• Chinese Premier's Visit School Strike Shopping Spree Longer lasting freshness, longer lasting smile CONTENTS

Page

Letters

News Notes 4 n iefs 6

Quote Unquote 7 COVER STORY: CRASH AND COLLAPSE The lack of regulations and monitoring has resulted in the systematic breakdown of cooperati ves, which were otherwi se on' The Record 8 mushrooming. Page 16

ZHU RONGJI'S VISIT: Strengthening Friendship 9

JUDICIARY: Mission Learning , 12

ENCOUNTER: Khem Gurung 13

III rd LDC CONFERENCE: Appeal For Global Cooperation 14

OTBALL BAN: Age-Old Problem 22

SCHOOL STRIKE: Vigilante Injustice CONSUMERISM: Shop Till You Drop 24 Despite the justification of most of their demands, pro-Maoist student organization fail to win wide SUppOrl by employing violent means. BOOK REVIEW 26 Page 10

THE BOTTOMLINE 27

FACE TO FACE: Ramesh Nath Joshi 28

INTERVIEW: PASTIME 29 Bharat Mohan Adhik'ary The senior leader of the main op­ position Unified Marxi st Leninisl LEISURE 30 (UML) Adhikary talks about his party's plans to oust the Koiral. government. FORUM: Keshab Prasad Upadhyaya 32 Page 23

SPOTLIGHT/MAY 18,2001 SPOTLIGHT EDITOR'S NOTE THE NATIONAL NEWSMAGAZINE Vol. 20, No.44, May 18, 2001 (Jeslha 5, 2057) I 'Chief Editor And Publisher Madhav Kumar Rimai

Editor Sarita Rimal

Managing Editor he three day official visit of Zhu Rongji, the Premier of the People' Keshab Poudel Republic of China has passed off peacefully. Allhough the Chinese were Associate Editor very careful not to show any kind of aberration in their thinking and Bhagirath 'l';ogi behavior it is reliably reported that the atmosphere of intimacy, bonhomie and camaraderie, so very enviable characteristics of Nepal-China rcla­ Senior Reporter Sanjaya Dhakal ertionscould be felt conspicuously missing. A very influential insider has confided to scribe on condition of anonamity, that the Nepalese side was suffering from Reporter Akshay Sharma invi sible constraints. NO one need be surprised if the various problems vexing the Nepalese Prime Minister had mitigated the exubera nce the visits of Chinese dignitaries Design and Layout to Jyoti Singh Nepal generally generate. But, this need not cause any worry to patriotic Nepalese. Since the establishmenl of diplomatic relationship nearly five decades ago, the Chinese Photographer leaders have treated the institution of monarchy as the main pillar of Nepalese NishchaJ Chapagain nationalism. With the introduction of multi-party democracy, the elected government Art should have been able to share the feeling. But their questionable loyalty, the blatant M.S. Khokna non'perfom,ance, the rampant corruption and the uller absence of morality in the Legsl Advisor politicians in the government, could not have inspired the nation 's friends in the north Advocate Lok Bhakta Rana to reflect any perceptible respect for their hosts. Despite all these factors, the genuine concerns our northern neighbor has exhibited for our over all development and Marketing/Advertisement Sarit Rimal (USA) wellbeing ha.1.lways been a malter of gratification for us. Lf our friends in the South could take a leaf out of our relations with our northern friend and, instead of empty Marketing Madan Kaji Basnet rhetorics, showed some genuine concern and slopped hUrling our economy, with a Navin Kumar Maharjan changed leadership Nepal would make a speedy headway in her economic develop· Madan Raj Poudel ment. Editorial Office • • • GPO Box 7256. Baluwatar. Kathmandu, The proposed three day Bandh by the Leftists has generated a kind of panic amongs. Tel: (977.1) 423127, Fax: (977-1) 417845 majority of citizens in the country. Granted that Bandhs are a very effective ~ Chiel Editors: 435594 E-mail: [email protected] expressing dissatisfaction with the workings of the government or any other organiza­ Internet Add: http://www.nepalnews.com/ tion for that maller. But then it must be fully realized that bandhs become effective only spotlight with people who possess a sense of morality, who feel accountable and who have some Cover Design character. They don' I affect persons who are callous, irresponsible, dishonest and don't Wordscape have any character. We have witnessed hundreds ofbandhs and chakkajams. But they Kamal Pokhari, Ph : 410772, Fax : 432872 have seldom forced the governme nt to mend their manner. If anything, they have hurt Distribution Iheeconomy and disrupted the li ves o[the people. The poorer section of the society have Bazaar International always suffered the hardest. Perhaps, all the country would agree with the sponsors of 228 Sanchaya Kosh Bldg. Kathmandu G.P.O Box 2480, Ph: 222983 Fax : 229437 the bandh that the ineffective government should be replaced. But, whether bandhs e-mail: [email protected] would force the government to step down is much debatable. As such, it would be worthwhile for the sponsors to give second thoughts to the idea of three day bandh. One Printers: Kishor offset Press (P.) Ltd. P.O. Box 4665, Galkopakha, Thamel, should never overlook the possibility orthe boomerang any senseless act may generate .• Kathmandu,Tel: 351 044 (011),351172 (Res.), Fax: 977-1-351172, E-mail: [email protected]

C.D.O. Rcgdl"No 151/039-40 Postal Regd. No 42/057/58 U.S. Library of Congress Madhav Kumar Rimal Catalogue No. 9 I ·905060 Chief Editor& Publ isher

2 SPOTLIGHT/MA Y 18, 200 I LETTERS ______

that said Lord Buddha was an Powerless PM Indian. Such books define Apropos ,your cover watersheds as large bodies of story "Standing Against All water. and potato as cerea l. Odds" (SPOTLIGHT, May G.B. Mali's science book for 11). Prime Minister Girija grade nine (page 85) has a Prasad Koirala is struggling totally erroneous figure for bard to maintain his aUlhor­ refraction by a glass slab. and ity amid growing opposition the text is conceptu all y wrong. from virtually every quaner. But he is such a big man in ed ucat ion that whatever he The main oppOSition party , writes sell s like hot cakes. If ably helped by Nepali Con­ the student's answer book gress dissidents. has done goes to an examiner who has great harm 10 the image and read only Mali. full marks will political presence of Koirala be award ed for that explana­ by rai sing the issue of cor­ ti on: if any other person ex­ ruption. Koi rala, on the other amines it , no marks will be hand, has been meek in hi s give n. The books by Janak response to all the accusa­ Education Materials Ccnter tions made against him. Quite are no better. rn one Nepali true. he is in office, not in book, they could not find the power. But what is the way typescript for some leuers and out? Where does Nepal go blank spaces were left instead. from here? People are eager The crux of the problem is to hear answers to these ques­ blatant negligence and lack of tions. programs and policies. On Ramesl! SI!akya someone's wh i ms, the corrupt Patan practices of the SLC board are percolated lo the grassroots through district the CIAA's letter bomb Lauda Effect Misleading Report level exams at Grade Sand 8. cou ld not explode with enough The Lauda Air scam has A!th ough most of yo ur Then on another's whim, the firepower to dethrone Prime li ed the image of Prime reporls are balanced and per­ SLC exam is to be done away Minister Koirala from Balu­ MinisterGirija Prasad Koirala suasive. the recent one on pri­ wi th. We arc pursuing an un­ watar ("Standin g Against All ("Standing Against All Odds". va te schools entitled "Pan ic heard of policy of privatizing Odds", SPOTLIGHT, May SPOTLIGHT. May 11). The For Nothing" (SPOTLIGHT, education. Even in the Uni ted I I). seasoned politician is finding May 11) was self-contradic­ States, commoo Iy depicted as Why did the constitu­ it hard to sail over the latest tory - as the caption of the the Satan of capitalism and tional body choose to send crisis in hi s life. Quite unlike photo read chaotic si tuati on privatization, the enrolment such letter which. as experts the Tanakpur or the Dhamija - unc onvincing. One should is 14 million in public school claim, does not pose any legal seams, it would nOl be easy not glee over the burning of ( 1990 data), and 4.5 million comp ulsions for him to quit, for Koirala 10 ge t out o f the neighbor's house even if a in private; of the latter, alm ost at such a sensi ti ve political thi s scandal unhurt. He is villain occupies it, because the 4 million are for religious juncture? Surely. if the CIAA caught between the devil and fire ca n engulf the entire compulsions. The best way to did think th at it ought to in­ the deep blue sea - the ne ig hborhood. Is it necessary control private or public vest igate Koiraia, it could Maoists gunning for him from to bring down the quality of school is to hand overthe reins ha ve summ oned him or regis­ lhc junglcs and theopposili on private schools 10 uplift the to th e concerned commu nity. tered a formal case aga in st doing exac tly the same fro m public ones? Have we not al­ Just like the community for­ him. This letter episode only th e streets. read y ex perienced th at with est succeeded , as the common lend s credence to rumors that Jibesl! Singlr the New Education Plan that man understands the impor­ CIAA is not doing its home­ Hanisar nati onali zed best private col­ tance of quality education. work properly. leges like Aseol and destroyed these schools will grow. Kamai Prasad Subedi The Letter Bomb it? Children were taught for Shukra Raj Acharya Lagankhel Contrary toexpectalions, years from Nepalese books Naya Bazar, Kirtipur

SPOTLIGHT/MAY 18,2001 3 •

NEWSNOTES

Talks With Pro-Maoist deployed in the Maoist-affected Students Fail western district of Police arrested two leaders of the Gorkha as part of pro-Maoist student organization, the government plan ANNFSU (Revolutionary), Saturday af­ to develop the dis­ ler four days of talks among the agitating trict as a model un­ tudenl body, officials_ guardians and pri­ der the integrated vate school operators collapsed. Police security and devel­ LOok into custody ANNFSU (Revolution­ opment program ary) leaders Purna Poudel and Raju Nepal (ISDP). A banal ion at the main entrance of the Ministry of of the 800-army per­ Education Saturday afternoon as they were sonnel belonging to coming out of the meeting. The student . Bajrabahari Gan' is organization has call ed a week-long shut­ staying at Khaireni "'-----...... down of nearly 8,000 private and board­ VDC ror the last 20 ------­ ing schools throughoulthc country begin­ days. Chief District Officer or Gorkha. 244. Ir Nepal were allowed duty ning Monday (May 14) LO press their Kashinath Marasini. said Ihe ISDPwould free access into the American market, it demands, including 50 percent reduction help accelerate would mean a reduction in tariff the development projects that ror American imporlers by as high as 21 remain hindered because of the per cent. .. Reduction in tariff would Maoist insurgency. "Royal enhance the competitive edge of the costly Nepal Army and Nepal Police will Nepali garment>. said Pandey. He also be there ror the security of the accused the governmem of not being public and the government staff," sympathetic to the problems being faced he said. The government has by the industry in the wake of Nepal's decided to implement the program preparation 10 join the World Trade Or­ in seven districts, including ganization. Compileclfrom reporls May Gorkha. most arfected by the 13. Maoist in surgency in the first phase with a view to disarming the Future Of 'Gardep rebels. among others. Compilee/ reports. Project' Uncertain Officiating joint director of t Garment Gulmi-Arghakhanchi Rural Develop­ ment Project (GARDEP), Richard. has Entrepreneurs Lobby said the fate of the project remains uncer­ Garment entrepreneurs have lain in the aftermath of violent attacks by requested the Nepalese govern­ suspected Maoist rchels last week. The mentLO strongly urge the govern­ project IS being run under the grant ass is· ment of United Stales to provide lance of the European Union. A group of School students --~. Nepal with the same facililies Ihat Maoist rebels ton.:hed a project vehicle ======'------it has grantcd to some sub-Saharan laSl Tuesday at Chiureni in Rupakot VDC in the fees charged by the private schools, African countries. The US government in Gulmi district. The project staff were promotion of government-run schools, had dismantled tariff and quota barriers going to the site to monitor the project's removal of Sanskrit as Lt compu lsory sub­ for tcxtile and clothing imports from the activities. including so il conservation. ject from the curriculum and compulsory African countries, whose per capila in­ forest nursery, small hydro project and enrolment of the children of government come is below US$ 1.500. "Since Nepal sc hool construction works. The Maoist officials and ministers in public schools. loo has per capita income of less than rebels targeted the EU assistance project Compiled from reporls. _ $1.500. Nepal falls within the criteria set weeks after the European Union issued a by Ihe US government ror removal or ~trong statement saying that it did not Army Being imp0rl barriers:' saId Uday Raj Pandey, support violent activities being carried general secretary of the Garment Asso­ out to overthrow a popularly elected le­ Deployed In Gorkha ciation Ncpal (GAN). Nepal's per capita gitimate government Compileel/rom re­ Royal Nepal Army personnel arc income presently is estimated lO be US$ porls May 13.

