WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXIX No. 23 | 10 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 33.5 C 1.1 C Saturday, March 13, 2021 | 29-11-2077 Bhairahawa Jumla As Deuba gets nod to lead government, efforts on to build coalition to oust Oli The former prime minister, however, has an eye on party’s general convention in August as well as on next general elections before playing his card, leaders close to him say.

ANIL GIRI KATHMANDU, MARCH 12

As momentum builds for the forma- tion of a new government following the Supreme Court’s revival of the CPN-UML and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre), the Nepali Congress leadership has been urged to stake a claim to lead the next gov- ernment. Present and former office-bearers of Nepali Congress on Friday backed its party President Sher Bahadur POST FILE PHOTO Deuba to remove Prime Minister KP Sher Bahadur Deuba Sharma Oli and take his place. “Former and present office-bearers Samajbadi Party with 34 seats (two of the Nepali Congress have urged suspended) to form the government. Deuba to seek an alternative to the Oli Following the meeting held to seek government and brace up for the party’s mandate and authority to POST PHOTO: PRAKASH CHANDRA TIMILSENA government formation,” party hold talks with Samajbadi Party lead- Women take pictures under peach flowers in Kathmandu. It is spring, and peach and cherry blossoms have become a feast for the eyes. spokesperson Bishwa Prakash ers, Deuba met with the latter later on Sharma told the Post. Friday and the two sides concluded “Deuba held talks with top that Oli has to be removed, according leaders of the Janata Samajbadi to leaders of the two parties. Party along this line and will But two Nepali Congress leaders Oli tightens his grip Endless wait for Korea jobs meet with leaders from the told the Post that Deuba is not yet Maoist Centre.” ready to stake his claim and will wait With 63 members (two sus- some more days before taking a deci- in UML relieving pended) in the House of sion on government formation, and frustrates youths as they Representatives, Nepali Congress this was the implicit message he gave will need the support of both the to the Janata Samajbadi leaders. leaders from Nepal question Nepal’s commitment Maoist Centre with 53 seats and >> Continued on page 2 camp of their roles Thousands of Nepalis who have passed the tests and got Nepal and other leaders jobs blame government inaction while experts say it could returned to their old party be proactive rather than wait to hear from the Koreans. and have vowed to fight, form parallel committees.

TIKA R PRADHAN KATHMANDU, MARCH 12

The clash between Prime Minister and CPN-UML chair KP Sharma Oli and Madhav Kumar Nepal, the senior party leader, has come to a head. Days after Nepal, along with other leaders who had sided with Pushpa Kamal Dahal, returned to the UML fold following the Supreme Court deci- sion to revive the UML and Dahal’s Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre), Oli on Friday stripped lead- ers close to Nepal of responsibilities but the Nepal faction has decided not to accept the decision and counter it by forming parallel party committees. On Sunday, the Supreme Court, POST FILE PHOTO while deciding on a case filed by There’s a rigorous process before Nepalis can proceed for jobs in South Korea. Rishiram Kattel, had scrapped the Nepal Communist Party (NCP), order- CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL Sodari was even selected by a ing reinstatement of the UML and the KATHMANDU, MARCH 12 Korean employer. He had also received Maoist Centre to their pre-merger his contract from the employer and state. The court decision led Nepal In 2018, Ajay Sodari of Ghodaghodi the Certificate for Confirmation of and other leaders including Jhala Municipality, Kailali made a plan to Visa Issuance, after which, during Nath Khanal, Raghuji Pant, migrate to South Korea. But he was normal time, candidates must reach Ghanashyam Bhusal and Yogesh unaware of the time and effort it Korea within 90 days. Bhattarai to return to the UML fold. would require to land a Korean job. However, after a long-wait of nine Dahal now leads the Maoist Centre. As a first step, Sodari started pre- months, the Korean employer can- Before the court scrapped the Nepal paring on his own with whatever celled the work contract with Sodari. Communist Party (NCP), Dahal and study materials he could get online Labour migration to South Korea Nepal had formed their own faction and some Korean language books. has witnessed obstructions since the after Oli’s decision to dissolve the “I thought of going to South Korea, first week of February last year. Later House. The House was reinstated by which is an attractive labour destina- in the same month, the migration of the Supreme Court on February 23. tion for Nepali migrants,” said Sodari. Nepali youths to South Korea was But within days of the revival of “You can do a lot in a short span if you temporarily halted as South Korea CPN-UML, Oli has taken steps to make can get a Korean job.” became an epicentre of Covid-19. his position in the party invincible. With such aspirations, Sodari sat the Since then, although labour migra- Holding two back-to-back meetings Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK), tion to other countries has resumed, of the party’s Central Committee a mandatory Korean language test for departures of Nepali candidates to on Friday at Baluwatar, Oli amended those wanting to work in South Korea. South Korea remain suspended. the party’s statute to accommodate But he could not pass the test in 2018. Bhim Raj Bhatta from Melauli 23 leaders coming from the CPN Sodari moved to Kathmandu to pre- Municipality, Baitadi was also select- (Maoist Centre). pare for the test in 2019. ed to go to Korean in 2020. Like Sodari, Though the leaders attending the With all the struggle that comes he also started preparing for the lan- meeting said they decided to form a in moving from Kailali to Kathmandu guage test in 2018 from home and general convention organising com- and after nearly eight months of cleared the test in 2019 after moving to mittee and scrapped the provision of hard work, Sodari did crack the test in Kathmandu. office-bearers except that of the gener- 2019, when a record number of over “I worked in Kathmandu so that I al secretary, the party spokesperson 92,000 applicants had appeared for the could learn the Korean language. I said they were just a proposal to pres- examination. would work in the daytime and study ent at the Central Committee meeting Sodari was among the 6,773 individ- at night,” said Bhatta, 24. “The dream scheduled for March 20. uals who cleared both the language test was to reach South Korea and do With the new development, the con- and the skill test, which is a test of something for the family.” flict within the revived CPN-UML is candidates’ basic understanding of the Bhatta does not know what he expected to deteriorate. An emergency job sector they are planning to enter, to should be doing as he waits for his meeting of the available Standing get a job in Korea in 2020 under the long-held dream to become reality. Committee members close to Madhav Employment Permit System (EPS). “I am confused about what I should Kumar Nepal held at Aryal Hotel in But then the Covid-19 pandemic be doing. What if I give up and start the evening decided to scrap all the struck. It suspended Nepali workers’ doing something else and then migra- decisions made by the Oli group. migration to the east Asian country tion to South Korea resumes?” said “There is no provision of adding for an indefinite period. Bhatta. “If I start my own business, members to the party committees as There are thousands like Sodari then I would again need to take loans the party has already fulfilled the 10 waiting for more than a year now to as I come from a middle-class family. percent allowed by the statute,” said get to South Korea having passed The government should at least clear- Bhim Rawal. both the tests. How long the wait ly tell us whether we are going or not.” >> Continued on page 2 will be is still unclear. >> Continued on page 2

C M Y K SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2021 | 02 NATIONAL Madhuban forests closed off to people over tiger attacks Five people have been killed in tiger attacks in the area so far this fiscal year.

KAMAL PANTHI death of the woman on Wednesday. “We do not even walk around the BARDIYA, MARCH 12 “Eight camera traps were installed village alone for fear of being eaten by in the forest area. We are looking at tigers. Our children are not allowed to Madhuban Municipality has prohibit- ways to minimise human-animal con- go outside alone,” said Saraswati Sah, ed local residents from entering Khata flict,” said Chief District Officer of a local resident in Madhuban Ward biological corridor and Samjhana Bardiya Santa Bahadur Sunar. No. 3. Community Forest due to the rising According to the data of the park, Wild animals are found roaming number of tiger attacks. eight people have already been killed around the Khata biological area and On Wednesday, a 29-year-old woman in separate tiger attacks in Bardiya. Katarniaghat Wildlife Reserve, say of Madhuban Ward No. 3 was killed in local residents. Madhuban residents a tiger attack. She had gone to the do not travel along the 2km stretch of community forest to collect fodder. The movement the Postal Highway from 10pm to 6am. Ganesh KC, mayor of Madhuban The local administration has request- Municipality, said his office has of wild animals ed all travels be avoided on the road banned local residents from entering stretch after 6pm. the forest and the biological corridor has increased in The residents of Dhanaura, to collect fodder and firewood and Kothiyaghat, Khata and Bhagraiya of graze their cattle. Bardiya’s Madhuban Khata biological corridor in “The movement of tigers has Municipality of late. Madhuban Municipality say they are increased in the biological corridor. frightened to walk around the villages Madhuban, which also shares a border even during the day. with Bahraich, India, has a dense for- “The park provides relief to the “We close our doors and windows in est cover along the border, heightening family of those killed in wildlife the evening to keep wild animals out. the risk of tiger attacks,” said KC. attacks. The families of those killed We don’t walk out alone even during In the current fiscal year, five indi- inside the buffer zone area are entitled the day,” said Phularam Tharu, a local viduals have already been killed in to Rs 1 million as relief,” said Bishnu resident of Bipatapur in Madhuban separate tiger attacks in the communi- Shrestha, chief conservation officer at Ward No. 3. “Last year, wild elephants ty forest area. “It is necessary to verify the park. “We also provide Rs 1,500 per had destroyed dozens of houses and the exact number of tigers in Bardiya month to single women and scholar- damaged crops in Madhuban.” National Park and see if they are all ships to the sons and daughters of the Three months ago, a Border Out being accommodated. We have also deceased.” Post of the Armed Police Force was started raising awareness in the com- According to the count of 2018, established in Madhuban. Asmit munities to minimise human-wildlife there were 87 tigers in the park. Chauhan, police inspector of the BOP, conflict. But forest and park authori- The residents of Bhagraiya in Ward said that the movement of tigers has ties should also do more to protect the No. 3 of Madhuban are terrorised by increased in this area. lives of people,” said KC. the growing number of tiger attacks. “We have observed frequent move- Camera traps have been installed in The villagers have stopped going out ment of tigers here in recent days,” various parts of the forest after the of their homes after 5pm. Chauhan said. Oli tightens his grip in UML ...

