#195 7 - 13 May 2004 20 pages Rs 25 Almost there and back

RAJENDRA DAHAL We were so close to a political resolution Wednesday

he immediate political future, pressure, the parties organised rallies it seems, depends on whom in the capital, even as the T King Gyanendra chooses to government hosted the Nepal meet. After a series of confabs earlier Development Forum (NDF). with Panchayat era names and some The government’s concessions others, the king almost met Girija came on Monday, incongruously Prasad Koirala on Wednesday. There the very day that Koirala and was electric anticipation in the Madhab Kumar Nepal were arrested capital. But then he didn’t. from their homes to prevent them When the king invited the from leading rallies. The prohibitory leaders of political parties for order was lifted and all detainees consultations after six months of not were released, other than five student talking, there were great leaders. Nepal and Koirala were now expectations. A resolution to the in a mindset to make the Narayanhiti nation’s political crisis, set in motion visit, although there was some by the royal move of 4 October disagreement between the two on 2002, seemed within grasp. With the level of flexibility to exhibit. the king and the parties in one Nepal was for the resignation of corner, the Maoist would also come Prime Minister Surya Bahadur RAM HUMAGAI to the table—that was the hope. Thapa as a precondition. SOFTER SIDE: A girl dances at a cultural anti-‘regression’ rally organised by the Nepali Congress Inexplicably, the string of royal With a senior cardiac specialist (Democratic) on Wednesday. audiences began with the politically and a retired banker acting as insignificant Badri Prasad Mandal, emissaries between the parties and a former ‘pancha’ and latter-day the palace, Koirala was asked to king’s minister, and several minor prepare for the royal rendezvous on players. Slighted, the leaders of the Wednesday. He cooled his heels till five agitating parties turned down 2PM, and when no summons came, the king’s invitation when the call he left for Biratnagar. He demanded finally came from the office of the release of the five student leaders principal private secretary Pashupati from there. Maharjan. The conspiratorialists among the Even though the continuous politicians believe that the month-long agitation against government’s conciliatory gestures ‘regression’ has been likened by one and the king’s meetings were merely wag to a ‘leaking pressure cooker that to ensure that the NDF did not get leaves the daal undone’, the parties derailed. Now that the meet has were energised by the support of ended ‘successfully’ and the non-political professional groups. powerful development czars are Even the Rastriya Prajatantra Party gone, there is less pressure on both (RPP), formerly termed ‘royalist’, the darbars, Narayanhiti and Singha. entered the fray. The international The parties now ask: could it be that community (donors and diplomats) the government’s softened stance added ‘democracy’ to their own list had little to do with them and of demands, in addition to ‘human everything to do with the NDF? rights’. While the authorities may feel Suspecting the royal palace of smug for having tempered the wanting to appoint a prime minister intensity of the movement, this may of its choice rather than their’s yet force the political parties to resort to again, the five parties made a even sharper slogans on the street. conditional offer to the king: first As we go to press, the possibilities release all the detained party workers of talks between the king and the and lift the prohibitory order on politicians has not been exhausted. demonstrations. To keep up the A country waits. l

Weekly Internet Poll # 135 Q. Is it ethical for journalists to join the anti- king agitation on the streets?

Total votes:1,438 Weekly Internet Poll # 136. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com Q. Which one of the following political alignments would be most acceptable to you? 2 EDITORIAL 7 - 13 MAY 2004 #195

Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Chief Editor: Kunda Dixit Desk Editors: Trishna Gurung, Jemima Sherpa Design: Kiran Maharjan Web: Bhushan Shilpakar Advertising: Sunaina Shah [email protected] Subscription: Anil Karki, [email protected] Sanchaya Kosh Building, Block A-4th Floor, Lalitpur Unfettered fourth estate GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: 01-5543333-6, Fax: 01-5521013 [email protected], www.nepalitimes.com Printed at Jagadamba Press, Hatiban: 01-5547018 Free press is not a luxury that can wait until better times EVERY DAY IS PRESS FREEDOM DAY free, independent and great—their ability to access death, impoverishment and A pluralistic media plays a provisions, and sometimes their destruction in their wake. here is a great deal of frothing at the mouth these days in the crucial role in the personal safety and very survival, Independent and pluralistic media T media about the government’s efforts to muzzle the press. True, democratic process. Respecting the may depend on it. However, they can make a significant there have been crackdowns and detention of protesting journalists media’s independence and tend to regard much of the contribution to breaking this in the streets by riot police. But it hasn’t been done with any more recognising the fundamental right information available to them vicious circle by enabling dialogue brutality than that reserved for political leaders rising up against of press freedom, enshrined in through the media as propaganda. to replace armed conflict. ‘repression’. The media just gave itself more column inches because those beaten Article 19 of the Universal For these reasons, independent Even when it is heated, up were journalists. Much more worrisome has been the direct Panchayat- and pluralistic media are dialogue is crucial for laying the style targeting of some journalists and indirect threats against others. The GUEST COLUMN particularly important in times of ground for reconciliation and parliament has expired, an elected prime minister has been sacked, local Koïchiro Matsuura war and they remain at least as reconstruction. The media can elected bodies disbanded, democratic institutions and oversight bodies crucial in the post-conflict phase. provide a vital space in which are in limbo. Paradoxically, however, the Nepali press has never been freer than it is today. Declaration of Human Rights, are Sadly, each year a number of different views are aired and In fact, scanning the editorials and comments in the Nepali language essential for transparency and the journalists lose their lives in the information from different sources media, we find there are few taboos left to be broken. But on the week that rule of law. These principles are course of pursuing their is openly available for public we celebrate World Press Freedom Day, it would also be important to point equally important in rich and poor profession. It is the duty of scrutiny. Furthermore, the out that the current freedom could be a mirage. Draconian security and countries alike, in times of peace authorities everywhere to respect correlation between press freedom lese majeste laws are still in place and hang like swords above our heads. They could be activated at any time as excuses to selectively muzzle and in times of war. the media’s right to work in and economic development has critical media. In situations of conflict, conditions of reasonable safety. been demonstrated. This relation The current strategy to allow media full freedom could also be a sly upheaval, disorder and All too often, wars are self- must be born in mind as the effort to camouflage the erosion of democracy in the past two years, allow uncertainty, people’s need for perpetuating: conflicts generate international community seeks to society to let off steam and assure the international community that everything is hunky dory. The challenge for media today is to keep press reliable information is especially more conflict and inevitably bring achieve the ambitious agenda of freedom safe from demagogues disguised as democrats. And here we include the political parties who use quasi- Maoist tactics by punishing the people and crushing their freedoms with the threats of bandas. Today’s rulers are more sophisticated and subtle in exercising control. As we have seen in some countries in our vicinity, constitutionally guaranteed laws on free press do not suffice in ensuring an independent media anymore. Watchdogs can easily be turned into lapdogs by plutocrats putting the squeeze on advertising. The media can deal with dictators: it has experience fighting repression. But how does it deal with market controls, over-commercialisation that undermines independence? We have to be much more vigilant about political controls on media coming via the marketplace. Our constitution that was crafted after the fall of Panchayat authoritarianism provides us little protection against this onslaught, especially because the constitution itself is in intensive care. We need more creative ways to respond to threats to journalism from advertising lollipops or outright efforts to buy off reporters and editors. Press freedom needs to be protected by its maximum and fearless application. And it is clearer than ever before that the freedom of the press and political freedom are linked— one can’t exist for long without the other. Dithering democrats in our country gave democracy a bad name, but autocrats who believe in trampling freedoms are a bigger threat to press freedom.

