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JANAKPUR MEET AMIDST TIGHT SECURITY: A person passing through a security check to get to the venue of the meeting in on January 26. The Terai bandh call given by the Terai outfits led to the poor attendance in the meeting.

Birendra Kumar Raman Fortified The Barabigha ground in Janakpur was turned into a fort with several hundred security personnel deployed to protect the seven party leaders and their supporters during the joint election meeting of the ruling alliance on January 26. The mobilisation of the security agencies had become necessary because of the Terai Bandh called by different Terai outfits to foil the seven party meeting.

But the failure of the meeting, in terms of attendance and the poor law and order situation, has led to speculations in that at least two prominent Congress ministers, Ram Chandra Poudel and KP Sitaula, might lose their posts for having provoked the Terai leaders. (Details on page 2) 2 28 Jan- 3 Feb, 2008 News Open challenge Keep shut! “The Prime Minister is playing a dan- gerous game.” Do not provoke Terai: PM to Poudel, Sitaula leaders like Bijay Gachedar, Khum Bahadur Khadka, Sharad Singh The failure of The PM is also Bhandari and Govinda Raj Joshi plan Janakpur election believed to have to tour different parts of the country meeting addressed chided his two most holding public meetings and interact- by the leaders of trusted Ministers, ing with the party members. “We are the ruling seven- Poudel and Sitaula, not Congress dissidents, but we have party alliance, and for going to the definitely a different approach on how the clash with extent of provoking to consolidate democracy and lead Madheshi political Terai leaders. “He the country to peace and political outfits that left at had oxygen pipe stability,” said Joshi. least 70 wounded, inserted in his nose, Bijay Gachedar said that a blind has come as a but was furious with pursuit of election even after the rude shock to Birendra Kumar Raman the two,” a Maoists have broken their commit- Prime Minister GP Massive security deployment during the 7-party election meeting at Baluwatar source ment inked in the latest 23-point Koirala who Janakpur on January 26. said. agreement will only mean that the instantly instructed the Ministry of Peace and Recon- “There is no point in inviting Mahantha Thakur for Congress party has accepted the struction, to review the entire situation including the law dialogue and your publicly saying that all demands of Maoists diktat. “The Prime Minister is and order situation in the country. Madhesh have been fulfilled,” a source quoted Koirala. A powerful section within the Nepali playing a dangerous game. He is An all party meeting held in the evening soon after This seems to have led to speculations about their Congress has warned Prime Minister leading the seven party alliance the Janakpur election meeting which took place under being dropped from the cabinet. GP Koirala that his current policy of against Terai,” Gachedar said, a tight security arrangement, however reported back to The violent resistance in Terai, many think, is also a ‘surrender’ to the Maoists might lead adding, “What happened in Janakpur Koirala that they, “have won the Terai fort and that sequel to the Home Minister’s assertion before a to collapse of democracy and and Sunsari has amply proved it.” elections are very much possible in April.” Not parliamentary committee last week, that the government disintegration of the country. Sharing the same sentiments, convinced, Koirala also asked the election commission would be using force to conduct polls if Terai leaders The group that has dissociated Khadka, Bhandari and Joshi said in to make its own assessment of the situation. failed to respond positively to its invitation for talks. itself from the party’s line of going to Kaski on January 27 that the Maoists Within the Congress circle, the Janakpur episode has The election commission reviewed the whole the poll in alliance with the Maoists, and the Young Communist League triggered fresh speculations about the change in the situation on January 27 and is going to ask the launched a parallel meeting on cadres have time and again violated cabinet that might lead to the exit of the two powerful government to maintain the law and order situation. January 26 beginning from Damauli the provisions of the comprehensive ministers, Ram Chandra Poudel and KP Sitaula. “Our immediate concern at the moment is to ensure in Tanahun district, followed by Kaski peace agreement as well as the code The poor turnout in the meeting in Janakpur despite safety of election officials that we will be dispatching to a day later. “Election at any cost of conduct vitiating atmosphere that is all the state machinery having been geared for it, the constituencies soon. At the moment, we are not provoking Terai and a policy of total required for a free and fair poll. “If attack by the Madhesh outfits on those attending the confident about their safety.” The commission also said appeasement and surrender to the Congress continues with the policy of meetings, and explosion near the venue of the public that at the moment, it has no formal proposal before it Maoists will lead us no where. Our appeasing the Maoists at the current meeting addressed by Party leaders Sushil Koirala and to conduct the polls in two phases. Tourism Minister campaign is to save the country and scale, it will not take long for this Dr. Rambaran Yadav in Sunsari, the same day, have Prithvi Subba Gurung had said in a public meeting that, democracy,” said KB Gurung, Party’s historical party to come to an end of led to doubts if the government will be able to improve “the election can take place in two phases if the senior General Secretary, at Damauli. its life; and we are committed not let the law and order situation for polls. situation so demanded.” Led by Gurung, other prominent that happen,” Khadka said. Stick to the mandate UNMIN granted six-months extension Pocketing local bodies

The United Nations Missions to The government is now contemplating immediate revival or forma- (UNMIN) has been granted a tion of the local bodies which have long ceased to exist. six-month extension beginning January 23, but will have to ‘strictly Soon after the government’s stick to its mandate,’ a senior Minister disbursement of Rs one million has said. each to the sitting members of the The extension proposal of the parliament, it is now contemplating government that was finally endorsed immediate revival or formation of by the UN Security Council last week the local bodies which have long in New York makes no change in the ceased to exist. A decision to this jurisdiction and scope as the effect may be taken soon although government had earlier turned down the move goes totally against the suggestions - directly and indirectly - code of conduct issued by the that UNMIN be involved in the election commission. security sector reforms as well as The nomination or revival of the negotiation with the Terai, other local bodies that will have a plum ethnic and marginalised groups. share of three major parties - “We are going to tell UNMIN that it Nepali Congress, Communist sticks with the mandate it has got - Party of Nepal-Maoists (CPN-M) monitoring supervision of arms and and the Communist Party of Nepal armies of the Maoists and the support of demands of one or the - United Marxist Leninist (CPN- government and observing the polls other ethnic groups in a manner that UML); will not only give total chosen by MPs has also been development told newsfront that to the constituent assembly,” the could be interpreted as endorsing control of the three parties in the challenged in the Supreme Court. Maoists are in favour of the Minister who did not want to be demands for creating ‘ethnic states’. local bodies, but they will also However, the ministerial committee leadership and majority control, named said, adding, “our concern will “We are committed to take into influence voters in favour of the headed by Minister for Local Develop- equally divided among the top be conveyed to Mr. Ian Martin on his account the grievances of ethnic and top three during the elections to ment, Dev Gurung, who belongs to the three parties. “The Nepali arrival here.” marginalised groups. But UNMIN the constituent assembly. Maoist party, is negotiating with the Congress supports the Maoist The Minister also said that a officials making such speeches in The government move to revive CPN-UML and the Nepali Congress formula,” the official said, adding, prominent European Union country different forums is clearly outside their the local bodies comes in the wake as they have some difference of “The revival could take place was in favour of UNMIN’s role being mandate, and the government is of wide ranging controversy and opinion on the way to nominate these immediately if the three parties enlarged. “Apart from our own going to clearly tell them to stick to criticism of its decision to distribute bodies. The UML has been insisting come to an understanding.” In the assessment, our immediate their specified mandate,” the Minister Rs. one million each from the that the same old committees should election to the local bodies which neighbours, and were added. government coffer to the existing be revived with ‘reasonable inclusion’ were last held a decade ago, the also not in favour of the UNMIN role The UNMIN was granted 80-million members of the interim parlia- of the Maoist members, but that is CPN-UML had established its being enlarged,” the Minister said. dollar budget for its remaining tenure ment. The distribution of the something both the Congress and the control in a majority of them. The Prime Minister GP Koirala is said to in Nepal. It has got currently 800 odd money ostensibly to carry Maoists are not happy about. Maoists had not participated in the be unhappy with senior UNMIN staff, less than 40 per cent from developmental activities in areas An official in the ministry of local election then. officials making public statements in Nepal mostly in junior positions. News 28 Jan- 3 Feb, 2008 3

