Suddenly the stars shone brighter: Fifteen different Nepali artistes were honoured June 3 with San Miguel Music Award 2000, for their involvement in the promotion and preservation of Nepali melody and music. The award instituted this year by the Amatya Enterprises came in for lot of accolade. When senior singer Bhakta Raj Acharya (above left) was honoured with the Life Time Achievement Award from the AE Group’s Chairman Piyush B. Amatya (right) the audience approved the choice with thunderous clap.

Is Koirala really being challenged?

By Dhana Thapa

For many political observers, there is a sense of déjà vu. Just as the hundred days in office for Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala approaches, it looks like he is going to be given the same medicine which he meted out while ousting former Premier Krishna Prasad Bhattarai.

Though, the crusade against PM Koirala, has come not from his arch rival but from young ‘Turk’ Sher Bahadur Deuba. Deuba has also challenged him for the Parliamentary Party’s post, when Bhattarai was about to be ousted. The young former PM, not only has made public declarations against Koirala, but he has also opened a separate "Public Relations" office and is going on a nation-wide tour on a phase wise basis. That was exactly what Koirala had done before he started a move in earnest to oust Bhattarai.

Meanwhile a catalyst for arch rival Bhattarai to open his mouth, came in the form of the appointment of former Chief Justice (during the Panchayat days) Nain Bahadur Khatri, to the coveted post of Chairman of the Human Rights Commission.

While many Congressmen were incensed by the appointment of a person who had meted out death penalties to two Nepali Congress activists, they later had more "masala" to attack Khatri when he gave a controversial interview to a NC leaning paper. Last Saturday, speaking at a function organised by an organisation headed by former Minister Bal Bahadur K.C., another staunch anti-Koirala MP, Bhattarai publicly criticised the decision of Koirala to appoint Khatri.

Koirala himself made a strategical mistake, when he tried to shift the blame on the opposition party leader Madhav Nepal, for nominating the name of Khatri. But Nepal openly denied this allegation, thus putting Koirala in a spot in front of his own party leaders. The debate on the appointment of Khatri has been dragged into the Parliament too.

But just on Monday, Khatri denied that he had said, the Panchayat system was better than the present multi-party system or that he was more loyal to it.

Meanwhile, Koirala was also attacked by his own followers, but this time, regarding the "inefficiency of the Home Minister". On Tuesday, a group of MPs, led by Koirala loyalist Ramjanam Choudhary, met the Prime Minister and demanded the ouster of Home Minister Govinda Raj Joshi. Joshi is considered corrupt, even by outsiders and this time he has failed to do anything about the Maoist problem.

MP Choudhary pointed out that his group was not like some other "light weight" MPs and their main concern was for the security of the people. "Home Minister Joshi must be shunted out if the law and order situation of the country is to improve, otherwise he will weaken the present government," MP Choudhary said, in a vernacular weekly.

With crucial player Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka keeping a silent vigil, it is yet to be seen how Koirala will get out of his current predicament and what may happen as his government’s "Honeymoon" period gets over.

Nepal-India relations should not be disturbed

By a staff reporter

Even as the Nepal-India High level talks was about to begin in Kathmandu on Tuesday, Kathmandu was abuzz with reports filtering in that a high level Indian intelligence report had named Nepalese individuals and also some newspapers as being "anti-Indian".

It is true that there have been frequent allegations against some individuals, for having collaborated with people that may be working against India. The last incident when such rumours flew thick and fast, was when a Pakistani diplomat was caught in Kathmandu with fake Indian Currency notes. The individual was deported a couple of days later when he could not be prosecuted because of diplomatic immunity.

This time, as even both the publications of the Kantipur Publications wrote themselves, they were also named in the "intelligence report" as having acted in collusion with Pakistani forces. The surprising thing is, the publications did not put in any denial immediately.

Whether it is institutions or individuals, Nepal’s relation with India should not be disturbed.

Meanwhile on the condition of not wanting to be named, a publisher/editor told this reporter that a list of individuals working for the Indian intelligence agency RAW, was also going to be published on the Internet now. While this tit for tat may be good or bad for individuals concerned, the matter of concern is the blatant way in which the names of prominent publications and high ranking politicians have been taken in such activities.

It may be recalled that even during the Panchayat days, some people were branded of belonging to either one power or the other, but after the re-ushering in of democracy, such allegations have gained ground further.

Nepalese professionals and politicians must rise above being so blatantly involved in the affairs of any outside forces, be they Americans, Russians, Indians or Pakistanis.

