WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 294 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 24.7 C -4.5 C Tuesday, December 22, 2020 | 07-09-2077 Biratnagar Jumla House dissolution: Whether it’s lawful is now for Supreme Court to decide Despite political parties terming Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s move ‘unconstitutional’, in terms of its legality the final arbiter will be the court.

BINOD GHIMIRE KATHMANDU, DEC 21

When Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s Cabinet recommended the disso- lution of the House of Representatives on Sunday morning, constitutional experts, politicians and other observ- ers were quick to label the move “unconstitutional” and called on President to have consultations on the recommen- dation. But by afternoon, she dissolved Parliament and announced the dates POST PHOTO for midterm elections . The statement The hearing will start on Wednesday. from the Office of the President cited Article 76 (1) and (7) and Article faction led by Communist Party POST PHOTO: KESHAV THAPA 85 of the constitution and announced chair and senior A protester holds a placard saying ‘Parliament dissolution: the biggest mockery of democracy’ from inside a police van after his detention from outside Singha Durbar, Kathmandu on Monday. the dissolution in “the spirit and leader , Nepali Police rounded up 16 human rights activists and civil society members while protesting against the KP Sharma Oli government’s move of dissolving the House of Representatives. value of the parliamentary system Congress and other political parties as and the practice within our parlia- well as sections of the public have mentary system and in the different started approaching the Supreme countries”. Court to decide whether the dissolu- While Article 76 (7)of the constitu- tion was “unconstitutional”. tion allows for the dissolution of the Since the dissolution was Oli’s move of dissolving the House has brought Nepal House if a government cannot be announced, 13 writs have already been formed if no party has a majority in registered in the Supreme Court the House, Article 85 (1) states, “Unless against it. Of them 11 have been regis- dissolved earlier pursuant to this con- tered claiming the decision to dissolve Communist Party to a moment of truth stitution, the term of the House of the Lower House is against the consti- Representatives shall be five years.” tution and therefore has asked the With the House dissolved, those Supreme Court that it be revoked. The party has, in effect, split. It’s just a matter of time when a formal announcement is made, insiders say. opposing Oli’s move, including the >> Continued on page 2

rival factions. Oli has tried to justify his action of dissolving the House of Representatives, saying the opponent faction not only created hindrance in his functioning but also made attempts to unseat him. The Dahal faction has said Oli took an unconstitutional move to dissolve the House. With the government’s House disso- lution move already with the Supreme Court, both factions are now in a bid to conserve energy for the showdown. Nonetheless, none wants to be seen as the cause for the split. “The prime minister said at today’s meeting that he had to take the drastic step of dissolving the House because some party leaders were preparing to POST ILLUSTRATION move a no confidence motion against Both chairs have called separate meetings of the party’s Central Committee on Tuesday. him,” Nirudevi Pal, a lawmaker close to Oli, told reporters after the Oli fac- TIKA R PRADHAN trol of the party. While the Dahal fac- tion’s meeting at Baluwatar on KATHMANDU, DEC 21 tion has called a Central Committee Monday morning. “They were also in meeting on Tuesday, the Oli camp has a bid to impeach the President.” In effect, the done the same–on the same day. A Later in the afternoon, as many as has split now. A formal announcement Standing Committee meeting by the 90 lawmakers and some 24 members is not if but when. Dahal faction on Sunday proposed of the Upper House from the Dahal The two factions led by chairs KP disciplinary action against Oli camp gathered at the parliament Sharma Oli, also the prime minister, while a meeting of the Oli faction on building in Baneshwor to discuss Oli’s and Pushpa Kamal Dahal are now Monday not only rejected it decision to dissolve the House. busy making strategies to wrest con- but demanded action against the >> Continued on page 2 Political instability could affect recovery of the economy hit by the pandemic With elections announced, government policy will not be stable to attract investment and businesses will be pressed for donations for parties’ poll campaigns, experts say.

PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA ery will be affected by the govern- the small and medium enterprise and KATHMANDU, DEC 21 ment bureaucracy under the caretak- tourism industry. er government as it will not be much “At a time when the business com- The dissolution of the House of interested in implementing develop- munity is in need of relief and reha- Representatives and the call for elec- ment projects and policies aimed at bilitation, they will be under increas- tions has worried economists and helping the businesses hit hard by the ing pressure to donate to the political investors that political instability will pandemic,” said Shankar Sharma, for- parties and leaders for the elections if impact the economy already devastat- mer vice-chairman of the National they are held as announced,” Sharma ed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Planning Commission. “The private said. “The government which is strug- President Bidya Devi Bhandari on sector also will be in wait-and-see gling to generate resources to fund the Sunday dissolved the lower house and mode before making any further rehabilitation of the Covid-19 affected announced the dates for midterm elec- investments amid political uncertain- sectors, will have to spend big on hold- tions in April as per the recommenda- ties.” ing the elections.” tion of Prime Minister KP Sharma Nepal stock exchange index plunged Elections are becoming increasing- Oli, who for long has been embroiled by 96.88 points on Sunday with the ly expensive. A study carried out by a in a bitter dispute with other top lead- market responding to the shock news domestic election observer group in ers within his own party. that Oli had recommended for dissolu- 2017 had shown that the government, “In the short-term, economic recov- tion of the House of Representatives political parties and candidates spent although it went up by 30.33 an estimated Rs131.63 billion in total points on Monday. during the three tiers of elections held Even though economic activi- that year. ties have been picking up along The study by the Election with the relaxation in prohibito- Observation Committee, Nepal ry orders in a number of sectors, revealed that the government spent some in the service industry Rs34.72 billion while the candidates including tourism, education, and their supporters spent as high as party palaces have continued to Rs96.91 billion in total. remain largely closed. Former Finance Minister Ram It took nearly six months for Sharan Mahat said that holding elec- the government to implement tions has become an expensive propo- the relief programme announced sition in recent years. in the budget in May targeting >> Continued on page 2

C M Y K TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2020 | 02 NATIONAL Residents of remote Sindhupalchok villages living without basic facilities The villages are cut off from even the most basic facilities such as roads, electricity, health services and schools.

