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ä nf correspondent

Maoist leadership has been vehe-mently defending any attacks, be itverbal or physical on US officials orproperty, but the one on AmbassadorMoriarty and UNHCR Representa-tive, Rahman Rahman at Damak onFriday might prove to be very costly.

The incident also exposes thegovernment of Nepal for its failure togive necessary protection todiplomats serving in the country.

Ambassador Moriarty, in companyof Rahman Rahman, had gone to theUNHCR office to meet the campofficials after announcing that the USwould be giving twenty million dollarsto the World Food Programme(WFP) meant for the refugees. “Wehad no inkling they would pelt

Maoists only confirm US Ambassador’s worst fears.

Targeting Diplomatsstones,” a senior police official toldnewsfront confirming that theheadquarter had prior information ofpossible black flag demonstration.

Embarrassed by the event and theinternational flak it might attract,Home Minister K P Sitaula spoke tothe Police Chief asking that culprits bearrested and punished at any cost.The government’s embarrassmentonly increased since the mediarepresentatives, especially thecamera persons waiting at theUNHCR office provided detailedaccounts with video footages of theviolent protest where almost everyperson is identifiable.

The local police office, underinstruction from Kathmandu, made thefirst arrest over the incident aroundmid-night, and three more in the next

twenty four hours. But the ForeignMinistry sources anticipate that it wouldnot be considered enough.

It is not known whether the UNHCRrepresentative and or Moriarty havesent any ‘diplomatic note’ which meansplacing on record the event demand-ing necessary actions. Even withoutthat, the government will be answer-able to both UN as well as the USgovernment for the attack on thediplomats concerned.

Maoists had once even demandedthat Moriarty should be recalled forhis ‘blatant’ interference in internalpolitics of Nepal. Subsequently,Maoist Chief Prachanda also made apublic statement that the palace washatching a plot to kill some US officialsand put the blame on the Maoists, butwhen Moriarty challenged him to

provide evidence to authorities, hebacked out.

It is not yet known whether PMKoirala has taken up the issue withPrachanda since he is in charge ofthe YCL; but the attack is beingcondemned by a much wider politicalspectrum.

YCL has many Maoist combatantswho are meant to be in the desig-nated cantonments. It also haspeople like Dilip Maharajan who haspublicly acknowledged having killedformer Armed Police Force Chief inJanuary 2002.

Incidentally, the Damak attackcomes barely forty eight hours afterPrachanda asked the YCL leadershipto behave responsibly and not doanything that goes against the codeof conduct. ä

Zero Tolerance : Supporters of pro-maoist teachers group blocking an army school buswith students inside. More than 35 thousand schools with around 7.8 million students

all over the country have been paralysed for a week following a strike called by thepro-Maoist teachers group which imposed a day-long Bandh in the capital on Sunday.

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2 28 May- 3 June, 2007 News

ä nf correspondent

The G P Koirala governmentconstituted what it calls a high-leveljudicial commission to probe into lossof lives and property in Terai and haspacked the commission with HomeMinistry officials. This smacks more ofmanipulation than government’ssincere intention to extract the truth.

The cabinet meeting chaired byKoirala on Friday appointedSupreme Court Judge, Khilraj Regmias the Head of the 5-memberCommission with Deputy AttorneyGeneral, Rajnarayan Pathak; SirahaDistrict Court Judge, SahadevBastola; Deputy Head of the NationalInvestigation Department,Sukhchandra Jha and EasternRegion Deputy Inspector General ofPolice, Rabindra Pratap Shah - asmembers.

The commission will have onemonth to investigate and recommendaction against those involved. Whilethe government has secured theconsent of the Chief Justice of theSupreme Court, Dilip Poudel, forentrusting the responsibility of theprobe to Justice Regmi, othermembers were appointed by Koiralaon recommendation of HomeMinister Sitaula, the person whoseresignation is the pre-condition set bysome Madeshi agitation groups.

There are clear signs that thecommission would be acting underexecutive, especially under the HomeMinister’s guidance and control sinceat least two of his trusted HomeMinistry officials, Shah and Jha havebeen inducted as the members.Apparently, Shah as Eastern RegionDIG may have to face the probehimself since the first killing during

the Terai movement took place onJanuary 19 in Lahan. “We will acceptonly a free and fair probe”, MadheshiJanadhikar Forum leader Upendrayadav told newsfront over the phone.

Secondly, there are fears thatcontinuation of Sitaula as HomeMinister and Om Bikram Rana andBasudeb Oli as Chiefs of NepalPolice and the Armed Police Chiefrespectively might influence the

course of investigation as the HomeMinistry’s handling of the situationhas largely been criticised by manyparties as one of the principal causesof Terai flare up.

“The composition and conduct ofthe commission has to be aboveboard,” Minendra Rizal, leader of theNepali Congress (Democratic) toldnewsfront. Sitaula had suspendedthe chiefs of Nepal Police and the

APF, along with other seven seniorofficials when the governmentappointed Rayamajhi Commission toprobe into excessive use of force andgovernment money to suppress themovement for democracy that sawloss of 21 lives last year. Hisargument was that their continuationin the post might influence the courseof investigation. The Terai movementhas taken a toll of 60 lives so far. ä

Eye-washYet another farce in the name ofInquiry Commission

ä nf correspondent

PM Koirala hardly responded whenMaoist Chief Prachanda used hisofficial residence to charge thatNepal Army was nothing but, “abunch of corrupt and rapists.”

A year down the line, with armymore cornered then ever before,Koirala has now started to singvirtues of Nepal Army. “It is a greatarmy and people need to dispel theirwrong impressions about it,” Koiralasaid while inaugurating a Rehabilita-tion Centre built by the Nepal Armyat Ichangu Narayan on Friday.

“Nepal Army apart from maintain-ing law and order, defendedcountry’s integrity in difficult times. Itis also committed to defending thefundamental rights and democraticvalues,” Koirala, who also holds thedefense portfolio, said. His torrent ofpraise of the army comes at a timewhen not only the Maoists, but hisown party ministers have still beentreating the army as a tool of ‘politicalregression.’

Koirala’s praise comes in the wakeof top brass army officials questioningthe PM the justification of unilaterallyinvestigating alleged excesses by the‘Nepal Army’ during the years ofconflict, but not that of the Maoists.

The government has also beendelaying appointing the Truth andReconciliation Commission (TRC) aspledged by the government and theMaoists through the ComprehensivePeace Agreement (CPA) way back inNovember.

TRC is supposed to be investigat-ing excesses committed both by the

ä nf correspondent

There are still some chances thatMelamchi water project could besaved, but the Maoist MinisterHishila Yami is desperately lookingto save her face. And if specula-tions in the Maoist camps arecorrect, the Severn TrentInternational (STI) could wellprovide her with it, by quitting on itsown.

Yami did not press for review ofthe government’s earlier decisionto award the contract of drinkingwater supply for Kathmandu to STIduring the cabinet meeting onFriday although she had sent anote for the purpose. PrimeMinister G P Koirala asked Yamiand other ministers not to speak infavour of or against the Melamchiproject in public for some time andiron out the differences on thematter.

The Maoist flexibility on theissue follows a quiet meetingbetween Finance Minister RamSharan Mahat and Maoist leadersPrachanda and Dr. BaburamBhattarai, brokered by congressparliamentarian Amaresh Singh onThursday evening. Mahat isbelieved to have explained thatAsian Development Bank with-drawing from the project as aresult of government ‘defaulting’ onthe question of awarding contractto STI would mean many interna-tional donors blacklisting Nepal.Moreover, exploring alternatives toSTI, the lone bidder for the valleywater supply, may result inescalation of the project cost by

Mahat softens Prachanda

Salvaging Melamchi

several million dollars.The meeting which has been

kept a guarded secret so far, sawPrachanda a bit toned down as heassured Mahat that, “although wehave taken a stand on the matter, Iwill get back to you after consultingwith my party colleagues.”Prachanda had earlier met anADB representative as well.Prachanda subsequently an-nounced that he is not opposed toADB and that his party and ADBcould work together.