>> Continued from page 1 Supporters of Oli, however, insist that have been stripped of their responsi- “Every decision related to removing the decision to amend the party stat- bilities. The meeting has appointed POST PHOTO: ELITE JOSHI obstacles can only be taken through ute is legal as it was a special central Bishnu Poudel as chief of the party’s A monkey tries to take rice grains from a woman at Swayambhu Stupa, Kathmandu on Friday. the full majority of the Central committee meeting. organisational department and Rajan Committee,” the vice-chairman of the “The 10th Central Committee meet- Bhattarai as the head of the interna- party said after the meeting. ing on Friday decided to amend the tional department. Accusing Oli of refusing to reorgan- party statute,” said Khagaraj Before the CPN-UML and Maoist ise the party and instead trying to Adhikari, a Central Committee mem- Centre’s merger, Nepal used to dissolve it by taking unilateral deci- ber. “The 11th meeting was held a lead the international department of As Deuba gets nod to lead government ... sions, the Nepal faction has decided to while after the first meeting. Leaders the UML. reorganise the CPN-UML which from the Madhav Nepal group did not Vice-chair of the party Yubaraj >> Continued from page 1 “Since the general public has man- heading towards a positive direction. means they will form parallel commit- attend it as they were holding their Gyawali said the decision taken by Besides Deuba, Bimalendra Nidhi dated us to sit in the opposition, In discussions with the Nepali tees throughout the country. own meetings.” Oli’s faction was wrong in all aspects— and Krishana Prasad Sitaula repre- Nepali Congress should not lead the Congress, we said that protection of “On Wednesday we will hold a According to other leaders attend- political or legal. “We don’t accept any sented the Nepali Congress at Friday’s government but removal of Oli should the achievements like democracy, fed- national gathering and take necessary ing the meeting, the Oli-led group’s of the decisions,” said Gyawali. “Now meeting while Samajbadi Party was be the topmost priority,” said Arjun eralism and secularism should be decisions to reorganise the party,” meeting also decided to change the we will have to think whether to join represented by leaders Mahantha Narsingh KC, a central working com- given top most priority,” said Yadav. said Beduram Bhusal, a Standing existing responsibilities of leaders hands with Oli or not.” Thakur, Upendra Yadav, Baburam mittee member of the party. “Second, “We are meeting with Dahal tomor- Committee member of the UML. “We including those in charge of provin- He said Oli’s mission has not been Bhattarai, Rajendra Mahato and as people’s aspirations are high, we row and will discuss our bottom-line.” were expecting Oli would reorganise cial committees. completed after the court reinstated Ashok Rai. A leader close to Deuba have very little time to fulfil those Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa but he took decisions unilaterally so Leaders close to Nepal including the House and therefore he has more said that he is weighing and calculat- aspirations and therefore we should Kamal Dahal has already proposed we decided to reorganise the UML.” Bhim Acharya, Asta Laxmi Shakya, steps to take and this could be a part ing merits and demerits of leading the stay in the opposition. If all alterna- that the Congress lead the next gov- The ninth general convention of the Yubaraj Gyawali and Bhim Rawal of them. government or even joining one led by tives fail and the Nepali Congress ernment. UML held in 2014 had elected five But after widespread criticism of some other party. must lead the government, then we Despite reservations from Deuba vice-chairs, a general secretary, two the reports on the decisions taken by “What differences will it make for should issue a white paper on what we about leading the government, even deputy general secretaries and five the Oli faction, leaders from the Oli Deuba, who is looking for another will do in the next two years in gov- his rival faction led by Ram Chandra secretaries. faction have said the media’s coverage term as party president, if he leads ernment and what we can assure and Poudel wants him to be the next prime Bidya Devi Bhandari, the incum- was not accurate. the new government?” the leader said commit to the people.” minister. bent President, Bamdev Gautam, Issuing a statement, spokesperson on condition of anonymity. “And, the But there is a general consensus Before the meeting of the party’s Yubaraj Gyawali, Bhim Rawal, Asta Pradeep Gyawali said the meeting has bigger question is whether the Nepali within the Nepali Congress, Maoist senior leaders organised by Deuba, Laxmi Shakya were vice-chairs, amended the statute to incorporate Congress will win the upcoming elec- Centre and the Janata Samajbadi Poudel called a meeting of his group Ishwar Pokhrel was general secretary, the leaders coming from the CPN tions if it leads the next government.” Party that Oli must be removed. at party general secretary Shashanka Ghanashyam Bhusal and Bishnu (Maoist Centre) but has not taken The Congress general convention, During the meeting between senior Koirala’s residence and discussed Poudel were deputy general secretar- other decisions. He dismissed the which will elect a new leadership, is Nepali Congress and Samajbadi Party what position the Nepali Congress ies and Yogesh Bhattarai, Pradeep media reports as speculations. slated for August and there are several leaders, it was agreed that all three should take in the new government Gyawali, Bhim Acharya, Prithvi Following the meeting of the Nepal- leaders who have staked their claims parties should come together for the formation bid. Subba Gurung and Gokarna Bista led faction, senior leader Khanal said to the party presidency. sake of democracy, the system and to According to a Nepali Congress were secretaries. they will take necessary decisions in The next general election is expect- protect the achievements made leader who did not want to be named, Gautam so far had chosen not to response. ed to be held in 2022. “Secondly, the through the new constitution and Koirala said that although the party’s side with anyone—neither Oli nor “I have heard very strange things dynamics inside the ruling CPN-UML political struggles, leaders from both position is to “wait and watch”, its Nepal. But following Oli’s move he has that a meeting of our party took deci- is not yet clear as the party is likely to sides said. major focus is to form the new govern- commented that now the chances of sions,” said Khanal. “We will take face more turbulence,” the leader said. “We have agreed to make a common ment under its leadership by remov- joining hands with Oli have ended, necessary decisions after discussion “There must be some understanding position on various issues between the ing Oli. Gautam’s press adviser Bishwamani with our leaders.” between Oli and Deuba in the past on opposition parties,” Janata Samajbadi Gagan Thapa, another party leader, Subedi quoted the leader as saying. On Friday afternoon, Maoist Centre various political and other issues. So Chairperson Yadav said. “Our first pri- said that Oli has tampered with the Yubaraj Gyawali, Rawal, Shakya, Chairman Dahal was quick to indicate without settling these issues, it would ority is to protect the democracy and constitution and made several holes in Bhusal, Bhattarai, Acharya and Bista how things will now turn out. not be good for the party to take a deci- democratic institutions as Oli has it. Therefore, the Nepali Congress are close to Nepal. No members of the “UML cannot remain one in its sion to lead the next government.” attacked and injured them.” should lead the government for some Nepal-led faction were informed about existing form,” Dahal said while Deuba’s detractors within the The Samajbadi Party also has other time to repair the damage. Friday’s meetings. addressing party cadres in Rupandehi. Nepali Congress are of the view that concerns like constitutional amend- “We have to bid adieu to Oli because After the UML and the Maoist According to Dahal, either Oli will there is a tacit agreement between ments, removal of cases against Oli’s mandate has come to an end after Centre merged in May 2018, the be ousted after Nepal captures the Deuba and Oli on various issues. Madhesi people related to the Madhes the Supreme Court reinstated the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) decid- party or the Nepal faction will have to On the other hand, there is also a agitation of 2015 and the release of House. He has lost that moral ground ed not to give continuity to the revolt within the party. “Then we will view within the Nepali Congress that lawmaker Resham Chaudhary, who is to lead the government,” said Thapa. officer-bearers. be together and can become a larger the party should not lead the next gov- serving life imprisonment for his role “Although the people had mandated us Bishnu Poudel, however, was elevat- POST FILE PHOTO force,” said Dahal, about the prospect ernment but instead help the Maoist in the 2015 Tikapur riots in which to sit in the opposition this is a time of ed to the post of general secretary of Gyawali rebuffed media reports on decisions of his party merging with the Nepal Centre or Janata Samajbadi Party to nine people were killed. crisis. We have to take the lead and the Nepal Communist Party (NCP). taken by the Oli camp as speculations. faction eventually. lead it. “Talks with Nepali Congress are correct the mistakes Oli made.” Endless wait for Korea jobs frustrates youths as they question Nepal’s commitment >> Continued from page 1 100 candidates, under Sodari’s leader- the message of ‘wait and see’. our workers.” host government could be on ‘wait and But experts say the ongoing politi- According to Nepal government sta- ship to put pressure on these agencies According to Kumar Prasad Dahal, But if Shrestha’s case is anything to see’ mode before allowing Nepali cal instability means that the govern- tistics, more than 65,000 Nepali work- so that they can get to South Korea at director general at the Department of go by there is still demand for Nepali workers in, the Nepal government ment has not been able to focus. ers have gone to South Korea since the earliest. In July last year, frustrat- Foreign Employment, although workers. could have taken the required initia- “Recent political upheavals, change 2008 under the EPS. The East Asian ed with the delay, they even protested Nepalis’ migration to South Korea has “The company has been sending me tive all these months. of leadership in the Labour Ministry country remains the preferred labour at Maitighar Mandala. been halted for a long time, there has texts repeatedly asking when I would “First of all, we have to see whether with the new minister and secretary destination country for aspiring There are nearly 8,000 Nepali work- been no change in policy, meaning join,” he told the Post. our government is even interested in and relations between the political Nepali migrants for its better pay, ers, including first-timers and return- they can still go. Like thousands of other workers, sending these workers,” said Swarna leadership and bureaucrats must have safety and other facilities ees, who have contracts for the second “The Covid-19 pandemic affected Shrestha is also worried that pro- Kumar Jha, a migration expert who is affected the whole scenario,” said Jha. compared to destination countries in stints in Korea, waiting, according to the migration to South Korea,” said longed uncertainty might cost him his also a coordinator of the National “A G2G deal in supplying Nepali the Persian Gulf. government data. Dahal. “But as there are no policy bar- job in South Korea. Network for Safe Migration. “If it is, workers makes it even easier to dis- Starting from January 2021, the Prakash Shrestha from Ramechhap riers, we hope that some candidates “Contracts of around 40 percent of then there could be a diplomatic cuss the matter at a high level, if not minimum wage in South Korea has had returned home in December 2019 will be sent this month or the next.” workers who wanted to return to my intervention.” physically then virtually. The Nepali been hiked by 1.5 percent from South during a job break. He had the option South Korea has started taking company have been cancelled as they Candidates too blame it on the mission in South Korea must be tak- Korean won 8,590 per hour to 8,720 of rejoining the same job after his workers from Vietnam and Cambodia could not report on time. The employ- government’s failure to negotiate ing its initiatives, but at times such a (approximately Rs892) per hour. leave. through sampling, according to Dahal. er cannot wait for months,” said diplomatically with the Korean decision should also come from the If a labourer works 209 hours every “I had signed the contract that I “But Nepal is still placed among Shrestha. “I fear the same for myself.” government. Nepal government or a high month, the labourer can now earn would return in three months. I want- high-risk countries, and therefore, When the Post reached out to the “All they give is a readymade answer level, which does not seem to have 1,822,480 won (or around Rs 186,398). ed to return as it is a well-paying job. I Nepali workers’ departures have not South Korean Embassy in Kathmandu that it will resume soon and they are happened.” The minimum new wage in the coun- could again work for four years and resumed yet,” he added. to inquire over the ongoing delay in waiting for a response from Korean Meanwhile, workers like Sodari try is applied to all industries. ten months,” said Shrestha, who has Government authorities have been sending workers, they refused to talk authorities,” said Sodari. “The have no option but to wait. The wait so Meanwhile, people like Sodari and been living in Kathmandu doing noth- saying that it’s the South Korean side and instead suggested consulting with bureaucrats alone cannot do much far has already been long enough. Bhatta have been thronging the gov- ing for nearly a year now. “While I that has not allowed Nepali workers to the EPS Centre, the Nepal chapter of unless the labour minister or the for- “I had to take loans to fund my ernment agencies like the Ministry of have been spending my hard-earned enter the country. the Human Resources Development eign minister or even the prime minis- Korean language preparation and stay Labour, Employment and Social money in Nepal, the government “Despite having a govern- Service, South Korea. ter steps in to resolve our issues.” in Kathmandu. I invested tens of thou- Security, Department of Foreign should clearly say whether we would ment-to-government agreement deal The EPS Centre, in return, did not Dahal agrees that a diplomatic reso- sands of rupees and worked hard for Employment and Employment Permit ever reach Korea or not.” with the Korean government, demand comment and asked the Post to talk to lution could speed up the issue. eight months,” said Sodari. “Starting System (EPS) Korea Section to inquire However, so far, Sodari, for workers has to come from the pri- the Employment Permit System (EPS) “A high-level diplomatic discussion from 2018, I have already spent three about their prospects of reaching Bhatta, Shrestha and thousands of vate sector. If they do not demand our Korea Section under the Department could possibly lead to removing Nepal years for the Korean job. I never knew South Korea. others do not see any light at the end workers, then the government cannot of Foreign Employment. from high-risk countries and resump- it would take so long. My family mem- They have even formed ‘EPS of the tunnel. do anything,” said Dahal. “Once the But labour migration experts and tion of Nepali workers’ departure,” bers and I are frustrated over the Victims Family’, a loose group of over All they hear from the authorities is demand pours in, they have to take aspiring migrants say that while the said Dahal. future of my job.”

