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2 4 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 Really good news s hacks have been getting a lot of flak lately from loyal readers and www.nepalitimes.com royal leaders alike complaining that we print only the bad news, #187 12 - 18 March 2004 24 pages Rs 25 Urecommending that we take immediate action against the alleged culprits in an undisclosed location. Here is a sample letter from an irate UNDER MY HAT reader that will give you some idea Poll pull Kunda Dixit of what we have to put up with Suddenly, there is a lot of talk of every day in our area of work in the Fourth Estate: elections. The government, under pressure from donors about the parliamentary crisis, is nervous about the donor group meeting in Dear Sir: April. Suddenly, party factions are I don’t know why I am addressing you as ‘sir’ when I know it for a fact rushing to reunite. Kamal Thapa, that you have never been knighted by the queen. You could also not who got the all-important Home be a sir at all, but a madam, in which case, I beg your pardon. But let’s Ministry portfolio last week, even presume for a moment for the sake of argument that you are indeed a specified dates. He told the BBC male knight. Even then, I have strong reservations about addressing Nepali Service on Wednesday: “We you with such an honorific title because I am writing to complain about are aiming at October-December your work, you lousy piece of $%#&*! How come all the news you print so that we can get the security is negative? How come you have nothing nice to say about anybody? situation under control.” That may How come you give the impression that the sky is about to fall? Unless be wishful thinking, given the you start printing good news with immediate effect, I am personally escalation in Maoist violence and going to see to it that you are awarded a medal and given a public disruptions. There is speculation felicitation. that King Gyanendra may Yours etc, announce polls at his Pokhara rally on 28 March. The parties say polls Name withheld to protect exact identity of anonymous writer are a “ploy”. On Thursday, the five- party alliance held a mock joint session of parliament )( rightin which speakers delivered anti-monarchy tirades. All right, you asked for it. We will now take this small commercial break to carry some items of really good news: No Need To Panic: Govt The government has assured citizens that although all major cities are FRONT BENCHERS: Seated on front row of a being blockaded, basic necessities have disappeared from shelves and simulated parliamentl-r), Bharat( Mohan long-distance buses are being blown up by roadside bombs, there is no Weekly Internet Poll # 127 Adhikari, Sushil Koirala, Sahana Pradhan, need to panic, reports RSS. Q. How do you gauge the prospect of the Hridesh Tripathi, Amik Sherchan, Narayan “We have everything under control,” the government spokesperson, Nepali Congress reuniting? Man Bijukchhe, Madhab Nepal, Girija Koirala. who is also Minister of Health and Hygiene told mediapersons, “there is no reason for alarm right now, we will let you know when it is time to MIN BAJRACHARYA panic.” The public seemed reassured by the good news and immediately started hoarding potatoes and sugar. appearances, and United Nations Total votes:746 Special Rapporteurs on arbitrary de- Weekly Internet Poll # 128. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com ‘normal’ once rebels are defeated. tention, torture, and on extra judi- Q. Does a banda help or harm the organiser? Nepal’s tarnished image 501-Member Committee Formed It has now gone beyond how cial, summary and arbitrary POKHARA—A 501-member committee has been formed in Pokhara to It is almostGeneva on too Wednesday late on ato damage salvageall this will theaffect ournational tourism executions reputation have intervened. Human organise a public felicitation ceremony next week. Exactly who is being Everyday control mission. As a worldly-wise Enjoy our new Menu with Traditional ANALYSIS by industry. Nepal’s reputation is Rights Watch, has begun to moni- felicitated is being kept a closely guarded secret and highly placed sources Cuisines at Patan Museum Café diplomat, Thapa knows by nowalready sullied as the country joins KANAK MANI DIXIT tor Nepal. Mainstream watchdogs said on condition of anonymity that the identity was not being disclosed Every Sunday and Wednesday how far Nepal’s image hasthe list of other human rights like the International Crisis Group Organic Vegetable Market because it was supposed to be a surprise for the chief guest. “We don’t with Special Lunch plummeted in the past two years ofhotspots. The Guardian last moth are stepping up the pressure, and want to spoil the fun, but there are no prizes for guessing who it is,” the Every Friday he country’s international conflict and half-hearted democracy.listed “some of the most dangerous even the US State Department’s hu- source said. Enjoy the most famous BBQ Dinner reputation will face a high- Nepal’s parliamentary crisis and the in Kathmandu valley since 1983. and repressive regimes of the man rights report this year points to 6:30 – 9:30 pm T profile challenge this month inability or unwillingness of theworld”: Colombia, Zimbabwe, abuse by the army. Please visit our new Apartments when the UN Human Rights Royal Nepali Army to conduct aUganda, Indonesia, the The United Nations Human Govt Finishes Its Homework Reservations: 552 1810/ 552 6271 Commission in Geneva debates clean war will soon get a lot ofPhilippines, Israel and Nepal. Rights Commissioner has asked for His Majesty’s Government, which was accused by political parties of not human rights abuses in Nepal for international attention. “The government must have a full and independent enquiry into doing its homework on time, has finished its homework. “We can the first time. Watchdog groups say that it wasgot the message, but I fear the RNA excesses. Knowing where the proudly say we have now completed our homework,” said the Minister European members of the the Maoists who unleashed warofficials and the generals still don’t buck stops in the kingdom, the of Home, Works and Transport,“it is the office work that is giving us commission, worried about the against an elected government ninerealise the extent of international International Commission of Jurists problems.” army’s impunity in theyears ago, and don’t doubt that theyindignation that is building up,” has written a letter to King counterinsurgency war, aim to put have practiced widespread abuse.said one senior donor agency official Gyanendra, and now the UN

Political Parties Still At It the Nepali government on the But, they argue, the state has a biggeron a recent fact-finding visit to Secretary General Kofi Annan is At a mock-parliament on Thursday, leaders of the five-party alliance dock. The Swiss have prepared two responsibility to protect citizens,Kathmandu. similarly engaged. expressed alarm that the Maoists were getting ahead in the race to bring draft resolutions: a harsh one including in times of war. The worry Alarm bells are ringing loudly: the country to standstill, and decided to step up their own efforts to blaming the government, and a is that the RNA is putting the coreAmnesty International issued no- bring the country to a grinding halt. Party spokesman Madup Nepal consensual one in case the humanitarian principles of thetices on illegal detentions and dis- said: “We know that country is already at a standstill. That makes our job government makes moves to Geneva Conventions on hold in the a lot easier.” address the issue by then. hope that things will go back to Foreign Minister Bhekh Bahadur Thapa is travelling to Banda Rumours Confirmed continued p8 Rumours that Friday may be a banda has been greeted with much jubilation in non-governmental sectors through email group postings. Police sources confirmed the rumours, saying: “Yes, at this point we can confirm there are rumours about a banda.” No one, not even the organisers, were aware that they had called a banda. But non- governmental organisations were undeterred, saying in a statement: “We will make the banda a success even if it hasn’t actually been called.”

CDO Regd No. 194/056/57 Lalitpur, Central Region Postal Regd. No. 04/058/59 2 EDITORIAL 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 OP-ED 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 3

Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, ChiefKunda Editor: Dixit Desk Editors:Trishna Gurung, Jemima Sherpa Design:Kiran MaharjanWeb: Bhushan Shilpakar LLL ETTERS Advertising:Sunaina Shah [email protected] Subscription:Anil Karki,[email protected] Sanchaya Kosh Building, Block A-4th Floor, Lalitpur GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: 01-5543333-6, Fax: 01-5521013 STATE OF THE STATE responsible for security within the [email protected], www.nepalitimes.comPrinted at Jagadamba Press, Hatiban: 01-5547018 It is not possible to understandEmbassy and has no military liaison Showing we have guts Jawahar Lal Nehru Universityfunction whatsoever. Both are (JNU) without having been eithernormal components of any US a student or a teacher here. ItEmbassy is a in the world. However, ravery is a basic instinct. complex all-India institution whereMr Lal may have mixed up recent We curse bandas, but meekly 10,000+ Whenever there is a Thapa and the elevation of Kamal all kinds of people gather. It ispress true reports (confirmed by the US confrontation, an animal ne little item of news two weeks ago escaped the noticethat of Marxists are a majority atEmbassy as well as by the Royal B obey the diktatThapa of areits endemic organisers to a system most people: the Home Ministry’s announcement that the JNU,number but there is no dearth ofNepali Army) about the regular quickly weighs its options before where loyalty is the sole criterion of Nepalis killed in the past nine years of the ‘People’s War’conservatives had and neo-cons Jointon Combined Exchange Training choosing a course of action. Courage,country down without rhyme or overriding other value-loaded O campus. CK Lal has been (JCET) that is held two to three crossed the 10,000 mark. That this is now a five-digit conflict, in itself, however, has a moral dimension. times a year. reason, but publicly we meekly considerations like political shouldn’t make it any more serious than it already is. But it isneedlessly a disparaging about this Values, and not chances of success, milestone that underlines the point that this has always been aillustrious university in (‘Nepal These events have been CYBER-BANKING obeyed the diktat of the outlaws. As arepresentation, transparency of from JNU’, #185). prompt a person into taking a Nepali poet wrote: “This is how a performance or public senseless and unwinable conflict. Adding another zero to the total toll conducted with the Royal NepaliKhadga Singh’s ‘Can we bank on courageous stand. just drives the point home. He has also made some Army since the mid 1990s and arethe internet?’ (#185) leaves out the country pretends to survive.” accountability. At the rate we are going, with 30 reported deaths a week onfactual mistakes: Parmanandaroutine, is recurrent training eventswork of Laxmi Bank Ltd, which Nepal must be the only nation in In progressive societies, there is held also with approximately 25 average, it won’t be long before we hit 20,000. Then, 30,000. Andnot athen, professor of Delhi installed the world class banking other countries in the Pacific the world where a mere rumour can always a group of people who cite what? Will the Maoists be any nearer to a republic? Will the RoyalUniversity, he teaches at one of software, Flexcube, to ensure STATE OF THE STATE region. Examples of recent JCET cause a riot or shut down sections of the past, analyse the present and Nepali Army be any nearer to wiping out the Maoists? All we willits lesser known correspondent delivery of reliable and quality events include training for medical CK Lal achieve is more Nepali deaths, thousands upon thousands willcolleges. be Dharmadasani is an service to our clients. Flexcube is the country. Traditionalists who are predict the future, presenting a trauma, legal matters, human rights, orphaned and widowed, millions will be forced to leave their homes.associate professor, but he does among the best banking systems Soldiers have to be brave, but busy felicitating an activist monarch, course of action. They are the ones community health and other civil What kind of Maoist utopia commands that sort of a price in bloodnot andclaim to be a Nepal expert in the world, with over 100 affairs skills. Nepal’s altitude their commanders need to be don’t dare question the Maobadis forwho shape our values and help us misery? The comrades have to ask themselves this question andanymore. find Similarly, I do not know financial institutions worldwide allows a much appreciated courageous. Political leadership making Nepal one of those countriesprotect them during turbulent times. an honest answer. how CK Lal got the impression having embraced it and enables that ordinary Indians support opportunity for the participatingsafe, US seamless and reliable requires moral courage, they can’t primitive enough to be still using Such individuals—for that’s what The Maoists gave their revolution an ethnic edge with the democracy in Nepal. It is quitemilitary the personnel to train in higherservice to our clients through a make unpopular but necessary child soldiers. The Nepali they often are, fiercely independent declaration of seven autonomous zones in January. It is now incontrary, danger in fact. Indians reverealtitudes than available elsewhere.complete range of delivery intelligentsia has no faith in its own individuals unencumbered by stifling of going the way everyone feared: turning a class war into a caste The number of US military decisions if they just follow their the monarch of Nepal as the only channels including mobile and moral force, hence the excesses of theorganisations of any kind—are called war. The Maoists have enlisted the support of their waveringHindu allies king in in the world. personnel participating in theseInternet devices. Laxmi Bank is followers. the east by announcing the Kirant Autonomous Region, andSuperficial observations gatheredevents ranges anywhere from thetwo only bank to use Flexcube in Nepalis are renowned for our insurgents and the military alike go public intellectuals. Alas, when crowned it with a major attack on Bhojpur. The Tambuwan andduring a two day trip may notto be 40. The US Pacific Command’sthe kingdom with complete unchallenged. Nepal needs them most, there aren’t Tamasaling are blockading highways to strangle the towns. budget—apart from the personnel bravery. But are we courageous? It is enough to come to such internet banking. Laxmi Online An active monarchy has suddenlyany in our horizon. Armed forces can enforce peace. It is now getting more and more difficult to believe that thissweeping conclusions as Lalneeds in our current military has been offering this service a disturbing question, but facing it is engagements in Iraq, Afghanistan, become a convenient refuge for those Most learned Nepalis with Nepal’s still evolving media. Bureaucracy can implement programs. revolution is moving along a pre-determined game plan. It lookshas. since its inception to its custom- the only way of growing into a do not allow for a higher contingent seriously out of control. Giving the struggle an ethnic tint smacks of Shiva Raj Sharma, ers. Along with the group account confident nation-state. Our values dowho made hay in the Panchayat intellectual pretensions have begun Thinkers have to emerge and The business class can create wealth. of military personnel to be engaged desperation, pointing to fatigue at its political centre. In any civil war, transfer offered by a bank in the not seem to have evolved despite sunshine, but were sidelined after to endorse the ambitions of an activeimagine a more inclusive Nepali But they do not a nation make. Pokharain this training. Any claims of hardline militant or ethno-separatist elements gains supremacy article, Laxmi Online has the ‘hundreds’ or even 500 US military nearly a decade of democratic 1990. They are the ones lambasting monarchy, either explicitly with theirsociety. We need intellectuals to Frequent bandas and a penchant when the political part of the struggle erodes or gets sidelined. capability of third party transfer personnel being present in Nepalon real time. We provide direct practice. Like most primitive mainstream political parties at Raj words and deeds, or implicitly with weigh the options and recommend for public felicitations are symptoms Lately, we are seeing signs of a movement that needs to invent NEPALNEWS.COM are therefore the product of payment to service providers/ societies, traditions in Nepal are Parishad meetings. Authoritarian their silence and inactivity. More courses of action. Politicians have to of a sick society. Reinventing new ways to stoke social anger for support. A political call for someone’s overly fertile vendors besides third party stronger than religion and customs. systems are uniquely suited for than anything else, it’s the absence ofhelp organise people along collective values is the only way of revolutionary transformation doesn’t seem to be enough to carry the imagination. payment routing system. Laxmi Secular norms and values necessary toambitious political careerists who more important players from the competitive political ideologies. preserving Nepali identity and momentum forward. That may be why the Maoists don’t seem to see a I would also like to add that theBank is also the only bank where need anymore to consider public opinion. It doesn’t seem to matter support democratic culture are still want to get ahead in life at any cost. field that has magnified the role of These are people who have the powerbuilding a more confident and overall US security and militarya website visitor can apply for what the people think, in fact the strategy now seems to be to the press in promoting democracy in assistance to Nepal totalling $17account opening online. too fragile to make us take a After October Fourth, there is a to transform a people into a society inclusive collective. punish the people by assassinating anyone still left in the villages, million over the past two years, is Bharti Pande, Laxmi Bank courageous stand. huge line of people waiting in the the country. But carrying the values and then build a confident nation. declaring multiple bandas and blockading urban areas to inflict pain I wasand surprised to read in significantly less than that provided of a society is too heavy a load for panic on the public. Cold-blooded murders of innocents, ambushingCK Lal’s ‘Which way now?’ No wonder then, yet another wings to see the king’s hand-picked by other countries. dairy tankers, torching buses, lynching six people in Saptari(#186) and that “the government has crippling banda passed off without a ministers stumble. Recent rumblings leaving their bodies to rot by a school all indicate that violenceadmitted has that there are about 50 Constance Colding Jones, whimper of protest. Privately, all of in the Surya Bahadur Thapa cabinet now become an end in itself. US defence personnel in Nepal. Public Affairs Officer us cursed Maobadis for closing the after the induction of Bhekh Bahadur It is the responsibility of our current rulers, the undergroundOther sources claim it may be as US Embassy Kathmandu high as 500 at any given time”. I comrades, the political parties who represent the Nepali people to take am afraid Mr Lal has been the immediate steps to stop this slaughter before many more thousands victim of a misunderstanding. The die. Why should the people be made to suffer any more for their total permanent US military endless power struggle? Announce elections, agree on a ceasefire, personnel in Nepal numbers three LAK and let the people decide who they want to be ruled by. in the Defense Attache and When Daniel Lak said he was Defense Liaison offices at the US leaving Kathmandu for Miami, I Embassy. In addition, there is a opened a bottle of Kingfisher at small Embassy Marine Guard this fortuitous turn of events. detachment which is solely Finally, I could see an end to endless negativism and fashionable America-bashing or some diatribe on globalisation. I Kudos to CK Lal for his hoped he would quietly fade away excellent portrait of Nepalis at JNUto oblivion in Miami. Instead, I in which the sharp-witted awoke in horror to yet another one columnist paints the grandiose of Lak’s incoherent columns about schemes of Indian academics whothe oppressed even as he kicks have just woken up from Rip-van-back in the Miami sun. The story is Winkle slumbers in their lofty ivorythe same: America bad, everyone towers. A subtext of Lal’s write-upelse good (particularly the is the age-old peril faced by similar“oppressed others”); donors bad, nation states located in the beer good (I can’t disagree here); shadows of emerging powers. securityTo forces bad, Maoists semi- paraphrase an observation madebad. in And, oh, here is Lak in the context of another strugglingChurchillian form: “The solution to nation: ‘Nepal is so far away fromdemocracy is more democracy.” god and so near to India.’ Must I drive down to Miami and Ram Limbu andhave a beer with this man to Murasaki Shikibu CQU, Sydneystraighten him out? P Rana, email

FR WATRIN Thank you for your very moving editorial and tribute to Fr EugeneMANJUSHREE Watrin (‘A guru of love’). Although I Re: “Educating foreigners” (#186). was never his student, at his Manjushree Thapa should not funeral I realised just how many expect a foreigner to be familiar Nepali lives this remarkable priest with the history of Nepal because had touched during his five we really don’t have one—at least decades of selfless work here. not one that has been properly Jill Masters, Kathmandurecorded. Nepal is one of the least educated (not to mention one of the poorest) countries in the world today. Imagine what it must Only superlatives can have been like in the past with describe Fr Watrin. He was a hardly anyone being able to write perfectionist in everything. Onedown of what was happening and the best basketball and hockeyeverything being passed on by players, and swimming in the icyword of mouth. Before we even cold waters in Godavari was begin to think of ‘educating routine for him. Teacher wise, heforeigners’ about our history, we was one of the best, if not the should first educate ourselves and replace fiction with facts. CORRECTION best. He inspired all Xavierians to be all-rounders like he himself was. SS Pal, email Buddhi Gandharba is the leaderWe will all miss him. of Samundra Band, and not as reported in ‘What they can do Amrit KC, Bishalnagar in Jazzmandu’ (#186). 2 EDITORIAL 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 OP-ED 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 3

FR WATRIN Thank you for your very moving editorial and tribute to Fr EugeneMANJUSHREE Watrin (‘A guru of love’). Although I Re: “Educating foreigners” (#186). was never his student, at his Manjushree Thapa should not funeral I realised just how many expect a foreigner to be familiar Nepali lives this remarkable priest with the history of Nepal because had touched during his five we really don’t have one—at least decades of selfless work here. not one that has been properly Jill Masters, Kathmandurecorded. Nepal is one of the least educated (not to mention one of the poorest) countries in the world today. Imagine what it must Only superlatives can have been like in the past with describe Fr Watrin. He was a hardly anyone being able to write perfectionist in everything. Onedown of what was happening and the best basketball and hockeyeverything being passed on by players, and swimming in the icyword of mouth. Before we even cold waters in Godavari was begin to think of ‘educating routine for him. Teacher wise, heforeigners’ about our history, we was one of the best, if not the should first educate ourselves and replace fiction with facts. CORRECTION best. He inspired all Xavierians to be all-rounders like he himself was. SS Pal, email Buddhi Gandharba is the leaderWe will all miss him. of Samundra Band, and not as reported in ‘What they can do Amrit KC, Bishalnagar in Jazzmandu’ (#186). 4 NATION 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 NATION 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 5 Bhojpur A medical menace in our backyardspostmortem Kathmandu’s hospital waste is a health hazard Who knew, and when A TALE OF TRASH:l-r) A( garbage truck collects medical waste from a hospital in Lalitpur, a tiptruck did they know it? dumps the rubbish at the Balkhu landfill on the banks of the Bangmati, a scavenger displays a used DAMBAR KRISHNAin DHARAN hypodermic needle in the trash, crows and kites feed and on the hospital waste. GYANENDRA KHADGAin BHOJPUR