SPOTLIGHT/MAY 18,2001 NEWSNOTES

ers. A parliamentary Machhapuchre Not To committee is also Be Opened For Climb­ probing into lhcca~c. The case ha~ been ing riled against Top government officials have de­ Upadhyay a rew days clared that they have no plans to include after the lOP anti-cor­ Mt. Machhapuchhre for expedition at least ruption body sent a in the near future. "Opening up of the questionnaire to Machhapuchhre for mountaineering pur­ Pfllne M i n istcrGirija pose may be a matter of debate but we Pra~ad Koirala in have deddcd nOl to open her up ror moun­ connection with the taineering sports. And this is the wish of Lauda Air deal. Hi­ the public as well," said Minister of State malaya Times May for Cuilure. T ourism and Civil A vialion 9. hadev Gurung, who represents khara. Heclaimed that people want it to remain sacred forever. He also said that Maoists De­ opening up of the peak for mountaineer­ stroy Temples ing may fulfill the whims of some people Maoist rebels and even help promote Nepal's tourism have destroyed two industry, but that will not last for more Bhutanese refugees falll ous temples in than a few years. Gurungs, Lamas. the northern district Thakalis and other communities of Dr. Thapa stressed that Hi s Majesty's of Kalikot recently. A group of nearly 40 Pokhara vall ey and its surrounding areas Government wanted to resolve the refu­ rebels destroyed the hi storic temples of take Machhapuchhre as a sacred pe.k. gee problem as earl y as possible and added Dehang a nd Nuwadck gods in Kothada "Environmental and pollution problems that a ministerial level mecting will be VDC in the district and also set the on arc other factors behind our decision for held in the near future to take stoc k of th e fire. Lnterestingly, a group o f women not opening up the peak for the sporting progress made so far. The Bhutanese min­ Maoist workers have constructed a la~ activities, ,. the minister said. Former tour­ ister has made these remarks al a time trine and a temple of Saraswoti , the god­ ism minister and noted development plan­ when there has been criticism about the dess of learning, :.It a local st:hool in ner Dr. Harka Gurung has been spear­ slow pace of the verification of nearly Ramnakot VDC in the same district. heading acampaign (0 open up the moun­ 100,000 Bhutanese refugees languishing Twelve womcn associated with thc tain for tourists. Dr. Gurung argues that it in refugee camps in eastern Nepal for the Maoist pany volUnlcercd their labor fur I generate employment opportunities last I I years. Compiledfrom reports May five days to complete the work, head­ or the local people and help raise their 10. master of Shisu Kalyan primary school. living standards. Compiled from reports Puran Chaudhari. ~aiJ. Kalltipur Alay May 11. Case Filed Against 10. 'Refugee Verification CIAA Chief Three-Day General A case has been liIed against chief of To Be Expdited' the Commissioner for Investigati on of Strike Called Bhutanese Foreign Minister Jigme Abuse of Authority (CIAA) Surya Nath Six left panies, induding the main Y. Thinley has said that the joint verifica­ Upadhyay for hi s alleged involvement in opposition CPN-UML, have called for a lion process for Bhutanese refugees will corruption. Saroj Kumar Sharma, a resi­ threc-day long nationwide 'general strike' be advanced more effectively. MrThinley dent of Basundhara in Kathmandu. has on May 27, 28 and 29 demanding the made lhis remark at a reception hosted by filed a case at the government-formed resignation of Prim(! Minbtcr Girija Royal Nepalese Ambassador to Bhutan commission to probe into alleged irregu­ Prasad Koirala for his all eged involve­ Dr. Bhekh Bahadur Thapa in Thimpu last larities while paying compe nsation by the ment in the Lauda Air scandal. A meet­ week. According to Ambassador Thapa, Mahakali LITigati on Project. Former wa­ ing of the six left parties took the deci­ Mr. Thinley reiterated his ,government's ter resources secretary Upadhyay was the sio n Tuesday. Meanwhile, a pro-Maoist commitment to resolving the refugee prob­ chair of the project. The petitioner has group, Language and Regional Front lem and stated that Bhutan was willing to claimed that Upadhyay gained undue ben­ coordination committee, Nepal. has promote cooperation in the civil aviation, efits by providing concessions to the Ko­ called aday-Iong 'Nepal-bandh' 0 11 May trade, culture and sports sector with Nepal. rean contractor of the project, among oth- 3 1 against alleged discrimination against national lan guages in the country. Com· piledJrom reports May 9. ~ SPOTLIGHT/MA Y 18,2001 BRIEFS

THE GOVERNMENT IS CONSIDERING INCREASING THE price of electricity by a maximum of 5 per cent annually, a government notice said. The notification that appeared in (he gazette on Monday allows the authorities to hike the price on a semi automatic tariff adjustment (SATA) basis tied with the consumer plice index (CPI) of Nepal Raslra Bank (NRB), the central bank in the country. To this effect, the government has already amended a rule at the Electricity Tariff Fixation Regulation-2050 B. S .. The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has already sent price revision proposal to Electricity Tariff Fixation Commission (ETFC). reports said. The proposal is based 011 the gradual increase of per unit price of electricity. with the increase of capacity of ampere meter installed in each household and fiml.

THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE (PAC) OF THE HOUSE of Represt!lltatives has said it has discovered yet another case of financial irregularity while leasing an aircraft for state-owned Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation. The parliamentary committee is prob· the leasing of a Boeing 757 plane in 1999 with the China South Crown Prince Dipendra Madhyapur-Thimi Airlines. The PAC meeting on Wednesday concluded that the leasing 0 Festival organized by Nepal Tourism Board the plane withollt going through global tender was againslthe interests of the national flag carrier. The deal was made when the UML's Shim AT LEAST SEVEN PEOPLE DIED AND OVER 60 PEOPLE Rawal. held the civil aviation ponfolio. injured when a bus on the way to Syabrubesi in northern district of Rasuwa from Kathmandu fell some 200 feet off the road in Goldhunga FOUR POLICEMEN WERE KILLED WHEN A LANDMINE VOC. 20 km north-west of the capital Thursday. The passenger bus fell laid down by Maoist rebels exploded early Tuesday within the premises off the road when it tried to pass a parked truck in high speed. According of the lIaka Police Post at Chisapani in the western district of Syangja, to police. most of the injured have returned home after treatment Only officials said. According to a spokesman at the Home Ministry. three last week. 21 passengers were killed and nearly SOothers injured in two policemen died on the spot and another succumbed to his injuries later. bus accidents and a separate incident of electrocution Tuesday, reports All 27 policemen under the command of a police inspector were said. returning to the post after spending the night outside. The rebels had earlier warned them to surrender their weapons. The rebels were GARMENT EXPORTS HAVE REGISTERED A NEGATNE suspected to have laid down the landmine when the post was empty. growth rate. send.ing signals of worry among officials and emrepre­ Police in remote areas reportedly seek safety outside the post during the t1eurs. According to the Garment Association of Nepal (GAN), exports night. This is the first incident where policemen have been killed inside to the Unjted States - which absorbs nearly 8S-per cent of the total tjleir own post by a Maoists-triggered explosion. Nepalese garment exports-slumped by more than 5 percent in the first four months of 200 1 as compared to the corresponding period last year. THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM (WFP) HAS AGREED TO In the month of April this year, exports tumbled by 33 percent in provide financial assistanceofRs 568.3 million to supply food to around comparison to the same period last year. During the first four months of 100,000 Bhutanese refugees living in seven refugee camps in eastern 2001. Nepal exponed garments wonh US$ 70.8 million only. The lotal Nepal for the last 11 years. The amount will be spent to procure food exports to the American market in the year 2000 had stood US$ 178 belween July 1,2001 to June 30, 2002. The Nepal govemmeJll A million. "For a sectOr that has enjoyed growth up to 30 percent per also provide US$ 100,000 for the program. WFP Nepal Representa~ annum. the present decline is depressing." said Uday Raj Pandey, Douglas Cason Coutts and Foreign Secretary Narayan Shumsher general secretary ofGAN. Thapa signed an agreement to this effect here Tuesday. The WFP has been providing food assislance for Bhutanese refugees in Nepal since THE GORKHA WELFARE SCHEME (GWS) OFTHE BRITISH 1992. government has opened Shree Primary School in the eastern town of Dharan_ Colonel Mark Dowdle, Commander of the Sritish Gurkhas in PRIME MINISTER GIRUA PRASAD KOIRALA INITIATED Nepal and DireclOroftheGWS recently opened the school. Hesaid that conservation work of the ancient artifacts of the Mayadevi temple as part of the GWS' s continued commitment to community aid. over 60 excavated at Lumbini. the birthplace of Lord Buddha. on the occasion schools have been built so far in Nepal. Hesaid more than l,4f1O students of the Buddha Jayanti Monday. The ancient artifacts excavated al were benefiting directly from the education scheme being implemented Lumbini will be conserved under the first phase. thctempleofMayadevi by the GWS at a cost of Rs 8.9 million each year. A British Embassy - mother of Gautam who later was known as Buddha - will be press release said that in Dharan area alone Rs 5.1 million had been spent restored in the second phase and a market stone will be covered with a during the last five months on community aid, with projects ranging bullet proof glass and a golden roof in the third phase. All three phases from school construction to the construction of a tarmac road. are expected to be completed within the next three years.

DAYS AFTER THE PRESIDENTS OF 30 om OF 75 DISTRICT IMPROVED VARIETIES OF MAIZE. WHEAT AND RAINBOW unjls of the ruling NepaJi Congress issued a statement asking Prime tout fish fingerlings developed in Nepal are quite popularin Bangladesh, Minister Girija Prasad Koirala not to resign under pressure, another 15 Pakistan. Brazil. Papua New Guinea and Thailand. officials said. district presidents of the ruling party have come out in support of the Officials at the Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NARC) said lhey prime minister. In a joint statement issued Wednesday. the Koirala have also developed a package of cultivating baby corn and popcorn and loyalists have asked the premier not to succumb [0 any pressure and artificial insemination for cows and buffaloes. They said NARC has also continue to fulfil his responsibilities toward the nation. people and successfull y developed a technology of impregnating very young cal ves democracy. They have also requested Koirala, who is also party presi­ through balanced fodder. NARC has also drafted a strategy for the next dent, to take decisive steps in time to check undisciplined activities that 10 years in order 10 make its programs more integrated and result­ are gaining ground within the party. oriented. •

6 SPOTLIGHT/MAY 18.2001 QUOTE UNQUOTE

"N either is Bhattaraiji cooperating with me, nor am I expecting his cooperation." Prime Millister Girija Prasad Koirala, ill B udhabar. * * *

"Th e problem oflaw and order is getting linked wilh corruption." Mad/IQv Kumar Nepal, leader of the main oppositioll, alleging corruption • ill arms deal, in Nepal Samacharpatra . , * • * t is the Maoists who have created a situation of confusion among the faction s (w ithin Nepali Congress). And it is during the situation of confusion that conspiracies succeed." Ram Cha,uJra Po"de~ Deputy Prime Minister alld Home Minister, in Hj­ malaya Times. • • * "In d' la an d western countri"es are lryl,ng to prevent the construction of Syaprubesi­ lhe govemmellf, ill Jana Bhawana. Amar Raj Kailli, leader of Nepali Rasuwagadhi road." * * • Congress, saying Koirala is morally Kirtinidhi Bisla,jormer Prime Minis­ boulld to resigllfollowillg c/AA 's lel­ "S'lOo-Nepal relations , help Nepal stand ter. ill HimaJaya Times. te r, ill Punarjagran. * * * slraight without having to bow before others," * * '" HirallyaLaIShresllra, leaderofMarx­ "Dialogue could take place soon," ist Leninisl, ill Nepalipmra. "Th e ClAA does not have the authority.

Padma Ratlla TuladharJ hwnanrights * • * to write such letter to the Prime Minister." activist, making his precjictions aboUT Sltailaja Acharya, former deputy "Even ifonly to keep his promise. Prime th e dialogue beTween the Ma oists Qnd prime minister, in Bim8Isha. Minister Koiral a should resign." • * * Nol.J I hwit

"Eyen some fore"ign fflends have taken up the course designed by us." Gokul Prasad Pokhrel, senior jow·· lIalist alld chief of Nepal Press Illsti­ tute, saying that fh e illSlilUte '5 jour· nalism course has bee" lauded by mall)'. ill Chhalfal. * * •

