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#166 17 - 23 October 2003 16 pages Rs 25

Weekly Internet Poll # 106

Q. Who bears more responsibility to break the current political impasse?

MANJUSHREE○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ THAPA Gorkhaland movement. “I thought the government would also free four groups, in particular, dashed hopes that hutani civil rights activist Tek Nath Rizal was briefly jailed for submitting the Lhotsampas from the refugee camps.” they might all someday return to their Rizal arrived in Kathmandu this the petition, which was deemed seditious. But 14 rounds of talks later, there has homeland. The four classes are: bonafide Total votes:1,315 week just as preparations got Upon release he came to Nepal to head the been no workable solution to the refugee Bhutani who may have been forcefully underwayTek for the 15th round ofNath bilateral People’s Forum for Humantakes Rights, but in crisis. The classification on of refugees intoThimpuevicted, Bhutani who emigrated, non- Weekly Internet Poll # 107. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com ministerial talks to end the refugee crisis. November 1989 the Panchayat government Bhutani, and Bhutani who have committed Q. Should overseas Nepalis be given extra incentives to BThe talks start next week in Thimpu. extradicted him to Bhutan. He was jailed criminal acts. invest in Nepal? Rizal is highly regarded in liberal under inhumane conditions for over a democratic circles for his struggle on behalf decade under a National Security Act continued ð p6 of 100,000 Bhutani refugees who have been promulgated three years after his arrest. In living in camps in eastern Nepal for the past 1993, a royal edict stated that Rizal would

12 years. Rizal was a National Assembly be released only once the refugee crisis was MIN BAJRACHARYA member for 17 years, and in Bhutan’s Royal solved. Yet, for reasons that remain unclear, Advisory Council where he was known for he was released in 1999. his stand against corruption. “I was really very hopeful when the Rizal’s travails began in 1988, when he, government released me from jail,” Rizal along with DP Bhandari, petitioned King told Nepali Times in an exclusive interview. Jigmi Singye Wangchuk about the discrimination against ethnic Nepali Lhotsampas in the census which was seen then as an attempt to curb the Lhotsampa Nepal extradited who made up 40-50 percent of the Bhutani political activist population. The Sharchops constituted some 40 percent and the Ngalops 20 Tek Nath Rizal to Thimpu percent. The Lhotsampas had been granted in 1989, but he is back citizenship in a 1958 royal edict, but Thimpu considered them dangerous not in Kathmandu to lobby just for their numbers, but also for their for the return of increasingly democratic politics, and their imagined or real affiliation with the fellow-refugees to their homeland.

ENJOY Every Friday Nepali Times: Is it true that the government is preparing for elections? How do you assess the counter-insurgency operations of the The Sumptuous Barbecue Dinner Kamal Thapa: Yes, the government Missionis trying to create the basic environment impossible?security forces? at our illuminated Courtyard and Garden of security and hold the elections to local bodies. The army has not gone all out against the insurgents. But the security forces including the army have been significantly upgraded in terms of training, weapons, For Vegetarians How can elections be held when there is an insurgency going on? institutional strength and efficiency. The army will be more aggressive and Special Sish Kebabs and many more. It won’t take place right away. We certainly don’t claim that the environment is effective in the days to come to control Maoist violence, murder and terrorism. conducive to elections. But, we believe with adequate security, free and fair We will not work in a half-hearted manner, we will make security more effective. For Reservation: 552 1810 polls can be held as early as possible. Yet increased militarisation has brought complaints of human rights How early would that be? violations. I can’t say, we may have to wait some time. Because of the constitutional The security personnel have been working within the framework of the vacuum, we need to hold elections at the earliest. If everyone cooperates, we constitution. Even if there is no state of emergency, the anti-terrorism act is in will be able to hold it. force and the security apparatus is working within that legal framework. The But everyone is not cooperating. government is committed to respect human rights and the rights of citizens. We No democratic political party ever refuses to go to elections. We will try to will also take action if violations occur deliberately. But we must understand that convince the parties that we are trying to create conditions for polls to be held. the country is going through an extraordinary situation, and in such conditions Reinstatement of the house is not constitutionally possible, so the only abnormal things happen. alternative is elections. The government is criticised for not being able to use the executive But you have made the parties more defiant by making appointments to powers it claims it has. local governments. There is no truth in this charge. The government has been using all the It was the parties themselves who complained that the government should not Government spokesman executive powers enshrined in the constitution. There is no need to drag the have allowed bureaucrats to run local bodies. There was a political vacuum at Kamal Thapa is monarchy into controversy. The government bears full moral responsibility the local level, so we requested political parties and previous officials to confident he can fulfil for both good and bad. resume duties. This is only a temporary measure till we hold elections. the cabinet’s three But the appointments to constitutional bodies has not been made by the How can you win the support of the parties when you don’t even have the immediate priorities: king, and many people take this as proof that the king still calls the shots. backing of your own RPP? security, elections, and The appointments will take place in line with the constitution. Even if there has I am also the general secretary of the RPP, I can assure you the party does winning over parties. been any delay, it is not in defiance of the constitution. It must be due to some support the government. Excerpts of interview. technical reason. 17 - 23 OCTOBER 2003 2 EDITORIAL NEPALI TIMES #166 Nepali Times is published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Chief Editor: Kunda Dixit STATE OF THE STATE by CK LAL Desk Editor: Trishna Gurung, Design: Kiran Maharjan Webmaster: Bhushan Shilpakar [email protected], www.nepalitimes.com Advertising: Sunaina Shah [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: 01-5543333/ 5523845 Fax: 01-5521013 Printed at Jagadamba Press, Hattiban: 01-5547018/17

It is easier to instigate the masses against something than to ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ AUGHTER SLAUGHTER Thepersuade○○○○○○○○○○○○○ them wobbly to follow somebody. group Darely a month after children all over the country rang peace bells, a week n reporting human casualties, mainstream Totalitarian groups do not regard the Bukharin, “at the bottom of his heart, after they celebrated a subdued Dasai with families, and just before sisters and brothers were getting ready to celebrate Tihar came the Anglo-Saxon journalism has a rule of masses as self-determining human beings. It’s cherishes the hope of getting on, of growing horrific story of four school children killed in a Maoist-Army firefight in Doti. thumb: “one American equals 10 Europeans not just the Old Regime of active monarchists rich.” A pressure-cooker bomb is a shortcut What happened at the Sharada Higher Secondary School in Mudbhara on equals 1,000 Chileans equals 100,000 that treats its subjects as objects of royal to everything. Tuesday afternoon is symbolic of the utter waste of this conflict. No war is Rwandans”. Judging from the coverage Nepal munificence. Even the pioneers of the New To ensure the acquiescence of other B Ihas started getting in the western press, we must Regime don’t believe that we-the-people are groups, the Maoists have adopted methods are sane, but even by the senseless standards of these mad times, Mudhbara was a descent into hell. How many Doramabas, Mudbaras, Jogimaras do we need fall somewhere between the Chileans and capable of rationally deciding our own fate. For based on another axiom of political science: before we regain our senses? How many more Dipak Gurungs, Sushila Joshis, Rwandans. After eight years of insurgency and the top guns of the Maoists, the masses are it’s much easier to instigate the masses Harina Bhandaris, Yadunath Joshis, and Mandari BKs need to be killed before over 8,000 lives lost, we have now been subjects in a war that have to be taught to toe against something or someone than to they end this lunacy? officially “discovered” by the international the party line, or else. persuade them to follow some ideology or A human rights organisation has already returned from an on-site inspection media. The threat is rarely so explicit, but the somebody. The Maoists have intentionally in Doti, the army’s Human rights Cell will no doubt conduct its own investigation And their correspondents all have one message is seldom lost. It is like the Maoist left the outline of their New Regime vague, into this ‘collateral damage’, and the two sides bearing arms will predictably standard query: “What proportion of Nepal’s with a grenade dangling from his belt who but they have very concrete plans about blame each other for provoking the firefight. The parents, brothers, sisters and land area do the Maoists control?”, or “How comes into the trekking lodge in Birethanti to overthrowing the Old Regime. relatives of Sushila, Harina, Yadunath and Mandira will not really care about the much support do the Maoists have in the ask tourists to ‘donate’ Rs 1,000 each. Like the sorcerer hawking a single technical details. Their loved ones are dead. They will be grieving just as countryside?” Both questions are too complex to Ironically, the Maoists seems to have medication for all ills—buy one vial of fox’s hundreds of relatives of the more than 168 Nepalis have black-and-white answers. For one thing, perfected these techniques from CIA-backed intestine or some equally revolting concoction, who have been killed at the hands of fellow Nepalis the Maoists regard ‘public rightwing militias like the Freedom and it will release you from evil spirits, cure in this blood-soaked week of human sacrifices. support’ is a bourgeious Commandos in Nicaragua. your baldness, and make you popular with the Nepal stopped being a zone of peace long ago. concept, and believe In a widely-circulated letter to American ladies. The Maoists have a readymade That is why we implored that at least schools and political power comes out ambassador Michael Malinowski, Maoist answer for every political question: a children be left alone. But that was obviously too of the barrel of a gun. ideologue Baburam Bhattarai claims there was constituent assembly. It’s a failsafe trick, one much to ask. What were the Maoists doing in “unprecedented and overwhelming support that has managed to fool everyone nursing a Mudbhara forcing grade 5-10 students to watch their enjoyed by us among the masses both in rural grudge against the political leaders of the Last cultural revolution entertainment, anyway? Is that and urban areas, intelligentsia, media and the Twelve Years. Since all questions over the how you build support for your movement: by going international community during our seven- potency of the constituent assembly potion are house to house with socket bombs in your shoulder month overground period”. But this assertion answered with socket-bombs, silence reigns bag, forcing students to sit through your song-and- undermines Comrade baburam’s own political supreme all over the country. dance routine? position. After all, it was the Old Regime that In A View on The People’s War in Nepal The army’s intelligence is obviously improving: at showed tolerance of dissent by allowing the from somewhere in western rural Nepal least they can now tell that the Maoists are holding meetings to take place. (‘location cannot be disclosed for security cultural programmes in high schools. But why were If Baburam, Badal, Matrika and their reasons’) for the anarchist internet site, they so easily provoked to go in with their guns comrades could openly address mass meeting Infoshop News (www.infoshop.org) Sage blazing into classrooms when it would have been in Kathmandu, Dhangadi, Janakpur, Dang, Radachowsky observes that ground realities obvious to anyone that the rebels would slip in Gorkha earlier this year then why was there a have changed since the Spring of 1999 when among the students? We're not military types, but need to go back to their violent path? Perhaps Li Onesto of the Revolutionary Worker wasn't there a way to keep the school under there is more than a grain of truth in produced two propaganda pieces for her surveillance, wait till the Maoists left and follow Ambassador Malinowsky’s allegation that Nepali comrades. Support for the Maoists has them to their lairs? Why this trigger happiness? Maoists were forced to resort to arms because dwindled even in their base area, Radachowsky Children have a right to education. But first they have a right to life. The state has a responsibility to they didn’t succeed in convincing the public writes, saying villagers are so scared that when protect them, not just by ensuring they are not caught that the constituent assembly was a dire “Maoists come to their door, they are obliged in the crossfire, but also by abandoning militarisation necccessity of the country at this moment. to provide food for them, and to agree with and working towards a negotiated solution. An insurgency of this intensity and them when they are asked their political And do the Maoists need any more proof that a magnitude can’t survive on the basis of opinions”. Those with guns, it seems, seldom revolution devours children? Do they still need to be enforced support. A swamp isn’t enough, have time or patience for political arguments. convinced that there are avenues other than deaths, mosquitos also need rotting leaves to breed. Now that we know that Maoists aren’t what threats, and terror to achieve the same ends? There Poverty and ignorance are the root causes of they pretend to be, the riddle still remains:

is no need to destroy Nepal in order to save it. NARENDRA SHRESTHA insurgency, but the backbone of Maoist what do these armed insurgents seek to achieve Whatever their excuses, it doesn’t really matter support isn’t the Nepali underclass. Maobadis by causing even more mayhem and bloodshed? now who fired first at Mudbhara. All we ask is: if derive their physical as well intellectual If the militarisation of Nepali society continues you have to kill each other please don't kill the sustenance from what Bukharin dismissed as at this rate, even a new constitution will have children and the innocents. the ‘wobbly group’—the urban petty no meaning. Guns will rule, and as far as the bourgeoisie, the salariat, and the rural international media is concerend, we will be peasantry. “Every one of them,” observes even closer to Rwandans. t

