#215 24 - 30 September 2004 20 pages Rs 25

A dove of peace and the dogs of war loiter outside Singha Darbar on Thursday. ADRIFT

KUNDA DIXIT around the corner and the festive of political opportunism at a time mood will set in by next week. of national crisis, and hope that if ow that the rains are over, the Koirala knows his demand for the power is handed to a second tier of N four parties protesting King restoration of the house isn’t leaders, a reunited NC could be a Gyanendra’s October Fourth grabbing people. Most still see the bulwark against the Maoists. are back on the streets. agitation as being motivated by But rumours of a rift between Girija Prasad Koirala can’t power. Singha Darbar and Naryanhiti over stand this government because it is Koirala loyalist Narahari the India visit are rife, and some lead by the man he blames for Acharya denies this, and says the coalition ministers admit things are splitting his party. Also, Sher NC wants the street agitation to looking shaky ahead of King Bahadur Deuba was made prime push the government to begin Gyanendra’s own India visit before minister by King Gyanendra peace moves. “We want to give the Dasain. invoking the ‘regressive’ Article government no choice but to All this is a sideshow to the real 127, and Deuba’s coalition negotiate with the Maoists,” he issue of resolving the Maoist includes the UML, which ditched adds. question. The political forces are him. But the belief among partners all bent on depriving each other of So, Koirala wants to use any that Koirala is offering himself as the reward for restoring peace, and pretext to bring Deuba down: prime minister under Article 127 the military has leaned on accusations of selling out to India, has frayed the opposition alliance. peaceniks in the Deuba coalition to the double-whammy oil price hikes, The other reason to resume the tone down talk of truce. The rebels failure to curb the 1 September street agitation could be Koirala’s have declared a two-day banda arson, even the airport incident need to flex muscles after his run-in Monday and Tuesday prompting when a soldier stopped him from with the CIAA and the Supreme speculation they may be up to a driving to his plane. Court over a probe on his alleged dramatic offensive to force the But time is not on the rump ill-gotten wealth. government to talk. l four-party alliance's side, Dasain is Nepal’s donors blame Koirala (With reporting by Navin Singh Khadka)

MIN BAJRACHARYA

Weekly Internet Poll # 155 Q. How would you characterise Prime Minister Deuba’s India visit?

Total votes:871 Weekly Internet Poll # 156. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com Q. Should the petroleum distribution and sales in Nepal be privatised? 2 EDITORIAL 24 - 30 SEPTEMBER 2004 #215

Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Chief Editor: Kunda Dixit Desk Editor: Jemima Sherpa Design: Kiran Maharjan Web: Bhushan Shilpakar Advertising: Sunaina Shah [email protected] Subscription: Anil Karki, [email protected] Sanchaya Kosh Building, Block A-4th Floor, Lalitpur GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal Target: the army and India Tel: 01-5543333-6, Fax: 01-5521013 [email protected], www.nepalitimes.com Printed at Jagadamba Press, Hatiban: 01-5547018 The rebel strategy is to make the cost of not negotiating unbearable NOT THE PEOPLE’S WAR ne week before Prime communiqué that the Maoist their ‘people’s war’ in Feburary Minister Sher Bahadur insurgency in Nepal was a 1996, the Maoists had stepped young Nepali boy came late for the candle-lighting ceremony at O Deuba travelled to New ‘common problem’ but that there up their anti-Indian rhetoric. Maiti Ghar on the eve of the World Peace Day. The congregation A Delhi with the Maoist crisis at was no military solution to it, While still aboveground, their was going home, but the boy lit his candle as we watched, held it in the cup of his hands hands for a long time and prayed. A violin the top of his agenda, the rebels New Delhi seemed reluctant to leaders poured scorn at “Indian mourned the passing of ten thousand Nepali souls since the start of stick its neck out any further. hegemony and expansionism” in the Maoist insurgency. GUEST COLUMN Still, Deuba came back with a public meetings in Kathmandu. The country’s overpowering yearning for peace was displayed in Puskar Gautam new spring in his step and a After that, the Maoists reserved moving ceremonies this week: a large gathering against violence at commitment for new Indian their strongest tirades for the Basantapur, the release of doves and balloons at Ratna Park and diyo themselves launched a salvo military hardware. AFter eight Nepal Congress which was in lighting at Baudha. against India. “Indian years, Indian intelligence is power. And after the royal These were spontaneous events by city citizens, a response to expansionists are the main finally admitting that Nepali massacre and October Fourth, the violence that shrouds the whole country. They represented the obstacle to revolution,” the Maoists are training in the targets of vitriol have been moral rejection of violence and reasserted the belief that peace is rebels said in a statement. Jharkhand and elsewhere. the monarchy and the king. second nature to human beings—that is why the words ‘humane’ and Aside from stating in a joint A year before they launched Now, it looks like they are ‘humanity’ mean what they do. The spontaneity back to attacking India displayed by citizens’ groups this week in politically, while fighting the Kathmandu and elsewhere were the result of the Royal Nepali Army militarily. inability of the political parties as well as civil And for the first time in ten society organisations to fully represent them, their years, the rhetoric is again fears and hopes. venomous. The Maoists may Nepalis are by nature disorganised. We tend to have concluded that if the suffer in silence, waiting for a better day. At a time Indians are tempted to intervene when representative politics has vanished from in Nepal, the threat to galvanise the land, we struggle to find a collective voice. nationalistic forces against And when civil society is itself programmed to only foreign invaders would be a rise up with support from donors or on partisan useful deterrent. issues, the people have nowhere to turn to. Political parties that used to at least speak with After the arrests of their one voice for the restoration of representative senior leaders in Siliguri and democracy are now divided. One major party is in Patna, the Maoists have government and the another at Ground Zero in admitted that it is getting Ratna Park. Neither seems to be doing much to difficult for them to be based in fulfill the overwhelming national desire for peace India. The Maoists command has and national progress. There were about 200 told its forces to be ready for a participants taking part in the dove releasing ‘tunnel war’ againt India. A ceremony at Ratna Park on the World Peace Day hyped fear of Indian interven- on Tuesday, but there were thousands rallying tion and preparations to build nearby to demand an end to ‘regression’. tunnels to hide in future air When are our political parties going to unite raids is a way for the Maoists to against war? When will they stop using the keep its guerrillas battle-ready. conflict to undermine each other, and instead learn It has been more than six to respect the Nepali people’s longing for an end to months since their last major this senseless conflict? attack on Beni in Feburary and As the monsoon gives way to Dasain, let us the rebels need to strike another give the people back their voice. major blow soon. Their ‘strategic offensive’ phase may involve

L ETTERS

PEACE CORPS up to the Maoists. We gave them existed in the Middle East where 12 here. The American Centre is hit by hazards by many international It is unfortunate that the US has guns and training to fight the rebels. Nepali workers would be killed for a small blast, and the Americans bodies have clearly shown that there suspended its Peace Corps And when a small blast goes off in nothing! Without the conditions that pull out in droves. We don’t really is no basis for presuming that base program in Nepal (Peace Corps the American Centre, we pack up our are the result of the backwards need much proof of who Nepal’s real stations or wireless phones generate pull out, #214). Although the US bags and leave! American double Foreign Policy of the Bush Regime, I friends are. radiation that is harmful to human ambassador has stated that this standards around the world we believe those young men would be J K Panday beings. A finding by the UN World action would attract Washington have come to expect under the alive today. Kathmandu Health Organisation (WHO), has DC’s attention to help Nepal fight Bush administration. But to make Now we read that the Peace concluded: ‘because of low power against the Maoist problem, it is the Peace Corps the pawn in our Corps has been suspended and NO HAZARD emitted from wireless likely that this may not be the ‘global war on terror’ is repug- evacuated and that the US has We wish to bring to your kind notice telecommunications base trans- case. The attack at the US centre nant. At a time when America promised $1 million more for arms that there is considerable receiver stations/towers, neither and the suspension of the Peace needs to reinvent itself and and war in Nepal. Would it not have harrassment caused to us in the biological nor health effects are Corps program leaves Nepal in a promote institutions like the been better to ‘evacuate’ US military matter of radiation hazard from base likely to occur to the public’. We difficult position to use the Peace Corps to regain our lost advisers and their $22 million of war trans-receiver towers in the Boudha would be happy to provide you and American friendship in the Maoist respect in the world, we close materials, and leave the Peace area. We suspect certain elements, your readers further information. problem. US businesses and down the very thing that would Corps in place? Will Nepal, like Iraq, including some foreigners who might S Kannan, United Telecom individuals are scared of going to have done that for us. become another victim of US foreign not be interested in the telecom Kathmandu Nepal, and due to Nepal’s political Ex-Peace Corps Volunteer, email policy, in the name of ‘building development of Nepal might be volatility, it is difficult for foreign democracy’? Do the Nepali people trying to generate media hype. HOOLIGANS nations like the US to extend a l When the 12 young Nepalis want Nepal to be the next Iraq? Extensive as well as intensive Navin Singh Khadka’s recent article helping hand. Pouring foreign were needlessly killed in Iraq and Only when the king or his research in the mater of radiation ‘Six hours in hell’ (#213) makes donations or weapons—as Nepal the world press turned their backs representatives and the politicians sit extremely critical but persuasive may expect—may not be the almost as if it had not happened, I down at the table with the Maoists reading on what is means to be a solution when the political leaders was struck that the Nepali Press did and tell the Bush administration to Nepali in the midst of prevalent know very little about conflict not ask: why did the US create the mind its own business and stay out of anarchy. No matter who was management. This is a time for conditions in Iraq that lead to the internal affairs of Nepal will there responsible for Black Wednesday, leaders, especially for King these horrible deaths? For years be a chance for peace in Nepal. reading the article the second time Gyanendra and Deuba, to show the and years, young Nepalis have Maybe then, when the guns are around, brought me personal shame true essence of leadership. If they headed to the Middle East and gone, the Peace Corps can return… in being a Nepali. It appears no fail, it is bitter but true that they other destinations in search of D Michael Van De Veer Hawaii attempt was made to nip the too may be the roadblock to better lives. Money was earned, problem on its awakening, difficult Nepal’s healthy future. saved, sent home and when the l Indian investments have been though that might have been for a Name withheld, workers returned to Nepal there bombed and destroyed, Indian faction ridden and demoralised Flagstaff, Arizona, USA was often money for a new home, schools have been set on fire and government administration. In a new wife, a new life. vandalised, the Maoists have been contrast, one must salute the l What kind of message does our It was not until the US invasion threatened to send ‘human bombs’ magnanimity of King Gyanendra in pullout of the Peace Corps send to and occupation of Iraq, which UN against Indian leaders if they help receiving the various Nepali Masjid the Maoists? We have always told Secretary General Kofi Annan the Nepal government against the representatives at the palace and the Nepalis we want Nepal to stand described as ‘illegal’, that conditions Maoists. Yet, the Indians are still sharing his grave concern with them. MANI LAMA NATION 24 - 30 SEPTEMBER 2004 #215 3 urban guerrilla attacks on symbols of the state in the capital itself. Since such attacks will involve heavy casualties and Praying for a saviour attract international media attention, the Maoists had been The price of an unjust peace is usually very high hesitating. But the lack of expected international n the dictionary of diplomacy, international media treats us. Singh too. Indians to fight the insurgents. response to the blockade has smallness has nothing to do From Bhutani refugees to Norway and Switzerland Mainstream parties fear being I with the size, population, democratic reversal, it couldn’t are willing to be facilitators for marginalised if the military probably assured the leadership that outside powers resources or even military might be bothered. More recently, the negotiations between the and the militants strike a deal. don’t have the stomach to of a country. Any state that can’t world largely ignored the tragic insurgents and the government, Civil society swears by the UN, intervene. look after its vital interests fate of 12 Nepalis in Iraq, but but not in a way that but other than a vague faith in Most residents obeyed last (security, welfare and identity) is played up the blockade and strengthens the status quo of the good intentions of Kul month’s Maoist order to vacate considered small. They depend forced closure of a few the Royal Nepali Army’s Chandra Gautam, Nepali Phidim in Illam. This could upon regional or global hegemon businesses as signs of a failing domination over the polity of intelligentsia doesn’t know have been a rehearsal for a state. the country. The UN Secretary what exactly it wants from the similar threat to vacate The state itself is General has been offering his it. Kathmandu. All this comes at a STATE OF THE STATE desperately looking for a saviour ‘good offices’ to resolve the Only Narayanhiti Palace is time when the general citizen’s CK Lal from outside its borders. The issue, but so far no one has completely free of all illusions. faith in the security forces’ United States seems willing to taken it seriously. Publicly It knows it has to depend on ability to protect them is at an to safeguard their existence. play the role of a guarantor to offered explanation is that the Indians now to protect the all time low after the Iraq is small despite its oil quarantine the Maoist inviting a third party in the monarchy from all possible unchecked arson and looting of while Norway is big—a ‘peace contagion. Its instant offer of $1 internal conflict of Nepal may threats. Life certainly is a lot 1 September, as well as the superpower’. Economic million in the wake of the blast antagonise India, but the real simpler when you know when, forced closures of industries stagnation and democratic decay at the American Centre on the reason is perhaps the fear that where and how to kowtow. This and the Valley blockade. The have reduced the stature of eve of 9/11 wasn’t a tip for the an UN-brokered peace may is a lesson that Girija Prasad Maoists will need a strong nuclear-power Pakistan, but loyalty of the royal government: break the domination of the Koirala never learnt, but hand when they come to the Bangladesh has become bigger, it was a diplomatic statement of ruling elite. Madhab Nepal rapidly grasped. negotiating table. They are despite endemic political intent to intervene in a more By now, almost everyone When King Gyanendra goes keeping that option open. instability and recurrent natural direct way. has realised that Nepal can’t to New Delhi, expect him to Despite the lip service, disasters because of a vibrant In effect, the Americans handle the Maoists on its own lay the ground work for yet the military and the Deuba civil society and openness. were telling the Indians: if you anymore. The confusion is over another Nepal-India treaty government have no intention Maoist spokesman Krishna do not want to handle the the role that we are ready to somewhat similar to the India- of talking to the rebels, so the Bahadur Mahara says he is aware Nepali Maoists we will. South give to an outsider. The rebels Sri Lanka Peace agreement Maoists strategy is to make of the risk of international Block reacted with alacrity in want the UN as guarantor to signed between Premier Rajiv the cost of not negotiating intervention in the internal denouncing Prachanda’s secure a position Gandhi and President JR unbearable. affairs of Nepal, but do his minions as a ‘common threat’ for commensurate with their Jaywardene in 1987. Some, it Isolated internationally, warlords know how much they India and Nepal during Sher armed strength. The royal seems, want peace at any cost. and increasingly isolated at have endangered the very Bahadur Deuba’s New Delhi government is quite happy with The price of unjust peace, home after their latest attacks survival of the state? visit. Early this week, Nepal the cash and weapons it has however, is usually very high on the Peoples’ Front Nepal, Nine years of armed figured in the talks between been receiving from the and often turns out to be the moment of truth has come insurgency and its fallout has George Bush and Manmohan Americans, British, and unsustainable. l for the Maoist movement. They shrunk Nepal in the world. It is are trying to give the impres- now a nation of conflict and a sion of preparing for a massive human rights hot spot. A country last-ditch attack. Whether that known for its UN peacekeepers is out of desperation or a now needs peacekeepers itself. genuine belief in military Still, several hundred Nepali victory remains to be seen. l blue-helmets left for Haiti early this week. Adapted and translated from the Our diminishing size is Nepali original. reflected in the way the KIRAN PANDAY

