#178 9-15 January 2004 24 pages Rs 25

Weekly Internet Poll # 118

Q. Do you agree with the government’s plan Parties unleash to arm civilians to fight Maoists? students to put pressure on the king. Total votes:1,465 Weekly Internet Poll # 119. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com Q. If a referendum were to be held, what type of system would you vote for? At the gates

A phalanx of police block the approach to the royal palace at Darbar Marg from student protesters on Tuesday afternoon.

NARENDRA SHRESTHA slogans. leader arrested two weeks ago on accusing the king of trying to NAVIN SINGH KHADKA The protests are getting more charges of sedition, told us: “We divide the parties by meeting he last time scenes like this violent, and some analysts fear it are not going to tolerate it if the them. But fissures have again were seen so close to the royal could spiral out of control. The parties reach an agreement with appeared in the five-party alliance: palace was during the students now say they will the king. We want the king out of the Congress wants restoration of People’s Movement in 1990. continue their agitation even if politics.” Students admit the parliament, the UML favours an All this week, student party bosses call it off, and they Maoists have infiltrated their ranks protestorsT and police fought have warned politicians not to sell and joined the rallies. Senior pitched battles in the centre of out to the king. minister Kamal Thapa said the Editorial p2 Kathmandu. Many were injured as Inside the palace, King government was aware of the The impossible triangle police charged students shouting Gyanendra has been meeting a possibility of Maoist penetration. all-party government, while the inflammatory anti-monarchy slew of political leaders one-by-one “That is why we want the Deuba faction wants its prime slogans. Having failed to galvanise to head off an escalation. Politi- students to carry out their protest minister reinstated. popular support for their agitation, cians say they have so little trust in rallies responsibly,” he said. The parties may not be able to the five-party alliance has now the king’s motives that they have to Maoist leader Prachanda has present a common consensus to instructed their student wings keep up the pressure on the streets. tried to capitalise on the turmoil the king even if he asks for one to to “go all out” with republican Gagan Thapa, the student with a statement Thursday defuse tensions. l 9 - 15 JANUARY 2004 2 EDITORIAL #178 Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Chief Editor: Kunda Dixit Desk Editor: Trishna Gurung, Design: Kiran Maharjan Webmaster: Bhushan Shilpakar Advertising: Sunaina Shah [email protected] Subscription: Anil Karki, [email protected] Sanchaya Kosh Building, Block A-4th Floor, Lalitpur GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: 01-5543333-6, Fax: 01-5521013 [email protected], www.nepalitimes.com Printed at Jagadamba Press, Hatiban: 01-5547018

Good intentions withoutmany oflogical the remote homedirection guards canalready spell in trouble disaster. because it has THE IMPOSSIBLE TRIANGLE AnGUEST COLUMN uncivil society t has become a cliché these days to say that the present power had morphed into mafia bands, lost control of large swaths of struggle in Nepal is between three forces: the king, the Alok K Bohara warlords, and local strongmen territory. How can you trust parliamentary parties and the Maoists. In a sense it is indeed a became militia leaders. Tens of them to monitor these civilian three-way tug-o-war that has reached a triangular stalemate: none of hen the state fails to thousands of Algerians perished. militia, while their own kind the three are making much headway, they are just wearing each other protect citizens (or even Civilian casualties and human within the ranks are being Idown, no one is prepared to give an inch. to harass and hound rights violations became a matter accused of rights violations? However, there is a fourth force that the other three have forgotten them in the name of counter- all about: the people. It is, after all, the people who won sovereign of grave concern, but anyone who After all, the civil defence rights in the 1990 constitution and who were assured that they insurgency)W it loses the hearts and dared raise them were arrested, or forces will not be fighting an henceforth commanded their own destiny. minds of the people. If this is how even killed. There are other imperialist foreign force in It was working well, despite concerns about the politics of the establishment plans to fight horrific examples from recent Kumaun or Gharwal. They will patronage, intimidation by incumbents and the heavy hand of the local this insurgency, then we have a lot history of massacres by out-of- have to hunt down their own elite at the ballot box. The people at least had a choice. At the to lose and a long way to go. control government-sponsored brothers and sisters. This strategy grassroots, there was closer scrutiny of the performance of elected The Thapa government seems militias in Lebanon, Guatemala, is just too high-risk. representatives, who were forced to be good managers and provide unwilling to reverse its decision to Peru, Columbia and El Salvador. On the political front, the services honestly and efficiently. If they couldn’t, they got voted out the next time around. It was really a case of the survival of the most form civil defence forces to resist A civil society unified by reaction is predictable. competent. Maoists in the countryside. Thapa common vision must complement Notwithstanding his wild threats, At the national level, things were slightly more complicated. The may mean well and he may not a well-meaning and benign Girija Koirala’s response to the leadership was preoccupied with personal or party welfare—winning have ulterior motives, but he must centralised power. But this is proposal is logical. He knows that power and keeping it. This demanded an ability to be selfish and remember the road to hell is paved hardly the case in Nepal today. you can’t win elections against corrupt so one could amass the resources while in power to buy with good intentions. Legitimate parliamentary forces well-endowed armed opponents, oneself back into power once out of it. Pretty soon, they were all Good intentions without are sidelined and humiliated, the and so he announced his own raking it in like there was no tomorrow. logical direction can spell disaster. current government does not feel plans to form local militias. The safeguard mechanisms of our adolescent democracy took time to kick in. Still, parliamentary committees were largely non-partisan in A risk assessment analysis of the accountable to any party or any Thapa’s nemesis, Pashupati Rana, investigating misuse of power. ‘Pajero’ became a pejorative, and the formation of the civil defense force political institution, and says so also saw the dangers of having an word ‘Lauda’ entered the Nepali language as something synonymous doesn’t seem to have been carried openly. With checks and all-too-powerful openly defiant with scandal. out, and there is a danger of this balances gone, vested interests prime minister from his own Sadly, these high-profile scams eclipsed the real rot within and spiralling out of control. (See: will make their presence felt. But party. He had no choice but to made a jaded public even more distrustful of the parties. The leaders ‘Turning civilians into if the past 12 years have taught demand his resignation. This is were so busy fighting each other they didn’t notice the house was on combatants’, Seira Tamang, Nepali us anything, it is that an election- Politics 101, you can’t blame fire. Even as the flames licked the windows, they were arguing about Times #175). As we have seen who got to sleep in the master bedroom. Despite their current alliance, focussed illiberal democracy these gentlemen for following we don’t see any major shift in their style of functioning. from other counter-insurgency can falter. text book paranoia. When the Maoists launched their people’s war eight years theatres, this is a recipe for The decision about civil The Nepali people have ago, they raised arms against a duly elected government. It spiralling human rights militia has been taken by a suffered a lot and have been was a rotten government, but we were in the process violations. government that is neither extremely patient. They have of figuring out how to make it work. The Maoists’ When the Algerian representative nor accountable, refrained from joining the street quick-fix solution and the state’s knee-jerk government cancelled and appears to be vastly protests to give two Panchayat- reaction have now devastated the elections in 1992 unpopular. Many people are era prime ministers a chance to country. As for the palace, its actions have now made because saying “give us security, not bring peace. The people's republicanism the Islamicists guns”. The last Nepali Times growing apathy is reflected on slogan of streets— would have Nepalnews.com Internet poll was the current Nepali Times not just of the won, it overwhelmingly (69 percent) Nepalnews.com Internet poll, Maoists. triggered an against arming civilians. Sadly, a which is going fifty-fifty on Nepalis don’t armed policy of such import with such republic vs monarchy. trust any of the uprising potentially far-reaching and Many Nepalis are at a loss, three powers who against deadly consequences has been and their patience will run out invoke their name. This is not about the king, the the enacted through fiat without any eventually. It appears that an all- parties or the armed rebels ruling debates and participation. party government with parlia- anymore. It is about the class. What guarantee is there that mentary forces at the helm is the fourth force and whether Unable armed and poorly-trained militia only rational course. How long the people of Nepal will to subdue the will not turn against the state and can the monarch remain silent? l tolerate this ill-treatment and rebels militarily, the government plunge the country into a full- cruelty for much longer. Alok K Bohara, PhD, is professor of began arming civilians in 1995 to fledged civil war? The thinly economics, University of New Mexico fight the militants. By 2003, stretched state apparatus is [email protected]

L ETTERS

the US for about a month or so, and trying to familiar monuments, artwork and gods and KavitaTRADEOFF Rai’s ‘Dam development’ (#176) ‘TraffickingTRAFFIC in Kathmandu’ (#176) by David figure out my way around in my school in goddesses in the exhibition, I felt truly depicts inevitable changes in the process Cloud described the lack of traffic rules in this town, the word Nepal appearing in the blessed by their presence. However, as of development. The construction of the our city in an entertaining manner . There is magazines advertising the exhibition gave your article mentioned, many of the exhibits Mahendra Highway resulted in similar no doubt that Kathmanduites have very little me some level of comfort. After seeing belonged to private collectors. How on earth processes where tradeoffs and sacrifices traffic sense. However, I would really like to did these collectors get hold of religious had to be made with local needs so that appreciate the huge effort made by some objects that were still being worshipped the entire nation could benefit. Within a pedestrians to climb the overhead bridges. back home? Who sold it to them? Who sold sovereign nation, resources must be Eli Pradhan, Kathmandu them to the guy who sold it to them? We shared amongst the resource-endowed should probably feel thankful that at least and the resource-scarce regions. there were people who were interested Missing out on Arun III was a fatal blow ThankBIRDS you for the beautifully written enough to collect it, preserve it and make it to the future generation of Nepalis. coverage of the Shibapuri National Park and available for exhibitions. Had it not been for Communities in the Arun watershed area the bird count by Sraddha Basnet (‘Birds of these art lovers and friends of Asia, those are worse off economically, socially and a feather’, #177). One mistake crept in: we valuable pieces would have been lost or ecologically today than in the Sri Krishna didn’t see a Danfe but a Kalij pheasant. destroyed. But it still nags me that these Gandaki area today. So long as capital can Rajendra Suwal, objects were stolen from Nepal. be pumped in rural Nepal for infrastructure nepalnature.com Pravesh Gurung, development, the longterm gains and California Institute of the Arts, aspirations of the majority needs to be Valencia considered. This is democracy in the real ThisFULL is CIRCLE in reference to the article ‘Full circle’ sense. (#176) on the Los Angeles County Museum LeadersBLOT like Kamal Thapa seem to forget Bhaskar Singh Karky, of Art exhibition on Himalayan Buddhism. It their past as soon as they are given The Netherlands was indeed enthralling and exciting. Being in ministerial berths by the king. They abuse 9 - 15 JANUARY 2004 NATION #178 3

recent op-ed piece in GorkhapatraLet’s has tried to justify Politicians save of every hue are suddenly on guard.the kingThis wariness isn’t groundless. In the brief history of the surrender of sovereignty by the Maharaja Hari Meanwhile, King Gyanendra has been granting slightly over half-a-century since the Shah Restoration in Singh of Kashmir in 1947 as an “instance of crisis of audience to an assembly line of politicos, but he doesn’t 1950, Narayanhiti Palace has repeatedly used its time-tested confidence”. By trying to draw this historical parallel, seem to be any particular hurry to bring back tactics to keep the democratic aspirations of the people in Yubraj Gautam, the parliamentary politics. Even Comrade Nepal, who has check. It has used every trick in the book to deny, delay, ASTATE OF THE STATE editor of the been eagerly waiting for a royal tête-à-tête, didn’t appear divide, discredit, denigrate and then destroy mainstream CK Lal government too satisfied with the Nagarjun meeting. The rest of his political parties. mouthpiece who wrote agitating partners are bracing themselves for yet another The trick is to keep them squabbling perennially. But the article himself, has put forth a menacing insinuation. delay tactic to keep the constitution in suspended this strategy runs the risk of putting the very existence of No institution in the country is above suspicion now. animation. country in jeopardy. Politically, a state without a king is not impossible, but no country can hope to survive for long unless it has vibrant and responsible political parties competing among themselves to create an alert and The people need democracy, organised citizenry. In Nepal, the vilification of political parties goes hand in but the king needs it even more. hand with the glorification of the king, the priesthood, the army, and business. However, none of these entrenched forces seem to have realised that it’s not business as usual anymore. The experience of raucous democracy and ruthless insurgency have awakened tribalistic and authoritarian streaks embedded in our national psyche. There is no way the country can now go back to the ‘good old days’ of authoritarian certainty. After the Third Wave of democracy swept the world, it has ceased to be merely one among the several systems of governance. Now it is an ideal that even countries like Afghanistan and Iraq are expected to live up to and for a multi-ethnic society like Nepal, it is the sole strategy of survival. Trumpeting the supposed benefits of an active monarchy, as the Royal Council has been doing through its regional consultations, is bound to be counter-productive. The monarchy lost some of its traditional moorings after the royal massacre, and even when the entire country was in a state of shock in those trying weeks, it was the supreme law of the land that saved the constitutional monarchy. However, the Fourth October royal takeover has now put a question mark over the kingship. King Gyanendra has publicly sought a ‘constructive’ role for himself, thus transforming the monarchy into a political player. Politics, by definition, is an arena of contest. Rhetoric is an inevitable part of politics, and if the king wishes to be player, he has to prepare himself for public criticism. The distressing part of it, however, is that the monarchy as a cultural symbol of all Nepalis is now directly being challenged. Only a democratic polity has the power to protect the institution of monarchy. The people need democracy, but the king needs it even more. Any more dilly-dallying in the acceptance such interdependence will further erode the credibility of the monarchy. On National Unity Day this Sunday, we need mull these things over as we remember the contribution of King Prithbi Narayan Shah the Great in weaving together this diverse land. l NAREN

democracy and other parties in every 24 pages. Nepali Times looks fresher and profession, I guess) and found a spelling speech. Thapa and his ilk are the biggest blot livelier than before. And thanks for mistake in your Biz Brief section (#177). If on Nepali democracy. The present set of introducing new women columnists like you’d like I would be willing to go through ministers all have nirdal characteristics but Anagha Neelkantan and Neeta Pokhrel. the spellings in your forthcoming issues. have covered themselves in bahudal cloaks. Renu Adhikari, Kathmandu That wasn’t a bad try, was it? Their democratic mask is slipping and their Khem R Shreesh, email mandale mask is showing. l There is much more to read in the new Ram Bahadur Rai Nepali Times. Thank you for making the best l Third Law of Thermodynamics? It's Siddha Pokhari, Nepali paper even better. But I should point Newton’s Third Law of Motion, or just Sankhuwa Sabha out that Newton’s laws in your editorial Newton's Third Law. Newton had nothing to (#177) are his laws of motion, not do with thermodynamics. The third law of INEW don’t TIMES like your new look. The earlier format thermodynamics. thermodynamics was formulated by Walter was perfect, you should have left it the way S Pokhrel, email Nernst and states that it is impossible to it was. cool a body to absolute zero by any finite AR Shrestha l I first thought Under My Hat got process. But then even that wouldn’t apply Kalimati mistakenly printed in your page two editorial to Nepal, given how frozen the leadershp (#177) when I read about Newton's third law looks. l Why did you shrink the Times? I had of thermodynamics. Should have been the Tashi Tenzing, Washington DC gotten used to the size and layout of the old third law of motion if my memory serves me one. It wasn’t broke, why did you try to fix right. am one of those cover-to-cover readers, CORRECTION it? ‘Hemant’, email and I enjoy every article. And I really l Numafung is a tale of a Limbu girl and not Lepcha Lalit R Sharma, email appreciate the selection you present every (‘Numa’s story’, #177). The correct byline for ‘Elections in Maoland’ (#177) l I have been going through every issue week. Being a transcriptionist by trade, I also l should have been Manmohan Swar. l Congratulations on going full colour and of Nepali Times from the very beginning. I read it very carefully (hazards of the 9 - 15 JANUARY 2004 4 NATION #178

MaidDespite problems, Nepalito women order still throng to Hong Kong to work as domestics.

