The Nepal Digest - Dec 2, 1994 (16 Manghir 2051 BkSm)

From: The Editor (nepal-request@cs.niu.edu)
Date: Fri Dec 02 1994 - 13:32:41 CST

Next message: The Editor: "The Nepal Digest - Dec 4, 1994 (18 Manghir 2051 BkSm)"
Previous message: The Editor: "The Nepal Digest - Dec 3, 1994 (17 Manghir 2051 BkSm)"
Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ]

Date: Fri, 2 Dec 1994 13:32:41 -0600
Message-Id: <199412021932.AA27517@mp.cs.niu.edu>
Reply-To: The Nepal Digest <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu>
From: The Editor <nepal-request@cs.niu.edu>
Sender: "Rajpal J. Singh" <A10RJS1@cs.niu.edu>

Subject:      The Nepal Digest - Dec 2, 1994 (16 Manghir 2051 BkSm)
To: <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu>
Content-Type: text
Content-Length: 57147
Status: O
X-Status: 
X-Keywords:
X-UID: 62

        %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
        % N N EEEEEE PPPPPP AA L %
        % NN N E P P A A L %
        % N N N EEEE P P A A L %
        % N N N E PPPPPP AAAAAA L %
        % N NN E P A A L %
        % N N EEEEEE P A A LLLLLL %
        %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Nepal Digest Friday 2 Dec 94: Mangshir 16 2051 BkSm Volume 34 Issue 1

Election FLASH !

  *****************************************************************************
  * TND Board of Staff *
  * ------------------ *
  * Editor/Co-ordinator: Rajpal J. Singh a10rjs1@mp.cs.niu.edu *
  * SCN Correspondent: Rajesh B. Shrestha rshresth@black.clarku.edu *
  * Editing Editor: Padam P. Sharma sharma@plains.nodak.edu *
  * Discussion Moderator: Ashutosh Tiwari tiwari@husc.harvard.edu *
  * Looking For Correspondent: Sudeep Acharya sa01@engr.uark.edu *
  * *
  * Subscription/Deletion requests : NEPAL-REQUEST@MP.CS.NIU.EDU *
  * Provide one line message: sub nepal "lastname, firstname, mi" <user@host> *
  * [OPTIONAL] Provide few lines about your occupation, address, phone for *
  * TND database to: <A10RJS1@MP.CS.NIU.EDU> *
  * Snail-Mail Correspondences to: Rajpal J. Singh *
  * Founding-editor/Co-ordinator *
  * The Nepal Digest (TND) *
  * 502 West Lincoln Highway *
  * DeKalb, Illinois 60115, U.S.A. *
  * Digest Contributions: NEPAL@MP.CS.NIU.EDU *
  * Contributors need to supply Header for the article, email, and full name. *
  * *
  * Postings are divided into following categories that are listed in the *
  * order below. Please provide category-type in the header of your e-mail. *
  * *
  * 1. Message from TND Editorial Board *
  * 2. Letter to the Editor *
  * 3. TAJA_KHABAR: Current News *
  * 4. KATHA_KABITA: Literature *
  * 5. KURA_KANI: Economics *
  * Agriculture *
  * Forestry *
  * Health *
  * Education *
  * Technology *
  * Social Issues *
  * Cultural Issues *
  * Environment *
  * Tourism *
  * Foreign Policy *
  * History *
  * Military/Police *
  * Politics *
  * 6. Entertainment (Humor, Recipies, Movie Reviews, Sattaires etc.) *
  * 7. JAN_KARI: Classifieds *
  * 8. Immigration/Taxes *
  * 9. TITAR_BITAR: Miscellaneous *
  * *
  * The Nepal Digest(TND) is a publication of the Nepal Interest Group for *
  * news and discussions about issues concerning Nepal. All members of *
  * nepal@cs.niu.edu will get a copy of TND. Membership is open to all. *
  * THE EDITOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO EDIT ARTICLES FOR CLARITY. *
  * *
  * **** COPYRIGHT NOTE **** *
  * The news/article posters are responsible for any copyright violations. *
  * TND, a non-profit electronic journal, will publish articles that has *
  * been published in other electronic or paper journal with proper credit *
  * to the original media. *
  * *
  * +++++ Food For Thought +++++ *
  * "If you don't stand up for something, you will fall for anything" - Anon. *
  * "Democracy perishes among the silent crowd" - Sirdar_RJS_Khalifa *
  * *
  *****************************************************************************
********************************************************************** Date: Wed, 23 Nov 1994 11:04 EST To: nepal@cs.niu.edu From: "Neal Cohen" 23-NOV-1994 08:39:17.77 Subj: Man Mohan Interview in Indian Paper

Summary: need for new security relationship. There will be no tilt toward China as China supported GPKoirala government until the end.

Need for a review of Indo-Nepali treaties, need for transit facilities to Bangladesh and Pakistan through India.

Improved access to India's markets. India will be the first country visited.

"Business here has been corned by Indian capitalists. Mr Koirala sold many public companies to Indians surreptitiously. We have to encourage businesses with Nepalese capital."

Land reforms were started by King Mahendra, but GP refused to implement land reform. I am a liberal.

"The Indians have put all their eggs in Korala's basket. ...The functioning of the Indian ambassador has been most indiscreet. ... If I blame the Indian embassy and the ambassador for this bungling -- please quote me on this -- I am correct."

The views expressed here are of Neal Cohen and not the U.S. government. From: "Neal Cohen" 23-NOV-1994 08:08:47.26 Subj: Future Ministers?

Rumors on future UML ministers:

Finance: Bharat Man Adhikari (younger brother of Man Mohan Adhikari) Agriculture: Jalanath Khanal (Minister of Ag under interim government) Industry: Sahana Pradhan (minister of Ind and Commerce under interim govt) NPC: Dilli Raj Khanal (formerly countrpart UNDP National Planning
Strengthening Project -- and my student in the late 70's) Health Dr Bharat Pradhan

We expect Dr. KK Gurugharana, currently economics advisor to FNCCI and previously economist at UNDP, to get some influential economist position.

UML has noted that they are short on experienced people and some senior appointments will lack government or administrative experience.

From: "Neal Cohen" 23-NOV-1994 08:16:09.84 Subj: One month Tasks of UML Govt.

Followings are the list of 10 tasks that would be undertaken by the UML govt in the first one month.

