#366 14 - 20 September 2007 16 pages Rs 30

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FLOOD OF TEARS: The ill-fated microbus is pulled out of the flooded Dhansar river in Rautahat the morning after five people perished.

UPENDRA LAMICHHANE/KANTIPUR Accidents don’t just happen, they are a result of corruption and war

he microbus carrying a microbus got stuck mid-river. artery, was knocked out by a Whenever the water receded, newly-wed couple and their As the bus headlamps flood three years ago. Makeshift passengers would make the T relatives left Dhankuta on illuminated the swollen river, the repairs allowed it to keep perilous crossing on foot to catch Saturday afternoon for the passengers got out to push. Just functioning while wheeling a bus on the other side. overnight journey to Kathmandu. then a flashflood engulfed the dealing on the contract delayed The microbus arrived at the It was important to cross the vehicle. The newlyweds, Raju and construction of a new bridge. broken bridge and seeing a bus troubled eastern tarai at night, Kimila Shrestha, and two other The work had just begun at making it safely across, took the despite the danger of highway passengers held on to the roof, the height of the Maoist war in fateful decision to cross. robberies, because of road but five others were washed away 2004 when guerrillas demanded This isn’t the first time a bus blockades and disruptions in the with logs and other debris that Rs 1.5 million from the has been washed away by daytime. There was a banda call the river brought down. Their contractor. He said he couldn’t flooded rivers, and it won’t be for Sunday, and the wedding bodies were found up to 10km pay, and work stopped after the last. Sometimes it is a group was in a hurry to cross the downstream the next day. three of the pillars were casualty of war as in last plains by midnight. This would have been just completed. After the ceasefire weekend’s tragedy in Rautahat, at By the time the bus reached another tragedy on Nepal’s last year construction resumed others it is because disagreement Chandranighapur in Rautahat, it accident prone highways had it but the contractor faced extortion over kickbacks has delayed was 10PM and raining heavily. A not been for the circumstances again, this time by the Jwala repairs. Interestingly, the Road little ahead, hundreds of vehicles that lead to the deaths. This faction of the JTMM. Work was Department rushed equipment were queued up by the side of the wasn’t an accident: it was the halted once more. and repaired the bridge the day highway in the dark because the result of corruption, war and On the night of 5 September after the tragedy, just to prove bridge over the Dhansar river had government negligence. Also, the there was a massive storm how quickly it could act if it been washed away three days microbus probably wouldn’t have upstream in the Chure hills, and wanted to. previously. been travelling at night if the tarai the flood washed away the same This tragedy was proof that Trucks were fording the river unrest hadn’t made daytime section of the Dhansar bridge corruption kills. Negligence can even though the water came up to journeys so unpredictable. once more. For four days, there be fatal. And the sorrow of war tyre height. Driver Anil Tamang A 50m section of the bridge on was no effort to repair the lingers long after the fighting saw a passenger bus go across and the Dhansar on the East-West damage or warn buses on the stops. decided to give it a try. But the Highway, Nepal’s main road highway of the broken bridge. Kunda Dixit in Rautahat 2 EDITORIAL 14 - 20 SEPTEMBER 2007 #366

Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Editor: Kunda Dixit Design: Kiran Maharjan Director Sales and Marketing: Sunaina Shah [email protected] Circulation Manager: Samir Maharjan [email protected] Subscription: [email protected],5542525/535 Hatiban, Godavari Road, Lalitpur GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu 5543333-6, Fax: 5521013 [email protected] Printed at Jagadamba Press, Hatiban: 5547018 Caste mongering www.nepalitimes.com Identity politics is compartmentalizing GLASS HOUSES Nepalis without their consent It’s hard even for die-hard democrats to see a silver lining in the hanks to the past few constantly change as individuals banega na musalmana banega’ went way the current interim executive is conducting itself.The country decades of democracy and adapt to new circumstances. Any on to become the theme songs of has been steered back on to the path of freedom and peace, but it rebellion, the ghost of the discussion on cultural identity the 1950s. looks like governance and development are not on the agenda. T Not even during the worst days of dictatorship have we seen Panchayati daura suruwal must be qualified by a further For newspaper-reading such a paralysis in decision-making. Never have we had such a identity is finally fading away. discussion on counterculture that intellectuals across the world, severe fuel shortage. Although it is due to past mismanagement, Sadly, however, a new monster our societies have undergone over India is often closely associated not much has been done to avert a 14-hour power cut each week fast raising its head is one that the past centuries. with recurring communal riots this winter. At the start of what could be a record tourist season, mechanically forces each Nepali To deny Nepal’s cultural and ethnic strife between Hindus no one can get seats in and out of Kathmandu because the into compartments of castes and identities in political debate is to and Muslims, Christians and national airline is in a shambles. ethnicities. This new caste ignore the elephant in the room. Sikhs. However, in the minds of We may be free, but only to complain about how much more politics is taking us away from Equally, to disregard the dynamic ordinary people, most of whom miserable things are. And all we seem to be interested in are the social inclusion and changes cultural identities have happened to be the Bollywood trappings of democracy, not in actually using it to get results. multicultural coexistence. already undergone is to imprison movie-goers, India is a place where Case in point is the Parliamentary Special Hearing a twenty-first century human an incredibly large spectrum of Committee which is unnecessarily adding more delays to important appointments by staging a constitutional charade. Chief GUEST COLUMN being into a medieval iron cage. diverse cultures coexist, bonded Justice designate Kedar Prasad Giri was “interrogated” by the Mallika Shakya India offers an excellent by a deep affection and making a committee, and a similar fate awaits all the judges of the example in clarifying how culture respectful space for each other’s Supreme Court, ambassadors and heads of constitutional organs. is not static but a dynamic unique cultural and religious These hearings hinge on the assumption that lawmakers are The mono identity of daura concept. It is true that the idea identities. Film after film has best suited to prevent the elevation of unworthy characters to suruwal was the invisible wall of Indian independence started obsessively emphasized the positions of authority and responsibility. But let he who has not that kept Nepalis blissfully out with resistance to the English quintessential oneness of people sinned cast the first stone. unaware of each other’s cultural culture, which initially entailed of diverse faiths. Everyone knows the ambassadorial candidates are political histories. The problem about digging deeper roots of Hinduism. Somewhat belatedly in the appointees who did not emerge from a talent search among being assigned a certain caste But as early as in 1828, the winding road to democracy and career diplomats but from a process of wheeling-dealing. Some ethnicity and bluntly being told Kolkata elites had already pluralism, Nepal has finally come of these names are ill-suited for their new posts, but why are nominated members of a transitional parliament going through the not to venture outside its launched the Brahmo movement, to realise that any political change whole rigmarole all over again after the parent parties of the perimeters is that these are not as or the worship of one universal must have deeper social and honourable members have already done so? Perhaps the best we static as the mongers of caste god, aiming to do away with cultural roots for the common could get was what we have got. Let’s not make an unseemly politics would want them to be. sectarian divisions and caste people to be able to relate to it. fuss over it all. Assigned identities and values hierarchies within Hinduism Thanks to the Maoist rebellion and Reportedly, leftwing members of the legislative parliament while keeping the ancient the popular uprisings that have been most vocal in quizzing Giri and other nominees and spirituality intact. followed in Kathmandu and in holding forth as if they were as pure as virgin snow. While the elite Brahmo the tarai, Nepal has finally set out For all their democratic pretensions, let us not forget that the movement has gained wide to open the old portmanteau of UML was a direct participant in King Gyanendra’s dictatorial attention, one that remains little culture. This is an incredible experiments. The Maoists have yet to prove their commitment to acknowledged to date is the achievement in itself. pluralism and democracy. The kangresis all have skeletons in their closets. cultural movement of the non- Without addressing the Almost everybody at the top of Nepal’s professional pyramid elites, which is best captured in centuries-old institutions, both has reached there the Bollywood expression. It is good and bad, nurtured by our by making some all too easy to make fun of culture and our history, one unprofessional Bollywood, but it has uniquely cannot lay foundations of a New compromises with touched the lives of many Nepal. But this won’t be a panacea. past regimes. ordinary Indians. Unlike film Resolving the deep-seated There is no way to industries elsewhere, Bollywood prejudices of castes and ethnicities invent squeaky has never been funded by the is undoubtedly a priority but clean personalities state. Raj Kapoor’s ‘mera juta hai making sure that the treatments that match the high japani’ was a snub to the ‘be truly echo people’s spirits and not expectations of our peerless Indian, buy Indian’ variety of those engaged in identity politics parliamentarians. nationalism promoted by the is no less daunting. People in glass houses government in the 1950s. As the shouldn’t throw stones. country reeled under the Mallika Shakya is a PhD fanaticism of Hindu-Muslim candidate at the London School of violence, songs like ‘na tu hindu Economics. The coming potato riots The fuel crisis masks a coming food crisis he Kathmandu high society is cars will be cheaper after 2009 when Some taxi-drivers claim that they income earners in this country consumed preoccupied with preparations for import duties will have to be reduced to make more money by driving in line to the 9.4 times more than the poorest 20 percent. T constituent assembly elections. A suit WTO guidelines. petrol pump than they would by driving Disturbing as they are, even these parliamentary committee is investigating The petrol lines are an admissible around town carrying passengers: the statistics of inequality fail to capture the nominees for influential positions. Fund- conversation piece. The high society lady premium on a five-litre jerrycan of petrol frustrations of the bottom rung. An average raising for Prime Minister’s Relief Fund has may complain that her chauffer is often more than Rs 200. In a way, the day-labourer in agriculture earns at most turned into a fashion parade. Paras’ disappeared for the day on the pretext of scarcity of petrol has come as a blessing Rs 10,000 per year, calculated on the basis procuring petrol. An upwardly mobile in disguise for cabbies who don’t own of Rs 50 per day for 200 days of work. It journalist can admit without their vehicles. But for the rest, owning costs at least Rs 200,000 per year to be STATE OF THE STATE embarrassment that he pushed his and driving ageing Marutis bought with able to lead a lifestyle that includes entry- C K Lal motorcycle through the queue for four bank-loans has become a frustrating level motorised vehicle-a scooter or a hours only to be told at the end of his occupation. motorcycle. ordeal that the petrol was finished. But the fuel crisis masks the food In a classic class society, rewards are coronary artery has been unblocked. The However, nobody likes to raise the crisis. The price of dal has shot up to Rs related to power rather than need or Maoists are threatening an imminent urban point that we never see politicians, 80 per kg. Onions have hit the Rs 40 per contribution. With extremely limited uprising. Extension of UNMIN contracts is a bankers, media moghuls or other hoity- kg mark, the line beyond which they opportunities for advancement in life, the foregone conclusion. But no one is toity waiting in the fuel queues. A become unaffordable to the poor. But the privileged are perhaps correct in assessing concerned about everyday matters like the passenger on the Lagankhel bus the other most astonishing is the price of potatoes: that Nepal is ripe for endless cycles of shortages and the cost of living. Because day pointed out another very visible it is now Rs 30 a kg. Apparently, those revolution. They have managed to get a law these things don’t affect the rich. The more incongruity: other than two-wheelers, most who worry about unavailability of petrol that will allow them to take their money high-rise apartments are built, higher goes of the vehicles queuing up for petrol are and those disturbed by the runaway price elsewhere. Worse times are in store for the rent for the poor. This improbable taxis. This adds one more mystery to the of potatoes belong to two different societies oblivious to structural injustices. relationship between burgeoning supply and as yet unexposed fuel supply universes despite sharing the same city. The Maoists are planning an urban uprising, escalating cost is never discussed by arrangements of vehicles belonging to The Asian Development Bank but can they control it from descending into economists. Speculation is rife instead that international agencies. calculates that the top 20 percent of nationwide potato riots? 14 - 20 SEPTEMBER 2007 #366 3

