceptions will make it impossible to enforce” selling plastic bags. It says the ban is being implemented without SAHINA SHRESTHA City was forced to withdraw its never implemented proper research and long-term ban even before it completed In 2011, the Ministry planning, considering how half- its month-long awareness of Science Technology and hearted the government is, the campaign after the Supreme Environment came up with Association is probably right. hree days after the Court passed a stay order filed by Plastic Bags Control and More than 300 tons of plastic government ban on plastic the Nepal Plastic Manufacturers’ Regulation Directive, which bags are used all over Nepal Tbags went into effect on Association (NPMA). prohibits the import, storage, sale every day. Most of them are used New Year’s Day, it is still freely This time, however, things and use of plastic bags less than once and thrown on the side of available in many mom and pop may be different. The NPMA 20 microns (later amended to the street or into a river. Street stores, butcher shops, and fruits once again demanded a stay 30 microns) and imposed a cattle are often found dead after and vegetable carts around the order but to everyone’s surprise, fine of Rs 500 to 50,000 for ingesting the bags. The non- capital. a joint bench of Justices Sushila manufacturing and using biodegradable bags stay in the A customer at a meat shop in Karki and Gopal Parajuli rejected such bags. It was never put environment for hundreds of Bag Bazar said he knew about the the petition citing public health to practice. years. ban but was unsure how to carry concerns from plastic bags. This time, too, the Dharan in eastern Nepal meat in a paper or cotton bag. “It “This came as a boost to our government backtracked announced a ban on plastic is the shopkeeper’s responsibility campaign to ban plastic bags and from its earlier decision bags in 2013 but it has been to ensure the plastic he provides not only reinforced our faith in to put a blanket ban on only partially successful. is of the set criteria,” he added. government, but the judiciary as the use, production, Sunil Nepal of Dharan Ravi Adhikari, a footpath well,” said Palzom Pradhan of distribution, and Municipality says vendor, says, “Adding the the Himalayan Climate Initiative import of all types the amount of cost of cotton bags will make (HCI), a youth-led environmental of plastic bags plastic in the my products more expensive. group working to ban plastic bags in Kathmandu garbage has Customers don’t make purchases since 2013. HCI’s ‘No Thanks! Valley to state decreased, if the price is high. So unless I Carry My Own Bag’ campaign that only bags but plastic they bring their own bags or the has provided awareness through up to 51X89 bags are still government provides us with organised public dance events cm and below in use. some, we have no option but to and promotion of cloth bags. 40 microns will Basu Dev use plastic bags.” “The ban is a perfect example be banned. With Baral, a tourism entrepreneur Like everything else of the collaborative effort of this loophole, some in Dharan says: “Although the in this country, the law is the government and the civil say the ban can easily be drive looked promising in the meaningless because of the lack society,” said Pradhan. circumvented. beginning after an exception was of enforcement. Public awareness It has been more than a “The government should made for butchers, other traders about the environmental cost decade since a government put a blanket ban on plastic simply followed suit and started of the bags is lacking, and most directive required all bags altogether instead of citing using plastic bags again.” shoppers are unwilling to forego manufacturers of polythene numbers like 30 or 40 microns,” This may be a lesson for the convenience. bags to start phasing out its says urban planner P S Joshi. Kathmandu: ban the bags This is not the first time production. In 2002, the SC “Unless we build the capacity completely, don’t make there has been this ban. In 2013, ordered the government to to fully implement the ban, we exceptions and provide the Kathmandu Metropolitan enforce the decision, but it was should not go into numbers. alternatives.

GOPEN RAI 17 - 23 APRIL 2015 #754 BUSINESS 5

BIZ BRIEFS Led by the young Happy Ford year Ford has launched its New Year off er-Happy signed in support of banning the Ford Year 2072 under which customers polythene bags. booking Figo, Classic, Fiesta, EcoSport, The group is also working Endeavour and Ranger models of Ford during the period will win one of the six with Hamri Bahini to promote the sure shot gifts. The off er is valid till 18 April. use of cotton, jute and paper bags as affordable alternatives. Hamri Gionee S7 Bahini which employs women Gionee has offi cially launched its fl agship from underprivileged background smartphone, the Gionee Elife S7 in Nepal. has so far sold 130,000 bags. The Elife S7 is the slimmest dual-sim “Since our research showed phone with a 5.5mm thin design with that people responded better a body made of aviation-grade alloy. It when they were given incentives, is powered by 1.7GHz octa-core 64-bit we have been providing discount processor and runs on Amigo 3.0 OS and has a 5.2 inch 1080p FHD AMOLED cards and have introduced a display. discount bag scheme,” says Pradhan. The team has sold 3000 New year price On the occasion of Nepali New year, Him electronics, the discount cards at Rs 10, which can be used in over fifty stores in authorised distributor of Samsung in Nepal has launched its HIMALAYAM CLIMATE INITIATIVE the valley. They also partnered Samsung Fresh New Year, Fresh New Prices off er. Under this off er, Samsung is off ering reduced prices in all its consumer n 14 April, hundreds of Thanks I Carry My Own Bag’. with stores and business houses electronics and home appliance products. The off er is valid till the end of June. people participated in “But luckily we had the support to provide discounts to shoppers Oa rally organised by the of environmental lawyers and who bring their own bags. ‘No Thanks I Carry My Own now the ban has been enforced,” The campaign has been Summer flavour Bag’ initiative to celebrate the she added. coordinating with the Real Fruit Juice has announced the ‘Guess the government ban on plastic In December 2013, just two Parliament’s Environment Real Flavour’ campaign for the upcoming summer bags in Kathmandu. The months after its formal launch, Protection Committee (EPC) season. Consumers have to guess the Real fl avour campaign led by members of the campaign was endorsed by and the Ministry of Science through the clues given in Real advertisementss Gen Nep-Nation First, a youth CA members Gagan Thapa and Technology and Environment published in various national dailies: type REAL followed by the correct fl avor development platform initiated Rabindra Adhikari. A year later since September 2014 to enforce and SMS it to 2010. Participants can win diff erent prizes including the super by Himalayan Climate Initiative the campaign received support the ban and ensure proper bumper prize-Fiat Punto Dyamic Car. has been working to declare from popular faces including implementation. The group Kathmandu a plastic bag free banker Anil Shah and former has also approached various zone since 2013. Miss Nepal Malvika Subba, who stakeholders including the “For a moment we were has been actively promoting the Retailers’ Association and the worried the Supreme Court use of cloth bags. Nepal Police for implementation (SC) would agree to the petition Members of the ‘No Thanks of the ban. filed by the Nepal Plastic I Carry My Own Bag’ campaign “As they say a thousand mile manufacturers’ Association have been actively raising public journey begins with a single step (NPMA) to put a stay order awareness about the negatives of and this is the first step upon on the ban as they did in the using plastic. Over 50 institutes which we hope to achieve future past,” said Palzom Pradhan, are now plastic bag free zones successes,” says Pradhan. campaign coordinator for ‘No and over 50,000 petitions were Sahina Shrestha 6 OPINION 17 - 23 APRIL 2015 #754 Bar vs Bench Enough accusations of corruption in the judiciary, time to start investigating them