ANISH TIWARI during medical emergencies. Their Gumbathan-based higher level is already connected to the road net- SINDHUPALCHOK, DEC 21 agriculture products--potatoes, rad- schools,” he said. work. Now, we are going to extend the ish and barley, among other crops-- According to the local unit, most road to Tembathan,” said Hom Yangzi Sherpa of Tembathan in also have no market. of the youths in Tembathan are daily Narayan Shrestha, chairman of the Jugal Rural Municipality, “We cannot sell our agricultural wage workers in Kathmandu and rural municipality. Sindhupalchok, had to take a loan of produce in the market, as there’s no some have gone overseas in search of “We have also recently established Rs 200,000 to charter a helicopter to road to transport our products. We employment. The villagers also have a health unit in Tembathan with an bring her pregnant daughter-in-law would not have to spend so much to rely on kerosene lamps during Auxiliary Nurse Midwife and a to Kathmandu for treatment. money on helicopters if our village night, as the settlements do not have health worker. It is equipped to pro- “It’s been months since I took the was connected to the road network,” electricity connection, said Mingmar vide treatment for minor ailments,” loan but I still haven’t been able to said Yangzi. Lama, 34, of Tembathan. said Shrestha. “We also plan to pay back,” said the 63-year-old. “I had Mingmar Sherpa, a local resident Meanwhile, the people’s represent- upgrade the basic school up to sec- to take a loan since I don’t make of Tembathan, is 29 years old. A daily atives in Jugal Rural Municipality ondary level.” much money by herding cattle.” wage worker, he has studied only up claim that they are taking initiatives But the villagers are sceptical of Dipu, Tega and Tembathan villag- to grade five in Tembathan Basic to launch development projects in the assurances provided by the peo- es in the rural municipality are just School. Dipu, Tega and Tembathan areas. ple’s representatives. 110 kilometres from Kathmandu but “There’s no secondary school in “We have invited a tender to con- “They always make promises of the villages are cut off from even the our village. That is why I could not struct a five-kilometre road from developing the area but they never do most basic facilities such as roads, continue with my studies. We have to Nesham Khola to Tembathan at a anything,” said 65-year-old Num electricity, health services and walk for at least five hours to reach cost of Rs 20million. Nesham Khola Maya Sherpa of Tembathan. schools. The residents of these vil- POST PHOTO: KABIN ADHIKARI lages have to live under difficult cir- A boy performs a stunt on his bicycle at Patan Durbar Square in Lalitpur on Monday. cumstances for a lack of connectivity and resources. “Everyone who visits Dipu, Tega and Tembathan can’t comprehend how cut off these villages are,” said Saila Sherpa, another local resident Oli’s move of dissolving ... of Tembathan. “We have been wait- ing for development to reach our vil- >> Continued from page 1 Meanwhile, the Dahal faction on lages. For those living in Tembathan, During the meeting the leaders dis- Monday afternoon notified the Election a journey to Dipu and Tega is at least cussed ways to revive the House. Commission of Sunday’s Standing a day’s walk. The meeting has decided to reject the Committee decision about initiating There are 220 families living in unconstitutional move of the party action against Oli. The party has con- Dipu, Tega and Tembathan villages. chairman Oli and President Bidya Devi cluded that Oli’s move was unconstitu- “Local residents have to walk for Bhandari and demand the revival of tional, undemocratic, autocratic, regres- two days to reach the Gumbathan Parliament. sive and against the people’s mandate. Community Unit in Pangarpu to get Given the rapid developments over the The Standing Committee has decided treatment for minor ailments and get past few days which culminated in the to propose the Central Committee meet- medicine and vaccination. Pregnant House dissolution on Sunday, the Dahal ing for a disciplinary action against the and postpartum women and other faction, which has some former senior party chairman Oli. sick people have to rely on helicop- CPN-UML leaders like Madhav Nepal “It became imperative for us to inform ters for a chance to receive treat- and , is left with lim- the Election Commission about the par- ment,” Saila said. ited options. ty’s Standing Committee decision meet- A majority of the children in Dipu, They can fight a legal battle in the ing,” said Lilamani Pokhrel, a Standing Tega and Tembathan are deprived of court to reinstate the House, but if the Committee member. “Of the 44 Standing immunisation. Pregnant women and ultimate arbiter of the constitution Committee members, 29 agree that Oli postpartum women also have to upholds the government’s decision, they deserved a disciplinary action.” reach Pangarpu for essential health will have no other option than to partici- Insiders say no matter how much lead- services, said Durgadatta Chapagain, pate in polls, set for April 3o and May ers talk about saving unity, everyone, in senior public health officer in the 10–if they happen. essence, knows that things are beyond District Health Office. “If the House is not restored, we will repair. It will take some time before the “It is difficult to reach these villag- have no alternative than to prepare for court decides on Oli’s move. But in es due to their geographical remote- the polls,” said Surendra Pandey, a either case–if it reinstates or endorses ness,” he said. Standing Committee member who is the House dissolution–the party is not Due to a lack of road facilities, the with the Dahal-Nepal faction. “It’s not going to remain intact, according to villagers have to sell their properties POST PHOTO: ANISH TIWARI that anyone is afraid to go to the polls for them. or take loans to charter a helicopter Around 200 families live in Dipu, Tega and Tembathan, remote villages in Sindhupalchok that are just 110 kilometres from Kathmandu. a fresh mandate… the question is wheth- In an interview with Kantipur, Pradip er snap polls are necessary. The question Gyawali, a Standing Committee member is also whether the government decision and foreign minister in the Oli Cabinet, to dissolve the House is constitutional.” said that the party had already split on Though Dahal on Monday morning December 16 when the majority of the said in a statement that one person’s lawmakers went to the President’s office House dissolution: Whether it’s lawful is now ... undemocratic move will not affect the with a petition to call a special session of party unity, it has become apparent that Parliament. >> Continued from page 1 government. Koirala’s party had 114-lawmakers in of Law, told the Post. “Let’s have faith in the there is no way the two factions can Insiders say just the formality remains In Nepal’s history of parliamentary democracy, the then 205-strong parliament. Supreme Court which has made different remain under the same roof. now. The Oli faction has called the par- this will not be the first time that the doors of the In the general elections that followed, Nepali landmark verdicts in the past to safeguard the Leaders from the Dahal faction later ty’s Central Committee meeting at 9am Supreme Court have been knocked on following the Congress lost its majority and Adhikari formed a constitution.” on Monday joined a meeting of the in Baluwatar while the Dahal faction dissolution of Parliament. minority government. When Adhikari called mid- The crux seems to be the inherent meaning of and Janata Samajbadi has also scheduled a Central Committee In 1994 led a Nepali term polls in 1995 after dissolving the Parliament, Article 85(1) and it will be up to the apex court to Party to discuss Oli’s move of House meeting at Karki Banquet, Babarmahal Congress majority government but dissolved the the Supreme Court, however, rejected it saying that interpret it in terms of parliamentary practice in dissolution. at 1 pm. House following internal wranglings in his party. there were other options to form a government, Nepal and across the world. “We three parties are against the When Oli’s CPN-UML and Dahal’s The court upheld the decision. therefore, the prime minister cannot dissolve the “The judiciary will explain the intention behind unconstitutional and undemocratic Maoist Centre had announced their In 1995, it was the turn of Manmohan Adhikari’s House. Article 85 (1) when it gives its final verdict,” said moves by prime minister Oli and con- merger in May 2018, they had agreed CPN-UML minority government to dissolve KC said another strong point for the Supreme Ram Krishna Timilsena, executive director at stant attacks on the constitution,” upon having shares in party committees Parliament. The court overturned the dissolution Court to issue the verdict was that a no-confidence National Law Campus and former registrar at the Narayan Kaji Shrestha, spokesperson at 60:40 ratio. Accordingly, the 441-mem- and a new government was formed. motion had been registered in Parliament prior to Supreme Court. for the Nepal Communist Party who is ber Central Committee had 241 leaders Balaram KC, former Supreme Court justice, as a Adhikari’s move. “It’s a fact that the prime minister in the with the Dahal faction, told reporters from then UML and 200 leaders from the lawyer had defended the decision of the two gov- According to him, the timing of the registration Westminster system has the authority to dissolve after the meeting held at Congress head- Maoist Centre. The 45-member Standing ernments in the 1990s to dissolve the House. of the no-confidence motion and decision of the Oli the parliament. The lawyers from the government quarters in Sanepa. “After taking the Committee too had similar composition “There is a fundamental difference in the provi- Cabinet to dissolve the Lower House could be a side can have that argument.” mandate from central committees of all with 25 members from the UML and 18 sions to dissolve the House in the two statutes,” KC strong basis for the final verdict. Constitutional experts say the court can call an three parties, we will take necessary from the Maoist Centre. said. “The Constitution of the - There are conflicting versions of the Parliament amicus curiae, if necessary, and make a decision decisions.” But lately the equation has changed. 1990 had given authority to the prime minister to Secretariat about the timing of the registration of clearing confusion, if there are any, about House Shrestha did not elaborate. Some Maoist leaders like Ram dissolve the House but the present constitution no-confidence motion against Oli. While a docu- dissolutions once and for all so that other prime According to a press statement issued Bahadur Thapa, Haribol Gajurel, Mani doesn’t.” ment disseminated in the media shows it was at ministers don’t make the same mistake again. by Nepali Congress following the meet- Thapa, Top Bahadur Rayamajhi have yet He therefore questions the legality of Oli’s move. 10:50am on Sunday, Ashok Poudel, communication The amicus curiae is a group of experts compris- ing, all three parties have the same view to make it clear which side they are on. “It is unconstitutional but the judiciary advisor to National Assembly Chairperson Ganesh ing lawyers and experts on the constitution called on the prime minister’s act of House Party Vice-chairman Bamdev Gautam is the ultimate institution to ascertain that,” KC Timilsina, who is an Oli ally in the ruling party, by the Supreme Court whenever it considers that dissolution, that it is unconstitutional who has been with the Dahal faction of told the Post. says it was registered at 3:30pm, after the President the issue it is looking into is a serious one and the and undemocratic and all three parties late also has decided to sit on the fence. He said the demands of the parties that had dissolved the House. view of experts would be helpful. have agreed to protest the move. While a Standing Committee member Parliament be reinstated might have political For advocate Baburam Dahal, legal adviser to “However, the court’s verdict should ultimately “All three parties have agreed to dis- close to Oli, , attend- meaning but it doesn’t have a legal meaning. Oli, dissolution of the House is an inherent author- be based on the constitutional provisions,” said cuss and decide from their respective ed the meeting of the Dahal-Nepal fac- The Supreme Court is starting the hearing from ity of the prime minister in the parliamentary Timilsena. central committee meetings to devise tion, former Maoist leader and minister Wednesday. system. For some, there is no doubt over the legality of further programmes,” reads the second Lekhraj Bhatta joined today’s meeting As a final arbiter of the constitution, the “Article 85 (1) of the constitution talks about the the House dissolution. decision of the statement on the all of lawmakers called by Oli. five-member constitutional bench of the apex court same inherent authority,” he told the Post. “The Cabinet made an unconstitutional party meeting. According to insiders, Tuesday’s led by Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana Constitutional experts, however, have a different decision and the President authenticated it,” said A meeting of the members of the cen- meetings of the both factions will be will make the final verdict on the matter. The other view. They say Article 85 (1) was mentioned in ref- Adhikari. “They have wrongly cited the tral executive committee of Janata decisive, which will most likely seal the four members of the bench will be chosen by Rana erence to 76 (7) which says the House of constitutional provisions.” Samajbadi Party held on Monday decid- fate of the Nepal Communist Party. from the roster of 14 Supreme Court justices. Representatives can be dissolved only when there For KC, it is clear why Oli has been misguided. ed to hold demonstrations against Oli’s Just as Oli put an end to the nearly But the constitution the justices will be inter- is a hung parliament and no party garners majori- He was the Minister of Home Affairs in the unconstitutional and undemocratic two-thirds majority government with a preting this time is different than the one they did ty to form the government Manmohan Adhikari Cabinet. move on Wednesday at all the district stroke of the pen, he also killed what in the 1990s. “I don’t see these provisions confusing. We “Those claiming a prime minister holding a headquarters and has called its Central leaders had called back in May 2018 “a Koirala’s dissolution had been upheld by the expect the Supreme Court will analyse them care- majority can dissolve the House have a hangover of Working Committee meeting on Tuesday communist movement,” say leaders court saying a majority government could dissolve fully before making the decision,” Bipin Adhikari, the 1990’s constitution,” said KC, the retired to devise further strategy. from both the factions. the House as there was no option to form another former dean at the School Supreme Court justice. “They should get rid of it.” Political instability could affect recovery of the economy hit by the pandemic

>> Continued from page 1 services will continue which will have by just 0.6 percent in the current fiscal But the infighting within the ruling straints to growth. cal transition after the end of decade “At a time when the priority should a role in economic recovery, political year 2020-21 against the government’s Nepal Communist Party and now the According to the report, Nepal long conflict in 2006. have been taking the country out of instability affects the additional target of seven percent, according sudden call for fresh elections have Growth Diagnostic, jointly prepared In the 2000s, the economy grew by the current health and economic cri- investments. to the recent projection of the put that stability into question. by a team of economists working on less than four percent in most of the sis, the prime minister has sought to “When the government changes fre- World Bank. “Investors pour money when there behalf of the governments of Nepal years and average economic growth spend scarce resources in expensive quently, the question remains how “Economy will bounce back to some is political stability because they and the United States to implement over the last decade has stood at just elections,” the six-time finance minis- prepared investors will be to invest,” extent after the pandemic is over think that policy remains stable even projects under Millennium Challenge 4.6 percent despite over six percent ter told the Post. said Satish Kumar More, president of because the base for the growth will if it may not be the right policy,” said Corporation in 2014, there are four key growth consecutively since the fiscal Critics have been saying that pan- Confederation of Nepalese Industries, be lower,” said Sharma. “But dreams Sharma. constraints to Nepal’s growth—policy year 2016-17, according to the demic control measures, relief and a grouping of medium and large scale for sustainable high growth appear to It is not immediately clear what implementation uncertainty, the inad- Economic Survey 2019-20. rehabilitation of the sectors affected industries. “In such an environment, remain dreams for the foreseeable happens to dissolution of the house equate supply of electricity, the high “When there is political instability, by the pandemic have been under- investors usually are in wait-and-see future amid the outlook of political with the legal challenges made against cost of transportation, and challeng- preparation of long-term plans and mined by the internal infighting with- mode.” instability.” the Prime Minister’s move with over a ing industrial relations and rigid their implementation cannot be in the ruling party. Without investment from the gov- There was high hope from this gov- dozen writ petitions registered at the labour regulations. undertaken swiftly which affects the “As a result, the government’s focus ernment and the private sector, recov- ernment because it was the most pow- Supreme Court on Monday. “The combination of political insta- prospect of growth,” said Poudel. was on managing internal rift in the ery of the economy battered by the erful government since restoration of “The government had earned a bility and the resulting policy imple- After the latest action by the ruling party instead of implementing pandemic will be a tough task. democracy in 1990, enjoying support huge political capital after sweeping mentation uncertainty are the founda- Prime Minister, the country will major projects,” said Bishow Poudel, As a result of the pandemic, the of almost two-thirds majority in electoral victory in 2017 which was a tions of Nepal’s most binding con- see the political instability in the an economist. “With the dissolution country’s economy is expected to have Parliament. The constituent parties huge opportunity to take decisive straints to growth,” the report had short-term. of Parliament, politics has become grown by just 2.7 percent in the last of the ruling Nepal Communist action to boost the economy,” said concluded. “If the elections happen and it gives unstable. This will lead to underin- fiscal year 2019-20 after over six per- Party—CPN-UML and Communist economist Poudel. “But it allowed the After a brief period of political a clear mandate to one political party, vestment which is bad during the time cent growth in the past three years, Party of Nepal (Maoist-Centre)— political capital to go to waste which is stability in early 1990s, the country the situation may again be friendly for of economic recovery.” according to the Central Bureau of before their merger, had sought votes unfortunate.” underwent political upheavals with high economic growth,” said Poudel. Industrialists say that although sup- Statistics. from people promising political stabil- The country’s political instability the Maoists insurgency, royal takeo- “The situation may be as precarious ply and consumption of goods and The economy is projected to grow ity and development. has been one of the binding con- ver of the power and prolonged politi- otherwise.”

C M Y K 03 | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2020 NATIONAL

BRIEFING

Man who fell off bridge while making TikTok video dies DANG: Ramesh Thapa, who had sus- tained critical injuries after he fell off a suspension bridge on Saturday while making a TikTok video, suc- cumbed to injuries during treatment on Monday. The 24-year-old man had gone to watch the Purandhara water- fall with his friends for a picnic when he fell off a bridge across the Babai river in Babai Rural Municipality-5. Thapa died in the course of treatment at Kohalpur Medical College in Banke, police said.