SPOTLIGHT/MAY 18,2001 7 OFF THE RECORD

Koirala·Nepal Secret proposal with salient features time when the six left parties pertaining lO the terai. announced three-day general Meeting In Public strike. Whether the extended The sight was unbeliev­ OH's Edict standstill will bring any new able, given the political pressure o n the prime minis­ CPN-UML leader K.P. weather and the intensity of ter remains to be seen, but Oli Sharma Oli declared that the name-calling: a jolly Prime seems to be confident that Koirala government would MinisterGirija Prasad Koirala Koirala will quit. Having not last more than twomonths. talking to main opposition come this long in pressing for Oli's edict was issued at a party leader Madhav Kumar the prime ministcr's depar­ Nepal. When Koirala em­ ture. Oli knows that it would braced Nepal, it was in frontaf not be easy for him to go to Public Account Cornmiuce pany workers with Koirala Chairman Subhas Nembang. still in ofll"e. For it s pan. Oli' another imponant player in the Bhattara;: Will KoiraJa feed him' confid ence wil l boost current political wrangle, Al­ its orhis workers. A m though the venue was a recep­ as Bhatlarai has a nair for col­ beneficial arrangeme nt, in­ tion organiLed by Chief Jus­ orful theatrics. When Bhaltarai deed. li ce of the Supreme Court had a dispute with Prime Min­ Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya, the ister Koirala in 1995, he had Real-life Plot meeting of various political declared his willingness lO Madan Krishna Shrestha leaders indicated that it was a move lO Benaras to spend the and Haribansha Acharyo have poli tical function. Whatever rest of his life in peace. Five performed numerous slage differences our politicallead­ years later, Bhattarru wasprime shows on story lines revolving efS have in the streets a nd on minister again. In stead of go­ around fraud. When they en­ ing LO Benaras after resigning caulllcrcd a si milar situation under duress from Koiraia, in real life recently, what do Bhatlarai went lo Bhaisepati. you think their reacti on was? Nobody believes Bhattarai will 01; : Predicting D-day for the Well, wc may have ta wait for start that fast-to-death. He has government Iheirnext show to find out who enough nexibility to change plottcd what against whom . • hi s mind once Koirala appears to agree to hj s terms. Singh-Thapa Alliance At a time when his pro­ posal for national consensus Nepal: Caught with the PM was finding few takers, Ras­ Since the 17 tb. Century" triya Prajatantra Party leader MsnaksJDpns te:Dl.ple has stage, Koirala and Nepal Surya Bahadur Thapa found a been 'Widely venerated becaue oC the belief that showed that they can. after all, serio us listener in Nepal ManakaJDanp Devi Ful.:fills sland together. Sadbh avana Party chief all wishes. Gajendra Narayan Singh. Al­ Today. mswad of the 4 to 5 hour arduous trek. though Singh is yet to make Bhattarai's Mana k a 1]1ana is Do-W any tinal announcement on the accessible in just 10 Drama proposal, Thapa is happy to Dlinuws by Former prime minister have had the chance to explain ManaksD1sna Cable Car. Krishna Prasad Bhattarai de­ hi s views. Those who know clared that he would go On a Singh, however, do not be­ fast-la-death if Prime Minister lieve he would fall forThapa's Every ~assenger Insured Upto Discount Girija Prasad continued in prescription. Instead of going power. For political observ­ straightway to the proposal, ~ilJ1'iJfl'l1 Vivs'--' IV! Lld. NIWII. NlIgpokhari. Kalhmandu. HeoaI. Phone .~890 . _34B2S. 4;l.4IUB ers, that hardly came as news. Singh may want to bring a new Fax: 9n·'''';l.4515 emall c:hIIwanCa:.wIirok.com .lIP_ Stauon 0St..&0Q44

8 SPOTLIGHT/MAY 18.2001 NATIONAL

One ofthe important aspects ofZhu' s ZHU RONGJI'S VISIT visit was that he attended a quiet dinner with constitu ti onal monarch King Birendra. a rare invitation extended by the Strengthening Friendship palace to a visiting head of government. During his meeting with members The Chinese premier breaks with protocol to meet with representing both house of parliament, Premier Zhu held discussions on various different sections of people matters. Interestingly. Zhu became the first visiting prime minister to hold dis­ By KESHAB POUDEL exchange for the controversial Lauda Air cussions with legislators in a group. deal. TheChinese premier's meeting with he full implications of the three­ The opposition Communist Party of the businesscomrnunity was another sig­ T day official visit by Chinese Pre­ Nepal-Unified Marxist and Leninist, nificant feature of his visit. Breaking the 'er Zhu Rongji remain to be see n, but along with Five other communist parties. tradition of making contacts through for­ arrival of the high-ranking Chinese have made every effort to destabilize the mal channels, the Chinese decided to go official at a crucial juncture in Nepal political process by pressuring Koirala their own way. signifies the imporlance given by China to resigr,. "This is a major policy shift in Chi­ 10 its small southern neighbour. For J month before Premier Zhu's nese diplomacy in Nepal. Although the Amid political uncertainly in Nepal, visit, Koirala was busy in the game of Chinese behave in a traditional manner, the Chinese premier conveyed every mes­ political survival. Because of internal they have rai se d their concerns softly sage diplomatically to Nepalese politi­ polilical disturbances, the government with Nepalese officials," said a senior cians and government officials. suffered a lot. official on condition of anonymity." They also expressed concern over the Free Tibet movement in Nepal and urged the government to curb il.'· "China will always remain positive about Nepal's development efrorts, The age-old ties between the two countries will grow stronger," sa id the Chinese premIer. Zhu expressed thcsc cordial scmi­ ments upon his arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport. "1 would also reach oul extensively to friends from various commu nities in Nepal and explore new channels of cooperation in various fields," the Chinese premier said in a statement issued upon his arrival. Nepal will have anuther road link with the Tibet AUlOnomous Region of China wi thin a few years. After the completion of the 19 km Syaprubeshi­ Rasuwa road, Nepal's reliance on the PM Koirala welcoming Premier Rongiji : Wann reception Kodari highway will ease, With this new transport route. trade with China is ex­ After the announcement of the date Although Zhu's visit lasted less than pected to increase by several folds, of the Chinese premier's visit, Nepal 44 hours, its timing bears carries much Apart from witnessing the signing faced several round of political uncer­ significance in many areas such as bilat­ of five major agreements, the Chinese tainty. At one stage, the fate of Prime eral trade. leader discussed bilateral issues with the Minister Girija Prasad Koi~la was cast Unlike previous Chinese leade rs vis­ heads of the state and the government, into doubt when the Commission of In­ iting Nepal, Zhu met with people of dif­ politicians and business leaders. vestigation of Abuse of Authority wrote ferent strata, including members of both The warmth conveyed by the Chi­ a letter seeking clarifications on the houses of parliament and the business nese premier during his visit has added to cabinet's decision to approve foreign community. the cordiality that exists in bilateral ti es .•

SPOTLIGHT/MAY 18,2001 9 SPECIAL REPORT

student organization is putting across its demands has shocked the enti re co untry. "There seems to be a method in their madness," said another pnncipal. FirsL they va ndali zed two privUle schools in the capital on May 8. This was targeted at sending a st rong message 10 school operators of what laid in store for them if their demands were not met. Rupy's International School in Bafal, Kathmandu,andElitc'sCo-Ed in Lammar. Lalitpur. were ravaged and their princi­ pals, both of whom were of Indi an origin. were manhandled by the marauding stu­ dents. The wave of terror that was by these attacks ha s engulfed the entire country and the Pri vate and Boarding Schools Association ofNcpal (PABSON) - the umbrella body of private schools - has already announced that they them- selves will close down schools for three Students in class: No disturbance. please days with the hope that talks would solve the problem soon. The meeting between the govern­ SCHOOL STRIKE ment and the representatives of the stu­ dent organization, held atdiffercnt stages, remained inconclusive. The government Vigilante Injustice added lO the confusion by arresting the union participants from the meeting venue The pro-Maoist student organization takes an arbitrary course by itself on Saturday. Now. the student orga­ vandalizing private schools and closing them down for a week nization has sa id there will be no dialogue until their representatives are freed. "We wanted thi s problem to e By SANJAYA DHAKAL slOpping the exploitation of parents by the through dialogue. But the governme private schools that charge exorbitant fees. actcd very irresponsibly. No dialogue ean ighl thousand private and boarding Even a member of the ruling Nepali Con­ be held unless our co lleagues are freed," E sc hools across the country remained gressand fOfmcreducation minister Arjun said Devendra Parajuli. the chairman of closed for the seco nd day in a rowan Narsing KC had recently said 80 percent the ANNFSU (Revolutionary). Tuesday. May 15. They will remain closed of their the union 's demands arejustified. In this whole episode, the role of the until May 18. if the situation does not 1l1eotherdemands include free school education minister is also being seen as Improve. education, nationalization of private controversial. Even though the educa ti on More than one million school-goers schools, making Sanskrit education op­ sector is gripped by such a crisis , the are being deprived the basic right of edu­ tional and ending the practice of singing minister does not appear serious 10 so lve cation thanks lO the heavy-handed tactics the national anthem in schools. The same it. He was not involved in the dialogue­ employed by the pro·Maoiststudent orga· organization had closed down schools for leaving the job to his subordinates. As nization in pressing for the implementa­ a whole week in mid-December last year. some of the demands could have policy tion of their IS-point demands. too, despite all-round protests. implications, the dialogue ought to have The majority of the demands raised However, the method which the or­ taken place at th e highest level. by the All Nepal National Free Students ganization has used in pressing their de­ Caught between the political game Union (Revolutionary)-the student wing mands ca nnot be justified. "It is simply are the one million-plus students and of underground Maoists - have been terrible. This is no way to press for de­ 75,000 teachers who arc left wondering welcomed as justified by most people. mands. It is madness," said one sc hool about their future , Nobody can disagree with some of principal on condition of anonymity. Many say the current movement by their demands, suc h as the one aimed at The ruthless manner in which the the ultra-leftist students could spell disas-

10 SPOTLIGHT/MAY t8. 2001 SPECIAL REPORT lcr for the private and boarding schools in by the student organization in the name of used by the ANNFSU (Revolutionary). the cou ntry. "There is 110 tcaching-Iearn­ their movement can only se nd terrifying Even tlleCommunist Party of Nepal (Masai) ing environment. No school can function signals to the students and the community_ - another ultra leftist group - has de­ in such an atmosphere." said a principal. The May 8 violence was denounced nounced the violent methods used by them. Some fear that the recent attacks by the by all. As the owners of the two schools The Kantipur daily in its special edi­ "revolutionary studen ts" could force that were ravaged turned out to be from torial on May 15 titled ·'ANNFSU (Revo­ Nepalese parents to send their children to the Indian origin, there was an added lutionary) On Taliban Path" writes - India and abroad for education. angle to the whole episode. The Indian "Along with the nationwide shutting down "Shutting down schools for even a embassy came out with a strong statement of schools, Maoists have obstructed the sing le day intlicts great damage to the raising objection to the terror tactics . GARDEP-run development project in whole nation. In financial terms, losses ·The Embassy is concerned at the Gulmi. They have prepared dress code for worth millions of rupees occur when renewed attempts at attacking Indian na· girls in Dharan, Chitwan and other parts. schools arc forced to close for a week," tionals and their property. It has requested In short, in the name of Maoist movement, said Umesh Shrestha, vice-president of His Majesty's Government of Nepal to they are exhibiting their anti-education. BSON and principal of Little Angel's proVide security and protec- chool. tion to Indian nationals in rr:-~~~~;;ei.:;;;~::;:i;;;;;;;::~~ Despite their shortcom ings, the pri­ Ncpal ard their property. It vate schools have been lauded for impart­ hasseenrnischievousreports ~.2:::~ ing quality education. As the service of giving reasons rationalizing public schools have been deteriorating the unjustiliable attacks on .,.._.~' day by day, thecxistcnce of private schools educational institutions have helped maintain the standard of edu­ which have been patronized cation in the country. by the people of Nepal for History stands testimony to the fact the high quality of educa­ that the nationaJization or schools is not tion they impart to their stu­ the solution. The Nepalese government dents. While every well­ had introdllced a new education plan and meaning person would strive centralized the sector in 1972. But less to improve the teaching stan­ than a decade later in 1980. the govern­ dards in the schools in Nepal, ment opened this sector 10 private partici­ it would be a serious mis­ pants. take to believe that this can The student organization is supported be achieved by vandalizing by the underground Maoists launching a the schools which impart ople's war" demanding that Nepal be good education. The em­ made a republic. Their views on the pri­ bassy hopes that in the inter­ vale sector is anybody's guess. est of the students studying -Meanwhile. Parajuli, in an interview in the educational institu­ with a vernacular weekJy Jana Bhawana tions , violence against the has said that his organization "as of yet" educational institutions will does not want to close down the pri vate not be encouraged," reads and boarding schools for good. "We only the statement by the Em­ want toc1eanse thcm of the present anoma­ bassy. - lies," he said. The statement's com- Village students: Require better attention "We believe that it is the duty of the ingatatimewhenthelndian ------­ government to provide quality education media is portraying Nepal as a hotbed of anti-development and anti-women atti­ to its citizens. Butlhe government is nOI ISl-driven activity and, hence, a potential tudes. The question arises -whether they invcsti ng in education. Rather, it is pur­ secu rity threat 10 India, can have serious are moving in the Tal iban path?" chasing arms and increasing investment ramilications if Icft unattended by the As there is a tremendous publi c pres­ in military. As a result, the public schools concerned authorities. sure on both the government as well as the are in a mess and the parents are forced to Besides, the closure of the schools student organization to solve the problem send their wards to the private schools. coincides with the visit by the Chinese peacefully and without disturbing theaca­ which in turn are [inancially and mentally Premier Zhu Rongji to Nepal. demic environment in the coulllry , one ex.ploiting them. Our movement is aimed Civil society, intellectuals, parents. has to remain hopeful that the sense will at ending these exploitations." he said. teachers, students and media, in general, finally prevail and the current chaotic But the outright vandalism employed have all denounced the violent method situation will cnd soon, •

