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#172 28 November - 4 December 2003 16 pages Rs 25

Achham’s‘Things have never been this bad. ’ agony

RABI DHAMI and RAJENDRA NATH all along the valley, the historic travel have made the people of Nepal’s Chhat Bahadur Shahi (left) herds his in ACHHAM

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Mangalsen Darbar still lies in ruins. But poorest and most-neglected region suffer mountains goats from Mugu in search of t has been nearly two years since the there are deeper psychological scars even more. food. He will be on the trail for a month. battle of Mangalsen that devastated among the people here that haven’t News of the Mudhbara incident in The ruins of the Mangalsen Darbar destroyed by the Maoists two years ago, this district headquarter. More than healed. And now, fears of renewed which four school children were killed never rebuilt. 107security forces and civilians were fighting and the Maoists’ closure of last month in nearby Doti has spread and killed in that deadly night attack in schools across these 12 remote districts parents are afraid their children may get children to India and this is repeated all IFebruary 2002. have spread more uncertainty. caught in the crossfire. “It is tragic, so across the midwest,” says Ram Bahadur The scars of that battle can be seen Embargoes, blockades and restrictions on many parents here have sent their Buda from Nandegada village.

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○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○Another AIDS Day RAJIV KAFLE Another year of talk, workshops, seminars and plans. We are spending a lot of money, but HIV infection is on the rise. And for people like me who live with HIV, nothing has changed. I thought change would do me good, so I dyed my hair blonde. The next day, a journalist asked me if my hair was discoloured because I was HIV positive. Last week, I was stuck in a traffic jam in a taxi under that big ‘AIDS Birrudha Ekata’ billboard near Maitighar. The driver turned to me and said he felt sorry for Karishma Manandhar because she had AIDS. Common sense is not as common as we’d like it to be. Who can we blame for such ignorance? Are the HIV sensitisation programs effective? At this rate, can we halt or reverse the epidemic in Nepal by 2015, the UN’s target year? One thing we know for sure is that we have to work to implement the national strategy against HIV/AIDS if we are to avoid 15,000 deaths per year by 2005. A young man, a former drug addict, runs a screen printing business. He has just finished printing AIDS prevention themes on cardholders to be distributed all over the world. This man and his 20 young employees live in a part of town with the highest HIV prevalence among injecting drug users. He doesn’t just want the business, he wants to help other young people like him. In Pokhara recently, I worked with ex-drug users. The 70-member group held daily meetings and planned fund raisers to support rehabilitation. They work with community groups and even have a football team: ‘Recovery United’. This is the spirit that will allow them to meet the ‘Free by Five’ target of a drug-free Pokhara by 2005. There are an estimated 60,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in Nepal today. According to the UNAIDS estimate, we will enter a generalised epidemic by the end of 2005 as prevalence rates cross one percent of the adult population. This will mark the beginning of a vicious circle of HIV/AIDS and poverty. In two years time, there will be an average of 35 deaths related to AIDS every day and our already overburdened health care services will not be able to cope. It is time to start thinking of how we can all be a part of the solution to this looming emergency. We all have a personal stake in ensuring that the next generation inherits a future of less suffering and more hope. The answer lies with us. t

Rajiv Kafle is an AIDS activist. [email protected]

Weekly Internet Poll # 112 ENJOY Every Friday Do you find it credible that the Maoists believe in multiparty democracy? The Sumptuous Barbecue Dinner at our illuminated Courtyard and Garden For Vegetarians Special Sish Kebabs and many more. For Reservation: 552 1810 Total votes:1,288 Weekly Internet Poll # 113. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com Q. How do you rate prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa’s performance? 28 NOVEMBER - 4 DECEMBER 2003 2 EDITORIAL NEPALI TIMES #172 Nepali Times is published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Chief Editor: Kunda Dixit STATE OF THE STATE by CK LAL Desk Editor: Trishna Gurung, Design: Kiran Maharjan Webmaster: Bhushan Shilpakar [email protected], www.nepalitimes.com Advertising: Sunaina Shah [email protected] Subscription: Anil Karki [email protected] Sales: Sudan Bista [email protected] Sanchaya Kosh Building, Block A-4th Floor, Lalitpur GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: 01-5543333/ 5523845 Fax: 01-5521013 Printed at Jagadamba Press, Hattiban: 01-5547018/17

BREAKING EGGS TO MAKE AN OMELET Politics has become a game a chance where players

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Whose○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ move? olitics is not a spectator sport. We citizens are not supposed to just sit make their move, and pray. around watching gladiators finish each other off, especially when mortal n chess, Deep Blue can defeat Bobby making their moves last week. Maobadi in the hand for nominal combat in the arena spills over into the stands. Fisher because both of them play by the was put on a leash Marxbadi-Leninbadis in the bush. We want to have a say when our lives and security as citizens are at Surya Bahadur Thapa stake. The trouble is that the non-state side is so intolerant of dissent that it will same rules. Whether it is a computer or when the king reportedly asked him to Slightly overtaken by the rapid pace of Psend anyone who doesn’t agree with the party line to kingdom come. And the a human brain, in a mind game it is the proceed with his foreign visits ignoring the events last week, Girija Prasad Koirala state side recoils from the truth, labelling all scrutiny as unpatriotic. ability to manipulate memory that decides clamour for his resignation from his own took one step backward and declared that Ithe outcome. Politics has often been party. Since his RPP is a royalist party, it he wasn’t averse to the reinstatement of About our revolutionary comrades, there is really nothing much one can say. They are behaving as they always have: with an extreme brutality compared to chess where a king is just a doesn’t seem likely that its move to oust Sher Bahadur Deuba government if that calculated to sow terror, a strategy of winning support by fear, intimidation and pawn in the hands of the master player. Thapa began without a nod from on high. It would lead to the restoration of the lower threats. They justifying it with the catch-all line: “One can’t make an omelet There is one difference: the winner of a follows, therefore, that Thapa cannot house. This innocuous sounding statement without breaking eggs”. political contest can’t be predicted. Factors continue if the one who appointed him swiftly punctured the UML trial balloon Such thinking never made revolutionary sense and even goes against Mao beyond the control of the player make the wants him out. for an all-party government minus the Zedong’s own tenets about not antagonising the people. But try telling that to outcome unpredictable. Politics is, in fact, This is classic Panchayat-style Nepali Congress. So far, the political our born-again comrades. How does keeping 400,000 children away from closer to poker. When Sher Bahadur powerplay: two groups of courtiers try to earthquake Comrade Nepal predicted has school in Bheri and Karnali help the cause? How does the public torture of Deuba upturned the chessboard last year by run each other down. Thapa is a veteran of not materialised and the only tremors are villagers, and depriving those poor souls of dignity even in death by forcing the dissolving parliament, Nepali politics this game and has been through it more being felt on the slopes of Machhapuchhre. corpse to rot in the school yard serve the cause of societal transformation? ceased to be a mind-sport. It became a times than he probably cares to remember. New Delhi, as usual, has all its cards Which values, exactly, are they trying to transform? Where is it written that game of chance where players make their That is why he exhibited a certain panache on the table. It showed its displeasure by barbarism wins hearts and minds? Some has to ultimately take moral responsi- move and pray. in throwing earthy invectives doubting rival sending the foreign secretary (instead of a bility for the fundamentally unjustifiable act of taking another human life. Naïve Four players were simultaneously Pashupati Shumsher’s lineage. The ranking minister) to receive him at the questions, perhaps, for those whose hands are steeped in the blood of fellow- grandson of Mohan Shumsher is too Indira Gandhi International Airport. The Nepalis, and for whom thousands, even millions, of dead can be written off as sophisticated to stoop so low and ignored unusually blunt joint communique at the means to an end. that remark with aristocratic disdain. In end of the visit that called for a national The way to counter such savagery is not by being a savage yourself. You hindsight, this storm in the teacup looks government in Nepal was another indicator don’t battle terror by competing with the enemy in terrorising the population. You like it was orchestrated on the eve of of Delhi's displeasure. In a field where don’t stop the carnage by contributing to it. We don’t pretend to be experts in Thapa’s India visit to show palace counter-insurgency strategies, but isn't the state supposed to show citizens ‘protocol and alcohol’ mean everything, that it is different? That it abides by the dissatisfaction with a premier considered to such a diplomatic slight is noticed. Thapa has rule of law, and that it is there to be close to New Delhi. obviously failed to live up to the expectations protect the citizens from Reading, perhaps correctly, that of those who initially rooted for him. harm. And when civilians do Thapa’s days are numbered Comrade By allowing the Lucknow meeting to go get harmed, as they will in Madhab Nepal decided to pull off a ahead, New Delhi once more thumbed its this fight, isn’t honesty the headline-grabbing India trip himself. His nose at Uncle Sam and showed it is ready best policy? To own up, and take multi-pronged strategy involved a) isolating to wear the Maoist millstone around its steps to see that it doesn’t happen the Nepali Congress by patching up with neck if that helps calibrate pressure on again. Sher Bahadur Deuba, b) forming an alliance Kathmandu. The Indians are having fun. When it was dragged into this with RPP, and c) getting the consent of the All this has left the palace somewhat messy war exactly two years ago this Maobadis in Lucknow to accommodate the outflanked. Sher Bahadur Deuba has ceased week, the Royal Nepali Army had everything concerns of the king in a sort of consensus to be the ace up its sleeve, and Krishna going for it. It had a good reputation, it did not government led by him. But the plan Prasad Bhattarai’s Kashi pilgrimage interfere in civilian politics, and it carried a grand backfired. appears to have gone waste. Koirala has martial tradition going back to the days of the birth of Even though the Lucknow meeting had used Deuba to spoil Nepal’s game. this nation. the intended effect (it proved the Indians Towards the end of his political career, Today, even as the Maoists’ violent path is alienating them aren’t averse to showing their abiding destiny has thrust two choices upon the from the very people in whose name they were fighting the interest in the games being played in Nepal) paterfamilias of the Thapa clan from Muga. war, the security forces face a sullen population and a reputation the UML leader he failed to convince Will he resign, or allow himself to be sacrificed for trigger-happiness. When pressed, they take refuge in "they do Messrs Dahal, Bhattarai and Mahara that one last time at the altar of power? it too" or "they started it first". For the state, that can never be an he could offer them a better bargain than But he has a third choice. Thapa can excuse. any other occupant of Singh Darbar. also recommend the restoration of the Most Nepalis are trapped between unfeel- Comrade Madhab is sticking his neck ing brutality on one side, and unnecessary lower house and put the constitutional ruthless on the other. Safeguarding human rights further out than he has ever stuck it before train, derailed by Deuba, back on track. is not something the state does to keep donors happy, by declaring: “Constitutional monarchy Such a decision will transform Thapa from it does so because as the force legally mandated to bear arms its or republicanism—the choice rests with a pawn into a full-fledged political player primary responsibility is to protect citizens. the king”. But that is unlikely to again. But will the pawn be allowed to convince New Delhi to let go of real reach the other side of the board? t