LL ETTERS

needed to empower the government keen interest in bringing the socio- Nepali economy afloat. It is time to independent court and not a believe that resurrection of CK Lal bemoans theGLOBAL exodus NEPALIS of to take extraordinary measures to economic transformation of our recognise the real contributors to military tribunal. parliament or all-party govern- Nepalis who go to foreign lands to entice domestic investment from country. Even though they are the Nepali economy by those who Leopold Höglinger, Nussdorf, ment will ‘prove to the Maoists the seek fame and fortune and then Global Nepalis and inspire confi- thousands of miles away their toil 80+ hours/week or sometimes 2 Austria futility of their violent path’. expect their homeland to dence by offering guarantees of Nepali heart still beats. The jobs to make ends meet and help Thirteen years of ‘bullheadedness' welcome them as conquering protection of these investments government should give all their family at home. Nepal should by political leaders is responsible heroes (‘Homecoming’, #165). once they are made. cooperation. have convert the VVIP lounge at Re: ‘Centre to centrestage’CENTRE-STAGE (#165). I for the present state of affairs, and This is the wrong attitude. Lal Joshua Gitlitz, Dr Eli Pradhan, KMC the airport to the real NRN lounge agree with your editorial that we are not the one year of ‘king’s direct notes that “there is no altruism in Lincoln, Nebraska, USA to welcome and say thank you, or a critical juncture in our nation’s rule’. There can be only two ways business. In the globalised l It almost seems like Nepali say good luck and good bye history. There is a futile conflict out: let the ‘short-sighted and economy, investors go wherever l Only CK Lal has seen through Times has ODed on the NRN dedicated to these hard working between the government and the narrow-minded’ leaders of NC and money is safe and gives the all the hoopla about the overseas conference. neo-lahures. Maoists, and on the other there is a UML rule the country once again, highest return.” Lal types the Nepali conference, and put the Overseas Nepalis are guided SN Singh, by email needless polarisation between the or give the king time to solve correct words, but implies an event in its proper perspective. Most more by self-interest than by parties and the palace. Peace country’s problems. incorrect interpretation. Global of these Nepalis left Nepal of their altruism or duty towards needs to be restored so Sugat Ratna Kansakar, Nepalis are not a liability for own free will to seek fortunes abroad. motherland. It is about getting the It sounds very strange that theDORAMBA army development work and Kamaladi Nepal, but an opportunity. I am Now, instead of giving back to comforts and dual citizenship and responsible for the Doramba reconstruction can start. We should an American business student Nepali society what they took from it, repatriation of profits. One needs to massacre should examine this case not have to wait till everything is CORRECTIONS l In ‘Storm over Doramba’, and consultant who had the they want more from the evaluate their real contribution to (‘Sotrm over Dormaba’, #165). In a destroyed to save what is left of our the last paragraph in pleasure to spend time in your motherland. They want special Nepal prior to handing out democracy this should be the duty nationality and dignity. The ball is Manjushree Thapa’s interview amazing land. Nepal is wonderful treatment and profit repatriation for freebees. Instead of wasting time on of an independent commission. The on the king’s court. with Brig-Gen BA Kumar country brimming with potential, investments, and they want double NRNs, the government needs to NHRC was on location to examine Bhanu B Parajuli, Sharma (beginning ‘Krishna but dearly suffering under the citizenship so they don’t have to pay concentrate on the actual the case, but it seems impossible for Kamal Pokhari Jung Rayamajhi, a member…’) effects of grinding poverty visa fees. If foreign Nepalis want to contributors to the Nepali the army to go back to the spot. The was not a part of the interview, exacerbated by a deadly political help, why don’t they help set up economy—the blue collar workers in army is playing for time and hopes l One may be tempted to agree but a section of the article insurgency and depressed tourist childrens’ welfare schemes, girl-child the Gulf, Malyasia, Korea, Japan that in two or three months nobody with the bottomline of your editorial itself. economy. Global Nepalis are a scholarships, relief for victims of the and the US. Providing these blue will talk about this cruel assault on (#165): ‘the middle way is the only l Due to a calendar- lifeline out of this quagmire, but insurgency, village water supply? workers with proper vocational way’. But you seem to be ignoring conversion error, the basic human rights. Every party who introduction of the interview it is up to the powers that be in Nilam Ghimire, Putali Sadak training, job orientation, workers’ abuses power, either the Maoists or ground realities. when ‘democratic with Bhim Udas (#165) referred Nepal to enable this lifeline. I rights, and consular services will the army violates human rights and norms’ prevalent before 4, October wrongly to the dates of the NRN urge His Majesty King Gyanendra l It is indeed a matter of pride further enhance the contributions of for this violation those who found 2002 did not change the minds of conference, it should have to take the bold leadership steps that overseas Nepalis are showing a people who are already keeping the guilty must be appear in front of an ‘men with guns’, it will be naive to been 11-14 October. 17 - 23 OCTOBER 2003 NATION NEPALI TIMES #166 3 OPINION by SHANKER POKHAREL

No-winThe only alternative to talks war is talks. could even lead a coalition government if need people. The peace process lacked a foundation that they would not accept a Maoist-led be. Overtly, the talks broke down because the because civil society and local communities government. This affected the king’s decision- government refused to budge on the issue of were excluded. making. Then the Americans threatened to constituent assembly. But there were other l No role for political parties. The parties put the Maoists on their terrorist list. The factors: always had misgivings about talks. They felt US-Nepal terrorism agreement and military l The timing of both peace talks were wrong. they had been deliberately sidelined. This assistance to the army raised hackles. As the During the first one, the mainstream Nepali undermined popular pressure for the peace talks were deadlocked, in late August, Congress had been ousted by a rival faction. talks to succeed. came news of the arrest of CP Gajurel in In the second round, the palace and the l Lack of faith in the peace process. The Chennai. political parties were at loggerheads. The fact Maoists felt the real power was with the king he past eight years have brought split and split again into many factions. that the political parties were kept outside the and wanted to talk to him directly. The When negotiations resume, all parties nothing but violence and ruin to the Although they took part in the first general peace process guaranteed its failure. government negotiators were suspicious must keep the above shortcomings in country. It is a no-win situation for elections, a small group of comrades were not l Lack of political will. The first peace talks all along that the Maoists were not really mind. A constituent assembly was not both sides. Even the Maoists admit that there satisfied with the democratic gains of the 1990 couldn’t even come up with a code of conduct. serious about talks, and were just buying time acceptable to the royalists who suspect it is is no military solution to the war that they have Peoples’ Movement. They had a good presence The second round had guidelines, but neither to restore military power. a ploy to get rid of the monarchy. In setT in motion. in parliament, but dissatisfaction with the lack side really adhered to its spirit. l No timetable for the peace process. The addition, the ambition of the king to be Just as the insurgency was gathering of good governance and transparency, l No significant role for the facilitators. In ceasefire gave the government legitimacy, and it active in politics has become a challenge to intensity, the royal massacre in June 2001 unemployment and corruption grew. 2001, the Maoists proposed facilitators, but wanted to extend the process. Minutes about the democratisation process. This will brought another dimension to the crisis. Their rationale for a Maoist-style armed the government did not take them seriously. agreements were not taken, there was no complicate a future peace process. The first Today, the Nepali people do not have full faith struggle was rooted in the ultra-left thinking The second time, both sides nominated political agenda. This made the Maoists step should be to arrange a dialogue any more in the crown, they have lost their that there can be a shortcut to power when the facilitators, but their roles were minimised. suspicious that the government was not serious between the Maoists and political parties so trust in parliamentary parties and the present state is fractious and weak. It was a conscious l Lack of trust. In both rounds of about implementing any agreements. that there will be popular pressure on the royal-appointed government does not represent decision of the leadership to begin an armed negotiations, neither side tried to understand l Absence of a point of convergence. In this king to agree on their common agenda. the people and doesn’t have their mandate. movement. What allowed it to grow and the other's fears and interests. All three forces tripartite conflict, there was no agreement on After the collapse of the ceasefire, some This is an unprecedented national crisis of spread so rapidly was the power struggle (palace, parties and Maoists) had their own what a consensus agreement could be. It commentators have suggested that the king confidence in our institutions. among political parties, and between the parties concerns about a post-peace scenario. The required compromise and a fully constitutional and the parties should make common cause Despite the dire situation, there is still and the king. The traditional exclusion of royalists fear the parties and Maoists would multiparty system could have been a meeting to suppress the Maoists. They forget that some expectations. The Nepali people Nepal’s ethnic, caste and religious minorities unite. The Maoists feared the parties and palace point. this has been tried in the past, and it hasn’t overwhelmingly desire an immediate from the political process was also a factor. getting together. The parliamentary parties l Lack of political clarity. The government worked. Starting a constitutional process restoration of peace. Nepal’s monarchy has The first round of peace talks in 2001 was were afraid the palace and the Maoists would was unclear throughout about its political without the Maoists in the picture would be seen ups and downs before, and it may get out used by both the government and the Maoists get together to quash them. It is now clear that agenda. The Maoists insisted on a roundtable futile. A democratic practice cannot go hand- of this difficulty too. Almost all parliamentary as an experiment. For the Maoists, it was an future talks should be tripartite. conference, an interim government in-hand with armed struggle. The parties have, at some point in history, taken opportunity to test the public mood. They l No role for victims of the insurgency. and a constituent assembly. The political parliamentary democracy and the peace up arms against the state, so it is not were more serious about the second round of There are hundreds of thousands of people parties never showed any interest in this issue process must safeguard each other. The inconceivable that the Maoists too will one talks this year, and appear to have been hopeful who have suffered bereavement and and were sidetracked by their confrontation alternative to talks is talks. t day give up their arms. that there would be a breakthrough. They displacement because of the ‘peoples' war’. with the government. Nepal’s communist movement is 60 years deputed a higher level team with a balance of They were kept out of both peace talks. l Negative role of some external forces. The Shanker Pokharel is a member of the UML old. After 1960, the Nepal Communist Party racial and geographical representation that l No role for civil society and grassroots Americans made it clear soon after the ceasefire Central Committee, and an ex-MP from Dang. 17 - 23 OCTOBER 2003 4 NATION NEPALI TIMES #166 Nepal’s future is in the dung heap th With its 100,000 biogas plant commissioned, Nepal is now the world’s number one in alternative farm energy systems.

underground digester keeps the success rate. In China, where the slurry insulated from the cold. emphasis is less on gas than on Nepal’s biogas campaign really fertiliser, the figure is even worse. took off after 1992, when the It’s probably also because donors Biogas Support Program (BSP) abroad often build large plants to began to subsidise farmers who support a whole community. had to take out a soft loan to Explains Thapa: “In Nepal finance the construction of the individual farmers actually buy plants. The amount of subsidy plants. As a result they feel depends on the remoteness of the responsible and make sure it is area and the size of the plant. It is well maintained.” about Rs 6,000 in the tarai, Rs BSP engineers are currently 9,000 in the hills and Rs 11,000 experimenting with biogas in the remote hills. plants that can work in even “We also select and train colder regions in high altitude construction companies,” says villages where deforestation is Roop Singh Thapa, a BSP quality rampant. Biogas could be a management officer. “We carry solution for both cooking and MAARTEN POST out random checks of the work heating. Above 2,500m it is too MAARTEN POST to the other side of the plant. In a country where indoor which now runs on a they do. If a company fails to cold for microogranisms to ou couldn’t invest in a “And here slurry comes out. I’ll pollution from smoky fires is a combination of effluent from the meet the standards, it is banned break down slurry into simpler, more natural use it after the monsoon to major cause of acute respiratory goth and the toilet. The bonus is from the program.” In 1992, methane. In 2001, BSP built technology. Dung goes in, manure my land. It is very fertile.” infections among children and the spent slurry which is an there was only one biogas two plants in Solukhumbu, gas comes out. You don’t need to Between the inlet and the women, biogas does not just odourless and potent fertiliser. company. At present, there are with a greenhouse on top of the put anything else in: even the outlet, a metal pipe sticks out of conserve firewood, it is also a The first experiments with more than 40 private companies digester. This year more Ybacteria that break down the the ground and runs to the major leap forward in public biogas in Nepal took place in the involved, with branches in 65 experiments will be carried out droppings are already present in kitchen. Kamal Prasad’s wife, health. 1950s, using the Indian drum districts. to integrate solar panels to heat the cow’s stomach. Radha, shows us how it works, Gautam sums up some more design. But the rusty drums Of the 20,000 plants that underground digesters. “It’s a great investment,” says turning the valve and striking a advantages of his purchase. needed expensive maintenance have been tested, 98 percent are BSP program manager Kamal Prasad Gautam from match to the cooking stove. A “Previously, it took us at least two and the above-ground design was functioning well. “In comparison Sundar Bajgain explains: “It is a Kabhre. He built a biogas plant clear blue flame lights up the dark hours per day to collect also unsuitable for Nepal’s colder to other countries, the success rate fine balance between trying out three months ago, and had to pay room. “We have enough gas for firewood,” he says. “Now we use climate. In 1979, Nepali scientists in Nepal is very high,” says new ideas and keeping costs just Rs 14,000 because more than five hours of cooking every day,” that time to do other work, or we modified the Chinese Thapa. There are no official down.” Whether or not BSP half the costs were subsidised. Radha says. “I cook rice, just relax. Also, we no longer have underground design with an air- figures for the success rates of will be able to come up with an “Here I put in the dung of my vegetables, milk and food for the to go into the field to go to the tight dome and produced a cheap biogas plants in India, but Thapa affordable high altitude plant, two buffaloes and some water,” animals. We even have gas left for toilet.” The DDC sponsored the and easy-to-make prototype that says Indian visitors who have the potential for biogas in Nepal Kamal Prasad shows us, turning tea. It’s nice. I don’t have to sit in construction of a toilet, which is worked beautifully. There are inspected Nepal’s program say is still huge. Our total cattle and the stirrer over the inlet. He walks the smoke anymore.” connected to the biogas plant, virtually no moving parts, and the they have a below 60 percent buffalo population is at least an

