Pro-Golfers flock to

Nepal isn’t enough supervision and monitoring of how the money is spent. “There is virtually no coordination at the managerial level #121 29 November - 5 December 2002 16 pages Rs 25 among the NGOs working in the commu- p15 nity,” he told us. When approached, FHI refused comment, EXCLUSIVE saying only: “An impact assessment study is going on and FHI is in no position to tell Nepalwatching anything to the press at the moment.” A flurry of high-level visits by US and Michael O’Dwyer, senior health and British officials to India and Nepal Let’s talk about AIDSpopulation adviser at the British aid agency indicates growing international concern DfID that has poured £1.6 million into the about a Maoist threat to the Nepali state. In New Delhi, western officials have been“Condom” has become a household word, but are people using it? Nepal Initiative, told us: “The Nepali meeting the Indian establishment to find people have the right to know where this out if there is a joint role for Britain, the money is going, and we accept that United States and India to address the crisis in Nepal, sources said. The implementation must be carried out by consultations are also to gauge Indian Nepalis using Nepali resources.” policy, future support and the potential spillover effect of violence in Nepal. At UNAIDS, the body that is supposed Besides senior State Department officials to coordinate UN programmes in HIV/ who have visited Nepal and India recently, British foreign ministry official AIDS, country director Michael Hahn felt Rosalind Marsden is currently in New The Health Ministry depends on the message in the media campaign may be Delhi. Marsden was the coordinator of the too narrow. “They are focussing on specific first contact group meeting of Nepal’s donors for nearly half its financing, and is donors in London in June. And a visit by led by donor priorities which, globally, is behaviour issues, what is missing is the haven’t evolved. Kafle’s cynicism is access to services.” British permanent undersecretary Sir supported by a UNICEF-sponsored survey AIDS. “There is a double-standard among Michael Jay is scheduled early next monthBHAGIRATH YOGI Rajiv Kafle agrees: “Every drug user to Kathmandu and ○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○ conducted last year. Of the 1,400 young donors between what they preach and New Delhi. e hear the endless jingles on radio,people surveyed in seven districts, 92 percent practice,” says Raghav Raj Regmi, a knows syringes shouldn’t be shared. But the Western officials are said to be see the celebrities on television, had heard about HIV/AIDS, but only 72 development analyst. Critics also see a mis-support services aren’t there to allow him sharing their concerns with Indian experts and watch them watch us from percent knew condoms were a preventive match between the lavish funding for HIV/to play safe.” What is worrying many on two main points: the recent escalationW health planners is that the insurgency has in the insurgency, and the future of huge billboards. The message everywhere is:measure, and fewer actually used them. AIDS and for less-glamourous diseases like increased poverty, unemployment and Nepali democracy after the 4 October“Let’s talk about HIV/AIDS”. In 1999, Family Health International TB, malaria and water-borne infections. royal takeover. Diplomatic sources say migration, all of which contribute to the The campaign is aimed at raising There are also questions of cost-effectivity. they are watching the widening rift (FHI) found that only 70 percent of spread of HIV through commercial sex, between the monarchy and the parlia-awareness among Nepalis about the serioustruckers along tarai highways used A consortium of multi- and bilateral donors mentary parties with serious alarm, and (UNAIDS, UNDP, USAID, DfID, AusAid), population mobility and injecting drug are worried that a rise of the right will threatlead of HIV/AIDS which is going to be condoms. Nearly 11 percent of them had use among youth. the country into a dangerous polarisationthe main cause of death in the 15-49 age sexual infections, and 1.5 percent were HIVwith FHI as executing partner, launched the The first line of defence against HIV/ and an even more ruinous war. bracket over the next ten years. AIDS in positive. The figure for injecting drug users “Nepal Initiative” program in collaboration Nepal has now been upgraded to a “concen- in Kathmandu is even more frightening: with the Nepal Centre for AIDS and STD AIDS is public awareness, and hence the trated epidemic”, which means that any one, nearly half of them were HIV positive and Control (NCASC) two years ago. extensive ad campaign. But the big question not just the vulnerable groups, may be at risk.18 percent of the sex workers in the valley It will address the urgent needs of sex is: when is information cost-effective, and is awareness enough? But the word on the street is that the were infected. workers, their clients, and injecting drug advertising blitz may have made “condom” a Critics say the anti-AIDS programme isusers. The activities focus on social household word, but it hasn’t made much of alargely-donor driven, and the problem is marketing of condoms, drug counselling, dent in behaviour and attitude. And even if it one of ownership. Donors want governmentHIV care and support, voluntary HIV Journalists sue has, it isn’t worth the estimated Rs 30 millionto take the lead, but in practice they are testing and counselling. that has been spent on the ad campaign. reluctant to relinquish control. Aside Experts like Shyam Sunder Mishra, Fourteen journalists and two activists filed separate cases at the Kathmandu district “We have been hearing similar from the strong commitment shown by acting director at NCASC, admit that there court Thursday seeking compensationmessages over the last 15 years. But where isthe previous health minister, the political from the state for their “illegal” detention will has been weak. during the emergency which ended 28the change in the behaviour, especially August. They have demanded compensa-among the youth?” asks Rajiv Kafle, a HIV tion of up to Rs100,000 each in accord-positive activist who feels social perceptions ance with a six-year-old law. “We want to Straight-talking set a precedent that Thai sex educatorsp11 the state must bear responsibility for violating people’s fundamental rights even during the state of emergency,” said Shyam Shrestha (right), editor of Mulyankanmaga- zine. And now, French Gurkhas! Chandra Kanta Tiwari is a Nepali officer in the French Foreign Legion. 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 findChief-Corporal, a job. I was I received my certification in jungle warfare Weekly Internet Poll # 61 organising trekking expeditions when a couple of retired French people invited me toand France. became an assistant instructor taking part in missions in When I arrived at their home near Toulon in 1992, I saw the sea for the first time in my life. Q. Did the political parties make a mistake by not the Amazon forest. Two years ago, the Legion sent me back to joining the council of ministers? And how did you hear about the Foreign Legion? France. I am currently working at the main recruiting centre for My host was a former soldier and we used to talk about the military. One day he gavenorthern me a France near Paris. magazine called,White Kepi, the monthly magazine of the Foreign Legion. This is whereWere I first you often sent on missions abroad? heard about it. I quickly decided I wanted to join this elite force. I went to the mainYes, recruiting 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 Centralthe British 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 2 And other Nepalis? There are other legionnaires from Nepal in different companies and even though we aren’t from the same area or ethnic group, we get along very well. We often met on weekends to go to the nd Foreign Legion Parachute Regiment based in Corsica. Althoughbeach. I To join, you have to be between 20 to 25 years and you have to be in France. Unlike the am from a landlocked country I joined the amphibious company. I received my commandoBritish Gurkhas, the Foreign Legion is not allowed to recruit abroad. Selection is hard, you have to certification in Martinique. After two and a half years, I became corporal and leaderbe of mentally a team ofand physically agile. As Nepalis, we are strong and adapted to difficult mountain Total votes: 2,249 three legionnaires. Altogether, I jumped 80 times. Once during an exercise-jump, I landedterrain. on I go a home every year, and like to trek in new places. main road and the cars on both sides were good enough to stop. The drivers were so surprised Weekly Internet Poll # 62. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.comthey even gave me a hand to fold my parachute! Q. How do you feel about the performance of the I did special training in chemical and nuclear warfare. After six years, I was assigned to the interim government in the last 45 days? 222 EDITORIAL 29 NOVEMBER - 5 DECEMBER NEPALI 2002 TIMES 29 NOVEMBER - 5 DECEMBER NEPALI 2002 TIMES 333

Nepali Times is published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, COMMENT by DHAWAL SHUMSHERE JB RANA Chief Editor:Kunda Dixit Design:Kiran Maharjan [email protected], www.nepalitimes.com Advertising:Sunaina Shah [email protected] Subscription:Anil Karki [email protected] Sales:Sudan Bista [email protected] Sanchaya Kosh Building, Block A-4th Floor, Lalitpur GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal displaced by war, some gesture of official concern when VDC buildings Tel: 01-543333-7, Fax: 01-521013 are destroyed and schools bombed. Show us a sign that you are there. Printed at Jagadamba Press, Hattiban: 01-547018/17 The only sign thus far is the sight of officialdom as pro forma guests of honour lighting wicks, launching CDs and giving elaborate speeches ...damage control that are parodies of Panchayat era news clips. In fact, there should be WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR? an immediate moratorium on all such wick lighting, garlanding, speechify- ing, and talking heads. We’ve seen and heard it all. t has taken 12 years for the demo- e are a bit worried by the unseemly anticipation with which cratic aspirations of the Nepali discredited national-level leaders of the political parties are people to shatter. The blame for this waiting for the king’s interim cabinet to fail. “We couldn’t I Political parties and the palace must W goes to the gross misrule by the leaders hack it, and we won’t let you either,” seems to be the refrain. Careful there, it may turn out to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. and parties in power. Rampant cooperate if they are to compel the That is what puzzled many of us watching the Basantapur corruption at all levels of government Maoists to give up their violent path. meeting from the sidelines: the inability of those who are ostensibly on became an open and expected process, the side of parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchyILING to THEMACHINE some leaders didn’t even try to hide cooperate against a militant force bent on a violent overthrowO of both. their unsavoury behaviour anymore. Not only are they not helping each other, they seem determinedThere to are many places to start. The petrol and kerosene price hike was Factionalism, horse-trading, drag each other down. one opportunity to do things right, and we pretty much bungled it. The personal and political scandals became acceptable, nor is it a sustainable he needs to keep himself above petty So when Girija Prasad Koirala says it’s time to “breathe fire”minister and was right when he said he doesn’t do populist stuff, it was not the order of the day. Then came the method of retaining power. Others politics, leaving the peoples representa- Madhav Kumar Nepal says “we’ll unleash a typhoon of protest”,only notis it populist it was downright daft. Anyone who has seen the elsewhere have tried it and failed: it is tives to sort out the problems and hundreds of Indians on bicycles along the Mahendra Highway at violence—Nepal’s tranquility was because they have to talk tough now so that they can join an all-party shattered by unprecedented levels of not possible to browbeat a nation to develop the nation as best as each can. government? Or is the sabre-rattling a protection against moreKakarbhitta every morning filling up jerry cans of subsidised Nepali follow your notion of justice and system The political parties may be down, but detentions by the CIAA? kerosene to sell in India knows what the real problem is. Some 1.6 million murder and mayhem. Nepalis are killing litres of kerosene goes into India every month from eastern Nepal alone by force. The politics of terror and they are not out. People power should Whatever the reason, an all-party national government is what each other like animals gone berserk, because you can make a Rs 6 profit on each litre if you can take it we are destroying what little infrastruc- destruction never yields state power, it never be underestimated. we need to take us out of this crisis. Who knows what kindacross of give- the border. The real problem here is the price gap in kerosene can only be attained and kept by For their part, the national leaders of and-take is going on behind the scenes to make that happen. But do ture we have, all this for power in with India (which leads to smuggling) and the price gap within Nepal winning the hearts and minds of people. the political parties owe an apology to we all have to hang around twiddling our thumbs until it does?between Why kerosene and petrol/diesel (which leads to adulteration). the garb of a political ideology. We this sense of suspended animation? However maligned it may be, the people for their past misdeeds. Their The Nepal Oil Corporation is bankrupt not so much because of seem to have hit an irreversible self- We understand that it takes time for non-political experts thrown destruct button. parliamentary democracy is still the misconduct, greed, malgovernance and subsidies as mis-management and corruption. It loses Rs 2.8 billion on most viable form of government in the factionalism has few parallels in modern suddenly into the decrepit and sad corridors of the ministrieskerosene to get a subsidies, Rs 1.5 billion on diesel subsidies, but earns Rs 715 If we don’t look for solutions, a not met. handle on things. But it’s been 45 days now since the king nominated present context. Any infringement on statecraft. There is really no way out but million from petrol sales every year. The fuel price hike will not make a Khmer Rouge-type future is not The state has tried to match their the first nine members of the new cabinet. What are they waitingdent on for? the NOC’s finances. By just increasing petrol prices, we have inconceivable. Things couldn’t drag on It has taken some weeks for these the rights and freedoms of the people for the leaders of political parties to Let’s see some immediate and tangible service delivery. Evennot if stopped it’s just kerosene smuggling, and made adulteration worse. ferocity with military operations. But thewill not be accepted by the Nepalis. regain the peoples’ confidence a token gesture to give the people hope: like sending medical teams to like this. On 4 October, King shell-shocked parties to protest the It’s long overdue: end the NOC’s corrupt monopoly on imported fuel general feeling is that it has not been ablePolitical parties and their national they have squandered over the past abandoned district hospitals, rehabilitating children and orphans Gyanendra sprang a surprise on the move. Political leaders have said they to put the Maoists on the defensive. So, and resume incentives for electrical transport. nation, sacking the government citing see a “grand design” to reverse multi- leaders may be discredited, and it is true dozen years. where do the three forces (palace, partiesthat they must take a major share of the Together, political parties and the incompetence, taking upon himself the party democracy and have announced and Maoists) go from here? executive powers, pledging to uphold rallies and mass meetings in the coming blame for the present state of affairs, butpalace must cooperate if they are to They have to start by agreeing to pullthis does not mean the people have lost

NEPALNEWS.COM multiparty democracy and hold fresh month. The Maoists have detected an compel the Maoists to give up their the country out of its deepest crisis ever, parliamentary polls at the earliest ideal opportunity to drive a wedge faith in the system. violent path. The international commu- possible time. The people, fed up with between the king and political parties. and relieve Nepal’s long-suffering citizensThe Nepali people have savoured nity, and especially our neighbours, must from this unnecessary mayhem. political freedom, and they cannot STATE OF THE STATE by CK LAL years of misrule, were generally They have stepped up their offensives, extend financial and material help to supportive of the king’s move. But the bombings, looting, arson and destruc- Firstly, the Maoist must abandon be put down anymore. bolster the chances of a political resolu- political parties held a series of tion nationwide. They now threaten to violence as a means of attaining state The monarchy must remain constitu-tion. A secure and peaceful Nepal is in meetings, requested a joint meeting take their struggle to the bitter end if power. This is outdated and unaccept- tional. Any deviation is fraught with their interest too. with the king, which didn’t happen, their demands for a) a roundtable able. There is enough political space for dangers. Nepal’s diversity requires the and balked at joining the king’s team. meeting including the king b) a anyone with aspirations of power to win king as a symbol of national unity, a constitutional assembly and c) an it through the ballot. The bullet is not symbol of hope and salvation. For this, interim all-party government are Remote control... (Dhawal Shumshere JB Rana was the UML mayor of Nepalgunj.)

