591 10 - 16 February 2012 16 Pages Rs 30

#591 10 - 16 February 2012 16 pages Rs 30

espite reckless apathy and negligence of successive Dgovernments after 2008, Nepal’s young entrepreneurs, Opportunity the private sector, scientists and community groups are overcoming crippling shortages of electricity, fuel, food and water. in adversity Nepal leads the world in biogas technology, community micro-hydro projects, and captive solar systems. Nepali companies are forging ahead with innovative alternative energy installations, rainwater harvesting, and organic farming.

Inside: ECOLOGYSPECIAL

Technology is available to make us less dependent on fossil fuel imports, polluting brick kilns and garbage disposal. Nepali Times is organising the first-ever EcoFair 2012 this weekend to showcase examples of ecologically-sound and sustainable lifestyles. Visit Nepal Academy from11-12 February and learn to be self-sufficient and live with shortages of everything.

Energy emergency p4 The real story behind the shortages of petrol, diesel, cooking gas, water and electricity

My Two Paisa p5 by Paavan Mathema Forget about inviting new investors or FULL TANK: Purna Devi Maharjan adjusts the encouraging new rainwater harvesting system on her roof terrace FDI in 2012, we will in Bhotebahal after Wednesday’s rain. Faced with shortages of fuel, electricity and water, urban be lucky to keep the Nepali households have been forced to adapt. ones we have

MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA 2 EDITORIAL 10 - 16 FEBRUARY 2012 #591 OPPORTUNITY COST

or an example of an elected leadership that has exhibited utter like community forestry, the past three administrations have been through the CA. disregard for the national interest, the welfare of its citizens, and responsible for wholesale plunder and setting the clock back 30 years. In 2009, the cabinet decided to set up a Disaster Management Fthe country’s reputation and standing in the international arena There are nearly a million Nepalis working in Qatar, yet our national Authority to oversee a $120 million plan to prepare Nepal for none surpass the successive governments that have (mis)ruled Nepal airline only has three fl ights a week to Doha and Kuala Lumpur. earthquakes, but the legislation has been languishing in the parliament since 2008. Nepal has repeatedly missed the deadline on ratifying the ever since. For a country reeling under a crippling power shortage, no amendments to the Montreal Protocol on the phaseout and control of Next week, Nepal will be internationally blacklisted for failing to new hydropower generation capacity has been added in the past refrigerants and other chemicals that warm the atmosphere. We are ratify two crucial international conventions of which it is a signatory: two years. The construction of the last big power project began 11 the only country in Asia not to have ratifi ed them, and this means we the Mutual Legal Assistance Bill and Extradition Bill. It is a cruel irony, years ago. Investors in major river schemes have pulled out due can’t draw on $2 million dollars in technical assistance from the United but sadly not at all surprising, that for a country that is so dependent to local opposition, lack of political support and the obduracy of the Nations. The draft law was approved by the previous government, on remittance transfers and during Nepal Investment Year, we may be bureaucracy. Power cuts are therefore going to last at least till 2020 but successive governments have been just too distracted to push it declared a pariah for international fi nancial transactions. (see p4). Yet, despite such reckless apathy and negligence, Nepal’s young The foreign investors who have braved it out are battling political entrepreneurs, private sector, and local organisations are forging extortion masquerading as unionism. A major exporter of designer Anyone deliberately out to ahead with innovative alternative energy installations and building a mountaineering apparel has had its raw material stuck in customs for sustainable future. In urban solar power, garbage recycling, micro- over a month because the Maoist minister is sitting on the fi les for no destroy this country and hydro power, biogas, organic agriculture, Nepalis have shown what good reason (see p5). sabotage the economy can be achieved with a forward-looking problem-solving approach. Looking at the chronic fuel, food, power and water crises, one We have created opportunity out of adversity. It is to showcase would think that anyone deliberately out to destroy this country and couldn’t have done a better these examples of ecologically-sound and sustainable lifestyles that sabotage the economy couldn’t have done a better job. this newspaper is organising the Nepali Times Ecofair 2012 over the The opportunity cost of all this is hurting every sector. Even job than successive weekend in what we hope will be an annual affair. in areas where this country had earned international recognition, governments after 2008 We hope to see you there.

BIKRAM RAI

ON THE WEB www.nepalitimes.com

IDENTITY CRISIS to foreign countries. What Nepal citizenship. This is against my human joined one of the parties, worked Thank you for pointing out how really needs is visionary and capable rights and the 601 CA members don’t hard, rose through the ranks and very few women are speaking on leaders who will put the interests have the right to tell me I don’t belong took his debating and persuasion the fl oor of the House or having of the people and the country fi rst to Nepal. skills to the decision making bodies discussions on facebook (‘Identity regardless of their ethnic and regional Suraj Hazare Dahal of these parties? To demand change crisis’, Editorial, #590). It’s always affi liations. but not be an active participant in the big boys doing the big talk, and Rabi RIGHT QUESTIONS the long and arduous process of neither the media nor the leaders I see ominous dark clouds on the implementing that change would be seem concerned that a large portion FATHER horizon: ethnic wars, displaced like what our so-called civil society of the population is completely Thank you Rubeena Mahato for a populations, genocide (‘Asking the leaders did. They initially stepped silent on matters of national interest. hard hitting and timely article (‘In right questions’, Anurag Acharya, up to the plate and gave legitimacy Perhaps it’s not such a bad idea the name of the father’, #590). The #590). Only time will tell if Nepalis and boost to Jana Andolans I and to have a women’s province or focus should instead be on granting a have the wisdom to say no to II but retreated into their cocoons ‘Stristan’ like the Ass called it. mother the right to pass on her Nepali dangerous identity politics. But if the once the movement was over. The A Stristan of the women, by the citizenship to her children regardless fi res of ethnic strife are lit and people result was the absence of capable women, and for the women. of whether the ‘father’ is absent, start going at each other on the pretext and committed people at different Rita Shrestha unknown or an Indian, Chinese, of all kinds of imagined grievances, levels of the political structure which Mexican, or German. Yes even the then we shall soon see Indian troops in turn created a vacuum that was Despite our ethnic, racial, son of a Nepali woman and an Indian Children of mothers who conceived on the streets of Nepal 'enforcing fi lled by the very thugs and goons linguistic, and religious diversity, man is a Nepali. after being raped, children of single peace'. And then Nepalis will loose in that people love to complain about we are the sons and daughters Indira Oli mothers, children of lesbian mothers, a big, big way. today. If Nepalis want to change of mother Nepal. We are Nepalis children of parents with mixed Nepali Kancha the country, perhaps it’s time to put fi rst with a common citizenship. One thing that Rubeena Mahato nationalities, adopted children: all have down that placard and re-focus their Although the dignity of the individual missed out which is sadly not a full rights to citizenship. Enough of the In a democracy, our personal energies towards policy and politics is of absolute importance, a sense priority on the national agenda, but ultra-nationalist, ‘we must protect the responsibility is to work to elect rather than protests. of brotherhood and sisterhood which is personally important to me, purity of mother Nepal’ propaganda. good, local leaders who represent Aideeah is essential in a pluralistic and is what happens when there are two Denying citizenship to innocent our views. Then we have to trust our heterogeneous society. There can mothers involved? What happens children many of whom come from representatives when they get to the be no progress without unity. when a Nepali lesbian couple decides very disadvantaged backgrounds is capital, otherwise it’s very frustrating to DG to adopt a child or conceive one not going to safeguard our country’s worry about things beyond our control. Weekly Internet Poll # 591 through medical intervention? How sovereignty. David Stengel Having ministers or powerful does the child get citizenship, or will Renu Shrestha Q. Rate the performance of SRC politicians in Kathmandu from he/she be rendered stateless as KATHMANDU SPRING particular ethnicities has not helped well? At a time when same-sex My mother is Nepali and father One thing Ashutosh Tiwari did not Total votes: 981 the concerned communities in marriages might be legalised in the is an Indian (‘State of limbo’, #590). I mention in his column (‘Kathmandu anyway. So instead of fi ghting over new constitution, this is an important consider myself a true Nepali because I Spring’, #590) was that people who the number of Brahmin, Chettri, question. But since our country is was born from a Nepali mother’s womb express frustration with the current Madhesi ministers, it would be more in political turmoil, and since we are in Nepal. However, the state has denied state of affairs will have to join the worthwhile to count the number of still a very intolerant society when it me the right to citizenship for 20 years political process and change the good schools and teachers in the comes to sexual minorities, I guess and I have to live like a refugee without system from the inside if they are districts, or the number of jobs that this issue will have to “wait” and any national identity. My friend, on the really serious. For example, wouldn’t are being created so that thousands remain in the closet just like us. other hand, whose father is Nepali and someone like Tiwari be able to impact Weekly Internet Poll # 592. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com of Nepalis don’t have to migrate Astha K mother a Japanese holds fi rst-class the direction of this country more if he Q. If given the chance, will you emigrate from Nepal?