HERE AND THERE by DANIEL LAK

utside the airport, in this village with a runway, a member of the Armed Police Force is beating a Tamang porter with a bamboo rod. “Move on,” he commands and the porter, hungry enough to try to ignore the cop, stands his ground. The police officer, younger than the Our columnist finds that police man he’s hitting, winds up like a professional tennis player and wallops his mistreatment of janjatis lends itself victimO on the back of the neck. The stick breaks from the force of the blow. Lak in Lukla to Maoist recruitment better than That decides the contest and the porter picks up his load of goat meat and moves away from the airport, muttering to himself. I suggest to the any bygone ideology. APF man that he’s just helped recruit another Maoist and he laughs and Lukla itself, although from time to time, reports trickle in of rebel activity ushers me past, politely, the broken stick still in his hand. On my way to four days walk south towards Okhaldhunga. The APF is garrisoned there the airport to catch the Kathmandu flight—at $182, not far from the to protect Lukla airport, which has admittedly, been attacked in the past. average annual income of rural Nepal—another APF man was stopping But by simply being there, doesn’t the APF make Lukla an even more Nepalis unescorted by foreigners or Sherpas from going to the airport, tempting rebel target? Not to mention, the way that some officers at least cursing them and waving his rifle. Ethnic criteria seemed to apply. That is, seem to view some local people of certain ethnic groups. Can you not janjatis need not apply. argue that such casual brutalities are a form of discrimination against Lukla closes early these days. By 7PM, the streets are deserted except frequented by those porters had a similar edict imposed by the police. Not honest men who are looking for honest work, driving them towards for APF patrols. (See also: ‘Sagarmatha’s buffer zone is vanishing’, Nepali that denying people the right to play billiards would drive them into the insurgency by treating them with disrespect? Times, #164.) There’s a curfew of sorts but it doesn’t apply to foreigners arms of a rebel group, but as an example of the growing and unaccountable On the good side, after watching the private airlines in action at Lukla or people known to the police—only to those same porters who crowd the power of the security forces, it’s an interesting thing to contemplate. airport, I now know that Nepalis are capable of running anything. The town in search of a little work. Again, I suggest, discrimination that lends And why, I wonder, is there a curfew in a tourist town like Lukla? Up planes wheel up to the apron, disgorge hard currency, er, trekkers, then itself to Maoist recruitment better than any hoary ideology from the past. the trail in Namche Bazar, the music never stops and I’ve got the bags take on a load of the same before heading back to base in Kathmandu. A Much that seems inexplicable is going on here. The evening before, I under my eyes to prove it. Namche brims with energy and money with nary few minutes is all that’s needed and only weather or mechanical problems stopped at my hotel bar for a can of Tuborg. I proposed a game of billiards a Maoist in sight. No security forces to speak of either, unless you count slow things down. It all proceeds with cheery efficiency. The Twin Otters to my companion. No, no, the bartender says, the security forces have the desultory backpack check on the outskirts from a mixed army and and Dorniers thunder up and down the ridiculously angled runway asked me to close the pool table. Close the pool table? That’s right, he police brigade, more interested in chatting up female trekkers than and keep the local and national economy afloat, at least for now. says, a senior policeman in plain clothes, dropped by for a drink in mid- interdicting rebel arms shipments in porters’ loads. It all works wonderfully for the local elite and the foreign afternoon and said no one should be playing pool after 5PM. Er, I said, The curfew, it seems to me, is to make things easier for the police, not trekkers. It’s a different story if you’re a porter from another district um, yes, at a loss for words just that once. A pool hall down the street to keep the people safe. First of all, there is no active Maoist presence in or ethnic group. t 17 - 23 OCTOBER 2003 NATION NEPALI TIMES #166 5

DOMESTIC BRIEFS

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○ The Nepali biogas plant design uses an air-tight Global Nepalis go local Dead○○○○○○○○○○○○○ children Madeunderground digester in where Nepalbacteria breaks The four-day global Nepali extravaganza in Four children were killed and five injured in an army down the raw material in the farm waste to Kathmandu has ended with the organisers attack on a school where Maoists had forced produce methane (see drawing below). The ecstatic about the outcome. The First Non- students to watch a cultural program. Rebels reaction has to take place in the absence of Resident Nepali Conference managed to get a dragged children back to the Shradha Secondary oxygen, and these bacteria occur naturally in the government commitment on treating overseas School in Doti from their homes to force them to cow’s stomach. The gas contains up to 70 Nepali investment as foreign direct investment, an watch their cultural program. Fifteen minutes into the percent methane and 30 percent carbon dioxide. agreement on a legal framework for future show, about 75 army personnel in civvies arrived. A biogas plant consists of five main projects and even issuance of a special ID card “We raised our hands and told the army we are just components. The required quantity of dung and for people of Nepali origin. Although dual students, but they started firing,” says Dharma water is mixed in the inlet tank (left) and digested citizenship got a lot of media attention, it wasn’t Kumari Bhutyal, one of the injured students now at in the digester. The gas produced in the digester pursued with too much vigour by delegates. Bheri Anchal Hospital in Nepalganj where he is is collected in the dome. The digested slurry “We are overwhelmed by the response and undergoing treatment. “If the Maoists had not forced flows to the outlet tank and ends up in the by the cooperation and help shown by the us to attend the program, my friends would be alive compost pit as the gas pressure in the dome government,” said Bhim Udas of the international today,” Bhutyal told the human rights group INSEC. forces the effluent out. The gas is tapped from coordination committee. “It was much better than One of the children is in critical condition. A the top of the dome with a pipe that goes to the we expected.” delegation from the Human Rights Commission and kitchen. The conference has already announced Coalition for Children as Zones of Peace are on their projects funded by NRNs including a 200-room old way to Doti to investigate the incident this weekend. peoples’ home in Bharatpur, an ICT venture and The army says it killed 17 armed Maoists in the incident. possibly a hydropower investment. The government has promised the delegates

to instate a separate law for NRNs. “An official

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ committee is being formed to look after the LastMaking week the Dutchconnections airline Martinair began direct air recommendations made by the conference,” said service between Kathmandu and Amsterdam every Yogendra Shakya, conference moderator . “But, Wednesday. The flight will be operated with a the ball is in the NRN’s court to prove that they stopover in Sharjah and offers connections through will do what they say.” Schipol airport to 75 destinations worldwide. Martinair replaced the service previously operated by

the KLM charter subsidiary, Transavia.

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ UNFPA’sMore State mouths of World Population Report 2003,

released last week, shows that Nepal’s ○○○○○○○○○○○○ population more than doubled from 9.4 million in Food○○○○○○○○○○○○○ day 1960, to 23.2 million in 2001. Nepal’s current Food-for-work programs in Nepal are running into population of 25.2 million will double to 50.8 million problems because of the security situation. GTZ, the German aid group, and the UN’s World Food Program

ANDREAS BACHMAN by 2050, with an average growth rate of 2.2 percent. Forty-two percent of Nepalis are below are involved in food aid. Ulf Wernicke of GTZ, estimated 9.3 million, and they probably will not need the burning cars. One biogas plant 15 years, and nearly half the female population is however, says no programs have been withdrawn so far although a rural development program in theoretically produce enough financial support of Western reduces CO2 emission by 4.7 within reproductive age. These are ominous dung for 1.4 million biogas donors anymore. And with the tons per year, and the Kyoto statistics for the country’s future demographic Bhojpur was suspended after its building was burnt plants. BSP aims to construct Kyoto Protocol, it is possible for trade-in for one ton of trends. UNFPA says adolescents between 10-19 by unknown attackers. On World Food Day 200,000 new plants in the Nepal to actually trade CO reduction can be up to $10. years of age make up about 1.2 billion around the Thursday, WFP warned it would consider 2 world. The world’s population estimated at 6.3 suspending its aid if it was threatened or harmed. coming six years. “We’ve set up a emission. Western countries that “Considering the increasing Maoists have resorted to occasional looting of food loan and micro finance structure contaminate the environment way number of plants, we’re talking billion will grow to 8.9 billion by 2050, with a spike in the developing countries of Africa, Asia and convoys in the midwest and blockaded others from in order to reach poor people in too much and have difficulty to about a lot of money,” Bajgain Latin America. reaching certain district headquarters. more remote areas,” says Bajgain. keep within the limits set in says with a big smile. “The All in all, biogas proves that a Kyoto, can buy reduction of beautiful part is the money has

development effort based on a CO2 emission from countries to go back to the program simple, practical idea, can yield that don’t produce CO2. which generated the reduction. excellent results. BSP recently Even though biogas plants The government can’t buy obtained ISO certification, and by produce methane, which is a guns with revenues. It would December, it will be legally more powerful greenhouse gas, be enough to finance our independent from the Dutch aid most of it is burnt and its whole program. The ball is group, SNV/Nepal which volume is negligible compared now in the government’s supported it. In the future, BSP to emmisions from fossile-fuel court.” t

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for details visit our website www.himalmag.com 17 - 23 OCTOBER 2003 6 NATION NEPALI TIMES #166 OPINION by SUDHINDRA SHARMA of Thailand’s active constitutional monarchy. There were massive student demonstrations against military rule in 1973, and for a new constitution. The junta cracked down on the students, and King Bhumibol intervened, forcing the generals to resign and leave King Gyanendra says he wants to be an ‘active constitutional monarch’. the country. The king then emerged as We take a look at the Thai monarchy for clues about what it could mean. the patron of democratic reforms. discontinued royal ceremonies in However, Thailand’s new The Thai modelwhich the king participated. It even democracy was regarded with prohibited home display of portraits considerable suspicion by both the of the king and queen. right (military interests) and the left For the next 25 years, the royalty (the student movement). Communists was present in Thailand only in name. infiltrated the students and their The 1932 coup group envisioned a radicalism grew with increasingly- three-phase process of political violent street protests. Warning that development. First, a provisional the situation was getting out of control, constitution establishing an assembly of the military demanded the declaration 70 coup-makers was to be enacted. Six of a state of emergency. Dismayed by months later, a new constitution would the turbulent trend of democracy, the be drafted for a half-appointed and half king consented, and in the public eye, indirectly elected National Assembly. he was seen as a restorer of stability. here may be lessons for Nepal both (pic, top). Finally, a full representational On 20 May 1992, as the country from the manner with which The effect of the broadcast was government was to be instituted ten descended into anarchy, King Thailand’s much-revered King electric. Chamlong surrendered and years later, or once half the population Bhumibol made an address to the Bhumibol has historically used Suchinda resigned. Interventions like had primary level education, whichever nation watched by 50 million Thais. constitutional powers to intervene on these have given King Bhumibol the happened first. In practice things did He said: “The confrontation has taken mattersT of the state. Over his 57-year label of an ‘active constitutional not move much beyond the first phase a dangerous turn, it has taken a reign, he has stepped in only a few monarch’. Had he been just a literal and the coup-makers kept control of the considerable human toll and caused times. Had he intervened more Westminster-style constitutional state apparatus. tremendous damage to public and frequently, he would perhaps not have monarch, perhaps he would not have Once King Bhumibol returned to private property. Should the remained a constitutional monarch. The intervened in 1992. Thailand 1951, after his studies in confrontation prolong, the country interventions have been aimed at The monarchy has not always Switzerland, he aspired to become could be wrecked. Each side wants to defusing crises, restoring stability and been a central institution in Thailand. closer to the people. He even became a emerge victorious. Who wins? No one. consolidating democracy. As soon as It was largely eclipsed for over 25 disc jockey on a private AM radio All become losers, those in the things have gone back on track, he years from 1932 to 1957, when the station within the palace premises. He confrontation, and worst of all, the withdrew from the scene. military marginalised the monarchy. started visiting remote parts of the community, the country, the people. The most recent was during the It was primarily the present monarch country and interacting with neglected What is the benefit of a victory on top May 1992 military coup attempt who, by playing his role creatively, communities, and launched of ruins?” when violence spread in Bangkok. It has brought the institution to center- development projects for their welfare. Lately, not having to look after looked as if the power struggle would stage. But he did this without Scholars have put forth his rural the day-to-day affairs of state means be long-drawn with many casualties. exercising military or administrative development programs as one of the that King Bhumibol is able to The king summoned Prime Minister control, just by using the moral reasons why Thailand’s Maoist concentrate his energies with even Gen Suchinda and coup leader Col authority derived from his personal movement in the 1960-70s could more vigour in rural development. Chamlong and they were shown charisma and popular respect. not take root in those regions. He has projected himself not as a on Thai television kneeling in The 1932 coup by a group of Military crackdowns alone would not Buddhist king, but as a protector of front of the king, who admonished mid-level military and civilian officials have eradicated the insurgency. all faiths. It has been mainly due to forced King Prajadhipok to relinquish The king began to appear more his efforts that the cultural and power, transforming absolute frequently in public as a part of the religious minorities of Thailand monarchy into a constitutional one. military’s strategy to strengthen its own have come to identify themselves The coup leaders, who had studied in fledging legitimacy. Little did they with the Thai nation and participate France, called themselves ‘promoters’ realise that through small gestures, the in its development. t and viewed the monarchy as being monarchy was moving back to centre- backward and a hindrance to stage of Thai life. Sudhindra Sharma is a visiting scholar progress. After taking power, the The king’s role in the crisis of at The Institute of Asian Studies, junta forbade the king from 1973 and 1976 stands out as Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok. interacting with the public and important landmarks in the evolution [email protected] “Bhutan’s donors have a role” ð from p1 Says Rizal, “There was no need to divide the Governments providing aid to Bhutan must play a Bhutani people into four classes. There should have role in mediating the crisis, says Rizal. “The only been two classes: Bhutani and non-Bhutani.” international community knows what happened. Rizal also objects to the stringent conditions the Donor countries have to pressure the Bhutani Bhutani government would place government.” Besides India, even on those who would qualify donors include Denmark, the to return. “Even those who go Netherlands, Sweden, Austria and back stand to suffer,” he says. Japan. “There will be no solution Living precariously in exile, until the international community Rizal is cautious about not becomes involved,” says Rizal. blaming any other country but “They are the center of our hopes his own. “Nepal didn’t invite the right now.” refugees,” he insists. “The The Nepali delegation Bhutani government chased heading for Thimpu next week them away. It is flatly to blame includes Foreign Secretary for this.” It is critical, he says, Madhuram Acharya, Assistant for third countries to become Secretary Madan Kumar more active in resolving the crisis: Bhattarai, Home Assistant “India is our nearest neighbour, Secretary Sushil Jung Rana and is and is so generous in giving aid to headed by Ambassador-at-Large Bhutan. India must speak out in a Bhekh Bahadur Thapa. In an neutral way.” unprecedented move, the Nepali He also says it is time for government has invited refugee Bhutan’s donors to be more vocal. leader SB Subba and a team from “It was after the UNDP came to the refugee camps for Bhutan in the 1970s, and it was consultations in Kathmandu. after they began rural development Rizal, who now heads the work that the Bhutani government chased away the exiled Human Rights Commission of Bhutan, sees the Lhotsampas, calling them foreigners,” he argues. repatriation of the refugees as a crucial step in “The UNDP knows how many houses there were in establishing civil rights in his country. He told us: every village. Now those Lhotsampa families aren’t “This is not a personal matter anymore, it concerns there any more.” 100,000 people living in utter frustration.” t 17 - 23 OCTOBER 2003 ECONOMY NEPALI TIMES #166 7 STRICTLY BUSINESS by ASHUTOSH TIWARI “No excitement in the market.” Cash flow becomes sluggish.

