#201 18 - 24 June 2004 20 pages Rs 25

hen the Maoists got their student wing to force a W nationwide education shutdown two weeks ago, they wanted to put political pressure on the government to resume CLASS WAR negotiations. It seems to be working. NAVIN SINGH KHADKA The government is also hoping that an end to the education strike But the army is said to be dead over Nepal for revolutionary could mark the beginning of a peace against a ceasefire, citing previous indoctrination sessions. process. “If the talks with the Maoist truces that the Maoists used to If there is a silver lining in the When student wing are successful, it could regroup. school closure, it is that it may lead pave the way for possible peace “It is the government’s security to another truce. A prominent schools talks,” Education Minister forces that use schools as barracks and human rights activist in the Bimalendra Nidhi told us on bring violence to them,” says the mediation task force told us: “Both become a Thursday afternoon, as mediators Maoist AANFSU-R president, the Maoists and the government appeared closer to a deal. Lekhnath Neupane, who has been want to see the negotiations war zone, Sudeep Pathak, coordinator of giving frequent phone interviews on between their student wing and the task force mediating between FM stations all week. the government leads to peace the sword is the government and the rebel However, it is clear that the talks.” students said an agreement was education strike is more about politics So far, the only thing standing mightier than within reach and that there was than about education. “We believe in the way is semantics.l bargaining on the precise wording the AANFSU-R strike is politically the pen of the agreement. “An agreement motivated because the real demands on opening schools could lead to of the students on fees have been peace talks,” he said. sidelined,” says Rajendra Rai, The Maoist students’ main president of the rival UML-affiliated demand is the withdrawal of its student union. Editorial p2 terrorist tag, but the government The Maoists, who have seen their Nepali dystopia first wants them to accept schools anti-monarchy slogans hijacked by as violence free zones. Minister the anti-‘regression’ street agitation of Nidhi told us: “If they agree to keep the political parties and their student out of schools, we can consider wings, needed to assert themselves. withdrawing the terrorist label.” An indefinite education strike was an The Maoists are under easy way to make their presence considerable pressure after the arrest felt. Besides closing schools, the of their top leaders in India and Maoists have also been taking analysts say they would benefit away thousands of students and from a monsoon breathing spell. teachers from rural schools all

Weekly Internet Poll # 141 Q. Is Sher Bahadur Deuba likely to get the Maoists to agree on a ceasefire?

Total votes:1,474 Weekly Internet Poll # 142. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com Q. Should the UML join the Deuba government? 2 EDITORIAL 18 - 24 JUNE 2004 #201

Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Chief Editor: Kunda Dixit Desk Editors: Trishna Gurung, Jemima Sherpa Design: Kiran Maharjan Web: Bhushan Shilpakar Advertising: Sunaina Shah [email protected] Subscription: Anil Karki, [email protected] Sanchaya Kosh Building, Block A-4th Floor, Lalitpur GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal The middle way Tel: 01-5543333-6, Fax: 01-5521013 [email protected], www.nepalitimes.com Printed at Jagadamba Press, Hatiban: 01-5547018 Liberating democracy from the shackles of the past

NEPALI DYSTOPIA s Nepal’s choices narrow elections and the need to raise more emphasis on the rules and down to either a ‘guided funds by any means to win votes. liberal norms rather than just s things go from bad to worse, this country’s well-wishers keep asking A democracy’ of the right or a They began to lose authority over elections. Many leading A us: what do you think will happen? One thing we have learnt is not ‘people’s democracy’, it is time to the behaviour of their party cadre democracies in the West built their to underestimate the capacity for Nepal’s circumstances to get even more dire. “Things will get worse before they get better,” we say wistfully, start looking for an alternative and the civil servants. The rot nations in that way. Even semi- recognising that only the first part of that statement may hold true. middle way. spread quickly through the system. democratic Asian economies Observe the signs of a failing state: the scant presence of the Under both scenarios, the first By the end of the 1990s, implemented sound liberal values government in large parts of the country, the sagging morale of those casualty will be competitive Nepal was practicing an illiberal like rule of law, quality of who are supposed to be in charge and the demolition of the education elections and the loss of civil liberty and dysfunctional democracy. But regulation and accountability. We system. Extrapolating this country’s accelerated slide downwards, it is easy to despite all this, democratic must strike a balance here, and in predict a doomsday scenario for 2006: by then the death toll in a GUEST COLUMN institutions were being built and a several ways: decade of conflict reaches 25,000. The number of those wounded, Alok Bohara new culture of political choice and maimed, bereaved, orphaned and widowed crosses the one million mark. freedom was spreading across the The political parties must first Almost every family is touched by tragedy. A Maoist utopia is already and individual rights. From a land. The foundations of a future exhibit some internal democracy. looking like a dystopia. The revolution has degenerated into criminality and warlordism, with practical geopolitical point of view, genuine democracy were being They must be brought under a a new generation of unschooled children taking up arms. The Maoist a Maoist ‘utopia’ with a heavy dose laid. strict code of conduct, including rank and file is wracked by infighting and purges, but the leadership can’t of social engineering in the middle This glimmer of hope can be fair and progressive election finance stop fighting without risking the ruthless retribution of hardliners. The war of the two rising free market seen within the entrepreneural rules, which will allow a fresh takes on an increasingly ethnic polarisation. As the conflict gets more economies is hard to imagine. spirit of our small private sector. It young leadership to emerge. desperate, the guerrillas show less and less interest in the safety of non- Our elder leaders did suffer in was too much to expect our Political devolution to combatants, indeed deliberately targeting them to sow panic and chaos. The countryside is littered with landmines and booby-trap roadside their struggle for liberty from the democracy to be perfect in just 10 regional governments and some bombs. Rana regime and the autocratic years. But when the time comes to form of mixed proportional The military becomes even more indiscriminate in cracking down on Panchayat system. But after pick up the pieces and rebuild it representation system of election suspected insurgents. Instances of disappearances, extra-judicial killings, achieving a multiparty system, their with a new constitution and a new may give added weight to grassroot pillage and rape put Nepal right at the top of the list of the world’s worst focus and priority was on winning democratic process, we must put voices. Half the countries around violators of human rights, mentioned in the same breath as Congo and Colombia. the world have these two provisions Tourism is a thing of the past, the civilian administration in one way or another. and government has long since collapsed. The This should be followed by political parties have been torn to shreds by economic devolution with a 50/ the pincers of the extreme left and right, 50 revenue sharing formula from and by their own infighting. Five million hydropower and other resources to Nepalis have fled to India and New Delhi has started voicing concerns about be ploughed into local instability in Nepal threatening its own development through federal security. India does not allow UN incentives to innovate, develop and peacekeeping forces to stabilise the invest. This will balance regional situation, but doesn’t intervene itself for fear economic growth and allow fairer of being sucked into the conflict. Nepal is left to its own devices, just another hotspot benefits to local populations. in an increasingly unstable world that no Political and economic devolution one has time for. can benefit both the center and the It doesn’t take a prophet to foresee this regional governments. apocalyptic scenario in two year’s time. Separation of powers and the Signs are already pointing that way, and question of the army’s chain of that is the way things will go unless the comrades in the hills, the king in his palace command is one of the most and the political parties on the streets come to intractable points of disagreement their senses and see where they are taking the between the king, political parties country. Maybe one of them will wrest control one and the Maoists. The current three- day, but of what use is that power if there is no member Defence Council may be country left to exercise it in? widened to include some key ROBIN SAYAMI

L ETTERS

DEUBA III airline has more than 2,000 benefits’ in ‘Dogmandu’ (#199), THE D WORD more than triple the amount He roared like a sher in 1995 employees for only two jet citing their protection, loyalty and Why is it that the word available now if it is to meet the and so did the Maoists. Had he aircraft. If it were well managed, love. That we all agree upon, but ‘development’ in and by itself, holds MDG. Much concern was also nipped them in the bud then, the airline could be managed she forgets dogs can also be very little meaning for Nepal. The expressed that available financial 8,000 lives needn’t have been easily by a dozen full timers and nightmares. Mauling deaths, relationship between Nepal and the resources are just lying in the lost (#199). We all remember his a few part timers. As Lama transmitting diseases and keeping ‘d’ word is determined only by the treasury while the remaining is second stint as prime minister— points out, the company has us awake all night evoke a adjectives used, mostly ‘under-’, sought from various multilateral the failed talks with the Maoists, become a kind of employment different reality. KAT’s good ‘less-’ and most recently ‘failed-.’ and bilateral donors, and other escalations in the rebel attacks agency for politicians, but may I intentions, I think, are misdirected. The existence of innumerable international donor agencies and on the police, armed force say this problem is not peculiar Sure, a bit of TLC and prettier and much more attractive support institutions. How wise is outposts as well as innocent solely to RA. The NY City compassion should be extended adjectives is no secret, it all it to maintain the status quo in the citizens, the muzzled press and subway system is still running on to them but over-population and depends on how committed we are name of additional financial the draconian laws he resorted early 20th century technology, endless barking have eroded my to reach a level where we can resources? Prudence suggests to combat the rebels. Are we saddled with too many workers compassion. We need to truly utilise them. that immediate steps must be now supposed to believe that with big paychecks. It is a advocate castration, euthanasia A recent seminar in Kathmandu initiated to address some, if not he will wave a magic wand and repository of political favours for and adoption to control the highlighted the deficit in the annual all, sectoral goals to help us bring peace between the most city officials. The people of population of our four-footed financial resource requirement to achieve some MDG goals. rebels, the four political parties New York usually dismiss them friends. I like dogs but I like a achieve the Millennium However, waiting for the full and the palace? I wish him well as lazy good-for-nothings. The good nights sleep better. Development Goals (MDG). It amount needed to achieve all this because I hate to see a lion go situation is so bad that there are KK Tamang, Kathmandu rightly pointed out that Nepal needs out a lamb. more managers than field Tirtha Mali, Florida, workers. RNAC is in the same USA situation and the only way it will turn a profit is by going public or RNAC private. Vijay Lama’s ‘Too much drag’ Kiran Thapa, New York (#199) reminded me of the time I asked an RNAC employee why DOGMANDU the company was doing so Sraddha Basnyat says, ‘Dogs badly. She told me that the are man’s best friends with KUNDA DIXIT NATION 18 - 24 JUNE 2004 #201 3 ministers and other House representatives. The commander- in-chief should be a non-voting member and, most importantly, the military must be brought Uncle Sam’s nephews under parliamentary control. The constitutional ambiguity regarding the Article 127 and the role of the America doesn’t need to put its money where its mouth is Monarch must be clarified once and for all. ven though it is the Indians of Americans in Kathmandu. In Educational reform with a who are arming us to the an ironic twist to the Maoist three-tier decentralised education E teeth (the latest Advanced legacy, China has left it up to system implanted in each region Light Helicopters landed in the market. The Nepali middle- needs to be adopted immediately Gauchar this week), it is the class can’t imagine a life without to fill the vacuum in the education Americans who get all the credit. the cheap Khasa goods and for sector and to level the playing field The American contribution is that they are eternally grateful to for all Nepalis. Political meddling China. As for the guerrillas who in education, among other factors, STATE OF THE STATE are fighting in their Great is directly responsible for the CK Lal Helmsman’s name, the Chinese collapse of the public education dismiss them as ‘anti-govern- system in Nepal, and the blame insignificant in comparison to what ment forces’. lies squarely with the political the army has sourced from India, The Europeans, including parties. Belgium, Britain, Belarus, South the British now, rely on the Control of corruption by Africa and China. ‘system’ (the palace-military- giving the CIAA more teeth and In fact, American help has been bureaucracy combine) to reducing political interference in confined to the services of implement diplomatic policies. its functioning. ‘consultants’. Let’s face it, a country Outside the charmed circle of Freedom of expression and free bogged down in a Mesopotamian top brass, important topis and a press are essential rights, without quagmire can’t have much to teach few NGO biggies, they exercise which civil society cannot function us about counterinsurgency. little influence in Nepal. But and act as a watchdog. But Influence can be peddled by being big donors, they can personal liberty to make economic pushing an ideological line, by afford to manipulate aid to exert choices and to own private leverage or through linkages. influence. The smartest have been the these in Nepal by assiduously property is also a fundamental Relationships between New Delhi has traditionally Americans who don’t need to put cultivating academia, media, right. The right to periodically asymmetrical states are like those depended on Indo-Nepal their money where their mouth is professions and ‘civil society’. choose new governments should between magnets and iron filings. linkages to influence policies anymore. They have no need for The moral leadership has been rest with the people, and must be The filings gravitate towards the here. From a soldier in the Royal leverage or linkages and have acquired by harping on exercised within a competitive poles. In a bipolar world, this was Nepal Army to its Supreme replaced the Soviets in pushing democratic ideals, despite the multiparty electoral environment. fairly straight forward. Today, the Commander-in-Chief, almost the ideological line. This time it is double standards in its These long-run solutions must filings have only one choice. everyone here has a relative, a the mantra of neo-liberal free application. The political agenda be debated openly in a democratic With Soviet Union gone for friend, an offspring or a contact market capitalism. Which means set by Bretton Woods Sisters manner and may even provide an good from global affairs, Beijing in India. Linkages of the they really don’t have to put the keep the Planning Commission anchor for a negotiated settlement and New Delhi are falling over each business community are even money on the table any more. and the Ministry of Finance with the Maoists and the other other to humour the neocon hawks stronger. Antonio Gramsci used to say perennially on tenterhooks. political parties. With the who run Washington. Littler But Indians appear to have that hegemony has intellectual, No wonder the Maoists and formation of an all-party countries like Nepal have even less realised that personal linkages, moral and political dimensions. al- Qaeda detest America so government, the country must room to maneuver. They have to like currency, may be more The Americans have an much—it is a serious challenge to move forward to create a new go along with the hyperpower, or readily devalued by abundance unchallenged monopoly over all their own ideological bigotry. l constitution and the Maoists will its proxies, or be left out. King than scarcity, as in the old adage find that their salvation lies in Gyanendra seems to have realised of familiarity breeding renouncing violence and joining this reality rather well. contempt. Hence, they have the political mainstream. l Despite popular perception to begun to use leverage acquired the contrary, neither China nor through small grants directly Alok K Bohara, PhD, is professor of India seem to be overly worried administered by the embassy in economics, University of New Mexico [email protected] about the ever increasing influence Kathmandu.

