#222 19 - 25 November 2004 24 pages Rs 30

Know Your Rights A children’s guide to the Convention on the Rights of The road to war the Child Nepal’s highways used to be pocked with potholes, now they have landmine craters like this stretch in Kailali where five soldiers were killed on Tuesday.

Weekly Internet Poll # 162 Q. Do you agree with the proposal for a special quota for disadvantaged groups in education?

Total votes:584 Weekly Internet Poll # 163. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com Q. Are you proud to be a Nepali?

RAMESWOR BOHARA RAMESWOR BOHARA In a brief but fierce firefight their barracks, it is working says political analyst, Dhruba in BANKE at Khairi Khola near Kusma on brilliantly. “It is known as a Kumar. He says the army should Wednesday, eight APF tactical trap,” explains military have expected this, and blames aoist highway ambushes personnel were killed. The strategist Indrajit Rai, a retired the high casualty on poor M in the first week after police had taken cover on the Indian military officer. “When planning. “The security forces Tihar indicate a side of the road, and were the vehicle hits the mine, the need to do much more work to dramatic shift in tactics by the ambushed by hundreds of soldiers are distracted and in improve intelligence,” he adds. rebels. Maoists who ran away before a shock, that is when they are The army says it has been By blocking remote stretches nearby army contingent arrived. ambushed.” able to penetrate rebel cells, of highways with trees, they lure The army says the rebels In the Krishnabhir attack on especially in eastern and central troops out of their barracks and have resorted to these "hit-and- Tuesday (see p 17) hundreds of Nepal (see p 7) and credit better ambush them. In four attacks in run” attacks because they can’t Maoists ambushed an army intelligence for the Maoists’ western and central Nepal on mount big raids on military convoy after setting off several inability to Tuesday and Wednesday, 19 bases anymore. The army has land mines along the Prithbi launch any major Editorial p2 soldiers and police were killed also launched pre-emptive Highway. Rai says the Maoists frontal assault The world is and weapons looted. airborne assaults in the Maoist need guns and ammunition since Beni in watching us At Agaiya on the East-West heartland in the midwest after since their supply lines from February. The Highway, police trucks are still Dasain. India have been disrupted. army has Indian-built mine- smouldering three days after six “We had intelligence they “They also need to arm new protected vehicles, but these are soldiers were killed. The were planning a big attack, but recruits,” he adds. designed to withstand highway is cratered and trees we have been dispersing them,” The Maoist offensive also explosions from below, not used for barricades litter the said one source. “That is why indicates that they have roadside bombs planted on road. Buses and cars are plying they are forcing our security abandoned the political option slopes that come from the again after three days, but the patrols to respond to blockages for now. “They failed to side. l faces of stranded passengers on the highways.” mobilise the people through wear a haunted look. There are If the rebel plan is to get the ideological indoctrination, so (Additional reporting by no security forces in sight. soldiers out of the security of they are on full military mode,” Navin Singh Khadka) 19 - 25 NOVEMBER 2004 #222 13

Children are caught in the middle of this conflict. Sometimes they are abducted by ‘Maoists and other times they are beaten by Where to start the security forces on the pretext of being

Maoists. One friend was beaten senseless By Kul Chandra Gautam* by the Maoists in the classroom for protest-

ing against them. Another friend was taken NICEF works to give every child the ‘ U by the security forces and has not been best possible start in seen since. The school gave his attendance life. How do we do that? We do so by working with record to the officials but were not able to parents and communities to get him released. give our children our love, a Boy, Doti family, and the best care and education that we can possibly provide for them. We try to anchor our children in a caring Information, community, a safe, healthy and protective environment. freedom of We try to give them time to learn, play and grow. We cannot know, in thought and advance, what is in our children’s future. And we cannot choose which child to speech, care for. We must care for them all. participation None of us expect our children to be born into an ideal world. But all of us These rights are about access to in- hope for them to be born into formation, about thinking and believing a world that is fit for Credit: UNICEF Nepal/2004/Chamberlain/0771 what you like, and about having your children. National vitamin A distributions help Nepal’s children fight say and being heard. Vitamin and mineral disease. They reduce eye problems caused by vitamin A deficiency is the source of deficiency, like not being able to see at night. the most massive “hidden he Convention says that you have the right to obtain hunger” and malnutrition in and share information of all kinds and in all forms, as GDP of many countries. body to absorb and retain T the world today. The enormous impact of essential vitamins and long as that information is not damaging to yourself or The “hidden hunger” due others. (13) Specifically, you have the right to diverse and micronutrient deficiency is minerals. to micronutrient deficiency largely invisible. Silently, It’s all been done before, reliable information from the mass media, especially (but does not produce hunger as fortunately not only) information aimed at your health and micronutrient deficiencies trap in the industrialized world. we know it. You may not people, communities and entire And the report shows that the well-being. Television, radio, and newspapers should provide feel it in the belly, but it information that you can understand, and should not promote countries in a cycle of poor technologies to do so are now strikes at the core of your health, poor educability, poor so simple and so inexpensive materials that could harm you. (17) health and vitality. It is “We have to be consulted because we live our problems, productivity and consequent that we can rapidly control especially damaging to poverty, often without the vitamin and mineral and we are the ones who know the solutions.” Santiago, 15, human brain, learning ability from Uruguay, speaking at the UN Special Session on victims ever knowing the deficiencies worldwide. and productivity. cause. If we combine our efforts Children Unfortunately, the “hidden You have the right to freedom of thought, and to follow Yet we’re dealing with a and our energy, we can have hunger” remains widespread, problem that has essentially an extraordinary impact in the your chosen religion. On the other hand, your parents and posing devastating threats to guardians should guide you, taking into account your ‘evolving been solved in much of the fight against vitamin and health, education, economic developed world, and for mineral deficiencies and capacities’ — that is, how able you are to make decisions growth and indeed, to human and understand the world around you. (14) So get those which there are available and achieve global progress in a dignity, in developing affordable solutions. way that few of us have capacities evolving! countries. Expressing your opinions (13) is another crucial right in We can fortify staple foods imagined to be possible. We also know today that such as flour, sugar, salt, this group. In particular, it is your right to have your say — micronutrient deficiencies are and be listened to — when adults are making decisions that margarine or cooking oil, with subtle and insidious. They essential vitamins and minerals affect you. And this should not just be lip-service. Your can cause blindness and brain opinions should be taken into account, and be given ‘due for a few cents per person per damage. They can induce year. weight’ according to your age and maturity. (12) stillbirths and abortions. They You also have the right to free association: that is, to get We can distribute vitamin make people fatigued and and mineral supplements, together with other children and young people and to join lethargic. groups and organizations. (15) especially to vulnerable groups They can make ordinary such as children. A vitamin A childhood diseases such capsule, for example, is as diarrhoea, malaria and effective for up to 6 months The other day they visited our school and measles fatal. They and costs as little as 2 cents. lectured us. I asked, “Why do you kill sim- contribute to the high rates of A three-month supply of iron maternal and child deaths. tablets for pregnant women

‘ple village people? Why do you ask money Micronutrient deficiencies costs 20 cents. from farmers?” They were upset by my render investment in We can ensure everyone is

education less effective as questions and asked my friends about me. informed about the kinds of children are unable to foods that can increase the ‘ concentrate in their studies. *Mr Gautam, UNICEF Deputy Now the whole village knows and says, intake and absorption of Executive Director, made these To further compound this “Poor thing, now they will kill her too.” I feel vitamins and minerals. remarks during a speech in New human suffering, the And we can control York in March 2004 to launch very sad and I am losing weight. Can you economic losses attributable diseases like malaria, measles, the Vitamin and Mineral imagine how I feel? to micronutrient deficiencies diarrhoea, and parasitic Deficiency Global Progress Girl, Gulmi are huge – up to 5% of the infections, which can help the Report. ts of the Child on November 20, 1989 – is supported by UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund. 6 #222 NATION Maina’s story19 - 25 NOVEMBER 2004 Grieving parents discover after eight months that their disappeared daughter is dead

ALL PICS (EXCEPT MAINA’S STUDIO PORTRAIT) : MUNA SHARMA Clockwise from left: Maina’s mother, Debi, after hearing that her daughter was killed. Maina in a posed studio picture taken last year. Bhagbati Secondary School in Kabhre’s Kharelthok where Maina studied in Grade Nine. Maina’s cousin, points to a picture of his sister.

MUNA SHARMA and his wife Debi had just hit Thus began an eight-month for Rs 700 a month in Lagan approached people we knew in in KABHRE another dead end in the search long ordeal for the parents as which had a kerosene stove, the army and the administration of their 15-year-old daughter, the search for their missing two pots, two plates and a bed. to find out what had happened middle-aged man and his Maina, who had been taken daughter brought them to When we met them, their rent to Maina. But the more we A wife were weeping away by soldiers eight months Kathmandu. Debi refused to was already four months investigated, the less hope there outside the District Police ago. An army patrol from the believe that her daughter was overdue. Driven to seemed to be that she was still Office in Kathmandu three Lamidanda barrack in Kabhre dead and devoutly followed all desperation, Purna Bahadur alive. In the course of this months ago. We tried to console had arrested Maina from her religious fasts, visiting temples picked plastic bags to sell so investigation, we came across them and got caught up in a home on 17 Feburary 2004 for in Kathmandu every day. he could feed himself and his another 20-year-old woman from tragic story of the suffering of being a suspected Maoist. The Sunuwars are dalits but wife. Kabhre who was detained with the innocent that is becoming Purna Bahadur and Debi are fairly well-to-do in their After a story about Maina’s Maina. We can’t reveal her name increasingly familiar across had gone to the army base the village of Kharelthok in disappearance came out in or her village for security Nepal today. next day only to be told that Kabhre. In Kathmandu, they Himal Khabarpatrika in April, reasons. Purna Bahadur Sunuwar their daughter was not there. had rented a small dark room human rights organisations Here is a transcript of what and the military’s legal she said: “After detaining me, department finally took they took me along because I notice. Even at that time, the knew where Maina lived. They Royal Nepali Army’s legal made me wear combat fatigues, officers told us: “We are while they were in civilian investigating, we can’t say dress. When they caught Maina, anything at the moment.” At they took us in the car to the the same time, the family and Lamidanda barrack. They neighbours also told human handcuffed us on pine trunks rights groups they were being and beat us continuously. I must harassed by local soldiers. have fainted and when I came In September, after Maina’s to, I found all my clothes were trail in Kathmandu went cold, torn and I was only wearing my we accompanied her parents panties. They kept me there for to Kabhre. The Sunuwars live six days, beating me mercilessly. relatively well by rural Nepali Then they handed me over to the standards in a two-storey rato police who sent me to jail.” She mato house. Rats scamper admits she was a Maoist but says away as we open the door to an Maina wasn’t. She shows us the upstairs room where Maina welts and cuts on her thighs and used to sleep. There is a hands. battered tin trunk and Maina’s Four months ago, Purna hand bag and slippers. Debi Bahadur and Debi still hadn’t begins to sob as she sees them. given up hope about finding Neighbours told us they had their daughter and were getting seen Maina being taken into ready to go on a hunger strike in the barracks on the day she Kathmandu. Just before Dasain, disappeared. the Royal Nepali Army finally We went to the Bhagbati admitted officially that their Secondary School nearby daughter was dead. l where Maina used to study in See also: ‘A climate of intense fear’ Grade Nine. Her classmates (Nepali Times #217). ran towards us as her parents approached, thinking Maina Maina’s story was included in the Human had been located. They were Rights Watch report, Between a Rock crestfallen when told she was and a Hard Place released last month. It was also broadcast in a documentary still missing. on the German-French ARTE TV on 20 Back in Kathmandu, we October. 2 EDITORIAL 19 - 25 NOVEMBER 2004 #222

Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Chief Editor: Kunda Dixit Desk Editor: Abha Eli Phoboo Design: Kiran Maharjan Web: Bhushan Shilpakar Advertising: Sunaina Shah [email protected] Subscription: Anil Karki, [email protected] Sanchaya Kosh Building, Block A-4th Floor, Lalitpur GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal Polarity vs plurality Tel: 01-5543333-6, Fax: 01-5521013 [email protected], www.nepalitimes.com Printed at Jagadamba Press, Hatiban: 01-5547018 Intolerance and extremism are two sides of the same coin THE WORLD IS WATCHING US uring a presentation on wing reaction. concurrent trend in Nepal to here is an idiosyncratic Nepali trait: if we don’t look at something the current situation in The so-called middle ground misclassify individuals into one T we think it’s not there. A pedestrian will run across the highway not D Nepal in New York (normally occupied by vibrant extreme camp or the other, looking at a bus he knows is coming straight at him. Or we think that recently, a representative from mainstream parties and based on some inclination of the if we ignore a problem it won’t bother us. Shopkeepers litter the sidewalks the International Crisis Group democratic forces) is presently a individual’s political creed. right outside their pasals, even though it is putting off customers. Families accurately depicted the leadership-void that consists of Since the definition of an chuck trash into the street below because out of sight is out of mind. embers from a dying anti- ‘absolute middle’ is arbitrary, So we will endure rotting refuse right on our doorstep, tolerate regression movement, haunted the concept of neutrality is injustice and accept wrong even if it is not in our own longterm interests. GUEST COLUMN by its own past of corrupt and equally obscure. Given the The fatalism of Nepal’s dominant caste has been a subject of sociological Dipta Shah and anthropological studies ever since Dor Bahadur Bista’s seminal work, unethical politics. Needless to prevalent climate of fear and Fatalism and Development. But today the fatalism is combined say, the implications of this distrust (both contributors to dangerously with a millenarian belief in a saviour, the knight in shining political polarisation in Nepal. widening vacuum and leader- extremism), moderate con- armour who will come and rescue us and deliver us into a new dawn. Moderate elements in the ship crisis on Nepal’s long-term servatives and liberals alike, are Well, things don’t work that way in the real world. A political resolution political spectrum are being political outlook, are alarming. will not just happen, peace will not land on our laps. The people have to sidelined by a radical leftist As the polarisation sets in, vent their outrage and demand from the self-appointed rulers of both insurgency, which in turn, has there is a extremist politics that they end their power struggle. They have to put facilitated the re-emergence of categorised as moral pressure on the political parties to first unite among themselves, a counterbalancing extremists in then unite with the king and finally negotiate with the rebels for an extreme right- their respective acceptable exit strategy. camps. Traditionally tolerant and historically apathetic, we have allowed others to determine our destiny, accepting the outcome as our karma A direct in this life. But the brief period after 1990 when we were manifestation of this allowed to freely chose local and national undemocratic tendency is leaders has whetted our appetite the deplorable human rights for freedom. situation in Nepal. Another If the government manifestation is the suppression spokesman’s of moderate voices which are purported intentionally inundated by remarks extremist propaganda, rhetoric about a and counter-rhetoric. The result return to is further polarisation, increased authoritarianism was a trial baloon, it was quickly pricked. We now know that the future is not extremism and the written in the stars, it is shaped by the decisions and informed choices we consolidation of a deadly cycle make today. that breeds on its own decay of We are no longer a forbidden hermit kingdom. The world is watching mistrust, misinformation and us and the world is worried: about the conflict spreading and setting fire to the erosion of democratic neighbourhood, about extra-judicial killings and disappearances, and principles. about the unprecedented hardships and misery faced by Nepalis. They Although the oldest and want to help, but international law requires us to ask them first. dirtiest trick around, feeble Nepal’s donors are relying less and less on diplomatic niceties these attempts at skirting the issue days. They want to revisit the commitments made at the Nepal have gained momentum in Development Forum to see if resources aren’t being fungified. They are Nepali politics. When placed in egging the government to make public the auditor general’s report which has been stuck three years in a row. Even Nepal’s staunchest allies are a questionable position, the aghast at the human rights situation here. easiest, most cowardly response We need national indignation to pressure our rulers to muster is always to deflect attention the political will for peace. So far, all we see is a willingness to drag on away from the guilty party by the war. making some baseless accusa-

L ETTERS

IT’S NOT OVER had his gallery on the ground floor Corps in 1962. I’ve had friends in join us on our peace pilgrimage to fellow Nepalis. Who gives them the Daniel Lak’s observations in his of the then Park Restaurant the Peace Corps, and almost Mt Kailas next year. Kennedy would right to kill people? Mao? Marx? column Here and There (‘It’s over’, building at Ratna Park. Hence the thought of joining myself, until I have endorsed such an effort. Om Only the creator can destroy, only #220) about the recent US name of his salon, Park. In 1967, investigated the daunting and shanti. god can take life. The Maoists are presidential elections and the we Casino Nepal staff used to demeaning selection process. It F A Hutchison earning a lot of bad karma for triumph of democracy, despite the gather at Ratna Park for our shuttle would have cost me thousands of www.cyclingpeace.org destroying the country, and Bush administration’s numerous bus in the evening and went in to dollars to even apply. I’m sorry that ultimately they will self-destruct misdeeds, are sharp and correct talk with Joshi Dai in his showroom the present US administration DEEP BREATH because they have taken the path as usual. I wonder when we will be and studio. Perhaps the gallery was thinks it has to cut and run from I fully endorse the Indian sage, of violence. able to say the same about there well before its street front Nepal. I don’t thing that the Peace Ravi Shankar’s advice to the Guru Thapa, Mumbai Nepal! became our rendezvous every Corps will return to Nepal…not in Maoists (‘Maoists need breathing Saurav Jung Thapa, evening. Then the Park Gallery was this lifetime. This has more to do exercises’, #221). Their revolution CORRECTIONS Amherst, USA relocated to his tole, perhaps his with ending ‘liberal’ programs and has a major flaw, it relies on Tulsiram Upadhyay was mistakenly own ancestral house, in Pulchok increase spending on violence and violence as the means to an end. attributed to a quote in Sharad KC’s l As Daniel Lak says in quite close to and across the old war than concern for the people. Violence breeds violence, and they ‘Taxed to death’ (#221) from Surkhet. ‘Leaving in droves’ (#221) maybe Patan Damkal. I hope this Myself, I have launched my own will not be able to control the In the box item (‘Ambushed child’) Americans should not abandon information fits in the ‘Piece Core’ and anyone can join monster they have unleashed. accompanying the same article, the family of Jay Chandra were reported America just because their man chronological order of Rama for nothing! There is no Armed struggle is also morally to be displaced from Humla, they lost. If they really believe in Nanda Joshi’s three Park Galleries, bureaucracy, all you need is a repugnant because it involves are actually from Mugu. democracy, they will stay in and not only the two described in bicycle, and a strong heart/mind to killing fellow human being, and America and try to reform it. But the story. That between the ‘Park’ until there is a genuine visionary Galleries at Lazimpat and Pulchok, alternative to Bushite neo-cons there was the actual one befitting (and not wishy-washy flip-floppers the name because it was located at like Kerry) I’m afraid America is the Park Restaurant/Ratna Park going to be even more itself. fundamentalist. Peter J Karthak, Kopundole M Arif, email PIECE CORE SISTERS THREE Re: ‘We shall return’ (#221). On 22 This refers to ‘Sisters three’ (#220) November it will be 41 years since by Sampada Malla. I write to say the assassination of US president that there’s a missing link in the John F Kennedy. I’m an American chain of Park Galleries old enough to have heard established by the late Rama Kennedy’s speech (on black and Nanda Joshi. The late Joshi also white TV) calling for a Peace NATION 19 - 25 NOVEMBER 2004 #222 3 tion that causes doubt over the legitimacy of the party initiating the skepticism. Faced with this, the responsible reaction would be A blast from the past for those who feel victimised by unwarranted accusations to Mohammad Mohsin hasn’t unlearned the mental habits of the Panchayat publicly refute and attempt to redeem themselves. This is the he contagion of foot in the organise polls. very essence of democratic T mouth disease is spreading. The fault is not Mohsin’s and discourse, a display of facts that Nepal’s de facto premier Deuba’s alone. King Gyanendra allow the public to arrive at Mohammad Mohsin last week laid the groundwork for the their own conclusions. warned a group of editors and present political predicament by However, more often than not publishers of leading saying in a television interview perpetrators of the abuse of two years ago that he did not want authority find absolute solace in to be an “active” monarch but a their ability to simply shift the STATE OF THE STATE “creative” one. He went on to tell scrutiny onto those who expose CK Lal a gathering in Nepalganj in systemic weaknesses. Feburary that the days were over Unfortunately, for those who newspapers in Kathmandu that when the monarchy is “seen but cower in the shadows of their an “authoritarian regime” was in not heard watching the people’s own misdeeds, weak attempts at store for Nepal if the current difficulties but not addressing deflecting the guilt of their government failed to do what it them and being a silent spectator inadequacies tend to backfire. was formed to do. Although the to their tear-stained faces”. A cardinal rule in diplomacy is venerable editors and publishers When royalspeak is about a to never make threats (via gave the remark varying degrees certain kind of days being over, we attempted character of prominence in the next day’s must accept the statement at face assassinations or otherwise), in papers, the disinformation value. But in the two years since the absence of moral grounds minister’s remarks sent October Fourth we have seen an and credibility with which to shockwaves that are still era of revolving door governments, back up the threat. It is reverberating. of nominated nobodies with precisely because this tenet is In interviews since, Minister neither real authority nor any repeatedly ignored in Nepal’s Mohsin has appeared to retract a apparatus for democratic politics, that those who break part of his statement, using the answerability. them are just as easily exposed. excuse that those who hold high Minister Mohsin is an For would-be politicians, office often resort to when there interesting example of a politician civil servants (or any fair- is an uproar: he accused the without popular base forced to weathered fans of democracy), media of misquoting him. survive in all kinds of extreme hiding behind their guilt-ridden What he said he meant by an situations on the strength of his pasts, shame on them for “authoritarian regime” was that wits alone. He was one of the engaging in acts of such there was a risk of Maoist interpreters of the authoritarian pettiness. These are the corrupt authoritarianism spreading in ideology of the Panchayat, an and morally destitute that hide case his coalition of the willing experimental political system with behind a façade of democratic is undermined. Even if that is the king as an active leader of the solidarity, while serving to true, Maoists already don’t mind people. The experiment lasted propagate anti-democratic calling themselves ‘totalitarian’, over three decades before it practices. Hypocrites like these so to refer to them as collapsed under the weight of its brand others and further polarise ‘authoritarian’ is giving them a own contradictions. But apartchiks society to avoid public scrutiny certain degree of respectability like Mohsin are yet to unlearn the themselves. the insurgents haven’t even mental habits of Panchayat which It is in direct contravention asked for. makes them run to the palace at of established democratic norms Mohsin is echoing Prime the slightest hint of a crisis. and practices to malign Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s Mohsin must have realised by individuals based on their conviction that the salvation of now that he is stuck with a supposed political orientation. the present government lies in thankless and dead-end job. And Lying to the ‘left’ of an arbitrary holding some kind of election at he can’t mask the currrent anti- ‘middle’ does not make a person any cost. That cost may have to democratic drift by disingenuously a Maoist. Similarly, being ‘right’ be paid by the people and not warning of a lurking risk of of the same centre line does not the politicians in Singha Darbar. authoritarianism. It takes make another a monarchist, an Mohsin thinks there may be enormous courage to look back autocrat or a dictator. problems in getting the election with detachment and admit that For those who perceive the machinery rolling and seems you have spent all your life application of the terms determined to make those justifying the unjust. But there ‘rightist’ or ‘leftist’ in Nepali problems a self-fulfilling comes a time when all of us have discourse as forms of prophecy. After all, his boss got to face the mirror and come to denigration, it is time for a sacked last time around because terms with our own fallibility. lesson in the meaning of a he couldn’t hold polls. This time Mohammad Mohsin is an erudite fundamental democratic norm: the strategy seems to be: to be man, and he must know that such tolerance. l seen to be trying one’s best to a time has arrived. l KIRAN PANDAY 4 NATION 19 - 25 NOVEMBER 2004 #222 The government faces a tough UN resolution unless it agrees to international human rights International (ir)resolution monitoring by March

MANJUSHREE THAPA

his week, several government and the OHCHR on T international human rights international monitoring of the organisations met in commission’s work. Geneva to begin assessing Yet there is some disquiet Nepal’s progress on human among activists regarding the rights in anticipation of the 61st OHCHR’s work here, and concern annual meeting of the UN that it may have allowed the Office of the High Commission government to water down the for Human Rights (OHCHR) in original MOU, which called for March 2005. extensive international The Swiss government had monitoring. David Johnson, wanted to table an Item 9 OHCHR’s senior human rights resolution last March, but keen advisor, confirms that the MOU diplomacy on the part of the has been revised to limit the Nepali government and back- number of international advisors door lobbying by the American to five, and place them under and Indian governments, had Nepali authority. helped avert this. Nepal got a “This is not UN monitoring,” mere knuckle-rap in the he says. “It is national concluding chairperson’s monitoring.” He maintains that statement, which condemned international monitoring would the Maoists’ indiscriminate have been impracticable: “UN violence and appealed to the staff second to the NHRC would government to strengthen its need UN security permission to efforts to ensure fundamental move around, which might not rights. always be forthcoming. Or maybe Human rights activists feel the UN security mechanism strongly that a resolution is might decide to withdraw its justified this time, as state and staff. The NHRC wouldn’t have Maoist violations have control over international increased since March. Hanging monitors.” in the balance next March is the Though Johnson says that the credibility of the OHCHR in NHRC has agreed to these Nepal. revisions — and has in October After the chairperson’s launched the UN’s global statement, the OHCHR deputed support project to the a senior human rights advisor international community, and two international advisors acknowledging as much — NHRC to Nepal last summer. They are members, when contacted for working to strengthen training, confirmation, say that they do monitoring and reporting within not know of any final agreement. the National Human Rights The MOU, they say, is still Commission (NHRC) and also to shuttling back between the finalise a memorandum of OHCHR and the government, and understanding between the they have only heard rumours HRW It’s high time the Nepali people Paying the price were asked what they wanted

