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#763 19 - 25 June 2015 16 pages Rs 50

HANGINGHANGING ONON A girl in Barabise of Sindhupalchok swings in a hammock slung under a container truck that serves as her family’s home. Two months after the earthquake, 2 million Nepalis are living in temporary shelters.

JAN MØLLER HANSEN 2 EDITORIAL 19 - 25 JUNE 2015 #763 TROUBLE IN THE RUBBLE Like Krishna Mandir, Nepal is standing but needs more support

s the date of the international meeting on earthquake with a backlog of hundreds of tons of relief supplies stuck just aid workers and volunteers who are frustrated, local assistance to Nepal on 25 June nears, the Nepali at warehouses (see page 14-15). And on Wednesday the government officials in the VDCs and DDCs who have been Amedia is suddenly festooned with headlines government tersely announced a ban on all relief material working tirelessly for two months now in relief distribution about the transparency, efficacy and even the necessity after 22 June to stem ‘dependency’ among survivors. Most are disgusted with the lack of support, and the politicisation of international assistance. There are concerns about aid groups would be perfectly happy to hand over their relief of aid in Kathmandu. Some branches of government that are most post-disaster aid being siphoned off by expensive material to the government for distribution if its systems functioning well are getting demoralised by the greed and consultants from donor countries, of lack of coordination, were efficient and equitable, but we have seen they aren’t. lack of a sense of urgency among top politicians. the cost of relief flights by the militaries of various Who makes these absurd ad hoc decisions? It’s not To be sure, the National Planning Commission, under government being counted as part of the humanitarian the plain-speaking Govinda Raj Pokhrel, has moved assistance package, wastage and duplication. systematically to bring out a needs assessment report and A lot of these concerns are valid, and emanate from the recommended that a high-powered, independent agency disastrous wastage of relief after the 2010 Haiti earthquake, be set up to supervise and manage reconstruction. It has where various evaluations have stated that only 16 per cent tried not to be too ambitious with its $6.6 billion estimate of the $16 billion pledged for emergency relief actually for rebuilding. Much of that is going to be allocated for the ended up in Haiti. There have been shocking revelations reconstruction of homes, and the World Bank is taking the of waste by the American Red Cross. Five years after the lead in mustering the resources needed (see page 4). After quake killed 300,000 people, many are still living in tents speaking to officials and donors, we get the feeling money in Haiti. is not a problem as long as the government demonstrates the “Nepal should not be another Haiti” is the popular capacity for equitable, impartial and effective disbursement refrain from senior government officials. The Finance of housing grants and subsidies. Ministry’s aid coordination division has accused Nepal’s Unfortunately, the government’s track record on donors of deliberately bypassing government in disbursing compensation for conflict victims doesn’t bode well for funds and distributing aid. Now, in an effort to take charge, post-quake reconstruction. Since perception is reality, and the government is asserting itself and adopting a hard line since trust in government’s transparency and accountability on how aid in cash and kind can be spent. is so low, it is all the more urgent and important that the Unfortunately, the government has done this in the reconstruction agency be headed by a credible team that is ham-handed fashion that we have all come to expect of apolitical, competent and (above all) honest. it: not for better coordination, but for control. Ministries Having said all that, aid agencies also have a lot to involved in preparing for the donor meeting are working at answer for. This is an elected government, it has systems in cross purposes. New policies and rules are utterly confusing place even if they don’t always work well, these structures and often unenforceable. When in doubt about something, cannot be bypassed. Much of the criticism of the lack of the government’s knee-jerk reaction is to immediately ban transparency, wastage, tied aid and exaggerated generosity it. The attempt to channelise the money charities send to are legitimate and corroborated by donors' own oversight Nepal has stopped millions of dollars in donations that bodies. So, for a Kathmandu-based envoy to use Twitter would have benefited survivors. to fly off the handle at media criticism of aid is not just Contradictory and ever-changing tax rules have unbecoming of a diplomat, it is actually incriminating. stopped relief material like tarps, tents and food urgently It is time for both the government and donor needed by the 2 million people whose homes went down. representatives to ratchet down their egos, look beyond their Rudely refusing offers of helicopters hasn’t just damaged turfs and focus on the 2 million Nepalis waiting, patiently so Nepal’s image abroad, but created a logistical bottleneck, far, for help to rebuild their lives. KUNDA DIXIT

YOUR SAY www.nepalitimes.com THIS WEEK

WHERE IS THE MONEY? Dhungel #762) Do something. Have IT REALLY HAPPENED? would let any crooks in the country. A staggering amount of donor funding you media people never heard of This 16-point deal is a farce, another Government says they want to is wasted on consultancy services investigative journalism? Examples: face saving device. (‘Was that for coordinate but they have shown how and administration, with little spent Watergate, UK parliamentary expenses. real?’ Damakant Jayshi #762). These lamentable they are in this domain. Get on the cause (‘How not to reinvent Where are the guts or courage of corrupted Nepali leaders, specially the off your couch to see that people still the wheel’, Bihari K Shrestha #762). Nepali journalists? Try some headlines: Khaobadi ex-PM, Dahal and Bhattarai need clothes, tents and food. It seems donors don’t care because NC/UML cave in to Maoist bullying. cannot accomplish anything without fi rst Pravin KUNDA DIXIT / AYESHA SHAKYA (254 LIKES) they get what they want -- publicity. Politicians care more about personal dealing with Ganga Maya Adhikari and Most liked on Facebook I question their real intentions. They power than the nation. Nepali Times C K Raut. Until the political garbage RESILIENT NEPALI WOMEN Patan Darbar Square at 3PM on 25 April damage the country’s reputation by investigates lawmaker allowances, is thrown out, nothing will change in How content they are even with so little (left) and on 15 June (right). Cultural heritage sites in Kathmandu reopened on Monday. showing desperate images. They Bidushi Dhungel exposes Bhattarai's Nepal. I just wonder what results the (Sheltering women, Sahina Shrestha seem more desperate than the lies. next election will bring and how many of #762). We all can learn a lot from Most shared on Facebook Nepali women. Buddhist monks hold a candle-light vigil children in the picture. Brian Metters these ugly faces will still be around. at Boudhanath in memory of earthquake victims TC Ghimire Gopal Tamang Susan Kutar on Friday. Major political parties have reached Most popular on Twitter You mean dollar slurping an understanding to promulgate the new No names, no borders, just a SELFIE Bhaktapur is waiting for you by ‘capacity building workshop’ by constitution by mid-July. This is another number: 8. Do our leaders think Maybe altruism is a mixture of complex Peregrine Frissell (86 retweets, 77 favourites) social and biological mechanisms, donors? Nah... nah... we don’t need blatant lie. They will miss this deadline, federalism is a joke? Once again, our Most visited online page the Haiti model. you can take my comment to the bank. leaders are fooling us, it was only (‘Survival of the altruistic’, Anjana Bureaucracy as usual by Stéphane Huët Sudip Khaniya Ajaya Rana signed because each of them got what Rajbhandary #762) which makes sense (1,820 views) they wanted. It wasn’t for the benefi t in an evolutionary biological way, but Most commented ONE AFTER ANOTHER Democracy in Nepal is a privilege of the people or the country. I see no at the same time also in a conscious How not to reinvent the wheel by Corrupted leaders stole relief only for the big corporations, the people difference between Oli, Dahal and social way. What matters in the end Bihari K Shrestha (15 comments) supplies and sold it on the black who own them, and the corrupted Koirala. All are inept, corrupted and is that people help, whether they post market (One crisis at a time, Mallika leaders who have been stealing from selfi sh. The sad truth is there is no one it on Facebook or not should not be Weekly Internet Poll #763 Aryal #762) while the earthquake the people. For the rest of the 99 to replace them. such a huge point of discussion, since Q. Are you happy with the 16-point deal? victims continued to suffer. Welcome per cent of Nepalis, democracy has Bikas Pandey you will probably never really fi nd out to modern day Nepal of Maoist resulted in struggling for jobs and ways anyway. Total votes: 103 Supreme Leader Pushpa Kamal to support a family, shortage of water, NEPAL’S BUREAUCRACY Bar Dahal, who once said he’d turn Nepal electricity, gas etc. Our leaders have no A great report on the obstruction to relief into Singapore or Switzerland. qualms in even stealing relief materials aid. (‘Bureaucracy as usual’, Stéphane DOG MOTHER Alex Shrestha meant for the victims and selling it Huët #762) Can’t believe the red tape Gyani Deula’s life truly tells the story to make more money. Anyone who and bureaucracy here. of compassion in action (‘Dog Mother’, FOR POLITICS’ SAKE believes these very people will bring us Lukas Law #762). Though she didn't live that long, Weekly Internet Poll #764 Stop moaning whingeing and peace and prosperity is delusional. she truly lived a worthy life. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com Tashi Lama whining. (For politics’ sake, Bidhushi Babu Magar It seems that a few greenbacks Q. Should Dharara be rebuilt or left as it is?