Perhaps disturbing developments are taking place within the country because of the callous attitude of people who should be leading from the front and being an example to the people in general.

The authorities here should be more vigilant so that such activities are discouraged, if not completely stopped.

Shailaja rocks NC boat

By a staff reporter

The "struggle" within the ruling Nepali Congress took a new turn when outspoken senior leader of the party and Central Committee member Ms. Shailaja Acharya made a scathing attack against her own cousin and a member of PM Koirala’s inside coterie Sushil Koirala.

Speaking to a vernacular weekly considered a critic of the Koirala government and supporting former PM Sher Bahadur Deuba, Ms. Acharya revealingly said that "Sushil dai" doesn’t work himself and he doesn’t allow others to work as well.

Acharya also rocked the NC boat by saying she will definitely contest for the post of party president, which now is currently being held by PM Koirala himself. Acharya said, "I have already talked to Deuba and I am confident he and also Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka will support me".

There were rumours that Deuba will also stand for elections for the post of president when the general meeting of the Nepali Congress takes place in October this year.

The most important statement made by Ms. Acharya was that, she indicated all the second generation leaders were ready to work together when Koirala stepped down. This is a surprise, considering the fact that most observers had believed the second generation leaders could not get along with each other and only the two "old men" of the party were holding them together.

Minister Joshi: A follower, not a leader

By a staff reporter

If one looks back at the Nepali Congress politics in the last ten years, one person has featured in each and every NC-related government. The person is no other than Govinda Raj Joshi, the present home minister. Joshi is one of the few lucky ones who has not been out of power in the last 10 years.

Within the Congress circle, Joshi is sometimes called an outsider who has gained the trust of Koirala more than some of Koirala’s own family members. To put it bluntly, he is called one of the closest henchmen of Koirala.

The recent increment of the budget for the police from Rs. 3.25 billion to more than Rs. 5 billion is also taken as Home Minister Joshi’s increasing clout in the government.

While several of the second generation leaders like Ram Chandra Poudel, Khum Bahadur Khadka, Shailaja Acharya and even Sher Bahadur Deuba having rough-edged either Koirala and Bhattarai, Joshi always remained steadfast with Koirala.

Joshi’s long sojourn in the government is now being looked upon with suspicion by several of the Congress MPs.

Last week, at a meeting of the Congress MPs at Deuba’s contact office in Baneshwor several MPs expressed their disapproval and even wrath against Joshi.

The most critical among them was MP Ramjanam Chaudhary, who lambasted Joshi for his style of functioning and even demanded his ouster from the government. They also went as a delegation to the Prime Minister and demanded Joshi’s removal from the government.

"He (Joshi) think he is the only one wisest in the whole world, and he has even begun thinking that he has inherited the Home Ministry," Chaudhary was quoted as saying in an interview to a weekly newspaper.

Meanwhile, the meeting of more than 50 MPs is also seen as a new force emerging within the Congress, especially for the party’s national convention later this year.

Joshi is suspected by many to be a behind the curtains player. He was also taken as the one who foiled Khum Bahadur Khadka’s bid to become Home Minister.

It is no secret that Koirala’s election to the party’s parliamentary party leader was possible only after Khadka, with his dozen MPs, supported Koirala. That time it was said that Khadka was promised the plum Home Ministry, but Joshi took it away under Khadka’s very nose.

However, despite being in power for such a long period, Joshi is said to have failed to strengthen his power base within the Nepali Congress. "He is still a follower rather than a followed one," a Congress MPs say.

In the last election too, Joshi changed his constituency in Tanahu choosing the one with strong congress hold.

Seeking help

By a staff reporter

gurung with a disabled person.

Looking after his wife who suffered from paralysis after an illness, inspired him to start taking care of other disabled people too. Jiwan Kumar Gurung, 55, opened Apang Sewa Sangh two and half years back. The centre houses around 20 - 25 disabled people; orphans, victims by birth or by accident and the helpless elderly. The centre has been running largely through his savings and infrequent donations that the committee members collect. Today, the centre is direly in need of finance and Jiwan is running helter skelter to keep the centre going.

Undeterred by the present circumstances, he spoke of his future plans, "I hope to see this centre grow and be able to help at least three hundred people." Jiwan has approached the government for help and has sent in formal proposal. He has also sought help of INGOs but nothing has materialised so far. "Some foreigners came and took photographs with promises of getting help but I have not heard from them so far."