LLL ETTERS

JOGIMARA It is such a sad and terrible thing to hear about the bereaved people of Jogimara ‘I weep at night’ (#364). I felt so moved after going through the column and hearing that the government, instead of compensating the bereaved families, have tagged them as terrorists. Don’t they feel sorry for the families of the dead? Are those who were killed not Nepali citizens? Can’t the dead rest in peace? Thanks to Mohan Mainali and Nepali Times for a great job in covering the plight of these innocents. Ravi Lama, email

YOGI IS RIGHT Yogi Adityanath is right (‘Nepal should be a Hindu rastra again’, #365). Only then will there be peace there. Hindus are naturally secular, and as long as there was King Birendra there was peace in the Himalayan kingdom. Secularism is unsuitable, because we know the kind of sham secularism being practised in India for vested interests. G V, email

MADHES The articles and interviews by Prashant Jha (‘The Gorakhpur Connection’, #365) are brilliant, with well weaved-in analysis and insights. Great work. Ruhit Tewari, email

JAI NEPAL I am in total agreement with Maura Moynihan (‘Jai Nepal’, #365). Compulsive optimism like this is in short supply. We need more reminders like this to infuse ourselves with well-deserved pride that our history, heritage, and uniqueness rightfully affords us. In contrast to nations around the world, patience and tolerance is still plentiful in our Nepalese society. And these characters will ultimately help us through the process of re-inventing Nepal. Let the bouts of dysentery only cripple those Kathmandu cocktail circuiters who dampen our optimism. Arun Neupane

Looking at the events of recent weeks (beating up UML cadres, coming up with absurd preconditions) makes it clear that Maoists are the major obstacles to the election. How absurd that they blame the king as the numero uno problem when they are creating havoc. What mechanisms are there to punish those who derail elections? UNMIN, these things are more important than your innocent sounding adverts on the FM. Somebody needs to discipline the Maoists or anyone for that matter, or else it will be ganglords running the election instead of the election commission. Name withheld, email

Someone should do an audit of how much cash and valuables were looted by the Maoists from the banks during the decade long insurgency. Nepal Telecom should tell us how much they lost when telephone towers were bombed. How many teachers were murdered? If the Maoists think they will have easy passage in future, they are dead wrong. Nepalis will never support terrorism. The root cause of political instability in Nepal is not poverty, illiteracy, or corruption, but rather an utter lack of a democratic mindset among Nepal’s politicians. Who gave Prachanda, Girija Koirala or Madhab Nepal the right to decide whether the country should be a republic? Who gave Upendra Yadav the right to sign a deal regarding an autonomous state for the tarai? Don’t we need to ask these questions to the Nepali people and find out what that they think? Isn’t that what democracy is about? The elections are an opportunity for the people to speak up. Nepal Times hasn’t written enough on how to make the constituent assembly free and fair. Anand Jha, by email

GOBAR Naresh Newar’s article ‘GOBAR’ (#364) mentions that it will benefit Nepal if forest-protection is included in carbon-credit mechanism as a COP-13 outcome of Bali-December 2007. Getting benefit is good but caution is needed. We should not leave any room for too much excuse by industrialised nations in the name of preserving forest in developing countries and shying away from reducing actual in-country emissions. Less emphasis on cutting in- house emissions but zeroing on carbon sequestration (which is uncertain and controversial) is cheating. Remember, the key goal is to reduce carbon concentration in air. Shobhakar Dhakal, Tsukuba, Japan

LETTERS Nepali Times welcomes feedback. Letters should be brief and may be edited for space. While pseudonyms can be accepted, writers who provide their real names and contact details will be given preference. Email letters should be in text format without attachments with ‘letter to the editor’ in the subject line.