1. Necessary steps to eliminate corruption.

2. Give justice to government employees and teachers who were removed
illegally from their posts by previous government.

3. Necessary steps to eliminate the false cases of political prisioners and release male prisioners above 60 years old and female prisioners above
55 years old.

4. Post price lists of the commodities in the shops.

5. Post ward level budgets details in each respective wards to make them
transparent.

6. Necessary steps to decentralize authority to local bodies.

7. Necessary improvement in the administration to make government program
transparant.

8. Formation of Human Rights Council, formulation of Consumer Act,
formulation of Commission Act, and necessary steps to introduce voters' identity cards.

9. Continue forward the inquaries of committees, namely Corruption, Mallick and Das Dhunga.

10. Necessary steps to solve the solid wastes of the Kathmandu.

Source: DRISTI Weekly.

*************************************************************************** Date: Wed, 23 Nov 1994 11:36:49 -0500 To: nepal@cs.niu.edu From: rshresth@black.clarku.edu (RaJesh B. Shrestha) Subject: PM Koirala accepts election defeat

KATHMANDU, Nov. 22 Kyodo

     Nepalese Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala said late Monday he takes full responsibility for the defeat of the ruling Nepali Congress Party (NC) in the Nov. 15 parliamentary elections.
     Koirala told a press conference he had sought a fresh mandate to rule, which was, however, refused to him by the Nepalese people.
     With ballot counting still under way for the last six seats of the 205-member parliament, the communist Unified Marxist-Leninist
(UML) alliance has won 86 seats and the NC 80 seats, according to the National Election Commission.
     Thirty-three seats have gone to smaller parties.
     The NC had 114 seats in Nepal's last parliament, dissolved July 16 by King Birendra on Koirala's recommendation.
     ''The results have given indications that we should now play the role of a strong opposition in the parliament,'' said Koirala, 69, who called the polls despite objections by other leaders of his party.
     He said the NC's role of opposition in Nepal's next parliament will be discussed in detail at the party's central working committee meeting Wednesday.
     Koirala said he met King Birendra on Monday afternoon to convey to the monarch that he had discharged the responsibility of holding peaceful polls.
     The premier said his party will lend full support to whichever party forms Nepal's next government, so long as the party acts within the framework of Nepal's new Constitution. ''The next prime minister will get my full cooperation,'' he said.
     Koirala said resources-poor Nepal cannot afford another general election in the near future.
     To a questioner, the prime minister said factional fighting within the NC was accountable for its humiliating defeat in the polls.
     The elections were the second since the Himalayan country restored democracy in 1990 by abolishing the absolute monarchy and transferring most of the king's powers to an elected government.

************************************************************* Date: Wed, 23 Nov 1994 11:37:33 -0500 To: nepal@cs.niu.edu From: rshresth@black.clarku.edu (RaJesh B. Shrestha) Subject: Communist Party leader expected to become Nepal premier

KATHMANDU, Nov. 23 Kyodo

     Manmohan Adhikari, president of the Communist Party of Nepal
(Unified Marxist-Leninist), is emerging as the favorite to become Nepal's next prime minister, political sources said Wednesday.
     The party's senior leaders and elected members will meet later in the day to elect its parliamentary leader, who would be their candidate as prime minister.
     Adhikari, 74, will be the only candidate for the post, the sources said.
     The Communist Party moved closer to forming Nepal's next government, after the ruling Nepali Congress Party (NCP) withdrew from the race for the premiership.
     On Monday, in the face of the defeat suffered by his party in the Nov. 15 midterm polls, NCP leader and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala said he has chosen to be on the opposition side this time around.
     The NCP's central working committee meets Wednesday to endorse the premier's decision.
     Koirala also said that he will support any other party that tries to form a government, but he did not give details.
     With only one of 205 races still undecided, the Communist Party took 88 seats, compared with 82 for the NCP.
     A Kathmandu daily, Mahanagar, commented that ''A grand coalition of the communists and the ruling party'' is now being formed.

********************************************************************** From: Shailesh R. Bhandari <sbhandar@garnet.acns.fsu.edu> Subject: Chhoto Kabita To: nepal@cs.niu.edu Date: Wed, 23 Nov 1994 15:26:18 -0500 (EST)

ANNYAAYA

                Timro sringgaar sahitko muhaar
                                Atinai aakarsak chha
                Tyasaile tyasmaa,
                               "Ahaa" maathi "ahaa" jhareko chha
                Tara,
                Ajhai prasamsaa paaune "ANGGA" laai
                                        Lukaeki chhau,
                Tin mathi anyaaya pareko chha.

**************************************************************** Date: Wed, 23 Nov 1994 16:29:37 -0500 To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
>From Neal Cohen, usaid,ktm

Subj: Future Ministers?

Rumors on future UML ministers:

We expect Dr. KK Gurugharana, currently economics advisor to FNCCI and previously economist at UNDP, to get some influential economist position.

UML has noted that they are short on experienced people and some senior appointments will lack government or administrative experience.

Neal Subj: One month Tasks of UML Govt.

Following are the plan

1. Necessary steps to eliminate corruption.

2. Give justice to government employees and teachers who were removed
illegally from their posts by previous government.

3. Necessary steps to eliminate the false cases of political prisioners and release male prisioners above 60 years old and female prisioners above
55 years old.

4. Post price lists of the commodities in the shops.

5. Post ward level budgets details in each respective wards to make them
transparent.

6. Necessary steps to decentralize authority to local bodies.

7. Necessary improvement in the administration to make government program
transparant.

8. Formation of Human Rights Council, formulation of Consumer Act,
formulation of Commission Act, and necessary steps to introduce voters' identity cards.

9. Continue forward the inquaries of committees, namely Corruption, Mallick and Das Dhunga.

10. Necessary steps to solve the solid wastes of the Kathmandu.

Source: DRISTI Weekly. CC: Subj: Man Mohan Interview in Indian Paper

Summary: need for new security relationship. There will be no tilt toward China as China supported GPKoirala government until the end.

Need for a review of Indo-Nepali treaties, need for transit facilities to Bangladesh and Pakistan through India.

Improved access to India's markets. India will be the first country visited.

"Business here has been corned by Indian capitalists. Mr Koirala sold many public companies to Indians surreptitiously. We have to encourage businesses with Nepalese capital."

Land reforms were started by King Mahendra, but GP refused to implement land reform. I am a liberal.

