#446 10 - 16 April 2009 16 pages Rs 30

RUNNING OUT OF TIME: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Weekly Internet Poll # 446 Dahal at the Khula Manch on Q. How would you describe the prime Sunday before delivering a minister’s visit to Europe? speech in which he lashed out Total votes: 4,245 at the political parties for slowing him down.

Weekly Internet Poll # 447. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com Q. Should the army have pulled out of the National Games?

MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal democracy and the free press, he Dahal appears to be increasingly lashed out publicly using frustrated with the delays and abusive language at his has been trying to use his deft colleagues in the NC and UML. Hurry up negotiating skills to try to The next day, he turned his aim convince the leaders of the UML at the media, accusing and NC to smooth things along. publishers of being “smugglers” hen the results of the killing of its supporter in Analysts say that a lot is riding and under the control of Friday’s by-elections Butwal last month. Time is also on the outcome of the by- “feudalists, capitalists and W in six constituencies running out on integrating the elections, and the results reactionary forces”. come out next week, they will armies before UNMIN’s mandate will determine whether EDITORIAL p2 The Nepal Media offer an indication of the support expires in June, and in writing or not the coalition Voice of the violent Society, Television base for the Maoists, who the new constitution by April remains intact, and if Broadcasters Nepal, themselves admit that after eight next year. the NC will join the government. Community Radio Broadcasters months in power they haven’t The run-up to the by- The prime minister has been Association, Broadcasting been able show tangible progress. elections have been marred by barely able to hide his Association of Nepal and The current session of violence with even a gun battle frustration. A day after returning Kathmandu Valley Broadcasting parliament has been disrupted for breaking out between supporters from a week-long visit to Norway Association deplored the prime two weeks in a row after the UML, of the Maoists and a break-away and Finland during which he minister’s remarks, calling partners with the Maoists in the faction led by Matrika Yadav in assured leaders there that he was them “uncalled for and coalition, demanded action over Biratnagar on Thursday. serious about protecting irresponsible”. 2 EDITORIAL 10 - 16 APRIL 2009 #446

Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Editor: Kunda Dixit CEO: Ashutosh Tiwari Design: Kiran Maharjan DGM Sales and Marketing: Sambhu Guragain [email protected] Marketing Manager: Subhash Kumar Asst. Manager: Arjun Karki Subscriptions: 5542535/5542525 Hatiban, Godavari Road, Lalitpur GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu 5250333/845 Fax: 5251013 Banking on real estate [email protected] Printed at Jagadamba Press 5250017-19 www.nepalitimes.com When the real estate bubble bursts, it shouldn’t take banks down with it VOICE OF THE VIOLENT anks in Nepal seem to be approved for loans they were not and the public, is very small. Maoist ideologue Baburam Bhattarai supposedly heads the thriving. According to capable of paying and many Unlike most other countries, cleanest and most efficient ministry. Which is why his recent BNepal Rastra Bank, Nepali jumped on the bandwagon there is no established deposit tantrums are so unbecoming. commercial banks hold close to assuming that real estate prices insurance program in Nepal and But for the dubious distinction of worst managed ministries, Rs 470 billion in deposits, but could only go up. it is questionable that Nepal competition is keen between Home, Water Resources and Local for banks to be profitable they What initially started as a Rastra Bank has the ability to Development—all headed by the UML. That says more about the have to put this deposit to work. problem in the subprime loans manage a run on the banks. politics of Messrs Madhav, Jhalnath and Oli than all their Given the poor business or loans made to risky borrowers, Outstanding loans of grandstanding since the recent killing of a Youth Force member climate and soaring property has spread to prime loans as commercial banks to the real in Butwal. Despite their threats of quitting the government, the decreasing real estate prices and estate sector grew at a staggering truth is that the UML needs the Maoists more than the Maoists increasing unemployment rate rate to Rs 17.9 billion in February need the UML. GUEST COLUMN are putting even credit worthy from Rs 6.6 billion just a year The results of the by-elections in Morang, Dhanusa, Kaski, Raju Sitaula Rolpa and Kanchanpur this weekend will probably lead to a borrowers at risk. As a result, earlier. The questions to ask the reassessment of the UML-Maoist coalition. The arrangement has banks are now stuck with banks are: what percentage of certainly helped UML recruit, train and expand its militant Youth prices, it is a fair guess– this cash hundreds of billions of dollars outstanding loans is real estate Force under the benign neglect of the home ministry that it is feeding the real estate bubble. in real estate loans, some of related, including both direct and controls. But by copying the Maoist YCL, the UML has fallen into Such a bubble driven by excess which are practically worthless, indirect loans where real estate the same trap of unleashing a criminalised militant force that is credit fueled liquidity is exactly and are thus forced to book asset is kept as collateral? How going out of control. what brought many US banks to billions of dollars in losses. The will the real estate price In all the confusion of name-calling in Nepal’s day-to-day their knees, and there is a good massive loans are threatening the reduction affect the performance politics, it helps to divide political forces into two types: those lesson there for us. solvency of some US banks. The and recovery of these loans? Have that believe in legitimate non-violent politics and those that use As property prices went up, FDIC has seized more than the banks done a sensitivity test violence and intimidation as a political tool. By not renouncing banks in the US found increasing 21 failing banks so far in for the worst case scenario and are violence and behaving like bullies even though they were elected their real estate loan portfolio an to power, the Maoists have undermined themselves. By 2009 alone. they adequately capitalised if unleashing the YF, the UML has lost the moral authority to lecture easy way to boost earnings. They We are inside a real estate that scenario materialises? about non-violence. not only kept loans in their own bubble in Nepal, and this bubble The government and Nepal It would be naïve to assume that prolonged power cuts, the balance sheet, but packaged them could burst. Among other things, Rastra Bank should also look into complete collapse of local governance and a worsening law and into securities which were sold the excess cash available to drive the feasibility of instituting a order situation will only harm the prime minister and his party. to investors worldwide, further prices higher may not be there in deposit insurance program up to The UML will also be tainted by eight months of governmental increasing the demand for the future. The global economic a certain threshold. Such a paralysis. mortgage loans. Borrowers were slowdown is already impacting program can be funded from the The UML wants it both ways: benefit from being a ruling party on the remittance flow into premium paid by the deposit- and criticise the Nepal which will reduce the taking institutions and the government as if it is the liquidity in the banking sector premium should be based on the opposition. But there is no free lunch in the universe, and the money chasing real risk assessment of each and this is an illusory estate assets. participating institution. advantage. The UML When the bubble bursts, not It is not too late for Nepal, but needs to decide whether it only will many Nepalis feel it is time to ask tough questions wants to be an appendage much poorer from reduced to the banks and the regulator of the Maoists or chart its property prices, but their and focus on risk management own course as a party that deposits in banks could also be so that when this real estate stands for non-violence at risk if banks that are bubble ultimately bursts, it and democracy. overexposed to real estate doesn’t take the banking sector The rest is easy: if lending face defaults, threatening down with it. z you can’t stand the heat, their ability to meet obligations get out of the kitchen. to depositors. The margin of error Raju Sitaula is a banking for Nepali financial institutions, professional based in New York. KIRAN PANDAY