Publisher and Chief Editor: Kunda Dixit Associate Editor: Tsering Dolker Gurung | Online Producer: Ayesha Shakya | Design: Kiran Maharjan Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd | Patan Dhoka, Lalitpur | GPO Box 7251 Kathmandu Nepali Times on Facebook [email protected] | www.nepalitimes.com | www.himalmedia.com | Tel: 01-5005601-08 Fax: +977-1-5005518 Follow @nepalitimes on Twitter Marketing: Arjun Karki, Surendra Sharma [email protected] | Advertorials: Ram Krishna Banjara | Subscriptions: Santosh Aryal [email protected] Follow @nepalitimes on Instagram Printed at Jagadamba Press | 01-5250017-19 | www.jagadambapr.com 19 - 25 JUNE 2015 #763 OPINION 3 Braving the monsoon Putting-off federal demarcation will anger some, but the 2 million people without homes have other worries

ven before the April as that in Nepal. Unless there earthquake mutual is a clear incentive, there is no Eself-interest among top reason why the NC, being the political leaders were beginning biggest political party, would to converge, and there was an want to concede leadership effort to finalise the constitution. to maintain an alliance whose The earthquake expedited that utility will end the day statute process, giving both the Maoists is declared. and the ruling parties an excuse KP Oli is forced to trust to compromise without bruising the NC because Sushil Koirala each other’s egos. wants to pass a constitution while in office. Even those angry at Dahal and Gachhadar’s opportunism know that this is the maximum compromise for the present among such a diverse group of stakeholders. BY THE WAY So, the right question Anurag Acharya to ask now is not if this is a good time to be drafting the constitution, but whether it

If things unfold the way they ANURAG ACHARYA will help the country move are expected to, the country will ahead. And for survivors like get a constitution by next month For better or for worse, the deal, which is at the heart of ministerial positions alongside the Urmila Adhikari, the concern by putting federal demarcation 16-point agreement is based on this pact, foresees a government NC. It also foresees a NC President is only to have enough food for in the back burner. It is a recipe nothing but mutual interest of led by the UML’s KP Oli, with with yet another Madhesi Vice- her children and a roof over for future bickering, but there top leaders to secure their own the Maoists and the Gachhadar President. her head. @Anurag_Acharya doesn’t seem to be any other way positions. The power sharing led MJF-Democratic getting key However, nothing is as simple for now. Meanwhile, 30km away from Kathmandu in Lamidanda of Kavre, Urmila Adhikari (pic, above) is clearing the debris of her home with bare hands. Every now and then, her seven-year-old son and five-year-old daughter carry bricks to lend a hand, but she shoos them away. Urmila’s husband is a daily wage earner but his meagre earnings do not even buy a loaf of bread for the family, let alone school stationery for the children. While the wife toiled under mid- day sun, man of the house was nowhere to be seen. Lamidanda residents have not received much relief from outside. Urmila and her neighbours have heard about government’s pledge for Rs 15,000 emergency cash relief but doubt if they will get it before the rains set in. “I need help to get this rubble cleared soon and rebuild my house. I can’t keep the children under tarpaulin sheets when the storms come,” she said. The government’s cash distribution program has run into trouble with rising cases of fake applicants (see page 4). Pressure from powerful locals looking to pocket cash compensation for fake houses is so strong that officials in many districts have fled. We often talk about the greed of our national leaders, but the earthquake has exposed how corruption is decentralised. A stable government at the centre with accountable local government would have helped check malpractice, and expedited relief and rebuilding. But for now, we have to live with the choices our leaders have made. On the brighter side, last week’s political convergence has sent a positive message to the donor community, ahead of the 25 June conference. Even so, the government will have to lay out a clear plan of how it intends to mobilise resources that will be pledged. There just isn’t enough time for the international community to make pledges by next week, but at least we may have a strategy. 4 NATION 19 - 25 JUNE 2015 #763 Friends in need Plans for disbursement of home rebuilding grants and loans face obstacles

SAHINA SHRESTHA plans on how it will be spent.” of Rs 200,000 for those who wish ownership papers are already being And a clear plan is exactly to rebuild their houses on their used to claim compensation. VDC early two months since the what is still missing from the own. Such families will also be secretaries are being pressured and earthquake on 25 April, government’s strategy. While Nepali eligible for subsidies or soft credit. threatened by powerful individuals NNepal faces a gigantic officialdom will be presenting The NPC’s vice-chairman, with political protection to certify challenge in finding an efficient its case for more aid from the Govinda Raj Pokhrel, said the people as victims. and leak-proof way to support the international community at a donor government is preparing a The government has directed reconstruction of the estimated conference next week, it hasn’t yet detailed plan on the modality of Chief District Officers to take 800,000 houses, schools, health been able to allay their concerns disbursement for reconstruction: action against fraudulent victims facilities and monuments that about the modality of disbursement, “We are working with financial claiming ID cards, but that is were destroyed. accountability and transparency. experts, civil society and our hardly a deterrent. Lack of proper Not only is the scale of Government officials say they development partners.” monitoring has already hindered the destruction vast, but the are aware of donor apprehension He added that the Rs 200,000 relief assistance from reaching the rebuilding has to be done through and are working to assure them will be provided in installments actual victims. a creaky and corruption-ridden that systems will be in place to to eligible families who want Nepal Rastra Bank has worked government system. Also, many ensure reconstruction money will be to rebuild their homes. “The out the procedure and issued survivors are already faking properly spent. families will have to strictly circulars to banks to provide home ownership papers to claim “Rebuilding can’t be done follow the standard norms soft loans to homeless families emergency reconstruction grants. overnight, and planning for it takes and building codes set by the who don’t own another house. Local government officials have time,” Ram Sharan Pudasaini, government and the money will be Those living in the Valley will been threatened in some places joint-secretary at the Ministry of distributed during various stages additionally get loans of up to Rs when they refused to include Finance, told us. “It isn’t like search of rebuilding after monitoring,” 2.5 million and those outside Rs ineligible families in the list of and rescue which is immediate Pokhrel told Nepali Times. A 1.5 million at an interest rate of 2 those who lost homes. and tangible. We need proper separate mechanism for financial per cent. The government has set up DIWAKAR CHETTRI assessment, decide on priorities, monitoring is being worked out to The money will be disbursed in the National Reconstruction and for the country at $6.66 billion. raise funds and then spend it make it tamper proof. installments and families will have Rehabilitation Fund (NRRF) with “The results of the Post- efficiently. We are working on those However, given the reported to present recommendation letters an initial target of $2 billion, and Disaster Needs Assessment plans now.” irregularities in even the from VDCs or municipalities. The has deposited $200 million in it show that reconstruction will The government is currently distribution of Rs 15,000, there banks will provide loans only as seed money. The draft report be costly and time-consuming,” distributing emergency financial are many who question how to creditworthy families with on Post-Disaster Need Assessment said Johannes Zutt, World Bank assistance of Rs 15,000 to each honestly the rebuilding grants collateral. To ensure repayment, (PDNA) conducted by National Country Director for Nepal in a family which lost its home to make will be disbursed. It’s not just the NRB is pushing for loan Planning Commission (NPC) has statement. “To raise the money temporary shelters. It has also delays and corruption that experts guarantees through the Deposit and put the estimated recovery cost needed, there must first be clear announced a home rebuilding grant are worried about, fake home Credit Guarantee Corporation. Guess who’s coming?