SPOTLIG HT/MAY 18.2001 11 NATIONAL

Participated by all 22 justices of apex JUDICIARY court, the intera <.: ti on program was aimed at increasing understanding among them. "This program is being organized also in Mission Learning view orthe growing public interest in the work and activities of the Supreme The justices of the Supreme Court sit together at an Court." said Kushi Raj Dahal. secretary of the Judicial Council. interaction program to share their experiences "The role of the judiciary in the present context is very crucial as it needs By KESHAB POUDEL adopt certain uni versa l standards and val­ to prOlect the spi rit of the constitution." ues while deliveri ng their verdict. Chief said Ju stice Laxmnn Prasad Aryal. Where lustice Upadhyaya's remarks contain rel­ has our law gone when children sup­ f a recent public stalement made by evance especially since Nepal's Supreme posed to be at their homes are forced to I the chiefjustice of the SuprcmeCourl Court is in the process of interpreting live in prisonT' is any indication, our legal co mmunity many constitutional malleTS and other Although thejusticcs of the S puts great value on the need to place a issues of nati onal importance. Court joi ntly meet every week. thi s was loca l perspective on universal va lues of The apex court has made many sig­ the first time they decided to share their la w. nificant decisions over the years on con­ experiences in th e format of a two~day "The University of Melbourne has stitutional iss ues, but some of its deci- semina r. in cl uded in it s curriculum, the Nepalese Supreme Court's decision on environ­ ment. which is a malLer of immense sat­ isfaction la us," said Chief Ju Slice Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya, addressing an inter­ action program organized by the Judicial Council for the justices of the Supreme Courl. He described the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990 as one of the best in Asia. "However! wc will not in­ terpret our constitution on the basis of circumstan ces prevailing abroad. We will interpret our constitutjon by observing Durown co ntext and realitie s. Only when we are able to uphold the spirit and val­ ues embodied in the constitution can we truly reflect the people's hopes and aspi­ rations," the chief justice added, Supreme Court: Interpreting constitution "A decade is not a long time in hi story, But in the I 0 years we have had sions are not free from controversy. On "The duty of justices is to keep the thi s constitution, the Supreme Court has some questions. it has departed from the existing constitution alive. The constitu­ made many important rulings in keeping tradition of delivering its verdict in ac­ ti on cannot be amended haphazardly ," with the leller and spirit of the supreme cordance with international standards, said Justice Kedar Nath Upadhyaya. law of the land;' Chief Justice Upadhyaya defining cases within the specific cir­ As our constituti on is still in a pre­ said. cumstances of the country. liminary stage of exercise, it is bound to Constitutionalists argue that there When justices deli ver theirdecisions face many new challenges along the way. arc certain universal practices in inter­ citing the Nepalese context, how will Constitutional governance in Nepal preting the constitution. Constitutional they affect the universal values enshrined stands to gain by fOllowing the experi­ ternlS like freedom, rule of law, adult in the term 'democracy 1? ences and interpretations of other coun­ franchise. accountability;, separation of "We are capable of defining the con­ tries. power. executive. judiciary and legisla­ stitutjon and providingjustjce in keeping [f a constitution that embodies the tive have almost identical connotations with the needs of our society," said Chief universal spirit of democracy is inter­ and interpretations around the world. Justice Upadhyaya in hi s keynote ad­ preted in accordance with Nepalese re­ Supreme Courts around the world dress. alities. where would that lead us'? •

12 SPOTLIGHT/MAY 18,2001 MUSIC

lege but could not complete his educa­ KHEM RAJ GURUNG tion. By saving some time out of his busy sched ules, GUTung wants to pursue ad­ vance cou rse s in music. Winning Nepali Hearts Gurung is now working on a CD entitled 'An mol' and also producing an A young folk singer from eastern Nepal produces a album with the name 'Soaltee' in which one of his American friends has recorded popular album breaking all records the songs in Nepali language. A versatile singer and composer, GUTung sings with By BHAGIRATH YOGI comc a household name for the Nepali eq ual ease the modern, pop and national music lovers. "I am elated," says Gurung. songs. "My audience have loved me pri­ Not only youth and children, even the marily because of my folk songs. So. my "X Then Khem Raj Gurung left the old people enjoy the song. Whether it next compilation of folk songs will come .,,, college mid-way in eastern is eastern terai or wes tern hills, the song OUl in the form of 'Jeevan- Part 3," said epal and arrived at Kathmandu four has created similar sentiments. "The Gurung. years back, he had gOt little inkling about popularity of the song has proved There have been a number of invita­ the days ahead. An enthusiast of Nepali that Nepali is really a language of tions to GUTung from within the country folk music. he decided to devote his lime nation and also serves as an important and abroad la perform live before the and energy to the discipline he loved the medium for national integration:' said an audience. In one of such performances most-singing. With the help of some of analyst. within the country. the audience hardly his well-wishers and acquaintances, he believed that this young man could sing was able to produce his first album, the folk song with such command and 'Jcevan- Part I' in 1995. ease. He recalls one incident at a .. I did not know people at that time Kmhmandu college when students urged and had to face several difficulties to him not to sing 'Wari lamuna Pari produce my first album," recalls Gurung. Jamuna' fearing that they would turn Afler his album failed to gel good re­ 'flop' while trying to sing the popular sponse in the market. a disappointed song. Gurung even decided la join the British "Though I enjoy Ihe folk songs, sing­ Gurkhas but was rejected. He thcn made ing folk songs is the most challenging up his mind and told himselfthat he would job:' said Gurung . .. Folk songs are what continue singing and compo~ing music, make our identity. Besides Mt. me what may. Sagarmatha. we can introduce our coun­ Three years later. his s,ccond album try abroad by playing madal. murchunga. 'Jccvan- Pan 2' was launched by Music shahanai and flute." Ncpal-a leading music company- in the The success of hiS latest album has markel. Released without any formal cer­ enthused Gurung to work much harder in ernony, people in eastern Nepal were the area of music . .. [don't have any plans first to enjoy the songs in the cassette. to marry right now. First. I want to de­ Within a few months. the cassette and vote fully in the service of Nepali mu­ particularly the folk song 'Wari Jamuna sic," said Gurung. "Moreover, I have Pari Jamuna' had become the most popu- given up the thinking of leaving my coun­ lar song all over the country and beyond. '-____~ .... __ ...... try." Based on local 'Hakpare style' as Gurung: Singing for the masses The songs compiled and sung by pracliced in eastern hilly district of ------­ Gurung have catered to the changing Sankhuwasabha-whcrcGurung was born For Gurung, his much-celebrated tastes of Nepali audience. He may have 27 years back-the song gives a typical success is 110l3n end but only a beginning also inspired a whoiegencralion of young Nepali rural taste to the audience. Though in what would be his long career. Son of Nepali artistcs 10 try their luck. But the other songs in the album are also very a former British Gurkha soldier. Gurung bottom line for Mr. Gurung is hard work. well composed and sung. this very song had a musical environment right from the " [ am a very humble sludent of Nepali was instrumental in pushing the sales of childhood. He used to pen poems, drama, music. I have to learn a 10l," said Gurung. the album to ncarly 100,000 copies in and compile and sing folk songs. After Of course. hc has a long way to go and less than a year- a record in itself. studying up to high school level in his reach new heights. The well wishes of Now, Khem Raj Gurung has be- home district, he enrolled at a local col- Nepali audience arc with him. •

SPOTLIGHT/MAY 18.2001 13 ECONOMY

investment in the social sector and infra­ IIIrd LDC CONFERENCE slruclure development of the LDCs, which are crucial components of poverty allevia­ tion," he added. Appeal For Global Cooperation According to the United Nations, be­ lween the mid-1980s lO the mid-1990s, the As Least Developed Countries seek international support in tOlal debt ofLDCs grew from $70billion to $135 billion. The NGO communilY, 100. their development endeavors, Nepal examines its challenges are lobbying hard lo press the developed countries to waive all the debllo the LDCs. By SANJAYA DHAKAL other sections of civil society have been They have also raised issues related 10 involved in the UN conference preparatory finance and the market. governance and process both at national and international political structure. access to and control of n 1971. when the United Nations iden­ level. natural re so urces and people's empower­ I tified 25 nations as 'Least Developed According to officials, Nepal was pre­ ment. Countrics(LDCs),' Nepal was one oftllem. paring to raise the issue of unrestricted Trade liberalization and rree-market Three decades later, the number of LDCs access to markets in developed countries, policies should benefil and prolectlhe inter­ has risen to 48 and Nepal still retains its increase in official development assistance eSlS of the peoples of LDCs. Openness of membership in the 'poor people 's club.' (OD A), issues relaled lO accession lo lhe markels should not be confined only 10 The48 countries (33 in Africa, nine in World Trade Organizalion (WTO) and ad­ capilal. bUl there should be freer flows of Asia, five in the Pacific and one in the dressing supply-side constraints, bridging informalion. technology and people, said Caribbean) that are destined lO live under lhe digital divide and paying special allen­ lhe Kaliunandu Declaration adopted by a deprivation and underdevelopment share tion la the fale of the landlocked LDCs. meeting of Asian NGO Coordination Com- common constraints in their effortS toward Addressing the meet modernization. in Brussels Monday, the =--."..---::"" With a view to bringing these coun· head of the Nepalesedel­ tries - which house 605 million people egalion, Finance Minis­ (more tllan 10 percenl of the world popula­ ler Dr. Ram Sharan Ma­ tion) - into the development mainstream. hat, urged more favor­ the Uniled Nations agreed in 199710 orga­ ablesuppon from theglo­ nize the third UN conference on the LDCs bal community to the in Brussels lhis year (May 14-20). 111e LDCs in lheir fight ....~ ... conference, which aims at eradicating pov­ against poverty. He asked erty in tlle LDCs through their progressive for duty-free and quola­ integration into the world economy with free market access for all the support of the international commu­ products from LDCs, nity, is expected 10 propose action for the debl relief, and special sustainable development of the LDCs. concessions to land­ "ThoughLDCs in South Asia did quite locked countries and well compared tool her parts of Asia during speedy accession to the the '90s, disparilies between the LDCs and WTO, among olhers. Dr devclopcdcountries have further widened, " Mahat called for cancel­ said Dr. Shanker Shanna, member of Na­ lation of all outstanding tional Planning Commission. "Nepal is debl owed by the LDCs. ahead of other countries in South Asia in "Extemal debt has be­ tenns of opening of trade and investment, cornea severe obstacle to market orientation, involvement of NGOs thedevelopmenlof many in social service delivery and empowering LDCs including Nepal," local bodies." said the finance minister. According to the United Nations, more "Much of the scanty than half of the populati6n in the LDCs resources of LDCs are lives on less than US$ I aday. Globallrade directed toward debt ser­ in creasingly marginalizes theirecol1omies, vicing. Debt cancellation as their share of world expons is 0.4 per­ will release a significant L.._....JL______.J cent. Righl from thc beginning, NGOsand amount of resources for Women workers: All work and less pay

14 SPOTLIGHT/MAY 18,2001 ECONOMY mince that met here last month development pace in the country. Poverty reduction remains a para­ In addition to natural ca lamities, mount challenge for the LDCs even in the Nepal is vulnerable to some of the shocks new century. ''The donor communily and like the Maoist activity, the Bhutanese domestic governments must re-orient their refugeeproblemandHIV/AIDSepidemie. programs for poverty reduction," said Arjun The "people's war" initiated by the under­ Karki, president of Rural Reconstruction ground Maoist group entered has into Nepal (RRN) and member of international sixth year, Armed conflicts have taken a steering committee of LDC Conference heavy toll in terms of human lives and from Asia. property. Violence has flared up in many According to the country report pre­ districts of the country and is spreading. pared by Nepal to be presented in the Similarly, the Bhutanese refugees deported Brussels meet. improvement in the human to Nepal by Bhutanese government in Minister Mahat: Pleading for the country development index of Nepal was most 1990 have posed a potential threat 10 the .. markable among the developing coun- economy of the country, said the report. poverty and reduce regional imba lances s in the 19905. Literacy rate increased Although, the levels ofHIV epidemic significantly over the next decade, the from 40 percent in 1991 to 53 percent in are low, it is spreading into Ihe general country will have to give top priority in 1998. populaticn and the disease is no longer mobilizing its own human and natural Development of physical infrastruc­ confined to "high risk" groups. The num­ resources and use them efficiently to ture has also been observed 10 be signifi­ ber of HIV/AIDS infected persons is esti­ achieve sustainable development. cant in the decade of 1990, said the report. mated to be in between 30 to 60 thousand Said James D. Wolfensohn, Presi­ The IO tal length of road, and the total in Nepal. This figure could reach as high dent of the World Bank, addressing the supply of electricity were increased each as 200,000 in the next ten years. This Brussels meet Monday, "The LDCs by more than I 00 percent in the lastdecade. could create a major social problem in the should clear up the mess (first) that criti­ Similarly. significant improvement has country resulting in higher health expen­ cally dampens the development pros­ been seen in the development of communi­ diture. pects. "Poor governance. weak institu­ cation and other infrastructure faci lities. Thecountry report presented by Nepal tions and conflict still plagues some The economic reform process, also proposes a program of action for Ihe LDCs. hampering their ability to attract adopted in the early nineties, has given next decade (200 1-20 10). It identifies agri­ and effectively use development re­ high imporlance to macroeconomic sta­ culture. private sector development and sources. These counties can certainly bility. Fiscal deficit was reduced from an FD!. trade, industry and tourism, water benefit from advice and technical assis­ average of7. 7 percent of Gross Domestic resources and infrastructure development. tance, but ultimately it Product (GDP) during the pre-liberaliza- social sector development, targeted pro­ is up to them to reform institutions. n period to 5.8 percent in 1999. Mon­ grams and employment general ion. gender implement regulations, combat corrup­ ry expansion was at a desired level and and environment, governance and aid uti­ tion and avoid conllict and political in­ inOation rate especially in the second half lilation, and maintaining law and order as stability. The cost of not acting - both of 1990sdeclined significantly. However, major areas to be addressed during the next human and economic- rise every day." the development expenditure as well as decade. It might be early to become hopeful foreign assistance in the second half of The country report admits that with a regarding the outcome of the UN Confer­ I 990s declined in real terms. Similarly, low level of savings estimated at around ence at the turn of the millennia ... It is efliciency and effectiveness of public ex­ 15 percent of GDP, the country is unable because the LDCs can' t serve well the penditure in health and education are low 10 finance the level of investments neces­ interests orthe developed countries." said and weak, said the report. sary to achieve a desired rate of growth of Dr. Parthibeswor P. Timilsina. professor On the other hand, declining share of output. Similarly, taxable capacity of Ihe of economics 3t the Tribhuvan Univer­ offic ial development assistance, increas­ country and substantial requirement of sity . "Instead for running around for more ing share of loans compared to grams, foreign exchange for amortization require­ international aid, Nepal should adopt increased debt burden. widening tradedefi­ ments together with the current account strong economic policies to ensure judi­ cits, vulnerable export situation. slow pace deticits reveals that external assislance cious use of available resources and in­ of regional cooperation, dismal foreign requirement at 20 I 0 would be at least crease investment. At the same time, we direct investment (FDI) inflows and rise in about $ 736 million. about 167 percent need to mobilize our own manpower for world oil prices have be~n the impedi­ higher in comparison to the roreign assis­ national development." mentS for high and sustainable growth. tance received in 2000. h is high time the Nepalese leader­ Internally, political instability, weak gov­ As Ihe Nepalese government targets ship heeded these wordsofadvice to avoid ernance, limited resource and rise in terror­ to achieve a high and sustainable growth a permanent mcmbcrship in the 'poor ist activities have been the reasons for slow of about 7.5 percent in order to alleviate country's club.' •