Why the clamour for a constituent assembly, what’s the hurry? levels of distrust and fear Nepalis have not known for centuries. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Yes, there is over-reaction and abuse by the poor soldiers LETTERS athmandu high society too considers Kathmandu valley seems to be under thealready be one of the largest political and police who live in daily fear elections and strengthening the it beneath its dignity to discuss impression that once the proposal of a parties in the dissolved parliament. themselves. But it would not have local bodies, which will also be politics. For the glitterati, it’s infra- constituent assembly is accepted, all our Mainstream political parties have BLINDNIKS happened if the Maoist leaderspeople of Nepal work to createhelpful a in undermining the Maoists’Nepal has been anything but apeople need an effective K climate of hope. When the leaders war of principles. Where is thegovernment with good honest longstanding political issues shall be I am a pacifist whose heart lieshad not instigated and led attempt to wreak havoc. dig to pay too much attention to these been almost de-legitimised by the king see that their real future lies in justice when so many innocentleaders dedicated to the causes resolved to everyone’s satisfaction. with the desperately poor andalienated and confused youth into As we have seen by now, the uncouth politicos. The military brass, on the one hand, and decapitated by the a path of national self-destruction.working together to create a people have lost their lives by theof the people rather than their trapped Nepalis who are the real men in green can do only so officialdom and big business Like four visually challenged gentle- Maoists on the other. They are in no The conditions in Nepal are peaceful and prosperous Nepal hundreds and so many familiespurses. The security forces victims of the “People’s War”. I much. Having been in the US for a men examining an elephant, every position to canvass in the countryside. appalling—but they in no way, forin all Nepalis, where diversity is displaced from their homes in theneed the co-operation of all (MOB) of the entrenched have eaten their maizedhiro, while now, one thing that’s been no path of empathic reasoning,valued. In the meantime, instead of countryside by the thousands institutionsfor of the state. Personal political force is interpreting the proposalThe less said about the government’s their stinging nettletiun, and driven home for me is decentrali- elite in failing states look justify the wanton use of violencefocusing on America’s counter- no fault of their own? Where isand party interests will leave the of a constituent assembly in its own way.ability to enforce rule of law, the better. sation is the true strength of a upon the representatives of sung their songs. I know theirin a country that does have productive Iraq policy, the the justice when innocent country divided and confused. democracy. Dirty political games For the Maoists, it is the first step Geo-strategic forces of the region mounting frustration with democratic means for addressingintellectuals abroad sponsor bystanders are killed daily by Chur Yetam, by email. hoi polloi with barely are played here as well. But what towards their utopia of dictatorship of have repeatedly made it clear that they government—the humiliation wrongs, even if imperfect. Andpetitions that will only result in Maoist bombs in marketplaces? concealed contempt. The makes this a prosperous nation is the proletariat. Having failed to keep the they suffer as ethnic minorities,how will it stop? How can thereprolonging the war and agony of And where is the justice when so remain committed to constitutional decentralisation of executive very thought of state power in as women, aspani na chalne ever be peace? And when willthe Nepali people. Get real. many youngsters have been king within the accepted norms of monarchy and multi-party democracy. power to local governments, the hands of these unwashed castes, or even as poor and that happen? When there is a Promote real peace, and stop the promised dreams and made to lay constitutional monarchy, intellectuals After such public pronouncements, they which allows them to function SURENDRA LAWOTI poorly educated higher castecredible government capacity tomurder of Nepalis by the most down their lives? This is not masses from the back of the close to the Nepali Congress want a efficiently even when the political are unlikely to accept either the dicta- farmers. Nevertheless, I wasmilitarily stop the Maoist advanceirresponsible leaders to have liberation, it is a power grab ridingMedia is such an important tool games continue at the top. It’s beyond fills them with horror. constituent assembly to do what three torship of the proletariat or the palace. appalled by the counter- and start to demoralise their been born in this tragic country. a wave of social and economicthat it can raise a person’s faith easy to be fatalistic, talk of grand Words like “parochialism”, parliaments over last 12 years couldn’t productive reasoning and followers. When the people in the Jawan Singh, by email discontentment. or shatter it. Why then, do you In addition, there are operational designs, point fingers at each accomplish. misplaced sympathies of the countryside no longer have such Our leaders have been blindpublish vicious letters by such “corruption”, “incompetence” are details that need to be deliberated upon. other, and that’s something, which email campaign against outsidefear of the Maoists that they can people as Sudip Pokhrel of But why are the revisionists of the comes very easily with our to the needs of the country. We hurled at those politicians that have a Do we need a constituent assembly to military assistance to a demo-start passive resistance and Maligaon (Letters, #120) about cultural beliefs. That won’t get gotus a political culture of greed: popular base. Dummies are the most right also yearning for a constituent decide on the fate of monarchy, or to cratic government (“Peaceniksexercise their democratic rights. Surendra Lawoti’s anywhere though. Nation building“rule by the greedy, of the greedy, assembly? Do they seriously contemplateformulate the structure of a federal on warpath”, #119). When the middle class pulls its phoptographs (“Life in a that the MOB oligarchy can tolerate in requires effort, commitment andfor the greedy”. But of all the evils the name of politics. Minister-in-chief restoring unrestrained power once again Nepali state? How will it be formed: The Maoists are destroyinghead out of the sand and starts to that the Nepali people have beendifferent light”, #117)? Sudip At first I would like to thankaccountability on the part of Pokhrel, I’m sure you can’t help it in the hands of the king through legiti- direct elections, proportional representa- this country through murder, march against the Maoists and for made to suffer, the worst is this Lokendra Bahadur Chand spends better Daniel for a good reflection of oureveryone—leaders, bureaucrats, that you are an ignorant and mate constitutional means? Naivety violent extortion, forcible peace. When all well-intentioned war, the violence that has part of his day offering prayers. He has no tion, ideological nomination, or a mixed country’s problems from an and citizens. There are no short envious “inar ko bhyaguto”. The recruitment of children, destruc- strangled the very fabric of our hesitation in attending anniversary apparently has no limits. composition? Who will oversee its international perspective (“Lastcuts to development; the only only feeling you know is: “How tion of infrastructure, blockage nationhood. The call for the formation of a stand”, #118). He has written fromroute is to persevere with dare anyone do better than celebrations in obscure Hanuman temples formation: Indo-Chinese joint forces, a of food aid, undermining the perspective of a Nepali minddemocracy, to devolve power to The remedy lies in uprootingme?” Face it, it’s a common and a birthday bash of Satya Sai Baba. constituent assembly seems to be based UN Peace Force or an army of human community institutions and local rooted in our soil. Presently mostlocal bodies and to give peoplethe a very causes of social injusticeNepali affliction. You should be on five assumptions: rights activists? There is no ready governance, stopping all When he has any time left after attending Nepali people believe solving thechance to control their own lives.still pervading our society and proud that Surendra Lawoti is development efforts, all invest- to his deities, he devotes it to releasing international model that can be adapted, Maoist problem will end all our Abishkar Shrestha,surmounting the very challengestrying his best to capture life ments and tourism, and creating music cassettes of upwardly mobile let alone directly adopted. Why then the suffering. Of course, I agree this Grinnell, Iowaposed by the Maoist violence. Thisunder two different cultures. It clamour, what’s the hurry? socialites. The king is willing to relinquish would help, but if we look further, can only be done by a two- is not an easy task. Instead of our future beyond is even darker. pronged strategy: establishing abusinga him, you should Given their open disdain for politics, power There can be only one explanation: someone wants us not to think too much Our budget and any development more equitable socio-economicencourage him, or suggest the Nepali elite’s sudden interest in the Maoists are ready to accept the projects can hardly be made order that gives precedence toways a to improve his work. Your about the Maoist insurgency, someone desirability of a constituent assembly is verdict of the electorate without international aid. The rule of law and justice whereinletter has disheartened Nepalis rather baffling. When social butterflies, who wants us to forget what happened on 4 article gave me a better insight everyone is dealt with equally in the Chicago area. Better ask Political parties are capable of once prided in keeping their distance from October, and ignore the symptoms of a about my country. irrespective of caste, creed, for forgiveness. ordinary scribes, collar you at glittering canvassing freely all over the country failing state. The red herring is the promise Kabindra Shakya, Kathmandu gender, race, religion, status orPravesh Saria, Chicago, USA Leadership of the Maoists is in a of a new constitution, but the real message wealth, and simultaneously parties and want you to clarify your position eliminating the very source of the on the question of sovereignty, you have toposition of disarming all its cadres is forget the old constitution. Maoist terror campaign. realise that things aren’t same anymore after The government has the power to And then the all-important question: The “People's War” has The government needs a October the Fourth. enforce a truce will a constituent assembly succeed in overshadowed our lives and leadership with a vision and The Maoists’ call for a constituent Geo-strategic powers have no containing the unbridled ambitions of Thanks a lot for a wonderfulmakes us doubt the rationale forintention pure in conscience, the “righteous wars”. Revolutionary assembly is now being drowned out by MOB oligarchy of Nepal? If yes, then editorial (“Unity”, #117). It empha- constitutional preferences wars are a war of principles: the let’s pry open the box. If not, let’s stop sised that we throw our con- the voice of the political right calling for The best that can be said about these oppressed fighting against the spiracy theories out of the CORRECTION the same thing. Lately, even the ideologi- fiddling and re-engage ourselves with the oppressor, the downtrodden presumptions is that they are, well, window and start to work The main pictures of Patan in cally emasculated Chand cabinet has real elephant in the room—the violent overthrowing an unjust regime, presumptuous. The king hasn’t so far collectively to repair the damages “The hush of centuries” and Maoist insurgency. the deprived and the voiceless begun to express an interest in the done over the last few years. I “The Valley’s ancient heart still shown any inclination of sharing power, revolting against the injustice. people’s sovereignty. The elite of suggest the ideal place to start beats” in #120, were by let alone relinquishing it. Had the However, the “people’s war” in Maoists had any faith in the decision of doing so would be holding local Stanislav Klimek. the electorate, they would perhaps 444 NATION 29 NOVEMBER - 5 DECEMBER NEPALI 2002 TIMES NATION 29 NOVEMBER - 5 DECEMBER NEPALI 2002 TIMES 555 DOMESTIC BRIEFS forces, the situation has come under control.” But most people Jesse at JazzMandu-2 buildings in Dang have been know that things are far from ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○ blown up and all documents normal. Why the children?Nepal’s jazz enthusiasts can look forward to enjoying a real destroyed. Local officials have The Maoists for their part class act at JazzMand—Edition Two (28 February to 15 March, 2003) with Dutch guitarist Jesse van Ruller and his Trio. Jesse gathered what files are left and appear to have given up any Children inshifted their officesthe to Ghorahi, frontline will play with his current working band, that features two other to die,” he says. semblance of respecting public upcoming stars from the European jazz front: Frans van der Even one year later, Ghorahi’s childrenThis week, the army are has stillTulsipur traumatised. and Lamahi. A 30-year opinion. Said the teacher from Hoeven on double bass and Martijn Vink on drums. old farmer from eastern Dang has intensified○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ patrols in anticipation Rukum: “They seem to have Thirty-year-old Jesse van Ruller has won the Thelonious walked three hours to Ghorahi of a Maoist attack to mark the decided that they now have to Monk International Jazz Prize for jazz guitar in Washington and played legends like Christian McBride, just to get his son’s birth regis- anniversary. There are roadblocks make a final push.” Most here ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ George Duke, former Miles Davis protege Mike Stern, Philip Catherine, Toots Thielemans, and the Roy and everyone is searched, people tered, something he would have doubt that the Maoist leaders Hargrove Quintet. His prolific career includes six CDs released under his own name. Nepal’s own have to even empty their pockets. down in his own village. He says mean it when they say they want a Cadenza summed it up after listening to Van Ruller’s music: “Jesse is cool. End of discussion.” The increased security has brought the fields in his village have been negotiated solution. But others harvested, but because the see the increased brutality, back memories of that night, and (for more information - www.kathmandujazzfestival.com) by late afternoon the streets wear a farmers are away, the grain is extortion and the spread of human deserted look. rotting or is being looted. misery as indications that things There is a group of young “We are trying our best to must get much worse before they Threatened boys from Rukum at the bus maintain peace and order in the get better here in the midwestern ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ district,” says the CDO for Dang,hills of Nepal. Climate change is not only melting Himalayan glaciers, but it is also threatening its bird life, according to a park. “We were repeatedly new study. Some 15,000 glaciers are retreating at between 15 and 30 metres per year, and the snowline warned to join the militia Mathur Prasad Yadav. “And since the mobilisation of the security has retreated up the mountains. squad,” one of them whispered. The Himalaya has the greatest diversity of river birds in the world, and this puts their future at risk. “We thought we should get out. Among the endangered species is the Ibisbill, a wading bird that breeds in the glacial valleys of Langtang Moreover, there’s isn’t any food in central Nepal. It is particularly threatened because it depends on a unique and fragile habitat. The Ibisbill left in our village.” His group is nests on shingle banks in slow-flowing rivers. Its ecosystem will move upwards as the climate changes trying to go to India to find work but the river valleys will not. The Ibisbill, like other birds, may not be able to adapt. and to escape the fighting. A civil servant from Libang (Climate Action Network) has also come down to Ghorahi. He says the only people left in Ghandrung ACAP destroyed his district are toddlers and older ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ people. “The CDO office is full The popular visitor centre and adjoining office of the Annapurna Area of young people desperately Conservation Project (ACAP) in the scenic town of Ghandrung was destroyed by armed Maoists earlier this month. A dozen Maoists

