cover.pm6 1 1/8/05, 6:00 PM cover.pm6 2 1/8/05, 6:00 PM

REPORTS JANUARY 16, 2005 20 Human Rights VOL. I, NO. 39 Muddle

COVER CONCEPT By Koshraj Koirala www.nation.com.np & DESIGN: RAJ SHRESTHA Recent reports about the Army targeting human rights activists remain unproven. Rights workers should at least tell their side of the story.

26 Blockade Business By John Narayan Parajuli Why do the Maoists call blockades? One reason is to choke the cities; the other is to open up their own supply lines.

28 A Stitch in Time By Yashas Vaidya The recent disaster in the Indian Ocean tells us that we ignore the threats at our own peril COVER STORY

22 Election on the Cards? 30 Protecting Our Heritage By John Narayan Parajuli By Biswas Baral Amid an escalating Maoist offensive and fractious politics both within and beyond Unsupervised his party, Prime Minster Deuba’s Jan. 13 ultimatum expires this week. Will Deuba constructions and play his final card? modern housing in the vicinity of World Heritage Sites are posing big challenges for preservation efforts COLUMNS DEPARTMENTS 11 Vigil for Peace By Suman Pradhan 6 LETTERS LIFESTYLE 9 WEEK IN PICTURES 40 Party On By Dhriti Bhatta 37 Doin’ What Comes 10 PICTURE OF THE WEEK Inevitably The Kathmandu party scene is exploding, to the delight By Kunal Lama 12 CAPSULES of almost everyone

15 MILESTONE SPORTS BUSINESS 15 BIZ BUZZ 42 Road to 16 Willful Misreading Redemption 34 CITY PAGE By Bipul Narayan By Sudesh Shrestha It is one thing to be thankful that our Once seen as the most economy has not yet sunk into a 44 SNAPSHOTS promising emerging sinkhole like Sudan’s or Ethiopia’s. It nation, Nepal seems to is quite another to say that it is 48 KHULA MANCH have lost its way. But it performing well. still has a chance to qualify for the 2007 50 LAST PAGE World Cup. nation weekly | JANUARY 16, 2005 5 Letters

We treat guests as “gods while disrespecting our own kin

” NETRA RANA Only for tourists with Sudesh Shrestha leading the way. NEPAL IS A PERFECT HUB FOR MANY He is not only insightful, but writes beau- tourists who can see the very best in natural tifully and conveys his passions with beauty on offer and all this at an extremely conviction. How many periodicals can low cost (“All for the Local Economy,” by boast of a regular sports column that is Nick Meynen, Jan. 9). No wonder many so consistently readable? Thank you, Nepalis depend on tourism for their liveli- Shrestha, and keep up the good work. hood despite living in an agrarian society. M. TULADHAR The article vividly depicts a country the VIA EMAIL where the foreign tourist can travel without any fear of violence, while the security situ- Love for Nepali ation is bleak for the locals themselves. My IF ANYONE ASKS ME TO PICK ONE question is: Does this country exist only for bilingual literary figure of renown in the pleasure of the tourist? The Maoists Nepal, my vote would go to Taranath would do well to mull over the question. Sharma (“Old Hand,” Khula Manch, Over the years, many people have been made Dhriti Bhatta, Jan. 9). The younger gen- homeless; countless others orphaned, eration, which is getting increasingly maimed for the life. Many have fled the coun- sucked into kitsch culture, should espe- try altogether simply for their safety. What cially take note his one advice: The new revolution this that forces its own people to generation should get more engrossed abandon their homes? Why does tourism in Nepali literature for the long-term matter when our own people aren’t safe in continuity of our language. Some of their homes and are forced to live the life of Nation’s young writers would do well refugees inside their own country and for- to heed Sharma’s advice, too. Let me eign lands? Though the tourist can contrib- quote the sentence that inspired me the ute a lot to our economy, he can’t achieve most: “ my love for my mother tongue peace for us. Yes, Meynen is right when he is reflected in my English texts, which says there is a huge gap between the safety of retain, if not all, some originality.” tourists and the locals. We treat guests as RAMESH PATHAK gods while disrespecting our own kin. VIA EMAIL For a tourist, all this makes for an ex- citing story to tell back home: How they CORRECTION: bought their safety with a “little dona- The letter to the U.S. Congress, asking tion?” But to readers, the story also of- it to stop unchecked military aid to fers a poignant tale of what Nepalis have Nepal, cited in our article “Maoist Co- made of Nepal. Before the Maoists make nundrum” by John Narayan Parajuli their “people’s war” “pro-tourist,” they (Cover Story, Jan. 9) was erroneously should make it “pro-people.” attributed to “an American academic.” NETRA RANA The letter is the collective work of In- VIA EMAIL ternational Nepal Solidarity Network, Great sports articles an action group based in Kathmandu. The academic in question is a member of that BELIEVE IT OR NOT, YOUR PUBLICA- group. tion is a pioneer in good sports writing,

6 JANUARY 16, 2005 | nation weekly Nation Weekly, The Media House, Tripureshor, Kathmandu, Nepal (Regd. 165/059-060). Indigo Gallery & Tel: 2111102, 4229825, 4261831, 4263098 EDITOR: Akhilesh Upadhyay [email protected] CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Suman Pradhan COPY EDITOR: John Child SENIOR STAFF WRITERS: Sushma Joshi, Satish Jung Shahi, Mike’s Breakfast Tiku Gauchan STAFF WRITER: John Narayan Parajuli PHOTOJOURNALISTS: Sagar Shrestha, Das Bahadur Maharjan DESIGNER: Raj Shrestha A lush garden and traditional Rana/Newar EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS: Indra Adhikari, Yashas Vaidya AD & CIRCULATION DIRECTOR: Krishna Shrestha ASST. MARKETING MANAGER: Rameshwor Ghimire homes are the setting for Mike’s Breakfast and MARKETING EXECUTIVE: Bijendra Pradhan [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION OFFICER: Akshaya Shrestha [email protected] the Indigo Gallery, two of Kathmandu’s most ASST. SUBSCRIPTION OFFICER: Jeshna Karmacharya DISTRIBUTION: Angiras Manandhar delightful destinations. Enjoy fine cuisine and MARKETING CONSULTANT: Kreepa Shrestha CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Nripendra Karmacharya

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Week in Pictures nw/SS

SEIZED: The Army displaying things that it said had been retrieved from various Maoist hideouts in the Valley nw/SS B Rai

DANCING DAMSEL: A foreigner doing the Chandi nach, a traditional dance of Kiratis

UNSEEN JEWELS: Photographs of paintings from the famous Anjanta Caves in western India, on show at the Nepal Art Council

CIRCLE OF LIGHT: Boudhanath, lit up on a cold winter nw/SS night

NO ARGUING: The final of the San Miguel Cup between East Bengal, (India) and Hannam University (South Korea). East Bengal prevailed,

nw/SS winning the match 4-2. nation weekly | JANUARY 16, 2005 9 Picture of the Week

REMEMBERING ROBIN: A child at a gathering in Boudhanath in memoriam of Robin Needham, country director of CARE Nepal, who perished in the tsunami waves in Phuket, Thailand. Needham was on a Christmas break with his family.

10 JANUARY 16, 2005 | nation weekly Meanwhile Vigil for Peace

Kathmandu is rife with constant calls for peace. But hardly This simple vigil is a paradox because, even though Kathmandu is rife with constant calls for anyone notices, and even less take any action toward that end. peace, hardly anyone notices, and even less take any action. The sparse attendance at the ceremony speaks volumes about our atti- tude. When it comes to devoting BY SUMAN PRADHAN a little time and effort, most of us recent poll has found just don’t care. The conflict is eat- Athat 93 percent of all ing at our social fabric, our liveli- Nepalis think the coun- hoods, our family and friends. try is headed in the wrong di- But aside from the occasional rection. Their biggest concern tsk tsk tsk, we don’t care. is the lack of jobs, followed This is not to belittle the by the Maoist violence. The many other small and big ef- people, the poll found, forts towards peace, like the yearn for peace and want recent peace march organized the King, political parties and by the CPN-UML and its sister the Maoists to sit down and groups. Nor is it to say that more negotiate a peaceful settle- attendance at the monthly vigil ment in the interests of the would miraculously resolve the nation. conflict. It won’t. For that to This might sound surpris- happen, more common citi- ing because, as some might zens must band together, note, you don’t need a poll to whether at Maitighar or at other discern the people’s desire for places, and demand to be peace. Peace is everywhere— heard by all sides in the con- at least the word “peace”—in flict. And this banding together newspapers, on television and must be done regularly, rou- on radio; in theaters, art gal- tinely and with increasingly leries and in cinema halls. louder calls for peace. Peace also routinely spouts But this too is unlikely to forth from the lips of Palace happen until more officials, government ministers Kathmanduites get affected by and, yes, even the Maoists. the conflict. The simple logic of Countless community groups, conflict is that it is always the NGOs and clubs have sprung affected who yearn for peace up to work for peace. It is also the most. Thus we have the new development mantra. You can’t talk to a development worker Dailekh, where mothers have been at the forefront of anti-Maoist cam- without encountering the word peace several times: “No development paigns after their children were forcibly taken away. Thus we have the Jana without peace.” Morcha party, whose harassment by the Maoists has led to a counter- And yet, Kathmanduites’ foremost desire for peace is not matched Maoist campaign. Thus, indeed, we have the UML, which is now so con- by their actions. It seems that merely wanting peace is one thing, but cerned about the Maoists’ effect on its grassroots cadres that the party doing something for it is entirely another. This is the paradox of our wants peace at all costs—though the cost apparently is not high enough Kathmandu society, a paradox evident to anyone who ventures out to for it to quit the government. attend the monthly candle-light peace vigil at Maitighar. But unlike them, the elites of this Valley are far too little affected to be For those who don’t know about it, the “Campaign Against Violence” serious about peace. The capital in fact bore little consequences of the vigil is held at the Mandala at Maitighar on the first day of each Nepali conflict until very recently, when the Maoists began to impose indiscrimi- month. It is held to mark the deaths of all Nepalis who have died in this nate blockades and bandas to disrupt normal life. Small businesses, senseless conflict in the previous month. Sometimes those being re- schools, public transport are now adequately affected to concern the membered are 20 in number, sometimes 45. Last month it was more general Valley population. This could provide the incentive for a stronger than 80. It could soon surpass a hundred, given the course the conflict civil society movement for peace. But alas, we don’t yet see signs of that is taking. Needless deaths of fellow Nepalis unfortunate enough to be happening. We don’t yet see more people pouring out to Maitighar to caught in a brutal war. hold silent vigils for peace. But where is the outcry? Where is the anger? What more will it take to arouse the people into action? nation weekly | JANUARY 16, 2005 11 Tsunami aid Maoists returned the radio The government donated transmitters they had seized $100,000 to help Sri Lanka in from the two. the aftermath of the tsunamis We’re committed that devastated much of Asia. Chinese stance Separately, the Confedera- Sun Heping, the Chinese en- to you tion of Nepali Industrialists voy to Nepal, said that China contributed relief material has no intentions of interfer- worth Rs.1 million and ing in the Maoist problem in Laxmi Bank put in another Nepal. Nepal can resolve the Rs.100,000. The government problems it faces without any Here at Nation Weekly the very same care has also provided $50,000 to outside help, he said. China’s and attention that go into our magazine go the Maldives, another South policy was one of noninter- into customer service. This means that if Asian country hit hard by the ference in the domestic af- tsunamis. To mourn for fairs of others, said Heping. you’re a Nation Weekly subscriber, your those who lost their lives in At the same time, Heping complete satisfaction is guaranteed. It’s our the disaster, flags in all the stressed the importance of top priority. government buildings and attracting Chinese tourists to diplomatic missions were Nepal. flown at half-mast on Friday, Jan. 7. Exports down We’re always n When you have The export of readymade gar- suggestions American dream ments to the United States here to help…. or comments - especially about ways in which we can The American Embassy in fell by over 30 percent in 2004 improve subscription service Kathmandu made it clear that compared to the year before. - we welcome them. n When you have a winning the Diversity Visa According to Garment Asso- question n When you want lottery alone did not guaran- ciation of Nepal, readymade about your subscription, such as uninterrupted delivery - tee visas, even if the winners clothes worth $85.71 million undelivered issues, duplicate invoices, guaranteed met all the qualifications. were exported to the United your subscription expiration date, or please be sure to renew The embassy was responding States in the past year, down anything else – please don’t hesitate to your subscription early. We'll get in touch. Be sure to include your notify you in advance, so to allegations by the “DV from $123 million in 2003. Full Name and Address when you you needn't miss a single Lottery Victim Association,” United States is the largest contact us. issue. with some 200 members, that buyer of Nepali readymade the embassy was unjustly de- apparels, taking in 90 percent Write or telephone: nying them visas. The em- of the total exports. The ex- E-mail: [email protected] bassy said that the winners of port to the European Union, Telephone: 2111102, 4229825, 4261831 the DV lottery must be able however, bucked the trend, Fax: 4216281 to support themselves and registering a growth of 17 Mailing Address: Nation Weekly their families in United States percent. The figure reached GPO Box 8975 EPC 5620 until they secure jobs. Those $19.4 million. Media House who couldn’t fulfill this re- Tripureshwor quirement would not get vi- Fresh clashes Kathmandu, Nepal sas. More than 500 Maoists at- tacked an Army outpost in Maoist mistreatment western district of Kailali, The Maoists allegedly man- sparking a fierce clash that left RISK-FREE handled a French freelance at least three-dozen rebels pletely ot com are n ancel journalist, Vincent S Prado, dead and 150 others injured, If you can c d you nd satisfie tion a ubscrip n your s efund o and a Nepalgunj-based jour- according to the Army. The a full r s. receive issue mailed any un nalist, Netra KC, on Dec. 30 attack took place in the early in Rukum. The journalists hours of Wednesday, Jan. 5. were on a tour of the mid- The Army said that it had re- western districts of Rolpa covered the bodies of 41 and Rukum to monitor the rebels while scores of re- situation of insurgency there. maining bodies were carried K.C. is also a reporter for the away by their comrades. The THE MIRROR MEDIA PVT. LTD. BBC Nepali service. After a Army also said that the half-an-hour scuffle, the Maoist casualties could rise

