#383 18 - 24 January 2008 16 pages Rs 30

Weekly Internet Poll # 383

Q. Who is most to blame in the delay in setting an election date? Total votes: 5,191

Weekly Internet Poll # 384. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com Q. With regard to the militant groups in the tarai, the state should?

SAM KANG LI Going for broke How will the government fund the elections?

KIRAN concerns from -based cantonments who haven't been The government’s main source donor representatives on paid since April 2007, of revenue is next week’s share ow that it has the elections Wednesday about the expenses. compensate conflict victims and auction of Nepal Telecom, which sorted out, the spendthrift He clarified that the Rs 1 million provide security in the tarai. But is expected to yield Rs 10 billion. Ngoverning alliance is had already been budgeted as he can only muster Rs 2 billion. The government is selling its 150 finding it difficult to pay for all expenses for VDCs and the Mahat called the meeting with million shares at a minimum of its promises. ruling parties had decided to party leaders to ask donors to Rs 600 per share. But there is a There is a gaping shortfall of give the money to their MPs. meet the shortfall. writ in the Supreme Court about Rs 3 billion to pay for elections Donors said this would give an “Even if we pay only Rs discrepancies in the pricing of and requirements of the 23-point unfair advantage to incumbent 100,000 per conflict victim, then the shares for the public, who agreement. And at a time when parties, and they were not to meet all the other expenses will have to pay six times more money is so short, the seven satisfied about how this money included in the 23-point than the company's employees. parties have awarded themselves would be accounted for. agreement we need another Rs 3 Representatives of Rs 1 million per MP as pork-barrel Mahat calculates that the billion,” Finance Secretary Kathmandu-based embassies were funds for election expenses. government will need Rs 5 (Revenue) Rameswor Khanal told encouraged by the presence at Finance Minister Ram Sharan billion to finance the elections, Nepali Times. Wednesday’s Finance Ministry Mahat was hard pressed to answer pay for Maoists in the The Finance Ministry is meeting of massively in arrears on payments from the Maoists, Jhalanath to Indian Oil for petroleum Khanal of the UML and the NC’s imports, and domestic Chakra Bastola. borrowings have already exceeded Said one donor representative: Rs 8 billion at a time when “Now that they were there to interest rates are going up due to a discuss money, it looked like liquidity shortage in the market. elections were finally for real.” z 2 EDITORIAL 18 - 24 JANUARY 2008 #383

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Hatiban, Godavari Road, Lalitpur editors(at)nepalitimes.com GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu 5250333/845, Fax: 5251013 www.nepalitimes.com Printed at Jagadamba Press, Hatiban: 5250017-19 Just do it Things to do right away to avert a national crisis

hy is the government Kathmandu dismissed it as an and respect for madhesi MADHES CHECKLIST making life difficult antic. The government only concerns, express commitment Wfor moderate madhesi wants to divide and rule. Why to autonomy. Do it like you Itís time someone gave the Prime Minister a wakeup call on the leaders? Surely it knows they are isn’t it starting a dialogue with mean it and see the change in madhes. Two NC ministers who should be warning their boss the only force which can pull the armed groups? Kathmandu the mood of the madhes. about the tarai, Peace Minister Ram Chandra Poudel and Home things back together. Like the hasn’t even implemented But the real blame lies not Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula, are both in deep denial. madhesi extremists, does the promises made to Upendra with Poudel, but his prime Poudel is under the impression that all the demands of the state want polarisation? Is the Yadav. The 43 who died in the minister. He has time to make madhesi parties for regional autonomy and representation in the army and government have already been met. For the MJF led by Madhes Uprising last year were provocative statements about never honoured. The STF is Maoist assimilation in the army Upendra Yadav, the rump Sadbhabana of Rajendra Mahato and TARAI EYE harassing us. Is the prime and hatch plans for his the Tarai-Madhes Loktantrik party of Mahanta Thakur, this is a Prashant Jha slap in the face. minister in charge only north of daughter’s coronation, but he If there is such a wide communication gap among moderate the Chure? has no time to respond to madhesis who are committed to non-violence and elections, inertia a deliberate ploy to incite Maybe these sentiments are urgent madhesi demands. imagine the distrust of the state felt by armed groups in the tarai. conflict? Does it stem from an difficult for the insular ruling Koirala is known to be True, not all madhesis agree with all the demands made by unwillingness to share power? Or class to understand. But it is all concerned about his place in Yadav and recent defectors from the mainstream parties. The is it merely the sheer about identity and history. At this rate, he will madhes itself is multi-layered, divided by caste, language, incompetence of those in charge? representation. Madhesis wants just be remembered as a petty religion and ethnicity. Here is an opportunity to address the What else is one to make of to be assured that they will make manipulator who presided over grievances of the southern plains at one go, but the government is squandering that chance. the recent statements of the man it to the constituent assembly in the beginning of a bloody and However dire it may look from Kathmandu, however radical who is in charge of bringing numbers that correspond to their prolonged identity conflict the demands of the madhesi leaders, things havenít got to a point peace, Ram Chandra Poudel? In population; that the government in Nepal. of no return. Madhesis are sullen and angry at Kathmandu, and , at a time when he is not cheating them again; that Where does that leave those theyíre not hiding it. But instead of negotiating with moderate needs to sound conciliatory, he is the nature of the state will now madhesis who argue for calm, forces, Baluwatar is letting things drift dangerously. This will only belligerent and speaks about the revolve around a political who are shocked by the raw help residual reactionaries who want to disrupt the elections at all armed groups in a threatening principle that recognises them as violence and hate politics of costs, and make it more difficult for the madhesi leadership to tone. In a recent interview, he equal citizens; that wearing a the extremists, and who want wrest the tarai torch from the hands of the militants. pretends to be exasperated with dhoti and speaking broken Nepali an institutionalised mechanism Elections can be held on 10 April. Anyone who doubts that will the tarai parties and says: “If will not deprive them of to address aspirations? Weak provide excuses to those who want to avoid polls. Sections of the there are demands, we can talk. opportunities. and vulnerable, that’s where. It international community and UNMIN mustnít allow misgivings to become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Of course, it wonít be as There are no demands. What is All other demands are will be more difficult to take smooth as a referendum in Switzerland, where people cast their there to talk about?” peripheral. This actually gives the message of harmony and ballots in the post office on their way to work. Our elections are Here is what the madhesis are the government immense space to justice outside closed doors in sure to be messy. (But at least we will have a greater turnout than talking about: madhesis did not play. For all their maximalist district headquarters. It will in the Swiss cantons.) Elections will provide closure and clarity, get into the police again this rhetoric, the madhesi groups also silence Biratnagar’s Sanjay and many of the pending demands for identity and representation time. Look at how the media have an ill-defined agenda Yadav, a marketing manager can be debated and addressed in the elected assembly. celebrated Prashant Tamang just because they want to keep the who knows attacks on pahadis Many of the madhesi grievances are at the level of perception, because he is a pahadi while we room open for possible face- do not make economic sense but the three Brahmins of Baluwatar seem not to have understood are seen as Indians. Matrika savers. All the state needs to do is even for madhesis. It will, as that. Here is a simple three-point checklist: Yadav may have overdone the embark on symbolic measures Chandrakishor, a courageous restart the negotiation process swearing in, but look at how and substantive steps to begin journalist in Birganj, put it, send positive signals to the tarai the process of make life increasingly difficult announce concrete steps to redress grievances right away healing. for those who speak with logic. Kathmanduís status-quoists have to realise that Communicate On Saturday, a movement the days when the valleyís rulers decided on the with the madhes, begins in the madhes. future of the country are gone. Now, the rest of the appoint senior Irrespective of its intensity, it country will decide Kathmanduís future. madhesi will cripple the capital by Madhesi politicians have shown responsibility ministers, start blocking supplies. It will shift and maturity by underlining the non-violent nature of talking with all the centre of debate to the their struggle and by expressing support for groups, tinker streets. And, as agitations are elections. They must now speak out just as openly with the electoral prone to do, it will unleash to condemn the violence being perpetrated in the system, send another wave of extremism. name of the madhes struggle by the militant groups. To see an example of what could happen in the madhesi CDOs to Even in the face of unrest, the Nepal tarai, one only has to look at Sri Lankaís the tarai, state must not respond with 25-year agony that shows no sign of ending. implement brutal force. The only way out promises, act lies in a more sensitive with humility Kathmandu. SAM KANG LI