But there is huge liquidity in the market and shares are being snapped up. Shares are a different story. Bank shares are doing Wanted:The best way to navigateTalent the marketAgentsmarketing for game. success. Their talent lies well, but I don’t think it’s the same for others. There in singing and composing music may be liquidity but people are not willing to spend. in isolation, and not in MIN BAJRACHARYA Cash is not moving the way it should. marketing. They should not even Is the growth of the middle class making a have to play the management difference on volume? game anymore, as Kuber’s failed Definitely. Consumer electronics, even motorcycle attempts in the course of the sales, are on the rise despite the overall dip in the film demonstrate. In today’s market. Goods that were deemed luxuries in the past changed times, Kuber and his have now become essentials. The moment people cohorts now require the services have some disposable income, consumer electronics of a new breed of opportunity- is one sector that benefits the most. seeking professionals who, as agents, can help, for a fee, such But isn’t unbridled consumerism bad for the talents to make strategic career environment? decisions that have higher Keeping ahead of the competition, All right, let’s talk about, say, motorcycles. The total chances of leading to both Shekhar Golchha has his eye on the annual revenue the government gets out of this LIMBU PRANAY business is Rs 1.4 billion. Should we limit the number critical and commercial success. bigger, longterm prize for the Golchha ne of the most memorable a hardworking, poor and serious Organisation. Nepali Times caught up of motorbikes or do we start building infrastructures like Else, in the absence of such flyovers and new roads? Only rich countries can think documentary films shown at singer, somehow deserving of agents, singers such as Kuber in with this busy managing director to talk in terms of stopping vehicle growth. Can we think in the recently concluded Film commercial success. This image spite of their stunning talent, are about Dasai-Tihar consumerism, terms ending a source of such profitable revenue? South Asia ’03 in Kathmandu was contrasts sharply with Dhiraj’s destined to slide into obscurity corporate responsibility, his views on What are you going to offer as a substitute to the “History For Winners” by the who, with his hip-swaying song- and despair, always blaming Nepal signing up with the WTO and middle class when there isn’t a mass transportion Ofirst-time documentary-maker and-dance routines, cheerful others of “unhealthy survival of the fittest. system? Pranay Limbu. personality and willingness to talk competition” and so on. But the The film profiles two singers to the press at all times, strikes any main reason why Dhiraj’s career Nepali Times: Are Nepali consumers consuming? How do you view Nepal’s entry into WTO? impartially: Kuber Rai and Dhiraj relatively elite documentary is doing well is that he exhibits Shekhar Golchha: Right now the overall business is I feel it happened at the wrong time. The WTO could suffering and there is no be great for Nepal because we want to attract foreign Rai, both of whom talk about audience as, well, just fooling an uncanny ability to double up excitement in the market. The breakdown of the investment. But, in today’s law and order situation, do achieving success as singers. In the around and not making serious as his own agent, always pushing ceasefire has spoilt the consumers’ mood. For example, you think any foreign investment is going to come into late 1980s and the early 90s, while music. Even his success is somehow himself and his music in the people postpone buying decisions because electronic the country? Even the existing foreign investors are Kuber was being hailed as a suspect. Yet I found Dhiraj quite marketplace. Yes, one may argue goods and automobiles are not basic necessities. packing up. Now, with WTO you are also removing successor to Narayan Gopal and intriguing for two business reasons. that Dhiraj is a better salesman During tough times, like at present, they are not protection for domestic industryies. We need to be feted in Kathmandu’s ‘modern’ First, his success says that gone than a singer, but that point is psychologically comfortable. competitive both domestically and internationally. music competitions, Dhiraj from are the days when raw talent moot in front of his raging But then, I also see this as an opportunity for Why should we make our consumers suffer? The whole Khotang was eking out an alone—as in the case of late commercial success in people who can sustain and keep a positive attitude reason we signed on is for foreign investment. But if existence as a struggling artist, Narayan Gopal—carried an artist Kathmandu, while his potential towards business. We will probably become stronger that’s not going to come, then what is the point? We something he did for 12 long years. to the top of his profession in rival Kuber is back to herding because when there is a market shakedown. Those who are heading towards disaster. These days, however, Kuber bides Nepal. With competition goats in Ilam. are not focused and cannot sustain their ventures will fold up. It leaves great opportunities for established How will consumers suffer with the WTO? his time, taking care of his farm in everywhere and the music industry Many years ago, poet Laxmi businesses. This is the time to really grow for those who We are neither as competitive nor as progressive as his village in Ilam (pic, top), with coming up as a profitable business, Prasad Devkota wrote can take risks. I will not roll back any of my expansion industries elsewhere. We are probably making almost no hope of re-launching his success today needs talent to be something to the effect that only programs. In fact, we just launched a big consumer consumers pay for our inefficiency. Since our cost of musical career, while Dhiraj has packaged, managed, branded and in Nepal might Byron remain a scheme. production is higher and the economy of scale is less, established himself as a nationally sold to the marketplace, in the farmer, while Shakespeare does consumers pay for the deficit. The industries run recognised commercially successful same way that a firm markets, say, manual labour and Shelly Which of your businesses is in best shape? because the government protects them. The WTO will pop icon. detergent to customers. In this becomes a shopkeeper. What Motorcycle sales are still holding. There is no problem remove those barriers. We will be forced to become Talking with some members of respect, Dhiraj’s success provides a Devkota could not have foreseen with that segment although the overall market has more competitive. Our cost of production will have to the audience after the show, I window to see the nature of was that to succeed fallen, we have significantly improved our market share. match international rates if we are to survive. found that most were sympathetic rapidly changing, financially driven commercially in 2003, even Last month was very good for us. Even our consumer to Kuber, and were quite yet mutually lucrative intersections Byron, Shakespeare and Shelly, electronic business is sustaining, but the growth that is But isn’t being competitive better for industry and generally expected during this season is missing. better for consumers? dismissive of Dhiraj’s success. To between commerce and the arts not to mention Kuber Rai, need I would not say that we know all the tricks of the trade. some extent, this was in Nepal. agents who value their talent Should customers postpone buying decisions at this The WTO is a huge thing to study. Principally, we understandable. With an earnest And second, most of the times, enough to help them navigate time? need to be watchful and so does the government. In face and early-morning practice Nepali artists themselves—no the channels of business so that During tough times, people tend to save more, thinking the broader view, if the law and order situation gets sessions with his son at the matter how supremely talented— they can be pushed to the that if the situation deteriorates they will need their better, consumers and the country are going to benefit harmonium, Kuber comes across as are simply not able to play the marketplace for success. t savings. Businessmen postpone their investment plans. from the WTO. 8 RESOURCES

Power Producers (IPPs). only the equipment (25-40 percent Interestingly, the mode of of total cost) which has to be financing and the contracting that imported from overseas. goes with it has a much stronger There is now plenty of evidence impact on project costs than that Nepal’s hydropower sector can economies of scale. Larger projects attract substantial local investment financed through aid are the most both in equity and debt. Nine expensive, followed by medium scale prominent Nepali business houses projects built by the international invested in the BPC, by far the private sector and the least largest privatisation so far in the expensive are the smaller, locally country. Nepal is earning over $1 financed projects. billion every year in remittances One possible reason for the from overseas workers. Channeling relative high cost of aid funded just 10 percent of this will meet projects is that they are generally most of our hydropower needs. Nepal can now designed for storage (Kulekhani) or Nepali consumers suffer among generate for daily pondage (Marsyangdi and the highest electricity prices in the People power Kali Gandaki), and in the case of region. The cost to the consumers cheap electricity Arun III there would have been a is ultimately dependent on the 120 km access road whose cost was Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) with locally-built also included in the project. Such signed by independent power and locally-financed projects incur higher civil producers with NEA. PPAs signed construction and land compensation in dollars will cost the Nepali hydropower costs compared to run-of-the-river consumer around Rs 25 per kWh in schemes like projects. However, it still does not 2010, while local rupee based PPAs explain the two-and-a-half times would cost less than half because of this one on the higher cost compared to the rupee contractual escalation in tariffs and Chilime. financed projects. rupee depreciation. Large aid-funded projects are There are some things that very expensive partly because of the need to be ironed out. At present, rigid conditions of competitive there is a large difference between bidding to the highest international the PPAs signed between NEA and standards. These standards are so various private producers, even high that only a handful of those with full local investment. companies in Europe, the US and For instance, with escalation by

BIKASH○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ PANDEY contractors. Not even Indian or East Asia even pre-qualify. Many are 2012, the PPA tariff for Chilime ast month, three Nepali power Chinese companies, which were also bound by tied-aid rules under will be Rs 7.55, for Piluwa Rs 4.35 projects with substantial local building much larger projects in which equipment purchases have to and for Jhimruk Rs 6.57. There is rupee investments were tested their own countries, could pre- How doCapacity they compare?Cost Cost per unit be made from the donor country. no longer any justification for and commissioned: Chilime qualify for construction contracts in Chilime 20MW $31m $1,550/kW With international IPPs, the cost negotiating different prices for (20MW) in Rasuwa, Piluwa (3MW) Nepal. Piluwa 3MW $4m $1,450/kW comes from dollar loan financing at energy from each supplier for future in Sankhuwasabha and Jhimruk Unfortunately, these externally Kali Gandaki 144MW $450m $3,125/kW interest rates ranging from 8-13%, run-of-the-river schemes under L(12MW) in Pyuthan. funded, designed and constructed which is higher than Nepali rupee 25MW. Nepal’s hydropower projects did little to enhance affordable levels. Outside 2003, is a consortium of Nepali and loans and have to factor in rupee One of the big changes in the development took a wrong turn 25 national capacity. The projects investment, it became clear, should Norwegian investors who have depreciation, and their perception last 10 years is that Nepal’s donors years ago, and it has finally come were expensive, and the country supplement national expertise and invested Rs 952 million for 75 of the risks in investing in Nepal. have finally realised that large back on track. Individual aid-funded was forced on a path of longterm resources. Not substitute for them. percent share of the company. The projects have diseconomies that projects are now being replaced by dependency and unaffordable Today, projects like Piluwa company owns Andhi Khola There are, therefore, three main make them expensive for Nepal. projects that enhance our own energy costs. People began to and Chilime are living proof that (5.1MW) and Jhimruk (12MW). reasons why locally designed The World Bank’s recently technical and financial capacity to question whether hydropower was the paradigm shift in Nepali BPC has rebuilt Jhimruk, and is projects are less expensive: approved Power Development meet energy needs. From the late even an asset. The irony of one of hydropower planning have brought selling energy to NEA at Rs 3.67 l The cost of capital borrowed Fund will be financing smaller 1970s onwards, foreign aid the poorest countries in the world real change. These and other per kWh. The construction of from local banks is at its lowest projects in the under-30MW range. completely dominated the power building some of the most projects have extensive involvement Piluwa (3MW in Sankhuwasabha) point in many years. Future support from the sector. High-budget, glamorous, expensive projects was lost on our of both in-country financial and Syange (183 KW in Lamjung), l Developers had complete international community to Nepal’s aid-funded projects like Kulekhani I policy makers and civil society. institutions and technical undertaken largely by investors flexibility in where they source power sector will be most effective and II, Marsyangdi, Kali Gandaki It took 15 years and the manpower. And the beauty is their from the districts they are based in, their equipment and how they if it is used to support both NEA in and even the ill-fated Arun III restoration of democracy, when cost of electricity generation is were made possible under NEA’s pick contractors, and they can the public sector, and private became much more attractive to Arun III exposed the contradiction $1,500 per kW, less than half that policy announced in 1998 to get the best prices. Nepali sector companies to increase politicians and policy makers than between the Nepalis’ need for of larger aid-funded projects. purchase energy from below-5MW l Smaller projects mean fewer their capability to build low cost, building smaller projects using local cheap electricity and the high cost The success of the Chilime hydro producers under a standard technical complications and the high quality projects. The resources. of production of foreign-built model is largely due to one man, contract. The credit for this goes to ability to breakdown contracts hydropower sector in Nepal needs These mega-schemes were mega-projects. Nepali engineers, Dambar Nepali (see interview). And Shailaja Acharya when she was into small components that technical support and financing to funded by multilateral banks or economists and civil society finally it is such a success story that the Minister of Water Resources. could be bid out among a large carry out projects of the size that it bilateral donors, and the Nepal started looking at cheaper, management is already thinking of It is clear that the cost of number of competitive Nepali, can manage itself. t Electricity Authority (NEA) indigenous projects. Although starting on the 26MW Upper construction of hydropower Indian and Chinese companies. effectively lost control over its initially met with skepticism, it has Chilime next, and in future it wants projects in Nepal depends strongly Bikash Pandey is an hydropower strategy. The strict now become clear that only to take on the 250MW Upper on the financing modality. The per Besides being cheaper, local energy specialist conditions of these donors meant through locally-financed, locally- Tama Kosi for less than the per kW construction costs of locally investments also benefit the national and country that projects had to be designed and built and locally-managed smaller kilowatt cost of Chilime. financed projects are lower than economy through much stronger representative of managed by international projects would the price of The Butwal Power Company either large donor-funded projects backward linkages in construction Winrock consultants and built by outside electricity in Nepal come down to (BPC), newly privatised in January or the International Independent and manufacturing. Usually, it is International.

