#412 8 - 14 August 2008 16 pages Rs 30

Weekly Internet Poll # 412

Q. At th is ra te , can th e new constitu tion be writte n in tw o years? Total votes: 4,431

Weekly Internet Poll # 413. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com Q.How would you characterise th e political developm ents since th e elections?

MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA No end in sight

agar Rana (above) has waited Right down the line, there is a mismanagement, adulteration Ritesh has lost all patience: “Let all night inside his car on a similar refrain. Drivers seething and the NOC’s monopoly in the government double the petrol S petrol line at Bhadrakali. with anger at the government’s distribution are equally price to Rs 200, I don’t care. But It is now 9.30 AM on Thursday inability to ensure adequate responsible. stop torturing us like this.” z morning, the road is filling up supply now for nearly two years. In the short-term, fuel prices with commuters driving to work. At the pump, goons force the need to be raised, but consumers E d ito r ia l Sagar’s car is where it was when he attendant to fill up their tanks. can be cushioned if the taxes are G e tting dow n to joined the queue last night, his Others in the line complain, and tied to the old price. The new brass tacks p2 eyes are red from the lack of sleep. there is nearly a fist fight. government must also reduce The pump has opened, but it will It’s not that there isn’t the taxes on electric cars and vans. CK Lal State of the State take another six hours for him to money to pay for imported fuel. In the medium-term, letting the Nepal’s urban dystopia p2 get to the head of the line and, The government doesn’t want to private sector into fuel import when he does, he will only get a keep subsidising it, and is and retail will control corruption Artha Beed Econom ic Sense rationed 10 litres of gasoline into reluctant to raise the prices for and adulteration. And ultimately, Road to now here p 5 his tank. political reasons. Not everything there is no alternative but to “This is pure incompetence,” can be blamed on the reduce dependence on imported Prashant Jha Plain Speaking says Sagar wearily, “we are sick of international price of crude at fuel by switching to renewables. Slow burn in the Tarai p 1 0 a government that doesn’t care.” $120 per barrel. Corruption, At Bhadrakali, motorcyclist 2 EDITORIAL 8 - 14 AUGUST 2008 #412

Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Editor: Kunda Dixit CEO: Ashutosh Tiwari Design: Kiran Maharjan Director Sales and Marketing: Sunaina Shah [email protected] Remember Marketing Manager: Sambhu Guragain Asst Managers: Deepak Sangraula, Subhash Kumar, Tanka Sitaula Subscriptions: Nawaraj Guragain Tel: 5542535/5542525 what Hatiban, Godavari Road, Lalitpur [email protected] GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu 5250333/845, Fax: 5251013 Common www.nepalitimes.com Printed at Jagadamba Press, Hatiban: 5250017-19 worked, and maximum ju s t do it DOWN TO BRASS TACKS around should be new and Ever since May 2002, all prime ministers in this country have been corruption-free. provisional. But we may not have to wait long now for a legitimate, Maybe that would be asking elected government. program too much, but the Maoists are Nepal must have set some kind of a world record by not expected to shoulder special forming a government even four months after an election. responsibility. They are the fresh Mercifully, political parties have finally realised that there is no he relatively recent now to stand for Claiming faces, as ones who worked for alternative to working together to institutionalise the republic and transition from coercive Maximum Portfolios. revolutionary change, who hold address the people’s immediate needs. The new government will T politics to multiparty Just look at the main points the people’s hope for have to get down to brass tacks right away to make up for lost processes has already been a of the Maoist CMP. It includes accountability. To prevent time. costly and embarrassing items like a national consensus disillusionment among the Taking the peace process to its logical conclusion will have to experience for the Maoists. on security, foreign policy and be at the top of the agenda. Rehabilitation of Maoist combatants, people, and dash their hopes all reform of the Nepal Army and addressing the needs of the Pushpa Kamal Dahal had his water resources, review and over again, the Maoists should immediate victims of war are all linked to the peace process. way with the other parties as long replacement of treaties, commit themselves to three After the distraction of government formation is over, the repatriation of Bhutan refugees, priority items in the upcoming nationalisation of the ex-king’s CMP: Assembly should function smoothly so we can get on with the work GUEST COLUMN of drafting a new constitution that will restructure the state. There property, relief to conflict-hit, is great public scepticism that a new constitution will be ready in Bihari K Shrestha adjustment of the Maoist 1. They must not just promise to two years. combatants, formation of disband YCL but actually do it But while we wait, the really urgent task is to restore as the dealings were limited to commissions, revolutionary land and tell the UML that their governance. This must happen in parallel with state restructuring. chiseling away at the monarchy. reform and an ill-advised higher Youth Force is an unfortunate, To establish the credibility of the new government and to end the But now its realpolitik, and the minimum wage for employees of undemocratic and unnecessary current state of anarchy and neglect of public services, the people Maoists suffered an embarrassing multinationals. want to see a government that is responsive to their needs. countermove. More than a decade without elections undermined the setback with the presidency The NC, UML, MJF say the 2. The CMP must be strong and state’s legitimacy. It will be hard work to restore law and order. debacle. CMP has to be linked to the unequivocal on ministerial One quick way to generate faith in the capacity of the government The Maoists have now drafted provisions of the Comprehensive corruption. The rot starts at the and rekindle hope is to show immediate and tangible improvements a Common Minimum Program Peace Agreement , many of the top. in service delivery. The people don’t need much: they just want law (CMP) as the possible basis for provisions of which remain 3. Our world-acknowledged and order, they are sick of queuing for fuel and suffering power political consensus to form and unfulfilled by the Maoists. success in community cuts, they want to be sure they can travel without being stuck on lead the post-election Two items of the new CMP to development has unequivocally the highway, in deficit areas people need food urgently. government. Their CMP is an ensure smooth supply of shown that when people are Several articles in this issue deal with the gory details of urban exercise in populist generalities, essential goods and empowered to shape their own decay, lawlessness, the unacceptable rise in crime. At the root of there is nothing concrete to spur reconstruction of infrastructure destiny, things happen rapidly, all these problems is the prolonged lack of legitimate government growth and development. There are closer to popular and the unnecessarily lengthy post-election powerplay. This is a effectively, sustainably and classic example of what happens when elected leaders lack is no attempt to understand past expectations, but the people need inclusively. accountability and are obsessed about retaining power at all cost. achievements, and learn from more than just words to Police posts removed during the insurgency need to be mistakes. experience the peace dividend. The donor-wrecked Local restored. VDC secretaries need to be in the villages. School Now the four parties have Nepalis want an explicit Self-Governance Act must be teachers must be liberated from extortion. A stopgap political setup formed an eight-member task assurance that all outstanding instantly revived and revamped will have to be devised at village, district and municipality levels force to put together their CMPs issues will be settled without in all sectors of development and till the next local elections are held. Development can’t happen in and come up with the mother of blackmailing the nation with a service delivery. Should this the present vacuum. all CMPs. Since these threat of returning to war. Since happen, even if the ministers Nepalis are experts at coping. They have shown great negotiations will now go hand- the same old parties and continue to rake in ill-gotten forbearance and tolerance of their leaders as they try to reach a in-hand with forming of a politicians enjoy predominance wealth in Kathmandu, our local power-sharing deal. Let’s not let it reach breaking point again. governing coalition led by the in the game of numbers, the rules development process would go Maoists, one can expect the CMP of the political game this time ahead. z

