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Amidst hopes and doubts, an estimated 17.6million voters are set to go to the poll this week onApril 10 as world watches with vigilant eyes. Atleast 1000 international observers led by formerUS President Jimmy Carter will be observing thepoll as fears rise that they may not be free fromviolence, intimidation and rigging The fact that atleast three dozen candidates, mostly from theNepali Congress and the Communist Party ofNepal-United Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML), havebeen wounded in the attacks by the Maoists givescredence to the misgivings.

As Nepalis appear set to elect the 601-memebr constituent assembly to draft andapprove the future constitution, there areintense speculations about the future leadershipof the government and all parties’ ability to gotogether on vital issues confronting the nation.

The biggest threat to the law and order andfair conduct of the poll comes from the YoungCommunist League, which has been indulging inviolence and intimidation of the candidates andcadres of other parties. Besides, the Maoistleaderships’ oft-repeated threat that they wouldnot accept the poll outcome if that goes againstthem has also raised doubts whether electionwill be an exercise in futility at a latter stage.

Worried about the prospects of violence, ChiefElection Commissioner (CEC) Bhojraj Pokhrelsummoned Chief of the Armed Police Force(APF) and the Nepal Police on April 6 to ensurethat law and orders are strictly maintained. A banon movement of private and public vehicles for

two days preceding the poll, EC sources said,was aimed at minimising risks of all clashes.

A well armed posse of 25,000 APF, around50,000 civil police and nearly 76,000 temporarypolice recruited by the Home Ministry recentlywill be on round the clock patrol between nowand the poll day.

According to election commission sources, itwill take three weeks for the results to bedeclared. Filling up seats under the 335proportional representation system will still be atough job for the party leaders mainly NepaliCongress. And the toughest job will be to decideon the future Prime Minister as the CA, manybelieve, is going to be a hung-one with noparty's clear majority. ä

History in the making

At lastThe biggest threat to the law and order and fair conduct of the poll

comes from the Young Communist League

Maoist cadres have put up a party flag and banner asking for votes for theCommunist Party of Nepal-Maoists just outside a gas depot in the Balaju IndustrialDistrict (BID). The photo was taken on April 6.

2 7-13 Apr, 2008 News

International recog-nition worry

A week after ChiefElection Commissioner(CEC) Bhojraj Pokhrelwent around thecountry certifying thatlaw and order situationhas improved andconducive enough forthe poll, he expressedhis quiet worry aboutthe situation during hisinteraction with thesenior civil and policeofficials on April 5.

Chief SecretaryBhojraj Ghimire andInspector General of Police Om Bikram Rana (Civil) andBasudev Oli (Armed Police Force) assured the CEC thatthe law and order situation was perfectly alright andnobody was in a position to create problems for the poll.

Yet they agreed to remain vigilant especially in the lightof the large scale presence of the international observers.“You must be alert that violence and rigging could lead tothe election not being recognised by the national andinternational community;” Pokhrel is believed to havewarned the police chiefs.

Model countryAt least the environmentalists have every reason to feel

happy about it. All vehicles including public transport will beoff the roads for 24 hours beginning midnight April 9. Notonly will that save fuel that is already in shortage, but willalso bring about a good respite from vehicle emission.

And on top of that the noise pollution coming throughloud-speakers during the past four weeks of electioncampaign will change into relatively quiet campaignsbeginning midnight of April 7. The use of public meetingsand loud-speakers has been banned for electoralpurposes. The parties and candidates can only visitelectorate in the door to door campaign.

Needless to say, the country will be observing a dry-week with no liberty to anyone to buy and sell liquor. Butconsuming what one already has in store may not be aroblem perhaps!

Save DolmaMaiti Nepal has set-up a secretariat for the ‘Save Dolma’

campaign. A bank account has been opened with NepalInvestment Bank to raise funds for the campaign.According to the secretariat, the account no is (AC NO):5490040.

Anybody willing to be a part of the campaign is free todeposit the contribution in the account. Anuradha Koirala,Anjtenji Sherpa and Lakpa Sherpa are the accounttrustees. The amount will be used to hire a defense lawyerin Kuwait and assist the victim’s family.

Richer by 28 mil-lion pounds

Nepal got whopping 28 million pounds sterling from theBritish government for the electoral as well as other peaceinitiatives. The announcement to this effect was madejointly by British Ambassador Andrew Hall and head ofDFID Nepal, Bella Bird on 4th April.

Announcing support of 14 million pounds, AmbassadorHall said, “The UK is pleased to support peace anddevelopment in Nepal and both are vital for a new Nepalto be created.” DFD Chief Bird said, “The UK is providingfurther 14 million pounds in support of the elections and forother key areas of the peace process as well as efforts toimprove human rights and ensure those who committedhuman rights abuses in the past are brought to justice.”

The two said that the money will go to the government’sNepal Peace Trust Fund, the UN Peace Fund and the UNOffice of the High Commissioner for Human Rights(OHCHR).

News BriefCorneringNepal Army

“APF will be the country’s elite security force in the days to come.”

In what appears like the presentgovernment’s attitude of systematicallyisolating the Nepal Army (NA), it has adopteda policy of equipping the Armed Police Force(APF) with sophisticated weapons.

The government’s policy that wasunder consideration since long wasimplemented recently when India supplied17,000 Self Loading Rifles (SLR) with ahuge amount of ammunitions. Thegovernment, on the other hand, hastaken no initiative to resume the supply ofarms and ammunitions to the NepalArmy; which the government of Indiasuspended back in February 2005, soonafter the king took over power.

The arrival of weapons in several

trucks from India recently had infuriatedthe Maoists who suspected that theimport of arms on the eve of electionswas clearly aimed at sabotaging orrigging the poll. But Prime Minister Koiralasucceeded in convincing Maoist ChiefPrachanda that it was meant purely toquell possible disturbances by Madheshioutfits during the polls, and was not at allmeant against the Maoists.

Koirala’s repeated statement that thearmy may be used during the poll wasonly meant to deliver a tactical messagethat it could have a role even under thecurrent set-up. But APF will be thecountry’s elite security force in the days tocome, official sources said.

Prof SD Muni who is often identified withIndia’s security establishment said in arecent television interview to an Indianchannel that if NA is used during the poll, itwould send a message that the govern-ment is meant to rig the poll in favour ofthe monarchy. And NA, both for thecurrent establishment in Nepal and India, isstill loyal to the palace. The fact that Indiarefused to resume supply of arms evenafter Chief of the Army Staff, Gen RKatawal made a plea during his visit toDelhi four months ago is a clear proof ofthat view. Moreover, the government heretold India that APF and Nepal police’sneed for arms were greater.

That is the reason the APF has beenable to get maximum resources andequipment exclusively from India. A coupleof days before the arms were importedfrom India; APF Chief Basudev Oli hadbriefed the PM about the likely arrival ofthe arms. The information was not sharedwith the army at any stage, sources said.

Om Bikram Rana, Chief of the NepalPolice said publicly on April 4 that NepalPolice is capable of maintaining law andorder during the polls and said, “We donot need the army,” - a statement whichsenior officials claim, was made at thebehest of political leadership of the HomeMinistry to provoke the army.

A week after the Chinese governmentexpressed concern over the ‘use ‘ ofNepali territory for anti-Chineseactivities, the government of Nepalseems to have swung into action. “Thefree Tibet groups have been issuedwarning that the government of Nepal isunder no position to help them,” a ShitalNiwas official told newsfront.