SAGAR PANDIT SAGAR trying to get papers so they can raided the centre, and set fire to the building, destroying it completely. A government-vehicle and office building destroyed during last year’s attack. leave,” he says. A policeman who to learn not to touch anything lyingwas recently transferred from Eyewitnesses said the fire spread rapidly after the Maoists set gas ‘Children suffer the most’ cylinders ablaze which exploded. The centre at Ghandrung was one around—it may easily be a booby- Rukum agrees: “While we were The scars on Rabina and Rabin (above) representof eight in the Annapurna area. ACAP is seen as a model eco-tourism RAM HARI RIJAL in GHORAHI ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ looked outside and there were dead trap explosive. on patrol, we found almost every Excerpts from a BBC Nepali Service interview project that tries to use tourism revenue directly for rural development. e were awakened by bodies everywhere, and I will never At the local primary school, house was locked up. Whole with General Secretary of the Informal the face of our wounded nation the terrible sound of forget the sight of the bright red Ambika Dahal says he has noticed villages are empty.” Sector Service Center (INSEC), “Wgunfire and explo- pools of blood.” that the children are listless and In Dang itself, the Maoists Subodh Raj Pyakurel: NARESH NEWARin BARA A bomb left behind by the ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○ sions. We couldn’t sleep all night,” distracted. “They don’t want to be have intensified their house-to- “Women and children suffer the most when home for Tihar and was carrying Rs80,000 in Justice for all recalls 12-year-old Srijana Nepali Maoists went off, injuring Srijana intoo far away from us, in classrooms house extortion drive, blowing violent activities happen in any country and hakta Bahadur Regmi can’t bear to look at savings, all of which he lost. Three other Sarlahi ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ who lives with her parents on the the abdomen. “I still get nightmaresthey seem to be absorbed in their up bridges and roads, plundering are the one who suffer the most. Studies residents were returning home after three years Now that ex-Gurkha POWs have won the court batle for compensation, it should be good news for his two children and their grievous burn former Lance Corporal Hari Thapa. He has sued the British Ministry of Defence for racism by paying him outskirts of Ghorahi. It was exactly about that terrible night,” she tells own thoughts,” Dahal tells us. “Thethe property of those who have show that over 50,000 children have been working in Saudi Arabia, and they lost up to Rs directly affected due to the on-going insur- Binjuries sustained during a firebomb attack a salary and pension much lower than that of a British soldier. A tribunal began hearing the case on left. Dang is the strategic one year ago on 23 November at us. “Every time I hear a loud bang, Iboys are always talking about guns, 300,000 each in hard-earned savings which they Monday. Thapa moved to Wales after his retirement and receives a pension of only £58 a month. A British 10:30 at night when the Maoists get a panic attack and I have to go bombs and the army, not about corridor for both the Maoists gency. So far, 109 children have been killed on their bus by suspected Maoists on 4 October during the conflict out of which the state has killed 67 children and were taking home to their families. soldier of a similar record would receive £500. A decision is not expected for another three years, but if broke the truce, launched a surpriselie down.” Srijana’s physical their studies.” and the security forces, so key on Lakhanti Bridge, 70 kms from Simara. the rebels have killed 42. Recently, the Maoists killed a 14-year-old It has been over a month now. But for the the case is successful it may open the floodgates for thousands of other cases that could cost the British attack on the army base north of thewounds have healed, but the Dipak Shrestha, a ten-year-old bridges linking the district with child at Rajapur, Bardiya for allegedly giving directions to some army “At least they are alive,” is all Bhakta Bahadur government billions of pounds, experts say. town, killing 14 soldiers and 23 psychological scars from the fear boy living close to the District the Mahendra Highway and personnel. can say. But he is heartbroken when he remem- residents of Simara who visit the Regmis, the The British government says the benefits are governed by a tripartite treaty between Nepal, India and police and looting the armoury. In and anxiety remain. A bright Police Office, remembers the Pyuthan have been damaged The children narrated their experiences at a program recently bers how his wife, Anju, died trying to save theirscars on the children is a picture of our wounded Britain and are adequate for Gurkhas who return to Nepal. Thapa’s case is being backed by the Commis- the year since, more than 5,000 student, she has not been able to dodeafening sound of gunfire explo- in recent attacks, and army organised by INSEC. They need answers to questions like what children as the bus caught fire. They were the nation. Even strangers look moist-eyed at Rabin sion for Racial Equality. people have been killed all well in her studies. sions all night, and Maoist com- convoys ambushed. any side can gain by killing people who have nothing to do with the last ones among the 55 passengers to escape afterand Rabina and they ask: “Why the children?” A London high court verdict on Wednesday ruled that 343 surviving Nepali soldiers who were so-called People’s War. They feel nobody can protect them. over Nepal. Down the street, six-year-old mander shouting orders: “Jaljala All but one of the VDC the Maoists threw petrol bombs at the speeding It was International Children’s Day last week imprisoned by the Japanese in Singapore 50 years ago are entitled to the same compensation ( £10,000) As a human rights organisation, we have repeatedly appealed as British prisoners. Ghorahi’s children still remem- Arogya Rijal still remembers last Platoon, advance. Shoot. Shoot.” bus. The two others who died in the attack thatwhen Bhakta Bahadur brought his children out to both the government and the Maoist rebels [to stop the violence]. ber that fateful night when the war year’s fierce fighting on his street. Dipak’s mouth went dry with fear, preceded the three-day Maoist bandh were the of hospital in Birganj. The Nepali people have came to their doorstep. Recalls “At first, I thought they were he had to drink water several times. We have rehabilitated some children. These children share their stories with the public so people can stand against atrocities. bus conductor and an employee of Music Nepal.been numbed by news of violence over the past Srijana: “We all huddled and hid setting off firecrackers,” he says. “We thought we were all going inside our rooms, our hearts beatingThese days, being street-smart in We ask four-year-old Rabina years, but the sight of the burn Itumbaha restoration like drums. In the morning we Ghorahi for children like Arogya is who hurt her. “Maobadi,” she injuries on the children shocked ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ says simply. Rabina looks at her and enraged onlookers outside the The Kathmandu Valley Preservation Trust is working to restoreth centurythe historic Itumbaha, 11 one of burnt fingers and touches her hospital. “How can Nepalis do this the 18 ancient monasteries of Kathmandu. The earthquake of 1934 and urban incursions have taken their stomach which is covered in burn to fellow Nepalis?” they asked. toll, and the historic courtyard is in a state of disrepair. The World Monument Watch has put Itumbaha on its list of 100 most-endangered sites in the world. tissue. Her six year old brother Near Lakhanti Bridge from where HERE AND THERE by DANIEL LAK Rabin has burns all over his face, a the suspected Maoists fled, Bhakta gash on his head and a deep cut Bahadur says, local villagers know on his leg. The two haven’t the attackers, but are terrorised yet been told that their mother into keeping quiet of their wherea- is dead. bouts. A developing crisis Anju Regmi was seven months “The scabs are still thick on pregnant. she was rushed to their faces. I really don’t know here’s at least one group of people in Nepal that haven’t been heard Malangwa hospital, where her what to do,” says Bhakta Bahadur from on the country’s current agony. And I for one would like them baby was still born. she died three who is now worried about further to speak up. These are the legions of development and aid people For decades, donors have Now, the trust with the Kathmandu Metropolitan City and the German Embassy are getting together to T days later of trauma and burns. medial care. He is a forest guard restore Itumbaha. The project will begin in March 2003 and will last two years. “Most restoration work in who’ve been assisting this country for the better part of fifty years, from with the District Forest Office Kathmandu Valley so far has been focussed on World Heritage sites, other sites have been largely America, Britain, Europe, Australia, Canada and Asia. exercised huge, unaccountable Bipin Shah was on the same here and he gets a little help from his friends, but neglected, but this is beginning to change,” says Kathmandu Valley historian Niels Gutschow. They came—most of them I’m sure—with the best of intentions. They bus travelling with his family. He says the driver influence over this country’s it is not enough. He is far away from his home in supply huge amounts of money and exercise vast influence over the panicked and started speeding whenBhakta he saw Bahadur a Regmi country’s spending and political priorities. Yet they remain faces in the polity and economics. group of men by the side of the road with beer Hetauda. “Their treatment costs a lot of money crowd, not held to account by the press or public or even their own bottles filled with petrol. But the attackers threwand nobody I know can afford to help,” he told parliaments, let alone Nepal’s. And they have been here all along as things the bottles through the window-shield and the us. The children need to go to a hospital in spiral downwards, watching and perhaps trying to improve things—who In the nineties, development became an industry as it still is today. The the bus caught fire from the front. Because of theKathmandu for specialised medical attention. He knows? They rarely tell us. Economist magazine, house organ of the business elite of the West, is where speed of the bus, the interior quickly caught fire.has given up expecting anything from the Few other countries in the world are such proving grounds for the Britain’s Department for International Development advertises for experts. the driver jumped out, and the bus fell into a government. “development industry” as Nepal. Perhaps Bangladesh and one or two in So too, the United States Agency for International Development, SNV of ditch and overturned. And Bhakta Bahadur has to take care of Africa, but that’s about it. Nepal has provided the perfect development Holland, Germany’s GTZ, Helvetas and all the rest, professionalism was in, the old style radicalism and commitment was out. DFID and Bipin Shah remembers clambering out of a himself as well. Having lost his wife is a deep destination almost since it began opening up to the outside world in 1951. broken window. His hands and face are severelypersonal tragedy, but now he has the future of Cold warrior aid was among the first tranche of money to start arriving; others wanted “Poverty Specialists”, “Economists” and communica- tions experts, especially the latter. burnt, and his brother and wife are also badly his children to worry about. He can’t even afford western countries—particularly the US—were worried about China’s to grieve. communists and keeping a hedge of friendly countries around the dragon of And through it all, where was poor Nepal? Riding the crest of the latest burnt in the hands and face. Shah was going wave of course, surfing through gender workshops, good governance East Asia. It was perhaps the stupidest of all reasons to pour money intoshared a political views and dissatisfaction with the majority view in their place, but those were troubled times too. seminars, putting public health first, stressing basic education, the rights of native lands. No real problem there, you had to be well outside the child, developing capacity, institution building, encouraging local NGOs The world had just emerged from a convulsive World War whose greatmainstream to abandon the easily realised material dreams of home to powers were racing to develop means of exterminating each other. The and today—signing up for conflict resolution workshops—the latest share burdens overseas. development gravy train trend that enriches consultants and creates tax-free “Free World” cultivated newly open Nepal and began the process of The most far-reaching development change of the 1980s was the upending bags of cash from on high—a process that continues today, the opportunities in foreign lands. emergence of Japan as the world’s—or at least Asia’s—largest aid donor. In But has any of it made a damn bit of difference over the years? You difference being that the money stays largely in Kathmandu these days. those days, Tokyo’s bureaucrats and business types presided over an Then there were the heady sixties and early seventies when “Changing can argue yes, you can argue no. But what you can’t do is blame the HELP RABINA AND RABIN economy that seemed destined to dominate the world. My Japanese friendscurrent state of Nepal entirely on Nepalis. For decades, donor coun- the World” was on the agenda. Largely orthodox conservative governmentswill—I hope—forgive me for observing that their country’s perverse and If you would like to contribute to the medical treatment and rehabilitation care of Rabina and Rabin Regmi, tries and aid agencies have exercised huge, unaccountable influence please send cheque to: Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC) GPO Box 2726 Kathmandu, Nepal. If you in western capitals in the West often weren’t aware of just how radical theirnow heavily discredited political culture allowed all sorts of corrupt and foreign assistance brigades were. Sandalled, dope-smoking, protesting over this country’s polity and economics. It’s time for a little mea culpa want to make a direct bank transfer, please use INSEC’s account at Nepal Arab Bank Ltd savings account damaging development practises to flourish, even as countless crores of yenfrom the aid community. number: 0810010016901 with an email to hippies at home made dedicated aid workers in foreign lands, or at least flowed forth promiscuously. It is, of course, all drying up now as the [email protected]. The names of donors will be published end chickens of corruption and cronyism come home to roost in today’s Japan. of December when the collection is handed over to the children’s father, Bhakta Bahadur Regmi. 666 NATION 29 NOVEMBER - 5 DECEMBER NEPALI 2002 TIMES ECONOMY 29 NOVEMBER - 5 DECEMBER NEPALI 2002 TIMES 777 SOMEWHERE IN NEPAL by PUSKAR BHUSAL BIZ NEWS ECONOMIC SENSE by ARTHA BEED Dabur and Gorkha Brewery honour winners ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Dabur Nepal has honoured three Nepali medal Teething problems Crisis leadership winners from the Asian Games in Busan. ton or London were terribly Bronze medallists in Taekwondo, Ritu Jimee impressed either. To be fair, Rai, Renuka Magar and Deepak Bista were he post-4 October atmos- Who could have imagined the entire Deuba’sHouse ability of to hold the given Rs 25,000 each by Dabur managing Let’s look beyond criticism and pessimism. phere has allowed us to take a elections on schedule was impaired director, Rukma Sumshere Rana, himself a cut a swathe through the files fresh look at our mainstream deputy prime minister.) keen sportsman and the chairman of the South T Representatives would be wallowing byin the irrelevance?sustained scepticism of his he announcement of the decaying quietly in various leaders and ponder our politics. The RPP has a real problem. It Asian Games in Kathmandu in 2000. ministries and government ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ adversaries. He insisted he○○○○○ had Gorkha Brewery, for its part, honoured Nepal’s national under-19 cricket team which playedexpanded brilliantly cabinet by the Let’s face it. We misjudged Girija can’t afford to fully support or oppose endorsed the all-party statement offices. Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur and was the runner-up at the ACC trophy 2002 in Singapore, thus qualifying for the next AsiaT primeCup. minister met with Prasad Koirala’s proposal for a should honestly retire from politics only as a goodwill gesture to the Nepal’s water potential and “broader democratic alliance”. Chand ahead of a stormy party Minister of Education Devi Prasad Ojha and Gorkha Brewery chairman, Mohan Gopal Khetanmixed were reactions. present The major or declare himself party chief for other signatories at a time when the at the ceremony Tuesday where each player received Rs 10,000. political parties are busy criticising related problems has been When the Nepali Congress convention. The four-way leadership Election Commission and security overemphasised over the years. life. Both would be an infringement contest is complicated by party the move, but there are some patriarch first made the plea last of democracy, but nothing in agencies were ready for the polls. sections that believe this could be Now, with the opportunity of year, the most charitable critics president Surya Bahadur Thapa’s The only point where Deuba stood putting a visionary in charge of between can work anymore. longing to ram through a charter the last chance to bring about some dismissed it as going against the Maligned for having offered up for prime ministerial preroga- visible changes. Over the past affairs, perhaps the people can principle of majority rule. Those of amendment and serve a third tive—trying to stay in office for Chim-Chimney look forward to a revamped NEA only critical support to a constitu- consecutive term. Some ex-panchas ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ month, the country’s two leading us who were positive Koirala was tion that two of its leading luminar- another year—brought him down. political parties seem committed that proposes feasible solutions only trying to return to Baluwatar see the current crisis as a rare In the end, the “incompetence” If the Chimney is lit, then winter must be here. The Yak & Yeti’s famous Chimney Restaurant was founded for the pressing situations like ies helped draft, the UML has used opportunity to prove their liberal by the legendary Russian, Boris Lissanovitch and the lighting of the chimney in his restaurantsolely is to something their non-commitment to in time for the Kathmandu SAARC this crisis to its advantage. Madhav label may help erase the Tulsi Giri of a tradition. And who better to light the chimney this year than Mrs Nazarova, wife of thenational Russian interest. They have yet to the shrinking water table in the summit were misled by his record. democratic credentials. Others are trademark. Deuba, however, should Valley. A new study is not Kumar Nepal has shown his party islured by the monopoly on power they ambassador, who did the honours on 24 November. Borstch, anyone? provide any solutions. To be unable When Koirala said his party’s fully committed to the parts of the quit trying to compare himself to to answer questions on why our required. Just turn all the majority in parliament amounted to once enjoyed. The rest don’t want BP Koirala. Even Giri briefly went previous studies into action. basic law it supported from the another split in the most fissile party. country’s largest political parties nothing, who could have imagined to jail with BP before emerging as The professionals in the start. After the Siliguri conclave, theIf you’re not sure whether the RPP is NIA officebearers have never worked towards a viable the entire House of Representa- Maoists dismissed Nepal as the the chief Panchayat ideologue. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ solution together is embarrassing. cabinet are faced with another tives—barring the speaker and his or isn’t part of the government, don’t torchbearer of the Rayamajhi Reds. expect an answer until after the party The second annual general meeting of the Nepal Insurers Association (NIA) has elected KBOur Basnyat inability as to take responsibility challenge—learning governmental deputy —would be wallowing in President for 2002-3. Rajendra Khetan has been nominated President-elect for 2003-4. Mahendra The characterisation was among theconvention. The status of Deputy manifests itself in a strong Nepali processes for making decisions. irrelevance barely halfway through few constants as the UML struggled Shrestha is vice president, S Sishodia secretary and Sailendra Shrestha treasurer for twobrand years of criticismbetween laced with Their journey will definitely hold their tenure? The consistent flip- Prime Minister Badri Prasad Mandal 2002-4. Fourteen of the 18 companies involved in the Nepali insurance sector are associated with the NIA. to fuse its republican ideology with of Nepal Sabhavana Party, too, should pessimism. That particular glass is surprises. Some of them may even flops of a man who built a 50-year Nepal’s realities. When good ol’ always half empty. provide fodder for the Beed’s political career on an image of be clear by then. Keshar Jung began explaining how he The primary issues of the future columns. But at present, steely determination had to have You can get a fair idea of the plotted our political trajectory over Tourists from Mauritius current cabinet are security, the bureaucracy need to realise some explanation. Had Kangresis— irrelevance of the smaller parties from ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ aiding the cabinet through its the last two years, Nepal asserted that initiation of dialogue between thecabinet to effect two significant and the rest of the country—heeded how timid Lila Mani Pokharel’s anti- Nepal could attract thousands of Hindu pilgrims from Mauritius every year by offering concessional air teething stage will only improve a violation of the 1990 covenant by palace speeches sound amid Koirala’s fares in the Kathmandu-Delhi sector, says Mauritius’ ambassador to Nepal, Daneelal Seewoo.Maoists “Nepal and theand government, and changes that will have direct Koirala’s one-man-two-posts one signatory would free the other their standing in the nation’s counsel, we’d be somewhere close and Nepal’s tirades. Mauritius together could sell packages to tourists from around the world,” he said. He addedsetting Nepal election could dates. However, bearings on the economy; a two from their obligations. The also use the “free port system” introduced by Mauritius to trade with African countries. eyes. It would be wise for cabinet to another boisterous winter session The greatest metamorphosis has while these are a priority, the newfound voice for the private comrade hopped off to conferences in government also has to deal with members to also solicit help from of parliament now. been Sher Bahadur Deuba’s. By sector and astronger foundation Colombo and Bangkok to register the issues like the recent increase in independent sources like the Long-time Koirala associates relying almost exclusively on concerning water policy. The country’s presence in the international oil prices. Prime Minister business sector and aid agencies. say he excels in adversity. With Bushies and Blairites, he ended up Room with a view private sector has always felt democratic community. Upbraiding ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ It’s time for everyone to pitch Lokendra Bahadur Chand has a neglected. Now the cabinet can leading figures of the breakaway KP Sharma Oli for breaching party alienating almost everyone inside Sight seeing of a more leisurely persuasion can be had in Nepal’s first revolving restaurant,tough Kathmandu job. It takes a strong redress this situation and chart a in so the cabinet can deliver. Nepali Congress (Democratic) discipline by seizing the palace’s olive the country. From the silence that Revolving Restaurant and Bar. The imported Australian equipment completes a 360 degree revolution while person to lead a cabinet full of map for the economy. A business either in jail or in disgrace, Koirala branch, Nepal has set new conditions marked his ouster, you get a feeling you enjoy your Chinese meal in air-conditioned comfort. The Bajra Group invested Rs 8 million in the two- successful professionals who are like approach may finally jog should have little problem wooing for joining the government. (He that not many people in Washing- storey restaurant centrally located at Ratna Plaza in New Road. The Bajra Group has invested Rs 8 million in this venture, hoping to attract upwardly mobile professionals and families who want a differentleaders in dining their own right. government machinery, including back the rank and file to rebuild theshould have been less harsh on Oli, experience.The two-storey restaurant seats 70 people and is perched on top of Ratna Plaza,The opposite Beed expects the current the bureaucracy, to aim for quick party. Once he’s reasonably sure the only member of the UML Bishal Bazaar in New Road. resolutions on pending issues. A democracy is back on track, Koiralatriumvirate who hasn’t served as definite yes or no answer should (Readers can post their views or comments at [email protected])