We hope that the national psyche people and sincere to the nation. is rekindled to self-righteous Meena Poudel, Newcastle, UK behaviour in future and we will be able to proudly stand up to our TIJ international image as peace- It seems that Bandana Rana loving and secular thinking Nepalis, (‘Tij with Bandana’, #214) has not romping street hooligans. some personal prejudices against Surya B Prasai, email marriage and husbands. Every now and then, our festivals and culture NEVER TOO LATE are denigrated as feudal and Thank you for your excellent primitive, our values are editorial (‘Never too late’, #124), condemned as anachronistic, our which is politically correct. As we go heritage is ignored as worthless, back to 1990 movement and think our gods are insulted by our for a minute what went wrong and media. I request this attitude be who made big mistakes by using the corrected. blood of hundreds of people in the Vinay Kumar, Kathmandu streets, it was the leadership who surrendered for their own class HEROJIG interest and undermined the Herojig is not one of my favourite mandate given by the people. If cartoon characters, but the the 1990 movement had been ‘Cartoon Silence’ (#213), mourning completed, we Nepalis would have the death of the 12 Nepalis and gone far further in building the 316 Russians, is appreciated. nation. I wish our leaders would S Pradhan, Kathmandu read this editorial carefully and think about their role once again CORRECTIONS and let the new generation take a The byline box icon on Ashutosh lead in the political process now, Tiwari’s ‘Rising from the ashes’ which, I’m sure, would help towards (p8, #214) was once again bringing a lasting solution by inadvertently dropped. It won’t breaking the current vicious spiral. happen again. Our leaders also must understand that traditional ways of leading The caption on the front page politics are not going to work now. picture in our hardcopy edition They should encourage their young identifying businessmen entering successors to become more the Soaltee Crowne Plaza (‘Open dynamic, so that the new leaders Sesame’, #214) should have said are more accountable to the ‘right to left’. SPORTS 24 - 30 SEPTEMBER 2004 #215 17 Ryder Cup update The missing link Representing your nation and continent Donald Trump and someone called Angie Everhart (who?) were he biggest and most prestigious event in golf today concluded co-presenters at the Ryder Cup opening ceremony last week T last weekend. The Ryder Cup 2004 was the 35th tournament played between Europe and the USA since it started in 1927. MARTIN KELLNER In the early days, the Ryder Cup was played between players of the American and British Professional Golf Associations, but the latter were t is only once every two years always the underdogs. Thus in recent years the whole of Europe was we become truly European, included in the “against USA” I prepared to forgive our TEE BREAK team to make the match more neighbours for trying to ban our interesting. This is why you will find cheese and onion crisps Deepak Acharya that players such as world’s number (allegedly), and saying our 1 and 3, Vijay Singh (Fiji) and chocolate had to contain Ernie Els (South Africa), cannot take part, although I’m sure both of chocolate rather than vegetable them itch to participate. fat, the remains of small rodents Golf is usually known as an individual sport. However in this tournament you are not playing for yourself or the $5 million purse. and all that other stuff we like, You are playing for a team. More than that, you are playing for your happy to overlook outrages like country or continent! The pressure of performing well is unbelievably Europop, lederhosen and high for Ryder Cup players. Maurice Chevalier. The most unreconstructed Eurosceptic, I suspect, will have been transfixed by our continent’s although without any precise competitive kinda guy,” he Ryder Cup performance. knowledge of how he became so declaimed. Which led me to thinking rich and famous —was “model Cheers and whoops greeted about what it means to be a and actress” Angie Everhart. these platitudes, as they did European. I think the chief Who is she? Well, I can tell you, Angie’s opening: “Like many difference between us and the with all the authority of luminaries that will share the Americans is that, on seeing someone with a broadband stage with us today, Donald and Donald Trump, we are more connection, she has been in a I love being part of this glorious likely to look beyond the billions number of films, none of which event. Golf is in our heart.” and focus on the hair. Trump are in immediate danger of With these words she was one of the star turns at the troubling the compilers of Sight adopted her most sincere look Ryder Cup opening ceremony, at and Sound’s films of the decade and placed her right hand across which there were frequent list, and was once squired by her small but perfectly formed Europe’s Sergio Garcia blasts out of a bunker during his victory over references to the “worldwide Sylvester Stallone. chest. Phil Mickelson of the USA. audience of millions” but little Angie and Don read alter- None of this is to say that the allowance made for viewers born nate lines off a teleprompter. It Americans did not put on an I stayed awake, glued to my tv set till early in the morning for three consecutive days to witness the glorious event being held at Oakland outside the United States. was typically cornball stuff, impressive opening show, as you Hills Country Club, Bloomfield Hills, in the US. Most avid golfers are Co-presenter with Trump, of with the Trumpster drawing might expect from the nation aware of what the Ryder cup is all about, and many would have whom we might at least have comparisons between the worlds that invented showbusiness. l followed this year’s event. For those of you new to golf, or who missed been expected to have heard, of golf and business: ‘I’m a (The Guardian) it, let me give you a brief rundown on its format and how it concluded this year. Played over three days, the tournament has 28 matches all together, with one point awarded for each match (half a point each for a draw). Teams are led by a non-playing captain with 12 players in each team. Ten of a team’s players are chosen off the top of their respective PGA’s order of merit, and two players are chosen by a captain’s pick. On Day One, there are eight matches over 36 holes—four matches of four ball and four matches of foursomes. The same format continues on Day Two. On the final day, there are 12 single matches. This year Hal Sutton captained for USA and Bernhard Langer led the European side. Players on the American side included Tiger Woods, left hander Phil Michelson and consistent veteran Kenny Perry. The European side included young and dynamic Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harington and veteran Colin Montgomerie. On Day One, the battle was dominated by Europe—6½ to 1½. By the end of Day Two, the Americans had clawed back to 5 against Europe’s 11. This left America in an impossible position, and on the final day Europe won the trophy with 18½ points to America’s 9½. In reality the standard of golf in the US is far better than in Europe. This is obvious if you consider the total prize money of the professional tours, where the US has 2½ times more than Europe. Simply put, the Europeans were better team players. They were helping each other on the course to see the line of their putts and judging distances, whereas the Americans were playing more individual games. The US team received a lot of criticism in their local press for their lack of team spirit, which cost them the tournament. Let’s hope the US understands the need put team spirit before selfish individualism, and that the next Ryder Cup in 2006 ends up being a more exciting match. l

Deepak Acharya is a golf instructor and Golf Director at Gokarna Forest Golf Resort & Spa, Kathmandu. [email protected] FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 24 - 30 SEPTEMBER 2004 #215 13 become clear that Chandeshwor corpus writ application, ordered Lama, a businessman from the government to make the Boudha, received Robinson in state of the missing people Kathmandu with the help of the public within three days. police. Robinson was The SC was informed that accompanied by Lama’s relatives Balaram Rai, Rabin Rai, Tek to Kathmandu. Prior to this, Bahadur Rai, Rakesh Rai, Subas Robinson headed to Dharan Rai, Bam Bahadur Rai, Durga accompanied by Rajan Bohora. Bahdur Rai, Prem Kumar Limbu, When questioned by the probe Om Prakash BC, Bal Ram KC, committee, Bohora quoted Khadka Bahadur Dharti, Teknath Robinson as saying: “You can’t Sigdel and Guru Subedi had imagine how much money I have been detained in the last 15 spent. I am going to be released days. tomorrow.” Police had arrested The prime minister and the Robinson from Bohora’s house in Council of Ministers, Defense Dharan but released him after Ministry, Home Ministry, Army Chandeshwor’s man, Resham Headquarters and Armed Police Lama, arrived. “Robinson is Headquarters have been asked believed to have been taken to four questions: were these Kathmandu to settle a deal,” said people imprisoned or not, if a member of the committee. The they have been then for what report says Chandeshwor Lama reasons, under which law and met Robinson as many as 25 their whereabouts. times when he was in detention Earlier, laws, rules and a at Dilli Bajar. Lama was at the properly written habeas corpus jail with his car when Robinson’s writ were compulsory for issuing acquittal was announced by the such orders. An official in the Supreme Court. Chandeshwor Writ Section of the SC said, lives near chief justice Shrestha’s “The fact that such writs need Boudha residence. When to be written within a certain Robinson appealed against the format has been defied from Special Court’s verdict to slap Tuesday. It seems that any him with a 17-year format would work from now imprisonment, a single bench of on.” Shrestha himself, who was acting Human rights lawyer, chief justice, summoned the Bhimarjun Acharya, is happy petitioner and the defendants to about the precedence. “In the court. Shrestha initiated the sensitive cases like habeas case in the absence of then-chief corpus, such flexibility should justice Kedar Nath Upadhya. have been adopted much (Nepalnews.com Translation earlier, but better late than Service) never,” he said.” (Nepalnews.com Translation Service)

Habeas corpus ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Nepal Samacharpatra, 21 September

The Supreme Court has written a letter to the government and security agencies ordering them to make the whereabouts of people taken under custody by the government and the security forces public. This SC order is a milestone in Nepali history. On the basis of information received, the joint bench of SC judges Min Bahadur Rayamajhi and Bal Ram KC on Tuesday ordered the security agencies and the Prime Minister’s Office to disclose, within three days, the whereabouts of 14 persons who were said to have gone missing after they were arrested by security forces in the last 15 days. This is the first time that orders were given to the government and security forces on the basis of a roughly written application letter. Three weeks back, the Nepal Human Rights Commission filed a habeas corpus writ petition demanding to know the state and whereabouts of 433 missing people. On the matter of the writ, the SC had issued a show cause notice to the government security authorities. Two days ago, the Nepal Human Rights Commission registered an application written on an unofficial paper at the SC, saying that the security agencies had arrested and disappeared 14 more persons in the last fortnight even after the show cause order was issued. The SC then had a hearing on Tuesday and on the basis of the habeas 4 NATION #215 Namche looks forward24 - 30 SEPTEMBER 2004 In the Everest region everyone is readying for the autumn trekking rush