he growth of Kathmandu Valley from rustic temple towns to a malignant urban growth has consumed its life Tforce. Rather than gently welcoming Nepal’s urban dystopia newcomers to the city, it overwhelms them with its cacophony of voices, streets that look like they have a perpetual riot, odours City life is g e tting much worse th a n country life that assail the nostrils, and menacing touts. Kathmandu’s dystopia, its descent into expert and the Maoists may soon lead a chaos and filth maybe depressing enough. new government could be potential good But the situation in other towns of Nepal is news. worse. Even though they are glorified as local government units, most municipalities have STATE OF THE STATE to survive on doles from the central government. Kathmandu has no money to C K Lal patch up potholes, Janakpur lacks resources to dispose its garbage safely, It used to be said in rural Nepal that you and despite hosting the biggest revenue- knew you were approaching a village when generating customs office in the country, human droppings started dotting the trail. Birganj doesn’t have the budget to upgrade Our towns proclaim their presence in even infrastructure on its own. more dramatic ways. Black plastic bags After the leadership and funds, the third float in the air like balloons, open sewers most important factor of urban degeneration overflow into pavements, endless queues of is the lack of trained people to run dilapidated vehicles honk their heads off, municipalities. abandoned cows and stray dogs amble Apprenticeship has its strengths, but it along thoroughfares, and aimless groups of KIRAN PANDAY works properly only when it is combined people loiter the streets. Welcome to Nepal. approach to municipal level infrastructure all municipalities. They are mayors, with sound theoretical base and practical Despite their over-stressed development and services’. Like most metropolitan councillors and its executive training. Tribhuban University does offer a infrastructure and underserved municipal consultations, the event turned out to be members all rolled into one. Even if such a masters in urban planning, but most short- facilities, these cities are growing in all largely ritualistic, but participants did person is Brahma incarnate, it is term programs run by donor agencies directions. This can only mean more succeed in pinpointing the reasons why impossible for an individual to be the cook, benefit consultants running the course squalour and more nastiness in the future. urban growth in Nepal’s towns is the butler, the cleaner, the janitor and the rather than their trainees. Economic growth and urbanisation are so unplanned and getting worse. father of the town all at the same time. We will have to learn to build better closely interlinked that one without the Like with everything else, the main Municipalities have remained headless cities to produce responsible citizens that other appears unimaginable. But there have reason is the absence of effective since the last elections over a decade ago. do not begin to burn tyres, pelt stones and to be better methods of planning, building government in Singha Darbar. The lack of A fresh mandate from the electorate will shout slogans at the behest of political and managing towns than the free-for-all political leadership means that only be possible after the new constitution paymasters. We have to nurture citizens way in which we run our municipalities now. governance everywhere has been at a is made, but till then there has to be a new who are outraged by shoddy services, Early this week, Nepal Engineers standstill for over two years now. way to demand accountability through an angry about living under corrupt, Association organised a workshop to Under-motivated, unwilling and mostly ad-hoc political setup. The fact that incompetent and insensitive governments discuss ‘Public Private Partnership unsuitable executive officers head nearly Baburam Bhattarai is an urban planning and demand improvement. z 8 - 14 AUGUST 2008 #412 3

LLL ETTERS

PORN WAVE are working towards the prevention of sexual Porn is not new in Nepal (‘Porn wave’, #411). In exploitation, trafficking and domestic abuse. The 1984, when I was living in Nepal, a house in my assistance may cease when foreign alms dry up. neighbourhood used to charge an entrance fee The ominous silence now of Nepali civics will and show pornographic films. There will always only aggravate the situation. It is urgent to be a market for sex. What society needs to preserve the Nepali pride of being rich in ensure is that there is protection for the girls conservatism, traditional and cultural values. involved in this trade, who take part in it Otherwise in years not so distant, Nepal will unwilllingly and are forced to do so due to perhaps be a hot spot for international sex traders. poverty. As long as there are men who want sex, Making sex a taboo is to victimise more young porn and prostitution will exist. Legalising this women and children. industry and protecting the workers should be the Gavin, email primary concern, not banning it. Nepal has far worse problems in society than sex. The solution z A country that tolerates the trafficking of its is to criminalise the buying of sex, which will young women to become prostitutes in India and never happen in Nepal. So the only alternative is has no right to hold the moral high ground on to legalise it, make porn. We have to stop this testing mandatory, clean shameful real-life exploitation up the working of our women before getting all environment and punish worked up about those who abuse these reel-life smut. regulations. Jujubhai, Asan Margareta, France MILLION MUTINIES z When you criminalise ‘A million mutinies’ (Editorial, buying of sex you are #411). Instead of sermonising, indirectly discouraging Nepali Times should selling of sex, are you not? introspect and ask the If there are no buyers will question whether it has also there be no sellers. been responsible to some Pornography becomes extent for this mess. By dangerous when young constantly maligning people start believing what politicians and eroding their they watch and the credibility they have perversion rife in it. Poverty contributed in bringing about is only one factor pushing women into a situation where there is no one left to douse prostitution. Please do not forget upbringing, such fires when they start. culture, moral values and most importantly things Ram Prasad, Chhauni like drug addiction, damaged psychology and circumstances like coercion, deception and z An excellent editorial and I have no words to blackmailing. describe the front page cartoon by Robin Sayami. K Rai, UK No, the flag and country should never be torn apart. Let’s forget the divisions and unite for our z Common sense should prevail. The need of beloved Nepal. the hour is perhaps to focus on advocating, CK Shrestha, email spreading the awareness and sensitising the issue in illiterate and impoverished communities. z Fantastic cartoon. It says it all. Hitherto, only a handful of ill-resourced agencies Sarita, Janakpur 4 BUSINESS 8 - 14 AUGUST 2008 #412

MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP: Samsungís Tony Myoung-Sun An holds the NV 2HD model that his company is launching in the Nepali market with Shekhar Golchha of Him Electronics (right). Picture perfect amsung, the Korean company better known for its monitors and cell phones, has launched an aggressive foray into the camera S market that has been dominated by the Japanese giants, Sony and Canon. “We don’t regard Nepal as a small country, this is an important market for us,” said Tony Myoung-Sun An, Sales Area Manager of Samsung’s Asia Group, who was in Kathmandu this week. Korea’s Samsung had gone into a strategic partnership with Golchha Organisation’s Him Electronics in 2002, and since then Samsung has literally become a household name in consumer electronics. “Samsung fits perfectly with our portfolio. It is an international brand that is recognised for its quality and innovative products,” says Shekhar Golchha, Managing Director of Him Electronics. Samsung currently holds 20 per cent market share in the consumer electronics sector, and Golchha says this is growing rapidly. It has built a strong brand image in the Nepali household appliances, with televisions, washing machines, home theaters, audio systems and microwaves. Samsung invades the camera market in Nepal

“Cameras are no longer a family commodity, it is an individual product,” explains Myoung-Sun An and says Samsung wants to leverage its global leadership in digital technology to take advantage of the market broadening in cameras. The new models launched this week are in five series: from 7.2 to 14.6 mega pixels, with one of the clearest LCD screens among new model cameras. And they don’t just click pictures: they have high- definition video capability in addition to the regular functions like digital image stabilisation and face recognition. Selected models also offer multimedia features: the camera can be used to listen to music, read novels and even watch movies. Consumers can choose the model according to their pocket size as the prices range from Rs 8,900 to Rs 120,000. “Because Samsung is not essentially known for its cameras, we need to add value,” says Myoung-Sun An, “and in that the consumers are being offered high technology cameras at a comparatively lower prices.” What set Samsung cameras apart is their unique designs that focus on being consumer friendly. With the feather touch technology, navigation is so simplified that one doesn’t need to be a professional to take great pictures. Him Electronics’ Samsung showroom in Darbar Marg is already flooded with enquiries and orders for the new line of cameras, and Myoung-Sun An is convinced Samsung can soon be the best-selling camera in Nepal. Golchha says the current political instability is having a dampening effect on the economy, but he is optimistic about the future. He says: “Of course it worries us. But what we try to do is see the light at the end of the tunnel. Today’s need is to focus on the economic agenda. When there is money in the pocket, everything else will fall into place.” z Paavan Mathema BUSINESS 8 - 14 AUGUST 2008 #412 5