From l-r: The Nepali consulate in Hong Kong is kept busy because of migrant workers with problems. A Nepali domestic worker is counselled by a Hong Kong employment agency at its office. Shirley Chan of the Hong Kong government’s race relations unit tries to be a bridge between migrants and the authorities.

hard working in a foreign country money in Hong Kong as a where the language and culture is domestic than working in Nepal unfamiliar,” says Regina. “There’s with a college degree.” By Nepali no one to love you, people only standards, the US$421 minimum expect you to work.” She left monthly salary for domestic work behind an ailing husband and a is a lot of money. Although both five and 10-year-old in the care of women have agreed to pay their her elderly mother so that she can agents six months’ salary in return earn enough money to pay debts for getting them a job, Regina and her husband’s medical fees. says: “Even then I’ll make more Armed with a smattering of money than I would back home. Cantonese, very little English, and And if I’m careful, I can save. It’s the basics of Chinese cooking, hard to say what kind of employer RAMYATA LIMBU Regina is nervous about meeting I’ll get, good or bad. But given time RAMYATA LIMBU in HONG KONG her employers and fulfilling the I’m sure I’ll adjust. I’ve heard of long list of household duties she is some bad experiences but also wenty-seven-year-old Regina Chan, the women’s domestic household do’s and don’ts, and expected to carry out in Hong about some domestics who’ve got sits pensively on a sofa in a tiny employment agent in Hong Kong. upon arrival an impromptu lesson Kong. But she is determined to great employers.” apartment in Hong Kong’s “You can’t afford to have long nails in lighting a gas stove and cleaning stick it out. “I can’t go back without There are 240,000 live-in central neighbourhood as Chinese if you’re here to work, it’s not the bathroom. making some money. I’d be letting domestic workers in Hong Kong, soap opera stars jabber away on hygienic,” says Chan, a stern, no- Both the women, one a married my family down.” a territory of 6.8 million people. televisionT in a language that sounds nonsense woman who picked the mother of two, the other a college Despite her parents’ About 100,000 are from the both harsh and alien to her. women up at the airport. The entire student, have arrived in this disapproval, Amisha decided to Philippines, followed by Beside her, 21-year-old Amisha trip from the airport to the agency’s bustling Chinese territory to fulfill quit college and come to Hong Indonesians, Thais and Nepalis. ruefully cuts her long painted nails boarding house is interspersed with a two-year contract as domestic Kong to see life in a big city. “I An estimated 1,500 Nepali on the sharp instructions of Ms Chan’s instructions—a long list of workers. “I know it’s going to be know I can make much more domestics work in Hong Kong,

Well before 2104, European society will be more than half Muslim. This is going to be one of the most startling demographic changes in history and it’s already Lak takes a leap to predict well under way. Traditional Europeans, that is to say things a century hence. ‘white people’, can’t keep up. Their birthrates are low and they’re too fond of holidays and short working weeks. People from underdeveloped lands in the Mahgreb and West Asia are making their way in droves redictions are, of course, a mug’s game. But you to fill in the gaps. Even nasty immigration policies won’t have to be a bit of a mug to give your opinions in stop them. And I, for one, think a Muslim Europe print every week. So for what it’s worth, here are would be a fine thing, for both Muslims and Europe. a few whimsical thoughts about how things might look People from dictatorships like Egypt, Syria and Saudi 100 years hence, in 2104 CE. Arabia will increasingly learn democratic skills. PNepal will still be with us. Yes, all you doomsayers in Europeans will finally stop giving such immense status the2104 aid sector, diplomats, experts, elitists and so on, to the Roman Catholic Church, and learn that true you’re all wrong. This country, sovereign, beautiful, secularism means tolerance, awareness and stubbornly unique, will be around and probably encouragement of integration on important matters like thriving. It may be part of a larger South Asian Union, democracy. Needless to say, France will no longer ban modelled on Europe. Perhaps Kathmandu will be the headscarves. Brussels of the SAU. Whatever the format, Nepal will As for America, oh boy will it be a vastly different be there. place in 100 years. The president will not be a white HERE AND THERE Why am I so lawyer from a corporate background. Most likely, she Daniel Lak sure? Because almost will be of mixed race, Latino-Asian perhaps, or African- every young Nepali I American, an environmental campaigner or television meet is impressive, savvy and aware of what’s wrong personality. Perhaps she may even be a Muslim, married with this place. I won’t insult the current generation by to a Jewish agnostic or a Buddhist. And there will be so questioning its intelligence but guys—choice of gender many pressing domestic challenges that foreign deliberate—smell the coffee. And, if the current crop of adventurism will be impossible. By 2050, there will be under-30-somethings—urban, rural, Hindu, Buddhist, 500 million people in America, most, at best, third rich, poor etc—is so bright, imagine how much better generation descendants of immigrants. They will need things will get when the cult of age finally releases its software sweatshop will expand its middle class hugely, education, health care and jobs, not appeals to bony grip on this place. The sooner the better. unleash creative and entrepreneurial talent and turn today’s patriotism. Cosmopolitanism will be essential to get India. It doesn’t take a very clear crystal ball to see under-development into prosperity on a grand scale. Again, elected. Today’s high security follies will be replaced by that our vast southern neighbour will be, within half a I’m banking on those incredibly impressive young Indians tomorrow’s tolerance. America’s new culture will be in century or less, an engine of the world economy in that I meet every time I go to Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore tune with the world, not at odds with it. much the way America is now. India’s current role as and Kolkata. Wishful thinking? Perhaps. But why not? Why not? l 9 - 15 JANUARY 2004 NATION #178 5 but the number is likely to grow as Hong Kong agencies see Nepal as a viable recruiting centre. “Nepali domestics are simple. Some of the Rita has been living in Hong Kong since 1996. A Nepali Hong Kong ID holder, she educated ones speak good English runs a small roadside stall in Kowloon selling trinkets. “Life in Hong Kong has been and are less likely to make trouble okay, it’s aRita’s good place to make money. But I reallystory miss my children,” said Rita, on with unions,” says Chan, an agent a rare visit home. Her husband is also an ID holder, and works odd jobs as a construction worker. who runs a recruiting and training The couple’s two children, a centre in Kathmandu where eager four-year-old daughter and a applicants are taught Cantonese, 14-month-old son live with their the basics of Chinese cooking and grandparents in Nepal. “I left my son when he was five interviewed by potential employers months old. He’s really grown. via the Internet. I’m just happy that in the last Such employment outfits are an couple of days he’s become quite familiar with me,” says increasing cause of concern for Rita as she spends a few groups like the Hong Kong-based precious days with her children Far-east Overseas Nepali Association in Kathmandu before returning to Hong Kong. (FEONA), a non-profit social up to a year,” says Warren. “The language problem is “Ideally, we’d love to take them to Hong Kong. My parents love my daughter but organisation that works with Nepali The agency’s eight staff immense,” says Ah Ming, a Hong they can’t give her the help she needs with her school work, but nurseries and migrants in Southeast Asia. members are hard pressed Kong social worker who helps kindergartens in Hong Kong are expensive. And we’re often busy at work. Maybe “They’re trying to legalise illegal providing the endless stream of Nepalis. “Many people come from when they’re a bit older.” Familiar with Hong Kong, reasonably comfortable with Cantonese and a mother- matters,” says Prem Chandra Rai, domestic and migrant workers free villages, the (local) mothers don’t like figure, today Rita is developing into a champion for a group of Nepali migrants coordinator of FEONA who says paralegal advice on job and speak English, they are not joining the Hong Kong workforce as domestics. “I know at least 20 domestics who that some agencies in Nepal charge immigration problems. The centre educated and so are difficult to come to visit me on their days off, when we chat about home, prepare Nepali meals, go for barbeques and just talk about life and our kids (see, pic). They often around Rs 70,000 as agency fees. also manages two shelters for integrate into mainstream Chinese don’t have money since they’ve committed their first six months salary to the “They work with agencies here domestic workers and has society. Discrimination is everywhere, agency. They call when they are in trouble. Outside of the homes they work in, they and make applicants sign a paper placement, training and language but it is hidden.” l (IPS) don’t really know anyone, they’re alienated. I try to help as much as I can.” Helping often means providing petty cash, counseling and complaining to the saying they have taken a six-month classes to help them integrate into employment agencies about an employer’s mistreatment, or even threatening to loan from the agency. That’s totally mainstream Chinese society. It is not Nepali workers in Hong Kong report them to the labour tribunal. false. Once they sign the contract, always easy, judging from the interviewed for this article did not “Only two of the girls I know say they have employers who treat them well. The the worker needs to pay,” Rai adds. experiences of other Nepali want their real names used, rest are not happy and will probably return to Nepal after saving some money and nor their pictures taken. their two-year contract ends.” “People don’t have a clue and are migrants here, the majority of who in a hurry to come to Hong Kong. work in construction, security and They take advantage of that sectors like cleaning, restaurants, weakness.” There is concern that bars and nursing homes. problems already occurring in Some 30,000 to 40,000 places like Indonesia are likely to be Nepalis live in Hong Kong. Many duplicated among Nepali workers. in the Nepali community were also This is illegal in Hong Kong, born to former British Gurkha where the rule is that workers can families and their dependents. But have up to 10 percent of the first opportunities also come with costs. month’s salay deducted after a job As the numbers of those like Regina is found. But usually a recruiter or and Amisha increase, the need for agent will have the workers sign social support becomes crucial in contracts that they don’t normally an alien environment. read or that are in English and often Most Nepali workers don’t have not translated explained Kim money since they have to commit Warren, manager at the Christian their first six months’ salary to the Action’s Domestic Helpers and employment agency. There are Migrant Workers Programme in some women working in Kowloon. “So a worker from Nepal, entertainment clubs and even as India or Sri Lanka may work for less prostitutes. Lower levels of than $100. Underpayment and education, language problems, and non payment are common, sense of marginalisation can make especially among Indonesians for adjustment harder. 9 - 15 JANUARY 2004 6 NATION #178 be assertive as they slowly wilt into the mother liquid on the stove. The usual suspects will take over and make it palatable, if completely undistinguished, the weepingly chopped onions, the NEITHER HERE crushed black pepper, the green NOR THERE onions, the herbs, the little Anagha Neelakantan The wildest street fire has a lining of silver-greybeneath’t. smoke. mountain of minced garlic. After chicken broth, a stew. A Then, the surprise. A highly Still peckish?heavy stodgy one involving aggressive salad with pungent, hy? Why a menu? Why depressing winter smells like— bitter, soapy greens, dandelion, dinner? Why winter? well anything can bring on misery raw mustard, rocket, raw spinach, Why? Because. Because in the winter if you let it—and a and Super Strong and Tangy it is cold, because food makes us complete homogeneity of Garlic Vinaigrette. At first it will warm, because fire makes us even ingredients, at least as far as look fresh and light, sound a Wwarmer. Even the dimmest person appearance goes. We like to eat welcome note of authority. Your would gather that after a look at this kind of thing because it friends will heap it on and dive the streets this past month. The induces a feeling of bursting-to- into it with all the poetry of a power of fire, beloved symbol of the-seams surfeit without the guilt young calf’s first encounter with anthropologists, folklorists, associated with junk food. It’s the field. After a couple of archaeologists and just about every healthy, all the food groups can mouthfuls, there will be grimaces, hack who holds forth on have their say, right? Potato, contortions and reproachful Community and Socialisation, has potato, potato, overcooked looks. The greens are offensively evidently been rediscovered by our sausage, a handful of fancy lentils, too much. students. (There’s nothing worse the spectrum of vegetables from Draw the misery out a bit than a nitpicker, but I have to ask: radishes, thick-sliced aubergines was a sham. A little bowl per guest, red tomato to green capsicum to more. Brightly serve something how in god’s name can you burn and zucchini-brushed with olive friend or foe, of a light broth made violent pink radish to mottled un-dessert like such as a baked an ‘effigy’ of ‘regression’ without oil and herbs, redolent with the from Essence of Chicken. Same turnip to two-ton squash to red bean confection topped with calling it an ironic reversion to delicate ambient odours of old, same old. But that’s the point, purple cabbage. a little dollop of winter-fighting high modernist symbolism or newsprint, vulcanisation, and isn’t it. Who really wants change? Nothing matters once you royal jelly. (Unless you have something like that?) spring, send it along to me Your aim is to make people feel mush all this together. This stew Japanese guests, in which But the wildest street fire has a with a bottle of Nepal’s finest better. This treatment works best will be eaten dully, dutifully, but case serve them your thickest lining of silver-grey smoke. It is brew, please. when administered like ayurvedic with a general consensus that it is ras malai.) multipurpose. If the recent hotting Next, come in from the cold medicine—the early stages of ‘good for you’, all the elements are When, after all this up of things has been giving you and let everyone feel faintly (but recovery often involve a slight but pitching in, the starches, the grandstanding and these dangerous, even incendiary, ideas, only faintly) let down by guessing distinct worsening of symptoms. protein, the vitamins and seesawing emotions, you casually go ahead. Light that fire. Grill. If your true intention, promising a After lulling your guests into a minerals. So what if you can’t hear mention that for anyone still there’s a better way of starting the whole lot more than you can somewhat misleading sense of what any one of them is saying. So peckish there are sliced evening off than with a shared deliver. All your friends will security turn the tables, around, if what if the veggies’ inherent strawberries, sugared cream, dark platterful of little grilled veggies— believe with shamefaced relief that not upside down. Look like the veggie nature makes them just sit chocolate and sparkling wine, infant potatoes, tomatoes and the hyped Special Winter Menu cabbage, as it were, and be the rose there waiting for something else to your friends will love you. l

Extreme coldChill in parts of the tarai factor has claimed dozens of lives but the government has yet to release any figures. Spokesman for the Home Ministry Gopendra Bahadur Pandey said officialdom had heard about the harsh winter, “but we cannot confirm if the deaths were due to the weather before the figures are compiled.” Officials at the Department of Hydrology and Metrology are sure that the falling temperature in the plains has affected the lives of people, especially those living in the open and beside roads. They point to a thick fog that has blanketed most of the area since the rains last week. “This kind of fog dissipated in the hills, but in the tarai it lingers for a longer period of time,” explains Madan Lal Shrestha, the department’s director general. “The fog keeps the FOGGY BOTTOM: The Indo- temperature low and the human body begins to suffer from cold Gangetic fog in this satellite exposure.” picture taken on Tuesday Meteorologists say that the morning also covered the Nepal maximum temperature in the tarai, leaving the Himalayan arc tarai has dipped to single digits, clear and sunny. but is not less than previous years. On average, the difference between the maximum and minimum range is only two degrees Celsius, whereas normally it would have been above 10 degrees. For instance, Biratnagar recorded a maximum of 15.3 and a minimum of 13.4 degree Celsius on 28 December. Four days ago, Bhairawa suffered from uniformly foul weather—the maximum day temperature sat just a degree higher that the 12 degree Celsius minimum. Last year, the tarai experienced a month long stretch without sunlight. All indications are that the tarai could get colder before it warms up. 9 - 15 JANUARY 2004 NATION #178 7

