#315 15 - 21 September 2006 16 pages Rs 30

Weekly Internet Poll # 316. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.comQ. Rate the current relief efforts in theflood-ravaged districts.

Weekly Internet Poll # 315

Q. Do you think the peace process willhold after Tihar?

Total votes: 4,455

t’s four months into thepeace process, but youwouldn’t know that along

Nepal’s 1,100km-long lifeline, theEast-West Highway.

We travelled along thehighway for ten days starting1September, and every day, andalong every stretch heard storiesand saw Maoist intimidation, aswell as extortion, kidnapping,smuggling, turf wars between therebels, ‘democrats’, and dacoits.

Police and the localadministration can do little toensure security amid all thelawlessness, and in many placesthe Maoists have taken lawenforcement into their ownhands. On and around thehighway, there appears to be acomplete breakdown of the state.

‘Voluntary donations’—inreality anything but—are commonin places like Siraha, and Lahan,where local businessmen shutdown the market last month untilMaoist district leaders assuredthem the intimidation wouldstop. The extortion takes differentforms, such as forced ‘voluntary’contributions of Rs 100,000 tosupport Maoist ‘cultural events’,protection rackets, checkpoints,

Non-governmenttollbooths, and ‘taxation’. Nobusinessperson we spoke towould dream of refusing, becausethey're faced with guns. Maoist-condoned smuggling and illegalfelling of timber have resulted insuddenly-sparse forests inSamling, near Urlabari.

Toll booths and blockades areeverywhere, some openly run bythe Maoists, and others in thename of ‘pujas’. The price of a45km bus ride has almostdoubled to Rs 145. Trucksferrying goods between Birganjand Urlabari pay 300 percentmore than a few months ago. Inten days we saw five chakka jam,and disturbances and shutdownsin Butwal, Hetauda, Itahari,Mechinagar, Kakarbhitta, andother stops along the way.

Unable to cross the Rapti riverafter last year’s Badarmudekillings, the Maoists haveintensified activities in areasthey have access to. Trade unionsare polarised, and the Maoistshave taken over and destroyed

property and service areasbelonging to DDCs and VDCs.

There are PLA camps along thehighway, particularly between theKoshi and Kamala rivers, and thesoldiers are out in full force,conducting march-pasts, armedand in full battle regalia. Studentsare taken for forced militiatraining, as we saw in Bharatpurand Manahari. Local residents areforced to attend rallies and localpolitical party workingcommittees are subject tointimidation.

Self-determination and theMaoists entering the mainstreamare moot. In Rautahat, when therebels were asked to join a villagemeeting, they said they had no‘central directive’ to work withother parties and instead asked forhalf the development budget tocarry out projects themselves.

People live under the shadowof guns here. Face-offs betweenthe Maoists, party members,police, and dacoits play out incrowded marketplaces and private

homes. Sometimes the policeintervenes and promises safety,but often they also claim to notknow what is going on.

Meanwhile, the Maoists arealso trying to run a hearts andminds campaign to win overmiddle-class sentiment. They arebuilding ‘people’s hospitals’(often using illegally felled timberfor beds), repairing stretches ofroad, and ‘punishing’ looters. Butas long as guns are present, no onebelieves they mean it. Manypeople we spoke to said it was alljust ‘for show’, pointing out that arebel-run hospital in Mangalbare,Morang, is a stone’s throw from agovernment health care centre.

People are fed up with theanarchy. The feeling along the1,100 km we travelled was thatwhether or not dacoits wereresponsible for much of the

mayhem, theMaoists will have alot to answer for ifand when they aredisarmed.

KIRAN NEPAL

Along the nation’s lifeline, lawlessness is the norm

KIRAN NEPAL on theEAST-WEST HIGHWAY

I

STAKING A CLAIM: This welcome sign tothe 'Republican Zone' of Masuriya seems

ironic, given the anarchy Maoists,'democrats', republicans, and dacoits are

creating along the East-West Highway.

2 15 - 21 SEPTEMBER 2006 #315EDITORIAL

Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Chief Editor: Kunda DixitEditor: Sophia Tamot Executive Editor: Anagha NeelakantanDesign: Kiran Maharjan Web: Bhushan ShilpakarVicepresident Corporate Affairs: Sneh SayamiDirector, Sales and Marketing: Sunaina Shah marketing@himalmedia.comSubscription: subscription@himalmedia.comHatiban, Godavari Road, LalitpurGPO Box 7251, Kathmandu 5543333-6, Fax: 5521013Printed at Jagadamba Press, Hatiban: 5547018

edi tors@nepal i t imes.com,www.nepal i t imes.com

STATE OF THE STATEC K Lal

GUEST COLUMNAlok Bohara

A

O utperformed by PushpaDahal, SPA leadershipseems is in disarray.

While the Maoist leader goes on aBBC international call-in show,SPA cabinet members speak outagainst their own government. Anill-considered interimconstitution draft is released andcriticised. This draft includes,without debate, due process, or a

broad mandate, prescriptive fiscalmicro-management, socialengineering, and division alongethnic lines. One of the draftershimself is now a critic.

The Maoist leadership baitsthe SPA with threats of anOctober Revolution, but theyaren’t thinking of the Bolshevikmodel. They might be laying thegroundwork to follow MaoistChina’s post-revolutionarypurging. To do this, they willcajole people, appear on call-inshows and, importantly, changethe goalposts often. They couldalso concede something the SPAnever really wanted—election to a

Both sides could abuse a ‘peaceful’ resolution

Far left, far rightconstituent assembly. Theymight even tolerate a de-fangedcivilian monarchy, since a directtakeover seems unlikely. Theydon’t expect an outright victoryin the constituent assemblyelection without their armedmilitia policing the pollingstations. Their eyes are on theultimate prize, and backup—aPLA unit within the nationalarmy. This is how Mao came topower, by banishing his politicalrivals, with his People’s Army,led by children of his revolution.

The BBC call-in show is thusrevealing. The remarkable thingabout the callers was that theywere real people, honestlyspeaking their minds. They askedtough questions, unlike many inKathmandu. They put Dahal onthe spot for his killing tactics,and questioned the guilt ofunarmed women and children.Pushpa Dahal’s coldness wasastounding: “I feel sorry for you,but s*** happens during nationbuilding.” When asked why hekeeps changing the goalposts,including the latest about theircommitment to the UN on armsmanagement, he trivialised itsaying, “Blame Girija first forstarting it in Biratnagar.”

The rebel commander did notmention rehabilitation andreconstruction, or truth andreconciliation using the UN. Heseemed irritated when askedabout the educational aspirationsof children under 20 in his rebelarmy (70 percent), especially bythe suggestion that they shouldbe free to go to school to bedoctors and engineers, not forcedinto his army. He focused insteadon reformulating the rebels’ rolewithin the national securityarrangement, emphasising that amerger was not enough.

The SPA leadership hasnoticed, why else would Girija

Koirala risk appointingRukmangat Katuwal Chief ofArmy Staff? The SPA knowsmainstream political parties can’tallow the CPN (Maoist), as a rivalpolitical party, to have its ownindoctrinated PLA unit in thenational army, ready to pounce, ashappened in Mao’s CulturalRevolution. Yet, the Maoists’ 75-point manifesto and the ongoingrhetoric leave space for that. Sucha provision for a peacefulresolution worries many. Thus,PM Koirala may have appointedKatuwal as insurance against theMaoists’ ultimate goal.

Many in civil society warnagainst an insurrection in theextreme right, and that may be areal danger. But politicians areadept at doing cost-benefitanalyses for their survival andnew alliances constantly emergein power politics. Not long ago,for example, the Maoists wantedto deal with King Gyanendra, notwith the very parties they aretalking to now. By taking a gambleon pro-ceremonial monarchy line,Prime Minister Koirala may havewanted to create a separateidentity for his party and himself,distinct from republicansloganeering including the onecoming from his own party rankand file.

Many people, including me,will remain sceptical about theMaoists’ intentions as long as theyrun a parallel government andbreak the agreement made with theSPA and UN, and ramp upextortion, parallel taxation,kidnapping, and killing. Worse,the extreme right may be usingthis as a chance to slowly buildstrength for another showdownwith the extreme left.

Alok Bohara, PhD, is professor ofeconomics at the University of NewMexico. He can be contacted atbohara@unm.edu.

s the country was celebrating the93rd BP Koirala Memorial Day, PrimeMinister Koirala decided to follow in

the footsteps of his illustrious elder brother.In the teeth of opposition fromparliamentarians, human rights activistsand his own party cadres, he appointedGeneral Rukmangat Katuwal as the newChief of Staff of the Nepal Army.