hat price peace? This can be an government with clear participation player here and will never be victorious heaven and earth and shedding a lot of infamous backdrop to across, say, 75 percent of the political enough to call all the shots. So too, India, blood to let the Iraqi people be heard in W warmongering but it’s also a spectrum. The word ‘peace’ is uttered the main regional power, and Nepal’s January. crucial question to ask at almost every daily by ministers, monarch, media and many friends in the wider world. They I for one think the vote will go ahead stage in a conflict. probably every other citizen of the can call for calm until they’re blue in in Iraq and the result will both vindicate In Nepal, the last ceasefire between kingdom. Yet war is unabated and the their national faces. It simply doesn’t some of America’s behaviour in the the Maoists and Kathmandu broke down tunnel has no end, let alone a light. wash. country and alarm those in Washington because the government of the day, Committees, conflict resolution seminars The final arbiter on all of this has to who fear political Islam. closely and candlelight vigils urging peace at be the Nepali people, that much abused Billions upon billions have been allied any cost are weak gruel alongside and misrepresented group. They must poured into war ravaged lands to let HERE AND THERE with bloodshed and lives permanently altered have a voice. And the time is ripe for it to peoples’ voices still the clamour of Daniel Lak the by violence. be heard. Just examine the international violence. Serbia, East Timor, Cambodia in Royal So what price peace? Surely this is precedents that are so relevant right now. the 1990s, Guatemala; all these troubled Palace and the Royal Nepali Army, the question of the moment and not just The United Nations and Washington places have used a whiff of democracy to thought the notion of a constituent for the government or the occupant of the spared no expense to organise what divert energies and establish a voice at assembly too threatening to the future of throne. Nor do guerrilla groups, however appear to have been successful elections the international table. I would argue monarchy. Whatever they may say, the successful and well-organised, have the in Afghanistan. that Nepal is better placed to consult its Maoists are not monarchists. Some form right to dictate terms. The Maoists are a The same uneasy alliance is moving citizens than any of those countries and of republic is their ultimate goal. let there be no artificial limits to distract So the last government allowed from the main question. peace to collapse, arguably even What price peace? Will it cost a collaborating in the atrocity at Doramba monarchy? Will it mean that Mao is well in 2003, because the monarchy was seen and truly dead? Will it mean UN as too high a price to pay. War crimes mediation, a regional force to deal with may not be too vivid a description of the holdouts? A truth and reconciliation massacre of unarmed people at Doramba, effort? War crimes investigations? and this is a chicken that will come Economic development on a grand home to roost. But the thinking was that scale and an arms embargo? It’s not my constitutional monarchy was more call, it’s not the king’s, neither G P important than peace. Koirala’s nor Comrade Prachanda’s. Now things may just be different. No, this is a matter for the people of Nepal’s long decline has continued Nepal and it’s high time they were asked unabated, even under a more broad-based for their opinion. l MIN BAJRACHARYA NATION 19 - 25 NOVEMBER 2004 #222 5 about changes made to its latest more bracing and dynamic government would benefit from draft. relationship. more UN special procedures: Holland-Himalaya film festival

This kind of confusion has Several UN interagency “Having worked in many

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ led to widespread speculation missions have deemed that countries closely with the military The annual Himalaya Film Festival that the OHCHR has bowed to Nepal’s human rights crisis has and police, we in the UN, know held in Amsterdam 6-7 November the government, which has the potential to develop into a that human rights are not an attracted 1,750 visitors over a two- consistently tried to undermine humanitarian crisis. Johnson obstacle to their work.” day period. Nearly 50 films from the the NHRC. Lawyer Mandira worries about reports that local It is not up to the OHCHR staff, Himalayan region were screened, Sharma says such misgivings units of the security forces are but to its member states, to table including conflict documentaries by may stem from simple pressured to report high body resolutions at its annual meetings. Mohan Mainali and Nepathya’s procedural confusions, because counts to prove their victory over The Geneva-based International quest for the origins of the folk song, Nepali participants at the festival Bheda ko oon jasto, in search of a the revised MOU remains the Maoists. “Their stated goal is Committee of Jurists’ legal advisor song. Some of the jury members were Nabin Subba, director of unavailable for wide public to win the hearts and minds of Ian Seiderman says human rights Numafung, Danish anthropologist Ditte Marie Seeberg and Dutch scrutiny and discussion. “Nepali the people,” he says. “But we’ve activists are hoping that next filmmaker Dirk J Nijland. Mainali also delivered a lecture on ‘Democracy civil society has no idea what heard the Maoists say that their March, the EU will take the lead in Undemocratic Nepal: An Eternal Source of Violent Conflict’. they contain,” she says. “And best recruitment campaigns take in this: “While the Swiss did a

this secrecy has sown mistrust.” place after the security forces good job last year getting what Fasting for health

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ But Satish Kharel, former come to the villages. The they did in the form of the ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Secretary of the Nepal Bar security forces are so abusive chairperson’s statement, they do A Nepali student in the Philippines led several high school students Association, says that the that they drive people into the not carry the same political and around the world on a two-day fast to help raise money for a health post OHCHR’s very terms here restrict ranks of the Maoists.” diplomatic clout that the EU in Mugu. Following an international call for help by Help Nepal Network it. “The senior human rights On the Maoists’ side, the does.” (HeNN), Suvayu Pant studying in Grade 12 at the International School advisor works under the UNDP,” policy of forced abduction and Seiderman adds that if the in Manila took the lead and campaigned in association with the South he says. “And the UNDP cannot indoctrination, including of government delays international Asian Cultural Club of the school to hold the charity event. cross the national government children, also worries him. monitoring to the NHRC, an Item 9 Along with Suvayu, Ayat Ali of Philippines, Daniel Johnson of Canada, Mark De Sousa of South Africa, Venessa Yung of Hong Kong and administration. Were the “Children can be extremely resolution may be warranted. “But and Cassie Vergel of China participated in the fast. The health post in OHCHR’s mandate independent, brutal, see things in black or if by March the MOU is in place Mugu was built in part with Help Nepal Network (HeNN), a global charity they could play a proactive role white, do or die,” he says. “The and OHCHR monitors are arriving of the Nepali diaspora. in protecting human rights. They nature of the movement becomes in Nepal, then an item 19 www.helpnepal.net/suvayu.html can’t do that as UNDP more intense. You end up with resolution would be appropriate.”

employees.” young people who know nothing Item 19 resolutions are reserved NSET awarded

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Critics maintain that while but brutality. And it becomes for countries that have improved ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ the UNDP’s relationship with the very difficult to stop this or their human rights records and The Nepali earthquake damage mitigation group, National Society for government tends to be of rehabilitate these children.” have requested technical Earthquake Technology (NSET) has been awarded this year’s Tech uncritical support, it is This, he says, is a new and assistance. Museum Award given in the Microsoft Education Award category for its incumbent on the OHCHR — frightening phase for the How the international low-tech innovation called the ‘shake table’. The technology has been given the country’s poor human country. community responds next March demonstrated in Iran, India, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Japan over the rights records — to establish a Johnson believes that the is now set to become a test of its last six years and will be put up at the Tech Museum at Silicon Valley. resolve — or irresolution — on The Tech Museum Awards honour innovators and visionaries around the world who apply technology to improve human condition in education, Nepal’s human rights crisis. equality, environment, health and economic development. This year, INTER-CULTURAL FILM SOCIETY Observers say that the US, India, more than 580 nominations were received from 80 countries and NSET shows this film-program on UK and EU bear an especially was selected for the Best of the Best category in technological Sunday, 21st November 2004 heavy burden, given their major, innovation. in Nepal Tourism Board, Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu. even decisive, role. l

TANVIR MOKAMMEL TRILOGY Three films by the well-known film-maker from Bangladesh, Tanvir Mokammel. Please note that the first film starts at 2.00 pm, the second at 3.15 pm and the third at 5.30 pm A TALE OF JAMUNA RIVER Jamuna River documentary, 2002 start at 2.00 pm a journey-film and shot with an open mind, the film-unit recorded what they had experienced on their journey in one of the widest and world’s most fascinating rivers - the Jamuna. LALSALU ”A tree without roots” 2001 after a novel by Syed Waliullah, 1948 start at 3.15 pm This is the story of Majid, a Mullah, who suddenly appears in a village and creates a holy shrine above a grave belonging to a great saint as he declares to the simple villagers. Over time he becomes one of the village leaders and starts dominating people all in the name of religion. ACHIN PAKHI ”The Unknown Bard” documentary, 1996 start at 5.30 pm Bauls are the troubadours of Bengal. With their mystic songs and inimitable lifestyle,bauls are a very special sect. As a song-composer, Lalon Fakir’s (? - 1890) position among the bauls is unique. Even hundred years after his death, Lalon still has immense popularity. This is a biographical documentary on Lalon. NATION #222 7 Divided, they stand19 - 25 NOVEMBER 2004 Despite this week’s highway ambushes, the Maoists are in some disarray

rom Kathmandu to the about Maoist arrests and defy What this shows is that the spark off an ethnic conflict. F eastern hills and down to court orders, this time they Maoists generally appear In the urban tarai, Maoist the tarai, there are flashed the news to media strong because of the security activities have been reduced a increasing indications that all is within half-an-hour. forces and the government great deal after the arrest of top not well with the Maoists’ l The Maoists have been machinery are not present. If members of the Maoists’ Special legendary control and unity. strangely silent, usually they they were, the Maoists would Task Force in Jhapa, Morang Factionalism, desertions and release a statement strongly be forced to restrict their and Sunsari. The army says it disharmony in the ranks are condemning detentions. movement only within their has collected valuable much more rife than it appears l Prashant was arrested with strongholds. intelligence on Maoist on the surface. The Maoists Keshab Prasad Kandel who the In the eastern tarai, the operations in the east. For themselves admit that frequent UML says is its party member Maoists have seen a rash of example, it knows that the arrests and killings of their and wants him released. corruption incidents, deser- Mechi-Koshi 18 Battallion, ‘D’ leaders in the past year have tions and degeneration into company has 160 fighters and is affected activities in central and Army sources say it warlordism. Some have armed with limited numbers of eastern Nepal. retrieved a computer, mobile disappeared after collecting assorted captured rifles. Two The most significant recent phone and other documents revolutionary taxes. The central members Sher Man arrest was of Sadhuram Debkota with valuable information party’s Parsa secretary, Shiv Kunwar (Comrade Bishal) and (alias Comrade Prashant) who about senior Maoist leaders Chandra Kushwaha (alias Mohan Chandra Gautam were took over as head of the Valley and the underground party’s Comrade Jamin), was killed in Siraha by the army last Command after Kumar Dahal was activities in the valley. banished to a labour camp in month. arrested in Patna in June. Prashant is originally from the hills for not being Ram Bahadur Thapa Prashant had established a Phujel VDC in Gorkha. He is transparent about his (Comrtade Badal) has taken over strong Maoist presence in the 28, and was studying accounts. He probably didn’t the Maoist Eastern Command city by terrorising those he was Electronic Engineering at get a more severe punishment after Mohan Baidya (Comrade extorting. The Maoist leadership Balaju Technical Institute because of his role in the Kiran) was arrested in Siliguri was impressed with how he has while he was district chairman landmine attack that killed 12 in June. Even so, there has been been able to revive the rebel of the Maoist student wing. He policemen near Birganj in no improvement and the presence in the capital despite was moved to Kathmandu from July. Maoists have taken these heavy security crackdowns. the Dhading, Nuwakot and In Rautahat, platoon setbacks seriously. Recently, Prashant had just returned to Sindupalchok regional commander Shambhu Yadab they held a strategy meeting to the capital on 28 October after a committee. (Comrade Ajay) was accused change district commanders three-week visit outside the The Maoists have also of misappropriating party and area in-charges. valley, and was preparing to recently lost central adviser funds and has defected. On 22 The army itself has been leave for his new assignment in Comrade Dirgha, the 70-year- July, he abandoned the party adding muscle at the Eastern eastern Solukhumbu- old minister of the Magarant and started his own Madhesi Brigade Headquarters in Itahari Okhaldhunga. There has been Autonomous Region. He along Tiger group. On 25 July, Jay by increasing its troop strength tension between the central with three other regional Krishna Goit from Saptari of 12,000 by another 3,000. leadership and the Valley Comrade Prashan Head of the leaders were killed on 11 abandoned the Maoist- Brigadier General Pradip Pratap Command over extortion money Kathmandu Valley command was October in Juluke of affiliated Madhesi National Bam told us in the past year and collected from businesses in captured on 4 November Argakhanchi while on their Liberation Front and started half, 36 new army bases have Kathmandu. way to attend a meeting in his own Janatantrik Tarai been added and 20 more are But there seems to be more to only a handful of soldiers were Kapilbastu. Army sources say Mukti Morcha which has been planned. l Prashant’s arrest than meets the sent to track him down, usually information on Dirgha’s threatening non-Madhesi eye: for someone of his seniority whereabouts was provided by a government employees to quit Reports by Dambar Krishna Shrestha in there would have been bigger female guerrilla captured after their jobs. Goit told us he now Dharan, Chandra Kishor in Birganj, Ram l He was casually arrested in a bandobast. she sprained her ankle while has his own “liberation army”, Prasad Pudasaini in Kathmandu and busy area of Bhote Bahal and l Usually the army keeps quiet fleeing. and there are fears this might Bishnu Prasad Ghimire in Arghakhanchi. 8 #222 BUSINESS Phony business 19 - 25 NOVEMBER 2004

Do you know you are paying through your nose for phone calls?

