#110 6 - 12 September 2002 16 pages Rs 20

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ANALYSIS byRAJENDRA DAHAL ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ he two protagonists in the present crisis—the extreme right and the Textreme left—want the same thing: an extension of the emergency, and neither side No one won, everyone lost cares too much for elections. The constitutionNepalis have never before faced such military might alone is not going to be enough has provided polls as a way out of this zero, unemployment is rife. They have lost to finish off the Maoists. The idea is to put stalemate, but they are not going to let the deprivation and insecurity. purchasing power, markets, food supply, healthsufficient pressure on them to bolster the

people vote. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ services, education, and personal security. bargaining position in future talks. And this is That is the paradox of Nepal’s politics: Caught between the ruthlessness of the also the intention of the Maoists who have the enemies seem to want the same result. Anduse Article 127 to amend the constitution and Maoists and counter-attacks from security already begun their senseless mayhem in the they are pitted against parliamentary parties take necessary powers. The resignation shows forces, Nepalis have never before faced suchrun-up to the 16 September strike. and Nepalis who haven’t given up on that political regression may not be as easy as deprivation and insecurity. On the political front, Deuba has played the rightists want. democracy. There are signs the extreme An alternative to elections would be out all his cards, and his cabinet is self- right is now more royal than the king, and Given this undercurrent, it doesn’t seem to postponed elections. The Maoists have destructing. The media-led campaign against the resignation Thursday of the king’s matter anymore which faction of the Congress squandered popular Deuba loyalist Chiranjibi Wagle this week is nominee to the upper house, Dipta Prakashgets the tree symbol. Or if the emergency is support, and it would be orchestrated by his own cabinet colleagues over extended or not. In fact, even without a Shah, is an indication that his views were possible for the govern- construction contracts. “Deuba’s left hand is too hardline to digest. formal emergency, the country is in a state destroying his right hand,” is how a political of emergency. prime minister is even less ment to keep them at bay Shah told us: “I resigned because I sensed powerful than it was, and the and hold some form of insider put it. Given this scenario, and a Since the emergency went into force in rumoured meeting between Girija Koirala and that certain forces didn’t like what I had said monarchy’s public image is elections. But will it be about the role of the constitutional November, no one won. Everyone lost. quiescent. Who benefited from all this? the king on Friday, don’t be surprised if the able to convince the army, the palace and certain ROBIN SAYAMI monarchy.” In an interview with Parliamentary parties have been emasculated, theCertainly not the Nepali people. Nepali Congress begins reunification. Maoists are weakened, the strength of the army foreign governments that it can? They have been the biggest losers. The Rajdhani, has been dragged into public debate, the office of The defence establishment is fairly clear that economy has been battered, investments are Shah had said Tuesday that the king can Waiting for breeze

One year after September 11, tourism hasn’t picked up.

RAMYATA LIMBU ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ears of pre-poll violence, the emergency, an international slump in air travel post-September 11 and fears of India-Pakistan tensions Fcontinue to keep tourists away from Nepal. Bookings for the autumn season are down, and cancellations are coming in. Although it is picking up again in southeast Asia, tourism shows no signs of recovery here. Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has tried to put on a brave face by saying that arrivals are up 35 percent this July compared to July 2001. But that is misleading because last July saw a serious post-royal massacre slump. Saskia is a Dutch tourist who was all set to travel to India and Nepal this autumn. But on advice of the Dutch government, she’s decided to postpone her plans to visit the region. Lina is a Swede, but she has decided to defy her government’s travel alert for Nepal and is coming for a trek in October. On Thursday, the US embassy upgraded its travel advisory for Nepal in lieu of the 16 September Maoist strike saying Americans and other tourists could be at risk. “Traffic to Nepal has been affected by travel advisories issued by the US, Britain and many European countries deterring travel to India,” NTB says. Still, the promotional body says Indian arrivals are double last year’s figures, and there have been dramatic increases from Australia and Japan. But the downturn for the main markets—Britain, the US, Germany and France—continues. “The unrest in Afghanistan, India-Pakistan tension and Nepal’s own internal problems have impacted heavily on tourism. Things don’t look too encouraging,” says Suman Pandey, President of the Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN). Nepal was voted the second Weekly Internet Poll # 49 “top travel destination” in May this year, ranking after New Q. Has the CIAA done enough, or should it Zealand in a survey by the go after the big fish? Guardiannewspaper in London. The accolade came six months after Nepal was voted second in the Top Country Category out of 180 countries in the Wanderlust Travel Awards 2001. But such distinction does not show in arrival figures.

Total votes: 1335

Weekly Internet Poll # 50. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com Q. Does it really matter who gets the tree symbol? see p6 222 EDITORIAL 6 - 12 SEPTEMBER NEPALI 2002 TIMES NATION 6 - 12 SEPTEMBER NEPALI 2002 TIMES 333 Nepali Times is published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Chief Editor:Kunda Dixit Editor:Anagha Neelakantan OPINION Design:Kiran Maharjan STATE OF THE STATE by CK LAL by KANAK MANI DIXIT [email protected], www.nepalitimes.com Advertising:Sunaina Shah [email protected] Subscription:Anil Karki [email protected] Sales:Sudan Bista [email protected] Sanchaya Kosh Building, Block A-4th Floor, Lalitpur GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: 01-543333-7, Fax: 01-521013 Printed at Jagadamba Press: 01-521393 Distant neighbours Who will we take lessonsmore tangible. If wefrom want favours, in weforging must a new, updated Fighting by the rules first know what they really want. international interest focussed here than HOT SPOT relationship with India:Back in theBangladesh, “buffer” days, Nepal’s Sri Lanka, or Sikkim? he monsoon is about to end, and in another similarly-placed country. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ General Pyar Jung Thapa takes over as Chief of Army Staff wo world leaders most conspicuous by their absence at the Earth Summit in independence saved the Indian army the together with it may come a There are therefore activists about, and Johannesburg this week—as far as we were concerned—were the president of the cost of patrolling the high, hostile frontier Trenewed bout of bloodletting that they will raise a stink which otherwise world’s richest country and the prime minister of one of its poorest. BANGKOK - If distance gives perspective, policies towards India, then there are next week. He faces the challenge of fighting the Maoists T with China. With Indo-Chinese detente the people can ill afford. The Maoists have supportive governments cannot ignore. The fact that Sher Bahadur Deuba didn’t attend just went to show that hethen knows there is no better place to reflect over this buffer is less important. Meanwhile, ourchances of an action replay of the Kazi- clearly used the period to regroup and which side his toast is butered: getting a Belgian gun deal unstuck. George W, for his without sullying the image of the army. To begin with, this will result in Nepal-India relations than while flying oversouthern border now has to be guarded byChogyal showdown here. The Maoists will recruit. There are ample opportunities up part, was too busy trying to carry on where daddy left off to bomb Iraq into smithereens cancellation of weapons deliveries and a on or before 11 September.and Bush Deuba were symbolic absentees: they sent thethis vast subcontinent and watching the an Indian border patrol that is an army by be only too happy to dance to that tune. ahead for them to exploit the multi- Himalaya recede over the northern horizon.another name. So the budgetary advantage The days of dictatorial vanity couched layered political confusion that is about. shift towards providing non-lethal message that threats to the earth’s ecosphere come from both prosperity and poverty. support for the army. The high-profile Ten years ago, the senior Bush told the first Earth Summit in Rio de JaneiroThe necessity that of rethinking the bases came of having Nepal as buffer has vanished. in the terminology of nationalism and The Royal Nepalese Army has drama in Brussels last week with the America's lifestyle was “not up for negotiation”. His son went a step further andout ofkilled a chance the meeting with an Indian Nepal has friendly relations with patriotism are long over. The disadvantaged established itself firmly in the centre-stage near-collapse of the Belgian government Kyoto Protocol last year, destroying even the consensus on reducing carbondiplomat emissions at Bangkok transit. Pakistan. It can’t cut off ties simply becauseof Nepal are no longer ready to endure that was reached in Rio. This is proof, if proof is still needed in an age of corporate of Nepali polity even though till recently will surely make other governments think South Asia’s hub these days is Bangkok. nationalism on an empty stomach. Nepalis corruption, that oil lubricates American politics. New Delhi doesn’t like it. An independent the soldiers had a strictly secondary role, twice over selling arms to Nepal. The Even Prime Minister Deuba passes through toiling in the Gulf and Malaysia now know So, four percent of the world’s population keeps burning up 25 percent of its fossil Nepal cannot be an extension of Indian demanded by the primacy of the royal army does need to upgrade its weapons, Don Muang on his way to and from that there is no particular advantage fuel. The Bush administration sees nothing wrong with its citizens emitting six tons of foreign policy even if China recognises the palace. Since November, the RNA has but how is it going to do it if its conduct carbon dioxide per head into the atmosphere every year, when an averageEurope. European There are no flights between attached to a passport of one of the poorest area south of the Himalaya as Delhi’s become an active player in its own right. in war is questioned? with a similar lifestyle emits one third that, and an average Japanese, a quarter.Kathmandu (It takes to Colombo, or New Delhi to sphere of influence. countries of the world that is now also In addition to the duty towards maintain- nearly 300 Nepalis to burn off as much carbon dioxide as an average American.) The RNA and its individual officers Islamabad, but one can go between these We therefore have to decide what kindstrife-torn. When they return, as they one ing the country’s integrity at this time of and sipahis also have their own post- places by flying all the way to Bangkok. So of relationship we want with India. We canday will, they will want a say in how Nepal extreme stress, the generals now also have it isn’t unusual to bump into South Asians is run. And the governing elite will then no a responsibility to take maximum care Maoist future to consider. By remaining follow the belligerency model often adopted strictly apolitical and fighting a relatively in the cavernous shopping mall that is the by Bangladesh and brace ourselves for the longer be able to fool them with the while tackling the insurgency. departure concourse of Bangkok Interna- supposed advantages of never having been a clean war, the Nepali military can consequences. Or we can go to the other The short-term tactical goals of continue to be a valued member of tional Airport. extreme, and do the Thimpu model to wincolony. defeating the Maoists must be seen by the The dip in question was in a relaxed Like every other emotional Nepali, I international peacekeeping fraternity and material advantages by sacrificing certain army against the larger strategic goal of (having seen action) a sought-after force mood and began by praising the realistic told ID that an independent Nepal is a emotional ones. One can’t have it both maintaining national unity within an for the Blue Helmets. Indeed, it was even geo-politics of Nepali Maoists. Never since moral issue, not a balance sheet. As we got ways: Shital Niwas cannot treat South evolving democracy. The Maoists are once suggested that the RNA organise a Rana rule, he said, has a political force in up to board our respective flights, I had to Block like a distant neighbour and then exploiting failures of democracy to rip permanent peacekeeping force for the Kathmandu been as friendly towards the add that an independent and prosperous expect geopolitical advantages that are society apart by destroying horizontal United Nations. But if (rightly or Delhi darbar as the Maoists. He may have Nepal is still in India’s best interest. never unconditional. Then there is the linkages among the people. The military wrongly) the image is created of a force been over-playing it for effect, but it is a option of maintaining a balance: the Sri It is clear, however, that we continue to surely has higher ideals than those who are that does not follow the rules, then both fact that Maoists hiding in India are not Lankan way. ignore the hard realities of geopolitics in this completely lawless. the army and the national economy stand unduly worried about the Interpol Red When Sikkimese Chief Minister Pawanregion at our own peril. The economic Since November, the army has had to to lose a great deal. Corner notice. Once in a while, some low Chamling told this paper last year that it reasons are compelling enough, but now it's overcome its logistical and equipment As in days of old, the army brass level Maoists are apprehended by the Uttar clear that we need more than show-case was not Sikkim that merged into India but shortfalls to fight a battle-hardened and continues to react with petulance to Pradesh Police and handed over to Nepal, support from India to control the Maoist the other way round, we found it a cute ruthless Maobadi force. The army entered criticism. But such criticism is even more but the big fish continue to swim back and remark. But it is a fact that the Sikkimese insurgency. the fray after the guerrillas had already The resulting climate change and sea-level rise may soon wipe the Maldivesforth across off the the border. RNA. Can one hope it will be more active natural (and necessary) now that the have benefited immensely from Indian Prime Minister Deuba can re-impose gained significant momentum. RAM HUMAGAIN/NEPALNEWS.COM map. There is no such thing as “my back yard” anymore, and global warming isThe already Indian diplomat—let’s call him than its counterparts in civil society? RNA is no longer a ceremonial presence making a measurable impact on our mountains. Last spring, the inhabitants of Pokhara largesse. If Nepal doesn’t adopt realistic the state of emergency in the country by The army’s strategy is clearly to try and General Thapa greets Prime Minister Deubascale, on and his lastreturn far frominto the Brussels future. on The Tuesday. but a fighting force. Rather than simplis- “ID”—urged me to think like an Indian for Many foreign governments have for the first time in living memory caught the apocalyptic sight of Machhapuchare as a undermining the spirit of the constitution, break the back of the Maobadi, and force it resulting militancy at that time may not tically label all commentators as “anti stark black pyramid devoid of any snow. The Khumbu Glacier has retreated a5 moment km since and ask why India must remain willingly supported the government and but he cannot stop them from roaming free into submission. But the experience so far to exercise civilian control over the military. even be Maoist, for fundamentalists of any army”, the generals should try to get to the first ascent of Mt Everest 50 years ago. Glacial lakes in Nepal and Bhutanfriendlier are to Nepal than is absolutely army to fight ‘terrorism’. They have no brimming with melted snow, several are in danger of bursting through their moraine over Indian territory. suggests that it is too thinly spread and as has And with civil society largely cowed down, hue can capitalise on the grievances. the content of the analysis vis-a-vis the necessary. According to ID, Nepal has hopes from the Maobadi, but are now barriers. Malaria is climbing up the valleys, and epidemics have been reported even in It’s a difficult decision, but one we not yet mustered the required striking power. the army is left to set its own standards in the future of the country and the RNA. Kavre district. This year’s erratic monsoon is probably nature’s way of tellingceased us that to bewe the buffer that once cushioned There is no doubt, of course, that the increasingly concerned over serious will have to take sooner or later. A later The army also seems to be addressing the vacuum that exists. are tampering with the equilibrium. the clash of geo-political plates between army was called in to pick up the pieces violations of civilian rights by the army. General Pyar Jung Thapa faces the decision may be too late if the Maoists expectations of the Kathmandu classes to In a country where there are a large Johannesburg was supposed to be a historic opportunity to address the Indiadevelop- and China. Beijing is wary about after the politicians and Kathmandu’s International human rights groups are on challenge of fighting the Maobadi, maintain- are indeed as friendly to their handlers as have the war over with quickly. number of grey and accidental Maoists, it has ment roots of environmental problems: to see that the ecology and the economyTibetan are activity in Nepal, and there is no powerbrokers had already managed to high alert, and are beginning to stir. ing the image of the army, as well as two sides of the same coin. Indeed, as we have seen in Europe, Japan and some ID claimed they are. All this has resulted in an unacceptably been difficult for the soldiers to draw the reason why India should depend anymore wreck democracy. But the army does not The RNA must respond to these early preparing for the demanding task of policing American states, eco-friendly policies actually help the economy. high level of civilian deaths, a fact well distinction. The bulk of the hardcore function in a vacuum either. It must look at the slated elections. He will be a political But we also see governments of the South using the argument of Northernon Nepalover- to protect its strategic interests in signs before the rapacious ‘parachute media’ documented by the National Human Rights seems to have evaded the dragnet thus far. what kind of victory is achievable, and player in a position that is required to be consumption to carry on with business as usual. Per capita carbon emissionthe levels Himalaya. in ID was warming up to his Commission, international watchdog groups, There have been many instances of should not countenance a total victory in discovers and descends on the ‘story’. apolitical. countries like China and India may be small, but China is already the thirdline largest of thinking, and added meaningfully: Articles like the recent one in source of atmospheric carbon, with 12 percent of the total. In the next 15 years,“In fact, China Nepal magnifies problems for as well as the very diplomatic community multiple killings in “encounters”, and isolation from political parties that will still There is an opportunity during this and India will account for 40 percent of new carbon in the atmosphere. India.” that is keen to provide the army with support mistakes have not been acknowledged. be there tomorrow as representatives of the change of guard to adjust course and jettison China and India also provide a vivid example of the dangers of biodiversity loss. The Defence Ministry reports list the It is clear that the new breed of South in the fight against ‘terror’. As one diplomat people. Also, thus far, the soldiers have tried the predecessor's political and tactical Increased affluence in China is pushing the illicit trade in tiger parts, leading to the says, “The army is breaking too many rules dead, but no wounded and too few to go it alone, forgetting that there are Block strategists see Nepal as a pesky baggage. The challenge before CoAS Thapa decimation of India’s tiger population. The tiger is a metaphor for the rest of the when it should be taking the high ground and prisoners. This will ultimately create many civilian sectors that have equal if not ecosystem. The battle to save the planet through sustainable development pebblewill be in won the rice bowl. There is a message The Times of is to try and bring peace to the land with harder road against the cruelty and mayhem a backlash. more enmity with the Maobadi. or lost in Asia: if Asia follows the western model of economic growth the planetin there is for us in Nepal. We can’t count London on the June Thulo Sirubari minimum innocent civilian victims. The doomed. being wrought by the Maoists.” The volume ofthe army’s operations anymore on the rhetoric of “age old ties of Some abuse will happen in the conductincident will become more common. If the public expects the army to deliver peace, but So let’s stop this kneejerk west-bashing and start putting our own houses in order. amity and friendship” anymore. Our Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s are necessarily at a quantum level higher of war, but a professional army needs to army’s image is tarnished, supportive not the peace of the cemetery. relationship has to be based on something government has neither the stature nor abilitythan those carried out by the police during investigate and prosecute the guilty. A human governments will begin to distance them- the 1997 Kilo Sierra Two in the midwest. rights cell has been created recently within theselves. The fallout of mistakes made today, Because Nepal has been a popular unfortunately, will also be on a different tourist destination (at least until Comrade Prachanda ruined it), there is more and assistance from the government when they try to go serious issue, often ignoredment activities, his only abroad to work, then you will by the Fourth Estate as wellconcern as is the possible LETTERS solution” instead of a “part of have the unwanted conse- by our intellectuals.LETTERS The printkickbacks involved in those the problem”. quences of Maoism. media is one of the most activities. He is always staringprompting the entire R Subba, Kuwait THE MESSENGER powerful agents to influenceat a the half empty part of the population to believe that there selves among their sisterseconomic in levels, and political Malcolm Odell, Tangal Kapil Dahal, Gorkha needed, by subsidising Although your editorial society. Nepali media, know-glass. He is convinced thatis absolutely no hope for our their own and neighboringpersuasions to work together electricity while removing ingly or unknowingly, is foreign aid is no good for thecountry. The people are never villages, often stitching upto solve real problems through subsidy on imported fossil fuel. “Bloody Well Right” (#109) “Disadvantaged abroad” tried to portray certain weaksystematically brainwashingcountry, as it may involve told that we have many officials the bindings of their literacyharmonious dialogue and Let us use electricity for by CK Lal was one of the best spots in the Nepali media, theit vast majority of poorly commissions to business like Upadhyaya, that there are and banking handbooks tocollective action. There is reads in recent times. Espe- transport, industry and failed to highlight a more educated population, includinghouses and business housesmany incorruptible politicians pass them on to others. Thesemuch that our leaders andHANSA cially his depiction of HANSAs household needs. Let us go the tender brains of the can only make money by with sincerity and dedication, groups carry on, even in thedevelopment agencies canI usually like CK Lal’s col- who make people of Mongo- ahead and light our villages younger generation, and hasillegal means. He thinks thatthat there are many journalists heart of Maoist territory, in alearn from them about umns, they are original and Kudos on your superb literacy- and savings-led lian origin miserable when you and towns while the villages succeeded to convince themRoyal Nepal Airlines shouldwho cannot be bought, that remarkable non-partisan healing wounds, building insightful analyses of the editorial, “Bloody well right” microas finance that is attracting have to obtain a passport. ISELF-EMPOWERMENT and towns on the other side of that Nepal is a country full ofnot buy or hire any aircraft, asthere are many industrialists manner bringing together peace, making a difference,present social phenomena in well as for Ani Rudra Silwal’sglobal attention, having won have seen it with my own eyes the border remain in the dark. political thugs, corrupt govern-it will involve big money andand businessmen who do fair women from all castes, and being “part of the Nepal. But I had fundamental After reading “Trading power” excellent report, “Giving microfive international awards/ when my uncle tried to obtain When this happens, the ment servants, smuggler hence big under-the-table business andsincerely pay differences with the part of his (#108) by Binod Bhattarai, it credit where it’s due” (#110)citations. One of the most a passport, and it took nearly pressure from our neighbours businessmen, teachers withdealings. A negative mind-settaxes, and that we have many column “Disadvantaged struck me that Nepalis must on Pact’s remarkable Wom-amazing things about WEP is three months. It would have beyond our borders will be fake certificates and what not.has become rampant in students who can excel at abroad” (#108) where he puts get over the mindset that we en’s Empowerment Programthat everything that Silwal taken longer but my father was enough to force their politi- The majority of teenagers society and the main drivingHarvard and Oxford. forward the theory that always need to dance to the in the tarai. Thanks, too, notreports on is taking place over fed up with the officer on duty cians to purchase power from already have the feeling thatforce for this state of the affairs "HANSA" (Hindu, Aryan, tune of the Indians (even if But, alas, it will take yearsonly for avoiding “body-bag”one year after the donor and and paid him some money to us—which we know will be their motherland is not worthis undoubtedly the news Nepali-speaking Administra- their cronies in this country to de-brainwash our societyjournalism to but also focusingPact wound up their core expedite the process. Some of beneficial for everybody (them living in. media. tors) are the sole cause of the would like us to believe that make them proud of their Nepali Times articles on how funding and technical support. my relatives have had prob- and us). The man-on-the-street, Even CIAA Chief Surya misery faced by our forex- we must). Have we not motherland, our society, our The women really are in lems with employers in R Khadga, Kathmandu Nepal can heal the wounds earning brothers and sisters. learned enough lessons by who obviously has to dependNath Upadhyaya once com-glorious history, our rich charge—and they are busy, on Malaysia and Kuwait, but none and find solutions rather than Although the article made me making deals such as Kosi on print media for all kinds plainedof that media is beingculture, our bravery, our hard- their own, forming more of the Nepali labour officials glorify the violence, as other feel sorry for their plight, it also and others with the Indians? national news and views, isunnecessarily euphoric overworking farmers, and above all Village Banks. anywhere are the least bit media tend to do as a matter made me uneasy that my We have always been an not bothered about develop-corruption issues, thereby, our tradition of “tolerance and interested in helping them. of course. A recent external evaluation favourite columnist was taking independent country and let us sacrifice”. There are hundreds of similar Silwal’s article does justestimated that perhaps as such a reductionist stand. I continue to exercise our Sugat Ratna Kansakar, by stories if you want to publishindependence. We must use that by highlighting the powermany as 1,000new economic expected CK Lal to be more them. If the poor and the the surplus electric power andCORRECTION email and successes of some groups—with some 20,000 careful in paying attention to uneducated don’t get justicemuch more that we can Michung Gurung in “Another 130,000 rural Nepali womenmembers—have been other facets of the issue. generate for our own use, if Manang” (#109) should have in creating a new model forformed by the women them been identified as the former DDC chairman of Manang

