The fuzzy road ahead

By Suman Pradhan

KATHMANDU, May 2 - If Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala ever had nightmares, then this must have been it: the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) ordering him to furnish information about his role in the controversial Lauda Air jet lease deal.

Now the nightmare has turned into reality. The CIAA, to almost everyone’s surprise, delivered just such a letter Wednesday to the 78 year-old prime minister, throwing the stability of his government in doubt and creating a crisis of confidence all around.

Will Koirala resign? Or, will he hang tough? The CIAA after all hasn’t indicted him, hasn’t found him guilty of anything yet. It has only asked him to furnish some "clarifications," according to a source in the anti-corruption watchdog agency.

But the "clarifications" are being sought on arcane matters of airplane leasing practices, airline schedules and privileged communication between the prime minister and his minister. In other words, the CIAA questions already imply that Koirala was involved in the deal in some way without explicitly stating as such.

This being Nepal, it is difficult to guess what happens next. The whole case may just fizzle out, as has happened inexplicably numerous times before, especially with CIAA investigations.

Assuming that the probe inches closer to the prime minister, he could still just hang on to power, as is being egged on by his cabinet and advisors. Or he could quit, honouring his own previous utterances. Either way, the prime minister’s political future is sealed.

If Koirala quits, then, given his age and image, there is little chance of staging a comeback once the CIAA clears him, if at all. And if he hangs on to power, then it would be nearly impossible to govern, having lost whatever legitimacy he had the moment the CIAA letter landed at his door.

Under this scenario, it is not difficult to see how the opposition and rival groups within his own party, already gunning for Koirala’s head as it were, would deal with a "morally challenged" prime minister.

The immediate fallout of the CIAA letter, however, will be on the governing Nepali Congress party where jockeying to succeed Koirala has already begun. Koirala staked his political legacy on finding a suitable successor. That task is still unfinished.

His first choices have little clout in the party. His other choices, like Defense Minister Mahesh Acharya, though a rising young turk, still has formidable opposition to contend with. That leaves the field for Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Poudel, who could be the logical choice of the Koirala camp to succeed the septuagenarian leader.

But once Koirala is gone, the glue binding his camp together could also fall apart, diminishing Poudel’s chances to win over the eventual Congress parliamentary party leadership battle against fierce Koirala critic Sher Bahadur Deuba. In any case, Poudel has yet to win over the core group of Koirala supporters - the so-called kitchen cabinet - which makes the leadership battle all the more difficult.

But all this is assuming that Koirala makes way. There is growing possibility that he won’t, not until indicted by the CIAA at the least. And that can only mean more gridlock inside and outside parliament.

PM gets ‘sealed questionnaire’ from CIAA

By Damakant Jayshi

KATHMANDU, May 2 – The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) today sent a "sealed questionnaire" to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on the controversial RNAC-Lauda Air jet lease deal, according to a high-level source in the Commission.

The source, however, added that the "sealed questionnaire" did not tantamount to seeking a statement from the PM. He also added that although there was no time frame for the PM’s reply, "it is implied that he responds immediately".

Immediately after receiving the letter, PM Koirala summoned an emergency Cabinet and informed his Cabinet colleagues that he wanted to resign in the face of the latest development. "Some of the ministers advised the PM not to resign arguing that it was a mere questionnaire and not a charge-sheet," said a minister on the condition of anonymity. The emergency meeting began at 4 p.m. and lasted about an hour, according to the minister.

After the Cabinet meeting, PM Koirala was closeted with the ministers close to him at his official residence at Baluwatar and held another hour-long meeting with them. It was 6.25 p.m. when the Prime Minister left for the Royal Palace.

Since the Prime Minister has a routine audience with the King every Wednesday, it was not clear whether the Prime Minister went to the Palace to discuss the latest developments with the Monarch.

The CIAA questionnaire contains four "important" questions, among other things, according to a highly placed source in the constitutional body.

The watchdog body has asked the Prime Minister whether the Cabinet approval of September 3, 2000 was for the RNAC-Lauda Air agreement as a whole or only a clearance for the foreign exchange for the deal (1,005,000 USD each for the bank guarantee and an advance for one month’s rent).