Katuwal received the official insignia ofhis post from the man he had doneeverything to deride, defame, and denigrate.The Chief assures us that he will notdeceive the democratic leadership. But ifhis past utterances are anything to go by, hewill need to make a tremendous effort tooutgrow his pathological distaste for

pluralistic politics.BP had put himself and his party at risk

by reposing his trust in a member of the oldruling elite. Stakes in GPís decisions aremuch higher. Itís going to be either asecured loktantra backed unquestionablyby an army under civilian control or militarydominance leading towards protracted civilwar, anarchy and loss of sovereignty.Almost at the end of his political career, hehas gambled big. (Koirala has promised toretire from politics once elections for aconstituent assembly are over.)

The choice of Katuwal wascontroversial right from the beginning.Whatever the reality, the perception is thathe was instrumental in the ruthlesssuppression of the April Uprising. Thecommission formed to investigate theexcesses of the security forces during KingGyanendraís direct rule has alreadyquizzed him.

Rewarding an alleged perpetrator isakin to rubbing salt on the wounds of thevictims of the uprising. But a quest forstability seems to have prevailed over theneed for retributive justice. Koirala probablyfigured he could overlook the past bylooking to the future.

The validity of his judgement is open toquestion, but itís not without internationalprecedence.

In post-Franco Spain, the Pact ofOblivion was reached between the militaryand the political elite to ensure thedemocratic government was free from thepossibilities of mutinies and coups, whichmay have been incited had the governmentinsisted on prosecuting Francoís trustedlieutenants in the security forces. For anytransitional government, itís quite difficult topursue perpetrators when there are toomany to convict and when most remainsocially, culturally, and materially powerful.

At the risk of being seen as patronising theculture of impunity, transitionalgovernments often make peace with the oldelite and allow the political process to takeits own course.

In Nepal, the case is slightly morecomplicated. For one, loyal royals haverepeatedly betrayed trust reposed in themby democratic forces. Second, internationalmeddlers as donors and loaners play anexaggerated role in the countryís internalaffairs while remaining traditionally softtowards the militaryís adventuroustendencies. Third, the Maoists are stillarmed and their concerns canít be justwished away. And to top it all, even thoughthe king has been divested off his powers,his mere presence is frightening to apopulace frequently trampled upon by threegenerations of Shaha kings since the 50s.In autocratic experiments of every monarch,the then Royal Nepali Army was complicit inthe crimes of ruthless repression.

Amnesty requires selective amnesia. Ittakes fortitude to forget and foresight toproject the future potential of suspiciousindividuals. Premier Koirala probablybelieves that his fellow countrymenpossess the gift of resilience andforgiveness in excess. We can only hopehis intuition in taking a calculated risk turnsout safer than the selection of his late elderbrother.

Koirala’s appointment of Katuwal may backfire

Big gamble

BACK TO THE URBAN JUNGLEThe weekly nepalnews.com-Nepali Times opinion poll, despitevoting on the internet, has a fairly accurate correlation with pastnationwide polls. Results in the past month show that the Nepalipublic is fully behind pluralism and democracy, they reject Maoistviolence, threats and extortion, and that they are impatient withthe pace of the peace process.

But this week, nearly six months after the April Uprising, theyhave for the first time turned pessimistic about the chances of areturn to peace. More than 57 percent of the 4,455 who votedbelieve the ceasefire wouldnít last beyond Tihar.

Part of the reason for this is the public perception that theseven-party government is lost in its usual bickering. The otherpart is that they believe the Maoists have no intention of stayingthe peace course.

To a certain extent disagreements are usual, even necessary,in a democracy. But the partiesí lack of credibility is their biggestdrawback. It doesnít help that the biggest whiner of them all,Madhab Nepal, keeps threatening to quit the seven-party alliance.Parliament passing radical laws is all very fine but that doesnítmake a big, immediate difference in the lives of desperate people.

Never before have we seen the kind of lawlessness andanarchy that we see today. On any given day there are strikes,road blockages, and sit-ins by up to a dozen different groups.Rebels or other shady outfits either block the main highways, orimprovise illegal toll collection. The state doesnít exist, and it hasbecome a free-for-all.

As for the Maoists, it is clear the comrades now have noregard, or need, for public opinion. They are taking full advantageof the disarray of the government and forcing high school childrenand hotel workers to join their rallies, and they seem all set for aLenin-style power grab. Tyre-burning over cooked-up reasons, ashappened this week shows just how easy it is for them to bring thecapital to a standstill. Itís a small step from that to stormingSingha Darbar.

Pushpa Kamal Dahal has been all over the media this weekpromising not to ìgo backto the jungleî. He doesníthave to. The rebelstrategy now is toconcentrate on the urbanjungle. A stage-managedPeople Power III will bemuch more effective.

The planned meetingbetween Chairman Dahaland Prime MinisterKoirala is a last chanceto sort this one out. It istime for the seven partiesto recognise thischallenge to theirlegitimacy and uniteagainst a threatenedtotalitarian takeover.††

KUMAR SHRESTHA

315 - 21 SEPTEMBER 2006 #315

LLLLL E T T E R SE T T E R SE T T E R SE T T E R SE T T E R S

PLAIN SPEAKINGThe outpourings in most Nepali media demonstratethat ëpolitical hogwash is the opiate of the massesí.From Comrade Awesome with his claims that heërulesí 80 percent of Nepal, to Ram Sharan Mahatísunlikely claims that the coffers will overflow nowthat heís in charge, I think the Nepali people havetrouble coping with the verbal diarrhoea.

Can Comrade Awesome enlighten us about his80 percent of Nepal? Does he know that 15 percentis under permanent snow and 18 percent is barrenrock? Towns and urban areas account for 30percent and he can hardly claim to ëruleí them.Simple arithmetic leaves him or anyone else 37percent of the country, of which he claims 80percent. But only ignorance would claim that itcomes in a neat, ready-to-be-ruled package.

Is his realpolitik for real, or will he get by asbefore, preaching to the uninformed? As an nonresident Nepali (NRN) whose family survived byworking abroad, I want to know, in straightforward,un-doctored statistics, what achievements resultfrom small groups of badly-informed but thoroughlyindoctrinated cadres threatening ruralhouseholders with guns, not to mention otheratrocities ever-so-diligent ëhuman rightsí folkshave not picked up on. Have harvests increasedover the last ten years? Are more children,particularly girls, in school, or out toting guns, theiradolescent hormones raging against an adult worldthat has failed them? In the areas he ërulesí, hasincome increased (without counting ourremittances, or the money received from daughterstrafficked into the flesh trade)? Weíd like to hearmore policy and less political twaddle.

And to Mahat: does he know the impact on theeconomy if NRNs stopped sendingremittances?†Does he plan to create jobs sopeople have the satisfaction of earning their ownliving instead of relying on ëaidí? Can he guaranteethat everyone who should pays taxes? I ask thisbecause the other gentleman is swift to condemndonors for imperialism, but how many Nepalisrealise that aid money comes for the most partfrom the taxes of people very like themselves?They are ordinary people with ordinary pleasuresand they work darned hard for their livelihoods.Our politicians and Comrade Awesome talk as ifthis ëassistanceí comes from some kind of imperialcash cow. If they realised how hard those workingclasses who support aid programs actually work,theyíd be a little less liberal with their labels.

†KA Tamang, Middlesborough

#314Good piece by Suman Pradhan (ëImpasseí,

Meanwhile, #314). My reliable info is that whileIndia may have ëaccededí to the UN coming in,†itwas beyond fury†at having†its flank turned. Hencethe resort to the old ëindirect approachí to thwartIan Martin and his team from making anyprogressóput GPK in an arm lock and theemergence of ëmasterly inactivityí as a policy. AUN success in monitoring a peace process soclose to home is more than Delhi thinks it canbear. It would have much preferred to manage ititself. Pradhanís ëback offí message was spot on.

Bravo to Michael Hutt for writing in so few butbrilliant words everything that needs saying aboutthe Bhutani refugee problem (ëGross nationalgriefí).

Cracking start to ëRed Flag to Bullí (Backside,#314)!†Now that I get the drift, Iíll be emailing theaddress helpfully provided!

Reader, via email

CORRECTION Due to an editing error, the reference in Ashutosh

Tiwariís Strictly Business column (ëLoan blowsí, #314) toJagannath Adhikari was a mistake. The name shouldhave been Jogendra Ghimire.

In ëSalt of the earthí (#314) the proportion of Nepalisstill consuming non-iodised salt should have been 9percent and not 17 percent as mistakenly reported.

WANNABE ECONOMISTSYour two mediocre wannabe economic columns(Economic Sense and Strictly Business) havenítcommunicated anything of substance for months.Neither writer has the data to back their argumentsnor do they use economic theories to explain theiranecdotal analyses. The two pieces on oil politicsand the NOC are prime examples of the mediocrity(ëOily ruckusí, Economic Sense, #313 andëFuelling discontentí, Strictly Businessí, #312).They list out the problems, which Nepalis are goodat, without telling us how opening up the market willease the problems of pricing, adulteration,corruption, cartels and above all, building trust.Please find more substantive business analysisdelivered in a crisper and more intelligent manner.Or shut down columns that donít add value to yourpaper.

