#349 18 - 24 May 2007 16 pages Rs 30

Weekly Internet Poll # 349

Q. Do you think there will be talks between the MJF and the eight-party government? Total votes: 2,828

Weekly Internet Poll # 350. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com Q. Do you expect that the government can pay the country’s petrol bills and ease the supply crisis any time soon?

SAGAR SHRESTHA

RUNNING DRY: Many Kathmandu residents are already facing a Fluid situation crippling water shortage. The limbo will last a little longer and create more complications

ANALYSIS by SHIVA GAUNLE difficult the November scenario district administration offices. projects. Schools remain closed looks. The violence between the because the government could not verywhere you look, there is In any case, agreement on poll Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha’s implement an agreement its uncertainty. There is no dates must come after Goit and Jwala Singh factions immediate predecessor signed E consensus on any major consultation with the other six claimed its fourth life this week with protesting teachers. political issue. The will to find parties too, and there is no sign of yesterday. In the cantonments, The bargaining between and political solutions to problems the much-discussed eight-party the Maoist fighters are getting within parties looks set to seems to be at an all-time low. meeting either. The coming week restless, while the verification continue, as does the inability to The follow-up to Girija Prasad could see the interim parliament process remains stalled. Madhesi, find political, rather than Koirala’s visit to Biratnagar was sitting again, and an all-party janajati, adibasi, and tharu groups lackadaisical. Yesterday the prime government meeting, but issues across the country are stepping up such as minority representation, demands for representation. New Editorial minister met with UML leader Same old Nepal p2 Madhab Kumar Nepal, and the ensuring a reliable petrol supply, groups, some of them militant, two are said to have agreed and reopening closed schools are mushrooming, further Nation tentatively on dates for the appear to be on the back burner. destabilising the state. Talk shop to political party p4 election to the constituent The vacuum in decision- The fuel crisis will not go assembly. What those dates are is making is exacerbating the already away until the subsidy-supported bureaucratic or law and order not yet certaib. The longer a fragile law and order situation. price differential is removed. solutions to the myriad issues decision on dates for the The YCL continues its Until then, the erratic supplies being thrown up. The longer the election is delayed, intimidation, could prove be a flashpoint for country remains in limbo, the the more ransacking more street action. The murder of more political, ethnic, social, and a World Bank engineer yesterday economic problems rear their by the JTMM (Goit) is a serious heads. The process to get back on setback to the energetic track is becoming even more resumption of development difficult and complicated. z 2 EDITORIAL 18 - 24 MAY 2007 #349

Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Editor: Kunda Dixit And please, send the kids home. Executive Editor: Anagha Neelakantan Design: Kiran Maharjan Web: Rupendra Kayastha Without acknowledgment, Director Sales and Marketing: Sunaina Shah [email protected] Circulation Manager: Samir Maharjan [email protected] punishment, and compensation Subscription: [email protected],5011628/29 Hatiban, Godavari Road, Lalitpur (truth, justice, reparations) for [email protected] GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu 5543333-6, Fax: 5521013 crimes committed, insecurity www.nepalitimes.com Printed at Jagadamba Press, Hatiban: 5547018 Got Plan B? will remain. After the war in The onus is on all Nepalis to Guatemala, vast impunity led to steer the country back on track the mushrooming of gang SAME OLD NEPAL activity. That’s where the YCL is So Girija Prasad Koirala has paid another flying visit to Biratnagar. or three years, since first have perhaps enabled the going. If not them, who is next? Every time this happens it is followed by some dramatic visiting Nepal in 2003, I elections to the constituent Impunity is rampant here, and pronouncement. This time the only drama was that he made a Fworked to stop US aid to assembly. blatant. Maoist leader and statement about how declaring a republic is not ‘easy’, which Narayanhiti. With the Nepali It is clear that the same issues Minister Matrika Yadav recently pleased neither the republicans nor the monarchists in his party, nor diaspora, we campaigned in underlying the conflict said: “all prisoners must be the NC’s fellow travellers, the CPN-M and the UML. Washington DC on human rights, permeated into the peace process. granted general amnesty in the This is what Koirala should be spending his time and energy on: started a website, lobbied the US The tarai uprising changed the wake of a new Nepal.” No one has 1. Resolving the deadlock in parliament Congress, organised forums, power equation and also ever been prosecuted for war 2. Finding a comprehensive framework to address the demands for worked with the media, and highlighted the need to crimes or crimes against representation most prominently from the madhesis democratise the peace process so humanity in a court of law in 3. Getting his government to get cracking on delivery all marginalised communities Nepal or elsewhere. Deals have 4. Devolving powers and finding another way to run the nation. The GUEST COLUMN Daniela Ponce can feel ownership of it. been made to keep it that way, as situation is getting just too complicated for the country to be The lack of inclusion is felt is clear in the secrecy governed from Koirala’s bedroom in Baluwatar. The non-inclusive structure of the political parties, their lack of across the board. Within the NC, surrounding the Rayamajhi consensus-building within parties and between them, as well as the protested in front of the White the Koirala dynasty still kicks. report. Violators didn’t just walk inability of the 7+1 to prove to Nepalis that there is government and House. I say this to hopefully get It’s business as usual that Prime away unpunished, they were that it can deliver have given the governing alliance a major your ‘okay’ in allowing yet Minister Koirala took his rewarded with positions of credibility handicap. What we are seeing is not a promised ‘new’ another arrogant foreigner to talk. daughter Sujata, and not his power. Nepal but an ‘old’ Nepal run by the ‘same old’ faces. Come up with a plan B, that is. foreign minister to meet Sonia In Latin America we’d never The one party that fought and suffered long and hard to liberate Don’t expect the UN to tell Gandhi at the SAARC summit dismiss airily the forces the ‘people’ with violence has been unable or unwilling to make a smooth transition to mainstream politics. Its ministers in you that the peace process is last month. Or that the party controlling an army. And as government are perceived to be no different than past ministers who failing. There are jobs, and a district presidents’ meeting democracy day in Dakshinkali loved to pontificate from the pulpit rather than show by actions that world reputation to keep. But it wasn’t able to ask for more than pointed out—with the army’s 21- they are serious about improving the living conditions of the people. is no small matter that UNMIN’s “clarity on the monarchy”. The gun salute, band, and fanfare for Nepalis, long used to being let down by the thulo manchhes in the second phase of arms/ armies UML isn’t much better. Despite the king—you shouldn’t either. capital, are not surprised. But they are deeply disappointed. registration and verification has the lack of consensus within the In addition, there are new Sometimes it’s not real implementation but the perception that been ‘delayed.’ Neither is the lack party, Madhab Nepal does not advisories for US citizens the government is serious about implementation that will satisfy the people. Given how little we have come to expect of Singha Darbar, of political will in parliament to seem bothered by an un-elected, travelling to Nepal. The CPN-M is launching a few fast-track infrastructure schemes or a national pass basic legislation that would un-representative parliament still on its list of terrorist campaign to raise the quality of government schools or upgrade deciding the fate of the organisations. And that’s a legal staffing in all district hospitals would do the trick. monarchy. basis for Washington to funnel But there isn’t even the collective intelligence to do Why do the leaders feel so money to the king’s allies again. such showcase activities. empowered to speak on behalf of I advocated against US aid to And who will believe all the rhetoric about the people? Ironically, though the palace—military and inclusiveness from the Big Eight when their own internal party structures are so dominated by high most Nepalis tend to associate otherwise—because I was castes? As the most revolutionary member of the with one political party or encouraged by the Nepali alliance you’d expect the Maoists to at least show another, those very parties are people’s determination to shape tokenism, but they are even worse than the NC and generally dismissed as corrupt their own future. Now, again, the UML. Of the 35 member CPN-M central and irrelevant. Why not make there are serious issues to committee 25 are bahun-chhetri. Even in the them accountable instead? address. The Nepali people must western region where the Maoists declared The Maoists have never come up with a plan B: make autonomous Gurung and Magar zone, nine of the 13 districts have bahun or chhetri chiefs. Of the 37 bragged about their love for human rights a priority, central committee members of the NC, there is only democracy, but they have lied democratise, educate, mobilise. one dalit. Of the 15 permanent members of the about their ‘commitment’ to the Continue to inspire people all UML, 13 are bahuns. poor, and to their own cadre. In over as you did with the Jana We are not going to have a new Nepal unless the countryside, they have Andolan. the parties first start putting their own houses in replaced the semi-feudal system order. with yet another system of fear Chilean Daniela Ponce conducted and exploitation: their own. But her graduate research on the role THE PAST IS ANOTHER COUNTRY: Members of they should at least be loyal to of student movements in Nepal. the YCL and the ANNISU (R) destroyed statues of their own supporters, and stop She was most recently with the past kings around Nepal on Tuesday. using the inhuman conditions in Institute for Policy Studies in the camps as a bargaining chip. Washington DC. SAGAR SHRESTHA Biratnagar’s bookkeepers This mercantile town is a hotbed of nation-defining politics

