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The Nepal Digest Friday 15 December 95: Push 5 2052 BS Volume 45 Issue 3
TND wishes all the best for the finals to our student members!
******************************************************************************
* TND Board of Staff *
* ------------------ *
* Editor/Co-ordinator: Rajpal J. Singh a10rjs1@mp.cs.niu.edu *
* TND Archives: Sohan Panta k945184@atlas.kingston.ac.uk *
* SCN Correspondent: Rajesh B. Shrestha rshresth@black.clarku.edu *
* *
* +++++ Food For Thought +++++ *
* *
* "LIFE: Indulgence vs Seeking Truth - Which is your forte?" -Sirdar_Khalifa *
* "If you don't stand up for something, you will fall for anything" -Dr. MLK *
* "Democracy perishes among the silent crowd" -Sirdar_Khalifa *
* *
******************************************************************************
*******************************************************
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 1995 17:16:05 -0500 (EST)
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: China firm wins Nepal aircraft maintenance deal
Cross-posted from clari.news.asia.south:
---------------------------------------
KATHMANDU, Nov 27 (Reuter) - China South Airlines (CSA), a
Chinese aircraft maintenance company, won a $1.14 million
contract to maintain two Boeing 757 aircraft of Nepal's National
Airlines, a senior official of the airline said on Monday.
British Airways had maintained aircraft for the Nepali
airline for the past two years and was the closest competitor to
the Chinese company in the bidding which was resolved on Sunday.
According to Tej Prasad Gauchan, a director of Royal Nepal
Airlines Corporation (RNAC), the contract will be for a period
of two years.
Gauchan said CSA will also train National Airlines personnel
in maintenance techniques.
``At the end of the two-year contract period, we hope to
carry out the maintenance job ourselves,'' Gauchan said.
He said the CSA has also agreed to provide an aircraft from
its own fleet to the Nepali Airline.
*****************************************************
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 1995 23:31:33 -0500 (EST)
From: Tulsi Maharjan <tmaharja@rvcc.raritanval.edu>
Subject: Nepa Pasa Pucha
Newa Community Celebrates Bhintuna in Washington D.C.
Washington, D.C. - Nepa Pasa Pucha of America recently
celebrated its 4th annual Bhintuna Program on November 4th, 1995. More
than 200 Newari families and friends of Pasa Pucha from various parts of
the States participated in this special event.
The program started out with a special puja of the Pancha Kanya
and Ganesh by the Thakali Bhaju, Mr. Madan Krishna Tamrakar. On this
auspicious occasion, many speakers noted the importance of keeping
Newari traditions alive and the importance of Nepa Pasa Pucha in
encouraging the Newari community not to forget their cultural roots.
His Excellency, Basudev P. Dhungana, Ambassador to United States,
welcomed the participants and told the group that we should not forget
our cultural heritage and the important role NPPA is playing to
preserve Newari cultural tradition in a far away land. Outgoing
President of NPPA, Mr. Tribhuvan Tuladhar echoed the important role
NPPA is playing to preserve Newari culture. He told the group that "if
we forget our language then we will forget our culture".
Mr. Ram Malakar, past president and executive member of the
Nepa Pasa Pucha, thanked the host group from Washington for their
dedication, time and effort in making this event very successful. Newari
family members from Washington was responsible for preparing Bhoy for
more than 200 guests who came from different part of the country to
celebrate the Bhintuna.
The newly elected President of NPPA, Dr. Tulsi Maharjan,
elaborated on the need to promote and preserve Newari tradition. "Many
Newari traditions are disappearing and Newari community both home and
abroad must make a special effort to preserve Newari cultural
heritage and one must take pride in their tradition to be able to keep
it vibrant".
The other highlight of the evening was the performance by the
newly formed cultural club of Washington D.C., "Phulbari" under the
direction of renowned artist Mr. Indra Lal Shrestha. This club has
been performing both Newari and Nepali dances and songs around the
country. In addition, many young children performed Newari songs and
dances for the group. Mr. Indra Lal Shrestha sang the old Newari song "O
chhu galee, tho chhu galee".
The evening ended with the eating of traditional Newari lapte
bhoy with typical Newari dishes like pukula, choyala, sisa pusa,
Sanyakhuna, Pau~ukwa, etc. The guests who arrived early were also
received a special Samay Bajee. All participants, including His
Excellency, commented that they have not had a lapte bhoy for a long
time and this event brought back many memories from Kathmandu.
The newly elected Nepa Pasa Pucha executive committee members
for 1995-1997 are; President Dr. Tulsi R. Maharjan, Vice Presidents
Mr. Madan Krishna Tamrakar and Bhagat Lal Shrestha, Treasurer Mr. Dhurba
Lal Gorkhalee, Secretary Ganesh Kayastha . Other members of the
executive members include Ms. Magan Shrestha, Ms. Anita Shrestha, Mr.
Indra Lal Shrestha, Mr. Subarna Malakar, the regional representatives
are: Dr. Saroj Krishna Joshi, Western region; Dr. Devendra Amatya,
Southern region and Mr. Gyanu Rajkarnikar, New York - New Jersey. The
Ex-officio members include Mr. Ram Malakar, Mr. Tribhuvan Tuladhar and
Dr. Suresh Shrestha.
Nepa Pasa Pucha is interested in establishing special cooperation
with other Newari organizations in Kathmandu, who are trying to promote
and preserve Newari tradition. If any organizations in Nepal want to
establish special linkages and exchange ideas and programs with NPPA,
please contact Dr. Tulsi R. Maharjan, 89 Choctaw Ridge Road,
Somerville, NJ 08876-4033. Fax 908- 526-3576 and e-mail address
Tmaharja@RVCC.Raritanval.edu
**********************************************
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 1995 13:45:50 -0500 (EST)
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Sending mail to Nepal
Cross-posted from SCN:
---------------------
Namaste
Perhaps you can help me Iam looking for somebody who is actually living in
Kathmandu to begin an e-mail
correspondensy although I have the disadvantage of language, I hope somebody to
find who's willing
to tell me the latest civic and cultural happenings of your beautiful country.
I have lived together with my wife for six months in Kathmandu in 1979, Still
hope to return in a while
when my both kids are grown-up, and I also preparing with my wife to travel to
Nepal with our children and find a school for them and just live a year in your
country, in the meantime I hope to use Internet to find some connection
in Kathmandu, and maybe I can inform you about happenings of Holland and
Europe.
I hope you forgive me my liberty by just contact you, but on the moment I have
no other addresses in Nepal.
Hope to hear of you or else maybe you have some E-mail addresses of Nepalese
who live in Kathmandu.
Thank you and a warm greetings from Holland, Hans Jacobs.
HAMAR ART STUDIO
Martine Stieger/Hans Jacobs
Diezestraat 34
1784 XH Den Helder Holland.
Tel/Fax: 0223 623405
Email HAMARART@POP.PI.NET
****************************************************
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 1995 15:33:05 -0500 (EST)
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Gaju Gurung - Information Please
Cross-posted from SCN:
---------------------
A friend of mine is concerned about the safety and whereabouts of Gaju Gurung
in relation to the recent avalanche in Nepal. He is unable to get information
from the Nepalese Consulate in Australia. Gaju is from Ghandruk and is a guide
with the Ghandruk Treks trekking agency based in Kathmandu.
If anyone has any information about Gaju or can suggest a contact point please
reply directly to this mailbox. Thanks.
John Martin (for Hilary Macleod)
*************************************************
Date: Thu, 30 Nov 1995 15:05:01 -0500 (EST)
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: GANESH MAN SINGH visiting Minnesota?!
Cross-posted from SCN:
---------------------
shishu@vax1.mankato.msus.edu wrote:
: Ex-Nepali Congress supremo Ganesh Man Singh will coming to
: Rochester, Minnesota soon.
[stuff deleted]
I assume he also have plans to visit Disney Land and Universal Studios.
Someone better tell him, free-fall or roller coaster ride may not be as
thrilling as his post_Jan_Andolan political roller-coaster and free-fall.
(he did tumble more than 14 floors, ain't it?)
And better yet, tell him "Back to the Future" car is not for real! The
damn thing is just a movie prop--it can not take him to his past!!
Bhanu
************************************************************
Date: Thu, 30 Nov 1995 21:17:18 -0500 (EST)
Subject: nov28_head.html (fwd)
To: THE NEPAL DIGEST <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu>
SWITZERLAND INCREASES SUPPORT TO ICIMOD
By a Post Reporter
KATHMANDU, Nov 27 - Switzerland has increased its core programme
support to ICIMOD to US $ 1.5 million for 1996-98, according to the
office of ICIMOD. A memorandum to this affect was signed today by Dr
HP Maag, Head of the Asia II Division of the Swiss Development
Cooperation, and Egbert Pelinck, Director General of ICIMOD. The
present amount represents a 50 percent increase over the amount
provided by SDC in the previous grant period. It reflects the
importance that Switzerland attaches to ICIMOD as a centre of
integrated for and sustainable mountain development. It also responds
to a major recommendation of the Second Quinquennial Review that took
place earlier this year, emphasising the need for core programme
funding.
Dr Maag and Pelinck also signed an agreement to establish an Asian
Mountain Network, through which institutions and individuals
throughout Asia and the Pacific would be linked for information
exchange on sustainable mountain development issues in this region. It
is the first time that ICIMOD has received funding to establish a
long-term programme that would also benefit mountainous countries
outside the Hindu Kush-Himalayan Region.
Established in 1983, ICIMOD aims to promote sustainable development in
the Hindu Kush-Himalayan Range of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan,
China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan.
ICIMOD is a focal point for documentation and information, training
and applied research, and demonstration on a wide range of issues that
the governments and peoples of this 3,500 km mountain range face. Most
activities are carried out by or through collaborating institutions
and organisations in its member countries, with ICIMOD providing for a
regional perspective and exchange of information and experiences.
HEADLINE NEWS
A N T I - K A T H M A N D U D E O P A G O V T.
UML PROTEST FUND CUT IN KATHMANDU 7 FINANCE MINISTRY GHERAOED, POLICE ROUND
UP MPS, UPROAR IN HOUSE
[Amulya's comments: What can you expect from one who is known to
Kathmanduittes as the "Butcher of Ason?"
By a Post Reporter
KATHMANDU - Police rounded up UML lawmakers and activists early
Tuesday from the Finance Ministry, where they had gathered to protest
the governments retraction of resources allocated to a Kathmandu
constituency. The protesters maintain that their anti-government
protest will continue until the government restores the previous
allocations.
The new budget presented by Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat has
slashed Rs 2.33 million from the allocations made to the constituency
number 7 by the UML government, the UML Kathmandu office said, adding
arrests of MPs during a parliamentary session is a clear breach of
parliamentary privileges.
Responding to queries raised later in the day in Parliament, Minister
for Education Govindaraj Joshi said the UML lawmakers were not in
police custody. They were only detained.
Home Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka could not attend the session Tuesday
due to poor health. UML lawmaker Hiranya Lal Shrestha later told The
Kathmandu Post that he was kept in the Mahendra Police Club for three
hours. Forty-nine party workers, including three women, were rounded
up from the Ministry, he added.
Meanwhile, the UML has protested the police action, saying that the
administrative intervention on the peaceful demonstration was uncalled
for. The lawmakers leading the UML mass plan to hand over a protest
letter to the Finance Minister. Krishna Gopal Shrestha represents
constituency number 7 in the House of Representatives.
The protest letter claims that the reduced budget would virtually
paralyse 28 development projects under way in the said constituency.
Among the ongoing projects seven are irrigation schemes, five are
hydropower plants, three are on civil works like roads and bridges,
while as many as nine cover various local development activities. The
budgetary reduction has dealt the most severe blow on a Rs 10.50
million sewerage scheme - only Rs. 5 million is allocated to the
Kirtipur project.
The UML Kathmandu committee says that it will soon launch yet another
phase of its protest, maintaining that the anti-government move will
continue until the government restores the allocations.
Asked if the protests marked the launch of its anti-government
programme, sources at UML headquarters said Tuesdays protests dont
fall under the partys anti-government campaign. They should strictly
be viewed as a local protest.
Political observers here however take the UML action as first major
programme against the coalition government. The new government will
soon be completing its 100 days in office and its been a practice of
sorts to maintain a customary silence in the sabbatical period.
Kathmandus three UML lawmakers - Padmaratna Tuladhar, Sahana Pradhan
and Krishna Gopal - are said to have met Prime Minister Deuba earlier
to voice their concern over the recent cut. Kathmandu, the most
populated district in the country, sends seven MPs to the 205-member
House of Representatives. UML has bagged all seven seats.
Meanwhile RSS adds, The House of Representatives saw a noisy seen at
the start of todays meeting with the opposition bench raising an issue
of the arrest of opposition MPs Krishna Gopal Shrestha and Hiranya Lal
Shrestha from the Finance Ministry premises.
They said the two MPs have been taken to the police club and that the
arrest of the MPs is a violation of the privilege of the parliament.
Prior to the start of Zero Hour, Mrs Vidya Devi Bhandari taking time
from speaker Ramchandra Poudel said MPs Krishna Gopal Shrestha and
Hiranya Lal Shrestha who led a delegation to the Finance Ministry
along with 49 others had been arrested from the Ministry promises
today.
She criticized the arrest of the MPs saying it is the violation of
parliamentary privileges at a time when parliamentary session is going
on and demanded that the parliamentary proceedings be resumed only
after the Home Minister makes things clear in this regard.
Rajendra Pandey of the same party asked if the speaker had any
information on the arrest of the MPs.
Bhim Rawal, also of CPN-UML, demanded to know the reason behind
arresting the MPs who went to the minister to apprise him of the
peoples problems and pressed for immediate reply from the government.
Meanwhile, speaker Poudel said he has no information about the arrest
of the MPs and clarified that they were not arrested with his
permission. He then asked the ruling parties whether they had any had
any information on this matter.
In response, Education Minister Govinda Raj Joshi said as the Home
Minister is unwell the parliament will be informed about the arrest of
the MPs as soon as possible.
CPN-UMLs Bharat Mohan Adhikari said the government should apologize
for the arrest of the two MPs and present them before the parliament
immediately.
CPN-UML chief whip Devi Prasad Ojha demanded to know what crime the
MPs committed to arrest them when the parliament session is going on.
Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta of Nepali Congress said though he had seen
two men who looked like the allegedly arrested MPs on the Singha
Durbar premises a few minutes ago it might be his illusion.
The speaker, therefore, should inform the House about this, he said.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Govinda Raj Joshi informed the House
that now there was no one under police arrest. The government has not
kept any MPs in police custody, he added. Baffled by two different
versions about the arrest of the two MPs the speaker demanded clear
statement on the matter.
MINISTER SHASTRI LEAVES FOR VIENNA
KATHMANDU, Nov 28 (RSS) - Minister for Industry Dhundi Raj Shastri
left here today for Vienna, the capital of Austria leading a Nepalese
delegation to the general conference of the United Nations Industrial
Development Organization.;
CANCER HOSPITAL BILL APPROVED
KATHMANDU, Nov 28 (RSS) - The House of Representatives at its meeting
today approved the motion tabled by Minister of Health Arjun Narsingh
KC seeking that the House consider the BP Koirala Memorial Cancer
Hospital Bill-2052 BS.
Taking part in the general discussion of the bill, MPs Hemraj Rai and
Dedhraj Khadka of CPN-UML lauded the Bill a recommended necessary
suggestions on it.
In course of furnishing replies on questions raised during the
discussion, Health Minister Arjun Narsingh KC said that Bill was
brought since it was necessary to provide legal formality to the
Cancer Hospital.
Health Minister KC also informed that the government was working out a
new system for mobilizing all non governmental health institutions.
*********************************************
Date: Fri, 1 Dec 1995 13:51:07 -0500 (EST)
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Nepal and Internet
Cross-posted from SCN:
---------------------
Dileep Agrawal (DA3101A@american.edu) wrote:
: >
: >Hello, I was curious if anyone knew what the status of the internet is
: in Nepal
: >Last, I heard you could only send and receive messages. Additionaly,
: does
: >anyone know how much an account costs. Thanks for any information,
: >Greg Greenberg
: >
: >
: Very low bandwidth (4800bps) full-Internet connectivity is available in
: Nepal through Mercantile Office Systems.
: Another company, WorldLink, provides UUCP accounts. Charges are
: calculated on a per kilobyte basis. You can get a rate as low as Rs. 6
: per kilobyte. You can only send and receive email using this service.
: Please contact me if you need further information.
: Dileep Agrawal
What is missing about the Internet Connectivity is that Mercantile also
provides UUCP accounts, apart from Shell Accounts and SLIP/PPP accounts.
We also provide a service called "Internet Presence" where companies,
organizations and even individuals can have their own Web Pages. We
also provide full Internet Connectivity for Local Area Networks and
any large computer installations. As for the "very low bandwidth" we
will be upgrading to a link over 56K within a month. By the end of
Spring '96 we will be establishing a country wide network, with regional
nodes in Pokhara, Birgunj and Biratnagar. This will make Internet Access
a local call away for users all over the country.
BTW the Internet wing of Mercantile is now Mercantile Communications.
If you need any more info, you could send a mail to
Postmaster@mos.com.np
Kiran Gautam
Network Administrator
Mercantile Communications
************************************************************
Date: Fri, 1 Dec 1995 13:52:35 -0500 (EST)
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Ganesh Man & National Treasury
Cross-posted from SCN:
---------------------
I wonder if the treatment couldn't be done in Nepal or for that
matter anywhere in south Asia. Some of the indian hospitals are well
known in the world, for not choosing to go to India instead of US as
an alternative to Nepali hospitals, can imply only one thing and that
is a lack of consideration in the part of decision making body. The
money was to come from government, seems to me nobody even care to think
what Nepali people have to say about this. The justification for spending
this huge sum of money has to be there and the one they have in hand is
not good one. How can a government be this senseless? If we start to
spend all the money for the treatment of our so called NETAs, what will
our destiny be? I wonder how many more are in the line for their turn to
come. A respected figure like Ganesh Man has to set the precedence, and
for others it will be like a dream come true. There will be no questions
for the followers because the person in the questioning bench will be the
predecessor.
Suresh Raut
***************************************************
Date: Fri, 1 Dec 1995 13:54:06 -0500 (EST)
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: receipts : gurr, thupka
Bonjour,
My name is Pierre Bellemare, I'm from Quebec city, Canada.
I speak and write a little bit in english but I try! I love Nepal.
I'm looking for 2 receipts : gurr and thupka.
I'd like to receive this receipts by e mail if it's possible.
Thank you very much !
Welcome nepal for correspondance to.
My adress is :
p.bellemare@zone.ca
Pierre Bellemare
*****************************************************
From: Rajesh Shrestha <rshresth@husc.harvard.edu>
Date: Fri, 1 Dec 1995 13:58:22 -0500 (EST)
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: GANESH MAN SINGH visiting Minnesota?!
Cross-posted in SCN:
-------------------
very well put Bhanujee.
I am just curious about the type of susgery and whether it could be done in
Nepal. Even if he had to come to America he could have set a better example by
doing so by his private source. He is capable of financing himself and there
are many individuals ready to contribute if he could not.
god save nepal from these amanyas, asantas, ajanabadis and rest of the
politicians.
Mahesh Ghimire
************************************************************
Date: Fri, 1 Dec 1995 13:59:40 -0500 (EST)
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: GANESH MAN SINGH visiting Minnesota?!
Cross-posted from SCN:
---------------------
Well after a long break I wish to introduce my thoughts
once again in SCN about GM
For the information of all :
1. Ganesh Man has been offered this treatment by the US
government it was not his dicision. USA is one of the very
few countries that makes healthcare impossible to others
who donot carry Helth insurance. The US government did not
offer to Bhattarai, and he was helped by the Canadians for
his eye surgury.
2. I feel Ganesh Man is a politician of International
ststure. The legends he has and his sacrifice for
democracy clearly speaks for itself.
As far as history goes, He is the only person I have ever
known to have said no to primiership and opted someone else
to take the place with standing all the family pressure.
It is very important for a person to understand what really
is going on than just haandwave. Once ain it is a mtter of
personal judgement.
Vivek S. Rana
***************************************************
From: Rajesh Shrestha <rshresth@husc.harvard.edu>
Date: Fri, 1 Dec 1995 14:02:02 -0500 (EST)
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Trade in South Asia
Cross-posted from SCN:
---------------------
kazi@stimpy.eecis.udel.edu (Zunaid Kazi) writes:
>Statistics can say so many different things. Consider the following data
>(obtained from Asia Week). Does it make any sense to fight about who is
>better off or not? All of us are poor. We should expend our energy to
>alleviate that.
