#469 18 - 24 September 2009 16 pages Rs 30

he Maoists have uppedthe ante with black flagprotests that disrupted

convocations at both TribhuvanUniversity and PurbanchalUniversity this week. In the lead-up to Dasain, was this just a lastshow of strength or did the blackflags really mean something? Forthe students who had longawaited their graduationceremonies, such scenes wereunlikely to inspire confidence intheir futures. Dasain may bearound the corner, but Nepalipolitics is still on the road tonowhere.

BlackdaysT

MANOJ SHRESTHA

Chaaaait!Our cities are down on charm,but kites still channel ourspirits.

Mall-manduMalls have caused a stir inKathmandu, having redefinednot only lifestyles butshopping itself.

p8-9

p4

2 18 - 24 SEPTEMBER 2009 #469EDITORIAL

Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Editor: Kunda DixitDesk Editor: Rabi ThapaCEO: Ashutosh Tiwari Design: Kiran MaharjanDGM Sales and Marketing: Sambhu Guragain marketing@himalmedia.comMarketing Manager: Subhash Kumar Asst. Manager: Arjun Karki

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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 SPEAKINGPrashant Jha

W

ACCOUNTABILITYMoved by a sense of patriotism, I reallyagree with your editorial (‘Turning theKey’, #468). I just don’t understand whatour leaders are trying to do. Housedisruptions, marathon races for power,etc. What’s up? Power matters less thanaccountability. At this crucial juncture,political biggies should not run afterwhat their henchmen and cadres say,but what the populace really demands.

Bed Nath Sharma, Kaski

CONSENSUSThe time has come for leaders like GPKoirala, Madhav Nepal, and Prachandato put aside their personal ambitions andwork for the country’s welfare (‘Nepaland Koirala’, #468). Madhav Nepalmight not be an outstanding leader ofmen but is less controversial than ourother leaders, so our other partiesshould work together with them. There isno useful purpose served by changinghorses midstream just to satisfy egos.

D.B.N. Murthy, Lalitpur

e need to start thinkingabout what happensafter May 28, 2010.

The first scenario is thatdespite the hiccups, it all worksout in the end.

This would either mean thatthe Maoists start cooperatingwith this government, theMaoists lead a nationalgovernment, or all parties strike apower-sharing deal and accept a

consensus candidate. A broadpackage deal is then arrived at.And in the first few months of2010, cutting short the time forpublic consultations, ignoringopposition from some quarters, astatute is pushed through.

For this to happen, thereneeds to be a dire sense ofurgency across the politicalspectrum. Common fears – oflosing their relevance, of theprocess collapsing, of invitingunmanageable risks – would haveto drive parties to work together.

Most would consider thisoutlook unlikely. What could

change for the parties tosuddenly end up cooperating in amonth or two? Will theincreasingly violent Maoistagitation drive home the pointabout their indispensability andforce a deal, or will it invite abacklash? Can GPK act ahead ofhis party and strike a deal withthe Maoists? Do key actors withinthe Maoists and the NC evenwant a change in governmentbefore their respectiveconventions in Januaryand March?

And if we have to wait thatlong for a political agreement,won’t we miss the May deadlineanyway? How does the desire ofthe NC-UML to do away with thePLA before the constitution iswritten square with the seemingdetermination of the Maoists tokeep the PLA till theconstitution is written? Cancontentious claims on federalismbe reconciled in such a shorttime-frame?

This brings us to the second,more likely scenario: the Maydeadline will be missed.

If the big parties strike apower-sharing deal, and if thedeadline is missed only becauseof constitutional issues, they

may all get together, amendthe constitution, givethemselves an extension,and fulfill their mandates.But if confrontation hasdeepened andconstitutional debates havefurther polarised politics,then we are stuck.

Article 64 (on the termof the CA) of the interimconstitution is typical ofambiguous Nepali legalese.It seems to suggest that theCA can extend its tenure bysix months in case theconstitution has not beenwritten because of thedeclaration of a state ofemergency. Does this meanan extension can be

justified only in the event of aformal emergency? What if theextension is necessary because ofother factors?

Article 143 (emergencypowers) states that the president,on the recommendation of thecouncil of ministers, can imposea state of emergency. But this hasto be approved by two thirds ofthe legislature-parliament withina month of its imposition. Thismeans there has to be broad,sustained political consensus onthe legitimacy of such a move,even if it does not exist when thedeclaration is made.

Either way, we are getting intovery tricky politico-legal territory.The role of the president will beimportant. Many forces wouldlike to lure the President into anextra-constitutional step. Theyearning for political order mightthen only provide furtherimpetus to a drastic move.

That is why there is a need fora constitutional amendmentnow. This will give the Maoists aface-saver, allow discussion ofPresident Yadav’s move, andbreak the House stalemate. Moreimportantly, an amendment thatdefines and limits thepresidential role will be criticalfor the rest of this transitionalperiod (especially if we extendthe CA’s tenure).

To make it more even-handed,and take into account criticismsof how Prachanda handled theKatawal affair, the amendmentcould state that onlygovernments commanding amajority can make bindingrecommendations on the head ofstate. It could also clarify thepresident’s options if he isunsure of the government’ssupport.

All these issues will beclarified in the futureconstitution. But we need to takecare of the short term, too, or nextMay could be more dangerousthan the last.

Constitutional May DayWe need to make sure we make it

DASAIN WISHESThe relationship between the ruling coalition and the mainopposition party in the legislature continues to deteriorate.From waving black flags at ministers, Maoist cadres haveresorted to pelting stones at them. This is a dangerous portent.Unfortunately, the government doesn’t seem to be in a mood tocede an inch of political space to the Maoists. This makes thelikelihood of a rapprochement remote.

Should the standoff in Parliament and the confrontation inthe streets continue, the drafting of a new statute will bedelayed, if not altogether sabotaged. The second casualty willbe the functioning of the government, which has already beenbrought to its knees by various armed groups operating in theeastern hills and the central Tarai. The third impact will be themost cataclysmic: the ongoing peace process will unravel, withall the attendant complications and consequences.

The term ‘failed state’ is one of the most misunderstood andmisused of our times. But the possibility appears to be staringus in the face. Girija Prasad Koirala and Madhav Kumar Nepalquibble over the arrangement of deckchairs even as the shiprisks being sunk by the Maoists and its breakaway armedgroups. No matter how many berths the prime minister adds tohis cabinet, they will not be enough to accommodate all theminister-aspirants and keep his wobbly coalition afloat. Therehas to be some other way to end the stalemate.

Koirala believes the deadlock can end with the formation ofa high-level coordination committee. He has to take theinitiative if his prescriptions are to be taken seriously. Nepalthinks the Maoists can be brought into the present coalitiongovernment. If so, he needs to stop abusing them. PushpaKamal Dahal insists that his party is the only one capable oftaking the peace process to its logical conclusion. Peltingstones at one’s political rivals is hardly likely to contribute tothis process.

Our leaders need to consider whether their actions havereal value or whether they are merely reacting to events. It hasbeen saidseveral timesbefore but itbears repetitiononce more: thereis no alternativeto the politics ofconsensusduring this, themostrevolutionaryperiod of thehistory of Nepal.This Dasain,let’s hope therenewal of familyties will inspirein all a sense ofcommonpurpose.