As a result, the anti-Chinese activitiesthat continued in the capital for morethan two weeks have now stoppedostensibly till the elections to theconstituent assembly are over.

“They are over hopefully,” the sourcesaid.

In fact, Nepal was caught in the trap

of criticism with the European Unionand Human rights groups on one side,and the Chinese authorities on theother, for opposite reasons. However,by using the middle path, the Free Tibetgroups were told to stop their activities ifthey wanted to remain in Nepal.

Nepali authorities took the step afterChinese Ambassador Zheng Xianglinnot only came back here cutting shorthis leave from Beijing, but he alsohosted a press conference warning thatforeign forces were actively engaged ininstigating the anti-Chinese activities inNepal. He did not name the country, butmade it clear that the United States andIndia were clearly aiding such groups.

The ambassador said Nepal govern-ment must ensure that such activitiesdirected against China did not takeplace.

In fact, China, which has a longstanding relationship based on mutualtrust with the royal palace is said to beconfused over the unfolding politicalscenario in Nepal. There is no clarity asto what happens to China’s Nepal policyif monarchy is abolished from thecountry. This is something that is nowbeing debated in security and foreignpolicy forums in Nepal quietly. “If Maoistsemerge as a major political force afterelections China may feel comfortabledealing with them,” the Shitwal Niwassource who did not want to be quoted,said.

Despite all these uncertainties, thepolicy makers are clear on one thing -that China’s sensitivity over Tibet issomething that Nepal cannot ignore.Foreign Minister, Sahana Pradhan hastime and again assured AmbassadorXianglin about Nepal’s clear-cut line.“She has also assured China that noother country will be given space inNepal in detriment to Chinese interest,”the source said.

The incident of use of force by thepolice on Tibetans in exile as well as themonks got so much priority in theinternational media; that it was reviewedinformally at the Prime Minister’s level. Asource in the PM’s office quoted HomeMinister KP Sitaula as saying, “It is sodifficult to keep China happy.” ButKoirala, the source said, instantly askedSitaula that Nepal should not be seen asa human rights violator across the globe.

Keeping China happyThe policy makers are clear on one thing - that China’s sensitivity

over Tibet is something that Nepal cannot ignore.

Pix

by: B

hash

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37-13 Apr, 2008News

CAEOFElection Watch

The situation for the election of ConstituentAssembly (CA) is gradually improving. Theclashes between political parties are decreas-ing in number. Top three parties have comeinto the ten point agreement to give positivemessage the election. Within the frameworkof the ten point agreement they have formedthe committee to monitor the electoralviolence. This is an appreciable step towardscreating conducive atmosphere for theelection.

The government of Nepal formed a “Peaceand Conflict Management Committee” underthe co-chairmanship of Daman NathDhungana and Padma Ratna Tuladhar. It isbelieved that this committee will functioneffectively for maintaining smooth relationshipbetween major ruling parties and minimisingelectoral violence. The Election Commission(EC) appears firm in taking action againstcandidates and the parties, if found violatingthe electoral code of conduct. The commissionhas already summoned four candidates ofdifferent parties for clarifications on the charge.

Maoist Chairman Prachanda, speaking atthe mass meeting at Tundikhel, ordered hiscadres and YCL members to behave likeGandhi at least for the election week. It canbe considered a positive step to minimiseelection violence. India has already offered toseal the border for three days during thepolls. The effective sealing of the boarders willhelp to check the criminal groups to disruptthe poll and engage in criminal activitiesduring the election in Tarai region.

Another positive development seen thesedays is the alliance of women, who are

campaigning for women candidatesirrespective of the parties. They are urgingpeople to vote in favor of the womencandidates whichever parties theyrepresent. The civil society conducted thenational wide rally on 5th of April topressure the political parties to stopelectoral violence and ensure free and fairelection.

But challenges are equally big. Top threepolitical parties (Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and CPN-Maoists) have announcedto mobilise youths in every booth. Thisseems very risky because it may cause theclashes in the day of the poll. ElectionCommission is facing difficulties in managingand coordinating the election observers.Observers, in great numbers, have aresponsibility to be fair, professional andunbiased towards the whole process.

If no untoward incidents take place now,there are no major obstacles likely to becoming in the way of Constituent Assemblyelection of April 10. Yet, the governmentand the seven political parties shouldremain vigilant to thwart any possible lastminute attempts of sabotage. One has torealise that this CA election is not con-ducted at normal situation rather held afterthe decade long armed conflict. For thisreason, the overall recent developmentsare satisfactory.

CA Election Observation Joint Forum(CAEOF)

New Baneshwor, Kathmandu,Tel: 4780505, Email:

caeofnepal@gmail.com

Expedition continuesä Yubaraj Ghimire

Nepal has declined Chineserequest to suspend all the expeditionsto Mt. Everest and a couple of othermountains between May and May 10to keep Tibet free from alien troubleswhen the Olympic torch passesthrough the area. But Nepal hasguaranteed that the expedition fromits sides will be peaceful and apoliticalwith no negative impact on thebilateral relationship.

According to the official sources,the decision of the Nepali governmentfollows a written undertaking thatnone of the expedition groupsclimbing the Mount Everest and otherpeaks from Nepal side would indulgein anti Chinese activities. In fact, thegovernment of Nepal which hadpromised to favourably respond tothe Chinese request earlier, reviewedits stance in the cabinet meeting onApril 2 and gave the undertaking tothe Chinese government of a trouble-free expedition from Nepal. TheNepal Mountaineering Association(NMA) would be acting as the officialmonitor during the expeditions. It hasagreed to stand guarantor that theexpedition would be trouble free.

NMA Chief Ang Tsering Sherpatold ENS that it would be a pity to

cancel or suspend the permitsalready granted for expedition duringthe peak season. He said he hasreceived the letter from the ForeignMinistry here asking it to monitor theexpeditions and ensure that it

remains trouble free. “We haveagreed to take that responsibility andlet both Chinese and Nepali govern-ments rest assured that the groupswould demonstrate the highest levelof professional spirit and character as

always.”Suspension of the expedition

altogether or restricting it to basecamp of Mt. Everest would haveresulted in the loss of at least ninemillion US dollar during that period.

According to the official sources, inaddition to three million dollars asexpedition fees, these groupsnormally spend twice that amountwhen they stay in the country.

Besides, 10,000 locals, mostlySherpas who would be engaged asporters and guides would have losttheir jobs. In addition to Mt. Everest,China’s earlier request suggestedthat the expedition to Mt. Lhotsealong the Tibetan border also besuspended.

“We recognise Chinese sensitivityon the matter, but they also under-stand that Nepal is a friendly countrywhich does not go against Chineseinterest especially on the Tibet issue,”a source in the Prime Minister’s officesaid.

An official who did not want to beidentified claimed that China waseven willing to compensate for theloss of all these revenues to Nepal inlieu of suspension of the expedition,but relented after the officialundertaking that the expeditiongroups would not in any way endorseor support the Free Tibet movement. China has already asked

Nepal to stop pro Free Tibetdemonstrations in the capital and notlet foreign powers, which it refused toidentify, to fuel those protests.

