#425 14 - 20 November 2008 16 pages Rs 30

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN: Rohit Weekly Internet Poll # 425 Kushait from Janakpur looks in at the Q. How will the Obama victory affect gate of President Yadavís residence and the region? at Dhapashi on Saturday while the Total votes: 4,165 president was meeting journalists. Kushait wanted the president to help him with a land dispute.

Weekly Internet Poll # 426. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com Q. How would you assess the government’s first 100 days?

Anybody home?DEEPENDRA BAJRACHARYA

As the honeymoon period ends, uncertainty looms

he Maoist-led government problems, Nepalis still expect the Nepali Times that there is strong committee; and an agreement on T has been in office for three Maoists can bring change. criticism from within of Maoist the terms of reference. months, and some of the However, the biggest challenge ministers, and the hardliners Meanwhile, Prime Minister ex-guerrillas in government to the party leadership is now look like they are going to be met senior admit that waging war was easier. from within. The Maoists are dominating the conference next Indian leaders on Wednesday in The Maoists inherited a holding intense backroom week. New Delhi and briefed them on battered economy, a fuel crisis, a consultations before a conference The Maoists are also facing the state of the peace process. The crippling electricity shortage and of nationwide cadre opens on 20 pressure from the NC, which has Indians are understood to have a standstill in development and November. stepped up its rhetoric. The urged him strongly to work with governance. Although their “This is a very crucial NC’s Arjun Narsingh KC said: the other parties. ‘people’s war’ was largely meeting,” says Sarala Regmi of “It’s been three months and the Indian Foreign Minister responsible for some of these the Maoist Tharuhat Provincial Maoists still haven’t fulfilled Pranab Mukherjee is due here Council. “The CA is just a any of their promises.” next week and is expected to urge transitional compromise; we will He said the NC would not the NC not to play oppositional not give up until all oppressed join a reconstituted committee politics at this time because it people are liberated.” on integration unless three could undermine the peace Party sources told conditions were met: the process and delay constitution- defining of a ‘national party’; a drafting. balance of power in the Dewan Rai 2 EDITORIAL 14 - 20 NOVEMBER 2008 #425

Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Editor: Kunda Dixit CEO: Ashutosh Tiwari Design: Kiran Maharjan Marketing Manager: Sambhu Guragain Asst Manager: Subhash Kumar Subscriptions: 5542535/5542525 Hatiban, Godavari Road, Lalitpur Inside the UML GPO Box 7251, 5250333/845 [email protected] Fax: 5251013 www.nepalitimes.com Printed at Jagadamba Press 5250017-19 The party suffers an existential crisis DAYLIGHT ROBBERY he core problem in Nepali to blame. This narrative lauds the ideological battle and personal T politics today is intra- party’s ‘balanced’ policy during rivalry is blurred. Oli and party differences. There is a the peace process, where it Gautam may represent the two Nepalís revolution was supposed to lead us towards a New Nepal. deepening rift between the adopted a policy of critical extremes, but they have come A new set of elected leaders was supposed to bring us a new Maoist dogmatists and engagement with Maoists. closer recently. Oli supported vision and infuse citizens with hope and a sense of national purpose. pragmatists. The NC’s right wing With this line, and a strong Gautam to head the UML team in Nepalis havenít yet given up hope. They want to give the tendencies are re-emerging, organisational base, the party government, while Khanal was government they elected a chance to prove itselfóboth in thought it would be rewarded by rooting for Amrit Bohara. Oli now improving their daily lives and also by charting a new future for the electorate. Post-April, there expects Gautam to reciprocate the this country. PLAIN SPEAKING was disarray. Excuses were support during the convention, Any country that has suffered war suffers a hangover of Prashant Jha found, Maoist intimidation was when Khanal’s leadership will be violence. But there are other byproducts of insurgency: held responsible and the questioned. The result of that criminality, bribery, extortion and breakdown in law and order. drowning out centrist voices. It is leadership changed. Many in the power struggle will determine the Most transition states go through this phase: the former Soviet a wonder that the MJF is a party UML still feel their line was UML’s approach to the Maoists, bloc was virtually ruled by the mafia for a decade after 1990. at all, given the hatred among the correct but the tainted leadership and thus the duration of this In Nepal, a revolution that was fought at great human cost has top leaders. was being punished for government. ironically habituated people to kidnappings and corruption. Even if the lives of Nepalis donít improve, we need to have a perception But the most interesting compromises during the 1990- Whether the UML can revive that things are on the mend: that delivery of services is happening, ideological and leadership 2005 period. itself will depend on the that jobs are being created, that wealth is being spread. The struggle is within the UML. The Now voices arguing for greater ideological position it adopts, its present culture of impunity, the surge in crime and corruption do UML is thriving, despite being proximity to the Maoists have effectiveness in government, the not give us that perception. rejected by the people, because asserted themselves. Bamdeb way the NC and Maoists evolve, There is daylight robbery going on in Nepalís petroleum the NC and Maoists are fighting. Gautam is the most active the nature of polarisation in the distribution network resulting in massive adulteration. The guilty The party is suffering from a proponent of this line. Most of next few years, and whether it are never punished. Local goondas extort 20 per cent or more from severe existential crisis, and can’t his cadre from the ML days went can retain its grip on the lower hospitals being built by charities in remote areas. Youth groups figure out where it has gone on to join the Maoists and his levels of the bureaucracy. are on the prowl, threatening and extorting. wrong. stated aim is to merge the UML The UML has to confront At this rate, it wonít take long for the euphoria that followed the Any UML leader begins his and Maoists. Jhalanath Khanal other challenges. It has dismally elections to evaporate. Among the public there is apathy about corruption, bordering on fatalism. It is seen as a given, it is assessment of the Maoists by may not go that far but believes failed to deal with the Tarai’s accepted and its cost is factored into all transactions. claiming that the rebels had to in ‘broader left unity’. identity politics. The party Yet we know that there is a direct correlation between give up their ‘ultra-left But those demanding greater structure is non-inclusive. Its corruption and lives lost because hospitals arenít built, or toxic adventurism’ and accept the distance from the Maoists have leaders make prejudiced fumes from adulterated fuels that poison us. line. According also gained strength. The statements. It has lost its base It is argued that corruption lubricates the bureaucracy, allows to this version, the ‘people’s war’ conservative K P Oli school has among Madhesi intermediate the middle class to get things done and spreads cash. But was wrong. The Maoists could been skeptical of the peace castes and Dalits, and faces the numerous studies have shown that corruption hurts the poorest the rise because of the mess created process and has viscerally danger of being reduced to an most. Some say it is poverty that feeds corruption, but actually it by the NC, army and then the opposed the Maoists. He draws exclusively pahadi party. is greed. king. The UML had little role his support from party workers It also needs to reassess its It is retail street-level corruption that is most visible to us, but through the 90s and was thus not who have often been thrashed by relationship with NGOs run by grand-scale corruption at the highest levels of government is more hidden the Maoists and want to maintain party sympathisers. These have and more destructive, deepening a distinct identity. been the UML’s proxy patronage inequality and deterring investment. If the UML has got the well dispensation networks. But While we wait for this government deserved image of a flip-flop getting coopted into funding to get its act together as its party, it is because of this civil society has blunted the honeymoon period runs out, it may as internal struggle. And the man political edge of the cadre. UML well start working on public who has reconciled those workers and other sidekicks in accountability. interests, though personally ‘civil society’ are derisively Extortion and bribery have inclined to the Oli view, is dismissed as doing ‘dollar ko become accepted evils, and unless Madhav Nepal. He is still the kheti’. Nowhere do democracy, they are tackled first, this government decisive player in the party and left politics, and civil society will find it impossible to meet any of its ambitious economic goals. will stage a comeback during the intersect as clearly as inside the convention. UML. Its future decisions will What has complicated the have an impact in all three plot is that the line between the spheres. Made inKIRAN PANDAY Japan We can learn from the Japanese about successful local government TOKYO—In a global study on governance a barely one year during the past four years. is responsible for national projects, local ageing population responsibility for local few years ago, it was found that the level of There have been four since 2005. government looks after welfare, social surveillance and security. public trust in parliament, government and While they may be skeptical about their insurance, security and healthcare, and In Nepal, our post-1990 experience in state officials in countries around the national government, the Japanese are takes responsibility for looking after the local development proves that community- world was overwhelmingly low. fiercely proud of the work their local elderly. managed projects—whether forests, roads, A majority of people said they were governments do. Japan’s decentralisation In recent years, Japan’s local irrigation or radio—can be hugely more comfortable forming non-government model is unique and innovative. As we governments have been burdened with the successful. Nepal’s Local Self-Government entities and taking care of themselves than wait patiently for a Nepali constitution to increasing demands placed on them by the Act of 1998 was revolutionary not just waiting for the government to look after be written, there are several lessons to country’s ageing population. More than 7.2 because the decision-making was absorb here. million Japanese are starting to leave the transferred to the people, but because the INTERESTING TIMES Japan is divided into 47 different workforce and move back to their communities were also given rights to elect Mallika Aryal prefectures, which are further divided into communities. At the same time, more local officials. The act has been in a limbo cities, where 80 per cent of the population women are going back to work after now for more than five years. lives. The 1946 constitution recognises marriage and bearing children, and are However, in the next 18 months, as them. Japan was no exception: more than local government as an important part of demanding that local government provides Nepal rebuilds its damaged structures and 71 per cent of people said they distrusted democracy, and it is strongly focussed on facilities for family support. society, it will also be writing the parliament, nearly 70 per cent were the communities it serves. This has Judging by the pride people hold in constitution of the new republic with a suspicious of the executive, and 60 per helped control corruption because of local government, it is clear this federal structure. To avoid making the cent distrusted public officials. greater accountability. autonomous model, with locally mistakes we made about local government This suspicion is one of the reasons The communities directly elect empowered populations, has been a after 1990, it is important that those why in the last 20 years only two Japanese governors, mayors and members of local success. To deal with the increasing writing the constitution do not forget the prime ministers have lasted more than two assemblies. The Local Autonomy Law, pressures on local government, Japan power of the people and learn from good years in office. A prime minister’s time in amended in 1999, also empowers local regularly calls on communities for help. It practices—such as those in Japan and our office has decreased from three to two to authorities. While the central government is now looking at the idea of giving the own past successes. 14 - 20 NOVEMBER 2008 #425 3

