#530 3 - 9 December 2010 16 pages Rs 30

LONG ROAD AHEADTravellers between Birganj and Raxaul make use of local transportation

BIJAY KUMAR MAHATO/RSS

p2 Prashant Jha considerswhat the Maoists want and whatthey can expect to get

p6 Conservationist MingmaSherpa lives on – through a newgeneration of students

p7 Solar power is shining morebrightly than ever before. Perhapsit’s time you stepped out of thedarkness.

p13 Sustainable tourism is notjust a buzzword. Nepalibusinesses are demonstratinghow business can be good inevery sense of the word.

3 - 9 DECEMBER 2010 #530

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2|EDITORIAL

Q. Should the salaries of bank CEOs be capped?

Weekly Internet Poll # 530

Q. Who should lead the Maoist Party?

Weekly Internet Poll # 531. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com

J ust over a year ago, Elinor Ostrom won theNobel Prize for Economic Sciences, for herwork on economic governance relating

especially to the commons. With this recognition, theNobel Committee has also honoured the success ofNepal’s community-managed forestry and irrigationsystems, which Ostrom has studied over the courseof a quarter of a century. The implications areprofound, as they validate the ability of diverseNepali communities who live in close proximity toeach other to cooperate democratically to managetheir natural resources. This success has beenundermined in recent years by a lack of local electedofficials, populism, and inter-party collaboration toexploit resources that rightfully belong to thecommunities.

Elinor Ostrom is back in town this week as aguest of the Government of Nepal, and is expected to

meet the president and speak at Social Science Baha,among other things. Her presence here indicates just howmuch Nepal and her continuing work here means to her,despite the fact that she is 77 and has found life afterwinning the Nobel prize, in her own words, “very intense”;she’s completely booked up for talks in 2011. It is also anopportunity to highlight the value of her work, and ensurethat proven systems of local governance are enshrinedwithin the constitution to come.

Other foreigners who have contributed much to Nepalinclude such luminaries as the late Edmund Hillary. He wasnot only the first atop Mount Everest, but also impressedhimself deeply in the hearts of the Sherpa people whosewelfare he worked for. He was duly honoured by theGovernment of Nepal, first with the Suprasidha PrabalGorkha Dakshin Bahu in 1953, then with honorarycitizenship in 2003.

Then there’s the late Toni Hagen, the Swiss geologist

who probably travelled across more of Nepal thananyone ever has, in the course of geological anddevelopmental research. In 1984, the king awardedhim the Birendra Pragya Alankara.

Last month, it seemed the entire state mechanismwas jamming up trying to shake Prince Al-Waleed binTalal’s hand. The cabinet hurriedly recommended thatthe president award the Saudi prince the Maha UjjwalRashtradeep. The nation’s highest civilian honour isnow to go to someone who may well make significantinvestments at some point in the future, but to datehasn’t done, or committed to anything at all.

Our errant caretaker prime minister, who was sokeen to be seen hobnobbing with royals, has nowjetted off to Cambodia, so it’s no surprise he isn’t onhand to meet Ostrom. But perhaps he could activatehis moribund cabinet for yet another, infinitely moredeserving, recommendation?

CREDIT WHERE IT’S DUE

Total votes: 3,404

n 2005, the Maoists decided atChunbang that their immediate aimwas a ‘Democratic Republic Nepal’.

Their Kharipati meet in 2008 declared thatthe objective was to draft a constitution fora ‘People’s Federal Democratic Republic’(PFDR). That aim persists, though manyleaders at Palungtar used an alternativenomenclature – ‘People’s FederalRepublican Nepal’.

Chunbang led to consensus andKharipati sharpened the polarisation. HowPalungtar will play out in large dependson how far the Maoists push their politicalproject.

Broadly, this is how the Maoists definePFDR Nepal – an executive presidency;federalism with nationality as a prominentbasis; secular state; ‘democratisation’ of theNepal Army; ‘first rights’ to localcommunities; ‘revolutionary’ land reform;and eventually, restricted multipartypolitical competition where ‘feudal andpro-imperialist’ parties will not be allowed

to operate.The Maoists hope this framework

would give the ‘people’ (read the party) afirm hold over the state, and break existingstructures and nexus that govern policy.But intention is one thing and capacity,especially under the prevailing balance ofpower, another. A brief review reveals whythis model provokes opposition fromdifferent sources and is not possible.

The Maoists want a directly electedpresident for multiple reasons. They donot want to return to a parliamentarysystem, against which they waged a war; itis seen as too unstable; and party leadersthink they have the best chance to win in adirect contest. But look at the coalitionranged against it. Many see in the demandunderlying ambitions for an ‘authoritarian’ruler. Small parties worry this woulddeprive them of a share in power at thecentral executive level. Planners havewarned about potential gridlock as a resultof president-legislature battles. And theMaoists cannot push the modelunilaterally in the CA.

The NA has gone through a set ofchanges since 2006. There is no palace toreport to; a Janajati has become chief; therehas been an increase in the interaction

between the army brass and the defenceministry; army chiefs have testified beforeparliamentary committees; and there isrelatively more information about how thearmy operates in the public domain today.

The Maoists dismiss these as tokensteps and cite the Katawal incident, orNA’s recent lobbying on UNMIN, to showhow there is no ‘civilian control’. But theyhave neither explicitly explained whatfurther ‘democratisation’ of the NA means,nor been able to allay the fears of othersthat this is a ploy to increase Maoistinfluence over the military.

Party leaders should read WashingtonPost journalist Bob Woodward’s recentbook, Obama’s wars, which details howPentagon truly boxed in the White Houseduring the review of the Afghan warstrategy and extracted an additional 30,000troops. This is no way for democracies tofunction, but it will give them a sense ofhow governments struggle with sensitivecivilian-military relationships. Crucially,the Maoists cannot push their model ofintegration in the changed context.

The Maoist stand on ‘restrictedpolitical competition’ is something noother party can accept for reasons of bothprinciple and survival. Federalism is

PLAIN SPEAKINGPrashant Jha

Mission impossible

another polarising issue. NC, UML, andKathmandu technocrats will not buythe Maoist map and argue it goes too far;the Madhesis and ethnic groups willclaim it does not go far enough. There ishowever a greater degree of agreementbetween the national parties on thelimited powers to be given to the states.

There is also a consensus amongnational parties in the CA on the needfor land reform, though Madhesi partieshave reservations. The difference is onwhether compensation should be paidto those whose property is above thelimit set by the state. The Maoistemphasis on ‘first/prior rights’ to localsover their resources is important, for thebattles of the future are over resourcesand related displacement. This oftengets linked up with their support forprior political rights for ‘dominantnationalities’, thus alienating partiesthat give precedence to individual overgroup rights and represent traditionalinterests.

The other parties do little exceptreact to and reject Maoist proposals. Butthe point is to show that the Maoistscannot get a PFDR Nepal. Here is whatlooks achievable – a republic; possibly adirectly elected head of government(with checks); secularism; a multipartydemocratic system; a quasi-federalsystem built up incrementally overyears; affirmative action formarginalised ethnicities but norecognition of ‘prior rights’; and an NAunder the government in principle.

Can the Maoists agree on a‘revisionist’ democratic republicanstatute, make the compromises requiredto get such a system, and reconcilethemselves to the fact that they will notnecessarily enjoy unfettered politicaldominance? If Palungtar is anything togo by, the answer is no.

Can the Maoists livewith not getting

everything they want?