OPINION by PHUDORJI LAMA SHERPA

A nation’sProgram run by SEBS. call A graduate of BudanilkanthaSome Schoolof the debates ruminatesalso focus on the on the tug of a motherland graduatesthat themselves,needs theireducated future plans, and NepalisIt is not difficult more to figure than out why ever before.where returning to Nepal fits in. They must Budhanilkantha graduates are opting to stay balance their personal plans, aspirations, abroad.○○○○○○○○○○○○ But the issue remains:○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ after years of careers, and the tug of a motherland that needs work experience and becoming financially them now more than ever before. The pressure independent, is there any likelihood that these is certainly on. graduates will return? There is a similar trend Returning to Nepal offers no guarantees. among Chinese and Indian students in the Certainly they will develop mixed emotions United States to stay on. So, the brain drain is regarding work and experience frustration due not a phenomenon restricted to Nepal. to the country’s situation, or not earning However, the cumulative impact of our best enough. Yet, there are varying degrees of and brightest not returning is more severe on frustration everywhere. The mark of critical and Nepal. The state invested in their minds, and innovative thinkers is the ability to create the state is not getting much back. And for it topersonal opportunities where none exist, happen, it is clear that the state needs to create rather than relying on the nation to do the conditions so that the young Nepalis will something for them. The measure of a want to return. productive and dignified life is the honest However, Budhanilkantha graduates still mastery over one’s own life. And for this, keep a strong attachment to all things Nepali. Nepal offers plenty of scope. Whether it is a film studies major with dreams When asked what his message to SEBS of producing a movie featuring women’s members in the United States and Australia empowerment, graduates discussing Nepal’s would be, graduate Suman Meher Shrestha, an current situation in a coffee house in Time architect and planner for the Asia-Urban

MIN BAJRACHARYA alumni are presently pursuing careers in Square, organising events promoting Nepali Programme in Patan, replies: “Guys, this is Nepal, but this does not take into account an culture in colleges, or putting together YOUR home! Wake up and realise your hroughout history some of Asia’s greatestpursue careers and eventually settle in these accelerated exodus of students abroad, political transformations have been nations is borne most heavily by Nepal. discussion programs on the insurgency, responsibility towards your country. Your little particularly to the United States. Until the earlydemocracy or monarchy, our students value contribution could make a big change for Tforeign-educated leaders and intellectu- Though foreign remittance is a positive 1990s, the trend for these students after high their precious links to home. national development. There are a lot of career als. They went abroad to study, gained contribution to the economy, the brain drain school was to attend universities affiliated with Visit the Society of Ex-Budhanilkantha prospects in our country too…Your country is international exposure, then chose to heed ultimately is a cost to the state. Have students Tribhuvan University or study abroad in School (SEBS) Students web page calling: come home!” their nation’s call. from Budhanilkantha and other schools England and India. The British government (www.sebsonline.org) and you can see a vibrant Since the 1950s, however, the movement isbecome Arnikos? Are they captivated by the refused to issue work permits to international debate on Nepal. Students who have just (Phudorji Lama Sherpa graduated from in the other direction. Despite the risks dream of freedom and prosperity as Arniko students, ensuring most students returned to arrived in the US sharing experiences, others the Budhanilkantha Class of 1999. He involved, the potential for personal advance- was, lured by a Chinese emperor’s promisesNepal. Then in 1992, Britain terminated its contributing to debates in the Nepali media is currently doing his Bachelors degree ment draws thousands of talented and educatedof a beautiful wife and gold? scholarship packages, and the students were about caste, ethnicity, development and in Asian history at Wesleyan University individuals from developing nations to Europe, A few years ago, a Nepali politician readily accepted by American colleges and politics. Through the website, donations have in the US.) Australia, Canada and the United States. addressed a convention organised by the Societyuniversities which sought talented foreign been raised for Budhanilkantha School and In Nepal, the graduates of Budhanilkanthaof Ex-Budhanilkantha School Students- Northstudents providing scholarships and grants. sponsorship of 147 students in remote School represent the cream of the nation’s America (SEBS-NA) and All Nepalese Associa-Today, up to 40 percent of Budhanilkantha districts for the National Scholarship student crop. Each year the school produces tion (ANA) in Philadelphia. He reprimanded students go the US for higher studies where Harvard and Oxford calibre candidates, as the crowd of mostly Budhanilkantha graduates,there are presently more than 300 indicated by the significant number of studentsproclaiming his utter disgust with the nation’sBudhanilkantha graduates either studying leaving to pursue higher education at top “karnadhars” wasting their talent in a foreign or working. universities in the US and other countries. land. How justifiable was his proclamation? The cost of their decision to migrate, More than half of all Budhanilkantha Unizaba, (10’) Canada, 2001, Sean White Unicycling down a Mexican volcano. Women through the eyes of ‘Numafung’ 4:15 pm Discussion with invited speakers. Voices of the Sierra Tarahumara (52’) 5:30 pm USA, 2001, Robert Brewster/ Felix Gehm Between the World Bank and narcotics traffickers.

