#68 16 - 22 November 2001 20 pages Rs 20 Disaster on Lake Rara 5,195,195,19 FAREWELL TO A PRINCESS 10-1110-1110-11 DHULIKHEL BINOD○○○○○○○○○○ BHATTARAI○○○○○○○○○○ he government is looking beyond the peace talks at a massive hearts-and- T minds programme to accelerate development in Maoist-affected districts, but is running into serious donor reluctance to back it. The Integrated Security and Development Programme (ISDP) is patterned after a post- Peace dividend Vietnam counter-insurgency strategy, but its Development Programme was fence-sitting. The government is finding it hard to win donor hearts and minds. price tag of $114 million for three years is way However, the United States Agency for ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ beyond the government’s own capacity. Last International Development (USAID), the week, the National Planning Commission British Department for International meeting for ISDP is said to have come up (NPC) presented what appears to be a Development (DfID) and the Norwegian after a group of Western ambassadors met hurriedly-prepared 13-page proposal to a Development Agency NORAD were for it. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba a consortium of donors, most of whom were “Few of us disagreed with its goals and the month ago. The diplomats reportedly sceptical about the government’s ability to intense service delivery the government wants warned Deuba he would have to produce implement it. to make,” one donor source told us. “But the results to make a difference, to which the Among the donors, Japan, Germany, political and security aspects made many prime minister is said to have hinted that if Canada, Finland and Denmark as well as uncomfortable.” Those that said no were there was money to back the new defence the World Bank and the Asian Develop- reportedly polite, but the message seems to be and development plan, he could do it. ment Bank appear to have serious doubts that donor support is not going to be easy. Donors keen to back the ISDP had their about the ISDP, while the United Nations Added our source: “It will be a waste of time reasons. DfID, for instance, felt an efficiently for the NPC if it still thinks it could get broad- implemented ISDP could be critical in based support for the program.” delivering basic services and infrastructure to Weekly Internet Poll # 8 The ISDP was launched earlier this year districts where development has come to a NPC officials played down the importance million and wants donors to help with the Q. Do you agree with the Maoists demand for a new in seven districts and this year the govern- standstill because of the insurgency. USAID, constitution ? of the meeting. Ligal told us: “It was not a rest, including purchase of communications ment allocated Rs 600 million for it, but on the other hand, is said to prefer a more pledging meeting but one to update donors on and rescue equipment—not guns—for much of this was budgeted with the cautious “transitional” approach, first testing the ISDP, its rationale, how it works, which security agencies. expectation that the donors would come out the programme in reasonably safe areas. programs we were taking forward and the Patterned after the US government’s through. The ISDP is being implemented in The Norwegians, for their part, appear overall status.” He added that last week’s Integrated Defence and Development seven districts—Gorkha, Rukum, Rolpa, convinced that conflict resolution has to go meeting was the first round, and that Nepal (IDAD), the ultimate goal is to win the Kalikot, Jajarkot, Salyan and Pyuthan—and hand-in-hand with development. could go to donors formally if it needed people away from the insurgents, ensuring the government would like to extend it to Among the multilaterals, the World assistance, through the finance ministry. stability so that further development can take six more as soon as possible: Dolakha, Bank and the Asian Development Bank, The government plans to spend Rs10 place. Security is to be provided by the police, Ramechhap, Surkhet, Dailekh, Dang and who have their own performance criteria million in each Village Development the new paramilitary and the Royal Nepal Lamjung. Prithivi Raj Legal and his team at and are generally against doles, had no fresh Committee under the ISDP to achieve Army under a co-ordinated chain of command. the NPC also told donors that the situation commitments. Other bilateral donors told the noble goals, such as 100 percent literacy The prime minister heads the ISDP was getting so bad that it may ultimately government it may be wiser to use the money and school enrolment. It also wants to implementation team, which includes a Selected responses on p. 8 Total votes: 1009 have to extend the ISDP to another 30 of already in the pipeline better, while some said speed up infrastructure building, and launch number of ministers and the Chief of Army Nepal’s 75 districts. the government could change priorities rather income-generation activities. The govern- Staff. The program has four sub-committees: The world’s most reliable The idea for the donor