#108 23 - 29 August 2002 16 pages Rs 20 Bagmati River Festival

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BINOD BHATTARAI EXCLUSIVE ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○ he cities of north India are now at Disastrous monsoon their summer peak demand for power. Nepal’s monsoon-gorged A day after 41 villagers were buried inT a landslide in northern Ramechap, a Twinrivers are at peak supply. Common sense Otter on a flight from Jomsom crashedwould see a possibility of trade there. Yet, Trading power near Pokhara, killing 15 tourists and threeNepal-India power exchange agreements Nepali crew. Four hours later, 45 people were feared dead when a bus from remain mired in mis-management, bureauc- Kathmandu to Baglung fell into the racy, and geo-politics. Northern India is starved for energy. Nepal now has surplus supply. Trisuli River near Mugling. It has been aWhen all three turbines of Nepal’s largest season of disasters, as the country lurches And yet the two can’t agree. Why not? from one accident to the next. Landslidesand newest hydropower plan at Kali Gandaki- and floods have ravaged central andA (see picture) went on stream last week, they eastern Nepal, killing at least 500 andadded 144 megawatts, taking Nepal’s total affecting more than 300,000 people in the past month. installed capacity to 585 megawatts. This gave NEA to buy west Seti Power which is high the national grid an unprecedented summer quality peaking energy when it is already surplus of 140 megawatts. It is clear where the main obstacle to paying six cents for low quality flood energy.” But here is the paradox: although the Indo-Nepal hydro trade lies: in the lack of But officialdom has not lost hope. At the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has surplusway. We don’t have to wait for compatible political trust. Says hydropower expert National Planning Commission Minendra power some of this has to be bought at such a grids, but sell to contiguous tarai towns acrossRatna Sansar Shrestha: “India’s security Rijal says it is an issue of demandKali Gandaki and supply A high tariff that one third of its revenue is used the border where some power-exchange is concerns seem to override all economic and could be easily resolved. “Logically they up paying just two private power producers foralready taking place. arguments. How can you talk business stand to win by buying from us.” Thursday’s Shangri-la accident (fileflood energy: Bhote Kosi and Khimti. Clues about why Nepal and India are stuckwithout that changing?” But what if economic logic is not the photo,above) was the fourth air crash in Some of this loss could be recouped by three months. A helicopter carrying 10 lie in Nepal’s only project designed specifically The Australians are not waiting for the only factor at work here? Much of that hope trekking guides from Makalu Base Campexpanding the domestic market and for export to India—the 750MW West Seti India-Nepal power trade agreement to go to Lukla that disappeared on 29 May has hinges on recent private sector initiatives exporting to India. But there are many dam, a Nepali joint venture with Australia’s into force, and appear to be giving the which may help overcome political and still not been located. Meanwhile, thehurdles like transmission bottlenecks, the insurgency rages on, and aside from the Snowy Mountain Engineering Corporation project one last chance. SMEC and India’s bureaucratic hurdles. lack of an agreement with India’s inefficient daily toll, 30 Maoists were killed in a (SMEC). The $1 billion project has been stuckPTC have even discussed tariff and are During King Gyanendra’s India visit in fierce firefight in Rolpa Tuesday. and cash-starved state electricity boards, since 1997 because a power purchase agree- haggling in the 5 cents per unit range. But and New Delhi’s unspoken desire to use ment with India got caught up in domestic June, the Federation of Nepalese Chambers both know that in the end it will depend of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) agreed hydropower as part of wider bilateral Nepali politics, and has been stalled in India’s on a nod from South Block. bargaining with Kathmandu. Ministry of External Affairs. with its Indian counterpart, FICCI, to Nepali experts see an anomaly if West explore joint hydro-ventures in Nepal. We have to trade the surplus that has Analysts told us New Delhi seems to want Seti sells cheaper power to India than the “We’re trying to see if the Indian private started to accrue in the system, admits NEA hydropower to be part of wider bilateral give- price at which NEA has to buy it from private chief, Janak Lal Karmacharya. That would be and-take with Nepal that would include border sector can help untangle the knots,” says generators here. “Why should we even think FNCCI’s Rajendra Khetan. And a large mutually beneficial to India and Nepal, and and trade disputes, and security issues. of selling cheap when Nepalis are paying one Weekly Internet Poll # 47 even at seven cents per unit, buying Nepal’s Meanwhile, Nepal loses potential export Indian business house is said to be shopping of the highest electricity tariffs in the world?” for a project in west Nepal. Q. Are conditions right for elections to be held in surplus flood energy would be cheaper for revenue and royalties, Indian consumers sufferasks Dipak Gyawali of the Nepal Water November? India than the long-term cost of thermal power outs, and the villagers of Uttar PradeshConservation Foundation. “It is cheaper for generation. Selling power to India is Nepal’s do not benefit from West Seti’s irrigation and best chance of reducing its whopping Rs 19 flood mitigation effect on the Karnali River. billion trade deficit with India. If there is political will, there would be a

Total votes: 604

WeeklyQ.Is it now Internet time Poll for #the 48. government To vote go to: to www.nepalitimes.com agree to the Maoists’ offer of talks? In Vienna museum, Nepalis worship stolen Buddha

When will Nepal officially request the Austrian government to return a stolen Buddha?

ERWIN MELCHARTin VIENNA ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ make an official request for the return of the Nepali and Tibetan Buddhists in Austriaimage. are carrying out regularpuja at the Among the devotees worshipping the Ethnographic Museum in Vienna in Buddhafront recently was Nono Bista, the niece of of a 17 the Raja of Mustang seen here layingkhata a KRONEN ZEITUNG/MARTINAJÖCHL th century Dipankar stolen from at the altar. “It is sad. This Buddha is of such Patan in January. great religious significance to us,” she said. “I The Buddha was confiscated in Aprilam grateful for the museum’s intervention, and after a German art dealer tried to sellpray it to that the image can be returned to Nepal the museum. The gilded copper masksoon.” is Butter lamps and offerings adorn the being displayed at the entrance hallbase of of the stand on which the Buddha is kept the museum while the Austrian authori-in the museum’s foyer.. ties wait for the Nepal government to see p16