Sunil Sharma, Teku

NATIONAL HEROESWe look abroad for medical consultation andfacilities as a matter of habit. Yet, the other day, afellow Nepali who lives in London consulted aspecialist for his eye ailment. After a thoroughinvestigation the specialist commented, ìYouírefrom Nepal, you have the renowned Dr Ruit andTilganga for treatment.î Weíve always identifiedourselves with Gurkhas and Everest. Now we haveanother reference point, Dr Ruit and Tilganga.

Ajaindra Singh, via email

HATS AND ASSESI really miss Under My Hat. Youíve done a fantasticjob of producing it week after week for so manyyears and I think itís become habit to look for thatcolumn first thing on Fridays. Now Iím bewilderedto not find it. I know you must be enjoying thebreak, but at some point, I hope youíll think ofcoming back. There really was nothing like thatcolumn in our English press.

Anjana Newar, via email

I am a Nepal bhakta and frequent reader ofNepali Times who likes the last humoristic bit a lot.This week I particularly enjoyed the more seriousnote (ëShowing a red flag to a bullí, Backside,#314) and wondered who the writer is. Would begood to have a chat over a cup of coffee.

Gil Daryn, SOAS, University of London

I am very sorry to hear that Kunda Dixit may beforced to stop his Under My Hat column. He hasbrought years of good humour and insight intoNepal and journalism that was and still is verymuch needed. I do hope that this is just a shortëpen-downí and that the column isnít shunted intoearly retirement for that would be a crying shame. Iguess I will just have to read over the vastcollection of your columns instead.

Matt Hogg, via email

All past columns can be viewed by clicking ëUnderMy Hatí on www.nepalitimes.com - Ed

4 15 - 21 SEPTEMBER 2006 #315NATION

eep inside DeukhuriValley, in a small hut onthe banks of a river, lives

Sudhani Chaudhary with herhusband, his two brothers, andtheir families. The extendedfamily ekes out a living assharecroppers.

Sudhani is only 30, but shealready has four daughters. One,not quite 10 years old, lives inGhorahi, working as a housemaidfor a family. “I am told she is inschool,” says Sudhani. Five otheryoung daughters of the family arein faraway cities like Surkhet,Pokhara and Kathmandu. All workin households or restaurants andare thought to be attending schooltoo, though no one is certain.

“They have gone as kamlaris,”

says Sunder Chaudhary, one ofthe brothers. “It is difficult tofeed ourselves as it is. At leastthey have food and clothes. Andthey can go to school.”

Sending young daughters askamlaris (girl-child indenturedlabourers) is widespread in theTharu community of lower DangValley (also called DeukhuriValley) and adjoining districts.The reason often cited is poverty,and this tradition began whenhill-people descended upon thefertile plains of the western taraiand slowly usurped the landonce inhabited by the Tharus.

Loss of land broughtassociated social ills as it changedthe power equation within thecommunities. Mostly poor andilliterate, Tharus foundthemselves tilling the landlords’

farms in a sharecroppingagreement so lopsided that theywere in bondage as kamaiyas. Andeven then, many offered theirdaughters as household help toentice the maalik to give themsharecropping opportunities.Lack of family planningawareness contributed to largeTharu families, and sending a fewdaughters away became the norm.

“The kamlari system grew outof this,” says DhaniramChaudhary, the son of a formerkamaiya and now vice president

Kamlaris in Dangof Society Welfare Action Nepal(SWAN), which works to eradicatethe kamlari practice in lower Dang.“It is servitude and exploitation.”

Tharu girls from Dang, Banke,Bardiya, Kailali, and Kanchanpurare sent out as kamlaris, and inBardiya, boys are also sent.Informal surveys by involvedcharities show that nearly 3,000Tharu girls from lower Dang valleyalone worked as kamlaris untiltheir recent rehabilitation. Theyestimate a national figure of 20,000to 25,000 from the five Tharudistricts of western Nepal.

Tharu intellectuals in Dang saythe kamlari system becameinstitutionalised whenmiddlemen entered the scene.Daughters, who were previouslybeing given to local landlords,were soon being sent off to citiesand towns as favours forgovernment and police officers.

The kamlari girl is ‘sold’through middlemen to far-offhomes and businesses after averbal contract with the parentsduring the winter festival ofMaaghi, and down payment of

Rs 4,000- 6,000. The contract isfor one year, but it continues asparents receive annual paymentsthrough middlemen who areoften the only ones who knowwhere the girl is. The girls getjust food and clothes, and in rarecases, some education.

Srijana Chaudhary, 11, worksas a helper at a roadside tea stallin Ghorahi, and also helps theowner’s family with householdchores. Last Maaghi, Srijana wasbought for Rs 4,000 and broughtto Ghorahi from DeukhuriValley. A shy girl with a sad andfrightened demeanour, sheattended an informal educationclass two hours every day untilrecently. “My name was cut offfrom the list,” she said. Asked ifshe wanted to go back to school,she nodded vigorously.

The owner and his family,who watched the conversationintently, were incensed. “Whyare you bothering this poorfamily? Go and ask all the richhotel owners and businessmenin Ghorahi who have dozens ofkamlaris in their households.”

He had a point. Ghorahi has agrowing kamlari problem. “Everyother household here has akamlari,” says Sadhna DC, amotivator for Friends of NeedyChildren (FNC) who travelstrying to convince families andowners to let the girls go.“Traders, government officials,businessmen, almost all keepkamlaris. It is entrenched here.”

Many parents say one reasonthey send their daughters out isbecause buyers promise themeducation. But SWAN and FNCclaim that nearly 90 percent ofthe girls are never sent to school.“These are false promises. Wehave found only a few who aretreated well and actually sent toschool,” says Man BahadurChhettri of FNC, which worksto rescue and rehabilitate thegirls.

SWAN and FNC have hadgreat success in checking thepractice in lower Dang valley. InGobardiya village of Khaira VDC,for example, a number of girlsonce sent as kamlaris have beenbrought back and rehabilitated.Most now attend local schools orvocational training classes insurrounding areas. But thissuccess has also invitedcontroversy, ill-will, and threats.

The Maoists, who initiallysupported kamlari eradicationmeasures, got suspicious of theorganisational activities of FNCand SWAN and forced them towithdraw their program last year.The rebels only relented fivemonths later after Tharu familiespressured the local Maoistleadership to allow the programto continue.

On 3 September, anassociation of local hoteliers andrestaurateurs in Lamahi bannedFNC and SWAN members fromtheir eateries because of“unfounded allegations that weexploit children.” The ownersinstead argued they wereproviding employment for thegirls.

BANNEDOn 9 September, the Supreme Court directed the government to ban the kamlarisystem, much as the kamaiya system was banned five years ago. The Court alsoordered the government to set up a kamlari rehabilitation fund for the welfare of thegirls and their families. The order resulted from a writ petition filed two years agoby the FNC.

Young Tharu girls sold intoindentured labour are slowlybeing brought home

SUMAN PRADHAN in DANG

SUMAN PRADHAN

Srijana with kamlari welfare worker Sadhna DC (left),rescued kamlari girls in a charity-run school in Dang

D

515 - 21 SEPTEMBER 2006 #315NATION

I

ECONOMIC SENSEArtha Beed

t’s the season for that favouriteNepali catchphrase, ‘guests arelike gods’. All well and good,

but what about those who work tobring these guests here and makethem feel at home? In the newsthis week are two telling items:the good and bad news that all

airlines seats to Nepal are sold out,and that a delegation of tourismentrepreneurs felt obliged to go tothe prime minister’s office to askfor an end to pseudo-militantunions and the extortion racket.

Nepal’s tourism has over thepast decade run into problems thesecond things start to look up: theIC 849 hijacking, riots sparked by arumour about what some Indianactor said, the royal massacre, 9/11, Gulf War II, SARS, Maoists,blockades, and travel advisories. If

that weren’t enough, in March2001 hotels shut down due to alabour row over the service chargeand in August 2004 a hotel wasbombed. We just can’t get it right.

If our tourism sector wants aboost, the government,entrepreneurs, and workers allneed to wake up. the governmentneeds to revive Airline SeatAgreements to allow more airlinesto fly in. With one-and-a-halfaircraft, our flag carrier will notget anywhere. Why can’t we have25 flights from different Indiancities everyday? Let’s hand overmanagement of the airport toglobal experts. Better yet, let’s giveinternational players goodconcessions to build aninternational airport. NepalTourism Board needs to sort outits internal personality clasheswithout resorting to lawsuits.

