#55 10 - 16 August 2001 20 pages Rs 20 10-1110-1110-11 191919

NEPNEPNEPALIALIALI VICTORIA CROSSESHARE KRISHNA

BINOD BHATTARAI EXCLUSIVE ○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○ he method is psychological warfare: intimidation, threats T and panic. The result: the Maoists’ ban on alcohol sales and consumption nationwide from 18 Development Programme (ISDP) August is a move that will cost the HIGH AND DRY scrapped. And last but not least, already cash-strapped government Despite the truce,not out to the wreck the Maoists are going for the state’s economic theyDespite wanted all “unequal the treaties” truce, the Maoists are going for the state’s economic Rs 10 billion a year in revenue alone. economy, and deny that (presumably with India) abrogated. Royal mess More than 500,000 people directly jugular. they are trying to Taliban- to be Maoists. Extortion and The Maoist paper, intimidation has gone into high gear Royal Nepal Airlines’ nosedive and indirectly dependent on the ise Nepal. Maoist leader has come to this: cancelling its brewery and distillery industries will Baburam Bhattarai told us in since the truce was announced on trunk routes at the beginning of be affected. Some 50,000 retailers an interview (#51) last month: 23 July, and the Maoists appear to the autumn tourist season. and wholesalers across Nepal will “Please do not mistake us for be on a spree to fill up their coffers. European routes, Singapore and be hit. Janadesh, religious fanatics like the Almost every big business we Dubai were haemorrhaging cash privately polled were already victims and have been stopped. A The underground Maoists have Taliban…we have no agenda for quoted Deuba as telling the women: of Maoist blackmail and admitted tourism slump after the royal pushed their anti-alcohol campaign “Your demands are legitimate, I will puritanical fads like the alcohol ban. massacre did take its toll, but the that they have been paying them through the above-ground All try to fulfil them within the Please note that the campaign airline suffers from chronic against ‘alcoholism’ is not the same off. political interference and Nepal Women’s Organisation constitutional framework.” The mismanagement. The two jets it(Revolutionary) and their intention prime minister’s office has not thing as an alcohol ban’.” had leased have been returned,is clear: to starve the government of denied the statement. It has been standard operation and the airline is now down to just procedure for the Maoists to say one two 757s. They have to service 24taxes from alcohol. On a high after Deuba also met a team from the weekly flights to Bangkok, Hong their victory in declaring Chitwan FNCCI this week that wanted to thing and do another. Their Nepal on the wagon district and some other areas strategy while the truce holds Kong, Shanghai, Osaka, Delhi, warn him of the trouble ahead. One p. 9 Bombay and Bangalore. One wayalcohol-free last month, on Mondaybusiness leader told us the prime appears to be to keep the public Royal Nepal can stay afloat is tothe women went to meet Prime confused and frightened, sow a invest in another jet immediately minister appeared to be underesti- Many for the tourist season. Given theMinister Sher Bahadur Deuba. mating the seriousness of the crisis. general sense of panic and hit at expect their political sensitivity of such a They were in a defiant mood, and “Directly or indirectly the govern- government revenue sources. “Not next target to be move, it is difficult to imagine itaccording to sources present at the ment stands to lose billions a year, only are their demands contradic- the tobacco happening. RNAC knows which meeting, put forward a 22-point besides the loss of employment,” tory, they are impossible to fulfil industry and plane it needs, but government even for a Maoist government,” says officials will want to make the manifesto, threatening “severe said the businessman. “This has foreign multina- decision so they can pocket a action” if their demands were not now become an economic war.” another worried distillery owner. tionals. All these MIN BAJRACHARYA kickback. It is such malfeasance met. Brewery and distillery owners have already faced that has ruined the airline. Besides a nationwide ban on the brunt of extortion In 1991, Royal Nepal had 19 are preparing to slow down and alcohol and gambling, the other even stop production, but they are and threats by Maoists aircraft, including four jets and ademands include stopping the sex- fleet of ten aircraft for its domestic hoping against hope that the threat and criminals pretending routes. Today it has just seven trade in hotels and restaurants and will be lifted. Deuba tried to assure operational aircraft. Fleet size hasshutting down ‘cabin’ restaurants, business that the government shrunk, but staff has grown. No reserving 40 percent government would provide security and surprise, then that the airline is jobs for women, banning porno- BEER FACTS in deep red. Total debts: requested them not to close. But Rs 2 billion. graphic publications and giving factory-owners do not trust the Rs 3 billion rupees have been invested in breweries, 15 percent of it foreign capital women equal property rights. That government, and feel vulnerable to Breweries contribute three percent of the Gross Domestic Product, almost as much as the tourism industry wasn’t all, the women also wanted Maoist sabotage. Fumed one the Public Security Regulations and distillery owner: “They are The industry pays about Rs 1.5 billion as taxes and duties, four percent of government revenue the Integrated Security and becoming like the Taliban.” Over 1,200 will lose jobs and another 25,000 in packaging, transport, etc. would be hurt Maoist leaders have said they are Nearly half of the beer produced is consumed by tourists. Nepal produces 23 million litres of beer and 4.2 litres of alcohol a year Nepali breweries export Rs 100 million worth of beer annually to India.

rime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is still not talking. But just about everyone else is talking about talks. What’s going on? There Pare two explanations. Deuba is keeping is cards close to his chest: so close that not even his closest aides know what he has up What’shis sleeves. up Deuba’s sleeves? The second explanation is that he has nothing up his sleeves, and his government is just coasting along waiting for the Maoists to make their next move. has the support of the UML, which is privately said to favour a hardline approach To be sure, Deuba has done his rounds to strike an all-partyto forceconsen- the insurgents to negotiate. The UML has also come out strongly against authoritarianism of the left and right, and has proposed talks for left unity. A united sus on the agenda for talks. He seems to have the crucial backing of his left would be a political bulwark against the Maoists. UML supremo Madhav own party, and the UML has made reassuring noises about its commitment Kumar Nepal has even gone on record to say that if the king doesn’t seem to be to parliamentary democracy. But Deuba hasn’t uttered a word, and worried about the monarchy, then a republican constitution may not be such a probably won’t until an all-party meeting to hammer out a peace strategy. taboo subject after all. This waffle approach has partly paid off: the anti-Maoist Armed Police Even donors are upbeat about the possibility of peace, but they want to be Force ordinance is a step closer to its ratification by parliament. Deuba sure it’s not a sham. On Monday they told finance minister Ram Sharan Mahat even managed to hand the Maoists a lollipop, saying the paramilitary this was Nepal’s best—and possibly last—chance. They reminded him Nepal’s ordinance had to come because it was already there—meaning not future hinged on a workable peace plan: for development, investment and tourism. intended to be used against them. They probably don’t believe him, but the Japanese ambassador Mituaki Kojima was uncharacteristically blunt: “We are for the moment they have to pretend to. watching very carefully the political process to address the issue.” The Norwe- “He was busy trying to get support for the ordinances, nowgian his ambassadorfocus Ingrid Ofstad said the road was long and there could be is on the meeting, which he wants to hold as early as next week,”setbacks, one but her government would back a peace initiative. source close to the prime minister told us. “He wants a common Whileplan Deuba is working behind the scenes, the Maoists are now almost before making his next move.” above ground. They have declared “peoples’ governments” in 10 districts. They If that is true, it could mean that Deuba is smarter than the havepundits stepped give up public meetings, extortion and “tax collection” from businesses, him credit for. He is said to be in direct communication the Maoists,and have and threatened is the economy with a nationwide alcohol ban from 18 August MIN BAJRACHARYA not using the proxy human righters any more. Deuba’s rough peace(see main plan story and p 9).

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Internet Access | Email | Fax2Fax | Web Hosting | Domain Registration | VSAT Networks | WAP Services | Software Development EDITORIAL 10 - 16 AUGUST NEPALI2001 TIMES 10 - 16 AUGUST NEPALI2001 TIMES 222 actually made them worse. 333 that the Nepali Congress We strongly doubt that officials in New Delhi sit around the Nepali Times is published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, government led by Mr Deuba is Chief Editor: Kunda Dixit embankments they build submerge huge tracts of both Indian states, Editor:Anagha Neelakantan,Design: Swosti Rajbhandari, Kiran really sincere in its offer of pauperising the people who live there. The cause is simpler and dialogue withLETTERS the Maoists, and [email protected], www.nepalitimes.com In Nepal, it was Laxmanpur last year, it was Sarlahi and Rautahat Advertising: Sunaina Shah, Anup Adhikary closer home: the sheer incompetence of the governments of Bihar is not simply cynically trying to [email protected] makes a strong point about the year before. This year it is the embankment being built acrossand Uttar the Pradesh and their kick-back driven and mafia-infested MAO BUDDIES abolish his dynasty was startedmanipulate the opportunity interesting to analyse these Communications Officer with Subscription:Anil [email protected] this year’s SLC results. There border from Lumbini. The IndiansA say it FLOODis not an embankment,politicos. OFbut a It is RECRIMINATIONwhen the bunds are close to the border that the when he was alive is the heightlike Mr Koirala did when the contradictorylast trends. ICIMOD in May, 2001 and left in Your interview with Dr was perhaps much less Sales:Sudan Bista [email protected] road. But why does a road need to be four metres higher thanimpounded the water also affects Nepal. of Maoist bigotry. Whatever opportunity for talks was June after completing many Babuam Bhattarai (# 51) Albert Grela opportunity to cheat this year Sanchaya Kosh Building, Block A-4th Floor, Lalitpur surrounding land, and why do the bridges have gates on them? It is this their ideology, the actions of disastrouslythe aborted during the years of outstanding service to To address this perennial problem, the District Boards of India glorified him not only to me, due to parallel question GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal kind of deception that raises hackles in Nepal because it confirms Maoists are crimes against Dinesh Sharma episode. M&E Specialistthis institution. Tel: 01-543333-7, Fax: 01-521013 Printed at Jagadamba Press: 01-521393 and District Development Committees of Nepal need to sit down with but also must have done so papers particularly in Math- suspicions here about India’s “grand design” to gobble us up. The vital humanity. Kathmandu the technical line agencies of both countries—irrigation departments for the whole world. His ematics. But there are other issue of managing floods on tributaries of the Ganga is once again t’s that time of the year again: a season of slogans. Every year, of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Nepal operating in the international replies to your questions At present, nowhere in the J. Gabriel Campbellreasons for the abysmal likely to be drowned in a din of patriotic posturing. when flood waters rise in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, the cry goes border region. This exchange should be institutionalised and carried were imaginative and world, neither in Africa nor in DANGEROUS PYRAMID Director Generalresults this year: praiseworthy. The way Dr up across the north Indian Plains: “Nepal is flooding us”. AndNepali rivers contribute two-thirds of the flow of the Ganga.out The in a spirit of mutual trust. Areas of possible conflict can thus be the Balkans or in Russia has a Manisha Aryal has done a great ICIMOD - The short academic year for I Bhattarai has deftly and right on cue, a STAR News broadcast this week quoted officialsKarnali, in Rapti, Gandaki and Kosi irrigate, and occasionally inundate,thrashed out in advance. At the national level, the Water and Energy political movement ruthlessly public service by exposing the SLC students. Within eight effectively answered your India blaming Nepal for “releasing water to make the floodsthe worse.” plains on both sides of the border. Farmers of the Nepal Commissiontarai and in Kathmandu and its counterpart in New Delhi must killed so many innocent people. dangerous scam of the pyramid months (July to February with questions touched everyone’s Manisha Aryal’s “Scheme/scam” And there was equal and opposite jingoism on our side. Thisthe year,plains of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have learnt to live withbegin annual to monitor the flow of our rivers so they can better manage the The terror they have unleashed scheme in “Scheme/scam” holidays in between) the 10th heart. He has laid out the should be eye opener for many has begun the destruction of Suresh K Kafle(#54). As someone who was grade course has had to be our limelight is on Lumbini, and we’ve worked up a self-righteousfloods. Sometimes they submerge homes, sometimes riversextremes change of droughts and floods. truth directly for everyone to people. It is not a scheme, it is a Nepal. Fear and terror have not Manchester, UKonce convinced that this was a completed and the sent-up fervour of pop patriotism. Both sides need to cool it. course devastating crops, but mostly they bring valuable silt thatCrying wolf about India gobbling up Nepal after every flood event see without fudging. He scam. In first place why should reformed any society on earth. great way to get rich quick, I exams finished. Earlier, there How can Nepal “release” water when there are no damsmakes in the the Gangetic plains one of the most fertile regions in the world. described today’s “democ- some people make money at does more harm to our nationalism than good. Millions of poor If Maoism is a political move- now realise that it is only a way used to be a full 12 month for But mix this with the greed of politicians who benefit from fat racy” but I think what we have SINK OR SWIM others’ cost. My mother has Himalaya and the two border barrages on the Kosi and the Gandaki Nepali and Indian peasants suffer every monsoon because of the ment, nobody has stopped the to ultimately take from the poor preparation: February through today is not even a fake become a victim of such scheme are actually controlled by India? Our rulers sold out those contractstwo for embankment building and you have disaster. Insteadfolly of of the flood control mafia. Corrupt officialdom on both sides of comrades from creating a ”There are only two tragediesand in give to the rich. The Nepali January. democracy. May the whole in India. The man who started it rivers to India long ago. rigging irrigation canals for the dry season and public flood-sheltersthe border for that promote this failed paradigm should be our common people’s peaceful movementlife. One is not to get what onepromoters seem to have - Many text books were not in world support Dr Bhattarai in is still absconding and his As politically-inspired jingoism magnified by media getsthe louder monsoons (as has been successfully done in Bangladesh),enemy. our and change the political wants. The other is to get it,”convinced themselves that this the market till well into August. downstream neighbours have built thousands of kilometers of embank- his epoch-making revolution-structure to form a governmentsays CK Lal in his column about assets are not enough to pay- the There was a change in the on both sides, few have time to think of the Tajmuls and Kurmis of is OK because they are funding ments. Numerous studies by Indian engineers and activists prove that ary tasks. of their own. Sher Bahadur Deuba. (State of claimants. curriculum. Two totally new Marchawar whose homes have been submerged. Or the farmers in a social service organisation embankments have not just been ineffective against floods, but have On the other hand, the the State, #53). Truly, Deubawith the proceeds. It is not OK subjects: Health Environment Bihar who riot out of sheer frustration at official apathy and could not have asked for a more and Population and Social biggest irony is that our because it is fraudulent and corruption. The tarai has traditionally been neglected by inopportune moment to come to Studies were added, and there political leaders and so-called illegal. Unfortunately, not M Tamang Kathmandu, just as the Bihar plains have been by New Delhi. The power—a full-blown insurgency was hardly any teacher enlightened people of Nepal to enough is coming out in the hardships faced by their inhabitants becomes an issue to the that seems to be growing by email preparation for this. call this a “political problem”. It Nepali language media about agitating classes in both capitals only once a year: during the Apil Dev Neupane stronger and uncontrollable by - The Mathematics curriculum is not. This illusion is due to the dangers of the pyramid monsoon. the day, an economy that saw major changes, again Sisuwa, Kaskitwo reasons: out of fear of their scheme. If educated and BETTER TO EATKODO appears to be drowning because without accompanying teacher own life, and to score political intelligent people fall for thisKunda Dixit’s “After Kali of this, an opposition that is in a training. points by blaming each other. sort of thing, can you imagineGandaki” (#53) clearly reveals Baburam Bhattarai in your “wait-watch-strike” mode. Such - But the most obvious reason This utter naivety and short- what will happen if it spreadsthe in reason why the country with interview comes across as a is the backdrop against which for the failure (and it is very sightedness of our political the general population? the most abundant hydropower thoroughly committed he has taken his oath of office. surprising that there is hardly leadership is leading our in the world is paying the most revolutionary. He has genuine Two outcomes flow from this: any mention of this) is that country to total destruction, for it: donor policies, tied aid, hopes and aspirations to sink or swim. Will these same students have to now pass in from where it will take decades lack of competitive bidding and liberate the Nepali people challenges propel Deuba to eight subjects rather than to recover. high level corruption due to who have stoically suffered greater heights, or will they seven. With all these factors, political interference. We are centuries of oppression by It is already late but not toospell his doom? For our how do you expect better paying most expensive tariff rate the ruling elite in Kathmandu.late. Today’s fundamental country’s sake, let us hope and results? I am shocked to hear Jaya Ranafor electricity and its primary Dr Bhattarai’s arguments arequestion is to survive as a pray for the former. that because 54 out of 81 cause is the high dollar- strong, sharp and logical. Thepeople and country. I caution Kathmandu schools in Morang District did denominated price paid by NEA only thing I disagree with isSher Bahadur Deuba: do not not get the 15% pass rate that to purchase the power. Why are the violence. There is live under the illusion of the government expects, there Congratulations to Manisha we still installing large hydro madness in that method. If negotiations.he Read history and is going to be action against Aryal for her cogent article onprojects by foreign investors came above ground and stoodfind that no winner of any these schools. Why punish the “scheme/scam” presenting thewhen our rupee is depreciating for elections, I would be theterrorist movement has ever schools for the government’s dangers and ethical and legalso steeply? Why aren’t we first to vote for Dr Bhattarai.come to the table when they “Dukhii” bungling? questions involved in pyramidpromoting small (1MW-10MW) seem to be winning. The by email schemes. ICIMOD has for someor medium (10MW-50MW) scale Maoists have time and again time shared these concerns andhydropower projects with our said that they will never been active in informing our own investments? Chilime(20 become a parliamentary MY NATION colleagues on their potential MW)for and Puwa (14 MW) have J Thapalia political party. They are Congratulations to BP Giri for harm to society, notwithstandingalready proved to be cheaper demanding a peoples’ republic,his excellent review of by email any good motives that may and more cost-effective. Last nothing less. Are you in a nationalism(s) in “My nation underlie some of them. week, the price of electricity position to give them that? If right or wrong” (#54). There is a Additional websites that maywas be jacked up again. NEA MAO BADDIES not, first crush them. Then lot to say about how nationalism of interest to your readers thatshould instead have looked at After reading Comrade Hari maybe they will come to talk hasto and is destroying cultures we have circulated include themore efficient management, Roka’s rejoinder to Baburam you in your terms. and countries around the world. following: minimising losses, eliminate Bhattarai “Sorry Comrade, this Giri traces the socio-cultural http://www.crimes-of- high level corruption and is not Marxism” (#52) I felt like and political antecedents of persuasion.com/Crimes/ political interference and install somebody took the words right nationalism and these are quite Shanta Dixit Delivered/pyramids.htm cheap hydroelectric projects out of my mouth. Dr Baburam valid. But I am looking for a Patan http:// with our own investments and Bhattarai is nothing but a loser. If good sociological explanation www.pyramidschemealert.org/technicians. Nepalis have he was a smart person (a lot of for the fact that in Nepal we schemes/schemeindex.htm always known that it is moreAs Hemlata Rai says in “A

