#49 29 June - 5 July 2001 20 pages Rs 20 KARNALI SALT CARAVANS 9,10,11

EXCLUSIVE 404,000,000 Update on the official tally in rupees for cash and valuables looted by Maoists IT’S THE ECONOMY, STUPID

so far from banks and rural savings ○○○○○ schemes. Independent analysts say BINOD○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ BHATTARAI campaign is spreading to other districts. The Maoists are out to this could soar to billions if all forced epal’s economy has never been in Maoists have put up pamphlets calling for “donations” from businesses and such a sorry state. Revenue making three zones of Gandaki, Narayani sabotage the economy. individuals are added. Official death toll ncollection is down, expenditures and Dhaulagiri “dry” by mid-July and Our politicians better for the past six years till this week: 298 have soared, Maoists have targeted major wholesalers even in Kathmandu are ordinary folk (considered class tax-paying industries like alcohol, and the hesitating to renew retailing licenses. “This forget about politics enemies by Maoists), 365 policemen turmoil of the past three weeks has is turning scary,” confessed one industrialist for now, and rescue the and 1,054 rebels or suspected rebels. demolished tourism. in Kathmandu with business in the tarai.

Even before the royal massacre, “Business runs on future hope, if this is the economy first. ○○○○○○○○ Indo-Nepal trade businessmen were sounding the alarm present mindset there is no future.” ○○○○○○○○○○○○ Business lobbies from Nepal and India bells: the crippling three-day strike called Liquor manufacturers and breweries second-phase of sweeping reforms and met in New Delhi last week and by the UML and political instability had have already seen a 30 percent drop in sales. actions can bail us out from where we are,” averted a major crisis in bilateral trade. paralysed government. Maoist threats and Soft drink and mineral water manufacturers says a frustrated manager of a company with India accuses Nepali companies of extortion drives had gone into high gear. have received Maoist threats, some of them factories in the tarai. The Maoists are now misusing provisions in the 1996 Government had come to a standstill. ordered to slash prices. One brewery in targetting industry through the labour preferential trade treaty to export non- Then the Naryanhiti mass murder closed Chitwan even shut down as a precaution- unions. Last month “revolutionary” labour Nepali goods. Indifference by Nepali everything down for three weeks, gave ary measure for a couple of days. The unions submitted a 13-point list of officials over these Indian concerns Nepal worldwide negative publicity, and National Beverages and Tobacco demands including a 50 percent salary hike, had taken India to the point of the shock and uncertainty of the tragedy Association says the government could stopping contract labour hire and evicting threatening to scrap the treaty which affected businesses and offices. lose up to Rs 12 billion in revenue alone. foreign (read Indian) employees. comes up for automatic renewal later Now, the Maoists are capitalising on 50,000 retailers nationwide will lose The Maoist strategy appears to be this year. The FNCCI and India’s CII the public’s disbelief of the official version business. Indirectly, sugarcane farmers three-pronged: reducing government carried out a review and concluded of the tragedy to mount an anti- across the tarai will be hit. revenue, disrupting the marketing chain, that trade has benefitted both Gyanendra campaign, and sow confusion. And with the government already into and cashing in on public support for countries. The recommendations are to They have heightened protests in the deep red, this would further hit spending in curbing alcohol. Says Rajendra Khetan of be handed in to the two governments capital and accelerated their campaign in vital development programmes. For the the Khetan Group: “It is becoming urgent by August just before the deadline for the industrial heartland of six tarai government it has become a Catch-22, to to recognise the Maoists as a force and get either side to can notify the other of districts, including Morang and Chitwan. win the hearts and minds of the people it them to talks. Left to itself I won’t be any major changes it wants to make. A women’s organisation affiliated with needs to spend more on basic services, but surprised to see the economy reach the The treaty comes up for renewal in the Maoists has declared Chitwan “dry” there is less and less money coming in. point of no return.” December. since 15 June. Retailers have pulled beer “It has become useless to gripe about (More on Page 8) and alcohol off the shelves, and the industrial security anymore, only a targeted See p. 8 use original hp inks and paper “Economic ruin now will mean political ruin...”

How is the economy doing? in the country and with the Maoist They are trying to hit the government in areas where it The macro-indicators are not bad. problem, even the macro- is very vulnerable in the tarai—Chitwan, Bara, Parsa, We are expecting a six percent indicators may change… Morang, Sunsari, Jhapa and Kapilvastu. These are growth in Gross Domestic The economy has been hurt in the districts where Nepal’s economic and industrial Product. Export also remains good past few months because of the activities are concentrated. In Chitwan they seem to be but the trend of the past few Maoist problem and the irresponsible trying to make breweries stop production and they’re months is not very encouraging— tactics of even mainstream political also trying to stop the flow of various beverages. They we are having problems with parties. The economy has been the are even creating problems for products like Coca- some major exports. Foreign main casualty. Normal business has Cola. All that is bad, it affects revenue. Naturally the exchange reserves are been obstructed, shops and factories economy is affected. But we’re committed to providing comfortable, but the fiscal front is have been forced to shut down. Daily full security. No effort will be spared in ensuring total Always Clear a problem, especially because of wage workers have been forced out security for our economic life. Always Sharp the turmoil and instability. The of work. The atmosphere of insecurity Why cannot there be a minimum political business climate has not been created by the Maoists in some understanding between the opposition and favourable mainly because of districts has also taken its toll. They government, and even between factions within bandhs, strikes and disruptions in mainly influence remote districts the Nepali Congress for the sake of the the business climate. Revenues where economic activities are not well economy? * Stay away from imitations and refills have gone down seriously established anyway. That is what we are trying to do. Our main Authorised Distributor: following the three days of But they have been threatening bandhs and two weeks of discussion platform with other political parties is ‘let and even forcing factories to shut us agree on a common national agenda’. ComputerLand Building, Ramshah Path, Kathmandu mourning. Tel: 431199, 431746, 430858-9 Fax: 430641 down in districts where most Email: [email protected] Nothing seems to be working industry is located? The Total Solutions Company See p. 6

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TIME TO TAKE OFF OUR MASKS Of the intrigue and back-stabbing that has always characterised Nepali politics, it is still true what they used to say 150 years ago: you will learn more if your eyes are closed, you won’t see much by opening them. In this netherworld of conspiracy, nothing is as it appears. If nothing is happening something is up. If something is happening, it’s probably not. Since we believe our destiny is written in our stars, the only people we truly believe are astrologers. We don’t even believe in ourselves. Our nation’s future then becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy of doom. The rule of survival in this Machiavellian kingdom is to keep your eyes wide shut. The Panchayat years taught us to walk around with masks, and some of us never really took them off. Is that why, even when the truth is staring at us in the face, we look away? At this moment of great turmoil and tragedy in our country’s history, we keep masquerading. The ruling party, the opposition, the elite, the

underground left, the palace, the security forces—all milling around in OS this masquerade ball while a long-suffering people look on from outside the fence. A crisis of this magnitude in most societies works as shock therapy STATE OF THE STATE by CK LAL and brings out the best in people. With us, it has shown us at our worst. When we should be rallying around to keep the country united, we scurry off to hide in our individual little burrows. When parties which believe in democracy and parliament should be standing up for their beliefs, they all lie low, afraid to speak out lest they be noticed. An unquiet peace Factions within political parties have daggers drawn instead of patching up their petty tiffs. Our revolutionary republicans who wear More than the Public Security Regulation, it is the terror of unfreedom in the Nepali Mao masks have, with retroactive hypocrisy, discovered that they were monarchists all along. hinterland that should engage those in their safe perches in Kathmandu. Orphaned by the annihilation of their patrons, the ultras of the left and right who are united by their do-or-die hostility to parliamentary SERA, Sindhupalchok—This is a picture that has brought the country to the very that this area is in ‘their’ control?” I ask him democracy now want to give our fragile constitutional processes a fatal postcard hamlet. Its lone tourist lodge is brink? I ask for forgiveness for my irreverent who are “they”? He starts dusting his wares knock. Of course, given the utter lack of accountability of our elected straight out of trekking brochures that promise question, my momentary lapse of faith. King with a meaningful silence. leaders, half their battle is already won. But one really has to wonder: if instant nirvana. The tiny rooms with low- Birendra smiles. On our way we stop for tea at they are the true nationalists they claim to be how will this short- ceiling tin roofs are shaded by banana leaves, The Sera lodge itself is an example of the Melamchi Bazaar. Connected by regular bus sighted and opportunistic assault on the monarchy help them? and are immaculately clean. The bed has havoc that the Maoists have wrought on service to Kathmandu, Melamchi has the Our little boat is taking water fast, people on it are beginning to wrought iron legs and is fitted with a Nepal’s tourism trade. They may not be look of a wild west town. Shacks with tin panic, and the comrades are bent on rocking it. When the boat finally comfortable mattress. Between the bare floor, targetting tourists, but their very presence is roofs, roadside drains overflowing with filth, sinks, don’t they know it will take them down naked ceiling, and freshly whitewashed stone scaring trekkers away and depriving rural street corners reeking of urine, iron bars with it? Our democratic institutions walls the clean and colourful cotton sheets Nepal of one of its sole sources of income and dumped haphazardly in front of matchbox survived this crisis intact, and appear like an artwork spread for display. A employment. We were the first guests here in structures struggling to keep straight, and everything happened according to the tiny window offers the view of rice paddies and last six months. Tourism is an image-conscious black plastic bags fluttering like flags on laws of the land—that is the bottle-half- the mountains of the Jugal Himal to the north. business where perceptions matter more than bushes along river bank. The cinema full way of looking at it. The half-empty There is an compact toilet into which reality. Even though not one tourist has been theatre had a poster of Nepali movie, but it version is that these same institutions they have managed to fit a mini washbasin, harmed in six years of insurgency in the was blaring an Indi-pop number to draw are all hollow: our elected leaders a functional commode, and a mixer shower country, just the reports of the spread of customers. have squandered most of their with running hot water from the solar Maoism is enough to create a scare. One A vegetable vendor looked familiar. He moral authority, military and collectors on the roof. In a place like this, terse public statement of Comrade turned out to be from my village. Pointing police morale is low, and when evening falls there is nothing but the Prachanda causes a flurry of travel advisories towards a slogan painted on a shop-front along even the once-monolithic music of the river, the piercing call of by western embassies in Kathmandu, and the road, I asked him, “Who did that?” He monarchy which was a strange birds and the sigh of monsoon rains cancellations of reservations. answered me with the finality of ending the symbol of national unity is a on the leaves. There is no electricity, and The struggle for survival of the lodge at conversation there and then: “Them.” shaky shadow of its former the phone is blissfully out of order. Sera is filled with poignancy because it is a Its is terror out here—naked and palpable. self. After the rains, the night sky is so clear you non-commercial resort and one of several The dread is no more of the vagaries of nature This week’s parliament can walk around in the starlight. I sit down at across Nepal that doesn’t repatriate profits to (floods or famine), atrocities of the session was the first sign the chautari on the riverbank and try to Kathmandu or abroad. It is a sustainable administration (these days, policemen in a month that there still is identify some new stars in the sky. I choose a philanthropic enterprise that ploughs tourism themselves wear hunted looks) or the fear of a government in this OS few particularly bright ones towards the north earnings directly into running a local school an uncertain future. It is the most basic of country. Prime Minister Girija above Lantang National Park and name them and a health centre. But because there hasn’t all fears: fear of life. It has become so Prasad Koirala’s 14-point after the souls of the dead. The most luminous been a single tourist for the past six months, pronounced that the object of dread is a programme presented in parliament on Monday offers a way out of our one could be King Birendra. Not even the school has been closed and the health collective pronoun, a malevolent word full present political impasse. Koirala has also offered to step down, and immortality is entirely free of time and space. centre is barely running. of dread and foreboding. we hope that is not another bluff. Since the UML’s Madhav Nepal has Then there are the white stars on the red Asked why tourists don’t come anymore It is in the context of this harsh reality that welcomed the 14-point plan, all we need now is for the Nepali sky of the Maoist flag. Just after the regicide, to Sera, the lodge attendant gives a fearful “I the recently implemented Public Security Congress and the UML to be serious about it. Maoists claimed that they had an “undeclared know but I dare not tell you” shrug that says it Regulations need to be seen. There are laws to Out country is not fated to doom, it country can be saved. Our working relationship” with King Birendra. all. The shopkeeper in Talamarang is more check the tyranny of the government, but how destiny is not shaped by the stars but by actions we take together High in the sky to the north, King Birendra is forthcoming, even though elliptical in his else do you deal with those who have so today. silent. Were you talking to the Maoists as Dr answers. Hiding behind an impersonal terrorised the masses that no one even dare Babu Ram Bhattarai and Comrade Prachanda pronoun ‘they’ for the Maoists, he tells me: take their name? claim? How could you sympathise—let alone “They haven’t caused any problem for us. Why The idle intelligentsia of Kathmandu is THE GATES FOUNDATION have a working relationship—with an ideology do you (meaning people of Kathmandu) say leading the chorus of protest against the regulation. For them, there is nothing wrong Dear Mr Bajracharya with kangaroo courts of insurgents dispensing We are writing to you as mayor of our fair city of Patan to ask what Taliban-like quick justice. But administrative on earth you are doing at the Bagmati Bridge taking two months to dig actions under the due process of law is three enormous holes. The labourers there tell us you are building a tantamount to “resurrection of ghost of “Welcome to Patan” gate. Stop this megalomania at once. If there is Panchayat”. George Orwell was right, there one thing we don’t need more of in Nepal, it is gates. This nation has a are some ideas so absurd that only an fixation on gates. There is a welcome gate at the airport that is neither intellectual could believe them. functional, nor tasteful and it is in total disharmony with the Democracy needs practitioners capable surroundings. Maoists are busy erecting martyr gates all over their of faith without illusions, not fanatics in territory. Mr Mayor, if you were really concerned about the welfare of search of purity of intent, form and content your voters you should plough the money you are wasting on that gate in every government regulation. As long as to give us street lights that work, Ashoka Stupas that are not blotted by the rule of law with right to reject the concrete high rises, garbage that is collected, and pot hole-free lawmakers through the ballot box exists, streets. Save the erections for later. USHA TIWARI freedom is not in danger. It is the terror of Yours truly, unfreedom in the unquiet hills and plains of Patan Residents Nepal that should engage the empty minds Melamchi Bazar in their safe perches in Kathmandu. NATION 29 JUNE - 5 JULY 2001 NEPALI TIMES 333 COMMENT by HARI ROKA The leadership mirage MIN BAJRACHARYA ddressing the 20th session of the House of Representatives, Prime National consensus Minister Girija Prasad Koirala put forward his 14-point plan for national The 20th session of parliament is a After the restoration of democracy, there should have been a national consensus aconsensus. He added, for good measure, that he was willing to make any time of crisis and opportunity. Which over the process of economic and social transformation. There should have been sacrifice (including resigning from his post) in order to carry the plan forward. progress on making elections freer and fairer, implementing land reform and

Madhav Kumar Nepal, leader of the main opposition UML, told the House he path will our lawmakers choose? delivering social justice. But there was no consensus on these vital maters. The ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ agreed with many of the 14 items on Koirala’s checklist and would like to discuss ○○○○○○○○○○○○ self-interest of political parties, their ideological drift, meant that consensus them. But before that, would the prime minister mind resigning? modern constitutional monarchies. Should decisions on the royal succession still stood no chance. Politics that centred on petty personal interest meant that The winter session before this was a dark blot on Nepal’s parliamentary rest with the palace, or should appropriate laws be made by parliament on the political parties did not institutionalise themselves. Internally, the democracy. The opposition’s demand for the prime minister’s resignation on succession question? parties failed to foster a democratic culture, there was a crisis of charges of corruption and Koirala’s stubborn refusal to do so brought the House discipline and values. This has pushed citizens, political parties and to a standstill, and the opposition bandhs brought the country to a grinding halt. Maoist “Peoples’ War” even the country towards uncertainty, causing chasms to open up What this campaign for the prime minister’s resignation ended up doing was Large parts of the country are now under the influence of the Maoists. The group between the people and political parties, between the political parties eclipse the economic, development and political crises that had been piling up. has seriously over-extended itself, and its leadership now finds the movement is and the constitutional monarchy. The UML could neither explain how throwing out Koirala would solve any slipping from its grip. This is the result of the Maoists’ own immature and Even now, after having brought this upon themselves, political of these problems, nor offer alternatives. Similarly, the Nepali Congress could not adventurous pursuit of armed struggle. By relying on violence, the Maoists are parties continue to be plagued by internal strife and have no time to show an increasingly disillusioned public why it should remain in power if it inviting counter-violence from the state. Ultimately this can only push the devote to the country’s vital and urgent problems. The result: most could not keep the three promises it had made: addressing the Maoist insur- country towards a bi-polar balance of power between itself and a militarised Nepalis equating democracy with economic collapse, lawlessness and gency, curbing corruption and improving governance. The country’s future was palace. In this either-or struggle, parliamentary parties in the centre will be forced social anarchy. Unless the political forces come to an understanding on being held ransom by these two myopic political parties. to chose between the two extremes and will no longer have a future as the the lowest common denominator that is necessary to address some of At a time of deep national crisis like now, political parties must emerge from country drifts towards civil war. these issues, the country is not going to find a way out of this mess. their slumber to give a sense of vision and hope, otherwise the public disenchant- The current session of parliament must once and for all come up with a ment will only grow and push us towards anarchy. precise perspective on the Maoist “peoples’ war”. First, are the Maoists a Leadership crisis political force or not? Second, if they are a political force, parliament has to work Much of this is a result of a crisis of leadership. Governance has Crisis of representation to bring them to the table and entice them to join the political mainstream, or become a mirage. Leaders have shown political, organisational, The present political crisis in Nepal has many facets: economic, social, political, try to finish them militarily. Third, if the Maoists want to negotiate, how is managerial and ethical bankruptcy. It because of this failure of religious, ethnic, linguistic, regional disparities and judicial independence. Koirala parliament going to even begin to solve the Maoists’ myriad demands? leadership that consensus, political goodwill and trust could not grow has tried to address some of these problems in his 14-point plan which includes Many government development projects have been affected by the and the country is facing this crisis. Even the Maoist insurgency and citizenship, land reform and women’s property rights. But he does not even begin insurgency, trade has been affected, businesses have been closed because of the recent royal massacre can be viewed as a by-product of this to look at the Maoist insurgency and the psychological impact this has had on threats and extortion. The education of more than a million Nepali children moral dilemma. the public. The last 12 years have seen new aspirations to address discrimination has been affected by Maoist action against schools. In this sense, the We now have a new king. The Maoist strategy has been to give the against dalits, women, janjatis, and bonded labour. Tied to this is the question of Maoists can be seen to be the single most important problem facing the constitutional monarch a hard time and keep up the pressure on the their inadequate representation in the national legislature. The increasing cost of country today. No political force in the country can regard the Maoists as political leadership. Meanwhile, the time has come for the two main electioneering has meant that only a certain class of people from the mainstream an issue over which to score political points, or consider allying with the parliamentary parties to evaluate their own leadership and hand over are being represented. The status quo on economic inequities and social justice is Maoists to hit out at rivals. However, if that is the only way our parliamen- the reins to a new generation of fresh leaders. Only this can point the therefore perpetuated. tary parties know how to behave country once more in the right direction, and allow it to move forward. The present parliament now faces another challenge: the constitutional then they will have to reckon with Let us see if the 20th session of parliament will give us any signs of this monarchy. The massacre of almost the entire royal family has raised the question the whirldwind that will hit them. The coming polarisation between new maturity. about whether the monarchy should now be handled by the palace itself, or be extreme left and right will annihilate them. It will be the path to brought under the transparent purview of the peoples’ representatives as in other national ruin. Hari Roka is an independent leftist analyst.