Tourism entrepreneurs can dothe most, by first getting awayfrom the politicking of their

brand.The Beed has devoted enough

column inches to our labour force.But it’s a fact that political forcesmanipulate labour, especially inthe tourism sector, to their ownends. Labour can only exist ifenterprises do. Why do we Nepalisnot mind working in sub-humanconditions outside Nepal, but inour own country demand the sky?Of course, the industry needs torespect labour and related laws,but unions can do their bit by notdisrupting operations or stagingdemonstrations in hotel lobbies,or holding owners to ransom.

Our core competencies in thisservice sector are our famous smileand politeness. Lose those, andour chances of doing well lookpretty bleak. Political leaders maysway the minds of the labour forcein the short run, but for long-termgrowth we need a workforce thatenterprise can trust and workwith.

Tourism is and can continue tobe one of our pillars of growth. It’stime now to strengthen, nothammer at, its foundations, so wecan pick up where the golden runof the early 90s left off.

www.arthabeed.com

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FOSSibleThe third open SoftwareFreedom Day (SFD) on 16September will be held from10AM-5PM at the Yala MayaKendra, Patan Dhoka andfeatures giveaways, tutorialsand troubleshooting help.Bring your computer along andthe techies will do the rest.Over 90 percent of Nepalíscomputers run on piratedsoftware, and Free and OpenSource Software (FOSS) haslong been seen as a solution.Users of such programs mayfreely use, study, and evenalter them. In December 2005,Subhir Pradhanang, afounding member of NepalísFOSS community, releasedNepalinux, a full-fledgedoperating system with desktopapplications for Nepali homeusers. www.fossnepal.org

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Bankers codeThe Nepal BankersAssociationís annual generalmeeting, held under presidentRadhesh Pant, passed theyearly budget and passed aëbusiness codeí toinstitutionalise minimalservice standards for banks.Member banks havecommitted to clearly outlinedrules regarding protection ofcustomer interests, including adirective stating that clientshave the right to be informed ofall choices and servicesoffered by the bank and thatinformation regarding a clientor account is to be kept secret.The meeting also passed aëcode of conductí to befollowed by every memberbank for healthy competitionwithin the industry.††

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NIBL charityNepal Investment BankLimited (NIBL) has contributedRs 640,000 to help theUNHCR with the JhapaBhutani refugee camps.Compassion fatigue amongdonors has meant fallingassistance for the 110,000refugees living in sevencamps since 1991, many ofwhom were born here.

ìWe are pleased to supportUNHCRís noble cause ofeducating the refugees. This ispart of our corporate socialresponsibility,î said PrithviPandÈ, NIBL chairman andCEO. The contribution will beused for primary schools inthe camps. UNHCR Nepal repAbraham Abraham called thegrant ìlandmark private sectorsupportî.

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PumoriA new version of PumoriBanking Software, calledPumori Enterprise, will soonhit the market. Mercantile, thecompany behind the software,says Enterprise will addressthe automating of all bankingfunctions. The earlier versionaddressed only bankaccounting functions and wasbased on multiple databases.

Enterprise is scalable tohandle hundreds of branchesspanning the globe. Thesoftware interfaces withdelivery channels like AnyBranch Banking, ATM, POS,Pumori Data Exchange (PDX),Internet, and mobile telephony.

Let’s build a solid industry on the famous Nepali smile

Tourism blues

various associations. Constructinghotels was a way to get bank loansand upgrade an individual’slifestyle, then the bleak tourismscenario was a way to default ondebt. Time to stop that. Time alsoto take advantage of the brandingexercise underway (‘Visit Nepalagain, and again’, #309). It maynot be perfect, but it’s the onlyone we’ve got. When IncredibleIndia was launched, there was alot of naysaying, but it’s turnedout to be a positive, enduring

KIRAN PANDAY

6 15 - 21 SEPTEMBER 2006 #315FROM THE NEPALI PRESS

Interview with Prachanda on Bahas,Kantipur Television, 9 September

Youíve come a long way from two rifles and a pistol.Would things be different if the parties had done right bythe people?No, there are other countries where political parties arecorrupt too. Why isnít there a revolution in thosecountries?

Could we say the political parties and the palace gatheredthe tinder and straw, and you just lit the spark?I wouldnít say that, itís unscientific. There was a basis fora revolution, our ideology.

Did you think youíd succeed as much in ten years?We knew the revolution would pick up speed, and weídeither fail or succeed very quickly. But we couldnít predictreaching this state in ten years.

Your revolution has shaken the nation, even the world, but

‘Let’s not call it guilt’what about all the bloodshed and lives lost?Every great nation has been formed through great sacrifice.No nation can go forward without it.

What your heart says is more important?I donít think your question is right. This success is notmine. It is the Nepali people who were oppressed forhundreds of years who have succeeded.

Which side is weightier, the nationís success or the loss oflives?We are definitely saddened by the tears and blood. I am avery sensitive person. Iím not just talking about ourcomrades, I was equally sentimental when policemen andsoldiers from the enemy camp died in large numbers.

So you do have guilt?Letís not call it guilt. I always wanted to minimise humanlosses. Thatís why we started peace talks the first time. Itwasnít necessary then, it was my sensitivity to the peopleíswishes. Gyanendra staged his coup last year; heís from aclass that doesnít care how many Nepalis die and perhapshe as a man is a bit cruel. People wouldnít have believed inthe seven party protests then. I thought deeply for threedays, sleeping very little, and came to the conclusion that aceasefire must be declared. I wasnít under any pressurefrom the party or from outside. The decision was purelyfrom the soul. We decided that, as a party fighting for theworking class, we must take the first step. I felt greatsatisfaction after the decision, and that the ceasefirebecame a bigger weapon than the war itself.

Why did you torture those found guilty of committingcrimes?That was a mistake, against party policy. In war it isnecessary to take action against those directly involved inkilling our comrades and the people. But since the peopleíswar started, we have party central office directives, which Imyself drafted, that if it is necessary to annihilate anyone,there must be no torture. But it did happen anyway. There

were some pictures of people our friends killed that Icouldnít even look at. I myself was terrorised when I sawthese pictures.

What action did you take against your party membersfound guilty of committing these barbaric murders?I canít give you details now, but we took very seriousaction. Otherwise the movement would have lost its base.

We hear the political parties suggested you use yourweapons during the April Jana Andolan.When Gyanendra was trying to hold his local levelelections the seven parties requested that we mobilise ourPLA to attack and make the elections a failure.

Now we donít know what kind of pressure the partiesare under, maybe from foreign powers. Because of thefive-point agreement, we felt secure, but within two orthree days Girija Babu went to Biratnagar and saidrepeatedly at press conferences that the Maoists canít beconsidered a political party until we give up our weapons.He shouldnít have. He also kept talking about aceremonial monarchy, which he neednít have done,whatever his own beliefs. At the time we were holdingtalks and the interim constitution was being prepared. Hiscomments only roused unnecessary suspicion.

Third, the most important and sensitive issue forNepal at this moment is the democratisation of the army,yet he rewarded the old regime by making RukmangatKatuwal chief and confirmed our suspicions. InKamidanda we said that unless the government ispressured by the street, it is going to regress.

So Girija Prasadís words and actions made you decidethat they must be attacked?Attack is not the right word, but the conclusion was thatunless the people were brought on the streets once again,the government would turn back. Girija Prasad Koirala isthe prime minister of a country in a state of emergency.Whatever he says cannot be taken as a personalstatement. Girija is not an individual at this moment. †

ROBIN SAYAMI

715 - 21 SEPTEMBER 2006 #315FROM THE NEPALI PRESS

SELECTED MATERIAL TRANSLATED EVERY WEEK FROM THE NEPALI PRESS

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“

“

Rajdhani, 10 SeptemberLast signboard: Constituent Assembly

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AdulterationKantipur, 10 September

Adulteration of diesel and petrolhas increased after the Nepal OilCorporation stopped monitoringthe purity of fuel at gas stations.Mechanical engineers whoinspected the fuels said dieselsold at pumps had 75 percentkerosene mixed in and petrol had40 percent diesel. Fueladulterationis why manymotorcycles andtrucks, even newones,break down. “After theKantipur story on adulterationcame out, it went down for 15days, but now it’s as bad as itwas,” says chief mechanic ofSyakar, Sitaram Neupane. NOC’smonitoring was terminated afterthe government was forced to rollback price hikes last month. Sources said the Ministry ofIndustries and Supplies hadinstructed NOC not to doanything until the committee onfuel prices submits its report.Meanwhile, reports say up to3,000 litres of petrol are smuggledinto India every day fromNepalganj alone because of theprice differential between Indiaand Nepal.