I

MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA

3 - 9 DECEMBER 2010 #530 LETTERS|3

I knew Capt. Basnyat personally and agree with the author thatBasnyat’s demise is not only a brutal tragedy for his young family butalso a huge blow to aviation, mountaineering and adventure sports inNepal (‘Losing lives to save them’, Dambar Krishna Shrestha, #528).But Shrestha left out a few important facts.

Fact 1 – Mountain rescues are high-risk maneuvers: period. It doesnot matter who does it or where. Nepal poses a unique risk when itcomes to choppers flying at high altitudes. Performance iscompromised given all the variables are in the negative. High altitude= negative machine output = negative supply of oxygen = negativelift = negative pilot performance. It’s this lethal mixture that isbehind all the major helicopter accidents that took place in theSolukhumbu region, barring one of the most horrific accidents,involving Shree Airlines in the Kanchenjunga area, which wiped outan entire generation of Nepali conservationists.

Fact 2 – $$$$$. Mountain rescues are driven primarily by a monetary,not a humanitarian impulse. It’s not a trade secret that insurancecompanies and even individual climbers pay out substantialamounts to airlines and expedition companies as well as pilotsthemselves for high-altitude rescues. This is the “I will hold yourhand and take you up to the summit if you pay me well” effect – thereason why the same person summits Everest 19 times. It proves apoint, breaks a record, and brings in the money. Quite simply, it’s theforces of demand and supply. As long as people willingly pay topdollar to conquer Nepali peaks and ski down the Himalaya, climbing– and rescue – businesses will thrive.

Fact 3 – Zero regulations. Sure, high-altitude rescues are the stuff oflegend but no regulations and no oversight = accidents. Why is it thatcivil aviation officials and sometimes even company owners hearabout ‘highest rescues’ only after one takes place? Before Capt.Basnyat’s world record, a certain Major (then) KC had this accoladewhen he plucked an Everest aspirant from Camp II. He was almostgrounded because he flew an army helicopter without any clearance.KC would later crash the same chopper a few months at a much loweraltitude.

Our rescue pilots need to be properly identified, trained, certifiedand insured according to international standards by the samecompanies that make all that money. Until that happens, it won’t belong before another little child loses a father who absolutely lovedwhat he did – flying the high mountains regardless of the risks. Andthen we’ll talk about it all over again.

Pankaj

Bring high-altitude rescuesdown to earth

3 - 9 DECEMBER 2010 #5304|BUSINESS

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The International LabourOrganization’s Caroline O’Reillyheads the special actionprogramme to combat forcedlabour, which is part of theprogramme for the promotion ofthe declaration on fundamentalprinciples and rights at work.During her recent visit to Nepal,she spoke to Nepali Times.

Nepali Times: How does the ILOcombat forced labour globally?Caroline O’Reilly: One of thebasic principles of the ILO is thatall people should work inconditions of freedom and humandignity. No one should be forcedto work against their will, but theILO estimates that there are atleast 12.3 million people trappedin forced labour today. Almost allour member states have ratifiedthe ILO convention that prohibitsforced labour, so we work withthem to fulfil this. This mayinvolve capacity building ofpartners in different countries,mainly the ministries of labour,trade unions, and employers. Weneed good laws in place not onlyto stop forced labour, but also tohelp victims get their wages,

Stoppingforced labour

protective services and so on.

But trade unions in Nepal havebecome very politically oriented,and are considered a nuisance bymany.Trade unions represent theinterests of their members butalso reach out to other people.That is particularly helpful forthose in forced labour, whichdoesn’t tend to happen to peoplein the organised sector. Frankly, itis happening in the informaleconomy, people who are workingin agriculture, in construction, butwho are not part of the organisedwork force. Trade unions canraise their awareness about whattheir rights are and also offerlegal assistance and advice.

We do work with trade unionshere in Nepal, particularly inprotecting the rights of migrantworkers, who might findthemselves in exploitativesituations abroad. We also assistthe ministry of labour and thedepartment of foreign employmentin revising the rules andregulations concerning foreignemployment. We are working with

recruitment agencies to help themadopt and put into practice a codeof conduct.

Is there a link between migrantworkers and human trafficking?Absolutely, especially whenmigrant workers don’t go throughofficial channels, they arevulnerable to forced labour. Manypeople think trafficking is justabout the movement of womenand girls to be exploited in the

sex industry, but it can happen toanyone, man woman, girl or boyfor any sort of purpose, not justfor sex, but also for work inagriculture, construction, ordomestic service. Forced labouractually is what happens aftertrafficking.

In Nepal 75 per cent of migrantworkers are unskilled. Whatneeds to be done to protect them?We cannot prevent people from

THIS WEEK

Plenum concludesThe sixth extended plenum ofthe UCPN (Maoist) concludedSaturday without a resolutionof the dispute between theparty’s top leaders. Theseven-day plenum discussedthe political papers presentedby Party Chairman PushpaKamal Dahal and vicechairmen Baburam Bhattaraiand Mohan Baidya but failedto come up with an officialparty line. Dahal’s finaldocument failed to integratethe party’s three lines.

Diplomatic crisisThe US embassy inKathmandu has regretted thedisclosure of classifieddocuments through Wikileaksin a statement issued onTuesday. This followsreportsthat of the 251,287 cables tobe released, 2,278 are relatedto Nepal. The cables sentbetween 2005 and early 2010are believed to deal with theMaoist insurgency,Bhutanese and Tibetanrefugees, Nepali politicalparties, and Nepal’s relationswith India and China. “Icannot vouch for theauthenticity of any one ofthese documents. But I cansay that the United Statesdeeply regrets the disclosureof any information that wasintended to be confidential,”US ambassador to NepalScott H DeLisi said.

Small step forwardEx-Army General BalanandaSharma has been appointedthe coordinator of thesecretariat to oversee PLAmanagement and integration.The Special Committeeunanimously endorsedSharma to head thesecretariat, ending a two-month tussle over the post.Earlier, the NC and UML hadfloated Sharma’s name for thepost while the UCPN (Maoist)had insisted on theappointment of PLA deputycommander Nanda KishorPun ‘Pasang’ as head of thesecretariat. The Maoistsagreed to retract their claim inorder to fill the long-vacantposition and make way for thesecretariat to start work.

leaving but we can help them toimprove their skills so that theycan get better paid jobs abroadand within the country. If peoplecan find good work at home theywill not feel obliged to leave theirfamily and move thousands ofmiles away.

But we also have to look at whathappens in the destinationcountry. The ILO works closelywith labour inspectors chargedwith inspecting workplaces; theyneed to know how to identifyvictims of forced labour and howto respond to it. The issue is nothigh on their agenda, but we try toincrease awareness about therisks and problems faced bymigrant workers among labouradministrations. For example, weare about to conduct training inJordan for labour attachés fromNepali and other south Asiancountries so they can recogniseproblems and provide help andprotection to those vulnerableworkers who need it most.

3 - 9 DECEMBER 2010 #530 |5

3 - 9 DECEMBER 2010 #5306|ENVIRONMENT

he man who grew up to be a leading conservationist in Nepal hadhumble beginnings. Born and raised in a village near Everest, Mingma

Norbu Sherpa continued his education through several scholarshipsinitiated by Sir Edmund Hillary.

After completing his Masters in NaturalResources Management from University ofManitoba, Mingma returned to work in theAnnapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP).As a founder and later director of the project, heintroduced conservation efforts that built onlocal participation. Mingma was a great believerin community-led conservation and handed overACAP’s management to the communities assoon as he could.