(Gracias a la Pachamama) Peru, 2002, Maria Mayer Scurrah Andean rituals on the Peru-Bolivia border. Lama Mani (30’) Nepal, 2002, Tsering Rhitar Sherpa Reviving a Tibetan oral tradition. From Moccasin Square Gardens LUNCH (70’) Numafung (108’) 2:00 pm 6:30 pm (A Beautiful Flower) Canada, 2002, Troy Suzuki Nepal, 2002 Yukon ice hockey players travel 6,000 Christmas Syndrome (25’) Nabin Subba km. Kyrgyzstan, 2000, Evgeny KotlovLimbu woman deals with men and HALL A SUNDAY, 8 DECEMBER Climbers in the city. manners. Daring Divine Peaks (52’) 10:00 am Indian Journeys: Shiva’s MattedA Woman’s Place (58’) 4:00 pm (Kamigami no Za-Sekai Hyakumeizan Locks (50’) 5:10 pm Bhutan, 1994, Marianne Pletscher wo Toru) UK, 2000, Hugh Thompson Bhutanese farmer experiences Japan, 2001, Shunichi Uchida Following the Ganga. Switzerland The finale of a 30-year passion for mountain photography. We Homes’ Chaps (66’) 6:15 pm My Sister and Her Allo Cloth(24’) 5:15 pm EXPERIMENTAL SHORTS Nepal/ India, 2001, Kesang Tseten 11:00 am Old boys and girls go back to school.Nepal, 2001, Bhim Kala Rai Nepal, 2002, Mohan Mainali Bhim Kala Rai tells her family’s story.A Tale Unfolds (7’) HALL A SATURDAY, 7 DECEMBER Families mourn the loss of their men in Taller than the Mountains (23’) Pakistan, 2000, Imran Babur Kalikot. Found on Everest (48’) 10:00 am Pakistan, 2002, Farooq Beg Hunza fort comes alive. USA, 2001, Riley Morton What mountain women of Pakistan As White as Coal (11’)12:30 pm Rescue interrupts the search for Count up to One Hundred (8’) do well. Iran, 2002, Nasser Nasserpour Mallory and Irvine. (Conta Fina al Cento) A boy sells coal to support his family. Women Adventurers: Forbidden Italy, 2001 Frances Paladino/ Maria Assunta Kairini Making of Timeless (26’) Journeys—Alexandra David An artistic statement against child Switzerland, 2001, K-soul Cherix Neel (60’) 6:30 pm abuse. FESTIVAL How to make a film on extreme skiing. 29 NOVEMBER - 5 DECEMBERNEPALI 2002 TIMES 888 Canada, 2000, Christopher Rowley 999 LUNCH Docudrama on the adventuress. In Search of Malana (73”)2:00 pm HALL A THURSDAY, 5 DECEMBER HALL B A Man called Nomad (37’) 12:00 pm India, 1998, Vivek Mohan Ultimate Guide: Iceman (50’) Ski—Everest 2000 (52’)3:30 pm Life in a ‘republic’ in Kullu Valley. 10:00 am China, 2002, Alex Gabbay Tibetan nomad tries to manage the old Slovenia, 2000, Janez Stucin Kilimanjaro: To the Roof of Italy, 2002, Brando Quilici and the new. Davo Karnicar skis down. Africa (42’) The story of the exhumed Iceman. Boots in the Snow (15’)4:30 pm 3:30 pm The Most North 7,000 m Peak (18’) LUNCH USA, 2002, David Breashears In the Forest Hangs a Bridge (39’) (Chakme dar Barf) 11:00 am 12 to 64-year-olds climb Kilimanjaro. Iran, 2002 , Shamsadin Arvand Georgia 2:00 pm Young boy struggles to stay in school.Ganga Ma: A Pilgrimage to the Nicolai Drozdov India, 1999, Sanjay Kak Source (58’) 4:30 pm Georgian alpinists look back at tragedy. A community comes together to build a Rabbit Sitting on a Fence (25’) bridge. Kyrgyzstan, 2000, Evgeny Kotlov USA, 2001, Pepe Ozan They Who Walked Mountains (35’) The Bay of Bengal up to a Himalayan Kyrgyz children follow alpinists. India, 2002, Manju Kak glacier. Himachalis remember trading with Close to the Soil (10’) 11:00 am Dirt (4’) American on Everest (50')5:40 pm Tibet. (Thure Andersson i Rävetofta) USA, 1998, Chel White USA, 1963 A man’s surreal obsession with dirt. Sweden, 2000, China Åhlander The Winter at an Elevation of 3,000 Camera: Lute, Jersted Farmer Andersson buys a tractor. When the Americans first made it. m (62’) 12:15 pm Passage (11’) China, 2001, Leng Shan USA, 2001, Chel White Kathmandu Spirit of Snow (46’)6:50 pm Qiang girl learns tradition in Sichuan’sThe poetic and the terrible in a stylised Kathmandu USA, 2002 mountains. collage. Dave O’Leske Mining the Dark (100’) 3:00 pm The joys of backcountry powder skiing. LUNCH Breeze: Wind in the Park (21’) (Yami wo Haru) HALL B 2:00 pm Japan, 2001, Yukihisa Fujimoto International The Kesar Saga (75’)11:30 am (Breeze: Vento nel Parco) The last mines in Japan close. Italy, 2002, Daniel Ottobre International India, 2002, Iffat Fatima Dhaulagiri Express (42’) 5:00 pm Narrating an ancient Tibetan epic. Seasons in sounds and images. The Stone from the Mountain (38’) Croatia, 2001, Stipe Boziè LUNCH (Stenen fra Bjerget) Reticent Wall (30’) The successful-ish solo attempt on Realm of the Golden Eagle: SummitDenmark, 2002, Asger Thor Croatia, 2000, Stipe Boziè Dhaulagiri’s South Face. Kathmandu—Untold Stories (26’) of Life (50’) 2:00 pm The splendid Scandinavian mountains.Soloing the world’s toughest rock wall. 5:20 pm The Living of Jogimara (38’) (Im Reich des Steinadlers—GipfelsiegGiving thanks to the Nepal, 2002, Alex Gabbay Totenkirchlestwand W (26’) 3:20 pm 6:00 pm des Lebens) Pachamama (15’) Mountain Secrets, lies, and HIV in Kathmandu.Austria, 2000, Michael Schlamberger (Erinnerungen eines frankischen (Jogimaraka Jyundaharu) Species survival in the Alps. 12:15 pm Bergstiegers) Nepal, 2002, Mohan Mainali Numafung (108’)6:15 pm Germany, 1999, Hartwig Erdenkaufer Families mourn the loss of their men in (A Beautiful Flower) The Second Step (26’)3:00 pm Meditations on modern free climbing. Kalikot. Nepal, 2002, Nabin Subba Australia, 2000, Gary Caganoff HALL B Limbu woman deals with men and Australian amputee is determined to manners. Yeti—Hunt for the Wildman (60’) climb. 10:00 am Film Festival UK, 2001, Harry Marshall Film Festival Festivals in Tuojue (26’) China, 2001, Leng Shan Seeking the Bhutanese Migoi. Celebrations in southwest China. Be Happy (22’) 11:10 am The One (22’) 4:10 pm (Kham Zam Yodan) New Zealand, 2000, Chuck Berry India, 2002, Biyot Projna Tripathy 2002 A breathtaking jump off a giant cliff. The fear and pain of a Ladakhi mother. FilmingCrown of the Continent Bakkarwals (38’) are on “alpine documentation”, India, 2002, Rajesh Kaul association has also organised Pastoral nomads of Kashmir tackle the and four are experimental films. odds. nce more, Then there isDhaulagiri Express foyer of the Russian Cultural of documenting Himalayan Film Himalaya ‘94, Film South The afternoon of 7 Decem- Asia ‘97, Film South Asia ‘99, Crown of the Continent (29’) Kathmandu is Centre will be home to an climbing expeditions and events. 12:30 pm ber, the third day of the festival, (Croatia/Nepal, 2001), in which Film South Asia 2001, and hosting the much- renowned climber and film- exhibition of black-and-white Hawley is currently working on USA, 2001, John Grabowska will be devoted to a celebration a comprehensive book on KIMFF 2000. The present HALL A FRIDAY, 6 DECEMBER Glimpses of the world’s highest coastal awaited bi-annual of mountain women with a maker Stipe Boziè records top photographs by Kevin Bubriski, The Living of Jogimara (38’) mountains. Himalayan climbing. festival is being organised with 11:30 am OKathmandu International alpinist Tomaz Humar as he whose picture books include LUNCH special selection of films and a the support of Eco Himal, the (Jogimaraka Jyundaharu) Mountain Film Festival 2002. climbs the stupendous south The Kathmandu Interna- Lecture and Slide Presentation discussion with invited speakers Portraits of Nepal andPower Swiss Development Coopera- 6:00 pm After the enormous success of face of Dhaulagiri solo. tional Mountain Film Festival Filming Holy Mountains Around (Nepali Women as Seen Places of Kathmandu Valley. tion, WWF-Nepal, and the first event two years ago, the The opening film 2002 is organised by Himal the World Through A Man There will also be a display of ICIMOD. Stipe Boziè, mountaineer and organisers have put together an Association, the Patan-based filmmaker exciting exhibition of the best Called Nomad (China/Nepal, books on the Himalaya. non-profit group which seeks feature films and documenta- Numafung). 2002), is a subtle, sensitive Also during the festival, to inform the people of the ries about mountains from The films in this year’s exploration of the changing veteran Reuters mountaineering Himalaya on issues related to around the world. festival range fromJogimaraka world that nomads in Amdo, correspondent Elizabeth Hawley their life and times. The (For more information: There are several things that Jyundaharu (The Living of western Tibet are being forced will be honoured for her 30 years www.himalassociation.org/kimff) make this year’s festival special: it Jogimara, Nepal, 2002), which to adjust to. happens in the International shows the human face of those Although the festival is non- Year of Mountains and Nepal is caught in the crossfire of the competitive, the audience will be also about to mark the 50 Maoist insurgency, through an encouraged throughout the th exploration of the grief of the festival to cast votes for an ‘Audience Award’, which will be anniversary of the first ascent of families of 17 ordinary citizens killed army in Kalikot, and presented at the closing of the Sagarmatha. This year, a total of festival. As part of the festival branded “terrorists”. Tickets available from 1 December at Mandala Book 53 films, documentaries and program, on 4 December the Point, Kantipath, 227711; Suwal Music ‘n Movies, features from 23 countries, will Kilimanjaro: To the Roof of organisers will also host an Lazimpat, 421522; Himalayan Java, Thamel 422519; be screened at the festival from Saraswati Bookstore, Pulchowk, 528017; Africa (USA, 2002) is David international symposium, and Patan Dhoka Kitab Pasal, 548142. 5-8 December, with 15 interna- tional delegates in attendance. Breashears’ latest large format film, which follows a group of The films have been selected Directions in Himalayan people ranging from 12 to 64 from the 108 entries received by Climbing. Speakers will include years of age as they climb up top UK climber Doug Scott, the organisers, Himal Associa- Africa’s tallest mountain. AVAILABLE tion. Of the films, three are Daring Nawang Gombu Bhutia, the Travelling features, two are docudramas, Divine Peaks (Japan, 2001) is a first person to climb Everest WORLDWIDE abroad? Business or pleasure, now you can twice, noted Indian climber and and 48 are documentaries. Of Hi-Vision film about the travel with a free mind... the latter, 10 deal with moun- culmination of photographer author, Harish Kapadia and IN HARD COPY tain peoples, four are on climb- Yoshikazu Shirakawa’s 30-year- Croatian climber Stipe Boziè. ing, five highlight extreme long quest to photograph the On the last day of the adventures, six have nature- world’s 100 most beautiful festival, Stipe Boziè will give a related themes, 11 are anthropo- peaks. lecture and slide show on his logical and travelogues, three are Numafung (Nepal, ongoing project, filming holy about development issues, five 2002) is a feature about how a mountains around the world. young Limbu girl in eastern Throughout the festival, the Nepal deals with life and men.

