#99 21 - 27 June 2002 16 pages Rs 20 Sagarmatha National Park turns 25

page 15 8-9 as an indecisive primeminister who has been sitting on ten ambassado- rial appointments, hurriedly decided to dissolve parliament within two hours on 22 May. “Don’t ask me who is pulling Deuba’s strings,” the You ain’t seen nothingminister yet. told us. The answer may lie place, we have a constitutional in the joke that was being whispered crisis which King Gyanendra will CWC member Narahari Acharya at the Birendra Convention have to unravel. tried to patch-up till the last Centre this week: Q: “What is the Suddenly, Deuba is not as moment on Tuesday. He told us: name of Deuba’s faction?” A: strong as he once seemed, and he “Deuba shouldn’t have taken the “Royal Nepali Congress.” appears to have banked a bit too legal path, it will make it more One man hasn’t spoken up yet: much on the support of the difficult for him once this is over.” patriarch KP Bhatarai. Can he still international community. Of the There too still too many “ifs”. pull a rabbit out elected 18 Central Working What if the Election Commission of his hat? Committee (CWC) members, freezes thedisputed party symbol Deuba has been able to take only and flag? What if it reaches a six. He thought mediators Ram decision only after the deadline for Chandra Poudel and Mahesh registering a new party has passed? Acharya were on his side, but got aWhen will the Supreme Court BP Koirala is rude shock when they defected. finish hearing four different Till this week, state media was lawsuits, with 36 lawyers arguing remembered, but still giving glowing accounts of and only four-hour session daily? the prime minister’s party takeover. What intrigues one ex- minister is how Deuba, known It may take monthswouldn’t for the have approved. PICS:MIN BAJRACHARYA Supreme Court and the Election BINOD BHATTARAI The party is not yet over for Deuba. ○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○ Commission to decide on how the f you thought the split in the 53-year-old party’s spoils should Nepali Congress would end be divided. Till that happens, Iinstability and focus the minds everything else will be on hold. of politicians to restoring peace First, the Election Commis- and governance, think again. sion has to decide which is the Expect even uglier scenes as legitimate Nepali Congress: two Congresses grapple for the pickingbetween Koirala’s legally party’s four-star flag, its powerful elected party body and Deuba’s symbol (tree), and the party hurriedly cobbled together team. name. What is surprising is that The EC will probably decide to the climax of this epic battle reinstate the Girija Congress, appears to be completely removed leaving Deuba with no party with from the country’s present crisis. which to contest elections. The There is a disconnect. This makes deadline to register a new party the Deuba-Koirala feud even ends on 10 July. more surrealistic. The Maoists How could things have got so themselves are quiet, and don’t nasty? A brief recap: seem to see the point in over- throwing a government that is busy overthrowing itself. May 1999: Nepali Congress wins a majority in Parliament. KP Bhattarai is prime minister and EXCLUSIVE brings in sidekicks. Koirala immedi- Strings attached ately begins needling him. A five-member Nepali team that March 2000: Koirala engineers includes the prime minister’s wife,Bhattarai’s exit and installs himself Arzu Rana, is in London this weekas prime minister. KP gets Deuba to ask donors for over $1 billionto in challenge Koirala. , and is development, rehabilitation and military aid. It is not a pledgingdefeated. conference, but aid agencies want January 2001: Deuba tries to hear that the government is serious. Donors say they are again, is defeated and is drubbed convinced Nepal needs aid, andby Koirala again at the Pokhara are willing to give the money, butConvention. have doubts about governance. They are waiting for signs like the June 2001: royal massacre, a trimming down of the 37-membernew Maoist offensive. cabinet, launching a serious anti- corruption drive and legal action July 2001: Koirala resigns after against top high-profile bank failing to get Army to retaliate defaulters. These are tough against Maoists in Holleri. demands on a partyless govern- ment facing elections, but it August 2001: Deuba gets really doesn’t have a choice. Maoists to agree to truce and talks. November 2001: Maoists break truce, attack Army in Ghorahi. 22 May 2002: Party brass orders Deuba not to extend the emer- gency, who retaliates immediately by getting the king to dissolve Weekly Internet Poll # 39 parliament and call for elections. Q. Should King Gyanendra be more Party expels Deuba for three years. assertive to restore political stability? 16 June: Deuba convenes “party convention”, re-writes rules, expels Koirala as president and installs himself as head of rump Congress. And that’s where Nepal now stands with elections for 13 November, though few believe it will be full, free and fair. The Total votes: 1780 Maoists have been strategising and Weekly Internet Poll # 40. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.comhave sent signals they don’t want Q. How do you rate Sher Bahadur Deuba’s performance in the current political crisis? elections. And if the polls can’t take 222 EDITORIAL 28 JUNE - 4 JULY NEPALI2002 TIMES NATION 28 JUNE - 4 JULY NEPALI2002 TIMES 333 Nepali Times is published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Chief Editor:Kunda Dixit Editor:Anagha Neelakantan STATE OF THE STATE by CK LAL OPINION by RAM SHARAN MAHAT Design:Kiran Maharjan [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: 01-543333-7, Fax: 01-521013 then many Dhobis from our village have set Printed at Jagadamba Press: 01-521393 Home among Muslims up shops at Jaleshwar and Janakpur. On Cheques and balances The communalism virus from across the borderSaturdays, is they poisoning sip bottled soft drinks the at thetarai. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ neighbourhood shop while the others○○○○○ toil at IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, BREAK GLASS go anywhere near his kitchen. This commentthe Dhobi Pokhari. There is no alternative to the rule of law. Only a functioning parliament can check exposes the ugly intolerance beneath the SUGA (Mahottari District) During my childhood, we never potential abuse of authority during the emergency period. n the current politically charged atmosphere, one reality is self-evident: — When the surface of this seemingly tolerant society. If almost no one is playing by the rules. Internal party rules are beingdestination bent by is home, even a short journey is thought that we were any different from our this or that faction, underground Maoists operate as outlaws, even constitu- you are Muslim, don’t refuse the offer of anJolaha or Dhobi neighbours, except the fact I far too long. The day trip from Kathmandu outrageously priced plate of meat at any tional provisions are being challenged. to Jaleshwar is indeed long in time and that the better off among us wore more Mugling eatery—you run the risk of being expensive clothes. Village festivals were In this legal limbo of the state of emergency, there are actually veryspace: few it takes more than eight hours in a taunted that halal meat is tasteless. The fate rules. And those that exist pertain to what you can’t do, rather thanrun-down what you bus that rocks and rolls through almost all common. I remember going of the dalits is bad enough, but the lot of around the village with the Tazia procession can. Most rights of individual citizens are on hold. This is when the truthnine of Nepal’s 75 districts. Nepali Muslims is even worse, as Dr becomes subversive to those who have a lot to hide. Yet, it needn’t be. every year shouting Monsoon Nepal rushes past the window:Krishna Bhattachan rightly observed at a War strategists have long held that information—believable and crediblein Naubise farmers dressed in colourful recent meeting. Even their existence is information—is a weapon to win the battle for public opinion. There clothesis a whole are planting paddy, in Bharatpur it increasingly being questioned. subject they teach at war schools on information warfare. Propaganda, they is already harvest time for another variety of It wasn’t always so. Nepal’s Muslim tell you, is effective only when it doesn’t sound like propaganda. rice, in Dhanusha farmers in drab dhotis are The biggest asset of the government in this time of emergency is its near- population is not very large, just under a busy irrigating their fields to transplant rice.million, but up from 650,000 ten years ago. monopoly on information. However, it is very easy to make this monopoly Our buses were ramshackle, but it is still a There is controversy about the accuracy of “Ha Hussain” to mark futile—by a self-perpetuating perception that official information is notbeautiful plausi- country out there. the martyrdom of the grandson of the Holy ble. It is not incredible, therefore, that news today lacks credibility. You’d have census figures, but the fact remains that the thought that our info-mandarins would have learnt from the mistakes ofThe the first stop after the bus leaves number of Muslims is a very small percent-Prophet. Once I had to fake a Hindu name past, but no such luck. Going by the coverage of the current party-governmentKathmandu is usually Dharke. The teashop age of over 23 million Nepalis. They are for my Muslim friend to enable him get the feud, the official media is behaving like the mouthpiece of the party-in-power.owner there assures some bahun-type across the tarai, but can even be found in tasty prasad from a Hindu temple in And then there is the Defence Ministry’s daily faxed statements topassengers the that the food at his eatery is some hill districts like Kathmandu Janakapur. But in our house, Muslims were media. Most of its contents are probably “pure” as he doesn’t allow “Mussalamans” toand Kaski. always welcome for what they were. true, but they lack the presentation that In Suga, we know our Mussalmans more The difference of religion rose with the lends them credence. It is not what is said, by their castes than their religion. On the Emergency in India, and its effects spilled but how it is said—either the sterile daily western fringes of the village, the cluster of over to the our side of the border. It was in listing of war dead and captured material, houses belongs to Jolahas—the weavers. this period that the Muslims came to be by one year during extraordinary circum- or television pictures of piles of decom- looked down upon by the powerful people posed corpses so gruesome that the Machine-made cotton put them out of stances like these. Clearly, the constitution footage shocks even the battle-hardened. business long ago, and our generation of on both sides of the border and the rules out elections under an emergency difference between two communities started The result is that a sceptical public, Jolahas never got a chance to run the loom. apart at the last moment because neither situation. The only body to monitor and They made a living share-cropping, but to surface. My participation in Tazia side was willing to give in. I still have not check on the abuse of authority during an conditioned by 30 years of unfreedom, processions came to an end with the ritual focuses on what is not said rather than on these days it is the remittances from West lost hope of a party unification, although emergency period is the parliament. It is my what is said. Asia, Gujarat and Punjab that sustains mostsacrifice of a rooster and the presentations of now itwill be more difficult and time- hope and belief that the court will order the a ceremonial turban to a long dead Sufi. There could be nothing more wasteful families. A pucca mosque has replaced the The government’s finances are in a very consuming. There will be a place for every- restoration of the House of Representatives. These days than this squandering of the public trust spotlessly clean thatched-hut that I played fragile state. Only with strict financial body in the party to work with dignity, Only if this does not happen will elections when that trust is a vital hearts and around as a child, but there is no sign of the Salam, the traditional mode discipline and prudent management, were including Mr Deuba. be an option. And if it comes to that we have Oil Money that the Indian media never tires hese are ironic and difficult times. never imagine holding elections in the present no choice but to go to the people. minds tool. of Muslim salutation, has been gentrified Here is a breakaway faction of the situation. Nor did we ever think that a mid- we able to contain the deficit and ensure There is no doubt that the Election of talking about. macro-economic stability, thus keeping More than six months after the imposi- into the more religiousAs-salam-wale-kum . ruling party that held a political term election would offer a solution to the Commission will award the Congress There are some who would not be averse At the northeast fringe of the village, T international confidence and support. The election symbol to the party led by Girija to a benevolent authority figure to ensure tion of the state of emergency, it is gathering that it called a “convention”, country’s problems. I sensed that something there is another mosque in the Dhobi Tole. The benignRam Ram greeting has now price tag of the elections will throw the becoming increasingly clear that the declared the prime minister party president,was deeply wrong, and stepped down. Prasad Koirala. Prime Minister Deuba just development and better governance. But if government (or what is left of it) needs to This too is now pucca, but the madrassa is abecome a defiantJai Sri Ram. There is a precarious fiscal balance asunder. and along the way violated every rule in the The country was headed on a serious does not have the legitimacy to be party the present trend continues things can get show greater media savvy. We don’t ramshackle affair where half-naked childrenprocess of Arabisation that is turning The Royal Nepal Army has been doing apresident. If his faction was to get the party much worse unless there is proper account- book. The official media was used to justify and uncertain political trajectory, and there expect it from the Maoists, since we know Muslims into Islamists, while saffronisation splendid job militarily in weakening the symbol or even if the Election Commission ability, necessary checks and balances, and that they are for totalitarianism, all or recite “Alif-Be-Te” at the top of their and defend this action, to mislead and was no justification for dissolving the House is transforming Hindus into Maoists, but the problem of terrorism is fardecides to freeze the symbol to favour him, parliamentary oversight. nothing. They have proved time and again voices. No sign of “foreign-funding” here Hindutwabadis. The communal virus from misinform the public. The abuse of state and announcing elections. Local elections that the punishment for disagreeing with either, and the only reason the poor machinery to coerce those who did not agree from over. The army should have been it would be a mockery of justice and the Let us be clear: there is no alternative to across the border is slowly poisoning the couldn’t be held, and even the recent school rule of law. And that would indicate a the party line is banishment to the gulag of prefer to send their children to may be an indication of what lies ahead. exams were confined to district headquarters.allowed to continue with the momentum the rule of law. There is no alternative to the hereafter. It is logical, therefore, that social atmosphere of the tarai. This they have gained, but their primary serious threat to the democratic process. Madarassa is the fact that these schools civilisational hubris has turned devout Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has, Seeking a fresh mandate, therefore, just civil rights. There is no alternative to a anyone fighting the Maoists must be responsibility will have to be diverted to This country now needs to create new functioning parliament. There is no alternative have flexi-time. Normal schools run Hindus into Hindutva zealots and god- for as long as I have known him, been a mandidn’t make sense. Armed groups rule the against totalitarianism and on the side of provide security to candidates, polling space to allow democratic institutions to to the full respect for human and civil rights. fearing Muslims into hard-boiled Islamites. with democratic credentials. How these countryside, no political party is able to democracy and a free press. We cannot according to a set routine and make booths, election personnel, and voters. regenerate. The influence of wrong elementsAll these insinuations about a royal takeover are use their tactics. Culture is almost always inclusive and things are happening under his leadership, holdI public meetings outside the district no allowance for the children who Then there is the question of the Nepali in politics at the party level has been the ridiculous. His Majesty the King is a very tolerant. The challenge before us is to once cannot explain. headquarters, there is no free movement of Banning the truth doesn’t make it have to help their parents at work. main factor leading to poor service delivery enlightened and well-meaning monarch again reassert the inherent unity in the In the absence of a functioning parlia- people and civil rights have been curtailed. Congress split and who gets to carry the flag. disappear. Free speech is not truly free if A few returnees from the Gulf and high corruption. Party leaders have diversity of cultures. Building an inclusive ment, parliamentary committees, and other Disarming the Maoists is the first precondi-We tried our best to prevent a formal split committed to the present constitution. you are only allowed tonice say things. politicised institutions, and created fiefdomsDemocracy will prevail in the end, and for this have turned entrepreneurs and run a identity based on the Right to Equality checks available in normal times these goings- tion to holding free and fair elections. in the party by reconciling government with The government may not like what the media of power brokers in political parties. Only our democratic institutions will have to be Public Call Office, a tailoring shop, enshrined in Clause 11 of The Constitu- on, paradoxically, happened under a demo- The economic burden of general party. We had also proposed a small, well- says, but it must protect our right to say it. strong political will, enlightened leadership vibrant and effective once more. Otherwise, what are we fighting for? and a grocery. Other than that, the tion of The Kingdom of Nepal is perhaps cratic constitution. The emergency clamped to balanced, and clean government. The patch- elections is even more scary. The direct and statesmanship can deal with this. poverty in Dhobi Tole is as pervasive asthe only way of creating more effective social deal with the problem of terrorism, but the axecosts of the election in 1999 was about Rs up formula included a face-saving way for in the adjoining Chamar Tole. Clients harmony. is falling somewhere else. 600 million, including security. This time,the prime minister to express regret for There are several ways out of the present(Ram Sharan Mahat was Finance people of all hues and walks of life dissolving the house, in return for which the have dwindled as more people wash Nepal is a “Hindu and Constitutional to liveThe in dissolution harmony, of andthe House accept came as a with the added cost of security and the mess. There is a possibility that parliament Minister in the Deuba cabinet and party would withdraw its expulsion order. will be restored and there are strong legal resigned on 23 May.) their clothes at home these days, but Monarchical Kingdom” but all its people eachcomplete other surprise as Nepalis. to us. As a matter of fact, Election Commission the November polls We made some progress, but everything felland constitutional arguments for this. The “...irrespective of religion, race, caste or we had not even discussedPrashant the possibilityJha, ofwill cost the exchequer more than Rs 3 constitution provides that the life of the tribe, collectively constitute the nation” are elections while I Delhiwas in government.University We billion. With the present state of the House of Representatives can be extended equal. never foresaw such a situation, and could economy, we just cannot afford it. are similar to India. This is pseudo- nationalism. A large section of pahadis have found it difficult to accept madhesis as an intrinsic part of Khumjung. Members of the commu- term elections, LETTERSboasting that he Nepal. This discrimination has nity forest user group say that they would get an absolute majority. made it difficult for madhesis to have already counted 4,000 logs NEPALI CONGRESS campaigned against Kishunji in the NOT AMUSED The result in 1995 was a hung At the all-party mass meetingreach decision-making posts in the going towards Namche. When they hold name in Nepal because would like to see Nepal comingshould be the perpetual effort of Kathmandu constituency, and “You ain’t seen nothing yet.” parliament and Sher Bahadur UNITY IN DIVERSITY in Kathmandu recently, the higher echelons of the govern- tried to stop the porters, they wereGenerally Puskar Bhusal’s peoples of