C M Y K 03 | SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2021

C M Y K SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2021 | 04 NATIONAL

BRIEFING

Journalist Sharma no more

PHOTO: SHARMA’S TWITTER KATHMANDU: Journalist Sushil Sharma died on Friday afternoon. He was 63. Sharma died at Om Hospital in Chabahil, Kathmandu, said Bigyan Sharma, his brother. Sharma worked for a long time for BBC Nepali Service. He was known for his POST PHOTO: ANGAD DHAKAL interviews, news commentaries Members of the Broad Citizens’ Movement take part in a march demanding that all native languages be given official status, in Lalitpur on Friday. and analysis. He is survived by his wife and a son.

Labourers deprived of wages RUKUM (EAST): Ninety labourers of Jamakhola Micro Hydropower Rebuttal to international rights concerns draws flak Project in Ward No. 8 of Sisne Rural Municipality have been deprived of their wages for the last 18 months. The National Human Rights Commission’s response to statements by Human Rights Watch and others is unprincipled, unwarranted, ex-officials say. The consumer’s committee has not paid wages to those workers who had repaired a damaged hydropower BINOD GHIMIRE tunate that the statement questions Ansari’s sentiment, therefore, is undermine its authority. The bill, chair and the members of the commis- plant after a landslide one-and-a-half- KATHMANDU, MARCH 12 sanctity and the credibility of the widely shared among human rights which proposes the constitutional sions should resign to maintain the years ago. Naribhan Sarki, one of the human rights institutions of Nepal advocates. commission to recommend the cases it credibility and dignity of the commis- labourers, said, “The hydropower pro- On March 7 the National Human which is a party to most of the funda- They say it is the job of the constitu- has investigated to the attorney sion. “Resignation of the incumbent ject has come into operation operat- Rights Commission issued a state- mental human rights treaties.” tional commissions to monitor the general, is pending in the federal par- team appointed without following a ing now. But we are still deprived of ment in response to a statement by “It is very surprising to know that government’s activities and hold it liament. due process is a prerequisite for the wages.” The consumer committee is three international human rights the international human rights organ- accountable but the constitutional The government did not push for commission,” said Raju Prasad yet to release around Rs 1.1 organisations saying that they were isations tacitly urge the international watchdog’s move shows it could derail the endorsement following criticism Chapagain, a human rights lawyer million in wages. interfering in the internal matter of a community in an indirect way not to from its constitutional duties. from different quarters. However, it also a chair of Constitutional Lawyers’ sovereign nation. cooperate with the commission which Govinda Sharma Paudyal, another has refused to revise provisions that Forum, in a programme held to dis- On March 1, the New York-based has been working hard to serve the former member of the commission, curtail the authority of the constitu- cuss the recommendations in the Nine couples felicitated for Human Rights Watch, the Geneva- people of Nepal in the field of human said the statement from the commis- tional bodies. recent Universal Periodic Review. using contraception based International Commission of rights,” it added. sion added to the suspicion that the “The government always tries to “The commission led by an unconsti- PALPA: Rainadevi Chhahara Rural Jurists, and London-based Amnesty But former office-bearers in the commission might compromise in its control the constitutional bodies,” tutionally appointed chair and mem- Municipality in the district felicitated International had urged the govern- commission and the human rights role to keep the authorities in check in said Ansari. “It is the commission that bers cannot perform its job to protect nine couples for permanent contra- ment to immediately withdraw the lawyers say the rebuttal was the human rights issues. needs to stand against it on the first human rights and advocate for a rule ception after delivering two daugh- appointments to the National Human unprincipled and unwarranted and it hand. The incumbent leadership has of law.” ters. Ram Bahadur Karki, chairman Rights Commission that undermines looked like the constitutional human opened a door for further interfer- Even if they do not resign, the team of the rural municipality, said, “The the independence of constitutional rights watchdog was defending the The government ence.” could lose their jobs if the ordinance rural municipality felicitated couples human rights bodies as they were government. During his first stint as the prime to amend the Constitutional Council who decided for permanent contra- made without consultation or parlia- “The statement from the commis- hasn’t done enough minister, Oli in 2015 had summoned (Functions, Duties, and Procedures) ception after delivering daughters to mentary approval. sion surprised me. Human rights is to strengthen rights the commission’s team after Ansari Act does not pass through Parliament end gender discrimination. This type The appointments in question were not an internal matter. It very much addressed the UN Human Rights as the opposition is opposing it. of programme is important to raise among the 38 recommendations made has an international jurisdiction,” body, critics say. Council in Geneva saying the govern- The first meeting of the reinstated awareness in society. We hope the by the Constitutional Council on Mohna Ansari, a former member at ment had used force on protesters House of Representatives was programme will equalise sons and December 15 in 11 different constitu- the commission, told the Post. “By against the constitution. obstructed by then-Pushpa Kamal daughters.” tional bodies after the amendment to defending the move to issue the ordi- As for the March 7 statement of the Dahal and Madhav Kumar Nepal fac- the Constitutional Council (Functions, nance, the commission spoke on “The commission was expected to commission, even officials at the tion of the Nepal Communist Party Duties, and Procedures) Act, through behalf of the government.” pressurise the government in expedit- commission are unhappy with the and other opposition parties demand- Tharu community excited over an ordinance, allowing the council to Nepal is a party to the various inter- ing the endorsement of amendment of statements. ing the withdrawal of the ordinance recommend names in the presence of national human rights conventions the National Human Rights “I fear that our commission could issued to revise the Act. Covid-19 vaccination three of the six members. and instruments and its laws and Commission Act-2012 after a neces- get downgraded,” a senior official at The Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist TIKAPUR: The Tharu community in On February 3, President Bidya mechanisms must therefore adhere to sary revision,” he told the Post. the commission told the Post on the Centre), and Janata Samajbadi Party Sudurpaschim is excited to get vacci- Devi Bhattarai administered the oath basic international principles. The “However, it has sided with the gov- condition of anonymity. “The imma- Nepal have said they will fail the ordi- nated against Covid-19 after the gov- to 32 of them while the writ against constitutional human rights watch- ernment by defending the ordinance.” turity of the newly-appointed team is nance administered by KP Sharma Oli ernment started an immunisation the ordinance was sub-judice in the dog in Nepal has the responsibility to Though the Constitution of Nepal going to cost high.” government on December 15 campaign to inoculate senior citizens. Supreme Court. monitor if the conventions are fol- mandates to amend the 2012’s Act of The commission graded ‘A’ by the allowing the Constitutional Council to Bal Bahadur Rawal, chief at the “The illegitimate appointments pro- lowed and the people have gotten their the commission to make it compatible Global Alliance of National Human convene its meeting presence of three Health Section of Tikapur cess is not simply an abstract irregu- rights enshrined in the statute. with the changed context, it hasn’t Rights Institutions for its compliance members. Municipality, said around 4,000 larity but will lead to ineffective and Further, since it is a member of the been done yet. with the Paris Principles, which were Further, the case is also sub-judice elderly citizens in the local unit weak implementation of critical man- United Nations Human Rights Council Not only is the government not keen adopted by the UN General Assembly as not including the Speaker of the have been vaccinated until now. dates to protect human rights and Nepal has an added obligation to pres- to strengthen the National Human as the basic standards governing House of Representatives and the According to the estimation of other rule of law objectives,” read the ent an example as a member of the Rights Commission’s mandate but the mandate and operation of leader of the opposition is against the the municipality, there are around March 1 statement. council, it has the job to assess the wants to weaken the existing one. effective national human rights organ- spirit of the constitution those oppos- 11,000 individuals above age 55 In its rebuttal, the National Human human rights situation across In April 2019 it registered an amend- isations. ing the amendment have argued in in the municipality. Rights Commission said, “It is unfor- the globe. ment bill to the Act with a provision to Human rights lawyers say that the their petition to the court. Four people arrested for possessing 2.5 kgs Council to monitor all of what police say is radioactive material projects run by Nepali Police claim the material to be uranium-238, but scientists say it is yet to be confirmed. non-governmental bodies PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA grammes annually. Around 1,200 pro- SHUVAM DHUNGANA KATHMANDU, MARCH 12 grammes are approved every year. KATHMANDU, MARCH 12 Jitram Lama, president of NGO The Social Welfare Council will moni- Federation, said the council has Metropolitan Police Office, Ranipokhari on Thursday tor and evaluate all the programmes been unable to monitor all the said it has seized what it called a highly radioactive being run by local non-governmental programmes run by non-governmen- material, around 2.5 kg, from Boudha. organisations. tal organisations as it was busy Four people have been arrested. So far, only one-fourth of the pro- looking into the projects under According to Senior Superintendent Sushil Singh grammes were being monitored and international non-governmental Rathour, spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police evaluated annually due to inadequate organisations. Office, Ranipokhari, the arrest was made on a tip-off. human resources, according to the “We expect the council to perform “We were informed that some people were trying council officials. its task of monitoring the projects to sell uranium after which our team raided the To facilitate the monitoring, the under NGOs as well after its decision house of one of the arrestees at Boudha and arrested council has decided to charge fees to to charge fees beforehand during the her and three others,” said Rathour. “The arrestees the non-governmental organisations programme approval process,” Lama have been kept in Kathmandu Metropolitan Police before their programmes are said. Range for further investigation.” approved. The council is preparing to mobilise Police claim the seized radioactive material to be The fees, which have been fixed university students for the project uranium-238. based on programme size, range from monitoring and evaluation of pro- Uranium-238 is the most common isotope of urani- Rs5,000 to Rs500,000. For programmes grammes with limited budget. um found in nature and accounts for more than 99 with the budget of up to Rs1 million This, according to Khati, will percent of all naturally occurring uranium. the monitoring facilitation fee has address the issue of shortage of This form of uranium, though highly radioactive, been set at Rs5,000. Likewise, pro- human resources. is said to be of no use for making nuclear weapons. grammes that are above Rs500 million The council has signed memoranda Police said they were yet to ascertain the worth of will be charged Rs500,000. of understanding with five universi- the confiscated material. The fees should be paid to the coun- ties for the purpose. According to preliminary investigation, said cil before the programme approval, “We are also preparing to sign simi- police, one of the arrestees had the material at her PHOTO COURTESY: NEPAL POLICE/FACEBOOK unlike in the past when organisations lar MoU with other universities as home in Boudha “for a very long time.” According to preliminary investigation, one of the arrestees had the material at her home in Boudha ‘for a long time’. had to pay the fees just before the mon- well,” said Khati. “Her father-in-law used to work in uranium mines itoring process. The new system is also expected to in India some two decades ago. The man brought contains highly radioactive material, but we are yet enriched. It was not clear immediately whether the “We are already charging monitor- ensure transparency. home some uranium with him and had kept it at his to ascertain what exactly it is,” Dhungel told the Post confiscated material, even if it is uranium-238, can ing and evaluation fees to internation- “NGOs won’t be able to influence home,” said Senior Superintendent Ashok Singh, over the phone. be turned into a dirty bomb. al non-governmental organisations the evaluators for favourable reports chief of Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Range. Uranium is used in nuclear plants and nuclear “However, this is a cause for concern if someone is before programme approval. under the new system. We hope the Her father-in-law is now 86 years old and currently weapons but there is no agency, technology or centre making an attempt to sell or smuggle uranium,” said The same provision is being imple- council’s new measure will discour- lives in the United States, according to Singh. in Nepal where this material can be used, according Dhungel. “Police must carry out a thorough investi- mented in the case of non-governmen- age such tendencies,” said Lama. “After learning that it was a high-value material, to Dhungel. gation, as smugglers could use Nepal as a transit tal organisations,” said Pushkar There are a total of 51,513 local she tried to sell it with the help of three other peo- But the form of uranium used in nuclear plants point to smuggle radioactive materials into neigh- Khati, member secretary at the NGOs affiliated with the council. But, ple,” said Singh. “We confirmed from the Nepal and nuclear weapons is uranium-235 and not urani- bouring countries like India and China.” council. over 100,000 have been registered at Academy of Science and Technology that the confis- um-238, which the police claim to have seized from The District Administration Office, Kathmandu, Khati said if organisations are the District Administration Office as cated item was raw uranium-238.” the arrestees. Uranium-235 makes up about 0.72 per- has granted permission to keep all four arrestees in made to pay the fees during the pro- of fiscal year 2017-18, according to the Dr Suresh Kumar Dhungel, spokesperson for the cent of natural uranium. custody for five days for further investigation under gramme approval process, the council Office of Auditor General. Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, however, Unlike uranium-238, the predominant form of the Explosive Act-2018, Singh told the post. will be compelled to conduct the mon- The government has been more said they were yet to verify if the confiscated materi- uranium found in nature, uranium-235 is fissile, “Further investigation is underway,” he added. itoring and evaluation. assertive to regulate local and interna- al is uranium-238. which means it can sustain a fission chain reaction. Police said that this is the first of its kind arrest in The council conducts monitoring tional non-government organisations “From the sample, we found out that the substance To use uranium-238 in nuclear weapons, it must be Nepal, where people were trying to sell uranium. and evaluation of around 300 pro- in the recent years.