>COUNTRY POP(m.) POP.GRTH.% LIFE EXP. INFANMOR LITERACY % CALORIES
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>India 923.0 2.1% 61 79 52.1% 2,243
>Pakistan 130.0 2.9% 62 88 35.0% 2,377
>Bangladesh 122.0 2.2% 56 90 36.6% 2,100
>Nepal 21.5 2.3% 54 88 27.0% 2,246
>Sri Lanka 18.0 1.2% 72 14 89.1% 2,286
See, I was right, there really isn't much difference between the
countries of south asia; all the more reason for free trade. However,
Sri Lanka does seem to lead the pack. The statitics are largely
meaningless for India unless you divide the country up into specific
regions. For example, the stitistics for the state of punjab alone can
be compared to that of some OECD countries. How about some stats for
Bhutan and the Maldive Islands?
Anup Pradhan
*************************************
Date: Fri, 1 Dec 1995 14:03:01 -0500 (EST)
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Business Connections USA/NEPAL
From: NLLD53A@prodigy.com (Arthur Hrin)
I'm looking for others like myself who are computer literate and
interested in developing a business relationship with Nepal.
My wife is here in the Northwest USA, has a hair salon and beauty school
in Kathmandu. Her partner in Kathmandu has a computer school. I work for
Computer City Superstores, a chain of nearly 100 Computer Stores in the
USA and I sell classroom training for computer software here in Seattle.
Answer on this email or call me in Seattle, 206-204-7884 evenings or at
206-526-7181 days Monday thru Friday 8:30-5:00 Pacific Time or Fax me at
206-526-7180
Arthur Hrin
*************************************************
Date: Fri, 1 Dec 1995 14:04:58 -0500 (EST)
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Ganeshman Singh
From: cthapa@aol.com (CTHAPA)
I knew Ganeshman Singh's young children and his wife when he was serving
time in jail. He and his family and other Nepalis and their families made
a tremendous personal sacrifices to bring democracy in Nepal. I also knew
a man from Okhaldhunga, who was in jail with Ganeshman Singh. HIs young
wife and son used to travel to KTM to visit him in jail. I have seen the
pain in their eyes. I was young then. Now that I have my own family, I
can understand the gravity of their pain, and the sacrifices they made.
It saddened me to see the callous and crude remark made against Ganeshman
Singh's visit for medical treatment in USA.
Chandrakala
***************************************************
Date: Fri, 1 Dec 1995 14:06:23 -0500 (EST)
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: New Home Page...BYPASS
From: brunom@stipple.seas.upenn.edu (007)
To those interested in buying our BYPASS album...check out my home
page. Though its still in its rough stages.
http://homepage.seas.upenn.edu/~brunom/starter.html
Thanks to all who have bought the album. I look forward to hearing
your feedback. Also, do tell your friends about it.
Bruno
***************************************************************************
Date: Fri, 01 Dec 1995 15:47:07 -0500 (EST)
From: atuladhar@vax.clarku.edu
Subject: tHE iNDEPENDENT NOV 30 ISSUE (fwd)
To: THE NEPAL DIGEST <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu>
Dear Editor:
i am enclosing a full issue of the latest issue of The Independent which=20
is now available on-line. Readers may then decide for themselves what=20
sections they want to read in the future. I will try to cross post only=20
parts that i think may be of interest to TND readers when i can find the=
=20
time.
The text browind address of The Independent is:
http://www.nepal-info.com/Indep/
Happy readings
amulya
From: atuladhar@vax.clarku.edu
To: Chitra K Tiwari <cktiwari@chelsea.ios.com>
Subject: tHE iNDEPENDENT NOV 30 ISSUE=20
Going by the grumblings at the Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party
(NCPP) conclave November 26, the popular impression that the coalition
government has not discovered its modus operandi stands justified.
Though Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba says he believes in making
the right decision rather than the wrong one merely because he has to
make one to prove that he is decisive, the fact remains the coalition
partners have not been able to demonstrate ideological and functional
clarity as pointed out by certain influential members of the NCPP.
Part of the reason why this crucial characteristic =97 an absolute must
for a coalition government =97 is still not so visible is that the
principal players are themselves busy gathering the firewood needed to
burn their own house. While the Nepali Congress continues to excel and
revel in the art of one-upmanship, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party
(RPP) is engaged in a mutually exclusive poker game, none realising
that all of them collectively would have to face the music should the
government fall on account of their myopic disposition. Of all the
political formations in the country, the RPP, despite its past
affiliation, is perceived to be the one to understand how the course
of history can be made to change to the detriment of the nation. The
coalition companions have no alternative other than to bury or blunt
their intra-party hatchets and get on with the serious business of
governance. Else, the Nepali public would be forced to conclude that
the only objective of the present three-party alliance was to dislodge
the communists and capture power for the sake of it.
=20
=20
=20
Fertilizer fiasco=20
=20
Mysterious scarcity of this or that commodity in frustrating frequency
is by no means a rare phenomenon in Nepal. The consumers who know
exactly what it is have learnt to live with it, and have, in fact,
accepted the man- manipulated shortage as a fait accompli. Minister
after minister has promised prompt, appropriate action, assuring no
effort would be spared to maintain smooth supply in the future. All
that happens after the pious official statements is another shortage,
possibly of greater and more crippling magnitude in terms of both
content and social implication. The current acute scarcity in
fertilizer supply, irrespective of the explanations from the
authorities concerned, is a direct fallout of rank negligence and
corruption at high places where the pinch of paucity is not felt, only
the cloying effect of excess. Much as one would like to leniently
judge the present AIC line-up, it is impossible to accept that the
tradition of offering subsidy coupled with the cancellation of supply
contract by a Bangladeshi party alone are responsible. When everybody
knows exactly how much fertilizer is needed to meet the annual demand
and how much money is required to procure the commodity at competitive
prices, and from which source, the decision to sit eternally on the
problem without even designing a contingency plan when something goes
wrong somewhere as it evidently did this year is preposterous, to say
the least. Agriculture being the nation's mainstay, no amount of
excuses can compensate for the damage already done to this critical
sector. Wonder what happens to the FY 1995-96 projections so
confidently made by the Finance Minister in his belated budget just a
few weeks back? Privatisation of the supply system has been advocated
along with the withdrawal of subsidy as a panacea from the chronic
handicap, but if one were to go by the underlying alliance of interest
and its cherished goal (profit at any cost), all may not be well that
ends well. Subsidy to farmers should be continued for some time to
come, atleast until the state is in a position to regulate the prices.
Otherwise the market place will go berserk, affecting the whole range
of national activity. And, if resources, rather the lack of them,
constitute the main impediment precluding procurement, storage and
distribution of an essential commodity such as the fertilizer, all
that the government may have to do is arrest irregularities in the
body-politic and economise on the staggering perks and privileges of
the ministers, high priests in the bureaucracy and official junkets.
Down but not out
=20
Political Bureau
=20
The CPN-UML is not out to grab power, but if called upon to retake the
executive reins of the country, the largest party in parliament is
both psychologically and politically prepared to assume the
responsibility of leading the nation to 'newer heights,' General
Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal told The Independent November 28.
=20
The former deputy prime minister was emphatic in his assault on what
he termed a 'deliberate design' of the governing alliance to minimise
the 'excellent beginnings' which the CPN-UML government had made in
the national interest of Nepal. "Although we consistently believe that
only an election can clear the air of uncertainty and offer political
stability, we have not made up our mind yet regarding an early poll.
That, however, should not be taken to mean we are not ready to face
the electorate if an election is forced upon us," said the mastermind
behind the emergence of the CPN- UML as the strongest leftist
formation in the Kingdom.
=20
"If on the one hand, the NC-RPP-NSP is crumbling due to mutual
distrust, on the other, the prime minister is not giving any
impression whatsoever that he is of leadership material," said the
shrewd politician who incidentally has forsaken his once-famous
Hitlerite moustache.
=20
If a split in the RPP which in other words may mean the coalition's
demise did not occupy a pride of place in the CPN-UML's overall
gameplan to stage a comeback to power, why did the party sacrifice its
own candidate in favour of the RPP's odd-man-out Rajeswore Devkota?
"We want to help evolve a culture, that is, of lending support to
anybody whose election or selection contributes to the enrichment of
our national institutions. We thought Devkota's election to the Upper
House would be productive," Nepal said.
=20
If Nepal's words were to be taken at their face value, the party he
leads is not trying to truncate the RPP. "If RPP or for that matter
any other party is so vulnerable to outside influences, what kind of
party would that be in the national perspective ?'' asked the
politician who vowed to The Independent that he was not vying for a
lower House berth through one of the by-elections on the cards. To
substantiate his statement on the Devkota intrigue, he cited the
CPN-UML's willingness to let NC boss K P Bhattarai have one of the
Kathmandu district seats in the 1991 general elections in lieu of the
one that the NC would have had to give up in Sunsari district.
=20
On the Damodar Shumshere episode, Nepal categorically denied having
ever met the man. "I don't even know how he looks." An RPP bigwig told
The Independent that Nepal may not be telling the truth. ''Damodar,
Devkota and Nepal met at Phohara Durbar exactly at 4 p.m. November 12,
a day prior to the Upper House vote''.
=20
Just as it requires no proving that a certain chunk of power brokers
have not been able to, even halfway, reconcile to the dramatically
changed political equation in the post-people's movement in Nepal,
there is no point in deceiving oneself that given the smallest of
opportunity the forces opposed to democracy would not make a falcon
swoop on the liberal dispensation.
=20
The threat emanates from the ultra-rightists who had until recently
taken the RPP as nothing else but an also-ran. The divided RPP vote
has come as a major shock to these elements, an insider revealed to
The Independent on condition of anonymity. As he surveys the
political horizon, he can not locate any threat to the present
government. How come? "None of the RPP lawmakers, least of all the
ministers, see any great fun in sitting close to the communists as
back benchers."
=20
Pundits predict the Coalition will last at least until the nationwide
local elections which are about 18 months away. "If the partners mend
their respective ways and agree to function as a team in the true
sense of the term, it can last four years," said an RPP heavyweight
who, however, conceded that the party is now mentally divided, if not
yet physically.
=20
=20
=20
Diplomacy prevails over literature
=20
By Hari Adhikary
=20
Eleventh-hour-change in the Nepali delegation which left for
Islamabad, Pakistan, November 28, to participate in the 4-day
International Conference of Writers and Intellectuals beginning
November 30, has invited strong exception from the Nepalese literary
circle. Allegedly tailored by the Pakistani Embassy, the change offers
room for politicians rather than litterateurs. The likes of Rajeshwar
Devkota, Modnath Prashrit, Dr. Tulsi Bhattarai and Meghraj Manjul
(ex-Ralpha) will be representing Nepali literature at the
international literary gathering, at the expense of Royal Nepal
Academy's original nominees, according to the Member Secretary of
Royal Nepal Academy (RNA) Dr. Dhruba Chandra Gautam:''This is nothing
but a case of diplomatic highhandedness and show of arrogance on the
part of the Islamic Republic's Kathmandu mission''. But the Pakistani
Ambassador Muhammad Nasser Mian dismisses this charge and strongly
denies that they have committed any mistake.
=20
"I didn't know that the organizer of the international literary
conference =97 Pakistani Academy of Letters (PAL) =97 had asked the RNA =
to
nominate participants. At the same time, my office was asked to send
the names of the most suitable, the most eligible and the most worthy
people to represent Nepal in the conference. Hence the nomination.
And, I am confident that my nominees perfectly fit the above
criteria," the Pakistani Envoy told The Independent November 28. He
also denied the allegation that he intervened in those matters which
do not fall under his jurisdiction. He said, "As the PAL is a
semi-government institution, the Ambassador is entitled to see whether
or not the things are moving in the right direction and whether the
objectives of the conference can be met."
=20
The Pakistani Academy of Letters is organizing an international
conference of writers and intellectuals at Islamabad from November 30
to December 3 on the themes of literature, culture and democracy in
which more than 250 delegates from over 100 countries across the world
are participating. The PAL had communicated directly with the RNA for
the nomination of Nepali delegates. Thus, the RNA nominated Bairagi
Kainla, Dr. Yogendra Prasad Yadav, Uttam Nepali (all RNA members),
Shailendra Sakar and Sudha Tripathi. As the team was approved by the
PAL, it had asked the RNA to collect air tickets for the delegates
from the Pakistani Embassy in Kathmandu. It was at this particular
moment the problem cropped up since the Embassy flatly declined to
provide the transportation facilities and visas to the RNA delegation,
claiming that the good office had a separate team from Nepal at hand
to land at the international meet. This left the RNA at its wit's end
and its Member Secretary Gautam frantically tried to contact PAL
through fax to settle the matter, but to no avail. Ultimately, the
'litterateurs' selected by the Pakistani mission left Kathmandu. As a
last-minute consolatory gesture, the Pakistani Ambassador informed the
RNA that they could accommodate two more persons in his team, but this
was rejected by the latter.
=20
What could have driven the mild-mannered diplomat towards such an act
which seems to be an out and out undiplomatic one ? This is a question
which everybody may love to ask once the inside story is made public.
"Actually, the fault does not lie with him. It is the Third World
tendency to establish supremacy of the bureaucracy over the world of
art and literature. How could the representative of the Pakistani
government allow two literary bodies (PAL and RNA) to function
independently and remain a silent spectator?" sarcastically asked an
RNA member who was unceremoniously dropped from the Islamabad-bound
Nepali delegation. But on the other hand, Ambassador Mian defends the
change saying it was done simply to accommodate the best available
people who could represent the entire political spectrum of present-
day Nepal.
=20
=20
=20
Revenue beef up
=20
Every time a new government takes the oath of office in this country,
it promises to consolidate the revenue administration, and increase
the revenue earnings. But the sworn promise is scrupulously never
kept. Heads in the bureaucratic portals of the revenue department are
chopped and changed, but the ills of the system are left uncured. At
such times, the near and dear ones of the power brokers are pampered,
leaving the system to decay and die.
=20
However, things are turning out to be a little different this time
round as the government is exhibiting a dash of seriousness in its bid
to increase the revenue output. It has flagged off steps to fortify
the revenue administration, effecting rational and harmless transfers
in the department.
=20
The government intends to rope in 50 thousand more within the tax
limit and a task force has been set up for the job which is visiting
all houses for the required data. Those who are guilty of evading
taxes may be punished accordingly. Recently, the premises of a local
businessman was raided who had played truant by not convincingly
declaring his assets, says a Finance Ministry source.
=20
These days, the airport and customs offices are on a red alert,
leading to various seizures. Instances of capture of gold weighing 28
kgs and foreign currency amounting to Rs 1.70 cores while being
smuggled out of the country to Hong Kong has come to light. The
government is also said to be putting its foot down on the issue of
sales tax and excise duty.
=20
Last but not the least, HMG is mobilising the Revenue Intelligence
Department; help also is being sought from the police force to boost
up revenue collection to meet the set target.
CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal laid the foundation stone
for Madan Ashrit Memorial building and Party Office building to be
constructed by Rupandehi District Party Committee amidst a function in
Bhairahawa, Nov. 21. The cost of the two-storey building estimated to
be Rs. 1.2 million shall be borne by the internal sources of the party
and public participation.
=20
***
=20
The first anniversary of the joint programme launched for the
displaced carpet children was observed here today under the joint
sponsorship of the Underprivileged Children's Education Programme
(UNEP) and Asian- American Free labour Institute. A school was opened
at Sanothimi a year ago under the programme to provide informal
education and vocational training to the children displaced from
carpet indsustries.
=20
***
=20
Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has extended hearty congratulations
to Shimon Peres on his assumption of the high office of Prime Minister
of the State of Israel.
=20
***
=20
Druk National Congress, Bhutan People's Party and Bhutan National
Democratic Party, in a joint statement, have decided to organise a
massive mass meeting at Jaya Village, India, and seek the support of
the people, intellectuals and various institutions in India for human
rights and democratic movement in Bhutan.
=20
***
=20
Kathmandu Valley traffic police office has impounded 27
illegally-owned vehicles, suspected to have been smuggled in, within
the past one week. The vehicles thus impounded at local motor workshop
inlcude 18 Maruti vans with Indian registration plates, seven others
with Nepali number plates, and two motorbikes bearing an Indian and a
Nepali number plates, the police office says.
=20
***
=20
Senior Democratic Leader, Ganesh Man Singh left here Nov. 23 for the
US for a total knee replacement surgery. Talking to the media persons
prior to his departure, he said, concrete work for the wellbeing of
the people can certainly be accomplished if the coalition government
carries out its duties by scrutinizing the mistakes committed in the
earlier days.
=20
From rags to rags
By A Staff Reporter
=20
Perhaps it is time to distort Shakespeare a wee bit and declare '...
the evil men do lives along with them.' The issue involved here is
that of the growing number of ragpickers who roam the streets with
gunny sacks thrown over their shoulders foraging each municipal
garbage can on the way with faultless meticulousness , scrounging
everything from plastic to iron scrap. As it is one of the most
disorganised and looked-down-upon jobs, children as young as five
years and woman as late as in their 40s are singled out for the
occupation.
=20
Rehman Shah, owner of the scrap collecting depot at Paehali, a
Kathmandu suburb, says, "This business is believed to have been first
set up by one Jaddhav Lall from India's Rajasthan at least 25 years
back. He came to Nepal when a famine in Rajasthan sent many of its
inhabitants helter- skelter in search of food. In Kathmandu, he took
to waste paper collection which gradually over the years established
him as the 'pioneer' in the field.''
=20
Rehman Shah (40) when queried about himself, had this to say, "I am
from East Champaran of Bihar and have been in this business for the
last three years''.There are some 200 depots like Shah's well spread
out in Kathmandu Valley at Kalimati, Bouddha, Baneswore, Bhotebahal,
Balaju and Patan, being run by both Indian and Nepalese alike.
=20
About the marketing of the scrap, Shah says, "The scrap being mainly
iron and plastic is very much in demand in Nepal more particularly in
recent years as compared to earlier years when the scrap even
travelled into India as there were no reprocessing industries in
Nepal. From Kathmandu the scrap is sold to dealers at Narayanghat at
Rs. 600 a quintal ( iron scrap) and Rs 400 ( plastic scrap) where the
price rises upto Rs 1000 and Rs. 800 respectively owing to transport
cost and the duty imposed by the District Development Committee which
is Re. 1 per kg for iron scrap and 36 paise for plastic. He wishes the
duty to be waived off as"we are in a way removing waste from within
the city which if left unremoved would adversely affect the public
health and sanitation."
=20
According to Shah,the net income is Rs 7000/- per month from ''this
rather nondescript projection''. He had entered Nepal 10 years ago
''to look for anything'' which could sustain him in the absence of any
such means back home.
=20
When The Independent met Ram Kumari(50), one of the many women
ragpickers, she had this to say: "I earn up to Rs. 70 a day picking up
and selling trash assisted by my 3 young sons. Her second husband who
was from across the border in neighbouring Bihar, ''just went away
some 5 years back and has since not been heard of."
=20
Asked as to how much she spends for food and shelter, she replied,"We
need at least Rs. 60 a day for a simple meal'' and as for shelter a
ramshackle shanty was all she had.In the shanties where people like
Ram Kumari live,''the occupants change by the week since we
'scavengers' keep on drifting all over the city in the vicinity of the
scrap depot."
=20
One invariably sees poor huts in the vicinity of such scrap depots
which may well spawn vast slums in the coming years.
=20
On asked about the ignominy attached to her profession, she said,
"Since there is no other way to feed the children and myself I am
happy to do it.''
=20
When enquired about her savings and her future plans, she said, "I
have almost grown old since I first came to Kathmandu and as I have
saved a little sum of money, I am thinking of going back to Tanakpur
to run a shop. I really want to educate my sons. " It is only the love
for her children that is helping Ram Kumari in the fierce battle for
food and shelter. There are at least 2000 scavengers in the city who
share the same destiny.
=20
Another depot owner at Baneswore, Bhimsengola, Kishore Chaudhary, too,
is from Champaran. According to him, although business varies day by
day, on a steady basis he deals with some 60 kgs of iron and plastic
scrap.Here, this correspondent met a 12-year-old Tamil girl Pochamma
(born and bred in Kathmandu) who was carrying a sack followed by her
three brothers. "Today", she said, "we have been lucky in our search
for scrap." So, how much money did she make? "We will at least make Rs
150 today. As my mother is sick and can not work, the money will go
towards buying medicines and household provisions," she said.
=20
The story is the same tragic one. The society has never been kind or
may never be able to empathise with the ragpickers. Life goes on for
them, from one garbage can to another.
=20
The unlucky survivor
By Sagun S. Lawoti
=20
The sky was apparently in mourning, shedding tiny droplets of tears.