South Asia have out of the current difficulties sothe government to impart rays of defeated him. (#99) was a flashback to the Deuba as prime minister. But I don’t mean to sound like a president of a national party wasment. Just look at the figures: only threatened. But the women fromcolumns are of high quality basedappreciated his charismatic that the country can march hope and induce positive attitude past three years of drama in theImmediately after he becameGirijababu became restless andcommunalist, but communalismnot allowed to speak in Hindi ontwo SP’s and one SSP in the police the surrounding villages forcedon pragmatic reasoning and logic.leadership qualities, his direct andtowards real progress, develop-to its people. This implies quite forthright approach and the ment, and prosperity. obviously that in order to guide Nepal Congress. But you mayPrime Minister, Girijababu dis- unseated Deuba too. or casteism are what seem to the grounds of it being anti- belong to southern Nepal. Only about 400 logs to be confiscatedHowever, his “Pervez’s letter to courage to face even the most the nation, considerable need to look further back to themissed six senior ministers of the prevail in Nepal, going by the listnationalist. The incident throwseight up of the country’s 75 CDO’s and stored with the community.Sher Bahadur” (#99). The crude Kamal Ahmad, In the last election, difficult situations. By the way Mr sacrifice by imposing a positive restoration of democracy 12 “Kishunji camp” on the advice of of new secretaries. Every timecomplex questions concerned are madhesis. While there is one It is apparent that the demandsense of humour was missed by First Secretary (Press and years ago for causes of today’s Girijababu announced publicly with the core of Nepali nationhoodschool for every 100 households most people in Nepal who askedPushkar should understand the check on the media becomes his stalwarts, who also managed the government announces I really wonder why peoplefor timber for new construction in Culture) Embassy of Pakistan events. Kishunji almost flaw- that Kishunji would be prime and democracy. What is a nation?in the hills, the tarai belt has only for confirmation from us if the difference between a referendum very essential. Considering all to cripple the bureaucracy by appointees, political or other- think the monarchy is Nepal’s greatNamche and Khumjung is driving lessly handled the first two minister if his party won. Voters The essence of nationalism in one school for 400 households. President of Pakistan had actuallyand elections to avoid equating the the differences, one thing that sacking thousands of civil wise, I look to see if there is a saviour? What have we gainedthis trade, and that the logs are years of interim government and believed him, and Kishunji these countries lies in “unity inAmong 15 educationally disadvan- written such a letter to the Nepalitwo different political terminology. should be borne in mind is that servants. In retaliation, Kishunji’s wider representation from over the past centuries besidescoming from outside the park managed to give us a fine became prime minister. But diversity”—a common sentimenttaged groups, 11 are from the tarai. Prime Minister. It would have beenAs Nepal’s well wishers we PRESS FREEDOM the line drawn is bound to be camp abstained from a crucial Nepal’s ethnic diversity. I look at poverty, illiteracy and serious because felling inside is illegal. This constitution. But in the very first Girijababu started trying to bring that binds people in spite of much better if the contents of the much lower in our context than vote in parliament, which com- the current list of ambassadors Pahadis need to shed their social problems? It is only the demand rises during the monsoon Jane Elizabeth Kirtley’s view election, Girijababu openly him down from the very next differences. This implies that letter had appeared in the form of that in the USA. pelled Girijababu to call for mid- and CDOs, and check how anti-tarai attitude, and promote Nepali people who can save thebecause it is the lean tourist (“Journalists reduced to being day. He became prime minister speaking in Hindi in Nepal an article on Pakistan-Nepal ìA Pî, by email many are Magar, Rai, Limbu, national consolidation and greater country by developing it, educatingseason, and that is when most of government mouthpieces”, #99) and the whole saga was strengthens national loyalty by relations. This would have Tamang, or Gurung. Sadly, their participation of tarai people in themselves and make multipartythe renovation is done. As the regarding the media in Nepal hit repeated when he resigned and integrating people who speak this prevented the paper from drawing representation is almost nil. national affairs. This must be done democracy work. community showed, local action the bull’s eye. However, the Deuba tookover last year. So language into the mainstream and in the Head of another country in What did the 30 years of so with utmost care so that the can stop the smuggling. The timber question of raising the standards last week’s drama was only accepting the principle of diver- K Timsina, by email Nepal’s domestic situation. You called suited-to-the-soil pahadi-madhesi divide doesn’t go buyers in Namche must also realise of Right to Information Act is the latest in this long story of sity. Then there is the perception must give credit to your leaders Panchayat regime and over a deeper and break Nepal’s fragile that it is their demand that is debatable. The consequences of back-stabbing. Whether the of nationalism among Nepalis. Is for home grown actions and CORRECTIONS decade of democracy bring for socio-political stability. But the destroying forests elsewhere. You media warfare without the split in Congress was good or our unity and patriotism so fragile response to various internal the Tamangs and other ethnic silence of the major political parties can’t ban logging, but timber platform of development can haveIn Lhakpa Sherpa’s Sagarmatha bad, only time will tell. But it is that it will be shattered if someone compulsions and also by the same groups? Absolutely nothing. Are about this discrimination is SAGARMATHA NATIONAL PARK resources can be managed both positive and negative National Park (#99), it was then obvious to many neutrals like speaks in a language that might logic hold them accountable for they not part of mainstream deafening. Nationalism requires Nature may be protected in responsibly and in a sustainable results, generally more tilted Prince Gyanendra who, in me that Girijababu is more not be spoken by the majority the perceived failings rather than Nepal? When will we have true Sagarmatha National Park (#99),manner. towards the latter. As Kirtley 1973, committed to the interna- responsible than Deuba for population? There is a false shifting responsibility for Nepal’s national integration? To a large but I would like to draw your says, “Freedom of information tional community in Bonn to undermining the Nepali perception that to be a good Pasang Gelzen Sherpacurrent malaise to a country that extent, the long-term solution to attention to the massive timber laws can also have perverse declare Sagarmatha a national Congress. nationalist, one has to be anti-tarai Pema Choling Forest Userdoes not even have geographical the Maoists or similar problems poaching going on in outside the effect…” and more so if the park. and alienate that section of the contiguity with Nepal. Name withheld on requestlies in addressing the griev- park boundary. Last month, Group, Solu-Khumbu recipient mass is swayed easily. nation because their distinct ances of various ethnic groups. walking from Phakding to Lukla, I Yes it is true that General The quest of the media to sell the habits, language and way of life S Prakash, by email saw about 40 porters carrying Musharraf has become a house- story to the citizens of one of the long timber logs toward Upper poorest nations in the world can “Bhairav Aryal” Khumbu. The timber was from spark pessimism quite easily. It (Nepaliterature, #99), was part Ponya forest in Jubing VDC and one of a two-part piece. The being sold in Namche and next instalment will appear in #101. MIN BAJRACHARYA MIN 444 NATION 21 - 27 JUNE 2002 NEPALI TIMES NATION 21 - 27 JUNE 2002 NEPALI TIMES 555 thing from the countless stories she has heard. “If you delve to the Code) and the Nepali constitu- DOMESTIC BRIEFS core of the problems of violence tion, which pledges to end all against women and matrimonial forms of gender discrimination in Restless refugees disharmony, the majority of line with international instru- ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○ problems are based on sex,” she ments, such as the Convention on Bhutanese refugees languishing in camps in eastern Nepal are getting explains. “But owing to the lack the Elimination of all Forms of impatient. In a petition signed by 1,933 refugee families in One small step for womankind Khudunabari—the first camp where field verification has been completed of specific legal provisions, it is Discrimination Against Women by the Bhutan Nepal Joint Verification Team—they say that there extremely difficult to prove sexual (CEDAW), the Beijing Platform appears either or both the governments are deliberately delaying justice. RAMYATA LIMBU ○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○ mutual understanding, and abuse, especially within a mar- for Action, and other human Now that they’ve completed their part of the deal by submitting necessary “A husband will now have to nowhere give a husband the riage.” Lawyers have until now rights covenants that Nepal is papers, the families have urged both governments to make public the submit a written application and leeway to inflict inhuman acts results of the field verification and to announce a timeframe for their had to resort to existing laws signatory to. repatriation to Bhutan. They have urged the JVT to resume verification get approval to have sex with his such as rape upon his wife. pertaining to battery and po- In addition, the ruling cites in the remaining six refugee camps and asked the international commu- wife!” “We filed the petition after lygamy, which are ineffective in landmark cases in the UK (Regina nity to encourage both countries to get over with the task. Field verifica- “A man will now have to beg for several women approached us proving rape cases. The laws in vs R 1992) and in the US tion of refugees at Khudunabari started on 26 March, 2001 following the 11 sex in his own home.” complaining that their husbands place also make it difficult for (Peoples vs Liberta 1984), where “A wife can now send her were forcing them to have sexual police, often the first to receive the House of Lords and the husband to jail on a whim.” relations,” says lawyer Sapana reports of domestic violence, to Court of Appeals in New York th round of bilateral talks in December 2000. The last Khudunabari Pradhan Malla of the Forum. As put the case forward. “Police respectively decided that marriage family was screened on 15 December 2001. These are some of the headlines no charges could be made on personnel, often the first to get was not a license for rape and and comments in the Nepali media those grounds since there was no reports of domestic violence, try that there is no difference after the 3 May Supreme Court law, legal activists collaborated to patch up couples and send between rape inside and outside Roaring peace ride to present a test case in court. them on their way In that case, ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○ ruling that martial sex without of marriage. They’re off. A couple of Himalayan Enfielders, bikers from Kathmandu’s the wife’s consent should be The court has directed parlia- the woman might be victimised A survey conducted by Saathi local Enfielders club, will travel 6,000 km through 16 Indian states to considered rape. ment to amend the present rape and face more abuse,” says found that 95 percent of 1,250 spread the message of peace. Aimed at promoting Nepal as well as The judgement came in laws to reflect the ruling. Bandana Rana, vice president of female respondents questioned adventure sports in India, the Himalayan Enfielders Peace Ride hopes to Malla admits there has been Saathi, a forum that works to spread goodwill in troubled times. “We want to show the Indian people response to a petition filed in July had faced some sort of violence at that we can visit their country even when others are afraid to—and some mockery of the Supreme counter violence against women. 2001 by the Forum on Women, “I won’t come until you sign this piece of paper.” some point. The survey said that hopefully encourage them to do the same,” said Rakesh Prasai, just Court ruling, but says the news While many welcome the rape (30 percent), after beating before he took off with riding partner Sabin Basnyat. Law and Development, and is Newspaper headline: “No sexual relations without the wife’s consent” widely welcomed by activist isn’t all bad. “Apart from a few ruling, they’re sceptical about MAY 11 SAMACHARPATRA, NEPAL (82 percent), was the second groups, although a conservative cartoons ridiculing the judge- how practical it is. “It may have situation should have the choice most common form of physical and male-dominated public has ment, and some write-ups the opposite effect,” says Viplob to get a divorce, or separate from violence against women. “Vio- tried to ridicule it. In a 15-page arguing that it undermines Pratik, a journalist. “I don’t see her husband. In addition, it lence such as wife-beating is Eminent line-up judgement released last week the Hindu social and religious values the average Nepali woman going addresses the issue of marital rapeaccepted by society. Not because ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○ Supreme Court stresses that and threatens social harmony, to court. There’s fear of retalia- HUMAN ROOSTERSin child marriage and says our religious texts tell us to, but First came the Americans. Then came the Brits. Our Chinese neighbours most of the feedback has been tion, of social disapproval. In consideration must be given to had a go, too. No, we’re not talking about football, but the eminent line- Hindu religious texts highlight because society has misinter- up wanting, first, a glimpse of Maoist territory, and then a go at the conjugal harmony based on positive,” she says. some cases, it may provide an easy “A group of human roosters tried, for quite some time,“the to special situation and status preted what they actually say. emulate their feathered counterparts. Possibly, they had even ‘terrorists’. Now, it is the turn of our southern neighbours. A four-member 1987, the Legal Aid Consultancy way to break a relationship of husband in marital life”. The Indian military training assistance team led by Major General AS Bahia “The judgement has ad- The recent Supreme Court judgment on marital learnt to consort with their mates in a manner learnt from the Women are socially conditioned dressed the root cause of the Centre (LACC) has been offering leading to increased divorce suits. Supreme Court judgement also to accept and bear violence, but left this week for Maoist-affected districts including Rolpa, Rukum, and speak when she recalls the young said counterpart in the animal world. So when the Supreme Gorkha. Like their western counterparts, the Indians appear keen to problem—that patriarchal values rape hasn’t yet become law, butlegal aidabused to hundreds ofwives Nepali Also, the ruling is silent on Court, targeted the rooster with an arrow, the rooster—headruled that rapists of sex workers to what extremes?” asks Rana, (name changed) is bent on gettingwoman’s bruised and battered women seeking legal recourse— charge of rape can only be filed support Nepal’s war against terrorism. But if news filtering in from the derive their authority by situations where women may of the house, the home-owner, the god-like husband—feltshould an be given equal punishmentwho is also a counsellor at Saathi. Maoist battlefront is to be believed, Nepali security forces are getting a divorce. She has decided to body and her desperate appeals including separation or divorce as against a man, but not a husband, controlling sexuality. Recognis- could soon get forsome counsel. “Itrespite. is unbelievable force men to have sex with them. whoearthquake has had sexual measuring intercourse 10 on the Richter scale. Chaosas otherand rapists. Presently, “Having a law is the first step. tired of waiting. Getting support on the ground could be more critical for brave the disapproval of family a last resort—against husbands It would be more practical to confusion reigned and the males began looking in allindividuals who rape sex workers keeping morale high. ing rape within marriage as a ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ what can go on behind the surface ○○○○ with a woman under sixteen with We tell women about their rights, and society, because she cannot who’ve made life for them a living directions for help. Unfortunately, the cries of the roosters crime is the first step. The lobby for an effective Domestic pay a fine of Rs 500 or serve a that they should take legal take the constant physical and of what appears to be an ideal hell. Since LACC set up its orwent without unheard consent, orby who the has patriarchy or by the old baba second step is to amend the law Violence Bill”. year in jail. recourse,” explains Rana. “But we sexual abuse shefaces from her marriage. Battery and physical Women’s Rights Helpline Project forcedPashupatinath. the act upon a woman... One over morning, a small group of roosters [regulating rape] and to get it Under the present rape laws, In the 11 need to create mechanisms, alcoholic husband anymore—her abuse is one extreme. But the in January 1999, it has provided 16.gathered Punishment at ranges the teashop.from six-10 Their lips were dry, their eyes and passed in parliament. Third, marital rape is not recognised, shelters where the women can reproductive organs were damaged instances of sexual abuse some legal aid and advice to nearly yearsears imprisonment drooped forand the their rape ofvoices were hoarse...” (Khagendra enforcement and awareness regardless of the woman’s age. A Sangroula,Kantipur , 11 May) th stay while they decide what to do BIZ NEWS after her husband repeatedly raped women face are often unimagina- 6,000 women on issues ranging a girl below 14, and three-five amendment to the measures have to be put into and when they have nowhere else to her while she was recovering from ble,” says Thapa, who works from bigamy, rape, battery, dowry years for the rape of a woman Civil Code that was recently place to create an environment through the Legal Aid Consultancy passed by parliament and is go. Already, the Valley’s few Himalayan bonds a delivery. issues, trafficking, and division ○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ that allows victims to come Centre’s Women’s Rights Helpline awaiting the royal seal, the shelters are full. “It’s hard to find a forward,” says Malla. “After all, A shiver runs up Basundhara of property. The Himalayan Bank Limited last week Project in Kathmandu. She’s punishment for raping girls below place for women engaged in legal began selling bonds worth Rs 360 million, how many women will dare Thapa’s spine every time she helping Roshni get a divorce. Thapa says she has learnt one battles, since divorce and separation above 14. 10 ranges from 10-15 years while of which Rs 100 million will be sold to the challenge the institution thinks of Roshni. A seasoned Since its establishment in the punishment for raping victimscases take a long time to settle, and general public. The interest is payable of marriage.” attorney who offers free legal aid The judgement highlights the between 10-15 years of age rangesshelters don’t have the place or every six months and the HBL–2066 A few have, however. A to women, Thapa finds it hard to need to formulate comprehensive resources to keep victims that bonds can be used as collateral in some from seven-10 years. Rapists of banks and finance companies. The HBL is young mother of three, Roshni legal provisions for victims that women above 16 could face long,” says Thapa. “We need to get issuing the debt instrument to raise its supple- KATHMANDU POST, 4 MAY POST, KATHMANDU clearly set out the kind of between five and seven years the state involved.” mentary capital in order to meet the central bank’s new capital evidence and circumstances behind bars. adequacy requirements. That rule requires that all banks have Rs 1 billion in paid-up capital in seven years. The HBL’s paid-up capital admissible, and the sentence a The apex court’s ruling also man found guilty of marital rape now stands at Rs 390 million. The bank says it will sell bonds worth Rs 260 billion to larger institutional investors. Himalaya Sumshere Rana, could face. It states that a addresses the contradiction between the Muluki Ain (Civil chairman of the Himalayan Bank, told the press that the remainder of woman faced with such a the capital adequacy requirement will be met through rights’ issue of stock in coming years. Rana says that the bank is not increasing equity HERE AND THERE by DANIEL LAK to ensure that the profits, in the form of dividends, do not have to be split up to a larger number of shareholders. The Nepal Merchant Bank Freedom at midnight and Finance Limited is managing the bond issue.