L ETTERS

TIMBER Labour and in the recruiting agencies so action is The report ëTimber to Tibetí (#424) made sad taken to protect Nepalis from exploitation and reading. How the local authorities are turning a cheating by fellow-Nepalis. It is a shame that the blind eye to such destruction of forests and very people we rely on to prop up our economy illegal cross-border trade in timber is not are so shabbily treated. While Dewan Rai understood. They have to wake up and stop such exposes abuse, Ganesh Gurung says women blatant misuse of natural resources which are should be allowed to go abroad to work. Unless community property. The government has to safeguards are in place, it would be criminal to ensure adequate supply of food, fuel and other allow Nepali women to be sent to places like essential items to the people of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia where the remote district so that they they will face abuse. do not have to cut the valuable Renu Sah, email forests to get a pittance in return. In fact, planting trees BACKSIDE and hence renewal of forests Many people, including myself, should be encouraged by free read your paper from the or subsidised supply of backside. I have been following seedlings. the exploits of your asinine D B N Murthy, Peace Lane, columnist for more than a year Sanepa and must say that ëAss for saleí (#423) really took the cake. Not REMITTANCE ECONOMY to spoil the fun, but for the sake I would like to commend of us expats in Kathmandu Mr Ganesh Gurung for his would the Ass give us hints insightful comment in favour of about who the following are: opening up the migrant worker Cloudy, Doc, Laldhoj, market for women (ëAt what cost the remittance Bhayankar, Bhayanak, Yummy and all those economy?í, #423). It doesnít make sense to ban acronyms like WB/IMF DSA? Thanks. women from working in the Gulf since they are Sara C, email smuggled there anyway by unscrupulous manpower agencies. As Mr Gurung argues, this makes them more vulnerable to exploitation. LETTERS What should be done is to learn from the Nepali Times welcomes feedback. Letters should be experience of Sri Lanka and the Philippines so brief and may be edited for space. While pseudonyms that labour rights of the women are safeguarded, can be accepted, writers who provide their real names and contact details will be given preference. Email and embassies should be set up in countries letters should be in text format without attachments which have a high proportion of Nepali women with ëletter to the editorí in the subject line. working. P Kumar, Kathmandu Email: letters(at)nepalitimes.com Fax: 977-1-5521013 Your special coverage of the plight of Nepali Mail: Letters, Nepali Times, workers abroad, especially women, should be GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal. read by every official at the Department of 4 NATION 14 - 20 NOVEMBER 2008 #425 Better climate for education

New school design could revolutionise classrooms

KUNDA DIXIT in BARDIYA and nearly zero in winter. This “This building shows that if was inaugurated this week by poses a much bigger challenge.” we work together we can do it,” Danish Ambassador Finn hen Sonam Wangchuk As an engineer, Wangchuk says Hasina Banu Sheikh of the Thilsted. The building is part of a W first came to this came up with a new design that group BASE which supported the program to improve the quality of western Tarai district oriented the classroom to face the construction. Banu says the education for the children of ex- to look at schools last winter, he sun in winter, and with awnings government should use designs Kamaiyas as well as to upgrade was surprised to see the that shade the windows in specific to theTarai and classrooms in schools in the classrooms half empty. summer. The walls are made of mountains in the 15,000 new district. When he entered the schools, compressed mud blocks that retain classrooms it wants to build in The Education for Freedom it was clear why: the rooms were heat and insulate the rooms. the next five years under an ADB/ campaign is supported by the just too cold. He was determined “Design, orientation and World Bank-funded program. Danish group, MS, with its local to do something about it. construction materials make a lot The Maoist-led government partner, BASE. It is partly funded Wangchuk is from Ladakh and of difference,” says Wangchuk. wants to achieve 100 per cent by high school children in has been working to improve the Three more two-room school- literacy in the next two years, for Denmark who set aside a single INSTANT CLASSROOMS: This curriculum and classroom buildings with this design are which it needs classrooms for day’s earning every November and school building with two classrooms infrastructure in the harsh climate being built in Bardiya. 7.8 million children. Many are have so far collected more than was completed in 20 days using the of the trans-Himalayan region of The advantages of the new skeptical that this can be done, Rs85 million. new earth design perfected by where the temperature in design are: the building is ready in but Mahasharan Sharma, Director The Janatanagar school was Ladakh-based engineer, Sonam winter often drops to 10 degrees less than three weeks; the rooms at the Department of Education built using earth blocks made of Wangchuk (above). below zero. But the classrooms are climate responsive; the says it can. “The money has been 94 per cent mud and 6 per cent stay a toasty 17 degrees in the classroom is earthquake safe; the set aside for 9,000 classrooms this cement compressed with a manual architecture. daytime. mud blocks have good insulating year alone, and if we launch this compactor. Wangchuk conducted He says: “They think it is for “The problem in the Nepal properties; local materials and on a war-footing it is possible,” workshops for Department of poor people, but this technology Tarai is a bit different,” Wangchuk labour are used; and the he told Nepali Times. Education engineers on the is appropriate not just for says. “You have a temperature construction process empowers the The prototype school in process, but says many people schools but also for residential variation of 44 degrees in summer community. Bardiya was built in 20 days and have a mental block against mud buildings.” Mud saves time and money

s concrete and glass become the In addition, they use much less energy Asymbols of progress, proponents of and the kiln chimneys do not pollute the adobe and mud architecture are environment. The mud blocks emit eight fighting a losing battle. times less carbon dioxide into the However, research in mud technology atmosphere than kiln-baked bricks and has shown that sun-baked adobe bricks can each school building saves 15 tons of be superior to kiln bricks both in strength firewood. and insulation properties. Our ancestors The lightness of the blocks also understood this and used mud, which is why makes the buildings earthquake safe and old buildings are cool in summer and warm the walls are reinforced with six in winter. In stark contrast, concrete and horizontal RCC ties and a vertical tie cement structures have poor thermal every 1.5 metres. qualities, making their interiors baking hot Mud has its down sides: it takes in summer and bitterly cold in winter. training to use properly, needs Research at the Auroville Earth Institute maintenance and is generally not in India has proved that the bias against waterproof or insect proof. However, most mud will need to change if society wants to of these disadvantages can be addressed graduate to energy-efficient, appropriate with CSEBs which use six per cent building practices. cement to stabilise the mud. The The technology used to build the compression technique makes strong, Bardiya school used Compressed durable blocks as strong as baked bricks. Stabilised Earth Blocks (CSEB). Mud is The technology could be easily used mixed with cement in a ratio of 96:4 and to mass produce cheaper and compressed with 15 tons of pressure with a environment-friendly bricks even for the HOSTE HAINSE: Villagers in Janatanagar use a manual compressor that delivers manual compactor (see picture). The Kathmandu Valley. For aesthetes, the 15 tons of pressure needed to forge stabilised earth blocks for the construction of resulting bricks are even stronger than kiln- bricks could easily be dyed red to make the school. baked bricks. them look like kiln-baked bricks. BUSINESS 14 - 20 NOVEMBER 2008 #425 5 Bhattarai’s D4E plan

New Standard ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ will doom this country Standard Chartered Bank Nepal Imagine inaugurated its new branch at Adarshanagar, Birganj. The branch will offer a full range of personal and business banking services. Standard Chartered now has 16 branches in Nepal.