land phone is used. reported cost and investment Asian countries.” details. “We are still waiting But should differences in Most telephone users for Telecom’s reports,” admits tariff of fixed and mobile lines think that since there are NTA spokesman Kailash be so wide? Why should a pre- more phone services to Neupane. “We have time and paid mobile user calling a choose from, the prices have again questioned them about post-paid phone pay 38 times gone down. Not true. In fact, pricing methods and asked more than the price of a call the variety of services have them to reduce tariffs.” between two landline phone thrown up a bewildering The Authority has received sets? And why can’t our local array of tariffs and price complaints about high phone calls be as rock-bottom cheap structures which most costs from consumer groups. as in India, where consumers aren’t even aware A group of lawyers recently deregulation has benefitted of. demanded that NTA remove consumers? “I got the shock of my life the 30 percent pricing Kansakar says the when I got my first bill,” says difference between pre-paid difference grew after Telecom Gopal Lama, a driver who and post-paid services. The reduced the cost of local calls: stood in line for two days to NTA simply forwarded the “We reduced landline costs to get a pre-paid SIM card demand to Nepal Telecom and promote internet use in earlier this year. Lama has that was that. Nepal.” now sold it to a friend. He When asked, Nepal As in India, the price of just can’t afford to use it. Telecom justified its high mobile services could go down Most consumers are so costs saying it used to with more competitors in the happy with the status symbol subsidise fixed line costs from market. The government has NAVIN SINGH KHADKA of a new mobile phone that surcharges on international deregulated the launched phone services in they aren’t even aware they calls. But when income from telecommunication sector and Kathmandu Valley with its are being ripped off. Most international calls plummeted the Indian joint-venture Spice ‘wireless local loop’ If you haven’t read the fine don’t bother to find out the worldwide, it was forced to Telecom is getting ready to technology. print, here it is: price of calls, the times they transfer the surcharge to start with new investors after a (see interview, p 9) are cheaper and the mobile users. “We had no two-year delay. While consumers wait for l A three-minute call from a astronomical mark-ups when choice,” explains Nepal “Once there are other prices to fall, it would help if pre-paid phone to a post-paid using pre-paid cards. Telecom’s Managing Director, operators, the prices of mobile they analysed the pricing phone is nearly 38 times more But that’s OK. Even the Sugat Ratna Kansakar. “But phones will certainly go structure of the phone service expensive than a call between Nepal Telecommunication our mobile phone tariffs are down,” says NR Mokhariwale, they have. Consumers, for two fixed lines at non-peak Authority (NTA), is not sure still cheaper than those of chief of United Telecom instance, don’t even know that hours. if Nepal Telecom’s mobile Singapore and some South Limited (UTL) which last year there is a budget call scheme l The call you could make on tariffs are justified. The through Nepal Telecom to call a landline for Rs 1.30 can cost government regulator any country in the world for Type of call 8AM-6PM (call charge Nrs) 10PM-6AM Rs 24 if you called a land allowed Nepal Telecom only Rs 25 per minute. phone using a pre-paid mobile (recently turned into a Local to local call 1.27 per 2 mins 1.27 per 8 mins We put it to Nepal phone. company) to fix charges to Local line to post-paid 5.08 per 2 mins 10.16 per 8 mins Telecom that consumers may l If a friend calls you get a 25 percent return on its Local to pre-paid call 5.80 per 2 mins 10.16 per 8 mins not be aware because it hasn’t between 10PM and 6AM, the annual investment. The told them about it. Kansakar Post-paid to local 9.16 per 2 mins 14.44 per 8 mins receiving call in your post or trouble is NTA is not able to says public awareness is a pre-paid phone is free but the monitor whether its own Pre-paid to local 11.88 per 2 mins 47.52 per 8 mins problem. He admits: “Perhaps caller ends up paying for rules are being followed and Post-paid to pre-paid 10.68 per 2 mins 36.64 per 8 mins our publicity has not been every minute even if a Nepal Telecom hasn’t Pre-paid to post-paid 13.14 per 2 mins 47.52 per 8 mins enough.” l 19 - 25 NOVEMBER 2004 #222 9

Smart cards

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Smart Choice Technology (SCT) has signed up Krishi Premura (KP), a Open skies, Hongkong-based money transfer company, as an associate member of SCT Network. KP will ride on Laxmi Bank’s affiliation with the network and arrange for ATM cards to be issued to its clients. A tripartite agreement was signed between SCT Laxmi Bank and KP on 6 November. Laxmi closed minds Bank has been issuing ATM/Debit cards accepted all across the network of SCT, which provides the technology, business process and services Domestic airlines and airports infrastructure to support financial transactions through Automated Teller Machines (ATM) and Point of Sale (PoS) terminals. SCT currently has reflect the state of the nation eight member banks with a few more expected to join in. This new service will benefit Nepalis who receive remittances from abroad. KP will be able to provide customers with pre-paid ATM cards, in lieu of the remittances they receive from aboard. These customers will have access to SCT’s network of over 26 ATMs all over Nepal. KP will have cards automatically ‘re-charged’ when fresh remittances are received. Apart from ease of operation, remittance cards provide greater security to beneficiaries. Introduction of remittance cards is expected to bring about a whole new dimension to the vibrant remittance business and help channel more remittances into Nepal through legal channels. Necon’s ATR at Pokhara airport during happier days.

KUNDA DIXIT “Privatising telecom keptics of free market and Of course one does not share, a strong Federal reforms now have a good know how much security and regulator has ensured that S excuse. The safety has been compromised. safety is not compromised and is win-win” implementation of the For example, this Beed the customer gets the best government’s open skies policy observes how flight attendants options both in terms of NR Mokhariwale is the Chief Executive Officer of the that began more than a decade deal with mothers carrying products and price. In Nepal, a Indian telecom joint venture UTL which pioneered ago has not really resulted in infants in a private airline in weak regulator has allowed wireless local loop (WLL) technology in the Kathmandu better customer service. While India vis-à-vis a private airline private airlines to do as they Valley and made it possible for customers to bypass long you may argue that airports are in Nepal. please. The closure of once queues for landlines from Nepal Telecom. Mokhariwale still managed by the Rest of the world: the high-fliers like Necon has tells us about UTL’s plans for expansion and prospects government, it is to blame for nervous mother of the wailing shown the the ‘take the money of phone tariffs coming down. the poor service of private baby is briefed on how to and run’ attitude is prevalent handle seat belts or tackle air in the private sector. pressure during take-off and The performance of private ECONOMIC SENSE landing. Nepal: mother of operators in the airline Artha Beed wailing baby is totally ignored business has given anti- and made to fend for herself. globalisation and anti-reform players. Reforms without None of the private airlines lobbyists reasons to dissuade regulation can be worse. believe in assigned seats and government businesses from Ten years ago, we compared seem to enjoy the chaos this opening up. The less said about the inefficiencies of the state creates. Maybe, the intention airport management the better. owned airlines of India and is to give the hundred people While millions are collected Nepal. We should today have inside a plane the exact through airport tax every year, been in a position to compare experience of a bus ride to there is minimal investment in the efficiencies of private Banepa at rush hour. upgrading facilities. airlines, but we aren’t. With domestic airlines The commotion of having In India, the flying public is catering to tourists, the logic passengers of 100-seater jets pampered both in terms of would be to have some English trying to get through counters,

MIN BAJRACHARYA quality and price. In Nepal, speaking ground staff. But security, ramp buses and Nepali Times: What has been the response to your services in airline owners have pampered ground handling is worse than boarding procedures made for a Kathmandu? themselves at the cost of the air handling. What happened? 15-seater aircraft is aptly I would like to thank our customers for the overwhelming response to our consumer (See also: Under My Our service industry was symbolic of the state of Nepal. services. The number of customers are certainly not up to our expectations Hat, ‘Royal Uneconomic Class’ supposed to be of The public non-address system, due to delay in launch of our handheld terminals which are easier to carry. #214). Gone are the smart- international standard. non-existent baggage handling, looking people behind the A deregulated airline and the general attitude of staff Any expansion plans? counter, the courtesy and in- industry functions best when that passengers should be Initially we set up our network with deployment of 14 BTSs to cover flight services. The operations the government oversees the grateful they have a seat is Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur. In view of the high demand from the benchmark has been relegated maintenance of standards and symbolic of the failure of outskirt areas and the formation of two new municipalities of Thimi and to the Gonga Bu Bus Park. It is growth. In the United States, deregulation. l Kirtipur in Kathmandu Valley, we recently added 11 more BTSs. Since our license covers services in the entire country, we will be expanding our services basically the ‘fill it, shut it, the land of the biggest airlines to other cities also. forget it’ policy. and largest global air travel [email protected]

Will you introduce other services besides WLL? Apart from providing the WLL telephones, we are offering international lease circuits including provisioning of Internet bandwidth from level one Internet switches. We have also started providing ISD services by estabilishing a satellite earth station and an international gateway switch. Furthermore, we are planning to provide ISDN connectivity to corporate users/ business houses and E1 connectivity to Internet Service Providers.

There are reception complaints about WLL sets. UTL has deployed latest CDMA 2000 1x technology which provides superior quality voice by optimal usage of available frequency spectrum.

Is competition going to get stiffer after deregulation in the telecom sector? The launch of UTL was already the beginning of competition in telecommunications in the country. Hte opening up of the telecom sector is a win-win situation for all: incumbent operator, new operators, overall economy of the country and most importantly for the consumers.

But will prices go down? Certainly. And there will be an improvement in the quality of service and customer interface. After UTL started ISD services through its own gateway, prices came down by as much as 70 percent. Calls to the Middle East which used to cost Rs 90 per minute are now down to Rs 25.

Should mobile phones be necessarily more expensive than the landlines? What is the basis of fixing the tariff? Pricing primarily depends on the volumes. In most of the developed and few developing countries, the number of mobile customers have overtaken the number of fixed lines. With increasing numbers the rates will certainly come down. 10 REVIEW Norwegian jazz group revisits Nepal

Urban Connection (UC) represents We had a great week in Kathmandu. the new generation of young Met a lot of nice people, great Norwegian jazz musicians. UC musicians and a very kind audience. combines the traditional acoustic form of expression with the energy of What is it about Kathmandu that today’s electronica. inspired you to return? UC is inspired by the music of the All the friendly people, the 50s and 60s — hard bop/free bop as atmosphere and them wanting us well as world music/folk music and the back for a concert. 70s jazz-rock. The band’s expression It was inspiring for us to meet is energetic, groovy and tight, and Nepali musicians who really enjoyed their music, which is original, is what they were doing and have presented with a virility and freshness respect for the craft. It is important that is hard to find today. to be open to new influences and In 2000, UC was selected as the there will be money on the table to unofficial European champions in support local musicians encouraging jazz at the Temprin de Jazz in them to develop. Avignon (France) and toured the Baltic region as well. It won the What do you think of the “jazz Norwegian equivalent of the Grammy explosion” with artistes like Diana for the album Urban Connection in Krall, Norah Jones and Jamie 2001. Its other albums are French Cullum? Only (2002) and UC3 (2004). UC will I do not think too much about them. play at the Keshab Narayan Chok at They do whatever they want, the Patan Museum on 25 November. audience around the world enjoy whatever they enjoy. There is room Nepali Times conducted an email for everyone, jazz was never an interview with band member Hakon expression meant to meet a special Mjaset Johansen group of people or the masses. What was it like playing in Having big record companies Kathmandu last year? backing you is good but most important is sincerity, honesty and a genuine will to make good music. The result is for everyone to judge.

When can we expect another studio album? We have just released our third studio album UC3 and it will be available at our concert.

Have you ever considered collaborating with Nepali artistes for your albums? We met Manoj Singh last year. He is a great musician with whom it would be a pleasure to collaborate when the opportunity occurs.

How is the audience in Kathmandu different from that in Europe? We do not feel there is such a great difference. Music is a universal language and as long as the energy is sincere, everyone understands. For tickets contact: Upstairs Jazz Bar and Summit hotel, Rs 750 Further information contact: Mahesh Sajnani 9851052968 19 - 25 NOVEMBER 2004 #222 11

This special supplement for children – marking the anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child on November 20, 1989 – is supported by UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund. Know your rights

oday we live in a world T where almost everyone Let us agrees that anyone below 18 years old is a child and has the right to special care and put our protection. It has only been since 20 children first November 1989, when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the By Dr Suomi Sakai* Child (CRC), that the world has benefited from one set of legal rights our time as a child should be a time of for all children and young people. growth. It should be a time of playing, Once we got it though, almost Y learning, exploring, developing. everyone was quick to agree to it. It should not be a time of hunger, illness or Only a few months after it was ignorance. And it certainly should not be a adopted, 20 countries had already time of fear. ‘ratified’ the Convention (gave it You need enough food so that you can grow legal force). And today, 191 to your full height. You need good nutrition, countries have ratified the CRC. including enough vitamin A and iron so that [Nepal ratified the Convention in your body can stay strong and fight disease. 1990.] You need vaccinations to protect you from The Convention on the Rights of measles and other diseases that can kill or the Child is the most widely ratified disable you. human rights agreement in the You need access to clean water and la- world. It details your rights and how trines to protect you from diarrhoea and other they should be applied in its 54 diseases. articles, plus two optional extras (or You also need protection from violence, ‘protocols’). The Convention starts off by from abduction, from trafficking and exploita- saying that everyone under the age tion. You need to be safe and you need to feel of 18 (the definition of a child), safe. regardless of gender, origin, religion You need parents or guardians to be there or possible disabilities, needs special to care for you. care and protection because You need a school to go to and a teacher children are often very vulnerable to teach you all the things you need to know, (articles 1 & 2 — the numbers in including how to read, write and count. brackets correspond to the relevant And you and your parents and guardians article in the Convention). need to feel that your school is a safe place, It also says that governments where you can learn and play in peace. must take action to ensure your Your childhood provides the foundation for rights are respected (4). It ends by your life as an adult. It helps determine the describing ways of putting theory quality of your adult life, which should be based into practice and monitoring on a strong foundation. progress (41–54) Credit: UNICEF Nepal/2004/Bogati/0857 Tomorrow is the 15th anniversary of the Although the Convention has 54 Seven-year-old Bipana Dhakal is member of Meghauli VDC child club, in adoption of the Convention on the Rights of articles in all, it is guided by four Chitwan. She actively participates in monthly meetings where some 33 children the Child. discuss children’s rights and the problems that affect their lives and their fundamental principles: This Convention means that these needs community. The child club helps children learn to express themselves, to learn of yours I have talked about above are also Non-discrimination (2): you about the issue of discrimination, and to participate in the sanitation and hygiene your rights. should neither benefit nor suffer program. Child club members also talk with their parents about the importance because of your race, colour, of going to school and of participating in child club meetings. I take this opportunity to appeal to all adults gender, language, religion, national, in the country to reflect on our own childhood. social or ethnic origin, or because Let us ask ourselves: What sort of child- of any political or other opinion; Survival, development and opinions taken into account. hood do we want our own children to have? because of your caste, property or protection (6): the authorities in As you are exploring the various Let us put our children first. birth status; or because you are your country must protect you and rights, try to see how each of these disabled. help ensure your full development four fundamental principles informs The best interests of the child — physical, spiritual, moral and them. (3): laws and actions affecting social. These are your rights. If you do children should put your best Participation (12): you have a not know what they are, how will interests first and benefit you in the right to have your say in decisions you know if they are being denied? best possible way. that affect you, and to have you So start investigating!