Newsbrief Not enough Maoists want Prime Minister GP Koirala’s daughter Sujata Koirala is not happy with her mere inclusion in the cabinet more security as a minister without portfolio. Apparently, she wants her role and status Since the Communist Party of clearly defined. According to Nepal-Maoists (CPN-M) gear up for the Baluwatar sources, elections and its top leaders plan to Sujata has not only been mingle with the masses, the party has consulting party leaders and asked the government to enhance her followers who have their security arrangements. been telling her that being A Home Ministry source told de facto heir apparent to Newsfront that despite Maoist Chief the PM is not enough, and Prachanda’s public outburst against that she should be officially the Army Chief, Nepal Army recognised as the de jure personnel remain the party’s PM. favourite to provide security cover to She is also said to have the Maoist leaders during election. asked the PM to give in writing that she would be representing him in “Although the security requirements different ministries during his absence or even otherwise. In fact, she are being reviewed in the tense has already been summoning government secretaries of different situation, the government however, Bhashwor Ojha ministries with instruction that she should be consulted on major policy failed to meet the demand for multi- issues, something that has not gone down well with the ministers layer security umbrella for Army. So far, army personnel are given on election conduct. “That is why concerned. Prachanda,” he added. only to the government and state from Madhav Nepal to Sushil Koirala, The Party had demanded that at heads, besides ministers and judges of more and more people have now Gift of wheels least 100 security personnel be the Supreme Court. been telling the government to build drawn from the Nepal Army and the However, the election commission consensus among the seven parties A fleet of 1200 vehicles has come as India’s gift to Nepal govern- police deployed around the clock for has had a few rounds of discussions for deployment of the Nepal army ment on the occasion of its 59th republic day. The vehicles are meant Prachanda. The demand was made with the government on security during the election.” to equip the government of Nepal, mainly its security agencies, to in the context of Prachanda and arrangements to ensure protection of Army had been deployed in all the effectively monitor the election process as well as polling. another top leader Ram Bahadur the contestants and leaders of three parliamentary elections in the The delivery of vehicles, promised long ago, had been kept in Thapa a.k.a Badal publicly claiming different political parties. Given past, but now it is confined to the abeyance following postponement of the polls scheduled in November. that top Maoist leaders would be Maoists’ fear that their leaders might barrack, along with Maoist combat- The delivery now is also being seen as India’s confidence that election targeted during elections. be targeted during the electioneering, ants, with the United Nations Mission will take place in April as scheduled. Incidentally, the delivery also The government which is yet to area chiefs of Armed Police Force and to Nepal (UNMIN) having been given comes as the good-will gesture of Ambassador SS Mukherjee who is receive any concrete evidence that the Civil Police will also be asked to the role to monitor their movement. to substantiate such claims, has coordinate with the security arrange- On condition of anonymity, the leave the country on completion of his extended tenure a week later. however decided to provide additional ments whenever leaders visit their minister said that if Maoist leader had It was not without significance that Ambassador Mukherjee handed security which would be led by a respective districts. no problem in seeking army person- over the vehicles to Home Minister, KP Sitaula, the man India has Deputy Superintendent of Police with A cabinet rank minister said that the nel as security guards, “They should been promoting and protecting despite all his failures to maintain law immediate effect. There would be no law and order situation is indeed have no objection to their being and order situation in the country. India’s recognition and Sujata’s exception made for his security by worrisome, and any attack on any deployed for the protection of all silence over her earlier consistent campaign for the Home Minister’s attaching personnel of the Nepal leader would create an adverse impact leaders and the electorate.” resignation must have made Sitaula’s life a bit more comfortable now. Double speak The Communist Party of Nepal-Maoists is at it again. As Kathmandu burned and Indo-Nepal meet youths thronged the streets to protest against the price hike of petroleum products, the Maoist tried to disown ended on a bitter note their hand in it. Information and The Indo-Nepal joint official Communication Minister KB meeting held in New Delhi last week Mahara said his party ended without conclusion after the ministers were not involved Nepali side declined to endorse the in the decision and they had Indian view that the bilateral not been consulted. Mahara border principle was violated by almost replicated Madhav the Nepali side. Nepal during Deuba The bilateral meeting at the Joint government’s time when he said , UML nominee in the Secretary level had taken place in cabinet in charge of civil supplies did not consult the party on the Delhi last week in which India noted price hike of petroleum products then. with concern the ‘incursion’ of the area by India. assembly. Pokhrel could not counter Madhav Nepal publicly given the party Indian side by Young Communist According to a Nepali official, While the three day meeting ended discipline and suffered a lot in the process politically. But Mahara’s League (YCL) - affiliated with the Pradhan spoke to Foreign Minister on January 23 on a positive note, with recent claim which apparently is not true, was aimed at bailing his own -Maoists Sahana Pradhan after the Indian side India willing to curb cross border party and cajoling the Maoist cadres who came out on the street (NCP-M), which is now a major insisted that the YCL ‘incursion’ must crimes and intensifying and against the price hike. And that perhaps worked. constituent of the government. be put on record. But the Joint modernising the information A 14-member Nepali delegation Secretary followed the Minister’s gathering at the border, its ‘approach led by Suresh Pradhan, a Joint instruction that he may avoid putting on the final day was in contrary to the Bush cheers up Maoists Secretary in the Foreign Ministry, his signature on the minute. earlier spirit’, an official said. “If the At long last, US President George Bush has tried to make Nepali simply refused to sign on the final The bilateral security meeting dealt agenda of the discussion had Maoists happy. In a recent message that he delivered, he appealed to minute prepared by the Indian side mainly with cross border crimes, included such cases of incursion, we the government of Nepal and the Maoists to work for the success of as the routine bilateral meeting was exchange of information and the need would have discussed it threadbare. the constituent assembly a success. not meant to discuss this issue. to increase vigilance at the border. The way they tried to put the Bush laid no pre-condition nor issued any warning to the Maoists. Cleverly enough, the Indian side had According to a member of the pressure on was in bad taste,” the He did not ask them to behave, and the undertone of the message chosen not to put on record the delegation, Nepali side also sought official added. was quite positive. The Bush comment has come after unpublicised march by some political activists from India’s cooperation in curbing activities The Nepali side also denied that it meetings that Ambassador Nancy Powell had with Maoist Ministers India crossing over to the Nepali side of certain ‘armed groups’ based in sought resumption of the supply of Pampha Bhushal and then with KB Mahara. and hoisting Indian flag a few days India which were creating trouble in arms to the Nepal army which The latest appeal from the president came as a ritual when Nepal’s after the YCL tried to march to the Nepal. The special cooperation was remains suspended since the Royal Ambassador Suresh Chalise presented his credentials last week in other side. The YCL move was sought in the context of all prepara- takeover in February 2005. “In fact, Washington DC . aimed at protesting against the tions being made in Nepal for the we had decided not to raise the ‘encroachment’ of a part of Susta upcoming elections to the constituent issue,” said a delegate. 4 28 Jan- 3 Feb, 2008 Editorial