12 JANUARY 16, 2005 | nation weekly Capsules

above 100, possibly as high as been granted access to the in- Ramechhap on Tues-

150. None of the security mates, are the National Hu- day, Jan. 4. All three nw/SS forces were killed in the at- man Rights Commission, onboard including tack, according to the Army, the U.N. High Commission the pilot were killed. though eight sustained inju- for Human Rights and the The French ries. International Red Cross So- Aeropatiale AS350 ciety. The visitors will be helicopter, chartered On the run barred from taking pictures, by Trans Himalayan The government has issued recording voices and talking Travels and Tours, an arrest warrant against Sarita on cellphones inside the cen- was scheduled to UNTIRING: NC President Koirala at the four- Karki, the daughter of former ter. bring Japanese tour- party demonstrations at Ratna park Prime Minister Surya ists from Lukla to Bahadur Thapa, on charges of New chief Kathmandu. The he- fraud. She has reportedly been The Constitutional Council licopter left the Kathmandu Free Treatment cheating people of their recommended Hari Prasad airport at eight in the morn- Neonatal ailments will now money, luring them with the Sharma for the post of chief ing and crashed at a height be treated for free at the Kanti promise of employment justice of the Supreme Court. of 9,500 feet, about half an Children Hospital. The avail- abroad. Karki, 57, has report- Sharma is set to succeed hour later. ability of free treatment edly duped Rs.100,000 each Govinda Bahadur Shrestha started on Thursday, Jan. 6— from at least 80 people, after who retires on Jan. 13. The Games pushed back the day the hospital cel- guaranteeing them employ- decision to appoint Sharmanw/SS After the devastation caused ebrated its 42nd anniversary. ment in South Korea. The vic- was reached on Wednesday, by tsunamis, the hosts, Sri The hospital also has plans to tims have filed a writ petition Jan.5, following a heated de- Lanka, postponed the 10th establish itself as an institute at the appellate court for bate between the council South Asian Games, sched- for child healthcare with compensations. Karki re- members, said newsreports. uled to begin on Aug. 15, by a teaching and research facili- mains at large. Sharma’s name was for- year. Sri Lanka was the hard- ties. warded to the Royal Palace est hit South Asian country in Permission granted for approval on the day after. the recent disaster. All seven Load shedding Detainees at the Detention SAARC nations plus new- The Nepal Electricity Au- Centre in Sundarijal will Chopper crash comers Afghanistan, which thority has temporarily with- now be allowed to see rela- An Air Dynasty helicopter began participating from last drawn the load shedding that tives and human rights activ- bound for Lukla in time around, were slated to started on Tuesday, Jan. 3. The ists. Among those human Solukhumbu district take part in the upcoming load shedding took place due rights groups, which have crashed at Thonse VDC of games. to a technical glitch in one of turbines in Kaligandaki ‘A’, the largest in the country at 144 MW. The load shedding will nw/SS restart in February when the turbines will be shut down again for repair work.

Cricket captain Binod Das has been appointed the captain of the national team for the Cricket World Cup Qualifying Series Division II matches to be held in Malaysia in February. Shakti Gauchan is the new vice captain. Paresh Lohani, who captained the team in only one game, was freed from the job considering his importance as a batsman. Meanwhile, Biratnagar de- feated Kathmandu in the finals of the Birendra Memorial Na- tional League to lift the trophy KIDNAPPED: The Maoists abducted students from various districts all over the country—Accham, Doti, Makwanpur, Taplejung. The girl, an eight-grader, from Basladevi Lower Secondary School in Sisneri, Makwanpur was left behind by on Jan. 1. the rebels as she is deaf. nation weekly | JANUARY 16, 2005 13

Biz Buzz Milestone

FIT RITE SPORT SHOES tsunami victims in Sri Lanka. Binod Birat Shoe Company, the produc- Kumar Chaudhary, president of DIED ers of Fit Rite shoes CNI, said that the relief materi- in Nepal, has als comprising noodles, medi- brought out cines, wearables, tents and blan- new sport kets. These would be provided shoes in the mar- to those in dire need of immedi- ket. These shoes are ate help. The Sri Lankan envoy designed for jogging, walking and other sport- lauded the private sector’s effort and believed ing activities. “Fit Rite The Rite Walk,” is the that this would further strengthen the two coun- new slogan of the company. The new Fit Right tries’ bilateral relationship. shoes are made with European technology. They will soon be available in all the major LUMBINI LURES markets in the country for affordable prices, Lumbini saw a 35.07 percent increase in the the company says. number of tourist arrivals in 2004, as com- pared to the previous year. According to the NATIONAL’S INSURANCE POLICIES data provided by the Information Center at the National insurance Company Limited has in- Lumbini Development Fund, 37,892 tourists troduced several insurance schemes, includ- from 70 countries, excluding those from India, ing the health insurance, student personal ac- visited Lumbini in 2004. The largest number nsw/SS cident cover and personal accident insurance of visitors was from Sri Lanka—12,217 tour- hanker Lal Kedia, an eminent industri- policy. Under the health insurance scheme, ists came to Lumbini from the island country. alist and a social worker, passed away those in the age group of five to 60 can choose While the increase in the number of the tour- S due to heart failure on Jan. 1. Kedia, ists has been credited to the efforts of the 68, was undergoing heart surgery in Mumbai. government and its plan to develop Lumbini, Kedia came from a Marwari family in the Second World Buddhist Summit is believed Rajasthan. His father, Brij Lal Kedia, brought to have contributed equally to the rise. Mean- the family to Birgunj and later established the while, Nepal has also witnessed an overall nine Kedia Organization in 1920. Shanker Lal Kedia to be insured for as little as Rs.10,000 and up percent hike in tourist arrivals in the year 2004, led the organization until his death. His busi- to Rs.100,000. The insurance covers the treat- as compared to 2003. nesses ranged from sugar and pulse mills to ment of many kinds of illness, though it ex- industries of carpets, dairy, vanaspati ghee, cludes pre-existing medical conditions and has CAN’S NEW SITE oil, corrugated sheets and furniture industries. certain clauses clarifying what is not included. Computer Association of Nepal has launched He was the proprietor of Sunder Steels, Sun- The accident insurance scheme covers road/ its new website, www.can.org.np. The new site der Wire and Nails, Yeti fabrics, Sitaram Gokul rail/air accidents, violent collision and falls, fire is an upgraded version of its existing website. Milk, Indushekhar Chini Udyog, Brijlal Chamal injuries, snakebites, frostbites, drowning and Biplav Man Singh, CAN’s president, unveiled Udyog, Birgunj Khadya Udyog, Anmol Oils, Ram poisoning. There is a similar student accident the new site amid a function in Lumbini. Atten- Dal Udyog and Sushil Vanashpati Ghee. Kedia insurance policy. tion has been given to aesthetics while design- was also the promoter of Siddhartha Bank in ing the new site. It contains information on Kathmandu. He chaired the National Marwari IFB EXCHANGE OFFER Electronic Transaction Ordinance and CAN’s Council for two-year terms in 2001-02 and Old washing machines can now be exchanged policies on Information Technology and Tele- 2003-04. with new IFB front-load automatic washing communication. The website also contains the A prominent business tycoon, Kedia was machines. This is the first such exchange offer details of the working of the organization along also a social benefactor. He established the for washing machines in Nepal, said Sagtani with its news and reports. Brijlal Kedia Sewa Trust in Birgunj and Sushil Exim P. Ltd, dealers of IFB Home Appliances. Kedia Sewa Foundation in Kathmandu for Exchanges may be made in all the leading de- PRIVILEGE CARD social service. Kedia also formed the network partment stores. The introductory offer is valid Photo Concern has launched new privilege of DAV Sushil Kedia Vishwa Bharati schools in for the month of January. IFB washing ma- cards. The cards will give customers exclusive Kathmandu, Sarlahi and Birgunj. He also es- chines are top sellers in India, the company discounts and additional facilities at Photo tablished the Brij Lal Kedia Hindu University claims. Each IFB washing machine comes with Concern and its 66 other associate partners. and the Kedia Eye Hospital in Birgunj. Strongly a one-year warranty and assured service for religious, Kedia was the founder member of 10 additional years. the Vishwa Hindu Parishad in Nepal. He has authored many books on religion, CNI HELP social service and literature. He was the founder Confederation of Nepalese Industries, CNI, pro- of Kautilya, a vernacular business weekly pub- vided relief materials worth Rs.1 million to Grace lished from Birgunj. A Asinwatham, Sri Lankan envoy to Nepal on Kedia is survived by a wife, two sons and Saturday, Jan.1. The aid is for the assistance three daughters.