The second question relates to the different treatment meted to the Lauda Air and RNAC-China South West Airlines Corporation deals. The CIAA wanted to know why the Cabinet left the decision of foreign exchange clearance to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation in the case of RNAC-CSWA deal whereas it cleared the same for the Lauda agreement itself.

Another question is, whether the flight sector for the Lauda jet was assessed before the Cabinet cleared the foreign exchange amount.

Lastly, whether the Prime Minister was periodically briefed by the then Civil Aviation Minister Tarini Datt Chataut about the deal and if so, what were the Prime Minister’s directives.

Last Thursday, the CIAA ordered former Minister Chataut to submit his diplomatic passport and asked him not to move out of the Kathmandu Valley without the Commission’s prior permission. The Commission also ordered the detention of the then RNAC chief Hari Bhakta Shrestha and one of the current Board members Tirthalal Shrestha after they failed to provide a bail amount of Rs 50 millions each.

The CIAA took the decision under 19.4 of the CIAA Act 1991 that empowers the Commission to take the step if they have doubts that the accused could flee. Justifying the astronomical sum, a CIAA official had said that the RNAC management had written to the Commission that the RNAC was suffering a monthly loss of Rs 75 million due to Lauda Air. The two are still in the police custody at Hanumandhoka, the District Police Office (DPO).

The recent developments were triggered by petitions by former RNAC boss and the Board member on April 16 and 18 respectively. The Shrestha duo maintain in the petition that they had acted at the behest of the Cabinet and had carried out the decisions of the Cabinet. Both had also called upon the CIAA to conduct impartial probe into the deal and deliver a just verdict.

Speaking to The Kathmndu Post just before being moved to the DPO, the Board member Shrestha had charged that the two Shresthas were being made "scapegoats for giving the petitions". However, while maintaining that there were no irregularities in the deal, he could not explain why he and the former executive chairman feared being made scapegoats.

The CIAA has been probing the infamous Lauda Air B-767 jet lease deal after reports surfaced on the alleged kickbacks in the deal. The parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) had twice directed the government not to go ahead with the deal till they reached a final conclusion. However, ignoring the directives, the RNAC management brought the jet on December 1 last year for 18 months as per the agreement signed on 27th September last year.

HM condoles Babu Chhiri’s death

Post Report

KATHMANDU, May 3 - His Majesty King Birendra has expressed sorrow over the untimely demise of the famous mountaineer Babu Chirri Sherpa.

In a condolence message, the King said that the demise of Sherpa has caused an irreparable loss to the Nation and to the mountaineering fraternity. Wishing for eternal peace to the departed soul, the King also extended heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family.

Speaker of the Lower House, Tara Nath Ranabhat on behalf of Parliamentarians, also expressed his condolence to the bereaved family. Ranabhat said that Babu Chhiri who had set many world records in mountaineering was on his way to set yet another records and his untimely demise has caused an irreparable loss to the Nation.

Chairman of the Upper House, Mohhamed Mohsin, expressing condolence over the bereaved family said that Babu Chhiri had proved his courage and acclaimed his name in the national and international arena. Mohsin said that his untimely demise has stunned the Nation.

Pasang Lhamu Mountaineering Foundation, issuing a press release has also expressed its heartfelt condolence over the death of Babu Chhiri.

Four killed in Tanahun bus mishap

POKHARA, May 2 (PR)- At least four people were killed instantly and 16 others sustained injuries this morning when a Kathmandu-bound passenger bus from Pokhara collided with a bike at Chhang VDC-5 in Tanahu district on the Prithvi Highway, police here said.

Those, killed on the impact have been identified as bike riders Bel Bahadur Bishwokarma and Bal Bahadur Bishwokarma from Phedikhola of Syangja district, Baburam Chhimal from Siddha VDC of Kaski and Sheshraj Ghimire from Dhadhing.

All the injured are undergoing treatment at the western regional hospital in Pokhara.

The injured at the hospital said that the bus (Ga 1 Kha 515) overturned on the road after the driver jumped out of the vehicle on high motion soon after it hit the bike. The driver is still at large, police said.