ANI RUDRA SILWAL Laxmi Chaudhari of Debauli in Chitwan bought the cow with a loan district. from her village bank. 444 NATION 6 - 12 SEPTEMBER NEPALI 2002 TIMES NATION 6 - 12 SEPTEMBER NEPALI 2002 TIMES 555 DOMESTIC BRIEFS Speaking in tongues ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○ Despite the agreement to grant convertibility to the Yuan two months ago, a language barrier prevents Nepali traders from dealing in the Chinese currency. Traders who travel between the two countries continue to depend on US dollars or the age-old barter system. Nepal’s Bank of Kathmandu, the Nepal Bangladesh Bank and the Himalayan Bank all initiated the procedure to open Improved water mills improveYuan accounts, butlives had to backtrack when their Chinese counter- parts could not communicate in English. The 17 June agreement allows Nepali banks to buy Yuan from Chinese tourists coming to Nepal and deposit their earnings in accounts with the Central Bank of China. This facility is expected to increase the Chinese tourist inflow to Nepal and narrow the trade gap between the two countries. In the last fiscal year Nepal imported Chinese goods “After my time, I worth of Rs 5.29 billion, though exports only totalled Rs 525 million.

don’t know if my son SUBHAS RAI Health to the people will run the mill or ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○ A new Health Sector Strategy identifies safe motherhood and family planning, child heath, the control of communicable diseases and strengthening outpatient services as the four areas that need MADHUSUDHAN sell it off.” to be prioritised in the delivery of health services. The way to do GURAGAINin KAVRE ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ this, says the strategy paper, is to decentralise resources and am known as Saila Baajey in the village. My registered nameif isit Lalwas only their vocation. The mills are operated by whoever sets them apta Man, like hundreds of service institutions. In the first phase of the plan, 15 districts Bahadur Majhi. I must be between 60-65 years old. I have a upfamily in these of streams and rivulets. would have full essential health care within three years. The thousands of Nepali Sapta Man Shrestha (above, right) with his improved ghatta. The wooden nine. My son, daughter-in-law, my brother and his wife stay at home. I I Earnings depend on the amount of work. If we get customers, ifstrategy the mill would also work towards increasing the per capital Sfarmers, has been using look after thisghatta [watermill]. is full functional and if things are done quickly, we can earn as muchhealth as 5-6 sector expenditure. Presently, Nepal’s per capital health hydropower for centuries. The paddles were replaced with this metal turbine to triple his mill’s efficiency. This watermill was registered in 1952. As a child I enjoyed followingpathis a day. my Otherwise we cannot even makepathis .1-2 expenditure is $10, of which $7 is spent on pharmaceuticals. know-how to design, build, father here. I am now old and long for the comforts of home. This placeThis mill is grinds other grain besides maize and wheat. It grinds millet, the upper stone through a cold and I have no bed. maintain and run traditional made MPPUs have been ex- beans and soya beans. If there are insects around, it grinds them too! It vibrating metal contraption called Earlier, on some days, up to 20-25 people came here. This numbercannot huskhas rice, though. ported to Bhutan, Ladakh and Traditional Horizontal Water Mill ghattas for grinding grain is a “bird” that can regulate the gone down a lot after many motor-driven mills were installed in theAs area. far as I can remember, there were many watermills here: up there, up Sri Lanka. probably as old as human flow of grain. There are an This ingenious design uses the energy of falling water channeled These mills are ten times faster. Obviously they would be, a machinethere, ison a the other side, this side near the stream, behind the village.High-flying But defaulters settlements in the Himalaya. But estimated 30,000 traditional Organisations like the Centre through a hollowed out tree-trunk falling on water wheel made of a machine, after all; ours is a stone mill. And last night the water mostcanal have got ben abandoned. In our case, we just can’t afford to leave.○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○ damaged. One cannot do repairs at night, so water was diverted to the mill Sapta Man is rare among Nepali for Rural Technology, Nepal wooden hub fitted with obliquely-set paddles and a stone pin at the Now people earn Rs 100-150 if they do some other work, whereasIt whenis old news that the Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation is in the water mills still in operation all only this morning. red. But it looks like the corporation won’t take more than its fair farmers because he has adapted (CRT/N) and others are promot- bottom. A wooden shaft turns the top grinding stone as the bottom you stay at the mill, you getmanas two of flour [valued at about Rs 10] and over Nepal, but these numbers stone stays stationery. Grain in the hopper trickles into the feeding My father and uncle both worked in this mill; there were three shares in share of the blame. RNAC last week submitted a four-page list of the traditional waterwheel of his ing similar upgrading. CRT/N the rest of the day is dry. Some have, therefore, sought permission from the are decreasing as ghatta owners canal on the top stone through a vibrator called “bird”. it then. With a son and grandson, there were more divisions, and now the defaulters to the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of department to close the mill down, and others are doing something else. ancestors, installed more efficient near highways and in the tarai which trained farmers like Sapta mill is shared among five. We chargepathi onefor everymuri we grind. Authority. Adding to its endless problems of mismanagement, paddles and ball-bearings so that Man in upgrading ghattas, has Yet others are still paying taxes. We are somehow bumbling and commissions, kickbacks, and every other kind of graft, the turn to diesel mills. This is shared among five. That is enough for here, but it is notstumbling enough for along. with the same amount of falling declared Ladku an “Energy the home. People at home work on the farm. There is little land. That’s how corporation is also owed close to Rs 240.5 million by the Prime Efforts to improve on the Taxes have to be paid on this water mill. During father’s time it was water he can grind corn, wheat Village”. All 26 traditional it is; it’s not like in the tarai here. You farm two to four terraces. You start off Minister’s Office, numerous ministries, embassies and international traditional ghattas were started Improved Ghatta organisations. This is more than just whistleblowing. Do the math: and millet three times more ghattas along a two km stretch of from one end harvesting maize but there isn’t even a basketful wheneither youRs 1 or Rs 5. now we have to pay Rs 40 annually. They do not come nearly 35 years ago by Swiss to collect it. Once they did not come for four or eight years and whenwhat they RNAC is owed would be enough to pay off its pressing efficiently. Ladku stream now run on The turbine runner is made of spoon-shaped blades encased in a get to the other end. Working on the farm is tough. It is very hard work, but engineer Andreas Bachmann wooden case. The chute is replaced with a metal pipe, and the shaft there is very little crop to harvest. Running the watermill is not easycame either. after four years, we had to pay 16 twenties [Rs 320]. It is difficultforeign to debts (totalling about Rs 220 million), including the $5 million “The improvement in working with Nepali small-hydro improved turbines, and these turns the grinding stones. The upper part with the hopper and It is only done because it is said that a son must follow in the footstepspay large of sums at one time. For poor people like us, instead of suchit owes huge China Southwest for a jet lease deal. The payment has efficiency and power generation is days their high-pitch whine vibrator are the same as the traditional ghatta. The power can be the father. That’s all. I lived here at the mill, now my son and grandsonamounts will we would be paying only Rs 40 if they came every year. been overdue for over a year and the airline is threatening legal pioneer, Akal Man Nakarmi. In a stay here. What to do, there’s nowhere else to go. During my time, with great hardship, I managedmanas’ this chore. two I action. amazing,” Satya Man told us 1983 monograph, Bachmann and merge with one another as one taken with a belt to a dynamo or a rice huller when the ghatta is not while showing us his “generation walks down through the village. running. Everyone, not just Majhis, operates watermills. Now, if they knowdon’t how, know if my son will run the mill or sell it off. There are many shares in Nakarmi list the options for this mill. He could decide to sell it, or he might even keep it after realising room” in Ladku village. His mill “This is probably one of most just about anybody runs them. Even Bhotes, Danwars, Chhetris and Bahuns upgrading operate them. In the old days, since Majhis lived near rivers, it seemedthat he would as lose his livelihood. After I am gone, he can do as he equipped with spoon-shaped intensive uses of improved pleases. (FromWater Wisdom, Panos Institute, South Asia, 2000.) metal blades in the turbine can ghattas anywhere in Nepal,” says generate up to 3 kW of power ghattas, depending on CRT/N’s Puspakar Lamichhane Multi-Purpose Power Unit Ill-gotten gains and grind as much as 15 the head and flow. They put who has conducted a “ghatta The unit is made of metal and comprises of three detachable ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○ forward the design of a multi- census” in Kavre and found that segments to make it easy to carry to remote locations. The MMPU can the harvest season comes around. Yet another list has been made public. The Judicial Investigation pathis of purpose power unit (MPPU) kit there are 415 in 63 rivers and simultaenously grind grain, generate electricity and hull rice. The Sapta Man, for his part, says Commission on Property has put out the names of people who increase in speed and power is due to the greater efficiency of the This has saved a lot of time have yet to complete their declaration forms. The list includes a grain in an hour—three times that came in three easy-to- streams in the district. So far, improved both the quality and he is carrying out his family’s raised his family’s income level, assemble modules and can be blade design, and the improved design of the penstock and bearings. for women who usually had to number of former ministers and high-ranking government officials. more efficient than his original 70 have been upgraded with new quantity of flour that comes out traditional business. He learnt his plans to invest on bigger Wonder how much they have? If reports are to be believed, installed on the site of ghattas The MPPU is versatile and can run either as a turbine only to queue up and spend the whole wooden ghatta. turbines. generate electricity, or mill only or do all the work simultaneously. of the machine. We ask her if it isskills from his father who did day waiting for their flour at the hydropower-driven schemes, and Chiranjibi Wagle has a lot more wealth than he’s declared. Apart The traditional design is a with minimum expense and One of them is Sabitri Nepali true what some villagers say that from his father. Now, Sapta Man is looking for opportunities. And from what he had before his political star went on the ascend- expertise. MPPUs not just grind (Courtesy:Mini Technology by BR Saubolle and Andreas traditional ghatta. Others, who ant—Rs 600,00 in his bank account and 65 ropanis of land— wooden cross-flow turbine that in Kunekharka who is happy with the flour from the improved is running his three improved used to do backbreaking work at he has also volunteered his corn, but generate electricity, run Bachmann, 1978 Sahayogi PressNew and Himalayan Water Wagle, who was Minister of Physical Planning and Works before turns a stone disc on top of a the way her family’s ghatta has ghattas are not as tasty. “I don’t ghattas as a village development the services as a consultant to other the dissolution of parliament, and his immediate family also threshing machines, looms and Wheels by Andreas Bachmann and Akal Man Nakarmi, 1983) think so,” she replies. “There is enterprise with his business VDCs in Kavre to advise those stationery disc and grinds corn or even belt-driven lathes. Nepali- own property in Thamel and Chitwan, facts missing from his wheat that feeds into a hole on no difference in taste, and I have partners. He will couple one of who want to make the move to declaration form. found that the flour even has them for paddy de-husking when dhikki to de-husk grain can now improved ghattas on the econom- longer storage life.” do it quickly and be home early. ics of it. For his part, Sapta Man has HERE AND THERE by DANIEL LAK

In the September Himal One year later The Great Game of know, I know. We media airheads do love an anniversary. It’s the easiestFor a time, we were all Americans. Not any more. Tibet “peg” on which to hang a story. And a news item that looks back and FACING CHINESE FACTS • RELIGIOUS REVIVAL Itracks a well-known event is easy to prepare, far easier than an inquiry into Hindus, Christians, Chinese—felt very mixed emotions at seeing the Superpower something previously unknown. But surely as 11 September 2002 heaves humbled so. Everyone was horrified, saddened, filled with fear. Yet any number • INTERVIEW WITH SAMDHONG RINPOCHE • into sight, we can be forgiven for a good long look back, if only to see if of times, even in the immediate aftermath of the tragedies of New York, Washing- ROADS TO THE HEART OF TIBET there’s anything to learn from history. Are we forever destined to repeat our ton and Pennsylvania, the phrases “serves them right” or “now they know what we LIVING IN THE RUBBLE PHOTO GALLERY mistakes? I hope not. go through” crept into discussions, along with expressions of shock and grief. The • • • Twelve months of living dangerously, and reporting the unthinkable, justifiably angry rhetoric from Washington went on, unaware of the world’s FREE POSTER OF HISTORIC LHASA INCLUDED began innocuously enough for me. I was in Delhi to edit television stories conflicting yet equally sincerely held views. Musharaff, Chirac, Vajpayee and about the Maoists and an interview with Prime Minister Deuba. We had Blair, all—properly—extended the hand of friendship to America. Dissenting spent an entire day at television’s equivalent of the coalface and it was teatime. voices aside, we were all Americans for a while. I was sitting in the tiny closet that passes for a kitchen at the Delhi bureau of No longer I’m afraid. Iraq is not al-Qaeda, Saddam Hussein is no Bin Britain’s proudest institution, as some of us are moved to call the BBC from Laden. The world may have changed forever on 11 September, 2001 but the time to time—especially when a short-sighted government cuts funding to ability of imperial powers to be seen to be very, very wrong has not. So, a the World Service. As the BBC tea brewed, a Scottish video editor on loan to year on, as we all take stock and ask whether the war on terror is being won. Plus the bureau burst through the door. He was laughing—I remember this Other, more qualified commentators can trade insights on that question, but Simon Mollison: distinctly, unaware at this early stage of what was unfolding. “All yur woork’s I have one observation. Never mind 15,000 lb bunker-buster bombs, high Assessing gawn fer naught,” he said in thickest Glaswegian, “Soom booger’s just flown tech laser guidance systems and vast invasion flotilla. America was humbled; his wee plane intae the World Trade Center.” thousands of innocents died; a symbol of might and prosperity was destroyed on development failure I wandered—none too urgently, I admit—out to the newsroom to watch live television by a hoard of quiet, intense fanatics armed only with box cutters the horror unfold; the impact of the second plane, live on television, the and the willingness to sacrifice their own lives for a cause, however insane or evil. Shastri news of other hijacks, other crashes, the riveting and heart stopping implo- We will never erase that from the history books. Their twisted “achievement” Ramachandaran: sion of the gleaming towers, the unforgettable look on the face of George stands as a singular example of both evil and triumph, admittedly only by their Travelling in and Bush Jr as he was told the news. From Delhi to Dubai, Washington