nation weekly | JANUARY 16, 2005 15 Business WILLFUL MISREADING

It is one thing to be thankful that our economy has not pan and the United States, all of whose yet sunk into a sinkhole like Sudan’s or Ethiopia’s. It is growth rate range from one to four per- cent. But such comparisons are mislead- quite another to say that it is performing well. ing. The EU, Japan and the United States are all operating very close to their pro- these facts. At an average growth rate of duction possibilities frontiers, making BY BIPUL NARAYAN three percent, it would take Nepal 24 optimal use of almost all their labor and UCH HAS BEEN SAID about years to double its current per capita in- natural resources. By contrast, Nepal is the resilience of our economy come of $270. By contrast, a 5.1 percent operating well below its potential— Mduring the conflict. The gov- average growth rate would enable Nepal much like other developing countries ernment has used this argument to to get there in just 14 years—a difference such as India and China. Nepal thus has buttress its claim that all is well with of 10 years. Ten long years. much higher potential for growth and the country. The private sector has The economic costs appear even would normally be growing much more used it to boast about its role in keep- higher if some hypothetical scenarios are strongly. ing the country going. Last month, a considered. Nepal’s The economic indi- leading daily joined the fray with a economy was on an ECONOMIC cators of the current front-page article, citing several eco- upward climb when fiscal year also paint no nomic indicators revealing a healthy the conflict started. FOCUS rosy picture. economy. Without the conflict, By all accounts, the A careful review reveals that all is not the economy could possibly have grown lackluster performance of the industrial well with the economy, though; that by eight percent, as India’s, or by 10 per- sector in FY2004 has extended into the Nepal is indeed paying a huge economic cent, as China’s. An average growth rate first quarter of FY2005. Industrial im- cost for the conflict. Moreover, this also of eight percent would have enabled ports such as raw materials, construc- reveals a worrying trend of a willful mis- Nepal to double its per capita income in tion materials, textile, and machinery— reading of the situation by the govern- nine years; a 10 percent growth rate all indicators of the level of industrial ment and some sections of the media. would make that possible in just about activity—have declined. Manufacturing Economic growth has averaged 3.0 seven years. activity has particularly slowed down percent during the conflict compared People convinced about the resil- due to disruptions such as bandas, forced with 5.1 before it started. To the uniniti- ience of the economy are perhaps com- closure of businesses and blockades of ated, a 2.1 percent growth rate loss would paring Nepal’s economic growth rates key access roads from border areas to appear to be no big deal. But check out with those of the European Union, Ja- hinterlands—the growth in the manu- nw/SS

DOWNTURN: Paddy production will be on the downside this fiscal year

16 JANUARY 16, 2005 | nation weekly HALT: Bandas and blockades have severely affected manufacturing, tourism and transport

facturing production index in the first ern Tarai and a drought deferred paddy the carpet industries, two of the most quarter of FY2005 was 3.8 percent com- plantation in western Tarai. important export industries, face serious pared with 4.9 percent in the first quar- The situations in the fiscal, financial problems. The carpet industry has nearly ter of FY2004. and external sectors are similar. The gov- collapsed in the last five years, having lost Service sector growth, earlier resil- ernment has been unable to hike up its over half its market. The garment indus- ient in the conflict, has begun to slow development spending in the conflict- try has also fallen following the phase- down during FY2005, reflecting the ridden environment, with only three out of the quotas under the MFA. downward slide in tourism and trans- percent utilization of the government’s Overall, the trends reveal an port. Tourist arrivals were 10 percent annual capital budget during the first economy under stress from the effects lower during the first quarter of FY2005 quarter of FY2005. Much needed spend- of conflict and unfavorable weather. On than the first quarter of FY2004, prima- ing on education, health and infrastruc- one hand, agriculture growth is likely to rily due to conflict-related disruptions, ture has not materialized, with signifi- decline from last year, reflecting the fall including a Kathmandu blockade in Au- cant short-term and long-terms eco- in paddy production. On the other, ser- gust 2004, just before the peak tourist nomic costs for the country. vices and industry, especially tourism, season. Transport services have also been Nepal’s banks have been unable to transport and manufacturing, have been adversely affected by the deteriorating make good use of their liquidity—choos- adversely affected by the escalating con- security situation, particularly by the fre- ing instead to park their resources in low- flict and related internal disruptions. On quent bandas and blockades in different yielding government bonds. This has re- the aggregate demand side, both public parts of the country. sulted in a sharp decline in interest rates and private investments are sluggish. Agriculture, which has buffered the with negative implications for saving rates. The picture painted by the govern- economy from severe impacts of the Growth of exports has been sluggish ment and some sections of the media conflict in the past, has been adversely while imports have declined, reflecting of an economy cruising along despite affected by the weather. Agricultural the weakness of the economy. On a the conflict is not just growth in FY2005 is likely to decline broader level, Nepal remains ill prepared counterintuitive, but also incorrect. from last year, reflecting the fall in paddy to compete in the freer global trading sys- While it is one thing to be thankful production, which accounts for almost tem brought on by the expiration of the that our economy has not yet sunk into a quarter of the agricultural GDP. Paddy Multi-Fiber Arrangement and Nepal’s a sinkhole like Sudan’s, Ethiopia’s or production is expected to be lower by entry into international trading blocks Rwanda’s, it is quite another to say that about four percent compared to last year, such as the SAFTA, WTO and our economy is performing well in the after floods affected paddy fields in east- BIMSTEC. For instance, the garment and conflict. nation weekly | JANUARY 16, 2005 17

Controversy HUMAN RIGHTS M

Recent reports about the

Army targeting human nw/SS rights activists remain un- proven. Rights workers should at least tell their side of the story.

BY KOSHRAJ KOIRALA UMORS SPREAD LIKE WILDFIRE in Rpresent-day Nepal and it is not always easy to verify the stories. The latest is that the Army is compiling a secret list of human rights activists who it believes are internationalizing the Royal Nepal Army’s poor human rights records. Both national and international me- dia have carried sketchy reports, claming that the RNA has issued threats to rights activists. According to the Nepali press, 19 unnamed activists are on the RNA “hit list.” The Army has dismissed the allegation; it believes that the activists are falling prey to Maoist propaganda. What’s the truth? Are the activists re- ally under threat? All Photos B Rai B Photos All “We are not in a position to confirm these allegations against the Army,” says Sushil Pyakurel, a member of the Na- tional Human Rights Commission, the NHRC. “Though we can’t rule out the possibility.” Ever since Kantipur daily reported on Jan. 1 that security personnel were hounding rights workers, rumors are rife that many human rights workers are flee- ing the country. Three of those reported to have gone into hiding told Nation Weekly that they had neither received threats from the se- curity personnel, nor had plans to flee the country. This, however, doesn’t mean that the rights workers, much like the journalists outside the Valley, are not working under extreme duress. Mandira Sharma, the coordinator of Advocacy Forum, denies having received any direct threats. “It is obvious that all rights activists feel relatively insecure in the face of threats from the warring par-

20 JANUARY 16, 2005 | nation weekly improve the human rights situation in man Rights Watch and International Nepal, according to Guindel. Commission for Jurists issued a state- UDDLE Gobinda Bandi, a member of Advo- ment, saying “human rights defenders” cacy Forum who was also reported ear- in Nepal are under threat. Later, Kofi lier to have fled the country, is now in Annan, the U.N. secretary general, also ties,” she says. “But I have not received any Kathmandu. He had accompanied Prasai expressed concern over the human rights death threats from security personnel.” during his stay in India. A lawyer, Bandi violations in Nepal. “The safety and abil- As for her recent absence, Sharma ex- has been documenting cases of involun- ity of the national human rights activists plains that she was in Europe to coordi- tary disappearances and arbitrary deten- to carry out their essential works should nate the activities of Nepal Support tion, among others, which have been car- be guaranteed,” Annan said in his state- Group, which is lobbying to improve ried out by the security forces. ment. human rights situation in Nepal. “I was Lieutenant Colonel Raju Nepali, of Observers say the alleged threats have in Europe to seek help for the support the Army’s Human Rights Cell, dis- to be substantiated independently and group,” says Sharma. misses suggestions that the Army has a safety concerns need to be immediately But substantiated or not, the rights “hit list” of human rights workers. “There addressed. workers are deeply worried for their is no reason why we should threaten the In a country torn with conflict rights safety. “If there is any grain of truth in rights activists,” says Nepali. “We believe activists often wage a lone battle to docu- these stories,” says a rights worker, “it is this is just another propaganda fanned by ment and then publicize state atrocities. certainly scary.” the Maoists.” Human rights defenders in Nepal play Whatever the motive behind the re- He says none of the human rights ac- an indispensable role in protecting cent campaign and whoever is respon- tivists allegedly threatened by the Army people against the appalling abuse com- sible for it, the alleged threat by the Army have yet informed its Human Rights Cell, mitted by both the security forces and is going to have a chilling effect on the a logical course of action in case of the Maoist insurgents, says the joint state- human rights movement in Nepal, ac- threats. ment issued recently by Amnesty, Hu- tivists say. And the fact that many of them Purushottam Dahal, the president of man Rights Watch and the Commission have had some differences Human Rights and Peace for Jurists. with the officialdom at Society, believes it to be a “I suspect some people are trying to some point or the other case of “sponsored rumor.” create psychological terror among us,” adds to the paranoia. “It is unfortunate that they says Mandira Sharma, the coordinator of Last January, some Army [those reportedly fleeing Advocacy Forum. All the more reason personnel allegedly beat up the country] should re- then for the rights workers who have Dinesh Prasai, the presi- main mute in the face of a been allegedly threatened to come out dent of Collective Cam- raging controversy,” says in the open. The onus lies on the human paign for Peace (COCAP). Dahal, “instead of offering rights workers to clear the air of confu- The RNA however denied their side of the story.” sion; for the sake of credibility in the the allegation. In November, Am- public eye, something that is central to “Following the inci- nesty International, Hu- their survival. dent, he repeatedly re- ceived threats on his life through telephone,” says NOT ON THE RUN: COCAP’s Bijay Guindel, Prasai’s Prasai is not running away from the Army as reported (above) colleague at COCAP. “We however do not have knowledge about who they [the callers] are.” Guindel dismisses sug- gestions that Prasai is cur- rently in India to avoid the Army’s reported pursuit. According to him, Prasai had left for Europe and his visit to India was scheduled during the lead-up of King Gyanendra’s aborted India visit late last December. Prasai was lobbying