Farmers start taking cattle to lower altitude due to cold MUGU: As temperatures in high altitude pastures have been plummet- ing in recent weeks, farmers of Mugu have started taking their chauris, a cross between yak and hill cow, to lower altitude to avoid the cold. We have taken our chauris to warmer places to avoid severe cold in patans (highlands),” said Tsering Tashi Tamang of Mugamkarmarong Rural Municipality-2. The majority of Mugu residents rear domesticated POST PHOTO: ANGAD DHAKAL animals for their livelihood. Leaders from various political parties take part in a meeting to discuss their strategy following the dissolution of the House of Representatives at the Nepali Congress headquarters at Sanepa, Lallitpur on Monday. Oli’s address to the nation didn’t validate Arrest of poachers in dissolution of House, observers say Bardiya raises alarms Latest incident in Bardiya suggests that poachers are still The ‘strongest prime minister in Nepal’s modern history’ can’t say his own comrades didn’t allow him to work, they add. on the prowl in and around the protected areas. ANIL GIRI bitterness head towards elections to KATHMANDU, DEC 21 strengthen the party’s unity. CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL said Thapa. The prime minister’s move is deep- KATHMANDU, DEC 21 A similar incident was reported in A day after recommending that the ly flawed for various other reasons as Parsa National Park in March, days House of Representatives be dis- well, said Nepali Congress lawmaker The recent arrest of two poachers after the country went into the lock- solved, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and legal expert Radheshyam with improvised firearms and weap- down. The exchange of gunfire defended his action before the public Adhikari. ons from the core area of Bardiya between Nepal Army soldiers and through a televised address on “First, Oli announced elections in National Park has once again alarmed poachers left one poacher dead. A sol- Monday. the midst of a pandemic. Second, is it conservation authorities about illegal dier was also seriously injured. While the “strongest prime minis- possible to conduct elections at a time activities inside protected areas. The country’s protected areas, ter ever in Nepal’s modern history” when major parties are preparing for There were rising concerns about mainly in southern plains, including accused his own party members of protests?” potential incidents of wildlife poach- Bardiya National Park, witnessed a cornering his government and not Adhikari, who doubts the elections ing and illegal logging across the significant rise in illegal activities allowing it to function, observers, and will take place on time, said that Oli country during Covid-19 lockdown. during the lockdown. even leaders of the ruling party, should have stepped down after dis- Even after the lockdown is over, Hundreds of people faced actions quashed his claims. solving the House of Representatives, illegal activities inside protected after they were caught engaged in “I don’t see the significance of his but he did not do so. “So it seems that areas and adjoining forests have not prohibited activities like fishing, log- defence as he has damaged things as he dissolved the House just to escape stopped, the latest incident being in ging and trespassing inside protected much as he could,” said party Standing the no-confidence motion. Then an Bardiya National Park. areas with weapons. Committee member Beduram Bhusal. important legal question arises: What In one of the biggest busts of this “The rate of such activities might In his over 20-minute-long address, is the status of the Oli government? Is year, security forces and park officials have come down lately, but the park a fatigued-looking Oli recounted his he a caretaker prime minister now ?” nabbed two poachers with firearms still faces several challenges when it achievements as prime minister in the All prime ministers who dissolved and other weapons from Giththe comes to protecting the wildlife. It is last three years. He held his party POSTFILE PHOTO the House in the past had tendered Khola area, around 20 km northwest tough patrolling the park territory co-chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal, whom During his 20-minute-long address, Oli recounted his achievements in the last three years. their resignation after announcing from the park headquarters at that falls in the Chure area due to dif- he didn’t name in this speech, respon- fresh elections, but Oli hasn’t done so, Thakurdwara, on Saturday evening. ficult terrain,” said Thapa. “It can sible for creating a mess. “When the According to lawmakers present people, stood ground for nationalism, said Adhikari. “ I doubt he intends to According to Ashim Thapa, a park take a whole day to cover just two- government was formed after setting during the meeting, Oli said that the initiated boundary talks with India hold elections.” spokesperson, the poachers opened three kilometres distance. The latest aside various obstacles, it had started elected government didn’t have a and implementation of the trade and Oli’s recommendation to dissolve fire when they were confronted by the clash with poachers also happened in working as per the expectations of the choice but to seek a fresh mandate transit agreement with China was the lower House and announce dates patrol team. the Chure side where we had heard people,” said Oli. “After that, some from the people. gathering momentum. (April 30 and May 10) for fresh elec- “The team could not ascertain how reports about killing of a Sambar deer leaders relentlessly tried to send a But Oli’s critics say the prime min- Oli credited himself for publishing tions was swiftly approved by many they were because they started and gunfire sounds.” message of instability. Even before the ister is not owning up to his own fail- Nepal’s new map and recalled that he President Bidhya Devi Bhandari, firing almost immediately,” said Following the reports, the park government completed its first year, ure and blaming others for it. “Oli had faced the situation head on even when whose role as the “patron of the con- Thapa. “The incident site lies deep authority had launched several sweep- some leaders went abroad to spread enough time to deliver by forming a his government was toppled in 2016 stitution” is now being questioned. inside the protected area, 6 km north- ing operations inside the park, includ- the message of instability while oth- strong team. But he did not do that. after the economic blockade. Drawing Some ruling party leaders are also west of Khayarbhatti Post.” ing the vulnerable Chure range. ers, when the prime minister was out Now he is blaming others for his fail- parallels to the events that led to his worried by the statement issued by The patrol team seized three coun- According to Thapa, there have not of the country, sought help from life- ure; no one believes him,” said Bhusal, dismissal that year, Oli said, the president’s office on Sunday justi- try-made guns, 17 bullets, 200 gm of been serious incidents of poaching of guards saying that the country was the Standing Committee member, add- “The characters are the same, the sit- fying the dissolution of the House. gunpowder, five sickles, net, knives, big wild animals lately, except for the drowning.” ing that a section of the ruling party uation is the same, but the context is Besides quoting articles 76 and 85, catapults, mobile phones and torch death of a tiger after falling into a trap During his visit to India in and opposition parties will stand different.” Bhandari presented international par- lights. The team also recovered bags, apparently set up by hunters to trap September 2018, Dahal in his inter- together to thwart Oli’s attempt to “Does it not show that some of our liamentary practices as justification blankets, jackets, utensils and nearly game animals. views to Indian media outlets had dissolve the House. leaders are pushing the country for her action. 70 kg of dried meat of wild animals The park officials discovered the claimed that he and Oli were bound by Oli repeatedly used the word “siege” towards perpetual instability?” “Oli’s move is unconstitutional no from the area. decomposed tiger carcass in a gentlemen’s agreement under which during his address and said that But Shrestha refuted Oli’s state- doubt, but the way the president cited The park officials suspect that the September, indicating that poachers the two leaders would take turns to attempts were made to file a no-confi- ment. “Oli is the main source of insta- international practices may have seri- poachers were planning to stay inside were active around the protected area. become prime minister. Oli had later dence motion against his government bility in the country today and is ous implications,” said former finance the park for a long time. Thapa said while they have not denied that such a pact even existed. and summon the House session with- responsible for the situation the coun- minister and party Standing Two of the poachers, Chakra come across serious wildlife poaching Oli had made similar remarks dur- out the prior knowledge of the prime try finds itself in. Oli had a great Committee member Surendra Pandey. Bahadur Bista and Ganesh Tiwari of incidents inside the park of late, inci- ing a gathering of parliamentarians at minister, party chair and the party chance to lead and govern the country “If we start copying international Surkhet, were captured while the oth- dents where people enter the park to Baluwatar on Monday. Parliament parliamentary leader. but he failed,” added Shrestha. practices, it may not be appropriate ers managed to flee the scene. The collect firewood, fodder and to fish in was not dissolved out of the blue, Oli “I could not see a single word of During his Monday’s address, Oli, for the country,” said Pandey. “Nepal’s park has formed a team under ranger the river are continuing till this day. had told lawmakers aligned to his self-confession in his address,” said after defending his call to dissolve the context, background, and political cir- Harsha Bahadur Singh to investigate Conservationists say the wildlife camp. But the dissolution came as noted political analyst Shyam House, urged the youth and party cumstances are different from that of the case. sector came under threat while the some party leaders always tried to Shrestha. “He lied to the nation.” leaders to participate in the electoral other countries. References to interna- “The incident is a reminder that country was under lockdown, when create obstacles in front of his govern- Oli claimed that his government process. He also urged the party lead- tional practices should be taken seri- controlling wildlife poaching inside the state apparatuses were more ment ever since its formation. had done enough work in favour of the ers to forget the bitterness of the past ously,” added Pandey. protected areas is still challenging,” focused on handling the pandemic. Coronavirus spread is not slowing down, these four indicators demonstrate Critical care facilities are still overwhelmed, positivity rates haven’t declined, death rates have increased and 15 percent of healthy people seeking to go abroad are testing positive. ARJUN POUDEL unit beds and ventilators for critically Valley for treatment. They used to “Highly contagious viruses like KATHMANDU, DEC 21 ailing patients is the first evidence contribute significantly to the dead coronavirus spread in waves,” Dr that the coronavirus infection hasn’t count in the Valley,” the Health Prabhat Adhikari, infectious disease Last week, a 28-year-old man from slowed down. Secondly, even as testing Ministry official said. “Most of the and critical care expert, told the Post . Kathmandu was rushed to the emer- has declined, the positivity rate(total deceased, these days, are Valley “Even if the first wave is over in gency ward of test/positive cases) has not. This residents.” Kathmandu Valley, the second wave Teaching Hospital, after his health shows that new cases are still surging. Public health experts say there is no will start soon, as all businesses have condition started deteriorating fast. On average, around 5,000 polymer- reason to believe that infection rates resumed and people have stopped fol- The man, who had tied the knot the ase chain reaction tests are being of highly contagious coronavirus lowing safety measures.” previous week (on December 7) was carried out daily across the country, have been declining, as no interven- Instead of enforcing measures to infected during his wedding, accord- and nearly 1,300 of these test subjects tion measures are in place. After halt- contain the pandemic, authorities ing to doctors at the hospital. are healthy individuals, most of them ing free testing, authorities have also concerned have allowed the virus to “His oxygen level was at a life-threat- youths getting tested to travel stopped contact tracing, without spread in the communities. ening level when he was brought in,” overseas. which it is impossible to slow down After the government gave up all Dr Niraj Bam, associate professor at The Ministry of Health and the infection. measures, free testing, contact tracing the Institute of Medicine, told the Population has been incorporating the “What are we doing to contain the and the Health Ministry requested Post. “He had to wait three days at the test results of these healthy people in POST FILES PHOTO infection?” Dr Govinda Ojha, former patients not to seek treatment unless hospital’s emergency ward due to lack its daily Covid-19 briefing to give a People have started returning to their normal lives after businesses and services re-opened. director at the Department of they are critically ill, people have of vacant intensive care unit beds.” false impression that infection rates Services, told the Post. “Are we per- stopped seeking treatment. With the government giving up all are declining. Post, asking not to be named. “Death tive director at the Pashupati Area forming sufficient tests? Are we effec- Doctors attending to patients infect- measures to contain the spread of the The ministry has also been includ- rate has increased around four Development Trust, told the Post. tively contact tracing? Are we follow- ed with coronavirus said the infec- coronavirus infection, people have ing the number of tests administered folds compared to the same period “During the normal period, we used to ing safety measures properly?” tion’s death rate has increased due to returned to their pre-pandemic lives to health workers, individuals who last year.” get only 30 everyday.” New cases of Covid-19 have been the tendency to seek treatment only and taking part in weddings and need to attend court hearings and gov- After the Health Ministry decided Apart from Aryaghat, people cre- surging even in countries which have after the patient becomes critically ill. feasts, which have been fueling the ernment staffers serving at the Prime not to test the deceased to establish mate bodies at more than a dozen cre- successfully flattened the curve and “We may see huge loss of lives in spread of the coronavirus infection. Minister’s residence and office—all of their cause of death, people dying in mation centers in Kathmandu. are working seriously to contain the the next three months at a proportion The pandemic which has already whom get tested regularly. homes are being cremated without Khatiwada said that relatives of the infection. we had not seen in the past year,” Dr killed 1,795 people throughout the “The infection rate among healthy their kin knowing whether they were deceased have to wait two to four Some doctors believe that infection Bhagwan Koirala, chairman of Nepal country and infected 254,514 is far people seeking tests to go abroad is infected or not. hours to get their turn to cremate rate, which was very high until a Medical Council, told the Post. from over, and there are four indica- around 15 percent. This is a strong “Around 80 bodies are being brought their dead ones. month ago, might have been slowing “We should not underestimate tors to demonstrate this, experts say. proof that new cases are surging,” an for cremation to Aryaghat every “Like in the past, critically ill peo- down, but a second wave might follow the risk and keep following safety The lack of sufficient intensive care official at the Health Ministry told the day,”Ghanshyam Khatiwada, execu- ple are not coming to Kathmandu soon. measures.”