SPOTLIGHT/MAY 18,2001 15 COVER STORY COOPERATIVES Crash And Collapse With weak regulations and ineffective monitoring, financial insti­ tutions, particularly cooperatives, are collapsing one after another, creating panic among the people. Operators of over half a dozen cooperatives have closed shop and fled with depositors' money. The government does not have laws to recover money from th promoters. Until officials come out with a strong regulatory an monitoring system, more promoters could escape with the hard­ earned money of poor and vulnerable people

By KESHAB POUDEL Devastated by the di sclosure, promoters. Dcsperate to get back their Sapkota, along with some other deposi­ moncy, some depositors are making their tors, rushed to the office of cooperati ve own efforts to get hold of the hill/sell Sapkora, 38, a vegetable hoping that they might be able 10 catch culprits. Depositors at Peace Nepal Mul­ vendor at KOleshwor, never someone. Others ru shed to the Koteshwor tiple Cooperative at Samakhusi have a imagined that the promoters of police station 10 file complaints. By the similar tale to tcll. Some of the promoters fhe cooperafire where he had time Sapkota finally registered his com­ ned last week, taking away more than Rs Bdepos;led R s. 75.000 (US$ 100) wOllld plaint, the promoters must have had more 25 million in deposits. Although, in this l'cmish one fille morning. Olllhe aftemooll than enough time to vani sh without a case. the depositors found out about the oJMay 10. 2001. Sapko/Q gOllilebad lIews. trace. Angered by the deceit, some de­ disappearance of one of the prol11Olers RI/II/ors that the prollloter/ofrlle coopera­ positors manhandled the cmployeesofthe within hours, it was still toO late to seize rf\'e hadfled, raking along more thall Rs 4 cooperative and ransacked the office build- the culpril. million belonging to 200 depositors il/­ ing. Soon ancr thc closure of its head cll/ding local vendors, laborers Clnd shop­ Despite the public pressure. po~ce omce, a branch ofllce o r Peace Nepal keepers, spread like wildfire. are yet to arrest any of the cooperati ve' s Multiple Cooperative closed down in the

16 SPOTLlGHTIM4 Y l.IL'mJ =

COVER STORY

formulating laws to check the misuse of the cooperatives and finance companies that have mushroomed in the capital and other cities of the country over the past decade. Some believe that those who let these people open shop in the first place should be held accountable and punished. ··The government has to arrest those who issued the license to the cooperatives, because they are solely responsible for observing the perfonnance of the cooperatives, "says a lawyer. S ut officials of the Department of Cooperatives have their own grievances to share. "When we try 10 delay the regis­ tration ofacooperative, the promoters file acase incoUrl seeking immediate action ." says the registrar of the department. '"We don't have the authority to punish those who misuse the money of depositors," he adds. Department olTicials fear that the situ­ ation is going tu gCl worse in thc days ahead when mo~t deposits begin 10 ma­ ture and the cooperatives have to return the money la the owners. Most of the coopcrativcs have collected savings on promises of doubling the principal in five years and others pledge annual interest rates as high as 24 percent. As the demand for loans is compara­ tively low, the cooperalives are barely in a position to return the original deposits. Because offrcqucnl strike" and shutdowns and lingering political instability. even small borrowcrs arc unable to pay back their loans. Cooperali ves collcct money every day but they do not have places to invest it. In these circumstances. it is difficult to un­ derstand how they expect to pay the de­ positors the high interest rales thcy have headquarters ofLamjung district in west­ invested in different sectors of the promised. Against such odds. many coop­ ern Nepal, taking away Rs 1.1 million. economy. However, news of cooperative erative promoters find an easy exit in The branch office collected deposits of Rs promoters running away with huge vanishing with the money they have. 2.2 million and had invested Rs1.1 mil­ amounts of deposits has been coming out ;;Over the ncx t lwo or three years, we lion. Twenty-three depositors liled a writ­ regularly. No one knows how many cul­ will sce many more promoters doing the len complaint with the chief district offic­ prits have been caught and SCnI to jailor vanishing act:' says an official at the ers, the Kathmandu district police and the how many depositors have been able to Department of Cooperatives. 'The de­ government's Department of Coopera­ recover their money. partment must have certain regulatory tives demanding urgent action. Worse, few have a clue about the powers to check the misuse of public There is no record of how much nature of the charges that should be framed money." money cooperatives have deposited uver even if the promoters are arrested. The Although cooperatives in the agricul­ the last ten years and how much they have government is yet (0 show seriousness in ture and dairy sector are performing quite

SPOTLIGHT/MAY 18.2001 17 COVER STORY well, the major problems ari se with the ern ing cases like fraud roughly 1,500 coo peratives that are in­ and cheatin g. volved in banking transaction s. There is ano th er The law does not allow cooperati ves import ant di st in ction. to open branch offices, but many are Corporate cri me is dif­ doing just that. A branch office of an­ ferent than individual oth er cooperative recently closed down crime. It is very compli­ in Biratnaga r. taking away Rs. 2 million cated in nature. Deposits ill deposits. Despite this brazen violati on were mad e in trust of of the law. no onc seems to have shown promoters but not em­ the initiative to act agai nst suc h promot­ ployees. So for any kind ers. of misuse of money, the Established four years ago. the coop­ cooperati ve soc iety erati ve in KOleshwor collec ted savings should be held accounl­ from th e vegetable vendors. shoe mend­ able. When the transac­ ers and waged laborers who deposited tion is made between the their daily saving ranging from Rs 25 (33 cooperati ves and indi ­ cents) to Rs 300 ($4). For Sapkota. it look vidual s, the promoters morc than two years to save Rs 75.000. should be penalized. A "God saved me because I had withdrawn cooperati ve is a legal Rs 50.000 just the prev ious day:' said entity and has to take Sapkola. "We have filed a complaint un­ act ion against empl oy­ der Ihe charges of fraud at the police ees for any mi sappro­ stall On. priation. Legal ambiguities ha ve complicated Legal Tangle recovery efforts. Loan is considered as a A cooperali ve is an Vegetable vendor: Gripped by financial insecurity civil liability and is not a crime. Cheating institution not an indi­ and default are different crimes. If there is viduaJ. "Pol ice register cases under fraud Cooperatives arc authorized to ac­ a crim inal part. then police can file a case charges because it is difficult to regi ster cumulate sav ing s and distribute crcdit in under criminal fraud. Because of Ihe lack them und er the cooperati ve crim e," says a small areas. As soon as cooperatives re­ of appropriate laws. police file almost all government attorney. In most cases, the ceive permi ssion. they start functioning default cases under the criminal law go v- culprits are charged under the Fraud Act. as a bank or rinan cial in stitution , which require more expertise. According to the Department of Cooperalives, the e are 7,000 cooperati ves registered in country of whi ch 1.500 are working as banks. Although it is a new phenomenon . promoters have cheated a large number of deposilOrs and members. Some pro ­ moters nee with a few million rupees while others run away wi th tens of mil­ lions. Whatever the amou nt involved, the viclims arc mostly people belonging to the low strata of the population. According to pal ice records, morc than half a dozen coopcrmive promoters fled the country last week alone. takin g away more than Rs. 50 million or ($ 666.000) in deposits. Following the resto­ ration of democracy. the liberalization of the political system was accompanied by the openi ng up of the economic system. The government started to loosen restric­ A cooperative's office: Sproutin g everywhere tions in many sectors. The banking. finan -

18 SPOTLIGHT/MAY 18,2001 COVER STORY cial and cooperatives sectors were opened Cooperati ve is onc such organization. "The Positive Aspects to the pri vale sector. business of cooperatives depends on how' The opening of cooperatives has pro­ While the disappearance of a large credible the promoters are and how they vided people in remOle areas easy access number of cooperative promoters has set handle things," said Bivuti Raj Pandey, to credit and other banking facilities. Co­ a bleak scenario, some cooperati yes are Executi ve chairman ofNava Chittiz. (See operatives also open up the opportunity to doing encouraging work. Nava Chittiz box) generate resources from the local commu- 'We Don't Have The Authority To Regulate' - HARI PRASAD NEPAL

HARI PRASAD NEPAL, regiSTrar of The lack of liquidity, high administrative costs seeking the support of Nepal Rastra Bank 10 partment of Cooperatives. sees the need and bad loans. The problem with the coop­ regularize the cooperatives. rafirm reglllatorymechallism 10 check rhe eratives is that they collect the deposit from What efforts are you making to check misllse of cooperaTives. He spoke (0 SPOT­ non-members and offer loans to members. the misuse of cooperatives? LIGHT at his office 011 variolts issu.es related This means the cooperatives collect the de­ Our staff are on house-to-house visit s to rhe problems of cooperatives. Excerpts: posit from unlimited members and offer loans to direct the cooperatives. We have also to limited numbers. When limited numbers asked the chief district 'officers to take action How do you see the problems faced of cliem do not pay back their loans, the against cooperative promoters who disap­ by the cooperatives? cooperatives are unable to refund money to pear with the public money. In many dis­ There are about 7,000 cooperatives depositors. After the amendment, the coop­ tricts, the CDOs have arrested some promot­ working in Nepal to mobilize local resources eratives cannot collect deposits from outside ers on charges of fraud. These actions are for the benefitofthe local community. There their membership and face limitations on effective. . is a need for strong regulations to regularize banking transactions. In Kathmandu valley, it is very difficult micro-credit institutions. regardless of What will the cooperatives that have to do th e same. In a big urban area, we need whether they arc run by NGOs or other collected deposits from non members do to have another approach. Only coopera­ organizations. Cooperatives are mostly based now? tives based in Kathmandu are facing prob­ in the village and community. However. in Cooperatives will have to refund the lems. Outsiders run most of the cooperati ves our country. cooperati ves are not member, deposits they collected from non-members that have closed down. Community-man­ village and community based. Cooperatives by November 200 I. There also need to regu­ aged cooperatives arc bringing good results. accept deposits from non-members. The Co­ larize their transactions. For newly estab­ We have to discourage outsiders from open­ operative Act 1992 also stresses the need to lished cooperatives. we can enforce this new ing cooperatives. We are trying to develop the cooperative within its membership. provision. However, we cannot do anything community- and member-based coopera­ act clearly specifies the condition that to cooperatives that have already coll ected ti ves. We want to see cooperatives governed the cooperative can extend loans to its mem­ huge amounts of deposits. The Department by the local people. We don't' want to issue bers and accept deposits from them. The act of Cooperatives can now close down coop­ licenses to people who come from beyond incorporated the provision that the coopera­ eratives or impose a Rs 1,500 fine ifrhey do the locality. Wedon't have regulatory power. tive would require the permission of the not abide by the rules. Unlike Nepal Rastra There is no room for taking action. Nepal Rastra Bank to work as a bank. In the Bank, which can take strong action against What conditions do cooperatives need early days. the cooperatives started banking financial institutions and intervene ifneces­ to fulfil in order to operate as banks? functions wilhoU(obtaining permission from sary. [he Department of Cooperative cannot Cooperatives' have unlimited access to the Nepal Rastra Bank. Bu~ nowadays, the do anything beyond imposing the Rs 1,500 savings and are tax-free. Now they have to central bank has not issued such permission fine. The problem in the cooperatives sector pay taxes in transactions. Most of the coop­ to cooperatives. has set in because they started functioning as eratives based in Ka(hmandu also have Cooperatives have collected huge a financial institution. branch offices outside the valley. In such amounts of money from non-members be­ Cooperatives are small but they are situat ion, no one can supervise the activities cause of the high flow of money in the over ambitious. The challenge lies in moni­ of such bodies. Since last year, we have nol market. When cooperatives started to accu­ toring and evaluation, but we cannot do this given permission to open branches. We want mulate money from non-members, they within limited manpower. There are many cooperatives to focus on the local commu­ should have abided by certain financial rules successful cooperatives run honestly by its nity. in the areas of credit limits and liquidity. The promoters. The basic problem is dishonesfy. Moreover. we need la have Coopera­ institutions that deposit publiC"lTloney should Registering cooperatives does not require tive Bank Act or Credit Union Act to permit follow prudent norms. Unfortunately, no much effort as everyone can open one by just cooperatives to start banking activities. A onc has done that. The present chaotic situ­ depositing Rs 100 each from 25 indi viduals. general Cooperatives Act cannot govern ation in the cooperatives sector is the result The basic problem is the dishonesty of some cooperatives that operate as big financial of their failure to abide by financial rules. of the promoters. We are trying to find a in stitutions. We need to have a separate act. Cooperatives are closing down because of solution to the current problems. We are •