New Delhi to pressure the nw/SS Palace to take initiatives to

nation weekly | JANUARY 16, 2005 21 Cover Story nw/Sagar Shrestha ELECTIONELECTION ONON

inter came in without Amid an escalating Maoist offensive and a hint of rain, and me- teorologists looked fractious politics both within and be- Wpleasantly surprised. The government yond his party, Prime Minster Deuba’s might be hoping for similar surprises on the peace front as well, though there Jan. 13 ultimatum expires this week. are storm clouds all around. As the Jan. 13 deadline approaches, Will Deuba play his final card? that hope seems unlikely. Prime Minis- ter Deuba has already laid down his cards on the table: The Maoists have to BY JOHN NARAYAN PARAJULI come to talks by Jan. 13 or risk an elec-

22 JANUARY 16, 2005 | nation weekly STICKING TO HIS GUNS: Deuba eventually got his party, the NC-D, to endorse his plan for elections THETHE CARDSCARDS

tion. We’ll soon see if the prime minis- Deuba resisted calls from some quar- he fails to hold elections this time, even ter will stick to his guns. ters of his party’s central committee to the NC-D faithful are not going to spare NC-D ministers have an affirmative reinstate Parliament; eventually the cad- him. Back in October when Deuba in- answer. “When the prime minister says res endorsed his election ultimatum. corporated the peace or polls refrain in that he will hold elections,” says Minis- But before that, the meeting saw heated his agenda, he surely knew the gravity of ter for Law, Justice and Parliamentary exchanges, including calls for the prime his statement. He understands how dif- Affairs Tek Bahadur Chogyal, “he is se- minister to quit. “This government can- ficult it is going to be to conduct polls in rious.” Deuba’s determination to go not risk big undertakings,” said NC-D such a precarious situation. Nonetheless ahead with his plan was also reflected central committee member Bal Bahadur he responded to growing pressure by during the Central Working Commit- KC. “The government should quit when issuing an ultimatum to the Maoists in tee meeting of the NC-D, the first it cannot fulfill its mandate.” Though the November. Observers say they won’t be sinceBy John the partyNarayan came Parajuli to power in June prime minister prevailed in the end, he surprised if the government announces last year. is acutely aware of his shaky position: If a date for polls. Even those who say elec-

nation weekly | JANUARY 16, 2005 23 Cover Story

tions are impossible are starting to be- prime minister issued the ultimatum in seemed inclined to accept the lieve in Deuba’s resolve. “This govern- November. With only four months re- government’s ultimatum. Instead they ment came with the mandate to hold elec- maining, a defiant Deuba seems com- have intensified their offensive and are tions,” says Minister of State for Foreign mitted to play his last card. Until re- likely to do their best to subvert an elec- Affairs Prakash Sharan Mahat. cently, even the tion, which has the potential to renew But holding elections is going to take prime minster’s the government’s legitimacy. They have a lot more than just a one-man crusade. close aides already declared that they will disrupt It will take consensus among the big hinted that the the polls and have also made clear their players to agree on getting started with talk of elec- doubts about the government’s credibil- polls, a Herculean task indeed. Deuba tions ity to hold meaningful dialogue. The needs to convince his coalition partners, fractious politics has taken its toll on the at a minimum. The UML and the government’s credibility even among the RPP have already aired dissenting constitutional forces, both within the views. UML leaders say the gov- prime minister’s party and be- ernment hasn’t consulted them on yond. During the NC-D’s polls. “The government hasn’t ex- crucial central committee hausted all options yet,” says UML’s meeting that authorized Bhim Rawal, who resigned from Deuba to go to the polls, the High Level Peace Committee party leaders indirectly ex- last week accusing the government pressed reservations and the committee of failing to pri- about their party oritize the peace process. “Let’s ex- president’s demo- haust all options first,” he says, cratic credentials. “both nationally and internation- “Party workers ally before going to polls.” have reached the There is even speculation that conclusion that the UML might quit the govern- Deuba has come to ment if Deuba pushes ahead with an understanding polls. That would put the govern- with the King,” said ment in more trouble, weakening NC-D General its appeal and placing its legiti- Secretary Bijaya macy in doubt. It’s again hard to Kumar Gachedhar, BR COUNTDOWN: Time is tell which way the UML will go. running out for Deuba during the meet- The party famous for its incon- ing. “They are say- sistencies and double takes on al- ing that the prime minister has sub- most every issue is, not surprisingly, was a pressure tactic; they remained mitted democracy to the Palace.” Six divided over elections. Dissident hopeful that talks would take place and months ago the party workers were groups in the UML that they wouldn’t have to gamble on firmly behind their party president. See Last Page are as active as ever elections. More emphatically so when the King had in sending mixed No one could be more ambivalent unceremoniously sacked Deuba. Page, 50 signals. The UML’s about elections than the prime minister When King Gyanendra ousted Sher stand is crucial for Deuba and his plans himself: The issue has deeply damaged Bahadur Deuba in Oct. 4, 2002 on for elections. But the friction between his political reputation in the past and charges of incompetence, the NC-D was Deuba and UML ministers is slowly could do so again. Since elections are the first party to call the King’s move unfolding. The prime minister and the crucial to his tenure as prime minister, unconstitutional. Other parties, who had UML ministers aren’t on the same he is likely to do everything to cham- implicitly incited the King’s move, took page and perhaps not even in the same pion them. The government is now left days to react officially to the move. Sud- book when it comes to elections. with no option: The Maoists have so far denly in June 2004, the monarch cleared UML boss Madhav Kumar Nepal has spurned the ultimatum; analysts believe Deuba of all charges and found him com- time and again criticized Deuba for it’s unlikely that they will suddenly petent again to head the third royal gov- choosing parliamentary elections over change their position in the next few days. ernment within a span of less than two peace. And this time, not surprisingly, Even the government might be finding years. The NC-D described the King’s Nepal smells conspiracy from all sides it hard to believe that the Maoists will move as “correction of regression.” to “stifle democracy.” come to the table before Thursday. The jubilant party declared Deuba’s According to the terms of the prime As it heads into the crucial week, the return to the helm a reinstatement and minister’s appointment, he has to restore government seems to have concluded made it sound as if the King had reversed peace and start elections by April or risk that elections are inevitable. That’s not the wheels of time and had, in fact, ac- dismissal. Realizing his difficult task, the surprising, since the Maoists have never cepted the situation prior to Oct. 4, 2002.

24 JANUARY 16, 2005 | nation weekly The party regained its lost power af- terview with Dristi, a vernacular weekly. ter 20 months on the streets of the capi- “We should give him the benefit of the tal. At the time many wondered doubt.” Khadka also said that the prime whether Deuba’s appointment had minister has agreed to reinstatement as come with strings attached. an alternative if he fails to hold elections. Now after more than six months in Since that would almost surely put power, the prime minister’s party had Deuba’s archrival Girija Prasad Koirala its first central committee meeting since in the prime minister’s chair, the prom- the comeback, and some members ise makes the election an even greater openly asked Prime Minister Deuba to gamble for Deuba. Why would he risk step down. so much? Deuba perhaps hasn’t heard such He may have no choice. Government sharp criticism from within his party spokesman and Palace point man in the for some time. Some NC-D mem- present Cabinet, Minister Mohammed bers blame the government of being Mohsin has been saying all along that ineffectual and are con- Deuba must push ahead. “The govern- cerned that Deuba’s ap- ment will have to quit if elections can- parent appeasement not be held,” Mohsin said in an inter- of the Palace has view with the BBC Nepali Service last sent a bad signal to week. His words carry a lot of weight: their cadres. The The election has reached do or die pro- overriding fear in the portions for Deuba. Failing to go to the party is that it is losing its popular base polls could be fatal for his administra- by giving in to pressure from the Pal- tion. ace. Last week Deuba dismissed sugges- Despite the hue and cry, the tions that he was pro-Palace. In his de- NC-D central committee endorsed fense, he said that he would vindicate Deuba’s plan to go ahead with elec- himself when the time came. Perhaps tions. “The prime minister has said Deuba sees elections as an opportu- he will hold elections,” said Narayan ROYAL MANDATE: The King’s nity to prove his democratic creden- Khadka, an NC-D leader, in an in- election deadline is April tials, never mind how tough they will be. BR nw/SS

TOUGH TASK: With the Maoists vowing disruptions, the Election Commission faces the Herculean task of conducting polls nation weekly | JANUARY 16, 2005 25 Conflict nw/SS BLOCKADE BUSINESS

Why do the Maoists call blockades? One reason is to choke the cities; the other is to open up their own supply lines. already become part of daily life in Nepal’s other districts. The frequency of blockades and pressure from civil society and human BY JOHN NARAYAN PARAJULI bandas has skyrocketed during the last rights activists. The Maoists have few years. Why do the Maoists call so IX DAYS INTO THEIR SECOND proven that they have the ability to many of them so often? The propaganda S blockade of the Valley, the choke the capital, at least for short du- value of flexing their muscles and the Maoists withdrew in dramatic rations, whenever they want. The ex- open threat to the government are obvi- fashion on Dec. 29. Like the previous perience of living under a blockade is a ous, but there is another reason. “The time, they said they were giving in to new one for city dwellers, but it has Maoists need blockades to ensure their

26 JANUARY 16, 2005 | nation weekly own channel of supply,” says an Army last two months. Though the Army re- Maoists, say security officials. Kohalpur officer, “especially in the areas leading fuses to divulge how many STF mem- is significant because of its proximity to to the Maoists heartland of Rolpa and bers have been arrested so far, security India, from where the Maoists get most Rukum.” With the security forces pre- sources say all the actions followed tip- of their arms and other war supplies. occupied with keeping the roads open offs from locals and the intelligence From Kohalpur, the Maoists have easy and protecting the cities, there is less op- gained from Maoists arrested earlier. access to the Dang Valley. From there, portunity to carry out search and destroy The Army claims that after the arrest of they spread out in their base areas of operations elsewhere. The Maoists use Prashant, the Maoist point man in the Rolpa, Rukum, Salyan and Jajarkot. the breathing space provided by block- capital, many members of the Maoist During Maoist blockades, the secu- ades for transporting supplies—provi- task force have retreated. A new Maoist rity forces become extra-cautious about sions, explosives and arms. leader, a member of the Newa Rastriya ambushes and sudden offensives: This In September, military analysts say Mukti Morcha—a Maoist affiliate or- slows down the security forces’ re- the Maoists not only succeeded in send- ganization—is in charge of the Maoists sponses. The roadblocks are also very ing a message that they have the ability forces in the capital, says an Army of- dangerous. One Army officer told civil- to call the shots, even in the capital, but ficer. Observers say that the security ians who were impatient with slow als o managed to hold a party central forces’ refusal to mention the number progress in clearing a road blockade in committee meeting. While the media of arrestees probably means that only a Mahendra Highway near Kanepokhari of and the civil society were preoccupied with