could overwhelm our strained It is absolutely imperative for some of the best-selling books on efforts to target all sectors at the would-be, could-be and the market. And how about the same time and drown us in should-be power-centres to make dedicating more column inches to the complexities of an extra effort, for the sake of the the concerns of Nepali youth so development. The adage of country and our children, to they can cultivate their spiritual trying to swim with the tide may emerge from self-indulgence and values and career-oriented goals. not be appropriate here as lend a helping hand in earning an Bal Krishna Parajuli, there is a tendency for all adjective that does justice to Chabahil efforts to be swept away. development and Nepal. Perhaps swimming against the Gehendra Purush Dhakal, l How time flies. It has been tide (poverty) may make us email four years that I started reading work much harder but at least your online edition and I must we reach some sort of dry land #200 thank the Nepali Times team (it is (development) from where we I went through the Nepali Times great to put the faces to the can embark upon the path to #200 and would like to thank you names at last!) for their tireless poverty alleviation. and your staff for the hard work work in keeping us overseas The lure of swimming with you have put in over the past four Nepalis informed about what is the tide is so great that we fail years. I read the your paper with going on at home. You have done to realise that there is an the following motives: it with honesty, independence alternative. If we are able to - To get an analytical portrait of and style under what must be easily sustain our search for contemporary national and very difficult circumstances. donors and financial resources international issues. Thank you. in the name of development— - To set standards for English Govind B Gurung, UK and actually achieve success language journalism in Nepal. in that area, why then are we - To improve my English language l Congratulations to you and so inept in sustaining and style. the team for reaching 200 issues. development? Could it be that Your move to introduce a Nepali Times defends it’s swimming with the tide requires page every week for book existence by quality! less effort and consumes less reviews is a welcomed. It would Glenn Mitrasingh, energy? be great if you could also list The Netherlands 4 NATION 18 - 24 JUNE 2004 #201

Radio wave Community radio hastens grassroots development in Nepal

ALL PICS: MUKUNDA BOGATI STEVE BUCKLEY community in which few people government. Instead of truly serving have access to electricity or a the public interest, they remain the ne hundred km north of the telephone. Yet almost every instruments of the government in birthplace of the Buddha in household has a radio receiver and power. O Lumbini is the village of it is the principal means of local There is almost no country in Madanpokhara. It is not easy to communication and discussion of the world today that is not, by one reach and is an hour’s walk from the local development. means or another, also reached by nearest road. Walking up through There are two dominant media private commercial media, whether the small holdings you pass a school, forms in the world today, through the liberalisation of temples, some teas shops and stores. differentiated by private and public. broadcast licensing or through the At the top of the hill is a low white There are some good examples of rapid growth of satellite services. In brick building with a tall red mast. public service broadcasting, but many countries, growing Radio Madan Pokhara many state-owned media are not concentration of ownership has broadcasts across a rural agricultural sufficiently independent of the tended to reduce the diversity of Vote for change Every now and then, you need to throw the bums out mood for change is sweeping the “independence” for the United Kingdom. spectrum that no president has had since A world’s democracies. In the manner Tony Blair’s support of George Bush in World War II. But the latest polls show a of the Chinese proverb, these are, Iraq probably hurt him the most. Other volatile and angry group of people preparing indeed, interesting times. than the war, his government hasn’t been to vote in the next election. They don’t It began in Spain, a few days after the doing a bad job, in the eyes of many know what to make of Iraq. Yes, it’s good tragedy and outrage of the Madrid independent commentators. The public, that Saddam is gone, they say, but why does terror bombings. The Spanish voters turned however, does not like Blair’s war. the aftermath seem to be such a mess? Yes, away from the safe choice of their Prime My own native land, Canada, is all ahoo there has to be sacrifice to pay for the war Minister’s conservative party and opted for right now as the natural governing, centre- against terrorist groups, but why don’t the radical change. The socialists, however much left Liberal party looks set to lose power for rich assume their share of the burden? And they came the first time since 1993. Again, this was a increasingly, say the opinion polls, they’re HERE AND THERE to power government that refused to send troops to blaming their president. Daniel Lak on the Iraq. But Canadians, however much they In the end, no matter what the result in back of a agreed with that, are fed up with politics as any of these elections, victory by incumbents national tragedy, are sweeping away plenty usual. And they’re taking a serious look at or stunning loss, this is a good time for of national cobwebs and articulating the a right wing party that they’ve rejected democracy. The angry tumult among voters electorate’s visceral dislike of the war in Iraq. scornfully for years now. It’s not that is getting through to politicians and if they Across Europe, this past week or so, voters the country is moving to the right. It’s don’t change, they pay the price. Anti- spoke out loudly against incumbent just a feeling that every now and then, incumbency is a sign of healthy democracy. parties—whoever they were. Even in you need to throw the bums out. Too bad the incumbent in Nepal isn’t countries with governments that opposed America remains the most interesting elected, whether you say it is Deuba or the the war in Iraq, notably Germany, the vote electoral battleground of all. The country A soldier in king. Isn’t it time to change that so the Gorkha sits on a went against those in power, often to the went to war pretty much behind its ballot box while voters don’t have only violence as an outlet detriment of polite politics as usual. president. George Bush convinced the keeping an eye on for their frustrations? Nepalis have shown In Britain, the mainstream Labor and majority of voters that Iraq needed to the valley below the instinct of mature democratic voters Conservative parties were swept aside be invaded and brought to heel. many times in the past. It’s time to let them in favour of an extreme anti-Europe force Congress agreed. There was a do that again, even if it means throwing the that claims to be in favour of consensus across the political bums out. l NATION 18 - 24 JUNE 2004 #201 5

broadcasting. Progress is not as fast DOMESTIC BRIEFS as we would like, but it is heading

in the right direction with Circus parents detained in India grassroots civil society campaigns for ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ community broadcasting. Nepali and Indian activists fighting the recruitment of Nepali children Last year, the World Association in Indian circuses have lodged a strong protest against the detention in of Community Radio Broadcasters India of five Nepali family members this week. The parents had gone to India to seek the release of up to 35 (AMARC) held its eighth world Nepali girls being held at the Great Roman Circus in the town of conference in Kathmandu, the Karnaliganj near Lucknow. They are currently being held at the Sub- first time it was held in Asia. district Magistrate’s office in the town. We recognised the growing interest The parents were accompanied by representatives from the Nepal in community broadcasting in Asia Child Welfare Foundation (NCWF) and the South Asian Coalition Against Child Servitude (SACCS) and were engaged in a rescue of the and agreed to establish a regional children when it turned violent. One of the five detained Nepalis is said section with a coordinating office to be a child who managed to escape with her mother during the raid. in Kathmandu. The priorities are “The incident must be investigated and this unwarranted detention straightforward: to raise awareness immediately ended,” NCWF said in a statement. The foundation has of the idea that citizens should have also asked for the release of the other missing children at the Great the right to own and operate their Roman Circus in Karnailganj. NWCF successfully rescued 29 Nepali children from the Great Indian circus in Kerala and reunited them with own community-based media. To their parents in April. lobby for political and legislative The five detained by uttar Pradesh police include Surya Bahadur recognition of community Lama, Janak Bahadur Lama, Thuli Maya Lama, Vishu Maya Lama broadcasting. To build community and Nita Lama all from Bijauna in Makwanpur District. media skills and capacity among local civil society groups and Conservation awarded

networks. Regardless of the ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ WWF Nepal Program chose seven institutions and three individuals for national media situation within the Abraham Conservation Award 2004 in recognition of their countries, it is indisputable that outstanding contribution to nature conservation and sustainable there is intense competition development. In a decade of its existence, a total of 76 awards have between the view that media and been given to 51 individuals and 25 institutions. In the past, everyone cultural are commodities, the from game scouts to committed conservationists were recognised. domain of private companies and Institutions like the Royal Nepali Army and grassroot NGOs have also been honoured. This year the awardees were: market forces, and the idea that media and culture are matters of Institutions public interest about which citizens Satyalung Mother Group, Tapethok, Kangchenjunga Conservation should be rightly concerned. Area Phortse Village, Khumjung, Solokhumbu District Enlightened governments Royal Chitwan National Park and Purano Gorakh Gana, Royal Nepal should recognise that it is in their Army own national interest to move Ganchhen Menkhang Service Center, Phoksundo, Dolpa beyond the instrumentalist view of Youth in Anti-poaching Operation Awareness Campaign, Nawalparasi media that dates from the age of Gauri Mahila Community Forest User Group, Kothiaghat, Bardia monopoly and instead embrace a Individuals vision of communication in the Hari P Neupane, FECOFUN public interest with a diversity Dawa Tshering Sherpa, Kangchenjunga Conservation Area of public service broadcasting Punam Lama, Thonche, Manang including community media. l Each received a certificate of appreciation and cash prizes—Rs 50,000 to institutions and Rs 25, 000 for individuals—at the formal Steve Buckley is the president award ceremony in Kathmandu on 17 June. The Abraham of the World Association of Conservation Award was set up in 1995 with the support of WWF-US Community Radio Board Member Nancy Abraham. Broadcasters (AMARC)

Clockwise from left: Yamuna Saru Magar presents Kanunglaam (Our path), a Radio Madan Pokhara program in Magar. Birendra Ghimere interviews a woman working in her field, while Ramchandra Basyal interviews local blacksmith Dil Bahadur Biswokarma for Radio Madan Pokhara. A trainee practices interviewing techniques for a radio package. private media. strengthening cultural and A third form of community- linguistic diversity and giving voice based, independent media but with to poor and otherwise marginalised social rather than commercial groups. objectives, has gradually emerged As international development from civil society to find a place agencies accept that the most alongside the established public and effective approaches to poverty private media in many countries. reduction are community-driven Country-level legislative and and empowerment oriented, the regulatory frameworks remain role and potential of community obstacles, but the general trend is media has also begun to enter growth of new services and the mainstream thinking. In the opening up of the airwaves. The past two years, the UNDP emergence of community media and the World Bank have builds on growing recognition both recognised the vital that core development goals like importance of community media. reducing poverty can be more Despite constraints, community effectively achieved by empowering broadcasting has grown to become and giving a voice to poor people a global movement reaching themselves. In Nepal, the airwaves out to many of the poorest opened up gradually after the communities in even the most introduction of parliamentary remote rural areas. In Asia, we are democracy. Progress has been slow reaching a critical mass of support and somewhat difficult, for and interest. Nepal and the community radio as well as for Philippines are established democracy. But wherever it was community radio countries. We established, it has become clear that have seen legal reform in the last community broadcasting can play a two years in India, Indonesia specific and crucial role in and Thailand that promises to encouraging public participation, open the airwaves to community 6 NATION 18 - 24 JUNE 2004 #201