Yami not insisting for review ofthe STI-contract related proposalin the cabinet meeting on Fridayappears to be the direct result ofthe Prachanda-Mahat meeting.

“I think the project will go aheadundisturbed now,” Amaresh Singhtold newsfront. But what happensnow to Hishila Yami, is a question

being debated in political circles.She has been firmly resistingsinging the contract with STIsaying, “It is a notorious companychased away from several othercountries.” But what comes as asolace to her is the fact that theBritish government or the embassyhave not been pressurising thegovernment here to award thecontract to STI.

During a meeting with FinanceMinister Mahat last week,Ambassador Andrew Hall isbelieved to have said he would notadvise the STI to insist for theaward given the prevailingsituation. “If that happens, thatwould be a great face saving forYami,” a government official said,adding, that would pave the wayfor looking at other potentialcompanies.

Belatedly, PM sees only virtue in Nepal Army

Army fordemocracy ?

state and the Maoists during theyears of conflict and recommendappropriate actions against theculprits. The Rs 90 million projectenvisages providing medicaltreatment and imparting skills andvocational training to army personnel,their families and other civilians tomake them economically indepen-dent.

“There are questions being askedon whose side Nepal Army stands.The army is present everywherefrom roads to hospital construction.All doubts should be erased aboutthe army now,” he said. Interestingly,there was no participation from theMinistry of Home or other securityagencies during the function. ä

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328 May- 3 June, 2007News

News Brief

YCL rampageYoung Communist League is not only terrorising and attacking

people it is also acting like a kangaroo court which Maoists say theyhave shut-down.YCL activists are now giving ‘instant’ justice andimposing penalties that include imposing fine on those they declare‘guilty’.

On Friday, YCL activists gate crashed at Samata School in Jorpati,and slapped its founder, Uttam Sanjel on face which was seen by thepublic. The activists also left a notice in the school asking Sanjel to payRs 5,700 as penalty to YCL. He was held guilty for defying the schoolshut-down call by the pro-Maoist teachers. Sanjel, apparently terrified,refused to talk about the incident with newsfront.

In yet other glaring examples of YCL highhandedness, its cadresissued written ‘instructions’ to shut-down an adult education center incapital’s Manamaiju area, but the locals stiffly resisted the anti-education dictates of the League.

GPK defeatedPrime Minister Koirala is not quite used

to accepting defeat. He tries to win everypolitical battle by hook or crook. But thistime around, he lost badly when NepalVidhyarthi Sangh, a student wing of theNepali Congress, elected Pradeep Poudelwith thumping majority despite Koiralahaving thrown his weight behind anothercandidate, Badri Poudel.

The shocking defeat was all the more humiliating for Koirala as hecould not engineer victory of his ‘choice’ this time like he managed toensure victory of Ambika Basnet as Chairperson of Nepal MahilaSangh, the party’s women’s wing, last month.

An overwhelming majority of the students opted against the officialcandidate giving Poudel 830 votes in a multi-cornered contest. Koirala’shatred for Gagan Thapa and the latter’s insistence that he wouldcontest for the student wing leadership’s post had resulted in thepostponement of election about two years ago. Thapa did not contestfor the leadership in the Chitwan conclave, but whole-heartedlysupported Poudel. After all, in politics, an enemy’s enemy is a friend.

Fuel droughtThanks to

government’srepeated promisesand its appetite forbreaking them, IndianOil Corporation (IOC)has slashed fuelsupply to Nepalresulting in mostpetrol pumps in thecapital running dry.

Even the ones run by army, Armed Police Force and the NepalPolice that have very limited reserves have stopped giving petrol topeople who do not belong to their organisations. If the parched tanksare not replenished soon, vehicular movement might just come to astandstill, a Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) source told newsfront.

Commerce Minister Rajendra Mahato said a sum of Rs one billionwill be paid to IOC requesting unobstructed supply of fuel to Nepal. Theamount constitutes nearly one fifth of the arrears due, to the company.There are clear indications that the government might soon be hikingthe price of petrol to around Rs 80 to minimise the loss for its having tobuy petrol at a higher price from IOC and selling it at a much lower rateof Rs 67 at present.

Speaker’s dilemmaOld loyalty dies hard. That is what is beingexhibited by Speaker Subhash Nembwangnow. Conferred with the duty as a Speakerto run the House fairly and impartially, manyexpected him to at least summon thesession and then adjourn it, if unruly sceneswere repeated. But in the last few days, hehas just been issuing notices that the Househas been adjourned.

This has raised many eye-brows butmany members already have the answerwhy. CPN-UML, the party that the Speaker belongs to, has madethings difficult for him by issuing whip to its members including thosefrom Terai to let the House run. Any defiance of the party whip by themembers once the House is assembled naturally merits action underparliamentary rule. However, Nembwang has saved the UML membersby adjourning the House through advance notices.

ä nf correspondent

ä nf correspondent

Former U S President JimmyCarter has saved his statesman’simage often at the cost of his owncountry. But his impending visit toNepal is likely to surpass all that.During his three day visit beginningJune 13, he is likely to meet MaoistChief Prachanda, the person whofigures as a terrorist in the StateDepartment’s list.

Entertaining a ‘terrorist outfitand its head’ is something normallyavoided by those who have heldhigh offices. But as Carter Centerhere has confirmed that the formerPresident is keen to have ameeting with Prachanda, theembassy’s involvement as suchcould be restricted to extendingcourtesies and protocol formalities.

It is understood the US embassywill provide administrative andother support for the formerPresident while Carter Centeroversees the substance of his visit.President Carter, who frequentlyhas criticised his successors’

UnfazedMaoists may be terrorists for U S Govern-ment, but not for Jimmy Carter

foreign policies, may meet theMaoist leadership, even though theMaoists remain on the USgovernment’s terrorist list. Whilethis cannot make the United Statesgovernment happy, it most likely willnot be a surprise either. There hasbeen no word as yet from theembassy here on the visit.

Carter Center has been takinglot of interest on the conflict inNepal and even wrote to KingGyanendra, way back in April 2002,offering its expertise and servicesto resolve the conflict. While theCenter could not get any responseat that time, a team of about adozen representatives from theCenter a couple of months ago,was told by Maoist ChiefPrachanda that his party wouldappreciate a much bigger team ofobservers from the Center whenthe election to the constituentassembly takes place. The teamheaded by former U S diplomatPeter Burleigh was also told thatthe Center’s team of observersshould have at least 80 people, if

not more.Just like week, Carter had

criticised British Prime MinisterTony Blair for supporting PresidentBush on Iraq asserting that theworld would be seeing the USdifferently today if Blair hadopposed the war on Iraq. Carter,the U S President between 1976and 1980, has also been meetingHamas leaders embarrassing theU S government. Carter visitedIndia as the President in January1978, but visited Nepal only inNovember 1985, years after hissecond bid to the White Housesuffered a set-back.

He had to cancel his scheduledvisit to Nepal in early May followingconfusion over the tussle betweenthe King and the pro-democracyforces in the country.

For bright futureä Jyoti Devkota

The 5 day long second edition ofAmbition 2007, an exclusive megaeducation and career expo thatconcluded Sunday saw more successthan last year. More than 80thousand students visited the expo,Naresh Raj Pokharel, coordinator of‘Ambition 2007’ said.