the blockade, the JNP Maoists were in Rolpa discussing the insurrection’s future, free from Army inter- ference. “I don’t know if that’s true,” says the Army’s spokesman, Brigadier General Deepak Gurung. “I can’t say if there are any intel- ligence reports about it.” The ambush on the Prithvi Highway at Krishnabir on Nov.22 and the subsequent clash with security forces was a feint, in- tended to cover the movement of a Maoist brigade to the East, say the military sources. Waves of insurgents who are members of the OPEN, YET CLOSED: Mahendra Highway Maoist Special Task during one of the Maoist blockades Force, the STF, charged with infiltrating the Val- ley reportedly come and go under the few of the reported 300 STF members Morang: “We understand you are late, cover of blockades, when the security are actually in custody and the rest but no one wants to die in vain. We can’t forces are focusing their energy on might have retreated or melted into the just clear it off. No one knows what’s in keeping the roads open. The unified local population. there.” The extra caution is understand- command, comprising all security Army officers do admit that block- able, but that’s how the Maoists get forces, claims that it has neutralized the ades divide their energy and that the breathing space for their activities. Maoist special taskforce in the Valley: Maoists utilize them as opportunities for “The Maoists divert our energy and Last week, military commanders invited large-scale movement of supplies and concentration during blockades,” says journalists to see a large cache of arms, equipment. Places like Kailabas, the Army spokesman Deepak Gurung. explosives, and communication equip- Bhaluwang and Kohalpur have the high- That’s how the Maoists seem to outsmart ment recovered from different loca- est rates of blockades: That’s because the state’s security apparatus to get their tions in the Valley over the period of these areas are the supply arteries for the things done. nation weekly | JANUARY 16, 2005 27 Tsunami followup A STITCH IN TIME

The recent disaster in the earthquakes, landslides or avalanches— With such increasing temperatures, Indian Ocean tells us that could cause one of these to break through many lakes are growing rapidly, some to its natural dam, resulting in a “glacial the point of bursting, while some have we ignore nature’s threats at lake outburst flood,” GLOF in short. already burst.The outbursts are even our own peril And at times even a small disturbance is more dangerous when they feed streams unnecessary. The natural dams that hold that are the sources of rivers: An out- these lakes can fall apart simply due to burst from one of them could cause dam- BY YASHAS VAIDYA ageing, releasing great amounts of stored age far downstream. As much was evi- water. dent when the Zhanzangbo Cho lake in HE POWERFUL UNDERWATER “Rapid processes are unstable,” says Tibet burst in July 1981 and destroyed earth-quake off the island of Arun Bhakta Shrestha, with the Depart- three bridges, including the Nepal- TSumatra and the resulting tsuna- ment of Hydrology and Meteorology. China Friendship Bridge at the border, mis devastated Asian countries from In- Shrestha, an engineer and hydrologist with and also caused damages to the Sun Koshi donesia to Sri Lanka and caused damage Snow and Glacial Hydrology Section of Hydropower Plant. It also damaged ex- as far away as Somalia and Kenya. the department, is talking about the phe- tensive sections of the Arniko Highway, Nepal also faces a threat from earth- nomenon occurring high in the mountains. causing losses of around $3 million. quakes. We live in fear of a big quake: An These glacial lakes—some less than half a There are several things that can be equally powerful quake could strike century old—are fed by rapidly retreating done to mitigate the effect of such out- Nepal any time. But it wouldn’t take a glaciers. The process is accelerating: Cli- bursts. Early warning systems can be in- big one to cause havoc in the high moun- mate change and global warming are speed- stalled in danger areas. The dangers of tains in the north of the country. There ing up the rate at which the glaciers melt. such outbursts can be minimized by let- are over 2,000 glacial lakes there, accord- Shrestha points to a study carried out for ting the water stored in the lakes escape ing to a study carried out by ICIMOD his department in 1999 that showed in a controlled manner. Both methods with support from the United Nations “warming trends after 1977 ranging 0.06 to have been tested. Tsho Ropla has been a Environment Program between June 0.12 degrees Celsius per year in most of prominent example in this regard. The 1999 and March 2002. The study identi- the Himalayan region.” The rates of warm- Tsho Rolpa lake, the head stream of the fied 20 of these as “potentially danger- ing were greater in the highest regions of Rowaling Khola, located at 4,580 meters ous.” Small disturbances in the region— the country. in Dolakha, comprised a few small ponds

Source: “Inventory of Glaciers, Glacial Lakes and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods, Monitoring and Early Warning System in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan Region,” UNEP/ICIMOD 28 JANUARY 16, 2005 | nation weekly trol, and their solutions lie be- yond our means. Conducting simple field visits to study these remote lakes is difficult; work to mini- mize the dangers is doubly so. “The efficiency of both man and machine decreases at high alti- tudes,” says Bhandari, who was involved in the project at Tsho Rolpa. For that project alone, the Netherlands provided about $3 million, over Rs.200 million at current exchange rates. That is 200 times what the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology’s budget this year is for studies of glacial lakes, gla- cial activity and flooding. B Rai It comes down to a question of priorities. If the government in the 1950s. By 1997 it covered an area the Sagarmatha National Park in the list can’t afford to fight poverty and reduce of 1.39 sq. km. of World Heritage Sites in Danger. Their social inequality, which are the driving If Tsho Ropla’s natural dam were concern: Thirteen glacial lakes in the forces behind the insurgency that plagues breached, the resulting flood would cause Sagarmatha National Park are “poten- the country, how can it manage to find damage more than 100 kilometers down- tially dangerous,” they say, pointing to funds for disaster prevention? The funds, stream along the river, affecting thousands the UNEP/ICIMOD study. experts say, will have to come from out- of people and threatening bridges and also Prakash Mani Sharma, a public in- side. The UNDP in its Disaster Risk the $138 million, 60-megawatt Khimti terest lawyer and executive director of Analysis calls Nepal a disaster-prone Hydropower plant, located about 80 ki- Pro Public, was in the United Kingdom country “mainly due to its young geol- lometers downstream from the lake. recently to gather support for the peti- ogy, mountainous terrain and widespread In 1998, an early warning system was tion. “We don’t have the resources to do poverty.” And because the country re- placed in 17 villages that would be af- something about the dangers ourselves,” mains disaster prone, proper infrastruc- fected if Tsho Rolpa lake were to burst. says Sharma. Putting the park on the en- ture cannot be put in place to tackle pov- By mid-2000 the lake level had been dangered list, he argues, would make the erty and bring equality to all. The situa- lowered by three meters by construct- World Heritage Committee responsible tion smells like a “vicious cycle.” ing an open channel and letting the wa- for the protection of the park. It’s a cycle that has to be broken. The ter flow out in a regulated manner. The Sharma got a good hearing abroad, but recent tsunami pointed out the dangers of project is still maintained by the Depart- at home the petition has received a luke- not preparing for natural disasters. Tsuna- ment of Hydrology and Meteorology. It warm response. Its detractors say that it mis in the Indian Ocean are very rare— provided much needed experience of was done hastily and without much con- the last one of note occurred in 1945. It working in remote, high-altitude areas sultation at the local levels. Also the peti- originated off the Mekran coast in Paki- and managing GLOF risk. “It helped our tioners have been accused of crying wolf. stan and caused deaths as far away as confidence and increased our knowledge The department’s Shrestha says that Mumbai. Even so, rare events can have di- of the subject,” says Kamal P. Budhathoki, within the Sagarmatha National Park sastrous effects. Greater awareness and even the project’s assistant director, who now there are only two potentially dangerous a rudimentary warning system could have looks after what remains of the project. lakes, not 13. “The petition has caught saved many lives. A tragic event such as the Curiously, there has been no signifi- public imagination by bringing some- one that occurred in the Indian Ocean car- cant follow-up. Tsho Rolpa is only one thing as widely recognized as the Everest ries an important lesson: At times, a stitch of the 20 lakes cited in the ICIMOD into the issue,” says Shrestha. “But it’s not in time can save more than nine. report as being “potentially dangerous.” good to make the whole exercise a pub- We ignore obvious and far more likely Rising concerns have brought about at- licity stunt.” Putting wrong information risks, like GLOF disasters, at our own tempts to attract attention to the situa- on the table is surely not the best way to peril. Human ingenuity cannot, at the tion. About two months ago, organiza- present a case to an international body moment, prevent natural disasters. But tions like Pro Public and International like the World Heritage Committee. human foresight can lessen the extent Public Interest Defenders put forward a But the petitioners have a point. The of the tragedy. A relatively small in- petition to UNESCO’s World Heritage problem’s roots—climate change and vestment in the high Himalaya could Committee requesting the inclusion of global warming—are beyond our con- save many lives and much more. nation weekly | JANUARY 16, 2005 29 Conservation PROTECTING OUR HER Unsupervised constructions and modern housing in the constructed we cannot do anything. vicinity of World Heritage Sites are posing big challenges That is the responsibility of the Depart- for preservation efforts ment of Archeology.” Rajesh Mathema, an archeologist and Modern houses, with little room for the chief of the World Heritage Section BY BISWAS BARAL tradition, are just about everywhere of the Department of Archeology, says IR, THIS KASTAMANDAP WAS around Kathmandu Durbar Square. the department is quite helpless, too. built from a single tree 800 years Huge, gaudy cemented buildings flank- “Yes, such houses are illegal but the de- Sago,” says the tourist guide. “Just ing the heritage site indeed are a sore partment didn’t approve their blue- imagine the size of that tree!” The tourist sight. prints,” he says. “Those have been built inside the Kastamandap at the Kathmandu “The houses have been built ille- without our consent.” According to Durbar Square remains uninterested. gally; I am sure those houses do not Mathema, such houses are constructed Perhaps the huge buildings at the have the approval of the municipality either during the night or on holidays to back of Kastamandap divert the attention or the Department of Archeology,” says escape the department’s supervision. of the tourist. Or, maybe, it is those Suraj Sakya, the program manager of the “Once the construction is complete, hoarding boards trying to sell everything Kathmandu Durbar Square Area Con- there is little the department can do,” from momos to toothpaste. servation Program. “But after they are says Mathema. nw/SS

30 JANUARY 16, 2005 | nation weekly nw/SS WELL PRESERVED: Bhaktapur Durbar Square is the best managed of the World Heritage Sites in RITAGE the Valley

Kathmandu Durbar Square is one of the seven sites in Kathmandu that have been clas- sified as World Heritage Sites along with the Durbar squares of Bhaktapur and Patan; Chagu Narayan; Pashupatinath; Syayambhunath and Boudhanath. But UNESCO, during its 27th convention in 2003, degraded the status of the sites in Kathmandu to “World Heritage Sites in Dan- ger.” It wasn’t the monuments that the UNESCO had problems with; it found their condition satisfac- In response, the Department of Ar- need preservation if Kathmandu is to tory. But not the environs around them. cheology agreed on a 10-year plan to be hold on to its World Heritage Site sta- A survey team from UNESCO, in 2003, carried out in cooperation with tus. was satisfied with the condition of UNESCO to safeguard the seven threat- Delegates at the 2003 UNESCO Bhaktapur Durbar Square; the Changu ened sites in May 2004. According to the convention that enlisted Kathmandu Narayan and Patan Square were in pretty U.N. body, the structures of many in- among the endangered sites gave the gov- good shape as well, the team said. But it discriminately built private houses were ernment three clear mandates: It called found that the modern constructions had incompatible with the architecture of the for the redefinition of the existing significantly undermined the beauty of monuments they surrounded. boundaries of heritage sites; the rede- Boudhanath and Kathmandu Durbar UNESCO has given special mention to fining of the core (the area with the Square. 131 monuments inside Kathmandu that monuments and the artifacts) and buffer CREATIVE DESIGN WORKS/ 4244761 CREATIVE