he Nepal Bar Association The public has come to take however, the Bar said they did Prakash Wosti’s five-member (NBA), the umbrella any allegation of corruption in have evidence but that they committee had also confirmed Torganisation of lawyers, high places as commonplace. would provide it to the Judicial that there is corruption in recently declared at its They aren’t surprised that the Council or Parliament Hearing Judiciary. A recent national 13th National Conference in Supreme Court has also been Committee. conference of Justices had also Chitwan that there was rampant tarred by the same brush, The NBA's answer also made the same statement. corruption in judiciary. It said but this time it was the NBA came across as careless and Enough accusations, the justices themselves were on making the allegation -- a body irresponsible. If they have the time has now come to the take, and asked the Chief that is supposed to keep the evidence as they had claimed investigate them. After all, we Justice to take action against judiciary accountable. earlier why did they hesitate to are talking about the Supreme them. The personal secretariat share it with Chief Justice, who Court – and that final provider of Chief Justice Ram after all, is also the chairman of justice should not just be Kumar Prasad Shah then of Judicial Council? The Chief making allegations, it should fired off a letter to the NBA Justice would have been under be weeding out the crooks. asking it to provide evidence pressure to take action. In fact it is the media that is to back up its accusation After the NBA’s response, we providing the evidence that the against the apex court. This haven’t heard a peep from the NBA isn’t through with stories LEGALESE was unprecedented, the Chief Bar. The Chief Justice should like the one by Bhrikuti Rai Binita Dahal Justice or his office had never have taken it up at the Judicial of the Centre for Investigative before written such a letter to Council and asked for further Journalism and printed in this anyone. In fact it was highly evidence by now. The Parliament paper (#753) about the Chief Soon after, NBA vice- irregular for the Supreme Hearing Committee which was Justice letting off a fake doctor president Tika Ram Bhattarai and Court to do so. active during the appointment who embezzled money meant the ex-secretary Raman Kumar Apparently the justices of Justices has also not taken the for medical care in Humla on Shrestha said in an interview felt alluded to pressure Chief NBA letter with the seriousness it bail. to an online news site that they Justice Shah at a full court seem like they were guilty. deserved. The Bar and the Bench could provide evidence of such meeting to send the letter. As expected, NBA was not Every year, Transparency are in a perpetual state of corruption. They also added that One of the Justices told me, on able to provide evidence to International’s report has shown war, and that is nothing new. it wasn’t just judges who were condition of anonymity, that Chief Justice of corruption at that there is rampant corruption In 2008, the president of the rotten: lawyers, journalists and his colleagues argued that if the Supreme Court – after all in Judiciary. But no Justices from NBA, Biswa Kant Mainali power brokers were all involved the Chief Justice did not ask the corrupt don’t leave a paper SC have ever been charged with made the statement that the in bribery. for the evidence then it would trail. In their written statement, corruption. The then Justice post of Justices is a license to corruption. The full court had decided to seize his advocate license for six months. But after lawyers took to the streets, the decision was revoked. The NBA and the Supreme Court are both there to dispense justice. There are always two parties involved in corruption: the giver and the taker. So we can’t ignore those who are bribing the judges either. It is already too late to expose corruption in the judiciary, and restore people’s trust in an impartial justice system. Both the Bar and the Bench from their side have to work together to take action against the corrupt in their midst. Otherwise, it will be interpreted that they themselves are afraid that the issue will negatively affect them. @binitadahal The extensive low pressure system over northern India gave us a wet and cloudy new year. The snowfall in the higher reaches was up to 30cm. It is normal to have spring storms, but the level of precipitation can be called "unseasonal". Linger moisture from this week's rains will trigger afternoon cloud buildup and thunderstorms across the midhills Friday and Saturday. Things should start getting sunnier on Sunday, which will also raise the maximum temperature up to 27 or so. KATHMANDU FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY 25° 23° 23° #754 17 - 23 April 2015 13° 12° 12°

LLOOKINGOOKING FFOROR DDOROR BBAHADURAHADUR BBISTAISTA Kesang Tseten’s new documentary investigates the disappearance of Nepal’s foremost anthropologist 20 years ago