Money machine ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Bank of Kathmandu has installed a new ATM at Chabahil, Chuchepati. The bank now has 14 ATMs.

Smooth talkers

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ The two winners of the Horlicks WizTeam 2008 Nepal left for Bangalore to participate in the ìHorlicks WizTeam South Asian Finals 2008î. The winner of the competition will represent South Asia at a conference in Britain. BACHELORS OF WAR? Guerrillas at a camp in Chitwan will Cold touch be entitled to university degrees

under the finance minister's plan. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Dabur Nepal has launched a new range of SAM KANG LI skincare products under its Gulabari brand name. The new range includes moisturising cold magine no school and no a new rung placed on the career ‘recognised’ by the certificate be to cream, moisturising lotion and premium face I exams either. Imagine the ladder of ambitious young obtain a job? freshener. government gives you a Maoists, it is destined to be a Or is Bhattarai giving out degree anyway. corruption-ridden plan. It won’t certificates now to mollify Last week, Minister of Finance help anyone in the job market. disgruntled cadres and put , PhD, said the And there is a better way to teach pressure on the private and the government was preparing to the former rebels how to fish for state sectors later to accept the hand out academic certificates to themselves. BPWs as new hires? those who could not pursue Corrupt process: Suppose If so, when those with formal education due to their the plan goes forward. How will dubious degrees are seen to be involvement in the 10-year-long the government verify the facts paid salaries, others with genuine people’s war—a war that left more concerning a D4E aspirant? Will degrees will have little incentive than 13,000 Nepalis dead and it ask for letters of verification to work in Nepal. The counterfeit thousands more injured and from senior political leaders who in effect drives out the genuine. displaced. were also engaged in the war? Concrete action: In his And this act of providing budget speech, Bhattarai certification letters will expand announced that the next year will STRICTLY BUSINESS the discretionary decision- be the Year of Construction, while Ashutosh Tiwari making power of senior 2011 will be the Year of Tourism. politicians, some of whom are These sectors require skilled Bhattarai further stated that likely to use their new-found workers. Why not find money to those without academic authority to please not Mao but pay for short-term, skill-based credentials would also receive the Mammon by selling favours on training programs that help former certificates. Why? Apparently the side. rebels master skills that they can because they possess sufficient Failed the SLC five times? No sell to the construction and skillls and knowledge but could problem. Pay a senior politician tourism markets? The sooner the not go to school because of to vouch that because you spent former rebels acquire skills to earn financial or other problems. your teenage years hiding their own money in and out of Put another way, when this pamphlets in Kirtipur, you are Nepal, the less of a burden they degree-for-experience (D4E) plan now eligible for something akin will be on the government. is carried out, the path to earning to a Bachelor of People’s War Many Nepalis gave up their a degree will not be the old- (BPW) degree. student years to take part in the fashioned way of studying hard Confused signals: Shown war. In these relatively peaceful to fulfill the requirements, but of a BPW certificate, how is the job times, we must find ways to having a political leader vouch market to evaluate its worth? economically rehabilitate those that you were in the jungles of Since full-time jobs that pay Nepalis. But the way to do that is Rolpa toting a gun at a time when regular salaries do not require not by ‘recognising’ the ex-rebels you should have been at school in employees to engage in even mini as, say, fishermen, when in reality Tulsipur. people’s wars in the workplace, they do not know what a fish Assuming that the D4E is not how relevant will the experience is—much less how to catch one.  6 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 14 - 20 NOVEMBER 2008 #425 “Ian Martin is a communist”

Interview with Govinda Raj Joshi (NC), be a leftist. Being a communist himself, he forgot Nepal, 16 November he worked for the UN, set out to help the communists, and helped the Maoists in every Why is the NC resentful towards way he could. Plus, he doesn’t seem to be able to UNMIN? tolerate the NC. Martin acted unethically. The Govinda Raj Joshi: We election for the constituent believed that UNMIN would assembly was not play an important role in conducted fairly. bringing the peace process to a fair conclusion and having an And NC found out independent election. about this only now? MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA However UNMIN has failed in We knew about this before, both these tasks. but our party as a whole just found out now. What wrongs did Learning fast UNMIN commit during So you must be be the elections? displeased about Saraswati Karki in Kantipur, 12 November They made the people go UNMIN’s term being against the candidates of extended. Santi Devi Rajbhangsi, a Maoist CA member, didn’t even know how other parties who were being We are. This is about ethics. to dial a number on her mobile, but now she uses it a lot. “Now I can targeted by the Maoists. Then Girijababu even told the UN make my own calls. When we don’t have meetings, I call my friends they didn’t go to all the secretary-general that up for a chat,” says Rajbhangsi. constituencies. Shouldn’t UNMIN did not behave Her ‘chats’ are at times complaints about not being able to learn they have monitored all the correctly. Yet the English because she is illiterate: “I can speak everything but can’t places? government is getting ready write. Right now I have learnt to write my name in Nepali.” to ask UNMIN to extend its Other female CA members like Rajbhangsi are trying to adjust to Can you give us any term again. the city life by training to use a computer and ride a scooter, and examples? learning English. There are 197 women in the CA from 19 parties. They used to attend my KIRAN PANDAY But the government CA member Asha Kumari Sardar of the MJF feels that to adapt to public meeting all day long and instigated probably needs UNMIN. city life it is necessary to learn all three—computer, scooter and people to go against me. They even said that they It’s the Maoists who need UNMIN, not the English. At present she is learning English and how to use would cancel my candidacy. government. UNMIN provides the legality that computers, but is determined to learn all three by the end of the the Maoists need to be in government. That’s why year. Why do you think UNMIN did this? even if the government asks UNMIN to stay on, An NGO is aiding 19 other women like her to learn English and The main chief of UNMIN, Ian Martin, seems to the NC will not accept it. computer skills. Jubba Suren of the Santhal ethnic group gives a high priority to learning English. Every morning she spends an hour in a language class. “I can’t understand when the other CA members speak in English during our meetings,” says Suren, who is educated up to Direct the undirected grade six. “That is why I feel it is extremely important to learn the language.” She is also planning to buy a scooter because she has to attend a number of programs. NC’s Kabita Sardar, who used to be a teacher, says: “While I was Yubraj Ghimire in Samaya, in the village, I thought I knew something. But I’ve realised now November 7-13 that there is a lot more to learn.” Recently the cabinet issued a seven-point directive regarding civil servants, especially about their meetings and interactions Toxic school with foreigners. The directive, issued at the initiation of Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav, indirectly Dhristi, 11 November requests foreign diplomats in Nepal to respect diplomatic ethics MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA Bara— A warehouse near the Nepal National Secondary School in and norms while meeting attitude of the government Chinese embassy. Along with Amlekhganj is packed with toxic chemicals causing serious health politicians, ministers or makes us question their so- them were Maoist leaders Netra problems for the students. The smell of the chemicals that are government employees. called commitment to the right Bikram Chand and Jayapuri leaking from their containers is overpowering, and the students Minister Yadav must have his to information. Gharti. are having dizzy spells and even vomiting. Besides the students, reasons but it would be foolish to How effective can such a This isn’t the first time that residents of nearby houses are also affected. The warehouse stores expect a substantial result by directive be when the ministers such an embarrassing incident pesticides and agrochemicals that were imported 32 years ago, implementing such a code of themselves act irresponsibly has occurred. It used to happen found to be hazardous and put into storage before being destroyed. conduct only at the civil servants’ with regard to foreign visits and all the time during the tenure of There are 140 tons of toxic chemicals like organophosphates and level and not at the political level. don’t even care to inform the . Krishna mercury-based chemicals, DDT and other carcinogenic chemicals Nepal’s ministers have a history of state? The most recent incident Prasad Sitaula, who was then here. Both the school and the residents have requested the rushing abroad at the drop of a hat, was that of Information Minister home minister, made several government on numerous occasions to remove this toxic store and often jeopardising national and secretive trips to Jharkhand to relocate it. Students even blocked the Tribhuvan Highway twice to prestige. Neither the government Defence Minister Ram Bahadur meet a ‘guru’— an easy excuse. press their demand. VDC chairman Bharat Ghale says locals have nor the ministers make any effort Thapa conveniently cruising Under these conditions, how given up hope that the government will do anything. to formally notify the public of into Tibet in a government SUV meaningful will Yadav’s their junkets. This slapdash escorted by a car from the directive be? SELECTED MATERIAL TRANSLATED EVERY WEEK FROM THE NEPALI PRESS CONSTITUTION 2010 14 - 20 NOVEMBER 2008 #425 7 Rationale for federalism

Many Nepalis, even CA members and political leaders, do not fully understand the concept of federalism. Himal Khabarpatrika talked to Krishna Khanal, political science professor at Tribhuvan University, about how federalism might work in Nepal.