Editor & Publisher : Yubaraj Ghimire Executive Editor : Sushma Amatya News Coordinator : Manoj Dahal Design: Sunil Khadgi, Kishor Raj Panta & Ramkrishna Rana Address : PO Box: 8830, Lazimpat, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel : 4443888, Fax : 4421147 (Edt.), 4411912 (Mkt.) Email: newsfront@.com, [email protected] (Mkt.) Printed by: Express Color Press, Buddhanagar, Tel.: 4781810, Distribution: Kasthamandap, Tel.: 2010821 Point to Ponder Responsibility does not only lie with the leaders of our countries or with those who have been appointed or elected to do a particular job. It lies with each of us individually. Peace, for example, starts within each one of us. When we have inner peace, we can be at peace with those around us. - HH The Dalai Paralysed Kathmandu literally choked in poisonous smokes of rubber tyres as youths and students descended on the streets to protest against the hike in the petroleum price. Anarchy and violence Letters reined supreme in rest of the country. Robbery, abduction and murders were reported from Siraha, Mugu, Kapilvastu and Jhapa. Selling children’s mis- TV program? India has taken this Home Minister KP Sitaula had to be rescued by his security ery? issue seriously. The numbers of personnel as his own followers found it difficult to digest when he articles, editorials and news stories on The story on street kids last week said such events were not uncommon when the country was Indian newspapers shows how shows the miserable state of the moving towards constituent assembly polls. seriously India is treating this issue. children who are supposedly the The GP Koirala government rolled back the price in absolute It was truly immature on the part of future of our country. There are panic, but the government agencies made no effort to counter or the PM, who should have known more than five hundred resist the vandalism that protestors indulged in. UN and embassy better than to commit such foolhardi- organisations working for children in vehicles as well as the media vehicles were targeted by the mob. ness. Now, will he have to go ask the Nepal, and there are thousands of Worse, the press representatives were assaulted. Prime Minister Indian government asking forgiveness children out there on the streets of Koirala who has mostly remained ineffective ostensibly for reasons for his crime? He might have to pay Kathmandu and elsewhere in the of health ever since he elevated his daughter as the cabinet rank heavily for his heroic statement on the minister, only reacted to the whole situation by withdrawing the country. TV. I, as a citizen of this country do price hike, but he is unmoved by the killing of his party’s three What are such organisations are not know whether to laugh at our PM leaders by Maoists in Siraha, or that of the manager of the doing for the kids for whom funds or pity him. Agriculture Development Bank there. pour in from all over the world? We ä Srijana Sharma In Khotang, three police posts were over-run while in Kapilvastu, all know now that such organisations Kaushaltar, Bhaktapur a Madheshi Janadhikar Forum leader was shot and wounded. are here, just to make money by Dhanusha is witnessing communal tension. Yet, like Sitaula, Koirala selling poverty and misery. Had this been untrue, there would not be so Responsible who? has little concern and time to improve the law and order. People’s Who is responsible for the thefts of security is secondary to him. Prolonging his days in chair without any many street children out there, freezing bikes from the parking places allotted by accountability is all that Koirala seems to be indulging in now. to death. Where does the money go? students were protesting against the the municipality? The parking authorities The series of events, especially the abduction and murder of Not to the children surely, although all petroleum price hike. Why do we have charge money for each parking; but three Congress activists by the YCL goes against the 23-point their reports may justify every paisa! such barbaric protesting methods? Can when a bike gets stolen, they say they agreement that the seven parties in the government signed on How about every organisation picking we not express our rights more are not responsible for it. On top of that December 23. In a reiteration of what was already stated in the up two or three of such children and use intelligently, keeping our concern for when you park they tell you not to put Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed way back in November all their skills to keep them off streets? other citizens alive? Have we now the handle lock. I think the municipality 2006, the 23-point agreement had pledged that there would be no That way, there will be no such lost become a nation of fools who do not authorities and the parking contractors protest and attack on political groups. All this was done in order to souls wandering the streets. understand the drastic implications of need to work out a system to address create an atmosphere for free and fair polls for the April 10 election. ä Pratima Subedi protesting in such an ugly manner, on The government’s failure to ensure that, with mounting attack Kalanki, Kathmandu the tourists, on the environment and our this problem soon. on diplomats and the media, and silence of the three major parties fellow citizens health and peace of ä Kiran Rana - UML, Congress and the Maoists, show that they only want to go Ugly and foolish way of mind? If educated youths start behaving Dillibazar, Kathmandu for a mock election only. A state of terror and anarchy either demonstrating like that, what hope do we have for our sponsored by the state, or encouraged by its indifference will only future? Readers, your reac- Raman Grandon has shown the go in the interest of three parties if polls take place now. ä Kailash Uprety tions, criticisms, Their major concern at the moment seems to formulate a way possibility of rafting and kayaking Maitidevi, Kathmandu to ensure the top three pockets, all or most of the 335 seats they tourism in Nepal in newsfront last week. comments, sugges- hold in the interim parliament, when the CA polls take place under Tourism is the prime sector to enrich the economy of Nepal. But our government True impact of fake cur- tions are most wel- these circumstances. The Koirala government must understand rency that it is obliged to create an atmosphere for a free and fair doesn’t seem to recognise this. Bandhs, come. Please ad- election that will be representative of the people’s will and mood. protests and hooliganism are destroying Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s Any other type of election that seems be the government’s priority tourism in Nepal. association with fake currency has dress it to: now, will not be acceptable. For instance, I saw a number of opened a Pandora’s Box. Should he [email protected] terrified tourists last week when have exposed his botched history to a

Spiritual Corner Saint Bernadette of Lourdes ences she had witnessed. disgusting act. Many returned in patiently meet many well wishers, skeptics, Bernadette Soubirous, born 7th Jan 1844, Despite frequent and intense dismay, proclaiming it was a fraud disbelievers and the curious. Many report how had 18 visions of the ‘blessed lady’ in a grotto examination they were after all. Bernadette was always very patient, kind and in the outskirts of Lourdes. On February 11th unable to find flaws in her However, in the following days tolerant of the many uninvited visitors. For the 1858, Bernadette had her first vision of ‘a tales. She didn’t seek to water started to flow from the next 13 years Bernadette lived the simple life beautiful lady’. She describes how initially she exaggerate or materially spring where Bernadette had of a nun, eschewing the fame and attention was bewildered, but after a while she felt profit from her experiences. been digging. From this water that would have accompanied any worldly life. overcome with great peace. The visions of On the ninth apparition, flowed a spring in which people Following the events of the apparitions a Bernadette created remarkable interest and Bernadette was asked by the started to have miraculous healing papal investigation was founded. After long speculation within the village of Lourdes. lady to drink from the spring. experiences, and this remains one deliberation and careful examination of the However, although some believed they were Yet, Bernadette could not see any spring of the great attractions of Lourdes to this evidence it was declared that the visions of the witnessing a miraculous occurrence, others in (there was none at the time), therefore she day. Virgin Mary really did occur at the Grotto of the town were both critical and suspicious. began digging with her bare hands in a muddy The miracles of Lourdes had became a Lourdes. She received beatification in 1925 However, under cross examination she patch and drank a few drops of muddy water; significant national event, attracting the and canonisation in 1933 under Pope Pius XI, retained a childlike innocence and also an the lady also asked her to eat some loose attention of many people from all over the not so much for the content of her visions, but implacable faith in the veracity of the experi- grass. To the onlookers this appeared to be a country. For a couple of years she had to rather for her simplicity and holiness of her life. Debating development 28 Jan-3 Feb, 2008 5

There have been Moriarty even chal- some clearly lenged Prachanda visible indicators to furnish him with that the US diplo- the proof to sub- macy in stantiate his pub- Kathmandu al- licly made allega- ready confirms tions that the CIA to the latest was out to carry approach of assassinations of President Bush. the some leaders.