ith only a week left for the 25 June donor meeting, Nepal’s authorities Wcoordinating the conference, which aims at securing foreign assistance for rebuilding of the earthquake-devastated country, are desperately waiting for confirmation of participants. Nepal’s closest neighbours India and China have not yet confirmed who is attending although there are unconfirmed reports that India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is coming. Nepal is also waiting for the final list of guests from the US, the UK and other European countries. Early this week, Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat went to New Delhi to officially invite Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on behalf of Prime Minister Sushil Koirala. But Modi is unlikely to attend. “India has not confirmed anyone’s name as yet,” said Narayan Dhakal at the Ministry of Finance who is involved in conference planning. “We are also waiting for a confirmation letter from China.” Nepal has invited 62 donors – 37 governments, 22 international organisations and three ‘celebrities’: former US President Jimmy Carter, Hollywood actor Leonardo Dicaprio and British film star Joanna Lumley. But only 13 donors have confirmed their participation in the meeting to be co-hosted by Japan. Norway’s Foreign Affairs Minister Børge Brende, Japan’s State Minister of Foreign Affairs Yasuhide Nakayama, Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Minister A. Abdul Hameed Mohamed Fowzie and Bhutan’s Finance Minister Namgay Dorji have been confirmed. The World Bank’s Vice President for the East Asia and the Pacific Axel van Trotsenburg, European Union’s Development Commissioner, JICA’s President Akihiko Tanaka, ADB President Takehiko Nakao and UN’s Under Secretary General Gyan Chandra Acharya have also confirmed their participation. UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon will not attend but will send a video message urging the world to help rebuild Nepal.

NEPAL WHEREVER YOU ARE.

in your lap or palm. www.nepalitimes.com 19 - 25 JUNE 2015 #763 NATION 5 How not to reinvent the wheel BIZ BRIEFS Donor funding should not just go for reconstruction, but also help build capacity Click click Yeti Airlines recently launched a photo contest on Facebook. realise that their accountability is Yeti fl yers can participate by much more, if not posting a photo of themselves inside a Yeti Airlines aircraft or with one in the exclusively, towards background. Winners chosen through lucky draw will receive one roundtrip survivors of the ticket to Pokhara and an overnight stay for two at Atithi Resort & Spa. The earthquake and contest is open till 14 July. not the political and bureaucratic It’s official bosses who pretend Educational Consultancy Association of to represent them. Nepal (ECAN) has appointed Prabhu Bank The people already as its offi cial banking partner. The two know fully well signed the agreement last week. that the so-called ‘national unity Air show government’ Qatar Airways showcased a selection of its latest is going to be generation fl eet on the opening day of the Paris a mechanism Air Show, one of the world’s leading aviation for a share in events. The Qatar Airways A380, A350 XWB, A320, the earthquake A319 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner were displayed at the event. rebuilding pie for BIKRAM RAI all politicians. head of a major donor democratic institution-building, Without concomitant 15 years conference scheduled there is still no accountability and institutional innovation On the occasion of its 15th for 25 June in Kathmandu, nothing to protect us from local and capacity building at the anniversary, International Money A Express (IME) organised various Nepal and its international political tyrants. grassroots, earthquake rebuilding partners need to seriously think In a column titled ‘Follow funds too are going to evaporate CSR programs in Kathmandu. about what kind of help would the people’ in this space two in transit as it has in the long IME staff participated in clearing be most cost-effective and weeks ago, I drew attention to sordid history of foreign aid debris in Kirtipur and the group sustainable. the exemplary work done by in Nepal. Donor agencies, also deposited Rs 889,269 to the forestry user groups and Female particularly the big ones, must PM’s Disaster Relief Fund. Community Health Volunteers prevail upon the government to: in Nepal -- a feat made possible through concerted support of 1 Institute an apolitical leadership General meeting many donors coordinated by the for earthquake rebuilding, Agriculture Development Nepal government. It proves that possibly by the President himself, Bank held its eighth annual GUEST COLUMN building national capacity for like the way it was done in the general meeting on 13 June Bihari K Shrestha managing development and relief Pakistan earthquake of 2005. at Bhaktapur. The assembly must be a vital part of what is decided to give shareholders discussed at the donor meeting. 2 Form a professional agency to seven per cent bonus share By taking it so seriously, the There is no point reinventing the work out a program of action, and 8.79 per cent profi t share. Four of the nine members of the working government is going all out to wheel. including an institutional committee were also elected during the meeting. convince donors to overcome We now know that mechanism for effective quake their misgivings about the lack of money alone does not make rebuilding. accountability and governance, rehabilitation work. In fact, by and open their purse strings. It itself it is more of a nuisance 3 Install an apolitical mechanism, has put a target of Rs 6 trillion for and distorts and worsens the perhaps involving the security earthquake rehabilitation. power relations between local forces, to backstop the quake- As the ongoing relief work ‘high caste’ feudal elite and their affected communities at the has once again shown, making poorer ‘low caste’ neighbours grassroots. resources available is only part by widening the income gap. of the story. Getting it quickly In fact this is why Nepal has 4 Create a network of quake and efficiently to the neediest remained desperately poor and survivor groups at the beneficiaries is the bigger, and underdeveloped despite 25 years grassroots to manage their own often unmet challenge. Relief of ‘representative democracy’. reconstruction and rehabilitation. supplies have been derailed, Survivors of the quake have hijacked by the national once again brought into focus the government or local political real face of Nepal’s widespread cadre. Even some well-meaning and chronic poverty. Most of the NGOs didn’t really care where the 700,000 houses that came down supplies went as long as they had with the quake were those built their handover photo-ops. of stones, brick and mud mortar. The Rs 15,000 immediate That was what the poor could relief for families whose houses afford. Earthquake rebuilding were destroyed is also being and rehabilitation must therefore sidetracked by the not-so-needy, acquire a wider scope and include and the number of houses in rebuilding economies as well. certain VDCs has exceeded This would call for a longer term the total number before the undertaking that goes far beyond earthquake. Political goons are one-time pledging and grant of threatening and forcing VDC big money as the government secretaries to certify themselves seems to optimistically expect. as victims many times over. Plainly put, the donors for Despite a quarter of a century of earthquake rebuilding must first 6 NATION 19 - 25 JUNE 2015 #763