C M Y K TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2020 | 04 OPINION EDITORIAL Climax of Oli’s autogolpe The ultimate arbiter It is up to the judiciary Nepalis are waiting with bated breath for the now to save Nepal’s judiciary’s response. hard-earned federal republican democracy. After the constitutional crisis Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has invited with his unconstitutional sudden move of dissolv- ACHYUT WAGLE ing the House of Representatives, all eyes are on the judiciary. The Office of the President that approved the Oli Cabinet’s recommendation for the dissolution of Parliament has cited Articles 76 (1), 76 (7) and 85 of the constitution. None of the articles, however, allows Oli, as a majority prime minister, to dissolve the House using it. In its long-winded release, the Office of the President has On Sunday, Prime Minister KP Oli rec- ommended that President Bidya Devi said it endorsed the government’s recommendation for the Bhandari dissolve the House of House dissolution and fresh elections as per the said provi- Representatives and this was sanc- sions, fundamental spirit and principles of the parliamentary tioned by the latter in a couple of hours. Election dates are set for April system and ‘our own practices and those followed by other 30 and May 10 next year. This 26-month countries that follow the parliamentary system’. It has by now premature dissolution of the lower become apparent that the executive and the head of state have chamber of the federal parliament is yet another vindication of the fact that played complicit roles in trampling upon the same constitution the country’s political class has misera- that they were elected to protect. bly failed to defend its hard-earned Now that Oli’s move is certain to be challenged at the court democracy. After all, it only took seven decades and the lives of thousands of of law, the Nepali people, on whom a nearly two-thirds majority Nepalis to get here. government led by Oli has committed betrayal, are waiting The debate on why every new politi- with bated breath for the judiciary’s response. cal experiment fails—incidentally, there has been a dramatic turn of Despite having a chequered history, Nepal’s judiciary has events around the turn of every decade often come to the rescue, especially when the country has faced since 1920—is preoccupied with consti- constitutional or political crises. Political parties may inter- tutionality, political system or ideology. pret the judgments their way, but the judiciary’s role in protect- But the repeating bouts of crisis almost always are seen to have been triggered ing the constitution and system on several occasions in the past by an utter deficit of integrity, ability deserves praise. The judiciary has also come under attack from and statesmanship coupled with crude PHOTO VIA PRIME MINISTER’S SECRETARIAT the executive or political parties, with the one in recent memo- and unprincipled lust for power among stitutional bodies right before the water. The current political discourse Similarly, according to the sub-section the political elites of the day. House was dissolved. seems to ignore this facet of the prob- 20 (2n), they would function according ry being an impeachment motion against the then chief justice Oli’s desperation was apparent when lem completely. The anti-Oli ideologues to their election manifesto. As Sushila Karki. That said, Nepal’s judiciary also faces charges A self-coup he appointed his henchmen in crucial in the Nepal Communist Party, even such, the incumbent governance of losing independence and being complicit with the executive Calculated exploitation of the constitu- bodies like the Commission for the before Oli’s recent extremities, have scheme only envisions that the tional loopholes by the prime minister Investigation of Abuse of Authority been publicly advocating that the gov- government, once elected to the or becoming too aligned with certain political parties. to expand or extend powers, tanta- (CIAA) and National Human Rights ernment must function under the office, be controlled by and is accounta- Be that as it may, the Supreme Court still comes to the mind mount to a constitutional coup, defi- Commission along with 11 other consti- direct diktats of the party. The cardinal ble to nothing else but the constitution for the outstanding verdicts it has passed in the past whenever nitely has to do with Oli’s penchant for tutional entities, which are ideally thought of the ruling party leadership itself. control. President Bhandari complied expected to be manned by impartial is that the government is only an imple- It also appears that the ruling party democracy came under attack. Even during the constitutional with all his bids without any consider- professionals and experts. All these menting mechanism for the decisions is not bothered by the fact that the sup- monarchy, people’s faith always lay in the country’s judiciary ation of their ramifications. She did moves have cumulatively put the very made by the party committees institut- posedly sovereign Parliament was con- as they believed in its independence and impartiality. not even choose to hold the customary future of the constitution and the cur- ed in parallel to the country’s adminis- tinuously overshadowed. Oli’s tactics consultation with constitutional rent political system in grave jeopardy. trative structure. of evading the parliamentary process After stress-testing the system time and again, Oli has now experts before approving a proposal as President Bhandari’s continuous The supporters of the party-con- even to pass key laws with long-term ultimately torn apart the constitution, trampled upon the fun- severe as the one calling for House dis- involvement in the factional rivalry in trolled government argue that such impact, and tantrums of out-of-govern- damental principles of democracy and betrayed the Nepali solution. But there are precedents the ruling Nepal Communist Party, in disciplinary restrictions are necessary ment ruling elites to treat Parliament where she has exhibited political bias- support of the Oli faction, only encour- because, firstly, it is ‘the party’s govern- as a mere rubber stamp took a toll on people and undermined their votes. es in favour of her chosen people. For aged him to push on with his measures. ment’ and second, such a noose is inev- legislative supremacy. Such practices, No matter how Prime Minister Oli and President Bidya Devi example, in 2017, she sat on the file for itable to ‘control corruption’ and therefore, would not limit themselves Bhandari try to interpret the constitutional provisions to justi- months on the recommendation made Who is responsible? ‘ensure people-oriented governance’. to correct the course Oli has taken as by the then gov- The continuous disregard and overex- These political designs are outrightly the prime minister but in effect con- fy the move of dissolving the House, it’s the Supreme Court ernment to nominate three national ploitation of the constitutional provi- anti-constitutional and even more a nive to upend the entire constitutional that is the ultimate arbiter of the . The assembly members, in the pretext of sions seem to be solely Oli’s doing; this dangerous form of attack against arrangement and accountability. system Nepal has adopted has distinctly divided the three legal consultation. is not entirely the case. Of course, Oli Nepal’s constitution. If this philosophy This is far more ominous than Instead of calling for the winter ses- failed to deliver as the prime minister, of governing the country continues to containing Oli-like characters who branches of government—the executive, the legislature and sion of the federal parliament which, even with a large mandate. His megalo- dominate in any ruling party, the scope accidentally happen to be in the berth the judiciary. The basic concept behind that is ensuring checks according to the constitution, must mania and demagogy blinded him to of institutionalising democracy is of power. and balances. With Oli as the executive head crushing the leg- have convened no later than January 1, take destructive actions. He must be bound to be constricted. The case of the House dissolution 2021, so as not to exceed six months’ held responsible for all these mammoth Also, the Political Parties’ Act 2017, has now landed in the Supreme Court— islature with just one stroke of the pen, it’s now up to the judi- interval between the two sessions, the failings. But this is only one side of the including its two subsequent amend- the only authority that can interpret ciary to save democracy from backsliding. dissolution of Parliament is Oli’s delib- coin. The top-hats frequently and ments, does not provide for the ruling the constitution. The judiciary has now Will the court rise to the occasion? Will the judges show erate attempt to undermine representa- unfairly cornered him in the ruling political outfit(s) to interfere in the day- the responsibility of saving Nepal’s tive democracy. Oli’s temerity to reis- party. The idea of party hegemony was to-day functioning of the government, republican constitution and the hard- moral integrity to stand up to the executive’s blatant attack on sue the Constitutional Council ordi- overbearing, and his detractors, too, let alone control it. The sub-section 20 earned federal democracy. It is also an the constitution and democratic principles? It’s up to the judges nance and dissolve Parliament without have failed to prove so far that they are (2h) says they shall take ‘necessary ini- essential opportunity for the court to to rap on the executive’s knuckles and save the country from firm constitutional basis, among oth- better than Oli. tiative on governmental or non-govern- prove that it has so far preserved its falling into the abyss of uncertainty. The court has a big moral ers, were instantaneously approved by Oli’s allegation that his own party’s mental sectors to practically imple- independence from the long shadow of the president. In addition, based on the unwanted interference in running the ment the citizens’ right to get good Oli’s autogolpe and the Nepal challenge before it. new ordinance, the Council appointed government, right from the beginning governance and (only) support the Communist Party’s ‘the party is the the heads and members of several con- of his tenure, certainly holds some government mechanism for the cause’. state’ philosophy. Giving with the heart and the head

Giving Multiplier tops up both of your It would make a huge donations. The extra funds are provid- ed by philanthropists who want to difference if everyone encourage more people to give effec- tively. gave to charity based on Why does this simple strategy work? One of us, Lucius Caviola— effectiveness. working with Joshua Greene, a profes- sor of psychology at Harvard University—noticed that people feel PETER SINGER & LUCIUS CAVIOLA almost as good about their donation when they give $50 instead of $100 to their favourite charity. Therefore, donors should not lose much by giving only half to their favourite charity, which allows them to give the other half to a highly effective charity— something people find meaningful. Worldwide, people donate hundreds of So, Caviola and Greene devised billions of dollars to charity. In the Giving Multiplier as a means of ena- United States alone, charitable dona- bling donors to experience the posi- tions amounted to about $450 billion tive feeling for supporting the charity last year. As 2020 draws to a close, they most care about, while also perhaps you or members of your fam- donating to a highly effective charity. ily are considering giving to charity. If, in addition, someone tops up their But there are, literally, millions of donations to increase their impact, charities. Which should you choose? they feel even better. If you are like most people, you We should not expect everyone to want to support charities that mean become an effective altruist who gives something to you—that speak to your exclusively on the basis of evidence heart. Perhaps it is a charity that about how much good a charity does helps children in your community, or with the donations it receives. For a local homeless shelter where you most people, giving remains primarily have volunteered, or maybe a museum an emotional act. But it is realistic to you’re passionate about, or a place of expect many people to become part- worship for which you want to show time effective altruists, giving partly support. In the US, 94 percent of dona- on the basis of their feelings and part- tions go to charities focusing on local SHUTTERSTOCK ly on the basis of what is most effec- or national issues. estimates that the Malaria three or four times as much as saving a This way of thinking is a form of son. And helping someone on the tive. If even just a quarter of all Donating to a charity that pulls on Consortium, one of its top charities life, it’s obviously not giving compara- effective altruism. Effective altruists other side of the world doesn’t feel as donors applied this strategy, millions your heartstrings is likely to be better working in malaria-prone low-income ble value for your donation. argue that when we give, we should good as helping someone close by— of lives would be saved and improved— than not donating at all. Very few countries, can provide four months of Given the big differences in effec- try to get the best value for our money, especially when we can identify the without donors having to forsake the charities are outright frauds. The big- preventive medicine to children 3-59 tiveness, which charity you support as we do when we shop for ourselves. person we are helping, like a sick charities closest to their hearts. ger issue is that following your heart months old for less than $7 per child. matters a great deal. Experts estimate It would make a huge difference and child shown to us in a photo. Given ignores research on which charities On average, this saves a life for each that even within the field of helping solve many global problems if every- these obstacles, what can we do to Singer is Professor of Bioethics at are the most effective. Some charities $3,000-$5,000 spent. the world’s poorest people, the most one gave to charity based on effective- make effective giving more appealing? Princeton University and the founder will do hundreds of times as much In contrast, one of the charities work- effective charities do 100 times more ness. But it is unrealistic to expect this A new donation platform offers a of the charity The Life You Can Save. good with your donation—saving or ing in the US that GiveWell regards as good for a given sum than charities of to happen anytime soon, because for solution. GivingMultiplier.org encour- His books include Animal Liberation, improving many more lives—than promising, the Knowledge is Power average cost-effectiveness. If they are most people, giving is something deep- ages you to divide your donations. One Practical Ethics, The Life You Can typical charities do. Programme, spends $9,000-$20,000 to right, giving $100 to the most effective ly emotional. And, unfortunately, our part goes to your favourite charity— Save, and, most recently, Why Vegan? Usually, the most effective charities improve the academic performance of charities helping people in extreme emotions don’t scale proportionately to the one you personally care most Caviola is a postdoctoral researcher help the poorest people in the world’s one student for one year. Improving poverty can achieve more good than the number of individuals we can help. about. The other part goes to a highly in the Department of Psychology at least-developed countries. For exam- academic performance for a year can be giving $9,000 to a typical charity try- Helping 100 individuals doesn’t feel effective charity recommended by Harvard University. ple, the charity evaluator GiveWell important, but when doing that costs ing to do the same thing. 100 times better than helping one per- experts. And to multiply your impact, —Project Syndicate