Why do we need federalism? councils’ within a province, Federalism is required in our which is widely practised in country due to the structure of countries that have adopted society. The previous system federalism. Some even talk about could not address the ethnic, sub-provinces. But it is lingual and cultural diversity of impractical to create an our society. People’s aspirations autonomous sub-province for gradually started rising and there each ethnic group. was no other way to address them. Decentralisation to some Federalism is a means to address extent can address this issue at all sorts of aspirations. VDC level. Nepal cannot sustain too many provinces. Is federalism the only way to address ethnic, lingual and Doesn’t the breakup of cultural diversity? Yugoslavia show that Federalism recognises individual federalism is not always the identity. But this identity is not answer? necessarily ethnic or linguistic. The federal system of Yugoslavia Switzerland is a small country but was not based on democratic there is ethnic and linguisitc norms, values and systems but on KIRAN PANDAY diversity which is addressed a communist system and through a federal system. India is a principles. It was the same case in Himal: What is a federal judiciary. These provinces can most people, which is natural big country with wide diversity. the Soviet Union. The party was system? function independently and are because discussions have not yet Therefore, it adopted federalism. run centrally while the state was Krishna Khanal: Federalism is also autonomous. They don’t started in this regard. But they federal. These are examples of a system of government in which have to wait for the central are completely different in Are there other reasons for how a politburo-controlled the power to govern is government to pass acts and philosophy and concept. Nepal to become a federal federalism fails. Democracy is the constitutionally divided between regulations. In short, there are two Federalism delegates power to state? first condition in federalism. a central governing authority and governments—central and the people of a province, It is also necessary for the constituent political units. These provincial—under a federal whereas the central government country’s development. Is federalism not necessary units are called states or system. gets power from the people. In a Decentralisation could not bring in relatively homogeneous provinces, but I prefer to call way, the federal set-up is development. Those countries like China? them provinces as this term is Can you clarify the bottom-up approach, which is representatives elected from the In principle, China is running frequently used in the Nepali differences between quite the opposite of villages settle in Kathmandu and under a unitary system, not a context. decentralisation and decentralisation where power is live a life of luxury. federal one. By the time Hong Each province has its own federalism? delegated from the centre to the Decentralisation cannot be Kong was returned, it adopted a organs—legislative, executive and They might sound similar to periphery. meaningful as long as the ‘one country, two systems’ policy. leadership is centralised. Now we can say it has adopted a Therefore, federalism is necessary ‘one country, three systems’ to expedite development activities policy as there are separate and ensure the participation of policies for Hong Kong, Macau “It’s a shame” the people. and mainland China. There are The development and autonomous regions for utilisation of existing natural minorities within mainland resources is not possible in a China, for instance in Tibet and Aasha Kumari Sardar (MJF) structure. Therefore, parties should not guide the unitary state. Take Karnali for inner Mongolia. members but instead allow them the vote using instance—rich in natural resources Himal: Aren’t we getting late to write the their conscience. Take as an example: if the draft but reliant on food sent from Most countries become constitution? constitution overlooks women’s rights, we would Kathmandu. In a federal structure, republics either after Shardar: We have promised people a new Nepal never obey the party whip. through writing a new there will be internal competition independence from within the provinces. Some colonialism or after winning constitution. Six months have Do you believe the provinces have potential for a war. Are there countries already passed but the process of constitution will be written tourism and others for water where federalism was writing the constitution has not within the stipulated time? resources. It is federalism which discussed as we are doing even started. It’s a shame. We can It is not possible at this pace. opens avenues for competition. now? not show our face to them. There is a possibility that the new Federal states have been constitution would never be There are 101 ethnic groups established in two ways: What is delaying the written in this way. Everyone in Nepal. Should we have as sovereign states which had to process? wants power, not a new many provinces? unite for some reason, for Political parties, be it coalition constitution. partners-including mine-or This is not logical. It is the example the USA, where there argument of those against were 13 separate states under opposition, are not at all serious What in your view should be federalism. It is not possible to British colonial rule. about writing the new the priorities of the new give each ethnic group a state or The previously unitary state constitution. People elected them constitution? province. We can create provinces of Belgium went federal in 1993. to write a new constitution but Women account for 51 per cent of in a manner to include major Voices were raised over ethnic, they are engaged in a power play. SANTA GAHA MAGAR the total population but they are ethnic groups. lingual and cultural issues in given only 33 per cent of the seats in the CA. The 1970, which continued to escalate The process of writing the CA rules of state should ensure 51 per cent participation in Then what do we do with the and there was fear of the country procedure is said to be delayed by small all levels of the state and half of this should be smaller groups? breaking up in 1980. They created parties raising the issue of the whip allocated for Madhesi women. Then, within the We always have alternatives. For a new constitution in 1993 with a system? women there are elite women, Madhesi women, them, we can create ‘cultural federal republic. It’s true that the process of writing the Janajati women and Dalit women. The state constitution was delayed by the absence of CA should identify their different problems. Like regulations. At the same time, it is the Pahadi women get leave on Tij, Madhesi women responsibility of the CA to decide on the state CORRECTION: The interview in this space (For equity, #424) should get leave on Jitiya. was with Sita Gurung (NC) 8 NATION

The saga of the British embassy in Kathmandu reflected regional geopolitics The resident’s reside

ANDREW HALL the difficulty of getting the have a reasonable claim to material of the required standard assume title over the old British ollowing war in 1814-16 through the Nepalese embassy, but when negotiations F with the East India Government”. became deadlocked over the Company, concluded by the Eventually His Britannic desire of both India and Pakistan Treaty of Sugauli, Nepal was Majesty’s Minister, Lt Col to acquire the Kabul embassy, obliged to accept a British Geoffrey Betham, moved in with India opened an embassy in Resident at Kathmandu. his wife, reporting in a secret 1948 at the small palace of Shital Edward Gardner presented despatch: “It is a magnificent Niwas, further north on his credentials to King Girvan two-storied building constructed Maharajganj (today the official Yudhha at the royal palace of on the most up to date residence of Nepal’s president). Nuwakot in 1816 and the earthquake-proof plan and is The Maharaja offered Britain Residency was established on fitted with electricity and a new embassy site adjoining the land gifted by the king—but modern sanitation.” old. Rough plans were drawn up, believed locally to be 'ill- But within six years, the but a political crisis intervened, omened'. building’s shortcomings had with the departure of King The 50-acre site in Lainchaur become apparent, with a British Tribhuvan and most of his (named from the English 'lines', government official complaining family to India. the usual name for British that the house was “built in the Tribhuvan returned to enclaves throughout India), New Delhi style which is Kathmandu to assume full BEFORE AND AFTER: The old residence (below) in 1918 before it was included a church, a greenhouse, unsuitable to the climatic and power on 18 February 1951, destroyed in the 1934 earthquake and the present residence of the British ambassador. a miniature zoo and a bird general conditions in promising his people a sanctuary. But the 1934 Kathmandu”. democratic constitution framed earthquake caused severe damage The embassy site had passed by an elected Constituent Minister, Herbert Morrison, wrote faced further problems. The to the residence, which was in 1858 from the East India Assembly (a promise finally to the Indian and Pakistani British wished to move eventually demolished in late Company to the government of delivered 57 years later, when an prime ministers proposing to temporarily into Shital Niwas, 1940. Work began the following British India, but with the elected Constituent Assembly relinquish the Kathmandu effectively swapping with the year on a new building. independence of Pakistan and ratified the abolition of the embassy to India (while the Indian embassy, while they The Maharaja of Nepal laid India in August 1947, properties monarchy in May 2008). Kabul property eventually did constructed their new embassy. the foundation stone on 1 May formerly belonging to British Inevitably, amid such turmoil, pass to Pakistan). Prime Minister M P Koirala was 1941, but a confidential despatch India were apportioned between plans to relocate the British Negotiations between the evasive, perhaps because he sent to London in February 1942 the new successor states. embassy were not a high priority. Nepali government and the new wanted Shital Niwas for his noted that construction work had India, as the only one of them Finally, in December 1951, British Ambassador, Sir own use. been “sorely retarded owing to represented in Nepal, appeared to the British Foreign Office Christopher Summerhayes, soon Koirala instead proposed that 9 14 - 20 NOVEMBER 2008 #425 Forest House