L ETTERS

has to respect human rights sympathies lie with the Maoists. lost it. A taxi driver is killed in l Congratulations to from a national viewpoint and Thanks to British ambassadorHUMAN RIGHTS because it is good military strategy. The rebels have twice hood- Kathmandu by a soldier after a Charitraheen Chelis for tearing only helps to bring the latest Keith Bloomfield for calling a It doesn’t make sense if you help winked civilian governments by traffic altercation. Now, aid away their veils and giving goods to Kathmandu by spade a spade (Interview, Maoist recruitment by indiscriminate going for a ceasefire they had agencies are warning that unless Nepali men a taste of their own express delivery. Inhabitants #171). Although couched in targeting of civilians. There are too no intention of observing. They this is curbed, no more money. medicine. More power to them! of Himalayan villages are diplomatese, his message is many examples of historical manipulated the disunity in the So let me ask: where is the will PS: How does one join the pouring millions on building clear, that the Royal Nepali Army blunders made by standing armies corrupt civilian leadership to for getting back on the road of movement? monasteries all over the valley. pushed into this trap gain time, get their comrades peace? To the establishment and ‘AS’, Kathmandu Universities based across the by guerrilla forces. released and fight on. Their the political parties: open your nation are erecting grandiose Some of these force must be met by force, so eyes and for once act for Nepal, CHC email is: campuses in the capital. blunders have been that this war can be brought to not for yourself. That is the [email protected] Foreign-trained urban experts made by the British a swift end, otherwise the reason Nepal is on this tragic are calling for a second ring Army around the Nepali people will be made to path. road in Kathmandu while their world, and this is suffer a long-drawn conflict Lars Gundersen, Denmark Your editorial ‘National sinkhole’UNKIND home villages lack mule tracks. why Bloomfield’s that may cost us our freedom. (#168) and the letters it attracted Please do not blame the remarks ring true. Bickram Thapa, by email have been a little unkind to people of Kathmandu for the Col J Morton, Charitraheen Chelis’ choiceHUNKS of Kathmandu. It sounds as if the lopsided development. They by email l After reading your issue ten sexiest men in Nepali media people of Kathmandu have been have been working to spread #171, I get the feeling Nepal is (‘Media hunks’, #171) showed, manipulating development development by leaving the l Keith Bloomfield on the verge of collapse. It is in among other things, the extent of planning to locate all comforts of Kathmandu to should mind his own a state of terror, human rights the grip bahuns have over the infrastructure in the valley. It is a pioneer hotels and resorts in business and not abuses, landmines, daily killings Nepali media. Except Shyam fact that investments are being Pokhara, Chitwan, Lumbini poke his nose into and a poor future outlook. Shrestha all the men chosen are concentrated in Kathmandu, but and Jomsom, to take some the Royal Nepali Outside Kathmandu, the hill bahuns. Can one safely is it the people of Kathmandu recent examples. In the past, Army’s conduct of Maoists are acting more like assume that the self-declared who are to blame for that? they were responsible for counterinsurgency bandits than the freedom women of loose morals, whose Donors cannot see beyond the establishing towns across the operations. Through fighters they once were. The identity has not been revealed, hills surrounding the capital. hills of Nepal. his remarks he army, which used to behave are also predominantly bahunis? NRN’s want to build a tunnel to Mayju Tuladhar, shows that his true marginally better seems to have KB Thapa, Balaju Hetauda which is meaningless Kathmandu 28 NOVEMBER - 4 DECEMBER 2003 TESTIMONY NEPALI TIMES #172 3

espite the initial promise of a The administration continues to portray ceasefire andDanger a return by the royalist of a widening Nepalwar as part of the broader anti-terrorism government and the Communist battle, and has strongly backed a royalist DParty of Nepal (Maoist) to negotiations, government which has indefinitely these peace talks steadily deteriorated due suspended the democratic system. Last year, largely to a failure to establish effective in addition to generous amounts of confidence building and monitoring development assistance, Washington measures in the field. Currently, the conflict provided Nepal with more than 5,000 M- continues to take on a triangular dynamic 16 rifles as part of a broader military between the Maoists, the royalist package worth more than $14 million. government and the mainstream political Meanwhile, US Ambassador Michael parties that have been shut out of power Malinowski has taken a very tough line on since King Gyanendra suspended the the Maoists, comparing them to the Khmer democratic system in October 2002. Rouge and the Nazis. Though the Maoists Both the Maoists and the government clearly do represent a serious threat, such forces have adopted new battlefield strategies incendiary language has done little to as the war has resumed. The Maoists have advance the peace process. Washington has moved away from mass attacks on district also pushed hard for a recently approved police and army headquarters, and have $70 million World Bank loan to Nepal, instead used small cells to carry out a steady over-riding concerns by some Bank assassination campaign, including in members about Nepal’s governance. Kathmandu. Army, police and political While US condemnation of Maoist party officials, particularly those party atrocities has been rightfully quick and members that are seen as close to the palace, robust, too often the United States has are the most common targets. The Maoists treated serious human rights abuses by the have also significantly expanded their government as little more than an activities in eastern Nepal and the tarai— DHURBA ALE inconvenience. The overall US approach to areas that had largely been spared the worst Nepal is certainly ripe for review and the fighting earlier in the war. immediate priority should be turning The Royal Nepali Army, having The Brussels-based International Crisis Group (ICG) is an independent, non- around the decision on village defense significantly upgraded its firepower and profit organisation working through field-based analysis to prevent and committees. improved base defenses during the ceasefire, It may indeed take some military has claimed a number of successful offensives resolve deadly conflict. This is a shortened version of a testimony by the pressure on the Maoists to secure a lasting and tried to carry the fight more directly to the ICG’s John Norris at a US House of Representatives Human Right Caucus peace agreement. The arc of the war thus far

Maoists. Substantiating the battlefield claims of has only demonstrated that unchecked ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

○○○○○○○○ hearing on Nepal on 21 November. both sides remains difficult, but it does remain human rights abuses by the government clear that most of those being killed in Nepal importance of restoring democracy, but this banks and killing local journalists. Across Maoist rebels. Nepali government ministers directly contribute to Maoist recruiting are non-combatants. With both the Maoists commitment has not gone beyond rhetoric. Nepal, the Maoists practice extortion and have argued that such armed village defense efforts. Nepal’s return to violence is all the and the Royal Nepali Army determined to use Both the Maoists and the Royal Nepali these ‘donations’ are most often collected at committees could better protect more unfortunate because it is not difficult battlefield gains to secure leverage for future Army continue to commit human rights the point of a gun. The Maoists’ reliance on communities from rebel violence, but to imagine a series of agreements around talks, the danger of a widening conflict is abuses on a widespread basis and there homemade explosive devices is a clear threat experiences from around the globe have which the king, the Royal Nepali Army, substantial. appears to be virtually no legal or political to civilians. There is credible evidence of almost universally proven civilian militias to political parties and Maoists could coalesce. Despite mounting international pressure recourse for the victims of such abuses. The forced recruiting by the Maoists, including be a disaster. With no training and no It remains clear that the sooner a for the palace and the political parties to Doramba incident, and any number of a number of child soldiers. Most rural oversight, armed vigilante groups tend to genuine multiparty government is work together, King Gyanendra still appears others since the ceasefire collapsed, call into Nepalis find themselves caught between intensify a conflict and the potential for established and democracy restored, the reluctant to install a genuine all-party question the efficacy of international military Maoist cadres and a royalist military often such short-sighted policy to broaden the higher the chance for a durable solution to government or fully restore the democratic assistance to and training of the Royal willing to use indiscriminate force. already deadly conflict in Nepal is distinct. the conflict. Washington is well positioned process, although speculation concerning a Nepali Army. On November 4, 2003, Prime Minister Certainly, the US government should to use its influence to help the Nepal possible change in prime minister is an Maoist forces have engaged in equally Surya Bahadur Thapa unveiled an initiative disavow any plan to arm civilians in a government move in the right direction. t almost daily occurrence. Prime Minister serious human rights abuses, assassinating to establish ‘Rural Volunteer Security country where Washington is providing Surya Bahadur Thapa continues to stress the key political and military figures, robbing Groups and Peace Committees’ to fight substantial military aid. www.crisisweb.org 28 NOVEMBER - 4 DECEMBER 2003 4 NATION NEPALI TIMES #172 Corporate advertisers need regular ratings polls to gauge popularity of new

television channels. ○○○○○○○○○○ NAVIN○○○○○○ SINGH KHADKA Cablenew equipment. Once we have wars s competition heats up them, we will see then if we will among the six television be able to include the other channels vying for Nepal’s Nepali channels in our network as advertising pie, the significance of well.” For now, Shah seems happy The cable operators has suddenly grown to harvest profits to recoup his byA leaps and bounds. investment in the the 3,600km of Cable television distributors cable infrastructure he has all over who control distribution in urban the country and his Channel areas are being courted by Nepal satellite television venture. frustrated channel owners. Viewers Shah’s smugness could be find it tedious to keep on changing shortlived if non-STN channels all the cable feed at the back of their gang up against him, or if Nepal tv sets, so the cable operators One and Kantipur TV become so which provide the widest range of popular that his subscribers start channels is ahead of the game. demanding that he put them on. However, the Nepali market is For now, the new private channels complicated by the fact that the have no option but to woo small biggest cable operator, Space Time cable operators. Kantipur TV and

Network (STN) which controls 60 Nepal One are also working on MIN BAJRACHARYA percent of the cable viewership, slick production and smart also owns Channel Nepal, the marketing so that their broadcasts country’s first private TV channel. will be hard to pass by. Since STN is driving a hard Nepal One is buying cable bargain, new private ventures like connections for its viewers, even if Kantipur, Nepal One and Image they are already STN subscribers. he entry of four new television newspapers and stations that received are trying to widen their reach “We would like them to see our channels into the market this better ratings and circulation figures through its smaller competitors. product as well and then decide Competition between channels and year has lead to a growth in were happy with the results and even With so many channels, new cable which one is better,” an official cable distributors is cut-throat, but demand from advertisers of consumer splashed it across their front pages.

operators have entered the fray with the free-to-air station being goods for accurate ratings data. ORG Marg’s Country Representa- ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ and are trying to wrest a slice broadcast from New Delhi told us. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○viewers benefit from the choice. T But ratings evaluators are off to tive Palas Bhattacharya says Pandey’s of the market. The past experience of official told us. But another official foreign channels. a rough start. A controversial media program had a low rating because it Although there are 211 Shangrila Channel is a lesson for in the same ministry told us: “It’s a Meanwhile, STN is trying to survey by an international polling was not on air when the field work of registered cable operators across new TV stations. When that free market, if any other television keep its innovative edge by going organisation earlier this year has the survey took place from November the country, STN’s dominance of private venture began airing day station wishes to begin a cable digital and plans to introduce a sparked off a debate about the 2002 to January 2003 . “If your the urban market has given them a TV through state-owned Nepal business what is the problem?” cable internet service on its menu credibility of such studies. AC program is not being shown, naturally virtual monopoly so far. But a sign Television, it failed because cable The majority of operators want to subscribers. If that happens, Nielsen ORG Marg’s survey of ‘media people would not name it and that is of the cable wars to come are operators refuse to carry it. “The the government to make it with a few hardware add-ons and habits’ in April stirred a hornet’s nest. what happened in the case of already visible: while STN does lesson is that the channels need mandatory for every cable provider a keyboard, customers can Among those whose programs Dishanirdesh.” not carry rival Nepal One and cable distribution,” says Neer to carry all Nepali channels. “That cheaply surf the internet on their didn’t do well in the Nielsen poll were Independent media analysts say Kantipur, STN’s rival Sky Cable Shah who now owns Shangrila way, the government itself will television set. Of the nearly two state-run Nepal Television (NTV) and they did find some discrepancies in retaliated by temporarily taking wireless distribution through earn a big royalty, a big chunk of dozen cable operators in the its Saturday afternoon Bollywood film the Nielsen ORG Marg survey and it Channel Nepal off its stream. “We microwave. which is now going to pay foreign capital, many charge an average as well as the talk show Dishanirdesh contradicted the findings of other hosted by Vijay Kumar Pandey. The media polls done before and after it. have repeatedly requested STN to The Ministry of Information channels,” says Shah. Already, of Rs 150 per month, forcing Nielsen survey showed Dishanirdesh Dishanirdesh, for instance, showed a carry our channel,” says a Nepal and Communication has received growing competition among cable the big boys to revise their had a viewership of 1.5 percent. “I am 49 percent rating in the CEDA polls. One executive here. “We will not petitions from operators that the operators has brought advantages rates as well. not against such surveys but there has “It did not tally with the findings give up, we will keep on trying.” government should ban cable to viewers. There is a wider range The competition among the to be transparency on how it is done which most of the other surveys had Jamim Shah exudes the operators from also owning cable of choice, quality of production big players may be cut-throat, and the methodology adopted,” says shown,” said an official with a reputed bravado of a man who knows he distribution, as in India. “We are has gone up and more Nepalis are but ultimately the Nepali Pandey. “They must meet ethical marketing agency in Kathmandu, who dominates the market. But he hints in the process of discussing if the spending more time watching television viewer has benefited standards.” Pandey went public with did not want to be named in this at magnanimity. “We have ordered license laws can be revised,” one Nepali channels than Indian or from the cable wars. t his displeasure by placing ads in article. Nepali newspapers. Predictably, An ORG Marg insider admitted