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Email: [email protected] 101010 WORLD 29 NOVEMBER - 5 DECEMBER NEPALI 2002 TIMES ASIA 29 NOVEMBER - 5 DECEMBER NEPALI 2002 TIMES 111111 OPINION by J BRADFORD DELONGBush plans to increase US aid Tackling e-wastes ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ WASHINGTON - New details about the Millennium Challenge Account TIANJIN - Eight Asian governments met here this week under the (MCA), a major initiative by President Bush to sharply increase US auspices of the Basel Convention on the Transboundary Movement of bilateral aid to poor countries, has drawn mixed reactions among Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal to seek solutions to the growing America’s second gildedNGOs, aid officials, cage and think tanks. While some feel the MCA will Straight- deluge of electrical and electronic wastes—popularly known as “e-wastes”. improve the effectiveness and the amount of US aid, others fear poor “A few decades ago, very few families in wealthier countries and growth. Most of the increase was countries that fail to meet policy conditions will be marginalised. communities owned a personal computer or other electronic devices,” What is worrying is Americansbetween 1973 and 1995,are whennot Eligibility will be determined on 16 criteria in three broad catego- said Executive Director Klaus Töpfer of the United Nations Environment worried about their growingeconomic growth inequality. was slowest since ries according to the White House. These are “ruling justly”, “investing Programme (UNEP). Great Depression. Save for the past in people” and “economic freedom”. Under the scheme, poor countries “Today PCs are becoming widespread in homes and are ubiquitous ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○ talking principle of evaluating a society’s socialhalf-decade, income gains away from that score above the median in the corruption criterion and at least half throughout the business world and in organisations of every kind. The welfare by imagining that you have an the top have been so meagre it’s of the criteria in each of the three categories will be eligible to apply emerging issue of e-wastes needs to be tackled urgently as the produc- equal chance of being poor and rich, it hard to argue people have better for MCA funds, awarded as grants, rather than loans. tion and use of PCs continues to rise dramatically,” he said. is easy to judge that the more equal lives than their parents. The MCA fund for 2004 and 2005 is $5 billion ($1.6 billion and $3.4 A number of Asian countries are generally considered to be the society has better social and economic So why aren’t Americans billion, respectively), in addition to the nearly $10 billion in bilateral aid main importers of e-wastes generated around the world. Importing arrangements. It is then easy to say already provided each year. Beginning in 2006, the administration Thai sex countries can earn significant income from refurbishing used PCs and alarmed by their country’s rising that—so long as redistributive taxes hopes to get $5 billion for MCA each year. An independent body, the disassembling obsolete PCs, monitors, and circuit boards and then income inequality? Part of the reason don’t slow economic growth—when Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), consisting of cabinet-level recovering the gold, copper and other precious metals. may be most Americans don’t inequality rises, the government’s duty officials chaired by the secretary of state will run the MCA. End-of-life PCs as well as printers and other related equipment are recognise what is going on. One poll is to tax the rich and transfer money to made of highly sophisticated blends of metals, plastics and other found that 19 percent of Americans the poor to offset the rise. materials. They also often contain hazardous substances such as lead, think their incomes put them in the (IPS) educatorscadmium and mercury. Workers in e-waste operations may face danger- Yet mainstream politics hasn’t he richest Congressional top 1percent of income distribution, ous working conditions where health, safety and environmental standards called for increasing the income tax. and 20 percent more hope to reach the may be compromised. district in the US is the so- Even at the left, the boldest call is for called “silk-stocking” district of top 1 percent someday. GM debate T the well-off to contribute their “fair ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ The more sex is concealed, the American ideology and culture New York City’s Upper East Side, withshare” for government costs. LUSAKA - The Zambian government banned the import of Genetically (UNEP) teaches the future will be brighter; you more teenagers want to know a per-capita income of $41,151 per Erskine Bowles of North Modified (GM) maize sent by the United States to stave off famine. year. The poorest Congressional can build accomplishments with Carolina (a former chief of staff to Nearly three million people face starvation and need about 600,000 about it. district, a largely Hispanic-immigrant your own hands; individuals should tonnes of grain till March 2003. Government attitude hardened after Hawking arms President Clinton), a Senate ○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ district in Los Angeles, has a per-capita rely on themselves, not the state; Zambian scientists, sent to four western countries to ascertain the ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ menstruation and masturbation. candidate in the recent US elections, income of $6,997 a year. people cross oceans and mountains safety of GM food, returned with the verdict that “there is no evidence In 1993, a World Health NEW DELHI - After 18 years of negotiations to sell advanced Hawk jet was judged bold and foolhardy for CHAYANIT POONYARAT trainers to India, Britain may lose the deal, now worth $600 million, to In 1973 the poorest fifth of for a better life; and preparation and to suggest that GM food is safe or unsafe”. understanding about sexual issues is their first sexual experience at 13. The Organisation (WHO) survey of 35 placing a higher priority on the in BANGKOK competition from the United States. In August, the deal only awaited a industry leads to success. These are Agriculture minister Mundia Sikatana claimed even the World Health ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ more risky, and more likely to lead 1999 Durex Global Sex Survey, America’s families had incomes that federal government paying for sex education projects showed that final cabinet approval according to Defence Minister George not beliefs conducive to social Organisation (WHO) did not have authoritative answers and left n a high school classroom here in young people to have unwanted sponsored by condom manufacturer averaged $13,240 a year (in today’s prescription medicines than on a sex education in schools did not Fernandes. The decision was influenced by British Foreign Secretary democracy. decisions on GM foods to individual countries. Sikatana says introduc- the Thai capital, Nakorn Saniyothin pregnancies, abortions and STDs. Durex, found among the 16 to 22 Jack Straw’s support for India during the military stand-off between India dollars). In 2000 their average incomefurther cut in the highest marginal encourage young people to have sex was the same: $13,320. By contrast, Memories of the west European - ing GM food would risk farmers planting the seed, threaten local takes out a condom packet, tears off Indeed, “I’m not allowed to talk year-old Thais polled, 88 percent said at an earlier age or more frequently. and Pakistan. Straw aggressively pushed the Hawk deal and pledged tax rate. Bowles lost. varieties and create a dependency syndrome on patented seed from I the richest 5 percent of America’s style social democracy after the Great the wrapper and uses a rubber model about sex at home because my parents they were worried about contracting Rather, the survey showed that early spares for British-built assets in India’s armed forces. This supply was Virtually no mainstream the North. African Consumer League (ACL) Regional director, Amadou HIV/AIDS but only 23 percent traditionally sourced from the former Soviet Union, now Russia, in order families in 1973 had an average Depression are dying out. The older Kanoute said biotechnology was penetrating Africa through “the of a penis to show her male students see it as ‘dirty talk’,” says 18-year-old sex education delays the start of not to be caught without critical spares in a military emergency. But income of $149,150, and in 2000 it American politician seems opposed and more enduring—call it the Gilded how to use the prophylactic. Anusorn Sa-ad-iam, echoing what used condoms. sexual activity, reduces sexual to eliminating the estate tax—a backdoor” due to the food crisis. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s BJP government favours diversi- was $254,840. Age—pattern of American ideology, Sometimes, she also shows her many of her generation feel. It has been Last year, HIV/AIDS was the activity among young people and fied defence purchases and is looking towards the US. Washington policy move set to concentrate wealth US State Department spokesperson Richard Boucher, denounced This inequality gave a 2/3 income culture, and political economy is class how female condoms and home two years since the education depart- second leading cause of death among encourages those already sexually recently announced no mandatory congressional approvals would be for no countervailing supply-side Zambia’s decision, saying Zambia was the only country of the five required for arms sales to India less than $40 million, making way for boost to the well-off, while in the reasserting itself. Inequality, it seems, affected in the Southern African region, that had refused the pregnancy kits are used. Nakorn has ment introduced changes that requiredThais aged 15 to 24. Health active to have safer sex. gain. As Clinton’s Assistant to the schools nationwide to offer a more ministry figures also reveal 300 to fast-track sales of essential spares. This is a turnaround from the bans middle it grew by only 10 percent, is as American as apple pie. food.Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe said they would accept GMbeen using non-conventional ways in “I have never told my students and controls imposed after India tested a nuclear device in 1974. President for Economic Policy Gene open, well-rounded program of sexual 350 babies are abandoned due to incomes at the bottom not at all. The maize in milled form to avert the risk of farmers planting it. her 23 years of teaching sex education, not to have sex. Sex education is Sperling once wrote, staff aides who education. However, the ministry unwanted pregnancies each year. most peculiar thing about using frank, informal language and actually not a prohibition of sexual tell Congressmen that estate tax stopped short of offering course Early this year, a row erupted America’s rising inequality is that repeal “...costing tens of billions of slang to get through to the more than relationship. It is to equip our (IPS) (IPS) guidelines and left these programmingwhen the non-government Siam Care so few Americans object. Surely a dollars... will benefit only a few 800 students she teaches at the all-male children with well-rounded knowledge decisions up to individual schools. Organisation published its ‘Hand- thousand families” are answered Suan Kularb school. about sex, to give them more society with a skewed income A survey in 2000 conducted by book for Teenagers’ for children aged “maybe so, but I think I met every Her students also drop by alternatives,” points out Nakorn. “The Nuclear growth distribution is worse off than ○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Kava commotion Nakorn’s office during breaks, to look ‘Thai Rath’, Thailand’s biggest selling 12 years and over, but the education more sex is concealed, the more one in which incomes are one of them at my last fundraiser.” ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) at the books she has or to have a chat newspaper, found that on average, Thaiministry withheld its distribution teenagers want to know.” more equal. A striking increase in income SYDNEY - Pacific islands have launched a counter-offensive to fight youngsters are having sex between the because of “inappropriate” language on announced constructions for two new nuclear plants are expected to inequality was not necessary to (Project Syndicate) controversial European claims over the past year that their much- with her. For her, that the old- commence “soon”, raising concerns from green groups. Currently Following Nobel fashioned approach of using bland, ages of 14 to 18, with some having issues like safe sex, birth control, deliver rapid economic loved and relaxing brew, kava, could be harmful to human health. In Pakistan has two nuclear power plants, the 84-megawatt Karachi Nuclear Prize-winner James November 2001, the European Country Regulatory Authorities placedclinical and scientific language does not (J Bradford DeLong is professor of Power Plant (KANUPP) in Karachi and the 300-megawatt Chashma Buchanan’s utilitarian restrictions on the sale of food supplements and herbal medicines work in reaching out to youngsters in a (IPS) Nuclear Power Plant (CHASNUPP) near Mianwali. PAEC plans to economics at the University of containing kava or kava extracts like kavalactones. Germany, France,country where talk of sex is often taboo. construct the new plants at the two sites—KANUPP-II and CHASNUPP- California at Berkeley, and former II—as part of a national energy strategy where the nuclear option has a Britain, Switzerland, Spain and Italy, as well as the US have bans or “We have to make children feel Assistant US Treasury Secretary.) restricted the sale of kava and other kava-based products. “firm footing”. Environmentalists are afraid the Chashma plant, which will that sex is a common matter, like when Suspecting international pharmaceutical interests may be behind draw water from the Chashma-Jhelum link canal and discharge it into the we talk about our hunger for food, so Ever thought of how Indus River, is a serious potential risk in the event of an accident which the attack on kava, Pacific nations launched a major push this month tothat they feel comfortable in seeking could release radioactivity into some of Pakistan’s most heavily popu- fight the health warning and bans.The Pacific’s once lucrative export counselling on sex-related issues,” says lated and farmed areas. Green groups are particularly perturbed by the trade has fallen by more than 70 percent. secrecy and non-transparency exhibited by PAEC, and demand public COMMENT by THOMAS NAGEL Nakorn Saniyothin, who teaches 11 Kava is the popular name for the plant called piper methysticum. discussions on the need for greater reliance on nuclear energy. Con- Pacific islanders brew the roots and the stem of the plant, which they cerns arise essentially from the fact that PAEC has also been involved in mix with water to make both a ceremonial drink and a recreational th the development of nuclear weapons. Critics doubt the credibility of the Kathmandulooks likeValley from above ? country’s existing nuclear regulatory body. beverage. It is used as a natural medicine to relieve stress, anxiety grade students, most of them around and insomnia. 17 years old. Why is terrorism different? The tactic she recommends is to (IPS) (IPS) “speak the same language as students eople all over the world react with visceral civilian non-combatants in large numbers. Today do and to keep an open mind.” There horror to attacks on civilians by the al-Qaeda, terrorism inspires widespread revulsion, which in is no right or wrong answer when PPalestinian suicide bombers, Basque or turn helps to justify military action against it. It is talking about sex, and every question Chechen separatists, or by IRA militants. There essential to understand that revulsion. needs to be answered, no matter how seems to be a pause in the spate of suicide bombings The core moral idea is a prohibition against private, she insists. and other terrorist acts—if only momentary—perhaps aiming at the death of a harmless person. We are Key to her approach in handling this is a moment to grapple with a fundamental permitted to kill in self-defense and in wartime her class is the realisation that Thai question: What makes terrorist killings any more offensives, but this is an exception to a general and youngsters are trying out sex at earlier worthy of condemnation than other forms of murder? strict requirement of respect for human life. So long as ages these days, and need correct The special opprobrium associated with we are not doing any harm, no one may kill us just information about reproductive health. “terrorism” must be seen as a condemnation of because it would be useful to do so. This minimal Thus, Nakorn teaches students how to means, not ends. Those who condemn terrorist basic respect is owed to every individual, and protect themselves from HIV/AIDS Stop thinking and enjoy a bird’s eye view of the valley from attacks on civilians often also reject the ends the it may not be violated even to achieve valuable and other sexually transmitted diseases attackers are trying to achieve. They think a separate long-term goals. (STDs). 2010 meters above at Adventure Camp & Country Kitchen Basque state, or the withdrawal of US forces from the However some activities, like self-defence or But when she first introduced her LAKURI BHANJYANG, NEPAL Middle East, for example, are not aims anyone should warfare, creates an unavoidable risk of harm to up-front style to the school, teachers pursue, let alone by violent means. innocent parties. In those cases, if the aim is impor- and parents fretted that the lessons But the condemnation does not depend on tant enough, the activity is not morally prohibited would encourage premature sexual The resort is just a mere 45 minutes (15 km) scenic drive towards southeast away from the rejecting the aims of the terrorists. The reaction to the provided due care is taken to minimise the risk of experimentation among students. city (B & B Hospital, Gwarko, Lalitpur). This exclusive property with 15 deluxe mountain safari attacks of 11 September underscores such means are What makes terrorist harm to innocent parties, consistent with the “Children do not need to be taught tents has a cozy restaurant (that serves Chinese, Continental & Nepali Cuisine) and bar, open outrageous whatever the end. A balancing of costs achievement of the aim. We are obliged to avoid or about sex. They would rather be taught roof-top terraced veranda with magnificent view of the mountain ranges of snowy peaks of against benefits cannot be allowed here. killings any more minimise civilian casualties in warfare, even if we about its ethical and moral aspects,” North & North Eastern Himalayas, the breathtaking Bird’s Eye view of the ancient four cities This claim is not as simple as it appears because worthy of know that we cannot avoid them completely. Those says an on-line comment posted on a (Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur & Kirtipur) and enjoys a spectacular sunrise and sunset it does not depend on a general moral principle deaths do not violate the strictest protection of news website here. view. After dusk, shimmering lights below the four cities glow to reveal that you are gazing from forbidding all killing of non-combatants. Similarly, condemnation human life—that we may not aim to kill a But Nakorn believes that a lack of nowhere else but ‘HEAVEN ABOVE’. those who condemn terrorism as beyond the pale are harmless person. Come for picnics or for a weekend over nights stay with family or friends! Just dial our numbers usually not pacifists. They believe in killing soldiers than other forms On the contrary, we aim to avoid such collateral for details and bookings: and bombing munitions depots in times of war, and of murder? deaths. Of course, the victim ends up dead whether that inflicting “collateral damage” on non-combatants is sometimes unavoidable—killed deliberately by a terrorist or regrettably as the side effect of an attack on a and morally permissible. legitimate military target. But in our sense of what we are owed morally by our Mobile Problem ??? But if that is permissible, why is it wrong to aim directly at non-combatantsfellow human beings, there is a huge difference between the two, and the attitudes Remember us ! if killing them will have a good chance of inducing the enemy to cease hostilities,they express toward human life. withdraw from occupied territory, or grant independence? Dying is bad, howeverSo long as it remains an effective means for weak parties to exert pressure on First time in Lalitpur one is killed. So why should a civilian death be acceptable if it occurs as a side-their more powerful enemies, terrorism cannot be expected to disappear. But we under a single roof effect of combat that serves a worthy end, whereas a civilian death that is inflictedshould hope nonetheless that the recognition of its special form of contempt for for repairing & deliberately as a means to the same end is a terrorist outrage? humanity will spread, rather than being lost as a result of its recent successes. selling mobile sets. Tel: 9810-26637, 9810-32785, 418922, ADVENTURE CAMP & COUNTRY KITCHEN The distinction is not universally accepted—certainly not by the major We are Located next to belligerents in World War II. Hiroshima is the most famous example of terror NTC in front of staff college bombing, but both the Allies and the Axis powers deliberately slaughtered Managed by: Hotel Mount Monastery (P) Ltd. Contact: (Project Syndicate) Tel: 547681, 535967 LAKURI BHANJYANG, Nepal e-mail: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Website: www.advcamp.com (Tom Nagel is professor of law and philosophy at New York University) himalgraphics 121212 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS THIS PAGE CONTAINS MATERIAL SELECTED FROM THE NEPALI PRESS strength and political29 NOVEMBER efficiency. But - 5 DECEMBER NEPALI 2002 TIMES HISTORY AND CULTURE 29 NOVEMBER - 5 DECEMBER NEPALI 2002 TIMES 131313 where is such leadership? If attempts are made to impose round table conference of different ENCOUNTERS by MEGH RANJANI RAI Failed states something upon the people nobody ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ political parties and non-political will readily accept it. The people Anga Raj Timilsina’s commentary personalities who have a “clean Back at Sundarijal >22 are supreme. There is no other in Kantipur, 24 November image”. An interim government “A revolution is no joke.” alternative than to seek popular should be formed on the basis of mandate if we work for the people. such a conference and that Mother Nepal Chalphal,24 November Child soldiers are the latest government should negotiate with “Nationalism, democracy and casualties of the Maoist violence the Maoists. Any other step is that has claimed 7,000 lives. We She struggles as she always has, not Excerpts from an interview with Amrit Bohara of the likely to be risky for the king. seem to be moving closer towards economic development are all linked.” CPN (UML) the rank of violence-ridden, failed expecting any help. Will public pressure or a peopleís movement states of Africa. The donor commu- “Mend ways” ○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ help correct the faults in the constitution? nity is afraid Nepal is falling into a ○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○ “Missing” A revolution is no joke. Our party would like to vicious low income, low capital, lowInterview of Senior Advocate ○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○ BP finds solace in a spiritual-religious analysis of his hey say the Grand Hyatt in Mussoorie is a “7-star” hotel. It is solve the current problem through talks and production spiral. One can easily Krishna Prasad Bhandari in Nepal Samacharpatra, predicament, and is relieved that he now understands plush enough for a conference on mountain farming systems. understanding, not through violence. People don’t imagine what will happen if the Deshanter, 24 November 25 November the nature of the obstacles of his “pilgrimage” in jail. THaving slid through the polished lounge, past plastic palm trees revolt through choice. They do so because of economic growth rate of a poor giving a virtual desert ambience, muted lights, and sinking into a bed circumstances, and we don’t want to create such a Seven police officers who had gone Newspapers are finally delivered. BP and Ganesh Man no less bouncier than an Olympic trampoline, I feel a tinge of guilt situation. If people think that is a weakness on our country like Nepal declines to zero. The slogan of a republic seems part, they’re wrong. Knowingly or unknowingly, they A history of failed states around inappropriate when looking at the to the US for training related to Singh discuss the king’s national day speech, and and worry. should not push us towards a revolution. We’ve the world show three factors changenational and international scenario. Border Security, have gone examine the role of Tulsi Giri and Surya Bahadur Thapa. Many Nepalis seem willing to have US military help to wage war, revolted in the past. We can do it again if the need a nation: they are violence, poverty The Maoists should give up this missing. A group of security These pages are from BP’s diary written in English fromwhat happened to our self-reliance, our sincerity and integrity, our arises but a revolution should not be taken lightly. and political instability. These threedemand up. Neither India and officials representing the Royal trademark generosity of spirit? Where are the development pundits? An aware public can help correct weaknesses in elements are responsible for pushingChina are likely to support a call forNepalese Army, the Armed Police his jail cell in Sundarijal. Pages from it are serialised inWhere are the gender experts analysing the desperately more desperate the constitution. In a way, it’s a revolution brought a republic, nor one for an active Force and the Nepal Police had situation of Nepali women, now caught in conflict? about by thought. It creates public opinio. As long Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Congo and this space every fortnight. Afghanistan into “failed state” monarchy. The ruling Bharatiya undertaken the two-month I stand on the podium and look at the sea of faces: government as the party workers and party hierarchy don’t training sponsored by the US understand the party’s stand on the present status. Janata Party (BJP) in India supports officials, scientists, researchers, development workers, diplomats. government. Upon its completion, situation, the public’s reaction will remain normal. Nepal’s downfall has been the Nepali monarchy, but not an We are here to discuss marginal farmers. I feel dizzy with the sheer We are concentrating on strengthening our organi- active one. the officers returned home minus Congress. I have started writing the history of the NC. It may take poverty. In the last few decades we ten from the Nepal Police 19 February, 1977 more than a month. It may even take three months. Autobiographyenormity of the challenge. The sterile developmentese suddenly sounds sation and thought. If the situation does not may take another two months. Then I have got to write short articles have failed to attain a necessary Sundarijal irrelevant. I sound like the mad monk, as I talk of conflict that pushes improve with time and the peoples’ rights are contingent. Police in the US have on Nepal’s politics. Then I am thinking of writing a novel on the growth rate of 5 percent. The future I am in a very good mood today. Primarily, this mood was the marginalised even more to the periphery. violated, we won’t keep silent. We will mobilise located three “missing” police sociopolitical situation as it obtained on the eve of the 1950 will almost certainly see an induced in me by my realisation that I am engaged in some our party workers to make our point of view clear. revolution and thereafter. Therefore, I am not in a hurry. We know the definitions, of course: someone or something on the officers who were deported. A kind of a great spiritual-religious undertaking, and any undertak- But one has to be careful as a revolution is not intensification of the conflict search is on for the rest of the periphery, someone debarred from receiving benefits commensurate to something you play with. It can have serious and between the security forces and the ing that invites total dedication to the point of death is a absconders. spiritual undertaking and that in such work …all kinds of their status. In the case of land, we could simply understand it as “not frightening consequences. Maoists. Nepalis killing fellow frustrating encounters a man has to face. I am doing the same. fertile enough for profitable farming”. Nepalis could escalate into a civil My mental weakness that used to assail me, despair that 20used toFebruary Aspects of marginality in mountain areas are marked by poor What is the partyís view on a constituent assembly? war that traps us in a circle of grip me, they are all evidence of obstacles to the spiritual We are not against the word “constituent assembly”. Historically speaking,violence. the Nepal Similarly, the political progress. Buddhism speaks of the temptations of mara, theseSundarijal inaccessibility, degraded environments and exploitation of natural communist party was the first to raise the issue of a constituent assembly. A con- assaults of mara are conquered in the mind, or you cannotToday, after a lapse of four days we got the two papers that areresources such as forests, stituent assembly is one of many processes involved in framing a constitution.ambition We of the king and the PM or PA? accomplish any great undertaking. When this realisation supplieddawned to us. We read with interest the king’s speech on the ○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○ population growth and formed this constitution through a specific process because after the fall ofselfishness the Rana and of political parties upon me yesterday I felt relieved and became normal. Mentaloccasion of the National Day. He didn’t come to Kathmandu from are proof enough that Nepal has Ghatna Ra Bichar, 27 November torture that this segregated incarnation is inflicting on meDhankuta which for the occasion, effectively downgrading the importancefragile mountain eco- regime the constitution that was formed did not protect the rights the people had systems. Within all this, fought for. At that time it was an interim constitution. The situation is differentalready now. fallen into a period of sometimes makes me sink into the darkened depth of despairof the is day. The usual practice was that the king took the salute from the military detachments, students, youth and others and reviewed After the 1990 people’s movement, a new constitution was formed based onunprecedented the political instability. a part of the suffering which I must undergo to fulfil the great the women are “doubly The expansion of the cabinet is objective—which is about a spiritual objective—that I havetableaux set and floats. Guns would boom in celebration of themarginalised” day. But by social understanding of various revolutionary powers. Apart from some rigidity, it upholds this year no such function took place. The king made his statement said to have been on the before me. Now I understand the nature of obstacles to the discrimination and the fundamental rights of the people. We don’t feel this constitution is old and worn recommendation of the prime progress of a pilgrimage which I am set upon. before a gathering in Dhankuta. His speech appears to be some kind despite the last 12 years and we shouldn’t think in this manner. At this time, I think it increasing workload. minister, but our sources say his I washed some clothes and bathed. Didn’t massage myof bodya reply to our stand—ie, to the statement that I made on arrival is meaningless to dump the constitution and talk about a constituent assembly. here—whose main theme was that nationalism in today’s contextToday, they are nominees were, in fact, totally with oil, which has become my practice before bath sincecouldn’t I came be divorced from democracy. The king reiterates this The Maoists say a constituent assembly and an interim government are solutions ignored. Prime Minister here. Bathed in plain water under a running tap. I think Iposition am of ours, but adds that his system is a democratic system.“triple marginalised” by a taking a bath today after 4 or 5 days. Sushila will pucker Theher main point in my statement was that if nationalism can’tconflict be that is making to the present crisis. What do you think? Pro-public Lokendra Bahadur Chand had nose when she hears this. She used to force me to take regular At this point, it is inappropriate to talk about a constituent assembly. I’ve already○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ forwarded four names from his sustained without democracy, so also democracy can’t be sustainedlife of a mountain woman bath and change clothes everyday. Here I do whatever pleaseswithout speedy economic development with socialistic orientation. made this clear. So let’s leave it at that. People are repeating themselves Mahesworlike parrots Sharma, Op-ed piece own party, the Rastriya me, but I always remember Sushila. I keep gazing on a photo of in Nepal even more without understanding the circumstances. First, they have to be clear on why we The king also put emphasis on development without, of course, in Aparanha, 22 November Prajatantra Party (RPP), on the her which I have pasted on the cover of this diary. She issuggesting so full that the development should have egalitarian orienta-difficult. Besides the need a constituent assembly. If the reasons are to strengthen parliamentary democ- morning of 18 November. None of life even in this tiny and slightly overexposed photo thattion. her Giri (PM)’s [Tulsi Giri’s] speech on the occasion appearedincreased to be hardships and racy and the present constitution, or if we require an interim government to hold eyes seem to speak to me. Sometimes I think through the play There are murmurs that certain of them were included in the a laboured performance—a little difficult, the language verylack heavy of food, there is polls, then we should think about it. But if the demand for a constituent assembly is of light, she looks sad, sometimes a little aged, and gloomy,which is not the character of his language and style. An interestingbereavement, families people have deigned to join the cabinet expansion announced and sometimes a little down, but most of the time she is part of a workplan to dump the present constitution and system, then we are not in development seems to be the reference of Surya Bahadur tornThapa asunder and agreement. government, but only if the king later the same day. Sources close delicately smiling, just a suspicion of a smile that lights upwho her is now all out in support of this system and of the leadership of to Chand named the four as Jog whole countenance. Every time I become sentimental tothe look king. at In my considered opinion he was India’s agent whenmigration he was isolating her corrects his mistakes. In this rather the picture and sometimes my eyes moisten with emotion. If transparent drama, these people Meher Shrestha, Dipak Bohora, PM and quite sometime afterwards too. It seems he has changedand forcing his her to fend But these national and interna- only she could know this—know how deeply in love I am. loyaltyI hope from India to the king. Perhaps he is in the Q—one foramong herself. From only publicly refute any political Prem Bahadur Bhandari and and pray she is all right and is not over-worried on my score. tional trends seem to have given many candidates angling for king’s favour to replace Giri. “worrying about” ambition but privately are lining up Ram Krishna Acharya. We again asked the major to tell the people responsible for both the right and the left the GM thinks that the speech of the king refers to our stand, and is a cushy chair in the cabinet. Their At present, the prime providing for her family, impression that they use it to push detaining us here—the major pleads his lack of authority—toin preparation of the ground for a dialogue with us. I am not so mistakes during the last 12 years arrange for interviews. GM wants to know what happened to his she has now become sole provider. She is not just a contributor of their agenda. The Maoist and pro- minister functions more like a hopeful. GM says that he was not hopeful of the late king’s labourpositive to mountain farming systems, she is the only one left to take were responsible for the nation’s personal assistant. His main daughter who will have to go to Darjeeling for her studies.response, The in the present situation which is not very favourable for palace forces must mend their ways major, as usual, promises to convey our insistence on regular care of the young and the elderly. present state of affairs. But instead responsibility is to implement the king, he is hopeful of a favourable response from the king. I for the sake of the nation and interviews to the higher authorities. am not so sure. of correcting their own mistakes, decisions made somewhere else. Impacted male migration has cleared the villages of able-bodied initiate reconciliation. Both the Today the idea of a hunger strike for some basic right of Read for some time, wrote a few pages. I am totally dissatisfied they now want the king to He was told about the expansion men. Male migration left women to manage the best they could, but Maoists and palace want a decisive prisoners is agitating my mind. Every time when I am arrestedwith the in quality of my writing. I am writing a history of the NC and I correct his! in his own cabinet only a few Nepal I have to fast for a certain right. I fasted for two days the hope remained that the household family income would be war, which is not good for the seem to wander over wider fields in a rambling fashion rathersupported than by remittances. Today, men are migrating to get away from Aren’t these leaders responsible country. minutes prior to the official during Mohan SS’s [Mohan Sumshere Rana] time and forconcentrate 13 on the central points and progressive development and announcement. Prime Minister days in Mahendra’s time. Perhaps I will have to go on hungerclarification of the ideals and objectives of NC in course of forcedits recruitment by the insurgents, or to escape the security forces. for forcing the king to make the It’s not feasible to have a strike in Birendra’s time also. I am not in a hurry, but the idea is royal move of 4 October? All His Chand has been deprived of all history. NC has developed both organisationally and ideologicallyThey haven’t migrated for jobs, they have run for their lives. Women constituent assembly immediately, constantly in my mind today. Since it may be the end ofas me, it progressedI meeting one challenge after another in theare forced to take over the men’s chores as well: ploughing fields, Majesty did was to try to rescue the his decision-making powers—he don’t want to undertake it light-heartedly. Moveover, I have to but if the new constitution is changing situation of the country. QUOTE OF THE WEEK country from total disaster. Nothing cannot even transfer or grant finish writing my autobiography and the history of the Nepali maintaining irrigation canals, protecting community forests, and endorsed simultaneously by the king Got a penholder from the market for which permission was stands in the way of these leaders if promotions to civil servant. His selling produce. and the people then it will not be granted. I am writing this with the new pen. Bureaucracy had a hand in the failure of democracy. they submit to the electoral process rights are confined to posting And the conflict restricts development aid that was targeted at disadvantageous for Nepal. The way after restoring peace in the country. non-officer level civil servants. making womens’ lives better: capacity building, empowerment, micro- out for the present crisis is to call a — Sri Kant Regmi, former secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office who resigned in protest For this they must show their credit and, as last resort, food for work. Mother Nepal is struggling as of Bimal Koirala’s appointment as the chief secretary.Ghatna Ra Bichar , 27 November she always has against overwhelming odds, not expecting any help.

