Weekly Internet Poll # 463. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com

Q. Should the Vice President retake hisoath in Nepali?

Weekly Internet Poll # 462

Q. Should the government have given aholiday on the day of the solar eclipse?

#462 31 July - 6 August 2009 16 pages Rs 30

Total votes: 2,829

Mc Dowell

hen it rains it pours.As if the politicalcrisis wasn’t bad

enough, Nepal is going through amulti-layered economic anddevelopment emergency.

But roaming the corridors ofpower in Singha Darbar, youwouldn’t know it. There is acholera epidemic in western

Nepal, the winter drought thatdestroyed the wheat crops wasfollowed by a delayed monsoonthat decimated maize and rice.

This is bound to makeinflation of essential foodcommodities even worse. It isalready running between 20-50per cent, defying all economic

theories, and despite the openborder with India where inflationis single digit.

Then, we’re looking at alooming power crisis this winter.Despite last winter’s 18 hourdaily power cuts, no newgeneration capacity has beenadded. Foreign investment iszero, and so is new job creation.

Yet, the macro-economicsituation is not so bad, buoyedby a 55 per cent growth inremittances last year. The globalrecession will affect income, and

EDITORIAL p 2A visible hand

Waiting game p10-11Suvayu Dev Pant

Too little too late? p10-11Dewan Rai

COMMENT p10-11Hilton L Root

we will need the dollars to buyIndian rupees to pay for ourimports.

But, however dire thesituation, Nepal muddles alonglike it always has. This week’srains revived some hope, and itcould be a sign that things willturn around. All we can do ishope. W

KIRAN PANDAY

ENTIRE SPECTRUM: A rainbow arcsthrough monsoon clouds on Monday as thedelayed rains finally arrive with a bang.

Rain and shine

2 31 JULY - 6 AUGUST 2009 #462EDITORIAL

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

Hatiban, Godavari Road, LalitpurGPO Box 7251, Kathmandu 5250333/845 Fax: 5251013Printed at Jagadamba Press 5250017-19

edi tors@nepal i t imes.comwww.nepal i t imes.com

I

PLAIN SPEAKINGPrashant Jha

A VISIBLE HANDThe spiralling prices of basic commodities in Nepal defy economicexplanation. The delayed reaction of the global recession is onlynow being felt as real wages decline and remittances show adownward trend.

Consequently, the demand for goods has declined. However,there has been a visible surge in supply as a number of deliveryoutlets multiply all over the country as more houses turn intoshutter-front shops. This should have resulted in fiercercompetition, a better quality of goods and lower prices, butsyndication and cartels have distorted the pricing mechanism.In a truly free market, the invisible hand regulates prices. But theinvisible hand is so invisible here that hoarders and speculators fixprices of essential commodities. What we need is the visible handof a regulatory state. The government’s hesitant move inintervening in the supply chain was long overdue, but not adequate.

But this is a country where gas stations go on strike when theyaren’t allowed to adulterate, or taxis protest when the authorities tryto punish those who tamper with meters. This impunity exists

because of a weak state.Raids on grain merchantsand cooking gas dealers thisweek were half-hearted. Nocase has been filed in anycourt, probably because thegovernment doesn’t haveanything to prove.

The price rise iscompletely manipulated bysupply cartels. One way tocounter that is to revitalise

the public distribution system and ensure supply of goods at fairprices through cooperative outlets. Ensuing competition will forcehoarders to bring out their stocks.

The devastating drought and the delayed monsoon have ruinedthis year’s harvest. Subsistence farmers, already teetering at theedge of hunger will be worst hit. Migration to India will surge. Forthe first time, Tarai districts are going to have a food deficit thisyear. This is going to put additional responsibility on the state anddistrict authorities to ensure supplies at fair prices by controllinghoarding, price-fixing and cartelling.

Politics, already wobbly, is going to be dangerouslydestabilised by food shortages in the coming months. Thegovernment needs contingency plans right away if it wants toprevent political repercussions and social unrest when the focusshould be on the new constitution and protecting the peaceprocess.

Businesses and corrupt government are often found to be hand-in-glove. They need to work hand in hand. A fair market has betterchances of remaining free.

he fire over our ‘national’ languagehas been stoked once again. In theirwisdom, two learned judges of the

Supreme Court decided that the verbal oathof Vice President Parmananda Jha in Hindididn’t conform to the ‘spirit’ of theconstitution.

The fact that Jha had signed the Nepaliversion of the official vow was consideredirrelevant. Since judges are the highestinterpreters of the supreme law of the land,it would be difficult to question the legal

bases of assessing the “spirit” of a fairlyexplicit document. Jha refused to complywith the order of the court alleging that itwas biased.

Attorney General Bharat Bahadur Karkijumped into the debate and contradicted theposition of his government. Prime MinisterMadhav Kumar Nepal has promised to finda “middle path” acceptable to all. His chieflegal counsel believes that the VP musttake a fresh oath.

Meanwhile, there has been no midnightmissive from President Ram Baran Yadavso far to nip the inflammatory issue in the

STATE OF THE STATEC K Lal

bud. It’s passion rather than reason that hasovertaken a debate that should have beendiscussed in the Constituent Assembly andthe result enshrined in the new constitution.

The verdict of the court was technicalbut the debate that it has sparkedis purely emotional. Almost all Pahadiparties contend that the VP should either re-take his oath or resign. Practicalimplications of these options areconveniently ignored. No matter whether afresh swearing-in ceremony is held or heresigns, everything that Jha has done forover a year as VP will stand nullified.According to the “spirit” of the legaltradition, he would then be required to returnevery paisa to the exchequer that he hasdrawn by the way of pay and perks. Jha hasjudged too many legal cases not torecognise the legal trap. He is extremelyunlikely to commit political hara-kiri.

The Madhesi parties have rallied aroundthe VP in the belief that they mayget a fresh lease of life in the Tarai whereMaoists have begun to nibble away at theirsupport base. By sharing power with theUML (a party seen to be stridently anti-Madhesi) the TMDP, Sadbhavana (Mahato)and the Gachhedar faction of MJF havebegun to lose ground in the plains. Theyhave to be louder than Upendra Yadav in

supporting Jha even if just to savetheir faces.

The Maoists adopted the sensible wayof promoting Abadhi, Bhojpuri and Maithilias languages of Madhesi identity. WithMatrika Yadav raising the banner of Hindi,midlevel Maoist leaders in the Taraisuddenly find themselves on the defensive.It’s difficult for them to divert the debatetowards local languages when the judgmentover legality of VP’s oath is widely beinginterpreted as a Pahadi attack on Madhesi‘asmita’- a concept with inflammatoryconnotations of self-esteem, honour, anddignity all rolled into one. It seems weare once more on the slippery slope ofethnic cleavage.

Ironically, the hatred of Hindi is rarelycaused by one’s reverence for Nepali. Hindifilms, teleserials, songs and magazines areas popular among Pahadis as amongMadhesis. More Pahadis have nephewsand cousins in the organised sector of India(Army, police, private security agencies,business houses and influential families),where knowledge of Hindi is sine qua non,than Madhesis.

Logically, Pahadis should have been atthe forefront of Hindi movement in Nepal:their privileges would be more secure byassociating with the regional hegemon. But

then language is more about emotion thanreason. Private adoration and publicdistaste for Hindi is but a mere reflectionof grudging admiration and resultingresentment that Nepal’s petty bourgeoisharbour for anything ‘Indian’. It’s born out ofa deep sense of inferiority andhelplessness about Big Brother.

Jaswant Singh won the Indian electionin Darjeeling on the strength of his dhakatopi and Sharad Singh Bhandari wouldn’tdare wear one in his Mahottari constituencyin Nepal. But the assumption that a Nepalihas to be somehow visibly different from anIndian has such a large following that itslikely impact on the Madhesi population isoften ignored even by as seasoned apolitician as Jhalnath Khanal.

Ethnocentrism is an extremely riskyproposition for a country as diverseas Nepal. Fortunately, the two petitionerssuing VP Jha for contempt have given theapex court an opportunity to review thecase and offer a face saving formula forJha: he has already agreed to re-take oathof office if ’Nepalis so desire’. This rowneeds to be resolved amicably to save thedignity of the VP’s post and the reputationof the Supreme Court justices. Jingoism isa dangerous game to play in theseethnically charged times.

