#62 28 September - 4 October 2001 20 pages Rs 20

Round 3 SUBHAS RAI At least they are just quarrelling and not killing each other. discontinue the talks which is expected in RAJENDRA DAHAL ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○ the next few days. The next round has to goconvinced the Maoists are he Maoist politburo is meeting this into the core issue of what the Maoists are negotiating in good faith. One week near Naxalbari in India to finally willing to settle for after six years of minister admitted: “The Tdecide on the underground party’s war and 2,000 Nepalis killed. The top prospect of coming out into agenda for the third round of peace talks. InMaoist leadership is now hemmed in by parliamentary politics does not Kathmandu, the Nepali Congress (NC) domestic, regional and international factors:explain the Maoists’ readiness government is doing the same in party for talks. They are arming and huddles and with the parliamentary regrouping, and we’d better be opposition. • Public opinion against threats, intimida-prepared.” Although there has been a lot of tion and extortion ETHNIC EDGE hardline rhetoric, neither side wants to • This week US Secretary of State Colin Powell labelled all groups using violence As the political struggle of the against legitimate governments terrorists Maoist revolution recedes, the • Then Indian foreign minister Jaswant government is getting sinister indications from some areas of a new communal edge. Weekly Internet Poll #2 Singh made an unprecedented denounce- Q: Should America go to war to avenge the terrorist ment ofNepal’s Maoists After the truce went into effect, there have been incidents where local Maoists cadre attacks on New York and Washington ? • The royal palace and army talk tough have desecrated Hindu temples, slaugh- Missing in action The Maoist leadership also faces pressuretered cows, and in the tarai triggered a dangerous polarisation with the BINOD BHATTARAIIN GENEVA from local commanders beginning to ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ disobey them. Many local cadre are acting Two names top the list of those missing since the start of the Maoist “people’s on their own, in some cases giving the madhesis. war”. Dev Raj Joshi, former Nepali Congress MP from Bajura may have revolution a dangerous communal tint. The bahun-dominated Maoist leadership already been killed after being abducted by Maoists in early July. Danda Pani Senior leaders now need an exit strategy Neupane is the most prominent missing Maoist. He disappeared in May 1999, now faces a stark choice: sell a political and the government says Neupane is not on its list of people detailed or killed. which will be acceptable to the solution to itsownfollowers, or resume the As the third round of talks get underway, both sides are demanding the release government, and also satisfy those lower armed struggle. If the Maoists go for a of prisoners and information on the missing. The government wants the Maoists to down the ladder. This is a critical political solution, disgruntled Maoist militia release 189 people, including 69 policemen. The Maoists want to know where their compromise that will be the main can easily be assimilated into the police or own 69 missing comrades are as a precondition to further dialogue. challenge for Comrades Prachanda and army. The human rights organisation INSEC says Maoists have abducted 547 people Baburam Bhatarai. Prospects of reaching a viable agree- so far of which 107 are still missing and government has taken 227. The wherea- Selected responses on p. 8 Total votes: 1596 The government can’t put the Maoist ment through the present negotiation bouts of 130 are still unknown. There’s someone else who is keeping count: the leadership too much in a spot, otherwise a process looks dim, but neither the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Geneva. Spokesman The world’s most reliable hardline faction will split off and head for government nor the Maoists can afford to Darcy Christen told us his numbers are similar, adding: “It is a complicated the hills again. Prime Minister Sher disavow talks. Even if the present talks fail issue and has to be addressed immediately if you are to be in a position to Bahadur Deuba, after bringing the negotia-and there is a return to fighting, both sides have credible talks.” UPS for PCs tions this far is now also facing open So, either the possible killings have to be admitted (and regretted) by Recommended by Microsoft, will soon have to return to meaningful IBM, NEC and Novell dissatisfaction from within his own party negotiations. The present process has both sides, or the whereabouts of those still missing made public. and the palace. Both think he has given in been stymied by dead-end demands “There are people we have not seen on our subsequent visits,” too much to Maoist demands. from the Maoists for a republic and Christen added. “It will be a political decision for Kathmandu to say King Gyanendra expressed displeasure scrapping the constitution. Except what happened to them.” Maoists have a greater responsibility last week in a conversation with NC leader for these two, most other issues on since they have said they respect the Geneva Conventions. Ram Chandra Poudel about politicians the Maoist agenda are negotiable ICRC delegations have been visiting Nepali prisons since late not standing up against the Maoists’ anti-and there is multi-partisan 1998. Although they have no access to Maoist detention camps, the monarchy stance. Then, in an unprec- consensus on them. rebels have not disrupted their work. ICRC says its priority is to visit Back-UPS 500 edented move, the Defence Ministry If the Maoists come up with those under Maoist detention. The ICRC has been trying to set up an • Compact design with surge protected warned Maoists last Friday against inciting concrete and dramatic concessions outlet for Laser printers the public against the monarchy. Senior office in Nepal since 1998 but does not have a during the third round, there is still a “headquarters agreement” with government • Three battery back-up outlets ministers in the Deuba cabinet said they chance that the present process can Editorial p. 2 Lightning and surge suppression yet. Sources in the foreign ministry admit there • were “shocked” by the statement, which be salvaged. Otherwise, it is back to • EMI/RFI filters for noise filtration have been delays and say that’s becausePeace of “administrative by Dasain Communication interface port (auto should normally have come from the Homewar. And this time, it will be different: • problems.” Unofficially, one reason for the delay was letting ICRC in shutdown for all major desktop OS) Ministry. One minister told us: “The palacethe army will be in the fray, both sides would mean recognising the Maoist internal conflict. The official line • Quickswap™ battery replacement has now done a U-turn on the Maoists.” will use heavier automatic weapons. • Quick Recharge after power outages An all-party meeting in Baluwatar on until some months ago was that this was a “law and order problem”. Save battery power with user The Maoists need a soft landing, a • Monday evening designed to prepare for the “We have expertise in tracing people but are not into mediation,” says adjustable option switches cushion which they don’t at present Jean Jacques Bovay, head delegate of ICRC in Nepal. The ICRC also offered • Industry approval (safe & reliable) third round ended in disarray. There is have. It’s up to the parliamentary increasing dissatisfaction with what is seen to play the role of a neutral intermediary, but the government opted for Nepali ®®® parties to provide them that. Their’s as the prime minister’s secretive ways in human rights “facilitators.” ICRC’s role in Nepal will become more important in SM is a political cause, not an ethnic or Legendary Reliability dealing with the Maoists, and his perceived the coming days, especially if the talks break down and the conflict escalates. Authorized Distributor separatist war. The way out is public It would then be providing medical help to the injured on both sides. And leniency towards them. Not everyone is debate and negotiation. that can only happen if its official status is clarified, which could happen as Computerland Building, New Plaza, Ramshahpath, Kathmandu early as next week, a foreign ministry source told us. Tel: 430858, 430859, 431199, 431746 Fax: 430641 E-mail: [email protected]

The Total Solutions Company SUDHEERR SHARMA 222EDITORIAL 28 SEPTEMBER - 4 OCTOBER NEPALI 2001 TIMES NATION 28 SEPTEMBER - 4 OCTOBER NEPALI 2001 TIMES 333 Nepali Times is published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Chief Editor:Kunda Dixit Editor:Anagha Neelakantan SOMEWHERE IN NEPAL by PUSKAR BHUSAL Design:Swosti Rajbhandari, Kiran Maharjan [email protected], www.nepalitimes.com Advertising:Sunaina Shah, Anup Adhikary [email protected] Subscription:Anil Karki [email protected] Sales:Sudan Bista [email protected]

Sanchaya Kosh Building, Block A-4th Floor, Lalitpur GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: 01-543333-7, Fax: 01-521013 Printed at Jagadamba Press: 01-521393 Contrived confusion he cloud of confusion settling on the have been plotting a plan from the early top tier of our political class has Every political group seems bewildered right now, but there is an months of Koirala’s first tenure as TURN, TURN, TURN T thickened considerably in recent evolving consensus: democracy may have to beAlthough destroyed they hate admitting to it, be every saved.premier. After the hung parliament of weeks. A day after pointedly accusing ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ things,○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ extortion, coercion and vandalism—political group seems to be basking in this 1994 kept everyone in suspended History is an endless cycle. Countries suffer untold turmoil, and biosphere of bafflement. After his push to animation, the Maoists thought the return to where they started to find that all the death and destruction Narayanhity and New Delhi darbars of The Maoists, already confounded by which everybodythought were eternal fomenting the Maoist rebellion, Nepali please and appease everybody in the land- demolition project could be completed was in vain. Look at Afghanistan. Thirty years after hounding out their spontaneous outbreaks of popular resist- criminal offences—for a month, only to lift it reform programme backfired, Deuba has king, dabbling in communism, being torn asunder by an ethnic Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala three days later, ostensibly to save the faltering faster through armed action. As late and ance in some districts and rumbles of reverted to his one-point agenda of ambivalent adherents of non-military fratricidal war, and now ruled by one of the most obscurantist re- clarifies that what he actually meant was recalcitrance within their ranks, are in a peace talks. The dozens of Maoist activists gimes on earth, it may be King Zahir Shah who will have to rescue that he is mystified about who really is concluding a peace deal with the Maoists, methods of destruction, the rebels may quandary over whether to join mainstream freed from prison as a gesture of government threatening to resign if he failed. But the Afghan unity and nationalism. Moral of the story: you don’t know what behind the six-year-old insurgency. UML goodwill get a freer hand to raise funds to seem to be a little raw and rough. you have until you lose it. politics before things get any worse or to prime minister’s single-minded devotion toHowever, they have demonstrated leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, who has continue their campaign of violence and facilitate their part of peace making. The Back at home, we are not quite sure what is driving the Maoists’ generally stood by his sighting of a the cause of peace may no longer be enoughsufficient maturity in feeling the pulse of intimidation at a time when South Asia is UML and the breakaway ML, evidently to help him postpone the painful task of anti-monarchy agenda. But suddenly, the comrades aren’t that hot Narayanhity-Nepali Congress-New Delhi sensing that the tide might be beginning to an infant democracy that has been in about a republic anymore. Their original desire to set up a Peoples’ becoming the main battlefield of the US-led phase-wise cabinet expansions he had mortal danger since its rebirth in 1990. tripod on which the Maoists stand, is global war on terrorism. turn against the Maoists, remind us they have Republic of Nepal gave way to the demand for a “bourgeois republic” flummoxed by the communication gap privately pledged to keep his flock together.The surfeit of semantic stupefaction in and then “an institutional development towards a republic”. Fair The Deuba government, which seemed not ruled out reunification. They agree to between Koirala and Prime Minister Sher reject key political demands of the Maoists as After the Silguri conclave formalised thethe Maoists’ speech is carefully scripted enough. Every king, queen or sheikh is a tradeoff between the feudal to be fully focused on its priorities even foreign connections of the Maoist leader- to facilitate a candid exchange of ideas. hangover of hereditary rulers and with the need for a state icon that Bahadur Deuba on the parameters of the out of step with Nepal’s history and geography government-Maoist peace talks. (In before being sworn in, is now caught in the ship, the UML has stepped up its offensive When Maoist ideologue Baburam gives historical continuity to nationhood. Prevailing conditions at web of its own concessions. It imposes a but still can’t find mutually acceptable different times will determine public opinion about whether the trade- retrospect, it turns out that Koirala was adjectives to qualify the converging on the rebels in public. Privately, however, Bhattarai castigates the current polity for off is worth it. unfairly criticised for his adamant one-man-ban on, among other UML leaders know they need to keep aliveabandoning the majority of the people to PROSPECT international policies of the United two-posts stance.) an emasculated Maoist movement outside Norway just went through one: the crown prince married a commoner States and India. Itching for some repeatedly “electing their own tormentors the electoral process as a fallback position and exploiters to rule over them for a who is an ex-drug addict and a single mother. The media said the action after the peace talks shoved monarchy had outlived its usefulness. The same week in Sweden, King for the day they became tired of sitting on fixed period,” he draws attention. When Carl Gustaf had a strawberry tart thrown on his face by a teenager as he them to the sidelines, the the fence. Meanwhile, remnants of the he asserts that his party would allow a inaugurated a recreation centre. Danes are fonder of their royalty, but in Maoists’ student surrogates multiparty political system that would Norway public support is down to below 60 percent. The monarchy vs decide to protest against army- include parties of the “most advanced republic debate will go on. police raids on some college proletarian class,” he provides enough It will be the same here. The birth of our nation is inextricably campuses by forcing conceptual elasticity for cerebral experi- linked to the ruling dynasty. Modern Nepal with its multi-ethnic, multi- schoolchildren to take a ments of all kinds. It’s easy to mistake the lingual and multi-religious tapestry has few other symbols to cement ancien regimein parliament and outside are five-day vacation. Young insurgents’ insistence on the need to itself into a nation state. Our kingdom and kingship were bruised and happy to wear that we-told-you-so frown institutionalise Nepal’s embryonic dented by the royal massacre, but the public’s regard for the monar- radicals inspired by the every time they see a surge of street fury chy has withstood this test. Many Nepalis still don’t believe the official republic for ideological incoherence. ruthless vision of the against the sordid state of the nation. The What the demand actually does is provide version of the events of 1 June 2001, but they have decided to move Great Helmsman torch on for now. They cope by disassociating the persona of the monarch people, fed on allegations that the monar- enough legroom for everybody to reach from their predisposition for a monarchy. a few school vehicles to chy is abetting a rebel movement which hashis or her own conclusions on the trek Let’s learn from Thailand. As long as we keep politics out of this prove their capability of publicly vowed to replace it with a commu-towards a new beginning. It’s not difficult nist republic, are braving this befuddlement national symbol and as long as the monarchy keeps itself above acting on their fiery rhetoric, to understand why everyone, from fiercely politics, it should be fine. before withdrawing the closure call with their familiar mix of fatalism, forbear- nationalist royalists to disloyal rabble- hours later. With the kids’ plans for ance and frustration. rousers who want to dissolve the kingdom the extended weekend spoiled at such However, there is actually little reason into the republic down south, is frolicking short notice, the Maoists end up alienating a to lose heart. Amid the mist, there are clearin the fog of Maoist phraseology. vast pool of potential voters. signs of an evolving national consensus on the need to destroy democracy in order to STATE OF THE STATE by CK LAL save it. The mainstream political parties