iratnagar, settled in a glade less than importance. committed supporters of monarchy in Singh Karki, and Tolaram Dugar brought 75 years ago, still bears a potted-plant Early this week, speculation was that whatever form. Nepal’s mercantilists have Kirtinidhi Bista to Biratnagar. B look. Unlike old tarai towns such as Koirala would deliver the final blow to the been cosy with the rulers since Jung The town also came to be known as the Janakpur, Birganj, or Nepalganj, which grew monarchy and effectively steal the Maoists’ Bahadur. Chandra Sumshere refined that home of various prime ministers. It has organically, the settlement here is thunder. the relationship further, and Juddha, who been the stomping ground of all three predictable. Instead, he delivered a damp squib, benefited from the boost in trade during Koirala brothers, Man Mohan Adhikari, Neat little plots by roads running at right saying that it was not as easy to establish a World War II, invested some of the loot in Nagendra Prasad Rijal, Surya Bahadur angles to each other, sedate bungalows, republic as many of the lesser politicians industry. Biratnagar was home to some of Thapa, Mahesh Acharya, and Bharat believe in the coalition that he heads. his entrepreneurial ventures. Mohan Adhikari. Not too many are proud of Nobody understands the staying power King Mahendra courted Mananges and Badri Prasad Mandal, but he too has an STATE OF THE STATE of the monarchy better than the man who Marwaris in his efforts to build a parasitic independent support base here. C K Lal has been fighting it for over six decades. economy based on the vulnerabilities of That pahadi domination of this town is He knows that for a declaration of a state protection in neighbouring India. King being questioned after January. For an orderly shopfronts, no children playing republic to be significant, the objective Birendra gave continuity to the tradition, emerging group of madhesis, Upendra football in the street, not even on a Saturday conditions that support the king have to and screwdriver manufacturing, Yadav is Biratnagar’s new icon. He is now evening. There are no abrupt turns, no blind change. repackaging of exports, re-routing of a sworn republican, but his distaste of the alleys, and no surprises for a visitor taking The April Uprising has severely imports boomed in Morang. During the mainstream parties and Maoists is even a leisurely stroll. The dullness of the weakened the five M’s that have always 1970s, almost all the country’s big stronger than his anti-monarchy cityscape, however, is made up for by the supported the monarchy—the military, the business houses thought it essential to sentiments. His connection with Morang’s rumour-mongering around Traffic Chok. mandarins, the merchants, the mendicants, have a presence in Biratnagar. influential Marwari community isn’t yet Local journalists eagerly await every and the mediators. Some of these In these glory days, Matrika Prasad clear. The monarchy has powerful backers homecoming of Girija Prasad Koirala. traditional forces now support some form of Koirala schmoozed with Marwaris. The in this mercantilist town and Koirala seems These are their chances to scoop national democracy for tactical reasons, but it will Golchhas had a close relationship with to have reluctantly accepted this for now. headlines, and Koirala often obliges with take a lot more for them to turn republican. Surya Bahadur Thapa. The Madan Lal- But he has to balance this with his pithy soundbites on issues of national The merchants continue to be the most Chiranjivi Lal duo patronised Bhupal Man republican constituency. 18 - 24 MAY 2007 #349 3

LLL ETTERS

ROCKY ROAD violence, and the YCL, which is run by take legal matters into their personal should be executed—hanged. I also Who would have thought it would come morally and ethically corrupt people with discretion. Then who will tame them? asked which option they would pick and to this: that one of the most respected mental issues. Nubina Shrestha, Lancaster all of them—republicans included—said papers in the country would call Prachanda is not at all in control of his ‘hang on tight.’ Pushpa Kamal Dahal a ‘moderate’, and quasi-political military party and seems The YCL makes me sick. My spouse Do be careful while using idioms. Or that we’d not split our sides or hurl more intent on taking over the country, is from mainland China and I’ve heard it starts to seem as if you want to garner (‘Peace train’, #348). As distasteful as rather than following party guidelines. And enough stories from my in-laws (who were support for the monarchy in a clandestine it is to admit this, you are right. I might so, for his own safety, he’s promising the ‘bourgeois’, i.e., educated professionals) to manner by fooling the people in favour of extend that assessment to add that world to the fools below him. But we should know how these things spiral into insanity the monarchy. he’s a middle-of-the-roader because all know one thing: republic or no, poor and of the kind propagated by the Red Guard. Badri P Bastakoti, email he’s as greedy as the rest of them. rich people will continue as they are now. Nima T, Shanghai The fellow-passengers analogy is a Living in a third world country means UPSIDE DOWN good one; after all, not long ago having to deal with huge trade offs between PAST LESSONS Yea, and verily I say unto thee, the Ass communists in states that were left- limited choices. But the Maoists, while History cannot be rewritten or destroyed, speaks the truth. All the fears of the unfriendly identified themselves as they still have the support of many people, which is why I am so concerned about the impeding apocalypse in Nepal aside, it ‘fellow travellers’. In this case, we are continue to promise us heaven so we feel demolition of so many historical monuments really does often feel as if the country all journeying together all right, on what that it’s all the other parties who are and statues, no matter of which religious has fallen into some bad film about appears to be a road to nowhere. responsible for the recent setbacks. Sure, group or king. We need to preserve them at medieval theatre, where the ass is the Sanjeev, email least to respect the workmanship of wise one. You’re spot on about no one the artists. Yes, we are deeply angry taking night buses to conventions any I was impressed by CK Lal’s well- at the monarchy, but why waste more. Having had the opportunity to researched ‘Rocky road to republic’ energy on lifeless objects? The observe the slowly changing habits of (State of the state, #348). The article monarchy will be gone one day, and some of my new neighbours (certain comes at a time when Girija Prasad it will be good to have its relics in a comrades who shall not be named), I can Koirala has presented us with a stark museum, so future generations can safely say that while power does not choice between two dictatorships—one know about the elites who treated necessarily corrupt, it can buy you under the rule of his own Nepali their own countrymen like animals. modest middle class cars, schools for Congress, with the eight parties in tow, Gaurav Nepali, email your kids, flashy boots and t-shirts, and and the other, reverting back to the mirrored sunglasses. Not so much a previous model, which was shunned OLD BIASES proletarian revolution as a somewhat by the eight parties for being Fukuyama fundamentally fails tasteless assault of middle class exclusionary. to define ’democracy’ or aspiration, complete with hideously Do the Nepali people really have no ‘liberalisation’ (‘The history at the upholstered plastic-covered sofas. choice other than this chronic end of history’, opinion, #347). Name withheld, email republicanism? Most of us really just Bush and his cronies also fail to want to chug along the middle do so, and we’ve seen the My family-by-marriage is, I soon democratic path. Lambasting the king outcomes. He presents a found out, very sober indeed. My regular alone won’t help GPK this time, modernist position of liberalism hysterical snorts of laughter on reading although my sympathies are with him, that is a western, protestant Nepali Times’ back page were greeted since the UML’s Bharat Mohan economic and socio political with an alarmed silence in my first few Adhikari is threatening to pull out theory that has clearly failed in weeks living with them. Now, six months from the interim parliament and you can build castles in the air, but do many places (just look at the current later, the father-in-law is also a devout the government, if things do not start you know how difficult and time-consuming political issues in the UK). Instead of reader of the Ass. This is something, taking shape as conceived during Jana that is? arguing superiority, such academics should given that these good people are Andolan II. Effective development programs come focus on the postmodernist success stories otherwise very suspicious of anything The honeymoon phase is now over, from rigorous testing and cross-checking in South Asia, such as the development of that seems like a flippant, good time. eight-partywallas. The people want to of strategic plans, and keeping government legal theory in India, and acknowledge that Anusha, email see the democratic baby kicking and staff in check. I wonder how Maoists are modernism is not the answer to all. well, and bawling out a new mantra for going to do all that. O Spencer-Shrestha, Nepal Society, political nirvana. And this is not as Dino Shrestha, email School of Oriental and African Studies, simple as the rebel’s republican ruse London LETTERS which won’t succeed in any case, CLUELESS Nepali Times welcomes feedback. given our geopolitical limitations and Pranav Budhathoki is more or less bang on BAD LANGUAGE Letters should be brief and may be pressure from the international about our puerile communists (‘Young Your newspaper’s opinion poll “What is the edited for space. While pseudonyms community, which wants to see a Clueless League’, #348). I don’t recall best option for King Gyanendra?” (#347) is can be accepted, writers who peaceful democratic dispensation in reading anything coming out of Nepal highly flawed, considered from the provide their real names and contact Nepal, ceremonial monarchy and all. which suggests that we should be perspective of how to make a good details will be given preference. Surya B Prasai, email embracing the YCL comrades rather than research question. The fourth option, ‘hang Email letters should be in text format ignoring and abominating them, and believe on tight’ is understood in many different without attachments with ‘letter to the Right now, the Nepali people blame that such articles underline Nepali Times’s ways by several readers I spoke with. editor’ in the subject line. the prime minister for protecting the even-handed reporting. This struck me when I saw that the king. After all, so many lives were lost But the article raises eyebrows too. I largest number of respondents chose ‘hang- Email: [email protected] with the goal of removing the king from don’t think paying YCL gangs for on tight’. After all, this is at a time when the Fax: 977-1-5521013 power and from the country. But as it neighbourhood watch-style patrols is going masses are overtly expressing Mail: Letters, Nepali Times, GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal. turns out, the true hindrance to peace to do any good. It will only encourage anti-monarchy views. Most people I asked is not kingji or Girija babu. It is ethnic people and groups, violent or otherwise, to said that to them the phrase meant that he 4 NATION 18 - 24 MAY 2007 #349 The rise of a party In a decade, the MJF has gone from being a talk shop to one of the most powerful forces in national politics