Neal

**********************************************************************
>From GANESHP@CIVIL.Lan.McGill.CA Wed Nov 23 15:57:12 1994
Received: from sifon.CC.McGill.CA by mp.cs.niu.edu with SMTP id AA24074
(5.67b/IDA-1.5 for <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu>); Wed, 23 Nov 1994 15:57:10 -0600 Received: from lansend.cc.mcgill.ca (lansend.CC.McGill.CA [132.206.37.4]) by sifon.CC.McGill.CA (8.6.9/8.6.6) with SMTP id QAA19450 for <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu>; Wed, 23 Nov 1994 16:56:06 -0500 Message-Id: <199411232156.QAA19450@sifon.CC.McGill.CA> Received: by MicroMailer 3.20a (.Lan.McGill.CA)
on Wednesday, 23 November 1994, 16:50:32 EST From: "Ganesh Pandey" <GANESHP@CIVIL.Lan.McGill.CA> Organization: McGill Univ. - Civil Engineering To: NEPAL@cs.niu.edu Date: Wed, 23 Nov 1994 16:54:21 EST5EDT Subject: Visa Denials for Nepali X-Pmrqc: 1 Priority: normal X-Mailer: PMail v3.0 (R1a)

Hello Netters

I guess instead of putting all the blames for the immigration consular, we should also see what the fellow citizens do when they land up to other countries. Few weeks back, Gyaneswor Pokharel wrote an article about the Nepalis working in Japan and Korea. It was shocking to know that a Nepali physician was working as an illegal labourer in Korea. There are many Nepalis from so called rich families, who are either staying in Canada, France and other countries either in refugee status or illegally. They dehumanizing the country by doing several odd jobs. The immigration officials, who are paid and trained to DISBELIEVE people, must be well aware of this fact. No wonder genuine visitors do suffer from this. So let us be practical and think why it is happenning?

[this is my personal view, Please do not flame me!!)

Thanks. ganesh

**********************************************************************
>From mahendradb@UFCC.UFL.EDU Wed Nov 23 15:59:50 1994
Received: from cedar.circa.ufl.edu by mp.cs.niu.edu with SMTP id AA24104
(5.67b/IDA-1.5 for <Nepal@cs.niu.edu>); Wed, 23 Nov 1994 15:59:48 -0600 Received: by UFCC.UFL.EDU (MX V4.1 VAX) id 30; Wed, 23 Nov 1994 17:00:50 EST Date: Wed, 23 Nov 1994 16:59:56 EDT From: mahendradb@UFCC.UFL.EDU To: Nepal@cs.niu.edu Message-Id: <00987E7C.1B9F7820.30@UFCC.UFL.EDU> Subject: The note on visa

I agree that there is problem in getting visa; however, if you have a genuine case where you can demonstrate you need the study ,I don't think visa has been denied. The problem is of late entrance in the U.S. made available by a liberal visa system that was badly abused by some.

Received: by plains.NoDak.edu; Wed, 23 Nov 1994 16:53:23 -0600 Date: Wed, 23 Nov 1994 16:53:22 -0600 (CST) From: Padam Sharma <sharma@plains.NoDak.edu> Subject: Rereading my own article To: Nepal Digest <nepal@cs.niu.edu>

After our visit to Nepal, I summarized the political chaos in Nepal with the following article posted to TND in June. In light of the results of current election, I thought, my snapshot in March was not that bad. May be, I am getting the hang of this political shit. (I think I am learning this self boasting act from Russ Limbaugh). Please note that I have spiced the original article with some ..rather nasty.. commments in the parenthesis.Padam Sharma
*********************************************************************
  Glimpses from Nepal ...V: Political Kaleidoscope
  by Padam Sharma
  During my visit to Nepal, I had no time to get deeply involved in details
  of contemporary political culture. However, during casual conversations
  with friends and acquaintances of different political background, I
  gathered the following perceptions of their respective positions. Some
  wordings are theirs while most of the spin is my own political
  soul-searching. The conclusions are definitely mine.

  Congress Party
  I don't hear any good news about Nepal in the US. What is going on?
    We were left with a corrupt and inept bureaucracy by the Panches. We
   are going through a transition time of leadership development and
   bureaucracy streamlining. Current crisis of personalities are expected
   due to party members wanting to share the power of the government and
   general frustrations by those who are not in the power.(Well, they did
   dished it out did not they? Estimate how much time and money, and most
   important the lives were lost due to bickering within the Congress
   Party. Stupids!)

  Is there a hope for the future? Yes, we have to patiently wait for the
   old guards to retire. We are optimistic that young leaders will have the
   vision to lead the country unscrupulously. (Dream on! You could not
   even kick Girija out of the party!)

  What about the charges of corruption, congressization of bureaucracy,
   and Indianization of the county? Due to prolongued one party rule during
   the Panchayati regime, corruption was ingrained in our bureaucratic and
   political circles. We also had to reduce the cost of the government by
   downsizing the departments. It was also important to remove the old
   guards of the Panchayati era who were corrupt to the chin. Some of this
   purge was done with a political ferver to reward our supporters.(And
   the loot continued....more vigorously!)

  Our citizens from Terai and other minorities were discriminated during
   the Panchayat regime. We are trying to correct it by promoting some
   bureaucrats from Terai and moving them in Kathmandu and other districts.
   Unfortunately, this has given a perception that we are Indianizing the
   country.

  Another factor that is contributing to the perception is our policy of
   inviting investment from foreign capitalists. Indian capitalists have a
   traditional cultural foothold in our country. The free-market policies
   have visibly increased the flow of capital and number of capitalists from
   India. When Nepali capitalists can not compete with their Indian
   counterparts in a free market economy, complaints and emotional outcry
   that the present government is favoring Indians are quite natural. We can
   not culturally and economically isolate ourselves from India and become
   prosperous on our own. Working with them is the only way to negotiate a
   better position for our national development.(This was well and good but
   some of you chose to warm your pockets from Indians traders instead!)

   Will you win the next election? We think we will. We offer the best
   political and economic model for the country. Communism has failed
   around the world, and we can not experiment with it in Nepal; Panchayatis
   have no direction for the future of this country except taking us to the
   past. Unfortunately, the leadership squabble at the center is hurting
   us. We are working in a transition stage plagued with personal greed,
   old habits and cultures. We hope the general public has not lost faith
   in us and give us some more time to shape the course of the country. It
   will take some more years for democracy and economic development to
   establish root and bear fruit in Nepal. (Hell with your corrupt
   model! You ran out of time...)

