#518 3 - 9 September 2010 16 pages Rs 30

PICS: KIRAN PANDAY PAINFULLY EMPLOYED: Youths queue up for army recruitment, Korean language tests, and Lifeline passports in the capital ost people are so making a living. For every man or to the politicians who brazenly engrossed in the day-to- woman who hopes to get into the pocket the life savings of those M day that they hardly army, police or the APF, there are less fortunate than them. The notice the lines clogging up the thousands more who see no way most depressing aspect of this is pavements of the capital. Unless out but to get out. how some Nepalis abroad are they are in them themselves. Add And there are plenty who take doing the same. The recent case of up the queues for army advantage of the most 108 Nepalis rescued from Libya is p13 recruitment, Korean language disadvantaged members of our not simply about cruel, Trafficker Tej: How one tests, passports, and the airport, society. It goes all the way from exploitative foreign employers man gambled with the however, and you get a composite the brokers who step up to the and states; it illustrates how lives of hundreds of picture of the desperation Nepali line and promise to facilitate Nepalis are fleecing Nepalis, Nepali migrant workers youth face when it comes to whatever it is you are looking for home and abroad. 2| 3 - 9 SEPTEMBER 2010 #518 PUBLISHER’S NOTE THE CENTRE CANNOT HOLD

hings fall apart when the centre doesn’t hold. The dictators who were propelled to power not by their mafias were quarrying the flood-control embankment. prolonged political uncertainty in Kathmandu is ruthlessness, but by the fecklessness of moderate In this issue we have an investigative report on T having an impact across all sectors of the economy, adherents of an open society, whose greed blinded them how Nepali workers are not just being exploited, but and in the everyday lives of citizens. from seeing what was coming. are bought and sold like slaves. The victims are The long queues for jobs in the army or police, the There has always been mismanagement in Nepal. We Nepali, the traffickers are Nepali. There is no point teeming passport seekers, the throngs at Korean language have come to take it as a given that governments will be blaming the Libyans or the Macau authorities for this test centres and at the departure gate at the airport all ineffective and corrupt. Budgets, if passed, are seldom modern-day form of slavery in which the state is indicate heightened public exasperation and spent. Garbage has been piling up on Kathmandu streets for complicit. disenchantment. decades, especially since 1990. State-run corporations This is what happens when society and the nation Politicians, whose inability to agree on forming a have all been bled dry. There have always been kleptocrats are without leadership. Crooks of all hues crawl out stable new government are the cause of all this, ignore in the bureaucracy, and there has always been dacoitry in from holes in the ground to pick at the bones of what is this mass disaffection at their own peril. Someday they politics. But never has the level of malgovernance, left. will reap the whirlwind. The only political forces that corruption and apathy among our rulers been as visible and It is when the state goes into freefall that we have benefit are those that thrive on chaos and anarchy. blatant as it is today. to be most vigilant to prevent the rise of strong-arm Even if it is only for their own self-preservation and The rubbish on the streets is symptomatic of the rot. dictators who promise to set things right, and restore well-being, the democratic parties that believe in non- The inability of the state to cope indicates the level of order. If that does happen, the blame will then fall violent change and pluralism should work together and statelessness. Floods are ravaging the land from Mahakali squarely on the leaders who today call themselves curb short-term greed and ambition. If they don’t stop to Mai Khola, but there hasn’t been a coordinated state ‘democratic’. fighting now, there will be nothing to fight over. response. A CDO inspecting floods from a helicopter in History is replete with example of demagogues and Kanchanpur makes the news, not the fact that boulder Nitty-gritty politicking

reluctantly agreed to stay neutral has an instinctive understanding disillusionment among the rank They point out that the Madhes PLAIN SPEAKING because of Indian pressure and of where power resides in any and file Madhesi party MPs. movement is essentially an fear of another split in the party. context. Dahal has been trying to Many of them feel they are just anti-Maoist movement and Prashant Jha Yadav sees the other three tap into that, by offering him being used as pawns in larger allying with them could erode Madhesi parties in the front as DPM-ship and the home games and want to assert their base, which NC could upstarts who are benefitting from ministry. Gachchadar seems to themselves. Add to this the capitalise on. Alternatively, he Maoist-Madhes his movement. His past Maoist realise he can extract the most desire among many from the others say that the Maoists dynamic is back in the background is coupled with the while the bigger three parties are Madhes to be seen as acting could use the Madhesi parties T news. Political circles are strong conviction that only a fighting. Despite his bluster independent of India – they are to make inroads in the Tarai. rife with speculation that the two tactical alliance with them can about Maoist ‘state capture’, he is sick of the taunts from other Some leaders also argue that MJF constituents could shift to win the Madhes any rights, since not worried for he knows that the MPs and constituents that Delhi Dahal cannot be trusted one bit the Maoist camp in the next the Maoists have the least stake Maoists can do little to challenge decides their fate. – he may become PM with their round of voting. This has been in the present structure and are him in his home districts, which There are widespread support, but the Madhesi reinforced by Pushpa Kamal willing to reform it. gives him enough space to rumours about how top leaders parties will not be able to Dahal’s statement that were given some money to control him at all. And if the 5 September will be decisive, his remain neutral, but this never UML joins such an arrangement meetings with both Upendra trickled down to the MPs. Those subsequently, their space will Yadav and Bijay Gachchadar, and The Maoist-Madhes who were not ministers in the shrink further. But with the their subsequent efforts to last government see an Indian enthusiasm to hold the convince other front constituents dynamic may yet gel to opportunity now, and feel there Madhes back from supporting to play a more ‘decisive role’. give Nepal a prime will be more cabinet berths on the Maoists flagging, these It is difficult to judge offer since both the NC and UML arguments are not supported by whether both the Madhesi parties minister next week could stay out of a government adequate hard power. – with all their members – will led by the Maoists. Many of Irrespective of the result on be willing to break the front and them also dislike the established Sunday, these seemingly vote for the Maoists. But the Yadav told an interlocutor manouevre in the capital. parliamentary parties; note the mundane details are fascinating speculation underlines once last year, “Look, just let me be Gachchadar also appears royalist background of some of for they show how politics, at again the fact that the dynamic with the Maoists till we have confident that while India may the 11 MPs who crossed the floor the end of the day, is not about between these two forces is the federalism. The NC and UML will be upset temporarily if he moves, in the third round. With the broad principles. Instead, big unpredictable variable in never give us that. Once we have it has limited options and he can Maoists not really in a position individual calculations, Nepali politics. our own state, we will fight the mend the relationship. But these to challenge these politicians on personal relations, money, and There appear to be three Maoists.” Add to this the are all last-minute decisions. He the ground back in the Tarai, raw power are driving forces. causes for the renewed temptation of becoming deputy could well be cozying up to the their fear of the former rebels is Any alliance finally rests on the restlessness in the Madhesi prime minister and regaining his Maoists to increase his bargaining diminished. right combination of these camp. position as foreign minister. position, and extract more from There is of course another factors. The Maoists and a Upendra Yadav’s heart is with Bijay Gachchadar, schooled in the other side. school within these parties, and section of the Madhes are trying the Maoists, and he only the GP Koirala brand of politics, The third variable is the in the broader Madhesi front. to get that mix right.

ON THE WEB www.nepalitimes.com

HIGH HOPES cannot compare UCPN-Maoist with any which is made up of 100% bahun males. Weekly Internet Poll # 518 Constitution or no constitution, Nepal is communist party of the past. KiranL Q. What do you make of Paras Shah’s public becoming Zimbabwe; Dahal will be Gole comeback? Robert Mugabe (‘Central concerns’, CASH FLOWS Total votes: 1,821 Prashant Jha, #517). Once in power, CROSSING LINES Which India are you talking about no one will be able to dethrone This is an amazing story of reconciliation (‘Power to India’, Ratna Sansar Prachanda. He will be a lifetime and hope (‘Same road’, Srijana Acharya, Shrestha, #517)? The state of India or President. The internal split in #517). If these two women who should be Indian investors? You should know that UCPN(M) is just a drama to fool the trying to exact revenge for the there is no such thing as ‘financing opponents; even with their differences, disappearances of their husbands can work fatigue’. There is only looking around for they have to stay together. Prachanda together why can’t our stupid political the right time and right conditions for controls the Maoist treasury, which is leaders. I think I know the answer: there are investments that give returns. very rich. Only poor parties break. You no women among the political leadership, RatnaGlobal Weekly Internet Poll # 519. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com Q. “Should I stay or should I go?” - UNMIN