The VP’s vow rowEthnocentrism is an extremely risky proposition for a country as diverse as Nepal

T

f the status quo prevails, wewill keep going round andround in circles with the

leaders making the rhetoricalcommitment to bringing thepeace process to a ‘logicalconclusion’, without caring twohoots about it.

No political party iscommitted to integration, or has aclear roadmap about it. It istactical and dependent on how itaffects their strength and largerbalance of power.

No one quite knows where theMaoists stand on it, whether theywant it, when they want it, andwhat their bottom line is. Whatwe know is that they will pushfor it only if they sense that itwill help tilt the army’sorientation towards them, or ifthe rising discontent in thecantonments is becomingunmanageable, and in a mannerthat will bolster the party.

Till that point, they will keepplaying the victim, pretend to bethe picture of reasonableness, talkup their internal difficulties, andtry to bargain for financialincentives in return for anyprogress on the issue.

The discharge of underageinmates was a façade. The visitingteam found the disqualifiedinsisting on integration in thearmy, which was, one suspects,what they had been instructed todo by their divisionalcommanders. Some suggest thatthe Maoists have maintained aveil of secrecy internally, and allthose disqualified do not even

To think that the Maoists can be bullied into submission is naïve

Round and roundknow they are out.

While one recognises thenecessity of working out arehabilitation package for allthese men and women who aretrained and indoctrinated, Maoistduplicity on the issue must betaken into account. First, they fillin people who were never fightersin cantonments, includingchildren, while sending many ofthe real fighters out. Then theygrudgingly accept thedisqualification of some andpromise the world they willdischarge them. The state issupposed to take care of them,and even then, they drag theprocess on.

But why are the Maoistsbehaving in this manner, andhow are they getting away withit? The Maoists are insecure. Theygenuinely feel the right-wingwants to marginalise themcompletely, and reverse theachievements of the last fewyears. Those arguing that the PLAmust be kept intact to fight a‘counter-revolution’ citedevelopments of the last fewmonths as proof, and have gainedthe upper hand. And voices thatno integration till constitution iswritten have asserted themselves.

The most realistic possibilityof progress, albeit gradual, waswhen the Maoists were in power.To think they can be bullied, andwill co-operate when the poweralignment is stacked up againstthem is naïve.

But the real blame for thestate of affairs must go to theother parties, for their lack ofclarity and myopia. When theyshould have pushed forintegration, they got paranoidabout Maoist control of army and

said no.Now they understand thedangers of having PLA around, buthave no clue how to deal with it.

Instead, they rely on vagueformulations like ‘PLA willevaporate’, ‘cadre will getdisillusioned and leave’, and atbest, ‘a few can be taken in’.Kathmandu parties seem to carelittle about prospects of lowerlevel armed groups, which maysplinter off from PLA, and add tothe disorder.

But to assume that NC andUML have a mind of their own isbeing over-generous. It will boildown to what India decides. Justsee how Rakesh Sood says PLAmust be integrated in society in anewspaper interview, and GPKfollows suit a month later. AndDelhi is either unclear itself, withsome pushing for tokenintegration in the army and othersopposing it outright, or waitingand watching.

Any deal on integration willfinally depend on rapprochementbetween Maoists and India becauseneither the army nor the partieswill take a step without that. OnlyRAW, MEA and the Indian Armyhave the collective leverage toengineer a compromise.

In the debate over integration,security sector reform is all butforgotten. How to democratise anddownsize the army, make itinclusive, and push accountabilityas part of the peace process.

As writer Manjushree Thapahas perceptively noted, ‘Armyintegration in the absence ofsecurity sector reform and justicewould be disastrous.(Imagine a one lakh plus,part-feudal, part-Maoist armythat believes it can act withimpunity).’

331 JULY - 6 AUGUST 2009 #462

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

THE GREAT GAMEYou say Nepalís foreign policy should begin with an appeal to Indiaand China to lay off and let us be. (Editorial, ëThe Great Gameí, #461), but such a move would be uselesd and, worse, costly whenthereís a lot to be gained by inviting either country to help us. Indiaand China are both ëparanoidí, as your editorial says, about theotherís influence in Nepal. It would seem that unless Nepalcredibly pledged to be neutral, neither country would stopinterfering. But neither country would believe the pledge. Nepalísplayed the two countries off one another for too long already. Itwould take only a shadow of a suspicion that Nepalís leaning theother way for either country to continue meddling again. So, weírein a pickle and thereís no way out, certainly not by making vainappeals for non-interference. What we should do, instead, isto remind both countries that political instability in Nepal is bad forthem, so that they wield their influence in Nepal more responsibly.

Name withheld, email

Thank you for a bold editorial outlining why it iscounterproductive for China and India to wage a proxy war inNepal. And as you say, the fault lies not in Beijing or in Delhi but inour own political leadership which has historically preferred to useoutside powers to put down domestic opposition. We thought theMaoists would be different, but they proved themselves to be of thesame formula. China and India should work together to fosterstability in Nepal, because that is where the interest of both partiesconverge.

Jit Rana, Kathmandu

How naive of you to wish away the Great Game. The geo-strategic interests of the West vs China are going to be played outin Tibet and we are a frontline state. But you are absolutely right tohit the tendency of the US and the Europeans to use Nepal as astaging ground for their pro-Tibetan independence activities. Theyare doubly hypocritical because they have shown no concern forus Bhutani refugees and our desire to return to Bhutan.

Kumar Adhikari, Jhapa

NO DIGNITYIt broke my heart to readCK Lalís piece on NepaliWorkers Abroad (ëNo dignity indeathí, #461). Other countriesexport raw materials, finishedgoods, expertise, while weexport young boys and girls tothe Gulf and Malaysia. NWAshave kept the country afloatduring the trying times of warand transition. They are treatedlike animals in these foreigncountries and have nowhere to

go for help or if they are in trouble. We may not be able to controlwhat happens in foreign soil, but they are not treated right even intheir home country. From the time they leave their native homesthey are cheated and made to feel like they are not human-by themanpower agencies, immigration officers and Nepali stewards andstewardesses in the airplanes they board. If we are exporting ourmanpower in such large numbers, isnít it the responsibility of thestate to ensure that they are safe? It is clear that no one inleadership has even thought about NWAs. This is not goingto change anytime soon. Isnít there something citizen groups cando to ensure that they are respected at least when they are dead?

Prerana Sthapit, email

CK Lalís piece on migrant labourers is very timely. Mysuggestion: translate this column and send it to the PM and CAmembers to read. Maybe then theyíll realise how messed up theirpriorities are.

Jeevan Giri, email

ROLLBACK VIOLENCEKul Chandra Gautam writes ëNot allowing ordinary people to live inpeace.is a violation of civilian supremacyí (ëRollback Violenceí,,#460). He seems to argue here that any curtailment of civil rightsis a violation of civil supremacy. If a group unaffiliated with apolitical party called a banda then, Gautam seems to say, itviolates civil supremacy. Or if I (and I donít have political ties)stole candy from a baby then I too would have violated civilsupremacy. Heís confused civil supremacy with the more generalconstitutional principle that civil rights are sovereign, whichcommands respect for human rights. Civil supremacy forbids onlymilitary rule, which violates the right to representation, but isindifferent to every other right violation. An unaffiliated group thatcalls a banda may well have done something illegal, but certainlynot because it violated civil supremacy.

Mohan Pyakurel, email

ASSHaving received my NepaliTimes in Damauli this time a little laterthan usual I may be late for my suggestion for multiple choicequestions, not for driving tests, but for the constitution. Wouldnít itbe great? All Nepalis can choose under which constitution theywant do their daily business and even kingji has a chance to havehis own little constitution together with his friends. Everyone ishappy and can shift to the constituency of their choice to live.

Nadine Henri, Damauli

4 31 JULY - 6 AUGUST 2009 #462NATION

uying a house used to bedifficult in Nepal. Even10 years ago, getting a loan

of Rs 200,000 from a bank wasnext to impossible for mostNepalis.

