The Nepal Digest - December 18, 1995 (3 Push 2052 BkSm)

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Date: Tue, 19 Dec 1995 11:49:10 -0600
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The Nepal Digest Monday 18 December 95: Push 3 2052 BS Volume 45 Issue 4

******************************************************************************
* 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: Thu, 7 Dec 95 17:44:28 -0500 (EST) From: lbrennan@web.apc.org (Lynne Brennan) To: NEPAL@cs.niu.edu Subject: Re: The Nepal Digest - December 7, 1995 (25 Mangsir 2052 BkSm)

MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRACY

I am trying to research the events leading up to democracy in Nepal. I would really appreciate any information you can send me about the history and politics of this period (1988-90). I am also interested in stories from people who were in Nepal, particularily Kathmandu during this time- eg what was it like when petrol was rationed, what were the demomstrations like, what was it like to participate in the movement??? It also interests me to hear about this period from a woman's point of view.

Thanks, Lynne Brennan lbrennan@web.apc.org

*********************************************** Date: Thu, 07 Dec 1995 22:32:36 -0700 (MST) From: AXKKT@ASUVM.INRE.ASU.EDU To: nepal@cs.niu.edu

Here is a Chootkila to brighten your day.

An old farmer decided it was time to get a new rooster for his hens.
The current rooster was still doing an okay job, but he was getting on
in years. And the farmer figured getting a new rooster couldn't hurt
anything. So he buys a young cock from the local rooster emporium, and
turns him loose in the barn yard.

Well, the old rooster sees the young one strutting around and he gets
a little worried. So, they're trying to replace me, thinks the old
rooster. I've got to do something about this. He walks up to the new
bird and says,

"So you're the new stud in town? I bet you really think you're hot
stuff, don't you? Well I'm not ready for the chopping block yet.
I'll bet I'm still the better bird. And to prove it, I challenge you
to a race around that hen house over there. We'll run around it ten
times and whoever finish's first gets to have all the hens for
himself."

Well, the young rooster was a proud sort, and he definitely thought he
was more than a match for the old guy. "You're on," said the young
rooster.

"And since I know I'm so great, I'll even give you a head start of
half a lap. I'll still win easy," said the young rooster.

So the two roosters go over to the hen house to start the race with
all the hens gathering around to watch. The race begins and all the
hens start cheering the roosters on. After the first lap, the old
rooster is still maintaining his lead. After the second lap, the old
guy's lead has slipped a little but he's still hanging in there.
Unfortunately the old rooster's lead continues to slip each time
around, and by the fifth lap he's just barely in front of the young
rooster.

By now the farmer has heard all the commotion. He runs into the
house, gets his shotgun, and runs out to the barn yard figuring a fox
or something is after his chickens. When he gets there, he sees the
two roosters running around the hen house, with the old rooster still
slightly in the lead. He immediately takes his shotgun, aims, fires,
and blows the young rooster away.

As he walks away slowly, he says to himself ........

"Damn, that's the third gay rooster I've bought this month."

Kabindra Thapa Phoenix, Arizona

********************************************** Subject: input To: NEPAL@cs.niu.edu Date: Fri, 8 Dec 1995 03:36:08 -0500 (EST) From: "ranjit" <rrauniya@polar.Bowdoin.EDU>

friends,

'm a sophomore at bowdoin college in maine. 'm considering studying away next year (i.e. '96-'97 academic year) at London School of Economics, London; University of Edinburgh, Scotland; or Oxford University, Oxford. as is with such things, i'm facing a rather difficult time coming to a conclusive decision - all three seem better than the other. was wondering if any of you folks have studied away at these schools or know something about them. i am particularly interested in their economics and political science departments. would appreciate tremendously any input/feedback or whatever. also would help if you could send me the e-mail addresses/ tel. no. should you happen to know any one studying at any of these three schools.

thanks much.

cheers! ranjit rauniyar 594 smith union bowdoin college brunswick, ME-04011 e-mail: rrauniya@polar.bowdoin.edu

********************************************* Date: Fri, 8 Dec 1995 10:28:32 GMT From: Anil M Sakya <Anil.Sakya@brunel.ac.uk> Subject: Is Nepalese Society Decaying? To: The Nepal Digest <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu>

Dear Editor, I'm requesting you to publish this in coming TND issue. Thanks Anil Sakya
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 American 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 newspaper actually referred to an attempted rape. Listening to her story I not only felt sympathy towards her, but also ashamed of being a Nepalese, and by the time she 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 warning 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 culturally and now religious her people are she saved up enough money to travel there. Unfortunately, when she arrived her dreams and expectations were destroyed by a young Nepalese man from Dhulikhel.

Upon her arrival Dena arranged for a Nepalese guide to show her around Nepal. Unfortunately, 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 scenery 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 had a bicycle. She asked them to go away and leave her alone several times, but they 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 but demanded to have sex with her. She was terrified but tried to deal with the situation by politely refusing him. She refused his persistent demands on more than half a dozen occasions but he continued to block her way. He then forced her up to the edge of the road where there was a ravine. She threatened to kill him indicating that she was carrying a gun
(although she was not in fact armed). The man reacted by throwing himself 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 tried 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 100 feet below. The man landed on top of Dena. She screamed, but stopped when the man threatened to crush her head with a huge stone. In fear she offered him all her money and any valuables she way carrying and begged him not to harm her. The man was not interested. He was intent upon raping her. Fortunately, before he was able to two men appeared who had heard her screaming. When 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 after the event the police had still not found the culprit. Dena has lost all faith in 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 lucky to have got away safely, but is afraid of what might happen if the same man attacks 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 man ought to be taken to court and given proper punishment for whilst he is still at large the safety of girls in Dhulikhel is in danger. Who knows Dena may not have 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 does 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 family 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 fresh in our memory. This will not only guard our reputation abroad, but save our girls 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 (e-mail: anil.sakya@brunel.ac.uk)

******************************************************* From: Bhikkhv Seevali <BS4@soas.ac.uk> To: The Editor <nepal-request@cs.niu.edu>, NEPAL@cs.niu.edu Date: Fri, 8 Dec 1995 10:49:46 GMT 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

******************************************************* From: Rajesh Shrestha <rshresth@husc.harvard.edu> Date: Fri, 8 Dec 1995 10:48:57 -0500 (EST) To: nepal@cs.niu.edu Subject: Hugh Downs!

Cross-posted from SCN
---------------------

neup2011@mach1.wlu.ca (Bhanu Neupane u) writes:

>The village Gompa Jhung has come alive through Downs' poetic elaboration

Popular spelling is Jumbesi a village on the trek from Giri to Lukla.

I used the book as a guide for a visit to the area. I found that Au Leshi, the hermit, living in the mountain above Jumbesi, had died and his body interred in Sikkim.

I met Tapkhay Lama at Thupten Choling Gompa. He referred to the book as
"the Solu phone book, because every one is in it". I appreciated the humor of this remark as there are no phones for miles.

In 1991 I stayed with Tapkhay at a small monastery he had built a little to the south of Jumbesi. Here he was teaching a handful of young monks in tradional Buddhist teachings.

While I was there a dog was snatched away by a leopard. I was dubious until a few days later the body of a leopard was brought in by some local people.

With Tapkhay I visited Serlo monastery and I photographed him voting in the first election after the coming of democracy. He also took me up on the hill/mountain behind the monastery to the site were his father was cremated.

>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

Son of the ABC-tv Hugh Downs, junior wrote the book while a Peace Corps volunteer.

The book is out of print ISBN 0-06-250240-9, so if you see one for sale don't let it get away.

Frank Kroger

************************************* Date: Fri, 8 Dec 95 13:02:42 EDT From: "Dr. Balkrishna Sharma" <sharma@pilot.msu.edu> To: nepal@cs.niu.edu Subject: A school in Gorkha needs English teachers

A new private school near Gorkha Bazaar, Gorkha, Nepal is requesting help to find volunteers willing to go and teach English. The school is supposed to be English medium high school. The building construction has started and the classes are expected to begin in about a month. The school committee is
working on the paperwork to request HMG for granting visa for foreigners to go and teach there. If someone is interested, please call Mr Kishna Bilash Pokharel in Gorkha Nepal during early morning or evening hours
(Nepal time) at 011-977-64-20126. or email me at sharma@pilot.msu.edu for more info.-bks

*************************************************** Date: Fri, 08 Dec 1995 15:07:53 -0700 (MST) From: "Bishwa Shrestha, KC7JFV" <BISHWA@UWYO.EDU> Subject: Any better program for Nepalese Font? To: NEPAL@cs.niu.edu

Hi,

just wondering if there is any good program for Nepalese font besides the "PCS Nepalese Font?"

I know there is a program called "Compose" which allows more Nepalese characters but I could not run it using Windows95. Any help would be appreciated. Please post or reply.

Bishwa Shrestha Simpson Family wish to thank you for reading our friend, Bishwa's letter.

********************************************* From: GANGA GAUTAM <g.gautam@lancaster.ac.uk> Subject: Re: The Nepal Digest - December 7, 1995 (25 Mangsir 2052 BkSm) To: NEPAL@cs.niu.edu Date: Sat, 9 Dec 1995 18:36:07 +0000 (GMT)

Hello Friends I am looking for the email address or the postal address of Mr. Ananda Sharma, TU English teacher, currently studying in the U.S.A. If anyone has , please let me know via email : g.gautam@alancaster.ac.uk

Thanks.