Incessant sobbing rend the nippy air.
=20
The temperature level dipped remarkably and the city dwellers started
reacting : "It is time for rakshi (liquor) and shirak (quilt)
".Well, in that biting cold , sipping a peg or two and snuggling up in
a warm blanket wasn't after all a bad idea .
=20
Like they say, there is more to Nepal than just the Kathmandu Valley.
The ways of the city-smarts do not justly reflect the miserable
plights and woeful tales of the sombre, remote and far away villagers.
=20
While rakshi was doing the rounds in well-lit urban homes, disaster
lurked and stalked around the shelters of the not-so-fortunate ones
away from the worldly comforts. Natural calamities in the form of
landslides and avalanches picked on the foreigners and Nepalis alike.
=20
And of the many victims of the catastrophe, Purna Jung Darji (31) of
Sarang Dada VDC, Panchthar District is one. Though he did not lose his
life, he surely suffered a ruthless blow; probably the severest of his
thirty- one years in this world.
=20
On that fateful day, he and his eldest son(15) took different routes
to neighbouring villages to invite relatives for a puja at his home.
He set off at a merry pace for the auspicious cause; little did he
know that misfortune would ambush him.
=20
While Purna was away, his thirty-two-year-old wife and two teenage
sons of thirteen and fifteen years, a nephew, elder brother Suk
Bahadur Darji and his son were staying indoors due to the relentless
rain. They were indeed feeling secure.
=20
As an intruder into the relaxed atmosphere, danger tolled its bell
when the soil came crashing down. But a huge tree right above their
hut stopped the rush of the soil and averted disaster for sometime.
The warning was heeded, they decided to leave their home for a safer
place.They untied their cattles so that the animals could move freely
and save their own lives.
=20
When they were preparing to leave, soil poured in from all sides and
buried the house. Result, five had to pay with their lives and Suk
Bahadur was severely injured.
=20
"We came to know about the mishap and came here to check out what had
happened. Then we saw Suk Bahadur chest-deep in the soil and somehow
managed to pull him out. We could not save the others because mud had
completely covered all of them by the time we arrived," a neighbour of
Purna solemnly told The Independent standing in front of his ruined
hut.
=20
Purna, not yet recovered from the state of shock did not and could not
communicate much. He plainly talked about the disastrous incident
narrated to him by his friends and gloomily mentioned about the relief
fund that he had received from the government.
=20
However his close friend, fighting back his tears, told this
correspondent, "He has cried enough and won't be able to cry anymore.
The tears have dried up''. The pathos of purna, the unlucky survivor,
can't be more poignantly expressed.
=20
=20
Words of wisdom on our economic karma
Political Bureau
=20
Liberalisation is not an economic system in itself, it is at best a
vehicle to reach a goal prescribed by an economic system. Is the
liberal, market- friendly approach of the three successive governments
of Nepali Congress, the CPN-UML and now the Coalition good for the
country, and if the answer is 'yes', to what extent? Is the role of
extraneous forces decisive in the formation of Nepal's policies or
should indigenous factors be the main basis of decision-making?
=20
These were the points the participants of Nepal South Asia Centre
seminar on 'Liberalisation and Development in Nepal: Is there a room
for Endogenising Economic Policy-making?' focussed their attention on
last week.
=20
At the end of the day, it was informally agreed that political parties
and intellectuals, though espousing conflicting ideologies, are not
opposed to assembling under one roof to debate and exchange views on
the burning economic issues of the day.
=20
That the development of a competitive political culture alone is not
enough for all-round progress =97 political, economic and social =97
unless this competition receives its thrust from the healthy clash of
different ideas and concepts of development, opined the participants.
=20
It was also mentioned with considerable emphasis that if all the
parties were to advocate and implement the same economic policy, we
may be promoting a monolithic, not a pluralistic, outlook. Thus,
political parties should have the clarity of vision as to where and
how they should cooperate vis-a-vis the development strategy and when
it will be in the national interest to disagree with each other.
=20
Political parties of all hues, the participants stressed, would be
well advised to adapt their theoretical stance to the prevalent
national realities. By the same token, the concept of liberalisation
should be 'Nepalised.' And, since the market forces as they exist and
behave in Nepal are not capable of providing the leadership in
economic affairs, the state must continue to lead the economy. The
role of the state must not be restricted to encouraging marketisation
alone, the state should be equally involved in ensuring social
justice. This kind of state intervention need not necessarily be
confined to any particular party.
=20
Liberalisation as a 'human means' should be applied only as an
instrument of economic advancement. This is not to say we should shun
the world-wide trends nor should it mean that we can only develop
through the mobilisation of internal resources . The point is all
appropriate international means should be used for national benefit.
=20
In the context of glaringly unequal distribution of wealth/income, the
economically handicapped segment of the society must be given
protection by the state, said the participants.
=20
GAMECO gives RNAC a lift=20
By Sagun S. Lawoti
=20
Following the foot steps of Hongkong Aircraft Engineering Company,
Royal Brunei Airways, British Airways and Monarch Airlines, the
Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Company Ltd. (GAMECO) is
here to support Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC) in the
maintenance of its two 757 boeings.
=20
"But what is different this time is that along with aircraft
maintenance support, there is also a mutual agreement on technology
transfer," informed Bishnu Bhakta Shrestha, RNAC Superintendent
Engineer: "It is not that we can't maintain the jets ourselves but
right from their procurement, the feeling that we need external help
for smooth functioning has been always there. Due to this defeatist
attitude a proper infrastructure has not yet been developed. We hope
after the contract with GAMECO is completed, we can do the job
ourselves".
=20
Shedding more light on the agreement, Bishwa Nath Shrestha, Director
RNAC Maintenance Planning Division, told The Independent, "This
agreement is marginally cheaper than the earlier ones. And what is
remarkable is that GAMECO has promised to train our 15 engineers and 6
middle-order managerial personnel free of cost."
=20
While Tej Prasad Gauchan, RNAC Director-Corporate Department,
stressed, "I personally feel technology transfer is the most important
factor. And this arrangement which assures provision of replacement of
aircrafts =97 when they are sent for major checks =97 is significant as
this will surely spare the energy which is wasted for the last-minute
hunt''.
=20
GAMECO (stationed at Guangzhou, China), a sister organisation of China
South Airlines (CSA), has been providing similar services =97 as agreed
with the RNAC =97 to CSA's 60 boeings. RNAC =97 Nepal's only airline wit=
h
an international fleet =97 has been seeking foreign technology as it
neither has nor can it afford indigenous facilities for routine major
checks.
=20
The excitement and optimism on the RNAC side over the accord is
apparent through their personnel's opinions. And this enthusiasm could
also be sensed in its counterpart when Dan Lange, GAMECO General
Manager, light-heartedly toasted Moutai =97 a Chinese traditional
drink =97 the Chinese customary way, at a party thrown following the
inking of the agreement between the two parties.
=20
If the spark generated by GAMECO is protected from being blown out ,
it can become the light of RNAC's life. Newer and more challenging
frontiers lie ahead of the RNAC awaiting to be conquered.
=20
Hay must be made when the sun shines at its brightest.GAMECO's rays
should help RNAC make hay.
=20
=20
=20
'We are slow as we are running a marathon': PM Deuba
=20
One of the saddest ironies of politics in Nepal is that the
politicos simply lack the guts to perform, although they possess all
the extolled qualites =97 shrewdness, presence of mind and yes, the
necessary tinge of sarcasm and satire. That is what one could discern
from the well-attended talk programme on 'Functioning of the Coalition
Government and its Agenda' organised by Alliance for Democracy last
week. "Don't aspire for a very strong government, it may turn out to
be authoritarian," said PM Sher Bahadur Deuba jocularly, responding to
a comment that his government would prove a strong one. In the
beginning, everything seems alright in an undemocratic polity, but it
is only a misleading calm before the storm of problems erupts. A
democratic dispensation starts with only problems and gradually
resolves them, he remarked.
=20
The verbal crossfire of three former premiers =97 Surya Bahadur Thapa, G
P Koirala and Manmohan Adhikari =97 over the 'agenda' was
spellbinding."All anti-democratic elements are jointly conspiring
against the present coalition and against democracy itself," said
Thapa. The forces not abiding by the Supreme Court verdict can not be
democratic, he said, taking a potshot at the CPN-UML. In turn,
Adhikari shooted, "I don't see conspiracy anywhere. It is the
jaundiced view of those who throughout their career believed in
conspiracy =97 not in sincere politics =97 for success." He elaborated o=
n
the CPN-UML's 'help' in the peaceful transfer of power.However, "
Being in the opposition, we want to sell our cake a little hot," he
confessed, drawing from Churchill.
=20
As for G P Koirala, he recalled his meeting with Madhav Nepal when he
had offered him three alternatives of coalition: UML-RPP or NC-UML or
NC-RPP. But he never came up with his point of view, said Koirala,
urging all parties to work for political stability.
=20
PM Deuba displayed his sense of humour while defending the allegation
that his administration was extremely slow: ''A Jumlee ghoda (horse
from the hill) may be okay for a sprint but we need a more reliable
bhote ghoda (Tibetan horse) to win a marathon''.
An influential section of print-media, especially of the private
sector, has been somewhat amazingly struck, if not taken aback, by
Prime Minister Deuba's laudable reference to King Birendra's role in
steering NAM firmly on its course during its turbulent years and
enhancing a small country like Nepal's credibility in international
forums. The reference came in his inaugural address of a meeting
organised by the Nepal Council of World Affairs on "Nepal and
Non-alignment." The highlight of the monarch's contribution in
strengthening the pursuit of the Kingdom's national interest comes as
a deserving recognition, though belated =97 a marked, albeit welcome,
departure after the restoration of multi-party democracy. Deuba's
observation in the same breath of the continuing relevance of NAM
despite the end of the cold war and also his admission that NAM
doesn't have the panacea for all ills plaguing the international
community, although paradoxical, are worth pondering over. As far as
the Prime Minister is concerned, his bold statement is all the more
timely, offering food for thought to Nepal's foreign policy analysts,
strategy thinkers, and a guide to the recently constituted 12-member
task force under the stewardship of Udha Dev Bhatta, a member of the
National Assembly, former Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and permanent representative to the UN for seven years. While some
sections of the print media have dubbed the elements of the task force
as confidantes of Deuba and Foreign Minister Dr. Lohani, loyalists of
G.P. Koirala and K.P. Bhattarai, and the remainder as being chosen by
the RPP. A vernacular weekly =97 close to Koirala camp =97 has highlight=
ed
in frenzied terms the regeneration of the wrapped policy of
equidistance between Nepal's two giant neighbours and reviving the
Zone of Peace doctrine.But a few out of the task force may doubtless
fill in the vacancies created by the recall of CPN-UML appointed heads
of mission in New Delhi, Beijing, Washington, Tokyo and Bonn. On the
other hand, another RPP Weekly has taken exception to Foreign Minister
Dr. Lohani's disclosure to BBC, instead of releasing it through proper
channels, of the envoys' recall. In the meantime, a section of private
sector print-media made it known the stay-put position of the envoys
to London, Dhaka, and Brussels, appointed on the recommendation of
Senior Leader Ganesh Man Singh and untouched by the CPN-UML
government. As for our permanent representative at the UN, nothing
suggests his being called back before serving his term for obvious
reasons including impeccable credentials. Other career appointees too
in remaining missions abroad are expected to carry on their duties
until the expiry of their term, although uncertainty shrouds the fate
of the one in Yangoon. All told freely and fearlessly, proximity to
power centres and familiarity with the spoils system do figure a
determinant in appointment to plum posts, whether diplomatic or
others, despite rhetorical pledges to the contrary. But in such
matters, the coaliton council has covered a long distance by
forgetting their old animosities.
=20
***
=20
Of late Damodar Rana =97 a mythical Panchayat strong man, Rajeswor
Devkota recently kicked up to National Assembly on CPN-UML votes, and
others are making waves, wittingly or unwittingly, raising alarm with
a familiar ring of the wolf at the door. These incidents have been
expressed in terms like "unholy" alliance between RPP and the
leftists. There is also talk about the foolhardy claim that the
government is up for grabs. The RPP and the NC do appear to be in the
saddle for sometime, regardless of occasional internal dissension and
exchange of potshots at each other in the print- media. With nothing
like harmonisation of policies among the coalition partners in sight
yet even on sensitive issues of foreign and domestic policies, the
Sadbhavana appears to be left alone.
=20
***
=20
While the global media's focus on and sympathy with nearly hundred
foreign trekkers including Nepalese caught in the series of avalanches
which hit the Himalayan region this month touched the high point, the
fourth estate of the nation was seized of various other factors. Prime
Minister Deuba's style of holding cards close to his chest has proved
elusive to the prophets of the expansion of Council of Ministers. On
the other hand, a section privy to the establishment did bring to
light HMG's decision (alleged for its clandestine nature) to provide
the former Prime Ministers including Marich Man Singh =97 dubbed as the
force behind "Save the Nation" movement =97 a white-plate car with
ministerial perks, of course bereft of the national flag.
Additionally, former Chief Justice Biswanath Upadhyaya too is reported
to have been provided with transportation facilities by HMG for
security reasons. The nonchalance expressed by Upadhyaya for his
personal security, along with his reluctance to accept any
governmental job in a press interview is still green in the readers'
memory.
***
=20
The departure of former Supremo GM Singh to the United States with his
wife, and Kathmandu Mayor P. L. Singh, along with two members of his
family for knee surgery and the return of K.P. Bhattarai following his
successful treatment of his eyes in Canada are other highlights of the
national print-media. In the meantime, some papers have revealed the
forcible seizure of Chair of the RONAST Vice-Chancellor by Kedar lal
Shrestha =97 a claimant =97 assisted by a posses of security officials
even prior to the disposal of the case by the Supreme Court =97 an act
of force majeure indeed. This has already raised eye-brows in a land
governed by laws.
=20
***
=20
The visit by the octogenarian L.P. Singh =97 former Indian envoy here =
=97
without any fanfare on holiday during which a number of Nepalese high-
brow politicians =97 of political parties as well as of erstwhile
partyless Panchayat =97 including former Prime Ministers and civil
servants had interactions with them as revealed last in this weekly is
an event befitting the diplomat, governor and one of the few surviving
but retired members of India's renowned service of steel frame. A
quiet and low-profile former Indian Home Secretary, hes did his job
well befriending many in this kingdom during his memorable tenure
heading Kathmandu-based India House before proceeding to Governorship
in sensitive Nagaland.
Battling breast cancer
By Hillary Rodham Clinton
=20
Every Thursday, a woman named Miriam volunteers in my staff office
at the White House. She is a retired schoolteacher, mother of two,
proud grandmother and caring colleague who seldom arrives at work
without cakes, cookies, pies or doughnuts for the staff.
=20
I wish her story ended here. But it doesn't. Like more than two
million other women in America, Miriam has breast cancer.
=20
She found a lump in her breast five years ago. Since then, she has
undergone two surgeries, 33 days of radiation treatments and five
separate chemotherapies, including the debilitating sessions she now
has every week.
Miriam is not the only woman I know who is battling this disease. In
fact, it is hard to find a family in our country =97 or a workplace,
neighbourhood, church group or social club =97 that has not been touched
by breast cancer.
=20
My mother-in-law, Virginia Kelley, died last year after a four-year
struggle with the disease. The mother of one of my best friends was
diagnosed a few months ago. Another friend just told me that his
sister =97 only 41 years old =97 has a massive lump as well.
=20
If you want a chilling statistic, here it is: one of eight women in
our country will develop breast cancer during her lifetime, compared
to one in 20 a generation ago. And 46,000 American women will die of
breast cancer this year.
=20
Those numbers shouldn't be so high. When detected early and treated
aggressively, breast cancer does not have to be an automatic death
sentence. Every week, I meet women who are long-time breast cancer
survivors living full and healthy lives. The key to early detection is
a regular mammogram, particularly for women over 65, who account for
half of all breast cancer cases.
=20
Younger women should discuss with their doctors whether they should
get regular mammograms. When I turned 40, for example, I began having
one every year.
=20
In travelling round the country to talk with women about breast
cancer, I was startled to learn that only 40 per cent of older women,
whose mammograms are now covered by Medicare, actually take advantage
of this potentially lifesaving benefit.
=20
Why do many women fail to get mammograms?
=20
Unfortunately, many are reluctant to get screened because they have
been told that the procedure is painful or embarrassing. Others do not
realise that the benefit is covered under Medicare. Some women lack
insurance coverage or the funds to pay for the test. Still others have
never been told by their doctors that a mammogram is one of the most
effective ways of detecting malignant breast lumps. Some women have
even told me they didn't want to find out if they were sick because
they believed there was little they could do about it.
=20
Finally, many women are so busy taking care of their families that
they forget to take care of their own health.
=20
I know that a mammogram is not the most comfortable experience. And
when you are responsible for children, a spouse, a job and all the
other pressures of daily life, taking the time to get one may seem
like too much of a hassle.
=20
But getting a mammogram is a lot more comfortable and a lot more
convenient than the pain that comes with cancer and its treatments.
=20
That is why it is important that Medicare continue to cover older
women for mammograms every two years and at any other time a doctor
believes it is necessary. And it would be a big step forward if
communities and local health facilities also offered screenings once a
year for women who don't have health insurance or would otherwise be
unable to afford a mammogram.
=20
When appropriate, doctors, regardless of their speciality, should
encourage women patients to have regular mammograms. Any woman who
fears breast cancer should remember that if she does have the disease,
she should find out as quickly as possible so that she can begin
treatment and get on with living her life.
=20
That's what Miriam does. My staff and I often talk about how much we
admire her courage and her selflessness. She tells us that she gets
through her treatments by setting personal goals: getting her kitchen
remodelled or living to see the birth of her new grand daughter, who
was born last month. Now she is looking ahead to her sixtieth birthday
in March.
=20
She says she is no longer afraid of the disease and has no plans to
stop her volunteer work. "I will come in until I just can't do it
anymore," she said a few days ago. "The chemo hasn't knocked me down
yet."
=20
What impresses me most about Miriam is not just her grace or sense of
humour but her willingness to talk about breast cancer so that others
can learn from her experience.
=20
"Get a mammogram," she frequently reminds us. "It's much less
frightening than not having the chance to see your children grow up or
your grandchildren graduate from high school. You owe it to yourself
and your family."
=20
We should all listen to the words of one so wise.
=20
Images speak
Min Vajra, a professional photographer, displayed his photographic
images under the title "The Moment Speaks for Itself" at Hotel Vajra,
November 18-25.
=20
The exhibition, consisting of 117 colour as well as black and white
photographs, clicked both at home and abroad, were divided into eleven
segments =97 the Royal Family and the Politicians of Nepal; the Supreme
Leader Ganesh Man Singh; from the 1990 Democracy Movement to the
present; life; children; night; architecture=97ancient and modern;
festivals and people; environment and nature; foreign dignitaries; and
images of Gods.
=20
The 28-year-old freelance photographer, in his first solo exhibition,
has captured diverse moods, personalities, moments, landscapes, issues
etc.
=20
Aerial views and a series on jana andolan show that he is capable of
capturing chance situations within his lens.
=20
A photo journalist since 1988, Vajra has published his photographs in
journals like India Today, Le Figaro, Nepal Verstehen and
Frankfurter Allgemeine . He says, ''I want to selflessly help the
local newspapers with my photos out of my own expenses."
=20
Vajra admits he has been lucky as he has friends in foreign countries
who help him sell his creations. This has given the fillip his career
required.
=20
"Earlier it was just a hobby. But the appreciation I received for my
Sydney Opera House photo in 1985 boosted my morale to turn
professional", says the lensman who started clicking seriously then
on.
=20
Concern Centre
=20
Concern for Children/Women and Aged Centre, a non-governmental
organisation, has been established recently and has begun its
activities.
=20
This organisation aims to assist children, women and the aged in their
respective activities and will organise research, training and direct
programmes. Jagdish Bhakta Mathema is the Acting President of the
centre.
Dead batteries
=20
Communists are not dynamic. After they reach a 'point', they become
static. People are unaware about this fact due to lack of education.
They even don't know what democracy is and what they fought for. The
CPN-UML has been able to take advantage of this situation.
=20
=97 Dr. Durga Prasad Bhandari=20
in Prajatantra
=20
Koirala again
=20
I have also heard that G.P. Koirala is taking charge of the Nepali
Congress leadership. I take this as a normal process. I am confident
that the transfer of leadership will help increase the pace of party
organization and the party will also understand his necessity.
=20
=97 Former State Minister for Finance Mahesh Acharya
=20
in Bimarsha
=20
Non-city organisation
=20
The non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have not been able to reach
out to the villages to the desired extent. Many NGOs are city-centered
and not functioning well.