  Communists:
   In light of the fall of communism around the world, what is the status
   of communist movement in Nepal? Will all the left-centrist-progressive
   forces and underground-above ground personalities ever unite?

   We will remain diverse in our political philosophy, modus operandi, and
   personalities. The UML will provide a forum for free exchange of ideas
   and, hopefully, we will emerge with program and policies for the
   development of the country.
    Do you have a political philosophy, macro economic model and social
   policy for the country? Will it be private sector oriented economy or
   state control all the way? We are still building consensus over these
   vital issues, but a compromise close to the Chinese model will perhaps
   emerge.
   Will you then compromise the human rights of non-communists and
   dissenters? Not neccessarily, we will work within the framework of
   current constitution and make social and economic progress like the
   Marxist state governments of West Bengal and Kerala in India.
   (We will have to see how they will perform now!!! Don't we?)

   Are you satisfied with your roll in the opposition? Yes we are, and we
   have done a good job of keeping the Congress Party and GP government in
   check. (Should teach the skills to GP and his entourage now!)

   Are you ready to win the next election and govern the country? Not yet,
   we still want the country to go downhill so that the foundations of a
   leftist revolution will be laid solid. (Whether you wanted or not, the
   voters have given you the benefit of doubt. Please don't let the country
   go further downhill. We might land in India).

   What are the positives and negatives of a possible UML government in
   Nepal?

   Positives: We can mobilize grass root support for decentralized
   infra-structure development. We can also break the vicious circle of
   corruption and nepotism that has plagued the country so severely during
   the Rana and the Panchayati regimes. Instead of eradicating this corrupt
   culture, the Congress government has introduced its own hierarchy of
   scrupulous individuals in the bureaucracy. We hope to purge the corrupt
   bureaucracy, hopefully, with honest and hard working individuals.

(This is the biggest `if' in Nepal, if the communists can clean the house and the cobweb of corruption network, poor Nepalese voters will die happily hoping for a better future for their children!).

   Negatives: We will have difficulty in harnessing capital resources needed
   for the development programs due to skepticism from western donors and
   the media. We will also have difficulty raising revenues needed for our
   promise of social programs of employment, health , education and
   welfare. We will also create chaos in the country in our effort to
   eliminate corruption from bureaucracy which may make the work impossible.
   We may have tensions with India due to fervent nationalism within our
   rank and file and the perception that we are aligned with the Chinese.
(It is indeed a challenge! It is easy to compain and be synical. It is difficult to govern! Cure the `ke garne?' syndrome first and start on the assumption that you do not need `phoren' aid).

Royalists and ex-Panches:
   What is your perception of the country now?
   The congressis have sold the country to the Indians. Scores of Indians
   are now buying lands and opening industry in Kathmandu and other parts
   of the country. We are loosing our national and cultural identity.
   People are frustrated with multi-party democracy that has brought the
   influx of Indians and displaced the Nepalis. We think we can cash on this
   negative perception of the Congress Party.

Are not you confusing our own Marwari citizens and people from Terai as
Indians? No answer.

   What is your alternative program for the country then? Congresis kowtow
   to Indians and the communists might take us north towards China. We will
   restore national pride by standing firm between the two giants. We
   believe that we can negotiate a better deal by staying neutral.

Do you have any economic agenda different from the Congress? Not yet. We
do favor Nepali capitalists over Indians.

   What about corruption and nepotism? Previously we had few individuals
   taking bribes and misusing their power but always with fear of authority.
   These days, everybody is the sucker and there is a free for all for full
   fledged corruption. One reason is lack of job security for the
   bureaucrats. There is an urgent need to restore a sense of discipline
   and uplift the morale of the bureaucrats.

  Conclusion:
  1. The Nepali Congress rank and file is filled with talkers and dreamers
   who don't work hard and opportunists who take advantage of the power.
   The decision making process is still entrenched in the "Ji-Hazuri"
   mentality and nokarshahi culture of government and shadow-government
   personalities. I noticed that those opportunists who gained by chanting
   "Jaya Desh Jaya Naresh" during the Panchayati Raj are still at the
   forefront. Only the slogan has changed to "Jaya Nepal". The country is
   going down the drain with mismanagement, corruption and ineptitude.
   Nepalis are born optimists but the onset of democracy has not brought a
   flicker of light at the end of the tunnel. (Well, thanks God! the voters
   booted the Girija Sarkar our of power!)

2. Over booze and sekuwa in smoke filled rooms, the communist
   intellectuals and leaders are coming of age in political thinking and
   maturing the art of cynicism, while the proletariat is getting poorer and
   desperate. I wish they would stop procrastinating and produce a viable
   alternative program for the country. The country needs a fundamental
   change of direction based on the realism of Nepal but not on the
   idealism of Marxism-Leninism. (The communists still did not do their
   homework. People voted `against' Girija Congress not necessarily `for'
   the Communists. The UML benefitted from its anti-congress propaganda
   and a good party intra-structure)

  3. The ex-Panches are riding high on the anti-Indian pitch and they do have
   a strong nationalistic message for the electorate. They are lead by
   individuals who had their hands in the cookie jar during the Panchayati
   Raj and they miss that taste of power. The King is very popular, and on
   his coat tail, they might stage a comeback in the next election. If
   they win, or there is a coalition of nationalist and corrupt interests,
   the country will then take a giant step backwards.
(The ex-Panches were the biggest benefitters with 20 seats at the cost of Congress which again makes me believe that the vote was against the Congress. If the communists collaborate with this bunch, they will not be able to purge the corrupt beurocracy. If Congress collaborates with RPP, the loot will continue!!. The best option for a clean government is for Communists to lure unscrupulous and progressive forces within the Congress and form a compromise government.)
  (Bhole Baba...You are still sleeping while all this is happening!!!)

********************************************************************* Date: Wed, 23 Nov 1994 19:27:18 -0500 (EST) From: D_RISAL@ACAD.FANDM.EDU Subject: Re: "Critique on St. Xavier's" To: NEPAL@cs.niu.edu

        This is in reply to Sudeep Acharya. I never felt the "christian influence" in my seven years of schooling at St. Xavier's. The only mention of things Christian was in a Bible class, which was taught not as a part of the regular school curriculum, but as a part of the six-month **O-Level** course (which I did not attend because it had been discontinued by the time was in class 10.)
        A particular fathe who used to teach an English (?) class to seniors comes to mind. He used to read in class from the Bhagwat Gita in translation.
        Acharya writes, "I know students from [St. Xavier's] might not have felt any pressure to become Christians, but I bet they get some influence."
        I don't know what to make of this remark. I * expect* my teachers to have an influence on me, and in my case, at least, that influence has been very constructive and positive. It would be a sad day when facilitators of learning fail to inspire and "influence" their pupils.