Unity in diversity The Ranas of Nepal Limited Edition Hari Roka inKantipur, 23 November Please book your copy soon Ang Kaji Sherpa has never been a mountaineer despite his heritage. A resident of Solukhumbu, he returned home with a pension after 18 years of teaching at Exclusive Distributor Gorkha High School in Hong Kong. While on a walk in the hills of Everest Book Shop Solukhumbu, I had the opportunity to talk to him and ask his opinion on our nation’s education policy. His clear answer was: “Education in our country was Baber Mahal Revisited never based on what is needed and relevant for Nepalis. Our education was not Phone: 253337 linked to our environment and did not teach us about our local resources. This is email: [email protected] why bikas did not match our needs, and we lagged behind.” Ang Kaji is a wise man. We don’t know what binds us together or what can tear us apart. Centuries after the unification of Nepal, we still lack cohesiveness. People are still ignorant about cultural and communal hegemony, which continues to oppress those from other castes and classes. Years ago, long before EASY TIMES the Maoist’s launched their “People’s War”, my friend Lokbandhu questioned It’s never been easier to the lack of positive changes after 1990. He thought the concerns of the minori- subscribe to “If we go round and round at this spot, I am sure we’ll end up shaking hands someday.” ties, people belonging to different religions, speaking different languages and practising different customs, should be addressed. National unity in its truest sense has yet to materialise. Now, do we wait for an “final Nepali Times. solution” as the Maoists want, or do we take “progressive steps” to resolve these problems? Just dial this number and Nepal Samacharpatra, 27 November leave your address. 543333 tour in the hope of improving their game. However, they soon found they were not earning enough to spend an average of five times more sustain their expenses between 141414 CITY 29 NOVEMBER - 5 DECEMBERNEPALI 2002 TIMES SPORTS per capita than back-packer travellers.tournaments29 NOVEMBER and returned to - Nepal. 5 DECEMBER NEPALI 2002 TIMES 151515 Chakravarti is all praise for the Here, they are so busy coaching BOOKWORM Himalayan Golf Course in Pokhara. at the Royal Nepal Golf Club that “This is a breathtaking course, the they find little time for practice. It is Challenging Untouchability: Dalit Initiative and Experience from Karnataka natural beauty is stupendous,” he says.difficult to afford a caddy, and golf Simon R Charsley and GK Karnath eds. Nepali pros themselves admit thatequipment is expensive. While Sage Publications India, 1998 Nepal has not met its mark in golf. foreign professionals change their golf Rs 472 Holes in the Himalaya Deepak Acharya, 27, started playing set each year, Nagarkoti has been This volume is an important effort to understand the paradoxical situation of the Dalits and golf at age five. He is passionate aboutusing his current set for eight years. to capture grassroot realities. Contributors describe the status of rural untouchable castes and the sport and feels lucky that he was Suman Sachdev, director of Le Jatra Ma Music Jam: Acoustic sounds by The Strings, 29 November. Win beers and study their efforts at challenging daily humiliations, the vitality of Dalit movements and their able to turn his hobby into a free tickets to 1974 AD concert, at Jatra Restaurant & Bar, Chaksibari, Thamel. Contact 211010 contribution to Indian society. Meridien Kathmandu’s Gokarna profession. He has played on the Forest Golf Resort says this high Indian tour and qualified for the profile sports event puts “Nepal on ABOUT TOWN Dalits and the democratic revolution: Dr Ambedkar and the Dalit movement World Cup, competing against top the golfing map” and the tremendous in colonial India FESTIVALS AND EXHIBITIONS players from all over the world like response to the Surya Nepal Masters In Search Towards Freedom: Painting exhibition by Purnima Yadav at NAFA Art Gallery, Gail Omvedt Constantino Rocca from Italy and is testimony to this. Naxal. 26 November-5 December. Sage Publications, 1994 Alexander Cezka from Germany. “Nepal’s professional golfers French Film Festival organised by Alliance Française of Kathmandu, Rs 448 Like most Nepali professionals, and top amateurs get a chance to dedicated to the portrayal of women in French cinema. 29 November: Omvedt focuses on Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka to trace the history of the however, Acharya cannot making a compete with the region’s best La Vie Revee des Anges (Dream life of Angels) 5PM. 30 November: Dalit movement from the 19 living from it and supplements his players on an international th Venus Beaute (Venus Beauty) 1PM, Le Blue des Villes (The Blue of the century to the death of BR Ambedkar. Her original material is income by coaching. “It is tough to bestandard golf course on their Cities) 3.15 PM, La Dilettante 5.15 PM. 1 December: Haut le Couers based on a modified historical materialism, factoring in gender, class and caste. It concen- a professional in Nepal. People feel home turf. (Chin Up) 1PM, Rien a faire (Nothing to do) 3.15 PM, Love Me 5.15 PM. trates exclusively on the colonial period. golf is too expensive, but when more “This is a huge step forward,” Tickets at French Embassy, Alliance Française or half an hour before people play, the expense decreases,” Sachdev told us. And what a the show at the venue, the Russian Cultural Centre. he adds, “If the tour comes we can Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival 53 films 2002 from Growing up untouchable in India: A Dalit autobigraphy Vasant Moon fantastic way to promote Nepal, raise the standard of golf in Nepal.” too. Says Sachdev: 23 countries. Russian Cultural Centre from 5-8 December. Tickets at Gail Omvedt trans. Vistar Publications, 2001 Taking part in Gokarna are past “Along with a full week of press Mandala Book Point, Kantipath, Suwal Music ‘n Movies, Lazimpat, Saraswati Bookstore, Indian champions, Uttam Singh Pulchowk, and Himal Association, Patan Dhoka. www.himalassociation.org/kimff Rs 400 coverage, these well-known profes- The first of its kind to be published in English, Moon’s autobiography reveals a complex, It’s been a whole week of golfingMundy and Feroze Ali. Leading sionals will take back the word that rich slum culture where Dalits are seen as a community with strong bonds, struggling and Nepali pro, Dipak Thapa Magar is Nepal is a great place to visit.” EVENTSEVENTSEVENTS in Pokhara and Gokarna.also playing with Ramesh Nagarkoti Meditation for the lazy and the inspired: Wayne Amtzis followed by Sunita Mishra striving to shed their sense of inferiority. It includes an account of BR Abdedkar and Dalit conversions to Buddhism. of courses, very few Nepali profession-and Pashupati Sharma. Nagarkoti and performing classical music (vocal) 5-6.30 PM on 29 November.Lymph Free Drainage entry. als, and most importantly, there are Sharma have played on the Indian Class with Joanna Claire. 9-10AM on 27 November, 4 December.Yoga withRs 100.Carolyn SRADDHA BASNYAT biggest golf event of the year, the not enough opportunities.” It is in POKHARA Boch. 8-10 AM on 30 November. Free. Venue for all events: Everest Book House, Baber ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Surya Nepal Masters. This four-day Courtesy: Mandala Book Point, Kantipath, 227711, [email protected] obviously going to take time to Mahal Revisited. 253337. ven in Nepal, young, talented event, that ends 30 November at the cultivate local professionals. One of the Fulbright Alumni Association’s NepalAnnual General Assembly Meeting at USEF Nepal/ CLASSIFIED golfers are stepping up to the Gokarna Forest Golf Resort, is part oforganisers of the Pokhara event, American Centre, Gyaneshwor. 4PM on 4 December. Registration: 3:30 PM on . Confirm by Etee and dazzling us with their the Indian Professional Golf Associa- Shrinivas Baniya of Surya, says the 1 December at [email protected] Give ourselfy theift g of Reflexology ! ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ applying to colleges and grad schools, swing. Eleven professionals took part tion (IPGA) tour. It is also the only group’s main role is to promote Pass the Butler The Sterling Club HAMS presents Eric Idle's comedy at the Britishemail: Embassy buddhasfeet or ring 425-931 learn how to write the application essays to in the fourth annual Surya Nepal easy opportunity for many Nepali Nepali professionals and give them Hall. 7PM from 5-7 December. Tickets: Rs 800 (inludes dinner). Proceeds to the AWON honestly impress the admissions commit- Western Open last weekend in professionals to perform in an an opportunity to compete in an Scholarship Fund. 410583 tees so that your chances of getting international event. international event. Visit Ground ZeroFine wines, designer candles, admissions and financial aid become Pokhara’s scenic Himalayan Golf AWON Holiday Bazaar Gift items, children’s games, food and drink. 10AM-5PM, 7 December.cards, exclusive Nepali paper products, higher. Course which has been described Major Ram Bahadur Gurung, As event managers, Tiger Sports Entry: Rs 50, free for under 12s. Hyatt Regency, Kathmandu. silver jewellery, wooden items, perfumes and more.“The art of crafting the application essays” as one of the most vertical courses chairman of the Himalayan Golf Marketing of India has been helping Summit Christmas Bazaar Textiles, wood carvings, ceramics and barbeque. 4-9PM,13Darbar Marg, opposite Hotel de l’Annapurna A presentation by: Ashutosh Tiwari, a in the world. Course here, gives full credit to Surya handle the tournaments for the last Harvard graduate, and friends. Register at Nepal. “I cannot think of any other December. Free entry. Summit Hotel. 521810 GAA(414-785)before space runsPlace out.: “What it lacks in refinement, it three years. “Hats off to Surya Nepal,” corporate house that has done so Christmas Canapés and Entertainingcooking demonstrations by Chef Thomas KilroyNaked ChefRoom, – breakfast, dinner package GAA Hall, ThamelDate : Sunday, Decem- makes up for in character,” quipped says Joy Chakravarti of Tiger Sports. much for golf development in Nepal,” followed by sumptuous lunch with wine. Rs 850. 10.30 AM on 30 November at program1905, NRs.1440 or US$19 ber 8 one player. Nepali pro, Ramesh “What they are doing is admirable in Kantipath. [email protected]. 225272 Tel: 413628/680006 Nagarkoti, won the Pokhara event. he told us. However, Surya Nepal hadorganising the biggest sporting event in th Time: 11 am-1 pmFee : Rs 500 per Organised by Surya Nepal, the to overcome many hazards and Nepal.” He thinks Nepal should immovable obstacles. “Golf is not Are you Serious about studying in the USA? person (Proceeds will be donated to the tournament aimed to encourage local further entice golf tourists, since they MUSICMUSICMUSIC popular in Nepal,” says Rabi Raj Aryal If so, before you spend thousands of rupees GAA and a charity.) participation while giving Nepali Maya Centre of Performing presents Arts a jam session of the greatsMoksh at(inside of Surya Nepal. “There are a handful Club Hardic). 8PM till late on 29 November. Free entry. Moksh, Sanepa. 528703 professionals some practice before the For insertions ring NT Marketing at 543333-36. Gokarna Forest Golf Resort and the Himalayan Golf Course in Pokhara (top) Live music by Catch 22, Friday nights at the 40,000 ½ ft Bar, Rum Doodle Restaurant, Thamel. 414336