things up. His thesis was that ‘Brahmanical brainwashing’ made most Nepalis fatalistic, they accepted their status because they were told it was pre-ordained in a previous life or by a divine power. The caste system thus destroyed the initiative in citizens to carve out their own destiny. Needless to say, such beliefs brought Bista in direct confrontation with members of his own family, the royal palace (for saying that Nepal’s kings were descendants of Magars) and upper caste elders in Jumla where he retreated in 1991 to build a model caste-free commune in the village of Chaudabisa. Chisapani and was never seen affects their everyday lives. Bista Tseten travels with Thapa again. disappeared before the conflict KUNDA DIXIT of Himal magazine. Thapa starts to what remains of the Karnali We won’t be giving anything began in 1996, a revolution to and ends in the holy Indian town Institute in Jumla. This is where away when we say that Tseten end ethnic discrimination. The of Haridwar showing a faded Bista wanted to put his theories doesn’t find Dor Bahadur Bista. But film shows us Bista’s sparse room black and white picture of Bista into practice to prove that there are hints: Bista’s last words in Jumla, and we learn the heavy n 1995, Nepal’s pioneer to sadhus in a futile attempt to eliminating the caste hierarchy to his friend’s grandson, “One irony of how the Maoists trashed it anthropologist and crusader find him. Haridwar was where he could help a community develop. is born alone and dies alone.” A and burnt all his books. Iagainst the caste system was rumoured to be last seen. He was soon the victim of a vicious long shot of the windy cliffs near The caste system has eroded vanished without a trace. As The young Dor Bahadur was slander campaign in culturally Chisapani bridge.' since the last two decades, but with many such mysterious a rebel, we find out, and had conservative Jumla. There was a The cinematic craft is classic there are still incidents like the one disappearances, there have serious disagreements with his backlash against his attempt, for Kesang Tseten. The director of a Dalit youth who could not put been conspiracy theories but no father about Brahmanical rituals. instance, to stop the custom of lets the story unfold through up with a Janajati girl, forsaking plausible explanation. And no sign But he kept his outrage in check ‘jari’ payment when a local inter- interviews, locales and talking him because of his low caste, and of the man. to conform to his family status. caste couple eloped. heads of a cross-section of Nepalis poured acid on her face. Now, documentary maker It was only after his first book, Despite his dogged work describing how the caste system Tseten shows us an archival Kesang Tseten has tried to piece People of Nepal came out in in remote Chaudabisa and his clip of Bista burying a time capsule together clues from Bista’s early 1967 and he was tagged as an popularity among poor villagers, in a Jumla school in 1994 with years in a Chhetri family in ‘anti-national’ that he became Bista made enemies in Khalanga instructions to open it in 100 Kathmandu, his fieldwork as an radicalised. Bazar. He had taken in an years. What does it say? anthropologist, his work in Jumla He rallied against intelligent young local woman We will have to wait another 80 which brought him in direct Brahmanism, seeing it as the root under his wing, educating her with years to find out. confrontation with the locals, of Nepal’s underdevelopment. the hope of giving her a future. and then retracing Bista’s last The seeds of his book Fatalism His enemies seized upon this, Castaway Man steps in January 1995. Tseten has and Development (pic) began publishing in a local paper that Shunyata Films, 2015 retrieved archival audio and film, germinating in his mind, and he was having an affair with her. Directed by Kesang Tseten interviewed family, friends and Bista admits in an interview with It was a week later that Bista flew 1 hr 22 min contemporaries for a gripping American anthropologist Jim down to Nepalganj, got his friend’s cinematic portrayal of the man. Fisher that he knew the book grandson to meet him in Kohalpur Tseten tells the story through would be controversial. In fact, with his passport and camera, nepalitimes.com  Dor Bahadur Alive, #2 Bista’s friend and colleague, he says it was his intention to changed his mind about taking  For stills of Castaway Man Basanta Thapa, the former editor provoke a debate and shake those items, and got on a bus to 8 EVENTS DINING Tattoo convention, The 5th International Nepal Tattoo Convention. Rs 200/day or Rs.500 for 3days. 24 to 26 April, 10am to 8pm, Yak & Yeti Hotel, Darbar Marg, www.nepaltattooconvention.com Girls on wheels, Hop on your scooty and ride through Kathmandu as you solve diff erent clues and puzzles on the way. Rs 1500, 25 April, 9am, 9841428434, 9841939895, 9860028983 In retrospective, An exhibition of the works of Nepali Photo walk, draftsman, Birendra Pratap Singh, from Calls open for professional, amateur and 1971 to 2015. beginner level photographers to take part Till 26 April, Nepal Art Council Gallery, Up-cycling, in a global photo walk. Proceeds will go Babar Mahal, (01)4218048, A workshop to teach participants how to introduce 'upcycling', a form of recycling towards educating children. www.siddharthaartgallery.com that creatively turns waste into useful items. 18 April, Kathmandu, Nepalgunj, Pokhara, Open to up to 25 individuals, 29 April, 9am to 11am, Clean up Nepal offi ce, Minbhawan, Dharan, [email protected], 9841381046, [email protected] www.colorsofnepal.com Downtown Restaurant, Go Indian at this restaurant, although it serves Chinese and Continental food to the next level and develop an eye for Documentary series, too. Don’t miss out on the biryani. the craft. Screening of Silence in the Courts by Sri Pulchowk Road, (01)5010751 Lankan fi lmmaker Prasanna Vithanage Rs 6000, 20 April to 1 May, 7am to 9am, and Kesang Tseten’s new documentary, School of Creative Communications, Castaway Man. Kupondole, (01)5546705, 9840061192, Etched art, 17 April, 11.30am and 5.30pm, Hotel Shanker, [email protected], www.scc.org.np An exhibition of etchings by recipients Dhokaima Cafe, Lajimpat, (01)4472807, of the Australian Himalayan Foundation For delicious food, coff ee and cakes. [email protected], www.soscbaha.org Women power, Art Award Program 2014, Saurganga Patan Dhoka, (01)5522113 Nine Nepali artists get together for a Darshandhari and Surendra Maharjan. Heritage ride, group exhibition. Till 5 May, Siddhartha Art Gallery, A 60km bicycle ride to explore the seven Till 30 April, Newa Chen Art Gallery, Kulimha, Remembering the Babar Mahal Revisited, (01)4218048, world heritage sites of Kathmandu Valley Kobahal, Patan, (01)5533532, lost sculptures, www.siddharthaartgallery.com on the occasion of International Day for www.kalavoice.com A series of photo-realistic paintings Monuments and Sites. by artist Joy Lynn Davis documenting Beyond auto mode, Rs 500, 18 April, 9841729965, Creative rendezvous, community response to the theft of A 12-day workshop with Aishu Mathema [email protected] A workshop on 3D artwork using papier stone sculptures from Kathmandu Valley on the use of art and science in mache, clay, cloth and more. and research about the sites where the photography. Explore photography, Rs 3600, 25 to 29 May, 10am to 2pm, sculptures originated. Application deadline 24 April, 26 April, A workshop for budding photographers Sattya Media Arts Collective, Jawalakhel, Till 22 May, Nepal Art Council, Babar Mahal, 5:30pm to 7pm, (01)2083206, who want to take their photography skills (01)5523486, [email protected] (01)4220735, [email protected] [email protected] 17 - 23 APRIL 2015 #754 9 MUSIC GETAWAYS Ezer book cafe, Glacier Hotel, Cozy up with a good book over some Good value and friendly service for Korean food. travellers on the lap of Lake Phewa. Sanepa, Lalitpur, (01)5546578 Gaurighat, Lakeside, Pokhara, (061)463722, www.glaciernepal.com Famous Farm, Wake up to the sounds of chirping birds Universal and a fresh morning breeze wafting in through the aankhijhyal. Religion, Nuwakot, (01)4700426, A four-day music fest celebrating the [email protected] best in Electronic Dance Music. 24 to 27 April, Kakani, For tickets call- 9802013960, [email protected], [email protected], www.urnepal.com The Village Cafe, Dancing in the sun, Authentic Newari food that comes straight Welcome summer with the tenth edition from the heart. of Sundance Music Festival. Pulchowk Road, (01)5540712 18 and 19 April, The Last Resort, Sindhupalchok,( 01)4700525, Mango Tree Lodge, Culture walks, rafting in the Karnali, [email protected], wildlife exploration, and jungle safari at www.thelastresort.com.np the Bardia National Park. Brasspackers live, Bhetani, Bardia,(84)402008, This eleven piece brass band, all the way [email protected]. from France is sure to make your body moving and your soul grooving. Rs200, 17 April, 8pm, House of Music, Thamel, 985-1075172, [email protected] The Heritage, Escape the hodgepodge of the tourist hub as you relish delights like paella and panna cotta. Thamel, (01)4254343 Dhulikhel Lodge Resort, Trisara, Plebeian live, Located on a hilltop, the resort off ers a With dishes like fl ambeed prawns, crispy An indie-rock gig by a Kathmandu-based magnifi cent vista of valleys, foothills, and chicken, and khao soi, it would be a folly band. mountains to the north. to ignore its aromas. 17 April, 7.30pm, Irish Pub, Lazimpat, Dhulikhel, (011) 490114/494, Lajimpat, (01)4410200 (01)4416027 dhulikhellodgeresort.com 10 THE CIRCUS OF HOPE Trafficked children grow up to be world class performers in Circus Kathmandu

NARESH NEWAR ambassadors for Nepal, wowing audiences with not just acrobatics but also with their incredible stories of struggle and survival. hen she was nine years After they were rescued, old, Saraswati Adhikari Adhikari and her mates came was trafficked to India back to Nepal to an uncertain by a trusted family future in a shelter. They had friend from Hetauda, minimal prospects, lived far from Wand trained to do acrobatics in a their parents, had no citizenship Kerala-based travelling circus. She certificates and lacked income. never went to school, was married “Today, we have passports, at 14 and had three children by the live in rented apartments and have time she was 18. our own money to support our Adhikari and other Nepali families,” says 27-year old Jamuna children had to practice with their Tamang (pic, right), a deft rope troupes and were often beaten artist. and poorly fed. They were never Tamang was trafficked from paid. After she was rescued five Hetauda when she was only 12, and years ago, Adhikari returned to wants to become an activist against Nepal and today, aged 23, works child-trafficking and travel across as a professional artist in Circus Nepal. At some point she also Kathmandu. wants to return to her old company “I don’t want people to see us in India and teach her former as victims but as role models by employers that circuses can be run focusing on our strengths,” she professionally and ethically. told Nepali Times this week as she Adhikari and Tamang were packed for her troupe’s tour of circus slaves in India during Australia later this month. their childhood. Today, they are Adhikari and her fellow artists confident young women with a have worked hard to perfect vision of preventing others like their routines and become them from falling victims to world class circus performers. traffickers. Circus Kathmandu has staged They credit their self-assurance international events where to Circus Kathmandu founders Sky the artists have become brand Neal and Robyn Simpson, who are 17 - 23 APRIL 2015 #754 11