SUBHAS RAI people think he is) he would witness this rise of nationalistic One small correction to the generation of failure” (#53) the have never taken the path that he rhetoric and a simultaneous worthy to eat article: Archana Karki resigned SLC results were a is taking right now. Killing other every day betrayal of national from her staff position as disppointment to large numbers Nepalis is not going to solve the interests by a corrupt, self- of students all over Nepal. Many problem. Does Baburam serving bureaucracy. It would be schools and colleges had taken understand this? If he had any provisional admission even common sense, and took some COMMENTARY by PRATYOUSH ONTA before the results were out in lessons from history he would Kumar Regmi order to grab best students. The have realised it by now. His University of Toronto total number of schools and dream of utopia is not realistic, Canada kodo than to buy 10+2 colleges have increased especially not with the path of dramatically in the last few violence. If he had spent the past OS expensive rice with loans. But years. Despite such a dramatic What to do when Big Brother knocks Your editorials “Give peace a our corrupt ministers and 6 years in mainstream political increase in access to educa- work, Baburam would have beenchance” and “Tale of two monar- bureaucrats are too blinded by media products in Nepal (such tion, has the quality improved? n early June I met one of the discussion organised by Nepal appreciated by the people a chies” (#54) were commanding greed. products could not be produced Has anyone bothered to look Kneejerk reaction to foreign investment in media shows schizophrenic nationalism. thousand times more. Please,and timely. They have been promoters of an English Patrakar Mahasangh on 2 August, an effective strategy to prevent into the quality all the 10+2’s ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ FDI in the print○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ media was taken without their participation) could Baburam, come out of your comapublished just when there is so Himal Kafle language daily soon to be the following reasons were give to students? If not why the by the Indian government in 1955 further debate and scrutiny of the be suspected for their inability to and try to be realistic. If you needmuch probability of peace talks Institute of Engineering I reportedly given to support the apathy and indifference? And published out of Kathmandu. He threats and violence to make between the HMG and the Maoist and several attempts have been concerned subject. stood as the attempt of those media take a pro-Nepal stance, why Pulchowk why is a student who comes in had come to cover the Narayanhiti argument against FDI: people follow you, then stop rightrebels. It must have made both Nepali society is not so weak thatoutlets to make the Indian middle should we allow institutions like the the top ten position not able to made to revise it, most recently there and save our country fromsides think about the question: royal massacre and had dropped by - Since media is the watchdog of class feel secure about its own bigoted do as well in a 10+2? Students during the past year. some media products supported by Nepal Press Institute to use foreign ruin. “Where do we take Nepal next?” STOPPING FRANKFURT my house to collect sound bites. nationalism in any country, which nationalism including its big-brother-money in Nepal in the name of with 1 nationalism will a foreign-owned Although the Indian govern- foreign investment will break its back. The Maoists must realise that if We just came to know that Royal The proposed English daily was in-the-Subcontinent ego. If a foreignenhancing the capacity of Nepali Nepal becomes a peoples’ republic Nepal Airlines is terminating its media support? ment has once again decided to notWhat really is at work behind this editorially promoted by a group of bogey of nationalism is fear that the investor-backed media product wishesjournalists? Or it is the case that it will be poorer, more backward, flights to Europe. After the royal - Media is related to revise this policy, its decision has unstable politically. It would be massacre this is another massa- Indian journalists and financially mediocrity of those who rule the to thrive in the Nepali advertisementforeign money can be spent on supported by non-resident Indian not gone unchallenged as is being isolated and shunned by the cre—of the economy. Our office Nepali media world will be further market, it cannot ignore this logic. training individuals and strengthen- st venture capitalists. portrayed by our media bosses. For outside world, like Afghanistan is. alone sends over 1,000 tourists to division are only instance, Swapan Dasgupta, exposed. But will this really mark theHence it will have to peddle lines thating media institutions without The Maoist way will take us to Nepal in a year and almost halfallowed of to take Science as a He said that the money that was are possibly even more pro-Nepal chaos and destruction. In the past them fly Royal Nepal. It is obvious managing editor of end of Nepali-language based imparting them Rajan Devkota subject in almost all the 11 years we have lost much more that our politicians have no thoughtschools. Is it that the students available could not support a bicharand if than that of Radio Sagarmatha. USA than we got from democracy. We for the country but to amass wealthwho fail to get 1 new media venture in India, but foreign investment is allowed, Opponents of FDI also argue that bideshi bichar, squandered the gains of the 1990 and collect kickbacks on helicop- st division in could go some distance in Nepal. bideshi bicharwill spread. India Today, it would make taking a pro-Nepal while FDI from those same The terror and mayhem peoples’ movement. And we are ters and guns for the police andSLC are not allowed to study He refused to identify their Nepali - Nationalistic considerations havepublished a sharply worded critiquebahunbadthat is dominant in our editorial stance impossible. If editorialcountries will corrupt Nepali created by a band of patho-paying the price now in the birth of army. If they just allowed the airlinescience? Should not the partners, but told me that the press gens calling themselves this monster called Maoism which to buy or lease an aircraft withoutstudents who secure 2 forced even countries like India to of this government position in his media? independence were fully determinedindividuals beyond repair? nd had been ordered and a skeleton Maoist has crossed unac- threatens our very existence as a interfering with their greasy palms, stop FDI in their media sector in its newsmagazine on 4 December by the business interests of the Opponents of FDI need to nation. our tourism industry may stand divisiona given chance to study staff had been hired. I told him that The argument that if FDI were ceptable levels of barbarism entirety. 2000. Former Indian finance allowed in Nepali media, it would promoters, then no self-respecting remember that the media’s ultimate in our country. By massacring chance. But are there any leadersscience? If not, why not? Or is it another paper in English meant that For now, I think that if FDI minister P Chidambaram writing in editor or reporter would allow their job is to report the truth. If it does of 41 policemen, in one night like that? Is anyone even worrieda deliberate and intentional lead to anti-Nepal editorial practice, about it? What is Nepal’s travelgovernment policy to force them those of us who write columns in the same magazine has pointed out names to appear in the masthead, orthis well, the “national” in the and 17 more a week later in will result in the enhancement of does not address the logic of the cold blood, and then boasting industry doing about this? Onceto go to India to study science? that language will have an addi- the irony of the print media in by the articles. If this could not be themuch evoked “national interests” tional option. I should have known the capacity of our reporters, feature advertisement market. If foreign about killing fellow Nepalis Royal Nepal loses the coveted writers and copy editors, then it is a India being an articulate promoter investors in Nepali media want to case under foreign investment, thenwill I be greatly democratised and the as a great act of bravery, landing slot in Frankfurt, it will be Aashish Sharma that once the word spreads among difficult to get it back. Wake up, good idea. I am also open to be of foreign direct investment in make money, then they can only domust assume that it is not already theinterests of the most disenfranchised Prachanda is now coming to Suyog Sanjog, Bouddha the self-appointed vigilantes of case now. It resemble the blood-thirsty politicians, and thinkyour of persuaded otherwise. But oppo- services, industry, agriculture, and so by capturing an adequate portion Nepalis will be automatically served. Kathmandu Nepali nationalism, any foreign electronic media while opposing the would then follow that Kapil Kafle, leader of the genocidal Khmer country’s future for once. nents of FDI in media will first have of the Nepali advertisement market. And for truth to be told, this Rouge, Pol Pot. LET HIM EAT CRICKET direct investment (FDI) in media in same in its own sector. editor of discussion will have to include Nepal would be interpreted as to abandon all factual errors. For Advertisers can only thrive if they We have never witnessedI want to congratulate you for Kunda Dixit, watch out for the issues raised in your stink bombs (“It’s not cricket, instance, it is incorrect to say that How exactly is foreign respect the sensibilities of the Nepalis who are not afraid of the killings of Nepalis by Nepalis foreign interference in the “sensitive editorial and in Binod #54) lobbed by irate Sri India still bans FDI in media. investment in media in Nepal new global financial regimes. The at this gruesome level, ever. sector of the Fourth Estate”. consumers. And if media products Nepal Samacharpatrawhich Bhattarai’s “Thinking of Lankans, Pakistanis and debate should address, among other Killing your own brothers for India has already opened its detrimental to our “national are seen to be “anti-nationalist” in itshas taken the lead in opposing FDI in Talking” (#54). Let us hope and Indians (who, poor things, are Sure enough, last week flimsy, failed, and hypocritical interests”? The general consensus contents, consumers and advertisers things, how to tackle global pray that Comrades Prachanda P D Pandefeeling particularly misan- electronic media market to foreign media in Nepal, must already be reasons cannot go on. influential Nepali media bosses said competition with quality home- and Baburam, in all their thropic after the last trouncing investors. The most direct impact ofwith which our editorial bosses havewill abandon them with haste. The taking his editorial stance from Supporting the late King Nepal Tours categorically that FDI should not be wisdom, will realise the ruinous they got). opposed FDI is a syndrome of the jingoistic strain of pro-India grown products. Birendra after his death Bielefeld, Germany this decision has been seen in the investors of the Kamana group, path of continued insurgency allowed in the media sector in Nepal schizophrenia that characterises our nationalism in satellite channels I am waiting to be convinced whereas the movement to careful, funny man. to “safeguard Nepali interests”. At a dramatic rise of private sector Indian including the two new recently and give the peace talk their and foreign television in the last fewdominant national culture wherebypromoted by international finance ininducted promoters. that FDI is a bad idea in the Nepali sincerest consideration. More SCHOOL LIVID CERTIFICATE years. The decision to not allow anyevocation of nationalism has been the Subcontinent must be under- If Nepali editors and reporters media sector. Any takers? importantly, let us also hope C Stone’s letter on SLC failures B Shah (#54) in response to “A Hong Kong who worked for FDI supported generation of failure” (#53) 444 NATION 10 - 16 AUGUST NEPALI2001 TIMES NATION 10 - 16 AUGUST NEPALI2001 TIMES 555

Friends, comrades … consumption is being sold in ○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ tarai markets.” A UNICEF The main opposition UML has removed a stumbling block on the conference of South Asian road to possible reunification with its breakaway Marxist-Leninist countries held last November in faction, by agreeing to recognise it as a “political force” and not True to our saltKathmandu also acknowledged the bunch of “rowdy elements,” its spokesman Pradip Nepal used to refer to them as earlier. The party's central committee earlier that the flow of non-iodised salt HEMLATA RAI this week endorsed the plan to ease the way for possible reunifi- ○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○ into Nepal has increased after cation, and agreed, among other things, to press demands that alt. Nepal. Evokes images India lifted the ban. parliament define royal succession laws and debate ways to of caravans, wealth and Salt produced in the Indian make the process more transparent. Madhav Kumar Nepal, Ssuccess stories. But it state of Rajasthan is made from general secretary of the UML, said the decision was an historic attempt to consolidate Nepal’s communist movement. Nepal used to also remind us of goitre underground water which is presently has about 10 communist parties, some with no more and cretinism. particularly low in sodium than a roomful of followers. The larger ones, other than the Ma-Le, Iodised salt may not be a chloride—salt containing less which whom possible unity will be explored are the Nepal glamorous subject, but Nepal’s than 96 percent sodium chloride Communist Party-Masal, the NCP Ekata Kendra (Unity Centre), 28-year-old salt iodisation is considered inedible. Salt with the Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party (Nepal Workers’ and People’s to be less clean (as it cannot be UNICEF was launched in Party), the NCP United, NCP Marxist and even the Marxist- programme has been consid- less than the minimum sodium washed)than crystal salt. 1973 to increase the availabil- Leninist-Maoists. Following are some major UML decisions: ered one of the most successful chloride content is meant to be ity and demand of iodised salt in Asia. Goitre and cretinism, disposed of by burying. Not Salt Trading Corporation in the country. The project caused by an iodine-deficient surprisingly, it often finds its data shows that Nepalis ended in 1998. To ensure diet, used to be endemic. In way into unwary consumers’ consumed 133,000 metric tons proper levels of iodisation, parts of Gorkha and Rasuwa houses masquerading as some of salt last year, of which 63 Explore the possibility of bringing the communists under one refined and crushed salt in district, up to 80 percent of the popular brand or another. To percent was the crystal form umbrella. Bharat Mohan Adhikari, Amrit Bohora and Keshav