and steady discipline displayed by them on the 4th June has ever been done by soldiers of the Khalsa. The Gurkhas at Gallipoli Their devotion to duty and their splendid loyalty to their orders and Part 3, June 1915 to their leaders makes a record their This is the third part of a series nation should look back upon with of articles on the Gurkhas at pride for many generations’. Gallipoli, drawn from what will Later in the day, the 1st/5th eventually be a book on Nepal, Gurkhas were called forward in The Gurkhas and the Great War by an attempt to seize success where David Seddon. others had not. The battalion was On 14 May, the 69th Punjabis ordered to follow the same route as and 89th Punjabis were withdrawn C Company of the 1st/6th, but the from the conflict and embarked enemy was now prepared for them. the next day for Egypt en route Checked by the barbed wire, which to France. This was said to had not been destroyed by the be because they contained a Navy’s artillery, they were prime significant proportion of Muslim targets for the Ottoman rifles and troops and could not be relied machine guns. The attack petered upon not to mutiny in sympathy out with heavy losses: 129 Gurkhas with the Ottoman army. fell, as did seven of their British In the short time they had officers. Despite these heavy losses, been on the peninsula, the 89th the 1st/5th kept on attacking, but Punjabis had suffered over were decimated. 100 casualties, while the 69th One last gallant attempt was GURKHA MUSEUM Punjabis, which had not been made by No 1 Company under engaged in the front line, had On 24 May, a truce was were soon in action. The objective of the Indian Army, composed of Major M H W Nightingale, who nevertheless lost 10 and 23 were agreed. Hunter Weston was was the capture of Achi Baba, a seasoned Jat Sikh soldiers from was later awarded the DSO for wounded. These units were promoted to lieutenant general feature some 200m high, which Punjab, launched repeated attacks exceptional gallantry in leading an replaced, although not until 2 and made a corps commander. commanded both the Helles beach- in the face of murderous gunfire attack on a strongly defended spur June, by the 1/5th and 2/10th His VIII Corps consisted of the head and the Narrows. After two against the Ottoman positions after he had been wounded. Gurkha Rifles from Nepal. long-suffering 29th Division, the barrages from the Allied guns astride Gully Ravine. One section ‘He reached the crest and was For a week or so, the ANZAC RND, the 42nd Division and the directed at the Ottoman defences managed to penetrate the barbed again wounded but coming back a sector had been relatively quiet. 29th Indian Infantry Brigade. As with a view to destroying any wire and to charge the enemy with few yards he rallied his men and Even so, casualties in the Cape for the Gurkhas, by the end of barbed-wire entanglements, the their bayonets. But the cost was again led them on. He was wounded Helles sector had mounted. The May, all of the original company 1st/6th Gurkhas and 14th Sikhs of devastating: on that one day, the a third time but still endeavoured to attacking forces and the enemy commanders of the 1st/6th the Indian Brigade, together with unit’s casualties amounted to 82 advance until he fainted’. were by now both in trenches Gurkhas had been killed or the Lancashire Fusiliers, went per cent of those engaged in the At dusk, the 1st/5thGurkhas which in the case of the former wounded, and even the other two forward at noon, advancing on battle. The Sikhs lost 380 men was ordered to withdraw, the odds stretched from short to shore, raids battalions which had hardly been the extreme left along Gully Spur, out of 514. Only three of their had been too great. Retreat was and counter-raids were taking engaged as yet had also suffered with the 29th and 42nd Divisions British officers were left alive and inevitable. Hunter Watsons’ corps place with increasing intensity. losses. By this time, the two in the centre, the RND on the right unwounded. had registered 4,500 casualties, On 19 May, the enemy made a battles of Krithia had been fought centre, and the French on the Writing to the Commander in about a quarter of the troops he had night attack on the ANZAC forces. to no avail, so that the beach-head right. Chief in India a few weeks after sent forward. The French losses Four divisions of up to 40,000 men remained pitifully small. As on The Allies had about 30,000 the event, Hamilton paid tribute to were about 200 and the Turks had descended from the heights above the Western Front, gains were men and the enemy had up to the heroism of these men: lost at least 9,000. It was in the the beaches to crush the ANZACs. counted in yards and only under 28,000, half of them in the front ‘In the highest sense of the course of this battle, according But the attack went horribly wrong the protection of the overhanging line. The French attack failed word, extreme gallantry has been to Farwell, that Naik Dhan Singh and the intended victims were cliffs could the Allied troops quickly, three battalions of the shown by this fine Battalion … Gurung was captured, but escaped. able to destroy the oncoming seek respite from enemy fire RND went forward, but the fourth, in spite of these tremendous ‘He was being marched away into Ottoman forces which suffered and, to some extent at least, the Collingwood Brigade, which losses there was not a sign of captivity when he bolted and threw heavy casualties with some 10,000 from the heat. For as the summer made the second assault was wavering all day. Not an inch himself over a cliff. He survived killed or injured. advanced, the weather became wiped out in less than 30 minutes of ground gained was given up his fall but was again captured, The next day, when they hotter and the major concern and the other three battalions and not a single straggler came this time on the beach. Again, came out under a white flag to became the temperature and the took ‘frightful casualties and lost back. The ends of the enemy’s he escaped, on this occasion by collect their dead and wounded, flies, and the putrid, unburied all but ten of their officers’. The trenches leading into the Ravine diving into the sea. Few Gurkhas the Allied troops were willing to dead. Dysentery spread rapidly Manchester Brigade of the 42nd were found to be blocked with could swim, but Dhan Singh was help and even give the wounded and claimed victims by the score, Division advanced strongly as did the bodies of Sikhs and of the an exception. In spite of the hail and prisoners cigarettes and while lice added to the discomfort the 29th Division on their left, but enemy who died fighting at close of bullets that pursued him, he chocolates. Charles Bean, a of the soldiers. eventually, the Manchesters were quarters, and the glacis slope is managed to make his way, still in Sydney Morning Herald journalist On 2 June 1915, the 1st/5th marooned and forced to retreat. thickly dotted with the bodies all his clothes (even his boots), out who became the official historian and 2nd/10th Gurkhas arrived to Along Gully Ravine, on the of these fine soldiers all lying on to sea and then to swim parallel to of the Gallipoli campaign for the replace the two withdrawn and left again, the Indian Brigade was their faces as they fell in their the shore until at last he could land Australians, wrote in his diary re-deployed Punjabi battalions of hard hit. One Gurkha battalion steady advance on the enemy.The safely behind the Allied lines’. that ‘the Indians with the mules 29 Indian Brigade. What would lost 23 officers out of 29, and the history of the Sikhs affords many down here also take the prisoners come to be known as the Third other lost all of its British officers. instances of their value as soldiers, nepalitimes.com chocolates – they give our men Battle of Krithia was planned The 14th Sikhs, one of the few but it may be safely asserted that  Gallipoli Timeline some also’. for 4 June, and the new arrivals non-Gurkha pure class battalions nothing finer than the grim valour Contrary to predictions, the monsoon was not late, but early. And it didn’t start with a bang, but with a whimper. It is unmistakeably the southwest monsoon because the wind is from the east, and the pattern of sunny, humid days with night rain is characteristically monsoony. Fingers crossed that it will gather strength, and the good news is that a large trough is now moving up the Andhra Pradesh coast. FAQ: Why does the southwest monsoon come from the east? Answer: Because after being pushed from the Arabian Sea across India and the Bay of Bengal, the topography of the eastern Himalaya forces the monsoon to curl eastwards over KKATHMANDUATHMANDU northeastern India. FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY 28° 28° 27° #763 19 - 25 June 2015 20° 20° 19° TREKKING IN SOLITUDE A perfect time to trek for those who prefer isolation

