#344 13 - 19 April 2007 16 pages Rs 30

New year’s wishes

MIN BAJRACHARYA

cross the country, ordinary The interim government should Let’s hope us students can There will be peace only with Nepalis told us this week fulfil the wishes of the people for now get on with our studies again. justice, and if there is justice no Editorial p2 A about their hopes and peace. Let the two armies start Let us pray that the country will one has to take up arms. New year, old habits aspirations for 2064. The reforming themselves. Let’s see never see war again. Most of all, Shyam Chaudhary, Saptari overwhelming desire is for the real peace in 2064. let us all work together to build a government to get over its Dambar Biswakarma, Ilam truly new Nepal which we can all Let no force try to provoke obsession with politics so there call our own. innocent Nepalis to take up arms Weekly Internet Poll # 344 will be peace and an Nepali fathers, mothers, Kalpana Baral, Jhapa against each other again. Q. What should be the top priority of the improvement in their lives. brothers, and sisters are finally Lt Bhan Bahadur Airi, Sindhupalchok interim government? experiencing the end of conflict. In this region of Nepal, the Total votes: 4,057 Just because we can travel Let’s protect this peace so there is war is still going on. There hasn’t The country is trying to around freely now, that doesn’t development. been a ceasefire. What is the breathe again, let’s make sure the mean our country is at peace. Hemlata Chemjong, Panchthar point having a home if there is no conflict doesn’t re-ignite. Peace comes when the smiles family? What is the point having a Hridaya Sharma, Gorkha return to the faces of Nepalis. Let’s hope the new year will country if citizens aren’t treated Peace comes when innocent see the political will to steer the equally? Let’s work together for We have no more tears to women still have husbands who country towards peace and peace so our country Nepal can cry. We have to protect peace so Weekly Internet Poll # 345. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com are alive. progress. move forward. Nepalis can live decent lives. Q.Will elections to the constituent assembly be held in June? Ambika Timilsina, Chitwan Puskar Kharel, Gulmi Ram Bilas Yadav, Siraha Pragya Shrestha, Dolakha

Euro Gears 2 EDITORIAL 13 - 19 APRIL 2007 #344

Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Editor: Kunda Dixit Executive Editor: Anagha Neelakantan Design: Kiran Maharjan Web: Rupendra Kayastha Director Sales and Marketing: Sunaina Shah [email protected] Circulation Manager: Samir Maharjan [email protected] Subscription: [email protected],5011628/29 Hatiban, Godavari Road, Lalitpur Horse before the cart [email protected] GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu 5543333-6, Fax: 5521013 www.nepalitimes.com Printed at Jagadamba Press, Hatiban: 5547018 Let a referendum on the monarchy precede constituent assembly elections NEW YEAR, OLD HABITS his time last year, the Rayamajhi Commision has been the nation. It’s a new year in New Nepal. But our politicos are behaving as they people’s Spring Uprising shelved. Is the military really The interim constitution has always have: with opportunism and blaming everyone else but Twas being met with intense under government control? already been amended once to themselves. Within a week of getting into government, Maoists are suppression. One year down the Another spring, another sense include federalism. A second also exhibiting these time-honoured traits. line the ground reality has not of foreboding as the unrest in the amendment is being considered Until as recently as three months ago, Ian Martin was hailed as changed much. We see the same tarai unfolds. Hill indigenous to accommodate the contending a hero holding his ground against those determined to block the brash behaviour of the political peoples are also restive. The parties. It is not precise enough Maoists’ entry into government. He has suddenly become a villain leadership, the bureaucracy, the interim constitution has been just to state ‘federalism’ but to for taking his job seriously. All he did was question the possibility of private sector. In all areas where amended, but the unrest is categorically decide on the kind holding elections in June and the UML and the CPN-M went ballistic. Over-reaction at media interactions is the hallmark of both the ruling elite have their intensifying. The political of federalism. The Election these play-acting parties. pervasive domain, things remain leadership is steering the nation Commission has expressed Fear-mongering about postponement of polls is at fever pitch. the same. towards another collision. doubts about the elections being Pushpa Kamal Dahal smells a conspiracy. Madhab Nepal expects a The spirit of the April held in the current timeframe. “difficult situation” as he carries on with what he does best: blame Uprising had to do with the The international community the government of which he is a part. GUEST COLUMN monarchy, not re-instatement of seems to agree. Recent public Maitalal Gurung We think they protest too much. In fact, the intensity of their parliament. The people were opinion surveys prove most opposition to a later date gives us a sneaking suspicion they don’t misled by the political parties on Nepalis do not know what the really want elections in June but can’t afford to say so up front. Nepali society did not the question of republic and constituent assembly entails. The Meanwhile, the new government needs to get down to work on transform itself. As in 1950 and constituent assembly and they political parties themselves have delivery before the usual paralysis sets in. After a decade of in 1990, the knees of the political merged ganatantra and not been able to take the issue to insurgency and almost four years of dictatorship the bureaucracy badly needs a sense of direction. The police needs to get serious leadership buckled in 2006 and it sambidhan sabha to make them the grassroots. about law enforcement. There is no reason why the people of all ended in a compromise. synonymous. The political parties are hell- Dailekh still have to risk death crossing a bridge bombed by History has repeated itself. The constituent assembly is bent on holding the constituent Maoists which has still not been repaired. Telecom towers across When winds of change sweep an elected body to draft a new assembly by June because for the country were destroyed, but even after a year of ceasefire many through any revolution the old constitution. The question of them it is a face-saving way to districts are still phoneless. order must crumble to give way monarchy must be delinked from appease the people. But it is Improving security and service delivery should be this to an emergent force with total it and addressed by a referendum. pointless to conduct elections government’s main mantra. Yet, we see the negative nabobs control to lead the new nation. The question of monarchy is not just for the sake of elections. The hemming and hawing, blaming others, playing victim, threatening This has not happened. How can a debatable agenda, it is a choice government should amend the the country with dire consequences just because they can’t get we call it a revolution if the decided by a ‘yes’ or ‘no’. This interim constitution and call for their own act together. status quo persists? Just like the right to choose should be taken a referendum on the question of The common minimum program is a good start. But let’s not make it a case of getting away with doing the minimum. The Mallik Commision, the directly to the people so that the monarchy in June instead of proposed amendments to the constituent assembly can act on leaving the matter for the constitution are not enough. To that decision. constituent assembly. This will be taken seriously by the people If the question of monarchy is allow the government to buy time our political talking heads not decided prior to the to prepare for genuine elections should do what they say and constituent assembly elections, while offering the people an say only those things that they what issues will the political alternative. can do. parties take to the people during By sticking to the plan of Make that your new year the election campaign? It is holding the constituent assembly resolution. obvious the bottomline will be election in June, the parties whether to retain the monarchy could spark off another spring or not. And that will be uprising. The political leadership STAMP OF APPROVAL: Maoist central committee disastrous because the main should heed to wise counsel and member Dinanath Sharma at issues of a new constitution will not put the people through the Election Commission as be on the back burner during the another sacrificial ordeal. the CPN-M formally registers election campaigns. The election as a political party contesting will be a de facto referendum on Maitalal Gurung is founding elections. the monarchy and overshadow member of the Green Nepal Party the main agenda of restructuring (Hariyali). KIRAN PANDAY An even more fateful year Sometimes, instinctive rather than analytical readings point the way ahead