Publisher: Kunda Dixit | Editor: Rabi Thapa Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd | Chief Operating Officer: Sunim Tamang | Hattiban, Godavari Road, Lalitpur | GPO Box 7251 Kathmandu [email protected] | www.nepalitimes.com | www.himalmedia.com | Tel: 01-5250333/845 Fax: +977-1-5251013 Design: Kiran Maharjan | Marketing: Sambhu Guragain, Subhash Kumar, Arjun Karki [email protected] | Subscription: Santosh Aryal [email protected] Printed at Jagadamba Press | 01-5250017-19 | www.jagadambapr.com 3 - 9 SEPTEMBER 2010 #518 OP-ED|3 Meddling in the media

part of the drama, the embassy was released. FOURTH ESTATE persuaded Indian nationals The fundamental premise of heading businesses in Nepal to these press releases is flawed. The C K Lal throttle the advertisement Indian joint ventures are legal pipeline of Kantipur entities in Nepal. They are Publications. When this failed to expected to approach law he influence of the Indian have the desired effect, non-tariff enforcement agencies if they have Embassy in the internal barriers to trade were used to any complaints. The law does not T affairs of Nepal has always starve the publishing house of offer them any special privileges been felt. Now it can be heard and newsprint supply. just because they are Indian. They seen as well. Clearly, Lainchaur The third episode began with have crossed the limits of does not believe in diplomatic niceties in exercising political control in a notionally It’s not the Indian Embassy’s independent nation. The pressure exerted on the job to impose a code of ethics foreign ministry by the Indian on Nepali journalism diplomatic mission led to delay of the the Machine Readable Passport (MRP) deal. Though the a terse embassy press release on decency by approaching a foreign was clearly a case of too little, too It is not the responsibility of printing contract was initially 27 August charging the Nepali embassy for what was essentially late. the Indian Embassy in awarded to a company owned by media with using slanderous a difference of opinion or dispute Diplomats need to realise that Kathmandu to foist a code of the Government of India, the coverage to elicit commercial between some Nepali advertisers Nepal-India ties are fraught with ethics on Nepali journalists. But subsequent fiasco finally ended advantage. The statement was not and the national media. potential misunderstanding. the Press Council is embroiled in with the cancellation of that only undiplomatic and Indeed, when approached India may not be the superpower a controversy with the Ministry contract. politically incorrect, but also with such grievances, the it aspires to be yet, but it is a of Communication, and is The verity of the accusations insulting. Paid news is not embassy should have giant that India-locked Nepal can dysfunctional at present. Various that former lawmaker Ram Kumar unknown to the Indian media; recommended that the offended ill afford to ignore. This other media forums probably Sharma levelled against an theTimes of India sells its party either register complaints helplessness in the face of India’s realise that whatever is being Indian embassy official has not loyalty openly to the highest with the Press Council, the might has rankled every ruler in reported about certain Indian- been established. But the bidders through what it calls police, or the courts. The Nepal Kathmandu from the time of owned joint ventures may not be perception is that Sharma may ‘private treaties’. Prominent India Chamber of Commerce and Chandra Shamsher. Indian above board. But meddlesome well have been threatened as media organisations were Industry (NICCI) could also have officialdom hasn’t yet realised statements from the Indian alleged. justified in demanding an been asked to intervene. The that with great power comes great mission have made their task, Now the tussle between apology from the Indian mission, NICCI did place a notice in responsibility, and playing upon of monitoring the activities of Kantipur Group and Lainchaur particularly after a second and newspapers calling for restraint the vulnerability of Nepalis is their colleagues, almost has just got dirtier. In the first even more belligerent statement on all sides on Wednesday, but it counterproductive. impossible. 4|TRANSPORT 3 - 9 SEPTEMBER 2010 #518

Hotel Echo’s last minutes “I don’t want

DAMBAR KRISHNA SHRESTHA

ne week after the crash of the Agni Air Dornier, investigators finally located on Tuesday evening O the Flight Data Recorder (black box) of the The latest airliner Kathmandu-Lukla flight. Once it is decoded in India, the mystery of exactly what caused the twin turboprop to crash in Nepal has nosedive into the ground will become clearer. Eleven underlined the danger passengers and three crew members died in the crash as the plane was trying to return to Kathmandu because of bad of monsoon flying in weather and equipment malfunction. From interviews with pilots and air traffic controllers, Nepali Times has pieced the Himalaya. together the last 26 minutes of ‘Hotel Echo’ (9N-AHE) on 24 August. Nepali Times gathered 0700: Word came that Lukla had good visibility for the a panel of experts on first time in more than a week. Domestic airlines scrambled to get their planes in the air. There was a huge backlog of Monday to discuss passengers and cargo at both Kathmandu and Lukla as the Khumbu geared up for the autumn trekking season. Nepal’s appalling 0704: Although Kathmandu had heavy rain and poor visibility, Hotel Echo got clearance. Capt Lucky Shah, a aviation safety record, veteran pilot with nearly 30 years of flying experience in and to suggest Nepal and India, and co-pilot Sophia Singh, who had logged nearly 920 hours on Dorniers, were in the cockpit. Hotel remedial measures. Echo was first off the domestic apron with a Buddha Air Beech 1900D taxiing out for a Mt Everest sightseeing flight. 0710: After takeoff, the plane cancelled its standard instrument ‘Igris-1 Alpha’ departure, involving a climbing Participants: circle overhead, then headed north east. Capt PJ Shah: has been flying in Nepal since the age of the 0718: Hotel Echo was 35 miles out, approaching DC-3s and spent 40 years as a senior captain with Royal Hemant Arjyal: Statistically, if you look at Ramechhap, when it decided to turn back because of reports Nepal Airlines and then Emirates. His nephew, Capt Lucky the record since the first crash in the 1950s, you that clouds were closing in on Lukla. It is not known whether Shah, was commanding the Agni Air flight that crashed on see that most accidents happened in the monsoon the pilot had already detected problems in the cockpit. Monday. and most of them have been classified as Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT), which Hemant Arjyal: engineer, aviation analyst and a member of means a perfectly good plane in full control of the the Nepal National Aviation Council. pilot hits a mountain in cloud. Therefore, human factors are involved. It could be that there is Dorji Tsering Sherpa: airline entrepreneur who was with complacency about the dangers of mountain- Yeti Airlines, Lumbini Airways and Skyline, and now Air flying in the monsoon season, over-confidence, Kasthamandap. His daughter, Sarah Sherpa, was on her first and pressure on pilots to fly in bad weather from flight as an Agni Air flight attendant when she was killed in passengers or the company. Monday’s accident. PJ Shah: The preliminary indications are that the Agni Air crash was not a CFIT, as the Binod Kumar Gautam: Deputy Director at the Civil Aviation nature of the impact suggests the pilot was not in Authority of Nepal (CAAN). control of the aircraft. The crash should be a warning, but we seem not to have learnt from Sanjiv Gautam: Head of Air Traffic Control Division, CAAN. previous crashes. We need a complete structural 0720: Hotel Echo acknowledged instructions to maintain an altitude of 12,000 ft and follow a 20-mile arc to the south to make an instrument approach to Kathmandu. A few minutes Seven of the cycles were from Pepsi and three later, the captain indicated generator malfunction but did not Legally free were from KFC. declare an emergency. 0722: Capt Lucky was in touch with the crew of another The songs from 1974 AD’s new album Aath Athara Lukla-bound Agni crew on the ground in Kathmandu (9N- can be downloaded for free from www.cellroti.com. Stepping up AIE), and said he was trying to switch to the backup The concept of free licensed downloads is being generator, but was having difficulty. He then said he was tried out for the first time in the Nepali music CG Impex, the sole authorised trying to ‘recycle’ the battery pack. Generators supply power industry, and is being supported by Cellroti and distributor of LG Mobiles for Nepal, to cockpit instruments, and without it most avionics shut Ncell. plans to introduce more than 10 down and the pilot is flying without direction or distance- premium models of LG handsets. measuring equipment. New branch According to first quarter 2010 0725: Capt Lucky said he could see the terrain and would statistics from research firm Gartner, LG is now shoot for a ‘visual approach’ to Kathmandu. The alternate Bank of Kathmandu opened its 37th branch in the third highest seller of mobile handsets in the airport at Simara was closed due to bad weather. That was Narayangadh. The newly opened branch will world. the last contact from Hotel Echo, and the plane dropped off provide services to Sauraha and Mugling of the radar. Chitwan and also the area extending from 0736: At the plane’s estimated time of arrival in Gaindakot to Pragatinagar of Nawalparasi district. Going online Kathmandu, the radio remained quiet and there was no sign On its 13th anniversary, Nawakantipur MP of the plane. Cooperative Society introduced internet banking. The crash crater at Shikharpur at 1,700ft altitude is 10m Chery queen Its clients can now log on to wide and 5m deep. It is clear the plane hit the ground at a Miss Nepal www.nawakantipur.com to check their account steep, if not vertical, angle. The impact probably happened 2010 Sadichha transactions, interest and tax details and also around 0726, a couple of minutes after the last communication Shrestha order chequebooks. and just two miles short of the right turn Capt Lucky was received a supposed to make to intercept the approach to runway 02 in Chery QQ3 as Kathmandu. a gift from Upgraded Alba Why did the plane spin out of control? Was the crew Bama Motors. Morang Auto works, the disoriented in whiteout conditions over rugged terrain? Did The car was sole distributor of Yamaha the engine flameout due to heavy rain? Was the pilot trying handed over to her after the announcement of the bikes for Nepal, launched to break through cloud to remain visual and couldn’t pull winners at the pageant. out? Was there fuel adulteration? Alba YBR 110, an upgraded Only the contents of the black box can now tell us more, model of Alba. Buyers and perhaps offer lessons for the future about aircraft Cycling cops receive a Rs 5,000 discount for cash or through maintenance, rules for bad weather flight, and weak finance purchase for a limited period. Alba Varun Beverages Nepal and Devyani International regulatory oversight. YBR 110 is available in red, black and a combo handed over 10 bicycles to the Nepal Police. of both colours. 3 - 9 SEPTEMBER 2010 #518 TRANSPORT|5 any more Sarahs to die”