Email: [email protected] Fax: 977-1-5521013 Mail: Letters, Nepali Times, GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal. 4 NATION 14 - 20 SEPTEMBER 2007 #366 Peace without dividend Donors talk the talk but don’t yet walk the walk

BINOD BHATTARAI and expects a rise to $95.2 In early 2006 the World Bank million (Rs 6.2 billion) in 2007/08. tried to steer the development aving defanged an Some top DFID officials are process by asking autocratic monarch and visiting Kathmandu next week, government and civil H convinced the Maoists to which could be a good opportunity society to agree on what rest their weapons, Nepal had for the government to better they wanted for Nepal. hoped for an aid windfall. This has acquaint them with national No one talks about this not happened. Election day is 69 priorities. anymore. days away and aid is unlikely to Donors have issued a torrent Donors now have increase before then – or of statements supporting political the ‘Peace and immediately after. developments in Nepal since April Development Nepal needs extra cash but it 2006, but government data Framework’ (PDF), is unlikely to come for two indicate that bilateral aid actually which they proposed to the reasons. The donors remain declined in the first eight months government some months divided on how to ‘do’ aid, and the of fiscal year 2006/07. Multilateral ago, hoping it could guide the government – as always – is aid tripled in the same period, but implementation of the three- factitious and divisive. this largely reflected old spending year interim plan. The True, donors have forked out commitments rather than fresh framework represents about Rs1.3 billion ($20 million) grants and loans. recognition – finally – among for the Nepal Peace Trust Fund The situation is unlikely to more than two dozen of Nepal’s (where the government put Rs1 change soon, especially as ‘development partners’ that billion) and its twin, the UN Peace individual Nepali ministries peace and development are Trust Fund. And they have spent continue to function as mini- not mutually several billion rupees on weapon governments and a unified Nepali exclusive and that stores, vehicles, tents, ballot voice on development priorities is basic services boxes and computers, as well as still missing. must reach the funding peace seminars and Most conspicuous among villages in order to organising ‘get to meet a real those reluctant to pay out is the enhance peace. Maoist’ visits to European European Union, whose member But they are still waiting for capitals. But such aid means very countries are divided between the government to set out the little where it matters most – in the those who believe peace itself is detailed costs of the peace lives of ordinary Nepalis. the priority and those who see process and the implementation “We have not seen a real development as a way to arrangements. And some, nervous peace dividend yet,” said Jagadish encourage the peace. of giving too much to a Chandra Pokharel, vice-chairman An eerily similar donor divide government which includes a of the National Planning paralysed king Gyanendra when former rebel force, have preferred Commission (NPC). “Some he took direct control in February to fall back on a traditional donors have added a few million 2005. Then the European bilateral project-funding approach. This dollars to their existing donors wanted democracy first week, German development commitments but that cannot be while the multilaterals and the agency GTZ put $7 million into its called a peace dividend.” The United States advocated keeping own peace-building project rather NPC’s three-year interim plan for development aid flowing. than into the government fund. carrying out reconstruction and Recent top-level personnel “The weak government is a development has a tab of Rs162.5 changes at major funding part of the problem,” said billion ($2.5 billion). agencies like the World Bank and Sudhindra Sharma, an aid analyst Not all donors are satisfied Asian Development Bank are also who feels the government should with the outcome. a problem. get firm with donors. “The next “Donors need to understand “It is like having a new step should be telling donors what the urgency of stepping up the minister coming to a ministry, Nepal wants, and not taking what support to the peace process and when everything from the past they want to give.” the peace dividend,” said Bella tends to be pushed aside and new That, however, is unlikely to Bird, head of DFID Nepal, the ideas are put on the table,” said a happen before a new constitution British government’s development donor source. “It’s a situation is approved. For Nepal, where the agency. DFID increased aid to $79 where those coming in want to try process to elect the constituent million (Rs 5.2 billion) in 2006/07 out something new that has their assembly still looks shaky, that’s from $60.7 million (Rs 3.9 billion), signature.” looking far into the future. z SUBHAS RAI BUSINESS 14 - 20 SEPTEMBER 2007 #366 5

Sanima in Damak

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Sanima Bikas Bank has opened its first branch in Damak. The Time to wake up bank offers evening baking services, lockers, and foreign currency accounts. Sanima Bank is the first bank to be promoted by non-residential Nepalis. Are the security agencies still sleeping?

he blasts that rocked

Banijya ATM Bangkok on New Year’s

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Nepal Banijya Bank has started ATM T Eve left that city scarred. services from its branch at Teku. The This Beed has never missed an Bank offers Any Branch Banking, opportunity to complement the locker services, remittances and now, swelling Thai metropolis, but ATM services. The ATM services will soon be available at the political uncertainty seemed bank’s Lalitpur, New Road, Jorpati, New Baneswor, inevitable. With the current Maharajgunj, and Pokhara branches in the near future. military government taking its

Blood for NIC

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○ ECONOMIC SENSE NIC Bank’s blood donation campaign concluded successfully Artha Beed with 180 participants. The campaign was held at NIC’s corporate office in Kamaladi with authority from a constitutional support from the referendum, we need to wait for Nepal Red Cross the general elections at the end Society. NIC is the only bank to set of the year. Meanwhile, the Thai KIRAN PANDAY aside a fixed tourist industry is suffering proportion of profit from fewer visitors, and the left to hibernate and the scare stories that make it to the for charity. As part of baht’s strength against the security situation in the streets world outside. its corporate social weakening dollar has left has been appalling. When one Nepal as a nation has suffered responsibility, it provides scholarships to students, broadcasts exporters unhappy. Foreign observes the arguments between a decade of insecurity that has anti-smoking messages on radio and sponsors sports. investors are taking a wait-and- the new breed of ‘irritant white clogged the wheels of see approach and it is only cabs’ and traffic policemen, development. We have been seen Baleno matter of time before the most of the time it seems the as a country where security-

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ political stalemate starts to cab driver is about to book the related firms can do good The Baleno apparel store has damage the economy. cop! More than business. Until April 2006, it was opened in Darbar Marg. Launched Nepal can surely learn from 17 months since the April the arms dealers and conflict in 1996 in Hong Kong, the Baleno chain has 3700 stores in the Thai experience. After nearly Uprising, the security agencies resolution specialists, and then China, Taiwan, Singapore and the Middle East. The brand 10 years, Nepali tourism has offers a full range of casual wear. appear not to have returned came the peace specialists. As the been heading for a high once from their holiday leave. better half of this Beed more. It has been getting Security on the ground and continually laments, Nepal has

Choco difficult to book an airline seat security in people’s perception become a country where

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Sujal Foods, manufacturers of Chocofun, have launched a new out of Kathmandu and hoteliers are two different things. individuals from countries with ad campaign to promote their flagship brand. The ‘Oh! My have got their smiles back. Perhaps we have not the highest divorce rates come to Chocofun’ campaign is expected to boost sales for the Rs 5 However, the 2/9 blasts have understood that it takes time to lecture us on co-existence! We chocolate. brought a new element of restore the ‘safe’ image of a have become just another uncertainty. As a fellow traveller country. The global media – experiment for the peacemakers, NEW PRODUCTS put it, repeating the worries of both print and electronic – still and the longer they stay, the many, are we heading into a war give the impression that Nepal worse for Nepal. Apache: TVS has of identity? The wars of is not safe. ‘Thursday Thailand’s experience has launched the new Kashmir, Nagaland, and the columnists’ who translate the shown that a few months of Apache RTR 160 in Tamils in the region have muckraking tabloids of the political uncertainty and a couple Nepal. The Racing shown what such a conflict can Throttle Response Nepali vernacular press make it of bomb blasts can sully a bike is the most develop into, and surely Nepal hard for good news to hit the country’s image. We are still powerful and fastest does not want to be grouped global headlines. Apart from trying to build an image. A major bike in its class with these South Asian hotbeds stories of primitive world responsibility for our citizens is with 15.2 bhp, a top of violence. heritage conservation activities to ensure that we can be seen as a speed of 118kph, The eight-party government like the sacrificing of goats in country that is safe, and show and can reach 60kph in 4.8 seconds. Electric start and disc has left too much resting on the front of electronically wired that 2/9 was an exception. brakes are standard features on the Apache. The bike will be outcome of the constituent aircraft, or Badi women Otherwise, we will all be finding priced at Rs 1,59,900. assembly elections. The protesters going virtually jobs in the permanent UN intelligence machinery has been topless, it’s just the security Mission in Nepal. z 6 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 14 - 20 SEPTEMBER 2007 #366