Gautam Lancaster

************************************************** Date: Sat, 09 Dec 1995 16:14:25 -0500 (EST) From: atuladhar@vax.clarku.edu Subject: The Independent Vol 40 Dec 7, 1995 To: Chitra K Tiwari <cktiwari@chelsea.ios.com>

Give it a try

   With its eyes firmly set on the next parliamentary polls, the CPN-UML
   is packaging itself not only as a political force that can win
   elections but also as a formation that knows how to govern. The
   mainstream opposition has made its intentions clear and in so doing,
   it is on the verge of announcing a 4-point plank challenging its
   rivals to come forward and agree to participate in the exercise which,
   in its view, may eventually pave the way for a national consensus
   over a period of time. The moderate party ideologies, prevailing over
   the no-compromisers (for whom vengeance is the only instrument left to
   regain the lost glory) have decided that Nepal's ultimate interest
   lies in gearing up efforts in four areas: redefinition and promotion
   of nationalism, straightening democracy, ensuring social progress and
   institutional development of bureaucracy. If the CPN-UML is sincerely
   committed to these broad principles and is not aiming in any way to
   erode the multi-party character of the present system, there is no
   reason why the non-left forces should hesitate to collaborate with
   their political rivals in this highly desirable enterprise. The final
   gainer will be Nepal and the concept of an open and competitive
   dispensation. Umpteen number of mistakes have been committed since the
   Jana Andolan with the consequence the country is still grappling in
   the darkness. No clear vision has emerged even though the constitution
   gives none any doubt which way should the country move and through
   which means. Just too many impediments are being created by the main
   political forces and ironically they are ones who are shouting from
   rooftops that democracy is in peril. As far as the common man is
   concerned, democracy is not in jeopardy as the spineless political
   rhetorics would have us believe. If democracy is indeed under threat,
   as claimed, it is entirely because the politicians' understanding of
   its is pathetically restricted to the idea of capturing power and to
   use it, for the most part, for their personal benefit, be it in the
   form of clout, influence and money. What the CPN-UML is proposing may
   be given a try as what it hopes to achieve will not cause any harm to
   the nation. But the fundamental question is: has it forsaken its goal
   of one-party, republican communist state in Nepal? Until the time the

[Amulya's comments:=09What do you expect the pro-Palace paper the not-so- Inpendent to say? King-baiting is a powerful vote catcher in Nepal and=20 all parties indulge in this during elections but UML has has the most=20 consistent possibility of pulling it off based on both their ideological=20 and organizational strength. Abandon this and UML will surely lose much=20 of its legitimacy as an "alternative" party.]

   party publicly abandons its 'ultimate objective', it will be well nigh
   impossible for players like the Nepali Congress and the Rastriya
   Prajatantra party to have a long handshake with the CPN- UML on the
   basis of the up comming 4-point plank which may not be essentially
   unacceptable to the constituents of the ruling alliance.

   Benign pressure

   The European Union's decision to enter into a framework agreement for
   development with Nepal is incumbent on the latter's continued
   commitment to human rights and democratic principles. This
   conditionality, though in perfect harmony with the constitutional
   provisions, has been interpreted in certain sections of the national
   press as a kind of 'surrender of sovereignty.' Nothing can be more
   mischievous than this ill-advised attempt to minimise the goodwill
   that Nepal has among he representative liberals around the world. Even
   if one were to regard, for the sake of argument, that the said
   conditionality amounts to interference in Nepal's internal affairs,
   where is the logic since don't we, all of us, religiously propagate
   human rights and democracy as being the cornerstones of our
   post-movement behaviour? Nepal does need this kind of benign pressure
   as long as it keeps the politicians on their toes. The Union simply
   wants to make sure the assistance it provides is not used to trample
   human rights and exploit the silent majority in the name of democracy.

It will be perfect, some day

   Syed Muhammad Hussain, a product of University of Dhaka from where he
   obtained a Master's Degree in Economics in 1962, joined the civil
   service of Pakistan in 1965. He served as Economic and Commercial
   Councellor in Bangladesh High Commission in London (1974-78). In the
   Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he served as Director General (Middle
   East and Africa). He was appointed as Bangladesh High Commissioner to
   Zimbabwe with concurrent accreditation as High Commissioner to Zambia
   and Bangladesh Ambassador to Angola and Mozambique (1984 to 1987).
   After serving as the Deputy Head of Mission in London from 1987 to
   1990, Ambassador Hussain was posted as the Bangladesh Ambassador to
   Nepal in August, 1990. He has been the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in
   Kathmandu since April, 1994. The 53-year diplomat who has to his
   credit a number of articles on economic cooperation in the SAARC
   context, talked for about an hour last wednesday with Ram Pradhan
   and Sagun S. Lawoti of The Independent at his well-appointed,

{Wonder if sagun sundar lawoti is related to padma sundar lawoti, a=20 senior panche and now rpp minister?}

   functional office at Maharajgunj-Ring Road. Highlights of the
   encounter :

   Q. You are the longest serving ambassador until the time you leave.
   You have been a witness to unfolding events during Jana Andolan and
   the subsequent political developments. How would you assess the
   changes here? Could we have done better?

   A. As a matter of fact, I have been more fortunate than many of my
   colleagues and have witnessed historical events that took place after
   the Jana Andolan 1990. For instance, I went through the interim
   government during which the new constitution was framed and under that
   general elections were held and Nepali Congress (NC) came into power.
   As NC could not complete its term CPN-UML minority government came
   into office. And after 9 months of CPN-UML in power, now it's the
   coalition government.

   Basically in a multi-party system where democracy has been restored,
   experiences of all kinds are helpful. And I think it's a normal
   process of building institutions and also the democratic norms and
   processes. Perhaps, from that point of view, those of us who have
   witness these events would feel that these are part of your stepping
   into maturity in terms of democratic institutions and the like.

   Whether you could have done better or not is perhaps a difficult
   question to answer but I believe a force has its own momentum and in
   fact in democracy you do not shape things. But what I have admired, if
   I may say so, throughout these very critical situations, you have been
   able to settle disputes in the court of law. I think the countries in
   the region could take lesson from that.

Q. Were your dealings with the Panchas, then the NC and the
CPN-UML, and now the Coalition, different from one another?

   A. Coming from a friendly country sharing friendliest of
   relationships with Nepal, I have had the advantage of access to all
   the dignitaries of all the governments. I was not here during the
   Panchayat but from the interim government there was a bit of obvious
   hesitancy on long-term efforts and things like that. With the NC also,
   their rule ended earlier than scheduled. Many of the things that
   generally evolve over a period of time could not come to a head, so to
   say CPN-UML government ruled for 9 months and even they had problems
   with continuity, getting certain things done, completing projects. But
   overall, it is in the nature of things -- you handover to the next
   government, thus certain amount continuity takes place. Obviously,
   each government will have its own priorities. But as an ambassador
   representing a friendly country I had no problem. In fact, I have had
   the total support and cooperation of all governments. Irrespective of
   governments Bangladesh-Nepal relations have grown - increased in
   trade, educational cooperation and also in other areas.

Q. As democracies in Nepal and Bangladesh came into being almost at
the same time following authoritarian rules, would you like to

   What I feel is, not only the institutions but also the process and
   norms are equally important. As you are aware, the parliament has been
   dissolved and the necessity of having an election after the
   dissolution of the parliament is very obvious. This parliament has
   almost completed its term, which is an achievement in itself. This is
   where I said we have admiration for Nepal. What you have done most
   admirably without disturbing the main thrust of other development
   process is to contain politics within the rule of law, the
   interpretation of the Constitution by the Supreme Court, avoiding a
   lot of adverse developments.

   Q. We have an adverse balance of payments situation with your
   country. Would the boulders you want from us help improve the
   situation?

A. There is not only the Jamuna bridge. We have also taken up a 20
year programme for anti- flood measures.

Q. But when we start taking out boulders, won't that affect the
environment?

   A. Of course that has to be examined. But what are you saving trees
   for? The problem is not in exploitation but in balancing and knowing
   where to stop and draw the line. For example, afforestation should
   follow deforestation. You should make use of things, take it and put
   it back. Why cultivate when fertility of the land goes, so things
   should be put back. That's how nature works. It is indeed necessary to
   be cautious about environmental degradation, ecological balances. We
   have sufficient knowledge on how to strike a balance between nature
   conservation and utilisation.

Q. How much boulders are we talking about?

  A. It would be worth many millions. The Jamuna Bridge has started
   but we also have a need for 20-year programme for river training,
   mainly to cover riversides with stones to prevent flood waters. If a
   system could be developed, there's tremendous market.

Q. So how do we transport them?

   A. It's for you to find out (laughs). No, actually there are two
   routes, railway wagon which is operational on Radhika/Birol route.
   What is more important is that, the road transport is the most
   effective answer specially considering Nepal as a landlocked country.
   It's a question of having options also. And it will depend on the
   economic software, the speed or the delivery system you have.
   Bangladesh has offered its ports =97 Mongla and Chittagong are already
   in use. Mongla is the new port and is straight down and is nearer.
   Once you step into Bangladesh the road network will take you down in
   8-10 hours.

   I want to mention two points here : in principle the access through
   Radhikapur has been given on railway line. Secondly, under the SAPTA
   arrangement there's a special provision for allowin the three LDCs
   (Bangldesh, Nepal and Bhutan) the transit routes and a special article
   relating to this is there in SAPTA. And of course, as landlocked
   countries the transit facilities are to be allowed to Nepal and
   Bhutan.

Q. What are the three major items Nepal could export to Bangladesh
and vice- versa?

   A. Boulders of course is one. Secondly it is red lentils on which on
   a continuing basis you have a great edge and cement if you could
   expand your production after meeting your domestic needs. You have the
   ingredients and natural advantage and proximity. For example, our
   trade surplus is just by one item; fertilizer. We have not been really
   sending other items, though there are great possibilities. Fertilizer
   is something you must import to make your agriculture production yield
   higher, so that is value-added and also diversification of your
   sources is also very much essential. We are actually your second
   largest trade partners, taking the import and export volumes together.

Q. What do you admire most in Nepalis?

   A. I have gone around and admired essential goodness of people in
   various corners, I have really met people. At least I had a little
   advantage in Terai as I speak Hindi, Urdu. In the rush for
   development, everything in Nepal should not be made accessible, some
   mysteries should be left. Let people work hard to enjoy that mysticism
   irrespective of available technology. What good would it be if you
   build a road to Sagarmatha or Rara Lake? The beauty would be lost!
   It's the question of retaining the beauty of the nature and essential
   goodness of the people. Whenever we went around, we found people to be
   most friendly and helpful and that's a very heart-warming experience.