C M Y K 05 | SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2021 MONEY

FOREX US Dollar 116.76 Potato farmers all smiles because of steady prices Euro 139.12

Pound Sterling 162.44 Sindhupalchok district produces 65,750 tonnes of potatoes annually, according to the agriculture office.

Japanese Yen 10.70 ANISH TIWARI The number of farmers engaged in Chinese Yuan 17.94 SINDHUPALCHOK, MARCH 12 commercial potatoes farming has been increasing due to various sup- Qatari Riyal 32.06 Farmer Keshav Thapa of Balephi port programmes, he said. Australian Dollar 90.42 Rural Municipality, Phulpingkot, sold Traders appear at the farmers’ his potato harvest at Rs27 per kg this homes with trucks to load potatoes, Malaysian Ringit 28.35 year. He is happy to see traders visit- and even make advance payment, in ing farmers to buy their potato crops, potato growing areas like Bramhayani, Saudi Arab Riyal 31.13 the third most important food crop Melamchi, Indrawati, Mude, Jugal Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank after rice and wheat, and a staple for Gapa, Helambu and Panchpokhari. 1.3 billion people across the globe. Traders said that summer and win- “It’s potato harvesting time and ter potatoes have different values and PRICE PER TOLA everyone is busy,” Thapa said. importance. BULLION Normally, at this time of the year, Potatoes produced in the winter sea- potato prices fall to their lowest due to son, particularly the famous Mude Fine Gold Rs 86,200 a post-harvest glut in supply. But potatoes, fetch an average price of farmers said that demand increased Rs60 per kg in the market, more than Silver Rs 1,270 after the lockdown last March, and the double the rate of other brands. vegetable continues to be sought after In the summer, the district produces SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA this year too. 15,247 tonnes of potatoes, out of which During the virus lockdown, fresh 7,624 tonnes are shipped to the potatoes became a favourite for all Kathmandu Valley, said Panthi. because they were inexpensive and The winter potato harvest amounts GASOLINE WATCH easily available. to 50,503 tonnes, and 35,352 tonnes are “I earned Rs100,000 from my potato dispatched to the Kathmandu Valley, crop this year,” said Thapa. “The he said. “This shows that winter pota- income from potatoes is good. That’s toes, which are considered a quality why everyone is growing them. crop, are in greater demand in Production has also swelled, and Kathmandu.” everyone in the village made a lot POST FILE PHOTO Potato is a staple crop in the high of money.” Farmers cultivate potatoes at all times of the year—in the summer, rainy and winter seasons—and in the hills and mountains. hills of Nepal. It is one of the impor- Kavita Majhi, 54, sold her potatoes tant crops for addressing food insecu- at Sipaghat bazaar which lies on the Sindhupalchok district are sold under season, all farmers can be seen work- annually. The summer and winter rity in the country. Nepal produced border between Kabhre and Melamchi the brand name Mude’s Quality ing busily in their fields digging out harvest are valued at about Rs600 mil- 3.11 million tonnes of potato in 2018- municipalities. She is not worried as Potato. In 2016, the District the potatoes from the ground. lion annually. 19, according to the figures of the her harvest has increased this year. Agricultural Office of Sindhupalchok The banks of the Bramhayani, “In the summer, which is also the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock “We have seen hordes of traders granted the label to the district’s most Indrawati, Melamchi and Jyadikhola rainy season, farmers grow potatoes Development. from Melamchi, Dhulikhel, Banepa famous product as part of its brand- rivers are a scene of hectic activity worth Rs160 million. The winter pota- Import trends show that the and even Kathmandu coming ing exercise. with farmers and traders gathering to harvest in Sindhupalchok is valued country’s output falls short of the to the farmers’ fields to buy potatoes,” Apart from Mude, the potatoes are potatoes and packing them into sacks. at Rs424.24 million,” said Durgadatta requirement. According to agro she said. “Demand for potatoes lasts widely and commercially grown in The Bramhayani corridor is Panthi, an agriculture extension experts, Nepal was self-sufficient year-round.” different parts of Sindhupalchok and emerging as a commercial potato pro- officer at the Agriculture Knowledge in potato production until a few According to Majhi, the potatoes neighbouring Dolakha district. ducing area. Centre, formerly the District years ago, but imports have been produced in Balephi Rural Farmers cultivate potatoes at all According to the statistics of the Agriculture Development Office. swelling of late. Municipality always get their value times of the year—in the summer, agriculture office, three municipali- About 80 percent of the farmers are Nepal bought foreign potatoes due to the quality, and it’s not difficult rainy and winter seasons—and in the ties and nine rural municipalities engaged in growing potatoes, and the worth Rs6.32 billion in fiscal 2019-20, to sell them in the market. hills and mountains. in Sindhupalchok produce a potato acreage is about 10,000 hec- as per the statistics of the Customs The potatoes grown in Mude, In mid-February, the peak harvest combined 65,750 tonnes of potatoes tares, Panthi said. Department. Warren Buffett’s Facebook, Google fight bill that India likely to block fortune tops $100 billion as would help US news industry China’s Huawei over fund that public good is by construct- his stock soars ing a cartel,” said CCIA President security fears, officials say Matt Schruers. ASSOCIATED PRESS The group opposed a 2019 version of REUTERS OMAHA, MARCH 12 the legislation and views the proposed NEW DELHI, MARCH 12 joint bargaining as a way of restrict- Investor Warren Buffett’s fortune ing competition. Carl Szabo of India is likely to block its mobile surged above $100 billion on NetChoice said his goal was to kill the carriers from using telecom equip- Wednesday when shares of his bill or at least convince lawmakers to ment made by China’s Huawei, two company hit a record high at over amend it so that it would be restricted government officials said, under pro- $400,000 apiece. to smaller publications, excluding out- curement rules due to come into force Berkshire Hathaway’s Class A lets such as the Washington Post or in June. shares climbed to $407,750 on New York Times. New Delhi is wary about awarding Wednesday before giving up some “I don’t think they should be doing new technology business to Chinese ground to close the day at $398,840. this legislation, period,” he said. “This firms both because of security The Class B shares of the Omaha, legislation allows the Washington fears and a desire to get Indian manu- Nebraska, based conglomerate were REUTERS Post and New York Times and other facturers to produce more telecoms selling for a much more affordable A sign is pictured outside a Google office near the company’s headquarters in California. big papers to call the shots for the equipment. price of $263.99. smaller outlets.” A YS campaign to curb Huawei has Berkshire’s shares have generally REUTERS the tech firms, which are facing anti- Some industry observers say the triggered bans or limits on the use of been increasing over the past two WASHINGTON, MARCH 12 trust lawsuits and the threat of more proposal could disproportionately its equipment around the world but REUTERS weeks since Buffett released his annu- regulation. benefit private equity firms and hedge the situation in India has been ampli- A file photo of the Huawei logo during the al letter to shareholders late last Lobbyists for Facebook and Google Google, which declined comment on funds that have snatched up medium fied by strained relations between Mobile World Congress in Shanghai, China. month. Even with the coronavirus threw their weight against new US the proposal, launched a website on and large newspaper chains. New Delhi and Beijing over their pandemic weighing on many of legislation that seeks to aid struggling Thursday asserting it is “one of the Newspapers such as the Chicago shared border. industry analysts say. Berkshire’s businesses, the company news publishers by allowing them to world’s biggest financial supporters Tribune and the Miami Herald are India’s telecoms department said on The Chinese firm’s equipment and reported a $35.8 billion fourth-quarter negotiate collectively against the tech of journalism” by virtue of the ad controlled by the likes of Alden Global Wednesday that after June 15 carriers network maintenance contracts are profit, largely due to paper gains on companies over revenue sharing and revenue and content licensing fees it Capital and Chatham Asset can only buy certain types of equip- typically cheaper than European com- the value of its investments. other deals. provides to media. Google said its Management. ment from government-approved petitors such as Ericsson and Nokia Buffett’s fortune, which is mostly US lawmakers introduced the plan search engine sends readers to The bills come not long after “trusted sources” and said New and there is limited availability of tied to his ownership of 248,734 Class in Congress on Wednesday to publishers’ websites 24 billion times Facebook battled with Australia Delhi could also create a “no procure- such gear in India. A shares, topped $101 billion at the address a perceived power imbalance per month. over how much it should pay news ment” blacklist. Huawei is likely to India has begun to fast-track stock’s peak Wednesday. But he would between news outlets and the Also opposing the bill are two tech- publishers for their content. During feature on this embargoed list, the two approvals of some of the more than be worth significantly more if he tech giants. Critics accuse the compa- nology industry trade groups that the fight, Facebook blacked out officials, who declined to be named, 150 Chinese investment proposals hadn’t been giving away large blocks nies of using content to drive Facebook and Google belong to—the Australian news pages and only told Reuters. worth over $2 billion it had put on of Berkshire Hathaway stock annual- traffic and ad revenue to their plat- Computer & Communications restored them once the government “We cannot prioritise economic hold after a June standoff between the ly to the Bill and Melinda Gates forms without fairly compensating Industry Association and NetChoice. granted concessions. gains if an investment poses national two neighbours on the disputed Foundation and several other chari- the publishers. “Objective news coverage is a pub- Facebook declined comment on the security risk,” one of the officials Himalayan border. ties since 2006. The move adds to pressure on lic good, but we don’t think the way to new US legislation. said. “We have started giving some The telecoms department, which approvals to investment proposals did not comment on Thursday about even from China, but we will not give Huawei, is yet to provide further any approvals in sectors like telecom details on the plans for trusted sourc- infrastructure and financials,” a sen- es or a procurement blacklist. ior government official told Reuters. As vaccine nationalism deepens, governments However, a third official, who also The officials also said that India is declined to be named, told Reuters unlikely to overturn last year’s ban on that ZTE Corp, another Chinese firm more than 100 Chinese mobile apps or which has a smaller presence in India, allow Chinese companies to bid for pay to bring production home could also be excluded. stakes in state-run firms such as Air Huawei and ZTE are under scrutiny India and refiner Bharat Petroleum backs deprived European Union mem- also pays to keep power plants in The vaccine crunch in Europe has for allegedly installing “backdoor” Corp Ltd. India plans to raise $23.57 REUTERS bers of drugs made on their own soil reserve,” Haseloff told Reuters. shown that states that depend on vulnerabilities to spy for the Chinese billion in the 12 months from April 1 DESSAU (GERMANY), MARCH 12 this year. From Australia to Thailand, Unlike the United States, where the deliveries from multinationals can be government. Both have denied the by selling state-run companies. states planning home-based vaccine government’s Operation Warp Speed vulnerable. In January, AstraZeneca allegations and Huawei has previous- India’s finance ministry did not In the German town of Dessau, one of plants are starting to reshape the began funding the expansion and ret- cut supplies to the bloc by more than ly told Reuters it is ready to enter into respond to a request for comment. the sites of the Bauhaus art school, an industry. rofit of pharmaceutical manufactur- half for the first and second quarters, a “no backdoor” deal with India to The India-China border clash, the institute was set up in 1921 to The German venture has the back- ing sites early in the pandemic, few and told Brussels it was not able to allay security concerns. (https://reut. worst in nearly four decades, had mass-produce vaccines that later ing of the regional government, as countries globally have the option to divert Belgian-made drugs that rs/3bCS9V8) soured already fragile relations and helped strengthen the German part of a national effort to secure sup- commandeer factories. The German were earmarked for the United Huawei and ZTE did not immediate- “regaining trust would be a long road Democratic Republic. Exactly 100 plies and add vaccines to Germany’s plan is one of more than half a dozen Kingdom. The cut heightened ten- ly respond to requests for comment. from here”, one of the sources said. years later, the site is gearing up to be exports. Saxony-Anhalt premier by governments around the world to sions between London and Brussels Two of India’s three big telecoms India’s technology ministry did a one-stop shop to produce Covid-19 Reiner Haseloff said he believes avert shortages by supporting drug and prompted European leaders to carriers, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone not respond to a request for comment vaccines for Germany’s pandemic Germany could become a swing pro- companies’ local production. set curbs on exports of vaccines Idea, use Huawei gear. Any restriction on app bans. response. ducer of vaccines, in the same way Some—including Australia, Brazil, made in the EU—starting this month, on Huawei gear It’s just one example of a rash of that power companies maintain capac- Japan and Thailand—are setting up when Italy blocked exports of is likely to efforts by governments across the ity for times of strong demand. manufacturing partnerships with AstraZeneca’s shot. push up costs, globe to access fragmented vaccine “Ultimately, this is comparable to Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca The Covid pandemic is production, after manufacturing set- the energy industry, where the state PLC. Elsewhere, Italy has pledged an unprecedented chal- state backing for a public-private vac- lenge to inoculate billions. cine production centre, while Austria, While the drugs are badly Denmark and Israel plan a joint needed in the near term, research and development fund and such piecemeal plans will explore whether to produce their reflect the lack of any own next-generation vaccines. coherent global strategy India plays a significant role in vac- to cover vaccination in a cine production globally, and the pandemic, which the United States, Japan and Australia world needs, according also plan to help finance vaccine pro- to Robert Van Exan, a duction capacity there, a senior US onsultant and former administration official told Reuters. Sanofi executive. The moves aim to address a global “It takes time to build shortage of doses. With vaccines key that infrastructure to restart economies, some countries properly, and some REUTERS have pre-purchase agreements to thought has to go into it,” Staff works at the vaccine maker IDT Biologika production in Dessau Rosslau, Germany. secure their supply. Van Exan said.

