#441 6 - 12 March 2009 16 pages Rs 30

Weekly Internet Poll # 441 Q. How do you grade the six months of the coalition on development issues? Total votes: 3,181

Weekly Internet Poll # 442. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com Q. How confident are you that the constitution will be written by April 2010?

PICS: KIRAN PANDAY Present arms he tit-for-tat recruitment by Last month, while addressing insider, who said applications FORWARD MARCH: The Nepal the Maoist army this week in the PLA in Chitwan, Dahal told were being sought but the PLA did Army (top) and the Maoist army T response to the Nepal Army them they were no longer a Maoist not necessarily want to follow are bogged down in a dispute over taking in 3,000 new soldiers has army but would take orders from through with actual recruitment. recruitment and integration. escalated tensions between the the Army Integration Special The other reason the PLA two armies, but it has also Committee. This didnít go down recruitment may be a moot point is exposed a serious rift within the well with the fighters, and party because up to 6,000 soldiers from by Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Maoist party. hardliners quickly cashed in on various cantonments have endorsed the Nepal Army Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal the murmurings of discontent. voluntarily retired since UNMINís recruitment on Saturday. The battle Dahalís mediation skills, praised The announcement by PLA verification process, according to moved to the courts after a single even by his adversaries, will be commander Nanda Kishore Pun PLA sources. bench gave severely tested this week as he that the Maoists would begin their Even so, Dahal is playing a opposing tries to bridge the gap between the own recruitment appears to be two-track game. He hopes to also decisions on EDITORIAL two armies he commands, while more of an effort to quell internal use the threat of PLA recruitment the case on Doublethink p2 simultaneously trying to appease dissent rather than challenge the to improve his bargaining strategy Tuesday, his own restless guerrillas. Nepal Army. Pun is regarded as a vis-‡-vis Army Chief Katawal who forcing the issue to a full bench of staunch Dahal loyalist. has stubbornly refused to bow the Supreme Court. ìThe PLA recruitment is down to Defence Minister Ram The Special Committee is a symbolic gesture,î Bahadur Thapaís insistence that meeting again on Friday to resolve admitted one Maoist the armyís own recruitment the issue once and for all, but process be aborted. indications are it will not go away The high-level Political until the two armies learn to trust Coordination Committee, chaired each other more. Dewan Rai 2 EDITORIAL 6 - 12 MARCH 2009 #441

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DOUBLETHINK n the late 1980s, while Army Chief Rukmangat the Pakistan Army been the reason With only a year to go for writing a new constitution, teams of CA working at a college in Katuwal wants to keep the Nepal for Pakistan’s recurrent military members have fanned out across the country this week to collect I Kathmandu, I had gone to Army politics-free and rule? Has the Sinhalese folk wisdom. the then-Royal Nepal Army’s professional during this domination of the Sri Lankan In many places, this is the first time that elected Bhadrakali recruitment centre confusing transition, and this Army been the cause of Sri representatives have gone back to their constituencies for a year. with an applicant from my deserves support. But eyebrows Lanka’s long civil war? A The questions from voters are more about jobs, inflation, health and education than about demarcating the boundaries of Nepal’s village in the eastern Tarai. were raised when he told the budding democracy like ours proposed federal units. They are flummoxed by the questionnaires. This young man’s dream was National Interest Preservation must ponder these questions. There was always a mismatch in this country between the to be an officer in the army. A Committee recently that army There was a time when only obsession with politics of Kathmandu’s rulers, and the people’s major had endorsed his recruitment was like Ranas could be high ranking overwhelming desire for development. That gap, instead of application, a requirement for mountaineering expeditions officers. In the Panchayat period, narrowing after the most inclusive election in our nation’s history hiring only Sherpas. the scope was widened to include last April, has actually widened. The rulers look for power and This was an unfortunate Thakuris. Then on, a mix of hill GUEST COLUMN how to retain it, and haven’t made the correlation that the best statement and showed that many ethnicities were inducted into the way to stay in power is to deliver on promises made to improve Pramod Mishra in the Nepal Army still harbour officer corps. And even the people’s lives. the colonial myth of genetically- Bahuns, whom the British The Maoists beat everyone else by proposing a federal recruitment. I had heard that determined bravery, that courage expressly barred from its Gurkha structure, and this week they scored again by leaking a draft constitution. Even if it is not accepted in totality, the draft will now Madhesis were not taken, but I is intrinsic to specific ethnic regiments, went into combat roles. set the agenda for future discussions. By putting the prototype didn’t quite believe that. groups. The army needs to But there have been few visible constitution up on his website, Baburam Bhattarai could be I walked into the office and seriously rethink its history and efforts to open its doors for Tarai pre-empting an even more radical formulation from warriors in placed the application before an role if such myths are still held people in its officer corps despite the camps. amiable young officer in charge of as given. The composition of changes in the political system But even this ‘soft’ draft gives an handling armies in multicultural since 1990. ominous whiff of totalitarianism with recruitment. He democracies shows that bravery Change, however, doesn’t its provision to ban all groups with looked at me, is not genetic but depends on mean that anything goes in the ‘feudal’ and ‘imperialist’ tendencies. looked down at the creation of historical name of inclusivity. However, This is newspeak for ensuring that the application circumstances and needs. what defines capability in a only the group that reserves the and said: “Where In the United States, the colonial or authoritarian political right to declare others ‘feudal’ will prevail. The Maoist draft envisions is he from?” I Blacks were not considered battle culture may not work in a an Orwellian world where ignorance told him. He worthy until they took part by pluralist democracy. It may not is strength and thoughtcrimes are smiled and said necessity and demonstrated their produce the kind of bravery and punished by Big Brother. that although he courage while fighting for their courage needed to defend a Just about every clause of the would give the liberation during the Civil War. heterogeneous state and its draft statute prepared by the documents to It took two World Wars, Vietnam complex sovereignty. A coordinator of the Maoist his boss, as far as and Korea to make the US multicultural army that represents Constitution Suggestion Collection he knew nobody military inclusive and change all groups and classes is the best Committee is objectinable. Ok, its from the Tarai the idea of bravery associated safeguard for democracy. stated objective is to spark debate, had ever been with ethnicity. The Nepal Army has so far but the timing is suspicious. It has given The Mahars and Bengalis in shown professionalism during the come out just as the CA members have gone forth to collect inputs commission in India were thought to be ‘not transition from monarchy to from the people. the army. man enough’ and ‘unwarlike’ by republicanism. It has had to Those familiar with the working I still don’t the British in comparison to the overcome naysayers to respond to style of Maoist organisations know know if it was mythical valour of the Marathas, the changing times as it adapts to what to expect when opinions are written policy the Sikhs and the Rajputs. But help in the birth of a new, solicited by young toughs with red not to recruit there are Bihari, Mahar and inclusive Nepal and a new, bandanas who ask for a unanimous Tarai people in Bengali regiments in the Indian vibrant army that reflects the show of hands. the officer rank or an unstated but Army. Nehru and Ambedkar nation it defends. It needs to In one revealing passage in Orwell’s 1984, a member of the understood code to disallow made sure that the Indian Army continue its flexibility and Thought Police explains to Winston Smith how the system Madhesis. The army is still represented all castes and dynamic history while functions: “The motivation of the Inner Party is not to achieve a struggling to march with the ethnicities to make it truly maintaining its core values to future paradise but to retain power, which is an end in itself.” cultural and political inclusive of Indian diversity. meet the needs of a diverse heterogeneity of a ‘new’ Nepal. Has the Punjabi domination of democracy.