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Rebel spiesDristi, 12 September

After the Maoist centralcommittee meeting decided thatthey would embark on an urban

uprising if the talks do notresume, the rebels have starteddeploying spies to betterunderstand the daily activities ofthe SPA, government, andsecurity forces. Their intelligencesection, INT, is under the directcommand of top-level Maoistleaders. Our sources say theMaoist spies in the INT are tokeep tabs on ministers, partyleaders, high-level army andpolice officers, and diplomatswho are against their policies.

Before this, the INT was usedto keep tabs on some of theMaoists’ own leaders, and tomonitor the field situation beforea big attack. INT cadres went outto rural areas equipped withsatellite phones and attacks werecarried out based on the newsthey sent back.

Maoist sources say that tocontrol the situation during theurban uprising they will use theintelligence against thoseconspiring to suppress themovement. Most Maoist leadersare in the capital right now, andINT cadres will also be helpful tomonitor their movement, to see ifthey are forming alliances withthose who tarnish the party’sname. The Maoists say the spieswill be especially useful becausethe district level offices have senttheir people, and the specialcommand theirs, and none ofthem recognise each other. Thiswill work to the party’s advantage,as no one will know who isspying on whom.

Editorial in Nepal Samacharpatra, 14 September

The news that weapons were being imported despite peace talksbetween the government and the Maoists being underway raisedconcerns throughout the nation on Wednesday. The Maoists were onhigh alert from Tuesday evening, claiming that the government wasimporting large quantities of weapons via the eastern border.

Over three dozen vehicles carrying tents, clothing, vehiclespare parts, and helicopters for the Nepal Army were brought toGajuri, Dhading, on the way to Kathmandu, with strict orders toremove every obstacle along the Mugling-Naryanghat and Mugling-Thankot stretches. Neither the government nor the Nepal Armyissued a statement before these supplies were moved, causingsuspicion and mistrust amongst both the people and the Maoists.The Ceasefire Monitoring Committee has gone to Gajuri and saidthat the trucks did not contain any weapons, and the Indian Embassyin Kathmandu also claims the trucks were empty. Hopefully theconfusion will clear up now.

If there was any need to import goods for the Nepal Army, thegovernment should have discussed it with the ruling parties and theMaoists. However, no official of the government or Nepal Armythought that was necessary. Perhaps in the past there was no needto do so, but these are different times. At a time when the Maoistsare preparing to enter mainstream politics and all the politicalparties and the people are focusing on a constituent assembly, anyactivity that might rouse suspicion is not acceptable.

It was the people of Kathmandu and its surrounding areas thathad to bear the brunt of things when the Maoists suddenly declareda strike on Wednesday to protest the alleged import of weapons.Although the strike was cancelled later that day, it took time forthings to settle down. The Maoists also need to think about the effectsuch decisions will have on the country and the people. Decisionsmade in haste may be regretted, or be detrimental to the party itself.

Rumours

ANUP PRAKASH

Perhaps the protest came spontaneously from the people. Our party did not call theprotest on Wednesday in the capital.

CPN (Maoist) spokesperson Krishna Bahadur Mahara speaking to himalkhabar.comabout the protests on Wednesday, on 13 September.

Garden of

8 HERITAGE

DreamsDreamsThis Dasain,This Dasain,This Dasain,This Dasain,This Dasain,a dream comes truea dream comes truea dream comes truea dream comes truea dream comes true

fter much anticipation, theGarden of Dreams is finallyopening its gates to the

public on 8 October. For six years,extensive restoration work went on hiddenbehind the huge wall along Tridevi Marg inThamel. Soon, the entrance gate oppositethe SAARC Secretariat should be linedwith visitors queuing to enter thehistorical garden.

A special zebra crossing now provideseasy access to visitors crossing the street toenter the main gate. Götz Hagmüller, chiefarchitect of the project and the man behindthe Patan Museum restoration is excited

that the big day is just around the corner.“We are sure the garden will be a hugesuccess. In fact, we are worried that itmight be so popular that it might turninto a fair ground,” says Hagmüller. A lotof thought has gone into setting theadmission fees. “The cost of maintainingthe garden will be very high, so we can’tafford to have people mess it up,” shrugsHagmüller.

He is also very strict about the kind ofactivities that will be allowed inside thepark. “No rock concerts. No weddings. Nofashion shows,” he says. Instead, thegarden will accept bookings for culturalevents and private functions at the threerestored pavilions. The basic idea is to

have the garden generate its own incomethrough admission fees, rent collectedfrom the Basanta Café and Kaiser Bar andfrom events.

Restored after 80 years, the $ 1million project funded by AustrianDevelopment Aid and implemented byEco Himal covers 4070 meter; is atestament to the extraordinary vision andtalent of one man—Field Marshall KaiserShumshere Jung Bahadur Rana. If he werealive today, he would have been pleasedwith all the restoration work and theextensive innovations added to thegarden.

Stone slabs have been replaced withfountains. A moat has been constructed

around the stage and a multipurposeamphitheatre, seating 300 people, builtaround it. Decaying wooden pillars of apergola have been swapped with historicallooking iron cast ones. A rotunda has beenbuilt, remodelled after one of the lostbuildings in the garden. Numerous waterbodies have been constructed, and themain pond has four copper lotuses thatemit gas flames during the night. Nightillumination has been carefully planned.

Another innovative idea is the use ofaluminium foil in the high ceilings of thepavilion to get a polished silver look. Andnot to worry, Hagmüller says, it’s durablebecause no dust collects there.

During restoration work, Hagmüller

SOPHIA TAMOT

A

ANUP PRAKASH

MIN BAJRACHARYAANUP PRAKASHMIN BAJRACHARYA

915 - 21 SEPTEMBER 2006 #315

and his team discovered a narrow spacebetween two walls in the south that hadbeen lying unused and covered byovergrown flora. He devised a way to makeuse of it by having a water cascade flowsfrom one narrow end of the wall towards aslightly bigger area–creating the opticalillusion of a long waterfall. An orientalfeature, Hagmüller says this is also a‘hidden garden,’ which is a characteristic ofmany European historical gardens. One bigadvantage of the water cascade is that it

TicketsTicketsTicketsTicketsTicketsSingle admission: Nepalis Rs 80, foreignersRs 160, children, disabled persons and seniorcitizens Rs 40

10 admissions: Locals Rs 400, foreigners Rs 800

Annual membership: RS 2000, including10% discount on all restaurant bills and free parking

Corporate membership: RS 1000 for a minimumof 10 members, 10% discount on all restaurant bills

October 8, Sunday6.30 PM hours | Ticket: Rs 500

CLASSICAL NEPALI CONCERTCoordinated by Sangeeta Mishra of Kirateshor

Mahadev Sangeet Ashram

October 11, Wednesday6.30 PM | Ticket: Rs1500

THE JAZZ AFFAIRBy the Saskia Laroo Band (Netherlands) and

Stupa (Nepal)

October 14, Saturday10.30 AM ñ 10PM hours | Ticket: Rs 500

JAPANESE DAYDisplay of Ikebana, Bonsai, Japanese dolls,

Kendo, KimonosChrysanthemum Festival, Tea Ceremony &

Musical Concert

October 15, Sunday6.30 hours

CHILDRENíS DAYMusic concert by children

October 17, Tuesday7PM hours | Ticket: Rs 300FIRE IN THE MONASTERYA play in Nepali, Directed by SunilPokharel presented by Gurukul

October 18, Wednesday6.30 hours | Ticket: Rs 500FUSION NIGHTBy Trikaal, Salil on the Didgeridooand An FainneñKathmanduísexpatriate Irish Band

October 20, Friday7PM hours | Ticket: RS 500RAMAILO SANJH WITH HAVAASIN CONCERTPresented by Nepa~laya

FOR MORE DETAILSKaiser Mahal Garden of Dreams,Kathmandu | Tel.: 4425340Email: kmahal@mos.com.np

ANUP PRAKASHMIN BAJRACHARYA

masks the noise from the streets ofThamel. In the summer months, this areais also the coolest in the entire garden. Soif you’re headed for shade and a quietcorner, this is the spot you want.

One problem the garden did have waswith the water supply. With so manywater bodies and foliage to take care of,they needed something they coulddepend on. So the project team dugtwoground wells, to provide the garden withwater. Although most of the garden is

complete, further restoration work andtraining of staff will continue up toSeptember 2007.

These days, the team of over 100 staff,are extremely busy with preparations forthe opening.

The project estimates that it will takeabout Rs 300,000 to maintain the gardenand pay staff each month. More than halfof that amount will hopefully come fromthe rent while the rest should be coveredthrough admission fees.

15 - 21 SEPTEMBER 2006 #31510 NATION

ince it was formed by an actof parliament after the pro-democracy movement in

1991, Kathmandu University (KU)has been selective about studentsand faculty, and has aimed forexcellence.

But, as with most institutionsstarted with one manís vision, KUfaces the same challenges as thenation itself: how to adjust to thenew demands of a newgeneration.