popular Nepali proverb says that channel, an outlet through which the forces rehabilitation psychologists term post- of most mainstream actors at the helm of even rivers return to their original accumulated in the form of aggression can revolutionary trauma: a sequential mental government persists. The ‘inclusion’ course after twelve years. It has be released”. Had Nepal been a truly agony of confusion, boredom, agenda is mostly superficial. All this create takenA exactly twelve years for the Maoists unified entity, the violence could have hopelessness, uncertainty, insecurity, and a fertile ground for recruitment by any to return to electoral politics. In 1995, they worked as shock therapy to treat the sick frustration that may lead to either demagogue with a handful of armed abandoned parliament after being denied state. As it happens, Maoist insurgency has withdrawal or agitation. Their gods have followers. their rightful place there by the two big ended up dividing the already fragmented failed, and the government better be Jai Krishna Goit, Jwala Singh, and parties of the day. society. prepared for the day this realisation begins Upendra Yadav have been conditioned in 2063 BS belonged to Girija Prasad to sink and create ripples in the camps. conventional politics. They are as angry Koirala in every sense of the term. He The leaders of the seven-party alliance with themselves for their failure as with any STATE OF THE STATE rightfully claimed the credit of bringing can’t even comprehend the enormity of the other leader, and so hesitate even when C K Lal terrorists into the political mainstream. His second biggest hurdle to free, fair, and they agitate. But should the madhesi leadership proved crucial for the success impartial elections to the constituent leadership fall into the hands of any of the April Uprising against the monarchy. assembly. This will stem from the post- egoistic upper-caste politician without After the registration of the CPN-Maoist But the next phase of the peace process conflict adjustment of their own rank and scruples, its impact on national unity will be at the Election Commission, the politicians- will require more active participation of the file. Fears of being hanged separately horrific. And conducting constituent turned-extremists of the former Samyukta Maoists. Elections to the constituent forced party workers to hang together assembly polls without first seriously Jan Morcha have come full circle in other assembly may be the principal agenda of during the insurgency. With calm returning engaging with marginalised groups will de- ways: they were the third largest party in the interim government, but that government to the countryside, the danger of relapse legitimise the elections before they are the parliament of 1991 after Nepali has to first deal with the forces that Pushpa into chronic internal squabbles is real for even held. Congress and UML. The numbers have Kamal Dahal and his fellow-travellers the UML. The Nepali Congress is now even At a recent astrologers’ convention, a changed; but all the three parties retain unleashed for strategic advantage during more at risk for nepotism and cronyism, fortune-teller predicted that the year to their relative positions in the interim their decade-long war with the state. pathologies that almost destroyed the party come will be more momentous for Nepal parliament of 2007. But the challenges of Preceding elections, the government in the mid-nineties. than the year past. This is the tragedy of change have become much more complex will have to anticipate and prepare for Last winter’s Madhes Uprising exposed this country: analyses turn out to be false, in the intervening period. dealing with the dissatisfaction—if not definitively the vulnerabilities of the SPA- instinctive responses invariably true. The Maoist insurgency was violent, but more—of Maoist cadres interned at Maoist alliance. The state machinery Reason may give reassurance, but emotion it created an opportunity for what Franz makeshift camps. These disillusioned seems to still not be under the total control breeds anxiety. The price, perhaps, for Fanon called collective catharsis: “a youths must be going through what of the government. The communal mindset living in interesting times. 13 - 19 APRIL 2007 #344 3

LLL ETTERS

UNDEMOCRATIC reconstruction funds”. and stability must be achieved. To Apparently, all parties other than the With my sarcastic hat on: I think Kumar achieve security and stability... Oops, eight in the eight-party alliance are is angry Gyawali was not made minister there I go again repeating myself, just like required to collect 10,000 signatures to because he, Kumar, personally was in line all those experts. register their party with the election for a good government position if that S Pal, email commission. It is un-democratic to happened. have different rules for different parties. It would be sad to see your paper turn HONEST ASS It shows that the EPA does not want into one of those weekly newspapers that The Ass on Backside does a good job of other parties to contest the elections. are affiliated with political parties. I am no (satirically) summarising what is going on Small, mostly nationalist, parties can’t fan of politicians but I don’t like yellow in Nepal and might be the last person who go conduct political programs in the journalism either. Please, no baseless stands firm when it comes pointing out villages and so are having a hard time political finger pointing, and no name Maoist excesses. The Maoists have collecting the signatures. picking—any minister can be accused of hijacked this government. Home Minister Saurav Sharma, email being incompetent and wanting ministries Sitaula apologises for every mistake the for power or money. Maoists make. Not one political leader The government has failed. Their Anup Pathak, USA visited Madi when 38 innocent Nepalis main objective—free and fair elections were killed by the Maoists. But Ram in 20 June— is held to be impossible UNSTABLE ELEMENTS Chandra Poudel rushed to pay tribute to by the election commission, the I think what Daniel Lak talks about so the 28 Maoists killed in Gaur, possibly general public, the UN, and others. casually in ‘Unstable elements’ (Here and because he needed Pushpa Kamal There are no rules about how to run there, #343) needs to be taken very Dahal’s support to be appointed to the such an election. The JTMM says it seriously here in Nepal. As a teacher, I see peace and reconstruction committee. won’t allow elections in the tarai. Most the connection to our educational system, Madhab Nepal is the classic flipflopper. importantly, people don’t know about which teaches children to listen and imitate Keep writing about all this, eventually the constituent assembly. Given all rather than to think and discover, turning there will be payback. this, why would anyone want elections them into young people who are easily Tara Nepal, email now? indoctrinated and mislead. With so many SAGAR SHRESTHA Name withheld, email mis-educated, unemployed, unskilled youth, parties to work on democratic principles, we are setting ourselves up for a disaster in LETTERS US Ambassador James F Moriarty better economic, and development the future. Nepali Times welcomes feedback. is right when he repeatedly says that packages and so on. Pratibha Dangol, Hetauda Letters should be brief and may be the Maoists should completely stop Nishesh Dhungana, email edited for space. While pseudonyms their violent and extortionist activities Getting the economy going and giving can be accepted, writers who provide and abide by the comprehensive peace SLANDEROUS jobs to youth is easier said than done. How their real names and contact details agreement and international norms, If I were Pradip Gyawali, I’d be tempted to do you get the economy moving in the first will be given preference. Email return the property they seized, and sue your paper for slander for implying that place, especially with the situation Nepal is letters should be in text format help create the grounds for genuine I worked hard during the peace process in right now? Stability and security come to without attachments with ‘letter to the peace. because I was expecting a ministerial mind, but then, to achieve stability and editor’ in the subject line. Someone has to speak the truth. It position (‘In the interim’, Eyes Wide Shut, security, like you mention, the young is true that we can’t have too much #343). The rest of the column is typical of hotheads must be provided with means to Email: [email protected] interference in internal political our sarcastic culture. Of Ram Chandra make a living. The only way to do that is by Fax: 977-1-5521013 matters. But the international Paudel’s nomination as Peace and creating jobs for them, and for jobs to be Mail: Letters, Nepali Times, community should be strong on some Reconstruction Minister, Kumar asks created the economy has to be in a good GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal. issues. They should encourage all whether it is “the attraction of shape. To get the economy going, security 4 NATION 13 - 19 APRIL 2007 #344 Vote confusion Public ignorance of the constituent assembly reflects political confusion

NAVIN SINGH KHADKA in parliament was delayed. We’ve been prodding the government and the election commission to table such important or public consumption, the eight party legislations in a timely manner.” politicians are holding firm to their line Foreign aid meant to support public F of elections in June. What they aren’t awareness on constituent assembly discussing is public education. elections has come in, but the funds have The coalition partners are not doing not yet reached where they should. The much themselves to educate the general recently established Nepal Peace Trust public about Nepal’s first elections to a Fund, for instance, has received close to constituent assembly, they are also keeping $4 million as foreign assistance and the the election commission from launching its money is also meant for educating people own voter education program. In large part about the upcoming elections. But not a this is because the parties themselves are single penny has been spent for that not yet clear what kind of elections these purpose. will be. Rameshwor Khanal, secretary at the of the things we will look at with other had heard about the constituent assembly, “Since there is no legal clarity on what Finance Ministry, which works with the donors to see what we can do to help,” said only a third of them claimed knowledge kind of election procedures we will be fund, explains: “No educational work has British Assistant Minister for International (accurate or otherwise) of what it means following and how the polls will be held, we been started because no date has been Development Gareth Thomas. “But (“Big questions”, #337). are unable to conduct any education fixed for the elections. Once the dates are obviously this is something which the Few politicians are talking about how program for voters,” said chief election announced, the election commission will go government has got to lead on.” they expect Nepalis to elect a body that will commissioner Bhoj Raj Pokhrel.“The for publicity among people and then the For public education, donor write a constitution for the future of Nepal. problem specifically is that no one knows peace fund will provide the necessary governments like the UK, Norway, and Nepali Congress leader Arjun KC admits what kind of procedures we will adopt for a support.” Switzerland have been coordinating with that public education is seriously lacking, but proportional electoral system.” If the earliest election date being the UNDP, which is also not very says that is to be expected. “At a time when Lawmakers agree that this is a crucial bandied about, 20 June, were announced optimistic. Matthew Kahane, resident the parties and the government have not been issue that needs to be resolved and there is today, educating all the voters would almost representative, says that even local able to do enough to maintain law and order, discussion in parliament about the be impossible, in some parts due to the leaders and activists in the countryside what can they do about voter education?” constituent assembly member election bill staggering rate of illiteracy, as well as the understood little about the elections. “When No surprise, perhaps, that his party boss that is to decide on the details of the need to educate voters through multiple they don’t understand much, how can we and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala proportional system. languages and local dialects. expect ordinary voters to know?” said recently that “in abnormal times like Speaker Subash Nembang says the bill Donor community members say they Several recent surveys have pointed to these, you will have elections in abnormal is the most important legislation relating to realise the urgency and have taken poor voter awareness of what a constituent ways.” constituent assembly elections, and that whatever initiatives they can, but that voter assembly is. In February, the Kathmandu- parliament should not to be blamed for the education remains first and foremost the job based Interdisciplinary Analysts showed Navin Singh Khadka is a journalist with delay. “In the first place, the entry of the bill of the government. “Civic education is one that although 70 percent of respondents BBC Nepali Service.