PEACE BYDASAIN The bell has now rung for Round Three. Negotiators are being LETTERSwrong reasons, while leaving our A year afterrespecting life. Terrorism in Dunai such an neighbour to die by the same readied for talks again. The two sides used the previous rounds to asymmetrical struggle becomes inevitable. THE EAGLE IS WOUNDED size each other up, and to send the war-weary Nepali public a mes- hands that have been slappingGurkhas might be made to revisit them for years. Today Afghani-their old battle theatre of Afghani- sage that they were serious about talks. The public wants to believe Terror, as study after study everywhere has C K Lal has it all wrong in “The stan, that also without any stan as part of a British contin- them. All indications are that the Maoists are trapped betweenNations the need armiesshown, togo is the weaponto war. of last resort But for in peacetime, they need eagle is wounded” (#61). assing into post-traumatic stress, the those who feel that they have been denied Saying that President Georgetangible proof, tomorrow who..?gent. The presence of Gurkhas in internal consequences of what they have unleashed, and the needUnited to States of America has fallen Afghanistan might attract TO THETHETOTHE press the eject button. a strong and motivatedjustice. Inpolice every society, force. there always is a W Bush and his advisors have for the coping mechanism of waging not understood the enormity of unwanted attention towards It is a lesson in how to unravel a revolution. From the Maoists’ culturally deprived and inarticulate group NEVER DIE SPIRIT war on an enemy whose threat it has the shock and horror among Nepal. It is high time that both of people who resort to violence to express peacekeeping duties abroad. Britain and India acknowledged point of view, things were going very well till recently. The insurgencymassively magnified. Its military buildup in the people in America and all Ravi Tandukar their grievances. over the world! That “nearly and respected Nepal’s geopoliti- AND THE TIRELESS had grown phenomenally and spread to all parts of the country. Six Unfortunately, the government by email years and 2,000 lives later, they had advanced facing no resistancethe Gulf and Central Asia portends the The only long-term antidote to four-fifth of humanity” think cal compulsions vis-a-vis Pmother of all battles. But all this sabre- doesn’t seem to have learnt that primary Gurkhas. EFFORTS OF ALL THE from feckless and fractious parliamentary parties. terrorism is to ensure justice in society. that America stands for whatCK Lal in “The eagle is wounded” rattling seems aimed more at a domestic lesson of carnage in Dunai exactly a year is evil in this world! That the The After all, the history of human civilisation ago. Hundreds of guerrillas stormed the misunderstands the whole point of audience than the Al Qaida fugitives of carnage of September 11 wasAmericans calling the attacks an PEOPLE WHO MAKE is nothing but a chronicle of the search for district headquarters of Dolpa on 25 not an act of terror! That Osama bin Laden last seen in Afghanistan. act of war. When adjectives in the Ram Limbu maobadi became a household word spoken either in fear or justice. All wars between “the good and “warmongers” in Washington NEPNEPNEPAL ANANALAN No nation, not even a superpower or a September 2001. As soldiers watched from English vocabulary fail to describe awe. Then came the truce and talks in July. In a matter of weeks they the evil” have been manifestations of thenearby barracks14 policemen were killed, and London are trivialising the Manly, Australia military alliance like NATO can guarantee the horror of the crime what else had squandered most of the gains of the past six years. When the pursuit of a higher goal—establishment 41 others wounded, 12 abducted and impact of this human catastro-can you call it? UNFORGETABLE EXPERIENCE peace in a world plagued by increasing phe! That President Bush’s “we Part of the fun of reading CK Lal people discovered that the talks were an excuse for more aggressive of a humane and just social order in Rs50 million looted from a bank. For each week is trying to guess extortion, threats, kidnappings, and the forced closures of busi- are at war” declaration inequality and a vicious cycle of poverty, the world. those who witnessed Dunai, the later where his keen and unpredict- nesses, their support waned. Ordinary shopkeepers, subsistenceexploitation and injustice. The sole resounds with false bravado! “Sajju” Pursuit of justice is not just moral, it is humiliation in Holeri came as no surprise. Comparing this incident with a able mind will land on any given farmers and civil servants in the districts were now paying ransom.superpower of the globe may have reduced Pennsylvania, USAissue. But this week, add me to also practical. The way a society treats its movie! Justifying such a School buses were burnt, and aboveground leaders gave fierythe United Nations to the level of a That is why on Saturday when the the long and distinguished list of speeches threatening to turn Narayanhiti into the Pentagon. Then, the horrendous act and glorifying weak is the only true measure of its Ministry of Defence suddenly warned that CK Lal calls Samuel Huntington’sthose who Honourable Lal has desecration of temples, the forced feeding of beef, and the attacks“supra-national on relief agency” as an those who were responsible civilisation, and nothing frightens away it would not sit idly by if the sanctity of for it! The respected and theory of “clash of civilizations”angered at least once. The tarai farmers. There was now very little difference between theAmerican scholar put it disparagingly, but world’s relationship with America it still is the last hope of turning the world investment and trade as swiftly as a state constitutional monarchy is ridiculed thoughtful journalist that he is,racist. Followers of different Maobadi and the Buddha-demolishing Taliban. that cannot deliver justice to the ag- religions or belonging to a civiliza-is complex, but the vast majority into a community of nations. publicly it sounded more sinister than it doesn’t look as if Mr Lal The Maoist leadership is distancing itself from this behaviour, grieved. As much as the moral obligation wrote this piece himself. tion are not confined to a particu-of people everywhere do not What is true of relationship between sensible. That is supposed to be the job of hate us arrogant cowboys even apologising, but the statements have been too little too late. The of ensuring social justice, nations need the the police, and the army is expected to Does he have a ghost- lar racial or ethnic group. Just nations is equally valid for interdependence writer, or does he have a goes to show Lal’s utter igno- enough to commit or condone danger in all this is that once the revolution loses its political edge, badge of the rule of law. assist it if needed. The army asserting itself civilian terror attacks. Lal says “it grassroots warlords bored with the truce will unleash communally-between different communities within a grudge against the rance and his habit of making The police is the social institution that in routine political affairs of the country is impossible to take a moral high tinged attacks to light ethnic fires in the hills and the tarai. state. The moment a single community, or United States, its sweeping generalisations. sent all the wrong signals. policies, its people and ground against those who It is vital for the third round to go into substantive discussions to helps implement laws to safeguard justice. an alliance of dominant communities, what it stands for? willingly eliminate themselves for decides to perpetuate the hold on power Whether it is to get people off a burning One year after Dunai, the Maoists are their faith”. I disagree. It may be give the Maoists a skyscraper in Manhattan or to control Prakash A Raj face-saving way to then the seeds of sedition are sown. In a now engaged in talks. Some of their impossible to stop violent acts by anti-Maoist mobs in Biruwagadhi, Parsa, Kathmandusupremely motivated people, come out into the functioning democracy, the state is leaders are above ground. But faced with policemen are usually the first representa- whether their motivation is faith mainstream. The expected to mediate in the conflict of growing public backlash, their supply-lines I am concerned that if/when longer this drags on, tives of the state to arrive at a scene of or something else. But it is interest between communities that have throttled from the south, Maoists are in the US launches a ground WWWe commence ourlililightsghtsghts f the greater the possible and indeed necessary to carnage or conflict. Officers of the Royal uncertain terrain. Increasingly on the denounce mass murder what- chances that truce willcontradictory aspirations and differing assault on the Taliban, with effect from Nepal Army love to pour scorn on their defensive, they are now lashing out like ever the motivation. There are ststst be broken. Let’s wrap grievances. The moment a state stops 111 OCTOBER, 2001 brethren in blue, but they fail to realise cornered cats. On the anniversary of the many mistakes America needs to it up by Dasain, and discharging that function of mediation, it Dr Roop Jyoti ceases to command respect, and ultimately that if it were not for the Nepal Police, carnage in Dunai, let us hope that the ponder. But forbearance to the give the long-suffering our men in green wouldn’t have been able MP, Upper point of leaving these criminals at people of Nepal starts to lose its relevance altogether. government realises the need of to devote themselves completely to revitalising a force that has lost its will House leisure to strike again would be something to finally When the state becomes soft and folly, not only for America but for For inquiries and reservations contact: rejoice about this to fight terrorism. Restoring peace is ineffective, the powerful shut themselves I agree with CK Lal’s the world. festival season. what we owe the 2,000 Nepalis who P.O.Box: 1273, Lazimpat, Kathmandu inside fortresses. The weak, on the other “The Eagle is have been killed in this senseless war. Tel:424131 Tel/Fax: 977-1-424157 hand, grow increasingly desperate and stop wounded” (#61). How And to keep that peace, we need a meek our South Asian E-mail: [email protected] leaders have proved strong andmotivated police force that websites: www.balloon-sunrise-nepal.com.np takes its motto (“Truth, Service and themselves to be by aligning themselves www.catmando.com/balloon Security”) seriously. with Americans at the wrong time for all the John Child by email WE WISH YOU A VERY SUCCESSFUL SEASON ... SUBHAS RAI SUBHAS 444 NATION 28 SEPTEMBER - 4 OCTOBER NEPALI 2001 TIMES NATION 28 SEPTEMBER - 4 OCTOBER NEPALI 2001 TIMES 555 that too was silent on who is allowed to be a prescriber, allowing more unqualified people takeadvantage of High flyers the confusion. People with as ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○ The Royal Nepal Army has a new force to take on—the Public limited education as a two-week Accounts Committee (PAC), every time it wants to buy a training in pharmacy management plane. The PAC recently gave the armed forces the green are acting as prescribers in commu- signal to purchase two MI-17s, and is now perusing a nity drug stores. And since the proposal to buy a French Super Puma the army requires for head of state and VVIP flights. at least one course of a similar dispensing of pills and injections is medicine without consulting a considered a sign of competence, But the committee isn’t pleased. It recently pointed out that DDrr doctors, pharmacists and unquali- although the Ministry of Defence (MoD) was empowered by DDDrrruuugs aagsabbbuuussseee specialist. bbuussee cabinet to decide on whether it needed the Super Puma or not, before placing the order the MoD had to get fied quacks alikeprescribe copious Developed countries like the the approval of the Ministry of Finance, according to the 1999 Financial Administration Regulations. The quantities of drugs. An urban legend TOO MUCHMUCHTOOMUCH United Kingdom have laws that PAC was called in because the defence ministry had not followed procedure. In Nepal, you either get too much prohibit manufacturers from investing has it that Nepalis, with their The brand new Super Puma AS 332 L1 the army plans to buy from the French Euro-copter Company propensity for drug-taking, have the medication or not enough.The health service Prescribers private sector more than 11 percent of their Sofema costs Rs 870 million. The army’s old Super Puma, also used to transport the head of state and may be far from qualified,suffers from andthe opposite drug malady— production costs in advertising. But, most expensive urine in the world, VVIPs, is more than 15 years old and considered technically unsafe to fly. Army officials say overhauling quality in the first place or has over-prescription of medicine and in India, the main supplier of packed as it is with antibiotics. and upgrading the engine would cost a lot more—while still leaving the safety of the chopper in doubt. companiesactually lost much of are its potency cashingover-use in. of other health facilities. pharmaceutical drugs in Nepal, some “As many as 90 percent of the due to inaccurate storage and Medical professionals and patients manufacturers spend up to 36 percent people in charge of dispensing transportation○○○○○○○○ methods.○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ alike don’t understand the different to advertise their wares. This high medication cannot read the labels Or, there may simply not be roles of nursing, diagnostic, medical investment in promotion has attached to packets,” says enough medication to treat patients and pharmaceutical services too well, accelerated a drive to create “brand Balkrishna Khakurel of the The spirit of revolution imposed on international ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○ effectively, especially at health units inand even relatively minor illnesses loyalty” among medical practition- Department of Drug Administra- manufacturers, who have 83 Nepal’s Revolutionary women are running short on patience. Manu Humagai of the Maoist-affiliated All remote places. Study tours to such impose a heavy economic burden on ers—just like you would with tion (DDA) and president of the business now—manufacturers and percent of the medicine market in Nepal Women’s Association (Revolutionary), warned that her group will “strike hard” if the government health posts often find that patients patients and their families through shampoo or noodles.This is certainly Nepal Pharmaceutical Association. cannot efficiently implement measures to control the sale of alcohol as it promised last month. traders can make as much as a 60 Nepal. are prescribed doses lower than that unnecessary tests and medication. profitable for manufacturers and The management of our drug On 25 August the government bowed to ANWA (R) demands to implement stricter controls on the trade percent profit on some drugs. The Most of this is avoidable—we recommended because they are also The Nepali market is flooded traders and even the prescribers, regimens verges on the criminal by 1 October. The measures include allowing the sale of alcohol for only four hours in the afternoon, a ban under tremendous pressure to managewith approximately 11,000 brands of sometimes has the effect of nudging sometimes—qualified people often profit margin maintained by could take a cue from Bangladesh’s on the sale of alcohol for four days every month, and another on the retailing of alcohol near temples and the inadequate drug supplies with no 35 national and 700 international medical practitioners to put self- “rent” their certificates for a pharmaceutical outlets regularly Minimum Drug List, which listed schools. The government had also agreed to allow only two alcohol outlets per Village Development help from government outlets. pharmaceutical manufacturers— interest before the well-being of monthly fee to pharmacies that breaches the ceiling fixed by the some 100 basic drugs. Until Committee (VDC) area, one outlet in each municipality ward, three outlets only per ward of a sub-metro- These peripheral health workers which when compared with the their patients. want to woo patients. DDA, which allows only 16 percentmultinationals got into the game, politan zone and four outlets each in wards of a metropolitan zone. profit for retailers, 10 percent for these were produced in the country are also not protected by laws against population puts Nepal at the top of Another factor which fuels mis- ALL ABOUT CASH wholesalers and six percent for in optimum amounts, they were of “inevitable medical accidents.” The the heap when it comes to per capita prescription is the ambiguity in importers. Traders themselves good quality, generic and cheap. international medical code protects brand consumption. For instance, who is allowed to prescribe drugs in In the absence of regulatory bodies almost all prescriptions handed out that oversee prescription drugs, fly-by-admit quite frankly that they have aThe result was a tremendous Sad SAF health workers from the ‘accidental’ ○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ the first place. On one hand the 110 percent margin on the sale of improvement in Bangladesh’ reaction to penicillin G and V group here include a multivitamin tonic, government seems to recognise night pharmaceutical units are coming up because the Nepali people will substandard and fake medicine. s health system. The ninth SAF Games scheduled to be held between 6-15 injection, which could cause death. which developed countries advise health workers of all levels in all October in the Pakistani capital Islamabad have been post- Up to 15 percent of the Khakurel sums up the to ensure medical practitioners Health workers in Nepal are not givenagainst, saying such tonics do virtually different types of health care units take, quite literally, anything, and poned indefinitely due to fears of imminent strikes in neigh- follow their code of ethics. legal protection against this and the nothing to enchance the health of as eligible prescribers. The Nepal every ailment—no matter how medicines on sale in Kathmandu aresituation in Nepal: “We are bouring Afghanistan by the US and its allies. Nepali athletes HEMLATA RAI people and so is an unnecessary minor—is deemed to require estimated to be substandard. Last victims of a systematic irrational- had for the past month been making use of the Rs 14.12 million ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ inadequate laws, poor monitoring government does not provide a Medical Council (NMC) on the TOO LITTLE economic burden to the patients. medication. Drug manufacturers and year the government issued a noticeity in drugs use.” allocated by the Nepal Sports Council to participate in closed wo things are likely to mechanisms and unconcern on the substitute for the antibiotic. Fearing other hand only recognises people training camps here and abroad. Binod Shanker Palikhe, member-secretary of the Council, has asked the The problem begins with public Over-prescription has more dangerous traders engage in cut-throat competi- to national drug producers to happen to consumers of part of the Department of Drug adverse reactions to the drug, many with the qualification of MBBS and disappointed athletes to keep training. The closed camps themselves started late, mainly because the NSC sector health care institutions, consequences too—practitioners have tion to make profits. The inefficiency acquire a Good Manufacturing pharmaceutical drugs in Administration, no part of the drug- health posts refuse to disperse higher as eligible prescribers. The had been mired in controversy over the allocation of funds. T which are basically victims of found that antibiotics are ineffective of the DDA and the Royal Drug Practices (GMP) certificate within triangle is forced to watch where penicillin, listed as an essential drug, recently registered Health Workers Nepal: over-prescription and under- Laboratory in monitoring drug qualitythree years to be allowed to put it’s going. “It is this lopsided power government ineptitude. Here, even when they have it in stock. Whatto treat sexually transmitted diseases Council has been demanding that consumption. How and when this and their lack of trainedmanpower their products on the market. relation that puts consumers at people suffer as a result of inad- they do not know is that the occur- (STDs) among Nepali adults due to health assistants and auxiliary happens usually depends on more However, no such requirement is disadvantaged position while giving equate supplies, poor infrastructure rence of death as a result of an allergy unscientific use and over-use healthworkers also be given the mean that manufacturers and than the just the health of your and health workers who only half throughout the average urban Nepali’s traders can cut costs every which body and wallet. The availability immense power to prescribers,” said to penicillin is one in 500,000 and a status by the NMC. The National Sharad Onta, a public health expertthe law. Village-based health health worker administrating the druglife. The Ministry of Health has Drug Policy was enacted in 1995, but way. Pharmaceuticals are hot and marketability of drugs have a workers are a neglected lot—they decided to fight fire with fire—every greater role to play in our lives thanwith the Public Health Concern is not subjected to legal punishment Trust (PHECT). are denied opportunities to upgradeunless wrong intention is proved. Just new STD patient is now prescribed a we could have imagined. new, potent kind of antibiotic that Nepali consumer rights their skills and initiatives to two years ago, a health assistant from Hard statistics are difficult to improve their service, which means assumes the patient has already taken protection laws are feeble and Charikot was imprisoned because he come by when looking into the they have little incentive to put had administered penicillin to a unwarranted prescription of consumer rights campaigning is still even the skills they have to the best in its infancy. Only a few cases are patient who suffered anaphylactic pharmaceutical drugs, but public possible use. But the ultimate shock as a result and died. health workers say the practice has filed against medical practitioners sufferer in these places is the person reached almost epidemic propor- for negligence. And even this only who is unwell—their ailments are tions in Nepal. The main actors in happens when the mistake is of a not properly diagnosed, and they the wellness game—doctors, very large magnitude and attracts are often provided medication that TOURS PVT.LTD manufacturer and traders, and drug the attention and support of is past its expiry date, was of poor administrators—all are equally to activists. More often than not, such INTERCITY BUS SERVICES blame for over-medicating unsus- lawsuits are most strongly opposed pecting consumers. But because of by the very agencies that are meant

