Are the Maoists getting battle weary?

-By A Staff Reporter

If reports are to be believed, many Maoist activists may be finding life in the jungles hard, and the insurgency movement too difficult to continue.

According to a top level police source, about 2,500 Maoist activists have already surrendered their arms to the police.

Another report says that recently as many as 40 activists have surrendered or have showed their inclination to lay down their arms.

Many of those activists are said to have developed some kind of aversion to the activities within their group morally unacceptable.

“The rampant sexual promiscuity within the Maoists groups is too much to digest,” one activist was reported to have said. They also said the ‘order’ to look at one’s parents as class enemies is also socially unacceptable. The weary insurgents also say that those who oppose such immoral activities are given both physical and mental torture. They also cite the fear of being killed by the police as another reason for their laying down their arms.

As reports started appearing in the press about the unacceptable social and moral conduct within the Maoist ranks and about its activists deserting the cause, it seems the Maoists may be finding it hard to sustain their movement.

Meanwhile, police have also intensified their campaign against the Maoists. Police AIG Rajendra Bahadur Singh in Nepalgunj has been quoted as saying that the new search operation has been targetted more at the jungle hideouts of the Maoists.

A police source also said the police are after the Maoists with renewed vigour after they were criticized for failing to curb the Maoists and thus the rumours of the army’s mobilisation to control the insurgents cropping up.

It is said in the last two weeks more than two dozen Maoists have been killed, mainly in the Maoists hotbeds in the mid-western regions. In Rukum district, eight Maoists were killed in clashes with police last week. Police have also captured a huge cache of weapons from the Maoists.

While the police have intensified their campaign, Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai has repeated his pledge that those who lay down their arms will be given general amnesty. He also said the government is willing to talk to the Maoists to find a solution to the ongoing insurgency problem. Similarly, Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala has also vowed that he will start an awareness campaign against the Maoists. Now, with the Maoists looking vulnerable, it might be a chance to strike a decisive blow to the insurgency campaign.

If the government can kept its promise of providing security and means of livelihood to those who have surrendered, it can open doors for more such misled people, who have taken part in the insurgency. They must be encouraged to return to normal civilian life.

However till now, the government has failed to announce  and provide any kind of relief and developmental packages to the people of those areas. If the government can give a sense of security to those people, provide them immediate relief and work towards implementing development programmes, half the battle against the Maoists will be won.

Reining in the lawmakers

-By A Staff Reporter

Where do you find MPs submitting forged medical bills to gain monetary benefits, or selling vehicles bought under custom facility at a hefty profit and getting away with it?

In many countries morality and personal conduct of MPs and persons at high offices are taken very seriously. Even the slightest breach of morality and wrong conduct are considered grave offences, which can finish off the political career of the politicians.

However, in Nepal there are countless examples in the last 10 years, when our MPs and ministers have been getting away with every imaginable kind of misconduct. The massive deviation and distortion in the behaviour and conduct of the MPs have degraded them in the eyes of the people.

It is an irony that after 10 years of the establishment of democracy, lawmakers think they need to have some kind of code of conduct to bind and regulate the behaviour and activities of the law makers.

Meanwhile, an interaction programme was organised jointly by the parliament secretariat and the National Democratic Institute of the United States for the formulation of a code of conduct for the parliamentarians.

At the programme a 7-point draft proposal, prepared by an Upper House Committee was presented. Some of the points proposed in the draft are: the disclosure of the income and asset of the MPs and their families within three months of their election, the MPs must not exert any kind of opinion on any kind of monetary and financial influence, the MPs behaviours must not have any kind of negative impact on the society and their work should enhance the dignity and prestige of the House.

However, these proposals look more like a plain statement. One of the major discrepancies of the proposal is that it has failed to address what needs to be done to those who have failed to abide by the code of conduct.

Participants in the discussion programme, which included lawmakers, former speakers, ministers and others, have expressed doubt about the effectiveness of the code of conduct.

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Daman Nath Dhungana and others said unless there is a mechanism of enforcing it strictly, it would be useless. He also said when the men in power are crossing over and bypassing the law, the code of conduct may only be a ‘weak guide’ at the most.

However, what Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai said at the programme may apply to most of our MPs. He said the MPs are very adamant, and there should be some provision on what should be done to those MPs who do not follow the codes.

Most of the opinions expressed have failed to address the crux of the matter. Thus, it sounds only as a halfhearted attempt to bring the lawmakers within some kind of law.

Minister Khadka to lose Communication portfolio as well?

-By A Staff Reporter

After no changes took place in the government even after Tihar, now sources close to the ruling party are saying that the cabinet will definitely be “reshuffled” after the by-elections on December 9. Talking to the Independent, a highly placed source in the Nepali Congress informed that there is tremendous pressure on Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai to sack some ministers and induct a few new faces. “Prime Minister Bhattarai may have to relent after the by-elections and then we may see some of the controversial ministers go,” he said.