NARESH NEWAR IN NAMCHE BAJAR

t the entrance to Namche militants. “It’s too much hard A Bajar, a group of armed work. They’d have to be expert soldiers relax, chat and climbers to cross the passes and greet this season’s first batch of come all the way down to European tourists. Namche,” says Mingma Sherpa, Nowhere else in Nepal do who runs a trekking inn at security forces seem so friendly Phakding, a four-hour walk from and at peace, and for good Lukla airport. “Only Sherpas reason. The Sherpas laugh when can do that. None of the Maoists asked about the Maoist are Sherpas,” adds her husband. BOTH PICS: KUNDA DIXIT NATION 24 - 30 SEPTEMBER 2004 #215 5

Health post bombed, vaccine drive halted ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ A week after looting a medical caravan in Okhaldhunga bearing equipment and vaccines for the nationwide anti-measles drive, the Maoists to lively autumn have bombed a health post in Udaypur Gadi district which was inoculating children against the disease. Officials say the measles vaccines stored in the health post for delivery to various VDCs in the district were destroyed. The Maoists asked employees to evacuate the building, planted pressure cooker bombs at the Ilaka Health Post as well as a nearby police building MONSOON KHUMBU: A mane wall will be the last week that who have no choice but to buy and set them off, according to district health incharge, Dr Arun Kumar near Jorsale below Namche Bajar Namche is quiet. “From next from them at any cost. Currently, Das. The one-week vaccine drive in central and eastern Nepal was with moss growing on the ‘Om mane week, you have to be very lucky a kg of buffalo meat costs Rs 400 launched on 21 September and nearly five million children between 9 padme hum’ (far left) and the and 15 years of age will get measles injections and booster shots, as well to even get a room for the night. at Namche’s Saturday market. as polio shots. The next two phases of the drive will be launched in the meadow at Tengboche is emerald The trail to Tengboche will be “Tourism in the Everest green. coming six months and some 9.5 million children will be inoculated. Each full of trekkers,” says Ang region has hardly been affected. year measles afflicts 150,000 children in Nepal, and 5,000 of them die Tshering, who was on his way to I haven’t seen any change in the due to complications. Mingma invested over Rs Lukla to fly out to Kathmandu to tourist turnover for the last 10

800,000 to renovate her hotel receive 100 Australian clients, years,” says Mingma Sherpa, Air Sahara begins New Delhi flights during the last couple of when he talked to us in Monjo. owner of Chukung Resort. He has ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ months, and is confident that The lingering monsoon walked three days from Chukung Air Sahara, one with tourist arrivals looking showers this year have made the to Namche with 80 American of India’s healthy, it will be worthwhile. trail wet. But up here, there are trekkers. Like most hoteliers in leading private “The investment will attract no leeches and the rain is the Everest region, Mingma airlines, more tourists to my hotel. confined to the night. The forest expects about 6,000 tourists this inaugurated its Besides, we never worry about is luxuriant, birdlife abundant season, most of whom are flight to Kathmandu on tourists. This is Everest and and the scenery through the expected to come starting next 16 September everyone’s full of hope,” says breaks in the clouds, week. “It’s better for Nepalis to after its 737 Mingma. breathtaking. Throughout the book in advance as they will landed during a heavy shower (pictured). The airline has chosen a special Preparations for the tourist monsoon, owners of the 37 or so never get a room once the late-afternoon departure slot with flights leaving New Delhi at 1315 (Indian season are in full swing right up lodges in Namche have been foreigners arrive. This road will time), arriving in Kathmandu at 1455 (Nepali time) and turning around at the trail from Lukla. Up to 15 repairing and cleaning. There be packed,” says porter Dawa 1600. Air Sahara is also including a special introductory fare for Indians flights from Kathmandu landed are enough hotel beds to Sherpa, as he heaves his 60kg and Nepalis, which will be valid till 30 September on Kathmandu-Delhi in Lukla’s famous inclined accommodate 1,500 trekkers per pack up the steep uphill to flights and until 15 October on the Delhi-Kathmandu flights. runway during a break in the night. Locals admit the rest of Namche. weather last week. Porters and Nepal’s loss has been Namche’s Despite the curfew in Fashion week

yak trains can be seen carrying gain, but they aren’t happy Namche from 7PM onwards, the ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ tons of supplies like kerosene, about it. They know they prosper security forces are quite lenient Sunsilk, in association with Fashion Design Council of Nepal (FDCN) and gas cylinders, mattresses, if Nepal as a whole prospers. and residents often walk around IEC is organising Sunsilk Nepal Fashion Week. The event hopes to beverages, and chickens. The only disruption here has the market area until late at highlight and promote Nepali designers and their contribution to the world of fashion. Thirty fashion designers are participating in the event, which is Many hotels are being been the Maoist blockade of the night. “Curfew in Namche scheduled for 24-30 September at the Hotel Yak and Yeti. There will be a renovated and redecorated to Jiri road and the harassment of sounds odd, we just ignore it,” fashion fair from 10AM to 5PM every day, followed by a fashion show from welcome even bigger crowds of porters on the trail from Jiri to says Dipesh Chettri, a local 6.30-8PM and then dinner and a party at Club Platinum. Europeans expected next week. Junbesi. Nowadays, most trader. In Kathmandu, trekking supplies are flow in on cargo A night patrol walks by at Instant liquidity

agencies report only minimal helicopters, which makes many night sometimes, and they make ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ cancellations, and those who food and consumer items casual inquiries and don’t The latest Everest Bank credit scheme, ‘Loan against shares’, allows had booked treks in other parts expensive. Some porters do bother anyone. It seems customers to enjoy instant liquidity against shares approved by the bank. of Nepal have shifted to the manage to make it through Jiri, everyone knows nothing The scheme extends loans of up to Rs 5,000,000 for individuals and up Everest area. but only at tremendous risk. should be done to spoil the to Rs 20,000,000 for firms, companies or business houses. The customer Ang Tshering, a veteran This has given suppliers an chances of a trekking rebound will enjoy the liquidity at a low interest rate without having to sell the expedition leader, says that this opportunity to rip off customers, this autumn. l shares. The Big One From the scene of distant disaster, a plea to Nepal to get ready for the worst hard, so directly. about Nepal and its earthquake best to point these things out, A little later, an even preparation strategy. I can hear often by invoking memories of stronger Hurricane Ivan (tropical people snorting into their tea all the disastrous quake of 1934 that storms pick up intensity over over the kingdom. Preparation? killed 80,000 and informing us water and weaken over land) Strategy? Never mind that that the toll today of such an headed towards the more there’s no culture of being ready event would be millions. populous and poverty-stricken for the worst by minimising the Kathmandu Valley, home to island of Jamaica. The nation opportunity for damage or death. 80 percent of the kingdom’s prepared for the worst as best as How can a country that sees economic activity, has but two MIAMI—The Americas were alphabetical, alternating gender people living in tin shacks and itself as in near-terminal decline road connections to the outside under siege this week, but not list that meteorologists put out slums can. But at the last prepare for those mysterious and world, both through from terrorists, foreign armies or every tropical storm season. I minute, Ivan veered and hit unpredictable forces of nature mountainsides that already plagues. The most primal and wrote about one of them, Jamaica with its fringes and not that observe no timetables, or tumble and block access in irresistible forces of nature are Hurricane Charley, some weeks its full destructive power. It was pay no heed to logic? every passing shower. A single outside the walls of the fortress, ago (Disaster in America, #210). devastating, but it could have Yet if Nepal doesn’t take its runway offers fixed wing aircraft threatening to batter them down And I’ve just come back from been worse. Up here in Florida, earthquake scenarios seriously, the chance to take off or land. and wreak havoc within. feeling the effects of the second, for the third time in a little over it is well and truly doomed. I’ve The recent riots show how close Hurricane Ivan was the latest, Hurricane Frances. Ivan was far, a month, people were asked to often been struck, when I had to the edge the populace is, how far worse than either of those leave their homes in threatened the privilege of living among ill prepared the government and HERE AND THERE two. He’s larger, more intense areas. They were given lots of you, by the utter disregard at how evil forces of extreme right Daniel Lak and completely unpredictable. notice, a week or more, because every level of society for the and left are ready to take Just ask the people of the it takes time to come to grips coming and certain calamity of advantage of any situation. and he’s laid waste to the lives Caribbean island of Grenada, the with the prospect of absolute the ‘Big One’. Warning after Yet again from a scene of of tens of thousands of people first place that Ivan struck. devastation. Memory of warning that a major tremor is distant disaster, I plead with across the West Indies and the Screaming winds and deluges of hurricanes Charley and Frances overdue, that the earth’s plates Nepal to get ready for the worst. southern states. rain left 50 or more dead, and is still frighteningly fresh, so it beneath Kathmandu are hugely But I know deaf ears when I see Here in the United States, wrecked more than half of the didn’t take much to persuade unstable, that no one is doing them. And they exist at every people had to cope with two houses on the island. People Floridians that they should be anything to get ready—all these level of society in the land I earlier hurricanes, both given knew it was coming, but ready for the worst. pass without notice. This learned to love. Good luck to you female names in the they didn’t expect to hit so I wonder at times like this newspaper and others do their all. l 6 NATION 24 - 30 SEPTEMBER 2004 #215 My second time “This is Radio How I met the real Nepal on a return visit People’s Republic.” The Maoists are taking their revolution to the airwaves with their own FM radio