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nation weekly | JANUARY 16, 2005 31 Conservation

(supporting) zones in those sites; and The Kathmandu Valley Preservation Archeology, which nearly all the build- the improvement in the management Trust, the KVPT, an American INGO, ers do, but very few follow the guide- system for their proper maintenance. which has been working since 1990 to safe- lines given. The houses are often dif- The 28th convention in China in 2004 has guard “the extraordinary and threatened ar- ferent to the blueprints submitted. given the government clear guidelines chitectural heritage of Nepal,” works in Though the department supervises the to respond to its mandates and reassess close collaboration with the department. construction, its efforts have not been our preservation efforts. The KVPT helps in the restoration and effective so far. The government is now But first, the need is to identify maintenance of old monuments in vari- considering new legal procedures to what is to be changed. The department ous heritage sites. It uses traditional mate- bring the perpetrators to justice. “The has started the categorization of the rials—mud, brick and timber—to repair existing ones have too many loopholes,” houses. The ones incompatible with old houses and restructure the new ones. says Mathema of the department. the environment of the monuments “Though we are not directly involved People, it seems, find different ways to will be renovated. This includes re- with the World Heritage program, we get around the law. placing the doors and windows with are actively participating in the restora- The indifference of the people is the traditional wood-carved struc- tion of the monuments at many of the the main obstacle the preservation ef- tures, taking down the extra stories of heritage sites,” says Raju Roka, a man- forts face. People are unsupportive the buildings that exceed the recom- agement official at KVPT. The trust is and the co-ordination between vari- mended height of 32 feet, rebuilding also involved in various awareness and ous government agencies in stopping the façade of the houses to match the fundraising programs. the law violators is poor. Without the surrounding structures and so forth. There have been steps to address the realization among people that the The old and dilapidated houses will problems, but many glitches still re- sites are important and inescapably be completely rebuilt. main. New buildings in the vicinity of linked to their own identities, the New buildings in the areas surround- the monuments need to get their blue- preservation efforts won’t go any- ing the monuments can be built with the prints approved by the Department of where. permission of the department, but old houses may only be renovated in special circumstances with traditional materials. The law prohibits demolishing the old ENDANGERED: Boudhanath, the worst affected of structures to replace them with the new all sites by uncontrolled construction ones in culturally sensitive places. nw/SS

32 JANUARY 16, 2005 | nation weekly

CITY ThisWeek EVENTS WAVE WEB Emerging PRINT Voices EXHIBITION WINNER 2004 Three young artists, Sushma Shakya, Rukmani Maskey and Dal Bahadur The entries for the third an- Rai exhibit a total of 48 prints in a nual Wave Web Winner, group exhibition at the Siddhartha Nepal’s first and biggest web Art Gallery. These three aspiring art- designing contest, have started ists are students of the famous to come in. The contest is printmaking husband-wife team open to all Nepalis under 30 Uma Shanker Shah and Seema Sharma. Printmaking is not easy. living inside Nepal. All sites, These young printmakers have immersed themselves in learn- including corporate sites, ing the technicality of time bite, gum bite, colograph, wood hosted on free servers like block and sugar-lifting to understand the crux of this modern Geocities are acceptable. all participants a fair playing graphic artwork. Dal Bahadur Rai has depicted the natural heri- However, socially sensitive, field, a contestant may submit tage of Nepal; Rukmani Maskey has her work influenced by political and adult oriented more than one site for the in- religion and culture and Sushma Shakya surprises the viewers sites will not be accepted. A dividual categories—visual with elements of mystery in pictures that might seem conven- participant may submit mul- appeal, user friendliness, con- tional at first glance. Till Jan. 18. For information: 421-8048. tiple entrees. The submitted tent and technicality. It will be sites can be in any local lan- compulsory for the partici- Tripureshwore. Date: Jan. fordable holidays. State-of- guage, but only Nepali and pants to design the sites using 16. Time: 2 p.m. For infor- the-art metropolis, sun English sites will be eligible the contents of www2004.zip mation: 424-1163. kissed beaches, bargain for the Best Site Content to be eligible to win the Wave brand name shopping, theme Award. Participating sites Web Winner 2004 title. For Malaysia holiday parks, fusion cuisine and must have the tag at the top Or log on to: sents enchanting and af- tion: 201-2345. of their homepage. To provide www.www.com.np.

Price: Rs.500. Limited seats Basketball Training only. For information: 441- The Godhavari Alumuni As- 4785. sociation is organizing a bas- ketball training camp at the Cine club GAA Hall, Thamel. Chil- Movie: Le Libertin (2000). dren between 6 to14 years Director: Gabriel Aghion. are eligible to participate. Starring: Vincent Perez. At the Date: Dec. 22 to Jan. 22. Alliance Francaise,

34 JANUARY 16, 2005 | nation weekly For insertions: 2111102 or [email protected] City Page

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Dwarika’s treat Krishnarpan, the Nepali spe- ONGOING Seasons Specials Cadenza Live cialty restaurant at Dwarika's Exotic Thai, sizzling tandoori, tra- Listen to the best live jazz in town. Hotel, offers ceremonial ditional Nepali and Italian cuisine, Enjoy every Wednesday and Sat- dining cuisine. Four to 16 Shahanshah Winter daily for lunch at the Shambala urday at the Upstairs Jazz Bar, courses of the most wanted Splash Garden Café, Shangri~la Hotel. Lazimpat. Time: 7:45 p.m. on- ceremonial dishes will be Want to sweat in the winter? Go Date: Dec. 1 onwards. Price: wards. served for lunch and dinner. and experience Shahahshah’s in- Rs.450 per person, includes a Also enjoy the Dwarika's door heated pool and relax in the bottle of mineral water or a soft Thali for Lunch at The steam and sauna. At Rs.350. Ex- drink. Heritage courtyard. For in- clusive ladies’ day on Tuesdays formation: 447-9488. and Thursdays. Time: 7 a.m. to 7 Tickling Taste buds p.m. Barbeque every Friday Evening. Jomsom Trip At t he Shambala Garden Café, For just Rs.5999 for Nepali Platter Shangri~la Hotel. Time: 7 p.m. Nepalis and $199 for expa- At the Radisson Hotel every onwards. For information: 441- triates, the Jomsom Moun- Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and 2999. tain Resort provides two Sunday. Come and enjoy this spe- nights and three days ac- cial moment in the festive season. Fusion Night commodations. The price The scheme applies to Royal Stag, The Rox Bar welcomes everyone will also include round- Ultimate Gin and Ruslan Vodka. to be a part of the Fusion Night. All That Jazz Time: 6-8 p.m. For information: The rhythmic and harmonic beats about airfare from Pokhara Presenting “Abhaya and the 441-1818. of eastern and western instru- to Jomsom, daily buffet Steam Injuns” and the best of ments—a treat for the senses. breakfast and dinner, pick jazz in Nepal at the Fusion Bar, Jukebox Experience Enjoy the sarangi played by Bharat up and drop from the air- Dwarika’s Hotel, 7 p.m. onwards, The jukebox experience with Pooja Nepali with a well-blended mix of port to resort and a walking every Friday. Entry fee: Rs.555, Gurung and The Cloud Walkers western tunes played by The tour of the Marpha village including BBQ dinner, and a can every Wednesday, Friday and Cloud Walkers. Every Wednesday. in Jomsom. For informa- of beer/soft drinks. For informa- Saturday at the Rox Bar. For infor- Time: 6 p.m. onwards. For infor- tion: 449-7569. tion: 447-9488. mation: 449-1234. mation: 449-1234.

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No Laughing Matter Doin’ What Comes Inevitably

Some resolutions are meant to be broken

BY KUNAL LAMA determined generosity of McDowell’s No. 1 to give us “40 reasons to celebrate,” a cunning list of—you got it—40 restaurants and bars. Real s 2004 began to disappear with unseemly haste, a cru-cial Fruit Juices countered with their “Eleven (cocktails and mocktails) hotspots Ahigh-level meeting took place in my flat. Chaired by yours truly to shake you way past twelve.” If ads are to be believed, all we want and consisting of a motley menagerie of multi-faith, multi-cul- for New Year is Carlsberg; “The king of good times” is Vijay Mallya tural and multi-ethnic friends spanning an interesting range of ages and (oops, sorry, Kingfisher); “Fine men surrender to” Director’s Special Black sexual preferences, a decision was reached after much deliberation: We Deluxe Whiskey; and Seagram’s Royal Stag wants us to “Make it large.” would, under no circumstances, fork out obscene sums of money to Oh dear. As if this was not enough, the Red Onion Bar touted itself as the attend a New Year’s Eve party in any of the 5-star hotels, discotheques “Perfect place for perfect union,” apparently with the Prism Band. With or clubs in the city. No, no, no. We knew—from our collective past “The Phantom of the Opera” lurking inside instead of Kubla Khan, Radisson experiences—that these parties quickly degenerated into evenings head- welcomed us to “Xanadu,” while a “Neurotic” party held in Nagarkot lined by the highly annoying music of Mr. Marshall Mathers (aka Eminem) tantalized us with “maximum freedom minimum governance,” neatly and his hip-hop-cum-rap buddies; overcrowded with lurching party ani- describing the state of our nation. Celebrities, reasons only known to mals unable to cope with the rapid themselves, were at the “F-Party.” ingestion of vast quantities of alco- No one seemed to know what “F” hol (not very surprising, considering stood for, and I wouldn’t want to ven- most of them were barely out of the ture a guess. Mukti & Revival were nursery and just recently weaned); “Live & Full Throttle” at the Shangri- ending in free-for-all fight fests fea- La, though the mind boggles at how turing khukris, swords and helmets. they could possibly hope to achieve What’s worse, the bottomless bars that, supported as they were by DJ and unending buffets included in Massacre & Maddox. the ticket prices ran out within Unable to resist the devious hours. In any case, the bars only temptations of fun and revelry, we served dodgy local spirits well past decided to hit Freedom Zones 2, 3 sell-by dates and buffets laid out and 4 of the partynepal.com-orga- in a zero-watt-lit hall with zero cost, nized night at the J-Bar/Himalayan zero taste and zero culinary accom- Java complex in Thamel. It turned plishment. Now wait a second: out to be a judicious choice. We got Don’t get us wrong. We are not there just before midnight, our bel- over-the-hill codgers who complain lies full of Café Mitra’s delicious ceaselessly, having lost the ability “Festive Season Menu” offerings. to have fun and sex. We can still The Zones were alive with an shuffle to music, stay up late with- equally festive crowd. It was a nice out collapsing over ourselves, and, change to see the super-modern J-