LLL ETTERS

TARAI is going ‘local’ than ‘organic’. Eating local with bio-medical tests on lab animals like So much time has passed and yet This is in response to the recent foods means access to rhesus monkeys. The there’s no respite in the problem faced declaration of 8,000 martyrs by the Maoists: fresher foods, burning less animals are not from the by the people of the Tarai. Instead of the government acting in irrational ways fuel and supporting the wild, but bred in captivity things becoming better, lawlessness and just to garner populist support is not new to local farmers, not to as lab animals. It is hard anarchy is increasing. Prashant Jha’s Nepal. We have 601 CA members, 8,000 mention that it is also to see how anyone who piece (‘The centre can’t hold,’ #440) is additional martyrs and 330 million gods. possible to convince your values human life could the vivid portrayal of what is actually May they help us. local farmer to begin have anything against this. happening out there. The Tarai has lost Praswas Shakya, USA organic farming. I am not Animal rights activists are its guardian and the state has turned against the organic showing fascist deaf and blind towards its problem. The ANGRY GODS movement, and congratulate tendencies. so-called Tarai leaders have forgotten Kishor Rimal’s ‘The gods are angry’ (#440) Hans and Cynthia for their Govind Gurung, email their duty towards their region. In the is a poignant piece illustrating the realness admirable endeavour, but it name of rights of the people, the plains of climate change. It is ironical it is that is important to draw the link Congratulations to are becoming fertile ground for criminal Himali people who are the least responsible between flying fruits and groups like Roots and activities whose mere intention is to for climate change are the ones suffering veggies around and the Shoots for spearheading amass as much wealth as possible. The the consequences. And then you turn the world and receding glaciers in the the campaign to stop the export of saddest part of all this is that the page and begin reading ‘Organic growth’ Rolwaling. Nepal’s rhesus macaques to the US for government is nowhere to be seen in the and you cannot help but wonder at the Priya Joshi, email testing bio-terrorism agents. It is not just Tarai. Is this a deliberate attempt by the carbon footprint of those organic veggies cruelty against animals that is at issue state to let criminals flourish? For those being shipped all the way to Singapore. MONKEY BUSINESS here, it is also a travesty for a country in Kathmandu who think that they can There is an inescapable relation between There goes Nepali Times with another that reveres monkeys as incarnations of continue to live comfortable lives while the melting glaciers and the organic politically correct polemic about banning Hanuman to export them for money. the Tarai burns, they seem to forget that movement, where vegetables and fruits get the export of rhesus monkeys (‘Monkey Lina Sorensen, email Tarai politics is closely linked with shipped across oceans and continents to business’, #440). Vaccines that have saved Nepali economy. People are feeling the ‘health food’ section but their high price the lives of millions of children around the So, Nepalis are so jealous about insecure in their own land, how long can does not account for the cost to the world today would not have been possible monkeys getting to emigrate to the US that be tolerated? environment of burning fossil fuel during without lab testing on animals. The that they want to stop them. That figures. Akesh Jaiswal, Gujarat transport. This is why the latest movement research into HIV vaccines is only possible KJ, email OP-ED 6 - 12 MARCH 2009 #441 3 Maiming the messenger This Women’s Day, let’s salute Nepal’s brave women journalists

even more belligerent bullies. like soldiery, is more suited to And to distract attention the warlike male temperament from the attacks on media and still finds currency. But Nepali the country’s pressing women journalists have shown development needs, Nepal’s that when it comes to grit, two armies are engaging in determination and integrity dangerous political they are as professional as their royal-military rule? Nirmala brinkmanship. In a clear bid male colleagues. Acharya of RSS, who has made to sabotage the compromise In addition to common the rights of stringers her cause. reached between coalition concerns of the profession Usha Titikshu, the partners not to intervene in (personal safety, work photojournalist who goes boldly the recruitment of Nepal conditions and job security) forth where no man has gone Army, guerrilla commanders women journalists have to before. Yashoda Timilsina has to have declared that they too are struggle against at least three overcome YCDL threats in her enlisting fighters. To do what? other factors: balance family reporting while simultaneously And who will foot the bill? with a profession in which bringing the cause of women Prime Minister Dahal deadlines are sacrosanct and journalists to the notice of the needs to aim his rhetorical working hours unpredictable; Federation of Nepalese prowess towards his own in the newsroom they have to Journalists. Our own Shailee cadres rather than the press. overcome strong gender bias Basnet climbed Chomolungma He is still blaming the and perform better to prove and pushes the envelope in her messenger and this week let their worth; but the most journalism. And, in these pages, off another tirade against the dispiriting is feedback that Mallika Aryal tries to make sense influence of “big media degrades their contribution. No of interesting times with flair, outlets” and “large wonder only the determined sensitivity and fairness. circulation” newspapers. He women survive in journalism This Women’s Day, let’s needs to be careful: airing his long enough to make a mark. salute Nepal’s women n a posthumously published the fact that more journalists insecurities in public makes Who can forget Durga Karki journalists who have struggled editorial, Lasantha have been killed since the him appear weak. It may of Sagarmatha FM facing rifle- against great odds to do the I Wickrematunga, the slain ceasefire than during the war. unleash storm troopers of his wielding soldiers during the profession proud. editor of Sri Lanka’s Sunday Women journalists, especially YCDL by beginning to attack Leader newspaper rued that of all in the Tarai, are under pressure ‘class enemies’ in the media professions in his country, to quit the profession. Rishi again. soldiers and journalists were the Dhamala’s conspiratorial That said, big media does imprisonment and the need to do its own STATE OF THE STATE nationwide sense of fear and introspection, especially self-censorship today show that about the exclusive nature of C K Lal life and liberty of journalists their workforce. Journalists are seriously threatened. need to examine their role in only two who had to be prepared After the Maoist were the current constitution to die in the line of duty. elected to power, we all thought debate and whether they are You could say the same about that the ex-rebels no longer confusing citizens even more Nepal. Radio journalist Uma needed to resort to violence and by focussing just on the Singh’s brutal murder in intimidation. Instead, in quarrel-of-the-day. Janakpur in January underlined government, they have become The belief that journalism, 4 NATION 6 - 12 MARCH 2009 #441 Election mode down south As India gears up for polls, it’s our turn to wait and watch

NEW DELHI—India is officially in election mode. Speculation is rife about the possible results as alliances are re-engineered. As India’s Election Commission prepares for what is the most ambitious democratic exercise in the world, the best and worst of politics is on display. No one quite knows what to expect from the polls. With the rise of regional parties and the absence of a single overarching issue, the final outcome will actually be an aggregation of results in 28 states. The recent delimitation of constituencies, with an increase in urban seats, has added to the uncertainty. But here is the big picture: the Lok Sabha will continue to be fragmented. As the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, the venom spewing Ram Yatri turned KONG YEN LIN moderate. L K Advani said that what will matter most is PLAIN SPEAKING the “alliance index”. Prashant Jha Neither of the big fronts, the Congress led UPA in its present shape or the BJP led NDA or the disparate ‘third front’ consisting of left and a few A costly freedom regional parties, are expected to have the numbers on their own. So, it will boil down to the post poll partnerships when loyalties will swing. The conventional wisdom here is that the UPA has an edge. for kamalaris The recent state assembly defeats have left the BJP demoralised. The government’s deft handling of the Mumbai aftermath with a mix of belligerence and restraint has deprived the BJP of the one issue Tharu children freed from slavery are they could have made their own: national security. Hindutva is not selling anymore. The UPA’s social schemes, particularly the shackled by poverty and illiteracy employment guarantee act, may also swing the rural votes in its favour. KONG YEN LIN in BANKE participation of Tharu programs were sporadic, and most communities in education,” says kamaiyas still live in poverty and f one were to judge the age of activist Budghar Birshingh Tharu, illiteracy, and continue to be Rima Chaudari by her hands, “we should bridge the gap in exploited. Iyou could think she was four education quality between “The drop-out rate of ex- times older. government and private schools.” kamaiyas in schools is high,” says The 13-year-old kamalari was The new Tharu settlement of counselor Shakuntala Chaudhari working in Nepalganj as an Loknagar near Kohalpur on the of Room to Read, “it’s not just indentured domestic slave for six East-West Highway is where freed because of family poverty but also months before being sent to bonded labourers learn to be psychological trauma experienced Surkhet by her landlord to toil in independent. There are schools during bondage that affects a bread factory. She worked 16 and medical facilities catering for children.” hours a day without wages until a 600 households, and income- “Activists say most ex- Tharu child labour monitoring generation activities include kamaiyas are resistant to learning committee rescued her. farming, livestock rearing, new skills and applying them. It The problem for the UPA is that it is not looking good in the four The committee was set up construction and carpentry. is therefore easy for them to fall states that matter the most. DMK is weak in Tamil Nadu (the state four months ago and consists of However, in another Tharu back into low-paying manual has 39 seats). The Congress- Samajwadi Party alliance has not 11 Tharu villagers and has settlement 10km away the labour. shaped up yet in UP (80 seats). And in Bihar (40 seats), even with a Congress-Laloo-Ram Vilas Paswan alliance, Nitish Kumar has support from groups like the situation is much more Says AFHA’s Bishu the momentum for having delivered on development. And Congress Active Forum for Human Rights haphazard, with some families Dhungana: “Traditional mindsets already peaked in Andhra Pradesh (42 seats) last time. Awareness (AFHA). Sixteen living under flimsy wooden are the greatest obstacle to That leaves the polity in the hands of two mercurial ladies: kamalaris from 6-14 years have structures. Income generation is progress.” Mayawati in Uttar Pradesh and Jayalalitha in Tamiul Nadu. Both been rescued so far. The children almost non-existent. Durga Tharu, of the Tharu are closer to the third front at present but the absence of any are sent to school where they pick Ever since the official welfare group, BASE, blames bad ideological character allows them to switch sides whenever they up leadership and employment emancipation of kamaiyas in governance. “ I’ve encountered want. And the third front is not looking too good anyway with the left suffering in both West Bengal and Kerala—it will be lucky if it skills. 2000, 18,400 Tharus were freed, cases of even human rights can keep even 35-40 seats, a massive dip from its 60 plus seats “The new constitution should half of them landless. activists and journalists last time. provide opportunities for equal Government rehabilitation employing child labour as status These permutations throw open all kinds of possibilities. A symbols,” she tells Nepali Times. Manmohan Singh led UPA again but with newer allies; a non- Yet, there are ex-kamaiyas like Manmohan Singh led UPA with left support (left will be averse to CA member Shanta Chaudhari, him after the nuclear deal acrimony); a third front government who have made their mark in backed by Congress (led by a regional satrap like Sharad Pawar or Mayawati); or in case things change in the next few weeks, a society. She was a kamalari since BJP led government. Whatever the outcome, there is a possibility she was eight and was only of an inherently unstable arrangement at the top. liberated three years ago. After What does all this mean for Nepal? Whoever comes to power, being freed of bondage, the 28- including the BJP, the engagement with the Maoists will continue. year-old joined the National BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad told Nepali Times this Land Rights Forum and became a week: “We respect the democratic aspirations of the Nepali people UML activist. but will oppose any attempt to disrupt the social, cultural, ethnic, religious and spiritual ties between the two countries.” Prasad was “Ex-kamaiyas should not be present at Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s meeting with BJP president fatalistic about their outlook,” she Rajnath Singh last September. Dahal also has good relations with says, “there’s no point lamenting Sharad Yadav, who is now the convenor of the NDA. the past, we must build our own But there will be a review of policy, and positions may harden new future.” on Nepal. That has more to do with the domestic situation in Madhuri Singh, a human Kathmandu. The Indians are worried about Maoist consolidation, rights specialist with USAID, says and the China card which many see as having gone beyond just balancing India. the key is to create an enabling “We factor in a bit of balancing anyway. But if it is used to help environment for ex-kamaiyas to the Chinese establish their presence near the border and cut down be reintegrated into society. our role, there will be a reaction. We may also be forced to review “Providing training is one the open border relationship,” a top official told us. thing, while ensuring that they Some others in the policy establishment however are more find proper employment is sanguine and say the Chinese are more worried about western- another,” she says, “if they remain backed Tibet protests, not India. jobless, ex-kamaiyas just slip back into slavery.” BUSINESS 6 - 12 MARCH 2009 #441 5