He was also involved in developing a modelfor environmental education in the country,establishing conservation areas and parks in Nepal and Bhutan, andcurbing poaching and deforestation in the Himalayan region. While workingwith WWF, he was involved in projects to conserve the endangered one-horned rhinoceros and the Royal Bengal Tiger.

Mingma was working to set up the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area(KCA), a project close to his heart, and was returning from a ceremony tohand over control of KCA to the local council, when the helicopter he wasin crashed. All 24 aboard were killed instantly; the victims included a who’swho of the conservation movement in Nepal.

our years ago, the nation watched in disbelief as the leadinglights of the conservation movement were lost to a tragic helicoptercrash in Ghunsa. Among the dead were veteran geologist Harka

Gurung, and eminent conservationists Mingma Norbu Sherpa andChandra Prasad Gurung. In just moments, the country had lost some ofits most brilliant and dedicated minds.

It seemed as if conservation in Nepal would now be rudderless.The family of late Mingma Norbu Sherpa, however, decided to establisha scholarship in his memory. Mingma’s wife Phurba and her twochildren set up the Mingma Norbu Sherpa Memorial Scholarship in2008 to help produce highly trained and capable environmentalists tofill the void created by the loss of Mingma and others.

Salina Poudyal from Kathmandu (pic, above) was one of the firsttwo students awarded the scholarship. Along with Anu Lama, Salinapursued her master’s degree at the prestigious Lincoln University, NewZealand, Mingma’s alma mater. Two years later, Salina has returnedwith a degree and a stronger conviction to work in the conservationfield in Nepal.

“It was not just any scholarship. There is a great deal of respect andadmiration for Mingma in Lincoln and we knew we had to live up tohis name,” Salina says. She studied Environmental Policy andPlanning, while Anu Lama studied Parks and Recreation. Mingma,too, had completed a diploma in Parks and Recreations at Lincoln anda post-graduate degree in Natural Resource Management at the Universityof Manitoba before returning to work as a warden in Sagarmatha NationalPark. It was the beginning of an impressive, but sadly curtailed, career.

Like Mingma, many Nepali conservationists were educated at Lincolnand at one time the directors of almost all conservation projects inNepal were Lincoln graduates. “It is an honour to be able to study in aplace that has produced such luminaries,” says Salina, no slouch herself.She had impressive academic and work credentials while in Nepal. InNew Zealand too, she consistently performed well.

Salina plans to work for a while in Nepal before going back for aPhD. She wants to combine her background in environmental sciencewith her policy and planning studies to bring reform to theenvironmental sector. The scholarship that Salina has received doesnot make it mandatory for her to return and work in Nepal, but shethinks it is only right that she does so.

“We have big shoes to fill,” Salina admits, before adding, “There’s alot to do before we can even come close to the achievements of those whowe lost in Kanchenjunga. For now, we can at least follow their footsteps.”www.theghf.org

Re-generation

F

Remembering Mingma SherpaT

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Economic dealsTeletalk has launched Colors Mobile’s X9 Feather.The model is a full touchscreen business phonethat supports Dual GSM cards. X9 comes with a3.2" screen with a dual 3.2MP, camera andsupports a variety of features and applications.The market price of X9 is Rs 7,980.

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Mobile bankBank of Kathmandu has launched its mobilebanking services under the name M-Paisa. Afterregistering, BOK customers can transfer money toanyone anytime, make payments, recharge mobilephones and check their accounts through theirmobiles. This service is limited to NTCsubscribers.

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Going 3DNepa Hima Trade Link has introduced a series ofSony’s 3D entertainment solutions. The launch of3D BRAVIA NX810 and NX710 3D televisions hasbeen complemented by BDV-IZ1000W, whichdelivers surround sound via five ultra slimspeakers. In addition to regular playback features,Sony’s Blu-ray 3D player can be connected to abroadband internet network to stream videos.

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Imported flooringBajra & Bajracharya Enterprises has introduced anew series of Spanish tiles – Porcelanosa. Thetiles are showcased at Bajra and Bajracharya’sshowroom in New Baneswor.

RUBEENA MAHATO

ANNE B KEISER

73 - 9 DECEMBER 2010 #530LIFE TIMES

RU

t’s that time of the year again, whenevery few weeks the Nepal ElectricityAuthority (NEA) announces a new

loadshedding schedule, adding more hoursof darkness to our lives. We will stock upon diesel for our generators or fiddle withpower-hungry inverters, and pay huge billsat the end of every month.

Solar is no longer the new kid on theblock. Solar panels for passive waterheating systems in urban homes have beenaround for a while now, but lately,photovoltaic (PV) solar cells have begun tomake their presence felt. Nepal lies in aprime solar region, too, getting two to threetimes more solar energy than Germany, thelargest producer of solar electricity in theworld.

Use of PV solar modules for electricitystarted in Nepal with ruralelectrification projects in areas that didnot have access to the mainhydroelectric grids. “A solar lightingsystem does not require hugeinfrastructure, can be installed in a dayand even a small system can powerthe energy needs of a rural household,”says Yug Tamrakar of Solar Electricity.According to the Alternative EnergyPromotion Centre, more than 225,000PV solar systems have been installedin rural households, a total of 8MW ofelectricity. The use of solar in ruralareas has been boosted by a subsidyfor rural solar projects that ranges fromRs 5,000-Rs 10,000.

“Solar electricity is an eco-friendlytechnology and the most viable alternativeenergy source available here,” says MoonPradhan of Gham Power. “Loadsheddinghas forced people to look into solar as aconvenient and safe power option.” Inoperation since February this year, thecompany has already installed over 70 PVsolar systems.

Companies are now providingcustomised solar packages according to theenergy requirements of households oroffices. These systems can range from thosethat supply just two bulbs to those withthe capacity to operate heavier applianceslike water pumps and refrigerators. It’spossible to have a fully solar-dependentpower system, though most are opting for amore economical hybrid system. A hybridsystem allows a battery to charge throughsolar as well as the main power line,ensuring 24-hour power supply. Systemscan be designed to supply power even ongloomy days.

While interest in solar electricity hasgrown over the years, people usually shyaway when they are confronted by theoutlay required. True, a system to covereven the basic lighting requirements of ahousehold can cost over Rs 50,000. “Solarmight sound expensive upfront,”acknowledges Rajeev Subba of Kathmandu

Power Company. “But it is a one-timeinvestment.” And banks like Clean EnergyDevelopment Bank are now providing low-cost loans for solar systems.

The costs also come down if low-wattage electronic appliances are installed.“We need to be conscious about powerconsumption when we purchase electronicgoods,” says Manish Bajracharya of LotusEnergy. “It can easily cut down on ourenergy requirements and bills.”

Another plus point is that theinvestment in the system pays for itself inthe long run. “Sunlight is abundant andfree,” explains KR Khanal of Ultra Group.“And unlike other energy options, theoperating costs of a solar system areminimal.” Most PVsolar panels come witha 25-year warranty, and the onlymaintenance they require is cleaning.Batteries require a change of distilled waterevery three to six months.

Surendra Mathema of Tahachal has a200W solar backup in his house and is onesatisfied customer. “I also use a solarcooker, which makes my cooking gas lastlonger, ” says Mathema. He now has another500W of solar capacity and is exploring thepossibility of joining it up to the maingrid.

However, the government is yet tointroduce the concept of net metering,

PAAVAN MATHEMA

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which would allow independentelectricity producers to sell their surplusto NEA. “The government needs to havepolicies that will encourage people tobecome independent producers of solarelectricity,” says MadhusudhanAdhikari, Solar Component Manager ofthe Alternative Energy Promotion Centre.If consumers can realise an economicreturn on solar electricity thenhouseholds will be motivated to be partof a solution to the nationwide powercrisis, rather than wait for mega hydro-projects to deliver.