PADAM GHALE RAMESWOR BOHARA in NEPALGANJ y first visit to Nepal was in mid-March. The only things I knew M about Nepal at the time was that it was one of the poorest countries in the world, it had splendid mountains and that it was n increasing number of one Gulariya resident, who did also a lot of abuse hurled at the politically unstable. I stayed here for only four weeks, but it was difficult antennas are popping up not want to be named. A year “reactionary Indian government not to return. A on rooftops all over ago, the rebels launched the for supporting the fascist In May I found myself back again at Tribhuban International Airport, midwestern Nepal. They aren’t broadcasts without much fanfare. regime” in Kathmandu. and walked into town. This time I was determined not to live the artificial for tv, but radio aerials to help The Maoists are currently For programs that are supposed life of Kathmandu or the semi-artificial one of a trekker along an people in the western tarai broadcasting on 100 mhz and say to create awareness and win established route. I initiated my rite of passage into Nepalidom and got catch the FM broadcasts of the they have a transmitter mast over public opinion, the myself a guide, Rajendra Subedi to take me on a trip into Dhading. Everyone had told me I was on a headon collision with the dreaded Maoists’ clandestine Radio with a capacity of up to 500 language is crude and Maoists. My fears were realised in Satdobate. A lot of red flags Janabadi Ganatantra. kilowatt. This would make the provocative, but it does seem to prominently displayed this village’s political preference. Two men, no The broadcasts are feeble station as powerful as Radio work in some places. One recent older than 20, approached and not regular since the mobile Sagarmatha in Kathmandu. evening, the radio announcer Rajendra and my apprehension transmitters are always on the Locals need to hook their battery repeated in a shrill voice: “We NEPALI PAN grew as his face stiffened. All the move to avoid detection. But radio to an aerial to be able to must uproot any state power Marike Hippe boys wanted to discuss was politics. people listen anyway, more to catch the signal properly. The responsible for discrimination.” They grilled me on my views on US find out the Maoist partyline broadcasts began last year from Some dalit listeners nodded foreign policy, my country’s stand, what I thought about Maoism and my than out of a desire to get the Maoist heartland of Thawang their heads in agreement. Rebel take on democracy. Sitting there, in that tea shop with my guide as my information. in Rolpa. The Bheri-Karnali leaders told us they have been translator, I was stuck by the irony of the situation as I recalled the “We don’t really believe Broadcasting Service followed, trying to improve their radio numerous times during my trip that I had sat in similar tea shops hiding from the Maoists to sip a forbidden glass of beer. what they say on the radio, it’s and now they have also begun presentation skills by being less All along the trails, the children come out to point, giggle and mostly political slogans, but it is the Seti-Mahakali Broadcasting propagandistic and more sometimes scream “Hello!” My respect for them increases as I watch them interesting to find out what they Service. persuasive. “We have already skipping past me in their slippers on the long road to school while me in are saying and planning,” says A typical news broadcast this begun giving journalism training my fancy hiking shoes, panting and sweating can barely keep up. Their week went as follows: “Because to our correspondents and schools are bare, few teachers and the homework can only be done in of a courageous ambush laid by program producers,” says Maoist the dim light of lamps after work on the fields is over. Some small the brave people’s liberation Banke-Bardia in-charge, Anal. children work as porters carrying huge burdens to augment the family army, 22 Royal American Army The Bheri-Karnali service income. Still, they wake up every morning, don their blue uniforms and broadcasts three times a day on flock to school. 100 mhz. From 6-7AM there are It is hard not to be captivated by the greenery, the landscape, the discussions, current affairs and mystical air and the enormous natural space. But indoors, the space is claustrophobic and no one has any privacy. This has its own liberation songs with a news advantages: living together and sharing lives creates something bulletin at the end. The beautiful in itself. These villages are real communities everyone tries afternoon transmission airs to help everyone else. Everything is shared from food, the only tv and ‘people’s songs’ and a news the responsibility to babysit children while parents work. bulletin. In the evening, In the village, the lack of privacy affects women the most. They transmission begins at have to wake up at four in the morning to have a few moments to approximately 6PM and usually themselves, and they carry the burden of household chores, taking care goes on for three hours with the of the children and joining the men to work the fields. day’s news in Nepali and local It has been said before, but foreigners don’t realise it until they see languages. Agriculture, health, it themselves: the immense pride the Nepalis have. Not only are they education, communist proud of their independence and of their country, but they display dignity and a sense of self-worth. All this despite all the hardships that philosophy and rousing have piled up because of the insurgency. The country may be on the liberation songs are also aired. brink of civil war, but I can see Nepalis will never give up their self- The radio targets minorities and esteem. I feel ashamed to be so individualistic, and then look at my ethnic communities, and new-found friends who are so proud of who they are. This is something exhorts them to rise up against no one can take away from Nepal. l oppression. A rebel journalist told us Marike Hippe works for the department of social welfare in Holland, their studio equipment is still but is currently enjoying a sabbatical in Nepal, volunteering for rudimentary, and none of the FOHRID and an orphanage. [email protected] programs are aired live. The broadcasts are irregular, and MIN BAJRACHARYA sometimes the transmissions soldiers have been killed and a stop for weeks without huge quantity of arms and explanation. The Maoists’ ammunition have been regional communication in- recovered.” The rest of the news charge, Biswajit, explains that contained excerpts of speeches this is because their transmitter by various leaders of the has to be moved often to avoid autonomous regional ‘people’s detection. The stations have governments’, information on their own correspondents across those on whom a sentence of the midwest. One of the senior ‘safaya’ has been declared as Maoists looking after the well as announcements on broadcasts, Hari Das ‘Prakhar’, forthcoming bandas and was killed in action three blockades. months ago, an event covered in Locals are not very surprised detail by Radio Ganatantra. by the propaganda-laden style Ironically, the first people to and language of the Maoists notice the Maoist’s Bheri- broadcast, and tell us it is not so Karnali broadcasts were the different from what state-owned security forces. Sentries Radio Nepal broadcasts in its guarding the television tower in news about “so many terrorists Surkhet intercepted the signals killed and a large amount of but were not able to pinpoint the explosives, detonators and location of the transmitter documents captured”. But the accurately. The most dedicated rebel radio is one notch ahead in listeners in fact seem to be the the use of jargon and derogatory security forces, who say they labels like “killer king” or “Royal tune in to find out what the American Army”. Lately, there is enemy has to say. l NATION 24 - 30 SEPTEMBER 2004 #215 7 Against the current

AARTI BASNYAT Five electric cars are rotting in Birganj already arrived in Birganj consumption hours and at a customs into the country. time when excess energy is t was in 1989 during the customs because the government refuses But one organisation devoted being wasted.” This means that Indian blockade that people to give non-fossil fuel cars a tax break to electric vehicles promotion the public and environment I in Kathmandu started hasn’t given up. Founders of would benefit and there would thinking seriously about WAY TO GO: A fire-engine red Safa Tempo carries Danish Embassy staff to the Kathmandu Electric be optimum usage of alternatives to fossil fuels. Then and from work every day in Kathmandu. Vehicles Association (KEVA) electricity. the tankers started plying again say alternatives to fossil fuels In a bid to promote these and everyone forgot makes both ecological sense and environment and user-friendly about it. economic sense. vehicles, the company Eco- Now, as petrol KEVA doesn’t just talk, it visions imported five Indian- prices are increased was behind the introduction of made Reva electric cars (see yet again, the Safa tempos in Kathmandu box) hoping to start off the trend government should in1993 with support from USAID of EVs as private vehicles. The be giving serious and the Global Research project looked promising, but thought to giving Institute. That move did once the cars reached Birganj incentives to incalculable good to the lungs they were stopped and refused electric vehicles. of Kathmandu residents by entry at 10 percent tax, which is No such luck. The removing the polluting diesel what other electric vehicles government fears tempos. There are now more were required to pay according loss of revenue than 600 Safa tempos in the to the budget on 17 March 2002. from the tax on Valley. The vehicles were not petrol and diesel KEVA has now joined forces allowed to come into the cars and has dragged its with Clean Energy Nepal (CEN) country and were delayed until feet on allowing five to lobby the government to 18 July 2002, when the new prototype vehicles that had introduce other electric vehicles budget came into play and the

MIN BAJRACHARYA like electric buses, trolley buses, EVs were subject to 130 percent electric trains and electric tax, with a 30 percent waiver All Reva-ed up commercial cars. “Electric due to their electric status. This vehicles are the perfect solution would make the electric cars The days of the big Ambassador or even the dinky Maruti may be over, with the latest in Indian automobiles—the to Kathmandu’s growing more expensive than petrol Reva. Sure, it looks a little bit like something Noddy or the Jetsons may drive, and its hard to believe that the pollution and fossil fuel ones, and was therefore not two-door hatchback is really capable of seating a family of four, but problems,” says Bibek feasible. As the debate raged beauty is superficial—and the motives behind this car are solid gold. The Reva is the first Indian non-pollution and noiseless Chapagain of KEVA. uselessly, the the Reva cars car, completely electric and eco-friendly. Since the first As far as we can make out, have rusted in Birgunj and Eco- prototypes in 1996, the Bangalore-based Automotive the only disadvantage of current visions has folded. Research Association of India (ARAI) put it through extensive model electric vehicles is that Bibek Chapagain says, “The testing. The result is two models of a street-ready vehicle, which, they only run about 80km per government support for electric on a single charge of 9 units, can run for 80km at up to 65km/hr. charge, but in a city as small as vehicles has only been lip Charging 80 percent of the battery takes about 2.5 hours at any Kathmandu that is more than service.” CEN’s Bhusan 15-ampere, 220 volt socket, and it is less than six hours for full adequate. Tuladhar agrees: “We realise charge. Without an engine, carburettor, radiator, exhaust or Says CEN’s Bhusan that with the state the country clutch, the Reva is easy to drive and low-maintenance and all Tuladhar: “These vehicles will is in, this may not be a priority, for less than $5,000. This month, 300 units were exported to only be charged at night, during but we should see this as a way Britain. In Nepal, the government has refused to cut the vehicle tax to make the ideal car for this country affordable. off-peak electricity to make the country better.” l 8 ECONOMY 24 - 30 SEPTEMBER 2004 #215 The Kali Gandaki tangle NEA management, with official collusion, let $30 million in guarantee money slip away allegedly made no attempt to get the money back. “He used to argue that the idea was to settle the variation dispute amicably,” said one former board member. “But, many knew that this would be in the Impreglio’s interest.” Besides, the theory of amicable settlement simply does not apply here, because Impregilo had already walked away with $50 million in variation costs. NEA insiders told us the additional $20 million the Italians are claiming can’t be justified, and reclaiming the $30 million bank guarantee could have at least compensated for the earlier unauthorised payment. Former Minister Shukla said the NEA did not collect the money because he wanted the dispute with Impregilo to be settled amicably. “If we had taken the money, we would have had to face the arbritation then. Our legal advisors suggested that we go for an amicable settlement.” However, board members during his tenure remember suggesting to him that the money had to be collected at the earliest. “But he always discouraged the idea and now money has slipped out of our hands for good,” said one official. NAVIN SINGH KHADKA in Nepal—yet another flaw on the NEAs whether NEA will get the guarantee Impregilo’s local agent Sanjeev part—when it signed the deal with the money back, but why it did not transfer Koirala says the money is safe in the contractor in the late 1990s. Had there the $30million to its account when it Milan bank and that it has never said it ven before the shady transfer of cost been a counter bank guarantee, the could have after the international court would not pay NEA. “The bank has never overruns in the Kali Gandaki A recovery of the money would have been in Paris authorised it to do so. The said so and even if it had given the E hydropower project has been much easier. decision came after Impregilo moved the money in the past, the NEA would have resolved, yet another scam has rocked the “The previous management should court following NEA’s bid to freeze the an upper hand in the present country’s biggest power project. have taken the money as soon as we had guarantee because the Italian contractor arbitration,” he told us. The Nepal Electricity Authority won the case,” says Minister of State for had not extended its term despite the But the Italian contractor has (NEA) paid $50 million in cost overruns Water Resources, Thakur Prasad Sharma. authority’s repeated requests. The influenced the civil construction deal of to the project’s Italian contractor, most of “Since they didn’t do that, we are having extension of the guarantee money had the 144MW Kali Gandaki A project from it without authorisation from the board. a tough time getting the $30 million become necessary because the two the beginning. It won the contract by Now, it has been revealed that NEA’s past back.” NEA had sent two officials to parties had not agreed on the variation bidding the lowest, $130 million, but management allowed the contractor’s $30 Milan earlier this month but they came costs of the project during the used a clause in the contract for million guarantee money to slip away back empty-handed because the bank government of Lokendra Bahadur variation to claim and got the $50 even though a court ruling in Paris a year said the matter was in arbitration. Chand last year.(See Nepali Times million in cost-overruns, most of it ago awarded it to Nepal. The legal proceedings will last #155,166 and 174 ) without the NEA board’s approval. Our As a result, NEA doesn’t have access another year-and-a half and even at the The court’s decision in favour of NEA complicit officials seem to have as much to the performance bid (also known as end of it, there is no certainty NEA will had come while when the Chand a hand in this as the Italians. ‘retention money’) amounting to $30 get back the $30 million. The arbitration government was being replaced in early When the scam became public million because the contractor has gone is over another $20 million the Italian 2003. The successor government did not knowledge, instead of taking action for arbitration in the International contractor, Impregilo SpA, has claimed pursue the matter and insiders say the against the culprits, the former NEA Chamber of Commerce in Paris. The over and beyond the $50 million in cost NEA management at that time was board swept the matter under the carpet. Intasa Bank in Milan says it can’t transfer overruns that it has already been paid. complicit in not making any moves to Worse yet, it helped the foreign the money to NEAs account because of NEA has been refusing the payment of retrieve the money. Fingers are pointed contractor keep its $30 million guarantee the new legal tangle. The other bad news the additional claim. at the then-Tourism Minister and NEA money which rightfully belongs in the is that there is no counter bank guarantee In this tangle, the question now is not chairman Sravendra Nath Shukla, who national coffers. l ECONOMY 24 - 30 SEPTEMBER 2004 #215 9 The business of peace Supply peace now, while demand is high hough lots of Kathmanduites talk T about the need for peace, the numbers don’t add up when it comes demonstrating their support for the business of peace. However, on Monday evening

ECONOMIC SENSE Artha Beed

at Maitighar and at Basantapur on Tuesday morning, the peaceniks took to the streets. Last Saturday, the Beed MIN BAJRACHARYA watched groups of Peace Corps to do a lot more to ensure what most Nepali businesses volunteers at Hotel Yak Yeti peace. do, or wish to do. “They don’t even want preparing to leave, still unsure The donor community uses We are in a do-or-die of why they were being pulled the phrase ‘conflict resolution’ situation. Tourism has been hit out. The continuous flow of to keep funding consultants, hard, industries are suffering to utter the name Iraq” advisories have never helped conferences, workshops and and the business of remittances the business of peace. Now seminars, but there is no through labour export has also