New papers merge

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ The publishers of two new newspaper groups decided on Wednesday to merge even before they were to begin publication Red and white next month. Binod Gyawali, the publisher of Nagarik and Hari Shrestha, the publisher of Dainikee decided to pool their resources Three ways to change rigidly held perceptions and bring out only Nagarik, the Nepali daily. Gyawali had earlier split off from Kantipur, taking away many of its top journalists. But few months ago, sitting the world appears to the other matters how the world is viewed he split again and had decided to go it alone. Insiders said the down for a conversation person or to the other group by the employees. If the reason was a contracting media market and the need to challenge with four well-mannered influences what is to happen employees’ worldview is that the the combined circulation lead of Kantipur and Annapurna Post. A representatives of the Lalitpur next. And the managers who owners are wealthy and will Nagarik’s English sister paper is Republica and Nagarik’s sister paper is Newsfront. It is not yet clear what will happen to the District Maoist Trade Union do not understand this are headed somehow find the money to pay English publications. ‘whole timers’ it was clear they for a life of frustration, because the bills even when costs continue Yubaraj Ghimire, has been designated ‘Group Editor’ while see the world in black or white, they will always be throwing their to go up and revenues continue to Narayan Wagle will be editor of Nagarik. Republica's editor or maybe red or white. hands up in the air to ask, “Why dwindle, then, it affects how the Prateek Pradhan says, "With a vision for long-term sustainence You were either with them or don’t others understand the employees and development of journalism, we have taken this step." against them, it was either-or. gravity of this x or y problem?” offer to help their own companies The world was divided between Take the chronic national to ride out the bad times.

Hassle-free their friends and enemies. shortage of electricity. The way it There are three ways to change ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

○○○○○○○○○○○○○ seems to our political leaders is how the world is percieved by Travellers taking international flights no longer have to queue at not that it is deeply shameful for others. First, is the acceptance that STRICTLY BUSINESS Tribhuban International Airport to pay airport taxes before boarding. a country that is supposed to be the same problem can be viewed The Civil Aviation Authority has incorporated the tax in the ticket Ashutosh Tiwari wealthy in water resources to be differently by different people, itself. Before the service was introduced on 1 March, travellers had keeping its citizens in darkness and these different views can to pay taxes at the airport through a coupon from Nabil Bank. The friends (the poor, the on most evenings, and that determine the responses to solve or downtrodden, the disadvantaged something must be done urgently not solve the problem. Second,

Health show and the anti-feudal) could do no to solve the problem so that transparency with regard to sharing

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ HIV/AIDS prevention and safe motherhood organisation Nepal wrong, and any amount of tomorrow’s voters will look upon relatively neutral indicators such Contraceptive Retail Sales has partnered with AV News Channel, violence could be justified in the them kindly. as financial which is launching a daily programme that aims to raise awareness name of aiding such friends. The way this problem appears statements can go a long way to about health, particularly highlighting problems in remote areas. When those friends were to our political elite is that, first, help those who need to know somehow wrong, they could it’s an opportunity to what is what. And third, one can

Race in India criticise themselves publicly, and continuously blame those who puncture the certainty of others’

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○ learn from the mistakes. But the were in power yesterday, and, views by throwing logical doubts Morang Auto Works, the sole enemies were to be given no such second, if it gets any worse, supported by veritable facts that authorized dealer of Yamaha recourse. They had to be defanged donors and others will somehow contradict the world view that the motorcycles in Nepal is giving YZF and destroyed. This was a very come to the rescue through some other person holds. R15 owners the chance to take part in R15 Championship in clear worldview, and the Maoists hastily arranged bailouts. How In management Chennai, India on 8 March. Customers may apply through local sitting across the table seemed else is one to explain communication, understanding dealers or contact Yamaha Club, Kathmandu. Participants will be entirely sincere in their belief the lackluster campaign to how others perceive problems is selected through a draw and all expenses will be paid for by MAW. that their view was not only true, promote the usage of energy- the first step toward solving issues but also superior. saving CFL bulbs? that require a wide range of

Top of the game In business, as in life, how In Nepali companies, too, it support.

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Deepak Thapa Magar won the Surya Nepal Eastern Open Golf championship at the Nirvana Country Club in Dharan on Friday, 29 February. Thapa Magar also won the tournament in 2000.

Bike hike

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Syakar Company and Everest Bank have launched a joint finance scheme for Honda Motorcycles customers outside the Valley. Borrowers can get a 10 per cent interest loan and a one per cent rebate if they abide by the company’s repayment conditions. In order to qualify for the scheme, buyers need to have a monthly income that’s at least double the monthly instalment sum.

Employing skill

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ The British Council is to work with the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training on a project that aims to encourage skill development in Nepal. The Skills for Employability project seeks to link education with industry. 6 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 6 - 12 MARCH 2009 #441 Every day a banda

1 February February 16 Banda across Attariya and Lamki-by Mukta Banda in Fikkal Road Section along Mechi Kamaiya (6 days) highway local residents (2 days) Protest in Darchula by locals (1 day) Banda in Gorkha by transport entrepreneurs Jaleshwor banda by the Joint Struggle (1 day) Committee, Jaleshwor (1 day) February 17 2 Februay Janakpur Cigarette Factory banda by staff (1 Bardibas, Mahottari banda by businessmen day) and civil society (9 days) Indefinite banda in Rasuwa by locals (5 days) 4 February Indefinite banda in Rauthat by transport Birganj banda by local businesses (2 days) entrepreneurs (3 days)

5 February February 18 Demonstration from Nijgadh to Bara by local Banda in Kosi Highway by Kosi Victim’s struggle committee (1 day) Struggle Committee (1 day)

7 February February 19 Doti, Dadheldhura banda by temporary Madhes banda by Madheshi Student Union (3 teachers (1 day) days) Eastern Tarai banda by Tharu Kalyankarini Okhaldhunga banda by YCL (4 days) DURGA LAL KC/KANTIPUR Sabha (TKS) ( 2 days) February 20 FORWARD MARCH: CA member Shanta Chaudary, a former Kamlari, carries questionnaires to collect suggestions for the constitution to Banda in Bhanubhakta Higher Seconday School, Siujat, Dang. Chaudary is a CA member representing the landless. Damchaur, Salyan by Maoist Aligned All Nepal National Independent School Union Revolutionary (ANNISUR) Northern interest government Tibet has become an Students (1 day) ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ opportunity to win China’s trust Banda by Kosi Flood Sudhir Sharma in Kantipur, and cosy up to the northern Victim Struggle Committee 29 February neighbour. However, it is unlikely (9 days) that the Maoist government will When China recently sent its become an ally as strong as the February 21 vice-foreign minister Hu Jinggui monarchy was to Beijing in Sunsari banda by to Nepal as a special envoy, the the past. locals (3 days) visit prompted much speculation. Jinggui arrived with