The man who made it easierto buy houses using creditfacilities, and opened the floodgates for housing loans is IchhyaTamang, the founder of CivilGroup, one of Nepal’s largestand most-rapidly growingbusiness conglomerates thatowns Civil Homes.

Born in Okhaldhunga andraised in Hong Kong andSingapore, where his father wasin the British Army, Tamangreturned to Nepal to pass hisSLC. As a hydropower engineerin Russia, Tamang witnessedboth the collapse of the SovietUnion and the economichardships that followed in1989.

When the ruble’s valueplummeted, Tamang found ithard to cope. “Even as a student,I had no choice but to get intobusiness to survive,” he recalls.Nepali students in Russia soldChinese goods to the Russians.Some Nepalis bought and soldcomputers and built tradingbusinesses.

After returning to Nepal,

Tamang worked as an engineerbut the war made his jobdifficult. Convinced thatbusiness would be the onlymeans of getting through thecrisis, he got together with 12other engineers and started CivilGroup in 2001, a conglomeratecompany that encompasses 10firms including CivilCooperatives.

The group, which was chosenas the Company of the Month byNepali Times for July 2009 hasgrown to encompass real estate,housing, finance, trading andsoon a commercial bank.

Civil Homes was first inNepal to commercialise the ideaof owning a well-serviced housewithin a gated community. Itssuccess was quickly copied byothers. Banks were initially waryabout lending money to Tamangand his friends. But once theysaw the demand for organisedhousing, they changed theirminds. As the housing sectorboomed, so did banking.

Tamang recalls thebeginnings of Civil Homes inBhaisepati when he bought 23ropanis of land but did not havemoney to build and sell houses.The group made a computer-animated ad for a Rs 2.3 millionhouse and broadcasted it on tvchannels. The results wereastounding, and Tamang hasn’tlooked back.

Buoyed by his first housingsuccess, Tamang’s group thenbought 95 ropanis of land inKalanki where more Civil Homeswere built. That too was asuccess, and the group went onto build a satellite town in

Ichhya Tamang shows how business canhave a public service function

Homes, sweet homes

B

Sunakothi, with its own mall,health posts and a cinema hall.Currently, the group is workingon its fourth phase at Dhapakhelon 200 ropanis of land. Tamang sees the demand forhousing going up because ofurbanization and an economybuoyed by remittances.“Kathmandu valley is growingannually at the rate of 6,500 newhouses, there are more than 30housing companies but theydon’t create more than 2,000houses a year,” says Tamang.

Tamang is currently workingon a real estate act to regulate theindustry. He sees good potentialfor those interested in real estateinvestments, as more peoplemove to cities, and the size of themiddle-class grows. Last week,Tamang unveiled his newestproject: Civil Luxury Residencesof upscale apartments inSundhara next to aninternational-quality shoppingmall.

“Some find that the situationin Nepal is getting worse,” saysTamang, “but Russia taught mehow to survive. If you work hardenough, you can succeed nomatter what the situation isaround you.”

Tamang is aware that toomany housing companies canlead to a drain on naturalresources. As an engineer he isresearching new technologies andcost-effective design. He wantsfuture residences to be solar-powered and harvest rain. Hesays: “Now that we are past thesurvival stage, we can afford tothink broadly about our societalobligations.”

MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA

531 JULY - 6 AUGUST 2009 #462BUSINESS

For 30 years, Bishal BazarSupermarket has exposedNepalis to an international

shopping experience. NLIC CityCenter has updated thatexperience. Global brands will behappy to replicate foreign styleshere, as will high-end Nepalishoppers who have had to make

occasional trips to Bangkok andGurgaon to meet their shoppingneeds. The shopping mall willsurely become a must-visitattraction for domestic touristsas well as city-dwellers.

The Nepali retail scene hasbeen promising compared to thatin many other South Asian citiesof comparable size. Even Nepaliswith little disposable incomespend more on apparel andconsumables compared to theirbrethren in the region. Thesuccess of brands like JohnPlayers and Springwood, theexponential growth ofBhatbhateni or the new retailoutlets mushrooming inKumaripati and Sherpa Mall allshow that Nepalis like brandsand organised retail.

Retail business is one of themost lucrative globally, withWalmart having grown into acompany with an annualturnover equal to the GDP of thefifteenth largest economy. Thefuture growth of India and Chinawill also see many global retailgiants expanding and newchains starting operations inemerging markets. Nepal won’tsee large retail stores until lawsthat prohibit foreign investmentin the retail sector are changed.And they must be changed soon.

The growth of retail meansNepali companies can learn howglobal brands keep store shelvesstocked. For instance, thepopular pickle brand Navaras ishardly available in store shelves.It makes one wonder whetherthey realise how much revenue

ECONOMIC SENSEArtha Beed

they are losing.But even as the global brands

have made inroads into the localmarket, Nepalis have much tolearn. People who have been tothe City Center would noticehow poorly trained store staff arewhen compared to theircounterparts in Gurgaon orBangkok. Instead of uselesslywhiling away their time, theyshould understand that they’reintroducing Nepalis to a newexperience. It would help tointroduce performance-basedpayments to give them extraincentive. We killed performancebased incentive to staff in ourhospitality industry by levying afixed service charge irrespectiveof service. We shouldn’t let thesame happen with retail. Wehave seen a big deterioration inthe quality of services in the

Retail therapyTransformation is the name of the game

service industry and we shouldnot loose the ubiquitous Nepalismile which has been thehallmark of that industry.

We need to consider theimpact these malls will have onenergy demand in the country.The Beed has long said thatenergy demand is definitelyhigher even than the 2500MW itwould be if the supply of energywere limitless.

Nepali consumers pay a lot tomiddlemen between wholesaleand retail. Walmart in the US andBig Bazaar in India have cut outthe middlemen, so their goods arecheap. In Nepal, people continueto profit from artificially raisingmargins, whether legal or not. Therecent hoarding is a case-in-point.Perhaps this is where we’ll learnour biggest lesson. www.arthabeed.com

NEW PRODUCTS

ANUP PRAKASH

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Tarai tigersWorld Wildlife Fund stressed the need to renew tigerconservation efforts in response to the government 'sannouncement of an estimated 121 breeding tigers in fourprotected areas in the Tarai Arc Landscape of Nepal.

Chitwan National Park is still a stronghold for tigers, with anestimated population of 91, Parsa Wildlife Reserve has anestimated four tigers, Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve is likely tohave eight tigers and Bardia National Park has 18 according toNepal’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.

The results are the culmination of a nine-month researchproject that surveyed tiger abundance and distribution in all ofthe protected areas concurrently for the first time.

“What we have today is a snapshot of tiger populations in onecorner of the Eastern Himalayas, one of the last bastions of thisendangered species,” said Shubash Lohani of the EasternHimalayas Program of WWF. “In the bigger picture, the numbersfrom this survey are not strong enough to withstand an everincreasing demand for tiger parts and derivatives.”

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Yeti CSRWelfare organisations -Sewa Kendra LeprosyRelief, Spinal InjuryRehabilitation Centre andWomen for Human Rightswere each handed over acheque of Rs 2,84,442 byYeti Airlines. As a part ofYeti’s corporate social responsibility program the airline hasbeen collecting four rupees from each flight ticket.

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ExchangeAVCO Auto Shoppe, an outletthat allows buying, selling aswell as exchange of pre-ownedcars was launched last week.On purchase of any of theirvehicles the outlet provides

limited warranty and free servicing.

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Holiday discountsTravel luggage brand, AmericanTourister, has come out with a special‘Great Value Offer for the upcomingholiday season. American Touristeroffers up to 15 per cent discount on itsproducts that are available at all thecompany stores in Kathmandu.

KTM-HK: Dragon Air announced its new flights to and fromKathmandu to Hong Kong. Starting from 1 October, three flightsper week in A330 aircrafts will all operate via Dhaka.

OUTLET: Nokia haslaunched two NokiaStores in City Center,Kamal Pokhari and inTamrakar House, NewRoad. As part of theirlimited introductory offer,consumers can win

Nokia Merchandise with purchases in any of the new stores.