LLL ETTERS

BACK IN THE SSR of authoritarian rule by the seven parties English as the official language. This occasional herders who go into the Re: Back to the SSR, Editorial, #382. I are respectable, then so is the NA. Our would allow us to be globally competitive Barun Valley. They describe an ape-like donít agree that the army wasnít an democratic leaders canít even say a word and we should formulate our education and creature that they simply refer to as indoctrinated group before. The army still against the encroachment on Nepali soil by national policy accordingly. That way we ìchhapaniî, alluding to the peculiar has a majority of Chhetris. As long as India. What kind of democracy is this? wonít keep bickering about language. shape of its head resembling the helmet- CoAS Rukmangat still puts a red tika on Name withheld, email Name withheld, email like utensil used locally to brew alcohol. his forehead, I wonít believe that the army Unlike Sherpas further west they canít is a neutral force. Nowhere else in the LAL YETI be accused of selling yeti stories as world does the army general, serving in a Why is CK Lal defending the Indian stand It is being over-analytical and pretentious very few outsiders visit the area. secular country, put on a religious on Susta? (State of the State, ëThe sigh of to simply explain the yeti reports in terms Importantly, these people have never symbol whenever he appears in public. Sustaí #382)? We need inclusive visions of of linguistics, myths and worldviews of the heard of the word ëyetií, which for them Iíd like to recommend that you engage in nationality, democracy and our own identity Himalayan peasant who is often portrayed is simply a strange name for a creature regular visits to the barracks. Feudalism, as Nepalis. Although I admire your as living in an irrational world of his own. that is as real and distinct to them as a casteism, nepotism are all rampant there. deconstructive approach to many current (ëChemo or yetií, #380) To paraphrase the bear.† Nirmal Ghimire Sharma, email issues, I also begin to see your vantage biologist Edward Cronin, it is an insult to Rai Thulung, email point being dualistic and perhaps deceptive the spirit of science to declare that an If you believe in democracy then why as a result of your overly parochial unknown thing doesnít exist. Binnendik POWER TO EDUCATION not give the monarchy a chance as well? language games. cites Reinhold Messner to debunk the yeti ëHydropowered educationí (#377) is the Before you criticise the NA, show me one Bal Chandra, Australia reports. But what about the reports on the way to go in our local development Nepali organisation that is more southern flanks of the Himalaya where arena. We can learn†across the nation professional than the NA. Which other I understand Matrikaís greivances but there are no chemos? Especially the little from this project about financing the institution is more inclusive than the NA? Nepal is a multilingual country so we explored cloud forests of the Eastern local development. If the war hadnít tarnished the democratic cannot please all language groups Himalaya and particularly, the watershed of Congratulations to the people of credentials of this country then I think the (ëMatrikaís anticsí, From the Nepali Press, the Barun?†When I was there last year, I Sankhuwasbha. We are proud of you. NA is still dignified. If the last two years #382). The only remedy is to declare came across a few hunters and the A Sarup, email NATION 18 - 24 JANUARY 2008 #383 3 Family business A new dynasty emerges to replace the monarchy

rime Minister Girija Such a step would confer ex post little premature to connect Prasad Koirala must have facto legitimacy on the ‘doctrine Koirala’s wishes and his actions. P been aware that the of necessity’ that King Gyanendra Sujata may already be a appointment of Sujata Koirala as used to usurp all constitutional grandmother, but in the political de facto deputy prime minister authority. Royalists hope the school of hard knocks she is no was unlikely to go down well in amity between the Shahs and match for or his own party, let alone with his Koiralas would enable the Sushil Koirala. coalition partners in the seven- constitutional monarchy to reign That is not to say that Nepal party alliance. Clearly it was a supreme once more. is not ready to accept a female considered risk. Perhaps there is Leftists are more cynical. head of state or government. Far something he wants done that he They believe Koirala will use his from it: Nepali women have can only entrust to his daughter. daughter to bully, bribe and earned the right to lead this bamboozle various insurgent nation by their grit and STATE OF THE STATE groups in the tarai to make them determination rather than by C K Lal fall into line for the elections. relying on the will of a patriarch. Mission accomplished, Sujata There is no dearth of competent will be told to fend for herself in and committed women who It is equally unlikely that the cutthroat battle for the NC could lead Nepal. minister without portfolio Sujata leadership. This is the reason With her professional Koirala didn’t consider the anger kangresi stalwarts have been qualifications and long history of her remarks about the monarchy rather muted in censuring Girija’s political struggle, Hisila Yami and the 1990 constitution would decision and Sujata’s statements. would have been the ideal create. She carefully calculated The prime minister is, after candidate. But she is in the the likely repercussions of her all, accomplished in the political wrong party: male domination in seemingly intemperate art of use and discard. Shailaja Marxist and Maoist parties does observations and decided to court Acharya tried to reconcile her not allow women to rise beyond controversy anyway. Obviously, private monarchism with the a certain level in power politics.