NEPALNEWS.COM

L ETTERS

CAKE an advocate for making the zeal, courage, planning and development can be achieved in If donors believe that CK Lal in ‘Let them eat cake’ (# services available at the steadfastness required to go into a political vacuum? What are their development can move forward 193) observes correctly grassroots level. I had an battle. In the early 1980s, Gurung views of the political situation? in the current political climate, that there has been a rise over opportunity to visit with him in was instrumental in helping me While it is true that they wouldn’t then I challenge them to come the last decade in literacy and some distant villages in the early establish a family planning want to comment on the internal forward with the following NDF life expectancy levels while 1980s, where he worked service delivery program with the politics of a country, there should agenda of its own: infant mortality has fallen. tirelessly to communicate the approval of HMG. The program be no denying that development However, he is wrong need for family planning services was run successfully with the is closely related to stability. Is (1) Donors should provide a in implying that the credit for it is through the forum of ex- direct involvement of ex- the role of the donor just to strategy for achieving due to the country being servicemen. As a community servicemen in much-needed channel soft money? The donors’ development goals in an absence ‘democratic’ during that period. It leader, Gurung understood the family planning service for them responsibility should ensure that of the parliament, local takes much more than a mere consequences of population and their families, as well as for money is used in a proper infrastructure and a democratic ten years to formulate problems, and he took it as a the communities where they manner. This is what should have government. plans, implement them and challenge to fight it with the same lived. been discussed during the NDF (2) A self-assessment of its achieve such Shyam Lama meeting. activities in Nepal with an results. Therefore, the fact Arlington, VA, USA It is time to reflect on what independent study by an NGO. (however unpalatable) is was not done and correct it. A lot (3) Each donor should provide its that the planning and NDF of time is spent on laying out audited activity account in Nepal implementation which gave us The article ‘Donors divided’ policies. The NDF could have to ensure transparency. those results must have taken (#194) provides an inkling of served a notice to the donors on A Shrestha, email place during the Panchayat bilaterals trying to leverage the their failure to ensure real era, which (even Mr Lal would multilaterals in the development implementation. It is not to be a SPECTATOR SPORT agree) had its good side. arena. Historically, the bilaterals teacher-student setting where The content of ‘Spectator sport’ SS Pal, email prefer grant financing whereas they can chide the government (#194) was apt and meaningful. the primary goal of multilaterals is for not achieving the goals. How can the media complain LAL SINGH GURUNG to channel loan money and Development is a joint effort. when they are unintentionally hit I was pleased to read the sprinkle it with a grant component While donors take pride and by stones hurled by agitators and testimony of Lal Singh Gurung (‘I for capacity building. This notion credit for successful projects, the police? It is not as if bricks faked my height’, #193). I would is important in understanding why they should accept a portion of and lathis can differentiate like to add that Gurung is also a multilaterals wanted the NDF the blame for failure. Nepal is between the press and the pioneer in championing the need meeting despite the political going through difficult times and others. Luckily the car in the for family planning services, vacuum, lack of local government these meetings should be a picture accompanying the story particularly for ex-servicemen and a parliament. platform for some serious did not explode. Otherwise and their families, and thus, is Do donors think that brainstorming. newspaper headlines OP-ED 7 - 13 MAY 2004 #195 3 goals and targets promulgated in the Millennium Declaration. A free press is not a luxury that can wait until better times. Rather, Differently-abled nation it is part of the very process through which those better times Our society is handicapped by coercive power and submissive religion are achieved. Media freedom is important for building inclusive long with 87-year-young societies, securing respect for Chhaya Debi Parajuli and 12- A year-old Rubin Gandharba, a human rights, empowering civil society and promoting group of physically challenged people development. are on the streets every day participating in the ongoing agitation Independence does not hinge against regression. “We are also part only on the capacity of private of the society and are responsible for individuals to operate media democracy,” said one of them in a outlets, it also requires a public program two weeks ago. commitment to professional standards of reporting. The training of journalists is essential in STATE OF THE STATE post-conflict situations, which CK Lal tend to affect countries with limited experience of press Like their predecessors in Singha freedom. Such training can not Darbar, governments after the only assist the new independent restoration of democracy failed to media but also may help to fully address the concerns of Nepal’s transform state-owned media disabled. But there is into valuable public service media. something intrinsic to the dynamics Governments and authorities of democracy: society rehabilitated everywhere must be prevailed more physically KIRAN PANDAY upon to respect the media’s vital challenged people into the status and concerns of differently- their true welfare can only take place The wave of missionary contribution to building mainstream in a decade after abled people in South Asia. In under an inclusive democratic Hinduism, begun in the late 19th sustainable peace, democracy and democracy than in the entire history Nepal, it’s difficult to find anything process. Authoritarian and century by Raja Ram Mohun Roy’s development. We must do all in of autocratic rule in the country for other than the dull official reports of totalitarian regimes have been Brahmo Samaj in Bengal, was our power to provide journalists over two centuries. Sadly, Maoist donor agencies and INGOs known to eliminate them: Hitler stopped at the Indo-Nepal border by with as much safety as possible in atrocities have probably negated trumpeting their own achievements. gassed them, Pol Pot shot them on the orders of conservative priests the exercise of their profession. some of those achievements by In such an arid field, Lakshmi the spot. People with different dominating the courts of Media freedom is important maiming more, but that is a different Narayan Prasad’s Status of People abilities need to be accepted for Kathmandu. The ignoble nobility of with Disability in Nepal (Rajesh what they are. the Hindu religion has always for all societies, but especially for story. Armed insurgencies are by nature ruthless. Prasad, Kathmandu, 2003, price Rs On the issue of the place of the excelled at worshipping power. It those whose journey towards Nepal has appalling statistics for 300) is a welcome relief. disabled in Hindu religion, Prasad showed scant inclination to serve the recovery, stability and peace is disability: 12 percent of the The author comes from an does no service to the marginalised disabled, uplift the downtrodden or ongoing and beset by uncertainty. population is handicapped in one illustrious family of physicians, and by regurgitating the tradition of offer any solace to dispirited souls. Let us applaud the brave men and way or another. Those with a very has himself devoted over 40 years for philanthropy. In every religion that Nepal needs to look for solutions in women who bring us the news in severe disability are put at 1.63 the welfare of people with different believes in rebirth, suffering in this the realm of secular practices. defiance of the risks and dangers. percent, a sizeable figure by itself. kinds of disabilities in the country. birth is a result of the karma of an Our society is handicapped by Their freedom to do their work is Recent sample surveys in He has put that experience, his earlier one. To help alleviate it is coercive power and submissive inextricably linked to the wider neighbouring India have put the access to national and international tantamount to interfering in god’s religion. Nepal needs to build enjoyment of basic rights and disability figure at 1.75 percent, with sources of pertinent information and scheme of things. Hence, no platforms of secular and democratic fundamental freedoms. l Himachal Pradesh being the worst his insight into this definitive book Shankaracharya could ever be a institutions. Thus empowered, we hit where it was as high as 2.57 on the subject. Mother Teresa. Unless our society can overcome social and political Koichiro Matsuura is the Director percent. Even in absolute terms, No matter how often the silken becomes less fatalistic about our obstacles in the path to a truly all- General of UNESCO and this comment is based on his statement on World these are fairly high figures. socialites dabble in ‘serving’ the present incarnation, it will be embracing and representative Press Freedom Day, 3 May. Very few books deal with the physically or mentally challenged, difficult to take corrective measures. democracy. l

everywhere might have read, agility and concentrate on ‘Journos killed by burning football and carve a niche of our government vehicle’. With regard own in this ‘global phenomenon’. to that same photograph, the I appreciate and share his love facts were wrong. I was there in for football. What I don’t share is Bagh Bazar when the agitators his unfounded insecurity with torched that car. It was not a co-opting cricket. Sports is not government vehicle as the story something that can be enforced reports. It had a private number from the top. If more and more plate, was very old and was Nepalis are playing cricket, then dragged out of one of the nearby it’s simply because they like it. houses. In the same issue, Joti Perhaps the not so insecure Giri (London Eye) says cricket in Nepalis even feel a greater Nepal goes back a mere two affinity towards a South Asian decades. As far as I know, the identity? Giri sees the recent Cricket Association of Nepal is successes of our U-19 side as the oldest sports organisation, aberrant ‘minor league’ going back more than 20 years. showings but would the London Football came much later. eye require a set of binoculars Shushank Shahi, to see that a bird in the hand is Maharajganj worth two in the bush? A Nepali playing in the English LONDON EYE Premiership is a distant dream It would have been easier to cast but if the U-19 successes are aside Joti Giri’s intellectual any indication, with adequate McDonaldism in ‘Nepalis Can’t investment in infrastructure and Run’ (London Eye, #194) as one proper nurturing of young Nepali person’s opinion if what he said talent the day when Nepal didn’t have any implication for our reserves a seat in a cricket national sports policy. Rather than World Cup might not be very far. distracting ourselves with cricket And when it comes, there’ll and its colonial baggage, he definitely be more than one seems to suggest we put to use proud Londoner. our physical strength, speed and Binit Sharma, email 4 NATION 7 - 13 MAY 2004 #195

Kala azar patient at Jaleshwor District Hospital Nepal’s black death Kala azar afflicts the poor in the tarai, so it is ignored

Sudan. It has also recently been reported in 12 veterans of the Gulf War, who apparently contracted the disease while in Saudi Arabia. The DDT used in India by the of 10:1, or maybe even higher. Since recently developed is called k39. The National Malaria Eradication a high number of persons remain test requires only one drop of blood Program in the 1940s ravaged the asymptomatic, but can still infect and replaces the traditional diagnosis sandfly population and also other people, effective control of the by biopsy of the liver or spleen or by interrupted the transmission of infection is difficult. puncture of the bone marrow or a kala azar. By the mid-1950s, no Panduka Wijeyaratne is lymph gland. Nepal presently has NIMAL GUANTILLEKE new cases were recorded and in the resident adviser for the USAID’s the diagnostic k39 kit for kala azar mid 1960s it had become an Environmental Health Project in available, and this offers interesting CÉSAR CHELALA in JANAKPUR almost forgotten disease in the Nepal and has been working with possibilities for eventually country. However, when the kala azar for 20 years. “What we eliminating the disease, since it will n the village of Juri near Janakpur, most neglected. It belongs to a national malaria campaign was have already seen is only the tip be much easier to diagnose even Ram Sewak Adhikari says half disease group called leishmaniasis interrupted, kala azar reappeared of the iceberg, because below are those who are asymptomatic. Ihis extended family of 35 has which has a wide range of in 1970 in the village of Vaishali all these asymptomatic cases, However, co-infection with HIV kala azar. His wife died of the clinical symptoms: cutaneous, in Bihar. By the late 1970s, kala some of which will become is becoming more frequent, which disease, after he sold his plot of mucocutaneous and visceral. These azar appeared in Bangladesh and symptomatic, particularly among has made treatment even more land to pay for her care, leaving symptoms include highly shortly afterwards it entered the poor,” says Wijeyaratne,“ difficult. There is also an increasing him destitute. Unable to take of undulating fever, weight loss, Nepal’s tarai. Kala azar is now but kala azar is a controllable, resistance to Pentostam, which had his 10-year-old son and 8-year- fatigue, abdominal pain, cough present in 13 districts in Nepal treatable disease that affects those been the best weapon against the old daughter, he sent them to live and diarrhoea.The local name bordering Bihar. most neglected.” disease for more than half a century. with a maternal uncle. Now he means ‘black sickness’, because An important finding In Nepal, most cases of kala Added to that, carriers are travelling doesn’t have a home and goes the skin of some patients darken. is that most infections remain azar had been diagnosed based on more than ever before, making the wherever work is available. Kala azar annually affects asymptomatic. It is estimated the clinical picture and relatively spread of the disease difficult to Kala azar is relatively 500,000 people in 69 countries that asymptomatic infections non-specific tests such as the total track. unknown among Nepal’s many and 90 percent of cases occur in outnumber those that are white blood cell count or by a test A significant recent development diseases, and therefore may be the Bangladesh, India, Nepal and symptomatic by an estimated ratio called the aldehyde test. A new test has been the identification of the Remembering Gyanendra