Dorji Tsering Sherpa: I agree, passenger safety has about search and rescue coordination. It was chaos at the to be the ultimate goal. Even after this accident there will airport on Monday morning. be a committee, there will be a report and no one will Sanjiv Gautam: We have a search and rescue unit as really know what happened or whether remedial per ICAO requirements, it comes into operation only when measures were taken. I have been involved in the search something happens. It involves the army, police and civil and rescue of previous crashes. In two of them, planes police. What we need is more communication equipment, crashed into mountains during the monsoon, but crew maps, charts, procedures, an MoU with the army in a conflict was a factor. You have to respect the monsoon; permanent centre at TIA. If most accidents happen in the maybe there should be a moratorium on flying to certain monsoon, we need rules on visibility, established norms airports in the monsoon. for monsoon flying, and better coordination among pilots, PJ Shah: You can’t change the weather. I don’t Air Traffic Control and airlines. There has to be a balance think you can stop flying in the monsoon; there are between service and safety: if we insist on safety alone, the periods even in August when the weather is good. Nepal airlines will go bankrupt. is a very difficult place to fly, but there have to be Binod Kumar Gautam: They say the history of methods and proper procedures. We should also aviation is written in blood, and in Nepal we have to discourage fusion between the regulators and the address the human factor since this is the cause in most operators. They should be separate, otherwise crashes. Pilots go through three phases: first they feel maintenance standards will be compromised. invincible, then with experience they think they know Dorji Tsering Sherpa: The nature of Nepal’s everything and in the third phase they think "it will domestic airline business and tariffs is such that it is happen to someone else, not me". Cockpit dynamics and very difficult with current CAAN rules for an investor to bureaucratic and peer pressure to fly in bad weather are sustain a fleet of multi-engine aircraft. Which is why I important issues. We have a confidential reporting system have always been a proponent of single-engine equipment now that has already yielded results.

DAMBER KRISHNA SHRESTHA for remote airports: they are easier and cheaper to Sanjiv Gautam: Accidents happen and we try to maintain and operate. The other aspect is that even a look for someone to blame. But the cause is always a small airline with only one aircraft is required to combination of factors. There is always risk, the question overhaul of the civil aviation regulatory environment. maintain an engineering department, whereas operators is can we keep the risk at a tolerable level, minimise it, and Dorji Tsering Sherpa: I feel like I have come full with the same aircraft should be able to pool maintenance examine and eliminate the potential contributing factors? circle in the airline business with the death of my and crew. But CAAN has no such mechanism. PJ Shah: If most accidents are human error, we have daughter. Earlier, I had lost relatives in the Thai Airbus Binod Kumar Gautam: I think we are a long way to address the what, when, where, how and why, and plan crash in 1992. Capt Lucky was one of the most from pooling engineering departments. Two airlines with accordingly. experienced pilots around, a very safety-conscious the same Jetstream or Beechcraft equipment don’t even Binod Kumar Gautam: Our main constraints at commander. I went to the airport on Monday morning help each other out with engine or landing gear spares. CAAN are insufficient technical manpower for and asked why the Lukla flights were allowed to take off PJ Shah: There is no point imposing more rules, we maintenance inspections and remuneration of staff. We in such bad weather. It seems there was competition have the world’s best regulations, but let’s face it, there is follow ICAO procedures, but just because an aircraft has among the private operators to lift out the tourists a problem with implementing them. There is a ‘who passed our certification doesn’t absolve the operator from stranded in Lukla. Someone has to say enough is cares’ attitude among airline staff. There is a culture to responsibility. Financial regulations for the import of enough. I don’t want any more Sarahs to die. compromise by cutting corners on safety matters. spares also need to be revamped. You have to wait three PJ Shah: There are four components to the airline Hemant Arjyal: If there is a crash every monsoon, days to open a Letter of Credit (LC) for an urgently needed business. The manufacturer, the operators, the regulator, you have to plan accordingly, and learn from the previous spare part. How do you keep the plane flying in that time? and the travelling public. Safety has to be the primary years. When can Air Traffic Control clear a plane for Dorji Tsering Sherpa: The hassles in getting concern for all four, and the emphasis must shift to the takeoff, what is the trend at the destination airport? We permits and LCs for spares need to be removed. Also, the passengers, without whom there would be no airline have to maintain minimum equipment and provide for process for visas and work permits for expat personnel business. Unfortunately, in our country the most air crew training. If there is a pattern of crashes and we need to be streamlined. Over-regulation is no regulation. valuable sector, the passengers, are not treated well. Only know the causes, we have to be prepared. Hemant Arjyal: Safety has to be a culture, not a VVIPs are given importance. Dorji Tsering Sherpa: CAAN has to do something requirement. But this can’t happen overnight. If the cap fits

year of Nepal Bank Ltd) is that supply and high-demand competitive industry, is now neither the intelligence nor the STRICTLY BUSINESS three out of every four Nepalis are situation, those bankers and their trying to burst it in a ham-fisted diligence to be as good as or better yet to be served today, surely erstwhile juniors, all now deemed manner. Surely, the central bank than them. That is simply Ashutosh Tiwari banking is one service industry to be top management candidates, knows that bankers are smart shorthand for keeping the that cannot continue to afford to have been free to drive hard enough to figure out ways around clubhouse the way it is. wo weeks ago, this column wrap itself in a mantle of inward- bargains for high salaries for any salary cap? It is this sort of insular, argued that the central looking inscrutability and high themselves and their teams. One issue that does not get arrogant bubble that the central T bank had no business priesthood into which others are And third, with salaries discussed is that commercial bank needs to burst first by capping the salaries and benefits not allowed. inevitably shooting to banking, at its core, is not rocket letting boards consider hiring of CEOs of private commercial Four years ago, the central CEOs from outside the industry banks. Today, it will explain bank promulgated rules that and from outside of Nepal. That what Nepal Rastra Bank can do to basically said one could not be a Rather than clumsy caps freedom to expand the talent pool use market forces to influence the bank’s CEO without a minimum alone will start exerting a size of CEO salaries. of five years of experience in the on CEO pay, the central downward pressure on CEO Specifically, the central bank finance sector. On the face of it, salaries as more and more should take a broad view of the this sounds like a sensible bank should let market candidates, from various talent pool that is potentially provision. But over the years, industries, start competing for available to run the growing with the rise in the number of forces do the job top jobs. number of Nepali commercial banks and a corresponding In the process, who knows, banks. This means being open to shortage of competent manpower, eye-popping levels, the central science. After all, how many years many more banks may discover bank boards hiring competent this provision has had three bank, citing equity concerns, is of plain-vanilla Nepali banking undervalued ‘human stock’, CEOs from outside Nepal as well unintended consequences. now belatedly trying to cap them. experiences do you really need to which, once hired and given top as from outside the incestuous First, it has forced bank Summing up, what we have is be able to collect deposits at x per responsibilities, may end up milieu of the Nepali commercial boards to recruit their CEOs and a situation in which the central cent interest rate and lend them outperforming even the most banking sector. top managers from a very narrow bank, having unwittingly helped out at a higher rate? experienced names, especially Doing so has become a matter talent pool. To a degree, this to create a ‘bank CEO bubble’ But talk to some bankers, and when it comes to addressing the of urgency. If the collective explains the sort of bank-hopping through rules that promoted the you’d think that what they do is central bank’s central concern: achievement of the banking sector that we see among bankers today. sort of professionalism more something closer to quantum how to reach those with no access in 73 years (from the founding Second, enjoying a low- suited to a clubhouse than a physics, and that outsiders have to banking services. LIFE TIMES 3 - 9 SEPTEMBER 2010 #518 6