LLL ETTERS romanticise Kathmandu’s central 30 YEARS Gyanendra and his senile cronies who were in? The international importance to square (‘Basantapur by night’, CK Lal says that the NSU has ‘lost the running the show. What about the revelation communism may have been there 50 years #445) but there can be no doubt will to compete’ in student elections that the People’s Movement Part II was ago, but it is totally obsolete now. Mr that this once pristine place has (State of the State, ‘Thirty years of funded externally? Paras is definitely not a Objective is completely subjective and out turned into a hideous neighbourhood. struggle’, #445). The NSU is willing to nice man and he doesn’t deserve to be a of touch to boot. The writer conveniently Activities by drug peddlers, unruly compete in an ideological battle but not royal, but Ellis shouldn’t be inciting the omits the fact that in the name of youngsters, hawkers, and a largely with violence. The Nepal Student Union public with innuendo. communism 60-80 million people died ineffective state security apparatus is a democratic institution of energetic Rishav Shrestha, Kathmandu University worldwide in the 20th century. The number have rendered the Hanuman Dhoka youth who time and again have shown Teaching Hospital still has a plus-minus margin of 20 million Darbar Square and its vicinity a their readiness to sacrifice themselves because we don’t have accurate reports citizen’s for the cause of democracy. The NSU TASHI from China’s Maoist Cultural Revolution. nightmare. Heritage conservation has won a significant victory in the Congratulations to Nepali Times and to Sigdel also overlooks the fact that most has received a setback due to heavy recently held FSU elections, and this is Tashi Tsering Sherpa on a brilliant article formerly-communist countries fell apart and traffic and a flea market. I wonder a blow against totalitarianism and (‘I did some calculations and took a ditched the system as non-functioning some what Nepal Tourism Board does with fascism. Despite the terror and violence calculated risk’, #445). About time time ago. And ‘democratic revolution’? the fees it collects since there is no led by YCL and YF, the NSU is something positive came out of Nepal. Those two words can’t even exist side by visible attempt to provide a facelift to committed to non-violent struggle and Please, give my ‘Tujeche’ and a hand side in the same sentence. the area in terms of either sound democracy. These are values that young shake to Tashi Sherpa. One can tell he Subarna Karki, Shanghai infrastructure (good roads, toilet Nepali students that NSU represents strives for perfection in all aspects. Nepal facilities) or check congestion. The aspire to. could benefit a lot from visionary people ETHNIC WOMEN government’s callousness Sandesh Adhikari, Joint Secretary like him, especially at a time when Nepalis Reading the translation ‘Non- for heritage conservation is there for Nepal Students’ Union are giving up and moving away, here is a indigenous’ and the list of the Maoist heads all to see. man who could have easily stayed away but of various indigenous groups right down Ram Chaudhary, Basantapur PARAS decided to come home and generate from indigenous-in-chief Deb Gurung, I While I found Eric Ellis’ piece in your employment. Any time someone does noticed that the fifth item from the bottom is online edition (www.nepalitimes.com) something for the benefit of others, it scores ‘Women’. Since when did women become very analytical the quick jab at the him some good Karma points, whether it an ethnic group? Is it because we come CORRECTION: Due to an editing downfall of Nepal monarchy was was his original intention or not. from Venus? In that case they should list error, the village of Palchok where unwarranted. True, former prince Paras Luba Svrcina, Canada men as coming from Mars and Dr Spock as the constitution interaction took was the focus of hate factor for many but a Vulcan. place (‘We are all Nepalis first’, Ellis’ assertion that this led to the OBJECTIVE Tara G, email #445) was given as being located dysfunction in governance during Who is the brilliant mind masterminding the in Kabhre. The village is actually absolute monarchy borders on article ‘Objective situation’ (Guest Column, BASANTAPUR in Sindupalchok. hyperbole. It was former king #445)? Which century does Mr Sigdel live I appreciate Roma Aryal’s attempt to OP-ED 10 - 16 APRIL 2009 #446 3 Leadership deficit PKD should behave like the prime minister of the country, not just a party supremo

conspiracy-ridden politics of 1830s, he was the only person acceptable to everyone in the all- powerful coterie of the Darbar. He put the condition that he would accept mukhtiyari only if Bhimsen Thapa was released. Rajendra complied but harboured the suspicion that Ranganath Guru was probably more loyal to the British Resident Brian Hodgson than to the king. The shifty monarch once said Rangnath was a man of first-rate talent but second-rate honesty. So the first Bahun premier of the country couldn’t do much and had to bow out in disgrace. Rangnath was probably a victim and not a failure, but he is considered to be the weakest prime minister in Nepal’s history. It seems now he has some competition. Just as all competing groups of the palace had accepted Rangnath’s nomination 170 years ago, Pushpa Kamal Dahal became prime minister with the support of 25 political parties in the constituent assembly. The NC KIRAN PANDAY could have accepted a supportive ircumstances sometimes to placate the stars. role in the government had Dahal propel weak personalities Apparently, the heavenly offered it in a proper manner, but C to the top. Nagendra Prasad bodies weren’t amused. Deuba the NC was so demoralised it Rijal became prime minister of became the first premier in opted out . Buoyed by the the country twice during modern history to be sacked not prospect of leftwing unity, the Panchayat regime, but few once but twice by the king. He Maoist Supremo forgot that UML outside the Marwari community served his third term as a loyal would not carry him on its of Biratnagar remember him. henchman of the royal CEO and shoulders for nothing. As Other than his role as a reluctant was put under house arrest even cost-benefit analysts, the before being served with a schemers of Balkhu palace are dismissal order. some of the best in the business. STATE OF THE STATE But despite his spectacular It’s understandable that the C K Lal failures, Deuba isn’t considered Maoists want a presidential the weakest prime minister of the system of government. Its party midwife of multiparty democracy country. The choice for the chief can then reign, rule, and in 1990, it’s difficult to pinpoint dubious distinction has to be roll unchallenged all over the contributions of Lokendra made between Padma Shamsher domain. But consensus is the Bahadur Chand even though (1945-1948) and Ranganath hallmark of a parliamentary he served four stints at Poudel (1837-1838). system. When the prime minister Singha Darbar. Padma’s predicaments were is merely first among equals, he Rijal and Chand were real. The Ranas lost their patrons has to be a leader that commands products of Panchayat, but Sher as the British went home from the respect of all his colleagues Bahadur Deuba became prime India, leaving native potentates to and competitors alike. minister of the country after their own devices. To his credit, An ideal leader is the one who democracy. During his first term, Padma did try to modernise rules with the consent of the he had to resort to pork barrel statecraft, but had no courage to ruled, guides by being at the head politics to save his government implement the constitution he of the group, and inspires all from collapsing under the weight promulgated in the face of others by setting an example. of its own contradictions. opposition from his restive Dahal needs to ask himself: “Am When Deuba went into cousins. He chose honourable exit I just a party supremo, or am I the Baluwatar as the leader of a and went into self-exile. prime minister of this country?” majority government in 2001, Ranganath Poudel was The soul of Ranganath Guru within a few months of the fortunate. He was the guru of can now rest in peace. In the Narayanhiti massacre, vastu Rajendra Bikram Shah and didn’t lineup of weak prime ministers, experts, feng sui consultants, expect to be a mukhtiyar—the job the most recent entrant is also siddha sanyasis, itinerant yogis, usually went to Chhetri nobles perhaps the least efficient, his indigenous dhamis and from Gorkha or to Kathmandu’s legendary craftiness renowned tantriks were engaged military aristocrats. But in the notwithstanding. z 4 NATION 10 - 16 APRIL 2009 #446 Closed minds