PICS: CIRCUS KATHMANDU MARK ROBINSON

CIRCUS KATHMANDU: (left to right) children rescued from India made development director. Jamuna Tamang, 27, who was sold to a circus the project unique. Besides being professional in India when she was just 12, wants to performers, members of the become an activist against child traffi cking. Simpson recalls how the girls were very excited to go back to circus are also social reformers. Founded by Sky Neal and Robyn Simpson, what they were good at doing. The circus has become an Circus Kathmandu is the fi rst project of its Circus Kathmandu is the first important part of helping the most kind in the world, helping support a group project of its kind in the world, disadvantaged and stigmatised to move from being vulnerable young adults helping support a group in an young people turn their lives to successful, empowered artists and anti- uplifting story of a journey from around. “Circus connects or traffi cking advocates. being vulnerable young adults to reconnects people with an Besides performing in Nepal, Circus successful, empowered artists and inner strength, resilience,” says Kathmandu has performed at international anti-trafficking advocates. Simpson. venues including Norway, Dubai and at the “There was a camaraderie that Circus Kathmandu was spurred Glastonbury Festival in the UK. Their tour of came from us all being circus girls, to act after seeing how young Australia starts this month. that I think helped them trust women rescued from the clutches of traffickers were stigmatised and Rajan Baswal, 23, is the group’s high pole us and to start seeing their lives climber. differently”, Simpson explained. how they lost out on education Rajan Baswal, a 23-year-old and a livelihood. Circus Kathmandu performers with their high pole climber also turned his “Nepal has so many talented Hula Hoop act. life around. “I’m not ashamed to and creative people, it makes talk about my past because today I sense to try different approaches,” am very successful,” says Baswal, says Simpson. And Circus themselves international circus originally from Butwal and was a Kathmandu is living proof of artists. drug addict at 12. restoring a sense of self-worth for “When I first came to Nepal For Circus Kathmandu, long- young men and women who never four years ago with a trapeze and term sustainability is a priority had a childhood. a camera, I had no idea how much and they hired two young my life was going to change,” Neal Nepali professionals to develop told Nepali Times from London. indigenous management skills. nepalitimes.com The duo started Circus Kathmandu “Their determination is so strong  Watch video of Circus at a time when attitudes towards that I have seen an amazing Kathmandu performance: circuses were negative, but change in these young adults,”  A faraway rescue, #571  Nepal’s circus champs, #575 working with trafficked circus says Sam Jabour, the circus’ MARK ROBINSON 12

pastoral campus in Western Massachusetts, I can understand the yearning to buy into the kind of longing, and that endless possibility that the American countryside can open up in one’s mind. This infinite possibility is exactly why Wild, the film, produced by and starring Reese Witherspoon (as Cheryl Strayed), and based on Strayed’s bestselling memoir Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail is such a successful film. While the idea that a burnt- out woman, mourning the loss of her mother, fighting heroin addiction, recovering from a HAPPENINGS recent divorce, and trying to mend relations with an estranged brother, can be saved by hiking 1,100 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail (which runs an astonishing WILD 2,663 miles from Mexico to the Canadian border) is uniquely n the coming months, with unique brand of self-determinism, of the American New Age, the the announcement of Hillary or, to use the loftiest of terms, film is saved by Witherspoon’s IClinton’s second run for the that idea of “manifest destiny”, incredibly compelling, democratic nomination and a now historically problematic vulnerable, and humourous eventual presidential candidacy, phrase that was coined as the performance, grounded by a the United States will be nation was trying to define itself. great adaptation written by none scrutinised by the world that sees The romantic notion that the other than Nick Hornby, and US was wide open for everyone some unerring direction by Jean- who wanted to come, conquer, Marc Vallée. Then there’s the and create a new, free world, overarching idea that America, KUMAR SHRESTHA / RSS capitalising on the riches of the the land itself, offers that very WELCOME: Prime Minister Sushil Koirala exchanges greetings with visiting vast continent that stretched from ability to redeem and remake State Secretary of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Morten Høglund, at sea to shining sea, is one that still oneself, through an intense Baluwatar on Wednesday. MUST SEE brings people streaming to the US. engagement with the varying, Sophia Pande If you have never lived in the epic landscapes, and ultimately US – one can easily laugh at the the power of the harsh but the country’s internal and external proud way in which the country essential beauty of nature. politics through the lens of its and its citizens see themselves. foreign policy. Yet, having had the benefit of an nepalitimes.com From the outside looking in, American liberal arts education  Trailer it is easy to critique America’s on the East Coast, in a small

RSS PLASTIC FREE: Deputy Prime Minister Prakash Man Singh (third from left) leads a rally to promote the declaration of Kathmandu as a plastic free zone.

SUDHIRA SHAH LET’S ROCK: Nepathya frontman Amrit Gurung at the band’s concert in Syndey on Saturday. The folk-rock band is on its second tour of Australia.

QATAR AIRWAYS GIVING BACK: CNN Hero and founder of Early Childhood Development Centre Pushpa Basnet thanks the attendees at the Qatar Airways’ ‘Giving reasons to smile’ event last week. The charity event was organised in support of Basnet’s Butterfly Homes. 17 - 23 APRIL 2015 #754 13

WORKING TOGETHER: Cultural historian Satya Mohan Joshi and Norwegian State Secretary Morten Høglund at the unveiling of a wooden door to be used as part of the restored Bhaidegah Temple in Patan.

and depicts Shiva and Parvati on it. Rohit Ranjitkar, conservation architect with CHCG, said: “It is very important to correct some of the improper restoration that was done after BHAIDEGAH the earthquake, and it says a lot that it has taken nearly 80 years for the temple to be restored to its pre-1934 splendour.” RESTORATION Kanak Mani Dixit, vice-chair of CHCG said that Henry Ambrose Oldfield’s 1853 water ike many other great monuments of colour showed that Bhaidegah was one of the Kathmandu Valley, the Bhaidegah the most beautifully carved temples in LTemple in Patan was destroyed in the the Valley. Great Earthquake of 1934. Built in 1678 by Joshi, who was 13 during the 1934 Patan’s Chautaria, (prime minister) Bharo earthquake, spoke about the intricacy of Bhaiya, the Bhaidegah Temple was the KENJI KWOK the woodcarvings on the original temple. “I largest Shiva temple in Mangal Bazar. precisely remember each detail of the temple After 1934, the temple was rebuilt in a the temple to its original form. The total Nepal visit of Norwegian State Secretary before the earthquake,” he told the gathering stucco Moghul-style instead of its original amount required for the project was Morten Høglund. at the inauguration. three-tiered pagoda architecture to protect estimated at $475,000 of which $300,000 The door made of sal wood was Minister Høglund said he was proud the Shiva lingam inside. was pledged as a grant from the Norwegian introduced to the public by eminent cultural of Norway’s association with the project: In 2011, a group of Nepalis established Embassy in Kathmandu. historian and chair of CHCG, Satya Mohan “Seeing this outstanding carving, I look the non-profit Sanskritik Sampada This week, the group held a low-key Joshi, and Minister Høglund in the Stone forward to coming back to Nepal when Samrakshan Samuha (Cultural Heritage installation of one of the four carved Gate Courtyard of Patan Darbar Square. the restoration of Bhaidegah Temple is Conservation Group/CHCG) and started wooden doors to be used as part of the The door was carved by artisans of complete.” the Bhaidegah Rebuilding Project to restore restored Bhaidegah Temple during the Bhaktapur who worked on it for six months Stéphane Huët