Q. Deforestation in the Himalayas is the cause of the flooding in
Bangladesh, have you heard of that?

   A. Flooding in Bangladesh has multiple causes and I don't think we
   have blamed Nepal in any manner, which is beyond the scientific
   knowledge and scientific facts. Dhaka floods in 1988 was a bit
   different. Whereas the question of deforestation and general flooding
   is concerned, when tress are cut down the erosion gives away the soil
   which is passed down the rivers and over the years the silts are
   deposited in the beds of the rivers. And this siltation finally
   creates a horrendous and very expansive task to clean them up. So from
   that point of view flooding is related to deforestation. That brings
   us to the Farakka problem and the sharing of the Ganges waters which
   our Prime Minister had mentioned in her speech at the Special UN
   General Assembly. No solution has yet emerged and we suffer. Prime
   Minister of Bangladesh apprised our friends on what has been happening
   to our country through a cycle of droughts and floods. We have not
   been able to come to an understanding despite the assurances for a
   solution and for an acceptable agreement, many a times. We have always
   wanted equitable fair sharing of the Ganges waters and we continue to
   hope for a just, fair and urgent resolution of this grave problem.

Low life

[Chamcha-giri starts.....} =20
***

   On the occasion of the auspicious Golden Jubilee Birthday of His
   Majesty the King, Nepal Chamber of Commerce is to build an artistic
   golden birthday gate at he entrance way to Tribhuvan International
   Airport. A souvenir with articles highlighting economic and social
   development in Nepal under the leadership of the King will also be
   published, it is stated by Nepal Chamber of Commerce.
   [This is a continuing saga of pn campus...] =20
   ***

   Some office bearers of the Nepal University Teachers Association
   (NUTA) Prithvinarayan Campus unit and teachers involved in the
   pen-down at the campus were beaten up by supporters of the All Nepal
   National Free Students Union (ANNFSU), the student wing of CPN-UML,
   Nov 30.

***
[Garbage cleanup has been the way to jump the line for climbing the=20 Everest... es

   A team of Russian climbers is heading for Mt. Sagarmatha (Everest) on
   Dec 2 to clean-up garbage in the area. Oleg Fedorov, a Russian
   ecologist, believes that the worsening situation of the Everest region
   environment could be brought back to normal within three years if
   dedicated efforts are made for the purpose.

   co-operation pending further discussion."

   Officials, this scribe met at the Kathmandu Municipality anonymously
   agreed, "Since the German aid in the area came to an end 'dumping
   site' could not be managed as before. The local population opposed it
   on health grounds, that is understandable, who were backed by the main
   opposition CPN-UML which changed its stance accordingly while in and
   out of power."

   Secretary of Kathmandu Valley Sanitation Implementation and
   Co-ordination Committee Shashi Bahadur Thapa informed that the
   government was still looking for 'a suitable dumping site to meet the
   immediate as well as long-term needs,' hinting the sorry state of
   government's failure to find out a place to store the garbage of the
   capital. "While we are considering Okhar Pouwa as the most suitable
   site for the longer run we have also identified four other places in
   Lalitpur, Kathmandu and Nuwakot districts."

   Although a stiff ressistence was offered by the Gokarna people in the
   bigining when the then CPN-UML government reopened Gokarna dumping
   site last year. But now the problem seems to have subsided. "They are
   very much co-operating provided the government meets their
   infrastructural demands which we are ready to meet. We are building a
   road from Koteshwar to Gokarna, opening a health centre, extending
   water-supply to the adjoining villages and offering many other things
   to compensate them for the hazards the dumping site may cause," said
   Thapa.

   Resident of Gokarna Rameshwar Ghimire said "The dumping site is better
   managed recently then in the past but I cannot be sure of the same to
   continue in the future. Things often go out of control of the
   government intermittently.

   "It the roads come and more 'facilities' are provided and the site
   rightly managed we have no problem," says Uttam Silwal a shopkeeper at
   Gokarna Dakshindhoka.

   Adoption and amendments

   By A Staff Reporter

   Foreigners adopt Nepali children with a good heart and parents give
   away their offsprings for a good cause ie for the children's sound
   future. But adoption along with promises of better prospects for all
   involved has not been completely free from unfair practices.

   In order to avert such practices, adoption which was totally banned
   from June 1995 is back on the track with some amendments on its
   existing rules and regulations effective from November 16, 1995.

   Of such changes, introduction of the clause which states guardians
   (not parents) are not allowed to give away children to the surrogates
   is one. The necessity of twenty-five years of age difference between
   the parents and the adopted child has also been included. According to
   the amendment in the regulations there should at least be three years
   of age difference between the children of the adopters and the foster
   ones.

   As the amendments regulate, a child now will be taken as an orphan
   only when he or she has been in the orphanage for thirty five days or
   more. Further, identity card of person who introduced the child to the
   orphanage and his statement declaring the child as an orphan should
   also be produced.

   Certificate from a government hospital verifying the person as an
   orphan should be produced or a letter from the concerned district
   administrative office declaring the individual as an orphan is a must
   according to the newly introduced regulation.

   Even if the orphans are admitted in the orphanage meeting the above
   mentioned conditions, a number of formalities has to be met. Within a
   week of the childrens' admittance into the orphanage all the necessary
   details including attested letter from the concerned authority along
   with a photograph should be sent for publication in Gorakhapatra or
   any other national newspaper. On that publication, details such as =97
   name, surname and address of the child, date of admission into
   orphanage, name of the person or organisation or government office who
   admited the child should be produced as far as possible. Besides,
   other information regarding the parents, any other relatives and
   movable and immovable property if the child has any should also be
   brought to notice within 35 days of such publication.

   And the latest amendment makes it a must for one of the surrogate
   parents to have gone through family planning where as the necessity
   for them to have two or more daughters or sons was already there.

   The change in rules grants the authorities right to ask necessary
   question to the child to be adopted. If the authorities find that the
   child in question does not want to be adopted during the
   interrogation, the adoption can very well not be permitted. The newly
   added clause in the adoption regulation calls for at least two visits
   to the related countries to study the educational and family
   atmosphere of the child till the person is a minor. The follow-up
   visit should have to be followed by a report on how the child has been
   reared and should be forwarded to the concerned HMG officials
   including the Home Minister. However, where from the resources for the
   follow up programmes will come has not been made clear in the amended
   regulation.

   With Nepal University Teachers Association (NUTA) left to protest and
   renew its demands now since a fortnight, Tribhuvan University is
   increasingly gaining an image that is far from befitting an
   educational institution which is autonomous and, at least as far s the
   founders hoped 'expected to assume a leadership role in higher
   education and function as a centre of intellectual and academic
   excellence.'

[Amulya's comments:=09When the VC is congressi and the NUTA is=20 communist, there is a fight; when the vc is communist and NUTA is=20 congressi there is a fight as in now; when the vc is congressi and=20 the govt is communist he gets shoved aside as happened to mathema,=20 and when govt is congressi and vc is communist, he is pressured to=20 resign which joshi has not done yet...

ustai katha, ustai baani, farak kehi chaina, ganthe...]

gimmuni =20
   Whearas in the Nepali context it is not strange to hear of such
   demands 'cropping up' as and when there is a change in the government
   in the recent years, the latest at the university seems to be 'brought
   forward' accordingly from the NCP-UML's brief spell in power when it
   is alleged 'political expediency prevailed academic demands' which has
   now graduated to the current crisis.
  =20
   'As nature would have it' said a source at the vice-chancellors office
   "the teachers at the university are highly unionised and divided on
   ideological lines which has given birth to separate associations
   fronting for different political parties who do the 'directing' which
   leads to striks and academic turmoil."
  =20
   Contrary to the NUTA president Dr. Binod Kumar Shrestha's charges that
   'since the vice-chancellor is a'political cadre' of the CPN-UML and
   has acted accordingly by 'victimising and dismissing Dean of the
   Institutue of Agriculture and veterinary sciencesDr. Tej Bahadur KC
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Amulya's comments:=09Ahhh, we all know of Dean KC who was dean of=20 forests during jana andolan, he gave the names of teachers who boycotted the sikcha diwas and had three concentric phalanges of police attack=20 the hostels in the dead of the night to arrest all student and had=20 pressured the teachers to sign a statement condemning Chandra=20 Shekhar's sppeech which many of ud had not heard of to appease=20 himself with the rightists of the Panche.

It is laughable now that he shuld be defended by the procongress=20 NUTA just because the ag dean is a communist and dean kc=20 declared he was "victimized" well, ha ha]

inanonnsd =09=09

   among two others vice-chancellor Dr. Kamal Krishna Joshi himself says
   he is 'ready to fight out against artificial 'ghost' fabricated to
   remove him by creating scenes.'
  =20
   When drawn his attention to the supreme court ruling which upheld the
   writ filed by Dr. Tej Bahadur KC, Nilkantha Lal Shrestha, Mechi Campus
   Chief and Ganesh Jha and who have not yet been reinstated to them
   former positions he said " We are working out a parameter in
   consultation with Tribhuvan University Service Commission to
   accomodate them along with others in plenty whose 'time-bound'
   promotion was annuled by the supreme court but which could not be
   reversed due to practical reasons."
  =20
   As the present crisis is centred around the Vice-chancellor who was
   appointed when CPN-UML came to power and who allegedly rendered the
   Tribhuvan University a virtual job centre for CPN-UML activists when
=09^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[So the accusation goes for congressi BC malla, and Mathema...}

   asked about it said, "I have acted as dictated by the needs of the
   institution and am ignorant of the incumbent's political
   associations."
  =20
   On the demands put forward by Nepal University Teachers Association
   (NUTA) he said, "I am ready to talk to them to consider their demands
   but since they are politically 'driven' there is hardly any room left
   to solve the issues on the table."
  =20
   "We want to be the one" he said "who will be known to have freed
   education from politics in this coutry," when pointed at the
   increasing politicisation educational institutions from university
   down to high schools.
  =20
   On asked since he is the political nominee or at least responsible to
   NCP- UML government and 'expected' to resign in the changed context as
   NC- RPP-NSP coalition has taken over he said, "A vice-chancellor is
   never a political nominee whereas the university council had
   recommended me for the job I am expected to continue unless TU council
   feels otherwise,"
  =20
   "Political parties must come to believe that educational institutions
   should be kept away from active politics to step 'vandalization' of
   the university as of now "he said on asked abot the narrow pass the
   university has come to with this strike which could drag the students
   unions too.
  =20
   Arjun Raj Pant from Nepal Students Union at the Free Students Union at
=09=09=09=09=09=09^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
[Ah does this translate to the "Swontantra Vidyarthi Mandal"? the return=20 of Mandales the street fighters of the panche and the durbares like=20 sharad shah, damodar shumsher, and rajesworl devkota, ..

pray tell me did we really have a jana andolan and throw out the=20 mandales? ] nrdra

   Central Campus said "The dismissing of teachers on the political
   grounds, not abiding by the agreement once reached with the union, not
   fulfilling agred demands accounts for the highhandness of the
   administrators who are out to extend NCP-UML's policies at the
   university. Vice-chancellor and his team most resign from the
   respective posts under the accepted norms of multiparty democracy
   which we fought for together," he demanded.
  =20
   "Only professors who are engaged in teaching and research and are on
   university pay-roll must be considered when appointing a
   Vice-chancellor" said Lokraj Bhatta a master's degree student.