MIN BAJRACHARYA diplomatic missions and other guarantee that this will lead to been affected. The sense of offices have to weigh the pros peace. The agenda may need to insecurity is high and the Nirmal Gurung, President of the Nepal Association and cons of destroying an therefore change from conflict options for resolution are low. of Foreign Employment Agencies, has been trying economy that affects many in resolution to peace restoration. In villages, where people are to get the industry back to normal after the order to save the jobs of a few. Of course, the less said of the willing to walk four hours to a devastating attacks on 300 member offices in On World Peace Day, the government the better. It can’t water sprout or two hours to a Kathmandu on 1 September. Despite everything, leaders were back to shouting restore peace because, first and school, Nepalis are willing to slogans and snarling traffic. foremost, it has never shown bear any hardship for peace. he tells Nepali Times he is optimistic. Whenever there is even a hint any intention of doing so. The Economics suggest that when of peace, they all appear again business of arms and war are the demand is at its peak, that What actually happened to your own investigation on the 1 September to destroy that chance, proving vastly more tempting than the is best time to ensure supply. vandalism? We have done our investigation and we are submitting the report to the they aren’t serious about the business of peace. The crux of the issue is that government’s investigation committee. We are working very closely with the business of peace. As always, it is sad to see the business of peace needs to government in this regard. A copy of the report will also be given to the Peace is an important issue that the business community be taken seriously. This Department of Labour. for Nepal’s neighbours too, remains largely indifferent. business surely has the best since disruptions can easily Here the Beed strongly short, medium and longterm Is the issue of compensation also being sorted out? Since the government has agreed to provide compensation of Rs 500,000 to the spread to their own territories. endorses fellow columnist returns. This business benefits manpower agencies whose offices were destroyed and has assured it will A good example of this is how Ashutosh Tiwari’s suggestion every Nepali as a stakeholder cooperate in other ways, we have suspended the idea of setting up a pressure unrest in Indian towns and (‘Rising from the ashes’, #214) and provides every opportunity committee for now. villages affected neighbouring that a Business Initiative for to return Nepal to what all regions of southern Bhutan as Peace be created. Genuine would like it to be. That is why What “other cooperation”? We have been assured that documents like passports that were destroyed during well. Although the Nepali businesses can only thrive and we have to applaud the the vandalism will be reissued by the government. delegation to India seemed grow in the absence of conflict. initiative taken this week by satisfied that Deve Gowda There are businesses that thrive informal citizens’ groups to How long before business gets back to normal? hosted a dinner for the prime in chaos and strife, but the campaign for peace. l It has already. Of course, there are challenges preventing smooth operation, but minister, India and Nepal need Beed hopes that that is not [email protected] we have taken the challenge and have opened our shops again. A lot of documents have been destroyed, but we are trying. We have to. How can we just sit idle? The hopes of a lot of people waiting to work abroad are resting on us.

Are you getting workers willing to go abroad? We are getting even more clients than in the past. More and more people are willing to go abroad to work. Most of them wish to go to the Gulf countries like Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Dubai. Significant numbers of workers are going to Malaysia as well.

What about Iraq? People do not even want to utter the name of that country.

What kind of volume are we talking about now? We can only give figures once we begin to run smoothly and accumulate data. Normally, around 200,000 Nepalis go out of the country to work every year and it will take time to reach that number again. The workers send home about Rs100 billion every year.

Was there an element of rivalry between various groups of manpower agencies that led to the vandalism on 1 September? This is a conspiracy theory to divide manpower agents. We are all one and we have nothing against one another. The vandalism that took place on 1 September was the result of the anger due to the killings of the 12 Nepalis in Iraq. People simply could not control their anger and they went out to destroy things.

But the rivalry between the two sides is said to have existed for quite sometime now. I am not aware of it. What I know is that manpower agents in Nepal have always been and still are united.

Any comment on the arrest of your vice president after he and other association members allegedly ransacked the Department of Labour last week? The matter has been resolved and I do not want to comment on it. We have reached a compromise with the government agency and so we do not want to dig the dead issue up again.

Your executive members have had differences on this issue too. The differences are due to the government’s efforts to divide us.

You mean to say the officials at the Labour Ministry and Department are trying to divide you? Yes. And by doing that, they reap benefits. That has been their way for quite some time now. 10 INDRA JATRA

hese days, Nepalis need the pint-size deity on Saturdays. Tall the blessings they can From her daughters’ get. Maoist rebels have interactions, Reena has learned been waging war against the that Preeti is now a cheerful, monarchy for eight years, active six-year-old who loves to displacing hundreds of play dress-up and eat ice thousands of people. Amid so cream—when she is not much political strife, traditions receiving devotees. like the royal kumari provide As the royal kumari, Preeti comfort and continuity. But follows a strict routine. Early some Nepalis have begun every morning, attendants dress questioning the tradition, her in a red and gold brocade arguing that this once- gown, pull her hair into a ritual prestigious position is a bun and paint a vermilion, black violation of human rights. and gold all-seeing third eye on A generation ago, hundreds her forehead. At around 9AM, of parents would offer their Preeti settles into her throne so daughters for the royal kumari priests can come and make selection process, considering offerings to appease the Taleju the post an honour. But in 2001, goddess. After that, Preeti when royal caretakers went from spends several hours receiving house to house in Kathmandu and blessing a dozen or so looking for a prospective devotees before beginning her goddess, only five parents were daily studies. Then, finally, she willing to offer their daughters. is free to play. Even in her rare When the caretakers came to moments of childhood fun, Preeti Shakya’s door, her mother Preeti is restricted. She can walk was ambivalent about letting the only on special cloths set down three-year-old be evaluated. “I on the floor and she is forbidden didn’t want to give her to go out in the sunlight, except horoscope for consideration,” during a dozen public says Reena Shakya, sitting in her appearances a year. living room today. “But how Just before she hits puberty, could I say no?” Preeti will be thrust back into Preeti’s horoscope proved the real world. She will return to harmonious with the king’s. The a family she barely knows and next step was to examine the be expected to perform girl for ‘the 32 perfections’, a household chores, like any other divine tick list that seems more adolescent girl. But unlike other suited to a character in a Harry Nepali teens, Preeti will have Potter novel than to real girl. never walked down a city street, The royal kumari must have ‘a chosen her own outfit, or helped body shaped like a banyan tree, her mother cook a meal before. thighs like a deer’s, cheeks like This abrupt shift from a lion’s, a neck like a conch goddess to mortal is rocky for

MIN BAJRACHARYA shell and a voice clear and soft both the girls and their families. as duck’s’. The royal priest’s “It was very hard. All I wanted wife confirmed that Preeti to do was go back to the kumari possessed these attributes and house,” says former kumari also had clear skin, black hair Rashmila Shakya, 23. The only and eyes and a moist tongue. visible remnant linking The three-year-old was then Rashmila to her days as a taken to live with her new goddess, besides the photos of family at the kumari ghar. “You her that adorn her family’s can imagine what a mother sitting room, is a bald spot on Divine might feel,” Reena laments. “My her head from having her hair baby was going to be taken away pulled into a tight bun every day from me for years. As soon as for nearly nine years. “It was they took her, I knew she had home and family to me,” already become a goddess.” Rashmila says. “I didn’t know For the past three years, how to face my freedom. I had to childhood Reena Shakya has seen Preeti struggle to get back into the only once a week, when she educational system after I came visits her at the ghar. “I go as an home.” How to reconcile a little girl’s rights with ordinary worshipper,” Reena Rashmila, like all royal says. “I have to think of her as a kumaris before her, received no the need to protect a national tradition goddess before I think of her as a education during her reign. She daughter.” Preeti’s older sister, began second grade at age 12. JENNY DUBIN however, is allowed to play with After years of hard work playing

Top, left: The Kumari while bestowing blessings to King Gyanendra during last year’s Indra Jatra.

Top, right: The Kumari chariot being dragged across Jaisi Debal on the first day of Indra Jatra.

Left: On the last day of Indra Jatra in 1994, previous Kumari Rashmila Shakya appears with a co-Kumari.

Right: Reena Shakya with her daughter, Preeti, when she was four, just after the announcement that she was the new Kumari in 2000. MIN BAJRACHARYA DIPENDRA BAJRACHARYA 24 - 30 SEPTEMBER 2004 #215 11

MIN BAJRACHARYA catch-up in school, she recently she is thrown out. It is not only began studying for a bachelor’s traumatising, it is degree in information psychologically damaging for a technology and she dreams of child to be forced to shift designing software. When she between these two worlds.” graduates, Rashmila will be the Sapana Pradhan Malla, a first former goddess with a lawyer and human-rights college degree. activist who founded the Forum But despite her difficult for Women, Law and adjustment, Rashmila has no Development, agrees: “You are regrets about her past. “It was an chosen when you are not able honour,” she says. “Not to decide what is good or bad everyone is chosen to be the for you. The child’s interests kumari. It is something I am very are decided by parents who see proud of.” this as a prestige issue, because Rashmila’s successor, Amita the kumari is respected by the Shakya, did receive tutoring, king.” thanks to her parents, who It’s no simple matter to pushed for reform. Amita, now abolish a tradition based on 14, agreed to be interviewed centuries of religious faith. only with her parents present. “There are some things that are She is slumped on a stool in the beyond normal human family’s living room, dressed understanding,” says Ramesh like an ordinary Nepali teenager Prasad Pandey, a 72-year-old in faded jeans and a pink T- priest who has overseen the shirt. She is silent as her father selection of three royal describes his struggle to secure a kumaris. “I could place a stone tutor for Amita during her reign on the table, and if I see the as kumari. “I sent letters to the sacred in it, then it becomes palace many times,” he recalls. imbued with the sacred. But “But their attitude was, ‘Your you could see it merely as a daughter is a goddess. Why does rock. It is the same principle she need an education?’” with the kumari. It’s a question It wasn’t until Mimita of belief.” Shakya, Amita’s mother, Sapana Pradhan Malla personally handed a letter to acknowledges that the kumari King Birendra at a kumari tradition is probably too much a ceremony that changes were part of Nepali culture to made. Five years after Amita abolish. So instead, she had been appointed a royal proposes further reform. “The kumari, the king arranged formal girl’s rights should be education for the child goddess. protected,” she says. “She Today, Preeti has a private should be given adequate tutor sent to her quarters each opportunity for development day. Although she is not and education, and she should allowed to attend classes and get counseling before she gives socialise with other children, up her position. It is the state’s she follows the government- responsibility to protect her prescribed 10-month curriculum rights.” for all Nepali schoolchildren. While the government does In September 2002, MP Bidya provide a modest lifelong Bhandari, took a public stand pension of Rs 3,000 rupees a against the kumari tradition month for its former goddesses during a press conference. She this is a pittance compared to urged that the tradition be the value of a lost childhood. abolished: “This is a violation One day, Preeti Shakya will not only of the rights of the voice her own opinion. But for child, but of women’s and now, the goddess remains human rights,” she said. “The apart from mere mortals, until girl is isolated from normal she begins to mature and society and after a number of suffers her inevitable fall from years, when she begins to bleed, grace. l 12 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 24 - 30 SEPTEMBER 2004 #215 Delhi diversion accompany me. I always made can each send one of their

sure that there were records of all ministers,” said a highly-placed ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Former Foreign Minister Ram the conversations between the government source. The source Sharan Mahat in two foreign ministers. Even when also said that another sub- The Indian Deshnatar, 19 September there were no officials, I made it committee is being formed a point to write down all the which will work under the Prime Minister Sher Bahadur issues discussed and maintain Democratic Coordination Deuba’s Delhi visit was ill timed. records. Even when I had foreign Committee, which includes The government revealed its visitors, I recorded all the talks. Deuba, UML general secretary Connection weaknesses at a time when the But the system I introduced has Madhab Kumar Nepal, RPP law and order situation in Nepal been discontinued. chairman Pashupati Shumsher was at its worst. The 1 September Rana and Nepal Sadbhabana incident was still fresh in School shootout Party chairman and Forest