DRINKSDRINKSDRINKS The Coffee Shop Hotel de l’Annapurna for world class coffees from Kenya, Brazil and Colombia. Paddy Foley’s Irish PubLive music on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday nights. 416096.

FOODFOODFOOD Multi Cuisineat Nanglo’s Deli, relocated to Durbar Marg. 224707 Wood fired pizzas, cocktails andat coffee the Roadhouse Café, Thamel. 260187, 426475 The acclaimed director Sam Mendes directs Tom Hanks (Michael Sullivan) and Paul Winter weekend barbeque lunches, poolside at Godavari Village Newman (John Rooney) in Road to Perdition, Resort from 30 November. 560675 a Depression-era crime thriller, basedRoad on a to Perdition A Taste of Africa 7PM till late, 30 November. Dinner and dance: novel by Max Allan Collins. Hanks departs from his usual wholesome roles to play a hit Rs 699 per person. 535290 man for the Irish mob in Chicago who is bent Barbecue at the Terrace, Hyatt Regency Kathmandu. Rs 550 plus on revenge after the death of his beloved taxes. 7PM-10PM. Complimentary entrance to Rox Bar. 491234 wife and son. Expect a lot of good versus evil conflict around the themes of family, loyalty and betrayal. The straightforward GETAWAYSGETAWAYSGETAWAYS storyline is complimented by stunning JAI NEPAL CINEMA The Great Godavari Getawayweekend packages including room with breakfast and dinner,visuals, great direction and acting worthy of 25 percent discount on health club facilities. Godavari Village Resort. 560675 the Oscars. 119 minutes. 12 noon, 3PM, 6PM Telephone booking: 442220 Birdwatching, short hikes, writing30 minutes from Kathmandu at Shivapuri National Park. Online booking Rs 1,850 per person with dinner and breakfast, Rs 925 per child 5-14 years Shivapuri www.jainepal.com Heights Cottage, www.escape2nepal.com. Email: [email protected]

on FM 102.4 For inclusion in the listing send information to [email protected] Mon-Fri 0615-0645World BBC Today Sat 0615-0645BBC Reporting Religion NEPALI WEATHER by NGAMINDRA DAHAL Sun 0615-0645BBC Agenda VIS -28 -11-2002 04:00 GMT The remarkable feature in the satellite pictures we have been following of the subcontinent this week has been Daily 2045-2115g] BBCkfnL ; ]]]]]jf this cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal. It was headed our way, but the westerly jet stream has now Daily 2245-2300g] BBCkfnL ; ]]]]]jf pushed it away rapidly towards Burma. However, looming over the horizon is another couple of frontal systems Sun-Fri 0740- 0800Ps}}}l5g\\\ -/]]]l8of]]] klqsf_ over Iran and Afghanistan. They will bring high fast- moving cloud cover which will quickly pass. The cyclone Sun-Fri 0800- 08308anL8anL8anL -ljifout-ljifout-ljifout cGt/lqmof_cGt/lqmof_cGt/lqmof_ has left some residual moisture which could manifest itself in clouds. Expect lower day temperature, and Sun-Fri 2000- 2030cfhsf s'''/f -;d;fdlos ljifodf ax;_ slightly elevated night temperatures. Sat 0800- 0830zflGt cleofg Sat 1930- 2000cfrf/ ljrf/ -e|||i6frf/lj?4 ;xsfo{_{_{_

KATHMANDU VALLEY Sat 2000- 2030s"6gLlts d~r Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Radio Sagarmatha P.O. Box 6958, Bakhundole, Lalitpur, Nepal Tel: ++977-1-545680, 545681, Fax: ++ 977-1- 530227 22-07 21-07 22-07 20-07 20-06 E-mail: [email protected], www.radiosagarmatha.org/]l8of ] ;u/dfyf 161616 29 NOVEMBER - 5 DECEMBER NEPALI 2002 TIMES Under My Hat by Kunda Dixit Bold and beautiful Drive slow, avoid turnover

here is a guy we know who took his girlfriend Ruth for a test-drive on his new motorcycle. Warning: Look out for garbage falling TWhile zooming downhill from Maharajgunj he from fourth-floor window. hit a pothole at about 90 kmph and Ruth got thrown off the back. So he drove on ruthlessly. Two suspicious objects on the road. As many of us have observed, there are a lot of Call Interpol. other motorcyclists also driving around ruthlessly right here in the nation’s capital where they are a Potholes on road. Swerve to avoid. threat to the life and limb of innocent civilians. The question is: what are the concerned higher-up authorities in the interim council of ministers going to No urinating here 8AM-4PM do about this? on weekdays. Hint: one way to stop this menace is to ask drivers caught speeding to write “I will not drive Sign at airport parking lot. ruthlessly” 25 times on the blackboard. That should do the trick. Disciplined driving needs constant reminders for Bank robbery in progress. Medium- built gentleman and short female drivers through roadside slogans, and here I’m afraid perpetrator both dressed in black we lag far behind a certain neighbouring country running towards getaway car. which has set up large and imaginative billboards Give way. along accident-prone stretches of their roads that read: “This is a highway, not a runway”, “Be gentle Caught using your mobile? with my curves”, “Better late than forever”, “Road Pay baksheesh not exceeding this amount to gets wet when it rains”, “In the land of the lama, officer on duty. don’t be a gama”, or “Drive slow, avoid turnover”. Here in Kathmandu, things haven’t reached that stage yet where we have to write haikus to enforce road Yipee! Someone who knows where to discipline. We should just stick to 10+2 simple easy- cross the street! to-grasp traffic signs like the following:

Look Out: Motorcyclist driving ruthlessly.

Go around Tundikhel three times before you figure out a way to take Enough of this nonsense. Back to work. the correct lane for Tripureswor at Bhadrakali roundabout.

Caution: Fishermen at Tin Kune Aquaculture Farm, don’t create waves.

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