WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 98 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 34.6 C 9.5 C Tuesday, June 02, 2020 | 20-02-2077 Nepalgunj Jomsom Samajbadi Party, Janata Party register private constitution amendment bill of their own The regional parties propose amendments to 23 issues that are aimed at addressing the long-standing concerns of the Madhesis, Tharus and Janajatis.

TIKA R PRADHAN The two parties started to once KATHMANDU, JUNE 1 again raise their demands for consti- tutional amendment when the govern- A day after the government tabled a ment on May 22 registered a bill in constitution amendment bill, the Parliament, seeking to amend Rastriya Janata Party Nepal and the Schedule 3 of the constitution to Samajbadi Party Nepal, two parties update Nepal’s new political map in that have long been demanding consti- the national emblem. tutional amendments, jointly registered The government on May 20 released a private amendment bill of their own a new political and administrative at the Parliament Secretariat. map of Nepal including Kalapani, “We have registered a joint constitu- Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura, territo- tion amendment bill seeking amend- ries that India too claims as its own. ments on 23 different issues,” said According to leaders, the amend- Rajendra Shrestha, co-chair of the ment proposal is expected to create Samajbadi Party. pressure on the ruling party to look A majority of their demands remain into the concerns raised by different the same--amendments to provisions sections of society, including the related to language, citizenship, pro- Madhesis, Janajatis and Tharus. POST PHOTO: HEMANTA SHRESTHA portional representation, formation The two Madhes-based parties, The Baudha stupa shines in the midst of Kathmandu Valley in this night view captured from Jagdol. of autonomous regions, protected which have 17 seats each in Parliament, regions and non-geographical special registered a private amendment pro- regions, an expanded role for the dep- posal a day after the primary opposi- uty speaker in the absence of the tion Nepali Congress decided to Speaker as well as a change in the re-register a three-year-old amend- governance system with directly elect- ment proposal brought by the then Nepal pushing constitutional amendment ed President, among others. Sher Bahadur Deuba-led coalition gov- The Janata Party’s bid to register ernment, which was supported by the the bill earlier on Friday had been Maoist Centre, then led by Pushpa turned down by the Parliament Kamal Dahal. Secretariat, saying it needed to con- The bill, however, had failed to pass hardens positions on both sides of the border sult with the Speaker. after the CPN-UML, then led by prime Top leaders from the two parties, minister KP Sharma Oli, objected. which have already agreed to unite to The Samajbadi and Rastriya Janata Once the amendment passes, the new political map will be enshrined in the constitution, leading India to form the Janata Samajbadi Party, had parties had sought the Congress’ sup- decided on Saturday to register a new port to getting their concerns also take up a more inflexible position on the boundary, political pundits say. bill jointly, by incorporating the addressed as well. demands of the Samajbadi Party. A The two parties have not objected to board, the amendment is likely to pass on Kalapani, as the area has strategic meeting on Saturday had entrusted the government’s amendment propos- easily, cementing Nepal’s claims to military value. New Delhi is more Shrestha and Janata Party chief whip al but are seeking a package deal so Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura likely to negotiate on Susta while Laxman Lal Karna with the task of that their concerns can also be incor- in the constitution and solidifying ignoring the other disputes, he said. making necessary changes to the porated into the amendment bill. Nepal’s position. This will likely Susta, located in southern Nepal, is amendment proposal. >> Continued on page 5 only lead to India becoming more another disputed area between Nepal inflexible, according to one ruling and India. party leader. While both Nepal and India appear “After the primary opposition to be waiting to see who blinks first, Nepali Congress decided to vote in analysts and party leaders all say that favour of constitution amendment, the solution to the boundary dispute is chances are now very slim that New through diplomatic talks. But with Delhi will hold talks anytime soon India refusing to sit for even virtual with Kathmandu,” he said. talks, citing the ongoing Covid-19 pan- Narayan Khadka, the shadow for- demic, Nepal has been compelled to eign minister of the Nepali Congress, resort to back-channel negotiations. reiterated the ruling party leader’s >> Continued on page 5 assessment, saying that talks with India at this juncture are nigh impossible. “The situation has become AFP more complicated after we decid- Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh (right) has lately spoken in favour of talks to resolve ed to amend the constitution,” the boundary row as Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli reportedly mobilises a backchannel. said Khadka. “I don’t think Oli is ready to resolve the issue ANIL GIRI al emblem, positions in both India and because it is a solid political tool KATHMANDU, JUNE 1 Nepal have hardened to the point to cover up all of his messes as where diplomatic talks are unlikely to prime minister and a good card Now that the government has tabled take place in the near future, say dip- with which to go into elections.” an amendment to the constitution to lomats and ruling party leaders. According to Khadka, India is POST PHOTO: ELITE JOSHI update the map of Nepal in the nation- With all of the political parties on unlikely to budge from its claim There seems to be consensus among the political parties on the amendment proposal.

C M Y K TUESDAY, JUNE 02, 2020 | 02 MEDLEY

Inside the Post Quote of the day

Thousands of children in Kathmandu deprived of immunisation, National Page 3 Over 70,000 children in Kathmandu Metropolitan City, between the ages of six months to five years, have been deprived of measles-rubella vaccines. While health facilities in most other districts across the country have either completed “If the immunisation programme or are about to complete the inoculation drive—the first phase of which started is not resumed immediately, on February 13, health facilities in Kathmandu have not even got started. we cannot exclude the chance Opinion of a large scale outbreak.” In a country where people find digression in discussing maps and politics. It is very hard to focus on one’s life. I found some interesting reactions during the Basanta Shrestha, public health officer at the Department of Health Services, warns webinars I had conducted. of vaccine preventable diseases breaking out in Kathmandu where vaccination programmes have not take place due to the lockdown. Money The runway of Tribhuvan International Airport has been extended by 300 metres at its southern end, upgrading the runway end safety areas to current standards. The runway now has safety areas, each 300 metres in length, at both the northern Most read online Bouddha and southern Koteshwor ends.

World 12 killed and 21 injured in an accident in Banke India’s cases of coronavirus crossed 190,000, the health ministry said on Monday, At least 12 people died and 21 others were injured in an accident at Rapti Sonari overtaking France to become seventh highest in the world, as the government Rural Municipality in Banke district on Sunday night. “The accident occurred eases back on most curbs after a two-month-long lockdown that left millions with- after a vehicle (BA 5 KHA 5995 ) collided with a truck (NA 4 KHA 9064) that was out work. parked at Ward No. 2 of the rural municipality along the East-West Highway,” said Pabindra Bam, the head of Banke Traffic Police Office. Culture & Arts Hospitals are now demanding PCR test results As the lockdown continues to disrupt life, artists and creatives around the world, and in Kathmandu, are quietly at work. before admitting patients Three weeks ago, 18-month-old Jishan Shah of Sarlahi badly injured his left foot when he came under the wheel of a moving tractor. He was immediately taken to a nearby hospital, which referred him to a Birgunj hospital, which in turn News Quiz referred him to Kathmandu without attending to him. At both the hospitals, doc- tors demanded to see a Covid-19 test result before attending to the boy.

1. How many Covid-19 deaths has POST PHOTO: BEEJU MAHARJAN Nepal reported until Sunday? 5. Prince of which country con- A child learns to ride the bicycle at Patan Durbar Square in Lalitpur on Monday. Nepal’s Covid-19 tally reaches 1,811 with 239 a. Five tracted coronavirus after new cases on Monday b. Seven attending a party during the c. Eight lockdown in Spain? Nepal on Monday reported 239 new Covid-19 cases, the highest in a single d. Six a. Belgium day, taking the national tally to 1,811. b. Spain On this day in history 2. When did the Narayanhiti mas- c. England Massive influx of returnees in Sudurpaschim risks sacre occur? d. Denmark a. June 1, 2000 US mounts massive rescue efforts to save dollar community spread b. June 1, 2001 6. Which team won Fernando Over 56,000 Nepalis have returned from India via two major border points in c. June 2, 2000 Alonso his first title in WASHINGTON - The United States mounted a massive surprise rescue effort for the Sudurpaschim Province—Gauriphanta in Kailali and Gaddachauki in d. June 2, 2001 Formula 1? dollar Wednesday, working with other major industrial nations in waves of pur- Kanchanpur—in the second half of May. Over 40,000 people entered the country a. Ferrari chases that caught the world’s currency markets off guard. from the Gauriphanta border point alone. And the number of returnees is 3. Hospitals are demanding which b. Mercedes The effort orchestrated by the Clinton administration had the desired effect of expected to see a steady increase in the coming days. According to Shiva Raj of the following tests before c. Red Bull pushing the dollar up in value against the Japanese yen and the German mark. Joshi, information officer at Kailali’s District Administration Office, an admitting patients? d. Renault The dollar purchases were kicked off by the federal reserve, which acts as the average of 4,000 Nepalis are returning to the province every day. a. Blood test US government’s agent, shortly after 8:30 am. Other countries joining in were b. PCR test Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, c. Sugar test Belgium and Switzerland. d. HIV test Traders estimated that the fed spent $ 1 billion to buy dollars and that the other nations added another S 1 billion in the first joint intervention to Bolster the Corrections 4. China’s economy shrank by dollar since April 5. what percent in the first quar- Our reporters and editors do their best to make sure our reporting is free from ter from the previous year? The Kathmandu Post errors. But when we make mistakes that warrant correction, we will be transparent a. 5.9 June 2, 1995 and clarify at the bottom of the specific article. b. 8.1 If you believe we have got something wrong and it requires correction, please c. 6.8 email us at [email protected] with “correction” in the subject line. d. 7.2 Answers to News Quiz: 1(c), 2(b), 3(b), 4(c), 5(a), 6(d) For the most recent corrections, visit kathmandupost.com/corrections. REUTERS HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) CANCER (June 22-July 22) LIBRA (September 23-October 22) CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** *** *** ***** Acting your age won’t feel like much fun today. Today, you should eagerly follow any and every Gather up the precious things in your life and There’s no need to hold off on enjoying the The kids and toddlers in your life may be having impulse to explore a new interest, person, or hold on tight! No one is threatening you, but good stuff today. Dig right in, and don’t a blast, so why can’t you? Asking these ques- career prospect. This is a great time to look less than stellar conditions could arise if you’re worry that there won’t be more coming along tions will lead you to a realization that you can ahead at your five-year plan and start putting not fully aware of the value of what you have. soon. You have to relish the gifts you’re given do whatever you want to do! Take this attitude things into place. Feel free to get a bit more Friends, family, and a romantic partner add so today and use them! Don’t put them away for with you today. You don’t always have to be will- aggressive about your goals. Time is going to much to your life. Realise that nothing can be a rainy day or save them to share with ing to grow up in order to be in charge. move forward whether you’re aware of it or not. taken for granted. someone someday.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) LEO (July 23-August 22) SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** *** *** *** Is there any such thing as “normal”? And if There is a growing tension between what your There could be many false starts today in some Your daily life is going through some plot twists there were, would you want to be it? Of course heart wants and what your brain knows is good emotionally charged arena. You may feel you’ve worthy of a classic Hollywood thriller. At first not! More than ever, you cherish your unique for you. If there’s someone who makes your been promised something when no promise things are good, then they’re bad. The good qualities as well as the uniqueness of your heart skip a beat, you could easily lose track of has actually been made. To protect yourself news is that right now you can put this flick on friends. Today is a great day to celebrate your what you need to take care of. Be careful! Try not from being hurt, it would be best to not have pause if you want. Simply avoid touchy issues diversity or at least organize your next social to let infatuation blind you from the indisputa- any expectations at all. There won’t be any type for a while. Focus your conversations on extravaganza. ble facts about where you are in life. of follow-through communication. lighter subjects.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) VIRGO (August 23-September 22) SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** **** *** **** Hot topics are awakening points of view you Sometimes the best conversations are the ones Perseverance is a beautiful thing to master. Your excitement is contagious, but today an never realised you had. Today could mark the you have with someone who totally disagrees Sure, it takes patience, but if you keep going eagerness to get involved might come off as a bit beginning of a very fun and active intellectual with you. Too many people fall victim to the and stick with things, everything eventually too intense for people who don’t know you very phase for you, one that brings you in contact desire to hear exactly what they believe parrot- starts to make sense. You’ll have your “eureka” well. Before adding your two cents, review the with people from backgrounds that differ ed back to them, but not you! You understand moment at some point today, and thereafter situation and let things go for a while on their greatly from yours. It’s exciting, not that healthy debate can offer you a great deal of everything will have much more purpose and own. If you’re asked for your opinion, be as dip- intimidating, for you to engage in real debate. satisfaction and education. be much more enjoyable. lomatic as possible.

CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K 03 | TUESDAY, JUNE 02, 2020 NATIONAL Government to set up ‘labour bank’ to link employers and workers The bank will maintain data on the labour force available in the country. CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL KATHMANDU, JUNE 1

The government is preparing to establish a real time database to connect job seekers with prospective employers, and to help construct the country’s labour force pro- file, officials said. The database, referred to as ‘labour bank’, will also be linked to the Employment Management Information System (EMIS), currently being used by employment coor- dinators at all 753 local governments to maintain a database of unemployed people and employment opportunities under the Prime Minister Employment Programme. “For a long time, there has been a reali- sation that we lack data on the labour force available in the country,” said Suman Ghimire, spokesperson for the Ministry of Labour, Employment, and Social Security. “Realising this fact, a task force, which was mandated to study the prospect of such a setup, has suggested that the country needs a labour bank,” Ghimire told the Post. In its report submitted on Thursday, the task force had said that the labour bank would be useful in promoting employment POST PHOTO: KABIN ADHIKARI in the domestic market and formalising Workers print textbooks at the press of Janak Shiksha Samagri Kendra Limited in Sanothimi, Bhaktapur, on Monday. The state-owned publisher is tasked with printing coursebooks for grades five to ten. the jobs of those engaged in the informal sector to ultimately bring them under the coverage of social security. It said that the labour bank needs to maintain real-time data on qualifications, knowledge, skills, experiences and interest area of the labour force entering Oli administration taking decisions keeping the market. “The labour bank will work as a job matching system between employers, who need workers, and workers, who need jobs,” said Ghimire. “Whenever employers respective ministries in the dark require workers with certain skills and experience, they will approach the labour bank and get the workers.” Announcement in the new budget to assign private high schools to look after a public school leads to severe criticism. The five-member task force report also said the labour bank could be a unique BINOD GHIMIRE May 25 that there was no possibility far,” Shyam Shrestha, a member of entity that can assist workers start their KATHMANDU, JUNE 1 of holding the Secondary Education the commission and former lawmak- own enterprises through co-investments. Examination came without their er, told the Post. “The budget wouldn’t This comes as foreign employment Three days after Yuba Raj Khatiwada knowledge. have come up with a provision to recruiting agencies, which have been presented the budget for the upcom- Addressing the nation, Oli had said authorise private schools to manage demanding that the government return ing fiscal year, Minister for Education the delay in holding the tests had put public schools had the report been their guarantee amount temporarily, have Giriraj Mani Pokharel on Sunday hundreds of thousands of students in implemented.” also been saying that the billions of rupees said the announcement of authoris- a dilemma. The Ministry of Shrestha, who also follows the left staying idle in government coffers could be ing private schools to improve public Education, Science and Technology politics closely, says as many private channelised into the labour bank. schools was not his plan. would make necessary arrangements school owners come from the former “The idea of a labour bank has been Issuing a statement, he said his so that the SEE students don’t lose UML camp, they can influence discussed for a long time. The government ministry never proposed assigning their entire academic year. policy-making. He says Oli has a can utilise the Rs4.31 billion that foreign private schools to improve govern- “The ministry started looking for tendency to work on his own, which employment agencies deposited as guaran- ment schools. Point 166 of the nation- an alternative only after Oli’s might have worked in the provision tees to develop infrastructures and con- al budget that is under discussion in address,” a senior official at the min- being made in the budget. duct studies on the prospect of such an the federal parliament envisions istry told the Post on condition of Education isn’t the only ministry entity,” said Sujit Kumar Shrestha, general authorising all private secondary anonymity. The prime minister’s to have been kept in the dark. A few secretary of the Nepal Association of schools to take the responsibility of office has neglected the education months ago, Public Procurement Foreign Employment Agencies, an organi- improving at least one public school. ministry on several occasions. Regulations were directly presented sation of the country’s recruiting agen- Aides to Pokharel said they were POST PHOTO: PRAKASH CHANDRA TIMILSENA The High Level National Education by the Prime Minister’s Office in the cies. “Such a labour bank can also support surprised to find the provision in the The finance minister has failed to satisfy queries why private schools were given the role. Commission, in January last year, Cabinet without involving the Law workers and entrepreneurs through budget. While the Education Ministry presented Oli with the recommenda- Ministry. A senior official at the soft-loans.” is seeking the support from better cised from different quarters includ- just a support under their corporate tions on reforming the education ministry said the eight amendment The government’s policies and pro- performing private schools and even ing lawmakers from even the ruling social responsibility. Should we have sector in the changed context. The to the regulation never came to them, grammes, presented on May 15, also non-government agencies to improve part y. told no when they [private schools] 500-page report has made several rec- in violation of the requirement for said a labour information bank would be public education, it is totally against Now Khatiwada also has changed are ready to support?” he questioned. ommendations that include turning any law to be approved by the Law set up and the existing Employment allowing the private sector to inter- his tone. Answering to lawmakers’ He, however, didn’t respond to the private schools into non-profits by Ministry. Service Centre (ESC) at all local levels vene in the management of commu- queries in the House of concerns of lawmakers regarding gradually converting them into The amendment in December last would serve as a link between employers nity schools. Representatives on Monday, he said the education minister’s statement. trusts. However, Oli hasn’t made year was to address the demands of and job seekers. “I think this provision was includ- private schools were ready to support Officials at the Education Ministry the report public yet, nor has he contractors. “This is a wrong prac- Presenting the budget for the fiscal year ed by the Finance Ministry with the public schools as part of their corpo- said this is not the first time the deci- authorised the education ministry to tice from the prime minister’s office 2020-21, which prioritised massive job crea- prime minister in the know,” said an rate social responsibility. sions about education were made implement it. to bulldoze the system,” said the offi- tion inside the country, Finance Minister aide to Pokharel on condition of ano- “The government cannot think of without the ministry knowing about “There is no doubt that the influ- cial on condition of anonymity Yuba Raj Khatiwada said the existing nymity because he was not allowed to handing over the management [of it. They said the announcement of ence from private schools is responsi- because he was not allowed to talk to Employment Service Centres could be uti- talk to the media. The idea was criti- public schools] to private schools. It’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on ble for keeping the report secret so the media. lised as labour information banks from where private sector employers can hire workers. Khatiwada said he has allocated a budget of Rs 1 billion to provide subsidy to firms that hire workers recommended by the Thousands of children in Kathmandu deprived of immunisation centre. The government would provide 50 percent of the hired workers’ minimum salary for their three months if the employ- Doctors say the capital city is highly vulnerable to outbreak of vaccine-preventable diseases. ers guarantee a minimum of two years of employment. ARJUN POUDEL people missing from health programmes,” she The ministry has prioritised implement- KATHMANDU, JUNE 1 said. Basanta Shrestha, public health officer at ing the recommendations of the task force, the immunisation section of the Family Welfare which will begin with upgrading the EMIS, Over 70,000 children in Kathmandu Metropolitan Division under the Department of Health said Ghimire. City, between the ages of six months to five Services, told the Post that the chance of large “The existing EMIS will be further years, have been deprived of measles-rubella scale outbreak of vaccine-preventable disease upgraded and operated in collaboration vaccines. in coming months will be high in Kathmandu if with the provincial and local governments. While health facilities in most other districts children continuously missed their regular vac- We are seeking World Banks support to across the country have either completed or are cines. upgrade the system,” said Ghimire. “The about to complete the inoculation drive— the “We have already witnessed several measles EMIS Labour Bank will be an overall hub first phase of which started on February 13, outbreaks and deaths in the last two months for employment for all. We will soon devel- health facilities in Kathmandu have not even including in Kathmandu and Lalitpur,” op work procedures for operating the got started. Shrestha said. “If the immunisation pro- labour bank.” “We could not start the drive due to the gramme is not resumed lockdown,” Narendra Bajracharya, chief of the immediately, we cannot health department at the Kathmandu exclude the chance of a Metropolitan City, told the Post. large scale outbreak.” Health facilities in Kathmandu were sup- Several children in the posed to launch the month-long vaccination Mulpani area of drive beginning April in the second phase. The Kathmandu and Khokana nationwide lockdown began on March 24. of Lalitpur were infected “It is not so easy to start the campaign while with measles last maintaining the social distancing rule and month. safety of the people,” Bajracharya said, though POST FILE PHOTO Dr Jhalak Sharma, chief the vaccination programme was launched Vaccine coverage in Kathmandu is lower than even some remote parts of the country. of the immunisation sec- despite the lockdown in other parts of the coun- tion at the Family Welfare try, including some municipalities within resume the inoculation programme. Coverage of health programmes including Division, also said that Kathmandu itself. The city’s health department is under pres- immunisation remains very low in Kathmandu there is a risk vaccine-pre- The campaign was not launched only in the sure to complete the vaccination programme as metropolis compared to even some remote parts ventable diseases breaking metropolis. Even the regular immunisation pro- the end to the current fiscal year draws closer. of the country. out in Kathmandu as many gramme has not taken place in all 32 wards of Bajracharya said the Department of Health Nali Bajracharya, another official at the children have missed their Kathmandu. Services has already notified the city office that health department of the city office, told the vaccination due to the lock- The government provides 11 vaccines under the budget for measles-rubella vaccination cam- Post that the coverage of most health pro- down. its regular immunisation programme to pre- paign will not be extended to the next fiscal grammes in Kathmandu are 60 percent or less. “We will hold a meeting vent vaccine-preventable diseases. year.“I think the campaign will not be effective According to her, the lack of exact population with the officials con- After measles outbreaks were reported in this time, as thousands of children have data has also contributed to the low vaccination cerned at the metropolis as several parts of the country, including in returned to their villages during this lockdown and other health service coverage in well as the elected repre- Kathmandu Valley, during the lockdown period, period. Furthermore, we cannot expect to Kathmandu. sentatives to draw their the Ministry of Health and Population had resume the programme while ensuring all safe- “The number of floating populations is very attention about this risk,” directed health facilities across the country to ty measures against the coronavirus,” he said. high in Kathmandu, which increases the risk of said Sharma.

