Weekly Internet Poll # 460. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com

Q. What should the new budget’spriority be?

Weekly Internet Poll # 459

Q. What is the foremost reason for thespike in crime?

#459 10 - 16 July 2009 16 pages Rs 30

Total votes: 3,218

Two Indian touriststraveling from Kathmandu toPokhara got stuck in a banda nearAbu Khaireni two weeks ago.They walked to a nearby village.Villagers, thinking they werekidnappers, beat them up. Thepolice, instead of rescuing thetourists, locked them up. Two groups of students had

a fight in Thimi on Tuesday.Rumours flew that it was anabduction attempt. Hundreds ofpeople poured out into thestreets and lynched two of thestudents to death. Two student unions

affiliated to the ruling NC andthe UML, both wanted to bag acontract to extend thechemistry lab of Tri-ChandraCollege in the heart ofthe capital. One sidebrought in armedgoons. Shots are

fired, injuring two students.The war ended three years

ago, but its violent legacycontinues in a national epidemicof crime, extortion andkidnappings. High profilemurders like that of KhyatiShrestha got wide play in thenational media, feeding thepublic perception of a societydrifting to the edge of anarchy.The new government,preoccupied with its ownformation, seems oblivious. Thepolice is powerless to stop therot, and the public gets dailyreminders of this on the streets.

The human rights watchdog,INSEC , says there were

38 murders nationwide betweenJanuary-March: 10 by the police,nine by various Madhesi groups,two by the YCL and 27 byunknown criminal gangs. In Junealone, 16 people villagers,suspected of being kidnappers,were lynched or burnt alive inthe Tarai. Most were innocent.

Therehave been aslew ofstrongeditorials in the national mediain the past weeks calling on thegovernment to act urgently. ‘Moreworrying than the rise in crime isthe citizen’s falling trust in thestate,’ wrote the Naya Patrika onThursday.

Kantipur wrote an equallyapocalyptic editorial: ‘The state isincapable of protecting its

citizens. The securityadministration needs to find

out why it can’t control the

Public lynchings, campus shootouts. What next?

More insecurespreading lawlessness. Otherwisethe flames of anarchy will spread.’

State security is paralysedbecause of the criminalisation ofpolitics, say some analysts. Whentwo journalists in Phidim wereabducted and beaten last week bythe YCL, the police refused toregister their complaint, saying it

was a “politicalmatter”. Policesay they knowthe gunmen who

entered Tri-Chandra, but can’tarrest them because they havepolitical patronage.

Next week’s budget will grabthe headlines, but peoplethroughout the country will bemore concerned about theworsening security.

INTERESTING TIMES Mallika AryalVanguards of vigilantism p4

See also: EAST-WEST withKunda Dixit travel-blog onwww.nepalitimes.com.np

KIRAN PANDAY

MULTIMEDIA: A salesman at a tv showroomwatches as President Ram Baran Yadavdelivers the ceremonial address to theparliament on the government’s policies andprograms. The budget is due on Monday.

2 10 - 16 JULY 2009 #459EDITORIAL

Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Editor: Kunda DixitCEO: Ashutosh Tiwari Design: Kiran MaharjanDGM Sales and Marketing: Sambhu Guragain marketing@himalmedia.comMarketing Manager: Subhash Kumar Asst. Manager: Arjun KarkiCirculation: Prakash Raut

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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

GENDERING FAILURESeira Tamang is wrong to assume that thewomen can’t confidently lead the defenseand foreign ministries, even if they aredominated by men (‘Gendering failure’,#458). To be sure, women arediscriminated, but they aren’t alone.Dalits, Janjatis, the poor, young people(and so forth) all are to varying degrees.So, even though Bhandari and Koirala arewomen, they may have the advantage,however dubious ethically, of belonging toa higher caste or being richer or olderthan their underlings in these ministries.Plus, in a country, indeed, region, whereso few are rich and so many poor, richwomen are probably far better positionedthan poor men.

Name withheld, email

GUERRILLA TREKSIt struck me after reading your article‘Guerrilla treks’ (#458) that this would bea great way to generate employment inrural areas and uplift parts of Nepal that

for a quick buck, I’ve noticed thatthese predators prey on the mostvulnerable, for example womentravelling alone, monks, first-timetravellers going to the Gulf,Tibetans. At the security check it isthe Japanese tourists who get hit themost, probably because the copsknow they don’t complain. Time toclean up this mess. And while we’reat it, let’s clean up the country too.

Tshering Tashi, Australia

Your last issue (#458) was reallydepressing: disappearing owls, theincompetence of the government toget anything done, the constantyelling and shouting by the Maoists,child labour...And so I turned toBackside hoping for some comicrelief only to find that the Ass mademe even sadder when I read aboutthe latest antics of Comrade Shockand Awe.

K Shrestha, Kathmandu

ABUDGET ITEMSIt is just as well that the new government’s budget will bedelayed.

It will give Finance Minister Rajendra Pandey enough timeto digest India’s budget presented by Pranab Mukherjee inDelhi this week. Mukherjee showered goodies on India’s poor,the farmers, the salaried class and small entrepreneurs.

Like it or not, India is Nepal’s largest trading partner by far.It is the destination of last resort for most unemployed Nepalis.India’s economic policies cast a long shadow over Nepal’sagriculture, industry, trade, taxation and employment. Pandeymay have got the country’s best brains to advise him, but hehas little room to manoeuvre.

In keeping with the tone of the Indian budget, Pandey has nooption but to pay more attention to agriculture and jobs. India’sheavily subsidised farmers have already made rice, wheat orsugarcane cultivation in Nepal uncompetitive. We can’t afford todole out incentives like the Indians do. So what do we do?

Pandey must follow through with improvements in irrigationand inputs to push higher-value cash crops so our farmers canbenefit from the huge and increasingly-affluent market south ofthe border.

Nepal is reeling under double-digit inflation at a time whenIndia actually recorded deflation this year. The reason thishappened despite the open border were highway disruptions,cartelling and weak enforcement in Nepal.

With deficit financing proposed in India, prices there willshoot up and this will impact on Nepal. Since Nepal importsalmost all consumer goods from India, pumping money into themarket has little effect in boosting employment here.

The new government is so ridden with existential angst thatit doesn’t realise the gravity of our crisis. The macro-economymay be fine, but Nepalis can’t eat the macro-economy. Thisyear’s food crisis is an emergency. Nothing has been donesince the 18-hour power cuts last winter, so next winter isbound to be worse.

Pandey will be tempted topromise the sky. But the deliverycapacity of state machinery is soweak that it’s best not to be tooambitious. VDCs and DDCswhich used to have moreaccountability have beencorrupted by the criminalisationof politics, and there is full-scaleloot of the district developmentbudget going on. There is littlepoint pouring money into thatleaky budget. Alternativedelivery mechanisms have to befound.

What is holding the countryback is an absence of politicalwill to lift ourselves up from thismorass. We have heard enoughspeeches, the budget mustsucceed in giving the messagethat this government isdetermined to govern.

PLAIN SPEAKINGPrashant Jha

Right shiftbecause it shows Yadav has notbeen able to detach himself fromparty politics. He is not someonewho sees his role as a passiveguide. He remains a politician,not a statesman. And like withany politician, factional interestcan easily overwhelm nationalinterest.

And it is this ambition thatthe right-wing hopes to play on,in their desire to disrupt theprocess and engineer a‘Bangladesh model’ (of army-backed civilian façade) with a bitof ‘Sri Lanka’ thrown in(escalating security offensives).

The opening of theparliament has opened up thespace for the revival ofconsensus. Gen Katawal thriveswhen the parties fight each other.His utility diminishes whenthere is consensus. The decisionof the Maoist politburo to stickwith the process (even if itmeans making compromises inthe short-term) has also sloweddown the pace of polarisation.

The parties can’t support thekind of alternatives the army hasin mind because that willautomatically shrink their space.Even if factions of NC and UMLplay ball, there will beopposition from key leaders andrank and file. UNMIN’scontinued presence means thatany adventurism will cost theNA loss of internationalcredibility. Civil society (if nottogether, then separately, willoppose a right shift). Mostcritically, Delhi recognises theneed to deal with the Maoists. Itis not in the mood to supportsuch an arrangement (at least notyet) and are still betting on theparties.