ALL PHOTOS: MIN BAJRACHARYA PHOTOS: ALL sealed 1 kg bags was intro- inhabitants once had goitre or avoid the additional charges commonly called Badal will take this up and hold discussions with other dhikke noon. duced. But even after almost parties, within and outside parliament. suffered from severe iodine involved in burying substandard In the coming fiscal year (2002/ three decades of campaigning, deficiency. But three decades salt, producers and distributors An STC godown in 2003), the STC aims to ensure the most successful iodisation Press for the dismantling of embankments built by India along after launching a campaign to prefer to simply sell it—at sixty Kathmandu with sacks of that half the country will use programme in Asia has not the border near Rupandehi district and demand compensation iodise salt, Nepal has beat this percent the cost. After the STC for those affected by natural calamities. Also discontinue refined, iodised and packaged ensured lasting faith in its problem. The achievement discovered six months ago that idodised salt waiting for India’s unilateral constructions at Dhauli Ganga hydro-project salt. But these figures can be product. That, says STC’s cannot be quantified in dollars salt consignments failing the dispatch to the Kathmandu at Pithauragad. misleading because salt im- Mahaseth, is because of a poor and cents, but if one could put standards test of the Office of market (opposite page). ported from Tibet, the small marketing strategy. “We Continue to appeal for a peaceful and honest dialogue a price tag on raising the Salt Commissioner of India is Above: crystal salt and amount of salt produced in concentrated on reducing between the government and the Maoists. intelligence level of a popula- sold freely to poor villagers in ordinary salt from India Nepal annually (six metric goitre prevalence rather than tion then Nepal will have both sides of the border, it withlow iodine content and tons), and Indian salt that making refined salt popular,” gained billions of dollars over decided to carry out more raids. Nepali Mustang salt. comes in clandestinely are not he explains. Beetle thieves the past three decades with its Monitoring iodine in salt in STC's most popular brand accounted for. The real figure is ○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ iodisation programme. The proportion of low Nepal has always been chal- 'Aayo Noon' and its counter- probably around 160,000 metric A few weeks ago we reported a new kind of beetlemania in Now, this success is under lenge, because what we use is UIE (urinary iodine excre- Japan—watching beetle fights with Nepali contestants. Then two feit 'Amrit Noon' made in tons. The NMSS estimates that tion) values has declined from threat. India, from where made in India and so cannot be Japanese were caught at the airport a fortnight ago, trying to India (right). Dugar Group's about 65 percent of the popula- 52 percent in 1985 to 39 sneak out a box of beetles. Now, the Kathmandu District Forest almost all of Nepal’s salt is controlled at the production tion has access to adequately percent in 1998. Not surpris- Office says it has arrested three Nepali men, accomplices of the imported, decided last year to level. The picture is complicated brand 'Gyan Noon' (left). iodised salt, 18 percent gets ingly, the lowest UIE values Japanese duo. In Japan the micro-rhinoceros-like insects are lift the central government ban by a poor transportation even prized as pets and fetch anywhere between Rs 30,000- inadequately iodised salt, and a are found in rural areas and in on non-iodised salt and leave Nepal’s little-known success story with iodisation(NMSS) showed of salt that half is the infrastructure within Nepal, 40,000 a pair. Five of the 300 species of the bugs found at 1,800- huge 17 percent of Nepalis the tarai. the decision to iodise or not up salt consumed in the tarai had which makes access to consum- particularly during transporta- 2,500 m in Nepal are especially popular. threatened by cheap non-iodisedparts of Indianthe world, an iodine salt. have 50ppm of iodine. India, intion andstorage. Moreover, consume non-iodised salt. Government thinks one to state governments. In many concentration of 15ppm (parts either no iodine or very little. ers difficult, and by Nepal’s contrast, only requires 30ppm. A collaborative effort of ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ deficiency is serious, as it This, despite the fact that○○○○ landlocked location. This means many consumers wash the crystal way to deal with possibly parts of India you can now buy per million) satisfies physiologi- There are problems on the Nutrition Section of the plain sodium chloride without inevitably is if a modern lifestyle refined iodised salt is more Nepal needs to keep in store its before they use it, which further plateauing levels of awareness Health specialists say past cal requirements. This is minute domestic front. Consumers here Ministry of Health, the STC, iodine. does not include iodised salt, it easily available here than in the salt requirement for six months lowers the level of iodine. The and iodised salt consumption experience has shown that amount—a teaspoon of iodine unfortunately prefer large the Indian government and Citizens, once again This becomes a problem for causes goitre and what has hills. to one year. Salt over time loses preference persists because is ending the monopoly of ○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ when this happens, it is over a lifetime, but it keeps you crystal salt, whose iodine crushed, refined salt is perceived the STC and allowing the Nepal because despite the traditionally been called Parameswar Mahaseth, iodine content, and to maintain The government is to begin redistributing citizenship papers to the difficult to monitor levels of healthy. content tends to evaporate fast, private sector to participate in efforts of the partially state-run iodine. cretinism. Iodine Deficiency general manager of the Salt a healthy level of the mineral by 34,000 Nepalis whose citizenship certificates were annulled by New Delhi’s policy shift on the salt trade. The Iodised the Supreme Court decision some weeks ago. The citizenship Salt Trading Corporation, Disorder, to give it its proper Trading Corporation, the sole the time salt reaches our tables, Iodine is essential for normal iodised salt in India has already Salt Distribution Act was papers had been distributed four years ago, under a coalition Indian salt trickles through the name, comprises psychomotor authorised dealer of salt in the original product needs to growth and development in started affecting Nepal, with drafted two years ago and a government in which Bam Dev Gautam of the pre-split United open border and is widely defects, impaired mental Nepal, puts it bluntly: “After Marxist-Leninist party was home minister. Home Minister Khum humans. Iodine deficiency substandard salt making its way proposed regulation allows the retailed, especially in the tarai. functions and slow cognitive the Indian government’s Bahadur Khadka informed parliament about the redistribution plan causes under-production of the here. Settlements along Nepal’s formation of a committee to Matters will worsen next year, development. Pregnant women, decision became effective, we after Sadbhawana Party MPs boycotted sessions to protest the thyroid hormone, a condition southern border with India were decide who will be allowed to Court decision, which is said to have affected NSP constituents in when private organisations will foetuses, infants, and children have noticed that substandard called hypothyroidism. People always vulnerable to substan- import salt and distribute it. the tarai the most. The court had ruled the citizenship papers held once again be allowed to are always at higher risk of salt that is unsuitable for human who suffer from hypothyroid- developing IDD. dard salt. The Nepal Micro- The failure of Nepal’s last by the 34,000 void due to procedural lapses in the distribution. import and distribute salt. The government then ordered the Chief District Officers (CDO) of ism have a depressed metabolic Given a daily intake of 10 nutrient Status Survey 1998 experience with privatising rate, which among other things 20 districts to seize the void citizenship certificates and to freeze grams of salt, standard in most salt when the official all property acquired using these papers. means improper assimilation of programme ended in 1998, vital nutrients. When the which led to the four-year moratorium on private salt HERE AND THERE trading, should be ample warning of the pitfalls of such by DANIEL LAK an approach. Four years ago, Body count—mid-West ○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Nepal’s Dugar Group was Rukum has lost the most men and women to the people’s war: 215 allowed to deal in iodised salt killed by police: 97 by Maoists. The database at the Informal but the business house failed Sector Service Centre (INSEC), which records the headcount at to supply the promised the district level, put the toll for the mid-Western region at 1,132. amount on time, and when The Maoists are strongest in a large swathe of the country’s mid- NGOs tested the iodine level West, where the insurgency began in February 1996. in Gyan Noon, the Dugar INSEC’s count shows that at least 126 people have been The grass is always greener... Group’s brand, the iodine killed between January and July 2001. The Maoists killed 288, level was found to be as little and the police 64. Insurgency-related deaths have occurred in all 14 mid-Western districts in the past six years, except Humla, the as seven 7ppm. “Monitoring remotest district, also said to be the stronghold of a different its name to the list of sensible states that want to decriminalise mechanisms are poor in communist faction. INSEC’s hostage count shows that Maoists The times they are definitely a-changin’.marijuana. Cautiously yes, but that’s the Canadian way. Nepal, it is easier to monitor have abducted 130 policemen and 128 civilians.Govinda The official ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○ doesn’t mean bikinis on Baywatch babes, it means ordinary citizens withMy friends from the Netherlands will wonder what all the fuss is one dealer of salt than estimate for deaths since February 1996Mainali is just over 1,800. pot bellies, like your correspondent. Not a pretty sight. Trust me. Thereabout. But they have almost always had one of the world’s most multiple dealers,” said Macha have also been the usual array of boring white men in suits practisingsensible societies so their bemusement is understandable. The British Raja Maharjan, National politics so arcane and intricate that Nepali Congress infighting seemswon’t care; they’ve long since thought cannabis wasn’t worth Programme Officer with The transparent and logical by comparison. worrying about, though as arch conservatives to the core, they refuse Micronutrient Initiative. But what grabbed me most, in my chosen role as columnist in exileto legalise it, preferring instead the classic approach of fudging, saying Substandard salt flooding Dole warning one thing, doing another. the tarai aside, India’s own ○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ for the Nepali Times, was a rather innocuous photo of a middle aged Suryanath Upadhayay, head honcho at the Commission for man wearing spectacles, gazing nonetheless nearsightedly through a lushNo, it’s the Americans that worry me. Every time my country tries experience should give us Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has for the second time canopy of foliage. He had a carefully neutral, bland, perhaps benignto do something sensible, Washington gets its shorts in a knot. And pause. The competition in pointed out the propensity of the state to dole out cash to politi- expression on his face, Canada’s national “look”, I suppose. Men in Lord knows, nothing twists American government undergarments the Indian market after the cians and has asked the government to white lab coats stood alongside, caught in the act of explaining some-more than DRUGS! The nation that consumes greater volumes of entry of the private sector has go slow. In the last 10 months of fiscal 2000, government handed out about Rs TORONTO, Canada:The national newspapers of my native thing by the shutter. It was all somewhat banal and at first glance annarcotics than any other is also the most overbearing when other not benefited consumers there—they pay NRs 11.20 100 million to politicians and their land had a rich abundance of choices for front page photographs thisodd choice for a front page photograph of a newspaper blessed withsocieties the attempt to liberalise drug policy. A growing gaggle of US cronies—including former chief justice past week. The fair city from which I write was invaded by an bounty of alternatives above. states have effectively legalised marijuana for home use but Washing- for a kg of iodised salt, 20 Biswonath Upadhyaya, politicos airborne plague of noxious insects that seemed to find their chosen Then you read the caption. The man with the specs is Canada’s ton has little power within stoutly defended state jurisdictions, so it percent more than they used Mohammad Aftab Alam, Ananda Prasad to until last year, and 40 Dhungana and spouse, Gajendra solace up someones nostril, or in a gaping sandwich, about to be health minister. He’s standing deep underground in an abandoned leans on other—less defiant—lands. devoured. You can see the photo, I’m sure. Of course, there’s the percent more than what Narayan Singh, Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, mine shaft, a federal government agriculture research laboratory where Now with even Canada reaching for the rolling papers, as Bob Dylan Raghuji Panta, Dr Bansidhar Mishra,others, among and also Queen Mother’s birthday. Yes, yes, she’s the mother of the British Nepali consumers pay. Canada is busily growing its first-ever crop of officially sanctioned put it far too many years ago, the times are definitely a-changin. It’s not so journalist groups including the Editor’s Society, the Reporters Club head of state…but Canadians seem to adore her even more than marijuana. Those leaves that loom in the foreground, artistically framingmuch that I hold any personal brief for marijuana. Like Mr Clinton, I and the Nepal Journalists Federation. The money was given out as those on the home front, never mind that Anglo Saxons have long the minister’s face, are smoked some pot in my younger days. Unlike him, I admit to inhaling, “financial assistance”, “donation” or “reward”—for reasons that are since ceased immigrating to these quasi-American shores. So bless her, often deeply. Now I’m far more interested in a glass of wine and a view of never transparent. The CIAA has warned that it would have to she was there in all her 101-year-old glory. the Himalayas than the giggly fits or self-centeredness brought on by examine accounts if the practice is not stopped. Then there’s the heat. The pictures of people in scanty dress, cannibas sativa, Indian hemp to the botanist, a cannabis. But a sensible approach to something like marijuana might just gripping beverages, sweating, grinning and applying sunblock have plant illegal in 167 countries around the world. spread outward like ripples in a pond. been too numerous to count. In non-sexist North America, that In this summer of biblical bug plagues, perpetual political nastiness and Queen Mums starting into their second century, Canada has added effective internal defence operations, NATION the capacity of the development10 - 16 AUGUST NEPALI2001 TIMES NATION 10 - 16 AUGUST NEPALI2001 TIMES 666 programs to deliver basic services 777 offensive stage of and the re-building of local COMMENTARY by GYANISDP JUNG could THAPA be administration and infrastructure. OPINION by DR ARUNA UPRETY exploited by The performance of the army ingroups intent on the impending counter-insurgency targeting the geopolitical interests of operations will directly reflect the either India or China using Nepal as quality of top military leadership their base. India is concerned that 44 percents of maternal death in and its ability to forge unity of all Nepal has turned into a hotbed of ISI the last four years and 58 percent Half-baked ISDPagencies involved. The manner in activities. The variety of distorted of maternal deaths in the year which the campaign is supervised ight from the outset, the news coming out of the Indian Silent state violence2057 (April 2000- April 2001).” Ambiguous and weak rules of engagement could be fatal by middle level officers, and the launching of the Integrated media at regular intervals cannot be Dr Uprety’s conclusions were proficiency of the officers will also started working as a medical 16,150. Of these, 6,671 (about Security and Development because excessive army casualties during initial engage- considered a coincidence. Similarly, it based on a study on septic abortion R determine the success or failure of officer at the Prasuti Griha in 41.3 percent) were abortion- is absolutely clear that the Chinese Package (ISDP) has been a ments with Maoistsminds could of the givepeople, and insurgents thus an aura of invinci- Thapathali about 14 years ago. related. Of course, not all conducted in the Department of the entire campaign. have zero tolerance for Free Tibet I controversial decision. The Royal ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ helping quell the roots of the abortion-related complications Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the bility A weakness or shortfall in any activities being conducted from At about five pm one evening in the Nepal Army has now been insurgency. Such campaigns have examined were because of BPKIHS hospital from April 2000- about how come the army is is not yet apparent. There is also no one of the above factors will have Nepali soil. Any attempts to do so emergency ward, some three deployed in eleven Districts as a part four stages: Preparation, Offensive, induced unsafe abortion. Still, Dr April 2001. committed for custom duties and single agency responsible for a direct bearing on the morale as will surely be met with swift, effective months after I had started work at of the ISDP. In places like the Development and Completion. Sarshwati Padhey director of After Dr Uprety presented his frolicking on Tundikhel, but not for coordinating psychological well as the motivation of the and brutal countermeasures from the the hospital, a 40-year-old woman hinterland of Gorkha they are a very In military jargon, a consolida- Prasuti Griha says, “ Many paper, my first comment was: “All counter-insurgency. operations at the national level to troops and on the long run, the north. TheMaoist insurgency in was brought in by her husband. visible presence. But scrapping the tion campaign is usually organised women come to hospital with my ideas that when a woman When the army was sent to avoid conflicting themes and campaign as a whole. If the troops She was in very critical condition. ISDP and other initiatives like the in priority areas as an interdepart- Nepal can be virulent by itself, abortion-related complications. with abortion-related complica- programs. have been treated and trained as She was pale as a sheet and had a Armed Police Force aimed at rescue policemen in Rolpa in mid- mental civil-military effort. All even without the neighbouring And most of them are because of tions comes to the hospital (and The capability of the army to professionals, their performance high fever. containing the Maoist insurgency July, it raised doubts about the sort elements taking part in this are powers meddling. We don’t need abortion conducted by unquali- specially to a the highly will undoubtedly be second to I could not diagnose what was are some of the demands Chairman of political consensus that was or wastrained and indoctrinated on a teamconduct effective civil affairs the quagmire of a proxy war. fied personal and by unsafe specialised hospital like that in none. However, if they have been wrong with her and requested a Prachanda put forth in his 23 July not reached. Was there was a secret basis. This has definitely not programs have never been tested method.” Dharan), she is lucky, because she abused and exploited, the officers senior doctor to have a look. The call for a truce. agreement about deploying the happened with the elements before, and the resources at their does not need to fear for her life. will come face-to-face with the senior gynaecologist examined her Grassroots public health The army chief himself has beenarmy, or was the army chief forced toparticipating in ISDP. Consolida- disposal to do this is extremely But this study shows that most of act by the political leadership? limited. Whether a demoralised pent up frustrations of the men and said she had a ‘septic abortion’. organisations and women’s repeatedly embroiled in controversy tion campaigns can be conducted the time women are brought in Whatever happened behind the police force will be able to support under their command. The woman was treated immedi- welfare groups realise that there is because he has called for a political during any phase of an insurgency, such a critical condition, that even scenes, it is clear that it precipitated the ISDP is also doubtful. And if If the top leadership has had ately, and as she needed a blood a problem and are doing their best consensus before agreeing to deploy but success is more likely if it is to see find solutions within the specialists, modern medical Prime Minister Girija Koirala’s violence flares, the ability of the the foresight to provide the transfusion, we asked her husband the military. The Rolpa fiasco was mounted during low levels of existing situation. The Nari Bikas facilities and modern medicine resignation. Such confusion over army to conduct successful tactical troops robust rules of engage- (GyanJungThapawastilllastyeara to get blood for her. The woman’s final proof about the inability of the insurgent activity. Sangha and Kathmandu’s Centrecan not save their lives.” command and control of the army operations to find, fix, destroy or ment, then it would be ColonelintheRoyalNepalArmy.Hehas condition was deteriorating by the government to order the army. If the ISDP has been launched for Research on Environment In the 21 cannot be allowed to persist. capture the insurgents will face an prudent to expect the troops aMastersinMilitaryArtsandSciencefrom minute. After 20 minutes, her Surely, there will be questions now as a consolidation campaign, the Health and Population Activities Now that troops have been acid test. to perform well. Ambiguous theUSArmyCommandandStaffCollege, husband returned with a packet of preliminary stages have been brought together people last In its effort to show that and weak rules of engage- FortLeavenwoth,Kansas.) blood. But the woman was situation was “not so bad.” deployed as part of the ISDP, it willskipped. For example, the prepara- month to discuss exactly this. Dr ment could be fatal because breathing her last and after ten Around the same time, Dr Rita be intriguing to see whether the tion stage when all participating civileverything is going according to Dhruba Uprety, a gynaecologist excessive casualties during minute, despite our best efforts, Thapa, a public health government intends to achieve its and military forces plan, train, plan, the civilian leadership has from BP Koirala Institute of the initial engagements with she died. specialist formerly with the aim by launching a “consolidation”organise and equip for operations prematurely kicked off Stage terminateSo long pregnancy. as abortion remains illegal, poor womenMedical Science’s Dharan Medical the Maoists could bring down I remember this incident in WHO, presented a paper in a st campaign, a “strike” campaign, was practically disregarded in the Three— the development stage— College presented a paper century our women morale, giving the Maoists an aura minute detail because this was the willAccording continue to the husband, totheworkshop die. organised by a or both. The haste with whichhurry to get the ISDP going. by inaugurating a power substation asserting that: “Unsafe abortion is are dying because the law does not of invincibility. An objective analysis first death I had witnessed in my old○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ woman had given his wife Nepali NGO on gender issues the army has been rushed The ISDP has now entered in Gorkha. But this may be putting responsible for 13 percent of allow them to have abortions. But, the cart before the horse. Initial of the recent army deployment in young medical career. Later on, we something to eat and then and women’s health in Nepal only illiterate, poor women who indicates that this is going to beStage Two—the offensive stage— complications, maybe even for the maternal mortality in the world. success in offensive operations will Rolpa seems to suggest that it was spoke with the husband and he toldinserted herbs into her vagina. that said: “About 50 percent of do not have access to qualified primarily a strike campaign, with the army being deployed in rest of her life? Whatever happens, In some developing countries, it is be crucial in implementing Stage the army that shed first blood. us the story. The woman who died The foetus was expelled after 24 maternal deaths in Nepal are health personal to perform contested and insurgent-controlled the woman suffers. responsible for more than 50 even though politicians Three which will address the core Nothing could be more damaging if was the mother of five. When she hours, but the woman started due to abortion-related (illegal) abortions are dying. What zones. Yet the security forces do not If you do not believe me when I percent of maternal deaths. This maintain that the army is just issues of the insurgency. Political, this happened again. got pregnant for the sixth time, running a high fever. They hopedcomplications.” I conclude from this is that if you seem to have either an effective say that abortion (mostly illegal and statement is true in our context. providing security so development economic, social and psychological The resultant violence from the neither she nor her husband wantedthe fever would soon subside and Death related to badly have money and you can afford intelligence system addressing all unsafe abortion) is the cause of high In the BP Koirala Institute of work can go ahead. activities must be sequenced and more children. But they did not bleeding would stop. But she performed abortions has not go to any doctor in a private clinic aspects of the insurgency, or a maternal morbidity (diseases pattern)Health Sciences (BPKIHS) Only a consolidation campaign synchronised under a secure and have enough money to go to a didn’t get any better. The declined in recent years, and and get safe, if illegal abortion, reliable database. A unified, husband consulted the old and maternal death, consider this hospital in Dharan unsafe can help demonstrate that the stable environment. doctor for an abortion, and so they will not in the near future, you will not die or suffer any centralised intelligence system to woman again, but she brushed data of hospitals from Kathmandu abortion is the biggest cause of government is intent on exercising Stage Four—completion decided to visit a woman in a nearby because Nepali law does not problems. Is our state is respon- effectively conduct ISDP operations him off, saying his wife would be and Dharan—in the five years from maternal mortality. It accounts for its responsibility to maintain law and village they had heard could allow women to have abortion sible only for citizens who are rich stage—of the ISDP will depend better soon. She started getting 28 May 1995 to 28 May 2000 in the order and to meet the legitimate under any circumstances, even and knowledgeable, but not for totally on the ability and the success worse. By the third day after the maternity hospital in Prasuti Griha needs of the people. Consolidation if the pregnancy is result of those who are voiceless. of the security forces to conduct abortion, the woman was bleeding total gynaecological admissions were would mean winning the hearts and rape or incest. Nepali law does heavily and had lost conscious- not allow this basic, some ness. With the help of other might say common-sense law, villagers, the husband brought hisbut instead suggests ven- wife to the maternal hospital, onlygeance: a woman may kill her OPINION by GEN ASHOK MEHTA to have her die before his eyes. rapist within one hour of the The situation has not changedrape. much since. Women are still What choices does this dying because of illegal, clandes- leave the woman? Should she tine, back-street abortions. If they continue the pregnancy, or see manage to survive the sloppy, it to term, and then kill the The new battleground often ignorant and dangerous child after it is born if it is the urkha soldiers retired from the British Army, known forThe their legendary Gurkhas are engaged in combat of a different kind—a procedures, they often suffer fromresult of rape? Should she go to sterling fighting qualities, are demanding a bigger share of diseases and disorders for the rest an old woman or a quack to British sterling. Recently GAESO argued with finessewar its case of wits with their British paymasters. of their lives. The UN’s 1996 G terminate the pregnancy, and for a better deal in pension and perks at the UN Commission○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ for ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Human Development Report says RALLYING CALL Human Rights at Geneva. their officers are saying that GAESO is ‘budmash’, extorting money possibly be killed herself, or at Say Yes for Children is a campaign to Such an exercise was repeated again twice on a smaller scale. In 1986, that Nepal’s Maternal Mortality TO MAKE THE WORLD Established in 1991 as a trade union, the Gurkha Army Ex- from pensioners and are a front for a Nepali communist party. They best live with the resultant garner support in building a world fit for 111 Gurkhas soldiers on training in Hawaii were disciplined,also ostensibly say the question of parity of pension does not arise due to the Rate (1,500 women per 100,000 Servicemen’s Organisation (GAESO) during its second international children from children, adolescents and FIT FOR CHILDREN for mutinous behaviour and dismissed en masse. Some weredifference at the in terms of engagement and duration of service. The British live births) is one of the highest in congress recently in Kathmandu, launched its loudest attack yet on the adults around the world. It will form a Kathmandu conference to give their side of the story. They saidsoldier they has a colour service of 22 years compared to the Gurkha, the world. Many people disagreed Leave no child out UK, alleging serious racial discrimination and violation of humanwere sent home without compensation and the right to appeal. From their referandum through votes by everyone, enlisted for 15 years. with this data and said that the rights. Employing professional lawyers, historians, human testimonialsrights it was clear the soldiers were unsure of the facts leading to Put children first The British public holds the Gurkhas in high esteem and with huge every individual interested in becoming a activists, intellectuals, politicians and victims of injustice andtheir exploita- dismissal. GAESO has to ensure it gets its facts right. Care for every child tion in the British Gurkhas, GAESO made a convincing case of affection. It is impossible the British government or GAESO will want part of the Global Movement for In addition to issues of pay and pension, GAESO is also focusing stepmotherly treatment by the British Army. The two-day meeting was to do anything that will dent this public image. The battle is as much Private organisations are hoping Children. Fight HIV/Aids a little bizarre: Her Majesty’s loyal Gurkhas, who helped strengthenon promotion, service facilities, privileges and post retirementover benefits. dignity as it is to do with money. Gurkhas have been cash- that Traditional Birth Atten- Stop harming and Only three Gurkhas have made it to Lt Col rank and only one com- the British empire from Antigua to Zimbabwe and their wards, and still strapped Nepal’s most secure earners of foreign exchange. In their dants like this woman will bring exploiting children in the service of the Crown in Brunei and the UK, were battlingmanded for their a Gurkha battalion. The discrimination against Gurkhasheyday, was Gurkhas used to send up to $40 million a year home. highlighted when Sgt Baliram Rai and his British officer were killed down the numbers of unsafe Listen to children rights without any audible response from either the British Embassy in While the Nepali government is reluctant to push the British on this Kathmandu or Whitehall, London. during mine-clearing operations in Kosovo. The initial compensation abortion. Educate every child awarded to Rai was about one-fifth that given to the British officer.issue, itBut is keen to have the problem resolved amicably before it Gurkhas from Nepal joined the Sikh armies of Maharaja Ranjit The Global Movement for Children is a thanks to the uproar in the British media the disparity was corrected.becomes a political football, used by left- and right-wing parties in Protect children from war Singh much before they were recruited by the British in 1815 as part of Nepal. Some government leaders in their talks with the British have force for change, calling for people The gap is closing, if slowly. The 2,500 serving Gurkhas are being Protect the earth for children the British Indian Army. At the time of Partition in 1947, British been speaking about equitable, not equal treatment. This is not what throughout the world to take action and Gurkhas were divided between Britain and India, who alongbrought with at par with the British soldier by hiking various allowancesthe Gurkhas are demanding. Fight poverty : Invest in without disturbing the parity with the Indian pay code. The British Army protect the rights of children. We all have Nepal, entered into a tripartite agreement regulating the recruitment GAESO’s war of words is gathering confidence and finality. Its children and pay of these Gurkhas. While UK and India reached a bilateralis facing severe shortages in recruitment and has been forced to enroll a role to play - leaders and citizens, public publicity wing has produced a documentary film called arrangement stipulating that British Gurkhas’ pay “would approximateadditional Gurkhas to make up the shortfall in British Infantry regiments. and private organizations, children and that laid down in the Indian pay code” Nepal inserted in the Atripartite separate company of Gurkhas has been attached to several British young people. treaty, the clause that “the Gurkhas would be treated on the units.same The pay and allowances given to Gurkha soldiers are still the best footing as the other units in the parent army so that the stigmathey of get anywhere. GAESO has to be careful that does not undermine Gurkha Blues, mercenary troops may, for all time, be wiped out.” the reputation of Gurkhas in service, and the prospects of those in the very long pipeline of recruitment. showing their wartime heroism and their abysmal post-retirement In the presence of hundreds of delegates, GAESO presented the With precisely this intention, GAESO is keeping its struggleplight. legal The Kathmandu Declaration ended with the formation of an Log on now and vote for children: inventory of anomalies, perceived deprivation and discrimination. The international committee of eminent persons to guide GAESO on and peaceful. It has presented the British government with four de- case—of which we heard only one side—seemed all the more convinc- winning the war without exhausting itself. GAESO must also open an mands: ing in light of the 16,000 Gurkhas who have sacrificed their lives for informal line with the British Army and the government. The the British Crown. Topping the list are war veterans and widows of organisation’s performance in Geneva was most impressive. The www.gmc.org.np soldiers who died in active service without being compensated in any plight of the Gurkhas was projected with substance and sobriety. The way. The British government recently announced that it would pay main issues brought up related to the legality and validity of the 1947 £10,000 for British soldiers who were Japanese prisoners of war tripartite agreement and discrimination. The options GAESO outlined For further information, contact: during World War II but Gurkhas are excluded. Similarly, Gurkhas to advance its case range from filing lawsuits in UK against discrimi- Secretariat recruited during and demobilised after wars have been poorly Pensioncompen- for Gurkhas made redundant, nation, to placing complaints with the ILO and UNESCO, moving the sated. For example in 1969, 10,000 Gurkhas were made redundant Global Movement for Children-Nepal Parity of pension with British soldiers of same rank and lengthEuropean of Court of Human Rights and seeking dialogue with their under a retrenchment scheme. While their British counterparts were service paymaster. G.P.O. Box No. 8975 EPC 788 handsomely compensated, Gurkhas were paid £150 and sent home. Gurkhas, famous for their war cry, “aayo Gurkhali,” are now Education for Gurkha children and Kathmandu, Nepal. preferring discretion to valour. The right to a work permit in the UK after retirement. Phone No. 523200, 535159, 523893 The British have pegged the pension differential to the lower costs of E-mail : [email protected] living in Nepal. Now, a Gurkha soldier has married an English woman and has moved court in UK for equal pension. This will become a test case. The British are being cagey about their planned response.(Ashok Privately Mehta is a retired general from the Indian army who has Ministry for Women, xommanded Gurkha troops.) Children & Social Welfare NEPALI ECONOMY NEPALI TIMES 888 NEPALI ECONOMY 10 - 16 AUGUST NEPALI2001 TIMES 10 - 16 AUGUST 2001 999 BIZ NEWS ECONOMIC SENSE by ARTHA BEED