Vijaya Motors Pvt. Ltd. P.O.Box 5062, Lazimpat, ktm, Nepal Tel : 433205, 414625, 425603 Fax : 433294 e-mail : [email protected] 222 EDITORIAL 23 - 29 AUGUST NEPALI2002 TIMES NATION 23 - 29 AUGUST NEPALI2002 TIMES 333 Nepali Times is published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Chief Editor:Kunda Dixit Editor:Anagha Neelakantan OPINION by RAJENDRA K KHETAN Design:Kiran Maharjan [email protected], www.nepalitimes.com Advertising:Sunaina Shah [email protected] Subscription:Anil Karki [email protected] time to wish for a benevolent autocrat to set things right. And to let things Sales:Sudan Bista [email protected] Sanchaya Kosh Building, Block A-4th Floor, Lalitpur drift into a constitutional crisis, so that a knight in shining armour can GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal rescue us from the brink. There is a nostalgia for strongman rule to end Tel: 01-543333-7, Fax: 01-521013 this messing around by neo-oligarchs who used democracy to perpetuate Printed at Jagadamba Press: 01-521393 Nepalis a say in getting the country out of the rut. No, he called elections their power. out of desperation to save his own politicalONE skin. And now,OF with less thanTHEABOVE three months to go for elections,N no one really believes it can be aJust a word of caution here. We tried it before, and it didn’t work, Give and take eel away the layers of skin from Nepali politics, the foldsrepresentative of exercise in free choice. remember? What to do when neither democracy nor autocracy seems to endless infighting, and you come to the bare bones of whatWhat this is kind of moral mandate will a party that gets 20 percentguarantee of the accountability? Only representative governments, periodically all about. It is about where sovereignty should lie. Should it be legitimised by a sovereign people, can be accountable. We can’t turn the We face the dilemma of high expectations and low, votes have when the turnout is less than 40 percent? Isn’t no election at all P clock back on that one. “None of the above” can be a plebiscite for with the people, or with the powers-that-be? Or, rather, with the betterpowers- than a flawed election? Or are we having an election just for the nomic leadership suited to changing genuine people power. that-were. sake of elections: to have a fig-leaf democracy that is not really repre- almost non-existent,patterns delivery. of socialisation, and we cannot decision could begin with a section The Deuba-Koirala confrontation looks like a cock-fight. Butsentative don’t or accountable? ○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ afford to keep anchoring ourselves to officer and end up with the minister’s get distracted by the roosters: find out who is betting on them, lookIf we at do have elections, let there be a new category in the list of our social background. To get a sense approval. This way, no one is account- who is cheering for whom in the stands, waving fistfuls of money,candidates and why. and parties on the ballots: of just how directionless we are, ask able. Job responsibilities don’t exist and Perhaps Girija Prasad Koirala is right that Prime Minister Sher“None Bahadur of the above”. This will encourage n Friday night, the Commis- the following questions of those that where they do they are not defined or Deuba is taking the country back to pre-1990. Perhaps Deuba’sNepalis mentors to say: “I vote because I believe sion for the Investigation of are really pulling the strings. lead us today, their answers will tell us are just too vague. in democracy, but I don’t like any of these Abuse of Authority (CIAA) Even so, we may have taken Koirala’s insinuation more seriouslyblokes.” if And it we must bring in a new style O all we need to know: In such a situation, hiding and of campaigning. Candidates will no took in about two dozen officials from was any one else making it. Coming from a person who during two cheating becomes the norm. Businesses tenures as prime minister couldn’t show the ability to rise abovelonger the get up on a podium to give the revenue administration. While we selfish concerns of his cronies and relatives, it rings quite hollow.speeches; And it they will take part in public all wait to see how the commission and individuals that try to stick to the sounds even more hollow when the kangresis argue that they arehearings the to answer questions from voters. rules end up being victimised by officials defenders of democracy, when all they have done is misuse our There is a strong temptation at this follows through on this campaign, it is clear that the crackdown finally with discretionary authority. Most mandate and run the system to the ground. businessmen (even ordinary law abiding The November elections, as we argued here last week, were not addresses the rot within. citizens such as those going to the tax called by Prime Minister Deuba because he was keen to give sovereign It is a jungle out there, and only How well versed are you about office to clear their motorbike and the strongest survive. But civilised strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats? vehicle taxes) are compelled to bribe societies are governed by values and officials just to let them pay Have we set our goals and objec- morality that are presumed to be their tax. rational. Every society also has the tives? In business, bribes have become the types that don’t bother about Are we involving real stakeholders STATE OF THE STATE by CK LAL preferred method of lubricating the the law, and even less about its in planning and execution of decisions, implementation. machinery of the bureaucracy. Ironi- or are we merely using them as unin- cally, it is the under-the-table exchanges We in Nepal are now at a stage volved witnesses? that make public employment attrac- where we all want to set up to a tive. And in the absence of clear laws ogy (AIT) already visits Klong Prem once in system of governance that promotes GIVERS AND TAKERS and prompt implementation, graft has Disadvantaged abroada while, but if they were to increase the sustainable human development In 1990, when we started rebuilding frequency, Mangal Bahadur Gurung would allowed many businesses to lower the SADAU, THAILAND-MALAYSIA BORDER - on their to-do list. through a rule of law. Sound eco- democracy, we put rules into place to high cost of doing business in Nepal. The outside world judgestion sites us in 50by degree the heat. economic state of our country.definitely feel less miserable about his time nomic policies presume that decisions elect governments in the manner most Given the fact that what is left of Nepal’s The reason for such gross negligence is there. If privileged Nepalis were to The bribery network stretches right up ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ directly or indirectly facilitating the democracies do. But democratic economy is being propped up by our migrant But while non-residents get to meet largely cultural: the diplomatic service tends tocampaign for the release of fellow Nepalis to politicians, who also need extra cash the prime minister when they return to creation of wealth and its equitable governance—a fully transparent and workers, you would expect them to be treated Usually, the family of the worker has to sell be HANSA-dominated, while a sizeable sectionframed for crimes, perhaps the authorities to bribe fellow politicians in the race to better. Remittances from Nepali workers in land or take on a huge loan to be able to send Nepal on summer vacation, migrant of Nepali migrant workers come from humble of the host country will become more distribution will be fostered. Good accountable system—proved elusive. remain at the top of the bribery chain. India, the Gulf, Malaysia and east Asia have abroad the son, brother or cousin or, Nepali workers returning with their minority backgrounds. Denied just opportuni-careful in the future. administrative governance is a system The system has provided more space meagre savings are harassed, ill-treated, Bribery contributes to the increase now overtaken the country’s foreign currency increasingly in some parts of the country, the ties back home, they are again deprived of The Nepali elite need not be apologetic of policy implementation carried out for external players to influence and often extorted the moment they set foot in the costs that society has to pay, earnings from exports and tourism combined.young woman of the family. attention when they are exploited or have about the first-time fliers at the back of the through efficient, independent, decisions and decision-making. There on Nepali soil at the airport. because it is eventually their money that And yet, look at the way we treat Nepalis Despite the humiliation involved in problems in a foreign land. Could this be plane on the flight to Bangkok. International accountable and transparent public has also been a realisation of rights, In Qatar, Thailand or Saudi Arabia, the the reason that the Nepali Embassy in SUBHAS RAI is being used to grease palms. The going or returning from abroad. The ordeal getting out of the country, thousands of migration, caused by the push factor of institutions. “our” rights but not that of others. Royal Nepal Embassies consider it beneath Bangkok continues to ignore the nearly three situation begins to get out of hand begins right here in the process for acquiring adesperate Nepalis do so every year, and the misery at home and the pull factor of better It is often said that Nepal is at the When we are efficient only if there their dignity to help fellow-Nepali workers. dozen Nepali inmates of Bangkwang, Klong where a culture of impunity prevails and Nepali passport. They begin by filling up numbers are growing. For the poor who have prospects overseas, has a long history in Prem and Lard Yao prisons? Nearly all of crossroads. It is at the junction of a is personal gain, then there are only ineligible forms in quadruplicate, and then runno way of getting a passport—let alone a visa, The welfare of migrant workers doesn’t figure Nepal and in other parts of the world. there is little fear of wrongdoers getting them are janajatis. paternalistic and isolated past where “takers and givers” but no give and punished. around government offices to get some gazettedall roads lead down south, to the bustling Migrants through the ages have shared a tradition took precedence, and a take. We have begun to develop officer’s to endorse that he knows you person- cities of India. The interest of diplomatic missions alone similar motivation—the determination of Controlling corruption and improv- ally. Since HANSAs (Hindu, Aryan, Nepali wouldn’t be enough to reduce the sufferings oftaking a risk in the belief that they can build modern globalised world of the rule of specialisation for last-minute crisis Middle-class Nepalis travelling to India law. We used to be almost immune to management and damage control. We ing governance in the public sphere Speaking Administrators) dominate Nepal’s on pilgrimage tend to look down upon these our brothers (there are still very few sisters) their future by relocating. would entail ending discretionary bureaucracy almost totally, this step in itself abroad. A diaspora commands respect only At the Sadau border post on the external influences. We are now know there are mismatches between economic migrants from back home who do headed full-throttle into a wider, demand and supply, but do not pay authority of officials, simplifying rules, deters all other ethnicities. Those who end up the dishes at road-side eateries, without when the home country is prosperous and southern tip of Thailand, immigration strong. We need to better train our workers donor-driven world. Across society, attention to aligning the two or and implementing them. Businesses can with the little green book in their hands after realising that it’s the remittances from officers are instructed to look carefully at help in the process by being open and endless rounds at the district administration who go overseas in search of job opportuni- we have begun growing past the reducing wastage. We rely on conven- kanchhas like these that have prevented the the passports of all Nepalis. The Malaysian transparent, professional and by office consider themselves lucky to have been collapse of the Nepali economy. ties. And as the experiences of other authorities often dump illegal Nepali notions of “we” and “our” which used tional management practices. thus blessed by the state. “manpower-exporting” nations like the to be inherent to our traditional insisting on upholding rules despite The irony is that the ones who are most immigrants here. Even better-placed Decisions are made at the top and For a Nepali Muslim from Mahottari, it’s Philippines and Sri Lanka show, host Nepalis aren’t exempt from the torturous family structures and have graduated short-term losses. proud of their Nepali identity are also the countries treat guest workers differently when passed down to those down the ladder easier perhaps to reach the minister from his ones most willing to give it up. Perhaps they procedure of careful scrutiny. into the “me” and “my” who are expected to obey orders, even district, Sharat Singh Bhandari, than to find a they realise that their unfair actions can have You may be an elite back home, but (Rajendra Khetan is President of know that they can always “buy” it later undesirable diplomatic repercussions. compartmentalisation typical to if they are not what the rules say. Even section officer in Jaleswor to sign his applica- the outside world judges you by the western societies. Nepal Britain Chamber of whenever they need it, in the name of “non- The diaspora of Nepali professionals can where the rules say something there is tion form. Since there are no local government resident” facilities. But that’s a different economic state of your country. Commerce and Industry.) also be effective in lessening the sufferings of The dilemma today is high much left to the discretion of the units these days, middlemen have a field day. story. Doctor and engineers migrating to Touts will make things a little simpler for those their disadvantaged brethren. The Nepali expectations and low, almost non- official. And officials have excelled at credibility and moral superiority. And Australia or America do little for our existent, delivery. Our leadership has using discretion, where there are this “disgust” with politics seems to who can afford their fees. remittance economy. Our true heroes are community at the Asian Institute of Technol- no agenda for providing us an eco- personal benefits. Because everybody is extend even further among our If you can get over that first hurdle, you the villagers from Myagdi toiling in the younger generation. So, who will we then meet the sharks at manpower agencies thatMalaysian palm plantations, or the farmers made responsible for a particular job, a give the reins to? We face a huge prey on the vulnerable and the desperate. from Kavre working on Kuwaiti construc- challenge to rid our country of the monarch cannot spell out rules and deep-rooted corruption and ineptness conditions by exercising his powers to govern, and I have no doubt this under Article 127 on the advice of thesituation will continue for some time. prime minister. There is no “dilemma” But perhaps it is time for us, the new generation, who might be more redress the misery and loss of here at all. happened to the man. Until the capable of politicking differently, to ask the families of the dead. When citizens of Kathmandu for encroachment. Bipin Adhikari, Bangkok rule of law is restored to some ourselves some serious questions. will those in power in Kathmandu LETTERS and personal benefit? I don’t know We know very well who has been degree at least in this country, and Nepal. A short drive from Bagdogra pronounced your verdict that we Questions such as why aren’t we UNFRIENDLY FIRE ever understand that it is exactly a single Nepali leader who hasRs no 700 for Bhaktapur is a little encroaching into this public space over there is little hope for anything. into Nepal is the small airfield at cannot have elections. Avoid doing that.I do agree with the sentiments there creating these alternatives for this heartlessness and indiffer-gate the tragedy of the villagers personal interest. steep)—if not, then maybe that the past three decades: just look at who The powerful article by Mohan As your story “Unfriendly fire” Bhadrapur. The link would destroy the What makes you think that elections expressed in your editorial “Articleour people? Why aren’t we giving them ence to the suffering of citizensfrom Dhading in Kalikot. Being category of tourist brings little to took the whole southern half. Mainali (“Unfriendly fire”, #106) shows, poor people in the villages Kiran Nakarmi, by email potential of Bhadrapur airport and affect cannot be held? Nobody is asking the127 that chances of any improvementthe power to make a difference? that gave birth to the Maoist far away from Nepal, the story the country. HL Amatya, Tripureswor moved many of us. Whoever are caught squarely between the thousands of Nepalis who depend on it Election Commission to stop flash in the current situation remain dim Where are our new leaders? Will they was responsible for the insurgency in the first place? of the bereaved villagers I was especially amused to only be born once the present political brought tears to my eyes. The Maoists and the security forces— for their livelihood in Jhapa and Ilam. floods or these recurrent landslides. shouldIn the same politicians be elected original massacre—whether it G Lamsal, Kathmandu find aSwiss tourist lodging such a back in. But frankly, do people havedinosaurs become extinct? Will they story is today’s Nepal in a each one as bad and ruthless FEEas OF COST Nepali tour operators should start thinking the same vein, nobody is saying that was the Maoists for provoking the other, both guilty of torture complaint. My organisation is a of alternatives. the prime minister should restore the otherlife options? Where is the new only start to write the future of Nepal the army attack, or the army microcosm—the violence and once the slate is clean? Alas, that brutality, the apathy, revolution-and atrocities. Several victims I take issue with yet a reader’sSwiss-based NGO. Four years Pravesh Saria, Chicago USA of all 5,000 Nepalis who were killed generation of politicians that our for not making an effort to have been brought into the letter (“Remove fees”, #106) fromago, the Swiss national and local CIAA during the last six years, or eradicatepeople can choose from instead? might be just a bit too late for us. distinguish guerrillas from aries gone berserk, and an Emergency Room at the hospitala western tourist suggesting againgovernment arbitrarily levied a The CIAA deserves our gratitude forpoverty by a single stroke of his spade.Where are the alternative parties that Neeta Pokhrel, Australia civilians—it is clear that even unfeeling government. with legs crushed by heavy rocksthat visa fees, tourism/heritagehigh tax retrospectively on the taking an unprecedented and bold step.It is Ijust elections in the normal courseshow potential to be different? If six months later, there has Bhim B Thapa, Hong Kong as punishment for whatever fees and similar are “too high” andpensions of all our 100 interna- sure hope this is a beginning of thingsof toour democratic development. We arethere are none, why aren’t we been no effort by the state to TUNDIKHEL Thank you, Mohan Mainali, perceived infractions. that to reduce or abolish them tional staff worldwide (who do come and not the end. I hope the CIAAnot doing elections for the first time. creating them? I understand that the for doing what few Nepali Name withheld,would somehow “promote tourismnot live or work in Switzerland, I wonder if any of your other readersnow felt, goes on further to nab those, whoAdditionally, the Maoists never said thatlast twelve years of status quo and journalists have done to investi- in Nepal”. Basically, Nepal remainsbut the fund is held there). If one like I did, that Hemlata Rai shied away they are going to disrupt elections. the prototype of politicians that we Teaching Hospital have plundered, looted and amassed one of the lowest-cost tourist of the richest countries in the from calling a spade a spade in “Shrinkinginsane amounts of wealth at the expenseEven if there are challenges, we havehave seen so far (including the A few days ago the body of destinations in the world and mostworld engages in official illegiti- Tundikhel” (#108). Yes, as she pointsof out the people and left the country to theenough power and patience to go Panchayati era for that matter) have a young man was brought in to western visitors benefit from themate “looting by tax”, I hardly think and the map amply demonstrates, thedogs. Give us more reason to cheer aboutahead. Why are you overreacting? been instrumental in putting the entire the Teaching Hospital. He had low prices and cost of living. Theits citizens can complain when Tundikhel is a shadow of its former self.and Itto restore some semblance of hopeYour comment on Article 127 is reallypopulation off politics. The intellectual been beaten to death. History fact that access to historic modest, legitimate official fees for is like Kathmandu has had one of its lungsfor a better future in our minds. The civildisheartening. I don’t think that the primeelite of Nepal are striving towards was he was arrested and then quarters in Europe may be freevisas, of heritage sites are collected amputated. But please don’t blame thesociety in Nepal has been lying dormantminister should advise the king to taketotal detachment from the mainstream jumped or fell from a vehicle. charge disguises the heavy from wealthy tourists in Nepal. and apathetic for too long—resurrectany it in move under Article 127 in the namepolitics, perhaps to prove their Sorry, he did not get those government subsidies and the John Maxwell, Kathmandu all its vibrancy, so we can have a betterof removing obstructions. That will just injuries that way. The security incredibly high cost for any tourist Nepal to leave behind for our children.bring the constitutional monarch into forces requested that we not to holiday there. Since Nepal is The open letter to Nepali and Manish Pandey, Kathmanducontroversy. Let us not push the nation “write about the injuries”. You among the poorest 10 percent of to another catastrophe. There is can imagine how far that went.British Prime Ministers by the countries, I think the vast majority precedence in the Supreme Court’s They would also not provide group, Nepal Unity (#106) wasof tourists accept paying a token 1993 ruling that the constitutional information about identification—pertinent. But I don’t see any fee to see some heritage sites is apparently wanting to dispose peopleof around who would thinkreasonable in (though perhaps the this way. If they stop selling and FLY EAST the body without the family ever ARTICLE 127 CORRECTION being aware of what had buying weapons and start The proposed flights between promoting human rights instead, Kathmandu and Bagdogra will I really regret to read your editorial “Article In "Catmando" (#106), the artistic how can they get commissions benefit thousands of tourists, 127” (#107). Rather than giving an director of the photonovellas is students and pilgrims from India opinion, you seem to have already Kirti Keshar Joshi. 444 NATION 23 - 29 AUGUST 2002NEPALI TIMES NATION 23 - 29 AUGUST NEPALI2002 TIMES 555