C M Y K TUESDAY, JUNE 02, 2020 | 04 OPINION EDITORIAL Internalising change Ease the lockdown Many have witnessed The government cannot confine people positive change at the to their homes any longer. individual level during the lockdown. The Nepal government’s announcement, on Saturday, May 30, to extend the nationwide lockdown until June 14 to SUJEEV SHAKYA contain the coronavirus pandemic has rightly raised con- cerns about its modus operandi. There’s no questioning its THE OTHER initial intention when it imposed the lockdown on March VIEW 24 right after the second case of coronavirus infection was detected. But good intentions must be accompanied by solid action, which is clearly elusive to date. I am an early riser. I go from a state of Although the lockdown was supposed to be just a means rest to one of activity fairly quickly, mak- ing a lot of noise going up and down the to buy us time to prepare a defence mechanism against the wooden staircase or opening and closing pandemic, the past 70 days have been marked by missed doors; that is, until my family members brought this to my attention. Perhaps the opportunities as is evident in the surge in new infections, noise generated when opening or closing with over 1,500 active cases as of today. The government doors is a small matter, but it provides has not even begun aggressive contact tracing and is huge lessons in humility. In the sixty or so days of lockdown, the noise levels increasingly losing its ground as thousands of Nepalis have been practically eliminated; the enter the country from India without so much as getting family does not know my day has begun. The lessons I learnt from this small exer- rapid diagnostic tests done. We’re staring at a staggering cise in change was important in the rise in the number of infections, given we aren’t yet any- household, as have other small but where close to the peak yet. important lessons learnt during this time. These sixty days of moments of Had it been the panacea to the pandemic, the lockdown learning about oneself could not have could have been extended on end. But it is evidently not, been bought—even by paying millions of and its cost seems to trump its benefits. Patients with dollars. It prompted me to design a pro- gramme about internalising and imple- chronic as well as emergency ailments have been seriously menting change, which I conducted over hit, with a 200 percent spike in the number of pregnancy webinars voluntarily to groups inside and outside Nepal. deaths during the lockdown period. As the government SHUTTERSTOCK fails to come up with a solid contingency plan, those at the Self-critique is difficult requests to focus on the individual. An that is going to be volatile, uncertain, will be able to sustain the positive chang- lower rung of the society have lost opportunities to earn a In a country where people find digres- organisation leader who joined in on a complex and ambiguous. He not only es. Women ask me whether their hus- sion in discussing maps and politics, it is webinar with his team said he was inter- shared with me the different aspects of bands who are doing some amount of livelihood even as they depend on the benevolence of oth- very hard to focus on one’s life. I found ested to learn about the economic this new world but provided a solution to household chores will continue to do so. ers for as basic a necessity as food. The fulfilment of gas- some interesting reactions during the impacts of Covid-19. I, of course, remind- convert the VUCA into an action-orient- Will men who were used to going out webinars I had conducted. There were ed him of the reason the programme—a ed response. The response being vision, with friends continue to spend time with tronomical necessity is not all that they need, and they people, particularly women, who were voluntary exercise—was created and understanding, clarity and agility which family? Will families continue to watch need to get back to work immediately. having tremendous difficulty in juggling told him there was enough material to is so critical in the way we look at the movies or series together? A popular As the pandemic shows no sign of ebbing on its the supervision of children for online read on his subject of interest outside post-Covid-19 world. Eliza Ryan, author question was whether the meditation lessons, managing husbands who are the webinar. The leader was upfront of bestseller Supermindful: How to Tap people have been accustomed to, through own—not anytime soon at least—and as the government seeing kitchen sinks for the first time in after that—he did not feel comfortable Into Your Creativity guided me to look at online groups, will continue when things continues to wash its hands of the financial and social their lives and the needs of demanding sharing his personal experiences in pub- the tree differently. She talked about how go back to normal. Perhaps the biggest parents and in-laws. Some did not know lic, especially not in front of his team. In we can think of ourselves as a tree; we challenge will be to sustain the positive burdens on the people, the fear of the people coming out on how best to use their free time—many a society where conservatism rules and can deepen our roots and we can branch changes one had brought about at the the streets rather than wait endlessly at home is immi- indulged excessively on the internet and mental health is seldom discussed, dis- out more. This can be seen on how some individual level. Many worry that, much nent. That’ll lead to more chaos than the government can got frustrated with an overload of news cussing personal challenges and self- people managed to complete online like the clear blue skies, the silence, and reports. Some, even with the security change are seen as taboo subjects. People courses, learn languages, learn baking the clear air which may regress after the handle. afforded to them with stable jobs in are happy to advise others but less open or cooking new dishes, playing online enforced lockdown is over, personal The government must, therefore, become a little more international organisations, world-class to self-critique. games with families and connecting with changes may also be short-lived. imaginative in its response to the pandemic and tackle it health insurance and the privilege of people they had not talked to for decades. Human transformations take place mobility in vehicles that are allowed to A volatile world The response to the crisis and the uncer- through awareness; if one has to sustain head-on rather than run away from it just by flashing the move during the lockdown, would not One of the greatest joys of this lockdown tainty that will unfold can be only man- the changes, one has to become aware of magic wand of indefinite lockdown. As of now, it has stop complaining. has been to connect with scholars I aged by analysing the self to understand the transformations that have taken Yet many more will go to great lengths would not have otherwise been discuss- the changes that are needed at a personal place. There will be no drastic changes in shown no promise of a change in its approach when this to not analyse their personal lives; they ing issues with and learning different level to meet the uncertainties of the people, but change is always incremen- new iteration of a poorly imagined lockdown ends on June would rather find distractions and ways in which people are coping with times. tal. All of us who have made those posi- 14. It must immediately begin a concerted effort, taking on escape from reality. So, questions on this change in different parts of the tive incremental changes will need to Nepali politics, the future of capitalism, world. Professor Jack McCarthy of Sustaining the changes preserve and build on it, as they will board the private sector and all other stakeholders, towards the border issues and the government’s Babson College introduced me to the The questions people ask at these ses- surely help to build better families, soci- helping people to get back to economic and other activities response continued to feature despite concept of the VUCA world—a world sions mainly focus on whether people eties and nations. with a new set of safety guidelines firmly in place before it is too late. Confronting China We want to hear from you If China wishes to lead the We regularly publish Letters to the Editor on contemporary issues or direct responses to something the Post has recently pub- world, it will have to offer lished. Please send your letters to [email protected] with ‘Letter to the Editor’ in the subject line. more than money and Please include your address, phone number we can reach you at intimidation. and your email address. How to make sure your letters are published? It’s simple—just IAN BURUMA follow these basic guidelines: Keep it short. Your letters will have a better chance of success if you keep it within 400 words. If you’re writing commentary, pitch an op-ed instead. Tell us what we got wrong, but back it up with resources. Instead of using all the powers of the US Avoid jargon, use clear words and sentences. Keep in mind you’re federal government to limit the ravages communicating with other readers who may not be aware of the of Covid-19, President Donald Trump’s subject. administration is wasting precious time and energy blaming China for the spread We welcome witty letters. But please don’t go overboard. of the virus. Pundits speak of a new cold war. But if the United States really Avoid abuse and diatribes. intends to confront China in a struggle for global leadership, Trump is botching MARIO GIL / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM it badly. tries, were to stick together. In the past, possibly deal with China on that basis. Now that there is a great deal of money Even as the Chinese government is any such common front would rely on The Dutch, rather like the EU today, were to be made in China once again, we are showering countries around the world American leadership. But the current primarily interested in cracking the back to the time of Macartney. The bor- with supplies to combat the pandemic, administration’s self-centred ineptitude Chinese market and were prepared to ders of the Middle Kingdom are more or and even sending medical teams, Trump rules this out. In the long run, this might play by China’s rules. less the same as those of the Qing Have something to say? cut off air travel from Europe without let China take the lead, faute de mieux. Even though Britain’s clout has Empire. The government is no more even bothering to inform America’s In fact, Western countries have rarely waned, the clash of great powers in democratic than it was under the The Kathmandu Post invites you to submit well-researched, European allies. Since March, the had a common policy on China, and the Macartney’s time still resonates. Qianlong Emperor. And, after a century unapologetic opinion pieces. To make sure your articles get our Chinese government has contributed $50 reasons for this haven’t changed much For almost a century, the American of wars, invasions, mass poverty, and attention, we ask that you keep the following things in mind when million to the World Health Organisation, since the late 18th century, when Lord claim to be the peerless model of bloodshed, China is again held up as a inquiring and submitting content to the Post: while Trump, claiming that the WHO is Macartney was dispatched by King civilisation has been no less grandiose model of civilisation that barbarians are ‘China-centric’, has frozen US funding. George III to establish diplomatic rela- than the Sino-centric views of the Qing expected to follow. All your opinion pieces should be pitched to the Opinion desk— When G7 foreign ministers held tions with the Chinese Empire. One of emperors. The prospect of Chinese global leader- not to the editor-in-chief. Email your piece or idea (accompanied a video conference to discuss a the ironies of this failed mission was When China was impoverished and at ship is not inviting. But the US is rapidly with a high-resolution headshot) to [email protected]. common strategy to fight Covid-19, US that the British were looking to trade in the mercy of the world’s great powers, it fading as an alternative. The ‘American Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s contri- goods other than opium with China. But was easy for Americans to patronise the Century’ was marked by many foolish We will only respond to pitches that have original ideas. We bution was to insist that the pathogen be the Qianlong Emperor stated that there Chinese as potential converts to democ- wars, ideological rigidity, and uncon- suggest that you google your pitch before writing to us. If you’re called ‘Wuhan virus’, after the Chinese was nothing the Chinese needed from the racy, capitalism, and Christianity. scionable support for some very nasty submitting an article that either the Post or other publications city of its presumed origin. Fed up British. Dealing with the rampant Japanese dictatorships. And yet, global adherence with Trumpian antics, the other minis- Macartney had already displeased his Empire in the early 20th century, on the to US leadership was widely based on have already covered in the past, tell us in a sentence or two why ters ended the conference without a hosts by refusing to kowtow to the other hand, was much harder. When respect for a form of government that, your story offers something new. conclusion. Emperor, a gesture of submission that Japan, as a signatory of the Versailles however, flawed in its execution, spoke to The Post receives dozens of pitches every day from aspiring Chinese largesse does not come with- was not required by his own sovereign. Treaty in 1919, asked for a clause against the human aspiration for freedom, out strings, of course. The WHO craven- Members of a similar Dutch mission racial discrimination among members including in parts of the Chinese- writers, students, political commentators, entrepreneurs and dip- ly refused to acknowledge Taiwan’s suc- who agreed to follow Chinese custom and of the League of Nations, the US (and speaking world. lomats. We are not able to respond to every single email, but if we cess in limiting the virus, or even to kowtow to the Dragon Throne found Australia) turned it down. The same is not true for China today. If like your idea, we will get back to you soon. Please DO NOT pitch admit Taiwan as a member, for fear of more favour with the imperial court. There was hardly any money to be China wishes to lead the world, it will us an idea if you’re already pitching it somewhere else. offending mainland China. And while This infuriated the British, who blamed made in China under Chairman Mao have to offer more than money and the US government was promoting con- typical Dutch avarice—anything for a Zedong. Even so, Western countries intimidation. Freedom still matters. We carefully review submissions to ensure that no plagiarism spiracy theories about China, the quick guilder. But then the Dutch failed to agree on how to deal with him. Why else did Chinese student protesters has occurred. If we find any articles that have been plagiarised, European Union softened its criticism of came as representatives of the Dutch When Britain recognised the People’s erect a ten-meter-high Goddess of such practice will lead to blacklisting. deliberate Chinese misinformation after East India Company, not of their Republic of China in 1950, just one year Democracy in Tiananmen Square in China threatened to retaliate. monarch. after the revolution, the US, gearing up 1989? China will be incapable of advanc- Finally, please tell us who you are in a sentence or two when you The effectiveness of China’s intimida- The point, however, is that China saw for its crusade against global ing that cause on a global scale without send us your story ideas. We want to know where you have tion is a sign of its growing economic itself as the centre of the civilised world. Communism, was furious. Until the first starting at home. published before or what your expertise is on the topic you’re power. Presumably, such tactics would be Missions from abroad could only be seen 1970s, Washington recognised Chiang interested in exploring. less effective if the Western allies, as as bearers of tribute, and never as Kai-shek’s Nationalist regime on tiny Buruma is the author, most recently, well as such interested parties as Japan, equals. Macartney, confident that Britain Taiwan as the only legitimate govern- of A Tokyo Romance: A Memoir. South Korea, and Southeast Asian coun- was the world’s premier power, couldn’t ment of China. —Project Syndicate