C M Y K SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2021 | 06 WORLD Thailand suspends AstraZeneca vaccine Myanmar sees more rollout as Biden eyes Independence Day protests as South Korea Australia, Mexico and the Philippines say they will continue their rollouts as they had found no reason to alter course. suspends exchange

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE REUTERS The Nobel Peace Prize laureate now BANGKOK, MARCH 12 Virus resurges as India YANGON, MARCH 12 faces four comparatively minor charg- es, such as illegally importing six Thailand on Friday joined several slowly vaccinates more Myanmar activists held more rallies walkie-talkie radios and flouting coro- European nations in suspending the against the junta on Friday as South navirus curbs. AstraZeneca vaccine over blood NEW DELHI: India has registered its Korea said it would suspend defence “This accusation is the most hilari- clot fears, despite a range of health worst single-day increase in coronavi- exchanges and reconsider develop- ous joke,” Suu Kyi’s lawyer Khin authorities around the world insisting rus cases since late December as the ment aid to the Southeast Asian Maung Zaw said in a statement posted it was safe. western state of Maharashtra battles nation because of the military’s harsh on social media. “She might have The move came just hours after US a resurgence. crackdown on the protests. other weaknesses but she doesn’t have President Joe Biden offered Covid- India’s health ministry on Friday Friday’s rallies came a day after a weakness in moral principle.” weary Americans hope of a return to reported 23,285 new cases of Covid-19 rights group said security forces Thursday was one of the deadliest some kind of normality by July 4, in the past 24 hours. killed 12 protesters and as the lawyer days since the military took power. marking the national holiday as It’s the highest daily rise since of deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi Among the dead were eight people his target for “independence” from December 24, according to govern- ridiculed new bribery allegations killed in the central town of Myaing the virus. ment data. India has so far reported against her. when security forces fired on a pro- After a shaky start, the US has more than 11.3 million cases of coro- The deaths took to more than 70 the test, the AAPP said. ramped up its vaccination pro- navirus infection, the world’s sec- number of protesters killed since the In Yangon, protester Chit Min Thu gramme, following the advice of scien- ond-highest total after the United coup, the Assistance Association for was killed in the North Dagon district. tists who say jabs are the only way out States. The cases had been falling Political Prisoners (AAPP) advocacy His wife, Aye Myat Thu, told Reuters of a pandemic that has killed 2.6 mil- steadily since a peak in late September, group said. he had insisted on joining the protests lion people around the world. but experts say increased public gath- “Despite repeated demands of the despite her appeals that he stay home But global hopes received a blow erings and laxity toward public health international community, including for the sake of their son. Thursday when Denmark, Norway, guidance is leading to the latest surge. South Korea, there are an increasing “He said it’s worth dying for,” she Iceland, Italy and Romania postponed The increase in new cases is being number of victims in Myanmar due to said through her tears. “He is worried or limited the rollout of their quota of reported in six states, including violent acts of the military and police about people not joining the protest. Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines after Maharashtra, where authorities have authorities,” South Korea’s foreign If so, democracy will not return to isolated reports of recipients develop- announced a lockdown in densely pop- ministry said in a statement. the country.” ing blood clots. ulated Nagpur city. It said Seoul would suspend defence The bloodshed also came hours Thailand followed suit on Friday. A weeklong complete lockdown will exchanges, ban arms exports, limit after the United Nations Security Health regulators stressed there AP/RSS be implemented next week, officials exports of other strategic items, Council had called for restraint from was no evidence of any link, but A health worker holds a bottle of AstraZeneca vaccine with name of Thailand’s Prime Minister said. The vaccine drive will, however, reconsider development aid and grant the army, which has been trying to put they were acting out of an abundance Prayuth Chan-ocha written on it. Prayuth cancelled the plan to receive the shot following the continue in the city. (AP) humanitarian exemptions allowing down daily anti-coup protests and par- of caution. reports on blood clots and suspension in some European countries. Myanmar nationals to stay in South alysing strikes. Australia, Mexico and the Korea until the situation improved. Pro-democracy activists urged peo- Philippines said they would continue Covid-19. He said Americans could shares plunged more than 2.5 percent May because of the acceleration of its Protests were held in Yangon, ple not to be cowed and in posts on their rollouts as they had found no overcome the virus if they worked on the London Stock Exchange own programme. In another boost for Myanmar’s biggest city, and several social media called for night demon- reason to alter course. Canada said together and followed health experts’ over the vaccine concerns, for vaccine hopes, a real-world study in other towns on Friday, social media strations on Friday and for strikes and there was no evidence the jab causes guidelines on wearing masks and get- censure over its failure to meet deliv- Israel showed the Pfizer/BioNTech photographs posted by witnesses civil disobedience campaigns that adverse reactions. ting vaccinated. ery promises. jabs to be 97 percent effective against and news organisations showed. have paralysed swathes of the econo- Thailand’s decision led to the “Just as we are emerging from a The head of the EU’s coronavirus symptomatic Covid cases, higher than There were no immediate reports my to continue. embarrassing spectacle of Prime dark winter into a hopeful spring and vaccine supply task force said the pace originally thought. of violence. Candlelight vigils by protesters in Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha abruptly summer is not the time to not stick of the company’s production was “not Since first emerging in China at the The country has been in crisis since defiance of a curfew have been held cancelling his own televised jab. with the rules,” he said. good enough” to meet its obligations end of 2019, the coronavirus has the army ousted Suu Kyi’s elected more frequently in recent weeks. “Vaccine injection for Thais If Americans stay the course, they for the first quarter of the year, the infected more than 118 million people, government in a February 1 coup, United Nations human rights inves- must be safe, we do not have to be may be able to mark their cherished latest in a bitter spat between the with few parts of the globe left detained her and officials of her tigator Thomas Andrews told the in a hurry,” said Piyasakol July 4th national holiday in somewhat 27-nation bloc and the company. untouched. National League for Democracy party United Nations Human Rights Council Sakolsatayadorn, an adviser for the normal circumstances, with a back- “AstraZeneca vaccines delivery: I Countries have jostled for the most and set up a ruling junta of generals. in Geneva the military may have com- country’s Covid-19 vaccine committee. yard barbecue, he said. see efforts, but not ‘best efforts’,” effective vaccines and enough doses to Junta spokesman Brigadier General mitted crimes against humanity. He In the US, Biden laid out the path “That will make this Independence Thierry Breton wrote on Twitter. inoculate their populations, in some Zaw Min Tun said on Thursday Suu called for multilateral sanctions on for escape from the darkest days Day something truly special where we The EU approved the single-shot cases many times over. Kyi had accepted illegal payments the junta and the state energy firm, of the pandemic in the world’s worst- not only mark our independence as a Johnson & Johnson vaccine on United Nations chief Antonio worth $600,000, as well as gold, while Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise. hit country. nation but we begin to mark our inde- Thursday, which is stored at higher Guterres on Thursday lashed out at in government, according to a com- The army did not respond to “This fight is far from over,” Biden pendence from this virus.” temperatures than competitors and is what he called the “many examples of plaint by Phyo Mien Thein, a former requests for comment on the latest said in his first televised primetime After falling behind in its immuni- easier to distribute. vaccine nationalism and hoarding” chief minister of Yangon. deaths, but the junta spokesman address as president, delivering an sation effort, the EU is now fighting Despite the sluggish bloc-wide roll- that will prevent some countries from Adding corruption charges to the said on Thursday the security forces emotional tribute to the more than hard to accelerate its vaccine push. out, Greece on Thursday said it is getting the resources to bring their accusations facing Suu Kyi, 75, could were disciplined and used force only 530,000 Americans who have died from It has targeted AstraZeneca, whose aiming to reopen for tourists by mid- health crises to an end. bring her a harsher penalty. when necessary.