LG -luck Purusottam Neupane recently won a TVS Road to now here RTR – 160cc Apache bike through a lucky draw on Call Kantipur, POKHARA from LG’s ‘lawalaskar’ offer that started in April. — One always is easier to solve here. Garbage has ‘eco-friendly’ water sports. tempted to take the scenic drive yet to become a big problem, but A Federal Nepal should not be to Pokhara, now that the the littered Lakeside is an a conglomeration of small Hang on notorious Krishna Bhir landslide indication of a crisis to come. Kathmandu Valleys that resemble Hang Ten, a California-based life has been tamed through Pokhara has replicated the capital’s soulless urban slum. style brand, has opened a ingenious Nepali bio-engineering. Kathmandu Valley’s self- Kathmandu made mistakes that showroom at Tamrakar Complex, destructive urbanisation model, cannot be rectified as the cost of New Road, and a retail outlet at the Blue Bird Mall, Tripureshwor. ECONOMIC SENSE but hopefully Pokhara still has a the restoration would be more Hang Ten caters to young adults and kids’ clothing and accessories chance to learn from the capital’s than building a couple of new Artha Beed and is brought to Nepal by South East Traders. mistakes. cities. However, other cities Pokhara is endowed with should be able to use the powers Scratch Today, it isn’t the landslides scenery that makes it one of the entrusted to them to stop the rot that block the road, but world’s natural wonders. The before it gets irreversible. Customers of Gorkha and Bishwakarma Cement get obstructions by locals along the combination of mountain and Pokhara could easily be more a chance to win Yasuda domestic products through way. A national highway artery lake is stupendous. However, our organised, have proper roads, a scratch card from the ‘Sukhi Pariwar’ offer for can be blocked for hours or days tourism marketing and water, sanitation and waste every 20 sacks of cement purchased. by anyone for any reason. ‘shutteronomics’ has turned this disposal facilities. Zoning of areas Or it can be just two vehicles town into an ugly concrete jungle as agricultural, commercial and Choppers that decide to change tyres right Fishtail Air has signed an agreement with Eurocopter, Singapore in the middle of the road, creating When was th e last time we and is bringing two new AS350 B3 Ecureuil helicopters to Nepal. a monstrous traffic jam that make The choppers, which are suited for high altitudes and difficult cars in the queue burn away had re a l governance? climate, will be delivered by early 2010. precious fuel. A similar psyche works at the national level: a few devoid of any sense of aesthetics. residential would probably bring people block Nepal’s progress. One argument you hear here is a sense of organisation. Pokhara Fitness freak Out of ignorance or selfishness, that since the quality of tourists can be a green city with areas set The Jasmine Fitness Club and Spa was opened they stop the flow of prosperity. has deteriorated over the past two aside as urban lungs, like the hill at the United World Trade Center, A few people keep millions back. decades, houses and hotels of the Peace Stupa. Tripureshwor. The club offers facilities such as Pokhara itself is bursting at haven’t been able to pay attention But when all our activists and heated swimming pool, gym, sauna, and beauty the seams like Kathmandu Valley. to repairs. The time is ripe for a politicians are only thinking parlour. The monthly membership fee is priced There is construction everywhere, serious re-think of our tourism about where to block the highway at Rs 16, 500 per month for singles. and everywhere the new houses strategy and products to ensure next, there is no one to plan. A flout zoning and seismic that there are more tourists both few people will continue to set NEW PRODUCTS standards. The contemporary foreign and domestic coming and the next impediment on our path TABS: Drinking Water Purification Tablets Aquatabs, manufactured architectural style of ‘uncovered spending more time in the to progress. The first challenge for by Medentech, Ireland, was launched in Nepal by the Centre for steel rods on the top floor and city. There have to be more things the new government would be to Socio-Economic Development. One tablet of Aquatabs purifies five black plastic water tanks’ dot the to do, and opportunities of ensure clear passage through the liters of water. landscape. Water scarcity is optimum utilisation of the lake highways. If they can’t do that, becoming an issue just as it is in and water can be exploited to there would be little else they Kathmandu, although it is much create amusement centers and can do. z 6 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 8 - 14 AUGUST 2008 #412

glamour is an attack on individual freedom itself. That is an individual choice and it’s none of our business. Why are the protestors mainly women? Skin deep Could there be an element of the stereotyped ‘jealous woman’ at work here? A winner is Letter to the editor, Kantipur, 5 August honoured, not oppressed. A Miss Nepal has a choice to appear or not appear on television. As the Miss Nepal contest draws near, opposition Then there is the objection to the bikini round to it has been raised once more. This isn’t new. In while representing Nepal in the internationals, but 1994, Ruby Rana became the first Nepali to be to win a title it is necessary to play by the rules. It crowned amidst unnecessary controversy, partly may not be acceptable in our culture but it is in orchestrated by the media. But the Kathmandu theirs, and women from a multitude of cultures Jaycees continues to organise the contest every will be there. year. We talk about modernisation, and hope to Every competition has its limitations and Miss catch up with developed countries. Is it Nepal is no exception. Some people just can’t oppression when you participate in a contest out qualify. But for any college student, five feet and of your own free will, or when you rally against a above there is no problem. Look at it this way: at changing society? Does it make any sense to least someone gets to show off her talent. burn tyres or take part in a contest that brings out The argument that beauty contests must be your talents? banned because they take women into the world of Ashish Luitel, Kathmandu University Prachanda m eets Pushpa Kam al

Suresh Kiran in Nepal, 10 August everyday. You have all the time to “What politics?” by now an visit the Indian Embassy, or dine angry Puspha Kamal was Everyone knows Comrade with dips but you don’t have shouting, “before the elections Prachanda, but not many know time for me?” you said you’d be president.” Pushpa Kamal Dahal because it is Prachanda tried to calm him Prachanda scratched his head: only recently that he has emerged down, “It’s not like that. You “Yeah, that didn’t quite work out. from underground. They met after know how it is with politics, I’m But I’m now thinking of making a long time last week by chance. busy with that.” you the Prime Minister.” Pushpa Kamal said to “I don’t want to be the Prime Prachanda, “After you won the Minister. I know you are going to elections you forgot all about me. betray me,” said Pushpa Kamal. Why don’t you look me up Prachanda patted Pushpa anymore?” Kamal on the back, and said: Prachanda replied, “It’s not “That’s not going to happen. First like that…um…I’m very busy I’ll propose my name, if that’s these days.” rejected then I’ll put forward This enraged Pushpa Kamal, yours. One of the two is sure to be “You have time to meet Baburam accepted.” FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 8 - 14 AUGUST 2008 #412 7 Party financing