Editors’ Alliance Nepal today who would do more

○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○ than just garland his photo frame Maoist magazine, Hamro Jaljala, and speak a few words of praise. September 2007 Such is the way we commemorate Ceremonial monarchy someone as great as BP. There is a joker named Kundan His real ethos has already been Interview with NC leader Sujata Koirala in will give birth to another autocracy. Dixit (sic) who brings out an separated from NC’s mainstream Ghatana Ra Bichar, 12-18 September English paper named Nepali politics. His brother Girija is the If a ceremonial monarchy is the way to go, why reason why his party is in bad Nepali Congress leader Sujata Koirala shocked Times. He is a royalist in kangresi not keep king Gyanendra? shape and clueless. The party everyone by her pro views of a ceremonial He betrayed the people by taking democracy colours who gets fat stashes of monarchy. At a time when senior leaders are away from them and he should be punished for cash from the American Embassy members have neither dignity nor keeping quiet due to fear of wrath of India and his mistakes. But king Gyanendra and monarchy for his anti-Maoist campaigns. ideals. The party is trying hard to the Maoists, Sujata bravely came out and said: are two different things. Just because the king is Under his royalist leadership, CIA survive. This is the state of BP’s “NC should not accept the Maoist proposal of bad does not mean the entire system of agents and lackeys of Indian party. moving towards a republic, the party should monarchy is bad. expansionists have set up The main reason is the consider the ‘baby king’ option for something called the Editors’ frequent fickleness of NC’s ideals now.” Since her public statement, Your father and Prime Minister Alliance. Among other members and principles. At a time when Maoists and other pro-republic Girija Prasad Koirala is of the alliance are the editor of the country is going through a supporters have started advocating republicanism while Samaya, Yubaraj Ghimire who is political transition, it would be criticising her, while some have you are supporting the monarchy? destructive for the party to stand commended her for being so First of all, I haven’t heard on an anti-Maoist and anti- at the crossroads. It is unfortunate frank. Some have even compared Girijababu say he will only Chinese campaign, Prateek her to a young GP Koirala who support the proposal of turning Pradhan from The Kathmandu for the nation to see the was known for his bluntness. Nepal into a republic and is Post, Sudheer Sharma of Nepal, deteriorating state of this party. It against the idea of a ceremonial Pushkar Lal Shresthja of is not really an ordinary matter You are not amongst king monarch. He has made big Samacharpatra, the so-called for prime minister Koirala’s Gyanendra’s favourites, so why contributions to Nepal’s editor of Annapurna Post, Shree daughter Sujata to sound pro-king are you supporting him? democratic process, and his Acharya and others. at a time when the whole party I am not supporting the king, I greatest concern is how to save It was Bhakta Bahadur Balayar has decided to go for a republic. have always been against democracy. I am a staunch from the American lobby in the We can say frankly that GP autocratic monarchy. However, I democrat. I believe that if saving Nepali Congress who initiated himself is in a dilemma. believe that the end of a democracy means going for a We can easily gauge the mood monarch’s tyranny should not be republic, I will absolutely support this alliance. It’s main aim is to of NC from the forthright the opportunity for the rise of that. Having said that, if a undermine the Maoists and some other despot. republic is established under the China, says one independent statement made by its founding leadership of NC it will work, but analyst. president, Krishna Prasad So you think making Nepal into a KIRAN PANDAY not if the Maoists take the lead of Bhattarai. Despite the mixed

republic will open the doors for other despots? establishing the republic. Supporting republic Forgotten hero reactions to his statement (against ○○○○○○○○○○

Yes, the Maoists. They are neither for republic now means supporting Maoist autocracy. ○○○○○○○ a republic) from some NC nor democracy. They want a new people’s Dristi, 11 September members, the central committee republic, meaning rule where there’s a So is it fair to say that your party, NC is assisting leaders kept mum and it seems dominance of communist ideologies. They have the Maoists? There was a time when rulers like they quietly agreed with it. not joined the peace process after changing No. I will raise this issue in the general used to get nervous on BP Koirala Does this mean that NC is ideologically or spiritually. The Maoists do not committee meeting. NC leaders are worried about memorial day and Nepali merely trying to trick Prachanda have good intentions, which is why people like the future of democracy, not the Maoists’ Congress workers were filled with with false promises of supporting us fear that when a republic is established, it republic. enthusiasm and emotion. But not a republic? Only time can tell. anymore. There is really no one in This must be the reason why SELECTED MATERIAL TRANSLATED EVERY WEEK FROM THE NEPALI PRESS FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 14 - 20 SEPTEMBER 2007 #366 7 Bhattarai, Monika, and the corrupt Kishor KC in Gorkhapatra, 12 September have escaped our gaze. Instead of taking the good and honest. It is one thing to such actions. Himal Cement, Harisiddhi them to the courts and persecuting them, imagine a new Nepal but to make that a Brick and Tiles, the transport corporation It is said that Indian brothels have a we’re working arm in arm with them. reality and put smiles on the faces of all and dozens of other such corporations separate wall for the patrons to spit on. The letter by Jawalakhel’s Monika Nepalis is quite another. To achieve this, all have been sold for peanuts and has left These walls are never cleaned. Even the Thapa, published in Gorkhapatra’s politicians need to separate themselves hundreds of workers jobless. There must loathsome vulture, that rips the meat from 7 September issue, thanking Baburam from their greed. be an accounting for such actions. dead carcasses and the hyena that sucks Bhattarai goes to show how some people Even countries like Japan and England Tomorrow, the government formed the marrow from bones, would be revolted are dedicated to kicking out the corrupt. have their share of corruption but in no other after the elections to the constituent by this wall. It would be hard to imagine According to Monika, Maoist Bhattarai’s country does the court set free a corrupt assembly will also have to face the same anything more repulsive than this but recent television interview where he person that the CIAA has just apprehended. problems of corruption. That is why we there is something worse: Nepal’s vowed to persecute all those corrupt is on Those who were deemed to be corrupt must bring them to the field now, and set corrupt. the right track. When Bhattarai berates by the people, have been set free by the them right. We must uproot these corrupt While we are focussed on building a the corrupt, why would anyone feel sorry courts as we have so seen. This is a grave people and with proof of their crimes, grill new Nepal, the pollution that is the corrupt for them? He didn’t say anything against insult to the people and we will not tolerate them like pigs on a stick.