6 31 JULY - 6 AUGUST 2009 #462FROM THE NEPALI PRESS

Editorial in Janadisha,26 July

The government has failedto stop the choleraepidemic in the far west. Ifthose leading thegovernment had anyshame, they would haveresigned by now. Thegovernment would ratherprepare for a civil war thanprovide relief. In fact,Defense Minister BidyaDevi Bhandari is currentlybegging for arms andweapons in New Delhi.This is against the 2006

Comprehensive Peace Accord . The CPA clearly states that neither Nepal Army nor the Maoist army canbuy new weapons, recruit more soldiers or even transport weapons. The government is now busybuying old and worn-out weapons India once used in the Kargil war. Is it worth buying weapons worthmillions of rupees when the government can’t even send medicine worth five rupees? Even the PM’soffice doesn’t see the spread of cholera as an epidemic and the government seems especially reluctant tosend medicines in Maoist strongholds.

Medicines, not guns

Editorial in Naya Patrika, 26 July

Just like the time of the monarchy, COAS Rookmangud Katawal is nowframing his apothegms in the army headquarters. Whether it is hisyearning to be the ‘new king’ or his hunger to be in news viacontroversies, Katawal needs to understand that no wall in a republicnation shall put up his quotes. Katawal’s position has been a politicalissue lately, more so because of the opposing political parties than theGeneral himself. However, the Maoists’ constant accusations andKatawal’s comments on politics has put the peace process in jeopardy.And equally misleading is the fact that the government is not doinganything to put a stop to this row. The question is who shapes thearmy’s ideology: the democratic government or the army chief?

Letter to the Editor in Kantipur , 26 July

It was interesting to read that the vicepresident of Nepal says he can’t speak

Nepali. It’s also shameful forsomebody that has worked under

the Nepali justice system for somany years. Sonia Gandhishould be an inspiration.Italian born, she learnt Hindifrom scratch so she couldaddress the people of Indiain their own language.Obama had to start overwith his oath because hemissed out a few words inbetween. But ParmanandaJha insists that he take theoath in Hindi even afterangry protests from theNepali people. Whatexactly is the vicepresident trying to prove

by going against the Nepalijustice system?Rajendra Gurubacharya,New Baneswor

KALENDRA SEJUWAL

Katawalspeak

Shame

KIRAN PANDAY

KIRAN PANDAY

731 JULY - 6 AUGUST 2009 #462CONSTITUTION 2010

he euphoria after theelections last yearhas evaporated, but the

hope has not died. It is saidoptimism is more powerful thana thousand guns.

There was optimism when thecountry was declared a democraticrepublic by the first CA sessionabolishing the 240-year oldmonarchy. But things did notmove as expected after that. The

political parties could not reachthe necessary consensus thatwould pave the way for thewriting of a new constitution. Wewere divided into ruling andopposition parties in forming thegovernment, and even thepresident was not electedunanimously.

We avoided the provision ofopposition in the CA regulationsto make it different from aparliament, and banned thedisruption of its sessions. But theconstitution writing process isaffected by political squabblesover power.

Even so, the thematiccommittees are active in draftingthe new constitution and the CAsessions have been going on.Some issues on their agenda havenot been properly thrashed out,

COMMENTRabindra Adhikari

and parties have made it aprestige issue. Discussions havegot stuck over whether or not thephrase ‘people’s war’ and‘People’s Liberation Army’should be used.

There is a culture of ‘I amright you are wrong’, and ‘I haveall the answers’. Theconstitution is ultimately adocument of compromise. Thepolitical parties sometimesforget this. We established ademocratic republic, but noculture of democracy yet.

Looking from outside, theCA members do not seem to haveworked at all. They are gettingallowances from the state just tobicker, it is said. There is asaying: ‘to look at everythingwith doubt is a misuse of theeyes’. It is natural to havecuriosity about what therepresentatives are up to, but ifwe are so cynical that we writethem off it doesn’t helpstrengthen the institution ofdemocracy. We shouldunderstand that if parliament isweakened, the people areweakened.

The thematic committeeshave worked hard. They preparedquestionnaires and collectedpublic opinion. The discussionswith experts, studies of collectedsuggestions and regular meetingsare significant tasks in theprocess of writing the

Lal Babu Pandit, UML CA member, Morang

How did you spend the lastyear in the CA?We haven’t done what weshould have achieved by now.If the party heads sit down andreally try to solve ourproblems, the disagreementswon’t last. The people wantthe constitution to be writtenon time. We’re working veryhard, but it’s up to theleadership to untie the knots.

Will the people get their wishthat the constitution will bewritten on time?Whether early or late, thepeople haven’t gotten theirwish, because they’ve broughtthe parties to this stage,telling them to write theconstitution or die trying.

What’s delaying the constitution?The stubbornness of party heads is to blame. The main problem isthat they’re confused. They don’t realise that the country’s cause isbigger than theirs. If they don’t stop soon, we’ll have to rush things.

Is the CA’s work satisfactory?The constitution will definitely be written. But only 60 per cent ofthe CA’s work has been properly completed.

Was there conflict between parties when the committee you lead,Protection of Rights of Minorities and Marginalised Communities,was writing its preliminary draft?In the beginning, the decisions were taken unanimously. But aftersome time, the Maoists refused to sign the draft. They wanted thedraft to be written under their leadership.

Allauddin Ansari, RPP CA member, Nawalparasi

How did you spend the last year inthe CA?The constitution-writing process is inmotion. I’m a member of the StateRestructuring Committee. Somecommittees are stuck as they’rebeing reconstituted. Others are heldback due to the lack of trust betweenpoliticians. That’s why I’m beginningto doubt whether the constitution willbe written on time. But thecommittees are still working. In acouple of days, we’ll submit apreliminary draft that outlines theadministration for the centre, localand provincial levels.

Will the constitution be writtenon time?There’s no need to rush. Theconstitution must be good, even if itis late. I can’t say for sure whether itwill be written on time. With regard to committee rules and regulations,although the party whips haven’t interfered, they’re still divided. Theprocess is getting delayed. Basically, they are all saying the samethings and yet the parties are divided. So, how could the constitutionpossibly be written on time? Everybody needs to put aside theirdifferences. It’ll be difficult to write the constitution while the Maoistsaren’t in government.

What’s delaying the constitution?The main reason is that the big party leaders can’t agree with oneanother. As soon as they do, the constitution-writing process will getback on track.

Don’t the small parties have a role?Only if the big parties stop bickering and get together. The big partyleaders don’t even attend the meetings, they just mill around and chat.

‘To look at everything with doubt isa misuse of the eyes’

“Disagreement isthe main problem”

“Leadershipmust untie theknots of problems”

Nine months to goconstitution. The CA membersstudied the suggestions and noware preparing the conceptualdrafts of the constitution.

Four thematic committeesalready submitted their drafts tothe CA. There have been changesin the previous schedule of theCA but things are happening asscheduled these days. No matterhow active the CA is, the firstcondition for constitutionwriting is political consensus,without which the constitutionwill not be written.

Some people believe thatthere can only be politicalconsensus, not anationalconsensus as Nepal is a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual and multi-religious country. Our nation’smultiple identities should beseen as an advantage, not a curse.

We got mandate for two yearsto draft the constitution, thereare now nine months to go. Asthe deadline draws near, there aredoubts that the constitution willnot be written on time. It isunfortunate that the politicalparties are engaged in makingand breaking the governmentinstead of drafting theconstitution.

It has become a cliché to sayit, but we must work towards aconsensus and move ahead.

Rabindra Adhikari is a CAmember of UML.

T

KIRAN PANDAY

n Thamel, Jamal and many other areas of Kathmandu, you’ll see groups ofchildren begging, running recklessly through traffic, smoking and fighting, allunder the influence of the industrial glue they sniff habitually. Children asyoung as five and six wake up in the mornings in filthy beds still high fromthe night before. Sometimes they’re too high to collect free meals and hand-outs from volunteers. Security guards beat them if they stray too close towalled-compounds and pedestrians insult them and call them freaks. But

they don’t realise that the children sniff glue because they’re lonely and unhappy,having fled abusive families only to fall into the street’s perilous world.