yes, hold down our drinks, bought nw/SS Bar full of revelers, though the resi- with our own hard-earned cash, with- dent DJ was a bit mean with his out ending headfirst in a toilet bowl. music. My mates dissipated into the However, the time had come, we crowd, some seeking brand new decided, for a radical new plan: Col- partners for a brand new year, oth- lect money from close friends; de- ers trying to relight the fire with ex- camp to a private venue; serve lovers. Black-overcoated dudes with drinks and food which wouldn’t pointed shoes vied for the atten- cause us to wake up early in the new year with a splitting hangover or tion of mini-skirted babes teetering on unforgiving stilettos. Merry party a belly-bursting ache; play music which would be kind to our ears; and people were in a fun, celebratory mood, jousting with their friends, look forward to the year change with excitement and optimism. Alas, boogieing to house music, jamming up the bar which, occasionally, more easily said than done. went up in flames that sent them back, their noses twitching with the The December days rolled by easily; our much-vaunted plans didn’t. smell of methylated spirit hanging in the air. By the time we went back The local dailies began to fill with advertisements for all manners of to our homes, relieved that we didn’t have to clear ashtrays, dirty parties in all kinds of places that could hold more than 10 people. Our dishes and empty bottles, the new year was already a few hours old. resolute defenses began to crumble. We had no chance, up against the So were we. Sigh. Happy 2005! nation weekly | JANUARY 16, 2005 37 Purity of spirit, luxurious modernity, a contemporary ethos.... these are the elements which inspired Himalayan Cashmere Company and it's product line.

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The Kathmandu party scene is exploding, to the delight of almost everyone

BY DHRITI BHATTA bamboo sheds at the back of the garden had been converted into a DJ booth. All t’s a quiet Tuesday evening eight tables in the garden had been at the Funky Buddha Bar & moved, and the chairs were lined up ICafé in Thamel. The café is around the sides to accommodate more empty except for a few youngsters, than 250 partygoers. probably in their late teens. On Kathmandu saw many similar par- New Year’s Eve, though, the place ties on the eve of the New Year. Al- was jumping to funky sounds and an most every club in Thamel plus big electronic beat. One of the open hotels like the Radisson, the Everest and the Hyatt hosted par- ties that night. The Subterrania Club in Thamel had one of the largest. The club, perhaps the oldest nightclub in Kathmandu, was packed with more than 400 people. Launched in 1997 as the Jolly Blues Night Club by around for the increasingly profitable in- Mukhiya Ghale and Thomas Kilroy, it had dustry. almost no competition when it started. “Six or seven years ago, there used to Club Galaxy at Hotel Everest and small- be small turnouts, not more than 100 to scale discotheques inside the Casino 150 per party,” says Bhusan Thapa of Royal and Casino Annapurna were the partynepal.com. Partynepal has become only other places for partygoers to get one of the biggest party organizers in the down. Valley. Since their establishment in April Nearly eight years on, more than a 2003, they have organized more than 40 dozen clubs, pubs and bars in parties. Thapa is one of the three found- Kathmandu have at least one party ing members of the organization. He re- every weekend. The party calls the days when clubs had empty scene in the capital is bur- dance floors and guests retreated to dark geoning, to the delight of an corners with their drinks. Not anymore. increasing number of Thapa speaks from experience. partygoers and nightclub Partynepal organizes all kinds of parties, owners too. It’s a big turn- big and small, from intimate affairs to

40 JANUARY 16, 2005 | nation weekly open-air dance parties for huge crowds. in a while. “Clubbing is looked on as a shown the door. That helps, but the or- Thapa claims that more than 30,000 people healthy pastime now,” says partynepal’s ganizers believe that it’s ultimately up to showed up for the second annual Peace Thapa. The change in attitude is not the the crowd to behave themselves. Project dance party in November last year. only reason that clubs draw bigger Some unpleasantness notwithstand- The swelling numbers aren’t the crowds these days, though. The quality ing, the festivities continue. At the Funky only change: The party-going crowd is of music has gone up now that better Buddha, Quiet Tuesday gives way to dramatically different too. Sunil sound systems and better performers are Electronic Friday. Thousands of neon Gurung, owner of the Funky Buddha common. Only a few professional DJs lights swirl around the otherwise dark Club & Bar, has been in the business worked in the Valley five years ago: To- dance floor. The ear splitting, electronic for six years. “Mostly foreigners used day almost every club has its own, and music gets the people moving. The show come to the parties in the early days,” big-name international DJs are routinely must go on. says Gurung. “The domestic crowd was invited by party organizers to bring in pretty small,” and they were mostly big crowds. Nepalis who had jobs or homes over- One thing hasn’t changed: The rev- seas and had come home on a holiday. elry often leads to brawls and fights. Se- Today, neither group dominates the curity is a serious concern for some crowd at Gurung’s club. partygoers. Srijana Gurung, a 12th-grade Youngsters, both teenagers and work- party buff, says that there has been a fight ing professionals, have replaced the ear- at virtually every party she has attended. lier clients. And business is booming “At one of the parties I went to, two girls year-round, not just in the tourist sea- ended up bashing each other for a guy’s son. Good crowds are on hand even dur- attention,” she says. “When the guy came ing monsoon or the cold season. The back later with his girlfriend, both girls club organizes an Electronic Open Air went after her.” Party every Friday. Gurung says, 200 to Party organizers try to keep things 250 partiers show up each week. under control. Most clubs hire bounc- More people are opting to let their ers to keep things quiet. Rowdy patrons hair down and go out to a big party once are given a warning or, if necessary, nw/SS

nation weekly | JANUARY 16, 2005 41 Cricket Road to Redemption

Once seen as the most promising emerging nation, Nepal seems to have lost its way. But it still has a chance to qualify for the 2007 World Cup.

BY SUDESH SHRESTHA Jai Kumar Nath Shah, president of in the irregularity concerning the pur- Cricket Association of Nepal, had one chase of cricket equipment from hen the Asian Cricket Coun-cil, firm answer to all of them: “We’ve got Redstone International, an Indian sup- the ACC, entrusted Nepal to everything—the interest in the game, the plier based in Meerut. Whost the Second ACC Trophy talent and hardworking people. I’m sure Ignoring its own rulebook, CAN had in 1998, detractors expressed doubts we can stand up to the test.” paid more than Rs.2 million through sev- whether the newly enthroned associate Indeed he did. Nepal’s own dismal eral bearer checks for the purchase of pitch member would rise performance aside, the tournament rollers, cricket mats and nets. For any up to the chal- turned out to be a grand success. It was purchase that exceeds Rs.10,000, CAN lenge. possible because of an exemplary co-or- needs to issue account payee checks. dination among Nepali cricket officials. Then there are other worries, too. Al- More evidence of Nepal’s potential though CAN has been constantly encour- as an international cricket venue fol- aged by the game’s world governing body, lowed with the success of the Under-19 the ICC, and its Asian chapter, the ACC, Youth Asia Cup in 2001. This one even its imprudent ways of dealing with spon- thrilled the local fans. The Under-19 sors, event partners and international team asserted Nepal’s claim as the dole-outs worry those who are anxious most promising emerging to see the Nepali cricket go far. nation in cricket. The Nepal started receiving $30,000 in an- youth brigade made it all nual grant from the ICC since 1997, a the way to the plate year after it entered the cricket headquar- championship final of ters at Lord’s as an associate member. The the U-19 World Cup grant was later increased to $40,000. But in New Zealand. the constant increase in demand to im- Naturally, the prove the game’s domestic structure and newfound success added to international commitments meant the the aspirations of cricket officials grant alone would be insufficient to foot to press for one-day international all the bills. status. Shah even went a step further, The 10-year deal that CAN struck in saying Nepal would win a voting power 2002 with the leading Indian sports man- at the ICC and be the 12th country to agement and marketing company, Per- reach cricket’s most elite league—that cept D’Mark, was expected to further of Test-playing nations. “We will get boost cricket in the country. there within five to 10 years,” Shah Under the deal, CAN would avail predicted. grounds for the Percept D’Mark to host Sadly, that prediction has international cricket events as well as gone awry. For an association bring renowned cricketers to Nepal. that was once seen as a trail- The event organizer had guaranteed at blazer in Nepali sports, least two international cricket tourna- CAN seems to have lost its ments each year. The proceeds would magical touch. The associa- have allowed CAN to pay more atten- tion has, in fact, been accused tion to strengthen the domestic cricket. of financial irregularity and the The deal would have been a water- CIAA has stepped in to investigate shed, but it fell through after the 2003 the allegation. tour of the Indian U-19 team when the Shah, along with CAN Secretary two parties failed to agree on terms and Pradip Raj Pandey and Treasurer conditions. The Indian tour turned out Sashi Subedi, has been implicated

42 JANUARY 16, 2005 | nation weekly to be the last big draw to be hosted by “We’re committed to promoting for a big challenge to retain a place Nepal. cricket in Nepal,” assures Ashish Bista, among cricket’s fast-track nations. Percept D’Mark started in 1994 as an marketing manager at Gorkha Brewery. They face a potentially more difficult events division of Percept IMC, a joint “However, as sponsors, we would much assignment in the qualifier for the ICC venture with Aegis Group Plc, UK. Its cli- appreciate if the programs are carried out Trophy, starting Feb. 21 in Malaysia. ents are among the largest sponsors of decently.” With the ICC announcement that cricket in India. Sahara, one of them, has For now, Carlsberg’s unstinted sup- there would be two additional slots in signed the world’s single largest deal ever port must have relieved the cricket offi- the World Cup, cricket officials predict in cricket valued at about IRs.1 billion with cials. But the officials will do well to Nepal has a decent chance to qualify for the BCCI, cricket’s ruling body in India. realize that as any other sponsors, the tournament scheduled for 2007 in the Last month, CAN gave more evi- Carlsberg would like to get due mileage West Indies. But disappointing results dence of its casual approach to business for its investments. And nothing would in the last ACC Trophy deprived Nepal management during the lead-up to the be better than seeing Nepali national of automatic qualification to the ICC national league, the Birendra Memorial team get back to its winning ways at in- Trophy, which serves as the qualifier for National League. It decided to hold the ternational level. the World Cup. competition from Dec. 15 - Dec. 30, The two-week-long national league “It’s quite unfortunate that we couldn’t much earlier than its original schedule. is now over and cricketers are preparing wrap up the matches we should have,” says Carlsberg has a sponsorship Binod Das, the newly appointed agreement for the running of the captain of the Nepali cricket team. league with CAN for one more “Nevertheless our guys are all set tournament. to give a good performance who- While the decision might ever the opposition.” have upset the sponsor, it has been Das, who has started training generous in ruling out sugges- in the camp under coach Roy tions that it would withdraw its Dias since Jan. 7 along with other support for the league. Besides 13 teammates, knows failure this annual sponsorship fee amount- time around means other com- ing to Rs.700,000, Gorkha Brew- petitors in the pool of cricket’s ery, the producer of Carlsberg emerging nations would nose beer in Nepal, also bears the cost ahead. Let’s hope cricket offi- for the national team’s outfit and cials, too, will change their ways other promotional activities. to redeem Nepal’s flagging stat- ure.