Dipesh Risal Lancaster, PA

******************************************************************* Date: Wed, 23 Nov 1994 20:32 EST From: ATULADHAR@vax.clarku.edu Subject: Re: contact through E-mail To: Nepal@cs.niu.edu

Here is another nepali who may benefit from a subscription to TND amulya
========= h From: IN%"60858913@WSUVM1.CSC.WSU.EDU" "Mukund Upadhyaya" 23-NOV-1994 19:09:13.98 To: IN%"ATULADHAR@vax.clarku.edu" CC: Subj: contact through E-mail

Dear Atuladhar, I am a Nepali student in Washington State university, Pullman, Washington. Nepali news papers are not available here and thus I am isolated from the news about Nepal. I request you to include my E-mail address in your list and if possible, please send news about our country to me. My E-mail address is 60858913@WSUVM1.CSC.WSU.EDU Please give my E-mail address to others who may want to keep contact with me. Thanks.

Faithfully, Mukund Upadhyaya

***********************************************************************************************

*********************************************************************************************** From: rshresth@black.clarku.edu (RaJesh B. Shrestha) To: nepal@cs.niu.edu From: kunal@panix.com (Kunal Singh)

Walter Sanders (ssanders@iu.net) wrote:

: My husband and I are planning to trek in Nepal next year and we thought
: about going in July. Is this a good time to travel there?.

I went in April and had a great time. It got slightly chilly at night. But no jacket was required during the day. I have read that you have to be careful during the Monsoon. But most of the precipitation on the mountain occurs at that time, so the peaks must be especially beautiful.

: We were primarily interested in trekking in the Annapurna area. Any
: and all experience in the Nepal area would be appreciated.

Ohh, Pokhara is nice! I didn't have time to trek around Annapurna, but would recommend trekking in Nepal highly. I can't say enough about the friendly, noble, and rugged people of Nepal. Meeting them is quite an experience.

: What types of preventive measures should be take for health concerns?

Generally it is recommended that you not drink the water, especially in Kathmandu. Other than that, it shouldn't be that bad.

********************************************************************** Date: Thu, 24 Nov 1994 01:41:23 -0500 To: nepal@cs.niu.edu Subject: Adhikari elected UML parliamentary leader From: rshresth@black.clarku.edu (RaJesh B. Shrestha)

KATHMANDU, Nov. 23 Kyodo

     Man Mohan Adhikari, chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal
(Unified Marxist-Leninist or UML), was elected unopposed as leader of the party's parliamentary group at its meeting in Kathmandu Wednesday.
     Senior leaders and elected members of the party chose Adhikari, 74, to lead the party in Nepal's new House of Representatives (lower house) where it now holds 88 seats, compared with the 68 seats it held in the last parliament.
     Emerging from the meeting, a beaming and garlanded Adhikari said his party will form Nepal's next government, which will be a minority government.
     He was waiting for a confirmation call from King Birendra, but the call would come only after the Election Commission publishes the full results of Nepal's Nov. 15 midterm polls.
     One last result from the mountainous Mugu District of Northwest Nepal is still awaited and is expected to be announced by Wednesday evening.
     The UML emerged as Nepal's largest single party in the midterm polls with the ruling Nepali Congress Party (NCP) as the second largest.
     Also Wednesday, the NCP's central working committee is meeting to decide its role in the next parliament.
     Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, the NCP leader, last Monday cleared the way for the UML to form the next government, saying he would stay in the opposition this time around.
     No party has won a majority of seats in the midterm polling, which has left Nepal with a hung parliament.
     Adhikari said he will form a minority government to start with, and he expected support from other parties in the parliament.
     According to the Nepalese Constitution, the prime minister of a minority government should prove its trust in the parliament within 30 days. Failing this, King Birendra dissolves the House and orders new elections.
     Adhikari said he had already initiated talks with other left parties, the NCP, the third largest National Democratic Party and the independents.
     ''We have a common goal of avoiding another midterm election,'' said Adhikari, who played the role of opposition leader in the last parliament, sounding optimism that support will be forthcoming from other political parties in the new Parliament.
     He said his proposed minority government would be expanded in the future, depending on the support received in the House.
     Koirala said without elaboration that he will support any other party that tries to form a government.
************************************************************* Date: Thu, 24 Nov 1994 04:27:13 -0500 (EST) From: Nuru Lama <nurulama@husc.harvard.edu> Subject: The Nepali education system, some comments To: The Editor <nepal-request@cs.niu.edu>

Dear Readers,
Lately we have been hearing a lot on the worthiness and unworthiness of Budhanilkantha School. As I said, a lot has already been written and so I don't want to go through it again. My attention was brought to the attachment of the label "elitism" to Budhanilkantha. I think that elitism is a state of the mind. You feel elite, you don't become elite. Elitism is a sense of superiority. Do I as a product of BKS feel superior? NO. I was born in a village in Solukhumbu and I always feel rooted to my origin. I am a Nepali like all other 20 million Nepali people. My friends from BKS feel the same way. I say this
'cause I know it. BKS is the place where students from both economic extremes meet, exchanging ideas and understanding both sides of the world. Given the diversity of students at BKS, it attempts to create an atmosphere of equality (even the prince ate the same food, slept in the same place and wore the school-made clothes like everyone else) and hence establish everyone as nothing but a Nepali. So where is the sense of elitism?

