cover.pm6 1 1/8/05, 6:00 PM cover.pm6 2 1/8/05, 6:00 PM REPORTS JANUARY 16, 2005 20 Human Rights VOL. I, NO. 39 Muddle COVER CONCEPT By Koshraj Koirala www.nation.com.np & DESIGN: RAJ SHRESTHA Recent reports about the Army targeting human rights activists remain unproven. Rights workers should at least tell their side of the story. 26 Blockade Business By John Narayan Parajuli Why do the Maoists call blockades? One reason is to choke the cities; the other is to open up their own supply lines. 28 A Stitch in Time By Yashas Vaidya The recent disaster in the Indian Ocean tells us that we ignore the threats at our own peril COVER STORY 22 Election on the Cards? 30 Protecting Our Heritage By John Narayan Parajuli By Biswas Baral Amid an escalating Maoist offensive and fractious politics both within and beyond Unsupervised his party, Prime Minster Deubas Jan. 13 ultimatum expires this week. Will Deuba constructions and play his final card? modern housing in the vicinity of World Heritage Sites are posing big challenges for preservation efforts COLUMNS DEPARTMENTS 11 Vigil for Peace By Suman Pradhan 6 LETTERS LIFESTYLE 9 WEEK IN PICTURES 40 Party On By Dhriti Bhatta 37 Doin What Comes 10 PICTURE OF THE WEEK Inevitably The Kathmandu party scene is exploding, to the delight By Kunal Lama 12 CAPSULES of almost everyone 15 MILESTONE SPORTS BUSINESS 15 BIZ BUZZ 42 Road to 16 Willful Misreading Redemption 34 CITY PAGE By Bipul Narayan By Sudesh Shrestha It is one thing to be thankful that our Once seen as the most economy has not yet sunk into a 44 SNAPSHOTS promising emerging sinkhole like Sudans or Ethiopias. It nation, Nepal seems to is quite another to say that it is 48 KHULA MANCH have lost its way. But it performing well. still has a chance to qualify for the 2007 50 LAST PAGE World Cup. nation weekly | JANUARY 16, 2005 5 Letters We treat guests as gods while disrespecting our own kin NETRA RANA Only for tourists with Sudesh Shrestha leading the way. NEPAL IS A PERFECT HUB FOR MANY He is not only insightful, but writes beau- tourists who can see the very best in natural tifully and conveys his passions with beauty on offer and all this at an extremely conviction. How many periodicals can low cost (All for the Local Economy, by boast of a regular sports column that is Nick Meynen, Jan. 9). No wonder many so consistently readable? Thank you, Nepalis depend on tourism for their liveli- Shrestha, and keep up the good work. hood despite living in an agrarian society. M. TULADHAR The article vividly depicts a country the VIA EMAIL where the foreign tourist can travel without any fear of violence, while the security situ- Love for Nepali ation is bleak for the locals themselves. My IF ANYONE ASKS ME TO PICK ONE question is: Does this country exist only for bilingual literary figure of renown in the pleasure of the tourist? The Maoists Nepal, my vote would go to Taranath would do well to mull over the question. Sharma (Old Hand, Khula Manch, Over the years, many people have been made Dhriti Bhatta, Jan. 9). The younger gen- homeless; countless others orphaned, eration, which is getting increasingly maimed for the life. Many have fled the coun- sucked into kitsch culture, should espe- try altogether simply for their safety. What cially take note his one advice: The new revolution this that forces its own people to generation should get more engrossed abandon their homes? Why does tourism in Nepali literature for the long-term matter when our own people arent safe in continuity of our language. Some of their homes and are forced to live the life of Nations young writers would do well refugees inside their own country and for- to heed Sharmas advice, too. Let me eign lands? Though the tourist can contrib- quote the sentence that inspired me the ute a lot to our economy, he cant achieve most: my love for my mother tongue peace for us. Yes, Meynen is right when he is reflected in my English texts, which says there is a huge gap between the safety of retain, if not all, some originality. tourists and the locals. We treat guests as RAMESH PATHAK gods while disrespecting our own kin. VIA EMAIL For a tourist, all this makes for an ex- citing story to tell back home: How they CORRECTION: bought their safety with a little dona- The letter to the U.S. Congress, asking tion? But to readers, the