That these ideas, however far-fetched, are actually beingdiscussed by the right wing andmilitary is not an indication itwill happen. A swing to the rightmay be difficult to pull off.

The army and president are over-stepping their boundsreflection of the recklessdisregard for rules that hascharacterised politics of the pastfew months.

It is a wonder that GeneralKatawal gets any time to run thearmy, given how busy he ispoliticking. He meets seniorjournalists, key business people,politicians, diplomats and otherinternationals. His message tothem: this government isineffective, the parties have noideas, and the Maoists carry adestructive agenda. Hint: only meand my army can brings backorder and stop the march ofMaoist dictatorship.

This is not a surprise. Theright-wing has fantasised aboutwrecking this process right sinceApril 2006. The dogma andexcessive ambition of the

Maoists helped create thefavourable environment. Whatraises concern is the president’sreaction.

Yadav’s blatantly politicalrole has been an open secret inKathmandu ever since he lobbiedhard to get his son a ticket for theby-elections. But respect for theinstitution has prevented peoplefrom speaking out.

Conversations with informedsources in Janakpur last weekrevealed how Yadav is stillengaged in district-level NCpolitics. He is known to havecalled government administratorsto move or block certain cases. Hehas called up officials torecommend names forappointments. And during hisson’s election, he campaignedthrough the telephone: urgingsupporters to use all meanspossible to ensure a win,requesting NC leaders to rallysupport. Activist Krishna Pahadihas now revealed how he wasasked by the president to stir upan anti-Maoist governmentmovement in March.

These details are relevant

day after Gen RukmangadKatawal issued circular toall regional headquarters

to stay on high alert this week, hemet President Ram Baran Yadav.The two reportedly discussed thesecurity situation, the politicalturmoil, and the proposedpromotion of certain armyofficers.

Why were the two meeting inthe first place? Yadav may be thesupreme commander of the forcesbut this is in theory a ceremonialposition.

Occasional briefings, purelyto fulfill formalities, may benecessary. But when there is anexecutive prime minister anddefence ministry, what is theneed for Yadav and Katawal todiscuss the army’s operationaland administrative details?

But even raising such aconcern is naïve in these‘extraordinary times’.

The incident is merely a

KIRAN PANDAY

have been ignored by the state for so long.We should just make sure that theexploitative trekking wallhas in Kathmandudon’t pocket all the profits leaving little forthe villages along the routes. The Rukumtrek would be a greatattraction because of itshistory, its untaintedcharacter and the greatscenery. This may be thebest area to test out a newmodel ACAP-like trekkingwhere the benefits accruedirectly to the people, withthe emphasis more ondevelopment thanconservation.

Frank Colinns, email

BACKSIDEIt brought tears to my eyes (laughter as wellas shame) reading ‘Pants without pockets’(#458) by your illustrious Ass. The donkeyis right on the button: the only news aboutNepal to appear in the New York Times

about Nepal for the past six months was thestory about airport staff having their pocketsremoved. And the Ass is right as usual: theonly way to tackle the extortion bypolicemen on security duty is to not just

remove their pockets, butremove their pants as well.

Rajan, USA

Having been at thereceiving end of corruptimmigration and securityofficials at TIA for manyyears, let me congratulatethe Ass for ‘exposing’ theugly truth about Nepal’spremier airport gateway.There is daylight robberygoing on at the airport withimmigration staff extorting

money from students with proper visas andharassing anyone who looks vulnerable.Besides having to nearly miss a flightmyself because of my ‘detention andinterrogation’ recently by officials looking

310 - 16 JULY 2009 #459OP-ED

STATE OF THE STATEC K Lal

SARLAHI—A dirt road juts into the junglefrom Naya Road on East-West Highway.After a 14km bumpy ride past buffaloherds, through the remains of CharkosheJhadi on both sides, a sprawling settlementcomes into view. Welcome to the middle ofnowhere.

If Local Development Minister PurnaKumar Sherma has his way, this will be oneamong 41 new municipalities that will beadded in the next 100 days. This certainlyqualifies to be a town: it has a petrol pump,a direct night-bus service to Kathmandu,half-a-dozen private schools, a physician’sclinic with an attached drugstore, and atleast two new temples under construction.But does that make it a municipality?

The news stall is actually a stationaryshop-cum-ticket counter for ‘express’ busesto the capital. There are no ‘national’newspapers. With a straight face, heexplains that there is little point in sellingnewspapers which treat Sarlahi as if it wereSomalia.

Unlike strained relationship betweenPahadis and Madhesis in Lahan, the twocommunities appear to be at peace witheach other here. In some educated Madhesihouseholds, parents continue to talk totheir children in Nepali. Pahadis can beseen tending to their bullocks in lungistucked at the waist. But neighbours have

The middle of nowhereIn Hajar Bigha, ethnic tensions are just beneath the surface

started harbouring supicions abouteach other.

The distinction between ‘us’ and ‘them’crops up repeatedly in casualconversations. A Yadav says that hisfriends across the fence have bought ahouse in Hetauda, but he has nowhereto go.

The acrimony between the ruling andruled communities has a long history. Inthe early sixties when DDT made the Taraisafer for Pahadis by removing malaria, KingMahendra settled retired soldiers in a forestclearing that came to be called Hajar Bigha.In nearby Murtiya, loyalists of the royalfamily were granted large tracts of farms.Primarily, it was to raise the productivityof these new settlements that theManusmara Irrigation Project was built.

Most Murtiya grantees of governmentlargesse remained absentee landlords. Overthe years, many moved north to thehighway where they have turned Nawalpurinto the national capital of Chure BhawarUnity Society. Distant relatives, indigentcousins or trusted retainers look after theirpossessions for most of the year. Since theproperty market has shot through the roofafter the remittance boom, some of theoriginal landowners have sold theirholdings. In normal circumstances, thiswould hardly have raised any eyebrows.But in these ethnically charged times,when even an accident on the highwayacquires communal colour, landtransactions are being interpreted as“ethnic cleansing” by one side and retreat

of “exploiters” by others.Media reports of Pahadis fleeing the

Tarai are exaggerated. Only Pahadis thathad acquired land for free, or built houseswith bribes, are leaving as awareness levelsrise. No Pahadi plough-holder, cowherd,teacher, shopkeeper or mechanic has leftthe Tarai under duress. But the runawaysare giving entire Madhes a bad name.Perceptions, however, are ghostsimpossible to banish. A Sah professionalslyly admitted in private that he hasn’tbuilt a new house in the hope of buying“escapee property” on the cheap.

Ethnic friction in today’s Tarai-Madhes

can still be resolved. But if the hatred isallowed to incubate there could behorrendous consequences because thegrievances on the ground are genuine. Theloss of privilege of the ruling class is raw.This is a chasm that only intensepoliticisation can bridge.

Clashes at Tri Chandra Campus inKathmandu over a construction contractwere extremely unfortunate. But it hadPahadis, Madhesis, Janajatis, Dalits andwomen on both sides of the barricade. It iswhen the polarisation becomes ethnic thatthings spin out of control. That has to beprevented at all costs.

KIRAN PANDAY

4 10 - 16 JULY 2009 #459NATION

INTERESTING TIMESMallika Aryal

ast week, two Indian tourists were beaten up by locals inTanahu because they were taking pictures of children. Thelocals thought the tourists were kidnappers.

In Chapagaon, a 10-hour curfew had to be imposed to restorecalm after police rescued two people being mercilessly beaten upafter being falsely accused of trying to abduct children.

This week, Gongabu was closed off after locals descended onthe streets accusing police of protecting two people they hadbeaten up on suspicion of being kidnappers. All week, reportscame in of locals supposedly thwarting kidnapping attempts inKirtipur, Maitighar and Bag Bajar.

But worst was yet to come.Two students were lynched todeath by locals in Bhaktapurafter a fight between twogroups of studentsdeteriorated into a mob frenzy

and locals suspected the attackers of being abductors.Two others were beaten up but survived, and gave a statement

to the police saying that they were not in Thimi area to kidnapchildren.

