#430 19 - 25 December 2008 18 pages Rs 30

Weekly Internet Poll # 430 Q. The dissent within the Maoist party is: Total votes: 1,967 No work RAMESWOR BOHARA

Weekly Internet Poll # 431. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com Q. What is the most serious threat to the campaign by the Maoist unions in the past weeks has closed stability of this coalition government: down factories, harmed workers and threatens to unravel the A party’s own plan to boost investment and create jobs. Although the unrest is made to look like a labour issue, trade unionists say it is a guise to extort money, get jobs for cadres and relatives and a strategy to control the business sector. “They are not trade unions but political pressure groups, and will not benefit the workers,” says Bishnu Rimal of the Federation of Trade Unions. In its latest campaign this month, the Maoists have broken an agreement they made jointly with other unions on the minimum wage and have forced the closure of hundreds of factories and firms across the country. It is using an ambiguous clause in the government’s minimum wage decision in October to unilaterally push a populist agitation. The campaign is led by the head of the Maoist trade union, Salikram Jamarkattel who during the war was involved in extorting money from businesses, bombing and kidnapping owners who refused. His union has also been targeting multinational companies, forcing many to close shop, thus reversing the gains Nepal made in the 1990s to attract foreign investment. At this rate, there will be no more investment in Nepal “It’s got to a point now where even big domestic investors feel it’s just not worth it,” says industrialist and CA member, Rajendra Khetan, “If things don’t improve we’ll all soon be NRNs.” Khetan’s Gorkha brewery has just shelved its plan to open a new manufacturing unit for Carlsberg beer near Biratnagar and is moving abroad. Colgate Palmolive decided to quit Nepal, citing militant labour as one of the reasons. The biggest foreign investor in Nepal, Dabur Nepal, has put ambitious expansion plans on hold. Foreign investors who were thinking of coming to Nepal to set up manufacturing units are moving to Himachal and Uttaranchal, citing the lack of rule of law in Nepal. “This is the worst investment climate we’ve ever had,” says labour specialist Narayan Manadhar, “businesses are completely demoralised, and the unions have been cowed down by the Maoists.” Trade unions here have traditionally been beholden to their patron political parties and not to the workers. “Nepali trade unions were run like NGOs and were spoilt by funding,” says Maoist-nominated CA member Hari Roka, who says the Maoist unions have just moved into the vacuum they left. However, the Maoists are now determined to dominate the business sector even if it means getting the Labour Ministry that they control to illegally register unions. This has sidelined established unions that represented the genuine voice of the workers. Although Maoist unions themselves have misgivings about this trend, analysts say, Prime Minister Dahal appears to be either unable or unwilling to control the militant ways of Jamarkattel and his team.
KIRAN PANDAY 2 EDITORIAL 19 - 25 DECEMBER 2008 #430

Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Editor: Kunda Dixit CEO: Ashutosh Tiwari Design: Kiran Maharjan Marketing Manager: Sambhu Guragain Asst Manager: Subhash Kumar Subscriptions: 5542535/5542525 Hatiban, Godavari Road, Lalitpur GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu 5250333/845 [email protected] Fax: 5251013 The India www.nepalitimes.com Printed at Jagadamba Press 5250017-19 syndrome COALITION The UML isn’t too well known for the clarity of its ideology or its Indians struggle to make sense of unity of purpose. Sometimes it fancies itself as a left-of-centre political force committed to the principles of social democracy, the recession and Mumbai attacks then it suddenly remembers that its flag still bears a hammer and sickle. KOLKATA- Someplace Else is annual salaries up to IRs1.5 from the educated MBA to the In the past, they played second fiddle to leaders as diverse among the fanciest addresses in million-earning more than their unskilled construction worker. as Lokendra Bahadur Chand, Sher Bahadur Deuba and Pushpa east India’s biggest city. The pub parents ever did, making India’s The Mumbai attacks have also Kamal Dahal without pausing for the effect these strange at Park Hotel is teeming with per capita income look like a poor shaken the confidence that many alliances would have on party rank and file. The party of the people on Saturday night. A live joke, and driving the economy Indians had in their own great flip-floppers seems to be about to flip-flop again. band is playing; the bartender is with their relentless government and left them The UML leadership isn’t too happy with its own performance pulling pints of beer. consumption. struggling for responses. In a hotel in the Maoist-led government. K P Oli and Madhab Nepal have always been trenchant in their criticism of the Maoists, but now It is difficult to imagine there Today, a business analyst who restaurant, a group of middle aged even Jhalnath Khanal is rattling his sabre. The only explanation is a recession on, or that Mumbai has to pay monthly installments Punjabis react to the attacks in a is that the leadership is beginning to feel the pressure from was under attack less than a for his apartment finds his plans typically brash way. “We must below about being too cosy with the Maoists. month ago. India seems to be not go awry without the expected show it to them this time. These If unity of the Nepali left is its ultimate goal the UML would just shining, but swinging here. promotion and bonus. A friend at f****** Pakis. The problem is our have to learn to live with Pushpa Kamal Dahal as leader. Goldman Sachs is relieved his job government is a cowardly. We However, if Madan Bhandari’s multi-party socialism path is still is still intact as colleagues are need an Advani or Modi.” valid then the UML will have to rethink a conjugal relationship PLAIN SPEAKING laid off. “At least we have not The media-induced hysteria, with the Maoists. Prashant Jha gone the Lehman way,” he says. orchestrated campaigns against the The MJF will also soon face its moment of reckoning. Their A Chandigarh entrepreneur political class, the projection of nominees in the government have done only marginally better But that is only an who had branched off on his own the security forces as sole heroes, than the UML, but only just. They risk losing more in political terms because their grassroots are different from the UML and appearance. Beneath the surface, to start a gift-order firm for the simplistic portrayal of all of the Maoists. It was courageous of Bijay Gachhedar to admit that despite the indulgence of a few, corporates finds orders drying up Pakistan as villainous and the fact ‘One Madhes, One Pradesh’ was merely a political slogan. the simplistic binary of the elite- as companies cut costs. A dairy that their social class has been Prolonged participation in government may even lead to subaltern does not hold. Indians owner is worried about how the targeted is feeding into raw and fragmentation between radical and pragmatic groups in the party are confused, insecure and international milk prices and chauvinistic middle class unless the Madhesi ministers in government start exhibiting struggling to comprehend the market will affect his margin. nationalism. And despite recent accountability to the long-suffering people of the four districts of world around them. Those doing MBAs after paying state assembly elections where the eastern Tarai which they represent. The economic meltdown is up lakhs, and being assured of Congress did surprisingly Pushpa Kamal Dahal threatened to quit the government to gradually affecting the young placements, suddenly find that well, the far right is all set to appease hardliners in his own party. But it seems to have given professionals. Many of them recruitments are frozen. benefit from the anger in the his coalition partners ideas that they could do the same. began their working lives with A Mumbai-based Nepali medium term. As prime minister, Dahal needs to professional (there are many who On a train from Gaya to Patna, realise the went to good colleges in India in an overcrowded general unintended and availed of the boom) is compartment with people fighting consequences wondering whether he can hold for space to stand in front of of his on to his entertainment industry stinking toilets, the conversation statements. job. A Nepali journalist in Delhi is about Mumbai. A Muslim lower He must sees the Indian media shrink and divisional clerk says hauntingly, learn to stop new opportunities more difficult “We get killed in the process. I speaking to come by: “Maybe I should hope there is no war. Muslims from both come back for the Nepali will again be seen suspiciously.” sides of his media boom.” The cacophony of voices mouth. He should India’s growth story has not always makes it difficult, and realise that ended, the country will still fare hazardous, to generalise about as an elected better than most emerging India. The events of the last few leader he can’t afford economies. But the belt is being months have provoked reactions to be an extremist and tightened across sectors. The ranging from quiet introspection should show more integrity and share market will no longer swing to anger. It is certain though that statesmanship. wildly with little correspondence Indian confidence has suffered a to the economy on the ground. setback. What remains is a deep Job cuts will affect all sections, fear of the future.