TEXT and PICTURES by GIORGIO TARASCHI

DamnedStreet kids make the most of a life they didn’t choose

Ashish wakes up in Tridev Marg while his brother Sunil lies sprawled to his right, lights acigarette and observes friends still high from the night before.

Bishal waits for cars to stop so he can beg their passengers for change.

Anil, Ram, Hari, Kale, Bikash, Hari and Prakash having dal bhat offered by volunteers inThamel. Volunteers bring free meals twice a week.

Brothers Sunil and Ashish swimming in a pond in front of the Narayanhiti Palace Museum toescape the heat.

“It’s very cheap and you can buy it just in Ason but trust me, once you try, you can’t stopbecause with every breath you take you see God”

Twelve-year-old Sagar wakes up next to a dog after a glue-induced sleep. He and his friendsprotect street dogs from abuses by other street children, who sometimes fill their ears with glue.

I

ixteen-year-old Sonam Tamang’searliest memory of Kathmandu isof a city his mother abandonedhim to eight years ago. “Ama poilogayi” whimpered Sonam,remembering his mother whoeloped with another man. The

charity SathSath has taken up the causeof street children like Sonam, shelteredthem, and now sponsored an exhibitionof 15,000 photos they’ve taken called, ‘Mylife, My vision’, the culmination of three-years’ effort by the group’s Ben Gough.The pictures describe resilience andambition.

And 17-year-old Saroj Gole, whosepictures are featured in the exhibition,lacks neither. Once a street kid, he nowstudies in grade 10, thanks to SathSath.His life’s aim is to be a teacher for streetchildren and a musician. His story ispainfully familiar – his parents diedamid crippling poverty.

Fifteen-year-old Manish Raj Dhamalaalso studies in the 10th grade. His parentsdied from drug use. He has been withSathSath for two and a half years. LikeGole he has artistic ambitions. He wantsto be a theatre actor so he can show that“life is full of joy and sorrow”.

Sonam Tamang, now a fifth grader atMadhyanik Vidhyalaya, Bhimsengolaafter four years with SathSath, also viesto be a stage actor. And soon she, Manishand Saroj, will get a chance to test theirtheatrical mettle. With SathSath’ssupport, they performed a drama calledDabiyako Awazharu in Dhading last week.The play will be performed at publicdabalees in Kathamndu after which itwill travel to Bhaktapur, Sindhupalchokall the way to Dolakha and then toChitwan and Kaski.

An exhibition of pictures by former streetchildren shows off their talents and hopes

The art of escape

TEXT and PICTURES byMIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA

S

10 ECONOMIC CRISIS 31 JULY - 6 AUGUST 2009 #462

ncertainty is the main factor inhibiting growth and reform indeveloping economies: uncertainty about the outcome ofinvestment decisions, of the durability of institutions, of the

enforcement of contracts, about the accumulation and opportunitiesgiven to human capital, and so on.

When risks are measured, they are called uncertainties. It’s helpfulto divide the kinds of risks to three categories: market place or economic risk social risk political risk.

Political risks arise in the absence of a regulatory regime thatenforces rules effectively. Irregular behaviour can happen in bothdemocratic and autocratic countries. During the first Bhutto regimein Pakistan, for example, the government made it hard for firms to

obtain licenses withoutproviding shares in theirenterprises to the head of state.Needless to say, thisdiscouraged private investmentin the country.

Insecure property rights and contract enforcement are twoprincipal source of economic risk. The risks of confiscation, forexample, reduce people’s incentives to think in the long term.

But reform can’t be undertaken by fixing political and economicrisks alone. Social risks must be addressed too. Peru’s president,for instance, hoped that by distributing land titles he would pullinformally held land into the formal sector where they could thensupport entrepreneurial activity. But, rich oligarchs were able toaccumulate great swathes of the newly titled land, which thencaused popular resistance to market-based reform in LatinAmerica. This happened because there weren’t social institutionsin place that could protect these rights.

When inequalities are high the social risks to reform are greatbecause the government can’t rely on a steady majority to pushthrough reforms. In many Latin American countries, inequalities arestark so the rich and poor have very different expectations ofeconomic policy. As a result, even many democratic countries inLatin America that enacted economic reforms didn’t see full termsbecause of popular, anti-market uprisings against their reforms. So,investors anticipating this, don’t make long term investmentsunless someone else bears the risk, namely the government, orif the profit opportunities are so short term that they can recouptheir investment. Of course, these kinds of opportunities don’t leadto long-term development. And this causes a bias against theprivate sector.

East Asian countries have successfully addressed economicand social risks together. They’ve put an emphasis on sharedgrowth and social development. In the East Asian experience, ascountries became wealthier, income inequality has diminished.They invested heavily in primary education, universal health care,and established rural development banks that not only made loansbut trained budding rural entrepreneurs to make wise businessdecisions.

Regimes that are able to undertake successful socialtransformation and engage the confidence of their people areexactly the same regimes that are able to undertake ambitiouseconomic reform. By winning the confidence of the people, EastAsian countries could create an effective and credible economicbureaucracy that could interact with a private sectorthat had faith in it.

So, how can we learn from East Asia when we aspire todevelop Nepal’s economy in a democratic way? My answer issimple - that a credible economic bureaucracy that can maintain adialogue with the private sector and enable greater entrepreneurialactivity is a necessary and decisive condition for growth.

Without such a bureaucracy the government will not be able toplay a leading role in bringing about economic development. It istrue that a credible bureaucracy isn’t a substitute for a fundamentalframework that protects private property, contract law and so forth,but it is a crucial complement. Indeed, to have such a framework,one needs the actual apparatus of government in place.

Hilton L Root is a public policy specialist at George MasonUniversity. This comment is excerpted from a talk delivered on 17July at a seminar on 'Stimulating Economic Growth: the Role of thePrivate Sector and the Government' organised jointly by USAID,Laxmi Bank and Himalmedia.

RiskybusinessU

epal’s macro-economicsituation is beingbuoyed by remittances,

but monetary authorities seemunable to control gallopinginflation.

All they can do is for Indianprices to drop, but an abnormalmonsoon means food prices willremain high. The real reason forthe inflation is cartelling,hoarding and generallawlessness in the country, andthese are not likely to beresolved soon.

And the aftereffects of theglobal recession on remittancesand tourism means even thetraditional safety valves will notbe able to rescue the ailingeconomy.

Price movements in Nepaland India tend to correspondbecause of import dependenceand the fixed exchange rate. ButNepal’s inflation is declining farmore slowly than Indianinflation. This suggests thatNepali firms have colluded tokeep prices up, which hasaggravated the impact oftransport bandas and politicaldisruption.

“There isn’t enough

Waiting

his week’s monsoonsqualls may have salvagedsome rice planting, but it is

more a case of ‘too little too late’than ‘better late than never’.

The long winter drought thisyear was followed by monsoonrains that were delayed by nearlytwo months, devastated winterwheat and maize across Nepal andis expected to decimate riceharvests.

“We must consider ourselveslucky if we salvage even 50 percent of rice production this year,”says Harikrishna Upreti at theNepal Agriculture Research Centre(NARC).

Rice accounts for half the totalcereal production in Nepal, andwith only 30 per cent of the

Millions maystarve eventhough themonsoonshave finallyset in

DEWAN RAI

Too little

T

SUVAYU DEV PANT

N

Countries can’t develop withoutaddressing the political, economicand social risks that endangereconomic policy

MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA

paddy fields irrigated mostfarmers depend on the monsoonfor their crop. Rice is also a water-intensive crop, and the delayedmonsoon killed all paddy seedsthat were being readied fortransplanting.

“We are more than three weekslate for transplanting seedlings,”Upreti says.

The report of the Ministry ofAgriculture and Cooperatives(MoAC) shows that only 63 percent of rice farms in the Himal, 60

KIRAN PANDAY

COMMENTHilton L Root

1131 JULY - 6 AUGUST 2009 #462ECONOMIC CRISIS

gamecompetition and too muchcartelling in Nepal,” is theconclusion of the IMF’s man inNepal, Alexander Pitt.

