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#263 2 - 8 September 2005 16 pages Rs 30 Weekly Internet Poll # 263 Q... How do you evaluate the Nepali media’s role post-February First in upholding press freedom? A statue for Ramesh A year later, one Nepali family remembers the terrifying death of their young son Total votes:2,336 Weekly Internet Poll # 264. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com Q.Should.. the security forces and the Maoists declare a one-month Dasain-Tihar ceasefire? ALOK TUMBAHANGPHEY in LELE xactly a year ago this week 12 Nepali workers were E brutally slaughtered by an Iraqi terrorist group but Nepalis tempted by higher salaries continue to work in the nation despite the dangers and a government ban. In the rest of the world the Ramesh's father Jit Bahadur Khadka murders sparked outrage and with mother Radhika, Ramesh's sister revulsion but in politically- and nephew last week in Lele. charged Kathmandu the news set T MILLER off two days of coordinated vandalism, pre-meditated arson broke down and wept. Lalitpur start a small business. in a few months. “Don’t worry, I of manpower companies and CDO Sthaneswor Debkota was the “He was a simple village boy will be fine,” Jit Bahadur’s voice unprecedented attacks against chief guest and sat at the front with small dreams,” remembers breaks Nepali Muslims. reading a newspaper. The grieving his father Jit Bahadur Khadka, 57, as he Self-immolation p4 One of those killed, 19-year- family was nevertheless grateful a farmer. Sitting outside the recalls Painfully rebuilding p5 old Ramesh Khadka, had left his that a government official was family house after a day in the his lush green village of Lele on the present. paddy fields, Jit Bahadur recalls son’s final words just before he outskirts of Kathmandu two Ramesh was the youngest son trying to persuade Ramesh to saw him off at the airport on 3 July SUBSCRIBERS months before he was abducted. of a family of four brothers and delay his trip. “Wait till you’re a last year. Did your paper arrive on time this Ramesh’s body and those of 11 three sisters. He was schooled little older, then we will send On the afternoon of 1 morning? If not, call our other Nepalis were never found. only till Grade Seven but was an you wherever you want,” he September, a video clip of the Complaints Hotline 9851054729 On Wednesday, Ramesh’s independent lad, working in a implored. But Ramesh persuaded cold-blooded murders (one man and talk to Santosh Aryal. family and neighbours marked restaurant in the city whose the family to collect Rs 200,000, was beheaded, the others were ISSN 1814-2613 the anniversary by unveiling a owner also ran Moonlight most to be used to pay shot) was aired by Al Jazeera and bust of him in the courtyard in Manpower Company, the firm Moonlight and the rest for his relayed by Indian news channels. front of the small family home. that recruited him. expenses. Nepali stations found the footage As people filed past garlanding Ramesh’s dream was to build Ramesh said he would be able too gory to broadcast. Ramesh’s statue, his relatives a cement house for his family and to send back money to repay loans Continued p4 2 EDITORIAL 2 - 8 SEPTEMBER 2005 #263 Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Chief Editor: Kunda Dixit for drunken or disorderly Desk Editor: Marty Logan Design: Kiran Maharjan Web: Bhushan Shilpakar conduct is anyone’s guess. And Advertising: Sunaina Shah [email protected] Subscription: Pushparaj Sharma, [email protected] even in the handful of cases Sanchaya Kosh Building, Block A-4th Floor, Lalitpur GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal where soldiers have been tried for Tel: 01-5543333-6, Fax: 01-5521013 serious crimes, the court martial [email protected], www.nepalitimes.com Printed at Jagadamba Press, Hatiban: 01-5547018 A dirty war results–when available—are Will Condoleezza Rice cite ‘national security’ shocking: for homicide a two-year to waive restrictions on US military aid? sentence, for sexual assault and SEEING ENEMIES EVERYWHERE rape a transfer to another barracks. The palace is so fixated on the past it can’t see a future with a NEW YORK—On the eve of King that it investigate allegations of The US believes firmly that political party that has consistently stood for reconciliation with the Gyanendra’s departure for the abuses by forces under its control. the Maoists are a real threat to monarchy. The Nepali Congress is still regarded by royal hardliners annual meeting of the UN General Washington had found the Nepal and to the region. Given as the most resistant roadblock to a powerful kingship. Assembly in New York, RNA’s actions in combat such a ongoing US military operations But Nepal’s ship of state has post-February First swung sharply Washington is deliberating