HERE AND THERE by DANIEL LAK

ne of the abiding mysteries of expatriate Western life is why an otherwise environmentally-minded, sensitive person employed abroad on a generous contract by a humanitarian or aid organisation insists on the worst possible type of personal transport. I refer to the vehicle Aidwagons Your vehicle eats up resources that knownO in the West as a ‘Sports Utility Vehicle’ or to us cynics in your organisation could otherwise Kathmandu as an ‘Aidwagon’. Sometimes I think the United Nations and all other large international spend to help poor people. bodies have a secret deal with Toyota, Nissan and other producers of these users of the roadspace. They probably vote Republican or Conservative too. monsters. That at least would make the whole thing comprehensible. The Now I put it to all you Aidwagon folks that you do not fall into these profit motive. We’ve all seen them. Many of us drive them. And I’m sure categories. You are here because you care about the world. You want to that we tell ourselves that they’re necessary for the Nepali terrain, the hills, help. Yes, you enjoy your life abroad with all its perks and exotic extras. But that road to Dhunche and of course, for safety purposes. Yes, they also you have a conscience. All this is leading somewhere. To a suggestion, a negotiate the huge potholes on the Sanepa road quite well, don’t they. humble request that you reconsider a few things. I know, I know. You Hello! Your vehicle made those holes. Your vehicle helps make the bought the vehicle from your predecessor for a fraction of its cost back roads of this city uninhabitable for the vast majority of Nepalis who walk. home (duty free, therefore no benefit to Nepal even in its purchase). Or live and work next to the road. Your vehicle consumes about tens as You have to think of the kids safety when you are on Nepali highways. much petrol as any other. Your vehicle eats up resources that your And you never know when the office might want you to go on a field organisation could otherwise spend to help poor people. Remember them? MIN BAJRACHARYA visit to some distant spot where your organisation is doing good work. The reason that you’re here? from my vehicle, not some import-export middleman. Both were purchased Okay, I give you all that. And don’t give me any guff about Dhunche. I’ve been outside the from my own funds, earned by the sweat of the brow, or at least the typing But try one thing. Have a good look at your vehicle and assess its British School or the Lincoln School when you couldn’t move for a phalanx fingers. I also paid duty and taxes on both, because I have no special status impact on the roads and very limited petroleum stocks of this troubled of fuming Aidwagons dispensing children. You use them for mundane with any government, save as minor annoyance and occasional supplicant. land. Get out and survey the damage to the roads from the parade of household chores. You use them to go to Bhat Bhateni. You cruise on Now I own no vehicle, and get around by taxi and battered Chinese bicycle. Aidwagons that are making their way around the gin mills and bazars of household business, hermetically sealed from the world around you, An economic decision that has served me well. Patan. Watch the plumes of pollution that spew from the exhaust pipe as apparently without a thought for the effects of your actions. In America, people who drive SUVs are loathed by other denizens of your driver revs it up on winter mornings. Then consider whether it’s worth A little mea culpa. I’ve owned two regionally-produced four wheel the road. It’s pejorative, to call someone an ‘SUV person’. The it. Why not buy a Maruti Gypsy or something small and economical? Use drives. One was a Tata Sumo, the other a Maruti Gypsy. Neither holds a connotation is greedy, uncaring and dangerous. Someone who would drive the office four wheel drive on business trips to rugged bits of the country. candle to the Landcruiser or Explorer for comfort, ride or aerodynamic such an impractical and unwieldy beast, it’s assumed, cares nothing for the Better still, buy some bikes and hire a car when you need one. I wonder if styling. But I’ll tell you one thing. At least people in the region got jobs amount of petroleum they consume, or the impact on other drivers and fewer Aidwagons wouldn’t make this city a better place to live. t 28 NOVEMBER - 4 DECEMBER 2003 NATION NEPALI TIMES #172 5

US Peace Corps/Nepal Vacancy Announcement

Peace Corps/Nepal invites applications from interested and qualified candidates for the position of Registered Nurse to work in the Peace Corps Medical Unit in Kathmandu under a Personal Service Contract.

Qualifications: Graduate Registered Nurse or BS in Nursing - degree obtained from the U.S., U.K., Canadian or Australian academic institution would be preferred. Qualified candidates will hold a current, active, valid license to practice at the level of her/his education, training and ratings game credential. Experience: Minimum 5 years nursing work experience and previous experience as a Peace Corps Medical Officer is strongly preferred.

Major Responsibilities: To provide health care to American Peace Corps Volunteers serving in Nepal. Duties include diagnosis, treatment and management of common illnesses and injuries, triage and appropriate referral of Volunteers with health problems, the provision of health Vijay Pandey says the low Joydeb Chakravarty of Thomson Palash Bhattacharya of AC education classes and on-going health education to the Volunteers, basic psychological ratings of his Dishanirdesh in a Nepal says businesses would Nielsen has started subscriber- counseling and emotional support and participation as a member of the Peace Corps staff and media survey was unfair. benefit from reliable ratings. based monthly media polls. management of the Volunteer Health Care Delivery System in Nepal including the maintenance of medical supplies and equipment inventory. Extensive travel throughout Nepal to conduct sites assessments of Volunteer living and work sites is necessary. Occasionally, international to us that some components of the about media survey when you are financing a poll and will also be travel is required. To provide on call coverage during holidays and weekends, approximately survey may have misrepresented raw actually doing a survey on cigarette responsible to a diverse range of clients data gathered during a certain period smoking?” Bhattacharya asks. In most for the same results,” says Thomson’s every third week or when scheduled. Detailed job description available at the Peace Corps (the last two months of 2002 and in parts of the world, media surveys are Chakravarty. Reception desk. January this year) that gave distorted conducted under the norms of Equally important is the results. international protocols like the Audit methodology involved. TV viewership Salary, benefits and length of contract: Parttime or Fulltime position available. “Media surveys at times when Bureau of Circulation, Media depends on variables that cannot be there are so many players are critical Readership Survey, Television ignored and if a study is to be credible Candidates must submit a completed application for employment available from the Peace Corps because everyone claims to be Audience Measurement or IMRB they must be taken into account. For Reception Desk at the address listed below between 8:00 am. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through number one and advertising agencies International. Nepal has none of these. instance, the peak viewership during Friday. Applications should reach Peace Corps by Monday, December 29, 2003. Candidates must need to properly direct their clients The Press Council does bring out World Cup Football cannot compare also submit clear photocopies of license and degree or diploma. Applicants are required to to the right media outlet,” explains ratings for newspapers and with normal audience numbers. quote their minimum expected salary. No telephone inquiries will be entertained. Only those Joydeb Chakravarty, director at publications every year, but its “That was exactly what had selected for interview will be contacted. Thomson Nepal. evaluations on circulation and quality happened regarding our survey on But accuracy demands bigger have gaps. “You can’t really compare Dishanirdesh,” admitted AC Peace Corps encourages applicants from minorities and disadvantaged groups sample size and the bigger the survey, the national dailies published in Nielsen’s Mani Raj Dahal. “The the more expensive it is. Sometimes, Kathmandu with periodicals program was off-air when we had Director sponsors of particular surveys published outside and keep them in our survey.” Peace Corps Nepal influence what goes in or stays out of a the same category,” says Kulchandra Nielsen has now launched poll, especially if it includes a product Wagle, former president of Nepal monthly media surveys in urban P.O. Box 613 range manufactured by a sponsor. Press Union. centres. The results for September Kunja Niwas (Behind Ministry of Foreign Affairs) With the increase in the number Ever since the monopoly of state- have already been delivered to clients, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal of media outlets in Nepal, the run media ended after 1990, private four of which are big business houses frequency of media-related surveys has media have hired pollsters to and major advertisers. Each client pays gone up and there are high stakes in conducted media surveys. Some say Rs 150,000 to subscribe to the entire showing impressive ratings and this opens up conflict of interest issues survey result. The price is less for circulation. So far, they have been and the possibility of such surveys different segments of the media. conducted by different private being manipulated by sponsors. “That Advertising agencies and organisations with differing is why the source of funding of such marketing agencies who have seen the approaches, or tied to other consumer surveys must be made open,” Vijay results of the ORG Marg monthly surveys. “Most of the time, they have Kumar Pandey maintains. media polls say the discrepancies seen been tagged along other surveys,” says There is a remedy: selling the in one-off polls appear to have been Chakravarty. survey to corporate subscribers. “If ironed out and the results are now And that is not accepted as a there are subscribers to such surveys, more consistent with other surveys. t healthy practice. “How can you talk the surveyor will not have a problem NAVIN SINGH KHADKA

DOMESTIC BRIEFS Since the breakdown of peace talks in August, there

has been a rise in extrajudicial killings, torture and ○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ arbitrary detentions. “A large number of people have ForWomen the first time, in the armsRoyal Nepali Army has begun been held incommunicado in army barracks. Officers recruiting women for non-technical posts. It will recruit at army barracks have been refusing to accept 100 women in the office of the military police, as habeas corpus notices issued by the Nepal Supreme office runners, computer operators, drivers and band Court on behalf of detainees,” said a press statement musicians. “Even if they are being recruited in these by International Commission of Jurists. posts for now, they can be used in the fighting force in the future,” a senior official at the army headquarters NEW PRODUCTS told us. The officer said females would not be sent to the frontlines right now because of the lack of OUR CHEVY: The all- appropriate infrastructure. “Once they are ready, we American carmaker, Chevrolet will deploy them even in the field.” is coming to the Himalaya with the Optra, the first in the lineup introduced by Vijaya

Motors. The Optra from GM India aims to be the ○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ smart choice in a mainstream market. InSharing May this year, life Kodak and Photo Concern pledged to set aside Rs 2 for Nepal Cancer Relief Society from PASHMINA SEASON: every roll of film developed and printed at each of None of the run-of-the- the 29 Kodak outlets around the kingdom. Last week mill fare at the Weaves & they handed over Rs 500,000 to top off an earlier Blends showroom in instalment of Rs 200,000. Nepal Cancer Relief Bhaktapur. The Society helps cancer patients who cannot afford manufacturers and expensive medical care. exporters of high quality cashmere and cashmere blend products that includes

accessories, home, knitwear and outerwear takes ○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ traditional handwork craftmanship and gives it NepalMonitors Human Rights at Commission work (NHRC) has contemporary elan. Each new seasonal collection is received support from international rights groups to exhibited at the best trade shows in Paris, Italy and initiate independent human rights monitoring of the the US. conflict. But despite constant alerts, the government has ignored its call to establish five regional MIG ATTACK: The washing soap market has a new monitoring units in cooperation with the United contender. MIG is Rs 9 for a 200g cake and manufac- Nations. turers Megha Soap and Chemical Instead, the government has proposed a parallel Industry say it removes dirt and stains human rights cell in the prime minister’s office. It is at supersonic speed. Plus, the lemon known that the army is not happy with the NHRC’s scent leaves clothes smelling fresh findings on the Doramba and Mudhbara incidents. and your hands feeling soft. 28 NOVEMBER - 4 DECEMBER 2003 6 NATION NEPALI TIMES #172 ALL PICS: RABI DHAMI AND RAJENDRA NATH