reaches automatically for his belt to grab the grenades. “I will kill the enemy before I am killed,” he says Boys army with pride. Join Deuba Before he became Comrade Samman, Bahadur was a sixth grader at the local government school. His Do the parties want to resolve Nepal’s A chance encounter with a group of young father Ram Lal Thapa was a farmer crisis or compound it further? Maoists with schoolbags full of grenades till he was forcibly recruited for the ‘people’s war’. With the sole rom 7,000km away the goings on in Nepal look like a tragic- breadwinner gone, it fell upon F comedy. Let me try to get a handle on this: Bahadur’s mother to earn money. When King Gyanendra announced the vacancy for the post of “My mother was just a housewife prime minister, the major political parties could not agree on a prime but she worked hard to send me to ministerial candidate leaving the king with a free hand to pick a man of his choice. Now, with the appointment of Sher Bahadur Deuba, the school,” recalls Samman. “One day, parties still remain divided. There are new disagreements between the the security forces came to our village parties and within the parties. and arrested many young boys and The UML took over two weeks just to come up with conditions to girls, including her, and they were support the government. First, the party’s Standing Committee discussed beaten and tortured. I was struck it. As it could not reach any conclusion, the matter was handed over to across my face when I tried to follow the party’s Central Committee. The Central Committee discussed the matter for several days only to my mother and I fell to the ground. LONDON EYE pass the buck back to the I do not remember what happened Standing Committee. Robin Raj next. Later, I was told that she was The Standing Committee killed on the way to Dailekh, accused then came up with an over 50- BIBI FUNYAL in DAILEKH of being a Maoist. I cried for my point proposal, which the party said, the new government needed to follow, if it was to receive the party’s cooperation. This author wonders if he mornings are freezing at books, their bags are packed full of mother.” Two months after that, the UML would be able to implement its own proposals had it been T 2,500m in the mountains. grenades. Ram Lal’s teacher told him the given the responsibility of leading the government. Nearly 65km northwest from They seem immune to the cold. security forces were after him, so he The Nepali Congress, on the other hand, has said it would only the administrative headquarters of Most of them have no shoes or warm quit school and ran away with his support Deuba if he restored the dissolved parliament. Again, the Dailekh, 55-year-old Laxmi Shahi clothes. Their stoicism extends to classmates. The smarter ones had question is, had Girija Prasad Koirala been appointed as prime minister, is wracked by a terrible cough that showing no fear. They follow the already fled to India. would he have been ready to recommend the king restore the dissolved House? kept her awake all night. She is still lead of Bahadur Thapa, ‘Comrade We must ask who is responsible Why are all these conditions being imposed on Deuba? Do the in bed when someone knocks on the Samman’, their 13-year-old for making young soldiers like parties want to resolve the problem the country is currently facing or door. Fifteen-year-old Bishnu commander (pictured in topi, Samman. What are the realistic causes further compound it? If the resolution of the crisis is the top priority, then Bahadur Shahi enters, whispers above). He has a red homemade and catalysts that changed a little there can be only two conditions: the restoration of democratic process something in Laxmi’s ear and leaves. cotton belt full of explosives schoolboy into a militant who walks and the resolution of the Maoist insurgency. Only the issues directly related to those two conditions should be considered at this moment. All Laxmi does is nod yes. A few strapped to his waist, he spouts the western hills armed with This is not the time to bring up the issues of secularism and the 1950 minutes later, a dozen young boys Maoist ideology and is ever ready grenades and guns? The oft-repeated Indo-Nepal treaty. with large backpacks come to the for battle, to kill and be killed. slogan that children are peace zones There was no guarantee that the king would have accepted the house with loud greetings of ‘lal Samman is not scared of either do not seem to apply here. l choice of the five agitating parties if they had made a unanimous salam’. All of them look like they danger or death. An army helicopter recommendation. They failed to do that. In the absence of such a belong in school, but instead of sweeps overhead and his hand Some names were changed to protect candidate, Deuba’s appointment was not a bad choice after all. their identity. Technically, Deuba may not be very different from his two predecessors— he was appointed under the same constitutional provision. However, politically the appointment of the man who was sacked for ‘incompetence’ is itself an acknowledgement by the king that his action was wrong. VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT Therefore, comparing Deuba’s position with that of Lokendra Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development database management Bahadur Chand or Surya Bahadur Thapa is incorrect. Deuba, moreover, (LI-BIRD) is a non-profit making, non-governmental organization n Excellent skills in interpersonal communication and has a democratic credential not less than that of Koirala or Nepal. There (NGO) established in October 1995 with its headquarter in management of inter-disciplinary teams; and is no reason why he should not be trusted in dealing with the prevailing Pokhara. LI-BIRD is committed to capitalise on local initiatives n Excellent in writing skills, and written and spoken English. crisis. It will only help the ‘regression’ and the ‘rebellion’ if parties try to for a sustainable management of renewable natural resources impose their own conditions on him. and improved livelihood of people in Nepal. 2. Position: Project Officer (Training, Information and The best way forward for the major political parties will be to fully Publication; Level 6) support Deuba and join his government—not ask him to meet their 1. POSITION: PROGRAMME DIRECTOR (Level 10) The incumbent will be primarily responsible for assisting in training, conditions before any concrete gestures could be made. That will allow documentation and publication, and information management to all the parties to sit together and come up with a unanimous view, which The incumbent will be primarily responsible for (a) providing meet organisation’s information requirement for dissemination, leadership in formulation and implementation of policies, strategies, awareness raising, lobbying and advocacy, and project the king will find hard to deny. Unless that happens, it is very unlikely programmes and projects to address organisational goals and development. that the current crisis will be resolved. Lack of unity among the political objectives; (b) co-ordinating project development and fund raising; parties means greater benefit to the forces to the left and the right, a (c) strengthening HRD policies and procedures; (d) promoting Qualification, competences and requirements series of new governments, deepening of the crisis and, probably, the strategic alliances with other organisations and donors; (e) n Minimum B.Sc Agriculture or B.Com. or equivalent destruction of the country. It is up to the political parties to take some awareness raising and advocacy; and (f) training, information degree with training in information technology, and responsibility. l and publication. with minimum of 2 years of experience in the relevant field; Qualification, competences and requirements n Experience in co-ordinating training programmes and n Minimum MSc in Agricultural Economy (preferably PhD) producing training materials; or equivalent degree in agriculture and natural resource n Experience in documentation and publication (technical management with a minimum of 5 years of work experience; reports; newsletters, and other reports); n Proven ability to work with diverse groups of people, n Experience in information management relevant to including international agencies, government organisations agriculture and natural resource management; and officials, INGOs/NGOs, and donors; n Dynamic, energetic and exposed to computer based n Strong knowledge and skills in policy and strategy analysis, resource and information management; and project development; n Excellent knowledge of internet surfing and webpage n Excellent experience in policy analysis, and socio- designing; economic research; n Demonstrate excellent interpersonal and writing skills, n Strong working experience in forging strategic partnership and fluent in English. with donors, and in fund raising; n Experience in co-ordinating documentation and publication Both the positions are based at Head Office in Pokhara, Kaski of research and development outputs; with frequent field visits. LI-BIRD offers a nationally competitive n Experience in participatory R&D, agro-biodiversity and salary and benefit packages as per LI-BIRD’s Personnel Policy natural resource management; Manual. n Experience in formulating and implementing HRD policies and procedures desired; Application with detailed CV with two references, should reach n Experience in dissemination, awareness raising, and LI-BIRD not later than 25 June 2004. Only short listed candidates lobbying and advocacy desired; will be invited for the interview. Please visit www.libird.org for n Experience of working in multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural; details about the organisation. and send email request for detailed and INGO/NGO environment; job description, if required. n Dynamic, energetic and exposed to computer based LI-BIRD is an equal opportunity organisation.

Please apply to: Executive Director, LI-BIRD P O Box 324, Pokhara, Kaski, Email: [email protected] [email protected]

KIRAN PANDAY 7 NATIONCute cats 18 - 24 JUNE 2004 #201 Bhunti’s four cubs are the main attraction at Jawalakhel Zoo

SRADDHA BASNYAT

t was a tense night four months Each cub eats 1kg of buffalo and ago for the keepers at the Central 500g of chicken meat daily. They’ll SURAT BOM MALLA IZoo. The resident Royal Bengal be eating a lot more very soon. The tigress, Bhunti, was in labour. They cubs’ father, Jange, requires 8kg of pressed their ears against the cave wall buffalo meat six days a week and and waited. Finally, they heard Bhunti eats 7kg. Royal Bengal tigers, which number address such a drastic decline in muffled grunts. Three weeks later, Director RK Shrestha is more than any of the four other their population, tigers have been the proud mother emerged from her confident about the cubs’ survival subspecies. Three other subspecies bred in captivity. But Bhunti’s den with two cubs. A couple days chances: “We will try to keep them the chance of death from injury. A are extinct. litter marks the first time a tigress later, Bhunti brought out two more. healthier than in the wild with a captive tiger also lives longer. In the The primary objective of captive gave birth in captivity since King The cubs now weigh an better diet and a less stressful wild, a young male tiger pushes an breeding is to keep threatened Mahendra Trust for Nature impressive 15kg each. “They have environment.” older one out of his territory into species alive with the hope of Conservation (KMTNC) took voracious appetites,” says Binab As adults they won’t need to areas that have less prey. Unable to reintroducing them back into the over the zoo management in Karmacharya, the zoo’s vet officer. fight for territory or food, reducing hunt, the tiger eventually starves wild. Tigers have been protected by 1995. to death. international regulations since the The cubs may also find it Breeding tigers in captivity is 70s. By then their numbers were difficult to be placed in zoos Jange, the proud father, takes an evening dip. His cubs at three months (above). very easy. Cubs can be taken from already dangerously low. But abroad since there is a glut of their mother right after birth and reintroduction poses a serious captive-bred tigers. Zoo experts hand raised. Tigresses can then challenge, and hasn’t been done here hope the new cubs will have come into heat up to three times a satisfactorily. some genetic value. Nine-year-old year. Average litters have two or There are several problems with Bhunti and her 14-year-old mate three cubs. That means she can releasing a captive tiger into the wild. Jange were both man-eaters produce up to nine or 10 cubs Hunting is something a cub learns captured in Chitwan and brought annually. So is captive breeding all from its mother. In captivity, this is to the zoo. Since both parents are good news? near impossible. In most cases the wild tigers, they feel other zoos “Worldwide, there are now mother herself was born in captivity. where the Bengal tigers have been more tigers in captivity than there And once they’ve had human frequently inbred might make are in the wild,” says tiger expert contact, it’s very difficult to release room for a Nepali tiger or two. Nanda Rana. Most of them are tigers that may wander into villages, “We’re discussing the options KIRAN PANDAY endangering human lives as well as and we’ll come to a decision soon. their own. There is no need to rush it,” says Just over five decades ago, Shrestha. But space is an issue. 100,000 Bengal tigers lived in Asia. There isn’t enough room in Today, there are fewer than 5,000. Bhunti’s lodgings at Jawalakhel for Some 200 of them are in Nepal. To four new adolescent tigers. l 8 ECONOMY 18 - 24 JUNE 2004 #201

Institute of Engineering has made in the law too. “This could demonstrated the technology in its take some time,” says Shrestha. “But, own building with solar panels if the government understands its providing 27KW of power in a day, value, the necessary changes should KIRAN PANDAY enough for lighting the building not be a big deal.” and the wireless local area network Will it be worth the trouble? for computers (see pic, left). The ex- Hydro experts say that at the From hydro to solar cess energy is channeled into the cam- moment, the national power grid is pus grid. When there isn’t enough cheaper than the PV system. But power in its PV system, the CES prices of solar panels are falling— With photovoltaics, Nepalis don’t have to curse the darkness anymore building takes electricity from the the per watt power of a panel that campus grid, thus balancing the cost $100 a few years ago now is $4. NAVIN SINGH KHADKA surplus and deficit and meriting the “The system is quite suitable for high name Zero Energy House. value consumption like lighting, tv or 80 percent of Nepalis who used to be expensive, but prices have thousands of other rooftops all over “What we did in our building and refrigeration but not for F have no access to electricity, the plummeted dramatically and it is Nepal and it would be the can be replicated anywhere else,” says industrial use,” says energy expert fact that Nepal has the highest now within reach of many Nepalis. equivalent of an expensive new the centre’s director, Jagannath Bikash Pandey. “It would be ideal per capita potential to generate Hypothetically, if just 1,000 hydropower plant. Shrestha (pictured, above). “We are for places that have no access to hydropower has a hollow ring. And Kathmandu houses had PVs of But how much does it cost? For creating awareness to encourage peo- hydropower generation.” for the 20 percent who do, electricity 3KW per hour capacity, we’d have starters, around Rs 1 million ple to adopt this technology.” PVs Professor Shrestha at CES says is so expensive that they can’t afford 15MW of power daily, taking into invested in PV modules, batteries, are something of a passion for that installing a solar panel to to use it much. consideration that the average period inverters for building integrated PV Shrestha who thinks it will provide produce the AC and connecting it Enter: photovoltaic (PV) of sunshine is five hours per day. electrification systems and a cheap solar power power for the to the national grid through stac will technology. This system of This would mean that the rooftops monitoring system. For Alternative masses. cost $5 per watt of power. The converting sunlight into electricity of 1,000 houses in Kathmandu Current to get connected to the At night, when there is no electricity produced through several and storing it in batteries, could could generate three percent of national grid all that is needed is stac sunshine, PV users can get power run-of-river and storage plants in the revolutionise Nepal’s electricity use. Nepal’s current installed equipment that costs even less. from the national grid. “That way, country costs $4 per watt, on All it needs is a solar cell set up on a hydropower capacity of 600MW. The Centre for Energy Studies people will pay less than their usual average. “Don’t forget the politics sunny terrace or rooftop. PV cells Multiply the gains by 365 days, add at the Tribhuban University’s electricity bill,” he adds. The idea is and other hassles when it comes to to calculate the difference between constructing hydropower plants,” what you give from the PV system reminds Shrestha. and what you take through the In Germany more than 10,000 national grid. consumers already have solar panels But, for that there has to be some under the Rooftop Program where changes in the system and the law. roof tiles double as solar power For instance, Nepal Electricity collectors. Japan is promoting a Authority’s distribution system has Sunshine Program for solar a one-way flow of power from the electricity. By 2050, half of world’s national grid to consumers. For a energy is expected to come from solar reverse flow there has to be changes power. l