LETTERSNepali Times welcomes feedback. Lettersshould be brief and may be edited for space.While pseudonyms are accepted, writerswho provide their real names and contactdetails will be given preference. Email lettersshould be in text format without attachmentswith ‘letter to the editor’ in the subject line.

Email: letters(at)nepalitimes.comFax: 977-1-5521013Mail: Letters, Nepali Times,GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal.

foreigners or forces beyond their control.But it’s about time we blamed ourselves,as citizens of Nepal, and not any ethnicgroup. You can be individualistic in a bigcountry with lots of resources, but not ina country as small and poor as Nepal.We must work together, not against oneanother. Federalism won’t work untilpeople learn this lesson.

Ritu Raj Onta, email

KIRAN PANDAY

INSPIRINGThe touching piece on Jhamak Ghimire(‘Renegade child of thehills’, #468) brought tolight one of our nationalheroines. She has longbeen known to theNepali literature sceneand has in factreceived awards forher work. Finally, thegovernment is takingthe initiative torecognise Jhamak.Now, if only thehundreds of thousandsof disabled peopleacross Nepal weregiven as much respectand support!

Anup Bhandari,Kathmandu

MASTERCLASSThe review on Kubrick’s masterpiece(‘Back to the future’, #467) brought back so

many of my favourite cinematic moments.Kubrick virtually invented a new movie

language here –silence. I’ve yet to seea movie that usessilence as part of thenarrative better andwith special effectsthat seem as fresh aswhen it was first made.Space has neverlooked more grand,beautiful andmysterious as in 2001.Compared to it, theStar Wars seriessimply seems childishand dated (not thatthey were greatmovies anyway).

Badri Rai, email

BLAME GAMEI totally agree with Ratna Sansar Shrestha(‘Jumping the gun’, #467). Nepalis blametoo many of their own problems on

318 - 24 SEPTEMBER 2009 #469OP-ED

STATE OF THE STATEC K Lal

U nlike the Maoist leadersin their rumpled clothes,UML stalwarts dress well

and are generally presentable.That could be one of the reasonstelevision reporters prefer themto the stuffy politicos of the NC.

UML politicians are also verymedia-savvy. They usually have asound bite for every occasion. Nowonder the media is so keen tocover marginal players in Nepal’spower politics such as BamdevGautam and Ishwar Pokharel. TheUML’s media profile is far inexcess of its political weight.

Ranking leaders of the UMLare extremely articulate inoutlining the deficiencies ofbourgeois parties like the NC.They combine combativeness andwitticism in criticising what theycall the leftwing extremism of theMaoists. The UML seldomcensures rightwing politicos.But it’s in attacking each otherthat the rhetoricians of BalkhuPalace excel.

It’s enough to hear JhalnathKhanal on Madhav Nepal or viceversa to keep abreast of the latestinnovations in verbal abuse. But

United Marketers Limited

even by the high standards of thevitriolic exchanges among UMLleaders, Comrade Khadga PrasadOli is a class unto himself. Hisacid observations on partycolleagues advocating a policy ofaccommodation towards Maoists,the new ‘class enemies’ of theUML, are unforgettable.

Oli has headed to Japan forDasain. The public space will bea little less stormy in the weeksto come. But acrimoniousexchanges between the Nepal andKhanal cliques are likely tocontinue. However, it’s unlikelythe UML will implode anytimesoon. The ferocity of verbal duelsbetween faction leaders

notwithstanding, rumours of thedeath of the united UML aregreatly exaggerated.

The UML emerged out of acoalition of leftwing groupsformed at the insistence of NCleader Ganeshman Singh duringthe People’s Movement of 1990.Madan Bhandari thentransformed it into a formidableelectoral force through a clevermix of dogmatism anddemagoguery. But the party beganto change soon after his death ina car accident in 1993.

In the post-Soviet euphoriaof the early 1990s, the rise of theUML’s hammer and sickle flag inthe Himalaya was as disturbing

Rumours of the death of the united UML are greatly exaggerated

to the outside world then as theMaoists’ electoral performance in2008 was. Donors made a beelinefor the newly constructed Balkhuheadquarters when the UMLminority government took charge.Everybody wanted to assist in thebourgeoisification of the UML.

The first flush of foreignmoney went to party frontsfunctioning as NGOs in the fieldsof human, child and genderrights. More funds began to flowfor development work to UMLaffiliates once donors realisedthey were the only ones allowedto operate in areas afflicted by theMaoist insurgency.

By early 2001, the UML had

MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA

become so thoroughly de-politicised that it didn’t allow asingle sitting of the wintersession of parliament tofunction. When the mediaaccused the then oppositionleader Madhav Kumar Nepal ofobstructing the democraticprocess, he responded: “We hadnever said that we would notallow taking up of regularbusiness. If the PM had resigned,the House could have functionednormally.” In the face of theMaoist boycott of the legislatureand the executive, Prime MinisterNepal would do well toremember his words.

These days, the UML runsmore like a public limitedcompany than a political party.Every director knows the limitsof his freedom of acrimony. Ifthey cross the line, they are likelyto be thrown out by theirshareholders, which in the caseof the UML consists of NGO-entrepreneurs, smallshopkeepers, governmentofficials and political fixers incities and small towns all overthe country. There is too much atstake for the petty bourgeoisie, forthey well know that the momentthe UML disintegrates, they willbe the first to be devoured by theMaoists.

4 18 - 24 SEPTEMBER 2009 #469BUSINESS

alls have caused a stir inKathmandu, having redefined notonly lifestyles but shopping

itself. Unlike locally owned mom-and-pop stores, which cultivate relationshipswith individual shoppers, malls rely onmass appeal and commerce.

Shopping malls first emerged in theearly 1920s in the United States, wherethey replaced department stores, butdidn’t grow into today’s gigantic mega-malls until the 1980s.

They filtered into Asia following themeteoric growth of the East Asianeconomies in the 1990s, and gave rise to ageneration of hip youngsters whoindulged in a new ‘mall culture’. Theydidn’t so much shop in malls as ‘hangout’, which meant chatting, watchingmovies, browsing shops, bowling andgaming – the whole nine yards of modern-day entertainment for kids.

Kathmandu malls are far smaller thantheir international counterparts but likethem have sparked a new lifestyle.

“I hang out in malls during weekendswith my friends and we usually eat,bowl and watch movies,” says studentSarif Maharjan.

Nepal’s largest mall, City Centre (top),is a milestone in Nepal’s burgeoning mallculture. It has a food court and a 4Dtheatre where the seats rumble and shakein response to the events unfolding on thescreen, adding another ‘dimension’ ofsensation. And of course, it has dozens ofchic, modern brand name stores.

Mannsi Agrawal of City Centre says,“Attracting customers means not just

having good shops but entertainingthem as well. People should be happywhen they leave the complex.”

Recently opened Sherpa Mall hasnow become the hip spot foryoungsters. “I just love the ambience,”says Samana Shrestha, 18, enjoying anice-cream. “It’s a great hangout.”Located in Darbar Marg, Sherpa Mall isespecially popular with the youngadult crowd as it offers a good mixtureof dining and shopping.