LETTERS THE REAL CONSPIRACY not have a full time doctor on duty as understand your situation: you must Dr Upendra Devkota’s theory that well as an ambulance with life be able to show your chakari to the “There is a conspiracy in this support equipment. Princess Sruti was thorough and in-depth analysis of the Once basic tools were worshipped new king Gyanendra and his killer country to turn our youth into drug still alive when she arrived at the present political situation in Nepal. during Karma puja, today some have son Paras. Your paper has lost the

addicts. Even the royal family is not hospital. Had they had more better All leaders of political parties who computers anointed. Once traditional credibility it had gained with me DSES- 25-06-2001 1200GMT safe” (#48) is right on. In fact, the equipment, perhaps she and other command a political base in Nepal, clothes were worn to observe religious over the past months. elite and the emerging middle wounded could have stabilised until should read this article and see just ceremonies, today business clothes GP Bhattrai, class sector is precisely they were got to hospital. In all the how precarious our survival as an are acceptable. A new generation has Koln, Germany the target group. The motive? Profit talk of Dipendra using drugs, no one independent democratic country is. forgotten how a particular aspect of and power. The young elite not only has mentioned that alcohol is Nothing is more important than to faith was born, but in their jeans they Thank you at Nepali Times for have the money, they are the role probably the drug that causes more save our country and be able to call observe a variant of that original being one of the few beacons of models for the aspiring affluent. people to commit violent acts than ourselves citizens of Nepal. We must belief. You publish Desmond Doig’s truth from Nepal during this whole Three-quarters of the young people any other. Marijuana and hashish put our house in order. Any egoistic, labour of a search for Nepali sad, sorry episode. You alone have in Kathmandu (the leaders of the would have caused him to be mellow extreme partisan-based politics, and salvation in “Saving Faith”, the whole shown you have the courage to CORRECTION next generation), seeking treatment and relaxed, unless the “black tar pseudo-nationalist moves by any point surely is that someone, stand up and criticise officials for Due to a layout error, in drug recovery centers are from substance’” was something other than major political force will destroy the somewhere will remember or discover keeping information from the Nepali Weather (#48), the upper/middle class. Check out that, such as black tar heroin. very existence of our country and and while not believing, learn. people, while steadfastly contained an earlier the moody colour advertisement in The same issue of Nepali Times ought to be dealt with firmly. Dubby Bhagat maintaining your effort to confirm forecast and was not the a Kathmandu English daily on 22 also talks about the Maoists’ use of Kumar Regmi Kathmandu and reconfirm the truth however satellite picture or June that read “Mind-altering “children”. In a country where the Toronto, Canada unbelievable and unpalatable it forecast for the week 22- substances. Now sold legally.” It majority of wealthy and not-so- CHAKARI? may be. My question though is this: 28 June. shows a glorious chest-high photo of wealthy people use children as CK LAL I have been reading all the news is anyone there listening to you? a young boy with hair flowing servants, where it is relatively CK Lal in “Regal to royal” (#48) reports on websites on the brutal royal Rita Rai looking upward as if he is having a tolerated to have children working, provokes debate by making the point massacre in Nepal. Yours is the only London In the interview with Dr spiritual experience. And what is the then what is the fuss about children in about tradition and the need to paper confidently reporting and KRYPTONITE Devkota, the end of the advertisement selling? Shoes. What war? Until the society sees that change it. Indeed, we should discard presenting Dipendra as the killer. No Thank god Nepali Times has run sentence on p.1 starting is the connection? The message to having children used in any capacity, what Tagore called “dead habit”, but other Nepali newspaper could point it out of its sturdy staples, the major “He was extremely pale...” the unconscious is: if you want to be whether as servants, farm workers, tradition is one part of that fascinat- out so directly, simply because there dampener of enthusiasm and should end “was being “high”, if you want to run with the prostitutes or warriors, is wrong, this ing, ever-evolving, all embracing is no evidence to do that. You may breaker of finger nails every Friday Ambu-bagged.” The end “big” boys...buy our shoes. Dr practice will continue. entity we call culture. It is also a part not like to listen conspiracy theories, morning. Thank you for replacing of the p.1 sentence “But Devkota’s comment are not of a nation’s symbology, it’s pschye. It but how you could so easily conclude the kryptonite staples with ones that she was in poor shape...” psychological hysterics. Maggie Namjou will evolve at its own pace. It will be that Dipendra alone could carry out are more easily removable, and should read “a pneu- M. Krajniak, Psychotherapist Vermont, USA shaped by its own genius, this so many killings? I don’t understand also relocating the subscriber’s mothorax”. Kathmandu HARI ROKA tradition, this culture and yes, this how you could support the probe label. Hari Roka’s “Nepal’s tripod of stability” value system. We can indeed report without a single question. Why R Chitrakar I am appalled that the palace did (#47) was illuminating and contains a demand its demise, but will it listen? was there no post-mortem? We Baghbazar We also regret the mistakes in the numbers for carryover pages in two 444 NATION 29 JUNE - 5 JULY 2001 NEPALI TIMES Can’t hide drug abuse anymore The royal tragedy of 1 June has spotlighted the growing drug

abuse problem among Nepali youth.

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ALL PHOTOS: SALIL SUBEDI

cannabis, organic solvents, they analgesic, Tidigesic. combination with drugs increases the fear of losing face. Among are all freely available on the Today, with the globalised the potential for both overdose, lower class families, on the streets. “We can solve the drug market reaching Nepal, the death and addiction and if other hand, studies have shown problem but there is a lack of upper class also has access to another drug like alcohol or entire communities taking part political will,” complains a pushers who bring in crack, barbiturate is used with heroin in trafficking and subsequent highly placed source within the speed and even ecstasy. There the effects are much greater than abuse of drugs. Families often Narcotics Drug Law Control are no reliable figures, but the one would expect. “Drugs are lack the information or the Enforcement Unit. number of hard drug users in not the problem. They are they knowledge necessary to address Marijuana and alcohol were Nepal’s urban centres is now are the result of a problem, and the issue, says Rajendra never hard to get, and the said to have passed 50,000. it is the height of folly to think Shrestha of Freedom Centre, a hippie era in the 1970s brought Because many of them are that the problem will go away by drug rehabilitation centre

in other drugs such as opium, injecting the drugs and sharing ignoring it,” says Mike Krajniak, started in 1983. He says: ○○○○○○○○○○

ALOK○○○○○ TUMBAHANGPHEY the royalty found reason to do heroin, and the infamous needles, this has become one of a psychotherapist at the Youth “Families however educated he fact is that drugs are the same. In recent years, Lysergic Acid Diethyl amide the main factors in the spread of Vision Drug Abuse Recovery they may be lack the skill to now a fact of life among all numerous surveys have reported (LSD), an extremely powerful HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B. Centre in Maharajgunj. “The tackle problems related to drug tsocial classes in Nepal’s a rapid spread of injectable drug hallucinogen that could cause Several surveys have shown that problem has to do with abuse and that is where towns. From labourers right up use among the lower strata of permanent brain damage. The many of the sex workers in relationships, which are dictated counselling comes in. Sadly to the Kathmandu elite, drug society as well. 1980s saw a rise in heroin Kathmandu also inject drugs, by culture. Therefore, we need there are only a handful of abuse has by all accounts grown Frustration among jobless addiction, and the 1990’s led to and one estimate put the to take a good honest look at rehabilitation centres in into crisis proportions. youth and boredom among the more morphine based drugs number of sex workers with how we are treating each other.” Kathmandu.” Freedom Centre Nepalis have always been upper classes who don’t need such as cough syrups (Phencidyl HIV at 18 percent. “Most Studies among hard core currently has 24 addicts on blasé about drugs: it is jobs have fed the epidemic. If was a huge brand name), women drug users sell sex to drug users show that in a rehabilitaiton: most of them culturally accepted to smoke marijuana was a part of our depressants such as Valium, earn money to meet their drug majority of cases marijuana gets from middle or lower income hashish and opiates are culture, Nepali addicts have Xanex and Nitrozepam needs,” explains Sunita Singh young people started on the path families. Not more than 100- consumed within the family now graduated to modern normally prescribed by doctors Malla, of the Richmond to addiction. Once there is an 150 drug users are at the environment during festivals designer drugs and abuse of for anxiety, tension, insomnia, Fellowship Nepal. addict in the family, there is an handful of treatment centres in such as Teej or Tihar. And if prescription pharmaceutical and stress. Those who couldn’t One often-ignored factor is effort to keep it under wraps. the valley. Given the scale of Shiva himself indulged in products. Narcotics, stimulants, afford expensive drugs, simply that alcohol is also a drug. And This is especially true in families the crisis, this is woefully marijuana, it is no surprise that depressants, hallucinogens, injected the easily-available the use of alcohol in with higher incomes because of inadequate.

HERE AND THERE by DANIEL LAK Health is a human right friend who advises a big multilateral organisation on public health “No point in expecting bad governments to change and start doing the right puts its succinctly. “Health is a human right. A society that

recognises that is advanced. One that doesn’t is backward.” My thing, they don’t care and they never will. We need to do it ourselves.”

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ a ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ friend insists that South Asian countries could lift themselves out of poverty by recognising his revolutionary. He wants societies remodelled on “That’s what made people ill in the first place. They don’t care and they never simple formula for success. India could be the notion that everyone has the unfettered right will. We need to do it ourselves.” Singapore, and Nepal, New Zealand if only to free and high quality health care, backed up What a wonderful thought, no riots, no confrontations with police, citizens had the right to be healthy. People with education. He’s a pacifist of long standing no marches on palaces or parliaments, just vast legions of people would take care of the rest, no need for vast and his religious beliefs rule out any form of asserting their right to health by building dispensaries, setting up schools injections of foreign capital and expert expats militarism or coercive behaviour. His revolution and getting on with it. My friend tells me that good things like DOTS clogging the roads and buying up all the involves consent and hard work, not guns or programmes for TB and mass vaccinations against polio only work as organic veggies. peasant armies. His storm troopers would be grassroots efforts, supported by the people and run by them. Look to Of course, getting to perfect public health public health workers and teachers infiltrating western Nepal and the way that communities are carrying out AIDS wouldn’t be easy. It would mean clean drinking every last nook and cranny, administering awareness, bucking local trends, spending hardly any money and water for every last slum dweller and street kid. enlightenment and responsibility in equal doses. shunning the bureaucratic, Pajero-loving culture of the expat- It would require social reform on a grand scale, He is of course somewhat of an extremist, but government nexus in the capital. There’s a natural ally (yes, that’s right, sweeping away patriarchal nonsense that leaves think of all the people who found Nelson an ally!) just across the southern border and I don’t mean the babus of Delhi women and girls undervalued, undernourished Mandela, Gandhi and BP Koirala dangerously or the sensation-starved Star News crews. I’m talking about India’s drug and overworked. Medicines and medical militant in their “extreme” approach to freedom. companies, Ranbaxy, Dr Reddy’s, Cipro and others, who are snatching AIDS treatment would have to be available on demand, What if my friend, or someone like him, could treatments from the grasping hands of Big Pharma, the western drugs not just in cities but in the most remote and lead a peoples’ movement that demanded good multinationals, and making them available cheaply to needy locals. mountainous corners of this region. Doctors health as a fundamental right. And it would not be a There were loud cheers when South Africa’s government won a court would have to provide high quality to care to all, movement that tried to shake a cruel elite into battle to allow public distribution of cheap, technically illegal anti-AIDS not just those who can pay, and patients would dispensing this medicine, it would be a mass drugs for the 25 percent of its adult population who are HIV-positive. have to be educated and aware of their own role mobilisation of people prepared to work for their My friend has no ambitions to be Mandela or Gandhi, but he’s on to

in avoiding disease and recovering from illness. AUFFER own salvation and good health. At least that’s what something. A public health revolution, based firmly on principles of In short, my friend, himself a doctor who for he says. “No point in expecting bad governments to ahimsa, could just be the Next Big Thing. Repeat after me “health is a DOTS in Nepal many years practised what he preaches, is a WHO/C.ST change and start doing the right thing,” he insists, human right, health is a human right.....” NATION 29 JUNE - 5 JULY 2001 NEPALI TIMES 555

Show cause ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ How were children affected? That was the Supreme Court’s response to writ petitions challenging the constitutionality of the recently promulgated Children probably coped better Public Security Regulations 2001. The petitions were filed the by Nepal Janjati Mahasangh, the Kirant Yakthung than adults in the aftermath of the Chumlung and three advocates who charge that the royal tragedy. regulation is against the spirit of the constitution and

essence of Public Security Act. They argue that it gives ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○ “unlimited” power to administrators and breaches the gruesome details of the probe panel spared the gruesome details of the constitutional rights of anyone expressing their discontent- report, and watched assault rifles shootout, they did not witness ment with the authorities. The Regulation empowers local being displayed. Many, like Dippu, scenes of bloodshed and the horror administrators to detain a person in solitary confinement, were deeply disturbed. Older of people being gunned down. constrict movement in certain areas and restrict overseas children suffered anxiety attacks, There is little chance children will travel, if they are “convinced” that the person will harm the worried about the fate of the be disturbed,” he said. country’s sovereignty and integrity, and violate law and order. country and their families. But But his experience with older Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Paudel defended the because Nepali family units are people is significant—all older Regulation saying that it was only a clarification of the Public closely knit, there are support patients he has counselled after the Security Act and in no way violates the present constitution. mecahnisms for such situations, royal massacre complain of Meanwhile, Paudel was summoned by the parliamentary even if professional counselling depression and mental stress. Dr State Affair Committee on 26 June to discuss the services are grossly inadequate. Shrestha is not surprised by this government’s recent arrest of the editor and publishers of Kedar Rayamajhi, a clinical seeming contradiction: the Kantipur. The Committee directed the government to ensure psychologist who regularly counsels perspective children have on death that people’s constitutional right of free expression and victims of domestic violence, is too limited for an incident like peaceful gathering are respected. The Public Security believes that letting a child see a this to disturb them. “Reacting to Regulation was not discussed during the meeting. The death, or even a funeral or a dead the death of public personalities is a Committee’s chairperson Hom Nath Dahal said it is being body for that matter, could have purely adult phenomenon,” he says. discussed at the Supreme Court. long-term implications. “Seeing And in this case adults were death, a young child might develop particularly shocked because the

a pessimistic outlook on life and royal palace incident broke taboos Monsoon belly ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ living,” Rayamajhi told us. He also about filial piety and respect for This monsoon has already proved as fatal as previous ones cautioned that disturbed children elders. For many, one defence and not just because of flooding and landslides. More than who do not receive counselling in mechanism has been taking refuge 75 people have died in an outbreak of gastroenteritis in Seven-year-old Sumin was saddened by close shots of the dead royals—he said time may sometimes develop in conspiracy theories . villages in the far western Bajhang and Doti districts. they looked like frightening dolls. suicidal tendencies. Raija Kiljunen, a clinical Hundreds of others, mainly the elderly, women and infants, MIN BAJRACHARYA But other child psycholgists say psychologist and programme have also contracted the viral and bacterial infections, which