unauthorised payment of $30 million to the project’s Italian civil hurry to close the project. “We are supposed to close the loan file between contractor without its approval. But management has watered down the three to six months after the project is completed,” says ADB’s Peter Biginquiry, and only askedhydro, for reasons for the cost overrun. big hanky-pankyLogan. “We have been reminding the government about the difficulties ? of “The entire issue has been hushed up,” a senior NEA official told us. keeping the project file open indefinitely.” “The board did discuss whether action should be initiated against the NEA had approved a $130 million bid by the Italian Impregilo SpA culprits, but management is helping them get away.” NEA has maintained for an open-ended bill of quantities contract. By the end of the project, the overruns were legitimate billings due to delays caused by political Impregilo and the American engineering consultant Morrison Knudsen upheavals and geological complications during construction, but declined International Inc (MKI) racked up a total of $180 million. The extra $50 to comment on allegations that it is trying to sweep the matter under the million was paid by NEA officials over a period of five years, between carpet. Independent analysts see the Kali Gandaki controversy as a text- 1997-2002, without informing the board. NEA’s Managing Director was book case of why large foreign-funded and foreign-built projects turn out allowed to hand out only up to 20 percent ($26 million) in excess of the Officials approved $30 million in extra to be so expensive. agreed $130 million cost on his own discretion. “The consultant supported payments to contractors of the Kali Gandaki NEA insiders say both the government and the authorities are under the contractor and the bank backed the consultant,” recalls an NEA pressure from the project’s major creditor, the Asian Development Bank official. project without the board’s approval. (ADB), to have the 144MW plant inaugurated by King Gyanendra as soon The ADB believes the $180 million amount spent on civil works was

NAVIN○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ SINGH KHADKA as possible. still below the initial estimate of $236 million. “That overestimation was nder pressure to get the Kali Gandaki hydroelectric plant “NEA and the Water Resources Ministry are already working for the the excuse the contractor used to escalate costs,” says the NEA official who inaugurated by King Gyanendra by next month, Nepal Electricity inauguration and we are in regular consultation with the ADB over the requested anonymity in an extensive interview. The $428 million Kali Authority (NEA) is trying to hush up controversy over a shady issue of Kali Gandaki and other projects,” says Finance Secretary Bhanu Gandaki A has already begun generation from its three units, but transfer of cost overruns in Nepal’s biggest power project. Prasad Acharya. ADB itself has refused to get involved in the dispute, Impreglio is still pressing for another $5 million it says NEA owes it for UThe NEA board initially wanted an explanation about the saying it is a matter between the contractor and NEA, but it is also in a delays in the project. t 17 - 23 OCTOBER 2003 NEPALI TIMES #166 9

Damber Nepali was born in Jagate in designed, locally-built and Nepali-financed Bhaktapur, and was educated in an powerplant has started supplying electricity orphanage. Excelling in his studies, he went to the national grid. The road to Chilime Yes,on to do his PhD in thethe United States in Nepaliwasn’t easy, but Nepali’s patience can and hydropower development. Today, at age 52, perseverance paid off. A few more people Nepali has shown what Nepalis can do when like Damber Nepali in every arena of they have vision, drive, integrity and national life, and we are sure, Nepal would willpower. be a different place. Rajendra Dahal spoke Six years after launching the Chilime to Damber Nepali recently. Translated hydropower project, this indigenously- excerpts: Rajendra Dahal: Why Chilime, and why you? costs aren’t going up much, and we can already sell each unit

Damber Nepali: I had just returned from the US to join the Arun for Rs 5. The figures look good. MIN BAJRACHARYA III project. We were asked to look at thermal power until Arun came onstream. But we started surveying rivers that could Did everything turn out as expected? generate upwards of five megawatt, and went from Ilam to We said we will build it with Nepali money, we did it. We said Darchula. We came across Chilime, a tributary of the Trisuli. It we will design it ourselves, we did that, too. We said we will sell looked ideal, lots of water, a good head and we were happy. cheap electricity, and it is relatively cheap. But we didn’t tell anyone except the NEA’s managing director. We said Chilime will be the beginning of a process, and we higher-ups wanted to give the project to the private sector. We’d learnt this the hard way: the best project gets hijacked are already looking at building Upper Chilime next. Yes, the They hassled me over the license, and they dropped a lot of by higher-ups. power is not as cheap as we planned. The delays put costs up. hints. But I am the type that doesn’t understand hints. Maybe We proposed that Chilime should be developed by a just as well. Anyway, Bhola Chalise was the MD, and he helped separate private venture and to invest the pension of NEA Would you say Chilime is a model project for Nepal? me out. employees. Managing director Shanta Bahadur Pun encouraged It can be, but we can’t say that just on the basis of one project. us and got the board to approve the proposal. After Upper Chilime, I think we can be certain. We have the So how did you save the project? expertise, the experience, the financing and we have the The biggest force were NEA employees. We were honest, so Who did the design and financing? confidence. Money is the least of our problems—banks are our morale was high, and we were proud that we had We, the NEA engineers, did everything ourselves. We even lining up for financing, the pension fund is ready. We’ve embarked on a project that would benefit the nation. I found this attempted something never tried before: digging a 6m diameter stopped worrying about money. patriotism in the contractors, too, they didn’t try to compromise tunnel that was 195m long. This boosted our self-confidence. on quality. As much as possible we employed local people, we We’d initially estimated the project would cost Rs 1.2 billion, but What are the lessons of Chilime, then? didn’t displace anyone and today every VDC in the area has there were over-runs. The Chinese contractor couldn’t do the Those who used to say there is no money in Nepal, we need to electricity. job, so we replaced them with India’s Larsen and Turbo. The borrow from abroad, have been proved wrong. If we need delay pushed the cost up to Rs 2.32 billion. We financed it with foreign engineers, we’ll get them, otherwise we’ll do it And personally? equity and loan. NEA has 51 percent share, 25 percent is owned ourselves. We must now scale up, and go for Chilime’s elder This isn’t just another job for me. I grew up in an orphanage, by NEA employees and 24 percent will be allocated for sale to brother: Upper Tama Kosi. The geology is good, and it’s just a and I can’t bring myself to work solely for personal benefit. I did the public. question of whether we can raise up to Rs 22 billion locally. I it for my organisation and my country. And I will continue to do think with the success of Chilime we can convince Nepalis to so. If I had become corrupt, this project wouldn’t have been Will people buy Chilime shares in these uncertain times? invest in hydropower projects. After all, Nepali workers completed. We need to raise Rs 479 million from the public and employees, overseas are sending home Rs 700 billion every year, we just but no worries. We will be giving 10 percent dividends in the first need to divert Rs 5 billion every year. With rupee financing, we Have you met anyone else like you, ones who see beyond year, and we can pay back all loans and investment in four to five also obviate the danger of rupee depreciation for dollar personal gain? years by selling electricity. Chilime generates 137 million units denominated loans. The NEA MD, Bhola Chalise, was one. Shailaja Acharya, who of electricity a year, each unit costs Rs 2.19 to produce, and our laid the foundation stone of Chilime, she was very positive agreement with the NEA was to sell each unit at Rs 3 beginning What were the main difficulties you faced with Chilime? about projects like these. Shanta Bahadur Pun was also a very in 1996, escalating by eight percent every year for 12 years. The They tried to get me out of the project many times because the positive director, but they didn’t let him survive in NEA. 17 - 23 OCTOBER 2003 10 WORLD NEPALI TIMES #166 COMMENT by RALF DAHRENDORF

An American soldier stands guard

in an Iraqi market. Iraq had little time to get accustomed to ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Living under occupationthe○○○○ notion of being an occupied country. the Polish spa in the town of Zakopane, we the Saar region actually separated from were obviously enemies, unwanted in every Germany for a time. In the American zone the respect. Soon a quarantine was imposed to process was slower and controls were stricter prevent us from misbehaving towards the local than in the British zone, where local politicians people and, above all, to protect us from their were soon entrusted with power. On the other wrath. I can still feel, with shame, the sense of hand, economic life flourished earlier in the being not only unwanted but of being an American zone, whereas the British tried to illegitimate invader in a proud country. extract direct benefits by, for example, It could be argued that the Iraq war was dismantling steel works and bringing the too short, certainly too short for Iraqis to feel, parts to Britain. as we Germans did, that the occupation was In retrospect, that turned out to be a inevitable and bound to last for a long time. blessing for Germany. A reviving Germany While Iraqis may be pleased to be rid of a built modern factories, whereas the occupiers murderous regime, they had little time to get were saddled with old ones. But Germany accustomed to the notion of being an occupied revived because the Western occupation forces country. In Germany, we thought for a while made clear their intention to let it do so, and that the occupation would last forever, and that helped indigenous forces on their way. After we perhaps deserved no better. I doubt initial uncertainties, there was soon a clear hen I hear Americans such as US main street in our quarter towards the crowd. Hamburg, then under British occupation. whether many Iraqis share that feeling. and widely recognised vision of where the National Security Adviser Condoleeza When the crowd dispersed, the soldiers started Suddenly, non-fraternisation with Germans— But the most important aspect of the country should go. Rice compare the occupation of Iraq looting, raping and pillaging. This continued the American rule—was replaced by frequent German experience was the sense of where the Western Germany’s occupation forces not with that of Germany (and sometimes Japan) for only a few days, but fear of the occupying contacts aimed at re-education, especially of the occupation would lead. In the old Soviet zone, only set an example of how this vision could after WWII, distant memories flood in, for I Soviets never left even as they began to young. In those months, the seeds of my it soon became clear that it would lead to a be achieved, but found the right people and amW a child of that experience. Indeed, in the distribute food and set up a rudimentary conversion to all things British were planted, totalitarian satellite regime. Those who could, the right institutions to bring about twelve months following the unconditional administration. It soon became clear that they which flowered decades later in my becoming a left the Soviet zone and settled in the West; reconstruction and progress. In principle, this surrender of Hitler’s Nazi regime in May were in fact creating another dictatorship in British citizen. those who could not, faced the sullen existence can be accomplished elsewhere. In practice 1945, I lived under serial Russian, place of the one they had removed. Such differences matter no less in Iraq of subjects rather than citizens. In the Western however, one cannot help wondering whether American and British occupation. In July, when Americans replaced the today, and have done so from the first days of zones, a different set of expectations soon the German experience resulted from a unique Sometimes I think of myself as an expert in Soviets in our Berlin district, this changed. the occupation, when the British took Basra prevailed. As the occupying armies were set of circumstances, or at any rate, one not comparative occupation studies. True, my beloved wristwatch (which I had and the Americans Baghdad. But another replaced by civilian officials as administrators, easily reproduced under the vastly different The first conclusion I draw from such miraculously saved throughout the weeks of difference is even more important. and Germans were recruited to help them, the conditions of today’s Iraq. t experience is this: everything depends on who Soviet occupation) was taken from me by an When Germany was occupied, the old silver lining of Western democracy became (© Project Syndicate) the occupying power is. When Soviet troops American soldier on my way home from regime’s defeat was total, utterly beyond more and more noticeable. invaded Berlin at the end of April 1945, many school. But it soon became clear that this dispute. After five-and-a-half years of war no Again, differences mattered. In the Ralf Dahrendorf, the author of numerous of us went into the streets to welcome them. occupation held out hope of a better future. one doubted the inevitability of occupation. French zone (so I learned later), the signs acclaimed books, is a member of the British Such enthusiasm did not last long. This was even more evident when a few That was different after Germany’s Blitzkrieg were less hopeful. More than that, there House of Lords and a former Rector of the

One day, Red Army tanks turned from the months later my family moved from Berlin to against Poland. When my school was sent to were hints of a desire for annexation, with London School of Economics.