L ETTERS

COURSE CORRECTION very well change its name to the Koirala than leading a peaceful nation. But we should not be allowed to get away with its Having a political party play the role of Congress. should not underestimate PKD. He is ethnic cleansing and should be under the opposition is a crucial component in Atul Adhikary, email really good at ‘distraction politics’. Let’s moral pressure. making a democratic system function make people look the opposite direction so G P Pradhan, Beldangi properly as you suggest in your THE BUCK STOPS that they are unaware of what is going on. editorial (‘Congress I liked Prashant Jha’s Better yet, let’s ignore the issues CORRECTION course correction,’ analysis (‘The buck altogether so that people will forget. Prior Due to a layout error, the captions for 429). However, the stops with PKD,’ #429) to the Maoists coming into the mainstream, the pictures in Happenings (page 15, NC needs to play especially on the two their actions were covert and at least #429) got mixed up. The right constructive important points he illegal, now with PKD and YCL in power captions are on www.nepalitimes.com opposition role as makes: he is still positive their excesses go unchecked and occur in opposed to the about the future the open. Isn’t it great, now the buck stops traditional slimy, development, but at the with the culprit. LETTERS undermining and same time advises the Abhishek Bhandari, email Nepali Times welcomes feedback. Letters destructive role Maoist party about their should be brief and may be edited for oppositions have future steps. Second, he REFUGEES space. While pseudonyms can be played in Nepali is more analytical than Thank you for your coverage of the third accepted, writers who provide their real politics. NC needs to putting the ideas for country resettlement of Bhutan refugees names and contact details will be given change its focus of unknown purposes. It is (‘A fresh start’, #429). While it is true that preference. Email letters should be in text being a party that is format without attachments with ‘letter to time for everybody there is now more support for the the editor’ in the subject line. hell bent on fulfilling including journalists and relocation process, there are plenty of us GPK and Sujata Koirala’s political analysts to be neutral and present their refugees who do not want to go anywhere Email: letters(at)nepalitimes.com ambitions. If the NC hopes to be views that may guide our leaders in taking but home. We will not force our will on Fax: 977-1-5521013 relevant in Nepal’s political future it crucial decisions. those who want to leave but we will wait it Mail: Letters, Nepali Times, needs to revamp its image drastically. Kesh B Malla, Dubai out. The fascist Bhutan regime and its GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal. As it stands, the Nepali Congress could I guess leading a war is a lot easier comrade-in-arms, the Indian government, OP-ED 19 - 25 DECEMBER 2008 #430 3 An appropriate time for technology Let’s make better chulos for the poor, the information superhighway can wait

KIRAN PANDAY

rime Minister Pushpa Kamal appointed ambassadors from suggestions were simple: stop Dahal’s much-discussed India and the US, but at least he chasing the pot of gold at the end P threat to go back to the has succeeded in restoring the of the Information Technology jungles was an expression of his pride of professional cadres in rainbow and concentrate on frustration rather than a true the foreign ministry. One need simple things that will change intent to wage war again. Despite not agree with the ethnic politics lives. pretensions of being in charge, he of Jayprakash Gupta, Bijay The humble Nepali chulo has has taken over three months to Gachhedar or Renu Yadav to remained unchanged for realise that a prime minister in a appreciate the way they have been millennia even though it wasted parliamentary system is only first trying to get their ministries to firewood. Improved chulos that among equals, not the boss. The start working again in the face of are more energy efficient and premier in a coalition government the violent antics of the YCL don’t belch out smoke have been and YF and the militant wing of available for decades. But the STATE OF THE STATE the MJF. penetration of smokeless chulos Ganesh Shah, the minister for in rural Nepal is negligible. We C K Lal science, technology and need to build on the improved environment, represents a minor chulo so that it takes new fuels is even less of a boss, his role is faction of the leftwing. He got a like husk, brickettes and dung limited to being a facilitator. cabinet berth in the coalition in cakes and get people to use them. Dahal’s problems begin with recognition of his steadfast Pit latrines were introduced his own party members. Few loyalty to his CPN (United). in Tarai back in the sixties. Half a Maoist nominees in the Shah is an engineer and is century later, villagers are still government realise what the supposed to know a bit about forced to defecate publically. limits of their powers are. And what he is expected to do. During the rains in the hills and their followers still think they can Unfortunately, even he can’t floods in Tarai, typhoid and arm-twist and threaten perceived resist wearing outsized badges infections are the result. Isn’t it enemies at will. and cutting ribbons and lighting possible to devise a technological The UML has packed the inaugural lamps. When he is free solution for this problem? If we cabinet with congenital from these inanities, he flies can build ultralights and if demagogues. Whether Jhalnath abroad to attend seminars where Nepali software engineers are Khanal has done it on purpose to Nepal can neither contribute nor contributing to Silicon Valley, undermine the Maoist-led gain anything. A ministership improved loos shouldn’t be out government or whether it’s just transforms even a creative of our grasp. his way of hitting back at party individual like Shah into a lab Appropriate technology has rival Madhab Kumar Nepal is mouse going round and round in become a forgotten expression, unclear. What is obvious, is that his wheel. But to his credit, he is but there is no other way to make none of the ehmaleys in the at least consulting fellow- living in rural Nepal a little more government have brought the engineer Baburam Gurung about bearable for all those who have party any glory. appropriate technologies that neither the wish nor the means to Ministers of smaller parties could improve lives of rural migrate to overcrowded cities. have actually done better. Not Nepalis. Nepal needs better chulos. everyone needs to endorse the way Gurung was trained in The information superhighway Upendra Yadav has recalled newly Czechoslovakia and his can wait. 4 NATION 19 - 25 DECEMBER 2008 #430

COMING HOME IN A COFFIN: Boys at Pashupati paddle in the coffin of a dead Nepali worker as they look for valuables that have fallen into the Bagmati at the cremation site.

SRINKHALA SHARMA Working to death DEWAN RAI Interestingly, none of the labour attaché in the countries death certificates mention the where 5,000 or more Nepalis atalities among Nepali cause of death. Where it is work. But Nepal has signed migrant workers reached a noted, a substantial number are bilateral labour agreements only F peak in the second half of given as ‘cardiac arrest’, and with Korea, Saudi Arabia, Qatar 2008 and the government is officials say there are a and UAE ––although it has scrambling to set up a scheme to surprising number of Nepalis embassies in 18 countries. It is compensate relatives and help who have reportedly died in the employer who fixes the pay pay to bring the bodies home. their sleep. and perks of workers in the Laxman Kharel was working Krishna Dawadi, joint remaining countries. If there were at an electrical company in secretary at the Department of bilateral labour agreements, Dubai. He had been there just Labour and Foreign Nepali labourers would be paid seven months when he had a Employment Promotion says according to the law of the stroke and died at age 26. The Nepali workers are mainly country. company entrusted a colleague unskilled, often employed in A Foreign Employment to take the body to Nepal. risky jobs and are vulnerable to Promotion Board was set up this Laxman’s sister-in-law Mina fatal accidents. month to have compulsory Prasai had talked to Laxman just Transporting the body home insurance that will compensate two days before. “He told me is a lengthy and complex families with Rs 100,000 in case that he would be in Nepal next process. The incident is first of death as well as providing Himal Khabarpatrika Dasain,” she recalls. His wife reported to the Nepali embassy. medical treatment abroad for the 16-30 December issue Pushpa broke her right hand as If the worker has a legal work injured. The board has already she collapsed when she heard the news. Since the roads had been Stacks of coffins in destroyed by the Kosi flood in Pashupati indicate the rising Cover: Labour pains August the fare for the journey The Maoist trade union from Kathmandu to Taplejung fatality rate among Nepali resorts to hooliganism and had risen from Rs 2,000 to Rs gives the labour movement a 7,000. It did not seem practical migrant workers abroad bad name to take the body to his village for permit, the mission then started receiving applications for Maoist lifestyle the funeral, so the body was verifies the information with compensation from the relatives Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Ram cremated at Pashupati. the Department of Labour and even before it has actually started Bahadur Thapa, Khimlal Debkota As the number of Nepal’s then corresponds with the its work. migrant workers exceeds foreign ministry in Nepal. “We have a fund of Rs 450 Editorial: Justice denied 15 per cent of the population, The ministry contacts the million and will begin the Government interference in the appointment of judiciary the number of fatalities have local agency and the next of kin compensation process soon,” says also increased. Records from the is informed. The local agency Thaneswor Debkota, member Smuggling racket Ministry of Foreign Affairs show then writes to the ministry secretary of the board. Busting a scheme to cheat the government of million in that 158 migrant workers died in establishing the claimant’s He believes this provision revenue 2006/07, but in 2007/08 the relationship with the deceased. will also encourage Nepali death toll had climbed to 237. The relative needs to take all the migrant workers to go through the Constitution Supplement: “The country should not fragment” The number peaked at a record relevant documents and apply correct legal channels before Public debate on federalism 154 deaths between April and formally at the foreign ministry leaving to work abroad. Half of the Last installment of interview with Prof Krishna Khanal December this year. Most for the body to be brought home. estimated 2.4 million Nepali occurred in the Gulf countries If the worker has no working in countries other than Presidential or parliamentary system? Lok Raj Baral and with 80 per cent in Saudi government labour permission India do not have work permits. Hari Roka Arabia followed by Qatar. The to work abroad, it is the Debkota told Nepali Times: ministry’s statistics do not employer who corresponds with “If we halve the number of illegal include fatalities among the the dead person’s family. workers, the risk will go down Himal Khabarpatrika There is No Alternative estimated 2 million Nepalis The Foreign Employment significantly and it can also help workers in India. Act 1985 had provision for a in increasing remittances.”
BUSINESS 19 - 25 DECEMBER 2008 #430 5 Labour pains Politicians don’t know how to tame militant unions that they unleashed