Lucknow, Ishwor Pokhrel chosenand to turn the table theon India Summit regarding the issue of harbouring cross-border terrorism in Islamabad. At a time when Bhutan had launched a successful operation against ULFA and other militants in Drukland, and India was demanding that Bangladesh and Burma follow the suit against “Indian terrorists”, the Lucknow meet could have been used to expose India’s “dual policy on terrorism” after its much reviled role in Sri Lanka in the 80s. Madhab Nepal, for that reason, will continue to remain a ‘villain’ in Why did the UML Indian eyes for some time to come. Moral of the story: incase total dump the Pokhrel openness is not desirable, even the episode like most secret peace initiatives should involve diplomatic or credible a hot potato?NEPALNEWS.COM institutional channels on a and by extension that of the brass in Lucknow. Indian Minister minimum level if it involves CAPITAL LETTER Government of India—from four for External Affairs Yashwant Sinha territories of more than one Yubaraj Ghimire political parties jointly agitating chose to tell NTV’s Dishanirdesh in country. international community on the cusp with the UML for the restoration an interview recorded in Delhi and That is why Nepal’s Lucknow of the SAARC summit. But Nepal is of democracy? On the other hand, broadcast just before the SAARC initiative should be seen as an yet to be told of the real message shwor Pokhrel, Madhab Nepal’s the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu Summit that the Lucknow adventure devoid of diplomacy. behind the Lucknow meeting—who comrade-in-arms, had to go demanded that the government of encounter had really “embarrassed” Comrade Pokhrel’s arrest and and what actually inspired it? through a humiliating ordeal at Nepal take action against those India. timing was a calculated message Pokhrel’s release after brief New Delhi airport recently. A team who burnt the effigy of Vajpayee, That embarrassment would have against ‘terrorism’ that India detention in Delhi does not fully of Indian officials apparently from ignoring the fact that burning of been even more acute if Pakistan had wanted to convey to the absolve Comrade Nepal. l Ithe Research and Analysis Wing effigies is so common in both (RAW) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) countries that it doesn’t even among others, asked him about the constitute a major offence. purpose behind his Delhi trip (see Yet Pokhrel’s visit to Delhi, his p18). According to Pokhrel, they detention by the Indian authorities, were even keen to know whether the and a feeble, half-hearted and UML would be willing to back a ritualistic protest by the UML Constituent Assembly to sort out the should be a future lesson at least for Maoist problem in Nepal. Nepali political parties about how Back home after 14 hours in to conduct themselves on issues detention, Pokhrel and his party that have bearings on foreign affairs. fulminated against India and Any sensible leader travelling demanded an apology. UML abroad on a public and political students burnt an effigy of Indian mission ought to first notify the Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee local diplomatic mission. And and vandalised half a dozen vehicles secondly, once such a “humiliating on the road. But after that, the issue treatment in violation of the treaty of Pokhrel’s detention died a rapid between the two countries” is and unnatural death. For meted out, his party should have dumfounded citizens, it was difficult informed the government firsthand: to figure out whether the asking that the issue be taken up demonstration on that particular day with India. was to protest Pokhrel’s detention in Should this act of omission on Delhi, or to protest ‘regression’. the part of the UML be condoned? Why did the UML dump the After all, it will not be without Pokhrel episode like a hot potato? consequences. The Pokhrel episode Why did it not even manage to took place a month after the secure condemnation of the meeting Madhab Nepal and two of behaviour of Indian authorities— his lieutenants with the Maoist top 9 - 15 JANUARY 2004 8 #178

If Nepal indeed turns into a republic, history will not hold the Nepali peopleextremes responsible. find it more comfortable More loyal, less royalto deal with the less critical mass, which can be relatively easily swayed. It’s no surprise that the palace is planning more civic receptions for the king in outlying regions. However, the new year has brought signs of a possible thaw. The king gave an audience to the UML’s Madhab Kumar Nepal late last week, breaking a long stalemate. That is an encouraging start and needs to be followed up. There are important lessons from Thailand, where the monarch has intervened in times of crisis but withdrawn to a passive constitutional role afterwards and gained immense respect (see ‘The Thai Model’, #166). The contribution of monarchy in Thailand “has been inestimable on two planes: as the primary focus of national cohesion during the long transition, and as a beacon of commitment to lawful process and hope for its realisation,” BASANTA CHITRAKAR writes Roger Kershaw in his book, Monarchy in South-East the security agencies and a republicanism in Nepal. If Nepal valley. However, history is witness Asia. He goes on to say that “this LONDON EYE majority of public was probably a indeed turns into a republic, to the fact that unless the support twin contribution forms the Rabindra Mishra politically correct step. history will not hold the Nepali of that critical mass is won, one kernel of a new charisma of Hence, there was a virtual people responsible. will have difficulty in bringing monarchy for the modern age, he past year had given King silence at the king’s move. He had As he faces increasing criticism about sustainable political change less magical but no less pregnant Gyanendra a chance to the support and authority to turn from major political parties, civil in Nepal, a fact also with Dharma than in ages past. make a mark in history—a things around for the better, but society and the Maoists, he has acknowledged by the Maoists. Even in life, the King has come to chance that is rarely available for sadly misused both, opting for chosen to seek solace in the It was that very mass that be revered as—or at least ‘as if’—a the royals in countries with blame-game instead of the support of those in the far right of played a pivotal role in promoting Living Buddha”. constitutionalT monarchies. statesmanship that the times and the political spectrum, who hold a democratic values prior to 1990 Perhaps Nepal is waiting for Whether the takeover of the his stature demanded. His actions striking similarity with the myopia and since then has been exactly such a monarch. May the executive power by the king in did not turn out to be a of the far left. Both believe that important in sustaining those Living Bishnu share knowledge October 2002 was constitutional momentary deviation as many had winning the hearts and minds of values despite the continuing and wisdom with a Living or not will remain a debatable issue initially expected. This has the relatively uncritical mass in battering on them from not only Buddha, and, may the unroyal for years to come. However, given resulted in a sharp erosion of his far-flung areas is more crucial to the far left and the far right but politics of the past year transform the state of the state, which was at legitimacy in the past year, consolidate power and authority also those in the centre who have into a royal politics in the year the brink of collapse at that time, paradoxically making him the first than trying to convince the small discredited those values for ahead. Amen! l the intervention by the king who Nepali monarch to directly but critical mass, mainly personal gain. Hence, it is natural Rabindra Mishra is a journalist with commanded absolute loyalty of contribute to the rise of concentrated in Kathmandu that those in the opposite the BBC World Service in London. 9 - 15 JANUARY 2004 ECONOMY #178 9

BIZ NEWS

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ForDial-up those pressed banking for time and unable to Valley. It employs over 200 expense may be tempting, but the imagine life before their mobile phone, here’s good news: your account STRICTLY BUSINESS salespersons, drawn mostly from the market rewards those who project balance information and mini account statements are just an SMS away. Ashutosh Tiwari villages of Khotang in eastern Nepal, consistently trustworthy actions. This free service is exclusive to Kumari Bank, the first to introduce Internet Lessons of Bhatbhateni the owner’s home district. People, after all, buy and sell with banking in the kingdom. n 1987, a one-room road-front Though old and new competitors those they trust.

shop selling cheese, curd and remain, Bhatbhateni has made a Curiosity: Gurung knows his sales ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ bottled drinks opened in name for itself in terms of staff need better training, and that his ACome merger between together finance company Hisef and Laxmi Bank will be the first Kathmandu’s Bhatbhateni. The accessibility, choices, quality, value management systems need to be in the history of Nepal’s financial sector. The merger is proposed to be owner, then a clerk at the New Road for money and service. What could professionalised. He seemed most at executed 1:1. While Laxmi Banks’s shares are in the process of being Ibranch of the state-owned Nepal be some lessons that aspiring Nepali ease when talking about issues he did listed with the national stock exchange, Hisef’s share with a face value of Bank, had rented the room together Rs 100 was last traded for Rs 116. Nepal Rastra Bank has already sent their entrepreneurs can draw from not know. This paradoxical trait is in-principle approval. Post-merger, Laxmi Bank will have a paid up capital with his wife who ran the shop. Gurung’s experience? noteworthy in business because it base of Rs 610 million, making it the largest bank in the country. From the beginning, Min Small start: Starting small is keeps entrepreneurs humble—they Bahadur Gurung, with no previous unglamorous. But it pays off in the ask questions, learn and strive to buy background in business and the only Remittances○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ member of his extended family not to Nepal receives nearly Rs 74 billion in join a foreign armed services, foreign remittances every year, most of which originates in the Gulf countries. With understood four things: first, the a goal to make transactions safer, faster business he was in was not new, and easier, CGI Finco, principal agent of second, there were hundreds of such Western Union Financial Services, signed stores all over Kathmandu, third, he an agreement with Standard Chartered Bank Nepal to carry out money has to think of new ways to transfers in Nepal. Customers will be able to receive money through the differentiate his store from those of MIN BAJRACHARYA bank’s branches in Kathmandu and Pokhara. his competitors’ and, fourth, long run, especially if one is and sell better. You know a business NEW PRODUCTS Bhatbhateni—with expensive-looking ambitious to grow big. Mistakes is going downhill when owners start houses in the neighbourhood and committed when a business is small exhibiting a know-all attitude and are CLOSE SHAVE: Korean company Dorco is playing located on the way to other posh are not big: they can easily be closed to different viewpoints. it fine with its brand of shaving gear for both men residential areas—would be where a corrected and lessons are learned Focus: Gurung is clear about his and women, imported by Nepal Marketing convenience store do rather well. without wasting much money and focus—to sell Nepali and foreign Services. The men have a wide choice among Fast forward to 2004. The one- time. Most Nepali start-ups fail—and goods at the lowest possible prices. several high-tech razors, and ladies too can pick room shop has evolved into a giant fail spectacularly—because He avoids distractions. For instance, from specialty products for the eyebrows and the body. Dorco multi-storied supermarket with a cartridges work with other branded razors and cost less. entrepreneurs are almost offended to he does not appear as a talking head large parking lot. It sells everything think small. on the television. He does not dissect COLOUR ME: If you need a liitle splash of wearable colour from groceries, designer clothes to Credibility: Even when his store macroeconomic policies. And he does then Lolane’s extensive palette could have you crowing over expensive jewellery and even burned down in 1993, Gurung paid not hog the limelight at Chambers of your crowning glory. The Thai hair dyes are available in more treadmills. Up to 5,000 people come all his suppliers. This act, he said, Commerce gatherings. All he knows than 27 different shades and range from Rs 125 – 600. Nepal everyday, making Bhatbhateni Super enhanced his credibility. Making a is how to sell, and has succeeded by Marketing Services say that one box of Lolane’s permanent Market the busiest single shop in the quick buck at the hapless customers’ doing only what he does best. hair dye is enough for three applications while semi- l permanent colours can be bought in smaller sachets.

SCOOTING OFF: Even girls do it—ride scooties, that is. With an ever expanding market of upwardly mobile Nepalis, Indian company TVS is doing brisk business. It has introduced two new models, TVS Fiero F2 and Scooty Pep to Nepal through M/S AIT. Rahul Sachdev, marketing manager at AIT hopes the new entrants will “explore and capture the biking opportunities of the younger generation”. Models: Fiero F2 sports and Scooty Pep can take both Jack and Jill up the hill quite comfortably.

PROJECTING MARVEL: Mercantile Office System introduces Epson’s EMP-S1, the sleek new LCD projector that’s easy on the eye and effortless in its functionality. Its futuristic look complements what’s on the inside— cutting edge projector technology. With its user friendly controls, quick power and shut down feature to its versatility to project in any environment, the EMP-S1 is a comprehensive tool. Nepal dialogue in Canada Local Nepalis in Vancouver held a dialogue event last month to explore ways to bring peace and positive change back home. Titled ‘Nepal: Political Crisis, Voices and Possibilities’, the event was hosted by the Nepal Concern Group with the Dialogue Institute of the Simon Fraser University. The panelists looked at socio-economic implications of the conflict, governance and the role of the international community. The first panel, moderated by economist Khem Dahal, included speakers Ratna Shrestha, an economist and public finance specialist, who outlined the socioeconomic consequences of political violence in Nepal and argued that it will take another 15 years to rebuild the infrastructure and rehabilitate displaced people. Suresh Bhatta, an international development consultant, said power centres and external actors have historically maintained a close relationship with each other and neglected the people and their problems. Maureen Minden of the University of British Columbia spoke of the increased difficulty of working in rural areas. Rosamelia Andrade of the Institute for Media, Policy and Civil Society moderated the second panel in which Aditya Sharma, a graduate student at UBC Lomas Regmi, shared the stories of pain and suffering of Nepalis caught between the Maoists and the security forces. Enviornmental expert, Ajay Pradhan moderated the third panel which included Amanda Gibbs and engineer Naresh Koirala who spoke on the role of mass media in peace building, and the role of Nepali diaspora in conflict resolution. Also speaking were Ritendra Tamang, research associate at the Institute of Asian Research, UBC and Nepal’s Honorary Consul General, Chris Considine. (Naresh Koirala in Vancouver) 9 - 15 JANUARY 2004 10 NATION #178 Minutes of the meeting CHELIS Women of Ill Repute Rosy Chhetri have ten burning Members of the Nepali underground women’squestions. group Charitraheen Cheli (‘Women of Ill Repute’) met last weekend at an undisclosed bar in Patan Durbar Square. Downing mugs of steaming hot drinks and juicy steak sizzlers, they sought answers to questions bothering women since Manu wrote his big fat book. A relatively young group, CHC members came together some two JAN MOGREN/AIRLINERS.NET months ago. In that time they have managed to receive wide media coverage in the Nepali and English Language papers published from Kathmandu. (See ‘Media hunks’, Nepali Times, #171). This CHC meeting, however, was different from the earlier ones, where the members had raunchily rated the sex quotient of journalists and politicians. It focused, instead, on the concerns of the Chelis themselves. Draupadi, Sita, Kali, Tara, Maya, all must have asked all these questions at one point in their lives. Now, it is the Chelis who are doing the asking:

