Donatella Lorch Strikes Again!
Nepal made the USA media again yesterday, with a piece by the generally-unflappable Donatella Lorch, a doyenne of Asian Journalism. I met her last year in Kathmandu.
By the time I was taken to the operating theater, I was groggy on painkillers, but I remember admiring the earthquake cracks creeping up the walls and snaking across the ceiling. Just before I drifted under anesthesia, my last thought encompassed my worries of my last two months in Nepal: "I hope the hospital has enough diesel for their generator."
the entire piece is well done and can be found here: http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2015/12/06/457269135/i-hope-the-hospital-has-enough-diesel-for-their-generator
She did her usual highly-readable description of what the experience was like. She’s done a few “Goats and Soda” pieces and regularly appears in the New York Times. My favorite was this. An event that seems so long ago.https://youtu.be/OujpL0rdB8o
I always enjoy the comments section on such things, it was an oddity to me that most of the comments were about going green and/or developing hydro or other alternatives. The energy picture of Nepal is not so simple, and also — in case you missed it — there is a border obstruction taking place, and none of the equipment to re-tool the energy sector will be let through. Not even a bicycle.
There is news of the petrol siege. Most of it consists of various arrangements of politicians who are talking. But you’ll need to step over the line, first — click “continue reading.”
Petrol from China will be twice as expensive
In today’s Republica, it was reported:
KATHMANDU, Dec 6: Chinese petrol will cost around Rs 180 per liter in the domestic market if China refuses to waive off local taxes. Similarly, diesel will be available at Rs 155. - See more at: http://myrepublica.com/economy/story/32341/chinese-petrol-will-cost-rs-180-per-liter-sans-tax-waiver.html
Petrol from India sells for 104 rupees per lite ( about 4 USD per gallon). The present government of Nepal continues to explore the fantasy of not having India as a neighbor.
Think Before you trek
For those whose main connection with Nepal is Trekking, the dismal news that most of the fees collected to support the porters and guides, were misdirected by corrupt officials. These have been replaced (by new corrupt officials?) but not prosecuted.
Every trekker in Nepal pays $10 (if hiking individually) and $20 (in groups) to the Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) administered by TAAN and the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB). The association had collected over Rs 170 million since 2009 through TIMS cards which all trekkers must fill up and submit before their trips. Audits reveal that TAAN officials spent over Rs 120 million, but more than half the money is unaccounted for. from http://www.nepalitimes.com/blogs/thebrief/2015/12/06/trekking-loots/
About Hydro Development
Here is an editorial that explores the rivers emanating from the Himalaya, and India’s putative claims on the water in those rivers.
We live in a post-apocalyptic nation. Whatever the earthquakes this spring left incomplete in educating us on the horrors of living in a Cormac McCarthy novel, our friendly neighbor to the south made it a point to thoroughly tutor us. The world can afford to continue its armchair debate on whether India is really blockading Nepal. For those of us who have been bearing the brunt of it for over two months, the question that urgently needs an answer is rather: Why are we, a non-aligned nation that seeks to maintain good relations with neighbors and the world at large, being blockade-bombed while the rest of the world watches as if we deserve this? - See more at: http://www.myrepublica.com/opinion/story/32364/it-s-water-stupid.html
To answer the question at the end of the above paragraph, it’s because the world at large seems to agree with those who think that the constitution Nepal passed Sept 20th, is highly discriminatory. Hate to break it to you, but you need to negotiate with your own citizens in Terai and amend that constitution. Efforts to “internationalize" the dispute are a failure. So is the effort to get petrol from China in the near future.
Indian Parliament debate carried live
In India, the parliament has taken up the Nepal issue. It’s being carried live on the India equivalent of CNN. The initial Twitter reactions indicate that people in Nepal are disappointed that the Indians seem to be supporting the current direction. (I suppose this is because Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister had visited Delhi recently and returned with bland assurances). The outcome of the debate in Delhi will largely determine the direction of talks in Nepal. I’m sure there will be speakers on both sides. My prediction? No dramatic change in the status quo.
I’m trying to keep these short. The earthquake victims are still at risk in the mountains. The health system may be precarious now, but it was not as modern as we all would have liked, prior to this.