ometimes chance is a wonderful thing. It was chance, for example, that Those who work honestly in journalism loathe the targeting of S lead to me an obscure corner of reporters—whether by government thugs or murderous Maoists Rosslyn, Virginia this week, down the road from the Pentagon and across the Potomac I hope Nepali Times readers remember pleased for his family and for his colleagues, River from the White House. Gyanendra Khadka. He was the 35-year-old of whom I was once one. It was a place called Freedom Park and it reporter for the state news agency, RSS. He It won’t bring him back, but it’ll serve as was hard to find. That’s because there isn’t was based in Sindhupalchok, but had to a suitable memorial for a brave man. I hope a park to enhance his paltry salary by working part there was someone from the Royal Nepal HERE AND THERE speak of, time in a local school. On 7 September Embassy at the ceremony adding this year’s Daniel Lak just a strip 2003, he was dragged away from the school name to the wall. I didn’t see anyone from of garden by a band of armed Maoists. A few days the embassy, but perhaps I missed them. No on the balcony of an indoor shopping later, the Kathmandu media received a one who works honestly in journalism mall. The “freedom” part refers to a sickening photograph from their stringers— doesn’t loathe those who target reporters, display of the benefits of democracy in Gyanendra, hands behind his back and tied whether government thugs or murderous America and around the world—a chunk together to a pole, and his head almost Maoists. Along with Gyanendra on that wall of the toppled Berlin wall, a tribute to the severed from his body. This was Maoist of courage and tragedy, a Palestinian long campaign in the US to give women work. The rebels said he was an informer, cameraman killed by Israeli soldiers, an Iraqi the right to vote. and his death, his unthinkably cruel democracy activist murdered by Saddam It was at the top of Freedom Park that I execution, was punishment. Hussein and an al-Jazeera reporter shot dead found the name of Gyanendra Khadka At that moment, I hated the Maoists by Iraq’s liberators, the Americans. printed on a spiral Plexiglas wall spotted with and I still do. Their casual approach to There was Vikram Singh Bisht, paralysed raindrops. This was a memorial to journalists brutality speaks of how dehumanised they by a gunshot wound in the siege of the from many countries who died in the line of are, and what they’d be like if they ever Indian parliament by Kashmiri militants, duty. There are 1,528 names inscribed on managed to wrest power in this country by Zahra Kazemi, an Iranian Canadian beaten the wall, which curves around a platform at violence. Another reason that a return to to death by police in Tehran. Too many the top of the park. I found Gyanendra’s democracy is well past due here. But I was journalists died last year, and too many in too name among those at the end of the loop, pleased to see Gyanendra’s name on that many years before that. In Gyanendra’s among 53 journalists who died in 2003. wall in suburban Washington DC, I was name, let’s put a stop to all this.l 14 ASIA 7 - 13 MAY 2004 #195 Our energy future We are reaching a dead end here energy is concerned, everything seemed simple before the W Iraq War. The US would topple Saddam, Iraq’s vast oil reserves would be unleashed after a short period of reconstruction and world petroleum prices would drop to under $20 per barrel. Instead, world oil prices have soared to $35 per barrel. New attention is being focused on energy supplies and the message is clear: current energy patterns are risky and must change. Two interconnected energy issues will shape our economic and geopolitical future for decades to come. The first is that dependence on Middle East oil is increasingly risky. Nobody knows how much oil is left and how much it will cost to extract, but the peak of global oil production will probably be reached sometime in the next quarter century. Remaining oil supplies will be concentrated in the volatile Middle East. COMMENT Meanwhile, global demand for Jeffrey D Sachs energy will soar as the economies of China, India, Brazil and other countries grow. If the Middle East is already at a breaking point, imagine what could happen if competition for Middle East oil intensifies among America, Europe, China, India, Japan and others. The second great challenge is that our modern energy system is destabilising the global climate. Petroleum and other fossil fuels (coal and natural gas) are causing longterm changes in the global climate, but Aftermath few people appreciate the risks. Last Wednesday’s bloodshed may produce more Muslim ‘martyrs’ There are three largely unrecognised problems: l Climate change will shift every aspect and bring fundamental changes f the US government can use largely teenage Thai Muslim events. in the physical environment. The effects are unpredictable but likely to be huge. excessive force in its conquest militants struck, has emerged as a Concern is being expressed in l I of Iraq, and the Israeli powerful symbol to amplify the some quarters that Bangkok’s Climate change may not be gradual. The long history of climate change shows the risks of dramatic and abrupt changes over the course of government can use the same to grisly results of what critics say response to the bloodshed, where only a few decades. crush the resistance in occupied were security forces going on a 108 militants were killed, as l Humans might react badly to such changes, because shifts in monsoon Palestine, then why shouldn’t firing spree. Thirty-two militants against five members of the patterns or sea levels and the ensuing economic distress could provoke th massive political unrest, refugee movements and violent conflict. the Thai government resort to were killed in the 16 century better-armed security forces could this to suppress militants in the mosque. The mostly knife- tempt more young Thai Muslims These challenges require clear thinking. Some alarmists declare that country’s south? That appears to wielding Muslim youth, some to go toward what some consider we need to drastically reduce energy use on a global scale, undermining between 15 to 20 years, launched martyrdom. That cannot be easily the global economy. Efficiencies in energy use are possible, but they ANALYSIS a coordinated attack on a series of dismissed, given the Thai cannot solve either the problem of long-run oil supplies or climate Marwaan Macan police posts in the provinces of government’s poor record of change. Others declare that we must kick the fossil fuel habit and make a Markar mad dash for renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power. Yet Yala, Songkhla and Pattani. This governance in the southern these alternatives are expensive and cannot realistically replace fossil be the thinking of Prime despite accounts by witnesses who provinces, where policies over the fuels. Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s told journalists that Thai troops years have produced a sense of Fortunately, if we plan for the longterm on a global scale, we can find administration as it tries to could have checked themselves humiliation and alienation among our way through these challenges. Our goals should be reliable supplies of energy that are environmentally safe at affordable prices. We should combat any form of insurgency and forced the militants to sections of the Muslim minority. recognise that even as oil becomes scarce, other fossil fuels such as coal, mounted by sections of surrender instead. Since early January this year, gas and unconventional sources such as shale and tar sands will remain Thailand’s Muslim minority in That the Thaksin government southern Thailand has witnessed plentiful for centuries. We must develop technologies and infrastructure so the five southernmost provinces. is now stuck with having been the an upsurge in violence, with these fuels can be used efficiently and safely. Newspapers here were full of cause of such images does not army camps, police posts and As these other fuels take up the slack when oil production reaches a plateau or starts to decline, the effects of fossil fuels on the climate must this ‘get tough’ and ‘search and bode well for the country, says schools attacked. Over 60 people, be brought under control. The environmentally sound manner will involve destroy’ policy that Bangkok has Chaiwat Satha-Anand, director of including soldiers, policemen and capturing carbon dioxide at the power plant before it is emitted into the approved in the wake of this the Peace Information Centre at Buddhist monks were killed by atmosphere and disposing of it by somehow burying it in the ground. This week’s bloody showdown in Bangkok’s Thammasat University: assailants. The Thai process, called “carbon capture and disposal,” is being pursued by some of three of the southern provinces “The political cost can be very government’s military approach the world’s leading engineers. Our energy future will depend not on one solution, but on a variety of that left over 110 people dead. severe. It could lead to something to the south has been to contain steps: exploration and development of new petroleum sources, especially ‘‘The army dispatched 500 very grave.” There can be a the activity of Thai Muslim outside the Middle East, increased energy efficiency, longterm rapid-deployment forces hardening of feelings by Muslims separatist movements that development and adoption of affordable renewable sources and the (Thursday) for a ‘search and toward security forces that chose emerged three decades ago. By environmentally safe use of alternative fossil fuels such as coal. Today’s destroy’ mission against an to impose state power and the early 1980s, Bangkok course of action—in which we neglect the coming squeeze in global oil supplies, rely too heavily on Middle East oil and ignore the environmental estimated 5,000 Muslim “trample upon our house of God,” appeared to have triumphed over consequences of fossil fuels—is reaching a dead end. Reality will catch up militants in the deep south,” adds Satha-Anand, a member of the militants. with us. reported The Nation. In Thailand’s Muslim minority. This armed struggle against How then do we think ahead? The world’s largest energy users need to addition, Defence Minister The security forces may have the Thai state can be traced to develop new technologies for carbon capture and storage, and for Chettha Thanajaro told reporters also played into the hands of the the history of the southern alternative energy supplies. We need to make certain that market prices for energy use reflect the true social costs of using energy, so that energy that two battalions, amounting militants’ belief that they were provinces. Over a century ago, users and energy suppliers make better choices regarding energy to about 1,000 troops, have dying as martyrs. “Already, some the southern provinces of efficiency, the development of alternative energy sources and the been dispatched to reinforce the of the families are performing the Narathiwat, Pattani, Satun, adoption of environmentally safe technologies. l (© Project Syndicate) military’s muscle in the south. special rituals meant for Muslims Songkhla and Yala belonged to Last Wednesday, the security who died in the course of the kingdom of Pattani, but it Jeffrey D Sachs is Professor of Economics and Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University. forces and police unleashed a defending their faith,” Satha- was annexed in 1902 by Siam, as high volume of firepower against Anand revealed. That includes Thailand was then known. But Muslim militants, most of whom not washing the corpses prior to there was hardly a hint of were armed with knives and burial. This sense of seeking martyrdom in the past rebellions, machetes, and evoked the use of martyrdom has come as a shock to reflecting how the current words such as ‘‘slaughter’’ and many Thais, the majority of resentment towards the Thai ‘‘massacre’’ among some Thai whom are Buddhists in this state has acquired a new, journalists and human rights country of 63 million people. The disturbing language in the south. champions. “The government’s Muslim minority—most of whom “There is a level of rage and troops appeared determined not live in five southern provinces attitude towards death in the to leave any attackers alive,” said near the Malaysian border—make south that the government needs Sunai Phasuk, the Thai up about six million people. “It to pay attention to,” says Satha- representative of Human Rights was the first time we witnessed Anand, the peace advocate. “A Watch (HRW). people in this country (who are) wrong step can tempt youth who The Krue Se mosque in willing to sacrifice their lives to feel humiliated (so) that they Pattani, one of the three attack the central authority,” said have something to gain in death southern provinces where the Phasuk about Wednesday’s as a martyr.” l (IPS) FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 7 - 13 MAY 2004 #195 13

Underage protestors districts are increasingly frustrated ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ to see Kathmandu residents not Annapurna Post, 1 May participating. After arriving in Kathmandu No childhood School children have joined the from Bishrampur of Parsa, Dinesh ‘anti-regression’ demonstrators. Yadav realised the parties have not They walk beside adults in the won the people’s confidence in the Rudra Khadga in Samay, 29 April - 6 May capital. “I came because my party streets to pelt stones at the police. NEPALGUNJ – Babita Raul wraps herself up in silence, even when her mother and relatives come to visit her There are allegations that political instructed me to take to the streets, in the orphanage where she now lives. Things were once different for this five-year-old. She had just parties are using these underage but there doesn’t seem to be any started attending school in her Humla village when the Maoists killed her father Suta Bahadur, accusing him of protestors, which may have a ring participation of the people of spying for the security forces. The loss was unbearable of truth considering most of these Kathmandu itself.” Yadav says it and Babita was so traumatised that her widowed children don’t know what they has been three weeks and nothing mother sent her to Nepalganj. are fighting for. “Children tend to has changed. Frustrated, he now “I don’t know if I can continue my studies,” says 12- plans to return home. year-old Bimla Dahal whose father, a local teacher, was get carried away watching the killed while being held by the security forces. After his adults in action. They’re just Medini Prasad Sharma, a death, Bimla had to leave her private boarding school imitating the demonstrators,” says Nepali Congress worker from and join a government school. She worries that her child rights activist Gauri Morang, had the same experience. mother too will be taken away. Naresh Chand from Pradhan. While some may be in it A seasoned local politician from Kohalpur in Banke, whose father was killed by the out of a misguided sense of fun, eastern Nepal, he found the Maoists a year ago, has lost all hope in life: “I dreamed of others say adults bribed them to ongoing movement was unable to becoming someone important but not anymore.” join the rallies. “I was promised win the support of the capital. The tragedy is that stories of orphaned children no longer shocks or disturbs us. They are there in every “One reason could be the radical mid-western Nepali village. Over 1,000 children have lost their parents in the last nine years of the pocket money if I threw stones,” insurgency. The Nepalganj-based children’s shelter, Sahara, is running out space. It currently helps children says 13-year-old Raunak Magar. slogans that protestors chant from Banke, Surkhet, Bardiya, Dailekh, Dolpa, Humla, Kalikot, Rolpa, Dang, Sindupalchok, Jumla and Jajarkot. “One man offered to feed me a against the monarchy,” he said plate of momos if I stoned the after a series of rallies. “I never police,” adds his young imagined the Congress would join companion, Bishal Shrestha. in demonstrations dominated by VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT While the political parties deny radical communists.” RP Tiwari, a high school teacher in the involvement of children in The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), an independent humanitarian organization the demonstrations, they are not Kathmandu, believes scenes of whose mandate is to provide protection and assistance for victims of armed conflict and internal doing much to discourage or arson, vandalism and clashes have disturbances has regularly vacancies for: chase them away from the streets. scared locals. “Kathmandu likes to “Both politicians and the police watch from its houses: there is no Expatriate Nepali Interpreters/Translators should explain rationally to the way the people will participate in Your tasks children that they are not such violent demonstrations.” • Oral interpretation: from Nepali to English, and English to Nepali during confidential supposed to be Even analysts believe the interviews with persons detained in prisons, ICRC institutional dissemination and visits to there,” says Pradhan. “If someone parties did not get the people’s families of detainees • Written translation: translation of written Nepali (newspaper articles, correspondence, etc.) wants to participate willingly, it is support. National security into written English his fundamental right,” says Sashi specialist Karna Bahadur Thapa • Analysis and reporting: analysis of conditions of detention, general situation and other Shrestha, central member of the attributes this to the immaturity of matters relating to the ICRC’s mandate People’s Front Nepal. the parties: “The parties failed to understand that elections are the Selection requirements • only way out of the present crisis. Ideal age: 25 to 35 No show • Either single or prepared to accept an unaccompanied posting of at least one year