In a message that signals a clear pre-conditions such as: improved law shift in the US policy towards Nepali and order, ending parallel policing by Maoists, President Bush has the Young Communist League (YCL), appealed to the government and the and Maoists returning the property Maoists to work together to ensure they confiscated during the years of that that the election is held by mid- conflict to the rightful owners. Nothing April. At last, he must have had will make Nepalis happier if the reasons to believe that the entry of appeal of the president does its magic the Maoists to the peace process was on the Maoist leaders and changes not a mere tactical move as the US their behaviour. had all along been saying; and that their oft repeated commitment to The US has, in the past two years democracy is as genuine as that of or so, mainly gone along with India on the seven parties ruling the country at Nepal's peace process and supported present. Maoists entry into it with some riders. The US continued to put the Maoists There have been some clearly on their terrorist list, and until visible indicators that the US Moriarty's time, avoided meeting with diplomacy in Kathmandu already the Maoist ministers. It quite often confirms to the latest approach of insisted that Maoists must hand-over President Bush. The quiet meeting of its members responsible for the killing Ambassador Nancy J Powell with the of two American guards. It has also Maoist ministers cannot be taken as openly commented on the YCL developments in isolation. Not long atrocities. ago, Patrick Leahy, a prominent Republican senator had asked Moriarty even challenged Maoists to be part of the political Prachanda to furnish him with the process and earn confidence of the Welcome, proof to substantiate his publicly world so that they could be taken off made allegations that the CIA was the terrorist list by all including the out to carry assassinations of the US. some political leaders in Nepal. It will be a welcome move on the part of This at least seems to have had a the US to support Nepal's democratic somber effect on Bush. Also, the US Mr. President and electoral process. But the embassy in Kathmandu was more election in Nepal should not be generous in granting visa to the miscalculation of the US in Nepal. In developments in the country and persecution of the political oppo- something like that happened in Iraq Maoist leaders to the US in recent that sense, Koirala's failure to lead absence of an atmosphere for free nents by the state and their selective last year or in India's Kashmir, Punjab days, and there are already positive the transition to democracy will also and fair poll. victimisation on the basis of a political or Assam in the 80s. While the first signals that it would facilitate be seen as failure by the US to a commission like the one headed by happened under the shadow of Prachanda and Baburam Bhattarai's large extent. After all, time is running The major skips of the presidents Krishnajung Rayamajhi; added foreign army, the ones in India hardly trip to the DC when they go the out not only for Koirala, who is 84 and include: rampant and willful control of judiciary by the executive represented the popular will of the World Bank head office, as they have ailing, but also for Bush who shall be and legislature; blatant misuse of majority. Moreover, the authority of a standing invitation to brief the bank demitting his office as president in government fund to manipulate the state in Nepal has almost about their economic and pro-reform less than a year from now. electoral outcome in favour of the collapsed while that of India's centre agenda. three major ruling parties, including was intact when its provinces ravaged It was Bush, who initially sup- the Maoists; and the appropriation of by insurgency led violence had gone The appeal by Bush also comes in ported the royal takeover in the authority and jurisdiction of the to the polls. the wake of revelations by Prime February 2005, and then went to the yet to be elected constituent Minister GP Koirala that he was other extreme since his public ä Yubaraj Ghimire assembly by the current parliament. Nevertheless, it will be a real involved in counterfeiting of the Indian criticism of the king through the then These are not mere issues or opportunity for the Maoists to listen to currency notes and was tempted to Ambassador James Moriarty in July. It was Bush, who ini- dimensions of Nepal's internal Bush and create an atmosphere for get into gold and uranium smuggling, That still appears like the basis of the politics, but democracy can not be the polls. Winning the American apart from his involvement in the current US policy towards Nepal. tially supported the meaningfully restored without their president's hope, if not trust at this hijacking of an The noticeable shift in favour of the being addressed. moment, would be the real recogni- aircraft during his years in exile. Maoists is based on calculation that royal takeover in Feb- tion of the Maoists as neo-democrats. That confession will hardly make GP election will not be possible without ruary 2005, and then In the past, the categorical position The modified message of the Koirala's democratic credentials more Maoists remaining an ally of Koirala. that the US took on election was that, American president in gist is: 'you preferable to the US, that that of However, Bush’s latest statement went to the other ex- a conducive atmosphere and have all the opportunities to be Prachanda. Moreover, US has that he gave when Nepali Ambassa- treme since his public improved law and order situation are recognised as democrats world wide. reasons to hope that Koirala can still dor Suresh Chalise presented his the basic pre-conditions. Even former In that case, you do not have to run, deliver, as his failure will be real credentials, ignores other gloomy criticism of the king. President Jimmy Carter laid some and you do not have to hide'. ä 6 28 Jan-3 Feb, 2008 Debating Development

ä Binod P. Bista body affiliated with the governing Cooking gas is found to be more parties did it in Nepal. The govern- Kathmandu was often used by the three wheelers, ments in other countries ensure that virtually under seize which claim to be free from pollution the fundamental rights of majority are for two days last EXERCISING and safe (not to mention of the well protected. In Nepal, every week. The reason was simple. Nepali danger of explosion), that argument person has to find his way even if it students, affiliated with all governing being readily accepted by the city means walking the entire day and parties in the government, staged a authorities responsible for the safety remain safe from violence erupting city wide ‘bandh’ in protest against the human rights and welfare of the Kathmanduites. from unsuspecting places. At the fuel price hike announced by the Notwithstanding these facts, let us recent bandh, it was reported that government of Nepal a couple of give the benefit of doubt to the several journalists were manhandled, days ago. As a member of a civilised Nepal needs to inculcate a culture of protestors of Kathmandu that their media’s vehicles vandalised, windows society every country’s citizen has a rights had indeed been violated. of ambulance as well as those of right to stage protest on decisions or peaceful demonstrations, rallies and pro- private cars were smashed. actions of government and its bodies tests that alone can secure the rights of Burning tyres on all major roads, that attempt to violate citizen’s rights. the affected in the long run. streets, alley ways, and blocking Could this be a simple snag in the traffic with the help of boulders, tree exercise of human rights by the youth In this particular case, though the trunks, metal scraps reflected more of of Nepal? This question needs to be price rise on diesel, cooking gas and a riot torn city than a peaceful protest answered by the Nepali civil society kerosene is attributed to the soaring organised by a student body. Some leaders and their counterparts who oil prices in the international market, seem to be pleased to see an are tirelessly engaged in helping perhaps the timing of the decision has energised civil society of Nepal taking Nepalis build a new Nepal. more to do with the problem than the deep root in the process of transfor- decision itself. Nepali parliament had mation. Others simply brush it off Someone recently commented that conveniently passed a bill giving every saying that this behavior and the elections per se do not necessar- member a sum of one million rupees, condition has to do with transition. ily reflect functional democracies supposedly for development, just though it is the necessary first step three months ahead of constituent Considering the exhortations of toward democracy. Similarly, Nepal assembly elections. Everyone was some of the enlightened civil society needs to inculcate a culture of harshly critical of that decision, leaders in the past that “Government peaceful demonstration, rallies and considered illegal by most. of Nepal has no right to put a ban on protests that alone can secure the any portion of road/street as rights of the affected in the long run. Although it is difficult to exactly everything belongs to the people so pinpoint the part of the right that was they have a right to stage protest Trampling on the rights of others violated by the government’s decision wherever they want,” the student through uncivil means by most to raise fuel price, its impact is felt organisations seem to have taken it associations with direct/indirect mostly by the city dwellers as Nepal’s just too well. support from ruling political parties villages are so poor that they can has placed Nepal into an intractable hardly afford to buy kerosene and Such a behavior is not uncommon spiral of protests and counter cooking gas (most use firewood). in developing countries. The only protests. It is now incumbent on the Lacking roads, the need for diesel is difference between Nepal and others civil society leaders to steer the even scarce. One can argue that the in the region such as Bangladesh, country out of this jam as the high price of diesel would have India, Pakistan is that the opposition government has remained virtually affected the commuters and perhaps parties organise such rallies and non-existent in these days of protests