MALLIKA ARYAL criminal organisation.” Sarita Giri of the Nepal n 1997, a group of madhesi Sadbhawana Party-Anandi Devi, intellectuals and students says the MJF is not in the least I banded together to discuss militant. “They are not armed, their concerns and issues. There Gaur was retaliation against the was no formal membership in this Maoists because they had Biratnagar-based group and disrupted their activities in participants included leftists and Bhairahawa and Nepalganj,” she members of other mainstream argues. parties. The common denominator Meantime, there is said to be a was their disenchantment with few faultlines showing in the the big parties and the sense that forum, one between the more left- their debates were largely ignored. wing members and Yadav, and the The Madhesi Janadhikar Forum other between Yadav’s supporters soon emerged as the most- who believe this was the right respected, representative platform time to register a party and Gupta’s for madhesi issues. group, which argues that In the same year, the Maoists fundamental issues need to be celebrated their first anniversary settled before deciding to contest underground by intensifying their elections. There are signs of a split struggle in the mid-west, Nepal in the ranks—an insider tells us had three unstable coalition that of the 25 members in the governments, and the human working committee, only 13 rights situation deteriorated as RAM SARRAFF members’ names were on the list scores were detained by the state. TARAI RISING: This mass demonstration in Birganj, one of the many during the Madhes Uprising, was given to the Election Commission attended by almost 100,000 participants from all over Parsa. Ten years later, the Maoists during registration. Gupta pooh- have entered into the peace poohs this and says that though process, and the MJF has turned because he did not agree with the fundamentalist groups in India, Gupta said that since Gaur, Yadav his proposal lost out, he will relatively violent. Both, however, Maoist plan to divide madhes into such as the Rastiya Swayamsevak has not been allowed to move support the MJF as a party. are now registered as parties with ‘Madhes Autonomous Region’ and Sangh (RSS). In December Yadav freely or explain “his side of Yadav gets the most publicity, the Election Commission and ‘Tharuwan Autonomous Region’. attended a meeting of rightwing the story”. but there are other prominent much of the fight for influence Vijay Kant Karna, chairperson of Hindu groups in Gorakhpur and That Gupta and other figures in the forum, such as in the madhes is between these Jagrit Nepal says, “No one was spoke out publicly about making moderate madhesi leaders took a veteran leftist leader Sitananda two fronts. happy in the tarai with the Nepal a Hindu nation again. A careful line on Gaur while Raya, and MJF secretary general Insiders tell us that the Maoist Maoists because they called it month later he was leading the speaking to us is an indication of Ram Kumar Sharma. There are two leadership was sympathetic to the Madhes Government but high movement for a secular federal the pan-madhesi appeal that the vice chairmen Bhagyanath Gupta, a Forum at the start, and even ranks in their party were given republic. forum still has. On the one hand, professor at Birganj’s Thakur Ram instrumental in organising it. to pahadis.” “He can be highly influenced they argued, Gaur was ‘retaliation’ Bahumukhi Campus, and Kishore Around 1999 Upendra Yadav, then After the 1 February 2005 royal by others,” says Nepali Congress for months of harassment and Biswas Tharu, a former member of a regular member of UML, started takeover Upendra Yadav and Jaya MP Amresh Kumar Singh, adding, disruption of MJF meetings by Nepal Sadbhawana Party. becoming closer to the Maoists. Prakash Gupta, former general “If you try to play with all the the Maoists Tarai Mukti Morcha. “As a political party our agenda In February 2004, Upendra secretary of the MJF and present powers, you forget the cause you On the other, most admit it was a is pretty clear—we want Yadav, Maoist leaders Matrika Nepali Congress MP started were fighting for.” Like most tactical mistake. democratic system of governance, Yadav and Mohan Baidya were travelling back and forth between madhesi leaders who do not “If the MFJ had been willing autonomous federal structure, arrested in Delhi. Upendra Yadav India and Nepal to prepare for a actively profess membership in to sit for talks right after the proportional elections, and we was let go after a couple of movement in Nepal. After last the MJF, Singh too is said to have Madhes Uprising, they could have want Nepal to be a republic” says months, while Matrika Yadav and year’s April Uprising Upendra had a falling out with Yadav. bargained their way into more Jitendra Sonal, MJF’s secretariat Mohan Baidya were handed over Yadav returned to Nepal and in Jaya Prakash Gupta, who is madhesi representation and member. to Nepali authorities and were the eight months after Jana close to Yadav, says the investigations of Lahan and Analysts say that given the lack released in 2006. Those close to Andolan II, the MJF had accusations of alliances with the Nepalganj, and pressured the of commitment seen on the part of Upendra Yadav say that during the successfully held meetings in palace and Indian fundamentalist prime minister to implement the the government to resolving time of his arrest he was already almost all the districts of Nepal. groups are misguided. “If promises made during his second madhesi issues, the MJF as a trying to distance himself from Since then, the forum and mainstream political parties meet address,” says Chandra Kishore, political party could take off the Maoists because of Yadav have been accused of both with big Indian leaders, no one editor of Terai News Magazine in stronger than those who call the discrimination he felt in the ranks flip-flopping and forming calls that an ‘unholy alliance’,” Birganj. “Now, after Gaur, forum irresponsible might within the Maoist hierarchy and alliances with Hindu Gupta told us from Biratnagar. everyone fears the forum as a imagine. z NATION 18 - 24 MAY 2007 #349 5 The art of spin Let’s talk about all the good things