ometimes it’s best to be impulsive, to move quickly and damn the consequences. One person who thought that way was LordThe world’s interlinked market economy actually restricts Patna hop ○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of British India and the man who S freedom of action of sovereign governments. Necon Air resumed direct flights to Patna on Sunday and the company brought freedom to much of this subcontinent. Mountbatten—named says it will also re-start flights to Kolkata and Varanasi in coming Viceroy in 1947 by the newly-elected and avowedly anti-imperialist ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○ months. The hop to Patna will use Necon’s 17-seater Beech 1900 Similarly, aid from friendly countries is often predicated upon aircraft and not the larger ATRs. Necon stopped flying its ATRs to Labour government in London—arrived in India soon after his appoint- recipients doing as the are told. Over the years, we’ve had foreign ment. In his early talks with Jawaharlal Nehru and Gandhi, he bonded Patna last year after passenger numbers nose-dived. The company has officials telling Nepal that they can only invest their taxpayer’s money two ATRs and two Beech 1900s to service its seven domestic routes and with the two men and accepted the need for an immediate end to into projects that promote such things as good governance, gender the resumed and new Indian destinations. British colonial rule across South Asia. equity, social justice or—as ever—freer markets. The infamous 1998 What shocked many was his decision—under plenipotentiary World Bank report, Assessing Aid, argues that aid should not be good powers granted by Prime Minster Clement Atlee—to free India in six money sent after bad, and that means rewarding success as measured months time. There were the predictable reactions. Conservatives, led by goals set by donors. Even large non-governmental organisations Cheaper telephony by Winston Churchill, howled with outrage that the Indians weren’t ○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ look to influence their partners in development, with agendas Some good news for users of the Nepal Telecommunications Corpora- ready, that Britain’s eternal flame was being snuffed too soon. Civil set elsewhere. tion’s (NTC) mobile telephone service. The new NTC telephone tariffs service mandarins in Delhi and London quivered with fear at the So what does all this have to do with Mountbatten and 1947 and that came into effect Saturday include a roughly 33 percent reduction amount of work that needed to be done. Sectarians on either side of on mobile telephony. Local telephone bills could also get smaller, all that? At the moment, nothing. But I would suggest to the barons of because the NTC has introduced different rates to bill calls made at the partition debate stoked fires of hatred. Journalists said smugly that foreign assistance in this town, and around this magnificent land, that it couldn’t be done. Smug is something we do. different times of the day. You can get to make longer calls for less their days of calling the shots in poorer countries may be numbered. during the late hours, when a single call can now be as long as eight But Mountbatten, Nehru, Sir Cyril Radcliffe, Jinnah, Gandhi, Sardar It’s plain at the moment that not enough opportunity or benefits minutes. During the 8AM-6PM peak telephone usage hours, on the Patel and Atlee all owe their place in history to the success of that deadline. reach the poor, even the working classes, who are increasingly other hand, the effective billing minute will be two minutes on the In mid-August, India and Pakistan became sovereign nations and whatever clock. The corporation has also slashed the rates for international and resentful of the four-wheel-drive vehicles and special tax privileges domestic long-distance calls. Several other charges have also been their patchy records since then, they remain so. Free, proud of some things, that bring the interchangeable expatriate-expert to their homeland. reduced but the same taxes apply. unquestionably independent of foreign control. Lord Mountbatten, MK Gandhi, Lady Mountbatten The distorted labour markets from international agency salary levels sap Nepal has never had to go through that. From its inception four local entrepreneurs of administrative or creative heft on their office staff. centuries ago, this has been a sovereign independent state. True, Britishgence in capital and labour policies. The world’s interlinked marketThe school fees, rents and property prices climb inexorably. economy actually restricts freedom of action of sovereign governments. Residents and Rana Prime Ministers co-operated closely before 1950- I can foresee a new breed of politician—in Nepal, Bangladesh and Countries most in need of emergency assistance or long term support 51, and India played a role in the Nepali Congress struggle for democ- other aid-dependent states—who cry “enough” and demand a different Privatising oil racy and freedom. But what remained intact throughout was Nepal’shave a choice in setting economic policy. And those nations who have ○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ become beholden to development aid and the plethora of agencies andkind of development paradigm, one that puts opportunities and freedom to make its own decisions, to regret its own mistakes and to resources in the hands of local people, who also make their own Nepal has begun considering options to privatise the import and bureaucracies that dispense it, some would say are the least free of all. distribution of petroleum products. The move has become necessary celebrate its own successes. political decisions. One that might emphasise education or health, Necessity is the mother of invention. If the Finance Minister of after India opened up the industry earlier this year. Among some of the Or have they? Increasingly, even rich nations are less independent with devolution of power and accountability widespread. And it could arrangements being discussed here are opening up the business to than they perceive themselves to be. The influence of superpowers orNepal is getting too little revenue from tax, he has to turn to the all come as quite a surprise to an orthodox development elite. Think Nepali companies that are joint ventures with a refinery, and control- the sole superpower impacts upon us all. Globalisation’s most irresist-capital markets. And if his country’s credit rating isn’t very good of it as “Freedom at Midnight”. ling the number of entrants. The government is just not ready to do away with administered prices, though, and so this will require another ible forces—led by multinational companies—push towards conver-because of the Catch 22 of declining revenues, then he has to ask for help. That help flows into general revenues and specific programmes as regulation. a perceived reward for economic policies dictated somewhere else. 666 NATION 21 - 27 JUNE 2002 NEPALI TIMES ECONOMY 21 - 27 JUNE 2002 NEPALI TIMES 777 percent in 1951 to 42.4 percent SOMEWHERE IN NEPAL by PUSKAR BHUSAL now. COMMENT by SALLY AND HOM RAJ ACHARYA Education was declared “free for all” in 1990, and fees in primary schools were waived. The danger here is that the But the government could not Pervez’s letter to“A mass inferiority country’s best private schoolscomplex” may pay for the subsidies, and Missing children This year’s abysmal SLC results once more be forced to close because they schools were allowed to charge cannot meet the stringent fee small fees. Communities felt ach year, thousands of young What are the hundreds of thousands of Nepalis open the newspaper to exposed the shocking inequality in Nepal’s school system. students to India. structures and other unrealistic cheated because they had to pay young Nepalis who fail their SLCs rules in the amendment. Says one fees, and the quality of educa- Efind themselves among the What makes private school school principal: “The idea should tion was not guaranteed. missing. This year, 69 percent supposed to do? Joinbetween the now Maoists? and a year later, when Sher Bahadur administrators even more angry are scanned the SLC results in vain. be to improve government schools, However, in some villages where ○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ they will be permitted to attempt the the latest government amendments Sometimes the percentage is lower, but people who couldn’t figure out not punish those that are giving the elected local councils took SLC again, is not something that to the Education Act which specify quality education.” There are also never by much. today’s Nepal is the bleak, embitteringmany people seem to have given the alternative. new categories of private schools greater interest in education, questions about how this legislationlocals have invested in better After a lifetime of hearing their experience of being tagged, at some much thought. Except, of course, the But that’s as far as I can allow and a fixed range of fees they can will play out in the highly politi- teachers repeat the mantra that youth point, as failures. There are many Maoists. the cynics to go. Many people charge on basis of investment and teachers and raised the quality cised district education offices, of instruction. This trend had are “the future of Nepal” and “the points at which this happens, both This is a “war” run by school still can’t stop making fun of the facilities provided. concerns about the absence of a pillars of the nation”, the vast majoritybefore and after the SLC, but it’s dropouts and SLC failures for whom poor turnout. My aides stand by started to spread across Nepal in Bhoj Bahadur Shah, general clause guaranteeing autonomy to 1995, but was affected by the of youth are officially declared to be particularly poignant at the age of 17 mark sheets full of 20s and 30s came the 35 percent figure. The failures. The pillars of the nation are or so, when dreams are all of adventure secretary of PABSON, says: “The lower-level education agencies, and insurgency. before the .303s. opposition give us no more than pronounced too weak to sustain a and a brilliant future along uncharted government isn’t sympathetic to thea sense of scepticism about how The amendment to the Lack of hope may make a person five percent. Even if you take the causes of private schools, the new further load. paths. At the age when the energies of sincerely the government will Education Act endorsed by desperate and gullible, but the lack of average, for the sake of argument, amendments prove that point.” implement the Act. On paper, Nepal has made youth are boiling with the power to a certificate doesn’t make a person it was every bit of 20 percent. parliament last month restored remarkable progress in education. move mountains, the school system of The Maoists’s demand for Besides trying to regulate the fees for post-primary levels. incompetent. The youth in the That was half the 1997 turnout There are relatively few people under Nepal shuts the lid on further jungles are tragically wrong in lower fees was initially welcomed private schools, the government has It also recommends mandatory that gave Nawaz Sharif a two- 30 who have never spent time in a education. believing that equality can sprout in by the public, which felt that the added burden of sorting out the teacher training, teaching There is something about the SLC thirds majority in parliament. You private education was too classroom, and almost no one without fields of blood and fear. But their mess in Maoist-affected areas. licences, more severe punish- a family member who has experi- results that bears a remarkable have to remember that in our expensive, and beyond their actions are ironic proof that strategic country, turnouts are usually Many teachers have fled either ment for teachers who fail to enced school. By 1998, 78 percent resemblance to the caste system—not reach. Private schools tended to because of Maoist threats or thinking, the ability to organise, and higher in general elections carry out their duties, decen- of boys and 55 percent of girls werenecessarily in the surnames of the the energy to attempt to make a be mostly profit-oriented estab- because they fear security forces, because of the competition. tralisation and greater participa- enrolled in primary school. Girls Chosen Ones, but in the general difference—however misguided—are lishment and were concentrated and there are 25,000 teaching posts Moreover, you have to factor in tion of communities and local and disadvantaged youth are outline. A small, select group far from lacking in Nepal. in urban areas. Figures released byvacant throughout the country. Thegovernment. The legislation also attending in record numbers, for at perches at the top, while a large the fact that Mian sahab’s two- the Central Bureau of Statistics Now take a minute to imagine a thirds majority represented 17 government says it will soon start prohibits the direct involvement least a short time. group of supposed blockheads is invested Rs 4.5 billion in the last year showed that only five appointing more than 400 “teaching different system. What would be lost percent of the total number of of teachers in politics. But since nations are comprised ofrelegated to the sidelines, to do with by permitting the majority of Nepal’s sector so far. percent of rural children attendedvolunteers” in public schools in 35 voters. We both know that our The allocation for education human beings, and not of statistics, wethemselves as they will. high school students to continue to HEMLATA RAI Private sector involvement in private schools, whereas up to 42 Maoist affected districts who will In traditional societies such as the political rivals can acknowledge ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Secondary School in Dhading. had jumped from 10 percent of need to ask another question: at the some form of college? What would education has met a part of the percent in Kathmandu Valley did. such realities only at their own very year, at least six in “This is a mass inferiority complex be paid half the salary of a normalthe budget in 1980 to 15 end of the day, what is the “take Nepal of several decades ago, the happen if there were community need, but the higher fees in these A School Fee Monitoring peril, don’t we? every ten young Nepalis fail dragging all of society down.” teacher. percent in the late 1990s, with home lesson”? What is the ultimate pitfalls of the teen years were side- colleges that offered both vocational schools they have also exacerbated their high school exams. The glaring inequality exposed Taskforce formed earlier this year “If the vacant places are not more than half going to primary message, for most people, of their stepped and teen energy was capitalisedtraining and the dignity of a college I am aware, though, that the E class differences. After the Maoists years in school? on by giving young people a growing This year, 152,300 students by SLC results is what the Maoists also found that many private filled immediately hundreds of education. With security degree? What could be gained by stakes in Nepal’s elections are too targeted private schools as symbols voice in village affairs as they matured. have been using to pressure the schools had fees, other extras and schools in 35 districts might not expenses growing, this fiscal year Disturbingly, the one experience creating a genuine and reachable light, serious for us to be obsessed with appeared for their tenth grade of the country’s social inequities, 41 But today in Nepal, the government deposits that made them exorbitant function in the coming academic the government allocated only shared by a majority of the people in instead of a mirage, at the end of arithmetic. From what I read tests three months ago. Only government and private schools to teachers and 81 students have lost labels its young people as failures, and and unaffordable for most Nepalis. year,” says Yubraj Pandey, Rs 3.5 billion for education— education’s