8 February February 22 Shifting ground ○○○○○○○

a proposal for a new peace and ○○○○○○○○○○ Tatopani customs office banda by Chinese Banda in Fikkal by students (1 day) friendship treaty and even Narendra Peter in Naya Patrika, goods enterpreneurs ( 6 days) Mechi zone banda by transport entrepreneurs (1 day) submitted a three-page draft to 1 March 9 February the foreign ministry. Why is Banda of Indrawati IV and Nepal Electricity February 24 China initiating a new Nepali society is in the process of Authority (NEA), Melamchi locals (4 days) Tanahun banda by Youth Force (1 day) relationship at this time? metamorphosing. The media China was always going to would be fooling itself if it tried to 10 February February 25 change the present relationship ignore this and get away without Banda in Butwal by students of Glorious Banda in Rupandehi - Lamjung Road Section with Nepal, regardless of who was engaging in self- evaluation, College by locals (1 day) in government. The Chinese say assessment and reform. However, (2 days) they have proposed a new treaty some Nepali media houses are not February 26 to ‘make the relationship between embracing the change. It’s perfectly Banda in Butwal by locals (1 day) the two countries timely and acceptable for a paper to show 12 February strong’. The Chinese embassy partiality to a certain ideology or Gaur banda by Dumaria VDC locals (1 day) February 27 Mahottari banda by MJF (1 day) Banda in Tarai region by Tarai Madhesh spokesperson has said that the governance. A paper’s editorial may Loktantrik Party (1 day) agreement is directed only empathise with a certain party, but 13 February Indefinite banda in Eastern Region by towards Nepal and not any other when it comes to issues of national Indefinite banda of Sunsari Pakali section of transport entrepreneurs (2 days) country. responsibility, the media should the East-West Highway by Janachetana All Chinese visits to Nepal unite. The press plays an Aama Samuha (Mother’s Group) (3 days) www.nepalbandh.com in the last six months have important part in setting out focussed on studying and national goals. Civil society may observing the situation here. High strengthen internal unity, but the level Chinese officials were at the media gives a sense of national UML and MJF party conventions. consensus and nationalism. The The vice-commander of the media has a large role to play in Chinese army and his team and strengthening the country so that High fashion Chinese Foreign Minister Yang outside forces don’t have the Jiechi also made a trip to Nepal. power to intervene. ongoing crisis, many designers have started Jiechi’s brother and head of the Issues such as the losing their jobs. Opportunities are scarce in Shanghai Institute for government’s commitment to a the fashion world but Prabal’s new label is International Studies, Pro Yang Federal Democratic Republic, a already taking off in New York. Jemin followed him here, heading logical conclusion to the peace Prabal’s designs attracted a lot of a non-governmental team. process and the drafting of the attention at the recent New York Fashion What all these visits have in constitution must receive most week with praise in Vanity Fair, The New common is the focus on media attention at present. Not the York Times and High Society. The New York controlling ‘free Tibet’ activities personal lives of a few political Times wrote: “Nepali Designer Prabal on Nepali soil. In the words of a personalities. Some papers try to captures a youthful attitude. His style and Chinese diplomat: “The issue of divert attention away from these finishing is promising”. Tibet might not be that important central issues with trivia. Nepali Prabal completed his SLC at St Xaviers to you in Nepal. But for us it has media can’t limit itself to mere in 1980, and went on to study design at become a top priority matter of preaching without thought. It Shailee Basnet in Himal Khabarpatrika Delhi’s Nelson Institute of Fashion Technology and national security.” The Chinese must not only decide which issues 27Februrary-13 March worked with designer Manish Aurora. Later, he believe that Nepal is the conduit take centre stage in media coverage, joined the Parsons School of Design in New York for many free-Tibet activities but assess and question its own On the cover of January 2007 Vogue Angelina Jolie and has since worked with designers such as because access to Tibet is easier code of conduct and ethics. was featured in a red gown designed by Nepali Cynthia Roli and Bill Blas. through Nepal than India. In the Discourse in the press cannot be designer Prabal Gurung. Under the fashion house Prabal wants Nepali style to be part of the present context, when China is without boundaries or Bill Blas (which has since closed), Prabal has fashion world. He uses colours that dominate challenging the US as a global accountability. designed clothes for celebrity women like Jolie, Newari and Dhimal clothing in his designs. Prabal power, Tibet has become China’s (Peter is a consultant to the Oprah Winfrey and Laura Bush. And it looks like has now become an inspiration for other Nepali Achilles heel. Ministry of Information and Prabal’s fashion career is just beginning. With the designers. For Nepal’s Maoist Comunications) CONSTITUTION 2010 6 - 12 MARCH 2009 #441 7 Mother tongue Nepal’s linguistic diversity should be seen as a strength

thnic identity is encapsulated consolidates national unity. In Although its recommendation for a three within its language. Language is multilingual countries, school education language policy was made 15 years ago, it E the link to its history, culture and is given in the mother tongue while is still relevant today and the federal customs. According to the 2001 census, other languages are taught alongside. structure should adopt it. But which there are 82 languages spoken in Nepal, India has a long experience of languages should be used in schools, the but this diversity is being eroded, multilingual education. Studies have media and administration is the issue to threatening the cultural identity of the shown that India’s policy of schooling be debated. people who speak them. in three languages within a state has been TU professors are undertaking a very effective. Each Indian state teaches language survey which should be taken COMMENT second and third languages alongside the into account when drafting the new Mukta Singh state language. For instance, education is language policy. But we can theoretically Tamang given in Bengali in West Bengal with determine four practical aspects already. Hindi taught as a second language and Firstly, primary education should be in The Khas language, which until the English as a third. India determined its the mother tongue and secondly, Rana regime was known as Gorkha, is federal structure primarily on the basis autonomous provinces should choose used in government, administration and of language which has helped their official working language and education. It is drowning out other institutionalise democracy and bring language policy independently. Thirdly, languages. Language activists say Gorkha about national unity. there should be translation services language speakers were biased and South Africa mentioned nine available in state health and legal sectors exclusivist towards other languages indigenous languages along with English and finally the state–and local provinces branding them as uncivilised. They and Afrikaans as the official working in a federal structure—must preserve and imposed their language on other groups language in its 1994 constitution. develop threatened languages. thereby weakening them by not Similarly, New Zealand acknowledged In a pluralistic society, the use of acknowledging them. Some languages of the indigenous language Maori as the many languages makes democracy all the indigenous groups are now on the verge official working language in 1978. Under more meaningful. In the past, Nepali of extinction. this provision, one can use this language speakers were considered more Nepali Languages require non-interference in court, which has to provide an than non Nepali speakers, who felt a and support from the state for their interpreter. Countries like Russia and sense of alienation in their home country. development and continuity. The state China have also invested in the It is a positive sign that many feel that needs to have a single official language development of local languages language can be one of the cornerstones on for administrative purposes, for national and culture. which the federal structure is unity and to create a single political In Nepal, National Language constructed. society. But the state made a mistake Recommendation Commission 1994 Now that the monarchy as a symbol of when it imposed a single language in the studied the status of national languages national unity is gone, we need to find name of unifying the country because it and recommended a language policy. But another foundation. The new infringed on multilingual rights. not much has been done except the constitution with its inclusive structure Experiences of other countries show preparation of textbooks for primary and multicultural policy will make a new that a multilingual policy also level in a few indigenous languages. foundation for national unity. MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA Six equal provinces