the prices of goods in the market. Bhaswor Ojha protests there, whereas the student and riots taking place regularly. The Fort – a symbol of unity ä Roop Joshi rock solid – a symbol of years of the 19th century. The legacy huge land mass of India as a single permanence, of continu- of the present maharajah’s father, united modern country. There was From the lofty ramparts of his ity, of a glorious history whose political footsteps he follows, reason and logic to this develop- fort, five hundred years ago, Man and irrefutable values, all reminds all of what the father did for ment. Singh Tomar looked down upon personified by its rulers. his city as well as for his country. A the city. It was a city he had The fort houses a Sikh MP from his city in national parliament So when we debate the issue of vanquished. From the lofty gurudwara, displays for 30 years, thrice a minister with monarchy in present-day Nepal, ramparts of this fort, Jahangir Hindu palace architec- various portfolios, he is credited, inter there are lessons to be learnt. again looked down at the city. It ture, was modified by alia, with the modernisation of India’s There is one, and only one, criterion was a city he had conquered. Muslim influence and is railway system. for the validity of the Nepali From the lofty ramparts of the guarded by a gigantic monarchy – it must remain, if it same fort, the Maratha rulers Jain sculpture. This The city itself now has a literacy serves the interest of Nepal. Does it looked down at the city. From the amalgam of religions rate of 70%, 10% higher than the provide value-added to the lofty ramparts of this very fort, the speaks of historical national average. It boasts at least 42 sovereignty of Nepal? Does it help current maharajah looks down at changes of power, but institutions of secondary and higher with Nepal’s standing in the his city. It is a city of which he is more importantly, it is a education. It is prominent for its community of 21st century nations now a part. testimony to the religious health care facilities with leading as a united political entity? In spite tolerance displayed by the hospitals and pharmaceutical of premature announcements of In democratic India, there lies a rulers. companies. It is a modern city with the death of the Nepali monarchy, it place; where the maharajah, still well developed transportation is time we look at the institution and addressed as such by his people From this same fort, infrastructure connecting it to the rest judge for ourselves whether it though he has no semblance of Maharani Lakshmi Bai of the country by train, air and roads. serves a purpose for Nepal and its official royalty, is revered by his goaded her stallion to people. When the winter blizzard is people; where his actions, though jump off the ramparts to The above discourse on the fort is coming, let us ensure that we do he is Hindu, can stop Hindu- her death below to not just a romantic reflection on days not throw away our coats no matter Muslim riots; where the people escape British captors. gone by. Obviously, this fort repre- how old and tattered they may be. know that he will always be there - Her courage is a sents monarchy. It represents the Those old coats might be just be the a symbol of unity, someone with testimony to the stirrings bedrock of strength on which one can ones to keep away frostbites. whom they can identify, someone of Indian nationalism and build upon. It represents stability and who will always listen to their It is time we look at the to women’s equality. continuity – of culture, values and a It is now up to the Nepali people troubles. And he is himself is a way of life in a shifting world. Further, to decide whether their monarchy Member of Parliament and a institution and judge for The city owes much to the positive impact of some of the is useful to their country. It is up to Congress stalwart. its maharajahs. Its recent rulers of the city personified by the people, not up to a triumvirate ourselves whether it serves industrial development, this fort is also quite apparent. After of unelected politicians. If the The fort looms over the city irrigation projects and Indian independence, the princely majority of Nepalis want a republic, casting its protective shadow. a purpose for Nepal and its education infrastructure states ruled by the maharajas so be it – that is democracy in Reputed to be one of the most were initiated by the then seceded to the Indian Union. It was action. But let the choice be that of invincible forts of India, it stands people. maharajah in the closing an inevitable evolution to secure the the people. ä Interview 28 Jan- 3 Feb, 2008 7 Karma can change

Karma is your own creation and you can change it yourself.

Tsoknyi , 42 years old, Why is humour important in some path and when they receive this is for people who want to make their and conditions. 50 percent might be was born in Gorkha district of Nepal. teaching? traditional path, they become happy lives better. By following the teach- karma but you can change the other He is the abbot of Ngesdon Osel Ling I don’t try it intentionally; I think it’s and peaceful. The changes are ings, they become more peaceful, 50 percent. If it was all karma then monastery in Kathmandu and of the way I teach. Humour is a part of amazing to see. All their anxiety, kind, tolerant; it helps your blood there would be no point in doing Gechak Gompa in . He is the human nature. It comes naturally to distrust, inability to love changes into pressure go down, your health anything. Karma is your own creation head of the Drukpa heritage project, me. And it is useful at this age and peace and happiness. improves and life improves. This part and you can change it yourself. which works to preserve the literature day when people have such a short of teaching is successful. But the real Karma can change. If you plant a rice of the Kagyu . He has been attention span. Are there drop outs? teaching that is renouncing the world seed, you will get a rice sapling but teachings in Nepal, India, Some. In the beginning all are and becoming completely free from the conditions too are important like Britain, , , Is it difficult to teach modern enthusiastic but as you progress you the five poisons – that takes time. fertile soil and right weather condi- and the US. His father was people? have a certain system you need to That part of teaching will shrink more. tions. It all is interdependent. the renowned master, late No. I think I’m prepared to teach follow and they feel they are being But I think if can contribute Kyabje Urgyen Rinpoche. modern people because their minds tied down and so they remain as something to the world in whatever Please explain interdependency. Tsoknyi Rinpoche is known interna- are quite open. They receive beginners. They don’t want to go all form, then why not. When you make tea, you have to tionally for his open attitude and style Buddhist teachings easily. If I use the the way. put so many things together to create of teaching that is full of humour. old methods, they don’t work so well Obviously less people are seeking tea. Similarly, you are a combination Extracts from his conversation with in this century. Differences between Nepali and enlightenment? of cause and conditions, interdepen- Sushma Amatya: western students? That is true. More people are dent things. Buddha says it is possible What is your inspiration? The basic human nature is the seeking spirituality to improve their to attain enlightenment based on Who were your teachers and I want to share Buddha’ teachings, same in everyone. The five poisons current lives. A businessman will not cause and conditions. In Nepal now, when did you start teaching? which is peace, wisdom and like attachment, jealousy, anger, give up his business but practicing life is very difficult. If you want to I was recognised as Rinpoche at compassion. These are very ignorance, pride are the same – from will improve his business. If change it, you have to look at the the age of eight. From the age of 13 necessary for humanity where a lot of the president of US to a coolie here. anything will help improve their lives, interdependent conditions. Take to 24, I studied in India. Along with my people are suffering because of But cultural differences are vast. people will take it. There is a lot in things out that have negative impact father, I had other teachers like ignorance and selfishness. The Family situations, psychological Buddhism that will help their minds and bring in those things that create Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, teachings help draw out negativities patterns are different. For example, and emotions and so I think people happy conditions. In a family, if father Adhi Rinpoche of Nangchen, Nyoshul from our minds. The fact that things we have a lot of problem with mother will take it. There is less and less is happy, mother is happy and then Khen Rinpoche and Khamtrul are always changing helps us keep in law, they don’t. We have a lot of dogmatism in people today. Most of the children are happy. If one parent Rinpoche, who brought me up. our perspective on the right track. If love inside out family but we don’t them will not reject anything that is is not happy, the whole family At the age of 24, when I was in we think everything around us is solid have as much freedom. They have a good for them just because it’s becomes unhappy. It is all interlinked. Bodhgaya, some people asked me to and permanent, it leads to suffering. lot of freedom but not enough Hinduism, Islam or Buddhism. You may be a good person, your teach and from there I started. It warmth, love. When someone cares family is good but some misunder- happened naturally. I teach five hours Changes you have seen in your for you, you lose some of your How does one find a balance standing arises and the whole family a day. I think teaching is the best students? freedom. They want the freedom and between spiritual life and worldly is on fire. You are the same but there practice. You have to prepare, Most of them were very unhappy also love. life? is so much anger around you. The meditate, you have to understand when they came to me. I think many There are different ways to You have to organise your life, find problem there is not you but the students’ questions, and you have to seekers see some kind of Dharma address those problems using the some time for spiritual practice – may delusions. Then, comes the investiga- have the meditation mood to teach. but no path. They want to practice same message but the approach is be one or two hours a day. At the end tion part when you should start different. It’s like using the same cloth of the year, there is some achieve- examining why, how, where; and you but with different designs. I try and ment and then slowly you can put it come to a realisation that it was all a understand my students’ roots and together. Or you can go for a retreat, misunderstanding. Without this, if you speak in their language. I do have a seminar and then practice it at allow the situation to go unchecked, people in the west who advise me home. To be engaged from morning you might end up burning everything. how to address the cultural and till night completely in materialistic psychological aspects. pursuit creates a lot of imbalance. How is ‘samsara’ and ‘’ the There is a saying in Tibet that if you same? Do you accept everybody who want to go to toilet, you have to build In reality it is the same but from a seeks your teaching? a toilet first. There should be some deluded viewpoint it is not same. If a I never reject. In Dharma you preparation in your life. cup is covered by mud and I say, it is cannot reject, unless there are some the same cup but it does not convince critical problems. I try but sometimes What one piece of advice would you. If you take the mud of ignorance it is very hard. you give to serious practitioners? out, you see the cup. But the cup You have to lead your life very remains the cup. It is all in our mind How do you deal with attachment simply. You have to be rich in mind, how we see it. Purify our delusion, from female students? not so much materially. When you then, there is no suffering. I’m married already and that is a engage so much in material life, it barrier and so I don’t have such does not give you enough time. Time You lead many retreats. Why is problems. I have heard of such is important. If you have a simple life retreat important? problems and am quite aware of it style, the time you have can be used Retreat is very important to and create my own barrier. Students for practice. But sadly for many Buddhist practice because once you love you but you don’t know what people, the issue boils down to know what you are doing, you need they are thinking sometimes; but if money and they don’t have any time. to work with that knowledge and not you have your point of view clear, that First thing would be to fix your basic leave it only on the intellectual level. is not a problem. livelihood. But if you are lucky, and You have to put it into practice. Once have family support, then go for the you have a map, you need to set Are you hopeful that Buddhist dharma. aside time to do that and you need a teaching will flourish in this place that is conducive to practice. materialistic world? Is fatalistic approach an obstacle First you learn from a good teacher, I divide Buddha’s teaching into two to dharma? and then you develop that learning parts – one is psychological and the Some people blame it all on karma, and understanding in retreat. The other one is for serious practitioners on pre-programming but that is not experience of retreat is of great seeking enlightenment. The first part right. You have to think both of cause value. ä 8 28 Jan-3 Feb, 2008 Opinion