Prachanda recently announced It seems like the government that his party will now opt for a has yet to get serious, and if it decisive people’s agitation if NC fails to take firm action it is fails to declare itself for republic possible the elections will be in parliament. Sounding successfully disrupted. In threatening, Prachanda has asked addition, there is every his cadres to be ready for this. possibility that a civil war may start – especially now that Civil war tension in the tarai has been

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ intensifying. Abductions, Editorial in Arpan, 7 September assassinations, extortion, armed robbery, violence, strikes and Even weeks after the bomb other forms of anarchy have been explosions in the heart of the incessant. capital, there has been no arrest of So far there is no clue as to the bombers who have managed to what the Madhesi Janadhikar escape easily. This is really a Forum splinter group wants by challenge given that the parties protesting against the agreement and government are all prepared signed between the forum and the to hold the elections at any cost. government. People must now We should not treat the bomb endure another phase of armed incident lightly when party conflict at the hands of workers are all set to go to the disgruntled groups. If this goes villages to campaign for their on, who in his or her right mind elections. would go to the booth to vote? It appears clear that this The violence and terror would incident was an organised crime not be only in the tarai but would and we can not rule out the spread also to the hills and the repetition of such a violent capital. It is high time that the incident endangering the lives of eight-party government started innocent people. It is a mystery taking full responsibility for why three groups – Tarai Army, establishing strong security. The Tarai Utthan Sangat and People’s bombing incident in the capital Army – admitted to the crime has not only questioned the even before the government accountability of the government started its investigation. Was this but also got people doubting done to imply that some whether these parties can be powerful force was behind such trusted at all. The failure to fearful incidents and to scare maintain peace and protection in the people and spread terror the capital will only lead to civil among them? war in the near future.

BOOM! People: Help! Help! Home Administration: All of this is just a conspiracy to delay polls.

Abin Shrestha in Samaya, 13 September

QUOTE OF THE WEEK I had typhoid so I I couldn’t“ take part “ in the April Uprising.

NC leader Shailaja Acharya quoted in Rajdhani, 13 September

SELECTED MATERIAL TRANSLATED EVERY WEEK FROM THE NEPALI PRESS What a gas

But the petrol shortage is

e’ve been here before. Endless lines of stationary cars sit nose to tail for mile after mile along the roadside. Massed ranks of W motorcycles, in places five deep, spill out onto the highway, their hot and weary owners looking for a shady tree to rest beneath. Once more the Kathmandu valley is in the grip of a crippling fuel crisis. The Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) had already slashed Nepal’s fuel supply because of unpaid bills, but a tanker drivers’ strike that started nearly two weeks ago made things far worse. The drivers’ association wanted the reinstatement of several drivers sacked seven months ago, and blocked tankers from bringing fuel in from depots at Raxaul, Sunauli and Amlekhgunj. In the end they agreed to a deal, and the strike came to an end. But the bigger problem of unpaid bills remains. Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) loses Rs 310 million each month on the heavily subsidised fuel, and also needs to pay Rs 250 million a month to settle past debts to Indian refineries, which now amount to KIRAN PANDAY Rs 4.2 billion. As the petrol queues grow ever longer, the government continues to fidget. The Ministry of Finance turned down a Rs 2 billion loan request from NOC, leaving the corporation in a fix. It paid IOC Rs 768 million and will now receive 2,200-2,500kl of petrol daily throughout September. But ultimately, there is no alternative to raising fuel prices. The subsidy also makes them cheaper in Nepal than India, which is why much of the kerosene is actually smuggled back into India. Analysts have suggested increasing the price of petrol, aviation fuel and LPG while keeping diesel prices down, but there is no political will in the eight-party government to push these plans through. DEALT A WEAK HAND: (clockwise The queues may shorten in the next few days, and NOC has crawl towards the Bhadrakali pump announced boldly that its Indian counterpart will soon increase cars mark their place in the queue; supplies further. But don’t hold your breath. Bhaktapur; cars rest bumper to bum MIN BAJRACHARYA KIRAN PANDAY really no laughing matter

NAYANTARA GURUNG KAKSHAPATI

NAYANTARA GURUNG KAKSHAPATI e l-r) A weary taxi driver pushes his vehicle forward in the line, unwilling to waste any more precious fuel in the slow p; a deck of cards comes in handy as drivers at the Pulchok petrol pump find a cool spot to pass the time while their opportunists find novel ways to capitalise on the fuel crisis by selling old petrol in new whisky bottles at mper; and a man finds time to groom his moustache, maybe after a night spent in the company of his vehicle. MIN BAJRACHARYA 10 NATION 14 - 20 SEPTEMBER 2007 #366

is now in place and Britain is want a wider approach, to helping to restructure the include the judiciary within the Ministry of Defence. Reform of reforms. the National Security Council is “We understand that Reform rumble under discussion, with everything cannot be done before Washington and New Delhi the election, but at least what we Lack of debate over security sector proposing a new national can do is begin the process and security advisor post. let the new government after the reform may spell trouble ahead But the Maoists want a CA elections finish it,” Pun said. complete overhaul of the security Besides overhauling the other sector to ‘institutionalize the security agencies, the Maoists gains of the April uprising’. Most plan to downsize the army to the importantly, they want the full pre-war level of about 40,000 integration of the People’s personnel, including their Liberation Army (PLA) into the integrated fighters. The army new national army, with their wants to call it ‘right-sizing’ and fighters keeping their current is unhappy about talk of military ranks. The Maoist downsizing and wholesale deputy commander, Nanda integration. Kishore Pun ('Pasang'), says “We will accept any decision integration into the police forces that comes as a political package, is not acceptable. but the idea of integrating Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal politically-indoctrinated fighters Dahal has also proposed in a professional and neutral deploying the Young Communist national army is a no-brainer,” League to provide security during said one army official. the elections. Some Congress and He questioned what would UML leaders scoff at the idea. happen if other armed groups like Others flatly rule out the the Nepal Defence Army, the Tarai possibility of any integration of Cobra or those led by Jwala Singh UNMIN the Maoist soldiers. But there has and Goit also demanded the right been little discussion about such to be integrated into the army. “A JOHN NARAYAN PARAJULI cantonments, has not been fully VERIFICATION: UNMIN monitors proposals among the eight national army cannot operate like resolved. interview a Maoist ex-combatant at governing parties. a militia,” said an army watcher. he verification process to The Maoists want to integrate Chulchule cantonment in Ilam. Analysts say a sensitive issue But the Maoists see it determine who qualifies their fighters into the Nepal Army like security sector reform cannot differently and they believe their T as a Maoist fighter, (NA) as soon as possible, but the Maoist leadership from the restive be based purely on political own rhetoric. To them, the PLA delayed for nearly a month by a seven-party coalition is not yet fighters could derail the peace compromise and there must be a won the battle, so the vanquished spat between the Maoists and ready to discuss this. Analyst process. national debate. The army says it government forces should be UNMIN, is well under way once Shyam Shrestha warns that while Faced with reports of growing will offer suggestions on reform subject to their standards, not more. But the hiccup in July, the politicians are quite happy to desertions from the camps, the if asked, but insists it is the vice-versa. “How can you compare caused mainly by what the see the Maoist combatants worn Maoist leaders want to see government’s responsibility. NA and PLA?” said Maoist leader Maoists saw as a lack of progress down over time by the miserable tangible progress on security The Maoists have already CP Gajurel. “The April Uprising in reforming the security sector, living conditions in their sector reform before the elections. criticised the narrow strategy of succeeded only on the strength and by pressure from their cantonments, they seem unaware There has been some progress. Disarmament, Demobilisation of PLA’s 10-year-old people’s combatants languishing in the that the growing pressure on the Parliamentary oversight of the NA and Reintegration (DDR). They war.” z “Don't parachute”