The new British embassy was to be smaller than its predecessor. A Foreign Office report of 1948 called for a new residence “not of grandiose design, but sufficient to be representative and not to look too modest in comparison with the Indian Embassy, which will be next door”. The proposed construction cost was £66,000, but the initial plans were soon scaled down, presumably due to lack of funds. Now Summerhayes came up with a much cheaper option: to adapt and refurbish the buildings already there. He envisaged the ambassador occupying Forest House, which had been occupied by Evelyn Smythies, the Chief Forest Adviser to Nepal in the 1940s. When Smythies left in 1947, the house reverted to the , and by 1952 was occupied by Koirala. During 'a mild rebellion' on the night of 22/ 23 January 1952, 'the Forest House with comparatively low walls round it was easily surrounded by the insurgents and the Prime Minister was lucky to escape', Summerhayes reported. Koirala immediately moved to a better protected house and the site was vacated for British use later that year. In February 1953 the British Minister of Works and Khadgaman Singh Basnyat, Counsellor for Foreign ence Affairs, signed a sale agreement. The UK agreed to pay £11,256 7s 6d. The following month, Summerhayes handed over the British move temporarily to the old embassy to India. Bahadur Bhaban, a large palace off “It is hoped that this was Kantipath (now housing the done without significant loss Election Commission). of prestige and the move in Summerhayes was not keen and any case took place in a tried to enlist the king’s support, friendly atmosphere after the but to no avail, and the British previous wrangles,” finally decided simply to Summerhayes reported to renovate the buildings already British Foreign Secretary Sir available on the new site. Anthony Eden. The Indian More troublesome was the chargé d’affaires wrote to question of Plot 4, a spur of land “convey deep appreciation attached to the old embassy site and thanks for the handing which projected southwards into over of both the Embassy the new site. Its particular house and furnishings in it importance to the British, given in such good condition”. their need for accommodation, Today uncertainty hangs was that it was already the site of over the future of Forest the Second Secretary’s bungalow. House. Structural surveys India proved reluctant to part indicate that the building with Plot 4: Summerhayes and would perform extremely his Indian counterpart Sir C P N poorly in the event of another Singh exchanged numerous great earthquake, such as that polite but rather chilly letters. of 1934. Further The Indian, not surprisingly, was investigations continue to see impatient to take possession of if the building can be the embassy to which his strengthened to meet accepted government was indisputably seismic standards.  entitled but Summerhayes, backed by instructions from Andrew Hall is currently London, would not budge until British ambassador in the British had possession of Kathmandu. The views Plot 4. The issue was finally expressed here are his own. resolved in 1952.  10 WORLD 14 - 20 NOVEMBER 2008 #425 The Obama inheritance

tís hard to explain to our children what the Obama win means to I those of us born of an earlier generation. For many of us, the 2008 election is the completion of the fatally truncated election of 1968óthe year of our earliest political education and, tragically, our loss of innocence in the American political process. I was all of 14 in June 1968, yet full of the enthusiasm that youthful ambition can bring to its inchoate hopes and dreams. Already it had been a momentous, agonised and decisive year. From LBJís near-defeat in New Hampshire to Bobby Kennedyís announcement he would run for the Democratic nomination against Gene McCarthy, through the brutal murder of Martin Luther COMMENT King in Memphis, 1968 had Keith Leslie already been a year of profound anger and agony in American politics. Then, in June, as I slept, with a small black and white tv at the foot of my bed, I woke with a sense of disbelief and confusion after Iíd fallen asleep waiting for the results of the Democratic primary in California. Although RFK had won Indiana, Gene McCarthy had then won in Oregon and all knew the winner of the winner-takes-all California primary (so different from this yearís Democratic primary rules) would be the 1968 Democratic Party nominee. That victor would then most likely win this turbulent election to hopefully lead the country out of its devastating war in Vietnam and towards the fulfillment of a civil rights movement that had sputtered then burned on the streets of Watts, Washington and Detroit after Kingís assassination that spring. As I awoke staring at the tv, I realized that something had gone terribly, terribly wrong at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles after Bobby Kennedyís victory speech. There were people weeping, MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA crying and screaming on the screen. As I ran upstairs to my parents' room and opened the door, one of them said, softly, painfully: ìSenator Kennedy has been shot.î 40 years later, that scene still fills me with sorrow. The scars of Downsizing that election, sundered by assassination and paroxysms of street violence, still wound. The end result development led to seven more years of war by a presidency that ended in the resignation of both he world’s biggest neglected, chronic crises, such There are some encouraging the vice-president and the development and as that in southern Sudan, may signs amid the uncertainty. Major president, for corruption T and abuse of authority humanitarian groups are suffer. World Vision fears that institutional donors such as respectively. laying off staff or revising recipients of microcredit USAID and Britain's DFID are programs for 2009 as their programs, such as poor farmers taking a long-term view and not income streams flatten because who receive loans to buy tools, pulling back. The 2008 US election is the of the global financial crisis. seeds and fertilisers, could be US government funding is Fundraising experts of three particularly hard hit. World going to stay at the same level as completion of the fatally of the world’s top charities— Vision is the world’s biggest 2008 according to World Vision’s truncated election of 1968 Oxfam GB, Save the Children UK international humanitarian Zachritz, partly because the and World Vision USA—said charity, with $2.4 billion in funding cycle runs from October We had reached the nadir of American politics in our lifetime. their programs will be scaled annual funds across all its 2008 to the end of September 2009, Now, 40 years later, Martin Luther King and Robert F Kennedy may back next year. branches. and it being an election year, be looking down with pride on their beloved America. “The growth we had assumed About 30 per cent of World Congress has passed a continuing This week, with the election of Barack Obama, a black and white when putting plans together a Vision USA’s funding comes resolution keeping US government man, a dignified, eloquent and compassionate man with a wise wife year ago is not materialising,” from the US government, funding steady. and lovely daughters who represent the best that America can offer, the ghosts of 1968 may at last be laid to rest. said John Shaw of Oxfam GB. 30 per cent from foundations, But it is too early to say if this The incomplete campaign of 1968 that meant so much to a Oxfam had envisaged five to six and 40 per cent from individual strategy will endure. According to teenage American has taken a generation to fulfill its natural goal, an per cent growth over 2009-10, supporters and corporations. Shaw: “At the end of the day, arc of accomplishment, an epiphany of sorts. but has now revised this to zero. Through this election, we can once again believe that the United Some of the biggest States of America is a better country than we sometimes imagine, reductions are coming from and still hope she offers an unfulfilled promise for people corporate donors in the financial The global recession has everywhere in this diverse, interconnected world. sector. “Growth from For no matter how Obama governs in the coming years (and I hit the aid community believe it will be for the best), a long shadow of hate, discrimination corporations won’t be as much and intolerance is being put to rest. so we won’t be scaling up our Now, when our children read of racism in To Kill A Mockingbird programs as we’d want to do,” Agencies are trying to government funding is down to or hear the idealism in Martin Luther Kingís ìI Have A Dreamî said Robert Zachritz of World innovate their way out of the governments balancing their books, speech, they will know that, although it took the framework of an 18th Vision in Washington, DC. The financial squeeze. Some like and politics comes into it so it is th century constitution, a cruel 19 century civil war and long decades three agencies have an annual Oxfam aim to increase funding too early to tell, but the of 20th century suffering, the fulfilment of that noble, democratic enterpriseóthat all men and women are created equalóhas come income of $1.8 billion. from institutional donors commitments made so far are closer in the 21st centuryís first decade. Aid groups say they are which they see as being steadier encouraging.” A year ago, when my family sat in Kathmandu watching Bobby, doing all they can to prevent the in the long term. Save the Zachritz said World Vision is the exquisite, Altman-esque film about RFKís assassination, I was cuts from affecting beneficiaries. Children is trying to carve out largely protected from corporate surprised to hear my son, Ezra, say afterwards: ìThat movie made “We are trying to cut back on more funds from wealthy cuts because the bulk of the NGO’s me proud to be an American!î support, rather than program individuals. corporate donations are ‘gifts-in- Although a film about a deadly political assassination, I costs,” Oxfam’s Shaw said, While corporate funding is kind’, in other words, medicine, understood Ezra was speaking of the individual lives who found a purpose through Kennedyís inspiration and motivation. That RFKís estimating cutbacks of up to 15 dropping off, lay-offs provide building supplies and clothing, message touched so many people at that time gave Ezra hope and, per cent of staff at headquarters an opportunity for redundant rather than money. possibly, a greater determination to do something meaningful with and regional centres to create staff from the corporate sector to But while financial experts his own young life as well. more cost-effective operations. volunteer for charities, putting have not yet seen substantial Maybe, 40 years later, Barack Obama has offered our whole While all agreed new money their skills to good use. Many reductions in individual giving, nation, indeed people around the world, this renewed opportunity could be found should a crisis humanitarian and development they anticipate potential dips as as well. break out in the upcoming NGOs are revising their they approach the holiday months, some worry that fundraising plans. fundraising season.  IRIN SPORTS 14 - 20 NOVEMBER 2008 #42511 Swapping crampons for studs