Pramila Devkota in Sancharika Feature Service, 5 August

True democracy is not possible without transparency in the government sector: its expenditure, the activities of the political parties and public corporations. The 25 political parties in the constituent assembly have the responsibility of running the country and writing the constitution. But Nepalis also want the parties to be transparent in their policies, their agenda and their expenditure. But not one political party submits its records to audit. In fact, this lack of transparency has meant that we are still unaware of the number of members in a party, their fund-raising sources, how they manage their finances and their expenditures. Legally, all parties have to submit annual financial records to the Election Commission but no one does it. “Parties have repeatedly ignored our request for audited statements,” says EC spokesperson Laxman Bhattarai. During the CA elections, EC had given permission to each political party to raise up to Rs 460,000 without disclosing the source of income. But the commission has no idea whether the parties adhered to this requirement. Civil society activist Devendra Raj Pandey says that Nepali political parties must practice transparency. “The parties shouldn’t trick the citizens of this country,” he adds. Insiders say the Maoist need more than Rs 2 billion every year. The party says it raises the money from membership fees. Maoist office secretary Keshab Nepal says: “Since we gained a majority by winning peoples trust, we are trying to be more transparent.” He says that although the Maoists are the largest party, has the smallest budget. The UML also claims that its main source of income is membership fees. But it is difficult to believe that parties like UML and the Maoist with 100,000 members each can function purely on fees. UML member Astha Laxmi Shakya says her party is very transparent and its party congress reviews a statement of accounts. The NC doesn’t have a membership fee and runs solely on donations and doesn’t keep open accounts. The big parties have given CA seats to the people from the business community instead of their own members, raising questions about the nexus between politics and business. 8 FOOD Organic growth Valley used to grow vegetables in the past—centuries ago, everything was fresh and organic. Documentary-maker Kedar Sharma, who is working on a film on organic food, says: “If organic food wasn’t marketed just for rich westerners as it is, it would be affordable. After all, most vegetables in Kathmandu are still organic.” Sharma says if the 'organic hype' is removed, more people, not just the elite, can afford healthy foods. Samir Newa is the founder of Organic Village,which has three organic vegetable shops and many farms in places such as Sankhu, Sanga, Dhulikhel and Pokhara. “Slowly, people are becoming more aware, choosier and conscious of their health,” says Newa, who plans to set up a wholesale market specialising in organic food. Restaurants and hotels in Kathmandu are switching to organic, and have started to include organic food in their menus such as the Organic Café in Thamel or U Café in Sanepa. There is an organic food bajar SHRADHA BASNYAT precious vegetables being cuisine. But today, with urban Increased health awareness every Wednesday and Sunday destroyed. But the reward for the sprawl crowding out the fertile among the upper middle class at the Summit Hotel, where awn is just hard work is not just a higher furrows of cauliflowers and in Kathmandu now means that more than 30 items are sold. breaking. Overnight, price for his veggies in potatoes, vegetable production customers are willing to even Reeka Oemisch is opening rain has made the Kathmandu’s market, but also a has shifted to the Valley’s pay the 20 per cent extra for an organic snack shop– monsoon clouds sense of pride that he is not outskirts and surrounding organic produce. But Organic World and Fair Dhang low over the surrounding poisoning his environment. districts of Dhading, Kavre and with inflation, people Future in Basantapur mountains, but Baburam Kunwar’s crispy-fresh greens Nuwakot. are getting more and says consumer Kunwar is already heading off may not have the artificial The first thing one notices in price awareness will to his fields in Godavari. plumpness and shine of an organic farm is that it’s full conscious and grow. She adds, He works meticulously and commercially grown of insects–ladybirds, bees, some families “Sensible efficiently, checking each and veggies, but they are more earthworms, snails and are buying cultivation is the every lettuce leaf, the tomato vitamin and mineral rich, beetles. Many of these are whatever is cheapest. only way to preserve plants, the root crops for signs and a whole lot healthier. good organisms that help Prajwol Khadka, a struggling the environment.” z of damage from insects and The combination of local eat harmful insects, or like owner of an organic farm in worms. and natural is what makes the earthworms naturally fertilise Panauti, says: “The difficulty is Where to buy organic food: Kunwar works in an organic produce of farmers like Kunwar the soil. A commercial farm on that people don’t understand Organic Village in Baluwatar, farm, but because he is not stand apart. Kathmandu Valley is the other hand, is essentially a that organic food isn’t just a Bakundole and Kupondole using chemicals to kill off historically renowned for its rich monocrop, where pesticides kill western fad.” So Khadka tries to Summit Hotel Organic Food insects and other pests he has to vegetable crop which has found all the good insects and worms tell his retailers that this is how Market on Wednesday and be extra vigilant about his its way into traditional Newari along with the few bad ones. the farmers of Kathmandu Sunday Slow inte PAAVAN M ATHEM A fast food wallahs have kept away from Nepal. “It has a lot to do with low purchasing power here,” epal’s unique status as suggests Binod Tuladhar, one of the last countries managing director of Bluebird Mall N in the world without which has a popular food court. international fast food chains may “Although the demand for fast food be coming to an end, ironically at is rising, the taste preference of a time when the Maoists are about Nepali consumers is inclined to lead the government. towards Chinese and Indian rather Many have wondered why than western food.” there isn’t a McDonalds in Durbar However, the success of the Marg, a Pizza Hut in Pokhara or a Bakery Café chain that serves Starbucks in Namche, while sandwiches, fries and burgers others count it as a blessing that shows that fast food may not just Nepal is one last unspolit corner be a fad. Bakery was of Asia where the golden double started by Shyam Kakshapati with arch hasn’t yet made its his first outlet in Tindhara in 1991. DOUBLE ARCH ON DURBAR MARG? International fast food appearance. Since then he has opened nine chains have so far shunned Nepal, but that may be changing. We asked Nepali Bakery Cafés all over Kathmandu, businessmen why multinational and even one in his native Tansen PHOTO MONTAGE: MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA/KIRAN MAHARJAN 8 - 14 AUGUST 2008 #412 9

Health concerns are making more and more people go green

PICS: MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA erest in fast food keeping The Colonel and Big supplies like fuel, gas, electricity KFC is expected to follow soon But Pizza Hut and KFC are Macs out is the high franchise and water. Raw materials are of after. R J Corp, the parent cost. For example, the annual fee inconsistent quality, prices company, appears to be sniffing around for a McDonalds franchise is fluctuate wildly and there is interested in setting up a said to be in the $ 1 million range always the threat of labour franchise network starting next in 1998 and in Butwal in 2001. The lifestyles of the young in in this part of the world. Even if the problems. All this has kept year. Although political stability Kakshapati told Nepali Times the cities are changing and so are novelty effect may bring in businessmen as well as potential is still an issue, there is he feels there is great potential for their eating habits. Nuclear customers initially, businessmen international investors away optimism that things will settle international chains to set up families in which both spouses doubt if there will be a good return from Nepal. down once the new government business franchises in Nepal. are working are becoming the on investments, especially But one factor that could is formed. “They are simply waiting for the norm. Eating out has become because of the high franchise cost. change all that would be a tourism Publicity is not expected to right time to enter the market. The convenient, and not just on “Independent businessmen do boom and a trickle down of income be a problem since most young consumers here are already special occasions. not have the resource or to young Nepalis exposed to urban Nepalis are already exposed to their brand name. “Nepalis have become more infrastructure to sustain such a western brands. Several exposed to the brand. The Once they set up, the market will experimental in their taste, they risk,” says Gagan Pradhan, owner international chains are now franchises would be a new 'cool' follow,” he explains. are eager to try new items in the of Himalayan Java, the trendy reportedly exploring the Nepali place for urban youngsters to Asked if he is nervous about menu,” explains Chandan coffee joint in Thamel. market and trying to cash in on the hang out, provide office-goers a competition, Kakshapati adds: Kayasta, owner of Roadhouse Most locally owned restaurants first player advantage. new option to grab a quick bite “No, it will keep local Café, “we see real potential for themselves are working under Varun Beverages, bottlers of and also for trekkers sick of restaurateurs on their toes, force the food industry to grow.” tight margins. There is an acute Pepsi in Nepal is hoping to open a eating dal-bhat nonstop for three us to improve our standards too.” Given this, what seems to be shortage of even the basic Pizza Hut outlet this year and weeks in the mountains. z 10 NATION 8 - 14 AUGUST 2008 #412