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

7-13 Apr, 20084 Editorial

LettersSuperb cartoon

Abin’s cartoon was superb.It helps even a nitwit tounderstand what theconstituent assembly poll isgoing to be like. Ourpoliticians who are totallydevoid of political commit-ment, principle and character,are only flexing their muscles.They are only trying tolegitimise the bullets, sickleand hammers as means toget what they want.

ä TejshreeKuleshwar, Kathmandu

Keep children out ofpolitics

It’s so sickening to seeboys or girls being used forpolitics. More than 400children have lost their lives inthe insurgency launched bythe Maoists in this country. Sofar, no parties have comeforward in support of children’s right toeducation. But they are together when itcomes to disrupting children’s rights fortheir own political benefit.

Your cover pix last issue that showedtwo girls painted UML’s election symbolon their faces, exposed that party. But Ido not think any party is different in thatsense. Their students and youth wingshave been going around shutting downschools under different pretexts.

It at all children need to come outopenly in rallies with banners and flags,it should be to collectively appeal to shunthese political parties unless they treatschools and children truly as zones of

A politician looks forward only to the next election. Astatesman looks forward to the next generation.

- Thomas Jefferson

Point to Ponder

Observing pollsNepal stands at the threshold of opportunities that comes but

rarely in the history of a nation. Today as the nation is all set towitness a historic event where the entire 17.6 million voters standtogether as equals in spirit, with a dream that this countrydeserves to get out of a history mired in bloodshed during themore than a decade long conflict. They also aspire that life, liberty,and opportunities to grow together are going to be non-negotiablehuman rights in future Nepal; where wiping out hunger andstarvation shall not only be the challenge, but ensuring it shall bethe responsibility of those - who come to power as well as in theconstituent assembly - with people’s mandate.

That is why it is imperative that all eligible citizens have a duty toexercise their franchise out of free will. After all, it is an electionwhere every citizen has a stake. A huge presence of theinternational observer in the current context is therefore, awelcome move. But all of us must be clear that internationalobservers do not have a legal status. Nor will they intervene ifviolence or clashes occur. They might even run away from thescene if that threatens their safety. Almost all of them have alreadyobtained visa for India, the nearest country they can fly to, in caseof threat to their safety and security.

Yet, their moral status cannot be and should not be under-mined. They are expected to act as a deterrent against any designand act to subvert or manipulate the will of the people whilecasting their votes. Therefore, the derogatory remarks by MaoistChief Prachanda against the international observers in a sweepingmanner is not only in bad taste but condemnable as well. As aradical party seeking people’s mandate, the Maoists should be thehappiest party to have so many observers.

It is all the more reprehensible that the Election Commission(EC) who invited the international observers feels the need towarn them that ‘isolated’ cases of poll violence or irregularitiesshould not form the basis of their reports of the poll. This arbitrarystatement of the commission only shows how independent it is.

The commission is right in its plea that post election challengesare much more formidable, but a fair poll does not come in theway of future law-makers to fulfill their responsibilities. The EC hasbeen given the historic responsibility of conducting the poll in a fairmanner in free and fearless atmosphere. The death of onecandidate in an armed attack, a series of clashes among thepolitical rivals in which more than three dozen candidates havebeen wounded, show that all is not well at the law and order front.And even at this stage, EC has a duty to warn the police and theHome Ministry to maintain law and order. Closing one’s eyes ortelling the international observers to follow suit would be a crimeagainst democracy that EC will be committing. All the more reasonwhy the international observers should be extra vigilant.

Teaching effect of storiesNasreddin, meaning victory of the faith in

Persian, is a legendary satirical Sufi figure wholived during the Middle Ages (around 13thcentury), somewhere in Greater Khorasan,Iran. Many nations of the near, middle eastand central Asia claim the Nasreddin as theirown.

Much of Nasreddin’s actions can bedescribed as illogical yet logical, rational yetirrational, bizarre yet normal, foolish yet sharp,and simple yet profound. What adds evenfurther to his uniqueness is the way he getsacross his messages in unconventional yetvery effective methods in a profound simplicity.

The Nasreddin stories have touchedcultures around the world. Superficially, mostof the Nasreddin stories may be told as jokes

or humorousanecdotes. But it isinherent in aNasreddin story thatit may be understoodat many levels. Thereis the joke, followedby a moral – andusually the little extrawhich brings theconsciousness of thepotential mystic a littlefurther on the way torealisation.

The anecdotesattributed to himreveal a satirical personality with a bitingtongue that he was not afraid to use even

Spiritual Corneragainst the mosttyrannical rulers ofhis time. He is thesymbol of middle-eastern satiricalcomedy and therebellious feelings ofpeople against thedynasties that onceruled this part of theworld.

Some tales ofNasreddin are alsoadapted and usedas teaching storiesby followers of

Sufism. This is such a common practicethat, given the nature of many of

peace. UML, as any other party, canalways assert that those two childrencame to the election rally out of theirfree will and offered their faces to bepainted, but violation of rights knowinglyor unknowingly is just that, a violation.Children must be kept out of politics.

ä Mandira SharmaChabahil, Kathmandu

UNMIN’s silenceUNMIN has now been coming out

with regular reports highlighting thehuman rights and code of conductviolation by the political parties including

the Maoists. It has verycategorically stated that theMaoist guerrillas deserted thecantonments in Chitwan andSurkhet to work for theMaoist party. But UNMIN hasignored to respond to thenewsfront story that statedthat UNMIN representativeswere not present when thegovernment money wasdistributed among thePeople’s Liberation Armyrecently.

Is it a breach of under-standing between theMaoists and the governmentor a routine lapse thatUNMIN can afford to ignore?

ä Daya SharmaTeku, Kathmandu

Wake up electioncommission

So far the electioncommission has not done

much to enforce the code of conduct,although newspapers are full of reportsabout violence, clash and such violations.Is it not a culture of impunity that theelection commission is promoting?

If the candidates and their parties,especially the bigger ones are soimmune, imagine the amount of impunitythat the elected members of theconstituent assembly would be exercis-ing? This goes against the very basis ofdemocracy. There can be no differentclass of citizens who will have moreprivileges or impunity than the others.

ä M. SinghDilli Bazar, Kathmandu

Nasreddin’s jokes, multiple interpretationsare to be expected. Idries Shah, a well-known Sufi and writer, published a numberof collections of Nasreddin stories andsuggested that the stories’ various layers ofmeaning have a teaching-effect.

While Nasreddin is mostly known as acharacter from anecdotes, whole novels andstories have later been written. The oldestmanuscript of Nasreddin was found in 1571.

Two sides of a riverNasreddin sat on a river bank when

someone shouted to him from the oppositeside:

- “Hey! how do I get to the other side?”“You are on the other side!” Nasreddinshouted back.

7-13 Apr, 20085Debating Development

ä Binod P. Bista

While the commu-nist parties ingeneral and theNepali Maoists inparticular arevigorously cam-paigning for a

classless society in Nepal and thewhole world, the failed ideology ofyesteryears, Nepal is becoming anation of middle classless society.There is no nation on earth todaythat has developed and sustained itsprogress and prosperity without thecontinuous contribution made by themiddle class. It is not only a matter ofeconomic growth and developmentbut the middle class has also beenthe backbone of political as well associal development and stability in alladvanced and developing countries.