In all the above incidents, innocent people were lynched orkilled on mere suspicion of being kidnappers. These violentincidents, coming after the abduction and murder of student KhyatiShrestha last month by her kidnapper, have left deep scars on theNepali psyche, especially among parents and their children.

The fear is turning to paranoia and, fed by rumours, is leadingto mob violence. The locals who beat two students to death onTuesday were probably parents themselves who were so terrifiedand angry that they took the law into their own hands withoutthinking about the consequences.

Much has been said about a state that is too weak to control thespike in crime. But what about those who are resorting to crimethemselves by being the law onto themselves?

True, it is fuelled by the inability of the state security apparatusto deliver prompt justice, but it is clear from the incidents inKathmandu last week that more individuals with no authority oraccountability are taking law into their own hands. Vigilantismcan’t be justified by the incapacity of the state to enforce the law.

Our society lost faith in the police after the politicisation of theforce after 1990 and its involvement in the dirty Maoist war. Thedistrust is still so deep that individuals are willing to take be thelaw onto themselves than report incidents to the police.

People have seen the police being manhandled by teenagersblocking the road. The fear of punishment that acted as adeterrence is no longer there. The police is often seen to bepolitically motivated, corrupt and giving protection to the accused.Justice is much quicker with an enraged mob that can be motivatedto terrorise, threaten and even murder.

Nepal Police in Kathmandu has enough manpower to reachanywhere in the Valley in a matter of minutes when an incident isreported. But that is not how the public sees them. They are knownmore for their apathy, for being mere bystanders.

There is no other way to explain what happened in Thimi onTuesday. As a society, we have become divided, angry, bitterpeople. What started out in the Tarai has now spread to the capital.The desperation and frustration is so strong that it is manifestingitself into the kind of terrifying and unpredictable rage that led to thelynching of two innocent boys in Thimi this week.

And at the root of all this is the chronic political instability, theuncertainty, impunity and the lack of moral authority of our rulers.Unless that is addressed, just improving law enforcement is notgoing to reduce the crime wave and the vigilantism with which adisheartened public is responding to it. Otherwise we are going toturn into a society where anarchy is considered normal and the lawof the jungle will hold sway.

Vanguards ofvigilantism

Mob psychosis is takingover the country

L

t 16, Laxmi Rai is a big girlfor her class. Herclassmates in the single

room school in Gairi GaunSunsari are 8-14 years old. Likeher friends for whom regularschools were too far to walk to,Laxmi is also in this non-formalschool so that she can completeher accelerated primary leveleducation in three years.

She squats at the back of thesmall classroom, chatting all thetime with the teacher and herclassmates. She sings rhymesalong with them, chimes in theclass work and draws pictureswith equal finesse.

Seeing a camera pointed ather, Laxmi delicately pushes awaythe hair falling over her eyes withher right toe. Stricken with polioas a baby, Laxmi uses her feet todo the things her friends use theirhands for. Writing, drawing,unwrapping candy and pushing itinto her mouth, she does all thatwith her toes.

“I was born prematurely atseven months...a tiny, weak baby,"Laxmi says in her halting speech,“then when I was less than a yearold...they say I fell very ill…theysaid jungle lageko...but I think itwas a bad case of...polio.”

As her friends romp aroundthe classroom singing anddancing, Laxmi sitsin the cornerswaying her bodyto the rhythm andsinging with all hermight.

“If my handsand feet...were ok,I’d have lovedto...stand up anddance with them,”she says, “in fact...Iwould probablyhave become aheroni.”

Sunsariteenager

doesn’t lether handicap

drag herdown

Laxmi often dreams thather legs are ok. “I see myselfmoving about normally...Ioften dream...I am punchingbullies and fighting themrwamma rwamma withknives.”

Although she does notwield a knife in real lifeLaxmi says she is pretty toughwith boys who tease and bullyher friends.

Using her toes, Laxmi flipsthrough the pages of her thickdiary in which she hasscribbled poems in her neat'footwriting'. There arehundreds of poems: aboutfriendship, life, the country,and love.

Laxmi has even written astory that runs like a script ofa film, which she says shewould like to hand to a filmdirector to turn into ablockbuster movie. “It’s a...love tragedy,” she confides

with a shy smile.Laxmi lives with her 67-year

old grandmother Dhnamaya Raiin the house next to theclassroom. The land for theschool was donated by herfamily. Her father, who is a cookat the BP Koirala Hospital inDharan, wanted his daughter tostay with him. But Laxmi, who isvery attached to her teacher andfriends, wants to stay on inGairi Gaun.

She says: “I willfirst...complete my education,that is most important for me…then when I grow up...I want tobecome a litterateur...a famousone.”

RUPA JOSHI in SUNSARI

ON HER TOES: Laxmi does mathswith her toes (above) and the foot-writing in her poem is better thanmost people’s handwriting (below).

Laxmi dreamsof flying

caged birdi am a caged birdwhy do you do whatever you like with me?i have dreams of soaring open skiesmy heart wishes to be with friendsalways, i cry inside day and nightyou don’t even feed me enoughperhaps my tears will keep flowingthroughout my lifei am just a sad caged bird

Laxmi Rai14 August 2008

A

PICS: RUPA JOSHI

SHRUTI SHRESTHA/KANTIPUR

510 - 16 JULY 2009 #459BUSINESS

STRICTLY BUSINESSAshutosh Tiwari

hen Himalmedia andthe Pokhara chapter ofthe Nepal Young

Entrepreneurs Forum (NYEF)joined forces to organise aninteraction recently, the issuesthat came up were one that willprobably not be addressed in the

Finance Minister’s budget speechnext week. In Pokhara, as inKathmandu and Biratnagar, mostowners of businesses are theentrepreneurs and the managerswho have to wear different hatson any given day inside theircompanies.

Trade unions: Mostparticipants said that they werenot against trade unions. Someeven said that trade unions arehere to stay in Nepali businessesfor the foreseeable future, andsmart businesses learn how towork with them. Butentrepreneurs are worried aboutthe rising militancy of tradeunions that act in the interest ofneither the owners nor theemployees.

In fact, the people whobenefit from militancy are oftenelsewhere. They are in party-politics. Their mandate is toinfiltrate as many companies as

possible for extortion andemployment for party cadres. ThePokhara entrepreneurs said that toward off problems, they havedone their best to fulfill all therequirements demanded by labourlaws. Still, reasoning andpleading with militantemployees, who are backed bypolitical motivations, and whoinsist on viewing the world as adivided between masters andslaves is unproductive andfrustrating.

Growth: Most Pokharaentrepreneurs admitted thatgrowing their companies duringthe boom times was easy. But thateasiness had one downside. Itmade most of them unprepared tothink about growth during downtimes, when they felt themselvesgetting sucked into arranging andre-arranging their companies’innards. When tense politicalsituations, bandas, labour unrestand the migration of high-incomeresidents out of Pokhara to othercountries affected the companies’growth rates, the owners were ata loss as to how to deal withthese problems.

One solution the meetingthrew up was to think of abusiness in terms of gettingsystems, structure and stabilityright so that the management’stime is not spent on fightinginternal fires all the time butopen to chase opportunities, evenduring bad times. It’s importantin a company to lay down routinesystems of who reports to whomwith what numbers and ideas,and how the decision-makingprocesses work so that stability islikely to result. Withorganizational stability in place,

the owners can then look for newproducts to offer in old and newmarkets. But putting in systems,structure and stability is boringwork that may not suit thetemperament of owner-managerswho are good at externally-focused work.

Human resources: One issuethat came up with regard tohuman resources was how tomake the trade-off betweenseniority and competence. In theold Nepal, seniority countedwithout a question forpromotions and rewards. In thenew competitive Nepal, anyonecan see that senior employees arenot necessarily the mostcompetent or high-performingones. Still, in most companies,owner-managers have no choicebut to promote senior employees:not because they are performers,but because they’ve been aroundfor a long time, and are often mostresistant to learning about change.Compounding the problem is thatmost such senior employees areoften the family members andrelatives of the owner-managers.The Pokhara entrepreneurs’ takewas that as the working-agepopulation gets smaller andsmaller in Nepal, as is alreadyhappening, this problem islikely to sort itself out in the nextfew years.

