Pro-Golfers flock to Nepal #121 29 November - 5 December 2002 16 pages Rs 25 p15 EXCLUSIVE isn’t enough supervision and monitoring of how the money is spent. “There is virtually Nepalwatching no coordination at the managerial level among the NGOs working in the commu- A flurry of high-level visits by US and British officials to India and Nepal Let’s talk about AIDS nity,” he told us. indicates growing international concern When approached, FHI refused comment, about a Maoist threat to the Nepali state. “Condom” has become a household word, but are people using it? saying only: “An impact assessment study is In New Delhi, western officials have been going on and FHI is in no position to tell meeting the Indian establishment to find anything to the press at the moment.” out if there is a joint role for Britain, the United States and India to address the Michael O’Dwyer, senior health and crisis in Nepal, sources said. The population adviser at the British aid agency consultations are also to gauge Indian DfID that has poured £1.6 million into the policy, future support and the potential Nepal Initiative, told us: “The Nepali spillover effect of violence in Nepal. people have the right to know where this Besides senior State Department officials who have visited Nepal and India money is going, and we accept that recently, British foreign ministry official implementation must be carried out by Rosalind Marsden is currently in New Nepalis using Nepali resources.” Delhi. Marsden was the coordinator of the At UNAIDS, the body that is supposed BHAGIRATH○○○○○○○○○○○○ YOGI ○○○○○○○○ haven’t evolved. Kafle’s cynicism is The Health Ministry depends on first contact group meeting of Nepal’s to coordinate UN programmes in HIV/ donors in London in June. And a visit by e hear the endless jingles on radio, supported by a UNICEF-sponsored survey donors for nearly half its financing, and is British permanent undersecretary Sir see the celebrities on television, conducted last year. Of the 1,400 young led by donor priorities which, globally, is AIDS, country director Michael Hahn felt Michael Jay is scheduled early next month W and watch them watch us from people surveyed in seven districts, 92 percent AIDS. “There is a double-standard among the message in the media campaign may be to Kathmandu and huge billboards. The message everywhere is: had heard about HIV/AIDS, but only 72 donors between what they preach and too narrow. “They are focussing on specific New Delhi. “Let’s talk about HIV/AIDS”. percent knew condoms were a preventive practice,” says Raghav Raj Regmi, a behaviour issues, what is missing is the Western officials are said to be access to services.” sharing their concerns with Indian experts The campaign is aimed at raising measure, and fewer actually used them. development analyst. Critics also see a mis- on two main points: the recent escalation awareness among Nepalis about the serious In 1999, Family Health International match between the lavish funding for HIV/ Rajiv Kafle agrees: “Every drug user in the insurgency, and the future of threat of HIV/AIDS which is going to be (FHI) found that only 70 percent of AIDS and for less-glamourous diseases like knows syringes shouldn’t be shared. But the Nepali democracy after the 4 October the main cause of death in the 15-49 age truckers along tarai highways used TB, malaria and water-borne infections. support services aren’t there to allow him royal takeover. Diplomatic sources say bracket over the next ten years. AIDS in condoms. Nearly 11 percent of them had There are also questions of cost-effectivity. to play safe.” What is worrying many they are watching the widening rift health planners is that the insurgency has between the monarchy and the parlia- Nepal has now been upgraded to a “concen- sexual infections, and 1.5 percent were HIV A consortium of multi- and bilateral donors mentary parties with serious alarm, and trated epidemic”, which means that any one, positive. The figure for injecting drug users (UNAIDS, UNDP, USAID, DfID, AusAid), increased poverty, unemployment and are worried that a rise of the right will lead not just the vulnerable groups, may be at risk. in Kathmandu is even more frightening: with FHI as executing partner, launched the migration, all of which contribute to the the country into a dangerous polarisation But the word on the street is that the nearly half of them were HIV positive and “Nepal Initiative” program in collaboration spread of HIV through commercial sex, and an even more ruinous war. advertising blitz may have made “condom” a 18 percent of the sex workers in the valley with the Nepal Centre for AIDS and STD population mobility and