INDIA UNBOUND FOR NEPAL AN OPPORTUNITY a talk by GURCHARAN DAS PANELISTS Anil Chitrakar, Team Leader - Asia, Ashoka Nepal Dr. Bijay KC, Dean, KUSOM Dr. Bishwambher Pyakuryal, President, Nepal Economic Association Prachanda Man Shrestha, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Commerce & Supplies Suraj Vaidya, President, VOITH Rakesh Wadhwa, Writer and Economist ANCHOR Ashutosh Tiwari, Director, Business Service Aadhar LIMITED SEATS FREE ENTRY Organised by for booking call 4780394

New Baneshwor, Kathmandu Tel : 4780394, Fax : 4782100 E-mail : [email protected] ECONOMY 18 - 24 JUNE 2004 #201 9

BIZ NEWS

Networking money ○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Victory for all SmartChoice Technologies launched an integrated shared services network for ATMs and POS terminals managed through a national switch. It supports multiple device types and is available on a Athletes, sports and businesses can make winning a habitTaking with proper the managementmessage subscription basis to banks and financial institutions across Nepal. So ports management in Nepal far, there are a total of eight member banks involved, including new to the people agreements with Nepal Credit & Commerce Bank, Development Credit S is all about teeth-baring Bank and Machhapuchchhre Bank. fights between top officials, if newspaper reports are anything to

Regional tourism go by. There’s Rukma Shumsher ○○○○○○○○

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Rana vs Kishore Bahadur Singh, an Aiming to develop the tourism business between Nepal and argument between the Nepal Bangladesh and promote Nepal as a tourist destination, the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), in association with the local Nepali embassy, organised the Media and Tour Operators Meet in Dhaka on 13 June. STRICTLY BUSINESS In 2003 alone about 24,000 tourist visas to Nepal were issued to Ashutosh Tiwari Bangladeshis. Biman has five flights a week between Kathmandu and Dhaka. Olympic Committee and the

National Sports Council to control MIN BAJRACHARYA

Home loans the resources allocated to sports Football. The players appear to spend to pay for repair and maintenance ○○○○○○○○

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ development. The other long- more time avoiding slip-ups than of sports infrastructures. Everest Bank’s new EBL Home Equity Loan Scheme allows existing festering quarrel is between Geeta dribbling. Last year, two people Against this depressing home loan customers to avail a line of credit against the equity they Rana and Ganesh Thapa about drowned in the stadium’s swmming backdrop, the recent news about have built on their houses. Customers who have been paying installments regularly, have an increased disposable income and a who will be at the helm of the All pool because there was no trained the corporate sponsoring of house with an appreciated market value are eligible for the offer of low Nepal Football Association. lifeguard on duty. No one was held taekwondo athlete Sangina Vaidya interest loans against the extension of the mortgage. These fights often degenerate accountable and according to Samay (pictured), the first Nepali to into tiring spectator sports— magazine, the situation remains formally qualify for this year’s Keeping it Real draining enthusiasm out of fans and negligent this summer too. Olympics, is to be welcomed. The

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ making others hesitant to take the Recently, two separate official six companies—VOITH, ICTC, Dabur’s Real Taste Challenge offer is sure to keep you on development of Nepali sports delegations left Nepal to attend the Nepal Lever, Jyoti Group, Nabil your toes— or taste buds. On 18 and 19 June, 60 supermarkets and shops in Kathmandu and major towns seriously. Meanwhile, a politicised same taekwondo federation meeting Bank and Dabur Nepal—said they across Nepal will give out free tastes of Real juice and all and polarised Sports Council at Seoul. Other than an obvious were motivated by patriotism to you have to do is guess what flavour it is to be eligible for a twiddles its thumb while examples duplication of efforts, such junkets cover 85 percent of Sangina’s costs prize. of its mismanagement becomes only divide athletes’ loyalties and (‘Shining Sangina’, #199). Their NEW PRODUCTS embarrassingly visible. send mixed signals to the world. action sent three positive signals: Consider these examples: when One reason why sports management first, the Nepali corporate sector BRAIN BOOST: Offering to speed up your child’s brain development and put them on a fast track to good grades—especially in math— Nepali sportsmen and women went to remains a mess is because of a rooted now sees the value of endorsing top Universal Concept Mental Arithmetic System (UC MAS) Nepal offers Islamabad earlier this year to take part Panchayati philosophy. athletes. Second, under certain courses for children 5-13. Training involves the abacus method, used in the 9th South Asian Federation Sport is thought of as an activity conditions, private money is in over 35 countries and aids overall brain development. (SAF) Games, they made an arduous that requires nurturing by the state available for the development of cross-continent journey by train. The and constant interference by the sports. And last, access to additional RIDE IN STYLE: June will see officials, however, flew to Karachi. bureaucracy. While sports has funds may help boost an athlete’s Perodua’s new compact model, the Kelisa, entering the Nepali market Unsurprisingly, our athletes metamorphosed into billion-dollar chance for an Olympic medal. with flair. Engine enthusiasts will note performed well below expectations, industries in other parts of the Given all this, one challenge the 1,000cc, three cylinder, 12-valve even at football, where they could’ve world, here in Nepal, the fight is to remains for our sports bureaucrats— EFI, double overhead camshaft won gold. protect fixed shares of the pie they must stop their fights and look engine and 85bhp power, while the At home, the lack of maintenance instead of collaborative work to for ways to attract private funds for less mechanically inclined will find the stylish five-person interior and affordable price attractive. Distributed by Nemlink International has made Dasrath Rangasala a mud increase what already exists. As a sports and athletes. This way, when Traders, there are hopes to sell at least 200 cars in the first year. bath for teams competing in the result, they are unable to create Nepali athletes win, their victory ongoing Martyrs’ Memorial League incentives to attract private money reflects well on us all. l 10 TRAVEL

Kyimolung, the blessed land The people survive neglect in the valley of happiness

ALL PICS: STEFAN PRIESNER

A glimpse into Tsum (top), a typical kitchen with an open fire, butter tea and Chinese crockery (left) and blood-letting to relieve a chronic cough.

STEFAN PRIESNER in TSUM centuries people have depended on misses their laughter. came in 2001. That year, police subsistence agriculture, cattle rearing If children reach the age of abandoned the Chokhang post and n the remote borderlands of the in the people, who appear proud and all-important trade links to five—30 percent don’t—chances since then the Maoists come regularly high Himalaya, several valleys are and content—an attitude perhaps Tibet: to the east, Kyirong is only a that they benefit from formal in the summer to ask for contributions Isaid to be Beyul—hidden lands influenced by a strong feeling of day and a half walk over the schooling are slim. There are school from villagers. But little has really that, according to ancient scriptures, identity, strong social cohesion and mountains. But the cross-Himalayan buildings, but local confidence in changed, and since local elections were were established by Guru Rinpoche, small income disparities. The trade of Tibetan salt for rice and public schools is close to zero. The suspended in 2002, traditional the 8th century Indian saint generous Tsumpa hospitality is the goods from the Nepali hills has given half dozen trained local teachers in village-based self-help systems for accredited for spreading Buddhism. highlight of a visit—countless cups way to one-sided shopping trips. Tsum are an integral part of the small repair and maintenance work Beyul are havens of peace, prosperity of butter tea, dhindo and boiled There is hardly anything that can be social fabric, often involved in have revived. The village headman and spiritual progress and refuges potatoes shared generously with bartered from the Nepali side and activities that distract them from oversees this, and, together with a for believers. In 17th century strangers. the once well-stocked village storages their job. While we were there, one group of elders, resolves small disputes Tsum (Chekampar), a valley that And yet, one cannot help but that awaited transport to Tibet are was preparing tormas for a village over issues like trespassing cattle and branches off the Budi Gandaki wonder if the people’s happiness now empty. Except for the yearly puja, and another was repairing a unpaid debts. Two months ago, a towards the north of Ganesh Himal and well being is not seriously yarchagumba rush in May, all other bridge. man was suspected of having broken in upper Gorkha, was named Beyul compromised as they struggle traffic over the high passes is one- Teachers posted by the into a bumpa to steal the sacred relics. Kyimolung. with illness, lack of education and way into Nepal as even rice and government only show up When the man denied the charges Even non-Buddhists understand income shortages. Tsum has been vegetable oil is cheaper in Tibet. The sporadically. “Sometimes they only despite overwhelming evidence, the why Tsum is perceived as a blessed almost completely neglected by Tsumpa depend on several come once a year—they do not people beat him all night and then land. Perhaps one of Nepal’s most development efforts, and now this excursions every year, sometimes want to stay in remote areas,” a stuck his leg into a hot oven. beautiful valleys, it is cut off from isolation is perpetuated as people see risking their lives, to earn small profits villager explains. Irregular classes In a place where state services the southern lowlands of Nepal by themselves living in an area from retailing. “I lost three of my result in a low attendance rate, and don’t exist, self-help initiatives are the deep, forested gorges and swift controlled by the Maoists and de- fingers to the cold for Rs 2000 when Tshering Gyurmed, one of the local only option. Even further isolated by rivers, and from Tibet in the north linked from the central government. I went to Kyirong in January,” says teachers, estimates that the primary the present conflict, whatever few by snow-covered passes. The The implications are clear long Dorji Norbu from Nile, showing his enrollment rate has dropped to development benefits the area surprisingly flat valley floor provides before entering the remote valley. A blackened left hand. “Had I not almost 20 percent. Only half of received are about to vanish. Out of for some 4,000 inhabitants of few hours north of Arughat Bazar, walked on and on for 24 hours those enrolled also attend school. the reach of the central government, almost exclusively Tibetan origin. where the road and government without stopping, I would still be For most children, the only but not under the aegis of the Maoists Clusters of stone houses with slate outreach ends, a woman in her up there.” alternatives are no school at all or either, this is no man’s land. Tsum, it roofs dot the landscape, enclosed by thirties sits beside the trail with a Still, the challenges in income are the monastery. Samten Dorji, who seems, is too remote to be of critical gentle forested slopes and snow syringe sticking in her chest–the nothing compared to problems in runs classes in Tsum’s main importance for those with the power capped mountains with cascading indigenous healer is treating her health, sanitation and education. monastery, Rachhen Gompa, tells to help. l glaciers. This is century-old chronic cough by bloodletting. One village was completely devoid us, “Up to 30 percent of children Buddhist heartland, with Asked whether the syringe is sterile, of children. Eighteen died in a single are sent to monastic schools in Stefan Priesner is Deputy Chief of monasteries, bumpa, chortens and the healer says, “I always clean it in month last year, but because Tsum Bouddha and India where they SURF, a UNDP regional office, and mani walls omnipresent. the river, and besides, I’ve used it on doesn’t have any health workers, become monks and nuns.” visited Tsum in his personal capacity. The Beyul Kyimolung means “the lots of patients ” nobody could tell us why. A middle- Villagers say the problems were views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily valley of happiness”, a name echoed In Tsum, change is slow. For aged woman tells us how much she much the same before the Maoists reflect those of UNDP. #201 11 “Older than Nepal”18 - 24 JUNE 2004 And some other unique selling points of a new tourist destination