ROBIN SAYAMI to her, the political stakes are public republicanism of Uncle A democratic framework is the high enough to warrant the Koirala. Clan membership has its sine qua non for gender justice. irrational advocacy of such an advantages, but the cost of Chitralekha Yadav could have irrelevant, unpopular institution. belonging can also be high. Just been another contender, but there The rumour mill has begun ask Shashank Koirala. He used to is no shortage of pretenders to working overtime, and almost be a top-notch ophthalmologist the leadership throne in her everyone has a conspiracy theory with a significant presence and a party. To improve her chances, to explain the weird ways of the respected voice in public life. she should look at the Koiralas. Some believe papa feels Now he is a marginal participant possibility of jumping on the honour-bound to protect the in his party’s internal power Mahanta Thakur bandwagon. monarchy and wants his games. Sujata’s critics—and there are daughter close so she can advance Addressing the women’s wing many—may not like it, but if she his agenda. Others even believe of NC on the last day of 2007, can refrain from spoiling her Sujata wants to be queen herself. Girija assured his audience the chances further by not Remnants of the royal regime country would soon see a female associating herself too closely contend that the prime minister prime minister. It wouldn’t be a with the monarchy, she may yet has consented to support a day too soon for Nepal if his emerge at the top of the heap to military-backed civilian predictions were to come true: claim her father’s crown. The government headed by his Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and royal dynasty may be sidelined, daughter if the scheduled Sri Lanka have all had women but long live the democratic elections fail to take place again. presidents or premiers. But it’s a dynasty. z 4 NATION 18 - 24 JANUARY 2008 #383 Entering another dimension Nepal seeks to become world class in 3D animated film

Right now we don’t even have plentiful talent and high-performance computers.” comparatively low costs. In Training institutes like partnership with Mercantile, Pentasoft and the Maya Academy Incessant Rain is recruiting young of Advanced Cinematics are talent at a blistering pace, taking attracting growing interest from students straight out of students, but expectations may animation school. be outpacing reality, warn some There has never been much local experts. demand for animation within “There are some schools that Nepal. “Most advertising agencies charge an exorbitant amount of cannot afford us,” says Yalamber money to teach 3ds Max in three Khairgoli, one of Chettri’s months,” says Prabhakar Chettri colleagues at Firefly Studios. of Firefly Studios. He says it “Animation is hard work and very takes a year to master such tools. expensive.” All Firefly’s “To become an animator, one animators are self-taught and have needs to be artistic. You can’t gone into the field because they just learn 3ds Max in three enjoy it, not because they think it months and expect to be creating will make them rich. 3D animation.” “We grew up watching Tom Gurung, at the Pentasoft and Jerry and Disney cartoons, Academy, agrees: “First you and all we wanted to do was learn the basics and then you create Nepali characters which are specialise.” He says Pentasoft even better,” says Chettri. gets about 15 new students every Decent equipment costs three months to study thousands of dollars, the reason animation, of whom only a very why Joshi says he partnered with few have sufficient time and Nepal’s best-known IT company, money to allow them to Mercantile. But if he and fellow specialise further in this field. enthusiasts in Nepal can produce Kiran Joshi, an ex-Disney works of world-class quality, they animator, came back from the US can expect a good return on their to open his own animation investment. KIRAN PANDAY studio, Incessant Rain “Animation is expensive in (‘Outsourcing toons’, #371) His terms of equipment and the PRANAYA SJB RANA “Nepali animators have all the application at the Pentasoft production company, Pinkslip amount of sweat we put in, but skill required, just not the tools,” Institute. “To create world-class Productions, intends to it's what we like to do,” says aharilal, in vest and dhoti, says Manish Gurung, who teaches animation we require better outsource animation deals from Khairgoli, “and as long as we like sits on a bench with students how to use 3ds Max, a equipment, the likes of which companies like Disney in the US doing it, we’ll keep making J Nhucheman, who is clad in professional-quality graphics Nepal may have never seen before. to Nepal to make the most of the animation.” the daura-suruwal. They talk of the coming elections. Maya, a smart schoolgirl asks Raju questions, a kindly teacher, while Kanchi prepares tea. It looks like a normal enough Nepali scene, with birds and butterflies in the air and a bike speeding past. It’s hard to believe this three-dimensional animated film has been made in Nepal. Gone are the days of the classic two-dimensional cartoons, thanks to computer-generated animation by the likes of Pixar and Dreamworks. Now, Nepali cartoonmakers are using the same softwares as went into the making of films like Finding Nemo and Ratatouille, to craft the country’s first 3D animated shorts, Messengers of Change. Developed by Firefly Studios, the film is intended for use as a public service announcement to prepare people for the elections. The quality is astonishingly good, the attention to detail impressive–from Kanchi’s red tika to Maya’s phuli. If Nepali studios can produce this sort of quality, they could soon be knocking on Hollywood’s door. BUSINESS 18 - 24 JANUARY 2008 #383 5

Responsible Yeti ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ As part of their corporate social responsibility, Yeti Airlines will The real world now provide a 25 percent discount to all employees of UN-affiliated organisations and INGOs till 30 April 2008. Yeti Airlines will also donate Rs 4 from each flight ticket to four social organisations, The ‘market’ is not a theoretical concept Tewa, OCCED, Sewa Kendra Leprosy Relief and Nepal Glaucoma Eye Clinic. but the phone call from a customer y friends ask me: skilled employees, especially employee it is hard to improve on

Etihad flying full “You’ve been the CEO those who have to produce ideas a weakness. It’s much easier to ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○ of a company for some and have to play with numbers, focus on a strength and build on UAE carrier, Etihad Airways, which M started flights to Kathmandu from Dubai months. How is running a do not work hard for the sheer it. I have found this to be true. in November has recorded its highest ever passenger figures company different from what you love of late nights or because they The more an employee is taken carrying 19,000 passengers on 3, 4 and 5 January with average were doing earlier?” want to make money for others. to task for his weaknesses, the seat factors of 88 percent across its network. The best performing They work hard because their more his performance suffers. But routes included Singapore, Brisbane and Sydney which were 96 STRICTLY BUSINESS diligence is meaningful to them the more management takes time percent full during this period. in the context of a career path. to ask: “What are you really good Ashutosh Tiwari The sooner management learns at?” the better the result. After all, New scheme to frame narrow job-related people take pride in what they do ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ As someone who made the discussions within broader well – not in activities for which KIST Merchant Bank has introduced a new deposit scheme where transition from the profession of career-related goals for each they have neither talent nor customers can open an account for just Rs 1 deposit and the bank will deposit Rs 100 as a bonus, along with a free SSB Debit card. offering business advice to that of individual, the quicker a interest. This scheme is only for the first 10,000 customers. executing corporate decisions, I motivated employee sees how Secrecy vs Openness: Most find it hard to respond easily. On their present job, with certain Nepali companies are secretive to

BoK meet the one hand, a few months add results, leads to where they want the point of being financially sick. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ up to a pitifully short time in any to go next. I do not waste time This is not surprising. When The 13th Annual General Meeting of the Bank of Kathmandu company. But then, just as the these days explaining what jobs management spends too much concluded on 14 January. The bank was able to increase net profit morning signals the day ahead, employees should do. I worry time hiding information and by 30 percent since last year, loans and advances increased by the first few months at the helm about not being able to show playing one group against another, 29.45 percent at a total of Rs 11.14 billion. of a company indicate the sort of clearly which jobs are likely to employees have no choice but to management path the company is lead to which career paths, and use up their working hours to

Romantic menthol likely to take in the future. Still, what employees can and should obsess over management’s every ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○ here is what I have observed, do to get there. gesture. Factions form, loyalties Jaya Confectionary, makers of Crave premium candies, has launched a new campaign with a learnt and adapted to so far. Weakness vs Strength: are fragmented, and products and romantic theme. Called ëFreshness ko Romantic Job vs Career: I used to One thing I have noticed in many customers are neglected. The lahar,í the campaign is for the Fresho menthol candies brand. believe that employees should Nepali companies is that people antidote is to install a focus on doing their jobs well. I are hired from outside for their communication system that lets NEW PRODUCTS have now started to believe that strengths. Once inside, they are employees focus only on selling CONNECT: Ohm Solution launched the ZTE MZ16 USB employees will do their jobs better then hounded by management what the company produces. EDGE Modem, which is a quad-band wide area wireless if management takes time to and colleagues for their Previously, the ‘market’ was a network modem. Along with the modem, Ohm also explain and re-explain what career weaknesses. But as the late theoretical construct. These days, I launched two data terminals, the MG 880 CDMA2000 and paths the company can offer. management guru Peter Drucker find it in the phone calls of the MC 315+ CDMA2000. Given today’s job market in Nepal, never tired of explaining, for any customers. 6 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 18 - 24 JANUARY 2008 #383