“There is a faminewould they go?” in our villages right now.” from ð p1 From l-r: By early morning, Paru Bhandari is on the trail with her goat At the entry point into Achham from Doti in Chaukhutte, Maoists train, heading back to her village in Bajura. Nearly all the 342 schools in the districts has been shut due to check all visitors, questioning them to see if they are military spies. This Chaukhutte on the Doti-Achham border where the Maoists have set Maoist threats to close schools in Bheri and Karnali Zones. Some is where the Maoists looted grain from businessmen just before Dasai, up a food blockade. 45,000 students in Achham alone are staying home, teachers have fled and since then they have imposed a blockade on food and other items This primary school in Duni in Achham is among 342 school in because the Maoists just raised the revolutionary tax to 15 percent of passing through. The Maoist sentries say this is to stop rations from Achham that have been closed down. their meagre salaries. The village teachers while away their time in reaching security personnel up the valley and in the district Mangalsen. “All the teachers do is sign the attendance register and sit headquarters. “It is our strategic move,” says Shyam, who is a Maoist have impacted food security north in Bajura and Mugu as well. in the sun,” says Basudeb Timisilna, district education officer. posted in Chaukhutte. “It will drive the army and police away.” People have no choice but to walk for weeks to reach Chaukhutte in CDO Surya B Shrestha has come up with a solution to re-open As is usual in these matters, the security forces have just started Doti. With almost all the men gone, women make the journey taking schools, but there are no takers. “We are thinking of sending mobile flying in food and it is the local inhabitants who suffer. The price of herds of mountain goats and sheep to carry home supplies. We run into army patrols so schools can open,” he says. But locals fear that this will basic foodstuffs is now beyond their reach, the people just don’t have Paru Bhandari along the trail who has left her children in Bajura and only provoke the Maoists, and there could be a repeat of the the money. Jit Bahadur Shahi of Rahaf VDC has seen enough, he is off has come down to see if she can find some food. “There is a famine Mudhbara firefight on 17 October in which classrooms became a to India to find work. “Helicopters fly food for the soldiers and in our villages right now,” she tells us. It has been three years since battleground. government officials everyday, but we can’t afford to buy food. I’m Nepal Food Corporation stopped supplying grain in the area to The only schools that are open are in the district headquarters leaving,” Shahi says. There are many more like Shahi along this trail. cover the deficit. where there is a security presence. These are bursting at the seams Achham and other mid-western districts were food deficit areas even Chhat Bahadur Shahi has come from Mugu and he says shops because they have enrolled new students who have fled their villages. at the best of times, with farmers never able to grow enough to feed along the trail don’t even have matchboxes. He has walked 11 days to Public Campus, Sodsa Devi in Mangalsen, Mahendra in Bayalpata, themselves for more than six months a year. They have always migrated arrive in Chaukhutte with 13 other villagers to buy food and basic Tripura in Shri Kot are overflowing with students. “I have no to India seasonally from here, but this time the migrations are more needs. It will take him another two weeks to walk back. He says: choice but to admit as many students as possible,” says Prem permanent. The Maoist blockade and the army’s restriction on food “Sometimes, by the time we reach home, we have nothing left from Kunwar, principal of Tripura Sundari High School. “Where else transport has lead to famine-like conditions. Blockades here in Achham what we bought. Things have never been this bad.” t 28 NOVEMBER - 4 DECEMBER 2003 ECONOMY NEPALI TIMES #172 7 INTERVIEW STRICTLY BUSINESS by ASHUTOSH TIWARI “Overall, the situation isiting Dharan in eastern Nepal last week, what was most is not so gloomy.” noticeable were clean, wide and Whycemented drivewaysare roads and iron gates bad or in Sanepa and good in Dharan? black-topped roads that led to the Nepal offices of various foreign aid Dharan’sresidential areas dotted with lavishly- agencies. With many wealthy Nepalisecret builtV houses of ex-British Army and enlightened foreign residents soldiers and their families. Locals said around, you would think that they most of the roads had been constructed would have demanded better road within the last three years—with a part conditions. Surprisingly, that does not of the money contributed by appear to be the case. Though I use the enlightened residents who have Sanepa road as an example, its

insisted on keeping the level of conditions mirror those that exist in DHARANONLINE.COM maintenance high. Indeed, spending many areas of Kathmandu. So, what is the whole day driving around the Dharan’s secret? What does it have greater Dharan area to see places of that Sanepa doesn’t? historical interests was a sheer pleasure, For answers, it helps to look at worthy enough to be captured for a car three public institutions and see how commercial. they do business with one another for haphazardly added to this system to spend money on routine maintenance. But the good times seldom last. the public good. One is the Sewerage collect sewage as well. But as the Dharan seems to have found a way

MIN BAJRACHARYA I had to return to Kathmandu to Corporation, which also issues tap number of houses increased with out of this sort of a spiralling mess. attend meetings at my head office in water. Municipalities make up the permits issued by municipalities to Led by citizens who demand better Qatar Airways began flying to Nepal in 1995. Sanepa, where the road, at least in second group, while the Road generate easy revenue, that system came public services, Dharan has learnt not Since then, it has projected itself as one of the the last three years, has deteriorated Department is the third party. Their under a tremendous strain. only the fine art of how to mobilise most convenient connections to the Middle East to the point that only all-terrain dysfunctional relationships—made And one result has been that local resources to partially pay for an and Europe. The carrier has increased its share vehicles can ply on them. Parts of it, all the worse by an apathetic civil during rainy season, water collected in effective delivery of public services. It in fact, have been completely washed society that is weak in its demand for drainage pipes floods streets and, over has also learnt how to achieve better co- of the market and has just added more flights on away, with nary a maintenance crew better public services—is the cause time, washes away parts of it. As of ordination among those who design its Doha and Kuala Lumpur links. Nepali Times in sight since last monsoon. for bad roads. today, neither the Sewerage the drainage, make the road and black- spoke to Qatar’s area manager, Gyan This discomfort is all the more Historically, Kathmandu’s Corporation nor the municipalities top the streets so that citizens can take Amerasinghe, about future plans. odd for this reason: on both sides of drainage system along the residential have bothered to set up a maintenance pride in their streets. Can Kathmandu Nepali Times: Why did Qatar Airways recently increase flights to the road stand either a row of multi- areas was designed to collect storm division. Frustrated by this, the Road not learn from Kathmandu despite the tourism slump? million-rupee private houses with water. In time, larger pipes were Department sees little incentive to Dharan? t Gyan Amerasinghe: Yes, we have gone up to 15 flights a week—11 to Doha and four to Kuala Lumpur. I find it difficult to believe that Nepal has lost a lot of tourists. All our flights are coming in full and so are others like Gulf Air. Even Thai has upgraded Kathmandu flights to Boeing 777s so I really don’t think the overall picture is so gloomy.

Admittedly, this season is looking better, but compared to three years ago, it has declined. We base our assessments on customers coming in from Europe like UK, Germany, Italy and France. We’ve seen a huge demand from that sector, which prompted us to increase flights into Kathmandu. It all comes down to inbound traffic.

So can we infer that Qatar is holding its own in the international market? We are doing very well, actually Qatar is one of the fastest growing airlines in the world and certainly the fastest growing in the Middle-east.

Does Qatar have a target clientele? The majority of our business comes from the labour market. For instance, we started with two flights in April to Kuala Lumpur, now we have gone up to four flights. That demand is actually from the Nepali labourers working in Malaysia. Similarly for west-bound traffic. But of course there’s a mix of transnational labour, business and students. The majority of Kathmandu’s clientele comes from the labour market. Qatar hopes the situation of the country changes and there will be more business travel.

Both Qatar Airways and Royal Nepal started the Kuala Lumpur flights together and now you compete. How did you manage to pull this off, considering governments usually gives national flag carriers preference? Traffic rights are discussed between the two governments and we received traffic rights allowing us to operate to three points out of Kathmandu. We chose Kuala Lumpur, Brunei and we also have another option. In return, Royal Nepal can operate out of Doha to any destination in the world. Normally, flights that come in have time schedules changed and new ones introduced. We decided on with the summer schedule and so did Royal Nepal. We were in the planning process and we decided at that point to operate our flights in April. It was a coincidence.

If Royal Nepal Airlines were to be privatised, would Qatar be interested in a stake? Not really.

What of future growth in the aviation sector? At the moment flights are full because there are enough seats for those coming in. Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has to find new markets and encourage others to see Nepal as a profitable destination. If the market stagnates, new airlines won’t fly here. So, if you want Singapore Airlines to return, NTB has to promote Nepal in the Far East because a new Chinese market is coming up. Other things can be done even at the airport. Most of the airlines pay a lot of money for ground handling so I think services at that end can be increased.

And what about Qatar’s presence here? As it is, I think 15 flights a week is a very big operation and as far as operations go, Kathmandu is one of the biggest stations in the entire network. Qatar is involved with NTB, but we want to work with them more, especially in Kuala Lumpur. We’re taking local tour operators to Malaysia for promotions and doing the same for Nepal, opening a new segment. At the moment, we have traffic going from here to Kuala Lumpur but not the other way around. We see figures going up with each flight. We were a bit worried when the ceasefire broke off, but by that time we had already decided to increase. The management decided we’d go ahead, which really worked. Once we commit to a certain market we can’t pull out, so our efforts to promote Nepal, even in Europe, are quite high. 8 CINEMA

TheThe filmdomfilmdom ofof ○○○○○○ VIPLOB○○○○○○○○○○ PRATIK hen Nepali films started being made in the 1960s, the state tried to use the medium of movies to support WNepali nationhood, unity and to bolster government programs. The job of the Panchayat government’s Ministry of Information’s was to popularise and strengthen the partyless polity and making Nepali films was conceived as one of the most effective ways to do it. So at the request of King Mahendra, Bollywood filmmaker Hira Singh Khatri came to Nepal and started work with the Department of Publicity Film Division and, for the first time, Nepalis saw a film made in their own country, Aama. “It was a great thrill to see a film with a Nepali story, Nepali actors and in our own language for the first time,” recalls actor Gautam Ratna Tuladhar. Nepalis craved for more films, but production was slow. It took the ministry and director Khatri another three years to produce a second film. Then came Paribartan, based on a drama by Janardhan MIN BAJRACHARYA Sama to popularise the Back to Village Campaign. Finally, it The Lux Film Awards on Saturday may be just the affirmation Kollywood was with the production of Maiti Ghar that the development needs to show that it is in a new phase of creativity and originality. of Kollywood began. putting out more than 20 films were recorded in Nepal. Companies 3 million, not even breaking even But it has been a long, hard annually and Nepali filmmakers like Prime and Cinematrix that saw with the Rs 3.2 million invested struggle. It took almost another 15 were making history. Those who potential in processing, dubbing in the film. years to attract investment from the went into debt no longer worried and editing made huge investments The financial side of the private sector to make Juni, because films now guaranteed a that paid off. industry might frustrate Shah, but produced by Sujata Films return on their investment. Filmmakers like Tulsi Ghimire, he is hopeful about a bright future and directed by Jharendra Cinema became not only a Shambu Pradhan and Kishor Rana, for Kollywood. “Our film directors Shamsher Rana. breadwinner but also a platform for who concentrated on Bollywood, and producers have become more The government’s Royal Nepal recognition and fame. There was a turned their eyes homewards and quality conscious and that is a Film Corporation made movies at time when actors worked for a made Kathmandu their work base. positive symptom,” he says. an average of one every three years. month and were jobless the rest of The Royal Nepal Film Corporation Producers can no longer afford Yet they played to capacity crowds. the year. They were now so busy was privatised into the Nepal Film to act hastily and put out just any It was only in the mid-80s that that they had difficulties giving Development Corporation and by film. They should evolve from the Nepali filmmakers like Tulsi dates for new projects. Even 2000, 32 films were being produced stereotypical subjects of ill-fated Ghimire, Shambhu Pradhan and before one film was finished, every year. In 2001, that figure love, macho heroes duelling evil Uddhab Paudyal finally started the they signed another. was 52. villains, erotic ‘item’ dances and Kollywood trend. Ashok Sharma Kollywood made great strides Despite eight years of violence, stale comedy routines. There is also moved from acting to technically, too. Filmmakers no killings and terror, film production room for growth and the audience producing and directing. One of longer had to go to India for has not ebbed. In fact, the number is tired of the same old themes. the leading directors of today, recording, editing, processing and of films is growing. It seems “There is strong need to give a new Yadab Kharel, also entered the final production. Production escapism has its own market direction to Nepali cinema. We can scene along with stalwarts like gradually started taking the shape momentum. There are, however, no longer identify with a hero dying Prakash Thapa, BS Thapa, Laxmi of an industry and also provided challenges in expanding to the of tuberculosis and there is little Nath Sharma and Prem Basnet. opportunities and created more international audience. While films use of a director who looks at life in By 1999 Kollywood was jobs. Better studios meant songs like Prem Pinda and Caravan such a unimaginative manner,” earned a reputation outside Nepal, explains Dipak Neupane, an avid very few films meet international Kollywood fan. standards. “I couldn’t afford it Veteran actor Rabi Giri anymore. Our government’s fiscal believes people and social policies have to change,” says Neer perspectives change according to Shah, who believes that the time and should be reflected in the government’s anti-economic movies. “If in one scene, there is a concept is a huge obstacle in the boy who dumps his girl after sex, way of high budget quality films. the next scene will have her trying And then, owners of movie theatres to commit suicide by throwing that are not certified deluxe are not herself in the river or hanging allowed to decide ticket prices. herself. Should we be teaching “How can you get returns by today’s generation that the loss of selling tickets for just Rs 28?” asks virginity is the loss of dignity? Shah. When his film was shown at Should we be telling them that the the old Jai Nepal cinema, he was only answer is to end one’s life? not allowed to increase the price of Can’t a girl go ahead with her life the ticket. “There are people after that?” he asks. It is necessary willing to pay more for a quality to abandon the four-decade-old product,” adds Shah. His revenues conservative mentality of script from ticket sales came to around Rs writers, directors and producers if 28 NOVEMBER - 4 DECEMBER 2003 NEPALI TIMES #172 9 ff NepalNepal Actor in a leading role 1 Hari Bansha Acharya – Je Bho Ramrai Bho 2 Rajesh Hamal – Muktidaata 3 Shree Krishna Shrestha – Eh Mero Hajur 4 Shiva Shrestha – Mamaghar 5 Bhuwan KC – Babusaheb