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ They are in the streets • University education or 5 years of professional experience Gorkhapatra, 30 April complicating the present problem • Excellent command of English, French an asset by holding demonstrations.” • Familiarity with word processing and spreadsheet software The ongoing movement of the Thapa argues says the parties have • Driving license (a license for automatic-transmission vehicles only is not sufficient) five parties of the dissolved House not done what the people wanted. Your Profile of Representatives has not won “The people want peace, but the • Strongly motivated by humanitarian work visible public support. The parties are adding fuel to the • Open-minded and adaptable, able to work in a team political workers these agitating violent situation in the nation, all • Neat appearance, good speaker, well-developed writing and summarizing skills parties brought from outlying for state power.” • Able to work under pressure in a potentially dangerous environment • Ready to travel to remote areas all over Nepal on a regular basis

What we offer • An opportunity to help the victims of conflict • Engrossing, rewarding work in unusual situations • Ample support in integrating into the new working environment

How to apply

Interested candidates are invited to send their CV with a cover letter, a recent photograph, copy of certificates, a contact telephone number and the ICRC application form (available on the website www.icrc.org) to the following address:

Laurent GISEL Deputy Head of Delegation International Committee of the Red Cross Meen Bhawan, Naya Baneshwor G.P.O. Box 21225, Kathmandu Phone: 4482 285/4492 679

e-mail:kathmandu.kat@ icrc.org; www.icrc.org NATION 7 - 13 MAY 2004 #195 5 drug Miltefosine as the first oral in helping in a quick diagnosis and agent against the disease. Presently, putting in place a referral mechanism the Nepali government is working by which those affected are sent to with WHO and the Environmental the nearest health facility that could Health Project in the clinical trials of handle their cases,” she says. this drug that are being conducted In the village of Juri, Sabitri Devi by at the BP Koirala Institute of Shah, a 40-year-old volunteer health Health Sciences. If Miltefosine worker says she feels very useful, but proves its effectiveness, it will be a is also frustrated by the inability to big step forward in the fight against provide further help to many the disease, since it will replace the patients. Many are poor and can’t painful and highly inconvenient go to the nearest health facility. The treatments presently used. Nepal stigma associated with the disease led and India have also agreed to share a couple with kala azar to refuse information through the National treatment and later die, leaving four Vector Borne Disease Control orphaned children. Program. At the Department of Internal Although the number of cases Medicine at the BP Koirala of kala azar in Nepal is estimated at Institute of Health Sciences in approximately 2,000 per year, this Dharan, Suman Rijal is in charge number does not take into account of tropical diseases including the the number of asymptomatic cases, current Miltefosine trials. He says: A street drama being performed to nor gives an indication of how “The female community health educate people on how to prevent the serious an epidemic of this disease volunteers have a sense of mission, spread of kala azar can become if the risk factors are and because of their work they are NIMAL GUANTILLEKE allowed to increase. In addition, the an asset to any program to control eliminated. “Yes, it can, but we need disease has a tremendous economic kala azar. But it is really political at least 10 years of sustained effort impact on affected families, as kala will at the national level that we with early detection at the Medicine shortage in the tarai azar usually spreads quickly to other need.” community level, prompt family members, including those Vijay Kumar Singh, a doctor at treatment, regular follow up and At a time when the kala azar epidemic in 12 tarai districts responsible for the family’s economic Janakpur Zonal Hospital has been completion of treatment, as well as show no signs of abating, this year has seen a serious support. treating kala azar for over 20 years, close synchronisation of activities shortage of medicines. The Epidemiology and Disease In Kathmandu, Archana Singh seeing over 1,000 patients. He told between India and Nepal, and Control Centre (EDCC) in Teku is supposed to acquire the is in charge of training female us one reason not enough attention continuing political will.” l medicine from the supply department, but both are blaming community health volunteers is paid to the disease is that it affects each other for the delay. A tender for the supply of the drug against kala azar. “The volunteers the poor. Singh is convinced kala sodium stibogluconate had been issued repeatedly, but Dr César Chelala is an international officials find it fishy that no decision has yet been made for the have made a tremendous difference azar can be controlled and eventually public health consultant purchase. As a result, patients in the disease’s epicenter in PREVENTING KALA AZAR Mahottari and Dhanusha have been turned back from hospitals because of the lack of medicines. Doctors at l Sand flies are attracted to livestock, breed in animal hospitals in Janakpur, Rajbiraj and Gaur expect this year’s waste and are then present in wall cracks and on damp death toll from kala azar will go up because of the lack of floors in homes. Children should therefore avoid medicine. If untreated, kala azar, which is the most severe sleeping on the floor and wall cracks should be repaired form of leishmaniasis, has a mortality rate of nearly 100 percent. If treated, kala azar is rarely fatal. The EDCC has l Using bed nets and spraying houses with insecticide initiated spraying insecticide to control malarial mosquitoes are effective measures of discouraging contact with and kala azar sandflies in 11 districts and six municipalities in sand flies, and so reduce the risk of kala azar the tarai. Spraying is even more effective in controlling kala l Community campaigns against sand fly breeding sites azar because sandflies sit on sprayed walls of rooms longer and education on modes of transmission help stop the than mosquitoes. spread of the disease 6 #195 YarchagumbaNATION goes commercial7 - 13 MAY 2004

n ancient remedy based on a wild study treatment with Cordymax.” Himalayan mushroom found in Tibet Does it really improve our health and fitness? Herdsmen in the Himalaya noticed how A and Nepal aids the fitness of the condition of their livestock improved after STEVE CONNOR sedentary, middle-aged people. The study was grazing on mountain-side meadows where the performed as a clinical trial with neither the mushrooms grew. Cordyceps became a main- volunteers nor the researchers knowing who stay of Chinese and Tibetan herbal medicine, took the remedy and who was given a harmless and although its expense limited its use, it has placebo until the experiment was over. been used to treat conditions like male and For the 131 volunteers in the trial, there female infertility for at least 2,000 years. In was a significant increase in aerobic fitness China, it is still prescribed as an aphrodisiac when participants took supplements based on and a treatment for the elderly to ease general fermented extracts of the Chinese cordyceps aches and pains. mushroom, which is known as yarchagumba in Nepal. The volunteers were aged between 40 and 70 and they were monitored for lung capacity, breathing, heart rate and blood pressure during and after short bouts of vigorous exercise and endurance walks. The researchers will present their results this week to the American Physiological Society, saying the study shows the Chinese mushrooms can significantly improve human health and fitness. Dolpali villagers scour a mountainside for yarchagumba, and the mushroom (right) Chinese doctors also claim it boosts The findings support immunity to infections and can help to many anecdotal accounts medals, including gold in the women’s 1,500, recipe using fermented mushrooms. “This fight respiratory illnesses, although there was that have attributed 3,000 and 10,000m at the World Champi- study provides scientific evidence that Cordy- little to support these claims in the health improvements onships in Stuttgart, Germany. Their coach max is effective in enhancing aerobic exercise published scientific literature. Cordyceps and astounding athletic attributed the dramatic success to intensive capability, endurance exercise performance sinensis is sometimes called the caterpillar feats to cordyceps high altitude training and cordyceps and exercise metabolism and alleviating fatigue fungus. In Nepal it is called ‘winter worm, mushrooms or dietary supplements. in healthy humans,” they say. “The study summer grass’ because it sometimes ‘fruits’ supplements made from Jia-Shi Zhu and James Rippe from a employed sports physiology methods, measur- out of the bodies of dead worms or insects. them. In 1993, Chinese California-based company called Pharmanex ing exercise capacity endurance performance, Its rarity in the wild has led to a boom in the women athletes took six said they used a commercial mushroom extract and exercise related metabolic alterations commercial cultivation of the mushroom for out of nine possible called Cordymax, based on an ancient Chinese before, in the middle of and after the 12-week herbal remedies. l (© The Independent) Himalayan Viagra Demand for this mysterious mushroom is expected to grow with the arrival of the new performance- enhancing drug, Cordymax If the new herbal medicine based on the Himalayan yarchagumba, I Cordymax, is approved in the United States it could mean a boom in the gathering and cultivation of this rare mushroom in the Nepal Himalaya. Long before the pharamaceutical industry got wind of it, yarchagumba has been known in Nepal, Tibet and China as a cure-all for everything from headaches to impotency. Commercialisation of its trade would mean even more demand for this rare herb in Nepal. Every May, the people of Dolpa set off to find yarchagumba or the Latin Cordyceps sinesis. Until recently, gathering yarchagumba was illegal in Nepal. That changed three years ago, when the government allowed collection of the precious caterpillar-mushroom outside of the Dolpa National Park boundaries. Just before the rainy season, spores of the cordyceps mushroom land on the heads of caterpillars of the Lepidoptera family that live mainly underground. After the fungus buries itself in the caterpillar’s body, it works its way out through the unfortunate insect’s head. The parasite soaks up the caterpillar’s energy until it dies. Lately, Maoists in Dolpa are competing with the government to tax the harvest of yarchagumba. In order to bring a bigger area under their influence, 150 of Dolpa’s 500 armed Maoists went to Tarap in Upper Dolpa at the end of last May. The Maoists have a tendering system: businessmen who want to buy and sell yarchagumba have to pay a Rs 20,000 advance. If the Maoists find a trader without a permit they loot his yarchagumba. In addition, they have to pay Rs 5,000 per kg. Between government and taxes, the people prefer to risk individual transactions with Chinese traders. The local officials are aware of the problem but unable to do anything until security is tightened on the northern border. The hostile terrain and the Maoist insurgency has confined both the police and the army to district headquarters. If proper security arrangements were made, the government could earn millions of rupees as royalties from yarchagumba collectors. The government wanted a share of the lucrative pie: businessmen now need a permit and the government collects Rs 20,000 tax per kg. However, most businessmen say they sell the yarchagumba directly to Tibetan traders. Around 1,000kg of the ‘Himalayan Viagra’ was illegally exported from Upper Dolpa to China before winter settled in last year. Chinese businessmen bartered food and clothes for yarchagumba and prices varied widely between Rs 60,000 and 150,000 per kilogram, depending on the quality. The middlemen sell the stuff by the sackload in Thailand, Korea, China and Japan for about $2,800 per kg. l ECONOMY #195 7 Ensuring7 - 13 MAY 2004 health for all citizens It is possible for all Nepalis to have affordable health insurance, and there are community health models already working KIRAN PANDAY NARESH NEWAR