DOMESTIC BRIEFS anaemic, which meansthat they enter a pregnancy with already- Editor killed by Maoists ○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ depleted stores of iron. The Nepal Navaraj Sharma, the editorKarnali of Sandesh, the first weekly newspa- Micronutrient Status Survey 1998 per to be published from Nepal’s far-west Karnali Zone, has been killed shows that 90 percent of Nepali by suspected Maoist rebels. Sharma was abducted two months ago and population eats enough meat- babies between six and 11 months his mutilated body was found by the banks of a river near Kalikot this and Mahottari districts by the old are anaemic, about three week. Reports said he had been tortured, mutilated, and his eyes In the Kingdombased food rich in naturally ofend of this year.Anaemia percent of them severely so. This gouged, before being shot. available iron. The remaining 85 But distribution of iron percent depend on vegetarian diet age group is particularly vulnerable, tablets, while it has uses, is hardly for cultural and religious reasons, as breastmilk does not fulfil an Two in three Nepalioxygen utilisation women and energy are anaemic. That a foolproof way of tackling or because they simply can’t infant’s iron needs after six months, metabolism, if you don’t have anaemia. For one, community Disabled Nepalis afford meat. Women, whose iron and the iron stores that the infant is ○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ means very unhealthyenough red blood children, cells, you breathe and lower GDP. health workers are uncertain needs are more significant anyway, born with start to get depleted. In developed countries, the number of people with disabilities is 5 less efficiently, which means you’re about when they should give out suffer doubly because of their After that age, the complementary percent of the population or higher. In Nepal, it is 1.63. Good news? Not HEMLATA RAI constantly short of breath and your really. The reason the figure is so low is because in Nepal, disabled ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ the tablets, because anaemia lower social and nutritional diet is often too low in bioavailable energy levels are nowhere near what rarely has stark symptoms. Even people tend to just die. This tragic bit of data is just one revealing piece ccording to the status. Not getting enough food iron to fuel the rapid tissue growth they should be. trained health workers sometimes of information containedA Situationin Analysis of Disability in Nepal, World Health already accounts for chronic that takes place. “This is a serious public health mistakenly believe that as long as prepared by the New Era research group and brought out jointly by Organisation, energy deficiency in one in four Despite the shortcomings of the UNICEF and the National Planning Commission Tuesday. The report crisis,” says MR Maharjan of The women eat fruits and vegetables anaemia should be women in Nepal. According to supplementary iron regimen, food- estimates that nearly 400,000 people are living with disability in Nepal, Micronutrient Initiative (MI). regularly, they don’t need considered a “signifi- WHO standards more than 20 based intervention against iron with the prevalence highest in the west and in the mountains. Nearly one- More than most other illnesses, the supplementary iron, even if they third of these people live with multiple disabilities. cant public health percent of women with chronic deficiency is difficult in Nepal economic impact Iron Deficiency are pregnant. Women with severe Fourteen percent of Nepal’s disabled are eyesight handicapped, two problem”A if one-fifth of the energy deficiency indicates a because most families are too poor Anaemia is significant, as it causes a percent are hard of hearing, 0.6 percent cannot speak, 32 percent are population suffers from it. The rate anaemia account for 2.2 percent to diversify their diet, and even sharp reduction in physical activity serious public health problem. not mobile (due to spinal injury, etc), 20 percent have problems with of iron deficiency in blood among of the female population of those that have a varied diet don’t and work output in adults— Eating right is only one part Nepal, but among pregnant ‘manipulation’, and 19 percent suffer from epilepsy. The survey also Nepali women and children is four use the best cooling methods, with shows how far the country lags behind in providing basic support to those between 20 and 40 percent. An of the story. The scale of anaemia times higher than that. women as many as 5.7 percent of less water and a shorter cooking who are handicapped, either since birth, or through disease and injury. MI study claims that Bangladesh in this country is an indicator of Two out of three Nepali women women are severely anaemic. time. It is possible to fortify some and India lose 1.9 and 1.3 percentmany more problems than just Pregnant women need two to are anaemic. This number goes up food habits: it points to the low food items, and the MI hopes to of their GDP respectively to three times as much iron as among pregnant women to three in socio-economic status of women, begin fortification of wheat with anaemia every year. There haven’t normal as the body’s requirement ? four. And anaemia in Nepal is no poor, sometimes non-existent five mincronutrients, including iron, been any studies in Nepal, but increases with the increase in longer only about women. An sanitation that spreads and as soon as the Finance Ministry Don’t worry public health experts and lowest level health care institu- blood volume and the growth of ○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○ alarming 90 percent of infants exacerbates the prevalence of agrees to it. The cost of fortification epidemiologists estimate that the tions that are allowed to distrib- foetal and placental tissue. In For those wondering whose hand is under the age of one are anaemic, parasitic diseases, and the will be passed on to consumers, figures would be just as dramatic ute iron tablets, had an average of Nepal, the policy is that all behind the increasing number of according to the Nepal Micronu- inadequate decentralisation of but the MI’s Maharjan says that upside-down, curly, red question marks here. As importantly, anaemia 8,000 tablets at any given time. pregnant women should get 60 trient Status Survey 1998. Kyoko health services. it is almost unnoticeably low— appearing on city walls, electricity increases the iskr of maternal, But most of the time sub-health mg iron per day from the start of poles and the like, the answer is Dr Okamura of UNICEF In 1999/2001, some 45 around 10 paisa per kg, even Kathmandu’s Nutrition Section isprenatal and perinatal mortality. posts are out of reach of the the fourth month of pregnancy lower than the cost of iodising Yogi Bikasanande. The youthful million iron tablets were procured philosopher saw the symbol in a dream six months ago, and the question emphatic about the conse- Nepal has the fourth highest people who need supplementary and continue through 45 days salt. maternal mortality rate in the for free distribution for across the mark is an essential tool in his campaign to transform Nepali thought. He quences: “We are producing a iron the most. It takes an average after birth. But coverage is very MI studies show that 30 says visualising the symbol as a third eye every morning and evening world— 539 in each 100,000 country. Less than half, about 20 of two to three hours for most whole generation of Nepalis who low and adherence to the full percent of Nepali household while meditating creates in a person a powerful kind of energy. He tells us pregnant women—and UNICEF million, were given out. “The iron women to reach the sub-health that classical (Hindu) knowledge says that the symbol means “There’s no are less competent mentally.” supplementation protocol is consume flour-based food Iron deficiency anaemia can causesays if it can be reduced signifi- tablet supplies are more than post nearest to their homes. extremely poor. need for questions, accept life as it is.” Residents of the capital will cantly, 20 percent of these deaths sufficient, but the system to everyday, and that the figure goes certainly sleep better at night for knowing what that twirly red thing is. MIN BAJRACHARYA When so many women don’t have adverse health consequences The Nepal Demographic up to 50 percent in urban areas. could be prevented. distribute them doesn’t work,” the power to make decisions or MIN BAJRACHARYA MIN including impaired growth, Health Survey 2001 shows that Monitoring the 20 large-scale “Our food habits are says Okamura of UNICEF”s control even their own earnings, tablets with the accompanying slowed learning and cognitive 77 percent of women did not takeflourmills that produce more than Nutrition Section, which provides let alone the family income, talk on the benefits and side development, and decreased problematic—anaemia is more iron tablets in their last preg- 40 metric tonnes per day would be visible among high-caste Hindus commodity support to the taking time out from analready effects of supplementary iron. physical activity in children below nancy because they just didn’t relatively easy, but addressing the who eat ritually prescribed government for its universal iron packed day to even get adequate It shouldn’t have taken so 12 months of age. know about them, or thought that small-scale, locally-operated vegetarian food, and less among tablet distribution programme for prenatal care, let alone iron tablets, one of the finest venue for Residential Meetings Simply put, most anaemia long to realise it, but at last the their regular diet was nutritious flourmills will be a challenge that meat-eating janajati communities pregnant women. is a tough proposition. results from an iron deficiency. Health Ministry decided that the enough. Still others who do take the MI says it will be ready to like Gurungs and Newars,” said The sub-health posts are the Iron, a micronutrient required in Women who manage to only way to improve women’s the tablets often discontinue them tootake up by the end of 2002. small, but critical, quantities, is Sharada Pandey, chief of Nutri- receive antenatal care are five access to iron tablets was by early because they feel like they have essential for the production of tion Section at the Health times more likely to take supple- making them available to commu-regained their strength or because the haemoglobin, which form the all- Ministry’s Child Health Division. mentary iron, but less than half ofnity health workers. A pilot phaseside-effects—stomach cramps and important red blood cells. Since Only 15 percent of the Nepali Nepali women ever receive of what is called the “iron dark stools—worry them. Budhanil-kantha haemoglobin is essential for the antenatal care from a medical intensification programme”, Iron deficiency in mothers professional in the first place. which allows women community delivery of oxygen from the lungs to means severe anaemia among where hospitality blend with nature body tissues, and the synthesis of Complicating this, two-thirds of health volunteers to distribute children. WHO reports say that the health care workers at sub- iron tablets, was launched last iron enzymes that are required for one in seven Nepali women is CRES OF JUNGLE year with very encouraging 6 A health posts say they are simply considered to be at nutritional 48 SUITES results. In wards of Bhaktapur, too overburdened to dispense the risk, which means a direct impact 5 MEETING HALLS Banke, Sunsari and Saptari where on the nutrition levels of her 2 RESTAURANTS the program was implemented, child, and there is starka lack of 2 GAZIBOS the use of iron tablets went up to MEDITATION GROTTO programmes that target at 80 percent of pregnant women. VIHAR COURTYARD correcting anaemia among the Since one female volunteer only AMPHITHEATER adolescent girls of childbearing looks at five to 10 pregnant LOTUS POND HERE AND THERE by DANIEL LAK age. Studies show that two-thirds 3 ALFRESCOS women at any given time, of all non-pregnant women are AVAIRY, RABIT DEN distributing iron tablets isn’t a AND BIG PARKING LOT huge burden. The Micronutrient Initiative, which works with the Unlike the sameness of everyday hotel, Park Village government, hopes to launch a allow you the freedom to relax in the freshness of pure full-fledged iron intensification nature and live world behind at the front gate. Fatland programme in Jhapa, Dhanusha www.kghhotels.com orth America is the land of large, the land of largest, in fact. Every- Notes from North America, the land of excess. Tel: 375280, 375279 Fax: 371656, Email: [email protected] thing here is huge—especially the people and their appetites for ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○ Neverything that is bad for them. The physical evidence is overwhelm- consumer spending habits of the continent’s people. In short, we are driving ing. A friend from New Zealand, flying from home to Europe via the Pacificempty carbohydrates, fats and vast quantities if sugar knows no boundaries.our cars more often, burning far more petrol, living in sprawling, energy- Ocean and Canada, got off the plane to stretch his legs in the wealthy oilThe well-off have their own form of obesity—a mindless, status-driven inefficient houses, and taking long-holidays on passenger jets that spread air city of Calgary, near the Rocky Mountains. I asked him for his impressions,spending habit that keeps them busy, stressed, tired and disengaged whilepollutants more effectively than any of Saddam Hussein’s putative weapons hoping to hear comparisons between the Rockies and the Alps of his nativefurther laying waste to the planet’s natural resources. Sound a little of mass destruction. land, perhaps a comment or two on the friendliness of local folk, or theirextreme? Perhaps, but I don’t think so. The United Nations has just North America, with less than five percent of the world’s population, penchant for cowboy culture. “Everyone’s fat,” he said. released a dire report warning that 30 consumes 25 per cent of its energy—most of that generated from non- My Kiwi friend is right. There is countless evidence for his observationyears of environmental gains in renewable sources. Family size here has fallen—the best natural form of beyond the visual. A story in this week’s Toronto newspapers says doctorsNorth America are being rapidly birth control being affluence—by 18 per cent in the past three decades. The are alarmed at the growing incidence of Alzheimer’s disease—a grim reversed by the burgeoning size of our homes has grown by nearly fifty per cent. The notion of the New condition that robs people of their memory and ability to think. It used to Left parties, such as Tony Blair’s Labour and Bill Clinton’s Democrats, that be something that hit in the twilight of life, a sad but almost accepted we can have it all—social justice and prosperity, redistibutive policies and decline of the mental facilities to match the physical aging of the body. wealth—is being sorely challenged. That’s one reason I welcome a right- Now, according to the newspapers, Alzheimer’s is appearing in younger and winger in the White House. George W Bush and Conakedly are pro- younger people across Canada and the United States. And the reason is business, anti-labour, pro-consumption, anti-environment, and they make obesity. That causes diabetes, which in turn—apparently—damages brain no secret of that. It restores political goalposts that get lost in the tissue and mental decline sets in. I urge my North American friends to reflect on that next time they stuff a hamburger or a donut in their mouths. muddle of the middle of the road. Hey, I’m not making any claims to be svelte here. I carry a few extra But even our politics seem an irrelevance in the face of kilos around my middle-aged middle, so I too am on the risk list for various mounting evidence that our consumption habits are fat-related diseases. But there’s no escaping the conclusions that North killing us. More criminally, they are damaging Americans—the most prosperous people in the long history of mankind— everyone else’s chances at development. We are digging their way into early graves with their jaws. The other sad dig our graves with our appetites, and drag fact is that fat is a class issue here. People from lower economic strata you into them. We have it. We spend it. We don’t go to fitness centres or take up mountain-biking. They eat junk consume it. You sniff our exhaust as we speed food, not health food. on by. Oh yes, we may throw a few pennies out of But the culture of consumption that stuff mouths and bellies with the window. Use them wisely. Don’t be corrupt or greedy now. Do as we say. Not as we do. 666 NATION 23 - 29 AUGUST 2002NEPALI TIMES ECONOMY 23 - 29 AUGUST 2002NEPALI TIMES 777 SOMEWHERE IN NEPAL by PUSKAR BHUSAL BIZ NEWS ECONOMIC SENSE by ARTHA BEED No rail pact ○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Contrary to expectations, when the Nepali and Indian secretaries of commerce met over theIn weekend praise in of watchdogs New Delhi, they could not reach an agreement on one of the most pressing problems addressed during and Algeria would defy the imagina- the renewal of the trade treaty. The Inland Container Depot at Birganj will continue to remain unused, as tion of the most creative police artist. it has for the past year, until the rail link can be made operational. There was some movement on other Press counselThe security forces in the southern Nepali concerns. Finally a deadline was agreed on to set up quarantine posts at Sunauli, JogbaniSometimes and it is better not to give.courageous. Maybe this will be a Philippines become more amorphous Banbasa by 1 November, and the Indians have also agreed to lower the quarantine fees. India also lesson to other well-intentioned but discontent emerged as private-sector agreed to raise the quotas for copper exports from the 7,500 MT agreed on in March to 10,000 MT. Nepali Prime Minister Deuba may be if you take away their camouflage and efore departing for a long lily-livered oversight appointees to get scribes discovered how the emergency jackboots. Then there’s the thing that officials at the meeting said that the Indians agreed to waive the Special Additional Duty (SAD) an- out and do something. nounced in its budget early this year and also remove the luxury tax West Bengal state had slappedsabbatical—from on one’s day job, called a “press predator”, but heturned out to grant their counterpartsshould miff Deuba the most. More Nepali ghiu and tea. There were also assurances that anti-dumping duties on acrylic yarn and notzinc this oxide space—the Beed on The business community should in the official media the freest B than 150 journalists have been would be lifted. Sunday only had time to hurriedly not be spared in this discussion of isn’t in completely bad company.moments of their professional lives. attacked or threatened in Bangladesh But it will take time before India actually stops levying the duties, given the complex proceduresskim the headlines. And they were corruption. After delicensing and From the official smugness to all since October 2001. But the country involved. The Inter-Governmental Committee has agreed, however, to meet again next monthgood. to The discuss boundaries of one of the pseudo reforms, many businesspeople those blank editorial columns in the gets away with Home Minister Altaf in more detail two matters: the modalities for trans-border movement of motor vehicles, andmany the unattainables rail in this country found it easier to do business by tabloids, carried in protest against Hossain Chowdhury on the list. And agreement. Rail transport to the ICD is expected to lower transport cost of goods to and fromseem tothe have been breached—the corrupting officials and politicians. If state-imposed restrictions, you’re there’s no state of emergency in force Calcutta port by as much as 40 percent. Commission for the Investigation of members of the business community forced to wonder whether the prime there. The RSF doesn’t mention this, the Abuse of Authority has belled the did not encourage this kind of giving, minister and his men consider the but the Maoists’ most conspicuous cat. Sure, the exact size of the cat may and compete with each other to give media Public Enemy No. 2 in the transgression was the three-day not yet be known, but good lord, at more, things would have been anti-Maoist campaign. (Although, it’s abduction of a few journalists for least something is happening, and for significantly different. That said, when probably safe to assume that most of trespass in their western Nepal that hats off and thank you. the government itself cannot ensure Expos proper statutory compliances like our ministers wouldn’t have read stronghold last September. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ This is just one sign of just how audits and taxes in enterprises that it anything in that space anyway.) When Deuba complains that the The 12th Himalayan Expo which opened Wednesday showcases products and services offeredmuch theby government 125- is scrambling to regain some of its credibility. Their owns, how can it hope to have any What this internationalisation of people don’t appreciate how he’s the 150 companies from Nepal, the USA, the UK, Germany, France, China, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, control over the actions of private Nepal’s struggle to preserve press only person who has tried both peace Japan and Singapore. The Shree Distillery, Radisson Hotel, Mount Everest Brewery, Kwalityextensive Ice-creams, press campaigns asking the Qatar Airways, Bitarak.com, Transavia Airlines, Indian Airlines and the Standard Nursery are major companies? Simply put, the govern- freedom culminates in remains in the and war with the Maoists, he has a people to declare their income or face sponsors of the expo. dire consequences were fruitless. The ment’s reluctance to enforce proper domain of news analysts. In two point. But the people who are About the same time next month—18-22 September there will be another exposition, thedeadlines Agro-Expo passed, no one noticed, the fiscal and other controls in State cogent sentences, the RSF has traced supposed to explain that to the rest of Owned Enterprises gave private the country are angry with him. And 2002 (September 18-22), organised by the Agriculture Enterprise Centre, the Federation ofheadlines Nepalese faded away, and no action Deuba’s transformation over the last Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Floricultural Association of Nepal. was taken. Honest taxpayers as well as businesses plenty of latitude to first he’s not doing anything about that. 12 years. “An unrelenting opponent of the not-so-honest ones who actually In Nepal, unfortunately the complain, and then outdo the SOEs in the absolute monarchy prior to the It’s not too late to befriend the declared their wealth, later regretted malfeasance. press. Here’s a tip: We deal with restoration of democracy has made start of the 1990s, Deuba has thrown having given up their cash to pay for graft rampant, it is more and more Your columnist promises to keep a in his lot with those who have opted apologies, corrections and A feather for Fulbari Pajeros, the adulterated fuel they run keen, beady eye on the CIAA’s efforts ○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ blatant, and cuts across all segments of for all-out war against the Maoists,” retractions all the time but rarely and the reaction of the business The Fulbari Resort & Spa has been nominated to on, and completely pointless junkets. government, politics and even the RSF says. “To this end, he has are the recipients. White-collar crime and graft are business. The democratisation of the community, and report back to you. an exclusive club of the world’s great hotels And just think: if the names of takers decided to renounce all his demo- While we’re still in a concilia- placing it alongside international names such as under close scrutiny world over. And process has meant that more people cratic convictions and has turned tory mood, let’s face it. The RSF The Ritz Carlton, The Grand Hyatt, The Oberoi Bali what is gaining increasing emphasis is bid for coveted posts in the revenue are out in the press, maybe the names Nepal into the world’s biggest prison list is not as repulsive as it looks. and the Banyan Tree and The Royal Meridian the notion that in such transactions thedepartment and other departments thatof all those givers of not just cash, but for journalists.” The watchdog could Consider some of the other people Yacht Club in Phuket, Thailand. A company press giver is as guilty as the taker. In the have the potential to earn revenue. Thecomputers, furniture and appliances, release says that selection was based on a That was no small risk, considering have been howling about most of the on it: Fidel Castro, Ariel Sharon, days to come it will be interesting to price of the positions went up, and theare not so deeply buried either. MIN BAJRACHARYA MIN the prevailing perception that the number of criteria including architectural design, The only worry that one has is many of the more than 100 journalists people in power today. Mahathir Mohammad and Vladimir natural setting, interiors, ambience and guest see, from the standpoint of a Nepali, politicians were happy to keep the rime Minister Sher Bahadur Prachanda and his seven arrested since the emergency was mainstream press had become the We can’t quibble with the RSF’s Putin. Have these iron-fisted leaders satisfaction. The exclusive collection of the how events unfold in the US corpo- market expanding, eventually resultingthat this might well be a one-off Deuba entered the Reporters comrades face arrest, at least theoreti- imposed last November are still agent of government and elite assertion that press predators come in been that corrosive for their countries? world’s select hotel properties is operated by the rate—and political—world. The thing in little ceremonies that bore an exercise, bringing about a pleasant PWithout Borders (RSF) hall of cally, in the 179 member states of the behind bars. Their wrath has more to propaganda. all shapes and that we must recognise It depends on how, as we like to say, Great Hotels of the World organisation, which is based in London. about graft is, that it remains in all uncanny resemblance to auctions. Of sense of euphoria in the public—right before those worrisome elections. The press predators the day after we found international criminal police organisa- do with what amounts to breach of Self-censorship became a prized their faces to better denounce them. you put together your story. modes of economy—capitalist, course, none of our watchdog out Interpol had issued red-corner tion. Deuba is in deeper trouble. The contract. When the government editorial skill in deference to the socialist, and all those in-betweens. agencies—and they are amusingly regulators need to put the fear of the But two of the other three new people in themselves, and government, notices against eight senior Maoist updated RSF roster comes at a time imposed the emergency, insisting that suspension of the people’s fundamen- carnivores hardly have countenances What matters is how far it spreads, numerous given the ever-expanding nature of our graft—could take all of and politicians, and business. leaders. Our prime minister and when he’s facing the intensifying fury the restrictions were aimed only at tal rights. To keep the national moralethat can be identified. The Islamic and whether there are constant—and this on, as it would mean that the premier rebels have become of Nepal’s fourth estate. Reporters those who encourage and support the high, questions of immorality were militants on the rampage in Pakistan Ace profits admittedly somewhat Sisyphian— ○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ people on the agencies would have to international baddies duly certified and editors are outraged not just rebels, the press believed it and stood largely ignored. The first stirrings of efforts to curtail it. fight their own political masters. The by organisations headquartered in because a colleague happened to squarely behind the prime minister. Ace Finance Company Limited says it had an operating profit of Rs 20 million last year, a continuation of the trend a year before. The company with an authorised capital of Rs 90 million says it hastake deposits that knowledge in and experienceCIAA and and itsspread current it. boss We have been France. vanish from state custody. Or because the tune of Rs 675 million and investments totalling to 546 million. help local colleges and universities for conducting communication programmes, and I have been associ- ated with Kathmandu University for three years now.