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ LONDONAid threatened – New proposals over aid presented to the European Union come as a further threat to developing countries, two groups of leading NGOs in Britain and Germany said earlier this week. The new dangers come from supposedly legal amendments to an earlier draft for a pan-European constitution. BOND, a network of 280 British NGOs, expressed concern earlier over proposals that would subordinate development aid to a collective foreign policy. At the heart of the BOND objection lies the third broad section of the proposed constitution that deals with development cooperation, humanitarian aid and economic, financial and technical assistance. Similar reservations were articulated by German VENRO, the umbrella organisation of 100 independent and church related NGOs working in the fields of development cooperation, emergency assistance, development education and advocacy. According to VENRO and BOND, EU Treaty proposals on foreign and security policy imply that development and humanitarian aid will become a resource for the new EU Foreign Affairs

Minister. (IPS)

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ WASHINGTONBiotech and– The development hunger community is divided over the best course of action to fight malnutrition and hunger, the Carlsberg leading causes of death and sickness worldwide. On Tuesday, activists celebrated a $25 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to HarvestPlus, a global research project to breed and disseminate crops for better nutrition. HarvestPlus is spearheaded by the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). The new grant, in addition to $3 million from the World Bank and $2 million from USAID, will allow HarvestPlus to greatly expand its activities, including research into biotechnologically improved crops. HarvestPlus’ work on bio fortification will focus on six staple crops that are consumed by the majority of the world’s poor: rice, wheat, maize, cassava, sweet potato and common beans. Critics in the development community say the money spent on technology would be more useful elsewhere. Anuradha Mittal, director of the Institute for Food and Development Policy (Food First) believes “hunger cannot be fought by technological means alone,” adding that it must be accompanied by “social change, such as access to markets, fair wages, water and land rights.” (IPS) 17 - 23 OCTOBER 2003 NEPALI TIMES #166 11

COMMENT by WANG GUNGWU

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ BEIJINGSpaced – China out laid its claim to being a growing technology giant by launching its first man in space Wednesday, breaking over 40 years of galactic domination by the United States and Russia. At r Mahathir Mohamad is around 9AM local time, a single stepping down after serving astronaut, or ‘taikonaut’ as more than 22 years as the known to the Chinese, lifted off in Theleader of Malaysia andman its ruling Lookingwho back made Malaysia the Shenzhou V (meaning Divine United Malay National Vessel) from the space launch centre in Jiuquan, near the Gobi Organisation (UMNO). Today’s on the legacy D desert. Lt Col Yang Liwei, 38, and gleaming, modern Malaysia is of Mahathir member of the military-trained Chinese Astronaut Team, became the unimaginable without Mahathir first Chinese astronaut in outer space. and UMNO. Mohamad. China’s space program is one of the few successful parts of Mahathir began his career as a the vast and costly military industrial complex which Chairman Mao Malay nationalist who sought to Zedong created from the early 1960s and which at its Cold War promote the rights of the Malay peak employed 16 million people, including two million scientists. majority after the British left. But After the successful launch of Shenzhou V, Beijing is also planning he also recognised that the to send a human being to the moon by 2010 and to establish a country’s sizable, and space station of its own. It also wants its own Hubble telescope economically powerful, Chinese and a sky laboratory. Chinese officials have emphasised and Indian minorities, among that everything sent in space aboard Shenzhou V was other groups, were critical to the made in China. (IPS) country’s development and should

be persuaded to accept the new industrialisation policy that to buy time for recovery. He reminded the world that he ○○○○

Malay-led state as their own. culminated, during his tenth year shifted the sense of crisis away presided over the one country in ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ He became prime minister in in power, with the Vision 2020 from economics to politics (where the world where a Muslim majority CANBERRATougher – Community action groups are celebrating their success in 1981, following the end of the plan to catch up with Western he retained an iron grip) by and large non-Muslim minorities persuading the Australian government this week to boost efforts to Vietnam War and Indonesia’s levels of development. By 1997, removing his designated heir, live in peace. counter the trafficking of women, mostly from South-east Asia, to stabilisation following the bloody Mahathir was at the pinnacle of his Anwar Ibrahim, who was Deputy Initially, his ambitious plans to this country for sexual slavery. A fortnight ago, Project Respect, the civil strife of the 1960s. The power, inspiring the country to Prime Minister and Minister of make Malaysia an economic model leading support and advocacy group for women trafficked to global economic system was believe all of the country’s Finance. Mahathir restored his for developing nations exposed him Australia, released its submission to a government inquiry on the buoyant and East Asia, not least communities would see themselves authority so thoroughly to both ridicule and admiration. trafficking of women and outlined a ‘10-point plan’ to effectively Mao’s China, was more deeply as sharing a common Malay following the crisis that he was But he was determined to break the counter the trade which is estimated to be worth tens of millions of committed than anyone nationality. able to handpick Abdullah traditional Malay mold, spurred on dollars annually. expected to support that system. The Asian financial crisis that Badawi as his successor. by the successes of neighbouring To the project coordinator Kathleen Malzhen’s amazement, the This encouraged Mahathir to struck later that year halted the The launch of the ‘war on Singapore. In many ways, he has Australian government announced that it would provide an make a clean break with the region’s trajectory. Against most terror’ provided him with another suceeded. t (© Project Syndicate) additional $14 million to an expanded program incorporating most of British colonial heritage. His call international advice, Mahathir opportunity to recover politically. Project Respect’s key points on countering the trafficking of women to “look East” marked the imposed capital controls and a In the face of a world frightened Wang Gungwu is Director of the East to Australia. As part of the additional efforts, the federal beginning of an ambitious fixed exchange rate for the ringgit by Islam, Mahathir repeatedly Asia Institute, University of Singapore. government will expand to 13 the existing 10-person Australian Federal Police Transnational Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking Team. Malzhen is optimistic that ‘Stop the Traffic’, a national conference to be held in Melbourne next week, will hasten the development of detailed plans to counter the problem. (IPS)

in WASHINGTON ○○○○○

JIM○○○○○○○○○○○TV LOBE news is bad for truth percent), CBS (9 percent) and he more commercial three percent, the two public television news you watch, The more television you watch networks, National Public Radio the more wrong you are likely (NPR) and Public Broadcasting to be about key elements of the about Iraq, the less you know. Service (PBS). Iraq War and its aftermath, For each of the three accordingT to a major new study last misperceptions, the study found week. The University of Maryland’s enormous differences between the Program on International Policy viewers of Fox, who held the most Attitudes (PIPA) study is based on misperceptions, and NPR/PBS, several nationwide surveys it who held the fewest by far. conducted with California-based Eighty percent of Fox viewers Knowledge Networks since June. were found to hold at least one PIPA found that 48 percent of the misperception, compared to 23 public believe that US troops found percent of NPR/PBS consumers. evidence of close pre-war links All the other media fell in between Iraq and the al-Qaeda between. terrorist group, 22 percent thought CBS ranked right behind Fox troops found weapons of mass with a 71 percent score, while destruction in Iraq and 25 percent CNN and NBC tied as the best- believed that world public opinion performing commercial broadcast favoured Washington’s going to war audience at 55 percent. Forty-seven with Iraq. All three are percent of print media readers held misperceptions. RemotePercent of US public control which believes US troops found evidence at least one misperception. The report, ‘Misperceptions, of close pre-war links between Iraq and the al-Qaeda PIPA found that political the Media and the Iraq War’, also affiliation and news source also Percent which believes US troops found weapons of mass 48% found that the more misperceptions destruction in Iraq compound one another. Thus, 78 held by respondents, the more percent of Bush supporters who likely it was they supported the war Percent of Americans who believe world public opinion favours 22% watch Fox News said they thought and depended on commercial Bush’s war in Iraq the United States had found television for news about it. The evidence of a direct link to al- study is likely to stoke a growing Qaeda ties have been found in News sources also accounted25% Qaeda, while 50 percent of Bush public and professional debate over Iraq and that world opinion for major differences in supporters who rely on NPR/PBS why mainstream news media— backed the United States, a misperceptions, according to PIPA, thought so. especially the broadcast media— whopping 86 percent said they which asked more than 3,300 The study also debunked the were not more sceptical about the supported war. respondents since May where they notion that misperceptions were Bush administration’s pre-war More specifically, among those “tended to get most of (their) due mainly to the lack of exposure claims, particularly regarding who believed that Washington had news”. Eighty percent identified to news. Among Bush supporters, Saddam Hussein’s weapon found clear evidence of close ties broadcast media, while 19 percent those who said they follow the stockpiles and ties with al-Qaeda. between Saddam Hussein and al- cited print media. news “very closely”, were found PIPA found high correlations Qaeda, two-thirds held the view Among those who said more likely to hold misperceptions. between respondents with the that going to war was the best thing broadcast media, 30 percent said Those Bush supporters, on the most misperceptions and their to do. Only 29 percent felt that two or more networks; 18 percent, other hand, who say they follow support for the decision to go to way among those who did not Fox News; 16 percent, CNN; 24 the news “somewhat closely” or war. Of those who believe that believe that such evidence had percent, the three big networks— “not closely at all” held fewer both WMDs and evidence of al- been found. NBC (14 percent), ABC (11 misperceptions. t (IPS) 17 - 23 OCTOBER 2003 12 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS THIS PAGE CONTAINS MATERIAL SELECTED FROM THE NEPALI PRESS NEPALI TIMES #166

Bamdev Gautam, CPN UML standing committee reaching an understanding. The Dasai tika has nomination. member, in Kantipur, 12 October helped root out bitter feelings, which is why I believe It is untrue to say the movement lost momentum the tika I received will help our movement. Leaders because of us. The government’s undemocratic and This“We is not the first time I received tika fromare the king. It from all thethe political parties should havepeople.” done so too. inhumane attitude that banned public meetings in should not be something that needs to be debated. Maybe we would have better results. Remember, the capital and imposed curfews in many districts is This is not against the political agitation. This is it was ping-pong diplomacy that brought the US and also to blame. It became a problem to even travel something I’ve done ever since I became a minister. China closer. on the highways. This was then the Maoists broke the Since my childhood, respected seniors would put tika The good news is that we have created awareness ceasefire. We had no choice but to change the for me. I put tika for others too. Dasai is a Nepali among our political workers about regression. Even direction of our movement. It didn’t have anything cultural festival that is not limited to certain castes and the people comprehend it better now. The parties to do with ambition or greed for power. tribes, or even to Hindus exclusively. have been able to foil the efforts of the king and the We have tried to let the public know that we are I have not committed any crime by receiving tika Maoists to isolate and eliminate our existence. The attempting to reach an understanding with the king. from the king. As usual, he asked me how I was and I reinstatement of the parliament was initially only the If he ignores us, he will be the loser. If the king replied that I was fine. We obviously could not discuss Nepali Congress’ demand. Later, all five political supports multiparty democracy, he ultimately has to national issues in half a minute. As long as we accept parties adopted it, which is why the UML began to coexist with the political parties. He cannot afford to the king as the head of the state, there is nothing demand reinstatement. ignore the political parties because we are the wrong with receiving tika from him. I have been against the idea from the start, people. If he chooses to do so, he will have to adopt Sometimes I ignore the party’s actions. No one although I would be happy to see our general tyranny and ban us. How can the king ensure his from the party has contacted me as yet. If the king is secretary become prime minister. Should the king future without the people? accepted as head of the state, what logic is there in give someone else the post, we will not derail the The politics of boycott [of functions attended by arguing that you must not take tika from him? Are we movement. I believe our general secretary is the man government officials] has failed many times. If this saying that we do not need the king? While it is true for the job. He deserves the king’s nomination idea is adopted, you run the risk of being boycotted that there is a movement against his regressive move, because he has the support of all the parties. The yourself. Although I repeatedly opposed the idea, it aims at reaching an agreement. Our fight is not for Surya Bahadur Thapa government is unsuccessful, I the five parties stuck to the strategy. Even the people a republic neither are we moving towards discarding delivered this message to the king. do not endorse it. The politics of harmony is the the monarchy. There is no chance of my becoming prime culture of multiparty democracy. The parties If the movement is about bringing the king back on minister and it doesn’t interest me either. Neither the should not adopt boycott politics. If we do, it will the constitutional track, then we must think of ways of five parties nor my party will agree on the backfire on us.

of some Maoist missions. The different private hospitals, with them to attack the Armed Road Department office. The operations between November ○○○○○○

○○○○○○○○○○ people are not the only ones diagnosed Poudel with cancer. Police Force training camp last locals are not worried about the 2001 and October 2003. BabitaMaoists Basnet in Dangon air listening. The state security forces They told his son, Bimal, there Friday. None of them have money or possessions being According to an AI report, Ghatna Ra Bichar, 15 October never miss a single roadcast. A was no need for a second opinion. returned home and their parents snatched, but they fear their people have been randomly senior army officer says the So the family made an expensive are worried. children were used as human arrested, imprisoned and Locals in Rukum, Salyan and program helps the army glean journey to the All India Institute “A few hours before they sheilds in the attacks. tortured. It also states that Jajarkot are tuning into the information about Maoist activity, of Medical Sciences in New launched that attack, they came Hundreds of reported rebels Maoists are equally responsible ‘people’s radio station’, launched although the whereabouts of the Delhi, where they learned that home and demanded that my son took part in the unsucessful for the abduction and by the Maoists. On air everyday station itself remains a mystery. Poudel did not have cancer. “If join them,” says Chaudhary, who Kusum attack, in which at least disappearances of many citizens. from 6-8PM, the program begins The locals, however, confess the we had believed the Nepali chose to identify himself only by three dozen Maoists were AI has asked the Maoists to with an innocuous “This is the main draw are the catchy songs of doctors, my father would have surname. “I refused but they reported killed. It isn’t clear how respect the Geneva Convention people’s radio, regional broadcast the revolution. died,” says Bimal. Hari Govinda forced my son to get dressed and many young men were taken from and make public the centre, 95.1 MHz. Greetings to Shrestha, president of Association leave with them. He hasn’t come the village but now their families whereabouts of those abducted

our listeners.” After 10 minutes of of Clinical Pathologists, Nepal says back.” They kick-opened closed fear their sons are among the and give compensation to their ○○○○○○○○○○○○ Maoist songs, the news bulletin Malpractice○○○○ he sympathises and suggests the doors, dragging out those who fallen. relatives. The group says that the starts with an overview of Maoist Bheshraj Ghimire in family take their case to the hid inside their houses. Human Rights Commission

activities around the country. Samacharpatra, 14 October Medical Council for compensation. “They kicked my door down should have more resources and ○○○○○○ The army and the police are too,” says a septuagenarian. “But, Disappeared○○○○○○○○○○ has asked for help in establishing

labeled “royal plunderers”, and Sixty-five-year old Tara Prasad how could I meet their demand? I Rajdhani, 16 October five monitoring regional offices. ○○○○○○ their casualties are described with Poudel and his family from Kidnapped○○○○○○○○○○ have no son.” Those who didn’t It has recommended that the lively enthusiasm. The report Sindhupalchok district was Rameshwor Bohara in have sons were made to pay cash Amnesty International has held government scrap the Terrorist section usually focuses on the suffering from severe ear infection Rajdhani, 13 October or kind. “They took my clothes, the security forces responsible for and Disruptive Activities future of the ‘people’s war’, and came to Kathmandu for Rs 26,000 cash and some the disappearance of 250 Maoists (Control and Punishment) Act justifies Prachanda breaking the medical help. Maoist rebels took some youth ornaments,” said Bhadra Bahadur and their supporters, most which 2002 after the reinstatement of ceasefire and discusses the failure Two pathologists, from two from Kusum in Banke district Thapa, a supervisor at the local took place during army parliament. Nepalis lose employment Annapurna Post, 11 October