[Only Palace controlled mandale paper like The Independent would give=20 voice to "mandale_s": Beware.]
  =20
   Dipendra Raj KC a former member of Free Student Union (FSU) said
   "About 500 NCP-UML activists have been given job when the university
   is already overstaffed when little fund allocated for educational
   proposes. 'Vice-chancellor has vandalized the educational atmosphere,'
   he added.

[We have had quite a few mandale VCs vandalizing in 30 glorious years of=20 panche rule...} ye
  =20
   Ved Raj Geywali vice-president of the Free Student Union and also and
   activist of CPN-UML's sister organisation All Nepal National Free
   Student Union (ANNFSU) said "The demands 'targetted' at the
   vice-chancellor is machination of the RPP-NC-NSP coalition." "There is
   no need to replace the vice-chancellor for if done so, it is only
   going to disturb the academic atmosphere in the country by instigating
   the ANNFSU participation in retaliation" The Nepal Student Union has
   indicated their support to the strike by Nepal University Teachers
   Association (NUTA).
  =20
   Asked about the supreme court ruling he said, "Since that concerned a
   great numbers of teachers and staffs who would be badly affected it
   was being considred by the university as how to re-endores their
   promotion by the TU service commission after the ruling which had
   annuled the so-called 'time- bound-promotion,' sharing his views with
   the vice-chancellor.
  =20
   Rishi Raj Dawadi, administrator at the university said, " This problem
   of relieving the Vice-chancellor will come up at the university
   council meeting later in December which is the body that can solve the
   issue." Tribhuvan University council sources anonymously said," There
   is no provision by which a vice-chancellor can be dismissed being a
   political nomince as in the present case once the situcition demands
   doing so" "TU council has 50 members and since their political
   backgound cannot be taken for granted especially since after the
   National Assembly election removing the vice- chancellor will be a
   difficult proposition indeed" said asource at thefaculty of law
   "unless he resigns on moral promptings."
  =20
   "Since the vice-chancellor has behaved obstinately so far" says Dr.
   Shrestha, the NUTA president, "we are not interested to talk to the
   vice-chancellor unless he comes knocking at our door."
  =20
   For an university which runs on a grant of about 70 crores and its own
   revenue a paltry 12 crores and another 50 crores in the form of loans
   from World Bank and matching funds from the government serious
   attention needs to be paid to let it run the way an ideal university
   should rather then toe the steps of the political parties in the
   greater interest of the students and the nation at large.

   of power-centres of this coalition council parties highlight the
   internal dissension and growing rift plaguing them. The Nepali
   Congress and RPP leadership accordingly are racing musical chair of
   sorts with Prime Minister Deuba and RPP President Surya Bahadur Thapa,
   caught in the cross-fire of sharp criticism levelled by their party
   colleagues - lawmakers and ministers. While the controversies ignited
   by RPP co-chairman Rajeshwar Devkota's election to National Assembly
   are far from being resolved with exchange of vituperatives between
   Chand and Thapa camps through the press, Prime Minister Deuba is
   coming under fire from front rank members of his party and lawmakers
   reportedly for his inept handling of the state affairs just left to
   drift along. But Prime Minister in a sharp rebuttal of charges
   disproved his lack of clout and spine with threat to resign if called
   upon seriously to do so and fully justified his administration's pace.
   Deuba didn't take things lying down quite throwing in the front-line
   detractors on the defensive that the long expected expansion of the
   Council of Ministers would be done at the most appropriate time and
   the right moment. Having stated this very firmly he countercharged the
   party leadership of 'remote control' left just with a surrogate
   position to toe the line. He was at his best when he reminded
   participants in parliament committee meetings of the differences of
   mechanisms between the coalition arrangement and a majority party
   government. Whether a coalition or one party government =97 the disease
   of putting pressure on it without even allowing a grace period of
   function is gradually assuming a blown-out expecting the impossible
   in the form of a miracle. If the Prime Minister is far from humbled
   despite some intra-party accusations and wrangling, RPP President and
   lawmaker S.B. Thapa's complaints about his loss of face with liberal
   image somewhat 'seriously affected' do carry a lot of truth. May this
   as it may, the RPP split does not however seem to be any nearer.
   Neither the Nepali Congress nor the RPP can afford taking plunge with
   upsetting the coalition apple-cart while the Sadbhavana, another
   partner with its party leader as a full fledged minister having other
   two lawmakers, Gajendra Narayan Singh pontificating about the virtues
   of coalition government embodying the lone spirit of multi-party
   democracy does not have any say whatsoever. Its embarkation on a
   policy of creating Terai brigade reported in a section of the
   print-media for the assertion of equal rights in running the affairs
   of state and manning its services even through adoption of forces is a
   dangerous course indeed.
  =20
   ***
  =20
   At a time when the coalition council is being subjected to serious
   scrutiny by their own political parties and press loyal to them for
   their lack of performance in its 3-month in power, the grant of
   transporation facilities and other perks enjoyed by incumbent full
   ministers to former prime ministers excluding the flag, and the bill
   to increase the monthly allowances, meeting fees and other perquisites
   of the officer bearers of parliament and the lawmakers including
   leader of the opposition and chief whips twice and one and half time
   more than at present is a very grand idea per se but whether it does
   go well with the Kingdom's basket-case financial condition has
   received the utter condemnation of a large section of the print-media
   a bitter pill deservingly at chat. Ironically enough lawmaker of any
   ideological hues have yet to denounce the proposed hike for perks.
   This is parallel case to that of many British Conservative members of
   parliament voting with the Labour opposition against the Kiwiland bill
   placed before the House of Commons by the government proposing curb of
   those perks of member of parliament regarded to the falling in the
   brackets of sleaze.
  =20
   ***
  =20
   Going by the increasing participation of the prime minister in the
   day-to- day inaugural functions of weighty and light nature within the
   capital he looks like the most overworked person in demand anywhere in
   addition to carrying on regular job of the chief executive and
   attending to party works as well. While these raise question as the
   how much time is left to think over serious matters of state mounting
   over tricky aspects notwithstanding, Deuba appears to be a dignitary
   belonging to a rare breed carrying heavy burden lightly and impressing
   persons with wit according to press reports. In the meantime Foreign
   Minister Lohani is being portrayed as the man behind by NC weekly to
   leak 'Nepal-India Joint Communique' signed by former Prime Minister KP
   Bhattarai and VP Singh in June, 1990 in New Delhi. Even before its
   publication not only few weeks back but also a few months after
   Bhattarai's return from Indian capital five years ago, the contents
   were 'open secret' with the coalition council and its predecessor GP
   Koirala government denying them outright. Since the signatories of the
   two governments are in no position to make a bon-fire of the
   sacerdotal communique, the hush has fallen in both the capitals with
   tight lips around.
  =20
   ***
  =20
   The foreign minister though dogged by controversy appears to have come
   out with his image untarnished by practising transparency and stating
   unequivocally at a press interview recently about the 'limited powers
   of a Pancha minister' in contrast to those enjoyed by a multi-party
   ministerial incumbent against the back-drop of the changes of populist
   and election- oriented streak of the CPN-UML budget for 1995-96 by all
   other parties the John Major's financial estimate presented to the
   House of Commons early last week is subjected to similar scrutiny from
   other major parties including Tory back benchers drawing lukewarm
   response of the press.

   British army assistance
  =20
   A highly successful British Army team of soldiers based in Hong Kong
   recently visited Nepal' to provide assistance and advice in the repair
   and maintenance of medical equipment. The venture was known as
   Exercise Himalayan Bluebell.
  =20
   This was the 18th visit of such a team and on this occasion direct
   support was provided by the Ministry of Health in the form of a
   radiologist - Mr Chand according to a British Embassy press release
   here. In total eleven Hospitals ranging from Regional to Zonal
   Hospitals, were visited in the West of Nepal from Gorkha to Bharatpur.
   In addition to the repairs effected and technical advice given,
   limited supplies of medical and dental spares were provided.
  =20
   The commander British Gurkhas Nepal (Colonel CP Lavender MVO) has
   expressed a desire for future Exercise Himalayan Bluebells to extend
   assistance to Hospitals in the East of Nepal. The next annual visit
   due in February 1996 is likely to do just that. It is therefore hoped
   that with the support and cooperation of the Ministry of Health, the
   British Army will be able to provide further medical and dental
   assistance to Hospitals across the Kingdom.