injecting drug household word, but it hasn’t made much of a were infected. Control (NCASC) two years ago. use among youth. Journalists sue dent in behaviour and attitude. And even if it Critics say the anti-AIDS programme is It will address the urgent needs of sex The first line of defence against HIV/ AIDS is public awareness, and hence the Fourteen journalists and two activists filed has, it isn’t worth the estimated Rs 30 million largely-donor driven, and the problem is workers, their clients, and injecting drug separate cases at the Kathmandu district that has been spent on the ad campaign. one of ownership. Donors want government users. The activities focus on social extensive ad campaign. But the big question court Thursday seeking compensation “We have been hearing similar to take the lead, but in practice they are marketing of condoms, drug counselling, is: when is information cost-effective, and is from the state for their “illegal” detention messages over the last 15 years. But where is reluctant to relinquish control. Aside HIV care and support, voluntary HIV awareness enough? ! during the emergency which ended 28 testing and counselling. August. They have demanded compensa- the change in the behaviour, especially from the strong commitment shown by Experts like Shyam Sunder Mishra, Straight-talking tion of up to Rs100,000 each in accord- among the youth?” asks Rajiv Kafle, a HIV the previous health minister, the political Thai sex educators p11 ance with a six-year-old law. “We want to positive activist who feels social perceptions will has been weak. acting director at NCASC, admit that there set a precedent that the state must bear responsibility for violating people’s fundamental rights even during the state of emergency,” said Shyam Shrestha And now, French Gurkhas! (right), editor of Mulyankan maga- Chandra Kanta Tiwari is a Nepali officer in the French Foreign Legion. zine. PATRICK LEVAIQUE talked to him about the life of a legionnaire. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ How come you landed up in France? 3rd Foreign Legion Infantry Regiment in French Guyana. As I was born and raised near Pokhara. I had a business degree, but it was hard to find a job. I was Chief-Corporal, I received my certification in jungle warfare Weekly Internet Poll # 61 organising trekking expeditions when a couple of retired French people invited me to France. and became an assistant instructor taking part in missions in Q. Did the political parties make a mistake by not When I arrived at their home near Toulon in 1992, I saw the sea for the first time in my life. the Amazon forest. Two years ago, the Legion sent me back to joining the council of ministers? France. I am currently working at the main recruiting centre for And how did you hear about the Foreign Legion? northern France near Paris. My host was a former soldier and we used to talk about the military. One day he gave me a magazine called, White Kepi, the monthly magazine of the Foreign Legion. This is where I first Were you often sent on missions abroad? heard about it. I quickly decided I wanted to join this elite force. I went to the main recruiting Yes, many times. In addition to various joint-exercises abroad, I also went to Djibouti, Chad, centre in Aubagne. Twelve days later, I signed my first five-year contract. Unlike the British Central Africa, and ex-Yugoslavia. In 1995, I met some British Gurkhas in Yugoslavia. They Gurkhas, you are not sent back to Nepal after retirement, it is a lifelong commitment. were quite surprised that Nepalis could join the French Foreign Legion. Even though we only spent a few hours together, we got along quite well. How has the last ten years been? I was first assigned to the 2nd Foreign Legion Parachute Regiment based in Corsica. Although I And other Nepalis? am from a landlocked country I joined the amphibious company. I received my commando There are other legionnaires from Nepal in different companies and even though we aren’t from certification in Martinique. After two and a half years, I became corporal and leader of a team of the same area or ethnic group, we get along very well. We often met on weekends to go to the Total votes: 2,249 three legionnaires. Altogether, I jumped 80 times. Once during an exercise-jump, I landed on a beach. To join, you have to be between 20 to 25 years and you have to be in France. Unlike the Weekly Internet Poll # 62. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com main road and the cars on both sides were good enough to stop. The drivers were so surprised British Gurkhas, the Foreign Legion is not allowed to recruit abroad. Selection is hard, you have to Q.