An interim economic plan to deal with the challenges of political transition After peace, perhaps development

always, be a challenge. Nine provided by the international months into this fiscal year, only community. The government says 15 percent of the VDCs’ local the fund, which is under the development budget has been aegis of the new Ministry of Peace spent, though it was ambitiously and Reconstruction and other doubled to Rs 1 million per VDC institutions monitoring the peace last year. accord, is t be directed towards Planning Commission sources rehabilitation of the displaced tell us that some donors, including and Maoist fighters, the US, indicate that their reconstruction of infrastructure, continued assistance to Nepal will constituent assembly elections, depend on how the Maoists law and order support, and conduct themselves in the coming maintenance of the Maoist months. Other donor countries, cantonments. The fund is including the UK, Denmark, and empowered to dispense money as Switzerland have resumed or it sees fit without going through WAR WOUNDS: This bridge across the announced new aid packages after the longer normal approval Bheri in Surkhet was destroyed by the the Maoists joined the interim process. Financial analysts say Maoists three years ago. government less than two weeks that the Rs 7 billion planned for

SAGAR SHRESTHA ago. the three-year fund has been The World Bank, which underestimated by as much as KIRAN NEPAL the first time since five-year microhydro, and drinking water provides aid that is not program- 100 percent. The interim planning was started half-a- schemes is to increase by 50-60 specific—that is, the government government has signed a separate he 10th five-year plan ends century ago that the country has percent. A fast track highway can spend it as it needs to—is joint financial agreement with the in June this year. The not had one. linking Kathmandu to the tarai already discussing conditional UK and Norway for assistance to Tinterim government is The government plans to and roads to district headquarters support. It has changed its country the peace fund. working towards an ‘interim invest in infrastructure to are to be prioritised, as are strategy to ‘interim strategy note’, The dates of the all-important plan’, rather than the 11th plan. generate employment irrigation programs. echoing the government’s interim Nepal Development Forum, where “The interim plan is because opportunities, pump cash into Commission officers say it economic plan. The note says that appeals for aid will be evaluated, Nepal’s transition phase will the economy, and spur the will take more time to quantify Nepal’s period of transition will be will only be announced after the present new challenges,” says market. The plan will focus on investment in education, health, evaluated as easy, interrupted by dates of the constituent assembly Jagdish Chandra Pokhrel, vice areas like agriculture and tourism and other social sectors, because it deadlocks, and deteriorating. Aid election. chairman of the National Planning to increase investment, paying is proving difficult to evaluate for an 'easy' environment will be Meantime, the UN is Commission. extra attention to roads, irrigation, how much damage the ten years $200 million for the period of proposing a Nepal Trust Fund The interim plan will follow electricity, drinking water, of war has done to these sectors. transition, going to $100 similar to the interim the guidelines set by the five-year education, and health services. The investment target of the Rs millionfor a deadlocked process, government’s peace trust fund. plans, which means there will be “The private sector is still 500 billion interim plan is Rs 170 and nothing if the situation The UN says the fund is to no changes in methods of reluctant to invest, which is why billion, and takes into deteriorates. The Bank is asking the support UNMIN and the peace spending, monitoring, and other we have the state investing,” consideration the inflation, government to focus on roads, and process in general. Finance basic procedures. We are told that explains Pokhrel. “Hopefully this which is at six percent and big irrigation and hydropower Ministry sources argue that there the plan will be geographically will create a favourable purchasing power, which is projects. is a conflict of interest here, and inclusive, and will focus on environment for the private sector estimated to increase by 15 Distinct from the interim the Nepal Peace Trust Fund can reconciliation, reconstruction of to also invest soon.” percent this year. economic plan is the Nepal Peace aid UNMIN if it requires more infrastructure and society. This is Investment in roads, Implementation will, as Trust Fund, emergency aid funds. NATION 13 - 19 APRIL 2007 #344 5

Blood camp ○○○○○○○

○○○○○○ Information-seeking As a part of its Corporate Social Responsibility Lessons in telecoms from Bangladesh Everest Bank organised a blood donation camp last he recently concluded 14th looks for qualities such as Sunday, called ‘Give Blood SAARC Summit stressed reliability, an eagerness to learn Save Life’. Fifty donors, the importance of continuously, and an interest in including bank staff, T connectivity among the eight sharing information with others. participated in the event. The bank organised a similar camp for corporate employees on 14 June, World Blood Donation Day, last member countries. Defined to Once such an entrepreneur is year. include transport, electronic, and selected, he (usually a he!) is sent telecom networks, connectivity is for training, where he will meet crucial for a flow of people, goods, other CIC entrepreneurs. He gets

Test drive and ideas from one part of South to understand the daily nuts and

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Cosmic, first motorcycle made in Nepal, organised test rides for bolts of running a small service- oriented communication business riding enthusiasts in Kathmandu last week. Member of 1974 AD STRICTLY BUSINESS in places that have hitherto fallen were in attendance, and test riders received CDs of the band’s Ashutosh Tiwari new album. The company also organised a dinner for its on the unlit side of the digital customers at Moksh in Pulchok. Cosmic has also introduced a divide. new scheme—financing with a down payment of just Rs 7,999—for Asia to another. Easier flows lead To the entrepreneur, GP then New Year 2064. to more interactions and provides a desk-top computer, exchanges, which reduce distrust and a GSM/EDGE-compatible NEW PRODUCTS and make further cooperation mobile sim card, which doubles feasible. up as a modem to the Internet. KRISTAL BIKE - Bajaj Auto has Building upon this broader Assuming that he doesn’t have launched the four-stroke Bajaj SAARC spirit, it is instructive to his own resources, the there are differences. Kristal DTS-I which boasts a 95cc look at one example in entrepreneur may borrow money While Nepali cybercafés are DTS-i unit with ExhausTEC that Bangladesh, where from a local Grameen Bank to pay set up individually, Bangladesh’s improves fuel efficiency. The GrameenPhone—a Norway- for basic marketing, rent, mobile CICs have emerged out of a scooter comes equipped with SNS Bangladesh private-sector phone expenses, and for particular business ecosystem (Spring-in-Spring) suspension for a company with 10 million-plus purchasing additional that brings together technology, better riding experience. The Kristal subscribers—uses mobile phone equipments such as a printer, a credit, solar-powered cells, weighs 99kg, has ground clearance of 131mm, and a wheelbase of technology to connect rural webcam and a digital camera. market-related know-how, 1250mm. There is 22 l under-seat villagers to the internet. For the Soon, the entrepreneur’s CIC technical backstopping, and a storage with an open/close beeper past one year, on a pilot basis, will be up and running, unified social agenda for the and glovebox space in the front. The GrameenPhone (GP) has been providing fee-based web-enabled benefit of all members. Facilitated Kristal is available in red, black, blue, and silver, and is setting up village-based services in places where villagers loosely by a profit-seeking distributed by Hansraj Hulaschand & Company. Community Information Centres and children gather for school, telecom operator, such an (CIC) in some locations across transport, and daily trade. As a ecosystem is more responsive to PRE-MIXED CONCRETE - The Panchakanya Group has started Bangladesh. result, villagers can now access addressing mistakes and producing Ready Mix Concrete. The raw materials are mixed at a The model works like this: GP services such as downloading spreading what works. Besides, centrally-located computer controlled plant that monitors the identifies a particular location as government forms, finding out Grameen’s universally applauded weight, water-cement ratio, dosage of mixture, and moisture the site for an information centre. about bird flu, checking vegetable pro-poor brand makes it easier for content. The Ready Mix is transported to construction site in It asks its employees from that prices in Dhaka’s markets, looking the CICs to develop a sense of transit mixers that are fitted with rotating drums, and the mix is location to recommend the names up national exam results, and rural ICT community, helping pumped out with the help of concrete pumps that can pump up to of a few potential entrepreneurs. even chatting online or sharing most centres to earn money to pay 100m horizontally and 20m vertically at the rate of 30cu/m/hr of These recommended people could photos with relatives working as for and profit from their daily concrete. be the employees’ cousins or other migrant labourers in Malaysia. operations. relatives. Depending on the demand, some Buoyed by the success so far, CRUNCHY SNACKS - Dugar From experience, GP has CICs have become both photo and GP, which competes with four Spices and Food Products have learnt the selection of the recording studios—in places other telecom companies in lauched the Kurmure snack in entrepreneur is the most untouched by both electricity and Bangladesh, plans to launch up to plain, cheese, and chicken important criterion for the internet service providers. 500 CICs this year. That’s a lesson flavours. The product is available commercial success of any CIC. One could argue that these in connectivity that Nepal, with in 25g and 60g packs priced at Rs Instead of looking only at Bangladeshi CICs are similar to one-sixth of Bangladesh’s 8 and Rs 15 respectively. technical skills or higher the privately-run cybercafés that population, can learn from its educational qualifications, GP dot Nepal’s urban landscape. But SAARC brother. 6 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 13 - 19 APRIL 2007 #344 Camp life have been protecting this forest