The most controversial minister was Bal Bahadur KC and even NC president Girija Prasad Koirala had publicly said that KC would be removed from the government. However, PM Bhattarai saved KC and he still is hanging on, though as a big embarrassment for the government.

However one recent development is the strong opposition against Minister for Home and Communication Purna Bahadur Khadka, from within the party and from the media as well. If initially there was talk that he would be removed from the Home Ministry only, now insiders say that Khadka may lose the Communications portfolio as well.

Then of course there are some other ministers who have been in the hit list of disenchanted Congress MPs. They are Ministers Sharat Singh Bhandari, Omkar Prasad Shrestha, Yog Prasad Upadhyaya and Prakash Man Singh.

The new faces that are likely to be seen in the reshuffled cabinet are Sushil Koirala, Ram Chandra Poudel and Jaya Prakash Gupta.

Heart disease? Go to Norvic Health Care Center

-By A Staff Reporter

Heart disease is a growing public health problem in both the developed and developing countries. Nepal like other countries in the subcontinent experiences fairly high incidences of cardiac disorders. Statistics reveal that almost ten percent of the population in Nepal face the threat of cardiac problems. Studies have showed that 50 per cent of deaths in the next five years will be due to heart diseases.

As there were no proper heart care centers in Nepali, there was no other way than to go to abroad for the heart patients. Since cardiac ailments require a state-of-the-art equipment and highly trained medical as well as paramedical personnel, proper treatment was available only in developed countries. Obviously, such treatment also cost them a lot.

Only a few Nepalese can afford to have such expensive treatment abroad. Many heart patients in Nepal have died in the past due to this very reason. But, in the recent past, the emergence of a fine institution in Nepal has greatly benefitted the people here.

In order to make available the treatments and facilities in our own country, Nepal’s premier industrial house the Chaudhary Group joined hands with Dr. Naresh Trehan, Executive Director of Escorts Heart Institute and Research Center, New Delhi a couple of years back. Their association gave birth to the Norvic-Escorts Health Care and Research Center in April 1998 which is equipped with latest equipments and trained personnel to treat cardiac cases.

Norvic is also planning to expand its services by providing highly sophisticated treatment through world renowned experts. “By next year, Norvic Health Care Center will match the standard of any institution in South East Asia,” informed Dr. Trehan, who visited Kathmandu as the Guest of Honor for an intensive three-day programme on “Cardiology at the Dawn of Millennium” that was held from November 26 to 28, 1999.

Amidst a programme, Dr. Trehan and Lunkaran Das Chaudhary, chairman of Chaudhary Group, jointly laid the foundation stone for Super Speciality Cardiac Center with high-tech Cath-lab and Cardiac Surgery Operation Theater at the premises of Norvic’s at Thapathali.

Addressing a press conference organized on the occasion, Basant K. Chaudhary, President and Managing Director of Norvic, informed that the Rs. 70-million heart care project will be completed by mid 2000. “We are on a mission to bring speciality cardiac care closer to the Nepalese people,” Chaudhary added.

Speaking on the same occasion, Dr. Trehan expressed gratitude for being approached by the Chaudhary Group for the noble cause of establishing a high-tech heart care center in Nepal. When Dr. Trehan was practicing heart care in New York, then Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi and noted Indian industrialist H. P. Nanda of Escorts Group requested him to establish a high-tech, state-of-the-art heart institute in India. In order to fulfill their desire and make available the much needed heart care facilities in their own country, Dr. Trehan initiated the mission in 1982.

During the three-day programme, the Norvic Health Care Center also organized Heart Camps, live demonstration of Balloon Mitral Valvuloplasty (BMV) and Trans Esophageal Echocardiogram (TEE) procedures, held interaction with heart patients, lectures on public awareness and a symposium on “Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology at the Dawn of the New Millennium.”

The symposium held on November 27 was inaugurated by Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai. On the occasion Prime Minister Bhattarai also released a book on “Heart Failure” compiled by Dr. Trehan and his colleague Dr. R. R. Kasliwal, Senior Consultant Cardiologist at Escorts Heart Institute. Dr. Trehan and Dr. Kasliwal along with a team of cardiologists have been regularly visiting Kathmandu to take care of Nepalese heart patients.

Enough of Masalas pleasel!

-By Sushma Amatya

A local filmi bigwig was heard cursing in jest a man who confessed he had only seen one Nepali film in his life time, little knowing it takes a lot more than just watching  swadeshi films for one to declare oneself a patriot. And what with films as an art crossing all boundaries, it is nigh time Nepali film directors/producers etc realised  that they have to compete internationally if they want to attract the attention of discerning viewers. Quantity does not speak quality!