Pull-up, RNAC not want to be quoted by name. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ His brewery has seen sales drop by Plagued by corruption, shortage of aircraft and an empty cash box, Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation is to stop flying to Europe and the Middle East from September. will remain fixed at the current as much as 30 percent in the past The European flights will be stopped from 1 September, just when the tourist season— levels—till kingdom comes, it few months. What puzzles many and full flights—kick off. The corporation has also decided to end its B-757 lease with Nepalpolitical and business onanalysts is the wagon seems. This is another Beed Nepal on the wagon production of home-made China South West Airlines (CSWA), two months before the deal expires anyway. The zinc oxide and steel pipes. Nepal why the Maoists would take on staple, but here goes: What is the KIRAN NEPAL liquour. made a gesture of sensitivity to these ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ RNAC says the Europe flights are being terminated because of mounting Questioninglosses on the its basic principles will strengtheneconomic the reasoning trade behind treaty. the such an unpopulist cause. Aside export control concerns by Across Nepal, despite a sector. Yet, all other airlines flying from Europe and the Middle East are either increas- untouchable magic 1.6 ? If India n terms of investment and from women’s groups who have imposing higher duties on these stagnantWho economy, is going alcohol sales to stop the Maoists from ing flights or adding extras at this time to meet the demand of the tourist traffic.his BeedThe noted with some feels a surge in Nepali exports is a contribution to the always been agitating against flag carrier says it is cancelling the CSWA deal because of dwindling tourists and items. But India’s rhetoric is a till recently were booming. Most petulance the attention the problem, why not agree to bring Ieconomy, Nepal’s alcohol getting away withalcoholism, a beer most do not ban? agree because it does not anticipate an upswing in arrivals in the short term. clear sign of its nervousness about of the demand is met by media gave last to, among down the rate to 1.3. This could and beer industry is the with a blanket ban on alcohol. T the WTO regime. When they get domestic○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ production, buthigher ○○○○○○○ take away the competitive biggest success story of the Lax enforcement is partly to other Nepal-India matters, the tradean attack of jelly legs, nothing talks. Petulance because my advantage. For Nepal, thebenefits 1990s. The production of purchasing power in urban areas blame for alcohol abuse in Nepal. seems to calm them better than has also created space for many the product is still available in comrades in the press should know of the lower fixed rate and lower both beer and alcohol has There is almost no monitoring of the market—sold as old having a good go at Nepal— doubled in the past 10 years, international brands, sold mainly More bad news what their counterparts in bureau- whether about cheaper Chinese implied rates on all currencies licenses and sales, and even a stock. Most would agree ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ through up-market outlets. cracy are like—delay, delay, delay, would outstrip losses on account and because there is still unused minor can walk into a store and tea entering India or the under- Beer and alcohol industries that it is this lax control and Tourism arrivals continued to slide in July, dipping by about 29 percent,until compared wild horses finally have their of a decline in exports. It is capacity there is tremendous walk away with a crate of the mostmonitoring that should be with July 2000, which wasn’t a very good time either. It was an improvement over standable clamour for competi- potential to grow. pay about Rs10 million in way and suddenly you are eyeball- tively priced Taiwanese computer basically a matter of examining potent liquor available in the stopped, not the produc- June, though, when arrivals fell by almost 57 percent. About 15,000 touriststo-eyeball withcame the problem. All this is now threatened byrevenues and taxes every day, market. There are laws that allow by air in July, down from the roughly 21,000 who were here last year. The Indian parts assembled in Nepal. India the tion of beers and spirits. The trade treaty runs out on 5 Maoists who want a blanket banadding up to a whooping Rs5.5 alcohol sales only between 2pm arrivals—Nepal’s June through September tourists—were down by about 42 has failed to curb informal trade billion annually. The industry The alcohol industry percent in July. But even that was an improvement over the June numbers,December. when If neither sides expresses with its neighbour, but hurling on alcohol and beer from 18 and 8pm, bans sales to minors, also has backward arrivals took a 72 percent nosedive. About 4,400 Indian tourists flew in thisa wish July, for changedown or termination by August. This is a threat not just employs 5,000 people directly andand stipulates that such stores the axe with such vigour at formal another 100,000 indirectly make linkages with from last year’s 7,600. The tourism statistics are compiled by the Nepal Tourism5 September, Board it is automatically trade is hardly the solution. to the industry, but because of should be at least 100 meters awaysugarcane farmers (NTB), based on immigration data of tourists coming by air. Indian arrivalsrenewed. this year We are making few moves the revenue it provides to the their living off the alcohol from schools, temples and other have fallen by about 20 percent compared with last year’s season, which was marred We should, on both sides, be industry from transport and along the tarai who to ascertain what India’s intentions government budget and the jobs places frequented by children. sell cane to sugar by the December 1999 hijacking of the Indian Airlines flight from Kathmandu and the looking at things that seem less and ancillary industries it is a packaging to printing and even The government had no interest subsequent five-month suspension of flights by IA. The NTB is to extend mightits special be—if they tell us shortly contentious, more stable—like the politicalexchange rate to factories, which in before this date that they want serious threat to Nepal’s poultry. Poultry sales and prices in monitoring because it takes promotional “Festival of Life…” campaign to September. The programme was launched fixed exchange rate regime. The understand theeconomicone. have come down by as much as 50 turn sell molasses to in May and suspended after the June 1 massacre. changes, we will have very little economy as well. away as much as 70 percent of the basic assumption of the trade For Nepal, a key issue is the percent in Chitwan, since the distilleries. The price of time react or negotiate. Business confidence in price of a bottle of beer or spirit as both cane and sugar are deter- treaty is that the exchange rate rail link to Birgunj. It is impera- ANWO launched its campaign. Nepal needs this preferential Nepal started falling after tax. mined by the money sugar tive the rail link becomes The recycling industry, which trade treaty more than India. We political instability since 1995 Any disruption of production factories make by operative before the equipment at does business worth about Rs500 know what an impasse in renewal affected the healthy invest- will also affect the banks that haveselling molasses—a the dry port does a vanishing act. million annually, revolves mainly can do—we managed to get ments that had been built up invested about Rs1 billion in the major by-product of The Nepali government needs to on buying and re-selling beer More places to pay amendments in the constitution after democracy. Today, two industries—about Rs500 sugar making. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ understand that the newly- bottles. Nepali brands through in 1998, but surely we investor confidence is at its million in breweries, about Rs250 The government is to open 13 “windows” to collect taxes in districts where there opened Mumbai port is not the The Maoist women may have Nepali beer don’t need to go through lowest ebb. The reason: Maoist million in distilleries and another Gorkha Brewery,Carlsberg and Tuborg (Khetan Group) are no offices of the Internal Revenue Department—the new institutional set up same as theKandla port. Let’s get a point when they say that they makers don’t use created by merging the Income Tax and Value Added Tax departments.such The a situation gov- again. As extortion, threats and the Rs250 million in ancillary Mount Everest Brewery,San Miguel, Golden Tiger, Guinness (Amatya Group) through the paperwork, and then are trying to address the negative food grains for ernment recently merged 40 such offices to form 21 internal revenue earlyoffices. as January institutions latest action against breweries industries. Banks saw a lucrative production but use use these other ports to say that impact of excessive alcohol Singha Brewery,Hayward (for export only) (Chaudhary Group) and individuals were urging and distilleries. Business industry which has shown steep imported malt. the Nepali government to we will not put up with the sources told us that unless the consumption, but that has to do growth since 1990/91, and they United Brewery,Kingfisher, Kanyani Black (forLabel export only) more with awareness at the Stopping beer get its proposals ready. Two inefficiency of the Kolkata government works magic, cannot be blamed. production could Himalayan Brewery,Iceberg , (Shahi & Company) Bike race Nepal’s industrial sector whichconsumer level and government ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ words: lousy negotiators. port. Nepal has five breweries controls, rather than a total ban. lead to foodgrains Nepal Liquors,Bagpiper, McDowell’s (UB Group) Hansraj Hulaschand and Company has begun selling yet another motorcycle,India still hasone a major The trade treaty deserves took 50 years to build is going which meet local demand and alsobeing used for to be face a catastrophic blow. They want the industry to shift Himalayan Distillery,Royal Stag (Jawalakhel Distillery & Segram) you can have for Rs 94,900. The Kawasaki Croma is a collaborative productproblem with of Nepali to be discussed in the spirit of produce for export to India. backyard distilleries, The Maoists have spear- investment into other productive There are over 30 distillers Highland Distillery,Challenger, Virgin Rum, Mirnov (Shaw Vodka Wallace and ICTC) Japan’s Kawasaki Heavy Industries and India’s Bharatexports especially the big better business and trade, not sectors in 15 days, or else. It is which over the long Bajaj Auto. The Croma comes with the Radical Aluminum headed this puritanical anti- producing hundreds of brands, five—vanaspati ghee, petty politics. clear that this uncompromising run could lead to Nepal Distillery,Khukuri Rum, John Bull Combustion Engine (RACE), a technology, which the alcohol drivehrough t their including the low-end ones sold copper wire, acrylic yarn, food shortages. Shree Distillery,Mount Everest, King’s Pride, Special Number (Maskey 1 Group) company says is used in airplanes and racing cars. The stance hides a strategy to directly in plastic pouches. The govern- front organisation, the All Nepaldeprive the government of bike also boasts special “zapper tyres” and a 45-watt Women’s Organisation ment banned production of the Jawalakhel Distillery,Ruslan Vodka, Dry Gin, Rangela (JD Group) trapezoidal headlight. Hansrj Hulaschand says it has Readerscanposttheirviewsat revenue from alcoholtaxes. (Revolutionary) which launched easy-to-use pouches last year, but Tribeni Distillery,Sea Pirates, Jay Rum and Dudhia (Rohit Group) upgraded its after-sales services centre at Teku to [email protected] “How can you shift your promote the new bike. its drive in Chitwan in June, Sumi Distillery,Gill Mary, Dark Rum then in Nawalparasi in July. It investment in 15 days, this is tried out shorter bans in other just not rational,” said an angry townships.Emboldened by the brewer, who like most people “success” (businesses simply interviewed for this article did Uncle Sam’s crockery stopped selling alcohol because ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Admission Open they feared punishment) they Nepal Overseas Marketing (NOM) has begun promoting crockery from World Kitchen Inc, USA including well-known brands like Corning, Corelle, Vision and Pyrex. On offer For Sept-2001 now want the government to are Corelle’s break- and chip-resistant crockery, Corning cookware, Vision’s see- announce a ban on alcohol through cooking pots and saucepans, and ovenware from Pyrex, including smallAdmission forms available 23rd July onwards throughout Nepal. bowls, cake dishes, mixing bowls, measuring jars, tea and coffee-pots, storage wares Alcohol and beer sales have and casseroles. The products are already on the shelves at all leading retail outlets. already dropped to nearly nil in many hill districts such as BacBacBac helor De ggg rrr ee PrPreePr ooo ggg rrr ammesammesammes Dhading, Gulmi, Palpa, Business and Information Technology Tanahu, Syangja and Cool option Argakhanchi. The Maoist ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Mass Communication Voltas, India’s air-conditioning giant, opened a showroom in New Baneswor last week, propaganda machine has also offering some 45 models of window, split air and water coolers in Nepal. The window Human Resource Management begun warning retailers and range starts with 0.82 tonne air-conditioners tons and the split range is available Business Administration distributors, even in between 1-4 tons. The coolers start at 3.2 litres and go up to 150 litres. Antarctic Kathmandu Valley, to stop House, which sells Voltas products in Nepal, says it will appoint dealers around the Administrative Management stocking liquors. Stores in country to market its ACs at the same prices you’d pay across the border. Marketing Manangement many shops outside the Ring Road are emptyingtheir racks, and it may be a matter of time Classes conducted through Liquid Crystal Display before inner-city shops begin Hyatt Club Job Placement for the most deserving graduates ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ doing the same. The reason the Hyatt has introduced a special privileges offer, including discounts, to members Maoists can get away with it is signing up for the Club at the Hyatt. Members get a 20 percent discount on all Exams conducted by the total lack of government beverages at any restaurant on the premises, an equal cut on all food and bever- authority and law enforcement. ages at its Rox Bar, and a discounted $120-plus-tax rate on all rooms. And privi- University of Cambridge “We’ve been told we will be leges are fully transferable to other Hyatt hotels. Local examination provided security and have been Syndicate & National Computing Centre asked not to stop production,” says a brewery owner. “Is the government telling us it will THE INTERNATIONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE CENTRE & ACADEMY Programme time table post policemen at every retail IELCA is a truly International English Language Training Centre full-time: 7am-12:30pm and distribution outlet?” with many years experience in achieving higher standards of tuition for Almost all of Nepal’s major Part-time: Evening 5-7pm alcohol and beer brands are sold everybody else to follow. We offer 4 and 6-week morning, afternoon Weekends: 7am-10am and evening courses to suit all ages and abilities. in Kathmandu Valley and other (Every Saturday & Sunday) major townships along the Daytime and evening courses in TOEFL,IELTS, General and Conversation English, Business highways. Barely 20 percent is English and Professional Wroting, Public Speaking, SLC, & 10+2 Courses, Special Groups sold in the rural areas. Besides, Overseas Student Placement to USA, UK, Canada, Australia, NZ and Dubia THAMES Business School most Nepali indigenous groups Qualified foreign teachers from UK, USA and Australia Battisputali, Behind Dwarika Hotel need alcohol for their religious Clean and comfortable classrooms and canteen facilities and social rituals. Maoists have End of Course Certificate Free Day out at the Tel. No: 473219, 472672 in some places even stopped the Course materials provided luxurious Hotel e-mail:[email protected] Foreigners and Nepalese: SAME FEES Shahanshah when you www.sajilo.com/thames Next language Courses Commence on 27 August 2001 IELCA (early registration recommended) register for a course with