C M Y K 05 | TUESDAY, JUNE 02, 2020 NATIONAL Dozen die, 21 injured as microbus Karnali grapples with resource crunch as rams into parked truck in Banke the province sees a spike in Covid-19 cases Of the 191 people infected with the coronavirus in Karnali, 65 are still in quarantine. The injured are receiving treatment at the Nepalgunj-based Bheri Hospital. KALENDRA SEJUWAL and haven’t shown any symptoms of people from Tatopani Rural SURKHET, JUNE 1 Covid-19. But cases are rising at an Municipality and 12 from alarming rate since the province reg- Chandannath Municipality went As the number of people infected with istered the first case two weeks ago. home as the integrated quarantine coronavirus grows steadily in Karnali, The number of people returning facilities set up in four different places the provincial government is grap- from India is rising too, with 19,616 in the district headquarters were full. pling with resource constraints. people returning in the second half of Five returnees from Guthichaur The province, which has reported May. As many as 22,482 are quaran- Rural Municipality were sent to the 198 infected as of Monday, has 550 tined across the province. quarantine in their own local unit. isolation beds, according to data According to the Office of Chief Devkota admitted the lack of from the provincial Ministry of Minister, quarantine facilities in enough quarantine facilities in the Social Development. But the beds Karnali have a cumulative capacity of district to accommodate a Nepali are not evenly distributed among the 29,137. The province has 52 ventilators workers returning from India. “Efforts districts. in total. are on to find suitable locations to set “The number of infected continues Dal Rawal, provincial Minister of up quarantine facilities, but the to rise. We are discussing how to man- Social Development, reckons that if responsibility of establishing quaran- age the situation,” said Dailekh Chief the cases continue to surge at the cur- tine facilities is that of the local District Officer Yubaraj Kattel. Of the rent rate, the government may have to units,” said Devkota. 93 people diagnosed with Covid-19 in set up isolation wards in quarantine Chandannath Municipality said it the district, the highest in Karnali facilities. had planned to set up additional quar- Province, only 34 are placed in isola- “If the numbers continue to go up, antine facilities, but could not find a tion as of Monday. The district has 40 all hospitals in the local units may suitable location. “All the quarantine isolation beds. have to be used for treatment of Covid- facilities in the municipality are But in Salyan, the bed capacity is 15 19 patients,” said Dambar Khadka, crowded with returnees. We are strug- while the number of infected has director of Provincial Hospital, where gling to establish new ones,” said reached 35. According to Arjun 51 infected are currently undergoing Mayor Kantika Sejuwal. Budhamagar, chief of the District treatment. In Mugu, returnees from India have Health Office, 13 among the infected Of the 198 infected in the province, pitched tents in the open for lack of POST PHOTO: MADHU SHAHI have been put up at the Surkhet-based 65 are still in quarantine. space. A total of 167 people who Of the 21 injured, six are from Dang, five from Rolpa and 10 from Salyan. Provincial Hospital and 12 at the dis- But most of the local units across returned from India have set up tents trict hospital. Ten others, however, are the province are unable to set up quar- in Halekhada and Chhote of Khatyad THAKUR SINGH THARU Of the 21 injured, six are from Dang, Nepalgunj. But the driver picked up still in quarantine. “We plan to add at antine facilities. Of late, returnees Rural Municipality. NEPALGUNJ, JUNE 1 five from Rolpa and 10 from Salyan. more passengers on the way. least 100 more isolation beds in a few from various parts of the country and Karnali Province, which reported Three of them are in critical condi- “The driver and his assistant had days,” Budhamagar said. “The situa- India are being sent home directly due its first Covid-19 case on May 18, is A dozen people died and 21 others tion. The injured are receiving treat- started looking for more passengers tion is dire and we can’t handle it with to lack of space in quarantine facili- now at high risk of the virus spread- were injured after a microbus they ment at the same hospital. while in Nepalgunj and we started existing resources.” ties. As many as 35 people, who arrived ing quickly. On Monday, the Health were on rammed into a parked truck “The microbus rammed into the from there around 10:30 pm towards On Sunday, a meeting of the provin- in Jumla from India on Sunday, were Ministry confirmed 75 new cases in in Rapti Sonari Rural Municipality, truck from behind. Due to a strong Dang. He stopped for more passengers cial government decided to treat the sent home as the integrated quaran- the province (41 in Dailekh, 19 in Banke, at around midnight on Sunday. impact, those in the front seat sus- on the way,” said Pariyar. infected in three phases, accounting tine facility set up in Khalanga, the Jumla, 10 in Salyan and five in While 11 people, including the driv- tained grievous injuries, and some The microbus only has 16 seats, but for asymptomatic and symptomatic district headquarters, was full. Surkhet) taking the tally to 198. er of the microbus and his assistant died on the spot,” said Chand. 33 individuals, including the driver people and those at high risk. The Dailekh District Police Office died on the spot, a passenger died The microbus was heading to Dang and his assistant, were crammed into It has designated three hospitals as said around 40 people arrived in (Raj Bahadur Shahi and LP Devkota receiving treatment at the Nepalgunj- from Nepalgunj carrying passengers the vehicle when the incident took corona-specific hospitals: the provin- Khalanga on Sunday. Police said 23 reported from Mugu and Jumla) based Bheri Hospital on Monday on their way home from various parts place. cial hospital in Surkhet with 70 isola- morning. of India. They had entered Nepal Area Police Office, Jamunaha, also tion beds, the 120-bed Jumla-based “The accident took place after the through the Jamunaha border point said that the vehicle started its jour- Karnali Academy of Health and Hiace microbus (BA 5 KHA 5995) on Sunday evening. ney from Nepalgunj with 16 passen- Science, and the Chaurajahari-based rammed into a parked truck (BA 4 According to Bheri Hospital, all of gers. Madhav Rijal, sub-inspector at community hospital in Rukum (West) KHA 9064) near the Thuriya forest in the deceased and injured have tested Area Police Office, Jamunaha, said, with 15 beds. Ward No. 2 of the rural municipality, negative for coronavirus. “We had allowed them to go after log- But the hospitals have asymptomat- along the East-West Highway,” said Sunil Pariyar, one of the survivors, ging their arrival at 6:30 pm. The driv- ic patients who pose a challenge in the Kuldip Chand, Deputy Superintendent said, “The microbus was overspeeding er might have added passengers at treatment of those at high risk, a phy- of Police of the Area Police Office in when it rammed into the truck. We Mahendra Multiple Campus area or in sician at the provincial hospital said. Kohalpur. were trying to sleep and I had even Kohalpur. The overloaded speeding Meanwhile, Govinda Bahadur Pun “The loaded truck had broken down asked the driver to slow down. vehicle might have lost control.” Magar, mayor of Chaurajahari, said on the road,” he added. “But, he ignored my call saying that Bishnu Giri, another survivor from that the corona-specific hospital in his Six of the 12 deceased have been he had to return to Nepalgunj as soon Dang, said, “The driver insisted he town refused to admit patients and identified. Bir Bahadur Oli, superin- as he dropped us off in Dang.” had to reach Dang as soon as possible they were sent to Surkhet. tendent at the Banke District Police According to Pariyar, there were and return to Nepalgunj. We asked According to physicians involved in Office, said, “The identified are from only 16 passengers in the vehicle when him to slow down but he didn’t listen the treatment, almost all of the infect- POST PHOTO: KALENDRA SEJUWAL Dailekh, Surkhet, and Dang.” they started the journey from to us.” ed in Karnali are in normal health, The Health Ministry on Monday confirmed 75 new cases in the province, taking the tally to 198. Sudurpaschim Nepal pushing constitutional amendment hardens positions ... unable to meet >> Continued from page 1 Multiple sources inside the ruling forward.” the Indian capital, which includes sen- talks,” he said. Last week, Prime Minister KP party told the Post that Baskota later According to Acharya, Nepal is at ior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, But not everyone is convinced demand for Sharma Oli dispatched the disgraced told Prime Minister Oli that India was fault for not pushing harder for talks members of the Indian diplomatic that talks will be held. There are former minister Gokul Baskota to not going to take any harsh measures but India too has pushed things far- community, and businesspersons, many who believe that India will sim- meet with Indian Ambassador Vinay against Nepal. ther by refusing to sit for talks. according to leaders from the ruling ply wait until the issue fizzles out Covid-19 testing Mohan Kwatra. Baskota confirmed to While the rhetoric from both sides “If both sides had sat for talks, party. and the status quo remains the Post that he had held an hour-long has lessened somewhat, the constitu- Nepal would probably not have pub- However, these back-channel nego- unchanged. That was the approach it BHAWANI BHATTA meeting with Kwatra where he com- tional amendment now stands as an lished the map,” he said. tiations have yet to result in anything took in November, when protests had KANCHANPUR, JUNE 1 municated Nepal’s position on the obstacle to talks. Nepal published a new political and tangible. broken out over India’s encroachment boundary. “But at least there has been a administrative map that includes all On Saturday, during an interview of Kalapani. Five days ago, Mahakali Hospital had The Indian ambassador also change in tone from both sides,” said disputed territories as its own on May on Indian television, Indian Defence “We are in favour of talks sent the swab samples of four individ- stressed that it is essential to create a former foreign secretary and ambas- 20. Earlier, in November, India pub- Minister Rajnath Singh, whose inau- with India but we are afraid that uals from its isolation ward to the Seti positive environment for talks but sador Madhu Raman Acharya. “Talks lished its own political map showing guration of a new link road via Oli might halt negotiations with New Provincial Lab in Dhangadi for Covid- wanted to know the finer details of the should happen and diplomacy should Kalapani within its borders. Lipulekh had kicked off this entire Delhi on the grounds that we 19 tests. The hospital is still waiting planned talks, including the level at be given due importance. Had we As the prospects for talks continue fiasco, said that he is aware of the already have a map now,” said for the results. which potential talks will be held and started talks in November when India to dwindle, Oli, who had long cultivat- unfolding situation in Nepal. Khadka, the Congress leader. “If you “We are waiting for the results to whether Nepal would invite a third first came up with its new political ed good relations with Delhi before “We are like family members and ask me whether there is any possibili- come. Only then will we be able to party for talks or mediation, accord- map, we would have reached a conclu- taking on a hard nationalist stance in relatives and if we have any differenc- ty of talks with India, my answer decide on the treatment process,” ing to Baskota. sion by now as to how we can move 2015, has mobilised back-channels in es, we will sort them out through would be ‘no’.” Saroj Acharya, a physician at the Mahakali Hospital, said. “The hospi- tal cannot accommodate any more patients and there are many others waiting to get admitted.” Samajbadi Party, Janata All of the physicians and health A community forest in Palpa found workers at the hospital have tested negative for the virus, and it took Party register private ... eight days for their results to be out. Mahakali Hospital has so far sent smuggling timber during lockdown >> Continued from page 1 swab samples of 383 individuals, of “If the ruling party does not support our bill, we can also ask why whom 312 have tested negative. The we should support theirs,” said Karna, the Janata Party chief whip. results of 71 samples are still awaited. Three persons, including chairman of the forest users’ committee, held for investigation. “The private bill that the main opposition Nepali Congress is going to The provincial lab has asked the register will create further pressure on the ruling party.” Mahakali Municipality to stop collect- MADHAB ARYAL After registering its own amendment bill, the government had ing swab samples for the time being PALPA, JUNE 1 decided to wait for some time before tabling it, saying it wanted to amid increasing numbers of samples build a national consensus on the matter. to be tested, according to Dil Bahadur A community forest in Tansen Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had even called an all-party meet- Sinjali, spokesperson of the munici- Municipality, Palpa, has been illegally ing on May 26 in a bid to forge national consensus, arguing that pality. Almost all of the local unit’s smuggling timber in the district of late. amending the constitution to update the map on the national emblem quarantine facilities are full, he said. Taking advantage of the nationwide needed the support of parties from across the spectrum. According to the Provincial Health lockdown, the consumers committee of The bill can easily clear both the 275-strong House of Representatives Directive, until Thursday, the lab has Tilahar Sakhar Salleri Community Forest and the 59-member National Assembly, as the Nepali Congress has tested 5,549 samples, of which 20 have in Tansen-11 has logged nearly threefold already asked its parliamentarians to vote in favour. With the tested positive and 5,146 have regis- more trees than it was permitted to and Congress’ support, the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) has the tered negative. The result of the rest is smuggled the logs to a timber trader. required numbers in both chambers. yet to come. Security personnel detained Ganesh Rajendra Mahato, a leader in the six-member praesidium of the The result has been delayed because Prasad Ghimire and Amar Bahadur Pun, Janata Party, said that the question is not whether the government’s the lab tested the samples of provin- the chairman and treasurer of the forest amendment bill will go through but how the parties will address their cial assembly members, health work- consumers’ committee respectively, on long-standing demands for constitution amendment. ers and public service officials this Tuesday for investigation. Trader Nabin “A nation does not only mean the geography; the people make up its week, according to Hem Raj Joshi, Ghimire was also nabbed in connection important constituency and their concerns must also be taken into provincial health director. “The pro- with the incident. consideration,” Mahato told the Post. cess has also been interrupted by “The accused trio have been kept in While some say the Samajbadi Party and Janata Party now are power outages. We will pick up pace custody at the District Police Office for using their amendment proposal as a bargaining chip as they cannot this week onwards.” investigation,” said Arjun Prasad block the government’s amendment bill, others say their proposal But the provincial lab tests only Chapagain, an investigation officer at the carries symbolic value. “The about 150 to 200 samples a day, in con- forest office. According to him, prelimi- government’s amendment pro- trast to the thousands in quarantine nary investigation shows that the commit- posal shows that the ruling party centres who are awaiting to get tested tee cut down 3,526 cubic feet more timber can amend whatever they like for Covid-19. The lab also lacks enough than it got permission from the forest and whenever they want, but human resources, Joshi said. office. they won’t consider longstand- Over 21,000 people across “A case will be filed against them at the ing concerns that people have Sudurpaschim have been tested with district court through the office of sacrificed their lives for,” said RDT kits—with 88 testing positive—but the district’s attorney. They will be pun- CK Lal, a political commentator. due to the questionable veracity of ished as per the Forest Act 2019,” said POST PHOTO: MADHAB ARYAL The joint amendment bill, those apparatus, those who tested posi- Chapagain. Locals suspect that forest user committee office bearers are working in collusion with timber traders. however, is likely to remain sym- tive should undergo PCR testing as well. Yamlal Pokharel, a ranger at the forest bolic, said Lal, as the ruling Meanwhile, the influx of people office, said that the division forest office ers’ committee officials worked in collu- last year as well, but the authorities con- party is unlikely to vote in returning from India is continuously had permitted the community forest to cut sion with the timber traders by taking cerned were unaware about it. favour, given its past reluctance rising, with over 2,778 people entering down 2,074 cubic feet timber, but the com- advantage of the poor security at the for- Besides Tilahar Sakhar Salleri to address the demands, and the Nepal via Gadda Chauki border point munity forest was found logging 5,600 est area during the lockdown. According Community Forest, many such forests in opposition Nepali Congress’ on Friday alone, according to the dis- cubic feet timber, he added. to the local people, the forest consumers’ the district are illegally logging trees for plan to present its own amend- trict administration office. Locals suspect that the forest consum- committee had illegally cut down trees smuggling purposes, locals say. ment bill.