=20
=97 RPP leader Tula Rana in
=20
Nepali Patra
=20
No Sher=20
=20
The government has been unable to take decisions. PM Sher Bahadur
Deuba does not have the courage to decide.
=20
Fake rights
=20
I am very serious about the Rolpa incident. But the irony is a
hardliner communist party (Samyukta Jana Morcha) which never believed
in human rights is making fuss of the same.
=20
=97 Home Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka
=20
in Suruchi
=20
Foreign hand
=20
After the formation of this government, foreign forces are finding
ample ground to play on. The allegations of the politicians that
outside forces are involved in terrorising the country are now being
proved.
=20
=97Editorial Comment in Chhalphal
=20
Rumours are rife that the former Chief Justice Bishwanath Uapdhyaya
whom the CPN-UML love to hate, likely to contest by-election polls
under the four-star (NC) banner from Kathmandu. No doubt, for many
reasons the contest likely to be fierce indeed!
=20
***
=20
Lately, Kathmanduites have been witness to a battle royale raging
between Hotel De L'Annapurna and the Taj Group of Hotels over
management disputes, now being looked into by an international
arbitrating tribunal. Till then, may be, both sides are right and
wrong .
=20
***
=20
While the disputes between Annapurna and the Taj Group rages, on the
opposite side Hotel Sherpa quietly celebrated its 8th anniversary
(Nov 25), whose management all the time have been guided by the
sons of the soil i.e. by a Nepalis. Not bad!
=20
***
=20
The Indian Union cabinet has approved changing the name Bombay to
Mumbai. Wonder what implications the name change will now have on
Bollywood. Will it be Mumbaiwood ? Or Mollywood ?
=20
***
=20
Statistics reveal that about 20 million in Britain and around 200
million around the world watched Princess Di's eagerly-awaited
Panorama interview in which she frankly explained how her marriage
had turned sour. A snap poll also revealed that over 80 per cent
people showed support for Diana. Thus, could she have been a victim
of the 'establishment' or a villainess who tried to bring down a
tradition or a valiant one who fought for her rights? Another
opinion poll on these counts necessary.
=20
***
=20
With senior Congress leader Ganeshmanji away for knee surgery
abroad and NC party boss Kishunji back home from Maple Land with a
corrected vision, observers here hope the party now would be
guided with a more wide vision and carried on forward by
stronger legs !
=20
***
=20
'His Majesty The King Birendra Bir Bikram Shahdev' =97 that's how the
backdrop banner read at a seminar sponsored by Nepal Council of
World Affairs to commemorate the 50th Golden Jubilee Birthday of the
monarch. Participants not too amused. The artist would have been
forgiven had it not been for the fact the Council President S.L.
Amatya repeated the same mistake, not once but thrice, in his
welcoming remarks. First things first. Know how to address the head of
state before engaging in worldly matters.
=20
***
=20
At the Nepal South Asia Centre one-dayer on economic
liberalisation, former NPC Vice Chairman B.P. Shreshtha insisted the
RPP's economic plank represented a clear case of liberal
dichotomy, dilemma or split personality, as you may. The party, it
was implied, wants to have the cake and eat it too. Not a bad
political strategy, somewhat akin to heads I win, tails you lose.
=20
***
=20
Just how well-informed and reliable the Nepali press is has been a
constant topic of speculation in Kathmandu. The diplomatic community
in particular is thoroughly confused. A member of the corps asked
Tattler since when Jai Pratap Rana, member-secretary, had been
manning the Nepali post in Islamabad. The news piece had it that the
coalition had asked Rana to bid farewell to Pak capital.
Pvt. Ltd., Nepal with the assistance of Rajendra Shrestha.
HEADLINE NEWS
INTELLECTUALS ARE CORRUPT: DEUBABY A POST REPORTER
KATHMANDU, Nov. 29 - Intellectuals in Nepal are confused It is they
(intellectuals including politicians) who are corrupt and if only they
correct themselves, the nation can prosper, said Prime Minister Sher
Bahadur Deuba at a talk programme on Political Stability and Economic
Development organised by The Thinkers, a non-governmental
organisation, here today.
Seemingly in a frank mood, Premier Deuba said he wont commit to false
promises because he knows he cannot deliver them in practice. He,
however, pledged that he was committed to the productive utilization
of the budget and the projects so undertaken be completed on time.
Expressing concern that a trend to give populist slogan by political
parties is gradually evolving, Deuba said this trend of squandering
resources by political parties will be counter productive for the
nations economic development. Emphasising that there is no alternative
to economic liberalisation in the country, the Prime Minister said
state subsidies have to be waived.
Referring to unemployment as the biggest challenge, he spoke of the
need to explore new vistas of trade through which the country can earn
foreign exchange and thus be self-reliant in all fronts.
Also speaking on the occasion, Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat
said that in the absence of political stability, the country will all
the time suffer from survival syndrome. He also opined that the
country civil service is highly demoralised over the years because of
poilitical interferences in the bureaucratic system.
He also claimed that had Nepali Congress government would have
remained in power for its full five-year term, Arun III hydro- power
project would not have been aborted.
Speaking on the economic front, Dr Mahat expressed the hope that
although there is a renewed interest among foreign investors in the
country, they are still not feeling comfortable with the fate of the
coalition government. He, therefore, urged that there must prevail
continuity, irrespective of governments, towards developing the
economic scenario of the country. Expressing dissatisfaction over the
fall of carpet and readymade garment exports (the two largest forex
earners), the Finance Minister explicitly said, unless we export, we
will perish.
Inaugurating the talk programme, vice chairman of The Thinkers Prof
Shankar Sharma emphasised on the nationhood concept; continuity of
peaceful transfer of power; orientation of political leadership;
administrative competancy and dynamic economic policies.
Likewise, speaking from the forum, treasurer of The Thinkers Shovan
Dev Pant dwelled upon the present picture of the country; implications
of the present budget and the vision and challenges of the coalition
government.
Delivering the vote of thanks, executive member of The Thinkers Dr
Posh Raj Pandey said that economic development and political stability
are inter-related and the country, in their absence, cannot forge
ahead of economic development. Also, he expressed satisfaction that
the transitional phase of democratic governance in the country has
been successful.
Singh Undergoes Knee Check Ups;
By a Post Reporter
KATHMANDU, Nov 29 - Senior politician Ganesh Man Singh has had through
pre-operative knee check ups by physicians at Mayo Clinic, Rochester
in USA today.
Kathmandu Mayor P L Singh who escorts the octogenarian leader talked
in telephone to The Kathmandu Post Wednesday and informed that Singhs
general health check-up was already done. He said doctors have also
carried out examinations of Singhs prostrate gland and the kidneys.
Singh had reached the United States on Monday in connection with the
treatment of his weakening knee joints. The surgery is expected
shortly.
The 81-year-old leader is accompanied also by his wife Mangala Devi
and daughter Dr Mina Singh.
GEODETIC SURVEY IN WESTERN NEPAL
By a Post Reporter
KATHMANDU, Nov 30 - Groups of ten Nepali and ten French geoscientists
have just returned to Kathmandu from a three weeks satellite geodetic
survey (GPS) in western and far western Nepal. This IDYLHIM programme
(Imagery and Dynamics of the Lithosphere in Himalaya) is part of a
larger Franco-Nepalese project between the Department of Mines and
Geology of HMG, Ministry of Industry and the large National Center for
Scientific Research (CNRS), a French government agency for fundamental
research. It aims at assessing in detail the active processes of the
Himalayan mountains, responsible for the present deformation, erosion
and quaking of the range.
Himalaya was formed by collision of Indian and Eurasian continents.
The collision also caused high seismicity of vast area; but he seismic
hazard can be only roughly evaluated. To be able to mitigate this
risk, the Department of Mines and Geology, in collaboration with the
Laboratoire de Geophysique (CEA, France) has been monitoring the
seismic activity in Nepal since 1985. However, the deformation can
either generate large earthquakes or proceed insidiously be creeping.
This aseisimic deformation process can be approached by geodetic
measurement. Nepalese leveling data in central Nepal have already
shown local uplift features that are believed to be related to
aseismic deformation. But the data are still scarce, and comparison
between horizontal and vertical measurements is needed for a better
assessment of the Himalayan aseismic processes.
GPS is able to define the relative positioning of observation sites
located on the earths surface with a precision of a few millimeters,
even for baselines of hundreds of kilometers and without the
limitations of terrestrial techniques, such as the need for visibility
between observation sites and the need to transport heavy instruments
(a great help in the dramatic topography of the Himalaya). The thirty
different sites have been chosen to cover all zones of the Himalayan
mountains, from the high Himalaya (Simikot and Jomosom) down to the
Terai (Bhairawa to Mahendranagar). The measurements have been carried
out on the field by ten teams moving all over the region by car or
airplane, All points will be remeasured three years from now, in order
to determine the amount of vertical and horizontal movements they have
suffered.
The French teams comprised ten geoscientists belonging to various
universities, Ecoles Normales Superieures and to the CNRS, joining
together for this experience. Most of them flew into Kathmandu at the
beginning of November, the first week being devoted to organising
training sessions and to setting up five seminars on geophysical
techniques of understanding of the earth mechanisms. The
implementation of a network at such a scale is a premiere in the
Himalayan domain. Bringing together the complementary strengths of the
two countries, and using the most modern techniques, the IDYLHIM GPS
survey is at present a promising fundamental experience and an
efficient way to better constrain the seismic hazard in western Nepal.
THE BOTTOM LINE
M R Josse
Slow But Hardly Steady
Last Saturday, a front-page news story in this newspaper had a
headline which read: PM says govt slow but steady. That exceedingly
brief item by a Post Reporter merely reported that Prime Minister Sher
Bahadur Deuba had argued at a talk programme that his governments
performance was slow but steady.
Slow: Both the prime ministers declaration as well as the brevity of
the said news item are noteworthy, the latter perhaps because there
was, like the governments performance, precious little to report.
While the prime ministers projection of steady progress by his
government will be hotly contested, it is certainly remarkable that
even almost three months into office the expected full expansion of
his Council of Ministers remains incomplete.
In the meantime, we have been informed by this daily, for example,
that a number of limousines have already been hired from a private
company at the rate of Rs 2,000 per day, per vehicle for use by a
gaggle of incoming mantris. Indeed, so much has been made of Deubas
cabinet-expansion-by-stages gameplan that it is now appearing that the
fulfillment of what should be merely a routine affair of government
would, in itself, mark a major achievement.
What is no less remarkable is that over the past month or so, the
ominous complaint that virtually nothing is moving as far as the
government is concerned has spread from the independent and Left media
to even pro-Congress journals. Similarly, none but the deaf or dumb
can have missed the loud lamentations of non-performance aired in
parliament and in the media by prominent MPs and Congress wallahs, a
short list of which includes the ambitious Ms Sailaja Acharya and GP
Koirala-loyalist Jaya Prakash Anand. Nor can anyone who is even
casually interested in politics be unaware that before the
Deuba-coalition hunkers down for real business a series to alternate
political scenarios are being seriously discussed not merely in seedy
tea stalls or dainty Kathmandu parlours but also in apparently
never-ending furtive meetings among ever-scheming politicos.
That palpable looking-for-an-alternative-coalition public mood has
been specially discernible in the aftermath of the recent and
illuminating Upper House elections where political back-knifing and
cross-party voting were the order of the day. As of now, for instance,
the political air is whirling with speculation about a number of
possibilities: 1. A UML-RPP coalition; 2. A NC-UML team-up; and 3. The
same NC-RPP-NSP combine with a change in the captain.
Projection: Admittedly, the three-party, anti-Left combination is
beginning to crawl on a number of fronts or, at least, is seen as
doing so, among other things, by the constitution of a task-force and
a council relating to streamlining and raising the efficiency of the
foreign office and tackling outstanding problems in the communications
sector. Those areas of public policy may, of course, interest people
such as you and me but can hardly be expected to generate excitement
in the hoi polloi who desperately want to see prices go down, their
overall sense of security enhanced, new employment opportunities
created and so on.
The task of projecting the view that steady progress is being recorded
by the government across a broad front has naturally been granted to
the official media as is painfully obvious to those who have to wade
through their turgid prose or watch the officialdom-dominated telly
every day. The official print media continues most loyally to serve up
at least one large-sized photo on the front pages every day showing
the prime minister inaugurating this, speaking at that or launching
some imported lubricant or the other.
Yet, curiously enough, such public posturing would seem to be having
quite the contrary impactjudging at least by what one hears around
town and this, mind you, not only by carping media representatives.
Apparently the governments hard sell media approach is having an
impact quite the reverse of what is intended: intelligent people are
expressing wonder why or how the prime minister is spending so much
time on what are essentially peripheral matters considering that so
much remains to be done about consolidating his government and
providing it with appropriate vision, dynamism and leadership.
In this context, I should perhaps disclose that at a small dinner
party even an ambassador confided surprise to this scribe that the
prime minister was not budgeting his precious time in a more
productive or imaginative manner considering the many and onerous
tasks that remain.
Clearly, he must learn to say no to most requests for inaugurations or
for formal speeches that other ministers could just as well makeat
least until he has gotten his act together. No discussion on how the
Deuba-led government is performingor is understood to be operating can
be considered complete without mention of the proliferation of
seminars and symposia on the tasks of the coalition or its stability.
Not steady: Whatever speakers may say there cannot be any gainsaying
that the frequency of such talk-shops suggests that the skeptical
public is yet to be fully convinced that the three-party structure
will last or that it can really deliver the goods.
What also helps to generously contribute to the general impression
that the Deuba led coalition is not on a steady course is the
prevailing image in the public mind that the prime minister is
constantly having to look over his shoulders at what political
cognoscenti believe are operating the government by remote control:
Messers GP Koirala, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, Surya Bahadur Thapa and
Lokendra Bahadur Chand.
And since, in the aftermath of the stunning Upper House poll results,
cracks have developed in the
Koirala-Bhattarai-Thapa-Chand policy making machine, can anyone be
blamed for not buying the rosy argument that the coalition is making
steady progress ? That apart, since the current speculation in
political circles is that Deuba is awaiting Bhattarais return from
abroad before finally announcing the long expected (and hopefully
final) expansion in the Council of Ministers, it is not difficult to
understand why many have taken to speculating that it may indeed be
delayed until the return of NCs born-again supremo Ganesh Man Singh
who has just taken off for a months trip abroad.
When real progress is made, steady or rapid, there should be no need
to proclaim it; that would be self-evident. The best way that
significant progress can be recorded is for the government to
demonstrate a seriousness and unity of purpose on the ground and for
the prime minister to get on with the still unfinished work of getting
his team together without further ado.
Excessive reliance on getting the official media to transmit the daily
message that all is fine and dandy and that the captain of the
coalition vessel is really in command, knows where he is heading for
and how to navigate the shoals until he gets his ship into port, could
in fact mislead and generate complacency. With various combinations of
politicians of diverse hues sharpening their khukuris, such
complacency could well be lethal.
MAGAR PERSONALITIES HONOURED
KATHMANDU, Nov 27 (RSS) - Eight different Magar personalities making
special contributions to the society were felicitated amidst a
function here recently. The personalities who were honoured include
Minister for Housing and Physical Planning Balaram Gharti Magar, chief
of the National Investigations Department Govindakarma Thapa Magar,
executive director of Nepal Electricity Authority Santa Bahadur Pun
Magar, assistant dean of the Institute of Medicine Dr Trilokpati Thapa
Magar, Dr Bhim Charan Thapa Magar, Dr Harsha Bahadur Budha Magar, Dr
Laxman Pun Magar and Dr Balaram Thapa Magar.
President of the Federation of Nepalese Nationalities Gore Bahadur
Khapangi Magar felicitated them by presenting the traditional Khada.
A cultural tableau and a model Magar village were presented at the
function along with an exhibition of the indigenous Magarati cultural
museum.
Minister for Housing and Physical Planning Balaram Gharti Magar on the
occasion inaugurated the Central Magar Youth Club.
Minister Gharti Magar also inaugurated the Magar Cultural Museum.
He also released a novel Aatripta Jeevan by Dr Harsha Bahadur Budha on
the occasion.
Various speakers at the function emphasized the need for cultivating
the tradition of honouring those personalities dedicated towards the
wellbeing of the nation, society and the community.
President of Nepal Magar Association Gore Bahadur Khapangi chaired the
function while Kathmandu district president of the association
advocate Gaubahadur Ale delivered the vote of thanks.
AIDS VICTIM DIES
By a Post Reporter
HETAUDA, Nov 27 - A 33-year-old AIDS victim, Phul Maya Tamang of
Padampokhari VDC Ward No 8 has died of AIDS. Padampokhari is at the
forefront of the VDC of Makwanpur district where the highest number of
women-trafficking takes place.
This VDC alone has 11 other patients suffering from AIDS out of the
district, of total 19 AIDS patients. Phul Maya was persuaded by Gyanu
Titung and Kaji Titung of the same VDC to go to Raxaul in 2042 BS.
Instead she was taken and sold to a brothel in Bombay, India. She had
contacted AIDS in the brothel and was returned to Nepal in 2049 BS.
When she arrived in Padampokhari, she received general treatment. She
also received medical treatment in Kathmandu with the help of an
organization named WATCH.
BRIEFS
Team Meets PM
KATHMANDU, Nov 27 (RSS) - A 5-member delegation of Sanatana Dharma
Sewa Samiti met with Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Sunday.
On the occasion, the delegation expressed concern over growing threat
to human values in the society and stressed the need to discourage
such a trend by making a bold arrangement for launching nation-wide
campaign for promotion of moral and spiritual values based on
Panchasheel as propounded by the Hindu religion and culture, for the
???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Amulya's comments: I thought the Panchasheel philosophy of living has
always been associated with Buddhism, not Hinduism, unless of
course, we accept khem raj keshav sharan chauvinistic Hindu claim
Buddhism is just "part of Hinduism!"
wellbeing of the humanity at large.
It also suggested that associations and institutions should extend
cooperation in reaching that goal.
The delegation led by Acharya Khemraj Keshav Sharan included Samiti
general secretary Prof Govinda Prasad Bhattarai, treasurer Ramji
Prasad Koirala, secretary Ganga Prasad Rijal and Matrishakti division
president Ramdevi Baniya. Pedestrians knocked to death
*****************************************************
Date: Sun, 3 Dec 1995 11:24:22 -0500
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Access SCN via email.....
From: luciferm@pipeline.com (manjil thapa)
Thought this might boost SCN's liveliness..........
Send email to NETNEWS@HOTPAGE.STANFORD.EDU with nothing but the word HELP
in message.
Through this system one can read newsgroup posts using keywords(try
NEPAL).........all that's needed is access to email.
To be honest, I don't know how well this works since I myself subscribed to
this stuff just yesterday. I'm sure this'll work though for I got the info
from PC WORLD.
manjil thapa
*********************************************************
Date: Sun, 03 Dec 1995 20:50:42 -0500 (EST)
From: atuladhar@vax.clarku.edu
Subject: dec3_editorial.html (fwd)
To: THE NEPAL DIGEST <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu>
Amulya's comment: An "Environmental Ministry" for the Nepal govt is
one contraption for sucking in foreign aid, a "duhune gai." It is
pointless to read into it deep rationality bureucratic or legal and all
the legal acts and papers are but naught.
EFFECTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL PROMOTION
By S N Sharma
Environment eccompasses such a vast field of different disciplines
that it can not be adequately handled by one ministry or department
alone without close coordination, cooperation and communication among
concerned organisations. In Nepal, environment used to be under the
preview of Ministry of Forest (MOF), which coordinated the activities
and programmes being implemented by different sectorial agencies.
A high level body. Environment Protection Council has been constituted
under the chairmanship of the prime minister, most of the ministries
have set up a separate environmental promotion unit under their
respective Ministries. The coalition government created. Environment
Ministry but attached 'Population' to it. Although environment is
relevant to ministries like water resources, industry, forest, housing
and physical planning, it does not really matter which one is charged
with the responsibility for its protection so long as the ministry
performs its duties.
The factors responsible for environmental degradation vary from
country to country in terms of degree, time and complexicity.
Deforestation, inadequate facility for waste disposal,lack of safe
drinking water, air, water and noise pollution and other development
activities have started taking their toll on Nepals environment.
According to a UN report natural disasters worldwide are increasing at
an average rate of six percent a year and greater respect for
environment could help prevent them. The great flood of July 1993,
which caused heavy loss of life and property is still vivid in the
minds of Nepalese people. Although no indepth study and analysis has
been made by the government to ascertain the causes of such a mishap,
it is due certainly to environmental fragility as well as engineering
slip-ups and human errors.