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ since long before the conflict,” Bargikrit, Chitwan, 11 April says 63-year-old Tirtha Raj Gauli, “now we aren’t allowed to go in. “A crisis if elections SHAKTIKHOR – The secretary of We want control over our forest the cantonment for Maoist returned.” The forest is the main fighters in Chitwan (pictured left) source of livelihood for most Comrade Abiral is used to villagers here. Their source of are delayed” questions from journalists about water is also inside the camp, problems he faces. “Ask me what and villagers therefore also have Interview with Pushpa Kamal Dahal, CPN-M problems I don’t have,” he says. to contend with a water shortage. chairman, in Nepal, 8 April It seems natural that he is The children in the village, cynical with visiting reporters however, are excited about the Nepal: Is Prime Minister Koirala realistic in and human rights monitors. helicopters that frequently fly in saying elections will be held on 20 June? Shaktikhor faces problems with and land at the camp, and they All the agreements Pushpa Kamal Dahal: water, food, and shelter. “There between the eight parties are based on the run outside to watch them come premise that CA elections have to happen. The isn’t enough food, it is hot inside and go, even during class hours. country will face a crisis if elections don’t the tents, and there is no drinking The Maoists in the camps get happen. Senior leaders of the parties came to an water. There are scorpions here in up at 5AM, have their morning agreement about the date, but Girija babu and I the forest and we have to be meal at 10AM, drill and walk haven’t talked about it yet. careful when we sleep. We are around till 2PM, and then go to NARESH NEWAR living like squatters,” says Abiral, school inside the camp where And if they don’t happen? There were disagreements in deciding on the “we’re tolerating it for the sake of they learn about political Whether or not elections happen depends on the council of ministers, though. peace.” philosophy, among other things. present government’s willpower. It will be a There were objections to us being a part of the Shaktikhor is among seven The teachers and students are all challenge to go to polls as planned. Law and government right from the start. On 16 June 2006 temporary camps set up for Maoists. order, the security situation, and technical issues when I went to Baluwatar to sign the eight-point Maoists all over the country. have to be dealt with first. Look at what is agreement, it was the NC. When the comprehensive The camp now has a hospital happening in madhes, such incidents will delay peace treaty was signed in November, the UML There are some 6,000 inmates with eight beds, and 110 of the the process. I recently spoke with the UN’s Ian wrote a note of dissent. When the interim here, but the temporary huts fighters inside are trained health Martin, and he said Nepal is not ready to hold constitution was agreed upon, the Sadbhawana haven’t yet been built and most of workers, but there isn’t the elections in June, and that if the elections were to Party objected and Nepalganj happened. We are the former fighters sleep in tents. money to buy the medicines happen, the results would be questionable. pushing to make the interim period as short as “When we left the camps needed. possible. Disagreements within the other parties recently there was speculation, So are you preparing to push the elections back? caused the deadlock. but it was only because we’d run Tarai blunder

No, no. I was just briefing you on the situation. If out of food,” Abiral adds. The ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ the elections don’t happen, the unity between the Are there forces that want to break the eight-party government promised Rs 30 per Editorial in Purbasaptahik, eight parties might not hold. We may decide not alliance? day per inmate, but they haven’t Lahan, 6 April to be a part of the government. If there are forces I don’t want to say that. However, the parties have received it. Abiral says the camp hatching conspiracies against the elections, been lacking the urgency on some issues. Take the owes Rs 60 million to local At a time when the madhes what’s the point in our being part of the temporary camps (pictured above, chitwan government? Even if we drop out, we will support cantonment) where 31,000 of our friends are living in traders. problem shows signs of getting the government from the outside and the peace very difficult conditions. If their concerns continue to Villagers in Shaktikhor have more complicated, the key process will continue—it is stronger than all this. be ignored, the eight-party unity may break. But we their own grievances. They say the question facing the new We might push the government to conduct the are very hopeful, and I will talk to the UN and the camp was set up without their government is how the Maoists elections, but we will not go back to war. prime minister soon about temporary camps and the consent in the Udaypur will deal with it. So far, they possibility of elections. Community Forest region. “We have not been able to counter the FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 13 - 19 APRIL 2007 #344 7 negative publicity and Several areas of the tarai are still the 4,000 VDC Rs 1 million each, propaganda against them in the unstable. Without bringing these more than twice the amount tarai. They haven’t even been able areas also back to normalcy the normally earmarked for local to use the fallout of the Gaur constituent assembly election development programs, and said massacre. A party that has joined will be a farce. that the local administration had the mainstream to transform the authority to implement the Nepali society must begin by Budget fisaco plans. But the Local Self making another damage control ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Governance Act says that the tour of the plains. Editorial in Kantipur, 12 April budget can only be spent after Those who don’t understand approval from the village and history are obliterated by it. The The eight parties should be district councils. VDCs and DDCs Maoists understood history and embarrassed that only 15 percent did not meet because of joined the mainstream. That is of this year’s VDC budget has disagreement between the parties. why they not only still exist, but been spent. Minister of Local In the three months left in also form a powerful part of the Development Deb Gurung has this fiscal year, perhaps the new government. admitted this, and says the Rs parties could decide on how to But so far, the government’s 900 million spent so far has been spend a small part of the big commitment to fulfilling the for “administrative purposes”. budget. The Maoists are running mandate of last year’s People The new democratic the ministry, let’s hope they will Power movement is insufficient. government ambitiously allocated revolutionise the process.

Tortoise: Interim government Arrow: Road to parliament Destination: Republic Winding road: Constituent assembly

Girija Prasad: “Run faster! We have to take this route to the republic!”

Uttam Nepal in Rajdhani, 12 April

QUOTE OF THE WEEK The entire nation“ knows whether Girija babu brought us into mainstream politics, “ or if we made him into a hero. What credibility did the seven-parties have until we came?

CPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal quoted in Kantipur, 8 April.

SELECTED MATERIAL TRANSLATED EVERY WEEK FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 8 NATURE

GENEPOOL IN THE MIST: The mountaintop lake of Mai Pokhari shrouded in clouds after a thunderstorm on Sunday. This biodiversity reserve has several indigenous species, including rare herbs and the warted newt.

TIM LOSEBY LR Rising Thie pla

SAMPREETHI AIPANJIGULY in ILAM to his job. He was quick to point out communities to make a living without panda and the rarely-spotted snow leopard exotic fish in the lake, left behind by abusing their natural environment. are natives. ur 4WD juddered over pits and British Army folks. These (the fish, not This part of the massive eastern Rai works with the Ilam-based bumps on the untarmaced road British Army personnel), now Himalaya, ranging across spread across Namsaling Community Development Oup the hillside to Mai Pokhari. indiscriminately gobble up eggs of a rare Ilam, Panchthar, and Taplejung in east Centre, part of a new initiative supported Our driver took each twist with bravado. salamander species found only in this Nepal, northeast India, and Bhutan, is less- by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Some of us hung on to our seats, but region. studied and understood than other Fund, to document local knowledge of the young conservationist Kamal Rai, We moved further up and into the biodiverse regions of the country like the environment and use it as the basis of oblivious to the dangers and dropping forest, beyond the government-run tarai and Khumbu. It even looks community-driven conservation efforts temperature, was enthusiastically herbarium, to a clearing from where the mysterious, with its hidden valleys and that benefit local people. This year, five pointing out the flowering apple and hills of Ilam bordering those of India are impenetrable forest clouded with mist, organisations have received grants ranging plum trees by the wayside. visible. From here, Rai pointed out the dripping richly with moisture all year from $30-80,000 for projects to strengthen The ride was forgotten a few minutes Singalila ridge where he will spend a round. The green is broken by thick clumps civil society participation in management later as we stood looking at the dark large part of next year, observing the use of scarlet and white rhododendron and of forest resources, develop networks to green forest reflected serenely in the of forest resources by local communities, still unidentified orchids clinging to conserve areas of rich biodiversity, and lake. Rai, though, was just warming up and exploring ways for these mossy trees. The foxy-bandit-like red inventory plant species and their habitats 13 - 19 APRIL 2007 #344 9