tunnel? here, many Nepalis seem to be 47,565 passed. reform the education system. Even their lives—mostly at the hands of tells them to run along home. What, “Nepal’s political stars probably This two-tiered education thus spokesman at the Ministry of only about 7 percent of the total A drastically overhauled system unsure about whether an election Hidden behind these those who do not agree with the the Maoists. Since 2000, the precisely, these thousands of Maoists’ murders of teachers, their widened the gap between those whoEducation. What is clear is that annual budget. in which higher education was have some connection with our can be held under a state of shocking figures are the dispari- Maoists have forced 500 private teenagers are supposed threats to close private schools and can afford quality education and unless something is not done Concludes educationist essentially open to all would, at the emergency. Since you have promised to lift the ties between government schools schools to close, affecting 100,000 those who can’t. to do with very least, keep the dream of a roll back fees, agree that there is a urgently, next year’s SLC results Vidhya Nath Koirala: “There is own in Pakistan.” emergency well before voting starts, that might and private ones. Only 17 percent students and 9,000 teachers, The government’s amendments may be even more skewed than themselves brighter, more dignified future from assuage some of your critics. What we sometimes of the students from government serious unevenness in the quality of no one single sector that can be according to the Private and are intended to redress this gap. Butthis year’s. going missing in action. And it Dear Deuba sahab: discuss here, as I am sure many in your country do, schools this year passed their education. blamed for the deterioration. Boarding School Organisation- many private school principals say it Despite the problems, Nepal would teach a very different lesson: Our people in Kathmandu tell me that any conversa-is whether the candidates would feel safe enough to School Leaving Certificates Educationist Dr Man Prasad Nepal (PABSON). Government, planners, teachers, may throw the baby out with the has made impressive gains in that each person is capable of tion on your upcoming general elections invariably campaign without state-funded security cover. (SLC), with some government Wagle told us: “What it represents In April 2002, all schools still bureaucracy and communities learning, and worthy of respect. bathwater. “The new amendment literacy, which is now at 53.7 have failed our children.” brings up my surname. It’s nice to know that I am on Another concern seems to centre on the ability schools having a zero pass rate. is a total failure of ten years of hard open in six far-western zones Eighty-three percent of the work and a waste of the Rs 100 could revive the education sector, percent, up from 30 percent 15 the way to becoming a household name in your of a government that couldn’t properly organise the received new threats to close down. but only if the government doesn’t country, although the context could have been a little students who passed the SLC billion that has been spent in the years ago. The rise is even more School Leaving Certificate examinations to hold “Your schools go against the policy try to use it as a weapon to control dramatic for women: female more benevolent. There are certain clarifications I free and fair elections. That’s not relevant to the exams this year were from private education sector in the past years.” of the schools—even though only one- Wagle blames politicisation, lack of schools. If that happens the literacy grew from just two feel I ought to make on our recent referendum that debate unless your critics are also willing to revoke outcome could be just as devastat- granted me a five-year extension in the presidency. the SLC results out this week. After all, most third of all schools in the country proper monitoring, and centralised are privately run. decision-making. As it became clear ing,” says Wagle, who is also a Before that, allow me to make some personal students didn’t know whether the exams would be member of the high-level taskforce observations. held until the very last moment, when the Maoists “The SLC results have spread that government schools were failing to fulfil their mandate, jana sarkar(“people’s that recommended revisions in the (Sally Acharya is an American Your political stars probably have some connec-withdrew their five-day strike. Moreover, the hopelessness in public schools, new legislation. private schools moved in to meet government”) and you have journalist who has lived and tion with our country’s. During your first stint as absence of public transport in Kathmandu on the and children have become cynical worked in Kathmandu. Hom Raj premier in 1996, I recall, you were on an official visitfirst day of the exams and the concentration of about everything,” says Chakra Nepalis’ demand for better contributed towards creating a class schooling, and have collectively Acharya is a graduate student in here when Benazir Bhutto’s second government wascentres in district headquarters must have taken tooBahadur Maharjan of Saraswoti hierarchy,” the letters state. The sociology at the American sacked. Back home, you faced criticism for poor heavy a toll on students to permit a fair assessment closure of schools has revived the University, and specialises in diplomatic planning, which we believed was patentlyof their abilities. exodus of Nepali high school education.) unfair. How were you supposed to know that Barring the Supreme Court’s reinstatement of President Leghari had had enough of Benazir when the House of Representatives, or a political package we at General Headquarters were left speculating onthat would allow the resurrection of the chamber when the Eighth Amendment to our constitution on some technicality, your politicians have no occupation, it needs more educated people. There are ample would be invoked next? choice but to accept elections. Even if the house untapped opportunities for an educated hill boy in his own village, but the Nepali education system does not prepare him for this. I understand that 17 years earlier, the executionwere to be reinstated by the Supreme Court, that of Benazir’s father gave your Nepali Congress the would only push back the elections two years. “It is a crime to not providegood educationWere there any early warning signs that things inwould turn outpublic this schools.” opportunity to launch its first nationwide show of When political conditions haven’t improved under way in Nepal? seven months of emergency rule, it would be risky With the kind of disparity and lack of access to opportunities, this is strength since the political change of December bound to happen anywhere. There is rampant economic and social Nepali Times: equality, and I feel it was successful in its mission. 1960. I have been told that many of your party to bank on two normal years. In that case, your How do you think Nepal has done in the disparity and discrimination here. Some people have grown rich, but Social Science Research Council constitution allows you to extend parliament’s term education sector? the majority is still very poor. Fewer opportunities are created for the colleagues still turn green with envy when they recall How do you think we can ensure equal access to education Asbjorn Voreland: A lot has been achieved. There has poor and for people from remote areas. Social dissatisfaction isSouth like Asia Regional Fellowship Program how BP Koirala tagged you along on the referendumby a year. But what are you going to do if things for all? been an attitude change—now more people send their girls a volcano—without an outlet, it is bound to explode. The poor have campaign trail. That the Panchayat system had remain the same? Even the Supreme Court can’t The government should maintain similar standards in private and Second Announcement, June 2002 to school, and education has given girls leadership no freedom of choice, because opportunities are so limited. The grant a seventh year. public schools, but it seems reluctant to improve the quality of public similarities to General Ayub Khan’s “basic democra- qualities. Not many are in politics, but they make up for it ruling classes are too greedy to share the abundance of opportuni- school education. Without this, only children from poor families will The Social Science Research Council (SSRC, New York) is cies” is still fondly recollected by many of us here. Here’s my suggestion: look further north-west. in the social sectors. Nepali girls are bestowed with rare ties they enjoy. Peace will not come to this country unless it comes study in public schools, which could widen the disparities in society. natural qualities to lead social change in society. Their from inside of individuals. pleased to announce the availability of short-term fellow- Since Indonesia’s “national guidance” philosophy andYou can always learn from another land-locked Discipline should be maintained, and it should be equally applicable contributions to Nepal’s development are more than those the “class organisations” of Egypt and Yugoslavia alsoleast developed country. By getting a transitional to all. Poor people invest a lot in their children’s education. NotWhen we first came here, there was severe caste discriminationships (3-4 months) for research in any discipline of the of the men. Men are naturally ambitious—they would being able to provide them good education in public schoolsand is asocial disparity, a clear indication that the present situation inspired your partyless polity, we considered it a loya jirga-style mandate like the one our friend rather fight for top ranks and influential positions, rather social sciences and humanities related to the theme crime. The private sector has contributed a lot to education mightin this arise. When more and more young people were exposed to true embodiment of the spirit of the Non-aligned Hamid got last week, you can wait until conditions than work towards creating space for others to grow. Resources and Society. Twenty research fellowships are country, but that matters little if the poor have to sell their landforeign and countries in which democracy brought equality and equity Movement. are ripe for a real election. That could be a long When we first arrived here the caste discrimination was property to send their children to private schools. and equal opportunities to all, they sought the same here in theiravailable for junior and senior scholars from South Asia to Those who have full faith in your democratic wait. But it’s your best shot at preserving the very intense. Bahun and other high caste boys would not own country. When that did not happen here even after democracy,begin new research, continue ongoing research or write up credentials cannot doubt your commitment to constitution. I look forward to holding more sit with others, they would not clean toilets or treat their Have you achieved what you had hoped to, when you firsttheir dissatisfaction had to find expression. completed research. The objective of the SSRC Regional poorer classmates as equals. It was difficult to maintain came here? holding the 13 November elections on schedule. extensive discussions with you during the SAARC Fellowship Program is to strengthen links between teaching summit here next year. Even if we aren’t there discipline in the classroom, we had to threaten a lot of Now Nepal has democracy, which means equality, equity andWhat equal has development given to Nepalis? They seem to be worried, though, that a Musharraf- people with expulsion if they would not comply with access to development for everyone. I have witnessed childrenNepal from now has many new rich people. But they don’t seem to realiseand research; the competition is open to all full-time style poll might prove to be more damaging to the personally when the chairman’s gavel is handed classroom discipline. The Luitel School was established to very poor families from remote areas who have been high achieversthat their responsibilities include helping destitute people achieveuniversity a and college lecturers, readers and professors. country than the constitutional deadlock everybodyover, our successors can be expected to act in the teach the core values of fellowship, love, passion, and when provided with opportunities for education. My students comfortableare living. Compassion is rare in developing countries, and is worried about today. Please be assured that the true spirit of regional cooperation, provided Atalji leading this country in many areas, and I feel it is time that theythe qualitynow is deteriorating here too. Development has taught Eligibility is restricted to faculty with PhDs presently teaching is under no inordinate domestic political pressure. contribute towards creating similar opportunities to other poorpeople to become individualistic, it has eroded spirit of community.in an accredited college or university in South Asia. Fellows analogy is misplaced. We held a yes/no referendum communities that are being left behind. Democracy is also aboutThis is the backlash of modern development. Nepal might become on whether I should continue as president for I am sure you won’t consider the contents of giving, and providing opportunities to others. a cruel, hard nation if it loses its traditional simplicity and will be expected to attend a workshop in January 2003 another five years to advance my agenda to build realthis letter an interference in Nepal’s internal affairsMIN BAJRACHARYA But Nepal’s education system has failed to teach this to students.compassion. before they begin their fellowship period. Junior fellows will democracy. (Last week, you chose to describe your by yet another nuclear-armed state, because I see Asbjorn Voreland and his wife Anne Marie came to Nepal 38 years go to teach at It rarely teaches them life skills. It has failed to teach that democracy receive up to $2,200, senior fellows up to $3,000. elections as a referendum on whether Nepalis wantedother countries doing and saying worse things. the newly-established Luitel School in Gorkha. The school has many notable is also about sharing the burden—sharing the burdens of the country, Application materials and more information can be of communities and of the family. Education should prepare students peace or terror. But we realise that you were speaking alumni, all leaders in their fields, and Voreland says he is proud to have obtained from: SSRC Fellowship Program, Himal Associa- metaphorically.) Our opposition leaders exercised to make the best of what their country, and its state of development, contributed to Nepal’s development. He would, however, rather not talk about have to offer. It feels sad that a student from the hills won’t be able to tion, Patan Dhoka, Lalitpur (phone: 542544; email: their right not to participate and persuaded many the SLC batch of 1970, when Maoist ideologue Baburam Bhattarai topped the find a job in the capital after completing the SLC, but he’d rather not [email protected].) or you may download the forms others to stay home as well. Since there was no other annual exam, and neurosurgeon Dr Upendra Devkota took second place. return to his village. For Nepal, agriculture is the most important contestant, a lot of the yes votes I got were from from the SSRC website www.ssrc.org/fellowships/southasia. Voreland returned to his native Norway last month, but will carry on as the The deadline for receiving applications is August 3, 2002. international director of the International Nepal Fellowship. Nepali Times Announcements of fellows will be made in October 2002. spoke with him about the relationship between social change and education, This program is supported by a grant from the Ford Sincerely, and the role of the private sector in schools. Foundation. Pervez 888 HERITAGE 21 - 27 JUNE 2002NEPALI TIMES 21 - 27 JUNE 2002NEPALI TIMES 999