Employers in India have laid off hundreds of Nepali employees suspected of being Maoists. The only way to get back their jobs is to produce papers verifying their innocence. Even those employed for decades in India have been targeted. Since the breakdown of peace talks on 27 August, fear of Maoist attacks has forced many Nepalis to emigrate in search of jobs. Now even that avenue seems to be closed to them. “If we stay at home, we live in fear of a Maoist attack. If we don’t go abroad, there is no way to earn a livelihood,” says Ramji Sigdel from Tanahu who just returned from Allahabad. Deepak Thapa from Gulmi says that Nepalis working in various companies were asked to bring documents from police authorities confirming their status. Those employed as factory workers and household servants bear the brunt of this new directive from the Indian government that authorises the investigation of “suspicious” Nepalis. Meanwhile, young Nepalis at home are being told by Maoist workers not to attempt to leave for foreign employment. This is the first time that the Maoists have Headline: Prime minister at Nepali Congress tea party made such threats. At Bodhe Madhab Nepal (left): What’s this? Have you forgotten everything? in Dharan they threatened a Girija P Koirala (right): Of course not, I remember everything. A warm welcome... young villager on his way to firm handshakes... and enjoyable tea together. Malaysia that they would kill his family if he left. “There are Rajdhani, 12 October not many young men left in the QUOTE OF THE WEEK village and the Maoists have been forcing the remaining The steps taken by the King are patriotic acts. few to join the People’s Army,” - Manisha Koirala in Spacetime, 13 October says the villager. 17 - 23 OCTOBER 2003 HISTORY AND CULTURE NEPALI TIMES #166 13 Man Bahadur Rai

hen we retreated, we and devoured him, but a colonel choice between conceding to found that everyone Lahurey ko Katha from Himal Books is a is the boss of the regiment. The our demand or forfeiting his had converged at the next morning we found life. We had our weapons on us: place allotted to our unit. The collection of memoirs based on oral testimonies ourselves in the parade. By that a Tommy gun can fire 22 WBritish escaped at night by plane, The retreatof 13 retired Gurkha soldiers, all but onefrom above evening we decided toBurma leave. rounds at a time. leaving the ration godown open 75 years. Translated from Nepali by Deb Our decision was supported by We saw no reason to spare with no one to control it. They Bahadur Thapa for Nepali Times, this fortnightly others' suspicion. this rascal when so many had left us a signboard saying column continues with Man Bahadur Rai’s We concluded it would be met with their end. He became surviving troops were to report at narration of fighting the Japanese in Burma folly to stay there any longer and scared when he realised that we Pantola near Dumdum airport in during World War II. In the first excerpt, the decided to run away after were very serious. The captain Calcutta. The difficult task was British Gurkhas were attacked by Japanese dinner. The problem lay in promised to start the steamer at getting there across Burma. forces on the Setang river in Burma. picking a route. The Irrawady is 9 in the evening, which would The number of retreating Casualties are very high and the Gurkhas are a large river, one that we had to get us to our destination the forces swelled from 10, 12, 25 Man Bahadur Rai ford in any case, so we chose to next afternoon. Meanwhile we to 275. We followed the routes forced into retreat. go through Katha where a kept our weapons primed to used by the Nagas. five men survived from that entire On our retreat we saw corpses commanding the regiment was company of our regiment was meet any eventuality. Occasionally, we had chance regiment. The Japanese knew of army personnel and civilians all Jocket. He was of Italian origin stationed. (To be continued) meetings with Japanese troops. where the Fourth Gurkha Rifles over the route, on the road, many and had joined the British army The only way to get there We left quietly, often at night. were going so they hid in the more lay inside the jungle. Dead merely to earn his bread and was by boat. The captain of the Many were killed and we lost forest and lay in wait. As soon as children were propped under butter. There we were, fleeing steamer was a Burmese who count of the dead. If someone the troops got there they opened tress by those who fled the from the Japanese and the sided with the Japanese. All 375 were to retrace our route, they fire and killed everyone. Subedar carnage. We became like chicks colonel wanted ceremonial of us approached the captain will surely find it marked by Mitra Bahadur was among those without the protection of a hen. parades with music. About a who flatly refused to operate his piles of human bones. killed in that action. On our departure from Burma we dozen of us joined his regiment. steamer under our command. A new regiment, the Fourth In order to get rid off the were 375 soldiers, not all He asked where we came from We could not trust this Burmese, Gurkha Rifles, was raised at stench, the Japanese dug a ditch Gurkhas. There were and we told him our story. The and being Gurkhas, it did not Indaugyi in Burma. A regiment on a mound and buried them. Maharastrian, Sikh, Garhwali and colonel assured us that we take long for us to reach a normally has four companies Perhaps the weight of the bodies Madras regiments. We were the would be safe and then asked us consensus. We decided to kill and when auxiliary personnel like was too much because when we last of our regiments, never more to take part in the parade from the captain and then order his orderlies are included, it numbers got there the mound had given than 10 from a single one. the following day. assistant to take the steamer out. five. Each company had 128 way. The human skulls, ribs, When we reached Bhamo We were in a fix. Had we The boldest among the group, heads, a regiment, therefore, shinbones looked like a riverbank. from Towdi our numbers swelled known he was of Italian origin, myself included, went to the would have 640 people. Only It still smelled of the dead. to form a battalion. The colonel we would have cut him to pieces captain and told him it was a

Nerudapoetry of Twenty Love Poems and a Song of and Nepaland from then on blood. Despair to the visceral and politically charged Residence on Earth or the delectably simple Bandidos with planes and Moors, Elemental Odes—he was a poet of constant Connecting bandidos with rings, and duchesses, self-awareness and redefinition. poetry with bandidos with black friars signing the cross On the 30th anniversary of his death, coming down from the sky to kill children, Nepali Times finds that Pablo Neruda’s poetry places to mark and in the streets the blood of the children th strikes a chord in present-day Nepal as much ran simple, like blood of children. as it did in Spain when he wrote "I Explain a the 30 death Few Things" after his experiences in the anniversary of Jackals the jackals would despise, Spanish Civil War. stones the dry thistle would bite on and spit out, Pablo Neruda. vipers the vipers would abominate.

where the June light drowned the flowers in your Facing you I have seen the blood IYou Explain will ask: But wherea Few are the Things lilacs? mouth? of Spain rise up And the metaphysics covered with poppies? Brother, brother! to drown you in a single wave And the rain that often struck Everything of pride and knives. his words, filling them was loud voices, salt of goods, with holes and birds? crowds of pulsating bread, Traitors, marketplaces in my barrio of Arguelles with its generals: ablo Neruda (1904–1973) was Let me tell you what’s happening with me. statue look at my dead house, famously called ‘the Picasso of poetry’ like a pale inkwell set down among the hake: look at Spain broken: for his prodigious body of work and I lived in a barrio of Madrid, with bells, from every house burning metal comes out his constant search for fresh with clocks, with trees. oil flowed into spoons, instead of flowers, representations. Born Neftalí Ricardo Reyes a deep throbbing from every crater of Spain PBasoalto in central Chile, he adopted the pen From there you could see of feet and hands filled the streets, comes Spain name of Pablo Neruda, in memory of the the parched face of Castile meters, liters, the hard from every dead child comes a rifle with eyes, Czechoslovak poet Jan Neruda (1834-1891), like an ocean of leather. edges of life, from every crime bullets are born when he began contributing to Selva Austral, My house was called heaps of fish, that one day will find out in you a literary journal. Neruda was a Chilean the house of flowers, because from geometry of roof under a cold sun in which the site of the heart. diplomat who held posts in Europe and everywhere the weathervane grew tired, various Asian countries including Burma and geraniums burst: it was delirious fine ivory of potatoes, You will ask: why doesn’t his poetry Ceylon. A staunch communist, Neruda’s faith a beautiful house, tomatoes, more tomatoes, all the way to the sea. speak to us of dreams, of leaves was not shaken, even in exile from Chile, with dogs and children. of the great volcanoes of his native land? except when he heard of Stalin’s pogroms. And one morning it all was burning, Although he may be most strongly Raul, do you remember? and one morning bonfires Come and see the blood in the streets, remembered in the popular imagination for his Do you remember, Rafael? sprang out of the earth come and see romantic poetry, Neruda is much more than Federico, do you remember devouring humans, the blood in the streets, just a poet of love. His oeuvre was varied under the ground, and from then on fire, come and see the blood and plentiful—from the yearning cosmic love do you remember my house with balconies gunpowder from then on, in the streets! 17 - 23 OCTOBER 2003 14 CITY NEPALI TIMES #166 ABOUT TOWN BOOKWORM

FESTIVALS AND EXHIBITIONS v Personal Encounters on the Journey of Life Paintings by Prakaash Chandwadkar till 31 October at Middle East Illusions: Peace, Security and Terror Naom Chomsky Siddhartha Art Gallery. Baber Mahal Revisited. 4218048 Penguin, 2003 v Exploration of the Magical Realm etchings by Seema Sharma at Café Mitra, Thamel. 4259015 Rs 472 v From the lens of the father, from the lens of the son Photographs by Narendra and Birendra Pradhan This latest work includes chapters written by Chomsky just before the 2000 Intifada and up from 18 October at Gallery Nine, Lazimpat. 4428694 through October 2002. As 9-11 and the US campaign against Iraq have added new v Glimpses Travel photographs by Francesca Fittipaldi till 23 October at Arts Council, Baber Mahal. pressures to long-standing conflicts, Chomsky’s voice should be heard now more than ever. 4220735

EVENTS v Bideshiya A Bhojpuri play by Nirman Kala Manch of Patna, Bihar. 3.30 PM on 19 October at the For Reasons of State Naom Chomsky Royal Nepal Academy, Kamaladi. Passes available at Indian Embassy and the Nepal-Bharat Penguin, 2003 Sanskritik Kendra Library, RNAC Building. Rs 632 v The God’s Dance of Kathmandu Valley 7PM on Tuesdays. Tea+Ticket: Rs 400 at Hotel Vajra. An essential record of Chomsky’s political and social thought as it was sharpened on the v Lazimpat Film Shows: Red Firecracker, Green Firecracker 21 October; Trainspotting 23 October; 7.30 PM at the Lazimpat Gallery Café. 4428549 upheavals in domestic and international affairs of the early 1970s, this is a major addition to the intellectual history of the Vietnam era. It includes the now classic introduction to v Cine-Club: Everyone says I love you 19 October. 2PM at Auditorium Molière at Alliance Française, Thapathali. 4241163 anarchism. v Inter-Cultural Film Society: Numafung (Navin Subba) 5.30 PM on 19 October at NTB, Bhrikuti Mandap. Email: [email protected] Courtesy: Mandala Book Point, Kantipath, 4227711, [email protected] MUSIC v Jazz Vocal Encounters featuring Bobby Kapp and Cadenza at the Shangri-La Hotel, 7.30 PM on 22 October. v Fusion music by Bobbin and friends 6PM onwards 17 October at Jatra restaurant & bar, Thamel. v Deepak Bajracharya Live in Pokhara 17 October at Dipendra City Hall, Entry Rs 200, 18 October at The Bluebird Hotel, Entry Rs 555. v Never too old for music and dance at The Club BhatBhateni from 6PM on 24 October. 4416430, 4426238

DRINK Wake Up ! v Winter Warmers at the Sumeru Bar with 25 percent discount between 6-8PM at Godavari Village Resort. 5560675 Get ready for a brand new day with v Festival of tropical black rum drinks and great steaks at K-too! Beer & Steakhouse, Thamel. 4433043 BBC World Today. v Cosmic Cocktails and chic home furnishings at Mitra Lounge Bar and Mausam homestyle boutique. Above Cafe Mitra, Thamel. 4259015 Every morning on 102.4 FM from 5:45-6:15 AM