to insane definition. above Jomosom Beijing, the world switched on its televisions and surfed the dreadful images We can agonise for decades—and we will—over why they felt alienated, what of “Nine Eleven”. We heard the endless speculation of clueless commentators fuels hatred against a nation that responds with generosity far more often than it An Asian news (myself soon to join their ranks) and were shown disgusting canards like the makes war. This is for those well-qualified commentators to reflect upon, as well infamous video of one or two Palestinians celebrating America’s pain, presented as the rest of us. But one starkly frightening face remains, however you respond network? by inference—at the time—as the Muslim world’s reaction to events. emotionally to al-Qaeda or the hijackers of last 11 September. They will strike again. In fact, people from every one of Samuel Huntington’s ‘civilisations’— Count on it. now! on newsstands 666 NATION 6 - 12 SEPTEMBER NEPALI 2002 TIMES ECONOMY 6 - 12 SEPTEMBER NEPALI 2002 TIMES 777 SOMEWHERE IN NEPAL by PUSKAR BHUSAL INTERVIEW One year after September 11, the story is still the same Poll vault deployment in an impressively short amount of time. Nepal’s ISPs have a It’s hard defending democracy when hat makes the Internet work? Ask Bill Woodcock, one ofremarkably clear vision of both the economic reality they face and the best our all-party commitment to save those who work behind the scenes to make this global path toward improving their situation. Today, (28 August), we turned on the those who want pollsthe gains ofaren’t 1990. Specifically, nearly we Wbrain tick. Woodcock has been involved with the PacketIX switch for the first time, and there will be three ISPs using the IX to must resolve not to blame the exchange production traffic by this Friday. Within a month, we believe all from p1 Clearing House, a non-profit institute providing research and as fired up as thoseMaoists who for holding don’t. back people operational support for the Internet with routing policy, multi- ISPs in Nepal will be participating in the IX. who weren’t planning to vote in Trekking agencies members in Kathmandu say there have been a lot service transport and economic modelling. Bill is currently in Are IXes only meant for Internet service providers? elections can be held in any numberthe first place. Subject to all-party Kathmandu, helping establish the first Internet Exchange Point of cancellations, and this seems to be related to fears of violence ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ This was a common misconception for quite a few years, due mostly to ISPs MIN BAJRACHARYA preceding the November polls. “We have tried to tell our clients that the of phases. consensus, the new parliament for Nepal. Gaurab Raj Upadhaya spoke to him about the technicalbeing afraid that customers who come to an IX will want service mannerfor free ormaking it available to all service providers. Third, the government Maoists are not targeting trekkers, but there is a perception of insecurity If some consider coming out to could serve for a two-year transi- aspects of information technology development in Nepal. change ISPs frequently, but what we have discovered in the last canfew yearssimply is allow market forces to solve the problems, by deregulating and for the coming season,” said another trekking agent who had cancella- vote too high a price to save the tional period, extendable by a year. that IXes are an excellent place to buy and sell services. Ratherpermitting then let all competitors to install new infrastructure wherever it is needed. tions by three groups one morning this week. customers change ISPs more frequently, it allows them to get additionalIn reality, a combination of the first and third options is probably the most system, they’re entitled to their Once we agree that the situation services more easily and also lets ISPs provide services to customers with Hotel Association of Nepal president, Narendra Bajracharya, is just efficient solution. opinion. For those who swear by has become propitious for a freer Gaurab UpadhayaIn layman’s: terms, what is an Internet Exchange?fewer local provisioning problems. back from a promotion trip to Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. the sanctity of the ballot, Prime poll, we can go back to the people. Internet Exchanges are the “factories” that create Internet bandwidth. ISPs Globally, where is the Internet headed? “Southeast Asia is seeing a revival, but we are looking at an average of Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s Even in the best of times, trend (Internet Service Providers) deliver that bandwidth to consumers.How IXes can are the Nepal government and regulators help? I see a general trend toward mobility and prevalence of small and portable only 20 percent occupancy,” he told us. analysis suggests, this would be the where ISPs communicate with each other handling customers’ trafficThere with are actually a number of critical market reforms needed Internetin Nepal devices like laptops, pagers, cell phones and personal digital For S P Koirala, at the Ministry of Culture Tourism and Civil Aviation, bluster about his brigade winning a one another. Customers are interested in reaching other ISPs customersbefore the so Internet will really become available to the majority assistants.of the The fact of the matter is that the consumers simply don’t wish to majority on an 80 percent turnout time the lower house would be ripe the value of the Internet is created at Internet Exchanges. The public.job of theForemost among these are the removal of the constraints which it is clear what needs to be done: “We first need to put our house in be tied to a wired phone, or worry about where to plug-in. This trend towards raises a red flag. The confidence for dissolution. ISP is to transmit this bandwidth to the customers. Hauling trafficartificially to and preclude market competition to install fibre infrastructure.mobility One will be combined with the convergence of voice and data services order.” Koirala is optimistic that the government’s recent decisions to from an IX outside the country is very slow and expensive. Buildingimportant a local thing to remember is that the current infrastructure were installed open up new trekking areas and climbing peaks, streamlined mountain- with which the UML is predicting The overriding consideration as we have already seen in hand-held devices that combine e-mail, web IX like the Nepal Internet Exchange (NPIX) within the country solvesat public this expense, it should by all rights be equally available tobrowsing all and telephony. ISPs will begin to look more and more like cellular eering rules, lowering of visa fees and the addition of the Chinese its own majority unfairly influences of beginning the elections on problem by reducing the cost and distance between consumers.members This is the of public. telephone providers as their deployment expands to include both wireline market will ensure a swift voters who haven’t made up their Kartik 27 is to avoid activating market driver for the deployment of broadband Internet access. In fact, however, it is currently being used to exert a monopolisticservice and micro-cellular wireless data service. A prevalence of local recovery once a tourism turna- minds. From the conflicting Article 127 of the constitution and stranglehold on the local loop delivery of telecommunications services.Internet Exchanges would guarantee that local communications will be And what is the Packet Clearing House? statements of top bureaucrats of theopening another can of worms. Three remedies exist. First, the government could ensure that allboth parties inexpensive and very high speed. round takes place. The problem is, PCH is a US-based not-for-profit research institute, originally formed in have access to unbundled local loop, while permitting the actual physical there is no sign of a turnaround. home and defence ministries, it Putting up at least one unopposed 1993. At that time, 70 percent of the Internet was located in California, but facilities to remain under the NTC management. Second, the government looks like our choice may be candidate could facilitate things in the only IX was located in DC. So 70 percent of Internet traffic originated in One sector of tourism that could at public expense initiate development of new telecommunications California and 70 percent was destined for California. Seventy percent of remains relatively unaffected is between having a flawed election orcase meeting the deadline were to infrastructure and the government could operate in a free and impartial none at all. A Deuba-led all-party prove impossible. With the first 70 percent is 49 percent of all Internet traffic, and this 49 percent was mountaineering. “Going by the election government could help us test having been met, it would travelling an extra 9,000 km round-trip, completely unnecessarily. trends this spring, the numbers out of the dilemma. The UML become easier to accept minor Today, about half the PCH’s efforts focus on developing nations. In have remained more or less could get the deputy premiership violations of democratic practice as addition to building IXes, PCH also helps to find technological, policy and constant. While there were a financial solutions for IXes that have encountered difficulties. PCH also complete with the home ministry, part of an effort to save it. engages in research initiatives like archiving topological changes to the few teams on the newly with finance going to the RPP. The Contrary to belief, Deuba’s Internet, building economic models and working to improve the scalability and opened peaks, we’ve had other parties in the dissolved house trip to Belgium wasn’t entirely a robustness of ISP communications. We are supported by the same community many enquires,” Ganesh Raj could work out the rest of the fiasco. He persuaded the Belgian that we work in especially by equipment manufacturers and ISPs. Karki at the Tourism Depart- power-sharing deal. The parties prime minister and most legislators Why the inertia to start IXes in developing countries? ment’s Climbing Section told outside parliament could be that guns were an important Really, there is equal need for IXes throughout the world, regardless of the us. represented based on the number ofinstrument to save Nepali degree of development of any country. However, we’ve seen a general trend More than 20 expeditions statements they put out on vital democracy. toward stagnation of Internet development in countries that don’t have a national issues since the last competitive market environment for telecommunications services. In many are expected to scale Mt ill the elections be held on The security situation across Where he really excelled was in developing countries, an incumbent telephone company is in a position Everest from the Nepali side next spring schedule? It sounds like swathes of the countryside is not elections. As a gesture of goodwill trying to get European Union which does not encourage Internet market growth, and an IX is a way of NEPAL INVESTMENT BANK to mark the 50 Wpoliticians, journalists and stable. In most insurgency-torn to the Maoists, the two facilitators monitors for the polls. Deuba reinvigorating that growth. Market reforms which encourage competition can civil libertarians are the ones asking areas, the government barely has a during last year’s peace talks could also help bring new ISPs into the mix, bringing consumer costs down and should have spent an extra variety of services up. th anniversary of the first ascent. Tourism entrepreneursthat question the most, doesn’t it? presence beyond the district be asked to join. Getting repre- afternoon in Brussels to make sure say they don’t have their hands folded. Says Pandey: “We’veWe got have to good reason. Our jobs willheadquarters. (You’re forced to sentatives from the shadowy those EU representatives came How has the world progressed on the Nepal Internet Exchange? keep Nepal alive in the market, we’ve got to remind people thatbe we’reon the line first if democracy werewonder, though, what officials reactionary right on board might from countries that are also NPIX participants have cooperated with remarkable efficiency. They’ve gone from being competitors to collaborators in the interest of Internet still in the running, that we’ve started a recovery process.” to disappear on a technicality. But would actually be doing in the midstprove a little more difficult. They members of NATO. That way, we NTB has launched a “Destination Nepal Campaign 2002-2003”we aren’t but being entirely selfish. of ridges, crevasses, rivers and seem to hate elections more than could brandish both carrots and for that to show results, everyone agrees there has to be a changeThere is ina lag time before the peopleforests, anyway.) But the omens the Maoists do, anyway. sticks, draw in all those against or the ground situation at home. Tourism entrepreneurs in Manangstart have suffocating. Once they do, aren’t that bad. Under the latest As for fairness, let’s not pretend got together with the Annapurna Conservation Area Project to promote indifferent to elections. Right now, THE NEPALI BANK they’ll start blaming the parties, delimitation of constituencies, the that irregularities never existed. Wethose who want the polls aren’t Destination Manang 2004 in the hope of boosting the local economy.papers and If pressure groups for not district-wise breakdown of House of things work out, and Nepal’s security situation improves, the prediction probably can work out an accept- nearly as fired up as those who with by the Pacific Area Travel Association (PATA) of a revival in travelproperly warning the rest of the Representatives seats goes against able margin by averaging the don’t. But we still have time. trends in the region may well come true. Fingers crossed. country. the Maoists. The places sending malpractices of the last three polls most of the MPs have terrain and doubling it in deference to the GLOBAL CONNECTIONS inhospitable to hit-and-run raids. exigencies of the national crisis. A Security officials believe polls can gopledge to accept an outcome falling BIZ NEWS ahead in about 155 of the country’swithin that range would burnish 205 constituencies. That’s almost Silver lining three-quarters of the House ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ membership. It would be akin to The economy may be a shambles, industry may be struggling, but having a third of the 155 MPs Nepal Lever Limited weathered the turbulence of the past year by achieving 25 percent growth, taking its domestic turnover to Rs 882 elected from two constituencies. By- million. But not all is well there, exports have shrunk by more than half. • PREVIOUSLY NEPAL INDOSUEZ BANK The annual turnover of NLL reached Rs 1.24 billion, netting the firm after tax profit of Rs 43 million. NLL is the market leader in toothpaste (60 percent) and controls 50 percent market share in toilet soaps, 80 The GLOBAL CONNECTIONS remain percent in detergents and 45 percent in fairness creams. Its shampoos, introduced two years ago, now claim 30 percent of the market. So do the TRAINED STAFF In the meantime, NLL exports tumbled by over 50 percent, down to Rs 355 million from Rs 837 million the previous year. Exports were hit Banyan Convention Center at mainly by fiscal measures in both Nepal and India, which the company says are unlikely to change over time, and will probably cause sales in India to shrink further. The company says that Indian Countervailing Duty based on • NIB IS NOW A 100% NEPALI BANK Hotel & Resort Manufacturer’s Retail Price (MRP), which became effective in February Buddhanilkantha 2001, and Nepali taxes on exports have cut into its margins and made certain products totally uncompetitive. NLL has already stopped Supported by leading business houses exporting toothpaste, and the sale of Liril soaps in India—at one stage almost every unit sold there was made in Nepal—has also shrunk. and financial institutions Nestle in the foothills of Shivapuri, world’s only “There may be no point retaining investments made for export,” says Gurdeep Singh, co-chairman of NLL. National Park close to the capital & intl. airport. The domestic business environment has also been far from perfect. Besides increased costs of transportation and the difficulties of doing For homely hospitality blend in Pure Nature business in the hinterlands, NLL has still been unable to recover Rs 120 million (now down from Rs 420 million) that the government owes it as • VERY SUBSTANTIAL CAPITAL EASY TIMES “duty drawback.” It’s never been easier to subscribe to Nepali Times. Providing the basis for GROWTH Just dial this number and leave your address.