One more thing, some of the participants in the ongoing discussion on Nepali education seem to view western education as inherently BAD. The west has left us far behind in the race for economic prosperity. There is much to learn from THEM and education is the only means. Let us not have this air of arrogance around us and reject everything "west". The west has a lot to contribute not only in terms of technology but arts too. By arts, I mean their literature and philosophy. Education, if it is to promote productivity and intellectual capacity, should encompass all the choice that is present so that we can choose the ones that we thing are the most suitable to our condition. Nuru

************************************************************** The following is the final list of winners
-------------- Eastern Region:

Bhojpur
Dhan Harka Rai--UML
Hem Raj Rai--UML

Dhankuta
Surya B. Thapa -- RPP
Rakam Chemjong--UML

Ilam
        Padam Bhandari--UML
        Jhalanath Khanal--UML
        Kul Bdr. Gurung--NC

Jhapa
        Devi Ojha --UML
        C.P. Mainali--UML
        R.K. Mainali--UML
        KP Oli--UML
        Chakra Bastola--NC
        Puspa Pokhrel--UML

Khotang
Tanka Rai--UML
Ashok Kumar Rai--UML

Morang
        Shailaja Acharya --NC
        Girija P. Koirala--NC
        Bharatmohan Adhikari--UML
        Harkaman Tamang--UML
        Kamal Koirala--UML
        Guru Baral--UML
        Badri Narayan Basnet--NC

Okhaldhunga
Chandra Kanta Dahal--NC
Bal Bahadur Rai--NC

Panchthar
Padma Sundar Lawati--RPP
Dipal P. Spapkota--NC

Sankhuwashabha
Hari Bairagi--UML
Devraj Khadka--UML

Saptari
        Ganga P. Chaudhari--UML
        Danalal Chaudhari--UML
        Jayaprakash Gupta--NC
        Gajendra N. Singh--Sadhvabana
        Anish Ansari--Sadhvabana

Siraha
        Narendra Raj Pokrel--UML
        Padma N. Chaudhari--NC
        Suresh Chandra Dash--NC
        Rajdev Gohat--NC
        Pradip Giri--NC

Solukhumbu
Balbahadur K.C.--NC

Sunsari
        Lila Shrestha --UML
        Hari NAth Bastola --NC
        Bijaya Gachhedar --NC
        Girija P. Koirala --NC
        Laxman P Mahat--NC

Taplejung
Ambika Samba--UML
Mani Lama--NC

Tehrathum
Suredra Kumar Fombo--UML

Udaypur
Lakshmi Narayan Chaudhari--UML
Bisnu Bdr. Raut--UML

-------------- Central Region:

Bhaktapur
Narayan Man Bijukchhe --NWPP
Asha Kaji Basukala --NWPP

Bara
        Mukunda Neupane--UML
        Salim Miya Ansari--UML
        Radhechandra Yadav--NC

Chitwan
        Jagrita P Bhetwal--UML
        Kasinath Adhikari--UML
        Gangadhar Lamsal--NC
        Tirtha Raj Bhushal--NC

Dhading
        Ganga Lal Tuladhar--UML
        Rajendra Pd. Pandey--UML
        Budhiman Tamang--RPP

Dhanusha
        Ramchandra Jha--UML
        Shail Lakhan Mahat--UML
        Bimalendra Nidhi--NC
        Lila Koirala--NC
        Ananda P. Dhungana--NC

Dolkha
Wangchhe Sherpa--UML
Bhim B. Tamang--NC

Kathmandu
        Manmohan Adhikari--UML
        Mrs Bidya Bhandari--UML
        Manmohan Adhikari --UML
        Padmaratna Tuladhar--UML
        Rajendra Shrestha--UML
        Mrs Sahana Pradhan--UML
        Krishnagopal Shrestha--UML

Kavre
        Keshab Badal--UML
        Shiv Bdr. Deuja--UML
        Govinda Nath Upreti--UML

Lalitpur
        Mitha Ram Sharma --UML
        Siddhi Lal Singh--UML
        Raghu Pant--UML

Mahottari
        Sharat Singh Bhandari--Indep.(NC dissident)
        Mahendra Yadav--NC
        Mahendra Yadav--RPP
        Rambilash Yadav--RPP

Makwanpur
        Birodh Khatiwada --UML
        Hiranya Lal Shrestha--UML
        Kamal Thapa--RPP

Nuwakot
        Ram Sharan Mahat--NC
        Arjun Narsingh K.C.--NC
        Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani--RPP

Parsa
        Ramchandra Kushwaha -- NC
        Surendra P. Chaudhari--NC
        Ramesh Rijal--NC
        Rajib Parajuli--RPP

Ramechhap
Devshankar Poudel--UML
Padma Shankar Adhikari--NC

Rasuwa
Ram Krishna Acharya--RPP

Rautahat
        Brajakishor Singh--NC
        Sekha Idris--NC
        Harihar P Yadav--NC
        Uddhav Dhakal--NC

Sarlahi
        Mahantha Thakur--NC
        Mahendra Narayan Yadav--UML
        Mina Pandey--NC
        Ramhari Joshi--NC
        Khomari Raya--RPP

Sindhuli
        Homraj Dahal--NC
        Bipin Koirala--NC
        Dr. Dhruba P. Sharma--NC
         Sindhupalchowk
        Bishnu Thapa--RPP
        Pashupati S. Rana--RPP
        Amrit Kumar Bohra--UML

------------- Western Region

Arghakhanchi
Rewati P. Bhushal--NC
Dhundi Raj Shastri--NC

Baglung
        Govinda Adhikari--UML
        Min B. Khatri--NC
        Pari Thapa--Masal

Gorkha
        Chiranjibi Wagle--NC
        Kamala Pant--NC
        Chinkaji Shrestha--NC

Gulmi
        Ram Nath Dhakal--UML
        Kamal Raj Shrestha--UML
        Tanka Pokhrel--UML

Kapilbastu
        Bishnu Raj Acharya--NC
        Kamshesh K. Upadhaya--NC
        Dip K. Upadhaya--NC
        Mirjadil Shah--RPP

Kaski
        Krishna Bd. Gurung --NC
        Khaga Raj Adhikari--UML
        Tul Bdr. Gurung--UML

Lamjung
Ramchandra Adhikari--NC
Ram B. Gurung--NC

Nawalparasi
        Hridesh Tripathi--Sadbhavana
        Majhilal Tharu Thanet--UML
        Mahendradhoj G.C.--NC
        Devendra Raj Kaihel--NC

Manang
Palden Gurung - Independent (NC dissident)

Myagdi
Nil Bdr. Tilija--UML

Palpa
        Som Prashad Pande--UML
        Bisnu Paudel--UML
        Dal Bdr. Rana Magar--UML

Parbat
        Rajib Parajuli--RPP
        Indu Sharma--NC
        Dev Bdr. Chhetri --UML

Rupandehi
        Dhanpati Upadhya --UML
        Duryodhan Singh --NC
        Sobendra Nath Shukla --RPP
        Mod Nath Prasit--UML
        Jyotendra Chaudhari--Independent(RPP dissident)