I

nepalitimes.comThe age of enlightment #505 From hydro to solar #201

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8|LIFE TIMES 3 - 9 DECEMBER 2010 #530

17 November to 7 DecemberRimal/Sama Theatre, Gurukul, Old Baneswor, KathmanduInteractions with directors and actors every day at3pm, Sama TheatrePerformances at 5pm, Rimal Theatre

Friday 3 DecemberMen always come back home directed by Abdollah BarjastehYazdi

Saturday 4 NovemberSiddhartha Gautum dekhi Buddha samma... ek yatra directed byBipin Kumar

Sunday 5 DecemberPrison directed by Kamaluddin Nilu

Monday 6 DecemberSuina Karnalika directed by Sunil Pokharel

Tuesday 7 DecemberColombo Colombo: The story of your coffin directed by IndikaFerdinando

Russian Film Festival, filmson Russian society, culture and

history. Till 3 December, RussianCentre of Science and Culture,Kamal Pokhari, 4416650

AWON’s Annual ChristmasBazaar Fundraiser, festiveshopping, delicious food andunlimited fun. 4 December, 10amto 4.30pm, Hyatt Regency,Boudha, 4410342, Entry fee:Rs 100, Rs 50 for children

Expression of Repression,painting exhibition by KapilMani Dixit and Sohan BabuKhatri to raise awareness aboutHIV/AIDS, dwelling on the themeof ‘nudity’. 3 December, 5.17 pm,Yak & Yeti Hotel, Ticket: Rs 3,500(dinner included), 9841873912,Dress code: Red and Black.Exhibition continues from 4December to 10 December, 10amto 6pm, Nepal Art Council, BabarMahal

Writing workshop,Kathmandu InternationalMountain Festival and QuixoteCove is organising a three-dayworkshop with Terry Gifford,submit poetry or prose with aletter of interest.10 to 12 December, 9.30am to11am, Rastriya Sabha Griha,Bhrikuti Mandap, applicationdeadline: 3 December,info@qcbookshop.com, 5536974

Trees and Leaves II, paintingexhibition by SamjhanaRajbhandari and Bidhata KC.26 November to 4 December, 5pm,Fusion Studio, SagarmathaBazaar, Mandala Street, Thamel

Balgo, an exhibition ofcontemporary Australian

indigenous art. Till 5 December,11am to 6pm, Siddhartha ArtGallery, Babar Mahal Revisited,4218048

Once in a lifetime, anexhibition of mixed media worksby the Australian artist DonatoRosella. 21 November to 5December, 11am to 6pm,Siddhartha Art Gallery, BabarMahal Revisited, 421804

Kathmandu InternationalTheatre Festival 2010.17 November to 7 December,Gurukul, Old Baneswor, fordetails see schedule on oppositepage

Kathmandu InternationalMountain Film Festival 2010,the biggest film festival in thecountry is back, this time with 62films from 35 countries, onthemes of migration andbiodiversity. 9 to 13 December,Rastriya Sabha Griha, NepalTourism Board, Bhrikuti Mandap,5542544,kimff@himalassociation.org,www.kimff.org

Dreaming of Player Flags:Mantra on the Wind, anexhibition of impressionisticphotography by Sandy Shum.Till 6 December, KathmanduContemporary Arts Centre,Jhamsikhel, 5521120

Glocalization of Art, works byvarious artists. 4 December, 1pm to3pm, Lasaana premises, ChameliNursery, Jhamsikhel, 9851001487

Golden Moments, the bestbands in Nepal pay tribute toclassic rock:1905 Restaurant, Kantipath,3 December, 7pm, all-starperformance

Kgarira Festival Dub FXLive beat-boxing at 1905,presented by digital omproductions. 5 December, starts7pm onwards, 1905 Restaurant,Kantipath

EVENTS

If you’re wondering where to go after theinternational theatre festival concludes nextweek, don’t worry. The 8th KathmanduInternational Mountain Film Festival 2010(KIMFF‘10) kicks off 9 December.

2010 is being celebrated as theInternational Year for Rapprochement ofCultures and the International Year of

KIMFF – the 8th editionBiodiversity, so most of the 62films from 35 countries selectedfor the festival reflect thesecauses. Twenty films will bescreened in the InternationalCompetition category, 36 in theInternational non-competitivecategory, and 6 in the NepaliPanorama category.

This year, the festival haspartnered with Quixote’s Cove toconduct a writing workshop withTerry Gifford. A filmmakingworkshop by Docskool is also a

part of the festival along with an animationworkshop by Danish animators Anja Perl andLaura Büchert Schjødt.

Book your tickets for back-to-back filmscreenings at the City Hall and the NepalTourism Board, Exhibition Road. The festivalwill run till 13 December.

www.kimff.org

Kathmandu InternationalTheatre Festival 2010

MUSIC

LIFE TIMES|93 - 9 DECEMBER 2010 #530

Poetry is not an unknown quantity here. Adi-kabis, ashu-kabis,bal-kabis, you name it, we’ll rhyme it. But something wicked thisway doth come. Poetry slam in Nepal? Gimme some.

Last Friday, in the stuffy environs of the Nepal-BharatLibrary, New Road, the audience was kept waiting for the threemembers of Lyrics Independence, the main act for the ‘WordWarriors’ prelude to December’s poetry slams to be organised byQuixote’s Cove. Outside, hawkers hitched their own rhymes tothe cheap goods lining the streets, and we began to wonder if thiswas the only poetry we’d get that day. But the traffic finallycleared, and in a flurry of embraces, the poets arrived.

Lyrics Independence call themselves a lyrical hip-hop trio,and it showed in the way they spoke, dressed, and interactedwith each other and the audience. But their verse, deliveredsingly in English and Nepali, was thankfully stripped of thebling and blather of MTV-hop. It reminded us what hip-hop wasperhaps always meant to be. Granted, the format – rapidfirerecitals in front of a mixed audience – was always going to favourbelligerent, rhyming verse and wordplay that doesn’t quiteencapsulate poetry’s artistic range. But there was no doubt aboutthe poetic spirit on display from Gaurab Subba, Yanik Shrestha,and Aidray. Speaking at the end of the short program, Gaurabexhorted youth to take part in the events planned for December.“If you’re a youth living in Nepal and have nothing to express, hedeclared, “You’re a stone, man.” ‘Nuff said.

See Wordmill poster for details of the poetry slams takingplace in December.

When:When:When:When:When: 3.30 pm, 7 December, ’10, TuesdayWhere:Where:Where:Where:Where: Kailash Hall, The Shankar Hotel, Lazimpat

Please vist www.soscbaha.org for details on the lecture.

This is a public lecture, and seating is on a first-come basis.

The Mahesh Chandra Regmi Lecture 2010The Mahesh Chandra Regmi Lecture 2010The Mahesh Chandra Regmi Lecture 2010The Mahesh Chandra Regmi Lecture 2010The Mahesh Chandra Regmi Lecture 2010

announces

Institutions andResources

TO BE DELIVERED BY

ELINOR OSTROM

ARTHUR F. BENTLEY PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE,INDIANA UNIVERSITY; AND

RECIPIENT OF THE 2009 NOBEL PRIZE IN ECONOMICS

10|HAPPENINGS

EXCELLENCE AWARDED: Himal Khabarpatrika's Santa Gaha Magarreceives the SEJON Outstanding Economic Journalist Award 2010 fromGovernor Yubraj Khatiwada, Wednesday. Magar received the award forhis investigative reporting on financial fraud by Unity Life International.