In a short span of time, Ambition hasestablished itself as a center catering toall career and educational demands ofthe country. In the expo, more then twodozen educational institutes offeredcourses ranging from journalism,fashion, chartered accountancy,

management, medical education, artsto biotechnology and many more.

There were three hundrededucational consultancies thatprovided counseling to students forstudies abroad. The expo focused onhelping students in their college hunt,providing them a forum where theycould find answers to all theirquestions and where they could findguidance in determining their career.

Apart from academic institutions,over a dozen study and careerconsultations were present in theexpo to help students choose theright university and subjects. “I amhere to find a good institute aboard,”

Shova Shrestha said. Every yearthousands of students go aboardseeking a bright future. “We aregiving free counseling here for thosewho wish to study in a film school inIndia” said Sandeep Sharma,General Manager of NIILM School ofBusiness in India.

The consultancy services helpstudents prepare for tests like IELTS,TOEFL, SAT and GRE which areimportant measuring tools for gainingadmissions in international universi-ties. “We hope this event helpedthose who were seeking qualityeducation, good jobs and careers,”Pokharel said. ä

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Editor & Publisher : Yubaraj GhimireExecutive Editor : Sushma AmatyaNews Coordinator : Manoj DahalDesign: Sunil Khadgi, Kishor Raj Panta & Ramkrishna RanaAddress : PO Box: 8830, Lazimpat, Kathmandu, NepalTel : 4443888, Fax : 4421147 (Edt.), 4411912 (Mkt.)Email: newsfront@bhrikuti.com, marketing@bhrikuti.com (Mkt.)Printed by: Express Color Press, Buddhanagar, Tel.: 4781810, Distribution: Kasthamandap, Tel.: 2010821

28 May- 3 June, 20074 Editorial

Letters

Save heritageIt is encouraging that Kathmandu - by

sheer chance - has prevented itself frominclusion in the category of World HeritageSites in Danger (Issue16). However, thecapital’s rate of urbanisation and publicapathy will undermine the achievements. Acomplete lack of coordination betweenthe tourism board, ministry of localdevelopment, municipalities and wards topreserve the heritages sites is evident.

For instance, take Kathmandu DurbarSquare and its vicinity, which hasbecome congested due to traffic, vendorsand also has become a frequent platformfor political parties. The traffic police haveput a ‘no-entry’ sign for all traffic towardsHanuman Dhoka area but they cannotenforce this simple rule. Every evening, the square becomescrowded with hawkers and consumers who litter the areasadjoining the heritage sites.

Similarly, dilapidated roads from Dharma Path to Jhochhenand from Om Bahal to Lagan Tole are inconvenient to localsand tourists alike. The government, which is ostensibly sittingon unused funds, should invest on city roads that enhance theimage of the localities. While farcical traffic weeks areobserved each year, wouldn’t it be a good idea to relocate thehawkers from New Road to Brikuti Mandap so that pedestri-ans can actually walk on the sidewalks and not on roads?This would automatically reduce over-crowding and saveeverybody both time and money. The big question is: who isgoing to take these bold steps?

Shyamal ShresthaKathmandu

Protect forestsThe editorial on timber trade is highly relevant in the

present context.Minister of Forest and Soil Conservation,

Matrika Yaadav has said that if the HomeMinister helped, more and more redsandalwood smugglers could be captured. Ithas been crystal clear from his remark thatthe higher-ups including ministers seem tobe primarily involved in supporting smug-gling of forest products and biodiversityoverexploitation.

The Forest Minister’s statement clearlyindicates protection of smugglers from highplaces and a strong nexus between thecriminals, police, politicians and others. It isnot a new thing. The news of amnestygranted by the government in the past torhino poachers is still fresh in our minds.Maoists are protecting cadres who are

clearing off community forests and smuggling precious naturalproducts like Yarshagumba. Be it Maoists or any parties, thereseems sheer negligence on biodiversity related issues.

Sadly, natural resources has been the most neglectedaspect in this naturally rich country. High level politicians needto be aware of the value of the forests and biodiversity; andknow that if the last tree is cut and the last river is polluted, oursurvival will be threatened. So, please take protection ofnatural resources seriously.

B K Dalit, PresidentTeam for Nature and Wildlife, Kathmandu

Capital dehydrationFree flow of water from Melamchi to dehydrated Kathmandu, haslong been promised but not delivered by governments who havecome and gone. A ray of hope sparkled when the Melamchiproject actually started and the successive government managedto secure commitment from ADB as the lead financier.

The royal regime caused many hiccups to the project when theKing took an interest in it in a quest for personal vendetta againstthe then Prime Minister, Sher Bahadur Deuba who was sacked andarrested on corruption charges involving the project. Then, theinternational donors, suspecting that the King’s intentions were notfair, withdrew from the project. It came back only after the sevenparty government backed by Maoists returned to power last year.

Giving responsibility of distribution of drinking water to the capitalto a private company in a fair and transparent manner, as a moreefficient substitute to the present arrangement under thegovernment, pending completion of the Melamchi project, was acondition set by the ADB and agreed to by the government.

Renewed hopes that the return of democracy would see thepeople’s thirst quenched, are being belied since Hisila Yami, thePhysical Infrastructure and Housing Minister appears to befollowing the King’s footsteps. She is determined not to sign theagreement for valley water supply with Severn Trent Internationalwhich won the contract legally. ADB appears all set to withdrawfrom the project as a result of PM Koirala not being able to honourhis own decision. Moves like these virtually make the country adefaulter and discredits it internationally.

Minister Yami is right when she says that there should betransparency in awarding of contracts and only companies withreputation of being clean and efficient should be given responsibil-ity of managing essential services. This however has to be agovernment policy and should not rest on mere whim of a minister.She has to follow certain ways and processes to influencegovernment to formulate such policies in future. But arbitrarilyflexing muscles and derailing previously agreed projects wouldonly invite trouble that she cannot surmount.

The Melamchi controversy has now invited some bizarredevelopments like ADB’s senior officials directly negotiating withthe Maoist leader, Prachanda. This nearly makes him an extra-constitutional leader capable of undoing the government’sdecisions.

In the case of Melamchi, Koirala has to be fully answerable tothe parliament and to the people of Kathmandu on whether theproject would be abandoned under the dictates of a minister or hewould implement it as per the pledge he has made to the nation.He would be losing all his relevance and moral authority if hecannot convince his minister and instead get overruled by her.

“Water is life’s matter and matrix, mother and medium. Thereis no life without water.”

- Albert Szent-Gyorgyi

Point to Ponder

I celebrate myself

Walt Whitman (1819 – 1892) was born in theWest Hills of Long Island, New York. YoungWalt, the second of nine children, waswithdrawn from public school at the age ofeleven to help support the family. At the age oftwelve he started to learn the printer’s trade,and fell in love with the written and printedword. He was mainly self-taught. He readvoraciously, and became acquainted withHomer, Dante, Shakespeare and Scott early inlife. He knew the Bible thoroughly, and as aGod-intoxicated poet, desired to inaugurate areligion uniting all of humanity in bonds offriendship.

Spiritual CornerExtracts from Walt Whitman’s poetries :

I celebrate myself, and sing myself,

And what I assume you shall assume,For every atom belonging to me as goodbelongs to you.

***All truths wait in all things,They neither hasten their own delivery norresist it,They do not need the obstetric forceps of thesurgeon...

***The soul is always beautiful, it appears moreor it appears less,it comes or it lags behind,It comes from its embower’d garden

and looks pleasantly on itself and encloses theworld...

***Man and woman: different entities?I am the poet of the woman the same as the man,And I say it is as great to be a woman as to bea man...