children’s power of resilience is director with United Mission to spread mainly due to contaminated water and poor ○○○○○○○○○○○ HEMLATA○○○○○ RAI after a week. underestimated, and that glimpses Nepal’s Mental Health Programme sanitation. Health officials in Kathmandu say Gorkha, t was a traumatic experience for Across Nepal, thousands of of deaths can actually be a lesson in agrees that adults were more Baitadi and Dadeldhura have also been hit hard—over 500 nine-year-old Dippu to watch children have been silently affected mortality if parents and teachers affected by the news of the massacre people have already been affected. The Ministry of Health ithe funeral ceremony of the by news of the royal tragedy, discuss it properly with children. Dr than children. “Children will feel says 55 of Nepal’s 75 districts are vulnerable to royal family members on shocked to see the funeral on Dhruba Man Shrestha is a senior sad because the adults are shocked gastroenteritis epidemics. But it isn’t only people in remote television. He was restless, and television with the late King psychiatric consultant at the Patan and confused. They will suspect areas who can catch the bug. Teku Hospital’s Epidemiology couldn’t sleep properly for Birendra’s wide-open jaw, the late Mental Hospital, and says most something wrong and sad has and Disease Control Division says the infections are days. Only when his father Queen Aishwarya’s vacant stare, children are unlikely to be happened because their daily spreading fast in Kathmandu too—the hospital sees 20-25 stayed in the room did the child and Princess Sruti looking like she traumatised by news of the royal routine has been disrupted and sufferers everyday. start sleeping normally again was asleep. Then they heard the massacre. “Television viewers were adults are disoriented,” she told us. However, Kiljunen says

children should have watched the Make it snappy ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ funeral and other coverage with They’re talking again—for the eleventh time. The Bhutanese Connecting You To parental presence. government has agreed to hold further ministerial level talks Both Rayamajhi and Kiljunen with Nepal in Thimpu at the end of July regarding the European Rail Network Straight agree on one point: discussing repatriation of the approximately 100,000 Bhutanese conspiracy theories in front of refugees in eastern RAMYATA LIMBU to the Heart of the city children might scare the older Nepal. Foreign children and trigger behavioural Minister Chakra Trip to Europe is fun with us. Here at President Travel & Tours we offer abnormalities. Children listening to Prasad Bastola endless rumours and conversation you a wide range of service from which you may have your pick. requested the among adults about the massacre meeting to discuss may also develop a cynical and ways to speed up the u Eurostar rail tickets distrustful nature in adulthood. refugee verification u Eurail pass, Europass Most school principals we spoke procedure. Minister u National passes of Switzerland, Germany, France, Austria, Spain & Greece. with said that when schools Bastola will propose Bhutanese refugee camp in Jhapa reopened two weeks after the u Regional passes for Benelux, Scandinavia & Eastern Europe. appointing different verification teams for individual refugee massacre, children were repeating in camps in Jhapa and Morang. The joint verification team u Britrail Passes London school rumours they had heard at (JVT) started work in March this year at Khudunabari in u Transport (underground). home. Children were encouraged to Jhapa. The JVT’s planned to start by verifying ten families a u Computerised sector tickets & seat reservation throughout Europe on keep journals of their feelings, and day, and gradually increase the number. But the team has older children took part in class Euronet, the computerised EURAIL reservation networks. not yet delivered—in the three months since they began, it discussions in which they talked has completed the verification procedure for under 600 about the future of the country. families. There are over 15,000 Bhutanese families in 25 Years Of Tribhuvan University Teaching camps in Morang and Jhapa, and if the procedure does not Quality Service Hospital is the only Nepali pick up speed, it will take more than three years to complete institution that runs a child the task. guidance clinic where the services of psychiatrists and psychologists are available. A few institutions like Richmond’s Fellowship Nepal and Sahara Counselling also provide counselling services to children. Whether or not mental health professionals agree that children have been disturbed by the last few weeks is moot. Parents we spoke with find cause for concern in their children’s reactions, and worry about the lack of counselling facilities available. One distraught parent told us: “I have noticed my son being moody, and staring into space. We have tried to draw him out to talk PRESIDENT TRAVEL & TOURS PVT.LTD about the royal killings, but he still P.O.Box: 1307, Durbar Marg, Kathmandu, Nepal finds it too painful.” In many schools, Tel.: 252995/228288/221774/224956/246685, Fax: 977-1-221180, some parents said, teachers aren’t E-mail: [email protected], www.president-nepal.com much help because they repeat bazaar rumours. 666 NATION 29 JUNE - 5 JULY 2001 NEPALI TIMES from p. 1 priority projects and trying to cut them as much as COMMENT by RUPA JOSHI The prime minister has said it is immaterial possible. We are also looking at possible new whether he remains in power or not, but there sources of revenue. Reforms will be key in next should be a consensus on core issues. Once year’s budget—not adding new programmes, but there is a consensus on broad national issues consolidating existing ones and introducing reforms between political forces that believe in the in critical areas to boost business confidence, better constitutional process, government can run returns on limited investment and minimum smoothly. I personally believe, and am calling for administrative expenses. These will be my aims in a five-year moratorium on strikes and bandhs. It the next budget. cannot go on, we cannot afford disruptions, Tears and roses How has Maoist extortion and violence affected because we should be concentrating on national revenue collection and security spending? We Cameras can lie. Parachute journalists who wield them reconstruction. Look around—every country is hear they are also ‘taxing’ industry. preoccupied with economic issues. We cannot That is what I also hear but it is yet to be verified. have a pre-conceived notion of the talking heads they afford to play power games all the time and talk When security is bad, it is bound to impact every

about politics while sidelining need, and what they want the grief-stricken to say.

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ aspect of national life. The economy ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ vital national and economic has also been affected because was standing in line in front of issues. It is time we realise that if security is something we have to the royal palace gates the first we are ruined economically now, ensure at all costs. we are ruined politically, and iday the condolence books were there is no future for us. So let us How can you assure business that opened. The gates hadn’t opened, stop activities that obstruct things won’t go out of hand? but the serpentine gender- economic life, ensure industrial The government will give them full segregated lines were already getting peace and security, and ensure protection, security will be ensured. longer by the minute. There was a that factories can run smoothly. We have discussed this in herd of journalists right in front of Now we have a situation where government and want to give them the gate, hunting in packs. TV despite our laws industry is our full assurance that we will spare cameras were panning down the recruiting foreign labour instead no effort tin ensuring that vital queue, seemingly on the prowl for a of Nepalis. That is happening economic interests are protected. grief-stricken face, tears, a good because of the trouble they see Industrial security will be provided at sound bite. around incited by political forces. all costs. We will also do everything possible in our I have seen hungry parachutists How does the opposition respond to your power to ensure better investment climate. before, but they always kept a demands, which seem genuine and minimal? How do you do that with an empty purse? respectaful distance from people in

sorrow. But the grief vultures that MIN BAJRACHARYA In principle they agree, when we talk informally. It is difficult, yes. But we will have some reforms in day displayed no sense of propriety, But when it comes to doing, their wishes are not the budget and find ways… we don’t want to lose or respect for mourners. Television translated into action. Even responsible political money all the time. and still cameramen (and they were parties like the UML, which is the government-in- How is it being finance minister when you have almost all men) zoomed in on any waiting in a sense, called for a totally low revenue and high payment obligations? teary-eyed face in the line. Right at irresponsible three-day nationwide strike. It It is tough, naturally. Obviously the deficit will widen. the front, underneath the parapet, television journalist who had been this rice-transplanting season, disrupted economic life and set a very bad Hopefully we will have the understanding and was a teenage girl with tears talking to a young Nepali girl in Kathmandu’s unrest seemed to precedent. cooperation of our development partners. We hope rimming her eyes, clutching two jeans across the road and away from represent the entire country. A Isn’t that cheating themselves and us, the they will understand our limitations and be more roses in her hands. The shock and the line. He brought the girl to majority of these reporters did not Nepali people? sympathetic to our cause. If we manage our grief she felt at the macabre murders stand amongst us. “We would want venture too far from the palace, let It is cheating the nation and ourselves. Mixing economy rationally and to the best of our ability, we of our entire royal family had you to be in line,” he told her in a alone from Kathmandu. Before the politics with economics and playing with the think there will be total understanding. Deficit always overwhelmed her. She averted her French-sounding accent. He placed riots on that Mad Monday, droves future of the economy for petty political interests widens in critical situations like this, but if I compare face from the prying cameras, but her a couple of people behind me of motorcycle-riding youths with is harmful. Because once ruined, the economy our situation with rest of the subcontinent, there are was just too photogenic. A couple and began to question her as if she shaved heads and angry voices were cannot get back on the rails, at least in the short- worse cases than ours. Things are not as bad as of the cameramen brought their lens were an ordinary mourner waiting far too interesting. Kathmandu’s term. they are made out to be by the opposition. It is bad, right up to her cheeks. They to sign the condolence book. After shaved angry youth gave the foreign How has revenue collection been in this record but manageable—and that needs common sense pointed the camera downwards, he had got her name, he asked her: media what they were looking for. year of strikes and bandhs? and cooperation from all parties. Let us keep our almost touching her shoulders, for “I see you are standing in line, are They knew the wilder their antics, expectations low, not be irresponsible, cut down on an extreme close up of the roses. you a royalist?” Next question: the more attention they could get The target was ambitious all right, but even until unnecessary expenses, do away with low-priority The next day, major international “What do you think about this from reporters. So they went wild a month or so ago I thought that we may come investment and ensure strong tax administration dailies carried a picture of the girl morning’s explanation of the whenever they saw TV cameras. close to the target. But last month’s performance and better compliance. With these and improved with tears and roses. accidental firing of the gun?” After Mild anti-monarch, anti- was very bad. We are not near the target and the security I think things can be handled. When I saw pictures of grieving the questions were over, and the government chanting would thus revenue scenario this year may not be very men and women in the papers and reporter had got the sound bite he reach frenzied heights whenever a comfortable. Planning for next year with the low What about the new hearts and minds on television, part of some faraway wanted to hear, the girl moved back TV camera was around. The base of this year will pose further difficulties, programme, will that be a major thrust of the tragedy, I used to assume the across the road and became the cameras changed reality by simply especially when the wage bill has shot up and budget? journalists used zoom lenses to get bystander she was. being there. To the rest of the the security bill is going up. The debt-servicing There will be appropriate allocation. It will be a the shots without intruding on a When I watched television that world Nepalis must have seemed to obligation has also gone up largely due to major programme in areas where the ISPD (Internal moment of private grief. Now, I evening, I realised that the man run amok. Friends and relatives depreciation of the currency. The obligation for Security and Development Package) is being wonder. Even as an alert and aware with the strange accent was none living outside Kathmandu felt recurrent expenses will be very high next year, implemented. citizen, I could not do anything as I other than CNN’s Kasra Naji. The extremely concerned for the safety and will not leave much resource for capital So can we understand that you’re going to be watched the media exploit the footage of the girl he planted in our of their loved ones back home. investment and developmental activities. tough on the revenue end and also reform the sadness and vulnerability of that girl midst was beamed across the world Then there was the How do you plan to keep the deficit narrow? overall budget? outside Narayanhiti. The anger and as an off-the-cuff answer of a phenomenon of Hind-pali (Nepali- We have tried to consolidate priority Yes. You will see quite a few reforms in the budget. humiliation I felt were swamped by mourner waiting to sign the flavoured Hindi). The very people programmes, we are de-emphasising low Consolidation and reforms. immense helplessness in the face of condolence book. Pretending is who were chasing Indian this national tragedy. I couldn’t lying. When the CNN reporter journalists on Darbar Marg on react or retaliate. She couldn’t made the girl be what she wasn’t, it Monday afternoon and chanting either. A great sense of loss and was lying, it was misrepresentation. anti-Zee News slogans seemed to melancholy overwhelmed me. The When reporters have already made be elbowing each other to get on- closer I came to the gates, the up their minds about the sound camera to answer questions from greater the sense of loss, and the bites they want, found a person Indian journalists in Hind-pali. If greater the impact of the incompre- willing to provide that talking head one were to go by the sound bites hensible massacre by the crown and then presented it as a “voice from Indian satellite news prince of his family. When my from the street”, objectivity is channels, from politicians to the mother-in-law, after acknowledging flayed, and the message is warped. angry youth on the streets, we the finality of the tragedy by signing I guess this is what happens in seemed to be a Hindi-speaking the visitor’s book, came and hugged any disaster anywhere in the world nation. When the reporter from me and cried, my own floodgates of when parachute reporters from Star couldn’t get a word out of me, grief opened. The tears just flowed. foreign countries swoop in for a he approached another girl in front An Indian TV crew rushed over for piece of juicy action (unfortunately and asked if she could say a sound bite. “Can you tell us how Nepal now can lay claim to the something. When she started you feel?” the reporter asked, mike juiciest, most gruesome whodunit in answering in Nepali, he said: “No outstretched and camera rolling. I world history), and start speaking in Hindi or English, please.” The Summer Special Package wanted to tell him to leave us alone, with authority without getting a feel girl said she couldn’t, and the but I couldn’t. All I could do was to of the pulse of the land. Most of camera moved on. How easy do Per person for two nights on twin sharing basis NRS. 2400. shake my head vigorously and say what we saw on foreign television these reporters want it? The with quivering lips: “I’m sorry, I (shamefully, our television just journalists just showed their Accommodation with Breakfast Round trip transportation (If required) can’t speak.” played dirges for two weeks) was disrespect, but the biggest losers Fruit basket & cookies in the room Welcome drinks on arrival It seems the camera stayed on street scenes from Kathmandu. were viewers around the world. 20% discount on food & beverage Escort for mini trek/hike for some time on my misery- Anger on the streets. Clean-shaven stricken face, because the next day heads, chanting, “Our king and Rupa Joshi is a jouranlism graduate Children below 12 years sharing parents’ room free except meals. on the hour every hour I saw my queen are dearer than our lives!” from the University of Southern Package for Nepalese & Expats & valid till September 2001 sniffling self on Star News. But that While the rest of grieving rural California, and is now working in wasn’t all. I spotted another Nepal went about their way during Nepal. NATION 29 JUNE - 5 JULY 2001 NEPALI TIMES 777 Weather it will …

A synoptic weather station in Kathmandu ALL PHOTOS: MIN BAJRACHARYA “There were cloudless conditions all over Nepal the day before,” recalls Manandhar. Topographically, Nepal is a hard country to read—the high mountains and rugged terrain make it difficult to predict how weather patterns in the area will pan out here, so forecasting is something of an art. Meteorologists here say repeatedly that they need three-dimensional data, including altitude, to make accurate forecasts. So far only surface data is available. Radio sonde equipment—a weather balloon fitted with remote sensing technology that helps forecast thunderstorms and measure relying on for 20 years and will be principal climatic elements of a temperature, upper atmospheric phased out within the next couple of specific region for a long period, say a pressure, wind and humidity up to years, show the country as a tiny few months or years. All the around 150 km, was used for five speck, which makes weather reading information is put to use in weather years, between 1975-1980, but and forecasting difficult. “It [sharing forecasting for agricultural and proved too expensive. The cost of INSAT facilities with Nepal] would industrial purposes and lately for running the equipment would today be to India’s advantage, too,” says research in the environmental sector. amount to over Rs 5 million annually. Manandhar. “We would be able to Some of the data is exchanged globally A weather radar would help, but the forecast floods in Nepal and Bihar.” through New Delhi. cost of a Doppler, the most sophisti- Sky cover “It is because our visual cated kind, is estimated at Rs 150 The Meteorological Forecasting presentation is so bad that the public

Weatherpeople are not tea leaf-readers or mediums. million, and we’d need trained Division collects information from 15 feels we don’t know our job,” say

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ manpower to operate it. China has synoptic stations, over 300 rain gauge officials. “They tend to rely on the

three such radars, Thailand has two. stations, and 43 climatological BBC and CNN which have much ○○○○○○○○○○○○