he real challenge in transforming Nepal into a Future federal units should be economically viable and T republic is to restructure the state into a multi-ethnic, include all ethnic groups within them multi-lingual, multi-religious and multi-cultural society while rights of the people living there. a regional police office, appellate Bagmati Province Gandaki, Marsyangdi, Seti, Madi maintaining social harmony and A much more practical approach court, regional administrative (Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Chepe rivers. national unity. would be to set up the following office, medical colleges and other Lalitpur, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, It is not easy to create federal six provinces: institutions in the region. Dhading, Dolkha, Sindhupalchok Western Province states in a country with a Transportation, electricity and and Kabhre) Capital: Kathmandu. (Rupandehi, Archakhanchi, topographic and geopolitical Eastern Province telephone services are already in There are universities, medical Gulmi, Kapilbastu, Pyuthan, make up such as Nepal. Which (Ilam, Taplejung, Panchthar, place. colleges, courts, police and army Rolpa, Dolpa, Rukum, Salyan, Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, headquarters and other Dang, Banke, Bardiya, Surkhet Dhankuta, Tehrathum, Middle Province institutions. Development and Jajarkot) Capital: Ghorahi or COMMENT Sankhuwasabha, Bhojpur, (Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, infrastructure is relatively Tulsipur. Rapti and Bheri are Gobindraraj Joshi Solukhumbu, Okhaldhunga, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Sindhuli, developed. some of the big rivers in this area Khotang and Udaypur) Capital: Ramechhap, Rautahat, Bara, Parsa and there are places of religious Biratnagar. This does not affect and Makawanpur) Capital: Gandaki Province significance like Lumbini. explains why there are so many the existing settlement patterns of Janakpur. There are universities, (Chitwan, Gorkha, Lamjung, opposing views from political the various communities and appellate court and hospital Tanahu, Shyangja, Kaski, Manang, Karnali Province parties, political scientists and geographic, administrative, medical colleges in the region. Mustang, Myagdi, Parbat, Baglung, (Darchula, Jumla, Kalikot, Mugu, other experts on how to create educational, cultural as well as Water resources include the Palpa and Nawalparasi). Capital: Humla, Bajura, Bajhang, Dailekh, provinces and ensure true physical facilities can remain Kamala, Tamor, Sunkosi, Pokhara. The province would be Achham, Doti, Kailali, decentralisation. intact. There are two universities, Tamakosi and Bagmati rivers. linguistically very diverse, but it Kanchanpur, Dadeldhura and The state has settled for a is well-endowed with tourism Baitadi) Capital: Dipayal. There is federal structure to basically and water resources with the Kali a regional police office and ensure the representation of all administrative office. There are communities in the state appellate courts and army units. mechanism. But the decision This region does not have a should not be taken in a hurry university but there are hospitals because it will have a lasting Karnali Province and most of the districts have impact on the nation and Gandaki Province Bagmati Province roads. Khaptad and Rara lake are Eastern Province nationalism. The state the touristic treasures of the restructuring should be region. Because of its Western Province practicable in terms of Middle Province underdevelopment this province administration, distribution of will require more attention resources and ensuring equal than others. 8 ADVENTURE TOURISM

High wire act Build team spirit and trust with Nepal’s first tight rope adventure course

ave you ever wondered what adventure 12 people from Nepal it would be like to be Tarzan, and abroad met up and put their H swinging high up in the bodies and minds into the trees? Or how monkeys feel when capable hands of the The Last they hover high above you on Resort high wire staff, which is your visit to Swayambhu? Well, if entirely Nepali. you are interested in getting some “I felt completely and utterly fun high up in the forest canopy, safe at all times as we were just hop on a bus and go to The always on a rope. The stations Last Resort, where Nepal’s first were pretty challenging but it was high rope course has opened. good to do as I felt so much better With eight challenging afterwards,” said Nonna crossings reaching up to nine Lamponen, a participant from metres into the trees, this high Finland. rope course offers a new kind of The high rope course, which adventure sports and team has enjoyed huge popularity in building exercise in Nepal. Europe over the past few years, “High Ropes is the brand name was designed and built by for a high wire forest adventure Austrian Alex Schuchter together that challenges your personal with The Last Resort crew. boundaries, encourages teamwork Modern rope courses were and builds confidence,” says Sam first designed by French naval Voolstra, marketing director of officer George Hebert 100 years The Last Resort. ago as a method of physical For the launch of this new education with the aim of 6 - 12 MARCH 2009 #441 9

ALL PICS: ALEX TREADWAY developing the physical, morale, between 2 and 3 hours, and even first station could be a challenge and 'virile' qualities in an though the team is always nearby, for someone who is not very outdoor environment. However, the participants have to rely on physical,” Maskey continued. the main purpose of such a high each other during the exercise. “But with the help of the team rope course is not necessarily the “It really made me realise how everybody will get up.” physical challenge or the important it is to trust another However, no one can ever get adventure, but the team building person,” said Maske, who took stuck high up in the trees as exercise. part in the first session. participants can be lowered down “Learning through experience For some, however, it was from any station such as has never been more relevant to more of a physical test as the first 'Helicopter Rescue', 'Mountain organisations and individuals as ladder (named 'Hillary Steps') Flight', 'Bagmati River Crossing' the challenges we face are seemed to be quite demanding for and 'Nepali Taxis'. increasingly demanding, complex some participants. “I think the Billi Bierling in Sindhupalchok and often unpredictable. With the global economic crisis employees need to be motivated,” Specifications says Voolstra. “I would actually want to see Maximum number per session: 12 politicians do it, especially from Maximum number per day: 36 two different parties,” says Minimum height: 5’2” Mickey Mohan from Kathmandu Minimum age: 12 half-jokingly. Special introductory rate, applicable till the end of May 2009: A maximum of 12 people, Rs 2,000 for Nepalis, Rs 3,000 for foreigners (lunch included, not who are divided into pairs, can transport) join one session, which takes 10 NATION 6 - 12 MARCH 2009 #441 Helping

CHONG ZI LIANG in POKHARA A unique initiative to help families keep children in school

MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA chool teacher Ram Chandra Poudel grew increasingly S alarmed 15 years ago by the number of children who were Ban bandas dropping out of school because their families couldn’t afford Anyone, anywhere can shut their education. As someone who had grown down Nepal for any reason up in poverty and worked as a porter and domestic, Poudel tried n Sunday, the Koteswor to Maitighar stretch was blocked. ways to help the children but the Traffic had been particularly bad because of the inflexible government school O motorcades of high-security dignitaries, but this was system frustrated him. So, in different. Several small cars and motorbikes were parked across 1995, he left his teaching job and the middle of the road. It became clear this jam was no traffic jam, it with a group of friends set up a OUR CHILDREN’S CHILDREN: It’s not just children who benefit at was an impromptu chukka jam. program to help drop-outs get No one seemed to know why or who blocked the road. “It must Children Nepal. Mothers, like Sita Nepali (right), are taught skills and back to school. be the students, or the teachers,” said one cab driver. “It is the produce handicrafts that are sold in the fair trade market. Twenty-year-old Madhesis,” said a student. “No, the Tharus,” said another. Today, Poudel’s Children Ishrat Prabin (above) leads a group of pre-schoolers in a nursery rhyme. Biratnagar has seen only three working days in the past three Nepal helps support 360 She grew up reciting the alphabet in this very room ten years ago and weeks. There are overlapping bandas: Mahendranagar is on Day children’s education by has now herself become a teacher. Five of a shutdown and curfew, the entire Tarai is on Day Four of an empowering their families with indefinite strike. The repair of skills training. The only the Kosi embankment is condition: the families must That way, the organisation is just school without CN.” INTERESTING TIMES seriously delayed because of provide their children with food one of the three pillars The organisation also provides Mallika Aryal a shutdown by flood victims. and time to go to school instead supporting the children. tuition for children who are Bandas initially began of work. Sita Nepali (above) works struggling with their homework or following the first people’s “This is so families take briskly on a sewing machine, exams. Ishrat Prabin was only nine movement of 1990 when political parties in opposition called ownership of their children’s making a doll. The stuffed years old when she learnt the general strikes to pressure the Panchayat rulers to restore democracy. In the 1990s, the culture of enforcing a shutdown well-being,” explains Poudel, “we animals are sold in free trade English alphabet and other nursery became the protest of choice by the political opposition of the day. can’t spoon feed them.” markets. With the income, Sita rhymes in the teaching centre at CN. The website www.nepalbandh.com records over 550 shutdowns in Families get loans to start raises her nine-year-old daughter Eleven years later, she leads the 2008 alone. income-generation so the children and when her son is old enough, children in their ABCs at the very Last month entrepreneurs in Biratnagar called a banda to ban all don’t have to be sent to work. he will go to school too with same centre she grew up in. bandas. In Butwal, journalists blocked the East-West Highway for Next, CN finds an appropriate CN’s help. “In this room, I made my two days when a local reporter was killed in a motorcycle accident. government school for the child “I’m happy for the support decision to become a teacher so The modus operandi of a banda is fear. Fear of a car being to attend and the school too must for my daughter and the skills naturally I’m a social worker here stoned, a motorcycle being cremated, a store being vandalised. give incentives like free I’ve learnt here,” says Sita, “I now,” says 20-year-old Ishrat. Gone is the spontaneity of the protest and an expression of free will admission or subsidised books. couldn’t afford to send her to During the war, Children Nepal against genuine grievances. While the impromptu strikes make life difficult for those who happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, what is the cost to the people and the nation? A recent report by UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) focusses on food security and the livelihood impacts of bandas in Nepal. It says the country’s poorest are the worst hit by these shutdowns. A quarter of Nepal’s population spends more than 75 per Changing Nepal cent of their income on food. If that population is prevented from earning a daily wage, this means they skip the day’s meal. One day of banda causes losses of up to Rs 1 billion, according to the WFP’s calculation. When the highway is shut buses get stuck, often in a place where there is no market. Those who can afford may have to pay eight times more for a packet of noodles and spend a fortune for several days of accommodation. Chukka jams became the only way to get attention from a disinterested government. You blocked the highway and the authorities took notice. Had there been no bandas, popular movements like the April Uprising and Madhes Movement would not have gained momentum. But those shutdowns were voluntary and had popular mass support. It was the people who were protesting against the system and were refusing to work until something was done about it. Bandas should be the last resort, not the only option. The way they are conducted, bandas are not non-violent forms of protest. They are compulsory closures enforced with the fear of violence. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has announced several times that bandas are henceforth banned. No one listened to him. Everyone thought, “They did it when they were underground, now it’s our turn.” You now have the absurd situation where political parties in the coalition, organisations affiliated to the ruling parties call for shutdowns. Boiled down to its essence, a forced banda is a way for a pressure group or political party to punish the people in order to have their grievance addressed. For families already dependent on a daily wage earner for their precarious livelihood it means going hungry. Only people who don’t care about the people force bandas on them. Just three years ago we defied the government-imposed curfews and came out on the streets to struggle for freedom. Is this JOHN CHILD the freedom we fought for? The freedom to get away with the violence of a forced shutdown? doctor, a businessman education. is a Nepali physician and professor Unless we the people rise up against bandas we can’t fight this and a professor, who California professor Jeffrey dedicated to improving health in scourge. If everyone drove on the road, opened their shops and A formed a unique trans- Kottler first came to Nepal in rural Nepal. Digumber Piya is a opened schools despite threats, what would happen? How many continental partnership to 2003 to teach counseling, but businessman, philanthropist and shops would they vandalise? How many motorcycles would they support education in Nepal, have saw that girls weren’t going to community activist. set on fire? z proved how a little money goes a school and decided to do Together, the three set up the long way if it is invested in girl’s something about it. Kiran Regmi Madhav Ghimire Foundation, NATION 6 - 12 MARCH 2009 #44111 families afford education