Now, the centre has come up with a novel idea to raise funds. They are staging a play titled, ‘Laxmi Pooja Ko Pratigya’ in Rastriya Nach Ghar, 2 PM on 17 Ashar. The disabled who live in the centre are also participating in the play.

Jiwan plans to organise more such plays. "It not only helps us raise funds but also promotes our culture."

For more details, contact: Ph - 431876, Apang Sewa Sangh, Bishal Nagar, Chandol, Kathmandu.

Bhutanese demonstrate in New York

By a staff reporter

Four Bhutanese human rights organisations - Peoples Forum for Human Rights and Development (PFHRD) Bhutan, International Institute for Human Rights, Environment and Development (INHURED International) and Bhutanese Women’s Rights Organization (BWRO) - jointly organised a protest demonstration last week at the Ralph Bunche part in front of the United Nations headquarters in New York. The demonstration coincided with the special session of the United Nations General Assembly. The demonstration was organized to draw the attention of the Special Session towards the plight of the Bhutanese refugees and human rights situation in Bhutan.

According to a press release the demonstration had ended after a memorandum was handed over to the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan. Copies of the memorandum were also submitted to the King of Bhutan and the US President Bill Clinton through their respective Permanent Missions to the UN in New York.

The demonstrators had carried banners and placards that read "Bhutan, we want democracy and human rights", "Bhutan, repatriate Bhutanese refugees", "Bhutan, release all political prisoners", "Nepal, no more bilateral talks". The demonstrators also raised slogans in support of human rights, democracy and repatriation of the Bhutanese refugees.

The speakers at the demonstration highlighted the plight of the Bhutanese refugees and gross human rights violations in Bhutan and urged the UN Secretary General to take all measures to resolve Bhutan’s dismal human rights situation and the refugee crisis.

In view of the continuing failure of the Nepal-Bhutan bilateral talks including the recent ninth round held in Thimphu, the speakers appealed the UN General Secretary to appoint special representative to intervene into the matter so that an early solution could be found.

The speakers included S.K. Pradhan, Secretary General of PFHRD Bhutan, Dr. Gopal Krishna Siwakoti, Executive Director of INHURED International and Dr. Kamal Pandey, Founding President of Alliance for Democracy and Human Rights in Nepal, New York.

Several NGO representatives from the Asia-Pacific region had also joined the demonstration as a show of solidarity and support to the Bhutanese refugees’ demand for democracy and installation of human rights in Bhutan and honourable repatriation of the Bhutanese refugee.

Aid for Gajuri school

By a staff reporter

In order to provide continuity to Belbhanjyang Primary School located at ward number 4 of Gajuri VDC, Dhading district, local resident and tourism entrepreneur Bhim Panta has been providing substantial financial assistance to the school, the school sources said.

Gajuri VDC is one of the remote places in Dhading district and residents here are economically deprived. Among others, Tamangs, Magars and untouchables in this region are very poor. "In order to educate students from these deprived family, Panta has been providing financial assistance to the school," the school sources informed.

In 2052 BS, Panta provided fund needed to appoint three teachers at the school. He also financed to renovate the school building, construct toilet at the school premises and purchase furniture. During last December, Panta provided a 3000-liter water tank to the school for the supply of drinking water to the students, the school management said.

Banning of Safa tempo under fire

By a staff reporter

As the government announced ban on electricity-operated three wheeler vehicles popularly known as Safa Tempo through its budget estimate announced last Tuesday, a wide cross-section of Nepalese population and foreign organizations working in Nepal have denounced the government’s move.

While many observers point out ban on Safa tempo as a move of the commission-seeking government officials to promote 600 petrol-operated micro buses that are being brought to the country in the next few months, many others believe this as the act of expelling the environmentally successful and economically viable project to a neighboring country. But, whatever may be the reason, they believe that this step taken by the government will once again deteriorate the environment of the Kathmandu Valley.

Before Safa tempos came into operation in the valley, the large number of diesel-run three wheelers also known as Vikram tempos plied Kathmandu roads. At that time, air pollution level exceeded WHO’s permissible limits in the valley. The ban on notorious Vikram and promotion of Safa tempos, saw some remarkable improvement in Kathmandu’s air pollution. With investments exceeding over Rs. 450 million from both private sector and donor agencies, as many as 600 Safa tempos ply the Kathmandu roads presently.