PEREGRINE FRISSELL suffer any damage in the quake, and we “The cost of organising treks has gone himself a few languages for his job as want tourists to know this. It’s not only for up and as it is we keep very minimal a guide, and is now learning Japanese business, but it’s the truth,” says Pandey. margin,” says Prem Shrestha of Eco Trek. not because he expects any prospective rekking guide Ganesh Adhikari Trekking agents are ready to book trips Transporting food and other goods from the Japanese tourists, but because he is was on an eight-day trek in the to the Annapurna region and Everest Base city to trekking areas have gone up due to trying to go to Japan if he finds a job TAnnapurna region when the Camp where lodges are open and guides damaged roads. there. second earthquake struck on 12 May. can be easily hired. Because the entire This slump in business has been "I will have to pay brokers at least Adhikari saw only 35 other trekkers on circuit has very little traffic, entrepreneurs difficult for many guides and porters who $12,000 to obtain a work visa," he says the route that week. That number would say it is a perfect time for those who prefer depend on the seasonal job for their yearly dejected. Even if he gets to go it will be a have been in the hundreds in any other trekking in isolation. income. Many of them long time before Sherpa can send money spring season. The area is also not as #VisitNepalAutumn20155 are beginning to look home. Even though a majority of the susceptible to mudslides elsewhere for work, and trekking trails weren’t affected by the as other treks that must some are being hired quakes, negative coverage in media, be closed down during for relief delivery by the nepalitimes.com the monsoon. Mustang, which lies in the World Food Programme (see page 14-15). fear of the occurrence of another bigger  Map of safe trekking areas shake, have kept trekkers at bay. rain shadow of the Himalaya, is another Mingma Sherpa from Dolakha has been Nava Raj Pandey of the Thamel- destination tourism entrepreneurs are working as a guide for 13 years. He went to based Motherland Nepal Trekking and promoting for monsoon visitors. work in South Korea and was earning more Expeditions says his company, along However, trekking agents say unlike there but returned because he wanted to be with other trekking agencies, is now tourism entrepreneurs in Pokhara which with his family. working to spread information about safe last month announced huge discounts on Sherpa says he has no option but to trekking routes to potential visitors. hotels and tour packages, slashing off rates once again go abroad. He hasn’t been hired “There are a lot of places that didn’t is not a viable option to attract tourists. for any treks this season. Sherpa taught

CYNTHIA CHOO 8 NATION 19 - 25 JUNE 2015 #763

STORIES OF NEPAL

t started with a post about a young tea-seller, followed by a story on a Ineighbourhood barber, next to go up was a doughnut maker’s tale. Since then photographer Jaydev Paudel (pic, inset) has shared hundreds of stories about everyday Nepalis on his Stories of Nepal page, fashioned after the very popular Humans of New York. Paudel’s stories struck a chord with Nepalis on Facebook and the page currently has over 129,000 likes. “I had no idea Stories of Nepal was going to be such a hit, it was just a project to understand fellow Nepalis,” said Paudel, who moonlights as a graphic designer. After the 25 April earthquake the 35-year-old set out in search of more stories. He was shocked by the destruction, but more impressed by the strength of survivors: such as this of a new-born earthquake baby in Kavre(left). People offered to help, and Stories of Nepal took relief materials to 200 families and built 50 shelters in the quake-hit districts. Says Paudel: “I had never before witnessed such love and compassion as I did in days after the quake .” storiesofnepal.com @storiesofNepal

“ As a child I was told dogs were filthy animals, they carried diseases and to stay away from them. I was never taught to love and respect dogs. Hence, I never really understood why we celebrated Kukur puja. After joining the army, I became a dog trainer. I have been with OT for nine years now, gave him basic training and then special training for search and rescue. I see so many qualities in

OT that I wish were present in human

beings. He is so pure, just look at him. “ “ “ I try to emulate him but am not sure The earthquake destroyed my house so I went to the market to buy hammer and nails how successful I have been. to fix it up. I also bought this nice bag while I was there. Dipak Paudel Jyurme Lama Thimi, Bhaktapur Melamchi, Sindhupalchok

“ They call me mad but I am not. My parents died when I was really young. My relatives who raised me are also no longer alive. I have no family, friends, house, food or companion. Many times I have been beaten for no fault of mine. People pelt stones at me and children run away when they see me. They have no idea the rag I

have on my head is to protect it from the wind which gives me a splitting headache. But once“ in awhile someone comes and talks to me.

Gyan Bahadur Dagar Gumtha, Mugu 19 - 25 JUNE 2015 #763 NATION 9 ALL PICS: JAYDEV PAUDEL

After a while even the tears run dry. I “ thought there was no point in sitting and crying anymore. So I picked up these tomatoes from our garden and started selling them to passers-by on

the highway. If I can earn even a little amount, I will be able to“ buy rice and spices on my own.

Mina Tamang Gyamdi, Kavre

“ I was very handsome when I was young. The girls would start whispering to each other the minute they saw me. I think I still am.

I am one of the few men in this village to elope with a girl. My family didn’t have enough money for an arranged marriage so I thought I’d just take her away with me. In those days love was very different. We were shy and communication was a lot harder.“ The youngsters these days have mobile phones so they fall in love over the phones. In our times love happened in person.

Bahadur Shrestha Ghumthang, Sindhupalchok

“ “ I worked in a poultry farm in Qatar for five years. My employer was a In the end we are all good man, he often commended me for my hardwork and praised me Nepalis. We all die when in front of his family and friends. The day I was leaving for Nepal he gave suffocated, and bleed me Rs 100,000 saying it was a gift from his family to mine. I returned when cut. The earthquake home and built a house for my family and one for my brothers with the didn’t discriminate people money I saved. My children were going to school, crops were growing on the basis of religion, well, things were falling in place when the earthquake struck and I lost caste, and class. Who

everything. A few days after the quake, my former employer called me are we then to set apart on my phone. He said he had seen the news on tv and told me: ‘You are “ “ people when nature like my brother, tell me what you need. Come back if you need a job, I doesn’t. will send you a ticket. Janga Bahadur Majhi Thapa Dai Manthali, Ramechap Ghumthang, Sindhupalchok 10 NATION 19 - 25 JUNE 2015 #763 Lessons still to be

SONIA AWALE in DOLAKHA

Mickey Mouse and a flower painted on Ashattered pillars are a reminder of happier times here at the Raj Kaleshwor School in Dolakha Bazar. A wooden staircase leading to the second floor is dangling precariously – there is no second floor. Desks and benches are crushed and scattered. The gate is the only structure still standing in a school with 250 students (pic, below). All 363 schools and 1,200 classrooms in Dolakha district were brought down in the 25 April earthquake and the 12 May aftershock. Many students would have been killed if the earthquake had struck on a weekday, or if children had gone back to school when the aftershock came. “Schools in northern Dolakha are the worst affected, ALL PICS: JAN MØLLER HANSEN and although we have put up temporary learning centres they are very vulnerable to landslides because the rains have started,” said Dolakha’s Assistant District Education Officer Madhav Sharma. “We are now working to make the temporary classrooms sturdier.” Across the 15 most-affected districts, 30,145 classrooms were completely destroyed and most of these were in government schools. The earthquake killed 618 students and 45 teachers, and an estimated 1.5 million students were affected. It has been two weeks since the schools reopened, and most of them conducted instruction in classrooms. aftershocks. Ninth grader Srijana extracurricular activities to put As in Dolakha, many schools Senchuri lost her grandfather in students at ease. Even teachers in Kathmandu Valley also served the earthquake, and told us she needed psychosocial counseling, as shelters for families fleeing can’t really focus on her studies. and 416 teachers in Dolakha their unsafe homes. Adarsha “My favorite subject is math were trained in post-disaster Kanya School in Patan housed but these days whenever I try to more than 500 people for a month study or concentrate I fear that after the quake. there will be another shaking,” Teacher Muna Kharel said, she said, “what if that happens “We were trained to make again?” students get over their fears Across town at the Madan and we have a few students Memorial School, primary who lost their family members teacher Rita Dulal's 18-year-old Parents and guardians seem Govinda Paudel told us that who couldn’t even speak in the son jumped off the second floor reassured that classrooms are despite all the preparation, school first few days, but now with window when the earthquake being held in the open. Anshu attendance has been only 60 per counseling they are starting to struck and broke his leg. Dulal Ayer, 37, a guardian in Madan cent. He is hoping that once the cope and move on.” said she didn’t just have to Memorial School said she was aftershocks cease and families Uniformed students in counsel her class, but also initially fearful about sending return from home districts, it will temporary bamboo and thatch her son. “Even I panic,” Dulal her children to school, but was gradually increase. classrooms seemed engaged admitted, “I was the first to relieved that the classrooms were The earthquake is a chance not in class activity and engrossed run out of the room while I in bamboo sheds. She said: “It just to retrofit school buildings in chatting with friends after was attending a training in is much safer than my house and to construct seismic-resistant more than a month’s long break. psychosocial counseling, I was anyway.” schools, but also to reform and Many, however, are still afraid of so embarrassed.” Madan Memorial principal revamp Nepal’s ailing education SONIA AWALE 19 - 25 JUNE 2015 #763 NATION 11 learnt The earthquake is an opportunity to rebuild Nepal’s education system, not just fallen schools