You handle some of the largest commercial ac- counts, and say that the government is one of your largest clients. Are you number one? There are no official listings here as no one wants to business. Look at what FM did to Kathmandu. Afterdisclose the the size of their operations. We know that, as “Very fewFMs came,people you had a host of new advertisers understandandfar that as the advertising industry is concerned, we are the the value of brand building.” was when retail advertising came in. That may belargest the taxpayer in this country. The amount of tax we sameNine for years metro TV since stations. it As got far as here, national Thompson TVpay is is more than Nepal the revenues handles of most some agencies of in the country’s Nepali Times: How has Nepali advertising changedconcerned,largest in theycommercial would have to accounts,compete with Nepal andNepal. TV, aAnother major basis chunk would be of the government annual billings of advertising. the past ten years? and they can be in business with better programming.organised media, which agencies disclose. If you add Joydeb Chakravarty:Things have changed drastically.WeTo talkeda certain extentto Managing TV would expand Director the pie,them but Joydeb up, Thompson Chakravarty is number one. about There are his other take on the fees and incomes that agencies can earn through as Obviously, the change has not kept pace with othernotstate as much of asthe some industry say, and not in overnight. Nepal. It will be events, promotions, etc, but in terms of, say billings or countries in the region, and the economic and businesstough○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ for the new channels, radios, newspapers and taxes, we are the largest. situation isn’t what it is in India, Bangladesh, Pakistanmagazines unless the market expands, and with that or Sri Lanka. But communications and media havethe purchasing capacity. Unless people can buy, there How would you say firms can have the maximum changed. Education has changed; now we have isa cross-a limit about how much advertising can do. reach to enable them to do serious brand building? section of Nepalis out of school and college aware of Radio. It has the widest reach, followed by TV and print. what is going on outside. How has the arrival of other multinationals been? Radio is the most cost-effective medium. We have data The Advertising Agencies Association of Nepal has that indicates that it has been growing, especially after What is the role of advertising given this growing,been saying that we have a huge market. Obviously FM. Television will hopefully grow with the new stations aware educated class? many multinational companies see this as a country that are coming, NTV will grow with its satellite, I won’t say the educated look at advertising to getwhere you can set up a presence and take a chunk of especially if it expands its low power transmitters. This information. Advertising is just one, quite different,that business. But this is a very difficult place to must go together with electrification. communication vehicle. Advertising is more aboutsurvive. Advertising is not seen as an investment, but as brand building. To that extent, even local companiesa cost. Very few people understand the value of brandToday newspapers offer colour, which wasn’t there 10 have changed the way they look at their brands.building. We’ve been very lucky and had clientsyears who ago. The newspapers and magazines survive, know what marketing is all about. We’ve helped which means people read them. Kathmandu has the How fast has Nepalís advertising pie grown? companies with small budgets build their brands.highest reach across media, so this is the only place It didn’t grow very fast until about 1996/97. AfterManpower 1997/ is a very, very serious issue. You don’tpeople get art are consolidating. If the media were to consoli- 98 to about 2000 it grew at about 20-25 percent.directors, It has visualisers and writers. People who go dateout to in the 15 other urban areas, the advertising slackened of late owing to local and global factors.study and come back like to set up their own littlesituation would change. We’ve advised media houses to When your GDP growth plummets to less than oneshops. They are happy doing letterheads, visitingincrease distribution. The moment they do that, their percent, you can imagine what happens to advertising,cards, brochures, a few ads sometimes. readership will increase. There’s a limit on how much which is related to the business and economic situation. Kathmandu can absorb, media has to go out. The overall situation today is not very good. How have multinationals helped build Nepali capacity? How is it doing business in Nepal? I can speak for Thompson. We have regular training

When Thompson was set up in 1998, advertisingprogrammes was and have sent many people for training, MIN BAJRACHARYA not listed as an industry where you needed a licenceseminars to and advertising award functions in India as invest. We made a presentation at the Ministry ofwell as South East Asia. We also have regular in-house Industry saying foreign investors will be looking training.at the J Walter Thomson has always been called the infrastructure—insurance, solicitors, auditors anduniversity of advertising. Working here is a very big advertising companies of international quality. learningThey experience for people. When they leave, they took the point, and we became the first advertising joint venture. As far as dealing with the government is concerned, it is one of our largest clients.

You say advertising has flattened, but at least three new TV companies plan to begin broadcasting in the next six months. How will that change the market? It would sort of increase. If you look at the spread of the market, Kathmandu contributes 60-70 percent of the 8 8888 HERITAGE Bagmati Bagmati “ “ Love this river, stay by it, learn from it.” Love this river, stay by it, learn from it.” Love this river, stay by it, learn from it.” Love this river, stay by it, learn from it.” Love this river, stay by it, learn from it.” Love this river, stay by it, learn from it.” Love this river, stay by it, learn from it.” Love this river, stay by it, learn from it.” Love this river, stay by it, learn from it.” Love this river, stay by it, learn from it.” River Festival

afudtL

- Siddhartha, - Siddhartha,

- Siddhartha, - Siddhartha, - Siddhartha, - Siddhartha, - Siddhartha, - Siddhartha, - Siddhartha, - Siddhartha, 23 - 29 AUGUST 2002 Hermann Hesse Hermann Hesse Hermann Hesse Hermann Hesse Hermann Hesse Hermann Hesse Hermann Hesse Hermann Hesse Hermann Hesse Hermann Hesse T HERITAGE

TTTT KRIPA JOSHI civilisation, the waters that source of the Kathmandu Valley ters in Sundarijal to Sankhamul. along the river from its headwa- citizens in a day-long celebration tourism industry, and concerned talists, school children, the will bring together environmen- Second Bagmati River Festival The Bagmati River is the kayaks and rafts. The host a unique flotilla of Bagmati will Friday brown waters of the he monsoon-heavy do that we have to look at the “We can clean this river, but to and NRCT founder, Megh Ale: Bagmati. Says veteran river guide (NRCT) and the Friends of River Conservation Trust jointly organised by the Nepal gence of the environment. become a symbol of our negli- choking with waste, and has regeneration. But it is now Kathmandu’s environmental And it is the main element of nourish its culture and religion. The Bagmati River Festival is

Chitrakar, Tantric and others. Bista, Yogeshwor Amatya, Nalina atending will be Om Bikram be belting out music. Also stars, and Himalayan Feelings will Dilip Rayamajhi will be guest Popular actors Niruta Singh and with the Bagmati as backdrop. will be music and an exhibition Sankhamul. There, starting noon, ties will leave Tilganga for representatives of local communi- VIPs, school children and Tilganaga. Next, ten rafts holding kayak race from Sundarijal to 8AM on Friday, 23 August, with a guides will kick off the festival at to raft down the river.” perspective. That is why we want problems from the Bagmati’s IMAGES OF A CENTURE/GTZ

The Bagmati raging below Chobar Gorge during last month’s flood (left); the Bagmati bridge built by Chandra Sumshere in 1903 and a Rana elephant procession crossing over to Patan (above); the Bagmati at Pashupati is now much cleaner because of a treatment plant upstream (right). And, since Friday is Twenty professional river also Gai save the river. save the river. save the river. It’s not too late to It’s not too late to save the river. save the river. It’s not too late to It’s not too late to It’s not too late to will stage plays and skits. models of Kathm have Bagmati water. Other shools will the residue from a distillation of display will be a container showing water sample analyses. Also on photographs, Bagmati debris and schools will put on an exhibition of satire poet, Chatyang Master. Haribansa, and infamous Nepali comedian duo Madan Krishna and Jatra, present will be famous Nepali Friends of the Bagmati, which is Several Kathmandu Valley poster exhibitions and clay andu Valley, and heritage of Kathmandu Vall cultural, religious and architectural pristine state, and restore the river to its original each and every one of us to help culturally. It is the respons terrible state, ecologically and says: “The Bagmati River is in a chairman of Friends the Bagmati groups. Dr Suresh Raj Sharma, between like-minded conservation festival is a unique partnership tional glory, says that the river restore the Bagmati to its tradi- a pressure group that aims to conserve the ibility of ey.” 23 - 29 AUGUST 2002 the river with more respect? could it be a divine warning to treat year, the river also burst its banks: natural cleansing of the river. This with monsoon water, the annual [email protected] Nepal River Conservation Trust [email protected] Friends of the Bagmati For further information: The Bagmati is presently gorged