National Park JOSIAH HOOPER

The entrance to Sagaramatha National Park

Sagarmatha National Park from 35,000 ft KUNDA DIXIT

It’s 50 years since the first ascent of Mt Everest. And it’s 25 years since the Royal Sagarmatha National Park was set up. KUNDA DIXIT

LHAKPA SHERPA ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ obvious. Only the “experts” A moss-covered Om Mani Padme Hum sign in Monjo PADAAM GHALEY PADAAM the exotic east peaked in fretted about the risks to the environment and culture of the t was 1976, and we had just There, we got more of the western countries and Nepal became an important destination sacred Khumbu valley. Bigger finished explaining the aims same. The Sherpa people were trees were cut for construction of of the park to a gathering of afraid that their use of the forests for mountaineers, adventure I tourists, dharma bums and hotels and guesthouses. Huge local people, when shouts began and pastures would be restricted. culture vultures. The number of amounts of firewood for sold and to come from the crowd. “We Even worse, they thought people Khumbu jumped from about tourist and mountaineers visiting consumed at campsites for don’t need your park. Take your to move out of their Khumbu 3,000 in 1973 to nearly 26,000 Khumbu Region were growing cooking and campfires. Garbage park to your own village.” The villages. Local politicians were in 2000. There are an additional rapidly. The local people were piled up along trails and near meeting became unruly and quick to take advantage of the campsites. The traditional forest Thamserkeu and Kangtega from Tengboche4,000 people living inside the

quick to adapt, getting into the KUNDA DIXIT meaningful consultation was out fear. Some went around promising park. Management of business of providing food, protection systems of the local of question. We politely assured voters to put a fight against the JOSIAH HOOPER biodiversity, fuel, fodder, timber, lodging, and guiding and people were being weakened from uncontrolled exploitation. the crowd that their sentiments park if elected. Despite the local and water for people, and portering services. The economic under the new economic pressure. Trees, like humans, find it hard would be conveyed to the higher opposition, the park was aesthetics for visitors is a major benefits were immediate and Eventually, the threats from to thrive at high altitude. The officials and left for the next established. unregulated tourism became a Sagarmatha National Park is a challenge. The Bhote Kosi flows through lush forests inside the parj village meeting. In the early 1970s, interest in matter of concern internationally, vertical reserve: going from 3,000 Now, the park needs to and in Bonn in 1973, then Crown m to 8,848 m. Trees take move beyond protection, and Khumbila from Khumjung Prince Gyanendra committed to inordinately long to grow, it start managing forests, KUNDA DIXIT the international community that takes a lot more to safeguard rangeland, wildlife, and tourism the Khumbu Region would be them than it does forests at lower with participation of the local nesses into the park will need to declared a national park to altitude. At about the time the communities. It also needs to be carefully managed. Most conserve its environment. The park was formed, the traditional improve local livelihoods importantly, the park needs to be New Zealand Government co- Sherpa ways of managing natural through community develop- vigilant against major develop- funded establishment of the park resources were dying out. The ment programs. Infrastructure ments that are likely to have at the recommendation of Sir demand for forest resources were such as trails, bridges, and camps permanent impact on the integ- growing, incidences of illegal rity of it’s values.

JOSIAH HOOPER need to be better maintained Edmund Hillary. hunting and land encroachment with the revenue that visitors The park administration were increasing. contribute. The construction of (Dr Lhakpa Sherpa was adapted its regulations to The park ensured that lodges and hotels, and the Deputy Warden of Namche village accommodate the needs of the hunting was banned, use of movement of non-local busi- Sagarmatha National Park in local residents. No people were firewood at trekking camps were 1976-77, and Senior Warden displaced, and the local ways of discouraged, and that the rate of from 1983-1986. He now life were permitted to continue timber harvesting was brought works with the Mountain undisrupted. Despite initial down, to allow the forests to Institute in the Tibet hostility, the park and people recover, regenerate and expand. Autonomous Region of co-existed. Over time the Today the forest conditions of China.) forests, wildlife and landscape Khumbu have certainly not began to recover. Residents declined, even if we can’t tell realised that people visited whether they’ve improved. The Khumbu to experience local park’s chain of forest nurseries culture and nature, and this and plantations supported by the reinforced cultural pride and the Himalayan Trust is one of the desire to preserve the environ- most successful high-elevation ment. Tourist numbers grew and forest regeneration programs in with them, so did the local Nepal, and it has covered many economy. hectares of bare slopes and filled Now, for the most part, open forests. The populations of attitudes towards the park are wildlife commonly targeted by nearly uniformly positive. There hunters in the past, such as the is even talk of a formal silver Himalayan tahr, musk deer, jubilee celebrations. It is serow and pheasants have also important, though, to go beyond recovered. the festivities and use this as a The park has started to clean chance to reflect on the last 25 up litter, encourage alternative years and consider the future of energy use, provide information the park. to tourists and locals, and Slow-growing trees collected revenue for national The most important contribu- coffers. tion of the Park was probably in We’d never have guessed it conserving the high elevation back in 1976, but most of these forests and wildlife of Khumbu changes are due to the participa- tion and support of the people of Khumbu. There was a massive increase in tourism—arrivals in WORLD 21 - 27 JUNE 2002 NEPALI TIMES ASIA 21 - 27 JUNE 2002 NEPALI TIMES 101010 economic growth for more social 111111 protection and less risk. Large Will Johannesburg go Rome’s way? COMMENT groups ofby “outsiders” GUIDO TABELLINI(young ANALYSIS by SHLOMO AVINERI The making of modern mullahs ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ unemployed and first-time job ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○ JOHANNESBURG - South Africa is trying to get international seekers, temporary workers, PESHAWAR – Mullahs, or Islamic priests, are usually the ones other agreement on the “Draft plan of implementation for the World shopkeepers and other self- people come to listen to, but they are the ones learning new sub- Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD)”, after delegates at employed) don’t see these Reconfiguring the Middle Eastjects—from women’s rights to the environment, tolerance and the last meeting in Indonesia failed to finalise it. DevelopingThe new in-betweensupposed benefits because they children’s health—under a new course at a university here. These countries insist that the document should not ignore the most lack a stable and protected job, subjects are meant to familiarise the mullahs with issues not usually important causes of poverty—among them unfair terms of trade wo conflicting needs assail and techniques used in the Arab or do not qualify for unemploy- the Middle East. The A Saudi protectorate could shield the Palestinians fromtaught—or considered taboo—in the religious educational institutions and the lack of market access for agricultural products from world to ensure security. Such a that have mushroomed here in this border city with Afghanistan over poor countries. 150 heads of state will attend the August summit ment insurance, or are too young TPalestinians must rebuild Israel and also reassure the Israelis thatprotectorate this may won’t not develop be a the two decades since the Afghan war. The University of Peshawar here to see how the social and economic conditions of the to benefit from public pension political structures almost com- project hopes to show another face of the mullahs, who are often world’s poor can be improved, while also protecting the global another failed quasi-state ruled by terrorists.democratic or transparent systems. They also complain pletely destroyed by Israel’s recent labelled as extremists, and at the same time put them in touch with environment from the negative effects of development. The diplomacy. Palestinian territories Palestinian structure. But we about crime, and the deteriorat- ○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ everyday concerns of people in this Islamic country. The courses setback in Indonesia comes after the failure to attract G8 incursions into the West Bank. Yet descended into a lawless chaos should forget about that for ing quality of life in their cities. it is also clear that the Palestinians include a short English language course at the British Council here, leaders to the World Food Summit held in Italy, or to come up about the Oslo process. reminiscent of Lebanon in the 1970s now anyway. as well as the use of computers, issues of family welfare, women’s with new commitments to alleviate world hunger. Many “outsiders” supported are unable to create a polity and 80’s. What it can do is create a health, human rights and peace. right-wing populist parties in the untainted by terrorism and free of But Arafat missed the historic Israel will not allow the recon- structure untainted by terrorism, “The course was good and I liked the way punctuality is latest elections; their votes are an ideology that violently repudi- opportunity to achieve a Palestin- suicide bombers and competing observed but the bad thing was that there was a female teacher. (IPS) critical for the survival of the new ates Israel’s right to exist. ian state in 2000 when he rejected struction of terrorist structures on its doorstep: no country would. But militias. It may also shield the Also I didn’t like the use of television and video,” comments Maulana centre-right governments in many After the Oslo agreements were proposals by President Clinton and Nisar, principal of a madrasah near Peshawar. The religious leader, Ariel Sharon’s government should Palestinians from Israel as it European countries. These reached a decade ago, supporters of then Israeli Premier Barak at Camp who wore the traditional headgear worn by religious leaders in this Paying for education for all David and later in Egypt. Instead, not be allowed to use the Palestin- reassures the Israelis that the part of the world, is also missing from the group photograph taken on ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ “outsiders” were often neglected the peace process, in Israel and ians’ utter failure at peaceful nation political entity that will emerge on the concluding day of the course. He avoided it, because he believes WASHINGTON - The World Bank has unveiled another plan to in Europe’s traditional political he launched an armed intifada, in abroad, hoped that the PLO—an their doorstep is not going to be that making or being photographed is against Islamic teachings. educate the planet’s poorest children, one that requires billions competition, and their demands which competing Palestinian building as an alibi for continued armed national liberation move- another failed quasi-state ruled by of dollars from rich nations and some concessions from devel- received little or no attention. militias unleashed terrorism and occupation. What, then, is to ment deeply enmeshed in terror- warlords and terrorists. oping countries. The Education For All Fast Track aims to Across Europe, they have suicide attacks against Israeli be done? provide primary schooling for every boy and girl in 23 countries ism—would transform itself into a Far fetched? Perhaps, but so suddenly become political responsible and viable political civilian targets—not only in the President Bush’s support for by 2015, as long as those nations “prioritise primary education occupied territories, but also in far conventional solutions have (IPS) and embrace policies that improve the quality and efficiency of arbiters. What these newly structure. Only then would a reforming the Palestinian Authority their primary education systems,” the Bank said Wednesday. For influential voters want is clear: sovereign Palestinian state be able Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Hadera,is well intentioned. But to imagine a proved unworkable, even disas- a start, says the Bank, developing countries should devote at less immigration, crackdowns on to live in peace alongside Israel. If Afula, and Netanya. Some militias democratic and transparent Palestin- trous. After some years of such a Counting, China-style least 1.4 percent of their GDP to primary education, and the G-8 crime, more economic opportuni- the ANC could make such a were under Arafat’s direct control, ian Authority when neither Syria, Saudi protectorate over the ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○ and the international community would need to commit about $3 ties, but also more protection transition in South Africa, why not while others got semi-official Egypt nor Saudi Arabia (or any other Palestinians, serious negotiations - BEIJING - A semi-official study initiated by the Chinese Academy of billion a year in additional financing for the next 10 yearsEuropean to pay politics is suddenly all shades of grey. support from him, and still others Arab country) show signs of democ- more or less based on Crown Social Sciences has said the real jobless rate of the country is for the new education programme. against economic risk and the Palestinians? The hope that ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ represented○○○○○○○○○○○○ the middle classes international competition. Yasser Arafat might become a were his antagonists. Their ratisation, is a pipe dream. Equally Prince Abdullah’s proposals for double the official number, sounding an alarm just months before a and moderated the ideological common aim was to wrest from a well-intentioned UN and EU ideas an overall agreement - could be sensitive transition of China’s political leadership is to take place. The Politicians representing these Palestinian Nelson Mandela Green Book on China’s Population and Labour released last week (IPS) urope’s lumpen outsiders many of today’s centre-right extremes of left and right were frightened and terrorised Israel about introducing an international re-launched. voters lack experience in govern- inspired even Israelis sceptical estimates China’s unemployment rate to be 7 percent—a “critical are becoming insiders as the governments are supported by pivotal. Nowadays, ideological what could not be achieved by ment, sometimes are technically force to separate Israel and the In the meantime, the most level”, threatening the country’s social stability—and likely to worsen EContinent’s political populist or nationalist parties. In differences between left and right Palestinians originate with paper- urgent priority is a process of de- sharply in the next two years as it faces heightened competition unprepared for governance, and Linking immigration with aid pendulum swings to the right. Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, are blurred. So a new breed of shuffling diplomats, whose previous escalation, stabilization and following its entry into the WTO. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ are suspicious of technocrats and After the Netherlands and France,and Denmark, the government is politicians and a new constituency bureaucrats, particularly those in experiences in peacekeeping (say, in political consolidation within Last week, China officially again put its urban unemployed at 6.8 LUXEMBOURG - Efforts to forge Europe-wide policies toGermany tackle may be next (German either a coalition or a minority of voters hold the balance of power. illegal immigration suffered a setback Monday when EU govern- Brussels. On many issues, Srebrenica or Rwanda) do not Palestinian society. A Saudi million—3.6 percent of the urban working population—a gross elections are due in the autumn, government propped up by the ments split publicly over linking aid to cooperation on tackling The successes of populist/ populist parties’ positions inspire confidence. Will an interna- protectorate may be the key to underestimation, analysts say, as it excludes the millions who have and the centre-right candidate— pivotal support of populist right- migrated from rural areas, and unregistered people in urban areas. illegal migration. Proposals by Spain, backed by Britain, to right wing parties can largely be conflict with the traditional pro- tional force hunt down suicide achieving this. Everything else suspend financial assistance to developing countries whichMinister-President fail Stoiber of wing parties. In France the The prospect of angry urban workers joining forces with the attributed to the failures of left- capital and pro-market platforms bombers? Will it possess intelligencehaving already failed, it may be to crack down on people-smugglers and take back their Bavaria—isown now the favourite). government is composed of discontented peasantry has always troubled Chinese leaders. An leaning governments. Europe’s of established centre-right assets and the will to fight if needed? the only choice leftfor both estimated 120 million people live below the poverty line and around nationals were opposed by Sweden, France and Luxembourg.Spain, Austria, Italy, Denmark, mainstream centre-right politi- Such a force is dangerous nonsense. Some 500,000 illegal migrants a year enter the EU. UK diplomats disappointing economic perform- parties. Some demands of these Israelis and Palestinians. another 150 million migrant workers only find seasonal employment. Portugal are already ruled by cians. Yet, President Chirac owes insisted that the idea was to tie aid to ways of improving the ance lies at the root of this. voters are sensible and will Palestinian institutions must be These estimates come on the heels of massive labour protests in centre-right governments. This his victory to the success of the ability of third countries to better manage border controls, part European unemployment remains improve policymaking. Most of rebuilt, but within a legitimate Arab China’s industrial rustbelt, and months before the Communist Party swing does not simply mark the far-right National Front. of a wider effort to fight corruption and encourage good high, and productivity growth Europe does need better crime context. Like Kosovo and Bosnia, elects new leaders, the so-called “fourth generation” that will likely governance, accountable policing and independent judiciaries.return of traditional conservative In the past, Europe’s political (and hence living standards) has prevention and a serious effort at Palestinian territories should be put comprise technocrats such as current Vice President Hu Jintao and Despite the tough talk, there is likely to be reluctance to crackparties and policies—smaller Vice Premier Wen Jiabao. The political transition is already threat- contests were waged between left slowed since the mid-1990s. Eventackling illegal immigration. But under an international protectorate, down on important transit countries, such as Turkey, Egyptgovernments, and more attention to the wing parties representing the ened by the mass protests in northeast China and elsewhere. In the Morocco, while punishing poorer ones such as Afghanistan non-economically-minded voters in other important policy choices, but not one administered by the UN interests of capital—to power. interests of labour, and right wing longest-running demonstrations by workers in China’s communist could hit the most vulnerable. perceive the striking difference populist parties could lead or EU. It should be an Arab one, era, tens of thousands of laid-off workers from state firms protested Something new is at work. parties representing the interests with the US, where productivity Europeastray. preferably led by Saudi Arabia. A insufficient severance payouts. State companies have heeded What’s new is the fact that of capital. Centrist parties that growth has skyrocketed since the Saudi protectorate over the Palestin- government calls to raise efficiency by laying off redundant work- ers, but there is no social safety net for pensioners and the unem- (Guardian) mid-1990s and unemployment is ians will have internal Arab legiti- far lower. Some voters are macy; it will also possess knowledge (Project Syndicate) ployed. beginning to think the cherished Independent economists warn that over a third of China’s urban European welfare state may be (Shlomo Avineri, a former 400 million could be affected by government efforts at economic to blame. director-general of Israel’s restructuring. Jobless workers under 35 now account for 70 percent Foreign Ministry, is professor of of the total unemployed, compared with under 50 percent two years Many European voters also ago. Only 70 percent can now find jobs after graduating, in stark political science at the Hebrew feel threatened and unprotected. contrast with almost 100 percent during the strictly planned economy Not everyone is convinced that University of Jerusalem.) of the 1960s. Europe’s social model trades less (Project Syndicate) OPINION by PRINCE EL HASSANTALAL BIN (Guido Tabellini is professor of