SPOTLIGHT/MAY 18,2001 19 COVER STORY nily. The Cooperatives Act of 1991 was brought out with the objective to allow 'People Are Losing Faith In farmers, iaborers, low-wage workers, the unemployed and landless peasants to set Cooperatives' up an organization to collect deposits and mobilize them for local benefit. Be­ BIVUTI RAJ PANDEY cause of the loopholes in the act, many promoters misused the concept of coop­ BIVUTI RAJ PANDEY is a well-knowl1Jormer bureaucrat. He is flOW"· ------., eratives. According to the act, acoopera­ execUlive chairman of New HoriZOI1 Cooperatives Limited. Pandey !,poke to SPOTLIGHT Ofl variolls issues related TO the problems ojthe live is known as an institution set up by at coopel'lltives? least 25 individuals or institutions with an objective of providing social and eco­ Last year you had mentioned to us the possibility of major nomic services. problems in the cooperatives sector. How do you look at the The Department of Cooperatives has situation today? been given full authority fo r registration Last year I saw the possibility of many cooperatives crashing. I with deposits of Rs 100. BUl cooperati ves have not seen any kind of honesty on the part of promoters. Allhough there has been a mushrooming growth of cooperatives, honesty is L...:...__ Lt. ___ J have started locollecl unlimited amounts. clearly lacking. The intention of the cooperatives is wrong as everyone According to the act, the members of a want to flee after accumulating public money. The promoters of more than half a dozen cooperatives have already fled. If they are really honest. they don't haveto flee. The cooperative might not able to collect loans or may have other problems. but everyone want to escape by taking public money. The government, too. has failed to identify these people. Before issuing

li censes to the cooperatives1 the government must go through the antecedents of such individuals. No one deposits money in cooperatives unless they know the promoters. The Depanment of Coopera lives registers these bodies as soon as 25 individual apply with Rs 2,500 (US $ 300) ('eposits. What should be done to control cooperatives? This is very difficult to answer. I don't visualize it. People come to me asking what guaranlees I can give to depositors? People are lOSing faith in cooperati ves. We need to develop their credibility. There js a rumor that more than 15 cooperatives are on the verge of collapse. It is the responsibility of the Department of Cooperati ves to rescue such cooperatives and save public money. At least the government has to save the public money. The government has to encourage the cooperatives (Q collect the bad loans. First, the cooperatives should not be allowed (Q open branches. When the central office is nor running properly how can they be allowed open branch offtces. We need to have people with integrity. Ourcooperalives are in bad positi Amid this crisis, how do you see your future? We are surviving on our credibility and good will. Individual credibility determines the future of a cooperative. Although the situation is also not good. we are returning money to depositors when they ask for it. There are also problems in collect loans. as people do not want to return it. So many lenders are not paying interest. We have run the institution for the last seven A financial institution Needs to be years. better regulated How do you see the role of the Department of Cooperatives? The department needs to play a more active role. Some cooperatives are facing problems cooperative must be from the local area of bad loans. The government must cooperate with the cooperatives to refund the money. They and have a share in it. Contrary to that have also followed a positi ve role. We understand that the government does not have sufficient provision. many outsiders are running resources, but it must take certain responsibility. The cooperatives do not have any guardians. cooperatives where accountability and We have more than Rs la million in non-assets. We have auctioned property worth of Rs 4 million. It is very difficult to recover the loans. If the department works as a f'acilitator, the social responsibility is totally lacking. situation may have change. Registration Procedure How have these problems emerged? Since the act came into force, more There are so many bad elements within the cooperatives today. Earlier, there were a limited than 7,000 cooperatives have been regis­ number oforganizarions that ran very successfully. As we are based on membership. we cannot tered in the district coop.erative offices in defy the demand of the members. There are certain cooperati ves that do not have specialized different parts of the country. According manpower. The government has to specify the criteria for loan flow. There has to be some to the act. a district cooperativ e offi ce guidelines. I don't get any types of guidelines from the department. We need to have an efficient can register the cooperative. Many say control mechanism. In the name of liberalization. everything cannot be opened. Cooperatives this is where promoters can misuse their are mushrooming like momo restaurants and beauty parlors. How many cooperatives does name. As the department does not have Kathmandu need? The department must make a decision. •

20 SPOTLIGHT/MAY 18,2001 COVER STORY adequate work rorce, nobody knows the Bank does not want to rate of cooperatives once they have been become involved in this licensed. The problem with most or the dirty transaction," says cooperali ves is that they are nol operated a senior bank ofricial. by the local people. thereby raising the "Even with a strong chance of misuse of funds. monitoring mecha­ In the name of economic freedom , nisms. many financial all cooperatives enjoy total freedom in institutions are still col­ the accumulation of deposits and in in­ lapsing:' he adds. vesting them. What then are the roles of A cooperati ve and the Nepal Rastra Bank and the Depart­ association can issue e..,\":~~.. r'jc ment ofCooperalivcs'! "It is not our duty loans to its members and 10 supervise the cooperatives; that's the collect savings but it duty or the cooperatives," says one or the cannot go beyond the ior official of Nepal Rastra Bank. prescribed limits. "The Most of the shareholders and pro­ cooperative cannot ex­ moters of cooperati ves do not know what tend loans undenhe title their roles are and arc not trained in of hire-purchase, which accumulating deposits and investing requires more money money in important sectors. and expertise." says an­ Accordi ng to Clause 34 of the Coop­ other senior NRB offi­ eratives Act every institution has to cial. "Un fortunately, present its audit report and transactions some cooperati ves are annually along with savings distribution issuing loans under this policy and plan, name of promoters and very title," he adds. Al­ remaining tenure, the date of the general though the registrar can council and other details presented by dissolve and take acti on the registrar. against the promoters of However. only a small number of cooperatives, he can cooperatives make avail ab le their annual also ask co lIeagues to '":--~:--";"-'::""-':'""""~:""-~'" transactions and financial reports to the monitor how the orga- A rural woman: Poor Illlillll".' condition district office. Because of low numberof nizatioll is working. employees at the district ofrice, they do If promoters misuse savings and de­ have abandoned the original vision of find time to visi t the cooperative posits, the amount can be recovered by common benefit and arc operating as sues. confiscating their personal property. banks in urban arcas. Despite the ';How can seven employees observe However, recovering money from pro­ government's stated policy, no one is 1.500 cooperatives in and around moters is difficult because it involves a willing to go to rural areas where it is at hmandu district," asks a senior em­ lengthy process. [n many cooperatives, dirficult to coll ect deposits. ployee. "In most cases. cooperatives are disputes between promoters begin soon "As a large number of cooperalive running out of a small rented room. The after they start accumulating savings. promoters ar~ fleeing, the government government must provide us with ad­ The situation of tinance companies ha s to stop issuing new license until it equate manpower," he adds. is simi lar, but these organ izations oper­ acquires firm monitoring capabili ti es," Clauses 35 and 36 or the act autho­ ate under the supervision ofNepa\ Rastra says Dr. Raghab Dhoj Panta, a rormer rize the registrar to monitor and check Bank. Therefore, the possibility of the member of the National Planning Com- the transactions of cooperatives. depositors losing their money is very mission. Strangely, cooperatives have no record low. Nepal Rastra Bank has registered 48 At a lime when such a large number or doing so in the last ten years. Even the financial institutions, which collected Rs. of cooperatives are collecting huge Department of Cooperatives does not I1 billion in deposits and invested Rs 10 amounts in deposits, there should be com­ have a proper file-keeping system. billion. plete transparency in the way they col­ Under Clause 26, a cooperative can For a country like Nepal. coopera­ lect and invest their money. Without an begin banking act ivities cHter obtaining tives are necessary to collect deposits effective mechanism to monitor the ac- permission rrom the Nepal Rastra Bank, and provide small loans to the local com­ tivities of the cooperati ves, the hard­ but a large number of cooperati ves are munity, espec ially where other financial earned sav ings of millions of cou ntry's running such operati ons without having institutions hesitate to venture into. A poor would continue to remain under acquired such permission. "'Nepal Rastra major problem is that most cooperatives threat. •

SPOTLIGHT/MAY 18,2001 21 SPORTS

'In the last fcw years, Nepal often had FOOTBALL BAN had embarrassing encounters in its altempLS tu field over-aged players. In the Olympic qualifiers Nepal was nearly thrown out as Age-Old Problem our players could not present proper pass­ ports in Hong Kong. A similar incidem Nepal faces an embarrassing suspension from the next happened in Bangladesh during the under- 19 qualifiers. Complaints had also been Under-16 youth championship for using over-aged players made by teams who played against Nepal in the last By SANJAYA DHAKAL repons verifying the age of the players to the two under-16 qualificatiull tournamen ts re­ AFC," said Geeta Rana, the president of the garding the ages of the Nepali players. It is Tt was the most loosely guarded secret of National Sports Council-recognizedANFA also open knowledge in Nepal that we field .iNepalese football. Be it in the Under 16 imerim committee. over-agc players as players who have been or the Under 19 tournaments, many players Unfonunately. the decision is going 10 playing club football for five or six y representing Nepal did so by concealing bar Nepal from participating in the next U- make our youth leams which means t) their Jc tual age. As many other countries 16 youth championship that will be held in they must have staned playingat club level apart rrom Nepal fielded similarl y over· Qatar in 2003. at the age of 10 or I I .. ' charges the c1ubfs aged players, the mutual silence had helped Bikesh Shrestha, of the Nepal Football statement. persisllhis anomaly wi th impunity. Fan Club (NFFC) says that after years of Although the AFC's actions are jllsti­ But with the sudden decision by the chronic cheating. the ANFA finally had to fied, it will be a serious sethack to Nepalese Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to ban pay the price. players a, well as fans who will have to bear five nations including Nepal. Iran. Oman. "The Nepal Football Fan Club (N FFC) the brunt because of the irresponsible be­ Thailand and Bangladesh for playing over­ welcomes the AFC's ruling hoping that it havior by the authorities. aged players dwing last yeans Under-16 wi II once and for all stop thc All Ncpal "There were high hopes for the next Asian football champi onship held in Viet­ Football Association 's continual charade of A.;; ian Youth Championship because many nam. the football officials here have been fielding over aged players." reads the state­ of the ANFAAL:adcmy trainees wou ld have caught with their pants down. The silence ment by the club. been of the panicipating age then. Several has been broken. Even the football officials adnut that football clubs. too. had started youth acad­ "Yes. it is proved that Nepal fielded they have used over-aged players. ''The use emies and tJ1US Nepal's suspens ion will 0ver-aged players as then All Nepal Foot­ or over-aged players j(,j rampant. The recent come a~ a blow to them and their players ball Association (ANFA) led by Ganesh AFC action only proves it ," said a football who were hope ful of l11~lking the national Thapa failed to submit the required X-ray player. under-I 6 team. The NFFC calls on ANFA not to even ponder, as wc know that lViII, lielding the current crop of under 16 ANFA Academy players in the 2003 editIOn of the tourna­ ment. a~ by that lime they will be under-IY players .. ' furtherreads the statement by the NFFC. Meanwhile. the AFCfs decision has sent a chill down the sp ine of una:;;su ming Nepalese football authorities. 'Dcfillltely, we are going to be more aware of thi s problem. We will be keeping a strict vigil regarding the age of our players from now onward s,'· said Rana. According to Run3 , the problem here is the lack of system of keeping records of individual players. IFthc record of each and every indi vidual is kept and the practice of playing age-wise lOumamcnt is developed, lhisproblcm could be checked. It remains to be seen whelher the Nepalese sports au­ thorities will take the current AFC decision as a lessoll. •