BRIEFING With eyes on China, US,

Navalny moved from initial detention facility: Lawyer allies launch vaccine plan MOSCOW: Kremlin critic Alexei AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE provided doses to international part- Navalny has been moved from a WASHINGTON, MARCH 12 ners such as Pakistan and Zimbabwe. detention facility in Russia’s The Quad format has been growing Vladimir region where he was incar- The United States, India, Japan and for more than a decade, but Friday’s cerated last month and moved to an Australia have launched a joint drive talks are the first at the leaders’ level unknown location, one of his lawyers to ramp up the Covid-19 vaccine sup- and come as all four democracies see said on Friday. Navalny, one of ply in Asia, mounting a challenge to relations with China deteriorate. President Vladimir Putin’s most China in the first-ever summit of the China over the past year has prominent critics, was moved four democracies on Friday. engaged in a deadly clash with Indian from jail in Moscow last month US President Joe Biden, who has forces in the Himalayas, stepped up to serve out a sentence of around vowed to reinvigorate alliances in the activity near islands administered by two-and-a-half years after a court face of growing worries about China, Japan and imposed sanctions on ruling the West condemned as was spoke virtually with the three Australian products following a series politically-motivated. He was nations’ prime ministers. of disputes. The Biden administra- initially held at the Kolchugino Ahead of the talks, US officials said tion, however, has been careful not to jail in the Vladimir region northeast the so-called “Quad” nations have link the Quad explicitly to China—a of Moscow. The TASS news agency, agreed to work together to produce up shift in rhetoric after former presi- citing a law enforcement source, to one billion vaccine doses by 2022 as dent Donald Trump’s strident denun- reported at the time that Navalny the world seeks to turn the page on the ciations of Beijing. was being held there for quarantine devastation of the Covid-19 pandemic. State Department spokesman Ned before being moved to the IK-2 The plan would see pharmaceutical Price said that the Quad is not focused penal colony, also in the Vladimir hub India manufacturing the sin- “on any single issue”. region. gle-dose vaccine from US-based “We have shared interests in stand- Johnson & Johnson backed by finan- ing up for universal values and rights. cial support from Japan, with We have shared economic interests. South Africa’s Zulu Australia taking charge of shipments. We have shared security interests. We King dies at 72 “What we’ve tried to put together is have deep people-to-people ties with a broad-based approach that addresses all of these countries,” Price said. JOHANNESBURG: Zulu King Goodwill the acute shortage of vaccines across Australian Prime Minister Scott Zwelithini, who saw himself as the Southeast Asia in particular,” a US Morrison, said that China should not custodian of his people’s culture and official told reporters on condition of be concerned by the talks. The Quad, was praised by South African anonymity. Morrison told reporters, is about “lib- President Cyril Ramaphosa as a US officials did not immediately eral democracies standing up for our “visionary monarch”, died on Friday. specify target countries but the initia- values, coming together and ensuring Zwelithini, who was 72, died in hospi- tive comes as China, where the deadly that we are an anchor for peace and tal, the royal family said. He had been virus was first detected in late 2019, stability in the Indo-Pacific.” admitted to hospital in KwaZulu- works to transform its image into that The Biden administration has said Natal province last month to be treat- of a global healer. alliances—many of which were badly AP/RSS ed for diabetes. Though his role was China has shipped vaccines as far rattled by the vitriolic Trump—will be Kashmiri Muslim women pray as the head priest displays a relic at the Hazratbal shrine on the occasion of Mehraj-u-Alam, believed to mark the largely ceremonial, Zwelithini was afield as the Dominican Republic and key in achieving its goals. ascension of Prophet Muhammad to heaven, in Srinagar, India-administered Kashmir on Friday. revered by his people and had vast influence over millions of Zulus. Ramaphosa hailed his contribution to national unity and economic develop- ment in KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa as a whole, and the opposition Democratic Alliance party called Twins Peak: Double births at ‘all-time high’ globally Zwelithini “a hugely important and influential figure on our political and cultural landscape for the past AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE cantly to the rise in multiple births, lar, many twins will lose their co-twin five decades”. d support in this most SHANGHAI, MARCH 12 the study found. in their first year of life, some two to difficult time.” Mothers giving birth at an older three hundred thousand each year More twins—one in every 42 children age—when twinning rates are high- according to our earlier research,” born—are coming into the world than er—is also a factor, as are increased said co-author Jeroen Smits, a profes- Nigeria gunmen raid college, ever before, according to new research use of contraception, women choosing sor at Radboud University in The citing the rapid rise in medically to start families later in life and lower Netherlands. dozens feared abducted assisted reproduction as a key factor. overall fertility. Researchers gathered Twin deliveries are associated with KANO: Nigerian gunmen raided a col- Some 1.6 million twins are born data from 165 countries from between higher death rates among babies and lege in a northwestern state and at each year, about a third more than 2010 and 2015, covering 99 percent of children and more complications for least 30 students are feared kid- four decades ago, according to a study the global population. mothers and children during pregnan- napped, a senior government official on Friday in Human Reproduction. In Asia, the rate at which twins cy, and well as during and after deliv- said on Friday, in the latest abduction “The relative and absolute numbers were born went up 32 percent, and in ery. Researchers said the record num- targeting a school. The suspected kid- of twins in the world are higher than North America it jumped by 71 per- ber was solely driven by births of nap gang stormed the Federal College they have ever been since the cent. “In both periods, Africa had the “fraternal twins”, which derive from of Forestry Mechanisation in Mando, mid-twentieth century and this is like- highest twinning rates, and there was two separate fertilised eggs. Kaduna state, around 9:30pm on ly to be an all-time high,” said lead no significant increase over time,” The number of identical twins— Thursday, shooting indiscriminately author Christiaan Monden, a profes- Monden said. known as monozygotes—has remained and taking students hostage, officials sor at the University of Oxford. This was most likely due to genetic stable worldwide at about four per said. The college was said to have The rise of assisted reproductive differences between African popula- 1,000 deliveries. It is difficult to some 300 male and female students in AFP/RSS technology in developed countries tions and other parts of the world, he predict whether the rate of twin attendance at the time of the attack, A mother breastfeeds her newly born twins at the post-natal lactation room of Medellin since the 1970s, especially the US speculated. births will continue to rise, the authorities said. (AGENCIES) General Hospital, in Colombia. and Europe, has contributed signifi- “In sub-Saharan Africa in particu- researchers said.

C M Y K 07 | SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2021

C M Y K SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2021 | 08 SPORTS | MEDLEY BRIEFING Arsenal eager to avoid unwanted Chris Wilder leaves Sheffield LONDON: Chris Wilder has left his role as Sheffield United manager, Sky record against Tottenham Sports reported on Friday, with the club rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table and favourites The Gunners have never lost six successive games against Spurs in their north London to get relegated. The Blades have won just four games in the Premier derby history and the last time they went five in a row was between 1993 and 1996. League this season and last Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat by REUTERS seventh spot, albeit on the back of replaced Frank Lampard in the Southampton left them on 14 points, LONDON, MARCH 12 three successive league wins. Stamford Bridge hot seat. 12 points adrift of the safety zone With both sides in the last 16 of the Under Tuchel, Chelsea have become with 10 matches to play. Sheffield Arsenal will be attempting to avoid an Europa League their more likely as hard to beat as they once were United were among the league’s suc- unwanted record in this Sunday’s routes to European qualification, par- under Mourinho, and in their last four cess stories last season following north London derby against ticularly in Arsenal’s case, could be by games against Atletico Madrid, their promotion to the top flight as Tottenham Hotspur as they try to end winning that competition. But that Manchester United, Liverpool and PHOTO COURTESY: CAN they punched above their weight to a five-match winless sequence against will not take any of the edge off Everton have not conceded a goal. Nepal Police Club and Nepal Armed Police Force Club captains Manjeet Shrestha and finish a respectable ninth, with their old foes. Sunday’s clash at the Emirates They have leaked only two goals since Sharad Vesawkar pose with the Kathmandu Mayor’s Cup one-day cricket tournament trophy Wilder hailed for helping them adapt Never in their history have Arsenal Stadium where Tottenham will be Tuchel took charge with the German on the eve of their final match scheduled to be held at TU grounds on Saturday. to the new challenge. Yet their trou- gone six successive games against chasing a first win in the league at using his squad to the full. bles began towards the end of the Spurs without a win and the last time Arsenal since a 3-2 victory in 2010. He has shown a willingness to chop Covid-19-hit 2019-20 campaign, when they went five in a row was between Victory for Jose Mourinho’s side and change his starting lineups and they lost their final three games 1993 and 1996. who have suddenly hit form after a will probably do so again on Saturday Their poor form spilled over into When the sides met at Tottenham’s dreadful post-Christmas slump would with a Champions League second leg this season, with their first league stadium in December goals from Son keep them in touch with the battle for against Atletico Madrid looming. Kjaer earns AC Milan 1-1 win coming in their 18th game Heung-min and Harry Kane gave a top-four finish. They have 45 points Chelsea would have expected their against Newcastle United in Spurs a 2-0 win which put them on top from 27 games, five less than fourth- main London challengers to be either January. of the Premier League table and left placed Chelsea who have played a Tottenham or Arsenal this season but Arsenal 15th. game more. it is actually a resurgent West Ham draw at Manchester United While Arsenal’s situation has Chelsea have the chance to strength- United who could be their biggest top- Brathwaite replaces Holder as improved somewhat since then and en their grip on fourth place in four rival from within the capital. REUTERS also well-placed to reach the last eight. West Indies Test captain they are now 10th, Tottenham’s chal- Saturday’s early kickoff when they West Ham’s 2-0 win over Leeds MANCHESTER, MARCH 12 Villarreal beat Dynamo Kyiv 2-0 away lenge for the title soon disintegrated travel to Leeds United still unbeaten United on Monday put David Moyes’s with goals by Pau Torres and Raul ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA: Kraigg and they will start Sunday’s derby in in the 11 games since Thomas Tuchel side into fifth spot, just two points A stoppage-time header from defender Albiol while Granada beat Molde 2-0 Brathwaite will replace Jason Holder behind Chelsea having played one Simon Kjaer earned AC Milan a 1-1 with former Tottenham striker as the West Indies Test captain with a game fewer. draw at Manchester United in the Roberto Soldado on target. two-Test series against Sri Lanka The Hammers go to second-placed blockbuster Europa League last-16 The 18-year-old Diallo, who joined coming up this month, Cricket West Manchester United on Sunday seeking first-leg at Old Trafford on Thursday. United from Serie A club Atalanta in Indies said Thursday. Brathwaite has their first league win at Old Trafford Kjaer’s goal after teenager Amad January, came on as a halftime substi- previously led the team in seven Tests since 2007. Diallo had given United the lead leaves tute and claimed his first goal for the while deputizing for Holder, including “We are having a good season, our the clash of the heavyweights in the English side five minutes later. in the recent 2-0 Test Series win away aim is to have a great season,” former balance ahead of the second leg in the Picked out by a lofted ball from to Bangladesh. “It is a huge honour to Manchester United manager Moyes San Siro next week. Bruno Fernandes he found the net be given the Captaincy of the West said. Fulham’s great escape bid from Ajax Amsterdam put one foot in the with a smart back-header over Milan Indies Test team,” Brathwaite said. “I relegation continues as they host run- quarter-finals with a 3-0 win over keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. feel extremely proud and humbled away leaders Manchester City on Swiss side Young Boys—the goals all Dan James missed a sitter for that the Board and Selectors have Saturday. coming after the hour mark from Davy United when he turned a cross by given me the opportunity and respon- Few would expect Scott Parker’s Klaassen, Dusan Tadic and Brian Mason Greenwood wide but Milan got sibility to lead the team.” The recent team to emerge with any points but Brobbey. the reward they deserved in stoppage Test Series win in Bangladesh was a then again few would have imagined Arsenal are in a strong position time when Kjaer headed Rade Krunic’s fantastic achievement and I’m really they would have beaten champions thanks to a 3-1 win at Olympiakos in corner past Dean Henderson. It was looking forward to the upcoming Liverpool at Anfield last weekend. which with Martin Odegaard the first goal United had conceded in home series against Sri Lanka They have clawed themselves level scored his first goal for the club and 503 minutes in all competitions and and I’m excited about what I on points with 17th-placed Brighton Gabriel and Mohamed Elneny struck means they will have their work cut believe this team can achieve and Hove Albion who go to late on. out in next week’s second leg. in the future.” Southampton on Sunday. Tottenham Hotspur beat Croatian Elsewhere, newly crowned Scottish Liverpool, whose dreadful run has side Dinamo Zagreb 2-0, thanks to champions Rangers fought back to Roger Federer withdraws from dropped them to eighth in the table, Harry Kane brace. earn a 1-1 draw at Slavia Prague while REUTERS visit Wolverhampton Wanderers on Europa League regulars Villarreal Roma enjoyed a 3-0 home win over Dubai ATP tournament Arsenal will welcome their old foes Tottenham at Emirates in Premier League on Sunday. Monday. and their La Liga rivals Granada are Shakhtar Donetsk. DOHA: Roger Federer on Thursday withdrew from next week’s Dubai ATP tournament, claiming “it’s best to go back to training” as his come- back from 13 months on the sidelines ended after two matches at the Qatar Nepal’s World Cup qualifier matches moved to Kuwait Open. The 39-year-old was knocked out of the Doha event by world num- SPORTS BUREAU their remaining matches against three points after five matches. In Australia. Oman, Afghanistan, India and ber 42 Nikoloz Basilashvili of KATHMANDU, MARCH 12 Chinese Taipei, Australia and Jordan away matches, Nepal defeated Chinese The AFC has confirmed China as Bangladesh in their Group E matches Georgia, squandering a match point at the Dasharath Stadium but now Taipei 2-0, but lost to Kuwait 7-0, the hosts of Group A, that include while Group F leaders Japan will host in the deciding set. “It’s been great to Nepal’s remaining home qualifying will travel to Kuwait, who have been Australia 5-0 and Jordan 3-0. Their leaders Syria, Philippines, Maldives Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Myanmar and be back on the @atptour, loved every matches of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 confirmed as the hosts of Group B. home match against Kuwait was shift- and Guam. Mongolia. minute playing in Doha once again,” and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 joint The AFC said that the decision to ed to Bhutan as Dasharath Stadium Bahrain will host the matches of The United Arab Emirates will host tweeted the 20-time Grand Slam title qualifiers have been moved to Kuwait, move the qualifier matches—sched- was undergoing renovation, which Group C, which includes leaders Iraq, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and winner. “A big thank you to the best the Asian Football Confederation uled to take place from May 31 to June they lost 1-0. Australia lead the group Islamic Republic of Iran, Hong Kong Thailand for Group G and South and loyal team that helped me get (AFC) said on Friday. 15—to “centralised venues” has been with 12 points after four matches. and Cambodia, while Saudi Arabia Korea will host Group H rivals here. I’ve decided it’s best to go back The matches have been shifted to confirmed “following a process of Earlier this month, the AFC had will stage Group D matches, which Turkmenistan, Lebanon, North Korea to training and as a result, I’ve neutral venues owing to the travel close consultation with Asia’s Member rescheduled Nepal’s home match features Uzbekistan, Singapore, and Sri Lanka. Only the winners of decided to withdraw from Dubai restrictions caused by the Covid-19 Associations”. against Australia from March to June Yemen and Palestine. the eight groups will advance to the next week.” (AGENCIES) pandemic. Nepal were due to host Nepal lie fourth in the group with after a formal request from Football World Cup hosts Qatar will welcome third phase of qualifying. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) **** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) *** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** You’re right on the precipice of a major break- It’s time to leave your comfort zone of the past You’re on track to accomplish great things, Libra. There’s always more to learn about life, Capricorn. through, Aries. Yet, before you can conquer that new behind, Cancer. The universe is urging you to devel- The universe is looking to help you get a few steps You’ve been finding yourself taking interest in new territory, you have to release elements of yourself op a new philosophy towards the life you’re current- closer today, as the new moon in Pisces emerges this topics of study in recent weeks, and it’s been helpful that are no longer serving your best interests. ly living. morning. for you to keep your mind engaged.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) *** LEO (July 23-August 22) *** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) *** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** Don’t be afraid to dream big, Taurus. You tend to You’re on the brink of transforming your approach One of the sweetest lunations of the year is on your It’s time to believe in your potential, Aquarius. The take a practical, steady approach towards making to love, Leo. Today’s new moon in deep-feeling Pisces doorstep today, Scorpio. The new moon in richly universe has been working overtime to get you your goals a reality. Saturday’s skies give you the pushes new developments around intimacy, commit- creative Pisces emerges this morning, bringing with acquainted with your talents and personal resources chance to take an even bigger bet on yourself. ment, and sexuality to the forefront of your aware- it the promise for new self-expression based develop- in recent weeks, and now, it’s pushing things to the ness in the month ahead. ments in the month ahead. next level.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) **** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) **** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) *** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** One of the most important opportunities of the year As a Virgo, you know about the realities of what it You’re a well-known wanderer of the earth, One of the most important lunations of your year is arrives this morning, Gemini. The new moon in takes to make love work. This time of year tends to Sagittarius. Yet, before you can trek out into new here, Pisces. The new moon emerges in your sign this far-seeing Pisces blooms in the early hours, providing show you a different perspective around matters of adventures, it’s important that you have a firm idea morning, offering you the chance to set major inten- the opportunity to see your career and ambitions the heart, as you explore themes of surrender, com- of where your roots are. tions around who you want to become in the year expand in ways you’d never imagined before. promise, and compassion. ahead. CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K 09 | SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2021 CULTURE & LIFESTYLE An anatomy of ‘New India’ ‘The Great Unraveling: India after 2014’ traces in detail deep-rooted complexities in Narendra Modi’s government with a historical perspective.