KIRAN KRISHNA SHRESTHA

iere’sn a lot tothe learn about the lush east landscapes and exotic ants and animals of the eastern Himalaya

Environmental Camps for Conservation underestimated. Professionally and particularly hopes that local women’s Awareness. personally, they say, it is one of the most and media groups will join in the efforts, Because the terrain is rugged and often rewarding areas to work in. Hem Sagar instead of leaving the field to inaccessible, biological surveys are Baral, head of Bird Conservation Nepal, Kathmandu-based organisations. There is difficult. As a result, most of the believes that his work here could also help a strong feeling out here in Ilam of information available is on larger fulfil a personal goal every birder has—to possibility and hope that there are good vertebrates that are relatively easy to identify new species. Ethnobotanist days ahead for the area’s rich, pristine identify and observe. The smaller Krishna Shrestha hopes to have luck with environment. z mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish unidentified plants. have been neglected. The most abundant Sarala Khaling, co-ordinator for the Grants were made possible by the Critical animal group here—insects—has been grants in the eastern Himalaya, says this is Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF), a PETER PROKOSCH/WWF virtually ignored. The Kangchenjunga- just the beginning. As annual grantees joint initiative of Conservation in east Nepal. The other grant winners are Singalila forests house about 35 species of become more diverse, they will help design International, the Global Environment the Ilam Co-operation Council, the birds considered at risk. innovative conservation efforts and Facility, the government of Japan, the Ethnobotanical Society of Nepal, Bird Scientists say the true extent of the strengthen the relationship between people John D and Catherine T MacArthur Conservation Nepal (BCN), and region’s biodiversity is vastly and their environment. Khaling says she Foundation, and the World Bank. 10 COMMENT 13 - 19 APRIL 2007 #344 Follow the Asia's tiger NIRMAL GHOSH in BANGKOK MORE THE SUM OF ITS PARTS: meeting in Kathmandu Legalising the trade in products money derived from farmed tigers will beginning on 16 April, Hints to Nepal’s future lie in Awill see many of the only fuel illegal poaching. world’s top conservationists and its business prospects wildlife trade specialists discussing China’s new, few interesting developments point towards medium term persistent effort to open up the prospects for Nepal that are not predicted by any viable voice. trade in tiger parts. A These are the decision, reported last week in this China’s government is close to newspaper, of a major oil company to prospect for petroleum in the lifting the 1993 ban on the trade tarai, the utter lack of serious debate in the otherwise fractious government about water resources, and talk of trains between India to appease influential and Tibet shooting through Nepal on their way north. businessmen who have been It brings to mind a key development in the unravelling of breeding tigers in 'farms' apartheid in South Africa. This wasn’t the release of Nelson Mandela regardless of the ban and now from prison, or the 'unbanning' of the African National Congress by find themselves saddled with its sworn enemies in the racist thousands of animals. National Party. Rather, it was the There is talk that Thailand— HERE AND THERE burgeoning friendship between Daniel Lak Mandela and Harry which has its own vested Oppenheimer, head of South interests in controversial 'tiger Africa’s most important farms'—may quietly support corporation, Anglo American, which controlled De Beers, the China’s effort to open up the diamond mining and marketing giant. trade. As a Jew, Oppenheimer understood oppression and he had been After visiting conservationists quietly funding anti-apartheid efforts for years, even while appearing recently disagreed publicly with in public as a pillar of South African capitalism and the most important economic player in the nation. He remained close to economists who support Beijing’s Mandela before and after he became South Africa’s first freely pro-trade line, several of China’s elected president, and was instrumental in ensuring that the once- tiger farmers came out in the open Marxist and anti-business ANC did little to disrupt South Africa’s with a press conference lucrative mining industry, once it came to power. demanding that the ban be lifted. China, are detected and seized in Thailand has around 400. China’s other argument is that Thailand as they pass through China has been lobbying millions stand to gain from the from Malaysia and other international opinion to get the medicinal properties of tiger countries. ban lifted. Securing the approval bone. If the ban on trading in tiger of key tiger range countries like This comes despite a parts is lifted, parts from wild India, Russia, Thailand, Nepal, significant proportion of Chinese tigers killed in the wild for a Bhutan, Myanmar, and Malaysia, traditional medicine practitioners handful of baht, ringgit, or rupees is important to China. In all these moving away from prescribing will certainly be laundered countries the tiger is clinging to tiger bone. Tests in China have through legal channels. Tiger the edge of extinction. India’s proven that tiger bone is not parts and products are already populations are small and much different to the bones of surreptitiously and sometimes isolated. pigs, dogs or goats—and is almost openly traded out of these farms. Indian tiger expert Valmik identical in composition to a And farmed tigers will always be Thapar estimates that of India’s high altitude rodent found in more expensive than poached 30 tiger reserves, at least five may plenty in China. ones, doing little to dampen the have no tigers at all. A sixth is The trade in endangered profitability of poaching. proven to have none left; they Could a version of this be going on in Nepal? Could international business be courting comrades and Kangresis alike in an effort to wildlife is ranked third after arms China’s 1993 ban was crucial were all wiped out by poachers in unleash the Himalayan tiger economy, while they earn themselves and drugs. It is run by powerful in ensuring that tigers still exist 2004. Over the past two months, and their sharehoders and few rupees? international criminal syndicates. in the wild today, albeit in very 13 Asiatic lions have been killed It’s hard to tell. On the surface, Nepal has one of the world’s Thailand is one of the centres of small numbers. It is estimated by poachers in their last refuge in most left-wing polities. Maoists, Emale, peasants parties, left fronts, the trade—both as a source for that there are possibly a little over India’s Gir National Park. The and other assorted agitators are hugely influential forces in political species and as a conduit; almost 5,000 tigers left today in the poachers, caught last week, said life. They all talk a powerful anti-capitalist game. At the Maoist end of every other month shipments of forests of Asia. Most are in India they were sending lion parts to things, they follow up their words with actions. Even the Nepali Congress has leftist, egalitarian leanings that lead it to trade endangered species bound for which possibly has close to 2,000. China, where they would be unionism and even membership in that old dinosaur, Socialist International. Yet there appears to be an unspoken consensus among the parties in power that Nepal’s water potential needs to be harnessed by private investment, and soon. Even the Maoists seem to be part of this, and there are more than a few people out there who think India’s powerful thirst has much to do with New Delhi’s enthusiasm for the Ganesh-tantra peace process—any peace process—with or without mutually inclusive twin pillars of diplomatic mantras past. The oil exploration in the tarai could be part of this too. Again, Comic relief in the lull between storms India is the most obvious customer for any hydrocarbons that lurk beneath the Nepali plains and I dare say Indian expertise in extraction, refining, shipping, pipelines, and marketing wouldn’t go ffairs of state in the teetering kingdom amiss either, given the disastrous record of the Nepal Oil shifted from blood sport to participatory Corporation. A democracy last week as the long awaited Putative Lhasa-Lucknow train lines are a bit more far fetched. interim government convened in Singha Durbar. The But still, one can see the attractions for politicians in large scale welcome sight of bitter enemies boring each other infrastructure development—both types of attraction, under and over silly with long-winded speeches brought a wave of the table. Now nations and politicians should be free to choose their nostalgia for the pre-war era, when politics was economic course and heaven knows Nepal could benefit from simply a establishing a market economy for all its anti-capitalists to oppose. MOVING TARGET harmless exercise Right now, so nascent is the above ground private sector here, that Foreign Hand in buffoonery. comrades have to conjure up international conspiracies to give them Ministerial antics their raison d’etre, especially since feudalism seems to be going and scandals of down. yore came to mind while watching this new crop But it would be nice to have some openness and debate, perhaps beginning with decent media coverage, of all the options for Nepal’s angle for perks and privilege. future economic growth. If leftists want a peoples’ republic, let them The intense eight party bickering for ministry explain how it finances itself in the global economy, how it creates posts set a familiar tone of high drama and low jobs and prosperity. If business wants a hydro-powered capitalist comedy, while reminding us the spoils of power is dynamo, then what do the people get, and how is this guaranteed. all they really crave. Memo to media, a little more business journalism please, a little less Our prime minister’s reputation for wily 'he said, she said' political coverage. infighting and devious manipulation was reinforced Let’s start by identifying this region’s version of Harry Oppenheimer and find out just who he’s been talking to. z by his adept deflection of Maoist demands for the seat of deputy pm that would have put them only a COMMENT 13 - 19 APRIL 2007 #344 11