Publisher and Editor: Kunda Dixit Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd | Chief Operating Ofﬁ cer: Sunim Tamang | Hattiban, Godavari Road, Lalitpur | GPO Box 7251 Kathmandu | Design: Kiran Maharjan [email protected] | www.nepalitimes.com | www.himalmedia.com | Tel: 01-5250333/845 Fax: +977-1-5251013 Marketing: Arjun Karki, Surendra Sharma, Min Shrestha [email protected] | Advertorial/features: Ram Krishna Banjara | Subscription: Santosh Aryal [email protected] Nepali Times on Facebook Printed at Jagadamba Press | 01-5250017-19 | www.jagadambapr.com Follow @nepalitimes on Twitter 10 - 16 FEBRUARY 2012 #591 OP-ED 3

BY THE WAY Anurag Acharya

e are into the fifth year of the first Madhes Wuprising and if Girija Prasad Koirala was alive, he would have looked back and admitted his failure to gauge local sentiment cost this nation dearly. The estrangement of Nepali politics with the Madhes outlived him. This week when Minister JP

Gupta warned about severing MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA ties with the state, it drew howls of protests. But he was not speaking his own mind, he was echoing the larger sentiment across the Tarai. If lawlessness, refusal to recognise the Madhesi identity and suspicious eyes of A gathering storm Kathmandu’s hill establishment was not enough, state apathy Kathmandu is choosing not to see another gathering storm over the Madhes towards the misery faced by the Madhesi people has pushed this constituency towards the they don’t exist. With no hope leaders as the traditional rulers The unreasonable delay in the provinces in a future federalist tipping point. for a better future, many have in Kathmandu. implementation of the Inclusion structure, but they find The power struggle in migrated or resort to cross- Madhesi leaders including Bill by the Public Service identity more important in the Kathmandu makes headlines border crime. Gupta are themselves facing Commission is another case in here and now. everyday, but this is in shameful Many in eastern Tarai corruption charges and there point. The fault lines of ethnic contrast to how little people froze to death this winter. But is seething anger that in spite For a while, the fact that the politics are real and the in the capital are aware of the the fatalities were reduced of being in power for most of president and vice-president bigger parties are faced with woes of those living in the to statistics in the media, the the period since CA elections, were Madhesi diminished the twin challenges of balancing plains. There are hundreds numbers masked the glaring Madhesi parties have done anger in the plains, but many issues of identity with of villages across 20 districts ostracisation of a people who little to improve the lives of still see Nepali nationalism maintaining social harmony. of the Madhes with no roads. don’t count because they are those they claim to represent. defined by the traditional It may be relatively easy to There are villages right on the dirt poor. There is a gathering Rajkishor Yadav of MJF- Kathmandu rulers in daura address the demands of the East West Highway that are not storm over the Madhes and Republic admitted to me: “The suruwal. The humiliation of agitating hill ethnic groups by on the national grid. Few have choosing not to see will not political leadership including being called a traitor in your ensuring radical changes in drinking water and sanitation. wish it away. The Madhesi those in Madhesi parties have own land is something 65 the state structure that grants Thousands of Madhesi youths Janadhikar Forum, which led failed to even symbolically percent of the population will autonomy. have been denied education, the first and the second Madhes integrate Madhes with the never understand. But the real challenge is and those who have gone to uprising has since disintegrated Nepali state.” While thousands The burden of statelessless still what it was three years schools don’t have jobs because into three factions and there is of Maoist combatants are being and exclusion is at the heart of ago: can Kathmandu convince they can’t prove they belong to a political vacuum in the Tarai. integrated in the army as a the demand for ‘One Madhes’. half this country’s population this land. Hundreds languish in Public opinion polls have political compromise, the state Leaders like Yadav admit that which lives in the plains that jails, guilty or innocent, with no shown that the Tarai people are failed to appease Madhesis the Madhes may be embroiled in they are not second-class legal remedy because ‘officially’ as disillusioned with their own with even a symbolic gesture. resource conflict with upstream citizens? 4 NATION 10 - 16 FEBRUARY 2012 #591

SCARY FIGURES Total installed capacity: 700MW Power generation in winter: 300MW Power demand in winter: 1,100MW Demand growth: 10 per cent per year (100 MW) To be added by September 2012: 40MW To be added by 2017: 850MW

TOTAL ENERGY Nepalis consume 410,000 million gigajoules of energy every year (equivalent to 9.3 million tons of oil, or 15,000MW of electricity) Petroleum products make up 10 % Electricity 2% Biomass (ﬁ rewood, dung) 78%

PICS: KUNDA DIXIT Energy emergency

ou don’t need to go far these days to DEWAN RAI from domestic investors. The new rate is see proof of gross mismanagement set at Rs 4.80 during monsoon and Rs 8.40 Yand government incompetence. during winter per unit. The dark cities, long queues of cars “The work plan has addressed our and motorcycles at gas stations, locals The real story behind the shortages of petrol, demand but it would be better if it could commandeering LPG delivery trucks also include projects which are already contrast sharply with the political diesel, cooking gas, water and electricity operational,” says Subarna Das Shrestha wrangling over power, the peace process of the Independent Power Producers and constitution. The economy is a Association of Nepal (IPPAN). “We want wreck, and investors have crossed the Nepal’s diesel consumption has grown not live to see load-shedding free day in the government to implement it, we will tipping point. three-fold in the past five years mainly my life time.” do our part.” because of the electricity shortage. Nepal’s No power has been added to the Then there are the so-called Super fuel bill grew by 36 per cent last year to national grid for the past two years, even Six projects that total 190 MW which are OIL Rs 80 billion, and that was Rs 10 billion though demand has grown 20 per cent in expected to gain momentum after this The petroleum shortage is due to the more than all our exports put together. that time. Five hydro projects are expected agreement. NEA itself has another five big state-owned Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) The government buckled under to start operation in the next five months, projects (including Upper Tamakosi and not paying its bills to Indian Oil. NOC’s student protests last month and offered but they will add only 40 MW to the Chilime) totalling 840 MW to be completed monthly losses are a staggering Rs 1.2 a 33 per cent subsidy to students and grid when the winter shortfall is over by 2017. By that time, Nepal will have billion despite the increase in fuel prices ‘poor people’ on petroleum products. No 700 MW. surplus power during rainy season but last month. one knows what constitutes ‘poor’ and “After we produce enough to meet there will still be a shortage in the dry “The bottom line is that the selling how to organise the distribution of present demand, we need generation season because demand will also grow. price is way below the buying price,” says subsidised fuel. capacity to grow at 100MW per year,” says “Load shedding will remain well Mukunda Dhungel of NOC. The utility A cabinet meeting last week decided NEA board member Krishna Prasad Dulal. beyond 2017,” explains Sher Singh Bhat of loses Rs 14 for every litre of diesel it sells, to release Rs 2 billion to NOC to clear “But lack of planning and poor execution NEA, “we need at least 4,000 MW of run- Rs 454 per LPG cylinder and Rs 3 per its bills with Indian Oil. But that money has landed us in the present situation.” off-river projects or a 1,000 MW reservoir litre of kerosene. It makes a small margin hasn’t yet reached NOC, besides it owes The government is trying to encourage project to end power cuts.” on sale of petrol and aviation fuel, but the Indians Rs 4.5 billion. investors into hydropower. Nepal But local opposition, extortion, labour five times more diesel is consumed than Rastra Bank has made it mandatory for militancy have all delayed existing petrol. commercial banks to make 10 percent of projects, including the construction of In the past five years, crude oil prices ELECTRICITY their total lending to the agriculture and critical transmission lines. have roughly tripled from around $30 If you thought the petroleum scenario energy sectors within the next three years. Sunil B Malla at the Water and per barrel to around US$110. The supply was scary, the electricity crisis is worse. The cabinet last week endorsed a 10- Energy Commission Secretariat paints an chain has also been disrupted because of Even the chief of general services at Nepal point work plan to reduce power rationing, apocalyptic picture: “The economy will a gas and fuel crisis in India as well. Electricity Authority (NEA), Gosai KC offering a 30 per cent increase in the PPA collapse when power cuts reach 18 hour The figures just keep getting worse: throws up her hands in despair: “I will rate for ongoing and new hydro projects coupled with fuel shortage.” 10 - 16 FEBRUARY 2012 #591 BUSINESS 5 Mind your own business Mixing business with politics is driving investors away