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NLL is also seeing a change of leadership. Rakesh Mohan (third from right above) replaces Sandip Ghose (standing, above) as the new managing director.

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Tel: 375280, 375279 Fax: 371656, Email: [email protected] 543333 888 HERITAGE 6 - 12 SEPTEMBERNEPALI 2002 TIMES 6 - 12 SEPTEMBERNEPALI 2002 TIMES 999 with respect—it actually speaks to changed every Dasain and Chaite Flying with the flag on Fulpati. an integral part of Nepali national Dasain, by law. It makes sense, and identity, unlike the national soul, the moon signifies the Nepali not just because they are so symbols of a number of other mind. The blue border is the conveniently six months apart— countries that were simply invented Himalayan sky and portays the these festivals are fundamentally for because ‘everyone has one, so bring immensity of the universe of which the worship of shakti (power), the on the trite colours of valour and we are a part. concept symbolised by the triangles honesty’ and let’s just stack them Oddly enough, given its in the Nepali flags. That’s even atop each other’. more argument for treating the flag uniqueness and its symbolism, the 1958 constitution totally over- looked the need to recognise the banner as the national flag. flag, it is We might not actively carry out generally a acts of violence or disrespect, but good idea to look around any time you’re out and about, and you’ll see any follow them. For number of limp, sad looking flags example, flags raised on where they shouldn’t be. The office buildings should be general post office in Sundhara is hoisted within five minutes not constitutionally entitled to of sunrise and folded before hoist a national flag, but ask sunset. On occasions when the insiders about its odd practice of flags are required to be hoisted after flying one all the time and you get asunset, it should be hoisted under resigned shrug and explanations of spotlight. The same goes with the “tradition”. Is it tradition to fly flags on vehicles. In US the national a flag that look like a hurricane flags are folded even during cloudy According to the 1992 policy: just hit it? days. And the Swiss need no greater Their Majesties fly the banner. Even government offices that excuse than a bright sunny day to Members of the general public can hoist the national flag in red and blue stripe. Necon Air took can legally raise the flag do it in Vedic emblem as their flag, and that fly the flag from every restaurant, their private homes and offices to celebrate the coronation of a king the innovative step to stick a such a manner as to nullify any is the origin of the unique double inn, or cheese factory in the and his birthday, and to mark national unity day and democracy day. waving Nepali flag on its fuselage, uplifting effects the sight of the confederation. and got into trouble in the begin- triangle. The prime minister, chief justice, speaker of the House of national emblem is supposed to Drive through Maitighar to ning because it wasn’t the “official” The one we use now dates from have. The important thing about Representatives, chairs of the upper house and the Royal Council, and flag carrier. the unification of Nepal by Prithvi Putali Sadak, and there shines the chiefs of diplomatic missions may Does our banner yet wave? the flag is that it is a deeply Health Ministry’s flag under the display a flag on their official Professor Daya Ram Shrestha, Narayan Shah, though the border at symbolic object, not just an light of the full moon. It’s a sign of residence, vehicle and office. who won the Madan Puraskar in that time was green, rather than identifying sticker in the long the times that flags on ministry A 1959 government directive 1997 for his research on the Nepali blue. Of course, it was much later, parade of nations. The other in the 1963 constitution, that the buildings look tatty and discolouredallows the ministers to hoist the flag national flag, doesn’t think the important thing about the flag is even though the flag policy requires on their official vehicles while situation is so dire. “Sure, there are flag was officially declared the commuting to and from official HEMLATA RAI that, no matter how much of a messthat the minute a flag shows any ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ small signs of neglect here and national emblem, though the the rest of the country might look ceremonies. double triangle had already been signs of damage, it needs to be there, but by and large we Nepali like, a good flag is at the very least areplaced. In 1992, the deputy prime people respect our flag.” hoisted at the United Nations sign of striving, an indication that at minister, deputy speaker of the headquarters in New York when In his book least we aspire to better things. Ke garne? Yo Nepal ho. House of Representatives, assistant Nepal acquired membership in So if the flag policy, which ministers and the deputy chair of the December 1955. It might just help if Nepali flags Upper House were given permission Nepal ko Rastriya Nepal enacted in April 1992, were made out of the strong to affix the flag to their official According to Shrestha, the vehicles for official ceremonies. Jhanda , Professor Shrestha tracks strictly outlines the procedures to bunting fabric used in other parts of crimson is supposed to signify the be followed during hoisting of a the development of the Nepali flag blood shed by brave Nepalis of yore the world rather than the delicate from when it was first used by who safeguarded our independence. and/ or flimsy silks, cottons and Lichchhavi king Mandev some The sun is a symbol of the Nepali polyesters. 1,500 years ago. King Mandev and Damaged or not, flags hoisted Nepali marathoner Baikuntha Manandhar displays it proudly on his others who followed him chose the on government buildings need to be chest, and flying above the Lower House (top).