***I dream’d in a dream I saw a city invincible to the attacks of thewhole of the rest of the earth,I dream’d that was the new city of friends,Nothing was greater therethan the quality of robust love, it led the rest,It was seen every hour in the actions of themen of that city,And in all their looks and words. ä

Readers, your reactions, criticisms,comments, suggestions are mostwelcome. Please address it to:

newsfront@bhrikuti.com

528 May-3 June 2007Debating Development

Nepal Democracy Forum has been a mostwatched site for debates on issues thatconfronts Nepal. The site launched byNepali youths in the United States topromote democracy often debates ontopical issues. An on-going one is whetherHome Minister K P Sitaula should resignover the Madheshi issue.

Clearly, the members are divided, withsome favouring that he should own theresponsibility for killing of more than 60people in Terai, step down, face a commis-sion of inquiry as per the precedence hecreated by setting up Rayamajhi Commis-sion - over the killing of 21 people duringthe movement for democracy last year.Some others ask, why Sitaula and why notthe prime minister? And others in hisdefense ask, will his resignation solve theproblem?

Certainly all the questions are valid andhave a point. But what is missing in thedebate is viewing things in a propercontext. What was promised to new Nepal,in the name of Jana-Andolan II, was thatwe will bury deep in the past, the culture ofimpunity; that we will have a system ofgovernance where accountability rulessupreme; and we will not have a systemwhere certain people would be above thelaw. That is why the first declaration inparliament said that not only the earningsof the royal family including that of the kingwill henceforth be brought under the taxnet, but they will also be liable for trial forcriminal offences.

Hand-picked by G P Koirala and Sitaula,Justice Rayamajhi, kept reiterating in publicthat he, as Head of the Commission, wouldnot hesitate to recommend action againstthe king for all misuse of power and fundsto suppress the people’s movement. ThePM turned a blind eye when Sitaulapunished some police and civil officials, andrewarded others, even when the commis-sion that Rayamajhi headed was investigat-ing their roles in the context of their allegedroles in suppressing the movement.

Khadga Oli who as the Deputy PrimeMinister headed the ministerial committee

to study and recommend actions on the basis offindings of the Rayamajhi Commission nowsays that, not only did the commission notrecommend any action against the king (whoacted as head of the government for 15 monthsbeginning Feb 1, 2005), it also recommendedaction against some civil and police officials whohelped the movement.

Rayamajhi can afford to keep silent on thesequestions, but Sitauala as the Home Ministercannot. In the context of politics and gover-nance post April 2006, Sitaula has to beanswerable to the parliament. Interestingly,Terai MPs cutting across the party lines have

stalled the House demanding more politicalrights for Terai and rejection of the report of acommission set-up by G P Koirala on delimita-tion. But unfortunately, none of them hasdemanded a commission to investigate thekilling of sixty people including 28 Maoistactivists in Gaur on March 21.

The pertinent question is – now that a probecommission headed by Supreme Court JudgeKhilraj Regmi has been formed, will Sitaulaneed to resign to ensure a fair probe? In thatcase, does this government have to follow itsown precedence of suspending security chiefslike Sitaula did, for killing of people during theApril movement?

Having a DIG and National InvestigationDepartment (NID) official, both serving underSitaula in the commission clearly shows it is amove to give the current Home Minister andPolice Chief a clean chit. Their subordinates arenot going to implicate their bosses. Thegovernment is once again trying to cheat thepeople of Terai through the politics of deceit. Toensure that the probe is fair and free fromexecutive influence, the resignation of Sitaulaand suspension of Nepal Police and APF Chief,as it happened last year, is the first prerequisite.

Those supporting Sitaula at the momentshould realise that he could have emerged as astrong democratic leader if he had steppeddown after owning moral responsibility for thefailure in Madesh, and for his having undervalu-ing the cause of the Madheshi movement andworth of the lives sacrificed there.

One compromise leads to many. This politicsof dual standards has already led to manycompromises. The government has agreed topay a salary of Rs.3000 per month to theMaoists ‘combatants’ lodged in designatedcantonments. These ‘combatants’ are themembers of a political party - Communist partyof Nepal-Maoists; and by paying them from thestate coffer, the government is only setting adangerous precedence.

One minister enjoying the privilege of nothaving to be accountable at all; membersbelonging to one particular party enjoying theprivilege of drawing salary from state exche-quer and not having to work for the state,would only make a mockery of democracy. ä

Politicsofdeceitandplunder

ä Yubaraj Ghimire

Politics of dualstandards hasalready led to manycompromises.

The pertinent questionis – now that a probe

commission headed bySupreme Court Judge

Khilraj Regmi has beenformed, will Sitaula needto resign to ensure a fair

probe?

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Justice Rayamajhi: Biased

Settingdualstandards

Trave6 28 May-3 June, 2007

MANANGWild, wonderfulWith its spectacular panorama of mountains, nature in its vibrantcolours, Manang is one of the best travel destinations in Nepal.

Humde, Manang airport, 3300 meters.

Annapurna II, south of Ghyaru village,the highest elevated permanentsettlement in Manang.

Ice lake, 4564 meters.

Children in Pisang village

728 May-3 June, 2007elogue

ä Text and photos by Manoj Dahal

Flying to Manang, you get to view the lower partof the trans-Himalayan region and it is a visionthat will stay with you for long. There are 13villages in Manang, seven of which are in theupper part of the region. When you land at theupper part of Manang, a mere 40 minute flightfrom Kathmandu, you feel that you have arrivedin a new world. The beauty is mind blowing.With its desert like features, villages like Pisang,Ghyaru, Ngawang, Braga, Manang, Tenki andKhangsar look different compared to othermountain villages in Nepal.

No roads go to Manang and there are noregular flights. To reach this unique place, youneed to ask Manang Youth society to arrange achartered flight; and if you are fond of trekking,start walking from Beshisahar, Lamjung. It takesfour days to reach upper Manang fromBeshisahar and you will walk up from less than1000 meters height upto 3540 meters.

If you want to cross Thorang-la or want toexperience the wonderful Tilicho Lake, thehighest elevated lake in the world, in the altitudeof 4912 meters; by walking from Beshisahar youwill acclimatise yourself. Although there is ascheduled flight thrice a week from Pokhara toHumde - the Manang airport that lies at theheight of 3300 meters, the Nepal Airlines flightsare pretty unreliable.

Ponies are the only form of transportavailable in Manang. They are seen everywherein this part of Nepal which is called Nyeshyangvalley in local language. Very few people live inManang and even in the upper parts; thepopulation is not more than five thousand.

Every year around 13 thousand tourists visitthis part of Manang. As it lies on the way toAnnapurna circuit, tourists take this way to crossThorang-la, one of the most unique passes.BBC has listed the Annapurna circuit as one ofthe 50 things you should do before you die.

The Himalayan range viewed from upperManang is not in the north as is commonlymistaken. The peaks seen from Manang areTilicho and Chulu, and you should looksouthwards to see the views of Annapurna

range from upper Manang.Manang starts from a height of slightly more

than 1000 meters and extends upto 7134 meters.The Tilicho peak is the highest part of Manang.But Thorang-la at 5415 meters and Tilicho Lakeare the most challenging points while trekking inManang. The rest of upper Manang is not easy totrek either. When you reach Ice lake that lies at4564 meters, walking up from Braga village, it iseasy to give up and go back.

At this point, Mannag people and people fromother parts of Nepal have set their bases tocollect Yarchagumba, a rare and expensive herbnow much sought after for its aphrodisiacalqualities. They climb up hundreds of meters tocollect this herb. It seems climbing up and downthe steep mountains for them is no effort at all.

Once at the lake, it feels as if you can touchthe Annapurna range. The feeling that you gethere cannot be expressed in words. It isheavenly to say the least. Gangapurna Lake,close to Manang Village flows directly fromGangapurna Peak which has religious andspiritual values.