World press Freedom Day observed

Post Report

KATHMANDU, May 2 - On the occasion of Tenth World Press Freedom Day, different programmes were organised here today.

Namibia Free Press Declaration, 1991 was the first attempt to observe this freedom day and as a continuity to this event the Tenth WPFD was organised.

On this occasion, a talk programme on Free Press for Sustainable Economic and Social Development, was organised by Nepal Press Union (NPU) at Nepal Bar Association. Shiva Raj Joshi, the Minister for Information and Communications inaugurated the programme.

Speaking on the occasion Harihar Birahi, the senior journalist said" press has an important role in institutionalising democracy and a free press can’t be imagined without democracy and vice versa. "In using free press facility, we should not undermine the journalism ethics" he added.

"Instead of controlling press freedom by government, they should have made press more responsible" Suresh Acharya, the chairperson of Nepal Journalists’ Association said.

Most of the speakers raised questions on the sustainability and role of press in today’s changing context. During the programme, speakers stressed the need of privatisation of the state owned newspaper Gorakhapatra and said in democracy there should be no place for government owned newspaper.

Similarly, Reporters’ Club Kathmandu also organised an interaction programme on Press and Democracy .

Speaking on the occasion, former ministers Kamal Thapa and Radha Krishna Mainali, and other senior journalists highlighted the press and it’s importance in democracy.

Addressing the meeting, Rishi Dhamala, chairperson of the Reporters’ Club informed that the club is going to establish a Babu Chhiri Photography Prize in memory of the late Babu Chhiri Sherpa.

Speaking on the occasion, Taranath Ranabhat , Speaker of the House of Representatives said professionalism in journalism is on the increase.

Transporters’ strike called off

Post Report

KATHMANDU, May 2 - The strike called by the transporters of Kathmandu Valley came to an end this evening after the government agreed to provide compensation to the owner of a minibus that was set afire Tuesday by the students belonging to the All Nepal National Free Student Union (ANNFSU).

The arson attack in front of the Capital’s Amrit Science College came after the bus’ conductor refused to provide 33 per cent concession to a group of students travelling in the Balaju-Ratna Park Tuesday morning.

The transporters were quick to react. Soon they began staging an indefinite transport strike, as a result of which normal life was badly crippled in the capital city and surrounding areas all day Tuesday and Wednesday. The commuters were the ultimate sufferers who could be seen walking to their destinations braving the scorching summer heat.

Meanwhile, reports said at least half a dozen public vehicles, including a trolley bus, operating on the Arniko Highway, northeast of Kathmandu, were stoned. Details were sketchy. Also stoned were vehicles plying on the other Highways west of the Valley. No one has taken the responsibility, however.

On the outcomes of Wednesday’s talks, Sarad Upreti, Chairman of the Federation of Nepalese Transport Entrepreneurs (FNTE) said that an agreement was reached between the government team headed by Minister of Labor and Transport Management Palten Gurung and the transporters.

"A five member committee has been formed to asses the loss due to the burning of the vehicle and the government has promised to compensate the owner within three days of the submission of the report," Upreti said. "Hopefully, we will submit the report by tomorrow."

"Minister Gurung has also assured that the government would take strong action against those involved in torching the bus," he added.

Upreti also said that the task force formed to recommend ways to implement 33 per cent discount to students travelling on all means of public transportation is scheduled to submit its report at the Ministry Thursday.

A task force - which is headed by Lalit Bahadur Thapa, Joint Secretary at the Ministry, had been formed last month after the government and the transporters bowed down to the CPN-ML-affiliated students’ pressure to provide concessions to students travelling on public vehicles.

At today’s meeting, Minister Gurung also promised to hold talks with the Minister of Population and Environment regarding the government’s six-month-old decision to ban all the vehicles older than 20 years from the Valley from mid-November, according to Upreti.

Search on for a new Living Goddess

Post Report

KATHMANDU, May 2 - She is unique among all young girls in Nepal. There is no one in the country who gets as much awe and reverence as she does. Even His Majesty King Birendra, considered by many orthodox Hindus as the reincarnation of God Bishnu, pays homage to her once a year and receives her blessings. She is, after all, the country’s Living Goddess: the Kumari.