Besides this, many private sector entrepreneurs are planning to increase their fleet of electric vehicles and to establish charging stations at different points in the valley. Millions of rupees have already been spent for these projects. "The ban on electric vehicles came as a surprise. We have submitted our demand at the Prime Minister’s office and residence," said Ashok Pandey of Nepal Electric Vehicle Industry (NEVI) at a press conference held in Kathmandu.

NEVI and other entrepreneurs have demanded the government to reconsider its decision of banning the registration of electric vehicles. "We will start protesting if nothing is done to reconsider this unwise move," Pandey said.

Danish government which has been providing Rs. 300 million to Nepal for the promotion of electric vehicles has also warned the government to reconsider the decision to ban the Safa tempos in the valley. It could cost Nepal the Danish government funded "larger environmental programmes," said Danish envoy to Kathmandu Lars Hormann at a press conference in Kathmandu.

Denmark has been supporting the Nepalese government in carrying out various environmental improvement programmes including promotion of Safa tempos, industrial waste management, air quality improvement in the valley, etc. Denmark has also provided Rs. 25 million to introduce 48 Safa tempos in the Kathmandu valley last year after the government banned the diesel-operated Vikram tempos.

Danish envoy also pointed out that the move is in sharp contrast with Denmark’s plan to improve the air quality of Kathmandu. "I am suspecting foul play in the decision," he said.

'Nepal has not been able to utilise aid'

By a staff reporter

After a series of bilateral talks and annual consultation on bilateral development cooperation held on 1 June 2000 between officials of Denmark and Nepal, Denmark has committed to provide aid of Rs. 7.298 billion (795 million Danish kroner) for the next five years, a press release issued by the Danish Embassy said.

This aid to Nepal could have been increased, but Nepal has not been able to utilize fully the assistance already disbursed by the Danish government. "Nepal has been able to utilize only 80 percent of the aid being provided to Nepal by the Danish government," said Lars Faaborg-Anderson, deputy head of Asia Division at the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs at a press conference organized on Friday at the Danish Embassy, Kathmandu.

Denmark is providing about US $ 25 million annually to Nepal. The Danish assistance to Nepal is focused at four main areas: Basic and Primary Education, Energy, Natural Resource Management and Environment.

In accordance with the agreed strategy for Danish-Nepalese Development Cooperation, support to good governance and decentralization is also a major theme in the cooperation programme. Beside these, the cross cutting issues of gender, women empowerment, environment, democracy and human rights are integral part in all development activities, the press release mentioned.

Technical assistance through long-term Danish advisers, training, and fellowship as well as support through mixed credits, the private sector development programme and Danish NGOs in Nepal is over and above this bilateral agreement for aid.

Talking to the press, Danish envoy to Nepal Lars Hermann and delegation leader Anderson also pointed out several reasons behind the set back in commissioning development projects supported by the Danish government. One of the main reasons, they pointed out is the Maoist insurgency problem that has hampered Danish-assisted development projects in 13 of the 15 districts of its activities.

Stating that Denmark fully respects Nepalese government’s duty to uphold security, law and order situation in the country, Hormann said that police should not violate human rights while confronting with the insurgents. "If the Nepalese government wants to solve this problem it should eliminate frustration and deprivation and engage in peaceful negotiation with the Maoists," the Danish envoy said.

Among others, he also pointed out that the number of staff vacancies yet to be filled at the Ministry of Population and Environment according to the agreement with the Danish government along with the frequent politically motivated transfer of staff, as the factors that had slowed down project delivery in the targeted areas of cooperation.

According to the press release, Nepal is one of the 20 priority countries for Danish Development Assistance. Similarly, Denmark is world 9th biggest donor country in the world according to Gross National Product of the country. "By a decision of Parliament, the size of the Danish development assistance is kept at the level of one percent of the GNP," it said.

More reactions on budget

By a staff reporter

As the government announced its "ambitious" budget estimate last week, politicians, businessmen, economists, planners and even the general public have expressed their reactions on it. Though some of them have pointed the budget as a good one and in line with the 9th Plan, many of them have doubted the effective implementation of plans and programmes it brought forward in the budget this year.

At a press statement issued by the Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC), it has stated that the amount of resources allocated for development purpose for the fiscal year 2000/2001 is too huge, and expressed doubt if the allocated funds would be spent on development works.

"While only Rs. 33 billion of the estimated 41 billion rupees allotted for development purpose was utilized last fiscal year, the present increase in the estimated development expenditure by 44.5 percent is unrealistic" it said.