A sharp rise in passenger demand is attracting foreign airlines. One: What percent of Nepali women have orgasm during sex? NAVIN SINGH KHADKA Cleared to land Few Chelis reported having heard a Nepali woman describe the excitement of this most intense of sexual pleasures. Consequent olstered by a dramatic “We’ll begin as soon as the ground lease a third 757 by early next questions raised included: Is it because so few actually experience it? Isn’t resurgence in tourism last year work and other formalities are month with a fourth later in the this a violation of a basic human right? Should this be reported to the and a surge in passenger completed.” Sahara plans to operate year. The airline is hoping to add Human Rights Commission somewhere? demand, international airlines are its brand new Boeing 737-800 flights to the Gulf and South increasing flights and capacity in between Kathmandu and various India, and perhaps even restart its B2004. If all goes well and there isn’t Indian cities by next month, and the Frankfurt connection with a much official red tape to tie things company has already sent a team to widebody jet. Although Prime down, six more foreign carriers are study ground handling and other Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa expected to start operations by year- facilities at Kathmandu airport. made a stopover in Singapore last end. Meanwhile, existing month to ask Prime Minister Goh The new year started on an international operators have applied Chok Tong to put in a good word optimistic note with the resumption for increases in frequency and seat for Singapore Airlines to restart its of flights by Pakistan International capacity. To meet a growth in Kathmandu flights, it doesn’t look Airways on 4 January after a two- demand, Thai Airways plans to likely. However, flights by SQ’s year suspension of flights caused by double its single daily flight between charter subsidiary, Silkair is not India’s ban on overflights. This alone Kathmandu and Bangkok by the being ruled out. Two: Given that women peak sexually when they are in their thirties will increase the number of inbound end of the year. Last year, Thai After a series of bad news with and men in their twenties, why are women pairing with older men? and outbound passenger seats by carried 80,000 passengers into the Indian Airlines hijacking, The Chelis were amazed that it takes a normal/full bodied Nepali woman 25,000 this year, according to trade Nepal, a whopping 33 percent political instability, 9/11, SARS so long to figure out how good sex can really get. Nepali women should be pairing with younger men, one piped up. A chorus of approval ensued sources. increase from 2002. “We want to and India-Pakistan tensions, from members. The Civil Aviation Authority of increase flights, but need to first passenger volumes have suddenly Nepal (CAAN) is currently revise our bilateral air service picked up again around the region, Three: Why can’t we have contraceptives that can be injected into men’s arms for five years? evaluating applications by China agreement and see availability of and Nepal is benefiting. Tourist Although most Chelis liked the idea, they couldn’t decide on the name Eastern Airlines and Philippines aircraft during that period,” Thai’s arrivals to Nepal increased 23 for the contraceptive. Injectables? Preventibles? Defensibles? It was Airlines to start operations. China General Manager Viroj Sirihorachai percent last year. In the past two suggested that those marketing the Pulsar motobike “Definitely Male” Eastern is interested in a direct Beijing told us. months, tourist arrivals went up 50 should be recruited to manage the advertising campaign. flight to complement the twice From this October, Austrian percent compared to last year, with Four: Wouldn’t it be cool if women bragged about all their sexual weekly Air China flights to Airways will double its flights to a 16 percent increase in overall conquests? Chengdu, whereas Philippine twice weekly between Amsterdam passenger volume. The Chelis thought this was a great idea. Should the bragging be based Airlines wants to offer a Manila and Kathmandu. Meanwhile, Qatar Tour operators are happy about on quantity or quality, one asked. Parameters could not be decided. stopover for flights to the US. Nepal Airways, the fastest-growing airline the increase and are especially Five: Why aren’t our women writers writing erotic stories for women? has signed air service agreements with flying to Kathmandu, operates 15 excited about the new airlines to The Chelis could not agree on whether it was women writers not writing 33 countries worldwide, but the flights a week, 11 between and from India and China. The erotica or male publishers too chicken to publish them. The Chelis unanimously agreed that they should contact the media hunks from their Philippines isn’t one of them, which Kathmandu and Doha and four focus is shifting to regional tourism last survey and ask them to keep some space for erotic writing. may delay the arrival of PAL flights. between Kuala Lumpur and because of the fragility of European “We are considering signing an Kathmandu. With an 85 percent and American traffic due to fears Sex: What, really, is the point of Charitraheen Chelis? The Chelis ask this question each time they meet. They will be asking this agreement with Philippine Airlines occupancy rate in both its A300- of terrorism. They say Nepal can question again. at the earliest,” CAAN director 600 and A320 aircraft, Qatar plans benefit by concentrating general Nagendra Prasad Ghimire to add three more flights to Doha. promotions in the two giant Seven: Why don’t women ogle, hiss, whistle and click at passing men? What the hell are we doing with our time? told us. “That is the only hurdle.” “We need a revision in the existing countries to the north and south. A crash course on the basics of these activities were suggested so they Although India has announced agreement with the government to “With the new Indian and Chinese could be managed in the course of the day-to-day activities which suck up an open sky policy allowing foreign allow the increase in frequency,” said airlines, the floodgates will open on our time. Time management and multi-tasking à la Chelis. airlines full freedom to fly as many Joy Dewan, who is also the local air-seats,” says Dewan. “We expect Eight: Why don’t women invite each other to bhattis for jaand and flights as they want in and out of agent of Qatar Airways. a big boost in tourist arrivals this raksi every day, the way men do? India, Nepal is yet to follow suit. But The Dutch subsidiary of KLM, year.” Become Charitraheen. Begin your journey… CAAN says it has streamlined Martinair is now flying a 274-seater Not to be left behind, two Nine: Why can’t men finish zipping their flies while they’re still inside procedures, reduced service fees at Boeing 767 and plans to double its Nepali private airliners, Cosmic Air public toilets? Kathmandu airport and hopes that flights during the year, carrying both and Air Shangri-La, have applied This was seen as an enduring mystery. Women in all their complicated a lot more airlines will be interested cargo and passengers to Amsterdam for Airlines Operating Certificates sari and kurta gear (complete with safety pins to hold up their kurtha in the growing Nepal market as well with a stopover in Sharjah. “We are which could come as early as shawls and sari pallus) manage to assemble themselves before exiting. as use Kathmandu as a stopover for trying to make it happen soon,” says March. Air Shangri-La has Men can’t stay there the extra 1.5 seconds it takes to zip? onward destinations. Subodh Rana, Martinair’s agent in permission to fly to Munich via Ten: Are there any single (or divorce-minded) heterosexual men out Air Sahara and Jet Airways, both Kathmandu. “Going by the increase Sharjah and other destinations, there who can cook, clean, look after children and earn a little ‘lipstick money’ on the side? private Indian airlines, have in tourist arrivals, our headquarters provided one of its two aircraft is a Apply with a 6X6 digital photograph to [email protected]. announced interest in starting flights should have no difficulty managing widebody. Cosmic has asked for Physical attributes most important and will be considered during the to Kathmandu. Air Sahara’s local that.” regional destinations, mainly in selection process. Age bar has been lifted. agent, Joy Dewan, says their flights Even Royal Nepal Airlines is India and is required to operate at Rosy Chettri is a feminist with unrestricted access to the Charitraheen Chelis, have already been cleared by the suddenly waking up to the least one jet. Both have a year to and will be filing minutes of their underground meetings once a month. prime minister’s office in New Delhi. passenger demand, and hopes to start operations. l 9 - 15 JANUARY 2004 1934 #178 11

t was sunny winter afternoon, bright blue sky and a slight breeze from the west. Most families in On 15 January it will be 70 years since the great Kathmandu were70 on their roof years after 1934 earthquake killed 4,500 people in Kathmandu terraces, or in the fields. Suddenly, birds took flight, dogs started howling, Valley. The next big one is due any day now. NARESH NEWAR there was a deep underground rumble, Ifields started undulating like waves on the ocean, houses crumbled, long fissures appeared on the roads and a great pall of dust rose over the city. Within a minute, 17,000 people were dead in Nepal and northern Bihar, many of them in Kathmandu Valley. Among the dead were two of King Tribhuban’s daughters and a daughter of Juddha Shumshere. Most houses were destroyed or damaged. This 8.0 magnitude earthquake with its epicentre along the Nepal-Bihar faultline snaps every 75 years. Aftershocks kept coming for two weeks, and the survivors camped out in the freezing cold. What is frightening to many is not the memory of that fateful day 70 years ago. What will happen the next time an earthquake of that magnitude hits Kathmandu is the real concern. And many were reminded just how bad it could be when they watched the devastation of the Iranian city of Bam last month, where 50,000 people were killed. Given Kathmandu’s rampant growth and flimsy housing, the next big one will kill at least 100,000 people. Those who die may be the lucky ones.

1255Nepal’s biggestand Indian temblors Kumaon. One-third of Kathmandu’s population of 100,000 was killed, inlcuding King Abhaya 15 January 1934 Malla. The Big One. 8.0 magnitude quake with epicenter in Bihar-Nepal border. Nearly 1408 17,000 people killed, 4,500 in Kathmandu Many of Kathmandu’s temples and houses Valley. Tremors felt as far away as Mumbai. were destroyed, including the shrine of Machindranath. Thousands were killed. 27 May 1936 7.0 magnitude quake near Dhaulagiri in 1681 central Nepal. Many houses collapsed, hundreds were killed in this quake during the reign of Srinibas 4 September 1954 Malla. Pokhara rocked by 6.5 magnitude quake.

1767 11 January 1962 There was a swarm of tremors (21 shocks in 24 6.0 magnitude tremor epicenter same as hours) in this Asar Ek quake in Kathmandu. 1934 quake.

1808 or 1810 26 September 1964 Year not confirmed, but this violent quake 6.2 magnitude, epicenter in Darchula. destroyed many houses in Bhaktapur. Temples in Kathmandu remained unscathed. 12 January 1965 6.1 tremor with epicenter northeast of 1823 Dhankuta. Another swarm of quakes in Kathmandu with 17 tremors in one day. 27 June 1966 Another 6.0 magnitude tremor in 26 August 1833 Darchula. Epicentre near Phaplu, this 7.7 magnitude quake killed more than 500 people. It rocked 29 July 1980 Kathmandu and was even felt in Delhi and 6.8 magnitude epicenter in Darchula, Kolkata. 150-200 people killed. Felt in Kathmandu

23 May 1866 21 August 1988 7.0 magnitude quake with epicenter north of 6.8 magnitude epicenter in Udaipur, killed Kathmandu rocked the valley. No major 900 in Nepal, Bihar. Damage reported in damage. Sikkim. Felt in New Delhi.

28 August 1916 9 December 1991 7.1 magnitude earthquake, epicenter near Mt Epicentre in Bajura, 6.2 magnitude. Api in western Nepal. Damage in Darchula No reports of deaths.

MIN BAJRACHARYA 12 1934

hey say earthquakes don’t kill people, houses do. But try telling that Nepalis need to remember the horror of to the private homeComing soonThe Dharara broke in half in 1934 owners adding another floor to 1934 so it doesn’t happen again. (left) and the old Ghantaghar was their fragile houses, or bribing an reduced to rubble (right). The official to pass a house design so ‘seismic gap’ in western Nepal Tthey can save money on where there hasn’t been a major construction. Most of us are earthquake in 200 years (see map). acting like an ostriches with heads in the sand when it comes to preparing for the next big one. “A massive awareness Out of the 21 cities around program is needed as our goal is the world that lie in seismic zones, to turn Nepal into a totally Kathmandu is at the highest risk earthquake safe community by of death, destruction, and 2020,” says Ramesh Guragain, a unpreparedness. Matters are not structural engineer. Indeed, a helped by the city’s extremely partnership between Nepali high urban density: Kathmandu quake safety groups, the has an uncontrolled urban government and international development with a 6.5 percent organisations has resulted in a annual growth rate. The higher level of awareness about population hovers around two the dangers, now all that needs million and some 6,000 concrete to be done is to put some of the houses are built every year, usually disaster preparedness ideas into without proper engineering. It is practice. not hard to imagine what will Historical records show that happen on a 8.0 magnitude Kathmandu has been hit by a earthquake. This city will collapse the population of Kathmandu earthquake would be colossal. thing is to know what to do in an major 1934-type earthquake like a deck of cards when (not if) (30,000 people, including King Luckily, there are some who earthquake, what a community every 75 years. So, the next one the next big one hits. Abhaya Malla) were killed when have seen the writing on the wall, needs to do to prepare, how not to is due, literally, any day now. 1934 wasn’t even the worst the valley suffered a direct hit and are working on ensuring that a build houses, and when the big But experts have discovered that earthquake Kathmandu has with an epicentre right below the maximum number of people are one does strike what can be done there is even greater danger of a suffered. In 1255, one-third of city. The effect of such a strong aware of the dangers. The first to care for the survivors. big earthquake in central Nepal,

Like most other parts of anyone wants to build a house in An 8 magnitude earthquake in KathmanduBetter Valley, the village of Chalingsafe and its surrounding Kathmandu than Valley is like nuclear Chaling outside Bhaktapur is also villages, they go straight to Tyaka war. Most of us don’t want to think seeing a housing boom. and ask for advice. about it. But look carefully, and a While it has been relatively “I know it sounds scary but we visitor notices a big difference. easy to convince Chaling to follow are living under extremely These aren’t haphazard flimsy the earthquake safety building vulnerable circumstances. The construction. Masons like 28- code plan, experts face an uphill magnitude of destruction will be year-old Biswa Ram Tyaka and challenge doing the same in core unimaginable,” says Gyan Jung five of his colleagues have just urban areas of Kathmandu and Thapa, national security officer at finished rebuilding the Nateswari other major cities. Earthquake UNDP. Things could be worse, but Primary School (see pic) to make Safety Day on 16 January will they could also be better if we are it earthquake resistant with commemorate the 70th anniversary prepared. Start now. personal donations from of the 1934 earthquake. It’s as The job of most earthquake villagers. good a time as any to prepare for experts is to think of the worst- They have all been trained at the next big one. case scenario and plan for it. As the National Society for If Chaling’s example can be things are now, what will happen Earthquake Technology (NSET) replicated, maybe the rest of to Kathmandu in the next major in masonry work that will survive Kathmandu Valley and Nepal will be earthquake of 8 magnitude or a major earthquake without a safer place the next time an above? serious damage. The six have earthquake strikes. l 60 percent of the valley’s already convinced locals that it is prudent to invest in earthquake resistant houses. These days, if