Shyanjha
        Trilochan Sharma--UML
        Dhrub Lamsal--UML
        Mahendra Thapa Magar--UML

Tanahu
        Govinda Joshi--NC
        Surya Thapa--RPP
        Ramchandra Paudel--NC
        Amar Raj Kaili--NC

-------------------- Mid/Far-Western Region

Achham
Bhim Rawal--UML
Bhim Bdr. Khadayat--UML

Baidati
Lokendra B. Chand--NC
Lokendra B. Chand--NC

Bajhang
Bhanubhakta Joshi--UML
Naresh Bdr. Singh--Independent(NC dissident)

Bajura
Hikmat Bdr. Shahi--UML

Banke
        Shanti Shamsher --RPP
        Phhatte Singh Tharu --RPP
        Prem B. Bhandari--RPP

Bardia
        Baamdev Gautam--UML
        Shyam Dhakal--UML
        Kashiram Tharu--UML

Dadeldhura
Sher Bahadur Deupa--NC

Dailekh
Ganesh B. Khadka--NC
Birodh K. Shah--NWPP

Dang
        Baldev Majgainya --NC
        Khum Bahadur Khadka -- NC
        Shankar Pokhrel--UML
        Hari P. Chaudhari--NC

Darchula
Premsingh Dhami--UML

Doti
Bhakta B Balayar--NC
Sidha Raj Ojha--NC

Humla
Chakra B. Shahi--NC

Jajarkot
Jhalaknath Wagle--NC
Dipak Jang Shah--NC

Jumla
Bhakta B. Shekaya--NWPP

Kailali
        Maheshwar Pathank--UML
        Himanchal Bhattarai--UML
        Chakra Bdr. Chaudhari--UML
        Ramjanam Chaudhari--NC

Kalikot
Yagraj Neupane--UML

Kanchanpur
        Ramkumar Gyawali--UML
        Bhojaraj Joshi--UML
        Durgadutta Pant--UML

Mugu
Hasta B. Malla--NC

Mustang
Sushilman Sherchan--NC

Pyuthan
Sivaraj Subedi--NC
Nawaraj Subedi--Masal

Rolpa
Surendra Hamal--NC
Balaram Gharti Magar--RPP

Rukum
Krishna P. Gautam--NC
Gopaljang Shah--NC

Salyan
Rajendra B. Shah--NC
Rabiprashad Devkota--NC

Surkhet
        Yamlal Kandel--UML
        Rishi Raj Sharma --UML
        Shivraj Joshi--NC
        Purna B. Khadka--NC
-********************************************************************** Date: 25 Nov 94 18:44:16 EST From: Rajendra.P.Shrestha@Dartmouth.EDU (Rajendra P. Shrestha) Subject: News11/14-25 To: nepal@cs.niu.edu

SOURCE: AFP

HEADLINE: Last-minute attempt to stop communists taking power in Nepal

BYLINE: Kedar Man Singh

DATELINE: KATHMANDU, Nov 24

BODY:
The Nepali Congress party defeated in elections last week made a last ditch attempt on Thursday to stop communists forming the new government.

The Congress was hoping to tempt the right wing Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) into an alliance to thwart the communists. But a spokesman said there was also a possibility of joining with the Nepal Communist Party-United Marxist and Leninist (NCP-UML).

The communists were the the largest single party with 88 seats but did not get an overall majority in the 205-seat parliament.

The Congress central committee on Thursday gave approval for party president Krishna Prasad Bhattarai to meet King Birendra to offer to form a government.

New Congress MPs elected last week earlier expressed resentment at the decision of party leaders to cooperate with any minority government formed by the communists. The Congress was forced into second place with 83 seats.

Though the communists did not get a majority, their veteran leader Man Mohan Adhikari said he would attempt to form a minority administration.

The Congress could form a government with the right-wing, which got 20 seats to become the third force in parliament.

Congress spokesman Tara Nath Ranabhat said: "Even though the Nepali Congress did not get the maximum number of votes a great number of people have remained in favour of the party."

He said the Congress was "exploring possibilities" with the RPP and the communists.

The RPP also met but could not decide whether to join with the communists or the Congress. Its meeting will continue Friday.

RPP spokesman Kamal Thapa, a newly elected MP, told AFP: "Before we decide to join hands with the NCP-UML we want the communists to make clear their thinking and attitude towards us."

The communist leadership has said it will make an alliance with other parties. But they have been unable to name the allies lined up.
------------------------------------------------------------------ SOURCE: DPA

HEADLINE: Leftist parties poised to form next Neapli govenment

DATELINE: Kathmandu, Nov 24

BODY:
The last result in recent parliamentary elections in Nepal has gone to the ruling Nepali Congress Party, officials said Thursday, but leftist parties have won the polls and are set to come to power for the first time in the Himalayan kingdom.

The Nepalese election commission announced the final results in last week's polls on Thursday.

The Nepalese communist party, the United Marxist-Leninists (UML), gained 88 seats, the Nepali Congress Party 83 seats, the National Democratic Party 20 seats, the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party 4 seats, the Nepal Sadbhabana Party three seats and independents took 7 seats.

The election commission announced early Thursday that the Nepali Congress candidate, Hasta Bahadur Malla, has been declared elected from the remote Himlayan district of Mugu, some 450 kilometres northwest of the capital, Kathmandu.

The chief election commissioner, Bishnu Pratap Shah, will now formally inform Nepal's King Birendra that elections have been completed and also inform him of how each party fared.

The king, who gave up absolute powers in April 1990 following a pro-democracy movement, will then formally initiate moves for the formation of a new government.

King Birendra has been meeting with various political leaders including leaders of the major parties.

The United Marxist-Leninists, who Wednesday elected 73-year-old Man Mohan Adhikari as their parliamentary leader, have already staked their claim to form the new government.

Though 111 seats in the 205-seat house have gone to non-leftist parties, observers in the capital expect the UML will be given the opportunity to form a new government.

The major parties, the Nepali Congress and the National Democratic Party, each have called for speakership of the house as their part of a deal to support a minority government, as outside support will be
"extremely fragile" and can be withdrawn anytime. dpa cro
-------------------------------------------------------------------

SOURCE: Reuters

HEADLINE: Nepali communists, Congress claim power

BYLINE: By Gopal Sharma

DATELINE: KATMANDU, Nepal

BODY:
The leaders of Nepal's communists and the outgoing ruling Congress Party staked rival claims to power Thursday after general elections left neither with a parliamentary majority.