DEW AN RAI

eeing the way Nepali migrant workers are Slow-burn S cheated by middlemen, harassed at the airport on departure, ill-treated by staff in Nepal’s own national airline and in the Tarai extorted when they return, it is hard to believe that they are the If you do not deal with th e youth pillars of the country’s economy. bulge there will be conflict Economists say that aside from facilitating paperwork for LAHAN–The Tarai is on a slow-burn mode, and in our current state overseas workers and protecting of lawlessness there is no one to douse the fire. them from exploitation, there A volatile mix of anarchy, corruption, institutionalised should be an urgent campaign to criminality, economic stagnation, popular discontent and deepening upgrade their income by giving communal divide are making the towns in the plains more skills training before they go. dangerous and fragile. In Siraha, the Madhes Tarai Mukti Morcha kidnapped a Pahadi Simple vocational training VDC secretary. Most VDC secretaries have moved to district towns could easily double or triple the signaling a retreat of the state. Another unknown armed group killed annual Rs 102 billion Nepalis a Madhesi school teacher. Government employees have locked up sent home last year from overseas. their offices and refused to work unless given more security. Because of the growing number of The Tharus called a shutdown against Hindi oath-taking. And workers, this figure is expected to MJF leaders smugly said they would teach the Tharus a lesson in reach Rs 135 billion next year. the future. The mysterious killing of a Madhesi college Most Nepali migrant workers PLAIN SPEAKING student in Dharan has turned are unskilled, and they do the most menial work in restaurants, Prashant Jha into an ethnic issue. Madhesi students demand an department stores and investigation into the death, plantations for $ 125 a month. A asking the college to set up a branch in a ‘Madhesi area’ where semi-skilled labourer is paid they will be more secure. Instead of calming the situation, Madhesi twice as much as unskilled labour parties are capitalising on the polarisation. Youth militancy is picking up in Dhanusha. The Rajan Mukti and a skilled worker can earn up faction is the most notorious these days for its blatant extortion. A to 10 times higher salary. Madhesi businessman was shot in Janakpur a fortnight ago for “If we started a coordinated ECONOMIC refusing to pay up. There were 13 blasts in the town in July. Youth policy to upgrade skills, there wings of mainstream parties (Maoists, UML, MJF and Sadbhabana) will be a rise of 25 per cent in How to maximise th e benefits fro m are engaged in competitive populism and acting as law-enforcers. remittances from the same Economic stagnation is a key factor for this mess. There are no number of workers,” says Krishna mandatory. 27 districts, the Council for jobs for people who do not migrate out of the country. The collapse of the public sector in the Tarai (the Birganj sugar factory and the Dawadi, director at the A proposed National Skill Technical Education and cigarette unit in Janakpur are visible examples) means the state is Department of Labour and Testing Board will certify Vocational Training has not giving jobs. The insecurity of the past year has led to shutting Foreign Employment Promotion. vocational and technical 18 schools of its own and there down of more than 25 industries in Bara-Parsa belt. Vegetable oil Skilled workers also get better education because existing are 500 private training units are winding up. There are no fresh investments and no treatment at work, they enjoy training documents can be easily institutions which target high expansion of production. Many factories still operating prefer Indian more safety, security facilities and forged. The Professional and school dropouts and the illiterate. workers because they do not want Nepali labour trouble. health insurance. But above all, Vocational Skill Development The trouble is that put they can live with dignity in an Directorate runs the training together these institutes can train alien land. programs in 48 districts, the only 40,000 people a year whereas “Neither recruiter nor Department of Cottage and Small 10 times that number enter the employer can ever cheat a skilled Industry gives the training in job market annually. “The worker who has been trained and knows his rights,” says Dawadi. Most untrained Nepalis are either cheated by their recruiters who promise salaries that aren’t honoured, or often abandoned on arrival at the airport in the Gulf or Malaysia. The government has announced strict punishment for rogue recruiters, but that doesn’t seem to deter them. Dawadi says AJIT TIWARI incidents of cheating could go Agriculture can’t accommodate everyone because of its down dramatically if the seasonal nature, the lack of modernisation, falling productivity and government makes vocational inequitable land distribution. There is no big infrastructure project training or technical education or employment guarantee program which could give people money and dignity. It is simple: if you do not deal with the youth bulge, there will be conflict. Combine this unemployment with the collapse of the administrative and security apparatus of the state. There is no local government, the bureaucrats are not accountable to anyone and they have no political direction. The state lost out at a critical moment when it did not capitalise on its post election legitimacy and the total illegitimacy of the armed groups. That was the best “Vocational time to weaken extremists and we lost the chance. Where the state does exist, it is corrupt. As long as the cops get a share of the loot, they prefer not to confront criminals. The Geoff Pines, Principal of Greenwich Community How important is job-oriented education in a country parties use the armed groups as a card to promote the politics of College in the UK, was in Kathmandu to speak about like this? divisiveness. Businesses and even NGOs are now reported to be public-private partnership in vocational education Vocational skills are beneficial for any individual. using armed groups against rivals. A conflict economy is slowly organised by the British Council. He talked to Nepali They play an important role in the long-term as they taking root in Madhes, and some sections are quite happy with the help the industries, which in turn help in the lawlessness. Times about the importance of vocational education economic development of the country. Vocational Across the eastern Tarai there is unhappiness. A trader can’t in Nepal. transport products because of blocked highways. A Dalit labourer in education is also important because it has a positive a northern Siraha village is unhappy because he barely gets 3 kg of Nepali Times: Why vocational training? effect on business and attracts foreign investment. If rice as daily wage. A Muslim is unhappy because his community Geoff Pine: I’ve been involved in education all my vocational education is emphasised, it will yield high has lost out in the inclusion race. Both upper and intermediate- life. But unlike traditional schools, at a vocational quality employees who will be recognised not just in caste Madhesis are unhappy because they feel the government has school an individual’s talent surfaces easily. The the country but beyond the borders. not fulfilled any promise. Pahadis and Tharus are unhappy because issue here in Nepal, like in the UK, is that vocational they feel victimised by the Madhes hegemony. There are no education is seen as a poor relative of academic Is there a role for the private sector to be involved? institutions to deal with the discontent, which means all the studies, which is a wrong concept. Every country The private sector plays a very significant role as it unhappiness and anger will be manifested on the streets. needs business and in order to have well-rounded provides and acts like the knowledge unit. This After Kathmandu parties do us a favour and form the employees, vocational education is an area of concept is just coming up in the UK too and is quite government, they should turn their gaze southwards and start importance and should be focused on very seriously. interesting because the private sector helps regulate building the state. z the kind of students we put out there. Vocational Over 200,000 Nepalis go abroad to work every year. education is demand-led and students are trained as NATION 8 - 14 AUGUST 2008 #41211 Sweat and tears GANESH GURUNG Lack of regulation and monitoring has led to widespread exploitation of poor Nepalis by fellow Nepalis. Individual instances of cheating and epalis have been migrating to work for the abandonment of recruits at foreign airports fill the past 200 years, so it is not a new media every day. phenomenon. But a burgeoning population But there are other aspects of foreign N employment that don’t get as much attention: the and lack of jobs has dramatically increased the number of people leaving the country to find increasing number of deaths of workers abroad. work. The decade-long conflict accelerated In 2007 alone, 754 Nepalis died in the Gulf and this process. Malaysia. Besides accidents, there is a Some analysts had predicted that with the mysterious increase in the number of workers peace dividend, the number of Nepali workers whose deaths are registered 'heart failure' in overseas would drop, but that hasn’t happened. the Gulf. Some 560 people are leaving Nepal every day for There has been an alarming increase in jobs overseas, this is the official figure from the cases of domestic violence, even murder, due to Department of Labour and does not include those suspicions of infidelity. The spread of HIV, leaving unofficially and those going to India. divorces, children falling into bad habits due to The push factor is lack of jobs in Nepal and lack of supervision are other social side-effects. the salary differential. The money they send home No major impact study has been done on how has sustained Nepal’s conflict-ravaged economy the money that the workers send back is spent. and reduced the poverty rate by 11 per cent. If With food prices increasing, a larger chunk of it there hadn’t been a conflict, poverty reduction probably goes to the upkeep of the family back would probably be higher. home. In other words, what is the social cost What 50 years of Five Nepali families pay for overseas migration? Is it MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA Year Plans could not do with worth it? How do we their grand strategies for maximise the benefits and poverty reduction has been Is th e social minimise the risks of foreign accomplished by the employment until we find ‘manpower export’ industry. It cost of jobs for them at home? CLASS is interesting that our Labour migration is a planners never saw that the migrating fo r business and like any our re m itta n c e econom y way to poverty reduction was business it is driven by the through employment work worth it? laws of supply and demand. generation. When the Nepal has to compete with investment in vocational training vocational education.” government couldn’t offer them jobs in the other countries for the price is just not sufficient,” says Vocational training would country, Nepalis did what they have traditionally of labour and to compete, our workers need to be Ramhari Lamichhane, project not just benefit workers going done: migrate for work. It has happened by more skilled, productive and disciplined. manager at the $ 20 million ADB- abroad, but also give Nepalis default, with virtually no contribution or planning But government policy on recruitment erodes funded Skill for Employment jobs in Nepal. Nara Bahadur from the government. In fact, when the our competitive advantage. By offering only government has tried to regulate, monitor or unskilled labour, we undermine the earning Project which started training Thapa, director at Nepal Rastra potential of our nationals. dropouts this year and aims Bank, says Nepal shouldn’t promote the manpower industry, it has usually made things worse. An independent bureau must replace the to train 80,000 in the next depend too much on Labour Department so it can work in three years. remittances since marketing and welfare services On average, out of overseas jobs could independently and efficiently and 100 students enrolled in Class easily dry up if there reduce exploitation and fraud. It could One, only eight students pass is instability in the also facilitate access to information, SLC, 15 make it to Grade 10, and Gulf. “It is not a long- an effective insurance system, 85 drop out of school. Says term solution,” he counselling, equal opportunities to Dawadi: “Education should get 25 says, “We don’t have women, tap niche markets and percent of the national budget control over external provide loans to people from remote areas and unprivileged groups. and of that one-third of the situation, so At present, Nepali migrant money must go to technical and vocational education workers are squeezed by both the should primarily be government policy and recruiting targeted at the CUMULATIVE NUMBER OF agencies. That is no way to treat the domestic job market OVERSEAS WORKERS heroes who sustain our economy with with a coordinated their sweat and tears. z employment 2001 250,000 generation campaign Ganesh Gurung is a sociologist with 2007 500,000 in agriculture, the Nepal Institute of Development 2008 800,000 (projected) finance, Studies and chairperson of the infrastructure and National Network on Safe Migration. 2011 1,200,000 (projected) manufacturing.” z DAMBAR K SHRESTHA training is the way to go”