FOOD v Dasai and Tihar Bonanza 50 percent off food at The Fun Café and Splash Bar & Grill. Buy one /]l8of] ;u/dfyf service and get another for free at Radisson Beauty Saloon. Radisson Hotel Kathmandu. 4423888 Radio Sagarmatha Café U Japanese home-cooking, cakes and coffee. Opp British School, Sanepa. 5523263 P.O. Box 6958, Bakhundole, Lalitpur, Nepal v Tel: ++977-1-545680, 545681, Fax: ++ 977-1- 530227 v Roadhouse Cafe for wood fired piazzas and more. Opp St Mary’s School, Pulchowk. 5521755 on FM 102.4 E-mail: [email protected], www.radiosagarmatha.org v Momos & More the finest momos in town now at Dhobighat. 5520692 v Chimney Refreshed Fine continental cuisine at The Chimney Restaurant, Hotel Yak & Yeti. 4248999 v Traditional Nepali Thali lunch at Patan Museum Café inside Patan Museum. 11AM-2.30 PM. Cocktails and snacks 2-7.30 PM. 5526271 Chutki (Antara Mali) wants to be Madhuri Dixit, Raja (Rajpal Yadav) v Saturday BBQ Lunch at Club Himalaya Nagarkot. Rs 500 per person. 468008 wants to be with Chutki. This is not a formula triangle, but a bitter-sweet v Malay, Singapore food at Singma, Jawlakhel, Lalitpur. 552004 tale of Bollywood clichés. It’s a no-frills story told without any gimmicks. v Traditional Newari Thali at Kathmandu Guest House, Thamel. 4431632 First-time director, Chandan Arora, tells it like it is, without much song v BBQ in the Shambala Garden 7PM Fridays and Saturdays. 4412999 and dance. Short and slick, the film has a simple narrative and very v Weekend Ban Bhoj at the Godavari Village Resort. 5560675. convincing reality about it. Anjana does a decent job of a Madhuri hopeful, Krishnarpan ceremonial Nepali cuisine fit for a king. Reservation recommended. 4479488 v but Rajpal as the artless villager, sparkles. Star-maker and v Smoked salmon soufflé, Crispy Duck Breast, Shrimp Newburg and fine wines at Kilroy’s of Kathmandu, Thamel. 4250440 producer, Ram Gopal Varma, has just made his latest hero—the editor- turned-director Chandan Arora. His hero, Rajpal Yadav, is already a star. GETAWAYS v Microlight flying adventures with the Avia Club, Pokhara. JAI NEPAL CINEMA v Shivapuri Heights Cottage 30 minutes from Kathmandu, at the edge of the Shivapuri Reserve. Mein Madhuri Banna Chahti Hoon: 12PM, 3PM Email: [email protected] Call 4442220 for bookings. www.jainepal.com v Weekend Special for Rs 3000 per couple, Park Village Resort, Budhanilkantha. 4375280 v TGIF overnight package at Dwarika’s Hotel. 4479488 v Bardia tiger madness Jungle Base camp has extra special deals 061-32112 Email: [email protected] CLASSIFIED v Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge special offers for Nepalis and expats. 4361500 Visit Ground Zero Fine wines, v Weekend yoga retreat with Carolyn from 17-19 October at the Retreat in Palanchowk. Email: designer candles, cards, gifts, carolynboch.com.np Phone: 555l455 stationery, wooden items, perfumes Back to Nature overnight package for resident expatriates at Godavari Village Resort. 5560675 and more. Darbar Marg, opposite v Hotel de l’Annapurna

Visit Femilines, the Exclusive KATHMANDU AIR QUALITY Lingerie Store for ladies undergarments, nightwear, The air quality in Kathmandu last week was surprisingly good for this time of the bathrobes and more. Ladies staff. year. All six of the monitoring stations in Kathmandu, including the ones located Opposite Sajha Yatayat, Harihar along roadsides, recorded PM10 values that were below the national standard of Bhawan, Pulchowk. Tel: 547428 120 micrograms per cubic meter—a direct correlation with the fewer vehicles on 91.2 the roads because of post-Dasain slowdown. Kathmandu is returning to normal To Let: Rabibhawan area two this week, and we can expect the pollution levels to rise. storey house 4 bedrooms 2 What you burn is bathrooms large kitchen dining living what you breathe. Average PM10 levels at selected terrace lobby and porch and points in Kathmandu 21-28 telephone. Contact: Roshani Good < 60 September in micrograms per 4275180 cubic meter. Ok 61 to 120 LIVE IN STYLE! Arcadia Apartments Source: www. mope.gov.np Unhealthy 121 to 350 in the heart of Thamel. Centrally located, fully furnished apartments Harmful 351 to 425 at unbelievable rates. For details: 981026903, 4260187 Hazardous >425 Putalisadak Matsyagaun TU Bhaktapur Patan H Thamel Renting made easy: NEPALI WEATHER by MAUSAM BEED www.2letonline.com- Looking for a VIS -16-10-2003 05:00 GMT place to stay- Log on to find the There is a large high pressure area over northern India that is perfect house, apartment or even a bringing glorious autumn weather for Tihar. There are remnants of retail space that meets all your some troughs in the Bay but they are too far away to make too much needs. Make an easy 1000 bucks of a difference to us. The balmy sunshine will keep maximum by reporting a vacant property to temperatures at highs of 26-27 degrees, but the clear nights will us. Find out how- Kathmandu bring down the minimum in Kathmandu to 12-13 over the weekend www.21etonline.com and into next week. These are ideal conditions for morning mist, To Let: Pleasant room (with which will burn off by about 9AM. private, ensuite bathroom) in a quiet KATHMANDU VALLEY bungalow in Lazimpat. Share kitchen and large lounge. Perhaps suitable Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue for visiting professional or volunteer. Tel 4428549

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EATING MY WORDS by BHATMARA BHAI NEPALI SOCIETY ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ LenscraftLike○○○○○○○○ father,runs in the Pradhan like family.son s a young boy, Narendra Pradhan (pic, left) had a way with the sketchpad, spending hours drawing. It was his love for art that led If it quacks then scalded repeatedly with cuisine sized Rs 3,200 duck. At him to photography and eventually cinematography, devoting much Sample the boiling water and then coated with prices that match London, of his time to film making. Yet time and again, Narendra always came back a honey mixture and hung until the Bhatmara Bhai did feel justified in to his camera. Himalayan Rim AWhenever he got a chance, Narendra enjoyed shooting Nepal’s varied skin is dry and hard. After the inquiring after the reasons for this landscape and people. Portraits became his forté but photography was an neo-Beijing Duck duck is roasted the skin becomes schismatic interpretation. Apologies expensive hobby. To keep doing what he loved best, Narendra took

golden and intensely crisp. While were readily proffered and, to be ○○○○○○○○○○○

in○○○○○ Baneswor. snapshots of friends and neighbours, offering to photograph weddings and hot, the skin is served with thin fair, a substantial discount offered. other ceremonies. He developed black and white film at home, where he have always held firm to the carpeting, right down to the large pancakes and steamed buns, The supply of duck, it turned out, later opened a studio to support his family. Anything left over was view that in the distant land television that sits in the corner accompanied by spring onions, flown from China for that evening had ploughed back into buying film and funding trips around the country. that is Baneswor, one can, enthusiastically pumping out pop cucumber and hoisin sauce. The run out and a number of skinnier Initially Narendra’s family was concerned. “They could not understand why I without difficulty, meander from music that competes for ear space meat is considered a dull Nepali ducks had found themselves would go around taking photos of strangers and scenery for free,” he says. I All except for little Birendra who, while watching his father work, was end to end without ever stimulating a with the Chinese elevator music secondary attraction and is usually the victims of this Himalayan Rim solitary taste bud. So one Saturday, of the restaurant’s sound system. served after the skin. neo-Beijing treatment. cultivating his own passion for the camera. while dipping into my favourite My partner for the evening, a Mystifyingly, the end result However, in fairness, Bhatmara Birendra (pic, right) says his father has been his sole inspiration. Unlike expat magazine, ECS, there I delicious vegetarian, opted for the placed before Bhatmara Bhai Bhai has been assured by others that his self-taught dad, Birendra got a diploma in photography and went on to found, nestling up to an intriguing recommendations of the waiters: a complete an advanced course in TV and film production at AVAS in suggested that the scripture on the have dared the wilds of Baneswor Tripureswor. Father and son also share an interest in cinematography and article on bead collecting, a review well executed deep fried tofu in menu was taken by the denizens of that Chinese duck has been served Birendra assisted his father on several shoots. of the Beijing Duck Restaurant, sweet chilli sauce that, if eaten as the kitchen—perhaps a little in (and indeed its greater fat content Like his father, Birendra too enjoys taking pictures that show Nepali life located in New Baneswor on the it hits the table, combines the the manner of the relationship improves the eating experience), and culture, and especially typical Nepali expressions. His best moments side of the International Chinese culinary ideal of contrast, between car and traffic light in the even if the manner of serving steers are those when he captures a moment the way he wanted. Now, for the first Conference Centre. Such was the in this case, crunchy and goopy at greater Kathmandu area—merely firmly away from the description in time, father and son are teaming up for an exhibition and rediscovering article’s lavish and oozing praise for the same time. The mushroom as gentle guidance. The cook the menu. The process of making the joy of working together. Birendra, 30, and Narendra, 59, hope those the restaurant, Bhatmara Bhai with coriander, another Chinese clearly had strong ideas: perhaps Beijing duck is extremely time who see their pictures get a feel for what lies behind: “Nepalis are poor decided to risk the river crossing. classic, in theory, strives for that an attempt at a more innovative consuming (at least some 24 hours), and have a hard life, but we still enjoy life, carrying on with our culture.” t The restaurant, though on a same ideal. The platter that interpretation, an interpretation and for success, requires the (Sraddha Basnyat) poorly lit street, is hard to miss arrived under Bhatmara Bhai’s that didn’t work. The duck was guarantee of a large turnover, which with a large gaudy red sign gaze played a strong suit in sloppy closing on cold and dry. The skin in these troubled times and the From the lens of the father, from the lens of the son, an exhibition of photographs by Narendra and Birendra Pradhan, opens 18 October at Gallery Nine, Lazimpat. facilitating a safe mooring. This ying but foolishly discarded rather than crisp, was inexplicably, restaurants locale, presents 4428694 theme is continued in the décor crunchy yang. Messy. but not unpleasantly, soft. The significant obstacles to perfection. choices inside. All is well thought Bhatmara Bhai went for the meat that should have been So, if compromise is your thing and through: draughty, overlit, signature dish of the restaurant: removed, for that traditional the edible river life of the Bagmati, impersonal and a large room rather The Duck. The menu, and indeed second course (which never rather than that of Beijing, is adventurously bedecked in red the review that stimulated this materialised), remained firmly acceptable, then come on down to lanterns and Chinese calligraphy. whole adventure, went into wedded to the skin. Baneswor! t The owner has sought and achieved elaborate detail, labouring over The final twist was the MIN BAJRACHARYA that classic icon: the 1970s Chinese the minutiae of the preparation decision of the cook to opt for a Starting with this issue, Nepali Times restaurant look, familiar to Chinese and proper serving of this classic rustic hand torn look rather than begins a fortnightly restaurant review restaurant goers worldwide. Chinese dish. The theory starts the thin precise slicing normally by Bhatmara Bhai, which is the Nothing is spared in the detail, with air being pumped between a favoured by the orthodox. The pseudonym of a Kathmandu-based from the red wall-to- wall duck’s skin and flesh. The duck is result, a very small, very nouvelle culinary nomad. –Editor 17 - 23 OCTOBER 2003 16 NEPALI TIMES #166

Under byMy Kunda Hat Dixit People of Non-

o it looks like His Majesty’s Government is just returning from four years of hard labour in the Residentfinally giving in to the 15-point demand ofNepaliGulf. Origin Non-resident Nepalis, and allowing them to “This is a major concession, we haven’t extended have dual citizenship. this courtesy to anyone else, not even NRN ex-prime Good move. Although one wonders, if a Nepali ministers,” said one official. passportS was such a sought after item, why did they However, in the national interest, a word of leave Nepal in the first place? caution here. There are certain sensitive sectors like Then comes news that just this month two Defence, Aerospace and Breweries in which His members of a government delegation in Oslo have Majesty’s Government cannot have foreigners (even if vanished without trace, and three members of the they are of Nepali origin) investing. Other domestic Nepali Asian World Cup Qualifier football team have sectors which need protection and should be kept out decided to stay on in Seoul. Put these two items of of bounds for NRN investment are strategic industries news together, we have to conclude that if present like instant noodles, brick kilns, cabin restaurants, trends continue, in the not too distant future, there packaging clinker and calling it cement and Rs 99 will be only two kinds of Nepalis left: shops. These are industries where resident Nepalis have already staked their claim, and any further a. Non-resident Nepalis who want to permanently competition would benefit consumers and therefore reside in Nepal, and cannot be allowed. b. Nepalis who want to permanently reside in a non- But certain exceptions can be made, and the Nepali country. government is now set to approve NRN applications to set up the following industries, and will assist in After the grand success of the first Non-Residual lining up venture capital soft-credit financing for Nepali Conference, and seeing how smoothly it was them: conducted, it is pretty clear what we have to do: let NRNs run this country on a Build Own Operate l White Elephant Technical University for Transfer (BOOT) scheme for 25 years. A NRN world Overseers and Civil Contractors, headquarters is now being set up in Kathmandu, and Rato Pool, Kathmandu the terms of reference for overseas Nepali subcontrac- “Make others drool by learning to build your own tors to govern this country has been drawn up. white elephant” The idea is to leapfrog the current generation of Nepali leaders who have messed things up, turn this l Fly By Night Airlines, Pvt. Ltd., country around in the forthcoming two decades and Sat Dobato, Kathmandu hand it back to the next generation of Nepalis in an “Bhadrapur or Bust. Fly Nepal’s First Night Vision- as-where-is condition. Fine print: conditions apply, Equipped Domestic Airline” overseas relatives of current rulers not eligible. But till then, HMG has shown that it is deadly l Kinky Cheese Curl Industries, Banepa serious about providing incentives to NRNs who want “Nepal’s Most-Nutritious Junk Food Manufactured to invest in their ancestral domain. After all, there is in Technical Cooperation with Second-generation an ancient Vedic saying: “NRN is God”. (We checked People of Non-Resident Nepali Origin” with God, and he has no objections to the slogan.) As a first step, and in response to widespread complaints l Monkey Business Export-Import, Inc., Swayambhu from overseas Nepalis, the Department of and Pashupati Immigration has decided to open a special fast-track “We provide one-way tickets and US business visas NRN immigration desk at TIA so foreign Nepali for all rhesus monkeys and their spouses for research investors don’t have to queue up like ordinary Nepalis purposes in Texas”

CDO Regd No. 194/056/57 Lalitpur, Central Region Postal Regd. No. 04/058/59