PICS: CHONG ZI LIANG became part of a unique peace building training. the violence in society,” says Outside support has also realised how important computer education effort by a Japanese “When we started this 10 peace educationist, Yoji Kamata, helped provide CN with skills were becoming and group which teaches conflict years ago, the conflict was raging who says he has noticed a marked computers and teaching aids decided we had to provide them management, non-violent and young Nepalis were confused change in behaviour of the government schools can only with the resources their schools communication skills and peace- by the failure of development and children, who are less aggressive. dream about. Says Paudel: “We could not.” one girl at a time

we have made to the families,” says Piya. For now, the foundation operates on small donations and is run entirely by volunteers. Kottler brings counselors, educators, students and health professionals to Nepal each year. Participants are expected to raise funds and become “inspirational COMMITTED TRIO: Businessman Digumber Piya, doctor Kiran Regmi witnesses” back home for the and professor Jeffrey Kottler set up the Madhav Ghimire Foundation to foundation’s work. give girls in Lamjung a head start in school. The foundation is named The volunteers visit after Nepal’s poet laureate. Scholarship students at the Sri Chandra foundation schools, such as Sri School in Bahundanda last week (left). Chandra school, about 30 km from the nearest road in Lamjung’s named after Kiran’s father and for a year’s support. Bahundanda, the birthplace of Nepal’s poet laureate. From that first girl in 2003, Madhav Ghimire. There are 250 Kottler says admiringly, the Madhav Ghimire Foundation children in the school in 12 Himal Khabarpatrika “Kiran is the most accomplished now supports 73 students. It classrooms, and the foundation 27 Feburary-13 March 2009 woman I know, with a medical plans to add 25 more this year, supports scholarship students degree, masters degrees in public some of them gifted Sherpa girls directly and also invests in Cover: Is Nepali nationalism really in danger? health and anthropology, and a whose fathers have died in improving the facilities at the Danger of religious extremism doctorate.” climbing accidents. schools where they study. Regmi’s experience working Scholarship students are The payoff for the Editorial: with poor families in rural Nepal promised that as long as their foundation’s work is years away, The military’s mandate matched what Kottler had seen work continues to be excellent, when the girls graduate to become The Maoists and human rights while doing research in remote the foundation will pay for their doctors, nurses and teachers. But, areas. Six years ago in Lamjung, education as far as they can carry says Kiran Regmi: “It has been Report: he met the headmaster of a school it. The project has grown rapidly shown over and over again that Why your international calls are being bypassed who told him that an and the girls have started going to investing in girls’ education is the academically gifted girl was college. Now to meet the demand most cost-effective way to bring Constitution Supplement: dropping out because her family the budget will need to grow to Rs development to a society.” Lessons from India’s Dalit movement Is affirmative action desirable? couldn’t afford the fees. When he 80 million. John Child Nepal Muslims’ quest for identity found out it was only Rs 7,000, “We’ll need big money he took out his wallet and paid eventually to keep the promises www.ghimirefoundation.org 12 INTERNATIONAL 6 - 12 MARCH 2009 #441 Justice delayed in Cambodia SETH MYDANS in PHNOM PENH Rights Centre at the University of Finally, some truth and justice 30 California, Berkeley, found that even after hirty years after the end of the brutal three decades, the traumas and hatreds Maoist regime that took the lives of years after Khmer Rouge genocide persist. T as much as a quarter of Cambodiaís In face-to-face interviews, nearly half population, the court sessions of senior the respondents said they were Khmer Rouge cadre will open in Phnom uncomfortable living close to former Penh this month. members of the Khmer Rouge. Two-thirds The first defendant is Kaing Guek said they wanted to see former cadres Eav, 66, better known as Duch, the suffer in some way. Forty per cent said they commandant of the Tuol Sleng prison and would take revenge themselves if they had torture house, which sent at least 14,000 the opportunity. Chum Mey, 77, who is people to their deaths in a killing field. among only a handful of people who Duch confessed to journalists before his survived Tuol Sleng, said he still feared arrest nine years ago that he had committed Duch and was unable to look him in the eye atrocities but said he had been acting under at a pre-trial hearing in November. In the orders and would himself have been killed if hearing room, he said, Duch behaved with he had disobeyed. Known for his brutality, the same air of confidence, disdain and he is charged with crimes against humanity command that had characterised his tenure and war crimes, and with murder and torture as prison chief. in his prison, known as S-21. ìThey tortured me for three months,î On Monday, attorneys asked the UN- Chum Mey said, recalling his time as a backed genocide tribunal for permission to prisoner. ìThey beat me. They removed my interview Cambodian Prime Minister Hun toenails. They gave me electric shocks in Sen and former King Norodom Sihanouk. KUNDA DIXIT my earñkup-kup-kup-kup, it sounded like a Four senior Khmer Rouge officials are CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY: A visitor peers at pictures of the victims of the notorious Tuol machine in my head, and my eyes were like in custody, but court officials say their trials Sleng Khmer Rouge torture house in Phnom Penh. At least 14,000 people were killed 30 burning with fire.î may not start until next year. They are Nuon years ago in this former school building that was turned into a prison. He is on the witness list to testify Chea, 82, the movementís chief ideologue, against Duch. ìI want to stay alive to give Khieu Samphan, 76, who was head of state, evidence,î he said. ìBecause I survived the Leng Sary, 82, the former foreign minister; that includes Cambodian and foreign judges their country into a giant labour camp, Khmer Rouge, and if I die before the trial, and his wife, Leng Thirith, 75, a fellow and prosecutors in an awkward legal evacuating cities, banning commerce and what was the point of surviving?î member of the Khmer Rouge Central compromise that has drawn criticism from religion and trying to exterminate the In an innovation, dozens of victims have Committee. human-rights advocates and legal scholars. countryís educated class. From 1975 to enrolled as civil parties to the case. They The Khmer Rouge leader, Pol Pot, died ìWe wish to see this tribunal for at least 1979, at least 1.7 million people were have grouped themselves by ethnicity or by in 1998. Many Cambodians say they fear these five, and this is the minimum of the executed or died of overwork, starvation, the nature of their complaints and will be that some of the defendants may also die minimum,î said Kek Galabru, a leading torture or untreated disease. The Khmer permitted to demand symbolic damages. before they are brought to trial, and the Cambodian human-rights campaigner. ìA lot Rouge left behind an eviscerated and One of them is Sok Chear, 42, an office tribunal has been providing them the best of people ask: Why only five? Why only traumatised society, and some human worker whose father died under the Khmer medical care Cambodia has to offer. five? Why only five?'î rights advocates hope the trial can bring a Rouge. ìWe want to ask their leaders: ëWho The trials are being held by a hybrid In a fanatical attempt to create a pure measure of closure. A survey of 1,000 ordered this? Why did you kill Cambodian tribunal supported by the United Nations peasant society, the Khmer Rouge turned Cambodians last year by the Human people? For what?îí she said. z (NYT) REVIEW 6 - 12 MARCH 2009 #441 13 Girls’ night out Binocular Women in Concert is back with a bang this year astronomy platform for aspiring young If you can’t afford a Nepali women musicians to perform and have their talent telescope, binoculars will recognised. Secondly, the concert contributes a percentage of the do for star-gazing proceeds towards a deserving social cause.” any of the readers of the Stargazing column have sent me In the past the proceeds from emails seeking advice on where they could get telescopes the concert have gone to support M in Nepal. Unfortunately, telescopes are not available here Nepal Child Welfare Foundation and even if you get one, it might be either expensive or not and Sewa Kendra. This year the suitable for your observing requirements. In many ways, women will sing to support binoculars prove superior to a telescope for amateur astronomers. If you have never experienced binocular astronomy, you’ll be Orchid Garden Nepal, a Maligaon- thrilled at how easy objects are to locate and the speed and n 2003 a group of girlfriends difficult to live up to but we make based group that runs a day care comfort at which you can decided to try and an earnest effort from our side.” centre for children under five observe. A whole new I raise money for a charity by Along with Sapna, Rachana whose parents are daily wage STARGAZING experience is waiting for you. indulging their own passions and Gurung Sharma, Priti Kaur and labourers and come from under- Kedar S Badu Binoculars have a wide field staging a music concert. Pooja Gurung, who have been a privileged families. of view and provide right-side- What started as an idea just part of previous Women in “We have always tried to raise up images, making objects for fun has now grown into a Concert events, this year will also funds for a genuine cause where easy to find. They require no effort or expertise to set up — just fully-fledged annual event. feature budding artist Astha the person concerned is sling them around your neck, step outside, and you’re ready to go. Although there was a break last Tamang Maskey. passionate about what he or she is They can reveal craters on the Moon, moons orbiting Jupiter, Milky year, Women in Concert VI is back “The genres of music that will doing,” says Sapna. “We hope Way star fields, and even other galaxies. But, before you purchase binoculars, you’ll need to understand with a promise to be bigger. be performed will run the gamut that our collective experiences in a few basics. Aperture is the most important binocular “With no prior advertising or from pop to rock to R&B and these troubled times will in some specification that describes the diameter of the front lenses. The promotion, no sponsorship, and soul,” says Vidhea. The audience way be a catalyst for a better larger the diameter, very little pre-sales of tickets, the will also get a chance to watch future,” Vidhea adds. the brighter the first event was able to garner a performances from members of And what a way to express resulting images. crowd of over 250 people,” says Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory that hope: through the voices of You can find the Vidhea Shrestha who has been (KJC) which includes Shreeti women, united in song and aperture simply by involved with Women in Concert Pradhan and a young trio of celebration. looking at the two right from the start. sisters. The all-women chorale Paavan Mathema numbers displayed Over the years, the concert has group of seven members from KJC on every binocular: established a reputation for itself. are sure to be a big draw. Women in Concert in 10x50, for Says organiser and performer “The idea of Women in Saturday, 21 March, 7PM-9PM example, ’10’ refers to magnification and Sapna Thapa: “The audience’s Concert is two-fold,” explains Gokarna Forest Resort figure ‘50’ refers to expectations are sometimes Vidhea, “firstly it serves to be a Tickets: Rs 999 the diameter (in mm) of each of the front lenses (aperture). I suggest you buy binoculars of either 7x35 (for children) or 10x50 (for adults). And one last tip: go for binoculars that have a 'porro' prism design. In March, there are two planets for you to enjoy during evening hours: Saturn (in Leo) is in the eastern sky and Venus (in Pisces) is low in the west. On 10 March, don’t forget to observe the pairing of the ringed planet Saturn with the gibbous Moon. Regarding constellations, you could enjoy the stars of the “Winter Hexagon” which will be located just overhead during the evening. Direct your binoculars towards the belt of Orion the Hunter and you will be thrilled to see the brilliant emission nebula (M-42) also known as the Orion Nebula. Also enjoy the Great Saptarshi (Ursha Major) in the north-eastern sky. Try to find the Dhruba Tara (Polar Star) with the help of the ‘pointers’ of the Saptarshi. While looking at stars, pay attention to their colour, as it gives us a clue about their age. For example, in the Orion Constellation, identify an orange-red star just to the north of the Hunter’s belt. This is Betelguese, a red-giant that has already used up its hydrogen fuel and may explode anytime into a supernova! Hopefully we’ll be lucky enough to see this event in our lifetimes. And finally, we have the Spring Equinox that falls on 20 March when the Sun crosses the celestial equator (at 5:29 PM) from south to north, signalling the arrival of spring.