loans and house maintenance is beyond my capacity,” an 2010. Of the three acts, the system will lose its credibility fees. There is a limit to labour exasperated Tashi Sherpa of Mutual Legal Assistance Bill as FATF has warned its member MY TWO PAISA demands, but these are so Sherpa Adventure Gear told us and the Bill on Extradition countries to take strict measures Paavan Mathema outrageous that it wouldn’t be this week from Europe where Treaty have been registered at against blacklisted countries surprising if Unilever follows he is promoting his spring the parliamentary secretariat, that pose substantial money in the footsteps of Surya Nepal lineup. “It is impossible for while the bill on Organised laundering and terrorism which closed down its state- honest investors to prosper Crime is stuck in the cabinet. financing. hydropower drought, of-the-art garment factory in or work in such an unhealthy At present, illegal outflow of These should be terrible labour union storms, Morang last year after similar environment.” capital from Nepal has outpaced news for Nepal’s rulers. But do Ablizzards of local suicidal demands by unions. Nepal has slipped heavily in official development assistance they know? Do they even care? opposition, and the constant For an illustration of what such the global index of transparency, Nepal receives, precisely Forget about inviting new tornados of extortionist militancy can do, just look at accountability and corruption in because of the risky investment investors or encouraging new politicians—that about sums over-unionised West Bengal recent years, falling eight places climate within the country. If FDI in 2012, we will be lucky to up the investment climate two and how far it is lagging behind to 154th from 2010 to 2011 in blacklisted, Nepal’s financial keep the ones we have. months into the government’s other states in India. Transparency International’s self-declared Nepal Investment Genuine labour problems can annual report. Year 2012. be solved through dialogue. But Nepal also faces the risk This is not just the result when labour wings of political of being blacklisted by the of outdated policies, it is also parties use strikes for payoffs, Financial Action Task Force because there are deeper ethical negotiations don’t work. A (FATF), a global anti-money problems with a rent-seeking consignment of raw material laundering body, as the government apparatus. The of Sherpa Adventure Gear, Parliament sits on current Maoist-led coalition has the internationally recognised the three acts that given a whole new meaning to Nepali brand has now been were supposed to the phrase ‘red tape’. stuck at customs for over 45 be approved within Since January, we have days. The production line has looked at the business come to a halt, orders promised environment in this fortnightly are in a limbo simply because space. The disturbing thing is the Minister of Commerce and that every other week there are Supply is too busy playing new bad examples to cite. ethnic politics and organising a The latest victim is Unilever banda in far-western Nepal on Nepal, whose factory has been Friday. forcibly locked out this week “I can deal with load after workers launched a strike shedding, I can deal with demanding double salaries and strikes, but having to deal allowances, interest free housing with kleptocrats in power

SUBHAS RAI 6 LIFE TIMES 10 - 16 FEBRUARY 2012 #591 A win-win situation

from the point of view of the other side, empower disputants to generate optional scenarios by themselves and to eventually resolve disputes in a win-win way. An A JICA community agreement therefore addresses concerns and interests raised by both sides (see box). mediation project in Mediators focus not only on how to resolve Sindhuli and Mahottari may contentious issues but also on how to rebuild relationships between two parties. This is particularly have lessons for resolving important because in almost all cases, community disputes arise among neighbours or family members who national-level disputes have to continue to live side-by-side. There are lessons here for dispute resolution at the national level as well. Having observed the ways in NAOKO KITADATE in MAHOTTARI which Nepali political leaders come to an agreement, they are more likely to fall back on a ‘package deal’ involving a series of different points, such as a 4-point deal or a 7-point agreement. When one contentious issue epal’s protracted transition to a new nation emerges, the leaders will not just focus on that single building process at the national political scene issue, but use the occasion to delve into past grievances Ncould take pointers from rural communities or future concerns to finally come up with a multiple which have found new ways to resolve local disputes. point resolution. In the absence of elected representatives, disputes Curiously this pattern is also reflected in community over unmet development needs have to be resolved mediation. The disputants, who are either neighbours by the people themselves. The formal justice systems or family members, revisit their past and explore their are not accessible enough, especially for the poor future together when resolving a dispute at hand by a and the marginalised. Traditional conflict resolution multiple ‘package’ agreement which addresses issues in mechanisms managed by community elites are too the past, present and future. The disputants realise that hierarchical. it is the only way to resolve a conflict between the two in Besides, when a third party intervenes to resolve a truly sustainable way. a community dispute, it often results in a one-sided For each pilot VDC, 27 volunteer mediators (3 Next time there is a clash in the national politics, the punishment to make winners and losers, sowing a new persons including at least 1 woman from each ward) are experience of the villages of Sindhuli and Mahottari may seed of long-term animosity in the community. selected through a socially inclusive process and trained offer an inspiration for creating a win-win scenario and For the past two years, the Japan International in dispute resolution. rebuilding a harmonious relationship for the betterment Cooperation Agency (JICA) has been working with Community Mediation Centers within VDCs offer of all. the Ministry of Local Development, DDCs and VDCs free mediation services to locals to resolve disputes. in Mahottari and Sindhuli to implement a project to Mediators are trained to be impartial facilitators who Naoko Kitadate is a consultant with JICA’s strengthen dispute management capacity at the local don’t pass judgment but listen attentively, ask pertinent Strengthening Community Mediation Capacity for level. questions, clarify issues, assist in seeing the dispute Peaceful and Harmonious Society Project (COMCAP). AMICABLE SETTLEMENTS

n Mahottari, local Hindu and Muslim groups had planned religious Ifunctions at the same spot on the same day. Neither side was giving in and friction was growing. Mediators stepped in to navigate the opposing arguments and helped both groups to realise that the Hindu festival could be held on any day, whereas the Muslim festival, which is determined by the phase of the moon, had to be held on a particular date. The Hindu group showed ﬂ exibility by agreeing to organise their function after the Muslim event. Moreover, both the groups (pictured, right) lso agreed to respect each other’s religion and thus, the potentially serious inter-religious dispute was amicably resolved.