RAMYATA○○○○ LIMBU half hour in the day and every hour at cyclone that originated as a low “Cost-wise, it’s out of the stations around the country. A more attractive forecasts.” But that eteorologist Krishna B night, 365 days a year. Images pressure point in the Arabian Ocean, question, but our accuracy would synoptic station makes surface doesn’t mean these networks don’t Manandhar of Nepal’s captured by a geostationary meteoro- and within a few days turned into a increase greatly and it would enable us weather observations at periodic times slip up at times, despite their m Department of Hydrology logical satellite (at a height 36,000 severe cyclone that threatened the to provide regular weather updates to (usually at three-hourly and six-hourly sophisticated computer and digital and Meteorology relies on experience km) and the American polar orbiting Gujarat coastline but later weakened the public every hour through FM intervals specified by the World technology and colourful, chatty and instincts honed over more than NOAA (National Oceanic and rapidly. A survey of such intense and radio,” says Manandhar, whose Meteorological Organisation), of sky presentations. “Sometimes they will two decades to read the weather and Atmospheric Administration) satellite early pre-monsoon activity in the Bay division will soon be providing more cover, the state of the sky, cloud report Kathmandu’s maximum make forecasts. (at 1,300 km) further help in of Bengal and the Arabian Sea enabled detailed local forecasts on their height, atmospheric pressure reduced temperature at 35 degrees when it But assisting him in his analysis is observing weather patterns, trends forecasters to predict that the website. The department has applied to sea level, temperature, dew point, is actually 30 degrees,” says data from around the world and and phenomena. The final, monsoon would arrive around 7 June. for assistance from the Japan wind speed and direction, amount of Manandhar. “Because they use American and Japanese satellite comprehensive weather charts are Due to its geographic location International Cooperation Agency precipitation, hydrometeors and computers to read weather on a imagery. “Weather forecasting isn’t drawn manually based on all this Nepal is relatively safe from cyclones (JICA) to update their equipment. In lithometeors, and special phenomena large scale map, Nepal gets lost. like astronomy or guesswork. There’s information. that can cause devastating damage in the past experts from Israel, Sweden, that prevail at the time of the Here, we’re manually analysing a lot of sophisticated technology “We’re not exactly using cutting- coastal countries like Bangladesh the Czech Republic, and the US have observation or have been observed weather patterns on an area-specific involved,” says Manandhar, who is edge technology but considering the where they are an annual feature and, helped the department. India could be since the previous specified observa- map.” Weather read closer to home head of the department’s Meteoro- equipment, the manpower, and as in the early 70s, can kill over a potential source of expert assis- tion. The climatological stations generally makes for more accurate logical Forecasting Division. resources available, we attain 70-75 100,000 people from resultant tance—it has 150 years experience in gather data that helps in studying the forecasts. “Contrary to what people think, we percent accuracy in forecasting,” says flooding and building collapse. But meteorological services, compared to processes of climate formation, the Manandhar reckons we’re going don’t just look up at the skies and Manandhar. That’s not too bad. Kathmandu Valley does see pretty Nepal’s 32. Nepal has been negotiat- distribution of climates over the globe, to see some interesting weather in predict that it is going to be ‘fair Meteorological services departments strong winds—up to 108 kmph—in ing with India for two years to obtain analysis of the causes of differences in times to come. Don’t roll your eyes throughout the kingdom’.” Meteorol- aim for one hundred percent accuracy, the local storms that hit us March INSAT facilities. INSAT would climate and the application of climatic at your septuagenarian friend—it is ogy has no geographical boundaries, but that goal is never reached. Even through May. And the aftermath of a provide a closer, more detailed image data to the solution of specific getting hotter every year—one degree and the technology Manandhar and the most sophisticated equipment and major cyclone, which can generate of Nepal and the subcontinent. The problems. Their focus is more long per decade over the last couple of his colleagues rely on is proof. They technology assures at best 85-90 winds up to 200 kmph in the present Japanese and American term than the next weather report and decades, says the Meteorological use a system called SADIS (Satellite percent accuracy. Nepal’s meteoro- subcontinent (which even meteoro- satellite images, which Nepal has been they usually produce charts on the Forecasting Division. Distribution System), which Nepal logical forecasting division provides logical instruments cannot withstand) has had access to for almost three weather reports and forecasts can result in unexpected rains and years. It provides weather reports and primarily for flight safety and flight snowfall in the Himalaya, causing forecasts from the World Area operation purposes and mountaineer- damage and loss of life. In 1995 more Forecast Centre in London. Specifi- ing expeditions, and morning and than 60 trekkers, mostly Japanese, cally designed for aviation purposes, it night reports for the public. died owing to unexpected rain and details weather turbulence patterns, Getting it right. Or not snow in November. At the time, icing, jet stream winds, volcano Spread out before Manandhar are weather forecasters had predicted that eruptions, temperature, and air weather maps extending to Mongolia a cyclone originating in the Bay of pressure up to about 15,200 m. In in the north, the coast of China in the Bengal would move in a northeasterly addition to SADIS, they also rely on east, Israel in the west and Maldives direction towards Assam. Instead, it AMSS, which is a two-way Automatic to the south. In the last week of May, moved north to Patna, with totally Message Switching System based on he was following the growth of a unexpected speed and intensity. VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) technology. The system is basically an information network, and Worlds friendliest business accounting software allows the department to send out and receive weather reports and 250780/251638 forecasts from around the world every 888 NEPALI ECONOMY 29 JUNE - 5 JULY 2001 NEPALI TIMES Trading places from p. 1 It’s the economy As the Nepal-India trade treaty comes up for renewal, business on both sides wants it to stay in place—with a few safeguards.

It has been a steady downhill for the economy in excessive politicking,” finance minister Ram ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

the past year, with the royal tragedy just the last Sharan Mahat told us (see interview). No one ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○ straw: would know that better than Mahat, who is now BINOD○○○○ BHATTARAI Last June public enterprises, including central writing next year’s spending plan. “Obviously the fficials from Nepal and India bank employees, went on strike deficit will widen,” Mahat said gloomily. Plugging meet next month to discuss Hotels shut down in December and March, that would either mean getting grants from donors otrade—finally. The next three badly affecting tourism in the two peak seasons or borrowing more, to add to the already high months until end-September are Leftist parties called a two-day strike to protest debt-servicing obligations. crucial because, by treaty, this is the the October oil price hikes, which were called No one will envy the numbers Mahat has been window for either side to notify the off, but the damage was already done forced to work with. Over 77 percent of the other of its desire to amend the 1996 In December Maoist students attacked schools recurrent expenses budgeted was spent two months Trade Treaty which allowed and a weeklong strike kept 1.5 million children ago—mainly on salary and pension payments and unprecedented access for Nepali at home security costs, while development spending exports to India. If either side has Another student union burnt buses because they remained at just 33 percent of what was budgeted. something to say, the entire trading wanted to pay only half fares Salaries are expected to overshoot the budgeted regime could change. SALIL SUBEDI A proposal to phase out old polluting buses Rs21 billion and debt servicing will be over Rs12.7 India began raising concerns resulted in public transport staying off roads for billion. The government’s domestic borrowing is about trade early this year, in the form nearly a week almsot as high as was anticipated. of a barrage of reports in the Indian In end- Two months press about “dumping” of non-Nepali December the ago only 17 products. Rather than looking into both organisations reviewed trade and media both the CII and the FNCCI anti-Hritik percent of the these “concerns”, Nepal postponed agreed on some joint recommenda- are convinced that the treaty has Roshan riots foreign aid and every meeting of commerce officials tions to ensure the main Treaty of benefited both countries. Every year killed off what loans the that was planned. Then early this year Trade can be renewed automatically. Nepal exports about IRs 3 billion was left of the government the government suddenly “promoted” The two sides are expected to pass on worth of goods to India and imports tourism hoped to mobilise a senior official at the commerce recommendations to their respective about IRs 2.7 billion worth of industry had come ministry—a Nepal-India trade governments by August. Indian goods. Around 250 Nepali In February through. Revenue specialist—and made him a Regional Sources told us tentative products have been certified for UML joined collection stood Administrator. The retirement of agreements have been reached on duty-free export, of which about 50 the protests by at about 70 other government secretaries after that dealing with fly-by-night companies, actually sell something. Of these, disrupting percent of the meant the commerce ministry would which, India charges, re-export semi- the exports of only around 10 are parliament and target, which be playing a new hand. finished imports. The CII and the significant. FNCCI sources say rampaging on nose-dived in Nepali business sensed these early FNCCI are also working on ways to value addition may sound restrictive the streets after MIN BAJRACHARYA May-June as a warnings and held several rounds of handle borderline products, which but that it is the only way to go, as preventing Empty streets and standstill economy. result of strikes meetings with its Indian counterparts, India does not think are real it addresses Indian concerns but parliament and the shutdown and early this year agreed on a manufactures. One possibility is also forces Nepal-based industries from working for 57 days. Then it enforced a for mourning. The Maoist threats to the alcohol thorough review of trade before introducing value addition as criterion to add more value—and ensure that three-day strike industry and some joint ventures are bound to hurt coming to any conclusions. That to qualify for duty-free export to India real industrialisation takes place. In April Maoists killed 70 policemen in one more. “It has become increasingly difficult to cap process is now complete and business for products using imported raw Unofficially, even today Nepal has week forcing the government to spend more to the deficit,” says Shankar Sharma, a member of the sources on both sides say they have materials. This would not apply to in place a provision to check value meet increassing costs of security National Planning Commission. “Industries are our found a way to keep the broader products using Nepali or Indian raw addition (about 20 percent) on main tax payers, and the base remains very small.” trading regime unchanged. “We don’t material. The two sides have also exports when companies file for It has become pointless to assess the Most businessmen and politicians interviewed think it would be wise to touch the come to an agreement on ways to duty-drawback refunds. That may accumulated losses in money terms anymore. for this article agreed on a basic checklist for main treaty,” says Prabhakar Rana, monitor “manufacturing”, by now become an official requirement Investors and businessmen have reached the end of economic revival : who is vice-chairman of the Joint requiring products to undergo a of 30 percent. Surprisingly, even Economic Committee of the one-digit change in the four digit today, many of the six “problem their patience and they were the only ones who Address the Maoist advance through a Confederation of Indian Industry harmonised code as proof of products”—vanaspati ghiu, zinc openly supported the controversial Public Security carrot-and-stick approach Regulations. Says Pradip Kumar Shrestha, FNCCI (CII) and the Federation of Nepalese process. The CII and the FNCCI oxide, copper wires, black pipes, Forge an all-party consensus to prioritise president: “There is no other way: we need a Chambers of Commerce and are also to recommend ways to acrylic yarn and plastic bags— minimum all-party agreement on the economic the economy, and control the Maoists Industries (FNCCI), two business define “surge”—still another Indian singled out as not being genuine agenda. Parliament should be talking economy now, Launch a drive to spur domestic and groups that lobbied jointly for the concern—to ensure that trade manufactures pass the value this is now an economic emergency.” foreign investment treaty. “Even CII members and Indian lobbies and interest groups do not addition test. Both the CII and the The government seems to have belatedly realised Declare a moratorium on strikes and officials are concerned about some use treaty provisions to make FNCCI feel that rather than restrict that things have got out of hand, but it has been shutdowns to give tourism and the products, but we believe we can frivolous complaints or seek imports of borderline products able to do little. “We’re cheating ourselves by economy a chance suggest ways to address them.” Rana protection. immediately, the industries should was in New Delhi last week where Contrary to reports in the Indian be given time to add value. SOCIETY 29 JUNE - 5 JULY 2001 NEPALI TIMES 999 Karnali’sKarnali’s saltsalt caravanscaravans CHHAKKA BAHADUR LAMA

IN HUMLA In Nepal’s roadless and remote Karnali,

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ aravan had a lot of yaks. the march of time and “development” Stumbling yaks, yaks have finally killed the salt caravans. A cplunging to watery graves down vertiginous cliffs, once-proud and self-sufficient people are recalcitrant yaks, charming yaks, now dependent on handouts. They want unexceptional yaks—so many

yaks, in fact, that you’d be their dignity back. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ forgiven for thinking the only ○○○○○○○○ animals involved in real-life are being replaced by mules on new bearing should be. This is more caravans were, well, yaks, or the Dutch-built horse trails and by than a story for most caravan occasional cross-bred dzo. Yaks trucks on roads—one of the many herders and their families—it brings have traditionally effects of economic, developmental home the need to obey the logic of commandeered high altitude and geo-political change that are natural laws even as they undertake roads like the one to Tibet, but making most caravans redundant. their journeys of peril and profit. It CHHAKKA BAHADUR LAMA caravans to and from the middle But we are getting ahead of our provides inspiration for the long hills and the tarai are generally story. and bitter trip from the tarai to the bhagris—sheep caravans— A perfect Karnali day. The sky highlands as they watch the birds because yaks cannot survive at filled with flocks of seasonal honking high above. low elevations. And caravans migratory ducks. People say they The excursion arose, as so many were not ever oddities, the head north in the summer to feed historic trips have, in search for quaint custom of tiny nomadic on Tibetan salt and head south edibles, and more palatable meals. names of both these broad groups business. Tibetan salt in Nepal was people of southern Karnali. villages, waiting to be made into during the winter to catch Indian Food was short on the ground are considered derogatory now. valued like gold. A sack of salt Humla and Mugu Khampas an Oscar-nominated film. Yak Ocean salt. Karnali’s caravan (literally) in the remote western Natives of northern Karnali, Jadas could be bartered for 15 sacks of forge links with Thakalis and and sheep caravans were in every herders relate their own migratory regions of the Tibetan plateau, and are said to be people of Mongolian rice here, and vice versa in Tibet. Gurungs, while Dolpo Khampas corner of Nepal’s remote and patterns with that of the ducks salt was extremely hard to come by stock who entered Nepal through For as long as they can remember, associate with the Magar. While roadless western Karnali region. flying along the Karnali watershed, in Nepal’s landlocked hills. The the high altitude Tibetan deserts virtually the whole of Karnali the Khampas were always on The skilled people of the the Ganga and out towards the dangers of high passes and scary and brought with them sheep- engaged in salt trading. The various the move, the semi-nomadic upper Karnali evolved the Indian Ocean, back and forth, year terrain seemed preferable to the trading skills. The people of nomadic Tibetan traders (collec- sheep caravan herders like the caravan as an ingenious response after year. A more colourful version malaria that traders would surely be southern Karnali, Khasas, tell of tively called Khampas) in western Humla Nyinba and the Sathi to their surroundings and has the ducks flying down from Lale possessed by if they were to bring in being from tropical pre-Vedic and Nepal didn’t acquire any Kholya set up villages—every climate to get salt from Tibet Mansarovar deafened by Tibetan salt from the Indo-Gangetic plain. Vedic-Aryan stock. They brought permanent land and migrated village and settlement in Karnali and food supplies from Nepal’s salt and those returning blinded And there were vast open pastures their southern agricultural skills between the tarai and the hills is where semi-nomads set up middle hills and tarai moving by Indian Ocean salt. That, in the Karnali valley for sheep, and introduced to the region red with families and livestock. permanent homesteads. The where they were needed. Sheep people in the area will tell you, is caravan-ready animals. The logistics rice and metal weapons. Constant interaction with the herders usually pass through were the perfect transition why they always fly under a single of caravans worked out because of Between the northerners and Hindu Khasas of the southern their homes twice a year, on their animal between Nepal’s varied leader who guides the flock and the complementary needs and skills the southerners, and with access to middle hills, has meant the Tibet-tarai circuit. terrain and peoples. And now determines what altitude they of the people from northern and food and salt, the people of Karnali Tibetans adopted some of their many sheep caravans in Humla should be flying at and what their southern Karnali—interestingly, the had a pretty good idea for a thriving ways, and ally themselves with To p. 10,11

STC 101010 SOCIETY 29 JUNE - 5 JULY 2001 NEPALI TIMES

from p. 9 WhenWhen tradetrade fades,fades, soso doesdoes thethe KaKa Canny Karnali traders therefore Shiva and Parvati, lasting as long as the high plateau. And so the land of had extra rice from Achham and salt there is snow on Kailash and water in salt also became a food supplier. The from Tibet. It seemed as dependable Manasarovar. An economic transac- 1962 Sino-Indian war destroyed the as the sunrise in the east—the land tion changed into a social one, traditional caravan trade between of salt was the north, Tibet, and the adding new meaning to an exchange areas in western Nepal and bordering land of provisions was the Achham between peoples of two different areas of Himachal Pradesh and plains. It seemed as if the salt traders religions and cultures. Kumaon Garhwal in India. would tread this loop forever. The This economics of travel that In Nepal, meanwhile, new roads promises all parties involved made, arose from basic need put down roots and a malaria-free tarai ensured that the lengths they went to ensure like a wayward tree, penetrating every iodised Indian salt started making trust and reliability created an aura aspect of the lives of trading inroads into the condiment market. around Tibetan salt that is evident communities. Many of the resultant As the Indian salt trade started from even today. The Nyinbus of Humla practices and phenomena took on a the small haat bazaars (multipurpose still keep a wooden box full of old patina of natural, age-old phenomena markets) in the tarai after the Tibetan salt in the most sacred and it was not until the caravans eradication of malaria in the 1930s, room of their house dedicated to started slowly coming to a stop in the the trans-Himalayan caravans moved the family god. Humli Khampa mid-1970s that they were revealed to their base to the plains. The Thakalis people, who are now settled in be the centre of a vital web. settled in Butwal, the Khampas of Bajura are still reluctant to use the What forced the change? Geo- Mugu in Surkhet and the Sauka of iodised salt distributed in Martadi. political realities and the inexorable Darchula, who started running yak They continue to use salt from the march of “development”. The Chinese caravans in Mahendranagar. Tibetan plateau. As a matter of arrived in the remotest parts of Tibet, The Salt Trading Corporation course, the farmers from the south India fought a war with China, started flying out iodised salt to the who barter their red rice and barley Nepalis got more mobile—the furthest reaches of the kingdom in an and salt traders in Tibet establish country forged more roads and effort to combat goitre and cretinism. ritual friendships with people they entered the jet, or at least chopper, Wherever an airstrip was built, there deal with, sealed with a vow to Mt age. Malaria was eradicated in the was now a monetary alternative to the Kailash and the holy Manasarovar tarai, better health care and nutrition barter economy. The growing middle Lake. This pact on mutual objects meant Nepal’s midhill population hill population started stripping forest of faith ensured there was no increased, and changing patterns of cover and encroaching on public treachery or distrust. population and consumption forest—making the denudation The parties make their promise resulted in deforestation and alarming enough for a community before a heaped plate of rice eventually community forestry in forestry programme to be symbolising Mt Kailash and water in the middle hills. implemented since the 1980s. This a kalash (a ritual vessel) standing in In the 1950s, with the Chinese meant nomadic shepherds lost their for Lake Manasarovar. Then dai presence in Tibet, the Bhotia, the customary rights to grazing grounds. chamal achheta (yoghurt mixed Drogpa (Tibetan nomads) and the After 1990, there was nothing to with rice) is shared by the new ritual Taklakoti of Tibet, who barely knew replace the traditional guarantee that partners. Once such a friendship is what paddy and wheat looked like, caravans could use commons to camp established, it is believed both their started consuming rice and flour or let their animals graze. bodies merge into one and the produced in China brought to them Among the first casualties of this relation is as permanent that of via the newly constructed highways on rapid change were the haat bazaars RK MANANDHAR