DEWAN RAI competition from other soccer are depriving players of their best team in Nepal. His aim is teams for the HSC to overcome right to play.” also to develop the club’s herpas are known if they are to top the league. Karma has been into sports football ground and S worldwide for their For the past two years, a since childhood. He learnt supporters’ network. “We mountaineering skills, but squabble between the All Nepal martial arts at school, and cannot run a club on now one of their number, Karma Football Association and the while at college established donations and aid from well- Tsering Sherpa, is carving out a National Sports Council has the Kamal Pokhari Sports wishers all the time,” he says. different path to lead his left the ‘A’ Division teams Club. Now he is vice president Sherpas from across the community to the top of the without a competition as both of ANFA. He was also involved world support the club, and Nepali soccer league. bodies tried to run the league. in student politics as a central its success on the pitch has He set up the Himalayan attracted growing numbers of Sherpa Club as a ‘C’ Division supporters from outside the team of rookies three years ago, Football team seeks to Sherpa community. The club and promptly won the division prove that Sherpas can do has provided scholarships for title in the club's first season to 12 college students and two gain immediate promotion to more than climb mountains school pupils at Trungram the ‘B’ Division. Here they again International Academy. won several tournaments, and However, Karma is committee member of the “Our players are from all finished second—a performance optimistic that the arguments Nepal Student Union and later ethnicities,” Karma says. “It which has earned them further will be resolved by the start of a member of Tarun Dal. “I am would be better if we could promotion to the Martyrs’ next season, which would not active these days but I discover a few more Sherpa Memorial ‘A’ Division for next allow the teams to battle it out have not given up yet,” he players.” Karma says he set up season. once more for the top division says. the club to prove that Sherpas “Next year the league will be title. “It doesn’t make any His football club has are also good in management: a test for us—but we are difference whether ANFA or the elected him president for a “Though our old identity is optimistic,” Karma says. But NSC organise the league, but it four-year term, and he hopes not bad, we need to look for there is more than just the should be held,” he says. “We in that time to make HSC the new identities.”  MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA 12 SHOWS 14 - 20 NOVEMBER 2008 #425 Seriously Quick on the wicked Editorial cartoonists from across A more sombre, tortured Bond the region gather in Kathmandu is no longer playing for laughs

uantum of Solace, the 22nd James Bond film, is Daniel Q Craigís second round as Agent 007, a role which he has infused with much gravitas and sombreness. With Marc Forster at the helm, that seriousness doesnít let up; if anything it is amplified. Like Christopher Nolanís reinvention of Batman in Dark Knight, the trend seems to be grittierógrizzly, evenówith characters sacrificing their humanity for their quest, blurring the line between hero and monster. Just as Nolan jettisoned the suave playboy for the obsessive dark knight, Forster has opted for a humorless Bond. CRITICAL CINEMA Quantum of Solace is a A Angelo DíSilva retooled Bond movie, its conventions altered to depict a world of shifting global politics that serves as a tableau for a crackling, violent ranscending language, editorial tale of revenge and obsession. cartoons are able to convey hard- Bringing in Dan Bradley from the latter Bourne films as T hitting, poignant socio-political second unit director smartly updates the action, granting a more messages, often through laugh-out-loud lethal kind of cinema than its predecessors. And Quantum of humour. Not only do cartoons humble Solace puts you straight into the thick of things, literally in mid- pompous politicians, they also play a HUSEJIN HANUSIC (HULE) (BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA) car chase, with harsh edits and tight camera work. crucial¯often unnoticed¯role in nurturing the You have scarcely recovered from the adrenaline rush before Bond is giving chase to a double agent who has taken a shot at public space for social and political dissent his boss (Judi Dench as M) and is escaping through (and over) and commentary. the streets of some picturesque Italian city. Itís breathless, To salute this under-appreciated genre, frightening stuff. You can be pretty sure of the outcome, but Himal Southasian is organising the region’s somehow the direction lends Bond, bounding along like a jungle first cartoon congress, a gathering of 36 cat, a paradoxical vulnerability, as if he could be killed in the first editorial cartoonists from Bangladesh, India, 20 minutes of the film. Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to discuss Quantum of Solace could be described as an unruly censorship, the challenges unique to outgrowth of its prequelóand not simply with the violence an cartooning in South Asia and of doing so in octave higher and Bond wound a turn tighter. Immediately local languages, cartooning's status within following the events of the previous movie, Quantum of Solace journalism, and much more. (unfairly) depends on your powers of The three winning cartoons of the recollection to make Southasia Cartoon Competition on the theme sense of some major plot ‘Dramatic Divide: The distance between the lines. James is still raw powerful and the powerless’ will also be on from the death of Vesper display. (Winner :top and runner-ups: Lynd, the previous Bond middle, bottom)The response to the girl, for whom he had competition, launched by Himal in June, was JAMAL RAHMATI (IRAN) momentarily hung up his overwhelming, with 376 cartoons submitted cufflinks and quit the from across South Asia, as well as agency; and revenge for neighbouring Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, China her death is the ugly and the Philippines, and from as far afield as undercurrent running beneath his almost Brazil, the US and Russia. psychotic pursuit of the The three-member jury of senior journalists secretive cabal, Sadanand Menon, Madhuker Upadhyay and Quantum, that had Kunda Dixit, awarded the first prize to Husejin blackmailed her. Hanusic (‘Hule’), from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Yet the Tied for second place were Oktay Bingöl from slickness and Turkey and Jamal Rahmati from Iran. glamouróstill a feature OKTAY BING÷L (TURKEY) in Casino Royaleóare all but left behind here. This isnít a Bond who seems at home in a tuxedo. In our modern, cynical age, the labyrinthine plotting and Subina and Nargis clandestine politicking of the global players seems perfectly ridiculous, yet somewhat plausible. Dominic Greene, the Bond villain with the maniacal look (Mathieu Amalric has said he fused the smile of Tony Blair with the craziness of Nicolas Sarkozy), pretends to be an environmentalist CEO but orchestrates a coup in Bolivia for a former military dictator at the behest of Quantum and with the approval of CIA. It is an age of compromised principles and unscrupulous pragmatism, which finds Bondís Britain floundering amidst the sea change in global power dynamics. There will undoubtedly be complaints that Bond is no longer the camp and amusing agent of old. Even the requisite Bond girl, the hard-edged Camille (played by the sultry Olga Kurylenko), no longer plays the paramour, but is a confidante Bond can identify with over their respective vendettas of revenge. Maybe Daniel Craig's Bond will mellow after his grieving (the action disguises how much the character has evolved in the space of the past two films), but for now, and after a score of Bond films, this ambiguous yet earnest Bond is a perfect fit. 