But there is a darker side to the mallboom. Kathmandu’s old network ofstores, some of which have been aroundfor many generations, are feeling the

heat as they lose business to newer,glitzier competition.

Sambrina Napit, who owns a storeopposite City Centre, says she’s lost 50%of her business since the mall beganoperations and is now considering closingdown. “We just can’t compete. They canoffer huge discount schemes because theybuy things in bulk, which we can’t do,”she complains. A neighbouring store hasit worse, having lost all of its business toCity Centre’s supermarket Big Mart.

But these stores will find reprieveamong shoppers who dislike malls forreasons of service and culture. If you wanta traditional cushion cover, for example, a

mall’s probably the last place you wouldvisit. Local stores also cultivate closerelationships with individual shoppers, sotheir service is invariably better than whatmalls can offer.

One shopper says, “I can go to thisclothes store that my family has used forgenerations, and the shopkeepers willknow exactly what I want because he’sknown my family for so long.”

So far, the service in malls has causedsome resentment among shoppers, and notonly because they’re unaware of eachshopper’s individual needs. The service isjust bad, period.

Architects Prajita Joshi and ShobhanaRajbhandari complain, “We can’t even tellthe salespeople apart from the shoppers.”

Another common complaint is thatsalespeople seem indifferent to theircustomers, showing them what they askfor, but rarely encouraging them to exploreother styles and colours and so forth.Compare this to the scene in traditionalsari stores, where salespeople will throwdown dozens of rolls of saris to enticehesitant customers. This kind ofenthusiasm is rare in malls.

Along with the high prices, this ispartly why malls haven’t fared as well astheir proprietors hoped, although businesscertainly isn’t slumping. Prices are highbecause malls have to cover for lighting,parking spaces and air conditioning.There’s also ample competition, with atleast half a dozen malls already in the city.As a result, few stores enjoy a regularstream of customers.

“I have some doubt about sales, but it’sa start,” one proprietor insists.

It’s make or break for many this Dasain– the gloves are off and the sales are on.

Malls are flourishing in Kathmandubut still have lots to learn

SUBEKSHA POUDEL

M

Mall-manduPICS: ANUP PRAKASH

518 - 24 SEPTEMBER 2009 #469BUSINESS

he Beed was toldyesterday that predictingstock prices is about

looking forward and not to pasttrends. One wonders whetherthis is a lesson we can apply

more generally in Nepal: lookforward, not backward. Readingsome of the news pieces from lastweek confirmed my hunch.

Civil servants had a day off tocelebrate Civil Servants Day,adding to an already long list ofholidays. How can they bear tolook at themselves in the mirror?They probably don’t, which iswhy they’re more self-congratulatory than critical. Myfavourite Fire and Ice Pizzeriaannounced its closure due tounion issues. If we cannot retainexisting foreign investors forgetabout luring new ones! Here is agreat eatery that had the potentialof being franchised in South Asiaand Southeast Asia, and it hashad to close because of a fewhaggling staff members. TheCentral Bank is consideringcapping bank CEO packages. Howregressive! If banks perform, it’sbecause the management andshareholders are paid well. Abetter way to cut costs would be

ECONOMIC SENSEArtha Beed

to have more efficient andtransparent performance-basedbonuses and removing the officesof all non-executive chairpersonsand directors from banks. TheSecurities Board is taken toransom by some promoters whowant to sell their shares and agroup of self-proclaimed selflessinvestment protection groups thatdo not want the Securities Boardto follow the law. A bunch offormer diplomats get together todiscuss economic diplomacy andas elsewhere in the nation, timedoes not matter. Waiting for the

minister, the program starts anhour late and attendees who havebeen invited do not knowwhether they are to speak or not.

The list is endless.What should we take away

from these stories? Ourgovernment and bureaucrats maybe terrible, but that shouldn’tkeep private organisations andcitizens from doing their part.Look forward, not backward.Americans waited eight years forBush to go, but such leadersdidn’t serve as clogs in the wheelsof the economy. It’s only in Nepalthat we cover up our owninefficiencies by blaming

something we know we can'tchange overnight. Why can’tbusinesses discuss e-commercewith India alongside regular trade?Armed with a credit card valid inIndia and Nepal, one can transacton Indian portals. Can we regulatethis? If there are Indian callingcards that can be used from Nepal,how does that impact Nepal’srevenues? Can we think beyondgetting Vanaspati ghee through?Should not bank directors andshareholders be reviewing customerfeedback reports and fixing theirnon-functional helplines?

While we should do our bestregardless of the bureaucracy, thebottom line is that it needs to go.Now that we can buy sim cardsover the counter, we don’t needbureaucratic permission to makephone calls. ATM cards haveeliminated the need to pay to takemoney out of one’s own bankaccount. If we could register ourcompanies online, it would save usthe whiskey money we’re made topay at registration offices.

In short, leveraging technologyand thinking about the future canonly take us ahead. Isn’t that wherewe want to be? www.arthabeed.com

Looking aheadT

We need to pull ourselves outof the past and look ahead

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OodlesJagdamba foods launched Miho instantnoodles earlier this month. Manufacturedusing Japanese technology, Miho is availablein chicken and vegetable flavours.

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Banking upEverest Bank announced net profits have increased by 37 per centcompared to last year. The bank will be providing bonus shares of30 per cent and cash dividends of 30 per cent. Everest Bank alsoinaugurated its 35th branch in Thamel last week.

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Festive savingsKeeping in mind the festive season, GlobalBank has launched ‘Pariwar Bachat Yojana’.The scheme will provide customers up to 10 per cent interest onfixed deposits.

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Gems Bajaj launched ‘Sun Chandi Hira Moti’ for Dasainand Tihar. Anyone purchasing a Bajaj motorcycle iseligible to win gold, silver, pearls or diamonds.

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Lucky scratch LG is providing a ‘Koryo ki soryo’ offer for Dasainand Tihar. Buy an LG mobile and scratch a card towin upto Rs 100,000.

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Guarantee win The ‘Ahai LG’ festive scheme gives buyers of LG electronics thechance to win a range of gift hampers from silver coins to LGproducts.

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Big dealJyoti Group, distributor of Phillips TV in Nepal, is offering a ‘BigDeal’ this festive season. Get a free trolley bag and home theatresystem on the purchase of any LCD TV.

6 18 - 24 SEPTEMBER 2009 #469FROM THE NEPALI PRESS

Shiva Sharma in Saptahik, 11 September

Simply put, being alert is the only way tosteer clear of escalating crime in thevalley. In the rush before Dasain,Kathmandu is becoming as infamous forrobbery as Patna, Siligudi and othercrime-prone Indian cities.

Police reports show crime is takingplace regularly in isolated alleys, peakingduring load-shedding hours, with cases ofsevere injuries when victims try to fightoff robbers. A woman was mugged in starkdaylight in Maitidebi and was beaten upthe following day by the same groupbecause her jewellery was gold-plated.Says Rabina Rai, another victim inThamel, “When a gang of thievessurround you, there’s no option but to giveup.”

Investigations point to an expanding

Editorial in Rajdhani, 14 September

It is said people get the leaders they deserve.This is true in a democratic country becausepeople elect their leaders.