Uncivil society ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Editorial in Samaya, “I couldn’t just be a spectator anymore” 11-18 January

Interview in Sajha Sawal, BBC Nepali Service, 13 January information minister. Donít you have to take a part of the blame? Civil society played an important Whenever we tried to raise the madhesi issue, we were ignored. The role in restoring democracy after Mahanta Thakur, the madhesi politician who resigned from issue of Nepalís territorial integrity was raised to silence us. The the 1 February 2005 royal coup. government, from parliament and from his army is 100,000 strong but there are only 264 People expected these activists to party last month to set up his madhesis in it. be vigilant about the seven parties own Tarai-Madhes Loktantrik Party, answered which came to power. But civil questions at a public hearing in Lahan this Sushil Sharma: So why didnít you form a new week. The event was part of the Sajha Sawal party then? society has turned out to be program provided by the BBC Nepali Service. We were being extremely patient and hoping splintered and opportunistic, and that our demands would be met. You come to a has squandered its reputation Jeevan Jha, Nawalparasi: You have been in tipping point. even faster than the seven parties. powerful positions, but you never spoke a word Instead of strengthening the about the tarai then. Why are you trying to Sushil Sharma: Why did it have to be so close institutions of democracy, civil project yourself as a saviour of the tarai now? to elections? society activists are now acting as Mahanta Thakur: In our partyís Jhapa You canít consult an astrologer about these convention, I had raised the issue of the under- things. It happens when one canít take it the agents of the political parties representation of madhesis in state units, anymore. in their extreme, unconstitutional including the army. The prime minister activities. Some members of civil admitted the weakness and had promised to Mishrilal Harijan: There is communal tension. society pulled out altogether from rectify this. How are you going to bring the two the movement because of communities together? differences with the political Narayan Shrestha: But why did you have to set I think we can have a dialogue and solve our leadership, but others have not up a new party? problems rationally. The madhes was burning. People were getting uttered a squeak against the killed. I was elected as a madhesi leader. I Bidya Choudari, Bardiya: You have claimed dictatorial aspirations of some couldnít just be a spectator anymore. that you represent the entire tarai. How can leaders. you represent us tharus? Some activists are even Sushil Sharma: You were a senior leader of a We have always talked about the total accused of supporting the agenda national party. Why did you choose to become population of the tarai, 49 percent of Nepal. It and personalities of the political leader of a regional party? includes tharus, janajatis and people of hill parties and the exercise of I object to the term regional. We are a national origin. party. Our party will try to solve the problems unaccountable power. It is of the madhes. And to say the madhesi Rashagan Choudari, Bardiya: There is problematic that the activists problem is not a national problem is unfair. If even 10 percent of violence in the tarai. Donít you think it will overshadow the problems have multiple identities of demands of the madhes were fulfilled, you wouldnít have seen the here? political figures, NGO anger and resentment we are witnessing today. We have formed a new party partly because of the violence. We hope representatives and journalists. to work together with other groups to stop it. After we announced the By closing its eyes to human Sushil Sharma: If yours is a national party, what is your roadmap for formation of our new party, the leaders of the armed groups rights violations and to the Nepal, not just madhes? congratulated us. We havenít really met them in person yet. We have written it down in our mission statement. If you have any madhes movement, and by not inputs, let us know, we will try to include them, if it is useful. Sushil Sharma: There is a history of madhesi groups splintering again trying to bring the tarai, hills and and again. How can you ensure that your party will be an exception? mountains together, civil society Sushil Sharma: You yourself were in a position to solve the tarai You have seen us becoming many from one. You will now see us has shown its failure. Some problems for last 15 years. You became the deputy speaker, you were becoming one from many. activists are even challenging Nepal’s national unity by not FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 18 - 24 JANUARY 2008 #383 7 speaking out against the my question is: why do I have to vandalisation of figures of Prithbi get a new one when all the other Narayan Shah, Bhanubhakta and information on the card is the BP Koirala. And when they used same? I am sure it is not just me, Tibet train to the border the Rayamajhi Commission to get but other third-gender friends back at political opponents, they who are facing the same problem. Excerpts from an interview with Zheng Xianglin, need for secret relations with any party. We have did not understand why the People do not molest and Chinese ambassador to Nepal, in Nepal, always had friendly, open relations with all the people had turned their backs on assault us as they used to in the 20 January parties that are working for peace and stability, of them. Civil society can still past. More people at decision- which the Maoists are also a part. salvage its reputation by severing making levels, in civil society, the Are there any plans to extend the railway to the its ties with the sources of administration, and among Nepal border? As a member of the United Nations Security political power. donors know about us and accept The foreign minister has raised this issue on a Council, what is Chinaís opinion on the role of number of occasions. The line will not end in Lhasa UNMIN in Nepal and the extension of its mandate? us. But people still think that but will continue to other cities in Tibet. There are We strongly support whatever UNMINís current Third gender those who stand around in plans to extend the line to the Nepal border. In the mandate is. We will respect the Nepal ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Thamel late at night waiting for future, the railway might be extended to Kathmandu governmentís decision to extend or not extend its Bhumika Shrestha in an customers are the only people of itself. mandate. interview with Biswa Mani third gender in Nepal. The biggest Subedi in Jana Aastha, 16 January problem the third gender faces is When might that happen? The US has expressed its desire to resettle the unemployment. This is why so Nothing has been finalised, so I donít have much Tibetan refugees currently in Nepal. What does The government has already many of them have had to resort information about this. But I donít think that it will China think of this? directed the Supreme Court to to working as sex workers. take very long to materialise. We oppose this because Tibet is currently in the give us, people of third gender, a process of peace, stability and development. And separate citizenship certificate. There are some who claim that China is secretly the Tibet problem is Chinaís internal matter. We Talk talk helping the Maoists. wonít let any foreign power interfere in this. Along