Nepali Times: These days there are lots of peace-building roller-coaster. In terms of speed, it is frustrating. You organisations, both local and international. Are you doing wish it was more efficient, you wish people did things anything different from other international missions in better but they never do. Nepal? What are you expecting from your mission? Does Nepal really need international experts to tell us John Marks: We would like to support the transition and we what to do? would like Nepal to have an outcome that is positive. JM: Let's just say we can't tell anyone what to do. Expertise in one country is not usually the same in Susan Collin Marks: The transition is a very special time another country. It doesn't usually transfer. Maybe 25 or and when it happens it needs a lot of attention. In my own 50 percent of the knowledge is applicable. There are no experience during our transition in South Africa, we had ups answers to all questions. There could be some answers and we had downs. What you are doing is that you are from South Africa applicable here. But the people who moving from the way a society was structured and the way need to do what is considered crucial are Nepalis and it people behaved at one time to a new dispensation. In South is not going to be us foreigners. But there could be Africa, we didn't know what it was going to be like. We used answers, ideas and resources that are useful. to talk about a new South Africa. What happens in a transition is that the old age is dying but a new one is born. SCM: In a conflict, there is often a need for a mediating What we are trying to do here is to particularly empower force. For two sides who have been in deep conflict, youth to make a difference in this fluid state between the old often there isn't an ability in the initial phase to be able to and new and to inspire people to know that it is possible to really work with each other constructively. There is an reach a new Nepal in the way we were reaching a new South understanding of the power of a mediating force as a Africa. mechanism for dealing with conflict. What we are trying John Marks, founder and president of to do is shift our mechanism through mediation so that Search for Common Ground, an You had long experience of South Africa during its transition people will be able to stand back from the conflict and international NGO working on period. What advice can you draw from that for Nepal? deal with it in a more reconciliatory manner. SCM: The transition was for four years and it was important conflict transformation and we had that time. The transition is needed for a lot of What lessons have you learnt from working in countries resolution, has spent the past 25 healing. When you come out of the conflict, there is a lot of going through transition? years seeking to help countries in pain, fear and anger. There needs to be healing so people JM: Don't parachute. We believe strongly in not trying to can begin to see themselves as Nepalis rather than from bring in our methodology from outside. If we are going to conflict across the world, cutting his different sides of the conflict. For us citizens of South Africa, do a soap opera, the writers are going to be Nepalis as teeth initially on US-USSR relations it was important for us to become ourselves as South they understand what is going on here. We maybe able at the height of the cold war. His Africans. We had been divided for so long, and I don't want to bring in resources from outside but we let the local wife, Susan Collin Marks, who works to say that Nepal is the same as South Africa, but there are partner do the production. principles that can be useful. A big job for people working in with him, was involved in South peace-building is to engender hope, and a large part of our SCM: What we have learnt is that peace is a process Africa's post-apartheid transition to work is around that. and not an event, and there is need for a sense of democracy and wrote a book on the longevity of the process as it is something that doesn't subject. The couple talked to Nepali Is the peace process too slow in Nepal? happen overnight. Conflict is normal and natural. It is JM: Every country needs to finds its own pace. People wish always going to be there. It needs to be handled Times about Nepal's transition from it was quicker but we have never seen a peace process constructively so it becomes part of the dynamics civil war to peace. which happens that way. It goes up and down. It is like a of society. NATION 14 - 20 SEPTEMBER 2007 #36611

Even if the elections happen, there may Madhesi extremists must not be given free rein be a fairly sizeable constituency which is disenchanted with the process and will question the credibility of the constituent assembly from the outset. Will such an assembly be able to deliver a constitution Calling all moderates sustainable for generations? The only way to counter this is by beginning political campaigning, activating party district adhesi moderates need to wake up units–especially of the NC–and by madhesi and confront some difficult moderates asserting themselves. Mchoices. Mainstream politicians, In the longer term, there are two other civil society activists, academics, critical issues on which madhesis need to journalists and other opinion-makers are reflect honestly–their relationship with the right when they blame the state’s policies Tharus and the federal structure of for fuelling alienation in madhes, which government. in turn has weakened their position. But Madhesis claim Tharus to be their own. state insensitivity can only be a partial Indeed, many Tharus in the eastern tarai, justification for their silence. like Bijay Gachhedar and Kishore Biswas, identify themselves as madhesis. But there are many others, especially in the west, TARAI EYE who assert their distinct identity. Prashant Jha Madhesi leaders may be right when they say that Mahendra’s policies and Many moderates seem secretly pleased ruling elite engineered this divide. But that with the growing radicalisation. Recent is not the point. The madhesi insistence events have not only put the madhesi on a unitary identity is meaningless unless issue on the national stage, but have also accompanied by a closer engagement with strengthened their bargaining position. Tharu activists. They appear to be emulating the The slogan ‘one madhes, autonomous Kathmandu intellectuals who welcomed state’ has become popular. Madhesis the Maoist rebellion and lazily ascribed it understandably do not want a federal state solely to the ‘root causes theory’. split by borders running north to south,

Of course, the anger in madhes is due SHRAWAN DEV which they fear would mean pahadi to the crisis of identity and exclusion. But domination. But is one unit from east to there are several other aspects that have ARMED: JTMM-J militants brandish their guns while training in Saptari. west across the plains feasible? Does it take contributed to the drift. The madhesi into account the diversities within the mainstream must tackle some of these ground and legitimises criminal groups not happened, January 2007 would not tarai? Will it not defeat the purpose of issues if they want to steer future politics. using a political cover. have taken place.” having smaller states by breeding For one, they need to take a stand on Madhesi analyst Tula Narayan Shah has Responsible madhesis recognise the alienation among people at one end, violence and help revive the primacy of noted how most instances of violence have elections as a national priority. Like the distant from the state capital? Would it politics. While publicly maintaining a a long personal history–of property feuds, Jana Andolan, they will open up the make more sense to have sub-divisions commitment to peaceful means, quite a caste rivalry, extortion money not paid and democratic space further and provide a within? What integrative mechanisms with few madhesis are ambivalent in private. It or revenge for earlier killings, especially in platform for madhesis to win more the hills could be fair and mutually is not uncommon to hear voices which the case of attacks on Maoists. Madhesis are advantages. If the state is unwilling to give beneficial? Madhesi intellectuals need to justify violence on the grounds that it suffering the most, and all in the name of concessions even then, madhesis would be start thinking hard about these questions if helps keep the madhesi cause alive and the their liberation. within their rights to take to the streets they want to get the best deal and guide state has left them with no choice. What madhesi moderates need to do is again and head for confrontation. later events. But the January Madhes Uprising and connect politics in the plains to the larger But this message is not being Once the moderates start to play a subsequent heightened identity national picture, organise themselves communicated effectively on the ground, political role, they will ensure that consciousness has ensured that the electorally instead of bickering, and make leaving room for the extremists to make the irrespective of the state’s insensitivity and madhes issue will not disappear. This the most of the elections. As most of the vacuum and sense of the weakness of protesting groups, the defence of violence by city-based Chandrakishore, among the sharpest tarai alienation. This can have long-term essence of the madhesi cause–identity and intellectuals ignores the suffering on the journalists, points out: “If April 2006 had implications. representation–is not lost. 12 NATION 14 - 20 SEPTEMBER 2007 #366 Remembering hell A photo exhibition brings back tragic memories

CHANDRANIGAPUR – College students thronged the opening of the ‘A People War’ photo exhibition here on Thursday at the start of a tour that will take it to 10 venues across eastern and central Nepal. The exhibition at Chandranigapur on the East-West Highway was opened by Bhakta Bahadur Regmi, whose wife was killed during a Maoist firebomb attack on a passenger bus four years ago. His daughter and son, Rabina and Rabin, were badly burned in the attack. (See: ‘Why the children?’ # 121). A photograph of Rabina and Rabin by journalist Naresh Newar is among 179 pictures in the book, A People War, published by nepa~laya in January. “I am still struck with terror when I remember the suffering my wife and children went through,” Regmi said at the opening, “I hope Nepalis will never have to endure such pain again.” Media reports of Rabin and Rabina’s plight in 2002 brought enormous response from readers within and outside Nepal. The Sushma Koirala Memorial Hospital in Sankhu offered free plastic surgery and the two children were enrolled for free by Bright Horizon School at Matatirtha. The photo exhibition tour is supported by local branches of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) and will be travelling through Malangwa, Itahari, Dhankuta, Birtamod, Damak, Biratnagar, Gaighat, Birganj and Palung till 11 October. “The eastern tarai is a part of Nepal where the war never ended, and there is a danger the violence will take on an ethno-separatist character,” said exhibition curator Kunda Dixit at the opening on Thursday. “There is a lesson from these pictures, that violence doesn’t resolve problems, it makes them worse.” PICS: SHIVA PURI REVIEW 14 - 20 SEPTEMBER 2007 #366 13 Father of Nepal’s gobar gas industry John Finlay (3 October 1938 – 3 September 2007)