JAN MØLLER HANSEN Moving out of darkness together The earthquake is an opportunity to change our perspective and attitude

he earthquake two months ago caused This is a time of opportunity, a blessing in tragic loss of life and property, but also disguise. It has opened and connected Nepal to Toffered us a chance to pick ourselves up the outside world more than ever before. and build a better, cleaner and more just Nepal. I have been involved in eye care in Nepal, We will not get back the lives we lost, and we can be proud of what we have achieved but livelihoods can be restored. Historical at the Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology over monuments have been destroyed, but they the last three decades. It was only possible can be rebuilt. The crisis is a huge loss to because of team work between dedicated the economy, but we can create hundreds of Nepalis and catalytic support from outside. It thousands of jobs during reconstruction. must be said that it was also possible because we were allowed to work independently with minimal political interference. Hospitals like these provide a blueprint for affordable and accessible healthcare that do not compromise on the quality of service. Patients who can afford the service pay for it, and those GUEST COLUMN who can’t pay a minimum or no fee at all. Sanduk Ruit There is no reason why this sustainable and viable model can't be scaled up to the national "SAYAUN THUNGA": Children in level so that no Nepali has to die for lack of Barabise of Sindhupalchok sing the national The disaster was a catharsis that can medical treatment. All it needs is the political anthem and attend class in a tent after their help us end the political deadlock so Nepal will, and this is the time to muster it. school building was destroyed in the is governed better, we right the wrongs, and One of the most positive trends to emerge 25 April earthquake. ensure no one is left out. The constitution in the post-earthquake relief has been the is already on fast track, let's hope it will be eagerness of the youth to volunteer to help appropriate for Nepal and well implemented. fellow Nepalis in distress. This is a tremendous The upcoming donor meeting in source of energy that the government can tap Madan Memorial agrees that Kathmandu is the perfect opportunity to for nation-rebuilding, instead of politicising schools can always be rebuilt, communicate to Nepal's international partners the young. I salute the youth who are the but it is the corrupt and our determination to rebuild a better Nepal. future of Nepal and I hope they can keep their mismanaged education system The National Planning Commission has taken unpolluted enthusiasm alive. that needs to be reconstructed. the lead in spearheading outside support, and Nepal has now achieved high school “We can’t blame the earthquake, it is important that we have the right strategy enrollment rates, and female literacy has that wasn’t our fault, but we for reconstruction and rehabilitation, and doubled in the past 15 years. We must use were already doing things wrong more importantly, that we can convince the the opportunity of reconstructing the 5,000 and need to correct them,” Karki international community that we are capable of destroyed schools to also revamp the education said. implementing it equitably, efficiently and with system so it meets modern requirements and Meanwhile in Dolakha, the a sense of urgency. Let’s present ourselves with nurtures concerned citizens. The key here is task of rebuilding classrooms dignity and unity and not as beggars. retention of motivated teachers in rural schools will not begin till after the It is also important that we convince them by paying them more. It is not just classrooms monsoon. For the moment, that we can accommodate those who genuinely that need retrofitting, the school curricula also schools are just trying to survive want to come and help. Unfortunately, the need to be retrofitted. Poverty can be alleviated day-to-day and get things message going out is that we don't need any at the grassroot level by addressing employment as much back to normal as more help. Reconstruction after the earthquake and education. possible. needs strong leadership and ownership of the In community after community, I have seen “All of our schools are process, not control over aid flows. women removing debris and piling bricks from damaged, the tents are leaking We are turning away many who are willing what used to be their homes. The men were in the rain, but at least classes to help. Like Ann, a 60-year-old Londoner nowhere in sight, having long left to work in are being held,” said Chiranjivi who wants to donate $20,000 to Nepal's the Gulf or Malaysia. The quake has added Maskey of the Federation of earthquake survivors. She doesn't want to give additional burden and responsibility on the system. The curriculum needs Nepalese Journalists in Dolakha. it to organisations with large overheads or the women, but it also allowed them to take charge. to be improved, government “But for the long term we need government, but to the neediest directly. There Our job should be to empower them, assist schools with falling attendance help to rebuild schools not just are hundreds of thousands of Anns around the the women-run households with subsidies for need to be merged and their in Dolakha but in all the 15 world, and they don’t know how to get help. reconstruction and ease their hardship. quality upgraded. districts.” There is tremendous goodwill for Nepal and its Let’s unite and rise to build a real, new “This earthquake has given people globally. Nepal above all individual and political a golden opportunity to the The state, by definition, is the difference. Ministry of Education to rebuild most important player. It needs to be the whole education system,” nepalitimes.com accommodating, have a long-term vision and a Sanduk Ruit is the award-winning founder of said Baburam Biswakarma of  Back to school, #758 clear understanding of just how important this the Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology and the Shikshak magazine for teachers.  Lessons from Sichuan, #758 particular moment is in the history of Nepal. Himalayan Cataract Project.  Unlearning education, #652 Teacher Pushpa Karki at 12 19 - 25 JUNE 2015 #763

has no previous experience in HAPPENINGS coaching. I will not ruin this little gem of a film by elaborating on what follows, just suffice to say that it really will warm your heart. Even while it is formulaic, McFarland, USA succeeds mainly because the screenwriters have been smart enough not to downplay the conflict inherent in the ethnic disparities that arise with White being well, white, and having to train young people who, in addition to coming from a totally different socio- economic background, also have RSS an entirely different culture EQUAL RIGHTS: Women rights activists and political leaders submit a memorandum to Prime Minister Sushil Koirala demanding correction of a rooted in their Mexican origins. citizenship clause on the new draft of the Constitution on Wednesday. McFarland, USA Kevin Costner, who has always excelled at playing the merican cinema is surprising how people who hate everyman is perfectly cast ubiquitous with films sports tend to enjoy movies on as a quiet, stoic, but wryly Aabout sports. In fact the subject. humourous coach and father sports movies are pretty much McFarland, USA is as standard figure. While the wonderful a genre in themselves, and, to a sport film as it gets. A down Maria Bello is wasted a little in be perfectly honest, of all the on his luck, frustrated football her role, as Cheryl, his pithy feel-good genres, this one is my coach, Jim White (played by Kevin blonde, outspoken wife, the Costner) is forced to move to young men in the cross country McFarland in California, one of team, are exceedingly well cast, the poorest towns in the state, proving that a decent script and with a predominantly Mexican stellar casting can raise a film American demographic. As an beyond the ordinary; making the assistant football coach under an mundane memorable. MUST SEE already entrenched, inept bully McFarland, USA produced BIKRAM RAI Sophia Pande of a man, White visibly falters, and distributed by Disney, even MINOR MERGER: Madhesi People’s Right Forum Chair Upendra Yadav wondering how he can pursue the while being of the glossier kind (centre), Federal Socialist Party-Nepal Chair Ashok Rai (right), and Khas vocation he loves in such a place of American cinema, is one that Inclusive National Party Chair Yuvaraj Karki at the announcement of their newly favourite. Mainly because, the and also provide for his wife and we could do with more of. It formed party, the Federal Socialist Forum on Monday. good ones, like the Blindside two daughters. does not shy away from class, (2009) and Moneyball (2011) in It is only when White race, and the hard realities of addition to being ridiculously discovers that most of his American life, presenting a uplifting are usually based on real students can run pretty darn complete picture. life stories and therefore can be fast that he conceives the idea extrapolated as fairly effective of training them to run cross nepalitimes.com teaching tools for people of country, to compete in the state  Trailer all ages and inclinations. It is championships – a sport he

KUNDA DIXIT / AYESHA SHAKYA THEN AND NOW: Patan Darbar Square at 3PM on 25 April (left) and on 15 June (right). Cultural heritage sites in Kathmandu reopened on Monday.