CRICKET CULTURE: Nepal has passion for cricket but does it have the organization? All photos B Rai nation weekly | JANUARY 16, 2005 43 Snapshots BY DHRITI BHATTA For Peace

The Kathmandu Municipality has given the first-ever “Peace Award Kathmandu” to Daisaku Ikeda, a Japanese philosopher and president of the Sokka Gakki International. The Sokka Gakki, which also has a branch in Kathmandu, is a Buddhist organization actively involved in establishing institutions related to peace, culture and education in more than 170 countries. Why the award for Ikeda? “By presenting a peace award to a figure known the world over, we thought convey our message easier,” says a Kathmandu city official. And the message? “That peace is really important for Nepal today.”

Long Stretch If you go on writing, someone will eventu- ally notice. This is what Sudha Tripathi who’s been writing for newspapers and books for more than two decades believes. She was awarded the “Sahityik Stambha Lekhan Award” by the Press Council on Jan. 2. This has left her pleasantly surprised. “It seems that sooner or later, someone will notice you and your work,” she said. The lecturer of Nepali is presently working for her doctorate and has been teaching at the Tribhuvan University for the last 19 years. Well, that’s a long time indeed.

THE IRON GATE Lemi Lama, 16, was rapturous with joy when she was crowned the first Miss Teen Sherpa on Dec. 30. Lama presently has got bigger things in mind as any other 10th-grader would. It’s the much- feared Iron Gate—the School Leaving Certifi- cate exams—in four months time. So how is this student from Young Hearts School preparing for the SLC? “I don’t study for long hours,” says Lama. “But when I’m with books, it’s all about concentration and dedication.” Lama aspires to be a doc- tor someday and says the walk down the ramp helps her build her confidence for walks down life’s long roads. B Rai

44 JANUARY 16, 2005 | nation weekly Jobs Hotel de l’Annapurna, established in 1965..

...... In these 39 years of service it has always been our constant endeavor to provide finest Nepalese Hospitality to our valued guests with dedicated team having proactive approach towards product, processes & services, and thereby establishing Mount Everest like goodwill amongst customers, stakeholders & community and environment at large. Distilling our best practices and striving for uniqueness in every steps of service, we have become successful to establish our hotel as superlative hotel of Nepal. We are looking for dignified managers who can take up the challenge of driving the new management of Hotel de l’Annapurna, under Hotel Annapurna Pvt. Ltd, in the following positions: 1.GENERAL MANAGER Job Purpose: To optimize operational efficiency by directing all departmental heads & establishing, formulating, defining & developing strategies to achieve unit operational growth as per the company direction. To optimize revenues & profitability targets & to be the best in class in service & product standards. To achieve stakeholder satisfaction & goodwill and maintain high motivation & morale. • The Incumbent should preferably be an MBA with 5 years of working experience in a similar position in 4/5 Star Property. 2.EXECUTIVE CHEF Job Purpose: To provide innovative and artistically superior, and cost efficient food and beverage products that enhance the reputation of all the food outlets, at the same time meeting the established quality and presentation standards. • The incumbent should be graduate in hotel management with 3-5 years of working experience in a similar position in 4/5 Star Property. Extra trainings / vocational courses on food preparation or culinary art would add value to the application. 3.SALES MANAGER Job Purpose: To maximize revenues of the hotel by driving maximum contribution from all producing segments through the various sources. To develop and co-ordinate various programs and policies relating to all marketing and promotional activities of the hotel. • The incumbent should be MBA with excellent communication and Public Relation skills with 3-5 years of working experience in similar position in any reputed organization, preferably in a 4/5 Star Property.

OTHER OPENINGS: 4. JUNIOR SOUS CHEF The incumbent should be graduate in hotel management with 2-3 years of working experience in a similar position in 4/5 Star Property. Should have a good staffing skill and should be able to independently manage kitchen. Basic computer knowledge and other related trainings would be a merit. 5. EXECUTIVE SECRETARY The incumbent should be a female graduate with a pleasing personality, excellent communication skills (both English and Nepali), a high standard of proficiency in computers with good typing speed, and preferably, knowledge of shorthand . Preference will be given to the candidates who have done secretarial courses. 6. COMMERCIAL SALES EXECUTIVE The incumbent should be a graduate, preferably MBA, with very good communication skills(both English and Nepali), pleasing personality, basic computer skills, and a very good attitude to deal with different customers. Preference will be given to candidates having hotel management background and experience of working in similar position but freshers are also encouraged to apply. Female candidates would be given preference. 7. FRONT OFFICE ASSISTANT The incumbent should be a graduate, preferably in hotel management, with very good communication skills (both English and Nepali), pleasing personality, basic computer skills, and a very good attitude to deal with different customers. Preference will be given to candidates having experience of working in similar position but freshers are also encouraged to apply. Female candidates would be given preference.

Remuneration is not an issue for deserving candidates. Applications are welcomed from eligible candidates with a covering letter stating own strengths and weaknesses, completed curriculum vitae, and 1 pp sized photograph before 15 Jan 2005 addressed to:

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hen Purnashova Chitrakar started the Ban WLandmines Campaign Nepal in June 1995, the exercise seemed pointless to some; the "people's war," and the violence that has prevailed since, started on February 1996. Nearly a decade on, Chitrakar has been credited with displaying foresight uncommon to many. nw/SS

Today, landmines pose serious threats to and cost effective. Also, in the type of Cambodia for example; even after the people’s lives. During 2003, 48 civilians died war that is being fought in Nepal—the civil war ended in 1975, people are still in landmine explosions. In the first five Maoists have embarked upon a guerilla dying due to the carelessly laid mines. It months of 2004, that toll had risen to 120. war—landmines make it possible for the is really difficult to completely dispose Kumud Nepal talked to Chitrakar, who has warring sides to fight their battles from of these explosives. A poor country like also been nominated recently as the South far away; it’s not a face-to-face conven- ours will have similar problems dealing Asian representative to the Advisory Com- tional war. with the cost of cleaning up the mittee of the International Campaign for landmines, if and when the war ends. Ban Against Landmines, about the dangers of landmines and her own experience as an During 2003, 48 civilians What have been your efforts activist against their use. died in landmine to combat this problem? We have been trying to reach out to the When you started the campaign nearly explosions. In the first people. Our awareness programs are fo- a decade ago, the violence that is five months of 2004, cused on 10 districts for the time being: prevalent today wasn’t there. So why Rukum, Rolpa, Salyan, Banke, Morang, the campaign against landmines? that toll had risen to 120. Ramechhap, Sindhupalchowk, Kavre, Sure, landmines weren’t as serious an is- Dhading and Dolakha. We are looking sue as they are today in Nepal. But there How would you describe the level of to run programs that will tell students were more than 20,000 people in 70 coun- danger posed by the landmines in about the risks of mines in 150-200 tries who had become the victims of Nepal? schools within the next two months. We landmines. We wanted to establish a glo- Landmines pose a serious threat to have also been helping with the reha- bal solidarity against landmines. My own people’s lives, especially in rural areas. bilitation of landmine victims. experience in Cambodia had shown me More often than not, it is the innocent how landmines could destroy people’s who suffer, caught in the middle. During How about banning the lives. I saw people blinded, handicapped 2003, 225 civilians were victims of use of landmines? and paralyzed by landmine explosions. I landmine explosions. While 177 of them We are trying that as well. We are press- wanted to make people aware. survived, 48 died. Among the dead were ing on the government to sign the Ot- 18 children. In the first five months of tawa treaty that was formulated on Dec. How would you describe the menace 2004, out of a total of 120 civilians who 3, 1997. The treaty is a common agree- of landmines in our country today? died in such explosions, 32 were children. ment on the ban of nuclear weapons and Both sides to the conflict are using Most of these children toyed with the landmines. Similarly, we are appealing landmines indiscriminately. While the landmines not knowing what they were. to the Maoists to sign the Deed of Com- Maoists are relying more on improvised Some others died trying to extract metals mitment under the Geneva Convention explosive devices, IEDs, the government out of the explosives to sell as scrap metal. that says any side in a war will not arbi- forces use manufactured landmines. Then there is the bigger post-conflict trarily use landmines and other ammu- There are also command-detonated danger of using landmines indiscrimi- nitions. mines, and remotely-controlled and timer nately. mines that both sides are using recklessly. And their response How so? The government is always positive in its Why is their use so widespread? The landmines are buried underground response, but there’s a huge gap between In any conflict-hit area, the use of and will remain there even after the con- what it says and what it does. As for the landmines is inevitable. They are widely flict is over. These landmines will lead Maoists, we haven’t received a response used because they are easy to produce to the needless loss of human lives. Take from them yet.

48 JANUARY 16, 2005 | nation weekly

Last Page To Be or Not To Be

“To be, or not to be: that is the question: sounding hackneyed, we repeat one Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer more time: The Maoist problem will The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, not be resolved militarily. The political Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, process should be And by opposing end them?” revived and nur- tured with care be- See Cover Story Prime Minister Deuba faces a di- fore those in the Page 22 lemma of Hamletian proportions this RNA and the CPN- week. Will he announce elections if the Maoist with militarist mindsets take the Maoists defy his Jan. 13 deadline to come whole country hostage. There is a re- forward for talks? Or will he decide that mote hope that elections may yet unite the country is in no better shape now than it was in October 2002, when he told the King that the elections were not possible, and by so doing risk another dismissal? When the King made a near-impos- sible comeback possible for Deuba in June, he explicitly told the new prime minister to prepare groundwork to hold elections within 2061 B.S., by April. Seven months on, no one, certainly not the big political parties who believe in elections, want elections. At present Deuba’s own NC-D is the only party to have come out openly in support of elections; even that support is ambigu- ous. Two senior leaders—Bijaya Kumar Gachhedar and Bal Bahadur KC—have voiced serious misgivings about the prime minister’s election plans. While the junior coalition partner, the RPP, is expected to fall behind the election call, the CPN-UML, the larg- est party supporting the government, seems deeply divided on the election issue. Should it decide to join forces with the Nepali Congress, which first wants to see the issue of “regression” addressed before elections, Deuba’s election call will be politically dead even without the Maoists opposing it. The Maoists of course want elections, all political parties and that they will rally but of a different kind: elections to a together to oppose the Maoists, who will constituent assembly to draft a new go to great lengths to disrupt the polls. constitution. But for that to happen, Prime Minister We are not against elections. Indeed, Deuba will have to display a higher level there can be no democracy without elec- of statesmanship than he has yet shown. tions, no matter how messy they may be. But we aren’t sure whether elections now are the best option before us. This is no time to split hairs over the terms of a Constitution that, at best, remains in a suspended animation. At the risk of Akhilesh Upadhyay, Editor

50 JANUARY 16, 2005 | nation weekly cover.pm6 2 1/8/05, 6:00 PM cover.pm6 1 1/8/05, 6:00 PM