DAVID MCCONKEY

ohn came to Nepal from Northern Ireland in 1973 to join the United Mission to Nepal (UMN). After some months of Nepali J language study in Kathmandu, he was soon busy sharing his engineering skills with students at the Butwal Technical Institute (BTI). Another UMN staff member, a teacher from Scotland called Sheila Anderson, was working in the northern Gorkha village of Jaubari and as they got to know each other they decided to marry. After their wedding in Scotland in 1975, they returned to work in Butwal where they were also hostel parents to some of the BTI students. At this time John got involved in the development of biogas as an alternative fuel and helped in the production of the very first commercial unit built in Nepal. His passion was Boys behaving badly always to use the skills he had to help those in need, and he saw biogas as a way to save Hilarity ensues when plans for a booze- many Nepali village women the daily chore of gathering wood soaked party go awry in Superbad for fuel from the country’s diminishing forests. uperbad is another comedy under his belt, brings to Fogel. These adult characters are In 1975, UMN’s Development and Consulting about immature males in Superbad a similar roster of more in line with the bawdy Services built 95 gobar gas S pursuit of sex with loads quirky characters played to humour we’ve become used to. In plants in Rupandehi, of substance abuse and perfection by impressive that regard, Superbad hedges its Nawalparasi and Kapilvastu questionable acts of stupidity in comedic actors. Michel Cera as bets. Perhaps a little unsure of its districts. John later led a team between. But what makes the Evan plays a droll neurotic drier, smarter humour, it provides to monitor how they were being man-child template – so (think a young, less jittery us with plenty of dependable used and how the designs intolerable in the spate of gross- Woody Allen). Jonah Hill plays lowbrow high jinks. could be improved. out comedies of recent times – so his counterpart, the crass, portly, The women are purely In 1977 a company called Gobar Gas and Agro successful in this film? Could it best friend who spouts a peripheral to the film, whose Equipment Development Pvt Ltd was set up and this was the start be that the characters are actually seemingly non-stop barrage of main interest is the impending of the wider use and promotion of this eco-friendly source of children, or at least not quite profanities and is particularly death of the male friendship. energy in Nepal. Now there are several Nepali biogas companies and about 170,000 units in use across the country. given to histrionics. The pair are Overtures and subtext of the John himself was a champion of this technology both rounded out by third-wheel latent eroticism of buddy flicks within Nepal and beyond, and it was in recognition of this that the CRITICAL CINEMA Fogel (Mintz-Plasse), a geeky have been blasted and satirized by A. Angelo D’Silva Nepal Biogas Promotion Group recently honoured John with a white kid perhaps a little too recent movies like Hot Fuzz and I special plaque of appreciation at their 13th Annual Meeting on 5 taken with hip-hop culture, and Now Pronounce You Chuck & September. Sadly this was just two days after John passed away adults? The palpable sense of whose newly acquired fake ID Larry. Yet in Superbad we are in Scotland, but Jennie Collins, UMN’s Executive Director, was nostalgia and the loss of could get them the liqueur that given such a tender and aching honoured to be able to receive it on his behalf. something precious, which promises to impress the girls depiction of fraternal love, you John’s career in UMN later led him and his family to honestly feel pathetic in films they hope to score with. might have a tear accompanying Jumla for several years, where the Karnali Technical School was like Old School with its thirty- The banter between the three, that chuckle at the last scene as it being built. The Finlay family returned to Northern Ireland in 1990, something characters aping kids, especially Cera and Hill, is pure closes with the ambiguous tune but after his wife’s untimely death there in 1994, John returned to Kathmandu to again work with UMN, bringing with him his appears almost sublime when the PS I Love gold. The opening dialogue has of Curtis Mayfield’s valuable skills, commitment and attention to detail. actors are themselves young. that charm reminiscent of early You. John became seriously ill a few months ago and had to Clearly producer Judd Apatow Tarantino, even if the content is return to the UK. Despite radiotherapy, he died peacefully on 3 has his hands all over it, but there more American Pie fare. But too Director: Greg Mottola. September in Glasgow, Scotland. is something different with this much time is given to the Cast: Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, John will always be remembered for his fun-loving ways project. Director Greg Mottola, juvenile clowning of the pair of Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Bill and his open and transparent nature. He has left a legacy in Nepal with the critically popular TV cops (Hader and Rogan) who Hader, Seth Rogan that will remain. series Arrested Development practically abduct, then befriend, 2007. R. 114 min. 14 CITY 14 - 20 SEPTEMBER 2007 #366

ABOUT TOWN Roy (Ritesh Deshmukh), Manav (Javed Jaffrey) and his elder brother, Aditya aka Adi (Arsad Warsi) are happy making their living doing small time con jobs. Their lucky EXHIBITIONS break comes while trying to save Bose (Prem Chopra) who ™ photo.circle. with Anita Khemka, a Delhi based photographer, is on the verge of dying. Unfortunately for them, Police 15 September, 9-11AM at the Sundhara Bakery Café. Inspector Kabir Nayak (Sanjay Dutt) has been chasing ™ Out of Nepal an exhibition of exclusive handicrafts produced Bose for the last ten years. He finally finds him. Only dead! by artisans families of Kathmandu, at Siddhartha Art Gallery, Inadvertently they blurt out the secret before managing to Babar Mahal Revisited, until 17 September, 11AM-6PM. escape. As one misadventure follows after another, they are thrown into hilarious situations. Catch Sanjay Dutt on

4218048 Entertainment his first release after his bail from prison. ™ Digital art exhibition by Bishnu Shrestha at New Orleans, Patan, until 30 September. 5522708 Call 4442220 for show timings at Jai Nepal

Quest www.jainepal.com EVENTS ™ Merchant of Venice film showing at the Lazimpat Gallery Café, 6.45 PM on 14 September. ;xeflutfdns" ;ljwfg+ lgdf0fsf{ nflu ;ljwfg;efsf+ ] g]kfn ;/sf/ † ™ School Bullying a workshop by Niti Rana, 29 and lgjfrgdf{ ;xefuL eO { cfkm}+n] 5fgsf] kltlglw| dfkm{t ;"rgf tyf ;~rf/ dGqfno 30 September at The New Era, gof F ;ljwfg+ lgdf0f{ u/f }+ . ;"rgf ljefu Battisputali. 9851023958 ™ Regular pottery classes at Artworks, Pulchok, opposite New Orleans Cafe, starting 12 noon. 9851101837 ™ Film South Asia 2007 Festival of South Asian documentaries, 11-14 October. www.filmsouthasia.org ™ Toastmasters a communication and leadership program, organised by Kathmandu Toastmasters Club every Wednesday 6PM at Industrial Enterprise Development Institute (IEDI) building, Tripureswor. 4288847

MUSIC ™ Blues at Jatra with JL Stiles and the Pax Armada, 7PM on 14 September at Jatra Café and Bar, Thamel. ™ Rumble in the jungle African night with DJ Sunny at La Soon, Pulchok, Rs 850, 7PM on 14 September. ™ 17th Yala Maya Classic with Hari Mohan Sharma, Ashok Chakraborthy, Hom Nath Upadhaya and Raj Kishore Dalbehera, 5PM, 19 September at Yala Maya Kendra, Patan Dhoka. ™ Jazz at Jatra every Saturday 7PM onwards, at Jatra Café and Bar, Thamel. ™ Ciney Gurung every Wednesday and Rashmi Singh every Friday, live at the Absolute Bar, Hotel Narayani Complex, 7PM. 5521408