hree brothers were quarrelling in Sindhuli over the inheritance of family Tproperty while their elderly father was not willing to give it up as long as he was alive. Mediators found out that the father, who was ill, was willing to divide the property to the sons provided that he and his wife, the mother of the three sons, would be well taken care of in their old age. Finally the sons and the father came up with an agreement that incorporated the needs and wants of all sides: the partition of the property and the role of each son to take care of their parents. After each of them signed the agreement paper, the three sons bowed deeply and took the blessing of their father. The frail father, who was overjoyed, stroked the heads of his sons, a sign of restored family unity. 10 - 16 FEBRUARY 2012 #591 LIFE TIMES 7 Dolakha high Nepali-Swiss couple fulfill their life-long dream of running a resort in Charikot

hen Judith and Top and with four major Thapa were working hydropower projects going Won a Swiss-aided up in the district, Charikot project in Dolakha in the has the feel of a boomtown. 1980s, they used to pass the “We never had any town of Charikot often. ambition to be big, we want Situated on a ridge to remain small, hire local overlooking the Tama staff, buy local produce,” Kosi and in the lap of Mt says Judith, who wants to Gauri Shankar, they were specialise in niche tourism mesmerised by the scenic offering village walks, bird- beauty of the place. In watching and one-day hikes particular they had an eye on CONJUGAL PEAKS: Top and in the surrounding forests. the hilltop outside town from Judith Thapa pose at their Charikot With a new dirt road to where there is a 360 degree Panorama Resort that offers a view the 3,800m high Kalinchok, view of the surrounding of dramatic sunsets over Gauri the shrine on its summit mountains. Shankar and Melungtse. has suddenly become Judith is from Switzerland accessible for day trippers. and Top’s parents, who had Kalinchok offers one of the migrated to Burma, returned most spectacular panoramas to Nepal when he was just 11. potential, and while waiting of the Himalaya in Nepal Both were employed in rural we started collecting building with a sweep of the northern development projects of Swiss materials.” horizon from Annapurna to Development Cooperation in Their patience paid off, Khumbu. Dolakha, and they had just got and Charikot Panorama “This is the most peaceful married. Resort was finally opened and scenic places I have “We had worked in rural in 1995. Designed by Swiss ever been to in Nepal,” said development and we came Nepali architect Kai Weise as a Kathmandu businessman to realise that for future a series of small chalet-style after spending new year’s sustainability, jobs had to be bungalows, a dining area for at the resort, “it is only four created,” recalls Top, “and 30 guests and a conference hours from Kathmandu and we felt we had to get into room, the Resort had just doesn’t feel touristy, the tourism.” started getting bookings when resort feels like home.” They decided to buy the the conflict broke out. Nepal’s For the Thapas, it has hilltop above Charikot and tourism industry tapered off, been a lifelong dream come start a small hotel. But as with and there were no guests. The true to run the resort. Says everything in Nepal, there Thapas closed down, and just Top: “We don’t want to were obstacles every step of maintained the buildings in the get rich doing this, we live the way. It took two years to hope of better days. modestly, provide jobs for battle the red tape, three more Better days did return after local people, and that makes years to organise water supply. the 2006 ceasefire, and traffic us happy.” Says Judith: “We enjoyed has picked up especially in the the place so much, the view past two years. Kathmandu- www.charikotresort.com was so dramatic that we were based expatriates started [email protected] convinced the place had coming here for long weekends, Tel: 049 421245

sfd ;fgf] 7'nf] eGg] x'“b}g . kl;gfsf] s'g} /ª / hft klg x'“b}g . sfd u/]/ vfg nhfpg' klg x'“b}g . rf]/]/, 9f“6]/, 5n]/, n'6]/ vfg kf] nhfpg'k5{ . hf] hxf“ /x]/ h'g sfd u5{ pm To;}df /dfpg'k5{ uf}/a ug'{k5{ / ;dlk{t eP/ ug{'k5{ . sfd g} zlQm xf], elQm xf] / d'lQm xf] . sfdsf] OHht u/f}+, kl;gfsf] ;Ddfg u/f}+ .

g]kfn ;/sf/ ;"rgf tyf ;~rf/ dGqfno ;"rgf ljefu 8 LIFE TIMES 10 - 16 FEBRUARY 2012 #591

performance to promote Japanese EVENTS culture followed with an exhibition until DINING 17 February. Tickets are available at the embassy, 12 February, 4.30 pm onwards, Japanese Embassy, Latin Nights, dance the night away Panipokhari with Latin tunes while enjoying special discounts on great food and drinks. Saturday Birdwatching at Gokarna Manny’s Eatery and Tapas Bar, Forest Resort, organised by Bird Shaligram Hotel Complex, 5536919 Conservation Nepal. 11 February, 7am, call Vimal Thapa (9841330576) Kilroy’s Restaurant, wine with two free Boudha Stupa Restaurant & Café, MUSIC glasses of wine and a red rose on the enjoy wood-fi red pizza, homemade Expression of Repression, an Valentines Day. Thamel pastas and the one and only tibetan art exhibition expressing the many gyakok. Boudha, 012130681, emotions, rights and issues related to PINK FLOYD TRIBUTE CONCERT, a 9841484408. HIV AIDS. Dress code: black and red, tribute to the one of the most infl uential 10 February, 5pm onwards, Cafe Brown rock bands in history. 11 February, 2pm Buddha Bar, offers a warm and cozy Sugar, Jhamsikhel to 7pm, Bagaicha, Jawalakhel space for intimate conversations over a large selection of drinks. Thamel, Ultimate Photography Workshop, Let There Be Lights, get out of your 9851053235 Artudio presents the 12th session of seats and unite against loadshedding digital photography workshop. Rs 3000, with 1974 AD, Albatross and Abhaya Starting from mid-February, 7am to and the Steam Injuns. Free Entrance, 9am, Artudio, Lazimpat, 9841498425, 18 February, 4pm to 7pm, Lainchaur 9841379780 Ground CHONGQING FAST FOOD, gear up for VALENTINE'S DAY SPECIAL, some mouth watering Chinese dishes celebrate love with dance, face HIP HOP AT HOUSE, like Sour and Spicy Pork and Kung Pao painting, photo booths and special enjoy Lyrics Indy and his hip hop Chicken. Thamel sweet dishes this valentine's day. moves as part Rs 200, 14 February, 3pm onwards, of the Black Casa de Cass, offers Bagaicha, Jawalakhel, 9841721736, History Month continental delicacies, 9841593121 celebrations. baked goodies, brewed Rs 200, 7.30 pm coffee and everything in CINNAMON GRILL AND LOUNGE, Valentine's Eve, Ambition is organising onwards, House between. Jawalakhel mouth watering delicacies with live a special pre-Valentine masquerade of Music, Thamel music. Try the grilled tenderloin steak with fun fi lled activities for you to enjoy Pumpernickel Bakery, get and quiche lorraine with fresh fruit with your lbetter half. 13 February, 6pm Ides of March, an early breakfast or brunch salad. Jhamsikhel, 5521339 onwards, Poolside, Woodland Complex, be a part of the with interesting choices Durbar marg, 9841515761 epic concert of bread and sandwiches. with bands like Experiment with its goat Contemporary Forms, Kathmandu Antim Grahan, cheese or yak cheese Contemporary Arts Centre presents Jindabaad, sandwiches, or have a ‘The Prakriti Project Eternal Visions Severe Dementia sip of coffee in the classy - Contemporary Forms’ by Rabindra and Laakhey indoor dining area. Thamel, Shakya and Maureen Drdak. 9 to 26 performing for a 7.30am to 7pm, 4259185 February, 5.30 pm, Siddhartha Art DOC AT SATTYA, watch special good cause: the Gallery, Baber Mahal Revisited documentary screenings centered Nepal Hemophilia Just Baked, a cozy café around African American history. Free Society. 31 with amazing pastries and THE FACTORY, a trendy restobar for Noh Drama, the Japanese Embassy Entrance, 6pm to 9pm, Sattya Media March, 1pm to friendly ambience. a refreshing stopover in the chaos will be hosting a special Noh Arts Collective, Jawalakhel 8pm Old Baneshwor that is Thamel. Great food and drinks,