Manang is the land of traders. Called 'Manangi’they comprise mainly of Gurung community.Today, almost two thirds of Manangi people donot live here but are settled in Kathmandu, othercities of Nepal, Europe or America. But most ofthem make it a point to participate in thedevelopment of Manang. One sees manybridges, good houses, newly built monasteriesand much more to prove it, and which goes toshow that Manang is not an undeveloped region.

Best time to visit Manang is March to May orfrom September to November; but if you wantto see Manang aglow with the reddish hue ofthe fields of flowering buckwheat, you need tochoose autumn season. However, flora andfaunas of the upper Manang flourish duringspring time.

With its spectacular panorama of mountains,nature in its vibrant colours, Manang is one ofthe best travel destinations in Nepal. The vibrantcolors of nature, wild flowers, herbs, tranquillakes simply take your breath away. Richlyendowed, Manang provides you with plenty ofopportunities for adventure outdoors. ä

King Mahendra's statue in Manang airport that YCL activists destroyed when Dev Gurung, a Maoistminister visited upper Manang recently.

Tourists enjoying Mringyo Lake in Pisang. It isbelieved that if a leaf drops in the lake, birds pickit up and throw it out.

A woman left alone in her home.

Ponies, the only means of transport.

Gangapurna lake flows directly fromGangapurna peak.

Braga villageTemporary tents made by those who go up tocollect Yarchagumba.

8 28 May- 3 June, 2007 Interview

What inspired you to take on this line ofwork?

My father was truly committed to servingthe society through peaceful means. From themoney he raised from religious discourses, hecontributed a lot in areas of health, education,supplied drinking water and built roads. Hewas highly respected by everyone who knewhim and I too was in awe of his personalityand work.

The home environment was such that Inaturally imbibed what he strove so hard toteach, that is peaceful co-existence, develop-ing moral code of conduct and discipline,adopting virtue and gaining victory over evil. Iwas very interested in what he did. After histragic death, his friends and co-workersencouraged me to take on what he leftbehind.

What does your typical programme looklike?

My team consists of three artists, fivemusicians and one co-worker. In my dis-courses I talk about the essence of what allreligions teach that is useful and applicable to

modern day life. My presentation is such thatpeople can relate to the teachings drawn fromscriptures such as the Bhagavat Gita that Iprimarily draw from. I link the events in thescripture with real life events, taking one issueat a time and then reach a conclusion as tohow best to resolve that particular issue. Themusical presentation, hymns and a characterthat enacts different roles make it interestingfor the crowd.

Do you enjoy doing it?I thoroughly enjoy it and now I realise this is

what I was meant to do. Though it has onlybeen a year that I have begun doing thiswork, I find tremendous positive changesinside me, especially the growth in mydevotion. Now I understand why my fathertook on this challenging work. It is highlysatisfying.

What kinds of people attend yourprogramme?

They come from all kinds of background.An interesting difference I have seen is thecomposition of the crowd. My father usually

had audiences that consisted of about 75percent of elderly crowd whereas more than60 percent of my audience is the youngpeople. Perhaps they are attracted to myprogrammes because I am relatively young.

Do you plan to do anything for theyoung people?

I have observed the need for takingprogrammes of this kind that is orientatedtowards the young minds; in its content andpresentation. The sooner one is made awareand educated spiritually, the better one’s lifebecomes. Keeping that in mind, I do plan toreach out to more young people and perhapsone day train some too, to do what I do.

What keeps you going?My happiness with what I’ve been able to

do so far. I am already booked for variousprogrammes across the country for one year.Through the monetary contributions I receive,I contribute to social welfare like my father did.I believe that only when a person finds peacewithin him/her can a society find peace. Onlythrough peaceful societies can a country findpeace. To get that peace, spiritual under-standing is important. So, if I can helpgenerate that understanding in the peoplewho come to listen to me, it means a lot tome.

You mentioned about your wish todeclare your father as a religious martyr?

Yes, I requested the present governmentregarding that and also sent a petition to thehome ministry but no decision has been takentill date. It is sad to see that illegal demandsvoiced by burning tyres, declaring Bandhs arebeing tolerated; and valid ones just gettingignored. I believe that renowned personalitieswho worked for the society, such as my father,

who was murdered for no knownreason, and whose murderers arenot yet brought to book, should beacknowledged. The governmentshould not strive to erase history butshould protect it. Significant

contributions of any member of thesociety should not be underesti-mated.

Does the thought that yourlife too might be at risk ofsenseless attacks strike you?Yes, sometimes. Memories

especially of that kind do not fadeaway so easily. But now, I feel

that if my life has to end whiledoing good work, so be it.

Fear will not hold me backfrom my work. ä

Deen Bandhu Pokhrel at a young ageof 26 is confidently following the pathlaid out by his father, Pandit NarayanPokhrel, popularly known as BachanShiromani, who was shot dead byMaoist assailants in June 2005.A student of Masters in Englishliterature and self taught in Sanskritliterature, Deen Bandhu believes inwhat is doing, that is, developingNepali society through self contempla-tion and raising spiritual awarenessthrough religious discourses. He talkedabout his work with newsfront recently.Excerpts from the interview:

“…more than 60 percent of my audience isthe young people. Perhaps they are at-tracted to my programmes because I amrelatively young.”

Servingthroughdevotion

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928 May- 3 June, 2007From the Region

China has suspended the construction of ahigh-speed magnetic levitation train linkingthe eastern cities of Shanghai andHangzhou after residents raised concernstheir health may be affected by radiationfrom passing trains, officials and expertssaid on Saturday. “The project has beensuspended in line with the arrangements ofthe municipal government,” said a spokes-man with the government of MinhangDistrict in Shanghai’s southern suburbs. Anofficial with the Shanghai Municipal People’sCongress confirmed a major reason forsuspending the project was the magneticradiation concerns raised by residents livingalong the proposed route. “The governmentis working on the issue,” said the official oncondition of anonymity. Approved by thecentral government in March 2006, the 35-billion-yuan (4.5 billion U.S. dollars) maglevtrain track was to be 175 km long and trainswere expected to reach speeds of 450 kmper hour. Many thought the line would beoperating by 2010, when Shanghai playshost to the World Expo. The Shanghai-

Hangzhou maglev line would have been theworld’s second commercial high-speed maglevtrack. Shanghai operates the world’s onlycommercial maglev system on a 30-km runbetween Shanghai’s financial district and itsPudong airport. “The petition office told us early

this month that construction and all the plans torelocate residents (along the route) had beensuspended,” said a resident in Xinzhuangtownship in Minhang. “We had been lookingforward to this.” The 28-year-old expectantmother, began to petition in March, shortly after

she learned the maglev route was to runthrough her community. “I was worried theradiation could harm my baby.” The plannedmaglev route was to be separated fromcommunities along the route by a greenbeltonly 22.5 meters wide, although a blueprintat the local government indicated aprotection belt 150 meters wide would bebuilt on either side. German specificationsrequire a 300-meter leeway on both sidesof the track. The local government has beenunder huge pressure over the past months,with crowds of petitioners knocking at theirdoors every day as thousands of complaintswere received online. The Minhang Districtgovernment alone received more than5,000 petitioners in a single day in March.According to the designers’ blueprint, thenew maglev route would have run south-west from the existing maglev station inShanghai’s financial center. It was to thenpass the Shanghai World Expo venue andcross the Huangpu River to the ShanghaiSouthern Railway Station.

(www.chinaview.cn)

Shanghai maglev project suspended

computer-generated image of thehigh-speed magnetic levitation train

linking Shanghai and Hangzhou.