However, not a single district ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ We do not support any specific party. We see no with the Dalai Lamaís group, there are some that administration office throughout Editorial in Rajdhani, 10 January are showing Tibetans a false dream of life in the Nepal has issued such a US and Europe, where they would get better certificate. I myself have left an After the failure to form the education. Tibetans who donít know the truth, and application at the office, asking to commissions as agreed under the those who are misled by these groups, cross the amend my citizenship status. peace accord, the Maoists and the Himalayas into Nepal. Most of them are minors. My name is Kailash Shrestha government have reiterated the After coming to Kathmandu, they understand the in the citizenship certificate I need in the 23-point agreement. situation and there are many who have contacted received four years ago. I only Last year, the Maoists and the our embassy to return to Tibet. want my gender to be changed to government agreed on the The Tibetan government and the Chinese ‘third gender’. But the CDO says I formation of commissions for people will never let such separatists continue with should get a new citizenship truth and reconciliation, for peace their actions. certificate. My date of birth will and rehabilitation, for To resolve the border debate at Kalapani between remain the same, my address will disappearance investigations, and Nepal and India, India has proposed that China remain the same, my father’s for scientific land reform, and a should also be involved since the region name will remain the same. The high-level commission to borders China. Is China willing? only thing different in this new monitor the comprehensive peace The border debate between India and Nepal certificate will be my gender. Now agreement. is something that the two countries should The peace agreement this time solve amicably by themselves. has set a deadline of a month to establish all the commissions and committees. However, even though 15 days have already passed, the government has not QUOTE OF THE WEEK made any serious move to implement the plan. If the parties live up to their tradition of merely talking and fail to do anything substantial, the agreements and proposals will have no effect. KIRAN PANDAY

We will destroy those who try to “ create problems before the “ constituent assembly elections, and Song of unity conduct polls over their ashes. Anushil in Himal Khabarpatrika, 15-29 January

She may be a Gurung, but the way she sings in the Maithili, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Bhojpuri, Dhimal, Tharu and Awadhi languages, one feels sheís a Dahal at the seven-party joint native speaker of all those languages. Madhu Gurung, 38, has sung assembly, quoted in more than a dozen songs in Bhojpuri and recently released the himalkhabar.com, 14 January Bhojpuri album, Naya Sanes. She also sings with Gopal Thakur in Nepal, 20 January Bhojpuri in an album called Nirmohiya. Madhuís love for madhesi music led her to participate in SELECTED MATERIAL TRANSLATED EVERY WEEK FROM THE NEPALI PRESS Madhes Night, held in Kathmandu. She often travels to the madhes to sing in concerts, and doesnít believe people are being forced out of the plains. ìSmall factions, bent on disturbing the kinship between madhesis and pahadis, are creating these problems.î She says that madhesi communities with whom she works have always welcomed her and treated her as one of their own. ìI am proud that my music has become the bridge between the tarai and pahad,î says Madhu. Bato Roje, an anthology of Madhuís songs has recently been published, and she teaches music in Kathmandu.

ANUSHIL Last trek It may not be long before you can drive a M

TEXT AND PICTURES BY MIN BAJRACHARYA IN JOMSOM

aving travelled to Upper Mustang via Jomsom 20 years ago, the changes this time are dramatic. H After getting off the plane at Jomsom airport, one is greeted not by the sound of mule bells but by motorcycles revving up. Tractors roar along the cobblestone streets like steam locomotives. Diesel fumes assail the nostrils just as in Kathmandu. There is a traffic policeman, and in the past two years there have already been two vehicular accidents with four fatalities. And the road hasn’t even reached Jomsom yet. All the motorcycles and tractors and the fuel to run them have been flown in by cargo helicopters. Among locals in lower Mustang, there are two schools of thought about the road. The orchard owners who need a market for their apples, apricots and Marpha’s famous brandy think the link will give them better access to markets in the city. And other traders anticipate a boom in business. But those who depend on trekking are worried that the road will destroy the unique selling point of the Kali Gandaki, which has carved the world’s deepest gorge as it flows between Dhaulagiri and Annapurna. The highway is presently being blasted by an army demolition team through cliff-faces that should have been declared a World Heritage Site, they say. There are still trekkers walking round the Annapurna circuit, but they know they are the last visitors to see this stupendous gorge in its pristine state. Even as they walk towards Tatopani, the sound of dynamite blasting echoes and re-echoes in the narrow valley. There is only a 300m portion near Ghasa and another 700m north of Tatopani that remain to be cleared on the 83km road between Beni and Jomsom. Some trekking entrepreneurs in Jomsom have already diversified to pilgrim tourism, which they hope will bring in more Indian and Nepali visitors once the road is open. Pilgrims can already buy a two- hour 28km pillion ride on a motorcycle from Jomsom to Muktinath for Rs 1,200. A jeep ride costs Rs 350. The jeeps were brought in by helicopter at a cost of Rs 470,000 and the transporters feel they can easily recoup the cost. It is the low season in Jomsom, and there are only three flights a day from Pokhara. If the road is blacktopped, the airport will have little use. However, some hotel owners here are not so worried about the road. They say there is now more potential to sell walks to the side valleys like Meso Kanto, the pass to Dolpo, the east Dhaulagiri glacier and other areas of upper Mustang. They also say the airport could then be used for flights to Kathmandu and perhaps even to Banaras or Delhi to facilitate more pilgrim traffic. There is also anticipation here that the newly-released film Kagbeni will bring a flood of urban middle-class Nepalis to Mustang in the spring when the road is finished. z k to Jomsom Mustang to Mustang 10 NATION 18 - 24 JANUARY 2008 #383 Learning all

PRIYA JOSHI in CHITWAN

auraha's main attraction for tourists and nature Slovers is the adjacent Chitwan National Park, with its relatively abundant and easily visible wildlife. But it is also starting to draw growing numbers of students and researchers. Chitwan Campground, run by the local Bird Education Society, is specially geared up for nature students and birders. It consists of two large, roofed, concrete camping platforms, raised to dissuade snakes from BIRDERS: Gokarna Khanal and Kapil Pokharel of Chitwanís Bird slithering into your tent, and Education Society take visiting students on a trip to identify the national a multi-purpose hall and parkís rich birdlife (right). The Chitwan Campground has a roofed, raised platform for visitorsí tents to protect them from snakes and sun (above). kitchen area. Unlike the nearby tourist DAMBAR KRISHNA SHRESTHA resorts, there is no elephant Guides Gokarna Khanal and comes to the campground in the waiting to take you for an early Kapil Pokharel from the BES are evening to talk to guests about the morning wander through the enthusiastic birders and their challenges of biodiversity A dedicated British couple mist-shrouded forest in search passion for ornithology is conservation in Nepal. teach Nepali teachers of rhinos, deer and tigers. But contagious. They take visitors The BES has been working guests do still have to get up around the local community and with locals and visitors to spread early. Once they set off, they along the river banks, point out awareness and appreciation of will not be looking down from the birds and allow them to Chitwan's rich bird life, and in a howdah for signs of other identify them with the help of this way encourage the large mammals, but peering up their heavily thumbed but preservation of Chitwan’s into the tree canopy through lovingly preserved bird books. valuable wildlife habitat Feet on binoculars in search of birds. Hem Subedi, head of the BES, without cordoning it off as a no- the pedals