ATUL K THAKUR upon while reading Sanjay Jha’s book. During commercial breaks, he would As a document to understand the share with me interesting titbits on the ndia, the world’s largest democra- unravelling and inability of the opposi- To understand the audience viewership numbers that he cy, has been witnessing the pro- tion parties to reclaim their position, this inability of the received on his mobile, as well as adulato- cesses of unsavoury changes in its book is an important read—especially for ry messages from adoring fans. And democratic fundamentals, says the anyone who has genuine interest in the opposition to reclaim there were many. There is an unsaid new book ‘The Great Unravelling: changing nature of democracy in India understanding that exists between jour- India after 2014’ by former Indian and South Asia at large. Jha makes it their position, this nalists and politicians; the relationship INational Congress (INC’s) spokesperson amply clear that the rise of extreme is a book is a crucial read. is inherently antagonistic. So, despite the Sanjay Jha. In the fateful year 2014, the phenomenon not limited to South Asia overt camaraderie, Goswami and I main- Narendra Modi-led majoritarian govern- alone. In fact, the whole world is gripped tained a respectable distance.” ment started to re-shape India—and it with it. However, in the first reprint of Unlike the rest of the world, the democ- made a point to distort the past achieve- his book, he would like to revisit at least ble, as its media is not in the game of racies in South Asia closely identify with ments of a democratic country that was one exception: the fall of Donald Trump ‘agenda-setting’. The most that happens caste and religion. This is something mostly ruled by the Indian National and the rise of Joe Biden in the United is it reaches out to an agenda. capable of maligning the democracy’s Congress (INC) since 1947. States of America (USA). Jha, who was suspended from his party natural progression—and the added jolt The book traces deep-rooted complexi- Notwithstanding all pressing challenges, for underlining the party’s chronic inabili- comes through a compromised media ties in the new ruling camp with a histor- democracy as an idea and system is ty to come to terms with the realities, is that violates journalistic ethics and com- ical perspective. It establishes how, unlikely to be challenged permanently still someone who continues to be a mitment for disseminating fair public unlike the INC, left parties and a few with extreme belief of any sort. Nehruvian and associates himself with his information. With unprecedented chal- regional political parties, Modi’s In Nepal, too, democracy is facing its party that deserted him. With an unwaver- lenges, democracy is facing a litmus test. re-shaped party Bharatiya Janata Party own share of threats with lack of ing commitment to remove the anomalies (BJP) had no direct stake in India’s free- accountability and promises for an inclu- for INC’s revival, he has written this book Thakur is a writer and policy analyst dom struggle. Hence, distorting history, sive system. Once the Constitutional that significantly links the changing with focus on the interface of politics and re-interpreting it as per the emerging monarchy, believing the virtue of democ- nature of Indian politics with a commer- economics in South Asia, he has been needs and artificial projections of nation- racy, let a path be created for its gradual chronicle the fall and fall of democratic cially polarised media, thus highlighting writing for the Post since 2013. al heroes essentially made its core agen- development in Nepal. Surprisingly, the actors, processes and institutions in how democratic behaviour has weakened da. With proper packaging and by manag- democratic actors of present day Nepal Nepal. However, unlike the Indian or rather lost in public discourses. ing the ‘national narratives’ with the do not look back on their promises and media, the counterparts in Nepal have At one point in ‘The Great Unravelling: mainstream media waiting to bow down, exercise morally justified choices. The some distinct inherent weaknesses. Here, India after 2014’, he writes, “You need THE GREAT UNRAVELLING: a complete ‘optics’ has been set to vilify democracy and democratic spirits are on commercialisation has still not reached Machiavelli, not a Mahatma to outwit INDIA AFTER 2014 anything that preceded Modi. The mis- wane—and the democratic processes are to the level where it would be considered Modi, Arnab Goswami told me about sion to recast the national agenda, belit- compromised with no genuine stake left an extended arm of the government. The Rahul Gandhi.” Jha also writes about Written by: Sanjay Jha tle the institutions and opiate the masses for the masses. Prime Minister KP good, bad and ugly of Nepali media why Arnab Goswami wanted to go after Published by: Westland Publications with the divisive political-cultural pro- Sharma Oli has been at the helm of deny- shapes through the individual preferenc- INC leader Rahul Gandhi and the TV Page: 277 grammes—have laid the foundation of a ing truths, personally and politically. es rather institutionally exerted pres- debate that truly hurt his credibility. He Price: Rs 599 ‘New India’. All these issues are touched Like Jha, someone in Nepal should sures. Kathmandu’s air is still breatha- writes, “Arnab was obsessed with TRPs. BEST-SELLERS | NEW RELEASES

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Can Italy’s Dante have justice, 700 years after his death? Dante’s ‘Divine Comedy’, considered one of the world’s greatest literary works, came to light after a miscarriage of justice which Italian legal experts now want to correct.

ALVISE ARMELLINI his life, but he is believed to have com- FLORENCE pleted the “Divine Comedy”, an imagi- nary journey through hell, purgatory ante’s “Divine Comedy,” and heaven, shortly before his death in considered one of the 1321. world’s greatest literary Exile is a major theme in the book, works, came to light after which also offered Dante the chance for a miscarriage of justice some personal score-settling: in it, he which Italian legal experts made sure to find a place in hell for Dnow want to correct—some seven centu- Boniface VIII and his other earthly foes. ries on. The man whom Italians call the Political trial “Supreme Poet” was exiled from his Experts have long agreed that Dante was native Florence in January 1302, after the victim of biased judges. finding himself on the losing side of a But Alessandro Barbero, Italy’s feud between the city’s “White” and most famous medieval historian, “Black” political factions. recently suggested that certain charges “Our objective is to assess, in the light against him may have had some sub- of new evidence that may emerge, if stance. these (three) verdicts (against Dante) Dante definitely did not take bribes, could be the subject of a retrial, or ideal- but it is “not exactly impossible” to ly be quashed,” criminal lawyer imagine he exploited his role in office to Alessandro Traversi told AFP. favour his political allies, Barbero wrote To do that, Traversi has invited fellow in a recent biography. lawyers, senior judges and prosecutors— Traversi hopes to set the record plus the descendants of both Dante and straight on this—and dispel any doubts the judge who banished him from about Dante’s rectitude. Florence—to reopen the case at a May 21 His conference will be one of several conference. events honouring the poet on the Count Sperello di Serego Alighieri, an 700th anniversary of his death—most astronomer with a direct bloodline to set to be celebrated in a rather Dante, will take part alongside the scion subdued fashion due to coronavirus of Cante de Gabrielli, the judge who restrictions. exiled the poet. “We hope to do it in person, but we are “I find it interesting to review this ready to do it remotely if necessary,” the affair,” said the judge’s descendant, Florentine lawyer said. Antoine de Gabrielli. Margherita Cassano, a judge from the But he added that he would not seek to Court of Cassation, Italy’s supreme uphold his ancestor’s position that Dante court, will draft a final report from the was guilty. conference, and all deliberations will be “I’m not going to fight,” the Frenchman published in a book, Traversi said. told AFP. REUTERS However, Serego Alighieri—the Even if a full-blown retrial is unlikely Divine Comedy is an imaginary journey through hell, purgatory and heaven. Dante completed the work shortly before his death in 1321. descendant who not only carries to materialise, given all the practical and Dante’s name, but also shares with legal issues, Traversi stressed the value elected rulers, or priors, for a regular were tried in absentia. tenced them to be burnt at the stake if him the distinctive family trait of an of a symbolic gesture of reparation two-month term in 1300. In January 1302, Cante de Gabrielli they tried to return to Florence. aquiline nose—noted it all came a little towards Dante, who “legally speaking, It was this post that landed him in found them guilty of corruption and In 1315, after Dante refused the terms late. for the City of Florence is still a person trouble. political patronage, gave them three days of an amnesty, another judge changed “Dante was convicted, he went into with a criminal record”. When the “Blacks” faction retook to pay a huge fine and banned them from the sentence to death by beheading, also exile, he was exiled all his life, he never Florence in 1301 with the help of Charles public office. for the poet’s sons. returned to Florence,” he told AFP. Burnt at the stake of Valois, brother of King Philip IV of Dante and the others were also stripped Dante survived, roaming from one “Anything that can be done for him As well as a poet, Dante was a politician France, and the support of Pope Boniface of their assets. Italian city to another. (today) will not change any of that.” who served as one of Florence’s nine VIII, Dante and other “White” priors Two months later, de Gabrielli sen- Relatively little is known about — Agence France-Presse

C M Y K SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2021 | 10 CULTURE & LIFESTYLE (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 Behold the artists’ subconscious at 8 Figures Gallery MCube’s recent exhibition hopes to return optimism to a world that is going back to normal.