ast Sunday, the Beed The workforce had become an many trade unions but no real along with family empowered group, patronised by business or industry. The L members and some other the political parties. Workers who government and the political people got stuck in the lift at the believe in productivity and hard parties need to realise that if they Hotel Grand. We later came to work have no place as they are do not rein in their workers and know this was a regular constantly coerced by politically make them agree to the occurrence. The emergency motivated workers who have no fundamentals, then they have to phones did not work and neither intention of working for the start finding ways of getting was anyone apologetic about the betterment of the business. But revenues from sources other than mishap as the hotel employees now the political parties are business. Where else in the world had gotten used to rescuing wondering how to tame these does a government survive on people whom they let loose for revenue apart from taxing ECONOMIC SENSE political gain. businesses? Artha Beed The service charge issue, The business community MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA which the Beed continues to harp needs to unite based on the on about, is a perfect example of workers they people from the elevator. This how the myopia of businesses perhaps reflects the current state and labour has now led to a of Nepali business: an serious crisis in the indifferent workforce that works hospitality Rich man, for an indifferent set of industry. The employers. employers gave in The perception is that there since they could are few businesses that are really pass on the cost to poor man suffering because of the current the customers labour problems and as long as anyway. Now, there is no employ and the taxes they pay people can find ways to find incentive for staff to offer the and create an advocacy group that hen a colleague from United Nations World Food individual solutions, no one is highest level of service because starts to force the government to Programme (WFP) suggested the refugee camps in interested in looking at a irrespective of their effort act. For the government, it would Jhapa as a possible location to take pictures for his book, W common one. Howard Graham Buffett, 54, son of Warren Buffett, the world’s everybody makes the same tip. be then to go along with other richest man, couldn’t believe his ears. But the business community Anyone who recalls service levels political forces to ensure that the As a businessman, philanthropist, photographer, agriculture and has to speak with one voice. at hotels and restaurants in worker leaderships agree on a conservation expert, he had worked extensively in Africa and South Having myriad disconnected Kathmandu 10 years ago will solution that will be beneficial and Central America, but he didn’t know much about South Asia. organisations is know what we are talking about. for both workers and businesses “When you think of Nepal you think about the mountains and counterproductive when it Nepali businesses and to operate in Nepal. religion, but you don’t think about the high malnutrition rates, the comes to getting the government industry will have no future if Otherwise,the finance war, or the floods in Kosi and you would have no idea that there are to agree on providing security to the worker issue is not resolved. minister’s goal of boosting job refugees living here,” says Buffett. businesses or resolving labour The country faces the threat of creation by attracting investments And so the ambassador for WFP came to Nepal as part of his issues. being relegated to a country with will just be a pipe dream. project to compile a photography book on hunger. He worked with WFP in Pakistan during the earthquake and has been to several countries with the organisation. Buffett is no stranger to issues surrounding food production. He farms 1,000 acres of land at home in Nebraska and is on the board of directors for the world’s largest food retailer ConAgra food, as well as food and beverage giants Archer Daniels Midland and Coca Cola Enterprises. He is also the founder of Nature Conservation Trust, a non-profit Trust in South Africa to support cheetah conservation. In Nepal, he visited WFP’s maternal and child health project in Solukhumbu, flew over the Imja Glacier, visited Bhutani Refugee Camps in Jhapa and the make-shift camps for the Kosi flood victims. He also studied the country’s agricultural patterns, concluding that Nepal has serious challenges relating to food production. It may be fortunate to have abundant water resources, but without the infrastructure and training for irrigation, would be unable to deal with the challenges of food security. “To reap benefits from the irrigation system you need a system of crop development, which in turn depends on extension services,” says Buffett. Most seeds used in Nepali farms are indigenous and haven’t seen any improvement in yield or resistance for years. Buffett stresses that improved training to develop higher quality, higher yielding seeds is critical. In addition, Buffett says that Nepal has to be able to take advantage of the successes that its neighbours, China and India, have achieved. “It's about regional integration—if countries around you have higher fertiliser use, you should have better and cheaper access to fertilisers as they develop research and put development dollars into crops.” Mallika Aryal 6 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 19 - 25 DECEMBER 2008 #430 Not so humble ministerial habits president and the speaker.” Lekhraj Bhatta uses red Mehendi on his The PM’s daily routine consists of hair once a month and loves the Hindi waking up at 4AM, reading and playing movie Sholay. But he claims his lifestyle badminton with his son Prakash and his hasn’t changed much from the years when nephew Samir for half an hour. He also he was fighting in the war. He says, “How loves listening to music and watching much you choose to change your life movies. When he has time, he also depends on the person.” enjoys singing challenges with his 10- Maoist spokesperson and year-old granddaughter Smita. Besides communication minister Krishna Bahadur the news, the PM is fond of the show Mahara’s favourite pastime is watching ‘Tito Satya’. political movies. He likes Balidan best. He Other Maoist ministers such as state also likes to travel but due to lack of time reconstruction and culture minister he hasn’t been able to treat himself to this Gopal Kirati who used to cane people pleasure, says his PA Khagendra. during the People’s War for drinking Maoist CA member and advocate PRESIDENTIAL SUITE: wine, now likes drinking wine and even Khimlal Devkota’s biggest indulgence is Prime Minister Dahal’s scotch after a hard day at work. “People his suits. He says, “I have four suits that bedroom at his offcial who come to meet me gift red label and cost Rs 12,000 and many ties that match residence–Baluwatar. black label. It would be rude to return a my shirts.” He also has two laptops