hen former Health United Mission to Nepal return, they get an 80 percent Minister Upendra (UMN) was the first organisation in discount for treatment at OPD, 50 W Debkota mooted the idea Nepal to start a health insurance percent off doctor’s fees, operations of a national health insurance, many system. Its Lalitpur Medical and beds at Model Hospital. So far pooh-poohed it. But others, who Insurance Scheme, begun in 1976, the organisation has established six thought it was feasible, were helped establish health posts when cooperatives in Kirtipur, Lalitpur, disappointed that the idea was there was no government Dhading and Nawalparasi with dropped. Even basic health care is infrastructure in south Lalitpur. more than 3,500 members. an unaffordable luxury in Nepal. To make them more sustainable, “Insurance is a necessity for those With less than $3 worth of UMN health workers and local who don’t have money, especially government health investment per community leaders formed a pre- during emergencies. It is sad that person, Nepal spends the least on paid health insurance scheme. they even have to pay at state KIRAN PANDAY health in Asia. Villagers became members after hospitals,” says Basanta Maharjan (left) Patients queue up for treatment at Patan Hospital In fact, Nepal’s support for paying a low premium and the posts from PHECT Nepal. (above) The health post at Chapagoan where locals benefit from health care is so minimal that its would supply essential drugs and The Royal Nepali Army also a health insurance scheme citizens end up spending most of provide health care free of cost. The runs an efficient medical welfare their earnings and savings medical health posts have a referral link with fund. Soldiers contribute to the way would be community-based NGOs involved in health and the services. A World Bank survey in Patan Hospital, where members get fund, giving as much as 75 percent schemes like Lalitpur, replicated on UN’s International Labour 2001 reported that over 70 percent discounts for OPD treatment and of what they earn in UN a national scale. Organisation (ILO) as key members. of health expenditures in Nepal hospital beds. The registration for peacekeeping missions. With two The largest micro insurance But while the NGOs already started were through private spending. And medical check-ups is also free. battalions—each consisting of 800 scheme in the country, started by implementing most of its schemes, the rural poor spend “There is an assumption that to1,000 men—sent for BP Koirala Institute of Health the most the government did was disproportionately more from their poor people will not pay for such international peace missions every six Sciences (BPKIHS), has reached a publish an operation manual. “We incomes on doctor’s fees, medicines schemes. But we have learned even months, this adds up to plenty of large population in Dharan and the are not sure when the ministry will and transportation to cities where the poorest are interested in money to ensure free medical adjoining districts. The Social start their work but, like always, it better medical facilities are located. investing for their health,” says treatment, medicines and surgery at Insurance Scheme has over 18,000 may take a long time or perhaps Government efforts to improve Sakya. The UMN model’s realistic all army hospitals. But the military members from 30 VDCs. never even happen,” says a public public health care are limited to approach became so popular that model may not be practical for Community-based schemes health expert who asked to remain health posts and annual drug other organisations adopted the idea. civilians. even prodded the government into anonymous. rations. Health centres are The Public Health Concern Trust In a country dominated by an action. It found the scheme for a “Schemes help in risk sharing understaffed and under-equipped, (PHECT) Nepal replicated the informal employment, any national national level health insurance and resource sharing,” says Gobinda facing a constant shortage of model and started its own insurance insurance scheme based on Western unfeasible, choosing instead to Dahal of the ILO, which began medicines. The insurgency has made scheme. Its goal was to teach people models will face problems. Health implement pilot programs in micro insurance for health at a bad situation worse. “The only way to save for health and it was experts say that Nepal does not have selected health posts and hospitals Solukhumbu, Nawalparasi and out is to promote a community- successful. enough people working in the of eight districts two years ago. Banke. “These schemes should be based health insurance scheme,” says PHECT Nepal established formal sector and so a small number Last year, the Health Ministry established at a national scale so that public health expert Krishna Man health cooperatives where villagers end up paying taxes for the formed a coordination committee on health risks will be reduced around Sakya of Patan Hospital. pay a premium of Rs 90 per year. In population at large. The most logical community health insurance with the country.” l 8 #195 ECONOMY NDF atmospherics7 - 13 MAY 2004 Taking stock of the Forum as it takes stock of development felt successful for managing to show their strength regard to the ongoing Maoist insurgency. even while the NDF met. Wednesday’s mega rally Negotiations must take place before elections, at the junction of Ratna Park and Bag Bazar, they argued. Elections must wait till things made possible by the lifting of the prohibitory improve. order the day previously, constitued a message At the innaugural ceremony, Prime Minister sent loud and clear to the donors as well as the Surya Bahadur Thapa and Finance Minister royal palace, said one party leader. “Development Lohani tried their best to be in the good books cannot proceed without the political parties in of the deep-pocketed donors. Besides responding the driver’s seat,” he added. to the donor concerns over the democratic This point of view got strong support from a processes and human rights, Thapa and Lohani group of donor governments who demanded a also markedly refrained from calling the Maoists NAVIN SINGH KHADKA human rights, security—and democracy. clear signal that there would be representative ‘terrorists’. Some donor representatives would tott up government before long in the run-up to the The World Bank’s Vice ome may have called it a premature show success for forcing Surya Bahadur Thapa’s NDF. On 4 May, a day before President for South Asia, Praful of optimism. Barely a few hours after the government to take measures on the human rights the meet opened, the donors sat Patel, went out of his way to stress S front last month, including an agreement to get in discussion with the agitating the importance of democracy in inauguration of the Nepal Development Forum (NDF), the country’s development help from the United Nations Human Rights parties. development. This seemed a partners were handing out invitation cards to Commission and a ‘commitment document’ on Meanwhile, a group of 10 departure from the writings of the mark the ‘successful’ completion of the tamasha. human rights. Other donors, particularly the bilateral donors—Canada, Bank’s Resident Representative, A little cautious optimism may not have been bankers, would find the neo-conservative visage Denmark, the European the prolific Ken Ohashi, which remiss: the final communique was prepared a of the present cabinet, and especially Finance Commission, Finland, France, indicates a willingness to work day before the meet began by a committee of Minister Prakash Chandra Lohani, to their liking. Germany, the Netherlands, with the present dispensation. five donor representatives and government The government, for its part, would take Norway, Switzerland and the On the whole, government officials representing the Finance Ministry, the satisfaction in the fact that the NDF was held at UK—released a statement officials seemed happy that the National Planning Commission and the PMO. all, at a time when the agitating parties were expressing their views on the NDF was done with, even if the Mainly, the NDF was about how you defined boycotting it and several donors threatened country’s development and political cash was not on the table. Said ‘success’. Lacking a common definition, each postponement. The face-saving was perhaps more situation. Stressing the need for the democratic the NPC’s Vice Chairman Shankar Sharma, side saw success in the one-and-a-half day important for the government than the fact that process, they said a prime minister must enjoy “Donors can support us in budget, program and meeting held at Soaltee Hotel from 5-6 May. NDF turned out to be more a discussion forum the confidence of the parties and the king for project activities. And they were positive.” Even though the aid agencies were concerned than a pledging conference. The $560 million development to proceed. By extrapolation, their Amidst the satisfaction all around, the near- about the constrictions on development that the government wants for its ‘poverty view on the present government was crystal clear. absolute donor dependency of Nepal was not a disbursements due to the continuing insurgency, reduction stragegy’ was not really in the pipeline. The European donors also commented subject that anyone seemed to really want to their attention was diverted of late to issues of The agitating political parties, for their part, beyond the current political crisis, especially with talk about. That was taken as a given. l HEATING UP THE SKIES The airline industry in Nepal flying to a new beat DIRTY FUEL, DIRTY AIR, DIRTY BUSINESS Bad policy and rampant corruption is bleeding the Nepal Oil Corporation dry. MEET Birendra Bahadur Basnet Fortune Favours the Brave Mohan Prasad Khanal Mission Impossible Natasha Shrestha If you can dream it, you can do it Lava Kumar Devacota On Liberalisation Policies CORRUPTION What can business do?

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Policy gaps ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ After eight years we’re going to have a new tourism policy. The Bikas jatra government is working on a draft based on stakeholder’s suggestions but the major concern is that the insurgency has not been taken into account. Participants at a policy interaction this week Foreign aid pulls Nepal’s development rath said the government has neglected the subject entirely. “There has to be proper plans and policies to sell Nepal as a tourism destination s the Beed writes this, their mailing lists. We try the examine what really drives even when there is insurgency,” said tourism expert Deependra development wallahs are same old method of using development: representation or Purush Dhakal. Nanikaji Thapa of the Nepal Rafting Agents A still debating whether to associations and services of accountability. Or both? Association added that the political agitation also impedes tourism, adding, “The bureaucracy must speak to the parties while preparing postpone the National self-proclaimed intellectuals We scarf down the scotch the policy to keep tourists areas free from strikes.” Officials from the Development Forum (NDF) or who are responsible, more or after seminars we are paid to Tourism Ministry realise this will be necessary though nothing has not. By the time you read this less, for the development attend. We buy laptops before been put into black and white. “We must learn from Sri Lanka and column, our big development stagnation in Nepal. we even know what the subject Indonesia because they tackled tourism with a full-fledged Everyone recommends new of the new project is. We use insurgency on their hands,” said one tourism expert. The other likely bone of contention is standardisation of services: while this is the ECONOMIC SENSE faces and thinking in politics, multimedia tools with elan ministry’s aim, organisations like Trekking Agents Association of Artha Beed but no one is eager to do the without understanding the core Nepal (TAAN) and Nepal Association of Travel Agents oppose the same for consultative meetings. idea of the presentation. We idea. “It will lead to negative discrimination and the government will be do will be over and we’ll have Donors continue to listen to are parachute consultants who seen favouring only upper bracket operators,” says TAAN president seen the same old faces giving people who have a proven fly into remote areas of Nepal Deepak Mahat. the same old sermons, track record of failure. A large to engage rural Nepalis in a Laxmi’s union whipping out all the stale section of professionals in and six-day workshop without

promises. Aid agencies have outside Nepali understanding the people. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ To establish itself in the remittances sector, Laxmi Bank entered into sought commitments from a development have been We need to find our own an agreement with Western Union, a global leader in money transfer government that is living from excluded. bearings before we seek and message services. Now all a non-residential Nepali has to do is day to day. Development can have assistance, not the other way deposit money with their nearest Western Union agent and be assigned a Bikas agencies made a good different approaches. The around. The Beed is forced to Money Transfer head start with the forums in successes of countries like agree with the irreverent and Control Number finding ways to work with the China and Singapore may have characteristic remark of (MTCN). The beneficiary in Nepal then visits a Laxmi Bank branch government. This year, while to do with their homegrown Thailand’s pre-eminent civil and, with proper ID and the correct MTCN, receives the money political parties are agitating in development models. Here in societist, Mechai Viravaidya, immediately with no extra charge. The service will initially be available the streets for their agenda, in Banepa, Birganj and Pokhara. Nepal, while foreign assistance who said foreign assistance is donor agencies are fighting to may expedite this process, the like an erection—only good as