According to the press statement, lack of effective implementation of development programmes is the cause behind the big difference between the actual and the estimated expenditure. The NCC has, however, welcomed the initiative to enforce procedural directives in revenue administration and proposed reforms in the banking sector.

The commitment to formulate 20-year Industrial Perspective Plan and plans to control administrative expenditure among others that are positive, the statement said.

Similarly, Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) in its press statement said that the new budget is far from satisfactory when talking about the tourism sector. "In spite of the fact that the present budget has categorically accepted that tourism sector has generated 12.17 billion revenue for government treasury in the year 2055-56, which comes around 33 percent of the total revenue generated by the government, the government has not come up with tangible plans and programmes for the enhancement of the tourism sector," the press statement said.

The government should effectively come up with programmes to harness the potentialities of this business which is considered to be the backbone of economic development of the country, the HAN press release demanded. "The government didn’t heed any suggestions jointly forwarded by tourism associations to the Revenue Consultative Committee, for which associations had done extensive homework and discussed matters with the concerned."

"It is a pity that the budget announcement does not spell out a single programme for the development of tourism industry. It is just not possible to achieve poverty alleviation objective without triggering tourism industry and enlarging wider spectrum of tourism industry in the nooks and corners of the country," the HAN statement said.

Likewise, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), in its press statement, has pointed out that massive increase of Rs. 10 billion on the revenue collection targeted by the budget do not seem to materialize. It also expressed concern over the high spread rate in which the government has not mentioned in the budget. "While spread rate is decreasing in all neighbouring countries, it is a matter of concern for us that the government didn’t say a word about it," the press release said.

"Government’s decision to impose value added tax on flour, which is purely an agriculture product and consumed by general public, is a wrong step," the FNCCI statement said. The budget estimate also didn’t mention regarding where the revenue generated by imposing agriculture improvement tax would be used. "Imposing of agriculture improvement tax will bring in price hike of consumer goods," it stated.

Similarly, Nepal Trans-Himalayan Trade Association said that the decision to make mandatory to conduct the cross border Nepal-Tibet trade only through banks will be detrimental to the trade. According to a press release issued by the Association, the compulsion to do business with the northern neighbour only through banks will seriously affect the cross border transaction.

The reluctance of Chinese export companies to open LC while trading with Nepal through Khasa poses difficulty in the implementation of the proposed banking system, the release added.

Similarly, Nepal Carpet Exporters’ Association (NCEA) also expressed dissatisfaction for no arrangements being made for the promotion of carpet export. In its press release, NCEA said that the budget has allocated substantial amounts for items whose exports have not yet started. "By imposing tax on exports, the budget has overburdened the already struggling carpet export," it said.

Music review
Emotional Golden Voice

Newari songs and music have caught up in the market, especially in Kathmandu Valley. As a result, production of Newari music albums is on a steady rise.

The young lyricist R has added a new dimension to the contemporary Newari music by presenting two brand new albums Chha Wa Ji Wa and Balabalachingu Mikha. After enjoying the grand success of his first solo presentation Chha Wa Ji Wa, lyricist R has recently produced the album Balabalchingu Mikha, presenting the golden voices of famous singer Prem Dhoj Pradhan.

When Nepal’s ace singer Pradhan cuts his new album or song, it naturally makes big waves in the Nepalese music market. Though one of the most wanted singers in Nepal, the album in review, Balabalachingu Mikha is only the fourth solo album of singer Pradhan. His previous albums are Golden Voice of Nepal (1979), Ghaite Jawani (1990) and Kichah (1991). Kichah released in 1991, was his first Newari album.

The present album contains eight songs including three old all-time hits. All the new numbers in the album are penned by young talent R, who has already shown his capability in his first presentation Chha Wa Ji Wa. Pradhan composed music for all the songs in the album.

The most conspicuous number in the album is the title song Balabalachingu Mikha, the album’s only old song from original sound track. This song has a history in itself as it is considered Nepal’s first rock-n-roll song. It was originally recorded at Hindustan Recording Co. of Calcutta, India in 1964 when Nepali music kept aloof from the influences of the Western rock-n-roll pattern.

The music in this peppy song may remind listeners of the rock-n-loll classics popularized by the Beatles and Elvis Prestley. Lyricist R who sound quite romantic in rest four songs turned dramatically emotional about the national unity and preservation of our cultural identity in Jin Rajamati number. Remarkably, his lyrics contain satirical overtones regarding the new culture-immune-psyche of the natives of the Kathmandu Valley.

Reviewed by NV