Inspired by Miss Moti

ripa Joshi’s Miss Moti she explains, “but after I saw the takes a plus-size wonderful work of rising artists Kwoman’s anxiety about in New York, I realised her body and turns it into that comics can be a a comic book with a strong great medium for serious message: size does not matter. storytelling.” The word ‘moti’ in Joshi is fascinated by Nepali means ‘fat’ if the ‘t’ is traditional Mithila art, and pronounced hard, and means has retained a similar style in ‘pearl’ if the ‘t’ is soft. her drawings. While she has The concept behind completed the air-based Miss the character comes from a Moti and the Cotton Candy painting Joshi submitted as part and the earth-based Miss Moti of her MFA thesis for the School and the Big Apple, she plans on of Visual Arts in New York. completing a five comic volume In 2006, she took the plum, incorporating all five elements: self-conscious woman from her earth, water, fire, wind and ether. painting and transformed her into She is currently working on the Miss Moti, the main character ‘water’ theme. of the comic book. At a time when the Apart from the Miss Moti anthology, definitions of beauty are becoming Joshi wants to make a graphic novel increasingly narrow with skinny and about her great grandmother’s life from fair being the most important feminine the Rana regime to the present. “It’s qualities, Miss Moti is a role model for challenging to put 90 years of real life some of us heavies. onto paper and cartoon,” she says. Joshi says, “I wanted to tell Joshi recently conducted a comic the story of an ordinary person workshop at Sattya Media Arts Collective with an extraordinary spark. My where she met many promising Nepali mother who is also full of life artists and had words of encouragement like Moti was my biggest muse.” for them: “Just because someone can’t Joshi was inspired to draw well does not mean they cannot experiment with comic book have comic strips,” she told them, “the format after reading graphic key is to start small, self publish and novels and meeting comic distribute your own work.” artists in the US. “In Nepal Stuti Sharma we usually think of comics as funny and light-hearted like www.missmoti.com the Tin Tin or the Archie series,” www.kripakreations.com 10 - 16 FEBRUARY 2012 #591 LIFE TIMES 9 with zesty music. Don’t miss out on Everest Steak House, an old-school the cheesecake, it’s a must. Mandala joint for everything steak. A sanctuary GETAWAYS GREAT HIMALAYAN TRAIL Street, Thamel for meat. Thamel, near Chhetrapati Chok, 4260471 Fulbari Resort, enjoy the scenic view as you pamper yourself with tennis, golf, Summit Hotel, posh Western-style drinks and dinners. Rs 6500 per person dining area with candlelight and a for 2 nights and 3 days, Pokhara, romantic night view of the city. Get busy 4461918, 4462248, [email protected]. with the succulent ribs basket, and add np, [email protected] the fi nishing touch with a hot Dutch apple pie. Jhamsikhel, 5521810 ACE TRAVELS WINTER PACKAGE, enjoy a luxurious yet affordable holiday CHOPSTIX, savory Asian food cooked package with Ace Travels to countries in true Chinese fashion sure to charm like Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. and impress. Begin your feast with the Offers start from Rs 48,800 per person Day 27 Dragon Chicken; it is one-of-a-kind. in a 4 nights and 5 days tour package Kumaripati, 5551118 to Thailand, call its toll free number pa Sherpa and his team who are on a 120-day 16600100600 Along trek on the Great Himalayan Trail have resumed their journey (see arrow,above) after reaching Khandbari on 31 January. The team was felicitated by local offi cials, FNCCI, and media among others. Apa Sherpa and his team are traversing the country along the 1600 km trail which covers 20 of Nepal’s Himalayan Dhokaima Cafe, exquisite ambience, districts to raise awareness about the effects of climate friendly service, cozy bar, place to see change in the Himalayas. and be seen at. Patan Dhoka, Yala The events leading to the trek will be telecast in a show ‘Third Eye’ on Sagarmatha Maya Kendra, 5522113 Television on Friday at 9.30 pm which will feature the team and the Great Himalayan Trail. Among pictures of majestic mountains and starry skies, team member twice- Singma Food Court, for the best Everest summitteer, Dawa Sherpa has posted a photo of himself on Facebook with a Singaporean and Malaysian cuisine beard (pictured). He adds: "We are planning not to shave or get a haircut until the end. CHEZ CAROLINE, for business in town. Pulchok, 5009092 and Great Himalayan Beards!" The team is expected to reach Lukla by Wednesday next week and is accompanied by the German ambassador to Nepal, Verena Gräfi n von lunches and relaxed dinners. Babar Bhatbhateni, 4411078, foodcourt@ Roedern on this stretch of the trail. Mahal Revisited wlink.com.np On Facebook: Lhasa Bar, enjoy a beer or a splash of Lazy Gringo, fail-safe Mexican http://www.facebook.com/climatesmarttrek cocktail at this springboard for excellent restaurant. The lemonade with refi lls is Follow on Twitter: young musicians starting out on the what won us over, but the food is mighty @TheGHT_Nepal Thamel circuit. Thamel, 985101043 fi ne. Jawalakhel http://www.climatesmarttrek.org.np/

Station BBQ

Inside seating at Station BBQ is comfortable but impractical for proper dining. Glass coffee tables and low- lying armchairs have us huddling over our plates. Frankly, the lounge feel is SOMEPLACE ELSE as overdone as cover bands in Thamel. Slap on a different name to Station BBQ and you’ll easily get another res-turned- resto in the Jhamsikhel or Lazimpat lame the rain. Grey clouds style. Wednesday stormed out As of January, we have instated Bexpectations for a carne cookout a new rating system based on a ten- at the nearly year-old Station BBQ in point scale that accounts for the total Jhamsikhel, forcing us to shift indoors PICS: MARCO POLLO experience at the time of review, and sample kitchen-cooked viands in lieu where a 5.0 is satisfactory. Station BBQ of playing chef. gets a 6.0 in my book because it was The eatery’s trademark, tabletop grills mop up the drippings. Overall, the menu unprepared to withstand the downpour, for self-cooked barbecue, is limited to can better emphasize its barbecue theme nevertheless dishing out a delectable the front yard, where a copse of pomelo to burning or undercooking, the kitchen by offering combo meals with choice of pork chop and making an attempt at a trees provides ample shade but doesn’t can prepare any of the options on its BBQ cuts and sides. Think Peri Peri. unique dining experience. shield patrons from the elements. Station list like lamb chops, mutton skewers, The Chicken Hawaiian Salad (Rs 275) Marco Pollo BBQ’s management says installation of pomfret and quail. As recommended, we dresses slices of poached chicken breast, awnings is underway, hopefully before opted for pork chops (Rs 310 for a single apples and pineapple in mayonnaise. Find Station BBQ in Jhamsikhel, across the monsoon months. portion) and bekhti fish (Rs 240). Almost too decadent to be a salad, it from Hermann’s Bakery and two But, the review must go on! Fat-in and tender, the pork was pairs well with the savoury marinades houses down Perhaps, the rain was opportune. sublime and well cooked; while the of the grill. Cook-it-yourself ventures (aside from butterflied fish filet was decent. Both For mains, the chef’s grilled special preparations like Szechuan hot came with smears of chili, mustard and tenderloin (Rs 485) smothered in a red pots and Korean kalbi) are somewhat barbecue sauce, which smacked more of a wine reduction was subpar and cooked unconvincing for high-priced dining and sweet curry paste than a smoky mesquite. well done instead of medium rare. One have made me wonder: “Why did I leave Mixed greens were served, could owe the miscalculation to the home in the first place?” but missing from the spread were steak’s cut, which was flat and resembled For dreary days and for those prone complementary bread rolls or potatoes to a flank steak fit for a fajita. 10 HAPPENINGS 10 - 16 FEBRUARY 2012 #591