These three issues that are inthe minds of the Pokharaentrepreneurs provide actionitems for business-promotingbodies such as FNCCI, NYEF andothers to come up with trainingand interaction programs in thefuture with an aim to furtherlower the hurdles faced by Nepalibusinesses.

Lower the hurdlesWhatever the new budget throws up, Pokharabusinesses will face the same old problems

DURGA HUMAGAIN

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Pani PrasadThe Chaudhary Group in collaboration with WWF launched NepaliChildrens’ book series, Pani Prasad, Volume I and II on 5 Julysupporting WWF’s campaign to bring global attention to theimpacts of Climate Change on the Himalayas.

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Bridal winnersProviding a platform for Nepalibeauticians, Lakme in association withSaundarya Kala Byawasayi Sanghorganised Lakme Bridal Make upCompetition 2009 last week. Thewinners were Rajesh Lama, RinaMaharjan and Meera Shrestha who gave bridal makeovers to ladiesfrom various ethnic backgrounds.

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BoonRotary Club of Patan and RotaryClub of Belleview, United Stateshave started ‘Nepal apangajagaran abhiyan,’ from 29 June.The project intends to alleviatethe appalling conditions of the

disabled in Nepal through awareness programs.

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Glamorous wallsAsian Paints has launched Royale Play,which is touted as being special effectpaint. Along with painting walls, userscan now give textures and patterns using their application tools likebrush, roller, comb, spatula, colour wash and more.

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ManipalChaudhary Group and Manipal K-12 in ajoint venture has acquired a chain ofschools and +2 colleges. This programwill offer management services to existing

and new schools under the brand name CG – Manipal and provideInformation and communication technology (ICT) based tutorials.

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Go to RomePurchase a bottle of Carlsberg and get a free entry pass for two, totour popular bars in Rome.

W

6 10 - 16 JULY 2009 #459FROM THE NEPALI PRESS

Neelam Timsina in Kantipur, 7 July

The government should modernise andcommercialise agriculture by allotting it atleast 10 per cent of the budget. It shouldconsider establishing a fund for ruralentrepreneurs.

The budget must focus on developingthe industrial sector by guaranteeingsecurity and the rule of law, encouragingprivate sector and public investment,developing clear economic policies,increasing capital expenditure, banningstrikes, addressing the energy crisis andinstituting an industrial security force.

A separate body should be formed tosupervise infrastructure development andmaintenance. The budget should fundalternative roads connecting Kathmanduwith Tarai, a Mechi-Mahakali electricrailway and rural roads.

Concrete plans to attract foreigninvestments in hydropower are imperative.Focus should also be on subsidising

New budgetalternative energy and the import ofdiesel plants to address the currentpower shortage.

The budget should continue pastprovisions that facilitated revenuecollection and checked leakage. Thegovernment should reform the VATscheme, which offers two rates, that onlycomplicates things and reduces revenuecollection.

The inflation rate is soaring in Nepal.An ineffective supply mechanism is toblame. Besides checking cartels andblack markets, an automatic priceadjustment mechanism to adjust theprice of petroleum products inconsonance with international marketprices must be established.

If this is done, the GDP growth ratecan be expected to be 5 per cent and theinflation can be restricted to 6 per centwith revenue flexibility ratio 1.15 nextyear.

A budget between Rs 275 andRs 300 billion could achieve all this.

Khem Bhandari in Nepal, 5 July

The decisions taken at the recent Maoist Politburomeeting show that the party is still committed to thepeace process, but that it is struggling to reconcileinternal differences. The Politburo wisely chose to backthe formation of a national government, and this showsmaturity and a desire to transform into a mainstreamparty. They could have easily taken a step towardsanother ‘people’s revolution’, but didn’t.

The Maoist’s proposal is a way out of the mess theUML-lead government has landed us in. The Maoistsare not only the biggest party in the CA, they are alsothe key to the transformation of the country. Theconstitution will not be completed with the Maoistson the sidelines. The other parties should resignthemselves to this fact and assist the Maoists.

By insisting on national consensus the Maoistshave shown they can be flexible with their demands,which promises a way out of the present impasse. TheNC and the UML would do well to end their selfishbickering and hand over responsibilities to theMaoists.

Although the Politburo meeting was promising, itrevealed friction within the party. Chairman Prachandahas maintained that the party will struggle peacefullybut he hasn’t totally renounced a ‘people’s revolution,’which Kiran Baidya’s faction of the party supports.These two policies can’t possibly go hand in hand.

Editorial in Nagarik, 7 July

The violent dispute between the NC-affiliated NepalStudent‘s Union and UML-affiliated All Nepal NationalFree Student Union over constructing a new building inTri Chandra College, has highlighted the divisions between

Nanda Kishor Pun (Pasang), PLA commander in Janadesh, 7 July

The political small-mindedness of the leaders in the governmentdisgusts us. It is our duty to take the peace process to its logical end andform a national army. Although we are angry, we are committed tocarrying out our responsibility to the country.

The Army Integration Special Committee, which will bereconstituted, will make an official decision about the integration ofthe PLA. We will forge a consensus, regarding the committee’s shape,at the political level. We have not said anything yet and will speak onlywhen needed. We are waiting to see the kind of special committee thatwill be formed. Until now, we have just been spectators as the newprime minister and defence minister have gone about their business.

We will only accept the decision of the special committee.The recent comments made by the prime minister and defence ministerare irrelevant.

Intellectual deficiencyA way out

the two governing parties. It’s a sign of the country’spolitical turmoil that the students are demanding roles inissues other than education.

Political parties often quarrel, but they are not justifiedin burning down offices and using weapons inside collegepremises. The police have not yet captured the guilty,raising doubts about their competence and increasingsuspicions that the culprits enjoy political patronage.Student leaders must understand that the politicisation ofstudent unions has now degenerated into criminalactivity.

Student violence

ALL PICS: KIRAN PANDAY

EXCHANGE OFFER: UML’s Chairman, Jhal Nath Khanal, inducts a former Maoist into the party on Monday at the party office at Balkhu (left). Only a day earlier, Maoist ChairmanPushpa Kamal Dahal had inducted a former UML party worker into his party at a special program at the Academy hall (right). In total, 39 former Maoists defected to UML while 359party workers from various parties switched to the Maoists.

710 - 16 JULY 2009 #459CONSTITUTION 2010

Sonam Chejung Lama, UML,CA member, Mugu

What are youdiscussing in yourcommittee?I’m in the State StructureCommittee. The UML wantsa prime minister directlyelected by the people. TheMaoists say there should bean executive president. TheNC wants a ceremonialpresidency and a primeminister elected by theparliament.

Everyone thinks they’reright, so it’s hard to settlethe issue. It doesn’t looklike they’ll find commonground. Unless the leadersof the major parties give it aserious thought, the constitution will not be written on time, inwhich case there will be chaos. Sometimes I’m shocked at howprotective members are of their petty party interests.

So how much of the constitution have you written?Although we’ve discussed the constitution at length, we’ve onlyfinished writing a quarter of it. We have been working. We meetat 8AM everyday and I never have a minute to do anything else.

Why is it behind schedule then?We have been held up by political instability, the big egos of themajor party leaders, attempts to keep yesterday’s leaders out ofpower and their unwillingness to relinquish it.

The Constitutional Committee is without a leader.Won’t this affect the constitution-writing process?The committee hasn’t had a leader since Madhav Kumar Nepalbecame the prime minister. The politicians should now quicklyagree to appoint someone. If they do so, constitution-writing willremain on track.

Navaraj Koirala, Nepal MajdurKisan Party, CA member,Kalikot

How much of the constitutionhas your committee finished?I’m in the Natural Resources,Economic Rights and Sharingof Revenues Committee and weare discussing the preliminarydraft made by a subcommitteefor discussion in the plenary.

Will the constitution be writtenon time?Quarreling between the rulingand opposition parties hasdelayed the constitution’scompletion. In any case, I worrythat it won’t protect everyNepali’s interests.

Why?Instead of writing the

constitution, politicians have quarreled and obstructed the houseand cast the entire process into doubt.