DINESH SHRESTHA gift, so I drink one or two pegs before I that clients gave to him when he won sleep,” says Kirati. their cases. Himal Khabarpatrika, 16-30 December There was also a time when he used There has been a drastic change in Maoist central committee member and to sport a Rs 50,000 Rado watch, which his lifestyle. Kirati now wears coats that CA member Top Bahadur Rayamaji who A meal that Prime Minster Pushpa Kamal was given to him by a famous cost Rs 20,000 and watches worth got married in a second-hand coat that Dahal thoroughly enjoys is ghee, rice and industrialist. However, after a lot of Rs16, 000. But he says, “I don’t buy cost Rs 35 and shoes that cost Rs 25, now local chicken or goat meat. He doesn’t mind public speculation and opposition from expensive things–friends who live owns numerous suits. Since 1973, cauliflower and potatoes or spinach either. his cadres he stopped wearing it. Another abroad give them to me as gifts.” Rayamaji has kept a written diary. Besides his food, he also likes clothes–he thing that has stirred speculation since Defence Minister Ram Bahadur After winning the CA elections Maoist has 20 pairs of trousers and around a dozen Prachanda became PM is the Rs100,000 Thapa ‘Badal’ likes classical music. His member Jhakku Prasad Subedi, received suits, says his personal assistant BK bed imported from China. However, favourite singer is India’s Shova Mudgal. many gifts such as bikes from friends and Shrestha. Also a fan of black leather shoes, Shrestha claims, “Contradictory to the Besides the news, he never misses the well-wishers. He says, “Industrialists he uses Nepali brands like Basbari, Sky rumours, the bed only cost Rs 70,000 and program ‘Sare Gama’. tried to gift cars as well but I didn’t and Tiptop. was bought by the president, vice- Labour and transport minister take them.” Not in denial Outside force Dristi, 15 December vocational training or should be given Interview with Prachanda, Naya Patrika, 13 December opportunities for foreign employment. The process of army integration, Lately, the British too have been What’s changed since you became already highly debated and drawn out, is pressing for the rehabilitation of PLA prime minister? being further delayed because of the troops rather than on integration. This Initially, I thought it would be easy to differing propsals being put forward by has shaken the Maoist leadership because it was the British who, work according to the people’s India and China. It’s not just the Chinese and Indians according to the Security Sector Reform expectations and the spirit of the that are interested in Nepal’s army (SSR), had first proposed that the PLAs commitment letter. But it’s been integration, the British and the should be integrated into the army. challenging–although not impossible. Americans are also rushing to The Nepal Army has also started to We’ve already made solid changes Baluwatar and Singa Darbar with their oppose the SSR model fearing it could though, in terms of budget, international ideas. be just a strategy to appoint Maoist relations and infrastructural The Chinese have suggested that leaders into the army. Maoist leader CP development. the Nepal Army should take in as many Gajurel of the Foreign ministry was the PLA recruits as their standards allow one to introduce SSR as a concrete Are you disillusioned yet? and the rest should be deployed in idea. The Maoists were trying to Work is being done. It may be slow due security in the eastern and northern implement the SSR model and integrate the PLAs into the army, as well as keep to procedural matters but it hasn’t yet got borders. While China is ready to support that force because it believes it UNMIN and the UN happy. However, it is to the stage where we are disillusioned. will help curtail pro-Tibet activities, unlikely that the UN will support the With the commissions, for instance, we India is not very keen on the idea. Maoists in their plans unless the US, just want work to be done quicker. India is putting more emphasis on which has not been very positive, the management than on integration of agrees. The rumour now is that the Why haven’t the departments for the PLA troops. It has proposed that Maoists are in search of a brand new women and land improvement rather than integrating the PLAs in the model. The extension of UNMIN for six been formed yet? army, they should be employed in other more months is actually a ploy to buy There’s no rush. We’ve taken steps but security organisations, should be given time and remain in the UN’s good books. it’ll take time due to ‘bureaucratic hurdles’.

What did you mean when you said that you may leave the government? I mentioned something when I spoke at Chitwan and Kathmandu. However, what I said was exaggerated by the media. What I meant was that our government is not obsessed over the ‘chair’ and if we aren’t able to bring positive change here, we don’t see the use of staying. We’re not going to stay by force. Instead, we’ll question why we couldn’t bring changes and go to the people. I mentioned this as a broad possibility; I didn’t mean that we’ll leave today or tomorrow.

Isn’t that like giving up due to your own incompetence? The Kangresis think that we are using this as a threat, it’s not true. We’re not losing hope either. It’s just that we wanted some things to be fast-paced, and that hasn’t happened. But we’re not denying our weaknesses.

ROBIN SAYAMI If you had to give yourself a score out of 100 since you became prime minister… Prachanda: “If it goes on like this, we will raise arms again.” [Laughs] Between 60 and 70. Farmer: “During the election campaign, he used to say he’d raise our living standards.” CONSTITUTION 2010 19 - 25 DECEMBER 2008 #430 7 commissions to address the issues of Tarai and Muslim communities, reservation The Unrepresented provision for Dalits and related laws which are in the offing SUBHAS DEBKOTA will definitely bring relief. The Madhesi ministers prove themselves powerless new constitution and state restructuring will give a long- n spite of the fact that the to effect change in the Tarai term solution,” he says. Madhesi has hefty Rameshwar Kapadi, I representation in the system?” he questions. president of Mithila State government the security situation He blames the clash between Struggle Committee, says the in the region has not improved at the Maoists YCL and UML Madhes problems have all. In fact it is deteriorating. Youth Force and dispirited remained unaddressed thanks to Janakpur-based professor police force for the deteriorating the popular political slogan of Surendra Labh says Madhesi security. As for the terror meted ‘one madhes, one pradhes’ leaders changed their language out by the Tarai armed groups he which overlooked geographic, once they gained power. He argues adds, “If we address their ethnic and cultural diversity. the constitution, legislation and reasonable demands then we can He also claims the Madhesi mentality of leaders must be take action against their criminal leaders joined the government changed if Madhesi issues are to activities.” with the right sentiment but be addressed. “The government Another MJF leader, they did not understand the should come up with an Agriculture Minister Jay Prakash real problems. immediate relief package for the Gupta says the number of Perhaps everyone is people. It is sad to know that the Madhesi leaders in the expecting too much too soon movement was purely for power government does not necessarily given the seismic changes this and not for the people,” he says. determine the activities of the scarred country has undergone. But Madhesi ministers argue government. He points to But the ministers the present government will not another spanner in the works – themselves are not taking the take care of the Madhesi that Madhesi ministers could initiative to bring relief to the community. They say security not forge a united view regarding people when they say the will not improve because the Madhesi concerns. government can do nothing. government has failed to address He blames the government Madhesi represent a hefty one armed groups’ demands. for the violence as it failed to third of the leaders in the Supply Minister Rajendra come up with an integrated council of ministers. Mahato, who claims to have vision for the armed groups and The country’s president, understood Madhes issues address the reasonable demands vice president and Madhesi because his party’s founder of Tarai armed groups in spite of ministers hail from Sarlahi, leader, the late Gajendra Narayan his proposals. Dhanush, Saptari, Sunsari and was the first person to bring the Others says that three Morang districts - the origin of issues to light, says, “Even if a months is not long enough to Madhes movement. It shows the Madhesi leader is made the prime improve things. UML leader and effectiveness of the movement minister nothing will happen government and the Madhesis.” holds a similar view. “The police Local Development Minister and its achievements. But the unless a federal constitution is Foreign Minister Upendra andthe army are still not Ram Chandra Jha says security people who were in the made. The present government Yadab, who is also president of inclusive. There is the same old will improve once the dialogue frontline during the movement should implement the past MJF, the largest Madhesi party law. How can the government do with the Tarai armed groups in these districts are now living agreements reached between the and fourth largest party in the CA any good for Madhesi under this concludes. “The formation of under constant threat. “We will have one identity–Nepali”

Conclusion of the interview with Krishna Khanal, country which has been facing the problem of separatist In Nepal, it is not possible to apply either so the political science professor at Tribhuban University, movements from the very beginning but it has not federal structure of our country should be based on about federalism. disintegrated in over 60 years. In 1947, the separatists ethnicity, language, population density and geography. demanded independence for Tamilnadu but the issue What are the merits and demerits of federalism? evaporated when MDK party won. From Nagaland to What are the basic requirements for a federal system to No political system is good or bad in itself. There is no Manipur, the issue of separatism is being raised but the function? ideal system. But the country might face some state mechanism has been functioning perfectly. In other The basic principles of a democratic system apply. challenges once it embraces federalism. words, it is through federalism that integration has been The only difference is the level of ruling. In a federal The issue of ethnicity could be one while the division protected. system, there are different governments and of provinces could be another. With the exception of Tarai parliaments at the centre and provinces. The duties and Ethnic, linguistic and regional Democratic Front, no other parties or responsibilities of the central and provincial issues need to be taken into groups have raised the issue of a government will be as provisioned in the constitution. In consideration when dividing separate province so far. many federal countries, the provincial government has provinces but they are not the a different constitution from that of a central sole determinants. How should provinces be created? government, while some have a single constitution. In Let’s take Limbuwan In more than one way. In India, federal America, Canada and Switzerland, provinces/states province for instance. There structures are based on language have their own constitution. If any state wants a might be people who think non- (Gujrat, Tamilnadu etc), geographical separate constitution that should not be negated. Limbu should not be allowed to situation (Uttar Prades, Madhya Another important question is about the type of live there, that they should be Prades etc) and ethnic settlement system. It could be presidential, parliamentary or driven away. This is against the (Punjab, Bangal etc). The provinces mixed. I think an executive presidential system will not spirit of federal democratic should be created according to the be appropriate because of the diversity. Under the norms. density of the population and presidential system, it is unlikely Dalits, women, The emergence of regional topography. Madhesis or Tharus would be elected. We need a parties will be inevitable if the National unity is also important. ceremonial president and an executive prime minister. issues of identity remain The state should be self-reliant in unaddressed. That’s not to say terms of economy, administration and What should be the political, economical and regional politics is wholly bad internal security. It should be capable administrative relationship between the central and but possible challenges should of implementing central government provincial government? be identified on time. If political policies, programs and plans. The constitution will specify the fundamental parties do not adapt to fit the It must be considered whether a relationship. Some responsibilities will be shared, federal system, that could pose province is viable politically and some separate. For instance, the issue of environment. another problem. PICS: KIRAN PANDAY administratively. For instance, a When it rains in the mountains, landslides takes place Federalism is expensive as there will be many separate province of Chepang with a population of 50,000 in the hilly regions and the Tarai suffers from flash governments and parliaments. But there again the could not be administratively and politically viable. floods. These are shared issues. federal system could promote economic growth. In principle, defence, foreign affairs and treasury There are many challenges, which is why political What are the widely accepted norms of federalism? remain at the centre and the rest goes to the provincial parties appear reluctant to embrace it. There are essentially two concepts of federalism that are government. Hydropower can be of national interest. In widely accepted—territorial and non-territorial. America is this situation, the central and provincial work together. Some argue the country would break up if it goes into an example of territorial while Ethiopia is non-territorial. We should understand one thing – the centre is not federalism. Under the former, provinces or states are demarcated in a a separate entity without provinces. The central The past experiences of federal countries do not prove certain size and their inhabitants are known as citizens of government consists of representatives from provinces. so. Yugoslavia disintegrated because the federal system that particular province. The latter refers to demarcating No laws are made without the participation from was not based on democratic norms. India is a federal provinces on the basis of ethnicity. provinces. The centre is the common ground. 8 PRISONS