The middle class people emergefrom a society, similar to the newmiddle class of India and othernewly emerging economies, bybelieving steadfastly in their countryand toiling hard at the same time torealise the dreams of majority. Thecurrent situation in Nepal, wherethere is no environment for thedevelopment of a true middle class,seems to be the main problem.Though some people have madelots of wealth in a very short span,they have not, however, climbed themiddle class ladder.

Windfall gains owing to irrationalrise in real estate prices or corruptionaffected system providing numerousopportunities to evade taxes togovernment or trade deflection cannever produce a middle class societyin a country. To be a member of amiddle class one has to toil very hardwith honesty and integrity and theprogress is never anything other thanincremental. Anything such emerginggroups of people embark producesgenuine result; be it in business, art &culture, cuisine, music or evenphilanthropy if some of the middleclass people were to move up tohigher class.

The development of a middle classis not person oriented but encom-passes the family as a whole, whichlater embraces communities andlarger chunks of society in its stride.The least it does is to secure the futureof the children of the country and alsobuild a solid foundation for futuregenerations. Whether it is the greatUSA or a progressively developingcountry, all governments ensure thatthe middle class receives enoughsupport and encouragement tocontinually progress. That is thereason why the American presidenttalks about small and mediumbusinesses more often than bigindustries since they provide thenecessary support to America to excel.

In Nepal, everything seems to be

anti middle class. Business wise,instead of fostering competition thegovernment seems to be assistingsome large businesses to becomeeven larger by encouraging mergersand acquisition in many areasincluding the financial sector. Thegovernment and its agencies’requirements for establishing a smalland medium sized business is socumbersome and costly that thereare ample cases of failures during thepreparation phase itself.

Weak supervision by regulatorybodies, which are very few in the firstinstance, of the larger businessmakes it virtually impossible for smalland medium industries to survive,much less progress. Turn tobureaucracy, the honest and hardworking staff are always sidelinedgiving unfair advantage to those whonot only tow the party line but alsocampaign for the party during all ofthe office hours.

The list is long as to why there canbe no emergence of a true middleclass in Nepal under the presentcondition. Turn to professionals andone finds that there is hardly anyenvironment for specialisation andconsolidation of their specificprofessions unless they, too, work forparties directly or indirectly. The othergroups of people engaged in non-government organisations are hardlysupported by their own and they

need to consistently seek supportfrom international organisations.

The outcome of such endeavors isless than desirable at most times.Even the future pillars of society, thestudents, are not outside theinfluence of political parties. Whensome may be able to operate outsideof it, there are others distractions andinfluences that mar their advance tobe an honest and hardworkingperson with strong ethical sense andmoral values.

Simply by acquiring some wealthwithout hard work does not make aperson (family) a middle class. It isthe middle class that checks the highhandedness and aberrations of agovernment since this class is welleducated, enlightened, mannered,disciplined and always conscious of itsrights as well as obligations to thesociety and the country.

Absence of such a class in anycountry erodes the sense ofnationhood and national pride.Despite several opportunitiesavailable to build a solid middle classin Nepal, her leaders have sadlywasted all chances in their bid toproject their own image and theirparties by unfair means. Are wetrying to create a new Nepal into amiddle-classless country caught up inself praise, hooliganism, lawlessnessand unhealthy business practices? ä

Middle-classless society

To be a member of a middle class one has to toil very hard with honesty and integrity and theprogress is never anything other than incremental.

The develop-ment of a

middle class isnot person

oriented butencompasses

the family as awhole, which

later embracescommunities

and largerchunks of

society in itsstride.

Maoist candidates from Kathmandu

Bhas

wor O

jha

7-13 Apr, 20086 Debating development

ä Siddhartha Thapa

Nepal’s peace process isfraught with uncertainty.For those who envisionthat a CA poll is thepanacea to all of Nepal’s

ills, they are in for a rude awakening.The aftermath of the CA polls have beenmuch speculated, some pundits opineviolence will culminate the CA polls,where as some are under the impressionthe results will be widely contested; inactuality both opinions are accurate.Violence will mar the post poll celebra-tions and the results are expected to berefuted widely.

This is because CA poll is being heldin the most unceremonious fashion, to putin so many words, elections that are held

under fragile circumstances will provide alegitimate ground for parties to challengethe outcome of the elections.

The people in general are anxious to

cast their votes but certain politicalparties, namely the Maoists, who for adecade claimed to liberate the people,are now oppressing the people so thatthe people will cast their votes in favor ofthe Maoists. The upsurge in violenceand the acceptance of this ruggedpolitical approach pursued by anti pollelements has been mandated by thesilence of the international community.

The farce of new Nepal has out-weighed the possibility of realising agenuine new Nepal. Where an electedbody is supposed to draft a newconstitution, the people are beingrestrained from casting their verdict due tothe fear of their lives. Now, will an electionheld under force and coercion provide along lasting solution to Nepal’s problems?

The country is embracing an election

when the law and order situation hasnearly broken down and when politicalparties themselves openly doubt thefairness of the polls, it becomes evidentthat the polls are being forced upon thepeople. Such a forceful exercise will

ä Roop Joshi

The news bulletin on the radioreports that ten Nepali Congress(NC) workers including acampaigning candidate have beenattacked and severely injured withKhukuris and stones in Rasuwaby a group of 200 YoungCommunist League (YCL) cadres.Just the day before, the leaders ofthe Nepali Congress, UnitedMarxist-Leninists (UML) andCommunist Party of Nepal –Maoists had faced the ElectionCommission, on live TV, andpledged an end to anyactivities that breached thecode of conduct set down bythe commission. Thiswidening gap between thedeclarations of the politiciansregarding their commitment tothe elections and the groundreality is causing much turmoilin the minds of the electorate.

On another front, maraud-ing armed factions in the Taraiare yet to sit for negotiationswith the government. Theirkey objective is to stop theelections. They havedeclared a Tarai bandh(closure), to commence just afew days before the elections.Meanwhile, Maoist fighters inthe various cantonments havestarted leaving in groups inuniform and armed to‘support’ the campaigns of theMaoist politicians.

UNMIN stands impotent,declaring that this is againstthe Comprehensive PeaceAgreement (CPA) and that itneither has the capacity nor themandate to stop this exodus. Totop it off, the Election Commissionhas just declared that 227candidates for the elections haveyet to present their citizenshippapers and 66 candidates arebelow the age of 25 – therequirements for candidacy.

On a recent evening, MadhavKumar Nepal, President of UMLas well as Pushpa Kamal Dahala.k.a. Prachanda, Chairman ofthe Maoists were on televisionon separate channels. Mr. Nepalspoke of the significance of theConstituent Assembly elections,now eight days away, how it willtake place at all cost and how theend of the monarchy was a donedeal. Mr. Dahal was speakingabout his college days, trying topresent a human face to his‘awesome’ reputation. GirijaPrasad Koirala, PM and head ofthe NC, repeatedly asserts, inhis usual maudlin manner, thatthe elections will take place.

International election monitors –from the EU, Carter Center andmany governments and INGOs -

throw new political challenges that willultimately lead to the breakdown of thepeace process. This can be aug-mented by examining a few criticalvariables that are crucial to build anew Nepal through CA polls.Individualism remains the most vitalcaveat of a democratic society. Thevery idea of political and civil rights aredirectly linked with the idea ofindividualism. Therefore, politicalparties represent individuals in amultiparty system. But when individualsare purposely bullied into submissionand humiliation by a majority group,the whole electoral exercise will proveto be futile.