This article comes from the UNICEF Voices of Youth Website. You can read it at the following address: http://www.unicef.org/voy/explore/rights/explore_155.html Read the full text of the Convention on the Rights of the Child at http://www.unicef.org/voy/explore/rights/explore_157.html Read the full text of the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Conflict http://www.unicef.org/voy/explore/rights/explore_230.html *Dr Sakai is the Representative of the Read the full text of the Optional Protocol on the sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child UNICEF Nepal Country Office and Pornography: http://www.unicef.org/voy/explore/rights/explore_231.html mother of two children. 12 Know your rights

Protection from harm

“Our health is in our hands” – this national campaign aims to reduce illness and deaths from diseases like diarrhoea, which kills some 40 children each day in Nepal. Survival, living standards, environment

You have rights to survival, to healthy living conditions and to health care.

irst of all you have the right to survive and thrive – to F develop physically, mentally, spiritually, morally, psycho- logically and socially. In other words, you have the right to conditions enabling you to grow into the healthiest and happiest person you can be, well prepared for life. (6) Not a bad place to start! It follows that you have the right to a standard of living that Credit: UNICEF Nepal/2003/Joshi A father carries his sick child to the health post in Namdu, Dolakha, four hours away from his village - is good enough to meet your physical, mental and social needs. it is important that children and their families have access to health services.

Parents and guardians are responsible for making sure this

right is upheld, and governments should help families who have These rights are trouble protecting this right because of lack of money or other Our country is being torn apart reasons. (26, 27) about your right to protection from by the fighting. There are mines and bombs‘ You also have the right to the best achievable quality of health abuse, violence care, to keep you free of illness and disease, and also to keep and exploitation. everywhere. Our life is not safe. your body, mind and whole self as healthy as possible. To fulfil ‘ this right, the Convention says that it is important that you have We don’t know whether we will die access to good facilities, such as doctors, clinics and hospitals, ou have the right to be tomorrow or the day after. and access to safe water, nourishing food and a clean environ- protected from Y Girl, Sunsari ment. physical and mental l The Convention also says that richer countries should help injury and abuse, and from the use of dangerous drugs described above, you have the poorer countries to finance health care. (24) neglect, whether you’re liv- and involvement in the drug right to suitable help and ing with your parents or other trade (33), treatment to help you recover approved caregivers. l sexual abuse and and live a normal life again. Your government should exploitation, including (39) do everything it can to ensure prostitution and involve- Being a child or young this protection, including ment in pornography (34 — person does not mean you can making sure laws are in place see also the Optional just do anything you like. and that you have access to Protocol on the sale of Rights come with services and spaces where children, child prostitution responsibilities. One of those you are safe from harm. (19) and child pornography), responsibilities is obeying the You should not have to do l kidnapping or trafficking law. However, if you break work (child labour) that is (the illegal buying and the law, you should be treated dangerous or might interfere selling of people) (35), fairly, with your age taken with your education or l any other form of into account. You also have otherwise harm your exploitation (36) the right to appropriate development. You should also No one under the age of 15, support during legal be protected from and preferably under the age proceedings. No ‘economic exploitation’ (32) of 18, should be allowed to take punishment should be — in other words you should direct part in a war. And as a cruel; no one under 18 not have to work for young civilian, you have a right should be sentenced to life unreasonable rates of pay or to expect all possible protection imprisonment or death; for long hours or miss getting during a war. (38, Optional detention should be a last an education. Protocol on the involvement of resort and, if you are detained, The National Measles Vaccination Campaign aims to save the lives Your government must children in armed conflict) you should be treated well and of 2,500 Nepali children in 2005 by vaccinating 9.5 million children also do all it can to protect If protection fails and you allowed contact with your aged above nine months to under 15 years. you from: are harmed in any of the ways family. (37, 40) This special supplement – marking the anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights 14 Know your rights

I had to flee to India because of the

security situation. I have no money Education,culture, ‘and cannot study. There are guards‘ where I am working and I cannot leave. I work day and night. I think development of home very often and I cry. Boy, Bihar Name, identity, care

You have rights to your parents only for your own be officially good — for example, if a registered and parent is mistreating or recogni zed, and to neglecting you. If your parents be looked after have separated, you have the properly. right to have contact with both of them, unless this might harm our birth should be you. (7, 8, 9) Divided families registered with a local should be allowed to move Y between countries so that Credit: UNICEF Nepal/2003/Amatya government agency Schools should be safe places where children can learn and play in peace. without delay and you have the parents and children can visit right to a legally registered each other or be reunited for good. (10) Governments These rights are Discipline in schools whether or not these are name and nationality. about schooling, should respect your human shared by the majority of the Governments must respect should take steps to stop you from being illegally taken cultural traditions dignity by following a spirit of people in the country where your right to preserve your and arts, and understanding and tolerance you live. (30) identity, nationality and family abroad or kidnapped by a stranger, family member, leisure activities. and never causing you physical Last but not least, you have relations. (7, 8) or mental injury. (28) a right to relaxation and play You have an overarching parent or any other person, and not returned. (11) ou have a right to an Education should develop and to take part in cultural, right to a standard of care that education, and your personality, talents and artistic and leisure activities ensures your well-being, If possible, both your Y parents should share primary education abilities to the fullest. It should appropriate for people your whatever your circumstances. should be compulsory also encourage you to respect age. (31) The Convention does (3) responsibility for bringing you up. They or your legal (required) and free. your parents, human rights, the not specify exactly what Governments should Secondary education environment, and your own ‘appropriate’ activities might be respect the rights of families, guardians should always consider what is best for you. should be available to and other cultures. (29) for different age-groups, so including extended families and everyone and governments You have the right to learn what this means in practice legal guardians, and their Governments should provide services to help parents look should ensure that no one is and use the language and depends on customs in your responsibilities to direct and excluded because of poverty. customs of your family, country and community. guide you so you can exercise after their children, especially your rights in the best way if both parents work. (18) The law should prevent possible for you. (5) I used to look at them, the children on the kori and mehtas, but You also have the right to unfair or illegal interference know and, as far as possible, with your privacy, your never dared to enter the school compound. I used to be scared be cared for by your parents. correspondence, your family, . . .Now I am going to school with my books. and your home. In other words, ‘ (7) You may be separated from you have the right to private and I want to learn more, to know more. confidential communication I want to keep studying so I can become a teacher., In our village, our with people at home and Girl from Mushahar family, Sunsari, who graduated from a elders used to cau- elsewhere, for example in UNICEF-supported Out of School Programme class to regular school. tion us about health clinics. You should also ‘ be protected from ‘unlawful walking in the dark attacks on your honour and state institutions such as If you are not being looked nationality, membership of a for fear of ghosts reputation’ (16), especially in orphanages. This should take after by your parents, you particular social group, or legal matters — though this into account your ethnic, should have your situation political opinion’, (according to and wild animals. does not mean that you can get religious and cultural reviewed regularly. (25) the 1951 Convention Relating Now, we fear even your brother, sister, parents or background and the language If you are a refugee, you to the Status of Refugees). walking in the friends locked up for calling you speak. (20) If you are must be protected and your If you have a physical you a ‘lazy slob’, even if it isn’t adopted, the first concern must rights respected, as spelled disability or learning daylight. We don’t true! be what is best for you. If you out in the Convention. A impairment you should be want to be If your own family cannot are adopted by people in refugee is someone who has given special care and support look after you, you have the another country, the left his or her country to help you live a full and abducted. , right to appropriate alternative safeguards and standards because of ‘a well-founded independent life and be an Boy, Parbat care: foster parents, for should be at least equivalent to fear of being persecuted for active member of your example, and, as a last resort, those in your own country. (21) reasons of race, religion, community. (23)

This special supplement – marking the anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child on November 20, 1989 – is supported by UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund. SPORTS 19 - 25 NOVEMBER 2004 #222 15 Go take a bike Kathmandu Mountain Bike Panauti- Godavari race kicks off on Saturday

f you’ve been wondering how to shed those kgs gained over IDasain and Tihar, wonder no longer. The annual Kathmandu Mountain Bike Race is here on 20 November. Organised by Kathmandu Mountain Bikes Company, a part of Himalayan Expeditions Nepal, the event promises plenty of Golf in Pokhara pedalling action along the valley rim. Surya Nepal Western Open opens in Pokhara Some 100 participants, international and Nepalis, are hose of us who have lived in Kathmandu have had the privilege of expected. Of the 72 participants T being able to play golf. That same opportunity was not available in in last year’s races, nine of the Pokhara. top 10 finalists were Nepalis. Our Golf in Pokhara has quite a short history. It was not long ago that ex- guys are getting more serious British Gorkha officer Maj Ram Bahadur Gurung envisioned spreading considering the sport only took golf to more places in Nepal, and what better place than his favourite root a few years back and was city, Pokhara. dominated by international After retiring from the army and returning to Nepal, he gathered support from his ex-colleagues in racers. The race this year will start TEE BREAK the army and local friends. In 1994 from Panauti, pass through Deepak Acharya the Himalayan Golf Course was established in Pokhara. For those Lakuri Bhanjyang, Sisneri, climb who have yet to lay their eyes on this up Kot Dara, and end in the masterpiece, you will be astounded to learn that the Himalayan Golf foothills of Pulchoki at Godavari Club is possibly one of the most adventurous and amazing golf courses covering a total of 30 km. The in the world. prize money till date is Rs 10,000, One reason the prize money without outside help.” So get With the stunning backdrop of Mt Annapurna, fairways spread next to Rs 7,000, and Rs 5,000 but could might not sound as attractive is your gears, crank up your spirits Bijayapur Khola and the views of the 100m deep gorge within and go up depending on the number that there are no foreign and prepare to race. l around which the course lies, the encounter is simply stunning. Any golfer of participants. As usual there sponsors. Says Sharad Pradhan living in or visiting Nepal who doesn’t take time out to play this most (Alok Tumbahangphey) exquisitely set golfing experience is missing a chance of a lifetime. are four categories: Open, of KMB, “We would like to For more information, The launching of the Himalayan Golf course opened up a new Seniors, Below-40, and Women. conduct the race with or www.kmbnepal.com or call Sharad Pradhan 9851077385. opportunity for those in the area. For quite a while, interest remained mostly with ex- British Gorkha officers and a few hardcore locals. That was until 1999, when Surya Pedalling peace Nepal showed its commitment to promoting sports by announcing a new local professional golfing event, the Surya Nepal Some race for fun, others pedal for peace. Cyclist and world peace pilgrim Western Open. Fredrick Alexander Hutchinson (‘Hutch’) is back in town on a mission. In The arrival of top local professional June 2003 Hutch was given a sacred stone (see pic), in the shape of a golfers and the extensive publicity heart, from the Sisnaajini (Sierra Blanca) mountain, one of the four most generated by Surya Nepal created quite an holy peaks in southeastern Colorado by the Navaho Indians to place it in impression and impact. I have witnessed a Mt Kailash, Tibet as a gesture of peace between the east and west. His steady growth of golf in Pokhara over the journey, which began in January 2004, took him to Europe where he spent years. We now regularly see new faces his summer in The Netherlands spreading the word. This October, Hutch around the clubhouse with a golf club in hand. landed in Kathmandu and is now preparing for the last leg of his mission Subsequently, a few other golfing facilities were developed. The well that will start in May. known Yeti Golf Course at the Fulbari Resort & Spa should spring right to Interestingly, Hutch got his bicycle from Peter Stewart of Himalayan mind. Mountain Bikes in 1998 and will be using the same wheels for this trip as Growing interest amongst the golfing community and the game’s die- well. Hutch likes to take his time, stopping to smell the flowers and talking to hards also resulted in the establishment of a practice driving range in the people along the way. He has never raced professionally but maintains a heart of the city. Their aim was to improve their own game and to provide strict routine. “When you’re older you like to go slower,” says the 65-year-old. a perfect learning opportunity for new aspirants. This easily accessible If you think you have it in you Hutch will be heading for Mt Kailash next range is a 15-minute drive from any part of the city, and having such a May. Think about it, its worth the cause and much more. facility in town is a real asset and luxury. Without a doubt Pokhara is a famous tourist destination in Nepal. email: [email protected] With this added facet of golfing, I feel we just need to let the world know, website: www.cyclingpeace.org ALOK TUMBAHANGPHEY we will be adding a new dimension to our tourism. This year again, Surya Nepal continues its commitment of sports development with the two-day, 36 hole Surya Nepal Western Open 2004 tournament which will be played over 19-20 November. As always we expect to see a crowd of people at the Himalayan Golf Course, especially on the exciting final on Saturday. Take this once-a-year chance to witness the event and perhaps meet some friends there who will induct you into the game. l

