#615 27 July - 2 August 2012 16 pages Rs 30 Return to glory n 1970, when Crown Prince Birendra got married, as a wedding present the German government renovated the Pujari Math in IBhaktapur. The Bhaktapur Development Project (BDP) grew out of this restoration and set in motion a 17-year German involvement in reviving the town, which had become a faint shadow of its former self by then. Today Bhaktapur retains the ambience of the original Kathmandu Valley civilisation more than any other town. It has preserved not just the unique architecture and culture of the Newari people but is also a model for town management. More on page 11-13 BDP LUKAS GRIMM 2 EDITORIAL 27 JULY - 2 AUGUST 2012 #615 TAKES TWO TO TANGO or those who have given up Madhesi parties in 2007. The Madhesi parties may scoff hope on Nepal, President Only decisions at him and call him a “traitor”, but wherever he goes in FRam Baran Yadav stands that President the plains there is genuine outpouring of support from out as a symbolic bulwark against people for one of their own who has risen to the highest dictatorship, disintegration and Yadav and Prime position in the land. His own colleagues in the NC are disharmony. The fact that the son of envious of the public support he commands. an ordinary farmer from Mahottari, Minister Bhattarai In the post-27 May vacuum, President Yadav’s every and a lifelong freedom fighter, should take jointly will move is carefully watched for signs of the steps he may one day rise up to be Nepal’s head be contemplating. Some openly urge him to declare of state is itself a sign of how far we have a semblance Presidential Rule, others criticise him for over-stepping have come. his mandate by giving Prime Minister Bhattarai a hard But President Yadav is an of legitimacy in the time. But in reality, the president has been restrained, improbable personality to wear that current political patient, and playing a behind-the-scene role in finding a mantle. He became president by solution to the current impasse. fluke four years ago because Girija limbo. Those who think President Yadav is going to do a Prasad Koirala and Pushpa Kamal Gyanendra can think again. What he has done quite Dahal were so busy trying to stab tends to ramble a bit especially when successfully is to clip Bhattarai’s wings by reminding him each other in the back for the job reminiscing about his good old days repeatedly that he is a caretaker, and to be picky about that they cancelled each other out. with BP, but everywhere he goes in what he signs into ordinance. Yadav himself was at first reluctant Nepal, there is genuine affection and Yadav is tempted to give Bhattarai an ultimatum on and awkward in his new office, and respect for this farmer’s son. People setting up a government of national unity, but he knows immediately embroiled himself in spontaneously throng to shake his that the deadline will not stick. Being a former Kangresi, controversy by reinstating an army hand, and throw flowers at his feet. he understands the psychology of the hate-triangle chief that Prime Minister Dahal had Part of this esteem stems from between Poudel, Deuba and Koirala very well. Bhattarai removed. the regard people have for the office knows this as well, and he is using the rivalry within the But Yadav has matured on the job. of president, which replaced the NC to linger on in government. Even though in private he is said to monarchy as the symbol of national Anything a ceremonial president does now will be have a quick temper, and is not averse unity. The other is a result of Yadav’s legally iffy, and whatever a caretaker prime minister does to using explicit Maithili expletives careful adherence to the rules of his will be constitutionally questionable. Only decisions that when he is not within earshot of the office. But what can’t be discounted President Yadav and Prime Minister Bhattarai take jointly media, in public Yadav projects the is the support he gathered by not will have legitimacy. It takes two to tango, and the good persona of a patient guardian. He is joining the opportunist bandwagon to news is both Yadav and Bhattarai have grudgingly come not the most scintillating speaker, play identity politics and defecting to to accept this. MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA ON THE WEB www.nepalitimes.com CERTAIN UNCERTAINTY lead to brain drain and capital outfl ow. a Nepali who earns Rs 6,000 per month an unresponsive state hear the voices EXTENDING THE EXTENDED When people lead, leaders will KK Sharma (which is higher than the average of the marginalised’ argument has I am eagerly waiting to see how follow (‘Certain uncertainty’, national income of $700 annually), and