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WIN STUFF EVERY WEEK - LOG ONTO: WWW.WAVEMAG.COM.NP other. KATHMANDU, NEPAL TEL: +977-1-496427/496248/495861(NAYA BANESHWOR), 223222(KAMALADI) 264259(THAMEL), 545870(PATAN), 061-28730(POKHARA), 021-21730(BIRATNAGAR) FAX :+977-1- 477859 Email: [email protected] SOCIETY 29 JUNE - 5 JULY 2001 NEPALI TIMES 111111 Karnali’sKarnali’s economyeconomy andand socialsocial fabricfabric TONI HAGEN’S NEPAL agricultural base. When the salt trade ran dry, they had nothing to fall back on. The caravan highway extended from Tibet to the tarai along the CHHAKKA BAHADUR LAMA banks of the Karnali, the Seti and the Mahakali rivers. The open pastures were used by the caravans, and the sheep droppings were rich fertiliser. In Humla there was a system of collecting a royalty in exchange for allowing caravans the use of pastures. From l to r: Humla herdsmen cross the border bridge into Tibet with Nepali timber to barter for food and alcohol, mountain goats with salt on their backs arrive in Mugu. The Now the market has dried up and the buckwheat) flour, and bhuse jau dividing the caravan work equally involved in the food coupons, traditional trade routes from Tibet and India into Nepal in the early 1950s. Humlalis have registered the pastures (barley with a thick bark), which amongst themselves and marrying a tainting these straight-forward, as private farms. With the yaks and grows in Rodikot in Humla. single wife. Since all the brothers’ honest and hard-working folk. One- along the Nepal-Tibet border. They Dadeldhura-Doti highway in the sheep gone, they will have to find new Taklakot is now connected by earnings from different sources went to third of the Himalayan region used to be held every alternate year on 1980s virtually wiped out the ways to fertilise the soil. The change road to other centres of supply, and the wife and relations between all the including Karnali once depended the Tibetan and Nepali sides. But caravans. And when the Kohalpur- in the forestry act and lack of proper the market, which also catered to husbands and the wife were equal, the wholly on the caravan economy. after the 1950 Nepal-Tibet treaty, this Banbasa highway was built, even the governance in recent years has led to a Humla, does not function anymore. families prospered. “A wife from a good Now, there is nothing to replace it. became history. Haat bazaars in the tarai haat bazaars dried up. And this mass selling of sheep. Earlier honoured Humlis are now completely family, water from a good spring”, goes The Karnali is not the only region to tarai, on the other hand, were was how salt started coming from the as a god of wealth, similar to the cow dependent on the Taklakot market a Nyinba saying. But now, as the sheep be affected by these changes, but it is flourishing with Indian goods and south and food from the north—once in Hinduism, sheep now fulfil the for food supply and commodities. stocks are sold for meat, there are few most desperate here. iodised salt. Migrant western hill as unimaginable as a western sunrise. growing demand for meat, becoming Because there is no checkpoint or or no pastures, the single wife will be The people of the Karnali have people could fill many of their needs After the trade stopped, people the favourite snack in western Nepal’s customs post at the border in Hilsa, married to many unemployed brothers. been proud and self-sufficient for more easily at the bazaars in the south had to negotiate all over again how growing urban areas. Humlis must now travel at their own Many retired herders are now forced to centuries. They don’t want than in the north. Initially, the they deal with land, livestock, food The urgency for border posts is peril and dogged by considerable take on a completely alien tradition: a handouts, they want a life of self- caravans with Indian salt meant and each other. The impact has been obvious if you live in Humla. The harassment to inner Taklakot to buy single household with a sort of large sufficiency and dignity. But the alternative business and increased devastating. Border villages like Chala, biggest western Tibetan border town their basic needs. The price? joint family. In their old age some are march of time, the encroachment of employment. Caravan runners started Chyaduk, Dojam and Nepka of of Taklakot, adjoins Humla. When Deforestation and alcoholism. In settling down with individual wives and the outside world, and an uncaring transporting Indian salt from the tarai Humla district and Mugal of Mugu the caravans were still making their Taklakot, Humlis pay for food with earning their livelihood running faraway capital has forced them to up to the middle hills. More haat district are among the worst-affected. trips, Humlis were self-sufficient as far Nepali timber sold for as little as 7 teashops and lodges in Simikot. speak out. And now that they are bazaars were started. The caravans of Tibetan was the language of as food went, and the caravan used to Yuan (Rs 56) per kg. Worse, Humlis Nyinba women who used to proudly speaking out, the government Karnali, especially those from Humla, commerce, so they acted as supplement the scarce food supply in are sometimes forced to barter the wear along (traditional golden considers them a nuisance. They are played an important role in the interpreters for the Thakuri landlords, Taklakot. The Taklakot elite build up wood for thope, the local alcohol. earrings), now line up in front of the seeking their rights not as bohemian establishment of hill towns like given responsibility of the weighing ritual friendships with their (See ‘Nepali timber to Tibet’, Nepali Chief District Officer’s office with a caravan runners romanticised in Silgadhi in Doti, Sanphe Bagar, Bayal procedures by the Rana rulers. They counterparts in Humla. When winter Times #17) coupon that entitles them to 5 kg of Oscar-nominated films, but as alert Pata, Kuchchi Binayak in Achham, were paid in flour and as their was around the corner, Taklakotis The tradition of polyandry is also rice. And these are people who were citizens of Nepal. All they are want is and Martadi and Kolti in Bajura. The livelihood depended on border entered Nepal as far as Yalbang Chaur collapsing. The well-to-do Nyinba earlier among the biggest salt traders of their dignity back. caravans didn’t just bring salt, but transactions, they did not own much in Muchu Village District Committee community, among others, had the upper Karnali. Chhakka Bahadur Lama is a former virtually every necessity. The land or have any established to stock up on tito phapar (bitter evolved a unique system of brothers There is corruption and politics communist MP from Humla. 121212 TECHNOLOGY 29 JUNE- 5 JULY 2001 NEPALI TIMES with far greater enthusiasm than we had previously had any reason to believe. The demand for absolution is bigger than we even imagined. III. Admittedly, this situation requires us to bear some new burdens. But this is largely a matter of mere resources. For example: In stark contrast to Iconfess you, Your Grace, our technical team is in fact deeply fallible. We have found skilled programmers difficult to recruit; apparently they still prefer to be granted options instead of indulgences. Our current techies, meanwhile, just wrote confession-routing requested fee? It is also worth who generally “get” the heaven software that routinely misdirects pointing out that Hail Marys, vs. hell concept, should do fine. venal sins to the mortal Our Fathers and other prayers Hindus may present more of a department and vice versa. Nor is well-suited to repetitious training challenge. our current server architecture of penances are rendered useless iii. Explore Alternate exactly Bernini quality. (I am with simple “copy and paste” Platforms: We suspect e-mail’s sure this explains why I receive technology. This is probably best lack of immediacy may hinder so few of your responses to my e- tackled by the fellows in the validity of a confession. But mails, Excellency.) repentance services, but I wanted how about instant messaging? The advent of the devilish to bring it to your Righteous NB: We would want to Blackberry has only made attention. consider very carefully the matters more challenging. With V. We might employ some possibly confusing signal sent by some of our more eagerly fast-track tactics to make i- an AOL/Holy See pact. I flagellant believers now confessions work: frankly do not see how they requesting forgiveness every 10 i. Implement a CRM could have taken over Time minutes, we are often (Catholic Relationship Manage- Warner without at least a little overwhelmed. Of course we are ment) solution: The leading help from down under, and I do eager to hear immediately about provider seems to be Oracle, if not refer to Rupert Murdoch. every instance of someone you’re not unduly bothered by VI. Once you have thought fibbing, cursing or touching the heathen Greek connotation, this over, please contact me at

themselves. But we simply do not or by doing business with Larry my Yahoo address or send me ○○○○○○○○○○○ STEVE○○○○○ BODOW you forbade the taking of not solicited it, confessional e- have the bandwidth to respond. Ellison, who, with all due respect, something on vellum, either is “The Internet is an excellent communion via Federal Express. mail has been pouring over the Put simply, we need a great deal is an even sharper dresser than is fine. Finding the right i- instrument for evangelisation and In accord with what surely was Vatican’s virtual transom in great more VC funding. Vatican City, Your Beneficence. confessions formula will be religious dialogue, but it cannot divine guidance, you similarly waves. This is not necessarily a that is. ii. Outsource to India: An hard, Holy Father, but I believe be turned into an online recycle banned cell phone administration bad thing. With so much IV. Other issues are more increasingly popular option in the it is at least worth giving the bin for sins in place of face-to- of last rites. However, I must electronic data, Your Grace, we ecclesiastical, and we beg your e-services business, Your old college try. face confessions, a senior Vatican humbly urge you to reconsider now have a more accurate picture judgment. BCC-ing e-mail feels Whiteness. Of course we would official said Tuesday.” - from an your decision to outlaw the of our flock than ever before. It like a sin of duplicity, but we are try to staff our remote contrition Devotedly, IDG News report performing of the sacrament of turns out that our faithful not sure. Is the viewing of centres with as many converts as Fra Benedictus Your Eminence: confession through the Internet. besmirch themselves a great deal unclean websites more or less of possible, but it may be necessary I. It was with perfect wisdom that II. Indeed, though we have more often, in more ways and an offence if one pays the to hire some heretics. Muslims, (Industry Standard)

Pepsi WORLD 29 JUNE - 5 JULY 2001 NEPALI TIMES 131313

What price Milosevic? ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ PRIVATISE EVERYTHING BELGRADE – Goaded in part by economic concerns, Yugosla- via has begun a legal procedure that could lead to the extradi- tion of former president Slobodan Milosevic to the UN war The WTO’s two-day meeting in early July crimes tribunal in The Hague, The Netherlands. The extradition

could bring stormy weather. is made possible by a decree passed by the Yugoslav govern-

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○ ment last week. Milosevic tops the list of those accused of war crimes in Kosovo in 1999. The decree followed weeks of Cochabamba city last April and eight postal and audio-visual), construction

MICHAEL BARKIN/PANOS controversy on how the country should cooperate with the protestors were killed. They finally and related engineering services, Tribunal. Donors to Yugoslavia are to meet in Brussels 29 June won and the government was forced distribution, educational, financial, and make new investments worth $1 billion—but leading to evict the British company that had environmental (water delivery, energy, Western countries threatened not to participate unless the acquired Cochabamba’s public water refuse disposal), health-related and extradition was pushed through. Milosevic’s lawyer almost system. The water supply was put in social, tourism and travel related, immediately started a procedure of questioning the constitu- local hands. Under the proposed recreational and sporting, transport tional validity of the decree. Milosevic’s Socialist Party of Serbia WTO regime it would have been (sea, air, rail, road, auxiliary), and says that the country’s constitution bans extradition of Yugoslav difficult, if not impossible, for the others. Also included are culture and citizens. But constitutional law expert Pavle Nikolic says, “The Protestors outside the WTO meeting in Seattle 1998. Bolivian government to rescind the social security. GATS negotiations Tribunal is an organ of the UN, where Yugoslavia is a full

privatisation. cover nearly everything. All 141 member. The UN’s laws are above ours. We have to cooperate ○○○○○○○ KEN○○○○○○○○○ LAIDLAW “Services” seems an innocuous In a speech in 1997 David WTO member-states are members of with or without our laws, decrees or other dinburgh – In the WTO’s item. But in a memo he wrote to the Hartridge said “a GATS Treaty in GATS and have assumed specific documents.” Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica is quoted Geneva headquarters talks chair of services negotiations in 1999, 1994 would never have been signed commitments in individual service as saying “extradition of war crimes suspects to the Tribunal eand negotiations are being David Hartridge, WTO director of but for pressure from American sectors. Multinational service was a lesser evil than that which could strike us if we did not held which threaten the public services services, said: “Services is the major Express and Citicorp.” Lobbying by providers gain increased access cooperate with the Tribunal.” The Yugoslav Left party, headed by commitments of governments around part of the agenda, less difficult and multinationals, the European Services through an Article called the ‘necessity Mirjana Markovic, Milosevic’s wife, described the extradition as the world. The aim of the talks is to less visible politically than agriculture Forum and the powerful US Coalition test’. Governments would have to “giving up the sovereignty of the country for a handful of dollars.” radically extend the GATS—General but very much larger in economic of Services Industries, has succeeded demonstrate that their laws and A recent poll showed that 48 percent of Serbs support the idea Agreement on Trade and Services— importance and potential.” Services in setting most of the agenda for regulations are “not more burdensome of Milosevic’s extradition and that 33 percent oppose it. If Treaty. The current GATS regime, are among the fastest growing sectors GATS negotiations, due to be than necessary”, ie, least trade extradited, Milosevic will be the only head of state—indicted established in 1994, is already in the global economy. Health, concluded in 2002. Global investment restrictive. The GATS Dispute Panel while in office—to be brought before the court. (IPS) comprehensive. The new regime education and water are leaders: the houses like Merrill-Lynch predict that will decide what is and is not trade proposes making it almost impossible global annual health market is worth public education will be globally restrictive. It will be final and outside Shrinking mountain glaciers for governments to monopolise public some $3.5 trillion, education $2 privatised over the next decade. The governments’ hands. One commenta- ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ services like health, education and trillion and water $1 trillion. CEO of US-based Colombia/HCA tor wrote in the Guardian that after Mountain glaciers around the world are receding, a comparison water. For many this is not new. IMF Little wonder that multinational Healthcare Corporation, the world’s GATS, national parliaments and of new satellite data with historical records clearly shows. The and World Bank structural adjust- service providers want a large chunk of largest for-profit hospital organisation regulatory agencies will be demoted, majority of glaciers studied by the Global Land Ice Measure- ment programmes have for years the action, if not all of it. The World aims to privatise every public hospital effectively, to advisory bodies.” While ment from Space (GLIMS) project have decreased in size. The prodded countries in the South to Development Movement (WDM), an in North America. Thames Water, a protests are growing, Michael Moore, ongoing research, which compares new satellite data to dismantle public services to allow in NGO that campaigns against GATS, British firm, operates privatised water the head of the WTO, says, “The historical records foreign-based health care, education notes that after the Bolivian treatment plants in Chile and plans to people that stand outside and say they and photographs of and water corporations. On 6-7 government sold its public water expand into South America and work in the interests of the poorest glaciers on moun- July the WTO has invited system under World Bank instruc- Southeast Asia. National Grid, make me want to vomit.” Clare Short, tains worldwide, government representatives, the tions, low income families received another British company, delivers British Secretary for International could be seen as media and NGOs to discuss the higher water bills than food bills. Even electricity in Zambia. Development, said recently that those new evidence that WTO agenda ahead, including collecting rainwater in tanks was The 1994 GATS identified 160 who claim GATS will lead to global warming is GATS. As a public relations exercise illegal without a permit. Hundreds sectors subject to its rules. They are: privatisation are “conspiracy occurring. The report it is unlikely to be very successful. took to the streets of Bolivia’s business, communications (telecom, theorists”. (GEMINI) does not say why glaciers are reced- ing, but does state COMMENT by PIERRE NORA that mountain ASTER image of the North Patagonia ice-sheet glaciers respond much more quickly than polar glaciers to changes in temperature and climate. GLIMS’ objectives are to establish a global inventory of land ice, including surface The tidal wave of memory topography, and to measure the changes in the extent of glaciers and often their surface velocities to establish a digital ountries, social, ethnic and family groups have in recent decades baseline inventory of ice extent for comparison later. GLIMS undergone a profound change in their relations with the past. This takes uses data from an instrument known as the Advanced cmany forms: criticism of official histories and recovery of repressed ones, Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer demands for confiscated or suppressed pasts, interest in “roots” and genealogy, (ASTER) aboard the US TERRA satellite. The number of commemorative events and new museums, opening archives to the public, and glaciers in the world is not accurately known, but two large fondness for what English-speakers call “heritage” and the French “patrimoine.” inventories, the World Glacier Monitoring Service and Eurasia at With the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Soviet Union, followed by the end of the US National Snow and Ice Data Center, point to about military dictatorships in Latin America and apartheid in South Africa, a global 80,000. GLIMS is also looking at crevasses and small bodies settling of scores with the past is underway. of water on the surface of glaciers to get a better picture of the This upsurge in memory intersects with the “acceleration of history”. A key overall health of a particular glacial region. One of the areas feature of modernity is change rather than continuity, the straightforward where GLIMS is focusing research is the size and temperature linearity of historical time. The way people envisaged their future traditionally of glacial lakes in the Tibetan Himalaya. This area includes the determined what needed to be remembered and gave meaning to the present. Khumbu glacier on Mt Everest, which makes up part of the The future could be envisaged as a form of restoration, progress, or revolution. most popular routes climbers use when attempting to reach But because today we cannot anticipate what our descendants will need to know the world’s highest peak. (Environmental News Network) about us to understand themselves, we piously and indiscriminately stockpile Checkpoint Charlie at the Berlin Wall, now dismantled. Pieces are in nearby museums. anything that might testify to what we are or will become. It is this dissolution of teleology—a history whose end is known—that creates “Memory” is replacing “history”. Invoking Flatulence fighting filter today’s “duty to remember,” a sense more mechanical and heritage-based ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ memory is often a call for justice. Few people talk about it past adolescence. But 62-year-old