STICHING TIME: A Muslim detainee embroiders a sari in in Mahottari Jail.

BehinTEXT AND PICTURES by KIRAN PANDAY d Prisons in Nepal are dilapidated, but their deterioration is not limited to their cracked roofs and crumbling walls.

Most were built during the Rana regime. They are overcrowded, mismanaged and the inmates underfed and angry. In the Siraha jail, the roof leaks and it is on the verge of collapse. The Mahottari jail holds 339 prisoners when it only has enough space for 135. There are 73 prisons in the country containing 8,810 detainees, 538 of them women. In addition, 62 dependents also live inside the jails with their parents. There are 166 juveniles and 488 foreigners. Whatever ray of hope one sees inside the jails, is due to the determination of the inmates to make their lives behind bars bearable. In Dilli Bajar prison in the heart of the capital, the detainees association purchased two computers and is conducting training for detainees, 35 prisoners currently attend the course. In Dhulikhel jail, prison is divided into three sections, DOWN-TIME: Four Mahottari prison inmates watch one for severely mentally disabled detainees. This is the only television in the room also used for worship. prison in the country that can handle the mentally handicapped, but it is clear that many of them should be in a hospital, not a prison. Pictures selected from an exhibition by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Kathmandu last week. 19 - 25 DECEMBER 2008 #430 9

PLEA FOR FREEDOM: A woman inmate reaches out for a visitor at Siraha Jail. After prisoners broke out of the prison some two months ago, visitors cannot come within 50 metres.

LONG NIGHTS: With no other form of pastime, the women d barsdetainees sit together and while away the evening.

A LONG WAIT: A detainee stares idly as he waits for customers in the small store run for prisoners at Central Jail.

ANYWHERE BUT HERE: A young child who was born REFRESHING: A male detainee enjoys a bath after a long day of work in Siraha Jail. in Mahottari Jail gazes out beyond the prison walls. 10 NATION 19 - 25 DECEMBER 2008 #430 Into the Integrate or

PRERANA MARASINI darkness in NAWALPARASI Nepalis voted for peace, not he political parties are for leaders who make threats debating whether to allow T en masse integration of when the going gets tough the Maoists’ combatants into the Nepal Army or discard the idea n the last few years the cold dark evenings have become completely. UNMIN’s term is unbearable during this load-shed winter. With 10 hours of about to be extended by another power cuts every day, there isn’t much one can do but mull, six months because of the Isnooze, meditate or worse, think about the state of the country. uncertainty over the integration The Nepali political situation in the last week turned as dark as of the two armies. the powerless nights. We have had an earful of threats, accusations The debate is raging even and no end of whining from senior politicians and party leaders. within the Maoist cantonments, While Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, leader of the party with where the former guerrillas one-third of the seats in the parliament, has been threatening to quit undergo regular military training. the government and take up arms again, UML’s Madhab Kumar While many see integration into Nepal has been spreading the word throughout the country that the government, which his party is a part of, is a total failure. the national army as the ultimate The changes taking place in the country in the last few months goal, others want the PLA to have been rapid and remain a separate armed force of overwhelming. Sometimes it the state. INTERESTING TIMES is hard to keep track of how Here in Jhyaltung Danda of much things have changed. In Mallika Aryal Nawalparasi, many of the all this, one characteristic that guerrillas believe they should hasn’t changed is politicians’ stay under the party rather than PRERANA MARASINI habit of complaining and not watching what they are saying when under the government. things don’t go their way. Twenty-six-year-old PLA party, as it has the right vision,” for the people and the country,” Is it so difficult to understand that one of the reasons why member Nirmala Bantha Magar she says. “We will accept she states, “And I can’t imagine Nepalis went out and voted in such large numbers was because they were tired of the same old way of doing things? Many in the (Pratistha), a company whatever the party decides for my life beyond the PLA.” villages of Nepal voted for the Maoists because they were fed up commander, which is a rank us.” Vice commander Ram Lal with the war, the killings, losing family members, the threats and the equivalent to that of major in the Pratistha’s husband who was Roka Magar (Madan) says the PLA lawlessness war had brought home. Last week in Panauti a local army, fought in 12 battles during also a PLA fighter was killed in wants to retain its own identity. resident Mahesh Karmacharya said what many Nepalis have been the 10-year people’s war. She is action. Her daughter was born “We don’t want assimilation,” he thinking but have been too afraid to say, “In the last few months hopeful that the party will take after her father’s death but says, adding, “a merger will erase since the Maoists started leading the government they haven’t done care of the PLA members in the Nirmala does not want to quit the our identity.” anything to prove that they are different from the other politicians right way. “We believe in our PLA. “We’ve sacrificed so much The question of loyalty after who have been in charge since 1990.” When a prime minister threatens to quit the government because unnamed international powers are not allowing them to work, it makes the Unearthing the people wonder if their intentions for SEEKING CLOSURE: Forensic the country are experts, human rights activists and genuine. And police investigate alleged graves these threats of the disappeared in Shivapuri come at a time earlier this year when the media has been reporting on how samples,” said Ranta. The NHRC the lives of the has ruled out the possibility of a comrades have mass grave at the site, but says it changed since wants to investigate the area leaving the jungle, further. how most of them Mandira Shrama of Advocacy SAM KANG LI are now living in Forum says the probe will pave the lap of luxury. the way to investigate other Moreover, for a senior leader like Madhab Nepal, whose party is suspected sites in the future, but part of a coalition government, it is absurd to hear him say that the government has failed. she is worried that the issue will Leaders threaten to prove a point either to the opposition or to fade from the headlines. “The the people. What they don’t understand is that such threats create investigation has to be detailed, cynicism and hopelessness in the people. They can’t trust a party NHRC so that the issue is kept alive,” that threatens to go back to war when diplomacy gets a little hard to she says. handle. Nepalis went out in overwhelming numbers and voted for the MALLIKA ARYAL experts Helena Ranta of University In an effort to build local Maoists, but not all the votes came from die-hard supporters. After of Helsinki and Pekka Saukko forensic capacity for future ten years of waging war the Maoists have to do a lot more to gain ast year Nepal’s National from the University of Turku were investigations, the International the trust of the people than win an election. The little credibility they Human Rights Commission brought in to further analyse the Committee of the Red Cross may have gained is lost when they bare their fangs. received a tip-off from the samples. When the tests on coal- (ICRC) has brought in two experts Meanwhile, instead of thinking of ways to reorganise their L from Geneva, Ute Hofmeister and parties so that they can gain back the support they lost in the CA locals in the Shivapuri National like black substances and black elections, older parties like the NC are busy trying to find fault. In Park north of Kathmandu about soil brought no results, NHRC Oran Finegan, who have been the eyes of the people such backbiting just makes them look like the location of where the 43 asked that the samples be sent for training NHRC staff, Nepal Police, very bad losers. disappeared from the Bhairabnath further tests. local forensic experts, medical During the CA elections people in the villages were promised and Yuddha Bhairab Battalion The report of these further students and human rights education, roads, food, employment, development. Eight months were buried. tests were released by the NHRC in activists in exhumation have passed and nothing has been done. Nepalis in the hinterland The Alle area was cordoned off Kathmandu this week, and the procedures, the collection of ante- don’t care about internal party rifts, they don’t care about who was and the NHRC, with a team of Finnish experts state that the mortem data and other skills promoted in the party ranks or which invisible foreign hand wants forensic experts and human rights remains of at least one male were relating to the identification of what from Nepal or who said what in Kathmandu. activists started investigating. found in the objects they human remains. People want promises to be kept. They want to know that their They combed the jungles and collected in Shivapuri last year. “It is not clear how many children are safe and their neighbours won’t die of a curable bodies need to be identified, but disease. They have had enough of the war. Twelve years of living in recovered pieces of clothing, sacks, “From the six different fear is enough.
charred wood and plastic bags. samples we could extract DNA now that that the conflict is over Two months later Finnish evidence from only one of the the need to develop appropriate NATION 19 - 25 DECEMBER 2008 #43011 disintegrate? No frills Getting married simply is a Not all Maoists in the wise move in lean times camps want to be part of ROMA ARYAL quarter-page ad in Kantipur announced the wedding of the Nepal Army Archana Dahal and Subash Bhattarai on 24 November– but A theirs was no ordinary wedding. No extravagant ceremony NO TIME FOR SCHOOL: (l-r) Bahadur Lamsal (Sonam) who with pricey invitations, dowry and lavish party. Instead the couple Sunita, Samiksha and Niruta quit lost a leg during a battle in opted to give all the money their parents had set aside for the school to join the people’s war. Arghakhanchi in 2002 raises occasion to charity and have a small, humble gathering at a temple. Now that the conflict is over, they concerns about the injured Less than a week after the ad appeared, the couple received an overwhelming response with more than 700 emails and 400 SMSs want to resume studies but they combatants the Nepal Army has. say military classes and trainings from Nepalis who had read the announcement from all over Nepal “If integration is to take place, all leave them with no time to return and abroad. Some were deeply touched while others wished they to formal education. of us should be integrated, had foregone a lavish affair in favour of something less costly. otherwise those injured soldiers A man from Qatar seemed irked that the couple hadn’t decided to in the NA should also be marry earlier: “If you had,” he wrote in his email, “I wouldn’t have to members and children orphaned withdrawn.” leave my pregnant wife, so I can pay off the loans we took for our during the war still use the term The Nepal Army has 2,625 wedding. I would’ve known that there was another option.” ‘dushman’ while referring to the wounded soldiers while the PLA Nepal Army during the has over 3,000 personnel insurgency. wounded during the war. There are 1,000 PLA in the Nursing mothers in the camps camp, which includes young complain of inadequate food for mothers, some teenagers, and their babies. Although they enjoy some wounded, in addition to a leave of six months, which is the verified combatants. Ram four months more than Kumar Thapa (Mahan) who has government employees and integrating a politically lost a hand and eye, says, “We female soldiers of the Nepal Army indoctrinated army has also knew we could be wounded or get, they have difficulty being cropped up, but vice commander killed but we fought for the able to afford to care for their Magar thinks it could be resolved. liberation of the people.” But children. “When we (PLA and NA) work what about his future? With his “We don’t get an extra together for a common goal, we disability he will not qualify for something for the baby, apart PRICELESS: Archana and Subash wrote in their wedding will forget our past grievances,” he integration. “The state should from the regular Rs 2,100, which announcement in Kantipur, “We want to publicly announce that we says. ‘We will also be giving up provide us with the right is not enough,” says 21-year-old began our married life on 13 October without any unnecessary our party membership,’ he adds. alternative,” he says. Shanta Bhattarai whose four costs, and will donate the money to various charitable However, almost all PLA Another ex combatant, Khum month old son has pneumonia. organisations.”