locations in surrounding districts, and is also a teaching hospital for the students of Kathmandu University Medical School. “Everyone should have access to quality healthcare whether or not they can afford it,” says Dr Ram Kantha Shrestha, the hospital’s founder. “Just because it is a hospital for the poor doesn’t mean it should be badly maintained, or that we should compromise on the quality of P PARASH SHRESTHA services.” The success of this model is apparent, for there are 200 community hospitals in Nepal now. Water management in Dhulikhel is also an exemplar of Model how users can manage utilities. While most towns in Nepal reel under water shortages, 80 per cent of Dhulikhel’s population is supplied with Dhulikhel purified drinking water from a source 14km away. The Dhulikhel Drinking Water Users If towns across Nepal learnt Committee, which is the only urban water supply system from the example of Dhulikhel, managed by users in Nepal, also urban living would actually ensures that revenue is used to expand its services. The project mean better living was constructed with the aid of GTZ, donations from locals, and RUBEENA MAHATO people to lead these projects,” for road, electricity and water schools. Upon the three-year municipal funds. in DHULIKHEL says Bel Prasad Shrestha, the within three years. Although the project’s completion, the SLC There was a time, back in the former mayor of Dhulikhel. municipality had an annual pass rate of Dhulikhel jumped 1980s, when the decision to Today, Dhulikhel is home to budget of only Rs 2 million, from 26 to 73 per cent. elevate Dhulikhel to the status ne need not go far to see the country’s finest university, a Shrestha, who was mayor then, Dhulikhel is also home to of a municipality provoked such how local participation state-of-the-art community motivated local businessmen the country’s first community outrage in neighbouring Banepa O and able leadership can hospital, and a consumer- to chip in with some land hospital. Established in 1996, that it blockaded the up and do wonders. In just a few years, managed drinking water system, and money. Dhulikhel Hospital is one of the coming town. Today, Dhulikhel the scenic town of Dhulikhel has all built through initiatives from The university, completed in best equipped in the country, Municipality has proved wholly become a health, education and the local community. 1991, has become an integral part but that hasn’t stopped it from deserving of the designation. It tourism centre befitting its status The founders of Kathmandu of the local economy today. It being accessible to the poor. It has been estimated that Nepal’s as the district headquarters of University had failed to find a employs many locals and many provides quality health services urban population, at 10 per cent Kavrepalanchok. location until they were invited students from Banepa and at one of the cheapest rates in in 1991, will reach 32 per cent “We had a clear vision on how to Dhulikhel to build the Dhulikhel study there. After the Nepal and is the only one to by 2027. If towns across the to develop Dhulikhel. We wanted campus. The municipality university was completed, a treat patients before charging country – and indeed the capital basic infrastructure like water, quickly recognised its potential Quality Education project was them, though most patients are – can draw on the lessons of health and educational facilities and agreed to donate 200 ropanies initiated in 1997 to upgrade the treated for free. The hospital Dhulikhel, they will secure their in place, and we wanted the of land, and make arrangements educational standards of local runs outreach centres at 17 future for themselves. Mountains and more After a brief hiatus during the war, tourism is booming itself. The cobbled streets of Dhulikhel are lined with in Dhulikhel. Tourists throng its hotels for mountain Newari-style houses, some of which are more than a vistas that are among the best in the world. Twenty hundred years old. At 1,500 metres above sea level, mountain peaks from Annapurna in the west to the climate is pleasantly cool and the lush green Karolung in the east grace the spectacular skyline hills make for pleasant walks and great mountain of Dhulikhel. A breathtaking mountain sunrise biking trails. can be viewed from the Kali Temple, southeast of In the past few years, Dhulikhel has also the town. developed as a centre for conference tourism. “Hotels Short hikes can be taken from Dhulikhel to in Dhulikhel always have one conference or meeting Namobuddha, Panauti, Nagarkot, Sankhu and taking place at all times,” says former mayor Bel Palanchowk Bhagwati. Most hotels also provide Prasad Shrestha, who is also the owner of Hotel excursions to Tatopani and rafting trips on the Himalayan Horizon and Dhulikhel Lodge. Mid to high- Bhotekoshi. end accommodation is available in the 24 hotels in The old town of Dhulikhel is a visual treat in Dhulikhel. PARASH SHRESTHA Leading the charge

Everyone in Dhulikhel would agree that the changes in town would not have been possible without the charismatic leadership of Bel Prasad Shrestha (pic, NEIL DIXIT left). The three-time mayor of Dhulikhel was the first in town to open a lodge for tourists and the first to build a public toilet. His success in bringing water to the town made him highly popular and the people showed their support by electing him for three consecutive terms. Bel Prasad, however, thinks otherwise. “Dhulikhel has succeeded where other places have failed because everything that we did here was a people’s project. If we had waited for the government, Dhulikhel would still be the same nondescript town it was along the Arniko highway.” The sense of community is strong in this Newari town. Many of its people have gone as far as Sikkim and Assam to do business, but value their roots in Dhulikhel. Schools, temples and roads have been built with their remittances. Dr Ram Kantha Shrestha (pic, right), for instance, left his well-paying job in Austria to open a hospital for the poor back home. Having started with no more than two doctors and four rooms, Dhulikhel Hospital has already served 2.6 million people and conducts 10,000 surgeries and 500,000 treatments a year.

SAILENDRA KHAREL The road to progress

Banepa Bardibas highway, which is nearing completion, will open up a range of possibilities for Dhulikhel. Once the highway is completed, Dhulikhel will be the main entry point to eastern Nepal, and may soon develop into an economic hub. The Suryabinayak-Tinkune highway will mean that Dhulikhel will be accessible from the centre of Kathmandu in 45 minutes. But does this mean that this model town will fall prey to unplanned urbanisation? “It does not have to be that way,” says the Chief of the Planning Section in Dhulikhel Municipality, Jaisi Mandal. He says tourism will remain their main priority and the current policy of banning industries that pollute the town will continue even after the roads are opened. As a centre for tourism, Dhulikhel has always understood the importance of maintaining a clean environment. The municipality disposes of solid waste in a dumping site after separating recyclable waste, and sewage is treated in a reed bed treatment plant before it flows back into the rivers. These practices are adequate for a population of 15,000 but some fear that the pressure will be too high once the town starts growing. “Efforts are already underway to prepare Dhulikhel for the population rise that will accompany the completion of the roads,” says Prakash Aryal, Project Manager of the Urban Environmental Improvement Project. A land pooling project will build a planned settlement for more than 5,000 people. Former mayor Bel Prasad Shrestha believes that there is no alternative to expanding the town. “A greater municipality should be formed by merging Panauti, Banepa, Dhulikhel and the surrounding villages. The municipality should then be developed in a planned way with separate sections for residential, tourism and industrial purposes. Let that be a model for planned development in Nepal,” he says. 8|LIFE TIMES 3 - 9 SEPTEMBER 2010 #518 World-class debut onfession, first off. Even before inspired, clean-toned, jazz-rock riffs, modern jazz fusion is the uncontrived, laying my hands on Kalakarmi, alternately elongated and shredded to organic nature of the compositions, I’d declared on numerous perfection, are spread over nine instrumental which are laced through with mostly C occasions that Hari Maharjan is tracks that reward repeated listening. subtle references to Nepali musical ‘the best guitarist in Nepal’. So even if a The most accessible tracks on Kalakarmi cultures. The beautiful melody in whole succession of Thamel music shops are already a staple of HMP’s live Raktika, for instance, brings one in mind seemed bemused by my request for the performances. Never gonna drink and drive of a nursery rhyme – or is it a Newari Hari Maharjan Project’s debut album (“Ko? again and Soul in you are simply tune? Naamai sunyaa chaina...”), I expected phenomenal world-class tunes. Both boast Kalakarmi is an unabashedly serious much. amazing, complex sets of crunchy, funky debut. It won’t gain HMP the flag-waving I wasn’t disappointed. And you don’t riffs, and you may well find yourself devotion his former bandmates in have to be a bedroom guitarist to lock into humming the unorthodox melodies the day Nepathya enjoy, not least because it’s Kalakarmi, either. Along with Rizu Album: Kalakarmi after. Bass and percussion are in perfect sync wholly instrumental and, well, jazz. If Tuladhar (bass), Daniel Rasaily (drums/ Artist: Hari Maharjan Project here, with Hari surfing the beats. But it’s you like a rousing chorus, Kalakarmi percussion) and Nawaraj Gurung (tabla), Distributor: Music Nepal not all spacey, funky jazz. There are Shakti- might seem like an exercise in guitar Hari has created a sound that fuses and Price: Rs 300 esque moments in both Big Brother and the noodling. But the very fact that it’s transcends the genres he draws on, and title track Kalakarmi, and the galloping accessible to non-Nepali speakers sparks promises to grant him international Chyante Ghoda evokes Mustang in more hope that with robust marketing and critical acclaim, if not fame and fortune. listening to Kalakarmi they may also miss ways than one. further experimentation with other Those accustomed to Hari’s the visibly dynamic synergy of Rizu and Throughout, while remaining essentially sounds and artists across Nepal, HMP pyrotechnics on the electric guitar at live Daniel, an essential component of the trio a jazz album, Kalakarmi showcases HMP’s may well become the first Nepali band to venues across town may have expected that plays live on Hari Maharjan Project fluency in rock, blues and funk. What sets truly represent us on the global stage. more obvious fireworks, and simply (HMP). But they are missing the point. Hari’s their debut apart from a host of high-minded Rabi Thapa