than moral, and linked not to “debt” but to “loss”. And so we commune ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ with vestiges of the past. To recover the past we reconstruct it, aided by a memory implies a great change in individuals’ relations to their American Buck Weimer is different. He actually likes talking documents and archives, a form of memory once called “history.” communities. Identity has been transformed from an individual and subjective about, um, farts. His inspiration was his wife, who suffers from “Memory” is now so all-inclusive, it stands in for “history”. notion into a collective, objective one. Traditionally, identity characterised all Crohn’s disease, a form of inflammatory bowel syndrome. This outbreak of memory is also due to the emancipatory trend among that is unique about an individual—so much so that it acquired an essentially Under-Ease is airtight underwear with a replaceable charcoal minority groups—rehabilitating the past reaffirms their identity. Minority administrative sense: our fingerprints, our identity papers. Nowadays, identity filter that removes foul-smelling gases before they escape. The memories mainly arise from decolonisation: international decolonisation, implies a group category. Identity created by self-assertion, like memory, undies are made from a soft, airtight, nylon-type fabric. Elastic which provides societies mired in colonial oppression historical becomes a duty. It is at this level of obligation that memory and social identity is sewn around the waist and both legs. The removable filter, consciousness and the rehabilitation (or fabrication) of memories; domestic become almost synonymous. which looks like the shoulder pads in women’s clothing, is decolonisation of sexual, social, religious and provincial minorities for How is memory now organised? Two patterns are visible. The first made of charcoal, which removes odours, sandwiched whom reaffirming their memory, their history, is a way of being recognised consists of a dramatic increase in the uses made of the past. Many reasons between two layers of Australian sheep’s wool. The trickiest by a community that refused them that right; and ideological exist for today’s proliferation of commemorative events, but each shows part of developing the undies was finding a filter that wasn’t too decolonisation, which reunites people with memories confiscated, destroyed that the past has ceased to have a single meaning and that a present overlaid bulky but could capture the foul-smelling gas and allow the or manipulated by totalitarian regimes. This explosion of minority with awareness of its history allows for several possible versions of the past. non-smelling gas—hydrogen and oxygen—to pass through. memories enhances the idea of “collective memory”. History was the sphere The second deprives historians of their monopoly on interpreting the past. Weimer tweaked a filter used in gas masks worn by coal of the collective, used by public authorities and scholars to mould the Historians now share their duties with judges, witnesses, the media, miners and inserted it into the rump of his undies. The under- meaning of a nation. Memory was individual. The idea that memory can be legislators. But the problem raised by memory’s sanctification comes in wear is made for men and women and sells for $25, two collective, emancipatory turns its meaning inside out. recognising when emancipation becomes exclusion. To claim the right to replacement filters cost $10. The company’s motto: “Wear them History-replaced-by-memory is almost a popular protest movement— memory is to call for justice, but this proliferation of moral claims can for the ones you love.” Even though a healthy person breaks wind 16 times a day on average, according to the revenge of the outcast, the history of those denied history. Hitherto, if degenerate into a call to murder. (Project Syndicate) history did not have truth, it at least had loyalty. But the last century’s UselessKnowledge.com, flatulence is a private matter. Almost sufferings incited demands for a truth more truthful than history, the truth Pierre Nora is director of studies, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, Paris and every sale of Under-Ease has been on the Internet. (The Guardian) of personal experience, individual memory. The idea that collectivities have a member of the Academie francaise. 141414 ASIA 29 JUNE - 5 JULY 2001 NEPALI TIMES

Oil in troubled waters ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ WASHINGTON - A labour rights group is suing ExxonMobil on charges that it paid and directed government forces who Slippery quarry committed atrocities while protecting the oil company’s Indonesian facilities. The world’s largest oil company denies any

DILIP○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ HIRO administer that part of the Kurdistan wrongdoing. The Washington-based International Labour Rights Autonomous Region (three northern raqi president Saddam Hussein is Fund (ILRF) filed charges on behalf of 11 people from Aceh who preparing for another showdown Iraqi provinces) under KDP control, allege that they and family members were murdered, tortured, iwith the US and Britain—this time with the assistance of Anglo-American raped, and kidnapped by an Indonesian military unit guarding the over the United Nations oil-for-food air patrols. The Alliance wants to company’s local operations. ExxonMobil allegedly provided programme. Since 1996, the UN has deprive Hussain of the control of the logistical and material support to Indonesian troops operating in allowed Iraq to buy food from the area, one-fifth of Iraqi territory. Aware the restive territory between 1989 and 1998, when former foreign exchange earned through the of US Congress unwillingness to president Suharto sustained an intense effort against armed sale of Iraqi oil-money that has to permit financial aid to the KDP, the separatists there. ExxonMobil suspended its Aceh operations in deposit into a UN-administered fund. Clinton administration overlooked March citing security concerns, but might return under pressure The UN Security Council committee the clear breach of UN sanctions. from Pertamina, Indonesia’s state oil corporation. The company responsible for maintaining the Iraqi oil started flowing through a has other problems too. Environmentalists and rights activists sanctions on Iraq has to decide by 3 newly re-opened Syrian-Iraqi pipeline have urged the EU to suspend financial backing for the Chad- July whether to roll over the oil-for- last January. Baghdad sells it to Cameroon oil and gas pipeline, threatening the ExxonMobil-led food programme for another six Damascus at $15 a barrel. Syria, an consortium hoping to build and operate the controversial venture. months. The committee will also oil-exporting country, consumes the And US distributors are suing against the company, alleging consider an Anglo-American draft Iraqi oil domestically and exports an antitrust violations (in this case price-fixing) and racial resolution requiring Iraqi private oil equivalent amount, 150,000 bpd, at discrimination. sales to Jordan, Turkey and Syria— the market price of between $25 and The Indonesian suit is the latest under the Alien Tort Claims something the alliance has turned a $32 a barrel. Act which allows foreign citizens to sue US companies in US blind eye to so far—to be placed Persuading Iraq’s neighbours to courts over acts committed abroad. Since the mid-1990s such under the oil-for-food scheme. But give up this economic privilege will be cases have dragged on against Unocal, sued by Burmese nationals alleging human rights abuses; Royal Dutch/Shell this is Iraq’s only major channel for hard, so the Anglo-American draft resolution proposes to compensate petroleum, accused of complicity in the 1995 detention and obtaining foreign exchange outside the hanging of nine environmentalists in Nigeria; and Texaco, them. The proposal, bizarrely, is to UN-administered account. defending charges by indigenous communities from Amazonian compensate the three countries from a CAROLINE PENN/PANOJ Iraq sells oil at discount prices to Ecuador of violating international environmental laws. (IPS) the three countries, which pay UN Compensation Fund, part of Baghdad directly. If they were to go by whose revenue comes from the UN- the Anglo-American draft resolution, administered Iraqi oil export account. Not yet half the sky The initial 30 percent UN cut was ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ they would have to pay the market BEIJING - As the Chinese communist party prepares for its 16th price. Of the 75,000 barrels per day reduced to 25 percent last year. The Congress next year when a new leadership team will be (bpd) of Iraqi petroleum Jordan has draft resolution proposes raising it Syria, Jordan and Turkey are key elements announced, Beijing is looking to address a serious gender been receiving with the agreement of back to the original level. But there is in the proposed addition to the UN’s oil- imbalance in government. At recent meetings of the party’s the Sanctions Committee since the more to this than mere compensation. powerful Organisation Department, officials debated promotion

end of the Gulf War, half is free. The “Under President Clinton and for-food program in Iraq. schemes for women. But a high-profile report on women leaders ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ remainder is $18 a barrel. Supplies to Secretary of State Albright, Washing- ○○○○○○○○ in China warns of the risks in implementing those schemes, Turkey are channeled through private ton regarded the suffering of ordinary not enforce sanctions effectively.” refused and Saddam backed down. because of a tendency to meet minimum required levels for intermediary traders. Significantly, Iraqis as acceptable collateral damage Saddam Hussain will keep trying “For Baghdad,” says Williams, “the women in leadership positions—and stay there. The report, they are senior officials of the in their struggle against Saddam to loosen the UN stranglehold on continued existence of the escrow prepared by the Beijing-based Branch of the Women Mayors of Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in Hussein,” explains Ian Williams, a Iraq’s prime resource, oil. Last account amounts to an infringement of China association, discusses the work of women leaders as the the Iraqi region of Kurdistan. This British specialist on the Gulf. “Under December Iraq decreed that buyers its sovereignty.” (GEMINI) Asia-Pacific Summit of Women Mayors and Councillors is held supply of about 65,000 bpd has been Colin Powell and President Bush, of Iraqi petroleum deposit a this week in Thailand. Chinese women make up 21 percent of the sold since 1993 at about $10-12 per there is the realisation that the surcharge of $0.50 per barrel into an London-based journalist Dilip world’s women, but in 1990 women cadres made up only 12 barrel. Baghdad’s price cut has support of Iraq’s neighbours is waning independent Iraqi account. Hiro’s latest book is Neighbours, percent of the enabled KDP officials to make because of the suffering of Iraqis, and Unwilling to violate UN sanctions, Not Friends: Iraq and Iran after government leaders on substantial profits which they use to without their support the US could the purchasers, including India, the Gulf Wars. prefecture, city and county levels. China boasts 463 women mayors in its 668 established cities, but 90 percent are deputies with little decision-making power. There are only two women in the central leadership line- After the hype, what? up. Mao Zedong wanted women “to hold half the sky”—50 years

later China has laws safeguarding the rights of women. But no SUVENDRINI○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ KAKUCHI

TOKYO - Full-length posters, a CD featuring his favourite music, an electronic How will Junichiro Koizumi do? legal clause guarantees women’s participation in government and ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ magazine registering a million sign-ups on the day of its launch, and daily TV ○○○○○○○○ no law-enforcing organ is responsible for enforcing regulations programmes on the life of Japan’s newest idol. The rage is not a movie star or He thinks this will lead to a more open and fair Japan. Heated questioning of on women’s political rights. Deng Xiaoping’s economic reforms were a political chance and impediment for women. They created toy, but Japan’s prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi, a 60-year-old politician who Koizumi during a parliamentary debate by Naoto Kan, spokesperson for the opportunities in developed coastal areas where foreign invest- sports a rock-and-roll hairstyle and was a single father to his two sons until a few opposition Democratic Party of Japan, resulted in a flurry of annoyed telephone ment and entrepreneurial incentives thrived, but women in poor years ago. Analysts see this as a sign that Japan’s traditionally stodgy politics is calls. “Don’t bully the prime minister,” said an angry caller to Kan’s office. hinterlands got little exposure to public affairs and rarely made it entering a new era. At the same time, there is apprehension. “A more personal approach is to local governments. (IPS) Koizumi, who became prime minister on 26 April, is revolutionising welcome in politics, but people must look at things rationally,” warns Ogawa. Japanese politics, says Kunihiko Okada of the Matsushita School for Politics and She says the current sentiment is dangerous, because people are glossing over key Economy, a private outfit teaching leadership. “His style is more in line with the issues in Koizumi’s programme—his declared desire to change Japan’s Peace A media-fuelled row flashy, hard-hitting west and younger people are lapping it up.” Last week, the Constitution and acknowledge the Self-Defence Forces as a full, legitimate ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ veteran politician, a member of the conservative Liberal Democratic Party, military force. “Such moves are not good for Japan with its past aggression. But HAVANA - Military relations between Cuba and China that allegedly opened his own e-mail magazine, Cabinet E-mail Magazine. In his first message with Koizumi’s sky-high popularity, people could accept anything and that is extend to arms sales to this Caribbean island nation as well as joint there, Koizumi said, “I am Koizumi, the Lionheart.” He described himself as very worrying,” Ogawa adds. Ogawa, a regular television political commentator, intelligence activity has heightened tension between the two socialist nations and the US. Reports categorically refuted by Havana and “24-hour public servant,” and added that “since becoming the leader, I feel like a says she has got fewer offers since since criticising Koizumi. “Television does not Beijing have appeared in the US media since Chinese President Jiang caged bird because I have ten bodyguards with me all the time.” “The idea want its ratings to fall, which is why I Zemin’s visit to Cuba in April. Citing a US intelligence report, the behind the magazine is to sell his charming personality. It is a totally new have not been asked as often as Washington Times reported 12 June that three boats carrying approach,” explains Professor Keichi Katsura, who teaches mass media at the before,” she says. Okada of the explosives and other weapons had been traced from China to the Tokyo University of Information Sciences. Matsushita School of Politics Cuban port of Mariel in the past few months. The newspaper said “Koizumi politics” is marked by lively televised debates and personal stories. and Economy adds that China was taking advantage of Cuba’s proximity to the United States This approach “is working like magic,” says Rieko Ogawa, a political analyst. painful developments, such as to carry out electronic espionage to intercept US communications. “Koizumi has appeared when Japan’s self-confidence is at its lowest, with no new more unemployment and However, US State Department spokesman Phil Reeker denied that vision from Japanese politicians,” she says. “His timing is perfect.” Recent higher taxes because of the government had reports confirming the allegations in the opinion polls revealed an 85 percent approval rating for Koizumi, by far the important reforms, such as Washington Times. China, the United States’ fourth biggest trading highest for any post-war Japanese government. Asked why they support him, ending financial support to partner, with a bilateral trade flow that stands above $110 billion, respondents said Koizumi was “capable of reforming Japan” and was “straight bankrupt companies, ought to be could be subjected to economic sanctions for selling weapons to talking”. A young woman, interviewed recently on television called him “cool”. studied more deeply. “Koizumi will Cuba. Analysts see China’s relationship with Cuba as analogous to She said she was touched when the media reported Koizumi had tears in his eyes then face an acid test and the public may that of the US with Taiwan. In April, the Bush administration when he met in May with leprosy patients who won a lawsuit against a Japanese not be all that enthralled.” (IPS) approved the sale to Taiwan of eight diesel submarines, 12 anti- government isolation policy. submarine aircraft, four destroyers and other weapons, along There are high, intense expectations of Koizumi. Some supporters even with the corresponding technical training. The row over this equate Koizumi to a “god”. Said Masaru Okayama, who owns a compounded the tension triggered by the 1 April spy plane crisis. convenience store in central Tokyo: “Koizumi and his cabinet The geopolitical differences between Beijing and Washington also are like gods, because they are working so hard to reform Japan. arise from China’s intention to counter, and if possible eliminate, I know he will not fail us.” Okayama particularly endorses the United States’ predominant military presence in southeast Koizumi’s decision to steer away from deeply entrenched faction Asia, especially in the South China Sea. politics that have shaped Japan’s politics—and government—for decades. FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 29 JUNE - 5 JULY 2001 NEPALI TIMES 151515 Decision-making, Dipendra and Devyani Congress style Jana Aastha, 20 June While Dipendra was studying in England, he had a classmate called Charles whose Saptahik Bimarsa, 22 June ask for the prime minister’s father is a Lord and who has a sister, resignation. Bhattarai is the Shelly. This Lord was Dipendra’s local In a meeting to decide who one who left nothing unsaid. I guardian when he was in England be- should be nominated to the did not say anything much.” tween 1987 and 1990. Around that time, Upper House, Koirala said that Dr Ram Sharan Mahat also Devyani also come to England for some Girija Prasad Koirala he had given his word to two supported Adhikary—in fact, sort of course. She came into contact with people, and those present at the everyone did. Deuba was asked Shelly, whose father became Devyani’s meeting could decide about the to choose one of the two guardian too. others. People were surprised names he had proposed. He Although Dipendra and Devyani lived in and had no clue who these two agreed to Bista. Although he different parts of England, since they both were. They were Ashok Koirala had committed himself to had the same guardian, they first met at and Bal Bahadur Rai. After this, about two dozen people, the house of Shelley and Charles. Both Deuba said that he also had two Sushil Koirala kept quiet Dipendra and Devyani were in their early nominees who had to be elected. during the meeting. He did 20’s, just out of their teens. At that time, His nominees were Bal Dev not support or oppose anyone. Dipendra was quite a jolly fellow who Bohora and Akkal Bahadur Bista. Laxman Ghimire put forward liked to joke a lot. It is said that it is easy Then Bhattarai got into the act the names of Pursottam for the young to fall in love very quickly. and said that even he had given Basnet, Birendra Dahal, Basu It is around this time, that Dipendra told his word to two people, Maiya Koirala, Chandra Singh Devyani in front of Charles and Shelly that he did not meet her. Apparently, Devi Shrestha and Dr Narayan Bhattarai and many others. that she was fit to be the future queen Dipendra’s ADCs used to pick Devyani up Krishna Prashad Bhattarai Khadka. He told the meeting Ram Chandra Poudel stated of Nepal. everyday. They never knocked on the main that these two people had given that Ram Chandra Pokhrel too The relationship between Dipendra door of Bijay Bas, but used the side door. their lives to the party and that was an ideal candidate. Maiya and Devyani began there. Until 1993 or They’d drive up to this door and then they were very deserving. Other Devi was accepted by all, but 1994, the palace did not know anything ring Devyani on her mobile phone. members then put forward their Dr Khadka did not get about it. In fact, Devyani’s parents were Devyani would come out and go to nominees. Khum Bahadur through. In the end Bhattarai unaware of it for another year. In 1995, meet the prince. Khadka fought vigorously for proposed that Bista should Devyani’s older sister Urvasi married into Dipendra later told Devyani that his Tirtha Raj Gyawali, some one step down for Khadka. He a rich business family in India. Just before family was against their marriage, and put forward the name of Ram tried to convince Deuba, who this wedding, Devyani’s parents sent a she is said to have told him that she was Jivan Singh. Since there were no suddenly exploded: “Why are proposal to the palace, although they had willing to marry someone else, but lawyers, Radhe Shyam Adhikary you never just to the far west? no idea about their daughter’s relation- Dipendra did not want to hear anything of and Mukund Regmi were also Just because you are ineffective ship with Dipendra until then. Sources say this sort. While Devyani and Dipendra suggested. Koirala immediately in other regions, you try and Their Majesties brushed the proposal were madly in love, proposals for Devyani supported the candidature of bully the far west. There is no aside, saying they were in no hurry to get were coming from all over—the House of Adhikary. One member raised way I will be party to this. Dipendra married. Jodhpur, the House of Bhagalpur and the Sher Bahadur Deuba objections and said that as far as Why are you always unfair to Garima Rana, Supriya Shah and House of Jaipur. In fact, the heir to the appointing a lawyer went, me?” In the end it was agreed Devyani Rana were the three women House of Baroda parked himself at Hotel Adhikary was acceptable, but that both Koirala’s nominees short-listed for Dipendra. Although he Yak and Yeti and wanted to meet Devyani. that he had until recently would get through, one each of loved Devyani, and Garima was in the The couple was passing through a very publicly stated that the Lauda Bhattarai’s and Deuba’s, one news for her educational achievements, difficult time, and Devyani asked Dipendra Air lease was improper and that from the intellectuals, Ram the palace thought Supriya was the ideal to finally make a decision. Sources say the prime minister should be Jivan Singh from the list of match for the crown prince. Shree Rajya that Dipendra went to Bijay Bas with a held accountable and should political sufferers and Major Laxmi Rana, Dipendra’s maternal grand- bottle of poison and told Devyani that if resign. The prime minister Deepak Gurung from the list mother, was given the task of selecting she did not marry him, he would commit responded: “Who has not of retired army people. the right girl. Sources say that she once suicide. After this incident Devyani’s accused me? Even Bhattarai and Although people tried to contacted Devyani’s mother. Devyani’s parents apparently told the heir of Baroda Deuba have said all they could. raise objections about the mother had no idea of her daughter’s that they were very sorry, but their daugh- So forget about that objection.” candidature of Shrestha and relationship and mentioned casually to ter could not marry him. Deuba was surprised, but replied Rai, Prime Minister Koirala Shree Rajya Laxmi that Devyani had Dipendra could not imagine life ALL PHOTOS MIN BAJRACHARYA ALL PHOTOS grown up accustomed to extreme comfort Khum Bahadur Khadka in a jolly manner: “All I did was brushed them aside. without Devyani. Last year when he was and wealth, and that she was the grand training to be a parajumper, the day of his daughter of Vijaya Raje Scindia of the first jump, he rang Devyani and told her QUOTE OF THE WEEK house of Gwalior, known for its wealth. that he would only do it if she made She further said that Nepali royalty was breakfast for him. She did, and met him at relatively very poor and she had to the airport with his breakfast. He ate and The recurring illegal activities inside the royal palace are disgraceful. If it is true that lethal drugs were being think seriously about whether her went for his jump, while Devyani went to trafficked and used inside the palace, it shows that the royal family were least bothered about their citizens. daughter could survive if she married the banks of the Manahara river where he - Prof. Madhav Prasad Acharya, Criminologist in Budhabar Saptahik, 27 June. into a poor house. was supposed to land. He drove her Devyani’s mother unwittingly called the home and then went home himself. This House of Shah poor, and this shut the was only one of many such occasions. doors on her daughter getting married to The pair used to buy each other very Dipendra. The palace thought Devyani luxurious presents when they went was too ambitious. Our sources also say abroad. The expensive Omega watch that Devyani has over Rs 50 million in Dipendra wore was a gift from Devyani. different banks in the city, while Dipendra The camera that he used was also from had to get by on his Rs 2.4 million govern- Devyani. She recently bought him a ment allowance. Although the palace £1,000 T-shirt in London. Dipendra also ruled out marriage with Devyani, Dipendra gave her a lot of presents. could not get her off his mind and there Since both were madly in love, it was was not a single day he was in the city becoming very difficult for them to be apart from each other. The palace could not understand this. No one besides Garima, who is related to Devyani, could understand this and she very politely removed herself from this situation and got married. Supriya also later realised this and slowly moved out of the picture. The palace never changed its position. Dipendra also stood his ground. Dipendra was blinded by his love for Devyani, this drove him mad and he then committed what we today know as the incident that took place at “Why, don’t worry it’s not a letter bomb! It’s that same old book with a new cover.” the royal palace on the night of 1 June. Public Security Regulation More Nepali press on p.16 Space Time Dainik, 24 June