THOMAS BELL in RASUWA ead north out of followed. It was not until Jang Kathmandu, through Trisuli Bahadur Rana built the fort at Hand take a left when you Rasuwagadhi that the border reach the end of the road. A mere stabilised and local relations with 10 hours rattle and ride from the the Tibetans and Chinese returned capital, western Rasuwa is a to peaceful trading and cultural forgotten world. osmosis. To the east are the apple-pie A dirt track to the zinc mines in shops and solar showers of Dhading passes near these villages, Langtang.But in the neglected although it is barely used. Tiny valleys outside the National Park power lines from the futuristic earlier layers of regional history have underground hydro plant at not been overlain by the recent Chilime loop along the valley, influx of outsiders. Memories of dwarfed by the landscape. Only one Prithbi Narayan Shah’s conquests, or two houses have electricity. of the Nepal-Tibet wars and of Megh Bahadur Pandey, the chief Khampa guerrillas lie jumbled on warden of the Langtang National the surface, largely undisturbed by Park, estimates that only a dozen more recent developments. Neither trekking groups have come this way the Maoists nor the army come here. in the last decade heading for In the villages of Goljung and Ganesh Himal. Gutlang, they dust down the Now, UNDP, in a partnership tarnished cutlasses once used in with the Nepal Tourism Board THOMAS BELL battles and now re-enacted in the called the Tourism for Rural Journalists, trekking agents and Rasuwa’s plans to promote and goats and buy clothing and horse dance. Himan Singh Tamang, Poverty Alleviation Programme local officials on the promotional tourism and the road to Tibet shoes. a teacher in Gutlang, says that the (TRPAP), is hoping to open the area trip were politely asked not to litter. suffered a serious blow with the On the far side 18-year-old figures wheeling about the village up. It reckons the locals are ready to One reporter earned himself a slap murder by Maoists in April of Zhang Wei from Beijing sprays deal with tourism after a year for grabbing a local woman in the DDC chairman, Bhim Lal people’s feet for SARS and offers a of exposure to concepts like hot springs at Tatopani. There will Hirachan. He had tirelessly cigarette to the first Western ‘community mobilisation’ and surely be more surprises in store for promoted trekking and rade as ways imperialist he has ever seen. ‘capacity building’. both locals and visitors as trekkers to lift his district out of poverty. Along with four colleagues in The locals, by their own add their footprints to those of the Now there are plans to build a the Chinese police, some of them account, feel unqualified lamas, soldiers, merchants and road linking Kathmandu to Tibetan, he occupies the enthusiasm for the visitors herdsmen that shaped this place. Kyirong in Tibet, perhaps as soon guardhouse that is the first building they have been promised. “We will The path climbs steeply from as 2007. The last few kilometres on the other side. The only other square represent the local king’s get facilities from tourists. Tourists the valley of the Chilime Khola. before the border were a restricted building is called a reception centre struggle against Prithbi Narayan will bring economic benefits,” says The white mountains of the zone until recently and foreigners for returning refugees. To the Shah. It is easy to see that the dancers Himan Tamang of Gutlang. With Tibetan border are behind and need a permit arranged through a delight and amusement of many pirouetting in horse costumes, only 10 SLC graduates in a snowy Gosainkund ahead. trekking agency. members of our group it was a clashing their long curved blades, population of 2,000, his village has Hishilintu Gompa with its The shops are stocked with brothel, where Chinese citizens of had fearsome ancestors. But rather much to gain. But as excited as they crumbling wall paintings, is said to Chinese noodles, beer and pungent Nepali origin do a brisk trade with than ancient violence, the dance are to join an economy they can be 2,000 years old. After a further, rice wine. It was the Tibetan border the small garrisons on both sides. recalls the wisdom of making peace. barely imagine, many seem briefly alarming, climb to the that offered the final, fascinating Now tourism seems ready to The consensus is that the motivated by an understandable summer yak pastures at the top of glimpse of the layers of Himalayan add a fresh set of influences. Don’t tradition refers to the Nepal-Tibet pride in their culture and the ridge, the trail reaches Nagtali history. Beyond the old stone expect this wild mountain world wars. In 1792, a joint Chinese- surroundings. Tamang adds that he Gompa. Lama Kamsung Wangdi frontier fort that gives the district to change overnight. Without any Tibetan army coursed through these wants to “advertise this place and says, “The gompa is 200 of Rasuwa its name is a modern solar showers or apple pie, only the valleys and advanced on culture to the world. I want no generations old—before there were pedestrian footbridge into China. enterprising are likely to venture Kathmandu. More invasions change. Culture is our wealth.” kings or states, older than Nepal.” Local people pass freely to sell sheep into this secret place. l 12 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 18 - 24 JUNE 2004 #201

UML never alone on the people—we will never be seem overly ambitious, especially as ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ alone. the Maoists have succeeded in The UML has not Madhab Kumar Nepal, general On the basis of issues, we are creating an atmosphere where secretary of the CPN (UML) in still ready to work together with collectors work free from Budhabar, 16 June other parties. Our experience has government intervention. After deserted the movement shown that in the long run, some the rebels set fire to the If the government claims that it has co-workers tire and aim for smaller Department of National Parks and executive powers, then this must targets but we plan to reach the Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) be proven. That is why we are summit of Everest. We will do it. office at the Dhorpatan hunting demanding the annulment of the reserve, government presence is amended regulation for the confined to the district

functioning of the ministers’ Noodle currency ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ headquarters, an eight-day walk council. Rajdhani, 16 June away. If what we heard is true, the king himself wants to forget the A packet of instant noodles for a past and begin afresh. In that case, yarchagumba—the ‘Himalayan Like Abu Ghraib we will have to go back to the day Viagra’ is the new term of barter in Kantipur○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○, 13 June before King Gyanendra took over, Dhorpatan hunting reserve this 3 October 2002. The regulation season. The collectors, who go PATNA – The Nepali Maoists say was amended after the above 16,000ft in this former they are going to take the matter of appointment of Lokendra Bahadur conservation area in search of the what they call sustained Chand and remained unchanged fungus/aphrodisiac (NT #195), persecution against their arrested during the tenure of Surya happily accept the price of Rs 50 leaders and cadre by the police of Bahadur Thapa, who supposedly for a packet of noodles, the only the Indian state of Bihar to had executive powers, just like the food available in the Dolpo international forums. “A formal new Deuba government. If that is highlands. allegation will be lodged with true, there should be no difficulty Amnesty International and at the in getting rid of the amended International Committee of the regulation. That is our primary Red Cross against the Bihar police demand. If it is not met, we will for the torture of our leaders and not join the government. cadres in custodies,” read a Deuba’s Nepali Congress statement issued by the CPN- MIN BAJRACHARYA (Democratic) protested the royal Maoist in Patna. The rebel party UML leader Sahana Pradhan in Deshantar, 13 June takeover. It is also the country’s added that the police actions third biggest party. Since Deuba The Maoists have been contravened international Our party believes that Sher Bahadur Deuba’s government himself was sacked from the post of allowing the people to collect humanitarian laws. The statement should not be likened to those of Lokendra Bahadur Chand prime minister, he had the support yarchagumba for the past wo also compared the physical torture and Surya Bahadur Thapa. His reinstatement to the post of of different parties. Therefore we weeks, charging them Rs 15 per meted out by the Bihar police to prime minister by the king is proof of the monarch’s defeat. Don’t forget that Deuba was protesting ‘regression’ on the must take his reinstatement piece. The government banned the recent Iraqi prison scandal at streets too, just like us. At that point, we said that we would positively. Our demand for a harvesting in the area, but the Abu Ghraib. Two weeks ago, 11 welcome Deuba’s appointment. constituent assembly is not rebels defied the rule and opened Maoists, including central leaders This does not mean, however, that regression has been something new. We already the reserve for a month-long Rajendra Thapa and Lokendra redressed completely. Once again, I reiterate that our support expressed our willingness for period. As a result, businessmen Bista, were arrested from a Patna of Deuba does not mean that we believe the king’s democratic alternatives but we from Baglung, Myagdi, Dolpa, hotel. (Nepalnews.com) regressive move has been rectified. His appointment may never dismissed that central idea. Jumla, Mugu, Jajarkot, involve the monarch’s hidden agenda and we need to be alert The reason we are stressing it now Kathmandu, India and China

and cautious. Imperialist hack is for national consensus. A have arrived in droves to buy ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ If there is consensus among all the political forces, we constituent assembly could guide yarchagumba. In the past two Spacetime, 13 June can go directly for a constituent assembly, leaving the king the country out of the present crisis years, businessmen used Tibetan with no choice but to agree. He should not think that the UML and solve the Maoist insurgency. refugees to collect Rs 22 million ROLPA – The Maoist campaign to has deserted the movement. The party will not shirk from counter propaganda that they are exerting pressure, either from the streets or from the We left the street worth of the medicinal animal- government, when it comes to peace. demonstrations but that does not plant. hostile to US citizens met with a The new government must understand that it cannot make a mean that we have nothing to do: The rebels are motivated by little providence through Brad single move without immense pressure. Deuba believes his we will continue mobilising people, the bottomline: they earned Rs 3.2 Workman, a Florida journalist, reinstatement washed away his past sins. He does not seem to organising meetings, seminars and million in royalties and this year who came to report from Rolpa realise that the credit of his reinstatement goes to the momentum campaigns to better democracy and their projection is a hefty Rs 5 but fell very ill on the trail. created by the people’s movement. Deuba needs to be reigned in usher in peace. No one can stop us million. Given the rush for Workman had acute dysentery and from time to time, otherwise he tends to go off the track. We need because the CPN (UML) is based yarchagumba, their target does not high fever as he tried to reach a government to monitor him. The other parties that protested with us on the streets now seem to have bad vision regarding the Deuba government. Girija Prasad Koirala did not have his way in the latest political development so he opposes Deuba. This is not an honest political attitude. The Nepali Congress said that the five party alliance would nominate one person to be prime minister but backed off from nominating Madhab Kumar Nepal, as was earlier agreed upon. This is why we no longer have an agreement. The first order of the day is to hold parliamentary elections. With the decision of the elected government and the parliament, the constitution should be either rewritten or a new one drafted. If the Maoist rebels do not agree, we will have to hold elections for a constituent assembly to bring the rebels into the mainstream. For their part, the rebels must allow free and fair elections to take place. They must be active participants too. Only an elected government can accommodate the rebels in mainstream politics. At present, the Maoists are unclear about what they want. They have flip-flopped on issues like a roundtable conference and constituent assembly. The rebels must understand that when times are comparatively easy, they must be more flexible and open a path to peace for the country. The 30 years Mao spent in his struggle did not cause the Robin Sayami in Himal Khabarpatrika, 15-29 June Chinese people to suffer. But the rebels’ war has cost Nepalis too much: there is fear and intimidation, and innocents are being QUOTE OF THE WEEK killed. This is not the behaviour of a true communist. The “Press out!” Maoists must realise their mistakes the same way as com- Minister for Education and Sport Bimalendra Nidhi shooing journalists accompanying munists did after the Jhapa movement. This is terrorism and parents meeting him to press for an end to the education strike the people who spread terror are terrorists. Rajdhani, 17 June

SELECTED MATERIAL TRANSLATED EVERY WEEK FROM THE NEPALI PRESS FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 18 - 24 JUNE 2004 #201 13 Thawang, the headquarters of the offices are up next. Dhiru Maoist- declared Magarat Basnyet, DSP at the District Police Autonomous Regional Office, explains, “After the danger Government. After walking for of attacks increased, employees are Amending power days, he meet some rebels who took being trained to protect the office him to a medical team. “I didn’t building and other employees.” think I would fall ill but I was lying Trainees include peons and Ram Prasad Dahal in Rajdhani, 15 June only semi-conscious when a team of security guards that work in Maoist medical personnel aided government offices, corporations Almost a week after Prime Minister Sher me,” says Workman. He was treated and banks. Basnyet added that Bahadur Deuba formed his cabinet, the under the direction of Santosh the police are willing to extend ministers’ council has yet to convene a single Budhamagar, head of the rebel- their training service to the private meeting. The regulation was amended after controlled area, who said, sector. Within a period of one King Gyanendra assumed executive powers “Although the party does not allow year, rebels bombed six post-October Fourth and requires all cabinet US journalists into our territory, it government offices in Chitwan decisions to have his approval. was our moral responsibility to and looted five banks. The UML has said it will join the government only after the third time prime minister scraps help.” (Translated by Archana, Nepalnews.com) that amendment and regains executive powers. Workman asked the Maoists to However, a senior official told us that only the let him use their satellite phone to Nothing to read king can cancel the amendment. Now there are

call a rescue helicopter. “I told them ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ conflicting reports emerging from Deuba’s that I wanted to see my mother’s Rajdhani, 15 June camp: one minister says the first meeting of the face before I died,” recalls ministers’ council may bring up the amendment Workman. After recovering from his UDAYPUR – Despite a government while another source says the prime minister illness, he returned to Nepalganj on policy of free textbooks to primary will not hold the meeting without first consulting KIRAN PANDAY foot. The rebels didn’t accept students, over 100,000 children the king. swearing-in ceremony. “That is why the initial any money. Workman is a in four districts of Sagarmatha Deuba is under pressure from his own party, plan was to hold the meeting on Friday,” says freelance reporter and a member zone don’t have yet to receive the Nepali Congress (Democratic) and the UML a source close to the prime minister. “But of US Photo Journalists’ theirs two months into the new to scrap the regulation for the duty execution of Deuba later said the meeting would take place the ministers’ council. He knows that if the first on Monday.” The regular cabinet meetings take Association. (Nepalnews.com) academic session. Most students in Khotang, Okhaldhunga, Siraha meeting of the ministers’ council does not do place on Mondays and Fridays. so, it will send the wrong signal. and Udaypur are sharing or just The last cabinet meeting took place almost a The meeting was scheduled for last Monday. month-and-a-half ago under Surya Bahadur Securing the office doing without. The distributor,