House of Music, Karaoke night every garden setting characterise this café, EVENTS Tuesday and in-house band jam session popular among tourists and locals alike. every Saturday. 2pm to 12pm, Thamel, Naxal, 4424303 9849243807 Ebisu Jewellery Exhibition & Sale 2010, Bronco Billy, a new restaurant in town exquisite jewellery for the festive season. offering Tex-Mex and Indian dishes. They Till Sunday 5 September, 11am to 7pm, DINING make their own corn tortillas, which gets a Ebisu Jewellers, Darbar Marg, 4222815 big thumbs-up. Pulchok opposite Namaste The Oriental Tearoom at Pipalbot, try their Supermarket Home and Decor Expo 2010, homemaker’s sake-cured salmon for lunch and twice- paradise, everything you need for your cooked caramelised pork belly for dinner. Ghangri Café, a quiet place with beautiful home. From Friday 3 September Wednesday to Monday for lunch, and comfortable sofas and a lovely courtyard, to 5 September, 11am to 6pm, Bhrikuti Thursday to Saturday for dinner, Babar perfect for those sunny afternoons. Mandap, Exhibition Road Mahal Revisited, 4267657, bookings Although famous for their open sui mai, preferred they offer a few other great dishes as well. Midas CAN SofTech 2010, for software Pulchok (near the Suzuki showroom), solutions and services. Till Saturday 4 Jazoo, a quiet place ideal for beer and 11am-10pm except Tuesdays. September, UWTC, Tripureswor relaxing conversation. Bring a friend and enjoy their special barbeque set for a mix of New Orleans, offers a wide variety of Docskool, screening of Frida, starring everything, Jawalakhel (near the zoo), western dishes that are scrumptious yet Salma Hayek. Friday 3 September, 3.30pm, 5538321 healthy. Jhamel, 5522708. Kathmandu Academy, Mahendra Bhawan, Naxal, 4471104 OR2K, One of the few vegetarian restaurants in the Valley, their Middle Eastern platter is delicious and their cocktails robust. Mandala Street, Thamel, MUSIC 4422097

Sunday Jazz Brunch, enjoy a relaxing Organic Café and Salad Bar, hearty Sunday in The Terrace at Hyatt Regency breakfasts and healthy salads while you with barbeque and live jazz music by ‘Inner catch up with your reading or emails in the Tarabaji Lai Lai, play directed by Morten Groove’. Every Sunday from 12pm to heart of Thamel. Chakshibari Road, Thamel Krogh and enacted by Gurukul artists. Till 3.30pm, Hyatt Regency, Boudha, 4491234/ 4215726 5 September, 5.30pm, Sama Theatre, 4489362 Gurukul, Purano Baneshwor, 4466956 Roadhouse Café, serves pizzas cooked to Treasure at the Pub, live performances by perfection in wood-fired ovens. Health- Gaijatra, solo painting exhibition by The Treasure Band. Every Friday, 8pm, The Factory, a trendy restobar for a conscious diners have an alternative in the acclaimed artist Ragini Upadhya Grela. Irish Pub, Ananda Bhawan, Lazimpat refreshing stopover in the chaos that is Caesar salad, garnished with the freshest Till 20 September, Siddhartha Art Gallery, Thamel. Great food and drinks, with zesty of ingredients. Jhamel, 5521755 4218048 music. Don’t miss out on their cheesecake, it’s a must. Mandala Street, Thamel Le Bistro Restaurant & Bar, the outdoor Repeating Bodies Structural Space, dining area invokes a great atmosphere for exhibition of paintings by Sanjeev Hadock, big compound with ample parking a night of drinks with friends and family. Maharjan and Sunita Maharjan. Till 20 space, their Western and Thakali dishes Thamel, 4701170 September, 11am to 5pm, Kathmandu are done to perfection. Jhamel, 10am-10am, Contemporary Arts Centre, Jhamsikhel, 5546431 Yin &Yang Restaurant, east meets west as Lalitpur, 5521120 you choose from a variety of Thai and Dhokaima Cafe has a new menu, try the continental dishes. Get a little spice in your KCAC Art Criticism Series II, 'Reflections Blackened Norwegian Salmon and Grilled life with their pad thai or green curry. If you - Should Contemporary Nepali Art be Shrimp Ajillo. Patan Dhoka, 5522113 can’t handle the heat, fall into the safety net imbued with, or reflect an innate of their western dishes. Thamel, 10am- Nepaliness or Nepali Punn? ', criticism Saturday @ Hyatt, take a refreshing dip in 10pm, 4701510 and debate on the works of artists Sanjeev the pool and sample the delicious barbeque and Sunita Maharjan. Sunday 5 in open air. Every Saturday from 12.30pm Himalayan Java, one of September, 4.30pm, KCAC, Jhamsikhel to 4pm at the poolside, Hyatt Regency, our favourite places for Boudha, 4491234 coffee, just got bigger, Lazimpat Gallery Cafe, screening of with a new branch Samson & Delilah. Friday 27 August , Lhasa Bar, enjoy a beer or a splash of deeper in the heart of 6.30pm, Lazimpat Gallery Cafe, Lazimpat cocktail at this springboard for excellent Thamel. Expect the young musicians starting out on the Thamel same excellent service Cycle 4: Selfie, photo exhibition by 17 Bottles and Chimney, live music by circuit. Thamel, 985101043 and quality food and young amateur photographers. Till 23 Nekhvam. Dharmendra Sewan unplugged drinks with a change of October, Galleria CUC, Momo Magic, every Wednesday and Friday. 7pm Mike’s Breakfast, huge breakfasts and a scenery. Food Bazaar, Pulchok onwards, Thamel, 2123135 never-ending supply of coffee amidst a lush Thamel. 3 - 9 SEPTEMBER 2010 #518|9 10|HAPPENINGS 3 - 9 SEPTEMBER 2010 #518 Solving mysterious fevers

DHANVANTARI Buddha Basnyat, MD

ysterious fevers are common in Nepal, M especially in the summer. Sherlock Holmes and Watson would have had a field day here, figuring out the causes of these NHUCHHE MAN DANGOL unknown fevers. But these outbreaks are in fact diseases such NEW QUEENS: Sadichha Shrestha was crowned Miss Nepal 2010 on as typhoid, typhus, and Wednesday, and Sahana Bajracharya and Sanyukta Timsina were leptospirosis, which are all named first and the second runner-up respectively. mistakenly thought to be common

fever. As our laboratory facilities RSS are too weak to make proper diagnoses, Nepal has become a site led to proper therapy – the right from rat urine in puddles of for case studies that have revealed drug for the right disease. It also water getting into abrasions in the lack of systematic curative proved that unknown causes of our skin – not impossible in practices here. fever can be determined only Nepal. An effective drug for both Almost a decade ago, about through systematic study. In typhus and leptospirosis is 900 fever patients were studied at medical parlance, this is known doxycycline. Patan Hospital. Many well-known as ‘differential diagnosis’. There are, of course, many conditions such as typhoid were Thanks to the research, typhus other infectious fevers in Nepal correctly identified. However, two and leptospirosis are now listed such as malaria, kalazar, diseases, typhus (not typhoid) as one of the main causes of fever tuberculosis, and now dengue, and leptospirosis were completely in Nepal. Typhus, which is a flea, but typhus and leptospirosis had overlooked by the physicians. louse, mite, or tick-borne illness, always been off the radar until Surprisingly, these turned out to can be acquired after being bitten the ground-breaking study at be the third and fourth most by any of these organisms. This Patan Hospital. A crucial lesson common proven causes of fever should not be mistaken for learnt from this study is the after the pneumonias. typhoid, which is caused by importance of investigative

This discovery has helped in contaminant bacteria in our food research in medicine – much like KIRAN PANDAY treating fever patients in Nepal or drinking water. Leptospirosis Holmes’ and Watson’s work in more effectively, for the results on the other hand, is acquired solving mysteries. MAKING WAVES: Caretaker PM Madhav Kumar Nepal visited the Spinal Injury Rehabilitation Centre in Sanga on Friday.