BIKRAM RAI LIGHT UP: CEO of Mega Bank Anil Shah at a memorial service for earthquake victims at Boudhanath on Saturday.

AAMEER JOSHI RUN KATHMANDU: Actor Hari Bansha Acharya speaks to participants of Run for Kathmandu on Saturday at Patan Darbar Square. 19 - 25 JUNE 2015 #763 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 13

Carrot: 16-point agreement

Suman in Nepal, 14-20 June

parties led by Raj Kishor Yadav, Anil Jha, DEVIKA GHARTI MAGAR Sharad Singh Bhandari and Mahendra Madhesi Ray have criticised the agreement. But she says. “I now have both so I am they are unlikely to reject it, and want making use of the opportunity.” disarray to benefit from the 40 per cent seats Chaudhary’s two children, a son allocated for Proportional Representation Never too late and a daughter are also studying Kantipur, 18 June (PR). in the same school. Her son is in Upendra Yadav teamed up with Devika Gharti Magar in Natural Resources and Means was Grade 9 and daughter is in Grade 8. Ashok Rai and announced another Himal Khabarpatrika, 14-20 June often ridiculed by other members At first Chaudhary says her The Madhesi Front was always marred by alliance: Federal Socialism Forum Nepal. for being illiterate. children were embarrassed to be distrust, and never a firm alliance. After four Yadav and Rai both had rejected the “I felt humiliated,” she recalls. going to school with their mother, major parties inked a 16-point constitution deal, but their unified party seems more Shanta Chaudhary never went to “Had my parents been able to send even the teachers laughed at her, deal on the constitution and a national interested in post-constitution politics and school because she was forced me to school, I would not have but after seeing how determined government, the Front has fractured like opportunities. The front’s leader Rajendra to become a Kamlari (girl-child faced such abuses.” she was, they have all grown never before. And every member party is Mahato is alone against the compromise indentured labourer) at the age Chaudhary then enrolled herself supportive. trying to use the deal for its own benefit. but has no support from other leaders. of eight. After being freed, she in a six-month adult literacy class, Chaudhary wanted to join Bijaya Gachhadar, one of the key Mahanth Thakur and some youth leaders became an activist, working for the where she learnt to read and write. school last year but she was members of the front, not only signed the are planning an agitation, but look rights of landless farmers and to At the first parliamentary diagnosed with uterine cancer, and deal but also brokered it. Other Madhesi confused over where to start. abolish Kamlari culture. committee meeting, Chaudhary has been undergoing treatment. When the CPN (UML) chose took more than five minutes to In 2013 Chaudhary published her as a member of the first write her name. Other lawmakers a much-acclaimed autobiography Constituent Assembly (CA) under watched as she wrote her name about her journey from being the Proportional Representation with great difficulty. a child slave to a Constituent system in 2008, many were Last month she enrolled in Assembly member. surprised to see an uneducated Grade 8 of Danda Gaun Higher former bonded labourer in the Secondary School near her parliament. hometown in Dang. nepalitimes.com Chaudhary who chaired the “I didn’t have time and money  She has a dream, #670 Parliamentary Committee on to go to school when I was a child,” Rohingya in Kathmandu

Pradip Basyal in Nepal, 14-20 June namaz prayers. Rafik Alam and his family were separated during their escape. Only after he was issued a refugee certificate from the UNHCR did After crossing over into Bangladesh on a boat from Burma, 28-year-old Alam learn of his wife and children’s whereabouts. However it took Amir Hussain and his family came to Kathmandu via India in 2012. Alam more than a year to reunite with his family in Bangladesh. Hussain and his family are among thousands of “My wife was pregnant when I lost her, she was Rohingya who fled Burma after anti-Muslim attacks bbrave enough to deliver the baby and bring them to in parts of the western Rakhine state. The plight BBangladesh on her own,” he says. “In Kathmandu we of Rohingya ‘boat people’ is making headlines in fface a lot of problems but at least we do not have to Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. ffear for our lives.” When the group first reached Kathmandu, they Before the riots erupted three years ago, Myanmar didn’t know anybody. They first stopped at Jame Masjid, wwas home to some 800,000 Rohingya people. one of the city’s oldest mosques, from where they were IInternational reports show that 120,000 of them have advised to go the office of the UN High Commission for ssince left the country. A citizenship law enacted in Refugees (UNHCR). Although the UNHCR agreed to 11984 termed the Rohingya stateless immigrants from provide shelter to women and children the refugee BBangladesh. As a result, they were not eligible for families decided to stay at a cheap hotel in Bag Bazar ggovernment jobs, or to apply for basic services. because they didn’t want to leave their children. Today, Hussain and But the real tragedy for the Rohingya began in 2012 as Burma his family share a four-room flat in Kapan with two other Rohingya embarked on the path to democracy, and the persecution by the families. Each occupies a single room, and uses the empty room for majority Buddhists is driving the Rohingya refugee crisis. 14 NATION 19 - 25 JUNE 2015 #763