HERE AND THERE by DANIEL LAK The real enemy is exclusion

SCHEDULE AND TARRIFF ar is about destruction. The rhetoric that justifies war is usually We—and I am, of course, one of them—need to spend the next year Anyone who thinks the coming FROM TO SERVICES DEP.TIME ARR.TIME FARE US$ about value systems, preserving them, defending them, often or so agonising over everything we have, and whether by having it we Wimposing them. But the real reason that nations, or groups of blitzkrieg on terror will put a stop todeny others. We must accept that a wronged people—Americans and the KATHMANDU POKHARA DAILY 07:30 02:30 10:00$ people go to war, is to destroy the other side. There are no “limited wars”.terrorism had better think again. rest of us from countries that support the coming war—need more than KATHMANDU POKHARA DAILY 08:30 03:30 10:00S Even if destruction is confined to military targets, there has been total violence to purge the world of terror. We need to address its causes, not KATHMANDU CHITRASARI (CHITWAN) DAILY 08:30 02:00 8:00$ destruction somewhere in the arena of battle. An innocent life is taken, a○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ as an empty, political debate about whose side we’re on, but as an KATHMANDU SUNACHARI (CHITWAN) DAILY 08:30 02:30 8:00$ piece of property or a way of life belonging to a non-combatant destroyed admission that the real enemy is exclusion, not evil existing in a vacuum. FROM TO SERVICES DEP.TIME ARR.TIME FARE US$ utterly. This is the main reason that the world’s committed pacifists, those We need to marshal battalions of sociologists, psychiatrists, anthropolo- POKHARA KATHMANDU DAILY 07:30 02:30 10:00$ with the bravery to stand up for their beliefs, whatever the cost, deplore gists, even journalists. This needs to be part of a huge process of reaching POKHARA KATHMANDU DAILY 08:30 03:30 10:00$ war. It is uncontrollable, once it starts, no matter what the “Defence out to the dispossessed at home and abroad, The extremism bred by POKHARA CHITRASARI (CHITWAN) DAILY 08:30 02:30 8:00$ exclusion is a festering symptom of trouble to come, not an evil to be Correspondents” tell you on television, or the generals affirm with their POKHARA SUNACHARI (CHITWAN) DAILY 08:30 02:30 8:00$ deplored in rhetoric, ignored in practise. laser pointers in slick media briefings. FROM TO SERVICES DEP.TIME ARR.TIME FARE US$ War is the abject failure of peaceful diplomacy, intelligence gathering, I still support the United States and all the others. While recognising CHITRASARI (CHITWAN) KATHMANDU DAILY 10:00 03:30 8:00$ negotiation and compromise. It is often the last resort of the bungling that there are reasons for the evil acts in New York City, Washington and CHITRASARI (CHITWAN) POKHARA DAILY 10:00 03:30 8:00$ politician, or the first choice of those who perceive themselves as too weak over Pennsylvania, I deplore to the depths of my soul what has happened. SUNACHARI (CHITWAN) KATHMANDU DAILY 09:30 03:30 8:00$ to meet an enemy halfway. Battles, even when backed by a righteous But as a card-carrying member of the only species of animal that seems to SUNACHARI (CHITWAN) POKHARA DAILY 09:30 03:30 8:00$ majority, destroy more than they achieve. War alone will never solve a believe in hope, I insist that we learn from all the mistakes we can. If some potential terrorist somewhere is deterred by high, efficient security, problem. Often it will exacerbate it in the long term. Anyone who thinks GREENLINE PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING FACILITIES if good law enforcement prevents a hijack or a bombing before innocent the coming blitzkrieg on terror will put a stop to the vile tactics of killing Deluxe (fully air-conditon) coaches. Private terminal building. and maiming the innocent had better think again. blood is shed, if the anti-terror warriors manage to arrest and apply justice and due process to those behind the attack on America, then right Standard coaches. Advanced booking system. What is about to happen is—I fear—likely to throw up an army of new has triumphed over wrong, good over evil. REFRESHMENT will be served at Riverside Insurance coverage of Npr 500,000.00 recruits for the battalions of terror. There are vast feelings of alienation out But more importantly, there will only be real victory, genuine there, in every society on earth, that go to heinous extremes under untold Spring Resort or Motel du Mungling per person. pressures. And it’s not hard to fall outside the mainstream, not at all. The If there’s be a lesson, a result, a development that encourages and gives correspondig to the sector and timing. men whose caused a United Nations of innocent bloodshed on 11 Septem-hope to our children, perhaps it should a real commitment to find the answer to that question. Is it too much to hope that the inevitable war ber were, we’re told, middle class, fathers, husbands, people “like us”. How takbeerif no baby is ever again born surrounded by institutionalised TRIDEVIMARG, KATHMANDU, NEPAL P.O.BOX 1307 FAX 00971-253885 TEL/257544/253885 could they do it? will have another side to it? That war on the battlefield, in the skiesviolence or and fanaticism, in the Middle East, Kashmir, Afghanistan, at sea, can be matched by soul searching among the citizens of the EMAIL:[email protected] URL:www.catmando.com/greenline Rwanda, Chechnya or even the Bronx. Or whatever local version of Effective from 15th of Sep. 2001 Fortunate World. them you would care to name. 666 NATION 28 SEPTEMBER - 4 OCTOBER NEPALI 2001 TIMES NATION 28 SEPTEMBERactually - 4 OCTOBER got underway NEPALI 2001 in the TIMES country777 from 1956 to 1961 was hurriedly prepared for VILLAGE VOICE by NICK BANKS COMMENTARY by presentationSUDHINDRA to a panelSHARMA of donors in the Colombo Plan meet. Though five-year planning is associated with Soviet style central planning, ironically, in Nepal it was initiated through the help of American advisers. water supply and sanitation is just an entry Foreign aid is for Nepal what colonial- How indebtedpoint rather than the are focus of their we? ism or capitalism are for other countries. It he Auditor General, Bishnu Bahadur program. Since 1990, this has led to a Foreign aid is for Nepal what colonialism or capitalism is for other countries.is It the is connecting link between the nation- the women had nothing else to KC, shocked many when he told a change in the nature of discourse on water the connecting link betweenboard the member nation-state of the Transparency and the international community.state and the international community. It is do. But on average a rural Nepali Transparency and Development Aid supply. Knit your way to powerT ○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ International and former finance minister, a way of breaking up with the isolationist woman has a 15-hour day of hard seminar two weeks ago that the Office of says it is all about effective policymaking Until the late 1980s, the Department past and of relating itself with the wider work. Every day. How to fit the the Auditor General of Nepal does not General’s frank admission of ignorance, the and accountable implementation, some- used to frame its objectives in terms of the world. systems by knitting traditional knitting in? know the exact amount Nepal owes to World Bank’s World Development Report 2001/2002 reported that the total debt thing multilateral lending agencies have notpercentage of people receiving ‘piped’ Foreign aid has indelibly shaped the bags.Electricity Twenty-four bagsin pay for thisSuggesting village that the means men could high-tech solar multilateral lending agencies, and neither is water, which implied that those who did stock of Nepal stands at a whopping $2,970been able to accomplish. contours of our nation-state and its peoples. their system and money from the take on some of the household it aware of an amortisation payment not receive piped water supplied by the million. An approach that seems to be gaining The burgeoning cities of Kathmandu Valley, saledevices of further bags and goes back traditional to duties is an iffy matter. crafts. “But how schedule. For a country that is overwhelm- Department did not receive safe water. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ This is reminiscent of a public service popularity among some donors is the sector the expansion of district headquarters, the the household. The AEPC still will I get my dinner” laughed one ingly aid dependent with over 65 percent of With other donors entering the field, the sewing, spinning thread. A strategy. Donors do not develop specific networks of roads, services and education subsidises the systems, but now it knitter, “He will be drunk and the development expenditures coming in announcement on female literacy broadcast flow of bilateral grants and multilateral women’s group regularly meets projects in association with government have largely been the outcomes of foreign goes to those who really need it. beat me” said another. People the form of grants and loan, this statement on Nepal TV which shows a young girl loans changed this. They envisioned their under a solar light in the health agencies and NGOs, but put their money in aid. Yet, for an enterprise that has indelibly In this way, the project also die, move home or get by the Auditor General is revealing indeed. accompanying her illiterate father to a role in expanding coverage and upgrading post compound learning to write a specific sector for the government to shaped our lives and our society, it is organisers, HLF and the project married. The bags must still be This was not the first time a public figure, moneylender. When the father asks for a the level of services of water supply and Nepali. Gopal Pandey, the health decide how the money is to be spent. Such something that is little studied and funders—the Global Environmentmade. The eighty solar systems in this case of the stature of the Auditor loan, the moneylender discreetly adds an sanitation by facilitating access to ‘safe’ post worker, says he see fewer an approach should theoretically reduce discussed. For a phenomenon that has Facility Small Grants Programme mean eighty bags a month, eighty General, came out publicly to admit that extra zero to the credited amount. The water or ‘potable’ water. Such ‘safe’ or people with bronchitis and duplication and consolidate efforts, but spanned several decades and has involved of the UNDP—hope to get clean sets of individual circumstances. the government doesn’t have much of an young girl picks out the error right away ‘potable’ water could be from pipes and pneumonia, and that the lighting experience has shown it doesn’t work huge investments, there are but a handful of lighting into people’s homes and Samir Newa, the project officer, idea about the total grants and loans the and the sly moneylender apologises. The taps, or it could also be from hand-pumps, has also discouraged the banned either. Compare irrigation and domestic books accessible to the public that shed also create a much-needed longer-reckons managing such a project country receives. government’s situation is not much boreholes or spring water. but still endemic drinking—now better than the illiterate villager, since itwater: one has a sector approach and the some light on the aid phenomenon. term sustainable source of is five percent administration and The little information that the Nepal This led to a rethink on the role of the 95 percent motivational drinkers must find ever more dark does not even know how much it owes other doesn’t. Though donors have invested millions income. corners to indulge. government has of total grants and loans it department and the perception of its role as psychology. international sahus. In irrigation, the Department of on specific projects and programmes, there All this requires is what in has received, is a concern that others have providing “reasonable access” to minimum But Gopal Pandey does see According to the Auditor General whileIrrigation is the exclusive implementing is very little in the civic domain that informs development-speak is called The Maoist insurgents in the raised as well. It was as early as 1979 that it level of services. It also sees itself as a quite a bit of “knitter’s finger”— agency. Multilateral lending agencies— the wider public whether these have “local capacity building.” Basi- area also had to be placated. came to public light that the administrationloan money comes into the audit net, most facilitator and not an implementor. In people complaining of sore fingers both the World Bank and the Asian accomplished what they set out to do and cally, committees, groups and Seeing the panels, they came had little information and control over grant money does not.Loans are incor- addition, water and sanitation was available as a result of all the knitting. Development Bank—along with some at what cost. Transparency has to be more financial arrangements need to be down from the surrounding hills foreign aid. In their book porated in the annual budget and the office at a cost much lower than the department’s Until there are many more bilateral donors provide funds to the than lip service, making specific documents established so the community canand started asking questions. In of the auditor general carries out own. Bongadovans there will be the audit. department which implements projects available to those who are interested is take ownership of the project andBongadovan the Maoists power is A plural institutional environment and considerable—they have imposed insufficient numbers in the Planning for But this does not seem to necessarily through its district and regional offices. undoubtedly a step in the right direction. its everyday management. This is manufacturing process to drag the the existence of multiple actors has made bans on money lending and PeopleLudwig Stiller and Ram Prasad make loans more transparent and account- There are no other agencies involved Much more needs to be done to explain what quite a challenge in a place like panel price down, which will the domestic water terrain more fuzzy, Bongadovan with very low Yadav document how when a team of able than grants. Devendra Raj Panday, irrigation. donors sought to do, how much it cost, and mean fewer bags to knit. HLF’s researchers tried to piece together a The dynamics are quite different in the while simultaneously making the role of what the outcome and impact have been. literacy rates and little experience chief advisor, Adam Friedensohn intervening agencies more focused and directory of development projects in Nepal domestic water arena. While the Asian In order to ensure the transparency year and the Agricultural Devel- of such things. But even some says, “HELP is the only program service delivery more effective. This in 1970, they had to go to the United Development Bank provides sector loans to and accountability of loans, auditing opment Bank plans on giving “capacity” opens the door to a I know that intrinsically links indicates that a pluralistic approach with Nations Office and USAID instead of the the Department of Water Supply and these is not sufficient. The loans that taken innovative planning, arm- loans for them, but neither range of other development renewable energy deployment multiple actors is more effective than a government to get the data they needed. Sewerage, some bilateral donors fund Nepal receives from lending agencies are twisting, subsidies, and a lot of scheme helps those with the activities—savings and credit with income generation. Many “sector” approach with a monolithic Things have not changed much in activities through NGOs while others work called sovereign loans. Which means the t first glance, Bongadovan walking. Most importantly, the greatest need. Demand for the groups, literacy programs, or, as organisations are watching us implementation. in Bongadovan, a new toilet in 23 years. Despite the Auditor with the District Development Commit- parliament representing the sovereign village in Baglung is panels are there because these subsidy far exceeds supply and the closely and are excited about the Foreign aid in Nepal has grown from a unremarkable. A typical houses were lit terribly before, bank loan requires collateral. the health post compound and a tees. The World Bank, for its part, supports people should know about them. It is A possibilities for replication.” If trickle to a torrent. With the entry first in an autonomous board. There are still other necessary for the Finance Minister to Himalayan village perched on a like most rural Nepali homes, This creates a free-rider effect— smokeless cook stove. The the project is a success and the international NGOs for whom the overall the form of a grant from the Ford Founda- inform the parliament of the status of ledge of flat land next to a with kerosene lamps. But light only richer villagers apply for the community debates the best use model is replicated by other tion for rural development activities in loan, including the amortisation sched- boulder-strewn river. But a closerfrom a kerosene lamp is poor, loan and obtain the subsidy, of the small grants available to development agencies, system focus is poverty alleviation and for whom smoky and expensive—bad for which perhaps they don’t even them in lively group meetings. raksi. 1951 amounting to $3,000, the grant and ule, cleared debts and outstanding dues. look reveals something differ- costs will surely come down. The loans for the past consecutive years made education, health and pocket. need. The rural poor must go But development theory is After talking to the locals and ent—on almost every roof is a knitters of Bongadovan are up over $400 million. small solar panel generating Solar systems would be without. often a little different from realising that no cash was changing hands, they allowed the waiting. Foreign aid has been the handmaiden of electricity for the household perfect in such situations, except What Bongadovan needed wasdevelopment practice. The project to continue. Nepal’s development. The planning beneath. These panels are high they are expensive—at around flexible credit, where repayments problem in Bongadovan is that exercise is possible because of foreign tech devices, originally developed $300 apiece, few in Bongadovan did not need to be in cash. This iseach bag takes around 70 hours But the project works and assistance. The first five-year plan that to power satellites in space. could afford to buy a system where the non-profit Himalayan to make—which would be fine if lighting has transformed the Twenty years later they are on outright or even subscribe to a Light Foundation came in with its village. “Where there is the big grass roofs in remote Nepali long-term repayment scheme. The“HELP” program. Through light there is the happiness” as valleys. But they do not look one grandmother told me. Nepal government’s Alternative HELP, the women of Formerly an energy and inappropriate. The panels shining Children study in the dark Energy Promotion Centre Bongadovan pay for their solar environmental consultant with in the sun in this idyllic landscape mornings and at night. Women (AEPC) provides a subsidy for a Oxford University’s is like a techno-environmentalist’s can in the evening do some of the certain number of systems each Environmental Change Institute, vision of utopia. detailed tasks they earlier had to Dr Banks now travels and writes But getting them here has finish in the day—sorting through rice and grain to pick out stones, on environmental issues