GREEN SCENE Collecting rain Valley, including the Summit Hotel, Rosebud School, and Fora Darbar. Their experience, along with formal training from the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training, means they have strong credibility in their field. According to Dangol, their BIKRAM RAI network of customers has BREAK DANCING: Participants perform at the Nepal B Boy materialised through word-of- Championship 2010 held at the Rastriya Nach Ghar on Sunday. The mouth and recommendations Everest All Stars A won the competition. from organisations such as the NGO Forum, ENPHO and WEPCO, which they used to work with. WEEKEND WEATHER “Our work is to just connect by NGAMINDRA DAHAL SHAHANI SINGH the pipes, install the tanks and After nearly a decade, this year’s monsoon has ensure the flow of water, so this brought persistent rains. Farmers of Dolakha, aju Dangol, Hem Narayan above ground. Excess water can does not incur a big expense,” Chitwan and Gorkha report they are happy with Shrestha and Gokul be channelled to recharge the explains Dangol. The team the rains and hope the groundwater in their charges 20 per cent of whatever fields will be recharged fully after decades. R Dangal could be the water table underground, staving Satellite pictures show a powerful low pressure Kathmandu Valley’s most off some of the hassle of the dry the equipment costs amount to. band sitting over the north Indian plains and invaluable trio this season, given season. While every site has different the central Himalaya, from where it is continuously drawing fresh clouds from both they are rainwater harvesting The scarcity of water at requirements in terms of tanks, arms of the monsoon. Western Nepal will get system technicians. The monsoon present and the prospect of its pipes, and the size of catchment heavy rains while the other parts of the country will see light but continuous rains. Expect still prevails and hundreds of depletion in the future are area, prices for household cloudy days and more rain throughout the households, old and new, could incentive enough to consider installation have ranged from weekend. make use of this basic technology installing a rainwater harvesting Rs 800 to Rs 100,000, whereas for saving water. The system is system. The rain in Kathmandu is prices for schools and hotels simple: rainwater collected in the minimally acidic and only needs have ranged from Rs 10,000 to KATHMANDU catchment area (usually the the usual filtering and boiling to Rs 200,000. This monsoon may balcony or the roof) is channelled render it drinkable. With the be almost over, but quick through a coarse mesh to prevent possibility of collecting plenty of service means you can already the passage of debris, and into a water with a single shower, a benefit from the bounty of the pipe used to sieve out the first rainwater harvesting system can heavens – now and forever. FRI SAT SUN flush of dirty water. The collected be a workable solution for both water is filtered through bio-sand households and institutions. Contact: tanks to rid the water of ammonia, The team of three has Raju Dangol (9841367690); Hem arsenic, iron, and dust, and finally installed systems for several Shrestha (9841534189); Gokul 6 6 6 conveyed to reservoirs under and hotels and schools across the Dangal (9841797404) 27-20 27-21 28-20 3 - 9 SEPTEMBER 2010 #518 SOCIETY|11 Singing of sorrow You wouldn’t go around proudly proclaiming you’re a POLITICALLY CRACKED racist. Then why do most people think it’s okay to Indu Nepal say they’re not feminists?

he get-together of female babies. There are crazies in every relatives before Tij is the field, but will you stop caring for T Nepali women’s version of the environment because of some football night for men. Except overzealous fruitarian eco- you don’t drag your inebriated warriors who want you to live in self home after the party and pass a yurt in the woods? out. You attend what has now If you question those who go become a month-long around proclaiming they are not estrogenfest, and recite the trials feminists and hate those that are, and tribulations of women’s lives they will usually say that they musically: the neglect by the have no problem if women want husband, the mistreatment by the to pursue their goals in life. But in-laws, and how they should to achieve the feminist utopia take up the only chance to dance where there is no discrimination because the rest of the year is, between the sexes requires a lot well, going to be shit. of people to change their Welcome to the life of a behaviour and outlook. Only 24 Nepali woman, where you dance per cent of men say they and sing your sorrows away. And recognise instances of sexual there is a long list of sorrows. The harassment at work. Others seem maternity death rate for Nepali to think that women actually women ranks among the highest enjoy being ogled. in the world. While the overall We have the advantage that literacy rate has gone up, the we do not live in a society where percentage of literate women still oppression is religiously or lags behind. Almost 83 per cent KIRAN PANDAY legally sanctioned. We can of households have no property openly talk, or sing, about our under women’s ownership. glass towers of urban areas, says every year; they are killed or part in either eliminating or grievances. That is the only first Women earn about three quarters the International Labour aborted because, author claims promoting it. During a light step. Eliminating discrimination of what men earn in both Organization. That means one out they are unwanted. Another 60 to conversation about women’s is actually a conscious proactive agricultural and non-agricultural of two women in your office been 100 million are ‘missing’ due to rights recetnly, a colleague pulled process. But you can start with sectors. physically or verbally harassed, trafficking and slavery. Being a a disgusted face and said, “I hate this: next time you say you are Those who seek economic eyed by sleazy men, or shown woman is tough all over the feminists.” Feminism is a dirty not a feminist, ask yourself if independence in spite of these pornographic images. world. In Nepal, you get to sing word. Those of us who risk being you would proudly go around inherent disadvantages face Consider all of this part and about it. hated by colleagues because we saying you are a racist. Because further harassment in the parcel of what Nicholas Kristof Among the educated urban want equal rights and freedom for saying you don’t support workplace. Forget the backwaters, and Sheryl WuDunn mass, the troubling aspect of this women have to qualify it by equality between the sexes is where uneducated men and call the “greatest moral outrage of phenomenon is the failure to saying we don’t want to throw exactly the same as saying you women toil in the fields: around our century” in their new book recognise discrimination when it men off the cliff before extracting don’t support equal rights for 50 per cent of women are victims Half the Sky. Discrimination has happens, and the refusal to their semen so that we can everyone because of their racial of sexual harassment in the shiny led to two million girls being lost acknowledge that they can have a populate the world with test-tube background. 12|NATION 3 - 9 SEPTEMBER 2010 #518 Crackdown riles ISPs he cabinet’s new Central Bureau of international human rights instruments Investigation (CBI), set up last to which Nepal is a signatory.” New police unit designed to combat T month, has already come under fire Kharel, who specialises in organised crime wants internet controls for being overzealous, and violating telecommunications, says if the constitutionally guaranteed privacy laws in government is serious about going after going after Internet Service Providers (ISPs). those misusing Voice over Internet The new ‘FBI-style’ unit was set up by Protocol (VOIP), it should investigate the the government two weeks ago in response real culprits and not those who are simply to a nationwide rise in abductions, financial selling the connection. scams, cyber-crime and call-bypass Following the NTA directives to the syndicates. The high-powered and well- letter would effectively shut down resourced force works under the direct YouTube, Facebook, popular Nepali control of the chief of police and is designed portals like cybersansar.com, to act immediately to counter organised mysansar.com, and even nepalitimes.com, crime. because some of the comments in the However, by targeting Nepal’s ISPs, the feedback section could be construed to be CBI has stirred a hornet’s nest among IT objectionable. companies, constitutional lawyers and Minister of Information and consumer advocacy groups, who say the unit Communication, Shankar Pokharel, said is overstepping its bounds. the government was losing billions in Sirish Karmacharya of the internet international call-bypass and was forced provider Namche was arrested this week and to act against operators with VOIP. “The jailed for having provided bandwidth to state needs information on who is using customers who were allegedly using it to excessive bandwidth at all times of the bypass calls. Nepal Telecommunication day, without this data it is difficult to Authority (NTA) sent a letter this week to catch the culprits,” Pokharel told Nepali ISPs, warning of stiff punishment if they Times. “All we are asking is for the ISPs to didn’t fulfill conditions for operation that pass on this information.” HORROR: NTA sent a letter this week to ISPs, warning of stiff punishment if they didn’t fulfill include filtering pornographic and ‘horror’ The police say they have been conditions for operation that include filtering content. NTA wants material that ‘incites handicapped by their inability to access pornographic and ‘horror’ content. racial and religious hatred’ and is against mobile phone and internet usage data in the ‘national interest’ filtered. going after criminals. DIG Arjun Singh “The conditions are too broad and ISPs Bhandari says, “Our main concern is to can’t be held responsible for what the ban VOIP calls as it becomes difficult to Internet shutdown? subscribers use the internet for, it’s their trace criminal activities, and organised private business,” explains Binay Bohara of crimes have been carried out using VOIP. Internet Service Providers (ISPs), who met the home and information ministers Thursday morning, said both blamed them for complicity in the call-bypass scam. ISPs say they can’t run a business the ISP Association. “In any case, filtering We have requested ISPs to help us in our with the threat of arrest at any time and may collectively return their licenses. This would content is very expensive, cumbersome and investigation.” potentially paralyse internet services in Nepal. difficult.” But Karmacharya’s arrest and the fact ISPs say the new law holds them liable if an illegal VOIP operator is using its bandwidth Constitutional lawyer Satish Kharel goes that he has been presumed guilty until without the knowledge of the service provider. Said one ISP owner: “The police want us to tell them a step further and says NTA’s conditions proven innocent has sent shockwaves about excessive use, but what is excessive use? Who defines it? There are hundreds of legitimate individuals and businesses who use more than 1MB, do we report all of them?” for use also violate the constitutionally through the ISP community, and lawyers Nepal’s 49 ISPs have already blocked scores of pornographic sites under instruction from the guaranteed right to privacy. “Only are aghast at the lack of due process in the police in the past month, and they say they can block other sites as well. But they can’t be filtering parliament can pass laws restricting case. This has led to suspicion that the everything because it is impossible, especially since the definition of what is deemed ‘anti-national’ fundamental freedoms, it can’t be done by police are themselves involved in extorting and ‘inciting racial hatred’ is so broad. NTA or the police,” Kharel says. “This is an ISPs. “It now seems to be our turn to be Says the ISP Association’s Binay Bohara: “If they tell us what to block we will block, but we infringement of the constitution and also milked,” said one cyber café owner in can’t accept this blanket blame.” goes against the right to privacy under Thamel.