he CA’s ‘Committee to Protect and Preserve the National Interest’ has suggested that a passport regime be T introduced at the Nepal-India border. Committee Chair Amik Sherchan has said this is necessary to “protect waning Nepali nationalism and to treat both China and India equally”. Sherchan claimed that the “majority of the Nepali people share this view”. The demand for passport control on the India border comes from three quarters of the Kathmandu (yes, it is confined to the capital) political spectrum. The first is the nationalists who borrow the Westphalian notion of absolutely sovereign nation states. They argue that one reason the Nepali state has never been totally independent is because it has not controlled the movement of people across its boundaries. The second is the school of economic protectionists, especially on the left, who believe that Nepal has a ‘semi-colonial’ relationship with India because the open border KIRAN PANDAY PLAIN SPEAKING makes the country a cheap Prashant Jha source of labour and raw materials and a recipient of finished goods. The third includes hill chauvinists who oppose the open border. They see the Madhes movement as solely a result of the Giant export open border and India’s covert attempt to destabilise Nepal. Proponents argue that closing the border will defuse the Madhes unrest and solve the most important challenge to the Nepali state. A Nepali sculptor has been commissioned Sherchan, a pahadi Maoist, represents the synthesis of all to build a 113ft statue in Bhutan these three views. The nationalists forget that an absolutely sovereign state is a myth. There is also an element of hypocrisy because it is the same people who have at different points used PAAVAN MATHEMA in Bhutan. He has been invited to preserving the ancient artistic the open border against the Nepali state (like the Maoists did) or Bhutan to build a 113ft tall statue techniques of the Newar people. do not care about it because they usually fly across to India (the orn into a family of of Guru Rimpoche, or Ram Kumar’s works have capital elite). traditional metal artists Padmasambhav. Next month, Raj decorated various monasteries in Bin Kathmandu, Raj Kumar will lead a team of 14 of Nepal and Tibet and have also Kumar Shakya says he can’t his craftsmen to Bhutan to reached Japan, Australia, Germany Introducing passports at remember a time when he construct the statue atop Takela and the US. the India-Nepal border wasn’t working with metal, Hill, situated in Lhuentse of “This work needs a lot of hammering it to create figures of eastern Bhutan. patience and concentration,” will hurt us Nepalis more deities. The concrete base for the explains Ram Kumar, “it is At an age when other statue and the steel frame are now important to give attention to the The left economists forget that the open border, along with children would be playing, Raj almost complete. Although the smallest details and get the correct disadvantages, also empowers Nepali labour by allowing them to Kumar would be etching ground-work of sketching and expression on the face.” move out in search of opportunities when there is little to offer at designs on copper plates and designing the statue was Although the demand for home. It helps national capital by giving it an opportunity to piggy- then hammering them into bass completed three years ago, the Nepali artwork has increased, Ram back on India’s market economy. reliefs. “My home was my work could not start because the Kumar, who is also a teacher of And those who blame the border for the Madhes mess refuse school,” he recalls. Today, Raj Bhutanis were waiting for an metal art, is a bit worried that the to look within at the internal discrimination that gave rise to it in Kumar is a specialist in auspicious time. next generation is not as interested the first place. embossing metal sheets, using a “The statue will be one of the in learning this valuable skill and Kathmandu politicians are also mistaken in thinking that the method known as repoussé. largest in South Asia, possibly in preserving the heritage. Indian establishment prefers an open border and that India takes Unlike the more popular the biggest made from the “However, the positive aspect is advantage from it. Even if it benefits a few petty border traders, method of lost-wax casting, the repoussé technique,” says Raj that this occupation is not caste Nepal and the open border is the least of priorities for big Indian repoussé technique involves Kumar. The metal alone will bound anymore. Traditionally business like the Tatas and Ambanis who exercise real influence beating the metal to give it the weigh 80 tonnes with the gold- only Shakya families were on policy making. For the Delhi security establishment, the open desired shape. plated face and hands, and the involved in it,” he adds. border is a liability given their concerns about fake currency, “Even as a child I was entire structure will take three When asked about his future narcotics, ISI influence and now the possibility of the Chinese fascinated with large repoussé years to complete. plans, Shakya replies: “I want to getting right into the Tarai. Unlike what our netas think, they will statues and dreamt of creating Ram Kumar runs his family construct a gigantic statue of find a fairly receptive audience to such a proposal in Delhi’s larger-than-life designs,” says workshop, On Metal, in Buddha in Nepal, possibly atop power corridors. But while regulating the border and improving administration Raj Kumar. Kathmandu with a team of 30 one of the hills that surround on both sides is necessary, any attempt to introduce passports or Raj Kumar’s work has come skilled artists. Using traditional Kathmandu. After all, what people close the border will be deeply unfortunate and politically counter- to the notice of monasteries in methods they produce copper remember you for eventually is productive for us Nepalis. Japan, Korea and most recently figures, masks, stupas, mandalas, what you leave behind.” The poorest segments of the population who cross the border to earn their livelihoods will suffer the most. It will deprive the Nepali macroeconomy of a safety valve and prevent our entrepreneurs from making the best of growing opportunities on the other side. Most importantly, it will devastate the lives of the economically inter-dependent local borderland population on both sides. It will invite a ferocious Madhesi backlash which will see the move as an attempt to kill off their links with their families on the other side. It may even encourage a stronger secessionist movement. But most of all, it will not work. If fencing on the Indian- Bangladesh border or millions of troops on the India-Pakistan border cannot prevent mobility, there is no way that the governments can control movement across the fields and rivers on the 1,751km India-Nepal border. Nepali nationalism is not under threat from open borders. It is under threat because politicians are not getting on with their job of writing a constitution. The same insecure bunch is now coming up with wild schemes to block the natural flow across borders. If they do go ahead, they must be prepared for some nasty consequences. As a pioneer of borders studies, Willem Van Schendel puts it, “No matter how clearly borders are drawn on national maps, how many custom officials are appointed, or how many watchtowers are built, people will ignore borders when it suits them.” BUSINESS 10 - 16 APRIL 2009 #446 5

Better service

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Spice Nepal is investing US$ 250 million over the next two years to improve Banda business coverage and services with the aim of boosting its customers by 1.2 million this year and maintaining its Everybody loves a good hartal 1.7 million subscribers. ast Monday morning torch vehicles, deflate or burn business organizations feel it Going green everyone I spoke with tyres are all one and the same. On acceptable to threaten shut down

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ asked the same two a course titled Nepali rather than debate a policy issue Chaudhary Group is working L questions. One: was it a banda Management 101, perhaps this with the government? with WWF to become the first that day or not. And two: who would be a good example of This Beed always refers to ‘green company’ in Nepal. was calling it. outsourcing. Kathmandu as a sister city of WWF will assess the way the company operates with a view to reducing its carbon footprint in the same It seems no one really knew, Why should we complain if Kolkata because if someone visits way that the international NGO has worked with other but everyone loves a good all political parties outsource the either city and returns without companies throughout the world. nationwide strike and one more services of the same people to encountering a political broker their business deals? Isn’t showdown in the streets he or she it good to have the same set of will feel something is missing.

Win a home ECONOMIC SENSE ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ people honing their Samsung is marking Nepali New Year with a Artha Beed expertise and offering prize draw that gives those who buy a Samsung their services to a variety TV or fridge the chance of winning an apartment day off. Students are happy to of clients? Perhaps Nepal at Suncity Apartment, Manohara or a microwave have no class and to have exams could become the oven. The lucky draw is aired daily on the Music postponed. It’s a good excuse to world’s greatest source of of Your Choice show on Image Channel. go to the office an hour late and outsourced protestor leave an hour early, citing the talent. Socially responsible need to walk there and back. And Nepalis have

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ for those who love big bonfires, it accepted bandas as a way NMB Bank has launched a social responsibility campaign which is another great chance to burn a of life when they should includes helping renovate and maintain temples. The bank recently vehicle. be rallying against them. put marble flooring in the Hanuman Mandir and has introduced a In Dharan and other parts of The business of bandas is getting Surely this is not the kind of scheme to clean it frequently. The bank is also providing schools, eastern Nepal, the general out of hand. Soon entrepreneurs experience we are packaging for such as one at Balkumari, with computers. discussion is about who will running tanker business will be Visit Nepal Year 2011. Something INDIAN MODEL: Just four organise the next banda. The calling a banda to change laws so serious needs to be done. months after their launch standard operating procedure is they can vandalize vehicles Perhaps, a citizen’s campaign, in India, car dealer Agni simple: choose a date, outsource belonging to their competitors in which we resist and not co- Incorporated is to activists, do something that will and parents will block traffic to operate with the banda organizers, distribute Indian –made attract media attention and then protest against their children not can only bring this to an end. Any Mahindra XYLO cars in wait for your turn to organise the being allowed to cheat in donor willing to sponsor such a Nepal. Two models are next one. examinations or because they program or should we get some available – a luxury seven Observers point out that the want job guarantees for graduates parachute consultants in first to seater priced at Rs 3.39 people who stage the demos, with poor degrees. (Wait, that's assess and write a report? million and an eight seater which costs Rs 2.85 million. participate in the masal julus, already happening.) Why should www.arthabeed.com 6 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 10 - 16 APRIL 2009 #446 Replicating Dhulikhel Demagougery