9 9999 NICK DAWSON NICK 101010 WORLD 23 - 29 AUGUST NEPALI2002 TIMES ASIA 23 - 29 AUGUST NEPALI2002 TIMES 111111 COMMENT by GUNNAR BARDSEN COMMENT by MUSHAHID HUSSAIN Make markets, not war Aggravating the problem is No justice in Indonesia ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ American reliance on the warlords ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ PERTH - The Ausralian government has toned down its rhetoric on and their forces to track down the al UNITED NATIONS - Human rights activists and senior UN officials interest rates, continuing currency the possibility of a US-led war with Iraq, pledging a full parliamentary Qaeda and Taleban in particular say that an Indonesian court has imposed a lenient sentence on a Poor little rich appreciation, further decimation of debate about any planned action with the United States as domestic Caught in the middleparts of Afghanistan. The warlords’ former East Timor governor charged with war crimes. “The the tradeables sector, the risk of more pressures from wheat farmers and former prime ministers rose role was underlined during the accused (Governor Abilio Soares) was found guilty of crimes unemployment. about its position. Grain farmers are threatening to push for compen- Still-unstable Afghanistan recent visit of Iranian President against humanity and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, sation if Australia’s $449 million wheat sales to Iraq were jeopard- Mohammad Khatami to Kabul, which is below the statutory minimum of 10 years,” UN High There is only one solution. With ised by Canberra’s joining—or threatening to join the war on Iraq. will face the consequences Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, said last week. country the importance of tradeables Australian Grains Council President Keith Perrett told reporters he when Karzai ensured that the pro- The sentence was imposed by a Jakarta war crimes court called dwindling, the nontradeables sector had issued the ultimatum to Prime Minister John Howard, over the of taking the ‘war on Iranian warlord who controls the Ad Hoc Human Rights Tribunal, whose creation last year was must increase its productivity and wheat sales, in a face-to-face meeting Tuesday. Iraq, Australia’s Herat, the main city of western endorsed by the UN Security Council. Soares faced the death output. Excess demand in the public largest market for wheat through a UN food-for-oil programme, has terror’ to Iraq. Afghanistan close to the Iranian penalty for failing to halt the “large-scale, organised and coordi- sector must be shifted elsewhere—it said it will stop all Australian wheat imports if Canberra does not border, Ismail Khan, was present nated violence” after the Indonesian-held territory voted for won’t just disappear. Waiting lists tone down its “hostile rhetoric”. In a marked change from his in the parleys held between the two independence in late 1999. Reports say that over 1,000 civilians previous statements, Prime Minister Howard said the government died in the rioting. The Tribunal also found the former regional for medical and nursing services in presidents. In Mazar-e-Sharif, chief would commit troops to an American-led first strike on Iraq only if it warlord and deputy Defence police commander and five other military, police and government Norway already seem endless, and was “completely satisfied that it was in the national interest to do officials not guilty. John Miller of the New York-based East Timor school buildings are deteriorating— so”. The prime minister told the House of Representatives, “I would Minister General Rashid Dostum, Action Network said the verdict shows that the UN should have set some have even been closed down by want, as far as humanly possible, to achieve bipartisanship (with the who is Uzbek and Turkish- up an international war crimes tribunal for East Timor similar to the public health authorities. Labor opposition) in relation to any decision to commit military speaking, is close to Uzbekistan as those created for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. A range of public services will forces.” well as Turkey. have to be privatised. This will be The third conflict could politically contentious, but also emanate from the Iran factor (IPS) provide a chance to realise the especially after the 12 July remarks country’s potential through a strategy (IPS) of Bush, when he virtually incited of sensible investment—the original the Iranian people to ‘rise against purpose of the Petroleum Fund. Compensation for unfair trade the oppressor regime’, making Al Jazeera in trouble ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Haji Qadeer, a Pashtun like Karzai, has “regime change” in Tehran as This strategy should include DUBAI - It is the “CNN of the Arab world” for many people in the significant investments in human BUENOS AIRES - The Latin American delegations to the upcoming upset the delicate balance of power in much of a goal as is regime change World Summit on Sustainable Development, which opens this month Kabul. His assassins have not been in Baghdad. American media Middle East, but governments in the region are beginning to feel capital: education, training, and basic ISLAMABAD- A US attack on Iraq administration in Kabul, which wants to that the Qatar-based Al Jazeera television channel is a chronic scientific research, rather than in South Africa, will insist that the industrialised North eliminate found and remain unidentified. Karzai reports quoted US government Norway needs to start planning soon for its barriers to exports from the developing South, or compensate for would have an impact on Iran—high exercise centralised authority and headache. With at least 35 million viewers in the Arab world and “innovative” projects. has replaced his security detail provided officials as saying that they have those obstacles with development aid. on US President Bush’s ‘axis of evil’ control. And the American-led ‘war on elsewhere, Jazeera has gained prominence for its exclusives on post-oil economy. With just 10-15 years of by General Fahim’s defence ministry given up on Khatami. Iran is Osama bin Laden as well as open debates on taboo subjects, in exchange rate to strengthen by nearly Raúl Estrada Oyuela, director of environmental affairs at list—and Afghanistan. And Afghani- terror’ has failed to stamp out al Qaeda with the US Special Forces, a move that presented as next in line for estimated oil reserves remaining, contrast to the region’s mostly censored media. However, it has 10 percent over the last year against Argentina’s Foreign Ministry, told IPS: “We need financial support for stan, where this campaign began, and Taleban remnants, or Osama bin shows concerns over his own personal “regime change”, although the UAE last year dropped visa also contributed to tension between countries by airing liberal and eeling sympathy for Norway is Painful restructuring is sure to follow. the currencies of Norway’s main sustainable development, because the distortions in trade deprive us remains unstable. Laden and Mullah Omar. security. Last week’s demonstrations in Washington is probably oblivious critical programmes on Arab politics and its regimes. The latest row requirements for most westerners hard. Thanks to its massive So far, Norway has avoided the trading partners, making tradeables of the resources that we should be assigning to that purpose,” said In early August, US troops came Three kinds of conflicts can be Kabul extolling Ahmad Shah Masood, of Iranian capacity to influence involves Jordan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The government of in an effort to accelerate the North Sea oil reserves, the even less competitive. Domestic the official. According to statistics of the Argentine Foreign Ministry, under sniper attacks and were engaged envisaged in Afghanistan. First, the the Tajik commander called the ‘Lion of western Afghanistan through Jordan closed the Qatar-based satellite news channel’s office F worst pitfalls of Dutch disease by the funds that the EU assigns to official development aid are development of a viable tourist country has achieved a level of wealth using its massive oil revenues to industries that face foreign competi- in firefights by Taleban and al Qaeda lurking conflict between the so-called Panjsher’, who was assassinated on 9 warlord Ismail Khan, although there last Thursday and recalled its ambassador, saying Jazeera trade. With the recent discovery of equivalent to one-fifth of what that bloc, the US and Japan spend was provoking “sedition” through a broadcast that portrayed the unimaginable only a generation ago, tion are beginning to close down or remnants. There have been accidents Tajik troika and President Karzai. This September, 2001, have been viewed as during his 13 August visit to establish a national savings scheme, its huge Caspian Sea reserves, annually on farm subsidies. kingdom’s rulers as “puppets of the United States and Israel”. which has allowed it to cold-shoulder relocate abroad. Thus, in one of the and explosions resulting in the deaths troika, representing the ethnic Persian- an attempt by the Tajik Troika to assert Kabul, Khatami did pledge $560 the Petroleum Fund, which is Kazakhstan stands at the start of the EU since 1994. But Norway’s world’s richest countries, unem- of American soldiers and Afghan speaking Tajiks, manages to control the control by building a personality cult million in humanitarian and permitted to invest only in foreign this process. These countries, like (IPS) problems, while hardly on a par with ployment is rising. civilians. On 7 August, in the foreign and security policies since around their slain leader. economic aid to Afghanistan (IPS) assets. This curbs inflationary demand Norway, were winners in the Sub-Saharan Africa or Afghanistan, are But the real problem is the public deadliest clash since the Taleban’s General Qasim Fahim is defence through Karzai’s government and a pressure while preventing elected natural resource lottery. But that is Second, until an Afghan National serious enough to elicit concern. Green power in Johannesburg minister while Dr Abdullah Abdullah ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ouster in November, al Qaeda fighters day before Khatami’s visit, the officials from squandering the sector. Government spending is no guarantee that they will remain Army is constituted, warlordism will When a country’s newly- country’s riches on politically increasing by 4 percent annually JOHANNESBURG - In keeping with the theme, some of the main attacked an Afghan army outpost near is foreign minister. The third member remain a key factor in Afghan politics. Iranian Foreign Ministry con- Shorter, better TB cure rich after the payments stop. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ discovered natural resource abundance rewarding but economically wasteful because of a new “action rule” that Kabul, resulting in 15 casualties. A of the troika, Younis Qanooni, has been Afghanistan sometimes manifests itself firmed that 16 al Qaeda fugitives venues hosting the World Summit on Sustainable Development NEW DELHI - Indian scientists have come up with a short regimen leads to windfall wealth, investment in projects. But Norway has recently allows revenue from the Petroleum (WSSD) will use environment-friendly “green” electricity during the day earlier, an American soldier was relegated from his previously powerful as a multi-ethnic, de facto confederation from Afghanistan, who managed to the rest of its economy shifts away lowered its guard on both counts. Fund to be phased into the domestic summit. Green electricity is produced in an environment-friendly way killed in an incident involving US slot as interior minister to the politicallyof tribes and linguistic groups led by cross into Iran, had been handed against tuberculosis that halves the six months needed under the from tradeables (mainly manufactured Wages have soared, with the economy. But the additional budget from renewable energy sources like the sun, the wind and waves. troops and Afghans close to the less influential education minister’s over to Saudi Arabia, their country directly observed treatment short course or DOTS, approved by warlords, who often have camaraderie the WHO. Because it is shorter, the new regimen developed at the exports) and into nontradeables average increase likely to hit a revenue has merely offset lower taxes, Electricity generated conventionally—in coal or nuclear power Pakistan border. post. The majority of Afghanistan’s and rapport with neighbours who share of origin. stations—either releases large amounts of carbon into the atmos- population is Pashto-speaking Pashtun. Tuberculosis Research Centre (TRC) in Chennai city reduces the (mainly consumer goods and whopping 6 percent this year. To while high wages and interest rates are The expectations of a new order of an ethnic linguistic or ethnic affinity morbidity and poor compliance associated with DOTS, which relies jacking up public expenses. So phere or produces pollutants, like radioactive waste. While South Tajiks make up 25 percent of the services). The diagnosis is a familiar compensate, firms have raised prices, African produces some of the cheapest electricity in the world, its stability emerging in the post-Taleban with them. For instance, there is on the closely supervised administration of a cocktail of four cheap one called “Dutch disease.” If and fueling inflation. But with the central government must spend more to phase, particularly after the June Loya population, with an ethnic affinity with Pakistan with the Pashtuns, Iran with but powerful drugs. “Shorter TB treatment regimens would ease power stations are fired by “dirty” coal, which emits large amounts Tajikistan and a linguistic linkage with when the natural resource generating bank committed to holding annual maintain public services and keep of carbon. South Africa produces 42 percent of Africa’s carbon Jirga, have not been met. The Loya the Shi’ite Hazara and Farsi-speaking drug administration for both patients and providers,” said Shaheed (Project Syndicate) the windfall wealth (in this case, oil inflation at 2.5 percent, Norway’s unemployment down. The cycle thus emissions. Yet, the emissions for all of Africa are still substantially Jirga was caught between the conflict- Iran. Tajiks and Uzbekistan with the Uzbeks. Jawahar, a member of the team that developed the new regimen. and gas) disappears, the economy is interest rates are currently among the takes another vicious turn: higher less than that of a single developed country. ing demands of the warlords who Reports of tensions between Karzai To shorten the treatment regimen, the TRC team replaced one of left with too few competitive industries (Gunnar Bårdsen is associate and Fahim have surfaced, and last the four drugs in the cocktail, ethambutol, with a more powerful highest in Europe. assert their own suzerainty in their drug oflaxacin, which kills, rather than just weakens, TB bacteria. and too many empty bookstore-cafes. professor of economics at the respective domains versus an month’s assassination of Vice President This has helped cause the (IPS) ultra-short regimen cured 99 percent patients in a test run with an Norwegian University of Science 8 percent relapse rate. “This is highly acceptable as the usual rate and Technology.) is 20 percent,” said TRC scientist M Shaheed Jawahar. Fighting an unjust fight (IPS) ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ANALYSIS by JIM LOBE UNITED NATIONS- A US proposal to cut off military aid to countries refusing to shield its peacekeepers from war crimes prosecutions is (IPS) under fire from human rights groups and legal scholars. “It is blackmail—pure and simple,” Brigitte Suhr of the New York-based Human Rights Watch, told IPS. She said the threat comes from a new Recycled refugees Power games in the Philippines○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ US law, the American Servicemembers Protection Act (ASPA), which prohibits military assistance to countries that have ratified the PESHAWAR - An Afghan refugee tried to set himself ablaze at a PATRICK SMITH Like father, unlike son ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, which came into Big projects are irresistible refugee repatriation centre in Islamabad earlier this month, suppos- WASHINGTON - The second-most frustrated man in Washington’s foreign- force 1 July. The law, also called the Hague Invasion Act, authorises omebody was telling me the other day that India was happily off the hook, at edly after his appeal for assistance to return home was rejected policy establishment these days, next to Secretary of State Colin Powell, must be the use of military force to free US and allied suspects from deten- least for the time being, so far as Enron goes. While there are billions of as fraudulent since he had already been given aid. The success of tion by the ICC. Last month, the UN Security Council agreed to give magnets for corrupt officials. Brent Scowcroft, the courtly and self-effacing retired army general who served as Sdollars in dispute over the bankrupt US company’s Dabhol Power Co the UNHCR voluntary repatriation process has only complicated it. US peacekeepers a year’s exemption from ICC prosecution but Repatriation peaked April - June in what officials say was the George Bush Sr’s national security adviser. Like Powell, Scowcroft has consistently rejected a proposal for an automatic renewal of that exemption. project south of Mumbai, there’s no one to negotiate with—and no one in India must pay. fastest voluntary refugee influx in history. By August, over a million —and sometimes publicly—counselled George W to pursue a cautious, In its continuing pursuit of immunity from the ICC, the US has refugees had returned from neighbouring countries, mostly multilateral approach in his “war on terrorism”, especially with regard to Iraq and India may enjoy a lengthy respite from the messy, long-running wars fought signed bilateral agreements with Israel and Romania, barring the Pakistan. But this exodus brought other problems as well. As of 25 the Middle East in general. extradition of Americans for trial on future war crime charges if US over the $3 billion Dahbol plant, but the rest of the developing world can’t count July, repatriation staff had rejected 53,592 families they suspected But his advice has been almost entirely ignored as the unilateralist, pro- troops serve as peacekeepers in those two nations. A state that has on such escape hatches. In Southeast Asia alone, Indonesia has similar problems, of making bogus claims. Official sources estimate that some Likud hawks in the Pentagon’s civilian leadership and Vice President Dick ratified the ICC would be violating its statutes if it signed a bilateral and now we have the details of just how deep in the Philippines is. 230,000 ‘recycled refugees’—who benefited from UN repatriation Cheney’s office have consolidated their control of policy since last December’s agreement with the US, said Marjorie Cohn, associate professor at The Philippines power sector was haphazardly liberalised in 1987, and by the packages and went to Afghanistan—have returned to Pakistan illegally, to disappear in rural and urban areas of the country. But military success against the Taleban in Afghanistan. the Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego. Suhr said the early 1990s the country was faced with an acute shortage of electricity. Then threat to cut off aid is selective. US allies such as the EU, Japan, beyond just a bureaucratic problem, this trend highlights the Scowcroft serves as chairman of the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Israel and Egypt are excluded, while “struggling democracies like president Fidel Ramos got emergency powers to negotiate “fast track” contracts with difficulty of life in Afghanistan, which prompts returnees to head Board (PFIAB), a post that guarantees him access to top-secret intelligence and to Colombia, Bolivia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo—all of independent power producers. There are now 48 such contracts, and they are back again to neighbouring Pakistan. Bush Jr’s top foreign-policy advisers. Normally, PFIAB chairmen are discreet which have ratified the ICC—are now under threat,” she said. something to behold. and hesitant to weigh in on policy issues publicly. He has mentored two of the Tax holidays, duty exemptions, “take-or-pay” provisions covering generated administration’s top foreign-policy officials: Powell, with whom he served in theGeorge W is even more hardline than his father, and power, freely repatriated profits for foreign investors, government loan guarantees, (IPS) Nixon White House 30 years ago, and Bush Jr’s national security adviser, that’s frustrating people in his own administration. exchange-rate protection—it’s all there. By the mid-1990s, the power shortage was Condoleezza Rice. Scowcroft remains very close and very, very loyal to Bush Sr (IPS) a surplus and the Ramos government was signing contracts for projects on which it with whom he co-authored In May, as violence between Israel and Palestine intensified, Scowcroft wrote hadn’t even solicited bids. Fixed fuel costs and guaranteed purchases turned theThe committee reviewed 35 independent power contracts, PCIJ tells us, and Neither a lender nor a borrower be A World Transformed, a 1998 book about their in thePost’s op-ed page again to bolster Powell’s frustrated efforts to persuade law of supply and demand on its head: The more power produced, the more found six to be free of legal or financial defects. Plenty of famous names from the○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Not paying for excesses expensive it got. So far, Manila deals with independent power producers have cost BANGKOK- Thai environmentalists are deeply suspicious of a foreign policy from 1989 to 1993. One of the book’s main themes is the Bush to rein in Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and launch a new, multilat- ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Filipino oligarchy turn up in the PCIJ report, and plenty of foreign investors, the government roughly $14 billion—not including the $0.7 billion the National importance of broad coalitions, both domestically and overseas, for difficult policyeral peace process based on Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah’s peace offer and UNITED NATIONS - A new UN study urges the United States and too, though none of these companies is specifically implicated wrongdoing.in any World Bank offer to give $8 million to a private company planning a Power Corp, or Napocor, the former monopoly, pays annually for fuel to run the initiatives such as the Gulf War. culminating in a viable and independent Palestinian state. Canada to take more responsibility for the damage they have done to The deal that takes the cake, in PCIJ’s estimation, is one struck by Argenti-biomass project, calling it a way for developed countries to dodge plants. binding commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The Scowcroft’s loyalty to Bush Sr—and the fact that he is widely seen as the Recently, Scowcroft spoke out on national TV urging restraint in Iraq. the world’s natural resources and climate in the past 30 years. Their na’s Industrias Metalurgicas Pescarmona SA. IMPSA contracted a few years ago to success in improving local environments—where their people live Napocor now pays independent power producers about $75 million a month activists were reacting to revelations Sunday of the offer from a former president’s alter ego—makes his speaking out publicly about these issuesEchoing the views of State Department and the CIA and drawing on his rehabilitate and run something called the Kalayaan Pumped Storage Plant. with clean water and air and enjoy green spaces—has come at the in fixed energy charges, whether power is generated and consumed or not. That is special World Bank fund, backed by money from six developed remarkable. “For Scowcroft to say anything critical amazing,” said a former seniorexperience under Bush Sr, he warned that an invasion of Iraq “could turn the Napocor has so far paid IMPSA $50 million for 18 months of operation, thoughnations, to a Thai company planning a biomass project to generate expense of global resources and climate,North says America’s tacked onto the ordinary Filipino’s electricity bill as a “purchased power adjust- official who worked with Scowcroft in the Bush administration. “I can’t imaginewhole region into a cauldron, and destroy the war on terrorism”. Echoing the company has invested only $9 million. Independent auditors concluded lastrenewable energy. Through the