C M Y K TUESDAY, JUNE 02, 2020 | 06 MONEY

FOREX Long-haul carrier US Dollar 121.17 Runway end safety areas at Tribhuvan Euro 134.66 Emirates fires Pound Sterling 149.99 Japanese Yen 11.25 International Airport improved staff amid pandemic Chinese Yuan 16.98 ASSOCIATED PRESS DUBAI, JUNE 1 Qatari Riyal 33.28 The runway was extended by 300 metres at the southern end, making its total length 3,350 metres.

Australian Dollar 81.57 Dubai’s long-haul carrier Emirates SANGAM PRASAIN again invited bids to get the stalled said on Sunday it fired an undisclosed Malaysian Ringit 28.06 KATHMANDU, JUNE 1 project moving. It also broke up the number of employees as the coronavi- project undertaken by the Spanish rus pandemic has halted global avia- Saudi Arab Riyal 32.28 The runway of Tribhuvan company into four different packages. tion, becoming the latest Mideast air- Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank International Airport has been Package 2, which includes construc- line to shed staff over the outbreak. extended by 300 metres at its southern tion of an international terminal Emirates, the jewel of the sheikh- end, upgrading the runway end safety building and associated works, was dom’s vast array of state-linked enter- PRICE PER TOLA areas to current standards. awarded to a Nepali contractor. “The prises known as “Dubai Inc.” to diplo- BULLION The runway now has safety areas, new departure terminal has been mats and investors, declined to offer each 300 metres in length, at both the completed as well,” said Pokhrel. figures on how many staff it fired. Fine Gold Rs 77,000 northern Bouddha and southern He said that Packages 3 and 4, which “We have endeavored to sustain the Koteshwor ends. The extra length is consist of building a parallel taxiway, current family as is ... but have come Silver Rs 720 intended to reduce risk in the event of are yet to be awarded. Package 4 con- to the conclusion that we unfortunate- an aircraft overshooting or under- sists of soil filling works on the north- ly have to say goodbye to a few of the SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA shooting the runway. ern side of the airport and construc- wonderful people that worked with Besides the extension of the run- tion of parking bays. us,” the airline said in a statement. way which took eight years, the Civil Due to delays, the completion date The carrier said it would treat fired GASOLINE WATCH Aviation Authority of Nepal has com- POST PHOTO: SANJOG MANANDHAR for the $92-million project was pushed staff “with fairness and respect,” pleted the much-delayed new depar- A newly-constructed approach light area at the runway of Tribhuvan International Airport. back to 2019. Eventually, the bank without elaborating. ture terminal building that is expect- closed its funding to the project to Emirates had been the sole holdout ed to increase the airport’s passenger “Now, if an aircraft making its take- mance in December 2016. The dura- begin a fresh investment in 2020, but among the Gulf ’s two other major handling capacity to some extent. off roll from the northern end aborts tion of the runway extension project the lockdown prevented the new pro- East-West carriers on retaining staff. The runway extension project had takeoff, it will have room to stop on the was 21 months. The Chinese contrac- ject from moving ahead. Previously, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad aimed to lengthen the safety area at runway,” said Pokhrel. tor baulked at undertaking the project After the construction is completed, and Doha-based Qatar Airways simi- the northern end on the Bouddha side. The airport authority had awarded complaining that prices of construc- Tribhuvan International Airport will larly fired staff as countries shut There was no overrun area here, and the runway extension contract to a tion materials had jumped steeply. be able to handle more than 5.85 mil- down their airspace as the virus if a plane taking off from this end Nepali joint venture Kalika-Tundi in Initially, the Asian Development lion passengers annually and accom- spread. should run out of runway, it could December 2018. Bank funded TIA Modernisation modate bigger aircraft. While the airlines have run repatri- plunge into a ravine 50-60 metres deep. The company is the third contractor Project, now known as Air Transport Pokhrel said that the airport com- ation and cargo flights as traffic slow- So it was decided to lengthen the run- for the Rs1 billion project, taking the Capacity Enhancement Project, was pleted construction of two new park- ly picks up, the losses have been tre- way at the southern end on the place of previous contractor, Shanxi awarded to a Spanish company ing bays at the south-western side of mendous. In March, Dubai’s Crown Koteshwor side. Construction Engineering Group of Sanjose in December 2012 with the runway that will accommodate Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin “Now we will have safety areas 300 China, which fled after abandoning its the completion deadline set for two wide-body jets or three nar- Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum metres in length at both ends of performance bond. March 2016. row-body jets. With this, Kathmandu announced the sheikhdom would the runway as per safety require- In October 2017, Shanxi The Civil Aviation Authority of airport will have 11 parking bays--four inject equity into the airline, but ments,” said Rajan Pokhrel, director Construction Engineering Group won Nepal was forced to send the Spanish for wide-body jets. In addition, the offered no details. general at the Civil Aviation Authority the bid to undertake the major airside company off by officially issuing a airport has two remote parking bays Emirates, owned by a Dubai sover- of Nepal. and landside infrastructure improve- ‘notice of termination’ on December on the eastern side of the runway. eign wealth fund, already reduced sal- Following the extension of the safe- ment works, known as Package 1, at 9, 2016 for delays. The termination of Due to a limited number of aries for its staff. The carrier ty areas, the total length of the run- the airport after the original contrac- the contract became effective on parking bays, international flights announced profits of $288 million in way of Nepal’s sole international air- tor, Spanish company Constructora December 27, 2016. have to be put in a holding pattern for 2019, but acknowledged the virus port has reached 3,350 metres. Sanjose, was sent off for non-perfor- In June 2017, the airport authority long periods. would deeply affect its business. ‘Lemon’ or not, Oil prices steady as OPEC+ considers Europe’s factories starting to Trump is stuck recover, Asia’s pain worsens with Phase 1 China extension to output curbs REUTERS contraction, something echoed in REUTERS LONDON/TOKYO, JUNE 1 surveys from other countries in trade deal LONDON, JUNE 1 the region. European manufacturers may be over “There was a clear sense that—par- REUTERS Oil prices were steady on Monday the worst of a coronavirus-driven ticularly in the euro zone—April was WASHINGTON, JUNE 1 helped by reports that OPEC and downturn, but Asia’s pain deepened likely to be the bottom of the trough. Russia were closer to a deal on extend- in May due to a slump in global trade, Hopefully we are past the worst,” said US President Donald Trump has little ing oil cuts but held back by renewed with export powerhouses Japan and Peter Dixon at Commerzbank. choice but to stick with his Phase 1 tension between the United States South Korea seeing the sharpest Britain also saw another sharp China trade deal despite his anger at and China. falls in activity in over a decade, sur- downturn and pockets of growth were Beijing over the coronavirus pandem- Benchmark Brent crude was up 19 veys showed. mostly linked to healthcare and per- ic, new Hong Kong security rules, and cents, or 0.5 percent, at $38.03 a barrel The new coronavirus pandemic— sonal protection equipment although dwindling hopes China can meet US at 1126 GMT. US crude had dipped 11 which has killed more than 370,000 some firms reported signs of new goods purchase targets, people cents, or 0.3 percent, at $35.38 a barrel. people around the world—has wreaked inflows of business as clients began familiar with his administration’s The Organization of the Petroleum havoc with supply chains and quashed to reopen. deliberations say. Exporting Countries and Russia, part demand as government-imposed lock- Alongside the devastating impact of The US-China trade negotiations of a group known as OPEC+, are mov- downs forced businesses to close and the pandemic, a US-China spat over took more than two years, heaped tar- ing closer to a compromise on the REUTERS citizens to stay home. Hong Kong’s status and Beijing’s han- iffs on $370 billion of Chinese prod- duration for extending oil output cuts A pump jack operates at a well site near Guthrie, Oklahoma, United States. While factory activity still contract- dling of the pandemic could sour busi- ucts, whipsawed financial markets and were discussing rolling over the ed sharply across Europe last month, ness sentiment and add to already and dimmed global growth prospects curbs one to two months, two OPEC+ JBC Energy analysts said in a note. the people said. “The possibility purchasing managers said April lows huge strains on the global economy. well before the coronavirus outbreak sources told Reuters. Tension between China and of heightened tensions does pose