THIS PAGE CONTAINS MATERIAL SELECTED FROM THE NEPALI LANGUAGE PRESS 161616 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 29 JUNE - 5 JULY 2001 NEPALI TIMES element like the Royal Nepal Army! RPP machinations

Perhaps we should say that this is not ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ abolish the multiparty system, but it is the thinking of a Marxist- Leninist- Saptahik Bimarsa, 22 June Poudel on Maoists now clear that this is their fundamen- Maoist party, but of a party that is tal objective. Until now they have south-leaning and opportunist. It The infighting within the third largest Ram Chandra Poudel, deputy prime minister made the peasants rise up against the party, the Rastritya Prajatantra Party Himalaya Times, 19 June seems Prachanda is looking to bring land-owning feudal class, but their about a revolution through a joint (RPP) concerning the forthcoming recent statements show that they were elections to the Upper House has It has now become very clear that the Maoists’ main intention is the working closely with the palace to effort of the army and Maoist destruction of the present constitution and the multiparty democratic destroy the multiparty system. On the guerillas. reached a climax. Earlier the party system. They want to propel this country to complete destruction. All one hand the Maoists spread rumours Prachanda says with conviction passed a resolution saying an their speeches, statements and activities point to this. that they are getting ready to attack, that the monarchy is dead. But the understanding should be reached with The Nepali people must realise that the present political on the other, they act deceitfully and monarchy in Nepal is very much the Sadbhavna party, the ML and the framework—the constitutional monarchy and multiparty democracy— selfishly. They say they are ready for a alive. Constitutionally, Gyanendra is Nepali Congress for the election. The have all helped bring political stability and normalcy to Nepal and dialogue, but when they reach the the new king. The government, the very next day, Surya Bahadur Thapa that any changes in this framework will push the country towards negotiating table they are not ready army, the constitution and the people released a statement saying that trouble. The understanding between the monarch, the democrats and to find a solution. Until yesterday, are behind him. Why can Prachanda instead of working with all these the leftists does not seem to be appreciated in some quarters. They they thought Nirmal Niwas [King not accept this? The strong relations parties, the RPP would from now on have started conspiring. If we look at our history books and study Gyanendra's old residence] was the between the monarchy, multiparty work only with the UML. The party incidents such as the proclamation of 26 Chaitra, the 10 Baisakh centre of all nationalist forces, today finalised its candidates and announced incident or the Pasupati Bankali incident, we will find that the seeds of they have changed their colours and claim that Nirmal Niwas is the democracy and the people are deeply today’s dissatisfaction were sown then. It would not be wrong to say that centre of American imperialism and Indian opportunists. By making engraved in the constitution. The that the candidate from the mid-west we caused these incidents, but intellectuals would be lying to such public statements they are trying to fool the Nepali people. On constitution has placed the monarch would be Khem Raj Pandit. The RPP themselves and to the common man if they say that all this has one hand they praise the Shah dynasty to the sky, and say the incident at the centre of national unity. The also decided to help the ML in the far happened because of the inefficiencies in our multiparty democratic at the royal palace was a foreign conspiracy, and then they say that a monarchy can be a unifying factor in west and the NC in the eastern, system. republic has been born. How are people to believe any of this. an underdeveloped society like ours, central and western regions.The party The Maoists want to play on the psychology of the common man They said the Prachanda Path was the road to salvation for the economically, politically and also decided that at least one RPP and to do this they have a two-point agenda: country, then they talked of a South Asian Federation, and now they talk culturally disunited. Political parties candidate would win one of the 1. Make every person and institution within the parameters of the of an interim all-party government that will destroy multiparty have so far been unable to fill this Upper House seats elected by the constitution feel isolated. democracy in this country. What are we to make of all this? Is this a void. Despite the Peace Corps, Lower House. The day after this 2. Make all these people feel they are in danger. conspiracy to destroy the country, or something else? We have come Christian missionaries, and now the The Maoists have realised that until you make people feel face to face with a very serious question. The Maoists hide their true isolated, you cannot control them. After you have trapped them colours. They are like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. That much is clear to Maoists trying to incite people, the into feeling helpless, the way is clear for you to make your move. everyone. When we are passing through such tough times, isn’t it monarchy is still the most important People like the Maoists thrive when there is utter confusion. necessary to gather all the nationalist forces here and try and help unifying factor in the country. In the Maoists’ 40 demands, nowhere do they say that they want to move the country ahead? Another reason that Prachanda is issuing so many statements could be that he is trying to draw attention many suggestions. It asks that

No celebration King’s property Whassup, Comrade? away from the close relations

MIN BAJRACHARYA ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○ all the king's excess property be between the Maoists and the palace. Naya Sadak National Weekly, Janajagaran National Weekly, nationalised. It suggests that all Chhalphal National Weekly, 17 June And it may be another way of 22 June 21 June property belonging to the late preventing the mobilisation of the King Birendra, King Dipendra, Mahesh Mani Dixit army against the Maoists. King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah The central committee of the Queen Aishwarya and Prince In his second statement on 11 June, Surya Bahadur Thapa Prachanda’s recent statement claims Dev’s 7 July birthday will not be CPN (ML) issued a statement Nirajan should be nationalised Prachanda said that the royal palace that for the establishment of a announcement, Thapa met Madhav celebrated this year, said a letter asking that a complete list of all for use in the social sector. incident is a very serious matter and people’s republic and the formation Nepal in the parliament secretariat from His Majesty’s secretariat to the king’s movable and immov- Finally, the statement puts called for the formation of an interim of an interim all party government, and agreed to support the UML in all the government. The letter cites able property be made public. forward the idea that national government. He said it the Maoists are ready to work with five regions. The UML would help the tragic incident in Narayanhiti The release said that a lot of Narayanhiti Darbar be turned would be his honour and duty to all nationalists, and asks all people to the RPP to get Lokendra Bahadur Darbar on the night of 1 June as questions were being raised into a museum and the work with the army and form an support them in this national Chand elected by the Lower House. the main reason. The cabinet concerning the king, and issuing Tribhuvan Sadan should be interim national government. It seems endeavour. The statement implies Nepal agreed on the condition that agreed on a notice supporting a list of his properties would put maintained as it was found after that suddenly Prachanda likes that only people against the Thapa signed the documents and that move on 21 June. them to rest. The ML makes the incident. Gyanendra. King Gyanendra in his very first speech to the nation monarchy, the constitution and made the deal public. Thapa agreed— proclaimed his belief in a constitu- multiparty democracy are and spoke in favour of the agreement tional monarchy and multiparty nationalists. So by that definition, the on NTV. Rabindra Nath Sharma, a democracy. The high command of the UML, the Nepali Congress, Masal, powerful RPP member, protested. He army announced that they are fully the Ekata Kendra, other leftists, the said the RPP had pledged to work dedicated to His Majesty and will Sadbhavna party, the Praja Parishad, with the Congress and that Thapa did follow his directions. In such a the palace and the army are not not have the right to sign any situation, Prachanda’s statement is nationalist. Only the Maoists are. agreement independently, against the either laughable or quite stupid. What Prachanda is therefore prepared to directives of the party. sAnother RPP can we tell a revolutionary Marxist work with the Maoists. This great leader, Jog Meher Shrestha filed his movement that thinks it can work thinking of a great revolutionary is nomination for the election to the hand in hand with a monarchist remarkable. Upper House in defiance of Thapa’s stated plans.

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Apply with: Your biodata A recent picture Contact: 246833, 434554, 241408, 232163 (fax) PO Box 4384 Kathmandu, Nepal [email protected] CULTURE 29 JUNE - 5 JULY 2001 NEPALI TIMES 111777 SAVING FAITH by DESMOND DOIG MIAMI VOICE by DAVE BARRY Climbing with A temple to Jamling MIAMI — You can imagine my reaction when I found out that Jamling Tenzing Norgay was coming to Miami. My reaction was: “Who?” Then I found out that he is the son of Tenzing Norgay, the Ravana’s memory legendary Sherpa guide who was with Edmund Hillary in 1953 when they became the first people to reach the top of Mount Everest. In 1996, Jamling followed in his father’s footsteps as the climbing leader of the team that went to the summit and filmed the IMAX movie, Everest. He was coming to Miami to talk about his excellent book on that expedition, Touching My Father’s Soul. In other words, a world-class mountain climber—a man who survived one of the deadliest climbs on earth—was coming to my city. Not to brag, but I am something of a climber myself. On several occasions, at risk of personal discomfort, I have bypassed a hotel elevator and ascended to the mezzanine level via the stairs. So I wanted to climb something with Jamling Tenzing Norgay. Specifically, I wanted to climb the highest mountain in Miami-Dade County. I knew this would not be easy, because there are no mountains in Miami-Dade County. All of South Florida is basically at sea level, which is why every time there’s a hurricane, we wind up with ocean-dwelling fish in our family rooms, flopping around and moving their mouths as if to say: What are you doing here, Lung Breath? This is SEA LEVEL!” So I decided that, in lieu of a mountain, Jamling and I would attempt to climb the closest approximation we have: The South Dade Solid Waste Disposal Facility. This is a South Florida landmark, known locally as “Mount Trash-more.” It’s basically a large mound of garbage covered with dirt. I proposed this climb to Jamling through his publisher. He agreed to do it, partly because he is a brave man who relishes a challenge, but mainly because he was on a book tour. When you’ve been on a book tour awhile, you give up and do whatever anybody asks you to do. When I’m on book tour, I allow television makeup people to apply so much mascara to me that I become a dead ringer for Elizabeth Taylor. The pilgrims were plagued by spirits infesting the Valley and so various shrines had And so on a Saturday morning, I met up with Jamling, a quiet and dignified man, and together we attempted to summit Mount

been built at the spot to give them spiritual courage. Trashmore. I will not ruin the ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ suspense by telling you up front whether we died. he original shrine was larger, or people figured in the sketch. along the track, an army of spirits, reason. They may not have liked Instead, I will give you a more garishly muralled. A painted ‘Quickly, come quickly. He’s just witches and demons thwarted the the new mural, for every year the dramatic, minute-by-minute tface as large as the building. Two done a drawing of auntie Shanti.’ And attempt. The road was abandoned. same family of artists from Patan account: staring eyes, a grimacing mouth, then inevitably follow the words I But this particular shrine was very comes to renew the painting, and 9 a.m. We set out. coiling serpents and a string of human have yet to distinguish from each old. It commemorated the passing and from a comparison of photographs Almost immediately I heads pouring blood. At the base of other, ‘bala’ and ‘bamla.’ Bala means brief halt of Ravana at the spot as he and my own sketches, their consider turning back the mural, and at its exact centre, was good and bamla, as might well be returned to Sri Lanka from the inspiration differs from year to year. because it is terrifying. a small altar into which was set an imagined, means bad. It is an Himalayas, where he had gone to ask This year the demon’s face is I’m referring here to the earthen pot filled with fine branches unnerving experience sitting in a a boon of Shiva. Shiva gave him a pot smaller and he wears a crown, South Florida traffic, and bamboos. The painting, done in crowd of children chanting words of mountain water to take with him, rather than a necklace, of human where the motto is: shocking red, yellow white and black suggestively awful. By the time the with the warning that it must never be heads. The old shingle roof has “GET OUT OF MY was discoloured at its centre with the elders have arrived to give their expert placed on the ground. The jubilant been replaced by corrugated WAY! CAN’T YOU blood of many sacrifices. As I painted opinion on the sketch or painting, Ravana got as far as Tikka Bhairab, to aluminum sheeting, and the whole SEE I’M ON MY CELL it, people passing along a nearby track balas and bamlas fairly come to blows. give the spot its name, without building has been raised a few more PHONE?!?” came to touch their hands or Which is time to call a halt and ask mishap, but was suddenly seized with feet above the river level. Half of 9:30 a.m. We foreheads to the pot. When some men questions. I was lucky to have the something akin to the Kathmandu the stone that Ravana cut is still arrive at Mount arrived with a buffalo for sacrifice and pujari of the temple in the crowd. belly. Looking frantically about, he there. The other has been shattered Trashmore, where began their pujas, I packed up my Apart from objecting to the omission saw a cowherd and entreated him to by the fury of the Water. There we meet our guides for the material and fled. I remember the of some gore in the top left hand hold the pot most carefully. Finding it remains the pot set in its low altar, ascent: communications director Gayle Love and Bill Thorne, shed-like building stood in a riverbed, corner, he announced me ba!a and much too heavy to hold while Ravana but whether it is the same one is whose title is “chief of landfills.” We discuss the ascent, and agree beside some towering rocks readily answered my questions. disappeared behind some bushes, doubtful. that if spoken communication becomes difficult on the summit, we beautifully sculpted by water over the The track that passes the temple the cowherd placed it on a rock and How was it that a temple will use hand signals. For example waving your hand would indicate “Hi!” centuries. The main stream flowed and arches across the river, was the made off with the speed of terror. associated with Ravana became 9:38 a.m. Nothing dramatic happens during this particular minute. close by, and just upriver from the old highway between Kathmandu and One can imagine the collective rage dedicated to Bhairab? It seems that 9:40 a.m. We start our ascent. It is frankly easier than I temple was a bridge made of several the plains of India. Along it passed on all those many faces when when a high-powered party from expected. This is because we are riding up in a Jeep. I wonder why heavy logs. A quiet place. A lovely pilgrims and sages, demons and gods. Ravana found his instructions the Kathmandu valley went to this technique has not been used to ascend Everest, but do not valley with forests capping the The pilgrims were plagued by spirits abused. Drawing his mighty sword, Assam centuries ago to coax the god mention it to Jamling, lest he smack his forehead and say, “NOW you surrounding mountaintops. But even infesting the Valley and so various he struck at the offending rock with Machhendranath to take up tell me!” in the remotest of places, people shrines had been built at the spot to all his might so that it split down residence in Nepal, they travelled 9:43 a.m. We’re almost to the top, a place where few humans gather to watch something so unusual give them spiritual courage. Invariably, the centre and the pot settled in the this way. They were protected by have ever been, unless you count the several hundred people who as a large, foreign gentleman sitting on the rising river water, which in truth cleft. Why Ravana then went off in four fierce Bhairabs against a drive dump trucks up there daily. We leave the Jeep and walk to the a rock painting. The children come was the spirits, washed these shrines a demonic huff leaving his boon pursuit of angry demons. One of summit, ascending a slope that is pitched at about the same angle as first. After a while they start calling away. When, during the time of the behind, the pujari couldn’t explain. the Bhairabs decided to stay at this a shuffleboard court. That is the kind of mountaineering studs we shrilly to parents or relatives in nearby Rana prime ministers it was ‘Perhaps he wanted to leave it lovely and strategic river crossing to are. farmhouses, particularly if the houses attempted to build a proper road here,’ suggested an elder who guard the escape route. It is his 9:45 a.m. The summit! We stand 149 feet (45.42 meters) above thought my sketch was bala. ‘He bold likeliness that is painted oh sea level, just 28,879 feet lower than Mount Everest itself. It does knew it would be looked after and the wall of the shrine. His silver not smell nearly as bad as we expected. I ask Jamling to compare worshipped.’ mask, that adorns the pot of river this experience with being atop Everest. When I returned to Tikka water, stands on the low sacrificial “It’s very different,” he says. Bhairab to do my sketch, I found a altar. And it is to him that countless 10a.m. We begin our descent. On the way down, Chief of completely new building and mural, sacrifices are made. Interesting to Landfills Thorne informs us that Mount Trashmore contains—I am not and the large, lonely pine that remember is the fact that Bhairab is making this up—human body parts and dead whales. I can tell shaded it has quite disappeared. the most ferocious manifestation of Jamling is impressed. The children collected and the Shiva, and it was Shiva’s pot of 10:03 a.m. We reach sea level, tired but proud. On the way back elders came, and a dear old woman water that Ravana left at Tikka to the hotel, we are killed in a car crash. No, really, we got back fine. It was a successful expedition, and told me sorrowfully that a great Bhairab. For god and demon both, Jamling was a great sport. So buy his book, O.K.? Because it’s flood had washed not only the tree the spot is bala. there. and the temple away, but the small (Excerpted with permission from bazaar including her house as well. (This column first appeared in The Miami Herald) Perhaps the spirits had been In the Kingdom of the Gods, Harper Collins, 1994.) SALIL SUBEDI enraged for some inexplicable 181818 CITY 29 JUNE - 5 JULY 2001 NEPALI TIMES ABOUT TOWN BOOKWORM