DINING ™ Middle eastern healthy food week, lunch and dinner at New Orleans Café, Patan. 5522708 ™ Pear and berry etagere taste pear and blackberry crepes, at The Lounge, Hyatt Regency, 4.30-6.30 PM. 4491234 ™ Italian barbeque lunch at Alfresco, Soaltee Crowne Plaza, Saturdays, 12.30-3.30 PM, Rs 300 plus taxes. 4273999 ™ Jazz in Patan with coffee, food, drinks, and dessert at the New Orleans Cafe, Jawalakhel, 11.30 AM-10PM. 5522708 ™ BBQ, chilled beer, cocktails and live music at the Kausi Restaurant and Bar, Darbar Marg, 6218490 WEEKEND WEATHER by NGAMINDRA DAHAL ™ BBQ Unlimited at Splash Bar & Grill Radisson Hotel, The monsoon cloud bursts of the past two weeks brought above-average rainfall to Lazimpat, every Friday 6.30 PM, Rs. 899 nett. weather stations throughout the country. The Kathmandu valley received nearly th ™ 5 Annual Monsoon Wine Festival 16 wines at Rs 150 a glass 200mm, which is well above the norm (170mm) for this month. Although satellite and Rs 600 a bottle, at Kilroy’s of Kathmandu, Thamel. pictures on Thursday morning indicate this year’s South Asian monsoon will come 4250440 to an end at the normal time in late September, more showers are likely this ™ Monsoon Magic live jazz by Inner Groove and a variety of weekend. The northwesterly high pressure system, which usually emerges from cocktails from the summer special menu, every Wednesday, the western Himalaya to chase away the easterly monsoon, is emerging rather Rs 599 at Fusion – the Bar at Dwarika’s. 4479488 slowly over the Afghanistan-Pakistan region.Expect hot weekend days with isolated showers towards evening or during the night. ™ Lajawaab curry, kebab and biryani festival, every Friday, 7PM onwards at Café Horizon, Hotel Himalaya. 5523900 ™ Shangri-La’s pasta, pizza, pie, and pool a special swimming package with a complimentary beer, Rs 650 nett per person, every Saturday and Sunday at Shangri-La Hotel. 4412999 ™ Kebabs and curries at the Dhaba, Thapathali. 9841290619 ™ Krishnarpan Nepali specialty restaurant at Dwarika’s Hotel, six to 22 course ceremonial lunch and dinner. 4479488 ™ Weekend special with sekuwa, bara, barbeque, Fridays at KATHMANDU VALLEY KATHMANDU Ambassador Garden House, Lazimpat, 5.30 PM onwards. Fri Sat Sun 4411706 ™ Light nouvelle snacks and elaborate cordon bleu meals at La’Soon, Pulchok, behind the Egyptian embassy. 5537166 ™ Calcutta’s rolls, biryani, kebabs Indian cuisine at Bawarchi, 28-19 27-206 29-19 Bluebird Mall Food Court. 9741000735 ™ Rediscover fine Italian cuisine at La Dolce Vita, Thamel, all new exciting menu. 4700612 ™ Pizza from the woodfired oven at Java, Thamel. 4422519

For inclusion in the listing send information to [email protected] HAPPENINGS 14 - 20 SEPTEMBER 2007 #366 15

KIRAN PANDAY GUESS WHO'S BACK: Nepal's crown prince Paras waves to well- wishers as he is discharged from the Norvic hospital in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

KIRAN PANDAY MONKEY BUSINESS: A newborn siamang, born at the Central Zoo in Jawalakhel on 1 September, feeds from his 17-year-old Malaysian mother on Thursday.

KIRAN PANDAY BOMB SURPRISE: Nepal Army soldiers prepare a bomb disposal squad on Tuesday after reports of a bomb at the north gate of the Narayanhiti Royal Palace. The bomb turned out to be a fake.

KIRAN PANDAY

GIRLS UNITE: Dalit lesbian couple Sabi Biswakarma,32, and Kalpana Pariyar, 21, tie the knot on Thursday at Nepal's first known public lesbian marriage ceremony. 16 BACKSIDE 14 - 20 SEPTEMBER 2007 #366 Battle royal for republic www.nepalitimes.com

he current petroleum shortage is not going to 22 demands are met, we will not go for elections, we go away because no one in government is will put up a new demand, namely that we must be T willing to bell the cat. allowed to lead the government, since there is no Last week, energy experts came up with a chance of them agreeing to it we will begin our workable plan to increase the price of av gas (rich uprising.” people fly planes), petrol (yuppies drive motorcycles) and LPG (burned by middle class FG urban households and tempo riders) so that we can Oblivious to all this are the kangresis who are busy at least pay the Indians. doing what they are best at: stabbing each other in They managed to convince the supplies the back. We will believe there is NC unity when it minister. He took it up with the finance minister, happens, but in the meantime who is going to unite who said fine because he agrees with the First Dotter Sujata with First Cousin Shekhar? The Washington Consensus plus IOC that cutting fuel two are at loggerheads even when both know that subsidies is the only way, and that people will Sitaula is pulling the rug from under both of them and ultimately be so frustrated with petrol queues they probably secretly egging on the Maoists to put all his will welcome a price rise. kangresi enemies on their list for janakarbai. Which Next up the food chain was the peace minister proves what the Ass has been saying all along, forget who had to have a say because a fuel price Congress unity, unite the Koirala clan first. increase would have an impact on law and order With Girjau now inclined to get on the democratic and breakdown thereof. But, surprisingly, even federal republic bandwagon, why is his own daughter Poudel said do what you have to do. gunning for the monarchy at this late stage? Or is the Now, the only thing left to do was convince the Cunning Old Fox using one of his two-pronged Maoists. Info minister Mahara was not exactly strategies? There is a paradoxical convergence gungho, but he didn’t reject it outright either. But between the Maoist and monarchist positions: neither since the party operates under the oxymoronic of these arch rivals wants an election in November. system of ‘democratic centralism’ Maharaji said So Girjau’s thinking must be: by removing the let’s run this one past Comrade Awe-insipiring. So kingship before the election you automatically trundle off to Buddhanagar they did, and guess remove the only slogan the Maoists have. Smart. what the Fearsome One said? “The YCL will never agree to it.” So that was that. FG Kingji and queenji, meanwhile, paid daily visits to FG Norvic to see their son Paras who has proven the The Bollywood film Aag is getting the axe from the dynasty’s genetic proclivity to cardiovascular Maoist member of the Bored of Film Censors, who disease at an earlier-than-usual age. The Ass can’t was so scandalised by the sight of pulsating confirm reports that the first thing the uncrowned pelvises and other anti-revolutionary movements prince wanted after regaining consciousness in the that he warned that the 12-point agreement would CCU was a smoke, but it wouldn’t be surprising if it be in jeopardy if the offending scenes were passed. was true. Anyway, the doctors have apparently told The comrades have been using this tactic quite him no smoking, no booze, no bacon and no getting a bit lately. Just the other day Comrade Lotus stoned. But what surprised many at Flower (under medication now for hypertension) Norvic was to see KingG mixing with was speaking to over 1,000 followers at Danchhi other relatives of patients at the near Kathmandu and once more did a TUAS (threat hospital and making small talk. One of use of armed struggle). The most interesting part gets the feeling such gestures are of the speech was the Chairman’s assertion that five years too late. his party had the “strong backing of China”. In classic triplespeak he went on: “Even if our [email protected] ISSN 1814-2613 CDO Regd No 194/056/57 Lalitpur, Central Region Postal Regd. No 04/058/59