#472 16 - 22 October 2009 16 pages Rs 30 f Nepal Standard Time is pushed forward one hour and 15 minutes, we I can reduce our electricity shortfall this winter by upto 4 per cent, and loadshedding by upto 40 minutes a day. If enacted, daylight saving time will delay sunset and sunrise by 1 hour and 15 minutes, reducing light use Living during evening peak hours. However, it may disturb early risers, who will have to wake an hour earlier to keep up with their schedules, and confuse astrologers. Besides, it may prove difficult to implement, as Pakistan’s recent experience with a similar plan shows. p10 daylights Sujata, Sujata, Sujata. Three columnists tackle the latest debacle: p3, p5, p10 KIRAN PANDAY 2 EDITORIAL 16 - 22 OCTOBER 2009 #472 Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Editor: Kunda Dixit Desk Editor: Rabi Thapa CEO: Ashutosh Tiwari Design: Kiran Maharjan DGM Sales and Marketing: Sambhu Guragain [email protected] Marketing Manager: Subhash Kumar Asst. Manager: Arjun Karki Hatiban, Godavari Road, Lalitpur Fax: 5251013 Uncomplicating peace [email protected] GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu 5250333/845 www.nepalitimes.com Printed at Jagadamba Press 5250017-19 Forgetting the past is not Nepal’s future GETTING ON WITH IT here is a revealing anecdote snapped, “Let me make one thing and killed by army officers in about Girija Prasad Koirala clear. The Maoists have already 2004) were not surprised when Trust Bidya Bhandari to transform the most mundane issues and his idea of justice. expressed their concern that her father was found dead this of the defence ministry into the most pressing concerns of the T After the April 2006 nothing should happen to their nation. From the day she took charge, she has constantly week in mysterious ridiculed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). movement, a group of human leaders and cadre; the Army circumstances. Activist Mandira First she wanted the army to resume recruitment. Better rights activists sought an leadership also has similar Sharma points to the struggle that sense prevailed in the Council of Ministers, which refused to appointment with GPK to concerns. What is important now each family has had to mount; approve her proposals. She wanted some discredited army discuss war-time atrocities. GPK is the peace process. I have told how the process has been deeply generals promoted, overriding the objections of human rights did not think it was important both of them that nothing will frustrating; how the pain and defenders. She got her way. She then wanted to restart enough. The activists conjured happen and no case will be depression has taken its toll; and procuring arms and ammunition. She now wants ex-army pushed against them.” how, in the process, victim’s chief Rookmangad Katawal to shoulder important Koirala’s attitude was families have made enemies of PLAIN SPEAKING responsibilities in his retirement. representative of the attitude of powerful people. She adds, “The Bhandari seems to think that even though she lost the CA Prashant Jha the larger political class, who pat feeling among victims is that if elections, Nepal’s middle-class is behind her. That may be themselves on their back for being so, but she should remember that this is a transition period, Maina’s family could not get where unilateral decisions on sensitive issues will only up another reason, and managed ‘realistic’. They all felt that justice after all this, what hope is strengthen the Maoist argument about this government’s to get a meeting. They talked bygones should remain bygones. there for others?” illegitimacy. about the need to address The refrain was unanimous across What is left is a deep sense of Bhandari’s claim that the peace agreement, which put impunity, and the need for party lines – avoid steps that will hurt. That hurt may sometimes arms procurement and new recruitment on hold, is affecting action against perpetrators of open up a Pandora’s Box and translate into apathy, but often the preparedness of the Nepal Army is not without merit. certain emblematic cases. complicate the peace process. results in thoughts of vengeance. However, the priority now is to protect the peace and write a The ‘democracy veteran’ There was an easier route - If you wonder about the rising new constitution. forget the past. violence, or the rage that Strengthening the This columnist too was drawn characterises even banal everyday defence forces is to the argument, until the killings street conversations, it is because necessary, but it is not in the Tarai shot up. A pattern the priority. we live in a society that has To be sure, certain was visible. Analyst Tula Narayan suffered, where many people feel provisions of the CPA Sah has done remarkable research