Revered and literally worshipped by all Hindus and Buddhists alike as the Living Goddess, the Kumari (Virgin) Goddess draws thousands of devotees and curious tourists each year to her abode in the heart of Kathmandu city.

But sadly the present Kumari is about 12 years old and her reign is nearing an end. She might continue in her highly venerated position at the most till the end of this year. The search for a new Kumari is, therefore, now underway. The priests are busy preparing to "discover" a new girl to take the place of the present Kumari.

But everyone is tight lipped about how they will go about doing it. An official of a government trust that looks after the Kumari says, "We are not allowed to disclose how the new Kumari will be selected."

The Living Goddess who has been the deity of the city for centuries must be a very young girl and must belong to a certain sect of the Shakya (Buddhist) caste of the ethnic Newar community of the Kathmandu Valley. The Living Goddess must not have ever under-gone an incident of bleeding in any way, either by inflicted injuries or through natural menstruation. The trust official admits, "No one can continue to be Kumari if blood happens to ooze out from any part of her body".

The girl chosen to be the next Kumari must be born out of a marriage that is legal and conforms to the traditional ethnic Newari marriage ceremony. Also she must belong to the Shakya community and her parents must be residing in one of the 19 "bahals" (courtyards) of the city in their traditional ancestral house.

Even though no one might want to disclose how a Kumari is chosen, many of those born and brought up in the Valley were told by their parents and elderly people how the traditional practice of selection is followed. If what they say is to be believed, the young girl chosen to be Kumari has to undergo a number of nightmarish tests that would frighten away even a grown up girl.

The present Kumari became the Living Goddess eight years ago when she was just four years old. According to the Kumari temple authorities, most of the Kumaris have to step down when they reach the age of 12. Trust officials say at the age of 12, physical changes begin to take place in the girl and it becomes time to replace the Kumari. The Kumari is also replaced if she keeps on crying all the time or shows no interest in staying on or becomes restless all the time.

The Living Goddess has to follow a rigorous regime and not allowed to step out of her abode more than 13 auspicious occasions in a year. When she is taken to an outing on occasion, she being a goddess cannot walk on her own and has to be carried by people on their back or on a specially built palanquin. And when she is taken out on special occasion like festival, she has to be preceded by two male Gods-Ganesh and Bhairab.

Unlike the Kumari who lives in her official Kumari Ghar (house), the two male Gods live in their own houses and are much more free in their movement than the Kumari. But one big restriction on them is that they cannot spend the night in any area beyond the boundaries of Bagmati and Bishnumati Rivers, that is they have to be present each night in the city centre.

The boys usually stay on as Ganesh and Bhairab till around the age of 14. The Kumari has her big annual festival sometime in September — this year it falls on 1st of September — when she is taken around the city in a chariot pulled by hundreds of local people.

The Monarch, King Birendra, the prime minister and ministers as well as all ambassadors accreditated to the Kingdom of Nepal join the crowds of people and foreign tourists to witness the Kumari chariot festival.

Yet the Goddess, who pulls in so many people and brings in so much foreign exchange by attracting tourists, is not well cared for by the government. After much hue and cry, the government -run trust has decided to increase her stipend to less than 50 dollars a month, hardly enough for the Kumari to live comfortably when she retires.

ANNFSU protest program initiated

KATHMANDU, May 2 (PR)- The General Secretary of the CPN (UML), Madhav Kumar Nepal, today inaugurated an indefinite protest program initiated by his party’s student wing by distributing leaflets and pamphlets at the Capital, today.

Among the demands made by the students are free public education, slashing down the high charges made by private schools, removing Sanskrit as a compulsory subject, stopping the chanting of national anthem, increase in government investment in education and provide quality education.

The ANNFSU has threatened to initiate a protest campaign leading to moves like burning the chairs of the district education officers and ‘unscrupulous’ headmasters as well as taking "special action" on selected private schools if their 46-point demands are not fulfilled within the next two weeks.