Debendra Bhattarai in Kantipur, 5 April activities. Koju said: “The hospital is neither and the private nor government run. We are community- Last week, the news that the prime minister’s son run and we work for them.” He pointed out how a Prakash Dahal got drunk and passed out at 13-year-old hospital and a 17-year-old university Dhulikhel Resort made the headlines, in Dhulikhel have contributed to nation-building. psychology overshadowing what PM Puspha Kamal Dahal When the PM questioned which activities the and Finance Minister Baburam Bhattarai were government should give priority to, Sharma really doing there. They were visiting Dhulikhel to advised improving agriculture and setting up of fear find out about how that town has become a model polytechnics. “We can’t just generate for education and health. For three hours, the employment,” Sharma recalls telling the prime leaders discussed the exemplary Kathmandu minister, “it needs to be effective and tailored to University and Dhulikhel Hospital with the people the needs of the market.” term peace the people will give who run them. The leaders also heard how Dhulikhel them the vote, while the UML and Kathmandu University’s Vice-chancellor hospital has been treating patients at a minimal NC will submit to the Maoists Suresh Raj Sharma was there, and says: “We cost while students at Kathmandu University also remaining in power to prevent offered suggestions about education and health. pay a lot less than they would at other colleges. violence and anarchy. One shouldn’t separate private and public. Finance Minister Baburam Bhattarai then The oft-repeated threats of Kathmandu University and Dhulikhel Hospital asked how Dhulikhel’s exemplary community- revolt are but one way of may be private but they are non-profit public based education and health system could be reminding the public service oriented. The government shouldn’t replicated. Koju replied that government-run continuously of its yearning for dismiss private organisations just because they hospitals don’t function well and private ones are peace, and to force the other expensive. “So, we have to implement the are private. We should work together to move political parties to buckle. The ahead.” concept of community-managed health and people are made to believe Dhulikhel hospital’s Ram Makaju and education.” Rajendra Koju noted that the leaders hadn’t, until Sharma said it made him happy and optimistic that the right to revolt and to then, grasped the concept of community-based to see the leaders in Dhulikhel. destroy the peace is a birthright of the Maoists, while it is the job of the other parties to work for peace. The impression being created is that the Maoists have the right and privilege to create anarchy, in case they are made to leave government. The existing state of impunity is not the residue of the transitional phase we are in, nor is it the result of governmental Khem Bhandary in Kantipur, ineffectiveness. It is a deliberate 6 April weapon being used by the Maoists to spread fear. Attacks on the press, Following the murder of Youth businesses, schools, interference Force activist Prachanda Thaiba with the civil service, the military, in Butwal, the UML threatened to demonstrations against the quit the coalition. The thundering judiciary, the behaviour towards response of Finance Minister NGOs, and the vicious response Baburam Bhattarai was: “If there to anyone who criticises are all is an attempt to topple the proofs of the planned Maoist government, the Maoists will once exercise to extend command over again resort to a revolt.” Even all the facets of society. though he has made such threats This sort of fear-mongering on before, the meaning and intent of the part of a party which has the latest pronouncement point to already accepted the system of grave danger. periodic elections is nothing but a It would be wrong to term this corrupt output of wartime hubris. threat of ‘revolt’ from a top leader Regardless of what they may of the party in government as know of conflict and social based on momentary emotion. progress, the Maoists say they Bhattarai is in fact giving us the abandoned the ‘people’s war’ and indication of an extremely well embraced multiparty democracy thought-out plan, and there is an because of geopolitics. They are intent to blackmail the other myopic: they underestimate the political parties as well as the people’s rejection of violence as people. It reflects the presence of the real reason. a totalitarian mindset within the The Maoists also seem too Maoist party. quick to ridicule the support The Maoists are today using among the people for the UML and only slightly modified version of NC. They have not even been able the psychological methods of to understand why they got the influence and control that they votes they did in the elections. perfected during their armed The people wanted not only a insurgency. The goal is to republic and a new constitution, progressively extend full control they also voted for peace. The over the state and the society. Maoists are showing extreme While the widely-held reluctance to accept this reading. impression is that Bhattarai is the Even though they have had moderate and the democrat among control of state power for a full the Maoists, when he does open year, there is no evidence of his mouth there is the clear odour concern among the Maoist of extremism. He was the first leadership as to how their attitude Maoist leader to threaten revolt if is being perceived. There is there was an attempt to topple the disenchantment, sloganeering and government, and he is the only attacks against the Maoists are on one who continuously repeats that the rise. warning. With this loss of trust, The Maoists seem to be participation in Maoist rallies and utilising one of the psychological marches is thinning. With its tools of military science, of reluctance to read the meaning of directing one’s fire at where the the recent student elections, the opponent is most vulnerable. The Maoist party seems unwilling to public seeks peace before all confront the need to reform its else, the NC and UML seek to ways. If it remains stubborn in its proceed through sustainable, worldview and indisciplined in its peaceful politics, and so the activities, it is certain Maoists use ‘peace’ as a they will not experience much bargaining chip. In return for long- tranquility in the days ahead. CONSTITUTION 2010 10 - 16 APRIL 2009 #446 7 Who’s afraid of ethnicity? Federalism is about ethnic autonomy and ending years of discrimination by the central administration