had passed as governments on the So the trough in global economic crushed them. Algeria, which holds the rotating the United States was also encourag- a risk for the recent rally in oil pric- continent began to ease the tough activity will be deeper and the rebound In recent weeks, suggestions that OPEC presidency, has proposed that ing some caution after Beijing es,” said Harry Tchilinguirian, head lockdown measures implemented to is likely to take longer than previously Trump may cancel the deal have ema- OPEC+ hold a meeting on June 4 rath- warned of retaliation on US moves of commodity research at BNP contain the spread of the virus. predicted as the pandemic spreads in nated from the White House almost er than the previously planned June over Hong Kong. Paribas. After crashing to its lowest reading waves, a recent Reuters poll found. daily, and businesses, investors, and 9-10. Russia has said it has no objec- China has asked its state-owned US President Donald Trump’s direc- in the survey’s nearly 22-year history The International Monetary Fund China trade watchers are hanging on tion to meeting sooner. firms to halt purchases of soybeans tive to begin the process of eliminat- in April, IHS Markit’s Manufacturing said last month the global economy to every word and tweet. “The fact that crude ... prices have and pork from the United States, two ing special treatment for Hong Kong is Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for would take much longer than expected not reacted much to the news people familiar with the matter said. likely to create a new driver of volatil- the euro zone recovered somewhat last to recover fully from the virus shock, of the potential cut extension can be China could expand the order to ity in global markets as tensions month, rising to 39.4 from 33.4. suggesting a downgrade to its current seen as a sign that the market has include additional US farm goods between Washington and Beijing But that was still a long way from projection for a 3 percent contraction already priced in a lot of optimism,” if Washington took further action, climb again. the 50 mark separating growth from this year. Rich world’s jobs crisis jolts money flows to millions

REUTERS global remittances to low- and mid- think tank Inter-American Dialogue. NEW YORK, JUNE 1 dle-income nations to fall by $109 bil- The strong US economy had been the REUTERS lion, or almost a fifth, in 2020 to $445 main driver of flows. Remittance spe- A file photo of US President Donald Trump Carlos Sosa, a Salvadoran waiter in billion. The bank projects the pandem- cialists also say President Donald shaking hands with Chinese Vice Premier New York, used to send up to $500 a ic will cut into the wages and employ- Trump’s campaign to halt immigra- Liu He in Washington, US. month back home to his mother to ment of migrant workers, who tend to tion had helped boost the money flow help pay for her medical bills and food. be the most vulnerable when there is as migrants saved more in case of But on Friday, when Trump said the But now, after the coronavirus hit and an economic downturn in host coun- deportations. United States would start dismantling he lost his job in early March, Sosa tries. The steep drop in remittances Remittances to Mexico, Guatemala, trade and travel privileges for Hong has burned through his savings and carries dire consequences for the Honduras and El Salvador hit a com- Kong, he did not mention the deal. the wire transfers have stopped. many countries around the world bined record of $57.7 billion last year, Stock markets heaved a sigh of relief, The 42-year old says he is struggling that are heavily dependent on such central bank data show. Those four with the S&P 500 reversing losses. to pay for even his own rent and is payments and whose economies countries accounted for about 64 per- Talking tough on China and criticiz- concerned for his mother. “It’s been a are already reeling from a slump in cent of the 10.5 million undocumented ing the Obama administration’s more very tough situation,” said Sosa, who demand triggered by the coronavirus immigrants living in the United States measured approach is a key part of is in the middle of processing his US crisis. in 2017, according to the most recent Trump’s re-election strategy. Sticking residency papers. “The economic part estimates from the Pew Research with the pact may mean accepting that is the most traumatic of all this.” Center. China is likely to fall short of pur- Lockdowns imposed by wealthy Roughly one in nine In April, remittances to Guatemala chase commitments for US agricultur- nations to slow the spread of the novel had already fallen by 20 percent from a al goods, manufactured products, coronavirus, and the jolt those restric- of the global year earlier, to $690.7 million. It was a energy and services—goals that many tions have delivered to their econo- major about-turn for a country that as said were unrealistic even before the mies, are severing a vital lifeline for population receives recently as February was showing pandemic. many often vulnerable people around REUTERS remittance growth of 17 percent from Cancelling the deal, though, would the world: the billions of dollars in remittances, claims A file photo shows customers receiving money from families working abroad at a money the prior year, according to the coun- reignite the nearly two-year US-China remittances sent home by relatives remittance centre in Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines. try’s central bank. Guatemala received trade war at a time US unemployment working abroad. the United Nations. $10.5 billion of remittances last year, is at its worst since the 1930s Great Roughly one in nine of the global told her to stop working as of late The world’s two largest sources of the equivalent of almost 14 percent of Depression. The next US step would population receives remittances, or April. Now, the 49-year-old can think remittance payments have been the nation’s economy. likely be reviving previously planned about 800 million people, according to The risks range from rising poverty of only one way to get money for her severely disrupted. The United States, Elizabeth, who lives near but cancelled tariffs on some $165 bil- the United Nations. Early data show and hunger to balance-of-payments family to survive: “Borrow from my which tops the World Bank’s list, Guatemala’s capital city, used to lion worth of Chinese consumer severe drops have already taken place. emergencies for developing econo- sister, borrow from my friend. Just accounting for some $68.50 billion of receive about $1,200 a month from her goods, including Apple cellphones and El Salvador saw remittances collapse mies reliant on the cash. borrow, borrow, borrow.” payments globally in 2018, has seen daughter’s fiancé, who worked as a computers, toys and clothing-all ulti- 40 percent in April from a year earlier, The vulnerable spots include India, The impact could be felt more acute- unemployment skyrocket, with more cook in the United States. But the pay- mately paid by US companies and to $287.3 million, according to the China and Mexico, the top recipients ly in emerging and frontier market than 40 million jobs lost since March. ments stopped after coronavirus shut- passed on to consumers. Beijing would country’s central bank. of remittances by value, according to economies even more dependent on The Gulf economies, the world’s No. 2 tered the two diners he worked at and retaliate with tariffs on US goods, fuel- Sosa says he looking for a new job the World Bank. The Philippines, the transfers. El Salvador and neighbor- source, have been hammered by lower dried up his other side jobs. ling more market turmoil and delay- but the ones available feel risky, fourth-biggest recipient of remittanc- ing Honduras are particularly vulner- oil prices. The money had helped pay for ing recovery. involving cleaning places like trains es, has nearly one in 20 of its adult able. Both received remittances that The tightening of the US remittance Elizabeth’s treatment for stomach can- “He’s stuck with a lemon. He gets an or hospitals. He has warned his moth- population working abroad. amounted to about a fifth of their spigot is expected to reverse a mul- cer at a semi-private hospital and reg- empty agreement if he sticks with it, er that there would be no more wire Mimi Ysulat used to send home up gross domestic product in 2018, ti-year boom in payments to families ular visits from a nurse, as well as and he gets more actions that create transfers for some time. As he told to HK$2000 a month, or about $260, to according to World Bank data. in Latin America. food and other basics. The future looks an economic drag and more volatility her: “We will have to see how we her husband and children in Antique Analysts say that cash bolstered the Until early this year, Latin American bleak, said 69-year old Elizabeth, if he abandons it,” said one person survive this because things here are province in the Philippines. But the countries’ construction sectors, stim- migrants were funneling record-high appearing frail as she stood in the briefed on the administration’s trade difficult.” Hong Kong couple whose children she ulated consumption and helped many sums from the United States, accord- doorway of her home near Guatemala deliberations. The World Bank has said it expects had looked after for nine years have out of poverty. ing to central bank data and US-based City in early May.