Actress in a leading role 1 Gauri Malla – Sanyas 2 Bipana Thapa – Mitini 3 Niruta Singh – Lahana 4 Karishma Manandhar – Babusaheb 5 Jal Shah - Buhari

Actor in a supporting role 1 Dilip Rayamajhi – Mamaghar 2 Sushil Chetri – Dhan Sampati 3 Harihar Sharma – Babusaheb 4 Santosh Pant – Mitini 5 Madan Krishna Shrestha – Sukha Dukha

Actress in a supporting role 1 Rekha Thapa – Mitini 2 Gauri Malla – Mamaghar 3 Sushila Rayamajhi – Eh Mero Hajur 4 Melina Manandhar – Ke bho Lau na ni 5 Mithila Sharma – Sukha Dukha

Music director of the year 1 Maya Namara – Suresh Adhikari 2 Sukha Dukha – Shambhujit Baskota 3 Lahana – Sachin Singh 4 Biswaas – Shambhujit Baskota 5 Grahan – Shakti Ballav

Playback singer of the year 1 Dhadkinchau – Udit Narayan Jha (Lahana) Nepali films are to bloom. 2 Dhadkinchau – Sanjeevani (Lahana) It’s not as if Kollywood has 3 Timi lai bhani – Ram Krishna Dhakal (Je bho Ramrai Bho) never displayed originality and 4 Chitko Saree – Sharmila Bardewa innovation: just look at the work of (Aankha Lobi Man Papi) directors Chiring Ritar, Navin 5 Samjhanale – Sunidhi Chauhan (Ziddi) Subba and Ravi Baral. It is possible for Nepali cinema to take on a new Actor/actress in a comic role lustre with a new breed of bright 1 Deepak Raj Giri – Biswaas and talented actors, technicians and 2 Narayan Tripathi – Maya Namara 3 Jeetu Nepal – Pooja producers. Today’s filmmakers are 4 Hari Bansha Acharya – Je Bho Ramrai Bho already more critical of their 5 Nitesh Raj Pant – Bhannai Sakina products than in the past. Recognising mistakes and Actor/actress in a negative role identifying room for improvement 1 Basundhara Bhusal – Afnopan are the first steps to creating a 2 Sunil Thapa – Kranti 3 Mukunda Shrestha – Santaan ko Maya better film. Efforts at breaking the 4 Jimmi Gurung – Muktidaata mould, putting out a film worthy of 5 Sushil Pokhrel – Sukha Dukha the Nepali audience, should be recognised and applauded. Director of the year The first ever Lux Film Awards 1 Shiva Regmi – Sukha Dukha 2060 is just the kind of affirmation 2 Deepak Shrestha – Afnopan and support that Kollywood needs. 3 Kishore Rana – Santaan ko Maya 4 Narayan Puri – Mamaghar It accords a kind of respect and 5 Ramesh Budhathoki – Babusaheb sense of dignity that originates from the audience to all the artistes who Picture of the year make Kollywood what it is. “This 1 Sukha Dukha kind of event is a real inspiration to 2 Afnopan us all,” says actress Jal Shah. On 3 Babusaheb 4 Buhari Saturday, 29 November, when the 5 Mamaghar crème-de-la-crème of Kollywood walk the red carpet to the awards, Screenplay of the year our stars will have the chance to 1 Suraj Subba – Buhari shine just a little bit brighter in 2 Om Pratik – Babusaheb the future. 3 Haribansha Acharya – t Je Bho Ramrai Bho 4 Abhinash Shrestha – Biswaas Viplob Pratik is a poet and film critic. 5 Shiva Regmi – Eh Mero Hajur 28 NOVEMBER - 4 DECEMBER 2003 10 WORLD NEPALI TIMES #172

in WASHINGTON

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ JIM○○○○○○ LOBE fter extensive deal making, Congress is set to provide $2.4 billion for global anti-AIDS initiatives in But it comes with strings attached. 2004, $400 million more than was requested by PresidentUS George W Bush. Theaid money, part of a $17.1 for AIDS billion foreign aid package that is being folded into a nearly $400A billion fiscal year (FY) 2004 spending bill, also includes $550 million for the Global Fund to Fight HIV/ AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria—$350 million more than Bush asked for. Anti-AIDS activists say they are encouraged by the increases, although they also stressed the totals still fell far short of what is needed to combat the epidemic which, according to estimates from UNAIDS released Monday, will have taken three million lives in 2003, nearly 80 percent of them in sub-Saharan Africa. “This is a clear indication that the Republicans in Congress have broken with the president’s policy,” said Paul Zeitz, executive director of the Global AIDS Alliance. to three other countries: Egypt, Jordan and Colombia. The foreign-aid package also includes one billion dollars Nearly one billion dollars is to be spent on international to set up the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), a anti-drug operations. About $731 million of that total will be controversial initiative announced by Bush some 18 months devoted to fighting drug trafficking in the Andes. ago that would increase aid to poor countries that pursue For development assistance, the package includes economic and governance policies favoured by the $1.8 billion for child survival and health initiatives ($516.5 administration. The MCA is controversial primarily because million of which are wrapped into the global AIDS section), most of the world’s poorest countries cannot satisfy the $185 million for other infectious diseases, $330 million for basic criteria for eligibility and because it sets up a new maternal and child health and $375 million for bilateral bureaucracy apart from the Agency for International family planning programs. A total of $1.4 billion is Development (USAID), which has built up expertise in allocated to other kinds of bilateral development aid, poverty-reduction programs. including education initiatives, but some of that money will The total appropriations bill, which covers everything also go to the MCA. from highway projects to food labelling, comes to $373 In addition, $913 million will go to the soft-loan facility billion and must still be approved by both houses of of the World Bank, the International Development Congress, either when they return from Thanksgiving Association and $95 million to the restructuring of bilateral recess 8 December or, if that proves impossible, after the debt held by poor recipients. Slightly more than $1 billion Christmas vacation in January. While the overall bill’s fate will be allocated for international disaster, migration and still remains uncertain due to complaints from Democrats refugee assistance, while $321 million are assigned and some Republicans about specific provisions, virtually to international organisations, with the United Nations all of the concerns involve domestic programs; the deal Children’s Fund (UNICEF) getting the largest struck over the foreign aid package is likely to survive share—$120 million. whenever the bill is finally passed. The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) is supposed to The $17.1 billion for aid represents a six percent receive $34 million, the same amount that Congress increase over spending for FY 2003, which actually ended appropriated for it in FY 2002 but was withheld by the 30 September. But the total comes to less than the $20 Bush administration on the grounds that UNFPA’s support billion in reconstruction and other aid for Iraq and for China’s population program violated a 20-year-old law Afghanistan that was approved by Congress in an that bans aid to any organisation that supports or emergency appropriation earlier this month and to less than participates in coercive abortions or sterilisations. The four percent of the $460 billion Congress has approved for administration’s position on UNFPA represented a novel next year’s Pentagon budget. and controversial interpretation of the so-called Kemp- Of the $17.1 billion, moreover, $3 billion are earmarked Kasten amendment. Previous administrations, including for Israel, whose per capita income far exceeds the vast Republican ones, merely subtracted the aid spent by majority of developing countries. Another $3 billion will go UNFPA in China from its total annual contribution. t (IPS) 28 NOVEMBER - 4 DECEMBER 2003 ASIA NEPALI TIMES #172 11 OPINION by SATYABRATA RAI CHOWDHURI The world’s largest functioning anarchy ecently, India’s Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said that despite the outward appearance of health, Indian democracy appears to have become hollow, with elections reduced to a farce and the “party system eroded due to unethical practices.” According to Vajpayee, “The outer shell of democracy is, If what India has is democracy, no doubt, intact, but appears to be moth-eaten from inside.” Indeed, in the then○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ it is not delivering. Rpreface to a recent collection of his speeches, Vajpayee wondered whether provinces, cultural and religious pluralism, harmony between rural and democracy had truly taken root in India. urban areas and an efficient, honest state administration at both the national This is a strange turn, for parliamentary democracy has long been a source of and local level. pride for most Indians. They have always been able to boast of the vitality of their Instead, race and caste remain as potent as ever. Wealth is as grossly parliamentary system. Nowadays, such boasts are heard far less frequently. distributed as ever. Corruption rules many state governments and national Not only are India’s economic failures more obvious, so too, are the failures ministries. Urban and rural areas subvert each other. But parliaments demand a of its political system. Unprincipled politics, cults of violence, communal rage minimal national consensus if they are to function, for they are creatures of and macabre killings of religious minorities have all combined to shake people’s compromise in decision-making. Executive governments, on the other hand, are faith in the political system’s viability. Small wonder, then, that people are life, but increasingly finds expression in sectarian and religious conflict. Of creatures of decision: a popularly elected president is ultimately responsible to his starting to ask whether India needs an alternative system of government. course, politicians incite many of these conflicts, using caste, sect and religion— voters, not to his party colleagues. Part of the problem lies in India’s deracinated party politics. Rather than not political ideas—to build voter loyalty. But apathy about democracy is what The very election by national suffrage of an executive provides the type of ushering in an era of recognisable multiparty politics, Indian democracy still lacks makes so many ordinary Indians prey to poisonous appeals. minimal consensus that India’s faction-riven parliaments have, sadly, never been a party system worthy of the name. One reason for this is that there are barely any This susceptibility is the clearest sign that India’s experiment with the able to cultivate. A president will undoubtedly need to compromise with his national parties. Instead, India is saddled with highly volatile leader-based Westminster model of parliamentary democracy has failed to justify the hopes that legislature, but the general consent that is gained by popular election implies at groups. Lacking coherent principles or an overriding prevailed fifty years ago when the constitution was proclaimed. Back then, least some broader agreement behind the platform that he or she campaigned on. ideology, these groups fragment when their parliament was seen as a means to bridge the divides of caste, religion and region. Of course, no magic bullet will do away with the forces that divide India. But leadership changes or splits, as the Congress did. Parliament’s increasing irrelevance in sorting out these problems—indeed, its role at least some of the maladies of the current parliamentary system, such as Where parties are weak, there can be no party in exacerbating them—is fueling a growing preference among Indians for a defection, party factionalism, inherent political instability and crippling coalition discipline. The prizes conferred on opportunistic presidential system of government that removes executive functions from the politics can be minimised, if not eliminated, by adopting an executive-dominant defectors not only undermine the party system, but oversight of an institution that has been addled and rendered impotent by model of presidential democracy. In adopting such a system, Indians would have weaken the foundations of parliament by making undisciplined factions. nothing to lose but the corruption and chaos of today’s discredited parliament. t organised opposition impossible. Sadly, Indian society never really embraced the consensual values that India’s (© Project Syndicate) Public apathy bordering on fatalism is the Constitution proclaims: a participatory, decentralised democracy, an egalitarian inevitable result. This is dangerous because apathy society with minimal social and economic disparities, a secularised polity, the Satyabrata Rai Chowdhuri is a Research Coordinator at the Stockholm

does not take the form of withdrawal from public supremacy of the rule of law, a federal structure ensuring partial autonomy to International Peace Institute. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ TOKYOShrinking – Cuts and aaid heavy pie focus on Iraq’s reconstruction in Japan’s aid budget, also the country’s most important diplomatic tool, is a clear signal of a strategy that puts national interests over poverty eradication, say analysts here. Japan plans to reduce its official development assistance budget for fiscal year 2004, which starts in April, by 5.8 percent from the previous year, according to the foreign ministry. This would be the fifth year reflecting a consecutive decline in overseas assistance. Japan’s aid budget was almost $9 billion in the last fiscal year. A key component of the upcoming aid budget is a hefty grant program for war-torn Iraq, $1.5 billion for 2004, pledged by the Japanese government in Madrid in October. The package represents by far the biggest offer from international donors. The European Union pledged $260 million, a step that critics here say indicate pressure on Japan to support its closest ally, the United States. This focus on security and affiliation with controversial US foreign policy also means lesser attention on more development- oriented aid, which would have been more in keeping with changes in