even by institutions that ought to ight up there with know what to do with the Nepal anything with it. know better. The know that there are strict, specific over Nepal. Mt Everest, there is flag and put it in a background white Sure, tourists in Thamel, buy singhaon top of rules in Nepal on flag etiquette Then there are those who are one thing that makes rectangle so it “fits” with the rest. them for their exotic value, and Singha Darbar holds a flag proudly, (see box). officially allowed to carry the flag: Nepal stand out in Back home in Nepal, the flag is have them sewn onto backpacks andbut the crimson is often faded to Schools, for instance are not ministers, high officials, royal Nepali ambassadors abroad, the the community of not accorded the respect it deserves.caps. Santa Bahadur Tamang, a an off-pink. allowed to raise therato ra chandra nations, and that is The US prohibits the burning of theshopkeeper in Thamel, fondly Nepali merchant marine has even Sarisiddhi’s Shahid Smarak surya.The Education Act does our unique national flag. flag. The UK is known for its remembers the 1999 SAARC made it a “flag of convenience” even School hoists a tattered, discol- allow them to hoist it if celebrating though we are landlocked. Royal While everyone else is a bland distinctive Union Jack-patterned football final when young Nepalis oured national flag in its front yard rectangle, we have a triangle—and boxer shorts. In Nepal, well, no onebought out his stock of flags, but a national event, but the flag must Nepal Airlines flew the flag on the every day. Principal Badri Prasad be taken down when the ceremony tail fins of its aircraft, but dumped two of them! In many an interna- really knows what to do with that’s about it. Khanal, like so many other people tional conference, organisers don’t the flag or even whether to do The flag is largely ignored here, is over. so the national anthem it for the generic German-designed in the capital and outside, does not is sung sans flag in school all ALL PICS:MIN BAJRACHARYA PICS:MIN ALL For sale in Thamel. Thesingha holding it high at Singha Darbar. Standing apart from the rest at the United Nations in New York. 101010 WORLD 6 - 12 SEPTEMBER NEPALI 2002 TIMES ASIA 6 - 12 SEPTEMBER NEPALI 2002 TIMES 111111 OPINION by JOHN GRAY Tariff squabbles ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Regulating the NGO business just over $18. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○ GENEVA - The European Union may charge the United States up to Despite the extra injection of $4.043 billion in additional tariffs in retaliation for the undue tax DHAKA - Under pressure from business and opinion leaders breaks the latter gives its exporters, according to the biggest trade cash, Wang says China’s social and public forums, the government is considering imposing The end of the end of historysanction approved by the WTO since its creation in 1995. The Dispute Holes in China’s socialsecurity system has lagged farsafetyrestrictions on how NGOs net do business. Activists say the move Settlement Body (DSB), the WTO’s tribunal, reckons the sum is a behind the country’s economic and is but a politically motivated witch-hunt. A cabinet sub-commit- Bread lines in the Soviet Union and reasonable estimate of the true value of the subsidies received by US- Social security services meet only five percent ofsocial changes. tee headed by Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman, charged with based companies that exported to Europe through subsidiaries located “Having worked well under the investigating the matter, said in August that NGOs’ poverty riots in Argentina both expose the in tax havens. This regimen, a tax exemption scheme known as Foreign reduction efforts would have to come with substantial regula- Trade Corporations, had already received the DSB’s condemnation last China’s new demand. planned economy for almost half a tion of the sector. Rahman said regulations being considered by becausefallacy its monolithic of economic institutions determinism. year. By setting up Foreign Trade Corporations, a mostly artificial century, this system is confronted the committee include the mandatory registration of all NGOs, could○○○○ not○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ accommodate nations— foreign subsidiary, companies have been able to exempt 15 to 30 by a contradiction between an acute fixing a maximum ceiling of interest charged by NGOs on loans, Czechs and Uzbeks, Hungarians percent of their export income from US taxes. The tax breaks granted in shortage of money and the growing and auditing the income, expenditure and sources of NGOs’ and Siberians, Poles and Mongols—and Japan—which took the IMF the United States to certain exporters, which include Boeing, General income. Several thousand NGOs have been operating freely in Electric and Microsoft, violate the rules of the multilateral trade system, demand for social welfare and whose histories, circumstances and model with a large grain of salt. Like pension services,” he says. In April, Bangladesh since 1972 without regulation, despite the repeated the few remaining Marxists who according to the precedence the DSB has set in a series of rulings over statements by governments throughout the years that it would aspirations were radically divergent. the last two years. deputy minister of labour Wang Today, the global free market defend central economic planning, bring financing and lending by non-profit organisations under The largest sanction before Friday’s ruling came in response to a Dongjin warned of serious close scrutiny. Nearly 1,700 NGOs are registered with the constructed in the aftermath of the the ideologues of the IMF claim that consequences when he announced their policies did not fail; they were Canadian petition against Brazil in a dispute about subsidies to the government’s NGO Affairs Bureau and of these, about 200 Soviet collapse is also falling apart— latter’s aeronautics industry. The WTO gave Canada the right to that rising unemployment “could not fully implemented. But in both received foreign grants and loans with the bureau’s knowl- and for similar reasons. Like retaliate through slapping tariffs on Brazilian imports for a total of $220 well undermine our social stability”. edge. Over 3,000 NGOs are believed to be operating in Bangla- cases, the policies million. In the case of international banana trade, the WTO declared Marxists, neo-liberals are economic were tried—and “The government has been desh without official registration. determinists. Nothing can prevent the EU’s import regimen for the fruit illegal and said that Ecuador—the failed at great human cost. world’s leading banana exporter—could retaliate for $201.6 transferring back to society and the world from becoming one vast But if the global free market is million. family many of the welfare functions free market, and western govern- it had previously undertaken,” says hroughout modern times as Marxism oncewas, promises to be unraveling, it is not because of the ments and transnational institutions Sarah Cook, a British researcher at (IPS) liberal states have always co- human costs of its policies in even more short-lived than the can be midwives for the new world. the Institute of Development existed alongside varieties of countries such as Argentina, T Soviet Union. This ideology underlies institutions Studies, University of Sussex, Indonesia and Russia, but because it (IPS) tyranny. Similarly, the modern There are many reasons for the such as the IMF. Argentina and currently on secondment to the No Googling in China no longer suits the countries that ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○ world has always contained many collapse of the Soviet bloc, but— Indonesia have verydifferent Beijing office of the Ford Founda- most actively promote it. Under the BEIJING– China has blocked access to the popular US Internet varieties of capitalism, planned and contrary to conventional opinion— problems, but for the IMF the tion. She has examined China’s guided economies, and a host of pressure of a stock market down- Don’t blame El Niño search engine Google amid government calls to tighten media economic inefficiencies were not key.solution is the same: they must both ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ social protection system in her turn, the US is abandoning policies controls ahead of a major Communist Party congress where the hybrid economic systems not easily The Soviet bloc disintegrated become free-market economies. Russia GENEVA - The latest cycle of the climatic phenomenon known as El paper, ‘After the Iron Rice Bowl, classified. of global free trade in favor of more next generation of leaders is to be announced. Attempts to because it could not cope with at the time of communism’s fall was a Niño, which will last until 2003, probably has nothing to do with the Extending the safety net in China’. traditional policies of protectionism. access the site through Chinese Internet services this week Diplomacy and international nationalist dissent in Poland and themilitarised rust-belt, but theIMF was floods in Central Europe, nor with the severe drought in Southern to the World Trade Organisation in She says in urban areas, healthcare were rejected, saying it couldn’t be found. Users and technical Throughout its history, America has law developed to cope with the fact Baltic states and because a single convinced that it could be trans- Africa, but is indeed related to the heavy rainfalls in China, India and December 2001, which brings with it has become a major concern consultants who monitor the Internet in China said the site has always tried to insulate its markets Bangladesh, say leading meteorologists. El Niño, a warm Pacific of diverse regimes, but in the 20 economic and political system could formed into a western-style market institute. Reforms ended the ‘cradle-to- further restructuring. among laid-off workers. Under been blocked for several days. th from foreign competition. So Ocean current that flows eastward at latitudes near the Equator, tends to ZHAO MIAOMIAO and not meet the needs of vastly different ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Li Jigang is a 48-year-old engineer current health insurance reforms, There was no immediate explanation and representatives economy. An idealised model of history has once more triumphed cause meteorological shifts worldwide. A new cycle has begun, but this grave’ system that made state-owned century global politics was shaped societies and peoples. The Marxian Anglo-Saxon capitalism was WEN CHIHUAin BEIJING enterprises responsible not only for from the south-western city of both the employee and the state for Google, based in California, were not available for comment. over ideology. Mainstream politi- time will not reach the intensity of its last manifestation, in 1997-1998, ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ by the project of unifying the world interpretation of history is based on promoted everywhere. says the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). Its influence could Chongqing, a centre for heavy industry employer have to make insurance China routinely tightens controls on news and information cians may still nod reverently when hina’s welfare system has their employees’ life-long employment, within a single regime. Committed economic determinism: differences Unsurprisingly, this highly be seen in the unusual characteristics of the summer monsoon in the but also housing, medical expenses, that has suffered massive job cuts. contributions. around politically sensitive dates, and state media quoted the global free market is invoked, Indian sub-continent, particularly the scant rainfall in the southern and reached a crisis point after President Jiang Zemin in August as telling propaganda officials to Marxist ideology, the Soviet between societies, peoples, and ideological approach to economic pension, and even children’s schooling. He was laid off in 1997 after the Unemployed workers, who regime’s long-term goal was world forms of government narrow at but in practice the world is reverting central regions. In contrast, the northeast suffered excessive rains. Cdramatic changes to the to create a “sound atmosphere” for the meeting. armoury he used to work for shifted to policy has not succeeded. Indonesia to an older and more durable country’s economy left millions out Now the social security services can cannot pay their own medical communism, the world a single similar levels of economic civil products. “All my skills became Google is hugely popular among China’s 45 million Internet is in ruins, while Argentina is model, tacitly accepting that the of work. Attempts to repair the meet only about five per cent of the insurance contributions, face socialist economy, administered by development. outdated,” he says. Li’s factory gave him users because of its wide-ranging search capacity. A search rapidly ceasing to be a first world world will always contain a variety of damage have been too little too late, country’s new demand, says Wang unaffordable health bills. The uniform forms of governance. Nationalism and religion have a redundancy payment, but “the sum in English for Jiang’s name turns up links to 156,000 Web sites country. Russia has put the neo- economic systems and regimes. and ministers are concerned about Zhikun, chief of the Social Relief increasing costs of medical care and The disappearance of the MArxist no enduring political importance, was eaten up in two years, and my wife mentioning him. By contrast, a search on Sina.com, another liberal period behind it and is now social unrest. Department at the Ministry of Civil education means that families with portal that is popular in China, turns up just 1,600 mentions of project as a force in world politics has Marxists believed. In the short run, became jobless when her textile mill was developing on a path better suited to When China opened up to the Affairs - the department responsible for children, the sick or elderly face Jiang. The Chinese-language service of American search not been accompanied by an accept- they can be used to fuel anti- its history and circumstances. social services. closed.” To help families like Li’s, the particular difficulties. Failure to engine Yahoo! turns up just 24 results. Nor does Google weed rest of the world in the early 1980s it ance of a diversity of political systems. imperialist movements. Ultimately, Countries that have best weathered (Project Syndicate) Chinese government launched a invest in human resources, Cook out material that the Chinese government blocks as subversive. began its transition to a market The system used to target the Francis Fukuyama said that with they are obstacles to the constructionthe economic storms of the past few programme in 1997 to provide a basic warns, will end in “long-term” China promotes the Internet for economic use and to spread economy. Reforms to state enterprises elderly, disabled, orphans and families communism’s fall we were at the “end of socialism. Guided by these years are those—like India, China (John Gray is professor of living allowance for urban residents whosocial costs to society. Li from began in the late 1990s, and many of ‘revolutionary martyrs’, mostly rural the communist government’s views. But it has worked hard to of history”, when western governmentsbeliefs, the Soviet state waged an European thought at the lost out in the reforms. By February Chongqing shows how true this is. muzzle the Internet as a forum for free information and discus- workers found their skills were no dwellers. “Urban workers were could attempt to unify the interna- incessant war on the national and London School of Economics, 2002, 13 million people depended on “I dare not see a doctor ever since I sion. Authorities apply blocks to prevent Internet users from longer needed in the new-look guaranteed [security] through their tional system into a single regime religious traditions of the peoples and author ofStraw Thoughts on it for survival. lost my job. I’m afraid I can not viewing sites run by Falun Gong, human rights groups and industries. The impact has been huge: employment, known as the ‘iron rice based on free markets and democratic they governed. The USSR fell apart Humans and Other Animals, “The basic living allowance is afford even medicine if I get some foreign news organizations. Police monitor chat rooms between 1998 and 2001, over 25.5 bowl’,” says Wang Zhikun. But the government. This project, as utopian designed to ensure that the urban poor and personal e-mail and erase online content considered Granta Books, September million people were laid off by state reforms have taken a lot of iron out of seriously sick, since the bill is undesirable. Internet portals have been warned they will be and an unemployed family’s income 2002.) enterprises, says the Information the bowl, and many urban workers now quite steep.” held responsible for sites they host. But many users find ways does not drop below the minimum Office of the State Council, China’s face an uncertain future. to get around the blocks, often using “proxy servers” — living standard of a locality,” says Wang cabinet. In April this year the Recent government figures put the websites abroad that let users reach blocked sites. Such Zhikun. This standard varies from city techniques are routinely posted online in China or exchanged in OPINION by ALI AHMAD government predicted unemployment urban unemployment rate at 3.6 per to city. In Beijing the figure is about chat rooms. will triple in the next four years. cent for end-2001, but State Council $34 a month, but the national average is Before structural reforms, most estimates show the figure to be closer to people worked for the state, either in a 10 per cent. The Council expects it to bulk of Sharia cases involve family matters and ordinary commercial