DAMBAR KRISHNA SHRESTHA in BIRATNAGAR

n Morang each day, locals are treated to the unusual sight of a middle-aged British couple pedalling their bicycles to or from I the District Education Office, the Teacher Training Centre and various schools around the district. David Spinney, 61, and Deborah Jordan, 59, have been following this routine for the past seven months in their work as teacher trainers. David, former principal of a school in London, is now helping improve the quality of teaching at three schools in Biratnagar. Deborah, his wife, has been a teacher for 33 years and is running a 10-month training course for teachers from Morang, Sunsari and Sankhuwasabha. The couple came to Nepal with the British development charity VSO after a three-year teaching stint in Ethiopia. It is Davidís first time in Nepal, although Deborah once came to Pokhara on a school trip with her students. At that time, she admits, she had little interest in Nepalís educational system. But now, with a job to do, she has made sure she knows all about it. Compared with Ethiopia, Nepalís education system is in good shape, she says. In Britain, more than 90 percent of students go to government-funded schools and the educational standard is generally high. ìHere it is the exact opposite: only the poor send their children to public schools,î says David. ìEven middle-class people hesitate to send their children to government schools.î Deborah believes the poor student-to-teacher ratios and small classrooms often make teaching ineffective in Nepalís public schools. David, after seeing 135 students packed into a single classroom at the Janapath Higher Secondary School in Biratnagar, says: ìWhen you ask a question, 55 of them answer simultaneously.î But he feels the training he and Deborah provide can have a positive effect. They teach their students to speak in turn, and they show them how to make learning more fun ñ both for the teachers and the students. Deborah says many teachers here are dissatisfied with their jobs. Low pay and societyís negative perception of teachers are part of the problem. She believes the government should make education a priority and give teachers more respect. ìI could have been a doctor or an engineer, but I chose to be a teacher,î David says. ìIíve seen that many are dissatisfied with teaching here but I donít believe that I would have found satisfaction in any other profession.î He remembers how proud his parents were when he was appointed principal of a London school. ìNepali society doesnít respect the teaching profession,î he says. ìThis is why there are very few people who wish to become teachers.î NATION 18 - 24 JANUARY 2008 #38311 about the birds and the trees

PICS: PRIYA JOSHI go zone for humans. can make a valuable place for field training and minimum of impact to their Cost: Rs 450 per person per day. Subedi says people must contribution, by providing an student research, Subedi says. surroundings. This way Includes three meals, tea and realise that the environment of affordable research location It is able to host school and "ecotourism" isn’t just a accommodation. Tents, sleeping bags and mattresses can be hired Chitwan, as everywhere, is close to the park.” university field trips. meaningless marketing tool but for a minimal cost. constantly evolving in response Chitwan Campground is the The campground can also a chance to stay and learn about to the pressures on it, both first of its kind in Nepal. Its encourage a new type of the environment while doing The Chitwan Campground is a natural and man-made. proximity to Nepal’s richest ecotourism, one that goes minimal damage. z project of the Resources “If we are to preserve nature’s biodiversity area, to several beyond preaching "take Himalayan Foundation in diversity, we must make successful community forestry nothing but pictures, leave Chitwan Campground collaboration with the MacArthur Bird Education Society Foundation and supported by decisions based on research and activities in the buffer zone, and nothing but footprints" and Sauraha, Chitwan Wildlife Conservation Nepal. It is understanding,” says Subedi. to elephant and gharial breeding actually provides a place for +977 056 580113 managed by Chitwanís Bird “That is where the campground centres, makes it a valuable people to stay with the besnepal(at)wlink.com.np Education Society. 12 REVIEWS 18 - 24 JANUARY 2008 #383 Sins of Not lost in Two Nepali novels, written half- the sister a-century apart, now in English KUNDA DIXIT afterword, bibliography and Stunning filmmaking atones copious footnotes will open a window to Nepal to many for for narrative shortcomings asain is the most-widely whom the book has so far been read Nepali novel, not out of bounds. And through that s the strike by the Writersí Guild of America rolled into its third month, the Golden Globe Awards were announced Bbecause it was a big window, we see the reality of A early this week in an atypically unceremonial manner. It is bestseller but because it has been rural Nepal that hasn’t changed ironic then that the top prize of best film went to Atonement, an required reading in the much in the five decades since adaptation of renowned novelist Ian McEwanís 2001 book that is, Tribhuban University the book was written. simply put, a deep reflection on the power of writing. curriculum for decades. The caste and gender The story opens on a country estate during an idyllic, languid Hundreds of thousands of discrimination, poverty and summer in pre-Second World War Britain, where 13-year-old Nepalis know the plot by heart injustice are more or less intact. Briony becomes the jealous witness of a romantic/sexual tension because they had to cram it for But so is the fortitude and between older sister Cecilia exams. generosity of the Nepali spirit (Knightley) and a servantís The 70-page novel by Lil portrayed in the book. CRITICAL CINEMA son, Robbie (McAvoy). Her Bahadur Chhetri evoked a Entrenched oppression forced KAMAL DIXIT/MPP Diwas Kc own nascent sexuality, emotional confusion, powerful response among generations of Nepalis over the That is also the reason Hutt narrative endowment, and a Nepalis in Nepal and abroad past century-and-half to migrate says he chose to translate sense of rectitude combine into one solid lie that gets Robbie into when it came out in 1958. to the madhes or muglan. Basain: “The way a family’s the war and Cecilia estranged from the family. Having thus Chhetri, a descendant of Nepali Persistent injustice ultimately dispossession and flight from sabotaged a young love story, Briony is subjected to an agonising, immigrants, wrote the book in created the conditions for the Nepal are represented [in the unremitting process of penitence. Assam where he still lives. Maoist revolution. That struggle novel] tells us something about The scenario may itself seem a bit trifling, but that is because Although he never really stayed finally made Nepalis aware of the historical fact of migration by just watching the film you get a sense that you are missing out in Nepal, he based the portrayal their rights, but the violence from the Nepalese hills, as well on a lot of what McEwan tackles literarily. The morbid presence of of rural Nepal on interviews made the economic desperation as reveals the author’s attitudes the war does give some weight to the narrative, and there is also a with more recent Nepali of many Nepali even worse and to the fact.” hint that the story is about much more than what it appears. To migrants to Assam. triggered a new wave of mass- This is a moving and elaborate on this would require getting into the brilliant design of the storyís climax. But it is easy to notice that our lying In his preface, Chhetri had migration in the past decade that simple story of a universal protagonist is also an aspiring writer. And in her dishonesty and said the main reason for writing is a modern-day ‘Basain’. family forced to leave home. need for atonement is coded a heartfelt commentary on literature the book was to familiarise ‘Do they leave their homes Thanks to this translation, and art in general (and perhaps also on their incompleteness). prabasi Nepalis about the because they wish to?’ Chhetri Basain will touch the hearts of With a subject-matter this nuanced, layered and literary, it is environment and culture of asks in the Nepali preface to his many more people worldwide. clear why the movie adaptation will be somewhat resented. their homeland. “It occurred to 1958 edition, “perhaps that is Director Joe Wrightís previous adaptation of Pride and Prejudice me that although the future of true for many of them, but for met with similar reservations in some quarters. Yet the film stood people like us, who have made others it is quite a different out for its vivacity and perspective unexplored in previous our homes outside Nepal, is tied matter. I chose the misery and versions. to the country in which we mystery that lie at the root of this dwell, our language, literature, as the theme of Basain.” and culture are still Nepali, and The story is set somewhere in everyone’s own literature and the multi-ethnic hills of eastern culture are dear to them,” Nepal. Dhane’s family lives a Chhetri says. precarious, but contented, In 2005, Basain was made existence. A family tragedy and into a feature film and on the the weight of subjugation by 50th anniversary of its first powerful village moneylenders edition in 2008, Michael J Hutt forces him to migrate. This has brought out a flawless ‘misery and mystery’ is the story translation. As professor of of millions of Nepali families Nepali at the School of African through history. Today, Nepal’s Mountains Painted with Turmeric and Oriental Studies in London, rural youth are selling off (Basain) Hutt has taken great pains to ancestral land to pay middlemen Lil Bahadur Chhetri Translated by Michael J Hutt make sure nothing is lost in to take them to the Gulf or Columbia University Press, 2008 translation. The slim volume Malaysia, but the wrenching Pages 144 with a preface, glossary, dislocation is the same. Hardcover Rs