HOW TO DO IT: (below, opposite page) An incinerator at Patan Hospital burns the most hazardous medicalfter its humiliating defeat in Bhojpur, the security waste, a high-performance incinerator at Teaching forces are trying to find out what went wrong. The focus of the inquiry is on the fact that Hospital. A of Bir Hospital, says sorting waste at the source doesn’t solve intelligence reports had warned of an imminent attack on the problem. “So you separate the plastic, glass and Bhojpur or an adjoining town that week. biodegradable into separate containers, but what is the use if The information had come from Maoist deserters, ALL PICS: PRAGYA SHRESTHA all the contents are ultimately dumped into the same garbage captured Maoists as well as reports that huge numbers PRAGYA SHRESTHA truck?” he asks. garbage problem. In the long term, this can only come withof Maoists were amassed in southern Solu. In the course of investigating this article, the worst waste Nepal has laws for hazardous waste disposal. Thegreater public awareness through education and advocacy about All reports pointed to an attack between 27 Feburary t 7:30 in the morning the garbage truck arrives in themismanagement was found at the infectious diseases hospital the health implications of garbage. and 3 March. in Teku. We found open waste buckets with used syringes in Environmental Protection Act of 1996 requires all hospitals driveway of a hospital in Kathmandu. Waste tied up in with more than 25 beds to first present an environment impact In the short term, the municipality has to once and for all plastic bags is taken away. paper boxes. The danger of Hepatitis B and HIV infection to make sorting and recycling a priority. Eight percent of A hospital staff, waste handlers and scavengers at the landfill sites assessment. “Not a single hospital since then has followed it,” Kathmandu Valley’s garbage is still biodegradable and can be The truck winds its way along the Ring Road untilfrom it such careless disposal is high. says Health Secretary Lok Man Singh Karki. There have also been numerous hospital waste management conferences, theconverted into valuable compost fertilizer. Much of the reaches the banks of the Bagmati at Balkhu. In the unbearable Two years ago, the municipality installed an incinerator in stench of the rotting garbage, amidst flocks of crows and kites, latest in February on upgrading hospital waste disposalremaining plastic, glass and paper can be recycled. Such waste a large crowd from the nearby slum is waiting. The tiptruckTeku for burning hospital and other waste, but it never went organised by the Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC)management can drastically cut the volume of garbage that empties its rubbish and men, women and children scrambleinto operation because of public opposition. Now, Kathmandu with support from WHO. has to be actually dumped at a landfill site like Balkhu. mayor Keshav Sthapit is fed up, and says he is going to get the over the fresh garbage with their metal tongs, rummaging for The NHRC’s Chandra Shekhar Yadav admits there have Pro-Public’s Sushil Bahadur Karki admists Balkhu is not a pieces of plastic, glass and other valuables that can be sold forincinerator started no matter what. “I don’t care who opposesago because the UN Park was being set up nearby along the longterm solution. “We have to find an alterantive site. Chobhar it, the hospital waste problem is getting serious,” he told us. been many workshops and seminars to make hospitals and recycling. Bagmati River. “We never got any help from the government, health workers aware of the problem. “But there is a lackis of being proposed, but no one wants someone else’s stinky Public interest litigation group Pro-Public says an The garbage from the hospital contains a plastic bag with and now there is no more space left here for another incinerator,’ political will, an absence of national policy and a real problemgarbage in their backyard.” discarded placenta and other human organs, there are usedincinerator for hospital waste in the city’s centre will in factsays be Sharmila Ligan, matron of the hospital. As a result, much of ignorance and carelessness among hospital management,” Everyone agrees that hospitals have to be much more syringes and plastic bottles. “Sometimes the drug addicts comemore of a risk to the public due to dioxins and toxic ash fromof the blood and human organs from the maternity and surgical he told us. responsible about how they dispose of their most hazardous the emissions. “We are not for or against anybody, we just want around to see if they can find needles,” says one young garbage wards are disposed along with other urban garbage. Urban waste management experts say although hospitalswastes, and those with incinerators have to make use of them, forager as he walks off with a sackful of plastic water bottles.to flag this danger and urge the authorities to look at alternatives,”Some of the newer private hospitals show more care: they taking care that the chimney filters out hazardous emissions says Ashoke Dev Pande of Pro-Public. have to do their bit, hospital waste management will never be As Kathmandu Valley’s population grows, so do the segregate their waste in coloured buckets and even have needle completely solved until Kathmandu can solve its overalland also take care to dispose of the toxic ash that comes out of A lot of the problems could be solved if hospitals did their numbers of hospitals and clinics. This has lead to a rise in the destroyers and small incinerators to dispose of the more emissions. volume of hospital waste, and there is mounting evidence thatown sorting and disposal. The Maternity Hospital in Thapathalihazardous wastes. But Manohar Lal Shrestha, superintendent Says environmentalist Ashok Dev Pande: “We must stop not all hospitals are disposing of hospital waste in a safe andhas its own incinerator, but it was moved to Banepa five years the blame game, stop passing the buck and stop this trend that proper manner. makes hospitals themselves health hazards.” In fact, the Maoists had even called CDO Kamal Kant Regmi and the district police office four hours before the attack to prepare themselves for an offensive that night. (KPK) Even the citizens of Bhojpur had sensed there was danger. The Maoists were spreading word about the attack while they were extorting huge sums of money from the businessmen and collecting food grains and cattle from local villagers. Biratnagar turns trash intoAt about 4PM cashon 3 March, the Maoist guerrillas had already gathered in big groups around the district Loving to hate Haiti headquarters. They were visible from afar, moving If Kathmandu wants to learn how Although only one in every five through the villages on the other side of the valley. Haiti is part of La Patranomie, the to manage garbage, it doesn’t need households in the city centre have Soldiers and police from the military bases in Bhojpur It’s best to keep donors, neighbours and the big powersworldwide engaged band of French speaking any expensive foreign consultants. become members, there has already south Florida. That is why US Marines are It doesn’t have to go begging to been an appreciable drop in solid were in fact on a search patrol, but surprisingly didn’t countries that look to Paris for cultural seem to have seen any Maoists. The head of the army PORT AU PRINCE—So far from God. So economies, and has never been apologised orpatrolling the streets in Port au Prince and donors. Its officials just need to go waste along the streets and river American diplomats are taking a lead role inguidance. It’s not. But the French do love to Biratnagar and see how they do banks. base and the police chief were both absent from Bhojpur close to the United States. compensated for. to play the colonial master, even today. So it down there. on the day of the attack, and army headquarters is re- trying to arrange a political solution to the “The Singhe River used to be a portedly now asking whether this was a coincidence or That phrase was coined more than a In Haiti, a mixed-race elite speaks True, Nepal’s second biggest current chaos. French troops are here as well, squinting at garbage disposal site, today there isnot. disparaging of the “slave” mentality of the local women through clouds of cigarette city has industrial suburbs where less trash there,” says Umesh Ojha century ago to describe the plight of Latin It wasn’t always so. American troops have According to eye witnesses, there were about 1,500 America, more particularly Mexico, which black majority. This is a mentality that the smoke, and looking sharp in their newly foul-smelling black and purple of Biratnagar Municipality. But Ojha invaded this island four times. They industrial effluents flow out into the admits that Biratnagar’s hospitals areMaoists (guerrillas, militia and porters) who had circled had just lost a disastrous war to Washington.elite helped cultivate carefully over pressed fatigues and flash sunglasses. Bhojpur bazar and began a six-pronged attack at 9:20 occupied Haiti from 1915 until the 1930s. ditches along the Itahari highway. still dumping their garbage along the Haiti today is in a similar situation. Thisgenerations to maintain their economic and A few small regional players, Canada, But when it comes to solid waste river and it is full of used needles PM. The firefight lasted three-and-half hours and by the Much of the current inequitable mess here end of it, 20 police and 12 soldiers were killed. The main behind-the-scenes political power. This was Chile and others, are helping out too. They management within the town, and plastic packs. Shrestha says he is a country that is proud of its beginnings can be traced back to policies forced on the Biratnagar is a role model for is not equipped to handle medical government buildings, the telecom tower and a school but embarrassed about its present, done with the active cooperation of like to build their own self-image of for orphans were destroyed. Washington, Paris and many other foreign Haitians in those days. Now a rabidly right private-public partnership. waste, and that needs special frightened helpful, caring, cuddly countries. But “Waste is not the problem, it is management. Only 12 corpses of the Maoists were found in the capitals who wanted only stability in Haiti. wing Bush adminisration pursues an of a bleak obsessive hatred of a left wing leader, Jean really, no one cares about Haiti. Everyone the peoples’ negative attitude Shrestha’s company has leasedtown, another 30 were recovered in surrounding vil- HERE AND THERE future. They cared not a whit about social or hopes it will disappear from the radar towards it that is a problem,” says a 2.5 hectare property to compost lages. The Maoists had forcefully brought two members Daniel Lak economic justice. Bertrand Aristide, and even helps force him Babu Raja Shrestha, the engineer biodegradable waste and set up a of each family to carry injured and dead Maoists. “There France from office in what’s little better than a coup.screen, sink beneath the waves of the were 30 bodies but I returned empty handed,” a 60-year In truth, this is a place that matters little Caribbean Sea, just go away. It’s a sinkhole who has the first-ever private renewable energy park with wind was the colonial power here. Woe betide France—a nation where pride and hubris company to work with a power and solar energy. The fresh old man told us. The Maoists had even taken control over to big foreign powers. America’s main of despair with a unique culture that cares municipality in Nepal to manage garbage is laid out in decompositionBhojpur Hospital to ensure their militants received treat- any of the lands that fell under the sway of often seem indistinguishable—still feels that ment. Paris, but Haitians managed all on their ownconcern is that boatloads of Haitian refugees mostly about itself, thinks it is the centre of waste. pits and rotated every month. Non- don’t start washing up on the beach in the universe. Shrestha’s Silt Environment biodegradable waste is used as The army says it did not use its heavy weapons for to see off their French overlords in 1804. landfill for ditches and placing up to Services has a joint venture with fear of inflicting civilian casualties, and the Maoists ap- Sound familiar? Nepal should keep an 20cm of top soil for conversion into Haiti became the world’s first black republic. Biratnagar Municipality, which has pear to have taken tactical advantage of this. The parks and playgrounds. From the beginning, Washington and eye on attitudes in foreign capitals. been successful in the last four nightvision helicopter dispatched from Kathmandu arrived Paris collaborated to make Haiti pay for its Sometimes if they don’t care about you, it’s years in sorting garbage and Wooden and garden waste is after the fighting was nearly over, but even if they had worse. turning biodegradable waste into turned into biomass briquettes whicharrived on time it is not likely they could have been used. audacity. The US refused to recognise the valuable fertiliser. “Biratnagar’s can be used in place of firewood. “Many innocent civilians would have lost lives if we newly independent state. Nor did France Local ambassadors with bees in their waste is not waste, it is not toxic, it Shrestha himself uses a wind had opened fire from the air,” Brig Gen Pradip Pratap allow any maritime trade with its own West bonnet, and we’ve had a few in is mostly organic,” Shrestha says, charger and solar panels for lightingBam Malla told us. Eyewitnesses say the Maoists prob- Indian colonies or mainland business hosues. Kathmandu, get to make policies in a explaining that this is ideal to turnBabu into compost. Rajahis Shrestha home and also to pump ground water for irrigation. ablyAll suffered up to 60 killed, including one of their sen- Shamefully, both countries believed that vacuum. National interests on either side Households in Biratnagar are given two colour-codedwaste paper in the garbage is recycled and sold in theior-most commanders, Durga Upreti alias Kapil from Jhapa. has changedmarket. the way Haiti’s slaves—men and women that fought are ignored. It’s best to keep your donors, plastic buckets: red for biodegradable rubbish and blue for In response to an appeal by amnesty International to plastic, glass and metal. They must pay to have their Shrestha has not only managed to clean up Biratnagar, successfuly for their freedom against neighbours and the big powers engaged. trat prisoners humanely, the Maoists on Wednesday re- garbage lifted and there is also a wesidewalk look and streetatbut garbage has challenged the traditional notion that only ‘low leasedcaste’ eight of the security personnel they had captured overwhelming odds—were stray possessions Perhaps we need to convince some cleaning service that comes as a bonus. people should handle waste and made a community serviceduring the battle. An NTC employee was also released. of some white businessman somewhere, Nepalis to take to the seas and head for Once they pay for it, households take the servicealso a good business proposition. some slave trader. And as such, they were south Florida. Or to try to get closer to seriously and comply with the sorting requirements. rogue assets. They hadn’t bought their some version of God. freedom, so they were stolen goods. Thus the depravity of slavery, which helped found and stabilize many modern western (Pragya Shrestha in Biratnagar) 4 NATION 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 NATION 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 5 Bhojpur A medical menace in our backyardspostmortem Kathmandu’s hospital waste is a health hazard Who knew, and when A TALE OF TRASH:l-r) A( garbage truck collects medical waste from a hospital in Lalitpur, a tiptruck did they know it? dumps the rubbish at the Balkhu landfill on the banks of the Bangmati, a scavenger displays a used DAMBAR KRISHNAin DHARAN hypodermic needle in the trash, crows and kites feed and on the hospital waste. GYANENDRA KHADGAin BHOJPUR

HOW TO DO IT: (below, opposite page) An incinerator at Patan Hospital burns the most hazardous medicalfter its humiliating defeat in Bhojpur, the security waste, a high-performance incinerator at Teaching forces are trying to find out what went wrong. The focus of the inquiry is on the fact that Hospital. A of Bir Hospital, says sorting waste at the source doesn’t solve intelligence reports had warned of an imminent attack on the problem. “So you separate the plastic, glass and Bhojpur or an adjoining town that week. biodegradable into separate containers, but what is the use if The information had come from Maoist deserters, ALL PICS: PRAGYA SHRESTHA all the contents are ultimately dumped into the same garbage captured Maoists as well as reports that huge numbers PRAGYA SHRESTHA truck?” he asks. garbage problem. In the long term, this can only come withof Maoists were amassed in southern Solu. In the course of investigating this article, the worst waste Nepal has laws for hazardous waste disposal. Thegreater public awareness through education and advocacy about All reports pointed to an attack between 27 Feburary t 7:30 in the morning the garbage truck arrives in themismanagement was found at the infectious diseases hospital the health implications of garbage. and 3 March. in Teku. We found open waste buckets with used syringes in Environmental Protection Act of 1996 requires all hospitals driveway of a hospital in Kathmandu. Waste tied up in with more than 25 beds to first present an environment impact In the short term, the municipality has to once and for all plastic bags is taken away. paper boxes. The danger of Hepatitis B and HIV infection to make sorting and recycling a priority. Eight percent of A hospital staff, waste handlers and scavengers at the landfill sites assessment. “Not a single hospital since then has followed it,” Kathmandu Valley’s garbage is still biodegradable and can be The truck winds its way along the Ring Road untilfrom it such careless disposal is high. says Health Secretary Lok Man Singh Karki. There have also been numerous hospital waste management conferences, theconverted into valuable compost fertilizer. Much of the reaches the banks of the Bagmati at Balkhu. In the unbearable Two years ago, the municipality installed an incinerator in stench of the rotting garbage, amidst flocks of crows and kites, latest in February on upgrading hospital waste disposalremaining plastic, glass and paper can be recycled. Such waste a large crowd from the nearby slum is waiting. The tiptruckTeku for burning hospital and other waste, but it never went organised by the Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC)management can drastically cut the volume of garbage that empties its rubbish and men, women and children scrambleinto operation because of public opposition. Now, Kathmandu with support from WHO. has to be actually dumped at a landfill site like Balkhu. mayor Keshav Sthapit is fed up, and says he is going to get the over the fresh garbage with their metal tongs, rummaging for The NHRC’s Chandra Shekhar Yadav admits there have Pro-Public’s Sushil Bahadur Karki admists Balkhu is not a pieces of plastic, glass and other valuables that can be sold forincinerator started no matter what. “I don’t care who opposesago because the UN Park was being set up nearby along the longterm solution. “We have to find an alterantive site. Chobhar it, the hospital waste problem is getting serious,” he told us. been many workshops and seminars to make hospitals and recycling. Bagmati River. “We never got any help from the government, health workers aware of the problem. “But there is a lackis of being proposed, but no one wants someone else’s stinky Public interest litigation group Pro-Public says an The garbage from the hospital contains a plastic bag with and now there is no more space left here for another incinerator,’ political will, an absence of national policy and a real problemgarbage in their backyard.” discarded placenta and other human organs, there are usedincinerator for hospital waste in the city’s centre will in factsays be Sharmila Ligan, matron of the hospital. As a result, much of ignorance and carelessness among hospital management,” Everyone agrees that hospitals have to be much more syringes and plastic bottles. “Sometimes the drug addicts comemore of a risk to the public due to dioxins and toxic ash fromof the blood and human organs from the maternity and surgical he told us. responsible about how they dispose of their most hazardous the emissions. “We are not for or against anybody, we just want around to see if they can find needles,” says one young garbage wards are disposed along with other urban garbage. Urban waste management experts say although hospitalswastes, and those with incinerators have to make use of them, forager as he walks off with a sackful of plastic water bottles.to flag this danger and urge the authorities to look at alternatives,”Some of the newer private hospitals show more care: they taking care that the chimney filters out hazardous emissions says Ashoke Dev Pande of Pro-Public. have to do their bit, hospital waste management will never be As Kathmandu Valley’s population grows, so do the segregate their waste in coloured buckets and even have needle completely solved until Kathmandu can solve its overalland also take care to dispose of the toxic ash that comes out of A lot of the problems could be solved if hospitals did their numbers of hospitals and clinics. This has lead to a rise in the destroyers and small incinerators to dispose of the more emissions. volume of hospital waste, and there is mounting evidence thatown sorting and disposal. The Maternity Hospital in Thapathalihazardous wastes. But Manohar Lal Shrestha, superintendent Says environmentalist Ashok Dev Pande: “We must stop not all hospitals are disposing of hospital waste in a safe andhas its own incinerator, but it was moved to Banepa five years the blame game, stop passing the buck and stop this trend that proper manner. makes hospitals themselves health hazards.” In fact, the Maoists had even called CDO Kamal Kant Regmi and the district police office four hours before the attack to prepare themselves for an offensive that night. (KPK) Even the citizens of Bhojpur had sensed there was danger. The Maoists were spreading word about the attack while they were extorting huge sums of money from the businessmen and collecting food grains and cattle from local villagers. Biratnagar turns trash intoAt about 4PM cashon 3 March, the Maoist guerrillas had already gathered in big groups around the district Loving to hate Haiti headquarters. They were visible from afar, moving If Kathmandu wants to learn how Although only one in every five through the villages on the other side of the valley. Haiti is part of La Patranomie, the to manage garbage, it doesn’t need households in the city centre have Soldiers and police from the military bases in Bhojpur It’s best to keep donors, neighbours and the big powersworldwide engaged band of French speaking any expensive foreign consultants. become members, there has already south Florida. That is why US Marines are It doesn’t have to go begging to been an appreciable drop in solid were in fact on a search patrol, but surprisingly didn’t countries that look to Paris for cultural seem to have seen any Maoists. The head of the army PORT AU PRINCE—So far from God. So economies, and has never been apologised orpatrolling the streets in Port au Prince and donors. Its officials just need to go waste along the streets and river American diplomats are taking a lead role inguidance. It’s not. But the French do love to Biratnagar and see how they do banks. base and the police chief were both absent from Bhojpur close to the United States. compensated for. to play the colonial master, even today. So it down there. on the day of the attack, and army headquarters is re- trying to arrange a political solution to the “The Singhe River used to be a portedly now asking whether this was a coincidence or That phrase was coined more than a In Haiti, a mixed-race elite speaks True, Nepal’s second biggest current chaos. French troops are here as well, squinting at garbage disposal site, today there isnot. disparaging of the “slave” mentality of the local women through clouds of cigarette city has industrial suburbs where less trash there,” says Umesh Ojha century ago to describe the plight of Latin It wasn’t always so. American troops have According to eye witnesses, there were about 1,500 America, more particularly Mexico, which black majority. This is a mentality that the smoke, and looking sharp in their newly foul-smelling black and purple of Biratnagar Municipality. But Ojha invaded this island four times. They industrial effluents flow out into the admits that Biratnagar’s hospitals areMaoists (guerrillas, militia and porters) who had circled had just lost a disastrous war to Washington.elite helped cultivate carefully over pressed fatigues and flash sunglasses. Bhojpur bazar and began a six-pronged attack at 9:20 occupied Haiti from 1915 until the 1930s. ditches along the Itahari highway. still dumping their garbage along the Haiti today is in a similar situation. Thisgenerations to maintain their economic and A few small regional players, Canada, But when it comes to solid waste river and it is full of used needles PM. The firefight lasted three-and-half hours and by the Much of the current inequitable mess here end of it, 20 police and 12 soldiers were killed. The main behind-the-scenes political power. This was Chile and others, are helping out too. They management within the town, and plastic packs. Shrestha says he is a country that is proud of its beginnings can be traced back to policies forced on the Biratnagar is a role model for is not equipped to handle medical government buildings, the telecom tower and a school but embarrassed about its present, done with the active cooperation of like to build their own self-image of for orphans were destroyed. Washington, Paris and many other foreign Haitians in those days. Now a rabidly right private-public partnership. waste, and that needs special frightened helpful, caring, cuddly countries. But “Waste is not the problem, it is management. Only 12 corpses of the Maoists were found in the capitals who wanted only stability in Haiti. wing Bush adminisration pursues an of a bleak obsessive hatred of a left wing leader, Jean really, no one cares about Haiti. Everyone the peoples’ negative attitude Shrestha’s company has leasedtown, another 30 were recovered in surrounding vil- HERE AND THERE future. They cared not a whit about social or hopes it will disappear from the radar towards it that is a problem,” says a 2.5 hectare property to compost lages. The Maoists had forcefully brought two members Daniel Lak economic justice. Bertrand Aristide, and even helps force him Babu Raja Shrestha, the engineer biodegradable waste and set up a of each family to carry injured and dead Maoists. “There France from office in what’s little better than a coup.screen, sink beneath the waves of the were 30 bodies but I returned empty handed,” a 60-year In truth, this is a place that matters little Caribbean Sea, just go away. It’s a sinkhole who has the first-ever private renewable energy park with wind was the colonial power here. Woe betide France—a nation where pride and hubris company to work with a power and solar energy. The fresh old man told us. The Maoists had even taken control over to big foreign powers. America’s main of despair with a unique culture that cares municipality in Nepal to manage garbage is laid out in decompositionBhojpur Hospital to ensure their militants received treat- any of the lands that fell under the sway of often seem indistinguishable—still feels that ment. Paris, but Haitians managed all on their ownconcern is that boatloads of Haitian refugees mostly about itself, thinks it is the centre of waste. pits and rotated every month. Non- don’t start washing up on the beach in the universe. Shrestha’s Silt Environment biodegradable waste is used as The army says it did not use its heavy weapons for to see off their French overlords in 1804. landfill for ditches and placing up to Services has a joint venture with fear of inflicting civilian casualties, and the Maoists ap- Sound familiar? Nepal should keep an 20cm of top soil for conversion into Haiti became the world’s first black republic. Biratnagar Municipality, which has pear to have taken tactical advantage of this. The parks and playgrounds. From the beginning, Washington and eye on attitudes in foreign capitals. been successful in the last four nightvision helicopter dispatched from Kathmandu arrived Paris collaborated to make Haiti pay for its Sometimes if they don’t care about you, it’s years in sorting garbage and Wooden and garden waste is after the fighting was nearly over, but even if they had worse. turning biodegradable waste into turned into biomass briquettes whicharrived on time it is not likely they could have been used. audacity. The US refused to recognise the valuable fertiliser. “Biratnagar’s can be used in place of firewood. “Many innocent civilians would have lost lives if we newly independent state. Nor did France Local ambassadors with bees in their waste is not waste, it is not toxic, it Shrestha himself uses a wind had opened fire from the air,” Brig Gen Pradip Pratap allow any maritime trade with its own West bonnet, and we’ve had a few in is mostly organic,” Shrestha says, charger and solar panels for lightingBam Malla told us. Eyewitnesses say the Maoists prob- Indian colonies or mainland business hosues. Kathmandu, get to make policies in a explaining that this is ideal to turnBabu into compost. Rajahis Shrestha home and also to pump ground water for irrigation. ablyAll suffered up to 60 killed, including one of their sen- Shamefully, both countries believed that vacuum. National interests on either side Households in Biratnagar are given two colour-codedwaste paper in the garbage is recycled and sold in theior-most commanders, Durga Upreti alias Kapil from Jhapa. has changedmarket. the way Haiti’s slaves—men and women that fought are ignored. It’s best to keep your donors, plastic buckets: red for biodegradable rubbish and blue for In response to an appeal by amnesty International to plastic, glass and metal. They must pay to have their Shrestha has not only managed to clean up Biratnagar, successfuly for their freedom against neighbours and the big powers engaged. trat prisoners humanely, the Maoists on Wednesday re- garbage lifted and there is also a wesidewalk look and streetatbut garbage has challenged the traditional notion that only ‘low leasedcaste’ eight of the security personnel they had captured overwhelming odds—were stray possessions Perhaps we need to convince some cleaning service that comes as a bonus. people should handle waste and made a community serviceduring the battle. An NTC employee was also released. of some white businessman somewhere, Nepalis to take to the seas and head for Once they pay for it, households take the servicealso a good business proposition. some slave trader. And as such, they were south Florida. Or to try to get closer to seriously and comply with the sorting requirements. rogue assets. They hadn’t bought their some version of God. freedom, so they were stolen goods. Thus the depravity of slavery, which helped found and stabilize many modern western (Pragya Shrestha in Biratnagar) 6 NATION 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 NATION 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 7

capture the field for themselves? What should be done to make sure Protesting more creatively Democracy-II will not be another tragic rerun of hijacked Democracy-I? One of the prerequisites of a There must be functioning democracy is the separation of state powers. This has alternatives to tyre been the fatal flaw in our SUBHAS RAI constitution. On one extreme, the burnings, bandas, judiciary is theoretically so with the executive along the juluses, chakka jams, entrepreneurs free but bold enough independent it has been accountable Westminster model (which, as Lord parliament nor destructive comrades to take risks and a government that to none for the mismanagement Meghnad Desai maintains, does not and other more life- are the answer, then how do we is representative, receptive and therein, a situation that has been even work in an England that is threatening methods resume building prosperity with responsive. termed “judicial anarchy”. At the integrating with the EU). MPs were economic growth that we started in We had them all, so why did it other end, a venal parliament could no longer trying to become good law Democracy-IIunravel? If Democracy-II is to disband local governments which— makers, but rent-seeking traders the early 1990s once sanity returns? point does symbolic protest change into What should theMass new aspirations model can be satisfied, look notsucceed, like? what is the minimum by lasting their two full terms—wereamassing public funds to get another mass action and who monitors by a market that caters to elite reform it must undergo? Democracy the only functioning institution of themselves re-elected to repeat the lthough things started going cycle. Even the MPs in opposition this? Where are the rules? Do you match luxury, but only by one that caters tois ultimately about equality, where a Democracy-I. horribly wrong halfway mass needs. Mass markets function level playing field excludes none that The most serious flaw, however, failed to raise their voices in protest ruthlessness, idiocy and through it, Democracy-I A best with mass politics having built- subscribes to its rules. But what if has been the fusing of the legislature simply because they eventually oversimplification, if those are the terms delivered many good things since hoped to replace the executive to of the debate? Whatis the point of in checks and balances. Ergo: a elected representatives who are 1990: supposed to maintain the rules continue the very same business. If protest these days: to change things or to democracy with a critically engaged A slew of domestic airlines made civil society, innovative the Russian, Swiss or American make one’s voice heard? Is not being the passenger king instead of the models were followed that do not silenced a victory, and if so, how precisely RNAC’s ticket tout. Quality schools allow an MP to simultaneously hold are “we” of urban English-speaking sprang up to meet pent up demand. an executive job, perhaps we will go bourgeois protest being muzzled? Does it Medical emergencies no longer a long way in making sure that even bear thinking what it means to required a trip to Vellore, Bombay or politics becomes public service commit the “indignity”, as Foucault Bangkok. Electric vehicles did make instead of a public disservice. called it, of speakingfor others? Kathmandu’s air a bit cleaner, now do you pick? How do you creatively Could it be that the really sticky we need to phase out brick kilns. z protest the spectrum of objectionable question here is not about the varieties of anger and surely, if we’re honest, a sense of behaviour these people and theirNEPALNEWS.COM protest, but about whether it is an our own complicity in letting things come to bout half-a-dozen times in the last institutions and organisations represent, appropriate response to the situations, GUEST COLUMN this pass. from gross negligence and irresponsibility, facts and demands that make today? month I’ve heard the phrase One of the reactions to this is wanting to NewspapersDipak and Gyawali FMs verge on robust “creative protest”. It’s a term that’s to murder. Maybe creative protest would be to be A “do something”. Creative protest. What? horribly passive. Maybe you’d just keep anarchy as they compete to inform Most of us know somewhere in our been around the block a few times, but the Nepalis who have long stopped Peace marches, graffiti, street theatre, publicconscience that we too are complicit, in quiet and not confuse issues, ignoring when it comes up these days I find myself installations, petitions, being civil, working their affiliations and peacetime politics, switching to foreign wavelengths. many bad things in many sad places, but Apartment housing has sprung up goggling with the incomprehension or harder, what does it mean? Is it about and leave the doctors and nurses, the repeating what about people who seem to make it with the promise of urban renewal. subtlety, about being provocative, about their specific business to be negligent, lawyers, the reporters, the teachers, the NEITHER HERE it in Even the Bagmati, at least at feeling collective outrage? Do we want to irresponsible and murderous? Does social scientists, whoever, to do what they Pashupati, has become cleaner. NOR THERE some protest creatively, not through tyre do. On the other hand, maybe not. creative protest mean that you make clear But were these things the result Anagha Neelakantan mindless burnings, bandas, juluses, chakka jams and the differing levels of guilt that coexist These are not nihilistic or even cynical of enlightened politics or simply pent data entry task. other more life-threatening methods? with occasional righteousness? Can an questions, at least not now, and not from I’m not sure where this is a reflection on up forces bursting forth in new found What about the people and actions one action or a set of words convey such me, nor invitations to sophomoric freedoms? The political changes in the state of the state, or the state of is protesting against? Here things start to getnuances? Or is protest, like hero worship theoretical debates. They are put humbly April 1990 were brought about less uncertainty and ambiguity among a certainmore confusing, not in the murky manner and most popular politics, about to people who understand these things. I by the leadership of political parties demographic about whether, if at all, they of existential questions, but in ways that thesimplification, about catchphrases? am confused. Completely and horribly, than by a restive middle class have any agency to change the course of more sensitive and intelligent might be able Is it protest that works, that changes and dwelling on it makes me a snappy, catalysed by the civic protests of events, they have the energy to think of to unravel: which of the half-dozen things tangibly? Does this exist? At what irritable person. I suspect a lot of people artists, poets, journalists and ways of doing so or the semantic confusion candidates who all deserve our heartiest feel like this. Am I the only person professionals. Good things started and increasing wordlessness one sees in the protests and all the curses in the motherland making myself ridiculous byadmitting? happening when entrepreneurs were face of a situation where there are relentless pushed by the catalysing activism of litanies of resentment and blame, guilt and civil society, and were no longer shackled by an omnipotent z Panchayat bureaucracy. They happened despite 12 unstable he number of Nepali womenmid-hills to India for seasonal governments in as many years, and migrating to India for securityemployment. Once the war started, would have continued if not stymied and employment is growingthe exodus of young men grew. Now by two tragedies: Twith the intensity of the conflictolder in men and women are also The first and primary culprit was the mid-western hills. leaving with children. the descent into veniality of the Women in exileWomen, many carrying children, Many teenagers are fleeing, thronged the Nepal-India borderfearing at Maoist conscription and elected who put themselves up for How long can we survive this hemorrhage? Rupediya. When interviewed, manyharassment by the security forces. sale. This led to the next tragic chain say they were forced to leave theirRadha Pariyar is 12 years old and that morphed into the Maoist homes due to Maoist activities andsays she fled Surkhet with her violence. When the senate and the SURENDRA KAFLEin NEPALGANJ search operations by the securitybrothers because she was afraid the forces. Maoists would take her. “At least in praetorian guards auction their India I will be safe and can send Dhan Maya BK has come a long services, it is not the law-abiding money back to my parents,” says mahajans that avail of them but fixers way from Badagaun village Radha.of Salyan district. Clutching her two- DSP Ram Bahadur Thapa, and wheeler-dealers. National year old baby on her back, she is policies then become short-term now on the way to Simla to join herwho mans the border post in husband where he has been workingRupediya, confirms that the profit skimming with no thought for the last two years. numbers of Nepali women crossing for those beyond the Kathmandu over has increased since the end “Unless peace returns to my Valley rim. of ceasefire last August. On an home village, I will probably settleaverage, he says he counts at least The excluded exploded in anger, down there, that is if the Indians allow10 women every day traveling with and the Maoists who never received us to,” Dhan Maya says. Her elderlychildren and all their belongings parents-in-law are the only membersto India. Thapa’s records show that more than minority votes in any of the family still left in Badagaun.in just two months, more than 600 election were quite effective in Other villagers and relatives havewomen aged 10-60 years have left exploiting this. Because they do not all left. Nepal at Nepalganj. believe in suffering free dissent or “It’s better to stay in India than Most women say they are entrepreneurship not sanctioned by to go through all the uncertainty and leaving because they are harassed its politburo, it is doubtful if the misery in my village,” says 45-year-by both the Maoists and the army old Bhim Kumari Buda fromto reveal the whereabouts of their Maoists path of ‘Destruction before Kalwang of Rolpa, who is crossinghusbands and sons. They can’t Creation’ can ever create enough the border to join her husband andtake it anymore, and neither, it wealth to satisfy everyone. son in New Delhi. seems, can the country survive this Traditionally, men havehemorrhage. If neither a rent-seeking migrated from Nepal’s food-deficit