law. It may state-owned company, factory or worsen in 2002 after China’s accession surprise non-Muslims, but some Nigerian Christians prefer to file their cases in In defenceSharia courts because of theirof speed, fairness, andSharia relative unconcern with legal (AP) (Panos) ast week an Islamic court at Funtua, in northern Nigeria, rejected the appealtechnicalities. In Nigeria courts are poorly administered and move painfully of a woman convicted of having sex out of wedlock. Her lawyers will likelyslowly. Recently, a Christian car buyer drew wide attention in Nigeria when he Lappeal her conviction to a higher Sharia court, and if necessary, to Nigeria’swas duped by a Muslim car seller and took his case to a Sharia court. In a few The advent of El Niño—whose Spanish name refers to the baby COMMENT by HERSHEL I GROSSMAN weeks, he won—and paid no legal fees. Supreme Court, but if the judgment of the Funtua court stands, Amin Lawal will Jesus because it tends to appear in South America near Christmas— be stoned to death the moment her daughter is weaned. But too often Sharia law harms Christians. In has been hinted at by unusual weather patterns since May. This one Nigerian state, Christian bus operators are prompted the WMO to advise preventive measures aimed at reducing Muslim-Christian relations are tense the world over, but they are especially the impacts of the massive rainfalls or severe drought that are the inflamed in Nigeria, the most populous country where Christians and Muslims discouraged and sometimes prohibited from hallmark of El Niño. WMO officials say the floods that have been carrying both men and women in a single trip. recorded so far this year in more than 80 countries, which have affected A two-state solution? exist in roughly equal numbers. The flash point for Christian businessmen have suffered because the at least 17 million people and claimed the lives of 3,000. Flooding Muslim-Christian tensions is Sharia, Muslim worldwide this year has covered an area of eight million sq km, almost religious law. Since late 1999 ten of the country’s 36 ban on the commercial sale of alcohol has led to the destruction of their beverage stocks. the size of Brazil. Material losses have reached $30 billion. WMO Arabs need to stop equating the states have adopted Sharia as their public law. The meteorologists say the question should be: “Are countries making the spread of Islamic law in Nigeria has provoked a Why is Islamic law growing in importance? The correct long-term planning decisions?” and say that the international Zionist project with colonialism. end of Nigeria’s military dictatorship and the return agency and national weather and hydrology services can help in sharp outcry against the severe punishments it ○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ levies, including amputation for thieves and death to civilian, elected government created countless calculating the risks of disaster. by stoning for woman convicted of adultery. beneficial freedoms, but freedom of expression to participate in Israel’s economy. This policy, which Israelis view as As a Muslim lawyer who practices in a Sharia resulted in more militant religious positions. The benevolent, supposes that economic integration of Arabs and Jews is possible court in Kano, Nigeria’s second-largest city, the clash of religions is exacerbated by the indecisiveness without modifying the Zionist concept of Israel as a Jewish state. But, from of President Olesegun Obasanjo. Muslim politicians demonisation of Islamic law by Christians and (IPS) the Arab perspective it reinforces their equating of Zionism with colonialism. human rights activists in Europe and North gain popularity by siding with Islamic conservatives Arab rhetoric often takes the colonial experiences of Algeria and South America angers me. Sharia is systematically distorted while their Christian rivals score political points by complaining about Sharia’s extreme aspects. Islamic Africa as models for their conflict with Zionism. In both countries, colonial- and misunderstood. But I was trained in American Corruption perception ism failed. Descendants of the European settlers in Algeria fled back to law might be justified if it targeted Nigeria’s biggest ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ law and taught at an American law school, and am problem: government corruption. Muslim politi- Europe. In South Africa, blacks achieved political dominance over the aware of the shortcomings in how it is applied, BERLIN - Corruption is a malady afflicting not only the developing descendants of British and Afrikaner settlers, large numbers of whom remain especially in its treatment of women. cians know corruption is killing our country, but countries, but also the developed world. It is an impediment to n 1947 Palestinian Arabs and their allies rejected a UN proposal to partition Sharia is not applied to the misdeeds of public as a tolerated minority. Arabs will have to become convinced that they can Islamic law has long been an integral part of sustainable development, depriving the children of today of the Palestine into a Jewish state and an Arab state, just as ten years before they neither subjugate the Jews nor drive the Jews out of Palestine. officials. Only when the spotlight of Sharia shines on resources they will need to survive tomorrow, says the Corruption rejected a similar partitioning proposed by the Peel Commission. More social life in Nigeria, and will remain so. Sharia Perceptions Index 2002 (CPI) launched last week by Transparency I The negotiating formula of “land for peace” and “breakthroughs” like the government wrongdoing will we know that Nigeria recently, at Camp David and at Taba in Egypt, Arab negotiators again rejected law’s severe punishments fly in the face of western is on the road to prosperity. International (TI), the global coalition against corruption. The new Oslo accords failed to dampen the conflict because the Arabs interpret Israeli legal canons. I have mixed feelings about these index, published by TI, scrutinises 102 countries. Seventy countries— proposals that would have led to the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. Sharia can also be reformed in ways that make the law more tolerant, open, concessions as signs of weakness. The Israelis show the Arabs that they cannot penalties. In theory, I accept the death penalty and It is time to speak of a including many of the world’s most poverty-stricken—score less than 5 True, sometimes Arab negotiators discuss mundane issues that prospective destroy Israel by enduring the violent war of attrition that the Arabs are out of a clean score of 10. According to the index, corruption is even amputations, though in practice I believe cosmopolitan Sharia,and acceptable and to apply non-Muslims. it neighbouring states would need to resolve, such as political boundaries, securitypursuing. The only way to convince the Arabs that Israel is here to stay is to In Islamic tradition, reform of Sharia results from an perceived to be rampant in Indonesia, Kenya, Angola, Madagascar, implementers of Sharia understand little that much crimeto Nigeria’s stems from poverty corrupt and politicians. Paraguay, Nigeria and Bangladesh, countries with a score of less than arrangements, and economic relations. American and European governments usemake this war of attrition very costly. desperation. I believe amputation for thieves should not be carried out unless 2. Countries that have secured a score of higher than 9, and evidence the carrot of economic aid to encourage this development, in the way the US pays But suppose a two-state solution were achieved in the not-too-remote society’s poor are better provided for. very low levels of perceived corruption, are predominantly rich Egypt and Jordan to acquiesce to Israel’s existence. But unless the Arabs under-future. Think of Ireland, where a two-state solution has worked. Having There are good reasons the process leading to the death penalties imposed by countries, such as Finland, Denmark, New Zealand, Iceland, stand the permanent reality of a Jewish state in Palestine, the creation of a Palestin- Singapore and Sweden. secured an independent Irish state, Catholics in the Republic of Ireland came Sharia courts has drawn rebuke. Sharia as applied in Nigeria today is insensitive ian Arab state won’t provide more than a tenuous truce. The CPI, first launched in 1995, is a poll of polls, reflecting the to accept the existence of a settler enclave in Northern Ireland. But, the Irish to the welfare of women. Why are only women sentenced to death for adultery, The Zionist project of creating a Jewish state in Palestine entails a return of thestory has not had a happy ending. The Catholic minority in Northern perceptions of business people and country analysts, both resident and while men go free? Four witnesses are needed to catch a man in the act, or he ijtijad, a creative and Jewish people to their ancestral homeland. Whether or not this historical justifica-Ireland, whose position seems similar to that of the million Arabs who are intellectual effort to apply Islamic law to new circumstances. It is time for ijtijadnon-resident. This year’s CPI draws on 15 surveys from nine independ- cannot be convicted. This standard of proof is so difficult to meet that men ent institutions. A rolling survey of polls taken between 2000 and 2002, tion for Israel’s creation is convincing, it is important that the Palestinian ArabsIsraeli citizens, eventually revolted against the dominant Protestants, with simply are not convicted. Until Sharia can handle adultery fairly, no penalties again if Muslims wish to maintain a central role for Sharia in Nigeria. the CPI includes only those countries that feature in at least three and their allies don’t buy it. Arabs equate the Zionist project to the creation of adecades of violence resulting. should be imposed. (Project Syndicate) surveys. colony. For them, the conflict between Jews and Arabs replicates the conflicts But attention to sensational cases, while justified, obscures the reality that the between colonial settlers and indigenous peoples. (Project Syndicate) (Ali Ahmad practices Sharia in Kano, Nigeria, where he also Even if no one else buys this, the lessons the Arabs glean from colonial teaches law at Bayero University. He formerly taught law at Emory experiences become relevant. Over the years Israeli governments encouraged Arabs (IPS) (Herschel I Grossman is professor of social sciences and University in the US.) economics at Brown University.) FROM THE NEPALI PRESS THIS PAGE CONTAINS MATERIAL SELECTED FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 6 - 12 SEPTEMBER NEPALI 2002 TIMES CULTURE AND SOCIETY 6 - 12 SEPTEMBER NEPALI 2002 TIMES 121212 Political parties are the platform through which the 131313 public can collectively express its dissatisfaction. They are RNAC’s debtors expected to represent the people’s voice when democracy is ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ in crisis, but political parties are losing strength. Civil Dristi, 3 September society has turned out to be a disappointment—they Back at Sundarijal >18 “We can also start a movement.” engage in self-censorship, and have failed to give voice to The Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation has sent a four-pagethe people’s concerns. It will likely take a couple of years list of its debtors to the Commission for the Investigation offor the first protests to erupt even if the Panchayati system read. The day is cold. It started with hopes of being sunny and warm, Jana Aastha, 28 August Abuse of Authority. The letter, signed by acting RNAC were imposed again. but towards evening the day was overcast with clouds and cold wind Excerpts of an interview with Jhalaknath chair Ramagya Chaturvedi, says that Singha Darbar owes blowing. Subedi, former assistant minister from Jajarkot “The ball is in the king’s court.” close to Rs 5.25 million, while the palace owes RNAC over Dr Mahesh Maskey, On the possibility of holding electionsRs in 400,000. The list of debtors includes prominent community health expert his district embassies, and organisations such as USAID and the World We need to analyse what we The situation is so grim that the first personBank. Meanwhile, RNAC has drawn a Rs 220 million have achieved and where we 9 Feburary who steps out to vote will be targeted by theoverdraft by placing its jet as a deposit in order to service its failed in the last 12 years. Maoists. Let me tell you what happened in foreignthe debts. Sundarijal: I am greatly disturbed since yesterday when we got the There aren’t many points on impression from the captain that writing paper wouldn’t be available to 1997 elections. Jajarkot is one of those which we can be assured that districts where in 10 of 30 VDCs, elections us. I am anxious at the thought that we may be totally deprived of Who owes what? this political system is better intellectual activities. Even if there are no books I could write my had to be held a year later. One of those 10Prime Minister’s Office: Over Rs 5.2 million 10 February was Jhapra VDC. A day before the elections for the public than the biography or the history of Nepal’s democratic struggle in which I have the Maoists came to the village and said, “Let’sMinistry of Finance: Over Rs 12.4 million Panchayat was. The present very actively and at times centrally participated. Then I could Myjot down mental tension continues, but it is not as high as it was yesterday see who will vote first. We will be watching.”Ministry of Commerce: Rs 945,464.05 constitution guarantees multiparty democracy and the stray thoughts, take down notes from books (we have six second-ratebecause the major told me that he had not understood me when I said books) write stories or even attempt a novel on contemporaryI wanted socio- six quires of paper. He thought I wanted six sheets. But that The people went to the voting centre the nextMinistry of Local Development: Rs 81,760.08 sovereignty of the people, but has no provision that day, but none stood in the line, no one wantedMinistry of Transport: Rs 222,595.94 political developments in Nepal. If paper is not supplied to us, wasand that,if we he said, indicating by implication that the misunderstanding guarantees the people’s right to hold a referendum for self- can’t contact our people for it or bring it ourselves—we had askedwould the be closed and 6 quires of paper would be supplied to us. I also to be the first to vote so there were no Ministry of Defence: Rs 47,215 determination. elections. The situation has worsened since. officer here to get writing paper from the market from our money,left it whenat that. But GM (Ganesh Man Singh) thinks that he made that Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Rs 119,292.07 In the economic arena, the interim government when we received that kind of information—then my life will reallystatement be just to be pleasant. And that he had referred our demand …The elections are to be held on 13 Home Ministry: Rs 81,343.25 formed following the restoration of the multiparty system extremely unbearable. It is most frustrating. I have started cuttingfor paper out to a “higher authority” which had not yet sanctioned it. GM November; it is now late August. There is noDepartment of Postal Services: Close to Rs 13 million tried to reduce the royal family’s budget allocation a little the blank margins from the two daily newspapers (Gorkhapatrasays and we should conserve paper and not be misled by expectation of way for those of us who will contest the Department of Civil Aviation: Rs 144,344.75 Rising Nepal) to save as writing material. Since I have to conserverelaxation in the matter. Today too they didn’t send us the doctor. I elections to go to the district. There are noMinistry of Foreign Affairs: Over Rs 2.5 million bit, but no other government since has tried anything like paper, I have started writing small letters so that they may notbecame take nervous and thought we would be deprived of medical flights there, and we do not have surface Ministry of Tourism: Over Rs 1.3 million that. This fiscal year Rs 380 million has been allocated for The stress of incarceration is beginning to tellbigger space in the paper. I have three refills for my dot pen. Iattention. have a My present worry is that I don’t get sound sleep and my transport. The government has been unableRoyal to Nepal Army Air Service: Rs 205,200 the royal family, and an additional Rs 230 million has small bottle of ink and this pen which I am writing with. I don’thead know is constantly heavy with a buzzing sound. assure security, so the airport remains closed. VVIP flights: Rs 313,176.05 been earmarked for the “development” of the royal palace. on BP Koirala in these pages from his diary. how long the ink will last. I brought this pen just fortuitously whenA Icarpenter was came to repair some of our windows. They supplied a sorting out my things at Patna on the eve of our departure to this place. Telecommunications have been shut down That puts the budget going to the royal family at Rs 610 The fear of losing his supply of writing paper is bucket and mug for GM’s bathroom. Ever since our arrival in this Deputy Prime Minister’s Office: Rs 13,572 Another cause of worry is that the doctor does not visit us although for the past 10-11 months. The Maoists have million. camp, i.e. since last 40 days GM had been asking for a bucket for his Ministry of Tourism Rs 361,292.34 more worrying than not getting books to read.we have been asking for him. I am not feeling all right with giddiness The state is in a massive crisis. Its anti-people bathroom. It arrived only today. attacked me twice, they may attack me again. How do you expect me to go there on foot? IMinistry might go of Health: if Rs 75,440 Compounded with this, BP is getting and heaviness in the head, buzzing sound and pulse in the ears