If these elections are held under sucha fragile situation, the repercussions willprove too dear for the country. Thepolitical parties that come out of theseelections as losers will not hesitate torefute these results and resort toviolence. The vulnerability of the situationon ground will allow political parties tochallenge the outcome of these elections.The tide is fast turning against the NepaliCongress led by GP Koirala; Prachandahas already claimed that five dozen of hiscadres have been killed in the electioncampaigns across the country in recentmonths. Even if Prachanda’s allegationsare not true, the Maoists have alreadyset the tone of the discourse.

In a functioning democracy, the

media plays an extremely importantrole. In most cases, the people ingeneral are unable to make legitimatedecisions of their own. This is wherethe media comes into play in ademocratic society and the media istherefore, supposed to play anindividual role with the aim of bridgingthe gap between people and politics inthe hope of aiding people to makeconscious political decisions.

If the objectivity of a journalist isblurred due to a vested politicalinterest, the media can be doing moreharm to the political process than good.The media has a serious responsibilityto keep people abreast on theunfolding situation of the country. Ifpolitics is allowed to dictate theobjectivity of journalism, the idea of anew Nepal may well remain a distantreality as the forces of negative libertyare bound to overshadow the possiblegood of the electoral exercise.Therefore, the media must rise to thechallenges meted by anti pollselements, not on the basis of rhetoricbut on grounds of reality.

These elections are to draft a new

constitution and this exercise is boundto have far reaching consequences.Therefore, given the situation onground, it is only foreseeable that theelections will bring about a fracturedpolitical solution that will endanger boththe peace process and the democraticinstitutions. The credibility of theconstitution will be questioned as longas there is room for the parties to doubtthat these elections will not be fair. If thetrue aspirations of the people are notreflected in these upcoming elections,yet another political crisis in the form ofa violent agitation is inevitable. ä

For four million starving Nepalis, the CA is not a priority –their hungry stomachs are.

Eleventh hourobservationsof the election

have poured in. Former USPresident Jimmy Carter himself willbe here for the elections. It isexpected that every polling boothwill be covered by at least one ofthese monitors. This is a good signand signifies the commitment of theinternational community to peaceand democracy in Nepal.However, international commitmentwithout national implementationcapacity is not enough. We trustthat these monitors will have themoral courage to call the elections,should they occur, as they are -untainted by condescending

notions of ‘budding democracy.’

Our politicians have nowstarted hinting at utilising theNepal Army (NA) to providesecurity for the elections, inaddition to the Police and theArmed Police. The NA has beenused effectively for this purpose inprevious elections. Currently it issolely the provision of the CPA,dictating that the NA be confinedto its barracks while the Maoistfighters are confined to theircantonments, which poses apolitical dilemma for the NA toprovide security for the elections.As mentioned above, thecantonments are fast emptying andit is commendable that the NA hasexercised discipline and remainedin its barracks. But if the only wayto secure law and order for theelections is to use the NA, sometough political decisions need to bemade by the government.

Let us presume that the electionswill be held and the ConstituentAssembly formed. The CA willimmediately realise that the currentinterim unelected government hastaken decisions that are thepurview of the CA. It has declared

Nepal a ‘secular federal republic’without mandate and without takinginto account the opinion of thepeople. This was done in twophases: initially, the declaration ofa secular state, followed by thedeclaration of a ‘federal democraticrepublic.’

A recent opinion poll undertakenwith the involvement of The AsiaFoundation indicated that 50% ofrespondents wanted a place formonarchy in Nepal and 59%wanted Nepal to remain a HinduState, while 38% did not want to

retain the monarchy and 31%wanted a secular state. Thesurvey sample reflected carefullythe composition of the generalpopulation. These issues must beput to the people for their decision,i.e. by a referendum. Denial of areferendum will almost certainlylead to violence. Further, the issueof federalism needs to bedeliberated upon and decided bythe CA. This is an intricate issuewith numerous implications andcannot be ‘declared’ by a bunch ofunelected politicians.

To conclude, after these manyyears of civil strife, what we wantmost is peace and development.To illustrate, a recent headlineread that the World FoodProgramme has estimated thatalmost four million Nepalis inwestern Nepal are facing fooddeficit because of poor harvestand skyrocketing prices. To these4 million, 15% of the population,the CA is not a priority – theirhungry stomachs are. And to anobjective observer, the CA –should it be constituted soon – willdo little to appease this hunger.And self-centered and divisivepolitics will not help. ä

Farcical or a genuinely‘new’ Nepal?

An election monitor turns a blind eye as partyactivists stick election posters in violation of the codeof conduct in Pokhara.

Man

oj G

harti

Mag

ar

7-13 Apr, 2008 7Interview

P.L.Singh, arguably the most wellknown Kathmanduite, verypopular among the commonpeople, with a large network offriends abroad; is amazingly silent,rather passive as most would say,as the nation goes to the poll. PL,Kathmandu’s first elected Mayorafter the 1990 political change,was the only Member of Parlia-ment who refused to take the oathwhen King Gyanendra, underagreement with seven parties andIndia, revived the House ofRepresentatives. But rarely hasPL spoken about his politics in thepast two years. Excerpts of aninterview with Yubaraj Ghimirefor newsfront:

Why have you becomepassive in politics of late?

That will not be a correctassessment about my currentsilence. I have always hadenormous faith in multi-partypolitics and the people of Nepal. Istrongly believe in inner partydemocracy. It is also equally truethat democracy is all aboutprocess. Seven years ago, I wroteto G P Koirala, the president of theNepali Congress on the eve ofPokhara convention to seriouslyestablish inner party democracy inthe party.

I had also demanded that thebungling in issuing active member-ship should be probed andcorrected as the first way toensure that the culture of vibrantinner-party debate and participa-tion of the members in policymatters begins. But the leadershipcontinued with its practice oftreating the party organisation asits pocket borough. That was thetime when I dissociated myselffrom all the organs of the partyincluding its central committee.

Does that mean you nolonger belong to the NepaliCongress?

That is the party that I belongto, on the basis of its statedcommitment and principles. But asthe party leadership abandonedthose principles, I am no longerwith them. I am happy that at thislate hour, at least Kishunji, hasraised this issue publicly. If politics

and principle ever become insepa-rable you will see who will belong tothis party and who will lead it.

Why did you not take the oathof membership of the revivedparliament?

The main basis of democracy is therule of law and constitutionality of theprocess. Morality has a place there.Parliament revival was not inconformity with the constitution. To bepart of a parliament-not elected bythe people, but gifted by the king wassomething my conscience did notallow. I was elected by the people,that is why I chose not to become aking’s nominated member.

I still fail to understand why theseven parties who opposed dissolu-tion of parliament were ready toaccept its revival long after its normaltenure was over. How could not theygo to the people right away and facethe poll? Dissolution ofparliament might have been acontroversial act, but that was notunconstitutional as that is a subjectunder Prime Minister’s prerogative.

But no one including the king hadthe right to revive a dissolve parlia-ment. That right was given to him bythe leaders of the seven politicalparties including the Maoists. Theseleaders have a big role in making theking an absolute monarch. OnOctober 4, 2002 I had said thatdismissal of an elected Prime Ministerwas rape of the constitution. But ourtop leaders including G P Koiralaendorsed that dissolution throughtheir silence for a week; as all of themwere waiting to be invited by the kingto take over as ‘Prime Minister’.