z (Mahila Bolchin) 6 NATION 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 NATION 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 7

z (Mahila Bolchin) 8 NATION 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 ECONOMY 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 9 BIZ NEWS A 100,000 litre storage tank under the Kathmandu Valley Water Distribution Improvement Project in Min Bhawan nearing completion. Power guidelines ○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ The outsourcing locomotive Heartbreak hotels Following a meeting last week between an International Hydropower Association (IHA) team and Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa, who Nepal should hitch its wagonsamongst tooschool graduates. is also the Water Resources Minister, the governmentas announed it The message is loud and Despite increased tourist arrivals, hotels say they will adopt the IHA guidelines for hydroelectricity development in the country. utsourcing is a major clear: change the focus. still need help paying bank loans IHA is a representative organisation of hydropower development,debate in United For Nepal, the trend of production and distribution agencies from across the globe andO the States as the country outsourcing should emerge Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is a board member of the KHADGA SINGH association. The IHA guidelines addressing social and environmentalprepares for November’s as an opportunity in the aspects during hydropower plant construction came after worldwideelections. If Kerry wins, it future if we start planning he recent increase in tourist criticism of a World Commission on Dams report. NEA officialswill believe have a lot to do with the now. Just as production arrivals may have been good that adopting the IHA guidelines will help Nepal get financial economic issues of trade blocs jobs moved from Japan to news for travel trade in assistance from multilateral agencies like the World Bank and the T Asian Development Bank. Nepal has feasible potential to generateand outsourcing. up It is not South Korea to China due general, but it raised hackles to 40,000MW of power, but the national grid so far has only tappedonly our Nepali business to cost increases created by between hoteliers and their 600MW. fraternity that loves the demand for higher bankers. protectionist economic wages to support better The banks who loaned hotels policies. US businesses are living, the same will money say the industry is not sick crying foul on losses arising happen with India. In anymore and now have to start Private telecom out of NAFTA and jobs India, outsourcing centres paying back. Hoteliers are playing ○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ moving out the country. are already moving from down the tourism boom and argue After years of pressure from the private sector to end the state Some states are even the metropolitans to smaller MIN BAJRACHARYA that their earnings are still at an all- that the growth in arrivals, even monopoly on telecommunications, a policy allowing private playerscontemplating to legislation to cities, and Nepal will have time low. though they may be discounted, will run telecom services is to finally come into effect soon. comparative advantage in The documents were drafted a month ago, and lawyers are circumventgiving this trend. When the government declared help Nepal maintain its tourist With unemployment at terms of wages, and our destination image and keep doors it a final touch. “We just need time to develop a legal framework and a hotels a ‘sick industry’ it allowed Bankers say they understand process to open up the services to the private sector,” says Mukundaan all time high, there is LOSING HER JOB: Indian IT workers likegrowing this numbers of English that hotel earnings may not be asopen for future growth. Prasad Acharya, spokesperson for the Ministry of Information and one in Banglaore may lose her job if speaking youth will provide the High and drythem to pay banks only 12.5 much resentment of outsourcing is curbed. Says Nepal Tourism Board CEO Communication. Plans to privatise Nepal Telecommunication Centre percent of loan interests and stretch high as the pre-1999 period, but (NTC) and open up the telecom sector to private companies started in pool of resources. However, repayment schedules. The banks they are not convinced by theTek Bahadur Dangi. “If they say that 2000, and gathered momentum with public outrage over NTC’s poor Nepal will definitely need to look now want the hotels to pay the full hoteliers’ sob stories on earnings. “Wethey have not been able to earn service. rise, thereby creating an again at the labour and despite the increased arrivals, they While the decision opens up a new wave of opportunity for private employment-related legislation to 25 percent of loan interests and say know that they have slashed their ECONOMIC SENSE inflationary trend in the economy in Kathmanduthey will not agree to any rates and that they are not gettingmust blame their own cheap prices.” companies, NTC will also be given a stake in the competitive market. make this happen. This lesson has “The government will no longer control NTC and limit its commercialoutsourcing.Artha First Beed call centres movedthat would depress business rescheduling. quality tourists,” says Nepal Bankers’ Sightseeing tours, trekking and growth,” says Acharya. Plans to privatise NTC are underway, butout, the then data centres followed. A growth. One should also recall thatalready been learnt from Pondering lessons from water There was a 23 percent jump Association(NBA) Presidentaccommodation suffered a similar government may take it slowly since it doesn’t want to antagoniselarge its pool of ‘digital clerks’ are there was a great deal of hue and transcription centres that once ran Narendra Bhattarai. “But the factfate. Even when tourist arrivals had large staff. It may first be turned into a public limited company and cry when computer hardware well, then crumbled due to privatisation on World Water Weekin tourist arrivals in 2003 compared float shares. “In the long run, this will be good for NTC, and Nepalisavailable in south Asia as well as to the previous year. The first two that occupancy has gone up mustreached the peak (500,000) in 199, will have access to all kinds of telecom services,” adds Acharya.eastern To Europe at a fraction of the businesses moved out of the US toproblems with legal provisions. months of 2004 saw a whopping mean that the income has gone uphoteliers still complained that only make the services easily available in the rural areas, the governmentUS costs. The trend continues withsoutheast and east Asia in the early Outsourcing will dominate too.” has also decided to establish a Rural Telecommunications Fund. ochabamba, Buenos Aires and Manila resonate loudly in40 the percent ears growth compared to the between 35-40 percent of their beds There are also provisions for a new cyber law. more specialist back office jobs like 90s. However, there were great the way business is done in the of opponents of water privatisation. same months last year. Hoteliers Around 16 percent of banks’were occupied. accounting and software writing benefits to the US economy as the coming years, with firms focusing C Transnationals have retreated from these cities in the arguemiddle that a visitor head count overall loans are to the tourism Admits former HAN president also moving out. India is building firms then focused on the softwareon their core activities and of their contracts, making them ‘best practice’ examplesnot to of how doesn’t mean anything since it industry and hoteliers have taken 80Yogendra Shakya: “We must fix the DIRECTOR’S SEAT: Shaw Wallace, Indian alcohol more facilities and global players areand making strides in IT and outsourcing other work whenever privatise public water companies in the South. In their heydays,doesn’t the translate into revenue. A percent of that amount. NBA would and beverage industry giant, is now in Nepal to setting up shop there. communications. Similarly, the possible. Nepal has to recognise World Bank and a handful of transnationals were joint partners in price ourselves and stick to it to make majority of tourists are visiting not reveal the actual loan figure, nor launch Director’s Special and Director’s Special Black However, contrary to the relocation of routine jobs ensures this trend and join the liberalising the annual $200 billion global water industry. our clients feel that they have had a whiskies,NEW PRODUCTS with plans to release more brands in the There is now a paradigm shiftNepal under heavily rebated would hoteliers. There is nofair deal.” The government has future. common American belief, that the skilled manpower focuses bandwagon. Surely, this could be in the strategies of the water packages that leave no profit breakdown of which sector of thewithheld the idea of standardisation outsourcing works well for the US on research and development an interesting US-Nepal co- sector’s key actors. The World instead, and also encourages peopleoperation issue to tackle. LONDON EYE margin, they say. tourism industry earns whatof services in the tourism industry economy. It ensures that the cost of Bank’s privatisation jihadis and “We are getting guests who are proportion. Asian Developmentconsidering the downturn of the to move towards graduate degrees Joti Giri pro-poor crusaders, under production and services are reduced. paying $200 for seven nights and Bank data shows that the countrytravel trade in recent years. That If outsourcing stopped, costs wouldand higher education. In the US pressure from key stakeholders, have moved the goal post from their unemployment mix there is dogmatic mantra of privatisation to a non-ideological position. six days inclusive of full board, earned $151 million throughslump is exactly what hoteliers point 180ml of Director’s Special is priced at A harsher economic climate and debt restructuring have alsomeals, sightseeing and even free tourism last year, up from $106at when they ask their banks to agree Rs 95, with Rs 110 for the same of Director’s virtually no unemployment Special Black. forced water companies to retrench from their globalising spree.transport Water to and from the airport,” million in 2002. to 12.5 percent of interest payment companies are also starting to appreciate that many customersHotel in the Association Nepal (HAN) What share of that pie went toright now and for the rescheduling z South view water as a common good and therefore generatingpresident Narendra Bajaracharya the hotels may only be known whenof the loan repayment. Some hotels revenue by providing services of this packaged commodity is not You bid for administering the World Bank’s Power commercially viable. told us. “How can people expect Nepal Rastra Bank brings out itshave already begun to convince their Development Fund. How was that handled? Large contractual losses in the developing world have turnedus to the earn profit?” He said five star annual revenue figure. But hotelbankers on their own, while others We had put together a very sound technical bid, but we later hotels were selling rooms for $10 operators claim that an increase inare waiting for their association to found that the bidding was focused on financial matters. If we utilities’ future investment strategy towards less volatile markets in knew that was happening, we would have bid slightly differently. north America and eastern Europe. But there is a risk in this strategyper night, which is why the rate of what they call non-revenue-take up the cause. Maybe we would not have taken high-cost partners from the US, as well. The market does not have inherent social responsibilityreturn and even for crowded hotels is generating tourists will only brand “Money launderingGermany and New Zealand. is We found outhappening.” through the papers cannot be relied to improve or deliver water services to the world’smuch below average. Nepal as a ‘cheap’ destination. Other that a certain bank had become the PDF administrator and we poor. Clearly, a refocus is required. were not informed. tourism experts, however, believe Nepali Times: How is the overall banking scenario? There are 1.2 billion people without access to safe drinking water In case of a re-bidding, would you take part? and double that without adequate sanitation. The UN’s Millennium Ashoke Rana:The banking scenario is very competitive.Yes, I think we would. Development Goal target is to halve these by 2015. How do we bridge There have been a lot of changes right now due to the new this water divide and funding gap? umbrella Act and the provisional blacklisting six monthsMost ago. new banks are based in Kathmandu Valley? How come? z That is something you will have to ask Nepal Rastra Bank. Why The battle for Kathmandu’s water supply can be won. Private Capital has become a very important issue. Banks that don’t have the required capital size are going to have a difficultwere so many licenses issued? During the 12 years of the involvment in the Valley’s water sector is being primed to go live early time. multiparty system, politicians could not help being influenced next year with the appointment of a management contractor. This while issuing licenses. The central bank has made stricter public-private partnership would be a perfect opportunity to showcase So is the umbrella Act good or bad? requirements of between Rs 500 million to Rs 1 billion of paid the capability of an organic Made in Nepal solution to a thirsty world. It is needed, but there are some areas that we have expressedup capital for new banks, still people are trying to come in. Some are trying to be regional banks to get in. Even if it is only a management contract, why would a private concerns about, mainly on the board directorships. They have Inhuman reputation fixed the number of board directors at seven, out of which one water operator want to risk its brand name in the unstable murky Criminal transactions in the banking sector are said to be lowering the morale of the security forces. has to be nominated by a panel of Nepal Rastra Bankon rise. political waters of Kathmandu? Grandiose mission statements such as designated experts. As a non-voting member, I think it will “water partner to the world” is node longer rigueur . Is this part of a As the Geneva hearings approach, the RNA appears Apart from a few cases of forged signatures in cheques, we are from p1 create a lot of problems. It is disruptive when people nowhave looking at money laundering. Banks now have to follow the genuine corporate social responsibility strategy? to have got the message. Army spokesman, Col Deepak invested and cannot represent themselves in the board.‘KYC’ The (Know Your Customer) policy. If we want to deal with foreign There are important lessons for Kathmandu from Puerto Rico Ifto the the government and military do not move quicklyGurung told the press Thursday that the major act also fixes qualifications for directors, two-thirds mustbanks be abroad, we will have to furnish our KYC policy and to assure the international community that they are graduates in certain fields. Our question is why only different anti-money laundering policies. Because of the Nepal west Manila Maynilad (which was initially hailed as a privatisation implicated in the Doramba massacre in August is in commerce graduates or a chartered accountants? Why can’t a success). The winners practiced ‘dive bidding’, and promises of Rastra Bank’s strict foreign currency guidelines we have been serious about controlling abuse, Nepal may soon findcustody, and the army’s investigations had shown that mathematician be on the board? The draft act is not following,well- we are not a target of foreign money laundering, but cheaper water and improved services for the poor were neverforeign aid drying up and its role in UN peacekeeping thought in these cases. They have given all the rights of the delivered leading to the renegotiation of terms of conditions with the some of the Maoists were killed in the encounter while we can be susceptible to money laundering inside the country. jeopardised. The country is beginning to emit an odour commercial banks to development banks, but not vice-versa. new regulators who did not have sufficient teeth for enforcement. others died after being captured. He said the army has To be a CEO of a commercial bank, you have to haveIs a it post-happening? Prices went up without services being improved. as reports of torture, extra-judicial killings and secretstarted court martial proceedings against those involved. graduate degree but to be CEO of a development bankI think you it is. We have noticed some accounts having large When corruption is endemic, and no tradition of a regulatoryand illegal detentions add up, and could end up being just have to be a university graduate. movements of cash to different parts of the country. In such In response to demands that the army sign the cases, we ask them to close the accounts. system, the key challange is the creation of a strong and independenttreated as a pariah state. As evidence of human rights NHRC’s draft Human Rights Accord, the government Has liquidity dropped because of loan schemes? regulator in Kathmandu. Another challenge is the bidding and abusecontract by the security forces piles up, and with only What kind of money laundering is this? has drawn up a unilateral code of conduct, called a A lot of banks have launched retail loan schemes likeAny home amount of money acquired through illegal means and on process. The winning bid should not be decided only on lowest user loans, car loans. There has been a surge in economic tariff or best operating margins. Other intangibles should be consid-token punishment against those found guilty, the label‘commitment document’. But those privy to its content which taxes have not been paid. has now entered the Nepali lexicon, as activities and the consumer side is booming even though ered. bepatta parieka say it is a watered down version of the NHRC’s draft, industries are suffering in the current security situation. But Next week (14-22 March) is World Water Week. The samedesaparecidos old did in Latin America. lacks provisions for investigating abuse by the security banks still have liquidity. Deposits have lately gone up by 13 leaders will be dusting off the same old script and parrot the sameThere old is consternation among some generals aboutforces, and is selective in its reference to Nepal’s percent. rhetoric. But where is the political will? Kathmandu water privatisation Is the entry of foreign banks a threat? must learn from history. Rulers must facilitate a successful projectbeing given the impossible task of subduing rebels internationalin treaty commitments. the most insurgent-friendly terrain in the world all by They are welcome. I think there will be healthy competition implementation. Otherwise histroy will judge them harshly, providing The head-in-sand attitude on impunity and abuse is because they will be well-regulated. They will have strict credit violence instead of water. itself. Indeed, the soldiers are being asked to fight in a norms and it will also bring expertise into the market. May be tarnishing Nepal’s reputation and will ultimately come MIN BAJRACHARYA political vacuum, which has given the rebels strengthback to haunt the country. All eyes are on King Gyanendra we will also have new areas of banking. far beyond their numbers. A force with feudocraticwho, as Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the RNA, has Ashoke SJB Rana is chief executive officer history has not been able to fight clean, nor manage theits power and responsibility to look out for the public at the Himalayan Bank Limited. He talked image. When challenged, the response of the most seniorgood. to Nepali Times about the current banking brass is: “There is a war on.” Those who raise their voices situation in the country and the potential within Nepal against impunity are denounced for pitfalls of a new umbrella banking Act for z z financial institutions. 8 NATION 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 ECONOMY 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 9 BIZ NEWS A 100,000 litre storage tank under the Kathmandu Valley Water Distribution Improvement Project in Min Bhawan nearing completion. Power guidelines ○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ The outsourcing locomotive Heartbreak hotels Following a meeting last week between an International Hydropower Association (IHA) team and Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa, who Nepal should hitch its wagonsamongst tooschool graduates. is also the Water Resources Minister, the governmentas announed it The message is loud and Despite increased tourist arrivals, hotels say they will adopt the IHA guidelines for hydroelectricity development in the country. utsourcing is a major clear: change the focus. still need help paying bank loans IHA is a representative organisation of hydropower development,debate in United For Nepal, the trend of production and distribution agencies from across the globe andO the States as the country outsourcing should emerge Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is a board member of the KHADGA SINGH association. The IHA guidelines addressing social and environmentalprepares for November’s as an opportunity in the aspects during hydropower plant construction came after worldwideelections. If Kerry wins, it future if we start planning he recent increase in tourist criticism of a World Commission on Dams report. NEA officialswill believe have a lot to do with the now. Just as production arrivals may have been good that adopting the IHA guidelines will help Nepal get financial economic issues of trade blocs jobs moved from Japan to news for travel trade in assistance from multilateral agencies like the World Bank and the T Asian Development Bank. Nepal has feasible potential to generateand outsourcing. up It is not South Korea to China due general, but it raised hackles to 40,000MW of power, but the national grid so far has only tappedonly our Nepali business to cost increases created by between hoteliers and their 600MW. fraternity that loves the demand for higher bankers. protectionist economic wages to support better The banks who loaned hotels policies. US businesses are living, the same will money say the industry is not sick crying foul on losses arising happen with India. In anymore and now have to start Private telecom out of NAFTA and jobs India, outsourcing centres paying back. Hoteliers are playing ○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ moving out the country. are already moving from down the tourism boom and argue After years of pressure from the private sector to end the state Some states are even the metropolitans to smaller MIN BAJRACHARYA that their earnings are still at an all- that the growth in arrivals, even monopoly on telecommunications, a policy allowing private playerscontemplating to legislation to cities, and Nepal will have time low. though they may be discounted, will run telecom services is to finally come into effect soon. comparative advantage in The documents were drafted a month ago, and lawyers are circumventgiving this trend. When the government declared help Nepal maintain its tourist With unemployment at terms of wages, and our destination image and keep doors it a final touch. “We just need time to develop a legal framework and a hotels a ‘sick industry’ it allowed Bankers say they understand process to open up the services to the private sector,” says Mukundaan all time high, there is LOSING HER JOB: Indian IT workers likegrowing this numbers of English that hotel earnings may not be asopen for future growth. Prasad Acharya, spokesperson for the Ministry of Information and one in Banglaore may lose her job if speaking youth will provide the High and drythem to pay banks only 12.5 much resentment of outsourcing is curbed. Says Nepal Tourism Board CEO Communication. Plans to privatise Nepal Telecommunication Centre percent of loan interests and stretch high as the pre-1999 period, but (NTC) and open up the telecom sector to private companies started in pool of resources. However, repayment schedules. The banks they are not convinced by theTek Bahadur Dangi. “If they say that 2000, and gathered momentum with public outrage over NTC’s poor Nepal will definitely need to look now want the hotels to pay the full hoteliers’ sob stories on earnings. “Wethey have not been able to earn service. rise, thereby creating an again at the labour and despite the increased arrivals, they While the decision opens up a new wave of opportunity for private employment-related legislation to 25 percent of loan interests and say know that they have slashed their ECONOMIC SENSE inflationary trend in the economy in Kathmanduthey will not agree to any rates and that they are not gettingmust blame their own cheap prices.” companies, NTC will also be given a stake in the competitive market. make this happen. This lesson has “The government will no longer control NTC and limit its commercialoutsourcing.Artha First Beed call centres movedthat would depress business rescheduling. quality tourists,” says Nepal Bankers’ Sightseeing tours, trekking and growth,” says Acharya. Plans to privatise NTC are underway, butout, the then data centres followed. A growth. One should also recall thatalready been learnt from Pondering lessons from water There was a 23 percent jump Association(NBA) Presidentaccommodation suffered a similar government may take it slowly since it doesn’t want to antagoniselarge its pool of ‘digital clerks’ are there was a great deal of hue and transcription centres that once ran Narendra Bhattarai. “But the factfate. Even when tourist arrivals had large staff. It may first be turned into a public limited company and cry when computer hardware well, then crumbled due to privatisation on World Water Weekin tourist arrivals in 2003 compared float shares. “In the long run, this will be good for NTC, and Nepalisavailable in south Asia as well as to the previous year. The first two that occupancy has gone up mustreached the peak (500,000) in 199, will have access to all kinds of telecom services,” adds Acharya.eastern To Europe at a fraction of the businesses moved out of the US toproblems with legal provisions. months of 2004 saw a whopping mean that the income has gone uphoteliers still complained that only make the services easily available in the rural areas, the governmentUS costs. The trend continues withsoutheast and east Asia in the early Outsourcing will dominate too.” has also decided to establish a Rural Telecommunications Fund. ochabamba, Buenos Aires and Manila resonate loudly in40 the percent ears growth compared to the between 35-40 percent of their beds There are also provisions for a new cyber law. more specialist back office jobs like 90s. However, there were great the way business is done in the of opponents of water privatisation. same months last year. Hoteliers Around 16 percent of banks’were occupied. accounting and software writing benefits to the US economy as the coming years, with firms focusing C Transnationals have retreated from these cities in the arguemiddle that a visitor head count overall loans are to the tourism Admits former HAN president also moving out. India is building firms then focused on the softwareon their core activities and of their contracts, making them ‘best practice’ examplesnot to of how doesn’t mean anything since it industry and hoteliers have taken 80Yogendra Shakya: “We must fix the DIRECTOR’S SEAT: Shaw Wallace, Indian alcohol more facilities and global players areand making strides in IT and outsourcing other work whenever privatise public water companies in the South. In their heydays,doesn’t the translate into revenue. A percent of that amount. NBA would and beverage industry giant, is now in Nepal to setting up shop there. communications. Similarly, the possible. Nepal has to recognise World Bank and a handful of transnationals were joint partners in price ourselves and stick to it to make majority of tourists are visiting not reveal the actual loan figure, nor launch Director’s Special and Director’s Special Black However, contrary to the relocation of routine jobs ensures this trend and join the liberalising the annual $200 billion global water industry. our clients feel that they have had a whiskies,NEW PRODUCTS with plans to release more brands in the There is now a paradigm shiftNepal under heavily rebated would hoteliers. There is nofair deal.” The government has future. common American belief, that the skilled manpower focuses bandwagon. Surely, this could be in the strategies of the water packages that leave no profit breakdown of which sector of thewithheld the idea of standardisation outsourcing works well for the US on research and development an interesting US-Nepal co- sector’s key actors. The World instead, and also encourages peopleoperation issue to tackle. LONDON EYE margin, they say. tourism industry earns whatof services in the tourism industry economy. It ensures that the cost of Bank’s privatisation jihadis and “We are getting guests who are proportion. Asian Developmentconsidering the downturn of the to move towards graduate degrees Joti Giri pro-poor crusaders, under production and services are reduced. paying $200 for seven nights and Bank data shows that the countrytravel trade in recent years. That If outsourcing stopped, costs wouldand higher education. In the US pressure from key stakeholders, have moved the goal post from their unemployment mix there is dogmatic mantra of privatisation to a non-ideological position. six days inclusive of full board, earned $151 million throughslump is exactly what hoteliers point 180ml of Director’s Special is priced at A harsher economic climate and debt restructuring have alsomeals, sightseeing and even free tourism last year, up from $106at when they ask their banks to agree Rs 95, with Rs 110 for the same of Director’s virtually no unemployment Special Black. forced water companies to retrench from their globalising spree.transport Water to and from the airport,” million in 2002. to 12.5 percent of interest payment companies are also starting to appreciate that many customersHotel in the Association Nepal (HAN) What share of that pie went toright now and for the rescheduling z South view water as a common good and therefore generatingpresident Narendra Bajaracharya the hotels may only be known whenof the loan repayment. Some hotels revenue by providing services of this packaged commodity is not You bid for administering the World Bank’s Power commercially viable. told us. “How can people expect Nepal Rastra Bank brings out itshave already begun to convince their Development Fund. How was that handled? Large contractual losses in the developing world have turnedus to the earn profit?” He said five star annual revenue figure. But hotelbankers on their own, while others We had put together a very sound technical bid, but we later hotels were selling rooms for $10 operators claim that an increase inare waiting for their association to found that the bidding was focused on financial matters. If we utilities’ future investment strategy towards less volatile markets in knew that was happening, we would have bid slightly differently. north America and eastern Europe. But there is a risk in this strategyper night, which is why the rate of what they call non-revenue-take up the cause. Maybe we would not have taken high-cost partners from the US, as well. The market does not have inherent social responsibilityreturn and even for crowded hotels is generating tourists will only brand “Money launderingGermany and New Zealand. is We found outhappening.” through the papers cannot be relied to improve or deliver water services to the world’smuch below average. Nepal as a ‘cheap’ destination. Other that a certain bank had become the PDF administrator and we poor. Clearly, a refocus is required. were not informed. tourism experts, however, believe Nepali Times: How is the overall banking scenario? There are 1.2 billion people without access to safe drinking water In case of a re-bidding, would you take part? and double that without adequate sanitation. The UN’s Millennium Ashoke Rana:The banking scenario is very competitive.Yes, I think we would. Development Goal target is to halve these by 2015. How do we bridge There have been a lot of changes right now due to the new this water divide and funding gap? umbrella Act and the provisional blacklisting six monthsMost ago. new banks are based in Kathmandu Valley? How come? z That is something you will have to ask Nepal Rastra Bank. Why The battle for Kathmandu’s water supply can be won. Private Capital has become a very important issue. Banks that don’t have the required capital size are going to have a difficultwere so many licenses issued? During the 12 years of the involvment in the Valley’s water sector is being primed to go live early time. multiparty system, politicians could not help being influenced next year with the appointment of a management contractor. This while issuing licenses. The central bank has made stricter public-private partnership would be a perfect opportunity to showcase So is the umbrella Act good or bad? requirements of between Rs 500 million to Rs 1 billion of paid the capability of an organic Made in Nepal solution to a thirsty world. It is needed, but there are some areas that we have expressedup capital for new banks, still people are trying to come in. Some are trying to be regional banks to get in. Even if it is only a management contract, why would a private concerns about, mainly on the board directorships. They have Inhuman reputation fixed the number of board directors at seven, out of which one water operator want to risk its brand name in the unstable murky Criminal transactions in the banking sector are said to be lowering the morale of the security forces. has to be nominated by a panel of Nepal Rastra Bankon rise. political waters of Kathmandu? Grandiose mission statements such as designated experts. As a non-voting member, I think it will “water partner to the world” is node longer rigueur . Is this part of a As the Geneva hearings approach, the RNA appears Apart from a few cases of forged signatures in cheques, we are from p1 create a lot of problems. It is disruptive when people nowhave looking at money laundering. Banks now have to follow the genuine corporate social responsibility strategy? to have got the message. Army spokesman, Col Deepak invested and cannot represent themselves in the board.‘KYC’ The (Know Your Customer) policy. If we want to deal with foreign There are important lessons for Kathmandu from Puerto Rico Ifto the the government and military do not move quicklyGurung told the press Thursday that the major act also fixes qualifications for directors, two-thirds mustbanks be abroad, we will have to furnish our KYC policy and to assure the international community that they are graduates in certain fields. Our question is why only different anti-money laundering policies. Because of the Nepal west Manila Maynilad (which was initially hailed as a privatisation implicated in the Doramba massacre in August is in commerce graduates or a chartered accountants? Why can’t a success). The winners practiced ‘dive bidding’, and promises of Rastra Bank’s strict foreign currency guidelines we have been serious about controlling abuse, Nepal may soon findcustody, and the army’s investigations had shown that mathematician be on the board? The draft act is not following,well- we are not a target of foreign money laundering, but cheaper water and improved services for the poor were neverforeign aid drying up and its role in UN peacekeeping thought in these cases. They have given all the rights of the delivered leading to the renegotiation of terms of conditions with the some of the Maoists were killed in the encounter while we can be susceptible to money laundering inside the country. jeopardised. The country is beginning to emit an odour commercial banks to development banks, but not vice-versa. new regulators who did not have sufficient teeth for enforcement. others died after being captured. He said the army has To be a CEO of a commercial bank, you have to haveIs a it post-happening? Prices went up without services being improved. as reports of torture, extra-judicial killings and secretstarted court martial proceedings against those involved. graduate degree but to be CEO of a development bankI think you it is. We have noticed some accounts having large When corruption is endemic, and no tradition of a regulatoryand illegal detentions add up, and could end up being just have to be a university graduate. movements of cash to different parts of the country. In such In response to demands that the army sign the cases, we ask them to close the accounts. system, the key challange is the creation of a strong and independenttreated as a pariah state. As evidence of human rights NHRC’s draft Human Rights Accord, the government Has liquidity dropped because of loan schemes? regulator in Kathmandu. Another challenge is the bidding and abusecontract by the security forces piles up, and with only What kind of money laundering is this? has drawn up a unilateral code of conduct, called a A lot of banks have launched retail loan schemes likeAny home amount of money acquired through illegal means and on process. The winning bid should not be decided only on lowest user loans, car loans. There has been a surge in economic tariff or best operating margins. Other intangibles should be consid-token punishment against those found guilty, the label‘commitment document’. But those privy to its content which taxes have not been paid. has now entered the Nepali lexicon, as activities and the consumer side is booming even though ered. bepatta parieka say it is a watered down version of the NHRC’s draft, industries are suffering in the current security situation. But Next week (14-22 March) is World Water Week. The samedesaparecidos old did in Latin America. lacks provisions for investigating abuse by the security banks still have liquidity. Deposits have lately gone up by 13 leaders will be dusting off the same old script and parrot the sameThere old is consternation among some generals aboutforces, and is selective in its reference to Nepal’s percent. rhetoric. But where is the political will? Kathmandu water privatisation Is the entry of foreign banks a threat? must learn from history. Rulers must facilitate a successful projectbeing given the impossible task of subduing rebels internationalin treaty commitments. the most insurgent-friendly terrain in the world all by They are welcome. I think there will be healthy competition implementation. Otherwise histroy will judge them harshly, providing The head-in-sand attitude on impunity and abuse is because they will be well-regulated. They will have strict credit violence instead of water. itself. Indeed, the soldiers are being asked to fight in a norms and it will also bring expertise into the market. May be tarnishing Nepal’s reputation and will ultimately come MIN BAJRACHARYA political vacuum, which has given the rebels strengthback to haunt the country. All eyes are on King Gyanendra we will also have new areas of banking. far beyond their numbers. A force with feudocraticwho, as Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the RNA, has Ashoke SJB Rana is chief executive officer history has not been able to fight clean, nor manage theits power and responsibility to look out for the public at the Himalayan Bank Limited. He talked image. When challenged, the response of the most seniorgood. to Nepali Times about the current banking brass is: “There is a war on.” Those who raise their voices situation in the country and the potential within Nepal against impunity are denounced for pitfalls of a new umbrella banking Act for z z financial institutions. 10 FLORICULTURE EXHIBITION 2004 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 FLORICULTURE EXHIBITION 2004 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 11 New on the line: a Japanese cloned orchid Flower power