A palace spokesman said King Birendra met communist leader Man Mohan Adhikary, who came out on top in Nov. 15 elections with 88 seats, and Congress President Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, whose party ended with 83 in the 205-seat assembly.

He said Birendra, who was forced to yield his absolute powers to a bloody campaign for multiparty democracy in 1990, also met Surya Bahadur Thapa, whose monarchist Rastriya Prajantra Party (RPP) won 20 seats and the balance of power.

"Mine, being the largest party, I staked a claim to form the government," Adhikary told Reuters after returning to the palace.

Bhattarai was not immediately available for comment, but had told reporters before meeting the king he would ask that Congress be given the chance to form a coalition government.

The RPP remained silent, as it has since the count showed it making big gains on the four seats it won in 1991 elections. The palace spokesman declined to reveal what Thapa had told the king.

RPP leaders frequently ruled the Himalayan kingdom, which ranks among the world's 10 poorest nations, during its three decades under a partyless system that ended a brief experiment with multiparty democracy.

By contrast, Congress and UML leaders joined hands to drive the campaign for multi-party democracy, then cooperated in an interim government that paved the way for the 1991 elections.

The new constitution that cooperation produced gives King Birendra some discretion on whom to call to form a government.

He can summon the member of parliament he believes has the best chance of forming a stable government, or he can call on the leader of the biggest party in the assembly.

Either way, the prime minister has to win a vote of confidence with a minimum of 103 backers within 30 days.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- SOURCE: Reuters

HEADLINE: Nepali communists still await summons to power

BYLINE: By Gopal Sharma

DATELINE: KATHMANDU, Nov 24

BODY:
Nepal's communist party leader waited anxiously on Thursday to be named prime minister as the rival Congress party, badly mauled in general elections, seemed reluctant to concede it had lost government.

Final figures released on Thursday gave the Communist Unified Marxist-Leninist party (UML) 88 seats and the Nepali Congress 83 in the Himalayan kingdom's 205-seat parliament from last week's elections.

The Election Commission figures, to be sent to the king's palace later on Thursday, gave the pro-monarchy Rastriya Prajantra Party 20 seats, a UML ally four seats and another small party three. Seven seats went to independents, two of them hard leftists and four pro-Congress.

UML Man Mohan Adhikary, whose party at one stage confidently declared him to be the next prime minister, awaited a summons on Thursday from King Birendra as Congress showed signs of challenging his claim to power.

''The party has not reached a conclusion yet, but the constitutional opportunities are still there to form a government,'' said Ram Chandra Poudel, a member of the top Congress policy-making committee.

''The majority of members (of the committee) agree that Nepali Congress should form the next government,'' he told Reuters.

Once the final tally reached the palace, Birendra has to decide whom to ask to become prime minister and win a vote of confidence within 30 days.

The Communists were confident that Adhikary, elected their parliamentary leader on Wednesday, would be given first chance to form a government as head of the largest group in the national assembly.

Palace spokesman Narendra Raj Pandey told Reuters that Birendra would be bound strictly by the constitution. ''The constitution is clear,'' he said.

But the four-year-old constitution, introduced after bloody pro-multiparty protest forced the king to yield his absolute powers, gives the monarch discretion.

He can summon the man he thinks is most likely to muster 103 supporters in a vote of confidence, or he can summon the head of the largest party.

Days of back-room negotiations convinced the communists they could not arrange a formal coalition and Adhikary told supporters on Wednesday he would form a minority government with the undeclared support of rival parties.

Nepali Congress leader Girija Prasad Koirala assured Adhikary of his cooperation, but Congress is split into several factions and it was far from clear if Koirala could meet his pledge.

Poudel said many on the Congress Working Committee, the paty's key policy-making body, had been willing to let Adhikary take the first shot at forming a government.

''But they are also slowly changing their minds'' and coming round to the idea that Congress should stake its claim to power, Poudel added.

The RPP, whose leaders often ruled Nepal in the 30 years of partyless democracy that was ended by the 1990 campaign, has said nothing about where its support will go.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

SOURCE: Reuters

HEADLINE: Priests pray for dead Himalayan climbers

DATELINE: KATHMANDU, Nov 24

BODY:
Christian and Buddhist priests held a funeral service in Kathmandu on Thursday for 11 German, Swiss and Nepali climbers killed in a mountaineering accident last week.

German Ambassador Karl-Heinz Scholtyssek and an official from the Munich-based German alpine club, Fritz Maerz, spoke during the one-hour ceremony in a Roman Catholic chapel.

The bodies of eight of the climbers have been recovered but only two have been identified -- the German leader of the expedition, Stefan Hasenkopf, 25, and a Nepali guide, Chayamba Sherpa, 41.

Hasenkopf's father Arnold, a mountaineer who helped in the search and rescue operations, attended the service.

The eight were found tangled together with climbing ropes at the bottom of an ice gully at an altitude of 5,300 metres (17,500 feet) on the west face of Mt Pisang, a 6,091 metre (19,984 feet)-high peak in the Nepal Himalayas.

The three bodies yet to be recovered have been seen from a distance by searchers, but are not being brought down as they lie in an extremely dangerous area of the mountainside.

German guides who followed the team's route believe the accident occurred at an altitude of around 5,800 metres (19,300 feet) and the victims fell down the West Face among rock towers, most of them into the gully where the bodies were found.

The Nepali government said on Thursday the state-sponsored Nepal Mountaineering Association, which licences climbs of minor peaks like Pisang, had been told to investigate the accident and present a report within 15 days.

There has been criticism in the Nepali press that the rescue helicopter was not sent until November 16, three days after the accident.

Thinso Ongdi Lama, managing director of International Trekkers, the agency that handled the climb for the German club, said he learned on the afternoon of November 14 that the team had disappeared.

He said helicopter operators told the company all their aircraft were on standby for Nepal's general elections that day.

But the Tourism Ministry said in a statement: ''Even though a few helicopters had been kept for standby, there was no condition under which they could not be used for rescue operations.''

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
%% %%
%% END OF "THE NEPAL DIGEST". %%
%% %%
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Next message: The Editor: "The Nepal Digest - Dec 4, 1994 (18 Manghir 2051 BkSm)"
Previous message: The Editor: "The Nepal Digest - Dec 3, 1994 (17 Manghir 2051 BkSm)"
Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ]

This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Tue Jan 11 2000 - 11:15:33 CST