Whenever we talk of environment the worsening situation in the
Kathmandu Valley (KV) comes in the forefront. As the Ministry of
Population and Environment (MOPE) has yet to make its plans and
programmes public, it must pay immediate attention to improvement of
the valleys environment. The problems facing Kathmandu could easily be
solved if the politicians and authorities are sincere about it. The
existing acts, rules, regulations and standards are quite sufficient
to combat the ills created by environmental degradation provided they
are strictly enforced.
There are over a dozen acts already in force that could be evoked to
discourage and penalise pollutors. For example, the Industrial
Enterprises Act (2038), Town Development Act (2045) Municipality Act
(2047), Solid Waste Management and Resource Mobilisation Act (2044),
Revenue Act (2034), Public Road Act (2039), Civil Aviation Act (2044),
National Transportation Act (2026), Local Administration Act, Water
Resources Act, etc could be effectively enforced until new more
comprehensive acts rules and regulations are in place. The government
has already chalked out a national conservation strategy and
Environmental Policy and Action Plans have been formulated under the
auspices of National Planning Commission (NPC) to integrate
environment and development.
About three years ago there were plans to relocate carpet and other
industries in the valley blamed for much of the pollution by providing
required infrastructured services. How many units have been shifted so
far ?, river pollution particularly at the sacred places like Aryaghat
and Gaurighat, successive governments ever save the Panchayat days.
However the rivers have vowed in pubic to address.
Still flow like raw sewage except during the monsoon. The squatter
population continue to occupy river banks and other public land in
spite of the much touted schemes to provide land to the landless
people.
Despite repeated commitments and pledges each year on June 5. World
Environment Day pollution of air continues unabated due to excessive
smoke coming out of fuel guzzeling vehicles.
The Kathmandu Town Development Committee has repeatedly warned real
estate companies and individual land developers against circumventing
guidelines while developing land. However, the authorities dont seem
to be serious about enforcing their decisions, nor do the companies or
individuals feel included to abide by the guidelines. These are but
some instances of non-compliant and passive attitude of government
agencies. Several complex phenomen related to environmental
degradation such as global warming, damage to ozone layer, acid rains,
etc may not be of immediate interest to MOPE, but it must serious with
deal water, air and noise pollution, deforestation inadequate solid
and liquid waste disposal facilities haphazard urbanisation and a
rising squatter population. As environmental conservation is a cross
ministry undertaking programme coordination and efficient enforcement
of laws, rules and regulations may not be as effective as required as
long as MOPE is not armed with special power to take stern actions
against defaulters.
PRINCE SIDHARTHA GAUTAM IN HIS BED CHAMBER
By Babu Krishna Rijal
When the Mayadevi Temple in Lumbini was being excavated, one
terracotta panel depicting Siddhartha Gautam in his bed chamber just
before his great renunciation was discovered at the southeast corner
of the wall on July 25, 1995.
The panel when discovered was, was in a fragmented condition and
turned upside down. Its location point is R L 102.759 and the size of
the portion that is intact is 68x37 cm. The panel is roundish at the
top and square at the bottom.
On the restored upper part of the panel, Princess Yosodhara is
sleeping in the background on a royal bed. Princess Yosodhara is in
full royal attire. Her head is decorated with a three beaded crest and
she is a wearing necklace of beads. Her left hand is holding the
tip-of her breast nipple to indicate that she is feeding her son
Rahul. Her right hand is below her head. Both her hands are decorated
with beaded bangles and armlets. Her legs are folded and rest on the
lower pillow. She is wearing beaded anklets.
Prince Siddhartha Gautam who is sitting in a royal posture at the edge
of the cot is also in full royal dress. He is also wearing a royal
turban with three crests. His left hand is placed on Princess
Yosodharas knee to check whether she is in sound sleep. The right hand
of Siddhartha Gautam is resting on his own knee but broken. His hands
are decorated with bangles and armlets. His right hand was possibly in
the Bitarka Mudra. His ear is decorated with a circular Kundala. A big
khot of his lower (discourse posture) garment is decoratively tied at
left side of his waist.
This terracotta panel being a very important discovery of our
excavation, we joined the fragments together and showed to it the
delegates of the UNESCO Buddhist Route Expedition. Dr Saifur Rehman
Dar, the delegate from Pakistan, who is also the Director of Lahore
Museum was kind enough to explain this panel as Prince Siddhartha
Gautam waiting for Yosodhara to fall sleep so that he could renounce
the life of the palace in search of the cause of the sufferings in
worldly life. Dr Dar said that this type of scene is mainly depicted
in Gandhara a art (early Pakistani). The broken and lost lower part of
the panel should contain accessories of royal bedroom and there should
also be a band of lady musicians with their musical instruments who
were feeling sleepy.
In our panel, however, a tradition type of lamp post can be seen in
one corner, and the torso of a lady playing a drum was toundby being
badly mutiliated could not be joined together.
This panel certainly seems to be influenced by Gandhara art and is
dated at fourth to sixth century A D. The facial expression, dress and
other decorations are more Kushana type than Gupta type.
(The author is chief arhealgist at Lumbini Development Trust)
HEADLINE NEWS
[Amulya's comments: The following is an obviously very biased
representation of grass-roots political resistance which is being
labelled as "hard-line" "violence" and "bizarre" just as Panches used to
label the Congressi activities "a_rastriya tatwo."
Readers should beware the political interest of the current powers to
defame other participants by framing rules of participation, what
Foucault would call using knowledge to generate "truths" about their
enemies...
ROLPA AT REST, PROBE PANEL LIKELY
By a Post Reporter
ROLPA, Dec 1 - The situation of tension that engulfed this remote
district in the mid-western region recently due to acts of violence
perpetrated by supporters of a hard-line communist group, United
Peoples Front, has returned to normal following the tightening of
security by the local police.
[Note: the intensity of suppression, 328 people being apprehended, why.
A Thumb rule, when one person breaks a rule, one can call that criminal,
when 100 break the rule as in Gandhi's salt march or civil disobedience,
it is called social resistance and it is the so-called rule whose
legitimacy is brought into question!]
A police superintendent said the administration had detained 328
persons in connection with the recent incidents, of whom most were
released after minor enquires. Now only 107 are under detention, 20 of
them being women, he said.
Nine persons have been killed and many injured in the district ever
since the UPF, led by Dr Baburam Bhattarai, started confronting with
other political parties three years ago.
Sources said people loyal to Dr Bhattarai are engaged in various
criminal activities. Police said they have found 47 filler guns hidden
in jungles and in homes of various persons.
[Amulya's comments: "Filler gun or old bharuwas or muskets are a
common phenomena in the villages where there are old army vets, and it
was never illegal to own them, they are hardly effective even for killing
an infrequent wild boar with all the gun powder one had to buy and
maintain from the plains of india. the juxtaposition of guns with
Bhattarai is a transparent attempt to malign his movement with
insinuations of violence.]
Bahadur Singh Pun, a local victim of the UPFs queer organization
promotion scheme, said the UPF loyalists are so rude that they once
humiliated him by wrapping up a womans used petticoat round his body.
They even beat me up for not supporting their party and have warned me
not to go home, he said. Pun presently lives apart from his home.
Resided mainly by Magars, Rolpa faces acute poverty, unemployment,
lack of transportation services and lack of hospital.
[Amulya's questions: One might ask, for instance, why the Magar areas
are so poor/ why there are so few Magars in the political party
leaderships or the Cabinet, if not for historic Hindu discrimination
throught the agency of the State, instead of insinuating tht the poor and
illiterate Magars are prey for incendiary propagandd of Bhattarai's
firebrand politics.]
UPF sources said the accusations levelled against their party are
baseless.
Meanwhile in Kathmandu, Minister for Works and Transport Bijaya Kumar
Gachhadar said the government was considering a probe team to look
into the Rolpa incidents. He was answering the MPs in the Lower House
++++++++++++
[Governments suppressions or defeats are often in obsequious "neutral"
words such as "incidents!"]
Friday on behalf of Home Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka who has not been
able to attend the House for the last few days on account of illness.
Earlier, UMLs Devi Prasad Ojha demanded a probe team in connection
with the Rolpa incidents. He also demanded an arrangement for the
lawmakers to visit the incident sites. Gachhadar said MPs visit to the
area was also being considered.
_________________________________________________________________
TU, ONE OF THE RICHEST REAL ESTATE HOLDERS
KATHMANDU, Dec 1 (RSS) - Tribhuvan University today is one of the
richest land owners in the country. It possesses extensive real estate
holdings in the form of the lands and buildings registered in the name
of 65 different campuses and administrative sections located in
different parts of the country. At presnt Trivhuvan University holds a
total land area of 1,210 hecatres and 45,000 sqm of floor area in
buildings.
The total value of the land and buildings is estimated at Rs 9.26
billion including Rs 8.06 billion for the land.
This was stated at a dissemination seminar on Retionalisation of
facilities and assets mansagement at TU the other day during which an
inventory of TU real estate was discussed.
The total real estate holdings of Tribhuvan Unviersity comprises lands
owned by 36 campuses in the central development region, 14, in the
eastern develpment region, 13 in the western development region, 6 in
the mid-western development region and 2 in the far-western
development region.
Of these the 23 campuses situated in the Kathmandu Valley and the
central examination secton of TU at Jamal, Kathmandu own a
considerable portion of the real estate holdings.
During the last 35 years of its existence, Tribhuvan University has
become the largest land possessing institution of the country.
The property woned by 15 campuses and the central examination secton
in Kathmandu has a very high commercial value.
The campuses are Patan Multiple Campus, Public Youth Campus, Saraswati
Multiple Campus, Lalitkala Campus, Padma Kanya Multipel Campus,
Shanker Dev Campu, Ratna Rajya Laxmi Campus, Nepal Law Campus, Campus
of International Languages, Public Administration Campus, Pulchock
Campus, Amrit Campus, Maharajgunj Campus, Trichandr Multiple Campus
and Thpathali Campus. The total area of these campuses in about 43
hectrares including 120,000 sqm of building floor area and the total
value of the land amounts to Rs 4.75 billion, the value of buildihngs
being Rs 0.31 billion, totalling a real estate value of Rs 5.06
billion.
The property of campuses located in suburban of rural areas also
possess fair potential for income -generation, particularly in the
cases of campuses holding large areas of land which are heavily
underutilized and there is a striong possibility of utilizing these
areas for farming, horticulture and forestry thus generating
substantial income to the University. The improvement of efficiency of
the facilities as one of the objectives of the new policy onb higher
education could be achieved by considering the present status of TU
real estate and its value, it is pointed out.
Inaugurating the seminar Tribhuvan Univesity vice chancellor Dr Kamal
Krishna Joshi said the University should be alert to the need to make
proper use of its property adding that various buildings at the
Unviersity are being constructed with World Bank assistance and the
Exmaination controllers office at Jamal is also be reconstructed.
d of the study team Dr P N Maskety and advisor member Dr Sriram B
Mathe threw light on the findings of the study while tertiary
education project convenor Dr Kamal Prakash Malla said the study
should help bring the university up to date on its physical assets and
enable it to make maximum use of them.
NEWSLINE
Deuba Opens SAARC Photo Show
Kathmandu, Dec 1(RSS) Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba declared open
the photo and postal stamp exhibition organised to mark the 10th
anniversary of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
(SAARC) at the SAARC secretariat Friday.
Photographs of the SAARC secretariat activities since its inception in
1985 and postage stamps issued by SAARC member countries concerning
SAARC received from the Nepal Philatelic Society are on display at the
six-day SAARC photo and postal exhibition.
In his inaugural speech Prime Minister Deuba said that SAARC has
emerged as a major instrument in facilitating interaction among the
member states on a wide range of issues on common concern since its
inception in 1985.
Deuba said considerable progress has been achieved in the agreed areas
of cooperation and important regional convention, such as those on
supression of terrorism and narcotic drugs have been signed.
SAARC Secretary General Yadav Kant Silwal said that SAARC member
countries were organising various programmes at the national level to
commemorate the 10th anniversary of SAARC.
Ambassadors of the SAARC member countries were also present at the
inaugural ceremony.
Seminar On Radar Operation
kathmandu, Dec 1 (RSS) A three-day seminar on radar systems management
and operation began here Friday under the joint auspices of Ministry
of Transport of Japan, Jica and the Department of Civil Aviation.
Inaugurating the seminar, secretary in the ministry of tourism and
civil aviation Dependra Purush Dhakal said given the importance of air
transport in the balanced development of the country, the Ministry of
Tourism and Civil Aviation is committed to the development of
necessary infrastructure and efficient transport system for enhancing
safety, efficiency and reliability of air services as well as the
sustainable development of civil aviation in Nepal.
Air traffic engineering expert of Jica Eiji Inokuchi said common
consciousness to pursue high reliability of radar systems and
efficiency in operating the system are indispensable for air safety.
Director general of Civil Aviation Birendra Bahadur Deuja disclosed
that the radar monitoring of air traffic will take place in Nepal from
March 1997. Jica representative Hirosi Murakami said that following
the 1992 air crash in Nepal, the Japanese government has organised
radar systems management and operation trainings at the request of His
Majestys Government.
Solana Gets Top NATO Post
MADRID, Dec 1 (AFP) Spains Foreign Minister Javier Solana Madariaga,
53, due to be named new NATO secretary-general next week, is the only
politician to have served in all Socialists governments here since
Felipe Gonzalez became prime minister in 1982. That unbroken tenure
testifies to his loyalty to Ganzalez, a close fried in private life,
and to the party he has been actively engaged with since his youth.
Furthermore, Solanas name has never been mentioned in connection with
the political and financial scandals tarnishing the governments
reputation in the past few years.
LETTER TO EDITOR
RESPONSE BE MORE TOLERANT
Sir,
We share Sanu Maiya Biswokarmas concern (Response column Nov 29) about
the threat of AIDS to Nepal. And we also share her desire to act, and
her call to the authorities. However, we would like to disagree with
her suggestion to screen for HIV at all border check points, and to
quarantine all Nepali people found HIV positive.
The reason we object to this solution is twofold. Firstly, it does not
work, and secondly, it threatens human rights.
It does not work, because the border of Nepal is open. It is
logistically impossible to stop all people, test them, and hold them
until the test result is known. Morever, people who consider
themselves at risk to be HIV positive, will enter the country
illegally. People who are already in Nepal, will not be caught, and
people who are recently infected (and dont show HIV antibodies in
their blood for upto 3 months), will slip through. Finally, people who
escape from quarantine, are not likely to be motivated to protect
others, for understandable reasons. All this does not even take into
consideration the affordability of this operation for Nepal, and the
likely effects of bribing.
Finally, it should not be implemented for humanitarian reasons.
Putting HIV positive people in jail for life, labels them as guilty.
We know, that Nepali people who are presently infected with HIV, are
far from guilty. Take for example the girls who were sold to be
exploited as prostitutes and to contract a deadly disease. Are they
not punished enough? Should we really blame anybody who ever had a
blood transfusion, an injection , or sex, without knowing how to
protect themselves?
So what is a better solution then, to prevent a disaster from
happening? Experience in other countries has shown that involving the
people who are at risk, rather than blaming them, works. In countries
where gay people, injecting drug users, prostitutes and women are
involved in finding ways to protect themselves, AIDS prevention is
most effective.
Accepting each others beliefs and behaviours, ridding ourselves of
taboos, and cooperation between government, private organizations and
vulnerable communities, is more likely to fight this epidemic, and
ensure the future well being of the country.
Dr Paul L Janssen
AmFAR/ Nepal
PREVENT DISCRIMINATION
Sir,
This is in response to the letter to the editor of November 29 by Sanu
Maiya Biswokarma of Maharajgunj. I am disgusted that someone in the
20th century can possess such archaic ideas about the prevention of
spreading AIDS.
HIV is a very serious problem for this world, but detaining and
discriminating against those who have contracted the disease harkens
back to the time of leper colonies.
Your idea of testing all those at border crossings and the airport is
unrealistic to say the least. There are no accurate lab results that
can be produced in less than a few days for the HIV virus. Unless you
plan on also constructing holding facilities at all points of entry
and all visitors must plan on at least 2 days there, testing at the
airport and borders is ridiculous.
It is sad that you are willing to discriminate against someone
completely based on their HIV status. Just because someone registers
as HIV positive does not mean that they have the AIDS virus. Just
because someone who is HIV positive wants to enter Nepal does not mean
that they will infect others. I definitely agree that prevention is
the key to controlling the spread of the AIDS virus, but
discrimination and leper colony like treatment is not the solution.
The solution is education. HIV can only be contracted during the
exchange of bodily fluids and the sharing of drug needles. Widespread
education about the use of condoms and other easy methods of avoiding
the spread of HIV must be undertaken. Once the public is educated, you
can only hope for the best. One would think that everyone would act in
a humane manner, but you cannot force your ideals upon someone if they
dont want to listen. It is every person for themselves in the fight
against AIDS, and fear of the disease is not going to help the
situation!
Neither is discrimination. Education is vital and is the only way
through which misconceptions about the disease will be destroyed.
Elizabeth King
Madison, Wisconsin USA
******************************************
From: Rajesh Shrestha <rshresth@husc.harvard.edu>
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 1995 10:54:59 -0500 (EST)
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Nepalese Lawyer in New York
Cross-posted from SCN:
---------------------
A Nepalese company is exploring the possibility of forming a joint venture company (which will provide services in Nepal) with a company which is listed in the New York Stock Exchange. The joint venture company will be registered in Nepal.
This Nepalese company requires the services of a Nepalese lawyer practicing in the New York area to formulate a JV agreement between the US company and the Nepalese company.
If any netter knows of any Nepalese lawyer in the New York area, please contact me.
Thanks
Sanjib Raj Bhandari Fax: 977-1-225407
Mercantile Office Systems Tel: 977-1-220773
Durbar Marg, Kathmandu, Nepal e-mail: sanjib@mos.com.np
*******************************************************
From: Rajesh Shrestha <rshresth@husc.harvard.edu>
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 1995 10:57:39 -0500 (EST)
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Ganeshman Singh
Cross-posted from SCN:
---------------------
In article <49n2tn$kjc@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, cthapa@aol.com (CTHAPA) wrote:
>I knew Ganeshman Singh's young children and his wife when he was serving
>time in jail. He and his family and other Nepalis and their families made
>a tremendous personal sacrifices to bring democracy in Nepal. I also knew
>a man from Okhaldhunga, who was in jail with Ganeshman Singh. HIs young
>wife and son used to travel to KTM to visit him in jail. I have seen the
>pain in their eyes. I was young then. Now that I have my own family, I
>can understand the gravity of their pain, and the sacrifices they made.
>It saddened me to see the callous and crude remark made against Ganeshman
>Singh's visit for medical treatment in USA.
>
>Chandrakala
We agree that Ganesh Man Singh made a tremendous sacrifice for the
cause of democracy in Nepal. So have many others, Congressis as
well as Communists. If we rank (if it's possible) in order of
sacrifice and leadership, Ganesh Man easily can be placed at or near
the top of the list.
Having said that, if Chandrakala's remark is directed toward
Chitra Krishna's and Bhanu's postings, then I must agree with them.
The're right on the money. Even if the treatment is not available
in Nepal, the current Congress_headed government has no right to
foot the bill. And the Nepali people, in general, have no
obligation to do so. Mind you, if Chitra Krishna's account is
correct, Nepali people are picking up the tab for medical bill,
travel, and other expenses for the entire entourage! Are we going
to use this as a precedence and extend the same kind of gratitude
to other individuals who sacrificed in the same manner? If yes,
then where the list ends? If no, then why the discrimination?
Should we also pay for his automobile, gas, driver, and other
expenses when he is in Nepal? As one of the founders (?) of
Congress Party and the most influencial personality within the Party,
Congress Party should have offered to pay the bills (of course, if
Ganesh Man cannot afford it).
Kanhaiya
******************************************************
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 1995 11:01:40 -0500 (EST)
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: News 12/1/1995
From: karkis@mail.med.upenn.edu (Sher B. Karki)
Copyright 1995 Deutsche Presse-Agentur
Deutsche Presse-Agentur
December 1, 1995, Friday, BC Cycle
12:17 Central European Time
SECTION: Entertainment, Television and Culture
LENGTH: 427 words
HEADLINE: Freshwater dolphins on verge of extinction in Nepal
DATELINE: Kathmandu
BODY:
Freshwater gangetic dolphins found in some big rivers in Nepal are on the
verge of extinction, a zoology expert said Friday.
According to Tej Kumar Shrestha, who has been conducting studies on gangetic
dolphins for over a decade, the survival of the animals has been threatened by
the construction of dams both in Nepal and across the border in India.
The director-general of the Nepalese government's department of National
Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Tirtha Man Maskey, estimates the number of
gangetic dolphins in Nepal at present to be only between 10 and 15.