For more information call 986021150. Deepak Acharya is a golf instructor and Golf Director at Gokarna Forest Golf Resort & Spa, Kathmandu. [email protected] 19 - 25 NOVEMBER 2004 #222 23 A Bhaktapur brick-layer

al Krishna Kasula does not construction technology. Soon, he when they are jolted, while B have an engineering was retrofitting schools in Bhaktapur, traditional houses crumble. degree. He never went to Kirtipur, Nagarkot and Kathmandu (See: ’70 years later’, #178). university, all he has is a high and teaching other masons to do Next week, Bal Krishna is off to school diploma. But so skilled is the same. In the last five years, he Japan where he will train a group Bal Krishna in constructing and has helped rebuild more than 20 of Japanese students from four designing earthquake-resistant schools and trained more than 50 universities in Kobe, which was also buildings that he is now training brick-layers. His skills were so useful badly damaged in an earthquake engineers and masons in that NSET sent him to Kabul, New in January 1995. Over those two RAMESWOR BOHARA earthquake-prone areas around Delhi and Tajikistan to train local months, the Bhaktapur brick-layer HIGHWAY AMBUSH: A police truck still smouldering after the Maoist the world. masons. Most of them are now will help design earthquake- attack in Khairi Khola that killed eight Armed Police personnel In 1999 architects from the building with Nepali-designed resistant houses by combining along the East West Highway on Wednesday. Kathmandu-based National earthquake-resistant technology. Japanese and Nepali techniques. Society for Earthquake Bal Krishna recently returned Says Bal Krishna: “The Technology-Nepal (NSET) from Bam in eastern Iran which was Japanese have a lot of experience discovered his brick-laying skills devastated by an earthquake in in earthquake-resistant buildings, while retrofitting a primary school December 2003. “It was quite but there may be a thing or two building to make it earthquake difficult convincing them in the we can also show them.” l resistant. NSET trained him to be beginning, but they were (NARESH NEWAR) a trainer of earthquake-resistant overwhelmed when we showed them our demonstration set,” recalls Bal Krishna. The models show how retrofitted houses remain intact

ANUP PRAKASH NON-VIOLENCE VIGIL: Peace activists burn candles and pray for the souls of 92 Nepali killed in the month of Kartik on 16 November. At least 20 more people were killed in fighting that same day.

Bal Krishna constructing a model of an earthquake-resistant house while training Afghan builders in Kabul last month.

MIN BAJRACHARYA NEPAL MANDALA: Bhintuna Peace Mandap made of coloured powder at Masang Galli on the occasion of the Nepal Sambat 1125 on 13 November.

RAM HUMAGAIN/NEPALNEWS.COM REMOTE CONTROL: International delegates and government ministers at the inauguration of a seminar on Remote Sensing for Sustainable Development in Mountain Areas held at the Soaltee Crowne Plaza on 15 November.

KIRAN PANDAY DIGGING AWAY: Bulldozers at work this week in Lumbini for next month’s World Buddhist Conference at Buddha’s birthplace. 16 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 19 - 25 NOVEMBER 2004 #222 Underground rift trying to compete in leaders? Ananta claims that the

development work. Both sides party emerged united following ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ “We haven’t lost, Budhabar, 10 November are now engaged in building the central working committee roads, bridges, water supply meeting in July. From now on A top Maoist source has networks, and more. The Royal the party will hold debates and revealed a hardline faction has Nepali Army has begun several discussions for more than a year they haven’t won” development projects, which over proposals to select central won out in an internal power struggle. Those for dialogue and will be completed in a few members of the party. He Interview with Maoist spokesman Krishna Bahadur Mahara a political solution are said to be months. These include the dubbed it a ‘pure communist BBC Nepali service, 17 November in the minority and have been construction of a bridge over the exercise of the 21st century’. sidelined. Most leaders Chupra stream, a road linking According to information Krishna Bahadur Mahara: Why has Chupra to Dailekh Bajar and a received, the July meeting of your party rebuffed the appeared to be against peace government’s repeated invitation talks at a recent Maoist central public park said to protect the the Maoists agreed to begin the for peace talks? committee meeting in Rolpa. area built by the Pandaba ‘party purification’ campaign BBC: It is not that our party is not The anti-talks faction led by brothers as mentioned in the under which it is said that the interested in talks. We are serious senior Maoist leader Ram Mahabharata. Nainaraj Dahal, central leaders, especially and concerned about it. We also Bahadur Thapa alias Badal was brigade chief of Bahawani Baks, politburo members, would have take note of the Nepali people’s wish backed by central committee said the army would renovate to donate their property to the for negotiations. But the fact is that members Posta Bahadur Bogati schools in the area. Not to be party and involve their spouses talks need to reach a conclusion. alias Diwakar, politburo member outdone, the rebels have and children in party activities We have attended two rounds with and military commander Nanda completed many development as well. A Maoist source says the old regime, and from that Kishore Pun alias Pasang, projects in the region and plan that this had irked many experience we know that they were to finish some more in the next politburo members. Even never serious about conclusive talks. politburo member Netra Bahadur There are clearly two state powers in Chand alias Biplab and the few months. With the engineers Prachanda conceded through the country: our new power in rural Chief of the ‘Magarant and other technicians in their his statements that despite his areas, and the old regime which is autonomous people’s party, the rebels have declaration, grave allegations confined to urban areas. Both sides government’ Santosh Buda alias completed small-scale were leveled against some should understand this reality. Barun. In the minority were hydropower projects, built comrades in the central rebel leaders Prachanda, suspension bridges, public working committee meeting. What will it take to convince you standing committee member waiting areas and a 40-km road Ananta says in his article that to sit at the table? Baburam Bhattarai, between Dungeswor and the central leaders who faced The old regime needs to make spokesperson Krishna Bahadur Patinkala. such allegations were re- public the way it sees us, and what it MIN BAJRACHARYA Mahara, politburo member evaluating their sees as the way out of this conflict. responsibilities, moral and They have to make public their commitments for a progressive solution. Barshaman Pun alias Ananta, Party purification

among others. The meeting was disciplinary obligations. ○○○○○○○

They will have to stop the unprecedented military buildup and killings of ○○○○○○○○○ innocent people in so-called encounters. How can talks take place in such said to be divisive and senior Jana Astha, 17 November Babu Ram Bhattarai was a situation? We need to see genuine political commitment. leaders spent most of the 10 reportedly most ‘revolutionary’ days blaming each other for the A politburo member of the CPN- about donating property and There have been talks about a division in the Maoist leadership. increasing number of arrests of Maoist revealed that the party involving their children. As his Absolutely not true. We have no differences on either holding talks or comrades in India. Since the was on the verge of a vertical wife Hisila Yami is already continuing the war. There was a consensus for the previous rounds. And if hardline faction dominated the split even before its last central active in Maoist politics and he there is an international mediator and we get answers to the questions we meeting, the concepts of committee meeting was held in has lost all personal property. have asked, we are still ready to negotiate. ‘strategic offensive’ and ‘tunnel July. Maoist leader Barsha Man Bhattarai has no problems in war’ have prevailed. The rebels’ Pun (Ananta) wrote in getting his only daughter But there have been contradictory statements from the leadership involved in party activities. But recently. earlier demands for a roundtable Janabidroh, ‘The party was on We have had enemies working against us since the beginning. They were conference, interim government the verge of a split. Huge Prachanda and leaders like engaged in propaganda and they will continue doing it. It’s no big deal. and constituent assembly have discussions and debates were Dina Nath Sharma have kept taken a backseat. held but the party moved on.’ their children away from party You say you are for the people but there is untold suffering because of Alleging the government of activities and find the the insurgency you launched. Constructive war spending a huge amount to ‘purification process’ a

It depends on your point of view. We don’t agree with your statement and cause a split in the party, problem. Another rift was over ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ we don’t think that the people look at things that way. Yes, a few people Nepal Samacharpatra, Ananta wrote, ‘The the ‘tunnel war’ campaign. have suffered and whether such suffering is widespread is a subject of 16 November reactionaries were euphoric, the There is disagreement inside debate. Those who were working against the village people have now come government disbursed Rs 250 the Maoist party vis-à-vis the to the towns. Those who left because of their anti-people activities, very million to cause a rift in the party’s outlook towards India few were innocent and we have been telling them they can come back. The security forces and the and the ‘tunnel war’. Many have returned, but there are those who still can’t though there aren’t Maoists are competing to make party but it remained intact.’ too many of them. their presence felt in Dailekh by Was it spent buying Maoist (Nepalnews.com Translation Service)

The security forces seem to have been successful in finishing off some influential commanders. We don’t feel that way. They can’t enter our strongholds without extra security. They are actually confined to their barracks and are losing ground. They stage fake encounters. Yes, some of our commanders and senior leaders have also been killed and that has been a loss, but it doesn’t mean we have lost and they have won.

What is your party’s stand on elections? Elections are not the solution to the present problem. It could be a solution for the forces within the old state power. Elections under the old constitution would be a slogan and a precursor for a big war. If we are looking for a solution, we should be looking at elections for a constituent assembly and not for a parliamentary system.

India now sees your revolution as a common threat. Is it becoming more difficult for you? The Indian rulers have a wrong way of looking at the smaller nations in South Asia. In the name of security, they wish to keep us within their security umbrella. We don’t only want to liberate the people of Nepal from their autocratic rulers but also from interference by Indian rulers. This is nothing new, the Indians have been against us in the past and it will remain so. We believe we will not win the final battle unless we fight Indian expansionism.

Will you then take your war to India? We are going to India to fight them. India has been intruding into Nepali Hive: ‘Democracy’ territory. They interfere with us politically, economically, socially and I don’t think it’ll drop easily, sir, I’m being attacked from culturally and that is how they have been exploiting us. Now they are also all sides. Kantipur, 18 November preparing to interfere militarily. The Nepali and Indian peoples will fight together against the enemy. QUOTES OF THE WEEK Why do you say you will only talk to the king? It’s really unfortunate our UML leaders are unable to write a note of dissent We want to talk with the person and institution that holds power, authority against the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Control and Punishment) and makes decisions. If the government can prove that it has these powers, Ordinance (TADO) and Royal palace expenses. we are ready to hold talks with them. But the government will have to prove that it controls the king and the army. Power is centralised with the king at present, he is pulling the strings from behind the scenes. UML leader KP Oli in Nepal Samacharpatra, November 18

SELECTED MATERIAL TRANSLATED EVERY WEEK FROM THE NEPALI PRESS FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 19 - 25 NOVEMBER 2004 #222 17 Highway ambush

Phanindra Silwal in Kantipur, 17 November

KRISHNABHIR-After the Maoists called a Dhading Banda on Tuesday, we were on high alert. My friends and I were sitting in front of my office at the Highway Information Centre, when a vehicle full of soldiers stopped in front of us. I knew the soldiers, they were on patrol from Gajuri. Suddenly their walkie talkie crackled to life. “We have been ambushed, we have been ambushed…” the voice at the other end said frantically and then went silent. With permission from the soldier, I sped off in my motorbike. Further down the road, locals warned me not to go there was heavy gunfire. At Malekhu an army patrol asked me to tell the soldiers ahead that three army vehicles were coming for help. I saw many soldiers at the Charaundi junction where the road from Gorkha and Prithbi Highway meet. I told them that help was on its way, but as soon as I said that I realised they were Maoist guerrillas in combat fatigues. One of them said, “Ok guys, get ready. Three enemy vehicles are coming.” They interrogated me. I showed them my Nepal One Television ID card and they allowed me to film. It was 9.45 AM and there was shooting going on in the bajar. There were around 150 rebels and they had divided themselves into several groups. Some were carrying two radio sets, one looted from soldiers they ambushed through which they monitored the army’s communications. They would first listen to the army’s radio set and then issue orders through their own set, “Just use the LMG, just use the LMG,” one of them would shout instructions. A female guerrilla was interrogating a wounded soldier. When I approached them, she asked, “Are you a journalist or human rights activist?” When I said I was a reporter, she said that the offensive had taken place under her command and her name was Pratiksha. “Broadcast this news with my name and take note of the fact that we have followed the rules of war,” she said and handed the injured soldier to me. “Take care of him and hide him before the others spot him, the fighting hasn’t finished yet,” she said. I took him to a house and dressed his wound. Outside, the Maoists were dancing and shouting with their captured weapons. Never before had I seen so many Maoists, they had come here under from the east under the Special Ring Command. Two were carrying a rocket launcher, others were carrying guns with tripods, all had AK 47, INSAS SLR assault rifles. I sped on to Krishnabhir but by the time I got there, the rebels had left. An army truck riddled with bullets, shrapnel and still on fire lay on the side of the road. There was a soldier’s body nearby. I returned to fetch the injured soldier I had hidden in the house. About 500 Maoists were walking towards Ghyalchok in Gorkha, others were climbing uphill to southern Dhading. As I rode back to Malekhu with the injured soldier, we were met by an army vehicle. I handed over the injured soldier and they headed for Krishnabhir. (As told to Ujir Magar)

