Submit your Article

By: Toyanath Bhattarai, Illam

Only five armed forest guards are currently deployed for protect­ing 38,000 hectares of forest in Chure and other areas of Ilam, a district in the eastern hills. With the restructuring of the Department of Forests, the number of forest guards has been drastically reduced, making things easier for smug­glers. Earlier, the number of positions for armed forest guards was 33.

Shree Prasad Baral, an officer at the Department of Forests in Ilam, says that the change has added to the challenges of forest con­servation. The change was introduced partly because of the decline in forest cover in the area. Of late, a num­ber of municipalities and rural municipalities in Ilam have witnessed decreasing numbers of Sal trees. “But the government has not paid attention to improving the conservation mechanism or increasing the manpower for forest protection. There are only 40 unarmed forest guards,” says Baral.

Last year, forest guards were attacked by a group of 80 wood smugglers at Ratuwa Khola Chepti in Chulachuli rural municipality. Since the smugglers didn’t escape from the area even after the guards fired seven rounds of bullet, armed police personnel from Beldangi in the adjoining district of Jhapa had to be called in. Smuggling of wood has not stopped even when the Department of For­ests, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force have been guard­ing the forests.

 Smuggled logs from Ilam are reportedly sold to saw mills in Jhapa and Morang

Last year, forest guards were attacked by a group of 80 wood smugglers at Ratuwa Khola

Locals say that smuggling has been taking place from different checkpoints and rivers in Mai municipality and Chulachuli rural munic­ipality. A few days ago, secu­rity personnel recovered 73 cubic feet of wood from a house in Mai municipality. APF Inspector Sanat Kumar Bista of Danabari says no proof of personal owner­ship of the wood could be found. He also says that while wood smuggling in Dana­bari has come down due to the presence of armed secu­rity personnel, it still is tak­ing place in certain parts of Domukha and Chulachuli.

Pradip Chandra Rai, Chair­person of Chulachuli rural municipality, says smugglers have put Ilam’s Chure region at risk. “Even those arrested are later found to be porters employed by smugglers,” he laments. According to him, the smuggled wood from Ilam is taken across Ratuwa and Chanju rivers and transported to Jhapa. Locals claim logs are sometimes taken to Jhapa by drifting them downstream in the Mai river, and then smuggled across the border to India.

Suraj Niraula, an assistant officer at Sub-Division Forest Office in Mai, pleads ignorance about the smuggling of wood from Ilam along the river. “I’m new here and taking stock of the situation,” he says.

That smuggled wood from Chure is transported using public buses, trucks and even bicycles is mentioned in a report published by the National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission in 2010. The logs from Ilam are reportedly sold to saw mills in Jhapa and Morang.

Outlawing the Netra Bikram Chand ‘Biplob’-led Communist Party of Nepal is justified. The party has, in recent times, acted more like a criminal-cum-terrorist outfit than a political party: spreading terror by detonating bombs in various public places, killing an innocent person, shaking down businesspersons, and reportedly plan­ning the assassination of political leaders after raising a private militia. So long as it doesn’t abandon its ter­ror tactics, there is no point in talking to it. But even then, Prime Minister KP Oli’s ultimatum to the outfit to either surrender within a week or be effectively wiped out was uncalled for.

Expecting Biplob to agree to a humiliating surren­der is highly unrealistic. Instead of issuing such base threats, PM Oli, as head of government, should have been more conciliatory. He should have said the gov­ernment is ready for talks if Biplob puts down arms, now or at anytime in the future. Ultimately, there is no alternative to talking things through, and it is unbe­coming of someone in the prime minister’s chair to spit venom.

In retaliation for the ban, Biplob has announced a series of protest programs, including strikes and bandhs. Although the government claims it can wipe out the party swiftly, the public is rightly skeptical. It will be nigh impossible to stop the kind of hit-and-run attacks from Biplob that had become a signature of the decade-long Maoist insurgency of which he was an integral part. The fear his party has now generated is palpable too. Schools and colleges are already plan­ning to shut down on the days of the protests, and busi­nesses fear a new cycle of extortion.

Again, that the government is acting tough against a group that has adopted terror as its modus operandi is understandable. But if the CPN is ready to disarm, there should always be room for talks. With the govern­ment seemingly committed to a showdown, there will be no incentive for Biplob to give up violence.

There is no room for violence in a civilized society. But peaceful means of dispute resolution should be open for everyone, including Biplob. It is unfortunate that the prime minister has become hostage to par­tisan politics, trying to portray Biplob’s CPN as ‘pseu­do-communists’, apparently in contrast to the ‘real’ ones in the government. Oli should instead be acting in the country’s interest.

 Finding the Belle Ville Café and Pub at Baluwatar is as easy as locating the Chinese Embassy there. You just have to stand in front of the embassy and look across the street. There’s a small parking space for bikes and cars right behind the building. You can also park on the wide road outside, but then you’ll be at the mercy of the nearby traffic cops. (Our APEX food sleuth was not lucky enough with roadside parking.)