Going international Minister, Badri Prasad Mandal. people’s minds and the country ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Samay, 23 September was still in shock. The prime Rajdhani, 20 September The sub-committee’s job will be minister should have focused on to settle minor issues so that the After the central committee of the Communist Part of Nepal (Maoist) these affairs. Instead, he chose to Despite their repeated committee doesn’t foment decided to prepare for ‘tunnel war’ with India, Maoist rebels have rush to New Delhi. The joint commitments to the Geneva controversy. Apparently, the accelerated their anti-Indian campaign in mid-western hills. Local Maoist communiqué issued at the end of prime minister has asked the workers have said the new campaign is in response to the repeated arrests Convention, the Maoist rebels the visit also proves that the trip continue to misuse school alliance leaders to send in of Maoists in India and the Indian government’s refusal to cooperate, names for the committee. adding that their party’s view of India is beginning to resemble the way was unproductive. Whatever premises as war zones. One of the Sources claim that NC(D)’s they view the United States. agreements were signed could latest examples was in a higher The Maoists have plans to establish a new brigade to take action have been done at the secretary secondary school in Jajarkot Minendra Rijal, UML’s Bhim against India. They have begun recruiting new cadres for this, saying or ambassador level. So why the district. Roughly a dozen rebels Rawal, RPP’s Khemraj Pandit that the time has come to fight for the country and against India. Under rush to go to Delhi? The disguised as students entered the and Amrita Agrahari from NSP the new campaign, the rebels have been recruiting one person from government knows that it faces school on 19 September. When are set to be brought into the each family in the hilly villages of mid-western Nepal. One such village the wrath of the people, who saw security personnel began frisking committee. (Nepalnews.com is Kalagaun in Salyan district, from which 120 people have been it remain a mute spectator as the students at the entrance after Translation Service) recruited and are being trained to use arms. capital burned on 1 September. receiving information that rebels The training lasts for a minimum of one week and the trainees are The New Delhi visit was a ploy Twisted justice

between 15-50 years of age. According to Maoist trainer Khim Bahadur had entered the school, two of ○○○○○○○○○○○○ to divert the people’s attention. ○○○○○ Rana, the new recruits are being indoctrinated against “expansionist the 12 began brandishing pistols Kantipur, 20 September India and imperialist America” and therefore actions should be initiated Immediately after the visit, as students ran for cover. The against both the powers. But the Maoists have not made it clear what this Prime Minister Deuba said rebels then opened fire on the Gordon William Robinson, a action consists of. All that the party workers know is that their party’s excitedly that the government soldiers outside the school notorious international drug-lord central working committee had recently decided to mobilise the workers would use force if the Maoists do premises, and one soldier was who was arrested with against India and the US. Even though lower-level party leaders are not come forth for talks. He injured during the shootout. After contraband drug in Kathmandu, unsure about what the leadership actually wants them to do, they have needs to explain what has given firing several times, the rebels was released from Dilli Bajar Jail made it mandatory for each family to be trained to fight against foreign him the confidence to say this. fled from the back door of the on 23 April after the Supreme invaders. Such training is taking place in what the rebels call their ‘base Security is quite a sensitive school. “We could have Court acquitted him. He was areas’. They have claimed that those undergoing training joined the issue, and if India has assured retaliated and killed them,” said arrested in Dharan the next day. Maoist fold voluntarily, but most of the trainees have said that they were him something in this regard, forced to undertake the training. a security official, “but we did A few days later, the police then he owes the country an not do so because we were handed him over to a explanation. Unfortunately, concerned about the student’s businessman from Kathmandu. there has been no document safety.” He then fled. The Judicial issued on any agreements or Investigation Committee, formed discussions. If this was a working Peace committee to investigate the controversial

visit and if discussions took court verdict on the Robinson ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ place, they should have involved Rajdhani, 21 September case, has held the court and the officials from the Home and police responsible for the entire Defence Ministries. The nation KATHMANDU – The government saga. The report of the three- should have a record of the has made changes in the member committee headed by issues discussed. The prime structure of the High-level Peace Supreme Court justice Min minister was in New Delhi as a Committee (HPC) formed under Bahadur Rayamajhi which was representative of Nepal, not as the prime minister. The Council submitted to chief justice an individual. But there is no of Ministers has approved a Govind Bahadur Shrestha two recording system in our Foreign proposal that allows the ruling months ago is yet to be made Ministry. parties to send a minister to public. The committee was When I was in the advise. “To assist the committee, supposed to initiate action based government, I never held any the Nepali Congress on the committee’s secret talks or made such visits. I (Democratic), CPN-UML and recommendation but has not always allowed officials to Rashtriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) done anything as yet. It has now

ROBIN SAYAMI Indian nightmare Nepal, 26 September

These days, Indian security officials become extra alert when they get to hear the term Compact Revolutionary Zone (CRZ). This, according to the Indian Home Ministry, is a plan by the Maoists of Nepal and India to spread their revolution from Nepal to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chhatisgad, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Udissa and Andhra Pradesh of India. According to the Indian Home Ministry’s latest annual report, incidents related to Naxalites have increased by almost 14 percent. Last year there were around 550 such incidents in which 509 persons were killed. The attack on Chandra Babu Naidu last year showed that their activities had really intensified. When the Nepali Maoists began operating nine years ago, the Indian People’s War Group (PWG) and the Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) were their source of inspiration. Nine years down the line, their roles have been reversed. Today, the Nepali Maoists are much more battle-hardened and experienced than their Naxalite comrades in India. They are even a source of inspiration for the Indian revolutionaries. As a result, Nepali Maoists and the MCC have made Billions Millions Hurt inside several joint committees in the border areas between Nepal and India. Manpower agencies Media Nepali Muslims In the meantime, the one-time sworn enemies PWG and the MCC have not only settled their differences, but are even planning a merger. The Losses of 1 September two Maoist groups have even coined a joint name for post- Himal Khabarpatrika, 11 September - 1 October amalgamation—All-India Maoist Communist Centre. Interestingly, the Nepali Maoists are said to have played a pivotal role in this unification QUOTE OF THE WEEK by facilitating the induction of a PWG unit into the MCC in Bihar. To deal with a now-hostile India, the Maoists have launched a campaign to “To make the environment conducive for peace talks, the terrorist tag and the red corner notice unify separatist groups in India. There are around 50 such groups and on us must be withdrawn” most of them are active in sensitive bordering areas of Nepal, India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and China. CPN (Maoist) spokesman Krishna Bahadur Mahara in Kantipur, 20 September

SELECTED MATERIAL TRANSLATED EVERY WEEK FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 14 INTERNATIONAL #215 After assimilation24 - 30 SEPTEMBER 2004 The ingredients of the melting pot are separating

of cultures. immigration country—at least alternative to assimilation? Once upon a time, North for Jews—assimilation is no The “salad bowl” of so-called America, notably the US, longer so easy. Recent multiculturalism is no real seemed to provide the answer. newcomers from Russia have alternative, because it does not It was that of the “melting their own political party, and provide the necessary glue that pot”: different peoples made old Europeans have become a binds communities together. their own contribution to distinct minority. Israel and All the ingredients remain American culture, but, above America continue to have separate from the outset. all, they made every effort to mechanisms to integrate new The only viable alternative accept what they found and migrants. Language is an for which there are examples is integrate. “No,” the Russian important underlying factor, probably that of London or New woman who came to the US in and in Israel, there is the York. The main characteristic the early 20th century replied army, while and in America, of this alternative is the to the grandchild who asked the values embodied in the coexistence of a common whether her ancestors arrived Constitution still represent a public sphere shared by all and uman migration is as old the Mediterranean are often on the Mayflower. “Our ship shared secular faith. a considerable degree of as history. Even migration not even sure whether they had a different name, but now But these mechanisms are cultural separation in the Hto distant places and we are all Americans.” weakening everywhere and are want to be in Italy, Germany or “private” sphere, notably in remote cultures is nothing new. Britain. Even those who are More recently, this has virtually non-existent in residential areas. The public In the nineteenth century, certain, like North Africans in changed, giving rise to a European countries. Modern space is multicultural in terms millions of Europeans sought Spain and France, or Turks in process described by Arthur societies are characterised by of people’s backgrounds, but is liberty and prosperity in the Germany, had as their priority Schlesinger, the historian and acute problems of belonging. governed by agreed values, escaping the hopelessness of former aide to John F Kennedy, They don’t offer the implicit, even a common language, their home countries, not in his book The Disuniting of unconscious ties of whereas the people’s private COMMENT arriving at a particular America. No longer are all US community that citizens felt lives are—to use an ugly Ralf Dahrendorf destination. This modern form citizens Americans. They have in the past. As a result, people word—ghettoised. of migration raises massive become hyphenated have begun to cling to more In theory, this is a Americas, notably in the United problems for countries on the Americans: Italian-Americans, primordial group identities. distinctly second-best solution States. What is new today is the receiving end. In Europe, it is African-Americans, Hispanic- They resist assimilation, to the cultural consequences of scale of migration, often across probably the most serious Americans and so on. The fearing that it will rob them of migration. In practice, it is the huge cultural divides—and social issue today, because no ingredients of the melting pot their identity without offering best answer we have. But it often without a definite aim. one has a clear idea about how are separating. a new one. cannot be had for nothing. The African boat people in to manage the resulting clash Even in Israel, the last true What then is the Even the necessary minimum of a common language requires a deliberate effort, to say nothing of certain rules of behaviour. Living in London, I marvel at the way in which we Londoners have come to terms with Indian family shops and West Indian-run public transport, while not asking many questions about whole districts that are Bangladeshi or Chinese. No one has yet found a name for this new version of the “separate but equal” doctrine that some of us fought so hard against in the 1960’s: separate private lives in a common public space that is equal for all. This is clearly easier in London and New York than it is in smaller towns or cities where the world language of English is not spoken. Berlin’s Turkish community and the North African communities around Paris seem increasingly separate, with their own public sphere. Where this happens, an explosive condition can arise, a kind of separatism within, not by historically separate groups but by newcomers against natives. If we are forced to abandon the hope of assimilation, our efforts should concentrate on creating a public space to which all contribute and that all enjoy. Ideally, this should be an expanding public space, for in the end, the element of unity in a modern society is the guarantee of its citizens’ liberty. l (Project Syndicate/ Institute for Human Sciences)

Ralf Dahrendorf, author of numerous books and a former European Commissioner from Germany, is a member of the British House of Lords, a former Rector of the London School of Economics, and a former Warden of St Antony’s College, Oxford. INTERNATIONAL 24 - 30 SEPTEMBER 2004 #215 15

terrorism, because it is the terrorists who have the initiative—they plan when and where to strike. Confronting them Putin’s iron fist effectively will require root-and-branch change in order to inspire Russian security officials to take the initiative. Soviet-style strongarm tactics won’t work as Russia fights terror For example, Russian security structures have no information about the n response to the recent wave of way—using overwhelming force, as in the Pankisi Gorge in Georgia, Putin underground work of the terrorist Iterrorist attacks, Vladimir Putin has WWII. decided against it, understanding that organisations, which are spread across demanded that even more power be Russia’s traditional army cannot fight instead of eliminating terrorists it would the entire Russian Federation. There is no vested in him, but the problem in Russia terrorists effectively because it disdains likely turn into a full blown traditional credible intelligence penetration of these is not a lack of central power, but of the ability of soldiers to work in small war. organisations. This must change if Russia power exercised incompetently and groups and does not encourage From the outset, the Defence Ministry is to prevent future Beslans. without individual initiative. individual initiative on the part of was sceptical of Putin’s order to include But fighting terrorists requires an The slaughter of hundreds of Russian officers. All are simply expected to anti-terrorism on the military agenda. It entirely different kind of spying from children execute orders scrupulously. suggested, instead, that the army should “uncovering” traditional “spies,” or ANALYSIS in But anti-terrorist operations require play a secondary role in anti-terrorist neutralising unpopular oligarchs such as Alexander Golts Beslan individual training and the ability to operations. Mikhail Khodorkovsky. To meet today’s by make split-second decisions in fluid The Army’s hostility to reform is threats, troops must be able to take terrorists was final proof—if more was situations. Incidentally, when one such deeply ingrained. Today, Russia’s army individual responsibility and initiative, needed—of the utter incompetence of anti-terrorist operation was suggested in has no professional institution for and react resourcefully at a moment’s Russia’s military and security services. In training non-commissioned officers. The notice. Beslan, camouflaged men representing Defence Ministry simply names sergeants These qualities simply don’t exist in four ministries fussed uselessly, with no from senior conscripts, which means that Russia’s Sovietised military clear leader or goals, losing precious sergeants are not very different from their organisations, with their rigid hierarchies minutes while the violence erupted. subordinates in either age or training. and culture of blind conformity. The Meanwhile, Nikolai Patrushev, the The internal conditions of the entire military philosophy in Russia must director of the Federal Security “power” ministries—the FSB and the be changed. But neither Russia’s Service (FSB, the former KGB) and MVD, which bear the main president nor its power ministries seem Rashid Murgaliev, the head of the responsibility for antiterrorist ready for this. Ministry of Internal Affairs operations—are equally grim. Now Instead of confronting today’s new (MVD), both sent to Beslan by the Kremlin wants to merge the FSB and very real enemy, they would rather President Vladimir Putin, were and MVD into one Ministry of State confront the old, traditional one—the invisible as the tragedy unfolded. Security, thereby creating a single West. After the Beslan tragedy, Putin So once again Russians must anti-terrorist centre. Putin has already offered an exotic explanation of face how ineffective their military decided to create an operational centre terrorism: the terrorists, he claimed, are is. Indeed, none of Russia’s power of 13 groups in the Northern Caucasus instruments in the hands of those who structures, including the military, the region to coordinate the actions of the still fear Russia as a nuclear power. FSB and the MVD, are capable of Defence and Emergencies Ministries. This is nonsense on stilts, though it performing effective anti-terrorist But there is little reason to believe obviously sounds pleasing to generals in operations. that this proposed bureaucratic monster the power ministries, because the only Most Russians reached this will provide better security. The only war they know how to wage is with conclusion long before the Beslan positive result that may emerge from such “world imperialism.” They are useless at attack. In 2002, after terrorists took 800 a structural change could be that the fighting today’s new terrorist enemy. theatregoers hostage, Putin ordered number of anti-terrorist formations will Without major reform of all security and that an anti-terrorist component be grow. Yet even that is uncertain: before military forces—reforms that provide added to Russia’s military Beslan, the response to terrorist incentives for individual officers to show strategic plan. Some military attacks in Ingushetia and initiative and take responsibility— analysts saw this as the Chechnya consisted of efforts to Russia’s war on terror will remain one- beginning, at long last, of serious form additional traditional sided: the terrorists will be doing all the reforms, as the army was capable military divisions. attacking. l (Project Syndicate) only of executing military It is now obvious that operations in Russia’s traditional overwhelming numbers don’t Alexander Golts is a Russian military analyst and provide an advantage in fighting deputy editor of Ezhenedelny Zhurnal. Crispy, crunchy crickets Critter cuisine is becoming highly fashionable in dot com land