economics at Bocconi University.) (IPS) The Middle East needs outside EASY TIMES intervention committed to specific goals.

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ It’s never been easier to subscribe to Nepali Times. traditions, while remaining faithful to their roots. A total collapse of religious Just dial this number and leave your address. norms would truly be destabilising. If globalisation is to make the world a better place, it cannot be predicated upon market forces alone, but needs to reinforce the stability and integration of diverse societies. The road Inahead the Middle East, clear ethical leadership is needed. But such leadership cannot achieve results in a vacuum. Global standards of behaviour can only be implemented effectively if they are upheld by all. If a supposedly universal policy or a significant number of Palestinians and Israelis, the use of force has is seen to be applied inconsistently in order to further one nation’s or culture’s come to represent the only conceivable option. But rather than resign interests, that policy will lose credibility and be rejected as representing a double Fourselves to more years of hate and misery, the foundations for future peacestandard. It is the responsibility of rulers and opinion leaders to insist that need urgently to be rebuilt before all civilised structures are swept away. universal rights are implemented universally—that all, without exception, are Everyone’s priority is the present conflict; but until human well being becomessubject a to the rule of law. Only when we achieve a culture of compliance with universal priority, conflicts will continue to dominate interpersonal and interna-humanitarian norms will we be able to establish the framework for securing a tional relations. vibrant civil society, negotiation instead of conflict, and continuing human welfare. Those who wish to contribute to reducing tensions should identify and One of the most important expressions of goodwill is the gift of humanitarian promote starting points for peace-builders to find common ground. Political andaid. At this time, when military conflict risks worsening in different corners of the media support ought to focus on programs that work on the ground, as reportedworld, western agencies in particular can support the people of a troubled area. Yet by humanitarian and non-governmental agencies, and not on particular religioushumanitarian aid must not become just another foreign policy tool. If aid is agendas. Priority should go to projects enhancing cooperation between differentthought by the people receiving it to be manipulated for political gain, it will faiths, different schools within the same faith, and religious and secular groups.reduce the possibility for international relations based on any kind of trust. There Islam as a religion of peace and human betterment is betrayed by anyone whoshould be a re-evaluation of the place of altruism and compliance with universal commits atrocities in its name. It is a broad and inclusive religion whose humanitarian norms. adherents across the world presently suffer from their lack of a unified voice. For The international community can offer stability and improvements in living example, issuing conditions for both Israelis and Palestinians by intervening now with a peacekeep- fatwas, or religious edicts, is legitimately undertaken by those ing and humanitarian presence, endorsed by the United Nations and with the whose high standing is acknowledged by the wholeUmmah , or Muslim support of the United States. Outside intervention may be necessary, including community. We need trustworthy and reputable bodies for issuing globally international commitment to specific objectives—not just to a process intended to significantfatwa , with the authority to represent Muslim communities worldwide;reach those objectives—before it becomes possible to visualise a viable future in which both parties can flourish alongside each other. such bodies could be based in Mecca and Najaf, representing Sunni and Shi’a centers of religious thought. Such a step would bring to non-Muslims some of the sharpest thinking in (Project Syndicate) the Islamic world, and would contribute a missing voice to debates about global values. Globalisation and Islam are not incompatible, so long as Islam is Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan is moderator of the World

543333 recognised as a tradition that has much to contribute to world civilisation, notConference on Religion and Peace, and President of the Arab treated as a menace to be neutralised. The goal today must be to modernise Thought Forum.) 121212 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS THIS PAGE CONTAINS MATERIAL SELECTED FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 21 - 27 JUNE 2002 NEPALI TIMES CULTURE AND SOCIETY 21 - 27 JUNE 2002 NEPALI TIMES 131313 NEPALITERATURE by MANJUSHREE THAPA ENCOUNTERS by MEGH RANJANI RAI

The world in Nepal Think locally my misfortune, the tube of my cycle burst just then, so loudly you would think that a bomb had detonated on my head. She frantically Deshantar,16 June Chalphal, 16 June BHAIRAVtossed her bundle into the brushesARYAL and looked at me. As soonSiblings as our in eyes met, I recognised her. She had led a delegation to the International In reality an ordinary citizen’s relationship with the state is through the local governance units. They help Forward Ladies’ Conference last year, and only a few days ago, Despite having the ordinary people evaluate what democracy has brought, through the work their local representatives doThe essay form has played an important she had given a talk on the edge of the Ranipokhari pond, vowing to distress support of foreign for them in the villages. As the director of the Association of Village Development Committees Pradip dedicate her life to taking care of children by remaining unmarried countries such as India, Thapaliya says that regardless of whether the decisions are takenchautara at the(resting local place) or role in Nepali literature, giving writers a all her life. There was no question that a journalist like I would the United States and the recognise her. United Kingdom [for the while squatting on a straw mat in a village home, they aid the villagers in making up their minds about thechance to meditate upon society, and to Am I to be emergency], Prime Minister[efficacy] of the state. But the government, citing the state of emergency, has stopped the election comment on the life around them. Bhairav You surely know, many things that a journalist sees he cannot write Sher Bahadur Deuba campaigning for these units that should have begun some months ago. Its decision to have general Aryal is one of the best-loved essayists of about, and many things that he writes about he cannot see. If he couldthe last to dissolved parliament after elections first show that it is not honest towards the local governments. It says that it can hold general write everything he sees, then the papers would be full of shoving and failing to win the support elections, but there is some doubt about whether the decision to not hold local elections was a consideredthe modern age, writing from the 1950’s tillcrushing and anger and jealousy and poison, et cetera. If he couldeat see from the of his own party to extendone, or whether it is simply not in a position to conduct them. his untimely death in the 1970’s. He was aeverything he writes about, then the world of man would be like the the state of emergency. After the dissolution of the House of Representatives Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and his world of the gods: all progress, development, friendship and idealism.family plate This indicates that foreign powerful ministers have not been able to agree on following on of three options: extending the term ofsatirist who commented on the absurditiesSo why should a modern journalist pay attention to her bravery in powers are more influen- those already in office [in the VDCs], leaving the local units in charge of their employees, or forming someof modern Nepal, as well as a journalist andsolving her problem? The age demands wife and children planning; justwhile my tial than domestic ones in sort of all-party committees. A source at the Ministry of Local Development told us that Deuba, after twoeditor. The essay below, written during thebecause the method is different, how can it be called a crime? It could regard to the running of weeks of discussions, put off making a decision saying ‘we will consider it after July’. But the State be that she’s come up with a means of her own, to suit the times.dear mother the state. Minister for Local Development is confident that the local governments will be dissolved. He is said to haveyears after the royal takeover of 1960, When I reached a little further, I saw a policeman scolding a loiterer. Since the Maoists have established their power in the last six years—resulting in a statetold of emergency Pradip Thapaliya to ‘tell the VDC chairmen and vice-chairmen coming here that the local governmentsspeaks well of the bungling of the I dragged my cycle along, my legs trembling from fear that he mightfeeds you the since November 2001—it has become important for the world to be alert about what is happeningwill be indissolved.’ Nepal. That decision may have been a result of infighting in the Nepali Congress. Officials at scold me too, but then, how would he dare catch a gentleman who the Ministry of Local Development also told us that the government has more or less decided not to extendPanchayat years. KUNDA DIXIT

SANJAY The 11 September attack by bin Laden’s al-Qaeda on the US has made it clear that sparks ignited by rides cycles? Indeed, I had found a main news item, and I even thought terrorists can spread to any place in the world. the term of present office bearers in local government units. up its title—‘Confrontation Between Police and Robber.’ Whether or notchoicest That’s why top American [army] brass used the visit of the US Foreign Secretary [Colin Powell]The Associationto of District Development Units, which has a majority of UML representatives, had the man was a robber was for the police to figure out. I’m just a journalist, all I need is news. fare? inspect Maoist areas. Top-ranking Indian army officials also visited these areas prior to the visitdecided of the to request the government to extend by a year the term of those in office, but doing that would Indian Army Chief Padmanaban, and the British army chief, too, visited these areas. Last butnot not have least, been the easy for the government. It was a difficult decision, especially for a party that was In the end it doesn’t matter, because these days, in every country,A son speaks: Chinese ambassador, who is all for peaceful diplomacy, also inspected some Maoists-affectedeffectively districts. divided—it He would create more political problems as the UML controls most of the local govern- intelligence reports are Bramha’s words for the government, and the ment units. Add to this the fact that an earlier meeting of Nepali Congress DDC chairmen had recom- Do I have the choice of sitting back and letting someone else made it clear that the activities taking place in a bordering state were of concern to the Chinese. His papers and radio news are Bramha’s words for the citizens. concern is justified if elements engaged in spreading unrest in Nepal were to cross the bordermended into Chinese that the term of the VDCs and DDCs should not be extended. Nepali Congress spokesman Arjun worry about the next meal on the table? Do I have the choice of not Intelligence agents and reporters have become so skilled at territory. That’s why China is prepared to help Nepal solve her internal problems. Narasingh KC says that in a situation where the resources provided to villages has been used by the being the head of the family? terrorists, his party is of the opinion that these units should be run by the administration. However, Krishna concealing what has happened, writing about what hasn’t There’s a symbolic meaning, too. Nepali Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has tried to improve ties Do I have the choice of not performing my filial duties as the Prasad Sapkota, chair of the DDC Association, says that the government should extend the terms of the happened, coloring the white and twisting the straight, that in with Britain and the US. The Americans have indicated that they are interested not only in assisting organisations in the event that it cannot hold elections. reality, world politics is in their hands. eldest born? Afghanistan but, if need be, providing troops to settle the Pakistan and India conflict over Kashmir. if this Another idea being tossed around in government circles is the formation of all-party committees to run Am I bound to care for my younger siblings, see that my sisters were to happen, there is a possibility that Nepal could be used as a base. However, the US envoy to Nepal A friend of mine used to say in jest—at the border of two has reiterated that this is not his country’s intention. As India and the US come closer on thethe Kashmir local units issue, until the next elections are held. By law, the government can extend the terms of local countries, there were barracks on each side. One day, anare married and my brothers educated and settled in white-collar governance units members by a year in the event of unforeseen circumstances, natural disasters, China is worried that the issue of a free Tibet might be ignited. And that is why China is interested in peace intelligence agent and a reporter were walking towards thejobs? border Am I supposed to see to it that my children are provided for, a and stability in Nepal. economic mismanagement and other “special situations”. Sapkota and others disagree. How, they ask, can house, an education, a future? political representatives appointed by the government stay in the villages, districts and municipalities when on their side of the divide. Just then, a uniformed soldier from the other It is important for Nepal to decide whether to allow supportive countries such as the US, the UK and even elected members are finding it difficult to stay on. The UML also smells foul play. Spokesman Pradip side ran across the border with something in his hands. The intelli-So what if I am the chosen progeny? Am I supposed to be “duty India to have free rein in Nepal or to only use the support that it needs. Both India and ChinaNepal are finding says thatit the talk of all-party committees is just a tool that the government is using in its internal gence agent immediately called headquarters, and the reporterbound”? called difficult to digest Nepal’s increasing closeness to the United States. If powerful nations are allowedparty battles. to make “We oppose such attempts to end the existence of local governments,” says Nepal. the office. ‘A soldier from such-and-such country entered our territory.’Do I have to subjugate my independence to “Son, you must. It Nepal their playground, it is not clear what diplomatic price Nepal will have to pay. There is speculation that If the terms are not extended and all-party committees are not made, in mid-July these units automati- A police Jeep arrived immediately. The journalist at once reported, ‘The Nepal’s politics will be much clearer following Their Majesties’ upcoming visits to India and China. police have also arrived.’ The news was true enough. In no timeis expected at all, of you, so are you supposed to”? These doctrines tie my cally come under the charge of the employees until the next elections. The people in charge, thus, will be A certain section feels that the elections and other activities will fail unless the Maoists are brought into the morning editions of newspapers beat up a fuss—‘Border spiritencroach- from taking wings. the Local Development Officers, chief executive officers of municipalities and VDC secretaries… the mainstream. If elections were to take place, and parliament were formed, it would be a majority ment by a soldier of such-and-such country.’ The intelligence reportCan I not say, “I am not responsible for you, my brothers, my parliament, which exists even now. It doesn’t make sense to dissolve parliament. The security forces will was proved by the newspaper report. Politicians rushed to releasesisters, my wife, my children, each to his own and as one is destined continue to be mobilised in the same manner as they are now, since there is no possibility of adding forces. statements, the parties rushed to hold an emergency meeting to?”and You make or break your own destiny. Am I being fatalistic, passed a proposal of protest. Editors rushed to write editorials. The However, the Maoists, in that period, will have learnt how to check the security forces. Unless they are nihilistic when I voice these views? given a political option, development will come to a standstill, given that they are destroying infrastructure. radios rushed to review the editorials. Allied nations stirred into action, learned folks like us got a chance to sit around at restaurants talkingThere are questions that I must ask myself. I am in a pre- So following Their Majesties’ visit to India, there will be an attempt to bring the Maoists into the main- about all of this while chewing on meatballs. In the end, investigationsdestined position—the eldest born and that too, a son. The one stream. The Maoists seem to be ready to drop their demands for a republic and a constituent assembly, and He has also visited India twice. showed that the soldier had been suffering from dystentry, andwho had carries to my father’s name forward, the future scion of the family. settle for a model democracy and a monarch. They appear to be ready to join an interim government and to The Indian media gave his visit[s] take a dump as he was heading out for morning duty, but the toilets fight elections, because it is becoming difficult for India to provide them protection in the face of improving more attention than it did to were all crammed full, so he grabbed a mug of water and ranA off veritable to sit don! Am I prepared to give up these privileges? relations between India and the United States. That is why a certain sector feels that once the king returns Prime Minister Deuba’s visit. But down wherever he could find a spot. Now you tell me how importantIf not, then why this quandary? from China, the present government, owing to its inability to maintain peace and security, will be replaced even his visits failed to shed any intelligence agents and reporters are. That’s why I decided to Inmake retrospect: an answer from a daughter