RSS

USE ME: The District AIDS Coordination Committee of Birganj organiseda rally on Wednesday to mark World AIDS Day, with this year's theme‘Universal Access and Human Rights’.

3 - 9 DECEMBER 2010 #530

MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA

CONQUEROR: Maiti Nepal founder Anuradha Koirala returned home onThursday with the 2010 CNN Hero of the Year Award for her workagainst human trafficking.

WEEKEND WEATHERby NGAMINDRA DAHAL

FRI SAT S U N

22-4 23-3 20-5

KATHMANDU

WEEKEND WEATHERby NGAMINDRA DAHAL

KATHMANDU

November passed as expected, with no rainsin the mid-hills and plains, but lightsnowfall in the high mountains above 4,000metres. The present trend will continue asthere are no signs of clouds coming in withthe westerly winds. One can, however,expect a change in local weather patternsthis week due to a strong northerly windblowing across the Himalayan passes,chasing the giant low pressure trough sittingover the Indian Ocean with its centre alongpeninsular India. Expect sunny days, chillymornings and clear night skies.

GREEN SCENE

his story of the rescue ofa three-year-old girl,who fell into an icy

pond in a little village in theAustrian Alps, defies belief.The parents jumped into thepond to save her, but it was afull thirty minutes before theyfound her at the bottom,brought her up, and startedCPR (cardiopulmonaryresuscitation). When the rescueteam arrived, eight minuteslater, her body temperature was66 degrees (F), she had nopulse or blood pressure, andher lungs were filled withwater. Her pupils were dilatedand unreactive to light,indicating brain death.

Despite this, CPR wascontinued, with a medicpumping her chest as ahelicopter took her to thenearest hospital. They put heron a heart lung machine at thehospital and controlled heroxygen supply and temperaturethrough the system. After twohours, her body temperaturerose and her heart began tobeat. Throughout the day andnight, the physicians in the

Medical marvel

P

T

DHANVANTARIBuddha Basnyat, MD

lastic bags are used for so many things thatmost people think they can never besuccessfully banned. But a school in the

capital has been successfully running an anti-polythene campaign for 10 years now, and has setan example for many other schools to follow.

The signboard outside United School inSatdobato that reads ‘polythene-free zone’continues to attract attention from passersby adecade after it was put up. But for the parents,teachers and students of said school, it’s routine tobe checked for polythene bags at the gate beforethey are allowed inside.

“The harms of polythene bags were just so manycompared to the little effort needed to replace them.And our experience tells us it is only a matter oftime before people embrace the habit,” says SeemaRai, Principal of the school.

The school’s drive against polythene isspearheaded by the students’ Eco club, which also

Plastic out,students in

BIKRAM RAI

carries out tree plantation and cleaning programsregularly. The school’s efforts in banningpolythene have been so successful that studentshave started enforcing the ‘no polythene rule’elsewhere. “Most of our students have bannedpolythene by choice also in their homes,” Raiconfirms.

All new students, parents and teachers arerequired to participate in a session where they arebriefed about the school’s anti-polythene policy.Defaulters are fined Rs 500, to be deposited in theSchool Welfare Fund. In the time the program hasbeen running just two individuals have breachedthe rule, both of whom were school staff.

“Our objective was to develop environmentalawareness among students right from theirformative years. In 10 years, 400-500 studentshave graduated from here. If half of them cancontinue living without polythene, that’s a bigachievement,” Rai says.

United’s success in banning polythene hasprompted other schools in Lalitpur to declarepolythene-free zones as well. The campaign is notwithout problems, however. Some goods brought infrom outside, including food for students and staff,come ready-wrapped in polythene bags. These areemptied into containers right at the gate so that thepolythene does not enter the school. “It issometimes inconvenient but now we have manyshopkeepers, most of whom are parents of our ownstudents, who have stopped dealing in polythenewith us,” Rai says. A plastic-free future is alreadya reality for some.

to light; she began to breathe onher own; and she startedspeaking in a thick, slurredvoice. Two weeks after theaccident she was home. Shereceived extensivephysiotherapy, and by age five,she was a normal child again.

Three things stand out. Howsevere hypothermia (a potentialproblem in our Himalaya)sustained in the icy fishpondeffectively shut down the body,and the caregivers, realising thisimportant fact, went all out byinitially continuing CPR.Second, how efficiently achild’s body, as opposed to anold man’s, responds to prompttherapy. Third, how a randomhospital in the West, if wellcoordinated, can indeed performmiracles.

intensive care unit of the hospitalsuctioned out water and ponddebris from her lungs with afiberoptic bronchoscope. Thefollowing day they put her on amechanical ventilator.

Over the next few days all herorgans (heart, kidneys, intestines,lungs) made a remarkablerecovery. Except the brain. Thedoctors did a CT scan anddiscovered a generalised brainswelling that suggested no focalpathology. Amazingly, as thoughwhat had already been done wasnot enough, the team drilled ahole into her skull and put aprobe in to monitor brainpressures, based on which theywere better able to deliver drugsand fluids to the body.

The miracle continued tounfold. Her pupils started to react

SOCIETY|113 - 9 DECEMBER 2010 #530

POLITICALLYCRACKEDIndu Nepal

n an episode of the WhiteHouse presidential dramaWest Wing a young

Republican attorney, AinsleyHayes, denounces efforts to passan Equal Rights Amendment(ERA) to the US Constitution.“Women do not need any specialconstitutional protection,” shesays. “They are already protectedby the 14th Amendment,” an 1868addition to the constitution thatprovides equal rights andprotection to all citizens.

“Well, then I guess you justlove that wage gap,” replies hercolleague. “We believe in the ERA.How can you have an objection?”“Because it’s humiliating,” Hayesreplies. “I do not have to have myrights handed down to me by abunch of old white men. Thesame Fourteenth Amendment thatprotects you protects me. And Iwent to law school just to makesure.”

A surprising demographic inNepal that is seeking the hand-holding that Hayes would callhumiliating is the group of‘youth’ whose advocates foughthard to pass a National YouthPolicy in 2008. It was the firstsuch policy paper to bepromulgated in historyrecognising youth as a specialgroup needing privileges, while inreality they make up a majorchunk of the demographic. It alsostretched the definition of youthas people from 16-40 years old, abroad spectrum if you considerthat the United Nations defines

The ‘youth’of Nepalshould askto be treatedlike adultsinstead ofseekingspecialprotection

Special treatmentyouth as 16-24 years in age.

Granted, the definition ofyouth varies among countriesworldwide because besidesbiology, social and culturalfactors determine how someone istreated. In Nepal, youth has cometo mean powerlessness. It wasbecause of this that SushilKoirala and Ram Chandra Poudelremained ‘youth leaders’ until theparty gave them some authority.But have the youths themselves,the real ones, fared any better inchanging this dynamic?

When formulating theNational Youth Policy, the agegroup of 16- 40 was chosen at theinsistence of the studentorganisations of the politicalparties, who remain in collegeway into their 30s and 40s,politicking instead of studying.The young political leaders alsoform a branch of Nepal’s‘patronage network’. InternationalCrisis Group observed in itsSeptember report that the state’s“raison d’être is not servingcitizens so much as servicing theneeds of patronage networks andkeeping budgets flowing andcorruption going.”

Meanwhile, young people onthe street (I am still sticking withthe official age group here), seethis dynamic and feel powerless.Only a few days back a fewhundred ‘young’ people gatheredin front of the BICC and walkedbackwards to Singha Darbar toprotest the lack of progress inconstitution writing and theselfish attitude of the politicalleaders who are impedingprogress.