According to Maskey, the number of dolphins in Nepal in 1994 was 38 and
the figure for 1979 was 150.
He blamed the dwindling number of gangetic dolphins in the big rivers in
Nepal to the construction of dams just across the border in India and the
failure of the Indian authorities to construct "fish bridges".
According to him, once dolphins go downstream and into India, they cannot
return for lack of "fish bridges" in the dams.
Shrestha said the creation of dolphin "aquariums", prevention of illegal
hunting of dolphins, and reduction of pollution in rivers where they are found
would be some of the ways of preventing dolphins from becoming extinct in
Nepal. dpa sb ba
Copyright 1995 Xinhua News Agency
The materials in the Xinhua file were compiled by The Xinhua News Agency. These
materials may not be republished without the express written consent of The
Xinhua News Agency.
DECEMBER 1, 1995, FRIDAY
LENGTH: 169 words
HEADLINE: nepal to generate public awareness against aids
DATELINE: kathmandu, december 1; ITEM NO: 1201069
BODY:
nepal observed the world aids day today with the objective of generating
greater public awareness against the deadly disease. prime minister sher
bahadur deuba in a message today called for endeavors to make the public aware
and alert against aids through the dissemination of adequate information so as
to control the spread of the disease. he said that this year world aids day
slogan "shared rights and shared responsibilities" awakens all to their rights
to protect themselves from hiv and their responsibility to protect others.
deuba also underlined the need of effective mobilization of the information,
communication and educational media for aids control. meanwhile, the prime
minister said that as all have the right to protect from aids, aids victims also
have the right to be treated without any discrimination and to exercise their
constitutional rights. so far 49 aids cases and 334 hiv-positive cases have
been reported in this himalayan kingdom since the first case was reported in
1988.
Copyright 1995 Agence France Presse
Agence France Presse
November 30, 1995 07:16 Eastern Time
SECTION: International news
LENGTH: 294 words
HEADLINE: Dog commits suicide after owner drowns
DATELINE: KATHMANDU, Nov 30
BODY:
A Nepalese dog committed suicide three days after his 12-year-old master died
in a swimming accident, reports said Thursday.
Jackson the dog refused food and whined continuously after finding out that
Sirjan Pradhan had died in a pond at Bhairahawa, 300 kilometers (190 miles)
southwest of the Nepal capital.
Three days after Sirjan's death, went to the same pool howled three times and
then jumped in, the Kantipur newspaper reported.
The 12-year-old boy, who had died in a swimming accident, had reared the
animal since it was a puppy, and the two slept in the same bed.
Residents said that after the boy was found dead "Jackson approached his
master and licked his feet with tearful eyes. It then rejected food and water
and kept whining," Kantipur reported.
"Family members of Sirjan Pradhan thought that the dog was ill so they called
a vet who gave it three injections but Jackson did not stop crying and whinning
for his master."
Sirjan's family said that three days after the boy's death, the dog was taken
off its leash. Jackson went to Sirjan's school, his classroom and then to the
pond where it plunged in.
Copyright 1995 British Broadcasting Corporation
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts
November 30, 1995, Thursday
SECTION: Unknown Part; WORLD BROADCASTING INFORMATION NEWS; EE/0048/WA
LENGTH: 227 words
HEADLINE: RADIO DENGE MEDYA;
FM Kathmandu to begin regular broadcasts on 29th December
BODY:
[43] Radio Nepal began broadcasting on VHF/FM for the first time in its
45-year history on 16th November, according to the Nepali newspaper The
Kathmandu Post'. The half-hour test transmissions, on a frequency of 100 MHz,
could be heard by residents of the Kathmandu valley.
According to Radio Nepal's Rabin Sharma, regular broadcasts would begin on
29th December. Sharma pointed out that the FM broadcasts were interference-free
and would offer stereo sound. He added that the FM Kathmandu service would be
useful for communicating local information such as travel news and public
announcements.
FM Kathmandu would be run by a dozen people who had completed a nine-day
presentation training course, but the newspaper noted that the station's studio
was less than ideal, with equipment scattered around. According to Sharma, after
repairs the studio would be suitable for regular and comfortable broadcasting.
With the exception of Harisharan Lamichhane (who had a diploma in broadcast
journalism from the UK) and Pragya Oli, the station's presenters were all new.
In the studio, cartridges, digital audio tapes and compact discs were used, and
special music and jingles had been produced for the station.
Sharma said that FM Kathmandu would make entertainment its priority.
Source: The Kathmandu Post', Kathmandu, in English 23 Nov 95
Copyright 1995 Xinhua News Agency
The materials in the Xinhua file were compiled by The Xinhua News Agency. These
materials may not be republished without the express written consent of The
Xinhua News Agency.
NOVEMBER 30, 1995, THURSDAY
LENGTH: 226 words
HEADLINE: nepal to privatize 3 public companies
DATELINE: kathmandu, november 30; ITEM NO: 1130069
BODY:
the nepali government has decided to privatize at least three state-owned
companies this year, finance minister ram sharan mahat said wednesday. while
answering questions from lawmakers at the session of the house of
representatives, mahat said the government plans to gradually privatize public
corporations in free market competition. according to him, a task force on
privatization has recommended the transfer of three public firms to the private
sector this year. the three companies will be raghupati jute mills,
nepal metallic industries ltd. and seti cigarettes factory, mahat said.
he also said
that the government is studying other industries for privatization and some more
companies might be added to the name list for privatization later this year.
the finance minister claimed that the companies privatized in the past had
yielded positive results. the nepali government has sold eight state-owned
companies to the private sector since the privatization process was launched in
the country in 1991. meanwhile, nepali prime minister sher bahadur deuba said
wednesday that it is time for nepal to shun all doubts and differences about a
market-oriented economy. he reaffirmed his government's commitment to the
liberal economic policy at a talk program on economic development organized by a
local non-governmental organization.
Copyright 1995 Xinhua News Agency
The materials in the Xinhua file were compiled by The Xinhua News Agency. These
materials may not be republished without the express written consent of The
Xinhua News Agency.
NOVEMBER 29, 1995, WEDNESDAY
LENGTH: 118 words
HEADLINE: female aids patients on rise in nepal
DATELINE: kathmandu, november 29; ITEM NO: 1129081
BODY:
nepal has more female aids victims than male and most of them contracted
the deadly disease through sexual contacts, according to a recent report.
"among the 49 full-blown aids cases in nepal, most of them belong to 20-29 age
group, 29 are female," official newspaper the rising nepal today quoted the
report as saying. the report, released by the center for control of aids and
sexually transmitted disease, revealed that 16 of these female aids patients
were house wives. the center said the number of hiv-positive cases in the
country had increased to 331, among them were 129 women and one infant under
five years of age. twenty-eight aids victims have died so far in nepal, the
report said.
Copyright 1995 Xinhua News Agency
The materials in the Xinhua file were compiled by The Xinhua News Agency. These
materials may not be republished without the express written consent of The
Xinhua News Agency.
NOVEMBER 29, 1995, WEDNESDAY
LENGTH: 204 words
HEADLINE: nepali opposition launches anti-government protest
DATELINE: kathmandu, november 29; ITEM NO: 1129089
BODY:
nepali opposition the communist party of nepal (uml) tuesday launched a
demonstration against the coalition government's decision to cut down the
development allocations to a local constituency in kathmandu. police arrested
more than 50 protesters including two uml mps and detained them for several
hours, reports said. a protest letter released by uml said that the reduction
of the local budget made by the coalition government would virtually paralyze 28
development projects under way in the constituency. there are sevenm
constituencies in the kathmandu district and all the seven mps
representing them
are from uml. the opposition party also protested against the police action,
saying that the administration intervention into the peaceful demonstration was
unconstitutional. the local uml committee said that the anti-government
movement would continue until the government restores the allocations. however,
uml headquarters said that tuesday demonstration did not belong to the party's
anti-government campaign and should be viewed as a local protest. it was noted
that tuesday demonstration was the first major uml program against the coalition
government which was formed nearly three months ago.
The materials in the Xinhua file were compiled by The Xinhua News Agency. These
materials may not be republished without the express written consent of The
Xinhua News Agency.
NOVEMBER 28, 1995, TUESDAY
LENGTH: 172 words
HEADLINE: nepal's main ruling party committed to coalition
DATELINE: kathmandu, november 28; ITEM NO: 1128222
BODY:
the leader of nepal's main ruling party, girija prasad koirala, said today
that his party was committed to enabling the coalition government to serve its
full term. speaking to journalists at his residence, the former prime minister
said the main objective of his nepali congress (nc) party was to strengthen
democracy and bring about political stability in the country. the current
coalition government was formed in september between the nepali congress, the
national democratic party (rpp) and the nepal goodwill party with sher
bahadur deuba from nc as prime minister. koirala called on the other parties in
the ruling coalition to shoulder an equal responsibility to achieve that end.
he admitted that the government has encountered some problems, as the
three-party coalition was a new experience in the country. but he added that it
would function smoothly once it was well-established. despite having no major
post in the party, koirala is expected to remain as an influential leader of the
nepali congress party.
Copyright 1995 British Broadcasting Corporation
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts
November 27, 1995, Monday
SECTION: Part 3 Asia-Pacific; SOUTH ASIA; NEPAL; EE/D2472/A
LENGTH: 113 words
HEADLINE: INTERNAL AFFAIRS;
Communist Party leader alleges "conspiracy" against it after taking power
SOURCE: Source: Radio Nepal, Kathmandu, in English 1415 gmt 26 Nov 95
BODY:
[13] Text of report by Radio Nepal
The general secretary of the CPN-UML Communist Party of Nepal -(United
Marxist-Leninist) , Madhav Kumar Nepal, has said that the CPN-UML has become a
strong party not because of the support of anyone but through its own
principles, ideals and good conduct and behaviour. Inaugurating the
plenary session of the third national council of the
All- Nepal National Free Students Union in place name indistinct today 26th
November , Mr Nepal said that the CPN-UML had reached the seat of power
because of its own popularity. He alleged that a conspiracy had been hatched
against the CPN-UML immediately after taking over the government.
Copyright 1995 Reuters Limited
The Reuter European Business Report
November 27, 1995, Monday, BC cycle
LENGTH: 142 words
HEADLINE: CHINA FIRM WINS NEPAL AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE DEAL
DATELINE: KATHMANDU, Nov 27
BODY:
China South Airlines (CSA), a
Chinese aircraft maintenance company, won a $ 1.14 million
contract to maintain two Boeing 757 aircraft of Nepal's National
Airlines, a senior official of the airline said on Monday.
British Airways had maintained aircraft for the Nepali
airline for the past two years and was the closest competitor to
the Chinese company in the bidding which was resolved on Sunday.
According to Tej Prasad Gauchan, a director of Royal Nepal
Airlines Corporation (RNAC), the contract will be for a period
of two years.
Gauchan said CSA will also train National Airlines personnel
in maintenance techniques.
"At the end of the two-year contract period, we hope to
carry out the maintenance job ourselves," Gauchan said.
He said the CSA has also agreed to provide an aircraft from
its own fleet to the Nepali Airline.
Copyright 1995 South China Morning Post Ltd.
South China Morning Post
November 27, 1995
SECTION: Science; Pg. 22
LENGTH: 1800 words
HEADLINE: Mystery of the elephants of Bardia
BYLINE: Two elephants with similarities to extinct mammoths have scientists in a
quandary, writes Steve Pike
BODY:
TWO huge elephants living in Nepal have lumbered out of the primordial
mists to give the scientific community an extraordinary glimpse of the
evolutionary links between the Asian elephant and its prehistoric ancestors.
The giant bull Raja Gaj, Nepali for king elephant, stands 3.7 metres -
higher than the tallest Asian elephant on record - and weighs up to seven
tonnes.
But his size is not the only attribute that has gained him and his
companion, Kancha, mythical status in western Nepal. Nor is it their unusual
sloping backs and almost reptilian tails.
It is the twisted head - like part of a mythical beast - with the forehead
swept up, checked by a deep depression and crowned by a large dome-shaped bump.
These features evoke awe among the villagers of the Terai, the Himalayan
lowlands where the two bulls roam.
They also happen to be characteristics of the woolly mammoth, a shaggy
predecessor of the two surviving species of elephant, the African and Asian.
But the scientific community is still debating the significance of the two
beasts and has been careful not to come to hasty conclusions.
This is partly the reason why Dr Adrian Lister, a paleontologist from
University College London (UCL), and Colonel John Blashford-Snell, the veteran
explorer, embark on a quest to Nepal in January.
The two men will monitor and photograph the strange pachyderms for more
clues to their ancestry. They also want to determine the reasons for a
mysterious influx of about 40 elephants to the two elephant's home, the Royal
Bardia Wildlife Reserve, a largely untouched patch of forest, swamp and savanna
on the western Nepalese border with India.
Among the new arrivals, say villagers, are one or more giants like Raja Gaj
and Kancha. Next year's expedition will include experts, guides, trackers and
paying members of the public.
Dr Lister, who co-wrote the book Mammoth, insists DNA extracted from the
dung of Raja Gaj and Kancha has shown they are Asian elephants with no specific
scientific links to the woolly mammoth.
This might seem hard to grasp considering their uncanny likeness to ancient
drawings of mammoths found in a labyrinth of caves in the Dordogne in southwest
France.
On the walls are hundreds of drawings and markings that date back 10,000 to
30,000 years.
Dr Lister insists mammoths belonged to a separate evolutionary branch to
Asian elephants and their African cousins, although he concedes that of the two
species alive today, the genetic makeup of the Bardia pair suggests a closer
resemblance to the prehistoric creatures.
Ten thousand years ago during the Ice Age, woolly mammoths and Asian
elephants co-existed. Mammoths roamed the tundra-steppe of the northern
continents while Asian elephants lived in the tropical forest and grassland to
the south.
So what has caused the curious bumps on the elephants of Bardia?
"Their double hump is reminiscent, although more in the extreme, of
fossilised remains of Elephas hysudricus, two million to three million years old
and found in rocks in India, Pakistan and Nepal, " said Dr Lister.
"This species is probably the ancestor of Elephas maximus, the Asian
elephant, to which Raja Gaj and Kancha belong," he said.
The double dome is an attribute of the Asian elephant, but is manifested to
an extraordinary degree in the Nepali pair, believed to be unrelated.
Does this mean they are mutants?
What is perceived as a deformity might be the result of a genetic hiccup
induced by a lack of breeding partners.
Colonel Blashford-Snell said that the rapid growth in the human population
in India was forcing elephants into more isolated pockets, where inbreeding
could have occurred, making it possible for prehistoric attributes to resurface.
"If you consider the population of India is increasing rapidly, it is easy
to imagine the pressure on the elephants," said Colonel Blashford-Snell, who
leads the expedition to Nepal for Discovery Expeditions, a non-profit company
linked to the Scientific Exploration Society.
"This is part of the mystery we want to solve; an explanation for the
arrival of more than 40 elephants in the Bardia reserve, which is surrounded by
hostile people and cultivated land."
The elephants could have been driven north from India and were seeking the
remote valleys of the reserve, which nestles in the foothills of the Himalayas,
as a last refuge from man.
"At least two of the newcomers to Bardia appear to be like Raja Gaj," he
said.
The two original elephants were first discovered in late 1989 when news
began to spread of two unusually big pachyderms wreaking havoc on crops.
Colonel Blashford-Snell embarked on two trips to find out what the fuss was
all about. The first expedition, conducted on a small scale in 1991 and without
elephant experts, yielded no sign of the mythical beasts, apart from huge
footprints, which led him to estimate one was well over three metres high, a
giant among Asian elephants.
On his second trip, the pair were sighted and proved as extraordinary as
villagers had said. He sent photographs to Dr Lister at UCL, who was intrigued.
The paleontologist joined the colonel on his next trip to Nepal at the end of
1993, returning to Bardia at the end of 1994. To reiterate his theory that they
are Asian elephants, Dr Lister relates how one night, Raja Gaj "broke into our
camp and stole one of our female domestic elephants for a few hours".
"According to the biological definition, if a male shows sexual interest in
a female it means they belong to the same species."
Whatever the origins of the Bardia elephants, their discovery has
highlighted the problems of conserving the Asian elephant and has underscored
several ironies.
If it were not for the destruction wrought by man - unchecked logging and
ill -planned development decimating elephant habitat and forcing them into
isolated herds - these strange beasts may not have come into existence.
Furthermore, if it were not for the interest of the scientific community,
the plight of elephants in India and Nepal may have worsened considerably
before any action was taken to save them.
Asian elephants are besieged to such an extent that, according to World
Wildlife Fund elephant expert Shanthin Dawson, displaced elephants searching for
food kill up to 300 people a year in India.
Without expeditions to promote and protect the cause of conservation, the
rapid decline of the animal kingdom would pass unchecked.
GRAPHIC: Giant...Raja Gaj is 3.7 metres high, taller than any other Indian
elephant. His name is Nepali for king elephant.; On the trail...veteran explorer
Colonel John Blashford-Snell.
Copyright 1995 British Broadcasting Corporation
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts
November 26, 1995, Sunday
SECTION: Part 3 Asia-Pacific; SOUTH ASIA; NEPAL; EE/D2471/A
LENGTH: 110 words
HEADLINE: INTERNAL AFFAIRS;
Council set up to study problems in communications sectors
SOURCE: Source: Radio Nepal, Kathmandu, in English 1415 gmt 24 Nov 95
BODY:
[35] Text of report by Radio Nepal
His Majesty's government has formed a high-level word indistinct information
and communications policy determination recommendation council under the
chairmanship of MP (?Naraya Chadin) untraced . The council has been formed to
study and analyse the problems surfacing in government and non-governmental
communications sectors and present recommendations and suggestions for the
determination of information and communications policy and its implementation.
Among others the council word indistinct one MP, each from the political parties
represented in the parliament and the heads of official word indistinct .
********************************************8
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 1995 11:03:08 -0500 (EST)
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Expedition News - December Highlights
From: blumassoc@aol.com (BlumAssoc)
EXPEDITION NEWS
HIGHLIGHTS from the December 1995 issue
EXPEDITION NEWS is a monthly review of significant expeditions, research
projects and newsworthy adventures. It is distributed online and by mail
to media representatives, corporate sponsors, educators, research
librarians, environmentalists, and outdoor enthusiasts. This new forum on
the outdoors covers projects that stimulate, motivate and educate.
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: Here are highlights from the December issue. If you'd
like to receive the complete version of the latest issue and remain
informed about leading expeditions and adventures all year long, we invite
you to subscribe by sending US$36 / year (12 issues) to Blumenfeld and
Associates, Inc., 397 Post Road - Suite 202, Darien, CT 06820 USA. Be sure
to include your Postal or email address.
SNOW AND LANDSLIDES KILL DOZENS NEAR EVEREST
Heavy snowfall and severe avalanches in Nepal were responsible for a
reported 61 deaths and hundreds of rescues during the weekend of Nov.
11-12.
BITTER ANTARCTIC COLD SLOWS EXPEDITIONS
It's springtime in Antarctica, but strong winds, deep snows, and
dangerously low temperatures have hampered a number of current
expeditions.
Roger Mear Faces Early Difficulties
Briton Roger Mear began his solo unsupported crossing of Antarctica on
Nov. 3, four days before Norwegian Borge Ousland set off to attempt the
same feat. BBC cameraman Nigel Bateson, who was with Mear in Antarctica
when he departed, says the start was incredibly difficult. New snow had
fallen and Mear sank up to his knees with every step, pulling behind him a
450 lb. sledge.
Antarctica Lures Other South Pole Expeditions
Briton David Hempleman-Adams and Russian skier Fyodor Konyukhov are each
attempting to drag a sled from the edge of the continent to the South
Pole.
A four-member Chilean military mountaineering team reportedly aims to
become the first Latin American expedition to trek to the South Pole.
Tragedy Marks Rediscovery of Historic Flagpole
Martin Davies, an Australian explorer, died in a cliff fall recently while
walking in the Vestfold Hills near Davis Station in eastern Antarctica.
Days before his death, Davies was part of a successful expedition that
rediscovered the flagpole left in 1935 by Norwegian Caroline Mikkelsen,
the first woman to visit Antarctica.
WORLD VOYAGE PLANNED IN PREHISTORIC REED BOAT
Spanish explorer Kitin Munoz is building the largest prehistoric vessel
ever constructed by modern man. The 131-ft. "Mata-Rangi", constructed
entirely of Totora reeds, will allow him to study the navigational
capabilities of ancient civilizations, and examine the deteriorating
conditions of the world's oceans.