C M Y K 07 | TUESDAY, JUNE 02, 2020 WORLD BRIEFING Europe emerges from lockdown, India’s virus infections Deadly Tropical Storm Amanda hits El Salvador, Guatemala Latin America cases pass million overtake France amid SAN SALVADOR: Tropical Storm Amanda triggered flash floods, land- slides and power outages as it bar- Covid-19 has now killed more than 372,000 people and infected at least 6.1 million. criticism of lockdown relled through El Salvador and Guatemala on Sunday, killing 14 peo- AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE REUTERS allowed to go home at the beginning of ple, authorities said, warning of fur- PARIS, JUNE 1 NEW DELHI, JUNE 1 the epidemic when the disease spread ther heavy rain to come. El Salvador was very low, the current situation President Nayib Bukele declared a Countries across Europe took bolder India’s cases of coronavirus crossed could have been avoided,” the Indian 15-day state of emergency to cope steps in easing coronavirus lock- 190,000, the health ministry said on Public Health Association, Indian with the effects of the storm, which downs, with schools, pubs, parks and Monday, overtaking France to become Association of Preventive and Social he estimated to have caused $200 mil- pools reopening in places, while in seventh highest in the world, as the Medicine and the Indian Association lion in damage, but which weakened Latin America the outbreak grew government eases back on most curbs of Epidemiologists said in a joint later in the day as it moved into more dire with infections passing the after a two-month-long lockdown that statement. Guatemala. Amanda, the first named one million mark. left millions without work. “The returning migrants are now storm of the season in the Pacific, The deadly disease has now killed With a record 8,392 new cases over taking infection to each and every unleashed torrents of floodwater that more than 372,000 million people and the previous day, India is now behind corner of the country; mostly to rural tossed vehicles around like toys and infected at least 6.1 million since the United States, Brazil, Russia, and semi-urban areas, in districts damaged about 200 homes, the head emerging in China late last year. Britain, Spain and Italy, according to a with relatively weak public health sys- of the Civil Protection Service It has ravaged economies and Reuters tally. tems,” the experts said. William Hernandez said. threatens to tip the world toward a Criticism has grown in recent days The number of deaths from Covid- recession not seen in decades, while that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 19 stood at 5,394, still small compared hemming billions of people in across sudden lockdown of 1.3 billion Indians to other countries with similar case Google rejects call for huge the globe under lockdowns to slow its in March has failed to halt the spread loads, which the government says was Australian media payout deadly march. of the disease while destroying the partly because the lockdown had SYDNEY: Google has rejected demands But from Russia to France, Italy and livelihoods of millions of people who helped avoid an exponential rise in it pay hundreds of millions of dollars Britain, countries have started to depend on daily wages. cases, giving hospitals space to treat per year in compensation to emerge from months-long lockdowns, Community transmission is well patients. Still, there are concerns that Australian news media under a gov- cautiously returning to a new AFP/RSS underway among the population, a if the infections keep rising especially ernment-imposed revenue sharing post-pandemic version of normal. Elementary school students hand over their health reports amid concerns of Covid-19 on team of independent experts said, in Delhi and Mumbai, the health sys- deal. The company’s top executive in Bars were set to serve again in Monday as schools reopen in Tokyo one week after Japan lifted the state of emergency. adding this would only get worse as tem would be stretched. Australia said Google made barely Finland and Norway—albeit with dis- public transport opens. Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Aus$10 million (US$6.7 million) per tancing restrictions or shortened Elsewhere in Europe even bolder In Brazil, which has more than half On Monday, thousands of people Kejriwal announced the sealing of the year from news-linked advertising, a hours—while some schools in Britain steps were taken. Greece opened some a million known infections and the were packing into 200 new trains that city’s borders to stop people from fraction of a government watchdog’s and Greece opened doors again hotels, schools, pools and tattoo second highest caseload in the world resumed services across the country, around the country flocking to its hos- estimates for the sector. In an effort Monday. But the decision to allow parlours, while in Slovenia a mandato- after the US, anti-lockdown President most of them migrant workers and pitals for a week. The city has 9,500 being closely watched around the schools to partially reopen in Britain ry rule to wear masks was eased as Jair Bolsonaro again defied social dis- their families leaving metropolises beds for Covid-19 patients but will run world, Australia is set to unveil plans drew scorn from some accusing the the country declared the end of the tancing recommendations on Sunday. such as Delhi and Mumbai for their out of them quickly if people came to force major internet firms to share government of moving too fast. outbreak. Wearing no face mask, the far-right homes in the interior. from around the country for treat- advertising revenue they earn from “Covid-19 spreading too fast to lift Rome’s famed Colosseum opened to leader met a tightly packed group of “Had the migrant persons been ment, he said. news featured in their services. lockdown in England,” scientific advi- visitors—Italian nationals only—for supporters in the capital Brasilia as sor Jeremy Farrar said on Twitter. the first time since March, drawing the crowd chanted “Myth! Myth! Britain has the second highest sparse crowds. Myth!”—echoing his dismissal of the Pressure grows on Saudi Arabia death toll in the world after the US, “We took advantage of the fact that virus threat. and Prime Minister Boris Johnson foreign tourists aren’t here yet,” said Bolsonaro has been a staunch oppo- to release jailed prince has come under fire for bungling the Pierluigi, adding that it was his first nent of lockdowns as a tool for con- RIYADH: A $2 million US lobbying response to the outbreak early on. visit to the massive amphitheatre. taining the coronavirus, saying they effort and petitions from European Leaders in Russia too faced back- And in France, parks in Paris are unnecessary and harmful to the lawmakers are piling pressure on lash for easing restrictions in the cap- opened for the first time in months, economy, but he has faced intense crit- Saudi Arabia to release a philanthro- ital Moscow, the epicentre of the out- ahead of restaurants, cafes and bars icism from worried state authorities pist prince jailed for two years with- break that has been under lockdown being allowed to serve on sidewalks and angry citizens. out charge amid an intensifying royal for months. and terraces in the city on Tuesday. Despite his scepticism, the virus crackdown. The detention of Prince Shopping malls and parks reopened The pandemic has devastated the rages on in Brazil and other parts Salman bin Abdulaziz and his father Monday, despite the still-high number global economy, which is facing its of South America, with the situation since January 2018 is part of a clamp- of cases that officials chalked down to worst downturn since the Great in Chile, Bolivia and Peru also down under de facto ruler Crown large-scale testing—not a signing of a Depression, and with businesses and worsening. Prince Mohammed bin Salman that ballooning outbreak. citizens growing tired of confinement, In a grim new landmark, infections has ensnared not just potential rivals There was cautious hope among there is pressure on many leaders to in Latin America and the Caribbean but also figures posing no visible some shopkeepers eager to see busi- press on with reopenings—especially surged past one million, according to challenge to his hold on power. The ness pick up again. in nations where outbreaks appear to an AFP tally based on official sources. dangerous power plays have also “We opened two hours ago but we be slowing. In the United States—the worst-af- swept up family members of Saad already have a few clients. I’m pretty But health experts have continued fected nation in the world— Aljabri, a former aide to another optimistic, I think people will come to warn of the possibility of a second Washington and Los Angeles resumed AFP/RSS detained prince and top intelligence back little by little,” Olga told AFP at wave of infections if authorities and outdoor dining, while New York Passengers put on gloves prior to joining a queue outside Secunderabad Railway Station official, who fled to Canada and holds her shop selling handbags and jewelry citizens let their guard down, especial- City is on track to begin re-opening before boarding a train to return to their homes after the government eased restrictions key state secrets. (AGENCIES) in central Moscow. ly if they risk large gatherings. from June 8. as a preventive measure against Covid-19 , in Secunderabad, India on Monday. Pope makes anti-corruption spending rules mandatory in Vatican REUTERS whereas previously each kept their VATICAN CITY, JUNE 1 own list. The pandemic has Professor Vincenzo Buonomo, rec- Pope Francis has approved sweeping tor of the Pontifical Lateran new rules for procurement and spend- wreaked havoc University, told the official Vatican ing in the Vatican meant to cut costs, with the Vatican’s News website that this measure would ensure transparent competition and help eliminate favouritism, and reduce the risk of corruption in finances, forcing ensure fair competition and economy awarding contracts. of scale. An Apostolic Letter and 30 pages of the measures. Vatican sources have said that in new norms released on Monday are the past, for example, they had to buy the culmination of a four-year process office supplies from a firm that had to rationalise spending procedures awarding contracts for goods and ser- been used for years even though they and tackle nepotism and cronyism. vices. Most Vatican contracts are with were available for less elsewhere. They come as the coronavirus pan- Italian companies. Buonomo said the new norms would demic has wreaked havoc with the Documents leaked during the pon- bring the Vatican into full compliance Vatican’s finances, forcing it to imple- tificate of Francis’s predecessor, Pope with the United Nations’ Merida ment some of the toughest cost-con- Benedict, showed that a Vatican Convention against corruption, which trol measures ever. department paid an Italian construc- the Holy See signed in 2016. In his letter, Francis said the tion company an exorbitant amount to Giuseppe Pignatone, a former new norms would allow for “a build a nativity scene in St Peter’s Italian anti-Mafia prosecutor who now considerable reduction in the danger Square. heads the Vatican’s court system, AFP/RSS of corruption”. An important change is the institu- said the norms give judicial officials New Zealand protesters hold a vigil against the killing of Minneapolis man George Floyd in a Black Lives Matter protest outside Parliament The new rules mandate highly tion of a single list of approved suppli- the power to suspend suspicious in Wellington on Monday. detailed, transparent procedures for ers for all Vatican departments, contracts. Fires burn near White House in violent US protests