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ The chief secretary and other government Thapa. It issued the ordinance on the royal Kantipur, 15 June Sajha Prakashan’s branch office in officials waited for the prime minister and his palace expenditure and decided on the Lahan, blames the Curriculum cabinet to arrive at 9AM, but no one turned up appointment of joint secretaries. It was an NARAYANGHAT – When the Maoists Development Centre at Sanothimi even at the end of the work day. With the cabinet informal meeting that took place at the prime started attacking government for failing to send them the books. meeting yet to take place, more than a dozen minister’s official residence. Deuba’s close offices, security training was Rohit Pokhrel, the head of Sajha files containing important government work is aides have confirmed that the amended initiated for employees in several Prakashan in Lahan, said out of pending at the cabinet secretariat. regulation for the duty execution of the district offices. The District Police nearly 200,000 primary level Normally, cabinet meetings take place on ministers’ council was the main hitch. Deuba’s Office recently trained 38 students, only 73,000 thousand the day the ministers’ council is formed. But last own party and the UML will comprehend that employees in 30 government students in four districts have Thursday, when Deuba named two of his he holds no executive powers if he fails to cabinet colleagues, they were occupied with the challenge the amendment. offices. Employees from another 31 textbooks. (Nepalnews.com) 14 ASIA 18 - 24 JUNE 2004 #201 humiliating, degrading and outlawing any modernist. They clash not only with the Islamic tendency that disagreed with the West, but with the golden age of Islam, prevailing dogma, authoritarian regimes did when Muslim astronomers, mathematicians, not eliminate pluralism but merely sent it physicians, philosophers and poets fatwas.com underground. Today’s technology allows flourished. Although the Internet appears that underground to speak and meet. to be renewing Islamic pluralism, today’s The online subterranean world of Islam’s radical fringe In the face of repression, Internet Islam online fatwas are non-negotiable orders, not appears to speak with authentic authority. a call for fresh creativity. But Islam has traditionally always been Hundreds of websites now compete to pluralistic and tolerant of differences. The be the new Mecca, the place where all Caliph Ali Ibn Abi Talib said, “Our devout Muslims turn for guidance. The strength lies in our differences.” For over a most extreme preach the ideas of al-Qaeda thousand years, under Mecca’s traditional and their ideological brethren. These rulers, the Hashemite descendants of the include the haunting celebration of a young Prophet Muhammad, all sects debated and man’s imminent martyrdom by suicide exchanged knowledge in the Great bombing, while other websites, although Mosque. less violent, have widened the scope of sin Indeed, prior to Saudi/Wahhabi rule in to include learning English, studying 1932, Mecca was cosmopolitan and open. science and giving women access to the Adherents of the four Sunni schools of Internet without a male guardian present. thought, as well as the Shia, the Zaydis, the Fatwas online harbour animosity not Ismaelis and those of different origins and only towards the West, but also toward races—Indians, Central Asians, Persians, other Muslims. Wahhabi clerics, for Moroccans, Africans and Turks—all example, call for jihad against the Shia eheadings online, fatwas online: the whose adherents must either be re-educated recognised their differences but could “heretics” promising the rewards of heaven. subterranean world of Islam’s radical or crushed. identify with the one source, the Koran. Most of these fatwas have a violent streak Bfringe can be found on countless The problem starts at the top of Muslim But the Wahhabis tried to appropriate that the Saudi establishment is quick to Internet sites. These technologically societies, not with the disaffected at the Mecca for their own version of Islam, and dismiss as belonging to the Middle Ages. sophisticated fanatics are able to reach a wide bottom. Muslim rulers have mostly failed to to export their exclusionary doctrine. For a The fact is, however, that these fanatics are audience satisfy the needs of their populations. At the while they succeeded. Today, however, we a modern phenomenon, a creation of the ANALYSIS that same time, in much of the Muslim world, are witnessing the failure of the Wahhabi Muslim world’s failed political systems, and Mai Yamani exists authoritarian regimes typically attempt to project to monopolise Islam. Fatwas of the a stark reminder of the price of long years of because control and propagate exclusionary forms of type issued by the highest Wahhabi cleric, repression. of the deep dissatisfaction and anger of so Islamic dogma. Bin Baz, such as the notorious one before Far from disappearing, the repressed are many young Muslims everywhere. The For many years, these regimes—whether the first Gulf War declaring the Earth to be returning from underground in grotesque Internet has brought together a worldwide the Shia of Iran or the Wahhabis in Saudi flat, have, unsurprisingly, lost their forms to haunt the world they grew up in. community of the alienated and the Arabia—succeeded in suppressing pluralism authority and credibility. Ignorance, No matter how much their countries’ rulers embittered. and individuality. But, as their regimes combined with the wider corruption and try to disown them, they cannot escape The West thinks that this anger is a sign increasingly came to be seen as politically hypocrisy of the regime, emptied these their creation. Globalisation and technology of some clash of civilisations: “us” against illegitimate, their model of Islam was also religious rulings of meaning. have given the disaffected a new homeland “them”, which implies that only one side discredited. So the disappointed and What has followed is the hijacking of to profess Islam as they see it. In that can win. But the anger of young Muslims disaffected search for an Islam that meets Islam by radical angry men raised on Internet world, no authority has the ability results primarily from revulsion at their their expectations. Wahhabi dogma but disillusioned with the to silence or satisfy them. l corrupt leaders and the subservience of these For the many websites that attract these world they inherited. Fatwas promulgated (© Project Syndicate) rulers to the US. It is bitterness rooted in disaffected people, it helps that no central after Bin Baz are almost always horrendous material causes, not in some fanatical, authority exists today for the Muslim umma in their intolerance and virulence, and Mai Yamani is an author and Research Fellow at irrational and anti-democratic sentiment (the world community of Islam). By certainly appear backward and anti- the Royal Institute for International Affairs. 1,000,000 Handwash migrant workers It could save a million lives a year ust washing hands could save the lives of more than J a million children each year, a study shows. It protects BANGKOK- There seems to be light at the end of the tunnel for migrant children from diarrhoea and more unexpectedly, also workers in Thailand who have lent their sweat to boost the health of the from pneumonia. These two are the biggest killers of country’s economy, but ironically lead lives in fear of arrest and children below the age of five. deportation by the authorities. This hopeful sign stems from a policy The results arise from studies under ‘Phase’ (personal that the Thai government will start enforcing from 1 July to regulate the hygiene and sanitation education), the project taken up presence of an estimated over one million migrant workers who live in four countries by a partnership of the NGOs African within its borders. The initiative offers both documented and Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) and Plan undocumented migrant workers an opportunity to register themselves International, along with the pharmaceuticals firm directly with Thai authorities, rather than doing so through their GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). The program has now taken on employers. It also encourages the workers to register family members an extensive campaign to promote handwashing among who have slipped into Thailand with them but are unemployed. children in Kenya, Zambia, Nicaragua and Peru. or herbal leaves in Kenya if soap is not available. “If you “The basic concept is good, because the migrant workers will be “We are now talking to NGOs in Uganda, Mexico and don’t wash your hands after using the toilet, your hands given an identity card once they register that will be theirs and not be India to spread the program further,” said Claire Hitchkok become a superhighway for transmitting microbes from held by the employers,” said Jackie Pollock of the Migrant Action from GSK and coordinator of the program. one person to another,” Valerie Curtis, director of the Programme, a NGO based in the northern city of Chiang Mai. “It will give It is also looking at a whole range of far-reaching benefits hygiene centre at the London School of Hygiene and them some protection to avoid being harassed by the police or by their just from washing hands, Hitchcock added. “We do need Tropical Medicine, and a global expert on the beneficial employers.” Furthermore, the policy that goes into effect by July also more evidence to link handwashing with reduction of the effects of handwashing said in a message to the Phase places a premium on the rights of migrant workers—something that was incidence of pneumonia, but we find that when children program. completely overlooked previously and resulted in regular violations and are cleaner and take care of themselves, they become Diarrhoeal diseases kill nearly two million children under human rights abuses. less susceptible to other diseases.” Children also showed the age of five each year around the world, which is They will enjoy the same protection under labour laws that cover the far greater self-esteem when their hands are clean. “They approximately 15 percent of all child deaths in this age Thai employees. In addition, migrant workers will be entitled to receive were more confident, they were happier and their group, says a statement from the Phase partners. Eighty to the same wages and benefits as their Thai counterparts. The current academic performance improved,” Hitchcock said. 90 percent of these cases are related to environmental minimum wage is $3.35 per day. Benefits include access to health care There is a catch: children are most susceptible to conditions, in particular contaminated water and and education for the dependants of the migrant workers. Thailand has diarrhoea and pneumonia below age five, and the inadequate sanitation. The strong link found between close to an estimated 1.2 million migrant workers, a majority of whom program to promote cleanliness and particularly handwashing and a decrease in respiratory infections follows lack proper work documents. Close to one million are from Burma, while handwashing is aimed at children between six and 13 one other study that showed similar results. A US Navy 110,000 are from Laos and 88,000 from Cambodia, according to figures years of age. These children are encouraged then to study showed handwashing reduced the risk of respiratory from labour advocates. teach their parents. But that does not mean the program infections among training recruits by as much as 45 percent. Thailand’s agriculture, fisheries and garment manufacturing sectors has to wait a generation to take effect. “There is a high Students are encouraged to create their own folk songs are entirely dependent on cheap foreign labour from neighbouring incidence of infectious diseases even among children of or poems on handwashing. They also create signs to place countries. In the construction industry, the bulk of manual work is performed that age,” says Hitchcock. Also, the program is aiming to near latrines to remind both children and adults to use by migrant workers. And in households, the use of foreign domestic get the message across more widely. It runs primarily nearby handwashing facilities. Some of the other maids is on the rise. In 2000, the Thai Labour Department estimated through the school system in select areas in the four preventative actions the teachers encourage is keeping that the total economic contribution to the Thai economy from registered countries. animals away from the home, building latrines and keeping migrant workers was $2.3 million. l (IPS) The best method is to use soap with water to wash them clean, making drying racks for kitchen utensils, wearing hands, but Phase suggests local alternatives such as ash footwear in latrines and safe waste disposal. l (IPS) INTERNATIONAL 18 - 24 JUNE 2004 #201 15 More skeptical The rise of Euroskeptic parties has worrying implications The resignation by the CIA’s George Tenet for he drubbing that many governments suffered in the EU parliament T elections places them in a difficult position. Only an incurable ‘personal reasons’ may optimist can hope that this week’s EU summit will bring glory to any of them. conceal more The summit has two purposes: to finalise the text of a new EU Constitution and to appoint the next president of the Commission. compelling factors These negotiations will be much harder in view of the spectacular repudiation of a number of key governments at the ballot box, together with the potent rise of protest and Euroskeptic parties in several member states. The problem for Europe’s leaders is that their own repudiation by voters does not necessarily Why carry the same message as the OPINION rise of the Euroskeptic parties. Lan Davidson The record slump in the vote for Gerhard Schröder’s governing Social Democrats in Germany has little to do with his policy towards Europe, but a great deal to do with the perceived failure of his resign? economic policies—and the persistence of low growth and high unemployment—at home. Despite the nationalist parties’ success in France, the same is true of the setback for President Jacques Chirac’s centre-right party. In Britain, by contrast, where the economy is strong and ardly a day goes by on involved in a manifest scandal, strict sense. In parliamentary unemployment low, the main factor behind the collapse in the vote for the governing Labor Party has been anger with Tony Blair’s H which we do not hear of a nor do they disagree with the systems, they can and must determination to go to war in Iraq beside George Bush. government minister policies set by their leaders. appear before the elected Nevertheless, the rise of Euroskeptic parties, in a number of somewhere resigning his or her On the contrary, they not representatives of the people countries including Britain, France, Belgium, Poland and the Czech office. In a sense, this is hardly only support these policies and explain what happened. Republic, has worrying implications for a summit meeting whose surprising. After all, the 25- but stubbornly defend even Because they alone are purpose is to take European integration a small but unmistakable step member states of the European their aberrations, like the directly accountable, it is not forward. In Britain, in particular, the spectacular surge of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) can only strengthen the government’s long- mistreatment of prisoners of enough for a minister to point standing latent Euroskepticism. ANALYSIS war. These ministers institute to and name the miscreants in The proposed constitution will contain a Charter of Fundamental Ralf Dahrendorf investigations, they move any particular case. Civil Rights, which is intended to enhance the political and moral legitimacy generals sideways or even into servants cannot defend of the EU. But will it really enhance the rights of EU citizens? Or, as the Union alone employ hundreds of premature retirement, they haul themselves in the same way. British government insists, will it merely be a declaratory document that only describes rights already existing under national legislation in the ministers between them—and perpetrators before military They have to be defended by member states? even more if junior ministers are tribunals: but they apparently see their ministers. If something of The draft constitution would enhance the policy making powers of included. But why do ministers no reason to respond to those such severity has happened that the Union, with a bit more majority voting in the Council of Ministers and resign? More interestingly still: members of Congress or a minister finds it impossible to a stronger role for the European Parliament. But, despite Tony Blair’s why do some not resign although Parliament, let alone of the defend them, they may have to one-time declaration that he would take Britain “into the heart of there seem to be compelling public, who wonder whether it pay the penalty, but the minister Europe,” he remains viscerally opposed to the prospect of further integration and will resist any new encroachment on British reasons for them to do so? is not time for the ministers must still assume responsibility. sovereignty in his red line areas of tax, foreign policy and EU budget In the absence of empirical themselves to go. It is proper to assume that finance. research, generalisations must be The case of crimes in Iraq is Secretary Rumsfeld did not One question always asked in this poll is whether voters tend to guesswork. Ministers frequently particularly dramatic, but less condone, let alone order, the trust or mistrust different institutions, such as national parliaments, resign because they find obvious cases make the same abuse of Iraqi prisoners. national governments and the European Union. Overall, the general themselves involved in scandals, point. The German minister of Honour may seem an old-fash- level of trust in the European Union is not high: only 41 percent of voters tend to trust the EU, whereas 42 percent tend not to trust it. But often connected in recent times transport, for example, presided ioned term. What it says in in Britain, the figures are dramatically different: only 19 percent trust with financing political parties. over a catastrophic and costly Rumsfeld’s case is that there may the EU, while 55 percent distrust it. In Italy, one encounters several failure of a road toll system that be no legal or constitutional The predicament for Europe’s leaders at this week’s summit is that ghosts of such past misdeeds. he had proudly announced. obligation for a responsible they stand at the cusp of an unstable process of European integration. Sometimes ministers resign for But even he may stay in office minister to resign over the Iraqi With the accession of 10 new members, the EU must become more what they call “personal to try again, having blamed abuse scandal, but once upon a integrated if it is to function. But it is not at all clear that those governments that would normally support more integration can sell it to reasons”. Such reasons may others—in this case private time it would have been their disillusioned electorates. Tony Blair has promised a referendum on conceal more compelling companies—for the debacle. regarded as a matter of honor the new EU constitution, which he cannot possibly win. The central factors, as the recent resignation If something unacceptable that he does resign. Such a step question will be whether Europe’s “leaders” deliberately play for of American CIA Director happens without a minister’s not only demonstrates that the failure, in the hope that the problem will go away. l (© Project Syndicate) George Tenet suggests. But direct involvement, he or she minister in question is fully Tony Blair lost one of his best can get away with it, or so it aware of the burden of his re- Ian Davidson is an adviser to the European Policy Centre in Brussels. and most loyal cabinet friends, seems, by pointing a finger at sponsibility, but also that he Alan Milburn, because he the bureaucrats or contractors puts the integrity of democratic genuinely wanted to spend more who are responsible for institutions above his personal time with his family. implementing an approved interest, let alone the electoral Blair also lost his ministers policy. prospects of those whom he of foreign affairs and Was it always thus? One served. of development assistance, would like to think not. In any Democracy is a precious but Robin Cook and Clare case, two ethical concepts come also a precarious set of values. Short, respectively. In their case, to mind, neither of which is If we want to persuade others it was a serious policy much in vogue these days when to subscribe to it, we do well to disagreement—over the Iraq talking about government: demonstrate that we not only war—that made them go, and responsibility and honor. Both believe in elections and Cook certainly remains a values are, or at least used to be, majorities but also in the vir- politician-in-waiting. Yet Geoff part of the ethics of governance. tues of responsibility and Hoon, Prime Minister Blair’s Responsibility concerns the fact honor. l (© Project Syndicate) defence minister, as well as his that ministers are accountable American counterpart, Donald for everything that happens Ralf Dahrendorf, a former European Rumsfeld, remain in office. within their sphere. In fact, they Commissioner from Germany, is a Neither, to be sure, is clearly alone are accountable in the member of the British House of Lords. 16 BOOKS #201 I don’t know why I didn’t come18 - 24 JUNE 2004 A little bit of coitus never hoitus. bedding habits of the Bedouin actually comes from the habit of an orgasmic convulsion outside or the cherry on the cake—we to the risque activities of an placing one’s hand on one’s balls an act of procreation should “lie should understand its pursuit as 18th-century male Scottish when taking a vow. “Fornication” still make the sign of the cross our primary motivation in life. It is masturbation club known as comes from the Latin word for and pray fervently for God not hardwired into our systems, linked the “Beggar’s Benison”. stove, forntx. Roman prostitutes to allow him to slip into orgasmic to the survival of the fittest. The book fulfils many working in bakeries would take pleasure”. In sharp contrast, pre- Male and female orgasms have functions—if you are, the opportunity to make a little Christian treatises were evolved to be deliberately perhaps, an ardent young cash while their buns were in the proponents of guilt-free pleasure mismatched for specific biological man confused by your coy oven. between equals. The Kamasutra reasons; a suitable pair bond is mistress, a perusal of the Lest you conclude that offers the following advice to sensed and accepted by a woman if “Orgasm in the Orient” Margolis is purely a master of the those in search of priapic her paramour invests the time and chapter will fill you in on anecdotal and scurrilous, I must virtuosity: “Eating many eggs effort to help her climax. This lovemaking techniques disabuse you of that notion. fried in butter then immersed in indicates that the chap may be a from Ancient Chinese Tao True the book will have you honey will make the member keeper. “In short making women texts. “She extends her guffawing, but it’s a double- hard for the whole night.” feel good may help men to win the abdomen. It indicates that edged sword; a text that amuses This was undertaken with Darwinian contest of supremacy.” she wishes shallower thrusts.” but also illuminates. CS Lewis the admirable intention of Thus the quest for orgasmic ou might be forgiven for Those chafing against a referred to the “snobbery of making your woman happy. release propels us through the plunging straight into this homophobic environment can chronology”; the conviction in Unfortunately women faced an centuries. Margolis argues that Y hot pink tome with take comfort in the fact that their any given generation that the increasingly raw deal as the testosterone, the primary generator unbridled enthusiasm. After all, it detractors would not have gone apotheosis of information on a juggernaut of Christianity rolled of sexual desire in both men and promises nothing less than a ride down well in ancient Greece. Or topic has been reached. onward; their previously women has been the ‘“single most through the development and perhaps they would have. It’s fascinating to read the celebrated sensuality became influential chemical in human Aristophanes reflected the “authorities” on sex throughout something feared and attacked history’. If this seems far-fetched, REVIEW sentiments of the time when he the ages, all of whom thought by those who were no longer one has only to go down to your wrote: “Well, this is a fine state of that they were having the last comfortable with tides of local bar at closing time this Zöe A L Green affairs, you villain. You meet my grim word on the subject. longing. evening to check out the vast ooze quirks of that most sought after son fresh from the bath and you Licence has given way to Persecution and distress of testosterone in motion. But take and occasionally elusive sensation, don’t kiss him. You don’t even repression and swung back to aside, the orgasm has survived, heart; in the words of Dorothy the genital sneeze. Gratifyingly, it feel his testicles. And you’re licence again, as human beings and one of the chief pleasures of Parkers “A little coitus never delivers. supposed to be a friend of ours!” wrestle with the urge to merge. this book is Margolis’s analysis of hoitus”. l (© The Observer) There are hundreds of bat tips Speaking of testicles, Margolis Prominent Christian the potential reasons for its tube acquired on Margolis’s offers up a wealth of etymological theologians such as the 17th- existence. His thesis is this: rather 0: The Intimate History of the Orgasm historico-anthropological information for the verbally century sexpert Tomas Sanchez than viewing the orgasm as an Jonathan Margolis odyssey, which ranges from the licentious. The word testify stipulated that any person fearing adjunct—the cream in the coffee Century 395 pp £14.99