Washington DC – At a conference people are thinking about girls appearing for SLC in the last here, attended by people from investing again. And virtually all few years. over a hundred countries, the these developments are The failure of the government Beed was asked the same homegrown, the result of Nepali of Nepal to appoint ambassadors questions repeatedly. How the efforts. is unpardonable. But our diaspora ‘civil war’ situation in Nepal is, It’s true enough that the isn’t doing very much for the and whether the Maoists are business of media thrives on motherland either. The talk is taking over the country. sensationalism, but who says we still about problems rather than just have to sit quiet, resigned to solutions. It seems that, as ECONOMIC SENSE our fate? There are any number of Nepalis become more upwardly strategies we can cobble together mobile, they get more and more Artha Beed to build a positive cynical about Nepal. One bidesi communication strategy for Nepali recently admitted as Now these people are clearly Nepal. There are ways to counter much, saying “it doesn’t really not ignorant about Nepal’s recent the impact of what the Beed likes matter what happens in Nepal, history. What they are is ill- educated. Can’t blame them. After all, look at the primary sources of information out there—the Indian papers, the websites and wire services give the impression “A new war of continuous disturbance in Nepal, and the US has issued another travel advisory. There are no good stories out strategy” there, because we haven’t been telling them effectively. Why KIRAN PANDAY aren’t we letting the world know how, since April last year, we’ve KIRAN PANDAY Nanda Kishore Pun (‘Pasang’), Maoist central been undergoing a transition few committee member, PLA deputy commander, IMAGE BUILDING: A peaceful poetry recitation in Kirtipur by students countries in the world have during Jana Andolan II gave a hopeful message about the situation in and vice-chair of the joint arms management managed. The former rebels are in Nepal to the rest of the world. committee spoke with Nepali Times about government, and the fate of an arms verification and the Maoists' over 200 year-old institution, the to call ‘Thursday columnists’— Nepal-bashing is a habit.” performance in government. monarchy, awaits decision by a reporters who translate the gossip All these reasons are why we constituent assembly. Also in in the midweek tabloids and file need, in whatever capacity we Nepali Times: Why are the Maoists under attack from all sides? this short time we’ve agreed on them as legitimate stories on the can, to tell our stories and tell Nanda Kishore Pun: When we pushed for a republic, national and federalism in principle, and international wires. We may be them well. The old shangri-la international powers felt that the Nepali people would lose faith in other communities that have been used to reading such speculative, story was tired enough. Do we political parties. We were expecting these challenges when we gave up excluded for decades are finally mud-slinging pieces, but what really want to be saddled with the war and joined mainstream politics. That said, it is difficult to oppose being allowed a voice. People are do you think the world makes of little more than a ‘shangri-la gone an alliance that is conservative, regressive, and highly influenced by travelling freely within their own them? Especially when that is all sour’ image—the royal massacre foreign forces. country. It’s hard to get a seat on they read, and almost nothing on and the Maoists, relieved only by Your proposal that the interim parliament declare Nepal a republic didn’t a plane coming into Nepal. our successes, such as how the Everest. It’s incredible how much garner support. Public offerings of shares are emphasis on education for girl more you can do, if you have We don’t expect everyone to agree with that proposal. If there is over-subscribed, the stock children has led directly a 50 some control over how you are consensus, we will go forth with that. Those who want to save the exchange index is climbing, and percent increase in the number of perceived. monarchy are worried that the Maoists will lead once Nepal is a republic. They are using this issue to create obstacles.

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Is there revolt simmering within the CPN-M? ○○○○○○○ Our ‘people’s war’ was long and difficult. So many came to it and and so The nomination period for the 2008 Millennium Marcopolo Travels is offering new packages for many more left. There were many ups and downs, some did really well Technology Prize has begun. The prize is holidays in Malaysia under the ‘Dream Holidays’ and reached high up in the party, while others escaped. Laxman Tharu, awarded for any innovation that improves the package with a two day- three night stay at either who escaped from our party, had links with regressive and other power quality of Kota Kanabalu or Kuching. Also on offer are centres. We were discussing whether or not to take action against him human life and seven day-six night Egypt vacations starting at when he decided to quit the party. encourages Rs 32,000 on twin-share basis. Two- and three- sustainable night Star Cruise Singapore package are Why has your relationship with India blown cold now? development. available for Rs 54,000 on twin-share. All prices India did not like us talking about Nepali nationalism. When we said Previous winners include Tim Berners-Lee, are subject to tax. Nepali is being Sikkimised, they fuelled the madhes movement and inventor of the worldwide web. Candidates can turned on us. They are trying to turn Nepali into another Bhutan. We work in any technological field, anywhere in the

don’t want to be enemies with India, but they also have to understand our world. Nominations can be submitted by Life ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ difficulties. scientific academies, universities, and research ○○○○○○○ institutions. The nominations should be made by Life, billed the biggest fashion store in Have you brought about any changes since you joined the government? regular mail, no later than 1 October. Detailed Kathmandu, recently opened at the United World The roots of the ‘bureaucracy’ were deep in the old Nepal. We have instructions are at www.millenniumprize.fi. The Trade Centre. The store offers branded clothes, always known that, and realise that we cannot do much unless there is a winner will be announced and awarded on shoes and accessories for men, women, and transformation in that sphere. We joined the government to successfully 11 June 2008. children from Nike, Reebok, Bossini, Pepe conduct elections to the constituent assembly and move parliament to Jeans, and Puma, and a section devoted to declare Nepal a republic. When we know that we cannot do either, we kurtha-suruwal. Life is owned by Soap and

will take a different path ahead. Go Liverpool Chemical Industries.

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ It’s time again for Carlsberg’s annual ‘Win a They say there are thousands of minors in the camps. football trip to Liverpool’ campaign. Participants

The media associated with the UN said that there are 9,000 minors in the New food ○○○○○○○○○○○○○ camps. Even Ian Martin has said that, but that is just a rumour. The UN The Soaltee Crowne should understand that it has taken on the role of a guardian and be Plaza recently launched a careful before making blanket statements that could hamper the peace new restaurant, Kakori, process. If they do not respect the tripartite agreement, we can also which serves traditional criticise the UN. We know what kind of people are in the UN, who they north Indian Awadhi-style are loyal towards, whose money is running the organisation, and what kebabs, curries, pulaos, kind of force has entered in the name of peace keeping. and biryanis. Nawab fill out a coupon available at selected Carlsberg Haider Kazmi is an Why has the arms verification process stopped? outlets. The winner, who will fly to a Liverpool advisor. Soaltee Crowne The government has a new war strategy. It thinks that withholding money FC game at their home stadium on an Plaza is a five-star deluxe and rations from the fighters will make some of them escape the harsh all-expenses paid trip, will get to present the hotel spread across on 11 acres of land, and conditions and others try to revolt. The main obstacles in the arms Man of the Match award. Last year’s winner was hosts Nepal’s biggest casino and Kathmandu’s verification process now are the ministries of Home Affairs, Finance, Yugesh Bhakta Shrestha. only 24-hour shopping mall. and Peace and Reconstruction. 6 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 18 - 24 MAY 2007 #349