MIN BAJRACHARYA 9 - 15 JANUARY 2004 #178 13 left 721 dead and 6,553 injured. Inevitably, earthquake AminaRembering Banu, 76 Nabbe Sal experts face allegations that they My family used to be in the Muslim traditional cloth are unnecessarily scaring the businessmen in Indra Chowk. I was six, my 10-year- public and crying wolf. But it is old sister and I were playing on the roof that certain that without proper afternoon. Suddenly everything started shaking. The planning, the number of those top floor of the house was completely destroyed. The who are killed in a future staircase collapsed, but my elder brother managed to bring us down. earthquake will be much higher. We lived in the garden for 15 days, we didn’t have enough to eat. Other Muslim families helped us and gave us food. Disaster preparedness specialists say it is better to worry now and Ram Chandra Lal Joshi, 90 be prepared, than to wait for the Businessman quake to strike and then panic. We were a small family: just my sister, my father and “We need to spread the myself. I was in the shop when it happened. Tulsi message across the country dai dragged me out, the electric wires were starting right now,” says Ramesh sparking, the buildings were swaying wildly. When Aryal, chief of the Earthquake the shaking stopped, we rushed home. My sister was sitting by the stupa, then my father joined us. Everyone else was Division at the Department of safe, but Tulsi dai died. For a month we lived out in the open. There Mines and Geology. “This is were aftershocks for 15 days. We got loans from the government for where the government should rebuilding, which we had to pay back in five years. also work actively to try to form disaster committees in every Asha Ram Dhakwa, 78 ward.” Businessman The United Nations has also I was eight years old, an only child. I had just bought candy and was coming out the shop with the been trying to prod the shopkeeper’s daughter when the earthquake struck. government into preparedness I found myself trapped under a wooden pillar and by addressing mitigation and bricks. I didn’t know it was an earthquake, and prevention. They want building wondered why the girl was so quiet. I was rescued after three hours, as a ‘seismic gap’ where tectonic National Society for Earthquake codes helped draw up in 1994. but the girl died. It left a very deep impression on me. If there is another energy has not been released for Technology (NSET). “A strong enforcement of the earthquake, 90 percent of the houses in the Valley will be destroyed. more than 200 years and a massive While forecasting an code is needed, it is the best way Everyone is building tall houses, we should warn them about the earthquake could strike at any earthquake is imprecise and to ensure safer housing,” says danger. time. This puts the lake town of nothing can stop geological MB Thapa, a disaster program Mana Kumari Awasti, 83 Pokhara as well as other major upheavals, experts are concerned adviser at UNDP. I was 13, already married and living in Trisuli. I western towns at risk not just from by the lack of disaster The only silver lining so far was the second wife. In Trisuli we felt the building collapse, but also from preparedness here. “Nepal would has been initiative taken by local tremors, and our house was destroyed. My glacial lake outbursts along be in a situation worse than what government bodies. When husband’s first wife was killed but the rest of us snowfed rivers. happened recently in Bam,” says Lalitpur municipality were not badly hurt. “The next one will be more Dixit of the 26 December implemented the building code lethal and can arrive at anytime,” earthquake in the ancient last year, it was the only one in Jog Raj Bajracharya, 94 Artist says Amod M Dixit of the Iranian city. the world to take such a My father and I were in the studio in Dilli Bazar. We He worries about the lack of precaution before the occurrence ran out and saw the buildings rocking to and fro. It awareness among the people and of an earthquake. Now became very dusty with all the falling buildings. We the government’s passive attitude Bhaktapur has followed suit, and started to make our way home past fallen buildings towards the issue. “The 1998 earthquake experts hope that towards our house in Patan. The streets were earthquake changed my whole life Kathmandu’s Mayor Keshab paved with roof tiles. The Bagmati had become very muddy, the water level had risen three feet. At Mangal Bazar, Honacha’s eatery had buildings will collapse. If it happens because it taught me that people Sthapit will also take the collapsed, killing 22 customers inside. There were heaps of dead sorryat night when people are sleeping, died when information was initiative. “Such an effort bodies. We used the timber from the houses to make tents and keep as many as 125,000 people may be limited only to seismologists and reduces at least three-fourth of warm. killed. geologists,” says Dixit. That 7.3 the risk from earthquake Interviews and pictures by Mudita Bajracharya l Anything more than two storeys magnitude quake in eastern Nepal hazard,” says Dixit. high will either collapse or sustain l severe damage. l Rockfalls and landslides will block all main highways leading into Kathmandu, the airport will be unserviceable so international relief will have to be parachute dropped, which will take at least four days to arrive. l Most open spaces have disappeared, including most of Tundikhel which was where most people camped out in 1934. People will have to spend weeks outdoors along parks, roads or river banks. l Water will be scarce. The mains, such as they are, will not work. The ground water table will recede, so most wells will go dry. l There is high risk of fires caused by explosions of gas cylinders, kerosene stoves and gas stations in the centre of the city. l Electricity and telephone lines will be cut off. l If the earthquake happens during the monsoon, liquefaction will mean that the city will be floating as the soil turns to paste. Water borne diseases, exacerbated by rotting corpses, will grow into an epidemic that will kill many initial survivors. l The hospitals left standing will be understaffed and overwhelmed with the wounded. l No one has even started thinking about the social anarchy, looting, crime in the absence of a strong security presence. A 9 - 15 JANUARY 2004 14 #178 NEPAL IN THE FOREIGN PRESS

Refugees in limbo where Just arrived: prefabricated wooden houses. PREttySRADDHA FABulous BASNYAT ommuters and passers by have noticed a curious wooden structure going up in Kupondol, upstairs from the furniture store, Home Maker. the UNcamps isn’t are known to be peoplewelcomeNepali government has offered to There are no bricks and no piles of cement, and has already elicited from within impoverished Nepal settle those willing to remain and curious enquiries: is it an experiment, will it be livable, is it for display and or from India, particularly West to grant them citizenship, my Ccan I have one too? Yes to all of the above, and you won’t even have a long From the UN Wire 29 December 2003 Bengal and the northeast India, office will promote self-reliance wait to step into your own home sweet home. where they have also been harassed projects to facilitate their Ishwari Shah is excited about her new home. Although the concept of or expelled. integration, and will gradually prefab houses have been around, it faced several disadvantages in Nepal. BARBARA CROSSETTE People thought they were a fire hazard that wouldn’t last, or the wood Easy enough to sort this out? phase out its direct involvement in would warp. After several years of research and development, the crew at UNITED NATIONS – For about a Not at all. This issue has now the camps. Second, my office will Bira Furniture and Nemo Parquet in Patan Industrial Estate finally have dozen years, tens of thousands of become so politicised in Nepal that support resettlement initiatives for perfected a high-tech cement and sawdust board that can be used in people, claiming to be Bhutani when a Bhutani verification team vulnerable cases. Third, because of construction. citizens evicted from the arrived at a Nepali camp last the denial of access to UNHCR in The consortium has successfully completed 250 prefabricated homes mountain kingdom in a Monday to explain the agreement Bhutan, making it impossible for throughout Nepal which can last a lifetime if maintained well—all it requires Himalayan ethnic cleansing, have to residents, they were assaulted by us to monitor the return process, is a lick of varnish every two years to protect the exterior. been languishing in refugee a mob wielding bamboo rods and we will not promote returns.” camps in Nepal. Few officials in stones. The team was immediately Bhutan’s foreign policy is India and Nepal, or in Geneva at recalled to Bhutan. decided by India, and India— the International Committee of Where has the UNHCR been which sees itself as a rising world the Red Cross and the office of through all of this? Mostly on the power and wants a permanent the UN High Commissioner for sidelines. Neither Nepal nor Security Council seat—has rarely Refugees, believe they are all Bhutan has wanted the refugee permitted the UNHCR to operate Bhutani. agency to be in charge of the freely in its territory. This was true in the refugee crisis in 1971 when India supported a revolt by East Pakistan, which became Bangladesh with a lot of Indian help. The UNHCR did not run the Sri Lankan Tamil refugee camps in the southern Indian Tamil Nadu region in the 1980s, where guerrillas rested or trained for combat against the Sri Lankan government. In the late 1980s, a U.N. official in New Delhi, where Then who are these people, census. The UNHCR, however, I lived, told me that the UNHCR now numbering more than has cared for the people in five had to operate all but clandestinely 100,000? After years of camps at a substantial cost of $5 in trying to help Afghans who fled wrangling between Bhutan and million annually, not counting to India during the war against Nepal, complicated by Bhutani World Food Program aid, and Soviet occupation. It is obstinacy over who qualifies to would have the expertise to help if inconceivable that India would return, and by a succession of not actually conduct the now let the UNHCR operate political upheavals in Nepal— repatriation process. Instead, the extensively along the Bhutan- punctuated by the assassination UNHCR, under Ruud Lubbers, Indian border, whether or not the of almost the entire Nepali royal decided in October that because Bhutanese would accept that family—the two governments the Bhutani would not permit the presence. MIN BAJRACHARYA were finally able to agree in agency to monitor returns to Lubbers said in his October Ishwari Shah posing under the eaves of her prefabricated house. October to a systematic census in Bhutan, it was essentially pulling speech. “I urge states, and the refugee camps. Those with out of the process. particularly neighboring India, to The benefits of the construction seem unlimited: no permits are required documented claims to Bhutani ”This is totally unacceptable,” assist Bhutan and Nepal to nor is it necessary for drawings to be passed by the municipality since citizenship would return, others Lubbers, the high commissioner, identify just, human and durable (legally) it is not a bricks and mortar house. No real foundation is needed and who had renounced Bhutani said in a speech to the agency’s solutions for all of these people,” the structure is also earthquake proof. Suresh Shrestha at Bira explains: nationality could reapply and executive committee that is worth he said. Those words are even “The link to the ground is limited so it’s like furniture. It’ll shake during an those with no claim or desire to quoting verbatim because it more important now that the earthquake, but it won’t crack or fall down.” After all the components are readied at the factory according to design, live in Bhutan would be resettled rewrote agency policy on this issue. first concrete steps toward that the house is then assembled on site. It requires five men and 15 days to put in Nepal or possibly abroad. A fair “I have therefore decided to take end have met with violence it together. “Once the design is finalised and the measurements taken, we do number of the people in the three key measures. First, since the in Nepal. l everything from electricity to painting. The customer receives the key to a finished product,” says Shrestha. It’s still a foreign idea, but builders like Shrestha believes there is a lot of potential in the Nepali market, not least because of its economy and safety aspects. Depending on the design and size, it averages Rs 600 -2,000 per sq ft. At that rate, Shrestha estimates the Kupondol house will come to Rs 1.6 million. Only 5 percent of the material used are non-Nepali. There are minimal interior design costs as well. Why hide all that lovely wood? But wallpapering, emulsion paints and even plaster of paris can be used. Luckily, wood in Nepal is still relatively less expensive, compared to Scandinavia (where the technology was imported from), or even India where they are still using iron frames. The product itself is reuseable and can even be remolded into another design. “It’s like playing house when you were a child,” says Shrestha. Prefabricated houses are also practical because wood is naturally insulating. Currently, wood used for parquet comes from eastern Nepal and ply board from western Nepal. Bira has been working with the government to get some land to grow trees for harvesting. Sustainability doesn’t look like it will be a problem if only the government land at subsidized rate was more forthcoming. For Ishwari Shah, the greatest attraction of her new home is the simplicity and the safty in case of an earthquake. And Bira hopes to rent the house to have his office, and publicity will not be a problem since it is right on the main Patan road. Bira Furniture: 5522253, 5524118 Nemo Parquet: 4414805 9 - 15 JANUARY 2004 ASIA #178 15 Sweet SAARC deals

Economic integrationMUDDASSIR RIZVI in ISLAMABAD RANJIT DEVRAJ in NEWMilitary DELHI restraint he high-profile summit of the seven- 2006. This category is also classified as he spectre of a nuclear holocaust, said: “President Musharraf reassured Prime nation South Asian Association for middle-income countries by the World Trade which has loomed over the Minister Vajpayee that he will not permit any Regional Cooperation (SAARC) ended Organisation, and includes India and Pakistan. subcontinent ever since India and territory under Pakistan’s control to be used with high-profile decisions, including the The least developed countries will, however, Pakistan conducted tit-for-that nuclear tests to support terrorism in any manner. ” signing of the much-awaited South Asian Free meet the target in a period of 10 years, staring in 1998, has begun to recede as they agree to Musharraf has in the past insisted that the TradeTT Agreement (SAFTA). This agreement January 2006.The agreement allows each resolveT their differences through a ‘composite 1999 war on the Line of Control (LoC) at will initiate the long-awaited process of member state to maintain a sensitive list of dialogue’ to begin in February. The Kargil was carried out by indigenous freedom regional economic integration once it goes products on which tariffs will not be reduced. breakthrough came on Tuesday at the close of fighters seeking to liberate Kashmir. But into operation in January 2006. Although the This list will be finalised by 1 January 2006. the two-day summit of the seven-nation hostilities escalated and involved the downing otherwise ineffective regional bloc also agreed Not everyone is optimistic. Many sections South Asian Association for Regional of each other’s aircraft and the loss of to wide-ranging cooperation to curb of the industry fear they will not survive the Cooperation (SAARC) in Islamabad. thousands of lives before it was stopped by the terrorism, SAFTA is the most important tough competition of free international and Analysts say the truly important outcome intervention of then US President Bill outcome of the summit, as it will lead to regional trade. Pakistan’s sugar industry, for of the SAARC summit is the South Asia Free Clinton. economic interdependence and instance, shivers with fears of competing with Trade Area (SAFTA), which ensures the The years that followed saw the leaders of ultimately greater political harmony among its Indian counterpart. nuclear-armed both countries publicly threatening to use the bickering South Asian nations. It is these fears that neighbours were their nuclear weapons on each other. “I am happy to see that the spirit of indicate that the “locked into a new Following an attempt by a suicide squad to accommodation and cooperation prevailed all finalisation of SAFTA collective blow up the Indian Parliament in December through our deliberations,” Bangladeshi Prime details and preparation arrangement” that 2000, India withdrew its high commissioner Minister Khaleda Zia told the concluding of sensitive lists will be included Bhutan, from Islamabad, suspended overflights by session of the summit. The next SAARC a tricky task for Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Pakistani aircraft and massed some 700,000 summit it set for Dhaka in January next year. SAARC’s member Lanka and the troops on the border. The signing of SAFTA was received nations, which also Maldives. It took intense international ‘shuttle- warmly, particularly by the business leaders of foresee a regional The summit saw diplomacy’ between New Delhi and India and Pakistan, the strongest countries of economic union, with Indian Prime Minister Islamabad, led by US Secretary of State Colin the bloc. “This is the most important perhaps a single currency, taking shape Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistan President Powell, to defuse a situation dangerous achievement of SAARC ever. The 11 summits by 2020. Gen Pervez Musharraf meeting, for the first enough for several countries to carry out in the past achieved absolutely no socio- SAFTA’s full realisation will also hinge on time in nearly three years, at the sidelines of emergency evacuations of its nationals from economic gains for the region where 20 the bilateral relations among the SAARC the summit (see pic, inset). The two officials the two countries. Since then, Pakistan has percent of the world population resides,” member states. “All of us know very well that had previous meetings, but they were failures. been under pressure from United States to commented Riaz Ahmed Tata, president of real cooperation will not be sustainable in a Vajpayee travelled to Pakistan in 1999 and dismantle the militant camps that India insists the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of political vacuum and an environment of Musharraf arrived in the Indian city of Agra in exist along the LoC. Commerce and Industry (FPCCI). conflict and confrontation,” 2001. India insisted that any discussion of the But in the joint statement, Musharraf The agreement approved at the summit said Pakistani Foreign Minister Khursheed Kashmir issue must be preceded by a denied any Western power influenced the puts in place its broader framework. It binds Kasuri. It was, therefore, no surprise that the “cessation of cross-border terrorism” carried resumption of a peace dialogue with India. the non-least developed countries of the Monday talk between the leaders of Pakistan out by militant groups located in the ‘‘There is no question of any outside region to reduce their tariffs to 0 to 5 percent and India on the sidelines of the summit took Pakistan-held part of divided Kashmir. force...the deal is between India and in a period of seven years, starting January the limelight. l (IPS) Significantly, Tuesday’s joint statement Pakistan.’’ l (IPS)