Was it not possible for you tobe in the party and continueraising your voice?

I am doing exactly that. I am notwith the leaders, but am very muchwith the people who still believein programmes, policies andideology of the NepaliCongress. When Ispeak, I amspeaking forthe peopleand on behalfof the people.But NepaliCongress hasbecome a

party where ordinary people have nosay in its affairs. It has lost its humaneface. I will you give just one of themany examples. Look at ShailajaAcharya today.

The government or the so calledNepali Congress leaders are noteven sending her for treatmentabroad. They do not even carewhether someone who has made somuch contribution to the cause ofpolitics and democracy is suffering so.Does it mean that in today’s culture ofCongress politics, those with differentor dissenting voice should not evensurvive physically?

What do you have to say aboutthe election to the constituentassembly this week?

This is hypocrisy. We the peopleare led to believe that thesepeople who destroyed theself-made constitution andwhich they once describedas the ‘best in the world’are now saying that theywill give a pro-peopleconstitution to thecountry. This is a gamesolely dictated by “Gun -tantra” (weapono-cracy) –and we

understand it.Congress and CPN-UML have

now become the followers of theCommunist Party of Nepal-Maoists.They have accepted George Orwell’sfamous satire - “All are equal, butsome are more equals than others.”What he had said as a political satireso long ago has come true in Nepal’s

politics. The Nepalis who hadbecome honourable citizens –courtesy, constitution of Nepal 1991,are being forced to become slaves ofthe seven parties.

I am sure most Nepalis haveunderstood this. I am one of them.Our politics is not over. They arelooking for an alternative platform.And the search is on. I do not believethat the Constituent assembly will givea political exit to the mess that thecountry is in today. Those who wantto establish their own absolute rule asan alternative to another form ofabsolute power are unacceptable. Letme make a forecast today: OnceMaoists acquire power, there will beno space for other opinion.

About the internationalcommunity extending its fullsupport to the seven parties?

It is unfortunate and most regretfulthat the international

community hassupported absolutepowers in thiscountry many atimes. They did

so in 1960. They did so when SherBahadur Deuba was sacked asthe elected Prime Minister in 2002.They are doing so even now. Evennow, they are supporting themonopoly rule of the seven partiesand a political interlude that isbased in vacuum. It’s a challengebefore the Nepalis whether to beguided by the internationalcommunity on their agenda withan overdose of their self-interest ,or seek their support in favour of aconstitutional political systembased on rule of law.

Nepal is already on the movetowards republicanism andfederalism as the ConstituentAssembly will have an obligation toimplement that. Your say on this?

In a true democracy, peoplehave an unchallengeable right toexpress their faith and consciencein a fearless manner. Butstrangely, this dictate to the futureCA was issued by those whobecame members of the interimparliament by the grace of theking. The people are not party tothose decisions. As it involvesmajor and fundamental policymatters, its imposition withoutproper debate and people’sinvolvement would have farreaching consequences.

Such decisions should be madeby the people alone, and not bythe parties by making people theirslaves. And mind you, all theseparties have made a mockery ofthe constitution and democracy.You think that those who takeaway democracy will give you‘Ganatantra’ (people’s democ-racy)? Let us not live with thatillusion! ä

“I am with the people, not the leaders”Let me make a fore-

cast today: OnceMaoists acquire

power, there will beno space for other

opinion.

Bhaw

or O

jha

7-13 Apr, 20088 Issue

ä Teeka Bhattarai

It took a couple of visits tounderstand that Mugu actually isthe name of a VDC that lent itsname to the district. People cannotsay for certain when the airlifting ofrice in the name of Muguitesstarted. It is said that it wasfollowed by a royal hunting campin the district in the beginning of80s. Most Mugu people, who aresupposed to get rice, do not getthe rice. Rather, some peopleclaim, most of it goes to thegovernment staff and now also tonon-government institutions’ staff.Critics believe that the sole

purpose of the rice distribution in thedistrict was to support government’sassertion from Kathmandu - relief tothe people being a side-product!

It doesn’t sound unconvincinghowever. Most staff in the govern-ment and even non-governmentoffices comes from the parts of thecountry where rice is the main staplefood. Most of them do not like to workin the district as it is remote and livingconditions are harsh althoughgovernment provides additionalremoteness allowances. In the lastfinancial year, an activist calculatedmore than 75% of rice went to thestaff – locals and outsiders included.

Some people living mostly aroundrice distribution centre haveinternalised the idea that rice is asymbol of status. When people speakof food shortage in Mugu – the mostobvious question to ask would be: to

what extent is the shortage rice orfood grain? Its impact is yet to bestudied but both in psychological andpractical terms, it is said that it hashad devastating impact on theproduction of food grain in the area. Itis clear that there is hardly anysignificant improvement in theproduction. Now the question is howlong the rice will continually besupplied and what would have beenthe production of food in Mugu if thesame or even a half of the moneyspent on subsidising rice was spenton increasing production andproductivity in the area?

Mugu has four regions called Bheg:Soru, Khatyad, Gam and Karan.While the last and the first are foodshort regions Khatyad is the rice bowlof Mugu. It has not been studied orthought if the rice from that area canbe supplied to other regions of the

district. From this, people deduce thatother interests of airlifting are at play.When we get into the issue ofcorruption – Mugu ranks on top. Fewmonths ago during an exercise toidentify key issues of development,some 20 development workers

belonging to lower profiled NGOsunanimously ranked corruption as thenumber one - leaving oft-statedproblems of road, electricity,conservatism, difficult terrain and soon behind!

The number of NGOs registered inMugu reaches over 150 by now.Most of the ‘active’ NGOs belong tothe local elites. They flourished whenMaoists drove them away from theirhomes for being feudal and exploit-ers. They are under the control ofmajor parties and a network of closedrelatives. A major character of suchNGOs is that chief executives are job-holders in another establishmentnotably the school teachers and thehealth workers including some non-government staff. It is extremelyironic that the donors (I included) arediscussing an adult literacy programwith NGOs despite the fact that onecan see a troop of children wanderingaround school premises because ofabsence of teachers! Often donors

get to the district headquartersand get the plan approved and getout – least bothered how aparticular NGO will implement theprogram.

As to why even the basicagricultural and land improvement

practices were not undertakeneven around district headquarters, a local teacher said,“None of the staff stay in thedistrict for more than few months,you don’t know what season he orshe is coming, its already time forthem to go.” In contrast to othergovernment staff, most teachersfrom outside who comprise over60% of all teachers in Mugu aresaid to love to remain in the districtbecause they get good remote-ness top-up on their basic salarywithout having to teach.

With rare exceptions, coordi-nating with donors is even moredifficult. NGOs say the donors donot appreciate public gatheringsas people ask questions abouttheir way of working includingbudgeting. ä

(Teeka is a national consultantfor a Swiss INGO – Fastenopfer.Comments: teekab@info.com.np)

MUGUrice blues

What would have been the production of food inMugu if the same or even a half of the money spenton subsidising rice was spent on increasing produc-tion and productivity in the area?

7-13 Apr, 20089From the region

On the protest bandwagonThe Beijing Olympics has become a windfall for China’s critics, despite and not because of what happened.

No sooner had protests imploded in theTibetan capital of Lhasa in mid-March thanWestern figures like Nancy Pelosi, Speaker ofthe US House of Representatives, explodedagainst Beijing and egged on the world toprotest against the Chinese government.