How was your experience in the CA last year?I loved Kathmandu when I first came here as a student. Now, I feelsuffocated. Criminals abound while drinking water and land wasteare mismanaged. To avoid all of this, I think we should move thecapital to Dang.

How do you view theconstitution writingprocess?Pradip Deuba(Nepali Congress): Thereshould have been a nationalconsensus on specific pointsregarding the constitution. Buthow can they be achieved whenthere are disputes, even withinthe parties, about what portfolioeach party will get? It isuncertain whether theconstitution will be written ontime.

Beni Madhav Joshi(National Janamorcha): Thisis the result of ignoring opinionsfrom small parties and letting thebig parties do what they want.

Gopi Nepal (RastriyaPrajatantra Party Nepal):Perhaps the Maoists could havedone something, but they weren’tallowed to work. Unless the kingis included in the process,Nepal’s constitution isincomplete.

Keshab Pariyar(social worker): The pace atwhich the constitution writingprocess is progressing isencouraging ethnic and regionalconflicts and pushing thecountry into utter chaos.

Raju Nepali (NGO worker):There is no need to lose hope. Wecan still expect that theconstitution will be written ontime. The question here is on theissue of federalism and whatshape it will take.

What sort of federalism dothe people of Doti support?Padam Singh Bom (NC): Thepeople of Doti should have thepower to decide on issuesregarding the development oftheir own region.

Mukunda Rana(NGO worker): Federalismhasn’t yet been discussed withus. However, federal statesshould be made keeping in mindthe needs for development,

education, food and socialtransformation in the far west.The whole region should be asingle state.

Sashi Shob (Dalit Women’sOrganisation): Just becauseNepal becomes a federal republicdoesn’t mean all our problemswill be solved. We should havethe right to be a part of the processwhen our resources are beingallocated. We should also be ableto use them. The basis forfederalism should be geographic.

Dil Bahadur Bom (NC): Setiand Mahakali should be a singlestate and Doti should be itsheadquarters.

Keshab Pariyar: No systemwill work unless we change ourattitude.

Pradip Deuba: There is a needto address ethnicity and regionalidentity. If the sentiment ofeveryone is taken intoconsideration, there will be nodanger of disintegration.

Sapana Bohara (NepalStudent Union): We needfederalism so that Nepal’s regionsdo not have to be dependent onKathmandu for everything.Decisions regarding federalismshould be made on the basis ofpopulation, geography andeconomic issues.

But Doti hasn’t been able toutilise its natural resourcesor the budget received fromthe centre.Mukunda Rana: The people ofDoti do not have even the basicfacilities. The governmentinvestment in health, educationand employment is meagre. Whywould anyone want to stay here?No one wants to invest here. Thebudget for the entire far westNepal is equal to that of onedistrict in the east. Those whohave migrated to Kathmandu fromDoti don’t want to invest two percent of their earnings in theirdistrict.

Shashi Shob: Leaders come hereonly to ask for votes. And thestate has always neglected usbecause they only listen to whatthe politicians in Kathmandu say.

Keshab Pariyar: We alwaysblame the centre and do nothing.There isn’t a single hotel in thisdistrict because people fear thatthey will have to touch Dalits.Donor agencies are sent away ifthey come here. Everything ispoliticised. We have to change ourattitude to bring development.

Beni Madhav Joshi: Oncepeople are educated and nolonger poor they will ask whereall the development funds aregoing, which will make it hardfor corrupt leaders to pocketthem.

Bhes Raj Joshi(businessman): Doti is strickenwith poverty. People do not havethe resources to invest here andthose who do don’t want to. Howwill autonomy work in a placethat has not had a local body forthe last seven years?

Doti speaksResidents ofDoti talkedabout what

kind ofconstitutionthey wouldwant and

the kind ofstructure

that wouldwork best

for them at adiscussion

program lastmonth.

New constitution25% finished

Just thepreliminarydraft done

INDRA SHRESTHA

8 TRAFFIC

Where hthe zebra

REVENUE EARNER: The overhead bridge at Rani Pokhari just earns money for the municipalityfrom a billboard and pedestrians ignore a policeman trying in vain to get them to climb the stairs.The parapet of walkways are unnecessarily high to accommodate billboards.

The pedestlowest in

chain of Kaurban

W

RIGHT OF WAY: Vehicles seem to have right of way even in the city core of Basantapur whichwas once pedestrianised.

GOOGLE EARTH

STATE OF DISREPAIR: Protective side rail at Bijuli Bajar, which was partially uprooted by protesterstrying to enforce past bandas, has never been repaired.

e see manifestations of Kathmandu’s malignant urbangrowth all around us: buildings that flout zoningordinances, unplanned housing, crumbling

infrastructure and a city that has exceeded its limits to growth.But the most glaring aspect is the daily clash of pedestrian and

vehicular traffic on Kathmandu’s streets. Automobiles are supposedto make life easier, but they vie for urban space with the majoritywho are on foot and the two are often in conflict in the streetsthey share.

The municipality and the road authorities are supposed tomanage this conflict through zebra crossings, overhead bridges,footpaths, designated pedestrianisedstreets and an awareness campaignamong road users about their rightsand responsibilities.

Zebra crossings are the simplestway to manage the conflict betweenwalkers and riders. But zebras, evenwhere they were painted, have nowvanished from the streets. This hasled to jay-walking, vehicles that don’tgive right of way to pedestrians, resulting in a rising number oftraffic accidents. Kathmandu’s city managers have neglected thefact that walking is the primary mode of travel after public transport.The result is that we have a city that is becoming more and morepedestrian-unfriendly.

A compact city where commuting to and from work on foot hasalways been the norm, fewer people walk because it is dangerous,polluted and inconvenient in the absence of proper footpaths.During frequent traffic jams motorcycles climb on to the sidewalks,adding to the pedestrian’s woes.

Those streets with pedestrian walkways are poorly designed

RAJJAN M

910 - 16 JULY 2009 #459

have allas gone?

SOMETHING MISSING: A whole section of the sidewalk at the busy Baneswor intersection ismissing.

OVERHEAD SHOPPING: The overhead pedestrian crossing at Jamal has become ashopping centre. There are no signs showing the way, the legibility of the space is lost and it isprone to crime.

trian ranksn the foodathmandu’sjungle

ALL PICS: RAJJAN M CHITRAKAR

CAR POOL: Pedestrians try crossing the road at Kopundole near Bagmati Bridge. Evenwhen the zebra markings were clear, drivers rarely gave walkers priority.

and badly maintained with protective railings and street furnituremissing. Street lights stopped working long ago, making walking atnight even more perilous.

Even the sidewalks that exist are too narrow because there arejust too many people and because they are encroached upon byvendors and garbage dumps. Pedestrians therefore have no optionbut to spillover into the road, where they compete with the cars andmotorcycles.

The pedestrian overheads and one subway in central Kathmanduwere supposed to make it easier for walkers. But most people rarelyuse them. This happens when interventions designed for pedestrians

are inappropriate and difficult, andthe safety and comfort of road usersare not considered. Walking on thesidewalks is unpleasant and chaoticbecause they are unattractive, non-vibrant and have no active buildingedges.

Moves by the Traffic Police toimprove flow and safety of theValley’s roads should not be confined

to vehicles but also to improve the ease and comfort of pedestrians.All it needs is for the municipality to re-paint the zebra crossingsand improve awareness through a publicity campaign for bothvehicles and people.

Easy movement of people or good pedestrian environment canonly bring better accessibility and linkage between urban places.When push comes to shove (literally) and the question arises, whohas the right of way, the answer should always be: the pedestrian.

Rajjan M Chitrakar is an architect and urban designer at the PulchokEngineering College. razn77(at)hotmail.com

CHITRAKAR

10 AVIATION 10 - 16 JULY 2009 #459

ifty years after the first Pilatus Portermade the long journey from Switzerlandto Nepal, the rugged single-engine aircraft

is staging a come back in the Himalaya.By a happy coincidence, that first aircraft

was nicknamed ‘Yeti’, and it is Yeti Airlinesthat has just taken delivery of two brand newlatest model Pilatus Porters to re-open roadlessareas of the country.