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More money for MDGs the Velvet Revolution on 17

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○ T November 1989, which BRUSSELS-The UN’s Millennium Development Goals to halve poverty brought an end to 41 years of by 2015 can still be met but the European Union will need to pull communist dictatorship in Velvet + 15 surprises soon, says Eveline Herfkens, the UN secretary general’s Czechoslovakia, is an executive coordinator for the millennium goals. She hopes European opportunity to ponder the countries will present a surprise at the UN General Assembly next year meaning of moral behaviour and when progress towards the goals will be assessed. “EU member states free action. Today we live in a committed to achieve at least 0.33 percent (of gross national income democratic society, but many towards development aid) by 2006 as a step towards achieving 0.7 percent,” she said. “I hope they will make additional commitments.” Such people – not only in the Czech a move, she said, “would certainly shame the United States, so that they Republic – still believe that they will be obliged to follow suit.” Five European countries (Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark and Luxembourg) have crossed the 0.7 percent figure recommended by COMMENT the UN. World Bank president James Wolfensohn told reporters that the Václav Havel development goals are out of reach by the 2015 deadline. “Nonsense,” Herfkens said. “Anything is possible, but very little time is left.” (IPS) are not true masters of their destiny. They have lost faith in

Indian in US Congress the fact that they can really ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○ influence political NEW DELHI-A world away from the hurly burly US politics, residents of developments, much less Malerkotla, the only Muslim-majority town in the Indian state of Punjab, influence the direction in which have been celebrating the results of the recent election. Friends and relatives of newly elected US Congressman Bobby our civilisation is evolving. Jindal, who is of Indian origin, are rejoicing as well-wishers stream into During the communist era, their homes in India, days after the 2 November election in the United most people believed that States. But the electoral victories of Jindal and at least five other US individual efforts to effect citizens of Indian origin are not just a matter of pride and cheer here. change did not make sense. They signal the arrival of the Indian community in mainstream US Communist leaders insisted that politics after remaining in the background as fundraisers and contributors the system was the result of to both the Democratic and Republican parties. Among US citizens of history’s objective laws, which Indian origin who won in the elections are Nikki Randhawa Haley in South could not be challenged, and Carolina, Swati Dandekar in Iowa, Kumar Barve in Maryland, Satveer those who refused this logic were What communism still teaches us Chaudhary in Minnesota and Upendra Chivukula in New Jersey. punished, just in case. The election of another Punjabi, Nikki Randhawa Haley, to the South Carolina assembly has added to the good news. Haley, 32, a Republican Unfortunately, the way of from District 87, will become the first US politician of Indian roots to hold thinking that supported citizenship. It is possible that We were certain then that if elected office in South Carolina. Swati Dandekar in Iowa was re-elected communist dictatorships has not what we are witnessing is a mere democracy is emptied of values over her Republican contender two years ago to make it to the Iowa state disappeared entirely. Some change of paradigm, caused by and reduced to a competition of assembly, and was the first Indian-born US citizen to win a seat in the politicians and pundits maintain new technologies, and we have political parties that have state legislature. (IPS) that communism merely nothing to worry about. But ‘guaranteed’ solutions to collapsed under its own weight – perhaps the problem is deeper: everything, it could be quite No smoking in Bhutan again, owing to ‘objective laws’ global corporations, media undemocratic. This is why we

of history. Again, individual cartels and powerful ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○ put so much emphasis on the Smoking has been banned all over Bhutan from this week. Shops, hotels, responsibility and individual bureaucracies are transforming moral dimension of politics and restaurants and bars selling tobacco products have been ordered to actions are belittled. political parties into a vibrant civil society as dispose of existing stocks before 17 December. The tobacco ban will not Communism, we are told, was organisations whose main task is counterweights to political apply to foreign tourists, diplomats or those working for NGOs. But, only one of the dead ends of no longer public service, but the parties and state institutions. warned Karma Tsering of Bhutan Customs: “If any foreigner is caught Western rationalism, therefore, it protection of specific clienteles The fall of communism was selling tobacco products to Bhutani nationals, he will be charged with was sufficient to wait passively and interests. Politics is an opportunity to create more smuggling.” Bhutan is the first country with a total nationwide ban on for it to fail. becoming a battleground for effective global political tobacco. “We want no pollution and good health for our citizens,” said The very same people often lobbyists; media trivialise serious Bhutani minister, Jigme Thinley told the BBC. institutions based on democratic believe in other manifestations problems; democracy often looks principles, institutions that of inevitability, such as various like a virtual game for could stop what appears to be,

Strategic partnership supposed laws of the market and consumers, rather than a serious in its current form, the self-

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ BRUSSELS-The European Union and India have signed an other ‘invisible hands’ that direct business for serious citizens. destructive tendency of our unprecedented ‘strategic partnership’ deal amidst concerns over India’s our lives. As there is not much When dreaming about a industrial world. It is necessary, human rights record. Top EU officials and Indian Prime Minister space in such thinking for democratic future, we who were just as it was during the Manmohan Singh signed the agreement on 8 November at the 5th EU- individual moral action, social dissidents certainly had some Communist era, that we not lose India summit in The Hague. The agreement outlines how the two sides critics are often ridiculed as utopian illusions, as we are well faith in the meaning of will cooperate on trade, research, development, counter-terrorism, naive moralists or elitists. aware today. However, we were alternative centres of thought shipping, regional concerns, conflict resolution, environment and space Perhaps this is one of the not mistaken when we argued and civic action. exploration. However, activists say the EU has ‘reneged’ on its reasons why 15 years after the that communism was not a mere Let’s try to build a global responsibility to address human rights issues with India in recent years. fall of communism, we again dead end of western rationalism. civil society and insist that They say in spite of India’s recent high rate of economic growth, there is witness political apathy. Bureaucratisation, anonymous politics is not just a technology a ‘dark side’ of ‘rampant and unchecked use of torture by police, the Democracy is increasingly seen manipulation and emphasis on impunity of people responsible for inter-religious massacres and crimes of power but needs to have a against humanity, extensive definitions of anti-terrorism laws, as a mere ritual. Generally, mass conformism were brought to moral dimension. l bonded labour, violence against women, re-application of the death western societies, it seems, are ‘perfection’ in the communist (Project Syndicate) penalty’. (IPS) experiencing a certain crisis of system. Some of the very same Václav Havel was the first president of the democratic ethos and active threats are with us today. the Czech Republic. INTERNATIONAL 19 - 25 NOVEMBER 2004 #222 19 An unholy mess The Sankaracharya case shows that no one is above the law in India’s secular democracy

henever we talk of the triumph of powerful individual with a huge following and W Indian secularism, we remind that he would not run away from inquiry. The ourselves of growing Hindu Tamil Nadu government accepting his clout fundamentalism. The recent arrest and said it had enough room to believe he will incarceration of Kanchi Shankaracharya destroy the evidence and intimidate witnesses. Jayendra Saraswathi on Diwali day is one of The state also rejected the contention that the finest pointers in understanding the he will not run away by quoting Jayendra’s 1987 functioning of various institutions of India, and disappearance act as precedence and the the in-built corrective mechanism of the recent intelligence agencies report that the Indian state. Pontiff was trying to reach Nepal where he Jayendra Saraswathi was arrested as the enjoys a close relationship with the palace. prime accused in a brutal contract killing of a Jayendra’s arrest shows the Hindutva forces former are not strong as they make themselves out to devotee. be. There was no real protest in Tamil Nadu, COMMENT The fact and in fact, there were celebrations in A S Panneerselvan that this Kancheepuram on the day of arrest. The BJP highly and its pro-Hindutva forces could not get any of from the notion that it was one of the five mutts 482 BC which makes him a close influential religious leader could not get bail the mainstream legal luminaries to appear for established by Shri Adi Sankara, the founder of contemporary of Buddha. for nearly a week indicates the presence of the Pontiff and had to request their bête noire Advita philosophy and that the mutt is more While the theological textual scrutiny various checks and balances, though not till yesterday Ram Jethmalani, who was the than 2,400 years old. busts the antiquity claims, the legal and always perfect, and the dictum ‘all are equal opposition candidate against Atal Behari All historians agree that Adi Sankara was colonial records debunk the claim that Kanchi before the law’ seems to be in effect. Vajpayee in the May 2004 general elections. born in the late seventh century AD and that he Mutt is the ‘central mutt’ with powers over the His repeated pleas for special treatment Second, their worst fear that this trial might founded four mutts: Sringeri in the South, other mutts. have been rejected. The state prosecuting open a can of worms is already coming true. Dwaraka in the West, Badrinath in the North and There has been no reference to Kanchi agency used the clever ploy put forth by the The Kanchi Mutt seat of the pontiff has Puri in the East, using a simple theory of a mutt Mutt in any text till late 18th century. There are Pontiff against denying bail. The Pontiff’s been a powerful political player for the Hindu for each cardinal point. Kanchi Mutt holds that references only to Kumbakonam Mutt. l counsel argued that Shankaracharya is a Right over a century, and gets its legitimacy Adi Sankara was born either on 508 BC or on A S Paneerselvan is a Madras-based journalist. Defence deal

NEW DELHI-While India is ready to enter into a ‘defence cooperation agreement’ with Sri Lanka, it is wary of being drawn into any military involvement in the island nation, analysts here say. And that explains the delay in the signing of a formal defence agreement that was at the heart of Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s four-day visit to India last week. The 20-year separatist war has left over 60,000 dead on both sides and the two-year peace talks between Colombo and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are stalemated. According to Professor S D Muni, South Asia expert at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, Kumaratunga’s government was keen to beef up military preparedness with Indian support. Colombo held six rounds of talks with the Tigers between September 2002 and March 2003. But last April, the rebels abruptly pulled out of negotiations demanding recognition, first, for the right to self-rule before proceeding. Kumaratunga’s India tour preceded a three-day visit to Sri Lanka, by Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Petersen in a new bid to revive the peace talks that were supposed to follow a ceasefire that Oslo successfully brokered in February 2002. Petersen who was scheduled to hold discussions with both Kumaratunga and the reclusive LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran in the rebel stronghold of Kilinochchi has already made it known he did not have high expectations. Colombo, too, seems to be in an intractable position. According to former Indian army general A S Kalkat, the difficulty for Kumaratunga’s government lay in the fact that the LTTE had become a ‘de jure’ power in the north and east of the island. India is wary of getting involved ever since its troops that went in to restore peace got bogged down in a costly war against the Tigers. l (IPS) 20 TRAVEL 19 - 25 NOVEMBER 2004 #222

Bhanubhakta more here than in together as Nepalis. They the bard’s native land. celebrated all festivals from But there is a disconnect. Christmas to Dasain. Now they Most Darjeelingays can’t figure are growing more caste and class out why Nepal is going to the conscious. The reason behind DARJEElnË dogs. Kushal Rai, proprietor of this phenomenon, according to Penang Restaurant, says, “I go to Lama, is the quotas the Indian Kathmandu often but I don’t government reserves for So far, and yet so close understand what is happening ‘scheduled castes, tribes and there.” He holds a Nepali other backward castes’. passport due to his ex-British The reservation makes it AARTI BASNYAT in DARJEELING Gorkha status. It is clear that the easier for certain groups to get people of Darjeeling fear the an education and employment. insurgency in Nepal, but they Although it would benefit some are underinformed about its Darjeelingays on a personal severity. level, it will created a rift in To be sure, Darjeeling has her society that wasn’t there before own problems. There has long and make their fight for been an autonomy struggle, increased autonomy more often violent, against the distant difficult. In spite of the state capital in Calcutta. problems Darjeeling has faced or Darjeelingays say they have will face, it remains the nothing in common with undisputed ‘queen of the hills’. Bengalis and want their own The town’s splendid location on state. As Sharma says, “We are a high ridge overlooked by different. Our language, culture Kangchenjunga is unparalleled. and even the way we think does The town has seen recent not match.” bloodshed and hard times, but To add to these problems, has managed to overcome both. Darjeeling society has begun to The people of Darjeeling see a gradual split within its remain incredibly friendly own community. When the and helpful. They may have labourers came from Nepal they started to search for their roots, left behind their caste but are just as happy being communalism and came themselves. l epalis were first taken to Norbert Sharma, a student Darjeeling society who is Eating out NDarjeeling as labourers in from St Michael’s College, gives originally from Nepal maintains, British tea plantations it another spin: “Like you say “I would never consider myself Darjeeling may not have the varied cuisine of Kathmandu but it has some because they could work at high American Indians, I guess you an Indian. I still say I am a great eating places dating back to the British days. Glenary’s, a two-storey altitudes. They stayed on in could call us Nepali Indians.” Nepali.” restaurant with a basement has pastry, confectionery, coffee and an Internet India and today their children As you walk down Chaurasta, The people of Darjeeling live cafe on the ground floor and a proper restaurant with Chinese, Indian and and grandchildren make up Darj you pass groups of school in a tightly-knit community and continental food on the second. Keventer’s is the place for breakfast with society. They still identify with children led in lines by their identify more with Nepal and its reasonable prices and good quantities of food that taste as good as it looks. Nepali music, culture, art and teacher. They are all singing cultural heritage than Nepalis Fiesta and Amigo café are located in the heart of Chaurasta and offer a tradition, but they are Indian. 1974 AD’s famous song Nepali themselves. Almost everyone range of food from South Indian to Italian pizzas. Fiesta also has an Internet As Niraj Lama, senior reporter ho. The people here manage to speaks Nepali and those who café for the Net savvy who like to surf as they eat. The Park serves Indian here for the Calcutta newspaper, stay in two completely different don’t, understand it. They have food and for vegetarians there is the famous Aangan chain. Darjeeling has a new club called Velocity, which caters to the DJ music crowd. Buzz, a The Statesman, puts it crisply: countries and still balance the Nepali names, sing Nepali basement pub below Glenary’s, caters more to the live music and rock crowd “We are politically Indian but eccentricities of both. Though, songs, eat Nepali food and have while Joey’s is an Irish-type pub where you can lounge. culturally Nepali.” as a woman of high standing in Nepali features. They honour A must-do in Darjeeling is to visit the local bajar and stack up on the famous Sikkim churpis (solidified yak milk) and local candy. Most places in Darjeeling close early or run out of food by 9:30–10PM. It would be prudent to make it an early dinner.