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Thai to fly B777s insiders, and failing to upgrade ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ management. Other conclusions: Thai plans to fly Boeing 777 instead of its A303-600 aircraft for the in the range of Rs 1.6 billion. The core capital of both banks daily flights between Kathmandu and Bangkok this winter. The shows negative. But bad book-keeping Boeing 777 has 358 seats—55 and 303 in Business and Economy Bailing outThe government and the central the banks means no one knows just how much in classes respectively, compared to the 261 in the A303-600 series. Sharing woes bank have a powerful ally in the World the red they are. Thai says it will need the extra seats between 28 October and the TwoBank which banks is dangling aare hefty carrot sinking. of How soon will they go under? ○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Both banks are over-exposed to a end of March. “We have a very high demand for seats for the in just one sector. up to $25 million in loans to get season which is why a larger aircraft is being brought into service,” For Nepal’s shareholders, the future doesn’t lookThe share so market great. has few large (often the same) borrowers: reforms going. The World Bank is in The Rastra Bank’s inspection reports are says Martin Lama, District Sales Manager. “The season looks good, that is if nothing unexpected happens.” alsosuffered from the well-known names in Nepali business Thai first flew its B777s to Kathmandu in November 1998 and remains an important tourist carrier for Nepal. no mood to process other loans for incriminating enough for it to invoke he world markets ambiguity of the capital gains Nepal unless the two ailing banks are with political connections. The first Thai jet, a French-made Caravelle SE210, landed at Gauchar in 1968. have tumbled after Non-performing loans in both Section 29 (A) and take over both banks tax that was imposed this out of danger. The International any time it wants. The law says it can Tthe events of 11 year. The proposed income Monetary Fund (IMF) has also listed banks are increasing. September. The Dow Nepal Bank, especially, has not either run the banks—for which it does tax legislation will add to this financial sector reform as a condition not have the capacity—or get someone Jones dipped and so did an earlier round) interested in a followed central bank directives. confusion, not reduce it. The the government must meet to be able else to do it, which is what it is trying all the major world management contract to run the bank. to borrow from the Fund’s Poverty Directors of Nepal Bank were RA seeks more debt legislation does not recognise The new evaluation criteria have been to do with the management contract. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ NEPALI TIMES INVESTIGATION found to have deferred decision on one markets. Markets in ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Reduction Growth Facility (PRGF) investment in the stock regulator.” prepared and sent to the World Bank For their part, Nepal Bank Royal Nepal is preparing to mortgage its only debt-free aircraft to raise about a billion rupeesSouth in working Asia also followed market as an incentive for n internal investigation of Pro-reform economists say the which is taken as endorsement by infamous bad loan for ten consecutive capital, corporation sources say. The flag-carrier, which says it needs at least Rs 3 billion (“Leavesuit. For NepalRoyal this has for approval. They will be screened bilateral donors of a country’s board meetings. NBL swapped a loan directors smell foul play. “I think the personal and institutional Nepal Bank Limited (NBL) only factor that has stopped a run on and, most likely, a maximum of four report was leaked to the press by those Nepal alone”, # 61) to get back on its feet after being bogged down by controversial jet leasingbeen anotherand blow to the economic health. with a finance company in which a corruption, has already borrowed against its other Boeing 757s. Most of the borrowed funds are to be investors. Aand Rastriya Banijya Bank the banks by panicked depositors is bidders will be shortlisted, and one wanting NRB to take over our bank director had interests. ailing market. The Nepal (RBB) carried out early this year the lack of information available to a The only obstacles are: the used to pay old debts—overdue payments for leased aircraft (now cancelled) and payments for engine The market is being hit from all selected if all goes accordin g to plan. The report suspects the manage- because they think it will make it easy to Stock Exchange Index confirms what most suspected all largely uneducated public. And for resistance of the board of Nepal Bank to repairs. sides. But there is one saving grace— Realistically, NRB hopes to bring in do so,” says one director, Rajendra (NEPSE) on Monday closed at 280, a along: Nepal’s two oldest, biggest those who know, there is the reforms, delays in finding the ment is focusing on re-structuring bad, though the movement in the global consultants to manage the Banijya old debts rather than on recovery and Khetan, who insinuated that the year ago the index was at 422. Nepal making people believe that it is better banks are worse off today than they fatalistic attitude that if the two Bank no later than 1 January, since international consultants and a serious investigators were paid to present a for investors was already an uncertain economy has some bearing on us, we were two years ago. banks go bankrupt, the government lack of political commitment. Rastra not respecting single-borrower limits. to liquidate everything and convert toare not really directly affected by global there could be delays with the process Investigators asked Nepal Bank to bleak picture. Pre-paid phone cards market and the recent global backlash cash rather than wait for the future. When international auditors from will bail them out. with the NBL. Bank’s investigation reveals that neither But independent financial analysts ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ markets, which means we can look at furnish details of insider lending. The has put Nepal back a couple of years. This selling pressure is pushing the KPMG looked at the banks in 1998, Supporters of Nepal Bank and bank has done much to correct the the NEPSE in isolation, pretty much, The process would have been bank said it had no such list. say the government underestimates the Phone cards have arrived in Nepal—finally. The Nepal Telecommunications Corporation (NTC)Some is ofinstalling our compatriots were prices of shares lower. Investors are they found them insolvent with losses Banijya Bank who are against World shortcomings detailed in the KPMG card-operated telephone sets at various points around the city for getting its card-calling services started. and try and bring about legislative and much simpler had Nepal Bank’s report. The banks appear to be re- seriousness of the banking crisis, private anxious enough to ask this Beed to scared that their share certificates may amounting to a whopping eight Bank-led reforms disagree: they say the Twenty such phones have already been placed at NTC’s office buildings, the Tribhuvan International institutional changes, so the market ownership been as straightforward as capitalising interest on loans, lending to business interests do not care for the Airport (TIA) and the Bishal Bazaar Supermarket at New Road. The plan is to install over a examinehundred the sets future in of our market and turn out to be little other than paper percent of the country’s GDP. It banks are actually not doing badly that of Banijya Bank. The government country or the depositors and the to see what is in store for people who can withstand future calamities. Ideally suggested urgent measures to set especially if their total assets including public buildings and 20 more at other buildings in the Valley. Prepaid phone cards valued at Rs 200 are gods in the near future. this means thatmarket operations owns only 41 percent shares in NBL bureaucrats are happy to let things coast already in the market and NTC says those valued at Rs 500 will be offered soon. The cardshave can invested also be in shares. The Beed, The bleak scenario in tourism things right. Those measures were land and buildings are taken into against the private shareholders who are along. He warned: “If a bank’s used for STD/ISD calls—all at normal NTC rates. For now the cards can be purchased only at NTC’s move from the government to the never taken. Damage control efforts account. They say the scenario has naturally, complies. and the other problems industry at not very keen about getting external management cannot protect depositors’ regional office at Sundhara and at the TIA, pending tendering to get a private distributor as its Theboard dismal has response to the private sector, with government just by the central bank, especially to been made to look bleak because managers looking into their books. interests, then the central bank that decided or to find another way to get the cards in the market—which, we’re told, would need another large faces will slowly, but surely public issue a company issued last the regulator. Investors need to see protect hundreds of thousands of international accounting standards “I can assure you we don’t need should step in.” board decision. take their toll on the banking that the management of the stock week clearly depicts the mood of depositors is caught up in red tape have been used. external management consultants,” says system. Banking company shares exchange is changing—right now and political apathy. But the Nepal Rastra Bank the public. It is going to be difficult have in recent years dominated the Shambu Sharan Prasad Kayastha, they expect the same laxity demon- On the surface both the banks (NRB) investigation points to bad to raise funds. The country has Nepali share market and now chairman of Nepal Bank. Kayastha says been witnessing economic and strated in other government have sound liquidity positions, thanks management, overstaffing, and gross the bank had has recovered loans of up people are scared—what if under operations. The government should to their near monopoly on rural interference by a powerful political- Hotel on the lake political instability for quite some the weight of all these worries, to Rs 5 billion in the past month. “At ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ play the role of a strong regulator to savings and public sector deposits. business nexus. time and unfortunately the way banks start going bust? The non- this rate we will be able to pay There’s a new three-star hotel on the banks of Phewa Tal, Pokhara. The Trek-O-Tel opens thisevents weekend have unfolded, what little ensure that the markets are operated This has helped make up for cash Rastra Bank officials told us plans dividends to shareholders within a performing assets of banks have not shortfalls. But, said one banking and offers 42 beds. In addition, says a company release, the hotel will have its own systemhope of potable even optimists like your within the framework defined by for reforming the fully government- year,” he told us. Kayastha’s claims are water, central air-con and a full-capacity generator. The Trek-O-Tel on Lake Side is managed by Ace Hotels been disclosed to anyone’s source: “In real terms, both are columnist had are vanishing. law. Nepali investors have billions of owned RBB had reached the “negotia- different from what the Rastra Bank’s and Resorts. satisfaction and with the new rupees in the stock market. They insolvent. Trouble is, we don’t know tion stage”. In the case of NBL, a investigation found in January--losses Investments are judged on risk regulations on this issue coming deserve a better deal. for sure how bad it is because there arecommittee has been formed by the and return. The returns are dwindling into force soon, some institutions many ways to hide the real position, central bank to re-evaluate the technical One more bike and the risks are increasing, leaving could be shaken up. That, in especially when you have a weak proposals of bidders (disqualified in ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○ few options for the would-be investor.turn,will greatly undermine Another Chinese motorbike JH150T (a product of Jialing)There are no ways of mitigating risks investor confidence. Banking sector has arrived. Sugan Trading Company, authorised sellerand looking at the future, no sign of share prices will plummet, the of the bikes in Nepal, says the new model comes withrecovery is visible. This, together with index will fall—who knows by how better pick up and power than its earlier versions andthe growing trend of asset disposal is much. We should be worried by also more bells and whistles: a gear indicator, security having placed so much confidence system and a new chrome finish. The tab: Rs 140,000. Readers can post their views at [email protected]

Weekly Internet Poll #2 Should America go to war to avenge the terrorist attacks ?

religion is the last thing anyone will Yes. The US and NATO must respect evidence against their prime suspectLaden. possibly want, such wars never end. international laws, nobody is aboveOsama bin Laden and should be Roshan Kakshupati Bhuban Joshi the law. handed over to UN crime tribunal for Yes, the Taliban should hand over the justice. How many wars do we need? YouNiraj kill Ghimire Osama bin Laden and help bringYam Gurung one bin Laden and a thousand moreThere is no other way for the US than peace back to the world. will come out. I am terribly shocked and saddened.Rambilas Yadav to teach a lesson to terrorists than to go to war. But the US should look at all Rabin Regmi The US and NATO should punishNo. the America is the biggest terroristAmir Shrestha other alternatives to diminish terror- senseless and selfish people. state. No. America should not go to war We all should condemn the terrorismism. War never does any good to against Taliban or Afganistan. WarDolma is Tenzin Rajendra Sharma everywhere. Our motto is to establishanyone. not the answer at all. peace harmony and humanity every- It’s really sad and shocking whatWhich country is America going to where. But in the name of maintaining happened to America. But againfight against? Only a handful of LB Tamang peace we should never accept vio-Ashok Raj Pokhrel innocent Afgans are going to loseextremists did this and they do not I don’t think terrorism can be solved by lence and terrorism. Don’t ask “Should America..” but ask their lives. Gandhi said an eye forrepresent an entire Afganisthan. Sooner war. Americans want Osama bin “Should all people take action to wipe eye is going to make the whole worldor later bin Laden will have to face the Laden, but they have no solid proof out terrorism?” The answer is: Yes. blind. It’s time to reach out not lashinternational court of justice for hisD Regmi against him. War will unite all Mus- Closing schools and taking the ties out. heinous crimes against humanity. lims against the US. America should not go to war. and belts of children as is happening Rajesh Shrestha in Nepal is also terrorism. Such acts Shankar Uprety Shristi Shah Hum Gurung We should eliminate terrorism fromand their perpetrators should also be crushed. The American people should searchThis for is a tragic event, and the terror-I would not call it war or revenge, thebut face of the earth. The criminals an alternative to war. There is no legalists must be condemned. But anthe US should do something to teachshould be severely punished. I fully proof bin Laden is the main brain attack on Afganistan or any otherthese terrorists and those protectingsupport America and respect the Gyan Prasad behind the attack. Afghan people arecountry will be counterproductive.them a great lesson. Everyone shoulddecision of American people. But they thinking it is the war between MuslimsVengeance will bring more vengeanceface the consequence of their actionmust step carefully, innocent peopleWhy are you talking about America, and and other religions, which is not good.and Ifa cycle of violence. in one way or other, one time or other.might suffer. not about Nepal? Your country has a lot they are wise they should hand over bin of problems, all school and universities Laden. have shut down, industries are forced to Viswa Bandhu Rajeeb Satyal Tapankumar Gurung close. Tourism has vanished. There is a The United States should definitelyVengeance is not the issue. You Americapose is paying a heavy price forbloody student organisation ANNFSU S Shrestha retaliate against whoever carried theout question wrong and show a acting as a global policeman. Bom-(R) that your government cannot ban. this crime. I believe in peace, but maliciouswe bias. Of course the USbarding poverty stricken AfghanistanMaobadi are like Taliban. I support any action of the United State to cannot tolerate such attacks on ourshould not go to war to “avenge” seemsthe useless. eliminate the mindless terrorism from rights, freedom, and democracy. Butattack. I this small planet. However, I request think America shouldn’t kill innocent Naresh Poon Thomas President Bush to be cautious so that people in retaliation. not a single innocent human life will Bill Cousins Yes. This was an attack not just onWhy you guys are talking about USA? suffer in the retaliation. Nepal is also Of course not only America, but mostAmericans but on humanity. TerrorismLook at our homeland first. Are we all should be wiped out from the world.prepared to fight with Maiosts who are suffering from the acts of terrorismSusmita other countries of the world should spread by so-called Maoists and the make an intensive campaign to There is no other way but to put itrunning terrorist activities in Nepal? Go for it America. Show them no one state terrorism. eliminate terrorism. This includesdown the with force. Why isn’t it your question in this messes around with a superpower. Maoists. They don’t have any ethics, discussion forum? It is time to fight God bless America. political logic but do robberies, threatsSudarshan Napit terrorists not only in the US. Vidhu Prakash Kayatha “American Nepali” and strikes. Prachanda and BaburamWe are fighting a more severe war should be treated like Osama bin No. Use of force by a superpowerNo. If they do, Americans will be against poverty and economic deterio-“Anti-terrorist” nation is not the solution to the crisis.worse terrorists. They must find clear ration in Nepal. Wars in the name of Kumar Performing in a troubled land (52 min) 2:30 pm The Killing Terraces Nepal, 2001, dir - Dhruba Basnet Face-to-face with the Maoist insur- gency (55 min) 3:45 pm The Dream India, 2001, dir - C. Saratchandran School with a difference (35 min) Now That’s More Like a Man Pakistan, 1999, dir - Farjad Nabi Pakistani women talk about their men (35 min) 5:15 pm A Rough Cut on the Life and Times of Lachuman Magar Nepal, 2001, dir - Dinesh Deokota A naughty old man (29 min)