When one of the participantswas asked why he was at themarch he said the CA members

were not listening to people likehim. The solution, he said, wasto get young people into thedecision-making process. Butthere are 137 members in theConstituent Assembly below theage of 35. If you whack anotherhundred 20-year-olds in there,nothing substantial is going tochange.

In fact, tokenisms like theNational Youth Policy havefurther disadvantaged this broaddemographic. Young people makeup the largest chunk of theelectorate. In a democracy, votesare power.Young people thinkthey are a special group thatneeds special protections andprivileges. But if you can vote, ifyou can legally marry, and if youcan have children, you are anadult. Ask to be treated like one.We should abolish the word‘youth’ from our politicallexicon, and lobby instead for aneducation, health or businesspolicy. Perhaps a few AinsleyHayes would do the trick.

I

3 - 9 DECEMBER 2010 #53012|INTERNATIONAL

JAGDISH BHAGWATI

NEW DELHI – When USPresident Barack Obama visitedIndia in November andcomplimented its leaders onthe growing success andprowess of their economy, atacit question returned tocentre stage: Will China growfaster than India indefinitely,or will India shortly overtakeit?

In fact, this contest datesback to 1947, when Indiagained independence anddemocracy became the country’sdefining feature, while Chinaturned to Communism withthe success of Mao Zedong afterthe Long March. Bothcountries, the ‘sleeping giants’,were expected to awaken atsome point from their slumber.But, since the growth model invogue at the time laid principalemphasis on capitalaccumulation, China waswidely held to have theadvantage, because it couldraise its investment rate higherthan India, where democracylimited the extent to which the

population could be taxed toincrease domestic savings.

As it happened, however,both giants slept on – until the1980s in China and the early1990s in India – mainlybecause both countriesembraced a counter-productivepolicy framework that crippledthe productivity of theirinvestment efforts.

Reflecting flawed economicarguments, India embracedautarky in trade and rejectedinflows of equity investment. Italso witnessed economicinterventionism on a massivescale, including theproliferation of public sectorenterprises in areas beyondpublic utilities. In China, theresults were similar, as thepolitical embrace ofcommunism meant goingautarkic and giving the state amassive role in the economy.

After progressivelydismantling their inefficientpolicy frameworks in favour of‘liberal’ reforms, the two giantsbegan to stride forth. The racewas finally on. And, once again,China seemed to be the horse tobet on: it grew faster, because itchanged its policy framework

much faster than democracypermits. But there are goodreasons to suspect that China’sauthoritarian advantage will notendure.

First, while authoritarianismcan accelerate reforms, it can alsobe a serious handicap. Years ago,when both Mao and Zhou Enlaiwere alive, Padma Desai, theColumbia University expert onRussia, was asked about China’sfuture growth prospects. Sheanswered: it depends on whetherMao dies first or Zhao dies first –her point being that in a top-heavy system, growth paths canbecome unpredictable, and thussubject to volatility.

Moreover, we know fromexperience elsewhere – and nowin China itself – that as growthaccelerates, political aspirationsare aroused. Will the Chineseauthorities respond to them withever greater repression, as theyhave with dissidents and FalunGong, creating discord anddisruption, or will theyaccommodate new populardemands by moving to greaterdemocracy?

Again, China’s authoritarianpolitics means that it cannotprofit from the innovations that

depend on software, as that isan instrument through whichdissent can flourish andbecome subversive of totalcontrol. As one wit hasobserved, the PC (personalcomputer) and the CP(Communist Party) do not gotogether.

Finally, China’s growthmust continue to depend on itsexploitation of externalmarkets, which makes itvulnerable in a world that isincreasingly making democracyand human rights a centralpreoccupation. In such aworld, continued hassles andhiccups for Chinese exportscan be confidently expected.

Economic factors alsomilitate against Chineseprospects. China was clearlyable for many years to exploit a‘reserve army of theunemployed’ à la Karl Marx –to grow rapidly without facinga labour-supply constraint, sothat capital accumulationwould not run intodiminishing returns. But now,given China’s one-child policyand lack of adequateinfrastructure (includinghousing) in rapidly growingareas, labour is getting scarceand wages are rising.

In economic jargon, thesupply curve of labour was flatbut is now sloping upwards, sothat rapidly increasing demandfor labour resulting from rapidgrowth is driving up wages.That means that China isbeginning to ‘rejoin the humanrace’ as capital accumulationmeets scarcer labour andgrowth slows.

By contrast, India has a farmore abundant supply oflabour, as well as a morefavourable demographicprofile, so that, as India’sinvestment rate increases,labour will not be a constraint.India will thus become the newChina of the past two decades.

Besides, in contrast toChina, where economic reformswere quicker and morecomplete, India still has a wayto go: privatisation, labour-market reforms, and openingup the retail sector to larger,more efficient operators are allpending – and will give afurther boost to India’s growthrate once they areimplemented.

Jagdish Bhagwati is Professorof Economics and Law atColumbia University and SeniorFellow in InternationalEconomics at the Council onForeign Relations.www.project-syndicate.org

India or China?

China hasbeen able tomove fasterto boost its

economy,but its

authoritarianadvantage

will notendure

3 - 9 DECEMBER 2010 #530 NATION|13

ourism already indirectly employs548,000 Nepalis, and it’s not hard tosee that it will continue to grow. But

if Nepal’s tourism assets are to benefit futuregenerations and drive socially equitableeconomic growth, poverty alleviation andconservation, then sustainable best practicesmust be implemented.

SNV Nepal (in partnership with UNEPand the Nepal Tourism Board, with ECsupport) is working with a range of operatorsto do just this. Ghalegaun Village Resort, forinstance, has been involved in community-based ecotourism for eight years, taking fivegroups a year to remote Gurung villages tovisit traditional honey hunters. Since takingpart in the SNV programme, the resort hasprovided training in sustainable practices,the environment and tourism for 15 honeyhunters, who are encouraged to only harvestfrom about 40 per cent of hives indentified,so the endangered honeybee (and the nativeplants that depend on it) remains protected.

Everyone’s heard of The Last Resort,which has one of the world’s highest bungeejumps. But how many know of its responsiblepractices? Sales and marketing managerBhuwan Sharma says," When people ask whywe are more expensive, we explain about ourcommunity development program and thatstaff are paid legal wages and get overtime.The whole community is developing in linewith our resort. Ninety per cent of our clientscome back precisely because of this."

Of course, examples of sustainable‘best practice’ within Nepal’s tourism

community remain the exception rather thanthe rule. Many feel they have no choice butto survive by maximising profits – usuallyby exploiting natural resources and workers.Others operate differently, but haven’t yetunderstood that ‘responsible travel’ canactually be an asset. 3 Sisters AdventureTrekking has made a huge contribution towomen’s equality and education, enablingwomen from poor, mountainous regions tobecome confident and self-sufficientthrough guiding and portering (rock climbing

training, above). “We were doing all these‘responsible’ things but had no idea they hada business value that we could promote,” saysLucky Chhetri, one of the three siblings whoruns 3 Sisters. “The marketing program gaveus a sense of business. Client numbers areup by 10 per cent.”

The Everest Resort has also seen its visitornumbers rise by 20 per cent in the last year,and attributes this to its shift to responsiblepractices and better marketing. ManagersAng and Dorjee Lami Sherpa only hire local

staff, source fruit and vegetables as well asfair trade crafts locally, and minimise waterand power use through such innovations ascollecting snowmelt and rainwater. “We havelearned the importance of respecting othersand if possible of creating income for others,too,” says Dorjee.