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his men were forced to hold Rifleman Sherbahadur Thapa, VC (1921-1944) Thaman Gurung joined thest Battalion, 1 5th their ground against heavy Place and date of action: Italy, 18/ 19 September 1944 Royal Gurkha Rifles from Singla, in Gorkha. odds. Netrabahadur went from While in Italy, a company of this post to post, encouraging his Sherbahadur Thapa, of Ghalechap in Tanahu district, joinedst the 1 battalion was ordered to send a fighting young non-commissioned Battalion, 9th Gurkha Rifles. patrol to Monte San Bartolo, with Thaman officers andriflemen, and tending In Italy, his battalion was advancing into the state of San MarinoGurung as one of the scouts. As the scouts to the wounded. He then Uncommon valour... and facing tough opposition from the Germans. Just before dawn, themoved towards the summit, they saw reported by telephone to his company came under small arms and mortar fire. Sherbahadur and hisGerman soldiers preparing to fire on the Havildar Kulbir Thapa Magar, VC (1888-1956) Commanding Officer, requesting section commander charged an enemy post, killing one occupant andsection below. Thaman immediately charged called Basha East Hill to stop more artillery defensive fire. As at the enemy and they surrendered. He then the advancing Japanese army. firepower began to run out, two putting the rest to flight. However, another party of Germans attacked the section, killing the commander. Sherbahadur quickly charged backcontinued up to the summit and began firing Place and date of action: France, 25/ 26 September 1915 While preparing for the attack, main firearms suddenly jammed at the German positions to allow the forward the battalion came under heavy and the enemy were able to force at them and put his gun into action, silencing several enemy machine guns and killed many other German soldiers with remarkable accuracy.section to advance. However, the platoon was Kulbir Thapa Magar was mortar fire, but Havildar Gaje an entrance, killing or wounding forced to withdraw due to heavy enemy machine gun fire. Rifleman Ghale, who was in charge of one After a two-hour battle, both forward companies had exhausted their born at Nigalpani in Palpa. over a dozen men. Without hesitation, Netrabahadur went forward ammunition and so Sherbahadur remained alone at his post, providingThaman Gurung then fired into the German slit trenches until his platoon, rallied his men on himself, using grenades to halt the enemy’s advance. He continued He joined thend 2Battalion, covering fire as they withdrew. After his ammunition ran out, he ammunition ran out, and then threw his two grenades at them. He rejoined although he had never been commanding his men and called for more ammunition. At 0400 hours a rd attempted to carry two wounded comrades out of danger, but was the section to collect two more grenades. The remaining section, that had 3 Queen Alexandra’s Own under fire before, and the section bringing the ammunition finally arrived, but were wounded as DIGANT○○○○○○○○○○ GURUNG○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ killed when returning for the second. been giving covering fire for the withdrawal, were still on the summit, so Gurkha Rifles. platoon consisted of young men. they were entering. Subedar Netrabahadur Thapa retrieved the Thaman shouted to them to leave. He then seized a Bren gun and ran to This week marks 56 years since the end of World During operations The approach for the attack was In March 1945 at the Red Fort in Delhi, the Viceroy, Field War II. A war in which more than 43,000 Nepali ammunition himself. Later in the battle, he was killed by a grenade. the top of the hill in full view of the enemy and emptied two magazines at against the German trenches along a narrow path with the The next day his body was found, khukuri in hand, a dead Marshall Lord Wavell presented the VC to Sherbahadur Gurung’s them. In the process, he was killed. soldiers serving in the British Army laid down mother. south of Mauquissart, the enemy concealed on either side Japanese by his side. The Viceroy, Field Marshall Lord Wavell on 23 On 19 December 1945 in Delhi, the Viceroy, Field Marshal Lord their lives in the jungles of Burma, the slopes of Garhwal Brigade and therd 3 in the jungles with machine January 1945 presented the VC to Subedar Netrabahadur Thapa’s Rifleman Thaman Gurung, VC (1924-1944) Wavell presented Thaman Gurung’s mother with her son’s VC. Monte Cassino in Italy, or in Tunisia. Almost as Gurkhas suffered severely. guns. As they attacked, a grenade wounded Gaja Ghale in the arm, widow. many died in the trenches of Flanders in World Rifleman Kulbir Thapa chest and leg. Despite this he continued assault after assault, War I. Some 400,000 young Nepali men left their Magar was himself shouting the Gurkha battle cry “Aayo Gurkhali!”. He led his Place and date of action: Italy, 10 November 1944 wounded when he found platoon on to successfully capture the hill. See p. 12 homes and families in the hills to fight in both He received the VC from the Viceroy, Field Marshall Lord world wars of the last century. another badly wounded soldier behind the first line German trench. Although the British soldier urged Kulbir to save Wavell at Delhi in 1944, and was later awarded the Star of Nepal by Many of the soldiers died valiantly while rescu- himself, the Rifleman remained with the soldier until the next the Nepal government. He ended his career as a Subedar Major and ing wounded comrades, or throwing themselves atmorning and then carried him and two wounded Gurkhas out was given the rank of honorary captain before he retired. enemy positions with no concern for their own to safety under enemy fire in broad daylight. safety. Some of those of whose bravery we know After Kulbir recovered from his wounds, he was promoted Lt (QGO) Tulbahadur Pun, VC (1923-) received the Victoria Cross, the highest decorationto Havildar and proceeded to Egypt with his regiment. At the of valour in the British Army. Nepali soliders were conclusion of the war, he returned with his battalion to India. Place and date of action: Burma, awarded two Victoria Crosses in WWI, ten in WWIISubedar Lalbahadur Thapa Magar, VC OBI (1906-1968) 23 June 1944 and another one during the British anti-commu- nist Malaya campaign in 1965. Place and date of action: Tunisia, 5/6 April 1943 Tulbahadur Pun was recruited One of the more unexpected fallouts of General from Banduk village, Gulmi in Amarsingh Thapa’s defeat by the British in 1814 Lalbahadur Thapa Magar 4,000 Parbat District, west of after a particularly fierce engagement was the was born in Aijiya Simsa Kathmandu to therd 3Battalion, inclusion of Nepali—Gurkha—troops in the Village, Baglung. He joined 6th Gurkha Rifles. British army. Nearly 100 years later, the legend- the 1st Battalion, 2nd Gurkha While in Burma, the ary alliance was strengthened when Prime Minis- Rifles. battalion was ordered to attack ter Chandra Sumshere Jung Bahadur Rana an- During the silent attack the Railway Bridge at nounced the day before World War I broke out: on the Rass-es-Zouai, Mongaung, but were forced to Lalbahadur was in charge of the ground by heavy gunfire “The whole military resources of Nepal are at His two sections that needed to from a position known as the Majesty’s disposal, we shall be proud to be of any secure a passage to their ‘Red House’ and a strong enemy service, however little it may be.” objective. They first bunker to the left of it. Rifleman Tulbahadur Pun’s whole section The sacrifice of the brave Nepalis was not little. advanced up a narrow cleft was wiped out leaving just him, the section commander and one And however politically incorrect it may seem in thickly scattered with a other man. As they continued advancing, the officer and the other series of enemy posts. He and his men killed all the garrison of man were so badly wounded that Tulbahadur seized the Bren Gun hindsight that Nepali soldiers served in a foreign these posts using their khukuris or bayonets. As Lalbahadur and charged forward alone, firing from the hip. With dawn rising colonial army, or whatever the controversy sur- then began to lead his men up a narrow enclosed pathway, the behind him he presented a perfect target to the Japanese who kept rounding the issue of Gurkha pensions (see enemy bombarded them with heavy machine gun fire and firing at him. After running through shell holes, ankle-deep mud commentary by Gen Ashok Mehta on p. 7) the grenades. Lalbahadur continued to fight his way forward, and over fallen frees, he finally reached the ‘Red House’ and story of Gurkha deployment is now a part of killing two men with his khukuri and two with his revolver. captured it, thus being able to support the rest of his platoon. Nepal’s historical heritage and folklore. We Eventually he and two of his riflemen reached the crest, where He received the VC from the Viceroy, Field Marshall Lord he killed two more men with his khukuri. His riflemen killed Wavell in Delhi on 3 March 1945 and retired as the RSM with the present short biographies of Nepali soldiers two, and the rest fled. After securing the feature they were able honorary rank of Lt (QGO) on14 May 1959. Lt (QGO) currently awarded the Victoria Cross. Some of these oral to cover the company’s advance up the defile. lives in Pokhara. testimonies and of other less well-known soldiers will appear in a soon-to-be published collection byCaptain Ganju Lama, VC MM (1924-2000) Lt (GCO) Agansing Rai, VC (1920-2000) Himal Books. Place and date of action: Burma, 12 June 1944 Place and date of action: Burma, 26 th June 1944

Ganju Lama, of Samgmo Agansing Rai, from Amsara, Basti village in south Sikkim, Chisankhu in Okhaldhunga was in the 1st Battalion, 7th district, joined thend 2Battalion, Gurkha Rifles. 5th Gurkha Rifles. Rifleman Karnabahadur Rana Magar VC (1898-1973) While in Burma, the While in Burma, his com- Place and date of action: Palestine, 10 April 1918 Japanese launched a major pany was sent out to recapture attack upon the 2/5 GR and two posts known as Water Piquet Karnabahadur, from Mangalthan so the 1/7 GR was ordered to and Mortar Bluff. As the Gulmi, Litung in Baglung, was counter-attack. The enemy company attacked, they were with the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Queen began with heavy artillery fire pinned down by machine gun followed by a strong attack fire from Mortar Bluff and a gun Alexandra’s Own Gurkha Rifles.

supported by five medium from the jungle, but Naik Go, Get it ! At El Kefr in Palestine, the tanks. Eventually, three tanks Agansing Rai carried on in front battalion was engaged in attacking broke through the defence. Rifleman Ganju Lama already had a of his section, killing three enemy crew. He then led his section a position held by the Germans onbroken left wrist and wounds on his right hand and his leg straight onto Water Piquet, again killing three. When the section top of a rocky slope. The ground from the crossfire, but he still managed to knock all three of returned to Mortar Bluff for a final assault on Water Piquet, the AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE IN HARD COPY in front of them was broken and them out single-handed, using his gun and an anti-tank gun. platoon came under heavy machine gun fire and grenade attacks there was little cover other than He then continued forward with grenades, killing or wounding from an isolated bunker position. Agansing Rai, covered by his Bren scrub, which meant that the all the enemy tank crew attempting to escape, thus enabling his Gunner, advanced to the bunker alone, armed with one grenade enemy would notice any attack. company to push forward. and a gun. He killed the occupants and Water Piquet was captured. But Rifleman Karnabahadur and a He received the VC in Delhi from the Viceroy, Field He received the VC from the Viceroy, Field Marshal Lord few other men succeeded in Marshal Lord Wavell. Ganju Lama remained with the Indian Wavell on 23 January 1945. He retired as Subedar Major and was creeping forward to attempt to put out of action an enemy machine Army and was promoted to Subedar Major and in 1965 was granted the honorary rank of Lieutenant (GCO). Nepali Times is now available on gun that had been causing casualties to officers and other ranks. When appointed ADC to the president of India. He was later granted PEPC Worldwide vending the British battalion’s Lewis gun opened fire, and the gunner was the honorary rank of Captain in 1968 and appointed Honorary Jamedar (acting Subedar) Netrabahadur Thapa, VC (1916-1944) machhines at major airports and immediately shot dead. Without hesitation, Karnabahadur took the ADC to the president of India for life. hotel chains. dead man’s place. Despite bombs thrown at him and heavy fire from Receive 40 pages of the latest both flanks, he knocked out the enemy gun, and silenced the fire of Captain Gaje Ghale, VC (1919-2000) Place and date of action: Burma, 25/ 26 June 1944 editions of Nepali Times and enemy riflemen. He continuously kept his gun in action and showed selected material from Himal the greatest coolness when removing defects that twice prevented the South Asian and Himal Netrabahadur Thapa joined thend Battalion, 2 5th Gurkha Rifles gun from firing. Afterwards he assisted in giving covering fire when a Khabarpatrika in high-quality withdrawal was announced and held his position until the enemy werePlace and date of action: Burma, 12 June 1944 from Rahu in Lamjung. paper printed while you watch close on him. In Burma, he and his men captured the isolated piquet called commercial video content on the Karnabahadur received the VC from King George V at Gaje Ghale, of Barpak in Gorkha, joined thend Battalion, 2 5th Mortar Bluff. Its commanding position was vital for the safety of monitor. Price: US$ 2.50, all Buckingham Palace in 1919. He died at Litung, Bharse Gulni. Gurkha Rifles. the base at Bishenpur and other posts further down the ridge. At major credit cards accepted. Fighting in Burma, it became essential to capture a position 1830 hours the Japanese attacked it and Subedar Netrabahadur and 121212 HISTORY 10 - 16 AUGUST NEPALI2001 TIMES WORLD 10 - 16 AUGUST NEPALI2001 TIMES 131313 from p. 11 insulted corroborated her story. Soon after, some Schildow residents scheduled a march for tolerance. A Nazis? No, voodooday before it, Köhler was abducted. ... was common virtue. “The police told me that there are no Nazis, it’s my imagination,” Rifleman Bhanbhakta Gurung, VC (1921-) Köhler said after five hours of Place and date of action: Burma, 5 March, 1945 gruelling and, she says, insulting police questioning aimed at making Havildar Bhanbhakta Gurung of Pahlpu, Gorkha, enlisted inrd the 3 her drop her story on neo-Nazis. Right after the incident,

nd ROB HUIBERS/ PANOS battalio, 2 Gurkha rifles. Brandenburg officials briefed the Bhanbhakta’s platoon was attacking an enemy position known as media. Snowden East, when they were forced to the ground by heavy machine gun, grenade, and mortar fire. From 75 yards away, a Japanese sniper began inflicting casualties on the section. Without orders, Bhanbhakta Gurung stood up, fully exposed, and killed the enemy sniper with his rifle. In front of Bhanbhakta’s platoon was a Japanese trench connected to a series of underground tunnels. He Der Spiegel, Germany’s crept forward and lobbed in two grenades, ordering his gunner to fire at the escaping Japanese. The gunner was already dead, so leading newsmagazine, published Bhanbhakta ran forward, again without orders, and under continu- three stories on its Internet version ous machine gun fire, killed the Japanese soldiers occupying enemy praising the official response and foxholes with grenades and bayonet. Then, he took on the Japanese German media and raised questions about Köhler’s story. machine gunners. Bhanbhakta threw in smoke grenades, killed two police refuse to The influential newspaperBild Japanese with his khukuri as they ran out. One gunner remained, firing away, so Bhanbhakta crawled in believe a tale of Zeitunggave prime space to a story and killed him. abduction and as- saying investigators ruled out a race After the battle, Bhanbhakta returned to Manipur, and six months after the war was over, he received sault by rightwingers. attack. Only the Munich-based his VC at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace. In 1945, he was awarded the Star of Nepal. Rifleman Süddeutsche Zeitungasked why the Bhanbhakta Gurung took his discharge in 1946, and was given the honorary rank of Havildar. He police never showed Köhler pictures currently lives in Pokhara. shipping container where four neo- of known rightwing extremists and Zairean women mourn five killed in an arson fire in Lubeck, Germany, in whichNazis neo-Nazis surrounded were her, suspected. forced open associates of the first alleged attacker. Havildar Lachhiman Gurung VC (1917-) Köhler insisted she was the victim ofher mouth with scissors and a brutal racist abduction and attack. Köhler had seen two of the men PETAR HADJI- RISTIC dropped pills into it. She was when they removed their masks but IN SCHILDOW, GERMANY Wisely, Brandenburg police gagged, her feet were bound and ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ she was never asked to describe them Place and date of action: Burma, 12/13 May 1945 dropped its theory. But it did she was ordered to make a Hitler hree statues of Ganesh question the veracity of Köhler’s for Identikit pictures. collected during diplomatic salute. The skinhead gang leader A psychologist called in by claim. The race row in Schildow, a sexually assaulted her, shouting Lachhiman Gurung was born in Dahakham in Chitwan. He joined travels stand in their house in Brandenburg police suggested a th th T little-known village in Brandenburgracial insults, as two female the 4 Battalion, 8 Gurkha Rifles. foreign wife out of place in a village Schildow, a small village just outsidestate, is national news now. accomplices pinned her down. At Taungdaw, on the western banks of the Irrawaddy, Rifleman Berlin. Just the sort of thing in In Brandenburg, rightwing so different from the glamorous life Lachhiman was manning the forward-most post of his platoon when diplomatic households? Apparently Köhler lost consciousness and the couple had earlier led. She was attacks on people dropped to 20 in came to outside her front door. Two 200 Japanese soldiers attacked his company. The enemy began with not. Police think the Malaysian wifethe first half of this year compared likely appealing for help and had hurling grenades, three of which landed in Lachhiman’s trench. He of German diplomat Michael weeks earlier she had been attacked entangled herself in a ‘web of lies’. with 36 in the first half of 2000. Butby a young skinhead wearing a threw them back, but the third grenade exploded in his hand, Köhler was practising voodoo. across Germany there were 999 such The ‘expert’ had never met her and blowing off his fingers, shattering his right arm and wounding him Veronica Köhler is the perfect jacket saying ‘Proud and White’ ignored statemetns from friends and attacks last year, one-third more who kicked at her face, shouting in severely in the face. Two of his comrades were also badly wounded. Foreign Service wife—charming, than in 1999. neighbours that she was happy. Regardless, he fired back at the advancing enemy using his left arm German “Get lost. I will kill you.” Köhler has filed complaints and friendly, personable. But in January, The alleged attack on Veronica She gave police a detailed descrip- and held his position alone for four hours. The enemy failed to criminal charges against the police officers investigating how sheKöhler was particularly vicious. tion of the man and three witnesses advance past Lachhiman’s post. At the end of the battle, Lachhiman came to be lying in the carport of Brandenburg police and the public had lost the use of his right hand and right eye. Köhler says she was bundled into a who heard her being racially her house—delirious, disoriented van by three masked men on 24 prosecutor’s office. Over seven He received the VC from the Viceroy, Field Marshall Lord and bleeding from cuts and January. She was driven to a million foreigners live in Germany, Wavell on 19 December 1945 at Delhi’s Red Fort. His 74-year-old bruises—immediately concluded it a vast majority from outside father was carried for eleven days from their village in Nepal to be was the result of cult practice. Europe. present at his son’s decoration. Havildar Lachhiman Gurung now lives in Chitwan. (Gemini) Captain (GCO) Rambahadur Limbu, VC (1939-) OPINION by NINA KHRUSHCHEVA Place and date of action: Borneo, 21 November 1965