per the needs of the employer and businesses. At of the industry. It was mutually beneficial because Greenwich Community College there is no vocational they were getting better workers and our students education course that’s doesn’t guarantee a job on where getting better jobs. Similarly, in Thailand’s completion. There is no point teaching a course Chang Mai region, the local Thai tour operators and which is of no use to businesses, that would be just a hotel staff were not getting jobs beyond a certain waste of time and money. The relationship between level. So GCC collaborated with local tour operators private sector and vocational education is a mutually and hotels to design a course that would help beneficial one. In Nepal, the FNCCI has a huge role qualified Thai in high managerial post as well. As a to play. At the symposium here, the British Council result GCC has an objective that the teachers have started a dialogue which is going to help the to have had some relevant experience in the industries as well as the economy in the future. industry in the last 12 years.

Can you give us an example of a model partnership? Which are the most feasible professions for Nepal? There was a time when the leisure industry was Construction, which doesn’t necessarily mean learn doing very well but it was depressing because none from other countries but more importantly learn from of our students were getting jobs. The employers how it functions here. Then it would have to be said our students had no skill that they wanted. So, hospitality and health sector. Its culture and rich we joined hands with the London Leisure College and heritage makes it easy for Nepal to sustain tourism GL Limited and designed the course as per the need for a long time. ANUP PRAKASH 12 INTERNATIONAL 8 - 14 AUGUST 2008 #412 The Gulag chronicler strongman. Putin once said that the moral authority to soothe there is no such thing as an ex- people’s passions. Only KGB man and sees the Soviet Solzhenitsyn and Andrei Union’s collapse as the greatest Sakharov came near to Walesa and geopolitical catastrophe of Havel in terms of moral authority. modern times. Despite this, But Sakharov was dead by the Solzhenitsyn accepted Putin as a time communism collapsed, and ‘good dictator’. Solzhenitsyn’s ideas were too conservative, too tied to Russian TRIBUTE nationalism, for him to become a Nina Khrushcheva symbol of democracy in a multi- national Soviet Union. The tragedy of Solzhenitsyn is It is a sad testament to that although he played a mighty Russia’s current mindset that it is role in liberating Russia from Solzhenitsyn the anti-modernist totalitarianism, he had nothing to crank who is being remembered, say to ordinary Russians after not Solzhenitsyn the towering foe their liberation, except to chastise of Soviet barbarism and them. Yet perhaps one day we mendacity. Today, his writing is Russians will escape our false seen as buttressing the state, not dreams, and when that day individual freedom. Works such comes, the heroic Solzhenitsyn, as The Red Wheel series of novels, the Solzhenitsyn who could a tedious account of the end of never surrender or be corrupted, Tw o sides in the life o f A lexander Solzhenits y n Imperial Russia and the creation will be restored to us. But it is of the USSR or his last book A now that we need that MOSCOW–Prophets, it is said, was chief mourner. that, in the Soviet era, his art Hundred Years Together on the Solzhenitsyn most. z are supposed to be without So, even in death, Alexander was used, briefly, as a force for history of Russian-Jewish Project Syndicate honour in their homeland. Yet Solzhenitsyn will, it seems, liberation, because Nikita coexistence, seem backward, Moscow has just witnessed the remain a force to be reckoned Khrushchev allowed the preachy, conservative, Nina Khrushcheva teaches extraordinary sight of Alexander with. But will he be a force in publication of One Day in the unenlightened, at times even international affairs at The New Solzhenitsyn, dissident and keeping with the liberating vistas Life of Ivan Denisovich in order anti-Semitic. They smack off School in New York. once-exiled author of the Gulag of his greatest works? to buttress his anti-Stalin thaw. Solzhenitsyn’s own grim Archipelago and One Day in the Sadly, art in Russia is always In today’s supposedly free authoritarianism. Life of Ivan Denisovich, receiving used to reinforce the narcissism and democratic Russia, however, Both Putin and Khrushchev Solzhenitsyn’s published works: what amounts to a state funeral. of power. Solzhenitsyn was used Solzhenitsyn is idealised for his sought to use Solzhenitsyn for Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in this way twice. The paradox is nationalism and Orthodox their own purposes. Putin vowed One Day in the Life of Ivan messianism, his contempt for to revive the moral fibre of the Denisovich (1962; novel) the West’s supposed decadence, Russians, their glory and An Incident at Krechetovka Station (1963; novella) international respect. Under him, all messages that Putin’s regime Matryona’s Place proclaims loudly and daily. Khrushchev Solzhenitsyn’s work (1963; novella) The old Soviet iconography was used to liberate the country For the Good of the Cause has broken down completely. from the grip of Stalinism. (1964; novella) Despite heroic efforts, not even Khrushchev knew that he was The First Circle (1968; novel) Putin could restore Lenin, undermining the entire Soviet era Cancer Ward (1968; novel) Stalin, and the old Soviet up to that point. But, with The Love-Girl and the Innocent pantheon. Yet the Kremlin Khrushchev’s overthrow in 1964, (1969; play understands that something is Leonid Brezhnev lost no time in August 1914 (1971). needed to replace them as Russia restoring orthodoxy and purging The Gulag Archipelago (three volumes) (1973–1978), adapts to its new oil-fueled books that threatened the Party’s autocracy. Solzhenitsyn, one of reputation. Solzhenitsyn was the most famous and heroic banned, driven first underground dissidents of the Soviet era, now and then into exile. seems certain to become a One lesson of the 1989 towering figure in the revolution in Eastern Europe is iconography of Putinism. the value of having truly For Solzhenitsyn, a survivor democratic-minded figures lead of the gulag system enforced by the escape from communism. the KGB, the desire to see Russia Poland had Lech Welesa; as a great nation, its eternal Czechoslovakia, Václav Havel. spirit superior to the West’s Both kept their countries calm vulgar materialism, found him during wrenching transitions. in old age supporting an ex-KGB Russia, sadly, had no one with REVIEW 8 - 14 AUGUST 2008 #412 13