mid shattered hopes, dilapidated roads and destroyed homes that still haveA no sanitation services, everything seems to be out of order in the life of many Afghanis.This war- devastated country enters 2004 with Distant peace the prospect of its first democratic elections expected in June next year, after the draft of a new constitution ‘Liberation’ has not brought is in place. But to many, lasting peace what it promised to Afghanistan. looks a distant, if not impossible, FIDA HUSSAIN in JALALABAD dream. “It will be a miracle if our leaders are used to war. They don’t government has no or very little cherished dream to see peace know what peace is and what its authority outside the capital. It comes true. But the ground realities fruits are,” he said while selling remains heavily dependent for suggest something else, maybe peppermints to children wearing security on foreign, including US something worse in the days to muddy thick clothes to ward off the troops, while warlords outside Kabul come,” says trader Mohammad cold. The thought of peace has have been refusing to turn over Rehman. Sitting in his tiny mud-made become alien to a people used to revenues to the central government. shop in suburbs of Jalalabad, the hearing gunshots and tanks rolling The country’s woes are not he asked. “These are the questions that rouses my mind,” the same capital of eastern Nangarhar in the streets and over their mud- surprising, says an intellectual who which need to be properly intellectual added. “The fact is that province, he looks and sounds made habitats, he says. did not wish to be named. He says answered.” that over 80 percent of jirga’s hopeless about peace more than two These feelings of uncertainty are the ‘liberation’ of Afghanistan in Some believe that the holding delegates are those whose interests years after the Taliban’s ouster in not helped by the fact that in the post- 2001, after the US-led military attacks of ‘loya jirga’ or grand assembly to could be better served and nourished November 2001. Taliban era, most parts of the country, in retribution for the 11 September discuss a new constitution—which in continued warfare and ‘not in Our Watan—the term he used for including the capital Kabul, have terrorist attacks, was just coined by is nearing an end after weeks of peace’.” his country—came out of the Soviet witnessed an upsurge in Washington. In truth, this ‘liberation’ debates about whether The warlords had resisted occupation in the late eighties only lawlessness as well as the re- is nothing else but the beginning of Afghanistan should have a Karzai’s push for the constitution to to go under the occupation of emergence of ethnic divisions sown another occupation, adds the presidential or parliamentary form design a strong presidency. “After the another world power, Rehman said, by years of conflict. Aid workers intellectual, who has taught at of government—will be futile if it Taliban’s alienation and its without naming the United States, have come under attack. Opium educational institutions set up for does not address tensions among subsequent fall, let us now alienate whose troops have just finished a production accounts for nearly half Afghan refugees in neighbouring different ethnic and political groups. the warlords, the so-called massive operation going after Taliban the GDP, and the country needs $30 Pakistan. “What is the US agenda? The ratification of the new commanders and tribal chiefs. This and al-Qaeda fighters. “It seems our billion in aid and investment over the Did it and its allies have any real plan constitution will pave the way for is the only panacea for all the crippling commanders and ‘maliks’ or village next five years. The Karzai for Afghanistan’s reconstruction?” the 2004 poll. “Something is there ills of over 20 years,” he said. l (IPS) 9 - 15 JANUARY 2004 16 INTERNATIONAL #178 of individuals with little understanding of themselves but an exaggerated sense of their personal destiny. Driven by insecurity and resentment, they seek absolute power, becoming increasingly secretive and obsessed with any challenge to their control, losing touch with reality and those they rule. Ultimately, they inflict their personal torment on everyone around them and plunge their world into a vortex of destruction Isolation and alienation are driving us that culminates more often than not in political suicide. Feedinginto a downwardterror spiral of The pattern set by those at the top of the power pyramid self-reinforcing fear. sets the tone for relationships all the way down, infecting an entire global culture with a terrorised image of human nature. Tyranny thrives on isolation and alienation. The ragtag terrorists who strike fear into the hearts of the elite and the public alike are themselves acting out of a traumatised sense of their own exclusion. The decades-long decline in civic participation in democratic countries is both a symptom of this fearful isolation and a boon to authoritarian leaders since it fragments all opposition and undermines confidence in its capacity to reverse the course of history. In such a dispiriting civic environment, the most effective antidote is to reach out and connect with others. Knowing that silence and distance only fuel fear and suspicion, we must rouse ourselves from our isolation and discover our common ground, where we will find strength and courage we could never muster f the first casualty of the US ‘war on terror’ was truth, the practice conservative ideology consistently undermines all three alone. While in itself this reaching out is a purely personal act, second was trust. Telegraphed through the policies and through policies that raid public resources, poison trust it has enormous political implications, opening up a horizon of pronouncements of an imperial but increasingly isolated between people, and erode confidence in our collective capacity shared life and shattering what is in fact just the illusion of superpower, mistrust is spreading like a virus through the global to address the challenges we face. isolation. To say that we are all connected is not merely a wish body politic, infecting not only trade relations, diplomacy, and Those who wage the war on terror use fear to intimidate or spiritual aspiration but a simple material fact. Our existence Ipublic life but personal and professional relationships. and compel the compliance not only of foreign enemies but also is supported at all times and in all ways by a web of Isolation and alienation between people are driving us into of their own publics. And that fear is best engendered by making relationships without which we could not survive. Recognising a downward spiral of self-reinforcing fear. Reversing this trend people feel alone in any concerns they may have about their this is itself a source of profound reassurance. will require an awakening nation’s leadership. “Journalists live in fear of being ‘necklaced’ The appalling truth is that in certain crucial respects we are COMMENT to our fundamental with a burning tire of patriotism if they ask the tough even connected to those whose actions we most abhor. We may Mark Sommer interdependence and a questions,” Dan Rather, dean of US TV news anchors, not share responsibility for their criminal actions but we share recognition that our admitted to a BBC interviewer in July 2002. Fearing ostracism their range of emotions and potential behaviour. This worst enemy is not each other but the fear that prevents us from and despairing of their lack of power to influence events, most understanding is the wellspring of compassion. And compassion joining with one another to address the crises caused by our in the American media and public life swallow their doubts and is a potent weapon against the inner terrors that torment both self-isolating behaviour. so contribute to the mistaken impression among a ‘‘silenced our fellow citizens and our fear-driven, fear-provoking leaders. Under the banner of “privatisation”, those who have majority’’ that few share their concerns. Our true enemy is not each another but the emotional terrors dominated US and global politics since the end of the Cold Yet the same authorities who counsel us to beware of one that plague us all. And the best antidote to this is the simple if War have systematically devalued and plundered the public another and of “terrorists” in our midst are themselves acting daunting act of reaching out to others. l (IPS) realm, depriving our governments of the resources and support out of a fear-filled worldview. Imagining implacable enemies they need to perform effectively. But privatisation has exacted even among traditional allies, they share key aspects of the Mark Sommer directs the US-based Mainstream Media Project and an equally high price in our social relations. Despite its paranoid authoritarian rulers of the past. George W Bush and hosts an award-winning syndicated radio program, proclaimed allegiance to family, country and community, in his reclusive vice president, Dick Cheney, fit a familiar pattern ‘A World of Possibilities’’ (www.aworldofpossibilities.com).

In 2004 the global economy will crumble in favour of the US. Fortunecycle, the rapid progress of the is not a great handicap forcookie developing do know that it will. Similarly, we do information-technology revolution is countries, because Europe and Japan not know when world trade in pushing American productivity growth were never all that open to imports information services like form ahead as fast as—or faster than—ever. from developing countries to begin processing, accounting, and customer Had the Federal Reserve been more with. Solid demand growth in the US service will truly boom as a result of aggressive in pushing interest rates will provide increased demand for the Internet and the fiber-optic down, or had Bush and Congress developing-country exports—albeit cable. But we do know that, like the passed tax cuts aimed at boosting not at the prices that prevailed when late 19th-century boom in trade in short-term demand and employment, the dollar was stronger. staple goods fueled by the iron-hulled the US economy would have grown More importantly, the ocean-going steamship and the at a pace not seen in a generation developing world has little to fear submarine telegraph, it will. and a half. from sudden panic on Wall Street. The lesson is that governments, Will America’s economy grasp its American domestic interest rates are firms, investors, workers, and parents opportunity to grow rapidly over the so low and the fear of a large further worldwide should begin betting on next year? Probably. Unless stagnant decline in the dollar so great that it is the long-run trends that have become sense of tremendous opportunity employment causes a sudden cutback nearly impossible to envision a visible over the past decade. Such ANALYSIS wasted. in household consumption, tax sudden withdrawal of capital from bets probably won’t pay off in the J Bradford Delong Ever since George W Bush took rebates and low interest rates should developing countries to the post- next year, or two, or three. But they office, America’s annual real GDP push the US economy ahead at a 4 industrial core. surely will start to pay off in the hat will the next year bring growth has averaged 2.3 percent—a percent growth rate over the next More important than short-run next ten. for the world economy? pace that would have been acclaimed year. This may or may not be enough cycles, however, are long-run trends. Karl Marx was not wholly wrong What will happen to as normal and satisfactory when to produce lots of payroll jobs and Annual Labor productivity growth in when he wrote that the most production in the developing world, George W Bush’s father or Ronald significantly cut the unemployment the US has acclerated steadily in the industrialised countries are mirrors in and in the rich industrial core? Reagan was president, but that after rate, but it will be enough growth for past 30 years, from 1.2 percent in the which the rest of the world can see Indeed,W do we even still dare to the Clinton boom now seems tawdry the US to continue to be the fastest period from the mid-1970s to the its own future. The mirror that is the maintain that distinction anymore? and sluggish. Indeed, it is clear that growing component of the world mid-1990s, to 2.3 percent in the late US shows that the returns from After all, most rich countries have the American economy could have economy’s post-industrial core. But 1990s and to 4.2 percent since 2000. taking advantage of the economic entered a post-industrial age, while grown much faster than it has. the post-industrial core’s economy as How much of the second jump in changes made possible by the IT developing countries now have—or The US Bureau of Labor a whole will continue to be like an productivity growth will be sustained revolution are very high. The hard soon will—as great a share of their Statistics reports a drop in the airplane with only one working is uncertain, but it is safe to bet question for other countries is how population working in “industry” as employment/population ratio from engine. Real GDP growth in that some of it will. to do this. l (© Project Syndicate) the world’s rich nations. In the 64.4 percent in 2000 to 62.3 percent Japan and western Europe is The more intriguing question is United States, the fears of nine today, together with a decline in unlikely to reach even half the pace this: when will the rapid IT-driven J Bradford DeLong is Professor months ago that America’s economy seen in the US. productivity growth seen in the US of Economics at the University non-farm payroll employment in this of California at Berkeley and was might succumb to deflation have period from 131.8 million to 130.2 However, the absence of rapid spread to the rest of the rich Assistant US Treasury Secretary been dispelled. What remains is a million. Underlying the business growth in western Europe and Japan countries? We do not know, but we during the Clinton Presidency. 9 - 15 JANUARY 2004 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY #178 17

related disorders. RESEARCH For example, your occasional Ralph Hoffman illusionary perception of your name Hearing voices spoken in a crowd occurs because ou are in a crowd when you this utterance is uniquely important. hear your name. You turn, Our brains are primed to register looking for the speaker. No such events, so on rare occasions the one meets your gaze. It dawns on brain makes a mistake and you that the voice you heard must reconstructs unrelated sounds (such haveY sprung from your own mind. as people talking indistinctly) into a This foray into the uncanny is as false perception of the spoken name. close as most people come to Hallucinated voices are also experiencing auditory hallucinations known to occur during states of or “hearing voices”, a condition that religious or creative inspiration. affects 70 percent of patients with Joan of Arc described hearing the schizophrenia and 15 percent of voices of saints telling her to free her patients with mood disorders such as country from the English. Rainer mania or depression. For these Maria Rilke heard the voice of a individuals, instead of hearing just “terrible angel” amidst the sound of one’s name, voices produce a stream a crashing sea after living alone in a of speech, often vulgar or derogatory castle for two months. This or a running commentary on one’s experience prompted his writing the How can we understand differences between an most private thoughts. Duino Elegies. inspired voice, an isolated instance of hearing The compelling aura of reality How can we understand about these experiences often differences between an inspired one’s own name, and the voices of the mentally ill? produces distress and disrupts voice, an isolated instance of hearing brain that ordinarily receive speech the brain more likely to produce to produce corresponding verbal thought and behavior. The sound of one’s own name and the voices of inputs from the outside. To test this hallucinated conversations. Often “messages”. the voice is sometimes that of a the mentally ill? One answer is that theory we are using trans-cranial one of the first signs of This would account for the fact family member or someone from “non-pathological” voices occur magnetic stimulation (TMS) to reduce schizophrenia—occurring well that voices also emerge during states one’s past, or is like that of no rarely or perhaps only once. Not so the excitability of portions of the before manifestations such as of extreme, but incidental, known person but has distinct and for the person with mental illness. temporal lobe and Broca’s region. hearing voices—is social isolation. emotionality brought on by inspired immediately recognisable features— Without treatment, these What remains unaddressed is the An example is Charles Bonnet thought, mania, depression, or say, a deep, growling voice. Often experiences recur relentlessly. root cause of abnormal brain Syndrome, where visual ingestion of certain drugs. Here the certain actual external sounds, such Brain imaging studies have activations. We are pursuing three impairments in the elderly can voices disappear when the emotional as fans or running water, become found that parts of the temporal intertwined ideas. The first is based produce visions of human figures. states return to normal. transformed into perceived speech. lobe activate during these on studies suggesting that Third, heightened emotions Our hypothesis is that voices One patient described the hallucinations. Our research at Yale schizophrenia patients suffer from may play a role in producing voices. arise from different combinations of recurrence of voices as akin to being University, as well as studies reduced brain connectivity. As a It is possible that intense states of these three factors—reduced brain “in a constant state of mental rape”. conducted at the Institute of result, certain groups of neurons, emotion could pre-select and integration, social isolation, and high In the worst cases, voices command Psychiatry in London, also detected such as those responsible for perhaps elicit from the brain certain levels of emotionality. This view has the listener to undertake destructive activation in an area of the brain producing and perceiving language, verbal messages having the same become the focus of efforts to acts such as suicide or assault. But known as Broca’s region during may begin to function emotional charge. understand and help patients with hearing voices is not necessarily a production of “inner speech” or autonomously, beyond the control When schizophrenia begins, mental illness quiet their minds. l sign of mental illness, so verbal thought. or influence of other brain systems. these persons are often in states of (© Project Syndicate) understanding the mechanics of One theory is that voices arise The second idea is that extreme fear or elation. It could be auditory hallucinations is crucial to because Broca’s area “dumps” deprivation of social interaction— that these powerful emotional states Ralph Hoffman is Professor of understanding schizophrenia and language outputs into parts of the namely human conversation—makes increase the propensity of the brain Psychiatry at Yale University.

