Thursday, January 25, 2007

By Prof. Dr. Madan Kumar Dahal, Member of Think Tank, FNCCI, Currently in Galle, Sri Lanka.

A Glimpse over the Past

The history of tea dates back to antiquity, which began in ancient China over 5,000 years ago. The Second Emperor, Shen Nung, for the first time, discovered tea in China in 2737 B. C. The Turkish traders bartered tea on the Mongolian border in 479 A.D. and during 618-906 caravans carried on the Silk Road trading with India, Turkey and Russia. In 805 the Buddhist monk Saicho brought tea seeds to Japan from China. Tea was first sold in England in 1657, while the Taiwanese began to drink wild tea in 1661. In 1689, merchants with over 3,000 camels traveled 11,000 miles to China and back in order to supply Russia’s demand for tea. During 1710, a group of wealthy American colonists developed a taste for tea. In 1835, East India Company started experimental tea plantations in Assam, India and by 1856 tea was planted in many areas of Darjeeling, India. Tea plantation started in Sri Lanka in 1857. Colonel Gajraj Singh Thapa, a courtier, started tea plantation in Ilam, Nepal for the first time in 1873. Indonesia started growing tea in Sumatra in 1910 and now exporting. Soon thereafter tea was grown in Kenya and other parts of Africa. Today, tea has become a segment of culture, civilization and economy connecting people allover the world. Today, tea has access to every household whether rich or poor and enjoyed by all segments of population (children, teenagers, adult or octogenarian) irrespective of caste, creed and sex. Tea is one of the most significant products with built-in flavor of globalization instrumental in connecting people, culture and civilization at all times all over the world.

Nepal: A Home for Cultivation of the Best Tea

Tea is a high value, flavor intensive perennial crop with a potential for generating foreign exchange, reducing rural poverty, promoting economic growth and improving ecology and environment. It is a labor-intensive industry with the provision of moderately higher minimum wage rate for the workers, when compared with informal sector. Tea provides highest yield and returns against investment in this sector. In recent years prices of tea considerably scaled up, which is attributed to higher demand for tea in the world market.

In 1985, His Majesty’s Government of Nepal (HMG/N) declared five districts viz. Ilam, Jhapa, Panchthar, Tehrathum and Dhankuta as tea zone. Until early 90s tea industry was a government undertaking associated particularly with Ilam and Soktim tea estates. In recent times, this has been totally a private sector engagement rapidly growing as a part of global business both in quantity and quality. Informal statistics exhibit that tea production in Nepal is currently estimated to be 11.0 million Kg against the total requirements for domestic consumption of approximately 8.0 million Kg. Of total production, the share of Orthodox tea is less than 10.0 percent, which is of high value at the international market. The production of CTC, widely used popular brand but with relatively inferior quality as compared to Orthodox tea, covers more than 90.0 percent of total production. How to get access to international market for a surplus of 3.0 million Kg tea is a prime issue confronting tea industry in Nepal.

The tea industry in Nepal provides employment to over 25,000 workers with encouraging participation of women. Foreign exchange available through the export of tea is projected to be US$ 0.8 million. Tea industry provides 10.0 percent value added tax (VA) to treasury on the basis of selling market price at Rs. 150 Kg for the production in hills and Rs. 80 Kg in terai. Industry involves 35.0 percent capital-intensive and 65.0 percent labor-intensive technology with a huge scope to provide employment to rural masses. The cultivation of tea covers 25,000 hectares of land especially in Jhapa (17,000 hectares), Ilam, Panchthar, Terhathum, and Dhankuta with the extension of Kavre, Nuwakot and Dolakha in recent years. In addition to India, tea is exported from Nepal to international markets viz. Germany, Australia, Japan, America, Switzerland and other European countries. HMG/N has accorded a top priority to commercialization of agriculture and development of high value crops as envisaged in the Agriculture Perspective Plan (APP). Tea has been considered one of the premier high value crops during the Tenth Plan. The budget of FY 2004/05 had provision to provide subsidy on interest to tea farming, which will continue and expand to twelve districts in FY 2005/06.