Awareness of sustainable practices is notonly important for tourism operators, but alsofor local communities and consumers, whosedemand creates a virtuous cycle. “Unless youtalk about the good things you do peoplewon’t know about them,” says Abhi Shresthaof Himalayan Encounters, which runs TheFamous Farm in Nuwakot (pic, below). Thecharming boutique hotel, which overlooks amedieval fortress amidst terraced hills, isinstalling solar water heating systems andbiogas toilets. The hotel hires local guides,trains local farmers in organic farming, has apro-women recruitment policy, and isconstructing a school for the hearing andspeech impaired. “Local communities doubtyou, think your sole motive is profit making,and are non-cooperative. But if we areenvironmentally conscious we conserve theassets on which the company is based. If wecan make the local people feel part of thechanges and improvements then they will behappier and more hospitable to tourists andus.”

The Last Resort is one of severalcompanies looking to set up an alliance forresponsible tourism and has already givenout guidelines for developing such practices.“The purpose is to monitor each other interms of how responsible we are”, saysBhuwan. “Let’s see if we can help each otherbecome more responsible.”

Good business

Nepali tourist enterprises arediscovering that business can begood in every sense of the word

KATY WILLIAMS

T

14|FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 3 - 9 DECEMBER 2010 #530

Editorial in Kantipur, 27 November

The Maoist extended plenum, which concluded onSaturday, returned the political paper presentedby Party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal to thecentral committee. It’s clear even this extendedgathering could not smoothen over the internaldifferences in the party. Vice chairmen BaburamBhattarai and Mohan Baidya held differentopinions on many of Dahal’s policies. Thetriangular conflict within the Maoists remains andnow the challenge for the Maoist leadership is toaddress this internal dispute and give the party adirection.

Concluding the plenum, Dahal announced thatthe party has a single goal and will go forwardunited. However, he has also admitted that theparty is yet to resolve its internal differences.

Palungtar Plenum CoachRoad sign: Constitution writingHorse: Revolt

Batsayan in Kantipur, 1 December

Interview with KP Oli, Standing Committee member of UML,in Chhalphal, 28 November

Chhalphal: How do you assess the current political situation?KP Oli: Nepali politics is in transition. Democracy has beenrestored and we have to institutionalise it. The Maoist insurgencyended but the peace process is still ongoing. In other words, thepeace process is a fight against violence, which is still ongoing.Apparently, the republic has been established, but theComprehensive Peace Accord only brought about a ceasefire.The objectives of the war, weapons and policies are still as theyused to be. The Maoists still control the PLA combatants andweapons, on the basis of which they warn of violent proteststime and again. The government has not been formed in fivemonths, ever since the prime minister resigned. We have onlysix months to conclude the peace process, but the issues of theconstitution and peace process have not been touched yet. Thisis why we are hearing voices of frustration and protest.

What is the root cause and who is responsible for this?The Maoists’ intention to capture power, the continuity of thepolitics of violence, and a craving for weapons are the realproblems. Some other forces are also behind them for their owninterest. They said Madhav Nepal’s resignation would pave theway for political consensus, some even launched a signaturecampaign demanding his resignation. In fact, they did notunderstand the ulterior motives of the Maoists. Whoever wasinvolved in this episode is responsible for the current situation.

How have you taken the incident in parliament?The parliament incident was an inexcusable, condemnable,unethical deed. The culprits should be brought to book. But thisis not a surprising act for an extremist party, it’s not a big thingfor a party that slaughtered thousands of people. This incidentshould not disrupt the peace process and ongoing dialogue butthey should not be allowed to act however they want.

When will the government be formed?The Maoists are not ready to accept anyone’s leadership. Peoplesaw their attempt to block the budget. They seem to bedetermined to create a vacuum by preventing the formation ofthe government.

Who is likely to lead the new government?There is no possibility of the Maoists leading the governmentbecause they have not implemented past agreements, denouncedviolence or given up weapons. They cannot lead the governmentuntil they transform themselves into a civilian party. Whateverthe UML and NC decide should offer a way out.

If the current stalemate persists, will the president take over?The Nepali president is not a military president and we are notabout to risk democracy. There is a provision for a state ofemergency in the constitution. If the government has to declarea state of emergency, there can be discussions on presidentialrule. In democracy these kinds of discussion are natural.

Suresh Neupane in Himal Khabarpatrika,2-15 December

Elinor Ostrom is an American political scientist whoreceived the Nobel Prize for Economic Scienceslast year, for her work on the successful indigenouspractices of Nepal. She is visitingthe capital this week.

Since 2002, when the tenure ofelected local governments acrossNepal ended, issues of localgovernance, good governance,resources and structure have beenabsent from political vision. Village-level indigenous practices ofcooperation and collaboration thatare rooted in history have also beengradually eroded. The issue of nativepractices, which form a part of theNepali identity, have not receivedattention since Nepal witnessedmassive political transformation in2005-2006. Instead, the centre’spolicies were imposed even at locallevel to strengthen vested political interests. In thetransition to a federal republic, issues of local levelgovernance have barely featured in political andconstitutional debates. The entire state iscentralised. It seems as if local governance modulesand community initiatives have failed.

But if it were so, Professor Elinor Ostrom wouldnot have found Nepal to be one of the exemplars ofsuccessful community and local governance. Havingchosen Nepal as her area of research, she wasawarded the Nobel Prize in economics in 2009. Thisdid not just bring Ostrom into the limelight but alsogave a new dimension to the Nepali identity that was

Falseconsensus

Maoist resolution At the week-long plenum, the leadership could notagree on the direction of the party or the party’sstance on India. But they did pass a proposal torevolt if the peace process and constitution do notreach a logical conclusion, confusing their cadresas well as national politics. The Maoists have losta chance to commit to an unconditional peace andthe constitution. Baidya’s belief that the partyneeds to go into revolt and Bhattarai’scommitment to the path of the constitution maysoon collide with Dahal’s conditional line. Thisclash might manifest itself as the discussion onthe paper starts in the central committee.

Differences of opinion are not unusual in acommunist party, but ideological and personalityclashes were also responsible for the intra-partyconflict seen at Palungtar. However, it is positiveto see that the party has adopted a democraticsystem internally, calling on all central andcommittee level party workers for a discussion.There are specific processes to resolve internalconflict in a party and now, the Maoists shouldcall a general convention.

sketched out by Tony Hagen in the 1950s –of successful indigenous cooperative practices.

A professor at Indiana University in Bloomington,United States, Ostrom visited several villages duringher research to identify community forests andirrigation systems, as well as other communitydevelopment ventures that mobilised local resources.

Ostrom’s argument that people andcommunity-based organisations aremore committed to the rules craftedby themselves than to decreesimposed by the state or to solutionsprovided by donor agencies hasbeen bolstered by successfulexamples in Nepal. Her argumentthat local residents and communityare best equipped to manage localnatural resources was based onsuccessful paradigms in countrieslike Nepal, Kenya, and Nigeria. Inher last visit to Nepal in 2002,Ostrom visited Chitwan,Sindhupalchowk, and Dang to studygood governance exercisessurrounding groundwater irrigation.