Western mainstream media had also beenbuilding sentiment against China, with the BBCeven taking senior Olympics officials from abroadto task. Yet the broadcast and print media, fromCNN to the Los Angeles Times, refer onlyvaguely to China’s “(bloody) crackdown”, deemedpolitically incorrect, against the violent demonstra-tions presumed to be innocent.

But what actually happened in Tibet and itsenvirons over the past four weeks, as far asthese media outlets could tell?

On March 10, hundreds of Tibetans includingmonks marked the 49th anniversary of a faileduprising against Chinese authority with protestsin Lhasa, resulting in arrests. Four days latermore protests followed, including a hunger strikeby monks demanding the release of theirdetained brethren.

Then unconfirmed reports of two monksattempting suicide were broadcast by RadioFree Asia, a US-funded and CIA-originatedstation broadcasting propaganda to communistcountries since the Cold War.

Meanwhile, Tibetan protesters on the streetsattacked passers-by deemed to be ethnic (Han)Chinese and destroyed shops and cars. Initiallythere was little or no response from the police ormilitary. In due course, some fatalities resultedfrom the violence on both sides.

The authorities acted belatedly, closing three

monasteries, manning street checkpoints andimposing a curfew. Then foreign journalists werebarred from the hotspots.

Witnesses said protesters resorted tounprovoked violence against unarmed individualsand private property through beatings and arson.In any other country, the government would haveresponded more swiftly and resolutely than aBeijing anxious about compromising the festiveatmosphere of this August’s Olympics.

And therein lies the little-mentioned factorbehind the protests. The issue of Tibet has beenaround for half a century, so why such a fussnow if not to exploit China’s vulnerability in therun-up to the Olympics?

If Chinese officials had initiated the violence,and on a scale inviting worldwide condemnation,then Western complaints would have been inorder. That happened with the killings at

Tiananmen Square, resulting in Beijing losing itsbid for the 2000 Olympics in a 1993 decision.

But Lhasa in March 2008 was not Tiananmenin 1989, or Lhasa in 1959. And this time therewas no equivalent of Li Peng, the Chinesepremier who reputedly ordered troops to fire onunarmed student protesters in 1989.

This time, the group in Tibet with the mostlegitimate grievance against the Chineseauthorities would be ethnic Chinese, becauseofficials had failed to ensure adequate protectionagainst the violent protests.

Yet the Western or international media havenot covered events from their angle, even whenthe ethnic prejudice they suffer in Tibet can onlyworsen. Instead, the media focused only on theplight and perspective of ethnic Tibetans,including the perpetrators of the violence.

Result: Tibetan separatists effectively get a

free ride in the global media, with their objectivesand methods remaining unquestioned. The samegoes for the Dalai Lama’s metaphorical claim ofChina’s “cultural genocide”, even while ordinaryChinese suffer racist violence from Tibetans.

Another newsworthy issue that was neglectedis how the Dalai Lama, despite his image as anicon of peace, did practically nothing to helpquell the violent protests.

Yet another is how a younger generation ofpro-independence Tibetans has (especiallysince 2005) diverged from the Dalai Lama’squest for autonomy.

The Western media generally leans towards abarbed demeanour over a still-communist China,however nominal or irrelevant that ideology hasbecome. Such a herd mentality, though unworthyof independent journalism, persists.

So the communist bogy continues to hauntWestern consciences that presume manyfamiliar media restrictions are still in force intoday’s China. Such presumptions sit oddly withrecent developments, like foreign media accessto dissidents and to protesting Tibetan monks inrecent days, and Xinhua News Agency’scoverage of the protests in mid-March.

Chinese authorities are also presumed to betough on protesters, but what has been therecent experience of other countries withTibetan communities?

Indian authorities arrested Tibetan protestersnear the Chinese embassy, and even when theywere planning a march to the border. India offersrefuge to the Dalai Lama and his fellow exiles, butrequires them to refrain from political activity.

(Malaysia Star)

Chatur Brahma Viharas

7-13 Apr, 200810 Perspective

It is only such an insight that can liberate and no other methods ofmeditation can liberate.

ä Acharya Mahayogi SridharRana Rinpoche

The Purvanivas-anusmriti gainedby meditation has practical benefits inmany ways. With this knowledge onecan realise the truth of rebirth, theoperation of the law of karma, thehistory of the macro cycles and microcycles of evolution and involution ofworld systems. It is of the greatesthelp for cultivating Maitri (lovingkindness), Karuna (compassion),Mudita (empathy) and Upekchhya(equanimity). These are called theChatur Brahma Viharas and are avery important meditational groupwithin Buddhism – especially inMahayana/Bodhisatwayana.

This group of meditation has beencopied wholesale in the PatanjalSutra. According to the famousscholar Dr. SN Gupta the PatanjalSutra is nothing but a rehashing ofthe Buddhist Astangika Marga. Todayalmost all Hindu meditation methodslink themselves with the PatanjalaSutra.

Purvanivas-anusmriti also helps alot in gaining insight into phenomenalexistence (Dharma) which is the main

objective of Vipassyana becausesomeone who can see all these canclearly see the changes of time, seenations arising and ceasing,civilisations arising and ceasing, worldsystems (Lokadhatus) and biggerworld cycles (Trisaahasramahasaahasra lokadhatus) arisingand ceasing; just as aVedanaanusmriti vipassyin can seehis micro level Vedana arising andceasing. And indeed that is whatVipassyana is all about.

Vipassyana is to see or gain insightinto the fact that all Sanskrita Dharma(conditioned phenomena) areconstantly changing and aretherefore impermanent (Anitya/Anicca in Pali); and because they areAnitya, they are Dukha (sorrowful or

sorrow producing or better stillunsatisfactory) and because they areimpermanent and unsatisfactory(Anitya – Dukha) they are neither menor mine (Anaatma – Anaatmiya).

Kaya (the body), Vedana (thefeeling sensation), Chitta (the mentalcontinuum) and the Chaitta – dharmawhich are the four used in theSmrityupasthaan Sutra as Alambana(objects of meditation to gain insight(Vipassyana) into the way phenom-ena (dharmas) exist). It is only suchan insight that can liberate and noother methods of meditation canliberate. We shall go into greaterdetails about Vipassyana and thedifference between Shamatha typemeditation and Vipassyana typemeditation, later when the timecomes.

Purvanivas-anusmriti also helps inthe realisation of the Four NobleTruth (Chatwari Arya Satyani), whichis the very foundation of Buddhismand its practice and in itself is thewhole teaching of the Buddha in anutshell. ä

(To be continued)(Sridhar Rinpoche is a Vajrayana

Master)

MARSHLAND FLOWERS

Vipassyana is tosee or gain insightinto the fact that allSanskrita Dharma(conditioned phe-nomena) are con-stantly changingand are therefore

7-13 Apr, 2008 11Society

FIREFRONT

Throughmy windowä Yuyutsu RD Sharma

I might be the last one to walkthese trails littered with dry leavessong of the rain falling like slowsonorous riverthe cicadas breaking the silence ofgreen glades

(Helambu)

Through my window in New York City, I see thestars above the illuminated Manhattan.

The stars are dim and dismayed like the newsthat The New York Times brought this morningfrom my nation reeling under conflicting complexi-ties of experiments with truths of dictatorship anddemocracy. The news of forthcoming elections inNepal is big news in the Western world.