trade even in a limited experiment, will only stimulate demand in a market where years economy of effort at curbing it have to some extent worked. China says if tiger range countries do not want the ban on tiger parts lifted, they should This week, a showdown pay the farmers. After all, in Kathmandu between Chinese officials say, millions of dollars are raised worldwide to conservationists and conserve the tiger, but China gets no credit. market enthusiasts Hardly any conservationist believes farming is the way to save endangered species. Crocodiles are not a good example, because they are far cheaper to breed than tigers. Besides breeding crocodiles has not helped the species in the wild. Thailand breeds crocodiles but the Siamese crocodile remains endangered. Neither does farming, say, pork, stop hunters from going after wild boar. Ullas Karanth of the New- York based Wildlife Conservation Society and one of the world’s foremost experts on tigers, cautions that the trade issue does not address the drivers of the tiger’s steady extermination: killing of the MARTIN HARVEY/WWF tiger’s prey base, and the passed off as tiger parts. up the trade in tiger parts will conversion of its habitat to China has secured the support flood the market, bringing down different land uses. Over the last of a New Delhi-based economist, prices and hence reducing the 300 years, tiger range has shrunk Barun Mitra, who has visited incentive for poachers to kill wild by 93 percent. ‘’Enforcement on China on invitation from state tigers. the ground is critical,” says agencies several times. His But conservationists and trade Karanth. “Unless a culture of argument is seductive: opening experts believe opening up the enforcement is brought in, we will lose the tiger.’’ Just as Indian and south east Asian authorities have been short on political commitment to enforcement, so expecting China to be able to strictly regulate an open market in tiger products is unrealistic. (counterpunch.com) z

Nirmal Ghosh is the Thailand correspondent of The Straits Times and a trustee of The Corbett Foundation in India. He runs the website http:// www.indianjungles.com and can be contacted at [email protected]. heartbeat away (his) from the top job. Watching him distinct improvement over the impunity they have out-manoeuvre all players was world class always enjoyed. Watching the comrades struggle to entertainment, and his ploy of abolishing the post mollify their abrasive behaviour patterns and join rather than seeing it occupied by a nemesis was a the ranks of statesmen, like teenagers in a new suit, Machiavellian masterstroke. comes as a welcome source of amusement. Despite rumours that the comrades wouldn’t Comrade Mahara initiated his tenure as Minister settle for anything less than the Home Ministry, this for Information and Communications with a key post was somehow retained by the man who, virulent attack on Miss Nepal and all she stands for, last we looked, had millions baying for his while Supremo Pushpa Kamal Dahal pledged that resignation. the Tibetan government-in-exile and ythe Dalai Happenstance weighed in with an extra giggle as Lama would never be allowed to establish an office parliament convened on April Fool’s, and provided in Nepal, together disposing of beauty queens and the prime minister an ideal excuse to immediately Nobel Peace Prize laureates during their very first depart for the SAARC meeting in Delhi. His petty week in office. efforts while there to exclude Sahana Pradhan, the Awarding the Ministry of Physical Planning and newly anointed United Marxist-Leninist foreign Works to the party that has spent a decade minister, from all important meetings proved that destroying the country’s infrastructure was good for some things never change. a laugh and shows a subtle sense of irony and Being a firm believer in the ‘anything for a laugh’ justice. When a journalist asked whether the Maoists philosophy, the Hand was grateful for the generous now regret wrecking so many bridges and police contributions from the newly-democratic Maoists to posts, Minister Yami snapped that this would mean the flow of national level gaffes. Their alleged regretting the whole civil war. I couldn’t have put it metamorphosis from law-breakers to law-makers better myself. may still leave much to be desired, considering The years of strife took all the fun out of behavioural quirks like extortion, abduction and politics, but if the past week is any indication we’re coercion continue apace, but the rationale that even in for a couple of hilarious months ahead. With a these characters won’t wage war on their own wink and a prayer to the god of new ventures, the government lends comfort. The novel opportunity Hand plans on banking a few laughs while he can, to hold them publicly accountable for their and advises the reader to do the same, as humour is statements and actions is unprecedented and a likely to be in short supply come election time.’ z 12 CULTURE 13 - 19 APRIL 2007 #344 Parijat wrote like no one else about loss, sadness, and the intensity of a solitary life Life, lived through art

SHRADHA GHALE she wrote, Parijat experienced love only as Parijat arrived in Kathmandu as a pain. “At night I grow full of love for young woman and felt an instant arijat’s memoirs flow with the him, by dawn love sheds its petals one by connection with the city. “Wide streets, poetic current that characterises one, like a withering flower, and I’m done big houses, a city in motion—this is Pthe best of her writings. No one for, empty! In daytime, I have nothing Kathmandu!” Though according to her tells her story as compellingly as she left to offer him except platitudes.” It’s as brother, there were ways to preserve one’s does herself. Regular readers such as I though her overpowering sense of dignity in Kathmandu: don’t go to could bypass all the self-appointed aloneness ruled out the possibility of public tap for water, don’t sit near the authorities and pick up her romantic happiness. Such happiness grew window, try to speak English in public, Atmasamsmaran instead. ever more elusive when, at the age of 26, don’t let slip you’re a Tamang and so on. Parijat, born Bishnu Kumari Waiba, Parijat was bedridden with rheumatoid Given her social identity, her physical grew up in Darjeeling under the shade of arthritis. In her memoirs, she describes condition and her untamed spirit, one a hardheaded, militantly atheist father. the realm of illness with wrenching can imagine the challenges Parijat must “[H]e has read Marx, read Engels, read clarity. “I was confined to bed, and all my have faced in this society. Yet her Gandhi, read lots more, but reading wishes, my dreams to play in nature, my narrative, even at its most passionate, alone does nothing to a person. He has freedoms piled up one by one before my betrays neither self-pity nor rancour. read, read he has, that’s all!” writes eyes, like birds with broken wings.” And her personal relations reveal her Parijat in the first part of Physical powerlessness, loss ability to seek out the humanity of Atmasamsmaran which is of love, and innate individuals. dedicated to the memory of sorrow threw Parijat into Occasionally, as Parijat fell into a her father. an abyss of loneliness that frenzy of burning manuscripts, Sukanya A sickly child with an heightened her sense of hid them away. “My heart aches when I indomitable spirit, she realised early on god. “I have come to accept I see you, sister,” she explained, “you that she resembled no one. “A world has have an inherent faith…though I write in torturous conditions.” Through formed inside me but I am silent.” She have never blamed god for my infirmity, destitution, and suicidal wanted to be sociable and vivacious like unfulfilled dreams and desires.” Without phases, Parijat wrote because writing Sukanya, her younger sister, but admits god, she asks, how could man persist in alone sustained her. Her Atmasamsmaran “[u]nnecessary pride and tenacity takes round my neck.” She felt an urge to write this dizzying emptiness? The questions illuminates her remarkable gift and hold of me…For some reason, I can’t be the smell of a flower. “I tell my friend I she grappled with are embodied in her courage. happy.” What stirred Parijat was her want to write this. What? She looks best-known novel Shirish ko Phool, surroundings. “River, looks like a blue confused.” which departs wonderfully from familiar Parijat, was born in 1937 and died in serpent...I want to wrap the whole river Unlike her friends whose love letters social realist themes. April 1992. Painting the town RED

eonhard Stramitz and Nepal go back a long way—back to 1968. His trajectory as an artist, designer and restorer since has had Lnot a little to do with the great friends he made among Patan’s artisan community. The 61-year-old returned home, trained as a gold and silversmith, and attended Vienna’s Academy of Applied Arts to study painting, graphics, and metal restoration. He’s since given back to the artistic community he loves— Stramitz worked part of the the restoration team of the Golden Door and 400 other exhibits at Patan Museum. Back in Austria, he has worked n the restoration of the Habsburg sarcophaguses at the Imperial Crypt of St. Kapuzine since 1976. An exhibition at Patan Handicraft Centre showcases some of Stramitz’s most accessible photographs, paintings, and jewellery. The pictures, taken during his visit last year, are mostly of religious symbols—street idols, lingams, statues. “Red is so prominent, whether it is in pooja, or the saris women wear in Kathmandu, it is such a powerful colour,” says Stramitz of the show titled ‘Red is the Colour of Power and Love’. He didn’t go looking for red, he explains: “When I was developing my pictures I just saw that it was everywhere.” The joy in much of Stramitz’s work lies in the details—red abir next to a broken old diyo, an eye on a wheel of the Machhindranath chariot, little roadside stone idols covered in red. Sketches of idols, drawn on earlier visits, display the same understanding of a whole composed of many tiny elements. Every crack, every joint, little broken off pieces, the intricate designs worked into objects of worship are all in these sketches. The silver jewellery on display is refreshingly geometric and architectural. “In architecture, circles, squares, and triangles are very important forms, and my jewellery is influenced by these forms.” Stramitz says he wants to move away from the use of big stones. Back in Vienna, the indefatigable artist is working on jewellery made from steel, and in Kathmandu is experimenting with screen painting.