Unleashing a reign of terror, yet again,suspected United Liberation Front ofAsom (ULFA) once again triggered apowerful blast, killing at least six andinjuring more than 30 persons, includingfour children, in the Athgaon SomeswarChoudhury Road locality on Saturday.The injured have been rushed to theGuwahati Medical College Hospital(GMCH) and MMC Hospital.

Saturday’s blast, which took place ataround 10:40am, could well havebecome a replication of the 2004 Dhemajitragedy, where as many as 13 schoolchildren were killed in a bomb blastcarried out by the proscribed outfit duringthe Independence Day celebration. It wassheer luck that a larger number of schoolgoing kids had already crossed the spotwhen the blast occurred.

“Out of the seven killed, four werebrought dead while the others suc-cumbed to their injuries in the Hospital,”informed a GMCH official. Among theinjured, the condition of eight weredescribed as “critical”.

“School students mostly use the SCRoad during this time of the hour, as itleads to many primary and high schoolssituated in close proximity,” said D.Medhi,a local resident and an eye-witness of theblast. He further said that this particularroad remains congested as businessmenand students of various schools situatedin the area. Senior Superintendent ofPolice (City) SN Singh said that thebomb, suspected to be an IED, wasplanted in an auto-rickshaw, which wasparked nearby by an unidentified youth.

“The bomb was a high intensity oneand after it went off, a gas cylinder, whichwas being carried away by a rickshawimmediately caught fire and added to theintensity of the explosion,” Singh said.

(Assam Tribune)

6 killed, 30 injuredin market blast

NE IndiaThousands rallyPakistani lawyers and opposition party membersrallied outside the Supreme Court here onSaturday to support the judge at the centre of arow threatening President Pervez Musharraf’shold on power.

Chanting “Go Musharraf, go” and “We wantindependent judges,” the crowd of about 3,000burst into applause at the arrival of Chief JusticeIftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

Chaudhry, whose suspension by Musharrafon March 9 has triggered violent protests, wasto speak to lawyers and diplomats at the court’sauditorium. Outside, supporters of the country’smainstream opposition parties waved theircolourful party flags and denounced militaryruler Musharraf.

Hundreds of police were deployed around thecourt complex but the crowd remained peaceful,witnesses said.

Chaudhry’s last planned address — in Karachitwo weeks ago — was cancelled after his arrival atthe local airport sparked savage fighting involvingopposing political factions and ethnic groups thatleft 42 dead. Pro-Chaudhry rallies in Islamabadhave previously resulted in angry scuffles betweenparamilitary troops and protesters outside theSupreme Court, where Chaudhry is fighting anongoing legal battle to retain his post.

Munir A Malik, president of the SupremeCourt Bar Association, told AFP that somelawyers had reportedly been prevented from

attending the event. “We have reports thatpolice stopped groups of lawyers from travellingto Islamabad from northwest Pakistan,” he said.“Despite the hurdles we expect a very largenumber of lawyers to be present.

“We know we are doing it at the risk of ourlives, facing threats and intimidation from therulers. This speech by Chief Justice Chaudhry

will be historic.”Musharraf says Chaudhry was suspended for

misconduct, but the president’s opponents sayhe wants to weaken the courts ahead of anylegal challenges to his bid to remain army chiefpast the constitutional time limit of the end of2007. Musharraf’s dismissal of Chaudhry hasbecome a focal point for disparate opponents ofthe military regime of the general, who seizedpower in 1999.

Chaudhry has received rousing welcomesfrom lawyers and opposition supporters in citiesacross Pakistan. In his address in Lahore threeweeks ago, Chaudhry appeared to issue adirect challenge to Musharraf, declaring the “eraof dictatorship is over.”

Musharraf later countered with a rally inIslamabad, where he warned: “Do not challengeus. We are not cowards like you. We have thepower of the people.” Chaudhry will talk on “theseparation of powers and the independence ofthe judiciary” — a theme at the heart of Pakistan’scurrent troubles. Musharraf has blamedChaudhry and his supporters for the carnage inKarachi, saying that they had politicised thejudge’s fate and stoked up tensions.

Two days after the riots, Supreme Courtdeputy registrar Syed Hamad Raza, who servedas Chaudhry’s personal assistant, was killed bygunmen.

(Khaleej Times)

Officials try to defuse Iran nuke standoffWith the threat of new U.N. sanctions looming,senior European officials met Friday with aranking envoy from Iran in what officials describedas an attempt to defuse the crisis over the Islamicrepublic’s refusal to scrap uranium enrichment.

Also Friday, U.N. experts inspected a keyIranian nuclear facility, days after the U.N.atomic watchdog agency reported that itsknowledge of the country’s activities wasshrinking because of restrictions on visits.

Iran’s nuclear defiance — most recentlydocumented in a report by the InternationalAtomic Energy Agency that was sent to the U.N.Security Council — has set the stage for further

council sanctions against Tehran, and aEuropean official warned against undueexpectations from Friday’s talks.

“It was a stocktaking session,” said theEuropean official who — like diplomats agreeing

to discuss the meeting with The AssociatedPress — spoke on condition of anonymitybecause the talks were not public.

Still, they suggested that the meeting waspositive in demonstrating a joint effort to try toreturn to negotiations over Iran’s enrichmentprogram to try to stave off further sanctions —and a potential escalation of the crisis.

The Pentagon this week moved two aircraftcarriers and seven other ships into the PersianGulf in a show of force. Iran, meanwhile, hasdetained at least two prominent Iranian-American citizens.

(Centredaily.com)

for ousted Pakistani judge

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry

Guwahati

10 28 May-3 June, 2007 Perspective

Rajendra Pandey, a member of UML, was working for the socialdevelopment ministry till two months ago. He stopped hisministerial activities and now has committed himself to help thepeople by helping establish schools and hospitals.

My appointment with him was in a modest house in Kalanki andI quickly discovered a peaceful personality in Rajendra Pandey.He expressed he is weary of watching the havoc that weaponshave wrought on Nepal and so prefers to support the power ofdemocratic votes. That is why he said his party does not needmilitary force.

Rajendra said his priority is social development specifically ineducation and health. He stressed on the importance of givingpower to the people through real democratic elections. He said,“That is the only way for people to get power without blood-shed.”

With 30 years of political experience behind him, he is stilloptimistic about the future of Nepal, and has faith in the people.His dream for a new Nepal is a country with a free population, ademocratic leader, and one government composed of differentpolitical parties.

(David Bross, 20, is a French photo reporter who works for aFrench newspaper – 33T.)

Lacking necessary observance of the rule oflaw, a nation turns itself into a domicile of thelawless. Be it an existing independent countryor a newly established nation, constitution isthe primary source from which the peopleobtain everything else including their funda-mental rights. The nature and scope of thepolitical, economic and social systems are allembedded in the constitution. In order tomake it operational, judicial and legislatureplay a critical role.

In most countries today, practicing demo-cratic governance, which is supposed to givehighest regards to fundamental human rights,among others, rule of law is an essentialcomponent which makes the system work. At atime when Nepal needs to build on the rule oflaw for the establishment and sustenance of anew Nepal, the situation today appears to beexactly opposite.

Nepal’s interim constitution, worked out aftera long and arduous exercise among politicalparties of different ideologies, is the sole basisof governance for Nepal in today’s context. Untila new constitution is approved by the membersof the Constituent Assembly, which is to becreated after the CA elections in near future,Nepalis, despite their differences, must abide bythe interim constitution that they have ap-proved.

Attempt to introduce new provisions to theconstitution by the framers themselves, within ashort span of less than one year, looks out ofplace. What is highly dangerous is the mannerin which certain political groupings are trying topersuade the interim government with theirdemands. Violent protests, regular disruption ofbusiness, taking law into their own hands bygroups associated with legal political parties andmembers of government, and the ongoingextortions, threats and violence are taking ahigh toll on Nepal’s newly found freedom.