familiarity with the source An ode to Hollyw ood material, but the scenes of productions with their blockbusters and a improvised sets and costumes are surprisingly fun, call fo r action charm s and sometimes frustratingly short. The and inspire s Rush Hour 2 sequence recreated on a playground jungle gym set as the high-rise Be kind, building of the movie’s action movie is ridiculously grin-inducing. With a premise like that, Gondry re w ind, allows himself to pull back the curtain to peek at his cinematic alchemy to a degree unprecedented, capturing the re w a tch , playful and experimental essence A lucky Sherpa of his approach. Be Kind, Rewind probes the strange antipathy between an s one of the few Sherpa members of the Constituent re p e a t industry that is preoccupied Assembly, Lucky will now be involved in drafting a new A constitution on behalf of her people– a branch of Sherpas that lives in the Arun Valley of Sankhuwasabha. Lucky’s father was the first Sherpa professor and when he came to teach at Tribhuban University, her family moved to Kathmandu where she was educated. Lucky graduated with a masters in economics. It’s a long way for Lucky from Madi Mulkharka, where the rest of the clan still lives to being the UML representative in the assembly. “Most of my extended family didn’t get the opportunities I had and I am determined to work for their upliftment so that no Nepali is left behind,” Lucky told Nepali Times on a trek through her home district recently. Neglect by rulers in faraway Kathmandu, and the apathy of the district administration in Khandbari to the concerns of the mountain people means that the people of northern regions of Sankhuwasabha are even more remote than Humla or Mugu. “I guess you can call me lucky,” ith movies like Eternal clearer or as inviting. about copyright and safe says Lucky Sherpa, making a Sunshine of the Passiac, New Jersey, a place formulaic movies, and an WSpotless Mind (2004) that seems to stretch up one audience that feels an attachment, fa m iliar jo k e about her nam e. and The Science of Sleep (2006), urban block under a highway is fondness and ownership to the director Michel Gondry had the economically depressed movies that rely on the studio There are layers upon layers of neglect: people are managed to return to movies a neighborhood that is home to ‘Be system. The filmlovers here aren’t marginalised because they live in far-flung areas, their voice is feeble because they come from indigenous communities, they are certain sense of wonder, even Kind, Rewind’, an anachronistic rarefied connoisseurs but prosaic, not educated and don’t have the reach, they are poor so no one bewilderment at the magic of video store that rents actual VHS everyday people who watch listens to them, or they come last because they are women. film. Eschewing the digital movies. The film’s central blockbusters. It is only tepidly Says Lucky: “At the national level, the indigenous movement is special effects of late that have relationship is between Mike subversive—after the studio suits getting a voice, but here you won’t find many people like me who reached dizzying heights of (Mos Def), the affable guy who descend onto Passiac and deem can speak out.” That is why Lucky set up the Himalayan Indigenous works for his father figure Mr. the remakes piracy (featuring a Women Network (HIWN) to promote and protect the rights of Fletcher at the VHS store, and scene-stealing Sigourney Weaver indigenous mountain communities, focussing on women. CRITICAL CINEMA She explains how information is power and because indigenous Mike’s best friend Jerry (Jack A Angelo D’Silva who complains sarcastically, women don’t speak Nepali they are left out of decision-making in Black), the oddball mechanic “we’re the villains, right?” after government offices. There are things that can start within the from across the street. When Jerry she orders a steamroller to run communities: girls must be given the same opportunities as boys technical achievement (and electro-magnetises himself and over the inventory of cassettes one and women need to be educated about their rights. despairing depths of mediocrity), accidentally erases every cassette more time), the defeated “Already,” adds Lucky, “participation and the sense of politics he is a practitioner of a more in the store, the pair replaces the filmmakers acquiesce. However, among women are emerging. We are becoming aware that we material form of wizardry—one movies with their own home- the abiding anthem of the film, should be involved in politics at local and central levels, otherwise our issues will not be heard.” that is all the more enchanting for made amateurish versions with that of a charge for a visual The road to becoming a woman indigenous leader is a bumpy us, knowing that it is a trick: kitschy remakes of blockbusters culture that is participatory, one. Nepal’s political arena and the indigenous movement are playing with perspective, of yesteryear. community-based and assessable, dominated by men. But Lucky chooses to focus on the common tinkering with the mechanics of Mike and Jerry’s goofy not to mention envisioned as denominator: indigenous groups feel the same social, political and the camera, even something as productions ignite the so darn fun, is jauntily economic exclusion, which can be amended by the revised simply running the film imagination of their community, electrifying. z constitution. backwards. The ‘how-did-he-do- who line around the block to get Lucky is determined that it won’t just be luck that will give women from indigenous communities the same opportunity she had that?’ wonder that he evokes is a copies, and eventually to feature Be Kind, Rewind for education. z kind of invitation for the viewer in the little knock-offs Director: Michel Gondry Sraddha Basnyat to try it himself. With his newest themselves. Granted, there is an Cast: Mos Def, Jack Black, Melinda film, Be Kind, Rewind the assumption on the part of the Diaz, Danny Glover Himalayan Indigenous Women Network www.hiwn.org.np invitation has never been more filmmaker of the audience’s 2008. PG-13. 102 mins. 14 CITY 8 - 14 AUGUST 2008 #412

ABOUT TOWN In The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon, the third sequel to the Mummy franchise, Brendan Fraser returns as explorer Rick O'Connell to fight EXHIBITIONS the resurrected Han Emperor (Jet Li). The Emperor who was doomed ™ Duet of Fantasies by Promina Shrestha and Ranendra B. Mali, by a double-crossing sorceress (Michelle Yeoh) to spend an eternity in 8 August -7 September, 10AM-6PM, Gallery 32, Dent Inn at suspended animation is awoken after Alex (Luke Ford), Rick and Heritage Plaza II, Kamaladi. 4241942 Evelyn’s (Maria Bello) son, is tricked. The reckless young archaeologist an exhibition of paintings by national and now must seek the help of his parents and together they must stop the ™ Amalgam-2008 mummy who awakens from a 2,000-year-old curse and threatens to international artists till 8 September at Siddhartha Art Gallery, force the world into his merciless, unending service.

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Tripureswor. 4425898 Quest www.jainepal.com ™ Health and Fitness Expo 2008 from 21-24 August, United World Trade Center, Tripureswor. 4117104 sfd ;fgf ] 7nf" ] eGg ] x'Fb}g . kl;gfsf ] s'g} /ª / hft klg x'Fb}g . sfd EVENTS u/]/ vfg nhfpg' klg x'Fb}g . rf]/]/, 9fF6]/, 5n]/, n'6]/ vfg kf] g]kfn ;/sf/ ;"rgf tyf ;~rf/ dGqfno ™ The Mahesh Chandra Regmi Lecture 2008 by David Ludden, nhfpgk5' { . hf ] hxf F /x/] hg' sfd u5 { pm To;df} /dfpgk5' { uf/a} 3.45 PM, 12 August Russian Cultural Centre, Kamalpokhari ugk5'{ { / ;dlkt{ eP/ ug5k'{ { . sfd g } zlQm xf,] elQm xf ] / dlQm' ;"rgf ljefu ™ Dancing/yoga-latey with Shabira Rao 1-14 September, Rs 300 xf ] . sfdsf ] OHht u/f,}+ kl;gfsf ] ;Ddfg u/ }+ . per session, Yala Maya Kendra, Patan. 9803673551 ™ Monsoon madness package at Shangri~la Village Resort, Pokhara, Rs 5999. 4435741

MUSIC ™ Retro Nite presented by Party Nepal, 9 August, 9PM, Rs 500, Cube Bar, Kamaladi ™ 28th Yala Maya Classic, a classical music series, 18 August, 5PM, Yala Maya Kendra, Patan Dhoka, Rs. 100. 5553767 ™ TGIF at Jazzabelle Café every Wednesday and Friday from 6.30 PM onwards. 2114075 ™ Ladies night at Jatra Cafe & Bar on Wednesday with live unplugged music by D Shewan ™ HyJazz Club every Friday from 8.30 PM, Hyatt Regency, Kathmandu. 4489800 ™ Fusion and Looza Band every Friday night, Bhumi Resto Lounge, Lazimpat. 4412193 ™ Rudra night fusion and classical Nepali music by Shyam Nepali and friends, every Friday, 7PM at Le Meridien, Gokarna. 4451212 ™ Sufi music by Hemanta Rana, every Friday at 7.30 PM at Dhaba Restaurant and Bar, Thapathali.