Rambahadur Limbu was born in Chyangthapu in Yangrop Thum, Eastern Nepal. He joined thend 2Battalion, 10th Princess Mary’s Own Gurkha Rifles. Episode Two While in the Bau District of Sarawak, Lance Corporal Rambahadur Limbu was with his company when they discovered MOSCOW:Russian President Vladimir Putin has been pushing his bigA former KGB spy is the most credible challenge and attacked a strong enemy force in the border area. As he led his diplomatic idea . Either the great powers forge new security and arms to Dubya’s bid to be a lawless autocrat. support group towards the Indonesians, he gained first blood by control agreements with which all can live, or the world will face renewed○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ killing their sentry. They immediately responded with heavy instability and possibly a new arms race. A corollary to this is his idea that gunfire. He then led his group to a better position but was unable to democracies like those in Europe and America, as well as for infant democra- either NATO transforms itself into a security structure Russia can embrace, communicate his intentions to the Platoon Commander because of cies like Russia and dictatorships like China, is to establish predictability, or suspicion will again increase defence spending in Europe higher than the deafening noise of grenades and continuous artillery fire. So, he reducing guessing and the risk of war. Treaties are signed not just because anyone needs. reported personally. As he left his group, two men were seriously they provide the signatories with standards and means of verification, but Putin’s ideas don’t sit easily with his reputation in the West as a KGB wounded. He quickly ran back through a hail of gunfire and carried both men out of danger. Afterwards, also because other countries benefit from knowing what to expect. Econo- he returned to the abandoned machine gun and killed four more enemy men attempting to cross the apparatchik or his internal reputation, born of Chechnya, as a hardlinermists on call this the “reputation effect.” Everyone is better off because everyone border. defence. Coming so soon after NATO planes pounded Yugoslavia, Putin’sknows what is promised. suggestion about Russia’s membership in NATO were shocking: “How He received the VC from Queen Elizabeth at an Investiture ceremony in Buckingham Palace in 1985 President Bush wants to throw these benefits away. He wants to nullify could we join NATO after that?” peaceable, ordinary Russians asked. and was later appointed as a Queen’s Orderly Officer. On completing his term of duty, he was made and avoid not just arms control treaties, but international treaties in general. Most in the West scoff at the suggestion. But Putin is not joking. He is MVO and retired with the honorary rank of Captain. Captain (GCO) Limbu now lives in Dharan. The Kyoto Protocol might require sacrifice by America’s energy guzzling patiently and persistently articulating a coherent vision of the post-Coldconsumers? Undermine it. A permanent international court might indict War security environment, and is doing so in the face of the most revolu-American soldiers or officials for war crimes? Prevent the UN from establish- tionary proposition international diplomacy has faced since Stalin and Mao.ing it. The international nuclear test ban treaty might prevent the US In proposing to build a defensive system for the US against a rogue military from developing new weapons? Don’t sign it. Ditto the interna- missile attack, President Bush is challenging the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treatytional convention on germ warfare. Even an international treaty to control of nearly thirty years ago, the very foundations of arms control, internationaltrade in handguns seemed to insult the American “right to bear arms.” security, and diplomacy itself. Bush’s argument is that treaties and detailed The Bush administration seeks unbounded diplomatic freedom. When arms control and balance of power agreements are superfluous now thatit suits American interests, the US will even embrace multilateral agreements. Russia and America are no longer enemies. Between friends, apparently,US an State Department’s director of policy planning, Richard Haass, last week informal understanding of what people desire is sufficient. named this US attitude: Of course, it is not. The point of security agreements for settled à la carte multilateralism. Given America’s prepon- derant power today, most of the world sees this as extreme arrogance when Graphice they do not, like China, see it as outright dangerous. What is national missile defence good for, but to increase America’s freedom? After all, conventional deterrence still works. Leaders in all the “rogue states” know their societies would cease to exist if they attacked America. The Gulf War demonstrated this. Saddam Hussein possessed missiles and deadly biological agents but did not use them because he was deterred by the implicit threat by former US Station Secretary of State James Baker that the US would retaliate with all necessary means, even nuclear weapons. The Bush vision of diplomacy proposes a lawless, arbitrary world. That combination of maladies is usually only associated with despotism—the anarchy of lawless rulers. The leader of the world’s most powerful democracy seeks an autocrat’s freedom from restraint. Our world has become a strange place when the only person credibly challenging the premises behind such a lawless vision is a former KGB spy. (Project Syndicate) Nina Khrushcheva is a senior fellow of the World Policy Institute. They were self-centred and detrimental. As a result of such actions, the party has lost its vision and has become irrational. The party is going to join forces with Deuba and slowly wither away. The importance of having a vision came home ASIA 10 - 16 AUGUST NEPALI2001 TIMES NATION to us at the second convention. What was the 10 - 16 AUGUST NEPALI2001 TIMES 1515 141414 result? We, the people, got saddled with the 151515 Prachanda Path. It was said with conviction that this was the greatest thought of all time. Since this been embroiled incontroversy. Arzu was borrowed from the Ekata Kendra, they, too,Maoist logic has started a programme that comes that drove its boom for decades can were called Maoist Party. This despite the Ekata○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○ very close to gambling. The In the Khmer web Kendra’s protest that they were not in fact Maoists,Haank,1 August A newbe a weakness. For countries economic like geography○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ “Sacrifice for what, comrades?” program, called Samrakchhan, is Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan, but simply people who believed in and followed the very similar to Skybeach and PHNOM PENH - Finally, the Cambodian Senate has approved principles of Mao. If the Maoist leaders had vision, some of whose technology exports Excerpts from an interview with Polyman, international programs JOHANNA SONIN BANGKOK a draft bill creating a UN-assisted international tribunal to try Deshanter, 5 August they would have worked with the Ekata Kendra— ○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○ make up more than a third of total former Khmer Rouge leaders for their role in the deaths of an instead, they prepared a list of all that they said.Narayan Sharma, MP Humla, which were basically swindles, and urting from the 1997 crisis exports—the downturn in this estimated one million Cambodians between 1975 and 1979, This, they called the Prachanda Path. They areRJM does not think it necessary to drove into poverty many people in and now the US economic Right now, everybody—the opportunists, themaking fools of the people. Worse, they are once-booming sector has slashed due to executions, South-leaning, the Congress, the UML, the inform the people. many countries. In the name of the slowdown, Asia needs to forced labour and disrespecting those who gave up their lives forIs it true that the Maoists H growth figures for 2001. Half of Maoists—are saying publicly that Deuba justthe party. Sources tell us the army is still programme, she has collected Rs harness its strengths and learn to famine. Among the needs to wave his magic wand and all our kidnapped you in Humla? Asia’s trade now occurs within the Such actions, such thoughts expressed in in Budagaon, but apparently the 3,000 rupees per person, from the sticking points between problems will be solved. Perhaps they just want to tackle liberalisation, said a group of region. Yes, they kidnapped me on the Defence Ministry does not know poor and the rich alike. Phnom Penh and the UN prove that and it was why they were clamouringpublic for all show just how illogical, irrational even,night of 24 June in Humla. I was experts—the Asian Wise Persons To take advantage of opportu- are the selection and what it is doing there. Ministry This lottery promises a grand Koirala’s resignation. They are certainly leaving the party’s leaders have sick at the time and was sleeping at Group, under a regional think nities that the presence of bigger quota of international no stone unturned in trying to prove their point. become. During the officials say the army has not prize of Rs 8.8 million. The home. I had been advised tank—who met in Bangkok last consuming economies in Asia will judges, guarantees for But the real question is: Are we in this situation Panchayat era, Dhirendra given them new information. programme has been on for some the carrying out of Shah was the black sheepcomplete bed-rest, but they did week. because of Koirala or because of the state of our throw up, the region must learn to possible sentences of the royal family. To Even the Defence Minsitry’s months now. Nepal’s laws say that There is potential for a more politics? Is it possible that Koirala’s exit and not care. They dragged me to a survive in a more globalised handed out by the special court and the applicability of protect its own reputation, spokesperson has no clue. He saysthe government and the Nepal Deuba’s entry will solve everything? Because, place some distance from my home integrated Asia in the future and economy, experts say. “What was the palace had to take away the army is now in the areas whereRastra Bank have to give permission amnesty given to key Khmer Rouge leaders accused of crimes after all, the political configuration remains pretty his royal title. The man onand began a political discussion. greater trade, given the increased wrong (in 1997) was not openness. against humanity. much the same. The party that Koirala led the IDSP is being implemented. before such programmes can be the street was not too Since they could not convince me trade interest by Japan and the rise What was wrong was the kind of Lao Mong Hay, director of the Khmer Institute for Democ- continues to remain in the same position, only now But he does not know anything started. The one in question does impressed with him either. it is led by Deuba. The changes that Deuba will with their arguments, they of giant economies like China and gap between the openness of things racy, says there are too many people within the ruling coalition People might have given about the army that was sent to not have permission from the India, Supachai Panitchpakdi, trade” from the world’s second government of Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), want to bring in, won’t they be formulated, studied threatened to kill me. Their like capital accounts and domestic him a break after the 1 June incident. The Maoist rescue the 69 policemen. Central Bank, although it does have largest economy. Prospects for a as well as the royalist Funcinpec, who would be embarrassed and passed by the Congress? Or will they be arguments were crude, they were director-general designate of the weaknesses in sectors like banking,” leaders have made their relations with Dhirendra a registration number (15532), and Asian producers. China, which “widening marketplace” will by any revelations of the various deals and counter-deals they things dreamt up by the palace, the UML and the ill-mannered and illogical and it WTO and a member of the Asian explains Mitsuo Sato, ex-president Maoists? Shah public with great fanfare. Where exactly does has got permission to deal in foreign posted 7.5 percent growth for the improve in China as it gets Most- have struck with the Khmer Rouge over the years. he fit in with the peoples’ war? Has the party occurredlost to me that I was speaking Wise Persons’ Group, said at the of the Asian Development Bank Deuba has already currency too. first quarter, expects this trend to Favoured Nation status with WTO, And CPP officials like to point out that the UN and the US the support of the people, that it needs the helpto hoodlumsof and not people who end of its first meeting. “The and a member of the Wise Persons’ said that he’s there to see All employees of the Rastra continue.China Gao Shangquan, and India could be have little credibility because of their past support for the Deuba and Dhirendra Shah? Do not be surprisedhave masteredif politics. I did not ‘economic geography’ of Asia is Group. and also India in coming years. through Koirala’s 14-point president of the China Research group—the Khmer Rouge occupied Cambodia’s seat in the UN the Maoists say that Deuba is the true followerrealise of that I would have argue Bank—other than governor, Tilak certain to change with the evolving Virata says it is too early to Asia’s new growthSupachai engines. also says the region agenda. Do you (Maoist Amarsingh Thapa. This is the same person who Society for Restructuring the General Assembly when western governments refused to leaders) want to face with crude hooligans. That day I A ‘dry’ nation Rawal—have said that this scheme is situations in China and India,” says needs an institution like the committed a crime against the nation by signing the ○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○ predict what Asia’s economic map Economic○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ System, says the country○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ recognise Hun Sen’s Vietnam-supported government. Re- illegal. Sources tell us that the bank Cesar Virata, a former Philippine reality or are just going to Mahakali Treaty. witnessed an inhumane and anti- will look like, but the emergence of expects growth to hover between 8 proposed Asian Monetary Fund as a searchers say Cambodia has witnessed other crimes against sit back in the hope that Janadesh,31 July will soon release a statement stating prime minister. “Their increased humanity—pogroms against migrant Vietnamese by US- This is what happens when there is a bank-national group at work. India and China, the only Asian to 10 percent in the next decade. lender of last resort to prevent a Deuba will make you the that Samrakchhan is illegal. This participation in regional and global repeat of the 1997 crisis. Western backed dictator Lon Nol in 1971, and US/ UN carpet bombing president of a republic? ruptcy of thought and vision. The party’s soft line nation unscathed by the current Virata also quoted him as saying Why do you think they treated The All Nepal Women’s Associa- release will announce that all such networks will drive change,” nations and the IMF opposed it a of the Cambodian countryside between 1970 and 1975. True, honest communists on Deuba and Dhirendra, their hatred of Koirala economic downturn in the US, andthat the growth of China’s imports and Gyanendra, all show that a different line youof like that? Do they treat tion (Revolutionary) is preparing transactions are illegal and that explains Virata, chair of the seven- few years back, fearing it would not should study the agenda Japan’s recovery are key elements. from Asia has been bigger than its and analyse it honestly. I am an ordinary memberthought is hard at work in the party. Are the party’speople from other parties in the for its fourth national convention.people who still participate in them member group of former top There are fears that China’s joining exports to Asia. be run with fiscal discipline and of the Maoist organisation and feel that I shouldvocal protests against the new king a way to samefool way? One of the group’s objectives is todo so at their own risk. government and other officials from could displace the IMF. But a ask my leaders to at least find out what the simple, innocent party followers? This is one Theof the Maoists had just finished the WTO would mean more Supachai also says that despite main reasons I doubt the Maoist leaders. make this an alcohol-free country Samrakchhan started function- Asia, formed by the Bangkok-based currency swap agreement is already followers of their party think about dialogue their program when I reached that competition for smaller Asian its recession, Japan has been between the government and the Maoists. The time has come when we must test the starting 18 August, Nepal must being last month and is backed by Asia Strategy Forum. being used by Asian countries in place. My sources told me that nations. But Virata explains, if showing greater interest in trade- (IPS) It was in Deuba’s earlier term as prime Maoist leadership. Will their dialogue with Deuba made an alcohol-free nation. Arzu. Earlier participants had to Liberalisation by China and need of foreign currency. their program was aimed at getting China produces more, it would promoting measures, suggesting minister that the Maoist uprising began in Rolpa.throw up a solution eventually? Will they accept They have requested people deposit $40, and by March the India could create economic, trade need to import more goods and “more support for more intra-Asian The oppression under Deuba’s government thatdrove solution, will the Nepali people see the dawnrid of of the Masal party, Mohan with investments in distilleries group had raked in thousands of and export potential for consume more, presenting an Even Singapore the peace-loving, free and open Maoist a republic? Was this struggle truly not carriedBikram out Singh’s supporters. The and breweries to withdraw and dollars. The scheme’s promoters say ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ to make a hero of Prachanda? neighbouring countries in Asia. economic opportunity for other organisation underground. Party members still villagers of Reip did not help them that all profits will be ploughed into Singapore - As Singapore’s economy suffers from an overseas remember vividly the oppression and the crueltyThe of people of Nepal do not want a republic, invest their money elsewhere. A That is, they might be economic at all, neither did the residents of party press release says: “We have the health, education and other engines and markets, not the rivals slump in demand for its key products, including electronics Deuba’s regime. The Maoist organisation spokethey want a Peoples’ Republic. Is the leadership and e-commerce solutions, job openings here have fallen 11 against and the locals supported us. Prabhat. They got angry, got holddecided to make national this social sectors. they are often predicted to be. Asia is prepared to fight beside us till the end? If they are percent from December 2000 to March 2001. Facing a “techni- The peoples’ struggle and the Maoist cam-not, if they compromise for anything less thanof this, a local leader and told him thatprogram that was until now discovering that the export muscle they had spent Rs 9,000 on the cal recession”—some say statistics do not yet show a “real” paign started in February 1996. The campaignthey was will rain bombs in the party headquarters. restricted to the local levels. We recession, economic contraction for two successive quarters started to wipe out the present political structure.Another struggle will start which will remain true(fundraising) to program, but would like to inform people that on a year-to-year basis—the Singapore government last week the people. The people have now learnt the art of Dil Bahadur Ramtael was martyred in the second villagers had not contributed a if they do not heed this directive, introduced a $1.3 billion (1.4 percent of GDP) “off-budget” week of February and this was followed by acarrying long out a struggle. We are prepared to carryrupee. They said, “The Masal are package to help businesses cut costs and increase job on to the end, and no compromise can stop us. The action will be taken against them.” (IPS) list of martyrs, leaders and followers including probably active and have caused prospects for workers. Finance Minister George Yeo said the alternate central committee member Sureshstruggle of the people does not depend on the At a recent meeting of its measures are considerable but not as drastic as the $6.2 Wagle. The entire party was attracted by thewhims idea and fancies of any one individual. Thisproblems. is We will carry out an the property of all the oppressed people of the central committee, the ANWA (R)ML-UML, unite billion given out in November 1998 to counter the effects of the of a “Republic of Nepal” and we were all willing to operation and flatten this village ○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○ Asian crisis. sacrifice our lives for it. It is because of theseworld. Prachandas, Babu Rams may come andwith go, a bulldozer.” announced that it would work for but the peoples’ struggle will move on—to its final Jana Aastha,1 August Singapore Confederation of Industries (SCI) President sacrifices that the party has managed to reach the the economic uplift of the people high position it finds itself in today. destination. Robin Lau told the Are the people here satisfied withby carrying out awareness NATIONALISM GOES TO THE MOVIES Between 1996 and 2001, a lot of water has programs, plans to increase the ...It is said that the UML and ML the Maoists’ activities? will soon unite, although this may In lavish films and the flowed in the Mechi and Mahakali On rivers. the The Maoists till date have income levels of the poorest, and Straits Times the government should one hand, during this time a great struggle took adult literacy programs. The take some time because of the done nothing but troubled the pages of the popular consider doing more as “today’s situation is much worse than place between the present political forces and the group will also open childcare personal differences and vested people of Humla. They take the 1998.” Unlike other countries in the region whose economic Maoists. On the other, the Maoist leadership centres, construct health posts, interests of leaders. Many people in press, “history” is started cheating the very people it was supposed villagers’ food, and collect and financial problems are obscured by political and social and train health assistants. They the UML and ML want the parties helping restore to represent and started taking one wrong decision contributions or “taxes” from issues, Singapore’s second economic recession since will strengthen family courts and to unite. independence is a consequence of the sharp reduction in after another. The party used the people to Thailand’s bruised strengthen itself, but at the same time made many them. They carry out so-called external demand. “No package of government spending can make them more effective. The split has hurt both parties wrong decisions based on certain party members’ ‘operations’ and do not let villagers neutralise the global downturn, the electronics slump, or the The ANWA (R) convention isbadly, as frustrated grassroots confidence. selfish and personal judgements and require- leave the area. They threaten, regional problems which are the root causes of the slowdown,” ments. The philosophy that leadership needed to to be held in mid-November in workers have moved towards the ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○ says Minister Yeo. imprison and torture them be centralised, Prachanda’s photo sessions, mentally. This is all they have Chitwan. The association wants Maoists. Their vote banks have also The Thai broadcast and print media making ordinary people quote his aphorisms and to form district committees in all been seriously affected. General (IPS) swear by them—these actions have created a cult. done... I think we can infer that have extensively covered and glorified here the Maoists do not have the 75 districts before the conventionconsensus is that if the two cannot these popular films, and also played a support of the people. and hopes to have 600,000 unite before the next year’s local pivotal role in perpetuating existing women members and 8,000 elections, the few party workers they prejudices about ‘other’ populations, volunteers. It estimates that therehave left will join the Maoists. including hill tribes and Burmese HOTEL will be roughly 500 participants The UML is much larger than migrants. Of Thailand’s over one million Kathmandu and observers. the ML in terms of the size of its migrant workers, 800,000 are from Burma cadre, but it does not have strong and hill tribe communities number over Dwarika's Escape leaders and consequently, its 900,000. Most have lived in Thailand for followers are either plain ineffective, generations, but have no citizenship rights. Available for Local Residents until 30 September, 2001 or defectors from other parties. The The question is always: are they with us or Two for the Price of One! ML also feels the need for new against us? Stereotypes of Burmese and Defence clueless followers—it cannot carry on forever • Any day check-in (A letter from a Maoist activist) ○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○ Arzu’s wish ○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○ JEREMY HORNER/ PANOS HORNER/ JEREMY often Laotians as cruel and aggressive have with a few die-hard leaders like • One delicious afternoon tea with a selection of Dristi,31 July Sahana Pradhan, Bam Dev Gautam, been part of popular culture since the late 19th and early 20th century pastries served in our peaceful garden Jana Aastha,1 August TEENA GILLIN CHIANG MAI, THAILAND QUOTE OF THE WEEK CP and RK Mainali, Ashok Rai— ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ when the modern Thai nation-state was being created. • Make use of our Lumbini Library Where has the army sent to rescue hen Thailand’s most expensive film,Suriyothai, opens 17 August, A Thailand-based Burmese journalist, Min Zin says the Thais are even if they are workaholics. Bam • Special discount on beverages from the Lumbini Bar “Why are some people saying that they won’t talk without a constitutional monarchy and multi-party system, while others69 are policemen and capture the armsArzu translates as a ‘wish’ in Urdu. audiences will see scenes of epic battles against marauding armiesfearful of losing their identity because of the economic downturn and What does Arzu, the new prime Dev still has the power to motivate • Enjoy a relaxing 1 hour massage in the privacy of arguing that they will not talk unless there is a republic. Huh Bamdev?” looted by Maoists gone? What are workers, people still flock to hear his Wfrom neighbouring Burma. are looking to lay the blame elsewhere. “The ‘fact’ that Burma is our your room -QuestionthatCPN-MLgeneralsecretaryBamDevGautamsaysKingGyanendraaskedhim.Kantipur,8August. they doing? The people are minister’s wife wish for? From the arch enemy has been institutionalised and fictionalised in movies. time Deuba was elected, she has speeches. The UML won the 1996 In times of economic crisis, diverting attention to imaginary enemies has • Sip one complimentary pre-dinner cocktail in our curious and the government does local elections because of Bam Dev, become a national pastime in Thailand. Since the 1997 financial crisis, theToday this fictionalisation is out of control,” says Dr Sunait serene lamp-lit courtyard not tell. Is the information Chutintaranon, historian and respected Burma expert at this time it may lose because he is economic situation has worsened, with rising unemployment, poverty and • Dine in historic splendour-a six-course dinner in our blackout planned? not around. This is why the UML cost of living. Over 1.5 million have lost their jobs, an additional three Chulalongkorn University. Dr Thanet Aphornsuvan, a history lecturer Krishnarpan Restaurant As long as Koirala was prime at Thammasat University, Bangkok, says “We are entering a new era of is ready to bring the ML back to the million are living in poverty, bringing the national total to 10 million or one- • Two nights stay in a luxurious double room minister, we were kept informed fold, whatever the cost. They have sixth of the population. Within two years of the crisis the income of the poormedia nationalism.” Pranom Somwong, a law student and activist for • Fortify yourself with our sustaining breakfasts migrant workers’ issues in Chiang Mai, said when he went to see about the mobilisation of the army realised they cannot take on the had fallen by 25 percent and the cost of living risen by 40 percent. Price: Per couple US$155 net Single US$120 net and its various activities through Congress single-handedly. But that’s not what you see in Thai cinemas, or read in the Thai media. Bang Children under 12 go free when sharing parent’s room daily press releases by the Home The communists have a Two movies in the last two years and one now in production depict Thai (max 2 children). Children’s meals: US$30 per child and Defence ministries. Since majority, or at least a foothold in heroism against bellicose Burmese and Laotian armies. The $6.5 million Rachanhe saw most viewers weeping. “To them this was for real. The Deuba has taken over, there has misunderstandings about history and people thatfilms such can create many organisations. Despite this, Telephone 01-479-488 for reservations been a total news blackout. All the they have never been able to fully th is enormous.” Email: [email protected] URL: www.dwarikas.com Suriyothaiportrays the heroism of the mid-16century Queen Suriyothai, government’s information agencies control any of them, because of who dies in battle helping her King Chakkrabhat fight the invading Especially when the historical validity of these filmsSuriyothaiand have suddenly fallen silent. No fragmentation and personal Burmese army.Bang Rachan,last year’s big hit, is about Thai villagers Thao Suranareeis itself often questionable. Academics have deconstructed one knows anything about the interests. If they can come together fighting to protect the ancient capital Ayutthaya, 74 km north of Bangkok,these legends in the past, and suggested that there is little historical evidence kidnapped policemen. No one again, they will be a party to be which was ransacked by the Burmese in 1767.Thao Suranaree,now in tosupport them. The film’s director Chatrichalerm Yokol admits no knows if the army is still there or reckoned with, and everyone will production, glorifies the wife of an earlyth century 19 Thai governor and her one knows what actually happened almost 500 years ago. “Any- whether they have returned to benefit. their barracks. If they are still there, supposed role in defeating the most revered Laotian king, Chao Anuwong.thing to do with history is open to interpretation and criticism,” “Help! Help!” cries the Buddha. says the 57-year-old director. “It’s impossible that everyone will what are they doing? The When Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra visited Laos last May, “My lord,” answer the politicians, “isn’t it time we think about begging for have the same interpretation of events, reach the same conclusions.” funds to make a harbour alongside the international airport?” government Lao leaders conveyed their displeasure over the film and in July, the rulingPranom Somwong disagrees: “Allhistory comes from somewhere,” she Lao People’s Revolutionary Party’s central propaganda committee threat- says. “We need to ask ‘who owns this history?’” Nepal Samacharpatra, 5 August ened to ban all Thai goods and publish a new textbook telling “the truth.” (Gemini) THIS PAGE CONTAINS MATERIAL SELECTED FROM THE NEPALI PRESS CULTURE 10 - 16 AUGUST NEPALI2001 TIMES 161616 ADVERTISEMENT 10 - 16 AUGUST NEPALI2001 TIMES 111777