THIS WEEK

MP jailed The Special Court on Tuesday remanded Dol Bahadur Karki, a UML CA member, to 20 days of judicial custody. He has been charged with accepting bribes from 12 people in exchange for arranging for recruitment into the police force. A CIAA team arrested him on Monday evening, allegedly while he was in the process of accepting a surety of Rs 100,000 from an individual to whom he had promised help in getting through the exams required to be appointed as a police officer. Unlocking the mystery The black box of the Dornier 228 belonging to Agni Air has been found a week after its crash on Tuesday. The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) of the plane were recovered from the impact ditch created when the aircraft dived into the ground. Rescue workers used an excavator to look for the black box, which was buried 15ft below the surface. Where have they gone? Human rights organisations, civil society members and victims’ families remembered those disappeared during the decade-long insurgency on the International Day of the Disappeared on Tuesday, with a lamp-lighting ceremony at Basantapur. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal urged the government to swiftly implement the Supreme Court decision of 2007 that requires the state to criminalise forced disappearances. Rights bodies emphasised the need to form commissions on forced disappearances, truth finding and reconciliation. A bill has been prepared and tabled to this effect, but lack of interest from the political parties has stalled the process. 3 - 9 SEPTEMBER 2010 #518 LABOUR|13 Trafficking labour

JB PUN MAGAR & chief advisor to NRN Libya, as BABURAM BISWOKARMA well as the coordinator of the in HONG KONG Myagdi Overseas Nepalese Association (MONA). Pun and Tikadevi Gurung each own shares “Tej Prakash Pun is my relative,” worth HK$50,000 in Gurkha points out Dolendra Bahadur Construction Ltd. Dhawalagiri Khatri, 30. But this didn’t save International Manpower has a him from being trafficked first to principal capital of Rs 4 million Macau, then to China, and and current capital of eventually to Libya, from where Rs 3 million. he had to be rescued and brought The government has now back to Nepal (see box). banned Nepali labourers from The 108 Nepalis who were going to Libya. But Pun and rescued from Libya recently are Gurung are just one of many victims of an international involved in trafficking Nepalis trafficking ring run by Pun (pic, around the world. Indeed, Nepal right), aided by his wife Tikadevi is seen as a source country for Gurung. Pun, who has been human trafficking. Trafficking In involved in trafficking since at Person, a report published by the least the mid-1990s, has a long US Department of State, lists history of fraud, is wanted by Nepal as an extremely vulnerable Hong Kong immigration, and has country, particularly for the now gone underground in Libya. trafficking of children and Following a troubled time as Migrant workers are falling prey to traffickers like women. a student in Myagdi district’s Tej Prakash Pun, who is responsible for the plight For Surya Limbu of Prakash Secondary School, Pun Sankhuwasaba, who exclaims served in the British Gurkhas of the 108 Nepalis rescued from Libya recently that in returning from Libya he from 1981 to 1994. After his felt as if he had “escaped a discharge, he forged a passport monster” in the form of Tej and under the alias Keshar Prakash Pun, the worst may be Bahadur Gurung, entered Hong Dhawalagiri International workers appealed to the Nepali has long had good relations with over. But while Nepalis still Kong in 1995 as the husband of Manpower sent 108 Nepali authorities, prompting their the powers that be, and the former dream of foreign climes, they will legal resident Radhika Gurung workers. Those from Hong Kong rescue. His whereabouts are king Gyanendra awarded him the continue to fall prey to the worst (real name Tikadevi Gurung). In were paid US$2,000-2,500 a currently unknown, but Tikadevi Birendra Aishwarya medal and nightmares that could befall reality, both were already married month but the Nepali workers remains in Hong Kong, where she Gorkha Dakshinbahu IV. He is them. to other people. Together, they were paid just US$300, and lives in an apartment she owns. also the outgoing treasurer of the registered Gurkha Construction eventually had to fend for Despite his recent failure, International Coordination With Dev Pachbhaiya in Myagdi Ltd in Hong Kong in 1995, and themselves (see box). Pun’s Pun has done extremely well out Committee of the Non-Resident and the Centre for Investigative Dhawalagiri International venture fell apart when the of exploiting his countrymen. He Nepali Association (NRN) and Journalism Manpower in Nepal in 1997. Pun and Gurung worked as a team to fleece Nepalis seeking work abroad, and specialised in trafficking prospective labourers “We were tortured “We ate grass to Hong Kong and Macau. But with the tightening of visa on arrival rules for Nepalis in both in custody” to survive” these destinations, and Hong “I was preparing to go to Bahrain, Kong immigration’s discovery of Dolendra Bahadur Khatri, 30, paid Rs where I had been promised room Pun’s criminal activity, he 180,000 to his relative Tej Prakash and board and a monthly salary of moved to Libya. It became his Pun to be flown to Macau, where he Rs 25,000, when I met Tikadevi new destination of choice for covertly worked for a year. Once his Gurung and her niece Kamala hapless migrant labourers. tourist visa expired, he was taken to Gurung of Dhawalagiri In 2008, Indonesian company Guangzhou, China, where a dozen Manpower,” says 40-year-old Lal Citramegah Karya Gemilang Nepalis lived in a room for three Bahadur Khatri of Kaski district. It months. Dole ndra was then returned (CKG) won a bid to construct was a fateful meeting. They to Nepal and flown to Libya once he persuaded him to sign up for Libya 1,200 houses in Libya. The made a further payment of Rs 30,000 instead, though he had already company approached Gurkha to Pun’s partner-in-crime, Tikadevi submitted his passport to another Construction Ltd for 180 skilled Gurung. manpower agency. labourers. Pun charged Nepali “On 19 May 2009, Dhaulagiri Even after making a payment workers Rs 130,000 to Rs 270,000 Manpower gave me a letter of of Rs 130,000 (“I later discovered that CKG had paid for my apiece to arrange for visas and understanding that said I would be paid US$500 per month,” visa and travel costs,” he says), it took a whole year before tickets, even though CKG was recalls Dolendra, who is from Rupandehi. “I reached Libya. But I Lal Bahadur made it to Libya. But conditions were so bad he covering these costs. According was paid only US$300, and the food and accommodation wasn’t had to resort to eating what the cattle did – shrubs and grass to Mausam Roka, who has just as they said it would be. When I demanded my pay so I could – for a week. He’s now back home, but has to pay back debts returned from Libya, Gurkha return home, Tej Prakash accused us of trying to kidnap him and incurred of Rs 80,000. Lal Bahadur says, “When I remember got 23 of us arrested. We were tortured in custody.” Construction sent 25 skilled what I went through, I just feel angry.” labourers from Hong Kong while 14|FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 3 - 9 SEPTEMBER 2010 #518 Undiplomatic diplomacy

Editorial in Kantipur, 30 August situations the Foreign Ministry holds the power to call on the ambassador of the concerned embassy and ask him to maintain The Indian Embassy has been limits in diplomacy and even allowed to stay here as a diplomatic send him back. representative of the Indian The organisations that are a government, not to conduct business part of the Federation of Nepali or issue threats. But lately, the Journalists should not hesitate embassy seems to have forgotten that to act against such Nepal is a free and sovereign state. It undiplomatic activities of a has openly intervened in Nepali foreign diplomatic mission. politics, stopped the Kantipur The time has come for some big Group’s newsprint at Kolkata, publications, which have not pressurised companies with Indian given this matter much investments to not give importance, to forget advertisements (which still commercial competition and continues) to the media, and even stand up for national issues. issued death threats to a CA member. Civil society, professional Now it is challenging the Nepali organisations and all political media. Our government chooses to parties need to unite. Without ignore these ground-level your support it will be interventions. We may have just a difficult to drive away these caretaker government but this should MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA dark clouds threatening press “Khara’s not affect the day-to-day functioning of the state. It is freedom, which is so closely linked to our wounds are important to remind them that in such serious national integrity. still raw” Driving UNMIN away