World Bank Prototype Fund’s Environment: A 30-Year State of the Environment and Policy ment”. This usually adds 30 percent to 50 percent to the monthly charge. Terrific, him doing so without talking with Bush’s dad.” European and Arab allies, Scowcroft said Washington should work with the UN week that the plant was not in urgent need of repair in the first place, as Napocorfinancial support of this biomass project, the developed nations Retrospective, released last week. The report says that one isn’t it? Another monument to the senselessness of the 1990s, when Third World to get arms inspectors into Iraq, because Saddam’s refusal to comply would give officials had argued from the beginning. behind the fund would earn carbon credits allowing them to show Apart from some offhand comments early in the Afghan campaign, when he Canadian or American consumes nine times more gasoline than any countries such as India and the Philippines were sold not merely lousy power good performance in meeting their targets in addressing climate the US a “ The PCIJ report is more than an indictment of privatisation as applied in said he hoped Washington would intensify consultations with US allies, Bush Sr other person in the world. With 5 percent of the world’s population, deals, but also the ideology of privatisation. change. Thai activists say it would be risky to enter into this casus belli that we don’t really have right now”. And, in what amounts the countries generate over 25 per cent of global emissions of heat- wholly inappropriate circumstances. The issue is how effectively foreign has eschewed substantive public comment about the war on terrorism, bolstering The mess in the Philippines comes to us via the Philippine Center for carbon credit offer—the first that the country has received so far. speculation that he shares Scowcroft’s concerns. Scowcroft has expressed himselfto heresy to the neo-cons dominating US policy, Scowcroft says the success of causing CO2. The study, carried out by the UNEP in collaboration companies can invest in infrastructure projects in regions they don’t sufficientlyThey say that by using the Kyoto Protocol’s carbon credit scheme Investigative Journalism, an enterprising outfit of dogged determination. Luz publicly on three issues since 9/11: coalitions, Israel-Palestine, and the adminis-efforts against Saddam depends on progress in Israel. with environmental think-tanks, says that both countries must make understand. For one thing, big projects are powerful, usually irresistible magnetsto fund environment-friendly technology-transfer projects in the “substantial and concrete changes” in the way they use automobiles, Rimban and Sheila Samonte-Pesayco, two journalists, spent three months investi- tration’s obsession with ousting Saddam Hussein. Scowcroft’s advice has not been taken, and he has been attacked, sometimes by for corrupt officials. For another, unfamiliarity produces an investment model developing world, industrialised countries are taking short cuts to relying on more fuel-efficient technologies. Urban development gating the power sector, interviewing everyone from former president Ramos down.that fails. The Philippines, Dabhol, an Edison International project called PT reducing greenhouse gas emissions back home. Thailand has yet Early in the war, when Rumsfeld and neo-conservatives were arguing that asenior administration officials, including Cheney and Rumsfeld, and more often strategies need to be revamped to stem the overgrowth of cities, They have published a four-part report; read it at http://www.pcij.org. Paiton Energy in Indonesia, all are cases in point. “Western investors hedge tooto ratify the 1997 Kyoto Protocol that sets targets for cutting by neo-conservative columnists and media, such asWall the Street Journal and they add. UNEP researchers estimate the US transportation sector multilateral coalition could hamper a successful campaign, Scowcroft wrote in the Among their coups was obtaining a copy of a report submitted to Presidentmuch up front as they find the projects risky,” a southeast Asian executive in thegreenhouse gases, and to create a mechanism for dealing with the Weekly Standard. Many of these actors were among Bush Sr’s most violent accounts for over a third of the energy consumed by the world. Gloria Arroyo last month by a committee of officials from the justice and financepower game told me. “That’s what produces the imbalances. You can’t load upsuch offers. Washington Post: “Success means a coalition. The liberation of Kuwait would critics 10 years ago when he halted the Gulf War at the Kuwaiti border and ministries and members of the National Economic and Development Authority.your cost recovery at the beginning. These investors are selling a format that have been impossible without a strong coalition of countries that provided refused to carry it on to Baghdad. They were even more scathing when he doesn’t work.” military bases, staging areas, intelligence, isolation of Iraq and strong moral andwithheld aid to Israel until it co-operated in the search for an international (IPS) political support.” solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (IPS) (Bloomberg) (IPS) 121212 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS THIS PAGE CONTAINS MATERIAL SELECTED FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 23 - 29 AUGUST NEPALI2002 TIMES HISTORY 23 - 29 AUGUST 2002NEPALI TIMES 131313 Which top politician has been killed?Television drama Back at Sundarijal >17 Deshanter,18 August Excerpts of an interview with General (Rtd) Bharat Keshar Simha Durga Nath SharmaRajdhani in , 18 August Durga Nath Sharma, former general manager, Nepal TelevisionNepal in Samacharpatra, “We are totally cut off from the outside world.” Now weíve reached a situation where weíre either with the 17 August Maoists or against. Which option looks more feasible?It is commonly accepted that once the election this habit of siesta is a healthy indication of my mind. It was fine to think about elections, with Maoists participating, as Since I had some bleeding form the nose—yesterday and today, I date is announced, it is Two years after I was made responsible for long as the government had not declared them “terrorists” andillegal sent to appoint, retire, BP’s mind is on his trial and he, with Ganeshdidn’t do my usualpranayam of both the Sandyaa. I did usual exercise the army after them. Now the situation is different. They have to running Nepal Television, I have been promote, or transfer in the morning, but gave it up in the evening. The bleeding is perhaps either surrender or surrender their weapons and ask for the people’s unceremoniously kicked out, instead of being Man Singh, plan their defence. BP says that people. I was aware due to cold weather and dry wind—or it may be due to some serious pardon. That would make legal sense and, if they come to elections, rewarded for my work, because I did not that the Election regardless of the outcome of the trial, he trouble. Although I have asked for a doctor, they don’t send him. This that could lead to a solution. But who says they can continue carry out the orders of Minister [of Informa- Commission had made time the medical facilities are not adequate and the service is not at all terrorist activities, kill security personnel and ordinary people and tion and Communication] Jaya Prakash an inquiry, but whether wants the document to be a testament for prompt. Considering the feudal treatment given to us, the non- destroy public infrastructure, and still be brought to join the main- Gupta. it permitted the act compliance of our request for doctors appears to be in keeping with stream during elections? I would not agree to that if I were in the I tried to ensure that NTV was broadcast posterity of what he and his colleagues have [Sharma’s dismissal their policy of keeping us in total isolation. Since we arrived here the army. Which top politician has been killed? What, does this country from NTV], only the to all 75 districts before being transmitted in doctors visited only twice— one a general physician and the other a only belong to the politicians and not to the people also? The people been fighting for. But this energetic frame of minister knows. the west [overseas]. Minister Gupta was dentist. I get constant headache. It may also be due to cold; but it may are dying to save this political system, security forces are being Until today, I have pressuring me to take a loan of Rs 100 mind soon disappears when BP acknowledgesbe due to something else also. Combined with the bleeding of the killed, but our society does not seem to recognise that, and wants to million to transmit Nepal TV abroad. done nothing illegal. At that he isn’t doing too well physically, and nose, the headache may be a symptom of some real trouble. bring those who want to destroy this political system into electoral politics. You’re worried morethis point about in my life, I I was called to the ministry Thursday. I those who want to destroy the system, rather than about those who are fighting to save it?don’t The wantday weto do knew there was going to be a scene and that the prison authorities are doing their best agree to bring them into the election process, we have to free all the murderers and dacoitsanything from the illegal. I didn’t that they were trying to remove me. They prisons. How can the state function when all criminals are freed? At one time they [the Maoists]feel it werewas ethical to asked me about the future plans and to keep them totally cut off from the world— given the benefit of doubt… play with NTV’s future progress report of NTV, and said my policy th by employing incapable was impractical, and asked why I hadn’t even a request for writing paper must go to 8 February 1977 So you donít see a peaceful resolution of the Maoist problem? They need to be crushed? the government is very shrewdly acting in keeping us in total dark- people because they sought any loans. My report, based on A very sinister tendency on the part of the jail authority—whoever Absolutely. I think justice needs to be done. There must be rule of law in the country. Today if you give the headquarters.ness about the developments that must be taking place subsequent to had connections. I research by experts, said that Rs 40-50 they are—was evident today when I was told that we couldn’t get them a little space and pardon them, then tomorrow new Maoists will be born. If the government keeps our arrival at Kathmandu. refuse to kowtow to million was required to set up an earth writing materials without specific authorisation from the HQ. I had yielding to a force that continues to murder and spread violence, the present problem may bethose resolved, who feel that the station. [Tapanath] Shukla said that he could but what stops another group from doing the same thing tomorrow? They will again force the government asked for some plain sheets of paper; they brought 6 sheets. I said I Communications Ministry belongs to them. Today, it get one for Rs 15 million. I said, go ahead. It need 6 Quires [reams of 6 x 24 sheets] whereupon the captain gave to yield. For the sake of stability, we must not create a situation where the government wouldis important be forced to make corporations independent. No to yield [to such tactics] repeatedly…. was all a drama to try to remove me. me the whole information— that the matter has been referred to the one trusts the government media. What little trustA while ago, Minister Gupta pressured me to th higher authorities. I am aghast at this attitude. If I don’t get writing is there will be lost if we start employing people paper, my life here will be extremely unbearable. GM suggests that One way to neutralise the Maoists is by assimilating them into the political mainstream, yet get people he was backing into NTV. They’d done 6 February on the basis of connections they have. No one we should make use of the newspapers to write on. We should cut you are talking about eliminationÖ badly even in the written test. I didn’t want to add should fall prey to government pressure. Sundarijal: I discussed with GM the line of defence in our case. I read them to exercise book size and write our notes or our ideas on the You don’t eliminate them or make them ineffective through the use of weapons only. Once you remove its points to ensure that incapable people got jobs, and out a portion of the defence arguments that I have prepared—it is not blank spaces available on the printed pages. Now we will have to do teeth and claws, a tiger becomes harmless, as do snakes whose venom is extracted. [How can] you talk so I lost my job. a defence of our case against the specific charges brought by the that most likely. It passes my comprehension as to the motive of this about bringing into the political mainstream those that want to change what has been said to be un- government against us—it is a formal statement of our line of action in changeable in the constitution, those who want a secular state, those who want an end to the monarchy, th restriction. I have been asking for a doctor to examine my nose which pursuance of our political ideology and conviction. I am not satisfied has been bleeding for some time. The doctor too is not sent. Is it a those who want a constituent assembly, those who do not want multiparty democracy? Let them fight— with what I’ve already written, because I am not yet clear what7 lineFebruary 1977 forever—that is what happens in wars. Otherwise we would not have world wars; this is a small design to victimise us or is it a precaution against out possible effort we have to adopt—whether it should be such a one which Sundarijal:shouldn’t Did some washing—bathed. It continues to be cold. Water conflict. The army has not used half of its arsenal. In all those world wars, peace agreements were to contact people outside though the doctor or to smuggle our notes totally kill the chances of possible dialogue with the King or continueswe should to freeze. A barber was sent and GM had his hair cut. I cut signed only after defeat or victory. What is the need to give up the rule of law and bring them into the and messages through pipes or the cook or the sweeper. Anyway I go in for a categorical statement of our policy, line, and proposalsmy hair myself, hence I did not make use of his presence. There was mainstream? That cannot be. No government must do that. Why should we allow in a snake that could eat am greatly disturbed. I have been homesick the whole day and was regardless of the consequence of such a stand. GM doesn’tsome seem guessing to as why the barber was sent to us without our us in future? depressed and a little ill also: on top of this the captain informs us in see the difference. He thinks that if the King is himself in needasking of a for him. Why are they interested in our looking trim. theWill evening that we won’t get writing paper without specific sanction Durga Nath Sharma: “But Mr Minster, the code of dialogue he will open it, whatever we may say in the court, and if he So the state of emergency and military operations must continue. For how long? conduct...” somebody see us from home? Then GM remembers that hisfrom shoes the HQ. It is very awful. We are in such a helpless condition. is not interested then any opening that we may leave in our havestatement not been delivered to him, or his jacket, even his watch. We cannot say how long it will take. An internal rebellion is one of the most difficult operations for an Sometimes the thought to go on hunger strike occurs to me, but such for negotiation wouldn’t be taken advantage of by him. I am Hencenot so we dismiss the guess. action would be nothing short of suicide and would be absurd, in army, because the enemy cannot be identified. External enemies can be identified easily. Much has been Minister for Information and Communication Jaya convinced of his argument. After all a statement purporting to express brought under control after the Royal Nepal Army went out onto the field. Now we don’t have to hear of Got three days newspapers together—yesterday and dayview before of our total segregation from the outside world. The King Prakash Gupta: “Shut up! That should concern only an attitude of reconciliation or compromise or even at the minimum would be happy to let me die without the world knowing that I died attacks like those in Dang and Mangalsen. The army has spoken about being in control and having broken level hint towards a dialogue would definitely be differently beingworded holidays they hadn’t come. Yesterdaybida[holiday] was some into the intelligence networks of the Maoists. At this rate, if the Maoists don’t get the support of foreign the Election Commission, not the government, got it? as a result of hunger strike. I therefore rule out hunger strike. than one that has no such intention. In any event the King isguruji not going had died day before. Chyanta Guruji perhaps. I knew himWhat in 1 else can I do here in this stark isolation? countries, the problem will be resolved soon. Or shall I take you to court?” to open a dialogue with us, whatever we state before the court, then st Sometimes—mostly immediately after lunch—I feel it is better that we should also state our political [ideology] as clearly— extremely helpless. My intellect, my analysis says Have we reached a situation that demands direct rule of the king for a certain period? addressing it not to the King, but to the people in general. Aas soft one of the judges who tried me during Mohan S’s time. [Mohan Yes, we need direct rule now. Not only me, even people living in the US say that the constitution should be that we are on the right path and that we will statement in the present context is fruitful only when a correspondingSumshere, Rana prime minister at the time of the Nepal-India Friend-ultimately win. But my psychology— my emo- handed over to the king—let him rule. The constitution provides that space, only it has to be ratified by response is expected from the other side. If that is not forthcoming,ship Treaty, during whose reign King Tribhuvan went into exile, and parliament within six months. If parliament adds that timeframe, it could continue for as long as five years. tional reaction— is unaffected by my reasoning. I then a soft statement is worse than useless. It will definitelywho not firstbe enthroned King Gyanendra. During this time, the Nepaliremain psychologically disturbed. How to get If that is done and the right things happen, it is impossible that the king’s rule will not be ratified. Many Deshanter, 18 August politic or in accordance with the revolutionary ethics. The palaceCongress is had stepped up its activities to overthrow the Rana intellectuals have also been thinking along these lines… over this psychological weakness? If only I could looked on with suspicion by the ominously silent and we are totally cut off from the outside oligarchy.]world. We He was particularly nasty with me. Thereafter the stillrevolu- this psychological agitation! school administration. don’t know what developments are taking place outside. Hencetion ofmy 1950-51 he became friendly with me and wanted me to take dilemma as to the nature of the statement we have to make.his Perhaps sons under my wing. Spent the afternoon reading the papers; took According to resident Nepalis, Mohan Baidhya (Kiran) Ram Nepalis in India Bahadur Thapa Magar, Nanda a nap of 20 minutes. Since yesterday I am perhaps just enough ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ earlier, members of the Nepali Ekata relaxed to get a midday sleep of 20 minutes. It used to be my practice, Nepal Samacharpatra, 17 August Samaj, an organisation closely Kishor Pun (Pasang), Barsha Ram but since my detention this time I couldn’t get a wink of sleep during affiliated with the Maoists and Pun, Poshta Bahadur Bogati, Top the day time— because of high tension. The gradual resumption of currently banned, would trouble Bahadur Rayamajhi, Krishna Ever since the state of emergency was Bahadur Mahara, Dev Gurung, declared in Nepal, the number of people for donations. Recently, their activities have decreased. Tilak Kaku, a Matrika Yadav, Santosh Buda Maoists in India has increased rapidly, (Rolpa), Bam Dev Chhetri and especially in the bordering states of high-ranking Indian security official from Uttar Pradesh, told Buddhi Yonjan are firmly against Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West any talks with the government. A Bengal. According to Nepalis resident vertical split between those for and in India, the Nepal Ekata Samaj— against talks with the government is banned by the Indian government— Samacharpatrathat Indian security visible within the party. continues to function. Residents QUOTE OF THE WEEK Prachanda supporters like CP complain that they are harassed by officials were prepared to help Nepali The crux Gajurel, Haribol Gajurel, Pampha both Maoist activists and Indian residents who suffered any injustice. “If they do so (disrupt elections as threatened) they will not disrupt the elections, but destroy Bhushal, Hisila Yami, Prakash security forces. More prone to But like other Indian security officials, Dahal, Agni Sapkota, Dr Baburam themselves.” harassment are Nepali migrant he said, “Where are the Maoists in Bhattarai, Suresh Ale Magar, Shakti workers. Bhakta Lal Hirachan who India? The Maoists are in Nepal. If they come here, we can only send Lamsal want to use peace talks as a of the —KP Oli, UML standing committee memberDristi in on 20 August. runs a lodge in Gorakhpur district, tool to distract the government from India, says, “Previously, thousands of them back.” Despite this assurance, its operation against the Maoists. Nepali migrant workers would come Nepali residents stress that the seeking jobs. Today, the numbers haveMaoists, including leaders and cadres, A third fraction, led by Gopal dwindled.” are seeking refuge in bordering Indian Khambu and other leaders Jhakku states. Prasad Subedi, Dipak Dahal, biscuit Immediately after the visit to India Chatur Man Rajbanshi, is trying to of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur distance itself from both the Deuba, Hirachan’s lodge, patronised Prachanda Path and the Badal Path. by a large number of people from Troubled Maoists There are still other Maoist leaders Nepal, was raided twice in the middle ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ is the who want to use the upcoming of the night. Many Nepali residents Ghatna Ra Bichar, 21 August elections, Jana Morcha-style: Dinesh like Hirachan told Sharma, Dina Nath Gautam, Maoists in hideouts in India are Basanta Shrestha, Bimala Subedi, Samacharpatrathat having a tough time after Indian Devendra Paudel, Dev Nath Yadav, apostrophe. the Maoists had created an environ- security was beefed up in New Delhi, Ishwor Chandra Gyawaqli, Jai ment in which normal people trying toUttaranchal, Bihar, West Bengal and Krishan Goit, Kumar Dhakal, make a living were constantly under Sikkim. And they have been alienated Kumar Shah, Ramesh Chaulagai, the suspicion of Indian security forces. from their supporters in India. Surya Yadav, Surya Thapa, Thaman While Nepalis living in India for a Among the high Maoist Pariyar and Hemanta Prakash Oli. long period have experienced relatively commands Rit Bahadur Khadka, Ajab We have not been able to learn fewer problems, Nepalis entering IndiaLal Yadav, Yan Prasad Gautam and the names of seven other leaders recently in order to escape the murder Krishna Sen Ichhuk have been killed, who support talks with the and violence in Nepal, are getting while Krishna Dhoj Khadka, woman government, but our sources tell us caught between the security forces and leader Rekha Sharma, and youth that Shakti Bahadur Basnet, Tilak the Maoists. Many have been leaving leaders Shiva Dangi, Tara Bhandari Pariya, Uma Kanta Khanal and Jaya Newspaper Headline: 22 Bureaucrats Arrested for Corruption the bordering Indian states and going and Shashi Shrestha, etc have been Puri Gharti could be among their inland. As the Maoists wreak havoc in arrested. The Maoist information numbers. “Oh hello… Mr Dhungana, Mr Thapa, Mr Regmi, Mr Pant, Mr Tiwari… But how come Mr Nepal, Nepal and then seek refuge in India, network has also been assaulted. Mr Pokharel, Mr Koirala, Mr Khadka, Mr Wagle, Mr Anand and Mr Gachhedar are missing…..?!!” the Indian public is beginning to On the other hand, the Maoist suspect any Nepali of being a Maoist. central command is vertically split. Children of resident Nepalis being Our sources say that powerful central enrolled in schools in India are often committee and politburo members Jana Aastha, 21 August www.nepalitimes.com 141414 CITY 23 - 29 AUGUST NEPALI2002 TIMES NATURE 23 - 29 AUGUST 2002NEPALI TIMES 151515