means of production in the Soviet republics was a sick joke. His one THE GREAT LIBERATIONpracticalF tenetARCE was a maximum democracy—the people must say LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA though their cultural instincts, CLR James, one-time Trotsykist, full-time connoisseur, cametheir spontaneous actions and from several oppressions that to realise that in the third world, communist—and Maoist—their concerted assemblies. It bourgeois society imposes on me, makes him unique, I say in the but I have no faith at all in your promises are a confidence trick. more than bourgeois bureaucracies Subject: SAVE LUMBINI - THE WORLD HERITAGE SITE interviews, a real Marxist, a rare doing anything for the British ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ seeking to gain a foothold in the thing. The partywallahs of working class or for the writers of colonial politics, became a Marxistpower structures of failing surviving communist states and Indian origin with children to feed Right Honourable Prime Minister Atal Bihari Bajpayee content themselves with without reading any Marx, had democracies. He thought the onlyenclaves have contributed nothingin Britain. What’s more, I think that boasting about the score in enough sense to reject the really Marxist revolution would to Marxism or our understandingcomrade Si Zalvo would have yesterday’s Sharjah match, Communist Party as beneath happen in highly developed of where this world will go. difficulty operating in Mumbai or Government of India intellectual contempt and joined, amongst people who study capitalist societies such as Yes, there are dumb idealists. convincing the oppresses of that city God help us, the Trotskyists of the America. He dedicated books to Marxism, and not many My heart bled this week when I that he and his philosophy were New DelhiDelhiNewDelhi time. He wrote a couple of very reading and interpreting the signs others. heard of Comrade Si Zalvo of the their saviours, leave aside coming to important books before 1938 when and the potential. In Grenada or Nepalese Maoists who spoke to the UK and liberating me. Would India.India.India. Books are still a marginal he was sent by the British TrotskyistBengal, all that a communist India.India. interest in the west and I am the BBC. He said he was not he get past immigration? I realise it is movement to the USA on a lecture party could offer the people was futile for me to advise him to pack it interviewed on radio and by the simply fighting for the liberation The entire Nepalese community is deeply construction of the 10-Km long earthen Rules and the United Nations tour for a few months. He stayed 15good government and all talk of in and get a life. He and his party dailies and weeklies of Britain. They of Nepal. That was only the years. He had a conference with socialism and communism in could win inNepal and then he disturbed by reports that India started embankment east of Russiyal-Khurd Lautan Conve-ntion on River and FARRUKH DHONDY ask about his philosophy of cricket beginning. He was fighting for ○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○ Trotsky himself in 1938 in those circumstances was a the liberation of whole world. could be a minister and have a building a Rusiawal-Khurda Lautan barrage and south of Bhairahawa, the International laws and Lumbini, Nepal his week Weidenfeld and as civilisation, politics, the basis of Mexico. confidence trick on the people. Good stuff, Si, I would love tochauffeur driven jeep and free trips barrage over the Dano River just 200 district headquarters of Rupendehi district practices which require Nicholson published my democratic discipline in the colonial All that’s in the book, but He predicted the fall of the Soviet world, and art and then they ask: be liberated. God knows I suffer to Beijing on an aeroplane. The meters away from the Nepal-India border, of Nepal, will block the natural flow of consultations between two countries before territories have been inundated and Tbiography of CLR James, a there’s more. He got fed up of Union because collective agricul- peasants of Nepal would revere him was he really a Marxist? Trotskyism and began to read ture was a new form of slavery and about 6 km south-east of Lumbini waters in the Dano, River and its tributaries any construction is undertaken within the people living in that area have been man known in Britain, in the as a liberator and then he’d forget all Caribbean, in the circles that The answer is yes, the best! Marx. He came to the conclusion and the workers ownership of the around four months ago. The water level like Dandakhola. Experts fear that the range of 8 kilometer from the international about liberating me and the rest of rendered homeless resulting in great perpetuate Black Studies in CLR James was born in 1901 and that parties that purported to be us in the UK. Sob! of the river at the barrage area is just 2 barrage and its supportive embankment border." hardship and difficulties to the resident of America, amongst people who died in 1989. He was a Trinidian communist and socialist were no Negro. He came to Britain in meters lower than the surface height of that area. We, therefore, demand that all care about the history, lore and literature of cricket and don’t 1932, got involved in anti- (TOI) Lumbini. The blockade of the river flow activities relating to the unilateral could inundate the Lumbini areas any time construction of the barrage should be after the barrage is constructed. stopped forthwith to prevent submergence LANGUAGE LESSONS by LEAH SCHULTE of Lumbini the World Heritage site and Nepal Heritage Society a nonpartisan and the adjoining villages of Nepal . non-political organization is working for preservation of cultural heritage through Nepal and India enjoy the best of relations the teachings of Lord Buddha-the light of since ancient time . Religion and culture Do you saykhaanutoo? Asia. are the hallmark of our traditional and close friendly ties. Lumbini- the birth place The #1 Most Commonly Used Nepali Word. The entire Nepalese community is of Lord Buddha, the great son of Nepal, ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ particularly concerned about the draft of Who is also the light of Asia and perhaps n all languages, certain words are far more guests in offices throughout the country and it is an official report on the probability of the frequently used than others. I’m sure a panelsimply mind-boggling. of the whole world. Any attempt to discussion from eminent psychologists, sociolo- 2,500-years old Buddhist relics being I Another angle for that panel discussion would be gists, and linguists would result in extremely variant change this historical and cultural structure the popularity khaanuof overpiunu . Even cigarettes submerged. This report has further been and interesting reasons for this phenomenon. In will be considered by international Nepali, discounting the ubiquitous and drugs getkhaanu -ed! It is even applied for some substantiated by the on-the-spot study community as a crime 1,000 times greater Namaste, I believe non-oral activities. Once at a shop in Kathmandu, I rubbed on lotion and the being carried out recently by two experts than what the Talibans did in Afghanistan the most common word is thekhaanu verb, in its sahuni commented, of UNESCO who came to rebuild conjugated forms (not to be confused with a close“khaayo”, as we watched my perpetually dry bideshi by destroying the Buddhist statues there kin, Mayadevi temple under Nepal-UNESCO khaannu, to dig, which wouldn’t even make topskin absorb it. some time back for which both Nepal and ten). Recently though,khaanu is getting some Khaanu also pops up in countless non-human cooperation programme. India had strongly condemned it. competition from fast risers like Maobadi and contexts. During monsoon, the kidsJuka shout “ bhuinchaalo (earthquake). khaayo” (leeches ate), we apply stain to Nepal Heritage Society and In view of our close, cordial and In the village, there is the routine furniture in field offices becauseDhusi “ “Khaana khaanubhayo?” Initially, this khaancha” (mold eats), someone with a several other conservation oriented traditional friendly longstanding bonds of agencies and Buddhist organizations question irritated me to no end. Should swollen cheek saysKira “ khaayo” friendship through thick and thin between we also ask passers-by if they’ve (bug ate) in profound misery. attended to other bodily functions? associated with it has information that Recently, when joking with a lodge Nepal and India, it is extremely sad and Then I realised the query actually Lumbini - the birthplace of Lord Buddha painful that this unilateral construction of approximates something “Hey, how are you owner after discovering she had a which has been inscribed by UNESCO in doing?”—more an acknowledgement of someone solar system installed, I asked when Ressiyal- Khurd Lautan barrage to than an attempt to gather information. A civility, she was next going to get a television the World Heritage List in 1997 is under threatens the very existence of Lumbini I believe such things are called. No one set. She responded she’d stick to the expects you to discuss your serious threat, of submersion following itself- which is the cultural property of not radio asTV “ dherai bijuli khaanchha.” construction of Risiawal-Khurda Lautan only Nepal but of the whole world. This tarkari, how Khaanu is also frequently spoken in barrage. great or horrible or nonexistentachar the was, the combination withpaisa or rupia. The headmas- action in any case, can not be considered price of kerosene, or the difficulty of collectingter/policeman/leader/government official/committee as a friendly act nor in accordance with firewood for cooking. member/consultant/priest (subject) + from or for the Paragraph 24 of the joint As eating is a popular and income-generatingcommission/school fee/processing service/ the professed declaration of friendship by donation/building project/unfinished temple (object) comminique issued at the close of our then activity amongst the tourist population,khaanu also India. + conjugated form of premier Girija Prasad Koirala visit to India gets a big workout with visiting bidesis.Ke ke “ khaanu(verb) is proper on August 3, 2000 clearly said "Nepal khaanuhunchha?” (What will you eat?) is likely notgrammatical structure in Nepali. The buzz about It is indeed unfortunate that the understood by short-term trekkers. But the meaningMaobadi is old hat, and Khaaobadi comes close. and India shared a rich cultural heritage relationship between Nepal and India is implied when patient lodge-owners hand a stainedThis political entity threatens, scares, extorts, menu and battered notebook with dot pen for trekkersloots— and there were a large number of cultural eats—falsely under the guise of being Maoist. received a setback by this unilateral action to write their order. Multiply that event by the number sites which were of importance to the of Government of India despite the strong of meals or snacks per day per visitor head and itSo, is what is the significance of khaanuhaving as obvious (despite the declining tourism industry)the that #1 most commonly used Nepali word? As the people of the two countries, the two Prime The Ashoka Pillar, Lumbini, Nepal. and age old bonds existing between the the panel has curtailed their debate because they are Ministers agreed that joint efforts, both at people of two countries. khaanu frequency is pretty high. Further multiplykhaanu-ing tea, it’s futile to wait for their outcome. Governmental and non-governmental will inundate over 200 villages of the 18 The entire Nepalese community therefore, that value ofkhaannu usage by the kitchen staff, theBut I think it reveals some innate wisdom. Living Finally, we urge Government of India to wait-staff, and the clean-up staff and it’s easy tothings see consume, they consume different things and levels, to conserve such cultural heritage Village Development Committees effecting strongly urge the Government of India to in different ways, and some times more than their what a record-breakerkhaanu is in Nepal. Factor in sites would be mutually beneficial." take Immediate and decisive action to fair share. Fancy language won’t hide this basic fact one million people in Marchawar. Majority immediately stop the construction of that all thekhaanu -inclusive conversation from tea- dismantle that barrage and ensure once of life. of the densely populated and fertile area barrage and dismantle those already serving peon staff and tea-imbibing officials and The entire Nepalese community of the district will come under the water constructed to bring about a peaceful again the age old ties of lasting friendship understands that the people in both sides after the construction of the barrage. solution of the present crisis. based on mutual trust, and friendship and of Nepal and India are opposed to the respect for each other's feelings of construction of this barrage which threatens We understand “The unilateral construction The entire Buddhist community has brotherhood between the people of our their live and properties. Moreover, the of the said barrage is against the Helsinki confirmed that thousands of hectares of two countries and their cultural heritage.