cheated out of life’s simple joys, are absurd: you can’t to show that the political violence thereby fueling a desire to destroy equate an insurgent in the Tarai can be traced back to or be destroyed. group with the national past crimes that went One could argue that it is in army. But in 2006 it unpunished and a desire for the Nepal Army’s interest to take was needed to initiate revenge. A key reason for both the action against officers involved in the peace process. UN Gaur massacre and the Kapilbastu cases such as Maina’s - this monitoring has been a riots was that the Maoists and would enhance their institutional joke, but it was a fig other groups harboured grievances prestige and silence critics. It is leaf the Maoists against each other. A bloody tit- needed to show that in the Maoists’ self interest to act they didn’t lose the war. for-tat, even delayed, was against the Bibidhs of their party However absurd they inevitable. – this would overhaul their image may look now, the Forgetting the past may appear and demonstrate a commitment peace structure stands attractive if you are insulated to democracy. And that could on these fragile feet. from the conflict. It obviously mark the beginning of a wave of Remove them now and doesn’t work if your father, reparations across the country. the whole thing could mother, brother, sister, wife, But it is unlikely that this come crashing down. husband, son, or daughter is part will happen, for neither side feels The CPA is a faulty of the past’s violence. To suggest it has committed any wrong. document, but for now, that painful memories be Crimes have been justified that’s all the defence obliterated is both a morally through clever narratives. minister has. She’d do well to implement its questionable position and a Collateral damage is seen as a part provisions and move politically ineffective and naïve of the game. And killers on both on. The sooner we can strategy. The root of the Maoist sides have become part of the new leave our past behind insurgency was the perceived political elite. us and get on with it, absence of justice. But the An apology for the pessimism, the sooner Nepal can cardinal lesson of that period was but given the shocking inability be a peaceful, not learnt. No justice means more of our politicians to provide prosperous and just violence. justice, Nepal seems destined to society. Those following the Maina remain stuck in a cycle of Sunwar case (she was tortured violence and hatred. KIRAN PANDAY LLL ETTERS NON-RESIDENT NONSENSE NRNA will have a multi-pronged approach NRNA conference in Kathmandu such a CORRECTIONS In his rather condescending column to work with Nepal at various levels, not diversion should be treated as just that, a Due to an editorial error, the article ‘Baniyas and Brahmins’ (#471) wrongly identified Surya ‘The NRN Manifesto’ (#471), one can just in terms of diversion. Bahadur Thapa as chief of the Rastriya Prajatantra perceive Prem Jung Thapa’s business Gaury S Adhikary, Party and Rajendra Mahato as belonging to MJF- bitterness against the current NRN investment. Country D. They lead the Rastriya Janashakti Party and leadership. Comparing NRNA’s Representative, Sadbhavana Party respectively. Help Nepal Network has 12 chapters What he has failed to mention in objectives with that NRNA, USA worldwide, not 21, of which 5 are officially his write-up is that the current NRN of business houses registered charities, not 4 (‘Inspiration, inc.’, #471). leadership and thousands of Nepalis of Nepal is myopic IMPIOUS abroad have developed an unbroken and absurd in the Issue 471’s front page networking capacity across the world extreme. ‘Triumvirate’ graphics LETTERS in the last 6 years of the existence of I hope the are a disrespect to the Nepali Times welcomes feedback. Letters the NRNA (Non Resident Nepali readership of Nepali Lord. To use the should be brief and may be edited for space. Association). Since 2003, NRNA has Times will recognise auspicious and blessed While pseudonyms are accepted, writers who organised 3 global conferences in Mr. Thapa’s Shivalingam in that provide their real names and contact details will be given preference. Email letters should Kathmandu and many regional argument that NRNA context is an abuse, be in text format without attachments with conferences in the Middle East, is yet another rent- and may be an innocent ‘letter to the editor’ in the subject line. Europe and the Far East. seeking organisation mistake by Nepali Email: letters(at)nepalitimes.com A lot of hard work and imagination based on Nepali Times. Please remove Fax: 977-1-5521013 has gone into setting up an ethnicity to be a the graphics from all Mail: Letters, Nepali Times, organisation for the Nepali and by the completely humbug your online media.