101010 FESTIVAL 28 SEPTEMBER - 4 OCTOBER NEPALI 2001 TIMES FESTIVAL 28 SEPTEMBER - 4 OCTOBER NEPALI 2001 TIMES 111111 South Asia, 2001, dir - Nupur Basu Film South Asia 2001 Schedule www.himalassociation.org/fsa 542544/ 548142 Satellite television invades South Asia HALL A (57 min) India, 2001, dir - K. P. Jayasankar andLondon listens to South Asia (17 min)SUNDAY, 7 OCTOBER THURSDAY, 4 OCTOBER 12:15 pm Anjali Monteiro King of Dreams 10:15 am 3:00 pm We Have the Same Kind of Blood A poet and a painter on Bombay India, 2001, dir- Amar Kanwar Our Boys After Sunset (49 min) What’s on man’s mind? (30 min) Bangladesh, 1999, dir - Manzare Hassain Film South Asia 2001 5:00 pm 2:00 pm Boys talk about boys (42 min) From 4-7 October Kathmandu Valley will host the third biannualwinner will receive the “Ram Bahadur Trophy” and a cash prize of $2000. Perception - The Other Canvas Born At Home Film South Asia, the only festival of documentaries of the region.The festival opens with the screening of Bangladesh, 1999, Fauzia Khan India, 2000, dir - Sameera Jain 11:10 am The Killing Terraces, a film by Colours Black This year there is a much wider variety of documentaries fromNepali the director Dhruba Basnet on the origins of Maoist insurgency in Six Bangla artists paint, talk (54 min)North Indian midwifery (60 min) region, with subjects ranging from identity politics to sexual FRIDAY, 5 OCTOBER 3:20 pm Rukum, Rolpa and Jajarkot. 11:10 am A Sun Sets In questioning, spiritual pursuits to diasporic angst. Fifty-one filmsFifteen of the best films will travel across South Asian cities and the Nepal, 2001, dir - Berit Madsen Let Me Also Come To School Pakistan, 2000, dir - Shahid Nadeem short-listed from three times that many entries will be screened at Pakistan, 2001, dir - Tahir Khilji, The Dalit is bewildered (41 min) India, 2001, dir - Simantini Dhuru The bishop’s ultimate sacrifice (45 min) world next year to be screened at select venues. Film South Asia is The state of school education (56 min) the Russian Cultural Centre. Naheed Khilji 4:20 pm organised by the non-profit Himal Association and Himal South Asian Sexualisation of massage (40 min)2:00 pm Says Manesh Shrestha, director of the festival: “This time, we Abhimanyu’s Face 12:20 pm Closed-door-and-stuff-inside-the magazine, and the festival will also witness the inauguration (by Shyam Two Assassinations and an AccidentIndia, 2001, dir - Ranjan Palit Cricket Lives in Lahore magazine have a big jump in the quality of films. The five films on NepalBenegal) will of the Clearinghouse of South Asian Documentaries. “The A passion for Mahabharat’s Abhimanyu Pakistan, 2000, dir - Farjad Nabi India, 2001, dir - Altaf Mazid (27 min) Bowled over (13 min) Anonymous Assamese writer speaks up grab the audience, as will the other films from far and wide.”Clearinghouse will support the propagation of documentaries by creating a India, 2001, dir - Mamta Murthy My Migrant Soul (38 min) A three member festival jury headed by internationally In Search of Meera’s Buddha Child abuse in Bombay (30 min) database and marketing.” Shrestha says the Traveling Festival, this year, Bangladesh, 2000, dir - Yasmine KabirPaper Flowers acclaimed director Shyam Benegal will select the best film. Thewill also go to the various towns of Nepal, including Biratnagar and Pokhara. A Bangladeshi worker in Malaysia dies 11:50 am (35 min) Their War Bangladesh, 2001, dir- Afsan 2:00 pm ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Chaudhary Freedom! Women revisit the 1971 war (50 min) India, 2000, dir - Kabir Khan India, 2001, dir - Amar Kanwar Revisiting the Emergency (25 min) Environment, Indian centre and 12: 45 pm periphery (60 min) Highway to Hell Two Nepali entries 4:25 pm HALL B Nepal/India, 2000, dir - Meera Dewan 3:15 pm Mela Basant Bahar THURSDAY, 4 OCTOBER Nepali girls are trafficked to India Jari Mari: Of Cloth and Other Stories Pakistan, 1999, dir - Samina Aslam 3:00 pm India, 1999, dir - Rajiv Krishnan (38 min) Flying kites, soaring in Lahore The Great Indian Yatra India, 2001, dir - Surabhi Sharma Eunuchs at work (25 min) Dinesh Deokota Kesang Tseten (29 min) Mill workers in Bombay are laid off was actually researching tiger conservation, fresh powerful hold early experience has on us.” (74 min) 5:40 pm Ramlila Guhya When people ask Dinesh Deokota water dolphins, and ran into Magar at the hotel Most documentary makers turn the As a writer, Kesang has always tended to SATURDAY, 6 OCTOBER what his film is about, the 27 year-oldin Royal Bardiya National Park. “Right in front camera on others. Kesang Tseten gravitate towards the personal, to delve into the India, 2000, dir - Murad Ali 11:10 am of me was an ideal subject for a documentary. I heart. He begged and borrowed from friends and Sculpted Buddha heads for the hills Amir: An Afghan Refugee Musician’s Nepali shugs his shoulders and says: “I focuses on himself and a bunch of (29 min) Life in Peshawar, Pakistan just couldn’t not film him,” he adds. relatives to finance the film, extremely well-shot don’t know.” But as the title suggests OGB’s (old girls and boys) of his 3:20 pm Pakistan, 1985, dir - John Baily In Kathmandu, after making money from with a Vx2000 and edited on computer. Finding a Revisiting a past (60 min) A Rough Cut on the Life & Times of alma mater Dr Graham’s School as Between the Devil and the Deep filming bungee jumps, Deokota went back to they reunite at the school’s centen- market may prove more challenging. But he’s not River 12:20 pm Lachuman Magaris a candid film India, 1999, dir - Arvind Sinha Sunrise Radio Tickets Bardia, and spent two weeks filming Lachuman nial celebrations. Most are meeting worried. India, 2000, dir - Ananta Sridhar, Woe, the embanked river (65) min India, 2000, dir - Kirtana Kumar about a naughty old man Magar man India, 2000, dir - Yask Desai and SwetaIndia/UK, 2001 dir - Shai Herdia available at Mandala Book with a DV camera. again for the first time in 29 years. “What better “When you make a film that’s close to your Sanjay Pande and Subhash Kapoor The woman and the goddess (55 min)Point, Kantipath; Suwal Music 4:45 pm Kishore which in Devkota’s own words “has no pretensions to Street theatre in Delhi (28 min) ‘n Movies, Lazimpat; Saraswati “People talk about platform than when people return to a celebration afterheart you don’t calculate the costs. Marketing is Between the Lines Tourists in Agra, Goa and Dharamsala artistic quality”. What the film lacks in technical there not being years. It’s a dynamic situation,” says Kesang. 5:45 pm (50 min) Bookstore, Pulchowk; and finesse is made up by the character’s raw energy. Ray Himal Association, Patan enough money to The school was founded in Kalimpong in India, 1999, dir - Goutam Ghosh 4:00 pm Dhoka. Lachuman is a colourful character–a man who make films but I Great man’s biopic (100 min) The Loom For enquiries ring Himal 1900 by a visionary Scottish Presbyterian for Association at 542544, loves and appreciates women—he has been married FRIDAY, 5 OCTOBER think it’s more of a destitute Anglo-Indian children, many aban- 548142. five times, has fathered five children, has experienced 11:00 am lack of ideas,” says doned and outcast from both their father’s and The Art of the Impossible: the overwhelming stench of death in the Pakistan- Deokota, one of two mother’s societies. The school later took in A Portrait of V. P. Singh Bangladesh war, wet his pants while making his first Nepali directors India, 2000, dir - Juliet Reynolds children from marginalised communities The man and his Mandal (45 min) parachute jump, and currently works as a housekeeper whose films have been including Nepali, Tibetan, Sikkimese, Khasi, in a hotel in Bardiya, west Nepal. 12:05 pm selected for the Naga and Tibetan. Where RU in ICQ When he’s not changing hotel linen, Lachuman iscompetitive category of Film South Asia 2001. As a Tibetan refugee Kesang and his siblings India, 2001, dir - Avinash Roy Chatting on the Internet (6 min) desperately trying to register a plot of government land Deokota knows it is difficult making a living joined the school in 1962, the year the Sino-Indian waranother dimension altogether,” says Kesang. “I’ll India, 2000, dir - Parvez Imam he’s tilled since 1975 in his name. as a documentary filmmaker. Now he is working broke out. At school they struggle to find their try to send it out. But even if nothing happens, I’ll Turf Wars: Conservation Claims Thein stranded Bangladeshis of Delhi be poor but happy.” the Great Himalaya National Park(11 min) Still, Lachuman finds much to laugh about and on the ethnography of bearings. “It’s about fractured backgrounds, about India, 2001, King for a Day takes life as it comes: “What’s happened has hap- attachment with an edge,” says Kesang. “Even as the Kesang wrote the script for dir - Sanjay Barnela and Vasant jhankris(faith-healers), a Saberwal Bangladesh, 2001, dir - Alex Gabbay pened.” Lachuman is everyman,” says Deokota: “I film courses through a pabulum of sentiment, there is a It’s park vs. people (41 min) Clinton is coming ... so what? (33 min) don’t think his story is uncommon. It reflects our subject close to his heart. One of the protago- Mukundo, a feature gradual unfolding of real childhoods, testimony to the 2:00 pm 5:50 pm society. A simple man, no pretenses.” The filmmakernists died, another works in Saudi Arabia. film that was screened last year at festivals in Scribbles on Akka We Homes Chaps India/Nepal, 2001, dir - Kesang Tseten Tokyo, San Francisco and Kathmandu. Old boys talk and talk about school (70 min) SUNDAY, 7 OCTOBER 10:00 am The Quest for Peace in Nagaland India, 2001, dir - Bharat Bhusan Why the Naga problem and where to ? India, 2000, dir - Madhushree Dutta(33 min) Life and times of an ancient ascetic Pakistan and India under the (60 min) Nuclear Shadow 3:20 pm Pakistan/India, dir - Pervez Hoodbhoy She Wants to Talk to You Deadly footage of confrontation-in- Nepal/USA, 2001 dir - Anita Changmaking (32 min) Nepal’s women in A’mrika (28 min) 11:25 am Naheed’s Story Aamala Pakistan, 2001, dir - Beena Sarwar She wants to dance but... (22 min) 4:40 pm Bengalis in the World of Fish India, 2001, dir - Nilanjan Bhattacharya Culinary delight (29 min) Shere Punjab

Nepal, 2000, dir - Elizabeth Snider Mustang mother’s preoccupations (22 min) All the World’s My Stage

India, 2001, dir - Rahul Das At the roadside

US/India, 2001, dir - Farah Deba Famous literary names speak (25 min) 12:35 pm The Play Is On... Kashmir, 2001, dir - Pankaj Rishi

dhaba(11 min) 5:30 pm The Bee, The Bear and the Kuruba India, 2000, dir - Vinod Raja The tribal, the forest and the modern man (63 min) SATURDAY, 6 OCTOBER 11:00 am Michael Jackson Comes to Manikganj been digitised, so if you are looking for rare works there is little chance you will find them. I think that if this contin- ues, research will become shallow. It took me 15 years to assimilate the buy them. Libraries also took back South Asia collection at Columbia, it TECHONOLOGY 28 SEPTEMBER - 4 OCTOBER NEPALI 2001 TIMES WORLD 28 SEPTEMBER - 4 OCTOBER NEPALI 2001 TIMES 121212 holdings. But no library can work in would take much more time to make 131313 the hundreds of thousands collection isolation. Not even a big library can OPINION by TARIQ ALI come and take back everything of available on the Internet. value. And with information technol- You also run the WWW Virtual ogy and Internet, geography matters Library for South Asia, how did Libraries in the ageless and of less. Librariesthe can promote thethat start? Internet ethic of co-operation, users can benefit.I started using the Internet in 1978—I David S Magier is South and Southeast Asian Studies Librarian and “Pakistan was the condom the Once items are preserved, they can be was one of the first to use it at director of Area Studies at Columbia University, New York. He is distributed in many different forms Columbia. Since I am the South Asian also Columbia University’s Internet Training and Resource including on CD-ROM and online. librarian, I started putting up gopher Coordinator, a position he developed over the last decade. So some libraries are changing resources on the Internet. That was in Magier was an early advocate of using the Internet in higher Americans needed to enter Afghanistan” their approach. How much are early 1988. Gopher was the way education and applied his knowledge to develop and organise web pages as tools for libraries themselves changing? information was shared and published research. His South Asia Resource Access on the Internet (SARAI) is the most comprehensive portal ago: “What is a library?,” they would library I started became very popular ago I was talking to a former The old one is being fished out forshort, sharp use war against once the new again, but will it work?ideologues talk of this as an attack on on South Asia and is certified as the WWW Virtual Library for South Asia. The US ○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ say something like a centre for and organisations like the Library of general about the militant enemy, the American Caesar would be “civilization,” but what kind of government’s National Endowment for the Humanities also named SARAI “one of the O knowledge, but I see library as a Congress started contacting me asking Islamist groups in the region. I asked against other Muslims they were told best advised not to insist on Pakistani best sites on the Internet for teaching the humanities.” from state patronage rather than by Tony Blair’s personal assistant for civilization is it that thinks in terms warehouse of materials. How they serveif they could connect to it and him why these people, who had popular support. The ascendancy of were not true Muslims. legions. The consequences could be foreign affairs, ex-diplomat Robert of blood revenge? Magier graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Arts in linguistics. contribute to it. It kept growing and the society and their clients depends happily accepted funds and weapons religious fundamentalism is the legacy The Taliban creed is an ultra- dire: a brutal and vicious civil war Cooper, who writes quite openly, “We For the past sixty years and more He then went on to the University of California at Berkeley, where he earned a PhD became the authority on SA resources on what their mission is. Those are from the United States throughout the of a previous military dictator, Gen. sectarian strain, inspired by the creating more bitterness and encourag-need to get used to the idea of double the United States has toppled in 1983 with a dissertation entitled on the Internet. cold war, had become violently anti- two different things, just like Mohammed Zia ul-Haq, who received Wahhabi sect that rules Saudi Arabia. ing more acts of individual terrorism. standards.” The underlying maxim of democratic leaders, bombed countries When the WWW started in 1991, American overnight. He explained The severity of the Afghan mullahs Topics in the Grammar of Marwari. Magier preservation and distribution are. solid backing from Washington and Islamabad will do everything to this cynicism is: We will punish the in three continents and used nuclear Libraries, if they are not co-operating, I was reluctant to migrate because it was that they were not alone. Many has been denounced by Sunni clerics prevent a military expedition to joined Columbia University as a South and Southeast Asian Studies specialist in 1987. London throughout his eleven years as crimes of our enemies and reward the weapons against Japanese civilians, librarians are finding it easier to store offer their clients less—which goes not as effective as a gopher. But Pakistani officers who had served the dictator. It was during his rule (1977-at al-Azhar in Cairo and Shiite Afghanistan. For one thing, there are crimes of our friends. Isn’t that at leastbut it never knew what it felt like to Magier was in Kathmandu recently and GAURAB RAJ UPADHAYA spoke with him United States loyally from 1951 information in local languages that are against their mission. So libraries are increasingly resources started to become 88) that a network of theologians in Qom as a disgrace to Pakistani soldiers, pilots and officers preferable to universal impunity? have its own cities under attack. Now about libraries, research and preservation in the age of digitisation. forming federations, facilitating inter- available on the web, and even old onward felt humiliated by Washing- madrassahs the Prophet. present in Kabul, Bagram and other bring uniformity in electronic compatible across fonts. But then again To this the answer is simple: they know. To the victims of the library loans. In this case, the whole is resources migrated to it. Mine was the ton’s indifference. The Taliban could not, however, bases. What will be their orders this catalogues. This will ultimately help the coding often does not reflect the (religious boarding schools), funded “Punishment” along these lines does attack and their relatives one can offer more than the sum of the parts. last functioning gopher service at “Pakistan was the condom the time, and will they obey them? Much What brings you to Kathmandu? preservation is filming. Filming create a union list, which lists all way languages here are used, so more by the Saudi regime, were created. have captured Kabul on their own via not reduce criminality but breeds it, our deep sympathy, as one does to Columbia, but eventually I migrated more likely is that Osama bin Laden I am president of the Center for South technology is sufficiently advanced andavailable holdings in all libraries. work needs to be done in South Asia With the Internet being touted Americans needed to enter Afghani- The children, who were later sent an excess of religious zeal. They were by those who wield it. The Gulf and people whom the US government has too and so the SARAI (South Asia will be sacrificed in the interests of the Asian Libraries (CSAL), a collective we know it can be safely stored for 200Inter-library loans will then be itself. as the best resource centre—for stan,” he said. “We’ve served our to fight as mujahideen in Afghanistan, armed and commanded by “volun- Balkan Wars were copybook examples victimized. But to accept that Resource Access on the Internet) was greater cause, and his body dead or approach to support libraries in South to 400 years. And it can be viewed possible. Do you think donors could anything—where do libraries purpose and they think we can be just were taught to banish all doubt. The teers” from the Pakistani Army. If of the moral blank check of a selective somehow an American life is worth Asia. Through CSAL we are trying to with just a magnifying glass. You can’t stand? born. Much later, the WWW Virtual flushed down the toilet.” only truth was divine truth. Anyone Islamabad decided to pull the plug, alive will be handed over to his formervigilantism. Israel can defy UN more than that of a Rwandan, a Most digital technology is support this kind of work? make collective funding more do any such thing with digital I can tell you that only about 1/100th Library guys from Switzerland The old condom is being fished who rebelled against the imam the Taliban could be dislodged, but employers in Washington. But will resolutions with impunity, India can Yugoslav, a Vietnamese, a Korean, a developed in the West, and Right now, digitisation seems to be in accessible and promote standards in technology. And we are making copies of all written documents are online. contacted me, and I agreed to be the out for use once again, but will it rebelled against Allah. The not without serious problems. The that be enough? tyrannize Kashmir, Russia can destroy Japanese, a Palestinian...that is places like Nepal are deprived vogue. But donor agencies fail to madrassahs cataloguing and bibliographic formats of the microfilm for distribution— Actual research can’t be done without aSouth Asian portal for the library. work? The new “coalition against victory in Kabul counts as the The only real solution is a Grozny, but it is Iraq that has to be unacceptable. of the benefits because of the understand that digitisation is only for so these libraries can connect to the restwhich again entails lower costs for library. Music, the arts, development Now I am also involved in the terrorism” needs the services of the had only one aim: the production of Pakistani Army’s only triumph. To political one. It requires removing the punished and it is the Palestinians lack of technology in local distribution. If you want preservation, of the world. libraries. research, history are things that are Digital South Asia Library (DSAL) Pakistani Army, but Gen Pervez deracinated fanatics in the name of a this day, former US Secretary of State causes that create the discontent. It is who continue to suffer. Cooper languages. How dos this impactyou need to give libraries more money. preserved only in libraries. which seeks to expand access to unique Musharraf will have to be extremely bleak Islamic cosmopolitanism. The Zbigniew Brzezinski remains despair that feeds fanaticism, and that continues: “Advice to postmodern We work with South Asian As the dynamics of technology libraries cataloguing South Even we talk about digitisation to have South Asian resources by providing cautious. primers taught that the Urdu letter recalcitrant. “What was more is a result of Washington’s policies in states: accept that intervention in the libraries to preserve manuscripts and change, distribution mediums and Asian volumes? easier access to funds. But libraries But aren’t more people inclined full-text documents, electronic images important in the world view of the Middle East and elsewhere. The premodern is going to be a fact of life. holdings. We microfilm the original formats may change—but electronic Local adaptation is not necessarily a need to first preserve, then digitise. these days to use electronic An overcommitment to Washing- jeemstood forjihad,tayfortope (The Nation) and indices in South Asian history?” he asks with more than a orthodox casuistry among loyal Such interventions may not solve volumes, make copies of the original access is not possible if materials are problem—the major problem is Donors and agencies need to put their resources? ton could lead to a civil war in (cannon)kaaf , forKalashnikovand languages. touch of irritation. “The Taliban or thefactotums, columnists and courtiers of problems, but they may salve the film and store the originals safely. We not preserved. In the US, there is a standardising encoding for fonts and money where it will make a real Yes, and it troubles me. People who Pakistan and split the armed forces. A khayforkhoon(blood), 2500 Tariq Ali is the author ofMasters fall of the Soviet Empire? A few the Washington regime is symbolized conscience. And they are not necessar- also scan the microfilm into high place called Iron Mountain, where scripts. Many non-Roman scripts havedifference—like in preservation and grew up with technology don’t want to great deal has changed over the past madrassahsproduced a crop of of the Universe? NATO’s stirred-up Muslims or the liberation ily the worse for that.” Try explaining quality digital images and put them oneverything that has been published in been already standardised and are standardisation of encoding. go through shelves of books, they want two decades, but the ironies of history Balkan Crusade(Verso). The 225,000 fanatics ready to kill and die of Central Europe and the end of the that to the survivors in New York and the web. the US is microfilmed and stored widely used, but many South Asian How is your work different everything on screen. But only those continue to multiply. In Pakistan for their faith when asked to do so by cold war?” Washington. The United States is third novel of his Islam Quartet, Isn’t microfilming archaic ? underground—that’s for preservation. ones haven’t been. But, with the use offrom that of Western scholars volumes that are in high demand have itself, Islamism derived its strength their religious leaders, Dispatched The Stone Woman, is due out in You are mistaken, probably because We are using information something called Unicode spreading, and libraries in the past? across the border by the Pakistani paperback from Verso in you are from the digital age (laughs). technology to catalogue library In the past Western scholars would Army, they were hurled into battle October (2001). The only proven technology for holdings according to standards, and come in and carry away value. It was like a colonial plunder dream—you took away books because you could COMMENTARY by EDUARDO GALEANO