PICS: OPHELIE BELIN

mere 30-minute drive from the city, Gokarna Forest AResort offers a quiet respite from the tumult of Kathmandu. The hotel has four restaurants, and this time we chose to dine at 8848Mt Bar & Patio. The bar is spacious, offering a nice view of the hotel gardens. Although casual, the interior decoration could have been cosier to correspond with the overall grandiose architecture of the resort. 8848Mt Bar & Patio has a wide offering of cuisines but before eating though, try the refreshing Florida mocktail, (Rs 400) a mix of orange, pineapple, mango juices and grenadine syrup, which is 8848Mt Bar & Patio perfect for hot days. The first dish we had was the cheese over it tasted a bit bland. (Rs 650), lightly peppery was our was served with mashed potatoes price was too steep for what was baked Rainbow Trout (Rs 1450) The lettuce was from the third dish. The meat imported subtly mixed with green apple – an on the plate. with spinach rice, honey glazed hotel’s garden. Although the chef from Dubai was cooked medium- unexpected combination, which 8848Mt Bar & Patio offers carrot, peas and caper butter sauce. mentioned that he had tried to well and very tender. For the side was surprising to the taste buds. simple bistro cuisine but with a Sourced from a local farm, the make healthier recipes, dish, there were tasty pumpkin In addition, all the dishes were touch of originality that will surely fish was fresh and well-cooked. the salad served with sticks accompanied by French plated beautifully. make dining there an interesting OPEN FROM Combined with the tastes of honey frozen chips lacked 7AM beans and fried potatoes. To finish the meal, we had two and enjoyable experience. and butter, it went very well with the freshness factor. TO This was a simple yet, really desserts. The first was an apple pie Stéphane Huët 11PM the vegetables. In response, the chef pleasant combination. with ice cream on top (Rs 525). The We continued with the spinach explained that Nepali Our favourite dish was the pastry was smooth and the apple How to get there: The Gokarna and walnut pie (Rs 600), served potatoes were simply not rich pork chop (Rs 1800). It was cooked filling was delicious. We were Forest Resort is a 10km drive from with fries and salad. This rightly enough in starch to make good to perfection with a homemade however disappointed with the Kathmandu’s airport and is located roasted puff pastry had a delicate French fries. mustard sauce drizzled upon it chocolate mousse (Rs 450). It was inside the Gokarna Forest Reserve texture. But the spinach and baked The grilled tenderloin steak to sublimate its taste. The pork not creamy enough and we felt the in Thali. 14 17 - 23 APRIL 2015 #754

to your accomplishments. Keep your answers short and to the point. Have faith in yourself, take Job interviews are like fi rst dates every interview that did not work out as a practice towards your dream job. Remind yourself that Hi everyone, your weaknesses and show how interview after interview but hear what they are saying instead not acing an interview is not an In most jobs employers are looking you are improving yourself. An never getting hired is starting to of answering the question. Be indication of your career or self- for someone who works well with ideal is to find out what you like damage my self esteem. Do you mindful to be concise, listen to worth. Practice, practice, practice. others, and can achieve goals. The to do, and get someone to pay you have any advice on how to nail the whole question carefully Never give up on yourself. Be ideal candidates have problem- for doing it. Job interviews are the interview and get the job before answering. Think before assertive: not overconfident or like first dates. Good impressions offer, and also how to keep my you answer. too modest. count. Awkwardness can occur. confidence up while hunting for It’s smart to research the At last, follow up by sending Outcomes are unpredictable. work? company and the employer so a thank you note or email to the (Then there is nepotism.) Rachel you can ask the right questions potential employer or interviewer Do email me your questions to and that also shows you have within 24 hours and include ASK ANJANA [email protected] AR: First of all I would like to done your homework. Make sure anything important (but briefly) ANYTHING congratulate you for getting to bring your portfolio, extra that you may have forgotten Anjana Rajbhandary Dear Anjana, selected for interviews because copies of resume, a pen and during the interview. Do the best I have been looking for a in this competitive world, even notebook to take notes. Get there you can and the rest is up to luck new job and gone on a lot of getting an interview is a big deal. a few minutes early. Breathe and and fate. Good luck. solving abilities, experience and interviews but have not been Interviews are not natural so stay calm. Always helps to make skills, and achievements to make hired. I feel like I come across it helps to practice answering good eye contact, don’t stare, and Anjana Rajbhandary is a certified themselves stand out from the as a confident professional, typical interview questions. listen. mental health rehabilitation crowd. You just have to ‘sell although occasionally I ramble Rambling is the most common You are trying to stand out technician and has four years of yourself’ by focusing on your on too long in my answers, interview blunder because either from the mob for the same experience in adult mental health. strengths, and being honest about which I’m working on. Going on people get nervous or they like to position, so try to relate the job @AnjyRajy

GIZMO by YANTRICK SMART REFRIGERATORS hen it comes to household the New Smart Inverter Compressor, resulting the power goes off . LG does this eff ectively by appliances, I am always on the in 30 per cent less noise compared to other transferring cold air throughout the refrigerator, Wlookout for durability, both in terms refrigerators. as well as using additional plates and pipes that of its build quality and features so it lasts a few The GL-B2H2RPHG comes in two new are cooled by refrigerant gas. In the event of a years at least. The GL-B2H2RPHG is one of the colours – Marine Paradise and Scarlet Paradise power cut, the freshness of food can be preserved newest refrigerators from LG with the promise – which will add a refreshing look to your for seven hours in the refrigerator section (seven of a 10-year warranty, as well as the New kitchen with its fl oral design on the doors, times longer cooling retention than conventional Smart Inverter Compressor that ushers in a list though you can still choose from the other refrigerators) and 10 hours for the freezer section of other useful features. models that off er the standard Platinum Silver – an essential feature to have in Nepal. The New Smart Inverter Compressor is or Shiny Steel look to suit your household. The The design of LG’s new range of refrigerators capable of determining the actual demand 255-litre refrigerator includes a transparent stays committed to their eco-friendly initiative, of cooling required based on the quantity interior and a Double Twist Ice Tray so you do by reducing the use of hazardous materials of food in the refrigerator, allowing it to not have to worry about running out of ice for and emitting less carbon dioxide into the effi ciently regulate its cooling capacity and your guests. environment. saving up to 36 per cent energy. It also helps You might also want to consider the keep the appliance at the optimum internal other refrigerators from LG’s line-up that are YANTRICK’S VERDICT: LG’s new range temperature, maintaining the freshness of equipped with the new Power Cut EverCool of refrigerators are packed with energy fruits and vegetables up to seven days. LG Technology, which ensures that the temperature effi cient features and comes with a has also managed to reduce the vibrations in of the refrigerator is maintained even when 10-year warranty. 17 - 23 APRIL 2015 #754 OPINION 15 Just justifying war crimes Transitional justice could suffer a setback under a package deal on constitution