But in a country wherepeople are tolerant andcivilised, how is it thattheir leaders act against allcivilised norms and yet arecondoned for it? If weconsider the speeches ofour politicians over thepast few days, it is anational shame that weaccept them as leaders.Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal did acommendable job condemning a recent speech byMaoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal. ButDahal’s use of offensive language in publicspeech is not an exception. Nepal called Dahal‘uncivilised’ and a ‘blood sucker’. Dahal and

Lal Prasad Sharma inKantipur, 15 September

Electric bikes are sellinglike hot cakes in Pokhara.It’s thanks to itsuncountableconveniences: for thelighter versions, youdon’t need a licence, anumber plate, a bill

book, or a helmet. The cherry on top is these bikes are economical, easyto ride and environmentally friendly.

Says Indian Army retiree Shiva Dhakal, “The light weight of thebike makes it extremely easy to ride.” And who wouldn’t want one at atime of never-ending strikes, ever-increasing petrol shortages and sky-scraping expenses (with a litre of petrol costing Rs 77)? This electricbike goes for upto 100 km for a mere five rupees.

Unlike normal bikes, rechargeable bikes have headlights, sidelights,button gears, hand brakes, a remote lock system and theft alarms.Nevertheless, load-shedding has stymied the growth of the market forelectric bikes.

network of organised crime as groups ofyoung robbers team up all over the valley.One reason could be the extremely lownumber of security personnel on the beat.One policeman has to attend to the needs ofover 1000 citizens in the capital, eventhough the international average is 300. It

doesn’t help that many criminals manage toget released early.

The muggers have becomesophisticated, and use code language tocommunicate. Travelling on publictransport, for instance, they zero in on richvictims. If the target isn’t an easy one, they

Dasain’s devils

E-bike Political languageother Maoist leaders call their opponents‘murderers’ and ‘criminals’. When will this end?

Language loses control when guns andintolerance enter politics. There is no place forhuman values and humanity in such situations.

Politicians lose publicrespect but become symbolsof a filthy mind andexpression. Nepal may havereached this stage. Themedia finds it embarrassingto translate the uncouthexpressions of our leadersinto English, and thereby tothe world. Language is theexpression of one’s thinking,ideology and human

sensitivity. When leaders indulge in suchuncivilised speech, they also reveal their basenatures to the world. What kind of charactersshould represent Nepal in international anddomestic forums? Should these kinds of activitiesbe condoned?

don’t hesitate to use weapons.Burglars are also steadily

increasing in number. Surprisingly,reports indicate that intruders are moreactive by day than by night, with 15 outof 24 burglaries reported last monthhappening around noon.

Such criminals, according toDamodar Dawadi at Hanuman DhokaPolice Station, are usually not poor.They’re often youths from rich familieswho are unable to meet the high costsof purchasing drugs and paying for theirextravagant lives.

However, the police are not solelyaccountable for ever-increasing crime.An equal portion of blame goes to theseyouths’ guardians and the government.If parents were responsible for theirchildren or if the government providedenough jobs, crime would not be seenas an option.

With Dasain approaching, crimerates are expected to soar as peopleare more likely to be travelling withcash and jewellery. Those without maythen decide to take the opportunity toshare the wealth.

KIRAN PANDAY

KIRAN PANDAY

718 - 24 SEPTEMBER 2009 #469CONSTITUTION 2010

constituent assembly wasannounced in 1951 but itnever materialised due to

a tug-of-war between the politicalparties for power. The Maoists’10-year insurgency and 18-dayJana Andolan II made it possibleafter six decades.

We have only nine months towrite the constitution. Doubts arecreeping into people’s minds as

to whether it will be written ontime. The government that wasformed after the President’sunconstitutional move has notexhibited honesty in theconstitution-writing and peaceprocess. In other words, thepresent government is the mainobstacle to writing the newconstitution.

The CA committees have beenworking on drafting the newconstitution. The CA has alreadystarted discussing the draftssubmitted to it. A 15-membercommittee headed by Laxman LalKarna has been formed toincorporate issues raised in theCA and prepare a preliminarydraft paper for the constitutionalcommittee. Six of the 11 thematiccommittees have alreadysubmitted their preliminarydrafts and concept papers to theCA.

The constitutional committeecompiles all drafts, incorporatingsuggestions from the CA sessions,and prepares a draft for the newconstitution. This draft will betaken back to the people for theiropinions. Then discussion oneach article begins in the CAbefore the constitution isfinalised.

There is no consensus on

Six conditionsmajor issues among the majorpolitical parties in the CA. Thereseems to be agreement inprinciple on issues such asdemocracy, federalism, periodicelections, forms of politicalsystem, civilian liberty, freedomof speech, human rights, adultfranchise, autonomy, inclusion,socio-economic transformationand social justice but there aredifferences among the parties.Some parties think theparliamentary system isdemocracy but we have putforward the presidential,president-prime ministerial andconsensus and inclusive modelsfor discussion.

The principles and modelswill be developed to meet theneeds of the country. Federalismis now accepted by all butwhether it should beimplemented on the basis oflanguage, ethnicity or geography isstill unsettled. Similarly, we needto have more rounds ofdiscussions on what kind ofelection system we should adopt,how we can ensure therepresentation of women, Dalits,Janajatis, minorities, marginalisedcommunities and the people ofKarnali. This is important becausein the previous electoral system,only people from the ruling classand people with money andmuscle won the elections. The

first-past-the-post system doesnot ensure representation of thediversity of Nepal.

The bones of contention arewhether the federal republicshould be the rule of elites or themasses, whether to strengtheninstitutions representing thepeople or unelected institutionsoperating from behind thecurtains, how to ensure civil andindividual liberty, how torecognise the identity and ensurethe rights of oppressedcommunities, regions andgenders. Should we adopt theprinciple of socio-economictransformation or allow the bigfish to eat the small fish? Theseissues should be discussed toreach a consensus.

These issues can be resolved ifthe following six conditions aremet. First, the political partiesshould forge a consensus on thepeace process, the basic principleof state restructuring and themodel of army integration.Second, there should beagreement on the universalprinciple of the constitution toproceed with the discussion onthematic drafts of theconstitution in the CA. Third, thecurrent government does not havethe legitimacy to carry on thepeace process and constitutionwriting. Therefore, a newgovernment should be formedunder the Maoists’ leadership.Fourth, we need to build trustamong the major political forceswithout the help of foreign forces.Fifth, we need to guarantee peaceand relief for socio-politicaltransformation and sixth, therehas to be dialogue with armedand unarmed insurgent groups.

The constitution will bewritten on time only if theseconditions are met. If not,conflict is inevitable.

A

Nabindra Raj Joshi, NC CA member, Kathmandu-8

How have you spent your time in the CA?We are members of the CA and the Parliament at the same time, so wehave dual responsibilities. But the Maoists have been obstructingparliamentary proceedings. This has affected constitution-writing anddisrupted the peace process. We hold committee meetings but otherthings do not look encouraging.

Will the constitution be written?We are trying our best. We have to givesomething to the people within thestipulated time. Constitution writing is alsopart of the peace process.

Where is the debate on a people’sparliament and the house ofrepresentatives heading?We are committed to democratic normsand values. No one should have hiddenagendas. The main conflict is betweentotalitarian and democratic forces.