fund-raising than seek new commitments. ment says it will chip in half the Rs10 political, publicity, programs and security. UPS for PCs Recommended by Microsoft, IBM, NEC and Novell Nyu daya bhintuna 1122 worship themselves” quips Ukesh Bhuju, already in use in Nepal.” KEDAR○○○○○○○○○○○ SHARMA ○○○○○○○○ president of the Nepal Heritage Society. Over the years, Nepal Sambat and its hile the rest of the country was The worship is conducted by the female unique blend of folk culture and religion celebrating Tihar by worshipping head of the household and the parapherna- has come to symbolise Newari identity in Back-UPS 500 W crows, dogs and cows this week, lia is full of symbolism: walnuts for strength, Nepal’s multi-ethnic tapestry. Nepal’s Newari population marked its new the bimiro citrus for purity, the makhamali There would be a certain historical • Compact design with surge protected year by worshipping, yes, the self. blossom for longevity. Satyamohan Joshi, symmetry to making Nepal Sambat the outlet for Laser printers Depending on which astrologer you • Three battery back-up outlets historian and expert on Nepali folk culture, official calendar since the name Nepal • Lightning and surge suppression follow, either 15 or 16 November is the thinks the word mha could be an acknowl- itself came from the Newari word for • EMI/RFI filters for noise filtration start of the 1122nd year of the Newari edgement of the connections between Kathmandu Valley after Gurkha unifica- • Communication interface port (auto calendar and Kathmandu Valley’s consciousness and the physical being. tion of the kingdom in the late 18th shutdown for all major desktop OS) indigenous people celebrate it with mha “Nepal Sambat” as the Newari calendar century. “The Bikram calendar is a vestige • Quickswap™ battery replacement • Quick Recharge after power outages puja—worshipping the self for righteous- is known, is more than 1000 years behind of dictatorial Rana rule, we need to bring • Save battery power with user ness and good health. The calendar stop by Shankhwa’s house on the way back. Nepal’s official Bikram calendar which is back our own calendar,” says Kul Lal adjustable option switches marks the deeds of Shankadar Shankhwa, Shankhwa is said to have wined and dined into its 2058th year. Although younger, there Dongol of the Jyapu Samaj, Patan. • Industry approval (safe & reliable) the mythical hero who freed the Newari the porters, and slyly replaced the gold with is a growing feeling that if Nepal needs a Others oppose the move to replace ®®® people from indebtedness. sand using it to free the people of the non-Gregorian calendar, the Nepal Sambat the Bikram calendar, saying it would open Legendary ReliabilitySM Legend has it that the sands on the Valley from their debts. is better suited than the present one named a can of worms. Says Basanta Thapa, Authorized Distributor banks of the Bishnumati were to turn into “Mha Puja is now a part of Newari folk after the Indian Emperor Bikramaditya. columnist at Himal Khabarpatrika: “If the gold on an auspicious day and only the culture and is one ritual where there is no Says Padma Ratna Tuladhar of the Nepal official calendar is to be changed in this Computerland Building, New Plaza, Ramshahpath, Kathmandu ruler of Bhaktapur and his chief astrologer need for priests to dictate the proceedings, Mankakhala: “The Bikram calendar is not age of economic globalisation, then Tel: 430858, 430859, 431199, 431746 Fax: 430641 E-mail: [email protected] knew about it. The king sent his porters to maybe everyone felt so light-hearted after even recognised in India. Nepal Sambat is Nepal may as well join the rest of the The Total Solutions Company collect the gold and they happened to being freed from debt that they decided to based on the lunar calendar, which is world and adopt the Gregorian calendar.” Northwest and KLM promotional fares to USA and Europe frfropefrom Kathmandu. Via Pacific on Northwest (valid till 15 Dec’01) Via Atlantic on KLM / Northwest US$ 1,130 West Coast US$ 800 Europe (San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle) US$ 1,200 New York US$ 1,290 New York For details please contact your nearest travel agent or call us at 410089, e-mail:[email protected] Northwest / KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lekhnath Marg, Kathmandu. *Fare prices are subject to change 222 EDITORIAL 16 - 22 NOVEMBER 2001 NEPALI TIMES INTERVIEW 16 - 22 NOVEMBER 2001 NEPALI TIMES 333 Nepali Times is published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Chief Editor: Kunda Dixit Editor: Anagha Neelakantan Design: Swosti Rajbhandari, Kiran Maharjan [email protected], www.nepalitimes.com Advertising: Sunaina Shah, Anup Adhikary [email protected] Subscription: Anil Karki [email protected] Sales: Sudan Bista [email protected] Sanchaya Kosh Building, Block A-4th Floor, Lalitpur GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: 01-543333-7, “Peace is the pre-requisite…” Fax: 01-521013 Printed at Jagadamba Press: 01-521393 In recent speeches you have gone out of your way to highlight health services, rural roads.