BIGBEN

“I finish my thupka and I unite Nepal!” - Prithbi Narayan Shah Lector in Nepali

Department of the Languages and Cultures of South Asia and SOAS Language Centre £21,594p.a.-£26,954p.a. inclusive of London Allowance Vacancy 04-67 Applications are invited for a fixed-term three year Lectorship in Nepali. The successful candidate will be expected to teach Nepali language, both in BA and MA classes (within the South Asia Department) and in evening and weekend non-degree classes (within the Language Centre). Instruction will include conversation classes as well as formal tuition. Fluency in Nepali is essential and prior experience of teaching the speaking, reading and writing of Nepali effectively to students at various levels is preferred. The position will commence on 1 October 2004.

An application form and job description may be obtained from the Human Resources Department, School of Oriental and African Studies, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG Tel: 020 7898 4134. Fax: 020 7074 5129. e-mail: [email protected]. All applications must be sent directly to the HR Department. An on-line application is available at www.soas.ac.uk/ humanresources. E-mail applications will be accepted. CV’s will only be accepted when accompanied by an application form. No agencies.

Closing date: 28 June 2004 SPORTS 18 - 24 JUNE 2004 #201 17 Manindra’s course How a golf visionary set up the Royal Nepal Golf Club Hits and misses riving down from the airport, many people wonder what the refreshing view on the right is. Exquisite and green, it is a part of D the Royal Nepal Golf Club (RNGC), Nepal’s oldest golfing facility. First impressions from the week’s Euro 2004 matches Many of Nepal’s golf enthusiasts, including myself, are proud to say that this is the place we learned the game of golf. GABRIELLE MARCOTTI It takes both vision and implementation for a successful result, and in LISBON when we look at RNGC today, with its club atmosphere and the playing conditions of the course, one person stands out as having being erhaps it’s inevitable given that and stretched all over the pitch, leaving didn’t get much service against France, instrumental in this achievement: Manindra Raj Shrestha, who has been no team wants to start a room for the Germans to exploit. but he also showed little of the the club’s president for over a P tournament with a defeat, but HIT! Otto Rehhagel explosive quickness and ability to get decade. the first batch of games at EURO The Greece boss gave a tactical into goal scoring chances. TEE BREAK His selfless support helped 2004 were marked by tactical masterclass against Portugal. HIT! Vicente Deepak Acharya create the RNGC of today. Many conservatism, a lack of goals and Outmatched in terms of talent, Greece He may well be the best winger in the members of RNGC may not know that the greens they play on came from his courtyard. Despite his wife’s somewhat under-par performances, responded with intelligence and tournament, and he’s only going to get misgivings, he brought grass from his lawn and introduced the first particularly by the so-called favorites. workrate, converting chances and better. He tore Russia apart down the Bermuda grass greens in Nepal. I recall one morning when I was playing Portugal was stunned by Greece. playing to their strengths. left and with better finishing from Raul with him, he saw a big chunk of weed and started pulling it out France did little before Zinedine MISS! Bulgaria and Fernando Morientes, Spain could immediately. It was this passion and dedication that laid the foundations Zidane’s last minute heroics. England When you lose 5-0, it can’t be anything have had a far gaudier scoreline. A true for the development of golf and the RNGC. Today, many follow his defended in numbers, and Italy was other than a miss. It should be noted gem. footsteps, including his son Sonny. outplayed by Denmark. however that Bulgaria did create a MISS! Croatia’s finishing I was fortunate to share Manindra’s thoughts on the past, present and future of golf in Nepal. HIT! Zinedine Zidane When did you start the game? This isn’t for what he did in the first How were you inspired to take 89 minutes, when England’s it up? congested midfield stifled his creative I started playing golf in 1977. vein. Rather, by nailing the equaliser Before that, I had thought it was and converting the winner from the a lazy man’s game. It was Prince penalty spot, he proved just why so Basundhara who goaded me into playing, and having taken it up, I many consider him the best in the became aware of the game’s world. potential, and took an active part MISS! Portugal’s old guard in trying to promote it. The host nation crumbled under pressure against Greece, and most I have seen that myself! You worryingly, among the major culprits are a legend. How do you look were Manuel Rui Costa, Luis Figo and at golf in Nepal presently? Although it is moving slowly in Fernando Couto. These three great the right direction, I still feel veterans either need to step up or there is a lot left to be done. make way for new blood. This can only happen with the all HIT! Henrik Larsson round development of the game, It took a petition, letters from starting from getting more politicians and teammates and a plea children to play and having more from his six-year-old son, but when number of chances early in the game Ivica Olic, Milan Rapajic, Ivica Mornar golf courses around the country. the Celtic striker finally decided to and that Sweden’s late goals came on and Dado Prso put on a horror show We have talked so much about golf tourism. In your opinion how it is return to international action, it gave the counterattack. against Switzerland that would have best done? all of Sweden a lift. HIT! Karel Poborsky made some of their predecessors in the This is one topic that has been discussed for over a decade, including MISS! Alex Del Piero and Mauro The star of EURO 96 faltered after Croatia shirt—Alen Boksic and Davor with people directly related to tourism development in Nepal. However Camoranesi moving to the Premiership and to Suker, to name but two—cringe. nothing has come of it. To develop golf for tourism, HMG and the They’re supposed to provide Portugal. Now he is making up for lost HIT! German grit and private sector need to work together. One of the best ways would be for width to Italy’s 4-2-3-1 system, time, both at club level and with the organisation the government to provide the land and the private sector to develop it. but against Denmark they were national team. Against Latvia he was I hate to dwell on stereotypes, but The government has such a lot of unused land. They can easily provide it if they choose to. chaotic and wasteful. Del Piero devastating, like the rest of his Czech Rudi Voeller’s troops showed that isn’t a natural winger, but this teammates, who dominated their what they lack in raw talent they make You drove RNGC though rough roads to bring it to its present state. alone can’t explain his perennial opponents from the very first minute. up for in determination and toughness. What do you see it today? underachievement. As for MISS! Johann Vogel Don’t expect a rerun of the 2002 RNGC, as you mentioned, is one of the most successful sports Camoranesi, who is a winger, there A guy of his experience simply should World Cup but do expect Germany institutions in Nepal, mainly due to the selfless efforts of its members can be no excuses. not be getting sent off in the opening to give everyone a run for their money. and strict adherence to its objectives of promoting the game in Nepal. I HIT! Tomas Sorensen game, especially against an opponent, MISS! Russia’s disciplinary record feel that the effort we put in the last 10 to 12 years have paid off, as the club is still following the visions laid down then. Denmark played exceptionally well Croatia, that Switzerland realistically Five bookings and a sending off do not as a team against Italy, but it was the needed to beat if they are to have any bode well for a team already hampered We have all been talking about getting more juniors started, so how goalkeeper’s three prodigious saves chance to go to the quarterfinals. by injuries and forced absences. can we walk this talk? that avoided defeat. It’s good to see HIT! Latvia Against an impressive Spanish side, Last year, RNGC started a five year golf development plan with the basic him shine again after 18 difficult OK, so the Baltic boys lost and the Russia got physical and paid the price. objective of promoting golf at the junior level. If all other clubs and months following the 2002 World margin could have been far greater than Roman Sharonov is now suspended, organisations follow that model, I am sure we can have worldclass players Cup. the 2-1 scoreline. But they took the weakening an already strapped back coming out of Nepal within 10 years. MISS! Holland’s 4-3-3 system lead and hung on for a long time. line. Today when we look back at the foundations this gentleman’s vision Against Germany, particularly for MISS! Michael Owen laid for us, we must take our hats off to him. the first hour, the players just did not Right now, he looks like the oldest Gabrielle Marcotti is a well known Italian seem to get it. They were slow, sluggish 24-year-old in the world. True, he sports journalist based in England. Deepak Acharya is a Golf Instructor and Golf Director at Gokarna Forest Golf Resort & Spa, Kathmandu. [email protected] 18 CITY 18 - 24 JUNE 2004 #201