The single-engine aircraft are ideal forNepal’s mountains because they can landand takeoff on dirt runways not more than350m long.

“The Pilatus Porter has a proven record ofperformance for flying to remote areas of Nepal,it has shown it can do the job anytime andalmost anywhere,” says Yeti’s Ang TshiringSherpa, “it fits nicely between a helicopter and aTwin Otter and we want to use it to open up thefar west.”

The first ‘Yeti’ set the world record for thehighest-ever landing by a fixed wing aircraft at5,700m when it was used by the Austrian- SwissDhaulagiri expedition in 1960 to ferry suppliesfrom Pokhara to base camp. That record stillstands, and the ‘Yeti’ is also still there becauseon its 17th flight it crashed while trying totakeoff in high wind.

Emil Wick, who was one of the pilots of theoriginal ‘Yeti’ when it crashed on Dhaulagiri,stayed on in Nepal to train Pilatus pilots forRoyal Nepal Airlines. He died in 2000, leaving alist of legendary flying feats like landingdownhill in Lukla, flying at 16,000ft in theunpressurised PC-6 to climb over clouds, andlanding transverse to the runway at Kathmanduairport in a 40 knot crosswind. (See box p11)

Hardy Fuerer, another Swiss pilot who flewthe blue-tailed Pilatus for the UN in the 1970sand 80s, was involved in the construction ofnearly 40 short-takeoff and landing (STOL)fields. Some, like Phaplu, Jomsom, Jumla, Raraand Jufal have been upgraded, while others likeLangtang and Dhorpatan are not used anymore.

After 50 years, a legendary aircraft returns to the Nepali skies

Indeed, it was impressive to see just how littleof the runway Yeti’s second Pilatus Porter used atthe end of its 40-hour ferry flight to Kathmandufrom Luzern on Wednesday. “The beauty of thisplane is that Pilatus hasn’t changed its basic designin 50 years,” said Michael Alb at Kathandu airportafter a seven-hour last leg of the flight fromAhmedabad.

Yeti Airlines, which flies to more destinationsthan any other airline in Nepal, bought the twoPilatus Porter PC-6s to extend its reach to airfieldswhich can’t take Twin Otters.

“We are hoping to extend this service to touristswho don’t have time for a long trek, and want to goup to Syangboche for brunch and be back byafternoon,” says Yet Airlines’ Pradeep Shah.

At $950 per hour, the Pilatus is half the cost ofrenting an Ecuriel helicopter and will hiring it outat short notice as an air ambulance, specialisedsight-seeing flights and cargo charters.

In the past 50 years, Pilatus Porters have beenflown by the United Nations, the Swissdevelopment agency and Royal Nepal Airlines. Inthose years, PC-6 have done just about eerything:they have dropped live goats by parachute formountaineering expeditions, carried text books andvaccines to remote villages in western Nepal, ferriedgrain to Humla during the 1982 food crisis, flownorange saplings for orchards in Jumla and takeninternational celebrities for new year partiesat Syangboche.

For many, the familiar drone of the PilatusPorter’s turboprop engine has brought backmemories of a past that is now a part of the future ofNepal’s aviation.

See also: ‘Emil Wick’s adventures with the Pilatus Porter’,Nepali Times, #9‘Looking for the Yeti', Nepali Times #9‘Expedition locates crash below Dhaulagiri’, Nepali Times #13‘Flying into the past with Hardy Fuerer’, Nepali Times #24

NEW ARRIVAL: The second of Yeti Airlines’ brand new Pilatus Porterlands at Kathmandu airport (below) after a 40-hour ferry flight fromSwitzerland on Wednesday, with Capt Michael Alb at the controls (top).The first Pilatus to fly in Nepal was also nicknamed ‘Yeti’ and seen(above) at Pokhara airport in 1960, and later crashed on Dhaulagiri.

F

For video of Yeti Airlines Pilatus ferry flight:http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/multimedia/video/detail.html?siteSect=15045&sid=10743652

KUNDA DIXIT

KUNDA DIXIT

1110 - 16 JULY 2009 #459AVIATION

Ron Faux of The Times of London flew with legendary Pilatus Porterpilot, Emil Wick, to right below Mt Everest in 1978, and writes abouthis experience:

uring the 1978 Austrian expedition to Everest, on whichReinhold Messner and Peter Habeler planned an oxygen freeattempt on the mountain, I flew with them in the Pilatus Porter

with Emil Wick (pictured) from Syangboche airstrip.Wick strapped us into the aircraft, gave everyone an oxygen mask

and placed a cushion on his seat. He was of short stature and withoutelevation from a cushion, what lay beyond the instrument panel was amystery to him. I remember his very positive, cheerful and enormouslyself-confident manner. He was the only pilot the Nepalis would allow tofly “into the hole” as he called the Western Cwm.

We first flew towards Nuptse and skirting the northern edge of theridge, tracked the edge of the Cwm towards Lhotse, swinging left aboutlevel with the South Col. The air was completely still but Wickannounced that we were unable to fly beyond the South Col for fear ofa Chinese missile and that reaching summit level was not possible onthat particular day because the pressure was too low and the air

insufficiently dense.The single turbo-prop engine did not

have the grunt to go higher that day.Instead we flew to 400m of the south-west face of Everest and we had aclose-up view of the route thatBonington and Co had climbed threeyears previously.

Wick then flew the aircraft above theLhotse face and said: “OK, we dive thebastard” and yanked the controls into aspiral dive. He had to use maximuminput on the controls to make the Porterdo anything. We then swooped down theLhotse face over the heads of twoAustrians climbing towards the SouthCol. They could not have been pleasedafter spending two months manoeuvringthemselves into a position of Biblicalloneliness and danger when out of the

sky plunges an aircraft whose wheels almost took their hats off. If thenoise and shock wave alone did not terrify them the subsequent risk ofavalanche on a 50 degree snow and ice slope would.

Down the Cwm we plunged over the lip of the Khumbu Icefall andthe startled upturned faces at base camp. Whilst Wick was clearlymaster of his element and enjoying every second, his passengerswere too stunned to speak. We flew down the valley to Syangboche,renowned for its turbulence, but the air remained perfectly smooth.

Interesting to note that Reinhold Messner insisted that he make theflight without wearing an oxygen mask. He was well acclimatised andmanifestly had lungs that reached his knees but even so he turned acurious shade of blue, his eyes crossed and lost some of their focusbut, according to him, he remained fully conscious. As history records,he and Habeler did reach the top, unmasked.

Emil Wick retired from his job as a trainer for Royal Nepal Airlinesin Nepal in 1986 aged 60. In 1989 he co-wrote a scientificmeteorological paper entitled ‘Air motions in the vicinity of MountEverest as deduced from Pilatus Porter flights,’ which gives afascinating insight into his vast experience of flying in the Everestregion. Emil Wick died on September 27, 2000 aged 74 in Geneva,Switzerland.

Extrememountain flight

D

12 INTERNATIONAL 10 - 16 JULY 2009 #459

nvestment in the health andthe rights of girls and womencan help economic recovery,

civil society groups told G8leaders who met in Italythis week.

They said the big issues onthe G8 agenda (food security,poverty, climate change andglobal health) are all connected togender equality and added thatinvestment in women is itselfa solution.

“If we invest in women, manyproblems will be solved, theeconomy can stand from theground,” said Sylvia Borren, co-chair of the Global Call to ActionAgainst Poverty (GCAP). “Weknow from microfinance andfrom many other examples thatletting women suffer from thefood crisis and the lack of healthservices means not building thefundamentals of a sustainableeconomy.”

The problem is funding.According to the World Bank, theeconomic crisis and the new risein food prices could lead to 2.8million more children dying by

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Hillary in IndiaNEW DELHI—-It is hard to say whether US Secretary of StateHillary Clinton will find herself being quizzed more on Washington’s‘AfPak’ strategy to contain global terror, or her appeasement of afinancially muscular China, when she lands in India next week.

Clinton’s visit comes a full five months after she landed inBeijing where, to the consternation of international rights groups,she refused to allow human rights to “interfere” with talks onmore pressing issues such as the financial crisis, climate changeand security.