What do you think of the Maoists’ proposalfor state restructuring?Their concept is not viable geographically,economically or socially.

Are any efforts being made to win over those who think autonomy willlead to the disintegration of the country?There should be consensus on the basic principles of constitutionwriting to move ahead in this process. Federalism does not work withthe politics of revenge and slaughter. We can take our opponents intoconfidence if there is unity among the pro-republicans.

What needs to be done to write the constitution on time?Consensus and cooperation among political parties, unhinderedparliamentary proceedings and helping state mechanisms to functionsmoothly.

Dharma Sheela Chapagain, Maoist CA member, Jhapa-4

How satisfied are you with the CAbusiness?The constitutional committee remainedidle in the absence of the committee chairfor the past three months. This affectedthe business of sub-committees under it.Since the election of the committee chairthings have been gradually gainingmomentum.

Will the constitution be written on time?The CA regulations allotted two years towrite the constitution. But the CAcalendar has been rescheduled time andagain. This has shortened the timeavailable to discuss the draft papers inthe CA sessions. The political partiesshould put their differences aside andcome together to expedite writing of the constitution. But thepersistence of conflict among them is not favourable to completingthe constitution on time.

Don’t you think the provisions to appoint the Chief Justice fromoutside the pool of Supreme Court justices will hurt the judiciary?This is one of the alternatives for appointing the Chief Justice. It isintended to rationalise the judiciary, not influence or weaken it. TheChief Justices appointed from within the existing pool of justiceshave not performed well in the past. So we suggest using anelected institution to appoint them.

What should be the official state language?Nepali should be the language of communication. Hindi is thelanguage of communication in the Madhes but it is also an issuerelated to national sovereignty. Hindi is linked with imperialism andcan never be the official state language.

The CA seems to be divided between democrats and republicans.This is a conflict between old and new mindsets. This clash is alsoseen in the CA committees. Feudals and elites have alreadydisfigured democracy and they want to do the same in the CA. Wewould have accepted it if it was pro-public democracy.

The currentgovernmentis the mainobstacle towriting theconstitutionon time

Consensusis the key

Totalitariansand democrats

KIRAN PANDAY

MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA

MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA

COMMENTBarshaman Pun

8 LIFESTYLE

UP, UPand AWA

he monsoon will subside, the skywill again turn deep blue, the windwill change direction and the

paddy fields will ripen to gold. It’sDasain. Time to shop, party, eat, drinkand most importantly, fly kites.

Kids will climb to their rooftops andterraces and the collective victory cryof ‘Chaaaaaait!’ will ring in the ears ofcity folks.

The earliest writtenaccount of kite flyingcomes from about 200BC when the Chinesegeneral Han Hsien flewa kite over the walls of acity he was attacking tomeasure how far hisarmy would have totunnel in to reach thedefences. Thisingenious method ofsurveying worked. Histroops tunnelled into theinner city, surprised theenemy and were victorious.

It is believed that kite flying waseventually spread by traders fromChina to Korea and across Asia toIndia. Each region developed adistinctive style of kite, flyingtechniques and the cultural context inwhich to fly them. So we don’t actuallyknow if kite flying came to Nepal fromthe north or the south.

Choosing a kite is an art in itself.

Our cities aredown on

charm, butkites still

channel ourspirits

Nepali kites have no tail and twosticks of equal length are crossedand tied in the centre. A string pulledtight across the back of a cross-stickbows the surface, making the kiteself-balancing. A specialty oftraditional Nepali kites is the hand-made lokta paper out of which theyare made.

These days lokta kites arebecoming something of a rarity, and

you’re as likely tocome across aplastic kite withrandom brandnames patternedacross it. Butmany kiteenthusiasts preferthe lighter andmoremanoeuvrable‘Lucknow’ variety,which is flattenedwith a conch shell

and sports distinctive stripes.Lucknows are the Spitfires of kites,with classic dog-fighting qualities:capable of sharp turns and divingattacks, they emit a hissing sound ina dive and have good line response.

The cost of a kite in Kathmanduranges from Rs 5-50 and lines costRs 200-1000. The most popular kiteshops are in Asan and Kalimati. It’snot too late for a spin in the sky!

TKIRAN PANDAY

KIRAN PANDAY

918 - 24 SEPTEMBER 2009 #469

WAYEDWIN KOO

MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA

10 NATION 18 - 24 SEPTEMBER 2009 #469

or the first time, I’ve joined my father in the ceremonialrun-up to Dasain, the festival commemorating theGoddess Durga’s defeat of the demon Mahisa. Good over

evil and all that jazz, you know. We toast the gods and ourextended families, don new clothes, drink and drive, eat andgamble to excess.

Next to my saronged father with our holy threads on parade,we follow in a corner of the attic the lead of the guru as he directsus to offer flowers, rice, this and that to the Bhagawati, a fist-sized brass idol on a lion all but obscured now with garlands,grain and grass. There are coconuts wrapped in red cloth, an oillamp burning through a leaf plate, and a whole assortment of

offerings. There’s also anearthenware jar filled withwater and coated with dungwherein barley seeds havebeen planted. The seeds,sprouting vigorously from

day three on, will make good jamara to go with the traditionalDasain blessings.

Guru trickles water into our palms, then leads us throughsoothing, singsong Sanskrit incantations. He lights an oil lampand hands it to my father, who rotates it slowly. The priest chants,ringing a small brass bell, and I make the best of a damaru. Thelight from the lamp throws shadows across the room and bathesour faces, warm and calm.

Guru dabs achyataa – rice grains mixed with vermillion andyoghurt – onto our foreheads, spoons out a dubious milkyconcoction and dried fruit into our waiting palms, and we climbback down to our daily strife. My father demands of me, mock-serious: “So, how does it feel to be a true Hindu?”

What does it mean that I have willingly joined to these ritualswhen I do not believe they are any more than just that? I have noantagonism towards these gestures, these gods – in fact myrenewed, outsider’s gaze grants me the curiosity and patience forthem. Will I then carry on, and even pass on these rituals, albeitmediated by society and the priesthood, to my children as mereshells of what they are meant to be? Would it not be dishonest forme to tell them well, literally speaking, I don’t believe in any ofthis, but culturally speaking, I think it’s all very well?

I visited Kirtipur on Saturday. We zoomed up through the lushgrounds of Tribhuvan University, faced the many-windowedconcrete skyline for an instant, then headed past Bag Bhairab tothe community bhatti of Newa Lahana. The first time around I’dadmired the carefully choreographed authenticity of thissprawling purveyor of Newari specialties. This time we werebowled over by the second anniversary celebrations that cloggedthe streets – the sheer numbers of enthusiastic locals, theintense interplay of percussion and flute mere slips of boystreated us to, and not least the monsoonal cascades of chyang.

The boy band was followed by an Egyptian oud player, whowas then joined by an ensemble of tabla and sarangi and guitar.Then came the lakhe, the dancing red demon shaking his blackhair in courtly fury. A local attempted to join in and was usheredaway. A friend complained: “It’s great, but if this whole thing werefor real then the lakhe would be game, he wouldn’t have to beprotected by impeccably costumed organisers.”