nstead of debating about ethnicity on consists of 82 different castes and Those who speak Bhojpuri are found in region and have a majority, it is in the the basis of demography, majority and ethnicities. 11 ethnicities have majorities Bara, Parsa and Rautahat. Awadi language spirit of democracy to name the province I minority, it is important that we in more than 30 VDCs. populations dominate Kapilabastu and according to their name. Similarly, if there understand whether the state has created In the west and far west there is a southern Banke. Rajbansis, Taajpuria, Majhi are certain ethnicities that are on the verge an environment for groups to participate, dominance of Chettris, Magars are in the and Gangai are in the northern Tarai, but of extinction, it is acceptable to name that be represented and provided equal mid-west and west, southern Tarai and there’s a dispute there also on what the province after them. opportunities. northern hills. Similarly, Gurungs are common language should be. Sunsari, The demands of Tharuhat, Limbuwan, There’s an ongoing debate over whether dominant in the northern hills and high Morang and Jhapa may be claimed by Tamuwan have been denied by other the country should follow a unitary- mountainous regions. Kathmandu is Tharuhat, Limbuwan, Kochila, Morangiya ethnicities in the areas that respect the centralised, decentralised structure, or dominated by Newars and Tamangs are in and Birat but historically they are in the Panchayat regime. It is not because the whether the power should be distributed northern hills, southern Tarai, Chure Limbuwan area. It is clear that language Limbus didn’t struggle enough for their region, Budi Gandaki in the west and and ethnicity are the simplest basis for rights that their names were not included COMMENT Dudh Kosi in the east. The region between classification of regions. Autonomy can be but because of the Hindu royalist regime Balkrishna Dudh Kosi and Arun River is called the arranged for the 82 remaining ethnicities that didn’t consider the grievances of the Mabuhang Khambu region and north of that region is via the federal unit or at the local level. Limbuwans to begin with. dominated by the Limbus. Integration of other ethnicities around the The Limbuwan province will not among federal provinces. However, if we Tharus dominate Kanchanpur to country can be arranged via reservations or tolerate discrimination. However, the continue to believe that power comes from Nawalparasi. Those who speak Maithili are non-provincial organisations. Limbuwans should welcome other the central state, it makes no difference spread between Saptari to Sarlahi. Maithili Making a federal unit according to discriminated ethnicities under their whether or not Nepal becomes a federal language is considered the mother tongue ethnicity doesn’t mean that the other umbrella and provide them with social, republic. The group that believes that of more than three dozen ethnicities but ethnicities are forcefully driven away. For economic, political and educational power comes from the barrel of a gun is there’s still dispute regarding the name. instance, Tharus are the original reservations. also eyeing to capture state power. They inhabitants of the Tarai, but many other The struggles between the majority and don’t understand that they are just ethnicities also live there. MJF has also minority are not about who has the upper caretakers of state power and that the real been positive towards the Tharuhat’s hand. It is about dealing with the issues of power lies with the people. And there are proposal. identity and addressing years of those from the old regime who still see If any particular ethnic discrimination via constitutional state social diversity and its management as an groups are the original mechanisms. Assurances and co-option obstacle. inhabitants of the will not work anymore. Instead of trying to change the identity groups are born with, it is useful to Balkrishna Mabuhang is professor at the recognise them and develop them as a part Central Department of Population of the state structure. It is indeed scientific of Tribhuvan University. to classify the provinces on the basis of language, ethnicity, or region. Federalism is when sovereignty and power are divided between central and federal units. In a federal state there is autonomy at the regional level while cooperation must exist at the federal level. Federalism supports decentralisation and Ethnicities according to demography celebrates and protects the diversity of the country. According to the 2001 census of the 100 Janajatis in Nepal (which make up 37 Languages per cent of the total population) there are 18 ethnicities that each make up more than one per cent of the total population. 81 per cent of the Janajatis are comprised of the 18 groups while the remaining 19 per cent Federalisation is not a panacea But it’s historically inaccurate to argue that it causes separatism NANCY BOROMEO poorer countries debate the fact, the mean armed-rebellion argued for repression. When rather than federalism itself that merits of federalism, other score for federal states is less than Jawaharlal Nehru gave the stimulates secession. In Pakistan, ince 1945, ethnic violence countries that have long been half that for unitary states. When Tamils a separate state instead, it was federal borders rather than has played a major role in federal have expanded the federal and unitary dictatorships the drive for separatism died federal institutions that were Shalf of all wars, turned number of subunits within their are compared, federal systems down. imposed. more than 12 million people boundaries. India has created look even better: The incidence of In the Punjab, a Sikh Federalisation is not a into refugees, and caused at least nine new states since the 1970s, minority rebellion is more than separatist rebellion dragged on panacea and federalism is no 11 million deaths. Precisely three of which came into being four times greater in unitary for years as Indira Gandhi guarantee of peace or of anything because today’s wars are so often as recently as November 2000. dictatorships than in federal refused concessions and tried to else. There are undoubtedly between peoples rather than The case against federalism has dictatorships. triumph through armed force. situations in which such options states, civilian casualties have been made most eloquently by Although elites at the centre When a new central government should be spurned. Yet it is risen dramatically. Fewer than those studying post-communist often fear that granting even allowed a series of elections, the important not to reject federalism half of the casualties in World regimes. partial autonomy will encourage major Sikh political party came for spurious reasons, and it is War II were non-combatants, Federal systems provide violence and secession, such fears to power, and Sikh separatism historically inaccurate to argue while today some three-quarters more layers of government and are rarely justified. Historically, was forced “off-stage.” that it brings on separatism. of all war casualties are civilian. thus more settings for peaceful when central leaders grant Hard-liners should remember Is adopting federalism the bargaining. They also give at increased autonomy to disaffected that separatist movements are Nancy Bermeo is the professor of best way to cope with least some regional elites a regions, they are usually rewarded more often the stepchildren of politics at Princeton University. territorially based diversity? A greater stake in existing political with peace rather than instability. threats than of concessions. The This article is excerpted from The surprising and expanding range institutions. When Tamil nationalists in India forced imposition of a single Import Of Institutions, which of polities seem to be leaning in With these incentives we mobilised in the early 1950s, state language boosted separatist appeared in the Journal of a federal direction. would expect fewer armed many political actors in New movements in Sri Lanka. Often, Democracy (Volume 13, Number As an increasing number of rebellions in federal states. In Delhi feared separatism and it is the refusal to federalise, 2, April 2002). though we try to save as much as we can.” The desperation is boiling into anger on the streets. Two weeks ago, locals held a strike in Basantapur and women from Bhaktapur had a sit-in in front of the Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited office. Fights often erupt at the water queues. Last week, there was a clash in ROMA ARYAL Satdobato at 1AM when a neighbourhood WATER! house drew most of the water those in line had been waiting for since the There is no end in sight to the unita Bujhel wakes up before previous day. dawn every other day to join the Buying water is expensive. One 5,000 queue up at the public tap in litre tanker costs up to Rs 2,000. Families S Satdobato. After waiting all day load up on small plastic jars, costing she (pictured) returns home at around Rs 300 initially, and Rs 60 per refill. An 3.30 PM carrying two jerrycans of water to average four-member family usually last her family for the next two days. consumes up to 15 jars a month. The owner The recent rainfall that broke the six of a gas cylinder shop has recently month drought has provided no relief, and diversified into selling water jars. “People the decrease in power cuts has only made are getting frantic,” says the shopkeeper, things worse. As soon as the power comes “most families use the jars for almost on in the morning, shops and houses that everything: washing dishes, bathing, have electric pumps quickly draw up the drinking water.” water, leaving no water for those waiting at Khanepani Limited has increased the the taps. number of trucks supplying water, and “It’s difficult,” sighs Sunita, “even even injects water into the mains. But this makes little difference. The valley demand is currently 280 million litres per day, but supply is less than 90 million litres. In Mangal Bajar, though, the community has got together to manage water. In Kumbeswor, local committees regulate water queues and store well water and mains supply in 10,000 litre tanks. At the public spout in Imukhel there are rules on water use. At Patan Darbar Square, committee members raise money to maintain the sunken spouts. Another solution is rainwater harvesting, but most rain storage has gone dry because of the prolonged drought. A system to store rainwater for four months after the monsoon costs Rs 30,000 for a 7,500 litre system. But for that, households would still have to wait for the monsoon, and that is three months away. z ROMA ARYAL CHONG ZI LIANG Melamchi mirage For the parched and thirsty capital, the only hope on the horizon is the Melamchi project that aims to bring glacier melt from the Langtang National Park to Sundarijal via a 16km tunnel. The project has been planned for 15 WATER! years, but it still seems like a mirage. The project was delayed by political e capital’s water emergency instability and the conflict, but things started moving two years ago. It is now slated for completion by 2013 after the signing of a Rs 4.28 billion contract with a joint venture between a Chinese company and a local company. There are still critics who say there are cheaper alternatives to Melamchi, but their voices have gone hoarse. Experts say just fixing the capital’s Rana-era water mains would increase water supply by 40 per cent because that is the proportion that is lost to leaky pipes. Another alternative to Melamchi would be to build a series of reservoirs on the Valley rim to store water from the Bagmati’s tributaries.

CHONG ZI LIANG

MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA 10 NATION 10 - 16 APRIL 2009 #446 “Ama ko iskul”

KONG YEN LIN in DANG “Before the restoration of mothers as well. They can’t be multiparty democracy, most absent, they have to finish their eing illiterate, seamstress women were confined within homework, and they sit for the Khima Nepali used to their homes and hesitant to same tests as their children. Bmemorise all her speak in public,” says English Subedi says the mothers are doing customers’ orders by heart. But teacher Ram Hari Rijal,” now well, with more than 60 per cent when business started to pick up, they are more outspoken and attaining first division passes in the 37-year-old realised she expressive of their rights, the term exams. couldn’t remember it all. Khima especially in education. To However, the presence of felt the urge to learn to read even them, this is like opening up a parents in the classroom can be a more when she attended a third eye.” double-edged sword. On one training program and found her This is the case for Asharami hand, the parent-teacher literate classmates having a head Chaudhari whose parents were partnership can be strengthened start. brought up as illiterate kamaiyas with mothers working together So, with support from her and kamalaris. For the mother of with teachers in solving family, the feisty mother enrolled five, literacy holds the promise problems. But classroom in Grade 1 of a local school in of a brighter future. Most dynamics become challenging for Karjahi in Dang, where she spouses have also been teachers as the pace of learning is studies in the same classroom as supportive of their wives’ so different. her seven-year-old daughter. decision. “It’s hard to manage a Khima’s pioneering efforts to “My husband and I came to a classroom where age gaps and hit the books have been an consensus that he would earn natures are so different,” says inspiration to other illiterate money while I go to school,” teacher Sita Sharma, “some women in Karjahi, and 30 other says Krishni Chaudhari, “and he mothers felt it was hard to women have enrolled in Grade 1 wants me to teach him what I’ve concentrate and wanted to be in a and 2. They share a common learnt at home!” separate room.” desire to be empowered by Headmaster Hokum Subedi is Despite the enrolment of education. “My parents are dead enthusiastic about his 32 new mothers picking up, Subedi says but now my own children are like adult students who sit with there just isn’t space to have a my parents- they educate me,” their children in the same separate classroom for them. Most says Khima. classes. He says: “Their mothers have below-subsistence Three years after the end of participation has been a positive income, so can’t afford stationery the People’s War, Dang is seeing example for the community, and school material. an increase in female enrolment motivating and encouraging Says Subedi: “It’s a pity, we in schools. Educators attribute more women to seek formal just don’t have the resources. this to a rising awareness about education.” There is so much enthusiasm that the importance of education Despite being adults, all more mothers want to join among parents. school rules apply for the schools.” KONG YEN LIN