22 SPOTLIGHT/MAY 18.2001 INTERVIEW 'We Have Been Compelled To Organize A Three-Day Strike' -BHARATMOHAN ADHIKARY

Chief whip of the CPN-UML BHARAT getting worse, corruption is growing ram­ the prime minister does not abide by con­ MOHAN ADH1KARY arglles that the pant and there is no sense of governance, st itution, why should we alone abide by it. three~dCly general strike called by CPN· what can be the rational to support the Do you mean your party also wants UML, along with fi\'e communist parries, government. If the law-and-order situation to go against the constitution to oust willllOf be wirhdrawl1l1ntil Prime Minister improves and corru pti on is controll ed, the prime minister? Cirija Prasad Koirala resiglls. Adhikary economy will automatically improve. The people are supreme in a democ­ ke to KESHAB POUDEL all variolls It is said that intellectuals and the racy. They have every right to take ac ti on J les affecTing cOl/femporary politics. business community have expressed an­ against a corrupt prime minister. Excerpts: ger over your call for a general strike. Is Who has the final authority to de­ this true? cide the fate of the prime minister? It is What issues did you discuss in your The business community requested us your party or the Congress parliamen~ recent meeting with the business com­ towiLhdraw the general sLrike. Wereminded tary party? munity'? thcm (ha( (hey also called a general mike We know (hat (he Congress parlia­ Wediscussed issuesrelaled tothebud­ mentary party has the ri ght to choose its get with the business community. As the leader. When (hey failed (0 do so, (heoppo­ main op pos iti on party, it is our duty to sition party also has a certain role to play. li sten to the voice of business community. At a time when Prime Minister Koiral a We also held discussions on the implica­ even fl outed the suggesti ons of hi s col­ (i ons and effec( of (he ongoing budge,- leagues Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and Sher At a time when your party has called Bahadur Deuba. we have to force him to a three-day general strike that would resign. paralyze the national economy, what is Do you think prime minister will the use of your talks on economic is­ resign? sues? Indications that Koirala will resign We know that the general strike wi ll within a few days so wedon't have to go for damage the national economy, but how can a three-day strike. Even Deputy PrimeMin­ Aiel Prime MinisterGirijaPrasad Koirala ister Ram Chandra Poudel has himcd tha< ir'go seal-free when he has violated the Prime Minister Koirala will resign. law. It is our political compulsion to call If Koirala refuses to resign, what is three-day general strike. the possibility of your withdrawing the If you find it rational to call a three­ general strike? day general strike to force Prime Minis­ We will not withdraw it as long as ter Koirala to resign, why don' t you Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala re­ organize an indefinite general strike until during the anti-V AT campaign three years mains in office. he steps down? ago. Similiary, (he CPN-UML has called How can you claim yourself to be a We don't want to harm the country for the general strike 10 press ure a corrupt messiah of the poor people when the a long time. As llold you, organi zin g th e prime minister to re sign. general strike called by your party will three-day strike is our compulsion. As the main opposition party and hit the poor people and peasants living in • If an indefinite general strike harms government in waiting, how can you jus­ the rural parts of the coun try? Don' t you the country, how do you believe that the tify the use of unconstitutional methods think the general strike will give you a three-day stoppage will not take its toU to oust the prime minister? bad name? on the national economy? We were forced 10 ann ounce drastic Since we are calling the general strike When all the po litical doors are closed, steps after the prime minister failed to to improve the country's perfonnance and wc don't have an alternati... ve to calJjng a abide by rules of the game. What moral punish the corrupt people rhecommon citi­ general stri ke. People have to sacrifi ce some­ and legal ground does Prime Minister zens will take it in good faith. I have already thing to gain something more valuable. Girija Prasad Koirala have to remain in told you that we need 10 make some sacri­ Do you mean paralyzing the power when the Commission of Investi­ fice 10 achieve something better. We economy is a sacrifice? gation of Abuseof Autho,;(y has demanded over

SPOTLlGHTIMAY 18, 2001 23 NATIONAL

Shop owners acknowledge that bar­ gain deals available on the strcets. "A pair ofLe\,i·, pant that costs Rs 800 or Rs 900 can be bought at a fairly reasonable price frOI11 these vendors:· says Amir Ratna Tuladhar. who owns a clothing shop at Kamalakshi. 'The quality is the same. Hal f of the CU~lOmers gu to places where you ean bargain. The street vendors are our main ehallcnger~." As expensive it gets Supermarket operators provide adif­ ferent con:sul11cr profile. "'The young people that usually visit my place want to buy everything original." says S Manadhar of Roms, :situated at the Stoe Exchange Complex at Putali Sadak. "People who just want a Xerox copy of brand names go lO the street vendors. People believe lhatgo~)ds in supermarkets and producb that cost more are original A departmental store: Convenient for one-stop buyers and better." Some experienced buyers can detect CONSUMERISM the comparmi ve ad vi.lntages on the streets. "You can gel the same sW IT on the streets for one fourth of what you would pay in Shop Till You Drop the store," says Suni! Joshi. ··1 bought some clothes and other stulT at Hong Kong Supermarkets and street vendors compete to give cus­ Bazaarbcfore I went abroad for studies. If I were to buy the same.:: goods in the United tomers a wider range of choice States it would cost me ten times more. and the items you get there are mostly By AKSHAY SHARMA makes you feci sorry for the sellers.·· says made in China, Nepal orother countries." Anand Pant of Gyaneshwor. Such public Laments , 'T,e supermarkets have made my sympathy comes amid an upswing of bus i­ The street vendors have left some ..I. shopping as compaclas a pack+ ness on the streets. store owners with piles of unsold items. '·1 age LOur," says Saloni Shrestha of Naya The cheaper version have 500 pieces ofjackets because people Bazar. The crowded video game parlors Street vendors can he found almost can get the same thing much cheaper on and the busy computer screens tell it all. anywhere in the city. Hong-Kong Bazaar the sidewalks andstreetcurners."lamenls The trend of consumer-driven commerce (Exhibition Road). Mahabauddha, Gyenche Nagarkoti, who owns a clothing has caught up with Kathmandu. Even Gangabu Bus Park arc among the ideal store at Pashupati Plata. "Wc can't sell noodles and Coca-Cola come with prom­ places to buy cheaper goods. '·Those are these items cheaper because we have hIgh ises of prizes. The people have fallen for the places where the peoplc bargain the rents to pay.l" the liberal market policy the government most," says Ajay Shrestha. who runs a The price differentials are stark adopted a decade ago. Some experts sug­ shop opposite to the street vendors at enough. "My friend bought a Yashica gest that the people of Kathmandu and Dharahara. camera for Rs 20,000 before going abroad other cities could soon find themselves The vendors have their share of good for studies and the price sounded reason­ adopting a ghetto-like lifestyle, using su­ and bad days. "Nepal bandh is when our able to us. As I was walking around permarkets to save time and the trouble of business shoots up." says Babu Kaji Mahabauddha later. I saw the same cam­ bargaining. Tamang of Damauli. who makes a living era at one of the Chinese-goods stores The buyers market !las Ilrmly estab­ selling clothes in and around the historic there," remembers Rojit Shrestha of lished itself on the streets, too. ·The hide­ monument. '"That' s our prime time be­ Maharajgunj. "I was shocked to find that and-seek between SUCCI vendors selling cause the metropolitan police do not bother the camera cost only Rs 14,000." jeans. T-shirts, sports shoes around Ratna us. On other days, we have to beconstantly Once upon a time Park and khaki-clad metropolitan police ready to pack up and run from the cops." Sama Joshi sees Lhe long way con-

24 SPOTLlGHTfMA Y 18,2001 NATIONAL

sumers have traveled in a decade. "Once two years ago," remembers Chiring last long either when I went around the Suraj Arcade, popularly known as Dragon Lawrang Sherpa. "Now the same thing Annapurna trail." House, at New Road used to be popular costs about Rs 300. Where would we be if Trends with shoppers. Becauseofthc mushroom­ the price of food came down as drasti­ Buying trends have also changed. ing of supennarkets there seems to be no cally?" "Before foreigners were the main buyers reason to go there these days." "Those who have the tenacity to bar­ of curios. handmade products and Ani I Man Shrestha, who owns a shop gain end up paying less," says Asim Rana. Nepalese carpets. Now. Nepalese seem to at one orthe oldest shopping complexes in "The shopkeeper once demanded Rs 1,200 be more interested in these," says Raju Kathmandu, Bishal Bazaar, in New Road, for an item, but I brought the price down Maharjan, who runs a shopping complex says most people go to him for T-shirts, to Rs 700." in Thame\. "Thamel is supported by jeans, and shoes. "People go to supermar­ Binod Shrestha of New Road says he Nepalese. They buy shirts, T-shirts, trou­ kets because the prices are reasonable. usually doesn't let people bargain. "But sers, anoraks because they are cheap and The younger people tend to give more the customer being king, we tend to defer have famous brand names on them." priority to shoes. Most youngsters prefer to their wishes." "I like the products in Thamel be­ es made from England and Italy, They Tactics cause they are cheaper, easy to wear, e looking forquality shoes and the prod­ Some consumers engage in games look good, comfortable and, above all, ucts they get here are good and strong." with thesaJespeople. "Every salesperson since they are made in Nepal. 1 have a Pramesh Shrestha of UFO In is a kind of psychologist. So I tend 10 patriotic attachment lO them," says Kamlakshi says prices are fixed at his 1'"""------: ~ ______--, Abhishek Shahi of Balaju. store and customers generally bar­ Misconception gain for a 10 percent reduction. "We Kastamandap Supermarket at haven't been affected by the street Kamaladi came up nearly one and vendors because we already have a a half years ago. ''Tourists or for­ reputation in the business." eigners are merely interested in Habits tourism products. Indians and Sunjl Maharjan arRoalS, which Nepalis are more interested in caters mainly to the upper or middle c lothes," says Prasanna Shrestha strata, sees a clear class distinction in of Kastamandap. "There is a mis- terms of the tendency to bargain. "We concepti on that goods here are ex- expect people from the upper class to pensive and most people hesitate bargain because they have been to to come. Customers who have more expensive places and have come once have not hesitated in shopped in places like Bangkok and coming back." .A;gKong. "Middle class customers Roadside supermarket: Growing attraction Studio Hollywood, across the '

SPOTLTGHT/MAY 18.2001 25 REVIEW

lenges in bringing various institutions BOOK together. In his article "New Predicaments of Partners For Progress Humanitarian Organizations", Dr Chaitanya Mishra discusses the various A panel of experts probes the prospects of greater partnership among characteristics of humanitarian organi­ zations and their theoretical base. As a civil society, non-governmental organizations and the government research paper, Dr. Mishra spends most of his time discussing theoretical ap­ By A CORRESPONDENT successfull y implemented across the proaches. country. The demand of citizens of Deepak Gyawali in his paper "Are '~"th the restoration of democracy donor countries for accountability of NGOs in Nepal Old Wine or New l' , in 1990, a new debate has begun performance at the grassroots level is Bottle?" critically evaluates all on the role of non-governmental orga­ expected to secure better conditions, aspects of non-governmental organi nizations, civil society and the tions. He compares various government in the process of NGOs, Civil Society and p has e s development and in raising pub- Government in Nepal of the development of non- lic awareness on various issues governmental organizations and or concern. Editors: Krishna B. Bhattachan, Dev Raj their contributions to social At a time when Nepal is Dahal, Sheetal Rana, Jyoti Gyawali, and economic development. facing many challenges in car­ Min Bahadur Basnet, Kashi Ram Bhusal Commenting on Gyawali's pa­ rying out development works per, Ram B. Chettri stresses the effecti vely, encouraging more and Ram Raj Pokharel need to change the functioning fruitful partnership among non­ Published by Central Department of of non-governmental organ iza­ governmental organizations, Sociology, Tribhuvan University in tions. civil society and the govern­ cooperation with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung As Nepal has witnessed the ment assumes added impor­ emergence of a large number of tance. The government in Nepal Price: Not disclosed, Pages: 186 non-governmental organizations has taken several steps to bring as well as international organi­ together these concerned parties on a especially in matters of improving the zations following the restoration of de­ common endeavor. However, the ben­ life of poor people. mocracy, duplication of work has efits of a harmonization of efforts are In an effort to study various aspects ready aroused some concern. Biha I yet to fully materialize. of these institutions, Tribhuvan Krishna Shrestha's article tries to ex­ The Social Welfare Act 1992, University's Central Department of So­ plore different phases of development the Ninth Plan document 1997-2002 ciology and Anthropology organized a from th is perspective. and th e Local Self-government Act seminar focusing on the effectiveness Krishna Bhattachan discusses the 1998 have underlined a legislative of the roles non-governmental organi­ roles of international non-governmen­ framework for the operation ofpeople's zationsand civil society have been play­ tal organizations and disadvantaged institutions, non-governmental organi­ ing to address the concerns of the poor groups in Nepal. zations and civil society in local sel f­ people. Dilli Ram Dahal's paper also tries government and in the development The book, the proceedings of that to analyze the problems and prospects process. exercise, is divided into two parts. The of the relationship between government One can see many successful ex­ first deals with non-governmental orga­ organizations and NGOslINGOs in periments jointly launched by the nizations, civil society and the govern­ Nepal. government, non-governmental orga­ ment in Nepal. The second part deal s At a time when the country is gripped nizations and civil soCi~ly. In the area with student initiated lecture series by a debate over the complementary of poverty alleviation, there is a wide on non-governmental organizations and and conllicting roles of non-govern­ scope to carry out such collaborative international non-governmental orga­ mental organizations and civil society, efforts. nizations in Nepal. Most of the con­ the book illuminates critical aspects of With thi s three-pronged partner­ tributors to book are well -known ex­ the issues involved and suggests ways ship, many new programs have been perts and have tried to explain the chal- of bridging the gap. •

26 SPOTLIGHT/MAY 18,2001 THE BOTTOM LINE

By M.S.KHOKNA

R Friendl9 Rct

TRANSITION Ram Krishna Tamrakar, outstanding performance, by surer of the Cartoonists Club Minister for Health, for the Chhahari Youth Club. of Nepal. LEFT: Dr. Ram Sharan Geneva. Switzerland, to Jorpati. Mahat, Finance Minister, for take part in the 54th A WARDED: Champa Rana, meetings in Honolulu. USA, General Assembly of the ELECTED: Durga Baral a feminist, with the Parijat and Brussels. Belgium, to take World Health Organization (Valsayan), al the chairman, Sagharshasheel Nari Puraskar part in the 34th annual meet­ (WHO). Mohan Shyam Maharjan and Dr. Tarakanta Pandey, a ingofthe Asian Development (Khokana) as the vice-chair­ literary critic. with the Parijat Bank the 3rd international FELICITATED: Sushmita man, Ramesh Bista, as the Sirjan Puraskar. for outstand­ meet of the LDCs respec­ Kandel, renowned karate and secretary and Abindraman ing performance in their re­ tively. ki ck boxing player, for her Shrestha (Abin), as the trea- spective fields. •