particularly the financial crisis. The fighters are in camps that are quite different from the luxurious city I dissent life some of the leaders are getting used to. This Left in disarray inequality is not a result of the ‘people’s war’, but of the broadly consensual reformist line the party is Laxman Chaudhary (‘Roshan’) in Nepal, 13 May taking. Ghatana Ra Bichar, 16-22 May Forget about the days of Mao, Lenin, and a socialist world. We must now focus on what the When we announced that we were splitting from people want. The only hope in Nepal for any While CPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has been lobbying to the CPN-M and organising our own struggle, the transformation is unity between the eight parties, and declare Nepal a republic before the constituent assembly elections, Maoists started a systematic smear campaign in civil society. To abandon the wishes of the people there are rumours of a struggle against him within his own party. against us. and for one party to dominate politics would lead to A highly placed source told us that members of his party are Those who question our decision think we will failure. Janajati and adibasi voices are no longer criticising him for not being able to announce election dates. They start a new armed movement in the name of weak. The Tharus have also risen. Yet there are still are also not happy with the arrangement for the fighters in the camps. ethnicity. Yes, this is a struggle, but we will not kamaiyas in the homes of Maoist leaders. They are frustrated about the party’s uncertain future, and say Dahal take up arms. During arms verification, we were Questioning such practices is considered tantamount made concessions to India that went against nationalist feeling. ordered to hide some of our weapons and to being against the struggle. But one must always Even staunch supporters, such as Mohan Baidya (‘Kiran’) are technical equipment. We did so, but now we still speak out against inequality, even inside one’s own becoming critical of him. When Baidya was released from an Indian have them. We will not use them, nor will we hand party. The leaders make mistakes too, and it’s wrong prison seven months ago, political analysts predicted that this could them over to the Maoists. If the government is to say that all their decisions were good. Our struggle disrupt the CPN-M’s internal politics. At the party’s recent central ready, we are willing to talk to them and hand over is against this culture of unquestioning acceptance of working committee meeting in Kamidanda, Kabhre, Dahal was again the weapons. If we really wanted to spread leaders’ decisions. criticised. Observers say that an internal struggle against Dahal will ethnically motivated terror, we could provoke the For the Maoists now, both flexibility and rigidity have serious consequences. Tharus to do so. But that would be unfortunate for could be suicidal. They can neither The CPN-M is under pressure from the other parties to change the entire country. break the eight-party unity and its stance on the return of the property seized during the conflict, and We know so much about so many Maoist return to war, nor accept all the the activities of the YCL. Baidya maintains that the Maoist movement leaders that we could expose them if we wanted decisions made by the parties and has not stopped and that seized property will not be returned. Inside to. But our struggle is not against a person or a stay in government. Pushpa the party, his supporters are said to include Ram Bahadur Thapa leader in the party. We do not trust the party’s Kamal Dahal is wrong to say that (‘Badal’), Janardan Sharma (‘Prabhakar’), and Netra Bahadur Chand current policies— they can neither capture power a continuation of the struggle is (‘Biplab’). A highly placed source told us that Baidya believes more via armed struggle, nor be a part of the possible only if the Maoists than 10,000 fighters will support him in a campaign against Dahal. government and bring about radical stay in the government. Inside Baidya blames Dahal for not pushing nationalism, the ‘third level’ transformation. the party there is of struggle now emerging. He wants to address issues like the The Maoists used ethnic issues during their disappointment Kalapani argument. Many believe that this new phase will also be movement, and are now doing the same with other about this. armed and that the Maoists will use the 5,000 modern weapons issues to lure some people and assure others. they reportedly hid in 13 different places in the first round of They want to show their flexibility and so sign all the arms/armies verification process. The recently-ousted kinds of agreements, but this hurts the party. [sic] Laxman Tharu [sic], who is said to be faithful to the There is also no longer the feeling of sacrifice that ‘third level’ struggle group, is said to have over 500 of drove the party until a year ago. The leadership is these. (See ‘I dissent’.) simultaneously espousing a peaceful policy and Baidya’s biggest strength is Janardan Sharma, who encouraging party workers to accept a ‘new’ is very popular with the fighters. The fourth division of model that promotes terror and violence. The the ‘people’s liberation army’ is allegedly holding secret people will only trust the Maoists if they publicly meetings to strategise against Dahal’s policies. accept that their war was a failure, and work There is alarm that a potential split in the Maoist towards setting a progressive, constitutional path. ranks would harm the peace process and democracy, by The CPN-M’s leadership is desperately trying encouraging regressive forces. to hide the inconsistencies within the party,

KARNA SHAH FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 18 - 24 MAY 2007 #349 7 Poudel vs Yami only start after the next round of land of most victims was

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ verification, when the number of captured in September 2005, Jana Aastha, 16 May Maoist fighters would drop by when the king was visiting over 50 percent. Baglung. Only a handful of them Minister of Peace and Meanwhile, it is understood have received compensation from Reconstruction Ram Chandra that the engineers who will be the district administration office, Poudel is telling to anyone who involved in the survey will be and they all say it was will listen that he had told paid Rs 75,000 plus benefits. The inadequate, given that 0.05 “Girija babu” not to allow the country is paying Rs 3.1 million hectare normally go for over Rs Maoists to control the Ministry for the survey alone. 800,000 here. for Physical Planning and Works Colonel Rabindra Shrestha of

because they’d make a mess of Land grab the 23rd brigade admits that land ○○○○○○○○○

Melamchi. Poudel also says Girija ○○○○○○○○ has been seized, but says in most Prasad Koirala told the Maoists Naya Patrika, 16 May cases the army was compelled to that Poudel’s ministry would do so. Shrestha and Baglung CDO MIN BAJRACHARYA take on some of the tasks of the During the first emergency in Krishna Prasad Lamsal say that Ministry of Physical Planning to 2001, the then Royal Nepal Army’s they can only address people’s appointment letters and salaries by his predecessor. create a rift between the Maoists 23rd Brigade encroached on some grievances if the orders to do linked to qualifications, and It’s been over a week since the and Poudel. land around their cantonment in come from ‘above’. annulment of the Company Act. Maoist-affiliated ANNISU-R Any time Poudel and Minister Baglung. During the royal regime The Nepal Army has seized The protesting teachers and padlocked the accounts sections of Physical Planning and Works they took over two-and-a-half land in other parts of Baglung too. the ministry signed a six-point of private schools demanding a Hisila Yami meet, they argue. hectares to construct a helipad for In Jhingate they seized another agreement in March when UML’s fee ceiling. In higher education, They recently argued at a meeting the king. “It started during the 1.25 hectares of land, and in Mangal Siddhi Manandhar was the positions of vice chancellor of to discuss how to spend the first emergency, and by now the Biyou they took 1.5 hectares. The the minister. The government was various universities have still not money allocated for the camps. army has taken over almost a army’s spokesman says that land to implement the agreement by been filled. The entire education The general opinion was that the hectare of my land. I got no was seized all over Nepal and that 23 April. But soon after the deal system has come to a complete committees, comprising the chief compensation, and nor do I think return and compensation will be was signed, the interim standstill due to these agitations, district officers of the districts they will return it,” says Sahdev agreed upon at the local level. government was set up and the and looks chaotic. where the camps are, PLA Rajbhandari, who is a central agreement forgotten. The present Those agitating should also cantonment commanders, committee member of the School scandal Minister of Education, the UML’s understand the challenges the

representatives from Department Federation of Nepalese Chamber of ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Pradeep Nepal, said publicly that interim government is facing and of Buildings, and district Commerce. “During the royal Editorial in Kantipur, 16 May he knew nothing about the that there is only so much that accounts officers, should approve regime we were scared to speak. agreement, which was widely can happen during a period of spending on the building of But now, a year after the The Maoist-affiliated Nepal publicised when it was signed. transition. And while the permanent structures for the restoration of democracy, there Education Republican Forum That was an irresponsible remark, government’s priority is elections fighters in the camps. Yami said still isn’t anyone listening to us?” (NERF), which claims to protect and spurred NERF to resume its to the constituent assembly, it the budget should be coordinated he added. the rights of teachers, has agitation. doesn’t mean they can ignore the just by Maoist army commanders. Land belonging to Baglung’s indefinitely shut down private As a result, schools across agreement made in March. The “We don’t know who the former mayor Rishi Ram Sharma and public school across Nepal Nepal are closed indefinitely, protesting teachers also need to fighters are, how many there are, and deputy mayor Padma Chandra because the Ministry of Education while the Ministry does not even understand that this is not the or how many want to return Rajbhandari has also been failed to implement the bother to talk to the teachers. time to demand the cancellation home, so why spend taxpayers’ encroached upon and now lies agreements signed in March. Nepal should understand that as of the three-year education plans, money?” Poudel asked recently. inside the Nepal Army’s barbed NERF is demanding that private a minister he is obliged to education strategy according to He says the construction should wire-protected cantonment. The educational institutions provide implement the agreement signed party policies, and so on.

The government is happy with the government’s work!

Basu Kshitij in Annapurna Post, 12 May

QUOTE OF THE WEEK Conspiracies are being hatched to send us back to “ “war. But we will not leave Kathmandu. It is now the turn of feudal conservatives to go to the jungle.