FILMFILMFILMABOUT TOWN YAK YETI YAK by MIKU Austin Powers in Gold Member at GAA Hall, Thamel, 23 August, 5PM, Rs 50 per head.

EXHIBITION Colorgraph prints by Ragini Upadhayay-Grela. 17 Auguat-15 September, Siddhartha Art Gallery, 11AM-6PM, except Saturdays. 218048 Our efforts to protect the snow leopard will only EVENTSEVENTSEVENTS The Second Bagmati River FestivalKayak and raft flotilla starting from Sundarijal and ending at work once we look beyond just the big cat. Thapathali, 23 August. [email protected] ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○ Rain dance DJ Ozzie at th poolside lawn, Hotel de l’Annapurna. Rs 300, 2PM-7PM, 24 August. many snow leopards met their maker, 221711 but because of the naiveté of Nepali SAAN St Augustine’s Alumni of School Nepal Day dinner, get-together. 28 August, Wednes- conservationists and managers. A day, 6PM, Hotel Nirvana Garden, Thamel, dinner Rs 350 per head. [email protected] or quarter of a century after snow leopards Razzu Tuladhar 9810-26357. Tickets also at venue. BOOKWORM in Nepal were first radio-tagged and Teej & Food festivalCelebrating the colour of Nepali women at the Shangri-la Kathmandu, 24 efforts were started to know more about August 9AM-7PM Free entrance. 412999 Theories of Development: Concepts and Applications William Grain this secretive cat, they still did not Father Watrin 3 on 3 Street Basketball Championship followed by dance party and concert Prentice-Hall, New Jersey, 1980/1992 know something very basic: that such enough holistic information to go around. As for mistakes, it just GOVINDA BASNET featuring Albatross, X - marica, Nastic and more. GAA Hall, Thamel, 24 August, 1PM on, Rs 200. Rs 900 massacre needed either a massive becomes easier to hide them and Cosmic Party 2002 Bowling party with DJ, lights, food, drink at Bowling Boulevard. 24 August, From Locke and Rousseau to Piaget, Freud and Skinner, scholars have advanced our under- poisoning campaign or shooting from the air, the tools and techniques for longer to find out. 3PM on. Tickets Rs 400 at Bowling Boulevard, Kantipath. [email protected]. standing of psychological development. In addition, Grain discusses the idea of conditioning as their fellow workers and agencies are neither of which could conceivably There’s another hot rumour now: advanced by Pavlov, Erikson’s eight stages of life, Jung’s theory of adulthood and Chomsky’s doing. This is in evidence even in His work in a place like Manang. For the Nepal Country Action Plan, that is theory of language development. Grain ends with an exploration of the relationship between Majesty’s Government, which does not SEMINARSEMINARSEMINAR another, less than 15 snow leopards being drafted for the snow leopard. It ELD seminars 3 September: Conflict Management, 4 September: Negotiation, 5 September: Team humanistic psychology and developmental theory. recognise that the Annapurna may roam in the entire Upper Manang A snow leopard killed in 1992, beforeis the typically ACAP ironicoffice wasthat set I did up not in Manang. hear Conservation Area has the same value Building, 2 - 6 September: Developing Project Proposals. Per workshop Rs 1,500, Rs 1,200 (NGO), valley. After all, it is just about 600 about it formally in Nepal but at the Rs 900 (student). Details at www.eld.org.uk, early registration at [email protected]. 541 613 for conservation as a national park. Translation, Text and Theory Rukmini Bhaya Nair, ed km sq, and only a third of it is suited recent Snow Leopard Survival Summit Annapurna, Nepal’s largest protected First aid and rescue at high altitude Free week-long training workshops by Jacques Beaume. Sage Publications, New Delhi, 2002 to habitation by the endangered cats, in Seattle in May, where I represented area, is missing from the list, even 22 September onwards, Alliance Française. 241163 Rs 865 Convention on International Trade in ecologically speaking. Nepal on behalf of the King Mahendra Endangered Species of Wild Fauna though the project was one of the first Trust. So, we have a management This multidisciplinary, theoretically-sophisticated The effort required to intentionallythat linked ecology and the economy in MUSICMUSICMUSIC and Flora (CITES) and in Nepal hunt a snow leopard in such a wild, action plan. Now comes the simple volume re-evaluates the paradigm of translation within the multilingual and cultural context SOM B ALE what has since become an internation- The Jazz Commission at Fusion with Vidhea singing jazz, blues and more. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ in 1993, when ACAP set up office in under the National Park and Wildlife matter of making sure the right hand of the Indian subcontinent. Translation is seen by the contributors as a mode of asking desolate land is enormous, even for theally recognised conservation model. Fridays, Fusion Bar, Dwarika’s Hotel, 7PM on. 479488 ne day hundreds of years ago, the district. Although it is acknowl- Conservation (NPWC) Act. knows what the left is doing. Snow fundamental and difficult questions about cultural identity. In addition, they view translation local hunters who are now anyway Also, since 2000, the King Mahendra New music at the Nanglo BakeryThursdays Cafés The Thunders at The it is said, that a tribal hunter edged that a snow leopard attacks the But, since the inhabitants of almost non-existent in Manang. leopards have a difficult enough time as a bridge not only between languages, but also between divergent theoretical positions. livestock only when its natural prey are Trust has initiated a $2.1 million in very tough terrain. To do anything Bakery Café, Teku, Fridays Strings at the Nanglo Café & Pub, Darbar Marg, Ocalled Keragomba Dorje was Manang depend on animal herding forMoreover, in places like Manang, biodiversity project in Upper Mustang hard to find, and that to protect the for them, we’re going to need to be Sundays The Thunders at the Bakery Café, Baneswor. hunting in an alpine meadow in the their livelihood, they’ve been strong religious sentiments are against with support from major donors. This Shangri-La Re-Unites Prism Friday nights live at the Jazz Bar, starting 8 PM. Himalaya. The hunter, chasing a wild snow leopard means its habitat and petitioning ACAP for close to a decade such mass killing, particularly given organised. neighbours all need to be protected is the most expensive undertaking in www.hotelshangrila.com. 412999 Courtesy: Mandala Book Point, Kantipath, 227711, [email protected] blue sheep, came upon Milerapa deep now to allow the culling of problematicthe snow leopard’s legendary place in the history of conservation in Nepal in meditation. Before the hunter couldtoo, the story in Manang Valley is a bitsnow leopards to continue. Now for local folklore. Mananges believe that different. devoted to the cause of the snow DRINKDRINKDRINK CLASSIFIED kill his prey, the thoughtful Lama ACAP, or rather, the King Mahendra snow leopards (and domestic cats) are leopard. The effort to conserve the In Manang, the chances of a snow Ladies night at The Rox Bar Wednesdays. Women get a drink on the house, and after 8PM persuaded him not to do so. 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The Great Godavari Getaway Special weekend packages including room with breakfast and dinner, 25 percent discount on health club facilities. Godavari Village Resort. 560675 A love triangle with a twist. What would you do if the one you loved was not actually the one you loved? What would you do if your best friendMujhse was in Dosti Karoge? love with the one you love? What would you do if you knew your best friends are sacrificing their love for you? Raj (Hrithik Roshan), Pooja (Rani 12.30JAINEPAL PM, 3.30 PM,CINEMAGHAR Mukherji) and Tina (Kareena Kapoor) are three6.30 PM dailyPhone best friends thrown into situations that time, letters, For inclusion in the listing send information to [email protected] booking 442220 love and separation create for them in ShimlaOnline and booking London. A Yash Chopra presentation, Mujhsewww.jainepal.com Dosti Karoge is written and directed by Kunal Kohli.