NEPAL HERITAGE SOCIETY Bhadrakali, Kathmandu, Nepal. Phone : 248610, Email : [email protected] 181818 CITY 10 - 16 AUGUST NEPALI2001 TIMES HERITAGE 10 - 16 AUGUST NEPALI2001 TIMES 191919 ABOUT TOWN YAK YETI YAK by MIKU MOVIESMOVIESMOVIES Nepali and Hindi moviesonline ticket booking at www.nepalshop.com

EATING OUT Hare Krishna, hare hare… Peking Duckand other Chinese delicacies by Chef Tiyong Fan from China. Tien SALIL SUBEDI ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Keeping Patan’s Krishna Temple hand- Shan Chinese Restaurant, Hotel Shangri La n Saturday, 11 August, the Dr Prem Ratna Sthapit, who 412999 place to be on Krishna’s some is a full-time job. Who wants it? coordinated○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ the restoration says all ○○○○○○○○○ Breakfast with birdsLunch with butterflies and O birthday is the unique stone the main accelerators of deteriora- dinner with fireflies. Traditional Nepali, Indian, and temple in Patan dedicated to the tion were attended to, and the Bystanders like Shrestha Chinese cuisine. Farm House Café in the Park playful god. Thousands of Nepali stunning sandstone carvings were are the only people who Village Hotel, Buddhanilkantha. 373935 women in red saris will throng brought back to their original bring up the ‘m’ word, and Barbecue at the RopesBarbecue for lunch and Patan’s Durbar Square to pray that pulchritude. (This wasn’t the first though no official or semi- the god of love grants them a good, dinner, over 20 dishes, mountain views. The Sky BOOKWORM time the temple had been re- official person will say it, Terrace, Hotel Everest. Reservations recommended. 488100 playful husband. Those already touched—the first big work on it money is a problem. The hitched will pray that their husband A Step Towards Victim Justice System: A Nepalese PerspectiveDr Shanker Kumar was for King Birendra’s coronation temple collects an unaccounted Juicy Steaks, Chilled MexicanBeer cuisine on Sunday and Wednesday 6.30pm— remains kind and frolicsome, and Shrestha in 1975, and then for the 1987 amount of cash, not a huge 10pm. Steaks and beer the rest of the week. K2 Beer and Steak House, Thamel. their families healthy and prosper- SAARC summit.) 433043 Pairavi Prakashan, Kathmandu, 2001 sum like, the Bagalamukhi ous. This year many, no doubt, will Still, there are unfinished bits— temple, but a pretty decent Patan Museum Café Mixed menu, garden seating. Lunch only, 11am—2pm. 25 Rs 465 also be praying that the women’s bill The author explores the notions of victimology and criminalisation with reference to stone paving needs to be fixed at showing. Traditionally, percent off with Summit Card. 526271 guaranteeing property inheritance the crime-victim support management systems in Nepal. He discusses the Muluki Ain plinth-level and on the platform temples have been the for daughters will be passed by NaachgharNew menu with kababs and biryani daily. 7pm—10.30pm. Hotel Yak victims’ human rights and finally makes recommendations on compensation, medical surrounding the temple’s base. The living of priests—they & Yeti. 248999 parliament. The King and Queen copulas on the middle level are get to keep donations, treatment, the right to be informed and other forms of witness and victim assistance will arrive towards evening to pay Nepali dance and foodOver 40 traditional delicacies, and Indian favourites. tiling over like the Tower of Pisa, in this case, cash and their homage to Krishna. anything else offered Newari cuisine in August. Himalchuli, Soaltee Crowne Plaza. 273999 Gender and Democracy in NepalLaxmi Keshari Manandhar and Krishna B and conservation experts say that In a city full of Nepali pagoda problem needs swift attention. inside the main temple Friday Night Sekuwa (BBQ) Appetisers, momos, salad, main courses and des- Bhattachan, eds architecture, the 66 ft high “The temple can easily raise complex. Offerings made serts, one complimentary beer. Rs 699 per head. Throughout the monsoonWomen’s at Studies Program, TU and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Kathmandu, 2000 Dwarika’s Hotel. 479488 good revenue. It needs good outside the gate go to the Rs 200 shikhara night watchman. Some of Wet and Wild Summer Swimming and buffet lunch. Saturday and Sunday at management,” says Dilendra A collection of papers on women and political participation, diversity, economic and of the Krishna temple stands proud Shrestha who runs Third World the collection is used in Godavari Village Resort. Adults Rs 600, children Rs 350. Taxes extra. 560675, property rights and the constitution. The final section suggests strategies to tackle these and unique—testament to the Guest House beside the temple. rituals, and that’s about it. 560775 th problems, including forming a league of women voters, affirmative action, gender devotion of the 17century king of The LHG formed a management Unless some good soul (with a Weekend Swim and LunchSaturday and Sunday. Rs 900 for a family of four. sensitisation training and a national research centre for women. Patan, Siddhi Narsingh Malla. One committee after the restoration, very strong motivation—like the Aroma Sports Centre. Sanepa. 521516. 981030859 dusk in 1637, when Krishna but it didn’t work out too well. prospect of perpetual singledom) Saturday’s at the Malla Swimming and French chef’s barbecue lunch. 11am—Who is the Daughter of Nepal?Sangita Rayamajhi worship was in full swing in the Until the group is certain of what decides to give the temple an 5pm. The Malla Hotel. 418385, 410966 Across Publications, Kathmandu, 2001 Valley, King Siddhi Narsingh was needs to be done, who will do it, endowment, and take on the LHG’s Vegetarian Specialities and fresh clay-oven pizzas. Stupa View Restaurant and Rs 315 strolling through his city and how the maintenance can be challenge to mobilise the community, Terrace. Boudhhnath. 11am—8.30pm The author says Nepali women’s problems, aspirations and dynamism cannot be chanced upon Krishna and Radha organised, and most importantly, it will be hard to raise money every locked in embrace (or in flagrante time it needs work, and the temple Pasta August Homemade pasta like ravioli, tortellini, gnocchi. The Olive Garden, explained linearly, as they generally are. Rayamajhi tries to present women’s discourses, whether local people will help particularly after 1990, in a way that they do not just become appendages to male delicto, depending on whether you out, they areonly posting a will be ravaged by time, rain and Radisson Hotel. 423888 think the carvings are an exact MIN BAJRACHARYA hungry devotees and hangers-on— discourse. Last year’s throng of devotees at KrishnaMuseum Mandir, topeople-watch. and (right) the Should caretaker-handyman there. representation of what went on thatthere. In any case, this temple is like again and again. MUSIC AND DANCE garuda on pedestal. you happen to look up, you will see evening). Moved, the king ordered no other in Nepal, and the logistics So, who wants to preserve Patan’s Heir to a Silent Song: Two Rebel Women of Nepal Barabara Nimri Aziz pigeons looking down disdainfully Galaxy Club Relaunched, with new DJ Ankit Kochar from Kolkata. Everyday that the Krishna Mandir be of carrying the big stones from most romantic rendezvous? except Monday. THursdays, Saturdays ladies free, 1pm onwards. Centre for Nepal and Asian Studies, TU, Kathmandu, 2001 constructed right on that spot. The at you from their perch on the quarries on the Valley rim must gilded Jammin HellDJ Tangri every Saturday, all August. 2pm. The Arch Room, Hotel Rs 500 three-storey sandstone temple have been mind-boggling. De L’ Annapurna. Rs 500 per couple, includes welcome drink. Tickets at HotelAziz’s questDe L’ to understand two women from the Arun Valley and Manakamana who resembles the architecture of Today, in Patan Darbar Square undertook important political and civil rights work. Yogamaya employed religious ideals Jagannath in Orissa, and the Annapurna, The Club—Bhatbhateni, Nanglo, Bakery Café outlets, and Kathmandu the pious make perambulations or garuda, in front of the Guest House. architects King Siddhi Narsingh in a non-violent challenge to Nepal’s Brahminic patriarchy and the elitist structure high- just hang around in front the employed must have come from temple. There is also the usual DJ Neil/ Live BandsEvery Friday and caste Hindus established in Nepal. Durga Devi, a widow, acquired legal skills waged a guano of overfed pigeons all weekends. Daily happy hour. Rox Bar. Hyatt campaign against corrupt and indolent bureaucrats in local district offices. around. Par for the course, you say? Regency. 6pm—9pm. 491234 Well, in the monsoon, droppings are one more factor that encourages GETAWAYS Courtesy Mandala Book Point, Kantipath, 227711, [email protected] HAPPENINGS the grass and algae to grow wildly family. For more information contact OSCAR across—and in—the temple. August Affair in Pokhara Two-night week- CLASSIFIEDTRADERS, 428576. [email protected] end package includes meals, live music, extra Sagar Sumshere Rana found Mountain Biking HMB ○○○○○○○○○ himself cleaning away some of the bed for children under 12, meals, airport The Borderlands Resort transfers, mango festival. Hotel Shangri La. Full workshop, repair facilities, all models. Pick moss on the temple’s stone ceiling For canyoning, rafting, trekking at Tibet borders,up, delivery, professional mechanics. Bike Pokhara 412999 Professional Development Program, Leadershipclothing, spare parts, accessories. Hire, buy, recently. The chairman of the Courses and many more. 425836/425894. sell, new and second-hand bikes. Himalayan Lalitpur Heritage Group (LHG), Dwarika’s Anytime EscapeOvernight accommodation with afternoon tea, cocktail,[email protected]. Mountain Bike. www.bikingnepal.com. 437437. which undertook a ten-month www.borderlandresorts.com. dinner, breakfast and massage. $130 net per couple. Dwarika’s Hotel. 479488 MIN BAJRACHARYA restoration of the temple in 1997/98, Home Line Creations For exclusive home décor, Stress Free Weekends Overnight stay at the Hyatt, dinner for two at the RoxK-Too! Beer and Steakhouse Rana wonders why more people gifts, decorative accessories, ceramics,

not the “longest”, “highest”, “first” or any other○○○○○○○○○○○○ can’t do the same. “If everyone Restaurant, use of pool, health club, spa and outdoor jacuzzi, ayurvedic massage wrought ironand imported brilliant fabrics and superlative. Just a relaxed, easy-going bar and for two, weekend brunch, late check out Sunday. Rs 9000 plus tax. Hyatt Regency, table tops. Add colour to your life. Exclusive contributed just a little time, the restaurant with the coldest beer and juiciest Kathmandu. 491234 showroom: opp. Tri-Chandra College, Darbar atmosphere of the temple could be steaks this side of the moon. By the Kathmandu Marg. 222482 Nagarkot EscapeWeekends in cottages, views of the Himalayas, valleys Guestand House. 433043 maintained, maybe even improved,” AID TETE-E-TETE: Minister for Population and Environment P L he says firmly. forests. Special rates for Nepalis and resident expats. Hotel Keyman Chautari. Alfa UV Water Purifier Singh at a Donor’s Consultative Meeting on 6 August with Kathie Julian The litter begins on the very [email protected] 436850 100 percent pure and safe water for you and your and Angie Datta of ADB and Kabita Bhattarai of CECI. first plinth, around which EVENTSEVENTSEVENTS chana Children’s Book FairOrganised by rato Bangala School A-Level students and wrappers, leaf plates and the hastily- Bal Sansar. 12, 13 August, 11am—4pm. Shri Padma High School Hall, Bhaktapur discarded wrapping of bangles, Darbar Square. Interactive reading of Nepali books and poetry for children. For insertions ring NT Marketing at 543333-36. khukuris and other souvenirs flutter St Xavier’s Golden Jubilee Building Inauguration, 4.30pm, Friday, 10 August. endlessly. It continues past the Closing ceremony, 4.30pm, Saturday, 11 August. St Xavier’s School, Jawalakhel. mandatory “For Hindus only” sign, right inside the shrine with the

For inclusion in the listing send information to [email protected] black stone statue, where nearly four MIN BAJRACHARYA centuries of vermilion, flowers, sweets and oil-lamps are a challenge on FM 102.4 to the most determined cleaner. It is NEPALI WEATHER by NGAMINDRA a hard job keeping presentable the DAHAL 21 small shrines and the sandstone Satellite picture (left) taken on Wednesday morning pillars engraved with scenes shows a clear break in monsoon clouds in eastern FIRE AND WATER: the opposition UML’s student wing burns an ef- Nepal which will bring us a respite from rains over theMon-Fri 0615-0645orld BBC Today W showing Krishna’s deeds from the weekend. But there is a strong monsoon pulse right figy of the Indian Prime Minister on 3 August at Bhotahiti to protest Ramayana and the Mahabharata, behind this clear area, shown by the low pressure Sat 0615-0645Science BBC in Action inundation of parts of the tarai near Lumbini because of an Indian em- which art historians gush indicate a circulation currently over Bangladesh. This should start affecting eastern Nepal by early next week. bankment. refined sense of craftsmanship. Because of the location of three low pressure troughsSun 0615-0645Agenda BBC But trash, unlike time, is in a triangular array over the subcontinent, movement relatively easy to control. The LHG, DSES- 08-08-2001 0300 GMT of the clouds will be smooth. The monsoon lull this g]kfnL ;]jf;]jfg]kfnL;]jf weekend will bring bright and hot days with heavy nightDaily 2045-2115 BBC in collaboration with the Depart- showers in Kathmandu Valley. Afternoon cumulonimbus ment of Archaeology, took up the buildup will trigger heavy precipitation all across the Daily 2245-2300g]kfnL BBC ;]jf;]jfg]kfnL;]jf far more delicate and sophisticated midhills. Next week’s increased cloud cover will bring down min and max temperatures by 2 degrees. task of restoring the temple in October 1997. They filled the joints between the stone blocks, cleared Radio Sagarmatha away the salt efflorescence in the ceiling and under the black KATHMANDU VALLEY P.O. Box 6958, Bakhundole, Lalitpur, Nepal SALIL SUBEDI Tel: ++977-1-545680, 545681 Fax: ++ 977-1- 530227 limestone balconies. They fixed worn-out steps, damaged carvings Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue E-mail: [email protected] /]l8of] ;u/dfyf www.radiosagarmatha.org and faults in the drainage system. PATAN PARADE: Three thousand revellers mark Gai Jatra in an all-day 28-17 28-18 27-17 28-18 28-18 procession through the bahals of Patan on 6 August. 222000 10 - 16 AUGUST NEPALI2001 TIMES Under My Hat

by Kunda Dixit SNAPPING OF PHOTOGRAPHY

STRICTLY IS NOTOn landing, ALLOW I was happy to note that the Department of Immitation has hile flying back to Nepal these also tightened entry procedures into days, it is indeed deeply Nepal so that only the stout-hearted will Wsatisfying and reassuring to see henceforth want to come in. Terrorists that His Majesty’s Govt has taken full without visas have to wait in three lines cognisance of the changed law and order each lasting 30 minutes on average: one situation in our country, and has put into to change money, the next to apply for a force its new Public Security Regulation visa, and third to clear immigration. 2058 and banned the taking of video or They have to fill out many forms with still photographs “at Tribhuvan Interna- deeply private questions like: tional Airport and above Nepal”. A notice Name: to this effect was mandatorily read to Nationality: passengers just after the flight attendants Date of Birth: collected our headsets, even though the movie Date of Expiry: Shrek What this means is that most tourists who want had not yet finished. So mean. to destabilise Nepal and push it into a state of anarchy The announcement also carried the stern warning will be frustrated enough to give up after the first that there are stiff penalties for those who openly flout queue, and head back home in the same plane that the rule: perpetrators will be required to wolf down brought them here. another compulsory helping of tapioca pudding for Downstairs, the Department of Strange Customs dessert, or be defenestrated from an altitude of 15,000 is also doing its bit to make Nepal a safer place. Its feet above Simra, whichever comes first. new Customs Declaration Form now has a list of With draconian new laws like these, we are showingcontraband items that His Majesty’s Govt regards as arriving tourists that we are dead serious about their being a threat to national security, and will not safety and security and want to ensure that they do notallow into the country. For instance, you are not indulge in hazardous activities like taking photographsallowed any longer to bring in more than one each of Mt Everest without a special permit and shooting of the following items: a tricycle, a perambulator, a license from the Defensive Ministry. After all, one man’sbinocular, used linen, and a Molotov cocktail. tourist may be another man’s terrorist. Who knows Walking through the green channel with more what nefarious deeds can be committed with snapshotsthan one of each of these items will result in the of the world’s highest mountain if the pictures fall intoimmediate confiscation of the tricycles in question the hands of the wrong terrorist. Why, someone mightwhich will be destroyed later in a controlled and kidnap Mt Everest for ransom. Or imagine if unscrupu-safe explosion. Perambulator smugglers will then lous anti-national elements took spy photographs of thebe forced to eat another helping of tapioca tarai and then used the imagery to surreptitiously movepudding. our southern border pillars so that large swathes of northern Bihar actually become a part of Nepal.

says Jivan. Half the 65 km NEPALI SOCIETY highway to Tibet is complete and work is progressing with help from a UN food-for-work programme. After that, Simikot something about it,can be the base camp for a and the fastest much shorter route for tourists way he knew how and pilgrims to visit Mt Kailash ivan’swas to join and Mansarovar. Humla Jumla’s steep politics. and arid mountains will always Today, Jivan ismake it a food deficit area, but with income from tourism and J the elected other cash crops Jivan thinks chairman of the Humlis don’t have to depend Humla District anymore on handouts. Development Committee. While Jivan is in Kathmandu this campaigning for week on an emergency mission local elections, because food supplies are Jivan promised running dangerously low, and two things to his flights carrying grain have been voters: a road hampered by bad weather. linking Simikot to Jivan is that rare breed of Tibet so that basiceducated Nepalis who refused needs would be to emigrate or live in the cheaper and morecomfort of Kathmandu. He has accessible, and chosen to return to his village to building latrines. uplift his people. Jivan is “We needed to do modest, and he speaks softly. first things first,” But his voice carries the conviction of his belief: “After I came back to Nepal, I figured instead of flying planes, I would give back to society what I took from it.” MIN BAJRACHARYA

hen Jivan Shahi explains Jivan. graduated from Humla used to have one of Budanilkantha School W the lowest development in 1982, he wanted to desper-indicators among Nepal’s 75 ately to become a pilot. A fewdistricts with an infant mortality years later, one of the proudestrate nearly three times the moments in his life: getting nationala average. The reason so private pilot’s license from manya children died was flying school in Seattle. Jivanbecause of infections caused by returns to Nepal, finds therepoor is sanitation, and respiratory a long waiting list to join Royalillness due to breathing sooty Nepal Airlines (this was thefires indoors during four winter days before private airlines).months of the year. So the next And by this point in his life,thing Jivan pushed were Jivan had got tired of Nepalissmokeless stoves, and now he who didn’t know where Humlahas installed a 10 kilowatt was, or confused it with Jumla.microhydro plant near the And there was always an district undercurrent of condescen-headquarters. sion, as if to say, “Oh yes, that“We have the resources, we remote place where there ishave the people, with a little bit never enough food to eat.” of help from outside we can Jivan decided he would do make Humla self-sufficient,”

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