e are not a country that scores comrades in rights abuses. high when it comes to respecting So, we hear a familiar script from Winternational human rights Maoists and their apologists accusing norms. It is no consolation that our two big rights activists as being backed by neighbours – China and India – fare even “dollars”. They even questioned the death worse. of hunger striker Nanda Prasad Adhikari After the passing of the highly who wanted the murderers of his son to objectionable bill on forming the Truth stand trial. Nanda Prasad’s body is still in and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the morgue of the Teaching Hospital as the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced the family has refused to perform the last Disappearances (CIED), the hope that rites until justice is done. relatives of the victims of the conflict Politicians say transitional justice would get justice had died. cannot be separated from ‘politics’. Really? Tell that to the mother of Maina Sunar, or to parents of Sarla Sapkota – tortured and murdered in army custody – who are still waiting for justice. Or to the families of the five Madhesi youth from Dhanusha murdered by army. Headmaster THE DEADLINE Muktinath Adhikari’s hands and limbs Damakant Jayshi were broken before he was executed by the Maoists and his body hung in public But thanks to the courage and view. Mention ‘politics’ to the family determination of 234 petitioners who of eight-year-old Kajol Khatun and four challenged the shameful amnesty others who were burnt alive in a bus in provisions that would allow perpetrators Chitwan. Ram Kumar Bhandari has been to go scot-free, that is now unlikely to searching for his father, Tej Bahadur happen. Had the existing provisions been Bhandari, ever since December 2001 allowed to stay on, those who suffered when security forces took him away -- would be asked to pardon those who talk to him about ‘politics’. murdered or disappeared their relatives. If Now, the Maoists want bygones to be they refused, the Commissioners would do bygones and to forget the tortures and so. The Supreme Court (SC) emphatically executions of their own supporters in rejected any provision that would allow Doramba or Bhairabnath Battalion. Can conflict-era perpetrators to get away with they look into the eyes of the families of their crimes. the victims? Can these crimes be justified This raised the hackles of the six Maoist just by the use of the term ‘revolutionary parties, even though the Army and Police violence’? Some radical left writers personnel would also be equally liable for who keep sermonising others on behalf prosecution. They concluded that the SC of Maoist have actually justified even order was against Comprehensive Peace heinous crimes as a small price to pay for Agreement (CPA) and organised a joint the emancipation of the people. rally against the order in the capital, only Those who demand justice are to see that very few of their own cadre labelled ‘Maoist baiters’. They forget that turned up. the activists are as critical about abuses by The worry, however, is that government the Army and Police. It was the Baburam and the two main ruling parties have given Bhattarai government which promoted disturbing signals to scuttle justice. The Col. Raju Basnet, the army officer named denial of justice could be institutionalised by national and international human because it could become part of a ‘package rights bodies for torture and executions at deal’ the three major political parties – the Bhairabnath Battalion. the Nepali Congress, the CPN-UML and Besides the Maoist parties and their the UCPN (Maoist) are negotiating on the lackey intellectuals, the victims’ families constitution. This deal not only would are also up against the NC, UML and the untie the federalism knot and power- Nepal Army. It might be possible to deny sharing after the new constitution is justice for the time being, but sooner or drafted, but also water down the provisions later the truth will be revealed. World in the TRC. history is replete with examples of war The NC and the UML leaders are also crimes and abuses being prosecuted wary of their own fate if justice is allowed after a long gap as in Cambodia and to run its course, and do not want to offend Bangladesh. Nepal cannot be an the Nepal Army which matched, and in exception. some cases, topped the revolutionary @damakant 16 NATION 17 - 23 APRIL 2015 #754 MORE EQUITY ON EVEREST A few things have changed but much remains the same for Nepali high altitude workers

OM ASTHA RAI

eavy unseasonal snowfall engulfed Mt Everest this week as a team of Height Nepali guides fixed ropes and ladders on a new, hopefully safer route up the Khumbu Icefall. More than 300 climbers from 35 expeditions are waiting at Base Camp for the route to be ready and the weather to clear. The ‘Icefall Doctors’, as they are called, are doing the most dangerous part of the Everest climb: spending long periods on a treacherous, moving glacier exposed to avalanches from the West Shoulder. Last year, one such avalanche on 18 April killed 16 Nepali guides, only 13 of the bodies were retrieved. “Had it not snowed heavily, some climbers would have already reached Camp 1 to acclimatise, but we are working to repair the damage caused by the snow,” said Lama Kaji Sherpa of the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, which is part of the team that opens the icefall route. As the mountaineering community prepares to mark the first anniversary of the Everest avalanche tragedy last year, the Nepali guides have gone back to what they have to do for a living – risking their lives to fix ropes, ladders and ferrying rich western clients to the top. Few things have changed but much remains the same on Everest. Devastated by the deaths of their friends and the magnitude of the tragedy, the mostly- Sherpa guides last year refused to go up, forcing the cancellation of all expeditions. They demanded for more safety and compensation for the families. The government agreed to increase their life insurance amount to Rs 1.5 million and medical insurance to 31 Nepali children

he tragedy on the Everest Both figures are correct: 16 have been embarrassing for from an industry with few (if Icefall on April last men died and 31 children lost the ‘agents’ who sell package any) ethical or professional Tyear was followed by their fathers, but there should tours to Everest abroad and for control mechanisms. A mountaineers screaming foul- have been a third number: 50. expedition leaders and guides medieval industry, driven by play because they could not There were 50 Nepali high who slept safely at Base Camp as incompetence, greed and short- climb Mt Everest. They criticised altitude ‘workers’ in a known the tragedy unfolded. term self-interest. the ‘Sherpas’ for refusing to high-risk avalanche area with no The government appointed The clients are the rich climb, and the tourist expedition western guides or mountaineers. a Board of Inquiry comprising pampered ‘mountaineers’ industry complained about lost It would have been too of representatives from the very who sleep in five-star lodges DAVID DURKAN business and money. embarrassing for the Nepal same organisations noted above. or drink kaffee latte in luxury government, Nepal Tourism No other country would appoint tents in Base Camp waiting Board, Nepal Mountaineering a group with such economic for the rope and ladder road Association, Trekking Agents vested interest to evaluate an to be constructed all the way Association of Nepal and the accident of such magnitude. from the base to the summit. That should have been the headline Expedition Operators Association These members evaluated Often incompetent and unfit to admit why those 50 were themselves. individuals, lacking mental last year after the Everest avalanche exposing themselves to such It is this ‘cartel’ that fostered, ability to tackle the demands of killed 16 Nepali climbers danger. That fact would also managed, promoted and befitted functioning at high altitude. 17 - 23 APRIL 2015 #754 NATION 17

STILL MISSING: Menuka Gurung, wife of Ash Bahadur Gurung, one of the 16 guides who was killed in last year’s Everest avalanche, with her children at home in Thamel. Gurung’s body remains undiscovered along with two others. New records

hen the brief summit window opens toward the the title that was held by Miura since 2003 in 2008. Wmiddle of May this year, some new records may be Sherchan trains by walking up and down the made and some broken on Mt Everest. staircase of his three-storey house with a load of 25 kgs on his back at least 20 times a day, and his guide Shiva Sapkota is confident Sherchan can climb the mountain if the weather is all right. Another Nepali climber wants to become the fastest person up and down Everest. Leela Bahadur Basnet aims to be on top within 10 days of leaving Kathmandu and returning in the same period. Song Kyung-Tae aims to be the first visually- impaired South Korean to summit Everest. Nepali woman climber Chhurim Sherpa is set to take the late Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes’ bat and jersey to the top. While dozens of expeditions have already made their way to Everest, no single expedition has yet asked for a permit to climb Kanchenjunga, which marks the 60th anniversary of its first ascent Octogenarian ex-Gurkha soldier Min Bahadur on 25 May, informs officials at Department of Sherchan (pic, above), 84, is again preparing to be the Tourism. Same is the case with Makalu with only oldest person to climb the world’s highest peak, a title three expeditions having left so far to climb the fifth that he lost to Japanese climber Yuichiro Miura, 80, in highest mountain in the world which also marks the 2013. In this long-running duel, Sherchan had claimed 60th anniversary of its first ascent on 15 May.

Rs 400,000. It has also made it mandatory arduous and dangerous work on the for expeditions to bear the cost of rescue mountain. helicopters for all members, including The new route up the middle of the their guides, porters and support staff. Khumbu Icefall skirts the edge that was “Mountaineering guides and porters exposed to avalanches, but it still has the had always demanded better insurance and risk of serac collapses. The workers also arrangement of rescue helicopters, but it spend more time fixing ladders to span was never heeded,” says Santa Bir Lama crevasses and to get over huge vertical of the Nepal Mountaineering Association blocks of ice which are more numerous (NMA). than in the old route. As per its commitment made to Tsering Tenzing is overseeing the team Sherpas last season, the government is of Icefall Doctors at Base Camp this year. now creating a fund using five per cent He says: “We are still a bit scared, I tell of mountaineering fees to be spent in them to relax and not to worry. In reality, Solukhumbu district which will be used no Everest route is safe.” to support mountaineers and their families Climbing Everest always had in case of future deaths and injuries on the inherent dangers. The only problem is mountain. that Nepali high altitude workers face Diwash Pokharel of the Everest disproportionately more risk than their Summiteers Association says the tragedy climbing clients. Pemba Gyalje Sherpa did lead to reform. “It highlighted the of the Nepal National Mountain Guides issue of Sherpas and created pressure Association, the 41-year-old veteran who on the government as well as expedition made the heroic rescue of fellow-climbers companies to do more for their risky on K2 in 2008, says many clients treat work.” their guides as servants, not as fellow However, despite the attention expedition members. to insurance and compensation, the He says: “Sherpas are putting disproportionate risk that the 300 high themselves in harm’s way more than altitude workers employed every year their affluent clients. There must be face on Everest has not diminished. The more equity, respect and trust on the least-paid workers are still doing the most mountain.” GOPEN RAI lost their fathers