C M Y K 05| TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2020 MONEY India plans tough Annapurna Hotel to close its doors indefinitely annual targets The hotel’s closure highlights the deep trouble in the tourism industry, insiders say. The hospitality industry has been among the hardest hit by Covid. for state firms to SANGAM PRASAIN employees, effective from September KATHMANDU, DEC 21 9, due to financial distress as the virus lockdown brought tourism to a halt. boost valuations The iconic Annapurna Hotel on The hospitality industry has been Durbar Marg is closing its doors for among the hardest hit by the pandem- REUTERS an indefinite period due to a severe ic. Nepal’s five-star hotels saw their NEW DELHI, DEC 21 loss of revenue as the coronavirus profits plunge in the fourth quarter as snuffed out the tourism industry. the virus lockdown wiped out arriv- India plans to set tough financial tar- Established in 1965, the Annapurna als. Oriental Hotel reported a fall in its gets for state-run firms to try to is one of Nepal’s oldest five-star net profit by 79.8 percent in the fiscal improve their valuations ahead of a properties. Its closure highlights the year 2019-20 as against profits booked push by Prime Minister Narendra deep trouble in the tourism industry, in the fiscal year 2018-19. Modi to privatize some companies, insiders said. Soaltee Hotel Limited said in its according to a draft government docu- A formal announcement if the clo- fourth-quarter report that its net prof- ment and sources. sure has not been made, but Executive it plunged 64.64 percent to Rs105.7 The government, which is trying to Director Sreejana Rana said the pro- million in the last fiscal year. Taragaon rein in its fiscal deficit, wants cess to shut down the hotel had start- Regency Hotel Limited, which oper- state-run firms to focus on improving ed. More than 60 of the staff have ates the Hyatt Regency Kathmandu, market capitalisation and dividend already resigned. “We have asked the published its fourth-quarter report payouts from the 2021/22 fiscal employees to take voluntary retire- last week projecting a 53 percent drop year, starting April, as well as ramp- ment,” Rana told the Post. in its net profit in the last fiscal year. ing up the sale of non-core assets, the The Annapurna’s closure means its The 1970s and early 1980s were a sources said. 360 employees will lose their jobs. But prosperous period for tourism. It was industry insiders said that the hotel during this period that many catego- planned to give voluntarily retirement ries of luxury hotels were established Managers at state to old employees as they had become a and many foreign brands entered the big liability to the company. country. Nepal’s hospitality industry firms will have With new global chains and modern was battered by an armed insurgency innovations making inroads into from 1996-2006. their bonuses Nepal’s tourism, the venerable Although tourists were not harmed Annapurna is being weighed down by by the insurgents, arrivals declined linked to meeting its old employees, most of whom are sharply. Even five-star hotel rooms more than 50 years of old. were available for less than $50 per the annual targets. “The problem is not only of the night during that time. Annapurna, hotels like the Soaltee The post-conflict scenario was more and the Radisson, among others, are painful for entrepreneurs. The advent State-run companies have tradition- facing similar problems,” said an PHOTO: HOTEL ANNAPURNA FACEBOOK of militant labour forced a number of ally largely targeted raising output Annapurna employee who has spent Opened as Hotel de l’ Annapurna in 1965, the 149-room hotel occupies 44 ropanis of land (22,385 square metres) in the heart of Kathmandu. star hotels to shut down.Established and increasing revenues, rather more than three decades at the hotel. hotels like the Woodland, Yellow than improving efficiency and valua- Among the 10 five-star hotels in the internal issues, said an employee. decided to cut their losses by remain- but they are reluctant as the Covid-19 Pagoda, Narayani, Blue Star, Sherpa tions, contributing to years of share Kathmandu Valley, the Annapurna Surya Bahadur Kunwar, president ing shuttered for six months, as they situation is still uncertain.” and Durbar shut their doors. There price underperformance versus the and the Malla are currently shuttered. of the Nepal Independent Hotel, didn’t expect tourists to visit Nepal for “We can’t do anything if the hotel- was no major investment in hotels broader market. Rana admits that if they have to Casino and Restaurant Workers’ at least another year. iers say they are not in a position to until People’s Movement II in 2006. “The companies need to raise their compete in the market, they would Union (Central Committee), said they Officials had said more than 3,000 open fully because we have to save the Boom times returned to the Nepali valuation and profitability in a chang- need to completely revamp their prop- don’t have any problem if the hotel hotels would send their staff home employer first to save the employees,” hospitality sector recalling the ing business environment. Then only erty and the productivity of the work- management launches a voluntarily because they can’t keep paying their he said, adding that the unions were heady days of the 1970s and 1980s we will be able to get a better price ers. “We are not closing permanently. retirement scheme and gets rid of old salaries with no revenue coming in making efforts for the best deal for with leading global hotel brands com- [from stake sales]. Shareholders and As we don’t see the tourism market employees. due to the lockdown. Following pres- both employers and employees. ing to the country or poised to make investors should be rewarded,” said a recovering by 2021, we cannot afford to “We have not received any official sure, Hotel Association Nepal decided Rana, who is also the president of their debut. government source with knowledge of become bankrupt by then,” said Rana. notice from the Hotel Annapurna to keep the hotels open by making a Hotel Association Nepal, said the “In Kathmandu, hotels had reached the plan. “We have plans to come back, but we about its closure,” he said, adding that significant cut in worker salaries. In situation was unprecedented, and a saturation point; and at the same After regaining power in 2019, are not sure when.” to close the hotel, it has to first declare July, nearly four months after the lock- due to the continued uncertain impact time, Covid-19 brought cracks in the Modi’s government prepared a plan to Started as the Hotel de l’ Annapurna bankruptcy. down began, it unveiled a uniform of Covid-19, they have to close down economy, including the tourism indus- raise as much as 3.25 trillion rupees in 1965, the 149-room hotel occupies 44 Many hotels have launched a volun- payout structure: All staff, from front temporarily. try,” hotelier Yogendra Sakya said. ($44 billion) over 5 years by selling ropanis of land (22,385 square metres) tarily retirement scheme, and that’s a office workers to general managers, “We cannot run a hotel with 5 per- In 2017, Hotel Association Nepal down its stakes in companies includ- in the heart of Kathmandu. good way to give a grateful exit to the would remain on salary, but they cent occupancy. The poor occupancy had issued a ‘white paper’ urging the ing Oil and Natural Gas Corp, Indian According to Rana, her family workers, Kunwar said. would get the same pay. The move was will continue through 2021. And government to rein in the overheated Oil Corp, NMDC Ltd, Coal India, including her husband Kapil “The Soaltee Hotel has sent off 150 intended to avoid mass layoffs. we are increasingly feeling pressure hotel sector. The apex body of the Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd and SJB Rana own more than 85 percent of workers under the voluntarily retire- The association, trade unions and from new players in the hospitality country’s hotel industry had asked the BEML Ltd. It announced moves to the shares of the hotel. The Nepal ment scheme following a mutual hotel workers agreed on the uniform industry.” government to assess the demand and privatize companies in non-strategic Trust owns 5 percent and the Khetan understanding with the trade union,” payout structure and signed a deal. The first casualty of Covid-19 was supply of hotel rooms, and raise the parts of the economy and reduce the Group holds less than 2 percent of said Kunwar, who is also an employee The new pay structure was imple- the Tiger Palace Resort in Bhairahawa. criteria for hotel expansion. number of firms in key sectors. The the shares. of the Soaltee Hotel. It still has more mented from April 13 to December 31. On March 23, the Silver Heritage “We should be careful as these new government has already initiated In 2011, the hotel had planned to than 350 employees. Rana said that she “We have started holding discus- Group, the Australian-listed gaming hotels could create additional rooms steps to privatize Bharat Petroleum, redevelop and re-brand the property plans to give every benefit as per the sions on what measures should be investor which operates two casinos rather than competing over prices and Container Corp and Shipping Corp. and add 100 rooms. It had hired a law to the workers leaving voluntarily. taken after December 31,” said in Nepal, had announced a temporary replacing good old hotels,” the white However, weak investor sentiment German consultant to prepare the But a tussle between the trade union Madhav Pandey, president of the All closure of its two properties—Tiger paper stated. “If these hotels go out of and limited demand have led to delays. master plan. The hotel initiated a plan and hotels is likely to begin. Nepal Hotel Casino and Restaurant Place Resort and The Millionaires’ business, banks which have invested So far this fiscal year to end-March to invest Rs5 billion for the makeover. In May, two months after the lock- Workers’ Union. “We have requested Club & Casino in Kathmandu. heavily in the sector will have 2021, the government has raised only a The four-year project was slated to down was imposed, hotels teetering on the hotels to open fully and pay work- Tiger Palace Casino Resort in problems, and it will eventually hurt tenth of its targeted 1.20 trillion begin in 2012, but it fell through due to the edge amid the coronavirus closure ers their full salaries from January, Bhairahawa laid off all its 393 Nepali the economy. ” rupees stake sales.

FOREX Human rights watchdog calls for the China’s stunning export US Dollar 118.35

Euro 143.68 Pound Sterling 156.23 clearance of dues to protesting farmers comeback has factories Japanese Yen 11.40 POST REPORT Chinese Yuan 18.06 KATHMANDU, DEC 21 scrambling for workers Qatari Riyal 32.50 Expressing serious concern about the Australian Dollar 88.44 ongoing sugarcane farmers’ protest REUTERS ment bank started compiling the data. for a week now, Nepal Human Rights BEIJING, DEC 21 While emergency stimulus in the Malaysian Ringit 29.22 Commission Nepal has urged the United States and Europe pumped government and sugar mills to imme- China’s manufacturing recovery, money into consumers’ wallets, the Saudi Arab Riyal 31.55 diately pay the outstanding dues fuelled in part by demand from Covid- fight to contain the virus in those mar- Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank to them. constrained consumers abroad, has kets fired up demand both for China- The commission has urged the gov- soared past expectations this year, so made PPE goods and gadgets for west- Shares ernment and sugar mills to note the much so that factories are now strug- erners stuck at home. effective implementation of the law gling to fill a shortage of blue-collar Government data shows that in Nepse 1,965.96pts 1.57% that is provisioned for farmers’ rights, workers to clear mounting orders. November there were more people to respect the work of farmers, imple- The country’s output of industrial employed in the industrial sector in HIGHEST GAINERS ment the agreement done in the past robots, computer equipment, and inte- Jinhua city, which includes the east- NICA NMBMF KPCL SHIVM RADHI LEC 9.9% 6.22% 5.82% 5.36% 4.86% 4.83% with them to protect their basic and grated circuits has roared back from ern export hub of Yiwu, than there human rights. its coronavirus paralysis—production had been at any time since end-2017. MODERATE GAINERS The commission said that it for the year to November is up 22.2 “We laid off about 50 workers in the UPPER BARUN PRVU BBC GFCL KKHC 4.47% 4.32% 4.14% 4.12% 3.92% 3.81% has inspected the protest by visiting percent, 10.1 percent and 15.9 percent, first half, and now with orders soar- them at Maitighar Mandala in a press respectively. ing, we’re short of staff and not able MODERATE LOSERS POST PHOTO: KESHAV THAPA LEMF SSHL RHPL BNT STC BFC statement. Much of the manufacturing boom to further ramp up production,” said -2% -2.11% -2.3% -2.44% -2.69% -2.99% “Surviving on sugarcane farming, The farmers want a work procedure on the transfer of dues to their accounts and a deadline set has come from foreign demand, with Deng Jinling, who owns a thermal