Quantum of Solace Director: Marc Forster Cast: Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Mathieu Amalric, Judi Dench 2008. PG-13 106 mins. SHOWS 14 - 20 NOVEMBER 2008 #425 13 draw

The Pea under the Mattress: An Abu Retrospective 14-22 November Yala Maya Kendra, Patan

Selections from the work of Indian cartoonist Abu Abraham during the turbulent years 1966-1988 will be on show at the cartoon congress. The sketches are a testament to Abu’s fearlessness, perceptiveness and mastery of critical humour. They reflect crucial political events that were taking place not only in India but throughout South Asia, including the 1971 Bangladesh War of Liberation, the 1975-77 Emergency in India, the 1979 hanging of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the 1984 assassination of Indira Gandhi, the mysterious death of General Zia ul-Haq in a plane crash in 1988, and the controversial Indian involvement in the Sri Lankan war in 1987. Throughout this period, Abu saw himself as a socialist. once described him as “the conscience of the left and the pea under the princess’s mattress”.

Southasia Cartoon Congress 14-15 November Yala Maya Kendra, Patan Dhoka KIRAN PANDAY www.himalmag.com 01- 5547279 Fireworks at

Friday, 14 November 17.00 ñ 19.15 the Manch  Congress opening, public lecture by Manjula Padmanabhan he audience gasped as streams of carefully choreographed  Talk on Abu Abraham by golden, red and green fireworks illuminated the dark Mark Bryant T Toons in Trying Times:  Introduction to Nepali Kathmandu sky on 7 November. This was unlike anything The Best of Nepali Satire cartoonist exhibition by most of those gathered at the Khula Manch had ever seen—and it 14-22 November Durga Baral ëBatsayaní. was unlike anything Khula Manch had ever hosted. Yala Maya Kendra, Patan  South Asian Cartoon A magnificent concoction of various forms of art, Divinity of Competition award Common Life was a multidisciplinary, artistic performance by Durga Baral (Batsayan), Abin Shrestha, Basu Kshitij, Rabin ceremony. Nepali and French artists collaborating to bring to life the beauty Sayami and Rajesh K C explore a wealth of issues through their present in each human and every moment of life. The unique use cartoons, including the astounding show of people power in of light, sound, colours and dramatisation guided the viewers to restoring democracy to Nepal; the tumultuous peace process, Saturday, 15 November the spellbinding climax of the evening. culminating in the Maoists joining mainstream politics; the 9.00 ñ 17.00 Creating their personal magic at the event organised by the  History of political and holding of polls to elect a Constituent Assembly, and the Alliance Française were French pyrotechnician Pierre-Alain editorial cartooning subsequent abolition of the monarchy.  Censors of humour Hubert, American installation artist Karl Knapp, actors from Batsayan will open the session with a brief overview of  Editorial cartooning: step- Gurkul, the folk music ensemble Kutumba with DJ Sharad, Nepali cartooning. child of journalism thanka painter Tenzin Norbu and the narrator, Salil Subedi. Their Both exhibitions are open to the public for free. After a week  Divided through words passion for life made a deep impression on the audience. in Kathmandu, the Abu Retrospective and the Nepali  Does Southasian The second instalment of the event opens at Siddhartha Art Exhibition will travel around South Asia, with the next stop cartooning lack subtlety? Gallery from 14 November and will go on till 30 November. in Dhaka  Evolving with an evolving Though the magic of Hubert's fireworks will be absent, don’t miss media the chance to see Knapp's art or NayanTara Gurung Kakshapati’s pictures, Norbu will complete his massive thanka as Kutumba performs. Nepali tv journalist is finalist Shitu Rajbhandari for the Rory Peck Award

epali tv journalist Subina Shrestha is one of journalism in the US and India. She has been Nthree finalists for the prestigious Rory Peck working with documentary films since 2001. To Awards for her Al Jazeera reportage of the bypass Burmese controls, Subina had to sneak in aftermath of the devastating cyclone on Burmaís on a tourist visa and sidetrack officials, who were Irrawady Delta in May. on the look out for foreign journalists, on her way to Subina posed as a Buddhist from Nepal the parts worst affected by the cyclone. delivering food aid and was the first journalist to Says Subina: ìThe sun was relentless and it reach the area. She spoke to shocked survivors in was difficult to ignore the smell of the decaying villages along the river as the victims lay unattended bodies. And yet, the dark cloud made everything on the riverbanks. The survivors had no food, water look so beautiful. After talking to the villagers, I or government help and a week after Cyclone came back feeling helpless, angry and sad. Nargis, were becoming desperate. Subina produced, Sometimes the journey down the river still haunts filmed, edited and voiced the report herself. me." Subinaís report is among three finalists in the †The Rory Peck Awards recognises the work of news category that also includes an ITN freelance cameramen and camerawomen in TV documentary on Somalia and another Al Jazeera news gathering and current affairs worldwide. The report on a Kenyan slum. One of the judges praised Awards ceremony on Thursday evening in London Subinaís ëenterprising news gatheringí, adding: ëThis was attended by senior broadcasters, freelancers, is a powerful piece with some extraordinary shots. bureau chiefs, commissioning editors, diplomats But at the same time the restraint of the reporting and journalists. matches the quiet dignity with which the villagers †Besides the news category, there is also a share their stories with an outsider.í prize for freelance news footage on humanitarian †Subina is based in Nepal and was trained in issues and another one for in-depth features.  14 CITY 14 - 20 NOVEMBER 2008 #425

ABOUT TOWN When Sameer (Abhishek Bachchan) and Kunal (John Abraham) are turned down for an apartment because EXHIBITIONS the landlady doesnít want two young men to corrupt  Divinity of the Common Life, an exhibition by Karl Knapp and her sexy young niece Neha (Priyanka Chopra), they Nayantara Gurung Kakshapati, 14 November, 5.30 PM, Nepal pretend to be gay to secure the apartment. Everything Art Council is fine, until they meet the sexy siren Neha. They  Himal Southasian magazine presents a cartoon exhibition The then begin on a journey of fun, frolic and a test of Pea under the Mattress: An Abu Retrospective and cartoons in friendship like never before. To add to the mix, is the Trying Times: The Best of Nepali Satire, 14-22 November, Nehaís boss- Abhimanyu (Bobby Deol), another 9AM-5PM, Yala Maya Kendra (Free Entry). 5552141 Entertainment contender for Nehaís heart.  Once Upon a Time , an art exhibition by Donato Rosella on 17 November at 6.30 PM with live music, Lazimpat Gallery CafÈ. Call 4442220 for show timings at Jai Nepal