DINING ™ Indian Food Promotion at The Café, Hyatt Regency from 7PM onwards until 17 Aug. 4489362 ™ Sixth Annual Wine Festival until September at Kilroy’s, Jyatha. 4250440 ™ New menu at Dohkaima Cafe, Patan Dhoka. 5522113 ™ Masala, an Indian restaurant on Jawalakhel, St.Mary’s school road. 4421634 ™ Asparagus Promotion at Hyatt Regency from 7PM onwards till August 21. 4489361 WEEKEND WEATHER by NGAMINDRA DAHAL ™ Plat Du Jour at Hotel Shangri-la, Kathmandu, Rs 600. 4412999 The monsoon this week showed maturity, a more self-confident monsoon that dumped major rain right across central and western Nepal. The system that ™ Lavazza coffee Italy’s favourite coffee at brought this moisture is an enormous front stretching right across northern La Dolce Vita, Thamel, Roadhouse Café India, as we see in this satellite radar image taken on Thursday morning. A Pulchok and Thamel. 4700612 distinct characteristic of this year’s monsoon so far had been the higher number ™ Mexican Food Special at Jalan Jalan of isolated rainfall events of shorter duration compared to the light sustained restaurant, Kupondole height. 5544872 rainfall of previous years. After this monsoon pulse wears itself out as it heads ™ Steak special with free Irish coffee at K- west early next week, the rain will come down in afternoon storms tapering into too! Beer & Steakhouse.Thamel. 4700043 night rain. In the meantime, expect a wet and cloudy weekend. ™ Lajawab tandoori and kabab festival, 7-10 PM every Friday at the Hotel Himalaya. Rs 550. ™ Home made pasta at Alfresco, Soaltee Crowne Plaza. 4273999 ™ Hot summer spicy food at the Jalan Jalan Restaurant, Kupondole Heights. 5544872 ™ Reality Bites, The Kaiser Café, Garden of Dreams, operated by KATHMANDU Dwarika’s Group of Hotels, 9AM-10PM. 4425341 ™ Steak escape with Kathmandu’s premier steaks for lunch and dinner at the Olive Bar and Bistro, Hotel Radisson. 4411818 KATHMANDU VALLEY open for lunch and dinner with over ™ Bourbon Room Restro-bar Fri Sat Sun 100 cocktail, Lal Darbar. ™ Cocktails and grooves with jazz by Inner Groove at Fusion-the bar at Dwarika’s, every Wednesday at Dwarika’s Hotel. 6 ™ Cocktails, mocktails and liqueurs at the Asahi Lounge, opening 29-196 28-196 27-186 hours 1-10PM, above Himalayan Java, Thamel. ™ Illy espresso coffee at the Galleria cafe, every Friday espresso cocktails. ™ International buffet at the Sunrise Café, and Russian specialties at Chimney, Hotel Yak and Yeti. 4248999 ™ Scrumptious wood fired pizzas, cocktails and more at Roadhouse, Bhatbateni 4426587, Pulchok 5521755 and Thamel. 4260187 ™ Retro Brunch Barbeque with live acoustic music by Sound Chemistry, every Saturday, 12-3PM at LeMeritien-Kathmandu, Gokarna. 4451212 ™ Dhamaka a Nepali style barbeque with a pan-Indian fusion at the Splash Bar and Grill, Hotel Radisson,7PM every Friday. 4411818 ™ Starry night barbecue at Hotel Shangri-la with Live performance by Ciney Gurung, Rs. 666, at the Shambala Garden, every Friday 7PM onwards. 4412999 ™ Kebabs and curries at the Dhaba, Thapathali. 9841290619 ™ Pizza from the woodfired oven at Java, Thamel. 4422519

For inclusion in the listing send information to editors(at)nepalitimes.com HAPPENINGS 8 - 14 AUGUST 2008 #412 15

KIRAN PANDAY GUARDING THE PEACE: Japanese ambassador to Nepal Tatsuo Mizuno at a rally organised by the Alliance for Peace to commemorate the 1945 bombing of Hiroshima on Wednesday at Swoyambhu.

MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA FUELLING ANGER: Tired of waiting in queue for eight hours at the Bansbari petrol pump, a motorcyclist heckles an attendant to fill up his tank. Usually motorcyclists are only given 5 litres.

BISHNU S PHOTO OP: New and outgoing members of the National Forum of Photo Journalists pose for a photo after its election on Saturday.

MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA AUTHOR BEED: Prabhakar Rana speaks at the launch of the book Beed Bytes by Nepali Times columist Sujeev Shakya (left) on Wednesday. The book is a collection of the Economic Sense column (see p5) from the past eight years. N 16 and anothersetof You getridofonesetroyals off again. Hindi switchon,andwhoturnedit who hadahandinturningtheanti- a twitter. Noprizesforguessing written explanation,therewasnot Court ordertocomeupwitha VP JhaignoredtheSupreme as soonitstarted?Evenwhen the governmentwithotherUML Pradeep Nepal,whoresignedfrom deal forEducationMinister Summit, thenitwasn’tsuchabig delegation totheSAARCASTIC already resignedcanleadour If aprimeministerwhohas monarchy. during thebadolddaysof to theairportjustastheydid panchaya kanyasallhadtotroop army brass,diplomatsandthe goings. Governmentgraycoats, bandobast forroyalcomingsand could pass,remindingusofthe the primeministerialcavalcade closed fortraffic45minutes Tin Kune,theintersectionwas the 757onsafaritoBotswana? At back. RememberhowGyanutook tarmac thewholedaytobringhim Airlines flighthadtowaitatthe chores inNewDelhi,sotheNepal over. Girirajahadn’tfinishedhis swearing inHindidiedout about the otice howthehoo-ha BACKSIDE FG FG Vices President neo-royals o i Sow take weather lately, whichiswhyhe Pukada islookingabitunderthe flight toHongKong. flight totakethenightDragon Air got backontheafternoonJet to PresidentPratibhaPatil,and Delhi on Tuesday, saidaquickhi taken themorningJetflightto then India beforehegoestoChina, head ofstatehastofirstgo words tothateffect.IfNepal’s mein tonayatrendchahiye.”Or told HisExcellency:“NayaNepal remain nameless,whoapparently which beginswith“I”shall country tothesouthnameof ambassador ofaneighbouring unexpected visitbythe all hisbags.Thereasonwasan all offevenafterhehadpacked looks liketheprezhadtocallit exclusive reportlastweek,it Notwithstanding the Ass’ than President Yadav. hasn’t resignedwasnoneother the Olympicseventhoughhe But someonewhocouldn’tgoto vehicles. their officialresidencesoroffice UML ministershasyetgivenup wife, among themthegoodminister’s eight athletesand30officials, Olympics. Thecontingenthas Nepali delegationtothe ministers in April, toleadthe Yadav Sir Ms Nepal FG FG . Infactnoneofthe shouldhavejust gwi ng w prime ministerfornow. But be bettertoletBRBbecome feelers heisgettingthatitmay But isPKDconcernedabout after beingblessedbythe Yogi. a Supremo, whoemergedwearing seems tohavecheeredupthe contrition? Theencounter wants tomakeactsof the deathshecausedandnow pangs ofconscienceaboutall atheists? OrisPukadagetting guys supposedtobegodless feet. Waitaminute,aren’tthese as “Swamiji”andtouchedhis Muktinath whomheaddressed Yogi Kamalnarayanacharyaof sought spiritualsolacefrom garland ofcloves FG , jubilant l d oaths Grimaji: Chaudhary, Mona,Jujubhaiand New NepalsentinbyRam this weekwithNewNamesfora The Ass’ mailboxisoverflowing doth LalDhojprotesttoomuch? things hehasdoneinhislife.But media listingalltheanti-Indian Later, heissuedastatementto to provethathewasn’tarawspy. other dayandwentoutofhisway central committeemeetingthe quite workedupattheBaddie against theidea.Baburamgot left-hand manaresaidtobedead party where opposite reactionfromwithinthe been metwithanequaland strong lobbyingfromabroadhas CDO Regd No194/056/57Lalitpur, CentralRegion PostalRegd.No 04/058/59 Mohan Dada FG andhis Goru-kha-patra z z z z z z getting nowhere) going everywhere,but Satdalkobato Maharaganj Jholnath Khanal ass(at)nepalitimes.com be sentto Name Contestshould Entries totheNew hellish stateofaffairs) Mahanarakpalika Satdobato changedto Rajbiraj changedto Maharajganj changedto Jhalanath Khanalchangedto Gorkhapatra changedto Mahanagarpalika changedto 8 -14 AUGUST 2008 (Sevenpartiesare (duetoexisting Rambiraj #412

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