More in-coming prove their ability to deliver people have to be in the long as you have it. l ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ the best bikas to Nepal. This driver’s seat. We have to Surprises abound. In April, air arrivals reached a total of 30,402, due belief is what allows them to be Readers can post their views at mainly to the Asian markets, which was almost 45 percent more than so sure of their position in [email protected] last April. European markets also remained positive. Even so, Nepal’s past and future. What potential for growth was affected by the political crisis: one day of strikes in Kathmandu leads to 60 percent tourist reservation hasn’t worked for the past 40 cancellations according to a Nepal Tourism Board survey. years is suddenly supposed to work. Hyundai reaches 2000 The participation at these

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ forums and its consultative When Deep Lama received the keys to his brand new Hyundai on 1 meetings has been a key May, he was in for a pleasant surprise. As the Hyundai’s 2000th customer in Nepal, which meant considerable fanfare at the AVCO issue, although it seems International event at Hotel de l’Annapurna, Lama even got a free that the agencies Yingang motorbike. With just five years in the market, AVCO’s forgot to update Hyundai sales are nothing short of spectacular. The national dealers stock Santro, Accent, Matrix and Santa Fe. NEW PRODUCTS CLICK: The digital future of photography looks very good at Digiplus, the fully computerised digital studio at Bagh Durbar, Sundhara. Now you can have hardcopies, frame and laminate anything image stored in a digital format. Digiplus also does commercial and fashion photography and pre-press services. 10 HISTORY The kings and I Dwarika Das Shrestha’s photographs catch royalty at rare and candid moments hen he died last month at age 73, Dwarika Das Shrestha film abroad to be developed, his studio became popular with everyone left behind a treasure trove of photographs that from tourists, diplomats, locals to royalty. document Nepal’s recent history. Das Photo first opened shop in Khichapokharai and later shifted W Dwarika Das grew up with photography. Born in to Jamal. Dwarika Das then became the first to produce commercial 1932 to Thakur Das Shrestha and Hari Devi Shrestha, postcards of Nepal to sell to tourists and offer the founders of Das Photo Studios in Darjeeling, photography classes. Dwarika’s favourite cameras were Dwarika was educated at St Paul’s School. It was at school the Hasselblad, Linhof, Nikon and Pentax. Although that he became acquainted with then Prince Gyanendra he enjoyed experimenting with slides and colour film, and his brothers Birendra and Dhirendra, who were also for the most part he kept commercial work at the studio at school in Darjeeling. This gave him unprecedented black and white. access to royal events in later years when he moved to The people and culture of Kathmandu fascinated Kathmandu. him. In order to take close-up portraits, he devised an If he wasn’t taking photographs, Dwarika was usually ingenious zoom lens by manipulating a pocket telescope. reading or playing his guitar. Growing up in the 1950s He was passionate about walking: he seldom travelled and 1960s, he loved rock ’n roll and Western classicals. by car in the city and often took trips across the country. He was enthusiastic about mountaineering and was In the late 1970s he tried his hand at film, shooting actively involved with the Himalayan Mountaineering extensive 8mm footage of Chitwan and the Himalaya. Institute in Darjeeling. He was to accompany the Indian Army Dwarika left a rich legacy of images documenting the people and expedition to Everest in the early 60s, but his father didn’t let him go. places of Nepal. For the thousands of photographs that he took during Dwarika apprenticed under his father and then decided to move his lifetime, he never had an exhibition. Nepali Times is pleased to to Nepal in 1964. He came to Kathmandu with his wife and two sons present a few remarkable and rare pictures of the royal family taken by and opened Das Photo Studios. At a time when most people sent their Dwarika. l

Far left, top to bottom: Prince Gyanendra with Pri Princess Prerana and Princess Komal. Prince G

Left, above: Prince Gyanendra’s bartaman cerem Left, below: King Mahendra’s body is flown into T

Centre: King Mahendra’s coronation, 1955.

Right, top: King Mahendra and Queen Ratna wit Nepal, 1961. Right, middle: Prince Gyanendra salutes his fath ceremony, 19 January 1964. Right, below: King Birendra’s coronation 1972.

Far right, top: King Birendra and Queen Aishwar Shruti and Prince Nirajan. Far right, second to bottom: King Birendra pose 7 - 13 MAY 2004 #195 11

ALL PICS: DWARIKA DAS SHRESTHA ncess Komal. Prince Gyanendra, Prince Paras, yanendra. Princess Komal. Prince Paras. ony, 19 January 1964. IA after his demise in Chitwan, 1972.

h Queen Elizabeth II during her state visit to er, King Mahendra, during his bartaman

ya pose with Crown Prince Dipendra, Princess s for official portraits. 12 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 7 - 13 MAY 2004 #195

Back to safety Activist killed

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ‘We are closer to Anand○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Gautam in Dinesh Regmi in Spacetime, 1 May Kantipur, 2 May

capitalist democracy – About – Birsuwa Gurung was SANKHUWASABHA LANDRUK 41 police personnel were given a not just a mother of five. She was than feudal monarchy’ warm farewell by the Maoists regarded as a guardian of her after they were abducted from village, a voice for the voiceless Pashupatinagar. Everyone was and a real activist for Landruk garlanded and paid Rs 500. “We women, a tourist destination won’t force you to quit your jobs above Pokhara. It was her but try not to work with the reputation for benevolence that police force as much as possible,” got her killed: a fleeing female the Maoist militants told them. Maoist came to her for refuge, Then they were handed over to followed closely by army officials from the International personnel. No questions were Committee of the Red Cross asked as they opened fire, killing

(ICRC). the rebel and 45-year-old MIN BAJRACHARYA While the abductees were Gurung. “We pleaded with them doctors, teachers, lawyers, relieved to be freed, they are not to open fire but in vain,” pharmacists and journalists joined worried about facing questions at recalls Harkaman Gurung, her the movement, which has not the police headquarters. “We 70-year-old father. only gained international might get reprimanded for not Many Maoists had stopped at attention but also hugly impacted fighting against the Maoists,” Landruk after their attack on the current political situation. says a policeman who claims it Beni. Security forces had The RPP leaders know that if took the rebels just 15 minutes launched a search operation and the situation gets more intense, to take control of the killed three Maoists earlier on that they will be pushed further from Pashupatinagar police station. April day. It’s been almost a mainstream politics along with The police surrendered after the month since her death, and Surya Bahadur Thapa. It is clear Maoists announced through despair has taken its toll on the in words of RPP’s central member loudspeakers that no harm would whole village. “Why do good Jogmohar Shrestha, “We were befall them if they surrendered people die for nothing?” asks compelled to join in for solidarity. their arms. Chandrakant Tripathi, a local Is it possible to keep quiet now?” MIN BAJRACHARYA Baburam Bhattarai in Kantipur, 2 May “We told them that we are school principal. “We will never Former Panchays like Pasupati not here to fight against you. have anyone like her again.” Samsher JB Rana, Lokendra For the first time in Nepal’s history, the ‘People’s War’ in the Give us your guns and you’ll be Bahadur Chand, Deepak Bohara

villages and the people’s movement in urban areas are taking secure,” confirms Maoist Why RPP? and other key RPP leaders are in

○○○○○○ place at the same time against a common target: a tyrant commander Sangram. The ○○○○○○○○○○ the street in a desperate attempt monarchy. But there is an irony in these developments. Maoists were armed with LMGs, Deshantar, 2 May to prove they are different from National and international reactionary forces understand only AK47s and SLRs. After they their party-led government and too well the consequences of us uniting, and they are out to were abducted, the police were For the first time in 14 years, prime minister. foil any chance of that happening. made to walk for eight days to former Rastriya Prajatantra Party But to the people, what seems Ironically, the democratic forces split into different streams reach Taplejung. There was a (RPP) activists joined the ‘anti- apparent is that all the RPP wants and have yet to grasp the importance of the unity. They cannot heavy blanket of security in regression’ demonstrators. Former is to replace the present seem to overcome the conspiracy of reactionaries and create Sablakhu Bhanjyang and the Panchayat leaders marching in the government and the prime a volcanic united movement. streets to protest their own In this regard, there are some illusions among the Maoists were forced to take a minister and ministers with parliamentary forces, the urbanites they inspire and in the difficult mountainous route government is no small surprise. people of their own choosing. media that need to be cleared. The first illusion is that the where it snowed. Policeman Ash Since last Thursday, the RPP has Unlike other parties, the RPP is people’s movement is against the limited capitalist Narayan Chaudhary was so tired publicly opposed this not there to protest against the democracy we had, which was duly hijacked by the October that he asked the Maoists to government. As a major political king. They took the initiative Fourth move. shoot him instead of making him party, the RPP was the last to join after they sensed that Thapa’s That is why some people, knowingly or not, believe the march anymore. “Instead, the the current agitation. There are days in the government are almost royal regression resulted from the people’s war and that both commander Basant, felt pity and now clear indications on what over. This is why the RPP has not the king and the Maoists are equal enemies of democracy. helped me walk,” says motivated them: smaller parties announced any specific protest Many reports and opinion pieces in newspapers are carried Chaudhary. and even professional groups like campaigns. away by this erroneous argument. The Maoist people’s war was initiated to shape the limited capitalist democracy achieved through the 1990 Movement. The idea is to have a higher democracy and to ultimately reach a stateless society free of exploitation. Certainly, when we took up the gun in 1996, it was the parliamentary parties that were the government, which is probably what gave rise to the impression that we were out to strangle the limited capitalist democracy. But since 1990 and through the different phases of the Nepal Communist Party (Unity Centre), the United People’s Front and our present organisation, we always maintained the same position. We said the incomplete and handicapped democracy we got in 1990 could be hijacked anytime by the feudal and dictatorial monarchy aided by the royal army. And, even if that did not happen, the majority of people who have been suffering age-old class, caste, regional, and gender exploitation would not be able to utilise the real democracy from within the handicapped constitution. The last 14 years shows our analysis was scientific and based on reality. What an irony that our parliamentary friends have not understood how international power centres join hands with tyrant monarchies in the Gulf and the military dictators in places like Pakistan and Haiti. To put the record straight, in a The Press society like ours that is transforming itself from feudalism to Arrested, abducted, beaten, killed, threatened, capitalism, communist revolutionaries are closer to capitalist democracy than feudal monarchy. That is our stand. Spacetime , 2 May The only reservation we expressed is that the political parties did not adopt a real capitalist democratic character QUOTE OF THE WEEK because of the backward semi-feudal and semi-colonial “If this government is unable to hold a dialogue with the peacefully demonstrating party social management. This is why they have been unable to leaders, how can it possibly have peace talks with the Maoists?” struggle against the feudal monarchy. We urge them that both of our democratic forces must fight against feudal monarchy and establish a people’s republic. Human rights activist Padma Ratna Tuladhar in Prakash, 3 May