PAAVAN MATHEMA

ixteen-year old Ermy Prajapati had teacher said: “Ermy is among our most been preparing conscientiously for diligent students, we were hoping she’d S her SLC exams last month. One get a distinction, so we couldn’t let the Fire hazard day, while trying to light candles at home accident discourage her.” during a power cut she got severely burnt. Bir Hospital has registered an The 16-year-old was rushed to hospital increase in the number of burn cases with serious burns below her waist. There after the 16-hour daily power cuts went was only a month to go for the exam and into effect this winter. Says the Burns Ermy was worried. Unit in-charge Nara Devi Bariya: “There But last week at the Burns Unit of Bir is a burn case very other day, and Hospital, there was Ermy her legs although not all the cases are because bandaged and in considerable pain, taking of load shedding, it has certainly increased the risk factor.” Bariya recalls the case of a young Hospitals register man last month who died of 90 per cent rise in patients burns over his body. He had stored petrol in his house because of the fuel burnt during shortage. With no electricity, he had been checking up on his fuel stash with power cuts a candle. The Kathmandu Fire Brigade her SLC accounts paper in the wards with also says that fire incidents have an invigilator and security official in significantly increased since load attendance (pictured left). Always shedding started. someone to look at the bright side, Ermy For most families who can’t afford says it was easier to study in the hospital invertors and generators, candles and because there was no load-shedding. oil lamps are the only alternative. She thinks she’d have performed Combined with the exams, this better if it hadn’t been for the accident, but increased the risk of burns as many adds she has done well in all her papers. students fell asleep while studying “I hope to get above 70 per cent,” she at night. says confidently. Megh Raj Bajagai, Ermy’s science See also: 'A burning issue', #382 KIRAN PANDAY NATION 10 - 16 APRIL 2009 #446 11 12 NATION 10 - 16 APRIL 2009 #446 “We are committed to multiparty democracy, freedom of press and rule of law...” In this interview with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal printed in the Wednesday edition of the Finnish newsmagazine, Suomen Kuvalehti, Katri Merikallio asks him about his commitment to democracy, the free press and the future of the peace process. Excerpts:

commitment to multiparty democracy, What are your expectations with the visit to freedom of press and rule of law. During Finland? the insurgency, I have praised the media I am fully satisfied with the trend of and spoken out against the feudal cooperation. There is tremendous and big autocracy trying to suppress the media. change going on in Nepal and the people have high expectations. I hope that But the Committee to Protect Journalists cooperation can be enhanced particularly in says Nepal is still one of the most education and forestry, not just in dangerous places in the world for conservation but also the commercial use of journalists and no one has been arrested. forests. We also expect more help and It is unfortunate that even during the peace cooperation in the constitution drafting process a number of journalists have been process. We would also like to encourage killed, but it is not correct that no one has investment in the IT sector. been arrested or punished. In some cases I, myself, took the initiative to capture some people to be handed over to police custody, and the case is going in the court. In one case, in the Tarai of Birendra Sah the killing was not related to our party. Recently, there was the case of Uma Singh, and here also the accused are in jail or some are underground, they were Suomen Kuvalehti: How would you describe this is being blamed on your party. not related to any party. It was proved that your past seven months in power? I cannot agree with this statement. This is this was related to property, a family Pushpa Kamal Dahal: Everybody knows highly exaggerated. It is correct that we are dispute. It is wrong to say that nothing has that we are going through a very delicate having a very delicate transition period – been done. It is an exaggeration. The and sensitive transition period. We have there are so many remnants from the government is fully committed to end many challenges, but altogether I can previous conflict and we cannot eradicate it impunity. conclude that things are going ahead step overnight. If you look at peace processes by step, facing many twists and turns, in the elsewhere in the world our peace process Yourself, how Maoist are you? process of drafting a new democratic is much smoother. There are some (Laughs) Very interesting question. I constitution. unwanted activities and we are committed always understood Marxism, Leninism, to punish the guilty and end impunity. In Maoism as a social struggle, and that What would be your three main challenges? some media problems have been highly conflict analysis is the soul of social MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA Peace, until and unless this unique and exaggerated. science. All the great leaders of the homegrown peace process is not concluded proletariat, Marx, Engels, Lenin and Mao Meanwhile, back there is always the danger of instability and What about the tensions within your own said that nothing should be mechanically anarchy. We need to take this historic party? copied from one revolution or one country. in Kathmandu peace process to its logical conclusion. The To lead the revolution into a peaceful We have to analyse the situation and second challenge is to build a consensus process and to hold elections and then to understand the dynamics of change. If you After returning from his visit to Norway between all the political parties. We have lead the government within a very short mechanically copy what Mao did in China and Finland, Prime Minsiter Pushpa broad areas of agreement on the form of span of time is miraculous. But we have then you’re not a real Maoist. There are Kamal Dahal lashed out at political democracy, human rights, rule of law, transformed not just our party but the whole some who want to dogmatically apply what parties, the judiciary and the media. independent judiciary and freedom of press, society. Naturally there are different Mao did, but China itself has changed. Some sound bites from the past week: but there are some issues where we still tendencies within my party extreme left, “Those trying to obstruct the peace need to agree: what kind of federalism we extreme right, vacillation tendency but How about the Maoist movement in India? process under the Maoist Government need, how power will be shared between overall the pragmatic more dialectic and Revolutions can’t be exported or imported. are criminals and murderers…they autonomous regions, differences on the realistic tendency is now dominant. The What they do in India is solely their must be chased away like bhyakur.” issue of form of governance. The third extremist tendency has been defeated. responsibility. There are some communist “The media are under the control challenge is that the people have very high parties in India – some are extremely left of feudalists, capitalists and reactionary expectations from the change and we have If you look at the future which kind of and some extremely right. When I took the forces.” to meet them. governance model would you prefer: Korea, path of multiparty democracy and “Big media houses are run by In some aspects fighting the war was China or India? embarked on the peace process there was smugglers…they are misleading the easier than handling the democratic I don’t want to compare ourselves with serious debate within the Maoists in India majority of the country’s population with governance process. But both have their anyone, but we have to learn from the about whether they should follow the wrong information. Since smugglers own characteristics, and you can’t really negative and positive aspects of other Maoists in Nepal or not. There are some and capitalists are very active in the compare. I am fully confident that we will revolutions during the 20th century. It is our people in the Maoist movement in India media sector, it will be very tough to take the peace process forward and draft conclusion that without multiparty who oppose us and say we have win the war over the control of the the constitution in the stipulated timeframe. democracy we can’t serve the people and abandoned revolution, but there are those country’s media but if we move ahead humanity. For now we have to cooperate who say that what Prachanda is doing is with a pro-people media that fight can There are reports of continued intimidation, that with other parliamentary parties. There correct and that we should learn from his easily be won.” and violence is on the increase. Some of should be no serious doubt about out experience. NATION 10 - 16 APRIL 2009 #44613 Pedal power irjala Tamrakar, 28, started bicycling out of necessity when she used to go to AVM School in her native Patan. Then, N bicycling became a hobby. Now it is a passion. Especially after she came a commendable second in the gruelling 405km Kanchenjunga Mountain Bike Expedition held in Sikkim last month, Tamrakar is determined to do better in international bicycling tournaments. Nepal’s most noted woman mountain biker has been taking part in championships since 2001 coming either first or second in most. “It was a great feeling, I became someone in place of no one,” says Nirjala, describing the moment when she received her prize in Sikkim. Despite her motivation, it hasn’t been easy for Nirjala. A proper mountain bike can cost up to Rs 300,000 and the bike suit can be expensive. A CHONG ZI LIANG coach, specialised diet and lots of time to train are also needed. “The male bikers are very supportive because I am the only woman,” says Nirjala, who has worked as a medical transcriptionist and even taught yoga to earn money. Nirjala takes encouragement not just from her successes, but also her failures. She says coming last in the Annapurna Mountain The long march Bike race in 2006 goaded her work harder. “It was snowing and the bike was 18kg and I just ran out of stamina,” she recalls, “but after that I decided I was going to practise and improve my endurance.” CHONG ZI LIANG is, the bus is simply too fast and unusually high price. In this She went on to complete the 1,150km Lhasa-Kathmandu all the scenery zips by the aspect, the highway route will not Mountain Bike race in 17 days and hopes now to take part in orget trekking in the window before registering in the disappoint. Shops along the last international tournaments. Nirjala sometimes regrets not having majestic Himalaya. There are retina. An immediate uphill route 10km stretch were nice enough to time for studies, family and friends. Yet, she feels proud of being great hiking routes in this (pictured, above) of eight km right provide us with an authentic able to represent Nepal in many national and international races as F the only female participant. country that thus far have been at the start virtually ensured we hiking experience as well by Nirjala's other hobby is painting and she has won the first prize neglected by tourists: Nepal’s were going so slow every plant jacking up their prices. It’s all in the Mandala Art Competition two years in a row in 2003-4. She highways. And I chanced upon could be admired in its entirety. demand and supply—how much hopes to have a solo art exhibition soon. this discovery quite But if I thought the uphill you pay in Nepal depends Binita Dahal serendipitously on a walk was tough, going down was entirely on how desperate you are recent reporting assignment. a nightmare. The Nepalis I was to buy what is on offer. I was trying to get from hiking with decided to take a By the time we stumbled into Chinchu to Kohalpur by bus, but shortcut through a steep Kohalpur, we probably looked as luck would have it there was a downhill stretch. My clumsy city like a posse of hombres walking chukka jam called because of the feet were slipping on every into a wild west town after being death of a UML cadre 300 km to pebble, root or stretch of dirt. lost in the desert. My legs had the west from Kathmandu in A highway hike also reveals stopped feeling any pain and had Butwal. I had managed to catch a the legendary Nepali hospitality. been on autopilot during the micro willing to break the banda, Sensing I was in trouble, two final five km. but after a lunch stop the driver Nepalis slowed down during my So, to all you tourists out decided he was going to respect downhill tumble and walked there: why pay for a hiking permit the strike after all and disgorged with me as the rest of them that is obviously overpriced us all together with our luggage. disappeared out of sight. One of because you are a foreigner? Why Now there’s nothing like being them even carried one of my bags. shell out for that abandoned in the middle of A long march along Nepal’s down jacket and waterproof nowhere along a mountain highways is the only way to bond boots? If ‘Naturally Nepal’ is what highway to forge solidarity among with the locals and get up close you seek, just board any bus out complete strangers. A and personal with Nepalis. of Kathmandu and pray for a discussion promptly took place By mid-afternoon, we had banda. Experience the trek of a and it was quickly decided we come off the hilly portion of our lifetime. MICHEL HUNEULT would walk the remainder of the forced march. The final 10km way to Kohalpur: all 25 km of it. stretch of straight road to The trouble was we all had Kohalpur now was a gentle baggage and I had two packs descent through forest. I have weighing 15 kg. heard that on the established After walking for a bit, I mountain hiking circuits, food realised just how beautiful Nepal and other essentials are sold at an 14 CITY 10 - 16 APRIL 2009 #446

