• Educating Girls: Report From Dharan • Nepali Politics: External Dynamics • Nepal Business Expo CONTENTS Page \..\t\\U'S 3 News Notes 4 'efs 6 Quote Unquote 7 The past decade of Nepal's rough journey to democracy has seen every kind of political altiance and action, opportunitistic, un­ OtT The Record 8 holy and unnatural. Page 16 KOJRALA'S MESSAGE: Without Political Agenda 9 NEPALI POLITICS: Hands That Rock The Cradle 13 EXPOSITION: All That Glitter 24 YOUTH: Views On News 25 BOOK REVIEW 26 POLITICS OF AGITATION: Suicidal Move THE BOTTOMLlNE 27 UML's street protests erode its credibil ity as an alternative democratic party. Page 10 DHARAN : School Skills 28 PASTIME 29 LEISURE 30 INTERVIEW: OBITUARY: Dewang Mehta 32 Rabindra Nath Sharma RPP leader Rabindra Nath Shanna Comments on the current political SPOTLIGHT/APRIL 20. 2001 developments. Page 22 SPOTLIGHT EDITOR'S NOTE THE NATIONAL NEWSMAGI\ZINE Vel. 20, Nc.40, April 20, 2001 (8aishak 7, 2057lj Chief Editor And Publisher Madhav Kumar Rimal hat an irony of fate? Prime Minister Girija Prasad Editor Koirala cannot rule, Even an absolute majority in Sarita Rimal parliament always fails to work for him. The poor Managing Editor people must be wondering why a political party Keshab Poudal , commanding an absolute majority cannot deliver anything. In the Associate Editor past one year after assuming office for the third time, Girija Prasad Bhagirath Yogi Koirala announced many packages for the poor people, but his Senior Reporter Sanjaya Dhakal words have never turned into reality for the poor people who ha& to face all kinds of hardship. The main opposition party, too, Reporter d_ Akshay Sharma not have anything to boast about its performance. It might be Design and Layout appropriate to write something about the recent violent agitation Jyoti Singh by power-hungry leaders of opposition party, Whether it is corrupt Photographer Girija Prasad Koirala or main opposition party leader Madhav Nishchal Chapagain Kumar Nepal, no one seems to be worried about the problems Art faced by the 20 million poor Nepalese people, As the suffering of M.S. Khokna the Nepalese people is increasing by the day, Nepali Congress Legal Advisor Advocate Lok Bhakta Rana politicians, who prize self-interest more than national wellbeing, refuse to see how things stand. As far as the Nepalese people are Marketing/Advertisement Sari1 Rimal (USA) concerned, it makes no difference who the prime minister or the main opposition party is, because all of them are busy grabbing the Marketing Madan Kaji Basnet nation's property for their benefit. When the main opposition party Navin Kumar Maharjan Madan Raj Poudel is asking for his resignation for his alleged involvement in corrup­ tion, Girija Prasad Koirala, if he has any wisdom, would quit Editorial Office GPO Box 7256, Baluwatar, Kathmandu, without much ado. Tel: (977-1) 423127, Fax: (977-1) 417845 Chief Editors: 435594 E-mail: [email protected] The politics of violent agitation provides unequivocal proof that Internet Add: http://www.nepalnews.com/ spotlight Nepalese politicians are still far from acquiring maturity. Despite Cover Design the fact that violent agitation is always counterproductive, why do Wordscape they keep organizing bandhs and other disruptive activities? In Kamal Pokhari, Ph : 410772, Fax: 432872 countries like ours, where politicians in power pay no heed to the Distribution national loss resulting from such agitation, it need not be empha­ Bazaar International 228 Sanchaya Kosh Bldg. Kathmandu sized that violent demonstrations never manage to put pressure on G.P.O 80x 2480, Ph: 222983 Fax: 229437 e-mail: [email protected] the government. Moreover, those who call such violent activities must understand that destroying public property, forcing shops to Printers: Kishor offset Press (P.) Ltd. P.D. Box 4665, Galkopakha, Thamel, close or keeping transport off the streets will not help fulfil their Kathmandu,Tel: 351044 (Off), 351172 (Res.), Fax: 977-1-351112, interest. As such, let's hope, our politicians, if they have any love E-mail: [email protected] for their country, will stop organizing bandhs. C.D.O. Regd. No 151/039-40 Postal Regd. No 42/057/58 U.S. Library of Congress I Madhav Kumar Rimal Catalogue No. 91-905060 Chief Editor& Publisher 2 SPOTLIGHT/APRIL 20,2001 LETTERS _______________________________________________________________ turbed by his desire to cling to WTOWoes power at any cos t. At this point Your cover story in history. Koirala would do well by stepping down and giving a "Preparing For The way out la the country' s politics WTO" (SPOTLIGHT, that is stranded at a critical junc­ April 13) provided inter­ ture. esting illformation on the Binaya Karki country's preparations to Hattisar join the global tradillg body. It seems the gov­ End The Row ernment, not only ourpri­ Although ANFA officials have reached a lIUce that al­ vate sector, is ill prepared lowed Nepalese team to take for WTO membership. part in the World Cup qualify­ Many questiolls are still ing tourney in Iraq, there is a left unallswered, espe­ concern that this will not last cially those regarding the long ("Brief Respite", SPOT­ LIGHT April 6). In case the row consequences of becollZ­ eruplS again, Nepalese football ing a member of the glo­ will have to pay an cnonnous bal trading regime. The cost. We cannot afford to let a government should issue few people sink the whole sport . a white paper specifying The higher authorities must in­ tervene and end this difference the pros and COilS ofWTO once and for all. membership. Jauak Ralla Sudhir Lamsal Satdobato Chhetrapati Poignant Story Your story-cum-interview Survival Tactics small countries like Nepal from guarantee that current importers "For A Fistful of Rupees" The authorities should joining the world trade body. we will continue la buy after d Ul y­ (SPOTLIGHT. March 9) was a °e clear to Nepal's business cannot remain isolated. The free access is ensured by the heart-touching one. It repre­ unity the measures they WTO has come as a rude shock WTO provisions. In view of sented the situation of thousands need to adopt to survive in the to the smaller counlries. There these stark facts, thegovernment of girl s and the plight of famil y post-WTO days ("Preparing For has to be a global movement to would do well to research the members. NGOs like Mai ti The WTO", SPOTLIGHT, April force the developed and indus­ probable. impact of the WTO Nepal are doing a good job and 13). As barriers will have to come trialized countries to consider provisions on its exports and should beapprcciated. However. down, the less competitive in­ the grievances of the poor coun ­ chart ways to lessen theireffects these problems will continue dustries of developing countries tries. and even exploit them for our until more and more people be­ like Nepal stand to lose in inlcr­ Krishl/a KC own good. come educated in the true sense. national trade. All the provisions Sinamangal Kanral Shrestha Awareness programmes, semi­ that the WTO has for promoting What About Dhobighat nars, interactions and workshops the small industries should be alone cann ot be expected to stop explained to the private sector Garments, Carpets .. ? Still Belligerent this problem. "Yoshree". the well in advance. Export-oriented industries Apropos your cover story man menti oned in the article, is Kltagelldra GuruIIg like carpets and gannents are "Koirala Under Attack" (SPOT­ energeti c as well as educated Tharnel already feeling the heat from LIGHT, April 6). it is astonish­ and wenllO search for hi s sister. preparations under way to join ing to find how much our prime But how many people can do No Alternative the WTO ("Preparing For The minister can bear when it comes that?Thegovemmcnt has la take Nepal seems to have no WTO", SPOTLIGHT,ApriI13). to digesting the opposition's some strong action to SlOp thi s alternative to joining the WTO As they are currently dependent voices. He is surrounded by hos­ brutal lrade and to help the an­ (" Preparing For The WTO", on quotas. the enforcement of tile forces but refuses to bow gui shed families. SPOTLIGHT, April 13). Al­ WTO rules will mean they will down. While onc can marvel at Subilasil wilall; though there are no benefits for lose their market, as there is no his confidence, one is aJso per- Kalopul SPOTLIGHT/APRIL 20. 2001 3 NEWSNOTES Royal Message On The New Year Leftist Parties Slam 'External Interference' Six left parties, including the main opposition Communist Party of Nepal \ (United Marx.ist-Leninist), have strongly protested against what they call "exter­ nal interference" in the domestic affairs of Nepal. In a statement issued Saturday, they alleged that some national and inter­ nalional forces were out to protest .the "corrupt" government of Prime Minister Oirija Prasad Koirala crossi ng the limits of diplomatic decorum. Stating that the whole country was united la throw Koirala government out, the left said they strongly objected to any wrong attitude toward the Nepali people's united In a message to the nation on New Year 2058 B.S. Saturday, King Birendra has said as peace with security is essentja] for development and for society to progress, development becomes necessary. His Majesty stressed that the primary responsibility of the state is to function within the framework of a just and equitable polity, safeguarding the lives, propeny and freedom of its citizens. It has now become imperative to overcome the prevailing economic anomalies and social aberrations through good governance and political stability and provide the people a credible basis for optimism towards a prosperous and secure future, the King said.