EXPEDITION FOCUS
Circumnavigation Remains the Holy Grail of Ballooning
One of the oldest forms of travel, dating back to the late 1700s,
ballooning is hardly hospitable to long distance travelers. Though many
have attempted, most notably the Earthwinds project based in Reno, Nevada,
balloonists have yet to circle the world non-stop -- a feat that could
take a mere 15-18 days.
One explorer with a good chance of success is Chicago securities dealer
Steve Fossett, 50, who set the world distance record for a manned balloon
flight with his first solo crossing of the Pacific Ocean last February.
EXPEDITION NOTES
First British Team Summits Cerro Torre
On Nov. 12, a four-man British-led expedition reached the summit of
Argentina's Cerro Torre (10,262 feet) via the southeast ridge.
MayaQuest Rides Again
MayaQuest, last spring's successful bicycle expedition to study the
ancient Maya civilization (See EN, June 1995), will return to Central
America in March, 1996.
Expedition Discovers Ancient Horse Breed
The New York Times reported on Nov. 12 that an expedition in Tibet
discovered an ancient breed of horse previously unknown to scientists.
Do Reindeer Really Fly?
They do if you believe Robert Sullivan, senior editor of LIFE magazine. As
a follow-up to a whimsical story written for the magazine last year,
Sullivan has interviewed a number of explorers for a book entitled,
"Flight of the Reindeer: The True Story of Santa Claus and His Christmas
Mission" (Macmillan), set for publication Christmas 1996.
EN'S HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
What to give the explorer who has everything? See our 1995 Christmas Wish
List in the December issue. # # #
*******************************************
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 1995 11:05:02 -0500 (EST)
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: How to get and grow Tulsi plant in Oregon ????
From: rauniyak@ucs.orst.edu (K. Rauniar)
Hi friends:
I want to have a Tulsi plant in my apartment. I am in Oregon where winter
is just mild. We get snow just 1 or 2 days in a year. I want if some one
can help me with some of my questions about Tulsi plant which is a
religious and medicinal plant for so many people in Nepal and India and
other countries. My questions are:
1. What is the english name, botanical name, and common name by which we
can know and purchase this plant in Oregon or other US states' nursery
growers?
2. As it needs lots of sunshine, is there a way I can keep this plant in
my room near my window where it can get somelight? I can not keep it
outside as in Fall and Winter, the temperature sometimes goes down to 10
degrees Foreinheight.
3. Can I keep this plant in my apartment and how should I give
nourishment to it? Can I give chemical nuturients which I can get in the
plants shops? Will it help to keep it healthy?
4. From where I can get this plant in the US and how easy it is to get
this plant? Can I order it from other states in the US? and how? What are
the places to contact?
Please email me directly.
Thank you in advance.
Krishna Rauniyar
email: rauniyak@ucs.orst.edu
*************************************
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 1995 11:06:50 -0500 (EST)
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: GANESH MAN SINGH visiting Minnesota?!
Cross-posted from SCN:
---------------------
NC leader Ganesh Man Singh's recent knee surgery in Us has rippled
some controversial issues among some SCN writers. He sure deserves=20
the best. After all, he led the movement that bestowed democracy=20
that we now walk on. However, we should bear in mind that this=20
historic turnover was all a collective effort.=20
How deep can the government dig in to the nation's treasury?
May it not be easy to answer but it sure needs a lot of thought.
Meantime, let's wish him a quick recovery.=20
Kunga
**************************************
From: Rajesh Shrestha <rshresth@husc.harvard.edu>
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 1995 11:09:07 -0500 (EST)
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: GANESH MAN SINGH visiting Minnesota?!
Cross-posted from SCN:
---------------------
Just out of curiosity, who pays for the educations of royal children of
Nepal in the elite private shchools in the west? Who pays for their
bodyguards? And who pays when the royal family and their entourage travel
to west for medical treatments?
As for Ganesh Man Singh, he was a leader and a visionary of a just cause,
and he made personal sacrifices to attain it. I know he coudn't have done
it alone without the help of other Nepalis. Look, Gandhi did 't free
India singhandedly either. I guess what I am trying to say is that it
takes a man like Ganesh Man Singh and other Nepali leaders to bring abour
a revolutionay change. Why are we grudging him this trip to US? Is it
just money?
CTHAPA
*****************************************************
From: "Nirmal Bhattarai" <kline003@maroon.tc.umn.edu>
To: NEPAL@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Re: The Nepal Digest - November 23, 1995 (11 Mangsir 2052 BkSm)
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 95 14:51:34 -0600
I heard a news of Mr. Ganeshman Singh has arrival at Mayo clinic, Rochester in
Minnesota. I am looking for some one who knows his address and phone # at the
hospital. if any one has this information, please send to my e-mail address.
My current E-mail address is Klineoo3@maroon.tc.umn.edu
I will appriciate it.
Thank you
********************************************************
From: Rajesh Shrestha <rshresth@husc.harvard.edu>
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 1995 15:09:04 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Info Nepal Update....12/1/95
Dear Friends:
I sincerely thank all those who sent their fruitful comments on my
proposal of InfoNepal Foundation to promote stewardship of Nepal. I am
really encouraged by the overwhelming support which came with a basic
message, " Excellent idea! How can I help?"
Let me first restate the proposed name of the foundation, its mission and
objectives.
INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION TO EMPOWER NEPAL (InfoNepal)
The InfoNepal Foundation is a non-profit organization to be incorporated
in the state of ............ in the United States of America. InfoNepal is
an endeavor to reach out and touch people who love and take pride in
stewardship of Nepal. By forming a global network of expatriate Nepalese
and friends of Nepal, InfoNepal wants to disseminate the combined
goodwill, energy, capital resources and information for salvation of
Nepal to future generations.
Mission
Improve and sustain the environment and quality of life in Nepal.
InfoNepal accomplishes its mission by:
1. Building an international network of Nepali expatriates, Nepali
students, friends of Nepal, and organizations involved in improving the
quality of life in Nepal.
2. Providing opportunities for network members to exchange information and
pool knowledge, skills, and capital resources for economic
development and environmental restoration work in Nepal.
3. Facilitating opportunities for members to conduct research, demonstrate
appropriate technology, volunteer services, conduct seminars, and
workshops in Nepal.
4. Providing information and facilitating logistics in Nepal for
investment by non-resident Nepalese and friends of Nepal.
5. Providing resources for non-resident Nepalese to resettle and
participate in community development and environmental restoration
projects in Nepal.
6. Providing opportunities for adult education and training in rural areas
on entrepreneurship, literacy, nutrition, family planning, preventive
health, and environmental restoration.
7. Developing conditions for empowerment by cultivating a culture of
trustworthiness accountability, mutual respect, philanthropy,
volunteerism, and stewardship of human and natural resources.
8. Providing training opportunities for leadership development,
communication skills, civilized exchange of ideas, and parliamentary
procedures to political and apolitical organizations.
9. Maintaining a directory of NGO's in Nepal and evaluating their
potential for a trustworthy agreement with InfoNepal and other donor
agencies.
10. Disseminating InfoNepal and other development news to network members
by supporting Nepal related global information networks in the
cyberspace and other media.
____________________________________________________________________
Here are few of the comments about the First Draft of InfoNepal:
"I was very happy to see that you have taken the initiative to form an
organization using people (those Nepalese and well wishers of Nepal) all
around the world. This should be made into reality. The ultimate objective
should be to help Nepal and its people inside Nepal. Many of us,
particularly those Nepalese working outside Nepal are able and should make
attempts to help our country in whatever way we find acceptable."
"I just read your bulletin on INFO Nepal on the web. I will be traveling
to Nepal next October with another female friend. I have never been to the
country, but distinctly remember from the age of four being drawn there.
The issues you stated concern for are very much in line with my own, and
I'm interested in doing either volunteer work or (eventually) possible
professional work for the good of Nepal and the Nepali people. I would
love to become involved with INFO Nepal."
"I am a sophomore Chemistry major at Rice University. I am interested in
environmental science and plan to study abroad in Nepal next year
(beginning fall of '96), through the School for International Training and
Cornell programs alternately." I recently found your homepage for
InfoNepal and am intrigued by the prospect that I might be able to
contribute to this cause during my stay next year."
"I would love to get involved in something like InfoNepal. It is a great
idea. We have to do something if we want to keep our country together.
Good education for the Nepali children probably one of the most important
and most challenging things we have to accomplish. Cultural interaction
and understanding is also very essential. Adult education's role cannot be
exaggerated."
"I am a student in college interested in this group to help Nepal. I
compliment this organization's presentation of it's activities in helping
Nepal. I have read postings by other organizations, but they seem to lose
the purpose of helping Nepal. How can I find out more about InfoNepal? I
would like to help Nepal in some way, but as a student I lack the time to
go to Nepal and volunteer(until maybe after I graduate). How can I fit in
this organization and help Nepal?"
Some queries and suggestions on the First Draft:
I. About the name InfoNepal Foundation:
Q. Why Info? Is there a better name? Can this be simply NEPAL
FOUNDATION? or DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION OF NEPAL? Let us think some
more and come up with a better name.
Q. You may need to think of a name for this group little differently so
the name expresses the group's objective itself rather than InfoNepal.
If I come up a better name I will pass it on to you.
A. I do agree that the name "EMPOWER NEPAL INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION" is
bit clumsy. I do like the acronym "InfoNepal" because it signifies the
information revolution that Nepal and the world is going through. The
whole idea of the foundation is to sieve and transmit valuable
information and resources to Nepal. I believe that salvation of
landlocked Nepal lies in its agressive entry into the "information
super highway". How about simply, "InfoNepal Foundation"? Please come
forward with some more alternative names.
II. About mission activities:
Q. Is objective # 4 appropriate for such a foundation?
A. Objective number #4 deals with providing information for foundation
members to invest in Nepal. One of the principles that I would like to
state that InfoNepal should not hand out any money for charity and
disaster relief. The only way to encourage economic growth is to
promote investments in Nepal. It could be in any sector, be it in
education, health, energy, transportation, tourism, value added
agriculture, forestry, information technology, distribution of goods
and services, recycling of urban waste, urban housing, music, cottage
industry, and so on. This would be one of the best ways to encourage
semi-retired or retired expatriates to relocate in Nepal.
Q. Do you feel that we need to add a word "democracy or democratic
society" in objective 7 or objective 8 ? I feel it is important to have
it added in one of the objectives. We need to be careful, however, not
to make any political affiliation with the use of such wording.
A. I agree that we should emphasize democracy and promotion of basic
human rights with equality of race, sex, caste, religion, and
ethnicity. However, words do not matter much unless we practice these
principles inside the proposed InfoNepal organization. Let us first
demonstrate these principles ourselves. Any comments?
III. About the proposed organization:
Q. I did not understand the concepts of Chapters? Why do we need Chapters?
I understand that it will be a Foundation, with its head office in USA
for the reasons of fund raising, board of trustee representations, etc.
It will have a field office in Nepal, probably Kathmandu.
A. The chapters are extensions of my dream to have a foundation with
global scope. Expatriate Nepalese and friends of Nepal live all around
the world. Once we get this organization going in the USA, we can
provide organizational guidance to open similar foundations (either
independent or affiliated with InfoNepal USA) in other countries
including Nepal.
IV. About financial matters
Q. We may need to add a couple paragraph description on how this
Foundation will solicit/accept gifts and/or grants. How the resources
will be utilized to fund the activities under each objectives. Is it
through direct implementation of activities through foundation staff? or
the foundation makes grants to institutions and individuals? This need
to be discussed and may be you can put it towards the end of this
proposal.
A. I am currently reading the rules and regulations regarding the
incorporation in various states of the US. Along with a revised
charter draft, I also plan to write up bylaws of the foundation.
Hopefully, some of the queries raised above will be answered by this.
I would appreciate help from any friends who knows the legal and fiscal
stuff.
V. Other questions and comments
Q. What are your immediate agendas apart from registering the foundation?
A. Informing more people about the foundation and getting inputs from as
many of you as I can. We can not solicit funds and start our
activities until we get legally incorporated as a nonprofit
organization. I am expecting that it would take about six to 12 months
to get InfoNepal going.
Q. Have you read about Nepal Concern started by Kishore Ghimire who
envisions similarly? Any plans on collaboration? Any grounds not to? How
would I, an average-informed Nepali overseas, differentiate between
these various efforts?
A. Yes, I read Kishore Ghimire's Nepal Concern proposal. I don't know
what Nepal Concern's activities are in Nepal. If our mission
objectives match, there is no reason why we can not collaborate in
Nepal. So far as Nepal Concern USA's proposed activities are concerned,
the energy and information flow is in a different direction than what
is proposed for InfoNepal. May be you should be the judge of that:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
###### Proposed Activities of Nepal Concern (U.S.A.).
1. Conduct literacy campaign and language course program for Nepalese
language in U.S.A..
2. Established some loan fund with no interest for students studying in U.S.A.
3. Establish some help-fund to college/school going students in Nepal.
4. Enhance children foster programs in Nepal.
5. Decide current and relevant issues and conduct talk programs, group
discussions and awareness campaign programs.
6. Publish books, pamphlets and booklets to enhance the greater goal of
the N.C.(U.S.A.).
7. Conduct Nepal festival in U.S.A. displaying all aspects of Nepalese culture.
8. Conduct free general medical check-up camps in U.S. for members and friends.
9. Conduct U.S. festival in Nepal collaboration with Nepal Concern
International to display all aspect of American life in Nepal.
10. Conduct visitor exchange program for various professionals and
non-professionals within U.S.A. and around the world with low cost
or no cost sharing basis what ever will be possible.
11. After deciding about the feasibility, maintain here in U.S.A. an
electronicinformation media with world-wide network of Nepal Concern.
The media will consists of information regarding trade and commerce,
tourism, education, health, research, communication, electronic dialing
and mailing for members, and also all other aspects of the society.
12. .........................................(please suggest if you have
any more in your mind).
VI. Some more very thoughtful comments about InfoNepal Foundation:
"In my opinion, cornerstone InfoNepal should be based on is "personal
responsibility". We can blame the leaders all we want. BUT did we reach
the state we did just because of the leaders? I don't believe so. People
can and should be able to grow inspite of the what the leaders do.
Whatever help InfoNepal is providing should not be in the form of
freebies. People should make effort to get it. Responsibility should be
regarded as important requirement. The reason why the foreign aid programs
have not been effective is because they have not incorporated this very
important aspect in their implementation. Result: more instead of less
dependency. Gandhi and Mother Teresa said "we are giving fish to people to
stand" however people have to put forth an effort or have intention to
stand. I think this has to be incorporated in the charter of InfoNepal. I
know this is easier said than done but I think that is the reality of the
fact.
The paragraph about the political situation in the country is kind of
depressing. The political situation of the country is "a stinking swamp"
sends a chill down my spine. This is the only negative part of the
document. I am bitter about the political situation too. However, I think
it should not reflect in the document. We can convey the same message in a
positive way.
One of the things I believe we need to be a country where we do not need
extraordinary leaders. We need to be a country where ordinary leaders can
do extraordinary things. For that to happen, we need to have an educated
populace. Where are we in that front? Almost 30 percent of the children
don't even go to school now. That alone will be a huge setback for Nepal's
future development efforts. I have been reading in the The Kathmandu Post
about the practices of the political parties to hire the teachers of their
parties, 150 total school days when normally it should have been 250, etc.
Universities are not even fit to be called Universities.
What I am really trying to say here is that we need to make the charter of
InfoNepal brief and to the point. We cannot do all the things we want to
due to resource constraints. I am totally for increase the intercultural
harmony too. However, we cannot do all the things at the same time. So, in
my opinion, we need to prioritize certain things which we believe are
really crucial; and, go all out in that direction. If we have too many
goals, our resources will be diluted in different projects and this in
turn will result in us not being able to make a significant impact in any
field.
So, what I suggest, is that let's make a few (may be even one) priorities.
With success we can expand into more fields. I strongly agree with your
treatments of education (both adult and children) as one of the
priorities."
My response: Thank you for these valuable comments. I realize that the
first draft is very negative in its proposition. But we have to swallow
the bitter pill to get better. I am currently working on the second draft
of the charter of INFONEPAL FOUNDATION, and hopefully, will present a
positive outlook with a set of priorities. In the meantime, I would urge
others to think about a better draft of INFONEPAL Foundation.
How can you help InfoNepal now?
We are at the awareness stage of this project which has the potential to
grow into a very vibrant organization for decades to come. To all Nepal
lovers who feel like saying something (be positive, skeptical, or
indifferent) about this InfoNepal idea, please express yourselves in the
Nepal Digest and Socio Culture Nepal discussions. Your `dui sabda' will
be a thousand words for me. If you write and disseminate the words in the
TND or SOC, it will be a great help to increase the awareness and make it
a shared project.
The succeeding drafts of InfoNepal will be available for your review at
Rajendra Shrestha's NEPAL HOME PAGE under DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT
window (//www.cen. uiuc.edu/~rshresth/develp.html ). If you don't have a
WEB Browser and would like to get a copy of the draft just leave me a note
at the following address. And for any other reasons, please feel free to
contact me about this project.
Dhanyabad!
Dr. Padam Sharma
812 West Divide Ave
Bismarck, ND 5801
701-258-2066 Email: sharma@plains.nodak.edu OR psharma@tic.bisman.com
************************************************
From: "Punam Panta (punam)" <punam@sequent.com>
To: "'nepal-request'" <nepal@cs.niu.edu>
Subject: Looking for Niresh Joshi...
Date: Tue, 05 Dec 95 10:13:00 GMT
Hi!
I am looking for email id of my brother Niresh Joshi who is at University
of Adelaide - Australia.
Niresh - if you are reading this...get in touch ASAP.
Thanks!!
PP.
****************************************************
From: Rajesh Shrestha <rshresth@husc.harvard.edu>
Date: Tue, 5 Dec 1995 09:53:04 -0500 (EST)
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Hugh Downs!
Cross Posted from SCN
---------------------
Recently, I had an opportunity to peruse a book entitled "Rythems of a
Himalayan Village". Staged in a small Sherpa village of Nepal, the book
not only provided a compelling ecological poetry but also a highly
informative and enlightening (even to a Nepali!) ethnographic discussion.
The book -- published in 1980 by Harper and Row -- although has its
essense rusted over time, provides often unusual but proactive account of
typical Sherpa culture.
The village Gompa Jhung has come alive through Downs' poetic elaboration
of the socio-ecological setting of the village. While reading the first
chapter, I could feel the jive of Mani Rimdu. The second chapter, "vocation"
is little dull but the discussion on Sherpa craftsmanship is more articulated
than "Namaste" magazine like shallow ethno-iconology. The discussion on
lingua-franca too, is intriguing. Final chapter "Return" provides an
impressive account on sherpa funeral, especially the cremation
ceremony.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Sherpa
social-ethnology or making plans to explore the wilderness of northen
Himalyan belt.
The name of the author, however, rung my bells of curiosity. Is he the
same Hugh Downs, who co-produces the investigative TV program 20/20 with
Barbara Walter?
Any clue??
Bhanu Neupane
pS: Hugh, do you surf the net??
**********************************************************
Date: Tue, 05 Dec 1995 12:21:28 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Hindu country,a Curse?
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
From: tuladhar@enci.ucalgary.ca (Raju Tuladhar)
There are Christian countries, Muslim countries, Buddhist countries, and
Jewish country too. Luckily (?), there is also a Hindu country. So far,
I was thinking that the God must have been really merciful on Nepal to
make it the only Hindu country in the world, whereas the country where
he took "Avtaar" could not maintain the distinction of being the Hindu
country.
But recently what I am seeing?
* Just because of being the only Hindu country, this news group
soc.culture.nepal and its readers are being shoved down their throat of
all sorts of articles from Mr. Varma and comparny, Jai-Mantra etc. etc.
You open the news group, and find what? Mr Varma, Jai-Mantra's etc.'s crap!
* Hear the unpleasant news of religious clashes in the otherwise peaceful
country, and invasion of religious extremists to maintain it as the
only Hindu country!
Is this gift of god turning into the curse?
There have been several requests from various readers to these gentlemen
to turn their back on this news group soc.culture.nepal and not to post
articles which are not of general interest and benefit to Nepal and
Nepalese. There are various other religious news groups to post their
ideologies. This news group soc.culture.nepal is not meant for war of words
of religious discussions.
It is now the time that these gentlemen show some restraints on their bigotry
and over-imposing attitudes.
For Nepal, to survive as a Hindu country, religious harmony is a must.
Religious extremists do not help in creating this harmony. Most Nepalese
were once proud of the fact that there are no ethnic conflicts in Nepal
related to religion, but this pride has come to shambles from recent religious
clashes in Nepalgunj area.
By helping to create such unpleasant situations, the religious extremists from
outside the border of Nepal, they are hurting their own cause in the long run.