Important tasks remain unattended owing topostponement of the meetings of the parlia-ment. In spite of some indications that the CApolls will be held sometime in November of thisyear, delay in its announcement is causing a lotof anxiety and unrest.

Current exhortations of CPN-UML chief fordissolving the existing body of electioncommission for failing to hold the CA electionin time is a classic example of Nepali propa-ganda. The existing body of the electioncommission, the only organ that can provide

legitimacy to the ongoing elections of the CA,was nominated by the government and itsappointment confirmed only after the parlia-ment went through its public hearing process.The election commission has been clearlystating that it cannot proceed further in theabsence of necessary legislations to beenacted by the parliament.

The recently registered proposal of CPN-Maoists also demanded immediate integrationof PLA members into Nepal Army, writing off alldebts of farmers, postponement of all decisionsregarding nation’s water and natural resourcesuntil the CA, besides declaring Nepal as arepublic. All of the demands put forth by the

Maoists, even if they were within the bounds ofthe interim constitution, would require carefulanalysis, timely preparations and suitableconditions for execution.

Humiliations suffered by top civil personnelsuch as the governor of Nepal Rastra Bank,prevented from attending a regional meeting inBangladesh, reflect that the present govern-ment is yet to find its standard bearings. Therecent grilling of the governor of the centralbank of Nepal not only damages the prestigeand dignity of the central bank but also raisesan all important question with regard toindependence and credibility of our nationallevel institutions.

A series of questions arise with theimplication of the central bank governor on thecharges of unlawful transactions for suppres-sion of the April uprising. First and foremost, ithas to be clear whether the governor ofcentral bank acted beyond his authorityprovided by law. If so, was he a party to the

group that tried to suppress the uprising? Itwould be difficult to assume that the function-aries of government, central bank, and allother institutions are anti democratic in natureand acted against the law.

If so proven, all of them must be fired withoutany delay. Furthermore, there are departmen-tal provisions under every ministry, and thecentral bank would have necessary provision tosanction its staff, including the governor, formisconduct or illegal actions.

The CIAA (Commission of Inquiry into Abuseof Authority) need not have waited for referralfrom the Rayamajhi Commission to startinvestigation and take appropriate actionsagainst the high official of the Central Bank,which clearly falls under its jurisdiction.Tampering with established standards of rulesand regulations is no less harmful than non-abiding of law. ä

(Bista is a development economist, workswith Boao Forum for Asia in China.)

Tamperingwith law

ä David Bross FAITHIN PEOPLE

ä Binod P Bista

If so proven, all of them must befired without any delay.

Nira

j Sap

kota

1128 May-3 June 2007Art & Society

ä Sushma Amatya

Insight

In these turbulent times, braving your way through the unruly traffic andmaintaining your blood pressure at a normal level has become yetanother challenge. Motorcyclists squeeze their way through densevehicular chaos acting as if they were humans pushing their elbowsthrough a crowd. Public transports, especially the mini-buses go wildswerving and overtaking as they please; in a bid to outdo the motorcy-clists. At times you are left wondering if they might just not fly in air onwheels to get where they want to.

Freedom appears to be misunderstood grossly and mistaken withlicense to behave in a disruptive, hostile manner. Most drivers andtravelers think it is fine stop the vehicle where ever and when everwithout a bit of consideration to traffic around you. Except for a fewdaring ones, most traffic police hang around helplessly, stripped of theirauthority and confidence. It’s a surprising how such reckless drivers getdriving license in the first place; and allowing such people to drive whoput at risk lives of many people, is disgraceful to say the least.

You get to observe drastic attitudinal changes of late, in the way mostpeople drive, be it on four, three or two wheelers. Not to be outdone,pedestrians too walk the jungle in absolute abandon, disregarding publicrules, obviously ignorant or purposely ignoring basic self restraint. Overhead crossings or underground crossings need policing for people toactually use it instead of risking their lives crossing busy streets.

It appears the pendulum in most people’s attitude have swung fromone extreme of servility towards whoever dominated them in whateverway - to antagonistic posturing, targeting one and all that come in theirway. The distinct Nepalis character known for their gentleness andpoliteness appear to be fast transforming to something rather unpleas-ant. Traffic behaviour is just one example of the negative change that isgrowing in our society. There are innumerable other examples to citethat reflects it.

Hawkers overtaking space meant for walking is nothing compared tothe marathonof spitting,urinating evendefecatingaround thecorners that isvisible for all tosee. Throwinggarbage out onthe streets, inrivers or in your neighbour’s yard is yet another popular example ofuncivilised behaviour indulged in by many once the sun sets. ‘Forgetting’to flush the toilet even where water is plentiful is another gory evidenceof gross lack of sensitivity towards others.

That freedom and democracy come hand in hand with responsibility,respect for others’ rights and is closely intertwined with a code ofconduct and self discipline has apparently not been understood by mostof us. This ignorance leads to - friction between individuals, disharmonyin society; it can also get distorted, be dangerous and self destructive inthe long run.

Civil societies in our country appear partial to political affairs only. Theyneed to understand that major political issues arise out of seeminglysimple, harmless and thoughtless acts of individuals. Is it not better to befar-sighted and spot such irregularities and act on them throughindividual and collective efforts than wait for it to grow out of proportion –before treating it as an issue? Politics is just one aspect in peoples’ lives;there are other equally important and serious issues that impact on theirwell being.

Pointing fingers at top policy levels or down at the masses is easy butit does not solve the problem. Being aware of how you behave and thenmaking the necessary positive changes is as important as watching howyour family behaves and influencing them to cultivate a sense ofresponsibility and develop respect for other citizens. At the same time,the importance of keeping social order and polishing civil sense need tobe realised at the policy levels whereby effective rules and regulationscould be specified and endorsed. To create a civilised nation, it isimportant to learn to be civil to each other first. ä

Under-developedcivil sense

My cousin suffers fromconvulsions even though hehas left drinking alcohol. Whyis that?

ä Ram Dixit, JawlakhelThis symptom is called Delirium

Tremens (DT). It is an acuteepisode of delirium that is usuallycaused by ithdrawal or abstinencefrom alcohol following habitualexcessive drinking especially whenthe person does not eat enoughfood. DT can also appear after arapid reduction in the amount ofalcohol being consumed by heavydrinkers. It only occurs inindividuals with a history ofconstant, long-term alcoholconsumption.

It may also be triggered by headinjury, infection, or illness in peoplewith a history of heavy use ofalcohol. DT typically manifestsabout 18 to 24 hours afterdiscontinuation of alcohol consump-tion, but can appear two or threedays after stopping drinking. Themain symptoms are confusion andagitation. Other common symp-toms include intense hallucinationsuch as visions of insects, snakesor rats. These may be related to

the environment, e.g., drawings onwallpaper that the patient wouldperceive as giant spiders attackingthem.

DT hallucinations are primarily visual.It can sometimes be associated withsevere, uncontrollable tremors of handsand feet and secondary symptoms suchas anxiety, panic attacks and paranoia.DT is a severe form of alcoholwithdrawal that involves sudden andsevere mental or neurological changes.It is most common in people who havea history of alcohol withdrawal,especially in those who drink a heavydose every day for several months. Italso commonly affects those with ahistory of habitual alcohol use oralcoholism that has existed for morethan 10 years.

How does alcohol affect myteenage children as also mydrinking?

ä Saurav Bista, BaluwatarKnowing and recognising symp-

toms of alcoholism is an importantstep toward seeking treatment beforealcohol abuse progresses toalcoholism. Early intervention isparticularly important to preventalcohol dependence in teenagers.