It made me wonder. Wonderful, but how authentic was thisenthusiastic procession of Newari culture, and how authentic ismy enthusiasm for the rituals of Dasain? The bottom line,perhaps, lies in the appreciation. If we can maintain our respectfor the origins and the continuity of our cultures, then a littleadmixture here and there probably isn’t worth getting the janai ina twist over. As for lakhe protocol, the last word goes to my friendBhaikaji Maharjan: “Noone would dare to approach an Indra Jatralakhe, the lakhe would get hold of him. But ‘show’ lakhes, well,anyone can go and dance with them.”

KALAMRabi Thapa

Authenticityrules

F

But the bottom line isin the appreciation

NAYANTARA GURUNG KAKSHAPATI

Nepali Congress nominee KrishnaKumari Pariyar has a singleagenda in the ConstituentAssembly (CA): an inclusiveconstitution.

“No one should be left out,”says Pariyar, perhapsremembering her previousincarnation as a tailor inShantipatan, Pokhara. A motherof four children, Pariyar wasinterested in politics sincechildhood. As a Dalit woman,however, a career as a legislatorseemed like a distant dream.

When she was first nominatedto the assembly, people treatedher appointment with scepticism.The doubters were left speechlesswhen she launched development

“The judiciary should not be under the controlof parliament as this is against the universalprinciple of the independent judiciary,”declared UML CA nominee Shanti Devi Chamar,criticising the preliminary draft reports andconcept papers on the judiciary system beingdiscussed in the CA session on Thursday.

She is not hesitant to speak out in theparliamentary sessions, and diligently does herhomework before going to the CA. She does notfeel the need to consult her party or experts,explaining, “The party whip is applicable onlyin Parliament, not in the CA.”

A resident of Sauraha, Kapilvastu, Chamaris currently district member and the area in-charge of the All Nepal Women Association ofUML. She believes that she was nominated byher party because she fought for Dalit women.

Leading

DEWAN RAI

Shanti Devi Chamar

Krishna Kumari Pariyar

Numbers matter when it comes to pushingDalit concerns. There are four CA members fromthe Chamar community, which has apopulation of 269,000 according to the 2001census. But they represent different parties.“And that makes us helpless,” Shanti Devi says.

Chamar is in the Committee for Determiningthe Form of Governance System of the CA andthe Public Accounts Committee of theParliament. As a member of the lattercommittee, she gets to review cases ofcorruption and irregularities. “You simply losehope sometimes when you see the scale ofirregularities,” she admits. But her new-foundconfidence is irrepressible. “Ministers andmembers of parliament were special to me butnot any more,” she says. “I am now one ofthem.”

projects in her district with theRs 1 million budget allotted toCA members. She says the moneywas spent on projects according topublic demand.

“I wanted to make sure peoplefrom all sections of society wouldbenefit from the fund,” sherecalls. Now, Pariyar is busyadvocating for women’s rights inParliament. She is hopeful herconcerns will be addressed in theconstitution, but has doubtsabout the implementation of thelaws that will follow.

“If the previous provisionswere implemented, women wouldhave a different status already,”she says. “Making laws is onething, but its implementation is

the crucial thing.”Pariyar is an active member of

the CA, where she sits on theCommittee for Rights ofMinorities and MarginalisedCommunities, and she is also amember of the LegislativeCommittee of Parliament.

In spite of the ongoing tug-of-war, she is hopeful theconstitution will be writtenwithin the stipulated time.“People elected us to write thenew constitution. If we do notaccomplish our task, we won’t beable to face them again,” she says.

Pariyar has no intention ofreturning to her old profession.“This is where every change ispossible,” she says of politics.

1118 - 24 SEPTEMBER 2009 #469NATION

by example

omen CA members arenot who they were 16months ago. With the

help of workshops funded andorganised by the UNDP’s Centrefor Constitutional Dialogue andthe International Institute forDemocracy and ElectoralAssistance (IDEA), a thrivingwomen’s caucus has takenup women’s issues with flairand passion.

“We are close to success inensuring our rights in the new

constitution,” says Dawa Sharma,coordinator of the Women’sCaucus in the CA and Maoist CAmember. The caucus has alreadyprepared a charter of women’srights and provisions andsubmitted it to the CA chair forinclusion in the constitution. Ithas also been collaborating withdifferent organisations to facilitateworkshops and meetings onwomen’s issues as well as electoralsystems and fundamental rights.

The Women’s Caucus spansthe entire political spectrum butits members are conscious thatideological biases should take aback seat. “There is a profoundunderstanding among us,” saysMohammadi Siddiqui, co-coordinator of the caucusand NC CA member. “The CAmembers need not abide bythe party whip.”

The CA is historic in moreways than one. One third of itsmembers are women from differentcommunities and professionalbackgrounds. The Women’sCaucus was formed to seize theopportunity to address the widerange of issues faced by women inour multi-ethnic, multi-cultural,male-dominated society.

There was some scepticisminitially. The very diversity of theWomen’s Caucus convinced somethere would be little common

Women lawmakers provetheir sceptics wrong

DEWAN RAI

W

ground. Others suggested manywomen CA members lacked theexpertise to participate indiscussions. But the caucus hasalready submitted its suggestionsto all 11 thematic committees tobe incorporated in the newconstitution. “We are 197members and we are united whenit comes to our concerns. There isno way the CA can ignore ourdemands,” Siddiqui says.

The Women’s Caucus islobbying for 50 per centparticipation of women at allpolicymaking levels, inclusiveand proportional representationin the new parliament andwomen’s rights as fundamentalrights in the new constitution.

“The new constitutionshould include a provision ofcompensation for violatingfundamental rights as a deterrentto perpetrators,” says Maoist CAmember Sharmila Dura. She alsosuggests adding administrativerights to fundamental rights toensure women’s inclusion in theadministrative sector. If theysucceed, Nepal will join theranks of just 15 countriesthat have a separate articlefor women in theirconstitutions.

Until very recently, Nepalhad the dubious distinction ofbeing among a handful ofnations with lower lifeexpectancies for women than formen. If the Women’s Caucus getsits way, we may have real reasonto be proud of the way we treatour women.

DOING IT FOR THEMSELVES:Women CA members participatein an interaction programorganised by the CA Women’sCaucus with support from UNDPand International IDEA on 3September.

12 NATION 18 - 24 SEPTEMBER 2009 #469

hen her father died of pneumonia, Asmaya Pariyar wasshattered. But rather than stay sunk in gloom, Pariyar wentto Banepa to train to become an Assistant Midwife as part

of the Rotary Club of Kathmandu-Midtown’s ‘Health, Hunger andHumanity Grants Project’. She will return to her village next year toput into practice the lifesaving skills she has learned.

“My father died because of pure ignorance. I want to study so I canbe informed and teach others,” explains Pariyar.

Dozens of girls in villages across the country have followed suit.The 3-H Grants Project, which has a total endowment of over $300,000,has brought girls from ten remote western districts to Banepa. Therethey are given an eighteen-month course on reproductive health. Alongwith birth attendance training, the girls are given orthopaedic anddental training. With the help of microcredit, they will be able toestablish independent clinics in their hometowns.

The project is the brainchild of German Rotarian Hartmut Bander,who worked with Rotary Club of Kathmandu-Midtown and DarmstadtBergstzasse. He started the project after witnessing the dilapidated stateof health posts in rural Nepal.