Nepal has thousands of hectares of virgin soil unspoiled by any chemical fertilizer, which is appropriate for tea cultivation. However, Nepal stands poor among tea producing countries in the world due to lack of appropriate infrastructure and severe winter that disrupted the growth of tea plantation in Nepal. Tea leafs can be plucked in Japan throughout twelve months, but in Nepal cultivation is possible only for eight months. In absence of national market for tea, small traders in Nepal sell their products to India that is converted to Darjeeling tea. HOTPA has the plan to set up an autonomous tea research center for the development of tea in Nepal. NTCDB has approached to Indian Tea Board to be allowed to sell Nepalese tea through auction centers in India. There are fifteen auction centers around the world dealing with 10,000 tons of tea every year. The global demand for high quality tea is estimated to be 45.0 million Kg. Of which, India supplies 10.0 million Kg, China 6.0 million Kg and Sri Lanka 4.0 million kg. The existing unmet demand for additional 25.0 million Kg at the international market provides a big scope for tea industry in Nepal.

Full Security to Investment: Unique Attraction

The biggest attraction for tea industry in Nepal is that it is not at all affected by the ongoing conflict. Investment is entirely secured in this sector. Loan facilities are provided to tea farming on a priority basis with reasonable rate of interest by the commercial banks and financial intuitions. There is also provision for insurance schemes that cover unforeseen loss or damage of the crops. Nepal’s Orthodox tea contains splendid quality that is unmatched, unchallenged and extraordinary, which has not only high demand but also established credibility at the international market. Therefore, investors at home and abroad are invited to maximize the benefits from investment in tea industry in Nepal through enhancing exports to international markets. Nepal Tea Association (NTA) is actively campaigning for the promotion and growth of tea plantation in Nepal in recent years, which will help increase production and exports of tea. The HMG/N and private sector are working in tandem to attract investment through joint ventures in this sector. Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act 1992 is a cornerstone for the promotion of joint ventures in Nepal.

The role of FNCCI is crucial towards the development of tea industry in Nepal, which calls for designing a long-term sustainable strategy to implement during the upcoming Eleventh Plan ensuring quantity and quality of production not only to meet local demand but also to ensure sizeable export competing regional and international markets and maximize the benefits from globalization. Hence, it is imperative to address the problems facing this sector and provide a package of incentives to determine the future of tea industry in Nepal.

Thanks Dr. Dahal for your informative article-Upadhyaya.

An intern’s diary: impressions of a week with bombs, curfews, mass demonstrations and arrests

Ms. Sylvia Ehrhardt, Germany (currently at the FES-Intern, Nepal)

This article was written during a period of seven days surrounding the major protest rally on Friday, 20 th of January 2006. It will resume the incidences of the week from 14th until 21st of January. At the same time the article will present what I have noticed, saw and felt during these times as an intern of FES Nepal (Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Nepal.

On Saturday, the 14 th of January, twelve security personnel were killed and seven policemen and one civilian were injured in a series of attacks carried out by Maoists in different police posts of the Kathmandu Valley. These were the first simultaneous attacks in the Valley by the Maoists. It was also the first major attack by them after broking off their four-month unilateral ceasefire on the 2 nd of January.

They attacked the police check post in Thankot and at Dadhikot in Bhaktapur district. But this was not all: in Bouddha, a bomb was exploded at the office of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City Ward No-6 and slightly damaged the building. During the same time a special praying-event for world peace has taken placed around the Stupa and many people have been visited this area.

Not far from the same place a second bomb also exploded in Jorpati in front of a private house, from the father of a Chief of Army staff.

More bombs exploded in Thali, Lalitpur and the offices of Madhvapur Thimi Municipality Ward No 1, 2 and 3.

During my completely stay in Nepal I have never felt unsafe in Nepal but I always walked intently through the streets of Kathmandu Valley. That means I have noticed what happens around me: both everyday life of people doing their work, speaking, cooking etc. and the armed policemen or forces with their guns belonging also to the everyday life. But now I have intensified my notices about the situation at the moment: like I read more newspapers, look for information in the internet and speak about all what happens both with the chairman of the FES Nepal, Mr. Dev Raj Dahal, the FES-staff and with friends.

On Monday – two days after the Maoist attacks – the District Administration Offices (DAO) of Kathmandu and Lalitpur have imposed curfew orders from 11:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. The curfew was effective in the areas inside the Ring Road and Lalitpur Submetropolitan City. In the same notices the DAO said, that security forces have been allowed to shoot anybody trying to break the curfew order. Later on this day more district administrations in eastern districts have imposed an overnight curfew like in Jhapa, Sunsari, Siraha or in towns like Pokhara, Taplejung and Biratnagar.