The presence of top heroes is not enough to draw in the "class" mass. Heroes (from left) Shiva Shrestha, Vijaya Lama and Bhuwan KC in film Ranko.

Not watching has its rewards, realised someone who tried to sit and watch a local movie one afternoon in a bid to educate oneself on the taste of the masses and see what the hullabaloo was all about. The person was forced to make a hasty exit after her sensibilities were visually massacred, not to mention audibly too. There is only so much suggestive jhatkas, lewd gestures, gaudy clothes, garish make up, overstated dramatisation and Indi-Nepali language that a person can take.

Not surprisingly, those who sat glued to such movies week after week start using those very words, the gestures in their conversation and also copy the way of dressing. There certainly are many better ways of influencing thousands of such simple minds!

These kinds of movies surely could have attracted the masses but if that is what attracts our audience... well, the very thought sends shivers down the spine wondering the impact of such visual and audio assault it could have on their psyches in the long run. Going by such a show, of which there are many, it seems that there really isn’t enough repertoire in our language, dress sense, dances etc. that we had to rely so heavily on borrowed cultures.  It is not so. Our vast reservoir of cultures could very well be a good source for hundreds of movies.

Sure borrowing from each other, cross-cultural mish mash are all fine but even to adapt requires a fine sense of balance that seems to be missing from these conconctions. Doling out one rehash after another to entertainment starved audience could work for sometime but that is rather irresponsible entertaining. That could be termed as insulting the audience. Some may remain ignoramus forever and lap up all that comes their way but those with a decent level of intelligence can differentiate worthwhile viewing from a worthless one.

Some believe that films have a set of formulas that have to be applied for a movie to run. Others abide by the idea that movies have a grammar that has to be stuck to. It was interesting to note not many thought of it as an art that is free to fly and experiment. An art that comes out of; deep feelings, stories that have strong roots, that appeals to human sentiments, forms that are created without having to lean on any preconceived notions. To dare create a masterpiece, to take a risk and deviate from the known, to dare the audience to think and examine themselves and to be willing to work ones’ proverbial backs off would very well succeed in the making of a new genre of movies.

Any movie buff can tell that one develops taste with repeated exposures. The taste gets finely honed with time and then the buff can tell a good movie from a lousy one immediately. There are quite a few of them around here and they would like to see good Nepali movies.  Movies that stay with you long after the box office stopped ringing, movies that you can show  your children tomorrow as examples of good movies, movies that make dreams make true. Any takers? Good movie magic never dies, they are just rediscovered.

Skin Talk

-By A  Staff Reporter

Skin does really talk. It reflects your inner state of  body and mind. Wishing for a glowing complexion, firm and smooth skin is the first step. Wanting it hard enough and cultivating enough determination to take necessary steps is the second. First, you have to eliminate any health problems. Good health is the basic ground that you have to prepare, only then can the rest follow.

The second round involves taking stock of your life style, how active you are, what you eat and how you care for your skin. Even half an hour of exercise daily will make a difference to your all round health, boost up your circulation and bring a glow to your face. Depending on what you like to do, you can choose  yoga, aerobics, karate, dancing and there are many more; or just settle for plain brisk walking.

Defusing any stress that you may be harboring consciously or unconsciously is another important step. No matter how much you take care of yourself, if you are stressed out, nothing can help you. Nothing ages faster than stress. To start with, even ten minutes of quiet time by yourself, letting go of  worries and concentrating on keeping your mind free helps a lot. Meditation in any form makes a difference to your composure, to your state of mind.

You are what you eat. If you continue to stuff yourself with junk food all the time, it is bound to show up on you sooner or later. The fact remains that you cannot remain 18 forever. Once you hit 18, the decline begins however unnoticed it may remain till you are 25. Learning to like healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, salads, cereals, beans, Tofu etc. will score more points for you health wise and skin wise. So will cutting down on salt, sugar, fat and preservatives laden foods.

Smoking adds to your wrinkles besides inviting the obvious health hazards. Drinking a glass of wine every now  and then is good nutritionally but anything more than that could be habit forming. Hard drinks means more diseases, bags under your eyes and a soggy complexion. You sure can drink plenty of water. Fruit juices, green or herbal tea are good drinks too.

Now comes the skin care ritual. Cleaning, toning, moisturising twice daily (morning and night) helps keep your skin free of unsightly blemishes. Protecting it from sun is very important. The more you expose yourself to the sun the higher number of Sun Protection Factor (SPF) you need. Sun is the worst enemy of skin. Avoid it as much as you can if you care for your skin. Never settle for cheap  creams, cosmetics when it comes to your face. It matters and it shows in the long run.