The objective is to empower villagers to help themselves so theywon’t have to depend on the largesse of government or NGOs. Saysproject contact person C.K. Golcha, “The problem with sending citydwellers to help out in villages is that they cannot adjust to theenvironment there. But if you train locals, their love for theirbirthplace will drive them to go back and do something productive.”

The first batch of graduates are all set to return to their villages. Shyand self-conscious when they first arrived in Kathmandu, they’re nowbrimming with self-confidence and eager to make a difference. Projectmanager Rajaram Joshi notes, “The graduates feel they don’t need tostay in Kathmandu to earn money.”

Rina Thakali of Jomsom confirms this, adding, “We are privilegedto have been given this opportunity. And we cannot wait to givesomething back.” The girls will continue to receive support oncethey’re working back in their villages. Pariyar, for instance, will be sentback home with Rs 1,26,000 and all the necessary equipment to startup a mother-child health clinic. The interest on the amount will helpPariyar sustain herself and maintain the clinic.

The Rotary Club plans to train many more midwives and runsimilar projects in other parts of Nepal. With national maternalmortality rates still unacceptably high, a local effort such as this willhave positive impacts right across the country.

Newlytrainedmidwives arereturning totheir villagesto helppeople

Homeward bound WSABHYATA TIMSINA

1318 - 24 SEPTEMBER 2009 #469REVIEWB

hen Sherpa AdventureGear opens itsinternational flagship

store near Darbar Marg on 1October, it will be a dream cometrue for Tashi Sherpa.

Unlike other Nepalis who haveemigrated to the west, Tashitravelled in the opposite direction.At a time when foreign investorsare abandoning Nepal, he hasdecided to invest in Nepal. Tashi

has not just returned to Nepal, butis setting up the worldheadquarters of his SherpaAdventure Gear company inKathmandu.

“I am a businessman, this isnot a charity,” says Tashi, “I camehere because there is a highreturn on investment and Nepalhas a very strong brand.”

Looking around at the Sherpadown jackets, parkas, t-shirts and

Gearing upfor adventure

Newstore and

guesthouseset to

open inKathmandu

thermals in the store that ispreparing for a soft opening nextweek, Tashi explains that the‘Made in Nepal’ tag on the itemsis itself part of the branding forhis products. “It wouldn’t be thesame if it was Made inBangladesh or Made inCambodia,” he explains. Sherpanow makes most of its productsin Nepal and Tashi says this is astrong selling point at a timewhen consumers around theworld are turning against bigmultinationals outsourcing toChina or southeast Asia.

The elegant brick and glassfive-storey flagship store housesSherpa’s research anddevelopment unit, and will havetwo floors of clothing and trekkinghardware that will be a one-stopshop for down jackets, sleepingbags, tents and trekking gear. The

top floor will have a bed andbreakfast called The Terrace.

“What we have tried to do isoffer guests a family atmospherein the middle of Kathmandu withall the modern amenities,”explains Tsedo Sherpa, Tashi’sdaughter and vice-president ofthe company. “This is an Americancompany with a Nepali soul.We want to prove to the worldthat Nepalis can be the best inthe world.”

The décor of The Terrace ismodern, and the furnishings revealTibetan and Sherpa influences.Indeed, the functional elegance ofThe Terrace is so cosy that two ofthe eight rooms already haveguests in them – even though ithasn’t opened yet. Kunda Dixit

www.sherpaadventuregear.com

WMIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA

14 18 - 24 SEPTEMBER 2009 #469CITY

ABOUT TOWN

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

Director Sudarshan Thapa presents his debut feature,Mero Euta Saathi Cha. Touted as a romantic melodrama,this big budget movie is about childhood friends Jay (AryanSigdel) and Shikha (Namrata Shrestha) who pair up at thecornerstones of their lives. Shikha is a small town girlwith small dreams and aspirations whereas Jay is theraunchy heir to a family fortune. How they meet andrealise their love for each other is for you to find out.

For inclusion in the listing send information to editors(at)nepalitimes.com

KATHMANDU VALLEY

WEEKEND WEATHER by NGAMINDRA DAHAL

There was a surprise change in the weather pattern early thisweek. Powerful Siberian high pressure has lifted moisturefrom both arms of the monsoon. The satellite images indicatethat the rains are likely to come back again, but gradually,and will fall during the night before the end of the monsoon.By now it is confirmed that this month will receive less thanits quota of rain.

KATHMANDU

RECIPES

Grilled Lemon & HerbChicken Kebabs(Serves 4-6)

EXHIBITIONS‘Nepal Rendezvous - Nagarkot Workshop’, paintings byBangladeshi and Nepali artists at Hotel de l’Annapurna,Darbar Marg , till 31 Oct, 4218048

EVENTSThe Soloist, movie at Lazimpat Gallery Café, 18 Sep,5.30PM, 4428549Raise The Red Lantern, screening at Documentary OpenSchool, Gaurighat, 18 Sep, 5PM, 4471104Film South Asia 2009, Festival of South Asiandocumentaries, 17-20 Sep, www.filmsouthasia.orgPatan Press Club, meets every Thursday at DhokaimaCafé, 6PM, 5522113Himalayan Buddhist Meditation Centre, Tai Chi10-11.30AM, Yoga 8.30-9.30AM and Meditation 5-6PMweekdays, Keshar Mahal Marg, Thamel, 4410402

MUSICBaja gaja, every Tuesday at Moksh, Pulchok, 7.30PMonwards, 5526212Live band every Friday and rooftop bbq everyday at KausiKitchen, Darbar Marg, 4227288Sunday Jazz brunch barbecue and live jazz music at theTerrace, Hyatt Regency, 12-3.30PM, 4491234Jazz evening at Delices de France Restaurant everyWednesday, 11AM-2PM, 4260326Some like it hot every Friday BBQ and live music byDinesh Rai and the Sound Minds, Rs 899 at Fusion,Dwarika’s Hotel, 7PM onwards, 4479488Happy cocktail hour, ladies night on Wednesday with liveunplugged music at Jatra Café & Bar, Thamel, 5-7PMNepali Ghajals and songs at D’Lounge Beijing DuckRestaurant, every Thursday 6.30PM onwards, 4468589

DININGChocolate, Coffee and

Caramel, every evening atThe Lounge, 4.30-6.30PM,4491234

A cafe’s café, DhokaimaCafé, Patan Dhoka,5522113

Jazzabell Café,relaunched at Jhamsikhel,2114075

The Corner Bar, 5-7PM,3-11PM, Radisson Hotel Kathmandu, 4411818Al Fresco, for home made pasta, steak and freshwater trout,Soaltee Crowne Plaza, 4273999Kakori, for biryanis, curries and kebabs, Soaltee CrownePlaza, 7-10.45PMChez Caroline for French and Mediterranean cuisine,Babar Mahal Revisited, 4263070Mediterranean cuisine every Friday from Greece, Italy andthe Middle East at The Café, Hyatt Regency, 4491234Teppanyaki meat items and garlic rice at Le Resturant,Gairidhara, 4436318Plat Du Jour at Hotel Shangri-La, Lazimpat, Rs 600,4412999Reality Bites, The Kaiser Café, Garden of Dreams,operated by Dwarika’s Group of Hotels, 9AM-10PM,4425341Starry night barbecue at Hotel Shangri-La withlive performance by Ciney Gurung, Rs 999, at theShambala Garden, every Friday 7PM onwards, 4412999Himalayan Rainbow Trout at Hotel Yak and Yeti, DarbarMarg, 4248999Tiger for Breakfast, breakfast everyday at 1905, Kantipath,4215068Stupa View Restaurant, for vegetarian creations & clayoven Pizza at Boudha Stupa, 4480262

GETAWAYSDhulikhel Lodge Resort offers an overnight stay forRs 1600 till 30 Sep, 4222389Relax Package at Hyatt Regency Kathmandu for Rs 5555plus taxes, for a night of double occupancy with breakfast,complimentary use of spa. Offer valid for Nepalis and localresidents only, 4489800

by GRAHAM SYDNEY

Sat Sun

29-17 27-19

Fri

30-18

This recipe is great for the barbeque. One canuse this marinade for red meat as well asseafood.