ABOUT TOWN Vin Diesel and Paul Walker re-team for the ultimate chapter of Fast & Furious where they head back to the streets where it all EXHIBITIONS began. When a crime brings them back to LA, fugitive ex-con ™ Unexpressed Expressions by Sangee Shrestha, 20 April, Dom Toretto (Diesel) reignites his feud with agent Brian O’Conner 11AM-6PM, Siddhartha Art gallery. 4218048 (Walker). But as they are forced to confront a shared enemy, ™ Birds, Butterflies & Wildlife of Nepal, a solo photo exhibition, Dom and Brian must give into an uncertain new trust if they hope to outmaneuver him. And, from convoy heists to precision tunnel 14-20 April in NAFA art gallery Bal Mandir, Naxal. crawls across international lines, the two men will find the ™ In Plain View by Kelly Stacey, 10-17 April at Lazimpat Gallery best way to get revenge: push the limits of what’s possible

Cafe at 11AM. Entertainment behind the wheel. ™ Silent Witnesses, stencil artwork by Aymeric Hamon, till 24 April, 6 PM, The Bakery Café, Pulchowk. Call 4442220 for show timings at Jai Nepal ™ Caravan art show 2009 by Narayan Shrestha at Hotel Summit www.jainepal.com Quest till 30 April. 9851000519

EVENTS ™ Rachel Getting Married, movie starring Anne Hathaway, sfd ;fgf ] 7nf" ] eGg ] x'Fb}g . kl;gfsf ] s'g} /ª / hft klg x'Fb}g . sfd 11 April, 5.30 PM, Lazimpat Gallery Café. 4428549 u/]/ vfg nhfpg' klg x'Fb}g . rf]/]/, 9fF6]/, 5n]/, n'6]/ vfg kf] g]kfn ;/sf/ ™ Lecture Series XXXI by Mark Turin, 5 pm ,14 April, Yala Maya nhfpgk5' { . hf ] hxf F /x/] hg' sfd u5 { pm To;df} /dfpgk5' { uf/a} ;"rgf tyf ;~rf/ dGqfno Kendra, Patan Dhoka. ;"rgf ljefu ™ 36th Yala Maya Kendra, a classical music series, 15 April, ugk5'{ { / ;dlkt{ eP/ ugk5'{ { . sfd g } zlQm xf,] elQm xf ] / dlQm' 5PM, Yala Maya Kendra, Patan Dhoka. 5553767 xf ] . sfdsf ] OHht u/f,}+ kl;gfsf ] ;Ddfg u/f }+ . ™ Call for entries for Film South Asia till 31 May, documentaries made in and after January 2007 qualified. 5552141