In simple words, they are axing their own feet.
Those religious extremists from south of border who want to help Nepal survive
as the Hindu country, they can do so by:
(1) Helping to improve the economy of Nepal by lobbying to their govt. for:
(a) easing the export from Nepal. Currently there are restrictions that
for export from Nepal to south of border, the goods must be made with
materials with more that 50% produced in Nepal itself. This is a very
restrictive and throat choking imposition for small and developing
country like Nepal.
(b) By agreeing to buy the hydro-power from Nepal at a reasonable rate,
not at cut-throat prices and en-slaving conditions.
(c) By easing the access for trade and transit to overseas.
These are very rational suggestions. The cultural, religious stability
depend upon social stability which in-turn depend upon economic stability. If
the economy of Nepal was better, then one would not have noticed the recent trend
of religion conversions for some economic benefits.
(2) By not sending the religious extremists to Nepal to create religion related
ethnic clashes. Such activities at the end will create boomerang effect.
(3) By lobbying to their government not to intereferre in Nepal's internal affairs
and helping to grow up as truly sovereign and democratic country.
Remember: A person who is being carried on back by others cannot have its own destiny!
R. Tuladhar (tuladhar@enci.ucalgary.ca)
******************************************************8
Date: Tue, 05 Dec 1995 12:07:32 -0500 (EST)
From: atuladhar@vax.clarku.edu
Subject: HimNet - Himalayan Network: No. 24 (I) (fwd)
To: THE NEPAL DIGEST <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu>
HimNet - An E-Mail Internet link for Himalayan Researchers
E-Mail Address:
HimNet@erdw.ethz.ch
World Wide Web Home Page:
http://www.lehigh.edu/~inees/himnet/himnet.html
FTP to:
dharma.geo.lehigh.edu
User ID: Anonymous
Password: Your E-Mail address
Directory: /Pub
No. 24 (I) - Sunday 3 December, 1995
HimNet No. 24 Contents (No. 24 - I, II, III and IV)
========================================
#01 11th Himalaya-Karakoram-Tibet Workshop
#02 New Video - Geotectonics In Himalayas
#03 Call for expert commentary
#04 The age of the highest rocks in the world
#05 Course: Mechanics of mountain belts: insights from modeling
#06 Wildlife of the Indian subcontinent
#07 Mount Everest - on CD
#08 Incidence of blindness in Nepal and Himalayan India
#09 Newari - the dialect spoken in the region of Benapa
#10 Latest Himalayan Papers found.........
#11 New Book: An ecotourist's guide to Khunjerab national park
#12 Himavanta (Vol XXVII No 2 June '95)
#13 Himavanta (Vol XXVII No 3 July '95)
#14 Author's Query - true stories
#15 Himalayan Research Forum
#16 International Lithosphere Program - Annual Report (1993)
#17 International Lithosphere Program - Annual Report (1994)
#18 Expedition News - November 1995 (Volume Two, No. 11)
#19 Expedition News - December 1995 (Volume Two, No. 12)
#20 Coordinator's Note
.................................................
.................................................
#03 Call for expert commentary
From: jbrooks@VOA.GOV (Jennifer Brooks)
The Tibetan Service of the Voice of America is looking for an
expert to comment on the feat being attempted by 19 Tibetan climbers, who
plan to become the first Asian climbers to tackle 14 of the world's highest
peaks (see 11/6/95 Reuter report). If you are familiar with this story and
are interested in speaking with our reporters about the significance of
this feat, please contact me. Tibetan language ability is preferred but not
necessary.
Thanks.
Jennifer Brooks
Information Specialist
The Voice of America
e-mail: jbrooks@voa.gov
phone: 202-619-3649
fax: 202-619-1840
.................................................
#04 The age of the highest rocks in the world
From: DASpencer@erdw.ethz.ch (David A. Spencer)
The cover of the recent Episodes magazine (March and June, 1995,
Vol. 18, No. 1 and 2) shows a picture of Mount Everest. However, I was
surprised to find the caption for the photograph (Page 1) reads that
"Ordovician limestones are exposed at the top". I don't know why (or where
I got this information from) but I always thought that these limestones
were Permian / Triassic in age. I have also said this often in lectures
and was never corrected. Does any HimNet reader know for sure the age of
the highest rocks in the world? Do you have a citation for this also?
Thanks,
David A. Spencer
.................................................
SUMMARY OF THE LECTURES
Prof. Christopher BEAUMONT's lectures
B1) Tectonics and denudation in small convergent orogens
This lecture provides an introduction to finite element modelling of
crustal-scale compressional deformation in collisional orogens forced by
basal subduction boundary conditions. Styles of deformation in relation to
crustal properties, layering, sub-horizontal shear zones and surface mass
removed by denudation will be illustrated and the role of the Argand and
Ampferer non-dimensional parameters explained. The second half of the
lecture will demonstrate some basic results from equivalent
thermo-mechanically coupled models, the calculation of pressure-temperature
time paths for model particles and an application of the models to the
tectonic assembly of inverted isograds in convergent orogens, using the
example of data from the Main Central Thrust Zone (Himalayas).
B2a) The continental collision zone, South Island New Zealand: an example
of the geodynamics of a small climate-coupled, obliquely convergent orogen
The Southern Alps orogen, New Zealand is a good example of a young,
currently active, orogen to which the models described in lecture B1 can be
applied. In addition to the model results for plane-strain normal
convergence, results from fully three dimensional calculations will be used
to illustrate what are considered to be basic modes of strain partitioning
forced by obliquely convergent subduction basal boundary conditions.
B2b) The Pyrenees - an orogen with inherited characteristics
In this short lecture some of the effects of inherited characteristics of
the crust and their ability to change the tectonic style of crustal
deformation in orogens will be examined. The structure and tectonics of the
Pyrenees along the ECORS transect will be used to illustrate some of these
effects which result from a prior phase of extension.
B3) Evolution of the Alps: a geodynamical perspective
Despite the fact that the Alpine orogen has a complex three-dimensional
history, some insight into its mechanical evolution at the crustal scale
can be derived from a comparison with plane strain finite element model
experiments. Models illustrating the effects of the transition from
subduction to collision boundary conditions, the tectonic accretion of
terranes, the formation and tectonic underplating of fold-nappes and the
effect of "slab-breakoff" on crustal deformation will be used as a template
to suggest some of the mechanical processes that have contributed to the
Cenozoic evolution of the Swiss Alps.
Prof. Sierd CLOETINGH's lectures
.................................................
#06 Wildlife of the Indian subcontinent
From: Anthony.Lee@bbc.co.uk (Anthony Lee)
The BBC Natural History Unit are producing a six part television series
about the wildlife of the Indian subcontinent titled 'Land of the
Tiger'. One of the episodes is on the Himalayas and we will be filming
throughout 1996 and 1997 in Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan and India including
the states Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Sikkim, Ladakh and
Arunachal Pradesh.
I was wondering if any HimNet subscribers are aware of any
scientists currently studying
the Himalayan fauna and flora, who could advise when and where is the
best place to film wildlife. We are keen to film Himalayan black bear,
brown bear, snow leopard, snowcock, nest of Himalayan griffon vulture
or lammegeyer, high altitude insects and birds, hanuman langurs, red
pandas, tragopans, ibex, takin, bharal, great tibetan sheep and the
flora of the Himalayas plus scenics. I already have the following contacts;
1. Nepal - Department of National Parks and the King Mahendra Trust
2. Bhutan - WWF
3. Pakistan - WWF and Forest Department
4. India - WII, WWF and Forest Department
Thank you for your help.
Yours sincerely,
Anthony Lee
BBC Bristol
FAx: 00441179736234
.................................................
#07 Mount Everest - on CD
From: DASpencer@erdw.ethz.ch (David A. Spencer)
A new, multi-media Windows compatible CD has been released about
Mount Everest. It contains enormous amounts of information including:
* Information about Nepal and Tibet
* Expedition equipment lists and techniques
The CD contains 1380 photographs, 200 pages of text, 65 sound
documents and 20 minutes of video.
Price Sw. Fr. 98 / Austrian Shillings 850. Order through your local
computer distributor.
.................................................
#08 Incidence of blindness in Nepal and Himalayan India
From: mmeteyer@napanet.net (Mike Meteyer)
I am a long-time educator in the field of blindness. Recently, I have
begun a Foundation ( V i a for Visually Impaired Assistance) to provide
services, training and equipment to blind adults and children in developing
countries.
I am especially interested in Nepal and Himalayan India. Any
information or leads on the incidence of blindness in those areas, and the
possible need of rehabilitation. Orientatation and Mobility, or low vision
services would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You.
Sincerely,
Michael Meteyer
.................................................
#09 Newari - the dialect spoken in the region of Benapa
From: Jean E Acevedo <jeacev@csd.uwm.edu>
I am a doctoral student in linguistics at the University of
Wisconsin-Milwaukee and at the present time we are studying Newari- the
dialect spoken in the region of Benapa. I would like to talk about some
of our findings with a linguist or language teacher from that
area in Nepal. I think we might be able to generate some interesting
discussion. I look forward to a response.
Jean E Acevedo <jeacev@csd.uwm.edu>
***************************************************
From: Anil M Sakya <Anil.Sakya@brunel.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: The Nepal Digest - November 23, 1995 (11 Mangsir 2052 BkSm)
To: NEPAL@cs.niu.edu
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 1995 12:14:50 +0000 (GMT)
Is Nepalses Society Decaying?
On 23rd November I read a piece of news in the Mahanagar local daily newspaper in
Kathmandu. The heading was "Misbehaviour towards an American in Dhulikhel". The
piece stated briefly that a Nepalese man in Dhulikhel 'misbehaved' with an Americ
an woman and that the police were searching for the man with her help. I read it
without any particular interest. Surprisingly, though on my Royal Nepal Airlines
flight to London the next day I happened to meet the American girl involved. She
recalled the whole incident in detail and uncovered both her arms to show me her
scars. Only then did I understand that the "misbehaviour" mentioned in the newsp
aper actually referred to an attempted rape. Listening to her story I not only fe
lt sympathy towards her, but also ashamed of being a Nepalese, and by the time sh
e had finished her story I found myself weeping. It made me think about the whole
question of the decaying of Nepalese society and ask myself "whose fault is it?"
This is a crucial problem in Nepal today, and something we should all seriously
consider. Therefore, I decided to reveal her story to the public to bring to the
attention of all Nepalese the nature of this social decay and also to act as a wa
rning to all Nepalese women.
Dena is a 27 year old woman from the United States who works for a bank of world
renown in New York. Hearing how very beautiful Nepal is both geographically and c
ulturally oe and now religious her people are oe she saved up enough money to trave
l there. Unfortunately, when she arrived her dreams and expectations were destro
yed by a young Nepalese man from Dhulikhel.
Upon her arrival Dena arranged for a Nepalese guide to show her around Nepal. Unf
ortunately, on 22nd November her guide was busy with other work so she decided to
take a day trip to Dhulikhel on her own. In Dhulikhel she was enjoying the scene
ry on the hill by the Devisthan temple when two local men began to follow her and
harass her. They were both smartly dressed and spoke good English. One of them h
ad a bicycle. She asked them to go away and leave her alone several times, but th
ey persisted with their harassment. Finally, when she could not bear it any more
she shouted at the top of her voice, and eventually they went away.
She then felt able to continue her tour of the Temple and began to enjoy herself
again taking numerous photographs to show her family and friends upon her return
home. While she was enjoying the scenery one of the men appeared in front of her
again. This time he had not come to simply harass her oe but demanded to have sex
with her. She was terrified oe but tried to deal with the situation by politely re
fusing him. She refused his persistent demands on more than half a dozen occasion
s but he continued to block her way. He then forced her up to the edge of the roa
d where there was a ravine. She threatened to kill him indicating that she was ca
rrying a gun (although she was not in fact armed). The man reacted by throwing hi
mself at her to make her fall into the ravine. Just as she was beginning to fall
Dena managed to grab hold of a tree which probably saved her life. The man then t
ried to prise her arms free of the tree by any means possible, and finally, when
she could no longer bear the pain, she let go. She then fought with him, and both
fell into the ravine 200 metres below. The man landed on top of Dena. She scream
ed, but stopped when the man threatened to crush her head with a huge stone. In f
ear she offered him all her money and any valuables she way carrying and begged h
im not to harm her. The man was not interested. He was intent upon raping her. Fo
rtunately, before he was able to two men appeared who had heard her screaming. Wh
en her attacker saw them looking at him he got up and left, not in a hurry as one
might expect, but slowly walking away, unafraid of the consequences. The two men
did nothing.
After treating her bleeding arms Dena went to the police station. Three days afte
r the event the police had still not found the culprit. Dena has lost all faith i
n the Nepalese police and her enthusiasm and love for Nepal. She also thinks that
now she has left the police will simply drop the case. She considers herself luc
ky to have got away safely, but is afraid of what might happen if the same man at
tacks a Nepalese girl. Dena told me she is athletic, fit and strong and even then
it was difficult for her to get away from the man. She doubted very much that a
Nepalese girl would have been able to. Listening to her concern I thought this ma
n ought to be taken to court and given proper punishment for whilst he is still a
t large the safety of girls in Dhulikhel is in danger. Who knows oe Dena may not h
ave been his first victim. He may have raped several Nepalese girls before being
brave enough to try to rape a tourist. He was unafraid because he knows it is too
humiliating for a Nepalese girl to report such an attack to the police. If she d
oes nobody will marry her. He therefore is able to continue these attacks knowing
nobody will report him. Another reason may be because he is from a powerful fami
ly in Dhulikhel as his dress and language certainly suggest him to be well off.
I now urge and beg our Nepalese police to pursue this man whilst the case is fres
h in our memory. This will not only guard our reputation abroad, but save our gir
ls and our society as a whole. As the traditional standards of our society appear
to be decaying we must strengthen the security of vulnerable people.
Anil Sakya (anil.sakya@brunel.ac.uk)
***************************************************
From: Rajesh Shrestha <rshresth@husc.harvard.edu>
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 1995 13:42:17 -0500 (EST)
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Expedition Mount Everest
Cross-posted from SCN:
---------------------
Moerenhout Chantal <chamo@innet.be> wrote:
>
> Is there anyone who can give me information about people who
> arrange expeditions to the basecamp of the Mount Everest.
>
> It should be an organisation who organises this from Belgium or
> from the Netherlands. Or we heard about an organisation " De
> Lustige Trekkers - Asian Trekking ". Does anyone knows where
> to find these people ? Thanks for your help. You can mail me
> on my adress chamo@innet.be
>
Talking about an expedition to the base camp seems to be wide of the
mark. There is a beaten track all the way. En route there are hundreds of
hotels that cater to trekkers. Finding the way is no problem. There are
hundreds of other trekkers and the trekking manuals explain all You need
to know. In order to get all the way to the base camp proper bring good shoes,
warm clothing, and a good sleeping bag. This season it may be rather cold.
If You insist on going with porters thera are several well reputed trekking
agencies in Kathmandu. They will gladly set You up for the trekk. But You
are better of on Your own as I would say. Set aside at least three weeks to
do it in both directions.
Per Lwdin
**********************************************8
Subject: Invitation to Budhanilkanta alumni
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 1995 18:16:27 -0500 (EST)
This is an invitation to all Budhanilkantha School Alumni in the United
States to an informal gathering.
Date - 24th and 25th of Dec, 1995
Place - Boston
Items to be discussed:
- Creation of a US Chapter of the SEBS.
- Selection of representatives for each batch.
- Fund raising.
- Future activities.
Please send any inquiries to:
Hemendra Bohra
bohra@fas.harvard.edu
247 Highland Ave #2a
Somerville
MA 02143
Tel (617) 628 9539
***********************************************
From: Rajesh Shrestha <rshresth@husc.harvard.edu>
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Ganesh Man & National Treasury
Cross-posted from SCN:
---------------------
I am glad that my posting on Ganesh Man Singh has provoked netters. Many
of them appear to support my position--a position that describes GMS's
acceptance of public money for private purpose as a shameless act.
Of all the postings on this issue, two postings--one by CThapa and the
other by Vivek Rana--appear to be immotionally supportive of GM Singh's
private conditions. I am also sympathetic to his physical condition.
However, I have to make a note on those two postings. First, Rana is dead
wrong when he says U.S. govt is paying GM's expenses. Let it be known to
all that Mayo clinic will bill it to bare-footed and naked Nepalis.
With regard to CThapa's comment on Royal family members visiting abroad
on tax payers expenses: Yes, you are right. But you are wrong when you
forget the fact that it was precisely because of this the people of Nepal
staged anti-king demonstration and shouted slogans like, "Biray chor,
desh chhod" and demanded the return of money from Swiss Bank held in
Phampha Devi's name. The Royalties had no right to plunder the public
exchequer. The people made them pay for it by snatching "sovereign power"
from the king. If Ganesh Man or Nepali Congress do not reimburse this
money to the national treasury the people will make sure to keep these
looters away.
One more point: Ganesh Man can not be compared with royalties. He has no
official position. At best he can be described as "extraconstituional
source of power" or Bhumigat ghiroha.
Some one wrote GM did not accept Prime Ministership and hence is a great
man. I am beginning to doubt it now after seeing his chartikala with
public money.
Chitra K. Tiwari
***********************************************
Date: Thu, 07 Dec 1995 23:43:11 -0400
To: The Editor <nepal-request@cs.niu.edu>
From: Nuru Lama <nurulama@husc.harvard.edu>
Subject: Re: The Nepal Digest - December 7, 1995 (25 Mangsir 2052 BkSm)
Dear Editor,
Ghimirez pointed out that women's role as housewives should not
be considered as being 'passive.' I would like to contend that Nepali women
do not choose their role as housewives. It is not a matter of personal
choice. The truth is that the role of a girl is defined before she is
born. She is taught to cook and take care of the house while the 'chhora'
is encouraged to go to school and 'become a thulo manchhe.' On the
surface, it may seem like women are freely choosing their role as housewives
but if society never encourages them to go out to the world, how can one
expect them to abandon their role as housewives? It is fear, not freedom,
that leads women to maintain their traditional role. If one likes to
attach some deeper value to women's role as housewives, it too comes from
our male-dominated societal perception that gives a moral value to this role
because of its intrinsic benefit to the male class in society, the dominating
class. As Nietzsche said, "The origins of the opposites good and bad is to
be found in the pathos of nobility and distance, representing the dominant
temper of a higher, ruling class in relation to a lower, dependent one."
nuru
Dear Editor,
Just to add a point to the 'housewife' issue, I would like to
point out here that if one is really going to look at numbers to make a case
for the existence of greater women's freedom in South Asia, we should not
get lost in counting the top
few women leaders in the region but rather look at the population and ask
ourselves, 'What percentage of women are educated or what percentage of
women earn income outside home?'
nuru
Although the rising incidence of ethnic 'trouble' in Nepal
is something for us all to worry about, I think it also has a positive side
that we should not forget. In a democratic Nepal, it can only be expected
that people will raise their voices of discontentment. One should not be
alarmed by these voices. It is only a 'sigh of relief' after two
centuries of sustained attmepts on 'Hindunization.' Thus, I do not think
we should take this as an ominous sign of social disintigration. Rather,
it is an attmept by various communities to situate themselves in the
changed environment of a democratic Nepal. Attempts to suppress such voices
can only lead to further alienation among the various communities and to a
weakening of the democratic structure. In saying this, I do mean to say
that ethnic violence of the type that recently occured in Nepalgunj
should not be stopped.
A related issue to this: if the existence of monarchy in Nepal is
justified because of the monarch's role in unifying the country by being
a spiritual 'symbol of unity', I do not understand how protraying
the king as a 'Hindu King' can unify a multiethnic, multi-religious
Nepal?
nuru
*********************************
From: Bhikkhv Seevali <BS4@soas.ac.uk>
Subject: Kumari, Living virgin Goddess
Dear Sir,
Resently I read a letter from Nalini on TND asking more information
about goddess Kumari. I thought I will give support to his/her
intrest. Thanks to Raju Tuladhar, who wrote on Kumari what he learned
from forefather. I learnt something from it. Resently I came accross
some books written on Kumari at our SOAS, University of London
library which I assume could be perchessed from street shops. They
are:
1. Living Vergin Goddess "KUMARI", Her worship, fate of ex-kumaris
and sceptical views
by Indra Majupuria and Patricia Roberts
Published by Smt. M.D. Gupta, India, 1993
Printed in Thailand by Craftsman press.
2. The cult of Kumari, virgin worship in Nepal
by Michael R. Allen
Printed at New Delhi
Distributed by Himalayan Booksellers.
Kathmandu, Nepal
All the best and have nice reading.
Regards,
Bhikkhu Seevali
University of London
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