JUSTIN HUNT in LONDON edible bugs. probably some garlic.” socially acceptable in Britain. A fraternity, such as Eatbug ”I think the British are too To reassure highly sceptical cooked Thai bug is about as welcome (www.eatbug.com), carry favourite hile the idea of eating squeamish,” he explains. “It’s just a consumers, the Thai food website to the British palate as a cooked recipes which are designed to tempt W crispy crickets or lightly fried case of educating people to try (www.dcothai.com) explains that all French frog. the unconverted. There are even beetles probably fills most them. I scoffed a cricket. I saw this its bugs are carefully sterilised, Vidhaya Intharayaem, manager ones for chocolate-covered crickets of us with absolute horror, insect bug in my hand and thought ‘Oh my preserved and spiced before being and head chef of the Bangkok (bake at 250 degrees, dip in melted eating is apparently becoming God, I can’t eat it!’ It had all its legs packed. But the news of the restaurant in South Kensington says: chocolate and leave to dry until highly fashionable. Swarms of and its antennae. They were all campaign to market insect snacks to “When I was a boy I would eat crickets. they are really crunchy). And trendy new media types are there. But I shoved it in and the UK has received a mixed It was quite a common thing. But if mealworm chocolate chip cookies is reportedly logging on to wacky Thai crunched it.” response from leading Thai you asked me to eat a cricket now I another yummy treats.The food websites and ordering samples So how did it taste? “It was restaurant chefs. wouldn’t because I have been living mealworm is supposed to enrich the of freshly cooked insects to serve at slightly crispy and soft on the inside. While some of them privately in this country for too long.” cookies with a sophisticated, their hip dinner parties. It was quite a bland taste,” he says, admit that insects are actually quite Angela Nilsen, food editor of the lingering nutty flavour. Bizarre snacking apparently adding that insect mini-buffets tasty when cooked with pepper and a BBC’s Good Food Magazine, says A spokeswoman for the UK’s KP goes on at Revolution magazine, could go down well at parties. “I think bit of seasoning, many believe that she will not be recommending bug Snacks firm explains that for any new the glossy bible of the UK’s new you need to have dips with them, insect-eating will never become snacks to her readers just yet. “I can’t snack to be commercially successful media industry. Where, rumour has see them becoming everyday fare in you have to be able to eat it on the it, journalists work with open Britain where we are still fairly move and it must be light and tasty. tins of freshly cooked insects sitting conservative in our tastes,” she So how does she rate the on their desks. Not content with explains. “We used to eat this kind of commercial chances of a crispy revolutionising the way we work, it food hundreds of years ago. But water beetle or a fried cricket on a now appears that the architects of we’ve become a lot more choosy.” stick? the new economy want to try to In the US there are several bug- “They would have to have a taste revolutionise what we eat. eating societies that are test first. I could not comment before Christopher Edwards, an campaigning on the net to try to then,” she explains, trying to quickly advertising executive at Revolution, make the eating of insects more swat away the questions. As in most would like to see insects re- socially acceptable. Once you have things at the moment, it looks like appraised as food items. He argues overcome your instinctive revulsion, the boundary- breaking dot.comers that they are high in protein and low insects are a pleasure to eat, they are still very much out on their own. in fat. But until attitudes to food insist. While they swarm to the web to order fundamentally change he believes Some of the more popular insects, for most of us the idea there will only be a niche market for websites among the bug-eating remains repellant. l (GNS) 16 REVIEW #215 Friendly fire 24 - 30 SEPTEMBER 2004

By forcing the World Bank to dump a dam in Qinghai, activists hurt poor farmers

SEBASTIAN MALLABY

here was nothing apparently controversial when, in April 1999, the T World Bank concluded negotiations on a project in China’s Qinghai province. China was the bank’s star client at the time, having lifted around 200 million people out of poverty during the previous decade. The Qinghai project was designed to move 58,000 farmers from a hopelessly parched hillside to another part of the province irrigated by a small dam. Farmer’s incomes would rise from around 20 cents a day to a level at which they could actually subsist. Qinghai borders the Tibet Autonomous Region and one million of Qinghai’s five million inhabitants are Tibetan, so Tibetan activists called for protests against the ‘controversial’ World Bank project that would A dam good book ‘dramatically affect the demography’ of Qinghai by moving ethnic Chinese into a culturally Tibetan area. This was a strange claim. First, no Tibetans lived in the immediate settlement area: The nearest were 276 nomadic herders (the bank had counted them carefully) who wintered 37 When the World Commission on WCD report and identifies where different outcome from the miles south of the project. Dams (WCD) released its report the laws and processes in Nepal above norm. The dialogue But the Tibet Information Network was not deterred. ‘Population ‘Dams and Development: A New already conform to it and where conducted, in effect, a broad- transfer of Chinese into traditional Tibetan areas has become a major Framework for Decision-making’ issues remain to be addressed. based social audit to clarify concern for Tibetans,’ the group’s newsletter said ominously. in 2002, the polarised debate The Dialogue also identifies key points of conformity, key issues Within a few weeks, the London activists had forged an international coalition. It drew from an anti-World Bank army of environmental groups between supporters and issues, such as those inherent in and points of disagreement opposed to dams, human rights groups opposed to relocation, other opponents of large dams the definition of a ‘high dam’ or between the WCD’s global groups opposing cooperation with China. Campaigners deluged the bank remained largely unresolved. in notions of upper and lower perspective and the realities of with e-mails and faxes, anti-bank posters appeared around Washington Some countries rejected the riparian rights that simply don’t Nepal. Because the dialogue and Tibet activists set up camp outside the bank’s headquarters. A rap report, others accepted it. apply or have little logic in the involved social auditors from star from the Beastie Boys declared that the bank’s loan would lead to the Outside the formal halls of Nepali context. many walks of life—the “destruction of the Tibetan peoples”. Findings from the government, NGOs, academics Despite the inaccuracy of this claim, the activists quickly won allies in Constructive Dialogue provide and activists—it has Hollywood and the US Congress, most notably the actor Richard Gere, REVIEW who had recently narrated a documentary film about Tibet, and essential guidance for any successfully adapted the Democratic Representative Nancy Pelosi of California. Sixty members of Marcus Moench individual or organisation commissions findings to local congress fired off a complaint to Wolfensohn, and Senator Jesse Helms concerned with water resources realities. Such adaptive leapt at the chance to condemn China and the World Bank in a single government, NGO leaders and development and the question processes are essential in many breath. When a World Bank delegation went to Capitol Hill to mollify the activists remained as bystanders of dams in Nepal. These fields in order to moderate the lawmakers, it was confronted with a map that did not even show Qinghai. and critics, their interests findings make it possible to increasing disjuncture between The entire province had been labelled Tibet, never mind that Tibetans accounted for only one in five people there. acknowledged in the WCD bridge the gap between globalisation processes and The bank was totally encircled. It was simultaneously up against report but only on a practical proponents and opponents of much more localised cultural, student protestors and the right wing of the Republican Party, and level, lacking mechanisms to dams—polarisation has largely environmental, economic and although the bank’s assailants were flat wrong on the facts, nobody was play new roles that could take given way to agreement on the social perspectives. willing to stick up for the institution. the Commission’s findings importance of ‘good’ dams and Overall, Constructive In June 1999, the Clinton administration announced that it would forward. Most groups, whether the criteria necessary to ensure Dialogue on Dams and vote against the Qinghai project when it came before the World Bank’s governmental or within the only ‘good’ dams are built. Development in Nepal is a good board. When the Qinghai battle came to a head, Wolfensohn did everything wider civil society, based their More importantly, however, dam book reporting on a dam possible to defuse it. He went out of his way to hear the arguments of the response to the WCD on the Constructive Dialogue good process. l NGOs, treating his own staff with much less deference. He summoned the generalities rather than a process suggests an approach project team to his office and demanded to know whose arse he should detailed analysis of the manner many regions could use to Marcus Moench is the director of kick first. in which it’s findings or respond thoughtfully following the Institute for Social and After much raging and fuming, he hit upon a scheme that would meet recommendations apply within the report of the WCD or, for that Environmental Transition-International (ISET) the NGOs part way. The project would be referred to the bank’s Inspection their own country and context. manner, most other contentious, Panel, a tribunal staffed by eminent persons who investigate projects’ compliance with the bank’s environmental and social safeguards. Nepal is an exception to the divisive issues. The WCD In a sane world, this strategy would have bought some peace with the above global pattern. The acknowledged that its report activists. But the day after the bank decided to convene an Inspection Constructive Dialogue on Dams was ‘not intended as a blueprint’ Panel, a pair of students climbed up the face of the bank’s headquarters and Development in Nepal but more as a ‘starting point for and unfurled a banner proclaiming, ‘World Bank Approves China’s reports the outcome of a unique discussions, debates’. No global Genocide in Tibet’. Privately, other Tibet groups disapproved of these process involving NGOs, approach to sensitive social or tactics—after all, there was no evidence of genocide—but they were activists, the government and development issues can capture unwilling to speak out publicly against their fellow activists. Meanwhile, members of congress continued to toe the NGO line. academics to respond to the or respond effectively to the Republican Sens. Connie Mack of Florida and Benjamin Gilman of New commission’s findings. The nuances inherent in local York accused the bank of “cultural genocide”. A House of Representatives constructive dialogue contexts. As a result, the subcommittee voted in 1999 to cut contributions to the bank’s soft-loan represents, as far as I am aware, outcomes from such processes window by $220 million. the first initiative in any region tend to dissipate in a blur of When the Inspection Panel inquiry got under way, it only succeeded to systematically analyse how dissent as regions respond to the in bringing the activist attack inside the World Bank’s building. The head the commission’s findings inevitable mismatch between of the Inspection Panel, Canadian environmentalist Jim MacNeill, clearly actually apply to the situation global perspectives and local Constructive Dialogue on Dams and favoured activists over bank staff. Development in Nepal The panel’s final report, delivered in April 2000, was a 160-page in any country. The carefully realities. The baby tends to get Eds: Ajaya Dixit, Pradeep Adhikari, indictment of the Qinghai Project based on procedural grounds rather edited and well written thrown out with the bath. Shiva Bisagnkhe than ground reality. summary produced by the The Constructive Dialogue 2004: Nepal Water Conservation Not long after the World Bank pulled out of Qinghai, a delegation of Constructive Dialogue takes the has created a fundamentally Foundation & IUCN Tibet activists went to visit Wolfensohn. They had heard that the Chinese government was pressing ahead with the resettlement project by itself. It BOOKWORM later became apparent that China planned to ignore the bank’s Historical Dictionary of Nepal environmental conditions and move Nanda R Shrestha and Keshav Bhattarai more people to the new area. They Vision Books, 2004 asked Wolfensohn what was going on. Rs 1,200 “How the fuck do I know what they’re doing?” Wolfensohn shot back. “You just got us out of there!” l The Historical Dictionary of Nepal offers a concise account of Nepal’s history and political evolution, focusing on the period since Adapted from Sebastian the rise of Prithibi Narayan Shah in 1743, especially on the Mallaby’s book, The World’s developments in the past 50 years. In an easy A-Z format, the Banker: A Story of Failed States, Financial Crises and dictionary spans Nepal’s history, politics, economy, society, rich the Wealth and Poverty of cultural and religious traditions, and the country’s historical figures. Nations (Penguin Press, 2004) Courtesy: Mandala Book Point, Kantipath, 4227711, [email protected] 18 CITY 24 - 30 SEPTEMBER 2004 #215