Exfoliating skin once a week with grains or good quality ready made scrubs helps skin get rid of dead cells. Applying a mask in accordance to your skin type once a week soothes and nourishes your skin and keep it youthful. Again, go for quality brands. Natural products are great if you have the time to indulge in it.

A sensible combination of all these steps in keeping with your type, age and life style will go a long way in keeping you vibrant, attractive, confident and strong.

(If you have any questions regarding fitness, skin care and fashion, do write in to us. Our experts will try to help you).

Cardiology at the dawn of the Millennium

-By A Staff Reporter

In order to bring about the latest high-tech health care systems for the cardiac patients in Nepal, Norvic Health Care and Research Center, an institute under the flagship of Chaudhary Group, organized an intensive three-day programme on “Cardiology at the Dawn of the Millennium” from November 26 to 28, 1999.

On the occasion, Norvic Health Care Center also announced various projects to upgrade its services for more sophisticated and high-tech heart care system. In the coming days, Norvic is spending more than Rs. 70 million for the same.

Various programmes organized on the occasion were also targeted at benefiting the general public as well as the medical personnels by providing greater awareness in the prevention of heart diseases.

World renowned Cardiac surgeon Dr. Naresh Trehan, Senior Cardiologist Dr. Ravi Kasliwal and other noted senior doctors from Escorts Heart Institute and Research Center, India, Dr. Praveen Chandra, Dr. Praveen Agrawal, Dr. Yugal Mishra and Dr. Anil Karlekar also participated the programme held in Kathmandu.

The hectic schedule of the programme began with a Heart Camp on Friday morning. The camp was conducted in connection to the increasing incidences of heart diseases in Nepal. Various measures of prevention of heart failures were discussed during the programme. A similar camp was also organized on Sunday morning at Norvic Health Care Center, Thapathali, during when Dr. Kasliwal provided consultancy to heart patients.

On Saturday morning, Dr. Trehan and Lunkaran Das Chaudhary, Chairman of the Chaudhary Group, jointly laid the foundation stone for the Super Specialty Cardiac Care Center with the latest CATH Lab and Cardiac Surgery (Operation) Theatre building at Thapathali.

The two-story building will be constructed at the cost of Rs. 70 million. The Norvic Heart Care Center has at present 30 beds. After completion of this project by mid 2000, it will have 50 beds. The center also targets to upgrade its services by increasing number of beds to 100 by 2002.

The visiting team of doctors had a busy schedules on Saturday starting with the live demonstration of Balloon Mitral Valvuloplasty (BMV) and Trans Esophageal Echocardiography (TEE). The live demonstration programme was inaugurated by Guest of Honour Dr. Trehan and was participated by a large number of Nepal’s leading cardiologists and general physicians.

The visiting team of doctors led by Dr. Trehan and Dr. Kasliwal presented the live demonstration of BMV and TEE by treating to the heart patients. The demonstration programme was linked with the Norvic’s future plans to introduced the services at their center.

At a get together programme later on the same day Dr. Trehan and his team also participated in an interaction programme with the patients at Norvic. This was held at Royal Nepal Army Club at Army Headquarters, Tundikhel.

In the evening the same day, a symposium on “Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology at the Dawn of the New Millennium”, which was participated by hundreds of prominent doctors of Nepal.

Just before the symposium, Dr. Trehan also participated at the talk programme with the journalists. During when he and Basant Chaudhary, President and Managing Director of Norvic highlighted on the tie up between Escorts and Norvic for the betterment of heart care system in the region.

The symposium held at Soaltee Hotel was inaugurated by Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai. On the occasion, prime minister also released a book, “Heart Failure”, compiled by Dr. Trehan and Dr. Kasliwal. The book covers right from epidemiology to the state-of-the-art treatments, both medical and surgical.

In the first session of the symposium, which was chaired by Dr. D. B. Karki, Dr. Praveen Chandra, Dr. Yugal Mishra and Dr. Bharat Rawat respectively presented papers on “Acute Heart Failure: Intervention in Cardiogenic Shock”, “CABG in L. V. Dysfunction: Where are we heading?” and “Current trends in Medical Therapy for Heart Failure: The Role of Beta Blockens”.

Similarly, in the second session chaired by Dr. Migendra Raj Pandey Dr. Ravi Kasliwal and Dr. Damber B. Karki respectively presented papers on “The Emerging Challenges of Heart Failure After MI” and “Atrial Fibrillation.”

On Sunday, a public awareness lecture was jointly organized by Norvic and Mrigendra Samjhana Medical Trust focussing on the prevention of heart disease. The programme was chaired by Dr. Mrigendra R. Pandey and Dr. Trehan was the chief guest. On the occasion, Dr. Damber B. Karki, Dr. Praveen Chandra, Dr. Sanjiv Dhungel and Dr. Ravi Kasliwal presented papers.