liability that it could no longer in Afghanistan and Iraq and its in the direction of republicanism. The king’s takeover had an equal and opposite reaction in the NC, which this week jettisoned ‘constitutional whether or not Secretary of State provide military aid unless these long-standing anti-communist monarchy’ from the preamble of its statute ahead of the party conditions were met. Only the policy, there is strong sympathy convention. GUEST COLUMN Secretary of State, citing ‘national in Washington for governments The NC’s legacy was built on the work ethic and commitment of Tejshree security’ concerns, could waive like Nepal fighting a brutal thousands of party workers not always reflected at the top by shady power the conditions. This came as a insurgency campaign–and even brokers like Khum Bahadur Khadka, Govinda Raj Joshi and Bijaya Condoleezza Rice should apply an blow to the RNA and the more sympathy given that those Kumar Gachhedar, all of them it has to be said, groomed by Girija exceptional waiver to allow lethal government generally. Initially, insurgents are self-declared Prasad Koirala himself. military assistance to the Royal the RNA did not take the ‘Leahy Maoists. The NC is defined by its revolutionary uprising against the Rana Nepali Army to continue. amendment’ seriously. Arbitrary Even if there is a special shoguns and was steered by the likes of Subarna Shumshere and In October 2004 the US arrests, disappearances and waiver, it is very likely the US BP. The People’s Movement was brought to its successful conclusion by Congress passed legislation, torture at RNA hands continued will follow the lead of India and Ganesh Man Singh, whose absence so rankles today. The fast footwork required to get the country a new constitution was possible because of the spearheaded by Senator Patrick unabated. the UK and send only non-lethal wily Krishna Prasad Bhattarai. Even the much-maligned Girija Prasad Leahy and later signed by In the aftermath of February assistance. If the US chooses this has at least been consistent in standing up against autocracy. President Bush, which required First, India and the UK route, the RNA should not The palace needs all the friends it can get. But one by one it has improvements in the RNA’s suspended lethal military interpret it as a signal of support. alienated its closest allies: even sympathetic Americans have turned behaviour on some fundamental assistance to Nepal although both It is not a step towards future scathing, the army needlessly needled friendly Indian brass over the human rights issues. This have since resumed provision of lethal military assistance, for INSAS rifles and at home it has radicalised parties that used to swear by legislation included conditions non-lethal military assistance. which the RNA has been the constitutional monarchy. that the army obey orders laid The US did not announce a clamouring but a rebuke. It will The NC may still work with a king, but only one who is apolitical. down by the Supreme Court, that suspension but no lethal military be a way of maintaining leverage There are many within it, however, who consider the very term it cooperate with the NHRC and aid went in. In the face of such over the RNA without providing ‘constitutional monarchy’ an strong international it the weapons to commit further oxymoron in present day Nepal. condemnation, the RNA adopted abuses. The king has never some cosmetic measures, which it The Maoists regularly and concealed his allergy for hoped would be read as real systematically violate human Girija Prasad but the NC will reform. Instead of refusing to rights and the laws of war but inevitably have a leadership produce a detainee before the that does not justify the RNA after him that will give the courts, the security forces have engaging in similarly brutal monarchy even less leeway. adopted the cynical practice of tactics. For two years in a row Pushed too far, the NC’s immediately re-arresting the same now, Nepal has the sad ‘moderate centre’ has shifted detainee after a court ordered distinction of having the largest and it would be a mistake to release, often from the very steps number of reported think this is just a movement of the courthouse. ‘disappearances’ worldwide. This lead by lawyers and journalists. The NHRC has been little known fact says a lot about When the king took over occasionally allowed to visit how the war is being fought by he promised peace and military detention centres but the RNA. democracy. We have neither. has often been denied access to If the RNA does not care about To fix things, all he needs to all prisoners—conditions under the rights of Nepali citizens, then do is sit down jointly with which the ICRC has refused to the US will have great difficulty party leaders and sort it out operate.