It is no coincidence that she is visiting Nepal at atime when the country stands at the crossroads ofconstitution writing and state restructuring. It musthave been her special attachment to Nepal thatcompelled her to accept the official invitation fromthe Government of Nepal, enabled by The AsiaFoundation. Over three days, she will meet PresidentRam Baran Yadav and interact with senior officialsof the Nepal Government on the theme of local goodgovernance and resource utilisation. Ostrom is alsothe keynote speaker for the Annual Mahesh ChandraRegmi Lecture organised by Social Science Bahaon 7 December.

Welcome Ostrom!

FROM THE NEPALI PRESS|153 - 9 DECEMBER 2010 #530

Gokul Ghorsaine in Nepal Samacharpatra, 29 November

Deputy Minister ofPhysical Planning andWorks, Kalawati DeviPaswan, has solved a bigproblem for herself. Tenmonths after beingappointed as a minister,Paswan has built a cementhouse for herself in hervillage in Bara. The 16-room, two-story house wasbuilt at a cost ofRs 1.5 million. Anunknown group hadtorched her house,reducing it to ashes,immediately after she waselected in the Constituent

Assembly and Paswan had been living in a thatched hut ever since.“My lifelong ambition is fulfilled,” Paswan said. “I have built the

house with the support of the party and the people.” Paswan explainedthat the government contributed Rs 600,000 and her party, the MadhesiJanadhikar Forum, chipped in Rs 300,000 to build the house. “I hadalso saved some money from my salary and allowances,” she said.

Paswan, who comes from the Dalit and landless community, hadlived in a thatched hut for a long time. “It does not suit a minister to livein a hut. I used to work as a wage labourer before. Now that I have builta house, all my worries are gone,” she says.

The locals are also happy that the minister has built her house in thevillage. Former VDC chairman Ramananda Chaurasiya said, “If otherministers too built their houses in their villages it would contribute alot to village development.”

Editorial in Naya Patrika, 29 November

At the end, the jumbo team of Nepali sportsofficials returned home, proud of the onebronze medal won by boxer Deepak Maharjan.The 16th Asian Games became a sad memoryfor Nepali sports lovers. They only playedaudience to the tug-of-war between officialsof the country’s highest two sportsinstitutions – the National Sports Council(NSC) and Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC).While the players were training, theseofficials were calculating how much theycould earn on commissions. This clearlyreflected on the performance of the players.But rather than the failure of the players, itwas the public tussle between NSC and NOCthat shamed the country in the internationalarena.

Even after the prime minister had bidthem farewell, the players were stranded inNepal. While the officials and their relativesenjoyed transit-free air tickets from theorganisers, those meant to play at the gameshad to endure over 10 hours of transit toreach Guangzhou in China. NOC’s treasurerhas revealed that the committee’s presidentDhurba Bahadur Pradhan pocketed a heftycommission on the tickets. It is hard to saywho benefited from Rs 800,000 taken fromthe Player Welfare Fund to financethe tickets.

The drama continued even after theyreached Guangzhou. NOC’s Pradhan andJeevan Ram Shrestha enjoyed a seven-starhotel while they put Sports MinisterGanesh Tiwari and members of the NSC in afour-star hotel. At the competition, twoofficials held up a banner for ‘Save theMission’, turning our country into alaughing stock in front of the internationalcommunity.

Nepal’s team at the 16th Asian Gamescomprised 100 players but there were fivetimes as many officials. It’s clear that themajority were there just to enjoy a foreigntrip and made no contribution to theGames. Instead of being concerned aboutthe poor performance of the players, theofficials were out shopping and sightseeing.

Disgraceful gameMinistergets home

GOKUL GHORSAINE

3 - 9 DECEMBER 2010 #53016|BACK SIDE

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CDO Regd No 194/056/57 Lalitpur, Central Region Postal Regd. No 09/066/67

f Prof S D Muni saysChairman Awesome is notreally anti-Indian, we have

to believe him. And if Muni isright then it means PKD hasbeen lying through his teethall along. (Which is what wesuspected.) So, thanks to the proffor confirming our worst fears.

As expected, PKD has sailedthrough his Extended Plenum bylying left, right and centre. Hereiterated yet once more howmuch he hated revisionism,hinting that Rambabu has seriousrevisionist tendencies. But BRBhimself exposed his boss’shobnobbing with ex-royals asbeing worse than revisionism.

Now, why would Kollywoodpersonality Gopal Bhutani becremated bedecked in the redhammer and sickle? Do similarhonours await other non card-carrying Baddies when they kickthe bucket? And what of peoplewho have been at the receivingend of Maobaddie terminalphysical elimination?

Meanwhile, Makunay had all thetime in the world to attend theTiger Summit, but rushed backnot to attend to the country’spolitical deadlock, but to resolvea slight glitch in his dotter’swedding plans. Did Nepal

Quickie-leaks from KTM

commit to double the populationof big cats by 2020 or not? Anddo we trust the DeforestationMinister to do it? And before wecould say ‘Angkor Wat’, Makunaywas back at the airport clockingmore frequent flier miles byjetting off to Cambodia for ameeting that he could easily havesent a flunkey to. As we speak, heis on his way to Brussels toreturn only in mid-Dec. Is there amethod to Makunay’s madness?Is he trying to show everyone elsejust what he thinks of theinability of his colleagues toresolve the succession issue?Maybe. But my guess is we have aPM who desperately wants his

Gold Medallion Status renewed.

And just as well he is outside thecountry because when the primeminister is here, he takesmomentous decisions likeproposing the erection of theRepublic Tower on the right bankof the Bagmati. Besides a gatefetish and clock tower craze, thiswill unleash a nationwideepidemic of Republic Towererections. MKN has takenpersonal charge of the design andwe have it on good authority thatit is an obelisk with a bronzewinged horse on top. Anddignitaries trooping to it in

future to lay floral tributes onRepublic Day will all faint asthey are asphyxiated by the aromawafting up from the river.

Six months after the Chinesegifted the Mandu Municipalitywith street scrubbers andsidewalk vacuum trucks, thevehicles are still rusting away inTeku. The reason is that thetrucks still don’t have registrationplates and green emissionstickers. But even if they did, theAss’s prediction is that they willstall on their first day ofscrubbing as their tubes areoverwhelmed with all therubbish this city has to offer.

Maybe the Chinese shouldhave just given us brooms.

The Minister of Foreign Affairsmust be nervous about theWikileak expos of sensitiveAmerican diplomatic cables. Notbecause everyone will know whatthe U.S. embassy here thinksabout her, but because there maybe no mention of her at all. Wot,am I not important enough to bementioned in secret diplomaticcables? Pity the leaks don’t goback to the early 1990s, though.We’d really like to hear aboutwhat Julia had to say about her

I

match-making strategy to get LionBrave hitched to Ar-Zoo.

Much more interesting would beif we had the Freedom ofInformation Act to find out whatour own embassies are cabling toNaryanhiti. For instance, ourenvoy to Canberra must havewritten back about the speech hegave on the Kommunist Manifestoto a group of flustered Kiwis inNew Zealand. Our man in Seoulmust be cabling back abouteverything but the imminent warwith the North. London’sclassified cables must reveal somepretty gory details about thestructural status of theKensington building. And wecan’t wait for the quickie-leaksfrom Bara Khamba Road about thelatest visits by Nepali politicalfigures for ‘medical’ treatment.

Kathmandu IrrationalAirport is mulling the purchaseof full-body scanners. Bad idea.Now that NTA has shut downporn sites, desperate cops maytake to ogling the privatised partsof VIP passengers. I’d rather theyintensified their pat downs tomake them more invasive, thenwe could market them with a newslogan for NepalTourism Ear: ‘Getan Arousing FullBody Massage Asyou Leave theCountry’.ass(at)nepalitimes.com