There are two questions about and stock the camps. These are only exposed to danger for industry 24 possible changes. them. Real mountaineers around last year’s avalanche: Who built workers are not always well short periods. They sit in safety, One obvious suggestion was the world wish to visit Nepal and the Icefall road, and why did the equipped or well trained, nor taking performance enhancing to reduce the number of climb, but today’s ‘model’ has route up the icefall go so close to are they compensated meagerly drugs and training on ‘safe expeditions and individuals become too expensive. Yet the an obvious potential avalanche in relation to the work and peaks’, before they make a mad- allowed on Mt Everest at Everest package lacks substance area? risk involved. Poor leadership rush through the Icefall to reach a given time. As expected, and soul. The ‘Icefall Doctors’ built the and inadequate insurance is their tents and oxygen-depots. the Ministry did the exact Edmund Hillary was, and road. They are not professional the norm. They work under Masks give them a 70 per cent opposite, reducing the fees I assume Tenzing would be, mountaineers, but local conditions experienced oxygen saturation at 8000m. They to encourage even more disgusted by today’s scene. It is experienced mountain ‘workers’ mountaineers would deem return home self-proclaimed traffic probably influenced by time to put back the: ‘why’ we paid by expeditions even before unacceptable and illegal in the heroes, to hold lectures, make powerful business interests. climb, that leads to ‘how’ we their clients have left their home countries the ‘clients’ come films and write books. Yes, they No one wants to stop the climb. Time to stop embracing the country. They choose the quickest from. suffer and they die, but anyone Everest expedition industry, meaningless: ‘What’ we climb. way of least resistance, not the And they pay a stiff price for can suffer or die, especially the but we should question its lack safest. their poverty: 104 Nepalis have unfit and incompetent. of integrity and lack of vision. David Durkan is a traveller, Then, along come the porters died on Everest since 1922. In December 2014 I presented There are 140 virgin mountains mountaineer and author of the who carry the equipment day The ‘elite guides’ (western to the Secretary of Tourism and in Nepal, innumerable ones book, Penguins on Everest. after day up the Icefall to set up and Nepali) and paying ‘clients’ to 70 representatives from the that have only one climb on [email protected] 18 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 17 - 23 APRIL 2015 #754 Cleaning up the Bagmati

to Nepal to clean the Bagmati helping with the needed materials. River. I then felt that it was our responsibility to clean up the mess How many people have been we created. So I spoke to Secretary involved in the campaign till date? of Urban Development, Kishor We estimate over 300,000 people Thapa, Ministry of Federal Affairs have been involved in cleaning the and Local Development and the river over the 100 weeks. chief of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC), and started the Will the campaign ever be a success campaign on the foundation day of if people don’t stop throwing Ministry of Urban Development. garbage in Bagmati? We have been continuously saying that awareness among people is a Interview with Chief Secretary How does it feel to complete 100 must for this campaign to succeed. Leela Mani Paudyal who led the weeks of the campaign? Waste can be easily managed if Just got back from the Bagmati clean-up campaign. 22-month long Bagmati Clean-up This campaign shows that when people follow the 3Rs- Reduce, campaign. both the government and the non- Reuse and Recycle. 70 per cent of the Setopati, 13 April government sectors work together, waste comes out from households Rabin Sayami in Nagarik, 13 April we can achieve our goal. and out of the remaining 30 per