WEEKEND WEATHER

The wide westerly front dumped 35mm of rain over a 24-hour period Wednesday and brought heavy snow above 3,500 right across the Himalaya. These were also the fi rst thunderstorms of the season, signifying that the precipitation was the result of the moist air rising along the mountains as it moved from west KATHMANDU to east. The water vapour from this winter monsoon system will linger into next week, increasing cloud cover in FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY the afternoons. Mornings will be misty in the Valley, daytime temperatures will edge up, and minimum temperature will stay low with a wide temperature gradient over the weekend. 18-02 20-03 17-05 The Artist wanes. All of this is beautifully portrayed in a single wide shot of the studio stairs. The young and innovative are running up and down. In the center, perfectly symmetrical, MUST SEE Valentin stands on a lower step wearing a grey suit, Peppy stands just above him in a dazzling white dress. They talk, Sophia Pande Peppy is in love with Valentin and she is newly confi dent in her success. Valentin fi nally walks away downwards from Peppy, charmed, but chagrined at their timing. As he goes marvelous mustachioed Clark Gable look-alike hero, down the stairs he becomes one of a few indistinguishable a sylph-like heroine, a gangster-like cigar smoking grey, suited fi gures. A studio executive, a loyal henchman/chauffeur/man of all Everything that is to come is presaged in this work/substitute dinner companion, and fi nally, the adorable, sophisticated, beautifully choreographed scene. There are loyal Snowy-like hyper intelligent dog. These are the indelible many more like it. The Artist is made with so much care and characters in Michael Hazanavicius’s The Artist a silent, loving detail that it bears a few viewings. It has something BIKRAM RAI glossy, black and white tribute to the golden age of Hollywood for everyone. Music, dancing, star-crossed lovers, charming when being eloquent was everything, and each frame was side-kicks, wit, and a valiant animal friend. Very occasionally RUN AWAY: Firefi ghters try to control the blaze in the grassland and bushes meticulously constructed to provide maximum meaning. it falls into the trap of maudlin melodrama, (yes, there is a adjoining Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu on Tuesday Yes, the fi lm is silent. And no, it is the opposite of boring. lot of orchestral music). But this does seem a little inevitable evening. The runway was briefl y closed and the wildfi re was contained after The great French fi lm-maker Robert Bresson insisted that when trying to emote high drama while not speaking. two hours. “a sound must never come to the help of an image, nor an Not that the Academy Awards is the greatest judge of image to the help of the sound”. In today’s world of Hollywood cinema, still it would be interesting to see if a silent Dujardin and Bollywood big-budget cinema this is almost unthinkable. can knock the socks off of the likes of George Clooney and “What, there’s no talking?”, and “Oh no! We have to read Brad Pitt to win an Oscar this February. Even more terrifi c sub-titles?”. Well, yes. Why shouldn’t we take the time to would be to see a silent fi lm win Best Picture in the year of watch a throw back from the grand-old age of cinema and 2012. I’d be watching if I were you. learn to retrain our eyes to see the meaning in gorgeous, black and white (yes, without colour) images? All movies reviewed in this column are available in the A case in point, when George Valentin (played by the writer’s favourite DVD store: Music and Expression, suave Jean Dujardin) – a famous silent movie star rejects the Thamel, 01-4700092 advent of the “talkies”, he fi nds himself without a job. On his way out from seeing the mafi oso-like studio head Al Zimmer (the formidable John Goodman), he bumps into the newest nepalitimes.com ingenue Peppy Miller (played by the unaffected Berenice Watch trailer Bejo) who is on her way in. Peppy’s star is rising as Valentin’s

MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA LOUD AND OUT: Baliraj Shahi, a campaigner for Karnali Sinja Khas province, Hepatitis E vaccine calling on supporters on Wednesday outside Bir Hospital, Kathmandu.

in Nepal know full well the in Chengdu, China has been possibly tragic outcome (by instrumental in decreasing JE DHANVANTARI some estimates 30 per cent) rates in Nepal, especially in Buddha Basnyat, MD in pregnant women who are the Tarai. Unlike its Western affected by this virus who may counterpart, the Chinese go on to suffer fulminant hepatic vaccine is very cost-effective, potentially life-saving failure and death. and importantly side-effects vaccine for our part of Hence the drive in certain have been minimal. Athe world was recently parts of China to vaccinate The Chinese don’t do approved by China’s State women of child-bearing age. things in small numbers. The Food and Drug Administration. The other well- known group hepatitis E vaccine trial which The world’s first commercial pre-disposed to suffering from was published in the Lancet hepatitis E vaccine (Hecolin) is severe hepatitis E are patients in 2010 revealed that a total now available in China, and the with chronic liver disease. of 112,604 healthy adults

Chinese are targeting the participated in the trial with MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA vaccine on their vulnerable 100 per cent effectiveness GAS-MAN: Students from Tri Chandra College protest price hike of petroleum population (women of and good tolerance to the products and LPG gas in Kathmandu on Sunday. child-bearing age and vaccine. Even women patients with chronic liver who became pregnant disease) who, if affected by during the course of the hepatitis E often suffer life- trial showed no adverse threatening complications of effects of the vaccine. The this viral disease. US Army working together Hepatitis E, like typhoid with the Nepal Army and fever, is a water-borne GlaxoSmithKline did work infection that has caused Often patients with cirrhosis on another effective hepatitis E epidemics in Asia, the Middle (an example of a chronic liver vaccine almost eight years ago, East, Africa, and Central disease) who has been stable but unfortunately this vaccine America. According to the will suddenly take a turn for is unavailable. An exercise in WHO, one third of the global the worse and succumb to their futility. population may have been illness when infected by this As they did with the infected by the virus, and an virus. successful use of the JE vaccine, estimated 14 million people Chinese vaccines have been Nepal’s health ministry will have the symptomatic disease used in Nepal with excellent hopefully strongly consider annually with 300,000 deaths results. The administration making this vaccine available GOPAL GARTAULA and 5,200 stillbirths. Doctors of the Japanese encephalitis to the vulnerable population in HOLY WASH: Devotees take a dip in the Hanumante River at Bhaktapur on the who look after pregnant women (JE) vaccine which is made Nepal. ﬁ nal day of the month-long Swasthani festival on Tuesday. 10 - 16 FEBRUARY 2012 #591 NATION 11 BLOODBLOOD BRICKSBRICKS A new certification system for bricks aims to remove 11ͳ12 FEBRUARY 2012 exploiting and pollution from brick-baking

LUCIA DE VRIES

network of social workers, A environmentalists, child rights and animal rights advocates who form the BrickClean Network (BCN) have termed traditional bricks ‘Blood Bricks’. They say the industry is one of Nepal’s PICS: SAM KANG LI ‘dirtiest little secrets’ and are lobbying responsible citizens to opt for clean and green Bricks are often produced by bonded bricks. labourers, including children The kilns exploit the most desperate people, thousands Brick factories are the Valley’s number one of children mould bricks or polluters work as donkey handlers. “Each time I visit a brick factory I am outraged,” says Over 1,000 mules and donkeys haul bricks and Pramada Shah, activist with are made to work till they drop Animal Nepal. “The mules and donkeys are almost always overloaded, underfed, and made to work even when they are sick or pregnant.” BCN is trying to promote socially responsible brick-making and has introduced a certification system in which brick factories are labeled as red (worst), orange (improving) or green (excellent). The network uses 18 criteria related to environment, child labour, workers’ conditions, and health and sanitation to rank factories. This year’s certification shows that Nepal does not have a single ‘green’ brick maker. However, three Rolpa,” says Helen Sherpa of move to places with lower rent owners protested against Manandhar says the factories, Shree Satyanarayan, World Education, “any disaster and cheaper labour, leaving having to pay VAT, arguing BCN certification has the Shree Brahmayani and can push a family into a cycle behind a trail of devastation. that the industry does not potential to end to this type of Bungamati Itha Udyog, receive of declining poverty, marked by A recent government study import raw materials and modern-day slavery and clean the orange label. Factories six months of work in a brick shows that the industry provides much needed jobs to up the environment. outside the Valley will also be factory.” annually scoops up 1 million countless people. www.brickclean.net certified. Child workers include those cubic meters of fertile soil in “We are speaking of a very “Middlemen or naikes with disabilities. The workers’ the valley alone to bake into profitable industry which runs prey on the most desperate: health tends to deteriorate in bricks. on coal from India and is not flood victims from Sarlahi, the factory’s polluted working Of the estimated 750 brick exactly the best employer. Tharus from Dang, Dalits environment, in which people factories in the country, only Why should this industry be from Kavre and Makawanpur, live in makeshift huts, with 450 are registered with the treated differently?” asks Usha landless from Rukum and poor sanitation. Brick factories government. Recently factory Manandhar of BCN. 12 NATION 10 - 16 FEBRUARY 2012 #591 “Back to

Yash Ghai and Jill Cottrell (left) are constitutional experts who have advised the governments of Kenya, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan and Nepal on their new constitutions. They are authors of Creating the New Constitution: A Guide for Nepali Citizens and more recently, The Millennium Declaration, Rights, and Constitutions. Nepali Times caught up with them on their brief return to Kathmandu this week under the auspicies of International IDEA.