Recent police raids haverevealed rife hoarding, but thisdoesn’t explain inflation sincehoarding causes discrete jumps inprice and not the continuous riseNepalis have witnessed.

Inflation occurs when thepublic spends too much or themoney supply is too high.Monetary authorities can checkinflation by selling bonds to thepublic, which takes money out ofthe economy, or buying bonds,which infuses money into it.When the money supply falls theinterest rate rises, which in turnmakes loans more expensive soreduces expenditure.

However, the peg to the Indianrupee means that NRB mustsurrender control over domesticinflation to its Indiancounterpart. The NRB maintainsthe peg by manipulating theinterest rate so can’t change themoney supply to controlinflation as that would alter theinterest rate and disturb the peg.This means that Nepal’s monetarypolicy must broadly track India’s.

But the dependence on Indiaisn’t a bad thing since NRB isn’twell enough equipped to run an

independent monetary policyand the peg has served to calmeconomic instability here. Plus,Nepal’s close economic ties withIndia is a good reason to keepthe peg.

When the NRB has tried torein in inflation by increasingthe interest rate and Cash ReserveRatio, which requires banks towithhold money from thepublic, the results have beendiscouraging. Generally,monetary policy in Nepal hasn’teffectively controlled inflation.

One reason is that Nepalisdon’t save money in banks ortake out loans, so neither theCRR nor bank rate affects themdirectly. In technical parlanceNepal’s economy is not“monetised”.

NRB also can’t control theIndian currency that circulateswidely in Nepal. So there is littlethe central bank can do except towait for Indian inflation to abate.

“Yet, the Rastra Bank behavesas if they can control allinflation,” says monetaryeconomist Radesh Dhoj Pant.Other bodies could step into control cartelling byestablishing a competition boardand lower prices.

Reports of a liquidity crunch,which would curb inflation by

Nepal’s monetary authority ishelpless against soaring inflation

too late?Dahal, joint secretary at the MoAC.

He says about 95 per cent of theland in the Tarai and about 70 percent in the mid-hills will becultivated after this rain. “Thismakes us hopeful because three-fourths of rice production is in theTarai, and it’s still not too late,”Dahal adds.

Nepal cultivates rice in 1.558million hectares but only 654,360hectares (42 per cent) land had beencultivated till the end of June. AtNARC, agronomists are predicting asharp drop in rice production and asevere food shortage this winter.

“The late transplanting hasincreased the cost of cultivation,and the seedlings are too old toyield a good harvest,” he explains.

At the UN’s World FoodProgramme (WFP) country directorRichard Ragan says it is still tooearly to say how the monsoon rainswill affect crop production. It isnot just when the monsoon starts,but where and how much rainNepal receives during the periodthat affects crop production,he says.

“Regardless of what happens tothe monsoon crops, millions ofpeople in Nepal are still facing

severe food insecurity and needongoing food assistance,” Ragantold Nepali Times.

Meteorologists at the WeatherForecast Division predict thecurrent monsoon pulse is robustand will continue into theweekend throughout thecountry. “The long spell ofdrought is over now,” says ManiRatna Sakya at the meteorologyoffice.

Even without the delayedmonsoon, Nepal was alreadyreeling from an annual 133,000ton food deficit from the winterdrought. The country needs5 million tons of grain a year ofwhich half is for rice. About 90per cent is met through domesticproduction. The combination ofhigh food prices and droughtover the last two years hasdoubled the number of foodinsecure people in Nepal. A jointassessment by the WFP, MoACand the Food and AgriculturalOrganisation released in Maystates the winter droughtreduced the production ofwheat and barley by 14 and 17per cent respectively.

“In the most-affected areas,one in two families is alreadyskipping meals. If summer cropswere to fail as they did in thewinter, it would create asignificant humanitarian crisisin Nepal,” Ragan warns.

throttling the money supply,have been wildly exaggerated, saysPant.

Nepal needs foreign exchangereserves to buy and sell currencyso NRB can maintain the peg andlet Indian prices drag Nepaliprices down.

Remittances, which contribute18 per cent to Nepal’s economy,have ensured that Nepal hassufficient reserves. But some areworried that reserves will dry upas foreign economies reel underthe current global crisis.

Nepali workers abroad sendback foreign-denominatedearnings, which pack extrapurchasing power now that theNepali rupee is weak, and this hascaused remittance flows toregister a 55 per cent spike thisyear. But this is likely to drop.

Any fall in remittance will becounterbalanced to some extentby a fall in the imports theyfinance, so experts think reserveswill stay stable.

But a drop in remittancecould hurt the financial and realestate sectors. Since land is oftenused as collateral, if land pricesdrop when remittance dips thenbanks wouldn’t be able to recouptheir investments, which couldtrigger a US-style liquidity crisis.

While inflation can becontrolled if reserves stay up andcartelling is curtailed, somebelieve the government’s target ofreducing inflation to 7 per centfor the next fiscal year is tooambitious.

Says Pant: “It is a wish fromnever-never land.”

BOUNTYLESS: A rice planterirrigates his field in Naikap withwater pumped out of a well afterrains failed.

per cent in the mid-hills and 36per cent land in Tarai had beentransplanted by end-July.

“The good news is that theplantation can be done till mid-August in Tarai and this week’srain has been helpful,” says Hari

12 REVIEW 31 JULY - 6 AUGUST 2009 #462

ess than two per cent ofAsians adopt homeless anddestitute mutts from

shelters. In response, one-timestreet dog Oscar and his SouthAfrican owner Joanne Lefson areon a World Woof Tour toencourage people to adopt the 475million homeless mutts in theworld.

Starting the journey on 2 Maythis year from Cape Town, he hasalready seen the ancient Egyptianpyramids, climbed up the Eiffel

uly was quite something, wasn’t it, with the 40th anniversaryof the first moon landing and the most spectacular total solareclipse of the century.

The highlights of August are the summer meteor shower andthe grand-standing of Jupiter opposite to the sun throughout thenight sky.

In the evening hours, you will see the ‘Square of Pegasus’ inthe eastern horizon and the ‘Great Summer Triangle’ high in theeast along the Milkyway band. The western sky will be kind of

dull, but dominated by theBig Dipper (Saptarshi).

August brings the well-known Perseid meteor-shower: intense streaks oflight across the night sky

caused by small bits of interplanetary rock and debris calledmeteoroids as they crash and burn high in Earth’s upperatmosphere. When a meteor appears, it seems to 'shoot' quicklyacross the sky with intense brightness that might make you thinkit is a falling star. Travelling at thousands of km an hour,meteoroids quickly ignite in searing friction of the atmosphere,100 km above the ground. Almost all are destroyed in thisprocess, the rare few that survive and hit the ground are knownas meteorites.

Perseids seem to radiate from a point in the constellation ofPerseus, which rises around mid-night and is high in the east bydawn. These meteors may be seen any time from late July to lateAugust, but the peak this year is expected on the night of 12August. However, there should be good numbers of meteors onthe previous night (11 August), increasing in theory to oneshooting star every two or three minutes towards dawn.Unfortunately, the gibbous Moon will be only 35 degrees to theright of the radiant point, and its light will tend to drown out all butthe brightest meteors. To minimise the effect, try looking to theleft of the radiant, at 90 degrees to the Moon.

Treat meteor watching like you observe the fireworks of theNew Year. Select a dark location away from city lights.Binoculars are not necessary, your eyes will do just fine to enjoythe meteor mania.

Planets:Mercury is at its greatest elongation east of the Sun on 24August, but it sets only minutes after the Sun and we’re unlikelyto see this elusive little planet this month. Venus, in Gemini,could be seen as the brilliant ”morning star” rising about threehours before the Sun. Although it is low in the twilight sky, Venusis so bright that it can be picked out easily.

Mars, located at the ‘horns’ of Taurus the Bull, is rising in thenorth-east around midnight and by dawn it’s high in the east - wellto the upper right of Venus, but much less bright.

Jupiter is at opposition (to the Sun) on 14 August, whichmeans it rises as the sun sets and sets at sunrise, making it wellpositioned for observing throughout the night. The opposition willalso bring Jupiter closer to us than during the rest of the year, dueto which, even smaller telescopes (4-inch) could also reveal itscolourful equatorial bands. But you would have needed a muchbigger telescope to see the scare of a suspected comet collisionlast week.