ä Uday Pariyar

As Kathmandu is recovering from the damaging impacts of the violent strikes on 22 – 23 January against petroleum price hike, nobody can tell exactly how long the newfound calm will last. The Tsunami could hit Kathmandu any day, any moment. It is advisable that Kathmandu residents and visitors remain highly alert all the time.

Watch out! Avoid being caught up in the middle of violent protestors, and police carrying sticks, water canons and tear gas. Indeed, smoke and soot from burning tyres as well as tear gas are known to be toxic. But most importantly, one has to ensure he/she does not become another martyr. Achieving the status of a martyr is no longer valued because we have far too many who apparently died for the common good. We are certainly not interested to turn Nepal into a martyr land. Energy has now become one of the Tel Andolan dominating issues across the globe because the economies depend on it. Bhaswor Ojha Every country needs energy in different volumes as per the size of its Andolan II. Those who saw the front of petrol pumps to get a few very short period. Why did the ment and the parties must have economy. For instance, faster growing strikes in places like Gongabu would litres of fuel. It has to make a last government advisers, ministers and realised that the strikes were economies such as China and India not disagree with the assumption. desperate push to hold elections to others in power fail to predict and act? counterproductive. are getting increasingly hungry for The people from the same political the Constituent Assembly in April this Why did nobody attempt to formulate energy. The energy issues often drive parties called the strikes. Many year. Third postponement of elections ways to avoid the escalation? Most The government should not linger the types of relationships between common people also joined in would eliminate any remaining importantly, why did not the parties on issues like this. There should be nations and civilisations. spontaneously. The government was legitimacy of the government and control their own students and other serious discussions and debates ultimately forced to give in before the interim parliament. That would wings to do things differently? involving the prominent economists Arguably, the US attacked Iraq for protestors. seriously erode public confidence on and others on how to solve the oil, not really for planting western-style the ruling parties. This exposes gross incompetence problem once and for all. The agreed democracy in the Middle East. Many The Kathmandu City Office on the part of the government and short-term and long-term strategies believe more international conflict in claimed that it had to use the biggest So, elections are a do-or-die issue the parties. Similarly, those calling should be developed to meet the future will be fuelled by energy needs. volume of water to clean up streets, for the parties. Already serious the strikes were mostly students and energy needs over at least another The policy of the super power on compared to other protests in the doubts are being raised about the other organisations linked to the five years. A proper policy should different nations is largely dependant past. Perhaps, it would be more possibility of April elections. There are ruling parties. Why did they choose guide the import and distribution of on how much the country contributes appropriate to call it Tel Andolan many issues to be addressed in a to take to the streets and inflame the petroleum products. to the US energy demands. Although (movement for oil). Though the very short period to ensure free and situation, instead of talking directly to its rhetoric is to spread democracy and movement is now over, it is likely to fair elections. Tel Andolan helped fuel their leaders in power concerning This is one of the relatively non- liberalism across the world, it does not come back because the government scepticism about holding elections on the issues? controversial and easier areas for the care about the lack of them in some has not yet found a durable solution time. If the government is unable to government to deliver. And it could countries from where oil flows to the problem. And it is highly unlikely maintain peace in the capital town, Do they not have any access to perhaps start by properly investigat- smoothly. to work towards it. It is hard to how could anyone trust it to restore their main party leadership? What is ing the ills and evils inside Nepal Oil imagine how it will pay its increasing order in the increasingly troubled the nature of relations between the Corporation (NOC). If NOC proves While the nations wage war on IOC debts without another price hike. South and hold credible elections parties and their wing organisations? useless, private companies should be each other for energy, Nepali people within a few months? Or were the parties playing the allowed to bring in and distribute are waging war against their It is common knowledge that the oil double game? The sincerity and petroleum goods. Government can government for the same cause. issue, despite its urgency, is not the It would not take a genius to guess integrity of the parties in power are in focus only on the policy issues. It The violent protests in Kathmandu top priority for the Koirala govern- that violent strikes were likely to follow question. It is hard for common probably has far more important jobs and other places in January were, in ment now. It has no time to see how the announcement of yet another hike people to see the games involved. to do instead of distributing fuel. many ways, analogous to Jana many hours people spend queuing in in the prices of petroleum products in a Whatever the motives, the govern- [email protected] BOOK REVIEW Timeless lessons ä Birat Singh woman from Helmu, dealing with her are not chained to the wheel of life the first who has erred after taking Solokhumbu husband’s unfaithful- forever. Two of the most profound the cloth…We must learn to It is heartening to read a well ness; her daughter, Ang Maya, living themes in this book crop up when accept these things and not composed novel about three with the fruits of her illicit affair with Nima tells Ang Maya that “…mar- become so attached and chained generations of Sherpa women in the respected monk from Tibet, Rinzi riage is a family thing; love has by them. It is Leh, my son. What is the highlands of Nepal, set in the Sonam; Ang Maya’s daughter, often nothing at all to do with written cannot be erased.” Rinzi 1930s. The author, foreign-born, Diksung’s naïve relations with a Rana marriage;” and when a poor couple Sonam is the ‘chosen one’ to has used her experience of over aristocrat and how she saves herself. expecting a son’s birth is disap- succeed the abbot and that 30 years of living in Nepal, With exotic names in an exotic setting, pointed by a baby girl referred to by remains his destiny. married to a Nepali, to produce an vivid descriptions of Buddhist rites and the author as “a child who within excellent read. Set in the “harsh festivals, this story takes the reader to minutes of her birth had a changed The author prefaces her book tough land (of the Sherpas in the past. It also allows the reader to “…Marriage is a status – from wanted to unwanted with a touching poem and the northern Nepal) where only the see how much, or how little, things – because she was a girl.” eternal Buddham Sharanam fittest survived,” this story about have changed in the last 70 plus family thing; love Gacchami. The lessons from this women – interspersed with keen years. has often nothing Guilt, supposedly the original sin, book are timeless. This beautiful insights into the human condition at all to do with begins the story with the monk Rinzi romance by Greta Rana will especially that of women – has The concept of ‘sonam’ () is Sonam contemplating his one lapse hopefully also be translated into a many messages relevant to the woven throughout the story. There marriage.” into carnal passion. Yet, his superior, movie. After all, it has already present. is constant harkening for the need by Greta Rana, Pilgrims the abbot releases him of any undergone its third edition with its to collect enough merit in life, to Publishing, 2006, 546 pages responsibility dismissing him with the German translation published in Nima Tsering, the beautiful outweigh our misdeeds so that we words, “Oh come come. You are not Munich in 1999. ä From the region 28 Jan- 3 Feb, 2008 9 Polarised vote in Obama sweep