Deurali Chautara Charikot KATHMANDU

KUNDA DIXIT in GORKHA

ot since the conflict ended in 2006 have the locals of NAbu Khaireni in Gorkha seen as much helicopter activity as in the past two months. An abandoned rubber factory has been turned into a forward base for emergency flights to the mountains. Many parts of Nepal are hard to reach at the best of times, but after the 25 April earthquake, terrain and weather have become the most challenging obstacles to get urgent relief to remote communities in the 15 mountain districts before the monsoon sets in. Roads that had been damaged and recently repaired are blocked again by landslides. Helicopters are often grounded due to cloud cover in the high valleys. And now that military aircraft from India, China and the US have gone ALL PICS: KUNDA DIXIT back, there is also a shortage of helicopters to clear the backlog of some 350 tons of relief material. The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP), which Operation Mountain Express specialises in food deliveries in emergencies around the world, is managing the logistics of taking tents, roofing material, food, It is a race against the rains to get relief to remote villages medicines and basic supplies to far-flung villages in Dolakha, of his familiarity with Nepal’s three Remote Operations Bases and mule trains to repair trails second phase, it is working with Sindhupalchok, Rasuwa, Nuwakot mountains while serving as the in Chautara of Sindhupalchok, and get to even more remote areas local government to distribute and Dhading districts. WFP Nepal representative for four Deurali of Gorkha and Charikot which will be difficult to reach rice, dal and cooking oil to last “In Nepal, we are working years till 2009. of Dolakha where relief material during the monsoon. three weeks for 1.2 million in some of the most difficult WFP doesn’t just transport its are trucked in to be loaded onto The work has been divided people. In the last phase, it will terrain in the world, and the own food aid, but also coordinates helicopters. into three phases. Immediately be reaching 900,000 people with challenge will be compounded with the district administration WFP has hired a fleet of five after the quake, WFP said it cash for work in hardest-hit by the monsoon,” said Richard to lift relief material collected MI8s and smaller helicopters, reached 2 million people in the districts for debris clearance and Ragan, who WFP brought in from by nearly 100 partners to village and is also employing hundreds affected areas with 10kg of rice reconstruction. his posting in Tanzania because areas without road access. It has of trekking porters, mountaineers each for families of five. In the Since long sections of foot The 8th summit fter seven Nepali women got to the top of Mt Everest in WORKING OUT OF HOME: The WFP’s Richard A2008 and finished climbing the seven highest peaks in Ragan and member of the Seven Summits Women’s seven continents last year, they thought they had run out Team, Chunu Shrestha, at the Remote Operations of challenges. Base warehouse in Charikot on Saturday (above). But when Nepal was hit by an earthquake on 25 Mountaineers Pema Diki Sherpa and Nim Doma Sherpa April, members of The Seven Summits Women’s Team about to go off on another relief delivery mission in their immediately put their knowledge of mountains and home district of Dolakha last week (below). experience in managing logistics in remote areas to good use for relief and rehabilitation work. Asha Kumari Singh is from Mahottari district in the Gurung have been working in Gurung’s home village of plains, but knows Rasuwa district intimately ever since Bhotenamlang of Sindhupalchok to distribute emergency she spent two months here in 2007 for a mountaineering relief, rehabilitate school buildings and get classes training course on Langtang Glacier. So, when the UN’s going again. Another team member, Sushma Maskey is World Food Programme (WFP) asked if she would like coordinating from the WFP office in Kathmandu. to be a field officer in Rasuwa for relief distribution, she Two others, Pema Diki Sherpa and Nim Doma readily agreed. Sherpa have been assigned to supervise WFP logistics “I may be from the Tarai, but I am at home here in their home district of Dolakha. The homes of their and have many friends,” Singh said after returning from KUNDA DIXIT families in Simigaon have been destroyed, as have the delivering food and roofing sheets to the devastated school and monastery. But when we met them last week village of Gatlang on Monday. “But my parents are more both were acutely aware that the need was greater in worried about my safety now, than when I was climbing other villages, and they were ready to take emergency Mt Everest,” she laughed. supplies to Lapilang. Another mountaineer from the team, Chunu “Climbing the seven peaks and making Nepal Shrestha, is based at WFP’s Remote Operations Base in known all over the world gave us a sense of personal Charikot where she helps assess the need in remote fulfillment,” said Pema Diki, “but helping in earthquake villages of Sindhupalchok so supplies can be dispatched relief is a different kind of satisfaction, it is like we are by helicopter, road, or porter. helping soothe our motherland when she is in pain.” “It’s not just about loading a helicopter and sending it Kunda Dixit off,” Shrestha told us in Charikot on Saturday, “you have to know the specific need in every village. Some villagers are disappointed when you bring them sanitation kits, they nepalitimes.com want food. Others don’t need food, they want tin roofs.”  High fi ve, #699  They climbed another mountain, #714 Other team members Shailee Basnet and Maya JANA AŠENBRENNEROVÁ 19 - 25 JUNE 2015 #763 NATION 15 HEAVY LIFT: A MI8 is loaded with three tons of tin sheets (overleaf) at WFP’s base in Deurali (far left) for delivery to northern Gorkha before the monsoon sets in. Villagers in Philim of Upper Gorkha watch roofing material being unloaded (below, far left). WFP staff help unload the tin sheets (left). The village of Uhiya near the 25 April epicenter clings precariously to a slope ravaged by landslides (below, left).

clinics and others want bridges to be repaired. Taking the right material to the right place quickly needs careful coordination and logistical planning, and on hand to help are Nepalis with experience in emergencies around the world. Subash Singh who was involved in the Ebola Mission in Liberia and the 2005 Pakistan earthquake was brought in by WFP to manage logistics in Gorkha. “The biggest challenge here is terrain and coordination between relief organisations,” says Singh. “But for me the difference with other disasters is the amazing coping mechanism of us Nepalis. We are used to hardships, and we have a tremendous capacity to overcome them.” As with other disasters, relief aid will taper off and WFP itself will wind down its logistical backup by the end of the rainy season. However, that is when the real work of long-term trails along the Budi Gandaki Upper Gorkha and Ripchet and Nepalis and foreign climbers, Team to help out with logistics in reconstruction of the estimated have been wiped out by huge Chhekampar in the Tsum Valley. trekking porters and locals to the districts (see box). 700,000 destroyed houses, 5,000 landslides, the Trekking Agents Trails will also be repaired in create jobs while helping with In other areas, villagers will schools, health posts and damaged Association of Nepal (TAAN) Sindhupalchok, Rasuwa, Dhading relief and rehabilitation,” Ragan be paid cash to carry their own trails will have to begin. and the Nepal Mountaineering and Dolakha so locally-hired said as he helped unload three relief supplies from roadheads Association (NMA) are readying porters can pre-position supplies. tons of corrugated sheets off a MI8 or material is dropped by porters and mule trains to carry “We have become smarter in Philim of Upper Gorkha. helicopters. Tin sheets are in high nepalitimes.com  Photo blog supplies across the 5,100m about this, and have brought in WFP has got some members demand as tents will leak in the  Soon, the monsoon , #760 Larkya Pass to Prok and Bihi in people who know the mountains: of the Seven Summits Women’s rains, some villages need mobile 16 NATION

Murals of hope

PICS: STÉPHANE HUËT ver the last two years, for all of us,” said Rajbhandari, Nepal’s vibrant street art whose group will paint eight Ohas received worldwide other temples of the Kathmandu exposure and admiration for the Valley that were destroyed in the personal and political messages. earthquake. Many promising painters have Another artists’ collective, been featured in international Artlab, has launched a project exhibitions and the media. called ‘Re-Color’ to bring After the 25 April earthquake back social harmony after the there has been an explosion of art earthquake through art therapy. along Kathmandu’s roads with Passersby are invited to join the messages of loss and hope. artists with brush strokes on the Shraddha Shrestha painted walls to make it a community Hijo, Aaja (Yesterday, Today) in activity. Artlab has held workshops Kantipath with the help of her in Patan and Bungamati. friend Matt Rockwell depicting “I feel the children who painted two sets of couples, one crying and with me were able to take their the other holding shovels and a minds off the earthquake and get pickaxe. “I wanted to convey that over their anxiety,” says artist yesterday we were mourning, but Kiran Maharjan. today we have to get back to work,” Japanese artist, Mika, who Shrestha told Nepali Times. started her painting career in Passersby stopped to admire her Pokhara says she came back work, and a policeman explained because she owes so much to the painting to others who didn’t Nepal. Mika painted several understand the images. “In other murals in Kathmandu before countries, it’s illegal to paint the returning home. She thinks the streets, but here I was supported colourful images cheer people up. by a uniformed officer,” Shrestha “I wanted to paint a mural to laughed. make the people of Kathmandu Hatemalo Abhiyan (Chain feel happy,” said Mika who has INSIDE of Hands) is a team of fine arts worked with Sattya Collective to BRAVING THE MONSOON students led by artist Bhishan paint the walls on the Pulchok Putting-off federal demarcation in the constitution Rajbhandari. The group is currently uphill. TROUBLE IN THE RUBBLE Time for the government and donors to focus on will anger some, but the 2 million people without painting a three-storey mural of Sanjana Mali, assistant designer homes have other worries. Kasthamandap (pic, top) on a wall of Sabah, was disappointed when people waiting for help to rebuild their lives. in Babar Mahal to commemorate a painted wall in front of the store EDITORIAL PAGE 2 BY THE WAY BY ANURAG ACHARYA PAGE 3 the temple after which Kathmandu came down in the earthquake, but is named, and which killed 12 is glad to see the new murals. “It’s people when it collapsed. so good to have new colourful LESSONS STILL TO BE LEARNT FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT “We want the authorities to artwork in front of the shop again,” The earthquake is an opportunity to rebuild Nepal’s Nepal will rise again, but only if we use the earthquake as a chance to do things differently. understand that the reconstruction she added. education system, not just fallen schools. of these monuments is important Stéphane Huët BY SONIA AWALE PAGE 10-11 GUEST COLUMN BY SANDUK RUIT PAGE 10-11

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