My American friend Jim finds it interesting thatthe elections will decide the fate of several keyissues; not only King’s role but also the powers ofmajor political players in the democratic political set-up. It will decide how powerful the Maoists are inthe country and if people of once a Hindu kingdombelieve in the power of the barrel of the guns.

Most interesting feature of the NY Times pieceon Nepal for my American friend here seems theMaoist leader Babu Ram Bhattarai’s visit to a Hindushrine with his parents in Gorkha District. Consid-ered somewhat Left in the American circles, Jim’sradical leaders’ list excludes Chairman Mao and hisinterest in the upcoming scenario centers on thenation’s interplay of tradition and change in themaking of its polity.

There are some friends here who still doubt thesuccess of this democratic exercise. The election

won’t be substantial without the inclusion of everypolitical player. But the issue of the recent Tibetanupsurge seems to hog the headlines of theWestern media. At one reading in Cleveland, Ifound audiences asking questions about Tibet veryengagingly.

But I want to keep the focus on the Himalayanmountains to keep my dialogues lively. There’snothing more beautiful than the Himalayas, Isuggest, as a way of distraction. The mountains inthe Midwest are mere humps. Everyone laughs,“Sure they must be where you come from, Man, therooftop of the world.” I narrate the story of my visit tothe Alps to amuse them. I look a train and saw somehills and then some more hills. After a while, I asked -Where are Alps? Are they gone? What weremountains for them were mere hills for me. ä

(writer@yuyutsu.de)

ä Pramesh Pradhan

Pokhara is anextraordinaryplace to view thegloriousmountains and is

truly a centre of adventure andthe gateway to several worldfamous trekking and raftingdestinations. From where itstands at an altitude of 827metres above the sea level,mountains like Dhaulagiri (8,167m), Annapurna (8,091 metre)and Manaslu (8,163 metre).Machapuchre (6,997 metre) arevisible. Machapuchre is doublefinned like a fish, thus the name,fishtail.

Pokhara lies one week’s walk(200 km) west of Kathmandu. Anidyllic location, it is dotted withhalf a dozen lakes, interestingcaves, green hills, gushing rivers,and above all, the captivatingmountain ranges. It is a lushvalley, a blend of rich farmlandand green hills. It is the biggesttourist destination afterKathmandu valley and ispopulated with 200,000 people.It is the headquarters of theWestern Development region ofNepal, as well as of GandakiZone. It has moderate tempera-ture and receives the highestrainfall in Nepal.

Tourism began in the early‘70s. Development and changein Pokhara has been relativelyrapid and modern. Historically,Pokhara was an importantvillage, being one of the oldtrading routes between India andTibet. A chequered history ofChaubise Rajya (little kingdoms)under Kaski and later with ShahDynasty, it invited Newars fromthe valley to promote trade andcommerce in the 18th century. Itis an important meeting point oftwo ethnic groups, BuddhistGurung, Magars, and Thakalisfrom the surrounding hills andother Hindu castes from otherparts of Nepal.

Fewa lake is perhaps the bestsingle attraction of Pokhara. 4.4square km large, it is the secondlargest lake in Nepal, and themost enchanting of the sevenlakes in Pokhara. Boats can behired to cross the water or tovisit Barahi island temple in itsmiddle. Barahi temple is a two

storied pagoda temple of thegoddess Ajima.

The north-eastern shore ofFewa Lake is known as theLakeside. It is a favourite touristlocation with sprawling hotels,restaurants, shops, banks andvarious offices. The shore hasdeveloped into one of the majortourist hubs of Nepal. Boats canbe hired for a ride on the lake.Sarangkot, at an altitude of1592m, is a stunning vantagepoint to experience breathtaking

magnificent panorama ofmountains with spectacularsunrises and sunsets. A formerKaski fort on a hilltop is alsofamous for those who are braveenough to paraglide. The tripgives a bird’s eye view of themountains, Seti river, Fewalake, and the valley itself. WorldPeace Pagoda, is on the top of ahill on the southern shore of Fewalake. It is at an altitude of 1,113metre and yet another magnifi-cent vantage point for viewing themountains. On the north-easternpart of Pokhara, there is a modestmonastery.

Seti Gandaki, the boisterousriver, divides Pokhara almost intotwo halves. At certain places, theriver is only a couple of metreswide. It rumbles undergroundand has made a deep gorge byits powerful flow. Devi’s fall,where Fewa Lake thunders intogigantic hole and then disap-pears, is an interesting place tobe. The Tibetan refugee campshave modest monasteries andtherein one can see unspoiledTibetan lifestyle.

Museums, including theMountain Museum and PokharaMuseum, showcase history andethnic mosaic of Western Nepal.The natural history museum has acollection of butterflies, insects,birds and models of wildlife. TheMountain Museum is an organisedpresentation of man, mountainsand mountaineering. The project issupported by international alpineclubs with its uniquely modernthematic showcase.

Monuments and temples withNewar architecture indicate its

history with the arrival of thebusiness community fromBhaktapur, at the invitation of aKaski king in mid 17th century.One of the most visited templesin Pokhara is the Bindhabasanitemple, with its Bhagwati shrine.The Bhimsen temple with eroticcarvings, testifies its age-oldrelation with Kathmandu valley.

Pokhara has good communi-cation facilities, a modestairport, several multi-nationalbanks, hotels of diverse range,innumerable restaurantsoffering various delicacies,music bars, etc. There arefrequent transport links withPrithvi highway to Kathmanduand Siddhartha highway toBhairahawa. Connections tovarious districts make Pokharaan important regional centre. Itis linked by air to Kathmandu,Bhairahawa, Bharatpur,Jomsom, Manang and byhelicopter to Western Nepal.

Pokhara is a trekker’s andadventure’s paradise. Thereare long and acclaimed treksfrom those like RoundAnnapurna and Thorang pass,to short and memorable trekspassing through Ghandruk,Jomsom, Poon hill and Sikles.However, uncontrolledmodernisation, poor localtransport facilities, and theglaring development gapbetween the westernisedLakeside and the rest of thevalley, are what I’d call thedownsides of this place. ä

(nte@mail.com.np)

TREKKER’Sparadise

7-13 Apr, 200812 Life and Space

Show

Donkeys have alwaysbeen the worst victims ofhuman atrocities sinceages. But the conditionof those in Kathmandu isgetting worse. Brick kilnsare using donkeys totransport bricks, bearingloads beyond theircapacity. When they dieor get weaker, they arethrown into publicplaces. The state of themute animals shows yetanother degree thathuman cruelty can reach.

on donkeys

A pair of donkeys wasthrown at Kushunti near ring-road. One was dead whileanother was still alive. KAT, anorganisation that looks afterstray dogs, mercifullytook away the surviving donkeyfor treatment afterchildren from Kushunti tookinitiatives to save it. ä

MERCY

Astronomerssee 'youngestplanet'

An embryonic planet detectedoutside our Solar System couldbe less than 2,000 years old,astronomers say.

The ball of dust and gas, whichis in the process of turning into aJupiter-like giant, was detectedaround the star HL Tau, by a UKteam. Research leader Dr JaneGreaves said the planet's growthmay have been kickstarted whenanother young star passed thesystem 1,600 years ago.

Details were presented at theUK National Astronomy Meetingin Belfast. (BBC)

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