by specific rules and regulations. People are not competing on FAN the basis of service, but price alone.” Another trend that has changed is the amount of flowers imported from India to meet our local demand. “Previously, all our flowers used to come from Delhi, Calcutta or Bangalore. Today, all our summer flowers are grown here and we only import Indian flowers in winter,” says Pradhan. At the end of another day’s work this week, Pradhan is Floral tributes doing an inventory of flowers and is pleased with sales. “Previously it seemed only the upper class or tourists bought From agriculture to floriculture at FAN 2004 flowers. Now the middle class are giving flowers for all occasions like when a baby is born, or to someone who’s The organisers at Floriculture Association Nepalhard work when they get stuck for hours in feeling sick.” (FAN) are getting ready for Floriculture Exhibitionsecurity checks.” 2004, an annual event plant and flower lovers “But there is good business in floriculture.” And why not? After all, scientific research show that just across the Valley are waiting for. This is where admits Bista, herself the proprietor of a cut flower having flowers around triggers happy emotions, helps us feel those in the cut flower and nursery business, those nursery in Kathmandu. In 2002-2003, the cut more satisfied with life and encourages positive social interested in landscaping and the gardener in each flowers was a Rs 23,730,000 business, while the behaviour. Pradhan says with a knowing smile: “People are of us, can all go to see what’s new and in bloom nurseries together brought in over Rs 54 million. To beginning to appreciate flower power.” (Sraddha Basnyat) from seasonal to ornamental, indoor to outdoor, boost the floriculture sector, FAN organises regular tissue cultures to fruit bearing alike. technical trainings in pest control, gardening, “Last year we had 54 stalls and we’re hopingbouquet arrangement and seasonal flower for more participants this year,” says FAN Presidentmanagement workshops. Says Bista, “Five or six The individual bottles are set under MinerwaMeeting Bista. the international In the past participants from asyears far ago, Nepal imported 80 percent of our 12 hours of lighting and in perfect demandsand wide for as our Janakpur, indigenous Pokhara, Dharan and Butwolflowers from India. Now we grow about 85 humidity. There they go through orchidswould by eagerly exporting arrive their at tissue the national exhibition.percent But and import 15 to 20 percent, which is six stages of growth before reaching due to the security situation, Bista expects fewerduring the off season. In a year or two we should culturesparticipants is one this way year. to address She adds, “Plants are be able to grow enough all our own.” in Godavari as a way to keep busy the rooted stage. But if we’re talking rampantperishable illegal and export. people It don’t also want to risk losing their after retirement. Their farm, Rai’s from seedpod to flowering, even a makes great business sense. Orchid, has been producing tissue culture will take four to five Orchids, once cut, last six to eight z potted hybrid orchids and cut years. Vaidya’s nbn has been weeks in the right conditions. (Sradhha Basnyat) flowers commercially since 2002. exporting tissue cultures of Cool, well-ventilated rooms with Bharat Rai handles the indigenous orchids to Japan and indirect light are ideal. It’s a management and logistics, but Europe. Hybrid cultures are sold to lucrative venture: one orchid stick orchids are actually Kabiraj Rai’s local growers, numbering only five can cost Rs 50-150, while a single passion turned commercial or six in the Valley, who grow for rose sells for Rs 20. Rai’s Orchid venture. And he loves telling us the local market. “South Asians can’t seem to keep up with the how it’s done. seem to prefer the bright colours of demand, even with orchid Orchid feverhybrids for decoration while “Orchids are propagated in production growing by 25 percent Natural beauty isn’t the only thing Nepal’s three ways: from pseudobulbs, Europeans go more for the earthy a year. through plant division and tissue tones of indigenous varieties,” notes “We want to encourage and orchids have to offer cultures,” he explains. In pseudo- Vaidya. Orchid export is regulated support more people to start bulb propagation, orchid bulbs by the Convention on International orchid farms. This is the best time Trade in Endangered Species ALL PICS: SRADDHA BASNYAT give off one, sometimes even two, of year for training, from January shoots. Once the shoots are a year (CITES), which requires that all to end of March, when the SRADDHA BASNYAT old, the back bulbs can be removed orchids being exported have been orchids bloom and we harvest lined up ready to head south. to begin another plant. The little propagated by tissue culture. them,” says Kabiraj who also here is something about Nepal is a paradise for orchids, Now, Nepal’s orchid experts andplant is still another two to three Unfortunately, orchid teaches propagation techniques. orchids that makes crazed the moist climate and the cloudenthusiasts are working to save thisyears from flowering. But if one smuggling is still not under control. There are no secrets here, Kabiraj Tenthusiasts travel thousands of forest environment is ideal for them. pot contains several bulbs along Trafficking indigenous wild readily gives away the formula for national treasure. And their miles for a single picture. No otherThat also makes Nepal a paradise forfascination with the fancy flower alsowith their shoots, an alternative is orchids is easy and truck loads are the soil: 60 percent cow dung and flower evokes such passion. orchid smugglers. In the 1980s,has financial benefits. plant division. After the orchid smuggled into India where false peat to the rest charcoal bits, brick according to one estimate, up to certificates are obtained for export Some orchids are so coveted that Bharat Rai and his partnerblooms, back bulbs, each along chips, sand and coconut husk. 100 lorries of dried Nepali orchids to Europe and the US as artificially collectors have carried out Kabiraj Rai started up an orchid farmwith one shoot, can be separated It may be taking coals to spectacular heists of rare specimens.plundered from our forests were and replanted. However, Rai propagated plants. “If someone goes Newcastle, but in the future Rai’s prefers to work with tissue cultures. into the forest and picks an orchid Orchid plans to export orchids to In nature, orchid seedpods for themselves, it’s not such a big Thailand, Singapore and burst open, releasing hundreds of problem. The problem arises when Malaysia. These are countries thousands of seeds in a powdered someone goes into the forest, sees a famous for tropical orchids, but explosion. Only five or six survive beautiful orchid and then hires our colourful hybrid Cymbidiums and mature. Tissue cultures enable people to pick them by the truck add variety and are in high more production, and this is the loads,” says Vaidya. demand. There is also a growing process biologist Brajesh Vaidya Nepal is home to 386 recorded market for cut flowers in the and his team at Nepal Biotech varieties of orchids, and three or Middle East but these require Nursery (nbn) specialise in. There four more species are found every isn’t much that can be done to year. There are eight endemic speed up the process even in lab species of orchids, found only in conditions. “Anyone getting into Nepal. A potted Show Girl Cymbidium the orchid business is in it for the long haul,” says Vaidya. more investment for chilling roomsGodavari farm. It’s obvious that the In the lab, the contents of the at customs and proper packaging. end result has made it well worth the wait. For Kabiraj, the farm has seedpods are put in a chemical. With a growing local demand for orchids, Rai’s Orchid is gearingbecome his life’s mission. Leaning up to address the market. Last week,back in his lawn chair, he adds, “It’s the Rai duo were poring over aa tension-free occupation, perfect for bunch of Golden Gullretired life. We’re independent, keep Cymbidiums in full bloom at theirbusy and it’s good exercise.” Bharat Rai (left) and his partner Kabiraj Rai working on Golden Gull Cymbidiums at their farm in Godavari. z 10 FLORICULTURE EXHIBITION 2004 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 FLORICULTURE EXHIBITION 2004 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 11 New on the line: a Japanese cloned orchid Flower power

Traditionally Nepalis used flowers only for pujas. As urban incomes rise, more and more people are displaying flower arrangements and presenting flowers on special occasions. Suman Pradhan has been running Chameli, a family- owned flower shop in Jhamsikhel since the early 1990s. He started with just a couple buckets of cut flowers on the sidewalk. The lovely lilies and fragrant roses generated interest, so he set out more buckets. Today, they’re a full- fledged flower supermarket. Today, Pradhan’s daily income from cut flowers alone ranges from Rs 3,000 on slow days to Rs 40,000 on special occasions like Valentine’s or Mother’s Day. And orchids, when they’re in, are best sellers. The only problem, says Pradhan, is that there is no regular supply of orchids. When we asked him what needs to happen to boost the business in floriculture, Pradhan had a thing or two to say: “FAN needs to be more effective. The wholesale they recently opened has benefited us. But we are working at a very unstable market. Competition is increasing, but it’s not guided by specific rules and regulations. People are not competing on FAN the basis of service, but price alone.” Another trend that has changed is the amount of flowers imported from India to meet our local demand. “Previously, all our flowers used to come from Delhi, Calcutta or Bangalore. Today, all our summer flowers are grown here and we only import Indian flowers in winter,” says Pradhan. At the end of another day’s work this week, Pradhan is Floral tributes doing an inventory of flowers and is pleased with sales. “Previously it seemed only the upper class or tourists bought From agriculture to floriculture at FAN 2004 flowers. Now the middle class are giving flowers for all occasions like when a baby is born, or to someone who’s The organisers at Floriculture Association Nepalhard work when they get stuck for hours in feeling sick.” (FAN) are getting ready for Floriculture Exhibitionsecurity checks.” 2004, an annual event plant and flower lovers “But there is good business in floriculture.” And why not? After all, scientific research show that just across the Valley are waiting for. This is where admits Bista, herself the proprietor of a cut flower having flowers around triggers happy emotions, helps us feel those in the cut flower and nursery business, those nursery in Kathmandu. In 2002-2003, the cut more satisfied with life and encourages positive social interested in landscaping and the gardener in each flowers was a Rs 23,730,000 business, while the behaviour. Pradhan says with a knowing smile: “People are of us, can all go to see what’s new and in bloom nurseries together brought in over Rs 54 million. To beginning to appreciate flower power.” (Sraddha Basnyat) from seasonal to ornamental, indoor to outdoor, boost the floriculture sector, FAN organises regular tissue cultures to fruit bearing alike. technical trainings in pest control, gardening, “Last year we had 54 stalls and we’re hopingbouquet arrangement and seasonal flower for more participants this year,” says FAN Presidentmanagement workshops. Says Bista, “Five or six The individual bottles are set under MinerwaMeeting Bista. the international In the past participants from asyears far ago, Nepal imported 80 percent of our 12 hours of lighting and in perfect demandsand wide for as our Janakpur, indigenous Pokhara, Dharan and Butwolflowers from India. Now we grow about 85 humidity. There they go through orchidswould by eagerly exporting arrive their at tissue the national exhibition.percent But and import 15 to 20 percent, which is six stages of growth before reaching due to the security situation, Bista expects fewerduring the off season. In a year or two we should culturesparticipants is one this way year. to address She adds, “Plants are be able to grow enough all our own.” in Godavari as a way to keep busy the rooted stage. But if we’re talking rampantperishable illegal and export. people It don’t also want to risk losing their after retirement. Their farm, Rai’s from seedpod to flowering, even a makes great business sense. Orchid, has been producing tissue culture will take four to five Orchids, once cut, last six to eight z potted hybrid orchids and cut years. Vaidya’s nbn has been weeks in the right conditions. (Sradhha Basnyat) flowers commercially since 2002. exporting tissue cultures of Cool, well-ventilated rooms with Bharat Rai handles the indigenous orchids to Japan and indirect light are ideal. It’s a management and logistics, but Europe. Hybrid cultures are sold to lucrative venture: one orchid stick orchids are actually Kabiraj Rai’s local growers, numbering only five can cost Rs 50-150, while a single passion turned commercial or six in the Valley, who grow for rose sells for Rs 20. Rai’s Orchid venture. And he loves telling us the local market. “South Asians can’t seem to keep up with the how it’s done. seem to prefer the bright colours of demand, even with orchid Orchid feverhybrids for decoration while “Orchids are propagated in production growing by 25 percent Natural beauty isn’t the only thing Nepal’s three ways: from pseudobulbs, Europeans go more for the earthy a year. through plant division and tissue tones of indigenous varieties,” notes “We want to encourage and orchids have to offer cultures,” he explains. In pseudo- Vaidya. Orchid export is regulated support more people to start bulb propagation, orchid bulbs by the Convention on International orchid farms. This is the best time Trade in Endangered Species ALL PICS: SRADDHA BASNYAT give off one, sometimes even two, of year for training, from January shoots. Once the shoots are a year (CITES), which requires that all to end of March, when the SRADDHA BASNYAT old, the back bulbs can be removed orchids being exported have been orchids bloom and we harvest lined up ready to head south. to begin another plant. The little propagated by tissue culture. them,” says Kabiraj who also here is something about Nepal is a paradise for orchids, Now, Nepal’s orchid experts andplant is still another two to three Unfortunately, orchid teaches propagation techniques. orchids that makes crazed the moist climate and the cloudenthusiasts are working to save thisyears from flowering. But if one smuggling is still not under control. There are no secrets here, Kabiraj Tenthusiasts travel thousands of forest environment is ideal for them. pot contains several bulbs along Trafficking indigenous wild readily gives away the formula for national treasure. And their miles for a single picture. No otherThat also makes Nepal a paradise forfascination with the fancy flower alsowith their shoots, an alternative is orchids is easy and truck loads are the soil: 60 percent cow dung and flower evokes such passion. orchid smugglers. In the 1980s,has financial benefits. plant division. After the orchid smuggled into India where false peat to the rest charcoal bits, brick according to one estimate, up to certificates are obtained for export Some orchids are so coveted that Bharat Rai and his partnerblooms, back bulbs, each along chips, sand and coconut husk. 100 lorries of dried Nepali orchids to Europe and the US as artificially collectors have carried out Kabiraj Rai started up an orchid farmwith one shoot, can be separated It may be taking coals to spectacular heists of rare specimens.plundered from our forests were and replanted. However, Rai propagated plants. “If someone goes Newcastle, but in the future Rai’s prefers to work with tissue cultures. into the forest and picks an orchid Orchid plans to export orchids to In nature, orchid seedpods for themselves, it’s not such a big Thailand, Singapore and burst open, releasing hundreds of problem. The problem arises when Malaysia. These are countries thousands of seeds in a powdered someone goes into the forest, sees a famous for tropical orchids, but explosion. Only five or six survive beautiful orchid and then hires our colourful hybrid Cymbidiums and mature. Tissue cultures enable people to pick them by the truck add variety and are in high more production, and this is the loads,” says Vaidya. demand. There is also a growing process biologist Brajesh Vaidya Nepal is home to 386 recorded market for cut flowers in the and his team at Nepal Biotech varieties of orchids, and three or Middle East but these require Nursery (nbn) specialise in. There four more species are found every isn’t much that can be done to year. There are eight endemic speed up the process even in lab species of orchids, found only in conditions. “Anyone getting into Nepal. A potted Show Girl Cymbidium the orchid business is in it for the long haul,” says Vaidya. more investment for chilling roomsGodavari farm. It’s obvious that the In the lab, the contents of the at customs and proper packaging. end result has made it well worth the wait. For Kabiraj, the farm has seedpods are put in a chemical. With a growing local demand for orchids, Rai’s Orchid is gearingbecome his life’s mission. Leaning up to address the market. Last week,back in his lawn chair, he adds, “It’s the Rai duo were poring over aa tension-free occupation, perfect for bunch of Golden Gullretired life. We’re independent, keep Cymbidiums in full bloom at theirbusy and it’s good exercise.” Bharat Rai (left) and his partner Kabiraj Rai working on Golden Gull Cymbidiums at their farm in Godavari. z 12 TREKKING 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 13 Tagging along to Langtang