REUTERS dozens of cities across the United I-35 highway in Minneapolis, which looted, its mayor told CNN. MINNEAPOLIS, JUNE 1 States, the most since the aftermath of had been closed to traffic. The driver Protests spread around the globe, the assassination of Martin Luther was pulled from the cab and beaten by with events in London and Berlin on Fires burned near the White House, King Jr in 1968—also during an elec- protesters before police took him into Sunday and others on Monday includ- stores were looted in New York City tion campaign and in the upheaval of custody. It did not appear any protest- ing in New Zealand, Australia and the and Southern California, and a tanker anti-war demonstrations. ers were hit by the truck. Netherlands. truck drove into marchers in President Donald Trump has con- On the West Coast, there were also The eruptions of violence have not Minneapolis as the United States demned the killing of Floyd and prom- clashes in Portland, Oregon, where let up despite the arrest on Friday of struggled to contain chaotic protests ised justice, but has also described the TV footage showed small fires burn- former Minneapolis police officer, over race and policing. current protesters as “thugs”. ing as police fired tear gas at protest- Derek Chauvin, 44. He has since been National Guard troops were “Get tough Democrat Mayors and ers who set off fireworks. charged with third-degree murder. deployed in 15 states and Washington, Governors,” Trump, a Republican, In Santa Monica, California, In New York City, where store win- DC in an attempt to quell a sixth night said on Twitter on Sunday afternoon. upscale stores were looted along the dows were smashed, police arrested of violence on Sunday. The unrest “These people are ANARCHISTS. Call city’s popular Third Street Promenade about 350 people and 30 officers suf- began with peaceful protests over the in our National Guard NOW.” before police moved in to make fered minor injuries during clashes. death of a black man, George Floyd, in In Louisville, Kentucky, WLKY-TV, a arrests. The vandalism followed a Mayor Bill de Blasio said police police custody. local CBS affiliate, reported that a largely peaceful march. conduct was being investigated, with “I hate to see my city like this but at man was shot and killed by police Further south, in the Los Angeles videos showing a police vehicle lurch- the end we need justice,” said 18-year- early on Monday. It was unclear if he suburb of Long Beach, a group of ing into a crowd of protesters who old Jahvon Craven as he stood on an was protesting. Police said they had young men and women smashed win- were pelting it with debris in overpass watching protesters below been fired on before the shooting, dows of a shopping mall and looted Brooklyn. on Interstate 35 in downtown WLKY reported. stores before they were dispersed De Blasio said he had not seen a Minneapolis moments before an 8 p.m. In Washington, DC, protesters set before a 6 pm curfew. separate video showing an officer curfew went into effect. fires near the White House on Sunday. The demonstrations brought out a pulling down the mask of a black Video footage showed a white The smoke mixed with billowing diversity of people. protester to spray something in Minneapolis police officer kneeling on clouds of tear gas as police sought to “It means a lot to see people other his face. the neck of Floyd, 46, for nearly nine clear from the area crowds chanting than black people joining the demon- Among those arrested for unlawful minutes before he died on May 25. “George Floyd”. stration,” said Candace Collins, a assembly on Saturday night was de His death caused outrage across a Sporadic violence broke out in young black woman at a march in Blasio’s 25-year-old daughter, Chiara, nation that is politically and racially Boston following peaceful protests as Culver City, California. according to a New York Police divided during a polarizing presiden- activists threw bottles at police Thousands of people gathered Department source, who said she tial campaign, reigniting protests that officers and lit a cruiser on fire. peacefully on Sunday afternoon for a was issued a “desk appearance ticket” have flared repeatedly in recent years Philadelphia announced a 6 pm to 6 rally in St Paul, adjacent to and released. over police killings of black am curfew. Minneapolis, as state troopers sur- Protests have also flared in Chicago, REUTERS Americans. On Sunday afternoon, a tanker rounded the state capitol building. Seattle, Salt Lake City, Cleveland Police in riot gear keep protesters at bay in Lafayette Park near the White House in Authorities imposed curfews on truck drove into demonstrators on the About 170 stores in the city have been and Dallas. Washington, on Sunday.

C M Y K TUESDAY, JUNE 02, 2020 | 08 CULTURE & ARTS (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 Practising and discussing art in the time of Covid With galleries shut and events cancelled, here’s how some art collectives are keeping art alive and thriving in the country.

SRIZU BAJRACHARYA and vital for people at such a time. That is vidual growth as artists. “Our collective KATHMANDU why, for their next project, ‘Art Cards to is more known for research-based works Health Carers,’ Micro Galleries is calling rather than reactive art pieces. And that’s s the lockdown continues out to people to make cards for health why we haven’t really immersed our- to disrupt life, artists and care workers at the front line. selves in making any works right away. At creatives around the world, the moment, we are just taking the time and in Kathmandu, are qui- Calling attention to issues: Kor Art to observe things,” says Sheelasha etly at work. Even with gal- Collective Rajbhandari, a member of the collective. leries shut and events can- As much of the world has moved online Rajbhandari, along with Hit Man celled,A the art community in the Valley with the lockdown, many art collectives Gurung, is curating the Kathmandu continues to spend their time making and are using this time not just to engage peo- Triennale 2020, a mega art event that has discussing art and life. ple with art but to address other impor- been taking place every three years in While for some artists the pandemic is tant issues that are at the risk of being Kathmandu. With the event postponed for proving to be a time to reflect on their sidelined. One such independent collec- now, the collective has been diving deeper individual stylistics, for others this time tive that is working on such issues is Kor in brainstorming sessions. “Before the has become a crucial period to stay con- Art Collective. lockdown, we were looking at how art has nected. The past month also saw virtual In their recent project Korantined shaped history, and with the pandemic art exhibitions being hosted for the first Whispers, which they hosted through our works have become even more rele- time, which for many collectives is still their social media platforms, 36 partici- vant and contextual, therefore, we are unexplored territory. Despite the uncer- pants gave each other a prompt, based on investing more on research and observ- tainty of the current time, it is clear the which the artists had to come up with an ing how to bring things together,” says art community is continuing to push for- artwork each within 24 hours. The art Gurung. The collective is now also in ward, using online platforms to engage works explored various themes discussing works to organise virtual discussion pro- with people and talk about art. life from home during lockdown to the grammes. “But as of now, we are still The Post reached out to art collectives ways of how the pandemic has affected life planning and deciding,” he says. to know how they are spending their everywhere. The collective is now prepar- time, and what projects are currently in ing to host a virtual show of the works. Keeping up peoples’ spirit: Sattya the works. Here’s what is happening: Besides this project, the collective has Media Arts Collective also been calling out people to make art- Since the second week of the nationwide Engaging with the community: works regarding the felling of trees at lockdown, Sattya Media Arts Collective has Micro Galleries Nijgadh in collaboration with PAN been organising a talk series ‘In While many art collectives in the country (People’s Alliance Nature) Nepal. And Conversation with’. The art collective has are still grappling with the lockdown and this online campaign of theirs has gained completed more than 20 sessions with art- figuring out the digital medium, for Micro a lot of public attention. “This could be ists from diverse backgrounds both nation- Galleries, a global art initiative that con- the opportune moment to get the message al and international, says Robic Upadhyaya, nects independent artists globally, across,” says Kiran Maharjan, a Nepal- programme manager at Sattya. manoeuvring the digital world hasn’t based artist who is a member of the col- “We have been organising it every been that much of a hassle. “Due to social lective. “With people constantly devour- week, sometimes 2 to 3 times in a week. distancing restrictions, many people have ing news every day we plan on getting The conversation is hosted over Zoom and been forced into the digital medium and this message through their radar and A screenshot of an artwork in display at the virtual exhibition titled Breaking the Silence 1.0 organised streamed live over Facebook. And we usu- are now putting their physical works make them aware of other issues like by Kaalo.101. ally have more than 25 participants in online,” says Kat Roma Greer, artistic this. The more we gather people to raise Zoom for a session while many watch the director of Micro Galleries. “However, issues about this [Nijgadh], the louder the it brings together the experiences and as artists they are also responsible in session live through our Facebook page,” taking full advantage of the virtual realm collective voice becomes for the govern- stories of menstruation from various reminding people of other issues that still he says. for creativity works differently to just ment to take some action.” says Noor parts of the country and around the matter too. The collective believes that art The idea behind the casual virtual talk transitioning from one medium to anoth- Rajbhandari, another member of the col- world. Its virtual show allows the audi- needs to continue despite the uncertainty was to keep the spirit of people high. “It er.” lective. ence to explore the gallery space and that surrounds the world, and now more was not just to engage people at home but The art hub during this pandemic is immerse in conversations about menstru- than ever should challenge the conven- to inspire them to keep moving forward, working to fulfil two roles: One, to help The need to carry on despite ation. Multiple voices of women speaking tional idea of art. especially because it is easy to feel demo- artists upskill themselves and the other everything: Kaalo.101 about menstruation draw the audience tivated right now,” says Upadhyaya. to engage people with art. Recently, they As life continues under the overwhelming right into the issue at hand: of normalis- Observe, learn and retreat: ArTree “Initially, we didn’t know how people organised an art activity, ‘Words in gloom of Covid-19, Kaalo.101 has been ing menstruation and getting rid of the Nepal would respond to the virtual programme Windows’, which called for participants hosting a virtual exhibition, ‘Breaking taboos surrounding the monthly cycle. In While many art collectives and galleries since Zoom Talks and virtual sessions are from all over the world to place poetry, the Silence 1.0’ that they had put up on the exhibition, tampons skyrocket in are undertaking projects to engage people still relatively new for people,” he says. words of hope, love and resilience in their May 28, marking Menstrual Hygiene Day space, sanitary pads fly with wings, men- in the virtual world, ArTree Nepal has Prior to hosting the virtual conversa- windows. The contributions from across to normalise menstruation and conversa- strual cups fill up with love hearts. What been taking the time to reflect on its art- tions, Sattya in collaboration with Square the globe were showcased on social media tions around it. The virtual exhibition makes the exhibition more powerful is its ists’ individual journeys and planning Studio had been organising monthly and will be put up online in June. was organised in collaboration with inclusiveness that brings to the fore expe- the way forward. Artist Talks at their space. “For our first While many in the country believe art Dignity without Danger, a research pro- riences from people outside the valley. For now, the collective has been hosting pilot talk series, we had Bijay Gajmer, a is disposable, especially at such an eco- ject that studies social, religious and cul- As covid news continues to inundate more in-closed group meetings to discuss photojournalist. The response was nomically unstable time, Roma Greer tural menstrual practices in Nepal. social media feeds, arousing more tension the pandemic and their response while positive and then we continued the believes that art becomes more relevant As Kaalo.101’s first virtual exhibition, and anxiety, creatives at Kaalo.101 believe focusing more on nurturing artists’ indi- series,” he says.

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