SELECTED MATERIAL TRANSLATED EVERY WEEK FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 15 USINTERNATIONAL game over? 7 - 13 MAY 2004 #195 From Fallujah to photos, it has been one fiasco after another

JIM LOBE

udging from the outrage expressed in from military intelligence asked military the US so far, the broadcast and police (MPs) guards to “set physical and Jpublication of the photos of physical mental conditions for the favourable and sexual abuse of prisoners by their guards interrogation of witnesses”. Those directives in Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad are resulted in the performance of what Taguba having a demoralising effect, but the impact found were “numerous incidents of sadistic, on the broader US ‘war on terror’ may be blatant and wanton criminal abuses” felt more acutely abroad. committed against detainees, including Juan Cole, an Iraq expert at the University “punching, slapping and kicking detainees; of Michigan mused, “I really wonder videotaping and photographing naked male whether, with the emergence of these photos, and female detainees; forcibly arranging the game isn’t over for the Americans in Iraq. detainees in various sexually explicit Is it realistic, after the bloody siege of Fallujah positions for photographing; forcing and the Shiite uprising of early April, and in detainees to remove their clothing and the wake of these revelations, to think that keeping them naked for several days at a time; the US can still win the hearts and minds of forcing naked male detainees to wear the Iraqi Arab public?” women’s underwear; (and) forcing groups A 53-page report by Army Major Gen of male detainees to masturbate themselves Antonio Taguba called for disciplinary action while being photographed and videotaped”. against 10 members of the army, including Those abuses were documented by direct a brigadier general, a colonel and two civilian evidence, including photographs, while contractors hired by the military to help Taguba also found “credible” evidence of conduct interrogations, and possible threatening male detainees with rape, other prisoners both in Iraq and elsewhere. thus of little or no intelligence value. criminal prosecutions against at least six sodomy and threatening detainees with a In that connection, his report noted that a The notion that humiliating practices people. According to Armed Forces Chief of pistol, among other abuses. The report also team from the US detention facility in against prisoners might be practiced beyond Staff, Gen Richard Myers, the abuses were noted the existence of “ghost detainees”— Guantanamo Bay visited Iraq eight months Abu Ghraib was endorsed by Amnesty isolated and committed by “just a handful” prisoners who were shifted from unit to unit ago to see how better intelligence could be International (AI). “Our extensive research in of soldiers, and should not be seen as within Abu Ghraib prison so as to be hidden acquired from detainees held there. The Iraq suggests that this is not an isolated representative of the military’s overall during visits by representatives of the team, which was headed by the incident,” the group said in a statement, noting performance. International Committee of the Red Cross Guantanamo commander, recommended “frequent reports of torture or other ill- But Taguba’s report described the (ICRC). that MP guards act as “an enabler for treatment by coalition forces during the past abuses as “systemic and illegal” and While Taguba’s report did not directly interrogation”. More than 60 percent of the year”. Human Rights Watch (HRW) also suggested that the problem might be far- address abuses committed by prison detainees at Abu Ghraib, according to suggested the behaviour of the US soldiers in reaching. Taguba found that, in apparent authorities outside Iraq, he suggested that Taguba, were innocent civilians who had the photos “suggests they felt they had nothing violation of army regulations, interrogators similar practices might have been used against simply been caught up in sweeps and were to hide from their superiors”. (IPS) l 16 HISTORY AND CULTURE 7 - 13 MAY 2004 #195 Development amidst war “Wars are devastating wherever they occur.” – UNDP Human Development Report, 1997

or Nepal, mired in poverty and ravaged by conflict, the F ramifications of the nine-year Maoist insurgency is severe for the economy and development and leading Nepali economist, Bishwambar Pyakuryal,explores the link between conflict and the economy in his new book, Nepal’s Conflict Economy: Costs, Consequences and Alternatives. Pyakuryal’s objective is to develop a methodology for calculating the economic cost from the Maoist insurgency, review the impact of the conflict on the economy, establish links between underdevelopment BOOK and conflict, and make policy Shyamal K Shrestha recommendations for public policy in the current scenario. In its approach paper to the Tenth Plan, the government has stated that Nepal’s negative growth rate of 0.6 percent during the last fiscal year 2001/02 of the Ninth Plan could be primarily attributed to escalation of the conflict. Another non-government study has estimated an average loss of 1.25 percent of GDP since 1997. Trends like declining production, falling exports, shift from tradable commodities to non-tradable “Glory or death” commodities and increased aid dependency indicate economic stagnation. Rural-to-urban migration is pressurising civic infrastructure Lal Singh Gurung’s company of British and leaving whole villages Gurkhas fought the Germans in the famous without able-bodied labour. battle of Cassino in Italy during World War Both farms and firms are operating below capacity II. Orders to ‘advance to contact’ are met, levels and cost overruns have lives are lost, brave men die but victory become a normal feature of business. By identifying belongs to the Allies. Gurung is in Italy Nepal’s poor performance in when the armistice is signed in 1945. The meeting human development fighting ends on the Western front but he goals as the primary cause of the insurgency, Pyakuryal is sent back to battle in Burma. His story ignores other issues like appears with that of several other Gurkha unequal production relations soldiers in Himal Books’ Lahure ka Katha. and the perpetuation of a growth process that has It has been translated by Dev Bahadur been neither rapid nor Thapa for Nepali Times. equitable until today. Given the conflict has put a strain on scarce had been promoted to sergeant ordered to march on. spread that the British had a large resources, how can growth be fostered? Unless a resolution to the major when we fought at At last, we fought at the village number of troops who could kill conflict is found, the economy will continue to reel under the ‘shock’. In I Cassino. We planned to launch of Cassino and lost about 150 35 men in a single encounter. This the immediate future, Pyakuryal proposes that the state forge partnerships with non-state actors (both the ‘revolutionaries’ and the the attack at the end of May. To men. The Germans fled, so we rumour prompted the Germans to private sector). It is unlikely that the Maoists will suddenly have a do this, we had to cross a river. We don’t know how many they lost, retreat from the last defence at change of heart. started late in the evening, and a but I’m sure we took a heavy toll Gothelini, and soon afterwards the Donors threaten to cut aid if the situation worsens. An expansionist small boat had to ferry all of us on the retreating enemy. They armistice was signed on 6 June fiscal policy is proposed so that investment, employment and, ultimately, across. It took close to an hour to tried to hold us off at Mutuleni, 1945. At the time we were growth are stimulated. It is doubtful that such a policy will suffice. get the last man to the shallow but failed. Their strategy was to stationed at Mutuleni. I received a State-owned banks are faced with mounting debts and non-performing waters of the other shore. We had obstruct our advancement while military medal for my services and assets, insurgents frequently rob public banks and everyone is subject to stay half submerged until about they got to Gothelini where they Thaman Gurung was awarded a to extortion. The contributors echo the need to intervene meaningfully rather one o’clock that night. had a solid defence, but they Victoria Cross. than be complacent with macroeconomic stability. Once peace is Incidentally, this was the last time could not contain us and we We seldom talked about home restored, the economy will rebound. Large-scale reconstruction and the Germans launched an ‘advanced to contact’. in the thick of war. I have no idea development strategies to address the roots of the conflict must be offensive. They had exhausted all I was in platoon number eight how the men thought in other tackled. Therein lies Nepal’s future prosperity. their artillery and we were in a of company one of the first 5th regiments, but we would say, position to retaliate. But they had Gurkha Rifles. We positioned “Either a cluster of medals will Nepal’s Conflict Economy: Costs, Consequences and Alternatives Bishwamber Pyakuryal the advantage of higher ground. ourselves at a hill called Sainbotle. bedeck this chest or flies will swarm Nepal Economic Association, Kathmandu. 2004. Smoke enveloped us and visibility Lt Harvey, who had been posted over my face.” For us it was either was down to a few yards. There we here from Burma, requested two glory or death. Every recruit thinks Shyamal Krishna Shrestha is a Research Associate at Institute for Integrated were—waist deep in cold water, assistants and permission to of only two things: how to get Development Studies (IIDS), Kathmandu. the top half coated in dust. Later, advance. I told him we had to promoted and how to win honours someone wrote a Nepali song retreat to trenches, and that he without dying. BIGBEN describing those hours: “While would probably be killed if he According to the agreement attacking Cassino, we could see advanced alone. He ignored my between British India and the Rana nothing because of the dust and advice, so I gave in and sent two government in Nepal only 45,000 we were forsaken by our servicemen, Bam Bahadur and Nepalis were enlisted in the British companions.” Thaman Gurung with him. They force. Many servicemen laid down By noon the next day, the snuck up on a group of resting their lives in Burma and Italy. I German bombardment had German soldiers, and Thaman can’t even imagine the number of lessened and visibility was better. I opened fire saying, “It is our prime those who died. The war in Italy remember reciting verses of the duty to kill the enemies.” He fired ended. After Italy, we were posted Durga Kawach because we 28 rounds and killed 35 Germans back in Burma but were allotted 84 believed it protected us. I heard a before he was shot down. Bam days of leave. During that time, we few soldiers saying I must be dead, Bahadur and Harvey came back heard the Americans had dropped as a bomb had exploded near my alive, and started helping the rest an atom bomb on Hiroshima and bunker. The jamadar ordered them of us dig trenches. that the Japanese had surrendered. Nepal: Sailing in Pokhara to remove the debris, when I spoke This incident caused turmoil We danced with jubilation because out, “I am not dead yet.”We were among the Germans as word we were spared fighting in Burma. 17 SPORTSEarly start 7 - 13 MAY 2004 #195

The benefits of introducing golf to youngsters

e start educating our children young because their W minds are receptive. The same applies to helping them explore the skills and mental strength involved in excelling at sports. In a previous column, I said excelling in a team sport is difficult—one is only as good as the rest of the team. This is why golf is an ideal choice of individual sport. Anyone can work towards competing, even on a global TEE BREAK level. Deepak Acharya I was fortunate enough to have learned golf early. This had nothing to do with belonging to a the economic bracket that golfers are stereotyped into: my family was not weaIthy, but but it just so happened that my father was a golfer who worked for a golf club. When I started, there a few other young players. Today it amazes me that almost all of them have either become professional golfers or won golf scholarships to US colleges. Making a career out of a sport is not easy. Along with talent, you need inner drive and hard work. Certainly, every one who takes up a sport is not going to become a professional, but in striving to be better, or even the best, you gather good working skills and benefit from the learning experience. Golf is a sport where you play and compete with all age groups because of the handicapping system. This gives you an opportunity to mix with a much larger variety of people and professionals, broaden your knowledge and expand your horizons. If along the way you happen to hone your skills, you can join lucrative golf tours where prize money is quite substantial. The role of the young in ensuring the future of anything is important. Golf is no different. The future generation follows the footsteps of existing good players, and as always happens, will end up even better.