and private terrorism. For example, the Basque separatist movement in Spain, ETA, which kills in the name of Theatre of goodan independent Basqueand state, evil proclaimed through a spokesman: “Rights have nothing to do with It’s always the people who end upminorities dead. or majorities.” ○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ There are many similarities MONTEVIDEO - The terrorists killed workers from fifty countries betweenin New York home-made and high-tech and Washington in the name of Good against Evil. And in the terrorism,name of between that of religious Good against Evil, President Bush had vowed revenge: “We willfundamentalists eliminate and free-market zealots, between that of the dispossessed Evil from this world.” and the all- powerful, between the solitary madmen and the professionals in uniform. All share the same lack of respect for human life: the murder- Eliminate Evil? What would Good be without Evil? Religious fanatics ers of the five thousand people killed in the demolition of the Twin Towers are not the only ones that need enemies to justify their madness.and The the armsassassins of 200,000 Guatemalans, mostly Indians, exterminated industry and gigantic military apparatus need enemies to justifywithout their the slightest attention paid by the world media. These Guatema- existence. Heroes become monsters and monsters heroes: the actorslans were switch killed not by Muslim fanatics but military terrorists who received masks according to the script. the “support, financing, and inspiration” of one American administration There’s nothing new here. German scientist Werner von Braunafter was another. evil when he invented the V-2 rocket, which Hitler used to pulverise London,These terroristsbut also share an obsession with reducing social, cultural he became good the day he placed his skills in the service of theand Unitednational contradictions to military terms. In the name of Good against States. Evil, in the name of the Single Truth, they seek resolution by killing first Stalin was good during World War Two and bad later, when heand became asking questions later. And in this way they end up galvanising the ruler of the Evil Empire. During the years of the Cold War, Johnvery Steinbeck enemy they are fighting. It was the atrocities of the Shining Path that wrote, “Perhaps the entire world needs Russians. I bet even Russiaincubated does. Peruvian President Fujimori, who with considerable public Maybe there they call them Americans.” Afterwards the Russianssupport turned initiated a reign of terror and sold Peru for the price of a banana. good. Now Putin says, “Evil must be punished.” It was the atrocities of the US in the Middle East that largely fuelled the Holy War of Islamic terrorism. Saddam Hussein was good, and so were the chemical weapons he used Even though the Leader of Civilisation is calling for a new Crusade, against the Kurds and Iranians. Later he turned bad. He was called Satan Hussein when the US, which had just invaded Panama, invaded IraqAllah because is innocent of the crimes committed in his name. After all, God did Iraq had invaded Kuwait. Bush Sr presided over this war of Good againstnot order Evil. the Nazi Holocaust of the followers of Jehovah. Nor did Jehovah With the humanitarian and compassionate spirit that characterisesorder his family, the massacres of Sabra and Shatila or the expulsion of the Palestin- he killed more than 100,000 Iraqis, the vast majority civilians. ians from their land. Might Jehovah, Allah, and God be three names for the same divinity? Satan Hussein is the same as he always was, but now this enemy A Tragedy of Errors: no one yet knows who is who. The smoke from the number one of humanity has slipped to second place. The scourge of the world is now called Osama bin Laden. The CIA taught him everythingexplosions he is part of a far larger smoke screen that blocks our view. As knows about terrorism: bin Laden, loved and armed by the US vengeancegovernment, breeds vengeance, each act of terrorism sends us stumbling was one of the principal “freedom-fighters” in the war against communismdeeper into indarkness. In a recent photograph, someone had written on a Afghanistan. Bush Sr was vice president when President Reaganwall said in Newthat York: “An eye for an eye has left the world blind.” these heroes were “the moral equivalent of America’s Founding Fathers.”The spiral of violence breeds violence and also confusion: pain, fear, And Hollywood agreed with the White House: Rambo III was beingintolerance, shot at hatred, madness. In Porto Alegre, Brazil, former leader of the time, and the Muslim Afghans were the good guys. Not anyAlgeria more: nowAhmed Ben Bella warned: “This system, which has driven cows they are evil incarnate, a mere thirteen years later. mad, is making people mad too.” And madmen, maddened by hatred, act Henry Kissinger was one of the first to react to the recent tragedy:just like the force that unhinged them. “Those who provide support, financing, and inspiration to the terroristsA three-year-old are boy named Luca commented a few days ago, “The as guilty as they are,” he stated, using words that President Bushworld repeated doesn’t know where its home is.” He was reading a map. He may as just hours later. If this is the case, the first step would be to bombwell Kissinger. have been watching the news. He would be guilty of far more crimes than bin Laden and the rest of the world’s terrorists combined. And in many more countries: acting in the service of various American administrations, he provided “support, financ- ing, and inspiration” to state terrorism in Indonesia, Cambodia, Cyprus, the Philippines, South Africa, Iran, Bangladesh, and the countries of South America that suffered under the dirty war of Operation Condor. On 11 September, 1973, exactly 28 years before the World Trade Towers collapsed in flames, Chile’s presidential palace burned. Kissinger anticipated the epitaph of Salvador Allende and Chilean democracy when he commented on the election results: “We do not have to accept a country going Marxist because of the irresponsibility of its people.” Disdain for the popular will is one of the many points in common between state terrorism

(IPS)

Eduardo Galeano, an Uruguayan journalist, is author of Memories of Fire and The Open Veins of Latin America. If we do not, we are in for big trouble. There will be neither a republic nor a constitutional monarchy. Because Nepal will cease 141414 ASIA 28 SEPTEMBER - 4 OCTOBER NEPALI 2001 TIMES FROM THE NEPALI PRESS THIS PAGE CONTAINS MATERIAL SELECTEDto exist. FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 28 SEPTEMBER - 4 OCTOBERNEPALI 2000 TIMES 151515 COMMENTARY by AHMED RASHID Some say that this change requires a Time to think force beyond the scope of the ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Nepal, 17 September-1 October government. But we feel that the Taliban, talks and government is the main player in the - Vijay Kumar present political process, under the present constitution. Before any Comrade Prachanda and Dr Bhattarai Kolkata Maoists dialogue the government calls for a kowtowing to the Americans. Maulana political change have to understand one thing: there are ○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○ meeting of all parties and tries to put CIA, ISI and theSamiul Haq, who heads a string Taliban of a lot of people who support them and Jana Aastha,19 September forward to us the conclusions reached are sympathetic to their struggle, but there. Its responsibility is to gather all Editorial inKantipur, 24 September Gen Musharaff has no option but to crackdown on the people are also scared of them. The these forces and come to some FrontierProvince prevented UNICEF in the south and east of Afghanistan, Until now everyone suspected that issues that the Maoists have raised havethe Maoists were being supported understanding. It must have the will Islamicfrom carrying out radicals a polio immuniza- in his own country.which is the Taliban heartland. The Maoists have announced the start of a “Nava Kranti,” wonor support of the masses. People militarily and financially by India. to bring the issues on which all agree tion○○○○○○○○○ campaign for children○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ because There is already growing US and New Revolution. They have been extorting money from common have contributed voluntarily to the Now the Anti-Terrorist Cell (ATC) to the table . I feel it is possible (to get they considered it un-Islamic. The people and they advocate a dress code for women, they haveMaoist cause. But the Maoists have international support for the Loya of the police has presented the what we want through dialogue). same groups have smashed TV sets Jirga (tribal council) peace process in even taken to tearing the clothes off women that do not comply.abused this trust , and now they are threatened them: “All seven RNAC The Maoist revolution’s political philosophy revolves around Home Ministry a secret report which Each of your demands are and forced women to stay at home, forcefully asking for donations. This is Twin Otters should start operating Afghanistan, headed by former King bringing about fundamental changes in society. They realised clearly says that the allegations are related to the other. They have as the Taliban have done in madrassahsthat many Taliban leaders Zahir Shah, now in exile in Rome. a big mistake. They will lose the trust not been presented as before Dasain. If this does not Afghanistan. that the other political parties just paid lip service to these issues true. According to the report, an ATC attended in the early 1990s and that The LJ process is almost certain to but after seeing their ways now people have started challeng-of the people. Then they will be left independent demands... happen, I am going to take action At the same time, Pakistan could team went to Calcutta some time ago to are now attended by Central Asian become the main political alternative ing the Maoists and disobeying their directives. Terror, anti-with only their guns and their policy They are definitely interdepen- against the concerned heads of the Islamic militants, has warned arrest top Maoist leaders. The team left department. This is a warning,” he negotiate major concessions from the for Afghanistan and will probably be nationalism and character assassination have become theof extortion. dent. Our main demand is the United States for its support—the Musharraf that there will be a huge hallmarks of their revolution. This all shows that the lower cadre for Calcutta shortly after receiving said. The engineers, pilots and other backed in coming months by the If that happens, will they be able establishment of an institutionalised public backlash if Pakistan bends to of the Maoist organisation is out of the control of their leaders. reports that the senior leaders had staff of the organisation thought that lifting of US sanctions against United States and NATO. Pakistan to bring about the fundamental social republic. For this to happen, the Pakistan imposed in response to US demands. “I am sure the Pakistani rented two floors in a high rise in the minister was talking business. does not support the LJ and would changes they aim for? Unless the present constitution must be scrapped Army will not allow this to happen, Calcutta. The team reported its Four small aircraft of RNAC are Islamabad’s 1998 nuclear tests, a insist to the United States that Maoists change their ways, the very and a new constitution be put in its partial write-off of the country’s $38 and Musharraf will be mindful of the information to the Indian police and nearly always grounded because of Islamabad continue to have a major masses who have been supporting place. The people must have the right sentiments of his under-command. asked them for help. The Indian technical reasons. But the RNAC billion international debt, more loans say in the formation of any future them until now will revolt. If the to decide this. An interim government from the IMF and the World Bank, There will be a strong public backlash police, far from helping them, refused department chiefs were shocked by government in Kabul. If Pakistan is Maoists are satisfied with that, then must be formed in order to formulate also,’’ Haq said on September 14. to have anything to do with them. The the minister’s utterances. They had greater US pressure on India to settle fully on board with Washington, there is nothing more to say. But if a new constitution. The new constitu- the Kashmir dispute on terms Haq’s provocative comments reflect ATC team returned empty-handed. reason to be scared. Five years ago, Islamabad will be able to influence they are really interested in bringing tion is needed to establish a republic. moves by Islamic fundamentalists to You have to keep in mind that time when KC was just a member of acceptable to Pakistan, and the re- the outcome of the US attack and may about changes in society, they will have So all demands are related. increase pressure on Musharraf from and again the Indian police, without parliament, he beat up an RNAC establishment of a close military and retain influence in determining the to come to the negotiating table, and What do you mean by an intelligence relationship with the within the army. Several senior even requesting the Nepali police, have department chief for a minor reason. future Afghan government. If it have to be very patient and under- entered Nepal and arrested people. institutionalised republic? United States to counter Washing- generals and former ISI chiefs known balks, Washington is unlikely to The chiefs still remember that. standing… A republic has already been terrorist organizations and could pose aton’s growing military and economic for their hard-line Islamic views have listen to Pakistani demands. On his return, the leader of the Minister KC’s outbursts are not ‘The best thing about the present formed, informally, in this country. threat to US forces. The largest links with New Delhi. However, been even more provocative, claiming Musharraf is between a rock and ATC team Superintendent of Police just limited to the RNAC. Some t present, 3,000-4,000 evacuate Pakistani military advisers parliamentary system is that the likes The 1 June incident has proved that Pakistani party fighting in Kashmir, many Pakistanis fear that the United that the attacks in the United States Surendra Shah wrote clearly in his days ago, KC and eight other MPs Pakistani Islamic militants from Afghanistan, withdraw Pakistan’s a hard place, and the way he goes of Devendra Parajuli can shout and the monarchy is totally irrelevant in Lashkar-e-Taiba (Army of the Pure), isStates may just use Pakistan, as it did were carried out as part of an report to the Home Ministry that showed up at the airport. He asked are fighting with the Taliban recognition of the Taliban regime as could determine the future viability can say that the system gives them ‘the today’s context. It was something that on the US terrorist watch list. All these in the 1980s against the Soviet Israeli-Jewish conspiracy in league his group was unsuccessful because the authorities which aircraft was in their offensive against the the legitimate government of Afghani- of the Pakistani state. This is a right to hold a mass meeting on 21 was there in the past, today people groups have received tacit state support Union, and then walk away once the with the CIA in order to give Israel the Indian forces refused to help. It available. Someone told him the A stan, condemn the Taliban and force moment of reckoning for Pakistan. It September’ (a quote from the student want a republic. Therefore, to fulfil anti-Taliban alliance. Thousands of in the past; stopping their activities US mission is over, establishing a a free hand to crush the Palestinians is surprising that the ATC team, Skyline craft had not flights. He them to expel thousands of Pakistani has to decide whether it wants to be leader). It is a different matter that the their aspirations, we have to work for a Pakistani and Kashmiri militants also will be a major problem for Musharraf.closer military alliance with India and defame Muslims. which has been successful in called a Skyline officials and asked fighters, in addition to a cutoff of fuel part of the international community Maoists want to enforce a system which new constitution. The new constitution train in Afghanistan for the war in If Musharraf decides to fall in line and leaving Pakistan in chaos. That Musharraf is deeply concerned The underground comrades have set another record too. nabbing some top Maoist leaders in that his team and he be flown and other supplies, at the very or go it alone, at the risk of turning gives them the right to forcefully arrest must help ininstitutionalising the Kashmir. Pakistan’s knowledge of with US policy, he will receive fear is not only expressed by Islamic about US intentions toward the The cadre in Dailekh destroyed two statues of Bhagawati in a the past, was unsuccessful this immediately to Lukla. The official moment when they will be preparing into a pariah nation and possibly newspaper reporters for no reason... the Taliban’s military machine, widespread support from the majority groups but also by Pakistani liberals. Taliban, and the Pashtun ethnic temple in Mehaltoli Village Development Committee (VDC). Many time... The report further states that republic. spoke to his director, the director to resist a US invasion. even state collapse. ( People who have met Prachanda storage facilities, supply lines and of Pakistanis—especially the urban, What the military is most group in particular, from whom the people used to worship these statues. This was another the recent clashes between the If the constituent assembly could not refuse the minister and leadership hierarchy is total. Musharraf will also have to crack educated middle class—who are tired example of the Maoists taking on the character of the Taliban.are full of praise for him. I too, haveMaoists and villagers in Parsa, took makes a decision concerned about is a backlash from Taliban are drawn and who straddle Like the Talibans who destroyed the Buddha statues in Bamiyan the plane flew to Lukla. The Pakistan also has the most compre- down hard on Pakistan’s Islamic of the country’s dire economic crisis Islamic parties and conservative the border between Pakistan and met Baburam one time or the other. place on India’s orders. unfavourable to you, what minister thenasked the pilot to wait they have attacked the icons in which thousands have faith.I never had any doubts about his will you do? hensive information about the role extremists, who provide bin Laden’s and the chronic lawlessness largely Islamicists within the officer corps, Afghanistan, and what the future state The Maoists have the right not to believe in god, but society and in Lukla for a few hours, after that the commitment towards the nation and of foreign militants, their bases and Al Qaeda with logistics, communica- caused by Islamic extremists, and who who will accuse Musharraf of of Afghanistan will look like. The government cannot give them the right to destroy statues and We cannot give a definite plane flew again with the minister and the people. Since these two men are their numbers. The United States is tions and other support. He may also are concerned about the rapid United States is likely to target the temples which are icons of the people’s faith. answer now. his entourage, this time for Phaplu. sincere, I request them to find a way now asking the ISI to turn over all thisbe obliged to ban those Pakistani “Talibanization” of Pakistani society. In Taliban leadership and its military The Nation) Before destroying the statues, the Maoists had said that Two rounds of talks are The pilot was then told to return to out of this mess, I request them to information to the CIA. groups, like Harakat ul-Ansar early September neo-Taliban Pakistani formations and encourage an anti- prayers were nothing but superstition and they would stop already over, what is your Kathmandu, but had to fly back to help in the construction of a new If the army decides to commit (Volunteers Movement) and Jaish-e- groups in the Northwest Taliban uprising in the Pashtun belt prayers at that temple. This happened on 19 September. The opinion about talking? Phaplu the next day to pick up the Mohammed (Army of Mohammed), (Ahmed Rashid is the author Nepal, and to bring peace . If they Takes two to talk fully to Washington, Musharraf will next day the Maoists disrupted Sanskrit classes at an ashram in ○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○ We still want to resolve the minister and his cronies. of Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil and do not want this, there is another have to do even more. He will have to that are listed by Washington as Accham and forced the principal of the school to issue transfer Saptahik Bimarsa,21 September problem through dialogue. The Fundamentalism in Central Asia, way out— a civil war, a reign of That caused all Skyline flights to certificates to 20 students so that they could attend another government does not change its Yale.) school nearby. They then closed down the ashram. terror and oppression, making way be cancelled for two days. According to behaviour, which means it should stop for foreign forces entering our Excerpts from an interview with a Skyline official, the company is After this they manhandled the students and cut off their arresting our cadre, enforcing curfews, country. Let us not fool ourselves Krishna Bahadur Mahara already in the red and that particular sacred threads and the etc. None of that will help the into thinking that a foreign army Can your demands—an interim day’s activities certainly did not help. dialogue, it will only hinder the will enter our country from one sidegovernment, a new constituent The minister is also known for process. If they do that, we will also only, they will enter from all assembly and an bullying helicopter companies too. have to rethink our position on directions. Lebanon is a prime institutionalised republic—be Last week, he took a helicopter dialogue. example of this. Once it was a very achieved through dialogue? belonging to a private company and tupi (tuft of hair on the heads of peaceful and quiet country. Then the Many people doubt whether our flew with 22 people to Mansarovar. Bahuns). Everyone has the right to raise questions concerning Israelis entered and ruled for some aims can be reached through dialogue. He paid nothing for this trip. A religion and education, but no one has the right to impose theirtime. After them it was the turn of government directive says that cargo- beliefs on some one else. Not even the Maoists. the Syrians. The losers were always carrying helicopters are not allowed to After destroying the education sector, they have now turnedthe Lebanese. Do we want to be carry people—but who will tell the their gaze on religion and temples. The people will definitelyanother Lebanon? minister ? On his way back from protest, and the administration must immediately take steps toIt is time we thought seriously. Mansarovar, KC stopped at Humla, halt them. If the Maoists continue with such behaviour, we can inaugurated a tourist project there, be sure this will be the beginning of their end. You can use Corrupt minister ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ gave a speech concerning development hoodlums to spread terror in society but they cannot bring about Deshanter Saptahik,23 September and then flew to Pokhara. His father political, social or economic changes... had accompanied him on the Mansarovar trip. Bal Bahadur KC is the minister for Civil Aviation. A couple of days ago, he called all the high-ranking QUOTE OF THE WEEK officials of the Royal Nepal Airline My name doesn’t count in the country at present. It only counts in the national Corporation to his office and census, it doesn’t count anywhere else.