by an all-party interim government that will work on amending the constitution. party symbol. Senior Congress FROG SUBHAS RAI/ ADVENTURES OF A NEPALI India’s Maoist links light (on India’s role). India news out of the encounter between the loiterer and the police. To each his own dear brothers, father, son, and husband. If it ○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○ members Bhu Bikram Nembang, I hadn’t even had time to write a report on the speeches given by declared the Maoists “terrorists” Prem Raj Angdembe, Badri Ram was not so by what is demanded of us, am I to be kept the last to Nepalgunj Express, 17 June even before Nepal did, but we have THE INTERNATIONAL FROG CONFERENCEvarious intellectuals and representatives at this morning’s Firewood-eat from the family plate, while my dear mother, feeds you with the Bhandari, Chandralal Shrestha, and-Dung Distribution Meet. As soon as I got home, I settled down on no information on what it has done In today’s world, a son has greater worries than the unemployed;the trunk a to write, thinking ‘I’ll cough up all this nonsense all atchoicest once.’ I fare? Excerpts from a piece by Khagendra Bishnu Bhakta Bhuju were also against them since... Let’s see if thepresent. journalist is in a greater rush than a taxi car. On top of that, orderedif the mother of my son—‘Alright, I don’t have any time to eatAm any I to be sent to the government Giri “Kopila” visit by His Majesty King someone takes up journalism in order to stave off the daily hasslesrice-shice, of just bring me a chillum of sour tobacco leaves.’ My sleeping vidyalaya, while you put on a It took a lot of time for Nepali Gyanendra that begins this week being a son, you can imagine how patchy his life gets. And Ison, am therepresenting his mother, replied—‘Mother axed the chillum and kind of journalist who must serve journalism all day on the basis of a tie, slick your hair with the oil from the household press, and are parliamentary parties and intellec- will bring some good news. Excerpts fromSatyagraha , 17 June burned it, Father!’ I looked with amazement at the mother’s face, rickety cycle, and enjoy the nectar of filial life in the early evening,only to see her make a face and say, through her nose, ‘I couldn’taccompanied proudly by my father to the “English Boarding tuals to understand that India has a scraping out the pot for storing grains. That’s why my mind findkeeps any firewood anywhere, so….’ I shut up and started School”?to write hand in Nepal’s Maoist “people’s Hundreds of government motorcy- spinning all night and all day—as if a cinema reel were flickeringabout on the speeches and proposals made at the Firewood-and-DungTutored by the best English-speaking ladies from Darjeeling, war”. At the same time, the interest the screen of my brain. One second I’m thinking of the disarmament cles were lined up outside the venue Distribution Meet. while I languish in the corner, trying to interpret, trying to glean the rest of the world has in the speeches of world leaders, another second I’m thinking about the QUOTE OF THE WEEK of the general convention [of the “pearls of wisdom” that are “pearls before a sow” to your noncha- insurgency is not as acute as that it boiled rice rations that I must gather by this evening. One moment it’s Nepali Congress] venue. Rumours the Geneva Convention, and the next moment it’s the divorce of the lant ears. has other regional terrorism Under the circumstances, we have come to recognise that our enthronement was some- circulated said there were 900 mothers of sons and daughters. Am I, too, to be married off to a man, my father’s peer, then problems. This is why the world has representatives there, but in fact not thing preordained. This incident is still fresh and warm, just from the day before sold to the helicopter lady from Bombay, flashing her jewels and been unable to unravel India’s more than 250 representatives Convention notes yesterday. I had finished reporting on the meeting of the All Nepal promising a 25 percent on the deal that you make on me? Am I not suspect role in Nepal’s problem. It ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ attended. Party workers from the Family Problems Solution Meeting, and was heading home when I —King Gyanendra, The Himalayan Times, 18 June the source, the shakti spirit from whence you were born, but am I is necessary for India’s present Excerpts fromPurnajagaran , 18 June districts could be seen gearing up to thought I heard a baby crying at the edge of the Kamalpokhari pond. position to change, if an end is to For a while I thought it was just my cycle squeaking, so I ignored the to cast aside, a have a good time at a hotel on the masomat widow. No land to my name, no place in be brought about in the Maoist noise, but then I saw that a young woman was solving the problem of The stage, the balcony, the entire tab of Deuba and Gacchedar. family. I carried along, telling myself, ‘Why keep digging once you society, not even considered as a community member, dejected and terrorism that was nurtured by venue was packed with representa- Deuba had a written speech in India. In order for that to happen, know it’s a useless root, and not ginger,’ but to her misfortune, or to degraded. tives to the general convention [of thecase he made a slip. Those close to the Nepali establishment first needs Am I, too, to be demeaned, called witch, sorceress, fed the Nepali Congress] and leaders. Extra Deuba said that his speech had been to win the support of the world basest and plagued by the likes of you my dear brother, father, son chairs were brought in for the press. drafted by Pradip Giri. Many community—including India. There and husband. All in the name of being a woman. How then should I Loudspeakers were set up outside the representatives could be seen tearing is also the possibility that India may console myself? hall for party workers who couldn’t off their badges and hiding them in try to bargain with India, diplo- get a seat. In his address Bijaya their pockets, as they didn’t want to matically, on other issues, in Kumar Gacchedar proposed that the remain at the gathering. When a exchange for agreeing to help in the reign of the Koirala family should journalist close to Deuba, who also fight against the Maoists. To bring end, that the president should resign happens to be press advisor to the about in India a “mood” that is and that Ram Chandra Poudel Nepal Rastra Bank, came out to say helpful to Nepal, Nepal has no MISSING SIGNALS should take his place. When another that Khum Bahadur Khadka would option but to seek the support of speaker, Pradip Giri, said that be the future president of the party, the global community. Nepal’s Govinda Raj Joshi, Koirala’s slave, it was interesting to see listeners bite foreign policy seems inadequate for should also be made president, the their tongues in disbelief and turn Indian and Pakistani media that, in terms of diplomatic finesse hall applauded in support. red with shame. it is capable of. Nepal’s parliamen- When Prime Minster Deuba on tary parties may be adept at A majority of party representa- analysing [situations] and writing arrived, party workers outside the tives at the convention were heard India and Pakistan their party documents, but can we venue welcomed him shouting saying that they would not say the same about their foreign slogans: Long Live the Nepali relinquish the tree symbol and the policy skills? In such a situation, Congress, Take back the action four-star flag if Deuba split the against the prime minister. Inside the party. The party workers were trying how do you get the support of both Plus: venue, too, Deuba was welcomed to figure out why Deuba and Khum the global community and India to Kanak Mani Dixit on bring an end to Maoist violence? with loud cheers. Applause rang out Bahadur Khadka were arm-in-arm when at the end of his address Deuba the army and the On newsstands Congress president Girija with DB Lama, Sharad Singh said he was in favour of party unity Bhandari, and Gopal Jijung Shah. people Prasad Koirala understands a little now! but that there was not enough time There was a notable presence of the more about India’s role in the Slicing India: The Let go! to wait, and when Home Minister UML, the RPP and the Maoists at Maoist problem than the others. It’s going to split! Khum Bahadur Khadka said that the the convention. 1954 Kumbh Mela tree would remain their election and General Himalaya Times, 16 June Disappointment in Islamabad 141414 CITY 21 - 27 JUNE 2002NEPALI TIMES SPORT 21 - 27 JUNE 2002 NEPALI TIMES 151515 SUCKER FOR SOCCER ABOUT TOWN YAK YETI YAK by MIKU by BILL BREWSTER EXHIBITION Monsoon MoodsAnnual collective summer show from 20 June match. I was standing in a beer line at Siddhartha Art Gallery, Baber Mahal Revisited, 11AM-6Pm before the England-Nigeria game except Saturday. 411122 when I heard the man behind me Three Men’s Perspective A three-man exhibition of More than just a game Cup and Korea wanted to keep up tell someone he was from “Mount photographic art 9-27 June, 10AM-5PM, except Saturdays, Park with the Joneses, with whom they Everest.” Lok Bahadur Biswokarma Gallery, Pulchowk. 522307 have a very understandable love- actually hails from Pokhara, but I Think football has nothing to do with history hate relationship built on over 50 guess that’s what he says to avoid FOOTBALLFOOTBALLFOOTBALL years of hosting American soldiers. getting blank stares. World Cup Watch Football finals at GAA Hall, Thamel, 30 June, 4PM on. Tickets, Rs 99 and globalisation? Think again. Then, over the weekend, I met I had to pay about double face (St Xavier’s ‘92-’02) and Rs 199 (all rest) at GAA Hall, St Xavier’s School, Tukuche a Korean schoolteacher who said value to a ticket scalper that day, Restaurant, Darbar Marg, Kasthamandap Bazar. that initially she was just hoping thebut Lok, who’s been living in Osaka with his Japanese wife Bookie’s Bar Watch World Cup games, win free buffets and other prizes with every match. efore this year’s World Cup team would make the second round, but once they’d drawn Italy Shigeko for three years, working as Free entrance, Hotel Yak & Yeti everyday. 248999 BOOKWORM began, I picked Argentina to beat Portugal in the final. there, victory was essential. Why? a noodle chef, had gotten tickets to Word Cup Football Show All the World Cup matches on the Summit big screen. Free Entry. B Kingdom on Edge: Nepal: Royal Tragedy 2001Subarna Chhetri, Suresh Malla, eds Because North Korea—the country this very desirable match at regular 521810 Neither team, of course, made it The Hidden Treasure, 2002, Kathmandu out of the first round. Nor did she’d been taught all her life to hateprice, by some means I didn’t quite Catch of the match Every World Cup match, everyday, with food and drink at The Jazz Bar, Rs 2,000 defending champion France or two- and fear—had beaten Italy in 1966 understand that involved writing a This richly illustrated volume printed on art paper presents a brief history of Nepali royalty before Shangri-La Hotel. 412999 time winners Uruguay. and it would be shameful not to at letter to FIFA and then waiting in a moving on to exploring the repercussions of the royal massacre of 1 June. Historians, journalists, long queue of Germans. Best steaks and ESPN World Cup at games K-too! Beer & Steakhouse, Thamel. Buy two These traditional powers hail least equal that feat. Very few of the businessmen, armymen and others reflect on the various facets of the rule of King Birendra, the current throngs of red-shirted Lok was shirtless and had a beers, get a can free, daily specials. 433043. from Europe and South America, challenges thrown up by his death, and the road ahead for Nepal under the present king. South Korean fans were alive in and it’s shocking how those regions small England flag painted on his 1966, but that doesn’t matter. The EVENTSEVENTSEVENTS have owned the tournament in the cheek. I asked him about this Studies in Nepali History and Society Vol 5, NoPratyoush 1 Onta, Mary Des Chene, Seira Tamang, local TV networks were hammering ELD Training WorkshopsTelephone Skills, Welcoming Visitors, Dealing with Enquiries & past. Of the 16 previous World allegiance, but he said he’d had his Mark Liechty the point home by incessantly Cups, eight have been won by face painted just for fun—he Complaints, 25-28 June, 9.30 AM-12.30 PM. Memo & Letter Writing, 25-28 June, 1.30 Mandala Book Point, Kathmandu, 2000 showing hazy black-and-white footage PM-4.30 PM. UK Charity, British facilitator, at Sanepa. For details: [email protected], European teams, eight by South doesn’t support any of the teams at Rs 250 of an antique North Korean goal. 524202, www.eld.org.uk Americans. In 1998 and 1994, every this year’s tournament. He The latest edition of SINHAS, Mandala Book Point’ scholarly journal includes articles entitled: Institu- quarterfinalist was European or The Korean team has measured apologised, “ The Formation of a Nepali Public Sphere in India and the Creation of “Nepaliness”,tional Responses to Electric Vehicle Promotion in Nepal; The Enigmatic Pig: On Magar Participation in up to all three of those imagined 1914-1940 Talk by Rhoderick Chalmers, SOAS, London. 25 June, 2PM. CNAS (Centre for South American. Over the five most the State Rituals of Nepal; Legalising State Patriarchy in Nepal; Urbanisation, Government Policies and recent Cups, only two teams from foes, in addition to the real ones Nepal and Asian Studies), Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur. Organised by CNAS and Growingthe South Environmental Problems in Pokhara, Nepal; and Kathmanduko FM Radio ma Nepal Bhasa. they’ve faced on the field. Who Asia Institute, Heidelberg University. other continents (Cameroon in 1990 and Mexico in 1986) made it that far. knows what would have happened if Friends of the Bagmati Meeting 26 June, 3PM, Dwarika’s Hotel to discuss the second they had instead lost to Italy— Poverty and Rural Development in Nepal Krishna Bahadur Kunwar This year, of the eight quarterfi- Bagmati River Festival. All welcome. [email protected] riots? mass suicides?—but thank- Mina Kunwar, Kathmandu, 1999/2002 nalists, one each are from Africa Namaste Banepa an education project seeks input and ideas. [email protected] fully we’ll never have to find out. dherai raksi khaayo”, Rs 225 (Senegal), North America (the US), Nepali fans around the world but most of the crowd at that In this Nepali-language work the author sets out to define poverty. He places rural poverty in and Asia (co-host South Korea). In Osaka last week, I had the match was in the exact same boat. MUSICMUSICMUSIC Nepal in the context of democracy and party politics and discusses how poverty alleviation Critics of this year’s tournament are needle-in-a-haystack experience of We were so excited to find each International music Twoday open concerts, special children’s programme and modern programs can work best with local leadership and self-governance. Finally, Kunwar discusses making excuses—the tournament randomly meeting a Nepali at a other that we met again at halftime, songs at Tundikhel Open floor 11AM-5PM, classical, folk and rock programme from 6:30 PMforeign aid and economic dependence, and suggests new ways to combat poverty, with some was scheduled too soon after the matter that the Korean team was when he introduced me to his wife. on at the Alliance Française, Thapathali. Free Entrance. 21 June lessons from China. European club season but too late to some degree the team has facing more difficult opponents. Even though the game was a goal- to escape the north-east Asian world’s richest clubs you’ll see succeeded despite the crushing Then the US started having a good less draw, meeting him made it a monsoon, etc, etc. But the simplest Trinidadians, Liberians and DRINKDRINKDRINK Courtesy: Mandala Book Point, Kantipath, 227711, [email protected] explanation is that the “world weight of their countrymen’s special afternoon. Australians. Players and coaches are Uncork the good times at Dwarika’s Hotel. 30 percent discount on snacks and beverages game” is finally starting to globalise. expectations, which have little to moving around the world more thando with football and everything to in the new Fusion Bar. 43” screen for football viewing. Swimming pool for non-football fans. CLASSIFIED The best leagues in the world 479488 ever, and their long-ignored do with history. Wanted: Flat in Lalitpur at Rs 3,500 per month ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Road, 15 min. from Lincoln School. Big compound. are still in Europe, but the main national teams are the beneficiaries. Metre of Malts Single malt exhibition and tasting. Twelve single malts for Rs 999. Evenings, Popular sentiment here approximately. Contact [email protected] style five bedrooms, two bathrooms. Servants’ reason today is that that’s where Complex inferiorities Piano Lounge, Hotel Yak & Yeti. 248999 quarters. Motorable road. Ring 356074, 981030322 the money is. In the line-ups of the demanded that Korea do at least as The deafening Korean crowds well as co-host and long-time Mountain Madness Cocktails, happy hour everyday 4PM-8 PM, two for the price of one at for Hari, Shanta, Sanju or John. Foot - Reflexology: stressed or tired? UPLIFT YOUR have certainly been a major factor oppressor Japan, and it didn’t Syakar Company Ltd Rs 250. Kilroy’s of Kathmandu, Thamel. 250440 SPIRIT FROM YOUR TOES UP. in their team’s three victories, but Jyoti Bhawan, Kantipath Kathmandu email: [email protected] or ring 425931 House for rent Ground floor: living room, kitchen, FOODFOODFOOD dining room, one bathroom. First floor: master The best of Punjab Punjabi thali dinners at The Fun Café, Radisson Hotel, 21-27 BritishJune. Charity seeks smart, dynamic and self- bedroom with attached bath, one bedroom, bath- room, pantry. Second floor: one bedroom with motivated person. Responsibilities include marketing 411818 attached bath, store, lobby. Third floor: terrace and & promotion, handling enquiries and general adminis- laundry room. Location: Galfutar. Tel: 412094. Malaysian food Rojak, popiah goreng, kodak jaggong and more. All through June,trative duties. Recent graduates seeking experience Shambhala Garden, Shangri La-Hotel. 412999 with an INGO are encouraged to apply. Please send Authentic Thai food Everyday at Yin Yang Restaurant. 425510 CV (as word attachment), covering letter (stating expected salary) and scanned photograph to Stupa iewV and Restauranterrace & T at Paddy Foley’s Irish APub wide range of drinks and food. Live music on Wednesday, [email protected]. Baudhanath Stupa. Well-appointed restaurant and Thursday and Sunday nights. 416096. terraces with views of stupa and Himalayas. BBQ and momo evenings 5PM onwards at Nanglo Café and Pub, Darbar Marg. 222636 International vegetarian specialties, pizza from clay ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ oven, ice cream, soft guitar tunes on Fridays, Special Thai cuisineat Ban Thai Restaurant, Darbar Marg. 243271 Flowerlovers don’t miss our special FUCHSIA Saturdays, Sundays from 5PM on. Special events on exhibition!!!More than 60 new and very beautiful full moon. Open daily 11AM-8.30PM. 480262. GETAWAYS varieties of FUCHSIA, recently imported from Europe, Chiso Chiso Hawama with World Cup atPassion Club are on sale now, for the first time ever in Nepal. Only at THE BISHALNAGAR NURSERY, tel. 431797, five min K-Too! Beer and Steakhouse not the “longest”, Himalaya Nagarkot. Rs 1,500 per person on twin sharing from Bhatbhateni Supermarket, two min from with free snacks. 410432, 680083. Bishalnagar Chowk (turn right and downhill). “highest”, “first” or any other superlative. Just a relaxed, easy-going bar and restaurant with the Monsoon at its best Walk in the rain through the pristine coldest beer and juiciest steaks this side of the moon. countryside. $35 per person per night on full board basis at By the Kathmandu Guest House. 433043 the Horse Shoe Mountain Resort, Mude. Landrover Defender 110 1990, 146,000 kms. Duty not [email protected] paid. Price negotiable. Contact 521105 between 10AM-12 noon. The way to Mexico is too far. Botega Restaurant and Special offer Buy one $99 overnight package, get the second night at 50% Valid for one or Tequila Bar is near Thamel Chowk. 266433. 15 two people, Dwarika’s Hotel. 479488 House to let Sitapaila Heights, 5 min. from Ring percent off season discount Shivapuri Heights Cottage Two acres with cottages at 6,000 feet on the edge of the Shivapuri National Park. Rs 1,850 per person with dinner and breakfast, second day lunch For insertions ring NT Marketing at 543333-36. free. Rs 925 per child 5-14 years, children under five free. [email protected] The Great Godavari Getaway Special weekend packages including room with breakfast and dinner, 25 percent discount on health club facilities. Godavari Village Resort. 560675 For inclusion in the listing send information to [email protected] on FM 102.4