HIGHEST LOSERS farmers who are not being able to for that but the government says that will take time as there are different ministries involved. export growth topping expectations flask factory in Yiwu, selling to the TRH SMFBS EBLCP NHDL UMRH NABBC receive their dues for a long time is for eight of the last nine months. Middle East, United States and -3.26% -3.65% -3.85% -5.49% -9.85% -9.87% against the basic right of the earn, Kapilvastu, have been holding peace- on payment to farmers.” The remarkable turnaround comes Europe. utilise earnings, buy and sell property ful protests from December 13 in According to Urmila KC, spokesper- as China has mostly eradicated the “We tried hiring dozens of tempo- and benefit through businesses given Kathmandu demanding that they be son of the Ministry of Industry, virus and contrasts with the sluggish rary workers but they’re not good PRICE PER TOLA by the Constitution of Nepal,” the paid outstanding dues from past years. Supplies and Commerce a technical comebacks seen in major industrial- enough,” said Deng. BULLION commission said in a press statement. According to the Ministry of committee will be formed constituted ised peers, where factories are still Some workers she laid off have As United Nations’ Guiding Industry, Commerce and Supplies with representatives from the struggling with pandemic disruptions found jobs back home and are not will- Fine Gold Rs 95,200 Principle on Business and Human Shree Ram Sugar Mill has arrears Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and the hit to demand. ing to travel back just a few months Rights, 2011 states that it is the respon- of Rs350 million to be paid to the Development, Ministry of Finance, China’s global export share before the upcoming Lunar New Year Silver Rs 1,320 sibility of the business sector to pro- farmers, Annapurna Sugar Mill, Ministry of Home Affairs and increased to over 13 percent in the holidays in February. tect and honour human rights, and Sarlahi owes Rs170 million in out- Sugarcane Farmers Struggling second and third quarters from 11 But with clients chasing her heels, SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA therefore the private sector also needs standing dues, followed by Lumbini Committee to solve the payment prob- percent last year, according to Deng bought two automated produc- to be serious on this issue, the state- Sugar Mill with Rs80.41 million and lem of sugarcane farmers in long Nomura, the highest for any quarter tion lines at the end of November to ment said. Indira Sugar Mill Nawalparasi with term.KC said that the committee has since at least 2006 when the invest- boost efficiency. GASOLINE WATCH Similarly, the government also Rs40.70 million. not been formed yet and is under dis- needs to get active as it is the state’s The mill owners say it owes farmers cussion only. The committee will also liability to reach out to victims for Rs550 million while farmers say they submit the report within three justice, the rights body added. The are owed Rs900 million. months. commission has called for action The first talks between sugarcane According to KC, Shree Ram Sugar against sugar mill owners who are not farmers and the government regard- Mill has deposited Rs250.85 million following government directions ing the outstanding dues do not reach and it has also determined the area and are not clearing the dues of sugar- any conclusion on Sunday. Rakesh from which farmers will be paid first cane farmers. Similarly, the commis- Mishra, patron of Sugarcane Farmer between December 22 and 27.While sion requested the local administra- Struggle Committee said that the Mishra said that the industry minis- tion and the government to make work procedure regarding the try was supposed to call them on arrangements for immediate payment clearing the dues as demanded by the Monday by doing homework on the to farmers. farmers were not clearly presented by work procedure regarding the pay- On Tuesday, the Home Ministry had the Ministry of Industry, Commerce ment the Ministry said that it will directed district administration and Supplies. take a few days to prepare it. offices to take action against mill own- “We have demanded that the work “The Industry Ministry told us ers who have not cleared their dues procedure for clearing the dues that that dues have started being deposited but no action has been taken against the ministry and mill owners claim in the bank and gradually will be them so far. Instead on Monday, farmers are owed be prepared transferred to farmers’ accounts and Minister of Industry, Commerce and and the deadline fixed date for the asked us to come for the agreement Supplies claimed that dues to be cleared,” said Mishra. “A and end the protest on Sunday’ talk,” there were middlemen involved in the probe team must also be formed to Mishra said. “But we are looking for protests.Agitating sugarcane farmers, find out how much is actually specific data on how much has gone to REUTERS who have come to the Capital from owed to farmers and action must be farmers’ accounts and number of Employees, wearing masks, work on a production line manufacturing display monitors at a Sarlahi, Rautahat, Nawalparasi and taken against mills that are cheating farmers who received their dues. ” TPV factory in Wuhan, China.

C M Y K TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2020 | 06 WORLD

EXPLAINED BRIEFING Countries close borders to Are new coronavirus Biden to receive vaccine WASHINGTON: President-elect Joe Biden will receive his first dose of the Britain as new coronavirus coronavirus vaccine on live television strains cause for concern? as part of a growing effort to convince the American public the ASSOCIATED PRESS biologist and genetics expert at the inoculations are safe. Monday’s event DEC 21 Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research will come the same day that a second strain breeds worldwide panic Center in Seattle, wrote on Twitter. vaccine, produced by Moderna, will Reports from Britain and South Africa “We’ve now seen the emergence and start arriving in states, joining Johnson warns that mutated variant of virus is up to 70 percent more infectious. of new coronavirus strains that seem spread of several variants” that sug- Pfizer’s in the nation’s arsenal to spread more easily are causing gest this, and some show resistance to against the Covid-19 pandemic, alarm, but virus experts say it’s antibody treatments, he noted. which has now killed more than unclear if that’s the case or whether 317,000 people in the United States they pose any concern for vaccines or What other strains have emerged? and upended life around the globe. cause more severe disease. “I don’t want to get ahead of the Viruses naturally evolve as they In April, researchers in Sweden found line, but I want to make sure we move through the population, some a virus with two genetic changes that demonstrate to the American people more than others. It’s one reason we seemed to make it roughly two times that it is safe to take,” Biden has said need a fresh flu shot each year. more infectious, Gupta said. About of his decision. Biden and his wife, New variants, or strains, of the 6,000 cases worldwide have been Jill, will also thank health care work- virus that causes Covid-19 have been reported, mostly in Denmark and ers at the facility where they receive seen almost since it was first detected England, he said. the shots, his incoming press secre- in China nearly a year ago. Several variations of that strain tary has said. On Saturday, Prime Minister Boris now have turned up. Some were Johnson announced new restrictions reported in people who got them from because of the new strain. Several mink farms in Denmark. A new South US Congress seals agreement European Union countries and African strain has the two changes Canada were banning or limiting seen before, plus some others. on Covid relief bill some flights from the UK to try to The one in the UK has the two WASHINGTON: After months of limit any spread. changes and more, including eight to Washington gridlock, Congress is set Here’s what is known about the the spike protein, Gupta said. It’s to act on a $900 billion pandemic situation. called a “variant under investigation” relief package, finally delivering because its significance is not yet long-sought cash to businesses and What’s concerning about the recent known. individuals and resources to vacci- strain found in England? The strain was identified in south- nate a nation confronting a frighten- eastern England in September and ing surge in Covid-19 cases and Health experts in the UK and US said has been circulating in the area ever deaths. The relief package, agreed to the strain seems to infect more easily since, a World Health Organization on Sunday and expected to draw votes than others, but there is no evidence official told the BBC on Sunday. in Congress on Monday, would estab- REUTERS yet it is more deadly. lish a temporary $300 per week sup- A woman looks at a timetable outside the closed Eurostar terminal at Brussels South railway station after Britain’s European neighbours began Patrick Vallance, the British gov- Will people who had Covid-19 from an plemental jobless benefit and a $600 closing their doors to travellers from the United Kingdom amid alarm about a rapidly spreading strain of coronavirus on Monday. ernment’s chief scientific adviser, old strain be able to get the new one? direct stimulus payment to most said that the strain “moves fast and is Will it undermine vaccines? Americans, along with a new round REUTERS to navigate the travel bans to get back but that given British preparations for becoming the dominant variant,” of subsidies for hard-hit businesses DOVER, DEC 21 home in time for Christmas, Britain’s the end of the Brexit transition period causing over 60 percent of infections Probably not, former US Food and and money for schools, health second-largest supermarket chain, on December 31, the country was well in London by December. Drug Commissioner Scott Gottlieb care providers and renters facing More countries closed their borders to Sainsbury’s, said gaps would start to positioned for disruption. The strain is also concerning said Sunday on CBS’s “Face the eviction. House and Senate leaders Britain on Monday over fears of a appear on shelves within days if The new virus strain has been iden- because it has so many mutations— Nation.” planned votes for Monday but the highly infectious new coronavirus transport ties were not quickly tified in Britain at a time when Covid- nearly two dozen—and some are on “Unlikely,” Gupta agreed. final measure was still being final- strain, heightening global panic, caus- restored with mainland Europe. 19 cases have surged in several Asian the spiky protein that the virus uses to President-elect Joe Biden’s surgeon ized. Lawmakers were eager to ing travel chaos and raising the pros- “If nothing changes, we will start to countries that had previously success- attach to and infect cells. That spike is general nominee, Vivek Murthy, said leave Washington and close out a pect of UK food shortages just days see gaps over the coming days on let- fully contained the pandemic. The what current vaccines target. Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” tumultuous year. before the Brexit cliff edge. tuce, some salad leaves, cauliflowers, spikes have prompted localised lock- “I’m worried about this, for sure,” that there’s “no reason to believe that India, Poland, Switzerland, Russia broccoli and citrus fruit – all of which downs in some countries and more but it’s too soon to know how impor- the vaccines that have been developed and Hong Kong suspended travel are imported from the continent at aggressive testing. tant it ultimately will prove to be, said will not be effective against this virus Thai youth party fails to make for Britons after Prime Minister this time of year,” Sainsbury’s said. South Korea, which imposes a Dr. Ravi Gupta, who studies viruses at as well.” gains in local poll Boris Johnson warned that a mutated The global alarm was reflected in 14-day quarantine on everyone enter- the University of Cambridge in Vaccines produce wide-ranging variant of the virus up to 70 percent financial markets. ing the country, said it was reviewing England. He and other researchers responses by the immune system BANGKOK: The political successor of a more infectious had been identified in Britain’s tabloids bemoaned the cri- new measures for flights from Britain, posted a report of it on a website beyond just those to the spike protein, banned party in Thailand that had the country, while Japan and South sis. “Sick Man of Europe”, the Daily and would test twice those coming in scientists use to quickly share devel- several experts noted. strong support from young Thais Korea said they were monitoring the Mirror newspaper said on its front from there before they were released opments, but the paper has not been The possibility that new strains will failed to make inroads in weekend situation. page beside a picture of Johnson from quarantine. formally reviewed or published in be resistant to existing vaccines are provincial elections that were held A slew of countries have already while the Sun newspaper said “French New cases climbed to over 1,000 a a journal. low, but not “inexistent,” Dr Moncef after months of youth-led protests. suspended travel, including France, show no merci”. day in South Korea several times last Slaoui, the chief science adviser for The ballot was the first since a gener- Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Johnson cancelled Christmas plans week. It reported on Sunday an out- How do these new strains occur? the US government’s vaccine distribu- al election last year and the first pro- Austria, Ireland, Belgium, Israel and for millions of British people on break in a Seoul prison where 188 tion e ffort, said Sunday on CNN’s vincial vote since Prime Minister Canada. Saturday due to the more infectious inmates and staff were infected. Viruses often acquire small changes “State of the Union.” Prayuth Chan-ocha first took power The discovery of the new strain, strain of the coronavirus, though he Thailand said on Sunday it was test- of a letter or two in their genetic “Up to now, I don’t think there has in a 2014 coup. Unofficial results from just months before vaccines are said there was no evidence that it was ing tens of thousands of people, and alphabet just through normal evolu- been a single variant that would be the 76 provinces showed the expected to be widely available, sowed either more lethal or caused a more extended curbs on movement, follow- tion. A slightly modified strain can resistant,” he said. “This particular Progressive Movement failed to win fresh panic in a pandemic that has severe illness. ing its worst outbreak yet that began become the most common one in a variant in the U.K., I think, is very in any of the 42 provinces where it killed about 1.7 million people world- The new variant contains 23 differ- at a market in a province that is a country or region just because that’s unlikely to have escaped the vaccine had contested. “We apologise for not wide and more than 67,000 in Britain. ent changes, many of them associated centre of the seafood industry and the strain that first took hold there or immunity.” being able to win any posts for pro- Australia said two people who trav- with how it binds to cells and enters home to thousands of migrant because “super spreader” events Bedford agreed. “I’m not con- vincial heads,” said the movement’s elled from the United Kingdom to New them. British Transport Secretary workers. helped it become entrenched. cerned” because a lot of changes in Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, South Wales state were found to be Grant Shapps said Britain had done Australia, where cases in Sydney A bigger worry is when a virus the genetic code would probably be who was banned along with his carrying the mutated virus. some of the best global analysis of the have flared in recent days, cancelled mutates by changing the proteins on needed to undermine a vaccine, not Future Forward party after emerging France shut its border to arrivals of mutations of the virus so it was sim- dozens of domestic flights on Monday. its surface to help it escape from drugs just one or two mutations, Bedford as Prayuth’s most vocal challenger. people and trucks from Britain, clos- ply seeing what was already at large in New South Wales, which has reported or the immune system. wrote on Twitter. But vaccines may That ban helped to prompt youth-led ing off one of the most important other countries. 86 new local cases since Thursday, “Emerging evidence” suggests that need fine-tuned over time as changes protests this year that have demanded trade arteries with mainland Europe. Shapps said getting the bans lifted ordered more than a 250,000 people may be starting to happen with the accumulate, and changes should be Prayuth’s removal. (AGENCIES) As families and truck drivers tried as swiftly as possible was his priority into a lockdown. new coronavirus, Trevor Bedford, a more closely monitored, he wrote.