AARTI BASNYAT TRAVEL 19 - 25 NOVEMBER 2004 #222 21

ALL PICS: KASHISH DAS SHRESTHA

Getting there Travelling to Darjeeling is as simple as going to Pokhara. Tourist buses offer direct services from Kathmandu to Pashupatinagar for about Rs 550, a ride of 15-17 hours (barring blockades, bandas and curfews). From there a taxi into Darjeeling costs about Rs 800-1,000. The scenery is beautiful with tea gardens on both sides of the border. If you are in a hurry, take one of the several daily flights to Bhadrapur (Rs 7,000 roundtrip) which doubles as a mountain flight with spectcular views of the entire eastern Himalaya. Bhadrapur to Pashupatinagar by taxi is Rs 1,500. Non-Nepali and non-Indians are not allowed to cross over by Indian immigration at Pashupatinagar, they have to cross at Kakarbhita. Darjeeling’s 3 Ts The Darjeeling carnival began last year in an effort to promote tourism. Says Ajay Edwards, organiser of the festival: “The 3 Ts of Darjeeling’s economy has been tea, timber and tourism. Tea is no longer that big and timber we have done away with.” That leaves only tourism and the carnival brings together the music, culture and people of Darjeeling and the northeastern states in a celebration of the hills. This year the telecom company, Hutch, launched itself in Darjeeling and was the main sponsor of the carnival. The festival comprises of events such as the chungi competition, where the locals participate. The highlights of the carnival this year included the Aziz Ibrahim concert organised in association with the British Council and Rock Street Journal, the 1974 AD concert, a fashion show by NIFT graduates, the porter Olympics and a youth conference of the northeastern students called ‘ Way forward — Resilience and Hope’. Tiger hill Tiger hill is situated 15 km from Darjeeling at a height of 2,590m. It is a prime location for locals and tourists alike for viewing the amazing sunrise and its reflection on Kangchenjunga. Well worth the early morning wake-up. A tour package including the Monastery and Batasia Loop will cost you IRs 450. If you want to catch the sunrise, you have to wake up at 4AM to avoid the traffic. The crowd at Tiger hill can be a major turn-off when you want to enjoy a quiet sunrise with about 300 other people clamouring for the same view. They will show you Mt Everest, but it looks as tiny as viewing Everest from Nagarkot. 22 CITY 19 - 25 NOVEMBER 2004 #222

ABOUT TOWN Veer-Zaara portrays the trauma of FESTIVAL AND EXHIBITIONS partition. In true Yashraj tradition, it is JAI NEPAL CINEMA v Near Wild Heaven, Voice from the Mountain exhibition of photographs by Yuko Akiba at Park an emotional love story. Saamiya Gallery. Until 5 December. 5522307 Siddiqui (Rani Mukherji) is a Pakistani v November Medley Collection of paintings and lawyer who helps two lovers. Veer aka sculptures by various artists at Siddhartha Art Gallery. Veer Pratap Singh (Shahrukh Khan) is Until 1 December. 4218048 v Japanese Graphic Art Poster exhibition at Embassy of from India and Zaara aka Zaara Hayat Now Showing Japan, 9.30 PM to 4.30 PM. Until 10 December. Khan (Preity Zinta) is from Pakistan. Due v A Touch of Purity Paintings by Erina Tamrakar at Gallery Nine, to the partition, they have been Lajimpat. 4428694 separated. This film is shows how love EVENTS conquers all and goes beyond Call 4442220 for show timings v Living without conflict, video show and discussion, 3PM on 20 November at boundaries drawn by men. www.jainepal.com Nepal Japan Children’s Library, Lainchour. 4279712 v The Sound of Music at The Royal Nepal Academy on 19 and 20 November, a fund-raiser organised by Triyog High School. 4470608, 4476425 KATHMANDU AIR QUALITY v Standing in the Shadows of Motown, a film about musicians who created The air pollution level in Kathmandu increased steadily last week. In the first three Motown, 19 November at Moksh, Hardic Fitness Centre. Free entry. 5528703 days, the average PM10 concentration in Kathmandu Valley was within the national v Ganesh’s Trunk Holiday Bazaar at Baber Mahal Revisited on 20 November, standard of 120 micrograms per cubic meter, but in the days that followed PM10 11AM to 6PM. 4436040 concentration crossed to unhealthy levels. The air pollution was at its worst on the v Asman Mela at Hyatt Regency, Boudha on 20 November, 10AM to 6PM. day of Laxmi Puja, when the PM10 at Putali Sadak was almost three times the Entrance Rs 50. v Sizzling Weekend Treat Live music, dance, barbeque and karaoke at Garden national standard. Compared to the previous week, the PM10 levels in all six Terrace, Soaltee Crowne Plaza. 4273999 stations have increased with Putali Sadak recording an increase of 26 percent. v How to Tame the Crazy Mind Dharma talk by Robina Courtin on 7 - 13 November in micrograms per cubic meter. 20 November, 10AM-4PM at Himalayan Buddhist Meditation Centre. 4414843 Source: www. mope.gov.np v 3rd Annual Ride and Rage with the Himalayan Enfielders to the Last Resort Good < 60 on 20-21 November. Rs 1,500 per person. 4440462 v Tanvir Mokammel Trilogy Three movies by Tanvir, famed Bangladeshi Ok 61 to 120 filmmaker, at Nepal Tourism Board, 2PM, 3.15 PM, 5.30 PM on 21 November. Unhealthy 121 to 350 v Mughle-E-Azam, a 1960 classic film by K Asif at The Film Club, Baggikhana, Patan Dhoka, 5PM on 24 November. 5542544 Harmful 351 to 425 v WCN Amateur Nature and Wildlife Photography Competition for amateur Hazardous >425 photographers. Deadline 30 November. 5524202, www.wcn.org.np Putalisadak Patan H Thamel Kirtipur Bhaktapur Matsyagaun MUSIC v Kutumba, a live performance by the folk instrumental band, 6PM onwards NEPALI WEATHER by MAUSAM BEED on 20 November at Moksh. Entrance Rs 300. 5528703 v Urban Connection live at Patan Museum Square on 25 November in aid of The seasonal jet stream drift has Save the Children. Tickets Rs 750. 9851052968 brought turbulent conditions on v Hey DJ at the Yak & Yeti on November 26. domestic flights and a band of v Ramailo Saanjh fusion music with Ishwor Gurung and his bands on moisture all the way from the east 1 December. Entrance Rs 1,200 from 7PM-10PM. 4479488 coast of Africa. The clouds are v Fusion Night at the Rox Bar. Every Wednesday, 6PM onwards. 4491234 riding the jet stream and will only v Jatra Friday Nites Live music by The Strings. 4256622 bring light rain and snow in the FOOD upper valleys. Kathmandu’s v Sizzler Week Sizzler of your choice at Rs 99 at The Bluestar Hotel, maximum temperature will plummet Tripureswor, 16 to 30 November. 4228833 to 19 Celsius over the weekend. This v Charcoalz A barbecue of Western, Indian and Mongolian delights at Hotel means it will take longer for the Yak & Yeti, 6PM to 10PM. Till 30 November. morning mist in the Valley to burn v Traditional Thanksgiving three-course dinner at Kilroy’s of Kathmandu and off, hazy smoggy conditions will K-too! Beer and Steakhouse, Thamel. 4250440, 4700043 persist all day. Conclusion: expect v Nepali Platter Unlimited drinks in Splash at Radisson Hotel throughout November, 6PM-8PM. 4411818, 4423888 a gloomy weekend and cooler v Tickling Tastebuds barbeque every Friday at The Shambala Garden Café, weather. Shangri-la Hotel, 7PM onwards. 4412999 KATHMANDU VALLEY v La Soon Restaurant and Vinotheque, moved in the lane next to the Egyptian Embassy, Pulchok for spacious indoor and outdoor seating. 5537166 Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue v Genuine Thai cuisine at Royal Lotus, Bakhundole. 5521231 v Delicious Barbecue Dinner Fridays at Summit Hotel. 5521810 v Farm House Café Delicious meals with nature at Park Village. 4375280 v S S Café Bahal Newari and continental cuisine under the giant Cinnamon tree 20-10 20-09 22-07 22-06 23-06 at Kathmandu Guest House, Thamel. 4700632 v Barbecue-Ban Bhoj at Godavari Village Resort. 5560675 v Vegetarian Creations at Stupa View Restaurant. 4480262 v Executive Lunch at Toran Restaurant, Dwarika’s. 4479488 v The Beer Garden at Vaijayantha, Godavari Village Resort. 5560675 v The Tharu Kitchen at Jungle Base Camp. [email protected] GETAWAYS v Dream Holiday package tour to Malaysia during Tihar. Marco Polo Travels and Qatar Airways, 2012345, [email protected] v Canyon Swing 140 m down stream at The Last Resort. 4439525 v Getaway package night’s stay at Godavari Village Resort, includes dinner and breakfast. 5560675 v Shivapuri Tranquil village, superb views and birdwatching. Shivapuri Heights Cottage, on the edge of Shivapuri National Park. [email protected] v Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge Pure relaxation. 4361500 v Bardia National Park with Jungle Base Camp Lodge. [email protected] v Golf at Gokarna Forest Golf Resort & Spa. 4451212 24 19 - 25 NOVEMBER 2004 #222 Old age home for the world’s

tyrants www.nepalitimes.com

ews this week that the noted Indian godman, Shankar Acharya, was thinking of retiring in Nepal just before being nabbed by NMadras Police is an indication of this country’s enormous potential as a retirement destination. Our tourism planners should try to cash in on the huge worldwide market for ex-tyrants, retired despots and tycoons who are on the lookout of a safe haven where they will be left alone in the autumn of their lives to splurge their ill-gotten wealth. Nepal offers the perfect destination for them: laws are lax, the scenery is nice and they will feel right at home here among local gangsters who are among the world’s friendliest. But it would be foolish to rest on our laurels and wait for the world’s genocidal cliques and mass murderers to come to us. Competition is stiff, and other countries are vying to entice them with incentives like tax holidays, one-window cash repatriation and UNDER MY HAT free dental treatment. There are Kunda Dixit countries with a lot of experience in this field: Saudi Arabia hosted Ugandan pensioner Idi Amin for the rest of his natural life and even allowed him to indulge in occasional cannibalism to keep him happy. Emperor Bokassa spent his retirement and all the money he plundered from the Chadian exchequer in France. Baby Doc Duvalier also retired in the south of France with his Tonton Macoute comrades and found it quite agreeable. Florida is the favourite destination for Latin American junta retirees, superannuated death squad leaders and failed coup plotters where they find the climate salubrious and local politicos whose values agree with their own. What I’m trying to say is that despite Nepal’s myriad advantages, it is not going to be a cakewalk to convince the world’s ex-tinpot dictators to come here. What do we offer that others don’t? What is our USP? Our thinking needs to be strategic and we must have a masterplan. A grand design, if you will. I’m sure His Majesty’s Government is thinking of ways to skim off the pension of the world’s scum. The first thing of course is never to sign any extradition treaties with anyone. That would instantly destroy efforts to promote Nepal as a retirement destination. For example, Mr Radovan Karadic may feel perfectly at home in Nepal these days and we could probably convince him to come, but why should he if he knows that we could hand him over to the ICJ in The Hague? Ditto for Mr Dawood. The second thing is to restore dictatorship in Nepal so overseas despots can hit the ground running when they arrive. What noted international thugs also like about Nepal is that even if they are arrested by mistake, jail breaks and flying out undetected can be arranged. (Theme song: ‘Where have you gone, Mr Robinson?’) But we also need to be more proactive in pin-pointing potential retirees. First thing we have to do is shortlist the target group, and in the national interest I’d like to propose a few notorious names:

1.Saddam Hussein (We could put him on a retainer as a human rights adviser.) 2.Mobutu Sese Seko (Will be allowed to wear a hat made of snow leopard fur while here.) 3.Imelda Marcos (She can stash Swiss cash via hundi, and we’ll throw in a couple of hundred pairs of shoes for free.)

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