Setopati: Can you tell us how the cent, 20 per cent can be reused. The QUOTE OF THE WEEK clean-up campaign started? What are the achievements of the day we reduce the amount of waste Leela Mani Paudyal: The campaign 100 weeks? coming out of every household is the “ began on 29 January 2012 with a We collected 5,000 metric tons day when we will not have to worry Drafting a democratic constitution will be a cleaning drive from Singha Darbar of waste from Bagmati and its about its management. true tribute to late Surya Bahadur Thapa. to Baneshwor. The then Prime tributaries. We have cleaned banks “ Minister Baburam Bhattarai was and are planning to make gardens Isn’t it true that Bagmati cannot Prime Minister Sushil Koirala quoted in himself involved and took part in in 12 places. We have handed over be cleaned without cleaning the setopati.com, 16 April cleaning the Bagmati River. The the responsibility of cleaning and tributaries first? plan was to mobilise over a million managing the banks to locals in five We have started cleaning the volunteers including retirees, other places. More importantly, we tributaries too. The local authorities students and youth in various have laid down sewers in various have started laying sewers in sectors throughout the country. But locations including Pashupati, Dhobikhola and works to start laying with the change in government, the Tilganga and Manahara. sewers on both sides of Bishnumati campaign took a back seat. From sockballs to volleyballs is also underway. The government How much money did the plans to finish laying drains and What brought along the revival of government spend on the sewers in all of the tributaries. Tularam Pandey and Khimu K.C., Nepal, 12 April the campaign? campaign? I was visited by representatives The government has not spent a How long will it take for Bagmati to from few organisations who rupee on this project. This is not return to its previous state? Sixteen-year-old informed me about 500 volunteers a government project although It is human to want instant results Jarma Malla of Kalikot from India wanting to come various committees have been but that is not possible in reality. We who began playing have to work together for a long time volleyball with a sock in order to undo the pollution of 40 stuffed with grass years. This is not a project that has is now a member a start and a finish date, we have to of Nepal’s national continue working. volleyball team. Malla was a seventh Will you still be involved with the grader at Kalika campaign after you retire in four Secondary School months? when she led her team My retirement will not make a to victory in the district- difference to my work. Whether or level President’s Cup. not I remain the chief secretary, I The following year, she was selected for the mid-western regional team and last year she will continue working for Bagmati. made it as a national player. “Now that the SLC exams have ended, I can fully concentrate on the game,” says Malla, What are your plans after retiring? who had to juggle schoolwork and volleyball for the past four years. I will remain in the campaign as a Malla is proud of having led her regional team to several victories. Her team won the volunteer. regional championship in Nepalganj and came in second at a national competition held in Kathmandu. Will you be working only for the “I don’t know when I got addicted to the game but now I want to make a career of it,” Bagmati Clean-up Campaign? says Malla who has participated in four regional-level and two national-level competitions. I want to work in awareness building Although she is happy to be representing the nation, Malla feels that the National and alleviation of people’s problems. Sports Council is not doing enough to promote players from rural areas. “They only come A lot needs to be done in the sectors looking for players right before the competitions. We are then made to compete with the of public transportation system, police and army teams without proper training,” says Malla. migrant workers and violence “Even when we have the confidence to do something, we cannot perform well due to against women. I would like to lack of opportunities and regular trainings,” she adds. work on these issues. Let’s see what She has won the best player award in four regional competitions and plans to move to happens. Kathmandu for to play more volleyball. 17 - 23 APRIL 2015 #754 OBITUARY 19 Shah seized power in 2005, and vanished again after the second pro-democracy uprising of April 2006. But Thapa was always around through thick or thin, like a political fixture. Thapa was active right till the end, hosting a meeting of top OM ASTHA RAI leaders of four political parties last month to find a compromise on the eteran politician Surya constitution, and what he could do Bahadur Thapa who to help break the political impasse. Vbecame Nepal’s Prime “He was always alert and full of Minister a record five times, energy,” Sharma recalls about their serving three kings, passed away many hours together working on in New Delhi on Wednesday night the book. “His mind was sharp, he after an operation. He was 88. remembered everything from the Thapa was the mentor leader past, and knew exactly what was of the Rastriya Prajatantra SURYA BAHADUR THAPA going on in present-day politics.” Party (RPP) and was appointed Lohani, who has worked prime minister in 1963 by King (1928-2015) with Thapa since the Panchayat Mahendra two years after sending era, wishes Thapa had played a an elected prime minister to jail The man who did not shape greater role in ending the political after a coup. Thapa was made deadlock. “He was one leader prime minister again four times national politics, but let national everyone respected and listened to, (1965-1969, 1979-1983, 1997-1998 politics shape him he has left a great void.” and 2003-2004). Thapa had undergone surgery Although many analysts MANI RATNA BAJRACHAYA in his stomach at Medanta Hospital have used historical hindsight in New Delhi last week, and was to criticise Thapa for being a figure, Thapa did not shape Journalist Kedar Sharma, who Perhaps because of this very recovering well when he suddenly staunch defender of the autocratic national politics, but national had been working closely with quality, Thapa always remained complained of respiratory Panchayat System, and especially political shaped him. He adapted Thapa on his memoir for the past relevant to Nepali politics. Thapa’s problems and was put on a his role in selling off forests to adeptly to any political system that three years says Thapa always Panchayat-era political rival ventilator. Doctors pronounced fund the royalist campaign in the Nepal took on: absolute monarchy, knew which way the wind was Tulasi Giri vanished after the him dead at 10:44 pm on 1980 referendum, Thapa was a constitutional democracy, or a blowing, but did not allow it to first pro-democracy movement of Wednesday. He will be cremated at decisive pragmatist. He was also return to autocracy. blow him off course. 1990, came back after Gyanendra Pashupati on Friday. not afraid to speak his mind, sometimes against the palace establishment and unnamed “underground cliques” who exercised power in the name of the king. He was impeached in 1983, and it was rumoured that Prince Gyanendra was behind his ouster. Thapa later served as prime minister under King Gyanendra after he started his ‘creeping coup’ to sideline parliament and the political parties in 2003-2004. He was a sharp political analyst, and was seen as a veteran leader that everyone trusted to be a mediator. Thapa could be a ruthless politician when he wanted to. He put his own friend Bishwo Bandhu Thapa in jail for meeting BP Koirala and unseated his political rival Lokendra Bahadur Chand in 1997. Ever since the young man from Muga in Dhankuta was handpicked by King Mahendra to chair his Advisory Council in 1959, Thapa was always at the center of Nepali politics. Whether during the Panchayat System or after the restoration of multi- party democracy, he was a pivotal political player. After Nepal was declared a republic in 2008, he did not get a chance to become Prime Minister but chaired the Constituent Assembly (CA) sessions by virtue of being its eldest member. Thapa was Mahendra’s confidante and remained loyal to the royal palace throughout his life. It is said that Mahendra, before his death, had advised his son Birendra to consult Thapa during any political crisis. But after Mahendra’s demise, Thapa shared a bitter-sweet relation with the palace, demanded changes in the Panchayat System and was even jailed for his role in pushing reforms. “He always believed that the source of power was people and stood against Narayanhiti’s intervention in Singha Darbar,” said RPP leader Prakash Chandra Lohani, who is close to Thapa’s rival Lokendra Bahadur Chand. “That was why he was sometimes tormented by the palace. In a way, he contributed a great deal to democratisation of governance. Despite being a key political 20 BACK SIDE 17 - 23 APRIL 2015 #754 www.nepalitimes.com www.nepalitimes.com

govt says enough is enough and curbs our international apron his home and is often seen pre- stockpile of cowdung patties are enough to meet the freedom of expressionism. So, to protect inspecting incoming luggage for interesting tidbits. nation’s demand for the coming fiscal year. every citizen’s right to know, we media “Yes, I can confirm that we have unconfirmed reports Faced with a severe shortage of LPG cylinders, the AD or BS? persons have to defend and uphold our that Bhalu found the bomb, took it to an undisclosed public has reverted to dried cowdung, a traditional fuel. own right to get things totally wrong. We location,” the head of airport police told reporters, Kitchens of five star hotels have switched to buffalo s we plunge headlong into the may not like what is going on around us, requesting anonymity, “he may have mistaken it for a droppings, and pizza parlours specialising in wood-fired year 2072 BS, it is time for us as we may not agree with everything that is sausage and shared it with friends.” A Code Red dog- pizzas are now offering dung-fired double-topping Aa nation to take stock of the past being said, but the constitution gives us bomb alert has been put out in the capital. pepperonis. year and look forward to more of the the right to make things up as we go along. “Thanks to the generous contribution of Nepal’s same pointlessness in the coming one. Luckily we are all professionals here NOC Employees Strike cattle population, our cowdung supplies are enough In hindsight, it seems ridiculous, almost and we stick to our journalistic code of for Expensive Gas to meet any exigencies,” said the Minister of Animal comical, how we blundered around ethics, and consider that lying is ok as long Employees of the state-owned Nepal Oil Corruption Husbandry and Bullshit. aimlessly going to work every day last as we don’t do it on purpose. That makes (NOC) went on an indefinite strike Monday demanding year when we could have announced life much easier and allows columns like a steep hike in petroleum prices. Jhusil Da to Stay On nationwide shutdowns. these, which would be banned in any “How can we make our ends meet and provide for The Nepali Congress Central Committee meeting today On the occasion of the new year, civilised country. Anyway, as a brief recap our families if gasoline is so cheap,” asked an employee decided unanimously to allow Jhusil Da to stand in therefore, we pay tribute to the political we print below a few items of news that who was gheraoing the corporation’s premises by the forthcoming Nepali Kangres Party Convention for myopia and official narrow-mindedness did not see the light of day in 2071 because gham tapoing in the lawn. The All-Nepal Federation of President for the Tenth Term until he is 112 years old. that has made Nepal what it is today. No of space constraints: Adulterating Gas Stations (Revolting) also joined the “He is going to stand but in consideration of his point being disheartened, folks, however strike to create a manmade shortage demanding that advanced years, we are going to allow him to sit,” said low a country sinks, however chaotic Bomb Found and Lost at TIA the government hike falling petroleum prices by 50 per his niece, Sujata Koirala, herself not a spring chicken. the past year, as the Carpenters put it so A plastic explosive that French police secretly planted cent. “Just because oil prices drop in the world market Mr Koirala had earlier eloquently, “tomorrow will always be inside an unsuspecting passenger’s suitcase in Paris doesn’t mean Nepal must follow suit, we are a sovereign promised that he would step down brighter than today and yesterday all our last week to test airport security has been located in country and should set our own prices,” said one oil as Primordial Minister “the minute troubles seemed so far away”. Or was it the baggage of a passenger arriving at Triboomban baron. the constitution is written in 2072”. the Beatles? Antinational Airport Thursday morning, unusually It now looks like he won’t have to One never knows during these unreliable sources said. Cowdung Supplies step down at all because he meant uncertain times how long we in the The bundle of explosives, which French sniffer Sufficient: Govt 2072 AD. fourth estate will be allowed to vent our dogs could not detect at Charles de Gaulle was Responding to panic-buying by desperate citizens, frustrations in broad daylight before the ferreted out by Bhalu, the mongrel who has made TIA’s GONe has assured all and sundry that Nepal’s strategic The Ass

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