When Suresh Raj Sharma gottogether with like-minded friendsretired from academia, all they

KU’s quality education

had was an idea. Today that ideastands in the form of a universitythat has more than 5,000 studentsin its departments and affiliatedcolleges.

ìWe all complain that thegovernment doesnít do enough forus, but KU is the perfect exampleof what we can give back to thecountry,î says the silver hairedprofessor, who worked his way upfrom an impoverished Sindhulivillage to get a PhD and devotehis life to education, ìThe countrymade me what I am, I have noright to complain.î

Sharma has always been adoer, overcoming obstacles to

ensure that Nepal can provide aninternational standard universityeducation so students donít haveto go abroad to study. Today KUoffers intermediate,undergraduate, graduate andpostgraduate level programs inscience, engineering, medicine,management, education,pharmacy, environment, music,human and natural resources,information technology, andbiotechnology through sixschools.

Sharmaís biggest challenge isensuring quality and he admitsthat he is worried about makingsure that new departments like

biotechnology and media meet thehighest standards. KU has anenviable record of studentretention (85 percent), three-fourths of all students have jobswithin three months of graduating,and up to 20 percent go on tofurther studies.

ìJust providing education isnever enough,î says Sharma, ìwehave to make sure that there arejobs out there for our graduates.îSince 1998, the pharmacydepartment alone has produced350 graduates who are thebackbone of Nepalís buddingpharmaceutical industry. KU-affiliated medical schools inNepal save the country at leastRs 40 million a year in fees thatwould have otherwise have goneabroad, in addition to attractingmedical students from abroad.

KU also has the onlyhydropower energy program inthis part of the world, set up withNorwegian help. It is the perfectexample of capacity building:setting up a hydropower traininginstitute in Nepal instead ofsending students to Norway.Other than Nepalis, 15 studentsfrom Indonesia, Sri Lanka,Zambia, and Bangladesh are alsopresently enrolled in the program.

Students come to KU becausethey want to study. With rigorouscurricula and the pressure to dowell, students have little time forpolitics, unlike in other

After 15 years, Kathmandu University looks ahead to the next 15

MALLIKA ARYAL

S

KIRAN PANDAY

universities. ìMy parents arepaying so much money for me tostudy in KU, I came here becauseI want regular classes and I wantto study,î says AnuroopManandhar, a fourth yearbiotechnology student.

Unlike other colleges, at KUitís not the students but theteachers who are on the warpath.Following the April pro-democracy uprising, facultymembers at KU have beenpressuring the administration toaddress long-standing grievanceson promotion and job security.When the administration refusedto allow staff to form a union inMay, the university shut down fortwo weeksóthe first time in itshistory.

Sharma concedes there maybe legitimate demands, and sayshe is willing to consider them. Buteven for a chronic optimist likeSharma this episode has been abitter reality check. ìI gave it all Ihad, we made this institutionbrick-by-brick,î he says, ìit isvery painful to see people tryingto destroy what you have built socarefully. î

Oddly enough, it was KUstudents who mediated betweenadministration and agitating staff.ìWhen the classes stopped weknew our semester calendar wasgoing to be affected, so wepressured both sides to sit fortalks and not fool around with ourfuture,î says Deepak Sharma, astudent. The university acceptedsome of the demands, which arein the process of beingimplemented.

Perhaps now KU can go backto doing what it does best: usingthe next 15 years to build on thelast 15 to produce a workforce ofhomegrown talent that is trulyworld class.

15 - 21 SEPTEMBER 2006 #315NATION 11

t is easy to overlook parliament’sdramatic transformation of Nepal’sstate structure since the April

Uprising. But that is because parliamentmade it look so easy.

Using the mandate of the peoplepower movement, the house ofrepresentatives has dismantled the powersof a feudal monarchy and pushed throughprogressive legislation at a breathtakingpace: vested the powers of royalsuccession in parliament’s state affairscommittee, stripped the king of his role assupreme commander of the army, declaredNepal a secular state, ratified the RomeStatute, and amended the citizenship act.

Critics say parliament has oversteppedits mandate and is trying to substitue realprogress with pseudo-radical legislation.Conspiracy-minded republicans even saydismantling the powers of the monarchyis a way to save it. The Maoists, who haveno representation in parliament, havedefinitely felt the rug pulled from underthem as the House makes decisions onissues that have always been their agenda.

The man driving this activistparliament is Speaker Subash ChandraNembang, and he has no qualms aboutgoing too far. The soft-spoken and suavespeaker has gathered a formidablereputation for integrity since he burstupon the political stage as chairman of

the public accounts committee five yearsago.

The committee came down hard onallegations of corruption in the lease ofaircraft by then-Royal Nepal Airlines in adeal initiated by Girija Prasad Koiralawhen he was prime minister in 2000.Nembang did not even hesitate toinvestigate a minister from his own UMLin another lease scandal, even though itupset his party colleagues.

Says Nembang: “What matters most tome is justice. I have taken an oath to workfor the people.” Nembang is a bit worriedthat the slew of reform legislations passed

by parliament will face delays inimplementation. For example, theratification of the International LabourOrganisation (ILO) convention 169 shouldgive indigenous people more rights by law,but will it in practice?

Nembang himself comes from a line ofLimbu nobility from eastern Nepal andlearnt early on what discrimination does topeople. His father, a lawyer, had been pro-Congress, but Nembang was attracted tocommunist ideology. He became a studentactivist during the Panchayat years, andturned towards politics as an elected MPfrom Ilam. He is also an attorney with 20

Man of the HouseSpeaker Subhash Nembang puts parliament to work

SOPHIA TAMOT years of experience.Despite being a communist, Nembang

has no reservations when it comes to hisown family’s beliefs. His liberalism isapparent when he discloses that his wifeis a fashion designer who runs Hama, apopular boutique in Durbar Marg.

While being interviewed, a group ofconstituents from Ilam arriveunannounced. He doesn’t turn themaway, and welcomes them politely. Theygarland him and sit down for a chatabout conditions on the ground in hishome district.

In a country where politicians areknown for feathering their own nests, itis refreshing to come across one who hasvision and is driven by a strongcommitment to democracy anddevelopment.

“My job is to weaken the forces ofregression and strengthen people power,”says Nembang, “my job is also to ensurethat the constituent assembly electionstake place soon and that they are asuccess.” The speaker is so busy, he hasdeclined more than a dozen speakinginvitations and junkets abroad to takecare of things here. The peace process isstill fragile, but with politicians likeNembang steering the House ofRepresentatives there is hope. But howpositive is he?

“Oh I am positive,” he replies withconviction, “because the people are onour side.”

I

KIRAN PANDAY

12 INTERVIEW 15 - 21 SEPTEMBER 2006 #315

Nepali Times: Things seem stuck in thepeace process.G¸nther B‰chler: The process is on track.Put it in perspective: the unilateralceasefire of the CPN (Maoist), the seven-party alliance, the 12-point understanding,the April Jana Andolan, the 25-point code ofconduct, the letters to the UN, the fact thatthere is a Special Representative of KofiAnnan here at the invitation of both sides.All this is progress, now it needsimplementation. The interim constitution,although it couldnít be finalised, proved thatpolitical issues must be settled in thepolitical arena. If both sides refrain fromexpanding their positions, and insteadconcentrate on their common interestótoelect a constituent assemblyóthen theopen questions can be settled soon.

But there seems to be a wide trust gap.There are suspicions, but 50 percent of thenoise is posturing, bargaining, andcampaigning, common for political parties.Only 50 percent is disagreement on realissues. Without continuous dialogue or aclear roadmap, growing mistrust will lead toa divergence of views and perceptions, andhardening of positions. After 27 August2003, armed violence resumed despitepolitical agreement on a six-point agenda.To avoid a repeat, building confidence andstrengthening both talks teams is essential.

What influence does the internationalcommunity have?The peace process has been and is Nepali-driven, which is good. The internationalcommunity expresses its views, but haslimited influence on the process as a whole,which is also good. There are two concernsin the international communityís statements.The continuation of violence, which drivesstatements about disarming the rebels

before they join the political mainstream.Second, concern about the peace processas a whole, which promotes statementsabout a clear roadmap based on a moresystematic approach to the talks thatminimises suspicion and mistrust.

Yours is the second position, but isnít itdifferent for those with geopolitical interestin Nepal and those without?I donít think there are too many geopoliticalinterests at stake. The most important actoris India, and the complex, historically-grownrelationship can be an asset for both sides.Of course there are different internationalviews about how a democratic and peacefulNepal would look. Some fear a left-wingalliance government more than others.Nepal is a sovereign country and we shouldhelp create a situation where voters candecide in a free and fair manner, withoutexternal political interference.