Besides the government also has imposed a ban on public gatherings within the Ring Road area, but the leader of the seven-parties-alliance said that they will hold the mass meeting at any cost.

This was my first curfew but it was taking place in night hours. During this time I was usually never in the streets of Kathmandu. Most of the Nepali people also not going out during the night. At least the curfew did not affect the daily life of “normal people”.

On Thursday dozen alliance leaders were arrested because of defying the government’s ban. They had participated in a motorcycle rally in Baneshwor. Meanwhile the curfew had been extended in Kathmandu and Lalitpur by one hour starting now at 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.

On Wednesday I had decided to extend my visa in the Immigration Office. Originally I intend to go one week later. Nobody knows what will happen next week.

Maoists have caused several bomb explosions and destroyed the relay tower of the state-owned Nepal Television at Hetauda.

And once again the curfew in Kathmandu and Lalitpur was extended by one hour, starting at 9:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.

Thursday was a day where many incidences were happened: the government suspended mobile and UTL telephone services ahead of the major mass rally of the seven political parties one day later. This was the second time the mobile service has been disrupted after the royal takeover on the 1 st of February 2005. Moreover more than 100 opposition political leaders and human rights activists have been detained by security forces. They have been kept at various police stations in the capital. Security officals had started arresting the leader and activists from early in the morning. Likewise, the European Union, India and Japan have expressed “grave concern” over Nepal’s government’s clampdown in the political parties.

Beyond the compulsory one hour extended curfew on Thursday the government announced to impose a daytime curfew on Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. In spite of this many senior leaders of the seven-party-alliance had said to organize their mass meeting on this day.

Today I have finished my work at the FES-Nepal-Office earlier and went shopping foods for the next day (or maybe days? I didn’t know at this time.). In Lalitpur’s streets the life seemed to be normal: people were buying, talking and laughing although the armed forces were increased. So I was happy coming home.

Friday I spent my time at home. During the day the police have arrested around 200 supporters of the seven-party-alliance from Gaushala. In Kirtipur hundreds of demonstrators rallied for defying the curfew orders imposed in Kathmandu. Reportedly there was heavy security around the capital and guarded the Kathmandu streets. Similarly, police arrested nearly a dozen political activists from a motorcycle rally in Butwal. Protest rallies have also happened in Pokhara, Surkhet and Palpa. Leaders from seven-party-alliance were put under house arrest.

Meanwhile, the seven-party-alliance took out torch rallies and protest demonstrations from various parts of the capital (like Naya Baneshwor and Gongabu) following the end of the daylong curfew.

On Saturday

I went out of my house. Many shops in Lalitpur were closed and opened at around 1 p.m. respectively. Because of the daylong curfew on Friday the seven-party-alliance has decided to postpone their program a day later. Therefore many people (according to media: over ten thousand human beings have taken place) had started protesting in various parts of Basatapir, New Road, Dharmapath, Indra Chowk and Bhotahity. Police also on Saturday took into custody around 190 people for defying the prohibitory order. They threw tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd. Police had also constructed barricades at the New Road gate so as to bar movement of vehicles into other districts. A peaceful demonstration organizing by writer, artists and litterateurs at New Baneshwor was also intervened.

The District Administration of Kathmandu and Lalitpur have imposed a curfew within the Ring Road area starting 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. on Sunday.

Summary:

From the Maoist actions on Saturday, 14 th of January to the announced peaceful mass demonstrations on Friday, the 20 th there was a series of incidences within the Kathmandu Valley: bombs, curfews, mass demonstrations and arrests.

It was not for the first time, that people from Nepal, Tourists and Foreigner working and living here have experienced such kind of situations.

During this week I have never felt unsafe but I was very attentive, collected every information and followed the rules and curfew.

It is advisable to inform every day about the political situation: you can read newspapers, latest news you can also find at the websites of the newspapers, you should avoid places taking place mass demonstrations.

A very good source of information about the safety of a country is the Embassy from your native land. You can call there and they will give you very helpful information. The Department of Foreign Affairs in Germany, for instance, is sending you the latest security advices per mail, as you like it.

Nobody can influence the current situation. It is also possible to be “untimely on the wrong place” but you can attempt to smooth risk out: be intently and adhere to curfews, rules and prohibitions.