Naya Patrika, 30 August fact is UNMIN is closer to the parliamentary parties than the UCPN (Maoist) in terms of ideology. UNMIN knows its roles and “I was heading to my neighbour’s place at 7am, to help responsibilities well. It knows that it has come to them build their home, when suddenly I heard gunfire. monitor the peace process in the country. So, it The police were advancing towards my home, firing says what it sees. gunshots and setting fire to the neighbourhood. Soon UNMIN has raised objections to the our houses went up in flames and people were crying recruitment drive because it knew that such aloud ” Tantaveer Oli of Khara, Rukum, recalls the day actions would increase suspicions between the with sorrow in his eyes. His entire village was two armies and affect the army integration process. consumed by flames, with 66 houses and farms burned UNMIN has only voiced its concerns. It has not to ashes, and 15 innocents were killed by the police. On stopped the process. We haven’t given it the rights 22 February 2000, the village of Khara fell victim to one Dil Shahani in Rajdhani, 31 August to stop things, after all. We have only allowed it to the worst atrocities committed by government forces in speak. And that is what it did. But if we cannot the 10 years of the armed insurgency. Parvati Khatri even tolerate the UNMIN speaking, how can we remembers panicking and going into the jungle, UNMIN has raised its finger whenever the Maoists expect to make the country a democratic republic? searching for her daughter-in-law. “I told them that my have been at fault. After all this is what it should do. The country has reached a juncture where it daughter-in-law was innocent and my granddaughter was This is what we invited it for. UNMIN has also raised cannot even form a government. The black clouds young. I pleaded with them, but those sinners did not its finger when the Nepal Army made mistakes. But of chaos are hovering over us. Where will the listen. They killed them in front of my eyes.” the political parties and the Nepal Army want country go if we send back UNMIN at this Ramkali Khadka, a mother of two, had gone to the UNMIN to stay quiet no matter what the Army does moment? Do we want violence and bloodshed jungle with her husband Laxmi to cut grass. They were and blame the Maoists even when they haven’t done again? Do we want another emergency? If that is hurrying home after realising their village was on fire. anything wrong. UNMIN is not an institution that what we want, we can send UNMIN back. But they were targeted by the police themselves, and dances to someone’s tune. The parties have blamed Otherwise, UNMIN should be kept till the peace Laxmi was shot dead. “I cried and screamed in front of UNMIN of acting as an aide of the Maoists. But the process is brought to a logical conclusion. them, but they would not listen,” says Ramkali, recalling the day of her loss. “As if that wasn’t enough, they set fire to our homes too.” Tantaveer, Parvati and Ramkali are among many in Khara who faced the terror of seeing their houses burnt down and family members killed. “Whenever we see a uniformed person, we instinctively fear for our lives,” says Raj Singh Oli. After a long period of neglect, the government provided aid to the bereaved families of Rs 100,000 each, along with compensation for destroyed property. Some have rebuilt their homes, but many used the money simply to get by. Those who did not receive adequate aid have not even been able to pay for their children’s education. When Prachanda was prime minister, minister of peace Janardan Sharma declared he would make Khara a ‘village of peace’. Roads, school buildings, drinking water facilities and toilets were built, and even the police station was reconstructed. Former VDC chairperson Sita Oli claims that the Ministry of Peace and Reconciliation spent a total of Rs 3,500,000 on relief for Khara last year, and Rs 10 million this year. But the survivors of the Khara massacre would rather have their homes reconstructed than be given communal facilities. Most of all, their hearts still cry for their loved Oh, the mountains are melting! ones. Their loss cannot be erased by development or And this is a mountain in the making? Hahaha..! money. Eleven years have gone by since that day of terror, but the wounds of Khara are still raw. Uttam Nepal in Rajdhani, 29 August 3 - 9 SEPTEMBER 2010 #518 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS|15 Royalists in the Madhes

On 27 August, former crown Lumbini, and conclude in 24 March and said he did not The royalists have concluded prince Paras Shah threw a party Pashupati. think that the monarchy was that the Maoist and Madhesi at Nirmal Niwas for over 100 Followers of former King obsolete. He also visited parties are not against the palace. leaders from Sunsari to Saptari, Gyanendra are being mobilised in Nepalganj on 23 May and Birganj “There is no alternative to who are affiliated with the the Madhes to exert pressure on on 16 June. working together, for above all, we organisation. Suresh Yadav of political parties to accept a Hindu The former crown prince then are for nationality and not for Siraha, Janak Lal Sah of Parsa, monarchy. Following frequent visited Bara, Parsa and Birganj. power,” said Krishna Mahato. Dinesh Mahato, Shailendra visits to the Madhes by RPP(N) Sources say Gyanendra is President of the National Singh and Ajit Singh of president Kamal Thapa, scheduled to make a five-day visit Democratic Tarai Madhes Rautahat district had one-on- Gyanendra visited Janakpur on to the Madhes in mid-September. Organisation. one conversations with the former crown prince. Manmohan Shamsher Rana, who defected from RPP(N) and opened the Patriotic Nationalist People Unity Party, said that since the CA had failed to deliver a new constitution on time, efforts are being made to find a place for a ‘worthy monarchy’ in the new constitution through an all- party round table conference. MJF president Upendra Yadav has been invited to make the proposed conference a success. Rana said that other

MIN RATNA MIN BAJRACHARYA RATNA political parties could not be contacted, as they are engaged in the formation of the government. “We have already had informal talks with Yadav regarding the need for an all- party round table conference to Nabin Jha in Himal draft a new constitution, as the Khabarpatrika, 1-16 September extended term of the CA is illegal,” he said. According to Mohan District president of the National Shrestha, who heads the Democratic Tarai Madhes publication and publicity Organisation in Rautahat, department of RPP(N), Lal Shailendra Singh, is busy Krishna Advani and other top shuttling back and forth between Indian leaders will participate Kathmandu and the Tarai these in a chariot procession that days. The organisation is active as begins on 10 December. They a royalist front in the Madhes. have already arranged Rs 10 “We are preparing to rectify past million for the procession, mistakes and move forward,” which will begin from Singh says. Janakpur, go all the way to

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lot of naysayers have been criticising give Information to Tripati and Makunay for putting up Nepal’s Communication to the ex-royal son-in- Acandidature for the post of General law. After all, Raja Budder knows too

Assembly president when it is pretty well many secrets since he was the one www.nepalitimes.com known that the Qataris have already distributing monies to fence-sitters. The invested millions and that their man had to hurriedly stash cash worth 9 Plenipotentiary in New York is well on his karod under a bed when the Madhesi way to bag the coveted post. But what the Youth stormed the Great Cattle heck, Nepal thought, let’s try to convince Market at the Sunset View Hotel last Qatar to pull out of the race and get our month, legend has it. But the Begum did Cool Man in there. It’s a risky plan, but it manage to stuff her handbag with as yet may just work if we can threaten to pull unascertained favours. out all 500,000 Nepali workers from Doha if they don’t agree. We have the Qataris by FG their gonads. The Jungli Minister’s proposal to FG induct 5,000 of the Cantonment Warriors into a National Park Ranger Force is a It’s also brilliant timing to get the Army brilliant brainwave. The Maobadis will be Chief to speak out against UNMIN. An literally going back to the jungle, and it army that is so dependent on the UN’s Canada as well and wait it out. All in all, it Upadro Yadav readily agreed to come back will be like letting foxes guard the poultry DPKO for extra pocket money for its now looks like the PM will be out of the as Foreigner Minister and even Bijay farm. What remains of our rhinos, tigers soldiers, and core funding for the Army country for the entire second half of Babu has found the offer of DPM and Home and crocs will be poached into extinction Wives Welfare Fun, should campaign September. If you gotta go, you gotta go. Ministry plus other plum portfolios for and the nature sanctuaries can be turned harder so the UN blacklists NA and it is Just hope he will still be PM, and there his sidekicks too juicy to resist. Looks like into housing plots. then forced to implement the Security will still be a country when he returns. it’s time for Lainchaur to bring back Uncle FG Sector Reform and downsize men-under- FG Shyam. arms. Have to hand it to Awesome’s sales Ass fans have sent in headlines from FG Comrade Bhayanak, meanwhile, is pitch, he’s even convinced Ridesh Tripati this week’s newspapers, which are all tied determined to sabotage Makunay’s to take up the offer of Minister of for the coveted News of the Week Medal: So, with the new arch at the airport, we are globetrotting and replace the Caretaker Information and Communication if he ‘Gyawali Smells a Rat’ now fully prepared for Visti Nepal Year before mid-Sept so as to pull the rug from brings his party in on Sunday’s vote. But ‘Kangaroo Testicles, Chefs Say Yes’ 2011 (see pic by unknown artist, above) . under Makunay before he sets off to North PKD may have a problem on his hands: he 'Monkey Business in Parliament’ Never one to skip a junket, MKN is off to America. The way he is trying to do this is has already offered MoIC to Rajabadi Singh ‘Natural Orifices Thrill Docs’ NY for the MDG session on 17 Sep. But by getting both Forum factions in his for getting assorted Madhesis and the then he has to go back on the 28th for his pocket by making them ministerial offers Workers and Peasants Party to defect in the Copy editors write to GA speech, so what to do in the meantime? they can’t refuse in the new coalition. In second round. The Ass’ unsolicited tip to ass(at)nepalitimes.com to claim Makunay decided to pack in a visit to separate secret meetings, it looks like Awesome: bifurcate the ministeries and your prizes. ISSN 1814-2613 CDO Regd No 194/056/57 Lalitpur, Central Region Postal Regd. No 09/066/67