 Inside, the simple yet elegant interior will make you want to grab one of those comfy couches and indulge yourself in a variety of multi-cuisine delicacies that Belle Ville serves. The inviting smell of freshly roasted coffee beans will add to your hunger while you wait for the friendly service staff to bring your order. The restaurant opens its doors from breakfast till dinner, also serving a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, includ­ing draft beer.

 THE MENU

Chef’s Special:

- Smoked Chicken Saandeko

- Shawarma

- Grilled Fish

Opening hours: 8:00 am to 10 pm

Location: Baluwatar

Cards: Accepted

Meal for 2: Rs 2,000

Reservations: 014411266

 Q. What makes a great show?

A. Good crowd.

Q. What is your alter­nate career choice?

A. None.

Q. If you could give one message to your fans, what would it be?

A. Be yourself and don’t hurt anyone for your personal gain.

Q. What would you like to be remem­bered about you?

A. Nothing much.

Q. What’s the funniest or weirdest ques­tion you have been asked?

A. No one has ever asked me anything stupid, really.

Q. What is your pet peeve?

A. Arrogance.

Q. If you could have one of your wish­es granted, what would you wish for?

A. More guitars.

Q. What is your unpopular opinion?

A. Not sure. I’m not famous!

Q. What is a super­power you would not want?

A. Political superpower. It destroys people’s minds and turns them into evil beings!

Many political observers in Nepal believe that the government has adopted double standards in its dealing with what was until now a secessionist party led by CK Raut and with Netra Bikram-Chand led communist party which had no such secessionist agenda. Why did the government ‘coddle’ the former and ban the latter? For some insight, Biswas Baral and Kamal Dev Bhattarai talked to Mohan Baidya ‘Kiran’, the chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal-Revolutionary Maoist, who is also thought of as a political mentor of Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Baburam Bhattarai as well as Chand. 

How do you see the recent political developments, mainly the 11-point with agreement CK Raut and the ban on Netra Bikram Chand Biplab-led Maoist party?

These developments are of serious nature. The government should have dealt with those issues with a long-term vision but it has failed to do so. The handling of CK Raut and Biplab-led Maoist smacks of double standards. This reflects government’s weakness, intolerance and arrogance. 

Why do you say there has been double standards in dealing with Raut and Biplab?

Many issues related to CK Raut are unclear. Raut is talking about dividing the country. Biplab-ji is raising issues related to nationalism. The party which is taking up nationalism is banned, while there has been an agreement with secessionist Raut.

How do you evaluate the content of the 11-point agreement with Raut?

Point number 2 of the 11-point agreement, which talks about ‘Janaabhimat’, has double meaning. In the press meet with Prime Minister Oli, Raut defined it as a referendum, which is problematic. If there has been no such agreement, why did Raut mention referendum? Similarly, PM Oli signed the agreement with Raut without consulting anyone, even his own party members. It is good if Raut is now in favor of national sovereignty. As it is, there are suspicions the agreement could affect the country’s sovereignty and independence in the long run.

What should have been government’s approach in dealing with Biplab?

First, think of the nature of the Biplab-led Maoists. The party has not reached the level of waging an armed conflict. They have not attacked army, police and other armed forces. But the government’s treatment of it has been no different to the treatment of the mother Maoist party at the start of the Maoist insurrection in 1996. This is wrong.  The ban on party, and suppression and arrest of leaders are wrong. Such activities reflect an authoritarian bent. The government should be serious. The issues raised by Biplab are of political nature so they should be resolved through peaceful means and in a political way. The government for instance has not sent any official letter to Biplob Maoists asking them to come to the negotiating table. Why the sudden decision on the ban then? The government should immediately withdraw the ban and start a process of dialogue.

But Biplab-led Maoist party has exploded bombs in public places and there was even a human casualty. What other option was there for the government?

If the government thinks innocent people died, the same rule applies to all political parties who have launched movements in the past. Look at what the former CPN-UML or Nepali Congress did during the Panchayat regime, or what happened during the Maoist movement, Madhes movement and other political movements. Such incidents, as unfortunate as they are, happen during political movements.

What is your view on the political line adopted by Biplab?

There are some political differences with him. There were divergent views about the party’s future course when he split with us. We were in favor of settlement of differences through intra-party discussions. But Biplab left us and formed a separate party. It is not only about Biplab-ji but also other political forces. The divergent views do not mean that we have to view Biplav-led party in a negative way.

Isn’t it an irony that Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa and Biplab who worked so closely during the insurgency are now at loggerheads?

History seems to be repeating itself. During the 10-year insurgency, parties in government labeled our activities as looting and extortion. But on the foundation of the same insurgency, Maoist leaders reached positions of power. But now, almost overnight, they have changed their line 180 degrees. This is a surprise. Also, in politics, personal relations do not matter much.

But it is said personal reasons have contributed to strained ties between Biplob and the government.

No, not because of personal reasons. The main thing is that the political line taken of ruling parties is completely different to the one Biplab is walking on. 

Has Biplab-led Maoist emerged as a threat to this government?