Deputy commander of the PLA Barsa Man Pun (‘Ananta’) quoted in Rajdhani, 14 May.

SELECTED MATERIAL TRANSLATED EVERY WEEK FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 8 MEDIA A photogenic

hotojournalism has taken off in a big way in Nepal in recent years. The range of subjects receiving coverage, the quality of the images, and their use in print media for maximum impact have all improved Pdramatically. These winning images of the first ever photojournalism contest organised by the National Forum of Photo Journalists (NFPJ) and Photo Concern are some of the excellent photographs taken in the last year. Ninety-one photographers submitted 328 pictures, but there were just 13 winners, three each in the news, feature, sports, and environment categories, and the grand prize winner ‘press photo of the year’. Sagar Shrestha’s dramatic Jana Andolan II shot bagged the Rs 50,000 press photo of the year award. Winners of the top three spots in the individual categories were: Rajendra Manandhar, Ravi Manandhar, and Sundar Shrestha for news; Eakal Silwal, Chandra Shekhar Karki, and Sailendra Kharel for features; Sailendra Kharel, Janak Nepal, and Saligram Tiwari for environment; and Udipt Singh Chhetry, Tashi R Ghale, and Prakash Mathema for sports.

The contest was judged by veteran photographers Mani Lama and Nrip Dhoj Khadka, NFPJ president Bikash Rauniyar, Kantipur editor Narayan Wagle, and industrialist Gajananda Vaidya.

GRAND PRIZE

NEVER TOO YOUNG TO BE PUT DOWN: A young boy fighting off members of the Armed Police Force during the April Uprising in Gongabu, Kathmandu, Nepal, 2006.

ENVIRONMENT, THIRD PRIZE ENVIORMENT, FIRST PRIZE

PLEASE MAKE IT STOP: A young girl finds time for contemplation POLLUTED FAITH: It’s business as usual for temple workers as devotees take in a brick factory in Kathmandu, 2006. ‘purifying’ dip in the Bagmati by Pashupathinath on Shrawane Sombar, 2006. SALIGRAM TIWARI 18 - 24 MAY 2007 #349 9 year

NEWS, SECOND PRIZE

BLIND PREJUDICE: Vision-impaired protestors demanding a quota in the interim parliament at Singha Darbar, Kathmandu, 2006. RAVI MANANDHAR

SAGAR SHRESTHA

FEATURE, FIRST PRIZE

BEARING IT ALL: Women and their children taking home firewood along the banks of the Narayani river in Gaidakot, Nawalparasi, 2006. EAKAL SILWAL

SPORTS, SECOND PRIZE e a CAN’T TOUCH ME: There’s fierce competition at the annual horse race in Manang, 2006.

SAILENDRA KHAREL TASHI R GHALE 10 NATION 18 - 24 MAY 2007 #349 Deadly silence A free media is essential for a free society

ost of us live our lives by years. We mark the passage of time with birthdays, anniversaries, and religious and M secular holidays that come up each time the calendar cycles. Weeks follow weeks, months drift by, and New Year— whether Nepali, Newar, Nauroz, Lhosar, or Julian—is always a time of celebration. Another trip around the sun for our bruised planet and our stressed selves. But a friend of mine is currently marking his mental calendar in much smaller increments: day by day, hours, minutes, probably even seconds. His name is Alan Johnston. On 12 March 2007, Alan was driving home from his job as the MANOJ SHRESTHA BBC correspondent in Gaza City, Palestine. He was almost at the end of a three-year SCARRED FOR LIFE: Akriti Rai, assignment reporting on the (above) whose soldier husband HERE AND THERE violence, politics, and poured acid on her, at a meeting of Daniel Lak tragedies of that tiny strip of Acid attacks acid victims in Biratnagar this embattled territory. He’d month. Rai and others like her covered Israeli forces coming Men are waging chemical warfare on said they were going public and going, shelling and bombing, and Gaza militants firing back. because their attackers have not Mostly he’d got to know the Palestinian people and the rest of us women and getting away with it yet been punished. Sadina Khatun knew them through him. and her baby were both injured in Subhuman scum with guns picked up Alan as he drove an acid attack by her husband and MANOJ SHRESTHA many more that are never towards his apartment that day, and they whisked him off into the in BIRATNAGAR her father-in-law, who were darkness of captivity—probably a concrete box of a room in an reported. acquitted by an appellate court. obscure apartment block somewhere, either underground or with Sadina Khatun was blacked-out windows. Until earlier this month, no public demands overty at home had forced breastfeeding her baby near had been made by people purporting to be his abductors. Now they Akriti Rai, 22, to move to Biratnagar last year when her say they want militant prisoners released from UK jails. PItahari to work. Santosh husband Mohamad Aslam poured husband and father-in-law who Reportedly, they also want money and weapons. Rai, a soldier posted at the acid on her accusing her of having said she didn’t bring enough Those demands—whether from his actual kidnappers or not— nearby Nepal Army barrack, fell an affair. Both Sadina and her dowry. Palsi Debi’s family are immaterial. What matters is the human plight of Alan Johnston, in love with her and they got baby were badly burnt. Her complained to police, but her in- alone in a dark room, uncertain of his fate, counting off the married. husband was arrested the very laws forced her to withdraw it. seconds, minutes, and hours, living day to day, perhaps aware of Six months later, Santosh, night of the attack, but was Not all the victims are young. the momentous occasions that pass by with the march of time. Thursday, 10 May, was his 60th day in captivity. The week his first wife and sister poured released on bail by the Biratnagar Forty-year-old Janaki Debi Mehta before was World Press Freedom Day and there were rallies by acid on Akriti. Local Maoists appellate court. “My husband is was attacked with acid by a group Alan’s colleagues around the world, demanding his safe and rescued her and took her to the walking around as if nothing of men for simply speaking up at a immediate release. His 45th birthday was on 17 May and on women’s rehabilitation centre, happened,” says 20-year-old meeting to resolve a land dispute. Sunday he’ll have been in captivity 70 days. Unless he’s let go, WOREC, in Biratnagar. The burns Sadina who now lives with her Since a doctor at the Inaruwa which could happen at any time. Or not. The hours tick by in the on her face had infected, and parents, “I have no money to district hospital registered the case darkness of his prison. although she survived, Akriti is take care of my daughter. Please as an ‘accident’ the attackers scarred for life. help me to force him to cannot be tried. “My future is finished, but compensate me.” Two local organisations, my husband and the others must Rita Debi Mahato was attacked WOREC and SIKSA, are helping be punished,” Akriti told a last year by four men who accused the victims seek justice through meeting in Biratnagar recently her of having an affair. Her right the court system but are facing attended by the chief district eye was destroyed and one year numerous legal hurdles. Since officer, police chief, lawyers and later her face is still deeply most victims survive acid attacks, doctors. The army said it would scarred and wounds on her chest the courts do not register the cases carry out an internal are suppurating. Police still as ‘attempted homicide’. Activists investigation, but Santosh has haven’t caught the perpetrators see acid attacks on women as just been recently discharged and his although they are well known the outward manifestation of wife has been jailed pending locals. widespread hidden investigation at the Sunsari In Sunsari, 18-year-old Indian discrimination and cruelty faced District Jail. His sister has been national Punam Kumari Sabariya by Nepali women. Alan’s kidnapping is about the larger issue of press freedom, freed on Rs 10,000 bail. was raped by four men who later Says lawyer Dilli Dahal: the rights of media workers everywhere to seek and report the truth. We have ways of dealing with governments who suppress According to women’s rights poured acid on her. Her husband “There are legal complications, information. In democracies, we take them to task or court and organisations there have been and his family have disowned and the fact that police don’t do sometimes we win. Authoritarians are vilified in the media and by dozens of cases of acid attacks on her. The culprits haven’t been proper investigation after the brave NGOs like Amnesty International and the Committee to women in eastern Nepal in the arrested. Palsi Debi Yadav, 17, incidents means most perpetrators Protect Journalists. past three years, but there are was doused with acid by her escape prosecution." z What do we do about faceless militants misguided enough to think that they achieve even an iota of their twisted agendas by depriving an innocent of his freedom. We hold rallies, we try to talk to them through middlemen, we suffer through our powerlessness. Nepal has more than its share of nasties who cross the line and harass media workers. We’ve seen it recently in the tarai unrest and all too often during the civil war. Jitman Basnet’s ordeal at the hands of the army; the murder of Gyanendra Khadka in 2003 by Maoists. There are many others. No one has paid any price for these atrocities and, probably, no one will. I can only ask Nepali Times readers to join me in calling for Alan Johnston’s release, and for freedom of any other incarcerated media worker anywhere, in Iraq, Afghanistan, or Congo. Let them go. Let the information flow. To sign an online petition from 70 countries demanding Alan’s release, go to http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6518185.stm A free media is the best weapon a free society can have. Free Alan Johnston now. z NATION 18 - 24 MAY 2007 #349 11 New chapters in the long history of betrayal Burned again