Mercury is rising only minutes before the Sun; it’s at superior conjunction (almost directly behind the Sun) on 31 March. We’re very unlikely to see this elusive little planet this month. Venus is well up in the western sky at sunset, but will be at inferior conjunction (almost directly in front of the Sun) on 27 March. At the very end of the month it is just starting to appear in the morning sky. Mars is still rising only a few minutes before sunrise. We won’t be getting good views of the red planet until after the summer. Jupiter, like Mars, rises less than an hour before the Sun. Towards the end of March, we could see Jupiter very low in the south-east just before sunrise. Saturn is very well placed for viewing this month. It’s at opposition to the Sun on 8 March, so it is rising as the Sun sets. It’s due south at midnight and doesn’t set until sunrise.

In early March, don’t miss seeing the surprise Comet Lulin (pictured) with binoculars during the evening hours. Look towards the constellation of Leo, close to the Star Regulus. Wish you all a happy stargazing. 14 CITY 6 - 12 MARCH 2009 #441

ABOUT TOWN In the movie 13B, Manohar (R Madhavan), a middle class EXHIBITIONS Indian, moves into a new apartment on the 13th floor with his family. From the first day in their new home, the women ™ Love in the Air, art by Ragini Upadhayay- are hooked on a new tv show Sab Khairiyat. The show is Grela at 5.30 PM till 8 March, Siddartha about a family eerily similar to theirs who have also just Art Gallery. 4218048 moved into a new house. As the show unfolds, all the ™ Feather friends, an exhibition of incidents that happen in the show start happening to Manohar painitings by Sanju Shahi, 6 March, and his family. Things take a turn for the worse when 4PM, Kathmandu Gallery, Lazimpat shocking incidents start happening in the show. Will the Entertainment same happen to Manohar and his family?

EVENTS Call 4442220 for show timings at Jai Nepal ™ Doubt, a film starring Phillip Seymour www.jainepal.com Hoffman, 6PM, Lazimpat Gallery Café, 7 March. 4428549 Quest ™ Lecture Series XXIX by Ravi Bhandari, 5PM, 8 March, Yala Maya Kendra, Patan Dhoka ™ Destination Thailand, 8 March, Darbar Hall, Yak and Yeti sfd ;fgf ] 7nf" ] eGg ] x'Fb}g . kl;gfsf ] s'g} /ª / hft klg x'Fb}g . sfd Hotel, 9AM-5PM. 4371410 u/]/ vfg nhfpg' klg x'Fb}g . rf]/]/, 9fF6]/, 5n]/, n'6]/ vfg kf] g]kfn ;/sf/ ™ South Asian women networking event, 7-9 March, evening nhfpgk5' { . hf ] hxf F /x/] hg' sfd u5 { pm To;df} /dfpgk5' { uf/a} ;"rgf tyf ;~rf/ dGqfno event at Garden of Dreams. 4225272 ugk5'{ { / ;dlkt{ eP/ ugk5'{ { . sfd g } zlQm xf,] elQm xf ] / dlQm' ;"rgf ljefu ™ Call for entries for Film South Asia, documentaries made in and after January 2007 qualified. For deadlines, visit xf ] . sfdsf ] OHht u/f,}+ kl;gfsf ] ;Ddfg u/f }+ . filmsouthasia.org. 5552141