ABOUT TOWN BOOKWORM EVENTS On the Ethos of Hindu Women: Issues, Taboos and forms of Expression v Monsoon wine festival at Kilroy’s of Kathmandu, Thamel. 250440 Vivienne Kondos v 4th Bagmati River Festival till 21 August Mandala Publications, 2004 v Cigar Tasting Dinner 19 June at 1905, Kantipath. Rs 550 v Art of Living 15-19 June at DAV School, 3PM-6:30 PM. v Monsoon H2O Party 25 June at Dwarikas. Rs 699 with drink and dinner In this collection of essays, Vivienne Kondos explores the everyday lives of Hindu women, v The Sound of Music by Malpi International School. 5:30 PM on 25-26 often venturing onto controversial ground. This is a work of major interest to anyone June, Royal Nepal Academy Hall. 4240159 trying to get a deeper look into the gender roles in Hindu culture and society. v The British Film Festival 2004 28 June-2 July at Gopi Krishna Cinema Courtesy: Mandala Book Point, Kantipath, 4227711, [email protected] v Hyundai Vehicles Pre-Monsoon Camp, 15-22 June, AVCO service Centre, Matidevi v Euro 2004 – Football Mania the Piano Lounge Bar, Hotel Yak Yeti. CLASSIFIED 5PM onwards Lakshya is based on the 1999 Indian JAI NEPAL CINEMA Army skirmishes with Pakistani intruders MUSIC in the heights of Kargil in Jammu and Visit Femilines, the Exclusive v Close Up Music Xplosion 35 music stars on one stage, noon onwards Lingerie Store for ladies Kashmir. undergarments, nightwear, at BICC, 19 June. Tickets Rs 100 Starting with his life as a careless rich v Ultimate 1974 AD Rock bathrobes and more. Ladies staff. Opposite Sajha Yatayat, Harihar Show at the BICC. 19 and 20 boy, the film traces the journey of cadet Bhawan, Pulchowk. Tel: 547428 June, 3PM. Karan Shergill (Hrithik Roshan) and the v International Music Day, 21 changes in his character, strengths and LIVE IN STYLE! Arcadia June with the Alliance beliefs. Co-starring Amitabh Bachchan Saturday 19 June Apartments in the heart of Thamel. Française. Amateur bands and Preity Zinta, Lakshya aims to Bookings open Centrally located, fully furnished from 12-3PM and an evening redefine war films in Bollywood. Call 4442220 for show timings apartments at unbelievable rates. show with professionals. www.jainepal.com For details: 981026903, 4260187 v Close Up Video Music Awards live on Channel Nepal. 4PM onwards, 26 June. For Sale: www.spacetimeonline.com/cvma SONY VAIO LAP TOP v PROCESSOR PIV 2.40GHz Jatra weekends The Strings on Fridays and Full Circle on Saturdays. RAM 256MB DDR SDRAM Hard Disk40GB FOOD 12XGA,15" Monitor,CD-RW/DVD v Summit’s Barbecue Dinner with vegetarian specials. Summit Hotel. ROM,Memory Stick Port v Vegetarian Creations at Stupa View Restaurant. 4480262 Window XP and Window Office Pro v Organic Market every Saturday at Baber Mahal Revisited. 2003 installed. v Sunny Side Up Weekend BBQ at Soaltee Crowne Plaza Kathmandu. Made in China Contact:VISHAL 9851039291 v The Beer Garden at Vaijayantha, Godavari Village Resort. 5560675 Study saxophone or clarinet with experienced professional teacher and player. if interested call Peter: 9851 081 941

FOR IMMEDIATE SALE - Maruti Suzuki ALTO Lx 800cc car, 2001 Model,A/, Self driven,12,500 km Price: Rs.800,000 (negotiable).Also on sale: Household items and appliances. For further details, please contact Anita/Aditya @ 5548175 Email: [email protected]

NEPALI WEATHER by MAUSAM BEED TO LET - Luxurious 2 bedroom apartment with spacious living- KATHMANDU AIR QUALITY dining, modern kitchen,2 bathrooms, private telephone, If you took a deep breath and sensed something strange in the last week, it was ample parking, sunny terrace probably because you were breathing oxygen and not soot particles! With the overlooking garden,solar- exception of Putali Sadak, which maintained an even 179 PM10 reading, all the heating.Call:5524389 other monitoring stations noted improvement in air quality. It seems the education strike may have environmental effects as well, because the air around TU remained For Sale: Mitsubishi Pajero 2.8 GLX ‘good’—with less than 60 particles per cubic metre—for most of the week. Matsyagaun (long body), Oct 2001 Model, was better still, not venturing even once into just ‘ok’ levels. After those copious pre-monsoon showers the real thing seems to have been waylaid on its way to Nepal Metallic dark blue. 16,000 km. from the Bay of Bengal. The clouds are taking their time massing up in northeast India and the upper Owner driven. Duty not paid - USD Good < 60 atmospheric winds are still from the west, arresting their advance. This satellite picture taken on Thursday 6-12 June in micrograms per cubic meter. 19,000. Contact Bindhya/ Stefan, at noon shows an unusually powerful monsoon current from the Arabian Sea moving straight into northern Ok 61 to 120 Source: www. mope.gov.np Tel. 55 44 443 or India, a rare meteorological event. This has delayed the traditional frontal wave from the Bay. The Valley will experience overcast days, some humidity and occasional cloudbursts in the early part of next week. Unhealthy 121 to 350 [email protected] (after 21 June) KATHMANDU VALLEY Harmful 351 to 425 Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Hazardous >425 For insertions ring NT Marketing at 5543333-36. Putalisadak Patan H Thamel TU Bhaktapur Matsyagaun S S S 26-19 28-19 26-18 29-19 27-18 18 - 24 JUNE 2004 #201 19 Tirtha’s ability

fter 27 years as a teacher, what I could have done if I A Tirtha Shrestha still smiles finished my IA or higher?” she as she remembers her laughs. early school days in Myagdi. In Myagdi, where education Polio left her crippled at an was once considered a wasted early age but her father exercise, public opinion began to said nothing was change when Tirtha’s education wrong with her mind launched her career. Many and encouraged her to parents followed her father’s KIRAN PANDAY study. Then came the example and started sending their BIG GUNS: This week the army stepped up security at Kathmandu airport. biggest hurdle in every children to school. Tirtha is Nepali student’s life: the usually cheerful, but her face SLC exams. darkens when she talks about “Students from her pet peeve: NGOs. my village repeatedly “So much money is donated failed, so when my but almost nothing reaches the turn came, my father told schools,” she complains. “If it did, me not to bother as I a lot more could have been would probably fail too,” accomplished.” She is proud of she remembers. But Tirtha had Beni Secondary School and is no intention of giving up. She quick to point out that she hasn’t snuck out of her house and had any problems with the secretly went to the exam Maoists. They acknowledge her centre in Baglung. “It took me immense contribution to the more than six hours because people and leave her alone. back then I didn’t have Students with disabilities are crutches,” she says, “so I encouraged to attend, but as the crawled with the help of a school cannot afford special

MIN BAJRACHARYA wooden stick.” When the provisions for them, very few are results came out, she was able to do so. PRO-KRISHNA: A different sort of demo at Putali Sadak on Wednesday one of only three girls who This teacher hopes to open a was a rath yatra in honour of Lord Krishna. passed from the district school exclusively for the that year. differently-abled in Myagdi Tirtha went on to be a someday. These plans are just a young teacher and then dream as Tirtha concentrates on the principal of Beni a more immediate challenge, a Secondary School. Her task that brings her full circle, as biggest regret is never having the she prepares her first batch of opportunity to pursue academics SLC students. Luckily, they have more fully. “I got so far with just her for inspiration. l an SLC diploma, who knows (Milan Wagle)

MIN BAJRACHARYA NEW CD: Stars Rajesh Hamal and Sambujit Baskota jointly released a new album by Ramkrishna Dhakal (far left) called Ashraya on Sunday at the Radisson Hotel.

MIN BAJRACHARYA FALSE ALARM: Rumours that the education strike ended got this student and his mother only as far as the bus stop near New Road on Thursday morning.

MIN BAJRACHARYA RUMBA RUMBA: Singer Nima Rumba receives nominations for two categories at the Close Up Video Music Awards from Channel Nepal’s Jamim Shah. 2 0 18 - 24 JUNE 2004 #201 Transmogrifying hegemonic values

ince we Nepalis have given up trying the bottom up. S to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps Q: Is that a yes or a no? www.nepalitimes.com from the septic tank that we have got A: Since you are asking me directly, let me ourselves into, it now falls upon the UN answer you obliquely. Although it is vitally Specialist Envoy to extricate us from the important to be cognizant of our global, goo, according to a political analyst who national and sub-national contexts, we need requested anonymity because he is, um, in to work under a consistent interdependent actual framework to institutionalise multilateral fact, monitoring mechanisms without undermining UNDER MY HAT none the need for strong localised initiatives, Kunda Dixit other unless of course they are buffeted by than various global and regional exigencies. yours truly. So, I took time off from my busy Q: What on earth are you talking about? schedule to interview the visiting dignitary, A: Let me try to explain and put this in its who spoke frankly and gave clear and proper context. What it demands is a precise answers to my queries. Some radically-participatory consultative excerpts: engagement, a sustainability paradigm so Q: Can you tell us something about the that we can problematise the creation of timing of your visit to Nepal? solidarities and identity expressions, A: Certainly. We arrived at consensus-building and the prospective 12:30 on Tuesday and are vision of an alternative paradigm. We have looking forward into the near to to redefine the context in which the medium-term future so we can normative discourses and anticipate important and pluralisitic advocacy are agreed paradoxical trends, there are upon between systematic organisational, systemic, thematic powers and structural shifts. and institutional issues, there is a Q: Was that the message transformative agenda in the from the Secretary context of economic General to the prime globalisation of which minister? Nepal cannot avoid being A: Yes, we made it very clear involved. The key to the in no uncertain terms that the future is therefore to lowest common denominator is maximise the strengths and square root of x minus y minimise the weakness in all squared. Concerted action is approaches to needed to make intergenerational interdisciplinary holistic linkages between fake and collaborative universalism and a strategies that build missionary drift towards on potential risk a more elevated scenarios. parochial truth and Q: I see. Does that transmogrifying mean the United Nations is willing to hegemonic values so that there can be a be involved in mediation here? compelling rationale to adopt a rights-based A: Let me put it this way: yes, no and approach on cross-cutting over-arching maybe. But whichever way, it will require a issues by one section of interlocutors sectorwide stakeholder consultation at all without in any way obviating the need for levels and a strategy that will depend more legally enforceable obligations. It means on changing the structures of organisations accessing strong analytical and and more importantly the institutions that methodological tools in a timebound embody them: especially the mainstreaming workplan of diversifcation and efforts and the basic organisational re- decentralisation. intermediarisation that are a necessary Q: And what was the prime minister’s starting point. In other words, and I can’t response? emphasise this enough, we need an A: He said he didn’t know what the hell we enabling environment for empowerment from were talking about.

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