We do not know what happened between them. It is obvious that the ruling parties and their leaders face various threats. It is up to responsible leaders who are in power to think of how to tackle those threats. In politics, everyone faces threats everywhere. Such threats should be dealt with politically.

The government is saying that Biplab was even forming a militia and that the party has prepared a hit-list of political leaders.

I do not know these things. The government has not officially informed such things even though there have been some rumors.

Do you think there are international forces at play in recent political developments?

There has always been international meddling in the internal affairs of Nepal. The main thing is what we do internally. If we are united and issues are resolved through consultations, there would be no international meddling.

Prachanda has been saying that there have been attempts on his life. Why is he saying so?

I don’t know. I have not talked with him about it. It is up to Prachanda to tell people.

Are there any chances of your party uniting with Biplab-led Maoists?

In the past, we held several rounds of talks on unification. But some ideological issues have emerged as obstacles. In the future, the fate of unity will be decided by our political line and political course. If there is uniformity in ideology, we are ready to unite, not only with Biplab-led Maoists but also with other revolutionary communist forces.

What is your party busy with right now?

Now, we are focusing on strengthening our organizational base. We are taking up the issues related to nationalism and those faced by common people. We are preparing for a mass movement on the same issues. We just completed a 15-day Mechi-Mahakali campaign. We want to establish communism through the path of socialism.

How do you evaluate the performance of communist government led by KP Oli?

We do not think it is a communist government. It is a government of parliamentary parties.  The old power and old system have been perpetuated. The government that introduced the ‘Prosperous Nepal Happy Nepali’ slogan has failed to deliver. Development expenditure has not exceeded 25 percent. The trade deficit has further widened and there is imbalance between export and import. Unemployment remains rampant and the border dispute with India is unsettled. Now, the government is projecting regular lawmaking as its achievement, which is a shame.

You were considered an ideological guru of Prachanda and Baburam Bhattarai. But now the three of you occupy three opposing poles.

We had not even imagined such a situation. We were one in ideology and other political issues and we were committed to building a new Nepal. We had thought we would move ahead as co-fighters. Unfortunately, the opposite happened. I find it very odd. But in politics such odd things happen.

Can your party play a mediator between the government and Biplab-led Maoist party?

First we are not willing to mediate and I do not believe talks would take place under our meditation. So, we have not thought about it. Our advice to the government is that talks should be initiated by shunning the current approach of suppression. Political issues should be resolved politically.

What is your advice to Biplab?

I cannot give advice to Biplav because it is difficult to do such things in politics. But Biplab should make his political line clearer. He should clearly define his future political course. Biplab should move ahead with clarity on how to emancipate people.

Where is Nepal’s communist movement headed?

The communist movement has not ended in Nepal. Now it is weak. But it will again gain strength. Neoliberalism is crumbling, the parliamentary system is in crisis. The next option is scientific socialism. Now the oppressor is dominant and revolutionary forces are cornered. But things will change.

Q. What is something that is important to you that you never really get to talk about?

A. My family.

Q. A quote you live by?

A. “Only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches”.

Q. Something your fans wouldn’t believe about you?

A. I study hard when my exam approaches.

Q. If one of your wishes were to be granted, what would it be?

A. Better life for my family.

5. What’s the best part of your day?

A. Waking up to my little broth­er’s sound and halla.

6. If you could be anything, what would you be?

A. What I am right now.

7. Your favorite getaway?

A. For now home because I have been so busy lately and have not been able to spend time at home.

8. What would you like to make a video about next?

A. Skinny friends complaining about weight gain.

9. What is one outfit you can­not go wrong with?

A. Baggy t-shirt and jeans.

10. If you could have coffee with a Nepali celebrity, who would it be?

A. Aryan Sigdel, since he is receiving a lot of hate com­ments over his wife’s pregnan­cy photos and I do not like it.  

Sound Healing Nepal is a movement, initiated by Anup Panthi, to bring wellness to people's lives with the help of sound and vibration. The course focuses on healing using external stimulation through vibration originating from nature's sound, or sound emanating from singing bowls, bells, tingsha, drum, gongs, etc. Situated just five minutes away from central lakeside, Pokhara, Sound Healing Nepal offers sound healing therapies and sounding courses ranging from 1 day to 30 days. The courses are mostly arranged oneto- one. You can even design your own course depending on your interests.

Experience the most ancient yoga of sound (Naad yoga)!

Call +9779823475236 for more details.

If you want to go on a hike but only have a day off, then this one is perfect for you. This Kathmandu- Nagarkot-Dhulikhel hike organized every Saturday by SherpaShah Experiences assures that you get to see traditional Nepali villages, beautiful farmlands, and dense green forests, along with spectacular views of mountain ranges like Langtang, Annapurna, Manaslu and Ganesh. The Rs 3,000 per person charge includes a guide, round trip transport, food, permit costs and first aid. The hike will take you away from urban life, and close to rural Nepal, as you walk through the villages.

To book call +9779801002974 or shoot an email to [email protected].