Former RPP leader Rajeswor DevkotaJana in Aastha Saptahik, 26 September 2001.

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EXHIBITION Triumph of the documentary In Search of Shangri Photos La by Nepali and European photographers. Until 12 October, 10am-6pm, National Art Council, Babermahal. Organised BY the Nepal The history of the fascination for fluid film from Leni Riefenstahl (left) to Frank Capra (right). ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Photographic Society and Eco Himal. audiotape brought changes. As the Paintings and sculptures by Batsa Gopal Vaidya and Shashi Shah. 14 undoubtedly Leni Riefenstahl’s were still private organisations that equipment got less obtrusive and morethere” it does not mean it shows the September-17 October, 11am-6pm. Siddhartha Art Gallery, Baber Mahal Revisited. Triumph of the Will. Where else but made films like the pre-warThe River portable, film producers could now truth. Editing can show opposite views 411122 in Nazi Germany could an entire city orThe City but since television had venture into hitherto uncharted using same visuals. Frank Capra used Looking for something different? Dwarika’s in-house craft workshop produces all furniture, have been mobilised just for the sake ofnot made a debut, the documentary territory. As a direct legacy of the Riefenstahl’s footage of HitlerWhy in restoration, brick work. Daily 10am-4pm, Dwarika’s Hotel. 479488 a documentary! Hundreds of cameras had to wait. When cathode rays We Fight. While Hitler’s fiery oratory recorded Hitler’s descent through the dawned in the early 1950s, the cinema veritémovement in Europe, was used powerfully by Riefenstahl to MUSICMUSICMUSIC clouds to boulevards lined with documentary once more had an ideal the television documentary, too, show his forceful personality, leader- Red Sky Walkers at the Abhaya Rox and Dev live, and DJ Neil. Happy hour 6pm-9pm. The Rox, BOOKWORM cheering devotees. The awesome medium of delivery but it was once became mobile. The advent of video ship and charisma, Capra used the Hyatt Regency. 491234 power of the audio-visual media in second scuffle during a two-hour more side-stepped. Just like Holly- and digital equipment advanced the same footage to expose Hitler as a Weekends at The Jazz The Bar Jazz Commission on Thursdays, Chris Masand’s Latin band on bringing across a government- wood, television stations did not seem demonstration that passed peacefully. KUNDA DIXIT genre of ruthless demagogue. Both were making Fridays and on Saturdays An Fainne. 7pm onwards. Shangri-La Hotel End of the Line: The Story of the Killing of the Royals in NepalNeelesh Mishra ○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○ veriténow visible in The blood-stricken face of a lone sponsored viewpoint had been to want to have anything to do with propaganda films. Live Acoustic Music Dinesh Rai and Deependra every Friday at the Himalatte Café. 9pm 491234 Penguin Books India, New Delhi, 2001 ver since moving film made it discovered. documentaries, spot news footage, victim can fill a 16” screen in the living controversy. Documentary films were Editing films never stopped being Cadenza Saturday evening live jazz at Upstairs, Lazimpat. 7.30pm-10pm. Rs 200 Rs 320 possible for celluloid to show The world was soon plunged into in fact all about controversial com- and yes, MTV. room. And now with the time allotted AP correspondent Mishra pieces together the sometimes conflicting reports of what happened motion for the first time, artists an issue. Critics of early television to documentaries becoming increas- E war. The documentary became a part ments on prevailing reality. Veritéallowed documentary documentaries were against the EVENTSEVENTSEVENTS on the night of 1 June through extensive interviews, and contemplates its larger national started using the novel medium for ingly constricted, producers have been of the war effort. The Office of War It was with the makers like Bob Drew and Richard powerful manner in which the Renowned philosopher Richard Rorty on speaks “The American Left and its View of the significance. expression. In the beginning there was forced to edit out more and more. Information in the United States See it Nowshows Leacock, and shows like ABC Closeupjuxtaposition of events could exagger- World.” Friday, 28 September, 5.30pm, Baggikhana, Patan Dhoka. Limited seating, for reservations ring the fascination with the fluid move- Truth is the first casualty. drafted directors and cameramen to on CBS that the documentary in to present films that made viewers feelate or warp facts. When the American Himal Association 542544. ‘Kay Gardeko?’: The Royal Massacre in NepalPrakash A Raj ment, but it was expensive business. churn out upbeat documentaries on they were there. We’re all used to it The documentary still remains a Classical music Every full moon at the Kirateswor temple, Gaurightat, Pashupati. Next on 7 America finally got its chance. But even Ed Murrow and Fred Friendly duo Rupa and Co, New Delhi, 2001 The documentary inevitably became what the boys were up to on the front.here, documentary filmmakers found itnow, but when it first came out, there powerful medium for comment on October, 4pm. Organised by the Shree Kirateshwar Sangeetashram. started to take sides on issues and used Rs 200 the poor cousin of the budding movie difficult to reconcile themselves to was nothing like it. But in the social issues, and intelligent editors can Action Asia Himalayan Mountain Bike Biking Races event with categories for everyone with industry. In the 1920s, the documen- editing techniques to effectively drive use it to expose injustice. Documenta- Prakash Raj explores what is believed to have happened on 1 June and its repercussions. This pressures from “above” to either tone obsession with actuality, many home their point, critics cried “foul”. cash prizes, trophies and $1,950 in bikes to be won. Three races on 10, 17, 24 November. For details, tary had to depend on the propagandaThe Memphis Belleand frontline filmmakers influenced by Drew forgot ries production costs have now 437437 or www.bikingnepal.com. Himalayan Mountain Bikes, Thamel. volume, printed on art paper, is rich in photographs. down their comment or to drop some They felt it was fundamentally unfair budgets of governments, opposition footage from the Pacific brought the subjects altogether. the true role of the documentary—to plummeted, just about anyone can Fourth Momo Festival Unlimited helpings from 18-20 kinds of momos with live music. Momo- parties, charitable organisations. sacrifice and bravery of the troops to that documentary film editors blot outhave a digital camera and edit film on Scaling down of the camera make a social comment and have a truth with selected splicing. In their making, eating contests, door prizes. Rs 350 over 4’6’’ includes complementary beer. Rs 200 under 4’6”, One of the most striking early cinema houses throughout the country. computer. voice of its own. competitive zeal for prime-time news, with complementary coke or ice cream. After World War II, Hollywood equipment to take 16mm film and the Courtesy Mandala Book Point, Kantipath, 227711, [email protected] examples of government involvement gradual miniaturisation of the sound Cinema veritébecame the networks will focus in on a 20- in documentary film production is was into bigger things and the equipment with the magnetic an end in itself. EATING OUT documentary fell from favour. There Exploration RevisitedOn Vasco da Gama’s food trail. The Fun Café, Radisson Hotel, 7pm- CLASSIFIED Just because a documentary “is 10.30pm, 26 September to 3 October. 411818. Patan Museum Café Mixed menu, garden seating. Lunch only, 11am-2pm. 25 percent off with NEPALITERATURE by MANJUSHREE THAPA The way to Mexico is too far. Botega ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 770 (MIDI compatible), Aiwa CD-tape Summit Card. 526271 Restaurant and Tequila Bar is near Thamelrecorder player, Panasonic VCR. Also other Live at Rum DoodleMusic Friday and Tuesday nights. 40,000 1/2 ft Bar, Rum Doodle. 414336Chowk. 266433. 15 percent off-season furniture and household items. All in good All-new at Dwarika’s!Krishnarpan Nepali ceremonial four-course lunch, $13, daily from noon.discount. condition, very reasonable prices. Ring Friday Night Sekuwa (BBQ) now with fusion music by Himalayan Feelings. Rs699 per head, Rs1299 per 373218 before 9.30am and after 5.30pm. couple. Three-course course set lunches daily at Toran Garden Restaurant, $11. All prices nett. 479488 THE EXPATRIATE POET: We are looking for enthusiastic, highly Boudhanath full moon experience Special menu, ice-cream, soft guitar at the Stupa View The Borderlands Resort For canyoning, Restaurant, directly at the stupa. 2 October, 5pm onwards. 480262 rafting, trekking at Tibet borders, Profes-ReflexologyProfessionally US/Europe- competent and committed professional Saturday lunchat Restaurant Kantipur, Club Himalaya, Nagarkot. BBQ buffet Rs 500 per head.sional Development Program, Leadershiptrained naturopath. Suitable for specific to assume the following roles. 410432, 414432 Courses and many more. 425836/425894.health problems and as a preventive meas- Wayne Amtzis Dine with the birds and butterflies Chef Sher Shing BBQ, kababs, tandoors, other [email protected]. ure. Improves blood circulation and energy www.borderlandresorts.com. cuisine Farm House Café overlooking Shivapuri Reserve. Park Village Resort, Budanilkantha. flow throughout the body. 413774 or email nglish literature from Nepal has lately been attracting someWhere peddlers sprawl between piles of misshapen fruit, Executive [email protected]. La Soon Restaurant and Vinotheque Lunch, tea and dinner with European and American food, ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ attention, with new publications abroad. Yet English literatureand is rickshaw wallahs snare riders laden with cameras, Divisional Manager fine wines. Pulchowk. 535290 Enot as alien to Nepal as it sounds. Laxmi Prasad Devkota andwhile Bal her drunken man drones a harmonium, Nrs 35,000-50,000.00 range per month plus Gourmet weekendfor Nepalis and expatri- arms twisted, hands clutching air, bent fingers pointing, Free soft drinkwith Over the Rainbow’s American diner-style sandwiches. Full meals at Krishna Sama made some early attempts, as far back as the 1940’s, to attractive fringe benefits. ates Naked Chef, Nagarkot, B&B, three-House for rent or saleSitapaila Ring Road, write English poems—though their verses were sometimes marredKali cursesby and wails. Late in the day, the Himalayas wake backpacker prices. Opposite Pilgrims Book House, Thamel. Only for NT readers. 42651 With nothing to do, boys ride long thin poles Wet and Wild SummerSwimming and buffet lunch. Saturday and Sunday at Godavari Villagecourse international gourmet dinner, 12-minute drive from Lincoln School. Two odd syntax and antiquated usage. The English language entered the transport both ways—Rs 1100. 417386, formal education curriculum in 1959; and just over a decade later,pursuing Abhi a dog marked for the kill. Behind high compound walls,Reporting to the Chairman, the appointee will be responsible for the Resort. Adults Rs 600, children Rs 350. Taxes extra. 560675, 560775 roapni compound, five bedrooms, two 680115 Subedi, Peter J Karthak and Padma P Devkota were producing poemsbanana trees shade a sleeping dog development and execution of marketing plans and strategies. Juicy steaks, chilled , beerMexican cuisine, great breakfasts, sports bar. All week long. Live band bathrooms, kitchen, dining and sitting room, servant’s quarters, other facilities. 356074 in this language. They were joined in the 1980’s by diverse writers Duties cover brand and positioning development market base Wednesday, Sunday evenings 6.30-10.00. K-too! Beer & Steakhouse, Thamel. 433043 such as Mani Dixit, Greta Rana, Keshar Lall, Prakash A Raj, KesangMoved by the growing disparity between rich and poor in expansion, new services line launches, customer relationship and Dinner and concertDine with Nepali singers Sapna Tseten, Manju Kachuli, Shailendra K Singh, Yuyutsu RD Sharma,contemporary Tek B Kathmandu, Amtzis began to write more ethically K-Too! Beer and Steakhouse not the loyalty enhancement. Shree Pariyar and Suresh Manandhar. 8pm-11pm, except Karki, Pallav Ranjan, Para Limbu, Laxmi Rajbhandari and DB chargedGurung. poems in the 1990’s. (In doing this, he moved closer to the “longest”, “highest”, “first” or any other Best Room in Thamel Long-term only. Tuesdays. Far Pavilion, The Everest Hotel. 488100 With their native command over English and their extensive experienceflanks of Nepal’s progressive poets). The poem below is an example superlative. Just a relaxed, easy-going bar Saturdays at the MallaSwimming and French chef’s Private terrace, bath, double-bed, wardrobe, in Nepal, long time expatriates such as Henny Dossing Paudel,of hisJoy more political oeuvre. It offers readers a chance to look, with and restaurant with the coldest beer andshelves. Quiet, private, and a great view. Stephens and Joel Isaacson have also, today, contributed tocompassion, the at the world around them, and also to examine theirReferred condidates is expected to be: barbecue lunch. 11am-5pm. The Malla Hotel. 418385, juiciest steaks this side of the moon. ByUS$5 the per day. Contact John 548119. growing body of English literature of Nepal. own consciences. 410966 Kathmandu Guest House. 433043 Poet Wayne Amtzis is one such expatriate, an American who Nepali National, aged in mid 35 to early 45, Splash Bar and GrillNew fifth-floor outlet with has lived in Kathmandu for more than 20 years, teaching, translat- Sex: Female of Male panoramic view of city and surrounding hills. Starting 28 Stupa iewV Restaurant anderrace T Directly ing and writing. He is the author of two chapbooks, September at the Radisson. 411818 MBA in Economic finance or a related discipline, perferably HMB Mountain BikingHave your bike at Boudhanath Stupa. Well-appointed with overseas education or having worked abroad. serviced or repaired by HMB’s Professionalrestaurant, terraces with best views to the NO END TO IT GETAWAYS auspicious stupa, the eternal Himalayas. Mechanics at the HMB Workshop. Riding Monsoon Song Where buses spew forth fumes, Minimum3-5 years experience, perferably in an September at Shangri-La Swimming and lunch for International vegetarian specialties, pizza gear, accessories and parts available. andThe Journey East. He also translatedTwo Sisters, the poetry on a curb, her hand round a cigarette International Environment. Rs 600, earn Rs 300. For details call 412999 Second hand bikes bought/sold/hired. Newfrom clay oven, ice cream delights, soft collection of Manju Kachuli and Benju Sharma; he edited andWith co- forceful gait he emerges Chiso Chiso Hawama Summer B&B package for Nepalis and expatriates. Rs 1,250 per head.and Club reconditioned mountain bikes for sale.guitar tunes. Fridays, Saturdays and Sun- Energetic and hands on with excellence interpersonal and days, 5 pm onwards. Special full moon translated Banira Giri’s poetry collectionFrom the Lake, Love; and from the five-o’clock-crowd Himalaya Nagarkot Resort. 410432, 414432 Himalayan Mountain Bikes—Tours and events. Daily 11am-8.30pm. Reservations presentation skills and adaptable to all levels of people. Nagarkot Escape Weekends in cottages, views of the Himalayas, valleys and forests. SpecialExpeditions. 437437. he is currently co-translating the poems of Purna BahadurRecruited Vaidya. as protagonists ring 480262. Had he not, on some vagary, given up his considerable commandfor the of play you’d have me perform, Able to communicate effectively on her or his own with rates for Nepalis and resident expatriates. Hotel Keyman Chautari. [email protected] 436850 the Nepali language, he would be the finest translator of Nepali gaining in confidence decision-makers of clients at the highest executive level. poetry: any verse he touches, even as co-translator, shimmers they speak their own words For Sale One each Casio piano modelCT- with uncommon grace. Possessing high self-confidence and creativity in Their demands appear ludicrous Amtzis’s own work, too, is no less brilliant in its formal experiments recommending solution of the clients with professional They ask for a glass of water, For insertions ring NT Marketing at 543333-36. and search for wisdom and insight. The poem below dates back to his approach and convincing ability. 1980’s oeuvre, focusing on the consecration and profanity ofa modernfew flat loaves, Kathmandu. a tablespoon of sugar, Goal-getter, extrovert, energetic, self-initiative, ambitious. a match. Between echoing traffic Aggressive with a strong drives for success. and the stealth of dusk Kali’s Curse .a bottle of cheap rum, Excellents in both spoken and written English. For inclusion in the listing send information to [email protected] A few roused at dawn, a blanket, passersby slip away Analytical computer literate. on FM 102.4 summoned to bear some insistent landlord’s load; a glass of water, a few flat loaves the rest remain on stoops where they’ve slept, There’s no end to it a tablespoon of. Initial salary will be within the above stated range and will be NEPALI WEATHER by NGAMINDRA DAHAL like toppled statues or unclaimed bodies Though the darkening street commensurate with the successful condidate qualifications and On Kathmandu’s corners crouched round burning trash, manhandles all who remain, experiences. Applications in one’s own handwritings, stating in full There is an interesting pattern of post-monsoon circulation coolies smoke or drink sweet tea in the Himalaya. Three low pressure zones, one in Mon-Fri 0615-0645orld BBC Today W a temple alcove’s refuge qualifications, and experiences, as well as currents and Without gun or kukhri, through Asan & Durbar Square expected remuneration, and a recent photograph should be sent to: northwest India, another in central India and a third in His Majesty’s soldiers jog. The blanket they speak of southeast Tibet drew a band of clouds into the central Sat 0615-0645Science BBC in Action How long will the stooped coolies standwarms us. With them Himalaya from the Bay of Bengal. Although it brought cloud aside? we sleepwalk past the angry, cover, the system failed to bring any of the expected rainSun 0615-0645Agenda BBC Executive Recruitment