   NC derails democracy

   I am pretty sure if democracy to be is derailed, it would be because
   of Nepali Congress. This party does not have democratic tendencies.
   They said they would maintain law and order, halt inflation and
   eradicate corruption after the election. But nothing was done when
   they rode to power.
  =20
   =97 RPP Central Committee Member Hem Bahadur Malla=20
=09=09=09=09********************
[Is this the famous Shere-Dhanusha, the super corrupt forest and=20 agriculture minister of the panche days, it is great to hear them giving=20 us lessons on public ethics...
] si =20
   in Janastha
   turn of the century. Imagine what is in store for our Nepali
   Chali-beti who have been crossing the open ....... out of poverty to
   engage in world's oldest profession.

*********************************************************** Date: Sun, 10 Dec 95 15:07:47 EST From: "Charisse A. Espy" <CE1245A@american.edu> Subject: Re: The Nepal Digest - December 7, 1995 (25 Mangsir 2052 BkSm) To: news <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu>

The first story about the lady who married a jewish man. She should write her congressman (NY-C. Rangel or NJ-Payne) and maybe they can help. The Indian Caucus is pretty big and has a big voice. Please keep this confidential.

************************************************** Date: Sun, 10 Dec 1995 17:26:35 -0700 From: Raju Tuladhar <tuladhar@enci.ucalgary.ca> To: nepal@cs.niu.edu Subject: X-posting

On Dec. 7,TND issue, I saw an article on Kumari with title
"What_I_know_about_Kumari_Re:Nalini's_Interest" posted by me on SCN.

I don't remember sending this article to TND for publication. If I had done so, please forget about this letter, & accept my apologies, but if I had not sent it, someone must have cross posted.

It is perfectly alright for anyone to do cross-posting of my articles, and I have no complaints against that, the only thing I wish is that when someone does cross posting of some article, please refer to it as "Cross-Posted"

Thank you. Raju Tuladhar (tuladhar@enci.ucalgary.ca)

************************************************************** From: Rajesh Shrestha <rshresth@husc.harvard.edu> Date: Mon, 11 Dec 1995 12:08:18 -0500 (EST) To: nepal@cs.niu.edu Subject: LauhaPurush Sarbamanya Ganesh Man Singh

Cross-posted from SCN:
---------------------

It is untolerable by the way. In Ganesh Man's word, "even the dog of the palace does not like to listen democracy." Now, I guess, he was right, in 1990.

The 20 million pepole of Nepal will satisfy on what either spending 3 hundred thousand dollars for my (probably useless in Nepal) Ph. D. either in Political Science or in geography or whatever my hand-mouth touching business? Or by spending 2 hundred thousand dollars as a rewarding treatment of knees of Ganesh Man Singh, whose knees were broken by Juddha Samser and his squandrels?

SCN got several socalled intellectual articles on him. SCN forgot me who I am? Here I apperar as a new cheater, hiding my past. Thanks, though for democratic practice for everybody.

I appreciate 20 million Nepali (minus me), who wish Ganesh Man Singh be healthier.

More aft. exams.

Durga Dahal

********************************************************** Date: Tue, 12 Dec 1995 10:26:03 -0500 (EST) To: nepal@cs.niu.edu Subject: News 12/9/95 From: karkis@mail.med.upenn.edu (Sher B. Karki)

December 8, 1995 Friday, NORTH SPORTS FINAL EDITION

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 15; ZONE: N

LENGTH: 251 words

HEADLINE: IRAQI BLAST KILLS 2 UN GUARDS, AT LEAST 8 OTHERS

BYLINE: Reuters.

DATELINE: GENEVA

BODY:
At least 10 people, including two United Nations guards, were killed and 30 injured on Thursday when a fuel tanker exploded in northern Iraq, a UN spokeswoman said.

The two dead guards were a Pole and a Filipino, while a third guard, from
Nepal, was also injured but his life was not considered in danger.

"The first investigation reveals that the vehicles of the guards were passing or crossing at the moment a fuel tanker exploded," she added.

A bomb was exploded by remote control, according to Poul Dahl, the head of the UN force in the region. But the spokeswoman in Geneva said she didn't think a bomb was involved.

The blast occured at Shaqlawa, abut 35 miles north of Erbil, the main city of three Kurdish-ruled provinces in northern Iraq.

Some 150 UN troops are deployed to patrol northern Iraq to guard aid supplies and other UN convoys. Northern Iraq has been under the control of Kurdish groups since shortly after the end of the 1991 Persian Gulf war.

Earlier, an official in London of the Iraqi National Congress, an Iraqi opposition group, said 13 people had died in the blast.

"Witnesses reported that a tanker used to bring petrol from Baghdad to the UN petrol station exploded in a large fireball," the group said in a statement later faxed to Ankara.

A bomb explosion at the group's security office in the northern Iraqi town of Salahuddin in October killed at least 28 people. Opposition groups have blamed Iraqi President Saddam Hussein for that attack.

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 7, 1995, THURSDAY

LENGTH: 207 words

HEADLINE: south asian trade agreement comes into force

DATELINE: kathmandu, december 7; ITEM NO: 1207119

BODY:
a south asian trade agreement took effect today on the eve of the 10th anniversary of the founding of the south asian association for regional cooperation (saarc). the saarc preferential trading arrangement (sapta) is expected to promote international trade within the south asian region, according to a press release of the saarc secretariat here. the seven member countries of the saarc have agreed that gradual steps should be taken towards the eventual goal of a south asian free trade area, said the press release. the sapta agreement has provided additional measures in favor of the least developed countries in the region. it also includes provisions for safeguard action and balance of payment measures to protect the interests of the saarc member countries under critical circumstances. a framework agreement on sapta was signed in 1993 by saarc foreign ministers at the seventh saarc summit in dhaka, bangladesh. all the seven members --bangladesh, bhutan, india, nepal, pakistan, sri lanka and the maldives --ratified the sapta agreement by last month. a meeting to be attended by representatives of all saarc member states will be held in the third quarter next year to review the implementation of the sapta agreement.

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 7, 1995, THURSDAY

LENGTH: 123 words

HEADLINE: adb helps nepal improve customs operation

DATELINE: manila, december 7; ITEM NO: 1207126

BODY:
the asian development bank (adb) today approved a technical assistance grant of 1.2 million us dollars for nepal to make its customs operations more efficient. the technical assistance aims to help the government improve the efficiency of customs operations and increase the yield of customs revenues. it will also provide the government with improved information needed to formulate and carry out economic and fiscal policies. the assistance involves the automation of customs data processing at tribhuvan international airport and headquarters of the department of customs (doc). it also involves doc's capacity building for a new valuation system based on the valuation deal under the general agreement on tariffs and trade.

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

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 7, 1995, THURSDAY

LENGTH: 128 words

HEADLINE: germany to grant 36.9 million us dollars to nepal

DATELINE: kathmandu, december 7; ITEM NO: 1207249

BODY:
the german government has pledged to provide 36.7 million us dollars to
nepal next year as grant for projects under the development cooperation program between the two countries. it was announced after the three-day bilateral negotiations on development cooperation between the two governments concluded here today. according to a press release by the nepalese finance ministry, more than half of the amount of these grants will be provided under the financial cooperation program while the rest will come under the technical cooperation program. a total of 12 projects, including family planning, bio-gas support project, township development, income tax administration and promotion of private economy, will benefit from the assistance, the ministry said.

December 7, 1995

SECTION: News; Pg. 4

LENGTH: 587 words

HEADLINE: Job hopes high for Gurkhas

BYLINE: By KIM BLACK

BODY:
THE Gurkhas will retain a strong presence in the territory in the run-up to 1997, says the first Nepalese officer to take command of a regular battalion of the British Army.

Lieutenant-Colonel Bijaykumar Rawat, who yesterday made history in taking command of the First Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles, said a majority of ex
-Gurkha soldiers would find jobs in Hong Kong.

He said most of the expected 130 Gurkhas to be made redundant before the battalion leaves its Sek Kong base next November would choose to stay or seek employment in the Middle East, Singapore and Nepal.

"Those who finish their service will return to Nepal for discharge but significant numbers will come back to Hong Kong to work," said Colonel Rawat.

Originally, 250 of the 1,100 Gurkhas were to be made redundancies but the number was halved in October.

From November, the battalion, which includes about 20 British officers, will join forces with two other battalions now based in Brunei and Britain, to form the 5th Airborne Brigade.

Chris Hardy, managing director of Jardine Securicor, one of the territory's largest companies recruiting Gurkhas, said his 570 Gurkha employees were all well-disciplined, professional and "extremely loyal".

"There are plenty of job prospects in Hong Kong for Gurkhas.

"They are ideally suited to the security industry which is under-recruited," he said.

The third generation to enter the British Army, Colonel Rawat's father was in the Gurkha Signals in Malaysia, retiring in 1968, and his grandfather served with the 6th Gurkhas in the Indian Army in 1948.

Colonel Rawat's posting has been made smoother after spending a year as second -in-charge, he said on his first day of command.

Outgoing commanding officer Lietenant-Colonel Nick Hinton, 41, returns to Britain after 22 years in the territory.

"There are plenty of job prospects in Hong Kong for Gurkhas.

"They are ideally suited to the security industry which is under-recruited," he said.

Colonel Rawat's posting has been made smoother after spending a year as second -in-charge, he said on his first day of command.

Outgoing commanding officer Lietenant-Colonel Nick Hinton, 41, returns to Britain after 22 years in the territory.

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 6, 1995, WEDNESDAY

LENGTH: 117 words

HEADLINE: three arrested for killing tigers in south nepal

DATELINE: kathmandu, december 6; ITEM NO: 1206214

BODY:
local police in south nepal's chitwan district arrested three people for killing tigers, the country's national news agency rss reported today. those arrested have confessed that they put out some meat with anti-malaria medicine to kill tigers in the jungle of the chitwan national park. according to park authorities, the number of tigers, an endangered species in south asia, has been decreasing in the district in recent years. it is estimated that only 80 tigers are living in and around the national park at present. at least 10 tigers were killed in the last six months, a local forest officer said. nepali police arrested about 10 people for illegal possession of tiger bone last month.