What is the Swiss interest?For 50 years weíve been engaged at thelocal level with the people of Nepal, with theexcluded and marginalised. So we often seethe peace process from the perspective ofour partners in rural areas. If any politicalelite puts the process at risk, thatjeopardises the positive transformation ofthe country. We all need to be committed tothe peace process, spend time to make itsustainable, not just complain about failureof any side, or engage in business, politics,and development work as usual.

But is there still the political will for peace?Yes, but there is also pressure to engage inparallel strategies that nourish suspicionand self-fulfilling prophecies of failure.Instead, we should ask: what is the sourceof the lack of confidence and erosion oftrust, and how can it be re-built?

GÜNTHER BÄCHLER is aSpecial Adviser for

Peace Building in Nepalof the Swiss Federal

Department forForeign Affairs. He hasexperiences in peace

building in the Balkans,Horn of Africa, Ivory

Coast and Rwanda. Hespoke to Nepali Timesabout the road aheadin the peace process.

“50 percent of the noise is posturing”Constituent assembly elections are the

major step to legitimise a representativebody and draft a new constitution with fullparticipation of all Nepalis. The focus shouldbe on free and fair elections, but all sidesare overloading the formation of an interimgovernment with conditions. The interimgovernment is becoming a barrier to a newconstitution when it is in fact a temporaryarrangement not yet been legitimised by theelectorate. Political parties denying peopletheir right to vote will lose credibility andpave the way for those whoíd like to run thecountry with an iron hand.

What does your job entail?I contribute ideas and help create anenabling environment for dialogue, supportnegotiations, and peace initiatives. I shouldnot interfere in the process owned byNepalis. I am confident, as I haveestablished good relationships with allsides. My expertise in conflict resolutionand negotiation, peace and constitution-making processes, and federalist statestructures, is on offer. For example, I amnow coaching a group of 20 Nepali women tostrengthen their negotiation skills.

Do you think Nepal is unique?Nepal has a remarkable conflict-carryingcapacity compared to other countries, wherearmed violence has triggered complete statefailure. There was never a full-fledged warand no extreme violence. Some ethicalbarriers, the focus on political options, and astrong, organised civil society helpedprevent the worst. The media and humanrights defenders also contributed. Finally,the society at large has enormous self-helpcapacity. The ability to handle the mostdifficult challenges provides a soundbasis for building a peaceful democracyin Nepal.

15 - 21 SEPTEMBER 2006 #315 13CULTURE

Classic Encountersazz aficionados have a doubletreat at tonight’s Surya ClassicEncounters. Nepal’s very own

jazz legends Cadenza will beperforming at the RadissonHotel’s Olive Bar while Stupa—an up-and-coming jazz outfit towatch out for—will be playing atthe Rodi Bar in Soaltee Hotel.

Last week’s edition of SuryaClassic Encounters featuredguitar maestro Anil Shahi andhis troupe fusing the elite crowdwith their mix of western andeastern instrumental music atAbsolute Bar in Pulchowk(pictured) while Stupa wowedJatra with their jazz. The Absoluteencounter was subtler and suiteda quiet dinner type affair, whileat Jatra jazz lovers just couldn’tget enough and were askingfor more even after the lastnumber.

This week is packed as well,with two events on Friday, oneon Saturday and the last of theSurya Classic Encounters onWednesday at the Liquid Lounge.Besides Friday’s event at OliveBar, jazz masters Cadenza—withvocalist and drummer NavinChettri, Samir Chettri on congos,Rajat Rai on guitars, RoshanGurung on bass, and Marino onsaxophone—will be playing onSaturday at the Fusion bar inDwarika’s as well. AlthoughCadenza needs no introductionfor most, those new to jazz needto understand that this is theband that not only introducedthe genre in Nepal but also tookNepali musicians to regional andinternational fame with theirworld class style and innovation.They’ve played in gigs at homeand abroad, and have been majorcontributors to Jazzmandu, theannual jazz extravaganza, eversince it began in 2002.

The final episode of SuryaClassic Encounters series will beheld at Liquid Lounge onWednesday 20 September withNepal rockers 1974AD playingunplugged. The band that beganmore than ten years ago hasproduced more hit numbers thanany other modern Nepali rockoutfit. Their newest albumOn Air is completed and willsoon be released by SantanaRecords.

Cadenza @ Olive Bar, RadissonHotel, 8PM Friday 15 SeptemberStupa @ Rodi Bar, Soaltee Hotel,8PM Friday 15 SeptemberCadenza @ Fusion Bar, DwarikasHotel, 7PM Saturday16 September1974AD unplugged @ LiquidLounge, Lajimpat, 8PMWednesday 20 September

J

Double treatwith Cadenzaand Stupa

14 15 - 21 SEPTEMBER 2006 #315CITY

ABOUT TOWN

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Call 4442220 for show timings at Jai Nepalwww.jainepal.com

During a night of partying, Anamika (Urmila Matondkar)meets Nikhil (Sanjay Suri) at a pub. The chemistrybetween them is instant but she disappears into thenight without even telling him her name. Nikhil starts tovisit the pub regularly hoping to meet her again. Onesuch night at the pub with friends a confrontation leadsto a shot being fired. Time stands still as Nikhil realizesthat he is holding the gun from which the shot was fired.This moment would change all their lives forever.

†

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EXHIBITIONSGreen Apple exhibition of Saroj Kushwahaís works,17 September at Bandana. 4428694Reflections paintings by Chanda Shah at The Art Shop till18 September. 42670633000 Trail Bridges photo exhibitionof trail bridges at Patan MuseumCafÈ till 19 SeptemberSparsh exhibition of Bhim PrasadSharmaís works at Gallery Nine till20 September. 4428694A Retrospective exhibition of RNJoshiís work at Park Gallery,Pulchok, till 25 September. 5522307Impressions of Manang till 28 September, Nepal Tourism Board

EVENTSSurya Kala Super Model Contest 2006 at Hotel Yak & Yeti,15 September, 6PMTuborg MaHa Gaijatra at Pragya Pratisthan, Kamaladi,15 September, 5.30 PMJacques Derrida and Deconstructionism with Arun Gupto,16 September, 4PM at Martin Chautari. 4238050Garment Industry in Nepal Under WTO Framework withChiranjibi Tiwari, 16 September, 3PM at Martin ChautariWater colour painting, visual presentation, dicussion, workshoporganised by Nepal Water Colour Society, 16 September atPark Gallery. 5522307Bandana a new space for arts and creativity below GalleryNine, Lajimpat opening on 17 SeptemberJeewan Dekhi Jeewan Samma written by Abhi Subedi anddirected by Sunil Pokhrel at Sama Natakghar, Gurukul till20 SeptemberLux Supermodel Hunt at Soaltee Crowne Plaza, 22 SeptemberFilms Out of Mind at Lazimpat Gallery CafÈ, Eternal Sunshineof the Spotless Mind 19 September, Touching the Void 21September, Harvey 26 September, Psycho 28 September, 7PMGhatasthapana 23 SeptemberNaya Nepal Conference organised by Action Aid Nepal and theSocial Science Baha, 26-27 September. 9841419943

MUSICFusion with Kutumba and Stupa at Moksh Live, 15 September,8.30 PM. 5526212Drop Everything start your weekend with live music night atLajimpat Gallery Cafe, 15 September, 7.30 PMWinter Concert Rehearsals by The Kathmandu Chorale, till15 September, 7PM at the British School. 5534737Mexican Night with DJ Sishir at Liquid Lounge, 15 September,7.30 PM, Rs 500Software Freedom Day free software, tutorials and technicalhelp, 16 September, 10AM-5PM at Yala Maya KendraTake 5 Jazz Night with Cadenza, Dwarikaís Hotel, 7PM on16 September, Rs 1200, 7PMNanglo Volkswagon Beetle Rally for cleft palate surgery,16 September, 9.30 at Nanglo Darbar MargYala Maya Classics with live performances by Jeeven Ale onflute, Manoj Gautam on tabla and Mandira Ale on Tanpura,18 September, 6PM at Yala Maya Kendra, Patan Dhoka.5553767Women in Concert Part IV at Hotel Delí Annapurna,24 September, Rs 999, 7PMRamailo Saanjh with Anil Shahiís Maya Mantra at Dwarikaís,26 September, Rs 1000Oktober Fest a fusion of food and music at Dwarikaís,29 September, Rs 850Surya Classic Jazzmandu 2006 12-20 OctoberOpen Mic Night at ViaVia CafÈ, Thamel every Friday, 8PM