NEPALI WEATHER by NGAMINDRA DAHAL

DSES-19-06-2002 02:00 GMT Just as we suspected three weeks ago in this column, theMon-Fri 0615-0645orld BBC Today W monsoon is late. Years with robust pre-monsoon showers have usually seen a weak start to the real monsoon, andSat 0615-0645 BBC Science in Action so it was this year. If you want to go into the technical details, then it is the equatorial jet stream not reaching its usual northern position over the Himalayan foothills toSun 0615-0645 BBC Agenda push the first monsoon waves along. As a result, the westerlies are still playing tug-o-war with the moisture- bearing winds from the southeast. However, this satellite Daily 2045-2115 BBCg] kfnL ;]]jf]]] image taken on Wednesday morning shows a big monsoon pulse building up over eastern India. This zoneDaily 2245-2300 BBCg] kfnL ;]jf] will reach Nepal next week with heavy sustained rains. g]kfnL ;]jf]]

KATHMANDU VALLEY Radio Sagarmatha

Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue P.O. Box 6958, Bakhundole, Lalitpur, Nepal Tel: ++977-1-545680, 545681 Fax: ++ 977-1- 530227 E-mail: [email protected] www.radiosagarmatha.org 30-20 30-20 29-19 29-19 30-20 /]l8of ] ;u/dfyf 161616 21 - 27 JUNE 2002 NEPALI TIMES Under My Hat NEPALI SOCIETY They are not allowed to discuss by Kunda Dixit what exactly they are investigating in relation to the former Yugosla- Criminal Tribunal for the Formervia, and neither can they say where Our womenthey takein their frequent The field trips. Hague Yugoslavia, following in the footsteps of her colleague Rita “It’s in the former Yugoslavia, t’s been a long journey for Pradhan, who in 1994 also left theobviously,” Kabita offers, but that is Kabita Nirola, who began herpolice force as a DSP to join as specific as she can be. Not the 8 o’clock NewsIcareer in the Nepal Police the ICTY. These restrictions promise to een observers and shrewd anal-ists of Nepali luring him to set up a new company called Enron. Elliedirecting traffic on New Road backOn a rare sunny day in The grind the interview to a halt, but in the 1980’s, when women copsHague, both women hunt for a Kabita goes on: “In Nepal, we politics are all tuned in to the 8 o’clock News, thinks Jock will leave her if she has a mastectomy, she were a rarity. “A man came up andsidewalk café, but these are all usually investigated crimes that Kwhich has consistently garnered higher ratings can’t take it any more and emigrates to New Zealand. whistled at me,” she says, laugh-occupied by sun-starved Europeans.had just been committed. In the than any other soap opera. It is even more riveting than ing. “I arrested him. Drivers wouldEventually they settle on a darkcase of the former Yugoslavia, Dynasty stop to look at me because they we’re investigating crimes that the long-running Afghan teleserial, Chinese restaurant and talk about Loya Jirga and the Alexis marries Cecil Colby, thus cement- had never seen a policewoman.”the work they do now. For securityoccurred years ago.” Warlords and the brand new Indian television drama, ing the merger between Colbyco and Nirola moved up the ranks to reasons, they are not allowed to Pradhan faced a greater become one of Nepal’s four reveal much about this, however.challenge in adjusting to ICTY’s The Unguided Missile Man. The reason is that our Denver Carrington. But it’s a women DSPs. Then, two years They both work as work because when she joined in political drama has more back-stabbing, back-biting, jungle out there, as Alexis ago, she joined the International Investigators in 1995, the organisation was only a back-pedalling, backing the wrong horse, back-scratch-soon finds out to her chagrin. year old, and unusure of its own teams composed of She starts flirting with an mandate. “Nothing was clearly laid ing, greed and avarice than any other on the planet. (So lawyers, military alpha male from the Masai out for us,” she says. “But now far, there hasn’t been any explicit sex yet, but we can’t analysts, other rule that out in future episodes.) Mara. Blake Carrington, stung there’s a system in place.” police, and Were they sorry to leave the While channel hopping the other day to find out by this treachery, finds his own she-lion, Krystle Grant Jennings, who struggles to fit into the lavish, powerful translators. Nepal Police? Both women nod what was happening at the Nepali Congress HQ at and sometimes ruthless lifestyle of the Carringtons as vigorously. “I spent seventeen years Teku, I was given a tour de force of the exciting stuff our there. That’s what trained me,” the pride hunts wildebeest on the Serengeti Plains but cable operator has on offer: Nirola says. “And obviously my eat up a National Geographic cameraman by mistake. training was good, because I can Dallas compete at an international level.” The Bold and the Beautiful Lucy is really getting out of hand—now she is trying to Pradhan is just as unequivocal Brooke is on the couch watching the World Cup frame her teacher for sexual harassment. But guess who’s about paying her dues: “We’re here quarterfinals between South Korea and Italy when she today because of the Nepal coming to dinner: it is the fruit of Ewing’s enemy’s loins. overhears Erica and Whip’s conversation on the baby Police.” Yet the discrimination they Here is a spy who has leaked JR’s less-than-legal dealings endured in Nepal still rankles. monitor. Stephanie tells Spectra that Bridget threw her to the Senate Committee. As Jock’s heart attack out. Deacon, who is a bit slow upstairs, and has already Impressively, of the fourteen mandates a quadruple bypass, JR sets a trap for Gary by Nepalis employed at the ICTY, watched the match live, tells Brooke the score. She three are women. (The third is a nearly strangles him, unaware that Ahn has scored the lawyer, Tej Thapa). Both Pradhan golden goal and their marriage is already over. Brooke and Nirola are glad to be setting allows Deacon to feel the baby kick, Bridget can’t take an example for the younger women it any more and emigrates to New Zealand. joining the Nepal Police. Having moved up the ranks through sheer The 8 o’clock News effort, they open the way for the Sher tells Girija that he doesn’t like him any more. following generations. Girija says, look you impudent twit, don’t talk to me like that, and bans him from his parties for three years. Miffed, Sher runs off to get a bulldozer and demolishes the august house. Girija says, wait right here, I’ll take care of you when I come back from China. Sher tells KP, don’t just sit there, do something. But it’s too late, Sher has Girija in a half-nelson while Girija lands an upper cut on the Sher’s jaw. Now the weather: A bit unsettled over some parts of the kingdom in the next 24 hours.

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