and security is assured… otherwise, I am not interested. Ministry of Water Resources: Rs 21,870 characteristics are being revealed, and it is trying to protect increasingly worried about his health and bleeding from the nose. Regular visits from a medical man wouldDuring inspire tea we talked about Nepal’s politics and the imperatives of SHIVA GAUNLE SHIVA itself. The state is not being supported by the parties that confidence that at least when we are ill we will be in safe hands.our return to Nepal. GM is firmly convinced that we have saved OnThe living bridge in Kathmandubetween Rukum and Jajarkot say they have taken a firm stand against reactionary forces. worries that the jailers have not sent a doctor ourselves, our party and, if the response from the other side is I am not here because it is difficult for me to live in my village. I am here because it is impossibleEmbassies to even and Organisationsgo Washed some clothes, didn’t bathe, with this mental state I couldn’t American Embassy, Delhi: Rs 97,215.86 The government now has a choice: keep misusing power, to check him up. He discusses politics with jail- equally informed with statesmanship, then the country [too] by this there. Tell me how I can go? People of the Baneswor Congress [Sher Bahadur Deuba’s faction] have decision to return to Nepal. Now the ball is in the king’s court. been going in and out on police helicopters, I belong to the Teku Congress [the Girija PrasadCanadian Koirala High Commission, Delhi: Rs 26,492.33 or try to gain people’s confidence through the elections. mate Ganesh Man Singh and concludes that it faction] and don’t have access to those facilities. I have heard that the prime minister has instructedChinese Embassy, the Kathmandu: Rs 208,756.46 is now up to King Birendra to make his move. police not to allow people from the Teku Congress to go to the districts. So how can I go back?Egyptian … Embassy:It’s Rs 10,911.95 Dr Krishna Khanal, been 17-18 months since I have been back to my district. Earlier I used to travel between hereKorean and Embassy: the Rs 13,259.82 political analyst district, but it has also been eight or nine months since the airport closed. Pakistani Embassy: Rs 35,926.82 I would say that the present …Little has changed in the security situation even after the emergency. The emergencyRussian has been Embassy: Rs 13,044.91 crisis is the by-product of effective only in Kathmandu; maybe you as journalists have also been affected. No one caresHigh about Commission the of Canada: Rs 39,052.97 our failure. This crisis will emergency in the districts. The curfews are the only new changes; apart from that, no oneICAO: in my Rs district 23,541.60 leave no space for the kind of is even aware of the emergency. There we have been living through the emergency imposedIndian by Embassy, the Rangoon: Rs 27,453.60 participatory democracy we CD REVIEW by MARK TURIN Maoists. The Maoists let people travel to the district headquarters for only two days in a month.K- bird If Project: there Rsis 47,566.60 want. The Maoists now seem no movement of people to and from the district headquarters, what elections will you have? Post Master General, Hong Kong: Rs 425,885.16 to be in the mood to …I have been living on what I earned from selling my little ancestral property. I do not havePostal cash Department, to Dhaka: Rs 124,333.50 compromise, the government spend and have been managing by selling some gold ornaments we had. I know life cannotUSAID: go on Rsin 67,886.45this is getting more militant, the manner. I hope there will come a day when I can return to the district and do agriculture. World Bank: Rs 69,918.04 other progressive powers are heading towards compromise. Rastriya Banijya Bank, Kathmandu: Rs 16,971.70 We need to watch out for the kind of ‘progressiveness’ this Learning Nepali the Klingon way On the tree dispute Do you think we will keep quiet if the Election Commission does not recognise us as the officialRastriya Congress Beema Sansthan, Kathmandu: Rs 11,114 conflict is engendering. type of stratification, if well imple- Party? How can we? What would happen to our party? Where can we go? How can we expressDepartment of Telecommunications: Rs 23,259.45 The progressive powers that had the potential to onsumers learning European mented, might enhance the EuroTalk dissent? Maybe a similar situation to this one led the Samyukta Jana Morcha to begin revoltingTribhuvan in early University: Rs 85,471.40 improve things are more feeble than they have been in the languages are increasingly faced A new CD-ROM CD-ROMteaches and be less youoff-putting to to ask in Nepali where the beach is. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 1996. Sher Bahadur Deuba was prime minister then, look at where we have come now becauseNational their Trading 42 Ltd: Rs 64,036.93 past 50 years. The debates on democracy have weakened, with a choice of instructional On double-clicking the more adult learners. speech variation and linguistic demands were not given a fair hearing then. US Embassy, Delhi: Rs 9,613.77 C promising ‘Learn Nepali’ icon, the Two features of the and not just because of the emergency. The mindset of the materials, ranging from traditional choice. Tapes which accompany …We also have a large number of supporters and party workers nationwide. If we are Britishbarred Embassy, from Kathmandu: Rs 422,304.56 rulers, Nepali Congress or CPN-UML, has not changed pocket-sized Berlitz travel companions user is required to personalise the instructional materials may contain legitimately contesting elections, what options would we have left, other than launching a movement?Royal Mail London: But Over Rs 1.4 million after 1990. That stagnation is the root cause of the present to interactive CD-ROMs. The latter interface by typing a name. A very role plays and vocabulary lists, but a movement does not have to be violent. We will join the type of movement the party decidesAmerican to take Embassy, up… Delhi: Rs 179,344.20 crisis, as is the failure to make changes. have the advantage of being designed pleasant (if uncommon) Nepali voice rarely can the user hear the same Indian Embassy: Rs 299,716.42 People have started calling this constitution a as personalisable linguistic resources greeting, words or phrases being repeated by Defence Ministry, UK: Rs 59,999.55 that hold the learner’s attention. For Learn Nepali speakers of the opposite sex. Users of Royal Palace: Rs 406,503.20 compromise between the king, the Nepali Congress and the most part, only commercially subha din (Good Day), is CD-ROM warrant special praise. the EuroTalk CD-ROM stand a Nepal Food Corporation: Over Rs 6 million the left front—the prime minister says that the three viable language learning courses have then heard followed by a loud First, it is possible to study Nepali better chance of understanding, and Nepal Rastra Bank: Rs 334,776 powers drafted the constitution, and it cannot be amended been made interactive (such as American shouting “Good Afternoon”.through the medium of a language of being understood, if and when Nepali Congress: Rs 5,340 without their agreement. The king and the Nepali Spanish, German and Russian) while While the top left of the home screen other than English. At any point in thethey finally communicate in Nepali PATA: Rs 85,249.36 Congress are there, but the left front does not exist minority languages materials, into is dominated by administrative course, the user may choose to alter thesimply on account of having heard UNDP: Rs 195,425.86 anymore. We do not have faith in the system we created, which category Nepali certainly falls, features, including purchasing other ‘help’ language (the language of different accents and idiolects from French Embassy: Rs 75,937.29 we failed in not developing ownership for it. offer at best an audio tape of sample EuroTalk CDs, the prominent graphicinstruction) from American English the outset. Royal Nepalese Embassy, Delhi: Rs 112,249.60 (the default) to British English, Dr Pitamber Sharma, conversations alongside a printed of a CD in the middle of the screen While the linguistic content of Hindi, Icelandic, Tibetan or any of 70 geographer course book. labelled ‘Learn Nepali’ is strangely this beginners’ CD-ROM is others. This is a powerful facility that Our biggest failure has been It was thus with some surprise not clickable. The user is instead acceptable, it is marred by an will significantly increase the overall QUOTE OF THE WEEK in not decentralising economic that I came across required to click a small start arrow, overarching cultural uniformity. user base of the package, and is a and administrative power, once again enter a name, and then EuroTalk Nepali is an exercise in feature not readily incorporated into It is extremely irresponsible of the prime minister to say that the king, the army, and the police are in without which participatory EuroTalk Interac- the same enthusiastic American voice unreconstructed ethnocentrism, other language learning tools. There favour of him. The prime minister’s deposit for the elections should be retained for this unconstitu- democracy is not possible. It tive’s Talk Now! series of CD-ROMs, says “Welcome to Euro-Talk”, the underpinned by the assumption that are some limitations, as one would tional, undemocratic, and anti-public statement. Prime Minister Deuba and his group should be took 12 years for a decentrali- offering multimedia instruction in irony of which is all too apparent each and every culture (and thus by expect: some languages offer voiceover barred from knocking on the doors of the people. sation act to be enacted, and it lesser-known languages such as when starting to learn a South Asian extension, its language) has similar tracks while others are strictly textual was bypassed the day it was Assamese, Farsi, Kannada, Manx language. patterns of social, cultural and (for example, the written Zulu word enacted, a sign of how insensitive our political system is and…Nepali. I ordered the course The content of the CD-ROM is economic interaction. Sapir and —Subash Nemwang, central member, CPN (UML),Dristi in , 3 September Failure housed within a subdivided roulette for ‘blue’ is offered when listening to Whorf would turn in their graves if ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ towards development issues. entitled ‘Learn Nepali: Essential words the pronunciation of the Nepali word they knew what was being peddled Mulyankan, 15 August-14 September In poor countries such as ours, the government’s and phrases for absolute beginners’ and wheel of clickable segments, including the train station’ course is compromised by the ‘First Words’, ‘Countries’, ‘Num- in the name of language pedagogy. (rel steshan kahà main objective should be to guide the rich and provide was rather bemused by the contents. problems outlined above. The bers’, ‘Phrases’ and ‘Food’. The The lack of cultural tuning is cha?) and ‘where is the beach?’ assistance to the poor. Instead, since the interim govern- After double-clicking the rainbow seamless integration and slick Nepal is ruined economically. The political confusion has subdivisions are sensible and useful, nilo ‘blue’). Scrolling down the list, I (samudrâ kinâr katâ cha?). While the ment was created, we adopted a market economy. Our coloured best illustrated with examples, and interactivity of the CD-ROM, encouraged forces waiting to emerge again and the activities of Talk-Now! icon on the and navigation through the different noted that Nepali is also available, latter example is of little use governments have displayed more faith in a market is particularly apparent in the combined with the lack of cultural foreign powers. The Maoists have a stranglehold over half the sections is likewise intuitive. In each meaning that Nepali could be anywhere in the Nepali-speaking economy than even The World Bank or the IMF. That desktop, the user is taken to a sections applicability,make it a triumph of country, and the government has not taken initiatives that subsection, the user must choose an learned through Nepali, a somewhat world, the former may at least be of created confusion about the role of the government in secondary folder. While the natural form over content. would help end the insurgency. Analysts and academics approach fitting his or her needs: wordunconventional way of achieving some utility in Darjeeling or development attempts. For instance, the government choice would be to click the icon speak out. practice, speaking practice, an easy monolingual language instruction. Sikkim. Generally speaking, in fact, totally neglected the public schools where 95 percent of labelled ‘Learn Nepali’, my eye was EuroTalk interactive’s Talk Now! game or a more challenging one. The Star Trek is ever present in the the content of the course is more children study, and concentrated on privatising the drawn instead to a folder underneath overarching structure is heavily menu structure, however, as the First Wordsand Phrases. suited for use in the Nepali- Learn Krishna Hachhethu, education sector, which put the underprivileged which reads, in rather small and dependent on graphics rather than language listed as ‘Nepali’ in RomanThe list ofFirst Words starts out, speaking regions of India than Nepali CD-ROM: Essential words political analyst children at a disadvantage. blocky Devanâgarî, klingon siknuhos. text, and success is measured by script is written as naturally enough, with ‘Yes’ and anywhere in Nepal itself. and phrases for absolute beginners. The budget allocation for the The government failed to be accountable to the This I can only interpret to mean passing tests. This approach will klingon in ‘No’, but then, third in the list we My suspicion is that every CD- 2000. London. ISBN 1-8662- palace affairs has been increased people. The local bodies can play a vital role in making ‘learn Klingon’, the language spoken appeal to younger learners, but Devanâgarî. are offered ‘telephone’ (pronounced 21088-8. [System requirements: to Rs 380 million from Rs 110 ROM within the the government accountable to the people, but by the race immortalised in Star Trek. university students, researchers, A second useful feature is the teliphon), soon thereafter ‘wine’ Talk Now!series Windows 95/98/NT/2000 or Mac million last year, a good political parties are not committed. Regardless of More surprising still, in ways that I healthcare or development profession- OS 7 or above. Computer must have indicator of the direction the option of a female Nepali speaker (rendered aswain ) and finally near has an identical database structure their ideologies, party manifestoes ignore the idea of will describe later, is that the Klingon als who are hoping to learn Nepali as instead of, or alongside, a male one. the bottom, kredit kâr? (credit card). which includes exactly the same colour display, sound, 16 MB of free country is taking. Second, the accountability. Civil society can contribute a lot, but leitmotif pervades the whole CD- memory, CD-ROM drive and part of their vocational preparation The language course is presented by In their defence, these are all now words, phrases and examples. The palace and the army are gaining we neglected the people, we failed to make commit- ROM. Clicking on the icon labelled may find the interface childish and preferably a microphone]. price: two animated guides, a Caucasian available in Nepal (though I’m result is a single product with an upper hand in politics, as ments to empower them. Klingon sadly leads nowhere and the frustrating. Many educational CD- £24.99. Can be ordered from even the prime minister has man and an equally white woman. pretty sure they weren’t when the voiceovers in different languages, user is left with the feeling that a ROMs offer level or aptitude switch- On hearing a word, the user can opt but marketed as 75 different www.eurotalk.co.uk admitted. Third, the interference of donor countries has CD-ROM was created), and visitors Devanagari-literate computer ing: the lower level being visually rich for a Nepali woman’s voice instead language courses. increased as they monitor their investments, a sign that they programmer is having a laugh at to the country may indeed be in (Mark Turin is with the and structured around guided tours, of a Nepali man’s simply by need of wine, but including these EuroTalk Interactive’s have lost faith in Nepal. someone’s expense, in this case Department of Social tests and games, while the higher level clicking on the relevant torso. The items in a list of Learn The constitution and laws are misinterpreted and misused. probably the company’s (EuroTalk). concentrates more on in depth importance of this feature has less to First Words seems Nepali CD-ROM is a mixed bag. Anthropology, University of The constitution allows the term of parliament to be extended by After all, it is likely that neither the language use and rich content. This do with sexual politics, since a little far-fetched. Likewise, the While the interface is effective, the Cambridge. An earlier version It was just a bomb explosion. I thought it was something really bad! managerial staff of EuroTalk nor users a year in extraordinary circumstances. A state of emergency is women’s voices are just as often Phrases section is indicative of this games and tasks engaging (if of this review was published in atypical, but parliament was dissolved. The constitution has also of the CD-ROM read Devanâgarî volume 28 of the IIAS featured in language learning tools asglobalised approach. The learner is childish) and the choice of both been manipulated with regard to local bodies. script. Newsletter, Leiden, The Rajdhani, 4 September men’s, and rather more to do with encouraged to repeat and commit to male and female Nepali voice Netherlands.) memory sentences such as ‘where is commendable, the utility of the 141414 CITY 6 - 12 SEPTEMBERNEPALI 2002 TIMES CULTURE 6 - 12 SEPTEMBER NEPALI 2002 TIMES 151515