MOVIES The Cult of Pure Crystal Mountain: Popular Pilgrimage and Visionary Nepali and Hindi movies online ticket booking at www.nepalshop.com Landscape in Southeast Tibet Toni Huber The Cranes Are Flying 1957 Cannes sensation, Russia, 4 July Oxford University Press, New York, 1999 The Living Dead, Russia, 5 July Rs 1,500 All About my Mother Almodovar’s latest that beat Caravn to the Oscar, Spain, 6 July This study documents and analyses the representations, ritual practices and, peoples centred All films: Subtitled, Russian Cultural Centre, 6pm, Rs 50 around this important Tibetan holy mountain. Huber delineates the relationship between Organised by the Kathmandu Film Archives. high and popular religion in premodern Tibetan society and explores the social and cultural features of large-scale Tibetan pilgrimages. EATING OUT Breakfast with birds Lunch with butterflies, dinner Deities of Tibetan Buddhism: The Zürich Paintings of the Icons Worthwhile with fireflies. Traditional Nepali, Indian and Chinese to See Martin Willson, Martin Brauen, eds, Robert Beer, drawings. cuisine. Farm House Café in the Park Village Hotel, Wisdom Publications, MA, USA, 2000 Buddhanilkantha. 373835 Rs 18,960 Kababs, Biryani At Naachghar, the Theatre An encyclopaedia of Buddhist icons based on the Rinjung Gyatsa, the Narthang Gyatsa and the Vajravali. Full-colour illustrations of over 500 Tibetan deities reproduced from Restaurant at Hotel Yak and Yeti. 30 percent off all th bottled wines with a meal at Naachghar. Until 30 June. 19 century hand-painted woodblock prints in the Ethnographic Museum of the Reservations recommended. 248999 University of Zürich. Also contains explanation of the meditative visualisations, mantras and symbolism around Bubbly Brunch Free-flowing sparkling wine. For children, face-painting, balloons, each figure. sculpture. Rs. 999 for adults, Rs 499 for children under 12. Saturdays at The Fun Cafe 11.30am-2.30pm. Radisson Hotel. 411818 Violence and Compassion: Dialogues on Life Today His Holiness, the Dalai Dwarika’s Saturday Escape Afternoon tea, cocktail, dinner, room, massage Lama, with Jean-Claude Carrière and breakfast. Every Saturday until end-September. $130 per couple. Dwarika’s Hotel Doubleday, New York, 2001 479488 Rs 560 LaSoon Restaurant and Vinotheque Lunch, tea and dinner with European and Two formidable thinkers discuss the problems facing the world today, including terrorism, American food, fine wines. Pulchowk. 535290 the population explosion, environmental dangers and an escalation in random violence.The Brunch with swimming Shangri La Kathmandu’s award-winning garden. Rs 700 plus Dalai Lama is clear and Carrière, probing. tax. 412999 Wet and Wild Summer Swimming in a cool pool and a buffet lunch. Saturdays at The Seven Sisters of India: Tribal Worlds between Tibet and Godavari Village Resort. Adults Rs 600, children Rs 350. Taxes extra. 560675, 560775 Burma Aglaja Stirn, Peter van Ham Mango Tango Exotic mangoes desserts Hotel de l’ Annapurna. All day, all food and Prestel Verlag, Munich, 2000 beverage outlets. Rs 2,400 Botega Restaurant and Tequila Bar Authentic Mexican specialties, steaks, salsa and The first comprehensive publication on India’s northeastern Seven Sisters states: Arunachal merengue music. Thamel. 266433 Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya, Assam. The first detailed, Sam’s Bar Cocktials including the classic B-52, Apple Schnapps, Sam’s Special, balanced portrait of life, rituals, and artefacts here in 50 years. 405 full-colour photographs. Mexican Tequila and more. Music and free popcorn. Reggae on Saturdays.Thamel, opposite Hotel Mandap. 419836 Courtesy: Mandala Book Point, Kantipath Naked Chef Restaurant, Nagarkot Gourmet continetnal and Indian cuisine. Great vews. 262039, 680115 CLASSIFIED

Exotic Nepali Food Mongolian Restaurant and Bar. Exotic Nepali food like dhindo and Visit The New Bishalnagar Nursery for ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Mountain Bike. www.bikingnepal.com. gundruk, good family environment. Putalisadak. 425454 flowers you will not find elsewhere! Just 437437. two minutes from Bishalnagar Chowk on EVENTS the Dhumvarahi Road. Specialties of the Car for sale 1970 Ford Maverick. White, Contemporary Jazz Dance Classes at the Alliance Française by season: Fuschias in many colours and six cylinders, 2200 cc, 50,000 miles, Meghana Thapa. Thrice weekly, starting 26 June. Alliance Française. varieties, young plants of early-fruiting automatic transmission. In good 241163, 242832. German vine, and many others. condition. Rs 1,00,000. 223040. Yoga and Breakfast Six-week course in Hatha Yoga for beginners. Rs 400 per lesson, includes breakfast. Dwarika’s Mountain Biking HMB for all your mountain Reflexology Professional US-, Europe- Hotel 479488 biking needs—full workshop, repair trained naturopath, therapist. Improve Stress Free Weekends Overnight stay at the Hyatt, dinner facilities, all models. Pick up, delivery, your blood circulation, energy flow. ○○○○○ for two at the Rox Restaurant, use of pool, health club, spa and professional mechanics. Bike clothing, Perfect preventive therapy and also for outdoor jacuzzi, ayurvedic massage for two, weekend brunch, spare parts, accessories. Hire, buy, sell, specific ailments. 416118 (11am-5pm) late check out Sunday. Rs 9000 plus tax. Hyatt Regency, new and second-hand bikes. Himalayan or email [email protected]. Kathmandu. 491234 Spiny Babbler Museum Readings and presentations of For insertions ring NT Marketing at 543333-36. contemporary Nepali literature and art Sundays 5-6pm Kathmandu Guest House, Thamel; Tuesdays 4-5pm Kathmandu Environment Education Project, Thamel; Thursdays 7- 8pm Bamboo Club Restaurant, Thamel, Saturdays 5-6pm New Orleans Café, Thamel. YAK YETI YAK by MIKU [email protected]. 542810, 546725

EXHIBITION View on Reality Solo show by Sunil Sigdel. Organised by the Artists’ Society of Nepal and Zero Century Nepal. 29 June-6 July, NAFA art gallery, Naxal. 411729, 430251

MUSIC Jazz by Cadenza Upstairs, Lazimpat. Every Saturday 7.30-10pm. Rs 200 Unplugged guitar Sybaru Lama, The Coffee Shop, Hotel de l’Annapurna. Every evening.

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NEPALI WEATHER by NGAMINDRA DAHAL After starting right on schedule, the monsoon is trying to build up momentum over central Nepal and progressing smoothly westward. By on FM 102.4 this weekend the easterly monsoon front reaches western Nepal. The inter tropical convergence zone has drifted northward and its effects are Mon-Fri 0615-0645 BBC World Today DSES- 27-06-2001 0900 GMT being felt in pushing moisture-laden clouds towards us from the Bay of Bengal. Central and Sat 0615-0645 BBC Science in Action eastern Nepal received rainfall normal or above during June. The satellite image here shows Sun 0615-0645 BBC Agenda cloud masses moving in a three-pronged manner towards Bihar, central Nepal, and Daily 2045-2115 BBC g]kfnL ;]]]]jf] Bhutan. Rain in the coming week will be widespread and heavy, especially at night. The Daily 2245-2300 BBC g]kfnL ;]]]]jf] minimum temperature will hover in the 20 C range while cloud cover will bring down maximum temperature. Radio Sagarmatha KATHMANDU P.O. Box 6958, Bakhundole, Lalitpur, Nepal Tel: ++977-1-545680, 545681 Fax: ++ 977-1- 530227 Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue E-mail: [email protected] www.radiosagarmatha.org 28-20 27-20 28-20 28-20 28-21 ARTS 29 JUNE - 5 JULY 2001 NEPALI TIMES 191919 ART REVIEW by AJIT BARAL NEPALI SOCIETY Korean images Back to Mangal Man 60-year-old Mangal Mohan Shrestha is proud of the love and care the Nepali royal family have given him. Mangal, whose father and grandfather were both photographers, took his first pictures at the late King Tribhuvan’s funeral in 1954 at the age of 13. Five years later, his photographs of the football match between the Mahendra 11 and the BP 11, shot him through the ranks and to the position of royal photographer. In 1962, he was appointed Nayab Subba of the Prachar Vibhag. There are perhaps few photographers who love the royal family as much as Madhav Mangal Prakhyat Tri Shakti Patta, one of Nepal’s does. For him, they go beyond just being highest civilian honours. But he says that a professional concern. Mangal has taken happy memories of the times he had with pictures of virtually all the religious his beloved royal family are worth more than ceremonies involving members of the anything else. Recalling the grief he felt Lyric Scenry, Lee Suk-ju royal family, from the late King Mahendra when he heard of King Mahendra’s death to the late King Birendra, the late King he says, “I loved him more than my own he contemporary Korean art media, the influence traditional Dipendra and the present King parents, for my parents only gave birth to exhibition The Dialogue With Korean painting. Lyric Scenery by Lee Gyanendra. But what Mangal likes to think me, but he gave meaning to my life.” tNature touring Suk-Ju seems, at first glance, as if it is back on most is the love the royal family, Since he has lived through and internationally is now in Nepal. the product of traditional technique, especially the late kings, showered upon documented two generations of kings and Viewers have been thronging the with the most minute detail painted. him. Recalling the times he went with palace goings-on, we asked Mangal Man show that opened on 20 June But it isn’t. The artist is helped by both King Mahendra and King Birendra on what he thought of the recent events. His after delays. Korean paintings printing technology to retain the their trips around the country, Mangal says, reply was one only a person with love, come from a traditional verisimilitude of traditional paintings. “I used to think I really loved the king and humility and plenty of experience with the Weed, Kim Jong-Hak background that draws on the A shirt used to frame the view of a the royal family—but I found the king rarefied world of royals could give. “Life is precision of Chinese calligraphic train chugging along and the smoke with touches of acrylic applied to loved me, a commoner much more than a battle between the past, the present and paintings. The paintings on show from the train floating up in the make it appear drawn. The same can I did him.” the future, and if a balance is not display, through their modern distance is a print, cut out and pasted, be said of a painting by Ji Seok-Cheol, Mangal has been awarded the Gorkha maintained there will be conflict,” says

The Story of Nonexistence. Dakshin Bahu of the fifth order, and is the Mangal Man. If only more people could only photographer to have received the see through the eyes like his. HAPPENINGS The paintings of artists like Park Hang-Rul, Kim Young-Chul, Kim Kyong-In are realistic, but hardly hyper-realistic as a critic in the catalogue suggests. Kim Kyong-In naturescapes in muted colors are soothing and bear an uncanny resemblance to the work of Nepali artist Sarita Dangol. There are other, more abstract

MIN BAJRACHAR paintings including impressive pieces by Kim Jong-Hak and Suk Rai-Hi. Kim Jong-Hak’s Weed (mixed media) black over unevenly white painted YA panel, evokes tactile sensory NEPAL SPEAKS: Leader of the main opposition UML Madhav Kumar Nepal perception. Suk Rai-Hai’s Nature speaks at the Press Chautari a day before parliament began on 24 June. done predominantly in blue is a pure visual delight. A touch or two of smoke gray and green are applied on blue picture plane, perhaps, to break the monotony of blue monochrome and to create the depth through which you are keep looking into an eternal distance. The Korean artists have used a myriad of media—colored paper, very textured canvas, acrylic bars, metal granules, panel, etc. But the use of an Alok interesting is not the only thing that makes a work of art interesting. The medium used must be subservient to UPPER HOUSE: Elections taking place at the City Hall on 27 June for 16 posts the theme of a painting. Nepali in the Upper House. painters tend to focus too much on medium, but in the case of this show they need to keep in mind that the Korean artists have used their many media as a means of expressing their emotion and driving home their point, rather than as an end in themselves. The bottom line on the show: The stylistic differences of the artists are clear in the exhibition,

MIN BAJRACHARYA MIN and this suggests that care has been taken to give us a show that represents different facets of Korean contemporary art. But the show disappoints by not providing insight into the socio-cultural TORCH RALLY: A flash demonstration in Dilli Bazar on 26 June by pro-Maoist situation the art was created in. students in which photojournalist Min Bajracharya was manhandled. 202020 29 JUNE - 5 JULY 2001 NEPALI TIMES Under My Hat

by Kunda Dixit AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE IN HARDCOPY Nepali Times is now available on PEPC Worldwide vending machhines at major airports and hotel chains. Receive 40 pages of the latest editions of Nepali Times and selected The world’s second- material from Himal South Asian and Himal Khabarpatrika in 150 cm x 70 cm format on high-quality paper printed while you watch commercial video content on the monitor. Price: US$ 2.50, all major credit cards oldest profession accepted.

t is beginning to worry us in the asked Gen Genghis a particularly journalism profession that the embarrassing question like: “Mr ipress gets bad press. Without Conqueror, we have learnt from beating the bush around it would unusually reliable sources that be fair to assert with cautious you personally received kickbacks optimism that in certain quarters from a Manchurian horse trader the media has, ummm, a public for the supply of cavalry chargers. relations problem; or to put it more Would you care to elaborate?” politely: people hate our guts. Genghis Khan would fudge it: It is not true that we are self- “Yes, it has come to our notice important mercenaries, holier-than- that some of the horses may kick thou hypocrites, preachy bigots, back, but in the heat of battle annoying and morally repugnant that is not something completely nosey parkers, smug and arrogant unknown. Next question.” After hacks who hunt in packs. In fact, the press conference, Genghis we are much worse, and if you have would gift the muckraking any problems with that, well, investigative reporter a suckling tough. Our image problem starts piglet, and that would be the end with Hollywood movies in which of the story. reporters are invariably portrayed as Journalism has, of course, if they are a shoal of pet piranhas— moved away from such crude and the kind which can nibble off in ruthless methods of controlling under six seconds a heavily armed information. Today, we live in an baddie thrown into a swimming Age of Information Technology pool-sized aquarium by James which means that modern Bond. What only few people know newspersons belonging to at least is that Hollywood uses actual real- two genders exercise much greater life piranhas acting as journalists for self-confidence, self-esteem and those scenes. (Director: “Lights. self-censorship. The Ministry of Camera. OK, fishies, now just be Non-information and yourselves. Action.”) Doublespeak has made it Blaming the messenger, of abundantly crystal-clear that course, is not a new phenomenon. journalists should not make Genghis Khan was known for his anything up—except during a crackdowns on the freedom of press national emergency. This rule will with his draconian Public Security henceforth be strictly enforced so Regulation which was vehemently that if any domestic or opposed by every human rights international hack is caught red organisation worth its salt east of handed spreading the truth during Samarkand. Legend has it that a national crisis the punishment whenever an inquisitive newsperson will be that they will be sent to a during the regular five o’clock press school of piranhas for a crash conference at the Hack & Yeti course on journalistic ethics.

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