Abandoning the George W Bush policy of ‘containing’ Chinathrough building up strategic ties with India (as well as with Japanand Australia), Clinton has described U.S.-China relations as “themost important bilateral relationship of the 21st century”. (IPS)

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Ban on BurmaBANGKOK—-UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon achieved a rarediplomatic feat during his recent visit to military-ruled Burma: hebroke a taboo by delivering a public speech about the lack ofdemocracy and human rights in the country.

So far, the notoriously prickly regime, has accepted Ban’sverbal thrust without an outburst, but Burma watchers wonder howlong that silence will last.

“Neither peace nor development can thrive without democracyand respect for human rights,” Ban said over the weekend to anaudience of diplomats, UN officials and staff from aid agenciesin Rangoon. “Peace, development and human rights are closelyinter-related.”

Ban’s speech, on the last of his two-day stay in Burma, alsotouched on the plight of Aung San Suu Kyi, the pro-democracyleader who has spent over 14 years either under house arrest or inRangoon’s Insein Prison. He called for the release of the NobelPeace laureate and the over 2,100 political prisoners languishing inBurmese jails.

“Aung San Suu Kyi must be allowed to participate in thepolitical process without further delay,” Ban said after being denieda chance to meet the 64-year-old Suu Kyi, currently being held inthe Insein Prison.

More is required for the current UN engagement to achievepolitical reform in Burma, say human rights groups that haveexposed abuse in a country that has been under the grip ofsuccessive military regimes since a 1962 coup. (IPS)

2015 if no concrete action istaken, and $60 billion dollars areneeded over the next five years tofight infectious diseases andstrengthen health systems in thedeveloping world.

Last year’s G8 summit madecomprehensiverecommendationsto strengthen health systemsparticularly, but withoutallocating funds to that end. Now,56 women parliamentarians fromAsia, Africa, Europe and G8countries have said in a letter:“Investing in women’s health aspart of aid policies has to beconsidered a priority, as it willgive to the poorer countries abetter chance to solve their healthcrises and develop.”

Sexual and reproductivediseases clearly cause a hugeeconomic loss to developingeconomies. They reduce femaleproductivity by 20 per cent, theparliamentarians said.

“Of course it’s about money,and the money is there,” saidBorren. “Not even a third of the$30 billion requested at the UNhigh level meeting on the foodcrisis one year ago has beenforthcoming, when $20 trillion

“Invest in women”Experts tell G-8 leaders to allocate

more money for gender issuesSABINA ZACCARO in ROME have gone to the corporate bailout

and the banks...they have chosento desperately bail out aneconomic system that we all agreeis broken.” (IPS)I

KUNDA DIXIT

1310 - 16 JULY 2009 #459REVIEWS

n elephant sleeps by a mid-night blue lake, an owlflutters on a blade of grass. A camel averts its gazefrom the harsh uncanny light that illuminates it and

a calf stops to listen in a deserted, red-hued street to thesilence that engulfs it.

Zoe Childerley’s 'In a Different Light' comprises a series ofmagical images that are at once familiar and delightfullystrange. Carefully constructed to conceal the way they are madethey remain, nevertheless, fabulous scenes that immediatelyengage the imagination. The dramatic light and dense foliage,the lonely spaces and quiet waters: these heightened realitiesare sensuous and thrilling.

In a Different Light is inspired by fairy tales, folk tales,mythology and literature, narratives that both distinguishcommunities and unite humanity. She works with Hindumyths and African proverbs, a Nepali tale and the OldTestament.

Some of Childerley’s images depict living animals in alienor artificial environments. Some are shot on location, at homeor abroad, with minor details added or subtracted during post-production. Quite often, the animals she photographs arestuffed, though they are incorporated with such skill into thefalse landscapes she provides that they nevertheless appearuncannily alive

Childerley did some work inNepal which formed part of a body ofwork that has been exhibited in the UK.The images are based on folktales, severalof which come from Nepal. In herexhibition at the Siddhartha Art Gallery,Zoe will be showcasing 12 images fromthis captivating series of work. Themenagerie of animals, originallypreserved by taxidermy, had new lifebreathed into them by her photography. Childerly has beenworking with Philip Holmes, the director of the EstherBenjamin Trust, which has been working with Nepali girls whohave been rescued from Indian circuses and with young deafpeople. Proceeds from the sale of her photographs will go to theTrust.

The elephant in Childerley’s image belongs to a Nepali taleabout logic and intellect outwitting superstition. But such isthe power of photography that it can carry the multiplenarratives we attach to it. The strength of Childerley’s skilledand mesmerising images is that they tap into a collectiverepertoire of archetypes while remaining seductively originaland new.

Zoe Childerly is a photographic artist and senior lecturer atDerby University in the UK. 'In a Different Light' is beingexhibited till 18 July at the Siddhartha Art Gallery, BabarMahal Revisited.

Sam Kang Li came toKathmandu to work at NepaliTimes as a photojournalismintern from Singapore’sNanyang University inDecember 2007. In the nextsix months, many of hisphotographs appeared inthis paper. Last week, threeof those pictures wonawards in the photo-journalism category of thePrix de la Photographie,Paris (Px3). Excerpts ofinterview:

Nepali Times: Was there alot of tension taking thepictures? You wereoften surrounded by riotpolice.Kang Li Sam: The pictures ofthe Tibetan protests pictures weremostly taken outside the UnitedNations building in Kathmandu.Hundreds of Tibetan refugees hadgathered outside to stage apeaceful protest, but tensionsran high. My photos show tensionsimply because the situation isone of tension. I was more excitedthan scared because as a

Singaporean who had been usedto order on the streets, this wassomething very different.What camera did you shootthe winning photographswith?I was using a normal DSLR, likemost news photographers. Iusually shoot with very widelenses because I prefer to getclose and intimate. I am mostlyself-taught. Exposing myself tothe works of other people can bevery inspiring. I think it is thethought process that isimportant, even thoughphotography seems to be verytechnical.What was it like working inNepal during the time of itstransition from monarchy torepublic?I felt incredibly lucky to be ableto be a witness during such acritical period for Nepal. Thepolitical leaders were dividedand often disagreed with oneanother, causing slowimplementation of essentialpolicies and frustrating thepeople. The people had a lot ofhope for the new Maoist

Sam's NepalWINNING STREAK: Sam KangLi (left) and one of thephotographs (above) for whichhe won the Px3 award in thephotojournalism category inParis last week.

SAM KANG LI

In a new lightA

government after the April 2008polls, which I covered. I admiredNepalis who continued to smileand go about their daily livesdespite the instability, daily 18-hour electricity cuts and dieselqueues that snaked for kilometers.One year later, it seems thatnothing much has changed.Was not being able to speakNepali a problem?Actually sometimes it helpedbecause Nepalis tend to be morehospitable to and forgiving offoreigners. The language barrierwas easily circumvented because Ireceived the help of manycolleagues who have now becomevery dear friends. I also learnedenough of the language to get by. Any other themes or subjectswhich you plan to explore?I feel that the still image can be avery powerful medium tocommunicate and connect withpeople. I don’t hope a lot aboutwhat my pictures can do, otherthan to be able to connect withpeople and to move people insome ways. Photojournalism neednot be confined to the realm ofnews pictures.What next for you?The nice way to put it is that I ama freelancer. The bad way to put itis that I am jobless. But I’m alsonot rushing into finding a job.Times are bad and so I am justkeeping a look-out for options.

www.samkangli.com

14 10 - 16 JULY 2009 #459CITY

ABOUT TOWN

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

In Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaur, life begins to change forManny (Ray Romano) and his friends. Scrat (Chris Wedge)is still on the hunt to hold onto his beloved acorn whileManny and his new mate Ellie (Queen Latifah) are expectinga baby. Diego (Denis Leary) is fed up with being treatedlike a house-cat and Sid (John Leguizamo) begins to wishfor a family of his own, and so steals some dinosaur eggs.This leads him into the underground world where dinosaursroam free and where his herd must rescue him.