The same approach, however, appears shallow in Atonement. Wright concentrates on the mood and the texture, repeatedly overlooking the psychological and moral depth of the story. There is a real crisis of credibility. The romance between Cecilia and Robbie feels tentative, the themes are not soul-stirring, and Brionyís efforts of reparation are unpersuasive. In other words, perhaps in reverence of the original novel, Wrightís adaptation paradoxically ends up showing how fictional McEwanís fiction is. Then again, what is good in literature is rarely the same as what is good in cinema. Thankfully, Wright is a brilliant filmmaker, capable of creating shots and sequences so beautiful that they will just bowl you over. Take for example the challenge Wright had of portraying Robbieís haunting experience of the war. Forfeiting the conventional depictions of warís horror, he opts instead for a minutes-long, heavily choreographed, almost illusory single shot, as the camera follows Robbie through the waiting soldiers at the Dunkirk beach. This utterly aesthetic choice is a point of controversy, making us wonder if art can ever contain politics in this manner. But the cinematic experience of it is also something to be taken into account. At the end, there is something in the movie that is genuinely tantalising. To Wrightís credit, itís his filmmaking.

ATONEMENT Director: Joe Wright. Cast: Kiera Knightley, James McAvoy, Romola Garai, Saoirse Ronan. 2007. R. 130 min. REVIEWS 18 - 24 JANUARY 2008 #383 13 translation

MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA acts are even more dramatic disappeared colleague into an AUTOGRAPH SEEKERS: (above) than fiction in societies imaginary painter named Drishya, Australian ambassador Graeme wracked by war. Nepal’s and the rest of the book is about Lade and British ambassador F Andrew Hall get thier copies of conflict was no different. Nearly how the conflict sweeps everyone 15,000 people were killed and along. Palpasa Cafe signed by Narayan Wagle on Tuesday. Lil Bahadur disappeared between 1996-2006, Drishya falls in love with Chettri in a portrait taken in 1958 but a novel could be written Palpasa, a Nepali American who (above left). about each one of them. The story has returned to the land of her of every family displaced by the parents after the post-9/11 conflict could be turned into a America. Drishya meets with his justice, about whether the means feature film. childhood friend, Siddhartha, justify the end. But we only remember the who has joined the Maoists and In the novel’s first chapter numbing numbers: 15,000 killed, goes back to their war-torn village Wagle, as himself, is sitting at a 1,500 disappeared, 75,000 in the mountains. The two argue café in Thamel taking dictation injured, 250,000 internally about the age-old questions of art on the phone from a district displaced and almost the whole and politics, about peace and reporter. There has been another country affected in one way or battle in the mountains. “That another. was nothing new,” Wagle writes, As the editor of Nepal’s “we published stories like that largest-circulation newspaper, every day. Today’s newspaper Narayan Wagle knew well the already carried an almost limitations of journalism in identical story, tomorrow’s would covering war. The news format as well. It was the same thing wasn’t the best way to get across every day…did newspapers exist to readers how the conflict was here only to public body counts?” brutalising Nepali society. Wagle Something is always lost in chose fiction to get closer to the translation when novels cross the truth. language barrier. Happily, this When Palpasa Café came out one, which got a final polish from in 2005, its unusual non-linear Linda Trigg, preserves the original style was an instant hit with nuances. Narayan Wagle wrote a Nepali readers. It was a powerful anti-war novel, delving fictionalised account of Nepalis Palpasa CafÈ deeply through his characters at caught in the grips of war. Wagle by Narayan Wagle Translated by Bikash Sangraula the human cost of conflict. Now, makes a cameo appearance at the nepa~laya, 2008 through this English translation, beginning of the book and hears 240 pages a larger international audience can of the abduction of a real-life Rs 500 (hard cover) read about what Nepal’s war did friend by soldiers. He turns his Rs 300 (soft cover) to its people. 14 CITY 18 - 24 JANUARY 2008 #383

ABOUT TOWN Kagbeni begins with Krishna coming back to his village after spending time in Malaysia. EXHIBITIONS After visiting his friend Ramesh, they decide ™ to travel together. On their journey they come Acrylic paintings by Asha Dongole at the Park Gallery, across a hermit who hands Krishna an Lazimpat, until 30 Janaury, 10AM-6PM. 4419353 animalís paw that has power to fulfil wishes, ™ Tibetan Lhosar photographs by Daniel Collins at the but also creates horrific consequences. Saturday CafÈ, Boudhanath stupa, 6 February-31 March. Unaware of its ominous powers, Ramesh makes a wish, and the journey of betrayal Entertainment and revenge begins. EVENTS ™ Electrohouse at the JBar with DJ DannyCool from Ukraine, Call 4442220 for show timings at Jai Nepal 19 January, 9PM. 4418209 Quest www.jainepal.com ™ Youth Discussion Series on trade, economic relations and our strategy forward with Raghab D Pant, 18 January, 3-5PM at Martin Chautari. 4238050 ™ animalNEPAL community meeting to discuss the street ;xeflutfdns" ;ljwfg+ lgdf0fsf{ nflu ;ljwfg;efsf+ ] g]kfn ;/sf/ dogs of Patan, 4PM on 20 January at the Summit Hotel. lgjfrgdf{ ;xefuL eO { cfkm}+n] 5fgsf] kltlglw| dfkm{t ;"rgf tyf ;~rf/ dGqfno 9841334537 gof F ;ljwfg+ lgdf0f{ u/f }+ . ;"rgf ljefu MUSIC ™ Paleti with Prem Dhoj Pradhan, 25 January, at the nepa~laya ërí sala, Kalikasthan, 5.30 PM. 4412469 ™ Live fusion music of soft rock and classical by Sfatic at Moksh, Pulchok, 15 January, 8.30 PM. 5526212 ™ Ciney Gurung every Wednesday and Rashmi Singh every Friday, live at the Absolute Bar, Hotel Narayani Complex, 7PM. 5521408 ™ Catch 22 live at the Zest Restaurant and Bar, Pulchok.