Just look at that satellite picture of the subcontinent on FM 102.4 taken on Wednesday morning. A great low pressure area is sitting pretty tight over northern India and this isMon-Fri 0615-0645 BBC World Today NEPALI WEATHER the reason for the monsoonby NGAMINDRA squalls of this DAHAL week, which will continue intermittently into the weekend. Sat 0615-0645 BBC Science in Action DSES-21-08-2002 05:00 GMT This will be immediately followed by the big swirl in the bay which will arrive here early next week bringing Sun 0615-0645 BBC Agenda more moderate to heavy daytime showers. This monsoon may have been late, but it’s not giving up. ButDaily 2045-2115 BBCg] kfnL ;]]jf] by midweek next week we may begin to see more of the sun. Daily 2245-2300 BBCg] kfnL ;]]jf]

Sun-Fri 0740- 0800 ltg6f s'''/f Daily 0800-0830 8jnL8jnL8jnL Daily 2000-2030 cfhsf s'''/f

KATHMANDU VALLEY Radio Sagarmatha

Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue P.O. Box 6958, Bakhundole, Lalitpur, Nepal Tel: ++977-1-545680, 545681 Fax: ++ 977-1- 530227 E-mail: [email protected] /]l8of ] ;u/dfyf www.radiosagarmatha.org 27-19 27-18 28-18 28-19 29-20 161616 23 - 29 AUGUST 2002NEPALI TIMES Under My Hat by Kunda Dixit “Never before had I seen anything quite so beautiful...” Guy Jatra - Dr Christian Schicklgurber, curator at Vienna’s Ethnographic Museum from p1 here is one day in the year when Nepali guys canfor the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) to The Dipankar Buddha make even bigger asses of themselves than they the International Court of Justice in The Hague for was stolen from a family Tdo the other days in the year, and that day is infringement of copyright by adopting an acronym thatcustodian in Nag Bahal in could “create confusion among customers”. Patan on the night of 17 today. (And gals, I’ve just been informed, can make January this year (see “Lost jenny asses of themselves.) “We’ve been around for a lot longer, and the and Found Buddha”,Nepali But the question troubling all able-bodied Nepali Nepali watchdog should have known better than to Times #94). It resurfaced males of reproductive age is this: are we really preparedhave a brand name so similar to ours,” spokesman Stanwhen the German dealer for this year’s Guy Jatra? Can we in our heart of hearts,Spooksky told a press conference at CIA headquarters tried to sell it to the Vienna at Langley Thursday. Ethnographic Museum in say with full self-assurance that our level of idiocy meets April. But the Museum’s international standards? Unfortunately, the answer to Spooksky said that the CIA switchboards had “lit curator for the Himalaya and both questions is: What’s that question again? up like a fourth of July sky” after the CIAA watchdog South Asia, Dr Christian It is only now becoming clear that we have been announced a sweep of corrupt tax officials in Nepal. “ASchicklgurber suspected that the image may have seriously lax on the irreverence front lot of people thought we been stolen. in the last fiscal year, and to make were involved in the “The art dealer called me up for this deficit the government raids, and of course we and offered to sell me a has formed a 127-member All- are nowhere near that golden Buddha head from Nepal Guy Jatra Celebration theatre of operations, Nepal,” recalls Standing Committee led by the Schicklgruber. “On 29 April, we have our hands full he came to Vienna and Primeval Minister to mark this here at home.” showed us his object. We year’s Cowdung Day with wilder were quite surprised. Never abandon than ever before. All In Kathmandu, before had I seen anything government orifices will be required CIAA officials said they quite so beautiful.” to eliminate with colourful lights their had received the court The Buddha’s head turned out to be a rare, and buildings for three nights, national summons, but were object out of Nepal. The larger-than-life size Dipankar flags will be sent to the dry cleaners, not backing down. “If department was reportedly Buddha mask from the 17 and Nepali missions abroad will be they don’t like our informed about the theft only on 15 March. using this opportunity to apprise the acronym, tough,” Did the five parts get their leaders of their host nations of the rapid said a CIAA opera- strides taken by Nepal in the field of colleague in Kathmandu. export-approval seals from tive, but conceded: th The answer came the department before that farce and buffoonery after the restoration day? And there are other “We wouldn’t mind promptly the next day: yes, of democracy. century which is venerated in questions: who were the this was the very Dipankar dropping the last the annual Samyak proces- thieves, was bribery in- Back home, all of us in the press are Buddha stolen from Nag ‘A’, and negotiating sion in Patan. The head is volved, who were the mid- required to mark Guy Jatra by Bahal. A Nepal police report about one meter high, made dlemen, can the German a merger.” of the theft was also sent. mandatorily publishing the following recent news items of copper and bronze, fire- dealer prove that he was Austrian police and Interpol from the national press: gilded and painted. It is acting in “good faith”? richly adorned with cut were then notified, and the But these questions Nepal Has World’s Largest Ass crystals, turquoise and Buddha was confiscated by other precious stones. court order to be stored at don’t trouble Schicklgruber. KATHMANDU (Animal Planet)– The Guinness the museum until it could beHe only wants to find out the – – “The art dealer wanted legally repatriated to Nepal.fastest way to get the Book of World Records has added new entries from200,000 Euros for it, a price The Austrian state Buddha back to Nepal. He Politics No Laughing Matter: Minister Nepal in its coming edition which includes a young which in international com- says, “This image plays an prosecutor began investiga- Nepali scientist who has designed the world’s parison didn’t appear unrea- important role in the living, KATHMANDU (RSS) – The Minister of Parody and tion, and lawyers in Vienna, sonably high to me, in view of religious culture of Nepal, Satire has said that he fails to see the joke in the fastest clock. Germany, and the Royal the rarity, age and quality of in particular the Buddhists “It’s a marvel of engineering, you just wind it up, Nepal Embassy in Berlin ongoing political crisis in the country, and has cau- the object,” Schicklgruber of Patan.” tioned all citizens to refrain from laughing out and it will race against time to be ahead of clocks in said. “We asked for a weekhave of been looking at the loud in public since it would hurt the morale of the any other part of the world,” said Dr Baidyanath consideration. The dealer legal implications. The Buddha consists of five Erwin Melchart is a journal- armed forces. Upadhyayay of the Royal Nepal Academy of Scientific agreed and left the Buddha with us in our depot.” components (head, crown, ist with the Vienna paper, Technology. “This is another feather in Nepal’s cap, necklace and ear pendants)Kronen Zeitung. The minister made the remark after inaugurating a Now things had to move since we already have the world’s tallest dwarf.” and allfive bear the seal of three-day interaction programme on the theme “Are quickly. It had to be deter- Nepal’s Department of Our Politicians Clowns?” in Sat Dobato Thursday In a separate development, a recent survey of wild mined how the Buddha came Archaeology, which could be to be in Europe, and whether during which participants could barely suppress their asses in the trans-Himalaya have proved beyond doubt genuine or fake.The seal is it was stolen. Schicklgruber laughter and fell into the aisles clutching their bellies. that Nepali asses are on average the biggest asses in the required to take any religious world. “Donkeys are usually small and stocky, but the contacted a Nepal expert at Answering questions from journos in a post- the Department of Tibetology interaction ambush, the minister warned: “How can hind quarters we measured had stature, and they madeand Buddhism at Vienna they expect politicians to be serious about their jobs perfect asses of themselves,” said veteran zoologist, Dr University who in turn when they keep poking funny things at us? Don’t theyRoger Schnell. emailed a photo and descrip- tion of the Buddha to a know it tickles?” Meanwhile, the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist- Leninist) has been declared Nepal’s most rightwing party, while the present government has CIA sues CIAA been found to be the most-partisan partyless system in the world at the present time. LANGLEY, VA. (Reuters) – The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has decided to take Nepal’s Commission

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