Subash, who works for the Jaycees and Archana who works at impossible without forensic Nabil Bank in Damak, are an educated and savvy couple who want expertise. Identification and change. Subash wanted to set an example in Damak and he fought evidence is extremely important hard to convince his parents to sanction his marriage, while his wife not just for prosecution but also was easily convinced. “It’s not about rejecting your culture,” she for humanitarian purposes. says, “you should be able to spend only as much as you can.” Ranta says that forensic “We thought what we were doing would be something new,” says Subash, “but there were lots of people who replied to our ad, saying truth evidence has to be dealt with very that they were doing the same.” The forensic investigation carefully and has to be done by Chakra Bohara and Gita Mainali Bohara in Dang are one such experts. Dealing with the past is couple who spent as little as they could when they tied the knot five into the 43 disappeared on one of the ways the authorities years ago, while Rajan and Durga had a similar approach. “Instead can build confidence amongst of using the money for our wedding,” said Durga, “we saved the Shivapuri finally begins to people. She says, “These issues money to finance our further studies.” keep coming back and society, But marriage counselor for the online matrimonial service address impunity government and people will have nepalmatrimonial.com, Shrijana Singh Yonjan says that cases like to deal with them one day. these are exceptions. Many young people such as Chakra and Gita skills and build local capacity for know because they never forget.” There’s no use trying to shove who have intercaste marriages usually conduct the marriage by themselves, often fresh out of college and have no choice but to be identification is imperative,” says Under international them under the rug.” frugal. They do it because their decision hasn’t been accepted by Hofmeister, who has worked on humanitarian law, the authorities See also: their parents. “The majority of Nepalis,” she says, “still attempt to exhumations in Bosnia and Latin are responsible for determining ‘Forgiving but not forgetting’,#380 prove their affluence with lavish weddings.” While many youngsters America. what happened to those who ‘Prison diary’,#290 are now opting for court marriages, it’s still usually the parents who She adds: “Society may not be went missing during an armed ‘Many have died in detention’, decide on the format of the ceremony. ready but the loved ones want to conflict. Accurate information is #267 12 19 - 25 DECEMBER 2008 #430 NATION 19 - 25 DECEMBER 2008 #43013 SHRADHA BASNYAT epal may not be Nepali bridge-builders internationally recognised as a are training Africans Ngreat engineering nation but there is one area in which it excels. Bridges. and South Americans This mountainous country has built more than 4,000 suspension footbridges. And now Nepal is exporting this expertise to other developing countries. There are 11 engineers and three sociologists from Ethiopia and Honduras in Nepal this month learning how bridges are made in Nepal. With 80 per cent of the population living in rural areas, in rugged terrain, bridges are of vital importance. Without them, isolated valleys and remote villages have no way of communicating with the outside world. Ethiopia and Honduras have similar terrain and socio-economic conditions. The Swiss aid agency, Helvetas, has been involved in training Nepali engineers in suspension bridge-building for the past 40 years. Now, Nepali companies have their own indigenous capacity to build the bridges. Bridging the gap “Instead of people going abroad, engineers from abroad come here to PB HAMAL learn how to build trail bridges,” explains Jan Roukema of Helvetas in Kathmandu. Nepali engineers have learned how to build high quality bridges on tight budgets and also how to place them at the most strategically appropriate locations so that they benefit the maximum number of users. Sashi Shah, Karnali program co-ordinator of Helvetas says, “We don’t just build bridges but follow a holistic social approach. We involve the community in the construction and planning and bring down costs.” The visit from the Ethiopians and Hondurans is part of Helvetas’ South- South collaboration project and will entail the engineering department at Pulchok Campus teaching DFID the 14 participants both the technical and social aspects of trail-bridge construction in the four weeks up to 26 December. The course covers design, planning and construction as well as ways to mobilise the community and seek government assistance. Five participants will stay on longer in Nepal and gain on-the-job field training experience. Alem Shumiye, manager of the trail bridge program in Ethiopia told Nepali Times, “Ethiopia is similar to Nepal in terms of the need for footbridges, and we are learning a lot here.” Shah says Nepal still faces major challenges in bridge-building: governance, ensuring quality of materials and the brain drain. Last year’s bridge collapse on the Bheri in which 50 people were killed was an example of what happens when quality standards drop.
14 INTERNATIONAL 19 - 25 DECEMBER 2008 #430 The search for quality on the web RIZA BERKAN in NEW YORK