ABOUT TOWN When Paris, Prince of Troy (Orlando Bloom) FESTIVAL AND EXHIBITIONS steals Helen, the most beautiful woman in v Images of the Terai Paintings by SC Suman at Greece, away from her husband Menelaus, JAI NEPAL CINEMA Indigo Gallery, until 3 October, 8AM-6PM daily. king of Sparta, it sparks a bloody war that sets 4413580, www.asianart.com/indigo v A Walk along Bagmati River Paintings by Dagmar the two nations at war against each other. Mathes at Park Gallery, Lazimpat. 24 September-10 Menelaus’ brother Agamemmnon joins the Next Change October. www.parkgallery.com.np fray, his army lead by Achillies (Brad Pitt), v World Tourism Day 25 September. Exhibition of Bookings open new tourism products at the Tourist Service Centre, believed to be the greatest warrior alive. In a Bhrikuti Mandap, 9AM-5PM, 24-26 September tale of love, bravery, greed and pride, Call 4442220 for show timings www.jainepal.com v Images from the life of Mahatma Photographs at thousands fall in pursuit of glory and a nation the India Nepal Library, RNAC building. 2-4 October burns to the ground for love. EVENTS v Friday Forum Talk on the Information Resource Centre CLASSIFIED and its activities, 3PM on 24 September at the KATHMANDU AIR QUALITY American Centre v Rotary walkathon 2004 Starting 7AM from Kathmandu through Patan and After significant rises the week before, pollution levels around the Kathmandu TO LET Thimi to Bhaktapur and starting 7AM from Dhulikhel through Banepa to Valley dropped again this week, bringing PM10 (particle matter less than Luxurious 2 bedroom apartment Bhaktapur. 25 September, to aid Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital. 10 microns) concentrations to levels within the national standard of with spacious living- v 3 Changa Chait 2061 Kite flying at Club Himalaya, Nagarkot. 25 September, 120mg/m . The PM10 levels around Patan Hospital dropped by 28 percent, dining,modern kitchen, 2 and 16 October. Rs 100. 4410432 and in Thamel pollution dropped by 32 percent. 2 bathrooms,private v La Leggenda del Pianista sull’Oceano Film by Guiseppe Tornatore. 26 September, 5.30 PM at the Nepal Tourism Board, Bhrikuti Mandap telephone,ample parking,sunny v terrace overlooking garden, Discovering Buddhism Weekend courses at HBMC. 25-26 September and 12 - 18 September in micrograms per cubic meter. 2-3 October. 4414843 solar-heating.Call:5524389 Good < 60 Source: www. mope.gov.np v Movies 2PM at the Alliance Francaise: Les diaboliques, 26 September v Pippin the Stephen Schwartz musical at Lincoln School, 7PM on 28 Ok 61 to 120 For immediate Sale – Honda September. Rs 150, reservations at 4270482 Unhealthy 121 to 350 Activa 2002 model, Silver v U2 Live in Concert on the Big Screen. Tribute Night to U2 with Coldplay, gray.Contact 98510 38882 Harmful 351 to 425 Oasis and REM. Subterrania Club Kilroy. 30 September, 9PM. 4422999 Price – Rs.68,000 v Kick-off celebration for adults at Lincoln School, Ravi Bhawan. 4.30-10.30 Hazardous >425 PM, 9 October. Rs 700, 4270482 Putalisadak Patan H Thamel Kirtipur Bhaktapur Matsyagaun For insertions ring NT v Drin…king Utsav ’04 Drinks of all types at the BICC, 15-19 October. Marketing at 5543333-36. MUSIC NEPALI WEATHER by MAUSAM BEED v Abhaya and the Steam Injuns Soul, Motown, blues and funk fundraiser for PAHAD. 6.30-9.30 PM at Moksh, Rs 300 This monsoon shows signs of not v Deo at Not Just The Jazz Bar Fridays at Hotel Shangri-la, Lazimpat. wanting to leave us. The delayed arrival of the seasonal westerlies v Jatra Friday Nites Live music by The Strings. 4256622 v have allowed moisture from the Bay Live music at Moksh. Full Circle on Fridays. 7PM onwards, free entry. to keep massing up over the DRINKS Kathmandu Himalayan foothills. The soil is already saturated, so these heavy v Reduced prices on drinks for Dasain at Subterrania Club Kilroy. Sunday to bursts of rain can trigger Thursday, free entry before 11PM. 4422999 landslides. This satellite picture v Just Devine Dashain! After-office happy hour, 4-8PM, with free snacks taken on Thursday at noon shows and 20 percent off drinks. Also buy one JD Cocktail, get one free. All cloud cover dissipating over western through October at ‘Jack Lives Here’, 1905 Kantipath. 4225272 Nepal, but a monsoon pulse active v Island Bar with DJ Raju and The Cloud Walkers. The Rox Bar, Hyatt over eastern Nepal. The monsoon Regency. 4491234 usually recedes completely by September 22, but this year the rains FOOD will stick around for another week. v Fresh Catch Seafood, Saturday and Sunday at The Café, Hyatt Regency. The mercury will soon begin its v Kebab Fiesta Kebab platter at The Lounge, Hyatt Regency. Until 25 degree-a-week drop. September, 12.30-3.30 PM and 6.30-8.30 PM. v Chillin & Grillin at Fusion, Dwarikas. 24 September, Rs 699 including dinner and special cocktail. 4479488 KATHMANDU VALLEY v 1905 Bow-Thai Promotion Burmese-Thai Cuisine from Burmese Guest Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Chef Roshan. Every day, 6PM, At 1905 Kantipath. 4225272 v Genuine Thai cuisine at Royal Lotus, Bakhundole. 5521231 v Farm House Café Nature with delicious meals at Park Village Hotel. v Vegetarian Creations at Stupa View Restaurant. 4480262 27-17S 27-17 26-18 27-16S 28-17 v Splash Spring BBQ Wednesday and Friday evenings, 6PM onwards. Radisson Hotel, Kathmandu. v Sunny Side Up Weekend BBQ at Soaltee Crowne Plaza Kathmandu.

GETAWAYS v Dream Holiday package tour to Malaysia during Dasain and Tihar. Marco Polo Travels and Quatar Airways, [email protected] v Wet & Wild Summer Splash Swimming package including a drink, weekends at Godavari Village Resort. 5560675 v Getaway package nights stay at Godavari Village Resort, includes dinner and breakfast. 5560675 v Summer in Shivapuri Tranquil village, superb views and birdwatching. Shivapuri Heights Cottage, [email protected] v Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge Pure relaxation and business as usual. 4361500 v Golf at Gokarna Forest Golf Resort & Spa. 4451212 v Early Bird discounts at Shangri-La Hotel & Resort. 4412999 19 Songs for Smarika24 - 30 SEPTEMBER 2004 #215

hen Situ Kharel appears on should be part of the society and the society as well?” W stage in London’s Ealing they need more love and affection People have started calling Town Hall on 11 October, than normal children.” radio and tv stations to say that they she will be the first Nepali to hold a Music and singing has always also have a child with a disability solo concert in Britain. Impressive as been a part of Situ and Smarika’s and that after listening to Situ’s this is, when she sings the title track relationship, especially as music songs, they are more aware that from her new album, Paree, the therapy is recommended for Rett’s these children need more love, care audience is more likely to be awed Syndrome, which Smarika suffers and respect. Situ is gratified with the KIRAN PANDAY Naba Yubaraj Hridayendra and Princess Purnika by her courage and character than from. Says Situ, “Smarika inspired response: “We have brought it out THE LITTLE PRINCE: just by the event itself. Situ sings me to be an artist, and I thought, if I into the open now.” l are carried through Pashupati, following their mother, Princess about her 18-year-old daughter, am to sing for her, why not sing for (Navin Singh Khadka) Himani, and grandmother, Queen Komal, during the Tij festival on Smarika, who suffers from a rare Friday. neurological disorder. With stirring vocals, Situ underscores a point that many ignore: disabled children need love and care, not just at home, but from everyone. This is only the latest part of Situ’s campaign to promote awareness and acceptance of handicapped children. Situ’s father- in-law, famous lyricist Kiran Kharel, wrote the title track for her first album, also called Smarika, as a personal response to watching his beautiful granddaughter struggle to do things by herself. In a society where disabled children are still not brought out in public, the song has KIRAN PANDAY become something of an anthem for AT BUDDHA’S FEET: Hundreds of people gathered for World Peace the Kharel family. Day at Boudha on Tuesday to light butter lamps for peace. Situ is studying Indian classical music in London, and her time outside Nepal has taught her a lot about coping with disabled children. “I was inspired to do something for such children after seeing the differences in behaviour and attitude towards them in Nepal and Britain,” Situ says. “They should not be confined inside the home. They

ANUP PRAKASH TEN THOUSAND STARS: A candlelit vigil was held at Maiti Ghar on Monday evening in memory of the Nepalis killed over the past eight years of conflict.

PURNIMA SHARMA DEATH TALLY: On Tuesday, peace activists celebrating World Peace Day at Basantapur carry a banner with 10,000 tally marks, each representing a Nepali who has been killed in the past eight years of conflict.

MIN BAJRACHARYA REGRESS OR PROGRESS: Girija Prasad Koirala addressing a rally of the four-party alliance at Ratna Park on Tuesday, calling for the restoration of parliament. The billboard in the background quotes late King Birendra: ‘Let’s unite and unleash the forces of development.’ 20 24 - 30 SEPTEMBER 2004 #215 Royal Uneconomic Class he aviation sector worldwide is being swept by a tradition T of low-cost, no frills airlines offering flights for as cheap as Siganpore-Bangkok for one dollar roundtrip. No catch, no fine print. Thank heavens that in Nepal, despite deregulation, our domesticated airlines haven’t stooped as low as that yet. Our airlines will never sacrifice the friendly and helpful in-flight service www.nepalitimes.com that they have come to be renowned for in our internal routes just to undercut rivals by slashing fares and getting into a suicidal price war. No sir, here we have opted to keep fares high and slash services instead. It speaks volumes about our sense of commitment to comfortable and reliable air transportation, that Nepal’s no-budget airlines would rather make passengers pay through their noses than provide them unnecessary luxuries while going from Point A to Point B. UNDER MY HAT When domestic flights first Kunda Dixit started in Nepal, they used to offer passengers actual meals. As time went on, they got rid of the samosas, the next to go were the chicken patties, then they took away the barf bags and finally they got rid of the co-pilots. But not to worry, Nepal is still the only country where ex-beauty queens fly planes and we don’t have to pay anything extra for it. In any other part of the world they’d have a surcharge for that. Nepal is also one of the few places in the world, besides Idi Amin’s Uganda, where VIPs are allowed up to the plane in their SUVs if they can prove beyond reasonable doubt to the security personnel on duty that they have contributed in some measure to ruining the country. Next time, ex- prime ministers should take the ramp buses because some of them actually look more airworthy than the aircraft they take you up to. For a time, airlines used to offer us the luxury of pre-flight cotton wool and candy (“Yes, sir, the cotton goes into your ear canal and the toffee goes into your alimentary canal, or is it the other way around?”). But as a cost-cutting drive and to avoid further confusion on the 12-minute Kathmandu-Simara shuttle these days they pass around chewing gum which you are supposed to stuff into your ears after chewing thus saving the airline industry lakhs of rupees a year. With the recent hike in the price of av gas, domestic airlines have increased fares and stripped their planes of everything except the bare minimum required to defy gravity. All seats have been taken off on flights to and from Pokhara on Gundruk Class passengers have to strap hang, while in Royal Uneconomic Class at the front of the plane, premium passengers can sit cross-legged on straw mats on the floor of the cabin. In the interest of space, toilets have been done away with, but a hatch is available for in-flight emergencies. (Not to be used while flying over populated areas.) Due to popular demand in the runup to the holiday season on flights to remote area airstrips, goats will be allowed on board as carry-on baggage provided they do not exceed the dimensions of the overhead racks. If they do, the goats will have to ride on the roof cheek-to-jowl with standby passengers. “Ladies and gentlemen, in a few moments we shall be touching down in Kathmandu. Please stand in an upright position and hang by the overhead straps for landing. May we remind you to please stow the gum you are chewing in your ear canals at this time. Thank you for choosing Fly-by-Night Airways.” l

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