MUSIC ™ Kathmandu International Music Society, 18 April, 2.15-4.10 PM, British School hall. 9803680509 ™ Rock Classics by return of Bob Manes along Desmond O’Flattery and Anthony Correll, 5.30- 8 PM. Lazimpat Gallery Cafe. 4428549 ™ Sunday Jazz brunch barbecue and live jazz music at the Terrace, Hyatt Regency from 12-3.30 PM. 4491234 ™ Jazz evening at Delices de France Restaurant every Wednesday, 11AM-2PM. 4260326 ™ Strings Band live every Tuesday at G’s Terrace Restaurant and Bar, Thamel. ™ Wednesday Melody at Jazzabell Café, Happy hour 6-8PM and TGIF party with live band Epic every Friday at 8PM. 2114075 ™ Some like it hot every Friday BBQ and live music by Dinesh Rai and the Sound Minds, 7PM onwards, Rs 899 at Fusion, Dwarika’s Hotel. 4479488 ™ Happy cocktail hour, 5-7PM, ladies night on Wednesday with live unplugged music at Jatra Café & Bar. ™ Live Sensation, performance by Yankey every Saturday, 9PM, Hyatt Regency, Kathmandu. 4491234. ™ Fusion and Looza Band every Friday night, Bhumi Resto Lounge, Lazimpat. 4412193 ™ Fusion and Classical Music by Anil Shahi every Wednesday, rock with Rashmi Singh every Friday, sufi & raga with Hemant Rana every Saturday, 8PM onwards, Absolute Bar. 5521408 WEEKEND WEATHER DINING by NGAMINDRA DAHAL ™ Easter celebration, 12 April at Kilroy, Thamel. 4250440 ™ Dhaba, Indian food festival, till 11 There is good news for those praying for rains. This satellite picture April, Garden terrace, Soaltee taken on Thursday at noon shows a cloud front stretching from the Crowne Plaza, 7-11.45 PM, Rs 1200 Persian Gulf right up to western Nepal. A low pressure area hanging ™ Australian Food Promotion, till 12 over northern India is favourable to bringing rain along the midhills. April, from 6PM onwards. Hyatt There is some doubt about how much moisture this system contains, regency. 4489362 but it could revive the afternoon showers that stopped after some ™ Gourmet trout at Olive Garden, 6PM onwards at Rs 850+, intermittent showers last week. The sunny intervals this weekend Radisson Hotel, Lazimpat. 4411818 will be hot, and summer-like temperatures with the minimum ™ Chez Caroline for French and Mediterranean cuisine, Babar temperatures crossing into the double digits. Mahal Revisited. 4263070 ™ High tea with scones and sandwiches everyday at the Lounge from 4.30-6.30 PM, Hyatt Regency, Kathmandu. 4491234 ™ Mediterranean cuisine every Friday from Greece, Italy and the Middle-East at The Café, Hyatt Regency. 4491234

™ Nhuchhe goes Thai at Nhuchhe’s Thai Kitchen, Baluwatar. KATHMANDU 4429903 ™ Fusion of Marcela Ragan’s new menu and Mannie’s new bar at Dhokaima Café. 5522113 ™ Plat Du Jour at Hotel Shangri La, Kathmandu, Rs 600. 4412999 KATHMANDU VALLEY ™ Pasta pesto passion at La Dolce Vita, Thamel. 4700612 Fri Sat Sun ™ Home made pasta at Alfresco, Soaltee Crowne Plaza. 4273999 ™ Reality Bites, The Kaiser Café, Garden of Dreams, operated by Dwarika’s Group of Hotels, 9AM-10PM. 4425341 6 30-12 29-136 28-13 6 ™ Cocktails, mocktails and liqueurs at the Asahi Lounge, opening hours 1-10PM, above Himalayan Java, Thamel. ™ Starry night barbecue at Hotel Shangri-la with live performance by Ciney Gurung, Rs 999, at the Shambala Garden, every Friday 7PM onwards. 4412999

For inclusion in the listing send information to editors(at)nepalitimes.com HAPPENINGS 10 - 16 APRIL 2009 #446 15

KIRAN PANDAY POLITICAL GAMES: Following an 11-year lapse, the Fifth National Games opened on Monday. PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal directed the Sports Council to include the PLA team, prompting the Nepal Army Club to withdraw from the games.

KIRAN PANDAY PUMP UP THE POWER: Judges at the body building contest of the Fifth National Games resort to battery-powered lamps during loadshedding on Tuesday.

KIRAN PANDAY LITTLE VOICES: UNICEF executive board members, representing the Bahamas, China, Ethiopia, Germany, Russia and Switzerland, visit the Vishwakarma Community Organisation at the early childhood development centre in Kalika VDC, Kaski.

MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA DIGGING A DREAM: Caterpillar trucks flatten a five hectare site in Kabhresthali, near Nagarjun, in preparation for the construction of an apartment complex.

SAYING GRACE: Australian Ambassador Susan Grace inaugurates the Australian Food Promotion at the Hyatt Regency on 3 April. The festival will go on till 12 April. I 16 Polish unitinGhazni. contingent inKandaharandthe with theCanadianNATO Forces inShindandAirportand direct commandofUSSpecial mercanaries areworkingunder recent issuethatGurkha Afghan Maoists Shola Jawid,themouthorganof not stoppingGurkharecruitment. salvo atourownMaobaddiesfor there), andithasjustfireda of Afghanistan-Maoists(yes,even member istheCommunistsParty Another RIMandCCOMPOSA one’s own. someone else’srevolutionthan more fashionablyhardlineabout that onecanalwaysbemuch Either way,itjustgoestoprove M toturnintoEuro-communists. Movement willallowtheUCPN- Revolutionary International the doctrinairecomradesat Or,beingunshackledfrom commies asthegenu-winearticle. will beseenbyinternational ‘Red Guards’,foroldtimessake) and itsyouthvanguard(called our ownRevolutionaryLeftWing only meanoneoftwothings:that divorce proceedings.Thiscan Buddies have nothingtodowithour The answerisblowinginthewind have finallysaidtheywantto or later:RIMandCCOMPOSA t wasboundtohappensooner The Afghancomradeshave BACKSIDE and havestarted FG , reportedina returned toKathmanducome to thefreepress,Awesome in Helsinkiabouthiscomitment Two daysafterwaxingeloquent republic then? supposed tobebattingfora minute, wasn’tAwesome constitutional monarch.Waita convince Kingjitobea “till thelastmoment”in2006to disclose thatheactuallytried climate change,Dahalwentonto Majesty HaraldV’s meet aking.Afterpraising darkness toacountryoflight to comefromacountryof Dahal byaskinghimhowitfelt ThenDahaltiredtocorner already?” Oops. been togetherhereforthreedays not acoincidence,haven’twe Whereupon Dahalreplied:“It’s should meethereinOslo.” “What acoincidencethatwe Dahal beganwiththeicebreaker: interview ComradeStupendific? go allthewaytoOslo Why didBhusanDahalhaveto have ...allowedittohappen.’ lackeys presence of only havenotopposedthe its leadingbodytheCPN-Mnot government ofNepalincluding comrades warning:‘Thenew written asnarlinglettertoour inAfghanistanbutthey Nepalese armed FG FG graspof His c) GettingtheFinnstorepair polytechnic b) GettingtheNorwegianstogifta too heavytolugupmountains a) Figuringoutthatwindmillsare were: arrival hismainachievements abroad, Terrificotoldthepresson junket. Afterspendingtendays latest criticismconcernshis attempt tomaskfailures.The megalomania, paranoiaandan delusions ofgrandeur, minister. psychoanalyse the to thestudiothisweek radio stationtocallintwoexperts Things havegotbadenoughfora and cried. then promptlybrokedown politician inthiscountry,and thundered againstjustaboutevery speech inKhulaMuchwherehe broadcast overandagainhis And theneveningnewsontv drunken stupourinDhulikhel. camera shotofsonnyboyina across thefrontpagescandid angry: themediahadsplashed We canunderstandwhyhe’s the peoplewilldealwiththem.” and providecorrectinformation, the mediadoesn’tbehaveitself Thenhewentontoadd:“If being “smugglers”.Whoa. and thistimeaccusedthemof “feudal ownersofmediahouses” out gunsblazingagainagainst Theirconclusion: FG primordial extinct the brainwavetomakenearly- Fittingly symbolic,whoeverhad they donated15yearsago multi-fuel plantinDuhabithat ButtheAssthinksitwas arts, sharp-shooting,etc). (wrestling, boxing,martial priority inthenewconstitution” zone andto“givesportsatop stadium ineverydevelopment prime ministerpromisinga taking part,andlistenedtothe Liberationists wouldnotbe he hadbeenassuredthePeople’s opening ceremonyonlybecause appears theprezattended the FifthNationalGames.It Habray CDO Regd No194/056/57Lalitpur, CentralRegion PostalRegd.No 04/058/59 FG themascotof ass(at)nepalitimes.com House. was? NayaNepalGuest hideout inThamel the nameoftheir Well,guesswhat notes? full ofmake-believecurrency taking possessionofasuitcase million Maobuddies whowanted in broaddaylightlastweekbysix policeman whowaskidnapped Remember theSingapore clobbered theex-guerrillas. trained soldierscouldhaveeasily Maoists awalkover.Thebetter mistake forthearmytogive 10 -16 APRIL 2009 andwerearrestedwhile FG Rs 60 #446

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