n the not-so-distant future, students will be able to graduate from high school without ever touching a book. Twenty years ago, they I could graduate from high school without ever using a computer. In only a few decades, computer technology and the Internet have transformed the core principles of information, knowledge, and education. Indeed, today you can fit more books on the hard disk of your laptop computer than in a bookstore carrying 60,000 titles. The number of Web pages on the Internet is rumored to have exceeded 500 billion, enough to fill 10 modern aircraft carriers with the equivalent number of 500- page, one-pound books. Such analogies help us visualise the immensity of the information explosion and ratify the concerns that come with it. Web search engines are the only mechanism with which to navigate this avalanche of information, so they should not be mistaken for an optional accessory, just another button to play with or a tool to locate the nearest pizza store. Search engines are the single most powerful distribution points of knowledge, wealth, and yes, misinformation. When we talk about web search, the first name that pops up is, of course, Google. It is not far-fetched to say that Google made the Internet what it is today. It shaped a new generation of people who are strikingly different from their parents. Baby boomers might be the best placed to appreciate this, since they experienced Rock ‘n’ Roll as kids and Google as parents. Google’s design was based on statistical algorithms. But search technologies that are based on statistical algorithms cannot address the quality of information, simply because high-quality information is not always popular, and popular information is not always high-quality. You can collect statistics until the cows come home but you cannot expect statistics to produce an effect beyond what they are good for. The inefficiencies of today’s search engines have created a new industry called Search Engine Optimisation, which focusses on strategies to make web pages rank high against the popularity criteria of Google-esque search engines. It is a billion-dollar industry. If you have enough money, your Web page can be ranked higher than many others that are more credible or higher quality. Since the emergence of Google, quality information has never been so vulnerable to the power of commercialism. Information quality, molded in the shadow of web search, will determine the future of mankind, but ensuring quality will require a revolutionary approach, a technological breakthrough beyond statistics. This revolution is underway, and it is called semantic technology. To achieve the level of dexterity in handling languages by computer algorithms, an ontology must be built. Ontology is neither a dictionary nor a thesaurus. Building an ontology encapsulating the world’s knowledge may be an immense task, requiring an effort comparable to compiling a large encyclopedia and the expertise to build it, but it is feasible. Several start-up companies around the world like Hakia, Cognition Search and Lexxe have taken on this challenge. The result of these efforts remains to be seen. But how would a semantic search engine solve the information quality problem? The answer is simple: precision. Once computers can handle natural languages with semantic precision, high-quality information will not need to become popular before it reaches the end user, unlike what is required by Web search today. Semantic technology promises other means of assuring qualities by detecting the richness and coherence of the concepts encountered in a given text. If the text includes a phrase like “Bush killed the last bill in the Senate,” does the rest of the text include coherent concepts? Or is this page a spam page that includes a bunch of popular single-liners wrapped with ads? Semantic technology can discern what it is. Given humans’ limited reading speed (200-300 words per minute) and the enormous volume of available information, effective decision- making today calls for semantic technology in every aspect of knowledge refinement. We cannot afford a future in which knowledge is at the mercy of popularity and money. Project Syndicate

Riza Berkan is a nuclear scientist with a specialisation in artificial intelligence, fuzzy logic, and information systems. He is the founder of Hakia. NATION 19 - 25 DECEMBER 2008 #43015 The sky is the limit Engineer overcomes bureaucratic hurdles to test fly the first Nepal- built aircraft POKHARA CITY.COM

PRAKRITI PATHAK age ever since he watched Twin but Nepal’s civil aviation industry, and can also be used for lack of resources and bureaucratic in POKHARA Otters at Pokhara airport as a bureaucracy wasn’t. rescue and patrolling. Enthused hurdles. He feels lucky to be one student at the Pratibha Higher The government didn’t give by the successful test flight the of those rare individuals who gets “This must be how the Wright Secondary School. When he was Parajuli the permit to make a Pulchok Campus has decided to to fly a plane that he himself brothers felt when their plane in Grade 10, he built a small test flight, even though Capt offer an aerospace elective in its built. first flew,” Bikash Parajuli model plane at the a Kaski Maximov, who used to fly MiGs engineering course. Given the Parajuli wants to go abroad to remembers thinking when the district science exhibition but in Russia was ready to take it right opportunity, Parajuli says finish his masters in aeronautical ultra-light he helped build took the model failed to take off. up. But the persistence of the Nepali students can compete with engineering and return to Nepal. off for the first time from Pokhara “From that point I was Danfe team paid off and the the best in the world because they He says: “It is better to be lion in airport on 6 December. determined to make a plane that permission for a test flight have to overcome not just your own country than than a For Parajuli, the first flight would fly,” says Parajuli, who finally came. The Rs 2 million technological challenges, but also monkey in a foreign land.” marked the culmination of years enrolled at Pulchok Engineering Danfe has tandem seating for of planning, overcoming technical Campus where he was a member two, has a ceiling of 6,000 ft and and bureaucratic hurdles to make of the Robotics Club. Along with has a maximum speed of 200 Nepal’s first airworthy aircraft. fellow students, Parajuli spent km/h. But last week, the Called ‘Danfe’, the 400kg ultra- three years designing and ministry gave permission for the light was piloted by Alexander fabricating the Danfe. With plane to do circuits and Maximov of Avia Club and made support from Natasha Shrestha landings at Pokhara airport not six take offs and landings at of Avia Club in Pokhara and flying more than 25ft above the Pokhara airport amidst cheers guidance from their professor, ground. from hundreds of onlookers. Bhakta Bahadur Ale and another Parajuli believes that his Parajuli, 27, had been fascinated faculty, the plane was finally prototype can be mass produced by the idea of flight from an early ready. The Danfe was ready to fly and boost Nepal’s tourism 16 CITY 19 - 25 DECEMBER 2008 #430

ABOUT TOWN Jason Statham returns as Frank Martin, the ex-Special Forces operative who specialises in high-risk deliveries. In Transporter EXHIBITIONS 3, Frank is pressured into transporting Valentina (Natalya Symbolic Embodiment by Bidhata KC, 23-29 December, 5PM, Rudakova), the kidnapped daughter of Leonid Vasilev who is Yala Maya Kendra, Patan Dhoka. 5553767 the head of the Environmental Protection Agency for the India’s wild orchids and other plants by Hemlata Pradhan, Ukraine, from Marseilles. Along the way, with the help of Inspector Tarconi, Frank has to contend with the people who Siddhartha Art Gallery, till 1 January. Sunday-Friday 11AM-6PM, forced him to take the job, agents sent by Vasilev to intercept Saturday 12-4PM. him and the general non-cooperation of his passenger. Despite Valentina’s cynical disposition and his resistance to get

EVENTS Entertainment involved, Frank and Valentina fall for each other while escaping Short Tai Chi Course, till19 December at Himalayan Buddhist from one life-threatening situation after another. Meditation Centre, Keshar Mahal. 4410402 Call 4442220 for show timings at Jai Nepal

Christmas celebrations at Dhobighat Catholic Church, Quest www.jainepal.com 24 December. Nepali mass at 5.30 PM and English mass at 9PM. On 25 December, mass at 10AM. 5526732 Casablanca, a film at Lazimpat Gallery Café, 25 December sfd ;fgf ] 7nf" ] eGg ] x'Fb}g . kl;gfsf] s'g} /ª / hft klg x'Fb}g . sfd 6.30 PM. 4428549 g]kfn ;/sf/ Wisdom of Emptiness course by Glen Svensson at Himalayan u/]/ vfg nhfpg' klg x'Fb}g . rf]/]/, 9fF6]/, 5n]/, n'6]/ vfg kf] ;"rgf tyf ;~rf/ dGqfno Buddhist Meditation Centre, Keshar Mahal, 23-24 December, nhfpgk5' { . hf ] hxf F /x/] hg' sfd u5 { pm To;df} /dfpgk5' { uf/a} Thamel. 4410402 ug'{k5{ / ;dlk{t eP/ ug'{k5{ . sfd g} zlQm xf], elQm xf] / d'lQm ;"rgf ljefu Taïchi Camp at Lakuribhanjyang from 26-28 December, Base xf] . sfdsf] OHht u/f,}+ kl;gfsf ] ;Ddfg u/f }+ . Camp Trek. 44 11 504