Celebrating Arniko's Friendship

Anoop Ranjan Bhattarai, Nepal

Arniko created a history of friendship with China, when he went there several hundred years ago to spread teaching of Buddha through his artistic skills. White Pagoda Temple and numerous objects of arts and architects in different parts of China are a proof of this. Most of the Chaityas still stand to continue to convey the message of Buddha who was born in Kapilvastu, Nepal, two and a half millennium ago.

Arniko Society this year added a new chapter to Cultural Relations between Nepal China Relations by erecting a life size statue of Arniko, Nepal's "Rashtriya Bibhuti" in Beijing. The statue of the Arniko, the Genius who planned, designed and constructed the whole structure, was unveiled amidst a colorful ceremony on the first of May 2002. It was also on the first week of May that the Emperor Kublai Khan had visited in the year 1277 to pay respect to the White Pagoda, the symbol of Buddha and Bauddha Dharma. It is said when the emperor entered the White Pagoda Temple a column of light rose over the White Pagoda Temple showing the dedication of the Emperor to Lord Buddha. Looking at the column of light emanated from the sky over the Pagoda, the Emperor was overjoyed with gratification. He asked a marksman to fire one arrow each in four directions and he gave the land covered by the four arrows to the White Pagoda Temple.

The White Pagoda has endured rain and storms for more than seven hundred years and remained intact, as it was when the construction was completed. Since then hundreds of Chinese and other devotees visited this shrine every day to pay respect to the Enlightened One and feel happy. Arniko Society and White Pagoda Relics Preservation Bureau made elaborate preparations for the Arniko Statue unveiling Ceremony and weeklong Nepal Festival at the White Pagoda Premises. A delegation of Arniko Society comprising of President, Vice President and Executive Members had arrived in Beijing one week in advance to supervise the preparatory works. The program for the Nepal week was elaborate. There was cultural troupe from Nepal giving two shows daily together with Chinese artists. The Department of Culture was kind enough to send a troupe of singers, dancers, musicians, lion dancers, dancers walking on wooden pole and acrobatics to show their performances to the audience attending the ceremony. Live demonstration of stone carving by a Nepali artist, an exhibition of pictures and posters to give a glimpse of Nepal to the visitors, Nepali Food Festival, Kung Fu performance were the other highlights of the weeklong Nepal Festival. This event has turned out to be the biggest cultural event organized by Nepal in recent history in China.

On the day of the opening ceremony the White Pagoda Temple looked like a bride. The whole of the area was decorated with Nepalese and Chinese flags, banners, and buntings.

The statue of Arniko was covered with a piece of red silk and it was to fly over the sky with the help of a big striped colored balloon. The balloon was tied with ribbons, which were to be cut letting the balloon fly and thus removing the silk cover and unveiling the statue.

Tourist Literature, a symbolic metallic souvenir of the Bai Ta , a newly issued Nepalese coin, colorful Nepalese caps were presented to all the visitors attending the opening ceremony.

The program got underway introducing the distinguished invitees Deputy Director of Cultural Relics Preservation Department of Beijing, Mei Dinghua, the Deputy Director of Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries Su Gong, Director of Tourism Administration Yu Wang Zhang, Chief of White Pagoda Relics Preservation Bureau Mr. He Pei, officials of Chinese government, Royal Nepalese Ambassador and officials of the Embassy, Delegates of Arniko Society, former Chinese and Nepalese Ambassadors, and other respected people of China. A large crowd of more than one thousand Chinese and Nepalese audience was present there. The interesting thing about the audience was that all of them, Gentlemen, Ladies or Children, looked like Nepalese in colorful Nepalese caps as their headdress.

The Royal Nepalese Ambassador in his speech quoted the remark made by His Excellency the President Jiang Zemin to His Majesty King Birendra when he had made his last visit to China, saying that "while on his morning walk he sees the White Pagoda every day and remembers Nepal". The Ambassador added that in this way the White Pagoda has genuinely assumed the role of the symbol of friendship between Nepal and China.

The Deputy Director of the Cultural Relics Preservation Department Mr. Mei Dinghua-said Arniko dedicated his whole life in serving China. He was a cultural ambassador to China who helped promote cultural relations between two countries, it is our duty, to appreciate his contributions and honor him by erecting his statue at the premises of White Pagoda Temple, which we could fulfill today. This event is very important in exchange of cultural relation. This contribution from Arniko Society will help to give continuity to the process of development of friendship between Nepal and China.