Golf is one of the fastest growing sports in the world today, and in other countries, new golfers are mostly young people. Sadly, this isn’t reflected here in Nepal. One reason could be the lack of adequate knowledge about the sport, or the feeling that it is an old, rich man’s game. The best way to get our youngsters started is through existing golfers. The present generation must persuade their children to try golf. Then, in turn, these youngsters encourage others to play, which would then bring in educational institutions too. We would be well on our way to producing golf champions. Parents, give it more than just a passing thought. Kathmandu, Pokhara, Dharan, and Nawalparasi all have easily accessible facilities. Give your young ones the chance to try their hand at the sport. The ones who take to it will always thank you for the introduction. The ones who are not interested will lose nothing. l

Deepak Acharya is a golf instructor and Head Golf Professional at Gokarna Forest Golf Resort & Spa, Kathmandu. [email protected] 18 CITY 7 - 13 MAY 2004 #195

ABOUT TOWN BOOKWORM

FESTIVAL AND EXHIBITIONS Nepal Human Rights Yearbook 2004 Krishna Gautam (ed) v Healing Elements Acrylic paintings by Chungpo Tsering and Reiki INSEC, 2004 carpets by Rupert Smith from 1 May at Indigo Gallery, Naxal. Rs 500 v Diary of Portraits and jewellery by Carolyn Boch This is the Informal Sector Service Centre’s (INSEC) 12th annual report on the till 15 May at Gallery Moksh, Club Hardic, Pulchowk. 5528703 human rights situation in Nepal. The yearbook for 2004 is not only a compilation v Expressions Paintings by Reeta Manandhar till of INSEC’s research, but also includes assessments made by other stakeholders. 16 May at Park Gallery, Lazimpat. 4419353 Reports were compiled by a wide network of INSEC representatives who worked v Traces of Buddha Photographs by Godam Choi till under extremely perilous security conditions. 17 May at Buddha Gallery, Thamel. 4441689 Courtesy: Mandala Book Point, Kantipath, 4227711, [email protected] EVENTS v Re-incarnation CD launch and performance by Max Lolo. Tickets Rs CLASSIFIED 300. 6.30 PM on 8 May at Moksh, Club Hardic, Pulchowk. 5528703 Popular choreographer Farah Khan turns JAI NEPAL CINEMA v Earthquake Crisis Management in Kathmandu Valley Research director with her ambitious debut project Main findings by KUSOM EMBA 2004 Batch - Group 2. 11AM on 9 May, Hoon Na starring Shah Rukh Khan, Suniel Visit Femilines, the Exclusive KUSOM Building, Manbhavan. Shetty, Sushmita Sen, Zayed Khan and Lingerie Store for ladies v The Fire Raisers by Studio 7 at Hotel Vajra. 7.15 PM from 7- 9 May. Amrita Rao. Anu Malik composes music in undergarments, nightwear, bathrobes v Macbeth by Rato Bangala School, 7-9 May at the Russian Cultural the RD Burman mode and Javed Akhtar pens and more. Ladies staff. Opposite Centre. 5522614 Sajha Yatayat, Harihar Bhawan, v the lyrics. Farah follows the current Bollywood Rock N’ Bark CD for AnimalNEPAL.org launch on 14 May. Tickets Rs trend of an Indo-Pak theme repackaged as a Pulchowk. Tel: 547428 150 / Rs 350 with CD. Moksh, Club Hardic, Pulchok. mission film. Throw in humour, romance, v Learn Reiki – I from Elif, 11-12 May at the Himalayan Buddhist Main Hoon Na action and plenty of song and dance and LIVE IN STYLE! Arcadia Apartments Meditation Centre, Thamel. 4249270 in the heart of Thamel. Centrally Main Hoon Na makes for a masala mix worth 12PM, 3.15 PM, 6.45 PM v Sur Sudha with Anil Shahi Concert in aid of girl child scholarship located, fully furnished apartments the ticket price. Call 4442220 for show timings. fund. 5.30 PM onwards, 8 May at Radisson Hotel, Lazimpat. Ticket www.jainepal.com at unbelievable rates. For details: Rs 1,199 (dinner and drink) 981026903, 4260187

MUSIC Renting made easy: v Deo at Not Just The Jazz Bar. Fridays, Hotel Shangri-la, Lazimpat. www.2letonline.com- Looking for a v JCS Trio at Fusion every Friday, Dwarika’s Hotel. 4479488 place to stay- Log on to find the perfect house, apartment or even a FOOD retail space that meets all your v Summit’s Barbecue Dinner with vegetarian specials. Summit Hotel needs. Make an easy 1000 bucks by v Friday Nights at Subterrania Club Kilroy. 8PM onwards. 4412821 reporting a vacant property to us. v Vegetarian Creations at Stupa View Restaurant. 4480262 Find out how- www.21etonline.com v Organic Market Saturdays, 10AM to 2PM at Baber Mahal Revisited. v Sunny Side Up Weekend BBQ at Soaltee Crowne Plaza Kathmandu. Free advertisement on Internet for v The Beer Garden at Vaijayantha, Godavari Village Resort. 5560675 property owners wanting to offer their holdings on rent or sale. Visit www.gharjaggah.com or call 4246346.

House on Rent: Modern house with semifurnished bedrooms, living, dining, kitchen with sufficient drinking water supply. Area 1.25 ropani land surrounded by green trees, separate servant quarter, garage, store. Suitable for foreigners (Embassy staff, UN Agencies, INGO). Just vacated by UN Doctor. Lohsal, Ring Road (out), Maharajgunj, Contact Mr. Thapa: 4373307 /4374218. Email: [email protected] NEPALI WEATHER by MAUSAM BEED KATHMANDU AIR QUALITY VIS -06-05-2004 05:00 GMT After a month of almost daily showers of rain and For insertions ring NT occasional hailstorms, the current trend favours Surprisingly, the air quality continued to improve in Marketing at 5543333-36. sunny and warm. The satellite image from Thursday most places in the Valley with the most noticeable drop morning shows a calm over the Himalaya and the in PM10 (particles small enough to enter the human Gangetic plain as the southwesterly monsoon is sweeping through the west coast of India. Its body) particles being in Putalisadak, from a weekly tentacles reaches all the way to the Bay of Bengal average of 246 to 204. Patients at Patan Hospital should where it will gain more moisture before heading 91.2 take a deep breath of relatively clean air while they northward. It should reach eastern Nepal in a What you burn is can. There, PM10 particles dropped by about 20 per what you breathe. month. Meteorologists generally believe the hotter cubic metre. Be warned though – pollution levels in the pre-monsoon months, the stronger the most parts of the Valley still fall within the ‘unhealthy’ monsoon. In a week of rain-free days, the Good < 60 range. temperature in the Valley went up by about 5 degrees to hit the 30 degree Celcius mark. The Ok 61 to 120 25 April 1 May in micrograms per cubic meter. weekend should be balmy, but don’t leave home Unhealthy 121 to 350 Source: www. mope.gov.np without an umbrella come early next week. Harmful 351 to 425 KATHMANDU VALLEY Hazardous >425 Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Putalisadak Patan H Thamel Kirtipur Bhaktapur Matsyagaun

S S 30-16 29-17 29-16 28-16 29-16 7 - 13 MAY 2004 #195 19 HAPPENINGS Government cracks down on anti- government protests by government

t is when journalists themselves start making it to the Bhutan Takes Back Two More Crocodiles headlines that our esteemed readers should know BY OUR ZOOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENT I – The royal government of Bhutan took that we have run out of things to write about. Our KATHMANDU valued clients are therefore advised to sit back, relax, back two more Nepali-speaking crocodiles and Druk keep their seat belts loosely fastened and refrain from sources said it indicated an accelerated repatriation smoking in the toilet. As a matter of fact, it is getting process agreed upon during the last Joint Ministerial difficult for clowns like yours truly to write satire in a Meeting. “It is a giant leap forward, and we are glad that country when the talks on harmonisation have gone well making this MIN BAJRACHARYA there is such stiff repatriation of bonafide crocs possible,” said a Foreign UNDER MY HAT PRESS-URE: Police turn on local photojournalists and a TV cameraman competition from Ministry spokesman, adding that at the present rate of who were trying to capture the student riots on Lekh Nath Margh, near Kunda Dixit the daily papers. repatriation of two gharials a year, it would take another Amrit Science Campus on Wednesday . Things have 220,000 years for all genuine crocodiles to go back. As a never looked so gloomy for those of us in the media part of this exchange of endangered species between the entertainment business, and at the rate our legitimate royal governments in Thimpu and Kathmandu, Bhutan role in society is being usurped by upstart hacks, those of will be handing over to Nepal another hundred or so us who make a living from poking fun at all and sundry Lhotsampas. are in serious danger of extinction. Before you all break into a round of enthusiastic applause, let me present Government Announces Anti-Government below some recent actual headlines, which should give Protests you an idea of what we are up against: BY A POLITICAL NEOPHYTE KATHMANDU – Riot police this week rounded up several ‘Water-induced Calamities Control members of the government who were caught shouting Subdivision office bombed’ anti-government slogans at Ratna Park. Senior political ‘Vegetable Cooperative Bears Fruit in leaders of the ruling RPP got off their Pajeros on Bag Kavre’ Bazar, pelted it with bricks and set ‘Chinks in the Peace Process’ the vehicles on fire in front an angry mob of government MIN BAJRACHARYA ‘Scribes Opine Cops Raining Batons on officials. Several senior members of the government who SPEAKING UP: To commemorate World Press Freedom Day on Their Headlines’ were manhandled by policewomen wielding rattan canes, Monday, UN representative Matthew Khane gives a speech at the ‘Democracy Is Unfinished Business: and were physically lifted on to trucks seemed to enjoy Department of Information in Sinamangal. Khum Bahadur Khadka’ the manhandling and were heard asking for more. A ‘Headless Body Found in Topless Bar’ senior security official told this scribe before raining batons on his head: “We were just following orders. They Faced with such sophisticated and superior wit, this told us to manhandle them, so we did.” Similar scuffles scribe willingly admits defeat. Keeping up is just too were also witnessed outside other government buildings much work. Therefore here is this week’s news in detail, as ministers and government officials shouting anti- shamelessly plagiarised from this morning’s daily papers: government slogans gheroed their own offices.

MIN BAJRACHARYA PATIENCE: Youth line up on Friday in front of the Egyptian Embassy in Pulchowk where they each paid Rs 1,800 to apply for work visas.

MIN BAJRACHARYA LOOK SHARP: Security forces bathe their eyes in water after being affected by the tear gas they used on agitators, when the wind blew it back in their direction at New Road on Sunday.

MIN BAJRACHARYA BOOKISH BIKERS: Paul A Rayner (r) of Credit Suisse hands a cheque for $19,000 to David McQuillen (centre) and Nicolas Bertjche (l) who cycled from Lhasa to Kathmandu to raise the amount for the Room to Read organisation on Wednesday. 2 0 7 - 13 MAY 2004 #195 www.nepalitimes.com

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