isSo that the near, terrain rises vertically and from yet so wild subtropical slopes above the Trisuli to alpine along the Langtang Kholaestimates only a third of villagers right up to arctic along the morainesunderstand the importance of of the Langtang Glacier. conservation. “They feel the laws To protect this spectacularare too strict. It’s difficult for those biodiversity, while ensuringwith no money to buy timber to community development goes handbuild houses.” in hand with the sustainable use of Still, Tamang and Namgyal feel forest resources, this 1,710 sq kmthese are issues they could resolve area directly north of Kathmanduamong themselves if only they Valley was designated a national parkwere given more decision-making in 1976. Park warden Meghpower. “If we were given full Bahadur Pandey in Dhunche feelsresponsibility, there would be more the level of people’s participation inconservation.” conservation efforts is encouraging. After a year-and-a-half as park The 34 villages within the park planwarden, Pandey thinks the boundaries hasn’t meant an increase and manage local conservation ALL PICS: PADAM GHALE ultimate challenge is poverty. in Maoist activity, nor has there themselves through forest user“People depend on the forest for been an increase in poaching, groups and committees. their livelihood, their immediate according to game scout Bom KUNDA DIXIT “Before, the army used to lookneeds and demands,” he says. Bahadur Shrestha in Ghode SRADDHA BASNYATin KENJIN GOMBA after the national park. Now we look“Survival is still bigger than Tabela. Backdoor to after it ourselves,” says Chiringconservation.” “If anything, poaching is a lot Phincho Tamang, who is the The park has 54,000 less since people don’t walk with lone porter ferries egg Langtang. Public buses leave daily forchairperson of the local forest userinhabitants within a 420sq km guns or even keep them at home A lot has changed with crates stacked several Dhunche along the bone-rattling 7-group in Syabru. He is cutting pipesbuffer zone established in 1998. for fear of being called Maoists. trekking in Nepal, but a lot A feet high. An occasional 8 hour bus ride to Syabru Besi. Privatethe for drinking water taps theHigher up on the trail there is no Security is in fact stricter,” he tells trekking group shuffles by. It is jeeps can also be hired for $100. Thecommunity is building as he talks toelectricity, and this puts a strain on us. From his post Shrestha remains the same quiet along the Langtang trail this road is gravel, and was completelyus. Villagers can only collect driedthe forest since firewood is still the continues to monitor use of forest season, the closest really wild washed off near Ramche in a hugebranches and fallen trees forprimary means for cooking. resources, collecting timber permits trekking area to Kathmandu. landslide last monsoon. Once infirewood and only cut trees for and going on regular patrols. Dhunche, guides and porters are In Langtang village itself, fter initial fears about the Luklatrekkers find this ‘voluntary’ tax across a 250m span suspension bridge. Most Foot traffic in Langtang has timber with a national park permit. Langtang has seen a sharp Karma Tamang’s Eco Guest House objectionable, but others say it is no Nepali rivers flow north-south, and this trek is readily available and the lodgeowners insurgency ruining the trekking slowed by half in the last few years Wildlife populations have increased,is lit by power from a microhydro decrease in trekking traffic. Two industry, there is now cautious different than the Rs 2,000 they have to payeast-west, so it is a roller-coaster ride of steep because of fears of violence along are happy to arrange them for you.he adds, and some like the wild boar A It’s a gradual climb, so if you pack plant down the hill. He has solar years ago, 13,500 trekkers came to ACAP or the $50 they have to pay for a climbs and descents from one valley to the hope that it will survive. Bookings for the Trisuli Valley, but up here in and langur have gone out of control.cells on his roof for backup. Passive here, last year just 6,000. This has trekking permit in other areas of Nepal. next. That is the zen of trekking: every step wisely, you can carry your own Spring 2004 show that despite the news of the national park itself you are “If we save the forests now, our impacted community develop- Either way, trekkers now have to budget foryou take downhill you know you have to go backpack. There are enough lodges solar panels heat water for the global terrorism, Maoist activities and back in that timeless Nepal of the children and grandchildren will ment projects like education, health, the Maoist fees like they must for visa fees oruphill at some later point. After a while, it is along the way, and there is no need showers. Tamang has also devised extortion along the trails, trekkers have not old days. A serene and silent land have them too. And tourists willa mixture of firewood and yak road works and plantations which government taxes. difficult to tell which is more difficult, going to carry tents. abandoned Nepal. of sky and snow. come,” says Dorje Namgyal, secretary depend on tourism income for up or down. Langtang National Park is home dung as an efficient fuel: the inside After leading a 10-day trek from In this new kind of trekking, you have to Right now is the best time to of the user group. But there are stillof the dung remaining hot like funds. Perhaps the fact that there Tumlingtar to Lukla recently, I have to say be careful about where you go. Be smart, Finally you reach Doban Phedi at be in Langtang, the hills red and to 250 bird species and 32 species ofsome serious challenges. Namgyalcharcoal. are so few tourists in Langtang is in mammals including wild dogs, thar, that the ‘dress down’ and don’t be conspicuous with1,500m. Camping is usually in the school white with rhododenron. Most itself an added attraction for those ghorals, serows, musk deer, red The reduction in the army’s Nepali your gizmos. Binoculars and cameras are grounds. Most schools are closed since of the snow is gone and the days who want to get away from the OFF THE pandas, black bears and snow presence within the park midhills sought-after items. The Maoists along the teachers have fled. There is usually a red are warm. beaten track. BEATEN TREK leopards. The reason for this diversity are still a trails are mostly teenagers, polite but firm, hammer and sickle flag flying and Maoist It is still easy to get to Padam Ghale spectacular place to hike through. It is safe, and there is no point trying to conduct an slogans scrawled along the walls. If the porters and organising a trek off the main trails is ideological debate about the pros and cons know the villagers, trekkers can also find a z not only possible, but also very fulfilling forof their method of revolution. Also, you house to sleep in and go native to eat dhindo the visitors. never know when the young chap and tarkari. But thanks to Maoist edicts, there demanding your binoculars is a maobadi oris a no alcohol sold openly. Having said that, there are also things khaobadi. Soon, you leave behind the Bahun and that have changed. No more will you get The Tumlingtar-Lukla trek is your children greeting you at the entrance of a Chhetri villages to enter Rai and Limbu village, or smiling farmers waving to you classic pre-trekking era trek. This is what country. There are steep sections all the way from their fields as you pass by. There is a Nepal was like before trekkers arrived. This tois Salpha Pokhari at 3,600m, the highest suspicion of all strangers, although things also the famous case of the goose fouling itspoint on the trail from which there are great quickly get back to normal as soon as locals own nest: adventure tourists are always views of Kangchenjunga to the east, figure out you are trekkers. Another stark looking for places to go where others don’t Chamlang, Mera Peak and the mountains change is the absence of young men and go, and by going they make the new place asaround Lukla. Everest is blocked by lesser but women, who have all fled to the towns or commonplace as the other places they havenearer mountains. After the pass, there is gone abroad to work. gone to. nowhere to go but down, down, down to Bung Gau at 1,300m. Then it is up again to Except for schools and health posts, It’s not likely that ‘mainstream’ trekkers will be thronging to the Tumlingtar-Lukla Pangong at 2,900m where you come across there is absolutely no government presence the first Sherpa villages. Then, guess what, it anywhere. After leaving Tumlingtar airfield,trail this season. There are no extra high passes to traverse, no mountains up close, is down again to a river, and up again to we did not see a single policeman or soldier Bhasme Pass at 3,200m. From the saddle, until we got to Lukla. For that matter, therejust a gentle walk through unspoilt villages, terraces of yellow mustard, snowbound you know you are approaching Lukla because are not too many Maoists, either. But you you can see and hear the morning flights on are sure to meet them at checkpoints whereforests ablaze with rhododendron along the high ridges. Everywhere, there is a calm andthe Dudh Kosi valley below. And that is trekkers have to pay a ‘revolutionary tax’ where you find yourself the next morning and get a receipt. solitude that gives you the impression that the outside world is very far away indeed. after a knee-wracking descent to follow the On the Tumlingtar trail, trekkers have toAnother thing: during our 10 days we Phaplu trail up to Lukla, or along the Dudh pay Rs 1,000 to the Makalu command anddidn’t see a single tourist hiker outside of ourKosi towards Phakding to upper Khumbu. another Rs 1,000 to the Sagarmatha group. Lukla is civilization, with its bars, command. Some trekking groups don’t Tumlingtar is a one-hour flight from restaurants cosy lodges and an airport with a come across Maoists at all, but it is good to paved runway on which there are 15-20 be prepared and set aside that money. OnceKathmandu. Immediately, you senses the z Bucolic countryside near Bung Gau. tropical ambience in this low valley by the flights from Kathmandu landing every the group gets its individual receipt, it is not day. z Across the Arun at Katike Pul. harassed anywhere else along the trail. SomeArun river. You cross the river at Katike Pul z Breakfast of dhindo with the porters before another day on the trail. z Porters traversing wheat fields near Doban Phedi. z 14 TREKKING 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 SCIENCE AND HEALTH 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 15 Moon rising from behind Everestl )( looks larger than when directly above Abandon Macchapuchrebelow ( ) ew would argue that the circumstances in which it evolved? moon is more wondrous and Clearly, motion was an essential F enchanting than when it is feature. Our visual systems evolved the gym near the horizon, appearing closer in an environment that contained and looming larger than when it is (mostly) rigid moving objects. high in the sky. But this is an Objects that move radially, ie, illusion, the ‘Moon Illusion’, to be directly toward or away from a precise. The distance traveled by viewer, produce a stimulus on the for the light reflected from the moon to eye that is continuously increasing the eye of an observer is essentially or decreasing in size. Our visual the same regardless of the moon’s system automatically transforms elevation. A similar illusion is such changing stimulus inputs into Himalayaobserved for the setting sun and objects that appear to be rigid—ie, unchanging in perceived size—but moving radially in three- dimensional space. Call this SCIENCE WATCH mechanism a type of kinetic form forMaurice celestial distances Henderson between star of SDIH. Trekking is harder points at different elevations. Now, how would such a But the Moon Illusion is not perceptual system respond to the than the treadmill, and the only captivating to behold; it also stimulus of the Moon Illusion—a Kathmandu. Apart from the first stimulus that changes only in the couple ofrewards nights, when infinitely better happens to be perhaps the oldest hiking up a trail can burn up to 600 the hypothesis, modern elevation of the moon over the PADAMaccommodation GHALE was in relatively unsolved problem in science. calories an hour and double that References to it can be found on explanations of the Moon Illusion ground? The perceived distance of JANE HODSON off—and not just for the view. luxurious lodges with ensuitethrough the clouds. The thin air The Moon Illusion amount at higher altitudes. Seven clay tablets from the royal library of have proposed a variety of the moon would be determined by ‘’High altitude provokes a hormonal bathrooms, we stayed in tea-housesseemed to wash away a year’s worth days’ trekking in the Himalayas, I Nineveh and Babylon, dating fromstationary observer views a fixed changes to the SDIH. One contextual stimulus information was puffing and panting and myresponse, which causes red blood cell and slept in sleeping bags. of stress. In the foreground, bamboo, reasoned, would be the ideal way to before the sixth century BC, as illuminated object over a ground. We are no modification allows perceived from the ground and the sweat reeked of Nepal’s stapleproduction to be increased,’’ says We walked for between fourrhododendron and pine mingled, get fit and detox as well. well as in a collection of Chinese The perceived size of the moon is distance to be evoked horizon—when the moon is low, it meal of dal bhat. This mountainChris Walton, head of specialist and seven hours a day, the third daywhile high across the valley stood the closer to I Who needs a gym when there is legends ascribed to Lieh Tzu determined by two factors: the simultaneously by different would appear close (that is, at or training at the Third Space, a health majestic snow-capped mountains. hike had better be worth it. I plodded Nepal? But as I discovered, trekkingwas the worst as my muscles dating from the fifth century BC. behavioral responses. Thus, the near the apparent distance of the and fitness club in London. “As a stiffened and I fought for breath. Our mile-long descent was physical extent of the light falling understanding onwards and upwards—my blood is much harder than a workout on Many of history’s leading scientistson the eye—also known as the moon may appear more distant to horizon) and when the moon is result, the body’s oxygen levels are But at least I was eating healthily. Ipainful and arduous. For six hours thumping a tempo almost loud the treadmill. Our trek for two— and mathematicians have analyzed angular subtense or the visual why the moon people who say: “The moon looks high in the sky, it would appear to raised, accelerating capacity for work. usually took the local option: a bowlwe trudged down 3,500 steps and enough to perforate my eardrums. accompanied by a guide and two the phenomenon: da Vinci, Keplerangle— and the distance close.” be at a far greater distance. Furthermore, the lack of oxygen in of potent garlic soup, followed byafter a while the jarring thuds Every muscle cried in discord. porters—took us from Lumle, and Descartes to name but a few. information provided by the looks bigger Other explanations exclude The perceived size of the moon the air means that physical work is dal bhat which is apparently perfectbrought on a thumping headache. This was the third day of a around 75 miles west of For most of recorded history, ground. Some theorists include in perceived distance. Verbal would be determined by the harder. The body is forced to go for steady energy release, andBut no matter how the muscles week’s trekking in the Himalayas Kathmandu, to Tikhedhunga, the illusion was thought to be a this formulation the perceived when it is low statements about the perceived kinetic SDIH, which produces the anaerobic, which in turn uses more momos. The food is a deliciousached, how the heart pounded, how and far from being a sublime Julie finishing with white-water rafting consequence of physical processes. distance of the moon (how far it distance of the moon are perception of rigid objects moving calories.’’ In pedestrian speak, fusion of spices and textures. I’dthe injuries played up, if you sat for in the sky Andrews gambol in Shangri-la, it on the Seti river, before returning to For example, Aristotle in the third appears to be from an observer). described as inferences based on radially when stimulus size changes exercise at altitude increases fitness chosen not to eat meat in order toa moment all the hardship simply was a gruelling endeavour. century BC and Ptolemy in the perceived size rather than continuously. Accordingly, when and the body’s ability to burn fat: avoid stomach problems, and thefloated away. The relationships between the But I was confident it would pay second century AD incorrectly descriptions of experience: “The the object appears to be at different ensuing combination meant that I Seven days from first pulling on stimulus (visual angle) and the attributed the illusion to the perceived size and distance of the moon looks big so it must be distances, the perceived size of the was on an almost toxin-free diet. my trekking boots, we were romping magnifying properties of the moon are summarised by the so- close.” object must change. This makes Only two elements of my dailyback to Pokhara, where we headed atmosphere. Alhazen (Ibn al- called “static size-distance Other researchers have gone the moon that appears closer (i.e., nourishment let me down: a glassstraight for the Shangri-La Hotel and Haytham) related the illusion to invariance hypothesis” (SDIH): beyond the SDIH altogether, the moon at the horizon) also or two of beer to celebrate the endits tranquil ornate gardens, complete the flattened appearance of the stimulus determines the ratio of substituting a perceptual appear larger than the moon that of each day’s achievement and awith horizon pool and coy carp mini- dome of the sky. perceived size to perceived outcome-perceived visual angle- appears farther away. never-ending supply of Mars bars—moat. Most important, there were In the nineteenth century, it distance. The information from for the stimulus input. Unlike the Understanding the perceptual not a particular favourite, but amassages to be had and my muscles became clear that the Moon the ground fixes the unique values SDIH, this implies a purely system in evolutionary terms makes perfect boost when energy levels areseemed to sigh with pleasure at the Illusion is psychological, a of each variable in this ratio. psychological relationship.But it possible to uncover the processes lagging and there are mountains tofirst deep-tissued, Ayurvedic touch. consequence of the cognitive none of these theories answers the that determine our awareness of be conquered. On the fourth day,I did feel healthier: my breathing had The SDIH is sometimes processes underlying the human age-old question: what accounts objects moving in space. Presented something miraculous happened.deepened and I was not as exhausted assumed to be a fundamental law brain’s visual space perception. for the simultaneous perception with an anomalous stimulus such As if a monumental hurdle hadat the end of the day. On that first of visual perception. But it is this Many theories have since been of a large and near moon? as the moon, this system has graced been negotiated suddenly, my bodynight at lower altitude, I slept deeply relationship that makes the Moon offered to explain the illusion, but I have proposed a solution humanity with a sublime illusion began to work to a rhythm. On theand awoke refreshed. Illusion such a puzzle, because there is still little agreement among that approaches the illusion from about both the object’s size and its ascents, my heart still thudded and We spent the final night of our applying the SDIH requires that researchers. the moon appear farther away if it a different starting point. I begin distance. breaths were short, but the lactictrip at Dwarika’s Hotel in Most modern explanations appears large, and close if it with the nature of the perceptual acid in my legs was beginning toKathmandu. Back home, I’m toned treat the illusion as a static appears small. This is also why the system: What were the subside and I noticed a markedand honed with thighs like steel. My phenomenon, in which a illusion has sometimes been called increase in energy and fitness. belt is fastening a notch tighter and I ‘paradoxical’. The climb through verdantam feeling fitter, healthier and more (Project Syndicate) rhododendron jungle now took usrevitalised than I have since the days Since observation contradicts z high above the paddy fields. Theof compulsory school sports. I’ve lost rich textures around me, the4lbs and my fitness levels are up 22 Maurice Hershenson is Professor of screeches of parakeets and earthypercent. I’ve been walking an hour psychology at Brandeis University. odours combined to deliver a headyto work instead of getting the bus sensual stew. With each pureand there’s a marked spring in my breath, I felt stronger, more awarestep. Trekking is definitely the and energised as we advancedanswer to post-Christmas sluggishness and the best way to banish those January blues.

z (c The Telegraph) 14 TREKKING 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 SCIENCE AND HEALTH 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 15 Moon rising from behind Everestl )( looks larger than when directly above Abandon Macchapuchrebelow ( ) ew would argue that the circumstances in which it evolved? moon is more wondrous and Clearly, motion was an essential F enchanting than when it is feature. Our visual systems evolved the gym near the horizon, appearing closer in an environment that contained and looming larger than when it is (mostly) rigid moving objects. high in the sky. But this is an Objects that move radially, ie, illusion, the ‘Moon Illusion’, to be directly toward or away from a precise. The distance traveled by viewer, produce a stimulus on the for the light reflected from the moon to eye that is continuously increasing the eye of an observer is essentially or decreasing in size. Our visual the same regardless of the moon’s system automatically transforms elevation. A similar illusion is such changing stimulus inputs into Himalayaobserved for the setting sun and objects that appear to be rigid—ie, unchanging in perceived size—but moving radially in three- dimensional space. Call this SCIENCE WATCH mechanism a type of kinetic form forMaurice celestial distances Henderson between star of SDIH. Trekking is harder points at different elevations. Now, how would such a But the Moon Illusion is not perceptual system respond to the than the treadmill, and the only captivating to behold; it also stimulus of the Moon Illusion—a Kathmandu. Apart from the first stimulus that changes only in the couple ofrewards nights, when infinitely better happens to be perhaps the oldest hiking up a trail can burn up to 600 the hypothesis, modern elevation of the moon over the PADAMaccommodation GHALE was in relatively unsolved problem in science. calories an hour and double that References to it can be found on explanations of the Moon Illusion ground? The perceived distance of JANE HODSON off—and not just for the view. luxurious lodges with ensuitethrough the clouds. The thin air The Moon Illusion amount at higher altitudes. Seven clay tablets from the royal library of have proposed a variety of the moon would be determined by ‘’High altitude provokes a hormonal bathrooms, we stayed in tea-housesseemed to wash away a year’s worth days’ trekking in the Himalayas, I Nineveh and Babylon, dating fromstationary observer views a fixed changes to the SDIH. One contextual stimulus information was puffing and panting and myresponse, which causes red blood cell and slept in sleeping bags. of stress. In the foreground, bamboo, reasoned, would be the ideal way to before the sixth century BC, as illuminated object over a ground. We are no modification allows perceived from the ground and the sweat reeked of Nepal’s stapleproduction to be increased,’’ says We walked for between fourrhododendron and pine mingled, get fit and detox as well. well as in a collection of Chinese The perceived size of the moon is distance to be evoked horizon—when the moon is low, it meal of dal bhat. This mountainChris Walton, head of specialist and seven hours a day, the third daywhile high across the valley stood the closer to I Who needs a gym when there is legends ascribed to Lieh Tzu determined by two factors: the simultaneously by different would appear close (that is, at or training at the Third Space, a health majestic snow-capped mountains. hike had better be worth it. I plodded Nepal? But as I discovered, trekkingwas the worst as my muscles dating from the fifth century BC. behavioral responses. Thus, the near the apparent distance of the and fitness club in London. “As a stiffened and I fought for breath. Our mile-long descent was physical extent of the light falling understanding onwards and upwards—my blood is much harder than a workout on Many of history’s leading scientistson the eye—also known as the moon may appear more distant to horizon) and when the moon is result, the body’s oxygen levels are But at least I was eating healthily. Ipainful and arduous. For six hours thumping a tempo almost loud the treadmill. Our trek for two— and mathematicians have analyzed angular subtense or the visual why the moon people who say: “The moon looks high in the sky, it would appear to raised, accelerating capacity for work. usually took the local option: a bowlwe trudged down 3,500 steps and enough to perforate my eardrums. accompanied by a guide and two the phenomenon: da Vinci, Keplerangle— and the distance close.” be at a far greater distance. Furthermore, the lack of oxygen in of potent garlic soup, followed byafter a while the jarring thuds Every muscle cried in discord. porters—took us from Lumle, and Descartes to name but a few. information provided by the looks bigger Other explanations exclude The perceived size of the moon the air means that physical work is dal bhat which is apparently perfectbrought on a thumping headache. This was the third day of a around 75 miles west of For most of recorded history, ground. Some theorists include in perceived distance. Verbal would be determined by the harder. The body is forced to go for steady energy release, andBut no matter how the muscles week’s trekking in the Himalayas Kathmandu, to Tikhedhunga, the illusion was thought to be a this formulation the perceived when it is low statements about the perceived kinetic SDIH, which produces the anaerobic, which in turn uses more momos. The food is a deliciousached, how the heart pounded, how and far from being a sublime Julie finishing with white-water rafting consequence of physical processes. distance of the moon (how far it distance of the moon are perception of rigid objects moving calories.’’ In pedestrian speak, fusion of spices and textures. I’dthe injuries played up, if you sat for in the sky Andrews gambol in Shangri-la, it on the Seti river, before returning to For example, Aristotle in the third appears to be from an observer). described as inferences based on radially when stimulus size changes exercise at altitude increases fitness chosen not to eat meat in order toa moment all the hardship simply was a gruelling endeavour. century BC and Ptolemy in the perceived size rather than continuously. Accordingly, when and the body’s ability to burn fat: avoid stomach problems, and thefloated away. The relationships between the But I was confident it would pay second century AD incorrectly descriptions of experience: “The the object appears to be at different ensuing combination meant that I Seven days from first pulling on stimulus (visual angle) and the attributed the illusion to the perceived size and distance of the moon looks big so it must be distances, the perceived size of the was on an almost toxin-free diet. my trekking boots, we were romping magnifying properties of the moon are summarised by the so- close.” object must change. This makes Only two elements of my dailyback to Pokhara, where we headed atmosphere. Alhazen (Ibn al- called “static size-distance Other researchers have gone the moon that appears closer (i.e., nourishment let me down: a glassstraight for the Shangri-La Hotel and Haytham) related the illusion to invariance hypothesis” (SDIH): beyond the SDIH altogether, the moon at the horizon) also or two of beer to celebrate the endits tranquil ornate gardens, complete the flattened appearance of the stimulus determines the ratio of substituting a perceptual appear larger than the moon that of each day’s achievement and awith horizon pool and coy carp mini- dome of the sky. perceived size to perceived outcome-perceived visual angle- appears farther away. never-ending supply of Mars bars—moat. Most important, there were In the nineteenth century, it distance. The information from for the stimulus input. Unlike the Understanding the perceptual not a particular favourite, but amassages to be had and my muscles became clear that the Moon the ground fixes the unique values SDIH, this implies a purely system in evolutionary terms makes perfect boost when energy levels areseemed to sigh with pleasure at the Illusion is psychological, a of each variable in this ratio. psychological relationship.But it possible to uncover the processes lagging and there are mountains tofirst deep-tissued, Ayurvedic touch. consequence of the cognitive none of these theories answers the that determine our awareness of be conquered. On the fourth day,I did feel healthier: my breathing had The SDIH is sometimes processes underlying the human age-old question: what accounts objects moving in space. Presented something miraculous happened.deepened and I was not as exhausted assumed to be a fundamental law brain’s visual space perception. for the simultaneous perception with an anomalous stimulus such As if a monumental hurdle hadat the end of the day. On that first of visual perception. But it is this Many theories have since been of a large and near moon? as the moon, this system has graced been negotiated suddenly, my bodynight at lower altitude, I slept deeply relationship that makes the Moon offered to explain the illusion, but I have proposed a solution humanity with a sublime illusion began to work to a rhythm. On theand awoke refreshed. Illusion such a puzzle, because there is still little agreement among that approaches the illusion from about both the object’s size and its ascents, my heart still thudded and We spent the final night of our applying the SDIH requires that researchers. the moon appear farther away if it a different starting point. I begin distance. breaths were short, but the lactictrip at Dwarika’s Hotel in Most modern explanations appears large, and close if it with the nature of the perceptual acid in my legs was beginning toKathmandu. Back home, I’m toned treat the illusion as a static appears small. This is also why the system: What were the subside and I noticed a markedand honed with thighs like steel. My phenomenon, in which a illusion has sometimes been called increase in energy and fitness. belt is fastening a notch tighter and I ‘paradoxical’. The climb through verdantam feeling fitter, healthier and more (Project Syndicate) rhododendron jungle now took usrevitalised than I have since the days Since observation contradicts z high above the paddy fields. Theof compulsory school sports. I’ve lost rich textures around me, the4lbs and my fitness levels are up 22 Maurice Hershenson is Professor of screeches of parakeets and earthypercent. I’ve been walking an hour psychology at Brandeis University. odours combined to deliver a headyto work instead of getting the bus sensual stew. With each pureand there’s a marked spring in my breath, I felt stronger, more awarestep. Trekking is definitely the and energised as we advancedanswer to post-Christmas sluggishness and the best way to banish those January blues.