The President of Arniko Society in his speech told the audience that how the statue of architect Arniko erected on that day would add the historic significance to the friendly relations between the two ancient civilizations. He also announced that the society, together with the White Pagoda Temple Relics Preservation Bureau, would organize Nepal Festival and Nepal-China Culture Exchange Program every year in the White Pagoda premises.

The four distinguished guests, Deputy Director of Cultural Relics Conservation Department of Beijing, the Deputy Director of Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, The Royal Nepalese Ambassador and President of Arniko Society cut the ribbons and unveiled the statue. Everybody applauded with enthusiasm amidst the roar of the music produced by Nepalese and Chinese musical instruments. All the people present there admired the statue of the great artist, praised his art and skill in constructing the White Pagoda which is drawing hundreds of people every day who pray to the Enlightened One and express their devotion to his teachings.

The Nepalese Culture Troupe and the Chinese artists also showed their performance, which lasted for two hours. The joint Nepal China Culture Program, demonstration of stone statue carving, Photo Exhibition of Scenes from Nepal, Nepali Food Festival, Chinese KungFu demonstration and Nepali Handicraft Exhibition drew huge crowds everyday.

On the 7"' of May, a closing ceremony was held at the premises of White Pagoda in front of the statue of Arniko. Distinguished Chinese guests including the public attended the closing function where the artists from both countries jointly performed Nepali dances.

On behalf of Arniko Society the Royal Nepalese Ambassador presented the Stone Statue made during the week by a Nepali artist to the White Pagoda Bureau. Both the delegates from Arniko society and the officials of the White Pagoda Bureau congratulated each other for the success of the Statue Unveiling Ceremony and Culture Exchange Week. Arniko society entertained the Chinese friends with a IS course Nepali dinner.

In memory of the great artist Arniko Society and White Pagoda Relics Preservation Bureau have decided to jointly organize Nepal Festival in the White Pagoda Premises every year in May.

Text courtesy with thanks: The NTTR January 16 - 22, 2006. The Writer is former president of Arniko Society and President of Nepal China Executive Council-ed.

IFJ: 2005 most dangerous year for Asia - Pacific journalists

2005 proved to be the most dangerous year on record for journalists working not only in the Asia-Pacific region but also worldwide, according to the International Federation of Journalists' (IFJ) annual report into the killing of media staff.

"2005 was a year of tragedy and the targeting of journalists in the Asia-Pacific region, " said IFJ president Christopher Warren.

Of the grim total of 150 journalists and media workers killed in 2005, some 36 were from the Asia-Pacific region.

The Philippines once again earned its place the most dangerous Asia-Pacific country for journalists to work in with 10 killings, second only to war-torn Iraq where 35 media workers were killed. While almost all of their killers of the Philippines journalists continue escape any form of justice.

Once more, South Asia is the most dangerous region within the Asia-Pacific, with journalists being killed in Afghanistan (2), Bangladesh (3), India (3), Pakistan (6), Sri Lanka (4) and Nepal (2).

The massive earthquake that struck South Asia was responsible for the deaths of three journalists.

Worldwide, some 61 journalists and media workers were killed when disaster struck while on assignment - 48 of them alone in a Tehran plane crash where questions are being asked about the safety of the military aircraft in which they were travelling.

But disturbingly, the IFJ report says that around 89 journalists and media people were killed "in the line of duty" - many assassinated by ruthless killers working for political gangs or criminals.

The report says more than 90 per cent of these cases do not result in serious investigations by authorities with only a handful of the killers are ever brought to trial. A combination of police corruption, judicial incompetence and political indifference creates a culture of neglect when it comes to media deaths, says the IFJ.

"Impunity in the killing of journalists remains the intolerable scandal of our times that can no longer be ignored by the international community," said IFJ general secretary Aidan White.

The IFJ has called for action by the United Nations Security Council and has pressed Secretary General Kofi Annan to mobilise governments to act against the targeting and killing of journalists.

The IFJ report this year includes information on the IFJ's solidarity and assistance program, the IFJ Safety Fund. 100,000 Euro was raised during a special appeal at the beginning of 2005 in response to the Tsunami disaster in 2004 in which around 89 journalists and media staff were reported dead or missing. In addition the fund made payments to the families and victims of killings in more than 25 countries as well as to victims of the Pakistan earthquake disaster in which three journalists died.

The IFJ has created a special disaster relief fund in the name of former IFJ Senior Vice President and Chair of the European Federation of Journalists, Gustl Glattfelder who died last year.