SRIZU BAJRACHARYA LALITPUR

olours redefine the mean- ings of art. They subsume our perception and in a way, it is colours that imbue our emotions. And when used right, it will draw attention. CAt Gallery Mcube, Mukesh Shrestha’s use of plain ocher yellow for his work ‘True Love’ feels tempting to surrender to in the exhibition ‘8 Figures’. Although true love itself at this age might feel ‘cheesy’ and exaggerated—it’s an ideal we all hope for when we are in love. And Shrestha subtly simplifies that feeling. Peering into Shrestha’s idea of intima- cy is gratifying. In one painting he has two bodies, sort of entwined to each other, showing viewers the passion and the intangible connection one feels when in love. And in another, he has one figure, lying perhaps on the floor, with his knees up and thinking of his beloved as a trans- lucent figure hovers above him. In a way, the painting appears as though this per- son has resigned himself to love. His world fervours comfort and happiness, and the same to their viewers. What’s interesting to unravel is Shrestha’s style of representing humans in his paintings. They are completely flesh, perhaps symbolically, implying no facade but just the intrinsic value of their sentiments for each other. One can, if POST PHOTOS: BEEJU MAHARJAN they allow themselves, to interpret this A viewer looks at the works of Kishor Jyoti, who is among the eight artists whose works are currently on display at Mcube Gallery. particular work in different ways. As life in many ways has returned to normal, art has been coming around to pull people into a whirlpool of thoughts and hopefulness. And the latest in this effort is Gallery Mcube’s exhibition ‘8 fig- ures’ which hopes to return optimism to a world that is recovering from a pandemic. The exhibition reveres the physicality of attachments and introduces viewers to the artists’ subconscious and conscious. Subconscious and conscious because many of the works presented in the gal- lery look inwards, to the artist’s realisa- tion or becoming or knowing as one does sometimes when doing something. It is evident, in many works presented, that artists have taken their own direction in their making. The exhibition’s line up of works are not overwhelmingly powerful, but they are subtly beautiful. There’s every kind of colour to celebrate, from the melancholic to the vibrant and dark. Curator Manish Lal Shrestha brings (Left) The paintings of Krishna Gopal Shrestha show ‘Ethnic door’ of the Newa community, one with the signs of asta mangala, eight auspicious signs of Buddhism, and the other with a golden torana. together the works of eight contemporary artists—Kishor Jyoti, Krishna Gopal that reads, ‘observing stories in things at the entrance of the gallery’s first floor esoteric deity. aggressively pushing. But this work Shrestha, Kuntishree Thapa, Manjari that are almost obsolete in our lives.’ stands out with her medium plaster of Shrestha’s effort might have been to doesn’t add to the theme. Dutta, Meena Kayastha, Mukesh Kunti Shree Thapa’s work made during paris. Her work is interesting but elusive. capture the heritage that surrounds the However, despite the shaky coherence of Shrestha, Pratima Thakali and Sujan the pandemic of how the artificial world It will take a while for viewers to under- Newa community and their culture and the exhibition, all the works are able to tell Dangol—whose many works still remain has manifested and controlled our lives stand what the artist could be trying to the closed doors might have tried to imply their stories in parts. The exhibition might unseen. And thus, the curation attempts also feels meaningful especially because say or what they could make out of the restriction but something of its meaning not be extraordinary, but it does emphasise to tell more about the artists’ styles and she creates a parallel between the real art. Thakali plays with plaster—space— is still amiss in the collection as the two the significance of the physicality of art their body of works while also guiding and the virtual and influences people to to tell of the feelings in between, attached works in the exhibition don’t drive the that the pandemic had upended. the audience into the interpretation of think about the natural beauty that sur- to objects. In this case her memories from discussion the work talks about but rath- This is Gallery Mcube’s attempt to get their works in the exhibition. rounds us. her home in Jomsom, Mustang, and the er struggles to befit the meaning of the back to the world of art in full form, with Manjari Dutta’s series ‘Silent The exhibition, although beautiful and objects her grandmother used. auspiciousness of the eight that the larg- new aspirations and spirit. And for them, Explosions’ that consist of four works, full of meaning, however falters in con- Perhaps what would have helped view- er exhibition hopes to bring together. the response has been gratifying accord- with its repeated patterns of rectangles, tributing to the theme fully of the ‘8 fig- ers make meaning of the miniature instal- Then there are the works of Sujan ing to Manish Shrestha. “People seem to that looks like buildings, symbolically ures’, which is one of optimism, as the lations could have been the artist’s expres- Dangol, making the statement ‘Bhasa be more interested in art after the pan- humans, is captivating. In the series, works delve into diverse narratives, sion of her memories or an indication that Mwasa Jati Mwai’ (if the language sur- demic and we have been happy to bring to Dutta uses shades of gold sporadically to expressions and emotions and incline to these objects are from a house’s structure vives, so will the civilisation), speaking of them something they can engage their connect the paintings together and to murky feelings, that of holding on to or memories attached to her personal self, how the economic interest of the country mind in,” he said at the Gallery. show how lives are returning. The expres- memories, feeling trapped, of beauty one with a tangible memory or idea. The and modernisation has been threatening And as the exhibition does add to the sion—silent explosion—used to describe being unrecognised, or longing for love, portrayal could have been more intimate; the community’s lifestyle, culture and effort of artists and creatives to get back the work also tries to indicate the release or being dependent on technology or as its vagueness steals its grace. tradition. In one of his pen and ink paint- at the visual culture that the pandemic of the spirits from the bodies and shows aspiring independence and freedom. The paintings of Krishna Gopal ings is a Newa house, representing the had alienated, the future for art lovers how life continues despite the pandemic. There are diverse works and ideas jux- Shrestha show ‘Ethnic door’ of the Newa foundation and the identity of the com- looks promising. Though ‘8 figures’ is not Meena Kayastha’s artwork made from taposed together in the exhibition and community, one with the signs of asta munity crumbling, and a chariot that astounding, you should give this experi- discarded junk is also intriguing; while they tell their story, one will have mangala, eight auspicious signs of looks like Rato Machhindranath’s chari- ence a chance. Kayastha uses a discarded spade to make forgotten the titular expression of the Buddhism, and the other with a golden ot, symbolically implying culture and Goddess Brahmayani and she empowers exhibition. torana, showing a chepu (a mythical tradition. Dangol’s work strongly ques- The exhibition will be displayed until her personal statement with her work Pratima Thakali’s series ‘In-Between’ beast) guarding a small entrance to the tions the homogeneity development is March 31, at Gallery Mcube, Chakupat.

Fighting discrimination in India, one purse at a time Chamar Studio is an unlikely birthplace for luxury handbags made by a marginalised community seeking to reclaim it identity.

after India’s Supreme Court banned the “The caste system has created so much “highly offensive word” in 2008 over its discrimination that people just don’t widespread use as a term of abuse. respect certain types of work,” said Then he had to convince the communi- Sakhare, who used to earn 400 rupees a ty, with many craftsmen fearing the day as a cobbler. potentially incendiary—and loss-mak- The father-of-two now leads a team of ing—implications of marketing a luxury Chamar and Muslim craftsmen making product with lower-caste associations. unisex totes, shoulder bags and clutches, “I thought it was such a weird name for and says his sense of self-worth has a brand,” said Rahul Gore, who faced dis- expanded. “Now that I get more respect crimination while growing up in a village (for my work), I feel more like an artist”, 300 kilometres (190 miles) from Mumbai. he added. “We were allowed to play with upper- The purses don’t come cheap, with pric- caste children but their parents would not es ranging up to 39,000 rupees for an intri- allow us to visit them at home or share cately woven oversized tote that takes a food. I used to feel very bad about it,” day to make. Gore, now 35, told AFP. The use of rubber instead of leather ‘We are artists’ meant that virtually every step—from the Customers have not balked at the cost cutting to the stitching—needed to be however, with the bags stocked at high- performed by hand rather than with sew- end boutiques in Mumbai and Frankfurt ing machines. as well as the brand’s own online store. The absence of tanning and the use of But the company is confronting new organic colours to dye the bags in the challenges, with sales down since the pan- brand’s signature hues of cobalt blue, red demic. and emerald green make the process Many craftsmen remain fearful about AFP/RS much less toxic for workers, said Rajbhar. returning to Mumbai, the Indian city hit Artisans Rahul Dattatrey Gorey (left) and Kalamudeen Ansari stitch new recycled rubber bags for ‘Chamar Studio’ by designer Sudheer Rajbhar at a The purses are so durable they can hardest by the coronavirus. workshop inside Dharavi slum in Mumbai. even withstand a spin in a washing Although Rajbhar’s Chamar machine, he added. Foundation has managed to support the AMMU KANNAMPILLY and long used locally as a slur, to leather ers fighting to protect the animal they families of his employees during India’s MUMBAI craftsmen who lie at the bottom of the deem sacred. ‘I get more respect’ months-long lockdown, his colleagues Hindu caste hierarchy. “Chamars have been oppressed for so Rajbhar used his savings and bank loans worry for the future. he sound of men punching As members of the Dalit caste, former- long,” the brand’s founder Sudheer to invest around one million rupees “Why would anyone buy handbags holes into colourful rubber ly known as untouchables, life has always Rajbhar told AFP. An artist by training, ($13,700) into launching the brand in 2017, when they are worried about running sheets reverberates across a been a struggle for India’s leather work- Rajbhar—who is lower-caste though not turning to local cobbler Sachin Sakhare their households?” mused Sakhare, who tiny studio in India’s largest ers, who are largely Hindu Chamars or Chamar—sought to offer the community for help in training craftsmen. also works as a sweeper to pay the bills. slum—an unlikely birthplace Muslim. Then came Prime Minister a new lease on life by designing minimal- Sakhare started working on Mumbai’s Still, he refuses to give up hope. for luxury handbags made by Narendra Modi’s war on beef consump- ist handbags made of recycled rubber—a crowded pavements as a 13-year-old when “I never imagined we would make a Ta marginalised community seeking to tion, which destroyed their livelihoods by sustainable substitute for leather. his father, also a cobbler, was killed in a difference to society,” he said. reclaim its identity. cutting off access to raw materials. hit-and-run accident. “It feels really good to tell the world “Chamar Studio” owes its name, It also raised the threat of lynchings by ‘Such a weird name’ He told AFP he wanted to “improve the that we are Chamar and we are artists.” derived from the Sanskrit word for ‘skin’ so-called cow vigilantes—Hindu hardlin- But first he had to weigh the legal risks, lot of my people”. — Agence France-Presse

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