MUSIC ™ Women in Concert at Gokarna Golf Resort , 6.30 PM, 21 March ™ OZMA concert at the Army Club Auditorium, 6PM, 27 March ™ Final concert of Miles Music Festival at Dhokaima Café, Patan Dhoka, 28 March, 7PM. ™ Sunday Jazz brunch barbecue and live jazz music at the Terrace, Hyatt Regency from 12-3.30 PM. 4491234 ™ Jazz evening at Delices de France Restaurant every Wednesday, 11AM-2PM. 4260326 ™ Strings Band live every Tuesday at G’s Terrace Restaurant and Bar, Thamel. ™ Wednesday Melody at Jazzabell Café, Happy hour 6-8PM and TGIF party with live band Epic every Friday at 8PM. 2114075 ™ Some like it hot every Friday BBQ and live music by Dinesh Rai and the Sound Minds, 7PM onwards, Rs 899 at Fusion, Dwarika’s Hotel. 4479488 ™ Happy cocktail hour, 5-7PM, ladies night on Wednesday with live unplugged music at Jatra Café & Bar. ™ Live Sensation, performance by Yankey every Saturday, 9PM, Hyatt Regency, Kathmandu. 4491234. ™ Fusion and Looza Band every Friday night, Bhumi Resto Lounge, Lazimpat. 4412193 ™ Fusion and Classical Music by Anil Shahi every Wednesday, rock with Rashmi Singh every Friday, sufi & raga with Hemant Rana every Saturday, 8PM onwards, Absolute Bar. WEEKEND WEATHER by NGAMINDRA DAHAL 5521408 “Expect no change in current weather pattern till early next week,” is DINING the summary of the message from the Met Office, and your forecaster, ™ Gourmet trout at Olive Garden, 6PM onwards at Rs 850+, unfortunately, is forced to concur. Moisture deficiency in the ambient air is Radisson Hotel, Lazimpat. 4411818 now at the lowest level this season: relative humidity on Wednesday afternoon ™ Chez Caroline for French and Mediterranean cuisine, Babar in Kathmandu dropped to 23 per cent. This satellite-radar image taken on Mahal Revisited. 4263070 Thursday morning shows the high pressure system in place, while the westerly fronts zoom across the Tibetan Plateau. One of them grazed western Nepal ™ Fresh Himalayan rainbow trout at Rox Restaurant all last week, dumping snow in Humla, but other than that we were left high and February 7PM onwards, Hyatt Regency. 4489362 dry. With the westerlies now weakening, the only hope is for convection ™ Mediterranean cuisine every Friday from Greece, Italy and systems building up over the mountains as the temperature rises. But even the Middle-East at The Café, Hyatt Regency. 4491234 that needs moisture, and with this dryness it is unlikely there will be rain- ™ Strawberry Etagere at The Lounge from 4.30 PM- 6.30 PM. bearing clouds this weekend. Sorry. Hyatt Regency. 4491234 ™ Nhuchhe goes Thai at Nhuchhe’s Thai Kitchen, Baluwatar. 4429903 ™ Fusion of Marcela Ragan’s new menu and Mannie’s new bar at Dhokaima Café. 5522113 KATHMANDU ™ Plat Du Jour at Hotel Shangri La, Kathmandu, Rs 600. 4412999 ™ Pasta pesto passion at La Dolce Vita, Thamel. 4700612 ™ Home made pasta at Alfresco, Soaltee Crowne Plaza. KATHMANDU VALLEY 4273999 ™ Reality Bites, The Kaiser Café, Garden of Dreams, operated Fri Sat Sun by Dwarika’s Group of Hotels, 9AM-10PM. 4425341 ™ Cocktails, mocktails and liqueurs at the Asahi Lounge, opening hours 1-10PM, above Himalayan Java, Thamel. ™ Starry night barbecue at Hotel Shangri La with 28-7 28-8 29-7 live performance by Ciney Gurung, Rs 999, at the Shambala Garden, every Friday 7PM onwards. 4412999 'MANDU MANDALA by PRERANA PAKHRIN ™ High tea with scones and sandwiches everyday at the Lounge from 4.30-6.30 PM, Hyatt Regency, Kathmandu. 4491234

For inclusion in the listing send information to editors(at)nepalitimes.com HAPPENINGS 6 - 12 MARCH 2009 #441 15

KIRAN PANDAY SUMMIT: Heads of state of Sri Lanka and Nepal shake hands after their ministers signed an air services agreement linking Colombo to Kathmandu on Tuesday. Sri Lankan Foreign Minister and Nepal's Tourism Minister Hisila Yami.

KIRAN PANDAY SEEKING FREEDOM: Asia Journalist Association president Lee Sang-ki (centre) and vice-president Ivan Lim Sin Chin met Prime Minister Dahal on Monday in Singha Darbar. They raised concerns about press freedom.

MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA WELL DESERVED: Himal Khabarpatrika reporter and Nepali Times contributor Rameswor Bohara receives the Yadu Gautam Award for human rights reporting on Wednesday from UML chairman Jhal Nath Khanal.

MARCELO BRODSKY YOU ARE HERE: A picture taken this week in Punta Del Este, Uruguay, showing the distance to Kathmandu. W 16 Security forthepresidential the SAARCSummitisheldhere. imagine thechaosnexttime is justonevisitingheadofstate, this iswhathappenswhenthere bumper-to-bumper Wednesday wouldhavebeen short theirvisit,otherwise Good thingtheSriLankanscut living memoryinthecapital. some oftheworsttrafficjamsin Monday andTuesdaysaw struck. smoother beforedisaster white glovesforpolice. light, andBaba-sandistributing motorcyclists iftheyranthered cops threateningto like humanroaddividers,traffic good startwithvolunteersacting president. Ithadgotofftoafairly state visitoftheLankan Traffic wasactuallygetting BACKSIDE to coincidewiththe schedule TrafficWeek hat badtimingto FG decapitate aswell.If Rotten eggs Rotten in Kathmanduarecurrently Bureaucratic andbusinesscircles three otherTerrificrelatives. defaulting ex- Nephew Samir,thewilfully First SonPrakashand secretariat toforkoutinvitesfor licking modegotthepresidential secretary-in-chief infullass- made itthroughtraffic.Andthe invitations andtheyjustbarely got acoupleofhiscronies’ Foreigner MinisterUpadroYadav head table.Atthelastminute, trying toseatthemselvesatthe it tothebanquethall,buteven gatecrashers fromnotjustmaking But thatdidn’tstopbig-name couldn’t evenmakeit. tight someinvitedguests banquet attheSoalteewasso FG FG egg tycoon , and acceptable nationaldress,butthe and slipperswouldbeaperfectly the proletariat really alreadya pajamas andchappals.Ifweare Foreign Ministerindisheveled on Mondayoutcomesthe Lankan presidentattheairport At theguardofhonourforSri variations onthenationaldress. trying toconfuseuswithmore the NewNepalaredeliberately topi ordhotikamij,therulersof used tothewesternsuitwith Just whenwehadstartedgetting family raisinganotherstink. without enough problemsinhishands name ofComradeUncle.PKDhas and bankloansbydroppingthe appointments, licenseprocedures cousins interferingin bristling withtalkofthetwo rotten eggs FG dictatorship of then nightsuit inhis pipal republik should worrycomradesinthe Somnath inGujarat.Noneofthis Ranthambore andapilgrimageto check outthetigersat naturalist ex-monarchwentto the clanweddinginBhopal, trip tolastawholemonth.After down Kingji is Nepal fornearlythreeyears, After havingbeenholedupin took thatasacompliment. around tofigureoutifUpendra bho.” Ourmoledidn’thang pukka Madhesijastaidekhinu Firinghi Minister:“Tapaitaaja Yummy wasoverheardtellingthe anthems TouristicMinister this wasfine,butafterthe People’s RepublicofNepal.All Federal DemocraticInclusive last weheard,arestilla in Indiaextendinghis CDO Regd No194/056/57Lalitpur, CentralRegion PostalRegd.No 04/058/59 letting hishair FG backhome,but lawyers first. checked withthe he shouldhave nab taxevaders,but stone unturnedto wants toleaveno Convention. ComradeRambabu contravenes theVienna much theypaybecauseit rent premisesfromandhow asking themtorevealwhothey the ForeignMinistry’sletter decided to Kathmandu-based embassieshave minute timediffwithIndia. so wescrapthisabsurd15 Nepal Time45minutesforward Sunday aholidayandbring well usethisopptodeclare Gregorian calendar.Theymayas opportunity tointroducethe unscientific the BickrumSambatis that thegovtwantstoprove and oneswithout.Therumouris 2066 calendars:oneswithChait are bringingouttwovariationsof calendars andmostpublishers late tostartprintingnextyear’s implement it.It’snowgetting astrologers havesofarrefusedto 2066, butacommitteeof the monthofChaitfromyear approved theproposaltodelete The cabinet,initswisdom, being revived. that thebabykingproposalis comrades are,theyareimagining Lalmohan. Conspiratorialasthe meetings withSoniaand Arjun Singhisarranging getting rattledthatroyalcousin Red FlagandTremendousare ass(at)nepalitimes.com 6 -12MARCH2009 cock thesnook andusethis FG FG #441 at

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