aid policy before the 11 September attacks. (IPS) ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ WASHINGTONJapanese – Northstand Korea’s acquisition of nuclear weapons and its admission last year that it had abducted scores of Japanese citizens over the past two decades has driven even cautious Japanese diplomats to take positions further to the right of the Bush administration. At a recent Washington seminar on Korea, Naoyuki Agawa, the minister for public affairs and director of the Japan Information and Culture Centre at the Embassy of Japan, publicly endorsed the concept of ‘‘regime change’’ in North Korea as ‘‘ultimately the solution’’ for the nuclear crisis on the Korean peninsula. This comes just before a December conference between the US, South Korea, China, Russia and Japan, all of whom want Pyongyang to stop making weapons, and North Korea, which is seeking guarantees of security and economic aid in exchange for any promise to disarm. Meanwhile, the Bush administration is split between a hard-line faction centred at the Pentagon, which prefers a regime change and a more pragmatic faction at the State Department, which sees no choice but to negotiate. US President George W Bush, in a recent visit to Asia, made

it clear that he supports the latter course. (IPS) ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ DHAKAReaping – Streams famine of people are heading for Sylhet, Moulavibazar, Comilla and Chittagong in search of work because of a looming famine in northern Bangladesh. There was no winter paddy crop and for an estimated seven million people, the seasonal lack of food has turned into near-famine conditions. Newspaper reports have said that at least 24 people died of diseases brought on by starvation conditions during September and October. Yet Abdullah al Noman, the minister for food in Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s government, has claimed that the ‘monga’—the local term for the acute shortage of food at this time of year—was ‘‘not grim’’ in the northern districts and that no one has died of starvation. However, despite al Noman calling the situation ‘‘not grim’’, the government has launched emergency relief operations in those very districts. Unfortunately, the relief distribution effort has overlooked some of the worst-affected areas. A Parliamentary Standing Committee has stated that the situation has been made even more grave than it was because of the government’s failure to control crime syndicates which collect money from trucks carrying food supplies to the stricken districts. (IPS) 28 NOVEMBER - 4 DECEMBER 2003 12 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS SELECTED MATERIAL TRANSLATED EVERY WEEK FROM THE NEPALI PRESS NEPALI TIMES #172

Nepal. It has also resorted to that the common people ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ propaganda that Nepal has become posed no threat to the central SpaceKarnali’s Time, 26 November plight a playground of the United States, administration secretariat, the China and Pakistan. It was the ministers want the ban to continue. There is no government in any of same country that beat us to “Why allow people to enter?” is the five districts of Karnali zone. declaring the Maoists as terrorists. what Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Besides the army and security And ever since then, they have Thapa, Information Minister Kamal forces, other government agencies harped on about solving the Thapa and other ministers allegedly are nowhere to be seen in Humla, Maoist problem through dialogue. asked security officials. “If we allow Students in crossfire Jumla, Kalikot, Mugu or Dolpa. These contradictions indicate that the general public in, there will be “The lack of government units has India does not want stability in more disturbances.” The official made it easy for the Maoists to Nepal, making Nepalis increasingly said the concerned agency tried to increase their activities and suspicious about true Indian assure the cabinet that they were terrorise the locals,” says UML’s intentions. capable of maintaining security in Dilli Bahadur Mahat, who just the Singha Darbar complex.

returned from a tour of Karnali. ○○○○○○○○○

All the police chiefs, CDOs and ○○○○○○○

Drishti,Risktakers 25 November – ○○○○○ security personnel leave their ○○○○○○○○○○○ offices and take refuge at the army 1 December RajdhaniLemp’s, 27 November stand barracks before dusk. “The CDO and police chief stay at the RUKUM– Bhagirath Khatri wanted DADELDHURA barracks all night and return to his son to have a better education – German their office only in the morning,” so he sent him to Khalanga, the Ambassador says Mahat. district headquarters so his son Rüdiger Lemp Maoists have destroyed all the could study in a safer environment. was on his way suspension bridges at Kalikot, The Maoists considered that a to Dhami to see Humla and Mugu. The crime. They detained and tortured the progress of Nepal Samacharpatra, 24 November government, meanwhile, has him for days before forcing him German-funded stopped supplies of medicines, into hard labour on their farm. development As if the clashes between security forces and Maoist rebels were not enough, the indefinite education food and other necessities from Now he also has to work as their called by a Maoist student wing in 12 mid-western districts of Nepal has affected 400,000 students. projects when district headquarters for fear of porter. The Maoists have local Maoists stopped his car. The Pre-SLC exams are also affected. The strike is called by All Nepal National Free Students Union Maoist looting. “Famine is threatened to kill him if he does (Revolutionary) who have demanded the release of their leaders who, they claim, were abducted by the Maoists talked to him for a while gradually spreading in the villages,” not bring his son back soon. In security forces. and told him that they were Helpless in this tug of war between the rebels and the government, many says UML member Chandra Pipal village at Rukum, locals are political activists and requested him students have already left for the tarai and other urban areas. Guardians and parents who have not been Bahadur Shahi from Mugu. The no longer free to do anything to not to label them terrorists. In able to send their children to safer areas are concerned about their educational future. Caught between rebels have disrupted road without the permission of the reply, Lemp told them not to gun-totting rebels and the helplessness of the security forces, students and their parents have every maintenance in Jumla-Surkhet, Maoist commanders. They need a destroy the country’s infrastructure reason to feel hopeless about the future. What worsens their fear is the kind of bombing that took place in Hilsa-Simikot and have also closed written permission letter from the and to stop the killing and violence. the district education office in Banke last Sunday. Other Maoist-declared protest programs like hoisting down schools. When the UML Maoists to visit Khalanga and He also told them not to obstruct black flags in educational institutions, conducting ‘people’s action’, closing group met local Maoists and return to the village. On the other rural development projects. schools, organising shutdown strikes in transport and industrial sectors are yet to come. reminded them of the Maoist hand, they need gate passes from People in the mid-western region these days are sure only about their insecurity: “Only god knows leaders’ commitment not to attack security forces to enter the district

what will happen next,” they say. As a result of a flare-up in the violence, schools in Surkhet district have infrastructure, they got this reply: headquarters. Families who don’t ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ already closed. The shutdown strike in educational institutions may serve the interests of the organisers “We are not taking any orders support the rebels are forced to RajdhaniDouble, 26 November jeopardy but they are grossly indifferent to the future of the students. When strikes affect thousands of students, from anywhere, we will do leave and abandon their property. the organisers not only fail to attain their goals but they will lose what support they had. whatever we like in our area.” They end up displaced and Tilak Sapkota of Kubinde at This is not the first time students are being used for the vested interests of a political party. In the homeless at district headquarters. Sindhupalchok has been victimised past, almost all parties resorted to this mean to meet their objectives. They must stop this selfishness. Maoist flags now flutter above both by the state and Maoists. Two They must understand that meddling with students’ present means snatching away their future. This also ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ village houses that have been years ago, he lost his shop to a robs the nation of its future. DhrubaForeign Hari Adhikary hand in commandeered for Maoist offices. Maoist arson attack after being These are the same parties that never tire of raising slogans about nationalism and the people’s Nepal Samacharpatra, Most locals now prefer to send welfare. When it comes to action, they do just the opposite. This hypocrisy must end. accused of being pro-government. 25 November their children away and face the Now the army has arrested him for Maoist wrath. Almost half the being a rebel informer. For the last Normally, a big country would like youth have left for Dang or Indian 36 days Sapkota, whose health has to see a stable environment in its cities to study or work. deteriorated, has been detained at smaller neighbours because peace the barracks. “We are preyed on

in the neighbourhood allows it to from all sides. What is our crime?” ○○○○○○○○○ focus on economic and No○○○○○○○ entry asks his son Rajendra. The only development activities. India Rajdhani, 26 November mistake Sapkota made was appears to be doing just the receiving a phone call from a local opposite in Nepal. A good month after the Maoist leader. His father has been It has pitted Nepali political government decided to ban citizens targeted despite most of his forces one against the other, from entering Singha Darbar, the relatives being in the army or provided safe refuge to an armed members of the cabinet are in no police. His daughter’s father-in-law rebel group and has indirectly mood to reverse the decision. Even is a major in the army, but even instigated the killing campaign in after security officials assured them that didn’t help Sapkota. EASY TIMES It’s never been easier to subscribe to Nepali Times Just dial this number and leave your address. 5543333

RiseGet ready and for a brand new shine day with BBC World Today. Every morning on 102.4 FM from 5:45-6:15 AM First house : Nepali Congress Daily 2045-2115 BBC g]kfnL ;]jf Second house: RPP Seat: PM Drishti, 25 November –1 December Daily 2245-2300 BBC g]kfnL ;]jf QUOTE OF THE WEEK Radio Sagarmatha P.O. Box 6958, Bakhundole, Lalitpur, Nepal Tel: ++977-1-545680, 545681, “Is Surya Bahadur Thapa a partyless prime minister?” Fax: ++ 977-1- 530227 E-mail: [email protected], – Pashupati SJB Rana in BBC Nepali, 24 November on FM 102.4 www.radiosagarmatha.org /]l8of] ;u/dfyf 28 NOVEMBER - 4 DECEMBER 2003 HISTORY AND CULTURE NEPALI TIMES #172 13

e descended three or of ration. There was no shelter past. Everything including mugs, four miles down the even for the troops. Those who towels and plates were all new. Indian border when we died there were buried in shallow We were given a full mug of tea WsawBack the road leading to onholes and coveredthe with sal leaves. Burmaeach. A song blared from the front Manipur. We could see a The smell was unbearable and we loudspeakers and each of us was caravan of human beings and feared the possibility of a cholera given a packet of biscuits that was , 1944. mules below. A group of British epidemic. eaten with relish. TIME soldiers were on the march with As the troops arrived, people We spent about 15 days their belongings laden on the fled, leaving behind cows, there. Since no tents were animals. When we finally arrived buffaloes and goats. It’s likely provided for, we had to sleep in Manipur we had to beg for that our forerunners had done under the sal tree. All of a sudden food as the government had some looting. Quite a few of the we were shifted from Nagpur to made no arrangements for troops, on the pretext of killing Hoshiyarpur in Punjab where we rations. We somehow managed stags, killed buffaloes for meat. were posted for three years. to procure food from one place The buffalo meat caused Survivors from the Burma war Japanese planes were a menace, or the other in the village. Some dysentery. We went down to came in waves of sometimes 15, the paradropping had to be done BURMA: DOUBLE GAMBLE MAP FROM did not wait for the rice to cook Dimapur in groups and then after once 100. From 12 battalions we on the sly. and ate it raw. This led to that to Nagpur. There we finally were barely enough to raise two. I Once we broke through the another problem: diarrhoea. I, felt a regimental atmosphere. We have no idea how many people lines, we started marauding the A month and a half after for one, escaped it. were provided with government perished in the Burma front. Japanese. Yet in a sense we Man Bahadur Rai (right) and the A gate had been put up at scale rations. They provided us From the Gurkhas alone, my refrained ourselves from killing. the 105-mile post where high- one uniform jacket, clothes, estimate comes to the equivalent We cleared the jungle of those rest of the retreating Gurkhas left ranking officers such as colonels books and so on. There was a of 10 battalions. hiding inside and finally reached and captains conducted small stream and since we were After another three-year Burma. We cleared Burma of all Burma they reach Nagpur in India. verifications. As soldiers poured issued soap we decided to bathe training we were once again sent these infiltrators and then They are delighted with fresh in, they checked identification before we wore our new uniforms. to Burma. En route we came to retreated. Clean sweeping of the cards to make sure no one with Afterwards, there was a layer of know that the Japanese had taken Japanese would not have rations, new uniforms and their false papers came inside. They lice in the water because after our prisoner 1,400 of our troops. materalised. A significant thing first bath since they began their let in those who had genuine ID departure from Burma we had no Meanwhile, the Americans had happened in the meantime. King cards and threw out those who chance to bathe or wash our broken through and some of our Hirohito of Japan, in view of the march. Rai estimates that nearly did not have them, even though clothes. It had taken a month- old comrades were among those destruction caused by the 10 Gurkha battalions have been they were army personnel. and-a-half to get here. who escaped. When they came dropping of atomic bombs at All sorts of people came There were approximately out they were beyond recognition Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and in wiped out. His story is part of there: Gurkhas, Indians and 1,000 troops at Nagpur at the even though some of them were in order to check further killing, Lahurey ko Katha, a collection of scores of others. In Burma, time of our arrival. The number the same company as us in the broadcast their surrender. We there were Bahun, Chhetri, Rai was only 375 as we approached past. Food, including meat, was heard about it later. We also memoirs based on oral and Limbu villages and so the gate but once we got in, the taken from Dumdum airport in heard that the top ranking testimonies of 13 retired Gurkha women and children were also personnel from other units were Calcutta and air dropped to the Japanese officers including in the camp, although they were also taken in and our numbers troops. Some of it was intact but generals and colonels had soldiers, translated from Nepali by put aside. On arrival, everyone swelled. All the hardships we had others were damaged when the committed suicide. (Concluding Dev Bahadur Thapa. was given two meagre handfuls undergone became a matter of the packages broke during landing. chapter next fortnight.)