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

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 6, 1995, WEDNESDAY

LENGTH: 189 words

HEADLINE: nepali opposition urges consensus among coalition

DATELINE: kathmandu, december 6; ITEM NO: 1206084

BODY:
nepal's main opposition leader man mohan adhikari urged ruling parties to maintain consensus for the sake of the country's political stability, the official newspaper "rising nepal" reported today. adhikari, former prime minister and now president of the communist party of nepal, told the "rising
nepal" in an interview that his party would allow the coalition government enough time to improve its work and not stage any protest at present. the stability of the ruling coalition depends on how the ruling partners manage inter-party and intra-party relations, he said. the threat to the stability of the government does not come from the opposition but from the coalition partners themselves, adhikari told the government-controlled newspaper. the present government under sher bahadur deuba was formed three months ago by the nepali congress party, the national democratic party and the goodwill party after they overthrew adhikari's minority communist government through a no-confidence vote. adhikari said prime minister deuba was not getting the necessary cooperation even from his own party --the nepali congress.

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

December 05, 1995 02:36 Eastern Time

SECTION: International news

LENGTH: 267 words

HEADLINE: Nepal's international airport to get radar systems

DATELINE: KATHMANDU, Dec 5

BODY:
Yielding to international pressure for improving safety at Nepal's only international airport, the government here has announced plans to set up radar systems with Japanese help.

The announcement on modernizing the Tribhuvan International Airport was made by Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Chakra Prasad Banstola, Monday at a
The airport has one of the most difficult approaches in the world. In 1992, more than 250 people were killed in two separate plane crashes involving Thai International Airways and Pakistan International Airlines jets.

"Had a radar been installed then, the disasters might have been avoided," a veteran pilot told AFP requesting anonimity.

"When the accidents occurred in 1992, the weather conditions were very bad and the visibility was nil, but despite this, radars could have prevented the disasters," he added.

Nepalese investigators said the accidents were caused by human and technical errors but aviation experts blamed the airport for being ill-equipped to handle flights in bad weather.

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 5, 1995, TUESDAY

LENGTH: 137 words

HEADLINE: japan to provide debt relief to nepal

DATELINE: kathmandu, december 5; ITEM NO: 1205066

BODY:
japan has agreed to extend a grant of 554 million yen (about 5.5 million us dollars) to nepal for the purpose of relieving debts, reports said today. an agreement on the grant was signed here monday by representatives of the two governments. the grant, the second portion of the debt relief measures in the 1995 japanese fiscal year, will be used for the purchase of development goods, such as construction materials, fertilizer, communication and survey equipment and fire-fighting equipment. earlier in june, japan provided nepal with 556 million yen (5.5 million us dollars) for debt relief, according to a press release by the japanese embassy here. the japanese government has been providing grant to nepal as repayments of the interests for japan's loans to the country since 1981, said the press release.

December 5, 1995, Tuesday, BC cycle

SECTION: International

LENGTH: 220 words

HEADLINE: Foreign mail from Nepal holds drugs

DATELINE: KATMANDU, Dec. 5

BODY:
Nepal postal officials said Tuesday growing numbers of letters mailed from the country contain small quantities of hashish and other drugs destined for Denmark and elsewhere in Europe and North America. Foreign smugglers mail the drugs out of Nepal to avoid carrying the contraband across international borders themselves, officials said. Drug enforcement officials patrol Katmandu International Airport carefully look for foreigners carrying illegal substances in their luggage. ''Normally, drugs like hash are found in envelopes. We have made some finds in laminated postcards,'' said Pritha Bahadur, head of the city's general post office. ''Every day we detect two to four such drug-laced letters.'' But Bahadur said the letters usually contain only tiny amounts of contraband. The largest find so far was just 44 grams of hashish. Officials said the senders are mainly foreigners who drop their letters in road-side letter boxes in the Nepalese capital and the resort town of Pokhara. The drug-laced letters are often perfumed to disguise the smell of drugs, officials said. Of the intercepted mail containing drugs, 60 percent is destined for Denmark, while the remainder is addressed to Britain, the United States, Germany, Canada, France, Turkey and Spain, officials said.

December 5, 1995, Tuesday, BC cycle

SECTION: International

LENGTH: 173 words

HEADLINE: Nepal lawmakers vote themselves a raise

DATELINE: KATMANDU, Dec. 5

BODY:
Nepali lawmakers have voted to double their annual salaries and benefits package, which will add a $1.5 million burden to the annual government budget of one of the world's poorest countries, reports said Tuesday. No member of parliament voted against the proposal Monday, although the main opposition Communist Party abstained during the voting, The Rising Nepal newspaper said.
''The increase will boost the morale of our parliamentarians,'' Communications Minister Chiranjivi Wagle said to justify the increase in salaries. ''It will help them stay immune to outside influences.'' However Communist Party members said the pay hike will generate resentment among the citizens of the improverished country. Nepal's per capital income is $160 per person, the lowest in South Asia and among the lowest in the world. ''The increment will create the impression that lawmakers are only interested in themselves,'' said Communist legislator Navaraj Subedi, who was among the abstaining parliamentarians. br-sln/upi

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 4, 1995, MONDAY

LENGTH: 142 words

HEADLINE: nepal allocates money to neglected communities

DATELINE: kathmandu, december 4; ITEM NO: 1204041

BODY:
nepali prime minister sher bahadur deuba said his government has set aside 30 million rupees (500,000 us dollars) in special programs for the uplift of neglected and suppressed communities in the country. deuba, also minister for women and social welfare, told a session of the house of representatives on sunday that arrangements were made for monthly stipend to encourage children of these communities to go to school. the government has provided scholarships to some 111,000 girl students and started literacy classes for women across the country. the prime minister added that income generation programs have also been launched for women in most of the districts in nepal. he said that the government is now pursuing a policy of bringing women into the development mainstream by offering them health, education and employment opportunities.

******************************************* Date: Tue, 12 Dec 1995 10:29:13 -0500 (EST) To: nepal@cs.niu.edu Subject: Oxford University-JCR Scholarships 1996 From: <4acg29$mau@news.ox.ac.uk>

(This concerns mainly the Budhanilkantha Group as all the applications for the scholarship this year were from Budhanilkantha School.)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

The OSS Committee has just finished reading the applications for the JCR Scholarship 1996 and has come up with the short-list.There were over 200 hundred applicants from different parts of the globe and 20 were short-listed.There were six students from Budhanilkantha who managed to enter the Short-List.

         Himal Karmacharya

         Gaurav Singh KC

         Sampurna KC

         Sagun KC

         Luna Ranjit

Lokesh Shrestha

It must be emphasized that other Budhanilkantha candidates were also good but because the competition was very keen especially this were, many were chucked out only for minor 'weaknesses'. I must mention the names of Madhu Sudhan Adhikari, Krishna Chettri and Prasanta Amatya who managed to the Long- List.

Only two scholarships are available this year and getting the scholarship heavily depends on the colleges which the candidates have applied to and their performance on the Oxford entrance exam.

Its nice to have Budhanilkantha Students enrolling as Oxford Students every year!Lets hope we get someone next year as well.

Raju Adhikari Wadham College Parks Road OX1 3PN, OXFORD England

******************************************************* From: Rajesh Shrestha <rshresth@husc.harvard.edu> Date: Tue, 12 Dec 1995 10:30:44 -0500 (EST) To: nepal@cs.niu.edu Subject: Kathmandu Post articles: ask permission

Cross-posted from SCN:
---------------------

I have seen several articles from Kathmandu Post being used in the Nepal Digest and even in this news group. While this is probably done with good intention, it would be only correct to ask the permission of the editor of Kathmandu Post before doing so. You can send an e-mail to ktmpost@mos.com.np to get in touch with Kathmandu Post.

Cheers,

Sanjib Raj Bhandari Fax: 977-1-225407 Mercantile Office Systems Tel: 977-1-220773 Durbar Marg, Kathmandu, Nepal e-mail: sanjib@mos.com.np

********************************************************** Date: Tue, 12 Dec 1995 10:31:40 -0500 (EST) To: nepal@cs.niu.edu Subject: Web access from Nepal From: fkroger@coho.halcyon.com (Frank F Kroger)

dcantor@ids2.idsonline.com (David Cantor) writes:

> If anyone knows of ways to access the
>web from Nepal (via local phone call), please post to this group.

I think MOS-NP may be offering SLIP service in NP at this time but: Anyone one not having direct WWW access can use email to retrieve WWW data: Send a message to

listserv@ubvm.cc.buffalo.edu Leave Subject blank, and enter only this line in the body of the note:
GET INTERNET BY-EMAIL NETTRAIN F=MAIL

You will receive a LONG document explaining how most (all?) internet services may be accessed via email.

Frank

************************************************************ From: Rajesh Shrestha <rshresth@husc.harvard.edu> Date: Tue, 12 Dec 1995 16:05:14 -0500 (EST) To: nepal@cs.niu.edu Subject: Kathmandu Post articles: ask permission

Cross-posted from SCN:
--------------------- I agree and would like to add let us not quote full articles from KTM post or other sources with few comments inserted here and there. It is too easy to comment on each trivial example or minor mistakes on other's writing that way. I think TND and articles in SCN will be more readable and interesting if we post our original writing and keep it only long enough to convey the message. Thanks

Mahesh Ghimire

**************************************************************** Date: Tue, 12 Dec 1995 22:12:35 -0500 To: The Nepal Digest <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu> From: sharma@plains.nodak.edu (Padam Sharma) Subject: InfoNepal Draft Two....

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INFONEPAL Draft Two Monday, Dec 04, 1995
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION TO EMPOWER NEPAL (INFONEPAL)

INFONEPAL is a global network of individuals and organizations dedicated to the mission of improving and sustaining the environment and quality of human life in Nepal. The vision is to enable Nepal to ascend the Himalayas of human dignity, economic prosperity, and environmental quality.

MISSION ACTIVITIES

1. Build an international network of Nepali expatriates, Nepali students,
  friends of Nepal and of the Himalayas, and organizations involved in
   quality of life enhancement and environmental quality restoration work in
   Nepal.