1 kg chicken thigh meat½ cup olive oil¼ cup white wine1 tablespoon chopped rosemary1 tablespoon chopped thyme1 tablespoon chopped parsley1 teaspoon red chilli paste2 teaspoon chopped garlic2 tablespoons honeyjuice of 4 lemonssalt & pepper to tastebamboo skewers

Weekly Internet Poll # 470. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com

Q. Will the big three parties be ableto resolve the political deadlockbefore Dasain?

Weekly Internet Poll # 469

Q. Most of the 110 militant groups are:

Total votes: 2,265

Cut thechicken intobite sizepieces.Blend therest of theingredientstogether andmarinate the

chicken pieces for at least two hours beforeskewering them. Preferably marinate thechicken overnight in the fridge to ensure itsoaks up all the flavour of the marinade.Grill the chicken on a hot grill for 2-3minutes on each side.

18 - 24 SEPTEMBER 2009 #469HAPPENINGS

SPOTLIGHT: Noted Indian thespians Shabana Azmi and Farooque Shaikhperform 'Tumhari Amrita' at Kamalmani Theatre in Patan Dhoka onWednesday. Proceeds from ticket sales will go to the Spinal InjuryRehabilitation Centre in Kavre.

STAGE FRIGHT: Seven prominent civil society members are introducedat Tuesday's 'Himsa Antya', a program to raise awareness about endingviolence in the country.

KIRAN PANDAY

15

MEET 'N GREET: Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, attended byIndian Ambassador Rakesh Sood, arrives at a press conference inDwarika Hotel on Tuesday during a two-day official visit to Nepal.

KIRAN PANDAY

KIRAN PANDAY

ISSN

181

4-26

13

CDO Regd No 194/056/57 Lalitpur, Central Region Postal Regd. No 04/058/59

18 - 24 SEPTEMBER 2009 #46916

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epal

itim

es.c

om

BACKSIDE

he greatness of a nationand its moral progress canbe judged by the way its

animals are treated - Gandhi“Where are they?” wonders

Pramada Shah of Animal Nepalas we wade through shrubbery ina community forest adjoiningAnimal Nepal’s sanctuary inChobhar. Moments later we entera clearing where, against thebackdrop of the Bagmati river,stand 10 ill but recoveringdonkeys.

Animal Nepal rescued thesedonkeys from the capital’sstreets, where they wereabandoned by Lalitpur brick kilnowners. Last year, the animal

welfare organisation started adonkey outreach program in thekilns, where 500-800 overworkedand underfed donkeys areemployed. They have half the lifeexpectancy of healthy donkeys.Most have open wounds sincethey don’t have adequateharnessing and are invariablyoverloaded. Shockingly, pregnantdonkeys are worked until the dayof delivery and given only a fewdays to recuperate. Some, likeNaina (above) become blind afterdust particles infect their eyes.

Kiln owners have useddonkeys to carry loads for thepast four years. They lease themfrom contractors in Nepalganj,where they are returned when thebrick season ends in May. There

they are either sold into equallydangerous professions likehauling loads on mountain trails,or abandoned until the next brickseason starts.

In June 2009 Animal Nepalinvestigated the equine bajar inNepalganj and discovered theharrowing conditions in whichthe donkeys live. They scavengefor food in garbage dumps, givebirth at busy intersections, andare treated despicably by acommunity that has come toregard them as pests.

As part of their outreachprogram, Animal Nepal hasconducted a general survey ofdonkeys in Lalitpur’s kilns andorganised regular donkey clinicsand public awareness campaigns.They have also begun work on a

donkey sanctuary in Godavari,funded by the Brigitte BardotFoundation.

Most importantly, they wantto work directly with kiln owners.“The main problem is a lack ofawareness. There are so manysmall things that can be done,”says Lucia de Vries of AnimalNepal. These include strappingthem with rudimentary harnessesto prevent sores amd giving themenough water. Shah and De Vrieshope kiln owners will agree toabide by a code of conduct.

So far the response has beenpositive. When alerted to theneeds of their animal workers,kiln owners enthusiastically tookup their cause. They agreed thathealthier and sturdier donkeysgenerate more value.

Animal Nepal has alsoencouraged concerned people toadopt donkeys, which are fairlyeasy and inexpensive to manage(see box). So far six have beenadopted.

Wendy and Robin Marston first saw their donkey Flora inMay outside a Bungamati kiln. She was badly bruised andemaciated and had crooked hips from the heavy loads shecarried. The Marstons duly adopted her with the help ofAnimal Nepal.

A month after Flora made the Marston’s garden herhome, they discovered she had a lump in her stomach.They were relieved to find she was only pregnant, but thevet said the baby was awkwardly positioned in the womband would probably kill Flora if it weren’t removedimmediately.

“When we pulled her out we expected the newborn to

The knottier problem liesahead. The government has yet topass the Animal Welfare Act toprotect animal rights, existingdocumentation is difficult totrack down, and it is unclear ifthe act protects ‘WorkingAnimals’ like donkeys and mules.

“We are a hundred yearsbehind the rest of the world whenit comes to animal rights, butenough is enough,” says adetermined Shah.

What will happen to Nainaand her friends in Chobhar? Theywill be moved to the Godavarisanctuary once that’s completed,but some won’t be put up foradoption because they’rehandicapped and have gonethrough too much. There,treatment will continue untilthey die, in Shah’s words,“peacefully”. In the lushsanctuary, that end will be farhappier than the tortured livesthey led in the brick kilns ofLalitpur.

Braying for help

be dead, but were surprised when she shook her head,”recalls daughter Allison Marston. They named the foal PoojaBhatt, since the vet insisted she be named after a Bollywoodheroine following her miraculous survival.

Pooja and Flora get along well with the Marstons’ fourdogs. They eat vegetable and fruit peelings and a mix of cornand rice flour easily acquired in the city. They’re taken out fordaily walks, too.

The neighbours, far from being annoyed, are enthralledand the two have become minor celebrities.

“Friends are over all the time to play with them,especially the little one,” says Allison.

If you’re interested in adopting a donkey, go tohttp://animalnepal.org/adoptadonkey.html or call 9841-334537.

Miracle foal

T

KIRAN PANDAY

SUVAYU DEV PANT