SPOTLIGHT/MAY 18.2001 27 FACE TO FACE 'The Education Sector Still Needs Government Protection' - RAMESH NATH JOSHI

RA MESH NATH lOSH! is the general tion would be able to offer textbooks at tcrials at cheap manager of Jwwk Education Materials such cheap prices and maintain quality. prices. Even in Center Ltd (JEMC). As the sole dis­ If you allow other parties in the curricu­ such a situation, tributor, publisher llnd the printer of lum business, cheap and low-quality we have been textbooks. the celller works 011 a round­ books will nood Ih e market. The gov­ able to make the-year schedule. Since his appoilll­ ernment has a certain responsibility to­ some profit. Our ",elll two years ago, the cellter has made wards the education sector. U nl i ke other tcxtbooks are steady progress. Joshi spoke to SPOT­ areas. the education sector still needs much cheaper in LIGHT on varioLls issues relating to the government prolection. If the govern­ terms of thc role of the JEMC ill the preselll COlllext. ment wants private sector involvement prices prevailing Excerpts: in the center, we must issue shares to the in thc market. We have already paid people. more than Rs 40 million to the govern­ How do you assess the situation in How do you see the policy of ment. Interestingly. the centcr was set the distribution of textbooks at the privatization of government· owned up al a cost of Rs .. 0.1 million. beginning of the academic year? corporations'! Does the country have any other Well, we have been able to supply In today's society, privatization, institution like the JEMC? all kindofeducation materials demanded globalization and liberalization are popu­ We do not have another instit ution by schools. Frankly speaking, we are lar catchwords. Our policy makers are that has specialized in the printing and supplying books at cheap prices and also making efforts to implement such distribution of textbooks. I am very proud without any governmenl subsidy . programs. 1 am also an advocate of liber­ to say that the center has a strong work Despite your claim, many schools alization and globalizalion, but I am con­ force and a marketing team capable to complain that textbooks are not avail~ cerned about the procedure adopted in handle all challenges. Unlike other sec­ able on time. How do you look at it? implementation. As far as I know. tors, book printing requires certain spe­ This might have been the case until privatization is not familization. Theaim cialization. [don't think the private sec­ " few years back. But the center is now of privatization is not to hand over an tor would be able to learn thi s pr successfully meeting th e demand forthe industry to a particular family but is to quickly. textbooks. Books have already reached encourage greater public participation in How do you see the future of the different parts of th e country and we the industrial sector. In a country like center at a time when the government have not received any complaints. This Nepal where a stron g corporate culture is is talking about the need to privatize year, the demand for textbooks is about yet to emerge, it is impossible to imple­ it? 158 million copies and we are following ment the concept of privatization effec­ Rumors or privatization have cre­ that target. It is in the process of print­ tively. We have to enlist the corporations ated some sort of uncertainty in a gov­ ing. I am very proud to say that we have in the share market where the common ernment-owned corporat ion like the received information lhat books have people have to get opportunity tobecome JEMC. Because of Ihis, the morale of already reached many district headquar­ shareholders. The private sector in Nepal the employees also has declined. The ters. is in tile process oflearning and it has yet government must make clear policy an­ There is a strong lobby in the to show a successful venture. After 50 nouncements on the type of corpora­ country that wants to end the mo­ years of efforts, we have developed some tions it want 10 privatiLe and those it nopoly of the center in publishing and strong institutions under the government wants to retain . An institution like ours distributing textbooks, What is your sector. If wc privatize all of them haphaz­ is based on the social obligation of the opinion on opening the sector to pri­ ardly, we will lose all our resources. government. I don't say that the govern­ vate firms? What is the financial position of ment has to keep shoe and brick facto­ There are some vested imeresl the center? ries under it s control. In the name of groups who want to dismantle an effi­ The JEMC is a non-profit making encouraging the pri vate sector, the gov­ cient and capable organization like the corporation. The aim is to supply high­ ernment should not privatize institutions JEMC.I don't think any otherorganiza- quality textbooks and other reading ma- indiscriminate. •

28 SPOTLIGHT/MAY 18,2001 PASTIME

Nepal's Non·lsolationist Foreign Policy Now In Town BOOK Y.N. Khanall2000 Rs.500.00

The Anthropology of Buddhism and Hinduism Weberian Themes Origins and Migrations: Kinship, Mythology D.N. Gellner/2001 Rs. 1132.00 and Ethnic Identity Among the Mewahang Rai of East Nepal Atmabrittanta : Late Life Recollections Manin Gaenszle/2000 Rs. 650.00 B.P. Koiral al200 1 Rs. 400.00 Resunga The Mountain of the Horned Sage Gender and Democracy in Nepal Phili ppe Ramirezl2000 Rs. 425.00 L.K. Manandhar/K.B. Bhattac hanl2001 Rs. 200.00 Some Aspects of Value Orientation: A Study of Kathmandu Spring: The People's Movement of 1990 the Adults in Nepal and lndia Kiyoko Ogural2001 Rs.325.00 N. P. Upadhyay/2001 Rs. 640.00

Id-IRe,:is!ra!ion: In Nepalese Perspective A Step Towards Victim Justice System Shresthal l999 Rs. 150.00 Nepalese Perspective S. K. Shreslhal2001 Rs. 400.00 Land and Social Change In East Nepal Lione1 Capl anl2000 Rs. 325.00 The Throne of Stone J.P. Cross/2000 Rs.550.00 Nepal In Political Crisis R.K. Vaid yal2001 Rs. 651.00 (Source: Himala)'lll1 Book Cenler, Bagh Bazar. Karhmolldu. Ph : 242085)

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SPOTLIGHT/MAY 18.2001 29 LEISURE

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I. Dissenter turning many Tories puce I. Critic (see colum) savaged "There's one way 10 find oul if a (4-7) Stockhausen's oeuvre (10.5) man is honest - ask him. If he says, 9. Here in Jerusalem, bicultural still 2. Potter's inspiration curtailed Mosaic 'Yes,' you know he is a crook," (7) enthusiast (5) - GROUCHO MARX 10. H's golden rain on New church 1 (7) 3. Coppers gotup twice for a sweetener In bridge. each ~idc is .::ntitled to know 11 . Forms a striking relationship (4,2,3) (7) about the opponents' panner~hip agreements. 12. A Trollopian inclination ... (5) 4. The death half loved by Keats has Nevertheless. barring priorsecrct understand­ ing. a player may lcgitilll<.ucly deceive his ... Is the downfall ofLewis Eliot? (4) 13 . fellow united in support of an (7) opponents with bids or plays contrary 10 his 14. Lowers in crates (4,6) 5. Scau's protector is human arter all, announced agreements. 16. Transept that is constructed on almost to aT (8) In a team match. both West players led a Church Rock (5,5) 6. How like the bindweed: one find's hean to East's ace. South refused the heart 19. Fool many and many more (4) nothing in it (15) relUm and won Ihe third round. dummy dis­ carding a diamond and a club. When sou th's Zestful failure (5) 7. Quiet men only mount the "aw" fac­ spade king dropped West' sjack, both declar­ Such early worship before a noble tor (6) ers cashed t he spade queen. inviting West to fug iti ve (9) 8. A parliamentary setback (6) signal. •24. Is onc too drunk to noti ce Cenler 15. Noxious missile is well under way At one lable. We~t craftily discarded the Point? (7) (5,3) club deuce. attempting to persuade South to take the club finesse. However. South knew 25. Whence animation is observed in an 16. A gesture of honour (6) West's tendencies. so he cashed his diamond empty box (7) 17. Recuperative erfect or New caslie, ace and led another diamond to East's king. A 26. Rash ascetic might use alibi for ex­ one find s (7) club shift went to South's ace. and South could cuse say ( I I) 18. Don Juan in Spain: dcmned cretin claim nine winners (three diamonds. four (7) spades. a heart and a club). In the replay, a cagey West discarded the 20. A leller rrom Helen Graham (6) diamond nine on the spade queen. Again the 23. Primale inhabiting hill or island (5) aim was to persuade South to take a club finesse. Nevellheless. South prevailed. mak­ inghisgame inaditTerent way. He cashed two sllol ·(lIUBU~l. 'Ol ,"011u3 '81 011'"13'L1 ']nI"S '91 10d ~UI1S S I ssoo.~ '8 soQ1"d 'L more spades. di scarding a club. noting West's SIO'OBI"AIOAuo:) ·9U"WSI IBl. S 1"]0'"3 'v'SOJOI1S'( Iqq B~ 'plsnw 01uOJ]Oa13' 1 : u",oO discards of two minor-suit deuces. Di st rusting West" s deceptive signals, he took a diamond finesse and cashed hi s dia­ SISOl ljoelU;) '9(; mond ace. Triumphantly. he exited with his UOOUB:) Sl 10dssol. 'vl ';"OI1 I'IUV 'll uOW'1'll101J '61 J'l,d lums ';)1 S'AI"O I"'A carefully preserved heart nine to West'sjack 'vl MOUS '£1 ,dOIS 'l I JJ o 11 Sl!H '11 ,auaI'S '0 I OIQwa IV '6 0I1daas OJI13 '1 : ssonv and claimed hi s game when West had t con­ cede a free club finesse. Not everyone practices deception. But it NOI.Lfl'IOS pays to know which do and which do not. •

SPOTLIGHT/MAY 18,2001 31 FORUM Faith In Judicial System Vital To Democracy By Chief Justice KESHAV PRASAD UPADHYAY A

Respect for the law is respecting the principles of justice. Our national mainstream. has endorsed the rule oflaw as a basic characteristic Democracy cannot survive with­ out the strong presence of rule of law. not di scriminate on the basis of big or small, high or low, but On the occasion of Law Day 2058, I IdeliversjU!Hice on the basis of equality. Thus, all people need to think everyone has to work actively to have equal respect for the law. We celebrate Law Day every year translate the spirit of the slogan '1'01- because the Pradhan Nyayalaya Act 2009 has opened the way to low the law and respect justice' into these values in the day-ta-day life. This day has great li ving reality. "ignificancc. Rule of law is the essence of de­ Merely talking about the rule of law does not mean that we mocracy. Therefore. it is everyone's deliver justice to the people. This noble goal cannot be duty to raise the feeling toward law. lac hi,: ve:d as long as those associated with the judicial system do The goal of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal have full commitment to upholding it. We have acquired create a society based on law will materialize only after experiences in the five decades since we started to cel­ who seek and those who deliver justice both express Law Day. The time has now come for all of us, including commiunent to the law. uu,ug'" and lawyers. to evaluate ourselves about our role and tment s. This article is based 011 a speech Chief illstice Without li ving under law, those who seek and those who delivered at a function organized by Nepal Bar Association 'ver justice cannot uphold the economic, social and political observe LAw Day. guaranteed by the constitution. People like judges, em­ InHwe:es. lawyers and others working under the justi ce admini s­ have to be morc sensi ti ve in understanding the spirit oflhe . Moreover, they have to remain active and alert toward their Ire:,p')nsibi"!ities. Civil society also has additional responsi bili- . Cililcns arc the genui ne consumers of the justice. This is the citizens shou ld be aware of and careful about justice. Judges are the medium to fulfil the wishes of the people in laccOl'dance with the constitution, sett ling the dispute in accor­ NA T10NALNEWSMAGAZINE with the law. They are also the medium of upholding the law. The end can not be achieved witho ut the means. Without Color Black & identifying the end , the use of means becomes meaningless. It is important for all of us to retain the faith of people in our Front Cover In ~idc R, 16.000.00 udicial system. For this, we need support from all sectors of Back Cover. R~ . 20.000.00 society. The role of judges and lawyers are equally important in Cover Inside Rs. 16.000.00 this matter. We have to prove lhatjuslicecan bedelivercd equa lly all the citi zens of the coumry. Any Page Inside This is the reason why the principles ofjustice in accordance law and law for just ice are equally important. One has to Full Page R, 12.000.00 R, . 8.000.00 lSenC'USlv understand the adage that justice wi th ou t law is like Half Page R, 7.000.00 R, 5.000.00 and law without justice is blind. Quarter Page Rs 4.0(JOOO R, 3.000.00 I believe Law Day will provide guidelines to all on ways to Special Pull-out the law fair and just. To achieve this goal, one requ ires Mintmum Four -page R,. 45.000.00 R, 30.000.00 support from Nepal Bar Association. I hope Nepal Bar IA,;socialti e.n will make efforts to develop equitable society by Is upp,or~ing weak, backward, women. children, the elderly and members of the community. For details, contact: It is everybody's duty to respect the court and place faith in SPOTLIGHT ice s. This wc can do only after we all have shown ou r THE NATIONAL NEWSMAGAZtNE Icomnnilll1entto the rule oflaw. Law isequaltoallthecommunity. long as we are unable to inject the feeling every onc can get GPO Box : 7256, Baluwatar ustice, we will be in not citizen into the Ph: 977-1) 423127. Kathmandu

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