ABOUT TOWN BOOKWORM

FESTIVALFESTIVALFESTIVAL Truth, Love and a Little Malice: An Autobiography Khushwant Singh TeejWomen fast for their husbands’ longevity, wear bright red, and all day walk to Ravi Dayal and Viking Penguin India, New Delhi, 2002 Love, books, and food in the Pashupatinath singing along the way. 9 September, all day, Pashupati. Rs 720 In a career spanning over five decades as writer, editor, journalist, lawyer, MP and diplomat, Khushwant Singh’s views have always been provocative and controversial, but also perceptive and profound. In his DISCUSSION autobiography he writes about Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, the Partition, the Emergency, painter AABA KO RAJNITIK BATO/ The Political Road Presentation Ahead by Professor Krishna Amrita Shergil and other important people and times. And, of course, about sex. Khanal, comments by Dipak Gyawali and Hari Roka. GAA Forum, Thamel 6 September, 4-6 PM. Contact Sangita Prasai Mahat at 414785. Power, Politics, and the People: Studies in British Imperialism and Indian Nationalism Partha Sarathi Gupta EXHIBITION Permanent Black, New Delhi, 2002 Colorgraph prints by Ragini Upadhayay-Grela. 17 August-15 September, Siddhartha Art Rs 1,240 Gallery, 11AM-6PM, except Saturdays. 218048 RAMYATA LIMBU Partha Sarathi Gupta was an outstanding scholar whose academic interests spanned modern British and ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ In Thamel, a Korean couple makes a literary Indian history—ranging from imperial policy to the patriotic songs of Bengali composers. This volume AM, Thamel. Kim Hong- HimalayaKim is the son of a North literary connection to Nepal: they MUSICMUSICMUSIC reflects his various interests with special reference to the army, federalism, tariff policy. Other essays deal Sung and his wife Jeong and gastronomic connection between their Korean refugee. His father lost his helped their friend Finjo Lama Saturday Night Fever with Blind Faith, 8.30 PM on, The Rox Bar, Hyatt Regency Kathmandu.with the spread of broadcasting, labour history, cultural history, nationalism and identity formation. 7Myeong Kyeong are sipping homeNepali workerscountry in Korea and through Nepal. home during the Korean War. “At translate Kanak Mani Dixit’sThe 491234 fragrant herbal tea at Picnic, the articles in times, I still feel lost,” he says. He ○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Adventures of a Nepali Frog, a tale Jazz your blues away with The Jazz Commission, Fridays, 7PM on, Fusion, the bar at Leadership and Power: Ethical Explorations SK Chakraborty, Pradip little Korean kitchen they help run has now found refuge in the mountains. The couple now spend about the travels of Bhakta Prasad Dwarika’s. 479488 Bhattacharya, eds with a Nepali partner. It serves an nication Art College. “Believe me, other beings, the peepal tree grows Bhyaguto from the rice fields of Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 2002 their days writing, travelling when New music at the Nanglo BakeryThursdays Cafés The Thunders at The Bakery Café, Teku, assortment of mouthwatering Korea and Japan are very different. in such a way that it doesn’t choke Kathmandu to Jomsom. “Korean Rs 952 Himalaya Newsand on they can, but also cooking. Fridays Strings at the Nanglo Café & Pub, Darbar Marg, Sundays The Thunders at the Bakery Korean cuisine—bibimbap, kimchi, readers really enjoyed it,” says The essays in this volume examine the increasing abuse of power in all spheres of life. They focus on the At first glance, things appear their webpage. A 1999 article was others plants below, in fact the Kim and Jeong have another Café, Baneswor. Korean-style sushi, and caters to a similar. But there are small, small pipal sustains them.” Jeong. manner in which people have used power to manage the individual, social and environmental aspects of constant stream of Korean expatri- on the experiences of two Nepali life. The theme of power is explored in a philosophical and spiritual vein, but also from a corporate things that are different,” she says migrant workers affected by the ates, tourists, and Nepalis through- emphatically. “Nepal and India are DRINKDRINKDRINK viewpoint of better human resource management to aid students of management and philosophy, out the day. economic recession in Korea. “The much more similar in comparison,” Ladies Night at the ComplimentaryRox drink for women, Teesta plays 8PM onwards. The practising managers and HRD professionals. The day’s first customer has yet response among the Korean public says Kim, a writer, poet and was amazing. It was one of embar- Rox Bar, Hyatt Regency Kathmandu. 491234 to arrive and the two savour a few Castes of Mind: Colonialism and the Making of Modern NicholasIndia B Dirks photographer, who is currently rassment and shame,” says Kim. quiet moments as they leaf through working on a novel. “It’s a love Permanent Black, New Delhi, 2002 “There were many people who FOODFOODFOOD a stack of mountain magazines, story about a Korean couple Dirks argues that caste is neither an unchanged survival of ancient India nor a single system reflecting a wanted to meet the two, and others Fresh claws Fresh crabs all September, with lunch buffet, Cajun mostly in Korean. Surrounded by travelling in the Himalaya,” says even raised funds to help them.” core culture, but that caste as we know it is a relatively modern phenomenon, the product of the framed pictures shot by Kim during crab cakes with mesclun, baked crab with mustard and fontina and Kim. He doesn’t look particularly Since he first visited Nepal in more. The Sunrise Café, Hotel Yak & Yeti. 248999 encounter between India and colonial British rule. Caste was not a British invention, but on account of travels in Ladakh, Sikkim and happy, though. “I’ve rewritten it 1991, trekking with two Korean Barbeque with live band Wednesdays and Fridays 6.30 British domination, it became a single term capable of subsuming India’s diverse forms of social identity Darjeeling, the couple discusses the twice. It’s partly fiction, partly and organisation. merits of running a Korean kitchen alpinists in the Langtang region, PM – 9.30 PM, Splash Bar and Grill, Radisson Hotel. 411818 fact.” Kim says the travel bug has not left The greenest patch Weekend lunches in Nagarkot's oldest, him. In 1992, he travelled to largest garden at The Fort Resort, [email protected]. 226799 Courtesy: Mandala Book Point, Kantipath, 227711, [email protected] Ladakh; the next year he went from Walter’s Bodega relocates opposite KC’s, Thamel. Mexican food promotion including China to Pakistan along the fajitas, enchiladas, burritos and more. Buy one entrée, get one free. CLASSIFIED Karakoram highway; and in 1994 he trekked around the Annapurna and Mexican Food Festival 7-15 September at Summit Hotel, 11.30 AM – 9.30 PM, Patan ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Short term house rent-BudhanilkanthaLovely, dining room, one bathroom. First floor: master revisited Langtang. In 1996 he Museum Café, 11.30 AM – 4.30 PM. 521810 furnished three-bedroom house available from bedroom with attached bath, one bedroom, bath- decided to chuck his job as an Salmon and rosé wine Norwegian salmon dishes for dinner only. The Rox Restaurant,September Hyatt for five months. 375820 room, pantry. Second floor: one bedroom with attached bath, store, lobby. Third floor: terrace and overworked editor back home and Regency Kathmandu. 491234 laundry room. Location: Galfutar. Tel: 412094. set up base in Nepal, spending a Specials for the busy executives Chef’s menu at discounted rates, Dwarika’s Hotel,House for rent in Thamel Four bedrooms each with year with Jeong at the Korean Battisputali. 479488 attached bath, eat-in kitchen, living room, large temple in Lumbini and then moving Autumn SpecialEnglish premier football with steak, and Rs 55 glasses of draft, K-too!terrace, Beer Rs 15,000. 9810-21981, 9692-3272. Stupa View and Restauranterrace & T at to Kathmandu. & Steakhouse. 433043 Baudhanath Stupa. Well-appointed restaurant and “The Himalaya touched my Wanted -Sales manager-cum-designer terraces with views of stupa and Himalayas. Interna- Mountain Madness Barbecue and two-for-one cocktails, Rs 250 each, Kilroy’s of tional vegetarian specialties, pizza from clay oven, soul,” says Kim a former editor of Kathmandu. 250440. Knowledge of western and eastern clothes design.ice cream, soft guitar tunes on Fridays, Saturdays, French language a plus. Divine Group and Co. Tel: Vegetarian specialtieswith membership discount for Nepalis and expats at the Stupa View Sundays from 5PM on. Special events on full moon. 230369, fax: 229622. Email: [email protected] daily 11AM-8.30PM. 480262. Restaurant & Terrace, Boudha. 480262 The Man and Mountain, one of Authentic Thai food Everyday at Yin Yang Restaurant. 425510 in Kathmandu. “I just enjoy Foot - Reflexology: stressed or tired? UPLIFT YOUR cooking,”Kim and says Jeong Jeong. with “And the head it’s a monk of Lumbini’s Korean temple at Korea’s popular mountain maga- SPIRIT FROM YOUR TOES UP. K-Too! Beer and Steakhouse not the “longest”, smalltheir place. wedding You in get the to Shangri-La know the Hotel, Kathmandu. zines. Today Kim lures even more GETAWAYS The story could well be semi- GETAWAYS email: [email protected] or ring 425931“highest”, “first” or any other superlative. Just a staff and the customers. There are Koreans to Nepal and other Monsoon mists Horseshoe Resort, Mude two-and-half hours from Kathmandu. Nature relaxed, easy-going bar and restaurant with the autobiographical. Kim and Jeong, Himalayan destinations through his coldest beer and juiciest steaks this side of the moon. so many interesting stories here.” walks, birdwatching, drizzle walks, Nepal’s best Finnish sauna. Nagarkot Special at Naked BedChef and breakfast, self-confessed mountain-lovers writings in By the Kathmandu Guest House. 433043 And stories are just what the spent four months travelling in the emountain, still another [email protected] three-course gourmet dinner, Rs 800 per person. Room writer couple love. Thirty-four Indian Himalaya, in Ladakh, Korean mountain magazine. Monsoon Madness Buy a two-night three-day package for Rs 5000 at Shangri-la Village,Rs 300 only. For Nepalis and expatriates. 680006, 969107153 year-old Jeong, who publishes Darjeeling, Sikkim, Dharamsala and Nepal for Kim isn’t just Pokhara, get Rs 5000 in coupons to spend at the Shangri-La in Pokhara or Kathmandu. Visit Ground ZeroFine wines, designer candles, cards, silver jewellery and more. Darbar Marg, Kathmandu in 1996. They fell in mountains. He is fascinated by the 412999 love with the mountains, and even pipal tree. “I’m a Buddhist, I House for rent Ground floor: living room, kitchen, opposite Hotel de l’Annapurna Monsoon in Shivapuri For birdwatching, short hikes, writing. 20 minute drive and 10 minute more with each other. No surprise believe the pipal tree is Buddha’s walk from Kathmandu, two acres 6,000 feet on the edge of the Shivapuri National Park. Rs For insertions ring NT Marketing at 543333-36. that they got married in Kathmandumind. While other trees grow in a 1,850 per person with dinner and breakfast, Rs 925 per child 5-14 years, Shivapuri Heights in 2000. manner that represses the growth of Cottage. [email protected] Himalaya News (a Korean journal Acclaimed director Gurinder Chadha’s third film, about Nepali culture and travel), Today, one of their aims in life The Great Godavari Getaway Special weekend packages including room with breakfastBend and It Like Beckham, has played to packed houses with her husband, is keen to is informing and educating Koreans dinner, 25 percent discount on health club facilities. Godavari Village Resort. 560675in the UK. Eighteen-year-old Jesse just wantsBend to it Like Beckhamsomeday write a novel based on her about Nepal, its people, its culture, play football, but her parents want her to be a its literature. As they spent more Writing Retreat Full board package. Aesthetic living, innovative thinking, creative writingnice, conservative and Indian girl. But when her friend experiences in the kitchen. “I need time in Nepal, made more Nepali nature at Park Village Resort, Budhanilkantha. 375280 Jules invites her to join the local women’s football to gather some more experience, club, a new world is opened up to Jesse, and she first,” says Jeong. After all, the friends and understood how things gets to meet Joe, the team coach, whom she12JAINEPAL isnoon: Mujhse CINEMAGHAR Dosti Karoge work here, Jeong and Kim realised For inclusion in the listing send information to [email protected] smitten by. The trouble begins when an important couple aren’t just restauranteurs— 3PM< 6PM, Bend it Like Beckham Jeong is a former copywriter for LGthat they could play a role in recruiting match is scheduled the same dayBooking as 442220 improving the lives of Nepalis in Jesse’s sister’s very Punjabi wedding. In the Onlinebest booking www.jainepal.com Advertisement Agency, and has tradition of Indians-in-the-UK comedy. already published an essay book Korea. They help Koreans understand the situation of migrant The Japan Life Story about her experience of living in Japan, where she graduated from Tokyo Commu- on FM 102.4 Mon-Fri 0615-0645 BBC World Today NEPALI WEATHER by NGAMINDRA DAHAL Sat 0615-0645 BBC Reporting Religion We DSES-04-09-2002 11:00 GMT Late to arrive, late to go. That is how we would Sun 0615-0645 BBC Agenda characterise this year’s monsoon. This one still has Daily 2045-2115 BBCg] kfnL ;]]jf] some oomph left in it, as you can see in the satellite take picture taken on Wednesday afternoon: squall lines all the way from the bay to Kashmir, with another Daily 2245-2300 BBCg] kfnL ;]]jf] circulation coming out of the Arabian Sea. That one will not affect us much, but expected brief but heavy pride in localised showers in the later afternoon and night in Sun-Fri 0740- 0800 ltg6f s'''/f the coming week. Mornings will be cool, but hot and humid noon before the clouds move in. Daily 0800-0830 8jnL8jnL8jnL Daily 2000-2030 cfhsf s'''/f jobs

KATHMANDU VALLEY Radio Sagarmatha JAGADAMBA PRESS P.O. Box 6958, Bakhundole, Lalitpur, Nepal well Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Tel: ++977-1-545680, 545681 Fax: ++ 977-1- 530227 [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (01) 521393, 543017, 547018 www.radiosagarmatha.org /]l8of ] ;u/dfyf Fax: 977-1-536390 27-19 28-19 29-18 28-18 27-16 done. 161616 6 - 12 SEPTEMBER NEPALI 2002 TIMES NEPALI SOCIETY Under My Hat foreword, and outlines the developments in snow leopard conservation. by Kunda Dixit Darla, Rodney ... The two now run the group the Snow Leopards of ,Nepal Darla’s Snow Leopard Conservancy and seminal account of their work are engaged in grassroots between 1981 and 1985. Armed with conservation activities in Tibet, a research grant from the Rolex Ladakh, Mongolia, and in the Awards for Enterprise, Rodney and Indian and Nepal Himalaya. Darla put together a team and spent History repeated as farce harsh winters and balmy springs in Local people need to be the Langu Gorge that is now in trainedShey as “community wildlife n response to a specific request from the state law demand a ten percent service charge for household Phoksumdo National Park. stewards” for conservation to be They captured, collared andsuccessful, says Rodney. “The only and order restoration council and in the interest of work and higher overtime pay. way to make this happen is by released five cats, imaginatively responsible journalism, we are pleased to announce The organisation has announced a series of blending traditional knowledge I named Ek, Dui, Teen, Char and with science,” he adds. that this week’s column will not go into any detailed escalating protests in the run-up to the strike, which hen we first went out,Panch. They had up-close and analysis of bodily functions. In the national interest, itincludes wearing red saris and black armbands in the “ we had no idea snowpersonal photographs of all five In order to check retributive will also not make any gratuitous reference to the kitchen starting Friday, spiking hubby boy’s morning Wleopards would leopards. killings by angry farmers whose become our life’s work,” says writer Vanishing Tracks is still the livestock snow leopards sometimes posterior region of a higher mammal, the name of bed tea with a strong diuretic on Saturday morning, prey on, the Conservancy is Darla Hillard. But that changedmajor in reference work on the species helping locals build predator-proof which rhymes with the word “farce”. And in view of and a menacing forward deployment of pressure 1981 when Darla and wildlife and reveals much about the elusive corrals and pens in places like the fact that many concerned parents may be readingcookers into the conjugal bedroom on Sunday night. biologist Rodney Jackson creature’s life in the wild. The first Upper Mustang. this in the presence of minors, we will refrain from “That should do the trick,” chairperson of the undertook the first scientific fruit of Darla and Rodney’s undertak- expedition to radio-collar and ing was Nationala Geographic cover The group also helps educate revealing any more bank balances of members of the study the big cat, in western Hunger Strike Preparatory Committee told journos in the story on snow leopards that reachedlocals in improving animal partyless cabinet. And, finally, since many of you Nepal’s remote Kanjiroba Himal. husbandry and developing capital today. “We hope the menfolk take heed of 11 million readers. The second may be having breakfast even as we speak, all the warning and agree to henceforth wash their The idea of studying snow alternative income-generating mention of under-the-table deals involving the leopards, one of the least-knownedition ofVanishing Tracks, activities such as handicrafts, own underwear.” endangered species, seemed onlypublished with Mandala Bookcheese-making and tourism. Later purchase of weapons of mass desperation will slightly less kooky than putting out But a spokesman for the Department of Livestock Point, includes anthis year they will begin a program hereinafter be expunged. a search for a yeti. in Manang to use tourism as an and Animal Husbandry said there could be no updated Having said that, we can now move right along to The couple was incentive for conservation. negotiations until AWFON(R) agreed to an uncondi- bibliogra- the rest of the news: in Kathmandu this tional ceasefire, and issued a counter-threat: “If they week to re-launch phy and won’t do our undies, we’ll refuse to wear them.” Vanishing Tracks: Four Years Among Expats glad Nepal still exists By a Staff Reporter KATHMANDU – After being away for most of the summer, Nepal-based expatriates have started flocking back to their hardship posts, and say they can’t wait for their Christmas breaks. On returning from their annual migration, expats told waiting newspersons at the airport that they were pleasantly surprised to find that Nepal still exists. “It’s quite a relief,” said a visibly astonished Astrid ... and Hintergrundsprachen as she alighted from her plane after a two-month vacation. “But do you think it’s safe to drive to Jawalakhel?” snow Another returnee, Bo Gunnarson, told CNN he was mentally prepared for the worst, but the fact that leopards Nepali women to go on hunger strikeLa’ Soon had re-opened meant things were getting KATHMANDU (RSS) – The All-Women’s Federationback to normalcy. “For a moment there, we were quite of Nepal (Reactionary) has defied the re-imposition ofworried,” Gunnarson added. “Let’s hope the country the state of national urgency to declare a nationwide doesn’t totally vanish before our next posting.” hunger strike on Monday on the occasion of Teej to

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