        * Exchange information on past experience, and future activities
        * Pool expert knowledge, skills, and resources
        * Coordinate activities to increase efficiency and effectiveness

2. Enable members to participate in non-profit organizational activities,
fund raising, grant proposal writing and evaluation, and advocating
stewardship of Nepal.

3. Facilitate members to volunteer services, conduct research, demonstrate
appropriate technology, evaluate policy alternatives, and organize seminars
and workshops in Nepal.

4. Facilitate expatriate Nepalese to resettle in Nepal and participate in
community development activities.

5. Develop conditions for empowerment by cultivating a culture of personal
and institutional trustworthiness, accountability, philanthropy,
volunteerism, and stewardship of human and natural resources.

6. Provide training opportunities for effective communication and
leadership development to improve personal and institutional efficiency.

7. Disseminate INFONEPAL activities, development news, and database to the
benefit of network members by supporting Nepal related global information
outlets in the cyberspace and other media.

THE 4-E FOCUS

Needs abound in Nepal. The desire of members and the rate of flow of pooled resources determine the boundaries of INFONEPAL activities. Priorities will be given to support projects that promote empowerment of women, youth, and disadvantaged minorities in local communities. INFONEPAL will encourage interdisciplinary and volunteered approach to community development and environmental restoration projects. Depending upon the matching participation from its members and from Nepal,the board of directors will set priorities based on the four-E focus areas listed below.

1. Education:
   * Advocate and contribute towards improving the quality of primary and
      secondary education in rural areas
   * Promote education of girl children and women
   * Support adult education activities
      -- literacy, nutrition, preventive health, and family planning
      -- traffic and occupational safety

2. Environment:
   * Support research and demonstration of alternative farming systems that
      produce high value crops and animals, sustain productivity and minimize
      soil erosion
   * Promote soil quality restoration initiatives through crop rotation, plant
      residue management, organic amendments, and minimal use of fertilizers and
      chemicals
   * Incorporate environmental education courses in high school curriculum
   * Organize volunteer clubs for soil conservation, urban waste recycling
      reforestation, pollution abatement, clean water, clean air, and natural
      habitat restoration activities
   * Promote technology transfers to utilize alternative energy and mechanical
     devices to reduce women's drudgery of cooking, cleaning, and water
     transport
   * Promote clean water projects to prevent spread of communicable diseases
     and parasites.

3. Entreprenuership:
   * Promote small business and entrepreneurial activities that utilize the
     abundance of human resources in the agricultural sector.
   * Promote development of farmer's markets in distant communities and
     international markets for indigenous products and services from Nepal.
   * Provide information for investment opportunities on small scale
      hydro-power, fertilizer plants, information technology, eco-tourism, and
     other environmentally sustainable enterprises.

4. Enlightenment:
   * Promote self esteem, personal integrity, and output of quality products
      and services by individuals and institutions.
   * Disseminate effective communication, interdependent relationship, and
      principle centered leadership skills.

ORGANIZATION

INFONEPAL is a non-profit organization to be incorporated in the state of
............ in the United States of America. Upon incorporation, INFONEPAL will generate funding by soliciting volunteered contribution through membership dues, gifts, and endowments. The members participate in INFONEPAL mission activities by contributing their faculty to the organizational development, membership enrollment, fund raising, providing expert services, implementation and evaluation of projects, and disseminating progress reports to the stake holders. INFONEPAL will affiliate with creditable individuals and organizations to coordinate its activities, disburse available funds, disseminate information resources, and technical assistance to selected projects in Nepal.

INFONEPAL will be guided by an elected and/or nominated board of directors representing contributing members, Nepali organizations and students, Peace Corps Volunteers, expatriate consultants, and institutions with projects in Nepal. The details of INFONEPAL organization will be developed through its article of incorporation and bylaws.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

The overwhelming, "Excellent idea! How can I help?" responses on the first draft were very encouraging. This is the paradigm we are striving to achieve.

This draft still needs work to improve its language of clarity and density of thoughts. We invite you to think through its name, mission statement and activities, priority areas, approaches, and political pitfalls. If you are convinced on the need of such a project, or have questions about its philosophy and scope, please send your comments into The Nepal Digest and soc.culture.nepal user group discussions. Only by participation and exchange of ideas, INFONEPAL becomes OUR project.

If you feel comfortable to write to the coordinator directly, please do so. INFONEPAL is looking for help with the organization structure, its article of incorporation and bylaws, and guidelines on financial management. Friends with MBA, CA, law, public administration, and non-profit corporation experience are encouraged to respond.

Coordinator Dr. Padam Prasad Sharma 812 West Divide Avenue Bismarck, ND 58501, USA. Phone: 701-258-2066 Fax: 701-667-1811 Email: sharma@plains.nodak.edu
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE RATIONALE

Nepal is Beautiful

Sitting on the lap of the majestic Himalayas in South Asia, Nepal is the most picturesque country in the world. From sub-tropical plains in the south to temperate Himalayan peaks in the north, from humid east to semi-arid west, Nepal displays a panorama of mountainous landscape and bio-diversity. To the traveler of this landlocked mountain kingdom of terraced hillslopes and valleys, Nepal presents a romantic challenge to come again and again.

Known around the world by the valor of Gorkha soldiers and the endurance of Sherpa mountain guides, Nepalese are proud of their country's independent heritage. Developed in ecological niches of mountains, valleys, and plains, the cultural diversity of Nepal's 22 million people also demonstrates a unique character of ethnic and religious harmony. Nepalese possess the two best human faculties, they are friendly and honest.

Nepal Lacks Resources to Sustain its Beauty

Beneath the facade of natural beauty and rich cultural diversity, Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the World. Agriculture is the subsistence activity for 90 percent of the population rising annually at about 2.5%. Due to poor soil quality of cultivated lands and lack information onhow to ameliorate it, the agricultural productivity is very low. The abundance of clean tilled slopes and deforested hillsides fail to dissipate erosive energy of monsoon rain and runoff. Accelerated soil erosion and landslides further reduce land productivity, pollute water, damage expensive irrigation and hydro-electricity infrastructures, and cause annual havoc of floods in the plains of Nepal, India, and Bangladesh.

High population pressure and mismanagement of limited resources have aggravated unemployment and degraded the quality of human life and that of the environment. The lack of alternative employment and entrepreneurial activities in the villages is driving more unemployed people from hills to terai and to bigger cities. During the last decade, the beautiful city of Kathmandu has grown into an urban slum with its holy rivers turned into a big waste disposal swamp. Filth covers the rich cultural history of the capital; smog blindfolds the Himalayas blessing the valley.

Democracy Brings Hope and Anxiety

Development priorities and choices made by leaders during forty-plus years of autocratic system of government is partly responsible for today's Nepali underdevelopment dilemma. With the generous assistance of international community, the centrally controlled economy did solve some education and health care problems while perpetuating foreign-aid dependency and overall deterioration of standard of living and environmental quality.

With the onset of democracy in 1989, there came a glimmer of hope that common populace will be motivated and empowered to participate in nation building activities. Until now, continued bickering within and between various political factions has produced unstable governments and precluded political leaders from developing a shared vision for Nepal. To the bewilderment of ingenuous and optimistic citizens, Nepal continues to slide down the quality of life scale.

Behind the cloak of democracy, the power structure is still centralized and caught in a vicious spiral of egoistic "What is in it for me?" culture. This politico-bureaucratic culture thrives on selfish-opportunism,corruption, discredition of talents and honesty, and intolerance to democratic norms and alternative view points. By perpetuating dependency and frustration, the selfish culture continues to breed social discontent and anger. If the current state of socio-political chaos is allowed to deteriorate, the probability that Nepal may experience unmanageable civil discontent, inter-religious and ethnic violence, and anarchy by unscrupulous elements, is very high. In fact, symptoms of civil strife have already erupted questioning the myth of "beautiful and peaceful" Nepal.

Need a Change in Paradigm for a Better Tomorrow

Nepal is just crawling into the difficult path of democracy based development. This trail of development is more arduous and slower than the ascent to the Himalayas. To prevent disaster, Nepali citizenry has to acclimatize itself to the basics of survival through promotion of education, self discipline, and mutually beneficial inter-dependent relationships. With civilized discourse, Nepal has to sort its way through alternative philosophies and governance structure in order to achieve a shared vision of the future. By empowering the spirits of individuals to enlighten, and by reinforcing the basic qualities of love, friendship and honesty, crawling Nepal can take the first step towards the Sagarmatha of human dignity and nirvana.

Successful development begins from within. The germination and growth of a healthy plant is a good metaphor for the holistic growth of individuals and institutions. Nepali people made great sacrifices to germinate this seedling of democracy. Given the current state of "my rights and your responsibility" attitudes, the factional forces that stunt and skew Nepal's natural growth are overwhelming. To achieve full genetic potential, the newly germinated seedling needs proper climate, irrigation, fertilization, and integrated pest management. The combined goodwill, energy and resources of Nepal lovers from around the world will provide these inputs and change the climate for Nepal to realize its fullest potential. To enable future generations to harvest the optimum yield of democracy, timing of these inputs is very important. Otherwise, this beautiful plant will wither and die from within.

To effectively disseminate the fruits of democracy, Nepal needs creditable individuals and organizations. One positive gain of continued international assistance is that Nepal has developed a critical mass of highly educated people who believe in democratic values. Some of these dedicated individuals are making significant contributions in Nepal. Due to lack of stable institutional support and recognition, most others are disheartened and their talents underutilized. The most talented individuals are taking the `brain-drain' route by extending their education and employment opportunities elsewhere. By supporting and recognizing the work of dedicated individuals inside, friends from outside can minimize the erosion of institutional quality in Nepal. By helping to bring out the best in them, we uplift the morale and strength of Nepali bureaucracy to withstand the force of accelerating political pendulum.

As "outsiders", we may ask, "Why do we care? How much leeway and strength do we have? Are we really invited for help"? The proper question to ask ourselves is, "Do we have the desire and means to do something or anything for Nepal"? If we love Nepal for what it is, and imagine what it could be, we have the heart, the will, and the spirit to say Yes!