Red is the Colour of Power and Love, sketches, photographs and jewellery by Leonhard Stramitz, Patan Handicraft Centre. 5533871

MIN BAJRACHARYA CULTURE 13 - 19 APRIL 2007 #344 13 Riding through history Reality cinema he current retrospective of the work of Shashi Bikram Shah is a Treminder, if one was needed, that art is not meant to be easy. The Eric Valli, writer, photographer, and filmmaker, is a show is a grim narrative of mankind’s mistakes, often through depictions regular visitor to Nepal in connection with his many of the cycles of time in the Hindu cosmos, the ten incarnations of projects. Valli’s abiding interest in the relationship Vishnu, and the portrayal of global happenings and human suffering. that people in different parts of Nepal have with For enthusiasts of Nepali contemporary art, the 107 pieces at the nature form the basis of his most famous works, The Siddhartha Art Gallery—pen and ink drawings, watercolour paintings, Honey Hunters of Nepal and Caravan. Valli is in etchings, life size acrylic on canvas, papier-mâché sculptures—are a Nepal this time around not for a project, but to rare chance to view the oeuvre of one of the country’s most influential support Thinley Lhondup, the much-loved star of modern artists. Caravan, who is suffering from cancer of the Shah’s trademark horses are everywhere, adding the hope of uplift stomach. Nepali Times met Valli in Jiri, where he to his darkest works. He says they represent peace, war, courage, and Thinley were part of the large crowd watching determination, hope, and spiritual strength. Often, flying white horses their film under the stars. appear in a devastated landscape at the end of time as saviours in scenes where men and women are small, hunched, helpless, and Nepali Times: How do you make your movies? crying out in pain, dwarfed by large graceful horses. The horses in the Eric Valli: I completely become a student and dive sculptures seem resurrected from a nuclear battlefield, but strong and into the reality. I live with people to become like ready to fight for the world. “Perhaps I love the image because the them. For some time, I act as a fly on the wall— YOPESH PRADHAN horse in mythology draws the chariot of the sun god Surya, or maybe trying to forget everything else and learn what I One fine day, he said: “why don’t you make a film because the horse is also interpreted as Kalki, the last avatar of need to learn. In doing so, characters automatically about us?” I liked the idea, and had already dreamed Vishnu,” he explains. emerge. Then, I follow a certain storyline to make it about it. I wanted to show real stories with real The show gradually comes together as a comment on acts of a film. people, and Thinle fit in there. violence, some recent—the insurgency, September 11, and the reaction to the 12 Nepalis killed in Iraq. Crippled men and women with their Why have you never revealed where Honey Hunters What are you most concerned with in your books and faces distorted by pain fly around, while scattered chess pieces was shot? What’s the story? films? symbolise our confused politics. “Shah’s paintings are so strong and I read a few lines about honey hunters in Seven I’ve written almost 20 books on Nepal. Most show the dark, you can see that he pours his heart and soul into the canvas to Years in Tibet, and that was enough to intrigue me. I courage and tolerance of Nepali people, and the tell his story to the world,” says Sujan Chitrakar, himself an artist and set out to find them. It took me about a year-and-a- relationship they have with nature. In the west, it is principal of Bhaktapur Fine Arts School. half to meet Manilal, who became the protagonist of impossible to find such bonding. Honey Hunters sold Sangeeta Thapa of Siddhartha, who curated the exhibition, agrees, the film. It was amazing to see how much their lives more than 100,000 copies. I’ve also written about “Shah grieves in his paintings. They are social commentary, they depended on beehives. Making the film was Raji, the little-known tribe who are fishermen and make people question.” Shah says he works for peace and will continue difficult—scale a cliff and hold on to a rope with a who also hunt for honey. People like them have painting as he has been. “If there are more bad incidents, my paintings camera, all while being stung by hundreds of bees. incredible knowledge of nature, and that inspires me will be dark to reflect the mood of the world and if there is peace, I will I only had $20,000 and that was seriously not to write. continue to paint white horses.” enough. I just shot it, and then showed it to National Mallika Aryal Geographic. They agreed to buy it and did the post How do you feel about Nepal 35 years after your first production. Royalties from the film go to Manilal’s visit? You speak Nepali fluently, have travelled all ‘Retrospective’, a show by Shashi Shah, until 20 April, 11AM-6PM at community for their betterment. over, seen its ups and downs. Siddhartha Art Gallery, Babar Mahal Revisited. 4218048 The location is a secret. In many of my books, If I were a poor Nepali starving to death (like many you won’t find names of the places. As a I’ve met in the west) and the government and the responsible writer, it’s my duty to preserve those ministers were doing nothing for me, I’d have places from being affected by a lot of commercial become a Maoist. The seeds for the insurgency were tourists who would go there to make money, spoiling sown by nothing but weak governance. Like in their naturalness. Caravan, the two groups didn’t want to negotiate for a decade, and the situation worsened. Now that these How did Thinley come to be in Caravan? groups have given up their stubbornness, I think I first heard about Nepal in 1972 in Varanasi—that things will start to improve. And if the situation really it’s the country of mountains, adventure, and great improves, I’ll live in Nepal again. culture. I came to Kathmandu that same year as a traveller, and went to remote places like Dolpo, How does it feel, being famous in Nepal? where I met Thinle in 1981. He was the village head It feels great. Now, it’s easier for me to work in Nepal and had a great sense of humour. We’ve been because I do not need to introduce myself, and no friends since then. one needs to fear that I’m a smuggler, a CIA agent, or I wrote a book on the Dolpo region called a crook. The late King Birendra once said to me: Caravans of the Himalaya in 1994; there are “You’re making me discover my own country.” That’s pictures of Thinle leading a caravan in the book too. one of the best compliments I have received. MIN BAJRACHARYA 14 CITY 13 - 19 APRIL 2007 #344

ABOUT TOWN In Shakalaka Boom Boom, Bobby Deol and EXHIBITIONS Upen Patel play two rival music stars AJ and ™ Flowers in the Garden of Dreams an exhibition of photos by Reggie. AJ is a musical icon while Reggie is a Leonhard Stramitz at Kaiser Mahal, 10AM-6PM, except Mondays, gifted musical genius but is also brash, until 20 April. arrogant, and rude by nature. Reggie not only ™ Retrospective an exhibition of paintings by Shashi Shah, until threatens AJ’s position in the music industry 20 April, 11AM- 6PM at Siddhartha Art Gallery Babar Mahal but also falls for Ruhi, the girl AJ loves. What Revisited. 4218048 follows is a series of events that will lead to

™ Landmarks of New York photography exhibition at Tribhuban Entertainment the downfall of one of these superstars. University Central Library until 3 May. Call 4442220 for show timings at Jai Nepal paintings by Rajesh Manahdar, Bipin Raj Shrestha at ™ Focus www.jainepal.com Baryo Fiesta, Naxal until 5 May. Quest

EVENTS ™ Yuva Chalfal Shrinkhala on women involved in community forestry, 13 April 3-5PM at Martin Chautari. 4107599 † ™ The Killing Fields at Lazimpat Gallery Café, 13 April, 6.30 PM. ;xeflutfdns" ;ljwfg+ lgdf0fsf{ nflu ;ljwfg;efsf+ ] g]kfn ;/sf/ ™ One day program poetry recitation, painting workshop, photo lgjfrgdf{ ;xefuL eO { cfkm}+n] 5fgsf] kltlglw| dfkm{t ;"rgf tyf ;~rf/ dGqfno exhibition, documentary screening at Rimal Theatre, Gurukul, Old ;"rgf ljefu Baneswor, 13 April, 11AM. 4466956 gof F ;ljwfg+ lgdf0f{ u/f }+ . ™ New Year’s Eve with Channel V’s Aasma band at Rox Bar and garden, Rs 1299 per person. 4491234 ™ Rockin' Himalaya lavish dinner at The Garden Rs 999 per person at Hotel Himalaya, 13 April, 7PM. 5523900 ™ Party at the Red Onion Bar on New Year’s Eve 8PM, cover charge Rs 1,500 for single and Rs 2,500 for a couple, unlimited drinks, snacks and dinner. 4416071 ™ Party at Moksh Live to celebrate Nepali New Year, cocktails, live music and more, 13 April, 8.30 PM onwards. 5526212 ™ Sastriya Sankranti of Baisakh 2064 classical music performances by Durga Prasad Khatiwada (on flute) and Jiban Rai (on tabala), 14 April at Gurukul, Old Baneswor. ™ Scope Entrepreneur Promotion Fair, near Ashok Hall, until 15 April, 10AM-6PM. ™ The Sprit of Golf methods to control the mind and practice techniques on the golf course, 19-23 April, Le Meridian, Kathmandu Gokarna Forest Golf Resort and Spa. 4451212 ™ Sun Dance Festival at The Last Resort featuring Nepali and international musicians 28-29 April. 4700525 ™ Yoga camp at Shivapuri Heights Cottage, 27-29 April. 9841371927 ™ The Spirit(s) of Cricket at Hotel Yak & Yeti live cricket in a widescreen projection and a World Cup special cocktail selection at The Pub, until 28 April. 4248999 ™ Toastmasters communication and leadership program, every Wednesday 6PM at the Institute of Environmental Management, Tripureswor.