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

KATHMANDU VALLEY

WEEKEND WEATHER by NGAMINDRA DAHAL

Although the precipitation quota for the first two weeks of July have beenwithin normal monsoon norms, we haven’t made up the deficit because of thelate onset. Kathmandu received 100 mm of rain till 8 July: out of the July quotaof 360 mm. This satellite image taken on Thursday afternoon shows a clearsquall line poised to enter Nepal from the southeast. A low pressure troughalong the axis of the Himalaya and a parallel mid-tropospheric system calledInter Tropical Convergence Zone will egg the rain along. The monsoon took abreather midweek, but will re-invigourate itself over the weekend. The showerswill be at times heavy at night, with sultry sunny spells during the day.

KATHMANDU

EXHIB IT IONS Our world your move, a photo exhibition by Red Cross and Red

Crescent Movement in Nepal, Nepat Art council, Baber Mahal 12 July at 2PM

Away from town, a photo exhibition of the pictorial book‘A people War’, Indian International Centre, New Delhi 14 Julyat 6 PM. 91-11-24616947Inside is outside, an exhibition of paintings by Saroj bajracharyaat The Art Shop gallery, durbarmarg til 17 JulyIn a Different Light an exhibition of Photography by ZoeChilderley at Siddhartha Art Gallery, Baber Mahal Revisited, til18 July at 5PM. 4267063More than Ambassadors, a photographic exhibition by theambassadors of USA, India and Denmark at Indigo Gallery,Gairidhara til 19 July at 8AM-6PM. 4413580

E V E N T SThe Story of the Weeping Camel, movie screening set inMongolia’s Gobi region about the adventures of a family ofherders, Lazimpat Gallery Café, 11 July at 5.30 PM. 4428549

MUSICYala maya classic, a classical music series featuring SitarPlayer Bina Shrestha and Tabla player Rabin Lal Shrestha, YalaMaya Kendra, Patan Dhoka. 17 July at 5PMBaja gaja, every Tuesday at Moksh, 7.30 PM onwards, Pulchok.5526212Live band every Friday and rooftop bbq everyday at KausiKitchen, Durbar Marg. 4227288Sunday Jazz brunch barbecue and live jazz music at theTerrace, Hyatt Regency from 12-3.30 PM. 4491234Jazz evening at Delices de France Restaurant everyWednesday, 11AM-2PM. 4260326Some like it hot every Friday BBQ and live music by Dinesh Raiand the Sound Minds, 7PM onwards, Rs 899 at Fusion,Dwarika’s Hotel. 4479488Happy cocktail hour, 5-7PM, ladies night on Wednesday withlive unplugged music at Jatra Café & Bar.Live Sensation, performance by Yankey every Saturday, 9PM,Hyatt Regency, Kathmandu. 4491234Live Band Sensation performance by Aprilrush, every Saturdaytill late, Rox Bar, Hyatt Regency Kathmandu. 4489362Sunday Jazz Brunch by Inner Groove with barbeque, Sunday,12PM-3.30 PM, The Terrace at Hyatt Regency Kathmandu.4489362Nepali Ghajals and songs at D’Lounge Beijing Duck Restaurant,every Thursday 6.30 PM onwards. 4468589

DININGA cafe’s cafe Dhokaima Cafe, Patan Dhoka. 5522113Pan Pizza & Risotto – for pizza cooked in pan with varioustoppings in wood-fired oven at the Rox Restaurant on Sunday,Monday & Tuesday. 4491234The Corner Bar, 3-11PM, 5-7PM, Radisson Hotel Kathmandu.44118187th Annual Monsoon Wine Festival 2009, from until15 September, Kilroy, Thamel. 4250440Mango Etagere with hi-tea at The Lounge from 4.30- 6.30 PM.Hyatt Regency. 4489362Weekend Brunch by the Poolside every Saturday and Sunday,Soaltee Crowne Plaza Kathmandu ,11AM-3PM. 4273999Pizza & Pasta at the Rox Restaurant every Monday & Tuesday,Hyatt Regency. 4489362Mediterranean cuisine every Friday from Greece, Italy and theMiddle-East at The Café, Hyatt Regency. 4491234Teppanyaki meat items and garlic rice right at Le Resturant,Gairidhara. 4436318Plat Du Jour at Hotel Shangri La, Kathmandu, Rs 600. 4412999Reality Bites, The Kaiser Café, Garden of Dreams, operated byDwarika’s Group of Hotels, 9AM-10PM. 4425341Starry night barbecue at Hotel Shangri-la with live performanceby Ciney Gurung, Rs 999, at the Shambala Garden, every Friday7PM onwards. 4412999Himalayan Rainbow Trout at Hotel Yak and Yeti, Darbar Marg.4248999

GETAWAYSRelax Package at Hyatt Regency Kathmandu forRs 5555 plus taxes, for a night on doubleoccupancy with breakfast, complimentary use ofspa and, offer valid to Nepalis and localresidents only. 4489800Feel the Hyatt touch, a 60-minute Ayurvedicmassage and access to pool and spa withbreakfast or lunch at The Café or hi-tea at The Lounge. 4491234/4489359

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10 - 16 JULY 2009 #459 15HAPPENINGS

WELL GROOMED: An aide wipes off a tika from the face of ex-kingGyanendra at his 63rd birthday celebration on Tuesday.

KIRAN PANDAY

SLEEPY HEAD: Maoist Chairman Puspa Kamal Dahal at a program toinduct new party members on Sunday at the Academy Hall on Sunday.

KIRAN PANDAY

KIRAN PANDAY

UNHOLY ASH: Firefighters inspect damages after a fire destroyed abuilding at Tri-Chandra Campus, following a clash between NepalStudent Union and All Nepal National Free Student Union on Monday.

wo months after the Government of Nepaltook over from the Baddies, the onlycountry in the world which is named after

its prime minister, is still running like a non-government organisation. Decisiveness has neverbeen one of Makunay’s strong points, so when hepromises an end to the peace process in threemonths, rehabilitating kids from cantonments inthree weeks and uprooting crime by Dasain, fewNepalis believe Nepal. The reason is MKN hasbeen busier laying foundation stones andaddressing crowds in Kathmandu 2 constituencywhere he lost the elections than in Singha Darbarattending to matters of state. In fact, listening tohim one gets the feeling he is still in campaigningmode. They still don’t get: the way to get re-electedis by doing something for the people not bydelivering another speech. And now he’s gettingready to jet off for the Unaligned Summit in Egyptthe day after the budget is presented inparliament. That means another week downthe tubes.

But better late than never, MKN did manage to geta 4-point agreement to resolve a dispute over the 9-point agreement that nearly derailed the 12-pointagreement. He got PKD to jot on the dotted lineand manoevered GPK to arm-twist Lotus Flower.He (Makunay) also stuck to his guns, and refusedFearsome’s insistence that the Baddies vet hisspeech to parliament before he delivered it,especially the sentence on “the president’sunconstitutional move”, the issue that has beenthe reason for the two months of deadlock. ComChhabilal used a charm offensive and told ComNepal: “Why are you being so difficult? After all, I

Party palacesread a speech the kangresis wrote for me when Iaddressed the nation on tv, remember?”

The way in which the E-malaise are installing partyfaithful to head key govt media and corporations, itlooks like they are making up with vengeance forlost time. That’s why it does sound a bit like thepot calling the kettle red when one remembershow the You-ML moaned and groaned about theBaddies turning their ministries into employmentcentres for cadre in the last govt. So UMLaparatchiks now head all govt media, althoughover at NTV staff refused to allow a politicalappointee entry.

Awesome looked rather chuffed inaugurating thenew 3 karod Baddie HQ on Paris Hill put togetherby the Maoist trade union from extortion money.As well he might because this is the swankiestparty palace in Kathmandu. The kangresis neverseem to be able to complete their party office inSanepa because they’re always diverting moneysomewhere else, and the UML’s Balkhu office lookslike a cross between Pashupatinath and theLenin’s mausoleum.

Now that an ex-royal brother-in-law has become aMaobuddy the Ass’ bet is that it is onlya question of time before other royalsalso embrace Maoism. The onlyquestion is will ex-kingji also becomeComrade Gyanendra?

ass(at)nepalitimes.com

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MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA

PEDDLING MESSENGERS: A hand-bike team from the Netherlands,championing for the disabled, arrives in Kathmandu from Lhasa after a15-day ride on Wednesday.

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