Trump’s legacy: He changed the Indian farmers vow to carry on protests presidency, but will it last? despite cold, deaths ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON, DEC 21 REUTERS NEW DELHI, DEC 21 The most improbable of presidents, Donald Trump reshaped the office and shattered its centuries-old Tens of thousands of Indian farmers, norms and traditions while dominating the national protesting over agricultural laws that discourse like no one before. they say threaten their livelihoods, Trump, governing by whim and tweet, deepened have vowed to carry on their around- the nation’s racial and cultural divides and under- the-clock sit-ins despite cold weather mined faith in its institutions. His legacy: a tumultu- that has already led to some deaths ous four years that were marked by his impeachment, among them. failures during the worst pandemic in a century and Farmers from the northern states his refusal to accept defeat. of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh He smashed conceptions about how presidents and the desert state of Rajasthan have behave and communicate, offering unvarnished AP/RSS camped on key national highways for thoughts and policy declarations alike, pulling back In this January 27, 2020, photo, Donald Trump listens during a weeks demanding a repeal of the laws, the curtain for the American people while enthralling meeting at the Oval Office of the White House. withstanding temperatures dropping supporters and unnerving foes—and sometimes to 2-3 degree Celsius. allies—both at home and abroad. Current polling suggests that many Americans, The farmers, including a large num- While the nation would be hardpressed to elect and a majority of Republicans, feel that Biden was ber of older people, said they would another figure as disruptive as Trump, it remains to illegitimately elected, damaging his credibility as he endure the bitter winter sweeping be seen how much of his imprint on the office itself, takes office during a crisis and also creating a tem- northern India, including the capital occupied by only 44 other men, will be indelible. plate of deep suspicion for future elections. New Delhi, to force Prime Minister Already it shadows the work of his successor, Trump’s disruption extended to the global stage Narendra Modi’s administration to President-elect Joe Biden, who framed his candidacy as well, where he cast doubt on once-inviolable alli- rescind the laws introduced in as a repudiation of Trump, offering himself ances like NATO and bilateral partnerships with a September. as an antidote to the chaos and dissent of the past host of allies. “It’s very difficult to camp out in four years while vowing to restore dignity to the He pulled out of multinational environmental this weather, but we aren’t scared,” Oval Office. agreements, an action that scientists warn may have said Balbir Singh, an octogenarian “For all four years, this is someone who at every accelerated climate change. from the Patiala district of Punjab. opportunity tried to stretch presidential power And his presidency may be remembered for alter- “We won’t go back until our demands beyond the limits of the law,” said presidential histo- ing, perhaps permanently, the nature of the US-China are met. Even if we have to die here, rian Michael Beschloss. “He altered the presidency in relationship, dimming hopes for a peaceful emer- we will.” many ways, but many of them can be changed back gence of China as a world power and laying the Since late November, when thou- almost overnight by a president who wants to make foundation for a new generation of economic and sands of farmers arrived in trucks the point that there is a change.” strategic rivalry. and tractors to camp out on the bor- Trump’s most enduring legacy may be his use of At times, Trump acted like a bystander to his own ders of New Delhi, nearly 30 people the trappings of the presidency to erode Americans’ presidency, opting to tweet along with a cable news have died, several of them as a result views of the institutions of their own government. segment rather than dive into an effort to change pol- of freezing weather, farmers said. From his first moments in office, Trump waged an icy. And that was one of the many ways Trump About ten people have been killed in assault on the federal bureaucracy, casting a suspi- changed the way that presidents communicate. road accidents near the protest sites, cious eye on career officials he deemed the “Deep He held superspreader events at the White House they said. State” and shaking Americans’ confidence in civil and contracted the virus himself. And while his “We don’t want more people to die servants and the levers of government. Believing that administration spearheaded Operation Warp Speed, in this protest, and I hope Modi and the investigation into Russian election interference which helped to produce coronavirus vaccines in his government take back the laws was a crusade to undermine him, Trump went after record time, Trump also undermined his pubic health soon,” Paagh Singh, 76, said, wrapped the intelligence agencies and Justice Department— officials by refusing to embrace mask-wearing and in a blue blanket. “It’s a democracy, calling out leaders by name—and later unleashed suggesting unproven treatments. and he (Modi) has to listen to us.” broadsides against the man running the probe, “We have seen that Donald Trump’s style was one As temperatures dropped, one of respected special counsel Robert Mueller. of the contributing factors to his failure as a presi- the main protest sites turned into a His other targets were legion: the Supreme Court dent,” said Mark K. Updegrove, presidential historian sea of small tents and tarpaulin-cov- for insufficient loyalty; the post office for its handling and CEO of the LBJ Foundation. ered tractor trolleys. But some demon- of mail-in ballots; even the integrity of the vote itself “His successor can look at his presidency as a cau- strators have to spend the night sleep- with his baseless claims of election fraud. tionary tale.” ing in the open air.