DINING ™ Illy espresso coffee at the Galleria cafe, Thamel with contemporary Art exhibition at the Galleria lounge, every Friday espresso coffee cocktails, also at Park Village, Buddhanilkantha.† ™ International four course buffet at the Sunrise CafÈ with a range of Borisí signature dishes at The Chimney, Hotel Yak and Yeti. 4248999 ™ Wine and Cheese every Friday and Saturday at the Rox Bar, Hyatt Regency, 5-8PM. 4491234 ™ Saturday special barbeque, sekuwa, momos, dal-bhat at The Tea House Inn, Windy Hills, Nagarkot every Saturday. 9841250848. ™ Dice-licious brunch at Kakori, Soaltee Crowne Plaza, roll the dice to the number of the day and get 50% discount on an individual meal, Saturdays and Sundays, 12.30-3.30PM. 4273999 WEEKEND WEATHER ™ Scrumptious wood fired pizzas, cocktails and specialty by NGAMINDRA DAHAL coffees at Roadhouse, Bhatbateni 4426587, Pulchok 5521755 This westerly disturbance is moving rapidly across northern India, and Thamel 4260187. and will affect Nepal, bringing heavy snow to the mountains of western ™ Cocktails and jazz with the JCS Quartet and a choice of Nepal and a dusting in the east. Rain showers are likely in the mid- cocktails at Fusion ñ the Bar at Dwarikaís. 4479448 hills going into the weekend. Fingers crossed this will end the two- ™ Starry night barbecue at Hotel Shangri-la with month dry spell. The cloud cover should last till Sunday and weíll be Live†performance by Ciney Gurung, Rs. 666.00 nett. per back into bright sunshine next week. The Valley will have an overcast person, at the Shambala Garden, weekend with light rain and foggy mornings into next week. every Friday 6.30 PM onwards. 4412999 Kebabs and curries at the Dhaba, Thapathali. 9841290619 ™ Calcuttaís rolls, biryani, kebabs Indian cuisine at Bawarchi, Bluebird Mall Food Court. 9741000735 ™ LaVAzza coffee Italyís favourite coffee at La Dolce Vita,†Thamel. 4700612 KATHMANDU ™ Little Britain coffee shop fresh organic coffee, homemade cakes, WiFi internet, open all day, everyday. 4496207 ™ Pizza from the woodfired oven at Java, Thamel. 4422519 KATHMANDU VALLEY GETAWAYS Fri Sat Sun ™ Fulbari Resort and Spa, Pokhara Rs 10,999 for Nepali double, $219 for expat double, two days and three nights package, with transportation from the airport, drinks, tennis and swimming, discounts on food and beverages. 19-5 18-56 18-3 6 ™ Weekend getaways at Le Meridien, Kathmandu, Resident Night Rs 4,999 and two nights package Rs 9,998. Also includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, spa facilities, swimming pool, steam sauna, Jacuzzi and gym facilities.

For inclusion in the listing send information to editors(at)nepalitimes.com HAPPENINGS 18 - 24 JANUARY 2008 #383 15

MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA HOMECOMING: CoAS Rukmangat Katuwal is greeted by an officer of the Nepal Army at Tribhuban International Airport on his return from a week- long visit to China on Sunday.

MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA OPEN MEDIA: Jesper Hojberg, International Media Mission executive director, issues a 'Mission Statement' expressing concern about threats to press freedom in Nepal. TAXI STANDSTILL ta

SHEERE NG ROYALLY DECORATED: Revellers adorn the statue of King Prithbi Narayan Shah on Prithbi Jayanti with garlands and flags at Singha Darbar to commemorate Unity Day on Friday.

KIRAN PANDAY PARTY PEOPLE: A volunteer looks on as supporters of Nepalís seven parties march towards Tundikhel for the seven-party gathering on Monday, shortly before a bomb exploded at Bhotahity injuring eight people. W 16 foresight ofourplanners,wecannowsell of things.Ournationalcredois:“Itcouldbeworse”.Giventhe been strunguponpoles. their freedomofspeeches. therefore, theydon’twantacodeofconducttorestrict they saidthey’llgobacktowariflose.Naturally, along withelectionsonlyiftheywin.Inotherwords, Central Committeemeeting,Badal&Coagreedtogo make theMandalayslookliketrafficcops.AtKabhre some moretimetospreadmayhem.Theyoungcommies Conduct (nottheelectionthistime).ThismustbesothatYCLhas from AwesomejiisthathewantstheECtopostponeCodeof The Maoistshavetheknackofcomingupwithrealgems.latest said it.ArresttheAss. Code ofConductanymore.Thesucks.There,theAss the Commission.Infact,fromnextweekwecan’tevenpokefunat instead ofhavingclausesinitthatpreventthemediafromcriticising The ElectionCommissioncouldincludethatinits boycott ofanyonewhotriestoevengetawordin. moratorium resist puttinghisjackbootinmouth.Thereshouldbea every timeGeneralAjayaPNathgoesoffanywherethesedayshecan’t performance ofagovernmentwhichhispartyismember.And course, longagomasteredtheartofpubliclyexposinglacklustre also goestoKoiralaNibasshoothermouthoff.ComradeMakunay,of for aweek.Likefatherlikedaughter,Minister-sans-PortfolioFrauJost invariably sayssomethingsocontroversialthatthemediareverberates jeopardise the23-pointagreementyetagain.GirjagoestoBiratnagarand a microphoneisthrustonhisface,theFierceOnecan’thelp country istheverbaldiarrhoeapandemicamongourleaders.Whenever into trouble.Fhutthesuckup,already.Themainprobleminthis Every timeourpoliticalfiguresopentheirmouths,theygetthemselves Let’s all shedding, turnoffthewatermains,andshutwholecountrydown? government justcloseallgasstations,announce24-hourload capital’s streetsmanageableagain.Actually,whydoesn’tthe Saturday. Thatshouldbringdownthetrafficvolumeandmake in anticipationoftheblockadetaraibymadhesigroupsfrom The onlygoodnewsisthatthepetrolstationqueueshavestartedagain spot public insist onstagingstreetralliesatrushhour.TheAsshasaplan:on-the- Seven PartyConglomeratetotheFederationofDisasterPreparedness manhood, motorcyclesareomnidirectional,andeveryonefromthe road, taxidriversthinkparkingclosetothekerbisanaffronttheir of differenceaslongbusesdroppassengersinthemiddle give themthosewandsthatglowinthedark,butitwon’tmakeaniota persistence. have justextendeditbyamonth.Havetogivethemcreditfor congestion onthestreetswasdoomedevenbeforeitstarted,butthey Speaking ofwhich,theTrafficPolice’scampaigntoeradicate can playTetrixintraffic. network busysignal,butwearesohappytohaveiphonesinwhich still betterthannopetrolatall.”Ourcellphonesalwayshavea litres ofadulteratedpetrolonceaweekandwe’llstillsay:“Hey,that’s attraction. 'VisitNepal,GoBackToTheDarkAges'. Here weare,sittinginthedarkandstilllookonbrightside You cangetthecopstodonflashiestfluorescentjacketsand We countourblessings.willwaitforeighthourstogetfive hibernate the Ass BACKSIDE staying powerofourrulers.Anywhereelsetheywouldhave would liketotakethisopportunitypaytributethe ith powercutssoontogoup11hoursaday,theAss flogging ofallviolators. onpublicstatementsbyallpoliticiansandamedia Arrest tillspringandwakeuptovoteinApril. FG FG FG FG FG ass(at)nepalitimes.com darkness Code ofConduct as atourist CDO Regd No194/056/57Lalitpur, CentralRegion PostalRegd.No 04/058/59 18 -24JANUARY2008 #383

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