z (c The Telegraph) 16 ASIA 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 INTERNATIONAL 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 17 signifies that the weight of the hard-line lobby of organisational Vajpayee’s apparatchiks has increased vis-a-vis its parliamentary wing partly due Putin : Tsar or doge? radical However, he also says there is a to growing recognition that, unlike Hindu“conceptual andwarrior emotional link’’ the energetic, somewhat younger, successor has There is little doubt that Putin will be between his new project and his more aggressive Advani, Vajpayee not changed his Ram ‘rath-yatra’ of 1990, which is old and in poor health, and re-elected, but is he master of the was launched in a Toyota van might not survive the duration of system or its prisoner? backtrail of blood. The mosque’s in hishis term if re-elected. chariot Advani is garishly decorated as an ancient spots razing two years later was based himself 78 and may be under NINA L KHRUSHCHEVA on Advani’s militant rhetoric. mythological chariot. Underlying this is the BJP’s pressure and in a hurry to The demolition was a grievous accelerate the succession, which wo practical questions can be asked of any political system: First, what attack on India’s secular desperation to retain its 182 seats distinguishes the political parties? Second, who is in charge? has been carefully planned by the For a while in postcommunist Russia, the answers were blindingly clear: foundations and the in the just-dissolved lower house T BJP. Two years ago, it created a parties were divided between those nostalgic for Soviet times and those who wanted multicultural, multi-religious of parliament. There are special office for Advani’s post of reform. Who was in charge? The president. identity of its society, sending indications that 20 to 25 percent deputy prime minister, for which After 12 years of transition, the answer to the first question has blurred. With the of its sitting members of Communist Party in terminal decline, ideologies are vanishing. Indeed, anybody shockwaves through the country there is no constitutional sanction. hoping for an obvious clash of left and right during the recent presidential election parliament might not get re- and generating even more Last June, party president M campaign was bound to be disappointed, because the answer to the second question elected. The BJP and its allies are is even more emphatic today: President Putin’s re-election was never in doubt. This violence. The latest ‘yatra’ plans president is very much in charge. show the BJP has not changed its unlikely to do as well as they did Venkaiah Naidu declared that the BJP had two great leaders: ‘vikas- Putin’s all-encompassing popularity, which is genuine, and his blurring of all spots. By aggressively promoting in the last elections in major states political dividing lines has given him an unassailable position. Many bemoan this Advani, they accelerate his like Bihar, Maharashtra, Tamil purush’ (development man) state of affairs, but his ascendancy might be less malign than it seems. succession to Vajpayee. Nadu and Haryana. It is unclear if Vajpayee and ‘loh-purush’ (iron Russia’s size, the poverty of its infrastructure and the disarray of its bureaucracy they can make up this loss man) Advani. This produced a limit Putin’s power. Within those limits, he uses his power relentlessly. The impression Advani is now more sharp, peevish rebuke from Putin’s presidency creates is of autocracy punctuated by elections. concerned with projecting through wins in Uttar Pradesh, Autocracy, not dictatorship. After four years of a presidency supposedly devoted India’s largest state with 80 seats. Vajpayee. Naidu abjectly to forging a “dictatorship of law,” the rule of law in Russia remains weak and property himself as a firebrand on his way apologised. The same lobby is now rights ill defined. A solid middle class has yet to emerge, as is a resilient civil society. to moderation, so he is unlikely The BJP is trying to mop up all The rise of the support it can—from the reasserting itself by diluting the So Putin’s authoritarianism creeps along, but by Russian standards it is far from to foment violence brazenly. BJP’s exclusively Vajpayee-centric being hideously creepy. In some things, indeed, he deserves the thanks of all However, there is little doubt upper middle class enamoured Russians. He has consigned the Communists to Trotsky’s dustbin of history. Now with Vajpayee’s neoliberal election campaign with a modified splintering, some seem willing to stop pandering to Bolshevik ghosts. That is good for that the BJP is repositioning itself Russia. Welcome to the republic. economic policies, to the small- twin-mascots strategy. through his stewardship. The Advani’s elevation to the Putin has also not turned the clock back on economic reform. Indeed, the BJP’s new game plan is complex, town trader strongly driven by economy has mostly boomed under his stewardship—another reason ordinary but no less devious than in anti-Muslim hatred, to the storm position of a major campaigner in Shi’a PetrolistanRussians like him. Where Putin has failed is in fostering democratic governance. The question is 1990. troopers loyal to the BJP’s his own right gives the lie to the theory that the party is becoming a West Asia’s Shi’as are rising up against Sunnis andnot just whether he and his ex-KGB cronies muzzle the media and jail their opponents. In a recent ‘India Today’ extremist affiliates. No, the real flaw in Putin’s rule is that his power is personal, not based on the support mainstream organisation and that of a political party. opinion poll, Advani’s acceptance The launching of the ‘yatra’ the West, and oil is their weapon signifies changes in power the experience of power has The central issue in Russian politics is not the battle for votes. More significant rating as a potential prime by far is the competition for power that takes place in the bowels of the presidency. balances between different induced sobriety, maturity and minister was a minuscule two moderation in it. However, this he hideous bombings of radar screens, emerging in Iran at heretics. The emergence of viable political parties requires a strong parliament. But, percent compared to opposition components of the ruling because Russia’s presidency is so powerful, the Duma is largely a squabbling-shop 180 million people of India’s National Democratic Alliance, always was wishful thinking. the Shi’a shrines in Karbala the head of a violent revolution In Bahrain, the Shi’a form 75 and a fixer’s paradise. At best, it is a safety valve for democracy rather than an leader Sonia Gandhi’s 23 percent Because of its visceral, radical will neither change nor that murdered thousands and engine of it. NEW DELHI, 8 March –The religious minorities. There are whose original strength of 24 T percent of the population and have and Vajpayee’s 47. The BJP Of course, there is a big pro-presidential majority party in the Duma. But that is understandable fears that Hindu supremacism, the BJP is obscure a powerful new fact of dispatched the Shah into history. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), hopes to keep Vajpayee as its star parties stands depleted by one- been keen on the reforms initiated its flaw: it stands only for the president. What he wants, it votes for. But what Russia unlikely to become moderate as its life in the Middle East. For now In Western eyes, the Shi’a became needs is political parties that stand for something other than their boss’s will. leader of India’s ruling coalition, Advani’s bellicose Hindu- campaigner and use the 47 third. The BJP did not consult its by King Hamad Al-Khalifah. They Gujarat pogram proved in a gory that the dust of the Iraq War has the hostile and militant face of It helps Putin that reformist parties inspire little confidence. The reformist “Union has launched a new stratagem in nationalist rhetoric could provoke percent rating to bolster Advani’s allies, most of whom do not share have opted for political rule by the violence and distort the way. Two years on, it is no closer settled, it is clear that the Shi’a Islam. Their Sunni counterparts, of Right Forces,” led by Boris Nemtsov and Anatoly Chubais, destroyed itself last its election campaign which rakes unfavourable public image. Its the BJP’s Hindu-supremacist Sunni minority rather than December, failing to gain a seat in the Duma. Instead of visiting Russians struggling to moderation. have emerged, blinking in the even the most fundamentalist up its trademark issues of religious democratic nature of the Indian appeal to people is to vote for ideology, before announcing the associating with Iran’s form of to manage their difficult lives, Nemtsov and Chubais touted themselves as modern electorate’s choice of parliament in Wahhabis of Saudi Arabia, government. But the new men flying about in private jets and fiddling with laptops, emphasising the distance and ethnic identities. Vajpayee—only to install Advani ‘yatra’. between themselves and ordinary Russians. Tin political ears deserve defeat. April and May. Advani’s first appeared tame in comparison. But in power. More important, the ‘yatra’ generation of Bahraini Shi’a are Putin understands instinctively that Russia needs elements of democracy, if procession, in September and COMMENT the terrorist attacks on America of more militant and their views are only to distinguish the new Russia from the old, and to let the odd gust of healthy Advani is doing some fancy shows changed power equations October 1990, focused on the Mai Yamani 11 September, 2001 rewrote that increasingly echoed by their Shi’a fresh air in. Unchallenged in his second and last term, will he retain even that slight COMMENT within the BJP’s top hierarchy. It democratic instinct? Hindu god Ram and demanded footwork to define the purpose sunlight, as the unexpected idea for good. counterparts in Saudi Arabia. Praful Bidwai and inspiration of his ‘yatra’. He that India’s Muslims “surrender’’ winners. Governments that The hijackers were all Sunni. It was the threat of Shi’a Starting 10 March, Deputy an Ayodhya site where, the BJP says it is meant to “capture the oppressed the Shi’a for decades Their hosts and backers, the emerging reality and strengthen militancy which led the region’s Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advaniclaimed, a mosque was erected in may still be in denial, but the Taliban, were also Sunni, as are all rulers to set up the Gulf Co- the resolve of a resurgent India’’. (Project Syndicate) will begin a month-long 1568 on the ruins of a temple terrorists who planted those the prisoners at America’s military operation Council in 1981, and z 12,000km tour, criss-crossing overdedicated to Ram. Advani stirred bombs are not. They recognise, as base turned prison at attempt to pool their strengths. Nina L Khrushcheva teaches international affairs at New School University and is the author of a a fifth of India’s 545 up anti-Muslim hatred (there are the Shi’a themselves now do, that Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. Sunni That move was too little too late. forthcoming book on Vladimir Nabokov. parliamentary constituencies. The some 140 million Muslims among across the Gulf, Shi’a Muslims are Muslims dominated Saddam’s There was a coup attempt in planned ‘rath-yatra’ (chariot India’s 1 billion people) and left a gaining in political power, and are Ba’athist regime—and the so- Bahrain that same year, which procession) has evoked fears awakened to their ability both to called Sunni Triangle in central came hard on the heels of a Shi’a among BJP opponents and the organise themselves and to the Iraq is the site of the fiercest uprising in Saudi Arabia the year gift that lies literally under their hostility to the US-led occupation z (IPS) before. feet: oil. and its local supporters. In the Today, Iran no longer exports After years of repression under space of but a few months, Sunni revolution. Its experiment with an Saddam Hussein, Iraq’s Shi’a are Muslims have replaced the Shi’a Islamic form of democracy is now A new report presses the tasting freedom. They’ve as the biggest threat to the West primarily an internal affair. In any EU for more contributions awakened to the accident of and to international security. case, none of the Iraqi Ayatollahs geography that has placed the For their part, Shi’a minorities who were once exiled in Iran seem Aidingdeprived South of proper sanitation facilities. Asia world’s major oil supplies in areas claim to welcome democracy. But to have any inclination to adopt “The EU has always had stronger links leave other areas of EU external policies where they form the majority - then minorities always do, becausethe Iranian model. such as development cooperation and Iran, the eastern province of Saudi with Africa and politicians now say that humanitarian aid with little additional it allows them to claim religious So far the Shi’a in Iraq have STEFANIA BIANCHIin BRUSSELS economic development is better in Asia Arabia, Bahrain and southern investment. freedom and express their cultural been relatively quiet, watching the than in Africa, so Asia can help itself,” said Iraq. Welcome to the new identity. In Saudi Arabia, the Pieter van Veenen from the Dutch group, The activists want more EU funding de-Ba’athification process and Humanist Institute for Cooperation with so that the region can meet the UN’s commonwealth of “Petrolistan”. Shi’a are at the forefront of those he EU must increase aid to tackle biding their time. But since the Developing Countries (HIVOS). The report Millennium Development Goals for poverty in south Asia, says a new The new-found power of welcoming democratic change and says that most internal conflicts and eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, capture of Saddam Hussein, they report, Poverty in South Asia: Civil Shi’a Muslims in this volatile participation. Although they T terrorism in the region are a direct result of achieving universal primary education, have become increasingly assertive. Society Perspectives’. deprivation, discrimination and poverty. reducing child mortality, improving maternal region represents a major constitute only 20 percent of the It is on the insistence of the Shi’a Prepared by the South Asia Alliance for“Today in south Asia, a huge amount health, combating HIV/AIDS and other challenge both to the old Sunni total Saudi population, they form that the US has had to continually Poverty Eradication (SAAPE), a regional serious diseases, improving environmental ruling establishments and to the 75 percent of the population in of resources goes to fight the elusive sustainability and building a global rewrite its blueprint for Iraq. network of NGOs, the report says southenemy, Asia terrorism, while the evident United States. The years of Shi’a the oil-rich eastern region. receives only 10 percent of EU aid despite partnership for development. Specific goals After being the region’s losers enemies—poverty and want—have been have been set for 2015. subservience are over. Saudi Arabia’s Shi’a have having 40 percent of the world’s absoluteleft to grow more dangerous than ever for decades, the Shi’a now have the SAAPE says that restructuring of the poor. before,” said Karki. “The EU should help So what are the Shi’a suffered discrimination in the chance to redress the balance, settle European Commission under the new “While the EU debates the focus usof itschannel their resources so that the root planning? What is their military, in high government old scores and control the wealth development assistance, its trade andcauses other of violence can be addressed.” European Constitution may intensify the positions and most significantly, problem. inspiration? Will bearded men in of Petrolistan. But they won’t external policies undermine attempts to tackleSAAPE is disappointed with the EU’s in the oil industry, where they “The financial perspectives proposal turbans and veiled women rule succeed without a struggle, as the poverty within the region,” said Arjun budgetKarki, proposals announced earlier this have been excluded since the coordinator of SAAPE. month. The European Commission’s does not question the existing level of them, or will we see suits and odious bombings in Karbala South Asia is home to 1.2 billion peopleproposal for financing EU activities from efforts in humanitarian aid,” spokesperson high heels? If they want 1980s. This systematic exclusion demonstrate. living on less than a dollar a day. Nearly2007 38 to 2013 includes a 38 percent for development commissioner Poul democracy, will anyone recognise of the Shi’a is supported by the percent of the adult population is illiterateincrease and in the resources dedicated to Nielson, Jean-Charles Ellermann-Kingombe it as such? Wahhabi religious establishment said in response. “Of course we are not 15 percent does not live to the age of 40. It wasn’t until 1979 that the and legitimised by numerous Some 328 million south Asians are able to vouch for the political priorities of external relations. Although details havethe not next commission.” fatwa denouncing them as undernourished, 205 million are denied Shi’a first appeared on Western (Project Syndicate) access to safe water and 614 million are yet been published, the Commission has z indicated only the security component that would need increased resources. SAAPE says this will finance strategic security and Mai Yamani is an author and Research z (IPS) Fellow at the Royal Institute for International Affairs. 16 ASIA 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 INTERNATIONAL 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 17 signifies that the weight of the hard-line lobby of organisational Vajpayee’s apparatchiks has increased vis-a-vis its parliamentary wing partly due Putin : Tsar or doge? radical However, he also says there is a to growing recognition that, unlike Hindu“conceptual andwarrior emotional link’’ the energetic, somewhat younger, successor has There is little doubt that Putin will be between his new project and his more aggressive Advani, Vajpayee not changed his Ram ‘rath-yatra’ of 1990, which is old and in poor health, and re-elected, but is he master of the was launched in a Toyota van might not survive the duration of system or its prisoner? backtrail of blood. The mosque’s in hishis term if re-elected. chariot Advani is garishly decorated as an ancient spots razing two years later was based himself 78 and may be under NINA L KHRUSHCHEVA on Advani’s militant rhetoric. mythological chariot. Underlying this is the BJP’s pressure and in a hurry to The demolition was a grievous accelerate the succession, which wo practical questions can be asked of any political system: First, what attack on India’s secular desperation to retain its 182 seats distinguishes the political parties? Second, who is in charge? has been carefully planned by the For a while in postcommunist Russia, the answers were blindingly clear: foundations and the in the just-dissolved lower house T BJP. Two years ago, it created a parties were divided between those nostalgic for Soviet times and those who wanted multicultural, multi-religious of parliament. There are special office for Advani’s post of reform. Who was in charge? The president. identity of its society, sending indications that 20 to 25 percent deputy prime minister, for which After 12 years of transition, the answer to the first question has blurred. With the of its sitting members of Communist Party in terminal decline, ideologies are vanishing. Indeed, anybody shockwaves through the country there is no constitutional sanction. hoping for an obvious clash of left and right during the recent presidential election parliament might not get re- and generating even more Last June, party president M campaign was bound to be disappointed, because the answer to the second question elected. The BJP and its allies are is even more emphatic today: President Putin’s re-election was never in doubt. This violence. The latest ‘yatra’ plans president is very much in charge. show the BJP has not changed its unlikely to do as well as they did Venkaiah Naidu declared that the BJP had two great leaders: ‘vikas- Putin’s all-encompassing popularity, which is genuine, and his blurring of all spots. By aggressively promoting in the last elections in major states political dividing lines has given him an unassailable position. Many bemoan this Advani, they accelerate his like Bihar, Maharashtra, Tamil purush’ (development man) state of affairs, but his ascendancy might be less malign than it seems. succession to Vajpayee. Nadu and Haryana. It is unclear if Vajpayee and ‘loh-purush’ (iron Russia’s size, the poverty of its infrastructure and the disarray of its bureaucracy they can make up this loss man) Advani. This produced a limit Putin’s power. Within those limits, he uses his power relentlessly. The impression Advani is now more sharp, peevish rebuke from Putin’s presidency creates is of autocracy punctuated by elections. concerned with projecting through wins in Uttar Pradesh, Autocracy, not dictatorship. After four years of a presidency supposedly devoted India’s largest state with 80 seats. Vajpayee. Naidu abjectly to forging a “dictatorship of law,” the rule of law in Russia remains weak and property himself as a firebrand on his way apologised. The same lobby is now rights ill defined. A solid middle class has yet to emerge, as is a resilient civil society. to moderation, so he is unlikely The BJP is trying to mop up all The rise of the support it can—from the reasserting itself by diluting the So Putin’s authoritarianism creeps along, but by Russian standards it is far from to foment violence brazenly. BJP’s exclusively Vajpayee-centric being hideously creepy. In some things, indeed, he deserves the thanks of all However, there is little doubt upper middle class enamoured Russians. He has consigned the Communists to Trotsky’s dustbin of history. Now with Vajpayee’s neoliberal election campaign with a modified splintering, some seem willing to stop pandering to Bolshevik ghosts. That is good for that the BJP is repositioning itself Russia. Welcome to the republic. economic policies, to the small- twin-mascots strategy. through his stewardship. The Advani’s elevation to the Putin has also not turned the clock back on economic reform. Indeed, the BJP’s new game plan is complex, town trader strongly driven by economy has mostly boomed under his stewardship—another reason ordinary but no less devious than in anti-Muslim hatred, to the storm position of a major campaigner in Shi’a PetrolistanRussians like him. Where Putin has failed is in fostering democratic governance. The question is 1990. troopers loyal to the BJP’s his own right gives the lie to the theory that the party is becoming a West Asia’s Shi’as are rising up against Sunnis andnot just whether he and his ex-KGB cronies muzzle the media and jail their opponents. In a recent ‘India Today’ extremist affiliates. No, the real flaw in Putin’s rule is that his power is personal, not based on the support mainstream organisation and that of a political party. opinion poll, Advani’s acceptance The launching of the ‘yatra’ the West, and oil is their weapon signifies changes in power the experience of power has The central issue in Russian politics is not the battle for votes. More significant rating as a potential prime by far is the competition for power that takes place in the bowels of the presidency. balances between different induced sobriety, maturity and minister was a minuscule two moderation in it. However, this he hideous bombings of radar screens, emerging in Iran at heretics. The emergence of viable political parties requires a strong parliament. But, percent compared to opposition components of the ruling because Russia’s presidency is so powerful, the Duma is largely a squabbling-shop 180 million people of India’s National Democratic Alliance, always was wishful thinking. the Shi’a shrines in Karbala the head of a violent revolution In Bahrain, the Shi’a form 75 and a fixer’s paradise. At best, it is a safety valve for democracy rather than an leader Sonia Gandhi’s 23 percent Because of its visceral, radical will neither change nor that murdered thousands and engine of it. NEW DELHI, 8 March –The religious minorities. There are whose original strength of 24 T percent of the population and have and Vajpayee’s 47. The BJP Of course, there is a big pro-presidential majority party in the Duma. But that is understandable fears that Hindu supremacism, the BJP is obscure a powerful new fact of dispatched the Shah into history. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), hopes to keep Vajpayee as its star parties stands depleted by one- been keen on the reforms initiated its flaw: it stands only for the president. What he wants, it votes for. But what Russia unlikely to become moderate as its life in the Middle East. For now In Western eyes, the Shi’a became needs is political parties that stand for something other than their boss’s will. leader of India’s ruling coalition, Advani’s bellicose Hindu- campaigner and use the 47 third. The BJP did not consult its by King Hamad Al-Khalifah. They Gujarat pogram proved in a gory that the dust of the Iraq War has the hostile and militant face of It helps Putin that reformist parties inspire little confidence. The reformist “Union has launched a new stratagem in nationalist rhetoric could provoke percent rating to bolster Advani’s allies, most of whom do not share have opted for political rule by the violence and distort the way. Two years on, it is no closer settled, it is clear that the Shi’a Islam. Their Sunni counterparts, of Right Forces,” led by Boris Nemtsov and Anatoly Chubais, destroyed itself last its election campaign which rakes unfavourable public image. Its the BJP’s Hindu-supremacist Sunni minority rather than December, failing to gain a seat in the Duma. Instead of visiting Russians struggling to moderation. have emerged, blinking in the even the most fundamentalist up its trademark issues of religious democratic nature of the Indian appeal to people is to vote for ideology, before announcing the associating with Iran’s form of to manage their difficult lives, Nemtsov and Chubais touted themselves as modern electorate’s choice of parliament in Wahhabis of Saudi Arabia, government. But the new men flying about in private jets and fiddling with laptops, emphasising the distance and ethnic identities. Vajpayee—only to install Advani ‘yatra’. between themselves and ordinary Russians. Tin political ears deserve defeat. April and May. Advani’s first appeared tame in comparison. But in power. More important, the ‘yatra’ generation of Bahraini Shi’a are Putin understands instinctively that Russia needs elements of democracy, if procession, in September and COMMENT the terrorist attacks on America of more militant and their views are only to distinguish the new Russia from the old, and to let the odd gust of healthy Advani is doing some fancy shows changed power equations October 1990, focused on the Mai Yamani 11 September, 2001 rewrote that increasingly echoed by their Shi’a fresh air in. Unchallenged in his second and last term, will he retain even that slight COMMENT within the BJP’s top hierarchy. It democratic instinct? Hindu god Ram and demanded footwork to define the purpose sunlight, as the unexpected idea for good. counterparts in Saudi Arabia. Praful Bidwai and inspiration of his ‘yatra’. He that India’s Muslims “surrender’’ winners. Governments that The hijackers were all Sunni. It was the threat of Shi’a Starting 10 March, Deputy an Ayodhya site where, the BJP says it is meant to “capture the oppressed the Shi’a for decades Their hosts and backers, the emerging reality and strengthen militancy which led the region’s Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advaniclaimed, a mosque was erected in may still be in denial, but the Taliban, were also Sunni, as are all rulers to set up the Gulf Co- the resolve of a resurgent India’’. (Project Syndicate) will begin a month-long 1568 on the ruins of a temple terrorists who planted those the prisoners at America’s military operation Council in 1981, and z 12,000km tour, criss-crossing overdedicated to Ram. Advani stirred bombs are not. They recognise, as base turned prison at attempt to pool their strengths. Nina L Khrushcheva teaches international affairs at New School University and is the author of a a fifth of India’s 545 up anti-Muslim hatred (there are the Shi’a themselves now do, that Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. Sunni That move was too little too late. forthcoming book on Vladimir Nabokov. parliamentary constituencies. The some 140 million Muslims among across the Gulf, Shi’a Muslims are Muslims dominated Saddam’s There was a coup attempt in planned ‘rath-yatra’ (chariot India’s 1 billion people) and left a gaining in political power, and are Ba’athist regime—and the so- Bahrain that same year, which procession) has evoked fears awakened to their ability both to called Sunni Triangle in central came hard on the heels of a Shi’a among BJP opponents and the organise themselves and to the Iraq is the site of the fiercest uprising in Saudi Arabia the year gift that lies literally under their hostility to the US-led occupation z (IPS) before. feet: oil. and its local supporters. In the Today, Iran no longer exports After years of repression under space of but a few months, Sunni revolution. Its experiment with an Saddam Hussein, Iraq’s Shi’a are Muslims have replaced the Shi’a Islamic form of democracy is now A new report presses the tasting freedom. They’ve as the biggest threat to the West primarily an internal affair. In any EU for more contributions awakened to the accident of and to international security. case, none of the Iraqi Ayatollahs geography that has placed the For their part, Shi’a minorities who were once exiled in Iran seem Aidingdeprived South of proper sanitation facilities. Asia world’s major oil supplies in areas claim to welcome democracy. But to have any inclination to adopt “The EU has always had stronger links leave other areas of EU external policies where they form the majority - then minorities always do, becausethe Iranian model. such as development cooperation and Iran, the eastern province of Saudi with Africa and politicians now say that humanitarian aid with little additional it allows them to claim religious So far the Shi’a in Iraq have STEFANIA BIANCHIin BRUSSELS economic development is better in Asia Arabia, Bahrain and southern investment. freedom and express their cultural been relatively quiet, watching the than in Africa, so Asia can help itself,” said Iraq. Welcome to the new identity. In Saudi Arabia, the Pieter van Veenen from the Dutch group, The activists want more EU funding de-Ba’athification process and Humanist Institute for Cooperation with so that the region can meet the UN’s commonwealth of “Petrolistan”. Shi’a are at the forefront of those he EU must increase aid to tackle biding their time. But since the Developing Countries (HIVOS). The report Millennium Development Goals for poverty in south Asia, says a new The new-found power of welcoming democratic change and says that most internal conflicts and eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, capture of Saddam Hussein, they report, Poverty in South Asia: Civil Shi’a Muslims in this volatile participation. Although they T terrorism in the region are a direct result of achieving universal primary education, have become increasingly assertive. Society Perspectives’. deprivation, discrimination and poverty. reducing child mortality, improving maternal region represents a major constitute only 20 percent of the It is on the insistence of the Shi’a Prepared by the South Asia Alliance for“Today in south Asia, a huge amount health, combating HIV/AIDS and other challenge both to the old Sunni total Saudi population, they form that the US has had to continually Poverty Eradication (SAAPE), a regional serious diseases, improving environmental ruling establishments and to the 75 percent of the population in of resources goes to fight the elusive sustainability and building a global rewrite its blueprint for Iraq. network of NGOs, the report says southenemy, Asia terrorism, while the evident United States. The years of Shi’a the oil-rich eastern region. receives only 10 percent of EU aid despite partnership for development. Specific goals After being the region’s losers enemies—poverty and want—have been have been set for 2015. subservience are over. Saudi Arabia’s Shi’a have having 40 percent of the world’s absoluteleft to grow more dangerous than ever for decades, the Shi’a now have the SAAPE says that restructuring of the poor. before,” said Karki. “The EU should help So what are the Shi’a suffered discrimination in the chance to redress the balance, settle European Commission under the new “While the EU debates the focus usof itschannel their resources so that the root planning? What is their military, in high government old scores and control the wealth development assistance, its trade andcauses other of violence can be addressed.” European Constitution may intensify the positions and most significantly, problem. inspiration? Will bearded men in of Petrolistan. But they won’t external policies undermine attempts to tackleSAAPE is disappointed with the EU’s in the oil industry, where they “The financial perspectives proposal turbans and veiled women rule succeed without a struggle, as the poverty within the region,” said Arjun budgetKarki, proposals announced earlier this have been excluded since the coordinator of SAAPE. month. The European Commission’s does not question the existing level of them, or will we see suits and odious bombings in Karbala South Asia is home to 1.2 billion peopleproposal for financing EU activities from efforts in humanitarian aid,” spokesperson high heels? If they want 1980s. This systematic exclusion demonstrate. living on less than a dollar a day. Nearly2007 38 to 2013 includes a 38 percent for development commissioner Poul democracy, will anyone recognise of the Shi’a is supported by the percent of the adult population is illiterateincrease and in the resources dedicated to Nielson, Jean-Charles Ellermann-Kingombe it as such? Wahhabi religious establishment said in response. “Of course we are not 15 percent does not live to the age of 40. It wasn’t until 1979 that the and legitimised by numerous Some 328 million south Asians are able to vouch for the political priorities of external relations. Although details havethe not next commission.” fatwa denouncing them as undernourished, 205 million are denied Shi’a first appeared on Western (Project Syndicate) access to safe water and 614 million are yet been published, the Commission has z indicated only the security component that would need increased resources. SAAPE says this will finance strategic security and Mai Yamani is an author and Research z (IPS) Fellow at the Royal Institute for International Affairs. Bhojpur,” says the source. The only difference was that the FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS Maoists were defeated and pushed 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 19 18 back after the forces launched Foreign banks earning more benefits. But if they instance, where two innocent Bhojpur attack attacks from night vision ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ fail to meet the conditions set by children lost their lives from the ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ helicopters. Space Time, 7 March the Nepal Rastra Bank, they will explosion of a bomb the Maoists Deshantar, 7 March An active monarchy be demoted. The new Financial left behind. A civilian died in an Nepal Rastra Bank has allowed Act prohibits withdrawals and ambush set at Dhanauli of Banke. Prime Minister Surya Bahadur transfers from bank deposits Hundreds of villagers of Kailali Sad leaving Nepal foreign banks to open branches or Thapa calls the massive Maoist isn’t unconstitutionalcontact offices in Nepal. The belonging to people and were forced to live in the jungles to attack in Bhojpur an ‘ordinary and permission came after the institutions involved in tourism. escape Maoist oppression. About inevitable’ incident that cost the Another provision authorises the 400 women were abducted from a Finnish Charge d’Affaires Asko Luukkainenconsensus among political parties. They have government introduced the new lives of 32 security personnel. SuchTelephone in Space Time, 9 March expressed a commitment for consensus, but ○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○ Financial Institution Ordinance to government to freeze any account village in Accham for not light-hearted treatment of the huge don’t seem to be able to achieve it. Efforts under investigation. supporting the Maoists. And there Samacharpatra, March 6 must be made to manage disagreement and amend laws related to banks and tragedy has already demoralised the One of the most unforgettable things about my different opinions logically. The political financial institutions. are many similar incidents that the security forces, says an army source. stay in Nepal has been the terrorised faces of culture needs to be developed in such a way Maoists can, under no Solukhumbu—Maya Magar had to Nepalis. I witnessed that terror myself when I “In order to further enhance “It’s irresponsible to call such a that parties with different opinions can stand circumstances, justify as being for visited Dhading district a few days ago. We the present competitive huge incident an ordinary event,” walk for one whole day with her under the same roof. No more patience the public good. child on her back to reach the could see how fear had gripped the local environment in Nepal’s banking ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ says former Inspector General of We, as a donor country, are also troubled There is also a growing feeling people because of a roadside bomb planted sector, branches of foreign banks Sher Singh inSanghu, 8 March Police, Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan. telecom office to try and call her by Maoist rebels. by the lack of an elected body. For Finnish- mother in Myagdi. The next day and contact offices of renowned of regret among Maoist members But this was no ordinary attack. I have always worried about the obstaclesaided projects, there must be elected she stood in a huge queue, only to representatives. This is why our development international banks are being Maoist leader Prachanda believes for their wrong actions, but they The Maoists had been planning Nepal’s development has had to face be told that the call could not get funds have not been completely allowed to operate in Nepal,” says that mistakes can be corrected. give priority to militancy over this for a long time and news of the and the state’s increased politics. Their mentor, Mao attack had already spread, which through and was asked to come the investment in security due to utilised. In such a situation, we the new ordinance. But it Without doubting the Maoists’ suggest that the general and Zedong, always said the was the reason all of them were next day. Her story is typical of the Maoist insurgency. The prohibits any foreign bank or intentions, he thinks there is a killings of political workers local elections must be held at financial institution allowed to relationship between the people absent from their offices: Major many other Solu villagers who have the earliest and that all political chance to address the to suffer long journeys just to make and critics by Maoist rebels operate in Nepal to go for a joint shortcomings of a fullscale war. and a communist is like that Hari Bahadur Basnet (the army are deplorable. I have parties including the Maoists a short phone call. Since the should come for peaceful venture with any other bank or But the way the Maoist militants between water and a fish, between division chief of the district serious reservations about soil and a flower. Our Maoists headquaters), DSP Suresh KC (theMaoists destroyed the repeater the Maoists’ sabotage, political contest. finance company. In the process ofhave repeatedly made mistakes destroying development The deteriorating human getting the membership of the seem to have forgotten that. If chief of district police office) and towers in Patale and Jubu, all only proves that they lack all good phone lines in villages here are cut. infrastructure and terrorising rights situation in Nepal is yet World Trade Organisation, Nepal they had followed Mao, the the chief district officer were all out people. intentions. Why is this happening? There used to be 170 telephones, another serious issue. The EU made a commitment that it would people would have wholeheartedly of the district. The Bhojpur If the rebels stop has already urged the The Maoists themselves have to now the district has only three lines allow foreign banks and financial supported the Maoists. But the incident shows that the security terrorism, the government government and the Maoists to analyse their own actions and in Salleri, Namche and Lukla. Large institutions to operate after 2008. make improvements. News of theirsituation is just the opposite. If the agencies have been careless. There can call them for peace talks. endorse the human rights crowds gather at the government’s accord prepared by the Nation Before this, foreign banks were cruelty against the public is people’s war keeps on at this rate, was no high security alert or They must understand that Dinbandhu AryalRajdhani in , 7 March then it will have to face a large- preparedness despite prior telecom offices and most of the dialogue is the best solution for them as Humanwell. Rights Commission. If the human only allowed to do business in splashed across the newspapers It’s not just me, but all foreigners in Nepalrights situation continues to deteriorate at the partnership with Nepali investors. scale counter-revolution. There is knowledge of an imminent attack. time a lot of people are unlucky every day. Even then, it doesn’t and they have spend money to dislike the abuse of students as political presenttools rate, Nepal will not only have its One day after King Gyanendra issued a 10-point instructionThe to amended Act also allows seem to matter to them. This evidence of growing anarchy Sources say that the main reason for and the repeated shutdowns and strikes. imageI tarnished, but will also lose the government for the welfare of the people of the far and mid- within the ranks. The Maoists lodge for the night and wait for the banks to issue shares. But the indifference to public opinion has this tragedy was lack of have had personal experience of how harmfulinternational cooperation and good will. In the western regions on 1 March, the three major political parties should admit this, otherwise it will countermeasures despite this their turn the next day. “I have to bandas can be. But those who have distractedcontext of geopolitical influence in Nepal, reportedly dubbed the king’s move as additional evidenceAct alsoof anprohibits the same facility been apparent since the start of the walk for three days just to call students from their studies and have beenIndia definitely comes in the picture. After it active monarchy. A search has become necessary for a fair and ‘People’s War’. look like the actions have knowledge. The incident is a to the banks that have been leadership sanction. For how long Kathmandu, I have no choice,” organising bandas do not seem to recently handed over two Maoist leaders to widely acceptable argument that would answer these operating under joint venture Instead of reducing crimes reminder of the one that occurred understand the gravity of the situation. Nepal, India has appeared to be serious questions: Is the king active or not? Should he be active or not? will the masses remain patient and says Gyanu Koirala from Sotang. partnerships. in Aiselukharka on 22 February Yet another sad issue is the lack of toward the Maoist insurgency. Does the constitution stop the king from being active? against ordinary citizens, the not suspect their real motives? which left three security personnel The villagers have to pray for a The new Act authorises foreign It is also necessary to use the pronouncements of the Maoists are making it worse for dead and 18 injured. “This was thegood weather whenever they leave Nepali Congress, Nepali Congress (Democratic), UMLbanks and and financial institutions to them. Take Ramechap for same group which also attacked home. The solar-powered phones Nepal Sadbhabana Party about what is constitutional. Ainspect UML their branch and contact do not work on a cloudy day. leader has charged the king with speaking “sugarcoatedoffices after authorisation from words” while throttling democracy. He also claimed that the constitution does not prohibit talking, debating and Nepal Rastra Bank. Acts including sloganeering of republicanism. Agricultural Development Bank If he based his claim on his party’s manifesto, he mustAct, Banijya Bank Act, Financial understand that his party’s rules are not applicable to otherCompany Act, Nepal Industrial parties and citizens at large. We don’t expect our childrenDevelopment in Corporation Act and colleges and universities to get brainwashed by the Development Bank Act have been manifestoes of Maoists and the UML. We cannot give thoseamalgamated into one new Act parties such freedom. The constitution has clearly banned sloganeering of republicanism. that categorises financial The letter and spirit of the constitution does not stopinstitutions the into four classes. king from being active. The words have eroded and theUnder the new provision, banks meanings have changed because of the attitude and behaviourand financial institutions can be of politicians. It is they who ushered in vices like financialupgraded if they perform better, irregularities, horse-trading of the members of parliament, vulgar activities that give a bad twist to the words in the constitution. If the king interferes in the good work of the people’s representatives, if he snatches the rights of the poor for the benefit of those in the palace and if he does not become MOHAN MAINALI sensitive for the safety of the people, then definitely he can be called a tyrant and autocrat. But why shouldn’t the king be even allowed to feel for the people suffering as a result of bad governance over the years? After looking at the preamble of the constitution, the leaders must understand that they prepared the constitution as the “king’s tillers”, to borrow Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa’s words. The king is the patron of the constitution. Article 27 (3) of the constitution says that the king, and not the parliament, is the guardian of the constitution. The same article does not allow a referendum. To assert his point that as a prime minister he should be allowed to dissolve parliament, Sher Bahadur Deuba had once argued citing Article 31 of the constitution that the king’s decision could not be challenged. Now that he is out of power, his party is engaged in an anti-king movement. Nine years ago, the supreme commander of the 1990 “People’s Movement” Ganesh Man Singh and CPN (UML) leader Man Mohan Adhikari had opined that the king should have rejected then Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s recommendation to dissolve the parliament. Did Sher Bahadur Deuba, who dissolved parliament during the state of emergency saying that he would hold elections but failed to do so, abide by the constitution? These are the questions the constitution drafters, most of whom are currently engaged in anti-king agitation, need to answer: Why was the king given the executive power in articleRadio news : Labourer’s family starves due to banda 35 (1) of the constitution? Why was the king, through article 36 Injured person’s condition worsens when unable to reach hospital (5) authorised to sack the prime minister even after a vote of no-confidence against the premier is passed? Students’ future uncertain Public life comes to a grinding halt Maoists : Wow! A successful banda! Rajdhani, 7 March

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“The media is helping to boost the Maoists’ sagging morale.”