By helping Nepali citizens to Live decently, Love one another and the environment, and Learn to grow from within, we leave a Legacy of a bright future of a beautiful and democratic Nepal. By enabling Nepal to improve the quality of human life and the environment, we enrich our own.
*************************************************** Date: Tue, 12 Dec 1995 23:36:35 -0600 (CST) From: Nagesh Basnyat <basnyatn@mhd1.moorhead.msus.edu> To: The Nepal Digest <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu> Subject: Re: The Nepal Digest - December 12, 1995 (2 Push 2052 BkSm)

Thanx for sending me The Nepal Digest. I really appreciated it. I read most of the letters and enjoy it. One thing that surprised me was how The Nepal Digest found my e-mail address. Obviously I'm too happy that somehow I was involved in this lets say "America BASI NEPALI SAMAGH." So looking forward to getting more news from back home and different views from the Nepali residing in America.

Nagesh Basnyat.

******************************************************* From: Frank Kroger <fkroger@halcyon.com> To: The Nepal Digest <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu> Subject: Re: The Nepal Digest - December 12, 1995 (2 Push 2052 BkSm)

>Sushil Upadhyay, Malla Treks, PO Box 5227, Kathmandu, Nepal
>FYI, Frank, the ridge in Gokyo is not Kala Pattar. Kala Patthar (the
>black rock) is above Everest Base Camp.
>Over to you.
FYI: As is it is common in Nepal for more than one place to carry the same name so also there are 2 Kal Patthars, one near Everest Base camp,( actually it is below Pumori ) and the second one is above Gokyo.

Frank

****************************************************** Date: Wed, 13 Dec 1995 18:19:43 -0500 (EST) To: nepal@cs.niu.edu Subject: Accor Asia In Nepal Hotel Deal From: C-ap@clari.net (AP)
         KATMANDU, Nepal (AP) -- Accor Asia Pacific Ltd., a Sydney, Australia-based company with major shareholding by Paris-based Accor S.A., has entered into a pact to provide a technical and management contract with Hotel Oriental Ltd. of Katmandu to open a Mercure hotel in the Nepalese capital.
        The 162-bed oriental hotel now under construction is scheduled to open in November under the Mercure Hotels chain.
        The management contract will initially be for a period of 12 years, said Roland Garaud of Accor Asia Pacific.
        ``The agreement is a highly strategic one for AAPC as Katmandu is one of the most high profile tourist destinations in Asia,''he said Tuesday.

         KATHMANDU, Dec 7 (Reuter) - Nepal will receive a
$36.15-million grant from the German government for partially funding 12 projects in the Himalayan kingdom, officials said on Thursday.
         The officials said the aid agreement was signed between Nepal's finance secretary Binod Bhattarai and the deputy director-general of German's ministry of economic co-operation Wolf Preuss in Bonn on Thursday.
         Exact details of all projects were not available but officials here said one of them was a bio-gas unit while another was meant for promoting family planning in Nepal.
         The German government will also provide another loan of 200 million marks ($138.9 million) for a power project, details of which will be chalked out later, the officials said.

        KATMANDU, Nepal (AP) -- At least 21 people were killed and 69 injured Wednesday when their overcrowded bus veered off a mountain road and fell 500 feet, Radio Nepal said.
        The accident occurred in Jhumsa Khola town, 110 miles west of Katmandu, capital of the Himalayan nation.
        The national radio did not give any reason for the accident.
        The bus, which was designed to carry no more than 60 passengers, was packed with Nepali villagers who were on the way to Bhairhawa town from the tourist resort of Pokhra.

-- This is the NEW RELEASE of the ClariNet e.News! If you notice any problems with the new edition, please mail us at editor@clari.net and let us know. Thanks! More information can be found on our web site at http://www.clari.net/ or in clari.net.announce. **************************************************************** Date: Wed, 13 Dec 1995 15:40:22 -0800 (PST) From: Durga Dahal <daha9014@uidaho.edu> To: The Nepal Digest <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu> Subject: Re: The Nepal Digest - December 12, 1995 (2 Push 2052 BkSm)

Ganesh Man Singh.

It is nice to know that everybody is satisfied with the successful treatment of knees of Lauhapurus, Sarbamanya Ganesh Man Singh. The good side of the news is that all the expenses for his treatment is paid by the Govewrnment of Nepal. I appreciate it.

If I would be in Nepal, I would heartly add my one month salry with the tax I paid to his treatment. Just an American trip is not so big that some one like me should worry for him. He is worthy of some more stuffs.

The twenty million Nepali would be happy to his treatment at any cost than some propoganda provokers. It was seen in SCN that Sing's treatment costed this much and that much? It is the good practice of democracy if performed right. But Singh knows that even the dog of the palace does not like to listen the word democracy, it's practice from that group is expected the same.

As referred to Lords of Poverty, this book says that if I get 20%, some one will be enjoying 80% in my name. I mean, if I am doing my Ph. D. in grants the load to Nepal goes above 3 hundred thousand dollars per person. This Ph.D is not sure what will do in Nepal. But, the treatment of G.M.Singh, in less than 2 hundred thousand dollars provides a temporary satisfaction to 20 million Nepali.

There is no comparison on someone's tax and G.M.Singh. This kind of money minded explanation is antiNepal, and antiNepali. Such propogandas are not repeatably commentable. This idea would be extremely Mandale or total ignorance about Nepal.

The Mandales are under Congress umbrella, and are silent. There is nothing to say the later one.

Long ago Koirala declared that his neck was joined with the king, where no one could hurt him in Nepal. That happened. Mandales are there, below Congress. Congress was for democracy. G.M. Singh is for democracy. The present government of Nepal should be above Mandale thinking. Contd.

*********************************************** Date: Thu, 14 Dec 1995 06:29:35 -0800 (PST) From: Don Messerschmidt <damesser@pacifier.com> To: nepal@cs.niu.edu Subject: Hugh Wood Obit.

Please post the message to the Nepal Digest, etc. Thanks.

HUGH B. WOOD, PHILANTHROPIST, DIES AT 86 The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon), December 13, 1995; Obituaries, p.D-12.

The educator's career included teaching at the UO [University of Oregon] and organizing school systems in foreign countries.

Hugh Bernard Wood, a noted educator and philanthropist, died Sunday, Dec. 10, 1995, in a Portland hospital of heart disease. He was 86.

Mr. Wood taught education at the University of Oregon from 1939 until he retired in 1974 but spent many years outside the United States helping organize education and training systems in countries including Vietnam, Malawi and Nepal.

He was among a handful of international experts invited into Nepal in 1953 to aid that country in building a public education system. Mr. Wood and his family lived in Katmandu for nearly seven years while he helped create primary through university level education services and trained teachers to run those schools.

In 1955, he and his wife, Helen, founded the American Nepal Education Foundation, which has helped more than 400 Nepalese students gain master's and doctoral degrees in the United States.

After he retired from the UO, he and his wife moved to Oceanside [Oregon], where he worked full-time on the foundation's mission of providing advanced education in the United States for promising Nepalese students. In addition to the foundation's efforts, Mr. Wood and his wife personally supported the high school and college educations of more than 20 Nepalese students, beginning in the 1970s.

In 1988, King Birendra of Nepal honored Mr. Wood with the Birendra Prajnalakar plaque for outstanding service to education, the highest award that country gives to foreigners.

In Oregon, Mr. Wood was part of the team that set up the Tongue Point Job Corps Center near Astoria in 1965-66.

Mr. Wood was born on Feb. 18, 1909, in Angola, Ind[iana].

He married Helen Croyle in 1928 in Bucyrus, Ohio. She died in 1984.

Mr. Wood received a bachelor's degree in education and history from the University of Toledo in Ohio, a master's in education and social studies from the University of Colorado in Boulder, and a Ph.D. in 1937 in curriculum design and school administration at Columbia University in new York.

Survivors include his son, Wayne of Eugene [Oregon]; daughter, Pamela Gladson of Portland; sister, Winnifred Warner of Portage, Ohio; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13, in Waud's Funeral Home in Tillamook. Disposition was by cremation. His ashes will be strewn in the same area as his wife's, outside Katmandu.

The family requests that remembrances be contributions to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

***************************************************** From: Rajesh Shrestha <rshresth@husc.harvard.edu> Date: Thu, 14 Dec 1995 11:42:17 -0500 (EST) To: nepal@cs.niu.edu Subject: 1998 World Cup Draw

Cross-posted from SCN: ---------------------

1998 WORLD CUP DRAW

[CND, 12/12/95] The draw was held in the Louvre in the city of Paris, according to Reuters and AP. As many as 172 teams will take part in the tournament but only 32 can go to the finals in France. Brazilian star Zico drew for Asia. Thirty-six Asian teams are divided into 10 groups, and the group winners will play in two second-round groups. The top two finishers of each second-round group will enter the semifinals. The two winners of the semifinals will make it to the finals. The two runner-ups following the aforementioned top finishers will play each other, and the winner will advance to France, while the loser will get to play the winner of the Oceania group for the last berth. China is in Group 8, with Turkimenistan, Vietnam and Tajikistan. The other demarcation is as follows:

Group 1 - Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Chinese Taipei. Group 2 - Iran, Syria, Maldive Islands, Kirghizistan. Group 3 - United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan. Group 4 - Japan, Oman, Nepal, Macao. Group 5 - Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Yemen, Cambodia. Group 6 - South Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong. Group 7 - Kuwait, Lebanon, Singapore. Group 9 - Iraq, Kazakhstan, Pakistan. Group 10 - Qatar, BHARAT, Shri Lanka, Philippines.

Courtesy of Chen Huxiong, China News Digest

************************************************** From: Rajesh Shrestha <rshresth@husc.harvard.edu> Date: Thu, 14 Dec 1995 11:43:26 -0500 (EST) To: nepal@cs.niu.edu Subject: News from Nepal!!

Cross-posted from SCN: ---------------------