already failed spectacularly in Nepal. the Ass analyses the fi reworks that editorial, #614). Case in point, Dahal Let’s call a spade a spade: has two children whom she cannot We tested this hypothesis during took place between badmen and is fi nally moving out of his burning buses and destroying school send to private schools which charge 10 years of war and what did we worstmen at the seventh plenum extravagant palace in Lazimpat. If property are acts of terrorism, and the anywhere between Rs 4,000 and Rs get? Devastation, loss of lives, grief (‘Extending the Extended Central we Nepalis can revolt and overthrow perpetrators are cowardly extortionists 15,000 every month. Would she feel and a pushing back of the country’s Committee’, backside, #614). corrupted leaders of the NC and and criminals who need to be punished. differently about the recent incidents? development. Yes there is an urgent Anonymous UML, the country might see better ‘Democrat’ Krishna S need to address the class divide days. in education, in politics, in the job The initial gimmickry was fi ne, Sheila Pradhan People who incite violence and Although this is a good piece, market. But burning buses of rich but now the Ass is using expletives defend their actions by saying “the Rubeena fails to talk about the disparity schools is not the way to go about in every paragraph. I appreciate THE UNCRITICAL MASS end we’re going to achieve will justify between state and private schools bringing change. Violence only makes his smart playoff on words, but the Kudos Rubeena Mahato for your the violence that we’ll be using” are which is an underlying reason for the things worse. editor needs to cut down on blatant outstanding analysis of the recent cowards and suffer from mental attacks. Private schools earn abnormal Bina S vulgarity. I don’t want to recommend attacks on schools (‘The uncritical bankruptcy. Bhattarai and his comrades profi ts, but have no sense of social this article to a colleague, because mass’, #614). I really appreciate are nothing more than wimps. responsibility. Also the article only The bus-burning hooligans are not I am worried that she might think I your fearlessness, honesty and the Nirmal blames the Maoists, but the NC and innocent, poor, talented-but-cheated found ‘anal-ist’ and ‘blow-job’ very ‘could care less about upsetting UML are equally responsible. youths. They are paid for being clever. Moral policing is not cool, but any side’ attitude with which you Rubeena hits the nail on the head Shyam Basnet full-time goondas of the party, and are it’s such crudeness that gives rise approach your columns. Burning when she says we have become a land often given luxuries not available to to it. school buses, destroying school of anarchists where the moderates After reading this column, I was even very educated and hard-working ‘Seven’ computers and threatening teachers remain silent and the extremists make reminded of Rubeena’s earlier article Nepalis. This double standards highlight the growing culture of the most noise. The mere thought of where she wrote about the need become clear when you look at the CORRECTION: The article violence and impunity in our country. these criminals assuming leadership for journalists to show ‘honesty and lavish lifestyles of YCL or ANNFISU-R Coffee and conversations And the saddest part, as you point roles after a decade or so makes me integrity’ and do away with double leaders. (#614) on page 8 was written by out, is that these goondas who sick. standards. But if she really believed Ushaft Roshani Adhikary. are currently raising havoc on Salil in what she preached, she would the streets will be in Baluwater or have acknowledged Nepali Times’ It’s refreshing to read such polar Singha Durbar 10 years from now. This is another well-written article connection to Rato Bangala School, opposite opinions from two columnists This does not bode well for Nepal by Rubeena and I completely agree which was attacked. Would NT in the same paper. While Rubeena at all. with her: it’s high time we questioned dedicate entire columns to the incident Mahato tells us that the attacks Weekly Internet Poll #615 Anita Khadka our value system. From incompetent, if only other schools had suffered? are nothing more than attempts to corrupt politicians, to blanket ‘Ironic’ threaten and extort, Anurag Acharya Q. Will people support a Janajati party? Why don’t people who support impunity for criminals, and violently rationalises the attacks and says they vandalism and destruction of private enforced bandas, Nepal’s moral ANGER MANAGEMENT are a symptom of the class divide in Total votes: 2,922 schools speak out or take action fabric has completely broken down.