Minister for Information & Communication and Home Minister, Kamal Thapa,Kantipur in , March 11

SELECTED MATERIAL TRANSLATED EVERY WEEK FROM THE NEPALI PRESS Bhojpur,” says the source. The only difference was that the FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS Maoists were defeated and pushed 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 19 18 back after the forces launched Foreign banks earning more benefits. But if they instance, where two innocent Bhojpur attack attacks from night vision ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ fail to meet the conditions set by children lost their lives from the ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ helicopters. Space Time, 7 March the Nepal Rastra Bank, they will explosion of a bomb the Maoists Deshantar, 7 March An active monarchy be demoted. The new Financial left behind. A civilian died in an Nepal Rastra Bank has allowed Act prohibits withdrawals and ambush set at Dhanauli of Banke. Prime Minister Surya Bahadur transfers from bank deposits Hundreds of villagers of Kailali Sad leaving Nepal foreign banks to open branches or Thapa calls the massive Maoist isn’t unconstitutionalcontact offices in Nepal. The belonging to people and were forced to live in the jungles to attack in Bhojpur an ‘ordinary and permission came after the institutions involved in tourism. escape Maoist oppression. About inevitable’ incident that cost the Another provision authorises the 400 women were abducted from a Finnish Charge d’Affaires Asko Luukkainenconsensus among political parties. They have government introduced the new lives of 32 security personnel. SuchTelephone in Space Time, 9 March expressed a commitment for consensus, but ○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○ Financial Institution Ordinance to government to freeze any account village in Accham for not light-hearted treatment of the huge don’t seem to be able to achieve it. Efforts under investigation. supporting the Maoists. And there Samacharpatra, March 6 must be made to manage disagreement and amend laws related to banks and tragedy has already demoralised the One of the most unforgettable things about my different opinions logically. The political financial institutions. are many similar incidents that the security forces, says an army source. stay in Nepal has been the terrorised faces of culture needs to be developed in such a way Maoists can, under no Solukhumbu—Maya Magar had to Nepalis. I witnessed that terror myself when I “In order to further enhance “It’s irresponsible to call such a that parties with different opinions can stand circumstances, justify as being for visited Dhading district a few days ago. We the present competitive huge incident an ordinary event,” walk for one whole day with her under the same roof. No more patience the public good. child on her back to reach the could see how fear had gripped the local environment in Nepal’s banking ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ says former Inspector General of We, as a donor country, are also troubled There is also a growing feeling people because of a roadside bomb planted sector, branches of foreign banks Sher Singh inSanghu, 8 March Police, Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan. telecom office to try and call her by Maoist rebels. by the lack of an elected body. For Finnish- mother in Myagdi. The next day and contact offices of renowned of regret among Maoist members But this was no ordinary attack. I have always worried about the obstaclesaided projects, there must be elected she stood in a huge queue, only to representatives. This is why our development international banks are being Maoist leader Prachanda believes for their wrong actions, but they The Maoists had been planning Nepal’s development has had to face be told that the call could not get funds have not been completely allowed to operate in Nepal,” says that mistakes can be corrected. give priority to militancy over this for a long time and news of the and the state’s increased politics. Their mentor, Mao attack had already spread, which through and was asked to come the investment in security due to utilised. In such a situation, we the new ordinance. But it Without doubting the Maoists’ suggest that the general and Zedong, always said the was the reason all of them were next day. Her story is typical of the Maoist insurgency. The prohibits any foreign bank or intentions, he thinks there is a killings of political workers local elections must be held at financial institution allowed to relationship between the people absent from their offices: Major many other Solu villagers who have the earliest and that all political chance to address the to suffer long journeys just to make and critics by Maoist rebels operate in Nepal to go for a joint shortcomings of a fullscale war. and a communist is like that Hari Bahadur Basnet (the army are deplorable. I have parties including the Maoists a short phone call. Since the should come for peaceful venture with any other bank or But the way the Maoist militants between water and a fish, between division chief of the district serious reservations about soil and a flower. Our Maoists headquaters), DSP Suresh KC (theMaoists destroyed the repeater the Maoists’ sabotage, political contest. finance company. In the process ofhave repeatedly made mistakes destroying development The deteriorating human getting the membership of the seem to have forgotten that. If chief of district police office) and towers in Patale and Jubu, all only proves that they lack all good phone lines in villages here are cut. infrastructure and terrorising rights situation in Nepal is yet World Trade Organisation, Nepal they had followed Mao, the the chief district officer were all out people. intentions. Why is this happening? There used to be 170 telephones, another serious issue. The EU made a commitment that it would people would have wholeheartedly of the district. The Bhojpur If the rebels stop has already urged the The Maoists themselves have to now the district has only three lines allow foreign banks and financial supported the Maoists. But the incident shows that the security terrorism, the government government and the Maoists to analyse their own actions and in Salleri, Namche and Lukla. Large institutions to operate after 2008. make improvements. News of theirsituation is just the opposite. If the agencies have been careless. There can call them for peace talks. endorse the human rights crowds gather at the government’s accord prepared by the Nation Before this, foreign banks were cruelty against the public is people’s war keeps on at this rate, was no high security alert or They must understand that Dinbandhu AryalRajdhani in , 7 March then it will have to face a large- preparedness despite prior telecom offices and most of the dialogue is the best solution for them as Humanwell. Rights Commission. If the human only allowed to do business in splashed across the newspapers It’s not just me, but all foreigners in Nepalrights situation continues to deteriorate at the partnership with Nepali investors. scale counter-revolution. There is knowledge of an imminent attack. time a lot of people are unlucky every day. Even then, it doesn’t and they have spend money to dislike the abuse of students as political presenttools rate, Nepal will not only have its One day after King Gyanendra issued a 10-point instructionThe to amended Act also allows seem to matter to them. This evidence of growing anarchy Sources say that the main reason for and the repeated shutdowns and strikes. imageI tarnished, but will also lose the government for the welfare of the people of the far and mid- within the ranks. The Maoists lodge for the night and wait for the banks to issue shares. But the indifference to public opinion has this tragedy was lack of have had personal experience of how harmfulinternational cooperation and good will. In the western regions on 1 March, the three major political parties should admit this, otherwise it will countermeasures despite this their turn the next day. “I have to bandas can be. But those who have distractedcontext of geopolitical influence in Nepal, reportedly dubbed the king’s move as additional evidenceAct alsoof anprohibits the same facility been apparent since the start of the walk for three days just to call students from their studies and have beenIndia definitely comes in the picture. After it active monarchy. A search has become necessary for a fair and ‘People’s War’. look like the actions have knowledge. The incident is a to the banks that have been leadership sanction. For how long Kathmandu, I have no choice,” organising bandas do not seem to recently handed over two Maoist leaders to widely acceptable argument that would answer these operating under joint venture Instead of reducing crimes reminder of the one that occurred understand the gravity of the situation. Nepal, India has appeared to be serious questions: Is the king active or not? Should he be active or not? will the masses remain patient and says Gyanu Koirala from Sotang. partnerships. in Aiselukharka on 22 February Yet another sad issue is the lack of toward the Maoist insurgency. Does the constitution stop the king from being active? against ordinary citizens, the not suspect their real motives? which left three security personnel The villagers have to pray for a The new Act authorises foreign It is also necessary to use the pronouncements of the Maoists are making it worse for dead and 18 injured. “This was thegood weather whenever they leave Nepali Congress, Nepali Congress (Democratic), UMLbanks and and financial institutions to them. Take Ramechap for same group which also attacked home. The solar-powered phones Nepal Sadbhabana Party about what is constitutional. Ainspect UML their branch and contact do not work on a cloudy day. leader has charged the king with speaking “sugarcoatedoffices after authorisation from words” while throttling democracy. He also claimed that the constitution does not prohibit talking, debating and Nepal Rastra Bank. Acts including sloganeering of republicanism. Agricultural Development Bank If he based his claim on his party’s manifesto, he mustAct, Banijya Bank Act, Financial understand that his party’s rules are not applicable to otherCompany Act, Nepal Industrial parties and citizens at large. We don’t expect our childrenDevelopment in Corporation Act and colleges and universities to get brainwashed by the Development Bank Act have been manifestoes of Maoists and the UML. We cannot give thoseamalgamated into one new Act parties such freedom. The constitution has clearly banned sloganeering of republicanism. that categorises financial The letter and spirit of the constitution does not stopinstitutions the into four classes. king from being active. The words have eroded and theUnder the new provision, banks meanings have changed because of the attitude and behaviourand financial institutions can be of politicians. It is they who ushered in vices like financialupgraded if they perform better, irregularities, horse-trading of the members of parliament, vulgar activities that give a bad twist to the words in the constitution. If the king interferes in the good work of the people’s representatives, if he snatches the rights of the poor for the benefit of those in the palace and if he does not become MOHAN MAINALI sensitive for the safety of the people, then definitely he can be called a tyrant and autocrat. But why shouldn’t the king be even allowed to feel for the people suffering as a result of bad governance over the years? After looking at the preamble of the constitution, the leaders must understand that they prepared the constitution as the “king’s tillers”, to borrow Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa’s words. The king is the patron of the constitution. Article 27 (3) of the constitution says that the king, and not the parliament, is the guardian of the constitution. The same article does not allow a referendum. To assert his point that as a prime minister he should be allowed to dissolve parliament, Sher Bahadur Deuba had once argued citing Article 31 of the constitution that the king’s decision could not be challenged. Now that he is out of power, his party is engaged in an anti-king movement. Nine years ago, the supreme commander of the 1990 “People’s Movement” Ganesh Man Singh and CPN (UML) leader Man Mohan Adhikari had opined that the king should have rejected then Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s recommendation to dissolve the parliament. Did Sher Bahadur Deuba, who dissolved parliament during the state of emergency saying that he would hold elections but failed to do so, abide by the constitution? These are the questions the constitution drafters, most of whom are currently engaged in anti-king agitation, need to answer: Why was the king given the executive power in articleRadio news : Labourer’s family starves due to banda 35 (1) of the constitution? Why was the king, through article 36 Injured person’s condition worsens when unable to reach hospital (5) authorised to sack the prime minister even after a vote of no-confidence against the premier is passed? Students’ future uncertain Public life comes to a grinding halt Maoists : Wow! A successful banda! Rajdhani, 7 March

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“The media is helping to boost the Maoists’ sagging morale.”

Minister for Information & Communication and Home Minister, Kamal Thapa,Kantipur in , March 11

SELECTED MATERIAL TRANSLATED EVERY WEEK FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 20 HISTORY AND CULTURE 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 SPORTS 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 21 Back to Back at Sundarijal >56 understandingBack to moreunderstanding golf terminologymore golf terminology Pedalling peace “Love is a triumphant they decided to tackle Nepal first since it is Buddha’s birthplace. So ride in a chariot” Eleven Sri Lankans are bicyclingfar, they sayacross it’s been great.the A dangerous brush with a jeep in India region toThey promote cover about 80km non-violence a day left member Sarada with a wounded and ride in two sub-teams, keepingleg. By comparison, cycling in Nepal These are the last few pages from BP Koirala’sexistence… diary in touch through walkie-talkies sohas been a breeze, despite the from his second time in jail and his release spanningWhile she was entering my section of the enclosure ARUNI JOHN punishing climb up to the a period from December 1977 till April 1979. The via GM’s she abruptly turned around to accost GM who that no one gets lost. They carry entries are few and far between, it is clear BP is Kathmandu Valley. had called her from his side, and sprained her leg. their tents and food with them, suffering deep depression. His words range from the hese days everyone seems to She was limping. I touched and lightly massaged her Shyam Kakshapati of Nanglo mundane (price of his prison diet) to an analysis of averaging about 40kg for the men swollen feet—which had become blue and swollen … be making some sort of why King Birendra missed an opportunity by not and 20kg for the women. TheyBakery Cafe saw them cycling past afterwards when she had gone and I was left reflecting Tstatement for peace, but it is releasing him. BP was finally released in March 1978. his Kurintar resort on their way up and alone I felt that in the eye of others my a message that can never heard too prefer to stay in schools or youth A dramatic period of Nepali history was soonunpremeditated to action would appear demonstrative. I Golf talk to Kathmandu and immediately often. hostels, but on occasion they have unfold with the student-led agitation and the 1980am perhaps demonstrative in love—demonstrative not camped out for the night in the threeinvited them to stop and have Norbu’s neo-Referendum in which the multiparty democracyposturing. camp Love is perhaps a victory, it is a triumphant few weeks ago we were looking at getting started, basics The 11 members of the Sri breakfast on the house. Dr Arun tents. lost 55:45 percent. BP Koirala died two years laterride in a chariot. It is a service—no one has yet called Lankan Global Peace Secretariat Kathmandu on at the age of 68. This the end of its glory a demonstarative posture. components, golf terms, and other fundamentals. The team is struck by theKumar Singh helped Champa transcripts from BP’s diary that has been carried in cyclist team are on a two-year 19.1.78 the Supreme Court has rejected Shailaja’s I was amazed and gratified that a lot of non-golfers have Nilmini with a wheeze brought on this space. A similarities they find among south bicycling tour to spread the word habeus corpus petition on my behalf. I had expected a been reading Tee Break. I will take this opportunity to give my sincere by the Valley dust, and Sri Lankan My weight is 62 kg positive verdict. My expectation was based on the of non-violence. The eight men Asians and feel confident that their thanks to those who liked the column, and even more appreciation to Ambassador Grace Asirwatham thangkas16.12.77 Interview day. This time Thulodaju + Bhaujuassumption that the best way for the king to get out of and three women arrived in Nepal mission will be understood. They also came along with the usual group of people whothe embarrassing situation would be to make use of the those who gave constructive comments for its improvement. It’s great hosted a dinner in their honour. The last week, and are a mix of Sinhalese have printed bright yellow ‘peace come to see me. I am meeting Thulodaju and BhaujuSupreme Court to effect my release on health grounds to know that so many non-golfers are interested in knowing more Sri Lankan community, including its ven though he is barely heard of in Nepal, artist Tenzin Norbuafter 8 years. They had gone to Benares to attendwithout however lifting the cases against me. GM, too, and Tamils, Buddhists, Hindus, flyers’ which they hand out as they about the sport. Some have let me know that they were quite resident celebrity, under-19 cricket is well known throughout creative circles in Europe. At the agePrakash’s marriage in 1969. They appeared to bein in this assumption should be released on bail, for Christians and Muslims. Aged 27- cycle. They talk of being taken good shape. Bhauju said that she had some eye whichtrouble. he had applied to in the Supreme Court. We disappointed that the column aback by the warm hospitality theycoach Roy Dias, turned out in full Eof 33, this Dolpo painter’s work can be found in museums would be out of prison and left to fight the legal battle 43, they are a microcosm of Sri force to show their support. [Nepali poetry, see insert from diary] as best as we can and the political pressure would thus moved away from explaining the Lankan society. Despite their shoe- have received everywhere, despite around Europe as well as in many private collections across the world. TEE BREAK Kathmandu’s Sri Lankan be reduced on the king. The situation outside isn’t basics of golf. Well, I am here for string budget of about Rs 1,000 a the language barrier. Rizwan is the Coming from five generations of thankga painters, Norbu got such as to enable us to mount any effective political Deepak Acharya the readers and for golf, so off we only team member who can speakcommunity took up a hat collection offensive and the legal battle would be tiringly long day for the whole team, they hope to help the team through the next bored with the rigidity of this traditional scroll painting style at an go on more aspects of the game. When talking golf, here are more Hindi. The rest of the team is early age. He began experimenting and this lead to a mixture between process which would in course of time take away the to cover all the SAARC countries stage of their long journey. initial popular interest in us. We have no political terms we use to describe the swing and type of shots played. and, if possible, even Afghanistan. appreciative of his language skills as, the traditional style and his own vivid expressionism. Rather than program at present, and in present situation we can’t with the exception of being able to What next, once this is all over? 1. Breakfast a cup of milk + a piece of dry breadeven .75 attempt to create public opinion. I think the king It hasn’t been as simple as just having a central focus, like in normal thangkas, Norbu’s paintings 2. Lunch Bread (dry) veg. Salad 1.50 Will the team be able to get used to has missed his opportunity. I am full of Shailaja today. Addressing the ball – When a person is ready to hit the golf ball, use Tamil in south India, they could come together to tell an epic. 3. Tea Apiece of cheese, orange or apple 1.80 hopping on a bicycle and pedalling they address the ball when they take their grip on the club, stand not make themselves understood inbeing in one place, or will they miss “To me, a painting should be about movement,” says Norbu. “A Or any seasonal fruit + biscuits or tea 2.2.78 Why do you have to tell me in every message away. Yogarajah, a mechanical the wheels going round and round? that you send me that I must be free from all before the ball and place the club behind the ball in preparation for a Sinhala anywhere, and on the B- 4. Dinner Bread + dal added with some veg. .75 engineer by profession, had a “When our mission is complete, painting or even a sketch is just another medium to tell a story and 5. Supper a cup of milk“anxieties” .50 that I must trust you backswing. roads they were on, not many 24.9.78 … What is secure position in the family capture the imagination. That is one reason why I don’t like still art. I Rs 5.00 Indians spoke English. when we’ve been to all the SAARC Backswing – This is the first part of the swing. It involves the business but decided that he had prefer paintings that convey motion and energy.” These traits are Meat once a week 3 /- Rs 5.45 Rizwan is also the team’s chef, countries, and maybe further, and backward movement of the club away from the ball and around overto do something worthwhile clearly seen in Norbu’s portrayal of the scenery and lifestyles of his not an easy task: Hindus don’t eatthen come home, we’ll go all around the shoulder, in preparation for the downswing. A good backswing before it was too late. Forming an our own island to show them what native Dolpo region in an exhibition of his latest work at the Shangi- I want to stick to this dietary discipline. I must begin beef and Muslims don’t eat pork, paves the way for a good downswing and follow through. Ideally, atenthusiastic foursome with friends La Hotel this week. by curtailing the expenses on food in my pursuit of so the staple has been chicken, orwe’ve done,” says Yogarajah. the top of the backswing the shoulders are turned until the shaft of Upali, Rizwan and Upul, he Concerned that the art was dying out, Norbu took it on himself tosimple way of life. Here the problem is that I can’t mutton when they can get it, with Adds Upali, “Then they’ll see if experiment with simple inexpensive food. GM can’t adjust the club is parallel to the ground and target line, and the golfer’s managed to raise a little money and teach and educate a new generation of painters. There are not many rice and dal. “The most difficultwe can do so much, why can’t they to simple food preparations + to reduce intake. weight is more on the back foot. place advertisements in the economic opportunities available to people from his region, and this place to find anything to eat wasdo something too and work together national papers to search for more for peace. At least our children’s not only provides them with work, but also ensures that the culture Downswing and follow through– The movement of the club partners. Bihar,” said Rizwan. “Everything survives. Not many people were interested in learning painting back generation will live in a better between the top of the backswing to the point of hitting the ball is The 45 applicants were put was so unclean that we were really then, but he did manage to recruit several youths. “They were more called the downswing. A good down swing usually brings the club worried we’d get sick, so we ate onlyworld.” through gruelling physical tests, as interested in ‘modern’ things like computers and motorbikes,” he says. face back to an almost identical position as the club face was at in the biscuits for a few days,” he adds. A well as a psychological assessment “Now that they have seen you can actually make good money from address position (before starting the backswing). The follow-through strict Muslim himself, Rizwan tries to see if they could withstand the painting, many more are taking up brushes.” is an acceleration of the swing after the club face hits the ball and also to get halal meat where he can, and rigours of a low-budget and The exhibition in Kathmandu this week includes a series that prays five times a day. involves the body turning towards the target to add more power theunpredictable biking tour. After continue the story from Eric Valli’s Himalaya, in which Norbu’s swing. narrowing the final team down to Despite the geographic paintings had featured. Part of the proceeds from the exhibition sales love? What is its glory? Full shot – On a full shot, an ideal backswing, downswing and full 11 members, their next hurdle was convenience that a route through will go to the Kula Primary School in Dolpa. 26.9.78 Any emotion—love included—that expresses to find bicycles. After several tries, Bangladesh would have offered, itself through the medium of … loses its primary follow-through is taken, where after the shot the body has turned energy and purity in the process. Like a river passing towards the target and the weight is almost all on the forward foot. Hero cycles finally agreed to give z (Milan Wagle) through a vast desert,. Say “yes” to life. Be positive. Most beginners and club golfers are seen taking more than a full each member a Razorback, their Madalasa was with me for a few minutes. In my present backswing, where the club passes the parallel point at the top of thelatest model. Finally, in January Dolpo Livespaintings by Tenzin Norbu, daily 10AM-4PM mental state those words from her came as a great solace—truth or no truth. swing, and then taking only a short follow-through. This leads to they were ready to hit the road. till 20 March at Shangri-la Hotel, Lazimpat 1.10.78 Sushila + Chetana came. I couldn’t go to weak and inconsistent shots. z [side notes] receive them at the airport because of my knees. John Fowles: novels 1. magus 2. French Lt’s Woman13.10.78 3. Shailaja came from Varanasi. Brought some Chipping and Pitching – These are shorter length shots around the Daniel Martin fruits for me. green. A chip shot usually aims at hitting the ball a shorter distance (5 To track the progress of the team, log on to John Cheever: Falconer “The loneliness of prisoner14. and Distressed http://www.angelfire.com/trek/global/peace memories and the need of basic companionship 15.in the Distressed to 30 yards) than a pitch shot (30 to 70 yards). On a chip shot the themse of this deeply emotional novel” –Time 16. ball travels less distance in the air and runs more on the ground. On a Philip Roth: the Professor of Desire “wrestling with17. sex and Extremely distressed and distraught pitch shot, the ball would be hit higher into the air and travels a guilt” –Time 30.3.79 shorter distance on the ground. 13.1.78 I was prevented from landing at the Biratnagar airport. A large no. of relations came to see me the day beingA group of hired people led by Dilbahadur (same Putting – The shot played on the green is called putting. A special interview day. Sushila was also there sparkling likeDiba) the infested the landing ground with the connivance diamond tops that she was wearing. She had put ofon thea govt. Repetition of the scene at the Pokhara club called a putter is used, which is quite different from all other Nepali cholo, a concession to the Kathmandu winter.airport and a few months ago where under similar clubs. The putter is used to roll the ball along the ground towards the Shailaja, Mainya (Naresh’s mother), had given hersituation two … the plane carrying me was not permitted to hole. Putting the ball is one of the most high pressure aspects of on the day she visited here when Mainya was alsoland. there. I playing golf, and cases of putters being broken in anger during a am happy to see her after a long time. I patted her1.4.79 when I was served with a notice, to confine my she was leaving and she gave me a look both of franknessmovement to the Kathmandu Valley round, or thrown in disgust into a lake after missing a crucial putt, are and surprise at my behaviour. I am noticing it today that not uncommon. she has a pair of … eyes bright and expressive. They27.4.79 At midnight precisely at 11:20 pm I was put alone, it appears, seem to have retained her … glory.under house arrest. The notice was served by a DSP Bunker Shot – This is a shot played from a hazard filled with sand. Sushila became authoritative with me and sheand gave the order was from acting CDO. And immediately BIGBEN afterwards armed guards were posted around the house The usual club used and the method of hitting the ball is different me a lot of advice. How I should live in prison, wouldn’t under an inspector. Kisunji and GM were also arrested permit me to wear the new spectacles which I had got from from normal golf shots. Beginners almost always find hitting a bunker and send to their places of detention—Nakhu + Police shot a nightmare. here, because, according to her, the frame didn’t Trainingsuit Centre. The telephone was also cut off, but me…about my watch too she was particular about its not before I could inform some of our friends about my shape and size. I like this tender bossing because detention.I know she loves me dearly. I have not been able to give her the Need to know more before next week? Hop down to your nearest affection she has always yearned for from me—single golf practice facility and take a lesson from a professional. Meanwhile minded love. This affectionate bossing—trying to rule over my conduct—is an indication of her self-confidence please keep giving me feedback, and hopefully I shall be able to meet and also her confidence in me, in spite of everything. I your expectations better. am happy to see the confidence that in her. I have been telling her during acute crises in our relationship that the 1