MUSIC Idiosyncrasy Band performing at Shital Restaurant and Bar, Manbhavan, near British camp, 19 December, 4PM onwards. Christmas Jazz Special 2008 at 1905 restaurant by Possie & the fags, 1905, 24 December, Rs 400. 421506 Tuesday Melody at Jazzabell Café, Happy hour 6-8PM. 2114075 74 Twister playing live every Tuesday at Moksh, Pulchowk. 5526212 Robin and the New Revolution playing live every Tuesday, 7PM onwards at Bamboo Club restaurant, Thamel. 470157 Happy cocktail hour, 5-7PM, ladies night on Wednesday with live unplugged music at Jatra Café & Bar Live Sensation, live performance by Yankey, every Saturday, 9PM, Hyatt Regency. 4491234. Dance and Cocktails at Cube Bar, Kamaladi. 4438017 Fusion and Looza Band every Friday night, Bhumi Resto Lounge, Lazimpat. 4412193 Rudra night fusion and classical Nepali music by Shyam Nepali and friends, every Friday, 7PM at Le Meridien, Gokarna. 4451212 Sufi music by Hemanta Rana, every Friday at 7.30 PM at Dhaba Restaurant and Bar, Thapathali. Fusion and Classical Music by Anil Shahi every Wednesday, rock with Rashmi Singh every Friday, Sufi & Raga with Hemant Rana every Saturday, 8 PM onwards, Absolute Bar. 5521408

DINING Christmas festivities at Kilroy Restaurant, 24 December-9 January, Thamel. 4250440 Christmas Turkey Dinner from 24 WEEKEND WEATHER by NGAMINDRA DAHAL December-1 January at K-too! Beer & Steakhouse, Thamel, The much awaited westerly front has just grazed far-western Nepal 4700043. bringing light snow to the mountains. This satellite picture taken on Christmas Special, three-course menu, 1905 restaurant. 4215068 Thursday morning indicates a stronger front will follow, building up Nhuchhe goes Thai at Nhuchhe’s Thai kitchen, Baluwatar. atmospheric moisture as it moves eastward. Therefore, there is a 4429903 good chance that this will break the 10-week drought that has affected Christmas Goodies at The Lounge, Hyatt Regency Kathmandu. central and eastern Nepal in the weekend or early next week. 4489362 Depending on the strength of this frontal system, expect light snow Strawberry Etagere at The Lounge from 4.30 PM-6.30 PM, Hyatt and rain in the mountains, thick morning fog in the Valley, Tarai and Regency. 4491234 inner Tarai. Valley residents should also prepare for a cloudy Organic Salad Bar and Steak at Jalan Jalan restaurant every weekend. Friday from 6PM, Rs 650 Plat Du Jour at Hotel Shangri-la, Kathmandu, Rs 600. 4412999 Pasta pesto passion at La Dolce Vita, Thamel. 4700612 Continental and café item with live band every Friday at Vintage Café and Pub, Woodland Complex, Darbar Marg. Home made pasta at Alfresco, Soaltee Crowne Plaza. 4273999 KATHMANDU Reality Bites, The Kaiser Café, Garden of Dreams, operated by Dwarika’s Group of Hotels, 9AM-10PM. 4425341 Steak escape with Kathmandu’s premier steaks at the Olive Bar and Bistro, Hotel Radisson. 4411818 KATHMANDU VALLEY Cocktails, mocktails and liqueurs at the Asahi Lounge, opening hours 1-10PM, above Himalayan Java, Thamel. Fri Sat Sun Retro Brunch Barbeque with live acoustic music by Sound Chemistry, every Saturday, 12-3PM at LeMeridien-Kathmandu, Gokarna. 4451212
Starry night barbecue at Hotel Shangri-la with live performance 23-3 21-5 20-6 by Ciney Gurung, Rs 999, at the Shambala Garden, every Friday 7PM onwards. 4412999 Kebabs and curries at the Dhaba, Thapathali. 9841290619 'MANDU MANDALA by PRERANA PAKHRIN lly Expression Coffee at Hotel Shangri-la, Lazimpat and Mandap Hotel, Thamel For inclusion in the listing send information to editors(at)nepalitimes.com HAPPENINGS 19 - 25 DECEMBER 2008 #430 17

MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA FLAMES OF FURY: Students from Thapathali Campus burn tyres on Tuesday to protest against the failure of the Public Transportation Entrepreneurs Association to drop public transport fares.

KIRAN PANDAY

LASSES-A-LEAPING: Young girls, dressed in modern and traditional outfits, participate in Sakela Sili, a Kirati dance form, on the occasion of Udhauli festival at Nakhipot on Friday.

KIRAN PANDAY

HONOURING THE MASTER: Veteran singer Bhakta Raj Acharya, seen here with his son singer Satya Raj Acharya, receives the Lifetime Achievement Award during the 12th Hits FM Music Awards at the Army Club on Saturday. UPRIDNFRIN 18 S case, maybetheyshould’vetrieditoutonanimalsfirst. as apoliticalphilosophythatis“trulyscientific”.In Tailpiece: ComradeFerocitydescribedMaoismtheotherday fuel ofchoiceforthe for allthatsubsidisedkerosenewasneverthefuelofpoorbut diesel andkerosenewerepricedthesamelastmonth,provingonce kerosene. Thedemandforkerosenehasdroppedby70percentsince machinery tore-instatethepricedifferentialbetweendieseland potential. WhynotapproveallthehydroPPAsthatareinqueue? a countrywiththeworld’shighestpercapitalhydropowergeneration energy emergencyandorderdieselpowerplantstogenerate200MW--in shedding. Andwefindoutwhy:hisgovernmentisabouttodeclarean takes fullcreditfortheprojectandevenpronouncesnomoreload this wasthatinthespeechhegivesbeforecuttingredribbon,PKD the completed fouryearsagohadhisguerrillasnotthreatenedandextorted when Nepalwasstillaconstitutionalmonarchy,andwouldhavebeen inaugurate the70megawattMid-Marsyangdiprojectwhichwasstarted You havetogiveitthePM,man’sagenius.Thisweek,hegot everyone getshiscut,andtheGDPexpands. to bewhereitisallgoinglaundered.Andthebeautyofthat and itlooksthecasionswhereNepaliscannowlegallygambleisgoing of allthisisthattherearenowbillionsinblackmoneyfloatingabout, Nepalis exhibitwhenitcomestocheatingthegovernment.Theupshot the well-meaningBRBhasunderestimatedextremecreativity showing incomesource.Allforafacilitationfee,ofcourse.Lookslike to under-invoicetheirlandsoasavoidtheRs50lackminimumfor the LandRevenueoffice,bureaucratswereadvisingpropertysellershow effect thisweek.ButMarutiswere sold afterthenewgovtregulationrequiringproofofincomewentinto Till presstime,notasinglecarcostingmorethanRs20lackshadbeen mouth diseaseattheReporters’Club. Horrible Gajurel,whoimmediatelyshowedsymptomsoffoot-in-the- the take thethanklessjobofheadingcommissiononlandreform,but PKD triedtoappeasehardlinerKamredBiplopbytryingpushhim government toeveryonewithinhispartywhowantsashareofthepie. hypertension gohaywireashetriestodivideupthespoilsof within hispartyaswellfromwithout.Thishasmade No wonderComradeChairmanissweating:he’sgettinggrilledfrom said tobepallywiththeerstwhilerajah. intelligence ofanotherimpendingvisitbyanex-ViceroyRajanwhois the deliberateleakofnewsthatHisExcellencymetMajesty,and China asthecounterweight.LotusFloweralsoseemstobespookedby his centcomdelegates,hewasabletobalancethispressurebyusing will beevenlongerthanthe us someaddedstatureatinternationalconferenceswhereournametag of InclusiveNepal,knowninshortas:UPRIDNFRIN.Thatshouldgive Revolutionary IndependentDemocraticNationalisticFederalRepublic everything togetheronceandforallcallourselves:UnitedPeople’s left anythingout?Justsowedon’tregretitlater,shouldlump national acronymmustbedeliberate. (PFDNRN). Thefactthattheletters’NRN’arecontainedinnew ass(at)nepalitimes.com western countriesandIndiaof this weekheactuallynamednamesatthepartyconclaveandaccused international communityweretryingtoturnNepalintoafailedstate, Hand’? Afterbroadlyhintingthatunnamedmembersofthe Why isPukadagettingsoparanoidthesedaysabout‘TheForeign size does. The adulterationmafiaisalsotryingtolubricatethegovernment But astheofficialnameofNepalgetslongerandlonger,buthavewe smarty pants living daylights is: People’sFederalDemocraticNationalRepublicofNepal formulation thattheMaobaddiecentralcommitteecameupwith o ourcountry’snameisabouttobechangedagain.Thelatest BACKSIDE refused,soheappointedComradeGaurav’scousin, outofthecontractors.Thesupremeironyinall adulterers DPRK.



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