Alcohol use among teensincreases dramatically duringhigh-school years, and leads toserious consequences for manyteens. Each year all over theworld, alcohol-related automobileaccidents are one of the majorcauses of teen deaths. Alcohol isoften a cause of teenage deathsbesides drowning, suicide andhomicides.

Teens who drink are more likelyto become sexually active, havesex more frequently and engage inrisky, unprotected sex than thosewho don't drink. For young people,the likelihood of addiction dependson the influence of parents, peersand other role models, susceptibil-ity to advertising, how early in lifethey begin to use alcohol,psychological need for alcohol andgenetic factors that may predis-pose them to addiction.

You can help prevent teenagealcohol use by setting a goodexample with your own behaviourand attitude towards alcohol use.

Please address any queries youhave about drug addiction to:newsfront@bhrikuti.com (Youridentity will be protected.)

Alcohol is often a cause of deathCounseling by drug therapist, Ragina Shah

Freedom appears to be misunderstoodgrossly and mistaken with license to be-have in disruptive, hostile manner.

The Adi Sankaracharya refuted theBuddhist tenets in his commentariesof the Upanishads and BrahmaSutra; but the Buddhists have alsoequally refuted the concepts ofSankara. Debate and refutation wasboth ways till the Islamic invasion. Itwas only after Buddhism was literallyrazed to the ground by the Islamicinvaders that present day Hinduism,which is a metamorphosed form ofVedic Hinduism, began.

Till then 75% of Indian subcontinentand 75% Asia was Buddhist. Fromthe time of the Buddha and especiallyfrom the 1st/2nd century till the 11th/12th century, when the Vajrayanaform of Buddhism was in sway,Buddhist art, philosophy and logicdeveloped to its fullest potential. It cancertainly be said that, that was thegolden period of Indian culture as awhole and Indian Buddhism specifi-cally. This was also the period when,as a result of interaction withBuddhism, Hinduism also developedto its hilt.

It should be remembered thatSankaracharya who is considered asthe cream of Hinduism by anoverwhelming majority of the Hindus,was a product of the 6/7th centuryand many ancient Hindus likeBhaskaracharya etc even called himPracchanna Bauddha (cryptoBuddhist). Why did these Hindu pillarscall Sankaracharya a crypto-Buddhist? This is not because he, hisphilosophy or tenets were like theBuddhists'.

No, far from it, he has attempted to

Marshland Flowers

refute the Buddhist tenets. It isbecause he used the Buddhist logicalmodus operandi to refute all hisopponents which included the Hindus,Buddhists and Jains. This clearlyshows how even Sankara wasinfluenced by Buddhism. The greatBuddhist Nyaiyayik (logician)Dharmakirti literally changed thelogical system of the Indian subconti-nent with his Buddhist logical tenets.

Another big confusion is that theBuddhist Tantra was a result of theinfluence of Hindu Tantra onBuddhism. But the famous Indianiconographist BenoytoshBhattacharya has amply proven that itis the other way around. HinduTantra developed after BuddhistTantra (Vajrayana) reached its acmein the Indian subcontinent. One of theoldest Hindu Tantric literatures thePichu Tantra also called theRudrayamala and the Brahmayamalavery clearly states that Vasistha wentto Mahachina (Tibet) to study the

Tantric methods with ShivarupiBuddha.

Till the 12th century, Tibetans camedown to the hot plains of India tostudy the tenets of Vajrayana in thegreat learning houses like Nalanda/Bikramashila etc. This means thisoldest Hindu Tantra was written afterthe 12th century and not before that.It was written after Vajrayanavanished from India after the Islamicinvasion. Although Hindu Tantradeveloped as a result of the influenceof Vajrayana on the entire subconti-nent, the two are only apparentlysimilar. A deeper probe into both ofthem exposes a tremendousdifference not only of the paradigmson which each is based but also onthe principles on which each is based,the path followed by each and thefinal goal of each.

The entire Hindu Tantric systemsare themselves diverse; some basedon Shakti, others on Shiva and someon Visnu. The objective of most ofthem is to unite with the deity andfinally attain Brahma, Parasamvit orSambhava states. Excepting thedualistic Tantras, they are allvarieties of Advaita Vedanta whereother names substitute the Brahmaof the Vedanta. Most of them aregeared towards the realisation of theeternal unchanging self called theAtma in the entire Hinduistic system.Now the whole of Buddhist Tantra isgeared to the realisation of empti-ness (Sunyata) which is a subtleform of Anatma.

(To be continued…)(Sridhar Rinpoche is a Vajrayana Master.)

Till the 12th century, Tibetans came down to the hot plains of Indiato study the tenets of Vajrayana…ä Acharya Mahayogi Sridhar Rana Rinpoche

Hawkers overtaking space meantfor walking is nothing compared tothe marathon of spitting, urinatingeven defecating around the cor-ners that is visible for all to see.

28 May-3 June, 200712 MakersThe best days may still be ahead for JordinSparks, but the same may not be said for"American Idol." The 30.7 million people whowatched Sparks win on Wednesday was asharp drop from the 36.4 million people whosaw Taylor Hicks in last year's finale, accordingto Nielsen Media Research.

Industry observers said chances are that the2006 season will stand as the peak for audienceinterest.

A lackluster pool of contestants, the generalmalaise among viewers this spring and thesimple laws of TV gravity are all factors.

"People are getting tired of it," said MarcBerman, an analyst for Media Week Online. "Iknow I am."

Mind you, most TV shows would kill for thiskind of "bad news." The Fox phenomenon wasstill TV's most popular program this season.Barring a major surprise, it likely will be againnext year.

Fox executives cautioned against counting"Idol" out. For the season as a whole, "AmericanIdol" ratings will be slightly down or evenidentical to last year, when DVR viewing is taken

into account. To some degree interest is drivingby the personalities involved, and a whole newcast of characters join next spring, said Fox'sScott Grogin.

This year's finale compares to the 30.3 millionwho watched in 2005, and 28.8 million in 2004.The showdown between Clay Aiken and RubenStuddard in 2003 attracted 38 million viewers,Nielsen said.

For the first half of this season, ratingsoutstripped last year. When water-coolerfavorite Sanjaya Malakar was voted off in April,much of the interest left with him.

"The competition down at the end didn't havethe excitement that it had in years past," saidTim Brooks, author of "The Complete Directoryto Prime-Time Network and Cable Television.""It's kind of a rehash to viewers."

Producers have tweaked the show each yearto keep it fresh, this season adding asongwriters' contest and charity drive for thosestarving in Africa. In past years, famousmusicians were brought in to work with thesingers.

(abcnews)

In a press conference this afternoon about thearrest of Lindsay Lohan, cops say they found a"usable amount" of a drug at the scene, whichthey say was cocaine. Lt. Mitch McCann of theBeverly Hills Police Department would not saywhere the drug was found, but it was "not onher person."

Police tell that 20-year-old Lohan and twoother adults were in her 2005 Mercedes SL-65convertible when she lost control and crashedinto a curb and trees in Beverly Hills around5:30 AM. After the crash, police say LiLo got intoanother car and was driven to Century CityHospital where she was treated for minorinjuries that involved "something to her upperchest area." Police said the two other people inher car were not hurt.

Officers received a 911 call about the accidentand "tracked Ms. Lohan to the local hospital,where she was ultimately placed under arrest"for investigation of misdemeanor driving underthe influence of alcohol or drugs.

Lt. McCann said it appeared as if Lohan wasspeeding and lost control. Lohan was cited andreleased and will have to face a judge.

A rep for Lohan could not be reached forcomment.

(www.TMZ.com)

Coke Found

in Lohan

Sparks Wins

'Idol'

DUI Investigation