Deepak Acharya is a golf instructor and Head Golf Professional at Gokarna st basis of a worthwhile human existence is human Forest Golf Resort & Spa, Kathmandu [email protected] dignity and that dignity being the primary basis of human MIN BAJRACHARYA 20 HISTORY AND CULTURE 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 SPORTS 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 21 Back to Back at Sundarijal >56 understandingBack to moreunderstanding golf terminologymore golf terminology Pedalling peace “Love is a triumphant they decided to tackle Nepal first since it is Buddha’s birthplace. So ride in a chariot” Eleven Sri Lankans are bicyclingfar, they sayacross it’s been great.the A dangerous brush with a jeep in India region toThey promote cover about 80km non-violence a day left member Sarada with a wounded and ride in two sub-teams, keepingleg. By comparison, cycling in Nepal These are the last few pages from BP Koirala’sexistence… diary in touch through walkie-talkies sohas been a breeze, despite the from his second time in jail and his release spanningWhile she was entering my section of the enclosure ARUNI JOHN punishing climb up to the a period from December 1977 till April 1979. The via GM’s she abruptly turned around to accost GM who that no one gets lost. They carry entries are few and far between, it is clear BP is Kathmandu Valley. had called her from his side, and sprained her leg. their tents and food with them, suffering deep depression. His words range from the hese days everyone seems to She was limping. I touched and lightly massaged her Shyam Kakshapati of Nanglo mundane (price of his prison diet) to an analysis of averaging about 40kg for the men swollen feet—which had become blue and swollen … be making some sort of why King Birendra missed an opportunity by not and 20kg for the women. TheyBakery Cafe saw them cycling past afterwards when she had gone and I was left reflecting Tstatement for peace, but it is releasing him. BP was finally released in March 1978. his Kurintar resort on their way up and alone I felt that in the eye of others my a message that can never heard too prefer to stay in schools or youth A dramatic period of Nepali history was soonunpremeditated to action would appear demonstrative. I Golf talk to Kathmandu and immediately often. hostels, but on occasion they have unfold with the student-led agitation and the 1980am perhaps demonstrative in love—demonstrative not camped out for the night in the threeinvited them to stop and have Norbu’s neo-Referendum in which the multiparty democracyposturing. camp Love is perhaps a victory, it is a triumphant few weeks ago we were looking at getting started, basics The 11 members of the Sri breakfast on the house. Dr Arun tents. lost 55:45 percent. BP Koirala died two years laterride in a chariot. It is a service—no one has yet called Lankan Global Peace Secretariat Kathmandu on at the age of 68. This the end of its glory a demonstarative posture. components, golf terms, and other fundamentals. The team is struck by theKumar Singh helped Champa transcripts from BP’s diary that has been carried in cyclist team are on a two-year 19.1.78 the Supreme Court has rejected Shailaja’s I was amazed and gratified that a lot of non-golfers have Nilmini with a wheeze brought on this space. A similarities they find among south bicycling tour to spread the word habeus corpus petition on my behalf. I had expected a been reading Tee Break. I will take this opportunity to give my sincere by the Valley dust, and Sri Lankan My weight is 62 kg positive verdict. My expectation was based on the of non-violence. The eight men Asians and feel confident that their thanks to those who liked the column, and even more appreciation to Ambassador Grace Asirwatham thangkas16.12.77 Interview day. This time Thulodaju + Bhaujuassumption that the best way for the king to get out of and three women arrived in Nepal mission will be understood. They also came along with the usual group of people whothe embarrassing situation would be to make use of the those who gave constructive comments for its improvement. It’s great hosted a dinner in their honour. The last week, and are a mix of Sinhalese have printed bright yellow ‘peace come to see me. I am meeting Thulodaju and BhaujuSupreme Court to effect my release on health grounds to know that so many non-golfers are interested in knowing more Sri Lankan community, including its ven though he is barely heard of in Nepal, artist Tenzin Norbuafter 8 years. They had gone to Benares to attendwithout however lifting the cases against me. GM, too, and Tamils, Buddhists, Hindus, flyers’ which they hand out as they about the sport. Some have let me know that they were quite resident celebrity, under-19 cricket is well known throughout creative circles in Europe. At the agePrakash’s marriage in 1969. They appeared to bein in this assumption should be released on bail, for Christians and Muslims. Aged 27- cycle. They talk of being taken good shape. Bhauju said that she had some eye whichtrouble. he had applied to in the Supreme Court. We disappointed that the column aback by the warm hospitality theycoach Roy Dias, turned out in full Eof 33, this Dolpo painter’s work can be found in museums would be out of prison and left to fight the legal battle 43, they are a microcosm of Sri force to show their support. [Nepali poetry, see insert from diary] as best as we can and the political pressure would thus moved away from explaining the Lankan society. Despite their shoe- have received everywhere, despite around Europe as well as in many private collections across the world. TEE BREAK Kathmandu’s Sri Lankan be reduced on the king. The situation outside isn’t basics of golf. Well, I am here for string budget of about Rs 1,000 a the language barrier. Rizwan is the Coming from five generations of thankga painters, Norbu got such as to enable us to mount any effective political Deepak Acharya the readers and for golf, so off we only team member who can speakcommunity took up a hat collection offensive and the legal battle would be tiringly long day for the whole team, they hope to help the team through the next bored with the rigidity of this traditional scroll painting style at an go on more aspects of the game. When talking golf, here are more Hindi. The rest of the team is early age. He began experimenting and this lead to a mixture between process which would in course of time take away the to cover all the SAARC countries stage of their long journey. initial popular interest in us. We have no political terms we use to describe the swing and type of shots played. and, if possible, even Afghanistan. appreciative of his language skills as, the traditional style and his own vivid expressionism. Rather than program at present, and in present situation we can’t with the exception of being able to What next, once this is all over? 1. Breakfast a cup of milk + a piece of dry breadeven .75 attempt to create public opinion. I think the king It hasn’t been as simple as just having a central focus, like in normal thangkas, Norbu’s paintings 2. Lunch Bread (dry) veg. Salad 1.50 Will the team be able to get used to has missed his opportunity. I am full of Shailaja today. Addressing the ball – When a person is ready to hit the golf ball, use Tamil in south India, they could come together to tell an epic. 3. Tea Apiece of cheese, orange or apple 1.80 hopping on a bicycle and pedalling they address the ball when they take their grip on the club, stand not make themselves understood inbeing in one place, or will they miss “To me, a painting should be about movement,” says Norbu. “A Or any seasonal fruit + biscuits or tea 2.2.78 Why do you have to tell me in every message away. Yogarajah, a mechanical the wheels going round and round? that you send me that I must be free from all before the ball and place the club behind the ball in preparation for a Sinhala anywhere, and on the B- 4. Dinner Bread + dal added with some veg. .75 engineer by profession, had a “When our mission is complete, painting or even a sketch is just another medium to tell a story and 5. Supper a cup of milk“anxieties” .50 that I must trust you backswing. roads they were on, not many 24.9.78 … What is secure position in the family capture the imagination. That is one reason why I don’t like still art. I Rs 5.00 Indians spoke English. when we’ve been to all the SAARC Backswing – This is the first part of the swing. It involves the business but decided that he had prefer paintings that convey motion and energy.” These traits are Meat once a week 3 /- Rs 5.45 Rizwan is also the team’s chef, countries, and maybe further, and backward movement of the club away from the ball and around overto do something worthwhile clearly seen in Norbu’s portrayal of the scenery and lifestyles of his not an easy task: Hindus don’t eatthen come home, we’ll go all around the shoulder, in preparation for the downswing. A good backswing before it was too late. Forming an our own island to show them what native Dolpo region in an exhibition of his latest work at the Shangi- I want to stick to this dietary discipline. I must begin beef and Muslims don’t eat pork, paves the way for a good downswing and follow through. Ideally, atenthusiastic foursome with friends La Hotel this week. by curtailing the expenses on food in my pursuit of so the staple has been chicken, orwe’ve done,” says Yogarajah. the top of the backswing the shoulders are turned until the shaft of Upali, Rizwan and Upul, he Concerned that the art was dying out, Norbu took it on himself tosimple way of life. Here the problem is that I can’t mutton when they can get it, with Adds Upali, “Then they’ll see if experiment with simple inexpensive food. GM can’t adjust the club is parallel to the ground and target line, and the golfer’s managed to raise a little money and teach and educate a new generation of painters. There are not many rice and dal. “The most difficultwe can do so much, why can’t they to simple food preparations + to reduce intake. weight is more on the back foot. place advertisements in the economic opportunities available to people from his region, and this place to find anything to eat wasdo something too and work together national papers to search for more for peace. At least our children’s not only provides them with work, but also ensures that the culture Downswing and follow through– The movement of the club partners. Bihar,” said Rizwan. “Everything survives. Not many people were interested in learning painting back generation will live in a better between the top of the backswing to the point of hitting the ball is The 45 applicants were put was so unclean that we were really then, but he did manage to recruit several youths. “They were more called the downswing. A good down swing usually brings the club worried we’d get sick, so we ate onlyworld.” through gruelling physical tests, as interested in ‘modern’ things like computers and motorbikes,” he says. face back to an almost identical position as the club face was at in the biscuits for a few days,” he adds. A well as a psychological assessment “Now that they have seen you can actually make good money from address position (before starting the backswing). The follow-through strict Muslim himself, Rizwan tries to see if they could withstand the painting, many more are taking up brushes.” is an acceleration of the swing after the club face hits the ball and also to get halal meat where he can, and rigours of a low-budget and The exhibition in Kathmandu this week includes a series that prays five times a day. involves the body turning towards the target to add more power theunpredictable biking tour. After continue the story from Eric Valli’s Himalaya, in which Norbu’s swing. narrowing the final team down to Despite the geographic paintings had featured. Part of the proceeds from the exhibition sales love? What is its glory? Full shot – On a full shot, an ideal backswing, downswing and full 11 members, their next hurdle was convenience that a route through will go to the Kula Primary School in Dolpa. 26.9.78 Any emotion—love included—that expresses to find bicycles. After several tries, Bangladesh would have offered, itself through the medium of … loses its primary follow-through is taken, where after the shot the body has turned energy and purity in the process. Like a river passing towards the target and the weight is almost all on the forward foot. Hero cycles finally agreed to give z (Milan Wagle) through a vast desert,. Say “yes” to life. Be positive. Most beginners and club golfers are seen taking more than a full each member a Razorback, their Madalasa was with me for a few minutes. In my present backswing, where the club passes the parallel point at the top of thelatest model. Finally, in January Dolpo Livespaintings by Tenzin Norbu, daily 10AM-4PM mental state those words from her came as a great solace—truth or no truth. swing, and then taking only a short follow-through. This leads to they were ready to hit the road. till 20 March at Shangri-la Hotel, Lazimpat 1.10.78 Sushila + Chetana came. I couldn’t go to weak and inconsistent shots. z [side notes] receive them at the airport because of my knees. John Fowles: novels 1. magus 2. French Lt’s Woman13.10.78 3. Shailaja came from Varanasi. Brought some Chipping and Pitching – These are shorter length shots around the Daniel Martin fruits for me. green. A chip shot usually aims at hitting the ball a shorter distance (5 To track the progress of the team, log on to John Cheever: Falconer “The loneliness of prisoner14. and Distressed http://www.angelfire.com/trek/global/peace memories and the need of basic companionship 15.in the Distressed to 30 yards) than a pitch shot (30 to 70 yards). On a chip shot the themse of this deeply emotional novel” –Time 16. ball travels less distance in the air and runs more on the ground. On a Philip Roth: the Professor of Desire “wrestling with17. sex and Extremely distressed and distraught pitch shot, the ball would be hit higher into the air and travels a guilt” –Time 30.3.79 shorter distance on the ground. 13.1.78 I was prevented from landing at the Biratnagar airport. A large no. of relations came to see me the day beingA group of hired people led by Dilbahadur (same Putting – The shot played on the green is called putting. A special interview day. Sushila was also there sparkling likeDiba) the infested the landing ground with the connivance diamond tops that she was wearing. She had put ofon thea govt. Repetition of the scene at the Pokhara club called a putter is used, which is quite different from all other Nepali cholo, a concession to the Kathmandu winter.airport and a few months ago where under similar clubs. The putter is used to roll the ball along the ground towards the Shailaja, Mainya (Naresh’s mother), had given hersituation two … the plane carrying me was not permitted to hole. Putting the ball is one of the most high pressure aspects of on the day she visited here when Mainya was alsoland. there. I playing golf, and cases of putters being broken in anger during a am happy to see her after a long time. I patted her1.4.79 when I was served with a notice, to confine my she was leaving and she gave me a look both of franknessmovement to the Kathmandu Valley round, or thrown in disgust into a lake after missing a crucial putt, are and surprise at my behaviour. I am noticing it today that not uncommon. she has a pair of … eyes bright and expressive. They27.4.79 At midnight precisely at 11:20 pm I was put alone, it appears, seem to have retained her … glory.under house arrest. The notice was served by a DSP Bunker Shot – This is a shot played from a hazard filled with sand. Sushila became authoritative with me and sheand gave the order was from acting CDO. And immediately BIGBEN afterwards armed guards were posted around the house The usual club used and the method of hitting the ball is different me a lot of advice. How I should live in prison, wouldn’t under an inspector. Kisunji and GM were also arrested permit me to wear the new spectacles which I had got from from normal golf shots. Beginners almost always find hitting a bunker and send to their places of detention—Nakhu + Police shot a nightmare. here, because, according to her, the frame didn’t Trainingsuit Centre. The telephone was also cut off, but me…about my watch too she was particular about its not before I could inform some of our friends about my shape and size. I like this tender bossing because detention.I know she loves me dearly. I have not been able to give her the Need to know more before next week? Hop down to your nearest affection she has always yearned for from me—single golf practice facility and take a lesson from a professional. Meanwhile minded love. This affectionate bossing—trying to rule over my conduct—is an indication of her self-confidence please keep giving me feedback, and hopefully I shall be able to meet and also her confidence in me, in spite of everything. I your expectations better. am happy to see the confidence that in her. I have been telling her during acute crises in our relationship that the 1

HAPPENINGS NEPALI SOCIETY

were teased, and treated with disgust. Some even said that if they Positive aboutwere creamted, the smoke would life hen her husband set off campaignto in Achham because itinfect is others so they were work at the office of an a district with one of the highestwrapped in plastic and buried,” WIndian tea company in infection rates in the country. recalls Mathura Devi. Mumbai, Mathura Devi Kunwar Today, the volunteers do all theMathura Devi is very clear thought he would come back withplanning and implemention of AIDSabout what her community still savings. He came back infectedawareness activities themselves.needs: awareness, medicine, with HIV. They battle social stigma and counseling, access to blood tests, ABOUT TOWN BOOKWORM Plenty of Accham’s men ostracisation, providing care andand the orphans need a shelter. Her children dread the day when migrated to India for seasonal worksupport to families with infected FESTIVALS AND EXHIBITIONS they will lose their mother too. But The Price of Neglect Bishnu Raj Upreti and returned home healthy, so members. The Legendary St Patrick’s Day Party at 13 Kilroy’s March, 12PM on Mathura Devi consoles them: “ My there was no reason for Mathura These days, Mathura Devi is the Sunny Terrace until late 4250440, 4250441 Bhrikuti Academic Publications, 2004 KIRAN PANDAY work is my medicine. I still feel like I Devi to suspect anything. In fact, French language week 15-20 March, Alliance Française 4241163 Rs 1,295 busy taking care of other won’t die. I am very happy. But she hadn’t even heard much aboutcommunity members, and also has Dolpo LivesPaintings by Tenzin Norbu, Shangri-la Hotel IN SESSION: Bal Bahadur Rai and Ramchandra Poudel are just ears at a even if I die, my community Bishnu Raj Upreti has provided an intelligent insight into the causes of social and resource AIDS. to raise her four children. The Paintings by Asha Dangol, 5:30 PM 18 March at Gallery Moksh sunny mock parliament session at Bhrikuti Mandap on Thursday. will survive, and so will my conflicts and the Maoist insurgency in Nepal. The book is broken down into a general Once she found out she waschildren faced discrimination fromchildren.” Numafung paintings 16-30 March, Gallery Nine 4428694 understanding of conflict analysis, an analysis of relationships between resource governance, HIV positive, she joined the Socialother village kids and they were taunted because their father died EVENTS scarcity and conflict and finally, an examination of the Maoist insurgency and efforts for the Volunteers Against AIDS (SoVAA) of AIDS. But not any more. Memorial service for Father Eugene L Watrin, 14 March, 4PMpeace at theprocess. It ends on a positive note, with a proposed road map for the peace process and in Achham and today she is one of GAA Hall, Thamel. 4444785, 4443236, [email protected] the most dedicated activists helping“Previously, infected people conflict transformation. A must-read for those concerned about our country’s current crisis. raise awareness about the diease ASMAN’s AGM and election13 March, Hotel Shankar, 2-4PM in her community. ELD Intensive Workshop on Developing Project Proposals & Courtesy: Mandala Book Point, Kantipath, 4227711, [email protected] When Mathura Devi’s husband (Sraddha Basnyat) Reporting Skills, 15-19 March. 4256618, [email protected] z the boss Creative HuntPainting competition for school children, died five years ago, she was determined not to let the disease ages 5-18 on 14 March at St Xaviers School. CLASSIFIED Oscar winner Russell Crowe stars as CaptainJAI NEPAL CINEMA destroy her life and those of her Fair & Lovely Woman Beyond Tomorrow 14 Carnival March 10:30 “Lucky” Jack Aubrey, renowned captain in the Visit Ground ZeroFine wines, designer neighbours’ whose husbands also AM- 5PM at the Hyatt Regency. Entrance Rs 50. British navy in this fast-paced, action packed candles, cards, gifts, stationery, wooden items, worked in India. “I realised this is Charity Football MatchGovernment secretaries vs diplomats 2PM epic13 directed by three-time Academy Award perfumes and more. Darbar Marg, opposite my social service. HIV/AIDS is an directing nominee Peter MasterWeir. and March, Dasrath Stadium, Sahara Group, 437885 Hotel de l’Annapurna evil disease. There is no cure. My Commander: The Far Side of theis World based Visit Femilinesthe Exclusive Lingerie Store village would be destroyed by it. If I 4th Great Himalayan VW Beetle 13 RallyMarch, Beetles assemble at on Patrick O’Brian’s series of Aubrey/Maturin for ladies undergarments, nightwear, have it today, others will have it 8:30 AM at Patan Durbar Square. [email protected] novels, and is set during the Napoleonic Wars. bathrobes and more. Ladies staff. Opposite tomorrow. So I became a In the course of the characters’ epic journey, Sajha Yatayat, Harihar Bhawan, Pulchowk. Tel: Aarohan Theatre Grouppresents Henrik Ibsen’sA Dolls House at the movie travels the world—from the coast 547428 volunteer,” she told us. Sama Natak Ghar, Baneswor, weekends till 14 March. 4466956of Brazil to the storm-tossed waters of Cape LIVE IN STYLE!Arcadia Apartments in the Accham villagers began to note Horn, south through ice and snow, to the far heart of Thamel. Centrally located, fully that many of the men who went to MUSIC side of the world, to the remote shores of the furnished apartments at unbelievable rates. KIRAN PANDAY Jazzmandu Galapagos Islands. For details: 981026903, 4260187 Mumbai for work came home only NEW VISION: to die. When they found out it was z Jazzmandu Workshop12 and 14 Renting made easywww.2letonline.com- 3,000 people turned up at Lekpharsha VDC in Surkhet on Looking for a place to stay- Log on to find the AIDS, the sick men and their March 4:30 PM onwards. Invitations perfect house, apartment or even a retail space Saturday for an eye camp organised by Nepal Red Cross Society. families were stigmatised. Save the available from Elites School or Upstairs that meets all your needs. Make an easy 1000 Children-UK started the volunteer Jazz Bar. From 13 March Call 4442220 for show timings. www.jainepal.com bucks by reporting a vacant property to us. Find out how- www.2letonline.com z Valley Jam12 March 7:30–10PM at the Get 10 %exclusive discount on the normal Shangri-La Jazz Bar subscription rate of Himalmedia’s publication z Jazz Bazaar 13 March 4PM onwards at Gokarna forest, Rs 599 namely; Himal Khabarpatrika, Nepali Times and Wave magazine. Only at the Grihini z Jazzmandu Peace Parade14 March, 1-2PM in Lazimpat Department Store limited, Baluwatar, Phone: z Sounds of Africa, Max Lolo, 17 March 7PM Yak&Yeti, 4248999 4415186 The Trio Givone Gypsy Jazz band from France, every night from 7PM Wanted Nepali pilot, interested person should have experience for ultra light aircraft with at the Piano Lounge & Bar, Hotel Yak and Yeti, 4248999 Rotax 582 engine. Apply with cv, photo and Not Just the Jazz withBar Chris Masand and The Modern Jazz Live contact address within 7 days to Avia Club Nepal Pvt. Ltd., P.O. Box 13680. Band every Friday and Saturday, Shangri-la H, 4412999 Modern houses for residential office or flat. 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NEPALI WEATHER by MAUSAM BEED VIS -11-03-2004 04:00 GMT The most significant feature of this week’s For insertions ring NT weather is the presence of a massive cloud front stretching up from the Bay right up to Tibet. It has KATHMANDU AIR QUALITY Marketing at 5543333-36. covered a bit of eastern Nepal and brought drizzles. Spring is in the air, but the air pollution level is still high. Even during We have been surprised by this sudden development Nepal banda on 4 March, the concentration of PM10 (particles that are and have been tracking it as it stays almost stationary small enough to enter the human body) recorded by all six monitoring in the tug-o-war between the westerly jetstrem and the stations in Kathmandu Valley were above national standards of 120 low pressure circulation that is pushing it northwest. micrograms per cubic meter. Overall, the average PM10 levels last This system could spread out into parts of central and week were about 10 percent higher than the previous week. Experience western Nepal through the weekend, bringing light from last year indicates that the pollution level will probably remain high rain with possible thunderstorms. Calm and cloudy as street dust levels remain high in the dry season. days with isolated short showers are in store till early91.2 next week. What you burn is what you breathe. 29 February - 6 March in micrograms per cubic meter. Source: www. mope.gov.np KIRAN PANDAY Good < 60 TARAI HOLI DAY: Youths celebrate a colourful Tarai Holi outside the KATHMANDU VALLEY Ok 61 to 120 Unhealthyto 121 350 Janaki Mandir in Janakpur on Sunday. Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Harmful 351 to 425 Hazardous >425

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2 4 12 - 18 MARCH 2004#187 Really good news

s hacks have been getting a lot of flak lately from loyal readers and www.nepalitimes.com royal leaders alike complaining that we print only the bad news, #187 12 - 18 March 2004 24 pages Rs 25 Urecommending that we take immediate action against the alleged culprits in an undisclosed location. Here is a sample letter from an irate UNDER MY HAT reader that will give you some idea Poll pull Kunda Dixit of what we have to put up with Suddenly, there is a lot of talk of every day in our area of work in the Fourth Estate: elections. The government, under pressure from donors about the parliamentary crisis, is nervous about the donor group meeting in Dear Sir: April. Suddenly, party factions are I don’t know why I am addressing you as ‘sir’ when I know it for a fact rushing to reunite. Kamal Thapa, that you have never been knighted by the queen. You could also not who got the all-important Home be a sir at all, but a madam, in which case, I beg your pardon. But let’s Ministry portfolio last week, even presume for a moment for the sake of argument that you are indeed a specified dates. He told the BBC male knight. Even then, I have strong reservations about addressing Nepali Service on Wednesday: “We you with such an honorific title because I am writing to complain about are aiming at October-December your work, you lousy piece of $%#&*! How come all the news you print so that we can get the security is negative? How come you have nothing nice to say about anybody? situation under control.” That may How come you give the impression that the sky is about to fall? Unless be wishful thinking, given the you start printing good news with immediate effect, I am personally escalation in Maoist violence and going to see to it that you are awarded a medal and given a public disruptions. There is speculation felicitation. that King Gyanendra may Yours etc, announce polls at his Pokhara rally on 28 March. The parties say polls Name withheld to protect exact identity of anonymous writer are a “ploy”. On Thursday, the five- party alliance held a mock joint session of parliament )( rightin which speakers delivered anti-monarchy tirades. All right, you asked for it. We will now take this small commercial break to carry some items of really good news: No Need To Panic: Govt The government has assured citizens that although all major cities are FRONT BENCHERS: Seated on front row of a being blockaded, basic necessities have disappeared from shelves and simulated parliamentl-r), Bharat( Mohan long-distance buses are being blown up by roadside bombs, there is no Weekly Internet Poll # 127 Adhikari, Sushil Koirala, Sahana Pradhan, need to panic, reports RSS. Q. How do you gauge the prospect of the Hridesh Tripathi, Amik Sherchan, Narayan “We have everything under control,” the government spokesperson, Nepali Congress reuniting? Man Bijukchhe, Madhab Nepal, Girija Koirala. who is also Minister of Health and Hygiene told mediapersons, “there is no reason for alarm right now, we will let you know when it is time to MIN BAJRACHARYA panic.” The public seemed reassured by the good news and immediately started hoarding potatoes and sugar. appearances, and United Nations Total votes:746 Special Rapporteurs on arbitrary de- Weekly Internet Poll # 128. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com ‘normal’ once rebels are defeated. tention, torture, and on extra judi- Q. Does a banda help or harm the organiser? Nepal’s tarnished image 501-Member Committee Formed It has now gone beyond how cial, summary and arbitrary POKHARA—A 501-member committee has been formed in Pokhara to It is almostGeneva on too Wednesday late on ato damage salvageall this will theaffect ournational tourism executions reputation have intervened. Human organise a public felicitation ceremony next week. Exactly who is being Everyday control mission. As a worldly-wise Enjoy our new Menu with Traditional ANALYSIS by industry. Nepal’s reputation is Rights Watch, has begun to moni- felicitated is being kept a closely guarded secret and highly placed sources Cuisines at Patan Museum Café diplomat, Thapa knows by nowalready sullied as the country joins KANAK MANI DIXIT tor Nepal. Mainstream watchdogs said on condition of anonymity that the identity was not being disclosed Every Sunday and Wednesday how far Nepal’s image hasthe list of other human rights like the International Crisis Group Organic Vegetable Market because it was supposed to be a surprise for the chief guest. “We don’t with Special Lunch plummeted in the past two years ofhotspots. The Guardian last moth are stepping up the pressure, and want to spoil the fun, but there are no prizes for guessing who it is,” the Every Friday he country’s international conflict and half-hearted democracy.listed “some of the most dangerous even the US State Department’s hu- source said. Enjoy the most famous BBQ Dinner reputation will face a high- Nepal’s parliamentary crisis and the in Kathmandu valley since 1983. and repressive regimes of the man rights report this year points to 6:30 – 9:30 pm T profile challenge this month inability or unwillingness of theworld”: Colombia, Zimbabwe, abuse by the army. Please visit our new Apartments when the UN Human Rights Royal Nepali Army to conduct aUganda, Indonesia, the The United Nations Human Govt Finishes Its Homework Reservations: 552 1810/ 552 6271 Commission in Geneva debates clean war will soon get a lot ofPhilippines, Israel and Nepal. Rights Commissioner has asked for His Majesty’s Government, which was accused by political parties of not human rights abuses in Nepal for international attention. “The government must have a full and independent enquiry into doing its homework on time, has finished its homework. “We can the first time. Watchdog groups say that it wasgot the message, but I fear the RNA excesses. Knowing where the proudly say we have now completed our homework,” said the Minister European members of the the Maoists who unleashed warofficials and the generals still don’t buck stops in the kingdom, the of Home, Works and Transport,“it is the office work that is giving us commission, worried about the against an elected government ninerealise the extent of international International Commission of Jurists problems.” army’s impunity in theyears ago, and don’t doubt that theyindignation that is building up,” has written a letter to King counterinsurgency war, aim to put have practiced widespread abuse.said one senior donor agency official Gyanendra, and now the UN

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