4428549 Quest www.jainepal.com  Wild, an exhibition of paintings by Wayne Edwards till 18 November at Siddhartha Art Gallery, Baber Mahal Revisited, Sunday-Friday 11AMñ6PM and Saturday 12AM-4PM. 4218048  Chance Encounters, a group art exhibition of artists sfd ;fgf ] 7nf" ] eGg ] x'Fb}g . kl;gfsf ] s'g} /ª / hft klg x'Fb}g . sfd g]kfn ;/sf/ † from†Bangladesh, France and Nepal till 19†November, u/]/ vfg nhfpg' klg x'Fb}g . rf]/]/, 9fF6]/, 5n]/, n'6]/ vfg kf] Kathmandu Gallery, Lazimpat. 9851050493 nhfpgk5' { . hf ] hxf F /x/] hg' sfd u5 { pm To;df} /dfpgk5' { uf/a} ;"rgf tyf ;~rf/ dGqfno ;"rgf ljefu EVENTS ug'{k5{ / ;dlk{t eP/ ug'{k5{ . sfd g} zlQm xf], elQm xf] / d'lQm  School Bullying, a talk program by Rakshya Nepal, 16 November xf] . sfdsf ] OHht u/f,}+ kl;gfsf ] ;Ddfg u/f }+ . at The New Era.†4482868  31 st Yala Maya Classic, a classical music series, 17 November, 5PM, Yala Maya Kendra. 5553767 MUSIC  Tuesday Melody at Jazzabell CafÈ, Happy hour 6-8PM. 2114075  Possie & the Fags playing live on 14 November at Moksh. 8PM onwards. 5526212  74 Twister playing live every Tuesday at Moksh, Pulchowk. 5526212  Robin and the New Revolution playing live every Tuesday, 7PM onwards at Bamboo Club restaurant, Thamel. 470157  Some like it hot every Friday BBQ and live music by Dinesh Rai and the Sound Minds, 7PM onwards, Rs 899 at Fusion, Dwarikaís Hotel. 4479488  Happy cocktail hour, 5-7PM, Ladies night on Wednesday with live unplugged music at Jatra CafÈ & Bar  HyJazz Club every Tuesday and Friday from 8.30 PM, Hyatt Regency, Kathmandu. 4489800  Dance and Cocktails at Cube Bar, Kamaladi. 4438017  Fusion and Looza Band every Friday night, Bhumi Resto Lounge, Lazimpat. 4412193  Rudra night fusion and classical Nepali music by Shyam Nepali and friends, every Friday, 7PM at Le Meridien,Gokarna. 4451212  Fusion and Classical Music by Anil Shahi every Wednesday, rock with Rashmi Singh every Friday, Sufi & Raga with Hemant Rana every Saturday, 8 PM onwards, Absolute Bar. 5521408 DINING  Thanksgiving Celebration, 27-29 November, K-too! Beer & Steakhouse, Thamel. 4700043  Thanksgiving dinner, 27-29 November, WEEKEND WEATHER by NGAMINDRA DAHAL Kilroyís Restaurant. 4250440  Coffee & Chocolate at the Lounge in The weather situation is likely to change this week due to falling Hyatt Regency. 4.30-6.30 PM. 4491234 barometric pressure over the eastern Himalaya coinciding with a  Take away at Te Restaurant from powerful circulation that is building up in the Bay. A high pressure Bluebird Food Court and Welcome sitting over Central Tibet will counter its advance. This satellite Food Plaza at Bakhundole, Sanepa. picture taken on Thursday shows a moderate westerly front advancing 5549331 into western Nepal, but it will just graze the north slope of the  Salmon Delicacies at the Rox Restaurant from 7PM onwards. Hyatt Himalaya. Conclusion: central and eastern Nepal are likely get Regency. 4489361 patches of clouds and some drizzles over the weekend with snow  Organic Salad Bar and Steak at Jalan Jalan restaurant every flurries higher up. The thick smog haze from India will persist over Friday from 6PM, Rs 650 western Nepal. Night temperature in the Valley can climb back into  Plat Du Jour at Hotel Shangri-la, Kathmandu, Rs 600. 4412999 the double digit while maximum will dip by at least 1 degree.  Pasta pesto passion†at La Dolce Vita, Thamel. 4700612  Steak special with free Irish coffee at K-too! Beer & Steakhouse, Thamel. 4700043  Continental and cafe item with Live band every Friday at Vintage KATHMANDU Cafe and Pub, Woodland Complex, Durbarmarg.  Home made pasta at Alfresco, Soaltee Crowne Plaza. 4273999  Reality Bites, The Kaiser CafÈ, Garden of Dreams, operated by Dwarikaís Group of Hotels, 9AM-10PM. 4425341  Steak escape with Kathmanduís premier steaks at the Olive Bar KATHMANDU VALLEY and Bistro, Hotel Radisson. 4411818  Cocktails, mocktails and liqueurs at the Asahi Lounge, opening Fri Sat Sun hours 1-10PM, above Himalayan Java, Thamel.  Retro Brunch Barbeque with live acoustic music by Sound Chemistry, every Saturday, 12-3PM at LeMeridien-Kathmandu, Gokarna. 4451212 25-10 25-11 26-10  Kebabs and curries at the Dhaba, Thapathali. 9841290619  lly Expression Coffee at Hotel Shangrila, Lazimpat and Mandap Hotel, Thamel  Socially Responsible coffee at Himalayan Java, Thamel

For inclusion in the listing send information to editors(at)nepalitimes.com HAPPENINGS 14 - 20 NOVEMBER 2008 #425 15

AJIT TIWARI OFF THE RAILS: Passengers from a train that derailed on Nepal's only railway between Janakpur and the Indian town of Jayanagar on Tuesday make a valiant but doomed effort to push the locomotive back onto the rails.

KIRAN PANDAY FLYING THE FLAG: The crowd waits for the competitors to appear in the XIVth Asian Mountain Bike Championships at Chobar last weekend, which were dominated by Japanese riders.

MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA

HELPING HAND: Economic journalist Gajendra Budathoki receives a cheque for Rs 50,000 from Sujit Mundul (right), CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Nepal, for his rehabilitation and recovery from a motorbike accident two months ago. Also seen is Kiran Nepal, president of the Society of Economic Journalists of Nepal (SEJON). 16 with makingrulesandprocedures So theassemblycommitteetasked Singh, RameshNath,etc. past: HiraBudder,LoktantraMan the baddiesareallblastsfrom republic, butthenewbuddiesof is aseculardemocraticfederal take onMandalayadvisers.Nepal sooner orlatertheMaoistswould full circle,soitwasagiventhat Politics inNepalalwayscomes Lamborghini. limit ontheECPinhis battering andexceedingthespeed shenanigans inS’porewithwife- up-to-date withsonnyboy’s for all. of anefforttoclearhisnameonce palace massacreof2001,andpart blow-by-blow forthcoming bookisreportedlya biography. Awholechunkofthe are sureitwilloutsellPKD’s Publishers arekeenbecausethey won’t needmuchrewriting. while king)itdoessoundlikehe wrote allhisspeecheshimself But beingquiteawordsmith(he of hissteppingdownnextyear. for releaseonthefirstanniversary E Whiplash intheassembly But guessitwon’tbringus get hismemoirtothepress looking foragoodeditorto x-king Gisapparently BACKSIDE   accountofthe whole timers,andaspecialPhD enemies, honorarySLCsfor hacked offlimbsofclass Revolution forthosewho War fortheradicals,Mastersof university degrees:Bachelorsof hardliners bypromisingthem also beentryingtocajolethe Pasang C-in-C. private schoolsandmake by threateningtonationalise trying tosoundreallyhardline a fanclubonFacebook,andhe’s Which iswhyBRBhasnowgot ‘moderate’ Maobaddiesnervous. jamboree ismakingso-called Next week’snationwidecadre and procedures. leather studsfromtherules out allmentionof decided tocompromise,leaving The partieshavetherefore constitution draftingprocess. delaying deliberationsonthe constitution. Thedeadlockwas critical clausesinthenew lines whentheyvotedon alliances thatwouldcrossparty representatives wouldforge that womenandjanjati party bosseswerescaredstiff patriarchal andconservative reason forthedelaywasthat representatives intoshape.The parties towhiptheir has finallydecidedtoallowall  Dr Babu whips and has guerrillas inthecantonments? tracksuits VAT whentheybuy don’t askforbillsandpay populist budgetifhisowncadre ever raiserevenuetofundhis How willtheFinancialMinister and relatives. under hercommandwithcronies ministries andcorporations and ofMrsParbatipaddingup getting preferentialtreatment, growing talkofhisoffspring to warnhimthattherewas Chairman Terrifyingspecifically their cadreconfabthattheymet party about about disenchantmentwithinthe Pampha Didiaresoconcerned The AsshearsMaharaDaiand as ‘backward’? liberate itselfifitdescribes can adowntroddengroupever (Other BackwardClasses).How stop callingthemselves pressure groupsintownshould Whatever degreetheyget,thenew and thehardcore. pushed tochosebetweenBRB knives, ElSupremomaybe Doc andGauravsharpeningtheir for ComradeTerrific.Withthe on wholesalefor nepotism    winter aheadof OBCs services toremoteareasorhave threatening theairlinetoresume of since then.TheBaddieministry stopped operatinginthefarwest in Surkhet.Theairlinehas airlines, vandalisingYeti’soffice started terrorisingtheprivate a one-offincident.Butthenthey passengers instead,itwasseenas and forcedthemtotake sacks ofricedestinedforHumla army planeinNepalganjtodump up. WhentheYCLforcedan trickling inforcharitywilldry sector: eventhemoneythatis extorted, forgetabouttheprivate and educationprojectsarebeing And attherateruralhospitals uncivil aviation CDO Regd No194/056/57Lalitpur, CentralRegion PostalRegd.No 04/058/59 is 14 -20NOVEMBER2008 allowed.” Huh? politics cheatingis not allowed,butin field wherecheatingis of wisdom:“Scienceisa day, Terrifyinggavethesepearls Technology National AcademyofScienceand from thepulpit.Atex-royal he candeliveryetanothersermon down alaunchorinaugurationso schedule, justcan’tseemtoturn PKD, despitehispressing says nowayJose. its licenserevoked;theairline ass(at)nepalitimes.com (NASTY)  the other † #425

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