MUSIC ™ Live Music at the Red Onion Bar, Wednesdays from 8PM with Yanki and Zigme Lepcha. 4416071 ™ DJ Raju and the Cloudwalkers live at the Rox Bar, Hyatt Regency, every Friday and Saturday. 4491234 ™ Yala Maya Classic classical music series at Yala Maya Kendra, Patan Dhoka, 5PM onwards on the second of every Nepali month, Rs 100 entrance. 5553767 ™ Fusion and classical Nepali music by Rudra live at the Courtyard, Le Meridien, Gokarna every Friday, 7PM onwards, Rs 800. 4451212

DINING ™ Special Authentic Nepali Gourmet at The Café, Hyatt Regency, elaborate New Year’s Eve special buffet for Rs 1,000 plus tax. 4491234 ™ Nepali Barbecue Brunch with swimming and unlimited beer on 14 April 12.30 PM for Rs 1,500 at Hyatt Regency. 4491234 ™ North Indian kebabs, curries, rotis and biryani at The Dhaba, Thapathali. 9840290619 ™ Weekend special with sekuwa, bara, barbeque, Fridays at Ambassador Garden House, Lajimpat, 5.30 PM onwards. 4411706 ™ Light nouvelle snacks and elaborate cordon bleu meals at La’Soon, Pulchok, behind the Egyptian embassy. 5537166 ™ Continental cuisine and wine by the fire place at Kilroy’s, Thamel. 4250440. ™ Smorgasbord lunch at Park Village Resort, every Saturday. 4375280 NEPALI WEATHER by NGAMINDRA DAHAL ™ Trendy martinis and appetizers at the Rox Bar, Hyatt Regency. 4491234 The hailstorms and pesky rains this past lunch and dinner at the Shambala Garden Café, Hotel week came as no surprise. Head-on g]kfnL ™ Gyakok collisions between cold westerly jet Shangri-La, minimum of four guests at Rs 450 per person, streams and warm southerly fronts over two hours order in advance. KATHMANDU the Himalaya continue to dominate. ™ Retro brunch barbecue with the Crossfire Band at The Poolside, Thursday afternoon's satellite picture Le Meridien, Gokarna from 12-4PM, Rs 1,000 inclusive of shows clear skies over India where the Daily swimming and complimentary drink. 4451212 warm current is prevailing, a fresh westerly being reluctantly pushed 20.45-21.15 on 102.4 ™ Pizza from the woodfired oven at Java, Thamel. 4422519 towards the Himalaya, and messy ™ Senoritas & Margaritas Inner Groove live at Fusion—the bar at clouds floating over Tibet. Over the Dwarika’s, Rs 599 includes a Mezza platter and a Margarita weekend, these clouds could sneak over pitcher. 4479488 the skies of Nepal, causing low pressure pockets that give rise to rain or hailstorms. For this weekend, Valley GETAWAYS residents can expect sunny intervals, ™ New Year’s Eve 2064 overnight package at Dwarika’s Himalayan no significant rise in temperatures and, Shangri-La Village Resort, Dhulikhel, including accommodation, as in the past week, evening showers. one evening ‘Himalayan Hour’ with snacks, dinner, and New KATHMANDU VALLEY Radio Sagarmatha Year’s day brunch. 4479488 P.O. Box 6958, Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Bakhundole, Lalitpur, Nepal ™ Weekend package at Le Meridien Kathmandu Gokarna Forest Tel: ++977-1-545680, 545681, Golf Resort and Spa, two nights three days at Rs 8,888 and one Fax: ++ 977-1- 530227 night two days at Rs 4,444. 4451212 [email protected], 29-15 28-14 27-146 28-14 27-15 6 www.radiosagarmatha.org For inclusion in the listing send information to [email protected] HAPPENINGS 13 - 19 APRIL 2007 #344 15

KIRAN PANDAY

BRING OUT THE CAVALRY: Prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala returns to Kathmandu on Friday after attending the 14th SAARC summit in New Delhi. In the background on this runway at Tribhuban International Airport is a disused Cosmic Air Fokker 100.

MIN BAJRACHARYA

INNER BEAUTY: CPN-M MP from Dolakha Devi Khadka leads the protests against Dabur Vatika Miss Nepal 2007 demanding that women's rights be 'guaranteed', outside the Birendra International Convention Centre on Saturday.

KIRAN PANDAY SCARIER THAN THOU: Members of Kathmandu's Gurung community performing the traditional tahon ten ritual to drive away evil spirits at the Maitighar Mandala on Tuesday. 16 BACKSIDE 13 - 19 APRIL 2007 #344 One giant leap for assdom After years of conducting war on a war-footing the comrades have now promised elections on a war-footing. That’s according to the newly- appointed government spokesperson during his first press conference. www.nepalitimes.com The affable Mr Mahara was so hassled by hacks pestering him about the Maoist stand on this, that, or the other, that he uncharacteristically lost his cool and reminded reporters he was now government spokesman. “Kina Maobadi le ke garchha matrai sodhne?” asked Mahara babu, “Sarkar le ke garchha pani sodhnus na.” FG What a relief to see members of the formerly subterranean party now sounding like every other government minister and side-stepping questions on the government’s stance on the demand by Nepal’s transgender community for proportional representation in the forthcoming elections. FG The republican wave continues apace with the Loktantrick Karate Championships being held in the capital. Also, the First Republican Ascent of Everest has decided to take along with it the flags of the human rights groups HERPES and INSECT to affix atop the summit. The expedition is going up the Tibetan side of the mountain and the Ass wonders what the Chinese think of all these human rights flags fluttering all over the place and going up the North Face in the year of the Olympics? FG Meanwhile, the Republican Artistes Ensemble held its first ever gathering with revolutionary dignitaries including Comrade Kiran all wearing wide-brim red hats that made the whole thing resemble an Annual Convention of Friar Tuck Lookalikes. As the troupe launched lustily into golden oldie revolutionary numbers, the Ass spotted the singer Raamesh (now, there is one revolutionary who actually has some musical talent) cringing at the back, head in his hand. FG Now that the Maoist Code of Conduct for its ministers has come out we don’t see any mention in it of a moratorium on ministers wearing large billas and giving away awards, officiating as chief guests, doing book launches, and delivering soporific keynote addresses from the podium. Don’t they have anything better to do out there in Singha Darbar? FG Also, don’t Kathmandu-based ambassadors have anything better to do than to troop off to the airport everytime Sri Tin Girija decides to skip town? We understand the envoys had to do that during the feudal days of the royal regime or risk not being invited to Narayanhiti soirees. But in New Nepal? This is probably the only country in the world where plenipotentiaries have to all line up at the airport to say “Bye” and “Hi”. Next time, don’t go and see what happens. FG The Ass learns that as the fate of his kingdom hangs increasingly in the balance, KingG is relying more and more on soothsayers, voodoo, the occult, and tea-leaf reading godmen and godwomen. They usually tell him what he wants to hear, which is that the monarchy has a bright and TIME FLIES: This dramatic sunset over glorious future. And that may be the reason why the palace sent out New Swoyambhu is a fitting end to a momentous year. Year’s greeting cards this year: a thrice-folded thingie with a family portrait of the royal family pasted on one side and a picture of Narayanhiti on the other. The king is in casual pants, with the much talked about Nabayubaraj also in the group pic. FG Now that the Ass’ cousins in Tehrathum have, after a long hard struggle, finally won the right to have the weekend off, it is celebration time among us underdog donkeys of Nepal. It’s a giant leap for Assdom in general and this Ass in particular. [email protected] ISSN 1814-2613