At the start of August, it may still be possible to get a glimpseof Saturn very low in the western sky after sunset, but it setsearlier every night, and by the end of the month we will have lostsight of the Ringed Planet. It passes behind the Sun in the middleof September. kedarbadu(at)gmail.com

August skyAfter the eclipse, get ready forthe summer meteor shower

STARGAZINGKedar S Badu

J

Mutt tour

Tower and eaten rice and curry atthe Taj Mahal. Nepal is the 20th

country Oscar is visiting.He plans to visit over 65 dog

welfare centers in five continentsaround the globe. Oscar’s team isfilming the entire adventure aspart of a global documentary anda to-be published book. Whilebeing the ‘most travelled dog’ isjust another attraction of Oscar’sdocumentary, the film’s purposeis to give the long deservedrecognition, necessary fundingand inspiration to dog shelters

around the world.Despite high expenses and

extensive journeys, the duo istouring to save mutt lives.‘Thankfully Oscar hasn’t had anyproblems in the journey yet,’Joanne told Nepali Times. Sheadded that his travels would behalted right away if Oscar got sick,since Oscar is the lynchpin of thetour.

Lefson initially had to sell herhouse to get a head start on themission but some help has comefrom sponsors Pedigree, ROGZ,United Parcel Service and locallodges along the way.

Thanks to the undying effortsof Kathmandu Animal Treatmentcentre in Budanilkantha Nepal hasbeen included in Oscar’s list ofcountries to visit. KAT has alreadysterilised more than 2500 dogswithin ring road and is constantlypromoting the adoption of healthycommunity dogs instead ofbranded but weak pups.

To help the cause, Nani, a blackdog sheltered in KAT, wasawarded the ‘Oscar’s Oscar’. Alongwith a chubby Oscar toy, theperson with a golden heart whoadopts this year-and-a-half-oldbeauty shall get a free ROGZ collarand lead. Subeksha Poudel

See also: ‘K9-friendly, # 460

LKIRAN PANDAY

g1331 JULY - 6 AUGUST 2009 #462INTERNATIONAL

WASHINGTON-Favourability ratings forthe United States have risen globallycompared to a year ago when Bush was stillpresident according to the Pew GlobalAttitudes Project (GAP).

They gained modestly in the Islamicworld where people are still suspicious ofWashington.

The survey was based on interviewswith more than 26,000 respondents in 24nations and the Palestinian Territorieslast month.

Andrew Kohut, who has directed alleight surveys GAP has published since2000, attributed the improvement inWashington’s standing primarily toObama’s popularity.

Israel was the only country wherepeople didn’t express significantly moreconfidence that Obama “will do the rightthing in world affairs” than they had saidabout Bush one year ago when GAPpublished its last survey.

The difference was particularlypronounced in Western Europe where nineof 10 French and German respondent saidthey believed Obama will do the right thing,compared to only 13 or 14 per cent whothought similarly about Bush in 2008.

Strong pluralities or solid and evenoverwhelming majorities in each country(except the US itself) agreed with hisdecision to close the Guantanamo detentionfacility and to withdraw US troops from Iraqby December 2011.

At the same time, strong pluralities andmajorities in all but a handful of countries -Israel, India, Kenya, and Nigeria - opposed

his decision to send more US troops toAfghanistan.

Nonetheless, US anti-terrorism effortsare now seen more positively abroad thanthey were during the last years of the Bushadministration. While majorities in only fivecountries said they favoured US-led effortsagainst terrorism in 2007, majorities in 15said they favoured them in 2009.

More respondents also see US policy

as less unilateral under Obama, such asGermany, where the number of respondentswho said they believed that Washingtonconsiders their country’s interest in itsforeign policy jumped from 27 per cent in2007 to 54 per cent in 2009, and Russiawhere the number rose from 19 to 31per cent.

In several key countries - Brazil,Indonesia, Mexico, India, Argentina,

Nigeria, and Turkey - significantly morerespondents considered the US a“partner” rather than an “enemy”

For all that, scepticism about USpolicy, even under Obama, remains high.

With the notable exceptions ofGermany, China, India, Israel, Brazil,Kenya, and Nigeria, firm majoritiesranging as high as 84 per cent (Jordan)believe Washington is not currentlyadhering to multilateral policies.

In all but five countries - France, India,South Korea, Kenya and Nigeria - morerespondents said they see the US asexercising a more negative than positiveinfluence on their countries than thereverse.

Despite some modest improvements,Washington’s status remains particularlyproblematic in the Arab, the Middle Eastand the larger Islamic world, according tothe survey.

Majorities in all seven predominantlyMuslim countries with the exception ofJordan (48 per cent), said they wereconcerned that the US could become amilitary threat to their country, althoughthat impression has diminished in fourcountries, especially in Turkey, Jordan,and Egypt, compared to a year ago. At thesame time, it increased in Pakistan from72 per cent to 79 per cent.

Skepticism was also especiallystrong on the question of whether Obamawould be fair in dealing with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While pluralities ormajorities in every country answered inthe affirmative, all of the predominantlyMuslim countries - except Indonesia - andRussia disagreed.

Overall, the percentage ofrespondents in every predominantlyMuslim country who expressed favourableviews of the US. rose - albeit relativelymodestly - compared to a year ago. Theonly exception was Pakistan, wherepositive assessments fell from 17 per centto 15 per cent. (IPS)

The new president has restoredWashington’s global image to levelsit enjoyed before Bush

The Obama bugJIM LOBE

14 31 JULY - 6 AUGUST 2009 #462CITY

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

Love Aaj Kal is a romantic comedy where Veerdoes not understand how Jai can treat matters ofthe heart like it were a financial transaction andJai does not understand how Veer Singh couldhave been so naïve and silly about Harleen inthe days of his youth. But as both stories, one setin the 1960s and the other in the new millennium,unfold we realize that the process of relationshipmight be different in each era, but the experienceof being in love remains the same

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

KATHMANDU VALLEY

WEEKEND WEATHER by NGAMINDRA DAHAL

The rains are finally here after the monsoon’s eastern arm belatedly dumpedhuge amounts of rainfall across the country. Kathmandu Valley had got only160 mm of rain in the first three weeks of the normal monthly average of 33 m,but this week alone there was 180 mm of precipitation nearly making up for theshortfall. The massive monsoon stretches right across Nepal to the Bay ofBengal, so expect this moisture to keep falling as rain through the weekend intonext week. The rains have brought down the day temperatures and the day-night differential has been narrowed by another 4 degrees. More rain is in storefor the weekend, which will be heaviest during the nights.

KATHMANDU

Fri Sat Sun

25-21 26-20 26-20

RECIPES

500g pork fillet or steak8 slices Parma or dried ham¼ cup dry white wine1 cup grated mozzarella12-16 whole sage leaves2 tablespoons olive oil4 tablespoons butterjuice of 1 lemonsalt and pepper to taste

Pork Saltimbocca(Serves 4)

Cut the pork into 4 equal pieces. Between twosheets of plastic flatten each piece of pork to about5mm thick using a meat mallet or a rolling pin.Season the pork generously with salt andpepper.In a large frying pan heat the olive oil on amedium heat and lightly brown the pork on oneside only in the pan for 1-2minutes. Turn the porkover and add the sage leaves and the white wine.Reduce the heat before adding butter and lemonjuice. Place 2 slices of dried ham on each piece ofpork. Top with the grated mozzarella and startspooning the butter sauce over the mozzarellauntil it has melted. Serve with steamed rice, risottoor mashed potatoes and vegetables.

This recipe is available for lunch and dinner atThe Summit Hotel for the whole of this week.