BOOK REVIEW by MARK TURIN

ust a few years ago, there was a time about a sequel. human life. The presentation is cogent when uttering the word ‘Maoist’ at a Chapter One contains a short set of and the analysis carefully-worded, with

gathering of Kathmandu’s English- sobering anecdotes about individual lives UnderEverything you wanted tosiege know such thoughtful asides as: “In a country speaking elite would raise concerned affected by the insurgency and Chapter where illiteracy, lack of proper health ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ eyebrows and usher in a moment of Seven addresses the state of play during about○○○○○○○ Nepal’s Maoist insurgency. So far. services and poverty are rampant, there is awkwardJ silence. For many residents of the the second ceasefire, and offers some a strong debate about whether weapons urban centre, this period was marked by concluding thoughts. In between, a long may contribute to the unfortunate will necessarily provide the country with fear of the unknown and second chapter takes the reader on a tour misconception that rural villagers are security” (page 148). incomprehension of the insurgency that of the history of modern Nepal, from the ignorant of radical ideology and less than The lack of polemic which was sweeping rural Nepal. The formation of the nation-state in 1768-69 full political agents. characterises Thapa’s journalistic style is accomplished journalist and editor Deepak to the first indications of Maoist Chapter Four addresses the growth of genuinely refreshing and deserves special Thapa, together with a handful of notable insurrection in western Nepal in 1996. the Maoist movement since 1996. Thapa mention. The book’s greatest shortfall is others, can be credited with changing that. While the history is solid and deals in turn with the government’s the regrettable lack of analysis, an absence In 2003, continuing to fill what was undoubtedly of utility to readers wanting initial chaotic response, the little-known which is all the more noticeable since, fast becoming a niche market, Thapa a potted account in under 40 pages, at but fascinating Dhami report, Kilo Sierra when the author does engage critically edited a collection of writings (most of times it plods along with an over-reliance Two and the political and military actions with the subject matter, his insights are which had been previously published) of on dates, names and facts that are not of the police, Maoists and army. The always sharp and pertinent. The wide-ranging perspectives on the Maoist immediately relevant. The overview is following chapter, Two Momentous conclusion is a case in point: while no one insurrection, aptly titled Understanding useful, however, and well referenced to Years of 2001 and 2002, includes the could disagree with the suggestion that the Maoist Movement of Nepal. The a set of primary texts and resources in Palace Massacre of June 2001, the the only way to bring about a lasting present book, A Kingdom Under Siege, the end notes for those interested in emergence of “overground” Maoists and peace is to build a state that is equally was published during the second ceasefire further reading. the hope for peace negotiations. The attentive to the interests of Nepal’s diverse in the eight-year old conflict (in the first The next chapter, Understanding the authors have chosen to box salient events, population groups, readers will have to half of 2003), and is Thapa’s latest Causes of the ‘People’s War’, is by far the such as the Dang and Salleri attacks wait for Thapa’s next instalment for a contribution to the growing body of strongest in the book and makes for development industry, noting as it does (Box 9, page 122) and the Arghakhanchi compelling vision of how to get there. t literature which surveys the state of the engaging reading. Thapa is at his best that poverty outpaces growth and rout of September 2002 (Box 10, page movement and its historical origins. In this when providing prudent commentary on lamenting the “economic dualism” 130). The effect is convincing and allows A Kingdom Under Siege: volume, with input from Bandita Sijapati, facts rather than presenting only facts (page 60) of the urban-rural split in readers to pause momentarily on a single Nepal’s Maoist Insurgency, 1996 to 2003 Thapa describes the Nepali state’s neglect themselves, and he starts in the right vein Nepal. While Thapa’s critique is hard- incident and reflect on its significance. Deepak Thapa with Bandita Sijapati of many of its citizens, the instabilities of by noting that most of the Maoist hitting and addresses the feelings of Chapter Six assesses the cost of the The Printhouse, Kathmandu the polity and the rise of radical left demands are “reasonable and not marginalisation and frustration among conflict to date, in both human and pp xv + 234, Rs 350 politics in the mid-western region of dissimilar in spirit to the election Nepal’s half-educated rural youth, his economic terms. The data are grave: Nepal, which quickly emerged as the manifestos of mainstream parties” suggestion that “much of the Maoist profound contractions of GDP during ISBN 99933 59 07 6 Maoist heartland. Given all that has (page 53). This chapter may also be read appeal lies not in the resonance of Marxist the last years of the conflict, massive Mark Turin is Director of the Digital Himalaya transpired since the most recent talks as a damning indictment on central theory among poor and often illiterate insurance claims, widespread destruction Project based jointly at the University of collapsed, Thapa may well be thinking government planning and the villagers” (page 64) is questionable and of infrastructure and a terrible loss of Cambridge and at Cornell University. 28 NOVEMBER - 4 DECEMBER 2003 14 CITY NEPALI TIMES #172 ABOUT TOWN BOOKWORM

FESTIVALS AND EXHIBITIONS Nepal: Political Parties and Parliament Lok Raj Baral (ed) v Traditions in Transition: Jewellery making in the Kathmandu Valley designed by Eric Wiele and Indigo Adroit Publishers, 2003 Galleries exhibition and sale of Antique textiles from Laos, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and furniture Rs 400 from the hills of Nepal and more. 11AM onwards, 29 November at Indigo Gallery, Naxal. The universally accepted symbiotic relationship between parties and parliament in the old (British) model Living Culture by Krishna Gopal Ranjit till 30 November at Gallery Nine, Lazimpat. Daily except v does not address the overarching problems of a country like Nepal, advances the contributors to this Monday, 11AM-6PM. Sofa so good Paintings by Kripa Joshi at Dhokaima Café at Patan Dhoka. 5543017 volume. They expound that the contextualisation of multiparty democracy has thus become the new v agenda of today’s social scientists and politicians. v Offerings, Generosity & Devotion in Daily Life Impressionist Photography by Sandy Shum, v Himalayan Mandala Photographs by Paula Wenzl and Joseph Bellacera till 10 December at Siddhartha Courtesy: Mandala Book Point, Kantipath, 4227711, [email protected] Art Gallery, Baber Mahal Revisited. 4218048 Grab your tissues, Karan Johar is back with all his legion. His mission is to make Kal EVENTS Ho Naa Ho the biggest tearjerker of 2003. Directed by Nikhil Advani, scripted and v The God’s Dance of Kathmandu Valley 7PM on Tuesdays. Tea+Ticket: Rs 400 at Hotel Vajra. Cine-Club: Canon le barbare 30 November. 2PM at Auditorium Molière at Alliance Française, Thapathali. produced by Karan Johar, the film has music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and lyrics by v Javed Akhtar. The script trudges the tried and tested path of yesteryear’s hit Anand, 4241163 but with the contemporary look. Set in a New York neighbourhood, Kal Ho Naa Ho v Lux Film Awards on 29 November at BICC, Kathmandu. NTV live telecast 4.45 PM. takes a look at the life of the Kapurs, a half-Punjabi, half-Catholic family. Naina v Project Peace in the Streets of Thamel Music, dancing, food and drinks 2-10PM on 29 November, Thamel. Catherine Kapur (Priety Zinta) shoulders the responsibility of her family which Open to all. includes her mother Jennifer Kapur (Jaya Bachchan) and great grandmother. v Summit Hotel’s Xmas Night Market. Followed by Summit’s Famous Friday BBQ. 12 December 3-9PM. Enter Aman Mathur (Shah Rukh Khan), an incorrigible optimist even in the face of Free entry. 5521810 his ailment, who decides to make a few changes in Naina’s life. To accomplish this v Wild Earth Holiday Open House handcrafted herbal products, unique and precious gifts, 4.30 PM task, he ropes in his friend Dr Rohit (Saif Ali Khan). Weighing heavily on its Slideshow: ‘Returning Benefit Back to Source: The impact of Tibetan medicine’s growing popularity on emotional quotient, Kal Ho Naa Ho is guaranteed to get your popcorn soggy. medicinal plants & women of the Himalayas’. 6PM Slideshow: ‘A Return to the Elemental: A Sensual History of Spas’. 2-7PM Sunday, Shivagiri, Tangal. 4436040, 4438883. Call 4442220 for bookings. JAI NEPAL CINEMA www.jainepal.com v AWON Annual Xmas Bazar for great shopping, wonderful food. Tickets: Rs 50. 10AM–4PM, 6 December 11.45 AM, 3.15 PM, 6.30 PM at Hyatt Regency Kathmandu. 4438830, 4425069

MUSIC v Lucky Ali Live in Kathmandu also featuring Deepak Bajracharya 2PM on 6 December at Dasharath CLASSIFIED Rangasala Ticket: Rs 200. 6PM on 7 December at Hyatt Regency Kathmandu. Ticket: Rs 2,999 per person Visit Ground Zero Fine wines, designer candles, cards, quiet bungalow in Lazimpat. Share kitchen and large lounge. (dinner and drinks). Tickets available at Gemini Grocery, Hot Breads, Alina’s Bakery Café, Suwal Music gifts, stationery, wooden items, perfumes and more. Darbar Perhaps suitable for visiting professional or volunteer. Tel and Station Pub. Marg, opposite Hotel de l’Annapurna 4428549 v Abhaya & The Steam Injuns every Friday at Fusion, Dwarika’s. 4479488 Visit Femilines, the Exclusive Lingerie Store for ladies Get 10 % exclusive discount on the normal subscription rate undergarments, nightwear, bathrobes and more. Ladies of Himalmedia’s publication namely; Himal Khabarpatrika, staff. Opposite Sajha Yatayat, Harihar Bhawan, Pulchowk. Nepali Times and Wave magazine. Only at the Grihini DRINK v Festival of tropical black rum drinks and great steaks at K-too! Beer & Steakhouse, Thamel. 4433043 Tel: 547428 Department Store limited, Cosmic Cocktails and chic home furnishings at Mitra Lounge Bar and Mausam homestyle boutique. Baluwatar, Phone: 4415186 v To Let: Rabibhawan area two storey house 4 bedrooms 2 Above Cafe Mitra, Thamel. 4259015 bathrooms large kitchen dining living terrace lobby and To Let: Flat in Jawalakhel Opp. Mahila Kendra.2 bedrooms,2 porch and telephone. Contact: Roshani 4275180 baths, living-dining, terrace with wooden floors. Contact: FOODBring your wine along every Thursday and Sunday and buy our dinner. Himalatte Café, Thamel. 5524389 v LIVE IN STYLE! Arcadia Apartments in the heart of v Sunday Brunch at Dhokaima Café, Patan Dhoka, 11AM to 3PM. 5543017 Thamel. Centrally located, fully furnished apartments at Wanted : Nepali pilot, interested person should have v Momos & More the finest momos in town now at Dhobighat. 5520692 unbelievable rates. For details: 981026903, 4260187 experience for ultra light aircraft with Rotax 582 engine. v Bhaktapur Night BBQ dinner in the Shambala Garden every Friday. Rs 600 per person Apply with cv, photo and contact address within 7 days to (welcome drink and dinner). 4412999 Renting made easy: www.2letonline.com- Looking for a Avia Club Nepal Pvt. Ltd., P.O. Box 13680. v Roadhouse Café for speciality coffees. Opp St Mary’s School, Pulchowk. 5521755 place to stay- Log on to find the perfect house, apartment v Authentic Chinese food at Tian Rui Chinese Restaurant, Thapathali. 4243078 or even a retail space that meets all your needs. Make an For Rent: One Bed Sitting Room completely furnished with easy 1000 bucks by reporting a vacant property to us. Find hot water and attached Bathroom. Everything New. Suitable v Traditional Nepali Thali lunch at Patan Museum Café inside Patan Museum. 11AM-2.30 PM. Cocktails and snacks 2-7.30 PM. 5526271 out how- www.21etonline.com for single person but two people is possible and Free Laundry provided. Contact Ram at Chabahill, Kapaen Tel: v Saturday BBQ Lunch at Club Himalaya Nagarkot. Rs 500 per person. 468008 To Let: Pleasant room (with private, ensuite bathroom) in a 2071019. v Traditional Newari Thali at Kathmandu Guest House, Thamel. 4431632 v Weekend Ban Bhoj at the Godavari Village Resort. Reservation recommended. 5560675. For insertions ring NT Marketing at 5543333-36. v Homestyle cooking by Japanese chef at Dan Ran Japanese Restaurant, Jawalakhel. 5521027 v Vegetarian specialities at Stupa View Restaurant & Terrace, Boudha Stupa. 4480262