The electoral victory of Barack Obama in Mr Obama was overwhelmingly judged South Carolina has revealed a Democratic the candidate who could most bring about electorate divided by race, gender and age. change, and three out of four voters who Mr Obama swept the black vote, which thought that was the most important quality makes up more than half of those voting in in a candidate voted for him. this Democratic primary, although only 28% Mrs Clinton was equally the strong choice of the state’s population. of those who believed that experience was Hillary Clinton maintained her strengths, the most important quality for a candidate. especially among women and older voters, Mr Edwards, who has been running on a that have been evident in previous primary populist platform, gained the most support elections. And former Senator John Edwards, among those who wanted a candidate who running as a southerner from South Carolina, cares about ordinary people. had a relatively strong showing, and did But interestingly, among those who said particularly well among white men. that electability was most important, opinion split more evenly between Mr Obama (40%) Racial divide and Mrs Clinton (36%). Mr Obama’s victory was based on his The analysis is based on exit polls overwhelming support among the black conducted during the election, with a community, which voted 80% in his favour, sample size of 1,905. Democratic presidential candidate Senator Hillary Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack while less than one-quarter of white Clinton holds five month-old Jaren Chisholm in Obama and his wife Michelle arrive on stage at Democrats backed his presidential bid. the air during a visit to a Shoney’s Restaurant in his South Carolina primary night rally in Looking to the future In South Carolina, African-Americans Columbia, South Carolina January 26, 2008. Columbia, South Carolina, January 26, 2008. In 10 days, nearly half of the US made up 53% of Democratic primary voters. electorate will have a chance to vote on In contrast, Senator Clinton and John 40% - among retired people over 65 than Mr about the Iraq war than those who were most their choice of presidential candidates in 22 Edwards split the white vote, with each Obama. worried about the economy, but the effect was states in Super Tuesday on 5 February. gaining just under 40%. And among older white voters, over 60, Mr less marked than in previous contests. Mr Obama’s strong showing in South Mrs Clinton’s slender margin of victory Obama only received 15% of the vote. More than half of Democratic voters thought Carolina certainly gives him momentum, but over Mr Edwards was provided by the 18% In contrast, Mr Obama ran most strongly the economy was the most important issue, he will have to appeal to white as well as of blacks who voted for her. Only 2% of the among new voters who had never voted before. while only 19% cited the Iraq war, third behind black voters to win the big states such as black vote went to Mr Edwards. health care. New York, California and Illinois. Among black voters, Mrs Clinton had Gender split And among black voters, who are much And to win in November, he will also have more appeal to older voters and women, Among white voters, women and men voted poorer than whites in South Carolina, the to reach out to moderates and indepen- but the effect was not as marked as among quite differently. economy was clearly the most important issue. dents in the electorate - who only gave him white voters. And in another measure of John Edwards had a lead among male However, Mrs Clinton got a higher percent- 46% of the vote in South Carolina. racial polarisation, the quarter of voters who voters, by 43% to 29% for Mrs Clinton, with 27% age of the vote among those who thought Mr Obama also has to overcome what said they thought the country was not ready of white men voting for Mr Obama. national economic conditions were poor than appears to be a reluctance of older white for a black president gave Mrs Clinton a However, among white women, Hillary Clinton among those who thought that they were good. voters to support a black candidate. majority of votes, while 77% of those who was ahead, with 44% of their votes, compared to Mr Obama got the strongest support among Mrs Clinton faces a different task. She needs believed the country was definitely ready for 34% for Mr Edwards and 22% for Mr Obama. voters who wanted an immediate troop withdrawal to re-energise her white working-class base, a black president voted for Mr Obama. Mrs Clinton also did equally well among from Iraq, while Mr Edwards won strongest which was squeezed from both sides in South married women and unmarried women. In the support among those who wanted the troops to Carolina by Mr Edwards and Mr Obama. Age divide past, she has sometimes received more voters stay, suggesting that he was also benefiting from a And she needs to broaden her appeal to There was clear evidence of a genera- from single women. cross-over vote among Republicans who were voters who go to church regularly. Mrs tional divide, with Mr Obama winning 70% also eligible to vote in this primary. Clinton ran much more strongly among non- of the votes of those between 25 and 29, Electability Perceptions about the candidates’ relative church goers, while Mr Obama got the voters but only 51% of those between 50 and 65. As in past primaries, Mr Obama appealed strengths and weaknesses played a bigger role of two-thirds of the most frequent attendees. Mrs Clinton, in fact, won more votes - more strongly to those who were concerned in the election. (BBC) Pakistan nuclear Ex-dictator Suharto dies sites on alert Former dictator the past decade. Suharto, the army He had been in and Pakistan has raised the state of alert around general who crushed out of the hospital its nuclear facilities amid concerns they could be Indonesia’s Communist several times for heart targeted by Islamist militants. movement and pushed problems and internal But a senior Pakistan military official said there aside the country’s bleeding since being had been no specific threat to the sites, and founding father to usher toppled by a pro- insisted that safeguards in place were fool proof. in 32 years of brutal rule, democracy uprising The official was speaking in a rare press has died. during the 1997-1998 briefing on the issue. The 86-year-old’s Asian financial crisis. It followed Western media reports warning reign saw up to a million Historians say up to that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons could fall into political opponents killed. 800,000 alleged the wrong hands. The Pakistani authorities Dozens of doctors on Communist have been angered by Western media reports Suharto’s medical team sympathisers were speculating that the country?s nuclear arsenal had been rushed to the killed during Suharto’s could fall into the hands of al-Qaeda militants. Pertamina Hospital in rise to power from The senior military official briefing foreign Jakarta after his blood pressure fell 1965 to 1968. journalists said that the weapons were protected suddenly. Suharto had slipped out of His troops killed another 300,000 in by an elaborate command and control system, consciousness for the first time in more than military operations against independence and multiple levels of security. three weeks of treatment, doctors said. movements in Papua, Aceh and East Timor. He acknowledged that Islamic militants had from within the system, saying all personnel Suharto had been in intensive care with lung, Suharto’s poor health has kept him from begun to attack army personnel in recent dealing with sensitive material had been heart and kidney failure since he was admitted facing trial and no-one has been punished months, and that nuclear sites may also become carefully monitored. to the hospital on January 4. Over the past for the killings. a target. He said the state of alert around Despite fears raised by US media and week his doctors had spoken of a recovery. Corruption watchdog Transparency nuclear facilities had increased, but there had politicians, the official said the US administration Suharto, who led a regime widely International said Suharto and his family been no specific threats against them. had not shown any recent concern about the regarded as one of the 20th century’s most amassed billions in stolen state funds, The official said there was no way the safety of Pakistan?s nuclear weapons. He also brutal and corrupt, has lived a reclusive life allegations the family is fighting in court. Taleban or al-Qaeda could take over Pakistan?s said any foreign intervention over the issue in a comfortable villa in central Jakarta for (The Press Association) estimated 50 nuclear warheads. would be disastrous for the intruder. And he dismissed the possibility of collusion (BBC) 10 28 Jan- 3 Feb, 2008 Perspective Attaining divine ears and eyes It is made possible by good karmas and a mind freed from lower mental impurities through practices of etc. ä Acharya Mahayogi Sarvastivadin/) which are Marshland Flowers Sridhar Rana Rinpoche more or less the same, for the properly trained yogi with a pure mind In the we find the to produce Dibya Srota if it does not psychic power or psi phenomena appear spontaneously. divided into five categories. These are The third Abhigya is called called Abhigyas which mean high Parachitta Vijanana. It means knowledge or higher knowing or higher knowing the mind of others. Having cognitions. Abhi means special/higher attained the Abhigya the yogi can and Gya means knowing. know whether the mind of other Firstly, the Riddhi-: These are person is with passion/emotional manifestations in the outside world and defilements, or free from passion. He are different from the other Abhigyas. can know whether other person’s Riddhi-Siddhis imply controlling power mind is filled with hatred/anger or free This is the over the subjective and the objective from hatred; whether the person’s and it manifests by controlling both mind is filled with Moha (delusion) or hearing capac- mind and matter, whereas the other free from delusion; whether the other ity of the four Abhigyas are related only with the person has achieved the correct subjective power of the mind. As this is (Samyak ) or Devas that is a bigger topic we shall go into details of Mithya Samadhis, concentrated or why it is called the Riddhi-Siddhis after we finish not concentrated, emancipated Dibya Srota studying the other four Abhigyas first. (Mukta) or not Mukta etc. It is not only The second Abhigya (Abhiyya in telepathy or mind reading though it Dhatu. It is ) is known as Dibya Srota Dhatu, would automatically be included within made possible i.e. divine ear element. It is said that it. But it is more about the capacity to with a concentrated mind applied to know the state of mind of another by good Dibya Srota Dhatu, the purified hearing person as the above explanation karmas and a which surpasses human hearing is makes it clear. mind freed attained. And one can hear sounds of This Abhigya cannot be gained by humans or Devas, whether far or near. those who do not already have Dibya from lower The ability to hear sounds far away Srota Dhatu. This Abhigya can also mental impuri- beyond normal human range within the This is the hearing capacity of the pure and extended Dibya Srota, the be called Dibya Chakshu, i.e. divine human world or to even hear the Devas that is why it is called Dibya Yogavachara is able to hear sounds eyes, or like the eyes of the Devas of ties through sounds and voices etc. of Devas in Srota Dhatu. It is made possible by whether produced on earth or in the various Devalokas. practices of various Lokas and Brahma Lokas good karmas and a mind freed from various Deva realms of existence. (To be continued) Samatha etc. is what is meant by the Abhigya Dibya lower mental impurities through There are various exercises given in (Sridhar Rinpoche is a Srota Dhatu. practices of Samatha etc. With this various texts (Theravadin/ Master) Art & Society 28 Jan-3 Feb, 2008 11