EXHIBITIONSNepal Rendezvous, an Exhibition of paintings from Nagarkotworkshop by Nepali and Bangladeshi artists at Siddhartha ArtGallery, Baber Mahal Revisited, til 10 August. 4218048

EVENTSFlea market, buy and sell new or old items, programorganised by Sangati Extended Care Centre at PapillionRestaurant premises, 1 August, 3PM.Himalaya, movie screening at Lazimpat Gallery Café,1 August, 5.30 PM. 4428549

MUSICBaja gaja, every Tuesday at Moksh, 7.30 PM onwards,Pulchok. 5526212Live band every Friday and rooftop bbq everyday at KausiKitchen, Durbar Marg. 4227288Sunday Jazz brunch barbecue and live jazz music at theTerrace, Hyatt Regency from 12-3.30 PM. 4491234Jazz evening at Delices de France Restaurant everyWednesday, 11AM-2PM. 4260326Some like it hot every Friday BBQ and live music by DineshRai and the Sound Minds, 7PM onwards, Rs 899 at Fusion,Dwarika’s Hotel. 4479488Happy cocktail hour, 5-7PM, ladies night on Wednesday withlive unplugged music at Jatra Café & Bar.Live Sensation, performance by Yankey every Saturday, 9PM,Hyatt Regency, Kathmandu. 4491234Live Band Sensation performance by Aprilrush, everySaturday till late, Rox Bar, Hyatt Regency Kathmandu.4489362

DININGAsparagus mania, enjoy allflavours at the RoxRestaurant, all throughAugust. 4491234BBQ Obsession, on Fridaysand Saturdays at Splash Bar& Grill, Radisson Hotel 10-31July, 6PM. 4411818Wine Festival, until 15September, Kilroy’s Thamel.4250440A cafe’s cafe DhokaimaCafe, Patan Dhoka. 5522113Pan Pizza & Risotto – for pizza cooked in pan with varioustoppings in wood-fired oven at the Rox Restaurant on Sunday,Monday & Tuesday. 4491234The Corner Bar, 3-11PM, 5-7PM, Radisson Hotel Kathmandu.4411818Mango Etagere with hi-tea at The Lounge from 4.30- 6.30 PM.Hyatt Regency. 4489362Weekend Brunch by the Poolside every Saturday andSunday, Soaltee Crowne Plaza Kathmandu, 11AM-3PM.4273999Pizza & Pasta at the Rox Restaurant every Monday &Tuesday, Hyatt Regency. 4489362Plat Du Jour at Hotel Shangri La, Kathmandu, Rs 600.4412999Reality Bites, The Kaiser Café, Garden of Dreams, operatedby Dwarika’s Group of Hotels, 9AM-10PM. 4425341Starry night barbecue at Hotel Shangri-la withlive performance by Ciney Gurung, Rs 999, at the ShambalaGarden, every Friday 7PM onwards. 4412999Himalayan Rainbow Trout at Hotel Yak and Yeti, Darbar Marg.4248999

GETAWAYSSpa Package, a 60-minute Ayurvedic massage and access tothe pool and spa with either breakfast or lunch at The Cafe orhi-tea at the Lounge for Rs 3000 at Hyatt Regency.4491234Dhulikhel Lodge Resort, offers an overnight stay for Rs 1600,from 24 July-30 September. 4222389Relax Package at Hyatt Regency Kathmandu for Rs 5555 plustaxes, for a night on double occupancy with breakfast,complimentary use of spa and, offer valid to Nepalis and localresidents only. 4489800Feel the Hyatt touch, a 60-minute Ayurvedic massage andaccess to pool and spa with breakfast or lunch at The Café orhi-tea at The Lounge. 4491234/ 4489359

This Italian entrée is usually served with the ham, cheese andsage rolled up into the meat and then pan-fried. It’s authenticrecipe usually calls for veal but due to the inconsistentavailability of veal one can use pork or chicken which hasbecome more common in recent years.

31 JULY - 6 AUGUST 2009 #462 15HAPPENINGS

LOVELY LUMLEY: Britsh actress and rights activist Joanna Lumley, whocampainged for equal treatment of former Gurkha soldiers, beinghonoured by Nepal Ex-Servicemen's Association at Shankar Hotel onTuesday.

KIRAN PANDAY

SCHOOL'S OUT: Government school teachers affiliated to RepublicanTeacher's Union stage a protest outside the Ministry of Education onThursday demanding the same benefits that private school teachersreceive.

MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA

KIRAN PANDAY

KIRAN PANDAY

FEELING BLUE: Members of Nationwide Youth Pressure Campaign forConstitution Making take a rally out on Saturday to urge CA members tofinish writing the constitution on time.

MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA

VENICE OF THE EAST: Flooded Kantipath after a torrential downpour onMonday.

WHAT'S COOKING: NC students protest inflation on the streetsby pretending to cook food in front of Bhrikuti Mandap on Friday.

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

31 JULY - 6 AUGUST 2009 #46216

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BACKSIDE

The low self-esteem of us Nepalis comes from the way we talkabout ourselves. Someone, somewhere 60 years ago startedcalling Nepal a “tiny Himalayan kingdom”, and to this

day there isn’t a week that passes by without a national leaderdelivering a speech in which he doesn’t call Nepal “hamro jasto garibra sano desh”.

Our rulers haven’t even bothered to keep track of our population,which will soon cross 30 million, making us the 40th most-populous country in the world. And we have been calling ourselves“poor” so often that it has become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Some of our downtrodden groups should also adopt a highercalling and stop referring to themselves as ‘Backward Society’ and‘Other Backward Classes’ just because down south the marginalisedcall themselves that. The Indian diaspora gave itself the acronym ofNRI but realizing its folly has quickly graduated to People of IndianOrigin (PIO). But our overseas Nepalis are still defining themselvesby who they are not: NRN.

It’s surprising that after unilaterally turning into the NationalSecular Democratic Federal Former Kingdom of Nepal andabandoning any historical figure that even remotely played a role inthe formation of what is now Nepal and demolishing all theirstatues, and trying to change our unique national flag, yet no one hasthought of changing the name of the country. Nepal has a politically-incorrect feudal connotation so, like a new national anthem, we needa new name for the country.

The Ass has already received several suggestions,: Bandadesh,Republic of Yam, Federal Democratic Republic of Nipple,Penpal, Baksheeshstan, Hullai Hulla Ko Desh, Vassal State ofEuthanasia. (More suggestions are welcome onass(at)nepalitimes.com, and the lucky winner will get to meet theDonkey in person.)

Have to hand it to this country’s Bahuns. There are no greaterschemers in the political firmament than the triumvirate of Bajeyswho rule over us. Look at them: they’re all upper caste and they can’tstand each others’ guts. GPK installed MKN as PM and he is nowmiffed that Makunay isn’t giving him enough respect, and sensingthis PKD is making his move to tempt GPK to be prime minister.Needless to say, Girjau is sorely tempted. Also goes to show thatwithin the Maoists, the leaders are all high-caste comrades and as faras scheming goes, they take the cake and eat it too. It comes naturallyto PKD that he is willing to kiss ass to try to mellow Makunay whilesimultaneously trying to split the eh-malaise by putting delusionsof grandeur into JNK’s head. If only all this superior brain powerwas employed for national development, this country would havebeen out of the woods long ago and we would have doubled our GDPper capita.

If you thought the wheeling-dealing between the parties wascomplicated, take a look at what is happening within the Baddies.Let me simplify it for you. As you know the CentCom is still goingon and horizontal and vertical fissures have emerged in the partyhierarchy. Well (take a deep breath here) the party is drifting fromone person one post leadership to one party multiple leadershipmode. PKD is miffed cuz this means the centralised power structurethat he dominates will be eroded, and BRB can barely suppress hisglee. Which brings him closer to the hardcoreliners led by CP and DrBaidya (despite the name the Doc is a true blue Brahmin). This hasthrown cadre who were followers of the hard and less-hard linersinto a bit of a tizzy. But the lads are regrouping around Comrade BPlop, Mumaram, and Cloudy. And this is where the plot thickens:into this volatile mix is the power struggle for the deputy leader, gensec, head of foreign affairs, etc. The issue now is how toaccommodate two Johnny-come-latelys: Amik Uncle and KaziNaryan Kamred. Amik has threatened to quit if the Kazi is placedabove him in the hierarchy and Awesome for some unfathomablereason is still angling to get his protégé a position in the party.

The great thing about all this, of course, is that itdoesn’t matter at all who gets what. Wake me up whenthe fireworks start.

ass(at)nepalitimes.com

Backwardsociety