Nepali Times: You were involved as a constitutional had come to an end. A popular uprising had rejected the their leaders, complicated by intra-party disputes, and the adviser in Nepal since 2006. How does it feel to come old system and defined the agenda of reform. Some broad other between them and the marginalised groups, where back to see that the process is still stuck? consensus had been established between the Maoists and the former were the masters and the latter supplicants, Yash Ghai and Jill Cottrell: It is sad, when the country the major political parties. But by the same token these almost always triggered by violence and other forms of needs to move forward on many fronts. We feel anger political groups hijacked the jana andolan. Despite the disruption. This prevented a proper national discourse at the reluctance of the traditional elites to engage in earlier enthusiasm of the Maoists for fundamental social on political and economic reform. In the arrangements for serious discussions with the marginalised groups on their reform, they and their new political partners had little the interim administration and for constitution making, concerns. Anger also at the betrayal of the people whose interest in change, as is obvious from their numerous ‘x’ the four parties excluded others and ensured their total struggle enabled the four major political parties to grab point agreements. Politics quickly slipped back to the control of the Constituent Assembly and prevented it power. post-1990 constitution style, with intense rivalry among from becoming a truly national gathering. these elitist political groups dominated by a handful of Were we perhaps a bit too ambitious in expecting peace old warriors. The exclusion and marginalisation of the Still, it wasn’t supposed to be easy. and constitution process to move so fast? Janjatis, Dalits and women continued. Transition from war to constitution is seldom easy, but No. The country was ready for a move to a new political Two levels of politics emerged: one between Maoists it is our impression that the issues that have bedevilled order. The monarchy had been vanquished. The civil war and the three parties, focused largely on the self-interest of the process have not much to do with the aftermath of the 10 - 16 FEBRUARY 2012 #591 NATION 13

Plastic-free treks he sight of plastic bags ﬂ ying in the wind or stuck in Tthe branches of a tree have become a common all over the Nepal Himalaya where hundreds of thousands of visitors come trekking every year. This is not just an ugly sight, but since plastic bags square one…” are non-biodegradable they stay around for at least 1,000 years. Bags less than 20 micros are seriously harmful to health of human beings as well as wildlife as well. Ladakh and Bhutan have successfully implemented war as such--after all a Comprehensive Peace Accord But can there be a compromise when positions are so a ban on plastic bags, and Nepal could easily follow suit. preceded the adoption of the Interim Constitution—and rigid and it has become a zero sum game? Saying no to plastic bags and using cotton or much to do with political rivalries among the elite. And Compromise is unlikely if there is no trust, the elite group re-usable bags is one of the easiest responsible acts their arrogance, manifested in their contempt of experts, has not even tried to establish trust among themselves or that anyone can do to preserve environment. Trekking companies, national and of people’s participation in public affairs. with the others. Even if a compromise is reached, it is park rangers, local unlikely to lead to realistic and workable solutions, driven lodges and tea shops Shouldn’t we have foreseen that the demand for not by reason but threats of violence. A terrible legacy need to be on board. ethnically-based federalism would be so polarising? that the politicians have perpetuated is the disregard of On the occasion Yes. In the last few decades many countries have been negotiations and the art of compromise. And the proposal of Nepali Times Eco- confronted by demands for autonomy by minority by some members of the elite groups now to adopt the Fair 2012, Jerome and other marginalised groups, often with horrendous interim constitution, with its manifold manifestations of Edou and Adhish consequences. There is now some understanding of the 1990 Constitution, as the new constitution, is bound Gurung of Base Camp how to deal with grievances that lead to demands for to raise fresh suspicions of their motives. Back to square Trek are launching autonomy, which require long and patient negotiations. one…but compromise there must be, and when it is a campaign to ban No politician that we met showed the least bit of interest eventually achieved, the country will look back and ask single-use plastic bags in all national parks in establishing and managing a federation. In other why it took so long and who was to blame. and trekking areas, words, the demands need not have been as polarising as and put the Nepal they have been. Is there also a compromise formula between directly Himalaya ﬁ rmly on the elected executive president and parliamentary system? map as a Plastic Bag What can we learn from history and the experience Is it workable? Free Zone. in other countries in addressing the genuine demands The French version of it is workable if there is a political “We want to make of the marginalised communities while preserving culture of negotiations and compromise, which is missing sure our children will national unity? here. In practice in the mixed system, if the president has not ask if plastic bags grow on trees,” says Gurung, Social disruption is usually the result of social a majority in parliament, it works like a normal executive who hopes the message will spread. He and Edou have injustices. Without addressing injustices there can be presidency, and if not, power shifts to the prime minister just launched a Facebook campaign and are spreading no real social solidarity, essential to national unity. If with significant parliamentary features, and considerable the word along Nepal’s trekking trails from this spring season. the four-party alliance had taken the demands of the tension between the two top officials. If both are elected, marginalised communities seriously, including political conflict and deadlocks are surely guaranteed. To join, contact Adhish Gurung of Base Camp Trek participation, negotiated solutions, and embraced them [email protected] as full partners in the interim arrangements, there would +977-1-4411504 not be the clamour for federalism and autonomy today, nepalitimes.com http://www.facebook.com/pages/BAN-the-BAG/ with its complexity and we fear divisions among the One more chance, #345 173744819401819?sk=wall marginalised communities that serve no one’s interest. Constitutional ability, #320 14 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 10 - 16 FEBRUARY 2012 #591

Rapid fire with the young turks

Himal Khabarpatrika, 12 February

Q: Do we need ethnically-demarcated states? Gagan Thapa, NC: Ethnic states without right to self determination and priority rights is the best solution. Rabindra Adhikary, UML: Ethnicity based states in this day and age makes no sense. Hemraj Bhandari, Maoist: Ethnic federalism will never work in Nepal. Dhanraj Gurung, NC: Ethnic states should be avoided at all costs. It BIKRAM RAI won’t benefi t anyone. Lekhnath Neupane, Maoist: It does not suit a communist party to talk about ethnic states. Rajkishore Yadav, MJF (Ganatantrik): We don’t need ethnic states. Why do we want to repeat past mistakes of letting one group rule the other? Minting money Badri Pandey, NC: Ethnic states and preferential treatment to indigenous communities would create newer exclusions and band one group against the other. Nepal, 5 February number of members from all secretly pocketing the cash. The Abhisekh Pratap Shah, MJF Nepal: We can’t go back on ethnic political parties will add up Maoists in particular have been federalism now. Amrita Thapa Magar, UCPN Maoist: We want ethnic states with priority to 1.58 million which is 6 using the state coffers for the rights. Political parties have hundreds percent of the country’s total past five years to pay off YCL of full-time cadres across the population. members and other cadres. country, but nobody really Donations and membership Although political parties bothers to find out how they earn fees, the main sources of need to submit their annual their living. income for political parties, reports to the Election In terms of numbers, the are not sufficient to cover the Commission, there is no UCPN (Maoist) has half a hefty costs of remuneration. authority to monitor the parties’ Former foes million, NC has 3,11,000 However, despite the lack of expenses. The EC had instructed thousand and the UML has steady income, many Nepali the parties to submit their Chadani Hamal, Nagarik, mission to Israel-occupied Golan 1,50,000 full-time cadres. MJF politicians enjoy lavish reports by mid January, but 6 February Heights and the two did not see each and MJF (D) workers also make lifestyles which suggest that only 30 of the 81 complied. another until after the 2006 peace up half a million. they must be involved in Officials say that most parties agreement. Former war time enemies, Balananda “Eight years ago, if I had seen According to Hamra Sansad, a bribes, extortions and other are reluctant to present their Sharma, the coordinator of the him I would have shot him and the book on Nepali parliamentarians, illicit activities. report, because of a provision secretariat overseeing the integration other Maoists. But the situation has 179 MPs (68 per cent) out of 263 Politicians organise which requires all donors who process, and Dhan Bahadur Maaski, changed signifi cantly and I am now said that they are ‘professional’ conferences, conventions, make a contribution of more Shaktikhor’s Division Commander helping with their rehabilitation and politicians. Similarly, 312 CA campaigns and mass gatherings than Rs 25,000 to be named. It are working together to ensure providing them food and medicine,” members (51 per cent) out of 601 to raise money for personal is likely that without stricter the successful completion of the says Sharma. mentioned politics as their main and party purposes. Many policies, investigating such retirement and rehabilitation program. Maaski echoes similar sentiments, profession. If sister organisations leaders have been implicated transgressions and making The two of them are currently in “If I had met him on the battle fi eld, I and cadres from district to in dividing local development parties follow the rule of law Shaktikhor camp overseeing the would have killed him. Although we central level are included, the budgets among themselves and will be impossible. demobilisation of thousands of ex- shared no personal enmity, we were Maoist combatants. on opposite sides of the war and Sharma and Maski came face that was our duty. But today when to face in at least two major battles we stand together for the purpose of in the mid-western region. After their peace it’s a very special feeling and encounter in Dang’s Ghorahi and even though we sometimes talk about Chequemate! Bhaluwang, Sharma left for the peace the past, it is done in good spirit. ”