FIREFRONT Violence seems to make a 'Pagla Badal' (crazy cloud) is The album, as Dahal put it, permanent home in the corridors Anupama Dahal's latest gift to the tries to include the essence of of national polity… world. As she began meditating in Buddhism in it. Dahal said that in A nation her journey to the world of course of her meditation, her spiritualism, many thoughts came in thoughts wandered in creation of her mind. "Pagla Badal' which was songs not only in Nepali, but also launched during a special ceremony Hindi, Rajasthani, and gone astray at Gurukul on January 26 was an English language as well. "Free expression of those thoughts in clouds do not follow any rhythm. Sridhar Guru’s wife, Neeru directives. Those who do not ä Yuyutsu RD Sharma set-up are crucial to its people. The there are nations in the world like Rana released the album in the understand it, call it mad,” and major players of the polity have to Ireland that take immense pride in ceremony organised by Byoma thus the album is based on this Of late, the dust and discover the colors hidden in the producing poets and writers. Just like Kusuma Dharma . theme. smoke in the streets dreams of the people’s lives and the other industrial nations who take of Kathmandu has landscape. This alone could be a pride in manufacturing hi-profile earned more name major achievement for any political consumer goods, electronic gadgets, "Free clouds than its clean party to come to prominence in the or even nuclear weapons. do not Songs of Himalayan air. The polity continues to national life that they so desperately follow any roll its chariots on flames of the seem to lust for, with all fair or vicious That’s where I find Ireland and directives. burning tyres and helplessness of its means. Nepal similar. Both counties in the Those who free civilians, as if there’s no other option past have taken immense pride in left to sort out strategies to develop- The colors of the most vibrant producing poets and writers. do not un- ment and good governance. nation of the world have to come out Especially Nepal is a country born out derstand it, in the streets and squares of the of the breath of poet/ translator like call it mad,” clouds Violence seems to make a nation’s democracy. That’s why Bhaubhakta Acharya. No ruler, no permanent home in the corridors of probably where the role of an artist or matter how powerful, could have national polity and a slightest a writer becomes crucial. formed a nation without the poet provocation can send the life on the giving it its tongue. Now once again streets into a chaos. No matter what Only a writer or an artist can there is a need for this nation to find its cost in terms of human loss or unleash the true colors of a nation’s its true colors and ultimate destiny. financial crisis may be, the dragons of rainbow. It’s in the blind streets of anarchy continue to rock this once a smoke he/she visualises the Could any political party or leader Himalayan haven. shimmering daggers of snow that discover the withering flowers of continue to gawk helplessly from the this turbulent nation without The streets of Thamel, the hub of valley’s rim. The colors of the appreciating the spectrum of its lost country’s major industry, appears rhododendrons of people’s destinies colors? The question a poet flings dark from the soot. Couldn’t the ablaze in the sunny scenario, that’s at the makers of its destiny. Maybe government have sorted out a timely what our politicians and policy there’s someone listening, a humble strategy to quell the smoke in the makers need to dream of often. human being, someone with a streets? Is dust and smoke the Buddha face holding Gandhi’s ultimate fate of ? This might sound fancy talk to helpless, feeble cane. The colors of a nation’s democratic some, a proverbial poet’s talk. But ([email protected]) CDO Regd No 93/063/64 Kathmandu, Central Region Postal Regd. No 46/063/64 12 28 Jan-3 Feb, 2008 Obituary

One of Sanchita’s favourite paintings titled, ‘Death’.

meaningful presence that embraced everybody that came in touch with it. Her life always overflowed with giving, caring, sharing and cheering up others around her. Her joyful laughter and sophisticated sense of humour could brighten up morose moods in no time. Although blessed with a sharp intelligence, she never showed it off, but it was there for us to spar with, when we wanted to.

A LIGHT Her friends and fans range from all walks of life and all whom I know who met her have gained something moves on precious, something indescribable from her; and that something will now Sanchita Sinha Roy, 44, a but an extraordinary person with a enrich our lives, for death has the painter and writer passed away on large heart that welcomed everyone power to drive home the truth in a 26 Jan 08 in New Delhi after a she met with unconditional love. For second, that years of association prolonged illness. She was not only reasons unknown, despite all the often does not. For us who were very a gifted artist, a wonderful teacher riches she was endowed with in her close to her, Sanchita was a special mind and heart, and her outstanding being who came down to earth to talent; she suffered a lot physically work out her leftover karma through we admire her and materially and lady luck always intense physical suffering. She now is seemed to elude her. free of the burden and we pray that deeply for her she goes to light up some other resilience, pa- We used to joke saying that realms that deserves her truly. ä perhaps her paintings would start she maintained an unflinching positive two decades ago. Her qualities were tience and power selling well only after she leaves the attitude and her courage almost till enduring and consistent all through (Sanchita contributed her to tolerate human world, as it has happened in the lives the very end; and we admire her the years that followed when we paintings and writing to weaknesses of some world renowned artists. Little deeply for her resilience, patience managed to keep in touch across newsfront for some time. did we know death was soon to step and power to tolerate human long distances and gaps of time. Newsfront offers its heartfelt around her. in and take her away from us. In spite weaknesses around her. She was like condolences to her family and of the hardships that life threw at her, that as a teenager when I met her She has taken away with her a friends.)