occur when farmers buy their seeds from seed These applications of conventional producers, of course, but in that case gene biotechnology, or genetic engineering, flow in the other direction is still possible, represent monumental scientific, with genes from the cultivated crop ending technological, commercial, and humanitarian up in the wild relative. successes. But the techniques they were That is most likely if genes from the crop relatively crude and recently have been confer a selective advantage on the supplemented—and in many cases replaced— recipient, an occurrence that is uncommon by “the new biotechnology”, a set of enabling with gene-splicing, where most often the techniques that enable genetic modification added gene places the recipient at a natural at the molecular level. The prototype of these disadvantage. The worst-case scenario would techniques, variously called gene-splicing or be gene transfer from plants engineered for genetic modification (“GM”), is a more precise, enhanced resistance to certain herbicides. better understood, and more predictable But even this scenario raises no issues of method for altering genetic material than was ecological or food safety. For if the use of possible previously. one herbicide were compromised, farmers The desired “product” of gene-splicing may would simply use another. be the engineered organism itself—a bacteria Gene transfer is an age-old concern for to clean up oil spills, a weakened virus used as farmers. Growing hundreds of crops, virtually a vaccine, or a papaya tree that resists all of which have been genetically improved, viruses—or it may be a biosynthetic product of Biotech is nothing new. the practitioners of “conventional” agriculture the cells, such as human insulin produced in in North America meticulously developed bacteria, or oil expressed from seeds. Gene- strategies for preventing pollen cross- spliced plants have for several years been contamination in the field—when and if it is grown worldwide on more than 100 million necessary for commercial reasons. acres annually. More than two-thirds of keptics about agricultural biotechnology agriculturists carried out selection for desired A good example is Canola—the processed foods in the US contain ingredients Bravelambaste it as unproven, untested, Oldtraits, generatingWorld poorly understood changes genetically improved rapeseed developed derived from gene-spliced organisms. There unnatural, and uncontrollable. Nothing in the organisms’ genetic material. by Canadian plant breeders a half-century has not been a single mishap that resulted in could be farther from the truth. Opponents of biotech repeatedly raise dire ago. The original rapeseed oil was harmful injury to a single person or ecosystem. Thus, Early biotechnology—the application of warnings of the movement of “rogue genes” when ingested because of high levels of both theory and experience confirm the biologicalS systems to technical or industrial between the modified crop and wild (or erucic acid. After conventional plant extraordinary predictability and safety of gene- processes—dates to 6000 BC, when the domesticated) relatives. But, at the risk of breeding led to the development of splicing technology and its products. Babylonians used specialised microorganisms mixing metaphors, this is a red herring. Gene rapeseed varieties with low concentrations of The new gene-splicing techniques are in fermentation to brew alcoholic beverages. flow is ubiquitous. All crop plants have erucic acid, canola oil became the most merely an extension, or refinement, of the Genetic relatives somewhere and some gene flow commonly consumed oil in Canada. But kinds of genetic modification that preceded engineering commonly occurs if the two populations are high-erucic acid rapeseed oil is still used as the era of “new bio-technology”. Welcome to COMMENT can be grown close together. Gene flow from wild a lubricant and plasticiser. So the high- and Biotech’s Brave Old World. l (© Project Syndicate) Henry I Miller dated relatives to crop plants may even be low-erucic acid varieties of rapeseed plants from encouraged by subsistence farmers to must be carefully segregated in the field and Henry I Miller, a fellow at the man’s recognition that animals and crop plants maintain the broad genetic base of the thereafter. Canadian farmers and processors Hoover Institution, Stanford University, was the can be selected and bred to enhance desired varieties that they plant using seed harvested accomplish this routinely and without founding director of the Office of Biotechnology at characteristics. Early biologists and from an earlier crop. Such gene flow does not difficulty. the US Food & Drug Administration, 1989-1993. 9 - 15 JANUARY 2004

18 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS #178

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ UMLPokhrel leader Ishwor on Pokhrel India in Kantipur, 4 January

Nepali Congress leader Narahari Acharya in Kantipur, 5 January “I was about to board the plane to The republican road HimalHome Khabarpatrika, 31 December – soon14 January fly back home on 29 December The issue of a republican system has ignited a serious debate for the in New Delhi after attending a first time in contemporary Nepal. In 1950, the goal of the Nepal Three years after he Communist Party was to establish a communist republic. Eleven two-day conference jointly was arrested by the years later, when the party split, the republic was still a common organised by the Association of Indian army in cause among the different communist factions, despite some leaders Nepali Diaspora in India and the Kathmandu, Prem showing pro-king shades. In 1996, the Maoists resorted to an armed All India Nepali Free Students’ Bahadur Balchhaudi struggle to usher in a people’s republic. But it was only after the Union. All of a sudden, Indian Chhetri of Tanahu Nepali Congress started to consider the matter that it finally became security personnel took me away district is languishing a matter of national debate. in jail at Lucknow (pic, Officially and practically, the Nepali Congress, the UML and other from the departure lounge. right). He was arrested communist blocs are in favour of monarchy even now. Even the Diferent officers took turns upper echelons of the Maoists have said they would respect the king interrogating me between 10PM- while was queuing up if he drops his ambition to rule the country. to receive his pension 3AM. They were out to humiliate at Thamel, not in So how is it that a republic state is becoming an issue? The and intimidate, and I could not Nepali Congress is not against a republican system. It has accepted Lucknow as the Indian a constitutional monarchy with a view to transform it for the greater understand why they persisted in army claims. Having good. But things changed after the palace massacre and the royal their behaviour when I clearly served in the Indian takeover a year later. stated my legal and political Army for 22 years, status. The program I attended Chhetri retired five was organised with the consent of years ago and opened the local administration and a grocery shop at Anbukhaireni in security agency, so why was I Tanahu. Immediately mistreated? Perhaps through my after he was taken, his arrest they wanted to salvage their family placed notices tarnished diplomatic image in various newspapers following their intimidation tactics and TV spots asking with Nepal and their double-speak for his whereabouts. regarding the Maoists. After three long months Indian rulers have always they found out that he maintained double standards was imprisoned in the Indian city. His wife toward Nepal after their Kalpana (pic, right), independence from the British. relatives and other The objective of such a policy is supporters petitioned to harness Nepal’s natural with the Home Ministry, resources for its use. It was India human rights organisations and political leaders about his that made late King Tribhuuban unlawful detention and legal status. Chhetri’s case even made flee his palace and take refuge in it to the floor of the parliament, but no further. its embassy before being Rishi KC, the former chairman of Anbukhaireni VDC says nobody has shown any concern. It’s a sentiment that others ‘evacuated’ to New Delhi. The echo. “It is sad to see the silence of our government when Indian government caused the India jails an innocent citizen,” says social worker Ajad Kumar movement in Nepal to flare up in Mishra. Chhetri’s wife is afraid her husband may spend the MIN BAJRACHARYA the name of the ousted king. The rest of his life behind bars. “It looks like the Indians can do The palace massacre raised doubts and questions about the idea was to compel Mohan anything they want,” says the mother of two teenaged sons, respectability and need for a traditional monarchy. The political Shumshere to sign a treaty in whose future is her main concern. Chhetri telephones his parties and parliament failed to conduct a thorough investigation into 1950 that was so unequal that it family once every three or four months. The last time he spoke the incident. In fact, the parliament did not even seriously discuss the to them, he said the Indian government hadn’t filed any case issue. This clearly showed that the monarchy had not truly become was an insult. The Rana prime minister was already on shaky against him. “They have no ground to prove their charge,” he constitutional even after the 1990 movement. had said. “I’ll be home soon, don’t worry.” The Indian The Nepali Congress doubts the king for another reason: his ground without the patronage of government provides Chhetri with food in jail but the rest of his haste and lack of procedure in naming Crown Prince Paras Shah as the British who had already left expenses have to be borne by his family. They have already his heir without clearing the latter’s name of past controversies. The India. It is this same treaty that has spent more than Rs 100,000 to track down his whereabouts royal takeover of Fourth October made it clear that he had removed become a noose around the neck of and later to petition for his release. taking himself from constitutional boundaries. Those who supported a people’s republic and expected progressive reforms in the monarchy Nepalis today.” were forced to label the king’s move as regressive. There is pressure building up from the grassroots in the Nepali Congress that the party statutes need to be changed and the party should be ready for a republic. In the past, people believed that the end of the Panchayat system meant the end of Nepal. We’re still around. Similarly, the country will probably survive without a monarchy. The people and our institutions can save the country. The constitutional monarchy has been the policy, not the principle, of the Nepali Congress. No matter how important policies are, they are subject to review. This is why the party is now debating the need of a monarchy. Even if the streets become quiet again or the Maoist guns fall silent, the country will travel on the republican road. The real challenge is to prepare the public for a republic. Nepal has always found itself saddled with political systems backed by the Nepali Congress, although the party often fails to run them with any lasting success. Monarchs do not deign to correct themselves. It falls on the institutions of the people. Man with broken steering wheel: Political parties We have to correct things, Bus: Student movement and respect, reform or even change the Rajdhani, 4 January monarchy. The sooner we QUOTE OF THE WEEK comprehend this, the closer we’ll find ourselves “The king’s effort should be to reinstate my government and make to the solution of the Madhab Nepal the prime minister.” present crisis. – Sher Bahadur Deuba in Rajdhani, 6 January

SELECTED MATERIAL TRANSLATED EVERY WEEK FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 9 - 15 JANUARY 2004 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS #178 19

suspicion.” He has been here four

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○○○○○○○ months and works as a day RajdhaniSuccour, 5 January labourer. With no extra money for EditorialEnough in Kantipur of this, 7 January a room, he is forced to sleep under NEW DELHI – In GB Road, the a bridge near the railway station. We will not destroy public property Indian capital’s notorious red light While it’s sad to see Nepalis or kill innocent citizens, that is what area, the madams are surprised and throwing away their hard-earned the Maoist leadership repeatedly says pleased to see a large number of money on sex workers, it is worse in its press statements. But rebels on Nepali men visiting their brothels. to see them being exploited by the the lower rungs don’t seem to be Ransom They are the diaspora who fled the police who regularly collect paying attention. As a matter of fact, Maoist insurgency and went to India ‘protection’ money for keeping they are involved in activities that and now they seek a little bit of them out of prison if they have been directly contravene the assurance of comfort with sex workers, some of caught going to a brothel. They are their leaders. It doesn’t help that who are Nepali girls, after a hard beaten if they refuse to pay. those at the top are unable to day’s work. “A lot of Nepali men investigate why their orders are not Abducted students Binod come here for pleasure,” says Rita, a followed. With brutalities like Tamang, Suraj Lama,

Binod Rai, Abhinash Rai ○○○○ sex worker from Dang. “Their ○○○○○○○○○○○○ burning a girl alive in a bus, breaking SpaceProtect Time, 5 January (Grade 8 student), Ranjan numbers are now increasing.” bones and cutting the throats of Rai. Their families say ‘Bhabhi’, a brothel owner, says she is innocent villagers, the Maoists cast the Maoists are very happy to see so many new CHARIKOT – School teacher Prem doubts about their true intentions demanding Rs 50,000 clients. Today, Nepali men Prasad Kharel was injured severely time and again. What kind of each for their release. outnumber the Indians who come after he was beaten by the security message are they trying to give to to this locality. “It’s quite easy to get forces while he was on his way to Nepalis by burning a van carrying Himal Khabarpatrika, money from Nepalis who spend up his school. Even when he told them polio drops to a village in Chitwan? 31 December – 14 January to Rs 500 for one girl,” says Bhabhi that he was a teacher, the security What are they trying to prove by who has four girls working for her. forces showed no mercy because burning medical supplies? Do the On 14 November, Maoists from Dhankuta kidnapped six young men. Chabilal Nepali from Dang, they believed him to be a Maoist. Maoists want the people to remain Now they’ve offered to release them, for a ransom. Ranjan Rai, Abinash works as a cook in brothel number Kharel had a pile of schoolbooks, disabled? If polio can make a person Rai, Deepak Thapa and Binod Lama, Suraj Lama and Binod Rai were 4. He says he can tell the volume of his lunch and his teacher’s identity healthy, why are they trying to stop abducted from a local fair and were accused of killing a 62-year-old man. Nepali immigrants has risen simply card with him that that Saturday this from happening? Enough is The rebels have now fixed the price of their freedom at Rs 50,000 each. from the increasing amount of those morning. “They kept hitting me, enough. Locals believe they were kidnapped for teasing female Maoists who were saying my name was not on the who come to GB Road. “Both young bathing near Papani Bazar. But the Maoists district secretary ‘Sudarshan’ card,” says Kharel. After a leaving and old Nepalis can be seen making told the press they were taken hostage by the district people’s rounds ,” says Nepali who hates the him nearly unconscious, they government for accusing Maoists of Padam Bahadur Rai’s murder, which sight of the girls fighting to grab ordered him to show up at the customers. “I’m forced to live here as district headquarters in a few they themselves committed. Rai was serving in the Royal Nepali Army I have no other choice.” days. With the help of human battalion in Okhaldhunga. It’s the same predicament that rights activists, Kharel has filed a Dhan Shoba Rai, Suraj’s mother says the Maoists made the demand forced another young man from case at the district administration for ransom over the phone. She says, “They have called us many times. Dang to leave home. “It wasn’t safe office at Dolakha stating that the When I told that I could not afford their demand they threatened me for me to stay, so I had to leave my security force should be and told me to bring whatever I could.” Parents are in a dilemma: if they family,” he says. “We have problems accountable to the people. “They accede to the rebels’ demands, they will be harassed by the security finding decent jobs because Indian are here to protect not abuse us,” forces. If not, their boys could end up as human shields in the next employers look at us with he said. Maoist offensive. 9 - 15 JANUARY 2004 20 HISTORY AND CULTURE #178

did we reminisce about home. In Tobruk (Libya) there is a big GurkhasIn this second installment ofinvadeCyprus and is captured Iraq! by the port very similar to Bombay. Right over there our full army was the testimony of veteran Germans in Tobruk and taken captured by the troops of Hitler. Gurkhas, 89-year-old Bharati to a POW camp in Italy. They took away enough rations to Gurung (left) recalls fighting His story is part of Lahurey feed an army for five years. At that moment Hitler disarmed all the on behalf of the British in Iraq. ko Katha that records the lives British soldiers and set them free to Some of the details of the of Gurkha soldiers, most of go anywhere they liked. They had battles bear a striking them over 75 years old. This no weapons, nothing to eat and no clothes to wear. They were put on resemblance to the conditions fortnightly column is translated a cold hill in Italy. The officers faced by coalition forces there. from Nepali by Dev Bahadur numbered 150 at the minimum. The regiment moves on to Thapa for Nepali Times. There were Gurkha, British, Negro, Canadian, British, Gurkha and Indian troops advance on Tobruk n the year 1939 fighting before they were captured by the Germans. Australian and other officers from erupted between the forces of all over the world. One of our ex- Britain and those of Hitler. In ministers, Nar Bahadur from Sabet the beginning we boarded the was also held captive there. ship in Bombay and were off- A few days later American loadedI at a place called Basra in planes found out where they were Iraq. Enemy troops were held captive. They surrounded the concentrated there. An encounter place and sent in planes to drop with the enemy forces took place. bombs. This caused havoc inside They had put up their camp and the barricade and people started taken defense when we started be theirs, and on other occasions stands on the left side of Turkey. died in a single day of the war. fleeing. The men from other disembarking from the ship. we blundered into their bases. We had orders to make trenches There is no empty space in the nationalities started running down Defence meant a situation where True, Hitler’s troops did appear and with it check the onward battlefield— every inch is filled to the plains where they were they are shielded from getting there but their numbers was far march of the Germans. We with troops. The tanks lead the trampled by Hitler’s tanks. The hurt, but we were not. more exaggerated in propaganda. proceeded further and arrived at way. That is followed by very Gurkhas on the other hand, fled to In attack we had to run in the For example, the rumour was Cyprus, lying in the middle of a many kinds of weapons. Then the slopes where the tanks could open field. Defence means to rampant that a full brigade of sea. As we reached there, a whole comes the artillery on each side of not go. Gurkha officers like Nar save oneself and kill others. On Hitler’s troops were in Iraq, but in lot of German troops were which march the foot soldiers. Bahadur managed to escape. All one occasion we trudged for 16 fact only 20-25 soldiers had been dropped by parachutes. We were Weapons range from pistols to Indian, Negro and British officers hours. On the way there was no dropped from planes. instructed to rush to the spot atom bombs. perished in the onslaught. They sign of water, nor green grass–not The large river Tigris runs where German troops were We were afraid and earnestly were scared of the mountains, and even stone or soil. Just sand. We through central Iraq, the shores of landing and kill them while they sought the help of God to didn’t go there. Nobody counted lost three or four soldiers on the which is believed to have petrol dropped. If anyone touched the prevent war. But once war starts, how many were killed that day. march. Once in a while we could deposits. The largest deposit of ground, then we were to kill him you can’t be afraid. You stand on Along with Nar Bahadur, I escaped see one or two coconut trees on petrol is in Kuwait between Iran then and there. They too opened the verge of death, but fear death by climbing up the hill. In the banks of the river. For the and Iraq. The English had seized fire but they could hardly hit us, vanishes. There is no time to be all there were six Gurkha regiments night we had to dig trenches, if these oil fields since you need as they were busy trying to land homesick. Our sole concern is of which a few got lost, others were we didn’t we could be killed by a petrol to fly planes in the sky or and avoid falling on a tree or into focussed on whether or not we killed. We escaped death by bomb from the air. In spite of for tanks. The monopoly of the the sea. We managed to kill quite have been hit by artillery fire. making ditches in the slopes and feeling drowsy, we had to keep British on the oil had put Hitler a few Germans there. Some become experts at dodging staying there. It was severely cold vigil all the time and slept turn in a predicament. They killed some of our men the artillery. Even when they hear and we had no proper clothing. by turn. No sooner did the war in Iran too. One can’t keep track of how the boom, they can judge the We ate roots. A few days later, Enemy soldiers appeared at end, another front opened in Iraq. many soldiers died. Some say up distance and direction and take the British forces arrived and our company supposing this to After Iraq lies Turkey. A high hill to 100,000 people could have cover. Only when we were free rescued us.