story also of- it to stop unchecked military aid to fers a poignant tale of what Nepalis have Nepal, cited in our article Maoist Co- made of Nepal. Before the Maoists make nundrum by John Narayan Parajuli their peoples war pro-tourist, they (Cover Story, Jan. 9) was erroneously should make it pro-people. attributed to an American academic. NETRA RANA The letter is the collective work of In- VIA EMAIL ternational Nepal Solidarity Network, Great sports articles an action group based in Kathmandu. The academic in question is a member of that BELIEVE IT OR NOT, YOUR PUBLICA- group. tion is a pioneer in good sports writing, 6 JANUARY 16, 2005 | nation weekly Nation Weekly, The Media House, Tripureshor, Kathmandu, Nepal (Regd. 165/059-060). Indigo Gallery & Tel: 2111102, 4229825, 4261831, 4263098 EDITOR: Akhilesh Upadhyay [email protected] CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Suman Pradhan COPY EDITOR: John Child SENIOR STAFF WRITERS: Sushma Joshi, Satish Jung Shahi, Mike’s Breakfast Tiku Gauchan STAFF WRITER: John Narayan Parajuli PHOTOJOURNALISTS: Sagar Shrestha, Das Bahadur Maharjan DESIGNER: Raj Shrestha A lush garden and traditional Rana/Newar EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS: Indra Adhikari, Yashas Vaidya AD & CIRCULATION DIRECTOR: Krishna Shrestha ASST. 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The reproduction of the contents of this publication, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without the diversity of modern exhibitions. prior consent of the publisher. Vol. I, No. 38. For the week January 3-9, 2005, released on January 3 CONTACT www.nation.com.np We prefer to receive letters via e-mail, without attachments. Writers should disclose any connection or relationship with the subject of their comments. All letters must include an address and daytime and evening phone numbers. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity and space. E-mail: [email protected] Fax: 4216281 Mail: Nation Weekly The Media House, GPO 8975, EPC 5620 Tripureshor, Kathmandu, Nepal. SUBSCRIPTION E-mail: [email protected] Nation Weekly, The Media House, GPO 8975 EPC 5620, Tripureshor, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: 2111102, 4229825, 4261831, 4263098 Fax: 4216281 Mike’s Breakfast Indigo Gallery Friday Pizza Night Open daily 8:00 am - 6:00 pm Open Daily 7:00 am to 9:00 pm Phone: 4413-580 Fax 4411-724 Phone: 4424-303 Fax/istd .4 413-788 Email:[email protected] distribution E-mail: [email protected] IF YOU DIDNT GET YOUR COPY CALL In Naxal, close to the Police H.Q. 4232784/4244679 nation weekly | JANUARY 16, 2005 7 Week in Pictures nw/SS SEIZED: The Army displaying things that it said had been retrieved from various Maoist hideouts in the Valley nw/SS B Rai DANCING DAMSEL: A foreigner doing the Chandi nach, a traditional dance of Kiratis UNSEEN JEWELS: Photographs of paintings from the famous Anjanta Caves in western India, on show at the Nepal Art Council CIRCLE OF LIGHT: Boudhanath, lit up on a cold winter nw/SS night NO ARGUING: The final of the San Miguel Cup between East Bengal, (India) and Hannam University (South Korea). East Bengal prevailed, nw/SS winning the match 4-2. nation weekly | JANUARY 16, 2005 9 Picture of the Week REMEMBERING ROBIN: A child at a gathering in Boudhanath in memoriam of Robin Needham, country director of CARE Nepal, who perished in the tsunami waves in Phuket, Thailand. Needham was on a Christmas break with his family. 10 JANUARY 16, 2005 | nation weekly Meanwhile Vigil for Peace Kathmandu is rife with constant calls for peace. But hardly This simple vigil is a paradox because, even though Kathmandu is rife with constant calls for anyone notices, and even less take any action toward that end. peace, hardly anyone notices, and even less take any action. The sparse attendance at the ceremony speaks volumes about our atti- tude. When it comes to devoting BY SUMAN PRADHAN a little time and effort, most of us recent poll has found just dont care. The conflict is eat- Athat 93 percent of all ing at our social fabric, our liveli- Nepalis think the coun- hoods, our family and friends. try is headed in the wrong di- But aside from the occasional rection. Their biggest concern tsk tsk tsk, we dont care. is the lack of jobs, followed This is not to belittle the by the Maoist violence.