C M Y K 07 | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2020 SPORTS | MEDLEY BRIEFING Manchester United send title Shahi banks on popular Pakistan captain Babar ruled out of first New Zealand Test ISLAMABAD: Pakistan captain Babar warning as Tottenham stumble support at Sports Award Azam has been ruled out of the first Test against New Zealand in Mount Scott McTominay scores twice inside three minutes as the Red Devils thump Leeds 6-2. SPORTS BUREAU Maunganui starting December 26 due KATHMANDU, DEC 21 to a fractured thumb, the Pakistan Cricket Board said on Monday. Babar, National women volleyball team cap- 26, sustained the injury during a tain Aruna Shahi’s parents—father practice session in Queenstown last Kubir Shahi and mother Kamala week and was ruled out of the ongo- Shahi—were not sure if their daugh- ing three-match Twenty20 series. ter was heading into the right direc- Opening batsman Imam-Ul-Haq will tion when she decided to take up also miss the game after fracturing sports. his left thumb during a net session. But the narrative changed once she Both players are yet to return to the represented Nepal in the internation- nets with the team’s medical staff al stage and gained nation-wide fame. closely monitoring their progress, the “Our daughter has increased the PCB said. Mohammad Rizwan will whole family’s prestige,” the national become Pakistan’s 33rd Test captain volleyball team captain recalled her in Babar’s absence. parents telling her. The past 2076 BS will be remem- bered in Nepali sports as the year of Karim Benzema steers Real the 13th South Asian Games (SAG) Madrid to fifth straight win which Nepal hosted. There are many EIBAR: Real Madrid forward Karim success stories in the game and one of Benzema kept up his impressive run the touching tales is about the silver of form by scoring and providing two bagged by the national women volley- assists in a 3-1 win away to Eibar on ball team. Sunday, taking the champions level Though many big achievements in on points with La Liga leaders the Games were shadowed under the Atletico Madrid. The French forward spark of gold, volleyball still grabbed got Real off to a flying start by scor- the limelight. It is not just the nation- ing in the sixth minute. He was the al game of Nepal, but one of the most architect of Madrid’s second goal in popular sports played throughout the the 13th as he set Luka Modric to country. Women’s volleyball is also POST PHOTO slam it high into the net with one very popular. Women volleyball team captain Aruna shahi. touch. Eibar got back into contention The achievements in the past with a curling long-range strike from AP/RSS Nepali year also shed light to the fact Shrestha are the other nominees. Kike Garcia in the 28th minute. Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes scored two goals against Leeds United on Sunday to take his season’s Premier League tally to nine goals. that the game has high potential in In the SAG’s volleyball final, Nepal However, Zinedine Zidane’s side the country. Besides silver in the SAG, lost the gold medal clash despite lead- sealed the points with a Lucas AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE James made it 5-1 and Fernandes across goal deflected off Toby Nepali women’s team also claimed ing the first two sets. The emotional Vazquez goal in stoppage time, creat- MANCHESTER, DEC 21 scored his second from the penalty Alderweireld and into the net. gold in the AVC Central Zone Women’s Nepali team cried in the court. ed by another fine pass from spot before Stuart Dallas reduced the Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers Volleyball Championship. It is the big- “Losing the final despite winning the Benzema, to make it five wins in a Manchester United blitzed Leeds 6-2 to deficit. described his team, who have won six gest achievement Nepali women have first two sets was like being deprived row in all competitions. The win climb to third in the Premier League A buzzing Solskjaer said the perfor- of their seven away games this sea- ever witnessed. of a meal that was at our hands,” said means second-placed Real Madrid on Sunday as Leicester put a major mance was “fantastic” from the first son, as “outstanding”. In both achievements of women’s Shahi. join leaders Atletico Madrid on 29 dent in Tottenham’s title challenge. minute. “Just imagine if there were Mourinho must now lift his team volleyball in the past year, Shahi Though a year has passed since points, although Atletico have two The first league battle in 16 years 75,000 people in, it would have gone after a miserable few days. “It is not a played an influential role as the SAG volleyball final, every inci- games in hand. between bitter rivals United and Leeds down in history as one of the great good week in terms of results,” said captain and setter of the dent of the final revolves in her was keenly anticipated but Ole performances against Leeds,” he told the Spurs boss. “We could be here as team. Shahi is a familiar mind. “I wish we could turn the Gunnar Solskjaer’s men proved far Sky Sports. “We had to earn the right the ones that broke Liverpool’s record face in the women’s clock back and play the last Lille hold PSG to claim top spot too strong at an empty Old Trafford. by running as much as them, that’s a at Anfield and going into this game on team and the three sets again, so we win the PARIS: Paris Saint Germain missed a United, who made a stuttering start to challenge. It could have been 12-4—It’s a high. We started this game from the 27-year-old decisive clash.” chance to return to the summit of the season, now have 26 points—five that kind of game.” low of that disappointment and not has dedi- An introvert, Shahi, Ligue 1 after they were held to a 0-0 behind leaders Liverpool with a game But the Norwegian refused to get getting what we deserved from that cated however, has to speak draw at Lille, who retained pole posi- in hand. They are a point adrift of carried away with talk about United’s match, but Leicester also lost in their more often due to her tion on Sunday ahead of Olympique second-placed Leicester, who beat league position after their sixth win in last match but came with a positive than role as captain. Lyonnais. Lille have 33 points and a Spurs 2-0 earlier to complete a misera- seven league games. “We are not even attitude. It’s a game that we’ve lost half of But she does superior goal difference to Lyon, who ble few days for Jose Mourinho. at the halfway point,” he added. with the penalty and the own goal.” her age— not hesi- were 4-1 winners at Nice on Saturday, United have won all six of their Spurs were top of the table until a Sam Allardyce’s return to the 14 years—to tate to say: while third-placed PSG are a point away games in the Premier League last-minute winner for Liverpool gave Premier League as West Brom manag- the game. “Volleyball is adrift after squandering a number of this season but had won just one the champions a 2-1 victory on er got off to a terrible start as the After her back to my first love.” opportunities in a scrappy contest at match at home before Sunday. Leeds Wednesday. They now find themselves Baggies were outclassed 3-0 by Aston back successes, not just She came into the Lille. The visitors missed forward were expected to provide a stern all the way back in fifth spot—six Villa, who moved up to ninth. Shahi’s parents but the whole watchful eyes of coach Neymar with an ankle injury and examination of United’s rickety points adrift of the champions after a Anwar El Ghazi put Villa ahead villages of Raghu Ganga Rural Kaushila Khatri at her teen- looked toothless up front in the open- defence but Scott McTominay scored damaging defeat. inside five minutes before Jake Municipality are proud of her age while competing in the ing half, although home goalkeeper the earliest double in Premier League Jamie Vardy put away-day special- Livermore’s red card for a lunge on achievement. Breaking the geograph- Birendra Shield almost one and a Mike Maignan did well to stop Jose history, putting his side 2-0 up inside ists Leicester ahead from the penalty Jack Grealish gave Allardyce’s men a ic limitations, she has earned nation- half decades ago. After that she land- Fonte from scoring an own goal. Kean three minutes. spot deep into first-half stoppage time mountain to climb. Dean Smith’s side wide fame. ed at Gyanu Baba School in Pokhara and Marquinhos failed to turn in a Marcelo Bielsa’s determination to after Serge Aurier barged Wesley dominated the entire match but had to Shahi is one of the five nominees that was famous for girls’ volleyball. low cross by hard-working Angel di play in the same wide-open style no Fofana over. Spurs had a huge escape wait until six minutes from time to for the Peoples’ Choice Award of the Shahi is now vying in the Peoples’ Maria, who pulled all the strings for matter the opposition backfired as the early in the second half as James double their lead when Grealish teed annual NSJF Pulsar Sports Award, Choice Award where the winner will PSG in the absence of Neymar and visitors were 4-0 down in the 37th min- Maddison had a goal ruled out for the up Bertrand Traore for a composed the biggest award ceremony of Nepali be selected on the basis of votes Kylian Mbappe, who came on as a late ute, with further goals from Bruno most marginal of offsides. But finish before El Ghazi rounded off the sports fraternity, set to take place on received through eSewa, Facebook substitute. The home side came close Fernandes and Victor Lindelof. Liam Leicester doubled their lead just scoring from the penalty spot after January 12 in Lalitpur. Swimmer likes, votes from organiser Nepal in the 75th minute when PSG keeper Cooper pulled one back for Leeds late before the hour mark via an own goal. Grealish had been fouled in the box. Gaurika Singh, karateka Manday Kaji Sports Journalists Forum members Keylor Navas turned around the post in the first half but United were back Vardy capitalised on some bad defend- West Brom remain second bottom, Shrestha, footballer Sabitra Bhandari and chief coaches of sports on the rampage after the break. Daniel ing by Moussa Sissoko and his header three points off safety. and basketball captain Sadina associations. a low drive by Burak Yilmaz. (AGENCIES) HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) **** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) *** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** When you’re working with others today, you should Skip the shortcuts today. While you need to make It’s never a bad idea to try something new, especially Add one or two new things to your bucket list today. experiment with the idea of holding back your progress, you have to go through every inch of work if you’re doing it with a person you want to get to Your future is a big chunk of time. How do you want thoughts. Let others figure it out and argue back and required. Anything less than a total effort will cause know better! Exploration is a great way to show to fill it? If you need new ideas, ask your friends what forth while you sit on the sidelines. Observe how complications later down the road, which will make someone what makes you tick, and it’s your chance areas of life they think you need to cultivate, and they come to solutions. things a dozen times more difficult. to see how they act under pressure. they could offer some nutty adventures.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) *** LEO (July 23-August 22) *** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) *** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** Avoid anything that looks like a power struggle You’re not the kind of person who can be happy just You should always feel safe and relaxed in your In all your activities today, your enthusiasm will bub- today. You just won’t have the patience to outlast the coasting through life. You need a dash of intrigue or home. If your living environment hasn’t been giving ble up from deep inside you without any effort on big egos that are itching for a fight right now. These an exciting challenge to keep you satisfied. Luckily, you those warm feelings lately, you need to deal with your behalf. And the best part is that this phenome- folks aren’t above playing dirty, and you don’t want your wish could come true today. Take the more diffi- it. Your main priority should be working to create non will be contagious! Without realising it, you will to end up in the mud. cult route. more harmony and calmness. become an inspiration to others.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) **** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) **** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) *** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** By following the rules and keeping yourself Your family is the center of your world right now, You’ll be surprised today when someone powerful Daydreaming could be a productive exercise for you honest, you have become an inspiration to which is natural. But a recent issue with them could puts themselves at your disposal. It turns out that today, so feel free to wander off into fantasyland someone you see often. They may or may not even be be causing a conflict in your social life. Explain the they’re trying to impress you, while all along you whenever you want. Let yourself try to picture what known to you, but they are influenced by your situation to your friends honestly and completely. thought that you were trying to impress them! You your life could be like if all your hopes and dreams presence. Don’t leave out any details. should definitely take advantage of this. came true. CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2020 | 08 CULTURE & LIFESTYLE (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 Is Nepal’s modelling industry inclusive? Although slowly gaining leaps in commercial viability, Nepal’s modelling and fashion industry still lags behind in terms of representation and inclusivity, as it still strictly adheres to conventional beauty standards, say fashion professionals. ANKIT KHADGI that its mostly cis men who are in deci- KATHMANDU sion-making positions and they control the industry. en years ago when Anjali Lama “Even when it’s women who are the biggest decided to be a model, rejections consumers of the products produced by the came her way quite often. While fashion industry, it’s mostly men who predom- she had the talent to make it big in inantly control the industry,” says Giri. “This the modelling industry, only a few is why we don’t have inclusive clothes people from the Nepali fashion and that can cater to diverse people, since the Tmodelling industry showed interest in working men who are in power lack the knowledge with her, she says. regarding aesthetics and the need of having “It was really challenging to get work in different size options for women, leading them Nepal. The people from the industry weren’t to perpetuate the same timeworn definitions that supportive. Some would be taken aback of beauty.” when they came to know about my aspirations And that means for bigger changes to come to work as a model,” says Lama. “Although I sooner, people’s perception of beauty needs to was as talented as many cis women who came change. “Anyone who inspires others can be an for auditions along with me, they simply reject- amazing model,” says Bhutia. “Hair or no hair, ed me because I was a transgender woman.” fair or dark, big or small, it doesn’t matter—at But Lama didn’t let the rejections deter her. least to me. What is significant is the persua- Instead, she focused her energy towards pol- siveness and the passion that the person has ishing her skills and went on to become a for this field,” he says. supermodel in India, walking prestigious run- But that doesn’t mean all things are gloomy way shows and becoming the face of many in terms of inclusivity in Nepal’s modelling international brands like Levi’s, Calvin Klein, scene. Giri herself has been operating a store and Puma. in Jamal since 2014 that specialises in manu- Her story and success can be taken as an facturing and selling clothes for plus-size peo- example of the inability of Nepal’s modelling ple, something which the Nepali fashion mar- and fashion industry to become more inclusive ket has neglected for years. and give fair opportunities to people from Likewise, like Anjali Lama, Angel Lama too diverse backgrounds. POST FILE PHOTO is creating her own success story. She’s cur- And while the modelling industry has In the Nepali modelling industry, those who are slim, tall and with fair complexion are still given more opportunities than those who aren’t. rently a participant of Miss Universe Nepal, become a financially viable sector in recent becoming the first-ever transgender woman in years, many insiders believe that Nepal’s mod- opportunity given to plus-size models, who in take away our space and opportunities, which out in great numbers to support inclusiveness, Nepal to take part in an international beauty elling scene still lacks the openness to embrace actuality represent many Nepali women, says itself are few and far between,” says Angel we will never get there,” says Tenzin Tsten pageant. the concept of inclusivity. Giri. Lama, who’s also a queer rights activist. Bhutia, a popular fashion designer. Among “Like other sources of entertainment, fash- “Though our fashion industry is young and “Last year when I was organising Miss However, such problems are not limited to those who work in the fashion world and those ion equally leaves a deep impact on the minds evolving, it still hasn’t been able to embrace Nepal Curvy, a pageant I am part of for plus- Nepal. It’s global. Take for example the fact who consume fashion, the urgency and value of people,” says Anjali Lama. “If we can make inclusivity and diversity as much as we think size women, I had reached out to a brand for a that last year, among the models who walked of having a diverse and inclusive modelling it inclusive giving equal space to people from because we still follow certain standards of collaboration. But they clearly said no to hir- major international fashion runways, only 0.69 and fashion scene is still not realised, they say. diverse backgrounds in terms of appearance beauty,” says Neha Giri, a plus-size model. ing plus-size models saying that they prefer to percent were plus-size models. Openly trans- Likewise, other fashion professionals who and gender, we can boost the confidence of According to insiders the Post spoke to, work with thin models,” says Giri. “This kind gender and non-binary models accounted for spoke to the Post also believe that another sig- everyone. Seeing someone like themselves on those who hold power and positions in the of rejection is really frustrating, as it shows only 0.77 percent. nificant factor that is responsible for our fash- the screen or on the papers will give them the Nepali fashion industry are still very much how close minded our modelling industry is But, despite the disappointing numbers, peo- ion and modelling industry to not embrace validation and affirmation they are in need guided by conventional beauty standards of even when the majority of Nepali women are ple in Western countries are raising their con- diversity and inclusivity has to do with the fact of—that they too belong,” says Lama. society. Those who are slim, tall and with fair not thin.” cerns and aiming to complexion are still given more opportunities The struggle to find work is more if one is a push the fashion and than those who aren’t. trans person. “The biggest problem in our fash- modelling industry “Those who work in the modelling industry ion industry is that it still fails to acknowledge to become more mostly prefer to work with fair models. They the importance of diversity. They treat you inclusive when it take interviews of different models just for the differently and create an alienating environ- comes to representa- name of saying that they tried to give a fair ment especially for trans models and actors,” tion and to forgo con- chance to all. But in the end, they choose to says Angel Lama, a trans model and an actor. ventional beauty work with models who have fair complexion,” And then the few opportunities that seldom standards. says Barsha Tuladhar, an aspiring model. do come their way is taken away by cis models However, accord- Tuladhar, 23, who has been working as a and actors, she says. ing to those who model for the past two years, shared an inci- For instance, two months ago, Ayushman work in Nepal’s fash- dent where she wasn’t picked by an online Deshraj Shrestha, a popular Nepali actor and ion industry, the case New clothing brand for a modelling campaign just model, uploaded pictures of himself on his isn’t similar here. because of her complexion. social media accounts of a photoshoot he did This could be “They said that they were looking for fair in 2016, where he portrayed a trans character because modelling models because they wanted their brand to from a movie, The Danish Girl. and the fashion look ‘pure’ and ‘innocent’. They were misguid- While the photoshoot was lambasted by industry and its ed with the belief that having fair models for internet users for the insensitive language issues aren’t taken their clothing store would make their brand used by the actor, the trans community felt let seriously by the appear ‘innocent’,” shares Tuladhar, who says down that a cis person had been given the masses, say insiders. she has faced such colourist remarks multiple opportunity to play a role that could have been “Fashion general- times in the industry. been better suited for a trans woman. ly means being Likewise, the obsession with working with “There are a lot of talented trans actors and accepted by the thin-looking models, believing that only thin models who are waiting for an opportunity to masses. So until and and lean girls are beautiful, is so deeply embed- showcase their talent. But rarely do we get unless the general ded in the Nepali fashion circle that rarely is opportunities as the privileged cishet people public will not come

‘First Cow’ named 2020’s best film by New York Film Critics The film, released just days before the onset of Covid-19, hasn’t been widely seen but remains one of the year’s most critically acclaimed films this year. z co-star Maria Bakalova for best sup- porting actress, and Chadwick z Boseman for best supporting actor, for z his final performance in the August Wilson adaptation “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” Boseman died in August. Best actor went to Delroy Lindo for his performance as a Vietnam War vet- eran in Spike Lee’s “Da Five Bloods.” Best actress was given to Sidney Flanigan who plays a Pennsylvania teenager who travels to New York for an abortion in “Never Rarely Sometimes //BrandLogiQ-Pm1// Always.” Eliza Hittman, who wrote and directed “Never Rarely Sometimes Always,” won best screenplay. Chloe Zhao, the filmmaker of “Nomadland,” took best director. Spike Lee released two features in 2020—”Da Five Bloods” and “David Byrne’s American Utopia”—but he was given a special award for a three-minute short he released on Instagram: “New York New York,” a brief documentary tribute to his home city, made during the pandem- ic’s first wave. The group’s other special citation went to Kino Lorber for creating the virtual cinema service Kino Marquee, which shares proceeds with independ- ent theatres closed by Covid-19. The critics pointedly said the honor was for a service “designed to help support movie theatres, not destroy them.” AP/RSS The New York Film Critics Circle This image released by A24 shows John Magaro in a scene from the film First Cow. The New Awards are usually part of a wave of York Film Critics Circle voted Kelly Reichardt’s Western fable the best film of 2020. critics group honors that can occasion- ally influence awards season. Such ASSOCIATED PRESS ly, gave its top award to “First Cow,” a awards would typically be a drumbeat NEW YORK delicate tale of friendship and capital- this time of year, but little is normal ism in mid-1800s Oregon Territory. about this year’s awards season. The he New York Film Critics Reichardt’s film, released in theatres Oscars and the Golden Globes, along Circle voted Kelly in March just days before the onset of with many other awards shows, post- Reichardt’s Western fable Covid-19 forced cinemas to close poned by about two months. “First Cow” the best film nationwide, hasn’t been widely seen Other NYFCC picks include: “Time” of 2020, while also giving but remains one of the year’s most for best non-fiction film; “Bacurau” #SleepLikeAPampersBaby special honours to Spike critically acclaimed films. The for best foreign language film; “The TLee and the art-house distributor Kino Associated Press also named “First Forty-Year-Old Version” for best first Lorber for their roles in a movie year Cow” its No. 1 film. film; “Wolfwalkers” for best animated deeply marred by the pandemic. The critics also gave out awards to film; and the five-film anthology The film critics, assembling virtual- “Borat Subsequent Movie Film” “Small Axe” for best cinematography.

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