he signing of the peace emboldened by their new-found perhaps the only benefit for the treaty spawned two schools legitimacy. The fact that they’ve public. Tof thought, and a pleasant moved from the jungle to the The list of broken promises is interlude when both theories had halls of power proves that their long and depressing (favourite credibility and vied equally for brutal methodology works, and headline of the week: ‘Maoists our allegiance. The now-bankrupt they aren’t switching strategies in seize farm, destroy vegetables’), Idealist hypothesis appealed to the middle of a winning streak. but most of us only grasped the optimists who took the Maoists at More extortion, bullying, and scope of this betrayal when the their word, figured the war was militancy will be on their agenda, UN got so few guns for the behind us and better times lay this time from an unprecedented containers and so many position of strength, and there Maokiddies for the cantonments. will be less need for sincerity and The recent unleashing of the MOVING TARGET cooperation. ‘Young Communist League’ to Foreign Hand Since reality plays no role in burn government offices and beat the party’s version of events, their up opponents has found minority status in parliament and employment for the real ahead. Those afflicted with the the inconvenient fact the war comrades supposed to be in the logic syndrome also jumped ended in stalemate makes no camps, and trashed the last aboard, arguing that the comrades difference; the cadre have been vestiges of the Idealist Theory. A needed a soft landing and would told victory is theirs, they are the Red Guard by any other name is abide by the agreements since the government, and that’s enough to still a thug. government had obsequiously met change their behaviour for the If all is fair in love and war, their every demand. Surely their worse. the comrades’ lack of good faith histrionic speeches at the signing The Hand has grown used to in peacetime is deeply troubling means they’ll behave like all the unexpected results and being and suggests that they see little rest, work within the system, and proven wrong. Life in Nepal is difference between the two. think only of their next Pajero. fuller of surprises than most Maoist doctrine promotes Many of us leapt to this places, but this particular constant class warfare; signing a conclusion out of desperation. guessing game I really hated to piece of paper simply shifts the The traumatic war had dragged on lose. venue. Instead of wasting time in for so long, everyone badly needed We saw all too soon that the hinterland fighting the army, a rest. Those who warned that you things weren’t exactly as we take the struggle to the doorsteps can’t teach an old tyrant new hoped. Supremo Pushpa Kamal of those with something worth tricks were dismissed as whiners Dahal not only signed the treaty coveting. That Supremo and cynics. ‘Our’ totalitarians in a false name, his statement that Prachanda is chauffeured around were less rabid and dogmatic than the Maoists accepted peace only in a stolen SUV, which would other ideologues and, given time, to satisfy the will of the people get him thrown in jail in most would embrace the tolerance and also shamelessly obscured the fact countries, indicates such policies gentility so characteristic of that few wanted this bloody war originate at the top. Nepali society, and the harmless in the first place. Betrayal of the people’s trust buffoonery so endemic in That insincerity was to be the is nothing new in Nepali politics. defining theme of post-war Nepal politics, but there is a lot riding Having bought into this was soon driven home by a on the outcome of this particular rationale big time, the Hand nationwide wave of extortion and venture. At the very least, we’ve recalls first hearing the competing militant unionism. Minds reeled, learnt another lesson the hard school of thought, recognising its especially among the surviving way: you can take the comrades grievous potential, and feeling his Idealists, as to how such criminal out of the jungle but you can’t heart sink. activity could be perpetrated by take the jungle out of the Instead of being humbled by members of a legal party in comrades. Some people never the great duties of national government. Even Maoist change, others get worse; statecraft, goes the now verified apologists stopped rationalising especially those with deceit in Realist theory, the Maoists will be the offences, which has been their hearts. 12 INTERNATIONAL 18 - 24 MAY 2007 #349

Double standards The World Bank should know that good governance begins at home

he whole sorry Wolfowitz affair looks like it is finally drawing to a close. It is hard to believe that he will stay on much longer at the TWorld Bank, and it is time to start thinking about the future of that institution. From the first, I was critical of the way he was chosen because I have long opposed the ‘old boy’ agreement between the United States and Europe, by which the US always appoints the head of the World Bank, and Europe, of the IMF. This unspoken arrangement dates from the founding of the Bretton Woods institution at a time when colonialism was still alive, and makes no sense in the 21st century. There are reports that European leaders have told the US that if they get Wolfowitz to step down quickly and quietly, they will be allowed to choose his successor. Such a deal would amount to a wasted opportunity. There is no better way to restore confidence in these two COMMENT institutions than to finally open Joseph E Stiglitz up the way their presidents are selected. One of the lessons of the Wolfowitz debacle is that it does matter how stakeholders and employees feel about the bank’s leadership. The world was prejudiced against him from the start because of his involvement in the Iraq War. But people were willing to give him a chance. Some said he could be another Robert McNamara, the US defense secretary who helped mire America in the Vietnam War, but used his service to the bank as penance. There was reason for hope: Wolfowitz was forceful in arguing for debt forgiveness and an end to agricultural subsidies. But he also hired old friends and political allies—many of whom did not have experience in development—and sealed himself off from his staff, alienating the very people whose support he needed. As we learned from the case of Larry Summers at Harvard, relationships inside institutions matter, and not just those with donors and funders. In this respect, Wolfowitz, while an intelligent and pleasant person, did not do himself any favours. Worse, he did not seem to have a grand vision for the bank. Instead of a development strategy, there was simply an expansion of the anti- corruption agenda initiated by his predecessor, James Wolfensohn. As the World Bank’s chief economist under Wolfensohn, I argued that failing to deal with corruption risked undermining growth and poverty alleviation. By the time I left the Bank, these ideas were widely accepted, and I was pleased that Wolfowitz planned to continue the bank’s efforts. But the fight against corruption was always only one part of a more comprehensive development agenda. Aid effectiveness can be undermined as much by incompetence as by corruption. Sadly, the anti-corruption agenda of the Bank also became politicised. There was a push to give money to Iraq—a country rife with corruption—while other countries were accused of corruption without adequate evidence or details. The aims of the campaign were laudable, but it generated hostility and ill-will, undermining its effectiveness. The World Bank, in its efforts to support democracy and good governance, must insist on the highest standards of due process: charges of corruption should be treated seriously, and the evidence turned over to national authorities for use in open, transparent, independent proceedings. Wolfowitz’s successor needs to bear in mind that for anti- corruption campaigns to be seen as effective, they must be fair and transparent. The same is true of the selection of the president of the World Bank. A sad and sorry saga could have a happy ending if Wolfowitz’s successor is chosen through an open, transparent process. (Project Syndicate)