GETAWAYS v Microlight flying adventures with the Avia Club, Pokhara. v Shivapuri Heights Cottage 30 minutes from Kathmandu, at the edge of the Shivapuri Reserve. Email: [email protected] v Weekend Special for Rs 3,000 per couple, Park Village Resort, Budhanilkantha. 4375280 v TGIF overnight package at Dwarika’s Hotel. 4479488 v Shivapuri Cottage, Dadagaon. Nature, peace and luxury. 4354331 Email: [email protected] v Magnificent mountains and deluxe tents at Adventure Tented Camp & Country Kitchen. 4418992 Email: [email protected] v Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge, escape from Kathmandu to relax with very special offers. 01-4361500 v Escape to Godavari Special holiday package on half board for the entire family at Godavari Village Resort. 5560675

KATHMANDU AIR QUALITY Just take a look at what you are breathing. Air quality in Kathmandu continues to deteriorate mainly due to temperature inversion that keeps the pollutants trapped on the valley floor. Once again last week, the PM10 (particles that are small enough to enter the human body) levels in urban areas such as Putali Sadak, Patan Hospital and Thamel were higher than previous weeks and above the national standard of 120 91.2 micrograms per cubic meter throughout the week. Even in Bhaktapur Durbar Square, What you burn is where there are no vehicles, the average PM10 was higher than the 100 micrograms per cubic meter. what you breathe. Average PM10 levels at selected points in Kathmandu 16-25 November in micrograms per cubic meter. Good < 60 Source: www. mope.gov.np Ok 61 to 120 Unhealthy 121 to 350 Harmful 351 to 425

Hazardous >425 Patan H Thamel TU Bhaktapur Matsyagaun Putalisadak

NEPALI WEATHER by MAUSAM BEED VIS -27-11-2003 04:00 GMT November is the driest month in the valley with average precipitation for Kathmandu at 8mm. This year it is even drier: there has been no rain at all the whole month. This satellite picture taken on Thursday morning shows nothing in the offing. The frontal system that is bringing rain over Afghanistan, when it arrives here over the weekend, will have little moisture left. A huge high pressure area stretches over central and northern India and this will ensure more sunny days with cooler nights. Minimum temperatures will plummet further by one degree Celsius. KATHMANDU VALLEY Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue

22-07 22-07 23-06 22-06 22-05 28 NOVEMBER - 4 DECEMBER 2003 NEPALI TIMES #172 15 EATING MY WORDS by BHATMARA BHAI NEPALI SOCIETY Ludmilla’s orld traveller Ludmilla Tuting haslebensmittelpunkte two 12 books about Nepal, including Bikas Binas, which long, long list. Mostly of offal. Not quite literally nose to tail, but not centres in her life: Berlin and Kathmandu. looked at eco-tourism and the links between sustain- Your favourite fortnightly food fadist far from the truth. You have to like She gropes for an English word to describe able development and the environment in 1984— this state, gives up and says: “These are my long before it was fashionable to do so. Thetakes a walk onoffal the Newari wild side.truthoffal if you go to Harati, because lebensmittelpunkte.” How Kathmandu came to be one Her biggest inspiration was the founder of the there is little else on offer. ofW the two middle points of Ludmilla’s life was a Indian Chipko Movement, Sundarlal Bahuguna, Offal is not simple to cook. simple encounter on a lonely road near Bhairawa in whom she met in 1982 during his Trans-Himalayan Brains, lung and marrow are delicate 1972. She had just crossed march. “Whatever I am now, my and complex. Finnicky preparation over from India and her bus commitment to humanity, destroys their qualities and Harati had a flat tyre. ecology or human rights and plays to their strengths. Their “We had to wait an hour the need for humility, every- preparation of most offal dishes is besides the yellow mustard thing I learnt from the people very simple. The fried bone marrow, fields and below a deep blue in the Himalayan region, stuffed lungs and tongue were sky while they fixed the wheel, mainly Nepal,” says Ludmilla. particularly nice. Some of the other and I talked to some women As a freelance writer, who were carrying water in brass Ludmilla today advises ‘bits’ were, to my mind, tough: their pots on their heads,” Ludmilla travellers on real conditions in a texture definitely an acquired taste. recalls. “I can’t remember what world plagued with terrorism and It is best to abandon concessions they said, but it seemed to me violence through the Tourism MIN BAJRACHARYA to any idea of health when coming so friendly, so peaceful and so Watch website (www.tourism- here. Many of the dishes are greasy. unaggressive. I was smitten by watch.de). She tries to give a MIN BAJRACHARYA But is ‘greasy’ necessarily bad? If a this land.” more nuanced picture of Nepal eal Newars don’t eat quiche. like these restaurants, but genuine full English breakfast or a plate of She was 27 then, and the than alarmist and discouraging They eat lungs. And stomach article they don’t offer. Wunjala steaming pork on sauerkraut (or young environmentalist and information provided by foreign lining. And brains. And a lot Moskova, next to the Police anything from Holland, nation-of- writer was travelling the world to learn about the embassies. “People need to be informed about the of other animal body parts that I headquarters, my favourite, gets deep-fried-food) brings a smile to planet and its peoples. After the chaos and the places they are travelling to and have a realistic R overcrowded cities of India, Nepal was a haven. assessment of the dangers,” she says. “In Nepal, for couldn’t place. This week, in an three Bhatmara stars. The cultural your tongue, you should not Thamel had only two hotels and some small example, it is important to make a distinction between eternal quest for culinary truth, show is unobtrusive and hesitate to try authentic Newari restaurants. The road to the airport in Baneswor was maobadis and khaobadis, and like everywhere else Bhatmara Bhai went for a walk on entertaining (Nikes fare. The link to health and food is still rice terraces, the air was clean and the mountains you have to be careful. The news you get in Europe the Newari wild side. notwithstanding). The food and naught but an unpleasant fad, after were clear. or on the Internet sound more frightening than it For the tourist, Newari cuisine service are excellent and good all. And a few beers or a Khukuri “For all of us when we crossed from India, Nepal actually is.” comes in elaborate and vastly over- value. The ambience is superb. Rum or six will transport you to a was such a big difference,” she observes. Ludmilla is just back from a study tour of Dolakha priced packages, often with a heavy So where do the Newari roots better place, a time when “Unfortunately, with the insurgency, pollution and and she is happy to see, despite Maoist activity and dose of “folkloric” dance. A range of of this touristy razzmatazz hide? personkind’s primordial love affair corruption the difference is getting less and less.” ‘donation’ drives, there are quite a few trekkers on the cultural experiences is on offer: Bhatmara sniffed out a small piece with the flavour-carrying quality of Ludmilla, a supporter of the German Green Party, Rolwaling trail. And it is up there in the mountains of some dances include a heavy pinch of the roots at Harati, a popular fat was a matter for celebration. started spending half the year in Kathmandu and half Nepal that she suddenly realises how happy she is: “I of the Old Baneswor Dance bhatti discreetly tucked away in A few vegetarian dishes are also the year in Germany. She went on to write more than envy myself everyday for the life I have.” t Restaurant School, others are Naya Bazar, off the north end of available at Harati and they are reasonably authentic. Some are just Thamel. At Harati, the simple, unpretentious and pleasing. bizarre. Let’s take, for example, the arrangement between owner and Most impressively, the restaurant young chap who careers around customer is simple. People, mostly offers seasonal dishes. Bhatmara restaurants in a very convincing men, come here to eat, drink and approves. Big time. ornate peacock costume. Very argue. The owner provides chairs Harati is in some ways a temple convincing, until your eyes meet the and tables. And there ends the for joyful celebration of one rich white Nikes poking out the bottom decor. There are no dances on sampling of Nepal’s cultural of the costume. offer, no peacock with fashion diversity. Many of the tastes and I digress. This is a food column. issues here. Food is what the textures are very unfamiliar to the Much of the food served at upper crowds come here for, and food is outsider, but do yourself a favour, end Newari restaurants is of a high what they get. try it. You only live once. Food standard and is rather yummy. But There is no English menu, so is life. t while the offerings are Newari in you are going to have to drag along origin, they have been heavily a Nepali chum. The menu is, Bhatmara Bhai now has email: shangrilised for the tourist palate. I however, an astoundingly long, [email protected] 28 NOVEMBER - 4 DECEMBER 2003 16 NEPALI TIMES #172

Under byMy Kunda Hat Dixit

or the first time in recent history, the 3. What kind of world records do Nepalis hold? number of unique online visitors to the l Climbing Mt Everest 12 times. official His Majesty’s Non-Government of l Fastest ascent of Mt Everest by a human being. Nepal website (www.hmg.non-gov.np) has Oh FAQ!l The person who has become prime minister most exceeded the actual number of hardcopy visitors number of times in world history. to Nepal. It is a matter of pride and an indicator F l The highest per capita producer of instant of the rapid strides we have taken in information noodles on the planet. technology that more foreign investors made virtual visits to the kingdom than physical ones 4. What is the most common form of greeting in the last fiscal year. in Nepal? However, since no website is complete l “Khanu bho?” Translation: Have you partaken of without a click for Frequently Asked Questions your kickback for today? (FAQs), our homepage also needs a one-stop window containing answers to everything 5. What are some basic customs I should potential investors want to know about Nepal know about Nepal before deciding to invest but are afraid to ask because they think they are there? stupid questions. So as a service to venture l Do as Nepalis do: never offer anything with your capitalists we present a list of the most stupid left hand. frequently asked questions with our equally l If it is under the table, taking with either hand is asinine answers: OK. l Take your shoes off when you enter a house. 1. Where is Nepal? l If you notice that the occupants have stopped Good question. We’re just trying to figure breathing, take your socks off as well. that out ourselves. In a philosophical sense l Always pay at least five times what locals pay for you could say that we don’t know where all forms of transport within Nepal. we are at the present time, and which way l Nepalis are naturally friendly, so don’t make we are headed. Anyone who finds Nepal, them unnaturally unfriendly by refusing to pay please return it to its rightful owners. the compulsory Rs 15,000 revolutionary tax in Taplejung. 2. What is Nepal known for? l Despite his outward appearance, the Great For the birthplace of Lord Buddha. Asiatic One-horned Rhinoceros is a shy and thin- For the in-laws of Lord Ram. skinned animal, always ask for his permission For lapsi, timur and gundruk. before taking a photograph. For the world’s highest mountain. l Public display of affection is considered offensive, For the world’s deepest gorge. so refrain from holding hands in public unless For the world’s fastest clock. you are of the same sex. For the world’s tallest dwarf. l Nepalis have a great sense of humour, in case you For the world’s most trustworthy crooks. hadn’t noticed.

CDO Regd No. 194/056/57 Lalitpur, Central Region Postal Regd. No. 04/058/59