DININGMezza and Margaritas at Dwarikaís Fusion, every Wednesdayat 5.30 PM, Rs 555. 4479448Saffron new Indian restaurant at Hotel Shangri-la. 4412999Seven Sensations at Hotel Yak & Yeti, cocktails and snacks.4248999Thakali Lunch special price, everyday at Moksh. 5526212Sizzler Promotion at Hotel Himalaya. 5523900Authentic Thai Food at Krua Thai, Thamel. 4701291Monsoon Madness Wine Festival enjoy wines from fourcontinents at Kilroyís of Kathmandu. 4250440Wet & Wild Summer Splash†swimming and lunch, or overnightstay with breakfast and swimming, Godavari Village Resort.5560675Weekend Brunch at Hyatt Regency, Kathmandu. 4491234

GETAWAYSTiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge open for new season from1 September. 4361500Nature Retreat at Park Village Resorts & Spa. 4375280Escape Kathmandu at Shivapuri Heights Cottage. 9841371927Escape to Godavari Village Resort,†an overnight staypackage†with breakfast & swimming. 5560675

For inclusion in the listing send information to editors@nepalitimes.com

by MIKUYAK YETI YAK

KATHMANDU VALLEY

by NGAMINDRA DAHALNEPALI WEATHER

Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue

28-17 29-18 29-19 30-18 29-17

KATHMANDU

This weekís three-day run of stormyrain is like the Nepali proverb, ëa lampshines brightest before it diesí.Chitwan valley was hit hardest by thisfront, that brought it over 400mm ofrain in three days, 250mm from a singlestorm. This was the last of its kindthis monsoon, though the satellitepicture from Thursday afternoon showsmore rain in store for the coming week.Breakaway clouds will bring lightshowers towards evening, and thesunny days will be punctuated by gentleautumn breezes. Valley residents canplan activities this weekend to matchthe fair weather.

Daily20.45-21.15 on 102.4

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Radio SagarmathaP.O. Box 6958,

Bakhundole, Lalitpur, NepalTel: ++977-1-545680, 545681,

Fax: ++ 977-1- 530227radio@radiosagarmatha.org,

www.radiosagarmatha.org

1515 - 21 SEPTEMBER 2006 #315HAPPENINGS

WELCOME TO TOWN: Regional Resident Representative of theInternational Organization for Migration (IOM) for South Asia, ShahidulHaque, UN Resident Representative to Nepal, Matthew Kahane andJoint Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Madhuban Paudel (leftto right) at the opening ceremony of the IOM office in Nepal, Tuesday.

RAM HUMAGAIN/NEPALNEWS.COM

SHAKE-UP: Nepal's newly appointed Chief of Army Staff RukmangatKatuwal shakes hands with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala afterreceiving the official insignia on Sunday.

REMEMBERING BP: Acting General Secretary of the Nepali CongressRam Baran Yadab speaks on the 93rd anniversary of BP Koirala's birthduring a function at Ratna Park on Saturday.

MIN BAJRACHARYA

SNEAK PREVIEW: Kunda Dixit unveils the cover of A People War -Images of the Nepal Conflict 1996-2000, during the soft launch of thenew book of photos on Tuesday at Yala Maya Kendra, Patan Dhoka.

KIRAN PANDAY

or four years, Poonam Rai produced and designedclothing lines for major French high street chains like LaRedoute, Quelle, and Blanc Port. The clothes were

manufactured in Nepal and then shipped off to France underRaiís supervision.

But the conflict and an uncertain political situation causeddelays in shipments, and that hit orders. After four years in theexport business, Poonam suddenly lost all her clients, andworse, her workers found themselves without a job.

Poonam acted swiftly. She took in 24 workers, mostlyDalits, and with them opened SemReMe, a small boutique inMaharajganj. Today, her clients range from locals who wantcustom-made jeans to expats and tourists who want weddinggowns shipped to America.

Poonam is doing well for herself, but sheís concernedabout the Nepali handloom industry. ìMany of our hemp andorganic cotton, natural fibre, and woven textiles are notpart of fair trade and because of this, the people whowork the hardest get the least share of the profits. Itísjust not right.î

She is also disturbed by Nepali designers not being allthat bothered. ìSadly, Iíve only met foreigners who thinkitís important,î says Poonam. While lobbying for fair trade,she makes sure her clients pay 5 to 10 percent of theirsales back to the people who have manufactured theproduct. She hopes this amount will be used to strengthenworkersí skills, and production infrastructure.

Back in her workshop, her staffótailors,weavers and dyersó listen intently asPoonam points out a missing button on awhite organic cotton shirt. They know theycannot afford to mess up this order. Theclient, Leila Hafzi, is a well-knownScandinavian designer. A good word from her inthe international scene would mean more businessfor the company and more money for them.

Poonam and her staff are looking ahead to bettertimes. ìTwo years ago, we lost a bid to supply cushioncovers to Harrods. But with our increasingprofessionalism, thatís unlikely to happen again,îPoonam says with a confident smile.

Fair trade designerF

ARMS AND THE MESS: These Armoured Personnel Carriers and thetrucks in the background sparked off rumours of arms imports, whichled to riots. The APCs are part of the supplies accompanying the 850Nepal Army troops soon to be deployed on peacekeeping duty inLebanon. They are now in Sangram Shardul Battalion in Gajuri.

SAGAR SHRESTHA

KIRAN PANDAY

SAGAR SHRESTHA

15 - 21 SEPTEMBER 2006 #31516

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e have been at battle stations keeping a watch on thetournament for vacant ambassadorships. There isnothing new to report since our last update on the issue

three weeks ago, other than to say that the candidates have nowentered the semi-final round. Competition is fierce, hand-to-handcombat has been reported.

Parliament for its part has decided that it will henceforth demandthree nominations for each ambassadorial position, and then will takean exam with objective and subjective questions essay questions andalso oral exams before deciding which lucky chaps get to be Nepal’semissaries and plenipotentiaries. This has meant all prospective dipsare cramming geography, history and arithmetic so they can pass theIron Gates.

The UML, NC(D) and NC all had rival ambassadorial candidates for thejuiciest spots, viz: Tokyo, London, Washington and New Delhi. Thisdeadlocked the nominations for three months. The disagreement wasone of the reasons the NC and NC(D) have a hard time agreeing onunification because some NC(D) hopefuls would probably lose theirchance of ambassadorial nominations if the party united.

Nevertheless, at least the NC and the UML have called a truce anddecided to divide up the world much in the same way that theSpanish and Portuguese demarcated their spheres of influence in the17th century. The NC wants New Delhi and Washington, arguing thatsending a commie to Washington may not be a brilliant idea and thatit can handle Big Brother better than the UML’s resident India-bashers.By which token it would mean that the UML could easily get acommunist country like China, but don’t bet on it. Beijing doesn’twant commies either. So Balkhu now wants Tokyo, Berlin, Brusselsand (surprise!) Rangoon. UML frontrunners appear to be mostlyhuman rights wallahs.

The town is abuzz with speculation about what transpired at theGirija-Gyanendra summit the other week. We happened to have a flyon the wall during the hour-long meeting and can report that King Gsought Premier G’s advice on matters of state. “What should I do?” theking asked. According to the fly, who requested anonymity, the primeminister replied: “Sit tight, Your Majesty, don’t do a thing,” adding,“tempus omnia curat”. Or words to that effect. Time healseverything, and no one should know that better than our primeminister.

There are several options being considered to untie the currentpolitical deadlock. And at risk of sounding like our predecessor,Under My Hat, they are (in no particular order):

1. Make King G president2. Make Prachanda president3. Make PM president4. Make Chandi Dhakal president5. Make Prachanda king6. Make Baburam Minister of Urban Planning and Tyre

Supplies7. Make Paras ambassador to North Korea

We also hear Prachanda wants to change his name. It's difficultliving up to one’s awesome reputation and several suggestions cometo mind. In the national interest, here are some suggestions: ComradeAwful, Comrade Grey Shirt, Comrade-in-Chief, The Dear One, theGreat Leader, Mr Bad Hair Day, Chairman Meet-Me-At-The-Gym. Pleasetick only one.

It’s obvious that the prolonged ceasefire means the undergroundMaoist comrades have nothing to do, and the leadership needs to keepthe elite commando units occupied with organising tyre fires. Theirspecial taskforce is busy patrolling New Road selling 'tickets' forMaoist cultural events at Rs 100,000. Wonder if we get a free Coke withthat. Others are hitting shops along Lajimpat for up to Rs 1 million. InJomsom, tourists have to pay Rs 1,500 as soon as they land to thecommissar, and hotel owners there are thinking of closing shopbecause of extortion. So what is the Federation of Nepali Chamber ofCommerce and Industry doing about all this? The President wassitting on the podium with Maoist leaders at a revolutionary tradeunion convention at Khula Manch. A day previously,the FNCCI head honcho also used the 10-minutetime allotted to him during the Indo-NepalHydropower Summit to deliver a 20-minute tiradeagainst the media suggesting, among other things, thatjust as China muzzled the media Nepal should do thesame. With businessmen like these, who needs willfuldefaulters?

Tempusomnia curat