Gajendra Bohora in Nagarik, 9 February Two other Maoist groups, the YCL and disabled fighters, seemed equally unhappy but for different reasons. Holding a press conference, Ex-Maoist combatants in Sakram sub-camp were the YCL cadres demanded to be treated equally handed over the first installment of their voluntary as former combatants and insisted on a similar retirement packages on Wednesday. While package. Commander Abinash tried to pacify the some left the camps early with their children, outraged cadres, “Your demands are reasonable. others were busy packing. But all of them were We are with you. The state always suppressed disheartened at the prospect of bidding farewell to us and now even the party is ignoring us.” The their comrades. disabled and injured combatants, on the other hand, want better packages than normal fighters, free education for their children, employment and provision for pension. Both the groups said they would defy orders and refused to vacate the camps unless the party or the government conceded to their Suman Manandhar in Annapurna Post, 8 February demands. In between this uproar,

stories about commanders QUOTE OF THE WEEK

seizing the pay cheques of many of the outgoing fighters Most people“ see India as Nepal’s have started circulating. Some “big brother, but in reality Nepal is the cheques were seized inside elder one. the camp, while other were seized on their way to banks. Indian Ambassador Jayant Prasad quoted in But the party leadership has Nepal, February 5.

RSS said the accusations are false. 10 - 16 FEBRUARY 2012 #591 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 15 “We want a Khas state”

Interview with Commerce and Supply Minister Lekhraj Bhatta, Annapurna Post, 8 February

Annapurna Post: Why are you protesting against the government? Are you going to resign from your ministerial position? Lekhraj Bhatt: I have no problem giving up this post. I am the son of the far west first and then a member of my party. The people of far west have been betrayed again. This protest is to ensure their rights. The way the SRC has divided far west is not acceptable to us. The entire region shares common history, culture and heritage. I have always said that the indigenous Why didn’t you protest against people of Banke, Bardiya, your party when it proposed a Kailali and Kanchanpur are also divided far west before? Khas Aryans. Our demand is an I had and I was labeled as anti- integrated gar-west province. federalist in my own party for saying this. I was also called Won’t other ethnicities be anti-Tharu. I think our party deprived from their rights if the did not act maturely enough at far west is declared as a Khas the time. state? We the Khas Aryans are the Are you trying to become a majority in this region. And yet leader of the Bahun-Chettris? we have no rights here. I have Not at all. I am just saying that always maintained that carving the rights of Khas people should the country into ethnic states also be respected. If Madhesis is not good. But if they want to and Janjatis fought for their restructure Nepal on an ethnic rights, should we not fight basis, we should get a Khas state against being categorised as too. ‘others’ in our own land?

Successful Loot

Interview with actor Saugat yet you have made it to the big Malla in Saptahik, 3 February screen? My father bought me a certificate from India after I refused to go to Saptahik: Why did Loot succeed school. Not because I could not, despite its dark characters? but because I was not interested Saugat Malla: The narration and in what they taught there. I was the dialogue were not scripted, more interested in people, their we improvised. That’s what way of speaking, tdressing and made the story believable. walking. You can learn more about acting by observing people But isn’t the dialogue indecent? around you than going through It is a story of those living in books. I only read what interests the shadows of this so-called me. I have stacks of books that I civilised society. The characters like. Reading books and passing exhibit eroding social values exams for a certificate are through their dark ambitions different. and dialogue. If you knew one of these characters, you would Any ambitions? know, there is no pretense in the Yes, to succeed , maybe get way they speak. international offers. There will be money in my bank account Personally, you never bothered as well, and all my dreams will to complete your schooling, come true. 16 BACK SIDE 10 - 16 FEBRUARY 2012 #591 www.nepalitimes.com www.nepalitimes.com

Minister Declares Bund omely Minister Gutch invited to Balu Water recently state coffers to those opting seems to think it is in that Nepal may be “merged” for golden handshakes, but Hhis job description to into India or China. The PMO commanders demand 40% coddle gangsters. An outlaw first said the remarks were “off from the pay cheques, saying it named Jayaraj who got a five the record”. (Can a head of is party policy. Some fighters year sentence for attempted government speaking to a dozen flee the cantonments with their murder and on whom the Nepali editors ever be off the a/c payee cheques seeking police have a warrant is on said record?) Anyway, after all hell protection from the police, minister’s side every time he broke loose the PM denied ever the very people they were heads east. The police escorts having said “merged”, then he butchering till five years ago. have to look the other way as backtracked and said he had Then the paramilitary YCL raise the criminal attaches himself actually said “submerged”. hell, padlocking party offices, to the entourage. Obviously, This was greeted by even more carjacking SUVs belonging to Gutch feels he can get away with cackling laughter from the Central Committee members it because his boss, the prime galleries. Suggestion to the (vehicles which they themselves minister, shared the podium PM: he should now clarify he stole during the war) and cutting with Comrade Ball Krishna actually said “emerged”. down trees to blockade towns to Dhungel and made him sit next FG demand from their mother party to the DIG of police. This is the the same compensation package same BRB crony who served the unthinkable: wear daura- being assigned to. His answer: Time for a brief recap: A rebel as the comrades in the camps. eight years of a life sentence suruwal-topi to work. But it “How should I know? I’ve force that kills a whole lot of That money will obviously for murdering a neighbour gets even better: Comrade Butt never been there.” Needless to people in cold blood is arm- also come from the exchequer. who dared have an inter-ethnic has called for a far-western say, his ambassadorship was twisted by the very people This govt has far outstripped relationship. All we can say is: bund on Friday to protest the approved. Meanwhile, Ram down south who gave them any previous one in doling out the man has balls. SRC report, the First Minister “Comrade Partha” Karki is refuge for ten years to sign a money to its supporters from FG Ever to Call a Bund. The Tharus now getting disheartened about peace deal. They hoodwink the state treasury, in fact the of the far west are organising the Indians dragging their feet UNMIN and inflate their BRB govt is probably the most PKD is now getting so impatient their own counter-bund on his agremo. Rumours Delhi numbers in the cantonments, effective poverty-alleviation to remove his nemesis, BRB, next week. Ethnicity-based is displeased with his past and UNMIN winks back. The administration this country has from prime ministership that federalism is getting to be a can association with Gorkhaland senior guerrillas are recruited ever seen. The war was costly, he is egging kangresi netas to of worms inside a Pandora’s and his role in smuggling arms into the YCL. With threats of but the peace is turning out to make a power grab with a non- box for the Baddies. across the eastern front during returning to war, the Baddies be even more expensive. confidant vote. Awesome’s FG the war. drag on the demobilisation FG left-hand-man is Supply FG process (euphemistically called Minister Comrade “Red Hair” Eavesdropping on the “integration”). Over four years, Actual headlines this week Butt, who is deliberately parliamentary committee Methot it was only PKD who they take a 40% cut on the (with the Ass’ aside in brackets): prolonging the fuel crisis to hearings on new had foot-in-mouth disease, but allowances of their own fighters, ‘Maoists Keep Mum’ make BRB look bad. Red Hair ambassadorships, the mule’s it looks like BRB is equally and pocket 100% of those who (Dad Furious) is also supporting PKD’s bid for mole heard an ambassador prone to involuntarily blurting are missing. Finally, with their directly elected presidentship designate being asked about out what he shouldn’t. After own prime minister and finance ‘Minister Goes by appeasing the Bahun-Chhetri the population and per capita boasting that he “gambled” on minister in place, they award Mad’ (Others vote bank by threatening to do income of the country he was BIPPA, he told a bunch of hacks themselves Rs 5 billion from Follow Suit) ISSN 1814-2613

CDO Regd No 194/056/57 Lalitpur, Central Region Postal Regd. No 09/066/67