he reflexive Himalayan travelogue, expect from such a fairytale meeting, the and relaxation to the frenzy of Western pensive and Buddhist-tinged, is aBhutan tried flowerdescription concludes with Hellumbook giving her living”. and tested formula. Classics, such as the painting and making another one for Language is an issue to which Hellum Peter Matthieson’s The Snow Leopard, are himself. frequently returns, primarily because he is already in their umpteenth reprint. So too are Such feelings of mystery and magic frustrated by his inability to communicate theT heavier and more serious plant books, pervade the book, and Hellum spends much with people in Dzongkha, Hindi or Nepali. such as Polunin and Stainton’s Flowers of the of his time in wondrous rapture at Bhutan, its Given this manifest barrier, it is a little Himalaya, which document with scientific plants and its people. The aim, as he makes surprising that he finds it “very difficult to precision the incredible botanical diversity of clear in the introduction, is not to list each return to [his] own culture after having been the region. In A Painter’s Year in the Forests plant in the country. Rather, he “completed immersed in Bhutan’s”. His description of the of Bhutan, the author combines splendid most of the drawings and paintings in this Nepali road workers he encounters as colour plates of Bhutani plants with cultural book in the field as exercises in meditation “aliens” is not the most sensitive of terms to anecdotes and concentration”, a theme to which he have chosen given the present problems. of a often returns. Couched in conspicuously A Painter’s Year is a beautifully BOOK spiritual Buddhist terminology, the reader is reminded produced personal voyage through the Mark Turin dimension, that “flowers are an ideal medium for such plants and seasons of Bhutan. By breaking and in so meditation, because what is more transient with convention and merging different doing, has created a winning hybrid. than the beauty of a flower?” styles, the author has created an extremely Hellum is both a scholar and a painter, Hellum feels this so strongly that he even original and engaging book which brings having taught silviculture at the University of The structure of the book is pleasantly explains to a hitch-hiking Tibetan monk that together the natural and the spiritual in a Alberta in Edmonton and exhibited his art in at simple. Hellum divides his plant paintings by “the paintings were only vehicles to successful way. As Hellum himself least three continents. His interest in Bhutan, the seasons he recorded them in: spring, concentration, and not ends in themselves”. concludes: “Every story in this book brought we learn, dates back to his days in summer, autumn and winter. His description No wonder then, that the monk “nodded and a different kind of silence.” l elementary school in Norway where his of painting the common rhododendron is one sat silently for the rest of the trip”. Hellum is teacher regaled the class with stories of of the most touching—a young girl leads him not preaching to the converted, he is simply A Painter’s Year in the Forests of Bhutan exotic places. This sense of exoticism and to a flower, sits beside him as he paints, and filled with respect for the ways of Bhutan, a AK Hellum becomes increasingly fascinated by the University of Hawai’i Press, Honolulu. 2001 romantic Orientalism pervades the book, and country he wishes would “send ISBN 0-8248-2486-5. at times comes to the fore. painter and the painting. As one would ambassadors abroad to bring some sanity Price: $35 9 - 15 JANUARY 2004 SPORTS #178 21

Watch this name: Nepal’s own Tiger WoodsSean Navin Shrestha Einhaus. TEE BREAK Deepak Acharya

ust as Thailand has adopted Tiger Woods as an honorary representative through his Thai mother, Nepal is proud to have its own rising star making wavesJ in the European Golf circuit. Sean Navin Shrestha Einhaus turned 14 last week, and he was inspired to take up golf by his German father, Remigius, and elder brother, Rene Vijay, both of whom are good golfers. Sean’s first feel of a golf club was when he was three, here in Nepal. By the time he was six, he was playing regularly. Today he is a scratch golfer, more national championships at mother have given me the access to meaning he has a handicap of zero, Junior levels than anyone in the all the things that I need to be a a feat few ever attain and country has ever done before. He successful golfer. They have been something very rare at this young is the youngest player to ever be in very supportive and I am age. This past year he was ranked the German National team. determined to be Number One in Germany’s top under-16 player, a Eight grader Sean goes to the world one day.” Following his remarkable feat for a 13-year-old, school at seven in the morning and ambition, he leaves this month for considering the high level of returns at half past one. Three Florida for an intensive golf competition in Europe. times a week he takes to the training program, which includes When he recently won the 14 autobahns on a 110 km journey playing tournaments in the “I want to be and under 14 German for three hours of golf training. On United States—the country with Championship, his scores were so top of that he spends every the highest pressure and most good (a superb round of 3 under weekend at the golf course, either competitive levels of golf in the Sean Navin Shrestha Einhaus was in Kathmandu last par 69), that he beat the older practicing or playing tournaments. world. l Worldweek and thrilled local golfersNo by shooting 1” great boys as well. Today he has won Sean says, “My father and scores of 67 and 68 at Gokarna Golf Club—an incredible phenomenon for a lad just turned 14. Our golf columnist, Deepak Acharya snatched the opportunity for a candid interview. Sean answered each question with the concentration and seriousness required for judging the yardage left to the hole for a match winning shot. Deepak Acharya: How do you manage your game? Sean Navin Shrestha Einhaus: I practice a lot, I go to the fitness centre three times a week and I also do a lot of stretching within a yoga program. In today’s competitive golf, you need to be extremely fit to compete, as this is part of the high mental toughness required.

How many events did you win last year? Well, I had bit of success in the tournaments last year. Most notably I won the 14 and under German Championship and my team, the Northen Wastfalen, won the German title also. I was the youngest player (13 years old) to ever be in that team. And I won the Northern Wastefalen (state) championship for ages up to 16 with the score of 72 and 68 in the Hubbelrath golf course, where big names like Vijay Singh and Seve Ballesteros have won.

How supportive are your parents? They have been extremely supportive. In fact both of them play golf and arrange all the facilities for me. They are there all the time and give me access to what I need to become a successful golfer.

What needs to be done to get more youth in Nepal interested in the game of golf? To encourage more youth to be in the game, I feel that golf should be part of extra curricular school activities for easier access to the game. Otherwise, it seems too expensive and they never get started.

What do you think existing young golfers in Nepal should do to improve their game? Mainly, hard work. On top of that, good practice facilities, like good driving ranges, chipping and putting greens, etc. And then, play as many tournaments as possible.

What are your own goals? Short-term or longterm? Short-term: play two German championships, win 1st division and bring my handicap to +2. Longterm—to play the US PGA (Professional Golf Association) Tour, win several Majors, top the money list and be No 1 in the world.

Who is your idol? Tiger Woods for his personality, Shigeki Maruyama for always smiling, and Ernie Els for his swing.

Who was your first trainer? (Smiles) Deepak Acharya from Nepal. 9 - 15 JANUARY 2004 22 CITY #178

ABOUT TOWN BOOKWORM

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This one may bring a flurry of snow and some sleet to the central and western GetRise ready for a brand and new day with shine BBC World Today. hills. So enjoy the sun till it lasts. Kathmandu’s daytime temperature will remain at a very Every morning on 102.4 FM from 5:45-6:15 AM comfortable 20 degrees, but nights will be cold with frosty mornings. Daily 2045-2115 BBC g]kfnL ;]jf KATHMANDU VALLEY Daily 2245-2300 BBC g]kfnL ;]jf Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Radio Sagarmatha P.O. Box 6958, Bakhundole, Lalitpur, Nepal Tel: ++977-1-545680, 545681, Fax: ++ 977-1- 530227 20-01 20-01 19-02 18-03 19-03 E-mail: [email protected], on FM 102.4 www.radiosagarmatha.org /]l8of] ;u/dfyf 9 - 15 JANUARY 2004 #178 23 NEPALI SOCIETY HAPPENINGS

dvocate Mandira Sharma’s Kathmandu, she changed her Freedom’swatchword has always wardrobe from traditional advocate kurta been freedom. It began in suruwals to jeans and T-shirts, her conservative Brahmin family in and immediately joined the Law BaglungA with a patriarch father Campus at Kamaladi. Mandira who ruled with absolute control. graduated with the highest marks “I had no freedom at all. I couldn’t among her female classmates and wear what I liked, and couldn’t started the Advocacy Forum. NEPALNEWS.COM even do my hair the way I liked,” None of the disparaging COMRADES: UML stalwarts, including Madhab Nepal, sing the recalls Mandira. lawyer jokes apply to Internationale at the inauguration of the Lalitpur District Party To her father’s dismay, her best Mandira. She takes her Convention on 4 January. friend was a dalit, who was strictly life’s mission to be an forbidden from entering the Poudel advocate for justice and household. Mandira didn’t let that freedom seriously. She stop her from always believes and acts on the accompanying her friend outside principle that a real her home, ignoring criticism from lawyer’s job is to fight her high caste community. She injustice on behalf of rebelled, and hasn’t stopped those who have neither rebelling. money nor power. “Of course, there was a limit to Mandira has taken on the what I could do, no matter how state apparatus, often independent I wanted to be,” says taking legal action against Mandira. “I was passionate about the police for disregarding becoming a nurse but my family still the rights of detainees. regard it as a profession for ruined As the country’s rights women.” Her mother encouraged situation deteriorates, Mandira’s her not to lose hope, and inspired more busy than ever. In the MIN BAJRACHARYA IN FULL TECHNICOLOUR: Masked dancers get ready to jive to her to study law in Pokhara. last few years, she has sued But Mandira’s father wanted more than 12 police officers celebrate 100 days of Keshab Sthapit’s mayorship, which he kicked off her married off. She agreed, but on for involvement in torturing with a cultural extravaganza on Tuesday. the condition that she would only detainees and holding marry a man of her choice. After them without trial. “I want people sifting through several proposals, to have access to fair justice and she came across a law graduate in respect,” she says. Kathmandu. “Without a second More than anything else, what thought, I decided to marry this makes Mandira happiest today is to stranger since it meant a chance to see the pride in her father’s eyes finally break free.” when he looks at his daughter. l As soon as she got to (Naresh Newar)

MIN BAJRACHARYA

MIN BAJRACHARYA PHOTO OP: Photojournalist Rajesh Gurung gets a dousing as the fire brigade arrives to put out flames during a student demo at Ratna Park on Wednesday.

MIN BAJRACHARYA MOCK FUNERAL: Activists carry a mock corpse of ‘regression’ down Bagh Bazar for a cremation at Ratna Park on Wednesday. Three students and two senior police oficers were seriously injured in street clashes.

ANIL SHRESTHA SKY WRITING: Many Kathmandu residents thought this contrail of an airliner on a holding pattern at 33,000ft above Kathmandu airport for visibility to improve last week was a sign from heaven. 9 - 15 JANUARY 2004 2 4 #178 Exclusive interview with www.nepalitimes.com Q: You mean you smoke? As an Effigy of Regression, I try to immerse UNDER MY HAT an A:Effigy All the time. of Regressionmyself totally in my role and, once I get into Kunda Dixit character then I really feel like I have Q: Isn’t that, like, dangerous in your line regressed in a major way. You get the feeling of work? nothing anyone says will affect the way you e may have attained a certain A: I know I’m playing with fire, but what make decisions, and you just do it. celebrity status in the past year would you do in my place? It’s a stressful With Vajpayee, I have only played that and become a household name, job. part once, and I must say it didn’t carry the but Mr Regression is a hard man to pin same oomph. I have met some effigy down. Perennially media-shy, he prefers Q: Um colleagues from India who regularly play Hto keep a low profile, and is only seen in A: Here is a country going down the tubes, Vajpayee, and there it seems to be much effigy these days being chased by but there are still thousands of tyres waiting more fun because the straw is drier, and paparazzi all over Ratna Park. In this rare to be immolated, and there is a huge backlog kerosene is not adulterated. and candid interview, an Effigy of of us effigies. When are we going to give Regression gives us unique insight into everyone a chance? Isn’t this a social volcano? Q: You have been playing increasingly his hopes and aspirations, and the deep- demanding roles of late, what would you seated grudge he harbours against mass- Q: Wait a minute. I’m the one supposed say is your greatest dramatic challenge? producers of effigies who have of late to ask questions around here. A: I’d say without hesitation, it is playing the started using substandard fire-retardant A: Then do it, I have a cremation to attend, role of Regression on a rainy winter material. an illegal torch rally at three o’clock and afternoon while a fire truck approaches you tomorrow they are burning me at the stake. menacingly. You have to take versatility to the Q: Mr Refugee extreme, reinvent yourself all the time, and keep A: (Grufly) I’m an Effigy, not a Refugee. Q: (Shuffles through notes) Yes, how everyone guessing about your next move. does being an Effigy of Regression Q: Whatever. Mr Effigy, sir, let me compare with, say, being an Effigy of Q: Thank you, Mr Regression, for your begin by asking you Vajpayee? time and let me on behalf of the Nepali A: You don’t happen to have a light, do A: It’s got a lot to do with how well you get people wish you best of luck in your you? into the persona of the part you are playing. MIN BAJRACHARYA future career.

CDO Regd No. 194/056/57 Lalitpur, Central Region Postal Regd. No. 04/058/59