DSES-26-09-2001 0200 GMT we predicted last week. So, next week look for more of At Kastamandap, a bewildered cow stands her ground the pained, the vengeful There’s no end to it! the same: low ground-hugging clouds on the valley floor in and pisses. On city roofs, stunted cactus stand guard, A narrow lane, HRD Division the mornings, hot and humid days and glorious eveningsDaily 2045-2115g]kfnL BBC ;]jf;]jfg]kfnL;]jf meat astir with captive flies hangs to dry a woman bending to her sewing, punctuated by isolated brief showers with fresh wester- VOITH Complex Splattered by cement tossed from tray to tray, lies. Characteristic pre-Dasain weather. g]kfnL ;]jfg]kfnL;]jf a sunken abattoir, Daily 2245-2300g]kfnL BBC ;]jf;]jfg]kfnL;]jf barechested workers swarm endless tiers of girder and sky Tinkune, Sinamangal a face at a window Beneath the winds borne down by brutal dreams of incarnation, P.O, Box: 233/2640 strings tangled and taut, kites swoop and crash Do we wake? Despite the blanket In a city not yet emergent from feudal crimes, gods Do we shiver? Kathmandu, Nepal KATHMANDU VALLEY Radio Sagarmatha resurrected on cinema billboards, building eclipsed peaks mourned with a carefree procession of clouds, Amtzis’s original poems, and some of their Nepali translations, P.O. Box 6958, Bakhundole, Lalitpur, Nepal streets darkened till daylight’s reprieve, “From thought to Finish” Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue can be read in the upcoming issueStudies of in Nepali History and Tel: ++977-1-545680, 545681 Fax: ++ 977-1- 530227on all avenues of access and regress, police sport thin batons and heavy wicker shields Society. Some of his work can also be accessed at the website Applications will be treated in strict confidence. Reference(s) will not be contacted unless prior approval is given by the applicant. E-mail: [email protected] www.photo-poems.com. Amtzis currently teaches chi gong and Application should reach “VOITH” on or before Oct 22, 2001. 28-18 28-18 27-17 27-17 27-18 /]l8of] ;u/dfyf www.radiosagarmatha.org meditation in Kathmandu. 181818 28 SEPTEMBER - 4 OCTOBER NEPALI 2001 TIMES ART AND SOCIETY 28 SEPTEMBER - 4 OCTOBER NEPALI 2001 TIMES 191919 bakery’s logo. Unfortunately, says Kamal, another brother, often Nepalis HAPPENINGS asked for a new bag every time they came, because they found it a hassle to carry the old one around. So now Hermann’s sells the bag for Rs 45, and donates 40 percent of the sale price to a disabled children’ fund. They also plan to introduce sturdy paper bags. Ashok retired six years ago, and now his three sons Nirmal, Kamal, and Bimal run the show with a little help from their mother, Ram Maya,

who is always on ahnd to greet NEPALNEWS customers in the morning. Besides learning from their father, the three brothers have also received training at the Hotel Management and Tourism REPUBLICANS ON DURBAR SQUARE: Lila Mani Pokhrel of the Training Centre. Each has his own task—Nirmal oversees a lot, but his United Peoples’ Front addressing a rally organised by Maoist-affiliated true passion is white bread and the organisations on Patan Durbar Square on Sunday, 23 September. perfect little cupcakes younger The people of United States of America thank Hermann’s customer’s love. Kamal handles the pastry department, while Bimal, the youngest, makes the puffs—including the chicken puff that has been the downfall of the people of Nepal for your kind words, your many who work out at the gym next door. And from time to time the founder still pops in to check KIRAN PANDEY on quality. Nirmal and his brothers are happy that more Nepalis are eating healthy, wholegrain bread, prayers, your friendship, and your offers of but Nirmal stresses: “The main thing is the satisfaction you get NOT REVOLUTIONARY: Students from Kathmandu colleges painting out of it.” over revolutionary republican slogans outside Tri Chandra Campus with Between the family and nine messages like: “Give peace a chance” on Saturday, 22 September. apprentices and helpers, this little assistance during this period of profoundSlice of heavenshop makes a lot of people happy— and in the process, takes in more everyday than even a good restaurant. Words cannot The bakery starts selling at 7am, and by mid-afternoon most of the bread, national and international tragedy. adequately rolls, buns and pies are gone. “But it is only 4’o clock,” we overheard one describe the customer lamenting, because the brown bread she came for was all joys of a gone. There’s always tomorrow, as KIRAN PANDEY Hermann’s Hermann’s devoted fans know.

bakery product. RADKAT IN ‘MANDU: Radisson Hotel launches its discount card at a to Nepal determined to produce only function on Wednesday, 19 September. Seen here are (l to r) Nirmalya ALOK TUMBAHANGPHEY ○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○ the best, never compromising on Biswas, Prerana Rai, Kent Davidson, Abhinav Rana and Vinod Sharma. ive minutes down the road quality. He decided to name his opposite Hotel Narayani is a bakery after his boss in Bremen. And Fsmall bakery. But if your nose is so a Kathmandu legend was born: functioning, you don’t need directions. Hermann Helmers bakery and Walk down that road anytime starting confectioners. After that, there was no 7am, and you will felled by the most stopping Ashok. “In the old days it delicious, enticing fragrance—fresh was all done by hand and baked in baked bread, buns, cakes, pastries wood fire ovens. Today everything and cookies. For 23 years now this is modern. We have come a long little bakery, Hermann’s to those in way,” says Nirmal, Ashok’s oldest Your expressions of support have been a greatthe know, has been serving the son, who is looking forward to neighbourhood and is known as the celebrating the family business’ 25 finest place for the perfect German bakery products. th German, we say. Yup: the sign says anniversary in 2003. comfort and a source of strength. Hermann Helmers Bäckerei und Kathmandu in the mid-70’s until he Hermann’s isn’t only about Konditorei. But don’t expect a opened up his own little outlet in the buttery cookies and scrumptiously haughty German baker. This has been,very spot that it stands today. In 1978 chewy wholemeal bread. This is a from the start, an all-Nepali family Ashok decided to enhance his skills small-enterprise with a conscience. In venture. Ashok KC was a baker doing and went to Germany to train in the order to cut down on its use of plastic, We look forward to working with you to the rounds of different hotels in art of baking. Impressed by the Hermann’s started giving its regular emphasis on quality Ashok came back customer free cloth bags with the make the world a safer place.

With warmest regards, U.S. Embassy Kathmandu and the American Community in Nepal 202020 28 SEPTEMBER - 4 OCOTBER NEPALI 2001 TIMES Under My Hat

by Kunda Dixit Kissing assets of arsonists

he Baddies have been getting some bad press of latethat has been passed down from one generation of Nepalis for allegedly— according to some hitherto to the next, right up to the present day female friskers at T independently unconfirmed reports yet to be the Departure Lounge of the Tribulation International verified in some sections of the media—persuading fellow-Airport. It works on the very simple socialist principle of Nepalis to spontaneously part with their cash out of their taking from everyone according to her ability and giving to own free will. Let me hasten to add that these are only veryanyone according to his or her greed. What this does is it preliminery reports that have not, repeat not, been cross- levels the playing field, spreads the wealth around and checked for their veracity, if any. These donations could beenables us, as a nation in the throes of development, to voluntary (and we have no reason to believe they are not) make rapid advances towards utopia. and if so, they must be part of the instructions Mr Zedong In this respect we are already way ahead of countries in left for his proteges in his last will and testament (“Go the region, having slapped a fee on just about everything forth and kiss their assets, that a fee can be slapped but give me my cut”). on. But there is no room However, at this present for complacency. We point in time, what we want have to ask ourselves: is to ask is this: how is this any there a Durbar Square different than what our own still untaxed, a peak still government and the permit-less, a tourist still bureaucracy have been ungouged? The long and doing since time in short answer to these memoriam? questions is: you bet. There is actually nothing new in all the give-and-take Glaring revenue-generation opportunities lie untapped that is going on in the name of rebellion in broad daylight right under the noses of higher-up authorities, leading to and in full view of the law enforcement agencies all over colossal losses to the national exchequer. Here are some Nepal, even as we speak. In fact, extortion has been a new fees and royalties we can start charging right away to national revenue-generation technique in this country everincrease our per capita GNP: since Manjushree was told he could not slash Chobhar Hill1. Satellite overfly rights. It has come to our notice that in two unless he first paid a royalty of $3,000 (at the an Iridium communication satellite in low-earth orbit goes prevalent Rastra Bank exchange rate) with a $50 pocket over Nepal every 30 minutes totally free of cost. Let’s money to unconcerned authorities, and another $300 charge them for every pass over Nepali air space. Mountain-Slashing Permit from the Department of 2. Arson Fee of Rs1,000 (+10%VAT) for every school Dollars and Cents valid for the Autumn Season and only bus allegedly set on fire, Rs500 for every motorcycle on hills up to an elevation of 6,000 ft. Good thing reportedly abducted, and Rs250 for every mobile Manjushree had brought along plenty of small dollar bills ostensibly kidnapped. To be paid by purported perpetra- for just such a contingency, otherwise the Ministry of tors to the Dept of Taxonomy every quarter. Irritation and Physical Inactivity in Singha Durbar would 3. Global tender for bids (in triplicate with earnest still be submerged under a picturesque lake. money in attached envelope) to dam Chobhar Gorge so Squeezing fellow citizens dry is a quaint Nepali customKathmandu Valley will be a picturesque lake again.

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