Joseph Stiglitz is a Nobel laureate in economics and author of Making Globalisation Work. REVIEW 18 - 24 MAY 2007 #349 13 Newars, new and old French scholar Gerard Toffin’s work on Newars is finally available in English

ewars are supposed to be The three papers on the little Three papers focus on specific lack coherence, or can get Nepal’s early settlers, known Lalitpur Maharjan village aspects of Newar society, the guthi repetitive. What pulls the volume Naccording to one theory of Pyangaon come from Toffin’s system, the Mohani festival, and together is Toffin’s 21-page even lending their name to the long periods of fieldwork. He funeral rites in relation to the introduction, which successfully country. They form not a caste, makes a detailed study of Newar castes. Toffin explains how synthesises the different themes but a complex community-—in Swagumi, who “adopted a Jyapu guthis “regulate several aspects of explored and reflects an up-to- 1854, the Muluki Ain divided lifestyle and became Newarised” Newar social and religious life, date understanding of Newar Newars into the equivalent of the in one, and in another provides a and even possess economic society and culture. four castes, from Brahmins picture of intercaste relationships, functions in some limited cases”. There are some omissions and Gerard Toffin, Newar Society: (Rajopadhyaya and Vajracarya), to particularly between ‘pure’ and Similarly, he analyses how errors. Except in a few cases, the City, Village and Periphery, dalits (Pode and Cyama khalak). ‘impure’ castes, and the position Panauti Newars observe the data on population, household, Lalitpur: Himal Books for Social of Swagumi within the Newar Mohani festival with special and the like are dated. For Science Baha, 2007, soft cover, BOOK REVIEW caste system. Toffin’s third devotion to Asta Matrika, Nava example the 2001 census puts pp. xiv+443, Rs 790. Pyangaon paper is about the socio- Durga, Taleju, and Kumari, and Citrakars and Rajopadhyaya at over Tri Ratna Manandhar religious structures of the how the 14 different Newar caste, 5,000 each, while Toffin’s essay Maharjans, this time as villagers. A from Rajopadhyaya to Pode, of the says there are 1,200 and 1,500 There were only scattered detailed comparative study of the area perform funeral rites. respectively. The Jyapu Mahaguthi study of Newar society and references to Newars in the classic Maharjans in city and village The last two chapters deal and Citrakar Samaj are mentioned, culture, and, as the publisher’s accounts of Nepal (Kirkpatrick in would have been welcome. primarily with the recent changes but not the Manandhar Sangh note says, “will certainly be very 1811, Hamilton in 1819, Hodegson Two chapters are devoted to in urban and rural Newar society. which was founded in 1954. The useful to the Newar themselves to and Oldfield both in 1880). The the little-known Balami and One focuses on the role of modern discrete index entries for help them understand their own first comprehensive piece of Pahari communities who live on ethnic associations in Manandhar and Sayami, the same society differently, if not better. It research on Newars appeared in the ‘periphery’, defined here as constructing the identity of a caste group, are confusing. History will also prove extremely 1923, in KP Chattopadhyaya’s An “the intermediate space located particular caste or group, the other of Nepal was written by BJ Hasrat, informative to non-Newars in Essay on the History of Newar between Kathamandu Valley and on the changing status and role of and not RL Hasrat. The collection understanding one of the most Culture followed, 25 years later the middle hills of central Nepal women in Newar society, in the would also have benefited from a ancient, complex, and fascinating by Dilli Raman Regmi’s The and its forested areas”. Toffin context of recent amendments in glossary of Newari terms. social groups of Nepal.” z Antiquity of the Newars of convincingly identifies them with the Muluki Ain. These minor shortcomings do Kathmandu. Western scholars Newars, because their caste, All the papers were written at not, however, lower the standard (Tri Ratna Manandhar is professor started to focus on Newar kinship, and guthi rules are the different times as independent of the book. Toffin’s work is a of history at Tribhuban communities after Gopal Singh same, as is their language. articles. Together they sometimes significant contribution to the University.) Nepali’s full-length book in 1965. One of them was Gerard Toffin. In the last 30 years, Toffin, now a director of research at France’s mammoth National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), has written a number of papers exploring different aspects of Newar culture. Most of Toffin’s work is in French (bar a two-page preface to the 1993 Nepal: Past and Present, which he edited), and non-speakers have long felt the need for translations. Himal Books’ new volume of selected papers by Toffin is good news for academics and laypeople. The 13 research papers in Newar Society: City, Village and Periphery are based on extensive fieldwork and personal observation and constitute a significant contribution to the social study of Nepal. Toffin begins with the Citrakars, Rajopadhyayas, and Maharjans of the city. In his work on the painter Citrakars, he focuses on their two main guthis (si guthi and desla guthi), kinship and marriage patterns and, of course, their art, which sometimes functions as medicine. Toffin describes how they treat Jwanakai, which is thought to be caused by snakes, by painting two lions on the sides of the affected area. The chapter on the Rajopadhyayas mainly deals with the history of the caste and their role as the priests of Hindu Newars. The author argues that, despite substantial changes in their tradition and rituals, the religious identity of the Rajopadhyayas is still largely intact. Toffin’s chapter on the social and territorial organisation of the Maharjans of Kathmandu city— their twah or tol system—and their vocal and instrumental music. To readers who equate Maharjans with farmers, this new information is fascinating. 14 CITY 18 - 24 MAY 2007 #349

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For inclusion in the listing send information to [email protected] HAPPENINGS 18 - 24 MAY 2007 #349 15

KIRAN PANDAY REALLY WANT A REPUBLIC: Maoist cadres gather at the Maitighar Mandala on Sunday to show off their signature campaign for the declaration of a republic by the interim parliament.

MIN BAJRACHARYA ARE WE THERE YET?: Some 400 people march from Bhrikutimandap to Basantapur in a rally organised by the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities on Thursday to pressure the government to announce the dates for elections to the constituent assembly and declare a republic.

KIRAN PANDAY GETTING ON WITH IT: Motorcyclists and bicyclists evade a demonstration to protest the killing of manpower agency owner Rajiv Shrestha by using the footpath instead at the Maitighar Mandala.

MIN BAJRACHARYA DÉJÀ VU: In scenes reminiscent of the April Uprising, policemen guard the statue of King Tribhuban in Tripureswor, after Mahendra’s statue in Kalimati was demolished by the Young Communist League on Tuesday.

MIN BAJRACHARYA PUPPETRY: The Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities and civil society build an elaborate palace—and then a prison cell—for an effigy of King Gyanendra at Basantapur on Thursday. 16 BACKSIDE 18 - 24 MAY 2007 #349 From socket bombs to whips www.nepalitimes.com

he American State Department has updated its travel advisory for Nepal, and has warned its citizens to desist from all non- Tessential visits. Congratulations are in order, because of all the embassies located in the ’Mandu it is only the Yanks who have their priorities right. The Ass urges Kaiser Mahal to also issue the following advisory for the benefit of the Nepali college students travelling to the United States during this academic year: "GON remains concerned about the security status of campuses in the United States and continues to urge Nepali students already in the US or contemplating a visit there to obtain updated security information before travel. Despite a manifestation of outward calm in some campuses and universities, individuals continue to engage in acts of violence, assassinations, and massacres. In some states gunmen freely roam the countryside and cities, sometimes openly carrying their weapons. Given the nature, intensity, and unpredictability of disturbances, Nepali students are urged to exercise special caution in the dorms, classrooms, malls, parks, and restaurants, and wear protective bullet-proof gear at all times, avoid road travel, and maintain a low profile." FG You have to hand it to the Baddies. None of us said it was going to be easy, but by George they did it. They have made a smooth transition from socket bombs to whips. The head of the Maoist parliamentary group and its chief whip, Dinanathji, is flogging his fellow-MPs into shape by forcing them to race to lay siege to the speaker’s perch before the madhesis do. It has become a matter of daily routine that no sooner has the opening gong of parliament sounded than they’re off to gherao the rostrum yet again. Such fun and games. Much less destructive than laying siege to army bases and being needlessly killed. FG The Young Kangaroos League is sure keeping itself busy. When it’s not conducting ‘people courts’ or planting trees, it is tearing down statues of various kings throughout the country. They sure are on the right track, because how can we ensure the peace dividend for all Nepalis by reopening schools and health posts, building roads and creating jobs until all the statues of the Shah dynasty have been pulverised, right? We have to thank the young comrades for removing these idols, and while they are at it why not have a go at those hideous statues of BP, Pushpa Lal, and Grandfather of the Nation Tribhuban from various chokes in Nepalganj and replace them with Comrade Awesome doing a smart lal salam? The moral of the story should be: don’t do unto someone else’s statute what you don’t want them to do to yours.

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